18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Sunday, August 24, 1913: Went to Sunday School this morning. This afternoon I walked out to Margaret’s. We had a dandy time together and spent it to advantage.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Some mysteries periodically recur throughout the diary. This is one of those times. Grandma only mentioned a couple friends in the diary—yet two of those few friends were named Margaret, so I’m not sure who this entry refers to.
Both Margaret G. (I’m not sure of the last name) and Margaret Bryson are mentioned.
Grandma lived about a mile and a half west of McEwensville. Margaret Bryson lived about two miles north of town (near the Warrior Run Church), so it would have taken close to an hour to walk to her home.
For more on Margaret Bryson see this previous post:
A Hundred Years Ago 
Back when people actually didn’t seem to mind walking!
The exercise probably made them healthier.
Yes I agree. I have a car, but I walk a lot for everyday errands like groceries, etc…
I still like to walk to places and I bet the two friends enjoyed a nice summer afternoon.
I also like to walk–but sometimes I think that we are the exceptions. 🙂
It’s interesting how a mile didn’t seem that far away back then. I’m glad she had friends. I wonder what “spent it to advantage” means. Did they quilt? crochet? paint the house or clean the carpets? . . .
Maybe. . . your guess is as good as mine. 🙂
Wow, is that the same house that Margaret would have lived in? Things sure last a long time round there.
The area is old–and, since there hasn’t been much growth over the years in the McEwensville area, many of the old homes and other buildings are still standing. Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to visit with some of Margaret Bryson’s descendents–and they showed me where she lived.