17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Sunday, October 6, 1912: Was rather woe-begone this afternoon. Guess the start of it all was that I tore my good white dress. Just sat down in a chair and there was a nail or some other rough surface.
I picture Grandma’s dress being solid white–rather than a print–and really pretty, but this is the best illustration that I could find. (Source: Ladies Home Journal, July, 1912)
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
What a downer! Did Grandma tear the dress at Sunday School or at home? I hope it was at home—it would be especially traumatic to tear a dress in front of others.
I’m surprised that Grandma was wearing a white dress. It seems like it would have been difficult to keep clean. And, white seems more like a summer color than a fall one.
17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, October 5, 1912:What with two days of vacation I haven’t worked much at my books in the way of getting my lessons out for Monday.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma’s school was closed the previous two days so that students could attend the Milton Fair. It’s hard to get back to the books after a long break.
Oh, well, it was only Saturday—Grandma still had Sunday to get her lessons done. 🙂
17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Friday, October 4, 1912: It was my turn to keep house today while Pa, Ma, and Jimmie went to the fair to take in the sights. I wasn’t to go away any place as I was to mind the house, cows, etc. Didn’t cut much ice with me, as I felt still tired from yesterday and was content to stay at home.
Recent photo of the Muffly farm. It probably seemed quiet and lonely when Grandma was the only person at home.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Seems reasonable to me—
Grandma had a wonderful day at the Milton Fair the previous day. Now it was her parents and little brother’s turn to go.
Where was Grandma’s sister Ruth? She was a teacher at a nearby school. Maybe Ruth didn’t give her students the day off like Grandma’s school did.
What does “didn’t cut much ice with me” mean? Grandma sounded annoyed that she had to stay home—yet she wrote that she was tired and content to stay home.
A quick Google search suggests that it means “don’t influence me”, but that doesn’t exactly work in this context.
17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Thursday, October 3, 1912: I really did go after all my doubtings, but now I feel just as tired as there is any use in being. Saw a flying machine whirling aloft in the air for at least 10 minutes. I think twas quite a sight to see.
Biplane at 1912 Milton Fair. (Source: Chronicles and Legends of Milton by George Venios. Used with permission.)
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Grandma went to the fair in the nearby town of Milton. She wrote the previous day that she planned to go.
Whew—I can hardly believe it, but I found a picture of the flying machine Grandma saw.
George Venios, in his book titled Chronicles and Legends of Milton, writes about the Milton Fair. And, he includes a picture of the plane that was at the 1912 fair.
The photo caption in the book says:
The photo, taken in 1912, is a pusher type biplane and is believed to be one of the first aircraft to land here while on a hair-raising “barnstorming” tour.
I contacted George and he generously gave me permission to include the photo in this post, so that you could see it. Thank you!
When I found the photo, I got my magnifying glass out to see if I could find Grandma in the crowd; though, of course, I couldn’t.
George also sent me a picture of a mural in Milton that reflects the history of transportation in the town. The mural includes an image of the 1912 biplane.
Transportation mural in Milton (Source: George Venios. Used with permission.)
Chronicles and Legends of Milton is an awesome resource that tells the story of Milton, and is full of wonderful photos. Milton has a really interesting history—and I’d encourage anyone interested in its story to get a copy of the book.
17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Monday, September 30, 1912: Our class had a meeting this evening after school. I had the misfortune to be elected secretary. But better, or rather it suits me better to have been that, than president or treasurer would have suited me.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Where did the class members meet? At the school? . . . at the home of one of the students? . . . at a restaurant? I believe that this building was a restaurant a hundred years ago. Maybe they met there.
It’s awesome that Grandma got elected class secretary—though she seemed slightly annoyed.
Maybe I’m trying to read too much between the lines, but was Grandma really hoping that she won’t be elected to any position–or had she hoped to be elected president or treasurer?
17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Saturday, September 28, 1912: Mater went to a sale today. I got busy this afternoon and went for to gather some butternuts. Was rewarded by getting almost a bushel, any way it was dreadful heavy to carry, but I got them home at last.
Butternut (Photo source: Wikipedia)
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
I never heard of butternuts until I read this diary. What are they? What does a butternut tree look like? Are there still any butternut trees around?
Butternut: Also known as White Walnut, this relative of Black Walnut is slower growing and much less frequently encountered than its well-known cousin. Butternut prefers moist bottomlands and ravines like Black Walnut, but its lightweight wood is beige-pink in color and is not nearly as sought-out for making veneer and furniture. Its kernel within the fruit gives it the common name of Butternut, as it is sweet and very oily.
Butternut trees have oval nuts; black walnuts have round nuts.
I now realize that maybe I can’t tell the difference between butternut and black walnut trees—and that I’ll need to look more carefully the next time I see a walnut tree to figure out which type it is.
An aside—
Last week-end my husband and I gathered black walnuts. We hulled them and set them out to dry. I can hardly wait until they are dry enough to crack and use. I absolutely love their wonderful complex, sharp, rich, nutty taste in cakes and cookies.
Here are the links to the posts I wrote last year about black walnuts:
17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Thursday, September 26, 1912: Excuse me, but you know there is an old saying: Don’t talk when you’ve nothing to say, so I’ll just change it to: don’t write, when you’ve nothing to write.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
