19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Sunday, June 21, 1914: Went to Sunday School this morning. Was over to see Carrie this afternoon. It commenced to rain this evening. Was afraid I wouldn’t get up to town this evening. The Lutherans had Children’s Day services. The rain didn’t last long, so Ruth and I started out.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
I wonder why Grandma wanted so desperately to attend the Children’s Day services at the Lutheran Church.
Here’s one possible reason—though I don’t think that it’s very plausible. But here goes–
Maybe Grandma thought that my grandfather, Raymond Swartz, was cute; and, that he would be at the service. When I was a child my grandparents attended Messiah Lutheran Church in McEwensville—and I think that Grandma converted from Baptist to Lutheran when she got married.
That said, I don’t think this scenario is realistic. What I really think is that Raymond was not yet on Grandma’s radar screen. Grandma was three and a half years older than Raymond—and a hundred years ago today she was 19 years old, but he was only 15. They didn’t get married until she was 26 and he was 21.
—
Carrie Stout was a friend of Grandma’s who lived on a nearby farm. And, Ruth was Grandma’s sister.
Realistic or not Sheryl i like your idea. 🙂
It’s good to hear that it works for you. 🙂
I’m guessing, with you, that a 19-year-old girl wouldn’t have noticed a 15-year-old boy. A lot changes in a boy between 15 and 21! 😉
That’s what I think, too.
I saw a lot of 15 yr old ‘boys’ in school. By the time I taught them as seniors, they starting showing signs of becoming ‘men’. By 21, the transition was well underway. Of course, most have a long way to go before they are fully functional. I’m getting closer.
🙂
Maybe they went because they were between pastors at their church so they attended activities at another church. Church seems to have been the biggest social activity back then – a place you could get together with folks you didn’t see throughout the week.
Diana xo
I hadn’t thought of that, but now that you say it, your suggestion sounds like a very logical scenario.
Whatever her reason, I’m glad she got to go!
Oh, I love a bit of romance!
So glad she got a break from those strawberries!