19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, August 21, 1914: We breakfasted about seven this morning, after which we started out on our tour through the glen. I was so disappointed that I could not get any pictures. The day was so gloomy. They wouldn’t have been good, so I just had to swallow it. The glen proved to be almost as wonderful as Niagara Falls. We climbed stairs after stairs, and still seemed to be no nearer the top.
When we got part way through, it commenced to rain, but still we kept on for we were determined to see the place. At one spot the water rushes down over the passageway. We ran past this and managed not to get wet. This place is called Rainbow Falls for when the sun shines they say it forms a rainbow. How I wish I could have seen it, but the sun kept himself hid that morning. I am afraid my hat is well nigh ruined from the wetting it got, and Ruthie’s also.
We arrived at the station and still had about fifteen minutes to wait for the train. It stopped raining towards noon, and when we reached Williamsport it was as bright as it would be. I believe I was really glad to get home. Nothing had run away during our absence. I don’t believe I spent more than $20, coming out better than I expected. I will always have the memory of this trip, and the fact that it was enjoyed.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
What an awesome trip! I can’t add anything to Grandma’s wonderful descriptions, so I’m not going to even try. 🙂
It’s just great that her memories of this great trip have lived on.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m so fortunate to have the diary.
She enjoyed it and…so did we!!!
It is fun to read about her trip so many years later.
A wonderful story! Thank you for sharing. Family history is my favorite thing.
I really enjoy family history. When I first started posting the diary in 2011, I worried that I’d tire of family history. That definitely hasn’t been the case–I enjoy it more than ever.
Cannot disagree! The more you learn, the more you want to know 🙂
Ah, yes, a great trip, followed by the pleasure of being home!
There’s no place like home!
So nice to read of her adventures! And $20! That was probably all on meals — do you think she was counting train fares too?
There’s been a lot of inflation since then. It probably includes her share of the hotel rooms, and any admission fees. If I had to guess, I’d also guess that it includes the train fares; but she may have purchased the tickets in advance and not counted that.
I had no idea that Watkins Glen actually has a glen! I love the postcard. I think I’d rather visit there than Niagara Falls, if I could only do one place.
I haven’t been to either in years, but I like them both. Niagara Falls is so massive that it invokes a sense of awe; whereas Watkins Glen is absolutely beautiful, but much more nuanced.
I would enjoy seeing the glen today. Here is a more contemporary view..
Thanks for the picture. It’s fun to see how similar it looks now to the way it looked back then–though, of course, some things have changed (railings, bridge)
This girl lives for action. Sort of sad she’s stuck away on a farm with limited access to adventure. I can see her becoming a photojournalist if the times had been different.
Your comment really resonates with me. I never thought about it until I read it, but I think you’re absolutely right. She definitely had the skills to do photojournalism–and in a more modern era it might have been a possibility.
What a wonderful adventure they had. 🙂
I agree!
What a great trip!
I agree!
Lovely, like the post card too.
I’m glad you liked it.
Even Helena knew that this trip would be one to be remembered – love it!
Diana xo
She did seem to sense hat it would be a memorable trip.
Wow, I can’t believe how much she wrote! Usually it’s just one line. It’s evident she truly enjoyed this trip! What a beautiful place.
It’s fun to see how well she could write in the longer diary entries.
I never thought of going to Watkins Glen when I lived on the east coast. Darn it!
I have similar feelings about things I never got around to visiting in some of the places that I’ve lived.
Such a wonderful post. Brought back fond memories of traveling to Watkins Glen with my grandparents! 🙂
It’s nice to hear that it brought back some fond memories.
🙂
I’m so glad she had this wonderful experience!
So am I.
What an amazing trip! I’m happy she enjoyed it….and then was happy to be at home again.
Trips are fun, but it’s always good to get home. 🙂
Trips are eventually memories we hold dear.
I agree–It is fun to remember various trips that I’ve taken over the years.
By the way, this is such a beautiful post. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad that you liked it.
Wow! 20 dollars! But I’m sorry Grandma’s hat got ruined by the rain.
It seems really impractical to wear hats while hiking through Watkins Glen. If style dictated the women wear hats while hiking and doing other outdoor activities, lot of hats must have gotten ruined back then.
She was pretty talkative that day! Love the postcard, so colorful and adds to the description.
It seems like she was so excited about the trip, that it motivated her to write more. I’m glad that you liked the postcard.