18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Wednesday, April 23, 1913: The work of twelve long years is over. I have long looked forward to this. My last day at high school. It has come and with it a mixture of sadness and pleasure.
Two of my cousins came on the train to attend commencement. I had quite a time getting dressed, for buttons were bound to come off and strings to break.
At last I arrived at the church. We marched in and so on up to the front of the church, where we took seats in uncomfortable chairs and managed to sit out the evening. I recited my essay without a mental breakdown and then at last all was over, after which came congratulations and well wishes.
I am quite pleased with my presents. I received four today.
Graduating didn’t go very hard for me. I was sorry when all was over.
Succeeded in going to school every day for the last four years.
Helena Muffly (I think this is her graduation photo.)
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Congratulations Grandma!
Recent photo of the railroad tracks that cross the Muffly farm.
A hundred years ago Truckemiller’s Mill bordered the Muffly farm. There was a whistle stop for the Susquehanna Bloomsburg and Berwick (S. B. and B.) Railroad at the mill. The mill is long gone—and the road and railroad tracks have changed a little—but her cousins probably stepped off the train near this spot.
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This used to be the Lutheran Church in McEwensville.United Church of Christ (Reformed Church)
Grandma probably triumphantly marched with her classmates down the center aisle of one of these churches to the music of the orchestra. I wonder why the ceremony was held at a church instead of the community hall. . . perhaps the church was larger and would better hold all of the graduates’ friends and family members.
How wonderful that you have the program! Such a small class — and co-ed to boot. She had amazing attendance, didn’t she? Now that I know how young she was, I’m impressed at her writing skill. You don’t suppose anyone walzed to the walzes?
She was a wonder your grandmother! How is it possible never to miss school? And she was sick a lot too, from what I have read…I’m impressed with her. 🙂
Thanks for the information, and for figuring out where the graduation was probably held. It’s wonderful to know who was the pastor of the United Church of Christ.
Sounds as though she delivered her speech from memory; that would certainly have given me a breakdown. Quite an achievement to receive 12 years of education in that era I would imagine. Was school compulsory?
I also think that it sounds like she memorized her speech–it sounds much more difficult than using note cards that list the main points–but she probably felt more comfortable memorizing it (and maybe that is just how speeches were done back then).
High school was not compulsory back then. Somewhere I saw that only about 20% of students attended high school a hundred years ago and that fewer than 10% graduated.
This is wonderful: the day “we’ve” all been waiting for! Again, it’s so nice that you have her graduation photo and the program from that special night.
Some things never change. One thing that really struck me was her description of sitting in an uncomfortable chair. It’s funny, but one of my stronger memories of my own high school graduation was also of sitting in an uncomfortable chair. 🙂
Though I am a bit saddened to see her school days come to an end, I am excited and happy for your Grandma. Did I read today’s post correctly in that Grandma had perfect school attendance for the past four years? That alone is an achievement.
Interesting that her topic was of “Relics of Earths Past” – not Earth’s. Was it about other planets or an error? We can ponder. Exciting day for Helena! She wrote more than the past. It does sound like she had a perfect attendance. Is that true? Smaller class makes one attend no matter what, I would think.
It’s amazing how many different possible meanings we can get out of a simple four word title.
Based on the diary I do think that she had perfect attendance. I can remember several days when we wasn’t feeling very well–but went to school. And, there were a couple days when she was worried that her parents would make her stay home–for example, to help cook and serve food to the threshing crew. But in the end I think that she always was able to go to school.
It really nice that you have your grandma’s photo’s and the program and a diary entry too. That would look so pretty in a triple frame. Neat to be able to see the town too.
That’s a good suggestion. I’ll have to think about how I might do it. I also have the name card that I think is from her graduation invitation that would be nice to include in the same grouping.
That would all look so pretty in a shadow box, maybe with three compartments. It’d be a pricey frame job but so so worth it. You could admire it all the time and enjoy it.
Congratulations my Miss Muffly… am guessing that life will brighten up for you now 🙂 xxx
Sheryl, I have to say that I’m constantly in wonder that your grand-mother stayed at school for all this time… I say this because it was very different for both my grandmother and mother. Mum, despite passing the QC (Qualifying Certificate to attend High School here in South Australia) was always saddened at having give up her dreams in order to provide some income for the family.
Simply a different time and a different place which continues to fascinate me. Thanks for the sharing.
There seems to be a huge amount of variation in how long children stayed in school in this era in the US. Someone recently asked me about a great aunt on the other side of my family. I dug through my records and found that the great aunt was a few years younger than Grandma, but that she’d quit school after the elementary grades.
Congratulations Helena! She wrote quite a bit in her diary 100 years ago today (not surprisingly!) and I’m so pleased to hear that she didn’t suffer a mental breakdown during her speech too. 🙂
What a proud day for your grandma – it must have meant a lot for her to have written such a long (for her) account of it. How wonderful that you have the program and the picture!
What a grand day for your grandma, and here it is preserved to be enjoyed by many more! She wrote more in her diary than I have seen, so her excitement is truly catchy.
Yay Grandma! I’m only a year younger than she was at the time this was written, so I can easily imagine all her emotions! I’m looking forward to (and dreading) my graduation. So glad for her–and she even had perfect attendance!
A Hundred Years Ago 
How wonderful that you have the program! Such a small class — and co-ed to boot. She had amazing attendance, didn’t she? Now that I know how young she was, I’m impressed at her writing skill. You don’t suppose anyone walzed to the walzes?
It is amazing that she didn’t miss any school days during her high school years.
Since the ceremony was held in a church, I’d guess that no one waltzed the waltzes . . .but you never can tell. 🙂
She was a wonder your grandmother! How is it possible never to miss school? And she was sick a lot too, from what I have read…I’m impressed with her. 🙂
Wow, she wrote a lot that night. I am sure it was a wonderful day for her and one that she often remembered throughout her life.
Preston A Delong was the pastor of Trinity U.C.C. from 1907 to 1942, so it was probably at the United Church of Christ.
Thanks for the information, and for figuring out where the graduation was probably held. It’s wonderful to know who was the pastor of the United Church of Christ.
You are welcome. I just Googled P. A. Long and found a site that gives the history of the church.
Great find! You’re a good researcher. Thanks again.
I’m very excited for your Grandma, and can’t wait to see what life after graduation brings.
As I begin researching a few new topics for future posts, I’m also looking forward to learning more about her life after graduation.
Sounds as though she delivered her speech from memory; that would certainly have given me a breakdown. Quite an achievement to receive 12 years of education in that era I would imagine. Was school compulsory?
I also think that it sounds like she memorized her speech–it sounds much more difficult than using note cards that list the main points–but she probably felt more comfortable memorizing it (and maybe that is just how speeches were done back then).
High school was not compulsory back then. Somewhere I saw that only about 20% of students attended high school a hundred years ago and that fewer than 10% graduated.
So that makes her graduation and school attendance quite exceptional.
This is wonderful: the day “we’ve” all been waiting for! Again, it’s so nice that you have her graduation photo and the program from that special night.
Such a lovely young lady. I feel so proud of her!
I am so fortunate that she saved the high school program. She obviously considered it a very special day.
Great post.
How similar have been the thoughts and yearnings through generations! The church looks so pretty.
Shakti
Some things never change. One thing that really struck me was her description of sitting in an uncomfortable chair. It’s funny, but one of my stronger memories of my own high school graduation was also of sitting in an uncomfortable chair. 🙂
Though I am a bit saddened to see her school days come to an end, I am excited and happy for your Grandma. Did I read today’s post correctly in that Grandma had perfect school attendance for the past four years? That alone is an achievement.
Yes, she wrote that she had perfect attendance. It is amazing! 🙂
Beautiful & eloquent. Congratulations, Helena!
You put it so nicely–It is beautiful and eloquent.
Interesting that her topic was of “Relics of Earths Past” – not Earth’s. Was it about other planets or an error? We can ponder. Exciting day for Helena! She wrote more than the past. It does sound like she had a perfect attendance. Is that true? Smaller class makes one attend no matter what, I would think.
I meant it to read that she wrote more than in past entries for this entry.
It’s amazing how many different possible meanings we can get out of a simple four word title.
Based on the diary I do think that she had perfect attendance. I can remember several days when we wasn’t feeling very well–but went to school. And, there were a couple days when she was worried that her parents would make her stay home–for example, to help cook and serve food to the threshing crew. But in the end I think that she always was able to go to school.
It really nice that you have your grandma’s photo’s and the program and a diary entry too. That would look so pretty in a triple frame. Neat to be able to see the town too.
That’s a good suggestion. I’ll have to think about how I might do it. I also have the name card that I think is from her graduation invitation that would be nice to include in the same grouping.
That would all look so pretty in a shadow box, maybe with three compartments. It’d be a pricey frame job but so so worth it. You could admire it all the time and enjoy it.
Congratulations to you Sheryl. Thank you for your work.
And, thank you for regularly stopping by. I have a lot of fun doing this–and it is wonderful that others enjoy reading it.
Congratulations Helena! You did good, real good.
She did do good! It’s been fun following her as she’s progressed through the last couple years of school.
What a wonderful day! I could really picture it as I read her description.
She obviously recognized that it was an important day when she wrote the entry–and did a really nice job of describing it.
Congratulations my Miss Muffly… am guessing that life will brighten up for you now 🙂 xxx
Sheryl, I have to say that I’m constantly in wonder that your grand-mother stayed at school for all this time… I say this because it was very different for both my grandmother and mother. Mum, despite passing the QC (Qualifying Certificate to attend High School here in South Australia) was always saddened at having give up her dreams in order to provide some income for the family.
Simply a different time and a different place which continues to fascinate me. Thanks for the sharing.
There seems to be a huge amount of variation in how long children stayed in school in this era in the US. Someone recently asked me about a great aunt on the other side of my family. I dug through my records and found that the great aunt was a few years younger than Grandma, but that she’d quit school after the elementary grades.
You can feel the excitement of the day in your post. I love that she wrote “we took seat in uncomfortable chairs”. Some things never change 🙂
Graduations are always so special –in spite of those uncomfortable chairs. 🙂
Congrats to Gram! (Only 100 years too late:(
Better late than never. 🙂
Congratulations Helena! After reading your blog for quite awhile, I feel like I know her and want to send my congratulations.
Thanks for the nice note. You were one of my earlier readers–and I appreciate your support over the last couple years.
YEA! she made it – I had no doubts!! 😉
She had her doubts a couple of times–but we knew she’d make it. 🙂
Congratulations Helena! She wrote quite a bit in her diary 100 years ago today (not surprisingly!) and I’m so pleased to hear that she didn’t suffer a mental breakdown during her speech too. 🙂
She did write a lot for her. You can tell how excited she was about her graduation. 🙂
Yay! And she practically wrote an essay today.
I am surprised at how much I was anticipating this day. 🙂
Graduations are special!
I meant while reading your grandmother’s journal. I was really anticipating reading about her graduation. 🙂
What a proud day for your grandma – it must have meant a lot for her to have written such a long (for her) account of it. How wonderful that you have the program and the picture!
I’m very lucky to have the program and picture!
What a grand day for your grandma, and here it is preserved to be enjoyed by many more! She wrote more in her diary than I have seen, so her excitement is truly catchy.
You put it so nicely–Her excitement is catchy!
Yay Grandma! I’m only a year younger than she was at the time this was written, so I can easily imagine all her emotions! I’m looking forward to (and dreading) my graduation. So glad for her–and she even had perfect attendance!
Love to read that younger readers are loving Sheryl’s Grandma’s entries and comparing to today’s life. Love it.
And I love it too!
;3