Tag: 100 years ago

Organized Literary Society

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

Sunday, October 20, 1912:  

November brings us many things

And among them is Thanksgiving

The first of the snow

The winds that blow

And all that makes life worthwhile.

We organized a Literary Society at school this afternoon. I am one of the committee. Just what I wanted to be.

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

Assuming that Grandma wrote the poem—and didn’t copy it from somewhere—it’s amazing how enthusiastic she was about November. It seemed like she was feeling down in several October diary entries. I hope that November proves to be a better month.

Was the Literary Society like a modern book club? Was it a school club . .  . or did a group of friends organize it? Did both males and females belong. . . or was it a girl’s only club?

I’m glad Grandma got the position she hoped to get. Committee member sounds like a worker bee position. Did the committee members help select books to read? . . bring desserts? . . . clean up after the meetings?

Need to Find Time to do Research!!

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

Monday, October 28, 1912:  Got mad at the Rufus tonight. I think she can be so mean sometimes.

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

When Grandma was annoyed with her sister Ruth, she called her Rufus. How was Ruth mean to Grandma?

The past week has had many high points and low points for Grandma. She also has seemed frustrated with herself and other family members. But there are very few specifics in the diary entries.

There’s a need for research here! I haven’t worked ahead—this post needs to be published in less than 24 hours.

I want to tie it all back to the “convention” that Grandma attended on October 24:

Didn’t have school this afternoon so we could go without missing. It was very entertaining. Enjoyed it much.  Would like to have gone to the convention again tonight, but it was raining.

And, the next day, she wrote:

I’ve resolved to do something if carried out, I think will prove very beneficial to me at least. I’m going to try any way and see the result.

My Questions—What was the convention? Did the convention somehow affect Grandma’s mood and how she was interacting with her family?

____

Note to Readers–Thanks for all of your wonderful suggestions about what the convention may have been.

Note to Self—(1) Try to find time to research this. (2) Try to get further ahead on writing posts. . . or at least remember to look ahead further so that there is time to do research before posts need to be written.

Sunday Routines

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

Sunday, October 27, 1912:  Went to Sunday School this morning. Carrie was over this afternoon. Miss Tweet was here also.

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

Sounds like Grandma spent a nice afternoon with two friends—Carrie Stout and Helen (Tweet) Wesner.

Grandma’s Sunday’s had a general routine—Sunday school, visiting with friends or relatives, and maybe a fun or relaxing activity— like a walk with a friend, or making ice cream, etc.

Sometimes the Sunday entries seem boring, then I remember how Grandma had to work very hard all week at school and on the farm—and I realize that these entries actually probably describe some of her happiest times.

Made a Resolution

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

Saturday, October 25, 1912:  I’ve resolved to do something if carried out, I think will prove very beneficial to me at least. I’m going to try anyway and see the result.

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

Hmm—What was the resolution? The previous day’s diary entry mentioned a “convention” in McEwensville—though it wasn’t clear what type of convention it was.

If it was some sort of religious event—maybe Grandma resolved to be a better, more religious person.

The convention may have been  sponsored by one of the churches in McEwensville.

St. Johns’ United Church of Christ (It was St. John’s Reformed Church in Grandma’s day.)
Building that once housed Messiah Lutheran Church

What Was the Convention?

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

Thursday, October 24, 1912:  Didn’t have school this afternoon so we could go without missing. It was very entertaining. Enjoyed it much.  Would like to have gone to the convention again tonight, but it was raining. That’s what if did this afternoon, too.

Was out to Ruthie’s school before I went up to the church. Took Jimmie out, that is he was to stay with her.

The road Grandma would have walked to McEwensville.

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

Grandma’s 7-year-old brother Jimmie also attended the McEwenville School. Their sister Ruth was a teacher at a nearby one-room school-house. Apparently the students at Ruth’s school didn’t get the afternoon off for the convention.

Why did Ruth need to babysit Jimmie while she was teaching. Maybe their parents also went to the convention.

I still haven’t figured out what the convention was—though Grandma mentioned it the previous day when she wrote:

Wanted to go to the Convention this evening, but it commenced to rain and Rufus said she wasn’t going, but she did go when Rachel came . .  .

It almost sounds like it was something associated with one of the churches in McEwensville—though I’m surprised that the students got time off school to attend a religious event.  Or maybe it was some sort of local political convention–elections were rapidly approaching both then and now.

What Should Grandma Write?

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

Monday, October 21, 1912:  Some good kind of mortal ought to tell me what to write, for I am beginning to get at the end of my string, as you surely can see by the tone of this entry.

I wish that Grandma had described what downtown McEwensville was like back then. I think that some of these homes were stores back then.

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

It’s interesting how Grandma seemed annoyed with herself when she couldn’t think of anything to write. Since she was keeping the diary for herself, it seems like she might have just some skipped days. But, Grandma seemed very disciplined about writing something every day. She must have been very firm with herself.

Harvesting Potatoes

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

Saturday, October 19, 1912:  Had to pick taters this afternoon. Thought perhaps I’d get out of it because it rained last night, but didn’t get out of it any way.

Harvesting potatoes in the German Democratic Republic in 1945. The country isn’t right–and the year isn’t right to illustrate this entry. But the picture does provide a sense of how much work it is to gather potatoes. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

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

It’s always dirty, difficult, back-breaking work to gather potatoes—and it must have been especially unpleasant if the field was muddy.

These potatoes probably were a long-season variety stored well.

I’m surprised that Grandma’s parents wanted to harvest potatoes if the ground was wet—it seems like the potatoes would have been a muddy mess.