18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, February 27, 1914: Was badly disappointed today. All week had been enjoying the anticipation of going to a sleighing party this evening, but the reality will never be realized as the thing fell through.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma, I’m so sorry. You were so excited when you got a “bid to a party” last week-end.
Did you cry? I can remember how I cried for hours when a date fell through when I was a teen. It hurts!
—
What happened? My first thought was that the weather was too warm, and that the snow had melted.
But, I’m not sure—the 27th was a relatively warm day, but there still was snow on the ground.
I found the weather station data for February, 1914 for Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Williamsport is about 20 miles from McEwensville.
On February 27, the high temperature was 46 degrees—but there was still 12 inches of snow on the ground. Williamsport is a little further north than McEwensville, and in a more mountainous area, so the snow cover may have been a little less at McEwensville—but it still seems like there would have been enough for a sleigh ride
Maybe something else happened. . . but what?
—
If you would like to find old weather station data for other cities and dates, see the following previous post:
How to Find the Temperature for Any City on Any Date in the U.S.
A Hundred Years Ago 
Poor Grandma….
It was hard to click ‘Like’ as I don’t like to hear that she was disappointed. However, it is a nice post. I don’t have to imagine her disappointment as I have experienced the same over the years.
We know things will happen, the saga continues 🙂
I know how you felt about clicking the Like button for this post. I also sometimes wonder if I should click it when someone is writing about a sad topic or event.
How disappointing. A not very interesting lecture yesterday, and now no sleighing party.
It was a rough week.
Intriguing! She could have been more elaborate, but then again … she didn’t know … that a hundred years later this would be read by people on something called ‘The Internet’.
She would have been absolutely amazed. . . though I hope that she’d be just a little pleased that we find her life interesting.
Aw…..yes, indeed, your readers all feel Grandma’s disappointment and remember going through those times as teenagers ourselves.
Sometimes I’m glad that I’m well past my teen years. 🙂
Do you think the disappointment at the lecture involved someone who wasn’t there … Now this is made worse by someone who she hoped would be?
I hadn’t thought about the possibility that she didn’t find the lecture very interesting because she was disappointed that a special someone wasn’t there–but now that you say it, that explanation makes a lot of sense.
Thanks for the weather data link. Lots of things available there.
I’m glad you like it. It’s amazing how much old weather data is available on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) site.
It is so amazingly wonderful how we are all identifying with a woman at the beginning of her life. Been there. Done that.
It’s amazing how many common experiences and emotions can transcend time.
ahhh the disappointments in life – poor Helena!
It is so hard to adjust when an outing is cancelled. Sorry. Jane
Rats. I was so looking forward to hearing about this date! Poor Helena . . .
Sad!
Oh I was looking forward to reading about the party. Doesn’t a sleighing path sound fun? I’ve always wanted to ride in one. Maybe the hosts got sick?
It sounds like she was really looking forward to going.
What a shame… xxx
Amazing that you have found such good weather records for the dates in the diary. So awesome. mmmmmmm Maybe the farmer with the sleigh had other plans