19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, October 31, 1914: This is All Saints’ Eve and the moon is shining brightly. Would have liked to have dressed up and gone out Halloweening.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma—
Boo! What a spookactular night! You should have gone to town and had a little fun.
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Wednesday, October 21, 1914: << no entry>>
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Since Grandma didn’t write anything a hundred years ago today, I’m going to share how I made a shrunken apple-head witch.
The October, 1913 issue of Ladies Home Journal had an article with suggestions for Halloween parties. It included the following picture.
Unfortunately the magazine didn’t provide directions for making the apple head witch, and instead said that if you wanted directions for making the “novelties” shown that you should send a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Entertainment Editor—so I was on my own when it came to interpreting the picture.
Here’s how I made the apple head witch:
First I made the shrunken apple head face. To make it I followed the directions in a wonderful YouTube video on how to carve apple heads. It also showed how to dry them in the oven.
I used a popsicle stick and nail that I taped together to create the skeleton. I stuck the sharp end of the nail into the base of the dried apple, and the popsicle stick into a potato.
I then made the outfit using felt and staples. I didn’t like the way it looked when the potato based stuck out beneath the clothes—so I made the dress longer than in the old picture.
I used a part of a cotton ball to make the witch’s hair, and made the hat out of black construction paper.
The hat didn’t want to stay in place when I put it on the witch, so I broke a tooth pick in half and inserted it into the top of the head. I then placed the hat over the tooth pick.
—
Last year I made the carrot bogeyman that is in the old Ladies Home Journal picture. Click on the link to see that post.
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Monday, September 7, 1914: A foolish girl I was today. Took it into my head that I wanted to go to town to buy some things this afternoon. Well I went. Rode in with Pa. While on the way I thought it will be altogether useless, as the store would not be open since it was Labor Day.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Labor Day? . . . Oh, of course, this was the first Monday in September in 1914. This year Labor Day was on the earliest possible date; in 1914 it was the latest possible date.
Stores are open around here on Labor Day. In 1914, it must have been a bigger deal if stores were closed– though it apparently was a bit random whether schools were open. In 1912, Grandma wrote:
Had to go to school, even if it is labor day. We had this day off last year. . .
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, July 4, 1914: And quite a fourth it was. Saw not a single flash of even one firecracker.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma’s July 4th celebrations seemed hit or miss, and very low key. The previous year, on July 4, 1913, Grandma wrote:
Wasn’t much celebrating done at this house today. I saw a balloon go up or rather I saw it after it had gone up. Saw a few fireworks this evening, but that was at a distance.
I can remember going out on the hill behind the barn when I was a child on the 4th to look for fireworks in the distance. Maybe Grandma’s family also went to a nearby hill and hoped to see fireworks from nearby towns in the distance.
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, May 30, 1914: Went up to town this morning to take in the doings. Went with a couple of friends over to Watsontown this afternoon. Saw a fat cousin.
If I squint a little I think that I can see a parade slowly advancing down Main Street in Watsontown–a band, the GAR Civil War Veterans, a couple horses pulling carts advertising local businesses. . .
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Prior to 1971 Memorial Day was always on May 30.
—
Yeah, Grandma! I’m glad that you’re finally having some fun. Was there a parade? . . . food? . . .music? Did the old veterans make speeches? It’s been a rough few days with the death of your infant niece—and it’s good that you’re finally getting out with friends again.
—-
Memorial Day sounds like a fun holiday a hundred years ago. For example, on May 30, 1912 Grandma wrote:
Memorial Day: Carrie and I went up to McEwensville this morning. This afternoon we went over to Watsontown accompanied by another girl friend. We had the pleasure of getting an automobile ride. It was the first time I was ever in one and consequently never had experienced a ride. We had a good time.
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, April 10, 1914: Went to Watsontown this afternoon. Don’t have a new hat for tomorrow. Well, you see it will be Easter, that’s why. Oh, I don’t mean tomorrow; I mean the day after tomorrow.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Whew, another ambiguous diary entry. . .
Did Grandma buy an Easter hat when she went to Watsontown. . . or didn’t she?
19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, March 21, 1914: It doesn’t seem to me that this day is long in coming. Time was, when I wanted it to come, now I don’t. Am afraid it may come some day and find me an old maid.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Happy Birthday, Grandma!
Don’t stress. Nineteen is not old, and I can see in my crystal ball that you aren’t going to be an old maid—though you are going to need to wait another 7 years to get married.
