1914 Karo Advertisement

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

Tuesday, February 24, 1914: Ditto

Source: National Food Magazine (February, 1914)

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

This is the second day in a row that Grandma didn’t write much. The previous day she wrote, “Nothing hardly worthwhile.”

The party that she plans to attend on Friday (and mentioned on the 22nd)—apparently didn’t merit a second mention when she wrote this entry.

What did Grandma do on quiet winter days? Did she ever bake or make candies using Karo corn syrup?

We worry so much about the health effects of corn syrup today. Who would have guessed that corn syrup has been around for least a hundred years? . . . (though I think that the recipe for Karo has changed over the years—and that back then it was just corn syrup, not high fructose corn syrup like it is now.)

Correction: After I published this post, I discovered that I’d made an error–and that Karo does not contain high fructose corn syrup. According to a FAQ sheet on the Karo website, Karo is made of regular corn syrup (glucose only). See comments below for more details.

Hundred-Year-Old Bird Drawings

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

Monday, February 23, 1914: Nothing hardly worthwhile.

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

Grandma-

For crying out loud, how can nothing be happening when you got invited to a party yesterday? The party’s on Friday—aren’t you thinking about what you’ll wear? . . . what you say? . . .

At least you could have told us about everyday events. . . even if it’s boring stuff because I’d find it interesting.

For example, what birds did you see and hear today? I heard a woodpecker pecking (hopefully not on my house) today. Are there woodpeckers on your farm?

And, this time of year the trees in my yard are often filled with noisy crows. Are there crows cawing in your yard?

—-

Since Grandma didn’t write much a hundred years ago today, I share some pictures from a book of birds published in 1914.

Crow: These birds, against which the hand of every farmer is uplifted, are very shy and cunning, as is well-known, they nearly always post a sentinel in some tree top to keep watch while the rest of the flock is feeding in the field below. In the fall and winter, large numbers of them flock, and at night all roost in one piece of woods.

Screech Owl: This well-known species, which is often called “Little Horned Owl” because of its ear tuffs. They nest anywhere in hollow trees, being found very frequently in decayed stubs of apple trees. They also often nest in barns or other old buildings which are not frequented too freely. Their food consists chiefly of mice and meadow moles, and occasionally small birds.

Chickadee: The Chickadee is too well known to need any description; suffice it to say that they are the favorites with everyone among all the North American birds.

The Bird Book (1914) by Chester A. Reed

Got a Bid to a Party

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

Sunday, February 22, 1914: Went to Sunday school this afternoon. We had church. Got a bid to a party next Fri.

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

The Baptist Church that Grandma attended is long gone. I think that it once stood on either the lot where the modular home is now or the vacant lot next to it.

Grandma—

Yeah! “He” finally asked you out.

—

I learned several things from this diary entry.

I learned a new meaning for the word “bid”. According to the dictionary, one of the definitions of bid is “an invitation.” Does anyone use bid that way anymore?

And, (though I can’t be positive because of the way Grandma worded her diary entry), I think that I learned that the guy Grandma liked attended her church.

Sometimes I’m absolutely amazed how commenters on this blog have premonitions about future events in the diary before I do.

I never work very far ahead writing posts. Occasionally I get 5 or 10 days ahead—other times I’m writing them the day before they’re posted.

I’m writing this post two hours before I post it—and I’m amazed how several commenters realized before I did that the guy Grandma liked went to her church.

On February 15 Grandma wrote:

Didn’t get to Sunday School this morning as the road is not much broken. Felt quite vexed about it as I didn’t want to miss more than what I could possibly help.

Here are two comments that people made on that post: Allysonj wrote:

I wonder if she is eager to get to Sunday school because of the Valentine she missed earlier in the week – maybe the sender will be there.

And, Catherine wrote:

I also wondered if the reason Miss Muffly did not want to miss Sunday school was because of a “love” interest there…

Thank you– Allysonj, Catherine, and everyone else who takes a few moments to help me try to make sense of the diary. You’re awesome!

Went to Town on Important Business

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

Saturday, February 21, 1914: Went to Watsontown this afternoon on important business. Came home in due time.

Recent view of the homes that Grandma would have walked by as she entered Watsontown.

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

What constitutes important business when you are 18. . . and very interested in a guy (who has only been identified as “he” in the diary)?

—

I’m probably way off base, but somehow this diary entry brings back memories of my excitement after my first date with the guy who eventually became my husband.

I wanted to show my cousin where my new boyfriend Bill lived. He lived on a farm that was visible from the main road—but down a long lane. So my cousin and I rode our bikes over to where Bill lived. We continued past the lane to a spot where we could look across the fields and get good view of his family’s farm.

We then turned the bikes around, and headed towards home. Just then Bill’s father drove up the lane, hopped out of his car and walked toward his mailbox. Of course he saw us, and I just about died. He said “hi” (and immediately went home and told Bill that he’d seen us).

—

These many year years later, Bill still teases me about spying. Was Grandma spying on “he”?

Awesome Desserts for a Washington’s Birthday Party

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

Friday, February 20, 1914: Nothing much doing.

Source: Ladies Home Journal (February, 1914)

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

Have you ever heard of anyone holding a party to celebrate Washington’s Birthday. It must have been a much more popular holiday a hundred years ago than what it is now.

Since Grandma didn’t write much a hundred years ago today, I’m going to share some fun food suggestions for a Washington’s Birthday party that appeared in the February, 1914 issue of Ladies Home Journal.

In the 1960s, Washington’s Birthday morphed into President’s Day which is celebrated on the 3rd Monday in February. But, in 1914, Washington’s Birthday was celebrated on his actual birthdate, February 22—and apparently it was a bigger deal than what it is now.

Tired Because Stayed Out So Late

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

Thursday, February 19, 1914: Guess I just dozed this morning. Don’t ever sleep well after being out so late. Had a tired feeling all day.

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

1913-10-52.b — In my mind, Grandma is sitting sleepily at the kitchen table writing in her diary. Picture source: Ladies Home Journal (October, 1913)

No wonder Grandma was tired. She got home from a party at 2:30 a.m.

The previous day she wrote:

Ruth and I went to a party tonight over at our cousin’s. We walked to town and from there the party was conveyed in sleds. Didn’t go very fast as the roads were full of snow. My, but we did have the eats. Bet there were some, who made it hard for their poor tummies. Got home 2:30 a.m.

I can’ imagine coming home in the middle of the night and immediately sitting down to write a diary entry. My gut feeling is that Grandma wrote both of these entries at the same time on the 19th.

Got Home at 2:30 a.m.!

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

Wednesday, February 18, 1914: Ruth and I went to a party tonight over at our cousin’s. We walked to town and from there the party was conveyed in sleds. Didn’t go very fast as the roads were full of snow. My, but we did have the eats. Bet there were some, who made it hard for their poor tummies. Got home 2:30 a.m.

Recent view from McEwensville looking out over the countryside. (The building in the foreground was once the McEwensville School.)

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

Grandma—

What an awesome party! . . . friends, sleds, lot of good food. . . Was “he” at the party? Life sounds good.

I want to just enjoy your fun, but somehow the time warp isn’t totally working for me—and the middle-aged mother in me has to ask you several questions:

Don’t you think that 2:30 a.m. was a bit late to stay out?

Did you and your sister Ruth have to walk home to the farm in the middle of the night all by yourselves? Was it safe?