A Celebration of Something

18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Saturday, May 17, 1913: Went to Watsontown this afternoon. There was a big time going on in there. The celebration of something. I don’t just know exactly what. There must have been at least four or five different bands. I’m pretty tired by this time. Had to do all the milking after I came home.

Were the bands marching down Main Street?

Or maybe they were playing at the Watsontown Park.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Hmm—Sounds like fun, though it’s interesting that Grandma wasn’t quite sure what the event was about.

Did her sister Ruth stay at the celebration in Watsontown?

Based on previous diary entries, I think that Grandma and Ruth typically each milked several cows.

They sometimes traded the milking chore so that one of them could do something else. Grandma might milk Ruth’s cows one day—and Ruth would milk Grandma’s a few days later.

Washing the Kitchen Ceiling

18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Tuesday, May 13, 1913: Started to earn my dollar washing off the kitchen ceiling. Want to get it finished by tomorrow. The Bryson girls were down.

Blanche Bryson (Source: “Cut” from picture in History of the McEwensville Schools by Thomas Kramm. Used with permission.)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Really?? Washing the kitchen ceiling?? Why?? I’ve knocked a few spider webs down from ceilings, but I’ve never washed a ceiling in my life.

Whew, it must have been a lot of work, if it was going to take two days. At least Grandma got paid for doing it. $1 back then would be worth about $24 today.

The Bryson Girls

One of the Bryson girls would have been Blanche. She was a friend and Grandma’s and her sister Ruth, and is mentioned several places in the diary. Blanche was a teacher at the Keefertown School, a one-room school house, near McEwensville. Both Blanche and Ruth went to the Sunbury teachers’ meeting that I showed a picture of a few days ago. I’m not sure what the other Bryson girl’s name was.

Has the Meaning of Varnish Changed over the Past Hundred Years?

18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Thursday, May 8, 1913: Rufus was busy shining up the piano, desk, etc. with varnish. It’s rather difficult to keep from getting in it, and then you have to handle your fingers so gingerly. I’ve been warned several times.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

The piano was almost new. Grandma’s mother purchased it on March 29, 1913:

. . . Ma bought a piano. I’m so glad for now I can learn to play.

The meaning of the word varnish must have changed over the last hundred years. When I think of varnish, I think of a lacquer; but it sounds like Grandma was referring to furniture polish.

Grandma called her sister Ruth, Rufus when she was annoyed with her. I can almost see Grandma’s fingerprints on the shiny piano wood; and Ruth’s exasperated expression.

Spring Chores the Same from Day to Day

18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Tuesday, May 6, 1913: These days of spring bring to me the same tasks which vary little from one day to another.

Cover of Kimball's Dairy Farmer Magazine (August 15, 1913) — Cover of Kimball’s Dairy Farmer Magazine (August 15, 1913)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Sounds boring. What were the tasks that needed to be done every day?

watching cows to ensure that they didn’t escape from the pasture?
milking the cows?
gathering the eggs?
feeding the farm animals?
planting the garden?
cooking?
cleaning closets and other spring housecleaning chores? (Does anyone do spring housecleaning anymore?)

Got Proofs of Graduation Photos

18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Monday, May 5, 1913: Got my proofs this morning. In one I look rather mad. Cleaned a closet this afternoon. Expect to get some more of it tomorrow.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

It didn’t take Grandma long to get the proofs. Her graduation pictures were taken on May 1.

I love the pensive expression on Grandma’s face on the picture she selected. I wonder if she was pleased with this photo. . . and, what she looked like in the picture where she looked rather mad.

I hope that you don’t mind that I’ve posted Grandma’s graduation photo several times—but it seemed like it was such an important part of today’s diary entry and I didn’t want to make you dig through old posts to find it.

1913 Gift Suggestions

18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Sunday, May 4, 1913: Went to Sunday School this afternoon. Although it is over a week since commencement, I received a present today. Making eighteen in all.

Sewing bag (Source: Ladies Home Journal, November, 1913) — sewing bag (source: Ladies Home Journal, November, 1913)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Hmm. . . What present did Grandma receive? . .

It probably was a small gift from her Sunday School teacher or another church member. . . maybe something handmade.

Grandma previously mentioned getting a hat pin, a handkerchief, a $2 bill, and a dress.

The November, 1913 issue of Ladies Home Journal suggested a few small gifts that could be made for 25¢ to $1. The magazine probably was thinking about Christmas when they published the article, but many of the gifts would have been equally appropriate as graduation gifts.