Lovely day
Everything has gone wrong. 1917 will be grand. E. did not work in P.M. Sick headache. Mr. Beardsley called. Went to Ideal in P.M. with Miss R. Ted Miller operated on.
Note: A strange tantalizing way to start the 1917 diary. I have no idea what Ada means by this. Is she referring to her mother and May being sick?
"Miss R." is Marion Roberts, a teacher and soon to be Ada's unmarried brother Fred's steady lady friend.
Transcription of a 1915 - 1919 diary written by my husband's grandmother Ada May (Grimshaw) Illingworth who lived in Springfield, Vermont.
1/30/11
1/28/11
December 31, 1916
Sun. Cold & Fair
May sick all lst night. Acute laryngitis. Better to-day. Has fever. Fred came over. Brought her ice-cream. Fred & Miss Roberts went to ride.
May sick all lst night. Acute laryngitis. Better to-day. Has fever. Fred came over. Brought her ice-cream. Fred & Miss Roberts went to ride.
December 30, 1916
Sat. Cold & Fair
May & I went home to breakfast. Cleared downstairs. Fred came. Went down town in Eve. Got May's nighties. May sick in night. Called Dr. Paid machine.
May & I went home to breakfast. Cleared downstairs. Fred came. Went down town in Eve. Got May's nighties. May sick in night. Called Dr. Paid machine.
December 29, 1916
Fri. Cold & Fair
Finished ironing in A.M. Went home in P.M. & Eve. Went to Doane's & back in P.M. May has a terrible cold. Played games in P.M.
Finished ironing in A.M. Went home in P.M. & Eve. Went to Doane's & back in P.M. May has a terrible cold. Played games in P.M.
December 28, 1916
Thurs. Cold & Windy
Went home in A.M. to breakfast. Mother is lots better. Got card from Harry. May gave Grandpa comb. May & I went to Ideal in P.M. May has cold.
Went home in A.M. to breakfast. Mother is lots better. Got card from Harry. May gave Grandpa comb. May & I went to Ideal in P.M. May has cold.
December 27, 1916
Wed. Rain in A.M.
Washed in A.M. Did some of mother's. Mother is better. May & I went to the Ideal in Eve. "The Masked Rider." Great. Went home in Eve.
Washed in A.M. Did some of mother's. Mother is better. May & I went to the Ideal in Eve. "The Masked Rider." Great. Went home in Eve.
December 26, 1916
Tues. Fair & Cold
Mother is better. May played with "fat" doll nearly all day. We went down in P.M. Played games in Eve. E. did not go out. Went home in P.M. May is tired.
Mother is better. May played with "fat" doll nearly all day. We went down in P.M. Played games in Eve. E. did not go out. Went home in P.M. May is tired.
December 25, 1916
Mon. Lovely Day Merry Xmas
Mother is a little better. Had Xmas at home. Got chain from Fred. May got "fat" doll that she wanted & sleigh. Made my first chicken pie.
Mother is a little better. Had Xmas at home. Got chain from Fred. May got "fat" doll that she wanted & sleigh. Made my first chicken pie.
December 24, 1916
Sun. Lovely Day
Our anniversary. Married 11 years. May went to S.S. E. worked all day at office. Xmas concert at Church. May spoke. Wore new shoes.
Our anniversary. Married 11 years. May went to S.S. E. worked all day at office. Xmas concert at Church. May spoke. Wore new shoes.
December 23, 1916
Sat. Fine Day.
Paid $2. Machine. May went to rehearsal in P.M. Mother is not very well. Fred came. Went down town in Eve. Teapot from Prov.
Paid $2. Machine. May went to rehearsal in P.M. Mother is not very well. Fred came. Went down town in Eve. Teapot from Prov.
December 22, 1916
Fri. Snow & Rain & Wind
Cleared upstairs in A.M. School closed at noon for the Holidays. Sewed in P.M. Went down town in Eve. Mother about same.
Cleared upstairs in A.M. School closed at noon for the Holidays. Sewed in P.M. Went down town in Eve. Mother about same.
December 21, 1916
Wed. Fine.
Finished ironing.Went home. Mother has a cold. Sewed in P.M. Sent the last of the packages. Went down town in Eve.
Finished ironing.Went home. Mother has a cold. Sewed in P.M. Sent the last of the packages. Went down town in Eve.
December 20, 1916
Wed. Cloudy
Ironed in A.M. Sent packages to Prov. Sewed in Eve. Went home. Mother got medicine from Dr. Tired.
Note: It's interesting the connection to Providence. We know there were relatives down there from Ada's mother's photo album - some of which I've posted on Flickr in the set "Unknown Rhode Island People" but they are from an older era. Obviously at this point in time (1916) there was still a strong enough connection to send (I assume) Christmas presents.
I've found a lot of other family through Flickr - so maybe one day we'll figure out this Providence connection!
Ironed in A.M. Sent packages to Prov. Sewed in Eve. Went home. Mother got medicine from Dr. Tired.
Note: It's interesting the connection to Providence. We know there were relatives down there from Ada's mother's photo album - some of which I've posted on Flickr in the set "Unknown Rhode Island People" but they are from an older era. Obviously at this point in time (1916) there was still a strong enough connection to send (I assume) Christmas presents.
I've found a lot of other family through Flickr - so maybe one day we'll figure out this Providence connection!
December 19, 1916
Tuesday Lovely
Washed in A.M. Went home. Sewed in P.M. May went over to Charlotte's after school. Went down town in Eve.
Washed in A.M. Went home. Sewed in P.M. May went over to Charlotte's after school. Went down town in Eve.
December 18, 1916
Monday Fine Day
Better today.Finished Ladie's bag & Dorothy's collar. E. put on dining room windows.Went home. Mother has cold. Went down town in Eve. with May.
Better today.Finished Ladie's bag & Dorothy's collar. E. put on dining room windows.Went home. Mother has cold. Went down town in Eve. with May.
1/5/11
December 17, 1916
Sun. Clear & cold
May went to S.S. in a.M. Wore new hat & coat. Class. Head ached. Fred came over. Went home in Eve. Fred gave Pa watch.
May went to S.S. in a.M. Wore new hat & coat. Class. Head ached. Fred came over. Went home in Eve. Fred gave Pa watch.
December 16, 1916
Sat. cold & windy
Mother -May & I went to Claremont. bought out 5 & 10. Saw Kincees [?] and Stoddards. Took dinner at Restaurant. Went down town in Eve. 9:30 A.M. Fred came.
Mother -May & I went to Claremont. bought out 5 & 10. Saw Kincees [?] and Stoddards. Took dinner at Restaurant. Went down town in Eve. 9:30 A.M. Fred came.
December 15, 1916
Fri. Snow & cold
Worked hard all day. Mother's brass bed came. Got May's hat. Fixed May's coat. Went home in Eve. Snowed all day.
Worked hard all day. Mother's brass bed came. Got May's hat. Fixed May's coat. Went home in Eve. Snowed all day.
December 14, 1916
Thurs. Cold ###
Headache again. E. got dinner. Better in P.M. Crocheted in Eve. Mother came over. Shirley came up after school.
Headache again. E. got dinner. Better in P.M. Crocheted in Eve. Mother came over. Shirley came up after school.
December 13, 1916
Wed. Lovely
Ironed nearly all day. Head is better. Pa came over and started the furnace twice. Went out. Went home in Eve. Early to bed.
Ironed nearly all day. Head is better. Pa came over and started the furnace twice. Went out. Went home in Eve. Early to bed.
December 12, 1916
Tues. Snow Stuffed rabbit for Robbie
Headache all day. Ironed a little & mended. Explained May's examples. She got them all done. She was tickled. Went sliding after school.
Headache all day. Ironed a little & mended. Explained May's examples. She got them all done. She was tickled. Went sliding after school.
December 11, 1916
Mon. Lovely
Did my washing all myself. Tired in P.M. and Eve. Went home in P.M. May felt bad because she did not get number work right.
Did my washing all myself. Tired in P.M. and Eve. Went home in P.M. May felt bad because she did not get number work right.
December 10, 1916
Sun. Pleasant & Colder
May went to S.S. in A.M. Came home with some pieces to speak Xmas. Fred came over. Went to Boston. Went home in Eve. "Grandma" Farnum buried.
May went to S.S. in A.M. Came home with some pieces to speak Xmas. Fred came over. Went to Boston. Went home in Eve. "Grandma" Farnum buried.