Strawberry Season Over

16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Friday, June 23, 1911: Was to pick strawberries this afternoon, but decided that it would be too hot. I’m going to stop now, as the season is over, having earned a snug sum of $2.65.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Grandma had begun picking strawberries on June 12. $2.65 in 1911 would be worth about $75 today.

When I was young we ate strawberries day in and day out during June—and ate black raspberries day in and day out during early July, and corn on the cob later in July and August. For each fruit or vegetable there was a season, and it tasted so wonderful the first time it was served each year—and we were so tired of it that we thought we never wanted to see it again by the time the season ended. But we were always thrilled when strawberries (or raspberries or corn) was again available the following year.

(Photo source: Wikepedia Commons)

Went Shopping in Milton

16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Thursday, June 22, 1911: Mother and I went to Milton this morning. I got a dress and a pair of shoes and some other accessories. Mother was so fatigued when we got home, but I was far from that.

Old postcard showing corner of Broadway and Front Street, Milton (Source: Milton Historical Society)

Recent photo of the corner of Broadway and Front Street, Milton

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

See the May 2 entry for a 1911 advertisement and photo from a shoe store in Milton.

Home Remedy: Bee Stings

16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Wednesday, June 21, 1911: Got stung twice by a bumble bee this afternoon. I didn’t feel too well.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

I wonder if Grandma used baking soda to reduce the pain and swelling caused by the sting. When I was a child my parents always treated bee stings by first gently pulling the stinger out if it had broken off and was embedded in the skin. Then they’d mix together a couple tablespoons of baking soda and a little water to make a paste. The paste was then thickly spread over the sting site.

The baking soda home remedy has always worked well—and when my children were growing up I continued to use it to treat bee stings.

Bisser Took Pity

16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Tuesday, June 20, 1911: Had a task I didn’t like very well for this morning. Was going to make an apron this afternoon for myself, but Bisser took pity on me and did it herself, so you see I was saved all the bother.

Apron.good.housekeeping.Apr.1911.1 — Photo of a young woman wearing an apron in April, 1911 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine. (Photo caption: "I don't mind doing the dishes--it's fun.") Was Grandma trying to make an apron that looked similar to the one in the photo?

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

I’m not sure who Bisser referred to—but it may have been Grandma’s oldest sister Besse. Besse was married, but lived nearby.

Retired Early–Sister Has a Visitor

16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Monday, June 19, 1911: I worked so very hard this forenoon, but made up for it by retiring early. Ruth is having Mr. J. Oakes down on the front porch this evening.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

I bet the real reason Grandma retired early was because she was jealous that a beau was visiting her sister. Ruth has been seeing Jim Oakes for almost three months. In the March 26 diary entry it sounded as if he was a new boyfriend. He was also mentioned in the May 25 entry.

The Lutheran Church in McEwensville

16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Sunday, June 18, 1911: Went to Sunday school this morning. Was over Stout’s this afternoon, and went up to the Lutheran church to witness their children’s day services this evening. Ma was my chaperone.

This used to be the Lutheran Church in McEwensville.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

There is no longer a Lutheran church in McEwensville. Messiah Lutheran merged with the other church in the parish—St. James Lutheran (Turbotivlle) a few years ago. The combined congregation is now called Holy Spirit Lutheran. Holy Spirit built a building in out in the county half way between McEwensville and Turbotville.

The building is now used for antique storage.

An aside: I can remember eating snacks on this porch when I attended Vacation Bible School there as a child. (I wonder why minor random events sometimes pop into my memory.)

Didn’t Go To Festival

16-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Saturday, June 17, 1911: There is a festival up town tonight. Didn’t go because I was too stingy, and I didn’t think it probable that one of my many beaus would be there. Rufus went though.

Recent photo of Watsontown Park. Can't tell from diary entry if festival was at McEwensville or Watsontown. If in Watsontown it probably was held here.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Many beaus?? Sounds like a bit of sarcasm in today’s entry. . .

Though I bet that Grandma’s sister Ruth—who is referred to as Rufus in the diary entry— saw a beau at the festival (or at least Grandma thought that she would).