As always, click on the picture to enlarge for easier reading of original. Feel free to contact me with corrections, additional information, or comments. NEW --- I've added a map link that will help you see where things are in the neighborhood where this story takes place. Zoom out to see where Naples is located in New York State. Zoom in to see Ingleside and exactly where the Grange Hall, and the Church were. I'll add pictures and more locations as I can. Click on the Map link to the right of the title of each page. Feedback or questions appreciated!Saturday Aunt Jayne (different spelling) goes home... she has visited several days, helping with dress making. I'm not sure who Aunt Jayne is. Henry has a sister with a middle initial of J. but she only lived to the age of 3. Sarah has no sisters by that name.
Henry mentions Omar sleeping in till 11AM. On another occasion he mentions Omar feeling "moderate" because of being out late. I'm not sure Henry totally approves of Omar's behavior??
On Sunday they go to church, which seems to include the funeral service for a George Polmateer. I'm thinking maybe they combined things because of the difficulty of travel?
On Monday Henry and Omar go to Bloods to see about selling potatoes. Bloods (present day Atlanta / North Cohocton) continued to be a major center of potato growing for many years. I can't remember the name of the machine, but a major innovation in potato sorting by mechanical means was invented there. In 1917, 30 years later, a promotional pamphlet for the area states that Stuben County is the second largest potato growing county in the whole country. They don't sell any potatos because of a lack of "carrs". Possible a misspelling referring to railroad cars? Henry makes a "bottom to sleigh". Horse drawn sleighs were the major form of local transportation in the winter. Henry has a lame shoulder for a second day. Son Cad has to be punished - no mention of what for. A note at the end of the day's entry referring to 34 cts. worth - this amount is not listed in the ledger at the end of the diary.
Tuesday Henry and Sarah go with William Blodgett and wife to visit the Charles Couleys.... I'm struck by how much visiting goes on at a time when that wasn't just a matter of hopping in the car! They go by "long sleigh", and encounter quite a bit of drifting snow. It must have been quite a gathering, because 4 other couples are there, along with a Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Elder Lawton and her two daughters. That's a total of at least 18, not including any children of the Couleys?
6 comments:
I guess we know which brother YOUR brother took after, ha, ha!! By the way, nowadays, even going by engine-powered sleigh, you still encounter all sorts of drifting snow in these parts. The more things change...
No radio, no TV......just good old conversation. Would they have played cards?
Even when I grew up in the 40's, my parents were constantly visiting their group of friends to play cards. I think I was 12 when the first TV hit the house. But I sure remember sitting around "watching radio" while dad read the paper.
(that map link kept spinning forever for me and never did load)
Playing cards would have been a definite no in the conservative Christian community they were part of. Socializing would never have included dancing, cards, drinking, or other activities considered worldly. I suspect maybe Omar may have stretched the limits somewhat - maybe the source of some of Henry's comments?
I've had no problem with the map thing. I'm not sure what could be the problem. I use Firefox. I tried it on Internet Explorer, and it worked too, but the little numbers were missing? Try again, and keep me posted.
And the fun blockade continues even unto our times...I was just telling Wyatt last night how your parents were ADAMANT that they wouldn't dance at my wedding! I think it was the first thing your mother said after we announced our engagement...;-)
In the realm of visiting though, I remember my grandmother telling me stories about when my grandfather was courting her. They lived some distance apart, and in the winter time, he'd lace up his ice skates and skate the 16 miles between their towns on the frozen Susquehanna. I wonder, what with all the winterishness hereabouts, if there was ever any skiing or skating involved in getting around?
Another thought on the map link. Try clicking the renew button when the loading process seems stalled. Sometimes that works for me.
Great story about your grandparents!
We'll have to keep an eye out for other transportation. Skiing is a possibility. Skating seems impractical since any streams nearby would not be flat! There is a mention of bicycles later in the year. I don't remember the exact reference, but I think somebody rides a bicycle from Mansfield? Given the year, it would have been one of those old "highwheelers"?
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