19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Tuesday, September 29–Wednesday, September 30, 1914: Guess I’ll have to commence writing about the weather. Well the weather should come in for its share of notice. You see this is fair week. I mean one with a capital F.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma—
Yeah! It’s Fair (with a capital F) week! The Milton Fair will be sooo much fun. According to last week’s paper there will be a band, a public telephone booth, and fast horses . . . AND (sigh) to keep parents happy, the fair will have a moral tone with no wheels of fortune.
A Hundred Years Ago 
The local fair was a big deal. That should give her something to write about, surely!
I agree! Fairs were extremely popular back then.
What is are wheels of fortune? Like a fortune teller? a wheel you spin that lands on a fortune? Was it thought to be blasphemes?
Diana xo
My guess is that “wheels of fortune” is an old-fashioned term for gambling wheels where players place bets on a number,
Just love Helena’s uplifted mood and sense of excitement.
She does sound excited about the fair. 🙂
I love county fairs.
So do I. 🙂
I wish we were there to spur her on!!! I know she would have a lot to say.
I know what you mean. She has no clue that writing about even the smallest thing is a meaningful activity.
The small country fairs are the best! Loved taking my children to these when they were young.
I also took my children to small country fairs. They are so much fun–the rides, the animals, the food, the people, the shows,. . . I could go on and on. 🙂
We always went to the County Fair. In fact, when I was in 4-H, I even exhibited at the County Fair. One of my best memories involves being dunked head-first into a cattle trough by a young man I was in love with, and who later became the County Attorney.
What a fun memory! I also was in 4-H, and enjoyed showing cows–but my memories don’t even come close to yours. 🙂
How exciting Fair Week must have been for Helena – maybe like the circus coming to town.
I agree–In rural areas fairs were huge events back then.
You’ve done a great job here of conveying the excitement. I can practically hear, feel, smell, and taste it — and just the atmosphere!
Thank you for the kind words. It’s good to know that it gave the feeling that I’d hope it would convey.
I hope she writes about the fair food 🙂
You’ll have to wait and see. 🙂
I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. I really enjoy your blog and find it both helpful and interesting. I’ve learned a great deal from your writing, and genealogy research techniques and insights.
To accept this award, please:
1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to that blog.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Nominate 15 bloggers you admire (or as many as you can think of!).
4. Contact your bloggers to let them know that you’ve tagged them for the One Lovely Blog Award
Congratulations! I have posted my nominations at:
http://www.diannhandysite.com/brumley-branches-one-lovely-blog-award-nomination/
Thank you! I’m honored that you think this blog is worthy of the award. I really appreciate it.
can you imagine the excitement of seeing or possibly even using a telephone?! How cool is that?
Very cool 🙂