Friday Beautiful
Cooked boiled dinner. Mrs. B. came over in P.M. May, she & I went to walk. Went to Ideal in Eve. with her. Mr. & Mrs. B. came in Eve.
Transcription of a 1915 - 1919 diary written by my husband's grandmother Ada May (Grimshaw) Illingworth who lived in Springfield, Vermont.
12/31/09
December 30, 1915
Thursday Beautiful ###
May & Sheila had a great time in the snow. Went to Ideal in P.M. with Miss G. & May. Went home in Eve with May.
May & Sheila had a great time in the snow. Went to Ideal in P.M. with Miss G. & May. Went home in Eve with May.
12/28/09
December 29, 1915
Miss Cutler over home
Wednesday Snow
May played out in A.M. Worked all day. B's are going to Ideal. Mr. B. stopped in Eve. Pa came in.
Wednesday Snow
May played out in A.M. Worked all day. B's are going to Ideal. Mr. B. stopped in Eve. Pa came in.
12/27/09
December 28, 1915
Went home in A.M.
Tuesday Lovely
May played out nearly all day. Sheila came over. Mary is going to Ideal. Ironed in Eve. May is tired.
Tuesday Lovely
May played out nearly all day. Sheila came over. Mary is going to Ideal. Ironed in Eve. May is tired.
December 27, 1915
Fred went in P.M.
Monday Lovely
"Birth of A Nation" here for three days. Used my new flat iron. It is fine. Ma came over. Ma & Pa went to "Birth of a Nation"
Monday Lovely
"Birth of A Nation" here for three days. Used my new flat iron. It is fine. Ma came over. Ma & Pa went to "Birth of a Nation"
December 26, 1915
Sunday Snow & Wind
We didn't go out until eve. Then went home. Met Miss G's friend Miss Miller. We all had supper. Went to bed early.
We didn't go out until eve. Then went home. Met Miss G's friend Miss Miller. We all had supper. Went to bed early.
December 25, 1915
Merry Xmas
Mr. B. stopped. Fred came
Desk for May
Miss G. came over. Mary also. Went home to Xmas. Had lots of gifts. E. worked nearly all day. May was a happy girl.
Note: This is one of the very rare entries where the day and weather are missing! I wonder what Ada means by E. worked nearly all day?
Mr. B. stopped. Fred came
Desk for May
Miss G. came over. Mary also. Went home to Xmas. Had lots of gifts. E. worked nearly all day. May was a happy girl.
Note: This is one of the very rare entries where the day and weather are missing! I wonder what Ada means by E. worked nearly all day?
December 24, 1915
Went to tree at church
Friday Our Anniversary Lovely
Did up more packages. Got gifts from Prov. & Rochester. Mrs. Barney came over & Mary, Sheila came over. Snowed.
Friday Our Anniversary Lovely
Did up more packages. Got gifts from Prov. & Rochester. Mrs. Barney came over & Mary, Sheila came over. Snowed.
December 23, 1915
Thursday Lovely
Mr. B stopped in A.M. Went shopping in P.M. Home in P.M. Went to bed early. Washed a little.
Mr. B stopped in A.M. Went shopping in P.M. Home in P.M. Went to bed early. Washed a little.
December 22, 1915
Stayed all night over home
Wednesday Snowy
Cooked in A.M. Did up packages. Went down town in P.M. with May. E & I went to Barnums in Eve. May went over home.
Wednesday Snowy
Cooked in A.M. Did up packages. Went down town in P.M. with May. E & I went to Barnums in Eve. May went over home.
12/20/09
December 21, 1915
Mr. McCarty died
Tuesday Cold
May & I went down town in P.M. Ma & Pa came in Eve. Goods came from Claremont. Mr. B. came over in Eve.
Tuesday Cold
May & I went down town in P.M. Ma & Pa came in Eve. Goods came from Claremont. Mr. B. came over in Eve.
December 20, 1915
Monday Fair
Ironed in A.M. May played with children out doors. Mr. B stopped at noon. Went down town in Eve.
Ironed in A.M. May played with children out doors. Mr. B stopped at noon. Went down town in Eve.
December 19, 1915
Went home in Eve with May
Sunday Fair
Lovely day but terrible walking. Mr. B. stopped in A.M. Mr. & Mrs. B came in P.M. Miss G. Mrs. S & Lura came in. Tired.
Sunday Fair
Lovely day but terrible walking. Mr. B. stopped in A.M. Mr. & Mrs. B came in P.M. Miss G. Mrs. S & Lura came in. Tired.
December 18, 1915
Saturday Rainy
Terrible walking. We stayed in all day. Worked nearly all day. Mended & finished towel. Lura came home.
Terrible walking. We stayed in all day. Worked nearly all day. Mended & finished towel. Lura came home.
December 17, 1915
Mr. Barnum came in Eve.
Friday Rainy & Cold
Went to Claremont with Mrs. Barnum. Had lots of fun. Saw Mattie & Ray. Roy D. & Mrs. Colby. Bought out 5&10. May & E. stayed over home.
Friday Rainy & Cold
Went to Claremont with Mrs. Barnum. Had lots of fun. Saw Mattie & Ray. Roy D. & Mrs. Colby. Bought out 5&10. May & E. stayed over home.
December 16, 1915
Thursday Fair & Cold
Washing came. $.55. Washed in A.M. Ironed in Eve. Mrs.Barnum came in Eve. We went down town & over home. Sewed in Eve.
Washing came. $.55. Washed in A.M. Ironed in Eve. Mrs.Barnum came in Eve. We went down town & over home. Sewed in Eve.
December 15, 1915
Wednesday Fair
Went home in P.M. with May. She stayed to supper. Came over with Mother in Eve. Lucy came over in A.M.
Went home in P.M. with May. She stayed to supper. Came over with Mother in Eve. Lucy came over in A.M.
December 14, 1915
Tuesday Wind & Fair
Wind blows very hard. Cleared up stairs and May & I went home in P.M. Went down town in P.M. Made the cover & hangers for [Sadie]?
Wind blows very hard. Cleared up stairs and May & I went home in P.M. Went down town in P.M. Made the cover & hangers for [Sadie]?
December 13, 1915
Monday Snowy
Sent washing to Laundry. Snowed all day. Did not go out.Mended & baked in P.M. May glad to see the snow.
Sent washing to Laundry. Snowed all day. Did not go out.Mended & baked in P.M. May glad to see the snow.
December 12, 1915
Sunday Cold & Fair
Did not have much to do today. E. May & I went to walk. Up to river & watched them skate. Went home in Eve. May's cough is better.
Did not have much to do today. E. May & I went to walk. Up to river & watched them skate. Went home in Eve. May's cough is better.
December 11, 1915
Bought sandwich basket
Saturday Cold - Fair
Worked all day. May still coughs but does not "whoop" Ma & Pa came over in Eve. Went down town in Eve with Mother.
Saturday Cold - Fair
Worked all day. May still coughs but does not "whoop" Ma & Pa came over in Eve. Went down town in Eve with Mother.
12/10/09
December 10, 1915
Bowen bought potatoes
Friday Cold & Fair
Went home in A.M. Sick. Stayed until about 2:30 PM came home & worked. Nellie came in P.M. Mrs. Smith and Miss Greene in Eve.
Friday Cold & Fair
Went home in A.M. Sick. Stayed until about 2:30 PM came home & worked. Nellie came in P.M. Mrs. Smith and Miss Greene in Eve.
12/8/09
December 9, 1915
Thursday Pleasant
Enameled gas stove. Went to Ideal P.M. with Lucy. May went home. Sick head-ache in Eve & all night.
Note: Toxic fumes from the enameling?
Enameled gas stove. Went to Ideal P.M. with Lucy. May went home. Sick head-ache in Eve & all night.
Note: Toxic fumes from the enameling?
12/7/09
December 8, 1915
Played cards
Wednesday Snowy
Went down town in A.M. May & I went to Barnum's in P.M. E. came over with Mr B. Stayed to supper and spent evening. Cake with orange [spoon]? Lovely time.
Note: "spoon" seems wrong but that's what it look like. It's not sponge.
Wednesday Snowy
Went down town in A.M. May & I went to Barnum's in P.M. E. came over with Mr B. Stayed to supper and spent evening. Cake with orange [spoon]? Lovely time.
Note: "spoon" seems wrong but that's what it look like. It's not sponge.
December 7, 1915
Stayed all night over home.
Tuesday Lovely
May & I went home in P.M. Went to Gentleman's Night at Doane's. We took Mr & Mrs Barnum. Lovely time. Came home & played cards.
Note: Doane's is a store. This must be something to do with Christmas? But why does she stay at her parent's house?
Tuesday Lovely
May & I went home in P.M. Went to Gentleman's Night at Doane's. We took Mr & Mrs Barnum. Lovely time. Came home & played cards.
Note: Doane's is a store. This must be something to do with Christmas? But why does she stay at her parent's house?
December 6, 1915
Pearl & Barbara are here.
Monday Snowy
Helped with washing in A.M. May & I went down town in P.M. Took her to dentist. Had tooth out. New tooth behind. Saw Mattie.
Monday Snowy
Helped with washing in A.M. May & I went down town in P.M. Took her to dentist. Had tooth out. New tooth behind. Saw Mattie.
December 5, 1915
Sunday Cloudy
May's abou the same. Did not go out until Eve. Mr. Barnum came over. Went home in Eve. May went home to dinner.
May's abou the same. Did not go out until Eve. Mr. Barnum came over. Went home in Eve. May went home to dinner.
December 4, 1915
Saturday Pleasant
Opening day down town. Mrs Barney came over in A.M. Worked all day. Ma & Pa came over in eve. Did not go out.
Opening day down town. Mrs Barney came over in A.M. Worked all day. Ma & Pa came over in eve. Did not go out.
December 3, 1915
Friday Snowy
Ironed. Got it done at last. Lucy came over. Sheila & Mildred came over. Went home & down town in Eve.
Ironed. Got it done at last. Lucy came over. Sheila & Mildred came over. Went home & down town in Eve.
December 2, 1915
Mary came over in Eve.
Thursday Snow
Ironed in A.M. Went to Ideal in P.M. with Lucy & Miss G. Mary stayed with mother. Miss G. fell down. Went to bed early.
Thursday Snow
Ironed in A.M. Went to Ideal in P.M. with Lucy & Miss G. Mary stayed with mother. Miss G. fell down. Went to bed early.
December 1, 1915
Wednesday Fair
Ironed a little. Worked all day. Mr & Mrs Barnum came over in Eve. Had dandy time. Like them very much. Played cards.
Ironed a little. Worked all day. Mr & Mrs Barnum came over in Eve. Had dandy time. Like them very much. Played cards.