Monday Rainy
Helped with terrible washing. Fred went in P.M. too Greenfield. May went down town on errand and over to Helen's. We all stayed to dinner.
Transcription of a 1915 - 1919 diary written by my husband's grandmother Ada May (Grimshaw) Illingworth who lived in Springfield, Vermont.
8/30/09
August 29, 1915
Sunday Rainy & Cold
May & I went home to breakfast. May went to S.S. and homne to dinner. Fred came over in P.M. All went home in Eve. E. bought gray sweater.
May & I went home to breakfast. May went to S.S. and homne to dinner. Fred came over in P.M. All went home in Eve. E. bought gray sweater.
August 28, 1915
E. went to B.F. in Eve. to Sale
Saturday Cold
Worked and went home in A.M. Ironed a little. Fred came. called up Mrs. D. Returned May's sweater. Went home in Eve.
Saturday Cold
Worked and went home in A.M. Ironed a little. Fred came. called up Mrs. D. Returned May's sweater. Went home in Eve.
August 27,2009
The Smiths came over
Fred came and went to Bristol
Friday Cold
Mrs. W. & Mary came over. Mrs. W & Mrs. B & Joe gave a party at Mrs. B. Not invited. Mrs Doane came up in Eve.
Note: Fun to see the reference to my town (Bristol). I wonder what he was selling up here. Also, sort of poignant "Not invited" I wonder about the whole story and the feelings behind that short phrase.
Fred came and went to Bristol
Friday Cold
Mrs. W. & Mary came over. Mrs. W & Mrs. B & Joe gave a party at Mrs. B. Not invited. Mrs Doane came up in Eve.
Note: Fun to see the reference to my town (Bristol). I wonder what he was selling up here. Also, sort of poignant "Not invited" I wonder about the whole story and the feelings behind that short phrase.
8/26/09
August 26, 1915
Thursday Cold
Feeling rested. E. glad to see us. Mrs. S. came over. Had a good supper. Went home in Eve. Mary came. Mr & Mrs.Thayer came.
Feeling rested. E. glad to see us. Mrs. S. came over. Had a good supper. Went home in Eve. Mary came. Mr & Mrs.Thayer came.
8/25/09
August 25, 1915
Wednesday Hot & muggy
All rested well. Went shopping in A.M. Started for home at 1-15. Hot travelling. Got home at 4PM. May glad to see kids.
All rested well. Went shopping in A.M. Started for home at 1-15. Hot travelling. Got home at 4PM. May glad to see kids.
8/24/09
August 24, 1915
May is a good little girl
Tuesday Hot
Started for Boston at 9.09. Put up at Adams House. Ate at Child's. Did stores in P.M. Went to Kuths in Eve. Great.
Tuesday Hot
Started for Boston at 9.09. Put up at Adams House. Ate at Child's. Did stores in P.M. Went to Kuths in Eve. Great.
August 23, 1915
Went through "Fisherman's Row"
Monday Hot
Took some pictures. Went in bathing with May. Water only 50. Went down to dock. Saw Haines yacht. Saw lobsters.
Monday Hot
Took some pictures. Went in bathing with May. Water only 50. Went down to dock. Saw Haines yacht. Saw lobsters.
August 22, 1915
Turkey & Lobster
Sunday Showers & Hot
Went to church with Mrs. W. Mrs. D. & children. Rained after dinner. Took a walk and read. Mosquitoes thick.
Sunday Showers & Hot
Went to church with Mrs. W. Mrs. D. & children. Rained after dinner. Took a walk and read. Mosquitoes thick.
August 21, 1915
Miss Merrill & Artist Perkins
Saturday Hot
Went to Gloucester in A.M. Water only 58. Did not go in. Took some pictures. Turley girls went home. Sewed a little.
Saturday Hot
Went to Gloucester in A.M. Water only 58. Did not go in. Took some pictures. Turley girls went home. Sewed a little.
8/20/09
August 20, 1915
May met "Lobster John"
Friday Warmer
Went in bathing with May. Took pictures. Walked to Headlands with Mrs. D. and children. Wrote to E. Bought May slip.
Friday Warmer
Went in bathing with May. Took pictures. Walked to Headlands with Mrs. D. and children. Wrote to E. Bought May slip.
8/19/09
August 19, 1915
Went in bathing
Thursday Cool
E. & Dr. started for home in auto. Hated to have them go. We all went to Glucester. Saw "Baby Mine" Got cards from them.
Thursday Cool
E. & Dr. started for home in auto. Hated to have them go. We all went to Glucester. Saw "Baby Mine" Got cards from them.
August 18, 1915
E's birthday Played cards
Wednesday Cold
E and Dr. went to Boston. May & I & grandma's (sic) has photo taken. We all went to Gloucester. The children liked the trained dogs.
Wednesday Cold
E and Dr. went to Boston. May & I & grandma's (sic) has photo taken. We all went to Gloucester. The children liked the trained dogs.
August 17, 1915
In eve played cards
Tuesday Cold
Lots of surf & white caps. Too cold to go in bathing. took auto ride with D's to Annisquam [?] and Gloucester. The willows are fine.
Note: I'm not sure if this is the name of the town. Was it famous for willow trees?
Tuesday Cold
Lots of surf & white caps. Too cold to go in bathing. took auto ride with D's to Annisquam [?] and Gloucester. The willows are fine.
Note: I'm not sure if this is the name of the town. Was it famous for willow trees?
August 16, 1915
Magnolia beautiful place
Monday Hot
Mother likes very much. May & Shirley & Whitney went on beach. Took auto ride in P.M. with D's to Manchester - Magnolia - & Gloucester.
Note: I have to share a bizarre coincidence. My mother is up visiting from CT. We all went up to see my son in Burlington on Sunday August 16th and he took us out to a restaurant he had chosen called Magnolia. When we came home I took out the diary - (which I had been telling my mother about and feeling guilty about because I was days behind on posting). I flipped to Aug 16 so I could read the "same day in 1915" to her and found the entry about Magnolia and Mother. Having read the diary years ago with no memory at all of this page it was a REALLY strange!
Monday Hot
Mother likes very much. May & Shirley & Whitney went on beach. Took auto ride in P.M. with D's to Manchester - Magnolia - & Gloucester.
Note: I have to share a bizarre coincidence. My mother is up visiting from CT. We all went up to see my son in Burlington on Sunday August 16th and he took us out to a restaurant he had chosen called Magnolia. When we came home I took out the diary - (which I had been telling my mother about and feeling guilty about because I was days behind on posting). I flipped to Aug 16 so I could read the "same day in 1915" to her and found the entry about Magnolia and Mother. Having read the diary years ago with no memory at all of this page it was a REALLY strange!
August 15, 1915
Fred telephoned from Boston
Ethel and Mill [.....?] have a son
Sunday Turkey and Lobster
Lots of bathers out. Roast turkey for dinner. Went to East Gloucester & and Pigeon Cove with Dr. Beautiful ride. Mother came.
Note: One of the very few times the weather is not noted -the fancy dinner took precedence!
Ada has gone over many of these entries in pen - they were originally in pencil. Perhaps she accidentally left her special pen at home and used a pencil from the hotel,
Ethel and Mill [.....?] have a son
Sunday Turkey and Lobster
Lots of bathers out. Roast turkey for dinner. Went to East Gloucester & and Pigeon Cove with Dr. Beautiful ride. Mother came.
Note: One of the very few times the weather is not noted -the fancy dinner took precedence!
Ada has gone over many of these entries in pen - they were originally in pencil. Perhaps she accidentally left her special pen at home and used a pencil from the hotel,
August 14, 1915
Bathing fine
Saturday Hot
Ernest and Dr. went to Boston. Mrs W, Mrs. D. children and myself went to Gloucester. Came home with headache. Went to bed early.
Saturday Hot
Ernest and Dr. went to Boston. Mrs W, Mrs. D. children and myself went to Gloucester. Came home with headache. Went to bed early.
August 13, 1915
Painted stones. "Turn me over"
Friday Hot ###
May & Shirley went in bathing. Everyone went. took auto ride to Paradise Cliffs with Doanes. Saw Artists Reynolds home.
Friday Hot ###
May & Shirley went in bathing. Everyone went. took auto ride to Paradise Cliffs with Doanes. Saw Artists Reynolds home.
August 12, 1915
Arrived about 3 - 3-30
Thursday Hot
Started for Rockport at 6-55 with Ernest & May. Doanes and Weatherheads met us at Hotel Doors. Just fine. Tired.
Thursday Hot
Started for Rockport at 6-55 with Ernest & May. Doanes and Weatherheads met us at Hotel Doors. Just fine. Tired.
August 11, 1915
Cora arrived
Wednesday Hot
Ironed nearly all day. May played with Helen. Went down town in Eve, Mother came over.
Wednesday Hot
Ironed nearly all day. May played with Helen. Went down town in Eve, Mother came over.
August 10, 1915
Helen came over to Mays
Tuesday Fair
Went home and down town in A.M. Bought palm beach suit & shoes. Borrowed Lura's bathing suit. Ironed in Eve.
Tuesday Fair
Went home and down town in A.M. Bought palm beach suit & shoes. Borrowed Lura's bathing suit. Ironed in Eve.
8/9/09
August 9, 1915
May went to play with Helen
Monday Showers & Fair
Helped with washing in A.M. Stayed to dinner. went down town in P.M. Bought new waist at sale. Getting ready for Rockport.
Monday Showers & Fair
Helped with washing in A.M. Stayed to dinner. went down town in P.M. Bought new waist at sale. Getting ready for Rockport.
8/7/09
August 8, 1915
E. collected for Thompson.
Sunday Fair & Hot
Has not rained yet (9:30 P.M.) Fred has a new Palm Beach Suit. "Brig" came up. Fred went to Springfield, Mass. E. went to B.F. with Doane.
Sunday Fair & Hot
Has not rained yet (9:30 P.M.) Fred has a new Palm Beach Suit. "Brig" came up. Fred went to Springfield, Mass. E. went to B.F. with Doane.
August 7, 1915
Saw Alva Eaton
Saturday Fair & Rain
Did not rain until tonight. Had thunderstorm. Fred came. Went down town in Eve. May, Sheila & Helen had picnic over to Helen's.
Saturday Fair & Rain
Did not rain until tonight. Had thunderstorm. Fred came. Went down town in Eve. May, Sheila & Helen had picnic over to Helen's.
8/6/09
August 6, 1915
Got a letter from Mrs. Weatherhead
Friday Rain
Went home in A.M. and over again in P.M. and sewed. Dan Aher got dishes at Ideal. May played with Helen.
Note:"Dan Aher got dishes at Ideal" Jean Shephard wrote a wonderful short story called something and "the Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot" about a movie theatre in the depression that gives away a piece of a dinner set each week and then ends up giving nothing but gravy boats for weeks in a row until the crowd turns nasty and riots. I think what Ada is referring to is something along those lines - where you buy a ticket each week at the movies - and "Dan Aher" has just won the whole set.
Friday Rain
Went home in A.M. and over again in P.M. and sewed. Dan Aher got dishes at Ideal. May played with Helen.
Note:"Dan Aher got dishes at Ideal" Jean Shephard wrote a wonderful short story called something and "the Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot" about a movie theatre in the depression that gives away a piece of a dinner set each week and then ends up giving nothing but gravy boats for weeks in a row until the crowd turns nasty and riots. I think what Ada is referring to is something along those lines - where you buy a ticket each week at the movies - and "Dan Aher" has just won the whole set.
August 5, 1915
Thursday Rain
Will the sun ever shine? May & I went home in P.M. Went to Ideal in Eve. with Mother.
Will the sun ever shine? May & I went home in P.M. Went to Ideal in Eve. with Mother.
August 4,1915
No band concert
Wednesday Rainy
Ironed in A.M. Helen came to play with May. Went home & sewed in P.M. Mother came over.
Wednesday Rainy
Ironed in A.M. Helen came to play with May. Went home & sewed in P.M. Mother came over.
8/3/09
August 3, 1915
This is my birthday
Tuesday Rain & Cool
E. gave me $2. May played with Helen nearly all day. went home in P.M. May went over to supper. Mother came over in Eve.
Tuesday Rain & Cool
E. gave me $2. May played with Helen nearly all day. went home in P.M. May went over to supper. Mother came over in Eve.
August 2, 1915
Tomorrow is my birthday I wonder if anyone will remember.
Monday Rain & Hot
Helped with washing in A.M. Mother came over in P.M. Pa brought vegetables. Mrs. W. & Mary came over. Went to Ideal with May.
Monday Rain & Hot
Helped with washing in A.M. Mother came over in P.M. Pa brought vegetables. Mrs. W. & Mary came over. Went to Ideal with May.