Copyright 1991 (Todd A. Kraft) and subsequent versions (Robert A.
Kraft)
[conversion to HTML, 22je2004; latest modifications and corrections,
22je2004]
Note that this version of the Journals attempt to retain the
original
line divisions, to facilitate
verification; obvious misspellings are corrected, with the
original noted in brackets; capitalization and punctuation have often
been normalized, since CSM's writing style is quite inconsistent on
such matters. Subsequent versions will resolve hyphens and ignore
original formatting.
For relevant genealogical information, see http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/gen/geneal.htm
To Margaret Miller Northrop Hall, my great-grandmother, who taught me that happiness in life is something that must be pursued.
To Robert Alan Kraft, my father, who taught me that life is a question waiting to be answered.
And to Charles Somers Miller, my great-great-grandfather, who through the following journals has taught me that life's beauty is contained in the simple, daily ebb and tide of events that shape the world through which our lives flow.
I gratefully acknowledge the support of my father, Robert Alan Kraft, who orchestrated and financed the collection and creation of these journals in electronic form. From him, as well as Howard Russell Kraft and Marian Northrop Kraft, come many of the notes on the Pierpont Family as well as the Miller Family. In particular, the Pierpont Family Association genealogical records, which were converted to electronic form by Robert Kraft, have been invaluable in identifying many of the individuals mentioned in these journals.
For many years I held my father's interest in family history in mild contempt. This is not rare, as any parent with teenagers can attest. Although I have not yet had the pleasure of experiencing the violent eruption that occurs when one's own child reaches into adulthood, and perhaps am no more prepared for the event, even armed with the knowledge of my particular journey into the majority, I am better prepared to satisfy the hungry void that will cry out into the night "Who Am I?" What I then percieved as sentimentalism on the part of my father, I now recognize as an honest attempt to understand the historical, social, and religious contexts from which he came.
As Charles Miller so aptly states "I have but little to write about, but must write something for practice as it is hard for me to write good, so I write a little every day" (10/09/1899).
Todd Alan Kraft December 19, 1991
---
Work Record Pocket Diaries of Charles
Somers Miller
[these small books, through 1890, contain mostly notes on hours worked
per day, with some sketches and addresses, etc.; we have transcribed
the most significant content. The Journals proper start in 1891, although 1890 provides
somewhat of a transition.]
01\01\1876(Sa) Worked at Benedict & Burnham's 4 1/2 hours.
01\07\1876(Fr) Went to West Haven.
02\04\1876(Fr) First sleighing of the season.
02\07\1876(Mo) Sleighing all gone.
02\14\1876(Mo) Paid for my paper.
02\28\1876(Mo) More sleighing.
02\29\1876(Tu) Good sleighing; snowed about 1 1/2 inches thick.
03\03\1876(Fr) Sleighing all gone.
03\11\1876(Sa) Paid for paper.
03\29\1876(We) Water so high in the river we could not work.
05\10\1876(We) 130 thousand people at the exhibition at Philadelphia.
Centennial opens to day.
05\11\1876(Th) P. T. Barnum's great show here to day.
35 thousand people at the centen{n}ial.
05\13\1876(Sa) Went to Litchfield.
05\14\1876(Su) Returned from Litchfield.
06\10\1876(Sa) Went to Litchfield.
06\11\1876(Su) Came home from Litchfield.
06\25\1876(Su) A storm of hailstones occur{r}ed to day, the stones
about the size of walnuts.
06\27\1876(Tu) Staid home to hay it.
07\04\1876(Tu) [see separate entry]
07\08\1876(Sa) Was home sick.
07\15\1876(Sa) Went to Litchfield.
07\16\1876(Su) Came home.
08\12\1876(Sa) No water. [Other Sat entries often "No work"]
08\26\1876(Sa) No water.
09\02\1876(Sa) No water.
09\18\1876(Mo) Went to the Centen{n}ial.
09\23\1876(Sa) Came home from the Centen{n}ial.
10\15\1876(Su) About three inches of snow fell this morning.
12\04\1876(Mo) Enlisted in Company A, 2nd Reg't C.N.Y.{? C.N.J/G.}
Financial records and summaries at the end.
01\20\1877(Sa) Went to Litchfield.
01\29\1877(Mo) Rev. Jacob L. Clark buried to day, age 70 years.
04\02\1877(Mo) Grand Mother {Miller} died to day. Mrs. Timothy Miller.
Betsy Stannard, Litchfield.
04\03\1877(Tu) Grand Mother {Miller} buried to day. See Oct. 18.
06\17\1877(Su) Went to Litchfield.
06\24\1877(Su) {Why here??}
Frank H. Miller. Age 21 years Oct 21st.
Charles S. Miller. Age 18 years Sept 27th. {b 1858; going on 19}
Mary A. Miller. Age 15 years July 3rd.
Carrie A. Miller. Age 14{?} July 23rd.
Fred D. Miller. Age 13 years Oct 15th.
Ivan A. Miller. Age 3 years Sept 2nd.
07\19\1877(Th) Went to Trinity Church picnic at highrock grove.
08\01\1877(We) Went to coney island.
09\14\1877(Fr) Got Mary's organ to day at Briggs & Smith.
10\12\1877(Fr) Joined the Good Tenplers {sic} in Wolcott.
10\18\1877(Th) Grand Mother Somers died to day.
10\28\1877(Su) Went to Litchfield.
Financial records and summaries at the end.
[some purchase of fife and drum equipment also]
04\28\1878(Su) Went to Litchfield.
12\11\1878(We) The river was so high, we could not word{sic work?}.
The Naugatuck was about 14 feet above low water mark and the
Seymour rail road bridge was taken away.
Financial records and summaries at the end.
02\05\1879(We) Went home sick. Worked 1 hr.
03\01\1879(Sa) Sick.
03\27\1879(Th) Hired out to work for David Porter to day.
03\31\1879(Mo) Worked for David G. Porter to day. In the forenoon
chopp{{i}}ed near the Brass mill pond; in the afternoon
tore paper in the little house on the plank road.
04\01\1879(Tu) Worked this forenoon tairing paper of{f} the walls
of the house on plank road and chopping alond{sic, along?}
the same road in the afternoon. [Then purchases.]
04\02\1879(We) Worked at joiner work this forenoon. Helped Lester
draw wood this afternoon. {*Paid my board}
04\03\1879(Th) Worked at joiner work this forenoon and chopped
after dinner.
04\04\1879(Fr) Worked this forenoon {moving} straw from the east barn
to
the west; in the afternoon moved straw up on the loft and
drew wood from the swamp near the pond untill old De Hoor{?}
broke his hoof.
04\05\1879(Sa) Worked to day chopping wood at the door.{?}
Lester and Mr. Porter went to Mrs. Todd's funeral.
04\07\1879(Mo) Worked this forenoon making a bookkase{?} and
chopped north of the plank road in the afternoon.
04\08\1879(Tu) Worked chopping on the north side of the plank road.
Paid my board. [very large, scrawly hand!]
04\09\1879(We) Drew wood in the forenoon and worked at Joiner work
in the afternoon.
04\10\1879(Th) Worked around the little house on the plank road.
04\11\1879(Fr) F{r}ost.{?} Worked at joiner work, hung a grindstone.
04\12\1879(Sa) Fixed the picket fence in front of the little house
on the plank road and then chopped wood at the door, then
buried a calf, then drew wood, then threw wood into the
wood house.
04\14\1879(Mo) Got out manure and much{muck?}.
04\15\1879(Tu) Carted muck{?} out, built fence nerast{sic} the
brook and fixed hay cutter.
@Not paid my board.
04\16\1879(We) Knocked dung in the meadow{?} back of the barn and
drew wood.
04\17\1879(Th) Cut hay and fixed wagon.
04\18\1879(Fr) Worked fixing a old{?} wagon and cleaning out the
{*a} wagon house.
04\19\1879(Sa) Did not work.
04\22\1879(Tu) Not paid my board.
04\23\1879(We) Made a fire bord {sic} and spread muck and carted muck.
Plea{sa}nt day.
04\24\1879(Th) Drove team for Leter to plow over by Mr. Lakes.
A very ple{a}sant day.
And {erased?} saw Dr. Swift in the afternoon and went up to
the Che{st}nut Hill reserway {sic}.
04\25\1879(Fr) Made flower beds and plained sticks for grape arbors.
Fair day.
04\26\1879(Sa) Carted muck and transplanted rheubarb.
Fair day.
04\28\1879(Mo) Planted potatoes.
A nice shower in the afternoon.
04\29\1879(Tu) Spread muck on the hill m{e}adow and fixed the fence
up to scruboak. |Fair day. |Not paid my board.
04\30\1879(We) Planted potatoes over by Lakes. |Ple{a}sant day.
05\01\1879(Th) Planted potatoes. |A very ple{a}sant day.
Paid my board. |Received 40 dollars. ...|Paid my board up to
next Saturday night.
05\02\1879(Fr) Planted potatoes in the forenoon and plained the stuff
for the grape arbor in the afternoon. |Plesant day.
05\03\1879(Sa) Fixed fence near the dry bridge and plowed Mr. Ashton's
garden. |Plesant day.
05\05\1879(Mo) Set out apple trees and grape vines and sparaaron{?}.
A very plesant day.
05\05\1879(Tu)-05\10\1879(Sa) Worked. {etc. in later passages}
05\12\1879(Mo) Worked in the garden. |P. T. Barnum's show in town
to day.
05\13\1879(Tu) Worked in the garden. |Lester got through to day.
05\16\1879(Fr) Worked in the garden. |Had old home shoes set over
{.75}.
05\17\1879(Sa) Worked plowing on the hill in the forenoon and
harrowing in the afternoon.
05\29\1879(Th) Planted carrots on the hill.
05\30\1879(Fr) Planted carrots on the hill.
05\31\1879(Sa) Worked planting carrots on the hill.
Paid my board up untill to night.
06\12\1879(Th) Worked. |Mr. Porter went to New York.
06\13\1879(Fr) Worked. |Broke the wagon wheel to ...{?}.
06\30\1879(Mo) Worked one half day. |Mary graguated {sic} to day.
Commencde {sic?} loging{sic?} to day.
07\04\1879(Fr) Went to New Haven to day to the celebration.
07\05\1879(Sa) Paid up my board untill to night.
07\15\1879(Tu) Worked. |Received $20.00 to day leaving 2.89 to go
on next month.
07\22\1879(Tu) Worked. |Ledo {sic?} away the white cow.
07\24\1879(Th) Worked 1/2 day. |Went to Trinity picnic.
08\02\1879(Sa) Worked. |Paid my board up to night $20.00 (15.36 more
due).
09\10\1879(We) Weth{sic Went} to Wolcottville {sic} and drum{m}ed
for the dedication of the Souldiers {sic} Monument.
09\16\1879(Tu) Drum{m}ed to day at the fair.
09\17\1879(We) Drum{m}ed at Hartford to day.
10\02\1879(Th) Hued{sic} timber for my shop.
10\07\1879(Tu) Went to Harwington to the fair to drum.
10\15\1879(We) Went to Wolcott to drum to day at the fair.
10\25\1879(Sa) Worked. |Paid my board up to night.
10\27\1879(Mo) Worked on my shop.
10\28\1879(Tu) Worked for Wm Pratt.
11\01\1879(Sa) Shingled my shop.
11\05\1879(We) Werked{sic}. |Finished shingling my shop.
11\20\1879(Th) Went to Litchfield.
11\21\1879(Fr) Went to Goshen.
11\22\1879(Sa) Came home to day. |Paid my board up to night.
11\24\1879(Mo) Worked. Bought a pair of bellows and tyure{sic}
iron for $11.50 of Cha's Allen.
12\09\1879(Tu) Built the chimney to my shop.
12\15\1879(Mo) Set my o....{??} block.
12\22\1879(Mo) {{*Werked}} In my shop.
12\23\1879(Tu) Fixed Ediu {?} Todd's sleigh.
[Omitted various addresses and purchases, references to "worked"]
Some summaries and financial records at end
Work Record Pocket Diary 1887
Time Table for Board or Labor preceding Daily Memoranda
01\01\{1887}(Sa) Amount due Spenser Monroe 29.34
01\15\{1887}(Sa) An account of expenses due/paid to Spenser Monroe
01\16\{1887}(Su) Fred M. Drew
Ansonia{?}
Get{?} 25 1886
(something pretty incomprehensible) then 2.50
01\27\{1887}(Th) Lawn{?} List
Shaf 5.00
lorrigh{?}.10
b S 3.30
____
8.40
02\01\{1887}(Tu)-02\02\{1887}(We) List of lumber ordered with measures
and
prices.
02\16\{1887}(We) Lake 2 strips 3' 7" long
02\18\{1887}(Fr) Paid Harris that 10.00 (or 1000) on weekend.
02\24\{1887}(Th) James Parter gave district note for 2 man the{?}
$250.00
03\05\{1887}(Sa) Fair. Recieved of George Chandler $2.00 on account,
2.00 balance left.
03\07\{1887}(Mo) Huled(hauled?or hued- hewed) 120 ft. of timber for
shop.
03\08\{1887}(Tu) Had Wilson{{s}} Pi{e}rpont team 4 hr. this forenoon
drawing logs from Henry Wedges. Worked
huling(hauling? or huing- hewing) timber for shop
hued (hewed) 132 ft.
03\09\{1887}(We) Pleasant. Hued (hewed) 149 ft. of timber.
03\10\{1887}(Th) Rainy. Hued (hewed) 68 ft.
03\11\{1887}(Fr) Windy. Hued 75 ft. Reci{e}ved of A.E.Chandy{?} 8.50
pay to date. Baught (bought) of JH Gurnesy{?} 2 nail
hammers 1.25.(page ends with calculations)
03\12\{1887}(Sa) Fair. (Figures for Henry Wedge timber and John
Delaney lumber)
03\14\{1887}(Mo) Cool. Wm. Purdy drew 2 loads of lumber for shop.
Reci{e}ved $5.00 on account of Dennis Peck.
Wm. Purdy drew one load of 3 by 4 stuff from Nor{?}
Benhams in Jan. Worked full time.
03\15\{1887}(Tu) Cold. Bought of E.E. Wright 2800 bricks @ 2.00 per
1000 Wilson drew 1 load to Gafney's.
03\16\{1887}(We) Cold. Wm. Purdy drew 5 loads of lumber to day.
Ordered 200 ft. of 1 1/2 spruce plank to day, 10 ft.
Mr. Pryer paid $3.75 for shafts and whiffletree.
03\17\{1887}(Th) Mr. Purdy drew 2 loads of lumber. Ordered of John
Gurnesey (list). Mr. Rockwood lettered Morgan{'}s wagon.
Worked fraining {?} shop.
03\19\{1887}(Sa) Fair. Worked on shop.
03\20\{1887}(Su) Clear,warm. Mary and Gussy were thrown from Frank{'}s
wagon at the chaple and afterwards Frank and Gussy were thrown
out on the plank road near Wilson's.
03\21\{1887}(Mo) Wilson drew wood from south woods.
03\23\{1887}(We) Sold Ed Scott 183 ft. of white oak plank and plank 7
ft. long 10 in wide 3" thick= 15'-2".
03\24\{1887}(Th) Paid Milan {?} Northrope $1000 to pay for Belting.
Bought a watter{water?} Seatt(or Scatt). Paid Farrell Faundry
$10.15 to pay for truck wheels.
03\25\{1887}(Fr) Cold. Paid Nor{?} Morris 250 for Wm Durkee.
03\26\{1887}(Sa) Clear, cold. Recieved of Elias S. Miller $70.00 pay
for services rendered.Eoal{?} Farius School Dist.
Raitharius{?} A. Perkins.Reci{e}ved of DL Sammeris {?} $20.00
Panalils{?}.
03\28\{1887}(Mo) Bought of M. Loannis{?} of Pine Meadow one drum
stuff{?} for $5.00. The town commenced cutting the hill down
to day.
03\29\{1887}(Tu) Very cold. Worked on shop frame.
03\30\{1887}(We) Raised Shop to day.
03\31\{1887}(Th) Bargained of A.B.P. for one horse 12 years, Price
75.00. (Jack? {sic} drowned in Brass Mill Pond- 1898? {sic})
04\01\{1887}(Fr) W. G. Brooks, Bethel. Vt.
04\02\{1887}(Sa) Dick Morgans curshan (or cursham?) 3' 7" by 14 1/2.
Spenser did not work, went to Cogswells.
04\04\{1887}(Mo) Commenced tareing (tearing?) the shop down.
04\05\{1887}(Tu) George Moss brought 230 ft. of oak stripe 5" wide and
8 ft. long. The old high way barrude{?} that my shop has stood on
are in a direct range of the center of James Porter's and the
shear Co chimneye (chimney) the line crossing the tower also in
line at right angles facing the east end of Father's barn and
striking 3 ft. west of a large rock at the south end of the
woods.
04\06\{1887}(We) Worked moving my shop.
04\07\{1887}(Th) Spenser Monroe's brother died to day. A.B. Pierponts
act against Spenser Monroe for Mar 6.92. Spenser did not work
this afternoon.
04\08\{1887}(Fr) David Prichards act $6.05, E.A.Benham $48.88.(the
rest is a list of measures)
04\09\{1887}(Sa) spenser did not work.
04\11\{1887}(Mo) Worked on new shop.
04\12\{1887}(Tu) James Porter and I searched the rec{{k}}ords. At a
special meeting of the School Society of Waterbury at
Gathrie{?} Hall on the 20th day of April 1846 in persuance of
warming{?}. Elias Cook was chosen Moderator and Willard Spenser
Clerk (Pro) {sic}. Voted that the bounds lines of the East
Farms District be altered in the following manner.(Near){?}
(the descriptions continue on the next page 04\13)
04\13\{1887}(We) Wm Shannan died to day at noon. (continuation of
previous description) Beginning at the Cheshire Line in the road
leading from Waterbury to Cheshire thense {?} westerly in the
line of Sch{?} Roads about 60 rods to the north Branch of the
Beaver Pond Brook. Then Northly to Wolcott Line on the west
side of the road leading from Wolcott to Cheshire where it
crosses the Meridian Turnpike Roads, there Easterly in the line
of Wolcott to Cheshire line.(continued on next page 04\14)
04\14\{1887}(Th) Drum Corps{e} met at Fred's to practice. (continuation)
Then in Cheshire line to place of Beginning. Voted that all that
part of the East Farms Dist. lying nirnt{?} in the above described
lines be annexed to the South Distric{sic} in the town of Wolcott.
Voted to d{i}ssolve this meeting.(Attest) William Spenser Clerk
Pro Tem{?}
04\15\{1887}(Fr) The above is a Copy of the Records @ Proceedings of
said meeting as handed to me by Willard Spenser under his hands
as Clerk Pro Tem{?} Alter{?} L. P. Bryan, Clerk. (nothing else
on the page however)
04\16\{1887}(Sa) Reci{e}ved of E.E. Wright $5.00
04\18\{1887}(Mo) Benhams 2 men worked 3 1/2 hr. Spenser worked 3 1/2
Snow fell 6 in deep to day. Very Cold.
04\19\{1887}(Tu) Jim worked. Spenser 8 hr.
04\20\{1887}(We) 2 of Benhams men worked to day.
04\21\{1887}(Th) 2 of Benhams men worked to day.{sic}
04\22\{1887}(Fr) 2 of Benhams men worked. Hotchkiss worked 4 hr.
Soandland{?} worke 2 hr.
04\23\{1887}(Sa) 2 of Benhams men worked. Hotchkiss worked 4 hr.
04\24\{1887}(Su) Feb{?} Mailthrop M.
F{?}hae " " M.
Ha L Tetkins{?}
Michael Donovan
Jerry "
Benjamin Fourclaigh
Harry "
Wm Pritchard
Geo Harrison
Arthur "
Georg{e} Plantsville
Cha's Tuttle
Wm Slatten
" Somers Ordered 200 ft. of 1 1/2 spruce plank to day 10 ft.
H.A. Norton
Cha's Yarclaigh
C.S. Miller
H. Dethuns{?}
04\25\{1887}(Mo) 2 of Benhams men worked. Shingled Shop.
04\26\{1887}(Tu) Spenser worked 1/2 day.
04\27\{1887}(We) 1 of Benhams men worked (Jim).
04\28\{1887}(Th) 2 of Benhams men worked. Spenser did not work.
Hitchkess worked 9 hr.
04\29\{1887}(Fr) 2 of Benhams men worked. Hotchkiss worked 9 hrs.
04\30\{1887}(Sa) 2 of Benhams men worked. Spenser worked 1/2 day.
Reci{e}ved 10.00 of Austin. Hotchkiss worked 5 hr.
05\02\{1887}(Mo) Hotchkiss worked 1 day 10 hr. A.B. Pierponts actt
8.60 Spenser Monroe.
05\03\{1887}(Tu) Jim worked 5 hr. Hotchkiss worked 9 hr.
05\04\{1887}(We) Jim worked 10 hr.
05\05\{1887}(Th) Jim worked 10 hr. Hotchkiss worked 10 hr.
05\06\{1887}(Fr) Jim worked 10 hr. (calculations below) Hotchkiss
worked 10 hr. payable first Monday in June{?}. Meeting called
to Order 90 shad{?} in persuance of wanng{?} James Warner
chosen Moderator C.S. Miller clerk Pro. BOB South piece
of woods 8 a 2 R 35{?}
05\07\{1887}(Sa) Jim worked{{e}} Hotchkiss worked 6 hr. Wolcott Drum
Band meet to night and {?}oponed(postponed?) of Corps property.
05\08\{1887}(Su) on the list of 1886. Voted to pay at tax if 15 1/2 on
a dollar Payable the Sixth day of June 1887. Voted to dissolve
this meeting.
05\09\{1887}(Mo) Jim worked 10 hr.
05\10\{1887}(Tu) Jim worked 10 hr. Morgan paid for wagon $19.00.
05\11\{1887}(We) Jim worked 10 hr.
05\12\{1887}(Th) (page of names and calculations)
05\13\{1887}(Fr) D.C. had a sociable in my shop, about 100 Present.
05\14\{1887}(Sa) Bought 1/2 ton of coal of Miller and trickland, price
$3.65. Ordered of the City Lumber and Coal Co. 700 ft. of
spruce boards, 4 planks 1 1/2 by 12" 12' long. 24=1 1/4 planks
3'long 10" wide. Wm Girlley 2 pieces of pipeline .20 cts.
05\16\{1887}(Mo) Commenced working in new shop to day seeting lines
for M. Bryan 2.00. Ed Holmes .40 ct. Alexander Bloamfield
shot Warren Frost and then shot himself. (gun is in Museum
M Hall- `43).
05\17\{1887}(Tu) Trusks 2' 3" made 2' 3" {?} (calculations)
05\20\{1887}(Fr) Jim worked.
05\21\{1887}(Sa) Jim worked. Recieved of Miles Farrell 12.00 pay for
cartwheels.
05\23\{1887}(Mo) One of Benham's men worked 1/2 day.
05\25\{1887}(We) One of Benhams men worked 9 hr. Wm Grilley br By Pail
and dipper
.35 cts.
05\26\{1887}(Th) 2 of Benhams men worked 1/2 day, one apprentice{?}.
James Parter let me have 500.
05\27\{1887}(Fr) 2 of Benhams men worked 10 hr., one apprentice. Had
shop insured 800.
05\28\{1887}(Sa) 2 of Benhams men, one apprentice.
05\30\{1887}(Mo) Decoration Day. Horse came to day. Jack? -chestnut -
black mane and tail, with a western brand (diagram)
05\31\{1887}(Tu) 2 of Benhams men worked (one apprentice). The Berlin
Iron Bridge Co. (calculations).
06\01\{1887}(We) W.D. Stryker H{?} Co., 201 Grand St., N.Y.
06\02\\{1887}(Th) One of Benhams men worked. O.G. Larchild {?for next
word}
06\03\{1887}(Fr) 2 of Benhams men worked (1 apprentice).
06\06\{1887}(Mo) Spenser did not work. Reci{e}ved of Frank Judd 10.00
on adat{?}.
06\07\{1887}(Tu) (measures) Reci{e}ved of S.L. Munson $5.00 (then a
diagram)
06\09\{1887}(Th) (calculations)
06\11\{1887}(Sa) Oct. 30 Teachers Salery (salary) (calculations
beneath) Wm Purdy drew Engine from Southington.
06\12\{1887}(Su) 1886 Oct. 30 by cash (calculations beneath)
06\13\{1887}(Mo) Recieved of Frank Judd 15.00 on account.
06\15\{1887}(We) Robert Wiltars{?} buy hahe{?} wheels (calculations
beneath)
06\17\{1887}(Fr) Went to New Haven to day to drum for the dedication
of the Sauldiers {soldier's?} Monument. 21 men furnidid{?}
-East Rock-
06\20\{1887}(Mo) (listing of accounts for customers)
06\28\{1887}(Tu) 6 tight truck, 7' long, 24" mid, fist {? for next
word) truck to be done in ten days, 65.00.
06\29\{1887}(We) Had fuhukey{?} same at Mayd{?} Smithe 50 cts. 1/2 hr.
Got 3 pulley of Walter Scott 1-12", 1-16", 1-9 1/2". 1 piece of
shafting 4" long with suplin{?} on an end. (calculations
beneath) Oscar Fairchild came to day. Oscar Fairchild came to
board today.
06\30\{1887}(Th) Wm. E. Hustin Buy Aut{?} Bill $10.00. Greely Aut 70
cts. my due.
07\12\{1887}(Tu) M. Rockwood No. 136 N{?}fainsly.
07\14\{1887}(Th) (listing of order to/from Randolph B. Clows and
measures)
07\18\{1887}(Mo) Mr. Fairchild came to day.
07\23\{1887}(Sa) (calculation) Johnson's bill 3.67. Paid Cha's Clark
196.33 for Engine. 100. bill Waterbury National.
07\25\{1887}(Mo) Baught of Clark Bros Mill Dale a lot of washers for
1.50, paid 1.00.
07\26\{1887}(Tu) John Northrop painted our shop.
07\27\{1887}(We) Clyde taken sick. Doctor came.
07\28\{1887}(Th) Doctor came.
07\29\{1887}(Fr) Doctor came.
07\31\{1887}(Sa) Doctor came.
08\01\{1887}(Mo) Doctor came.
08\02\{1887}(Tu) Doctor came. John Northrop painted on shop.
08\03\{1887}(We) Spenser Monroe act 7.07 for July, for June 7.34, for
May 5.48.
08\04\{1887}(Th) Doctor came.
George Edwards
Fred Miller
Cha's Miller
Robert Spenser
Spruce
Chas Fenton
(calculations below)
08\05\{1887}(Fr) Northrop painted shop, balance due him 10.30.
08\07\{1887}(Su) Doctor came.
08\08\{1887}(Mo) Ed Holmes worked. Bill 8.50.
08\11\{1887}(Th) Buckingham
Fred Miller
Roalik{?}
Lewis
Cross {Crass?}
Somers
Cha's Miller
Buyers
08\12\{1887}(Fr) Bauch{?} of dues. Fed{?} pay on said table for 12.00.
32 ft of 4" leather {?for next word} for $7.00. One 12" saw
2.00.
08\13\{1887}(Sa) Reci{e}ved of D.G. Porter $15.00. J.{?} A. Spenser br
by 1 bag oats, 1 saw{?} $2.70.
08\16\{1887}(Tu) William left to day.
08\18\{1887}(Th) Edward
Spruce
Crass
Boath (Booth?)
Wright
Lenor's
Miller
Smith
Hordoy
Clark
Miernam{?}
08\19\{1887}(Fr) Caris Frost worked laying floor for engine.
08\20\{1887}(Sa) Frost worked. Spenser went to Seaside Park.
08\23\{1887}(Tu) Frost worked
08\22\{1887}(Mo) Frost worked.
09\03\{1887}(Sa) (list of accounts with continuation on next page)
09\04\{1887}(Su) (same list)
09\06\{1887}(Tu) Yardan
Barton
Spinner
Boaths
Lents{?}
Buyers
Lenoir{?}
M. Miller
Cauley{?}
Cross
Miller
Old Mr. Fairchild cam{sic} to board to day @ 4.00.
09\08\{1887}(Th) Fire Parade. Did not work this afternoon. Fire
Parade.
09\13\{1887}(Tu) Clark
Wright
Booth
Spruce
Barton (this is the probably the right list)
Edwards
Buyers
Norton
Somers
Cross
Lewis
09\14\{1887}(We) J. H. Somers Wheels (then measures)
09\15\{1887}(Th) Old man Fairchild worked chopping wood to day.
09\17\{1887}(Sa) Fairchild worked 1/4 day.
09\19\{1887}(Mo) Spenser went to Kent to day.
09\20\{1887}(Tu) Paid Mr. Blakewell{?} 10.00
Farrell Faundrys 29.04
City Lumber and Coal Co. 29.53
10\01\{1887}(Sa) Oscar left boarding to day.
10\02\{1887}(Su) Joe came to see horse.
10\03\{1887}(Mo) William Miller came to work and to board to day at
3.50 per week. Frank moved from Wrights to day. Oscar moved
from Ansonia to day into Wrights house.
10\04\{1887}(Tu) Spenser Monroe bill for Sept. 8.91.
10\07\{1887}(Fr) Mr. Fairchild help dig Patalaes{?} this forenoon.
10\11\{1887}(Tu) Barton
Booth
Fanton
Cross
F. Miller
Smith
Lewis
Somers
Buckingham
Edwards
10\19\{1887}(We) Robert Welton bought axle of Goodmin.
10\24\{1887}(Mo) Mr Payne let me have $10.00 on account.
10\25\{1887}(Tu) James Sutton bought 4 cider barrels.
10\26\{1887}(We) Oscar Fairchild went selling rings to Bristol. Wright
took the white horse away.
10\29\{1887}(Sa) H.W. Lakes bill 8.24. Spenser worked 1/4 day. Paid
Spenser 5.00.
10\31\{1887}(Mo) Visited school to day.
11\01\{1887}(Tu) H.W.Lakes carriage came to day.
11\03\{1887}(Th) Monroes bill $13.28 to A.P.P.
11\04\{1887}(Fr) Gave bar 1.50 change from door.
11\14\{1887}(Mo) Spenser worked 1/2 day. Owe Wm. for 3 weeks.
11\16\{1887}(We) Henry Carter saw me to day about the pay for the
band.
11\18\{1887}(Fr) John Delaney bill $6.36.
11\19\{1887}(Sa) Paid Spenser 7.00.
11\20\{1887}(Su) (Measures and price for a "driver pulley" and saw)
11\21\{1887}(Mo) Spenser Monroe did not work. Went to Bristol to buy
saw this forenoon.
11\23\{1887}(We) Spenser worked this forenoon.
11\26\{1887}(Sa) Spenser did not work.
11\28\{1887}(Mo) Spenser worker{sic} nine hours.
11\30\{1887}(We) (measures and diagram)
12\01\{1887}(Th) Paid M. Welton. Drum Corps Note{?}.
12\02\{1887}(Fr) (listing of accounts) Paid Will 5.00.
12\03\{1887}(Sa) 5 weeks pay due Will to night, less 5.00 due 12.50.
12\10\{1887}(Sa) Mr. Frost worked 8 hr. Turned counter shafts. Paid
Spenser 4.75.
12\12\{1887}(Mo) Spenser worked 4 hr. Mr. Frost worked 7 hr. Bored out
sollars{?} and pulleys.
12\14\{1887}(We) Mr. Frost worked 7 hr.
12\15\{1887}(Th) Paid L.L. Eusworth $70.00. Mr. Frost worked 7 hr.
12\16\{1887}(Fr) Paid Wallace{?} Northrop $5.00. Mr. Frost worked 7
hr.
12\17\{1887}(Sa) Reci{e}ved of H.M. Geake 5.00 on account. Paid
Spenser $5.00. Mr. Frost worked 7 hr. Paid Wm. Miller 12.00.
12\19\{1887}(Mo) Paid Wm. Miller 5.00.
12\21\{1887}(We) (measures and diagram)
12\22\{1887}(Th) (measures and diagram)
12\23\{1887}(Fr) (measures con't)
12\24\{1887}(Sa) Wm. Purdus wood came 5.66.
12\26\{1887}(Mo) Christmas
12\31\{1887}(Sa) Paid Spenser 500{5.00?}
Cash Account in the back with a few names and figures. The
rest (expenses, notes and bills, etc.) is blank.
In the back compartment, there are three IOU notes and a slip
of paper with calculations of accounts on it.
Preceded by an 1888 Calendar and Almanac section. Both the
front and back covers have calculations written in pencil on
them; the front has "Cha's S. Miller, Waterbury, Conn."
written in pencil.
01\15\{1888}(Su) Used 35 gals of oil from 49 1/2 gal tanks.
03\02\{1888}(Fr) Spenser filed D.G. Partners saw for .50.
03\04\{1888}(Su) Spenser came home from Beacon Falls this fore noon.
Worked afternoon.
03\06\{1888}(Tu) Commensed{sic] taking milk of Wilson.
03\08\{1888}(Th) (listing of accounts) Schwegal let S. Monroe have
the Cha's Monroe place for 8.00 per month.
03\07\{1888}(Fr) Paid School Teacher $64.00.
03\12\{1888}(Mo) Snowed all day and night.
03\13\{1888}(Tu) Snowed all day.
03\14\{1888}(We) Snow 3 ft deep an leavel{sic} and drifts as high as
20 feet all rail road trains stoped{sic}.
03\15\{1888}(Th) Spenser worked.
03\16\{1888}(Fr) Spenser worked. (listing of supplies)
03\17\{1888}(Sa) (measures of wagon to be made, with diagram)
03\18\{1888}(Su) (diagram con't) Wm Miller got through working to day.
03\19\{1888}(Mo) (supply list)
03\21\{1888}(We) Reci{e}ved of C.S. Miller $41.56 Payment in full to
date (followed by signature)
03\22\{1888}(Fr) Hattie Pierpont came home from {?}alafornig{?}
04\15\{1888}(Su) (listing of accounts)
04\18\{1888}(We) (listing of accounts)
04\24\{1888}(We) Reci{e}ved of C.S. Miller 14.15 payment in full to
date (signature? by Wm Durkee)
05\10(10-11)\{1888} C.S.Miller, Piman{?} Smith, Ed Smith, Somers,
Clark, Marram{?}, Kilbaum{?}, Boath, Cross, Edwards.
05\22\{1888}(Tu) Ed Johnson buried to day. Spenser worked 4 hr.
05\24\{1888}(Th) Stock holders train run over the Meridan Waterbury
and Com{?} River railroad Run from waterbury{sic} to Meriden in 45
minutes.
05\27\{1888}(Tu) (someone else's handwriting) Charles F. Wayner,
Westfield, Mass.
06\07\{1888}(Th) (listing of accounts)
06\08\{1888}(Fr) Ed Holmes Plowing{?} Rifle (figures)
06\21\{1888}(Th) H.W. Lakes bill 14.49.
06\24\{1888}(Su) Drove to west Haven and oyster river with Clyde and
Mary. Very warm.
06\26\{1888}(Tu) Ben Harrison nominated for President and for vice
President. S. Monroe worked this fore noon.
06\27\{1888}(We) Iron body from Trucks made for Randolf and Caloms
(measures) Mr. F. L. Adams, H.B.O.H.
06\28\{1888}(Th) H.B.O.H. ordered (list)
(One loose page with accounts on it)
07\05\{1888}(Th) (list of supplies)
07\06\{1888}(Fr) Give Mr. Bradley reci{e}pt for booth{?} money and
indu{?for rest of word}
07\09\{1888}(Mo) First trains run on the Meridan Waterbury and Comm
River Rain road.
07\11\{1888}(We) {? for this entry}
07\12\{1888}(Th) Judd and Judsons (measures and diagram )
07\13\{1888}(Fr) (measures con't)
07\20\{1888}(Fr) (measures)
07\21\{1888}(Sa) Father and I went to Cheshire to day on the New rail
road.
07\22\{1888}(Su) (diagram)
07\25\{1888}(We) Spenser worked 1/2 day.
07\26\{1888}(Th) (diagram and measures for wagon)
07\27\{1888}(Fr) (measures con't)
07\31\{1888}(Tu) Tawns discount{?} $9.60.
08\01\{1888}(We) Saw Mr. Fardon this noon at Scovills. Promised to
meet me at PO 7 o'clock next tuesday{sic} evening.
08\09\{1888}(Th) Went to Bridgeport to foresters parade.
08\10\{1888}(Fr) Mathan. Merwin.
08\11\{1888}(Sa) Judd and Judson ordered wagon 1 1/2 axle platform
spring for $150.00.
08\12\{1888}(Su) Wm Durkee came to work this noon @ 3.00. Post man
came to the new mail box to day.
08\18\{1888}(Sa) Mr. Logan ordered farm wagon $65.00.
08\31\{1888}(Fr) (list of orders)
09\01\{1888}(Sa) (another order)
09\03\{1888}(We) Went to Middletown to Drummer's convention.
09\16\{1888}(Su) Spenser came Home from Kent.
09\25\{1888}(Tu) Distance from Waterbury to East Litchfield 18 miles.
10\13\{1888}(Sa) George Sprague bill for 7.00. Sons of veterans and
Mattatuck Drum Corps had clam bake at my shop.
10\14\{1888}(Su) Frank and Gussy stayed at our house.
10\16\{1888}(Tu) {? for this entry}
10\17\{1888}(We) Mr.Wright butchered 8 hogs.
10\22\{1888}(Mo) (listing of orders )
10\25\{1888}(Th) H.B.C.H. ordered 2 mill trucks @ 30.
10\31\{1888}(We) Had Republican Parade in new Britan to night.{sic}
11\01\{1888}(Th) Had Republican parade in Litchfield to night.
11\08\{1888}(Th) Republicans had big parade to night.
11\10\{1888}(Sa) (diagram) Paid Wm up to day.
11\22\{1888}(Th) Painted shop, it took-(list of materials)
11\23\{1888}(Fr) Painted windows in shop.
11\24\{1888}(Sa) Northrop paid .75 cts. on rifle.
11\25\{1888}(Su) Snow fell 4" deep, first snow of the season.
11\28\{1888}(We) Drum Corps owe me $6.16. I owe the Drum Corps $7.84.
11\29\{1888}(Th) Cha's Tues{?} ordered wagon 140.00.
12\03\{1888}(Mo) (accounting)
12\04\{1888}(Tu) Went to South Britan and got 6 yards of cloth for
shirts of .70 cts. per yard, also 12 skiynes of yarn @ .20 per
Sham{?}. (calculations at end)
12\05\{1888}(We) Ordered 1 ton of soft coal.
12\07\{1888}(Fr) (accounts)
12\08\{1888}(Sa) (listing of supplies)
12\17\{1888}(Mo) (diagram)
12\26\{1888}(We) J{?}tohans ordered business wagon $150.00.
In the memoranda section there is the note:
Mr. Fairchild dug potatoes.
Oct. 8th 1 day
Oct. 11th 6 hr.
There is also a keeping of cash accounts in the back section.
On the inside and back covers, there are measures and
calculations in pencil. There is also an almanac section,
addresses and memoranda section, and a timetable for board or
labor in the front. The addresses and memoranda section
contains the addresses of: Mrs. Lidia Chipman, No 51 Central
Av{e}, Eddie Lyons, Sheffeld Mass., and Perre Surprenant, No
323 Bank St. City. The timetable for board or labor is also
filled out with the names of Mike, Durkee, Monroe, and
Munson{?}.
01\06\{1889}(Su) Signed a note for Spenser Monroe for 200. Payable
in
two years. from date.
02\06\{1889}(We) (description of a purchase of a quantity of oak wood)
02\07\{1889}(Th) (same sort of description, purchase by Luther
Bradley)
02\09\{1889}(Sa) Durkee Paid up till to night.
02\18\{1889}(Mo) (measures of ordered rivits, iron, and tire bolts of
L.L. Eusworth)
02\19\{1889}(Tu) (more orders made)
02\20\{1889}(We) (diagram and measures)
02\23\{1889}(Sa) Sessions Sent 27 wheels.
02\24\{1889}(Su) Mary had a girl at 9:30 to night. Margaret M.N.
Hall.
02\25\{1889}(Mo) (another order of L.L. Eusworth)
02\26\{1889}(Tu) (another order of L.L. Eusworth)
02\27\{1889}(We) (another series of measures)
03\02\{1889}(Sa) Mr Rice of Cheshire ordered a new 2 horse wagon
simular to Robert Minors for $100.00 with hay rigging.
03\03\{1889}(Su) Mrs. Nettleton got through to day.
03\15\{1889}(Fr) Paid Durkee 2.50 half cord of wood. Borrowed 35.00
of Jas Parter.
03\16\{1889}(Sa) Mrs. Pratt came to do house work to day.
03\19\{1889}(Tu) Luther Bradley by {sic} 160 ft of oak and ash{?}.
03\20\{1889}(We) (figures) Paid Durkee 6.15 one ton of coal.
03\21\{1889}(Th) Paid Durkee 2.00 for book 10.00 cash.
03\22\{1889}(Fr) (another purchase by Luther Bradley)
03\25\{1889}(Mo) (a purchase by George Alexander)
03\26\{1889}(Tu) (an order by A.R. Pierpont)
03\27\{1889}(We) Paid Durkee 6.00 on books.
04\02\{1889}(Tu) O{?} L. Fairchild commenced paying rent to day 3.00
per month.
04\06\{1889}(Sa) Paid Durkee 50 cash.
04\07\{1889}(Su) Paid Durkee 90 in rake and hoe.
04\09Tu) Paid Durkee 2.00 on G.B. Hitchcock account.
04\13\{1889}(Sa) Owe Wm 13.61.
04\17\{1889}(We) Paid Durkee 1.00 cash.
04\22\{1889}(Mo) Mr. Melbourne came to work to day @ 1.50. (measures)
04\24\{1889}(We) Paid Durkee 5.00 he bought 3.12 worth Gracrues{?} of
Spenser @ Pierpont. George Mass and Wm. Clark Den Peck and Ed
Wallace worked on addition to shop.
04\25\{1889}(Th) Paid Durkee 2.00 to Pay for books. Den Peck and
Edgar Wallace worked to day.
04\26\{1889}(Fr) Charged Durkee 1.00 for Mashiers {?} boxes.
05\04\{1889}(Sa) Paid Durkee 3.00 cash.
05\07\{1889}(Tu) Paid Durkee 2.00 cash.
05\09\{1889}(Th) (measures)
05\10\{1889}(Fr) (list with figures)
05\11\{1889}(Sa) (list with figures) Paid Fred Miller payment 2.00
for drum wheele. Bought of P.S. Wedgr{sic} in 1886. Paid
Durkee 3.00 cash.
05\13\{1889}(Mo) (list of clothing)
05\14\{1889}(Tu) Bought of the Alwater Manufacturing Co. a lot of
hardware for 13.75 and of H.D. Smith a lot for 2.09. Paid Wm.
Durkee 10.00 cash.
05\17\{1889}(Fr) Spenser did not work to day.
05\21\{1889}(Tu) (listing of accounts)
05\22\{1889}(We) (measures)
05\27\{1889}(Mo) Owe Henry munson last week's pay and week before
last, and week before that. Owe Tom last week and 8.00 on week
before that.
06\03\{1889}(Mo) (measures)
06\08\{1889}(Sa) Paid Durkee 1.00 cash, paid Durkee 100 on S.P.
Bronson's account.
06\09\{1889}(Su) Michael Burns ordered wagon 50.
06\10\{1889}(Mo) (measures)
06\19\{1889}(We) (listing of accounts)
07\02\{1889}(Tu) (listing of order from George Alexander)
07\09\{1889}(Tu) Paid Durkee 7.00 on Kellogge account.
07\10\{1889}(We) Shop 23" long
07\15\{1889}(Mo) {?} with {?} 16.25 due fines.
07\16\{1889}(Tu) Paid Durkee 1.00 cash.
07\17\{1889}(We) Paid Durkee.50 cts. cash.
08\02\{1889}(Fr) {? for this entry... for wooden pulleys}
08\21\{1889}(We) Paid Jame{?} Reed $10.00 for Rent an John
Thackerie{'}s
House.
09\12\{1889}(Th) (listing of accounts)
09\19\{1889}(Th) Paid Spenser Monroe 21.00 to pay months wages.
09\21\{1889}(Sa) CW Hall, Bridgeport, Con.
10\11\{1889}(Fr) (listing of measures)
10\12\{1889}(Sa) (listing of orders)
11\30\{1889}(We) Borrowed 22. of Harman Payne to be paid by the 30th
of Nov. (Paid)
11\22\{1889}(Fr) Engaged Led{?} coal of Mr. Wood at 4.75 per ton.
11\24\{1889}(Su) The freight train went out on the Meridian Waterbury
to Conn River RQ {?} this morning with 25 cars the longest train
I ever saw on that road and the longest I think that ever
passed over it drawn by one engine.
11\27\{1889}(We) Tried to settle with Oscar Fairchild to day.
11\28\{1889}(Th) Thanks giving day the water in the streams was higher
than it has been before in 20 years many bridges was washed
away and the water on south main st and exchange place was 2 ft
deep.{sic}
12\16\{1889}(Mo) (listing of orders)
12\25\{1889}(We) A remarkably warm day more like May than Dec. weather
so warm a man would sweat without an overcoat in the evening. I
heard several moskitoes{sic} buzzing about the house.
A full cash account section in the back section, with a
pencilled calculation on the inside of the back cover.
[[Charles Somers Miller 1890 small workbook]]
Front flyleaf, upper right hand corner (price?):
M
69
Chas S Miller
Jan 1 1890
In the section "Addresses and Memoranda" the following
names are listed with addresses:
Suderberg G{?} Pulson
J H Baird
John T Danovan{Donovan?}
John Megher
F D Miller
O. A. Beckwith
Aldin S Wood
Henry A Makepeace
Fred S Kimball
Frank C Bradford
R S Wells
C S Wells
W A Rice
S S Hougton
Milliard{?} Barnes{?}
J A Squires
L B Moore
Fred S Kimball
In the section "Time Table for Board or Labor"
names and figures are listed for each month,
apparently amounts paid to each person:
Melbourn{?}
Welton
Nettleton
Munson
---
Melbarn{Melhorn?}
Welton
Nettleton
---
Melbaurn{?}
Welton
Nettleton
---
[[the last 3 names are repeated in the 3 sets
(April-May-June; July-Aug.-Sept.) on the
next two pages, then again on the following page
but with "Tom" instead of Melbourn/Milbourn/etc.]]
01\06\1890 (Monday)
George E Nettleton
came to work{worke!} for
me to day at 1 00{?} and
board per day
01\14\1890 (Tuesday)
Moved bailer
01\16\1890 (Thursday)
Mr. Charles Kingsbury
died to day
Aged 95 years the
oldest man in town
01\19\1890 (Sunday)
I stayed home all day
Mary took Clyde and
Irving to the Chapel
and then went to see
their Grand mother at
uncle Geanine's{?}
Cha's Belding and
his girl t___d{tiped?} over
in front of the house
at 1 o'clock to night
01\20\1890 (Monday)
Wrote to Barney & Berry
for Georg Nettleton to day
02\06\1890 (Thursday)
Mr. Munson came to
paint Wright's Carriag_{carriage?}
in my shop to day
02\07\1890 (Friday)
A great blizzard predicti__{prediction?}
for to day.
It snowed a little in
the wven ing{,?} and rained
hard all night
02\10\1890 (Monday)
Wrote to Fred at
New Haven
To have potatoes beets and
other vegtables that grow{growe!}
in the ground do well
plant them in the old
of the moon{moan!}.
And beans peas and o c{?}
that grow above ground
do well plant in the
new of the moon
02\14\1890 (Friday)
Mr. Frost harrow
teeth{teith?} 11 1/2" 4" from end
middle and{an!} 10 1/2 to end
from tooth.
Mr. Gunn of Prospect
gave me his Saladee buggy
for 3.00 to be paid in work{workl!}
and .60 an old account.
02\16\1890 (Sunday)
James{Janes?} Suttan{?} ___{?}
1 tank 8'x3'3"x2'6"
02\22\1890 (Saturday)
Ice{?} is about 4" thick an{and? on? at?}
the pond's{ponds!} thickest it
has been this year, there
has not been three day
in succession that one
_ould{could?} not have plowed
since last summer{?}.
02\26\1890 (Wednesday)
{entry difficult to read}
Georgr{George?} Alexander __{br?}
By 171 ft plank{ptank!}
at .023 3/4 {or .03 3/4?} .03
5.13
03\09\1890 (Sunday)
Mary went to the Chapel{Chaple!}
with Clyde and Irvin{Irving?} and
then went up to Uncle{uncle?}
Le__es{Lewis?}.
04\15\1890 (Tuesday)
Uncle Levinuss Warner{?}
was buried to day.
Dr. Rooland{?} officiated
Austin B Pierpont
Chas J Pierpont
Elmer E Pierpont
Wilson L Pierpont
Chas, Branuis{?} and
myself{mysilf!} were pall
bearers{barers!}
Uncle Levinuss{Lvinus!} was
aged 81 year and
8 months.
04\16\1890 (Wednesday)
Ordered of James{Jamis!} Harry
one{oni!} set of wheels
Price $9.00
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
04\22\1890 (Tuesday)
Paur_ton{?} made eaves
for Dr. Benedict's top
$4.05 Paid
05\14\1890 (Wednesday)
Weather, Warm
Worked digging for
my{ny!} Stor_{Store?} _ank_{banke?} to-day
Had, Fred{F'red!} Wetton 1.00
Tom Melborn{Milbaum?} 1.50
George Nettleton{?} 1.75
Mr. Chas Hotchkiss 1 50 (underlined)
____
5 75
05\15\1890 (Thursday)
Weather, Rained 5 hr
Drew stone and laid
wall for store house
Had Chas Hotchkiss 3.00
George Nettleton 1.75
Italian{?} 1.25
team 3.75 (underlined)
____
9.75
05\16\1890 (Friday)
Weather, Rained
Laid cellar wall
Mr. Chas Hotchkiss 3.00
Fred wit_an{?} 1.00
____
4.00
Lime 1.75
Cement{Cewent!} 1.75
____
7.50
My time{?} 6.00
9.75
5.75
____
29.00
Stour{?} 7 00
_____
36 00
05\18\1890 (Sunday)
Weather, Fair
G. W. Connor, Myself
A B Pierpont C J Pierpon_{Pierpont?}
W L Pierpont{?} had
Mark Warner show us
the bounds around
the estate of Levnus{?}
Warner. Land estimat__{estimated?}
to be from 250{or 25.0?} to 300
acres{acors!} app__sed{appraised?} at
$3.200.00 including
buildings
05\22\1890 (Thursday)
Tom and Fred staid
home to hoe potatoes
all day
05\23\1890 (Friday)
Paul Hesphlt{?} planted
my potatoes for $1.75
05\24\1890 (Saturday)
I told John R Platt
that I would put new
wheels on his wagon{wagan!}
for 22.00
New axles 7.00
pole 1.25
Rubber c__stnan{?} 3.75
Paint 10.00
_____
44 00
Mattatuck Drum Corps had
a meeting this{tohis!} evening
I was elected Leader
_.{?} E. Edwards assistant
Leader James Elliot
Sec Henry Buckingham
Treasurer
Present Miles Booth
" Gardner. Hall.
" H d Norton{?}
" Fred Kilbourn{?}
" H Buckingham
C. Miller
J Elliott
J.{?} Hall
Miles Booth{Baoth?}
We are Engaged to play
decoration{decorathan!} day
05\26\1890 (Monday)
Went to see Carley and
Jerry Danovan for
the Crum Corps{Carps!}
let Jerry take L L
Oviatt's{?} book
05\27\1890 (Tuesday)
Had Crum Corps{Carps!}
meeting to night
Present Sinion Cmith
" Myself
" Henry Buckingha_{Buckingham?}
" Miles Booth
" Gardner Hall
" Fred Kilbaum
" Luke Henderson
05\28\1890 (Wednesday)
Wm Austin{?} Ca{?}
By Cash $5.00
05\30\1890 (Friday)
Drum Corps turned out
for Wadhoms{?} Past
G A R{?}
Those who turned out
men
R. Carley{?}.
Luke Hinderson{?}
Simon Smith
A H Norton
Fred Kilbaum{?}.
C.S. Miller.
J Buckingham.
Miles Booth
Gardener Hall
05\31\1890 (Saturday)
Had D.C. Meeting{Meettng!}
I handed in my
resignation{rezag_nation!}
06\01\1890 (Sunday)
Batanere{?} Due
Thomas Melbaurn{Melbourn?} 32.57
Old iron 26.10
_____
$5_ 67 {57.67? or 58.67?}
Corrected
Batance{Balance?} due You{?}
39.26
iron 26.10
_____
65.36
Paid p__{?} 21 ft 32{.?}5.7
06\06\1890 (Friday)
City Lumber & Coal Co
Dimensions of lumber
wagon
Back axle 2 1/4 solid collar
for 10" hub welded 4' 4"{?}
bolster 4' 4" on bottom{botton!} 7" wide
2 1/4" thick projects 2 1/2{?} over{?}
hub face of b stake{?} 4"
fron{front? from?} end of hub stokes 17"
high 2 1/4x3" at bottom 1 1/2 at
top banded with{?} 1 1/2x3/8
iron. 2 clips an{on?} back axle
make from 1 x 5/16 iron
let in at top so a_{ap?} piece
of band iron can be
screwed on{an!}
Reached
2X4 top a__{are? an?} 10' 6" long in to in
bottom are{arie!} 9' 3"
bold 8 1/2" from back end
Sliding{Slideing!} plate and{ard!} pin
close to end of hound
other sliding plate four and{ard!}
1/4" from front end of bottom
reach center of holes plates
of 2 1/2 band iron fastened
with 2-5/16 bolts
06\07\1890 (Saturday)
Hounds/Haunds{?}
3' 1'{1"?} long 2" thick mortised{,?}
in bed 8 1/2" from reach
braces from clips cane{?}
on to hounds of 5/8 iron
side braces from stake clips
take some bo___{bolts?} as holds
the hounds
Front Axle bed
4' 4" long 2 1/4 " thick 4 1/4"
high plates 18" long
Front Axle
2" solid collar for 10" hub
cliped at shackles and
half way from plate to
shackles.
Front{.?} bolster
4' 9"{?} long 5 1/2" wide 2 1/4"
thick stakes same as
back iron L an{and? on?} bolster
3 bolts in stake and 2 in
bolster{.?}
Ring bolts{?}
4 ring bolts inside of
bolster stakes
Plates
18" long 5/8 thick 2 1/4 wide
T 18" long D 1 1/2x5/8. king C{?}
brace 1 1/2X5/8.
06\08\1890 (Sunday)
{Is this entry for 06\08\1890 or a continuation of the entry on
the previous page?}
brace an{on? and?} reach to front
bolster 1 1/2 x 3/8
Shafts
3 1/4 X 1 3/4 bar 18" from butt
7' from front of bar to
end of shaft_{shafts?}
Whfflitree{?}
3' x 1 3/4
tires 1/2" thick
Out side{2 words?} hub bands
2 1/2 x 1/8{?} band iron
____________________________
Drum Corp Mat__{Matin?}
called to{ta!} order at 8.30
Present Miles Boot_{Booth?}
G. Hall
Chas S Miller
Fred Kilbourne{?}.
Henderson{?}
Mas_ier{Mashier?}
06\20\1890 (Friday)
{entry is difficult to read}
Res___d of A M Rver{?}
$20.00{?} Pa_{?} __{?} wa_o_{wagon?}
06\21\1890 (Saturday)
Paid Tomas Melborn{?}
$32.57 pay in full
for work to ju___{?} 1 ft
1890{'1890!}
07\01\1890 (Tuesday)
Had School meeting
Frank Judd elected carmeette_{committee?}
Wm Austin clerk
Luthur Bradley{?} Treasurer
Decided to hav_{have?} flag
__{on?} the school house
07\17\1890 (Thursday)
George Nettleton stayed
home sick
08\09\1890 (Saturday)
Mr. Carter
busin__{business?} wagon
body 7" deep 5' 9"
wood clash{?}
Pampl{?} seat
back 10" above back
pannel of{?} seat
08\22\1890 (Friday)
George Nettleton{?} Went
to East Haven
08\25\1890 (Monday)
Mr. Munson{?} gave me
5.00 on{an!} account 3.50 due
George Nettleton{?} came
home from East Haven
08\27\1890 (Wednesday)
{entry is difficult to read}
stopped Pastur__g{Pasturing?} ho__{?} in
___{the?} Parters{Pasture?} _______{?}
09\09\1890 (Tuesday)
Width of _______{suttons?} shackle_{shackles?}
3' 5" shackles 1 1/4 x 1/2" bots{bolts}
09\19\1890 (Friday)
This page has several numbers added in a mathematical equation
09\20\1890 (Saturday)
I left home to day at
7 o'clock for a pleasure trip
and drove to to{written twice} Bristol 12
miles then to Forest ville
3 miles then to plainville 2
miles, then to Unionville
8 miles then to Collinsville
4 miles then fed horse at
2 P.M. and went to Canton 1 mile {Is "mile" inserted at end of line?}
____{then? Is "then" inserted at the beginning of the line?} Simbsbury
10 m {is "m" inserted after "10"?} then to
Tar_ffni_le{?} 7 miles{,?} then
East Gramby 4 miles
and staid over sunday
with Mr. John La Fluer{?}.
09\21\1890 (Sunday)
Went to Old Newgate
Prison and West Suffield
Feeding horse .25
stamps (20th) .04
Lodging in _____{house?} 1.50
____
Newgate .20
Beef Sept 22"{?} .13
har__{?} .35
_aper{Paper?} .07
Maps .75
___
horse 1 00 {$1.00?}
myself (23) 1 00 {$1.00?}
____
(24) 5.29
Board for horse 75
" " " 75
feed " " 20
" " " 05
(25) R R FAir _____ 2.7_{2.74?}
Sindr__s{Sindrives?} 26
(26) board _____{?} 2.00
____
(2) " 2 00
rep watch 1 00
____
oats 25
____
(3) board{baard?} 75
4) " 1 25
"{?} lunch 10 {.10?}
____
12.1_{12.10?}
09\22\1890 (Monday)
I drove to Copper hill
3 miles then to Feeding
hill 10 miles then to
Springfield .4{4?} miles
then to Chicapll{?} 5 __les{miles?}
then to Chicapee{?} falls
3 miles than to South
Hadley Falls 4 miles
then South Hadley
3 miles and Stayed
with Mr. Joseph Miller
_____
(5) board{baard!} 1.50
_____
6 " 1.25
lunch .14
_____
(6) Board 1 00
(7) " 1 00
_____
(8) " 2 00
_____
(9) " 1 56{?}
lunch .16
_____
10 Board 1.7_{1.75?}
Postage{Pastage!} .02
11 board{baard!} 1 50
12 bard{board?} 1 50
feed 28
lunch 20
13 bard{board?} 1 00
_____
14 80
Mathematical equation is on this page
09\23\1890 (Tuesday)
I left South{Sauth!} Hadley
this morning and drove to
Hadley to North Hadley
to Sunderland to M_ntog__{Mantogen?}
to Mills Falls to
Northfield Farms to
Northfield to winchester
the whole being 37 1/2 miles
09\24\1890 (Wednesday)
I left Winchester at 7 oclock{oclox!}
and drove to Kein{?}
passing through Westport{?}
and{an!} West Swanzey 13 1/2 __les{miles?}
t__n{then?} drove to Marlborough
to Chesham to Harrisville
to E Harnsville to
Hancock 20 miles
33 1/2 miles to day
Stopped at the house
of Mr. Aldin S Wood.
09\25\1890 (Thursday)
Went to day from
Hancock to Concord
by rail and returned
at night to Mr. Woods
09\26\1890 (Friday)
to day I left Hancock
at 10.45 o'clock and we_t{went?}
to Stoddard 9 miles
then to Marlow{?} 8 miles
then to Lemster{?} 7"{?}
2_{24?} miles to day
{mathematical equation on this page}
09\27\1890 (Saturday)
I left Semster and
Passed through Unity
to Newport 13 1/2 miles
from Newport I drove
through Croudon{?} to
_rantham{Grantham?} then to
Endfield NH 27{27.?} miles
and stayed with
Mr. Fred S Kimball
on{an!} shaker hill
09\28\1890 (Sunday)
Stayed at Fred Kimball_{Kimball's?}
09\29\1890 (Monday)
Stayed{Staryed!} at Fred Kimball's
09\30\1890 (Tuesday)
Stayed at Fred Kimball's
10\01\1890 (Wednesday)
Stayed at Fred Kimball's
and dug Potatoes.
10\02\1890 (Thursday)
Oscar Carr is at
Fort Payne Al
Burning lime has 16
Negroes at work.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I drove{draw?} from Endfield
to lebanon{?} to Hanover{?}
to lime to Oxford{Orford!}
32 miles
10\03\1890 (Friday)
Drove from Oxford{Orford!} to
Pierpont then to Bradford
Vt then to Corinth
then to west Topsham{?},
the distance from
Corinth to W{?} Topsham
is eight miles{,?} but
I got lost in the mountain
and drove over
12 miles
The whole distance
being 27 miles
10\04\1890 (Saturday)
Drove from West
Topsham to Orange{Oorange!} then
to Barri then to
Montpelier{Mantpelier!} to Middlesex
then waterbury where
I am stopping with
Mr. Phillips{?} at th__{the?}
Villeage house
The distance traveled
is 32 miles
10\05\1890 (Sunday)
drove from Waterbury
village to Waterbury
center then to Bolton{Baltan?}
th__{the? then?} whole{whol!} being 12
miles.
10\06\1890 (Monday)
drove from Bolton to
Jones ville{Jonesville?} to Richmond{?} to
Williston to Birlington
then to Shilbourn to
Charlotte{Charlotti!}{.?} 38 miles
{mathematical equation on this page}
10\07\1890 (Tuesday)
Am at Crown Pa__t{?}
drove through Shellaine{?}
Ferrisburgh Panton
and Addison to
Chimny Point
distance 28 miles
10\08\1890 (Wednesday)
Visited Crown Point{Paint!}
Fort Frederick and
Fort Amerest{?}
Drove through{through!} Bridport{?}
and Shorhan_{Shorhanx?} to
Garrabees Point{Paint!}
distance 22 miles
10\09\1890 (Thursday)
Drove from Larabees
Point to Orwell then
to Hortonville to
Hubbard ton{Hubbardton?} E Hubbar__{Hubbarth?}
and Castleton.
23 miles
Stopping at the
Boamoseen House
10\10\1890 (Friday)
Drove from Castleton to
Manchester. Passing through
Ruttand Clorendon Wallingford
S Wallingford Mr Tabor{Tabos?}
N Dorset E Dorset
52 miles
Stopping at Thayers Hobl{?}
10\11\1890 (Saturday)
Left Manchester and drove
to South Pawnall Passing
through Sunderland
Arlington Shaftsbury
South Shaftsbury
Bennington Pawned{Powned?}
Distance 41 miles
Saw Bennington
monument 301 ft hight
38 ft square at bace{base?} made
of stone cost $200,000.00{?}
10\12\1890 (Sunday)
Left Pawnal and Drove
to Cheshire Mass
by way of Vermont
Williamston Blackington
North Adans{Adams?} Adams
Maple Grove, Cheshire{Cheshre!}
Harbor. Distance 22 miles
10\13\1890 (Monday)
Drove from Cheshin{?}
to Fryingham{Tryingham?} by way
of Berkshire Pittsfield{?}
New Lenox L__{Lse? hill?}
30 miles
10\14\1890 (Tuesday)
Drove from Truingham{Tryingham?}
and Drove to North Gahen{Goshen?}
by way of Monterey
New Marlborough South-Field{hypen in text. Is name hyphenated? 1 word?}
North Norfolk,
Norfol Soup{South?} Norfolk,
and stayed over night
with Mr. Samueal{Samuel?} Gillett{?}.
distance 25 miles
10\15\1890 (Wednesday)
drove from North
Goshen home
distance 31 miles
10\18\1890 (Thursday)
Fred and Tom{?} worked
10\20\1890 (Monday)
Tom and Fred stayed
home to work an{on?} barn
[[10\22\1890 piece of paper in back pocket of the
workbook, dated "Waterbury Oct 22, 1890:
Due H _ Welton on demand value
received Two Hundred Dollars
[signed] Chas. S. Miller]]
10\23\1890 (Thursday)
Fred Welton{Wilton?} worked
1/2 day
10\30\1890 (Thursday)
My horse broke his leg
to day and had to be
killed.
{The following comment is written in what looks like a different
handwriting
Not Jack,{,?} that was
drowned}
10\31\1890 (Friday)
Wrote to John La Fleur{?}
East Gramby Conn
11\05\1890 (Wednesday)
Got a horse of Chas
Gillette of Cheshire
on trial
11\13\1890 (Thursday)
George and Tom and
Fred and myself worked{woked!}
3 hr on{om!} shed
11\14\1890 (Friday)
Fred Miller and Tom and
Fred and George and
myself worked to day on
the shed
11\15\1890 (Saturday)
Mr. Cass and Tom and
Fred and George worked
on shed and myself{nyself!}
200{2.00?}
11\17\1890 (Monday)
Weather, Rained
Tom and Fred and myself
worked in{in?} shed 7 hr
11\18\1890 (Tuesday)
Mr. Cass, Fred Tom
and George and my____{myself?}
worked on{an!} shed
put up rafters and
roof{roaf!} boards
2 00
11\19\1890 (Wednesday)
Cass Tom Fred George
Munson{?} and myself
worked shingling
shed laid 7000 in
5 hr
2 00
11\20\1890 (Thursday)
Cass Tony Fred George
and myself worked
on shed
2 00
11\21\1890 (Friday)
Cass Tom Fred George
and myself worked
on shed
Cass worked 9 hr
1.80
11\22\1890 (Saturday)
Cass Tom Fred George
and myself worked on shed{.?}
Cass worked 9 hr
1.80
{mathematical equation on this page}
11\26\1890 (Wednesday)
Wm Austin Cr{?}
$10.00
George went to
Hartford this noon
11\27\1890 (Thursday)
The Somers Family
spent thanksgiving at
Uncle Willis there
were 49 present{presant!}
11\28\1890 (Friday)
George Was in
Hartford to day
Edward's child died
to day
11\29\1890 (Saturday)
George was in Hartford
to day
11\30\1890 (Sunday)
Mary and I went to
Oakville to visit
George Edwards
12\01\1890 (Monday)
George came home from
Hartford this noon{noom!}
127.90 due George
Nettleton this date
Dec 28 - 1 hr
{mathematical equation on this page}
12\02\1890 (Tuesday)
Ice on Wedges pond
is 6" thick thicker than
it was any time last
winter
12\03\1890 (Wednesday)
Tom _s{is?} home sick with
the chills
12\04\1890 (Thursday)
Tom is sick
12\05\1890 (Friday)
Tom is sick
12\06\1890 (Saturday)
Tom is sick
12\07\1890 (Sunday)
George Edwards and
family and{an!} Cara Miller
and James Elliot visited
us to day
Went to the chapel to prayer
meeting this evening
12\08\1890 (Monday)
Bought a set of 1 3/4 wheel_{wheels?}
19.00 and 1 hub 1.00
Paid 19.00
12\17\1890 (Wednesday)
Worked to night
12\18\1890 (Thursday)
Worked to night
Stephen Wedge borrowed
my buggy to day for
3 or 4 days
11\19\1890 (Friday)
Worked to night
12\23\1890 (Tuesday)
All have{haus!} worked to
night
12\25\1890 (Thursday)
Manhattan Brass Co
Wessell Mfg Co{?}
No 521 W{?} 24th St
NY
T D Milber_{Miller?}
No 238 W{?} 25 St
__{Al?}
12\31\1890 (Wednesday)
$146.00 due George
Nettleton.
{The following entry is on the page following the page for
12\31\1890:
Began pasturing my
horse in Jomes{Jones?} Part___{Parterp?}
lot at .50 cts per week
June 14th 1890}
There is a list of expenses in the back of the journal. These
pages have the heading "Expense for __________." Dates, items and
amount are listed.
Assorted tags and receipts are in the folder in the back of the journal.
There is a tag from Bradley, Hoyt & Do listing No. and Yds.
There is a card from H. B. Stanley, a dealer in watches, clocks and
jewelry and a watch repairer.
There is a card with a receipt on it, dated 10\22\1890{is date correct?}
and signed Chas S. Miller. A mathematical equation is also on this
card. On the reverse side of the card there is another receipt for
$200.00
and a mathematical equation. There is some writing along the side edge
on the first side, it is difficult to read.
//end of small book//
Cha's S. Miller, Waterbury, Conn. is written on the inside
front cover, followed by an Almanac section (astronomical
calculations, weights and measures, etc.) and an Addresses
and Memoranda section, containing the addresses: Arthur
Hyvan, Goodwins shop City, Blackmills, Alec Mauthey, 110
Kensington St., New Britain Co., and Mauthey and Wife, 110
Kensington St., New Britain, Conn. There is also a Timetable
for Board or Labor with the names Lom, Welton, and Nettleton.
01\02\{1891}(Fr) Back yard of my shop yard was flooded to the depth
of
10". Mr. Fairclough made drain.
01\03\{1891}(Sa) Cold. Cleaned out the shop.
01\04\{1891}(Su) Snowed. Went to the prayer meeting at the chapel
this morning. Mr. Hiram Able had the meeting.
01\05\{1891}(Mo) Snowed. Went to Ed Todds this morning thought I
would freeze before I could get home.
01\06\{1891}(Tu) Worked to night.
01\07\{1891}(We) Fred was home sick{.} Did not work this evening.
Chas Pierpont had a fistula{?} cart out to day {.}
01\08\{1891}(Th) Nice. Good sleighing. Mary and Clyde and Parve{?}
went to town and got Clyde and Parve each an overcoat cost 4.00
each. Mother Pierpont went to grange meeting to night. George
Nettletons Grandfa{ther} Sullivan visited him to day. W.L.
Pierpont brought a pig that weighed 125 lbs.
01\09\{1891}(Fr) Nice sleighing.
01\10\{1891}(Sa) Nice. Mr. Cha's Gillette of Cheshire got his two
horse wagon and traded one bay horse and 10.00 to boot for the
same also ordered an one horse wagon he to pay me 60.00 for it
and the 10.00 makes a total of 70.00 he now owes me. Price of wagon
65.00. {These are the original grammatical errors} Cara
and George Mr. Smith Clyde and me and myself {?} went sliding on
a double ripper this evening.
01\11\{1891}(Su) Rainy. Stayed home all day. Rained very hard the
snow
has most all gone at the rate it is going there will be a big flood.
Harris Frost died this morning of{p}neumonia aged 78 he was a nice man.
01\12\{1891}(Mo) Cleared up. The water in mad river was one boat and
a half deep an{d} the floor of the pump station and the road
east of the shear shop is covered big cakes of ice where the
river has run over.-------------------------------------------
Mr. Shilton and a young lady that called him cousin started
from Southington at 6 o'clock this morning with a sleigh at
Stillmans corners the water was so high that it came in the
sleigh they held their feet as high a{s} possible but it wet
the back of the young ladies stockings how she must have felt
she borrowed an old hat and dress as not to wet her own and had
hers under the seat they got wet at my house they exchanged
their sleigh for my buggy as the sleighing had all gone. {The
last sentence was completed on 01\13\{1891}(Tu)} {sic}
01\14\{1891}(We) Tom went to Cheshire and got a hub for Austins
Pierpont's wagon and a set of wheels for E.E. Wrights wagon.
01\15\{1891}(Th) Clear. George Nettleton took a demit{?] card from
the grange which entitles him to join any grange insid{e} of
six months by paying up his back dues if he fails to do so he is
no longer a member of any grange. Let Mr. Jencks take my
Saladee buggy for a time.{sic}
01\16\{1891}(Fr) Clear. Ed Johnson died to day aged 68 to be buried
{S}aturday afternoon in Wolcott.
01\17\{1891}(Sa) Rain and snow.Fred Welton was going to Seymour
this
afternoon rabiting {sic} {rabbiting?}
01\18\{1891}(Su) Went to prayer meeting this evening. Bessy
Garrigan
led.
01\20\{1891}(Tu) Wright butchered 8 pigs to day. School commenced
to
day Miss Patchen teacher.{sic}
01\21\{1891}(We) {weather} Good. Tom was home sick. Wm. Purdy drew 12
truck to Holmes Booth & Haydens to day for me. Mr. Kellogg of
the Pin{?} Co. ordered 8 or 3 pin {?} tubes to day.{sic}
Wright butchered 11 pigs to day.
01\22\{1891}(Th) Rained hard. Big floods in all the rivers about
here. Tom
Melbourn{,} Fred Welton{,} George Nettleton and Myself{sic} went to
wedges mill to help hurry saw the old mill was no good and we
sawed but little. {sic}
01\25\{1891}(Su) Snowed. Went to the chaple{sic} to prayer
meeting{>}
Miss Annie Frost led the meeting. Uncle Alfred Munson is very
sick.
01\26\{1891}(Mo) Fair. Snow is 15" deep on the level. Cara and I
worked on my books all day.
01\26\{1891}(Tu) Good Sleighing{sic}. Cara and I worked on my books
all day{.} We found that there was $1384.01 owing me and that
last year I did nearly $2,000. worth of work.
01\28\{1891}(We) Nice Sleighing. Mary went to visit Gussy. Got one
set of wheell{sic} of H.C.Hubbell $12.00 was for hub.{sic} Tom
went collecting.
01\29\{1891}(Th) Foggy. Tom and Fred stayed home this afternoon to
lay
stable floor. Uncle Alfred Munson died last night at 12
o'clock aged 91 years.
01\31\{1891}(Sa) Sid Munson's hired man ran away with 2,000 {or
20.00}.
02\01\{1891}(Su) Thawed. Went to the Y.P.S. of C.E. this evening.
Edson Hitchcock led the meeting.
02\02\{1891}(Mo) Warm. Wilson Pierponts wife had a baby to night.
02\03\{1891}(Tu) Rained. Medicine to cure worms in horses.
Gentian 8oz
Sulfite Iron {?} mix 4 "
Dose 1 tablespoon full 3 times per day.
02\04\{1891}(We) Cold. The Cattolves{?} are cutting the wood of the
range{?}
they bought of Mrs. Cass and Mrs. Doolittle and are clearing it up
ready
for their burying ground.{sic}
02\06\{1891}(Fr) Snowed. Went to Holmes Booth & Haydens but Mr.
Adams was
out of town. Got a watch chain for Clyde.
02\07\{1891}(Sa) Snowed. Went to prayer meeting{.} Mr. Squires led the
meeting.
02\09\{1891}(Su) Thomas Melbourne lumber bill 84.73.
02\10\{1891}(Tu) Miss Haddy came to day. Mr. Hawd finished getting
ice to day has one house 60'x 24'x 20 full.{sic}
02\11\{1891}(We) Clear. Sent George after the washing. A.B.
Pierpont
is 42/41 years old today.
02\13\{1891}(Th) An appointment at the Dentist. My wife had a baby
girl this morning at 6:30 o'clock had Barber for doctor and
Miss Haddy (Ruth Brundags) for nurse. I got my emery {sic}
Grinder shaft from the Waterbury machine Co. this morning.
Gave Parter S. Woods some bills to collect.
02\14\{1891}(Fr) Brought Margaret home from Franks because she was
sick with the croup. Clyde and Irving are sick with the croup.
02\15\{1891}(Sa) Had Dr. Benedict to day to attend Margaret.
Mrs. T.B. Egglestone was buried to day she took me to school
the first day I ever attended in 1864. We went to Miss Frost
in the old Acamey {Academy?}.
02\16\{1891}(Mo) Rained. Mrs. B.S. Wedge is 34 years old to day.
Took dinner with Frank on west Liberty street then went to the
bank and to Holmes Booth & Haydens to see about trucks.
02\17\{1891}(Tu) Rained. Mr. C.S. Farclough is 63 years old to day
he
is an ugly man. Clyde is sick with the croup Jane is at A.B.
Pierponts sick with the croup Margaret is sick with the croup
and Mary is sick with a baby.{sic} C.S. Gillette ordered a 2
horse wagon through Cha's Ives 100.00. George took dinner at
Father's.
02\18\{1891}(We) Cleared up. Tom carried Cha's Pierponts sleigh
home. George and I took dinner at Fathers to day.
02\20\{1891}(Th) Mr. Sha's S. Gillitte ordered a 2 horse wagon. Mr.
Munson said he saw Mr. Fairclougs wheels last night.
02\21\{1891}(Sa) I saw a new set of wheels on Mr. Fairclougs wagon.
02\22\{1891}(Su) Clear. Went to the Chapel in the afternoon and to
the prayer meeting in the evening{.} Mr. Squares led the meeting.
02\24\{1891}(Tu) Father and I went to Ramson Halls auction{.} I
bought
2 stoke chaws{?} for 15 cts.
02\24\{1891}(We) Was in town all this afternoon saw Parter L.
Moad{.}
{T}ook dinner at dads.
02\26\{1891}(Th) Snowed They had the darymans{sic} meeting at the
grange hall to day{.} Took dinner at Fathers.
02\27\{1891}(Fr) Snowed. L.L. Ensworths Agent was at my shop to
day.
Took dinner with Father.
02\28\{1891}(Sa) Took dinner at Fathers.{sic}
03\01\{1891}(Su) Cold. Went to the Chaple to Prayer meeting Mr.
Hobert Warner led the meeting.
03\02\{1891}(Mo) Cold. Went to see Ben Ferrell about a planer.
03\03\{1891}(Tu) Snowed. Bought a Plainer{sic} of Benjamin Ferrell
for 10.00{.} Paid 8.00 in work and 2.00 cash. The town
commenced cutting the hill on the Meridan road near Mr. Freys
house{.} They worked a little while and gave it up on account
of frost{.} George Benhan ordered a heavy wagon gear price
65.pp.
03\04\{1891}(We) Snowed. Worked on Mr. Wrights buggy. Took dinner
with Father.
03\05\{1891}(Th) Cold. Good Sleighing. Went to grange hall to
dramatic entertainment. J.J. Bryan ordered his buggy fixed up
price 16.00. City Ice Co. Talked about having ice wagon built
with iron gear Price $150.00. They took my telephone away
because I refused to pay for it till the last of the quarter
after I had had the use of it.
03\06\{1891}(Fr) Good. Good Sleighing. They took away A.B.
Pierponts
2 telephones for the same reasons they did mine. Miss Haddy
went home and we have engaged Emma Nichols to help do the work.
Miss Haddy weighs nearly 300 lbs.
03\07\{1891}(Sa) Warm. Mr. Wright got a letter from Mr. Fred
Kingsbury about the land back of my shop that we think Mr.
Fairclough wrote.----------------------------------------
Tom Melbournes house was surched {searched} this noon for
liquers.--------------------------------------------------
I carried the Old man Harry home to Cheshire to night and
stop{p}ed at Frank Ives and measured a lot of plank.------
City Ice Co. ordered new wagon $160.00 with springs on it.
03\08\{1891}(Su) Warm. Took Mary and mother Perpont and Clyde and
Jane and Margaret up to Austins for a ride. Went to the Chaple
this evening. Wm H. Durkee led the meeting.
03\09\{1891}(Mo) Rained Hard. Cha's Welton is 33 years old today.
----------------------------------------------------------
Went to see Hall & Upson about their account and then to the
City Ice Co. about their new wagon.
03\10\{1891}(Tu) Good. Mr. Whightman commenced working on my shop
worked 9 hr.
03\11\{1891}(We) Good. Mr. Whiteman and Mr. Garrigns worked on the
shop.-------------------------------------------------------
Mother Pierpont went to Nellie Connors to stay a while{.} Erve
went too.------------------------------------------------------
Wm. Artchenson{?} ordered cart fixed for 14.00.
03\12\{1891}(Th) Rained. Wright and I went to see Cha's Cally about
Fairclough. Wright and Fairclough have been fighting all day{.}
Janty{?} fought Fairclough a little while this morning. Mr.
Garrigns worked 9 1/2 hr, Mr. Whiteman worked 7 1/2.
03\13\{1891}(Fr) Rained. EE Wright and myself went to see Mr. Cally
but he is in New Haven.
03\14\{1891}(Sa) Cold. Cha's Cally made Cha's Fairclough turn his
water from his drive way off my land and told him to put in an
6" or 8" drain pipe.
03\15\{1891}(Su) Nice day. Went to see Mr.Byam about iron roofing.
Went to the chaple this evening to the Young Peoples Christian
endevor{endeavor} meeting Edson Hitchcock led the meeting.
They had the largest meeting I ever saw in the chapel.
AB Pierpont called to see Mary and I about the trouble Charlie
Pierpont is making about mothers property.
03\16\{1891}(Mo) Cold. Went to Woodtick to Mr. Cornellis to see
about
some wagons told him I would ask the small one for about 5.00
set no prise{price} on the large one. He is going to bring
some wheels for 18.00 or 20.00. Went to James Wakellee and
bought a window shash for 1.00. Elliott Doolittle called to
see me about a new wagon but I was away. Mr. Whiteman worked 6
hr, Harry Whiteman worked 6 hr.
03\17\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Whiteman worked 6 1/2 hr. in the shop on his
wagon.
03\18\{1891}(We) Mr. Whiteman worked on his wagon 6 1/2 hr.
03\19\{1891}(Th) Mr. Whiteman worked on his wagon 5 1/2 hr. Thomas
Melbourne did not work his wife was sick. I went to
cheshire{sic} this morning to get some spokes and rims for Mr.
Ritters wagon. Mr. Faircloughs wheels came to day.
03\20\{1891}(Fr) Good. Mr. Whiteman worked 8 hr. on his wagon. I
delivered Mr. Faircloughs wheels to him but he would not accept
them and fired them out of the barn for he was mad. Fred
Higgins ordered 2 horse wagon Price $135.00.
03\21\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Whiteman got through on his wagon at noon and
worked for me in the afternoon 4 1/2 hr.
03\22\{1891}(Su) Rained. Rained all day I stayed home.
03\23\{1891}(Mo) Moist. Mr. Whiteman worked for me 8 hr. Stephen
Wedge got a job at the West Brass Mill to day.
03\24\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Whiteman worked 9 hr.
03\25\{1891}(We) Nice. Mr. Whiteman worked 7 1/2 hr., Mr. Garragns
worked 10 hr. I went to Randolphs & Clawes.
03\26\{1891}(Th) James Pater lent me 30.00 to pay Tom Melbourne.
Mr.
Fairclough payed me $11.03 to pay all claims and depts{debts}.
{T}his is what it has cost him for being spunky and mean. Mr.
Whiteman didnt work to day. School closed in the East Farms
district to day. Payed Mr. Rockwood 2.50 for lettering CE Ives
wagon.
03\27\{1891}(Fr) Good. Fred Welton did not work. George and Tom and
I worked on the shop. All my family went over to my fathers.
03\28\{1891}(Sa) Nice. Frank and Old Ed sawed 7 1/2 cords of wood
to
day.
03\29\{1891}(Su) Nice. Went to the chaple this aftermoon and
evening
Rev.{?} Anderson preached this afternoon and Mrs. Harry Garrign
led the meeting in the evening.
03\30\{1891}(Mo) Mr. Whiteman worked 5 hr. Went to Randolphs and
Claws to ask about iron.
03\31\{1891}(Tu) got a load of old iron from R & C.
04\01\{1891}(We) Went to R & C after 2 loads of old iron.
04\02\{1891}(Th) Nice. Went to town this noon and to Mr. Kutters.
Has a talk with George Nettleton about being late in the
morning.
04\03\{1891}(Fr) Snowed 8 inches. Tom was home sick this afternoon.
Old Mr. Parsons came to work this morning at 10 o'clock.
04\04\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Parsons worked 10hr. Attended town meeting to
night. The main object that this meeting was called for was
to appong{appoint} a superintendant of highways and bridges at $1000.00
salery {sic} a year and to repair or build a town house and to
build a cart house and several new streets and to transact any
other business proper to be done. The meeting ajorned{sic} for 3
years without doing any business.
04\05\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chapel this evening. Mr. Squires led
the
meeting.
04\06\{1891}(Mo) Cold. Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. George and I cut
an
ash tree over to Wilson Pierponts. Mary had a letter from
Nellie stating that her mother was going to divide the Warner
property among the four boys sons.
04\07\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr.
04\08\{1891}(We) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr.
04\09\{1891}(Th) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr.
04\10\{1891}(Fr) Parsons worked 10 hrs. Mr. Garrigns worked 8 hr
painting my store house.
04\11\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr.
04\12\{1891}(Su) Attended prayer meeting this evening. Miss Flora
Judd led the meeting. My Father is 61/60 years old to day this
is the first time I ever knew how old my Father is.
04\13\{1891}(Mo) Nice. Mr. Parsons worked 10 hrs. Went to Randolphe
and Claws Mr. Demring would not sell the roofing. Clyde came
home from Canors{?}. Walter Garrigns is sick with the mumps
and tyfard fever{typhoid?} and his wife has the mumps to.
Henry Buckinghams wife has gone crazy because she thinks
henry{sic} flirts with the girls at the grange.
04\14\{1891}(Tu) Parsons worked 10 hr. Worked at the saw mill about
3
hr. this morning.
04\15\{1891}(We) Parsons worked 10 hr. Mother is 57/56 years old to
day.
04\16\{1891}(Th) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. Garrigns worked 8 hr.
04\17\{1891}(Fr) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. Mr. Garrigns worked 8 hr.
04\18\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Rarsons worked 10 hr. Mr. Garrigans worked
painting shed 8 hr.
04\19\{1891}(Su) Went to Cannors and Charlie Pierponts.
04\20\{1891}(Mo) Tom is home sick. Munson is sick.
04\21\{1891}(Tu) Tom and Fred is home sick. DC Mutug {?} called to
order by Miles Booth in chair 8.13. Voted that John Peacock
became a member. Voted that Luke Henderson became a member.
Bus leaves corner of stay and S Main Sts at 5.30 on next
Thursday evening.
04\22\{1891}(We) Tom was home all day plowing. Fred home 1/2 day.
Parsons worked 10 hr.
04\23\{1891}(Th) Tom worked to day. I went to Cheshire with the
drum
corps to drum for the Old{or Odd} Fellows.
04\24\{1891}(Fr) Mr. Wm F Munson died tonight at about 8 o'clock
aged
41 years.
04\25\{1891}(Sa) Ervis Wright and myself spent all day ar{r}ainging
for
Mr. Munsons funeral.
04\26\{1891}(Su) Wm Munson was buried to day. Rev. Mr. Egglestone
officiated. Miles Ovaitt [Oviatt], Cha's Adams, Cha's Kenea and Mr.
Burlingam were pall brers{bearers}.
04\28\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr. Tom and Fred stayed mone
to day to set out the hedge. Hobert Welton interest comes due
to day.
04\29\{1891}(We) Clyde and I went to Bridgeport. Call on Martelle,
Mrs.
Munson, Faney, Champlin, Pierpont.
05\04\{1891}(Mo) Fred Welton was taken sick this noon. did not work
this afternoon.
05\05\{1891}(Tu) Fred welton sick to day. Ferdannand Martel came to
work in my paint shop to day. rent 3.00 per month.
05\06\{1891}(We) Fred Welton stayed home sick. Ed Canger planted my
potatoes to day.
05\07\{1891}(Th) Fred Welton home sick to day.
05\08\{1891}(Fr) Fred Welton worked to day.
05\10\{1891}(Su) Went to Manville Nortons and Cha's Tuttles.
05\11\{1891}(Mo) Paid H.V. Welton 23.00 on interest, 3.10 due now.
05\12\{1891}(Tu) Paid H.V. Welton $3.10.
05\13\{1891}(We) Went to see Mrs. Munson she said Mr. Peckord is
planting her garden.
05\15\{1891}(Fr) Mr. Parsons worked on City Ice wagon 10 hr. Paid
1.40 for lumber.
05\16\{1891}(Sa) Mr. Parsons worked on the City Ice wagon 10 hr. 20
hr.
05\17\{1891}(Su) We went to Praspect {?} for a ride.
05\18\{1891}(Mo) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr on City Ice wagon.
{calculations follow}
05\19\{1891}(Tu) Mr. Parsons worked 10 hr on ice wagon.
05\23\{1891}(Sa) Tom Melbourne was home sick this afternoon.
05\24\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chapel with Clyd and Irve and Mrs.
Benham
and Mary. Mr. Garrigns had me place the flags on the souldiers
{soldiers} graves in the East Farmes Burying Ground.
05\26\{1891}(Tu) Drum Corps had a meeting this evening. There
wer{e}
present Luke Henderson,L. Lanaitt, C.S. Miller, Miles Booth,
Mr. Pholen, John Marrow, James Elliot.
05\27\{1891}(We) Went to the Ann{u}al Chapel meeting. Mr. Brsdley
Seneca Munson, David Parter and Cha's Frost were elected Chapel
committee for the ensuing year. Hiram Able was elected
Secretary and Mrs. Theodore Munson Treasurer. Meeting ajourned
to June 27th.
05\28\{1891}(Th) Had Drum Corps meeting this evening there were
present H.A. Norton, Henry Cross, George Edwards, Rufus Carley,
Luk Henderson, Mr. Pholen, James Elliott, Miller Booth, C.S.
Miller
05\29\{1891}(Fr) Fred Welton did not work. P.T. Barnum circus was
in
town to day.
05\30\{1891}(Sa) Went to the Flag Raising on the high sc{h}ool
grounds
had an address by John Milton Mabbott and by Captain
Chamberlain. Had the largest local parade I ever saw in
Waterbury I drummed in the Mattatuck Drum Corps.
05\31\{1891}(Su) Went to Arthur Harrisons and got the sword that
once
belonged to Major Byington of Wolcott. Went to the Chapel and
got the wreathes and flags to lay on the graves of the soldiers
in the East Farms burying ground.
06\04\{1891}(Mo) Wallace Andrews said he would see me week after
next
which would be the 18th.
06\05\{1891}(Tu) Bal due Clark Bros. $13.69. {The rest is unclear}
06\06\{1891}(Sa) Paid F.B. Fields clerk 27.40 for Fred Welton.
06\07\{1891}(Su) Stayed home all day.
06\08\{1891}(Mo) Went to see A.F. Slater of Wolcott.
06\09\{1891}(Tu) Went to see Mr. Byam.
06\10\{1891}(We) {measures}
06\11\{1891}(Th) Paid Mr. Parsons 15.00 all I owe him.
06\13\{1891}(Sa) George went away on the cars. Fred went to
baintom{?}
take fishing.
06\25\{1891}(Th) Went Cheshire.
06\26\{1891}(Fr) Tom and I went to see Wallace Andrews he said
06\27\{1891}(Sa) Tom and I went to Atwoles{?} and bought a 4 year
colt
of Mr. Sterry for 100.00. Pais $50.00.
06\28\{1891}(Su) Attended Chapel this evening Mrs. Anne Munson led
the
meeting.
06\29\{1891}(Mo) Attended school meeting this evening. A.B.
Pierpont
was elected committee, Wm. Austin clerk, Luthur Bradley
treasurer. Voted to have another meeting 2 weeks from to
night.
07\03\{1891}(Fr) Mr. Jencks gave deed of land on corner of Mrs.
Doolittle's road and Cheshire road. Gave Mr. Parsons 25.00.
07\12\{1891}(Su) Mary and Rol Jenner stayed at our house last night
and to day we went for a ride to Cheshire.
07\18\{1891}(Sa) Fred Welton has earned since he worked for me
$470.25
and I have paid him $401.51 leaving 68.74 due and taken out
20.60 for {?} leave 4814 now due him. {calculation at bottom}
07\22\{1891}(We) George sma{c}ked Mr. Parson's hand with a 8 pound
sledge driving spokes in the City Ice Co. wagon.
07\24\{1891}(Fr) Paid Mr. Parsons 10.00.
07\28\{1891}(Tu) Paid Mr. Parsons 13.00. Went to see Porter Le Wood
about Mr. Smith's bill.
07\31\{1891}(Fr) Sheriff Rigney came and took Mr. Smith's buggy away.
08\08\{1891}(Sa) George Nettleton started for Hartford this
afternoon
on his bicicle{sic}. Went duck hunting this morning at Seatts
pond.
08\09\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chapel this afternoon and evening.
08\15\{1891}(Sa) George Nettleton got through working for me to day
I
payed him 140.00 in full to date.
08\16\{1891}(Su) I went to the Chapel this afternoon and evening.
08\17\{1891}(Mo) {measures}
08\23\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chaple and then Father and mother Mary
and myself went to the rattlesnake quarry.
09\01\{1891}(Tu) {calculations}
09\02\{1891}(We) Took Mrs. Wells Carriage home this afternoon.
Ervis
Wright is worse to day. Sam Munson is very sick.
09\26\{1891}(Sa) {accounts}
09\28\{1891}(Mo) Arther Merriman ordered cart price $90.00.
09\29\{1891}(Tu) Lockhart ordered wagon made over for 45.00.
09\30\{1891}(We) Henry Carter ordered 1 set of trees for 11.42.
10\02\{1891}(Fr) Paid Mr. Parsons 4.00.
10\12\{1891}(Mo) Paid Mr. Parsons 12.00. All the Miller family went
to Mary Jenners this evening the same being the 15th
anniversary of her marriage.
10\17\{1891}(Sa) {calculations}
10\19\{1891}(Mo) Alfred Northrop came to work for me to day @1.25.
10\22\{1891}(Th) Bought of Henry Whiteman {list}
10\24\{1891}(Sa) Paid Mr. Parsons $20.00.
10\27\{1891}(Tu) Recieved of Mr. J. Gum 200 leaving a balance of
7.15
now due. Snowed to day first snow I have seen this season.
Wright butchered 8 hogs to day.
10\28\{1891}(We) Recieved of the City Ice Co. $169.10 pay in full to
date. Paid Alfred Northrop 7.00.
11\02\{1891}(Mo) Paid Mr. Martelle $38.28 for all due him. 27.00 for
Fabor, 11.28 for me.
11\03\{1891}(Tu) Paid Mr. Northrop 7.50.
11\04\{1891}(We) Paid Mr. Parsons 10.00. Had shop ishured{insured}.
11\05\{1891}(Th) Tom staid home to work.
11\06\{1891}(Fr) Tom stayed home to work.
11\13\{1891}(Fr) Paid Mr. Northrop 7.50. Paid Perre Supernot 11.25 in
full to date.
11\14\{1891}(Sa) Paid Mr. Parsons 15.00. Paid Tom 6.00. Perre did not
work to day.
11\15\{1891}(Su) Peter Marsh the painter and I went to John Marses and
James Harry's. Mr. Parsons worked 9 hr.
11\16\{1891}(Mo) Paid Hobert W.Welton 26.10 interest. Perre worked 10
hrs.
11\17\{1891}(Tu) Perre worked 9 hr. I took Tom Melbourns horse to keep
a spell.
11\18\{1891}(We) Perre worked 10hr.
11\20\{1891}(Fr) {calculations}
11\21\{1891}(Sa) Paid Mr. Parsons 12.00.
11\22\{1891}(Su) All the family went to Mr. Edwards.
11\25\{1891}(We) Paid Mr. Northrop 6.00.
11\26\{1891}(Th) Thanksgiving.
11\28\{1891}(Sa) Paid Perre 1.00.
12\05\{1891}(Sa) Paid Mr. Parsons 7.00.
12\06\{1891}(Su) {calculations and diagram}
12\07\{1891}(Mo) {measures}
12\08\{1891}(Tu) Recived of Fred 30.00 Pay in full to date and AB
Paccaivt{?} Peter Marsh got through painting Mrs. Pierponts
house and went to work for George Benham. I was home sick all
day.
12\18\{1891}(Fr) Arthur Merriman ordered ax wagon for $100.00.
Walter
Brooks ordered 2 horse wagon for $75.00. Mr. Iseral Coe died
to day aged 97 years.
12\22\{1891}(Tu) Billy White worked 6 hr. digging my cellar.
12\27\{1891}(Su) Went to the Chaple this afternoon and evening.
12\29\{1891}(Tu) Paul Hesphelt worked 4 1/2 hr digging my cellar.
Mr.
Lucus worked 8 hr striping two bobs sleighs.
12\30\{1891}(We) Paul and Billy worked 6 hr digging my cellar.
12\31\{1891}(Th) Paul worked 4 hr., Billy worked 8 hr digging.
There is a note of accounts marked March 2 in the Memoranda
section, and a full Cash Account section. The back cover is
filled with calculations.
An Almanac section in the front, followed by an Addresses and
Memoranda section with the names and addresses: John
Hylander, No 128 Cook St., Bds P. Anderson, Mrs. Krogany, 65
So Elm St., L.J. Richardson, 223 North Elm St.,and Frank
Blodgilt, #117 Demsian St., City. There is also a Time Table
for Board or Labor including the names Tom, Northrop, Fred,
Parsons, Weltran, Cass, Pratt, and Marsh.
Daily Memoranda
01\01\{1892}(Fr) Paul Hesphelt worked digging my cellar 2 hr.
01\02\{1892}(Sa) Miles Farrell was Buried to day at Mill Plain.
01\03\{1892}(Su) Tom Melbourn and I took his colt over to Wm Cooks
in
Wollingford for him to keep.
01\04\{1892}(Mo) Old Mrs. Barnes, Cha's Frosts mother in law was
buried to day at Mill Plain.
01\06\{1892}(We) Tom was sick to day. Mr. Rin and his son painted
Austins meat wagon.
01\10\{1892}(Su) We all went to Ed Todds.
01\13\{1892}(We) Waterbury Brass Co. Mill burned to day loss
$300,000
ishured{insured} $180,000. Cass came to work.
01\15\{1892}(Fr) Wilson Pierpont drew plank from Todds mill. {?} 25
lbs Rys flour .75 cts.
01\17\{1892}(Su) Charles Frost's Horse run away and smashed the
sleigh
to pieces.
01\18\{1892}(Mo) June 16 Setting 1 set t{?} 2.00. All $5.65. W.L.
Pierpont drew plank from Todds saw mill (one load).
01\23\{1892}(Sa) Paul Hesphelt worked on my cellar 16 1/2 hr
White{?} worked 20
----------
36 1/2
Paid Parsons 98.00.
02\12\{1892}(Fr) Went to Bridgeport to the Aluminum Brass and
bronze
Co. to see about trucks.
02\13\{1892}(Sa) I{?} Went to Bridgeport to work on trucks.
02\16\{1892}(Tu) Mother went over to Charlies to stay over Trinity
supper.
02\20\{1892}(Sa) Tom went to Bridgeport to work on trucks.
02\25\{1892}(Th) Went to see Randolphes and Clawes about trucks.
Holmes Boogh and Hardens ordered 6 trucks @ 30.00 each no
wheels.
02\26\{1892}(Fr) Fred Miller came to work for me @150.
02\27\{1892}(Sa) Went to Randolph and Claws to see about making
trucks at 15.00 each they to furnish everything except rivets
and bolts. {calculation at end}
02\29\{1892}(Mo) Mr. Cass came to work for me @ 1.50. Fred Miller
went to work casting for the Manhattan Brass Co. of N.Y. City.
03\05\{1892}(Sa) Ed Holmes worked drawing logs from Wilson
Pierponts
swanp to Wedges mill and to Todds mill in the afternoon.
03\06\{1892}(Su) We called at George Edwards to day.
03\07\{1892}(Mo) Fred R. Welton Died at 6.30 o'clock this morning.
03\06\{1892}(We) Fred Welton was buried to day.
03\10\{1892}(Th) Wm. Pratt hired out to work for me for one year @
2.25 per day.
03\11\{1892}(Fr) Ed Benham Price for house 1800.00.
03\12\{1892}(Sa) {calculation of...} Time Fred Welton worked since
he
came to work after getting through at West Brass mill.
03\17\{1892}(Th) Paid Mr. Parsons 10.00 having 21.70 due.
03\18\{1892}(Fr) Arthur Merriman hired Wm Purdys ax wagon for a
time @
1.00 per week.
03\21\{1892}(Mo) Wm Pratt came to work for me @ 2.25 per day.
03\22\{1892}(Tu) R and I ordered 4 wagons for #95.00.
03\23\{1892}(We) City Ice Co. ordered wagon gear for 75.00.
04\04\{1892}(Mo) Arthur Terrell of Wolcott worked digging my cellar
2.00.
04\05\{1892}(Tu) Sam and Johnson worked stoneing my cellar. Sam
2.75,
Johnson 2.40.
04\06\{1892}(We) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar.
04\07\{1892}(Th) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar.
04\08\{1892}(Fr) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar.
04\09\{1892}(Sa) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar.
04\10\{1892}(Su) Clyde Irving and myself walked to the top of
turkey
hill to day.
04\11\{1892}(Mo) Sam and Johnson Worked on my cellar.
04\12\{1892}(Tu) Sam and Johnson worked on my cellar.
04\13\{1892}(We) Sam and Johnson worked on my cellar.
04\14\{1892}(Th) Sam and Johnson and old Ed worked on my cellar.
W.L.
Pierpont and Benham and Wm Austin and Ed Holmes drew logs to
Todds mill.
04\15\{1892}(Fr) Worked drawing sand and stone and lumber. Benham
and
Wm Austin and W.L. Pierpont drew logs to Todds mill.
04\16\{1892}(Sa) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar.
04\18\{1892}(Mo) Sam and Johnson worked on cellar.
04\19\{1892}(Tu) Iam and Johnson worked on cellar.
04\20\{1892}(We) Iam and Johnson furnished cellar.{calculation}
Rec{i}eved of C.S. Miller $50.00 on account {signature}
04\20\{1892}(Tu) The Ovaitts [Oviatts] and Warners started this
morning for
Portland Uragan {Oregon}. It will take 617 yards plaster and
12.000 lalte{?} for my house.
05\12\{1892}(Th) Ed Benham commenced my house. Worked himself with
2
men. {wages calculation}
From 05\13\{1892}(Fr) to 08\10\{1892}(We) there are account
listings and
various payments made to Mr. Benham and others in reference to
their work on Mr. Miller's house. Apparently, the house was
entirely repainted and possibly whitewashed in places. Mr.
Miller also dug a well with Tom, Cass and Pratt. There are
also the listings of normal hours for the men in the
shop.
08\22\{1892}(Mo) George Whaler worked digging ditches in my lab{?}.
09\03\{1892}(Sa) Borrowed 10.00 of D.G. Paiter.
09\09\{1892}(Fr) Ed Todd sawed 1183 ft of plank last winter for
W.L.
Pierpont.
09\27\{1892}(Tu) George Sprage Or by Cash{?} 5.00.
10\27\{1892}(Th) Fred Woods ordered wagon 75.00.
11\14\{1892}(Mo) Went to Ansonia.
11\16\{1892}(We) Cass did not work.
11\17\{1892}(Th) Paid Damelly 3.70.
From 11\21\{1892}(Mo) to 12\07\{1892}(We) there are account
listings for work done
on Mr. Miller's well by Miller, Cass, Marsh, and Melbourne.
12\14\{1892}(We) Recieved of C.S. Miller 36.00 as interest.{with
the
signature of a Joseph Munger}
12\28\{1892}(We) Miss Haddy came to day.
The Cash Account and Payable and Recievable sections
in the back have partial notation. In the back pocket is a
scrap of paper containing a payment account.
On the inside cover, there is a map of Jackson Park during the
World's Columbian Exposition, 1893. There is also an almanac
section, followed by Addresses and Memoranda, with the
addresses:
John Manteille, Waterbury
Fred D. Miller, 36 Admeral St., New Haven
Wm Morris Jr., No 57 Church St., New Haven, Conn.
J.T. Phalen, 196 Dublin St.
C.H. Tufts, New Haven, Conn., Box 15.93
Wm Morris Jr. 57 Church St., Sec Cau fife and Drum
Assasectry{?}
JB Rogers, Eliot, Maine
JB Rogers, Butte Montana, (Parrot Smelter{?})
LJ Bradley, 39 Park Ave,City
Boylon, (cloth) Grand St., NY
AJ Cammeyer, 6th Ave, (Boot tops) NY
AL Boutillier Brothers, 14th St., NY
James McCreery CC, Broadway & 11 St., NY
JG Hurzmann{?}, Box 438, Waterbury
John W. Fields, ofs{?} Mrs. Lydia Marsh, #86 Penbroke St.,
Bridgeport
Wm Rutter, 186 West 135th Street, New York
JP Howell & Co. 77 Beekman St., NY
JB Haynes, 230 Cherry St.
TC Maulthrop, Bristol, Conn.
Fred D. Miller, 23 Shelton Ave, New Haven, Conn.
There is also a Time Table for Board of Labor with the names
Melbaum, Cass, and Marsh.
There is a listing of accounts from 01\01\{1893}(Su) to
01\06\{1893}(Fr)
concerning feed and payment to workers.
01\10\{1893}(Tu) Baby was born this morning weight 11 lbs. Frank
Pierpont Miller ("Mike")
01\14\{1893}(Sa) 4 below, Cold
01\15\{1893}(Su) 2 below, Cold
01\16\{1893}(Mo) 7 below, Cold
01\17\{1893}(Tu) 17 below, Cold
01\18\{1893}(We) 17 below, Cold
01\24\{1893}(Tu) Had a school meeting this evening to lay a tax to
pay
the district debt of $1000.00 but they voted to borrow $200.oo
more B.F. Haggett. Moderator Mark L. Warner Committee.
01\26\{1893}(Th) Sarah Freeman came to work for us at 1.00 per week.
01\29\{1893}(Su) Miss Haddy went home to day.
01\08\{1893}(We) Gunn Paid $1.00.
01\09\{1893}(Th) City Ice Co. ordered 12'foot ice wagon for $250.
01\15\{1893}(We) Wm Purdy Paid $15.00.
02\24\{1893}(Fr) Elizer Hotchkiss Paid 9.25. Wm Strong Paid 2.00.
02\28\{1893}(Tu) Had school meeting.
03\07\{1893}(Tu) 170' oal{?} of James Parter logs.
03\09\{1893}(Th) Went to Hartford to the meeting before the
Agricultural committee.
03\14\{1893}(Tu) Mr. Fitzgeralds wagon is to cost 53.00.
03\21\{1893}(Tu) Had school meeting. Voted to lay 13 mills tax.
04\04\{1893}(Tu) Had school meeting. Voted to lay tax of 7 mills.
04\13\{1893}(Th) (Listing of accounts.)
04\14\(Fr) Mark L Warner Camithe{?} of Mill Plain School
District. The Subscriber ligol{?} voter: of said school
district hereby request you to call a special meeting of
the legal voters of said District for the purpose of laying a
futher school tax; of six mills on a dollar to become due and
payable the 2nd day of Oct AD 1893 said tax to be laid on the
grand list of 1892 dated April 12 AD 1893. SL Monson, WL
Munson, TD Munson, Wm Atkinson,{this list is continued on
04\15\{1893}(Sa)}
David T Squires, OL Fairchild, C Art Ward, LW Holland, GH Pengrey,
David Shannon, Hiram W
Bates, CH Monroe, HJ Able, BT Haggett, MB Alcott, Gaylord
Alcott Cha's Ives Seat 495 wide. April 14th Mr. Wright had
11 large hogs and 10 small ones.
04\17\{1893}(Mo) Mr Wright told me he would summonds all the
witnesses
he could if he was canaplaned{?complained} of
04\19\{1893}(We) Fred Woods brought 2800 of soft coal.
04\28\(Fr) James Parter, DG Parter, Henson Miller, CS Miller,
Sarah Hine, complained of Wrights Pigs and garbage.
05\01\{1893}(Mo) If I were called to testify I should have to say
that
nearly every time I drove by here last summer I caught the
smell terribly from Jim Parters down to your Fathers. It had
aught to have been stoped years ago.{sic} Ed Welton.
--------------------------------------------------------------
I have smelled something pret{t}y strang{e} when passing but
could not say what it was. But this I am sure of I have met
loads of garbage turning in to Mr Wrights place that would have
made me hold my nose had I not have driven from it as fast as I
could. Geo M Benham.
---------------------------------------------------------------
05\02\{1893}(Tu)
I would have stopped it long ago if I could. I had to hold my
breath very strong last summer while passing to and from work.
HJ Able.
---------------------------------------------------------------
No farmer would ever have such a smell on his place. he would
either plow it under or bury it. A man aught to be put in
prison that is mean enough to make the public smell it.
George Alexander
05\03\{1893}(We)
When the wind is northeast We catch pretty strong sniffs of it.
Fred Frampkin
---------------------------------------------------------------
The smell blew across here so strong most of the time last
summer that we could not stand it without closing the windows.
Bradley
05\06\{1893}(Sa) Went to City hall to the hearing before the board
of
health in regard to Mr Wrights Piggery. They appointed Mr
Pinney and Mayer Webster to investigate. Select man Pinney
and Mayer Webster inspected Wrights Pig pen's.{sic}
05\09\{1893}(Tu) Mr Wright stopped town team's and 11 men and took
the
men in cellar time hindered 12 minutes 2 yoke open and 1 pair
horses.
05\10\{1893}(We) Frank and Gussy Started for Palouse city
Washington star at 8.20 actach{?} A.M. No of Franks Baggage
check 164 Brase 37614 1528 Bros
37615
05\11\{1893}(Th) {list of measures}
05\12\{1893}(Fr) Smelled Wrights pig pens stronger than usual.
05\13\{1893}(Sa) Dr O'Hara inspected Wrights Pig pens and my place
and
Hawds and Barnard Son & Co.
05\15\{1893}(Mo) Wright had a load of garbage come.
05\19\{1893}(Fr) Dr O'Hara inspected my place and ordered privee
and
sink drain changed.
05\20\{1893}(Sa) JA Joel & Co, 88 Nassau St., NY, Price of flag
8x12
$9.00. Made box for water closet.
05\22\{1893}(Mo) Wright had load of garbage come. Making box and
changing privee 6.00.
05\23\{1893}(Tu) Making cispoal{?cesspool} 800.
05\29\{1893}(Mo) Peter worked 9 hr.
05\30\{1893}(Tu) Decoration Day. Drummed for the veterans at the
Sauldiers {soldiers} Monument and at the raising of the flag at
Mill Plain school house.
05\31\{1893}(We) Peter worked 7 hr.
06\01\{1893}(Th) Peter worked 9.
06\02\{1893}(Fr) Peter worked 4 hr.06\03\{1893}(Sa) Thomas
Lillianhad set of
wheels price 15.00. Paid 10.00. Peter worked 6 1/2 hr.
06\05\{1893}(Mo) 10 o'clock Peter got here. Peter worked 5 1/2 hr.
06\06\{1893}(Tu) Peter worked 9 hr.
06\07\{1893}(We) {list of measures}
06\09\{1893}(Fr) {list of measures}
06\12\{1893}(Mo) John Byron ordered coal wagon Price 65.00.
06\14\{1893}(We) {list of measures}
06\16\{1893}(Fr) 9 o'clock.
06\17\{1893}(Sa) {list of measures}
06\29\{1893}(Th) Brown moded {?} all day with machine. Cass moded
{?} all
day. Tom worked 1/2 day. I worked 1/2 day at hay.
07\01\{1893}(Sa) Cass Tom and Myself worked at hay.
07\03\{1893}(Mo) Cass hawed Potatoes.
07\05\{1893}(We) Brown Moved the meadow south of the wood. Cass Tom
and I worked 4 hr till driven in by rain and hail some of the
hail stones were as big round as a silver dollar and the shape
of a summer squash.
07\06\{1893}(Th) Waterbury Seap{?} iron Co Field St. Peter worked
1/2
day.
07\07\{1893}(Fr) Wright had load of garbage come to day.
07\08\{1893}(Sa) Cass did not work.
07\16\{1893}(Su) Clyde Irving and Myself drove to New Haven and to
Fort Hale and the old light house and drove home again in the
evening.
07\30\{1893}(Su) Mary and I drove to New Haven and back again to day.
08\01\{1893}(Tu) {accounts}
08\05\{1893}(Sa) Clyde and I went to New Haven. Drove to Cheshire
and
went the rest of the way in case{?}.
08\06\{1893}(Su) Went to Charles Island on Mr Bakers tug . Mr
Meeker
was pilot.
08\07\{1893}(Mo) Came home from N.H. this morning.
08\19\{1893}(Sa) Paid Mr Muiger $10.00 interest.
10\20\{1893}(Fr) Assessed Property{list}
10\22\{1893}(Su) Franks wife came to our house to stay a while.
11\04\{1893}(Sa) Had Shop inshured{insured} for 720 at rate of
27.00
on the thousand.
11\09\{1893}(Th) Dr O'Hara visited my place to day. Moved water
closet this evening.
11\10\{1893}(Fr) Dr. O'Hara and an American reporter visited my
place
to day. Moving privy and making vault 4.00.
11\11\{1893}(Sa) Went to New Haven to see country health officer
Hoadley.
11\13\{1893}(Mo) Country Health officer and Town health officer
O'Hara
visited my place and ordered cesspool made.
11\15\{1893}(We) Cass worked on cesspool.
11\16\{1893}(Th) Frank and Cass and Tom and myself worked making
cesspool{account}
11\18\{1893}(Sa) Dr O'Hara visited my place . the time he was there
did not exceed 10 minutes.
11\23\{1893}(Th) Paid Hobert W Welton 30.00.
11\27\{1893}(Mo) {listing of accounts}
12\02\{1893}(Sa) Dr O'Hara visited my place was there about 5 minutes.
In the back is a Memoranda section in which there is the note
LD Bauley, By drawing lumber 800. There is also a full Cash
Account section, and the expenses section is empty.
In the back pocket, there is a piece of paper on which there is
a listing of accounts for clothing bought and repaired, etc.
[[no 1894 diary has been found]]
There is an Almanac section, and an Addresses and Memoranda section
in which
there are the addresses: Cd {?} Page, Plymoth{sic}, Conn., John M
Hatch, Danbury,
VE Barnum, Danbury, John W Bacon, Danbury, GM Rundel, Danbury, and SH
Rundel,
Danbury. There is also a full Time Table for Board or Labor with the
names:
Melbourne, Cass, George Cass, Burns, and Tom.
01\01\{1895}(Tu) Have not been able, yet, to find any Diary for
1894. There are shop
Acct. bks. etc.-M. Hall.
01\15\{1895}(Tu) City Ice Co ler{?} By lease or account $10.00.
01\25\{1895}(Fr) M Colloty ordered 1 cart to be done for price{?}
1.11. Price 65.00
Axle 2.11 Body 9" deep from floor.
01\30\{1895}(We) Had a meeting a Mill Plain chapel and it was
decided that the Ladies
Union should pay the Ministers and organists.
02\07\{1895}(Th) Hiram Able called on James Parters folks to seat{?}
the Chapel
Treasurer. Was informed that they should pay no bills And that we need
not
bring any more money there.
03\01\{1895}(Fr) Ladies Union paid Chapel society 14.00 to pay John French to date.
03\18\{1895}(Sa) Paid Mark Pond 20.00.
03\21\{1895}(Tu) Drove to Walnut beach and stayed there over night.
03\25\{1895}(Sa) In memory of forty six American soldiers who
sacrificed their lives
in struggling for the Independance of their country, this Monument was
erected
in 1852 by the joint liberality of of {sic} the general assembly the
People of
Milford and other contributing friends.
Two Hundred American soldiers in a destitute sickly and dying
conditions ,
were brought from a British prison ship , then lying near New York, and
suddenly cast upon our shore from a British cartel ship, on the first
of Jan.
1777.
The inhabitants of Milford made the most share table efforts for the
relief
of these suffering strangers yet notwithstanding all their kind
ministrations, in one month, these forty six died, and were buried in
one
common grave.
Their names and residences are inscriven on this monument.
Who shall say that Republics are ungrateful.
08\11\{1895}(Su) Mr McCracken preached at the Chapel this afternoon,
Clyde and Irving and myself went to Bucks hill to Mr Tylers this
afternoon.
08\14\{1895}(We) My Wife had a child this morning at 2.30 O'clock
weight -11 3/4 lbs.
(Raymond H. Miller)
08\22\{1895}(Th) Told John Pierpont that I would fix up his cart for 17.00.
08\23\{1895}(Fr) Went to Danbury to see about taking decorated wagon to the fair.
08\24\{1895}(Sa) Went to Watertown to see about taking decorated
wagon to the
Watertown fair.
09\02\{1895}(Mo) Mr & Mrs Gillett are married 55 years to night.
09\12\{1895}(Th) JH Brauson, #49 N Willow
Heght of wire 13'-6" {sic}
09\16\{1895}(Mo) 6,000 lbs 6.00 8.40 David Bury 13' from{?} Raid
09\18\{1895}(We) {listing of business accounts}
09\20\{1895}(Fr) Veterans Nelson Hall, John French
Continentalon{?} Arthur Pierpont
Puritans Hery Cass, George Hall
Indians Dwight Canklin, Ed Scott
Plowman
Grinder Cha's Hotchkiss
Blacksmith Thomas Melbourne
Cornshiller
Cider Makers George Cass, Clyde Miller
Lanmill Irving Miller
Chicru{?} Wm Canklin
09\21\{1895}(Sa) Fiddler and Dancing Mr Cass, Dan Squairs
Uncle Sam Dexter Northrop
10\01\{1895}(Tu) Wm Byrnes went to work at Roger Bro's
10\10\{1895}(Th) {diagram}
10\14\{1895}(Mo) Threashiers Cha's Minor, Wm Pritchard
11\11\{1895}(Mo) Fred was arrested to day. I went bans for him in
the
sum of $200.00.
11\12\{1895}(Tu) Fred had his trial this morning appealed to
District
cort{court}. Bands fixed at $200.00, Town band $200.00. Tried
befor{e} Judge Cawell.
D, Mr Burpee
At the time the divorce was granted, would you let the child
go.
Lattie, I suppose I shall have to.
Burpee, I said at the time the divorce was granted.
Lattie
Oh no, I wouldn't let her go at that time under any
considerations.
Mr. webster
Didn't you know that the child was given to you
Fred
Judge Thayer said that either of us could have it and I knew
that she wanted it
Mr Burpee and Webster reads the decree of divorce
Judge Cawell
He aint a fit person to have the costidy{sic} of the child.
Mr Burpee: Why Judge, Look at his past record he didnt pay his
lawers {sic}
Mr Burpee
I wish to beg pardon Mr Hamilton of NH and myself were his
lawyers
Judge Cawell
I was retained on that case myself
11\14\{1895}(Th)
Mr Burpee
Fred Miller is as good a citizen man as there is in Waterbury
as New Haven, if you are going to bring in outside matters, I
shall take an appeal.
Jude Cawell
You and Mr Webster had better settle it between you.
Burpee
We are asking no favors only such as the law provides
Mr Webster
You will find the law on page 36 in the Acts of 93.
Fred
Mr Lawyers, May I speak
Cawell
No, Shut up we have heard enough from you.
11\16\{1895}(Sa) Went to New Haven to see Fred.
11\20\{1895}(We) Went to see the Select men about paying 3.00 a
week
for Amy Millers support.
12\03\{1895}(Tu) Will Gillette and I went to Mr Thompsons after Amy
Miller for Fred. Mrs Lattie Miller objected to us taking her.
12\18\{1895}(We) and Wm Gillette Ive saw Lattie on street to day P,M.
12\23\{1895}(Mo) and Card Ive saw Lattie on street to day about 8
o'clock.
12\31\{1895}(Tu) Amy was in Ive's office, and said that her mother was
on the street waiting for her about 2 P.M.
The end pages contain a Memoranda section in which there is a
List of Fairs: Watertown Sept 11 and 12 George Downe
Wallingford Sept 18 and 19
Bristol Sept 25 and 26 TH Keens Pres, BA. Peck
Sec.
Meriden Oct 2-3-4 LE Coe Pres, GW Fairchild Sec.
Danbury 7-8-9-10-11-12 Oct
Wolcott Oct 16
and a list of familiar names with lines drawn through them.
There is a partially filled Cash Account section, and an empty
Payable and Receivable section.
The back pocket contains a Trade Card for Charles S. Miller, as
a member of the Grange effective until Dec 31, 1895. There is
also an empty account slip.
In the beginning there is an Almanac section for 1896, followed by
an
Addresses and Memoranda section with the addresses: N D Forbes,
Montowese,
Conn., Hattie L. Lyman, Car Round Hill and Wood Sts. City, Artisan S.
Clark,
Middlebury, Conn., S H Cae, B736, City, R S Woodruff, 92 Prospect St.
$8.50,
L D Miller, #26 Warren St. New Haven, Mr. Mahan, Cole St., Thomas
Bulger, North
Orange St., City. There is also a Time Table for Board or Labor with
the
names: Melbourne, George Cass, Burns, C. Tuttle, W. Matthew
01\09\{1896}(Th) Went to New Haven to Fred{'}s Trial. The trial was put
over till
next monday {lower case his}.
01\10\{1896}(Fr) {not his handwriting} How about sending these{?} to Amy.
01\13\{1896}(Mo) Went to New Haven to day to Fred{'}s tryal {sic} to
day{.} He won
his case and had his child Amy granted to him Amy is 9 years old {sic}
01\30\{1896}(Th) Instulation{sic} Beacon Valley furnish Programm,
02\04\{1896}(Tu) Took Caw to ABP
02\06\{1896}(Th) Roalcall{sic} of officers.
George Athunson,
Thomas Fourclaugh
Mrs. French
George Alexander
02\13\{1896}(Th) Starrs Calleage{?} The Agricultural School fund of
Conn. Which
offers the greates{t} advantage (benefit) to the future Farmer, Male or
Storrs
Calleage{?} Pruning Vines Shrubs & Trees
02\14\{1896}(Fr) (Scene) Carting in Conn in the days of our
Grandmother's.
Tom Did not work.
02\20\{1896}(Th) Emmigration Washington{'}s birthday Should the
Farmer combine in
establishing prices of farm products
02\27\{1896}(Th) Cuban Questions
Current Events
Pruning vines and trees
03\05\{1896}(Th) Reading of the Courtship of Miles
Standish-----------------
Miss May Tatern 3
Miss Wirtman
" Lyman (Arthur) 2
A B Pierpont 5
Mrs W L Pierpont 7
Mrs. C S Miller
Miss Richardson 8
Miss Bessie Tyler
Miss Anna Hall 6
Mrs. Todd 4
03\06\{1896}(Fr) Perkins and Jones carriage to cast 1,400{.} New axles
old wheel and
old top.
03\07\{1896}(Sa) Cheshire H E Valentine
New axles 6.00
New tires 7.00
Brake 6.00
Painting 8.00
--------
27.00
03\12\{1896}(Th) {this part has one line drawn through it} Cast of
making a Lofe{?}
of bread Should Emigration {sic} Be restricted
03\19\{1896}(Th) {this part with slashes through it} Reading of the
origin of the War
songs. Open Grange. {Also, stuck between the pages is a folded
rectangle of
paper with the date "November 15th 1886 " and the name "Charlotte Amy
Miller"
followed by the words "This is copied from my copy book. And is
correct. We
were all very glad to see Mama- although did not quite expect her until
tomorrow. We got along fine-Are all well and got along nicely. You
might to
see the washouts. Mama says it was nothing down in N.H. to what it is
here-
Come up when you can. Look to Amy. Grandpa Grandma and Aunt Iva all
send
love. Cara."
03\26\{1896}(Th) Sister Halls Night
03\30\{1896}(Mo) Fred Perkett (followed by measures)
04\01\{1896}(We) Mr. Rudae accaer{?} with Milbam{?} $17.00
Rented my Paint Shop to Wm Byrnes for 10.00 per month.
04\02\{1896}(Th) Cast of a loaf of Bread Why wheat raising was
discontinued in
Conn. rye, and flower {flour}
04\09\{1896}(Th) Why do we cain {?} money except for charge
04\12\{1896}(Su) Stone boat 2'-1" wide {diagram}
05\01\{1896}(Fr) Joseph Saunders Went into partnership today
05\13\{1896}(We) Joe Healeys Pale 4 1/2" wid{e} at evener hole
05\29\{1896}(Fr) \30\{1896}(Sa) \31\{1896}(Su) Listing of names and accounts {owed?}
06\08\{1896}(Mo) Wm Kimball 11.50
John Norton 3.70
06\10\{1896}(We) Distance from center to center of bolts 3 3/16
5/16 bolts {this is unclear} Marvell{?} Norton In Buy 49' wood 4.00
06\18\{1896}(Th) Landlord Barnes
Martin Barnes
Kept tavern near French hill Sothington [Southington]
Waux Spring's
Mr. Aca Barnes kept tavern on sight of Ruben Frasts present house in
Marham{?} The tavern was destroyed by fire. Encamped on French hill
for {continued on 06\19\{1896}(Fr) one week. A spring on the old
mountain
road was opened by them while on their march.
07\01\{1896}(We) Thomas Melbourne Worked in April {followed by accounts}
07\12\{1896}(Su) JJ Byam 9.60
DJ Parter 11.16
07\23\{1896}(Th) Joe Slater{'}s child died this afternoon
07\24\{1896}(Fr) Clyde drew the first load of lumber from Mr. Bawleys steam saw mill
07\26\{1896}(Su) Scalts{?} tank 4'-2 x 6'-6"
Clyde, Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont, and Myself went to
prospect for a ride, saw lots of huckleberries
07\27\{1896}(Mo) Went to the meeting of select-men and traction
Companys officers to
consider the layout on the old Cheshire road to the Calvary Cemetary
gate.
Selectmen ordered the track placed on the south side of highway
07\28\{1896}(Tu) Went to Bucks-hill Collecting{.} Wm Kimball brought
132' wood.
Balance due LH Frost {calculation}
07\29\{1896}(We) {calculation} Went to Southington to LH Frosts and
to Cheshire to
Mr. Valentine's. Valentine paid $15.00
08\02\{1896}(Su) Brother Fred, Clyde and myself drove to Plainville
Commuting via
Southington. Met Mr and Mrs AB Pierpont and Mr and Mrs Byam with whom
we ate
dinner on the ground. {L}eft home at 9a.m. and got there at 1 P.M.
{sic}. The
meeting was a Sweed{t?} one while we were there and was led by Mr
Garlanderer.
08\04\{1896}(Tu) JJ Byam, Lewis, Garrigus, Wm Atkinson,and myself
being a committee,
met to night to draft a set of bylaws for the Mad River Grange
08\05\{1896}(We) Today has been one of the hot{t}est days that I ever saw or felt
08\06\{1896}(Th) Very hot
08\07\{1896}(Fr) To day was hotter still
Commenced working on the trolley extension from Silver Street to the
City line to day.
08\09\{1896}(Su) Ther. 92 on Lichfield hill
Fred, Margaret, and I drove to Litchfield, and stop{p}ed at Mr Crutches
and
Sarah Bissell's, then we drove to North Goshen, to Sam Gilletts, stayed
over
night with Malachi Gillette. a long and hot drive
08\10\{1896}(Mo) Fred and I drove from N Goshen to Huntsville then
to falls village
{sic}then to Lima Rock then via Lakeville to Millerton N.Y. and back to
N Goshen
08\11\{1896}(Tu) Came home from North Goshen
08\14\{1896}(Fr) Had school meeting tonight- to see about painting
and repairing
school house{.} ajorned till next wednesday {sic} night to get estimate
of
cost.
08\16\{1896}(Su) Went to the Chaple Mr. Kellogg of Wolcott preached
08\18\{1896}(Tu) Worked rep{air} A.B.Pierponts Windmill and pump
08\19\{1896}(We) Had School meeting tonight{.} Mark Warner, Cha's
Frost and myself
were appointed a committee to paint and repair the school and fence
etc, cost
not to exceed $150.00
08\20\{1896}(Th) Went to Grange this evening
08\21\{1896}(Fr){measures}
08\22\{1896}(Sa) {measures}
08\23\{1896}(Su) {measures}
08\28\{1896}(Fr) Charlie Brown's wife had a baby boy this morning
08\31\{1896}(Mo)- 09\01\{1896}(Tu) {Listing of names and accounts}
09\95\{1896}(Sa) {illegible calculations}
09\06\{1896}(Su) Frank Allen 4.08
M. Archer 6.15
09\10\{1896}(Th) Mrs. Nelson Hall died today
Uncle Joe worked on Ned Pritchards Ice houses straitening {sic}
them up
09\12\{1896}(Sa) Mrs Nelson Hall was buried today{.} Mr Eddridge
officiated and the Grange service was used{.} John Gallagher, Mr
Lewis Garrigus, Wm Atkinson, Truman Kilbaurn, John R.S. Todd, and
myself were the Pall barers. Interment {sic} at Pine Grove Cemetary.
1/2 day I worked on Pritchards ice house
09\13\{1896}(Su) Mr Kellogg of Wolcott preached at the Chapel today
09\14\{1896}(Mo) Worked on Ice House 10 hrs
09\15\{1896}(Tu) Worked on Ice House 6 hrs
09\16\{1896}(We) Worked on Ice houses {and calculations for wage at
.25
per hour}
09\26\{1896}(Sa) Mary and I drove to North Goshen to day
09\27\{1896}(Su) Attended Church in the North Goshen meeting house.
Had
a very ple{a}sant service{.} In the afternoon Malachi, Lillie,
Marian, Mary, and myself drove to Ivy mountains and went up the
tower
09\29\{1896}(Tu) {diagram}
10\10\{1896}(Sa) Clyde paid Mr. Munger 5.00 on interest, making in
all
paid $36.00.
10\14\{1896}(We) Edson Hitchcock and Elnor Beckwith were married at
the
Second Church this afternoon
10\16\{1896}(Fr) {measure} Governor{'}s {L?}oat {Coast?} Guard of
New Haven had
a parade in town to day.
10\17\{1896}(Sa) Mrs Murice{?} Doolittle died this morning at 8
o'clock{.} Aged 85 years.
10\19\{1896}(Mo) The old shear shop burned this evening, discovered
about 15 minutes of six o'clock by Julus Mass and Miss Nothrop,
at half past it was all consumed. Loss about $40,000
10\20\{1896}(Tu) Mrs Doolittle was buried this afternoon at
2,30{sic)
o'clock{.} Rev M Davenport officiated
10\23\{1896}(Fr) Robert E Pryor was killed this noon by his bull in
the
stable{.} During the war he was color bearer for the 20th Regt
C.W. and was shot through eleven times.
10\25\{1896}(Su) Went to the Chaple Mr Hallister Preached {sic}
11\03\{1896}(Tu) National lection {sic} day{.} I voted for McKinley
for president of
the United States. and Hobert for vice president. Cook for governor of
Conn{.} and Duell{?} for Lieutenant Governor{.}
11\06\{1896}(Fr) Went to Litchfield this P.M. and evening to take
part in the
election parade with the Mattatuck Drum Corps we had 31 men 6 Bass
drums
12 snare drums and 12 fifers and drum Major. We saw our new governor
Cook.
had {?}2,000 men in line
11\13\{1896}(Fr) Uncle Joe went home from the shop to night and was taken sick
11\18\{1896}(We) Grange Fair opened to night
11\19\{1896}(Th) Aunt Amanda Bronson is 92 years old today
In the back there is a Memoranda section with the notes:
Gold Metal
94 parts Copper
6 parts Autimany
add a little Magnesium carbonate to increase the weight
Tough Brass
10 lbs copper 5 lbs spelter
Cheap Brass for cast locks etc
10 lb spelter to 1 of copper
{a note of measures}
Jessie Frost & Abigail
Van Julus "
Alphons "
Electa "
James "
Abigal "
Jessie B. "
Adam {?for next word} Marie of Duran Joseph Besoh{?} and Cornelus
Johnson 103
acres for 4,80 {?for next word} 1748
Justice Warner went west about 1815 to Ohio
Levi Bronson and wife Sarah Prindle Went to Ohio to (Columbia 1808
about)
{sic}
A Cash Account section follows the Memoranda section. The C.A.
section
contains names and accounts kept for each name. This is followed by an
Expenses section which contains expenses for the refurbishing of the
Mill
Plain School, for which C.S. Miller was commissioned (this is mentioned
in the
diary).
The inside back cover is covered with calculations. The back pocket
contains
a Grange membership card dated Dec. 31st 1896, a receipt dated Feb. 28,
1896
for $15.75 received of C.S. Miller to LL Emmout{?}, another receipt
dated
Nov. 21 1896 for 10 dollars from C.S. Miller to Spencer Pierpont, an
empty
envelope with the name "James J Egan" on the front and calculations for
Oct.
28 and the address " No 26 Linden St" on the back, a square of paper
with the
note: Cheshire Con Oct. 10 1896 Mr C.S. Miller to Edwin A. Todd Dr to
making
180 gals cidar at 1 1/2 cts 270
13 gals cider at 5 65
____
335 and a newspaper clipping from the
Waterbury American about the new "Wide Tire Law."
Miller
This diary begins with an Almanac section.
01\03\{1897}(Su) Jan 2 1898 Mr. Nichols preached at the Chapel to
day. Paid 3.50 Collected 1.00
05\26\{1897}(We) Had Chapel meeting this evening and the following
officers were elected.
Mark L Warner, Committee for the Episcopal denomanation {sic}
Luther Bradley, for Methodist;
Robert Warden, for Baptist and Myself for Congregational
Edson Hitchcock, was elected Secretary
Hiram Able was elected Treasurer,
05\30\{1897}(Su) Dr Anderson preached at the Chaple to day.
Collected 2.18
06\06\{1897}(Su) Mr Nichols preached at the Chaple to day. Collected
1.95
06\13\{1897}(Su) Mr Mayl preached at the Chaple to day, there was
collected 2.18
06\20\{1897}(Su) Mr Howell preached at the Chaple to day Collected
.97 cts
Irving was kicked in the head by the horse the wound was
nearly fatal.
06\27\{1897}(Su) Dr Davenport preached at the Chaple to day
Collected 1.73
Thomas Melbourn, and Mr Cawles, had each a child baptised in
the Chaple.
06\28\{1897}(Mo) Had School meeting to night. for {sic} the
election
of officers, and to instruct the Committee and Treasurer to
borrow money{.}
Mark L Warner was elected Committee he having had 22
votes my-self 9 Wm Atkinson 2 and someone else 1
B.L. Haggett was elected clerk and Warren Hitchock
Treasurer.
Meeting ajourned {sic} till July 12th
07\04\{1897}(Su) Mr Nichols preached at the Chaple to day.
Collected 1.64
07\08\{1897}(Th) Merritt Scott Died to day of heat desease {sic}
and
Dropsey. Aged 66
07\10\{1897}(Sa) Merritt Scott was buried from the Chapel to day
07\11\{1897}(Su) Dr Roland preached at the Chaple to day Collected
1.33
07\12\{1897}(Mo) Had {unreadable word] School meeting elected an
auditor and ajourned 2 weeks.
07\14\{1897}(We) Reports have reached here of great riches of Gold
being found in the Klondike region in Alaska.
07\18\{1897}(Su)Mr Eldridge preached at the Chaple to day Collected
.79 cts
07\22\{1897}(Th) Thomas Milbourns 7 months old child died to day.
07\25\{1897}(Su) Thomas Milbourns child was buried from the Chaple
to day. Mr Hallister officiated. Had no regular service.
07\26\{1897}(Mo) Had ajourned School meeting no business of
importance transacted ajourned without date.
08\01\{1897}(Su)
Amy Welton
Artmeted{?} Welton
Rishy Lerrell
Davis Welton
Trishie{?} Merrill
Lauren Frisbie
The above were Mrs Atkins school teacher in Mill Plain
district.
Mr Nichols Preached at the Chaple to day Collected 1.45
08\03\{1897}(Tu) THe Town set 86 men at work widening the road that
runs from the Mattatuck Co's shop to Grange Hall.
08\07\{1897}(Sa) Had School meeting
Dan Squires was Masen Moderator
Voted to lay a tax of 5 mills on list last completed.
Voted that we invite the members of the Town board of School
Visitors to attend the next meeting which is to be held next
Tuesday evening, ajourned to nex {sic} Tuesday eve.
[[Charles Somers Miller 1898 small workbook]]
The following is written on the inside cover in the upper right
hand corner (price?):
70
The following names are listed in the section "Addresses and Memoranda"
Fred D Miller
Miss Louese Townson{?}
Henry I Pond{?}
Martin Buckmaster
Otir Wisan{?}
Fred D Miller
F E Fuller{Fullen?}
01\01\1898 (Saturday)
[[The following comment is written on this page:
For more details
see "Records"
for 1898.
Record books will
follow - M{argaret Miller Northrop} Hall,
1943]]
01\02\1898 (Sunday)
Mr Nichols
01\09\1898 (Sunday)
Dr. Rolland Preached
at the Chapel
Collected 1.60{?}
01\10\1898 (Monday)
E L Frisbie and Charle_{Charles?}
Frost deeded to Wm
Tabor 20,000 surface
feet April 8 1889
for the sum of 2.00
dollars,.
The above is bound__{bounded?}
Northly{Northby!} an land of
estate of Lydia Sackett
Eastwardly{Eastwardby!} by Meride_{Meriden?}
Road, Southwardly by
land of Edward C{.?}
Monnger{?}, and West
by land of the estate.
01\12\1898 (Wednesday)
Those who are to take
part in Chapel entertainment
Miss Fannie Porter{Parter!}
Mr. Murry Beebee 1
7 Arthur Heaton 3R
6 Jennie Patetun{?} _R{3R?}
Mrs. Byam
5 Hiram Able 4R
Arthur Pierpont
1 Margaret Miller 7R
2 Miss Goldsmith 6R
3 Iva Miller 2 Main
4 Mary Porte{?}
01\16\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Howell Preached
at the Chapel
Collected 2.21
01\19\1898 (Wednesday)
Misses Porter{?} and Bunker{"t" written above name, Bunkert?}
Henry Cass Friends
Famuir{?} Porter,
Mrs. Hitchcock
Murry Beiby{?}
Mrs. Byam,
Arthur Pierpont,
01\23\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Halloster Preached
Collected 127{?}
01\29\1898 (Saturday)
Mrs. Pryor
Arthur Pierpont
Mattie Atkinson
Bertha French
01\30\1898 (Sunday)
Dr. Anderson Preached
Collected {blank space} 227
02\06\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Nichols Preached
Collectio_{Collection?} 2.69
02\08\1898 (Tuesday)
Trinity Quentitte{Quentille?}
02\09\1898 (Wednesday)
Ed Todds{Todd's?} Orchestra
Miss Dickinson
02\13\1898 (Sunday)
Dr. Rooland Preached
Collected 3.__{3.55?}
02\20\1898 (Sunday)
No service, on{an!} account
of storm.
02\22\1898 (Tuesday)
Mr. Ables Picture 15x
20"
02\23\1898 (Wednesday)
1 Hellen Rogers
2 March and Dramatic{Drimatic!}
3 Mary Goldsmith
4 C S Miller
5 Margaret Miller
6 Mrs. Rogers
7 ""
02\24\1898 (Thursday)
Recitation
Sketch entitled
Washingtons birthday
Recitation
Recitation
Recitation
Song
Song
{Does the list given on the page for 02\24\1898 correspond with
the list of names given on the page for 02\23\1898?}
02\27\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Davenport Preached
at the Chapel
Collected
03\06\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Nichol_{Nichols?} Preached
Collected {blank space} 198{?}
Fran Grapaplan{?}
entertained{?} - 6.70
03\09\1898 (Wednesday)
Arthur Heaton
Mr. Sincaster and M
George Byan
Mr. Stotan{?}
Mrs. Burrett
Mrs. Byan
* Mrs. Andrews
* Miss Haywood
* Joe Sherwood __{?}
{*check marks are written before these names}
03\10\1898 (Thursday)
Recitation
Laonard, (Mandolin and
Recitation, Guitar)
Violin
Piano
Recitation,
Piano{?}
R________{Recitation?}
Ben Clotfield{Clatfield?}, Sarge
{Does the list of names given on the page for 03\09\1898 correspond
with the list given on the page for 03\10\1898? If so, please
advise if the entries for these two dates should be input in an
aligned form}
03\11\1898 (Friday)
Gave Hotchkiss &{?}
Templeton a note for
$21.95 due 30 days
after date.
03\13\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Maya
03\14\1898 (Monday)
Nov 15{?} 1897 died
Arthur Byington{?}
at Kenasha{?}.{.?} Wis.
03\20\1898 (Sunday)
Annie Pierpont_{Pierponte!} Fined
at Chapel
03\27\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Davenport{?} Preach__{Preached?}
Collected 3 05{?}
04\02\1898 (Saturday)
Mr. Nichols Preache_{Preaches? Preached?}
Collected{?} 2.00
04\10\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Waters of Wolcott
Preached at Chapel
Collected 2.14
04\17\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Mc Kudly{Mc Keedly?} preached
Collected 2.82
04\24\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Nichols Preached
Collected 1.73
05\01\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Nichols{Nicholi!}
05\15\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Howill{?} Preached
Collected, {blank space} 1.80
05\16\1898 (Monday)
John Bropbey send
Mr. Saults{?} to my
place after a sleigh
and paid me 3.00
05\17\1898 (Tuesday)
Mr. Mr.{?} Kudley{Keedley?} {this line underlined}
Preached Collected {this line underlined}
282{2 82?}
05\22\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Davenport
Preached {-?}
Collected 3.40
05\25\1898 (Wednesday)
Morris Alcott{?} &
C S Miller
Luttun{Luttur?} Bradley
Robert Worden{?}
Arthur Pierpont Sec
J I Able{?} Treas
J. H. Garrigus. S__per{Surper?}
Henry Cass, Libraran{Librarian?}
Bessie Garrigus, Organ {ist written above line, Organist?}
05\29\1898 (Sunday)
Dr. Anderson, (Preached)
05\30\1898 (Monday)
Haratia{Horatio?} Chapman
Chaplain East{Eeast!} Haup___{Haupto_?}
G.A._.{?}
Eugene Nichols
East Haupto_{?}
__{?}
Pax{?} 2.41
Rev. M_{Mr.?} Marshal{?}
Moadry __od{road?}
__{?} Addren{?}
06\05\1898 (Sunday)
{M crossed out} Dr. Buckley Preached
06\12\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Parry Preached
06\19\1898 (Sunday)
Dr. Davenport{Davenpoit?} Preach__{Preached?}
Collected
06\26\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Basselt{Bassett?} Preached{Preahed!}
Collected 1.34
07\03\1898 (Sunday)
Dr. Perry Preached
at the Chapel
Collected 1.01
07\10\1898 (Sunday)
Rev. W S Rofter{?}
Preached
Coll__t__{Collected?} 2 33{?}
07\24\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Water_{Waters?} of Wolcott
Preached at the Chapel
Collected
07\31\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Buckley Preached
at the Chapel
Collected 1.5_{1.51?}
08\07\1898 (Sunday)
{"Mr. Hollock" is crossed out} Preached
Collected 1.90
Dr. Faslet{?} of Newark
N.J.
08\14\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Raflet of Waterville
Preached
Collected 3.0_{3.08?}
08\21\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Howell Preach{Preached?}
Collected 256{2 56?}
09\04\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Perry{?} Preached
Collected 1.04
Approved Dexter
Northrope{?} bill of $10.00
for Janitor{?}
09\14\1898 (Wednesday)
E. S. Pritchard, Grand
list 1100
House{Haus! Hous!} was gone in 1790
but the barn was standing.
Ezekial Welton lived{?}
there and Jacob Tyler
09\16\1898 (Friday)
Star Unio_{Union?} line
Price 59 cts per 100 lbs
Blakesll{?} charges 1.25
per hr about 5.00
09\18\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Bassett Preached
at the Chapel
Collected 1.94
09\25\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Waters of Wolcott
Preached at the Chapel
Collected 2.26
09\27\1898 (Tuesday)
To day is my birth day.
{Insert mark and mathematical equation at the end of the above line}
Drove to day from home
to town 2 miles thence
to Watertown 6 miles, then{them!}
to Bethlehem 6 " "
" Romford 8 " "
" Woodville 3 " "
" Milton{?} 6 " "
" W Goshen 4 " "
" Goshen center{caps?} 1 1/2 " "
" North Goshen 5 " "
__
41 1/2
Where I stayed with my
cousin Malachi Gillette.
09\28\1898 (Wednesday)
Went to Obed Stannard's,
" {'?} Harris [Horace?] Stannard,
and to Norfolk Center
09\29\1898 (Thursday)
Went to the Ivy Mountain
town by way of the Black
lands from thence through
the Ovaitt [Oviatt] district to
Cornwall hollow saw the
Gen Sedgwick{?} mansion
and the polace where he
is buried in the cemetery
at Cornwall hollow{hollaw!}, then
we went to Cornwall
Center a distance of
4 miles, the view from the
North as we came into
the villeage was grand
with Cornwall plains in
front of us, there we turned
East towards W Goshen
_ut{but?} when we got to the
top of the mountain in
sight of Goshen we turned
East and went towards
the N__d{Naid?} of Tyler pong
and then N past some
fine farms thense East
again to the foot of the
hill, then N to the
Miles place on the high
land W {M?} of the Ivy
09\30\1898 (Friday)
{Is the next entry or beginnin of next entry a continuation
of the entry for 09\29\1898?}
mountain{mountan!} tower, then
turned East, and went
____{down?}
Went to tipping
rock
10\01\1898 (Saturday)
Came Home
De Grasse arrive in
the Chesapeak on the 30_{30-?}
of Aug, and landed
3,_00{3,200? 3,000?} under the Marqui's{Marquis?}
De St Simon, these troops
were drawn from the garrison/garrisson{?}
of St Domimgo{?},
On the 2___{23"?} of Aug the bound {is there a mark or superscipt text?}
de
Barras sailed from New Port
R I,{, or .?} with eight ships of the line
amd 14 transporte{transports?} ladened with
heavy artillery and stores{?},
and formed a junction{Junction?} with
de Grasse {accent mark over the a} on the 14__{14th?} of Sept.
10\02\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Perry{Perrey?} Preached
Col 1.75
Rache{?} du Fermay was in
the army that acted against{aganst!}
Burgayne, Baron St
Ovary{?} was in the volunteer
service, De
Cadray, an officer
of rank in the
Franch army, was
drowned in the
Schuyklill a few days
after the battle of the
Brandywine {,?} in his
eagerness to cross
it to joing{Join?} Washington{,?}
The Chevelier Duplesis
Maudit displayed the greatest
bravery at Germantown
and Red Bank, and was
assasinated{assassinated!} at Port-au
Price, The heroid gallantry{gallentery!}
of of{written twice} Lieutenant Flurry
at stony point, can
never be{he!} forgotten
Debuysson{?} was not
____{less?} brave.
10\03\1898 (Monday)
Went to town in
fo__{fore? forse?} noon and
Worked for Warden
in the afternoon.
Marquis De Chastellux
10\05\1898 (Wednesday)
Mr. Barmer was buried
from the Chapel to day.
10\09\1898 (Sunday)
Mr. Holmes{Holme's?} House
burned this morning
at about 10 clock{10 oclock?}
12\11\1898 (Sunday)
Collected 2.21
12\30\1898 (Friday)
H W Warner
Oakvill_{Oakville?}
Co__{Conn?}
{In the section "Memoranda" addresses and locations are listed
for the following names:
Mr. E S Frisbie
Iseral Beldwin, Hannah Chatterton
Mr. Farley
Farnk Farley
Moses, Ovaitt [Oviatt] Goshen
Aaron
Nelson
Herman}
{The following note is in the section "Memoranda"
Ladies Union
Paid 260.90
Due Earnest Robenson{?}
25.00}
{In the section "Cash Account":}
Chapel Expense
Jan 12 5 gals oil .50
Warren Hitchcock
Carrying minister 7.00
//end of small book//
Journal 1898, C.S. Miller [bd 10/17/1990 ,11/27; ml 12/1989]
01\10\1898 {Monday}
First thing this morning Mary, Clyde and
Irving went to work at the wash. I read a
time in Poultry Bigelow's history of German
liberty, had breakfast and went to work.
Mother told me this fore noon that Miss Bradly
and the seven other ladies who furnished the
last supper at the Chapel are talking of giving
a supper and musical entertainment in
the Grange hall to raise money to buy a
carpet for the Chapel.
Mr. Warden called while I was at supper
to see about the entertainment we are
going to give at the chapel Wednesday eve.
After he had gone, I hitched up and started
for town but the roads being very icy
and my horse smooth, I left him at my
shop and went the rest of he way afoot
and by the electric cars. Went to see
Mr. E. L. Firsbie, S. R. about the old journal
of Judah Frisbie's. He said that he had had
it but he thought it had been returned
to Uncle Dwight. Then I went to
the Town Clerk's office and copied parts
of the deed from Charles Frost and E.L.
Frisbie trustees{??} for the estate of Lydia
Sackett to Wm. Fabar trustee for a certain
piece of land on which now stands Grange
Hall, then came home and went to bed.
01\11\{1898} (Tuesday)
This was a dark morning. Looked
like rain, sun has not shown to
day. Clyde and Irving had the
chores done before I went to work.
At seven o'clock I carried the milk
to mother and sent a notice of
the meeting of the Ladies Union
to be held in the Chapel on Wednesday
evening by Iva to be published
in the Evening American. Then
went to the shop to work.
At noon went to see Miss Fatern{??}
about getting three school children
to give recetations {recitations} at the Chapel
Wednesday eve. She thought they
would. From here went to the
Mattatuck Shop and Miss Nellie
Cass{??} about some musicians that Henry
had seen. Nellie said they could not favor
us this time but would some other time.
I sent George Hine to Rogers Bros.
to see Miss Bumbart and find wheather {whether}
she and the Porter girls would play
for us. She said they could not.
I rode home from the shop with Marrie{??}
Reid this evening and he told me that
Edward Mc Manus had bought
a building lot west of my house.
Showed me the place.
Mr. Warden called to see me about
the Chapel entertainment. Also talked
about the sleigh seat. Clyde and
Irving went to Frost's Pond to
scate {skate} but returned at supper time
as the surface of the ice is soft
and skating poor. Had supper at
6.36 and then hitched up and went
to prepair {prepare} the Chapel for tomorrow's
meeting. Called on Hiram Able
on the way and got .75 cts. of him
to pay for 5 gallons of kerosene oil
which I sent to Wilson's store
and got it, cost .50 cts. Stopped
at John French's a little while.
We laid the fires, filled the lamps, etc.
and came home and to bed.
01\12\1898 (Wednesday)
We got up late this morning and I
did not get to the shop till half past
seven. It has been warm and foggy
all day. They have had to stop the
ice cutting. Sent George Hine
up to Wolcott to see Mrs. Adelbert
Hitchcock and find if she would
play on the piano this evening at
the Chapel. She said she would if
she could. This evening we {??????}
Irving, Clyde and myself went
to the Chapel to the supper and
entertainment of the Ladies
Union. The attendence was small
on account of the weather, it
being very dark and foggy.
From the supper the Ladies
netted $6.29. The entertainment
consisted of the following,
1. Recitation by Margaret Miller; 2.
Recitation by Miss Mary Goldsmith;
3. Piano Solo by Iva Miller; 4. Reading
by Mary Porter; 5. Recitations by
Hiram Able; 6. Recitation by
Jennie Patchen; 7. Recitation by
little Arthur Heaton which was
very good and was enjoyed by
all. The meeting was out at 10.30 o'
clock and we came home across the
lots, I having my lantern to light
us on our way. Will go to bed at
about 11 o'clock.
I would like to state here that I payed {paid}
Dr. C. Art Ward two dollars towards
the four that I owe him for doctoring
my lame foot. He says he can cure it
he thinks. I hope he can. It is certainly
better than it has been before in four
years at this season.
Last year I measured the hight {height} of my children
on the first of January and this year
we did the same. Clyde, aged 13 years
and three months is 5 ft. 4 1\2 in. high
and has grown 3 1\4 inches during the
year. Irving, aged 11 years and 8
months is 4 ft. and 8 inches tall and
has grown two inches during the year.
Margaret, aged 8 years and 11 months
is 4 feet and 3 inches tall and has grown
2 1\2 inches during the year. Ruth,
aged 6 years and 11 months is 4 ft.
and 1 inch tall and has grown 2 3\4
inches during the year. Frank{??},
aged 5 years and three months is
3 ft., 6 1\2 inches tall and has grown
three inches during the year. Raymond,
aged 2 year and 6 months is 2 ft.
and 11 inches and has grown 5 inches
during the year.
A Frenchman who lives in Cheshire
whom the call Chip had a team
horse die on the road at East Farms
this afternoon while drawing a
load of wood to town.
My wife Mary measures 5 ft. high
and I, 5 ft., 11 inches. My weight is 172 lbs.
01\13\1898 (Thursday)
This morning I pasted news paper clippings
in my scrap book while the
boys did the chores, and after eating
breakfast went to the shop.
The weather has been warm and plesant {pleasant},
more like early May then January.
Pierpont brought my dinner to me
this noon, and I got through work
at 5 o'clock this evening and came
home and had a fine supper of boiled
long{??} clams. Spent the evening
reading, writing etc. To bed about
9 o'clock.
01\14\{1898} (Friday)
Everything was on time this morning
and we got a good start.
Fireman Kilbourn told me this
morning tthat Arden H. Coe's barn
burned the last of last week.
Mr. Reid, the sealer of weights and
measures, came to my shop to seal
my scales for which he required
a fee I objected on the ground that
I did not use the scales enough so that
it made any difference. He claimed
that it was law and that it should
be done and ordered his assistant to
bring in the weights. I asked in
regard to the law and he said he was
acting under the state law and shoved
me a paper certifying that Perry
Morris and and Mr. Doram, selicitmen {selectmen}??
had appointed him. I told him
that I should not have it done and
would remove the scales or have
them smashed as I had not much
use for them and did not buy or
sell with them, and talked law{??}
where upon he gave up. But while
we were carrying on the controversy
in one room about one pair of scales,
the assistant had tested the other
pair and seated{??} them. They were
correct before and I know they are
now.
Frank came to see me this afternoon,
he not being at work because he
did not feel well. He told me of the
big smashup at Benedict & Burnham's
where he works. He said that the 20 inch
shaft{??} had great flaws in it and was not
solid in the center where it broke.
Had wrecking men from Providence to
take off{??} the 40,000{??} gear and 60 torn{??} fly
wheel. Gussy, Frank's wife, called at
our house and took supper with us
after which she went home and we,
Mary and I, went to the Grange.
Just as we were about to start, Mr.
Warden called and wished us to
go with him to a meeting of the officers
of the Ladies Union at my father's
house. But as we were not officers,
we went to the Grange. Miss Fatern,
the school teacher, came and asked if
I thought it would be proper to use
some of the school money to buy an
intermeade {intermediate??} reader which she needed.
We (Mr. Tucker and myself) advised
her to see Mr. Basset of the school board
and tell him that we though it
was best to do so. Charlie Hotchkiss,
myself and Mary walked home from
the Grange together. Charlie said
that his father saw a great fire off
to the west of us {?????} some large barn
was on fire. To bed at 12 o'clock.
01\15\{1898} (Saturday)
It began snowing at about 5 o'clock
this morning and snowed and rained
all the forenoon till about 4 in
the afternoon when it changed to
fog and wet.
I sent Clyde horse back to Arthur
Merrindus{??} in Southington to
measure his cart body.
In the afternoon Mary, Irving
and Harris Tucker went to town
and got the oysters for tomorrow
breakfast and Mary changed
a pair of under rappers and drawers
for me, went to bed early
as I was not feeling well, about
9 o'clock.
01\16\1898 (Sunday)
This morning is clear but the ground
very muddy. Had breakfast of oysters
at about 9 o'clock after which Clyde,
Pierpont and myself went to the Chapel
to get it ready for the service there{??}
afternoon. After fires were built and
other araingements {arrangements} made, I set Clyde
and Pierpont home afoot and I drove
up around by the red bridges to
Mr. Atkinson's after which I drove
home getting there at noon where I
found Mary getting Clyde, Margaret
and Ruth ready for Sunday School.
They went at about half past one
and Mary and I started for service
about half past two.
There was a fair after service{??}. Mr.
Howell preached. He is from Simonsville.
Bessie Simons played
the organ and Mrs. Mauwaring{??},
Miss Agnes Able and Hiram
Able sung in the choir. After supper,
I went to visit Major Tucker. We spent
the evening reading Peyp's {Pepy's??} diary which
he owns and which was published about
1850. I beleave {believe} it was written in short
hand from 1652 to 1722 about, from thence
home and to bed.
01\17\{1898} (Monday)
This morning we arose earlier than usual
and Clyde and I ran the washing machine
before to go to work.
This forenoon Major Tucker sent me a
letter stating that he wished to hire two
girls to commence work this afternoon
and said he had promised work to Dolly
Marrow and Hattie Kilbourn and
wanted to know if I thought they would
answer. I told him that he knew as
much about the Marrow girl as I did
but judging from what I knew of the
Kilbourn folks, I though Hattie would
do very well. This afternoon George
Hine went to Dentist Brown's to
have his teeth filled. James Porter
sent Dexter Northrop to borrow
my horse and wagon to go to Ned
Pritchards to get a farming mill{??}.
It has been freezing cold all day
and skating is good to night and
Clyde and Irving went to Frost's
Pond skating where most of the young
folks of the neighborhood were having
a good time. Send {Sent??} Clyde to the Chapel
with the team to get the scraps and
garbage left from the last supper and
also to Mr Able's to get Mr. Burr
Blakeslee's (of Watertown) history of
Woodbury. The thermomiter {thermometer} is now
9 degrees below zero, to bed at half
past nine. To day David Down's horse
ran away with Frank Frisbie and
Emma Cornelius. He started by Merritt
Scatt's place and ran to the red bridges
where Frank turned him to the left
to go up the hill toards {towards} Atkinson's instead
of going towards Waterbury Center
and in making the turn both of them
were thrown out. Emma struck on
her back and side and was not injured.
Frank hurt one knee but held to the
horse and reined him into Mr. Haggett's
fence and stoped {stopped} him.
01\18\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day has been cold and clear.
The ice men are at work again. When
Clyde went to school this morning I had
him bring the team to the shop and
sent Harry Kilbourn down town to
Hotchkiss and Templetons to get spokes
to repair David Downs wheels with
so I had the team to drive Carrie{??} to
dinner. After dinner, Pierpont
went to the shop with me. I took
some forgings to the Mattatuck shop
and Pierpont went with me. I
stoped {stopped} at the office and talked with
Mr. Tucker a while. Pierpont did
not like it because I did not show
him the machinery.
After we got back to the shop,
Pierpont went down to David
Porter's and stayed til 4 o'clock.
After school the boys did their
chores soon as possible and went
skating on Frost's Pond.
My foot pained me nost of
the time to day.
01\19\{1898} (Firday)
This morning had for breakfast spare rib
and baked potatoes. The day has been fine
for this time of year. Little Pierpont brought
my dinner to me in his little express wagon.
This afternoon he and I took the trolley cars
and went to Waterville to see Adam
Fabor about some money he owed me for
a wagon. He gave me ten dollars. I had
not been in Waterville before since the
trolley cars began to run nearly a year
ago. New house are being built everywhere.
It seems as if the place was as large again
as it used to be.
We got back to the shop at 10 minutes to
five after which we went home to supper
after which Clyde, Irving, Verniem{???} Able
and Harris Tucker and I went to the
Chapel and took down the green trimmings
which had been up since
Christmas after which the boys went
to Frost's Pond skating and I came home
and spent the rest of the evening reading
Cothane's{???} History of Woodbury.
Went to bed at 11 o'clock.
01\20\1898 (Thursday)
This morning dawned dull and rainy,
a little snow fell before daylight.
My sister Cara came home from Bristol
last night and left her grip at the
New England Rail Road Station and
I sent Harry Kilbourn after it this
forenoon. Mr. Simkins left word
that he wished me to shoe his horse
and I went over to the Mattatuck
shop where he worked afer it when
Mr. Tucker saw me and said he
wanted a joiner for a few hours.
I asked him if it was anyting {anything} that
I could do and he said yes, I want a
tumbling barrell set and counter
shaft-|put up. I went to work at it
and Paul Hesphelt{??} and I had it
running at three o'clock.
To night Mary and I went to
the Grange where the new officers
were installed for the coming
year. Wilson Pierpont was installed
master. I beleave {believe} his election was
not legal. I sent a notice to
be published in the American
that the Mill Plain Chapel would
hold its annual fair Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings, Feb. 8th and
9th.
I would say that Mr. Tucker and I
left the Grange at quarter past ten
and we went to his house where we
looked at the papers and New England
magazines till Mary called for
me when we came home. Got home
at 12 o'clock and then to bed.
01\21\1898 (Friday)
This morning was clear to work at 7 o'clock.
This forenoon Major Tucker sent his horse
to me to be shod. He called for it himself
and showed me a letter for it himself
written Wilson L. Pierpont in which
he signified his intention to decline
serving as one of the finance committes
in the Grange, to office he has been
appointed. Pierpont brought my dinner
to the shop this forenoon.
Heard to day that Mrs. Hattie Austin,
widon of the late William Austin of
East Farms was married to Homer
Twichell of Union City.
I have suffered to day from a bad cold
and tonight I wished to send Irving to
H.W. Lake's store for some medicine
but Mary got very cross and I went
myself after I got home and ate my
supper of biscuit and milk. I listened
to Mary read to the children from
Uncle Tom's Cabin after which I
looked over some New England
magazines and then to bed at
midnight.
Dr. C. Art Ward left two bottles of
medicine with me this morning for
my foot.
01\22\1898 (Saturday)
It has been dull weather this morning and
most of the day. This evening it began snowing
about 7 o'clock.
After a breakfast of pancakes, I went to work.
PIepront went down with me. Went to see
mother about getting her book of Geneology
of our ancesters {ancestors}, the Somers. This forenoon
Fred Upson of Wolcott told me that he desires
to sell his farm of 110 acres as he is getting
to {too} old to work it. George Benham has
taken the agency for selling fertilizers
and asked permission to tack an
advertising bill on my shop which
I gave him and he in turn gave me
a ride home to dinner.
For dinner we had spiced meat and
boiled onions, etc. after which I hitched
up and drove to Mill Plain Chapel and
took out the furnice {furnace} grate and took it
to my shop and repaired it.
This afternoon George Hine and myself
went to the Chapel and put the great {grate}
back in the furnace and cleaned out
the Chapel and put things to rights
after which I came home to supper.
After supper Mary and Irving went
to town after the oysters and crackers for
tomorrow's breakfast and also to get Irving
a pair of shoes and rubbers, and I went
to the Mattatuck shop and numbered their
furniture nail machines.
Clyde and Irving and some of the East
Farms boys went to Shelt Hitchcock's
pond fishing but they did not get
any and came home tonight, tired and
hungry.
It is reported that Hattie Austin is not
married as Mr. Twichell is sick.
After writing the foregoing which I finished
at about 12 o'clock, I picked up a book, the title
of which was Uncle Tom's Cabin and I read
in it till 3 o'clock in the morning.
01\23\{1898} (Sunday)
This morning there was a little snow on
the ground but before noon it rained
which took away most of it.
Sister Iva came up this forenoon and
brought home a little table which she
borrowed to play whist on.
I did not go to the Chapel to day.
This afternoon, Mary and I drove
over to Nellie's to visit her as she
was sick. Ater we got home, had
a supper of boiled chickens after
which I went to visit Major Tucker
and stayed till half past ten
when I came home, the wind blowing
hard.
01\24\1898 (Monday)
Went to work this morning. Mary's wrist
was so bad from the sprain she received at
her sister Nellie Connor's last evening that
she could not wash. The weather this morning
was cold and windy at noon. It was cold
but not so windy in the morning and
to night was cold and clear starlight.
This noon I drove round to Dr. Ward's and
got his Phaeton{??} Carriage and took it to
the shop to repair. I stoped {stopped} at the Mattatuck
shop and left Pierpont to hold the horse while
I went in and left the Examiner News
papper, which Cara gave me to have Mr.
Tucker take to Mrs. Dickenson.
This afternoon Edward McManns called
to see if his carts were done.
Mr. Warden called at 5 o'clock and brought
me home. He had just came from Miss
Bradley and he said he was mad
because she did not know that all
the arrangements for the fair were
make {made} and she had not been consulted.
Found Mary and the boys washing,
ate supper of warmed oysters and
grape sauce, bread and butter etc. after which
I took my turn at the washing machine.
Clyde has gone to Frost's Pond to skate.
Irving and Margaret have gone up to
Hiram Able's place to slide down hill back
of the house, Ruth and Raymond are in
bed and Pierpont is still up and running
about feeling good.
Clyde and Irving have returned and
have been having trouble about the lantern.
Irving took it to Able's to see to slide
down hill and set it at a turn in the
path where they were sliding. They also
had another lantern up the hill. Clyde and
Willie Couklin{??} wanted the lantern to
see to skate with and Clyde came and took
it and went to Frost's Pond with it.
Irving and Vernum{??} Able went to the
pond and watching their chance, jumped
out of the darkness and grabed {grabbed} it and
ran to Able's. Clyde and Willie followed
after a time but Vernum heard them
coming and blew he light out and
hid the lantern in the backhouse. Clyde
got Able's lantern and ran but had to
bring it back. After a time they found
out{???} lantern but it was so late they
had to come home and they were complaining
of each other and both were mad.
01\25\{1898} (Tuesday)
This day has been cold and damp and about
quarter past six o'clock it began to snow.
I sawed wood all the forenoon for George
Alexander and ground bone for A.B. Pierpont.
Mr. Mashier called this afternoon and
told me that they expected to have the
trolley cars running to Mill Plain sometime
this season. I sent Irving to Luther
Bradley's with 16 lbs. of ground bone.
Robbie Hall stayed to supper, had biled {boiled??}
eggs, bread and butter.
Mary had been ill to day with the
sick headache and Cara came and did
the work. Mary is better this evening.
This evening Robert Warden came and
left three of his boys while he and his
wife went to town. The boys went
to Frost's Pond to skate but it snowed so
hard that they had to come home, after
which they cracked some walnuts and
had walnuts and apples and played games
till Mr. Warden came. Went to bed at
ten o'clock.
01\26\{1898} (Wednesday)
This morning it was cold and snowy.
The snow lay on the ground about 5 inches
deep. I hitched up into the horse sled
and drove around by Mill Plain
to help make a path for the children
to go to school. Stopped at Mr. Tucker's
and carried him to the shop. On the
was we saw that Mr. Lewis Beckwith
had the frame of his new house up, had
six men working on it yesterday.
This noon I drove to the chapel and
made the fires and got it ready
for the meeting this evening, then
came home and had dinner of cold
sparerib potatoes and bread and butter.
On my way back to the shop I stopped
at the Mattatuck shop and left a
bill with Mr. Tucker, which he said he
would have paid in two or three days.
This evening we went to the supper
and entertainment at the Chapel. There
was a large attendence considering the
snow. The supper was good, but I did
not have any. The entertainment
consisted of a child's play called lyy{??} lo land
in which Margaret Miller, Jennie Squires
and Flossy{??} Able took part, also music
by Miss Amelia Burnhart on banjo, Miss
Fannie Porter on banjo, Miss Nellie Porter
on banjo and Miss Iva Miller (my sister)
on the piano. The older Miss Fannie
Porter gave a recitation and Miss Baldwin
sang a solo {????} the entertainment was
concluded by music by the Misses
Burnhart, Porters and Miller. The ladies
cleared over nine dollars off from the
supper, now to bed at twelve o'clock.
I might add that Mary took
the horse and pung{??} and went to
East Farms this noon and got
Mother Pierpont and Mrs. Warden and
some cake from Mrs. Milan Northrop
and cake and biscuit from Miss Hattie
Pierpont, Mrs. Warden and Mother Pierpont
brought provisions, in all it was a
large load. She took it to the Chapel,
on the way she took in Mrs. Hiram
Able and more cake and children (all
ready she had her own two two, Pierpont
and Raymond) so that load helped to
fill up the Chapel treasury.
01\27\{1898} (Thursday)
More cold weather this morning. Started
for the shop at 7 o'clock and Pierpont walked
down and had Harry Kilbourn make
a little wagon for him. Burt Frisbie came
this morning to have me fix his ox sled
and told me that Frank C. Chipmous'{??}
father has come home after being away
over 30 years. Pierpont brought my
dinner to me. Clyde got home from school
at about three o'clock on account of the teacher,
Miss Whitean being sick. He had to go to
FredWood's for hay and I rode to the trolley
cars and went to see the Rev. Dr. Anderson
about preaching at the Chapel Sunday. He
sold me the history of the Souldiers {Soldiers} Monument
which he wrote himself. Came home and
after supper, Mary, Mother Pierpont and
myself went to the Grange, Joe Huey
brought a note from Mr. Tucker saying
that he wanted to see me soi a recess I
went over and stayed till quarter to ten.
When I went back again and got the women
and drove home, it was snowing some,
to bed at 11 o'clock.
The piano was taken from the Chapel
to day.
01\28\{1898} (Friday)
The weather this evening was cold. After
breakfast of cold ham, potatoes, bred {bread} etc.
I went to work, rode to the shop with
Dick Morgan who was coming to
town with celery, etc.
Elmer Hitchcock came to the shop and
had two cards{?} of wood sawed{??}.
I put iron shoes on the horse stead for
Frank Lackhart who is drawing ice.
Mr. Emmaus who drives Frank Lackhart's
team said that yesterday he
killed three musk rats on the ice pond.
The spring holes are all frozen over and
the rats have to run from the overflow
to the head of the pond where the brook
comes in and while they are running
he chases them and kills them.
Dr. C. Art Ward had sleigh shaft repaired
this forenoon.
This afternoon I {????} took Mother
Pierpont home. In the evening
Mother and Cara called at our
house. Clyde and Irving cracked
some walnuts. I wrote a letter to
Lizzie Warner asking her to go to Father's
to practice a duet with Cara to play at the
Chapel. It is cold now, 10 o'clock, 2 above
zero. To bed.
01\29\1898 (Saturday)
This morning was cold. The thermometer stodd
at two above zero. Went to work at 7 o'clock.
Clyde and I went to town this forenoon and
I went to the Waterbury National Bank to
get a check cashed and Clyde got the oysters
and crackers for breakfast also one set of
horse shoes. Came to Fred Wood's place
and got a horse sled which he wished
me to make over. Came home to dinner.
Clyde carried me back to the shop
and then he went to Mr. Norman's
shop and got .50 cts. which he owed me
thence to Earnest Robinson's house and
told them that Doctor Anderson was
to preach at the Chapel tomorrow, and
then to Mark Warner's and gave my letter
to Miss Lizzie who said she would come to
my Father's Tuesday evening to practice on the
piano. I left the shop to come home at five
o'clock and met Clyde and Irving coming with
the horse and bob sleigh after me. Clyde and
I came home and Irving went to town
afoot to carry a dressed rooster to Miss
Pickett, the dress maker. To day has been
very cold. The thermometer stood at two
degrees above zero at 6 o'clock to night, now
at nine it is 6 above and looks like storm.
To bed at 9 o'clock.
Wm. Norman moved his machinery out
of the old tannery building, had three or
four od Ralph Blakeslee's teams and moved
it to the cars on the Meriden Rail Road
at Silver Street. Is going to take it to
Thompsonville.
01\30\1898 (Sunday)
To day is Sunday and the weather is very
cold. This morning we lay in bed till after 9 o'clock
not feeling very lively owing to my lame foot
and to a hard cold I have had for several days.
The thermometer has not reached a point above
12 degrees above zero during the day and at
half past six this morning it was 10 below.
We went to the Chapel this morning and
got the fires ready and warmed it up, at
one Mr. Tucker came and took me to ride
in his sleigh which he bought in Montreal.
We went to East Farms and from thence
to Woodtick and back to the Chapel where
we attended service, the Rev. Dr. Anderson
preaching, there was a good attendence considering
the cold weather. It was 2 below
zero at six in the evening.
After supper, I went to Mr. Tuckers and
we read Peyp's {Pepy's} Diary about the coming
restoration of King Charles the Second
in 1660. Towards ten we (him and I)
went to bed, we got up at five in
the morning and I came home.
My wife did not like it because
I stayed all night, because she slept so cold,
said her feet had not been warm since yesterday.
At ten last night when Mary came home from
father's, the thermometer was 13 below zero.
01\31\1898 (Monday)
When I got home from Major Tucker's this
morning the thermometer was at zero and it
had been snowing since five o'clock.
After breakfast went to work.
Came home to dinner, it snowing all the
time. Pierpont went back with me and
staid all the afternoon and came to
supper with me, had boiled cold canned
beef{??} and bread for dinner and a pot roast
and baked potatoes for supper.
It has snowed all day but the snow
is but about five inches deep on the ground
now. Bessie Miles went to work in
the Mattatuck shop to day sticking
safety pins on apers. Each paper holds
twelve pins and they earn one cent for
sticking twelve papers. But small as this
seems, some of the girls earn one dollar and
fifty cent sper day. To bed at 9.30 o'clock.
02\01\1898 (Tuesday)
It snowed all night and the wind blew
a gale and this morning the snow was
about twelve inches deep on the level and
drifted bad. We had breakfast of
pancakes after which Clyde and I
hitched Old Jack into the sled and went
around by Mill Plain to break the roads
out. Stopped at Major Tucker's and he
got on the sled and rode to his shop.
Clyde and I went to Father's where we
found him digging out. Cousin
Mary Goldsmith was there having
stayed all night and was in a
worried state of mind because she
could not get to her school upon
East Mountain. I told her i would
carry her up on the sled if she would ride
that way which she seemed much pleased to do
so after she had had her breakfast and I had
drank a cup of hot coffee, we started. Wm.
Peck came for Father, just as we started with
a team, and carried him to the East Mills
to work, so we had the benefit of his trade
that far after which we had to make our
own path till we struck the Prospect Road.
When we got to the School House it was drifted
in, the drifts being about five feet deep
and she could not get in. It was useless
to dig out as it was still snowing
and blowing and was very cold
and the paths would soon fill up so
she concluded to come back home again
as no scholars could get to school
and she could not teach.
On our way down the mountain
we met some of the fisherman going
to the City reservoir to fish, the Water
Commissioner having granted permits
and this is the first day. One load
passed us going to town which had
stayed on the pond all nigh that they
could have the first chance and began
fishing at midnight. They were a snowy,
frozen looking set, all of them.
At the foot of the mountain we turned
to the right and came across the Harper
Ferry Road at the head of the pond
(Brass Mill). We made the first track
through to Frank D. Casse's{??} house.
I got to the shop at 9 o'clock.
I heard to day that Bessie Miles did
not go to work in the shop yesterday
as her mother would not let her.
Heard to day that Mrs. Thornbury
was going to give up her school in
Mill Plain and going to New
Haven to teach. This will please a
good many of the people as she is
not as good a teacher as we have
been in the habit of having.
Came round by Mill Plain, home
tonight, it was very cold.
To bed at nine.
02\02\{1898} (Wednesday)
Got up at 4.15 this morning, built the
fires and wrote a letter to cousin Clarissa
Curtis of Stratford about the information I
wish to obtain in regard to the Somers family.
After a breakfast of pan cakes and molasses,
I went to work. This fore noon Major
Tucker sent for me to come to his shop as
he wished to see me about the Chapel Fair.
Pierpont brought my dinner to me
but I had to take it home again as I
had to go there after my team to get
freight from the depot. Hear to day
that John Mariaty{??} made and assignment
to Robert Lowe. Had a letter from
brother Fred of Detroit saying that
a large party had left there for the
Klondike region in Alaska to dig
gold.
Clyde, Mary and myself went to
Major Tucker's to rig Clyde and
Harrice out like Indians to see goods
at the Chapel Fair.
To bed at 10.30.
02\03\{1898} (Thursday)
To day has been the coldest day I ever
knew, I think. The thermometer this morning
stood 22 degrees below zero and no time
has it been above 20 above and tonight
it was 18 below. We have fine sleighing.
This morning went to the shop.
The large rubber reclaiming shop in
Nangatuck was burned night before
last. It was a building 400 feet long
and 75 ft. wide and 4 stories high
built of brick three years ago, loss
over 500,000 dollars. To night went
to the Grange. The thermometer was
10 below zero when we started.
I sent a letter to Mrs. Irving Prier
by Mr. Schmit asking her to recite
at the Chapel Fair next Tuesday
evening. To bed at eleven.
02\04\1898 (Friday)
This morning the thermometer registered
four degrees above zero. There is about eighteen
inches of snow on the ground and sleighing
is exellent, has been cold all day. To night
the thermometer was 10 below zero.
After breakfast I went to mother's and
wrote a notice to be published in the
Waterbury American that the Mill
Plain Chapel was to have a Fair next
Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Went to see Mrs. George Hitchcock this
noon. Mr. Tucker carried me there.
Mrs. Hitchcock says that Fannie can
take the part of a squaw at the fair.
This evening went to a meeting at
Mr. Tucker's of those interested in the
Fair. Took in Mr. and Mrs Able on the
way. Went to see Mr. B. Franklin
Haggett about a show case and also
to get him to help make the booths
at the Chapel Monday evening.
Left Mr. Tucker's for home at 10 o'clock.
To bed at 10.30, tied and weary with this
day's toil and chilled with the cold.
02\05\{1898} (Saturday)
This morning was cold but not as cold as yesterday
morning. The thermometer was four above zero.
By noon it was warm and the sun shown
bright. In the afternoon it began to rain
and has rained and thawed ever since.
This morning Mr. Tucker called and carried
me to the shop. I sent Clyde out with a lot
of bills to collect. Clyde brought me home
to dinner. The Warden boys were here to
dinner but did not eat till after I was
through and gone to the shop. This
afternoon Clyde went to Wolcott to
collect bills, had but little success.
The piano arrived at the Chapel this
afternoon. Mr. Porter bought it in New
York (with the Chapel's money). It is an
Estey and they say it is fine.
Mr. Porter and Miss Bradley called on
me and charged me not to let the children
put their fingers on it, and to keep the
cloth cover on it and to remove the cover
so that people may see it tomorrow.
After work Mr. Tucker brought me home
where I found Mr. Warden who had called
to see me about the programme for the
Chapel fair. After supper Clyde and Irving
went to town to get the goods for tomorrow
morning's breakfast and do other errands.
02\06\{1898} (Sunday)
Got up at seven o'clock this morning
and took my bath. The sun rose clear
and warm which melted the snow very
fast. After breakfast Clyde, Irving and
myself went to the Chapel and got it
ready for the service.
The new piano was there. It is a very
nice {???}, "oak case" Estey make.
Came home and went to work on the Indian
wig that Clyde is to wear at the Chapel
Fair, after which I went to the Chapel
service. Got there at about ten minutes
before the meeting closed. Sent Clyde and
Howard Neil over to Southington to
get a lot of Indian relics which Howard had.
After supper I went to Mr. Tucker's and stayed
till eleven o'clock, {?????} home the moon
shining bright.
02\07\{1898} (Monday)
Got to the washing as soon as possible and
to the shop at noon. I sent George Hine to
brother Frank's in Simonsville with Clyde
to get his flint {????} musket to have on
exhibition at the Chapel Fair. Telephoned
to Ed Todd in Mill Dale but could not
get him. Went to the chapel to help get
ready for the fair which begins tomorrow
evening.
02\08\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day the weather is quite warm, every
thing is hurry and bustle in preparation
for the fair. This noon Cara and I went
to the Chapel and it took us till near six
at evening to get my show case ready.
The fair in the evening was a success.
There was a large number of people present
and they nettted about fifty eight dollars.
The supper was well patronized but the
price charged was too low, being
ten cents. The literary programme was in the
charge of Mr. Warden and myself and
was as follows. The first number
was music on the new piano
by Mrs. Bavier{??}, then a violin solo
by Miss Ruth Blair, next a duet by
Miss Fannie Morris and Miss {---------}
Next a short sketch entitled "Coming{??}
to Woo" by Miss Mamy{??} Gearing, Miss
Hattie Murry and Harry L. Merrill
which was very amusing, also a song
by Mrs. W.S. Rogers who was accompanied
by her daughter Miss Sallie
Rogers. During the singing of this
last piece, as Sally was reaching towards
the end of the piano with both hands, the
top of the piano stool toppled over and
she fell to the floor, which caused some
confusion for a few minutes, but I got
the organ stool and she went at it again.
I stayed to night in the Chapel there
being a great value of goods there which
the people though needed protection.
Mr. Tucker stayed with me. We took the
blankets and robes for the fortune tellers
tent and made a bunk on the platform
and went to slleep but the fire went
out and I had to get up { ? ? ?
? ?} rebuild it so I was awoke
most of the night.
02\09\{1898} (Wednesday)
Went to work to day. The weather was
warm and sleighing is fast disappearing.
Went to the Chapel this evening at about
5.30 o'clock. There was a large crowd there,
so large that had many more come they
would have had to been packed so close
that there would not have been breathing room.
Every thing passed off quietly and
all had a good time, except Miss
Bradley who was jealous because she
could not run everything as she wished
and she tried to make all the trouble
she could. In spite of her efforts, the
fair was a success and they netted
a little over one hundred dollars.
The entertainment of which
Mr. Warden and myself had in
charge consisted of, first a piano
solo by Miss Burrett, second a
recitation by Mrs. Irving Prier,
3rd music on mandolin and piano
by Mr. and Mrs {------}, fourth
a recitation by Miss Buchannan,
fifth a tambourine drill by a number
of young ladies of the Waterville
school. I gathered some of my things
and came home and to bed at
two o'clock in the morning.
02\10\{1898} (Thursday)
This day has been a tired and painful
one for me. My foot pained me so
I could not work this afternoon very
much. The weather has been fine
and warm. Went to the Chapel this
noon and again this evening and
removed some of the stuff away.
The ladies have cleaned it out and
put things to rights for which I am
very thankful, to bed at nine.
02\11\1898 (Friday)
This was a very foggy morning and remained
damp and cool most of the day. I drove
to the shop and sent Harry Kilbourn to town
to get some lumber. After he had gone,
Thomas Heaton came with his wagon to
be repaired. Mr. Daniel G. Porter called to
see me about the new piano in the Chapel.
Mr. Tucker called to see if I knew of any
young man in this part of the town
whom he could get to work at press work.
He told me to call and see hime at noon.
I went and gave James Porter his Indian
spear heads, also his Indian gouge{?} and
talked with him some time, after which
I went to dinner, after which Mary
carried me to the Mattatuck shop where I
saw Mr. Tucker, and he said that he had
a job at press work where he could pay
from one to two dollars a per day and
asked me if it was any thing that I
would think of. I told him that it
was but that I would like a little
time to think it over, to which he agreed.
Worked in shop all afternoon, and
walked home at night. Mary sent
Pierpont home with Grandma after
which she drove to town and got home
at about six o'clock. Had supper of
canned lobster. After supper, Clyde,
Irving and myself paired and sliced
half a bushel of apples while Mary
read in "Little Women" to the children.
My foot is very painful.
Mr. William Norman moved away
from the Dolittle place yesterday to
Thompsonville, this state. Fred Woods
told me that he went away and left
unpaid to him a coal bill of one hundred
dollars. I am told he has not
paid his shop rent for two months
and is behind on the house rent.
I am glad he is gone for I think him
a hardened villain. It is my opinion
that he set the shear{??} shop on fire as
suspicion points that way and
Fred Brainard told me that "he
done it by God just as true as I
stand here". He was standing in
front of my shop door at the time
and I noted it in my last year's diary
of that date.
02\12\{1898} (Saturday)
To day has been a damp foggy one.
At breakfast I took a strong drink of
boneset{??} tea to cure my cold. Irving
drove me to the shop.
This forenoon Mr. Tucker came for
me to come to the Mattatuck shop to
move out four safety pin machines
and to bring a boy.
Walked home which was very
hard as the road was slippery and
I was very lame. After dinner, went
to the Mattatuck shop and had George
Hine help me take down the pin
machine which the company has
sold. Mr. Tucker told me that he had
told Mr. Judd that I was coming to
work for them, said that Mr. Judd
was well pleased. Recived {Received} a letter to
day from Mr. D. G. Porter in which he
stated that he had caused the removal
of the seat on the west side of the Chapel.
He has done it against the desires of
the Chapel committee.
Clyde went to town tonight for
oysters for breakfast.
Mr. Warden called to see me about the
Gropaphone{??} entertainment to be held
at the Chapel next Friday evening.
To bed at nine.
02\13\{1898} (Sunday)
This day is the Sabbath and I did not hurry
to get up, started to about seven o'clock and
put my truss{??} on, but my wife played
about me so affectionelly {affectionately} that I went back to
bed with her and lay till nine o'clock
when I got up and got the rest up. I kindled the
fire and cooked the oysters and sat down to
breakfast when Major Tucker called and wished
me to go out to Mother Pierpont's after some
apple with him. When we came back he carried
me to the Chapel (whither the boys had all
ready gone) to get it ready for the service.
After we came home I shaved and got washed
up and wrote a notice to be read in the
Chapel in regards to the Graphaphone{??} entertainment
to be given in the Chapel next
Friday evening. Then Mary and I went
to the Chapel and heard Dr. Rooland read
the Episcopal service and preach a very good
sermon. Came home and had a supper
of chicken and then went to Mr. Tucker's
where I stayed till eleven o'clock when I
came home across lots, found the way very
dark. Mr. Tucker told me that he intended
me to take charge of the upper floor in the
Mattatuck shop and to get ready soon as posible
so good night at 12 o'clock.
Margin between two pages:
We played "Hunt the Thimble" and had ice
cream. Very elegant.
02\14\{1898} (Monday)
Arose a half past five this morning.
The sun came out bright and the day seemed
as if it would be a fair one, but it rew
dull towards noon and soon it rained,
afterwards turned to snow and sleet.
I went to work at the Mattatuck shop
this morning taking out the safety
pin machines. After we had got them
to the lower floor we went to work
packing the pins that were made and
packed about twenty four hundred pounds
in barrels, this together with what
was in the boxes made about thirty six
hundred pounds which we took down
the elevator. Came home to dinner and
had Pierpont drive me back to my own
shop where we repaired M. Simpkin's buggy
after which we (George and I) went again
to the Mattatuck shop and finished packing
pins, wire etc. Then we went back to my
own shop and had not been there long
when Charlie Hotchkiss brought a note
from Mr. Tucker asking for one or two
boys to help load freight. I sent George
Hine over. Arthur Merriman of Southington
called and paid me what he owed
me. Clyde brought me ten dollars
from Adam Faber of Waterville which
I very much needed. I in turn paid it
to Harry Kilbourn as a part of his wages
due. Horice{??} Tucker invited Clyde, Irving,
Margaret and Ruth to his house to
spend the evening, it being his birth
day. He is twelve years old to day.
To bed at 8 o'clock.
02\15\{1898} (Tuesday)
This morning was bright and fair but
during the forenoon the weather grew
dull and rain and snow this afternoon.
Wrote a letter this morning to Mary
Goldsmith asking her to have her scholar's
sell tickets for the Phonograph entertainment
to be given in the Chapel next
Friday evening. And also asking her
to recite a piece on Washington's birthday
night.
This morning Mr. Tucker called and
asked me if Harry Kilbourn would
come to work for him at $1.25 per
day. I asked Harry and he wants
till morning to think it over.
02\16\{1898} (Wednesday)
This morning the snow had fallen to
the depth of three inches by daylight
and the weather was cold and the wind
blew a gale which had continued all
day. Towards night the weather grew
clder till it became one of the owrst
nights known in this section.
Wrote a letter to Charles S. Gillette of
Cheshire about the card that I am building
for him.
This evening Howard Neil called at
our house.
02\17\{1898}
This morning the thermometer registered
4 degrees above zero, and the wind blew
very hard. Traveling is exceedingly bad
on account of the weather and drifts.
I heard this morning that the
new United States Man of War ship
Maine was blown up at 10 o'clock
Tuesday evening in the harbor of
Havanna, Cuba; 233 men lost their
lives. I {???} the Spainards have done it
which I think them mean enough to
do. I hope they will have to suffer.
Col. Phillips of Pittsfield is to give
a grapophone entertainment in the Chapel
tomorrow evening, and Clyde and I
went to night and got the Chapel
ready from thence we went to see
Mr. Warden and found him recovering
from sickness which is the reason
why I have not seen him before.
02\18\{1898} (Friday)
This morning was warm and pleasant
but after noon the weather changed and
it began to rain and snow so that the
evening wet and unpleasant.
Mr. Warden went to the New England
Depot and met Col. Phillips who was
to give the entertainment at the
Chapel this evening. Mother kindly
kept him over night. To bed at 12.
02\19\{1898} (Saturday)
This morning was fair, arose a quarter
to six, had bacon and boiled eggs.
Went to the shop at 7 o'clock. Clyde came
at 10 minutes to eight and took the team
and carried Colonel Phillips to the
New England Rail Road station to
take the train to Cheshire via Plainville
where he is to give an entertainment
this evening.
Came home to dinner of bacon
and potatoes. Found that the boys
had split a good pile of wood so I let
them go to East Farms to play with
the Warden boys. Went to the Chapel
to night in the rain to practice for a
drill to be given next Wednesday evening.
Sent my team with Clyde after
the girls who were to take part in
the drill. They were Lena Hurlbert,
Ida Spender, Fannie Hitchcock, Clara French,
Cara French, Elsie French, Dolly Marrow,
Margaret Miller and Ruth Miller, Olive
Able. Stayed till 10 o'clock, had Clyde
carry the girls home and then we came
home, it raining very hard. To bed at 12.
02\20\{1898} (Sunday)
This has been one of worst days that I
have ever seen, as regards the weather.
Rain, snow, sleet and cold have prevailed
all day and night. There was no service at
the Chapel, only six or seven persons being
there. I in the evening went to Major
Tucker's to spend the evening, but the weather
being bad I stayed all the night and
came home at 6.30 in the morning, it still
raining hard. A curious incident happened
to me last evening. As I was going to bed,
my rupture slipped out and I could not
get it back again. After trying for some
time and failing, Mr. Tucker went for
Dr. Ward but while he was gone it slipped
back again much to my relief and joy.
The disaster which befell the Maine
man of war last Tuesday when she sunk
and 265 perished seems to be uppermost
in the minds of the people and many
think that it will result in war with
Spain.
02\21\1898 (Monday)
Wet and stormy all day and night.
On the ills the trees are ladened with ice
which the oldest inhabitant says he
never saw equaled before. In many
places the roads were impassable on
account of the fallen trees, orchards
are ruined in many instances and
maple, elm and ever hickory are
broken to pieces.
In the valleys near the streams there
is no ice at all, but above a certain
level, it begins and the higher up
one goes the thicker it becomes.
Went to the Chapel to night to
practice for the exercises on Washington's
birthday evening. (I should say
the evening of the 23rd). To bed at 12 o'clock.
02\22\{1898} (Tuesday)
It has rained and snowed all day, mud
very deep. Busy as I can be making
preparations for the Chapel entertainment
to morrow evening.
Rufus Carley called and got a Drum
Corps uniform for Mr. Humphrey, also
Mr. George Thompkins called and borrowed
another. They are to use them at the
old fashioned supper to be given at
the Second Congregational Church
this evening in honor of Washinton's
birth day.
02\23\{1898} (Wednesday)
This morning was wet and more mud
than I have ever seen before in this
locality. There is not a whole tree left
standing in Ed Todd's or the Barnes'
peach orchards owing to the ice storm of
Sunday. Mrs. Rev.{??} Philipps{??} of Prospect
measured the circumference of the
ice on a twig the size of a lead pencil
and it was 18 inches. Great damage
is reported from the hills of Wolcott, Prospect,
Watertown, and Waterbury.
This evening we gave the entertainment
at the Chapel in honor of Washington's
birthday. It was well attended and
a great success, many said the best
entertainment ever given in the Chapel.
The programme consisted of,
1. Song, Red White and Blue, 2. Recitation
by Margaret Miller, Entitled Feb. 22nd,
3. Patriotic Recitation by Mary Goldsmith
4. Song, Star-Spangled Banner, by
Mrs. Rogers, 5. Recitation, Washington,
by Helen Rogers, 5. March and
dramatic sketch, entitled Washington's
Birthday, 6. Recitation by myself
entitled Washington's Birthday,
7. Song, Yankee Doodle.
To bed at 12.30 o'clock.
02\24\{1898} (Thursday)
To day the sun has shown and the
weather had been fair which we appreciate
as it is so long since I have seen
the sun before.
Last night I caught a bad cold which
had made me feel bad to day.
This evening Mary went to the Grange
but I stayed home and went to bed at
8 o'clock.
02\25\{1898} (Friday)
To day I took the signs down from the
front of my shop. Miles Payne called
to see me about buying a lot of stock{??}
that I have on hand. Grandma
Pierpont is with us to day. She told us
that Hattie Pierpont has gone in to
town to board till the first of June.
02\26\{1898} (Saturday)
To day has been damp and cool. Sun shone
some. Mr. Clark's barn burned last night.
Mr. Clark lives on the Woodtick Road above
Ashton's Corner.
02\27\{1898} (Sunday)
Got up at 8 o'clock this morning. Had breakfast
of oysters, after which Clyde and
Irving and myself went to the Chapel
and got it ready for service.
George Somers called to see us. He hopes
that there will be war with Spain.
Many seem anxious for war but I
hope that I may not see it, but
no one know what the result of
the sinking of the Maine man of
war in the harbor of Havanna
may be.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
and heard the Rev. Dr. Davenport
deliver a discourse on Abraham Lincoln
which seemed very appropriate as the
12th of this month was the anniversary
of his birth. Also he held the executive
office of the Nation previous to the war
of the Rebellion, and as many now think
that we are now on the verge of war. He
(Mr. Davenport) made it seem very interesting.
There was a large attendence at
the Chapel considering that the traveling
was very bad, on account of the
mud.
02\28\{1898} (Monday)
To day the weather has been damp and
raw, most everybody has colds.
The ice has disappeared from most
of the ponds, and the icemen are very
blue as they have gathered only about
half a crop and many of the ice
houses are empty. Mr. Theodore
Patchen moved to town to day from
Mr. Zenas{??} Bowen's place above the
red bridges on the Woodtick road near
the Mad River. Will Blewitt will move
in soon.
03\01\1898 (Tuesday)
The weather to day has been good considering
that it is the first of March.
Went to night and cleaned out the Chapel
cellar and then sent the keys to Dexter
Northrop who is to be the janitor in the
future.
This morning the dwelling houses of
Charles E. Smith and George E. Benedict
situated on Highland Avenue on Town{??}
Plot{??} were burned to the ground. The
fire started in the cellar of Mr. Smith's
house, and the crackling of the flames
awoke the family and they has barely
time to escape in their night clothes.
The flames from the Smith house
set the Benedict house on fire and that
in turn ignited Mrs. Cowen's house
but the firemen saved that with the
chemical engine. The Benedicts saved
most of their furniture, but the
Smith's lost most of all.
Mr. Warden told me that he intends
to resign from the Chapel Committee,
also from the Entertainment Committee
of the Ladies Union. I hope he will
not. It is all on account of the piano
trouble.
03\02\{1898} (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been very good
considering the time of year.
Told Mr. Able of Mr. Warden's intended
resignation. He thinks that every
endeavor should be made to keep him
on till the end of the year.
Mr. Warden called in the evening
and he is a little undecided whether
to resign or not.
03\04{03}\{1898} (Thursday)
The weather to day has been fine and clear
although there was about one inch of snow on
the ground which fell last night, but it had
all gone before noon.
I received two envelopes from brother Fred
who is in Detroit containing newspaper
pictures of the wrecked Maine in Havanna
harbour, also war vessels, guns, arms etc.
In the evening Mary went to the Grange
but I stayed at home as I was very tired
and wished to put in a good day's work
tomorrow. When my wife got home
from the Grange, she was greatly excited
because her brother Wilson L. Pierpont
(who is Master of the Grange) and his wife
Annie (who is Secretary of the Grange)
were in their respective places when
she got there, after a time recess was
declared and she did not see Wilson
or Annie again, but just before the
Grange closed a note was received
by the acting Secretary which stated
that the Master and Secretary had
a new ten pound son.
03\04\{1898} (Friday)
This morning after a breakfast of bread
and milk I went to work, Irving carried
me down to the shop. At noon Pierpont
brought my dinner to me. We have worked
all day on Mr. Gillete's double dump cart.
The weather has been cloudy all day till
about 4 o'clock, it began to snow and now
it is snowing hard and the wind blowing
hard also. Went to bed at 9 o'clock.
03\05\{1898} (Saturday)
Got up this morning a little before six,
had breakfast of boiled beans, got to the
shop before seven and worked as hard as
we could all day on Mr. Gillette's cart
but did not get it finished.
Clyde worked in the shop to day.
Sent Irving down town to Fred Wood's
this forenoon after a bail of hay and
to Hemingway's this afternoon after
a quart of oysters and three pounds
of crackers. Sent Clyde up to Charlie
Moshier's to see about a banjo club that
he had spoken of coming to the chapel to
play next Wednesday evening. Charlie
said that two of the young men would come
and bring their young ladies with them
and wished us to meet them at Haden
Street. I saw by the paper to day that three
men are to start for Klondike Country
from here next Monday to dig for gold.
I would like to note here what is termed
a "good joke" and one of those jokes which
was practices{??}, I remember when I was a small
boy while the war of the Rebellion was in
progress. Billy White lives with his wife
and four children in a shanty like house
in the lots west of the West Wolcott
Road back of the residence of Truman
Kilbourn. They are simple minded
people and do not know of our nation's
present trouble with Spain. Last
Thursday afternoon two young men
of the neighborhood disguised themselves
and went to Billy's house and knocked
at the door. Mrs. White came and they
asked if Mr. White was in. She said
that he was away at work. They then
told her (one of them) them he was Mr. Moor
and was a recruiting officer
for the government from New Haven
and that Billy had been drafted and they
were after him. She swore at them and
said, you can't have him. They said
two of Mr. Kilbourne's sons were going
and that John Gallagher was going
to be Captain. She was frightened and
said, you shan't have my Billy. Just
then her boy, a lad of twelve, came round
the corner of the house and they said
they wanted that boy. She said, you shan't {??} my
boy and she pushed him into the house
and shut the door while she scolded like
a tiger. The boys went away that they
would give her till Monday to get
ready, and then they would come after
them. After they had gone,
she went to see Mr. Gallagher and
found him already gone away. This
{??????} the climax and she went about
the neighborhood bemoaning her faith
and heaping curses upon the head of that
d---{???} Republican President McKindley of
Connecticut who was going to take her
Billy away from her and oblige her to go
out at house work to earn a living.
03\06\{1898} (Sunday)
Got up very tired this morning. After breakfast
of stewed oysters, Clyde went to the Chapel
to show Dexter Northrop about taking
care of it. I spent my time in reading
and cleaned the cellar some, took my bath
and wrote the following note for the Chapel
Committee to sign:
To the Officers and Members of the Ladies
Union of Mill Plain Chapel
We the undersigned Committee
of Mill Plain Chapel Society, having
the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) which
we wished used towards the purchase
of a carpet for the Chapel, respectfully
gequest that you obtain samples and
prices of such carpets as you think
most fitting for the Chapel.
And after the cost has been
obtained, we will endeavor to procure
the balance needed, if it cannot be
raised otherwise.
Signed, Robert K. Warden
Luther Bradley
Mark L. Warner
Charles S. Miller
I took this document together with
my own bill of $10.00 for janitor
service and left them with Mrs.
Annie Munson who is Secretary
of the Ladies Union.
Went to the Chapel at three
o'clock. Mr. Nichols preached. Collected
$1.58, had a fair attendence.
In the evening I went to Mr. Tucker's
where I stayed till 10 o'clock. When I
came home he came with me across
the lots, it being bright as day.
03\07\{1898} (Monday)
Worked hard all day. Nothing worthy
of note happened that I know of.
03\08\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day the weather has been fine. One
every hand we hear war talk and all
are greatly excited because the government
has appropriated $50,000,000 for cost defense.
03\09\1898 (Wednesday)
This morning I was awakened by the
fire whistle blowing three, which met{????}
exchange place. I looked out the window
then looked at the clock and saw that it
was quarter past one o'clock. Soon after, I
heard another alarm which meant a large
fire, and called out the whole fire department.
I awoke Mary and we looked out
of the window and saw a red spot on
the clouds and soon heard an explosion
and immediately the whole heavens
were illuminated as if by magic. I called
the boys to look at it, and Margaret,
Ruth and Pierpont got up. There was
another explosion and up went a shower
of sparks. It looked as if the whole City
was on fire. I was at a loss to know
where the fire was and as Clyde wanted
to go and find out, so I told him and
Irving to take their wheels and ride
in and see where the fire was and
then come and tell us. They were gone
about two hours. They told us that it
was Trott's Bakery on Spring Street, a
three story brick building and that
the explosions were caused by gas
which they used in making soda water.
In the morning I learned that the
{????} was $50,000.00 and that 1,500 barrels
of flour were lost. The firemen had
a hard time to keep the fire from
spreading to other buildings.
The cause of the fire was as follows,
In one of the upper stories near the elevator
shaft was located the kettel {kettle} where they
boiled the doughnuts and they had
had a fire under it and a boy attending.
The boy went away, the grease boiled over,
took fire and ignited the wood work and
thence the fire. I have almost forgotten
whether I had any breakfast, can't tell
of what it consisted. Pierpont brought
my dinner to me at the shop. Worked hard
all day finishing up work and cleaning
out the shop. Had dried boiled peas for
supper, and then went to the Chapel
to the Supper and entertainment given
by the Ladies Union of Mill Plain.
The supper consisted of oysters cooked
in various ways for which a charge
of 20 cts. was charged. Then entertainment
consisted of 1. Recitation by Arthur
Heaton, 2. Violin Solo by Mr. Stoton, Miss
Edith Burnett accompanying him on the piano,
3. Messers Sincaster and Leonard on Mandolin
and Guitar, 5. Recitation by George Byam,
6. Recittion Mrs. J. G. Byam. The musicians
were recalled several times. When we came
home we brought Mrs. Able and Mrs.
Morrow with us in the wagon, it being
very muddy. To bed at 11.30 o'clock.
03\10\{1898} (Thursday)
To day the weather has been fine, got up
at 6 o'clock and wrote the following notice
for publication in this evening's American.
The Supper and Entertainment given
by the Ladies Union of Mill Plain Chapel
last evening was a decided success.
The entertainment program was a{??} very
pleasing and well received. Mr. Staton's
violin solo was som much appreciated that
he was recalled and responded with other
selections. Miss Edith Burrett was his
accompanist. The selections rendered
by Messers Sincaster and leonard on
mandolin and guitar received a warm
encore and they responded with other
fine selections. The recitations by
Master George Byam was warmly
applauded as were the others of Arthur
Heaton and Mrs. Byam.
Mary or{??} I did not go to the Grange.
03\11\{1898} (Friday)
Mr. Phalen of Long and Phalen called
this afternoon to see me about renting my
shop, told him that I would rent it for $25.00
per month and he could make what he could
off from that. We agreed to rent it for
$30.00, he to have $5.00 and I $25.00, he to do all
the business, sell the stock tool etc. at
an inventory price and turn the money
over to me.
03\12\{1898} (Saturday)
This forenoon I sent a note to Mr. Tucker
asking him how his neck was, as he had a
carbuncle, he sent word by Irving to have
me come and {???} care of him for the night.
I went and found that Dr. Axtelle and Anderson
had cut it open in the morning. I waited
on him during the night. He was out of
his head the early part owing to the
ether he had taken but was not rational
the last part. I would note here that
I worked this forenoon in my own shop
and I expect it is the last half day's
work that I will do for customers as
I expect to go to work for the Mattatuck
Company next Monday.
03\13\{1898} (Sunday)
I stayed with Mr. Tucker to day which
is Sunday. Had breakfast with the
family. John and Ed Pierpont called
in the afternoon, as did Mr. Otis Northrop
also at evening. Mr. Tucker is getting
along very good.
03\14\{1898} (Monday)
Had breakfast at Mr. Tucker's this morning,
after which I went to my shop and
hung up Mr. Lawlor's, Mr. Tucker's
Arthur Pierpont's and Dr. Ward's
wagons. At half past twelve I went
to work at the Mattatuck Shop at
setting up machinery and doing other
odd jobs. In the evening I went to
Major Tucker's and dressed his neck.
I would here note that as I was coming
home from Mr. Tucker's I saw the
Northern Lights shine brighter than
I ever saw them before. They were in
the shades of Blue, White and Red.
It is an old saying that they are a
sign of war and certainly they were
bright enough to mean something.
I have heard the Old Folks say that
the year before the Civil War began
they seen{??} frequent and of brighter
hues than they have been seen since.
Whether they are a sign of war or
not, I think that was will soon be upon
us.
03\15\{1898} (Tuesday)
Went to work at the Mattatuck Shop
this morning. This noon Joe Huey called
me out of the shop after dinner and
told me that Mr. Tucker wanted me
to come to his house right away
and fix the bandage on his head and
neck. He had been to Dr. Axtelle just
before noon and had it done up
but it failed to stay.
I put it on and it stayed all right.
I went up again in the evening and
stayed with him all night. In the
morning he seemed much better.
03\16\{1898} (Wednesday)
The weather has been fine today
and the frogs can be heard peeping.
They were first heard Sunday.
Worked to day at the Mattatuck Shop.
03\17\{1898} (Thursday)
The weather has been fine today. This noon
Mr. Tucker asked me if Wilson Pierpont's wife
was dead. He said that Mrs. Dickinson
heard the little French girls ask Ausin{??} B.
Pierpont how she was and he only said a
few words and they {???} oh isn't it too bad, so
she{???} judged that she was dead. I went and
asked Paul Hesphelt and he said that she
was. It seems that she died at about 8 o'clock
this morning. She was 39 years old, the same
age of myself. She leaves an infant child
and six children.
03\18\{1898} (Friday)
The weather has been fine today.
They have appointed the funeral of
Mrs. Wilson L. Pierpont to be held in
the Chapel Sunday afternoon at 3
o'clock.
Irving took Dr. Ward's Phaeton Carriage
home this morning.
03\19\{1898} (Saturday)
The weather this morning was very
dull and foggy and at about 9 o'clock
it began to rain and continued to
rain hard for about two hours and
a half. I have worked about the Mattatuck
shop at odd jobs all day, i.e. making
a belt tighten, took down a countershaft
and tightened a pulley on it, and worked
making a bench in the blacksmith shop.
Went down town this evening and
got a pair of overalls for which I paid .40
cts. and also went to see Mr. Jones about
the Insurance on my shop. Came
home and went to bed at about half
past ten. It soon began to lighten {lightning}
and thunder and there was quite
a shower, the first this year.
03\20\{1898} (Sunday)
Got up at eight o'clock this forenoon and
the boys and myself went to my shop where
we stayed till about ten o'clock when we came
home and had breakfast of stewed oysters
after which I wrote and read till one o'clock
when we got ready and went to the Chapel
to Mrs. Wilson L. Pierpont's funeral.
This I think was the longest funeral
ever held in the Chapel, all the seats being
filled as well as all of the standing room
being taken and a great crowd outside
who could not get in. Rev. Mr.
Buckley of Trinity Church officiated.
The pall bearers were Arden Coe
John Gallagher, Arthur Pierpont,
Thomas Melbourn, Harry Coe and
John Todd. It was a grange funeral
and the grangers came from neighboring
towns. There must have been
over 400 people present.
After supper went to Major
Tucker's. Had been there a short time
and was sitting in his room up stairs
reading, when we heard a loud noise
in Mr. Parsley's room. Mr. Tucker
knocked on the door and hearing
nothing opened the door and looked
in. He called us{??} in alarm and I went
and we found Mr. Parsley (the school
teacher) lying on the floor unconscious,
the blood running from his mouth
and nose. They called Dr. Ward soon
as possible and it proved to be a fit.
After about 15 minutes he recovered
consciousness and we put him to bed. He seemed
much better. I stayed with Mr. Tucker all night.
03\21\{1898} (Monday)
Worked to day at the Mattatuck shop
in the forenoon making a bench in the
blacksmith shop. At noon Mr. Brower{??} came
and we went to work making steel buttons
on his new press, which strikes 116 times
per minute and makes three buttons at every
stroke or 348 buttons of steel per minute.
The weather has been damp and it has snowed.
03\22\{1898} (Tuesday)
The weather to day has been dull and it
snowed very hard at noon.
The old Hobert{?} Austin place at East Farms
burned last night. It is supposed that
it was set on fire. It was owned by Mrs.
Margaret Bonette.
Wrote a notice of the young men's supper
to be given in the Chapel on Wednesday
evening, to be published in the American.
03\23\{1898} (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been better
than yesterday, but still it was dull
some of the time. Went to night to
the Chapel to the supper and entertainment.
There was a large crowd there.
03\24\{1898} (Thursday)
Weather to day has been cool.
Mr. Tucker told me today that Mr.
Parsley is going to give up the school.
He has rented a farm in Washington
and is going farming. He is a fine
teacher. Mary went to the Grange
tonight.
03\25\{1898} (Friday)
The weather to day has been fine and
springlike. Bluebrids and robins have
been singing, the grass is turning green
and it now looks like an early spring.
To night the young folks are having
a dance at John French's and some
of the older ones are having a party
at Ed Todd's. Joe Huey has my
horse and has taken Miss Fatem{??} and
my sister Cara. Hiram Able called
this evening and wanted to know
what I though of Mark Warner and
Miss Fatem{??} taking the money that
Mrs. Phillips raised to buy books with
to buy ice cream for the children the last
day of school. I like to have the children have
a good time, but think the books of more
consequence. Mrs. Andrew Reid of Niagra
Street was burned to death this afternoon,
her dress catching from a bonfire in
her garden.
03\26\{1898} (Saturday)
The weather to day has been fine. The
buds are bursting on my plum trees
and trailing arbutus{??} is blossoming out.
Great excitement prevails to day throughout
the nation on account of the naval
board's{????} report regarding the blowing up
of the Maine Man-|of-|War in the harbor
of Havanna by which 264 men lost
their lives. The report was made public
yesterday, and is to the effect that
the Maine was blown up by a
submarine mine and holds
Spain responsiable {responsible}. Our government
has requested Spain to withhold her
torpedo flotilla now enroute from
the Canary Islands to Cuba. This
she has refused to do and war seems
immediate. The Government is
working night and day fortifying
New York harbor and are going
to erect batteries at New Haven
and Bridgeport. Orders issued
to day directing one old stile {style} moniter{??}
to Portland, Me. and two to Boston.
Mr. James Porter was 80 years old to
day.
03\27\{1898} (Sunday)
The weather to day has been fine and clear.
Went to the Chapel. Dr. Davenport
preached. There was a large attendence.
03\28\{1898} (Monday)
Saw a rainbow in the West this morning
while I was coming home from Mr. Tucker's
where I stayed last night.
03\29\{1898} (Tuesday)
The weather to day has been damp
and rainy. Mr. Fred Parnclee{??}, agent
for L.L. Ensworth called on me to day
and I payed him five dollars on the
account I owe Mr. Ensworth of Hartford.
Mr. Warden and his wife called
on me at my shop, (where I and the
boys were sawing wood this evening)
and told me that Mrs. Warden and my
mother and Mrs. Meatt{??} had been to look at carpets
for the Chapel.
03\30\{1898} (Wednesday)
The weather this forenoon was
wet but a noon it cleared up and
was nice this afternoon. Mrs. Hattie
Austin and Homer Twitchel were
married to day, and have gone
south on their wedding tour. He
is about 74 years of age and she
is 47. Mr. Warden called this evening
and told me that he and his
wife have been to town and bought
the carpet for the Chapel. It cost
67 1\2 cts. a yard.
03\31\1898 (Thursday)
It began snowing this morning at
six o'clock and snowed till noon, when
it cleared up and the sun came out bright.
This evening it is growing colder.
Had breakfast of codfish, then went
to work. Mr. Leach came to work on
the nail machines this morning
in the place of Carlie Dec{??} who has
got through. Dewitt Larahee{??} of
Southington got through to day.
Went to night to the Chapel to let
in some men who were coming to
measure the floor for the carpet. They
were to be there at 8 o'clock , waited till
half-past eight and they did not come.
Then went to Mr. Rodier's with a
petition to have the Traction Company
extend their lines to the Grange Hall
and he signed it, then went to Mr.
Gallagher's, from thence to Mr. Hurlbert's,
thence to Mr. Atkinson's thence to Mr
Spender's, thence to Mr. Jones', thence
home, and to bed at ten o'clock.
04\01\1898 (Friday)
Got up at 5 o'clock. Breakfast of bacon
and eggs. Weather to day has been
clear and cool. Left the shop this afternoon
and went to the factory of the
Waterbury Brass Co. where I got sixteen
names on the petition to have the
trolley line extended, in the evening
went with the petition to Mr. Augustus
Moshier's and from thence to Mr.
Theodore Munson's thence to Mrs.
Charles Frost's and Warren Hitchcock's
thence to John French's thence to
Hiram Able's, thence to Walter Garrigus',
thence Mr. Andrews, thence
to Robert Hotchkiss on the Cheshire
Road, thence to Mr. Lee's, thene to
Robert Barrett's, thence to Mr. Andrew's
at the Wedge Place, and Mr. Blackburn's
thence to Morris Reid's, thence to
Henry Wedge's, then home and
to bed.
04\02\{1898} (Saturday)
To day the weather was clear and cool
this morning but at noon it began to
rain and later it turned to snow.
Clyde and Irving started at a little
before seven this morning with their
bycicles {bicycles} and went to East Farms where
they met Mort Pierpont, Clarence
Warden, Burt Pierpont and then
they all went to Meriden thence
to Chshire thence to Roaring Brook
in Cheshire and from there home,
the whole being 33 miles.
04\03\1898 (Sunday)
To day the weather has been very
cold. Frank and Mr. Lounsbury called
to see me this afternoon.
Had to act the part of janitor at
the Chapel to day, as Dexter Northrop
is sick.
Went and stayed with Mr. Tucker
tonight.
04\04\{1898} (Monday)
The weather has been cold and damp
all day. Went out this evening with
the petition for the extension of the
troley track. Went to George Johnson's
first and thence to Frank Judd's, thence
to Luther Bradley's, thence to John
Reid's, thence to Mr. Rudolph's, thence to
Mr. Hock's, thence to Prime Lyman's{??},
thence to Robin{??} Scott's (widow of Edward),
thence to Wilson Pierpont's, thence to
Charlie Brown's, thence to George Benham's,
thence to Sidney Bronson's, thence to
Robert Warden's, thence to Milan Northrop's,
thence to Ed Wetton's and from thence home
and to bed, having procured in all 206 names.
04\05\{1898} (Tuesday)
It began snowing at about six o'clock this
morning and has kept it up all day with much wind.
04\06\{1898} (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been cold and disagreeable.
It began snowing hard at about 5 o'clock this
afternoon and continued about one hour.
The papers stated to day that the Spaniards
had a ship chase an English merchant vessel
and fire on her, thinking her to be an American
vessel. It happened off the coast of Spain.
To night went to the supper and entertainment
at the Chapel. The supper was in {the} charge
of Bertha French and Fannie Hitchcock, assisted
by Edith Pierpont, Mattie Judd, Nellie Cass,
Olive Able, Lena Hurlbuert, Hattie Kilbourn,
Clara French, Adaline Marrow, Daisy hall,
Ida PSender, Hattie Colkings[??}, and Minne
Judd.
The entertainment program was a very
pleasing one and well received. Miss
Sadie Haywood's piano solo was warmly
applauded. Miss Nellie Andrew's song was
som much appreciated that she was recalled
and responded with other excellent ones.
Miss and Miss Haywood's duet
pleased everyone and won applause, as did
Miss Susie Bronson's and Miss Haywood's
recitations.
04\07\{1898} (Thursday)
The weather to day has been cool but
fairly clear.
Great excitement prevail throughout
the land on account of the war.
To night I took the Traction Petition
and went about Mill Plain, first
to David Shannon's, thence Mr.
Aitchenson's where his wife was
putting a baby to bed, thence to
Mr. Lockhart's who is newly married,
thence to Oscar Farichild's whose
wife is sick with a new baby, thence
to Mr. Price's where Mrs. Price was
putting a baby to bed, then up stairs
to a German's where the woman
had a half dressed baby in her lap, thence
to Frank Welton's where they have a pair
of young twins, thence to Mr. Twiss,
where Mrs. Twiss was undressing a baby,
thence to Mr. Thackeries, an old couple
thence to Daniel Squire's where they
had a baby, thence to Mr. Gillette's where
they would not let me in on account
of Mrs. Gillette being sick with childbirth,
thence to Mr. Dee's, an old couple,
thenc to Mr. Heaton's where I did
not go into the house, thence to Mr.
Strobell's where hey had a young baby,
thence to Ned Pritchard's, they are
to old to have babies, thence to Mr.
Chapman's whose wife will have a
baby soon, thence to Mr. William
Blewitt's whose wife has a baby,
thence to Peter Lund's where I saw
no baby, thence home and to bed
with the thoughts in my mind that
Mill Plain is a very prolific neighborhood.
04\08\{1898} (Friday)
To day is Fast{??} and is a legal holiday.
I worked in the Mattatuck shop cleaning
shafting{??} pullies. The war indications
are more threatening to day.
This evening I went with the Electric
Rail pettion first to Mr. Leache's at
the head of the Brass Mill {????} thence
to Miles Pain's on East Mountain, thence
to Willis Lannsburie's, thence to
Mr. Bailey's, thence to Mr. Johnson's,
thence to Gilbert Hotchkiss's where
I passed a great fire on the way
on the North side of the Polk Hill, thence
to Mr. Frank Thompkin's thence to
Mr. Freeter's{??}, thence to James Cass,
then to Frank Cass', thence to
Earnest Welton's on the Woodtick
Road in Mill Plain where they had
a baby sick with the croup, thence
to F. B. Haggett's where Earnest
Robinson signed it making the
306th name, then home and to bed.
Clyde and Irving went to Wolcott
and got Mr. Gardener's wagon.
04\09\{1898} (Saturday)
The weather to day has been warm
and fine and some of the farmer's
are plowing. This evening Margaret
and I went with the petition first
to Mr. Norton's on the Woodtick
Road. They were not at home, thence to
Miss Welton's, thence to Mr. Durant's,
thence to Widow Merritt Scott's thence,
to Widow John Frisbie's, thence to
Gayland Alcott's, thence to Mark
Warner's, thence to Richard Potchen's,
thence to George Pritchard's, thence
to Mr. Mc Cauley's, the road was
very dark, thence to Mr. Blewitt's,
thence to Mr. Norton's and to
Mr. Barner's who lives by the twin
bridges, thence home and to bed.
04\10\{1898} (Sunday)
Sabbath day, prepared the Chapel for
service for Dexter Northrop who is sick,
then saw Mr. Tucker on the way home
and asked him if he would rent me
a piece of ground on which to
plant potatoes. He said he would
and ageed to let me have a piece
in the Sherman Bronson lot next to
the Doolittle Road, and I understand it
was to be free of charge.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
and heard Mr. Waltros of Wolcott preach.
He spoke to considerable length of our
nation's trouble with Spain and of
the suffering Cubans, but prayed
that war might be averted. On my
way home, I saw Mr. Tucker and he
hitched his horse and carried me
to Milan Northrop's at East Farms
thence to George Hitchcock's and George
Alexander's on the Meriden Road.
Then we hurried home as it was
thundering and lightening and we
expected rain, but non came till
evening when it rained quite hard at
about 9 o'clock. I stayed with Mr. Tucker all
night.
04\11\{1898} (Monday)
To day the President of the United
States (Mc Kinley) sent forth his
message to Congress, stating that the
blowing up of the Maine in Havanna
harbour showed that Spain was no
longer able to afford safety to the
ships of other nations in her harbours
and that Cuba must be freed and
the war there must be stopped.
04\12\{1898} (Tuesday)
The weather to day has been fine.
Charles Hotchkiss began working
all night on the nail machines at
the Mattatuck shop, expect to run
the machines to the first of June.
To night after work, I went to my
own shop and loaded a load of iron
and had Father come up and I
entertained him while the folks
got a surprise supper ready for
him, at which all his children and
grandchildren (excepting Fred and
his family) sat down, the occasion
being Father's 68th byrthday {birthday}.
Heard sister Iva say to day
that she was engaged to be married
to William Gillette.
The Waterbury Wrench Co. made
an assignment to day. W. H. Brooks
was appointed receiver{??} under a bond
of 20,000 dollars.
04\13\{1898} (Wednesday)
To day the weather has been
fine. Much talk of the war with Spain.
Went to night and helped Hiram Able
fix the side seats in the Chapel so they
could get the new carpet under them.
Received my week's wages of the Mattatuck
Co. to day. Mary and some of the
other women of the neighborhood
cleaned the Chapel to day and got
it ready for the new carpet.
04\14\{1898} (Thursday)
Went to the Grange to night.
B. F. Hoggett was elected Secretary
in the place of Mrs. Wilson L. Pierpont,
deceased. Rained lightly when
we came home.
04\15\{1898} (Friday)
It has rained most of the day.
Mother is sixty four years old
to day. Went to the Brass Mill and
bought one 12 inch brass kettle for
the Mattatuck Co. for 80 cents.
04\16\{1898} (Saturday)
The weather to day has been fine.
Drew a load of tools from my shop
and put them in the cellar.
The new carpet is put down in the Chapel.
04\17\{1898} (Sunday)
The weather to day has been the best
this year. Grass is turning green and
the buds are ready to burst on plum
and pear trees. Cowslips are in blossom.
Did not go to the Chapel, but Mr.
Mc Kinley preached.
04\18\{1898} (Sunday) {Monday}
The weather to day has been fine.
Every body is talking war.
04\19\{1898} (Tuesday)
It has rained most of the time to day.
Congress sent to day its final message
to Spain and if the terms are not complied
with, the Government are to send
a fleet and an army to Cuba to stop
the war there. A call is expected from
the President for 80,00 volunteers.
04\20\{1898} (Wednesday)
The weather cleared this forenoon
and the evening was fine. We all went
to the supper and entertainment at
the Chapel, which was well attended
and about $10.00 were realized{?????}.
The entertainment program was pleasing
to all. Miss Nellie Andrews, Solo. "The
Wreck of the Battle Ship Maine", was
received with a burst of applause.
The duets by Miss Minnie Baker,
Miss Margaret Hunter and the
Misses Haywoods were warmly
encored.
The solos by Miss Sadie Haywood,
Robert Streeter, Jessie Bamatyne{??},
Miss May Reeds, Mr. Arthur Beach,
Miss Elsie Pollack and Lillie Proctor
were very pleasing and warmly
applauded as were the recitations
by Miss Pollack, Miss Susie Price,
and Sadie Haywood.
04\21\{1898} (Thursday)
The weather to day has been cold
but no storm.
Mr. Gillette, a machinest at the
Mattatuck shop has moved into
one of the houses on Southmade Road
to day next to William Dunworth.
Walter Garrigus' wife has been sick
since Sunday.
To day brings the news that
the Spanish Government has not
waited to receive the Ultimatum
sent by this government, but as
soon as they heard that Minister
Polo had received his passport from
this country, considered it as equivalent
to a formal declaration of
war and have sent a powerful
fleet of battle ships to sea. It is not
known whether they expect to proceed
to the West Indies or to operate
against New york or some other
Northern port. I expect to hear tomorrow
that the call is issued for
80,000 volunteers. I think that the
government could raise an army
of 1,000,000 men easy.
My wife has gone to the Grange
and Mrs. Mulvanney{??} called, as she
and I went to school together when
we were young. We had a very
pleasant time recalling events
that happened at that time, when
the Old War was raging.
04\22\{1898} (Friday)
The weather to day has been fine.
Great excitement prevails to day
on account of the war. At 5.45. o'clock
this morning the war fleet left Key
West for the blockade of Havanna
and the North coast of Cuba.
The president has signed a bill
calling for 100,000 volunteers to serve
for one year. Connecticut's number
to be sent is 1,286 men. This morning
the Cruiser Nashville captured a
Spanish lumber ladened vessel bound
from Mississippi to Engalnd and took
her as a prize to Key West.
Manville Norton of Wolcott was buried
to day in the Woodtick burying ground.
He died on the 20th {???} of a cancer in
the stomach. Had school meeting to
night to consider buying a piece of land
adjoining the back side of the school yard
of Henry Hall. I did not attend.
04\23\{1898} (Saturday)
This day is an eventful one. The Waterbury
Evening American's heading was
as follows, A Spanish Freighter Captured
Our speedy cruiser New York saw
her and raced off after her, sailed{??}
{????} across her bows, stops her.
The President Has Issued a Proclamation
for 125,00 Volunteers To Serve
For Two Years
The owners of the Buena Ventura
captured by the Nashville are very indignant
and have entered a protest.
In Madrid they call it an
act of Piracy. Latest news from
Havanna, how the people feel about the
Yankke fleet in the {??????} - General
Blanco active in rushing troops to the
weak points on the coast of Cuba.
Our fleet of Gunboats reached Havanna
at 5 o'clock last evening, and at once
there was great excitement in the
city. General Blanco is rushing troops
to Morrow Castle and to the Batteries
of Santa Clara.
Here In Waterbury 48 men enlisted
in Company A and Company G making
two full companies of 84 men
each. They are expecting marching
orders at any time and are ready
at an hour's notice, the 48 enlisted
last evening.
04\24\{1898} (Sunday)
Weather to day is very rainy, went
this morning to the Mattatuck factory
and telephoned to the Rev. Mr. Davenport
about preaching at the Chapel.
He would come out but had a very
bad throat and did not know whther
he could preach or not. I asked him
if we could not get some one else for
to day and make it easier for him.
He said that he thought that we could
get Mr. Nichols, Baptist Minister
of Simonsville and saw Mr. Nichols
and he said that he would come.
I in the afternoon went to the
Chapel and found that all was well
and Mr. Nichols was preaching,
and a very fine service, the new
carpet was on the floor and looked
very nice. I stayed with Major Tucker
last night.
I would state here that the Rev. Asher
Anderson of Meriden, Chaplain of
the Second Reg., C.N. G.{??} preached
a war sermon to Companies A and
G last evening. The Church was filled
to the extent that no more could
get in. The service was held in
the first Congregational Church
and great enthusiasm prevailed.
The soldier's war cry is to be
Remember the Maine.
04\25\{1898} (Monday)
The first shots of the War were fired
Saturday night from Morow Castle
at the torpedo boat, Foot{??}, and at the
Battleship New York, but failed
to hit anything but the Atlantic
Ocean.
04\26\{1898} (Tuesday)
The light-house tender Mangrove captured
the Spanish Cruiser Panama{??} yesterday
off Key West.
04\27\{1898} (Wednesday)
To day the First Reg. C.N. G. received
orders at 4.45 o'clock to prepare for war.
(this is all that I know)
04\28\{1898} (Thursday)
The weather to day has been cold and
stormy, snow, sleet and rain.
They had a Grange meeting to night
and Edith Pierpont was elected Secretary.
There was but 15 present.
04\29\{1898} (Friday)
Although the weather to day has been
fairly good, I am suffering great pain.
Before dinner Mr. Tucker told me that
we would go over to my shop and blue{??}
some steel buttons. As an experiment
we tried blueing{??} them in powdered charcoal.
The process is as follows, the buttons
are first hardened, then polished and then
drawn to a temper of blue by putting them
in a long cilender {cylinder} with brass chips usually
which is over a charcoal fire while in
motion till the right color comes when it
is dumped on a riddle and the buttons riddled
out of the charcoal. To day we tried the charcoal
instead of the brass and as I was emptying
them out, the charcoal dust exploded like powder
and knocked me backwards, badly burning
my hands and the side of my face.
To day Mr. Judd gave me my insurance
policy on my shop for $1,000 at a rate 1 1\2 cts..
04\30\{1898} (Saturday)
To day the weather has been fine. I not being able
to work in the shop did nothing most of the
forenoon but tend my burnt hands, but a
little before noon I and Clyde and Irving began
drawing out the wood across the road west of
my house and we kept to work at it till near
4 o'clock when Mr. Tucker sent Paul Hesphelt
after me to come to the shop, as a Mr. Simpkins
of Thomaston was there to show me how to "blue
buttons". I went down and staid till five o'clock
when I came home and drove to Bucks Hill to
see the inside of the Chapel there, to see if
we could give the drill there next Wednesday
evening. Thence home and I sent Clyde and
Irving and Margaret and Ruth to the Chapel
to practice the drill.
05\01\1898 (Sunday)
To day the weather has been fine and
clear. Mr. Warden called on me to see me
about the drill at Buck's Hill. Mr. Tucker
called and asked me to go to ride with him
to see Ed Holmes who lives on the Southington
Mountain. I went with Mr. Tucker and
Horace{??} went horse back on his new horse.
This was the first time that he ever rode horse
back very far. After I got home Father, Frank
and Rolland Jenner called, was glad to see
them.
05\02\{1898} (Monday)
Mort Chandler who lives in prsopect
cut his throat open with a razor yesterday
and although he severed the jugular
vein, strange to say he still lives.
Admiral Dewey{?} gave the Spanish
fleet battle yesterday, before Manilla
in the Phillipine Islands. He sunk
several vessels and drove the rest back.
05\03\{1898} (Tuesday)
The young people of Mill Plain went
this evening to Bucks Hill and gave
an entertainment in the Chapel. It
consisted of readings, recitations,
music and a drill and dramatic
sketch entitled America. We had a
fine time and returned home at 12
o'clock.
05\04\{1898} (Wednesday)
Our Chapel had a supper and entertainment
this evening which they
say was fine. I did not go as my
burnt hands were so painful that
I thought I had better stay home and
go to bed.
05\05\{1898} (Thursday)
Weather was very unpleasant. Mary
went to the Grange to night and
Clyde and myself did up my hands
which were very painful, so much so
that it is hard for me to write.
05\06\{1898} (Friday)
Old Mrs. Samuel Munson was
buried from the mill Plain Chapel
to day. I signed her will about
one year ago. She was aged 81 years
and 4 months.
05\07\{1898} (Saturday)
The people are greatly stirred with
enthusiasm over the official
statements that have come to day that
Commander Dewey has won a
great vistory over the Spanish fleet
at Manilla in the Phillipine Islands.
He has sunk eleven vessels and killed
300 Spaniards and wounded 400 more.
His own loss was 8 men wounded.
05\08\{1898} (Sunday)
To day Clyde, Irving and myself drove
over three mile hill to Break-|neck Hill
thence around the north end of Luossapang{??}
Lake in Middlebury and through
the White Deer Rocks to Woodbury,
thence to Southbury, and home
the whole being about 35 miles. It
rained some of the time and this
afternoon it snowed the biggest flakes
I ever saw.
05\09\{1898} (Monday)
The weather to day has been fine.
To night Clyde and Irving and I
finished plowing for potatoes at
the Sherman Bronson lot.
05\10\{1898} (Tuesday)
Fair weather to day. We harrowed
the potato lot to day.
05\11\{1898} (Wednesday)
To day after work in the shop Clyde
and I plowed the drills in the potato
lot.
05\12\{1898} (Thursday)
This morning we planted several rows
of potatoes before I went to work.
To day I fixed the doors and windows
in the house where Mr. Gillette lives
on the Southmaid Road.
News was received to day that the
torpedo boat Winslow was disabled
at Cardenas, Cuba and five
American seamen were killed and
a number wounded.
Worth Bagley, an ensign, was the
first killed and there are the
first killed in the war.
05\13\{1898} (Friday)
The weather to day has been very fair.
Two men came to day from the Eddy
Electric Works of Windsor. Came to
set the new {??????} running in
the Mattatuck shop. I worked with
them.
05\14\{1898} (Saturday)
We finished putting in the {??????}
to day and I am to see to the
running of it. We started it up
to night and it worked very
well.
05\15\{1898} (Sunday)
To day has been very rainy all but
a little while this morning. A great
many bicycle riders rode out of town.
Mrs. Dickinson counted 86 in one
lot going East on the Meriden Road
on their wheel this morning before
it rained, and most of them got
caught by the rain and came walking
back at night all wet and tired.
Went to Mr. Tucker's this evening
and he told me that he was going
to get through at the Mattatuck Shop
to morrow. It was hard news to hear
for he organized the company and
built up the business, and also gave
me my situation there, but some
disagreement between him and Mr.
Wade and Mr. Judd brought it about.
Also his health is very poor owing to
the effects of the carbunckle he has
had on his neck.
05\16\{1898} (Monday)
Mr. Tucker came to the shop to day and
told the people that he had got through. It
seemed to me one of the saddest days I
ever saw, as it made the work of the
rest of us uncertain, besides all liked
Mr. Tucker. Mr. Harry Judd informed
me that they were going to build a
seperate building for me to color the
buttons in and that no one but he
and I were to be allowed in there.
Harry Judd is to take Mr. Tucker's
place. I have also been instructed by
Mr. George Judd to take charge of
the {?????} and run it, no one
else to touch it. This looks as if they
had confidence in my ability.
05\17\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day the weather has been rather cool.
This morning Clyde and I plowed
about two thirds of the East garden
and tonight we finished it and plowed
in the North garden. Clyde and I went
to my shop this morning and Clyde
loaded on to the wagon some rims
and took them to James Harry's in
Cheshire of whom I bought them of
and returned them as I had no use
for them. I worked to day putting
a partition around the {??????}. It
was easy work, but it seemed hard
to me as I had hard headache and
tooth ache. This evening Mr. Tucker
called to see me and I walked home
with him and sat and talked on
the veranda.
He told me that after the buttons
were hardened they roll{??} them for
two weeks in cool ahes and iron
jack stones.
05\18\{1898} (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been cool and clear.
Got up at 5 o'clock and plowed in the North
garden till 6.30 then went to work.
To day the First Regiment Connecticut
National Guard was mustered into the
United States Service and is now
awaiting orders from the government.
To night we finished plowing and
Clyde went down to his Grandma's to
stay over night.
05\19\{1898} (Thursday)
The weather to day has been fine till
about 8 o'clock in the evening when we
had a thunder shower which lasted the
greater part of the night.
Mr. Gladstone, the great English
statesman, died at 5.30 o'clock this morning.
05\20\{1898} (Friday)
To day has been hot. The thermometer
regerstering {registering} 86 in the shade.
05\21\{1898} (Saturday)
The weather to day has not been so
warm as yesterday was. Worked in
the shop all day and would not
have been surprised if I had been
discharged as they have so very little
work for me but very fortunately I
have not been for which I am very greatful.
Paul Hesphelt told me his way
of rooling{??} steel trouser buttons. It
is as follows, first rool{??} them
in coal ashes and water in an iron
barrel for 2 weeks, next in a
wooden barrel while wet with
vienna line, then in wood 8 covered{??}
barrel with cut leather (dry) then
when sorted, rool in bax wood
saw dust a little while, then I
take them and blew them.{???}
05\22\{1898} (Sunday)
To day the weather has been fine and
cool. Went to the Chapel and heard
the Reverend Mr. Davenport preach
a sermon on patriotism. It was
grand. He thinks that the war cry,
"Remember the Maine", is used to much.
He said that the bruised and battered
hulk of the Main, lying so still in
the harbor of Havanna will do more
to bring liberation to the oppressed
Cubans than anything else can.
That God will remember the Maine.
Went to see Mr. Tucker this evening,
came home and to bed at 10 o'clock.
05\22{23}\{1898} (Monday)
A California Regiment left to day
at San Francisco on{??} the City of Pekin{Peking??}
to reinforce Admiral Dewey in
the Phillipine Islands.
05\24\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day Companies K. F. and C.
of the First Conn. Regiment left
Cmap, Haven, at Niantic and
are to proceed to Portland, Maine
via Providence, Boston and Portsmouth,
N.H. To morrow Co. B.
I. and D. will leave for Gul and Plumb
Islands.
05\25\{1898} (Wednesday)
The President has called to day
for 75,000 volunteers to serve two
years or to the end of the war.
Had a meeting at the Chapel
to night and elected officers
for the ensuing year. They were
as follows, Morris Alcott for the
Episcopal denomination, myself
for the Congregational, Luther
Bradley for the Methodist, and
Robert Warden for the Baptist.
Arthur Pierpont was elected Secretary,
Hiram Able, Treasurer,
J. Henry Garrigus, Sunday
School Superintendent and
Henry Cass, Librarian.
05\26\{1898} (Thursday)
The Third Regiment,
Connecticut National Guards
were ordered into camp at
Niantic{??} to day.
Ralph Blakeslee barn and store
house burned this forenoon, it is
located on Meadow Street near the
Nangatuck Raid Road Station.
05\27\{1898} (Friday)
It has rained all day to day. We
have had no clear weather in a
week.
05\28\{1898} (Saturday)
The weather is very damp to day.
Paul Hesphelt's little boy Adolph had
a very narrow escape from drowning
to day. The circumstances are that his
smallest children and my little boy
Pierpont were playing near the upper
dam of the Mattatuck Company's shop
when Adolph said he would go and catch
some foam. He went and sat down over
the gate where the water flows into the
ditch and was catching the foam on his
bare foot when he slipped and fell into
the water. He screamed loud but the
other children were gathering flowers
below the dam and did not hear him,
but his oldest sister was passing from
school on the road above the dam and
knowing the voice hastened to where
he was and found him, floating on
his back round and round. She seized
him and with the aid of some of
the other children, rescued him.
[[05\29\1898 (Sunday) no entry]]
05\30\1898 (Monday)
This morning Clyde and Irving and my
self took the team and starting at about 7o'clock
drove to Meriden 12 miles, thence to Middletown
10 miles, stopping on the way near Black
Pond and eating dinner in the woods.
At Middletown we crossed the Connecticut
River on the new iron bridge, paying 15 cts.
toll, and went to Gildersleeves Landing, 4
miles, thence across the hills to Cobalt,
6 miles, thence to East hampton, 5 miles,
where we stayed over night at the
Village Central Hotel, kept by one
Mr. Malcome. In the evening we went
to the Congregational Church where
they held Decoration Day exercises.
About 20 war veterans marched in
to the church after the rest had been
seated. As they marched, a string band
played "Marching Through Georgia",
after which after which it played the "Star-|Spangled
Banner" and several other national
{????}, the veterans standing during
the playing. The most interesting
part of the service was the reading
of a diary kept {by} Mr. Horatio Chapman
during the war. He was a native of East
Haddam. He is now Chaplain of the
East Hampton Post G. A. R. and is
a fine reader, and read the part taken
by himself from Gettysburg to
Atlanta. I hope that I can hear the
rest sometime. Mrs. Malcome gave
us a room with two beds in it.
Clyde and Irving taking one and
I the other. In the morning we left
at about half past six for Moodus{???}
after paying $1.25, we stopped when about
half way there in a piece of woods
and ate our breakfast, which we carried
with us. We drove right past
Moodus without seeing it. It is
situated in a valley which we went
parallel of on a hill and looking
across seeing no buildings, did not
notice it. After we got a mile past
a man told us of it and we turned
and drove back one mile. They
were having Decoration Day exercises
and the parade was forming. There were
about thirty veterans at the head of
the line, preceeded by a part of the reknowned
Moodus Drum Corps, after which
came about 150 school children carrying
flowers. They marched through the principle
streets of the village and then out to
a cemetery on a high hill near a Methodist
Church where the Rev. Mr. Marshel delivered
an address, and the children decorated the
graves of deceased soldiers. I shook
hands with many of the members
of the Moodus Drum Corps who I
have met in nearly every City in
Connecticut during the past 20 years
of my life as a drummer. Mr. George
Buell, who is a fine fifer, invited us
to Continental Hall to dinner which
was fine and from there to his tin
shop and hardware store, and then
home to his house where we stayed
till nearly three o'clock. He told
us all about the Moodus noises and
described them as sounding
like a person rolling a barrell of
loose{??} iron over an uneven floor
and banging it against the side
of the room. He is fifty years old
and siad that he had heard them many
times. One time the people were in
church and thought that a heavy
team was running away and
that the hub of the wagon scraped
against the side of the church and
banged against the corner board
and tore it off. I would say that
it is 8 miles from East Hampton to
Moodus. On leaving Moodus we
drove to Godspeeds Landing, 4 miles.
(Irving and I, Clyde riding his wheel
most of the entire trip) where we
crossed the rover on a steam ferry,
thence we drove to Shaylerville, thence
to Haddam thence Higgamum, 10
miles from the landing thence to
Durham 10 miles passing through
4 miles of woods without seeing
a building, thence to Wallingford, 9 miles,
thence to Cheshire 6 miles, thence home,
8 miles where arrived at 2 o'clock in the
morning. Mr. Lewis Beckwith moved into
his new house on the Southmaid Road
yesterday.
05\31\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day has been a long one for me
as I have a tired feeling and have had
to work hard.
06\01\1898 (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been nice.
I have been working out of doors
all day moving a coal shed to
make room for a building for
me to color buttons in.
06\02\1898 (Thursday)
To night Mary went to the Grange
and I went to bed at about half
past eight. Mr. Warden called
and wished me to have some tickets
printed for the Strawberry Festival
and entertainment to be given
in the Chapel on June 23.
06\03\{1898} (Friday)
Planted onions in the garden this
morning and plowed out for corn
in the Sherman Bronson lot this
evening.
06\04\{1898} (Saturday)
Planted corn in the Sherman
Bronson lot to day. I call it the
Bronson lot because Sherman
Bronson owned it previous to
1850 and covered it with the refuse
bone from his bone button
factory and cleared the brush and
stones from it. Sherman Bronson
lived where Major Tucker now lives
and his factory stood where the tannery
building now stands. He failed and
Scoville Mfg. Co. took all his real estate
and he went to California but came
back again and died on South Elm
St. about 8 years ago.
06\05\1898 (Sunday)
The weather to day has been fine
and a great number of bicycle riders
were out.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
and heard Mr. Buckley preach.
Did not get there until the service
was half over.
After service we, the Chapel
Committee, elected Morris Alcott
Chairman.
06\06\{1898} (Monday)
To day nothing worthy of note happened
except that Mr. Harry Judd who
is superintendent of the Mattatuck
Mfg. Co. told me that we would go
over to my shop and color buttons.
We went over and I built a fire
and told him that I was ready to
go to work. He said nothing and
I told him that I supposed he understood
that if I colored the buttons
at all, I should do them alone, and
as I needed no one to help me and
no one to show me, I should do them
alone. he went away and I went to
work.
06\07\{1898} (Tuesday)
This day I got up at 5 o'clock and
Irving and I cleaned the privy out
after which I ate my breakfast and
went to the shop, about 8 o'clock I
took a box of buttons over to my
shop and worked till quarter past
eleven coloring them, after which I
brought them back on a wheelbarrow
and Mr. Judd told me to {do} some job
which took me till noon. The weather
was very hot and I was near melted.
Pierpont brought my dinner
and we ate it together, after which
Mr. Judd told me to go up to the
tannery building and get some
old lumber with which to build
on an addition to the coal sheds.
I got Joe Huey and we went to
my house and got my horse
and wagon and went to the
tannery, carrying Margaret,
Ruth and Pierpont up as we went.
Pierpont went to play with Roy Munson
and Margaret and Ruth to school.
I drove down the East side of the
River to the rear door of the {????} and
loaded on the lumber that was there,
then drove up and across the iron
bridge and down the West side of
the river to the front door when Mr.
Judd came after me to go down to the
shop and show a lot of carpenters about
putting up the shop for blueing buttons.
We set the corners and squared the
frame, the sun being intensely hot, after
which, I went into the shop and worked
the remainder of the day putting up
string pieces on which to hang a
counter shaft, which is to run an energy
grinder. Came home at half past five
o'clock and ate my supper after which I
plowed a piece of ground on which to
plant potatoes for Mr. Mulvaney, after
which I came home and went to bed at
9 o'clock with a pain in my head caused
by the intense heat.
06\08\{1898} (Wednesday)
This morning I did not get up till
6 o'clock, did a little work on the garden
fence, after which I ate my breakfast and
went to the shop, worked till noon putting
up the counter shaft and belts and setting an
energy grinder, and in the afternoon worked
making boxes in which to carry work.
Came home at 5 o'clock and ate my supper
and then plowed drills for Mr. Mulvaney
to plant potatoes in, after which I came
home and planted onions till Mr. Tucker
came. I talked with him a while and went
to his house to look at some business
cards he had received, stayed till half
past 9 o'clock when I came home and
to bed. Received my last week's pay
to day of $10.00.
06\09\{1898} (Thursday)
This morning I got up at 5 o'clock and
planted onions after which we worked
on the garden fence till 6.30 when I
ate my breakfast and went to the shop.
Worked till about 11 o'clock making
boxes after which I went to my home
and got my saws and after filing them
went to building an addition on to the
coal shed. The Waterbury Wrench Co.
finished working to day and are selling
out, came home and finished the garden
fence, and worked till I could not see.
06\10\1898 (Friday)
Got up at 5.30 o'clock this morning, called
Clyde and Irving and we made a path
over to the back lots of Miss Mary
Doolittle's which she has given me
the use of if I will cut the brush on
them by next fall. After we had
the path made we took the horse
over and left him there all day.
Went to work at quarter to seven
and worked all day building an
addition on to the coal shed at
the Mattatuck Drum Shop.
Miss Hine sent me a recipt for $3.00
for money I have paid on George's account.
Mr. Ealcott moved to day into
the second house on the Mattatuck
row.
06\11\{1898} (Saturday)
Got up this morning at 5 o'clock and
got some ground ready to plant
late peas and cucumbers, went to
the shop, worked this forenoon on
coal shed and this afternoon till 4
o'clock when Paul Hesphelt and I
took the governer{??} away from the
waterwheel so that he, Paul, could
pack the gate stem tomorrow.
After work, Clyde and Irving
came with the big wagon and
we went to my shop and got
a load of stuff and a grindstone.
06\12\1898 (Sunday)
Got up this morning at half past six
and set out tomato plants and fenced
about the garden till breakfast time,
after which we went over to the pasture
lot and dug out a new spring near
the path. Near noon Frank called and
brought some tomato plants and we
sat them out. The children, except Pierpont
and Raymond went to Sunday School this
after noon and Mary went to the Chapel
service. I stayed at home and took a bath.
Mr. Garrigus called and asked if I
could not get Mr. Davenport to preach
to the children next Sunday as it
is Children's Sunday. After supper
Mary and I went and saw Mr. Luther
Bradley and he says he is willing
to exchnage Sundays with me so
that they can have Mr. Davenport
next Sunday if we can get him.
Mr. Perrings preached at the Chapel
to day.
06\13\{1898} (Monday)
The weather has been very hot all day.
There has been a land battle between
the U.S. Troops and the Spaniards
on Cuba. This is the first battle of
the war, it was fought and
there were four of our soldiers killed.
06\14\{1898} (Tuesday)
Fourteen thousand troops left Tampa,
Florida at daylight to day for Cuba.
06\15\{1898} (Wednesday)
Got up this morning at four o'clock
and Clyde, Irving and I went to the
Sherman Bronson lot and cultivated
out our potatoes and hoed four
rows, after which I went to the shop
and {am} at work finishing a partition
that I built yesterday for a new
room to put a nail machine in.
Then went over to my shop and
colored buttons till noon. After dinner,
colored buttons till three o'clock then
mad {made??} a door in the new room, then
helped get in the new machine, then
put the lock on door which took till six
o'clock, came home and had supper of
strawberries and bread and butter,
then to hoeing potatoes, then went
to Thomas Heaton's after a bill of
$8.00 he owes me but did not get it.
Mr. Joseph Munger called on me
to day about the interest money
I owe him on my house.
Got my week's pay to day $12.00 at
the Mattatuck Shop. To bed at 9 o'clock.
06\16\{1898} (Thursday)
This morning was very cold, had a little
frost. School meeting was held in the
East Farms district last evening and
Milan Northrop was elected {????????},
Wilson L. Pierpont, Clerk, and
Luther Bradley, Treasurer. Mr.
Freeter's steam laundry on East
Mountain burned this morning at
about eight o'clock. Hiram Able's
people saw it very plain from their
house. Had my house reinsured
for $2,000.00 in the Orient Company
of Hartford, John G. Jones, agent
for three years, expires June 20, 1901.
06\17\{1898} (Friday)
Very hot and dry to day. Old Mrs.
Johnson is very sick, fell off
from a chair and got hurt, she is
now in her 93rd year.
06\18\{1898} (Saturday)
Very dry and hot. It is published
to day that a fleet of 20 ships have
saied from Cadez, Spain and are
headed for the New England
coast. The Third Conn. Regiment
have been ordered to the National
Camp at Ninatic to be mustered
into the Government service. The
first of next week, two companies
of the Fourth Regiment, the Danbury
and Stamford companies
are ordered to Fort Knox at
Bucksport, Maine to fill up
the First Reg. to 12 companies.
06\19\{1898} (Sunday)
The first rain fell to day in the form
of a shower that has fallen in a long
time. I have stayed home all day
till evening when I went to Hiram
Able's then to John French's and
to Mr. Tucker's.
Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel because it was Children's
Day. Mr. Frank Cass is very
sick with dropsy, not expected
to live. He worked for me about
three years as a blacksmith's helper.
06\20\{1898} (Monday)
Got up early this morning and
worked in the garden, till shop time.
Worked at the shop putting in a blow
pipe from the boiler shop to the button
hardening shop. Bertha French got
through working Saturday. The girls
that work at the Mattatuck shop now
are Nellie Cass, Mrs. Marrow,
Mary Lyman, and Clara French.
The men are Harry Judd, Foreman,
Mr. Ealcott, George Blanchard,
Joe Huey, Mr. Holden, Charles
Hotchkiss, Mr. Leach, Frank DeBissop,
Paul Hesphelt and myself
and a watchman.
06\21\1898 (Tuesday)
I did not get up this morning until
quarter of six, ate my breakfast of
radishes, bread and butter and canned
salmon and went to the shop, worked
cutting out stones in the pipe trench
to the button coloring shop, and
put the stone underpriming under
the button coloring shop, and laid
a brick floor in a part of it. PIerpont
brought my dinner of fired meat and
potatoes and bread and butter, came
home at 5.30 o'clock and put a sole on
one shoe, and Irving, Margaret, Ruth and
myself pulled weeds in the onions.
Mr. Warden called to see me about the
entertainment for the Strawberry
Festival to be given at the Chapel next
Thursday evening. Mr. Lines and his
orchestra came out to the Chapel this
evening to rehearse but could not
as the piano was pitched to low.
06\22\1898 (Wednesday)
Mr. Francis D. Cass died this forenoon
of the dropsy.
I received my week's pay of the
Mattatuck Mfg. Co., $12.50.
06\23\1898 (Thursday)
Warm and dry, people are beginning
haying. Yesterday a freight train
of 50 cars parted East of the Stratford
draw bridge and as the front section
was crossing the bridge, the
back part ran into it and piled
up three cars high, at the same
time striking the bridge and throwing
it eighteen inches out of
plumb, and making it unsafe
for travel as no trains have
passed over it since. It is expected
that it will take several days to
repair it. This cuts off all rail
road traffic and is a great cause
for inconvenience.
This noon George Cass called at
the shop to see if I would be pall
bearer at his Father's funeral.
Had a grand strawberry festival
at the Chapel to night. The building
was crowded full and the
supper was fine. The entertainment
program was fine and
included recitations by
Miss Deitrish, duets by Mrs.
Lines and Orsgood, solos by
Mrs. Lines and Mr. Alden and
Mr. Orsgood and several selections
by Jack Lines, Orchestra, which
could not be beaten.
Mr. Tucker sent me word that
he wants to see me about the school
meeting, has heard that Mark
Warner has fired Bessie Tyler of
Bucks Hill to teach next year.
Paid Mr. Hine 2.00 for which
she sent me a receipt.
06\24\{1898} (Friday)
To day has been hot and dry.
Mr. Francis D. Cass was buried to
day, at half past two this afternoon
the Rev. Dr. Davenport officiated.
The pall bearers were Thomas Melbourn,
Wilson L. Pierpont, Robert Warden,
Thomas Mills, George Alexander
and myself. He was buried at
the Pine Grove Cemetery.
Yesterday being the last day of school,
they had a school picnic to day which
was held in th grove back of the
school house. After the funeral we drove
up there. They had a large attendence.
Went to Union City to see an English
man who used to live on East Main
St. to see if I could get the recipt for
making lacquer cover steel pens,
buttons etc. Could not find him
but found one Mr. Pratt who was
in business with him and who
claims to have lost a lot of money
by his management, who told me
how the lacquer was made, as
follows, dissolve gum sheel-lack in
alchohol and add naptha, apply in
a dipper's basket and when the
pens are well shook off, turn out
into a riddle on a warm stove
and shake it till dry. Drove home
by way of Platts Mills.
We cleared at the Strawberry Festival
at the Chapel last evening about $50.00.
06\25\{1898} (Saturday)
To day is very hot and dry. Everything
is drying up.
06\26\{1898} (Sunday)
Got up at half past five and watered
plants in the garden, then went
up to Mr. Tucker's and we went and
looked at the old tannery building
with a view to see what kind of
a place it would be to make steel
buttons in, then came home and
had breakfast at ten o;clock of
baked beans, after which, Howard
Neil called to get his Indian relics
which I had. Then Father called
and we drove to John Wakelee's to see
him about cutting his hay, came home
and found Agnes Able here resting after
walking from Mr. Stephen Harrison's on
Walnut street where she works.
Went to the Chapel and heard Mr. Bassett
preach. Came home and had supper
of strawberry shortcake.
06\27\{1898} (Monday)
News has reached us of a battle which
was fought near Santiago de Cuba
at a place called Lo Luasina
last Friday between 1000 troopers
and 2000 troopers Spanish soldiers and
troops fought on foot and lost
17 men killed, 29 wounded and 7
missing.
06\28\{1898} (Tuesday)
Dry and dusty.
06\29\{1898} (Wednesday)
Had school meeting last night
and mark L. Warner was elected
Committe, B. F. Hoggett, clerk
and Warren Hitchcock, treasurer.
It was voed to lay a tax of .05 mills
on the dollar on list of 1897.
The Committee assisted by Mark
Pond were to lay tax.
06\30\{1898} (Thursday)
Parisgreened{??} my potatoes this evening.
Went to the Grange to night.
The weather very hot and dry.
07\01\1898 (Friday)
Weather dry and hot.
I received a tax bill to day for
military tax due May 1, 1897
from Constable Ronnette with
a copy of the law that unless
it was paid by the 6{???????}
he should {????} on my body and
so forth and unless paid. I was
to be delivered to the keeper of the county
jail, there to remain until I had worked
out said tax, together with costs and other
expenses, also a letter from Constable
Ronnette saying that if paid before the
sixth, that there would be no further costs
than the tax of $2.00 and interest and writ
which was $2.00 making $4.00 in all.
News as published to day that Gen.
Shafter{???} has his army of 14,000 men including
5,000 Cubans before Santiago and
intends to attack the town to day.
Aunt Amanda Bronson died in Bridgeport
yesterday, aged 93 years. She is sister
to my wife's mother.
07\02\1898 (Saturday)
Got up this morning at half past five
and worked hoeing in the garden
till 6.30. Ate breakfast of boiled hard
clams and went to the shop. Worked
first whitewashing the forge in the
button blueing shop, also the windows.
Next made a rack in the main shop
for those who ride wheels to keep
bicycles in. Next made some long
shallow boxes, then stopped for 1/2 hour
at noon and ate dinner of corned
beef and biscuit, and worked most
of the afternoon making a cubbard{?}
in the button blueing shop.
Came home and had supper of
boiled beans, after which I hitched up the
horse and Clyde and I went to town. Went
first to the Selectmen's office in the City
Hall to see about the military tax but
they were away. Saw the janitor James
Loughland and asked him who the
past examining surgeon is. He said that
it was Dr. Graves and that he was
over to the armory where they are
enlisting recruits for the Conn. National
Guards. Went thither and saw
Postmaster Fitzpatrick and Captain
Geddes and they told me that Dr.
Graves was at his office in the
Daniels Block on North Main Street.
Went thither and saw him, but he
could do nothing for me as the law
provided that he could examine only
in the month of January. From thence,
I went to see Constable Ronnette and showed
him his bill and letter and told him
that I was exempt of military tax
on account of disability having a
lame foot and two ruptures. He,
seeing my cane, believed me and tore
up the bill and letter, which ended the
matter. I thanked him and told him
if I could help him out some time to
let me know, at which he seemed very
much pleased, for I secured a number
of votes for him at his last election.
Went from thence to Charlie Russell's
store where Clyde bought .50 cts worth
of fire works for the children to help
celebrate the Fourth of July. Came
home and to bed at 10.30.
There was a great battle fought
before Santiago yesterday in which
it is reported that we lost 1000 men
and troops now occupy a position
within two miles of the city.
07\03\{1898} (Sunday)
This has I think been the hottest day
I ever saw. My thermometer has stood
at 102 in the shade most of the afternoon.
The gardens are all wilting, the leaves
on the trees have withered since morning
and a vapor can be seen arising from
the watercarses{??}. There has been a stiff
breeze blowing from the South West
some of the time, but it felt hot as
if coming from the burning sands
of a desert.
On the Fourth of July in 1882 I drummed
in the Mattatuck Drum Corps at
the dedication of the Soldiers
Monument in Birmingham. That
day the thermometer stood 106 in
the shade in Shelton where we
marched, but it was only 98 here
so to day must be the hottest.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
Mr. Perry, Baptist, preached.
After supper went to Mother Pierpont's
at East Farms.
07\04\1898 (Monday)
To day is the one hundred and twenty
second anniversary of our nation's
independence, and the words which
John Adams spoke in 1776 are fulfilled
when on July 2nd he said, "We will
make this an immortal, a glorious day
when we are in our graves, our children
will honor it. They will celebrate it
with thanksgivings, with festivities,
with bonfires and with illumination.
On its annual return, they will
shed tears not of subjection and
slavery, not of agony and distress,
but of gratitude, of exultation and
of joy." While the people of to day have
nearly forgotten in a measure the
burdens and distress which burdened
the people in 1776, Fourth of July is
very appropriately observed.
For myself I worked this forenoon
(a thing I never did before) lining up
the main shafts in the Mattatuck
Shop. In the afternoon, Paul Hesphelt
and his boys and I and my boys
went to Scott's Pond fishing and
as the water was low, we caught over
60 fish. Mr. Gilbert Duryee died
yesterday.
There has been alarms of
fire in town to day.
This evening we went up on the
large rock on red oak hill back
of the Doolittle place and watched
the fireworks which were sent up
in every direction. There was lots
of thunder and lightening which
served to make the occasion the
more sublime and it rained a
few drops.
07\05\{1898} (Tuesday)
This day has been one that I shall
long remember. At 10 o'clock, as I had
occasion to leave the shop, I was surprised
to hear most of the whistles and
gongs blowing, and the ringing of
bells and firing of cannon.
This told the people of the victory
of Admiral Sampson over the Spanish
Admiral Cervia near Santiago.
I immediately sent Clyde to notify
the members of the Mattatuck Drum
Corps that there would be a parade
in the evening and that we would
turn out. I stopped work at noon
and came home and got my five
drums in shape and then went to City
Hall and reported to Mayor Spenser
that we would turn out, from thence to
see George Edwards thence to
see Simon Smith on the Middlebury
Road and then home and
loaded seven snare drums and two
bass into my two seated wagon
and took them to Gardener Hall's
store on Cherry Street where we
formed, {????} for fifers, Luke
Henderson, Charles Cass, Simon
Smith and George Edwards. Bass drummers,
Henry Buckingham and Elsie
Bronson. Snare drummers, Mr. Miles
Booth, Hubert Downs, Arthur Harrison
(of Wolcott), George Atkinson, Levi
Grilley and myself. We marched to
City Hall and reported for duty
and were assigned to head Randolph
& Claw's Company, nearly all
of the military and civil organizations
in the city turned out.
The factory whistles blew and
there was a continual display
of fireworks while a cannon on
the top of Abrigador{??} Hill kept
up a constant firing. The center
was thronged with people.
07\06\{1898} (Wednesday)
This morning as I was about to get up
at about quarter to five, as I arose and
turned in bed, my hernia slipped out.
It became rigid and I could not get
it back again. After trying everything
that I could think of, we called Clyde
and sent him after Mr. Roberts who
lives no South Main Street and makes
a specialty of caring for ruptures.
He came a little after seven o'clock
and tried to force it in which pained
me very much, after which he took
a battle of liquid from his satchel
and poured a little on and then with
a slight pressure it went back.
The liquid relaxed the muscles and
let it slip back. He staid and ate
breakfast with me, and I did not
go to work till noon.
Mr. Durce was buried
this afternoon in the Pine Grove
Cemetery. He was aged 76 years.
Cousin Jennie Phillips called this
evening and told me that she was
not going to teach at Mill Plain.
7/07/{1898} (Thursday)
To day is cool and very dry. This
week makes the sixth since we have
had any rain except a slight shower.
Mr. Anderson is building a house
on the Southmaid Road near Lewy
Beckwith's. I worked to day blueing
buttons in the new shop.
Went to the Grange tonight.
The Hawaiian Islands were annexed
to the United States yesterday.
07\08\{1898} (Friday)
The weather to day has been hot and
dry. Worked this forenoon blueing buttons.
Lieutenant Hobson and the
men under his command who
sunk the Merrimack at the
entrance of Santiago harbor
were exchanged yesterday.
07\09\{1898} (Saturday)
We had a thunder shower this morning
that did a lot of good, but it only
rained a little, and the evening is
quite cool.
07\10\1898 (Sunday)
Got up this morning at 7.30 and pulled
weeds in the garden till 9 o'clock
when we went into the house and
as Mary had not got breakfast
ready, we put a pan of baked beans
on the table and ate what we wanted
and cut a watermelon. After breakfast,
we finished pulling the weeds from
the rows that we were working on
before breakfast, after which we got
a joiners bench into the cellar and
repaired a bucksaw frame, then lay
down for a nap but could not sleep
as one fly would fly into my ear
then into my nose and pestered
me other wise so that I was
obliged to get up and fight him,
but as I could not catch him I was
tired of trying to sleep and got ready
and went to the Chapel and heard
Mr. Rafter preach a good sermon.
Mr. Rafter is of the Waterville Church.
After service, Major Tucker called me
into his place where I stayed for some
time and then went to Hiram
Able's and left the $2.33 that was
collected at the Chapel. Mr. Able has
had his house painted. Came home
at six and had supper of baked beans
and salmon and lettuce salad, after which
I got out my old fife books and showed
them to the boys who are learning to
fife. Went to see Mr. Tucker at 8
o'clock and stayed till 11. Came home
round the road{??} and went to bed
at midnight.
07\11\{1898} (Monday)
Nothing worthy of record has happened
to day tht I know of except that
there was a slight frost this morning
and Frank De Bissop got through at the
Mattatuck shop Saturday night.
07\12\1898 (Tuesday)
Mowed this morning from 5 to 6.30
and then went to work in the shop.
This afternoon a constable from
New Haven, one Mr. Kirk, came to
the shop and read a warrAnt for
Mr. Mc Elliott, Mr. Lang and
myself to appear before the Judge
of the Court of Common PLeas
at New Haven tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock as we have been
drawn as jurymen.
This evening Mary and I
went to see Mr. Harry Garrigus
as I wished to find out about the
duties of a juror. Saw Mr. Tucker
on the road. He told me that he
did not think that the Mattatuck
Co. could live throughout the
summer as the price of furniture
nails has been put down from 55 per
cent discount to 75 per cent.
We stoped {stopped} at Walter Garrigus' and
carried his mother home and brought
her back again when we came home.
07\13\{1898} (Wednesday)
Arose this morning at five o'clock.
It was raining quite hard. Ate my
breakfast and as I was obliged to go
to New Haven to serve on the jury
and had not money enough to go
with, drove to the Brass Mill and
borrowed ten dollars of father.
Then I took the trolley car at the
end of the Plank Road and paid
them five cents for a ride to
the Nangatuck Rail Road depot,
where I paid .80 cents and bought a
ticket to New Haven, the train leaving
at 8.26. Met on the train Mr. Mc
Eliott whom I did not know, but who
used to be third selectman. At New
Haven we took the trolley car to the
cart house, it raining very hard,
fare 5 cents. Arrived there at quarter to
ten. Mr. Edgar Wallace of Prospect
was there with whom I was acquainted
and he told me many things in
connection with the duties of a
juryman. The court was called at
about 10.30 and twenty one jurymen
responded, three being absent, two
on account of sickness and one
being away, and Judge Hubbard
of Middletown dismissed us to
report again tomorrow morning
at ten o'clock. I then went to the
office of the county commisioners
to see a directory as I wanted to
go to the Historical Society's rooms,
found that they were located at
144 Grove Street. I went there, it
was raining very hard, and
saw their fine collection of
relics and ancient documents, fire
arms etc. but did not have much time
as it closed at 12 o'clock. From there
I walked to the depot in the rain
and found that my train would not
leave till two thirty nine so I took
a walk up to the old Derby Rail Road
station. It is now used as a hardware
store house. I then went to
the car shops, bought on the way
five cents worth of peanuts, looked
about there a little while and then
went to the depot and waited for
my train. Bought a ticket to
Nangatuck for 65 cents and there
took the trolley car to Silver Street,
Waterbury to father's where I found Mary
who had been there making over a
pair of pants which Mr. Tucker gave
me. Then went to the Mattatuck
shop and got my pay, 9 dollarsm and
came home, had supper of fired
onions and canned{??} corn after
which I went to Mr. Tucker's, came home
and to bed at 10 o'clock.
Sent my horse to Miles Paynes to day and
had him shod. He charged 1.25. And also
one buggy wheel.
07\14\{1898} (Thursday)
Got up this morning at five o'clock,
had breakfast of pancakes and started
for West Cheshire depot at quarter
past six o'clock. Clyde went with me
to bring the team back and we took
Raymond too. It was a fine morning.
At West Cheshire, I took the 8.26 train
for New Haven and got to the County
Courthouse at a little after nine. We,
the jury men, were called before the judge,
nineteen of us, and seven were
challenged off, the other twelve were
ordered to their seats, and a case
of Mr. and Mrs. John Mc Carthy against
William Nott, all of Ansonia, was called.
The case was two counts against
said Nott, one for selling liquor
to a habitual drunkard and
for selling to a husband after being
forbidden not to by the wife. After
we had heard all the evidence, and the
lwayers arguments, we received
our charge from Judge Hubbard
and were then ordered to retire to
our room. It was then 12.30 and a
recess was declared till two o'clock.
We went and got dinner at a restaurant,
paid 25 cts. for it, after which we
took a short walk and returned to
the Courthouse at quarter before two.
At 2 o'clock we were called to our
seats and the roll called after which
we retired to our room. The first
ballot was 10 guilty and 2 not guilty.
The second, all guilty. Edgar Wallace
was appointed foreman and we
were admitted to our seats in the
court room where we were ordered
to stand while the clerk read the
charge to us and asked if we
found him guilty or not where upon
the foreman answered guilty.
We were then immediately dismissed
to report again tomorrow morning
at ten o'clock.
I went into the criminal side of the
Superior Court where a colored man was
being tried for assualt with intent to
kill a white man, and staid there till
a little after three when I went to the
depot and took the train for Cheshire
at four, paying twenty cents. Clyde
and Margaret were at Cheshire to
meet me and we drove home where
we arrived a little before six.
Went to the Grange in the evening but
did not stay, only till recess when
I came home.
Santiago de Cuba was captured yesterday.
07\15\{1898} (Friday)
Got up this morning at 5 o'clock and
sent Clyde up to Mr. Tucker's and got
his Concord buggy and then we ate
breakfast as soon as we could, and
Irving, Clyde and myself started
for New Haven, leaving at six o'clock.
We went byway of the Notch-|in-|
the-|rock, followed the road
that runs at the foot of the West
Mountain in Cheshire. Came on
to the main New Haven road
at Mount Carmel where, fearing
that I might be late, took the
trolley cars, after waiting a long
while, and reached the court house
at five minutes to ten. Meanwhile,
Clyde and Irving had driven
to the Tantene{??} livery stable and
put the horse out and came to
the Courthouse a little while after
I got there. Soon after ten we, the
jury, were called into the courtroom
and after being impaneled,
six of the 18 present being
excused, the case of the State against
Paul Beetz of Grand Avenue, New
Haven, for selling spiritous and
intoxicating liquors on Sunday and
also keeping a place open Sunday for
the purpose of selling the same, was
called. Gunn of Milford was attorney
for the State and Goodheart for
the defence, he is of New Haven.
Both were expert lawyers and made
good pleas. The jury was sent out
at a little after three o'clock and
after being out over {???}, returned and
reported that we could not agree.
We were sent out again, but after
being out over half an hour were
recalled and the Court adjourned till
a week from next Tuesday at 10 o'clock.
The nearest that the jury came to
agreeing, 4 ballots for guilty and
8 not guilty. This was a case where
I believe that the accused was guilty
but the evidence given (from which
we had to judge) was not sufficent
to make it clear that he was guilty,
therefore my vote was not guilty.
We got out of Court a little after five
and took the trolley cars to Lighthouse
Point to see the new battery which
hs been erected there. We paid ten
cents a piece car fare. The ride was
fine, the view of the water grand.
There were many girls in bathing
which I took much pleasure in watching.
The Battery consists of two
old cast iron smooth bare ten inch
guns, mounted on friction carriage
back of a defense made of rail
road ties and two thicknesses of
rail road iron laid on top length
ways of thw works. It did not look
very substantial.
We came back to New Haven Center
which we reached at 6.50 and got
the horse, paying .50 cts. for its keep
and feed, and started home. Came
through Beteny{??} and Prospect, reached
home at 12 o'clock.
07\16\{1898} (Saturday)
Went to work to day in the Mattatuck
Shop, found that Mrs. Marrow, Clara
French and Mary Lyman had been sent
home on account of not having work
and all of the rest of the hands are very
uneasy and fearful lest they shall be
sent home. Found a letter there from
Dr. G. Porter notifying me to return
to him a mowing machine that I
borrowed of him three or four years
ago. The machine in question I borrowed
and broke. Some time after I went to
Miss Bradley, his house keeper and agent{??},
he being in London at the time, to
get the address of the parties so I could
send and get a casting to repair it
with. She wished me to keep the machine
in payment for service I had rendered
in protecting the trees and bank in
front of Mr. Porter's residence against
being {????????} by the Trolley Company
which it was expected was coming at
that time. I considered it very poor
pay as the machine was almost worthless
and I spent a great deal of time in
looking the matter up enough, had
I received fair pay to have bought
several new mowing machines.
This evening Clyde and I drove to Mr.
Townsend's at Breakneck in Middlebury
to find from Mr. Townsend where
Rachambeam{??} and his army encamped
in 1781 on its march to {????}
Washington on{??} the Hudson.
I had a very nice visit, reached home
at about 10 o'clock.
07\17\{1898} (Sunday)
Got up this morning, had breakfast
of roast clams and baked beans, after
which Pierpont and myself drove to
Southington to see Mr. Bennett
Upson to get information regarding
the visit of General Lafayette at his
grandfather's house in Revolutionary
times and also to Luman{?} Lewis
who is 94 years old to get information
regarding the passage of the French
army through here in 1781 and 1782.
He told me a great deal about it
which people had told him who saw
the. Came home and had dinner
at noon and towards evening
went up on East Mountain to
see Mrs. Gilbert Hotchkiss about
the Richardsons who kept a great
many American soldiers over
night at Breakneck in the
Revolution.
In the evening went to see Mr.
Tucker.
The Rev. Mr. Hanna preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
07\18\1898 (Monday)
Worked to day most of the time
building a watercloset at the Mattatuck
shop. Walter Garrigus' wife
gave birth to a little girl tonight.
07\19\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day has been very warm. Worked
at the Mattatuck shop. This evening went
to see the Rev. Dr. Davenport at Major
Tucker's to give him information about
the French army which passed through
here under Count Rachambeam in 1781.
Dr. Davenport is to write a paper to
be read before the Order of Patriots and
Founders in Milford (Woodmont) a
week from next Saturday.
07\20\{1898} (Wednesday)
This day has been a hot one. Mr. Tucker
called this evening and told that
he and Dr. Davenport are going
to take a drive to Otis Mass{??} the last
of this week.
07\21\{1898} (Thursday)
To day has been very warm.
George Benham's wife's mother Mrs.
Seinor died this evening at his home
in East Farms of old age. She was
aged 77 years. Mary went ot the
Grange to night. I stayed home and
set a tire on my buggy wheel and
then went to see Father and Mother.
Stayed till ten o'clock then home
and to bed.
07\22\{1898} (Friday)
Got up this morning before five
o'clock and mowed in the swamp
till breakfast. Went to work at
the Mattatuck Shop and helped
Paul Helspelt get a revolving
dryer running, then Mr. Judd
sent us up to the old tannery
building to get the waterwheel
running, I found that the
bulkhead had settled towards
the wheel and that two of the
braces had worked loose and came
out and had caught in the partition
and tore off some of the
boards and these had run into
the cogs{??} and this had moved
the wheel towards the bulkhead
an inch{??} so that it rubbed
so hard that it could not run.
We moved the bulkhead back
and braced it and then moved
the wheel to line, which was no
small job, it being a breast wheel
16 ft. in diamter and 16 ft. long.
Came home at 5.30.
Mary and the smaller children
went to Mr. Garrigus this afternoon
and picked a lot of hillberries
and Clyde and Irving rode
to Campounce{??} this afternoon
and saw the man dive from
a height of 80 ft. into the lake.
07\23\{1898}
Worked all day in the waterwheel
at the tannery building.
07\24\1898 (Sunday)
Got up this morning very early,
had breakfast at 9.30. Mr. Robert
Hotchkiss came and borrowed my
buggy for his wife and daughter,
Flora, to go to Prospect with.
Cousin Charles Phillips came
for me to go down to Father's and
fix his wife's bicycle which I did.
This evening George Edwards
and his wife and son Elton
called.
They had a clambake out{??} to Morris
Reid's to day.
The Rev. Mr. Waters preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
07\25\{1898} (Monday)
Went to work this { } at the Mattatuck shop
and from thence to the Rutter tannery
and to work in the waterwheel till noon
then back again to the Mattatcuk shop.
Mr. Morris Alcott called and told me that
he would get the Rev. Mr. Buckley to preach
at the Chapel next Sunday.
07\26\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day Irving carried me to the
Nangatuck Rail Road depot where I
took the 8.12 train to New Haven
and went to the Court House where
I arrived in good time.
A case was called against a man
who lives on Putnam Street for selling
liquor on Sunday and without a
license. Gunn of Milfrod was for
the State and C. S. Hamilton of
New Haven for the defense. The case
was not finished at one o'clock and
court adjourned till tomorrow to allow
its members to attend the funeral of
a former clerk who had died.
I went and had dinner and then
went to West Haven and staid
a while, came back and went out an
old long wharf and staid and talked
with an old sailor till train time.
Took the 5.57 train on the Northampton
Road home. Expense - RR fare down .80 cts,
dinner 25 cts, postage stamps 10 cts, trolley
fare to West Haven 10 cts, peanuts .05 cts,
Trolley fare to New Haven 10 cts, RR fare
to Cheshire .40 cts.
07\27\{1898} (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven via Canal Rail
Road. Mr. Bradley of Woodbridge
was sick abed and as he is one of the
jurors on the case which was being
tried yesterday, that case could not
be finished. The clerk dismissed us
for the rest of the term.
After receiving my pay which amounted
to 20.66, I got dinner and waited 4 o'clock
and took train home. Expense - RR fare .80, dinner
25 cts.
07\28\1898 (Thursday)
Went to the Mattatuck Co. shop to
wrok but they had nothing for me
to do as their business is getting
less and less all the time so I came
home and worked most of the day
when it did not rain in the garden.
Mr. Joseph Munger died this
morning early at the New Haven
Hospital where they took him
from the sea shore where he went
last week for his health. He lived
on the Waterville Street and was
aged 60 years.
Mr. Munger has a mortgage
on my house of $1,200 and I owed
him one year's interest whcih
was due June 17. I payed him
10.00 the early part of July and sent
Mary to day with 10.00 more whcih
she payed to Mrs. Munger leaving
52.00 more due.
07\29\{1898} (Friday)
Went to work at the Mattatuck Shop to
day but Harry Judd told me that
they were hung up for something for me
to do so I came home. I think that this
means a final finish of my working
for them and the beginning of the end
of the Mattatuck Mfg. Co.
for I do not believe it possible for
them to run much longer under the
management of the Judds as they
have no mechanical knowledge.
07\30\{1898} (Saturday)
Worked to day cutting brush in the
pasture lot most of the time, had to
stop this forenoon on account of the
heat. The thermometer stood at 97 degrees
in the shade and this afternoon it
rained. Mr. Newell Moulthrop
called this afternoon to see if I
could get 14 drummers and fifers
to play at Compounce some day
in the future. Went and stayed
with Mr. Tucker to night.
07\31\{1898}
Stayed with Mr. George W. Tucker last
night, got up at 7 o'clock and Mr. Tucker
got breakfast as the women and Horace
had gone to Walnut Beach after which
he, Joe Huey and myself ate frankfurts,
cucumbers, rolls, coffee, etc.
after which I read a book (Lord
Chesterfield's Manners) for about
two hours, when I came home and
got ready for Chapel where I went
at three o'clock and heard Mr. Buckley
preach, there was collected $1.51.
After service there was a funeral
service in the Chapel, a son
of Mrs. Fannie Hill, aged 5 years.
James Porter's horse died yesterday.
08\01\1898 (Monday)
Went to the Mattatuck shop this
morning to see Mr. Judd and find
out whether they wanted me to work
any more or not. He said that
they did want me sure, but that
they had nothing for me to do
then, so as I had some work to home I
came and helped Mary wash, then pulled
weed. After dinner, Pierpont, Clyde and
myself went to town and bought some
pine lumber of Tracy Brothers for which
I paid 1.00 for 20 ft. then to Bonner & Preston
and bought 2 gals. of linseed oil for which
I payed .92 cts. thence to Hotchkiss and
Templeton where I got 2 doz 1 1/2 round
head steel screws for which I payed
10 cts, then up to the Old City Mills on
North Main Street to see William Brooks.
I found him painting the inside of the
shop with a paint mixed as folows:
cateine{?} plaster and whiting equal parts
with a little glue thinned with water.
Then we went by Lakewood
and home, after supper I went to
see Mr. Tucker.
08\02\{1898} (Tuesday)
This morning dawned clear and warm.
Went to my own shop with Clyde and
Irving and there met the scrap
iron man from the Waterbury
Scrap Iron Co. and we loaded up
a load of old iron, then we loaded
up a load of tools and a drilling machine
which we brought home.
We worked the rest of the day cutting
brush in the pasture lot.
08\03\{1898} (Wednesday)
This morning I made a tool chest for
Mr. Ealcott{??}, after which I cut brush
all day. The weather was very warm.
08\04\{1898} (Thursday)
Cut brush in the pasture lot all day.
Went to see Cousin Clarissa Curtis of Stratford
and her husband Melville, at Father's
this evening. The Government expects
to bring General Shafter's army north
to Montank Pont on Long Island to
stay through the hot weather. The cause
of it is the numerous cases of yellow
fever which now exist in the army.
It is feared that fully half of the
troops will perish if they remain
in Santiago through the summer.
08\05\{1898} (Friday)
Worked to day mowing grass in the upper
pasture lot.
Went to night to visit Cousin Clarissa
and Melville. Took along several histories
and old books which interested Clarissa
very much as she is a great geneologist.
08\06\1898 (Saturday)
Worked to day mowning and raking
and carting hay from the upper pasture
lot. Had 110 heaps. I could not work
as fast as I liked to on account of a
severe pain in my back and sides.
08\07\1898 (Sunday)
My back pained me so much that I
could not lie in bed this morning as
long as I wished, so got up and stored
away some hay in the barn. During
the forenoon, brother Rolland Jenner
called as he was out with his new bicycle
for a ride. In the afternoon went to
the Chapel with Mary at 3 o'clock, all
of the children except Raymond going
to Sunday school at 2 o'clock. The Rev.
Mr. Faster preached. He is of Newark,
N.J. In the evening Mary and I
went to visit Mr. Tucker. Came home
and went to bed at 10.
08\08\1898 (Monday)
Run {Ran} the washing machine first
thing and got through at about
half past 8 and then went and opened
out the hay and got in two loads
before noon, and got in the remainder
this afternoon.
08\09\{1898} (Tuesday)
Painted the ceiling of the kitchen
and dining room and my room
this forenoon with a water paint
made of calcined{??} plaster and glue
water. This afternoon went over
to Mr. Anderson's new house
to see the Artezan{?} drilling
machine work, then went in
bathing, after which I came
home and painted on the East
end of the house.
08\10\{1898} (Wednesday)
It rained all day to day and I cleaned
the woodhouse, repaired the washing
machine. Harry Kilbourn came
and wanted a plank, which he got
down to the shop. It measured 10 ft.
at .03 cts., 30 cts. I went to the Mattatuck
shop this afternoon and Mr. Judd
told me to come to work tomorrow.
Received a check to day from the
Waterbury Scrap Iron Co. for eleven
dollars and one cent for payment
for 4,405 lbs old iron of 1/4 ct. per
pound.
08\11\{1898} (Thursday)
Went to work at the Mattatuck
shop to day, finished some stoking{???}
boards which were to count out
buttons on.
Mary and I went to the Grange to
night and I read a paper on wide
tires and the wide tire law.
08\12\{1898} (Friday)
Worked to day in the Mattatuck
Co's shop tinkering on various
things. This evening I went to
see Mrs. Able to get a description
of an old Italian woman who
is stealing my potatoes in the
Sherman Bronson lot. She gets
the potatoes by digging into the
hills with her hands and taking
a few with each hand.
08\13\{1898} (Saturday)
Sister Mary stayed to day with
her children. I worked at the Mattatuck
shop all day.
Peace was declared between the
United States of America and
the Government of Spain yesterday.
The President igned the
bill at 4 o'clock and has ordered
the blockade raised and most of
the troops ordered home.
No Connecticut troops have taken an active part
in this war. The first Reg. were
stationed for a time at Fort Knox
at Bucksport, Maine and some
of them were at Gull Island a
short time. They were ordered back
to Niantic and from thence to
Camp Alger in Mo. from thence
to New Port{??} News{??} where
they were about to embark on
board the transports for Cuba
last Thursday when the order
was countermanded and now
they are about to return home.
This evening I went to visit
George Edwards.
08\14\{1898}
Got up at 8 o'clock. Had breakfast
of baked beans after which I wrote
several letters and read some. Brother
Rolland Jenner came about midnight
and stayed with us. About noon
Sister Mary and her two children Louise
and Effel and Pierpont, Raymond, Clyde,
Irving {????????} and myself went
for a ride. Roll could not go as he had
to play his coronet at Boulder Grove with
the American Band. We went through
Prospect to the lower part of Cheshire
and down the mountain to the Cook
places, then up to Roaring Brook, where we
climbed up the gorge, the boys going to
the top of the mountain, but as Mary
got tired, we came back after going to
the foot of the falls. We drove home
over the old Cheshire road and had supper of
ham, potaotes, string beans, etc.
David B. Hamilton died this
morning after a long illness. He
was President of Rogers Brass Mfg.
Co. of this city and Rogers Brass of
Meriden.
08\15\{1898} (Monday)
To day my boy Raymond is three
years old. The children celebrated the
occasion by a little birthday party.
Went this evening to see Father about
getting a job of work at the Waterbury
Brass Co.
08\16\{1898} (Tuesday)
Worked at the Mattatuck shop to day.
08\17\{1898} (Wednesday)
Worked at the Mattatuck shop
till noon. Mr. Judd ordered
me to blue some buttons. Told
him that I must have .40 cts
an hour while I worked at that
work. But it being very hot,
I came home and intend to
blue the buttons in the morning.
This afternoon we had a severe
shower accompanined with much
thunder and lightning.
It hailed quite hard for about
10 minutes. The stones were as large
as walnuts, but it did little or no {damage}
as far as I could learn.
Miss Alice Pickett came out to go whortleberrying
out to Austin B. Pierpont's
and they sent Irving over to the lot
after the horse. After he had caught him,
he led him up to a rock to get on
his back when he began to strike
with his fore feet and dance up and
down and finally broke and ran
across the lot and lay down and
rolled over and over. Irving was
so surprised that he stood still and
looked till he felt several stings.
When he ran, the horse had stepped
on a yellow jacket nest and
stirred them up.
08\18\{1898} (Thursday)
Worked at the Mattatuck shop to
day. Went to the Grange this
evening. The lightning struck Joe
Laurence's house yesterday and did
a great deal of damage. The bolt passed
within a short distance of Mrs. Laurence's
head as she stood holding clothes but did not hurt her.
08\19\{1898} (Friday)
Arose this morning at 6.30. Had
breakfast of boiled round clams
and then Clyde and I went to
painting the house. We would
paint a spell and then wait for
it to rain and then paint again
and worked this way till about 3
o'clock when it cleared up so we got
in something more than half time{??}.
In the afternoon, Hattie Edwards
came to visit the girls and intends
to stay several days.
Major Tucker called this afternoon
to show me some buttons he had
been experimenting with to remove
the color.
The troops are arriving at their new
camp an Manataunk Point from
Santiago de Cuba on the 15inst{??}
Roosevelts Rough Riders{????} landed.
This Regiment was raised in Arizona,
New Mexico, Indian Territory and
Oklahoma, and have seen more
service than any other troops.
The President ordered yesterday
the mustering{??} out of service
from 75,000 to 100,000 volunteers.
08\20\{1898} (Saturday)
Got up this morning at half past
five and went to painting on my
house. Mary and the children got
ready and went to the Sunday
School picnic at Mr. Garrigus',
started at eleven o'clock.
Bertha and Clara French called
after they had gone to have their
bicycle tire "blown up". So I filled
them with wind. Then I got
ready and went to Mr. Tucker's
and we drove to Thomas Fairclough's
in Wolcott thence to Wolcott Center
then up Pudding Street to Charles
Minar's then over to Plumb Street
and over Pike Hill and stopped at
the old burying ground. Then
we went to the Wird{??} Burying
Ground where we met one Mr.
Henry Pond of Bristol who told
me that his wife was sister to
Mr. Luman Lewis of Southington
and that his son and my mother were
second cousins. He, Mr. Pond, is 84 years
old and she 82 years. Came home through
Woodtick and found the folks home
from the picnic. They had had a nice
time.
08\21\{1898} (Sunday)
Mr. Howell preached this afternoon
at Mill Plain Chapel. There was
a large attendence. My wife and
I walked across the lots with Mr.
and Mrs. Able and Agnes, Olive
and the children. Heard that Mr.
Joseph Rodier was very sick. Someone
killed a rattlesnake on the Meriden Road
near the South Schoolhouse in Wolcott.
Joseph Huey was discharged from
the Mattatuck shop yesterday, they
not having business enough to keep
him.
08\22\{1898} (Monday)
Margin note: We paddled in a brook that
had big flat stones
After breakfast this morning, Mary, Clyde
Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont, Raymond,
Hattie Edwards and myself took old Jack
and the business wagon, (except Clyde
and Irving who went on their wheels)
and drove to Pike Hill in the North
Eastern part of Wolcott, whortleberrying{?}
where we picked about 8 quarts
of berries. There is an ancient burying
ground on this hill where we picked
the berries, several stones of which are
standing. They mark the graves of
Blakeslees, Bracketts, Meax{?} and others.
Mr. Henry A. Pond of Bristol told me
that his grandfather and grandmother
were buried here. I counted 24 graves
on a former visit when the leaves
were off the trees and bushes. It has
ever since my remembrance ben
grown up in common woods. On
one of the stones is the following
inscription, Mrs. Rachel Brackett,
who died Oct. 12th 1776 in the 22nd
year of her age.
When you are blooming young and spry,
Perhaps you think you nere shall die,
But here' s a witness of the truth,
That you may die when in your youth.
I hope that sometime I shall be one
of the number to clean up and restore
that sacred ground.
From Pike Hill we went East down
the hill to the Wird{??} Burying Ground
then South about a quarter of a mile
to a lot on the East side of the road
where we found a fine spring of water
and where we picked 12 quarts of blackberries,
after which we we drove over
Pike's Hill again then North to
the Cedar Swamp Road which we
took, and went down past the old
schoolhouse (still in use) and across
the dam and over the North end
of Spindle Hill to home where we
arrived at 8 o'clock.
After we had been home a short time,
sister Cara came with Miss Amelia
Burnhart in Mr. Edward Todd's carriage
and said that she had broken Father's
carriage out{?} to Mr. Todd's and wished
we would go out with her and get it.
I told her I would go.
Just then Irving told me that Mrs.
Gallivan who lives in the next house
was in the front yard drunk and was
going to stay all night. I went and
managed to get her home by holding
her from falling and found her husband
and left them jawing{?}.
When I came back I found Mr. Fred
Woods with a bill of an old account
that shows according to his figures
that I owe him over $100.00 dollars.
After eating a few mouthfuls, Cara
and I drove to Mr. Todd's and Southington
Mountain and I found that two
of the carriage axles were sprung and
set them back and we drove home,
it being very dark and hot.
08\23\{1898} (Tuesday)
Worked about home all day, saw Mr.
Sidney Bronson and he wants me to
build an ice house for him.
Bought a barrell of flower {flour} of Mr. Thomas
Kelly (Baker) to day for $5.25.
08\24\{1898} (Wednesday)
Welded a set of steel tires for John
French this forenoon and cleaned out
the chicken coop and privy. Painted
on the house till 4 o'clock when Clyde,
Pierpont and myself got ready and
drove to town, went first to the
Mattatuck shop where I got what
was due me, $7.00 but Mr. Judd had
my pay made out 5.00. After some
argument he admitted that I had
worked three and one half days
and there was due me $7.00
Then I went to Mr. Davenport's
to see about getting someone to
preach at the Chapel next Sunday.
He expects to be in Northfield
and all of the Congregational
ministers are having their vacation.
He told me of a Mr. Hendsey at
No. 53 Spenser Avenue that I
might get. I went thither but
found that he was away on
his vavcation too. I then went
to see Mr. Haldenat{??}, his store
on North Main Street, but it
threatened rain so I started over
long hill as fast as we could
drive to Morris Alcott's where
I saw his father and asked him if
he would ask Morris if he would get
the Waterville minister. Then we
started for home. It was thundering
and lightning North and
West of us and when we reached
the Schoolhouse, it began lightning
south of us. The rain was
coming from all directions
except East and there was no
escaping getting wet, and we
sped fast as possible and {???}
the rain at the Grange Hall.
We got soaked before we reached home.
The thunder was terrific and the
lightning sharp.
08\25\{1898} (Thursday)
Worked this forenoon about home.
Mr. Sidney P. Bronson called and
wanted me to go to his farm in East
Farms and build an ice house.
I went there to work at noon and
worked till six o'clock.
08\26\{1898} (Friday)
Worked at Sid Bronson's all day.
A party of young men came to
night to have me learn them to drum.
08\27\{1898} (Saturday)
Worked to day for Sid Bronson.
He paid me amount due, 5.00.
08\28\{1898} (Sunday)
Staid about home all day except in
the eveningc went to see Father.
Mr. Rafter{??} preached at the Chapel.
08\29\{1898} (Monday)
To day I worked at S. P. Bronson's on
his ice house.
08\30\{1898} (Tuesday)
Worked on S.P. Bronson's ice house
till noon, and then went to work in
his silo packing corn. He had 16 men
and 5 double teams getting in the
corn. Clyde and Mort Pierpont went
to New Haven to day on their wheels.
08\31\{1898} (Wednesday)
Worked to day at S.P. Bronson's getting
in the silo corn. He had 20 men and
7 double teams.
09\01\{1898} (Thursday)
Worked at S.P. Bronson's packing his
silo corn in his ice house.
Mary and I went to the Grange
this evening. Joseph Rodier died this
afternoon of a cancer in the rectum.
09\02\{1898} (Friday)
Arose this morning at 5.30. Went to
Sid Bronson's and finished putting
the roof on the silo, got through at
half past eleven. Then went to
A. B. Pierpont's and got a scythe
and snath{????}. Came home and had dinner
at noon, after which Clyde and I painted
on the house till night. In the evening
Charlie Hotchkiss, George Cass, Burt
Haskins, Arthur Pierpont, Mort Pierpont,
Howard Neil, Burt Pierpont, Clarence
Warden, Art Warden and Irving
came to learn to drum and Clyde
and Robert Hotchkiss and Charlie
Cass were practicing fifing.
The drummers were in the new
carriage house and the fifers were
in my room, Charlie Cass sitting
where I am now. While we were
practicing, a thunder shower came
up and the lightning struck
the chimney and scattered the bricks
about the yard and street. One bolt
went down the Southeast valley{??}
and followed the corner{?} past down
to the veranda roof, stripping
off the plaster on the inside
and the clappards{?} on the out.
Another ran down the NE corner
{Margin note: Ruth and I were upstairs in " new building " - M. H.}
conductor pipe tearing off some of
the cornace{??} on its way and made
a hole in the ground about the size
of a waterpail, another followed two
rafters from the chimney to the eve{?}
trough and then along the conductor
pipe to the ground at the N. W. corner.
This bolt tore up splinters on the
floor where I am no sitting in
front of my desk. Charlie Cass
was sitting here at the time, and
Clyde was sitting at his left and
Rob Hotchkiss at his right.
I doubled Charlie Cass up like a jackknife
and shacked{?} all three. There were two
distinct marks on Clyde's left
leg like {????} + +, one above the
other and both above the knees. We
thought that the house was on
fire and the drummers rushed
in and we found the garret
full of smoke but there was no
fire. Mary at the time was
in the front chamber upstairs.
Joe Huey was sitting at the
table in the sitting room, holding Raymond
in his lap. Pierpont was in bed in his
room in the N. E. chamber. Charlie
Cass, Rob Hotchkiss and Clyde were
in the N. E. room down stairs. It seems
a miracle that none were hurt
more than they were.
Irving had just taken the cushion and
blankets out of the bugger{??} by the chicken
coop and he was knocked down
flat, when we were coming to the house.
Charlie Hotchkiss picked up a brick
and it burned the inside of his hand.
09\03\{1898} (Saturday)
After breakfast this morning we cleaned
up about the house and got ready to
repair the chimney which was knocked
all to pieces by the lightning last
night at a little before 9 o'clock.
Then wrote a letter to Fred in Detroit
about his furniture. Then went to
see Mr. Jones the insurance agent
who insured my house in the Oriental
Co. of Hartford about getting the
insurance and pyut in a claim of fifty
dollars which he said he would report
at the companie's headquarters and told
me to call next Tuesday or Wednesday, told
me to repair the chimney but to leave the
rest till after it is settled.
Came home and ate dinner of boiled
beans and then went to work at the
chimney and worked the rest of the
afternoon. The Mattatuck shop did not
run to day.
Mr. Sidney P. Bronson paid me this
afternoon for the labor I had done him
to date, $8.00.
09\04\{1898} (Sunday)
This day has been one of the hottest
ever known. The thermometer stood
100 degrees in the shade and 128 in the
sun. I stayed home most of the day
till 3 o'clock when we went to the Chapel
and heard the Rev. Mr. Perry preach.
There were but few people there owing
to the heat. In the evening went to see
Mr. Tucker, came home and to bed at 11.30.
09\05\{1898} (Monday)
To day is Labor Day and is a legal holiday.
The young people of the vicinity wanted
me to take them to the Memeriden Mountain.
There were about 50 people and Arthur
Pierpont's bus and 8 other teams carried
them besided several of the boys who
went on their bicycles.
We started at 9 o'clock from the corner of
the Meriden Road above Austin Pierpont's
and arrived at the mountain at about
4.30 o'clock. Had a picnic, setting the
tings out on the ground, and the
people sitting on horse blankets, cushions.
After all had eaten, we climbed to the top of
West Peak but the atmosphere was heavy and
we could not see the sound nor the
capitol at Hartford, but the view from
there was grand. I found the spring on
the West side of the mountain of which
I had heard. It is in a cave on the West
side of the mountain about 1/8 of a
mile North of the West peak and to
reach it one must climb down a
steep ravine. We started for home
about 4 o'clock and went first
to Meriden then turned North
this side of the crossing of the
West Main Street by the Meriden,
Waterbury and Connecticut River
Rail Road (not in use) and went
up through Cat* Hole Pass to
{Margin notes: }
1) Mr. Warden was sick - M. Hall
2)We children went to sleep on the floor of the "bus" (Arthur
Pierpont's
peach wagon)
3) * Is the "Cat" still there? It was a rock formation high above the
road that
looked like a big {???} cat ready to pounce on us.
Southington. Through this pass
we saw some of the most interesting
work of nature that I
ever saw. The pass is only wide
ebough for the road in some
places and mountains tower on
each side, while farther on the country
becomes open, but is enclosed
by mountains on all sides.
In going to Southington, we got lost
and came out at Mill Dale and
got home at about 11.00 o'clock, that is
some of us did. Mr. Byan's team,
Chas Casses' team and Mr. Warden's
team turned back in Meriden and
they got home sooner.
09\06\{1898} (Tuesday)
Worked about home all day.
09\07\{1898} (Wednesday)
Worked about home all day.
09\08\{1898} (Thursday)
Went to day to Platt's Mills to
see Mr. Osbourn{?} about the lay{law??}
that provides for the education
of scholars in towns where there is
no high school. Saw Mr. Ben Bristol.
He seemed rather anxious that
I should help them out about
steel buttons.
Mr. Jones and William Chatfield
called to see about the amount
of damage the lightning done to
my house.
09\09\{1898} (Friday)
Worked for Wilson L. Pierpont
in his Springfield lot in Mill
Plain this forenoon, and at his
farm in East Farms this afternoon
cutting corn.
09\10\1898 (Saturday)
Worked all day to day up in
Wilson pierpont's Springfield meadow
cutting and loading fodder corn.
Found two Indian arrow points
there.
09\11\1898 (Sunday)
Got up at 7 o'clock, wrote letters to
F. A. Hulls Co., Danbury, L L
Enswort{?} & Son, Hartford, and
Fred D. Miller, Detroit, Mich.
Had breakfast of boiled beel{??}
after which I cleaned the backyard.
Rolland Jenner came and tole
me of a Mr. Buckmaster{??} who could
pack Fred's furniture which he
wants me to send to him.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
and heard Mr. Buckley preach
a sermon on the last war.
In the evening went to see Mr. Tucker.
He told me that in hardening steel
butttons, they wanted to be left in
the furnace at a cherry{?} heat from 14
to 16 hours.
09\12\{1898} (Monday)
The weather wasvery cold this morning.
After a breakfast of boiled eggs, I went to
W. L. Pierpont's and tended silo cutter all day.
Went to town this evening to see Mr.
Buckmaster but did not see him as his
house was all dark when I got there.
09\13\{1898} (Tuesday)
Went to Wilson Pierpont's and tended
cutter for cutting up silo corn.
Clyde is fourteen years old to day.
09\14\{1898} (Wednesday)
after a breakfast of fried ham and eggs, I
went to W. L. Pierpont's and worked cutting
corn till eleven o'clock. Came home
and had dinner of succotash after which
I went to see Mr. Buckmaster and found
that he is coming to llok at Fred's
furniture tomorrow. Then went to
see Mr. Jones but he was not in.
Then to the Town Clerk's office to
look up the records, then to Platts
Mills to see Mr. Benjamin Bristol
about making steel buttons for
the Platt Brass. Got home at 6 o'clock
and went to bed at 8 o'clock.
09\15\1898 (Thursday)
After a hurried breakfast I went to
Arthur Pierpont's to help him fill his
silo this morning. His two silos hold
120 tons of corn. Staid there all day.
In the evening went to Grange Hall
to Miss Girtrude Bradley's entertainment,
she being {?????} of the
Grange. The flowers were fine and
were furnished mostly by Maj.
Tucker. There was a little fruit, the
entertainment program was very
good. One James Martain of
the City to day jumped from the
high bridge that crosses the
Meriden Waterbury and Conn.
River R.R. at the point where the
Od Prospect Road crossed it, near
Henry Wedge's, with intent to
commit suicide. He broke one
leg but was not otherwise
injured. He told his wife with
whom he was riding that he
wanted to get out and walk a little
ways and then jumped.
09\16\{1898} (Friday)
Was at Arthur Pierpont's all day filling
his silo. Roll Jenner was brought
home to day sick.
09\17\{1898} (Saturday)
Worked lining up an old silo, the
first ever made in this section
built in 1893 for A. B. Pierpont.
Mr. Buckmaster and two assistants
came and packed some of Fred's goods.
09\18\{1898} (Sunday)
Staid home all day.
09\19\{1898} (Monday)
Went to Arthur Pierpont's and helped
him fill his silo.
09\20\{1898} (Tuesday)
Was at Arthur Pierpont's all day.
09\21\{1898} (Wednesday)
Went to the Nangatuck Rail Road
depot and found that the "star union
line" was the best freight route to
ship Fred's furniture to Detroit
and that it would cast .59 cts per
hundred lbs, then went and
saw Mr. John Jones about
the insurance on my house. We
agreed that the damage caused
by lightning could be settled
and repaired for thirty dollars.
He is going to have Wm. Chatfield
do the plastering and give him
ten dollars and pay me twenty
dollars cash. Then went to
see Mr. Lewis Platt about
making steel buttons but found
that he was out of town, from
Platt's office on Brown St., I went
to the barber shop over Lake and
Strobell's Jewelry Store meeting
on the way sister Iva and told
her to wait a little while and I
would bring her home, after having
my hair cut for which I paid 20 cts.
I went to the butter store on South
Main St. and bou 1 lb. of butter
for which I paid 20 cts. then got
my team and came home.
Found Arthur Pierpont in front of
my house on his team wagon and made
an agreement to have him carry
Fred's furniture to the depot.
He paid me $10.00 for the 5 days
work I did for him.
Had dinner after which I went
to Mr. Tucker's and worked 3 1/2 hours
banking{??} celery.
{Note: I remember him doing it. - M.H.}
09\22\1898 (Thursday)
This morning I repaired the roof to the
old shed to some extent. About 16 o'clock
Arthur Pierpont's team came and we loaded
brother Fred's furniture on to the
wagon and I took the remainder on
my one horse wagon and we took
it to the Nangatuck Rail Road depot.
It weighed 3080 lbs and cost $18.17
to send it. I paid Arthur Pierpont
$4.00 for carrying the furniture to
the depot, after unloading and
settling for the furniture, I went
to Mr. Buckmaster's upholstering
shop on Abbott Avenue to get his
bill for packing the furniture but
he was not in, after which I drove
through Spenser Ave. to Kingsbury
St. to North Elm to Maple Ave.
to Cherry to Camp then across
High Rock to Walnut St. then over
Long Hill on the summit of
which I met William Todd and he
told me that last night the
Republican's nominated Charlie Horn
of Linden Street for first selectman
and Mr. Schmidt second. Came home
via the Stetson Road.
I in the evening went to the Grange
with Mary. Today is Mary's
birthday, she is 38 years old. To me
she seems as young as she did
when I married her when she was 23
although we have now a family of
six children.
09\23\{1898} (Friday)
Staid about home all day, repaired
the roof on the old shed.
09\24\{1898} (Saturday)
Clyde and I mowed the swamp
back of Mrs. Larman Johnson's
house. We got very wet and chilled
with the rain. In the afternoon,
I went to see Gilbert Hotchkiss
about selling my shop but he
was not at home, from thence
went to Miles Payne's and got
my horse shod, came home,
and Irving went to Hemingway's
fish market and got the oysters
for tomorrow's breakfast.
This afternoon I received Mr.
Buckmaster's bill for packing
Fred's furniture. It amounted
to $27.28. Wrote him a letter and
mailed it to him.
09\25\{1898} (Sunday)
Staid about home most of the
day. Went to the Chapel. Mr.
Waters preached.
09\26\{1898} (Monday)
Ran the washing machine for Mary this
morning, then went to Johnson's swamp
and tedded{??} out my hay, came home and
made a hay rigging. Then went out and raked
the hay up and carted it home which took
the rest of the day.
09\27\{1898} (Tuesday)
This day is the fortieth anniversary
of my birth, having as my mother
told me been born on Sept 27th, 1858.
My son Pierpont, 5 yrs., and I drove today from
home to Cousin Malachi Gillette's in
North Goshen.
We left home at about 8 o'clock and
drove to town, where I bought a pair of
pants for Pierpont at Jones & Morgan's
Clothing Store for which I paid 48 cts,
took the old pants to Miss Pickett's
and left them and the change from
a $10.00 bill except $2.00 which I kept. We
left Waterbury Center at 9.15 and
drove to Watertown, a distance of 6
miles, from thence to Bethlehem,
6 miles, thence to Romford station on the
Shepanhg River 8 miles, then to Woodville
3 miles, thence through a rough country
near a little river to Milton 6 miles,
then to West Goshen over a rough road
but through a very interesting country,
a distance of 4 1/2 miles, then over a
fine road to Goshen Center 1 1/2 miles,
where I stopped and put the horse under
the Congregational Church sheds
and went to a Harness Shop and
enquired for Mr. and Mrs. Martain
where Agnes Able was visiting as
I supposed. We called there but she
was not there and was not coming
till next Sunday Mrs. Martain
said. We then went to the Post
Office and I mailed a letter to brother
Fred in Detroit. We left for North
Goshen at 6 o'clock via North Street and
the road that runs over Ivy Mountain
and came out at Luddington's
Corner on East Street and then to
cousin Malachi's, the road through
would have been dark and dangerous,
had it not been for the bright moon.
We found them all well and gald to
see us. Cousin Lillie got supper for
us. The distance from Goshen to North
Goshen was 5 miles, and the distance
from home to Waterbury Center 2
miles makes a distance of forty-two
miles that we traveled.
09\28\{1898} (Wednesday)
This forenoon at about 11 o'clock, Cousin
Malachi and I after eating a lunch
drove over to Obed Stannard's in
South Norfolk, who is a first cousin
to my father. We got there a little
after twelve as they were preparing
dinner. We sat down and dined with
them, after which we visited a while.
They have a fine farm, keep about 25
cows, everything seems to be up
in good repair and thrifty{?}. The family
consists of himself and wife, a son
whom I did not see, and a daughter
Blanche aged 17. The house is situated on a
hill where a fine view of parts of Goshen
and Ivy Mountain and the Tower may
be seen in the West and S.W. To the
S.E. Winchester Center is in full view
and a tower for observation van be
seen on Platt Hill beyond.
From Obed Stannard's we drove to
Horrace [Horace?] Stannard's at Norfolk Center
stopping on the way at a little cemetery
on the right hand side of the road
where many of the Stanards are
buried. Mr. Horace Stannard has
a fine place a little East of Norfolk
and his business is keeping teams
and carrying the New York boarders
around sightseeing for which
they pay well. He had to go away
and we only saw him a few minutes.
His wife seemed like a very nice
woman, after a short stay we
went to a grist on the West Side
of the town and got a bag of meal
and then drove home to Malachi
Gillette's.
09\29\1898 (Thursday)
To day Cousin Mal went to work
for Owen Hallock getting out manure.
Mr. Hallock owns over 1200 acres of
land and 150 head of cattle.
Pierpont and I took Old Jack, the horse
and drove to Ivy Mountain, by
way of the "black land". We went up the
tower where we had a grand view
of the country for miles around
could see the Catskill Mountains
on the West and way up in Mass. on
the North and great distances in other
directions, but the atmosphere was a
little hazy otherwise we could see more.
From the mountain we went N.W.
through the Ovaitt [Oviatt] District to Cornwall
Hollow, passing a house on the way
near the school house in the Ovaitt [Oviatt]
District, with a bank wall in front, some
of the cap stones of which were over
30 feet in length I should judge.
At Cornwall Hollow I saw the General
Sedgewick Mansion and also the Cemetery
where he is buried. Mr. Samuel Gillette
of North Goshen told me the following history
of the Gen. Sedgewick place. The father of the
General when a Colonel in the Revolutionary
War was stationed at Dutch Bridge in
Massachusetts and while there the Tories
burned his house, which was a log one.
He brought his regiment to Cornwall
Hollow and built a large new house
where the old log house had stood.
With the great number of men and by
pressing all the sawmills in service
that were in that section, he completed
the new house with the exception
of a few miunor details in the
remarkably short time of three days.
He dug the cellar after the war was
over. Mr. Gillette and a friend were
passing over a mountain over looking
Cornwall Hollow in 1857 when they
chanced to see smoke issuing from
the garrett window of this Sedwick
House. They watched it a few minutes
and saw that the house was on fire.
They hastened there as soon as
possible and by the time they
arrive d there the whole thing had
got beyond control and burned
to the ground.
The General at the time was in the
West fighting the Indians and
soon he came home and built
the present mansion. Mr. Gillette
built the cellar and did all of the
stone work. It was there that his
remains were brought from the
fatal field of Spottsylvania Court House
after the Rebel sharpshooter's bullet had
doen its work. The incident of his death
was as follows, On Monday May 9th,
1865 as he was directing the placing
of some pieces of Artillery, some Rebel
sharp-shooters stationed in some trees
about a mile off were firing at them.
Some of the Staff officers were annoyed
and spoke words of caution to the
General his reply was "Poo, they couldn't
hit an elephant at that distance." He
had scarcely uttered the words when
he fell dead; pierced through the head with
a blullet. Brigadier John Sedgwick was
respected by all the Northern Nation; His
soldiers loved him and were ready to follow
"Uncle John" wherever he might lead.
(The above was told me by a veteran
who was with the General and witnessed
his death). The people from the
country for miles round turned out
to do honour to his name at the funeral
as well as many of the Nation's officials
both Civil and Military.
From Cornwall Hollow we went
to North Cornwall and thence to
Cornwall Center, thence over the mountains
north of West Goshen, around
West and North of Tyler Pond over some
finefarming country, then North up
past the West side of "West Side Pond"
where I got bewildered but I found
two school boys going home, who I took
into the wagon and they showed me
the way to Ivy Mountain, their
names were Howe{??}. I followed their
{??} and got to North Goshen at dark.
09\30\{1898} (Friday)
This is the last day of the month, how
fast time travels.
I stayed at Cousin Mall's this forenoon
and read the "Life of Gen Lafyette".
After dinner PIerpont and I went
to the North Pond and took a boat
and rowed to the North end and then
walked through some brush and
swamp to the "Tipping Rock". It is
a great boulder which I measured
and figured that it would weigh
32 tons, which sits on top of an
elevated bed rock or ledge, and by
pushing on the East or West side it
will rock back and forth, so well balanced
is it, that after it has been set
in motion, it will continue to rock
some time, it is about 9 ft high
and the top moved about six inches.
Cousin Marion did not go as she
expected as she intends to go home
with us tomorrow.
10\01\{1898} (Saturday)
This morning dawned clear and fine, we
have had nice weather now for two weeks.
We, Cousin Marion, Pierpont and I,
got ready and started for Waterbury a
little after seven o'clock, drove through
Goshen East Street to Litchfield, thence
through West Morris to Waertown, the
country through which we passed was pleasing
to the eye and everything was interesting.
From Watertown we came through
the center of Waterbury home where
we arrived about 2 o'clock. The weather
during the last part of the trip was
very hot and we ad to drive slow.
In the evening we went to town
and took Marion to see the fire horses
come from their stables and take their
places in the harness when the alarm
rings at 9 o'clock. She also went round
the center with Clyde and saw the
crowds of people which surprised
her, as she had never been in the
City before in the evening. After we
got home, I went to see Mr. Tucker but
could not wake him up, so came home
to bed at 11.45.
//new journal starts here; October 1898 - October 1899//
//[encoded by Mary LaRue, December 1989]
//{marginal and interlinear comments apparently by Margaret Miller
//Northrop Hall, at some point when reading journals}
10\02\1898 (Sunday)
After doing the chores and eating break-
fast. [[Ch]] Irving, Margaret, Ruth, and
myself went to St. Johns Church
to let Cousin Marion hear the boy
Choir, and see the Church.
We went to the Chapel in the after-
noon and heard Mr. Perry preach
an excellent sermon. The amount
collected at this service was $1.75.
In the evening Clyde, Mary,
Marion, and Myself went to
the Second Congregational church
and Mr. Davenport preached.
They had a large nice Choir.
After service we came to father's
and the girls played and we sang
for a long time, after which we
came home, and went to stay with
Mr. Tucker, but he had gone to bed
and I came home and went to bed at 11.30.
10\03\1898 (Monday)
Today is town election and I
went and voted for Charles Horne (?)
for first Select man, and the
straight Republican ticket right
through, also No Licence."
Went to Platt Bros and saw Mr.
L.A. Platt about making steel
buttons, He seemed very nice,
took my address and said that
he would send for me to come
and see them in a few days when
he was not so busy.
From there went to see Mr.
Jones about the insurance money
for damage done my house by
lightening. He was mad as he
had been twice to see Mrs. Munger
about signing the certificate {cirtificate} (which
was necessary as she holds the
mortgage {morgage} on the house) and
she would not, Came home and
went to Robert Warden's at
East farms, and dug potatoes
all the afternoon;
Cousin Marion Gillette went home
to North Goshen this afternoon
left on the train that leaves here at
3.58. In the evening went to
see Mr Wallace Camp in answer
to a letter to call and see about the
insurance, Found that he is Mrs
Mungers advisor, and a man
that is more particular than
he is wise, we went to see Mrs
Munger, she says that she does
not know much about insurance
and leaves it with Mr Camp,
He pretends to know all about it
and more too, But it was left
that I see Mr Jones and try to do
something I do not know what,
10\04\1898 (Tuesday)
Worked at Robert Wardens all
day digging potatoes, finished
late to night, he paid me 2.50
for what I had done
10\05\1898 (Wednesday)
It has rained most of the time to
day, spent the forenoon in writing up
this journal and in reading,
Mr Barmer was buried from the
Chapel this afternoon,
This afternnon I went to see Mr Jones
about the insurance money, Mrs Munger
was there yesterday, and said that
she would sign the cirtificates if I
would bring them to her, I carried
them to her and she signed them
as I did after which I brought them
to Mr Jones and he drew a check in
my favor for twenty dollars and
kept ten dollars to give to Wm
Chatfield to pay him for plaster-
ing. I took the check of $20.00 to
Mrs Munger and she gave me a
receipt, I then went to Weaters
store on East Main Street and bought
18 lbs of sugar for one dollar, then came
home.
Mr Nelson Hall was found dead in his
bed this morning.
10\06{written over 5}\1898 (Thursday)
Worked all day digging potatoes in
the Sherman Bronson lot, dug 14 1/2 bu
Went to the Grange with Mary
this evening, Learned that Mr
Nelson Hall is to be buried
from the Chapel next sunday
afternoon at 3 o'clock.
10\07{written over 6}\1898 (Friday)
Dug 22 1/2 bushels of potatoes to-
day, The drum Corps boys came
this evening and practiced.
Mr. Tucker sent a note by Mrs
Marrow to have me come and see
him after I got throught with the
Drummers. Ed Holden got
through working at the Mattatu-
ck shop yesterday.
Willdon Bros
No 31 Auburn St
Boston Mass
Dealers in button steel, so
Tucker told me
10\08\1898 (Saturday)
We built a shed this forenoon,
to keep the horse sled in and wheel
barrows in. This afternoon about
5 o'clock, I went to town and paid
Mr Buckmaster a Post Office Order
of $27.28 which brother Fred sent me
from Detroit, to pay for packing his
furniture.
10\09\1898 (Sunday)
We, that is Sister Mary Jenner,
and her two children, Pierpont, and
myself, in my two seated wagon
Father and Mother, in their carriage
and Rolland Jenner with his
Bycicle went to the top of the Meriden
mountain, where we had a fine view
of a great portion of the state, including
a little of long island sound.
Mr Nelson Hall was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon. Mr Maya
officiated, The Grange service was also
used.
10\10\1898 (Monday)
Worked at Mr Tuckers from 9 oclock
till six banking Celery.
10\11\1898 (Tuesday)
Was at Mr Tuckers from 6 till 12 work-
ing in the garden, This afternnon we
went to the Wolcott Fair Ground
to arrange the Grance exibit for the
Fair tomorrow, but there was not
enough to arrange, so we came home
and I went to Platts Mills, to see
if I could get a job.
10\12\1898 (Wednesday)
Went up to Mr Tuckers this mor-
ning, and he took me to the Wolcott
Fair ground where he was to arran-
ge the Grange exibit, we found
Clyde there he had walked and
got there ahead of us, there was but
a few pumpkins, and squashes and
some other vegitibles there and Mr
Tucker thought that there was not
enough to pay to bother with so
as it was raining, we started home,
and went to Waterbury center by
way of Lakewood, as we were coming
down North Main St we saw the
flag on City hall at half mast
and on enquiry found that Mr
Gurnesey Parsons, the Banker,
and he who had also been Mayor
of the City was dead,
Then we came home, and I went
to digging potatoes and dug and
put into the cellar 5 bushels.
this makes a total of 42 bushels
I have now in the Cellar.
When the Boys got home from the
Wolcott Fair they said that it was the
largest Fair that they have ever held.
10\13\1898 (Thursday)
Worked for Mr Tucker all day,
Mary and I went to the Grange
this evening
10\14\1898 (Friday)
Worked for Mr Tucker from 8 o clock.
It commenced to rain as I was
coming home, from work, We have
had fine weather till now.
10\15\1898 (Saturday)
Today the weather has been variable.
Cool, windy, rainy, and fair,
Agness Cohle came, at about quarter
to six to see if we were going to
Roaringbrook in Cheshire we were
not up when she came, but got up
as soon as possible, and told
her, that we would go. We then
got ready, and sent Pierpont and
Raymond to Mothers to stay, and
Clyde, Irving, Charlie Hotchkiss
and I went to Mother Pierponts
and cut firewood, till Mary
came with my team and then
we went to the East Farms School
house where we were to meet at
10 o'clock. In due time all of the
teams arrived except George Cass
and we started at the appointed
time in the following order. First
Arthur Pierpont with his vegtable
wagon and a pair of horses, he had
with him Mrs Levelette Upson,(2)
Miss Bessie Garrigus (3), Mr Lewis
Garrigus (4) Annie and Minnie Garrigus (6)
(twins) and Jessie Garrigus (7), and Willie
Garrigus (8), Jessie Monroe (9) Flora (10) and
Lewis Hitchcock (11), Charlie Hotchkiss (12),
Mort (13) and Fred Pierpont (14), Edith
Pierpont (15) Clyde (16) and Irving [[Pierpont]]
Miller (17), Arthur Warden (18), Flossy
Upson (19), and Henry Cass (20). Next
came my team with Ruth, Margaret,
my Wife and Myself, next Mr Mun-
sons team with Mrs Thedore Munson,
Agness Able, and Earl Munson, and
George Cass met us there with Miss
Ida Spender, We went there by way
of the Plank Road to Gilletts Corner
then by Matherns Street to Rag. Hallay
Road to Lights Pond then down
the mountain to Cooks Corner
on the New Haven Road and then
to the Brook and Gorge, After
eating our refreshments at the
foot of the Gorge we started for
the summit which was over 400
feet above us, Many of the ladies
were struck with the beauty of
the gorge, especially the 60 ft falls,
the Eave trough, and deep pool.
At the top of the Mountain we had
a fine view of a portion of the
sound, and East Rock with
the Souldiers Monument on
it, Meriden, Wallingford,
Cheshire etc. We started home
{marginal note: I remember about the watch--
different handwriting}
at about 4 o'clock, where we arrived
after dark, All having a good
time, but Mort Pierpont lost
a fine silver watch which his
Father gave him for Christmas,
Coming home, we, Clyde, Chas
Hotchkiss and myself, agreed
to start at three o'clock in the
morning and go over the ground
where Mort had been and see if
we could find it, After I had
eaten my supper and done my
chores Mrs Marrow called and
told me that Mr Tucker was
very sick, and wanted me to come
up immediately, I went and found
him in bed with his clothes on.
He had been taken with a dullness
and dizzyness at about 6 o'clock
and fell at the foot of the stairs,
They got him up in bed, and
called Dr Ward, his pults were
42 and and he appeared very
sick, I was to give medicine every
15 minutes, got his clothes off and
put him in bed with a water bottle at
his feet and plenty of bed clothes on
and warmed him up, and at eleven
o'clock he was much better and went
to sleep, I lay on the back side of
the bed, but did not wake him to
give medicine, and at 1.30 I fell a sleep
{margin: 10\16\1898 (Sunday)}
but awoke at three, he seemed much
better, and said that he would be
all right if I wanted to go away.
So I started home as fast as I could
had a lantern to see the way across
the lots, got Clyde up, and hitched
up the horse as soon as I could and
we went to Charlie Hotchkisses
and Clyde drummed on the
front door, and I on the back,
till we finally awoke him up,
then we started and reached the
top of the mountain at day break.
we looked the ground over with
great care but did not find the
watch, we then explored a dry
gorge, North of Roaring brook.
We followed the brook up to
the old mill, and saw some trout
10 inches long, We then went to
the top of the mountain and
followed it South to the road, we
then got the team and went
south through the Woods to
the South mountain road but
had difficulty in getting through
and had almost reached the
road when, in trying to cross
a little bog hole the horse went
in almost out of sight and we
had a great time getting him
unhitched and out, the harness
was broke some but we tied it
up, and started home via Prospect
center, we reached home at three
and after getting cleaned up and
eating supper (we having eaten no
meal since supper last night) I went
to see Mr Tucker, found him very
blue but much better, I stayed with
him all night.
The Rev Mr Hanna of the First
Methodist Church preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
10\17\1898 (Monday)
Helped Mary at the washing this
morning by running the washing
machine, After which I went to work
for Mr Tucker at banking celery
and moving hay in the barn got
there at 9 o'clock and got through
at 4 o'clock. Mr Fanias Hahn a
tool maker at Steel and Johnsons is
building a house on the Meriden
turnpike near the watering trough
this side of Amanda Griswolds
place.
10\18\1898 (Tuesday)
Worked from eight to four o'clock for
Hiram Able mowing in his swamps
Mafor Tucker paid me 3.00
Levelette Upson of the Meriden Road got kick-
ed by his horse, and it broke his nose, and knocked one eye out
10\19\1898 (Wednesday)
Rained hard all day.
10\20\1898 (Thursday)
Worked for Hiram Able 8 hours
10\21\1898 (Friday)
George Case called this morning
and wanted me to go to his house
and lay up a bank wall.
I then went and got my wagon up
to the swamp on the Dolittle place
where I have been working at hay
for Hiram Able, and took one front
wheel, to Miles Paynes on East
Mountain to have it repaired,
I then went to work for George Cass
and laid wall from 8 till 5 o'clock.
A Mrs Roase of Naugatuck
murdered by Mrs Mariana
Pompania last night. They were
both Italians and were fighting.
10\22\1898 (Saturday)
Rained all day. They boys and I
put a plank floor in the horse stable
10\23\1898 (Sunday)
Read and wrote, on a paper about the march
of Count De Rachambeaus army through
Connecticut, in 1781, till it was time to
go to the Chapel, the Rev Mr Davenport
preached a good sermon, as he always
does, but I cannot now recall a single
word of it.
10\24\1898 (Monday)
This morning went to Gilbert Hotchkiss
on East Mountain, to see him about
selling my shop to some friend of his.
Found outnothing as he had not heard
from his friend, Then went to Miles
Paynes, and got a wheel that he had
repaired for me, for which he charged
one dollar, He gave me a check on Holmes
& Parsons Bank for Nine dollars
and Seventy two cents, which amount
he owed me,
Then came home and had breakfast,
and went to Hiram Ables and opened
out his hay, then to George Casse's
at 9 o'clock and laid wall till noon
then with George Cass and Charlie Hotchkiss
after dinner and got Hiram Ables hay
into a stack, which took till four o'clock
then to George Cass and laid wall till
dark, a little after five o'clock.
Hiram Able called in the evening to
asertain how much I charged for getting
in his hay I told him $5.00
10\25\1898 (Tuesday)
This morning went to George Casse's
and laid wall, about 10 o'clock Wm
Purdy of Prospect came to see me
about doing some joiner work
up to the Pratt place on East Moun-
tain, Went up with him and found
that he had lately become posessor
of the farm and wanted new sills
put under the barn, and 15 ft
built on the South end. I told
him that I would start on it next
thursday morning, am to get
$2.50 per day.
10\26\1898 (Wednesday)
Worked repairing the harness
till ten o'clock, then hitched up
and went to town, it raining.
Stopped at the Mattatuck Mfg
Co on my way, Went first to
Holmes & Parsons bank, and got the
check that Miles Paynes gave me
cashed 9.72, then went to Tracy
Bros to see about trading some
hard wood lumber for some shealk-
ing, then to the Chas Flacker Co
and bought some elboes, and nipples
for 1/2 iron pipe to rep Mother
Pierponts watering trough with .25
thence to Jones & Morgans and
bought two pairs of overalls and
jumpers for which I paid 1.90. thence
to Miller & Pecks and bought
1 yd of elastic for .05 from thence
to D. L. Dickinson's and got a bag
of oats for 1.15 then home where I arrived
at 12.30 o'clock, worked about home in
the afternoon cleaning and repairing
my harness.
10\27\1898 (Thursday) [[Wednesday]]
Went to work today for William
Purdy at the Pratt place on East
Mountain, Worked 9 hours, chopping
down trees and drawing the logs
down to the barn for the sills etc.
Received a letter to day from Mr
D. G. Porter, asking me to return
a old mowing machine that I
borrowed of him in 18 but which
Miss Girtrude Bradley who acted
as his agent while he was in
Europe wished me to take for
pay for services I did in saving
the shade trees in front of Mr
Porters house from being cut
by the Waterbury Traction
Co, who were agitating extend-
ing their line past his house,
The trees are in the highway.
We recived news today that
Clarance Gaylord Davenport son of
the Rev Dr John G Davenport of the
Second Congregational Church in
this City, died of typhoid fever yesterday at Porto
Rico, near Panci, [[yesterday]]. He was
a member of Co.C. First United
States VOlunteer engineers.
He was 30 years old the 21st day of
last April, He joined the Second
church in 1884 {written over 3}, the same day that
my wife and I did.
10\28\1898 (Friday)
Yesterday and today the weather
has been clear and fine.
Worked hueing timber for
Wm Purdy nine hours, this
is the first hueing that I have
done in years.
{writing large--hands sore!}
10\29\1898 (Saturday)
Cloudy all day, hued nine
hours, Wm Purdy paid me
$6.75 for the last 3 days work.
Earnest Robinson had a daughter born
to day, their second child.
10\30\1898 (Sunday)
Stayed with Major Tucker last
night, Read in Barbers History
of Conn all the forenoon, and went
to the Chapel this afternoon,
Dr Anderson was to have preach-
ed, but Earnest Robinson who
went after him could not find
him, so Hiram Able lead the
meeting which was one of
praise and song, and was very
interesting.
In the evening Agness Able took
my horse and two seated wagon and
carried Mrs Bryan (who lives in
Watertown) to the City.
10\31\1898 (Monday)
Worked hueing timber for Wm
Purdy 9 hours to day
11\01\1898 (Tuesday)
Went to East Mountain and
hued timber for Wm Purdy
Mr Frank Thompkins moved
from the Pratt place on East Moun-
tain to the tenement over Spenser
Pierponts store on East Main St.
Milan Northrop called today to
get me to build a ice house for
him.
11\02\1898 (Wednesday)
Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours to
day. Went to the Chapel this
evening to the first supper of
the season given by the ladies
Union, they made about $9.00
Wm Clark began working for Purdy
11\03\1898 (Thursday)
Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours
Went to the Grange this evening
11\04\1898 (Friday)
This day I worked framing
timber for Wm Purdy.
11\05\1898 (Saturday)
Worked for Wm Purdy.
Todays paper said that they would
have trains running on the
Middletown Meriden and Water-
bury Rail Road by Thanksgiving
probably. the road has laid idle
for the two or three years.
11\06\1898 (Sunday) [[Oct]]
This morning was very rainy, had
breakfast at 8.30 o'clock of bacon and fried
oysters, after which I read the papers
awhile, when Morris Alcott came
to see if I would get a minister for
the Chapel next Sunday,
Then I put a lock and hinges on
an old tool chest that used to
belong to Grandfather Somers
which Uncle Joe gave me, and
which I intend to use,
Called on Hiram Able this even-
ing to see about letting him
take my horse to draw sand
with Tuesday.
Went to see Mr Tucker in the
evening, He returned from New
York last Friday afternoon,
While there he saw Mr ----- agent
for the Judd Co. who purchases the
nails made by the Mattatuck Co.
He says that the Mattatuck Co has
got to bust before long, and I hope
it will,
The Rev Mr Parry preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
11\07\1898 (Monday) [[Oct]]
Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours.
Went to Charles Cass this evening to
see if he would be Grandpa in
the entertainment to be given
at Grange Hall the evening
after Thanksgiving.
{margin: 2.25} "He Said he would."
11\08\1898 (Tuesday) [[Oct]]
This morning after breakfat
I went to the Armory and voted
for the candidates who were nom-
inated on the Republican tacket,
George E Lounsbury for Govern-
or, also voted for Lieutenant Governor,
Congressman, State Senetor, Representitaves
Justices of the Peace, County Sheriff etc,
Then went to work for Wm Purdy at
{margin: 1.75} the Pratt place. Worked from 9 to 5 o'clock
Went up to Mr Garrigus this evening.
11\09\1898 (Wednesday) [[Oct]]
Worked at Purdys this day 9 hours,
We learned that Lounsbury was
elected Governor of Connecticut at
yesterday election, Durant and
Brett were elected Representatives
over Cowell and O'Niel, Warren
Hall was defeated, and Kennedy
of Naugatuck was elected State
{2.25} Senetor, It snowed a little this
forenoon, the first of the season.
11\10\1898 (Thursday)
This morning it looked like rain
and I did not go to work.
I hitched into the big wagon and went
down to my shop and drew up
three loads of wood when it rained
so hard that I had to stop, after getting
wet through, spent the rest of the
day in putting things to rights
{00} about home.
11\11\1898 (Friday)
It has been very cold and windy
today. Worked for William Purdy
9 hours. Charlie Hotchkiss and George
{2.25} Cass, with Irving and myself practiced
drumming this evening.
11\12\1898 (Saturday)
The weather has been fine today.
Worked for Wm Purdy nine hours;
He paid me $13.50 which paid me
{2.25} up to last Saturday night the 5th.
Charlie Hotchkiss and George Cass
{10.75} came this evening and we worked
repairing drums.
11\13\1898 (Sunday)
Did not sleep much last night owing
to a hard cold, and to Pierpont who
had the croup, after a breakfast
of stewed oysters, I set a number
of window glass and did other odd
jobs, in the afternoon went to the Chapel
and heard the Rev Joseph Anderson preach
a notice of a meeting of the Ladies Union
was read, to be held next Wednesday
afternoon from 1.30 to 5 o'clock for work,
supper is to be omitted.
After supper went to see Mr Tucker,
staid till nine o'clock and came home
in the rain. The weather had been
fine up to this time.
11\14\1898 (Monday)
This morning at about 5 o'clock
Margaret told us to look out
of the West windows and see the
fire, the sky in the direction of
the City beyond Abrigador
hill was all aglow and at times
a blaze could be seen leaping up.
It proved to be the barn of Mr Hot-
chkiss on West Side hill.
I worked for Mr Purdy 9 hours today.
11\15\1898 (Tuesday)
Worked on East Mountain for Mr Purdy
today putting up the fraim for the
{2.25} new barn addittion and began cover-
ing it, was there from 7 to 5.
This morning Marice Reid awoke
and thought that it was daylight
on looking at the clock he saw that
it was two o'clock, and on looking
out the door saw that his barn was
on fire, it burned to the ground,
and two horses and two young
cattle were also burned, the cause
of the fire was unknown.
Clarance Davenport, son of
Rev John Davenport, of the Second
Congregational Church, was buried
this afternoon, with military
honors, the body arived from
Portorico where he died of the
typhoid fever, last friday.
Rev Joseph Anderson ^of this City and Rev Mr
Foster of Boston preached the funeral
sermons, in the Second Congregation-
al Church, which was filled to over-
flowing. Clarance was a member of
the 1st U.S. Regt, of engineers, and
is the second souldier who went
from Waterbury and died in this
war with Spain.
11\16\1898 (Wednesday)
Worked on East Mountain for Wm
Purdy 9 hours putting on covering.
The Grange Fair opened tonight
{2.25} the attendence was rather small consider-
ing the number of tickets sold.
11\17\1898 (Thursday)
Arose this morning at 5.30 o'clock,
fed the horse 2 quarts of cracked corn
and 2 of oats and a forkful of hay.
Ate breakfast of Codfish balls after
which I did odd jobs till 9 o'clock (it
raining quite hard,) when I got
ready and started for town
stoped at my shop and shut down a
window which the boys left open last
saturday when they took the stoves out,
carried the milk to Fathers, and stoped
there a while, then went to take the
trolley car at Silver Street, road
to the center, for which Mr Tucker
paid 5 cts. We got on at Silver street
and paid both of our fares,
First I went to George Minors
Shoe Store and bought a pair of
articks for which I paid $1.50 thence
to Miller & Pecks dry good store
and bought one skein of carpet
thread for .05 cts, thence 5to Mr
Roberts the truss maker and had
him repair my truss so it
would hold my rputure better,
which took till noon, Paid 1.50, thence to
Hotchkiss and Templetons hard
ware store and bought a steel
nail hammer for which I paid .60
cts thence to Dr Barbers office
and ordered him to come to
our house in the afternoon to
see little Raymond who is sick
with the croup.
{margin, other handwriting: I remember how
strange Ray looked in his white dress.}
Rode out on the trolley car and got
home at 12.30 had dinner of boiled
long clams, after which I choped
wood for a spell when the Doctor
came, He found that Raymond
was very sick with the Laringetis
and thought that he must have
the best of care.
He wrote out a prescription and
I wrode to town with him to
have it put up, Went to H. W.
Lakes, and got the medicine, while
it was being put up I went to
Currens drygood store and got
two Shaker nightgowns for
which I paid .50 cts, called at
Lakes and got the medicine for
which I paid .30 cts, rode home
with Charlie Brown, on Pierponts
Brothers heavy two horse team,
Charlie Hotchkiss and George
Cass came in the afternoon and we
made arrangements for the enter-
tainment at Grange Hall the evening
after Thanksgiving, after they went
Irving and I did the chores and
we ate supper of Bread, cake, cold
clams etc, after which I gave my
attention to Raymond till 11 o'clock
when I went to bed. Mary was to
call me when she got tired, but
did not and I slept till morning.
11\18\1898 (Friday)
It rained very hard this morning
and I did not go to work. Irving and
I went to the shop and got a load
of tools lumber etc, and brought home.
The doctor called at about 10 o'clock,
and found Raymond about the
same as he was yesterday. Went
to work at noon and worked till
{1.00} 5 o'clock, at Purdys, Wm Purdy
paid me off for last weeks work
10.75 came down to the Brass Mill
and brought Father home when I came.
When I got home I found Ramond
very sick it began raining at about
$6.30 and rained hard all the night
I stayed up all night and attended
to Raymond.
11\19\1898 (Saturday)
It has rained hard all day, Worked
about home, there is a slight improve-
ment in Raymonds health,
In the evening we went to Grange
Hall to a rehersal for the entertainment
next Friday evening. Those who are
to take part in it are Charlie Cass {diff. hand: Grampa},
Mrs Adelbert Hitchcock, George
Cass, Henry Cass, Charles Hotchkiss,
Willie Garrigus, Arthur Pierpont, Harry
Kilbourn, Joe Hucy, Bessie Garrigus,
Annie Garrigus, Minnie Garrigus,
Margaret Miller, Clara French,
Bertha French, and Ida Spender.
{other hand: I was the little girl who gave "Grandpa" his fife}
The entertainment was and old
Fashioned Thanksgiving supper,
We got home at about 10.30 went to bed at 11 o'clock.
Mary stayed up with Raymond.
11\20\1898 (Sunday)
Today the weather has been fine.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon and
listened to a sermon by Rev Mr Howell
of Simonsville, Called on Mr Tucker
this evening, stayed till nine o'clock.
He gave me some old shoes for the
children and some illustrated papers
of the Nations war ships, and heavy
guns. He intends to start in the
morning for New Boston Mass
where he intends to stay during
the winter.
((Monday)) 11\21\1898 (Monday)
Worked to day for Wm Purdy, 9
hours, The weather has been fair.
{2.25}
11\22\1898 (Tuesday) {2.25}
The weather has been fine today,
Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours.
Had a rehersal at the Grange Hall this
evening.
Fifteen years ago this morning at 9 o'clock
I and my wife were married,
Bought a key of cider of Mr Bayley of East Moun-
tain for .60 cts 5 galls.
11\23\1898 (Wednesday) {2.25}
The weather has been nice to day
Worked for Purdy 9 hours.
11\24\1898 (Thursday)
This day is Thanksgiving. We got up a little
before 7 o'clock, and Irving did the chores
and Clyde and I went to drawing wood
from the shop. After drawing two loads
we had breakfast of stewed oysters,
after which we drew wood till 10 o'clock
after which we got ready and went
to Uncle Dwight Somers in Simons-
ville to the Somers family reunion.
Clyde and I walked, and Mary,
Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont,
and Raymond, wrode in the two
seated wagon. They set the table in the
Chapel, (Methodist) and 45 people sat down at
about two o'clock. There were nine absent.
The family consists of Uncle Dwight Somers
and Aunt Emogene, and cousins Robert
and Mary his wife, Joe and Lewis,
Father and Mother, and brother Frank and
wife Myself and wife, and children Clyde
Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont, and Raymond.
Uncle Joe Somers, and aunt Fan,
and Children, LIzzie, David and wife
Etta, Josie, Myra, (George not there) and
May,
Uncle Goldsmith and aunt Christine
and children, Jennie and husband
Charles Phillips, (Willie not there)
and Mary.
Uncle Ben and (wife not here)
Uncle Will and Aunt Ellen, and
(Fred not there)
Cousin Daivd Frisbie and wife
And cousin Frank and Burt,
Sister Mary and Roland Jenner, her
husband, and children, Louise and
[[Effel]] Ethol
and Sisters Cara and Iva,
There are Fifty four persons in all
but nine were absent. Uncle Dwight
was the older person aged 66 years and
my Raymond was the youngest, aged 3
years, after supper they had singing
and Recitations, after which Ice cream
was served, after which we retired to
Uncle Dwights house, and listened to
some fine singing by three young people
who were strangers to me, after which
we came home in the same manner
that we went. The snow lay on
the ground to the depths of two
inches, it having snowed all the
afternoon
11\25\1898 (Friday) {2.25}
Worked at Purdys 9 hours
11\26\1898 (Saturday) [[F]]
The weather this morning was rather
cold, but a little after noon it began
to snow and continued snowing
till night at six o'clock there lay
on the ground about three inches.
Went to work at Purdyes this morn-
ing we put the weather boards on the
barn, and shingled till the snow drove
us off at about 4 o'clock worked about
{2.12 1/2} 8 1/2 hours.
11\27\1898 (Sunday)
Awoke this morning to find the wind
blowing hard and the air full of snow
with great drifts on the ground.
We got up at about 8 o'clock and after
digging out the out bildings and
eating breakfast doing the chores etc,
Clyde Irving and I hitched the horse
into the old sled and went down to
Fathers with the milk, we found great
drifts but drove through them in
going there. From Fathers we went
to Ashtons corner and up the Meriden
road where we had to dig through
many of the drifts before we got
to the Chapel. We stoped at Charlie
Casses, and I told him that he
might take my bob sleigh to
peddle milk with, and he said
that he would come down with
me and get it. So we started home.
Steve Pardee* {diff hand: *milk peddler} accompying us and
Charlie was to come on with his
horse we reached John Frenches
and waited some time for Charlie.
When he came we started on
digging some of the time in the
drifts till we reached Mr Ables
when we left the road and went
through his yard and through
the fields to Mrs Doolittles
lower barn where we again
entered the road, and had a hard
time getting to my house, some
of the drifts being ten feet deep/
We went to my shop and got
the sleigh after which we came
home, the wind and snow still
blowing. This has been the
worst storm ever known in this
vicinity within the rememberence of
the older persons living, that has
occured in November, the snow has fallen
to the depth of two feet on the level.
We have heard a great deal of whistling
from factory whistles this forenoon the
cause of which we do not know.
Randolph and Clowes great roof of
their Rooling mill fell in at one o'clock
this morning from the weight of snow
on it. I have heard some of the old
people say that this roof was the first
iron truss and iron covered roof put
on in the United States, it was designed
for a four pitch roof, but was subsiquent-
ly changed for a gable roof, some had
fears years ago that it would not stand,
it was put on I think about 1860.
At the time that the roof was put on
Mr Thomas Payne who lived on
East Mountain was killed, His death
happened as follows,
His son Martain Payne had the
job of putting the roof on, and was
there at work, Mr Thomas wishing
to see him went to the building
and had just stepped inside the
door when a portion of the roof
gave way and let fall a lot of
lumber and iron which struck
Mr Payne killing him.
He and his wife had quarreled
that morning, and when he
started away she said she hoped
he might be brought home dead,
A few hours later as he was
brought into the house, she remark-
ed that, She was dam glad of it,
{diff hand: shame!!}
//temp end//
11\28\1898 (Monday)
This morning the snow is piled in
great drifts and the roads are everywhere
blacked, It reminds me of
the great storm of Mar 1888 when
it snowed from four o,clock{o,clack!} Sunday
night till the next Wednesday
forenoon, the snow lying at an
average depth of three and one
half feet and drifts were piled in
many places 12 and 14 fet high.
Out near Shelton Hitchcock
on the Meriden road there was
a drift higher thatn the tops of
the telegraph poles.
I thought that I would try and
make a pth through the Doolittle
road and was getting ready
when Hiram Able came and asked
me if I would help dig out the
road, I told him of my intentions{intentons!}
at which he seemed pleased.
We drove to the foot of the hill
by the book and began to dig,
and from thence it was continuous -
to the lower barn a distance
of nearly 1/4 of a mile and at one
place through a drift ten feet
deep. There was a clear place in
front of the Doolittle house but
at the upper barn a great drift
began and it was digging most
of the way to the brook near
John Frenches house, it took
till after four o'clock to get to Frenches
Clyde, Irving, Walter Garrigus,
Hiram Able, and myself in the
forenoon, and all but Walter
Garrigus in the afternoon.
After we were dug through I
gave Cla___{Clares?} and Bertha French,
a ride on the horse sled through
the drif_s{drifts?} to my house and my
wife go_{got?} on the sled and road back
to Mrs. Munsons, when we got home
it was quit_{quite?} _ark{dark?}.
{Notes in margin of text:
I remember this day -
We{he?} wore boy's pants - RMB
There was
no school
M.H.}
11\29\1898 (Tuesday)
This morning I started for work at
East Mountain on the horse sled,
But when I had crossed the long bridge
at the head of the Brass Mill pond I
found deep drifts all the way to
the Prospect road, and no track
beyond the Cass place.
Irving who was with me, went ahead
and picked out the best part of
the road and wallered{wallowed?} through the
drifts and I followed, we managed
to get through without digging,
and I got to work at 8 o'clock and
worked till five.
{Note in the margin at this line:
2.00}
Clyde and Irving came after _e{me?}
at five and we came home much
easier than we went over.
{Note in margin of text:
School this day.}
11\30\{1898} (Wednesday)
After breakfast this morning I
started for East Mountain on the
horse sled{slead!}, it was snowing very
hard, had quite a time getting{gettin!} through
the road that runs across the foot
of East Mountain, there was no one
there to help me and I did not work.
Came home{,?} and carried irving to school
going through the Doolittle road which
I have driven through six times to day
to keep it open, about 10 inches of
snow fell last night ant today.
Worked cutting wood most of the
time to day.
Wm Purdy paid me 6.00 this day.
12\01\1898 (Thursday)
Went to work for Mr. purdy this
morning, did not get there till 8.30
had a hard time getting through
the mountain road. Worked puttin_{putting?}
in the sleepers for the main floor.
Wm Clark did not come as he
had to open roads about the
town of Prospect, He being
first __lect man{Eelect man?}. This afternoon
a trin with two locomotived{lolomotives!} and
a snowplow pushed through the
Meriden Waterbury and Corm{?} River
Rail Road. They expect to start
regular trains running next monday.
Note in margin of text:
2.12 1/2 - crossed out
1.87 1/2
12\02\{1898} (Friday)
The weather today has been fine
for this time of year, Worked for
Purdy 8 1/2 hours laying barn floor
{Mathematical equation in margin of text}
12\03\{1898} (Saturday)
Went to work for Purdy this day.
Worked{Wokked!} 8 1/2 hr. On my way there I
met Willie Strong near the watering
trought and he asked me, Who anyon_{anyone?}
should see to buy a lot of in the Pine Grove
Cemetery and their cost etc, I afterwards
learnes{learned?} that Mr. Barnes little{liftle!} child died
this morning at 4 o clock this mornin_{morning?} of membrainous
{membrainaus!}
croup.
Mr. Barnes is Mr. Strong's
hired man, M
Mr. Hart worked with me to day
cutting and hauling{hawling1} sleepers for
the horse __rn{barn?} floor, we also hired{?}
eight of them.
When Clyde and I were coming
home tonight, as we were turning
the cor_er{corner?} by Mr. Casse_{Casses?} we
saw where _ome{some?} one{ane!} had been
tiped out of a sleigh. We learned
from George Cass who stoped the
horse{shorse!} that it was a Mrs. leonard
who lives on North Main Street
who was going to Hiram Able's
to see if she could hire a girl.
The horse ran all the way from
where Mr. _ass{Cass?} lives at the
corner of the Prospect road to
George Casses near the long bridge
at Ha___{Harpers?} ferry, and Mrs. Leonard
and her little girl ran after the horse
till she say{saw?} George Cass putting
the blanket on the horse through
the deep drifts most of{af!} the way
Miss Jennie Welton died
last night at about 8 o clock, the
particulars are as follows. She had been
to James Porter's to see about some sewing
to James Porter's to see about some sewing
and had started home with a bundle
of work. When just below my Father's
house Gus Painter who was going to
town with a horse and sleigh overtook
her as she was staggering about he
was trying to pass her When Will
Gillette came along and saw her and
told Painter that something was
the matter with her, she told them
her name and the number of the
hose she lived in on{an!} East Main
Street, they then took her in the
sleight and carried her home but she
died before they reached there
Charlie Hotchkiss is working for D. G. Porter
Arthur Blewitt having gone home on account
of his father's death. Purdy Paid me $10.00
Note in margin of text:
$10.00
12\04\1898 (Sunday)
The weather to day has been fair and
warm snow settled very much, it
began raining at about 3.30 and rained
hard when i went to bed.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
{Next line difficult to read}
Mr. Parry Preached
The Chapel Committee approved the
bill of M_ss{Miss?} Bessie Garrigus of 15.00 as
organist{?} from May 1 to Dec 1, W also{We also?}
approved the bill of Dexter Northrop
for services as Janitor/janitor{?} of $10.00
When we came home we, mary, Irving
Margaret, Ruth Pierpont, Vernon{Vernom!}
Able, Florence{Fforence!} ABle and myself,
rode home on the horse sled.
12\05\{1898} (Monday)
It has been cloudy but has not stormed
to day, Worked for Purdy 9 hr.
Mr. Hart and Wm Clark worked
there, Hart and I hueing{?} and fitting
sleepers, and Clark making the cow
stables.
I suppose that the first trains run
on the Meriden, Middletown, and Waterbury
rail road to carry regular passengers.
Note in margin of text:
225
12\06\{1898} (Tuesday) {December is crossed out}
The weather to day has been fine for{fore!}
this time of year.
The first train that came in yesterday
morning __{on?} the new Meriden
Middletown and Waterbury Rail
Road brought three passengers, they
were Mort Pierpont, Howard and
Clerence{Clarance?} Worden, three school boys
who got on at East Farms.
Worked for Purdy 9 hr
Note in margin of text:
2.25
12\07\{1898} (Wednesday)
Weather to day has been fine.
Hiram Able had a son born to
him and his wife this morning
early.
Worked for William Purdy 9 hours.
Notes in margin of text:
2.25
Wilbur
12\08\{1898} (Thursday)
The weather to day ha been clear and
cool{coal!}. Worked for Purdy nine hours
Mother Pierpont is 70 years old to day.
Notes in margin of text:
2.25
Mathematical equation in margin of text
12\09\{1898} (Friday)
The weather to day has been Cool,
but clear most of the time.
Worked for Purdy 9 hours
Mary and I went to the Grange
this evening.
Note in margin of text:
2.25
12\10\{1898} (Saturday)
Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours to day
Note in margin of text:
2.25
12\11\1898 (Sunday)
Went to ___{the?} Chapel and heard Mr.
Rafter of the Waterville Episcopal{Episcapal!} Church
preach. There was collected 2.21 which
I gave to Mr. Able.
12\12\{1898} (Monday)
It began snowing a little after
dinner and snowed all the afternoon
Worked for Wm Purdy 9 hours
He paid me today 11.00{?} which squares{squairs!}
us up to a w__k{week?} ago last Saturday night
12\13\1898 (Tuesday)
Got up at half past five, the weather was very
cool, built the two fires called Irving, fed
horse, and coon breakfast was ready
had pancakes, started for work at half
past six, drove to Purdy's on the horse{harse!}
cled, about one and one half inches
of snow fell during the night.
Wm Clark and I worked finishing
the horse stables.
Pierpont came at 11.38 with a letter
delivered by special delivery by the
post boy{bay!} from Mr. Tucker who is in
New Boston, Wanting me to see Fred
Brainard in Southington and have
him meet him in Winsted next
Thursday evening about the insurance{inshurance!}
on{an!} the old shear shop, I stoped work
at noon, drove home and after getting
[[Note in margin, presumably recording hours of work??
1.25 {Is this 1.00 crossed out and 1.25 written on top of it?}]]
warm, and eating dinner, started
for Soughington in my spindle buggy.
Went through east Farms and over
the mountains at Hitchcocks Pond_{Ponds?},
the riding was cold and rough some
of{af!} the way the old drifts were five
feet deep, went through marion, to
Mill dale{,?} _here{where?} I stoped at the brick
shop{shap!} at D_ckermans{Dickermans?} corner and inquired
for Brainard.
They d rected{directed?} me East across{acass!} the Quinnapiac{?}
River to Stillmans corner then
thru, North till I reach an abandoned
paper mill _hen{then?} go a little way and
turn to the right and go through the
lots to a little shop{,?} and I would find
him, I went as directed and found
him as directed, polishing bicicle{bycicle!}
wrenches, _{I?} told hime what I had come{came!}
for, and he said he would go.
I drove home as soon as possible reaching
there a li____{little?} after six very cold, the
themometer regirstng{in the 1935-38 manuscripts, usually
spelled regerstering} zero, at Nine
it was six below
The treaty of Peace between this
Country and Spain were signed at
Paris last Saturday evening at
8:45 o clock. The american signers
were, Judge William, R Day, Senator{Senetor!}
Crishman K{?} DAvis, Senator{Senetor!} Fry,
Mr. Reid{Reed?} and Senator{Senetor!} George Grey.
The Spanish signers were, Senor
Mortero, Rias, Senor. Abarzuza{Alarzuza?}, Senor
G__nica{Gurnica?}, Senor Vallauruti{?} and
General Cerero Saens.
[[There is a note in the margin of the text that indicates
the paragraph that begins with "The Spanish signers ..."
The note is the following:
Red ink in
Original
LLD 5/17/89 {probably 1989, when xeroxed]]
Each commissioner signed his
opponents{oponents!} treaty. Both were tied
with the Spanish and American
Colars
The treaty provides that Cuba is
to be relinquished from Spain,
and that Puerto Rico{Porto Rico!} and the Phillipine
Islands are to be ceded to
the United States. The U.S. are to
pay for the repatriation of the
Spanish troop_{troops?} from all the Colonies{Calanies?}.
The Spanish are to return
all prisoners held by them.
They are to retain all military stores
and munition of war in the Phillipines
and such ships as have not
been captured.
I think that in the long run
it would be better to have settled
some other way than by annexing
the Phillipines, The Nations of
the East are jealous of us, and
this act, wll{will?} add fuel to the
smouldering fire that is burning
which will some time break out
and cause more trouble than it
would if we had accepted a war
indemnity, or even forced them
to pay it.
12\14\1898 (Wednesday)
This morning the thermometer{themometer!} stood at
14 degrees below zero.
I got ready and went to town on the
trolley went first to the Waterbury
bank and had a twon order cashed
for 5.60 after which I went to the
central telephone station and telephones{teleplane_!}
Mr. Tucker at New Boston Mass that
Mr. Brainard and I would meet
him{?} at the Winchester hotel in
Winsted tomorrow afternoon for
which I paid 25{?} cts. went thence{?}
to the Select mans office and had my
Military tax ab__ted{?} on account of
disability{dishability!}, then came home, and ate
dinner and went to work at Purdys{?}
3 1/2 hr.
{Note in margin of text:
.88}
After supper went to th Chapel and
had another{?} supper for which I paid
10 cts, went over to the Grange Hall to
a poultry show, there were but few there
paid 15 cts admissions, came back to
the Chapel where the Entertainment
was going on Mr. Rolph Blakeslce{?}
was giving a Grapaphone Enterta_nueul{?}
which was the best I ever heard.
{New paragraph?}
They also had some fine singing.
Came home and arranged{arrainged!} a short
discourse which I intend to give at
the grange, and wrote this matter
which took till midnight.
12\15\{1898} (Thursday)
This morning after doing the
barn chores, and some other regular
work, I did up the horse's leg, which he
calked in going to Southington. Then
I had to hustle to get rady to go to
Winsted, to see Mr. Tucker and a lawyer
from Hartford, about the insurance
on the Old Shear Shop{?} which burned
Oct 19th 1896.
I took the trolley car at East Main
Street near Silver, and went to Waterville
where I arrived at 11 O'clock, paid
05 ct fare. At 11.10 took steam cars for{far!}
Tarrington, got there at 12. Went{Wen!} and got
shaved for which I paid 10 cts, at One
Oclock took th trolley cars for Winsted
where I arrived at about two
Oclock, got off at the Winchester
Hotel, met Mr. Tucker at the door,
Went across{acrass!} the street and met
Fred Brainard in __{?} restaurant{restaurent!},
waited there, while M_{Mr.?} Tucker went
to the Depot to meet his son Horace{Harace!}
who was coming from the Cheshire
Military Acadamy{Acadeniey!}. on a three weeks
vacation. Went to mr. Tuckers
room in the Winchester and waiter for
Mr. Fullter{?} to come from Hartford. He arrived
at a little after four, and Mr. Branard{?} told
him all about the machinery{machnery!} in the old
shop which took till six when we went
to supper, in a spacious dining hall with
a fine tile floor, a big Nigger sat the chair
under me to sit down in and gave me lots
of attention, as he did the rest, I hardly
thought this necessary on my part, for
I am only too glad to sit down without
help if I can{cam!} get what is good to eat.
First they brought on beefsteak and browned
potatoes and onions, biscuits{buiscuits!} and butter
coffee, next eggs and{an!} toast after cleaning
most of the dishes o__{off?}, brought on other
courses{carses!}, the most of which I have now
forgotten, the last was, clear glass
bowls{bowles!} _ith{with?} a little water in the
bottom, served on china plates, for
each of us. I wondered what these
were, but soon saw Mr. Tullere{?} dip
his fingers in his bowl and wipe
them on his napkin{knapkin!}, I did not follow
his example as I had not practiced
and feared I might be awkward.
After supper we went to Mr. Tuckers
room and and{written twice} talked awhile{a whill!}, after
which Mr. Tuller{?} and Tucker went
to find a typewriter{typewritter!} to copy{coppy!} off
his short hand, and Fred Brainard{?}
and I took a walk out to
West Winsted.
After we returned, mr. Brainard
and Fuller{?} went to their rooms, and
Mr. Tucker and I staid together{to gather!}.
{new paragraph?}
We took a bath and went to bed.
12\16\1898 (Friday)
Got up about Seven, Mr. Fuller
Mr. Tucker and I had breakfast, Horace{Harace!}
also, together{togather!}. Mr. Brainard had
ate before us and had taken an
early train for home, after breakfast
I read over the testimony which I
had given Mr. Fuller the evening before
and which he had written out, after which
Mr. Tucker and Fuller went to the barroom{?}
and got a drink, as I have never tasted{taisted!}
any drink stronger than cider I did
not go, Mr. Fuller, Horace{Harice!}, and I, drove
up to the Solders{Souldiers!} monument, where
we had a fine view of Winsted and
the adjoining country. The monument
is a fine one, and the location grand.
After we returned to the Hotel it was
nearly time for my train, so I left
the rest of the party and went to the
Naugatuck depot where I bought my
ticket for Waterbury for which I paid
75 cts, took the cars and in due time
reached Waterbury, where I took the
trolley and arrived{arived!} home at noon.
AFter dinner drew wood from
the shop which was portions{partions?} of
the ld burned shear factory.
{New paragraph?}
In the evening went to the Grang
Mrs. Weeks died Wednesday in
Wolcott, aged 78, she lived on{one?} mile
South of the Center, at the foot of
the hill near the Fair grounds.
Julinia Hall of Woodtick fell from
a haymow in her barn yesterday
and fever{feaver!} has set in and now{nou!} she
is very sick.
12\17\1898 (Saturday)
Went to work this morning
for wm Purdy, worked 9 hours.
Mr. Larmon Johnson{?} died this
morning in the 93rd year of her age,
She lived the third house East of here
on the south side of the road.
{Note in margin of text:
2.25}
This evening went to see Hiram
Able and paid _im{him?} $1.60 which I
received{recived!} from the Town for his pay
for helping to dig out the Doolittle
road, after the Great storm, Agness{?}
wished me to clean and repair her
melodian, and I went at it and
did not get through till after 11,o'clock
12\18\{1898} (Sunday)
The weather to day has been fine.
Went to Chapel this afternoon, Mr.
Bassett of the Farm Street Methodist
Church preached. Collected 2.21 which
I carried and gave to Agness to give
t_{to!} her father Hiram Able.
{Note in the margin of text:
Chapel}
12\19\{1898} (Monday)
Worked for Wm Purcy this day,
9 hours, the Weather has been fine
but it looks{tooks!} like storm tonight.
Mrs. Johnson was buried this
afternoon from Mill Plain Chapel
The Rev M {blank space in text} officiated and Edward
Welton{?}, Wilson{Wilsan!} Pierpont, John French,
and Charles Monroe{?} were Pall bearers.
{Notes in margin of text:
2.25
Chapel}
12\20\{1898} (Tuesday)
It was very stormy this day, did not
go to work till 8 O,clock.
{Note in margin of text:
2.00}
12\21\{1898} (Wednesday)
Wormed for Wm Purdy on his barns
8 1/2 hours to day.
{Note in margin of text:
2.12 1/2}
There was an entertainment given
in the Grange Hall at Prospect this
evening, entitled "the Comrades"
{new paragraph?}
This morning when I went to work
this morning I saw George Cass and
he wanted to go and have all go
that could, so when I got home
this evening I fixed two seats
on the old _ring{pring?} and sent Clyde{Clyd!}
to see if Agness Able{?} would go
with us, She would, Mary,
Clyde, Agness and Myself went
on the pring, Charlie Hotchkiss
took Bertha French, Arthur
Pierpont took Bessie Garrigus
and George Cass did not go,
He had to work getting ice for the
Mill Plain Ice Co.
We had a good time and the
play was nice, the attendance{attendence!}
filled the hall.
About Prospect Center the trees
were heavily{heavly!} ladened with ice, got home
and went to bed at one Oclock.
12\22\{1898} (Thursday)
Spent this forenoon in cutting pices
of printed matter from a pile of news
papers I have saved and pasting{paisting!} them
in my scrap book
Went to work a_{at?} Purdys at noon
and worked four hours
{Note in margin of text:
1.00}
Went to the Grange this evening,
had election of Officer.
{New paragraph?}
The following were elected
Master Arden H Coe,
Overseer John Gallagher,
Lecturer Arthur Pierpont
Treasurer John R S Tood{?},
Chaplain David G Porter{?},
Steward Harry Coe,
Assistant Steward Adelbert Hitchcock
Secretary Anna Hale
Cerics Girtrude Bradley
{next line is difficult to read}
Pomana{?} Mr. John Gallagher{?}
Flora, Mrs. Thomas Fairclough.
Outside Gatekeeper Joe Huey
Lady assistant Steward Edith
Pierpont
Executive Committe John Gallagher{?}
It rained very hard when we came home
at midnight
12\23\{1898} (Friday)
Did not get up this morning
till Seven Oclock, and went to
work at 9 worked throught the
noon hour till 5 O'clock, came
home and ate dinner and Supper
together{togather!}. Charlie Hotchkiss came
over druymming and Irving{?} and
I took our drums and we marched
to John Frenches it being very
hard marching over the snow
drifts and rough road.
Came{word difficult to read} home at eleven.
{Note in margin of text:
2.25}
12\24\{1898} (Saturday)
Worked about home all day, began
digging for the foundation of my new
blacksmith shop down near the brook
{New paragraph?}
In the evening George Cass came
and we set his drum head.
12\25\{1898} (Sunday)
This is Christmas day the Children
were up early and had a happy time
taking the presents from their stockings{?}
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
the REv Mr{?} Davenport preached
{new paragraph?}
Brother Fred was there with his
wife having come{came!} from Detroit
yesterday, he was noticed quite a
little on{an!} account of his fine bass
singing.
12\26\{1898} (Monday)
This day hs been observed as
Christmas. All of the Miller FAmily
met at Fathers there were 22 who sat
down to dinner.
In the evening we had a tree which
was much enjoyed by the children
12\27\1898 (Tuesday)
The weather has been fair to day
but rather cold. This evening Mary
Irving{Iirving!} Agness Able and Myself went
to Woodtick to an entertainment
which was given in the Chapel there
{new paragraph?}
Had a fine time, reached house
and went to bed at 11 Oclock.
Wm Purdy Paid Clyde 2.50 on account{accout!}
{next line difficult to read}
for me.
{Note in margin of text, difficult to read:
2.50{?}}
12\28\1898 (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been very
cold, worked most of the day digging
for the foundation of my Blacksmith
shop. This evening went to the Chapel
to the supper given by the Ladies{Laidies!}
Union, mary and all of the children
attended, and had supper there.
12\29\{1898} (Thursday)
Worked to day 7 hours on the watertrough{watertraugh?}
at east farms repairing the pipes.
12\30\1898 (Friday)
To day Clyde, Irving and I worked 7
hours on the watering trough at East
Farms. 14 hours @{?} .25=3.50 Material .50=4.00
12\31\1898 (Saturday)
Arose this morning at SEven O'clock
it being cloudy was quite dark, did
the barn chores before breakfast, ate
breakfast of boiled beef and potatoes
at eight the{then?} cut fire wood till about
10.30 when we set about making a
forge to shoe the horse with in the new
building, we took a barrel and sowed
off the top end down about 6 inches
then filled it with sand to within
6 inches of the top and set in a ducks
nest tuyer{tire?} iron with the pipe
projecting through the bunghole
of the barrell, then attached a
Roots Rotery{Rotary?} blower, had it nearly
completed at dinner time, at dinner
at 12 of. Beef pie and clam chowder,
and rice pudding{,? text hard to read} after dinner finished
the forge and sharpened the horse
by which time it was hailing and
snowing quite hard. Clyde, F Pierpan_{Pierpont?}
and I went to town to get some groceries
First went to my shop after a maple plank
but had to move so much lumber to get
it that we could wait no longer, So we
went to the Waterbury Lumber Co
to see if I could sell them a lot of plank
thence to the City Lumber & Coal Co
but could not sell an_{any?},{?} so we went to
the City Fish Market where we bought
a pint of opened oysters for 15 cts and some
crackers for .08{08?} cts per pound, thence to
Heaters Grocery store where we bought
several bundles of groceries, thence
to Spencer & Pierponts feed store and
bought a bag of meal for .95 cts and then
home, Irving and I did the chores, then
had supper of stewed oysters, after which
I picked the feathers off a duck, and then
read in 4th vol, of Washington Irvings life
of Washington. This is the last day
of the year, on looking back twelve
months I recall many reverses, but
hope the next year will prove more prosperous.
01\01\1899 (Sunday)
New years day
Commenced the year by getting up
at half past eight, the weather being
very cold and snow still falling.
Built the two fires and then, Clyde,
Irving, and myself dug out the
paths and did the chores, after which
we ate breakfast of baked beans,
after which we hitched the horse in
the sled{slead!} and the Boys and I drove to
Munsons corner and back to make
a path, after that I set a steel trap in
a shallow box of bran in the cellar under
the potato bin for rats, and in a little
while caught{cought!} one. Then got ready and
Ruth, Pierpont, and Margaret went
to Sunday school{written as 1 word}, and Mary and I
went to the service. Mr. Parry
preached, there were but thirty
four present, there are settings{sittings?} for
about One Hundred and forty in
the Chapel. Mary rode home with
Mr. Worden{?}, and I walked home, by
way of the Doolittle road, gave Agness
Able $1.00 which was collected to give
to her father, as we came by
her house she looked at the thermometer{thermameter!}
and it stood 8 degrees above zero
when I got home mine{myne!} was at zero
it is now 7 below at half past eight.
01\02\1899 (Monday)
At seven o'clock the thermometer{thermameter!} stood at
20 degrees below zero. After breakfast of
baked duck, we run the washing machine
after which I measured the height{hight!} of all
the children, Raymand{?} was 3 ft 3 1/2 in
tall Frank Pierpont, 3' 9", Ruth 4' 3"
Margaret 4' 6", Irving 4' 9", and Clyde
5' 7" inches, they have all grown over
two inches since last new years.
Went down to the shop and got out some
plank to have some sled runners{?} sawed
out of, and brought home a load of
fire wood, Mary and Clyde went
to town this afternoon to get some
clothes for Clyde to wear to school
tomorrow, Irving and I dug a ditch
down in the swamp, after{aftere!} which we did
the chores Clyde and mary coming in
the meantime, and had supper of hasty{?}
pudding and molasses, after{aftere!} which I
made some molasses candy.
At twelve o'clock yesterday{yester day?} the United
States flag was unfurled over Cuba
It now floats over the wreck of the
Battle ship Maines.
01\03\1899 (Tuesday)
Went to East Mountain this forenoon
to see Miles Payne{text difficult to read} about some
work he wanted me to do. In the afternoon
repaired a wolf roab{?}, Wilson Pierpont
called and wanted me to put a draw{drow?}
bar in his horse sled, I went to work
at it and had it finished before work {???}
night, for which I charged 90 cts
01\04\{1899} (Wednesday)
Went to work in the dark this morning{?}
for Thomas M Paynes{?}
Worked _ll{till?} noon when I had to stop
on account of the rain.
{note in margin of text:
5 hr}
01\05\{1899} (Thursday)
This day the ground has been very
wet, worked about home all day.
{New paragraph?}
Figured up and found that I
had done Eighty nine dollars and
ninety eight cents worth of work
for William Purdy on his ba_n{barn?} of
which he owed me 27.24 now.
Mary and Irving went to
town this afternoon in the spindle
buckboard. Mary and I went
to the Grange{Grandge?} this evening, there
were but few there about 18
{New paragraph?}
Chas Cass is very sick with
appendicitis{a pendicitas!} his wife is also sick
as is Arthur Pierpont and many
others, with the Grip.
01\06\1899 (Friday)
It has rained most of the day
and at the present is raining hard.
I have staid a{at?} home, and worked
at odd jobs. The whole family is
sick more or less with the grip.
01\07\{1899} (Saturday)
Everything was frozen up this morning
the weather having grown cold during
the night.
After doing the chores Clyde and I went
to town I to the Barbers shop and had my
hair cut and was shaved for which I
paid 30 cts.{.?} Clyde bought oysters and
crackers, also went to the Apothacaries
hall and bought a little vaseline{vasalene!} bottle
full of shellack{?} for which he paid 20 cts,
came home and hitched into the
horse sled, and carried Mrs. Hesplelts{?}
sewing machine home which I had
repaired. Went by way of the Meriden
road and stoped and saw Charlie
Cass. He is a little better, his wife
Tracy is also sick with a complication
of diseases{deseases!} in the same bed
with him, she is better also.
After leaving the sewingmachine{1 word?}
went to my old shop and drew
a sled load of bolts home, got stuck
at the foot of the hill and had to
unload part of them, and go back
and get them. Drew another load
this afternoon. Fred and Addie lef_{left?}
for Detroit this forenoon at 10.50 expect
to reach there at noon tomorrow.
Mary is sick with the Grip and it is
hard for her to get around.
01\08\{1899} (Sunday)
Staid home all day, except that I
went to he Chapel and heard Rev
Mr Rafter preach.
{new paragraph?}
There was collected $1.20
Wrote a letter to Mr. Tucker at
New Boston Mass.
01\09\{1899} (Monday)
Worked to day 9 hours for Miles
Paynew on East Mountain, at
making new doors{doars!}, and rep{?} doors
for his blacksmith shop.
{note in margin of text:
1.80}
Wm Purdy Paid me 7.50
{new paragraph?}
The Hall Upson Co began cutting
ice with 20 men and 9 horses on the Brass
Mill pond this morning. When I came
home tonight they had cut over an
acre of ice and got it in. The stearn{? word difficult to read}
incline draws the ice into the houses
very fast.
01\10\1899 (Tuesday) {1898 was written as the year}
Got up this morning at 5 o'clock.
The weather being quite cool,
went to work for Thomas Miles Payne
on East Mountain repairing his
Blacksmith shop. Went to painting
it at 3 O'clock, but the weather was
so cold that I stoped at 4, working
8 1/2 hr. I helped{helpt!} build the shop 19 years
ago, and I remember that William
Pratt{?} the ownder said quite a little
about painting it right away. Little
did I think than that I would be
painting it for the first time now.
{note in margin of text:
1.70}
When I got home the Thermometer{Themometer!}
was at zero. I was very cold and
glad to get by the fire. By
appointment Robert Worden
Morris Alcott and myself
were to go to see <_{Mr.?} Parry of
the First Baptist{Baptis!} church on Grand
Street, about giving a lecture
at the Chapel. I did not think
that they would come on account
of the cold. But at 6.30 Mr. Worden
came from the East and Mr.
Alcott from the North. I was
just changing{chainging!} my clothes, as
the Committee of the Ladies{Lades!}
Union were to meet here tonight.
Was ready in a few minutes
and we drove to town in Mr.
Wordens{wordens!} carriage; the horse traveled
very fast, and I got very cold.
Put the horse in Nortons.{.?} Livery
stable, and we went to Dr. Parrys
house on North Willow street.
Found him in and he very pleantly{pleasantly?}
arranged to give a lecture and
stereoptican entertainment{entertainmint!} at
the Chapel some future time. The
State Grange are holding their meeting
now in Waterbury in the City Hall
it opens todya and continues till
Thursday{?} afternoon.
Came home and found Mrs. Worden
Mrs. Alcott, Mrs. Thoedore Munson,
and Agness Able making arrangements
to give the Chapel Fair the
8th{8the!} and 9th of next month.
They staid till 10 o'clock when
they started fo_{for? home? word is smudged}, Clyde carried
Mr. and Mrs. Alcott home in the
buggy, it being very cold 4 below
zero.
01\11\{1899} (Wednesday)
Staid home all day, and in the house
most of the time as it was too{to!} cold for
me, the thermometer{thernometer!} has been below{blow!}
the freezing point all day.
Dr. Axtelle called to see James Porter
who had the barn door fall on him
and hurt his side. Mary, Clyde, and
Irving have gone to the Chapel to the supper{scupper!}
01\12\{1899} (Thursday)
This morning it was very cold and I
did not go to work for Miles Payne till
10.30 worked painting his shop, 5 1/2 hr
{Note in margin of text:
1.10}
Drove home and found a letter from
Father wanting me to come down and
see him before he went down town to night
{new paragraph?}
Went and saw him.
He told me that he thought he knew
that I could get work at Rogers Bro's
at Blacksmith and carpenter work
Mary and I went to the Grange{Grang!} and saw
___{the? word difficult to read} installation of Officers, came home
at 12.30 and went to bed.
01\13\{1899} (Friday)
Did not go to work this morning as
it rained and froze, worked about
home all day.
01\14\{1899} (Saturday)
Did not get up till seven o'clock this
morning as I did not expect{?} to go
to work as it was raining hard.
{new paragraph?}
Soon after I was up, T{F?} Miles Payne drove
into the yard and wanted me to help
him today. I told him that I would
and he went{wen!} to town, and I ate my
breakfast, then Clyde carried me
up the mountain, I went to work
on a buggy that ws{was?} there pretty well
smashed.
It seem that Henry Pullen who
lives at Prospect center and works
at the Mattatuck shop, started for
work this morning{mornind!} with his two
daughters{doughters!}, but when they got to the
top of the hill by the City Reservoir
the front axle broke and started the
colt which he was driving on a dead
run, In going down the hill the
girls were thrown out and soon
after mr. Pullen let go the horse
and was thrown to one side of the
road, one{ane!} of the girls had her legs
skinned some and all{?} were bruised{?}{,?}
the horse had a bad cut on the hind
leg, The horse continued on down
the mountain and ran into Mr.
Micacks{?} team and threw him
and a man that was with him out
hurting the man that was with
Mr. Mycack, in the shoulder{shouldier!},
The horse ran to the watering trough
down the mountain where he ran
into a barbed wire fence and got
entangeled and they caught him there.
Mr. Payne and I repaired the
two buggys{buggyes!} which were pretty{prety!} well
smashed.
Yesterday William Gillette
went to Prospect to investigate the
case of Mattie Woods a colored girl.
It seems that a neighbor of Grant
Wheeler, who lives at Gilletts Corner{?}
whill{while?} passing his house, day before
yesterday, was attracted by a colored{colosed!}
girl waving{waiving!} her hand at the garrett
window. She informed him that
she was locked in the garrett and
was very cold, that the Wheelers were
in the habit of locking her up
there every time they went away.
{new paragraph?}
The neighbor came to town and notified
Constable William Gillette who is also a
humane officer, and yesterday he went
out to investigate. In the mean time the
girl had escaped from the attic and found
shelter at a neighbors{neighbars?} that night and
the next morning he took her to David
B. Hotchkiss'who is a justice-of-the-peace.
There{Ther!} Constable{Constible!} Gillette and Sheriff
Rigney{?} found her. Mr. Hotchkiss asked
them if they wanted to see her as she
was then, or as she was when she came
there. They wanted to s_e{see?} her as she came,
So the Women fixed her up in the same
duds he had on{an!}, an old wornout mans
shirt with{witte!} only sleve{?}, a dress made{maid!}
of two old oat bags sewn{sewned!} together{togather!},
a pair of stockings without any feet
and a pair of worn mens shoes with
out laisings/lassings{lacings?}, she had no underclothing,
{new paragraph?}
Mattie Woods is 19 years old, and has
been with the Wheelers three years.
{new paragraph?}
Her parents are dead and she was
obtained{abtained!} through a New York agency{ggency!}
from the south.
For the last three weeks she has been
obliged{obiged!} to sleep in the garrett without
bed or clothin of any account, and on
New Years night when the thermometer{themometer!}
was 20 degrees below zero she froze{frove!} her
hands. She has not been{ben!} allowed to go
out of doors except to do errands about the
farm.
Mr. Gillette notifed State agent Thrall{?}
of the Connecticut Humane society
and he came here this morning and
and{written twice} warrants{warrents!} were sworn out for the
arrest of the Wheelers, charging them
with assault and cruelty{creuelty!}.
{new paragraph?}
Worked 7 1/2 hr Payne paid me 7.00
{note in margin of text:
1.50}
01\15\1899 (Sunday)
Went to th Chapel to day the Rev
Mr. Hannon{?} of the first M.E. Church
preached.
01\16\{1899} (Monday)
This day worked for _iles{Miles!} Payne on the
mountain painting his shop. 6 hr
{note in margin of text:
1.20}
01\17\{1899} (Tuesday)
Fine weather today.
Worked for Miles Payne painting his shop
7 1/2 hr
{note in margin of text}
1.50}
01\18\{1899} (Wednesday)
This morning the weather was clear and
old, most of the ground is bare, but in
some places ___{the?} remnants of old drifts
remain.
After doing the chores, (did not get up
till 7 o'clock) hitched up and started
for prospect to attend the trial of
Mr. Grant Wheeler and wife
defendant{defendent!}, and Mattie Wood
a colored girl 19 years of age Plaintiff
It was tried in the Town hall under
the Church, court{cort!} was called at 10.30.
Justice Anderson, of this city presided
and Judge Cowell _as{was?} for Mattie
and Judge Lowe for the defendant{defendent!}.
The charge was Cruelty and assault,
The case was brought by William Gillette
agent for the Connecticut humane society.
The witnesses for the state were, Mr.
and Mrs. John Marss{?}, Mr. George
Talmage Mr. Minor Blackman, Mr.
and Mrs. David B. Hotchkiss, Mr.
George Mass, Mr. Moses{Mases!} Chandler, Mr.
William Gillette.
Most of the witnesses tried to evade
the direct facts as they knew them,
on account of neighborly relations,
but all testified facts showing that
Mattie Woods was cruelly treated
by Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler.
When Mattie Wood took the stand
she recited a tale{tail!} the most harrowing
of anything I could imagine for
a country like this.
She had worked for the Wheelers
three years coming there April 1st{?}
1896{?}, came from 8 miles west of
Lynchburgh Va, worked 3 months
to pay for her car fare here and
then made an arrangement{arraingment!} with
Mrs. Wheeler by which she was to receive{recive!}
6 dollars a month after,
{new paragraph?}
The next spring as sh_{she!} water some little
chickens in a pan ___{one?} got in and was
drowned, for which she was horsewhippe_{horsewhipped?}
by Mr. Wheeler, afterward one{ane!} duck was
drowned in the same manner for which
she received{recived!} another horsewhipping.
The next Christmas day she was put
to digging a path from the house to
the road, and her hands getting very
cold she went into the house to war_{warm?}
them, for which she was struck with
a stick of wood and kiced{kicked?} out doors
again by Mr. Wheeler.
At another time she was bringing
in wood from the pile and putting
it into the barrel back of the stove
where she happened to upset a pa_{pan?}
of dough that was on a swing
shelf back of the stove, for which
she was struck with a stick of wood
by Mrs. Wheeler and cut upon the
head, which made her scream, and
Mr. Wheeler tied a towel over her
mouth for a gag.
Several times when she was left
alone in the house, Mrs. Wheeler locked{?}
her in the kitchen, tied the outside door
on the outside with a rope and locked
the door leading to the diningroom
with a key, nailed the windows down
and sprinkled flour{flower!} on the window
sills and tops to see if she disturbed
them{theme?}.
She ran away and went to town
but Mr. Wheeler came after her and
promised to pay her what was due
and a few days after gave her $8.00
but before night borrowed{barrowed!} it back
again, and in fact has never given
her any money since.
{new paragraph?}
Since she has been there she has had
$6.00{$16.00?} cash 1 dress which cost 1.00 one{ane!}
that cost 1.16 and Mrs. Wheeler{wheeler!} charged
1.00 each for making one pair of shoes
which cost{cast!} 1.00 one{ane!} pair which cost
1.50, one pair of stockings which cost
12 cts, one pair mittens which cost .25
two rappers{?}, and t__{two?} hats, the price of
which I have forgotten, and day before
yesterday Mr. Wheeler went to
Mr. Hotchkiss and force_{forced?} her to take
$15.50 and give him a rec_pt{receipt? recipt?} in full for
all wages due her.
At one time Mrs. Wheeler went to
Waterbury and l___{word is smudged} Mattie ironing and
when she returned said that she had
not{note!} done the ironing good and took
the teakettle{teakittle!} of boiling water from the
stove and poured{pored!} some of it _pon{upon?} her
bare feet.
At another time when she had been
up to George Talmages house and returned
Mr. Wheeler s_apped{snapped?} a revolver in
her fact to frighten her.
At another time she was sent up stairs
and Mr. Wheeler wne tup with the oxwhip
and whipped her till the blood flowed
freely.
As she was paring{pairing!} potatoes Mrs.
Wheeler said she was not paring{pairing!}
them thin enough and taking the
butcher knife from the table struck
at her, she raised her hand in
defense{defence!} and her finger met the
knife which cut a piece out of her
little finger, which was still sore
{new paragraph?}
Mrs. Wheeler even denied{denighed!} her the
privilege of winding a rag about
it.
She said that she had been whipped
5 times with the horse whip and three times
ith an ox whip.
She was allowed the food from
he same table that the family ate
for a spell at first after her food
was of a courser{corser!} kind and after
a time she was given course{corse!} meal
wetted{?} up in a little pail with water
and sent out into the back entry
to eat it.
At one time she asked for salt
and Mrs. Wheeler told her that they
only salted their cattle once a week
{new paragraph?}
Another, she was eating and Mrs.
Wheeler called her little girl and told her to see
the animal eat.
_ast{Last?} Christman The Wheelers has company
to dinner and had a bountiful supply of
vituals, and they gave her a little pail
full of oat meal wet up with water and
sent her up stairs __{to?} eat it. The meal
had been kept a long time and the rats
had nested in it, and it was so full of
rat leavings that she could only eat
about two spoonfuls{stoonfulls!}.
As she was washing a pan of turnip par____{parings?}
stood on{an!} a shelf in reach,{,?} and she reached
to get some to eat when Mr. Wheeler who
was coming in with an armful{armfull!} of
wood beat her over the head with a
stick of appletree.
She has been s_ut{shut?} _n{in?} the garrett
8 times all night since Christmas
{new paragraph?}
Mr. Wheeler taking her clothes from
her and giving her a_{an?} old lettered{lettered?} blue
skirt, there was _{a?} coff__{coffin?} in the garrett
but no bed an_{and?} ___{word smudged} old army overco_t
{overcost? overcoat?}
that was ther_{there? word smudged} which she used
Was taken from her, several nights
the thermometer{themometer!} was below zero,
and she froze her feet and fingers
in consciquence{consequence?}, which{whch!} are now
swollen and peeling{pealing!}.
For over an hour she told her story
on{an!} the direct examination,
and for an hour and one half
she withstood the most rigid cross
examination that I ever heard
and Judge Loure{?} failed to s_ake{shake?}
her testimony in the l_ast{least?}
It corresponded{carrosponded!} with the testimony{testomy!}
of the witnesses exactly.
The Wheelers live at Gilletts
Corner and ar_{are?} I should judge{Judg!judg!} about
30 years of age, they have one child
a little girl
They were bou_d{bound?} over to the
next turn of the Superior cort{court?}
under b_nds{bonds? bands?} of $1400.00 each, which
as furnished by, Byran Mass.
and Mr. Hunter of Naugatuck.
01\19\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked to day for Miles Payne pa__ting{painting? paniting!}
his shop and putting supports under the
floors. 5 1/2 hr
Mary and I went to the Grange
tonight.
{Note in margin on text:
1.10
_ll{all?} 10.90
_er{?} 7 00
________
3 90}
{the above note is difficult to read}
01\20\{1899} (Friday)
Worked 5 hr to day for Miles Payne
and finished painting his shop.
{new paragraph?}
The balance due was $4.90 he paid me
3.00 which left a balance of 1.90 now
due me. Wm Purdy paid me 5.00
{Note in margin of text:
1.00}
01\21\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked about home all day, the weather
fine. Drew 6 loads of wood from the
shop.
01\22\{1899} (Sunday)
Weather warm and nice, went to the
Chapel this afternoon, Dr. Davenport
preached.
01\23\{1899} (Monday)
The weather to day has been warm and
nice, worked about home. This morning_{morning? mornings?}
run the washing machine and then
blasted out rocks.
Went this evening and saw{sow!} Henry
Buckingham about getting work
at Rogers Bros factory.
{new paragraph?}
Then to Mr. Tuckers place and put
two{tuo?} bolts on doors, visited with Chas
Cass and family, and then came home.
01\24\{1899} (Tuesday)
The weather has been warm and
fair this forenoon, but it rained
this afternoon and harder in the
evening. Worked blasting rocks
this forenoon and putting an{?}
automatic feed on my drilling machin_{machine?}
this afternoon.
{new paragraph?}
Miss Minnie Norton the school
teacher, who is daughter to the late
Rufus Norton of Wolcott{Woolcott!} came and
staid here tonight.
01\25\{1899} (Wednesday) {Date written as 01\24\{1899} (Wednesday)}
During the Night there was a severe thunder{thruder!}
shower. The Lightning{Lightening!} was very sharp
and the thunder very loud and continued
a long{lang!} time
The Church in Prospect was struck and
all shattered so that it is not safe to go
into, some{same!} say that __{text smudged} might just as well
have been burned.
Worked about home blasting rocks most
of the day.
Went to Rogere Bros a little after six
o closk{o ctock!} to see Henry Buckingham about a
job.
Went to the Chapel to the Entertainment
which was furnished by the young ladies
They realized $6.00
01\26\{1899} (Thursday)
Fine day, split{splite?} rocks{word smudged} most of the time
Went to the Grange this evening.
{new paragrapoh?}
Mary paid our yearly dues $4.00
{new paragraph?}
They had a debate, the question was,
Resolved{"!}, that {"!} animals are of more use
to mankind than metal, John Todd,
and Willie Garrigus were on the
affirmative{affermative!} side and Joe Hughey{Hugbey?}
and myself on the negative,
The negative beat by 5 point to two.
01\27\{1899} (Friday)
This morning the weather was fine
but before night it came off cold
Went to Mr. Harry Garrigus and
welded a set of inch and one eight{eighth?}
axles{axlis!} on his carriage.
01\28\{1899} (Saturday)
Went to Mr. Garrigus and worked
till afternoon, then worked on _{a?} pattern
for my drilling machine till six
o clock, when Mr. Worden came and I
went to town with him to see about
getting entertainers fo_{for? faf!} the Chapel{?}
Fair. Went first to Mr. John Lines
to see if we could ges{?} his orchestra{archestra?},
He seemed very willing himself{himsilf!} and
thought that the others would
come, Went next to see Dr. Parry and he told
us of a Mandolin{Mandilin!} club composed of young
la_ies{ladies?} that belonged to his church, that he
would see for us, from thence we went to
Dr. Davdenports, and he told us of the
Lourelli_{Lourellie? Lourellis?} Banjoe{Banjo?} club of young ladies
hich he thought we might get, Then
Went back to Field Street to see Mrs.
Orsgood{?} to see if we could get her
to help get a quartet{quartette!}, but she was
out, so we went to see Dr. Graves who
is Post{?} Surgeon here{word smudged},{,?} to get exempted
from Military tax, but he was not
i_{in?}. So we went to P.B. Nortons
livery stable, were Mr. Worden left
he team and drove home very fast
the horse being a_{an? word smudged} extra fast one.
01\29\{1899} (Sunday)
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
Rev. Dr. Anderson of the first Congregational{?}
Church preach__{preached? word smudged} Weather to day
has been very c___{cold? word smudged},{,?} did not thaw any.
01\30\1899 (Monday)
Very Cold this morning got up at
seven, Went and carried Clyde to
school at the Crosby Grammer
school, and then went to Dr. F.G.
Graves and had him examine me in
regard to Military disability, which
he did, and gave a certificate which
was as follows
Waterbury Conn Jan 30th{?} 1899
To the Selectmen of the Town of Waterbury,
I certify that I have examined
Charles S. Miller. of Waterbury and do hereby{here-by?}
exempt him from Military duty
under standard of disability prescribed
by the Surgeon{Surgean!} General. His disability
is double inguine hernia & deformed
an_le{ankle?} and is permanent.
F G Graves
Post Surgeon New Haven County.
{new paragraph?}
Irving, Margaret, or Ruth, did not go
to school, owing to their teachers going
visiting schools, and Irving and I
ran the washing machine, after which
we repaired George Cass's bugg_{buggy?}, and
then went to my s___{shop?} and brought home a
load of truck from out of the garrett.
{new paragraph?}
After supper Clyde, Irving, Margaret and
Ruth{?} went skating __{on? word smudged} Frosts pont{?}, staid
till 9.30 oclock, Clyde went down to
Fathers to stay tonight.
01\31\{1899} (Tuesday)
Very Cold all day did not thaw, snowed
a little this morning about an inch fell.
{new paragraph?}
Went to see Miles payne this afternoon
and we went and looked over the Thomas
Payne place which they are going to have
fixed up. Saw Wm Purdy about his barn
which he is thinking of having painted.
Very cold this evening.
Miles Paynes paid me 2.00 which pays me
up in full to date
02\01\{1899} (Wednesday)
Weather cold did not thaw about an
inch of snow fell during the night.
{new paragraph?}
Wo_ked{Worked?} about home and drew stuff from
the shop all day. Mary went soliciting
about East Farms for the Chapel Fair.
02\02\{1899} (Thursday) {recprded as 02\03\{1899} (Thursday)!}
Weather to day a little warmer.
Staid about home all the forenoon.
Drew a load of shafting, pulleys, and
iron, from my shop and stored them in
the garrett{garrelt!} and wood house this afternoon
02\03\{1899} (Friday) {recorded as 02\04\{1899} (Friday)!}
Got up at 5.30 Weather warmer so
that it thawed the forenoon, turned
into rain and sleet about noon, this
evening it is a genuine{genuwine!} ice storm as
very slipery{slippery?}.
Went to Henry Buckinghams this
morning got there at 6.30 waited till near
seven and went to Rogers Bros shopo{shops?} to
see James Taben{?} the foreman{formean!} about getting
work, He is to let me know in a few
days whether{wheather!} they want me or not.
Came{Caure!} home, had breakfast after
which Pierpont, Ray and myself went
to my sho_{shop?} and brought home a
load of various articles, this forenoon
{new paragraph?}
Went again this afternoon and swept
out the lower floor, and brought another
load home.
02\04\{1899} (Saturday)
This morning everything was coated with
ice, and it was very slipery{slippery?} so it was
hard to get about, it being not very cold
it thawed so a team that was not very
shar_{sharp?} could be driven about 11 oclock/o'clock{?},
about 9.30{?} Robert Hotchkiss came and
we butchere our cow, which took till
one o clock. He stayed{slayed!} to dinner, which
as boiled cabbage{cabbaeg!}, potatoes, and
cottage pudding, Agnes Able came
while we were at dinn_r{dinner? word smudged}, to have
Irving drive her about the neighborhood{nighborhood/nighbarhood!}
in the bu__y{buggy? word smudged} to solicit{slicit!} for
the coming Chape__{Chapel? word smudged} Fair.
{Note in margin of text:
Ruth & I remember
this.
He told Civil War
stories.}
During the afternoon Clyde and
I went to my shop and finished
sweeping it out __cept{except? word smudged} the Basement{Basment!}
floor{floar!}.
After which I went to visit James
Porter who has not been out for
a month {mark in text or punctuation?} or since his shoulder was
hurt, then went down to see
Father and mother, staid till seven
then home.
Wm Purdy paid me six dollars to day.
02\05\1899 (Sunday)
Snowed quite hard till about 5 o'clock.
Went to the Chapel, M_{Mr.?} Parry preached
there was collected 1.24
From the Chapel Mary and I went
to Mrs. Thaedore Munsons{?} to get information
to have published in the
Waterbury American tomorrow.
Then we stoped at John Franches
to see where I could find Murry
Beeby, as I wanted to get word to him
about the Chapel fair, then to Hiran{?}
Able to see about getting the crash{cash?} to
cover the Chapel carpet, then home.
02\06\{1899} (Monday)
This day the weather has been cloudy{clowdy!} but
rather warm, about 8 o clock to night it began{bgan!}
snowing.
Ran the washing{wahng!} machine for Mary till
9 o clock. Then hitched up old jack into
the business wagon and drove to
the American Office and had
an Advertisement put in the paper
and left a notice to be printed about the{"about the" is smudged}
Chapel fair. From thence went to the
Selectmens Office{?} at the City hall and
had Mr. Perry Morris file a certificat{cirtificate!}
which the Post{Past?} Examining Surgeon had
given me exempting me from Military
tax on{an!} account of disability{disibility!}. Thence
to Chancy Ceeleys{?} Office on South
Willow Street to see about getten{getting?} the
carpet cover for the Chapel, he was not
in but I ws told to go to his house No
85{?} Bishop Street at noon and I would
find him, walked to my team which
was hitched on{an!} South Elm Street, and
then drove through North Elm Street
and up North Main to Ed Holdens{?}
store where I waited to see him when
he came at noon, after 12 o clock h_{he?}
came, and then I drove to Mr. Ceeleys
house, he told me to meet him in
front of D B{?} Wilsons, store on East
Main STreet at quarter past one{ane!},
I was there and he came driving
past very fast, di_{did?} not see me.
I pursued{purseweed!} on foot and caught{cought!}
him at Cannon and Websters{?}
drug store on Bank STreet where he
had stoped, he said that he had
forgotten me, but would be back
to Wilsons store in six minutes,
he was there, and we went up in
Mechanics hall and got the crash
carpet cover, and I brought it home.
After dinner went to Mrs. Munson_{Munsons?}
to get the key to the Chapel, but
she was away, then went{wen!} to Mr.
Harry Garrigus to see about having
Wilkie{Willie?} decorate the Chapel tomorrow{tomarrays!}
evening with his bunting{?} and flags.
{new paragraph?}
Then went to see George Cass at
the Mill Plain Ice Co.{. or ,?} and home
and to supper Mr. Worden called
and told me{?} that another banjo{banjoe!}
club was coming to play at the
Chapel. Mr. Newman is
coming I told him, and he told me
to have him be at 185{?} Grand Street
at 7 o clock Thursday evening to
ride out on the bus.
Went to the Chapel adn Hiran Able{?}
Maruce{Maurice?} Alcott clyde and irving and
Wernon Able put the crash down.
Mr. La Stone and Mr. Maton
rented{?} my wagon shop today{to day?} for
15 dollars per month, to date from
the 15 of Feb.
{Note in margin of text:
Rented
Shope.{. or -?}}
There was a severe battle fought{-?}
at the Phillipines{Phillipenes!} Island Sunday_{?}
it is reported in which {next few words are smudged} our lo__{loss?} is
put at _75{175?} men.
The Government has{hs!} given to the town of
Cornwall one 8 in howitzer and 140 shells to
be placed on or near the grave of Maj Gen
John Sedgwick at Cornwall Hollow{?}.
{new paragraph?}
The Hon T.S. Gold{?}. M H Sedgwick and C L
Gold of Cornwall and Mr. Stoeckel{?} of Norfolk
have charge of the Memorial matter
{Note in margin of text:
Gen
Sedgwicks
Memorial}
02\07\{1899} (Tuesday)
Snowed all day, was up to Chapel
most of the day, also in the evening,
putting up booths etc. for the fair.
Began taking milk of Wilson Pierpont.
{Note in margin of text;
Milk}
02\08\{1899} (Wednesday)
Snowed till about _{5?} O'clock this
afternoon when it cleared off cold.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
and helped sister Caro, Bertha French
and Agniss{Agnes?} Able put up and trim
their booths for the fair.
Rob Hotchkiss came and cut up
our beef.
02\09\{1899} (Thursday)
The weather to day{to days!} was very Cold
{new paragraph?}
Choped wood{wodd!} this forenoon, and
sent to the Chapel after dinner
and started the fires up, after which
I put _p{up?} the trimmings{trimings!?}, flags,
bunting, evergreens etc.
The fair in the evening was a
success, the attendance{attendence!} large, considering
the weather, had to stay and lock up
aft__{after? text smudged} the rest had gone home and
it was twelve o'clock before I got home.
_{I?} froze one ear in going home,
The{Then?} the thermometer{themometer!} was 12 degrees
below zero when I went to bed.
{new paragraph?}
The Conecticut F______{Farmers? word smudged} Board of
Agriculture
held an Institute meeting at Grange
Hall this day, the attendance was small.
02\10\{1899} (Friday)
The thermometer{themometer!} stood at 12 below zero
this morning at 7 o'clock when I got up
I immediately wrote{:?} the following
notice to be sent to the daily American
to be published this evening
There was a good attendance at the
fair at Mill Plain Chapel last evening,
notwithstanding the cold weather.
{new paragraph?}
The Chapel was handsomely{handsomly!} decorated{decarated!}
with flags bunting and evergreens.
{new paragraph?}
The various booths for the sale of
aprons, fancy work, ice cream, cake,
and other articles were tastefully
arranged and well patronized
The supper was an excellent one,
including chicken, cold meats, cake
etc. The entertainment was a very
pleasing one, of a musical nature,
and the program was as follows,
Selection by Young Ladies Uterpe
club of the first Baptist Church; Piano
solo Miss Conin; mandolin solo, Mr.
Burrett accompanied by Miss Burrett;
song Mr. Newman; mandolin
selection Misses Crnonin, accompanied
by Miss Garrity, and Mr. Derwin{?},
Uterpe Club, "Uncle Sams patrol," all
were warmly applauded and responded
to encores. A good time is promised
to all tonight. Free busses will run
to chapel.
After breakfast of Porterhouse{Parterhouse!} steak
choped fire wood, till noon; after dinner
went to the Chapel and started the fires,
and poped corn till evening ate supper
in the Chapel, there was a goot attendance{word smudged}
although the weather was very cold.
{new paragraph?}
Altogether{Altogather!} the Chapel realised about $105.00
from the fair.
Came home at 12 o'clock the thermometer{themometer!}
standing 10 degrees below zero.
Earnest{Ernest?} Robinson notified the Chapel
committee that he should not carry{cary!}
the ministers from town to the Chapel
after next Sunday.
02\11\1899 (Saturday)
Got up at seven o'clock the weather very
cold 10 below zero, at many places it was
much lower, at Mr. Spen_ers{Spencers? word smudged} it was 18
below{bllow!}
at 8.30 went to the Chapel and at work taking
down the booths and bu-ting{bunting? word smudged} etc,
after{apter!} _{a?, can't read word, is word crossed out?}
little time Cara came, Miss Tatem the school
teacher came a little --ter{later? word smudged}, then Mrs. Munson
and Bertha Franch, _da{Ida?} Spender{?} and
Agness Able came later, Clyde and Wernam
Able carried the goods home with the team,
and we had the Chapel cleaned and things
in place at three oclock.
While I was there yesterday Young Mr.
Kenworthy from Benedict & Burnhams
came to see if I would go there monday to
work forging, in the place of Wallace
Burgess who is sick.
It snowed all day.
02\12\1899 (Sunday)
Very cold all day thermometer{themometer!} was 1 below
this morning, snowed most of the day
this evening it is 4 below,
{new paragraph?}
Went to the Chapel there were 18 person{persons?}
there, Mr. Rafter{?} of Waterville preached.
02\13\1899 (Monday)
When I got up this morning ot quarter
past five it was still snowing and
the thermometer{themometer!} stood at 4 above zero.
Ate breakfast of stewed beef potatoes etc
and Clyde and I started for Benedict
and Burnhams shop, via silver street
and Washington street, got there at 25
minutes to seven, waited till Mr. Kenworthy
came, and he took{tooke!} me to the
machine shop and introduced to a
Mr. Byers who took me to the blacksmith
shop and introduced me to
Mr. Kelly who set{sit?} me at work
first making a lot of scratching
machine tools then{thin?} at various
other repair jobs, at noon went
to Uncle Goldsmiths on Clay Street and
had dinenr of boiled ham, potatoes, turnips,
pie, crullers{?}, and coffee, at six o'clock
found Clyde and Irving waiting for me
at the corner of Washington Street with
the horse sled.{;!} It had snowed hard all day
and when we came to start home it
snowed so hard and the wind blew se{so?}
that we could not see, owing to the snow
plastering ou{on?} our faces so that we
could not see through it.
{Note in margin of text:
Went to
Work at
Benedict
& Burnhams{Birnhams!}
We could not drive anythere{anywhere?} only
in the car tracks as the snow was so
deep on the sides of the road.
{new paragraph?}
On the who-le{whole? word smudged} it was the
worst storm I have seen since the
great storm of 1888.
02\14\{1899} (Tuesday)
This morning the snow lay on the
ground about two and one half feet deep.
Temperature{Tempature!} 6 above zero.
Expected to go to work on the trolley
cars and drove to the end of the
at Silver Street, having to break
our own path as it had drifted much
during the night, but the cars were
not running nor did they get ru__ing{running? word difficult to read}
till about 4 O clock P.M.
Returned home and went ot work
breaking out the Doblitte{Doolittle?} road with
the help of Mr. Andrews who helped
4 hr Mr. Able who worked 4 hr, Mr. Garrigus
2{?}, Clyd{Clyde?} 5 hr and Myself 5 hr some of it
we had{?} to dig out 5 times as the high
win_{wind?} filled it up.
at noon, went to the trolley line to go to
the shop, but the cars were not running{word hard to read}
02\15\{1899} (Wednesday)
I never kew of but one morning
that was as cold as this, the thermometer{themometer!}
went down to 24 degrees
below zero, but the weather has
been warmer during the day
than it has been before for
several days. Expected to take
the cars at Silver STreet to go to the
shop but they were not running so
I walked.
Sm Purdy Paid Clyde 4.00 which he
Clyde went after, he also got my tool
chest at Miles Paynes.
02\16\1899 (Thursday)
Got up a little after 5 o'clock, went to
the end of the Trolley track on the
pung{?} with Clyde but the car had
just left so I stayed on the sled to
Spensers store where Clyde was
going after fe_d{feed?}, then walked ___{the?}
rest of the way.
Worked at forging all day, ate my
dinner in the shop.
Came home on the trolley cars
there was a great crowd on the cars
and the conductor did not collect
my fare. Came ____{ucor?} getting stuck
several times on account of the
snow and ice on the track.
Sister Iva got on at the corner of
Mill Street, when we got to the
end of the line at Silver street we
found Clyde waiting with the
sleigh and we rode home.
Mary went tot eh Grange, this
evening. Wrote to Hon T S Gold{?} about attending
the dedication of Gen Sedgwicks memorial dedication at Cornwall{?}.
02\17\1899 (Friday)
Drove to work this morning via Silver
street and Washington.
Weather a little foggy. Worked forging
all day. Clyde met me on Washington
Street and we drove home, it
being very bad traveling{troveling!} on account
of the snow drifts.
02\18\{1899} (Satruday)
Weather this morning{,?} was warm
and nice, Clyd{Clyde?} drove the horse to
carry{cary!} me to work. Mr. Kenworthy
told me to day that they would give
me three dollars a day as that was
what I asked, I think it very good pay
for a new beginner in a new place.
The factory closed at 5.30 and I started
up Washington street to meet Clyde
I was obliged to walk very slow on account
of being very lame, met Clyde at
the corner of Baldwing{Boldwin!} street, and we
went to Irving black on East main street
and left the crash which we had to cover
the carpet at the Chapel fair.
{new paragraph?}
Then went to Hemingways fish market
and Clyde bought 1 quart of oysters
and three pounds of oyster crackers,
From thence to heaters adn bought
4 lbs soda cracks at 8 cts per pound,
then home, and very wet, it raining
hard all of the time.
02\19\{1899} (Sunday)
Got up this morning at 8 o'clock put two
spokes in my buggy wheel, at_{ate?} breakfast
of stewed oysters, after which I went
to East Farms{Farmes!} to see Mr. Warden about
meeting the minsiter at the end of the
trolley line, from thence I went to mr.
Burgers at Gilletts corner in Prospect, but
he had gone to Cheshire to see Dr. meyers
so came home. Got ready and went to
the Chapel and heard Mr. Howell preach
there was collected 1.41
The weather to day has been very warm
the snow has melted and softened.
02\20\{1899} (Monday)
The weather this day has been fine.
Went to the shop and worked very hard all day
This evening went to see mr. Edwin Welton who
holds a mortgage{morgage!} of 870.00{?} dollars with{winth!}
interest{-?}
that amounts to over 1000.00 altogether{altogather?}, agreed
to pay him the rent money, then went to
see Mr. J. G. Janes{Jmaes?} about insuring it, He will
insure{inshure?} it got 1000.00 for a premuim of 27.50{?}
Came home very hungry and tired.
02\21\{1899} (Tuesday)
Got up at 20 minutes past five, the boys and
I got the barn chores before six, had breakfast
and got started for the shop at 6.15 went
down the old Cheshire road to Silver Street
through Silver Street to Dublin, out Dublin
to Washington through Washington to
South Mains{?} where I go_{got?} out of the sleigh
and irving drove home, _nd{and?} I went into
the shop after leaving my check at the
gate my check is __mber{number? word smudged} 830
The first work I did was to dress over
some scratchers, for the overalling{?} machines,
then dress over 36 hand scratchers
Then temper 60 machine scratchers,
then make and temper a number of
machinists{machinests!} tools, then repair two
punch bars for the casting,
then hardened some hand scratchersand up a muffle rod for the
Seamless{?}
tube shop.
Came home at six, had supper and
went to see Robert Hotchkiss about salting{solting!}
down our beef, then ____{home?} and wrote.
02\22\{1899} (Wednesday)
Weather fine and warm snow softened
to the bottom and troveling{?} very hard.
Went tot eh shop worked all day
after six went to Mr. Edwin Welton
on L__iden{Leriden?} Street about Insuring my
shop over and about paying the interest
{new paragraph?}
Carried him the Incurance policies{pollicies!}
One of 500.00 on the New Hampshire Company
and one of 500.00 on the _____ _____
Co.
Came hgome and Clyde and I ate supper
together{togather!} a_{as?} the rest of the folks have{word hard to
read}
gone the the {written twice} Chaptel supper.
This is Washingtons birthday, is has
been observed by the schools closing, and
the flying of flags about the City and
many of the public business places
closed.
02\23\{1899} (Thursday)
The weather to day has been very
warm, Worked at Benedict and
Buyrnhams, ten hours, went to
the grange this evening.
02\24\{1899} (Friday)
The weather to day has been a little
cooler, Worked at Benedict _{&?} Burnhams.
02\25\{1899} (Saturday)
The weather to day has been cold the
mercury was 2 above zero, at 6.30 this
morning.
Worked till{tuill!} 5.30 at Benedict and Burnhams.
02\26\{1899} (Sunday)
Got up this morning at 8 o'clock went
to my shop at 9 to meet Mr. Larocque{?}
and Mr. Edide Maston{?} but they
were not there, so went down to
Fathers and had breakfast after which
Mr. Peter R. Larocque{?} came after me
and we went up to the shop and they
bought a lot of plank which came to
11.60 a lot of Wheels 12.00 and a wagon for
4.00, all came to 27.60 also 8 sets of tires
at 1 1/4 cts, they are to pay for it later,
Came home and got ready and went
to Fathers adn got his horse and
carriage and went to the trolley,
and met the Rev. Dr. Davenport{?} and carried
him to the Chapel, where he preached to an
audience of 47 persons it being very stormy
with sleet and rain.
Took the team home and staid at Fathers
till supper was over, and came home, getting
very wet.
02\27\{1899} (Monday)
Got up a little past five o'clock had
breakfast at six and started for work
at twenty minutes past, got to the
shop at at {written twice} 10 minutes to seven, it
rained all of the way.
The water in the Naugatuck river
has been quite high to day and lots of
ice has come{came!} down.
Pierpont took the horse down to
the shop and had it shod,
Clyde came after me tonight.
02\28\{1899} (Tuesday)
This morning the weather was clear
and cool. Went to the shop at the usual
time and worked all day
Received{Recived!} my pay for last weeks
work which amounted to eighteen
dollars, Clyde came after met at
six and we went to see mr. J G Janes{James?}
and paid him the b_lance{balance?} on the
insurance on my shop except fifty
cents which I am to send to him
tomorrow by Clyde, then __{we?} went
to M.J Loggs{?} store and bought a
bag of flower{flour!}, for which we paid
60 cts, then started home.
While coming down Cherry street
we heard the fire alarm bell strike
after which the alarm whistle blew
soon a hack came along the horses
__{on?} a dead run, then _ame{same?} a hose
wagon and we __pt{kept?} along with it
till we came to Tracys black{block?} which
was on fire, we drove up Williams street
and hitched the horse,{or;?} and went through
the back yards __{to?} the rear of the
block, where we had a fine view of
the fire, they had two streams of
water on the East side of it and
two inside, there was one Steamer,
two hose wagons, one hose cart,{or .?} and
a large hook and ladder truck, soon
they had the fire under control, and
we came home.
This is the last day of the month, and
it bids{?} fair to storm tomorrow.
03\01\1899 (Wednesday)
This first day of march has been very
pleasant{plesant!} and warm. Worked all day at
Benedict and Burnhams, Clyd{Clyde?} came
after me this evening with the team,
and we drove home.
George Alexander brought a load of
wood to day
This evening Clyde, Irving, Margaret
and Ruth went to the Chapel
to rehearse{reharse!} for an entertainment
which the young Ladies are to give
03\02\{1899} (Thursday)
The weather to day has been warm
and the snow disappeared very much.
{new paragraph?}
Worked at Benedict _{&?} Burnhams.
{new paragraph?}
This evening Mary and I went to
see Hiram Able to make arrangements
for Young mens Night
at the Chapel, and also to tell him
of his appointment{apointment!} as janitor of
the Chapel.
The Rev. Mr. Holden gave a Stereopitan{?}
entertainment at the Grange
this evening, for which they charged
an admission of 10cts.{. or ,?} The Lecture
was entitled Hawaii.
03\03\{1899} (Friday)
Went to the shop as usual to day
{new paragraph?}
Spent the evening at home and
went to bed at 10 o'clock.
{03\04\1899} (Saturday) {Only "Saturday" was written in the margin
to label the entry}
The weather{wather!} to day has been wet
and the traveling very muddy
{new paragraph}
Charlie Cass went to New York
to St. Lukes hospital{hastital/hostital!} to have a
surgical{sergical!} operation performed{preformed!} in the
shape of removing apendicitis{a pendicitas!}.
His wife Trace accompanied him
We the children and the Ables,
Frenches, Beckwith's, Spenders, and
several others went to the Chapel
to rehearse{reherse!} for an entertainment to
be{he!} given some future time.
03\05\1899 (Sunday)
Did not get up till 9 o'clock, as it was raining
very hard. Spent most of the forenoon read___{reading? ready?}
writing etc. Went this afternoon and saw{sow!}
Morris{Marris!} Burger at Gillettes corners, found
him very sick with inflamation{inflanation!} of the bladder,
He thought that he would be able to
go to work in two or three weeks.
{new paragraph?}
Dr. Parry{?} preached at the Chapel to day
03\06\{1899} (Monday)
Worked at Benedict and Burnhams, 10
hours
03\07\{1899} (Tuesday)
The weather to day has been very
stormy, showed{showered?} hard.
Clyd{Clyde?} Irving, Margaret, and Ruth,
went to the Chapel to rehearse{reherse!} to{lo!}
night but there was no one there.
03\08\{1899} (Wednesday)
Weather to day was cold and
fair. The Ladies Union had a
supper and Entertainment at
the Chapel this evening at which
they cleared something over $7.00
03\09\{1899} (Thursday)
The weather overhead has been
fine to day, but I have not been
up there, on the ground it was
spashy{splashy? slushy?}. Mary has gone to the
Grange. Clyde told me that Thomas
Melbourn has moved to Beacon Falls
and left his place, which is now for sale.
03\10\1899 (Friday)
Worked to day at Benedict and Burnhams,
blacksmithing.
Bought a barrel{barrell!} of flour{flower!} off{of!} Thomas
Kelley for 4.50 to day.
Have worked very hard to day and
as I am not accustomed{accostomed!} to tool-making
and factory blacksmithing, and the
others who I work with take care not
to give me much information in
regard to the work and my health is
not very good, I am weary and tired
tonight.
03\11\{1899} (Saturday)
This evening I went to the Chapel
at the request of Bertha French who
has charge of the entertainment
which is to be given next Tuesday
evening,{,?} (but who is now very sick
in bed), to help preserve order.
03\12\{1899} (Sunday)
Did not get up very early this morning{norning!}.
The weather has been warm
and it has thawed, but very little
snow is left, sent Irving to have
George Cass and Charlie Hotchkiss come
and get ready for the part they were
to take in the Entertainment at the
Chapel Tuesday evening
{new paragraph?}
Charlie Cass had an operation performed{preformed!}
in the shape of his appendicitis{appendicitas!} being
taken out, at St. Lukes Hospital at
New York City.
Went to the Chapel{Chapl!} this afternoon,{or . ?}
But there was no service as the miniter
was not met at the Trolley car.
After Chapel went and saw John
FRench about the Chapel supper which
is to be given next week.
03\13\{1899} (Monday)
The weather to day has been fine, the
pleasantest{plesantest!} this year,{,?} so far. Went to
the shop and worked all day.
{new paragraph?}
Received{Recived!} a letter this evening from
Mr. Tucker who is in New Boston{?}
Mass, which was sent to him from
Gross, Hyde & Shipman, attorneys
at law of hartford, which stated
that they were going to have the
Iinsurance{insurance?} case of the old shear
shop assigned in the Waterbury
Superior Court{Cort!} on the week of the
22nd of this month.
There was a bad smash on the
Highland division of the Consolidated
Rail Road this side of
Towantic{?} station yesterday{ysterday!} morning
in which two men were
killed and several injured,{, or .?} Two
freight trains ran into each
other head on on {written twice? an?} the top of a
80 ft embankment, and many
of the cars rolled __wn{down?} to th_{the?}
foot, and scattered the fr__gh{freight?} about.
The Rail Road{Roaod!} Co hired all
of the Farmers about there to hall{haul!}
the greight back a distance of tow{two?}
miles to a place where it could be
loaded on the cars again.
03\14\{1899} (Tuesday)
The weather today has been very nice
but the mud is deep in some{?} places.
At the factory yesterday we were
told that Maurice Burger was coming
to work next week, it was understood
that I was {text is smudged?} to get through
when he came; ___{text smudged} yesterday I was
told that they wanted me to stay
longer, and they were going to
have three Blacksmiths, i.e.
Charlie Kellie, Maurice Burger, and
myself.
Received{Recived!} my pay at the shop to
day which amounted to $18.00 for last
week
Went to the Chapel this evening
to the Entertainment which was
given by the young ladies, it
was a success every was although
the attendance was not large.
{Note in margin of text:
Chapel}
03\15\1899 (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been stormy
most of the time, rain, hail, and sleet.
{new paragraph?}
Miss Minnie Norton the school teacher
came here{hear? word smudged} and staid over night.
03\16\1899 (Thursday)
The weather to day has been rather
cool, and the traveling muddy.
Went to the Grange this evening, but
was so sleepy that I did not enjoy it
very much.
03\17\{1899} (Friday)
The weather to day has been cold
and the roads very rought.
A school meeting is called in this
Saw Mill Plain district for to
night to take some action against
consolidating all of the school
districts in the town.
I did not attend as I am very
tired and am in need of sleep
To day is St. Patricks day and
is ovserved by the Irish many
of whom work at the factory where
I do, they each wear a sprig of gre__{green?}
or some other green emblem, but they
do not know who St. Patrick{Patric!} was only
that he was a great man who drove
all the reptiles from Ireland.
03\18\1899 (Saturday)
The weather has been very stormy,
Sleet, and rain.
This evening Clyde, Irving, Charlie
Hotchkiss and myself{-?} went to Mr.
Thoedor Munsons{?} and got a cook
stove and put it in the cellar of
the Chapel to __{be?} used at the supper
to be given next{?} Wednesday evening,
{new paragraph?}
It rained very h___{hard?} and we did not
get home till 9.30 o clock.
03\19\{1899} (Sunday)
Mr. Bassett preached at Mill
plain Chapel this afternoon.
03\20\{1899} (Monday)
Worked to day at Benedict and
Burnhams.
This evening Charlie Hotchkiss, Clyde
and I went to mrs. Munsons and
got her stove and put it up in the
Chapel cellar{cellear!}, to be used next
Wednesday evening.
03\21\1899 (Tuesday)
When I cam home from the shope
this evening, we Clyde and I; went
round by Mill Plain and finished{f_nisshed!}
setting up the stove in teh Chapel.
After which we came home __d{and?}
after supper, Charlie Hotchkiss and
George Cass came and we choped
hask{?} for the supper at the Chapel
tomorrow evening.
A Letter came tonight from
Gross Hyde and Shipman{?}, Attorneys
in hartford notifying me to
appear at the Superior court{cort!} to
morrow{tommorrow?} morning at 10' o'clock{o clock?} as
a witness at the trial of the{thi?}
Orient Insurance Co against
Barnard _{&?} Saw.
03\22\{1899} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the shop
and shou_d{showed?} Mr. Byers{.?} the letter
which I received{recived!} from _ross{Gross?}, Hyde
and Shipman, and he told me
that I could stay out, I came home
and got ready and Irving drove
the horse{.?} and carried C_yde{Clyde?} and
I _own{down?} to Fathers and from there
we walked in e rain to the trolley
car and went{wen!} to the center, I went
an{and?} bought{baught!} a pair of rubbers for
which I paid 60 cts then went and
had my _air{hair?} cut and shaved for
which I paid .35 cts then to the
Court{Cort!} house and the trial{tryal!} commenced{comenced!}
I staid all day, and as they
did not hear from Mr. Brainard,
Mr. Hyde wanted me to go to
Southington{Southingston?} and find him, Mr.
Friller{?} gave me $10.00 and told me
get him, I found Will Gillette and he
said that he would go with me. We
came out on the trolley car, and I went
to the Chapel and got my supper, and
Will went to Father's and got his, he
then called for me at the Chapel and
we started for Southington with Father{Father's?}
horse. First we went to Henry Newell{Newells?}
in Marion and he told us that
Wall Dickerman could tell us where
we could find Mr. Brainard, we
stopped at Wall Dickermans and
he told u_{us?} that we would find him
at South end. We then went there and
found that he is living with a
Family named Ruande{?} on Elm{Elim?}
Stree{Street?} in Meriden We then drove
to to {written twice} Stillmans corner and Will
took the trolley there and I kept
on towards Meriden with the
team,{,/} with the horse on a walk,
Will reached Meriden and found
Mr. Brainard and summonds
him to appear in court{cort!} in the
morning, he then started back on
the trolley and met me on West
Main Stree{Street!} in Meriden, we then
started for home w_ich{which?} we reached
at 2 o'clock A.M. wet and cold
it having rain__{rained?} most of the
way. The ground was covered
with three inches of ice snow
and at the to_{top?} of the Southington
Mountain the trees{treees!} were laying,
across the road broken and bent
down with the weight of ice on
them.
03\23\{1899} (Thursday)
Did not get up this morning till
eight o'clock,{, or ;} took the measurements
of many of the timbers and lumber
that was in the Old Shear Shop
which was destroyed by fire on
the evening of Oct _9{19?} 1896, and
which timbers{?} and burnt stuff
are now in my possession.
Had breakfast adn started for town
at quarter to nine, stopped at my
shop and left a lease of the premises
to Mr. Laroque and Mayton for
five years, the Lease was
dated
Feb 15th 1899 and expires Feb 15
1904. Then went and took the trolley
car at Wilver Street, after reaching
town went to Jones and Morgan{?}
and bought an umbrella of cousin
Charlie Phillips for which I paid
$1.18 then went to the Court{Cort!} House
on Lenenworth Street which I
reached at 10 O'clock, at which time
the court{cort!} opened Mr. George E Judd
was the first witness. He was
followed I think by Mr. Henry. C.{?}
Robinson of New York, who in
turn gave his place to Han{Hon?} Frederick
Kingsbury, then Mr. Thomas Porter
of New York was called, then
Mr. Robinson was recalled{recolled!}, after
which it was dinner time and
Mr. Tucker, Mr. Brainard, and myself
went to the Franklin House and had
dinner, after which we returned to
the court and during the afternoon
the testimony of Mr. Tracy and
Mr. Robinson was taken, after which
the court{cort!} adjourned{ajourned!} at 5 o'clock till next
Thursday at 10 o'clock.
Mr. Shipman gave me the plans and
elevations of the old shear shop and I took
them to Mr. Watson Hurlburt and ___t{left?}
them there for him to figure an estimate
of whate a building like the old one
would cost.
03\24\{1899} (Friday)
This morning went to work at Benedict
and Burnhams. Mr. Burger
whose{whoes!} place I am filling called to day
and said that he __{is?} coming to work
next monday.
03\25\{1899} (Saturday)
The weather this morning was very
nice, but it soone clouded{clowded!} in and{,?}
tonight it began snowing.
Charlie Hotchkiss, Clyde, Irving,
Frank, and myself went to the Chape{Chapel?}
and took down Mrs. Munsons stove
and carried it home and set it up.
{new paragraph?}
Came home and ate supper after
which Mary and I went to see
Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, about the
children, whom they say are troubeling
their children, and who mr.
Andrews has complained to the humane
society.
03\26\{1899} (Sunday)
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
{new paragraph?}
Mr. Davenport preached, I took Fathers
team and met him at the trolley car
and carried him to the Chapell{Chapll!} and
after service home.
Mr. Frederick Upson{?} of Woodtick, died
to day.
03\27\{1899} (Monday)
Weather to day has been cool and
traveling very muddy.
Worked at Benedicts _(&?} Burnhams on
an other fire, as Mr. Burger came
back to work.
This evening Mr. Hoggett{?} called
and left a petition a_ainst{against?} consolidating{consolodating!}
all of the school districts
in the town, for me to sign and
deliver to Wilson Pierpont to be
given to Milan Northrop.
Mr. Andrews borrowed my horse
sled this evening.
Mr. Coleman called on me to
night with a friend and hinted
that he would _ike{like?} to stay over
night, but it was not very convenient
to kee{keep?} him, he at one
time lived on the Old Prospect
road, but now lives in Northborupton{?}
Mass.
03\28\1899 (Tuesday)
It has rained almost all day and to
night the wind blows hard. Received{Recived!} my
Pay at Benedict & Burnhams $12.00 for 4 days
03\29\{1899} (Wednesday)
Rained very hard last night. The
Naugatuck river has been rising all day.
{new paragraph?}
Worked at Benedict and Burnhams,
Mr. Byers told me that they would like
me to stay and work next week.
03\30\{1899} (Thursday)
This morning I took the trolley car
and went to see Mr. Hurlburt at
Mattatuck Street, aabout the estimate
of the cost of the "Old Shear Shop." {. or ,?}
he said that it would cost 10,500{?}
dollars without the foundations,
Mr. Tracy said it would cost $13,000
with foundation, Mr. Green Daolittle{Doolittle?}
told me that he drew the check that
paid for it, and it was {.?}$12,000 in
1873.
Went to the Courthouse{Cort-house! 1 word?} at 10 o'clock
and the case of Barnard Son & Co,
via{nia?} Orient Insurance Co was called
{new paragraph?}
The first witness was George W
Tucker, next myself, and then
Fred Brainard of Meriden,
the case was adjourned{ajourned!} at 2.30 to meet
again at Winsted nest week Monday
to hear the arguments and to finish.
I ws{was?} then asked to go to the Scoville
House with Mr. Shipman and Hyde
will they settled{settlede!} with me, they gave
me $10.00, with the $5.00 they gave me
for going to Meriden, and the $10.00 they
gave me in Winsted makes $25.00 in
all they paid me.
03\31\1899 (Friday)
This day is Fast day, nearly all of
the factories are closed.
Got up at seven o'clock and worked
about home{house?} all day.
The weather has been fine.
Two of the Worden boys came and
they an my children played hide and
seek and yards-off.
Brother Frank called this afternoon.
This evening the woods on{an?} long hill
and the Abrigador, were on fire.
04\01\1899 (Saturday)
This is all fools day, and the children
have{.?} enjoyed it in fooling every-body
that they could.
Worked at Benedict and Burnhams
Mr. Kenworthy told me that they would
like me to stay on eweek longer.
04\02\{1899} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Parry preached at the
Chapel to day.
04\03\{1899} (Monday)
Worked all day at Benedict &
Burnhams. Am not feeling
well
04\04\{1899} (Tuesday)
Mr. Andrews moved from
the Jessie Doolittle place to
Tom Melbourns place.
04\05\{1899 (Wednesday)
Am Feeling somewhat better.
The ladies Union had a supper
at the Chapel this evening, Mary
went, but I stayed home.
04\06\{1899} (Thursday)
Mary and several of the Children
went to the Grange hall this evening
to an stereptean{?} exhibition on birds given by
the Grange Lecturer.
04\07\{1899} (Friday)
Worked at Benedict & Burnhams,
Maurice Burger; did not feel well
It is raining very hard this evening.
04\08\{1899} (Saturday)
The Naugatuck River was midling
high to day owing{awing!} to last nights
rain. Large quantities of drift
wood has{have?} floated down, besides
many barrels{barrells!}, boxes, etc.
04\09\{1899} (Sunday)
To day went to Fathers and got his
team and went to the trolley car
and met Dr. Anderson and carried
him to the Chapel where he preached
This evening George Edwards
and wife and hatty called.
Wrote a letter to major Tucker New
Boston Mass, One to Malachi
Gillette, South Norfolk, Conn{Carm.!}
and one to Fred J Woods.
04\10\{1899} (Monday)
This day I worked at Benedict & Burnhams
{new paragraph?}
Irving carried me down, and came
after me at night
Benedict and Burnhams require four
large engines to drive its machinery
{new paragraph?}
They also have eight small engines
located in different parts of the
concern{?} to use when the large engines
are not running.
They keep fourteen horses in the
barn, six of which they use on
double teams, the rest{next? word hard to read} single,
also they have a locomotive{lacomotive! lacomative!} which
is in constant use.
The different departments are.
The Office department
" Mill "
" Seamless Tube "
" Braised "
" City
" Heat Steam & Light "
" Wire Mill
" Shipping "
" Yard "
" Barn "
04\11\{1899} (Tuesday)
The weather to day has been fine,
the grass is turning green, and
robins are singing in the trees
04\12\{1899} (Wednesday)
This evening our family met
at Fathers{Fatheres?} it being his 69 birthday
we were all there except Clyde who
was in Ansonia{?}, and Fred and wife
04\13\1899 (Thursday)
This has been the finest day of the
season so far, but I have been inside
of the Blacksmith shop all day
from seven this morning till six
tonight, except about 10 minutes this
noon,{, or .?} Clyde returned home from
Ansonia where he went yesterday
morning on a visit to Cousin Emma
Drews{?}.
Two months ago to day I went to work
at Benedict and Burnhams, but ex
pect{expect?} that they will not want me after
next Saturday night.
04\14\{1899} (Friday)
The weather to day has been nice
and spring-like.
This evening Miles Panne{Paune? Payne?} called
and wanted me to go to work
for him next week, if Benedicts, Charlie Hotchkiss and
Howard Neil called to practice{practise!}
drumming soon George Cass
came and, we marched to Charlie
Cass at M rjor Tuckers place, going
up by way of the Mattatuck shop, and
coming back by Hyrams Ables.
04\15\1899 (Saturday)
The weather to day has been fine.
Mr. Byers came to me at the
shop and said that they would
like me to stay another week
and work for them, I said that
I would stay.
Last night Thomas Miles
Payne wished that I could
come{came!} to work for him.
Mr. Lo Rogue{?} paid me 15.00 one
months rent Which was due on my shop.
I called to night to see Mr.
Fred Woods about settling{settleing!} an old
account, but he was not in.{"?}
I told the bookkeeper that {-?} I
would call again next monday evening
04\16\{1899} (Sunday)
I got up at about seven o'clock
and worked about the yard for
a while this morning. It commenced{?}
to rain at about 7.45 and rained
harder and harder till afternoon
when it began snowing, and
continued till night.
Clyde has been in bed sick
all day.
Some of the children went to
the Chapel this afternoon to
_undayschool{Sundayschool? Text is smudged}.
Mr. Hannan preached ruing
the service.
In the Evening Mrs. Thoedore{Thoedare!}
Munson and Agness Able{?} called
to see Mary about the next
supper.
{04\17\1899} (Monday) {Only "Monday" is written to label this
entry}
Worked to day at Benedict & Burnhams.
The weather to day has been
fine. It is reported that Charlie
Monroe{?} and Mrs. Stark are married
04\18\{1899} (Tuesday)
The weather to day has{word smudged?} been warm{warn!} and
spring-like.
Maurice Berger has been sick and did
not work yesterday or today{1 word?}.
04\19\{1899} (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been clear and
warm although it looks like storm
this evening{evenining!}.
There was a dwelling house burned
in South Brooklyn this afternoon
{new paragraph?}
I saw from the shop the Steamer
and hose wagon also the Hook and
Ladder truck as they crossed the
Bank Street bridge.
This evening I went to the Chapel
toe the Supper and Entertainment
given by the ladies Union, which
is the last supper to be giv_{given?} this
_eason{season?}.
04\20\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked at B and B to day. Went to
the Grange this evening.
04\21\{1899} (Friday)
This morning I got up at 20 minutes
past 5,o'clock, went to work at seven,
{new paragraph?}
Worked till twelve, ate my dinner in
the shop, and at one went to work,
and worked till six.
The weather was wet this forenoon, but
it cleared up this afternoon.
This evening George Cass, Charlie
Hotchkiss, Howard Neil, Henry
Buyckinghan{?}, and a man that I
did not know came to d_____{dinner?}.
04\22\{1899} (Saturday)
Elmer Pierponts wife died this
afternoon, aged 38 years.
The weather to day has been
nice and warm.
04\23{24!}\{1899} (Sunday)
The weather to day has been warm
and nice. Mr. Davenport preached
at the Chapel,{, or .?} I carried him home
with Fathers horse.
04\24{25!}\{1899} (Monday)
The weather has been clear but
rather cool to day.
Maurice Berger has been to work
to day.
04\25{26!}\{1899} (Tuesday)
To day the weather has been warm
and the roads very dusty.
Went to the shop and worked till
noon, Irving met me at the corner
of Washington STreet at 12 o clock and
brought me home, I ate dinner and
got ready soon as possible, and
Wilson Pierpont came and hitched
into my two seated wagon{wagan!} and we
went to Elmer Pierpotns house on
Hospital{Haspital!} avenue to attend the
funeral of his wife Lizzie who
died last Saturday afternoon
Mr. Hannah, Methodist minsiter
attended, and the Pall bearers were
Wilson Pierpont, __stin{Austin?}, and
Charlie Pierpont and myself.
{new paragraph?}
They buried her in the Pine
Grove Cemetery at Mill Plain
In the evening Clyde and
I went to the town clerks office
to look the records in regard
to Capt Phinias/Phileas{?} Castle who
was an early settler at Hagpound{?}{,?}
(East Farms)
04\26\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked at Benedict and Burnhams
to day.
Saw some boys in swimming
in the Naugatuck River.
04\27\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked at B and B, William
Shanahan was out sick, he helped
Maurice Burger, and helped me
when Burger was out sick.
04\28\{1899} (Friday)
There was a severe frost this
morning and it was cold, worked
at Benedict and Burnhams, Mr.
Byers told me that the work is
caught up and that they would
not need me after tomorrow night
{new paragraph?}
But would like to have me
come again when they are busy.
Charlie Cass and his wife Tracy has{have?} move{moved?}
from Mr. Tuckers, __{to? is this word crossed out?} the Doolittle place
04\29\1899 (Saturday)
Got through working at Benedict
and Burnhams to night.
04\30\1899 (Sunday)
I went to day to Dr. Andersons{?} at
No 144 Prospect Street _t{at?} half past two
and carriee him to the{?} Mill Plain
Chapel where he preached.
{new paragraph?}
The attendance{attendence!} was rather small.
I heard tonight that William B{?}
Pratt whose{whoes!} home was formly{formerly?} on
East Mountain was drowned in
Plymoth{?} last night while fishing
He worked for me in 1892 at wagon
woodworking.
05\01\{1899} (Monday)
Went to work to day for Thomas
M Payne on East Mountain.
Made a heavy cart wheel with
2 1/2 spoke.
This Evening Clydye and I plowed
the East{Eeast!} garden
There has{have?} been two alarms{arlarms!} of
fire to day, one a little{two words?} before Seven
this morning from the corner
of Washington and South Main
Streets, and one from the corner
of Meadow and Bank Streets
a little after 12 this noon.
It is noining{raining?} now quite a little
and thundering and lightening a
good deal 9 o'clock P.M.
Margarett{Margaret?}, Ruth and Irving
went about the neightborhood this
evening hanging May baskets{basketts! baskett! test difficult to read}
an/on{?}
the doors, but it came an{on?} to blow
and rain so hard that they lost{last?}
many of the flowers out of the
baskets and then they came home{hoine?}
05\02\{1899} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to work for
Thomas Mils Payne, on East
Mountain. This forenoon William{?}
Purdy, and his wife, who was Jemie{? text difficult to read}
Pratt, and Miss Libie Pratt,
and Miles Payne and wife went
Thomaston to attend the funeral
of William{Willian!} Pratt who was drowned
last Saturday night.
I was left alone in the shop the
rest of the day.
05\03\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked for Miles Payne to day.
Plowed the North garden this morning
and tonight.
Bought of an agent, one Niagra,
one Vergeunes{?} and one Warden
grape vine for which I paid .50 cts
05\04\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked for Miles Payne to day.
Had Blyde go to Benedict &{?} Burnhams
and get my pay $16.50
Went to the Grange tonight{1 word? text smudged?}.
05\05\1899{Friday)
Worked to day for T Miles Payne{?},
on East Mountain, Repairing wagons
{new paragraph?}
Maurice Burgher{?} left word that
they wanted me to come and work
at Benedict and Burnhams, to
morrow.
05\06\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked for{fa!} Mr. Payne to day he
paid me what he owed me 13.25
This evening Mary and I went
to George Canners{Conners?} on West Side hild{hill?}
to the celebration of their silver
wedding.
05\07\{1899} (Sunday)
Mr. Parry preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Went to Cheshire this afternoon
with Mr. Tucker{?}.
05\08\{1899} (Monday)
Went to work at Benedict & Burnhams
to day.
Mr. Burger was out sick.
05\09\{1899} (Tuesday)
Worked at Benedict and Burnhams
05\10\1899 (Wednesday)
Worked at Benedict and Burnhams
This evening Clyde, Irving, Mary
and Myself went out to East Farms
to Arthur Pierponts to a dance
in an addit__n{addition?} which he has
built on to his South cow barn
30 x 40 ft There were about 75
present and all had a nice time.
05\11\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked as usual to day, This
evening Mary and I attended
the Grange.
05\12\1899 (Friday)
I worked to day at Benedict & Burnham_{Burnhams?}
Brother Frank and Grissy his wife,
William Gillette, and sister Iva started
for North Goshen this morning to visit
Cousin Malchi Gillette.
The weather has been fine and clear.
05\13\{1899} (Saturday)
The weather to day has been cloudy{?}
in the forenoon and rained this
afternoon, I worked at B. & B.
05\14\{1899} (Sunday)
Clyde, Irving, Pierpont, Raymond,
and myself went this morning out on
the Southington mountain
{new paragraph?}
Staid home the rest of the day.
Mr. Rafter of Waterville preached at
the Chapel.
05\15\{1899} (Monday)
The weather to day has been very
cool.{.?} I worked at Benedict & Burnhams{?}.
05\16\1899 (Tuesday)
Got up this morning at 2_{20?} minutes past
5 had breakfast and Irving drove the horse
and we rode to the trolley car, which I
took and went to Benedict and Burnhams,{,?}
where I worked all day. Rode{Wrode!} home to
night with maurice Burgher{?}.
There has{have?} been two poliecemen!} appointed
(Hickey and Brinkel) to ride on
Bicycles{Bicicles!} to arrest scorchers{?} or fast
riders who violate the law, which
says that they must ride faster than
ten miles an hour, within the City
limits. They have arrested seven
to day, but let then{them?} out on a bail of $50.00
05\17\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked at Benedict & Burnhams to
ay. Last{Least?} night at about 8.30 I
heard a noise that sounded like
thunder under ground, I did not
think much of it at the time, but
I learn__{learned? word smudged} to day that it was an
earthquake and was heard and felt
in all of the towns about here, and
along the Connecticut River, I{It?} was felt{?}
in Hartford, Middletown, East Hampton,
and as far South as Saybrook.
The shock was so severe that it
caused the dishes to rattle on the shelves
in some houses, in Bristol it shook
the plaster off from the ceilings of some
of the houses.
I{It?} was not as severe as the earth quake{2 words?}
of 1884.
{05\18\1899} (Thursday) {Only "Thursday" is written next to the entry}
Went to work to day as usual.
{new paragraph?}
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange.
05\19\1899 (Friday)
The weat_er{weather? text smudged} this morning was quite
ool, at noon it rained some,
bu cleared up before night.
This forenoon we welded a large
head of steel auto a{on?} steel arbor for
the seamless tube department which{whhich!}
was a herd{hard?} Job it weighed about 700
pounds and was bad steel to weld.
This evening I went to see Miss
Tatem the school teacher about the school
but she was sick with the intermittint/intermittent{?}
fever, came{?} home and drummed a
while, then went to bed very tired
as I got up a{at?} four this morning and
had worked all of the time since.
05\20\1899 (Saturday)
Worked at Benedict and Burnhams today
{new paragraph?}
This evening Clyde and I went to
the Town clerks office to look up the
records{reckords!} in regard to the place once{ance!}
owned by Capt Phineas Castle, now
he REsident of Mr. A.B. Pierpont.
05\21\{1899} (Sunday)
This morning Judge Boughton and
I went to the old Pryor place out
on the Middlebury road and mr.
Irving Prior{?} and I traced{traiced!} the old
Continental road through the Continental{Cantinental!}
lot and past{?} the old
Capt Nichols place and on past
the place where the last Indians
lived in Waterbury, which place
is about 100{?} rods North of the house
where Mr. Arden H Coe lives.
{new paragraph?}
The Indians who lived there were
he last remnant{remenenet!} of the Mel_eleck{Melmeleck?}
tribe and they remained{remaned!} till about
Fifty years ago. Mr. Hannah preached
at the Chapel.
05\22\{1899} (Monday)
Worked as usual. This evening
Mary Clyde and I went to Mr.
Garrigus to an entertainment
given by the University extension
class of Storrs College{Colleage!}
05\23\{1899} (Tuesday)
Worked till 4 o'clock, When I left the
shop and went to the City hall and
met Clyde, and we went into the
vault{valt!} in the Town Clerks office and searched
the records{reckards!}
05\24\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked; This evening Mary and
I went to the Chapel meeing and they
elected new officers, for the Episcopal{Episcapal!}
denomination Morris Alcott, Congregational{Cangrigational!}
Warren Hitchcock, Methodist{Metoodst!}
Willie Garrigus, Baptist Robert Warden,
Sec Arthur Pierpont, Treasurer Hiram
Able, Sunday School Superintendent{Superintindent!}
J Henry Garrigus, Librarian{Libraran!} Henry
Cass; Organist Inez Beckwith{?}.
05\25\{1899} (Thursday) {This entry is labelled 05\24\{1899} (Thursday)}
Worked at Benedict & Burnhams
to day.
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange.
05\26\1899 (Friday)
While working at Benedict and
Burnhams this morning Mr.
Byars{?} came and told me that
they would have to "lay me off"
for a while, as they did not have
work enough to keep{keepe!} me, am
to get through Saturday night.
This evening{,?} Charlie Hotchkiss{?}
and George Cass, came and practiced
drumming. We decided to go
to Cheshire and drum for the
"Old Soldiers{Souldiers!}" on decoration
day.
05\27\{1899} (Saturday)
I got through working at Benedict
& Burnhams to night, and
Mr. Musse{?} paid me what was
d__{due?}, 17.40.
I wrote a letter to the Rev. Mr.
Nichols of Cheshire telling him
that a number of the boys would
go over and drum, for the Old
Veterans on Memorial day, Clyde
carried the letter over, and Mr. Nichols
told him that they were to have no
parade in Cheshire, but that they
were to have a march, speaking
etc in Prospect, and told Clyde
to go there and see Mr. Beers who
lives near Prospect center, He
rode there on his wheel and found
Mr. Beers who seemed very much
pleased to think that a drum
Corps was coming.
05\28\1899 (Sunday)
Got up at 7 o'clock, washed my harness
and did other chores, had breakfast
at 9 George Cass came to see aboutt
going to Prospect to drum tuesday
at 10, Irving and I hitched up and
drove to Maruce Bergers{?} at Gilletts
corners to see him about some
carpenter work taht he spoke of
having done yesterday, but he
had decided not to do it, visited
with him a while and then went
to Prospect center and down the
Rag Hollow Road to Mr. Beers
but he had gone to Cheshire so
I did not see him, left word there
that we (the drummers would be
on hand at 11.30 tuesday.
{new paragraph?}
Then drove East to Matthews{?}
street and then turned North
up said street till{tell!} we came to
an old road that kept straight{strait!} ahead
at the turn Southeast of Agustus
Mass house, we went through
the old road which was very
rough and steep in some places
and it brought us out at prospect
station{statian!} on the Meriden Rail
Road, we continued still north
after crossing{crassing!} the tract and came
out at the lower end of Rag
hollow near the Old Gate
house on the Plank road, we then
drove home, and found Henry
Buckingham{?} and Charlie Hotchkiss
there to see me about going{gaing!} to
Prospect to drum. I sent Henry
Buckingham to Wolcott to notify
Luke Henderson and Adelbert
Norton, and I and Clyde went
to Pine Grove Cemetery to
place a flag on the grave of Mr.
E L Pond{Pand?}, a veteran who died
about two month ago, a committee{committiee!}
of veterans{veteras!}, (Capt Bangs,
Chancy Seeley Wm Melton
and one whom I did not know)
gave me the flag, we could
not find the grave that we
were sure was Mr. Ponds, so I
stuck the flag in a newly made
grave and, will find out tomorrow,
which is his.
Came home and found Aunt
Tan Somers{?} and Cousin David
there, who staid till it was quite
dark, when we sat down to
supper, after which George Cass
Came, and staid a little while
he said that Luke Henderson
was going to Prospect, when he
started home it was raining quite
hard.
Mr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
{new paragraph?}
To bed at 9 o'clock.
{No entry is labelled for 05\29\1899}
05\29{30!}\{1899} (Monday)
The weather to day has been cloudy{clowdy!} and
a little wet. I worked about home till
4 o clock. When Irving and I went
to the Town Clerks office in the City
Hall, and looked the records{reckoids!} in
regard to the history of East Farms,
and the vicinity{vacinity!}.
{new paragraph?}
Came home at 7.30 and Charlie
Cass, George Cass, Charlie Hotchkiss,
irving and myself practiced drumming,
and dirges{durges!}, for the memorial{memoral!}
exercises tomorrow.
05\30{31!}\{1899} (Tuesday)
This morning I got up at 5.30 got out the
team and got ready to go to Prospect,
Margaret, Ruth, Charlie Hotchkiss,
Irving, and myself started in the
two seated canopy top wagon and
went to George Casses, and waited
for him and nellie to get ready.
{new paragraph?}
We then drove to Prospect center, and
put our teams out under the church
sheds{sheads!}, and what there was of us
"fell in," and marched to Mr. Beers
house East of the Center, and reported
for duty. We were told to wait till
noon and then occassionally{accasionly!} marched
round the green. The veterans arrived{arived!}
to the number of about 15, and
several others came from Cheshire,
and we went into the Church
and listened to an address by
Judge George H Cowell of Waterbury
and also by the Rev. Mr. Nichols,
of Cheshire, late of Waterbury, also
some fine singing by several young
ladies of Prospect, and recitations.
{new paragraph?}
Out of a population of less than 500
men, women, and children, Prospect sent
to the war 75 able bodied{bodyed!} soldiers{souldiers!},
this was more than any other town
in the state sent, in proportion to its
inhabitants.
_fter{After?} the service in the Church we
formed in the green in front,
The Drum Band first, the{then?} the Veterans
to the number{nunber!} of about 30 than about
20 sons of Veterans, the{then?} the School
children from all parts of the town,
each carrying bouquets and wreaths
of flowers, and marched to the Cemetery
to a Funeral dirge, there we marched
from grave to grave of the dead
soldiers{souldiers!} and placed flowers on
each, the band playing "Safe in the
arms of Jesus" after which we marched
to the hall under the church were there
was a bountiful colation served.
A vote of thanks was given to the
Drum Corps also to judge Cowell and
Rev. Mr. Nichols, after supper we played
out side, "Marching through Georgia"
and "Old Dan Tucker"{?} after which we
started for home. On the way we
stopped at the Reservoir on east
mountain and went to the boiling
spring, which was of great interest
to the others who had not seen it.
We then came home, and to bed
before 9 o'clock.
05{06!}\31{01!}\1899 (Wednesday)
Remained at home all day, put
up a vice in the carriage house and
repaired George Cass_s{Casses?} buggy.
In the evening Mary and I went
to the Chapel to a meeting of the
Sundayschool{1 word?} Officers and teachers.
I also called on mr. Tucker.
It was decided to hold a prayer{prgyer!} meeting
in the Chapel next Sunday evening.
06\01\1899 (Thursday)
Worked building a chicken yard
to day. The weather was very
warm.
This evening Mary and I
went to the Grange.
06\02\1899 (Friday)
Finished the chicken yard to
day. The afternoon went and
visited the Mill Plain School
{new paragraph?}
Miss F May Tatem{?} teaches the
primary room, my Pierpont
and Ruth were there. The school
was very orderly and the recitations
good.
Miss Minnie Norton teaches
the hiher{higher?} grade, where Margaret
and Irving attend, the lessons
were well recited and the order
very good.
A little past 5 o'clock the Fire
alarm{alarn!} gong sounded Number
14, which is corner of the Wolcott
street and East main. The fire proved
to be Fred Woods oil storage{storgge!} shed, at
he Meriden Railroad Station I{It?} was
Kerocene{Karocine!}, and gasoline and it
soon all burned.
06\03\1899 (Saturday)
This forenoon Clyde, Irving, and
myself worked drawing{drowing!} stones from
he North East corner of my lot to
the foundation of the Blacksmith
shop I am going to build by the
brook on he Doolittle road.
This afternoon I went to Robert
Wordens{?} at East Farms and packed
a pump{word hard to read} for him and repaired
two gates, For which he paid me
$1.00 which was the only dollar I have
earned this week.
06\04\{1899} (Sunday)
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
Mr. Buckley preached.
{new paragraph?}
Mary and Clyde went to Trinity
Church this evening, and saw
Bishop Brewster confirm a class of
sixteen members into the Episcopal
faith among whom was Arthur
and Mort Pierpont.
06\05\1899 (Monday)
To day has been one of the hottest
Helped Mary run the washing-machine{1 word or hyphenated?},
anc spent the rest of
the day in writing
Mrs. Hiram Able is 40 years
old, and this evening, the
neighbots to the number of about{alout!}
20 met at their house and congratulated
them.
06\06\{1899} (Tuesday)
Hot weather to day everi_____{everiry__y?}
is suffering for want of rain.
Painted the wagon house and
port{part?} of the Barn.
06\07\1899 (Wednesday)
The weather has been hotter than any
day yet, till about 4 o'clock this afternoon,
when a thunder shower went
around North of us and it cooled
the air very much.
{new paragraph?}
I worked painting all day, on my
out buildings.
This evening Mary and i went
over to John Gallaghers to see him
about the Flag raising exercises{excrcises!}
that are to take place at the Grange.
06\08\1899 (Thursday)
Got up at 5.30 this morning and
after breakfast went to town to hear
the case tried, "The City against
John F Gallagher for violating the
City ordinance{ordinence!} which requires milkmen
to have a license. The court{courst!}
was to be held in the new court
house, but is put over till next
Saturday.
From thence I went to the
Naugatuck Railroad Dep@ot and saw
35 new recruites{recrutes!} who had enlisted for
three years, board the train, it was
a sad sight, for some of the Mothers
and sisters and sweethearts{sweethars!} were there
and cried like children.
{new paragraph?}
There are to be hurried through to San-
francisco and there take ship for
Manilla. They are going in response{responce!}
to the Presidents call for 35.000 men.
{new paragraph?}
After the train had left
I got my team and drove to Bradley
ville{1 word?}, To see Frank Howland, but he
had gone to Oakville,{or .?} I drove there
and found that he was surveying
for Mr. Loren/Laren{?} Carter in the old
deer Park, drove to Mr. Carters
house and found that he was in
the Center, Came to Mr. Carters
office and found him.
This evening Mary and I went
to the Grange.
06\09\1899 (Friday)
Weather very dry. Worked painting
most of the day.
06\10{09!}\{1899} (Saturday)
The Boys and I worked about home
till about 5 o'clock, When I went to
see Mr. James Porter about shingling
the large barn at the Jessy Doolittle
place, where Charlie Cass now lives
Fifteen new recruites{recrutes!} left here this morning
_________ ________ {word is underlined}
for the Phillipines{Philipine!} Islands{Iislands!}, to serve 3 years.
06\11{10!}\{1899} (Sunday)
Clyde and I with Irving went
to the East Farms Cemetery
and Started to make a map of
it and a Record{Reckord!} of the persons
who were buried there.
Came home in time to go to
the Chapel to the service, Mr.
Parry of the Grand Street
Baptist Church preached.
06\12\{1899} (Monday)
This morning I hitched up the horse and
went to James Porters at 9 o'clock and
we went to A.L. Pecks, lumber yard
on Meadow street to look at shingles.
{new paragraph?}
The cheapest they had were 3.25 per 1000
{new paragraph?}
We also went to Tracy Brothers yard, and
to The Waterbury Lumber Co's yard.
{new paragraph?}
The price was the same everywhere.
{new paragraph?}
So we came back and mr. Porter
bought 6.500 hemlock{hemlack!} Shingles, from
there we went Ladds grocery store
on Grand Street, where Mr. Porter
bought some groceries. We then went
to a saloon{sbloon!} on Harrison alley and
I sat in the wagon while he went
into the "watercloset" he said, but he
was gone a long time, and when he
came out he felt good, I guess{gess!} he had
had something good to drink.
{new paragraph?}
We then went to D.B. Wilsons store
on East main STreet, and Mr. Porter
bought some nails, then came home,
I stoped at Mr. Porters and got his
ladder, and took it to the Doolittle
barn, and then ate my dinner.
In the afternoon, I striped the roof
of the old shingles and got some of
the new ones.
{Note in margin of text:
1/2 day.}
06\13\{1899} (Tuesday)
Worked to day shingling Charlie{Chartie!} Casses
arn. He helped me.
{Note in margin of text:
10 hr{?}}
06\14\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked to day on Charlie Casse's
barn. He helped me.
{new paragraph?}
Dexter Northrop died tonight at
about 7.30 o clock. Went to town tonight
to see Mr. Camp{?} about the mortgage{morgage!} on my
house.
06\15\{1899} (Thursday)
It was so hot that I only worked
6 hours, this was on Charlie Casses
barn. Sent Mr. Camp my bill
from Mr. Joseph Munder{?} deceased{deceised!}
for last years Interest and my receipts{recipts!}
for the same.
06\16\1899 (Friday)
Yesterday was one of the hottest
days ever known at this time
of year.
I worked shingling on Charlie
Cass barn 8 hours.
{Note in margin of text:
7 hr}
This barn was built by Mr. Jessy
Doolittle 60 years ago. Bur Chatfield{?}
did the kewing{?} and joiner work and
George Prichard{?} was his apprentice{apprintice!}
it is a large barn 36 x 40 ft with
16 ft posts{pasts?}.
I attended Dexter northrops
funeral, he was 58 years of age
{new paragraph?}
He served three{th_ee!} years in the
war in the 2nd Carm{?} Heavy
__ {underlining from previous line}
Artillery, was at the battle of
Winchester, and at Appomottax{?}
Court House when General{Genaral!} Lee
Surrendered, he was also in many
other battles.
06\17\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked on the barn at Charlie Casses
till noon.
After dinnr went and saw Charlie
Cass about repairing his barn pump
and milk tank, after which I went to
town, and took Pierpont with me.
{new paragraph?}
Went first to Hotchkiss & Templetons{?}
hardware store and traded{traided!} a 1 5/8
shell reamer for a new scythe and
.3{3?} lbs of 8d wire nails, also bought
one foot of 4 1/2 inch leather belt
for which I paid .35 cts, then went
to Hemingways fish market and
bough 1/2 peck of hard clams{?} for
which I paid .30 cts, then to the
Waterbury drug store and bought
2 sponges for which I paid .40 cts
and 10 cts worth of saltpeter{saltpetre!}, from
thence to Spencer and Pierpons
and bought 1 bag of oats for which
I paid 1.25 then to James Porters
and reckoned the labor of shingling
he barn, which amounted{announted!} to
10.75 and one bunch of shingles 1.15
which made 11.90 due me
{Notes in margin of text:
Next to "After dinner ..." 5 hr
Next to "hardware store ..." 1899}
06\18\1899 (Sunday)
This morning we got up at 7.30 o clock
I roasted the 1/2 ___{lbs?} of clams in the
fireplace in th cellar, and we had
them for breakfast.
{new paragraph?}
About 10.30 Charlie Hotchkiss and
and{written twice} got Rob Hotchkiss and went in
search{serch!} of a _ailing{bailing?} spring, near the
Meriden Road South of the house
of mr. Griswold, we could not find
it, so we went to Mr. Griswould{?}
and visited a spell and _te{ate?} cherrys
after which we came home, stopped
on the way at John French, and Bertha
gave us what chocolate{chockolate!} layer cake
we could eat and had some nice
water from their well.
{new paragraph?}
After supper of strawberry shortcake
Mary and I went to East farms
Cemetery and I finished making a
map of the same, came home and to bed at 9.30
06\19\1899 (Monday)
Helped Mary wash this{ihis!} morning, then set
a tire on the buggy, and did odd jobs the
est of the day.
Received a check to dy from James
Porter for 12.00 pay for work on Charles
Casses barn. They had their School meeting
at Eeast{?} Farm's last night, elected George Ben___{Benham?}
Committee, Wilson Pierpont, Clerk.
06\20\1899 (Tuesday)
Worked 4 hr at the Doolittle barn this
forenoon repairing the sleepers under
he floor.
This afternoon worked for Mrs.
Charles Frost weeding potatoes.
06\21\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked for Mrs. Charles Frost to day
hoeing. This evening they had a
strawberry festival at the Chapel
there was a large number present.
{new paragraph?}
Mr. John Lines orchestra {?} furnished music.
06\22\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked for Mrs. Charles Frost haying{?}.
{new paragraph?}
Went to th Grange this evening, They
had a memorial service, The Rev. Mr. Buckley{?}
spoke
06\23\1899 (Friday)
Weather dry and hot, there is not hay
scarcely, owing to the long draught{drauth!}.
{new paragraph?}
Worked for Mrs. Charles Frost.
06\24\{1899} (Saturday)
The weather to day has been hot, about
noon it began to thunder, and we worked
very fast and got the hay up just in
time so it did not get wet. It began
raining at 4 o'clock, and rained
till after night fall.
Mrs. Frost paid me 7.60 for 2 days
hoeing and 2 days and 3 hr haying,
15 cts per hr for hoeing and 20 for haying.
06\25\{1899} (Sunday)
I_{It, "t" is written above text} has{hos!} rained some to day. It was
childrens day at the Chapel and
Mr. Devenport talked to the children
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lockhart
had four children baptized.
{new paragraph?}
The attendance{attendence!} was large but not
what it would have been had it
not been for the rain.
06\26\{1899} (Monday)
Worked to day for Mrs. Frost at mowing
by hand.
{new paragraph?}
The weather has been cool and clear.
{new paragraph?}
This evening as we were at supper
at 7.10 o clock there was a severe earthquake
shock, which lasted about one
minute and shook everything.
Mr. Thoedore Munson{?} and
wife, Hiran{Hiram?} Able and wife, Charlie
Cass and wife, Albert Spender{?} and
wife, myself and wife, Eddie Bronson
and wife, and Miles Peck{?} & Agnes Able,
went to Mr. Robert Wordens at
East Farms. The occassion{occasion!} being
his Forty first birth day{two words?}.
{new paragraph?}
We presented him with two light
lap blankets. Had refreshments
and Ice Cream, and came home at
11.30
06\27\1899 (Tuesday)
To day "Buffalo Bill" (Col W.T. Cody{?},)
Has been in Waterbury with his "Wild West
and Congress of Rough riders of the World.
{new paragraph?}
The whole family went to town this
forenoon and saw the street parade.
{new paragraph?}
This afternoon Clyde, Irving, Margaret,
and myself went to the "Hop Meadows"
wouth of the Electic car barns and
saw the show.
The programme consisted of
1 Overture; Star Spangled Banner,
by Cow-boy Band
2 Grand Review; introducting the
Rough Riders, of the world, Indians,
Cow-Boys, Mexicans, Arabs, Scouts,
Guides, and detachments of fully
equipped Regular Soldiers of the armies{?}
of America, England, Germany, and
Russia, a color Guard of Cuban veterans,
and a squad of Hawaiian,
Porto{Puerto?} Rican{Ricon?} and Filipino{Phillipino?} Rough Riders,
3 Miss Annie oakley, a celebrated shot,
who illustrated{illustriated!} her dexterity in shooting
glass balls, from almost every position
4 Race of Races. Race between a Cow-boy,
a Cossack{Cassack!}, a Mexican, an Arab, a Gaucho{Goucho!},
and an Indian. On Spanish-Mexican
Bronco{Branco!}, Russian, Indain and Arabian
horses.
5 U.S. Artillery Drill. By veterans
of Capt Tharp's{Thorp's?} Battery D, Fifth Reg
U S Artillery.
6 Illustrating{Illustriating!} a Prairie emegrant{?}
tain crossing the plains, It is attacked
by a band of Indians, who are
in turn repulsed{ripulsed!} by "Buffalo Bill"
and a number of scouts.
7 Pony Express.{,?} A former Post
rider showed how dispatches{despatches!} were
delivered on the plains, before
the building of railroads{ailrodds!} and telegraph.
8 A group of Mexicans; who illustrated{illustriate_!}
the use of the lasso.
9 The Battle of San Juan Hill. Introducting
detachments of Roosevelt's Rough Riders,
24th infantry, 9th and 10th Cavalry,
Grimes battery, Garcias Cubian scouts,
Pack train, Etc.
Scene 1 A halt{?} on the Road to San Juan,
" 2 Storming of the hill,
10 A Group of Riffian{Ruffian?} Arab Horsemen{Horsman! Horseman?},
illustrated{illustriated!} their style{stile!} of horsemanship,
together{togather!} with natiove sports and pasttimes{pastimes!}.
11 Johnny Baker, Celebrated American
Marksman.
12 Cossacks{Cassacks?}, from the Cancassus/Concassus{?} of
Russia, in feats of horsemanship native
dances, Etc.
13 Gimkana Race.
14 Cow-Boy fun. Picking objects from
the ground, lassoing wild horses,
riding buckers, etc.
15 Indians, from the Sioux, Arrapahoe{?},
Brule{?} and Cheynne{Cheyenne?} tribes
illustrated{illustriated!} the Indian mode of
fighting etc.
{Note in margin of previous page, page 186 of manuscript:
I remember all of this vividly, I was 10.
M.H.}
16 Military musical drill, by a detachmen_{detachment?}
of the 16th Lancers (Queens{?} own) British
army, and a detachment from the Garde
Kurassiers{?} of his Majesty{Magest!} Kaiser Wilhelm II
17 Sirth{Sixth?} United States Cavalry, veterans
rom Col Summers Reg at Ft Meyer
Va.
18 Attack on the Deadwood Mail,
coach by Indians.
19 Racing by Indian boys on bareback
horses.
20 Three minutes with the Rough riders
of the world.
21 "Buffalo Bill" om feates{fetes!} of sharpshooting
while riding at full speed.
22 Buffalow{Buffalow!} Hunt, as it was in the
far west, exhibiting{erhibiting!} a herd of buffalo.
23 Attack on settlers Ca_in{Cabin?}, by Indians
24 Salute by entire Company.
06\28\1899 (Wednesday)
This morning the weather was
damp, went to Mrs. Frosts and
worked till 10 o'clock, when it began
to rain. Then came home and
worked repairing chairs and repairing
the grave stone of Mrs. Rily
Alcott{?} who died 1877 aged 90.
{Note in margin of text:
3 hr}
This evening went to the School
meeting, and the following
Officers were elected.
Committee{Comittee!} Warren Hitchcock.
Clerk, B. F. Hoggett{?}.
Treasurer, Martin Pond,
Collector James Stovelle,
{new paragraph?}
They also voted to lay a tax of
5 mills on the list of 1899.
{new paragraph?}
And also voted to build a fence
around the back part of the yard.
{new paragraph?}
Mark Warner has been Committee
man for the past 12 years, and
fought hard for the election this
time. He canvassed the district
thoroughly, as did we of the
Hitchcock factor. Warner
had 16 votes, Hitchcock 21 votes
Albert Spender 1 and Mark Pond 1.
{new paragraph?}
We hope to have a better School
now.
06\29\1899 (Thursday)
Worked for Mrs. Charles Frost at haying
7 hours. Mary and I went to the Grange
this evening
I read a portion of a paper, the title
of which was, "The assistance the
French rendered the American's during
the war of Independence{Indipendenc!}, including
the march of Rachambeans army,
{"togather, with" has been crossed out} and historical facts concerning
the route.
06\30\{1899} (Friday)
Worked for Mrs. Frost.
07\01\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked for Mrs. Frost hoeing and
haying. Very hot weather.
Received 8.00 for four days
work.
07\02\{1899} (Sunday)
The weather was very warm all
day, went to the Chapel this afternoon.
Dr. Parry of the Grand STreet
Baptist Church preached.
07\03\1899 (Monday)
To day we got in part of the barn
meadow at Mrs. Frosts
Mother started to day for Detroit
Mich{?} to visit Fred, she has taken
dvantage of the excersion{excurtion!} of the
Society of Christian Endeavor{Endeveor!},
who hold a national convention
there
07\04\1899 (Tuesday)
To day is the Fourth{Forth!} of July the
children were up before three
o'clock, and were firing blank
pistol cartridges, caps, torpedoes,
firecrackers, etc, Etc,
When I got up I fired off my
old musket, which greatly interested
the boys, as it made as
much noise as a cannon that
they had, in the evening we
went to Thoedore Munsons
where the neighbors were collected
and fired off fireworks Etc, and
had cake, icecream{1 word?}, and other
refreshments.
07\05\1899 (Wednesday)
Worked at Mrs. Frosts all day
had a severe shower this afternoon
This forenoon as I was mowing in
the North East corner of the barn
meadow, next to the Meriden
road Dr. Freebourne came from
the East in his new horseless{horsless!}
wagon, he was going very fast
and made the dust fly.
{new paragraph?}*
His is the first horseless{horsless!} wagon
owned by anyone in Waterbury,
and the second that was ever
here. The first was in the parade
of Forepanis{Forepauis?} circus last
year, both run with gasoline{gasolene!}
and have rubber pneumatic
tires, Dr. Freebourne went from
Waterbury center to Hitchcocks
pond a distance of five miles
in twenty-five minutes
yesterday, and returned to
day in fifteen{fiftein!} minutes.
07\06\1899 (Thursday)
Worked at Mrs. Frosts nine
hours to day.
It rained this forenoon but
in the afternoon it was hot.
Mrs. Gilbert Duryeea{?} died
early this morning aged{gged!} 70
years.
She was formerly{formily!} Mrs. Thomas
Harper, and her Maiden name
was Julia Farrell, daughter
of Benjamin.
07\07\{1899} (Friday)
Weather threatened rain this
forenoon, But came clear
at noon and we got in most{mast!}
of the hay that was out at Mrs.
Frsosts, and I got throught to night
after working 9 hours, they paid
me $7.60{?} the amount due.
Mother Pierpont came and mary
and her wnet to Mrs. Duryeas
funeral at Pine Grove cemetery.
{new paragraph?}
Mother Pierpont, and Mrs. Duryea{?}
went to school together{togather!} at Saw Mill
Plain, when they were girls.
07\08\1899 (Saturday)
It has rained hard most all
day, Clyde and I went out to
Mr. J. H. Garrigus, in the South
part of Wolcott and he wishes
me to come and work for him
next Monday, from thence
we went to Woodtick and then
home, and repaired Charlie
Casses milk wagon in the afternoon.
07\09\1899 (Sunday)
Went top the Chapel{Chaple!} this afternoon
and heard Mr. Raft__{Raften? Rafter?} of
the Waterville Episcopal church
preach, after which we went to
East Farms and carried Mother
Pierpont home, and Mary and
I went to the Cemetery and
finished a record of the grave
stone inscriptions, that I
was making.
07\10\1899 (Monday)
Went to work for J Henry Garrigus
this morning haying.
07\11\{1899} (Tuesday)
Worked to day at Jacob Henry Garrigus
07\12\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked this day at Henry Garrigus
07\13\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked to day at J Henry Garrigus.
This evening went to the
Flag raising, and Childrens
day exercises at the Grange Hall.
{new paragraph?}
D_{Dr.?} John G. Davenport made the
address ad Miss Bessie Garrigus
was the Goddess-of-Liberty and
raised the flag.
{new paragraph?}
George Cass, Charlie Hotchkiss,
Irving, and myself{mysilf?} drummed
and Charlie Cass, fifed.
At the exercises in the hall the
crowd was so great that all of
the room was taken and many
could not get in.
07\14\1899 (Friday)
This morning I arose at 5 o'clock
and worked in the Garden till six.
Then started to work at Mr.
Garrigus, The clock was{ws!} 15 minutes
slow and I was at George Hitchcocks
when the whistles blew for seven
and buy{busy?} hurrying the horse got
there a little late. Had dinner
there, which consisted of string
beans, peas{pease!}, canned salmon{samon!},
boiled potatoes, berries, tea,
coffee, etc.
This evening we finished haying
and I got through, Mr. Garrigus
paid me 5.00 and still owes me
3.75
07\15\{1899} (Saturday)
This day the weather has been perfect;
I worked in the garden, while Clyde went{wend!}
down to james Porter's and milked his
cow, and Irving drove Mr. Painters
cow to pasture, after which we ate
breakfast of scrambled eggs and
cold boiled ham.
{new paragraph?}
We then hitched up and went to
Jacob Henry Garrigus, and helped
him hoe his musk and watemelons{one word or hyphenated?},
and Clyde helped him
cultivate his potatoes, while Irving
and I set out about 200 cabbage
plants, which Mr. Garrigus
said he would give me, together{togather!}
with the ground to grou_{grous? grow?} them
on, we finished at noon, and then
ate dinner under an apple tree in the
Aouth orchard. AFter dinner Frank,
Irving and I, had William Garrigus
cut our hair, after which we went
to the Reservoir near Shelton Hitchcocks,
and had a swim and then
drove home, passing on our way
a party of men who are preparing{prepairing!}
to put up a telegraph line from
New York to Boston.
{new paragraph?}
We got home and had supper of
boiled peas, after which I{?} hoed in
the garden a spell and then read
he papers, and Mary and Irving
went to town to buy a bag of
oats, and a wash-boiler.
07\16\1899 (Sunday)
To day it has rained in showers,
and has been very warm.
Went to the Chapel{Chaple!} this afternoon
and heard the Rev. Mr. Bassett preach.
07\17\1899 (Monday)
This day I worked about home this
Forenoon, and in the afternoon went
to Mother Pierpont's a__{and?} repaired the
East door where the sill and jamb ___{bow? had?}
rotted{ratted?} away. In the evening mary
and I went to Simosbille and visited
Uncle Dwight Somers, and I called on
Mr. Kenworthy to see about work
a{at?} Benedict & Burnhams, he said
that the Blacksmiths were now
caught up with their work nicely,
but ff{if?} there was a man needed in
a permanent{perminent!} place he would give
me the chance.
Mr. Tobin{?} of Rogers Brothers sent
Henry Buckinham to see me to
day, to have me call and see him
about working at Rogers Brother's
07\18\1899 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I wrent to ____ __ {entire word or words are smudged
and difficult to read. "work at"?} Rogers
Brothers Factory and saw Mr. Tolen{Tobin?}
and made a bargain to go to work
tomorrow at 2.00 per day to start with
and my pay to be raised after a while
three or four weeks.
Spent the rest of the day in drawing
stone for my blacksmith shop.
07\19\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked to day at Rogers Bros
My first Job was, to oil up the
shafting, Then I repaired an overhead{over-head?}
trolley, then repaired a step
ladder, then made a lot of belt
holders, then made a key for a lock
to my cubbard{cubbord!}, and repaired several,
belts etc.
Mr. Burgher stoped this morning
and wanted me to go to work
at Benedict & Burnhams.
07\20\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers factory to
day. Mary and I went to the Grang{Grange?}
this evening.
07\21\{1899} (Friday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers factory
07\22\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers.
{new paragraph?}
This evening Irving and I went to town
and I called on Dr. Davenport, he gave
me a picture of himself to be hung
in the Mill Plain Chapel, we then
bought a rool{roll?} of picture wire at Hassi's{Hassis?}
store on Grand Street, and one gallon{gallond!}
of molasses at Heaters store on East
Main Street
07\23\1899 (Sunday)
It rained very hard during the night
and thundered and lightened.
{new paragraph?}
This afternoon Mary and I went
to the Chapel and heard Mr.
Davenport preach.
{new paragraph?}
They have put a new heating
furnace{furnice!} in the cellar of the Chapel{Chepal!}
last week.
07\24\1899 (Monday)
I worked at Rogers Brothers Factory
to day
{The label 07\25\{1899} (Tuesday) has been crossed out next to
this entry. Further down in the margin is the date 07\26\{1899}
(Wednesday). What date does this entry get? Is the entry one
entry with the label 07\26\{1899} (Wednesday)?}
Worked to day at Rogers Brothers
Factory to day
{new paragraph?}
Received{Recived!} my pay $9.00 for 4 days
work last week.
{Is this next paragraph labelled 07\26\{1899} (Wednesday)
Mr. Harry Garrigus called
and left #3.75 the amount he
owed me.
07\27\{1899} (Thursday)
Went to the Shop as usual
{new paragraph?}
Mary and i went to the Grange
this evening
07\28\{1899} (Friday)
Worked at Rogrs Bros.
07\29\1899 (Saturday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers
as usual.
07\30\{1899} (Sunday)
Stayed about home all day, except
that we went to the Chapel this afternoon.
07\31\{1899} (Monday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers factory
to day, from 7 o clock to 12.30 and
from 1 P.M. to 5.30.
08\01\{1899} (Tuesday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers
factory to day.
08\02\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked as usual to day.
Mother came home from Detroit
Mick, to day, got to town at 8 o'cloc{o'clock?}
{new paragraph?}
The Mill Plain Sunday
School held their annual picnic
at the house of J.H. Garrigus
to day, all of my family attended
except myself, there were present
about 200 people, and they had
a good time.
08\03\1899 (Thursday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers to
day
This evening Mary and I attended
the Grang{Grange?}.
08\04\{1899} (Friday)
Worked as usual
{new paragraph?}
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps met for practice at Luke
Hendersons house __{in?} Wolcott
Clyde, Irving and myself went
up in the Canopy top wagon, and
carried the BAss drum also Howard
Neils, George Atkinson's, and Irvings
and mine, we drummed{drumbed!} nearly
all of the way up.
{new paragraph?}
There were present, Adelbert
Nortou, Howard Neil, who walked
out Gardener hall, who walked
out, Henry Buckinghan{Buckingham?}, who
rode his wheel out, Georg Atlkinson,
who came on his wheel, Charlie Cass
who drove out, and Charlie Hotchkiss
and George Cass, who drove out,
besides Clyde Irving and myself.
After drumming and marching till
after 9 30{930?} o clock we went into the hous_{house?}
and had cake and ice-cream, after
which we came home, atopping
on the way at John Frenches and
we George Cass, Charlie Hotchkiss,
Clyde, Irving, and myself, marched
round and round the house, till
we got the girls up, got home at
12 o'clock.
08\05\1899 (Saturday)
I worked to day at Rogers Brothers
factory, got out at 4.30 and came
home and worked laying stone
wall till near dark, when I had
to stop on account of my lame
foot troubling{troubleing!} me, the pain
being very great.
08\06\1899 (Sunday)
Got up at 8 o'clock, had breakfast
of beef soup and watermelon, after
which I wrote 5 letters, then read the
papers till 1 O'clock{o'clock!} when I got ready
and went to teh Chapel __{an? and?} heard
Mr. R.A. Collins preach, he came
from Cheshire.
After Chapel service mary and
I went to Mr. Henry Garrigus
and took supper there, we had
baked beans, canned{caned!} salmon{samon!},
bread, potatoes etc.
{new paragraph?}
Sar Mrs. Lucian Upson{?} who
is a real daughter of the REvolution
{should there be a "," at the end of the previous line}
that is, Her Father who was
Levi Johnson of Wolcott{Woolcott!} was
a soldier of the REvolutionary
army.
After hearing Miss Bessy
play on the Piano, we came
home, saw where the town
are repairing the ZMeriden road
from Munsons corner East
For the purpose of building a
bycible{bicicle!} path.
This Evening mary and Irving
went to the Chapel to a Prayer meeting
When Clyde came home after goint
to Arthur Pierponts after milk
for Charlie Cass, he told us that
he did not think that J J Byan{?}
could live till morning, as he
has had a bad day.
08\07\1899 (Monday)
Got up this morning at 5 o'clock, and
called Clyde and Irving and we went
to work laying the stone wall, till half
past 6 o clock when I went to the shop.
{new paragraph?}
Clyde has worked to day at James
Porters cutting brush.
{new paragraph?}
After I got home tonight we worked
on the wall again till dark.
There was an awful{auful!} accident on the
new trolley line that was opened
last Thursday, between Stratfor
and Shelton yesterday afternoon
in which 29 people were killed, and a
number wounded.
The trolley car jumped the track
on a trestle at Pecks Mills three miles
north of Stratford, and fell 68 feet
into the mud at the bottom{botton!} of the
pond which was 7 ft deep, the water
had been drawn{?} off to permit
the building of the trestle.
{new paragraph?}
This was the worst accident I
ever heard of about here happening
on a railroad.
08\08\1899 (Tuesday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers as
usual.
08\09\{1899} (Wednesday)
This day I received{recived!} my pay from
Rogers Bros 13.50 for last weeks work
08\10\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{new paragraph?}
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange, there were 54 members
present, the whole membership is
about 140.
08\11\1899 (Friday)
Worked at the International Silver
Company's, factory on Silver street.
{new paragraph?}
Factory J is the name of Rogers
Brothers plant,
since it has been purchased{purcheased!} by
he International Silver Co, some
six months ago.
This evening the drummers met
here and after practicint{practiceng?} a while
we marched into the house, and
into the large room, where several
ladies and children were assembled
and had lemonade cake etc, and
a good time generally.
08\12\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked as usual, weather very hot.
Mrs. Jennie{"Jennie" was inserted} Russell of Worcester went away
this after noon.
08\13\1899 (Sunday)
This forenoon the weather was
very hot.
Did not get up this morning
until 8.30 o clock, had breakfast
of roasted{rocasted!} round clams after which
I read till nearly noon, when
I got ready and at three went
to the Chapel.{./} Rev. Dr. Rooland{?}
preached, the attendance{attendence!} was
not large.
This afternoon I wrote a letter
to Perry C Morris{?} First Slectman{Setectman!},
about the town paying
the tuition{tution!} for Clyde and Irving
going to the High school this
coming{corning!} winter.
Also wrote a letter to Brother Fred
in Detroit, and another to the
Rev. A G Hubbard of Woodstock
Conn{?}, ordering a history of
the town of Goshen, Conn.
08\14\1899 (Monday)
Today my foot has pained
me very much.
Weather has been nice and cool.
Worked as usual at Rogers Bros,
Had Clyde pay my last years
town and center school tax, he
had to pay 2.25 extra for three
Liens that are filed in the town
clerks office.
I have just came{come?} across a rule
which I have had much use for before
now, That is that One gallon
of water weighs 3 1/3 pounds, and
contains 231 cubic inches.
{Note in margin of text:
Weight of
1 gal of water}
08\15\{1899{ (Tuesday)
The weather has been quite cool
to day.
Mrs. D.B. Hamilton, widow
of Capt. D B Hamilton{the "a" in Hamilton is crossed out} offered
last evening before the committee{cammittee!}
on parks to buy the 45
acres of land bounded by Silver
street on the West, Plank Road
on the North, Brass{Bross?} Mill road
on the East, and Ma_{Mad?} Riber on the
South, and present it to the
City of Waterbury for a park.
The name to be Hamilton Park
in honor of Captain hamilton.
08\16\1899 (Wednesday)
Worked to day as usual at Rogers &
Brothers.
08\17\{1899} (Thursday)
To day I worked as usual.
{new paragraph?}
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange. They held an open
meeting, the occassion{occasion!} being Floras
might{?}. The Worthy Flora is Mrs.
Thomas Fairclough of Wolcott.
The meeting was largely{largly!} attended.
The Programme was as{os!} follows,
1 Song by the Grange Choir,
2 Remarks by Judge Cowell,
3 Reading by Mr. Cook, of Natharolists{Naturalists?} club,
4 Singing by the German Concordia Quartette{Quartet?},
5 Talk by Prof Sturg__{Sturggs?} of N. Haven Exp station{slation!},
6 Recitation, Miss Deitridge,
7 Song, Mr. Byrnes,
8 Talk, Mr. D G. Porter,
9 Singing, Concordia{Concardia!} Singing Society{Saciety!},
{no number 10 is listed}
11 Talk on flowers, Mr. Dallis{?},
12 Talk, D B Hotchkiss,
13 Spanish Dance, Miss Ida Mainard,
14 Song by Grange,
Supper,
08\18\1899 (Friday)
The weather to day has been hot
although the sun has not shown.
To day two men who are working
on the American Telegraph an{on? and?} Telephone
line from Boston to New York, putting
up the poles came to our house to
board.
This evening the Drum Corps came
and practiced and we went up
to John French's and had lemonade
and cake, there was{?} a number of
girls and young folks there and we
had a good time.
08\19\1899 (Saturday)
Worked as usual. The independent{indipendent!}
order of Faresters{Forrestors?} went to pleasure
beach to day on an excursion.
08\20\{1899} (Sunday)
To day is Sunday and it is very hot and
dry, no rain has yet fallen this month
We attended the Chapel this evening
Mr. Fred Goodrich formity{formerly?} a Waterbury
boy, but now of Minnesota{Minisota!}
preached an excellent{exelelent!} sermon{cermon!},
after Chapel Mary and I drove
out the Meriden Road to see
the new bicycle{bicicle!} path that they are
uilding.
08\21\{1899} (Monday)
Worked at Rogers Brothers Fctory{?}
Clyde went to the Adams Express
office this morning and got a
history of the town of Goshen which
I bought of A. G Hibbard{?} of Woodstock{Woodstack!}
for 3.25 he paid 25 cts express
on it.
08\22\{1899} (Tuesday)
The weather to day has been very
warm. To morrow{Tomorrow?} Thomas Malone{Molone?}
and Pat Mc Namara, two young
men who are boarding here, and
working on the American Telephone
and Telegraph line, building it
are going to be removed to Soughington{?},
along with the rest of the
gang which numbers 75{?}.
08\23\{1899} (Wednesday)
All of my family{familly!} exce__{except?} myself{muself!}
went to High-rockj grove to the
grange picnic, they had a fine
time.
08\24\1899 (Thursday)
Worked as usual at the shop.
{new paragraph?}
This evening mary and I
went to the Grange.
08\25\1899 (Friday)
Worked a usual at Rogers Brother_{Brothers?}
{new paragraph?}
This evening a number of the drummers
went to Mr. Adelbert Nortons{?}
in Wolcott to dru_{drum?}. They were
Henry Buckingham, George
Atkinson, Irving, Clyde,
and myself, in my team.
{new paragraph?}
George{Gearge!} Cass, and Gardner Hall
in George Casses team.
{new paragraph?}
Charlie Hotchkiss,{,?} and Sam
Squires in Charlie Hotchkiss
team, and Charlie Cass and
wife in his team.
{new paragraph?}
We had a fine time, Drummed{?}
most of the way up and march__{marched?}
up the road to mr. Frank
Munsons house, and down to
Lewis Cooks, then returned
and he lemonade and ice
cream, got home at 12 o clock{o ctock!}.
{Note in margin of text:
I was there:{;?} M. Hall.}
08\26\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked to day as usual.
08\27\{1899} (Sunday)
Staid home till evening, when I
drove to East Farms and saw Mr.
Worden{Warden?} about going to town tomorrow{to-morrow?}
night to see about sending
our children who are to{too?} far advanced
for the school in our district, to
the Highschool in the center.
Did not go to the Chapel as
George Edwards called just before
Chapel time{?} and I did not get ready
Mr. Upson preached. He is from
Milford. I knew him in 1876 when
he preached in Wolcott.
08\28\{1899} (Monday)
Worked as usual at Rogers Brothers
08\29\{1899} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
08\30\1899 (Wednesday)
Worked to day. Had a smashup in
the shop which will necessitate the shutting{shuttring?}
down of the shop, a large driving
pully{pulley?} on the main shaft broke.
{new paragraph?}
Robert Worden{Warden?} and I went to town
tonight to see mr. Morris the First
selectman, about getting our childre_{children?}
into{snto?} the center school and having
he state pay for it, the same as
they do in other towns that
have no highschool. We could
not find him, we also went last
monday night but failed to
find him.
08\31\1899 (Thursday)
This day I went to the shop and
worked till 9.30 when I went to
town and called at the Selectmens{?}
office to see Mr. Morris the
first selectman but he was
not in, I then went to the Assessors
office and saw sister Ive who
orks there. From thence went
and saw Wiffred{Wilfred?} Griggs a member
of the school board, at 140 Grand
street, talked about the center school
He told me that the town board
had nothing to do with the City
schools, then went to the Bronson
Library{Lybrary!} and saw Mr. Bassett the
Chairman of the town school board
he also told me that the City schools
are entirely separate{sepirate!} from the town.
{new paragraph?}
I then reutnred to the Selectmens
office and met Mr. Marris{?} who
appeared very genteel. He admitted
that he knew but little of school
matters, but saw the injustice of
obliging the parents of children
having to pay 8 and 10.00
tu___hion{tuushion? tuition?} while the children of
all other towns can go free, the
state having to pay.
09\01\1899 (Friday)
To day the weather has been very
warm and dry. Worked in the shop
as usual. This evening we had
a Drum Corps meeting, there was
present Chas Cass, Henry
Buckingham, George Atkinson
and Myself. We elected the
following new members, Charlie
Hotchkiss, George Cass, Clyde Miller
_ammie{?} Squires, Irving Miller,
Howard Neil, and Harry Buckingham{?}
09\02\1899 (Saturday)
It began raining duyring the
night and has rained at times
all day. The belt which has been
nade{made?} at the Farrell Foundry and
machine Company's works came
today, and we set{?} to work putting
it on the main shaft, so the shop
will start Tuesday.
{new paragraph?}
This evening Robert Worden{?}
and I went toi see Mr. Kendrst{?}
the town attorney about sending
children to the center school
He was off and we got no
satisfaction.
09\03\{1899} (Sunday)
Clyde, Irving and myself left
home this morning, and drove over
Silver Street to Dublin street, thence
through Washington street to Brooklyn
and on over Town Plob by the new
Schoolhouse, then west and South over
melmeleck hill to Brodleyville, Then South
westerly{weste'rly!} to Guntown, then following
in the vicinity{vacinity!} of the New England
Railroad on the south side of{af!} it for
a few miles we went to oxford, stoppin_{stopping?}
in the woods on the way to feed the horse
and eat our own dinner,{,?} of vituals
that Mary had put up for us.
{new paragraph?}
Oxford is a country town situated in
a valley, a small river runs through
the village{villege!}. The place consists of two
churches and about a dozen houses,{,?} probably
here is a store, but we{us?} did not see it.
From there we turned west by a
church and went up an old road
to Quaker farms, which was a
pretty village{villege!} situated{sitiated?} on Eight
mile River. The country in this section
is very interesting. Hills of great
size, with considerable valleys between
and in places the sides of the hills
are rent with gorges. The sides of
many of the hills are for the mostpast{most-part?}
covered with thick green woods, while
the flat lands of the valleys and the tops
of the hills are cleared to meadow and
grazing land. From Quakers Farms{Farm_? plural?}
we went to Zoar Bridge{?} by a very crooke_{crooked?}
and hilly road,{,?} Zoar Bridge is built
on the old suspension plan the calbes
are of Five 1 1/2 inch wire ropes
all bound together{togather!}, there are two of
them, one on each side, and they are
well anchored at the ends in solid
masonry, the bridge is of wood
painted white, except the iron which
is black, which with the towers makes
a very pickuresque structure. From
the bridge we traveled a hilly, crooked,
and lovely{tovely!} road through Stevenson
to Monroe in Fairfield county.
This village{?} consists of two churches
a store, several houses, and a fine
new building which I took to be a
public library{lybrary!}, which together{togather!} with
a nice center green{is "green" underlined?} made a pretty
ountry village. Without stopping
we continued our Westward course
to Upper STepney which place we
reached after dark, where we found
lodgins at the house of Mr. Hawley.
The weather has been warm, and as
night set in flashes of lightening
lit up the heavens, and soon thunder
began to rool{roll?}, and at about nin
o'clock we had a heavy shower.
The distance traveled to day has
been about 42 miles
{new paragraph?}
Dr. Parry preached at the Mill Plain Chapel.
09\04\1899 (Monday)
This day; is Labor day; and is a
legal holiday{hollowday!} in this state.
This morning we arose at 5.45 and
went out to take a look at Stepney{Stetney?}.
{new paragraph?}
After stolling{strooling!} about the park, I
looked at my compass and wondered
if the pointer had changed{chainged!} ends
and the dark colored and pointed
South, I could rardly{hardly?} believe{beleave!} that
the sun was rising in the East,
But the sun and compass was
all right,{,?} and I was twisted.
Stephney is a pretty place of about
12 or 15 houses, and two Churches
Baptist and Methodist and one store
which had the Post Office in it, It
was kept by Mr. Hawley who we staid
with. At 6.30 we had breakfast of ham
and Eggs etc. After which I paid Mr.
Hawley $1.50 for our lodgings etc, after
which we hitched up and started for
Reading Ridge nine miles distant,
the road was very crooked and hilly
but quite interesting, we stoped
at a Blacksmith shop and had two
new shoes pul{put?} on the horse's fore{?} feet,
for which I paid 50 cts, at this place
the road crossed a small river which
ran over ledges and ro_ks{rocks/} to the exten_{extent?}
that there was about seventyfive feet
fall in about ten rods distance,
and there was a Sawmill, a Grist
mill, another mill, and a place
where a mill had stood, which took
the water one{?} after the other.
{new paragraph?}
After leaving the Blacksmith shop
we journeyed on and after climbing
a long steep and crooked hill reached
Redding Ridge, where we turned North
near the church and went about
four miles to Putnam park.
This park is a very interesting and
historic{historick!} spot, there is a monument
here erected to the memory of the men who
suffered{seffered!} there.
{There is a drawing of a monument in the middle of
this page. There are four blocks with text in each
corner around the monument.
The following is written on the drawing of the monument:
Erected
to Commer{?}
ate the
winter
quarters
of
The following is written in the block labelled South:
Putnam.
McDougal.
Poor.
Prsons.
Huntington.
The following is written in the block labelled North:
The World
if full of their Praises
Posterity
stands astonished
at their Deeds.
The following is written in the block labelled East:
The men of 76
who suffered here
To preserver forever their
Memory
The State of Connecticut
has erected this monument.
A.D. 1888.
The following is written in the block labelled West:
Erected to Commemorage
the Winter Quarters of
Putnam's Division of
The Continental Army
Nov 7 1778.
May 25 1779.}
{new paragraph?}
There are still to be seen the remains of
130 fire places, each of which are all that
is left of a hut about 10 x 16 feet square in
which the soldiers staid. There were
quartered here Poors New Hampshire Brigade
also the brigades of Parsons, Huntington{?},
McDugal, and Colonel Elishia
Sheldons Regiment of Calvary.
{new paragraph?}
The troops remained there from Nov
7th 1778 to May{Mgg!} 25 1779, a fin_{fins?} monument
10 ft square at the base and about 45 fet
high stands within the old camp
round.
There has been many improvements{improvments!}
made about the Park in the way of
drives. Two block-houses, one each
side of the entrance{enterence!}, three heavy
cannons, several log buildings
and a large pavillion{provillion!}, etc. There
several large caves in a ledge North
East of the old camp, and also two
ponds, I_{It?} is not a favorite place
for Church picnic parties, and public
festivities.
At 12.30 we got into our Spindle buggy
and started for home, and were obliged
to drive South towards Redding about
2 miles in order to get onto the Newtown{?}
road. Went then to New-town{?}
10 miles. From thence in a round-a-bout
way to Sandyhook{?} 5 miles, thence to
Sandyhook station, 4 miles, where we
left Irving to take the train to
Waterbury. Clyde and I continued
on{.?} and crossed the Housatonic river
at the new iron bridge above the
Rail Road bridge, and drove to Southbury
6 miles, then to Middlebury
6 miles, then to Waterbury, 6 miles,
and home 2 miles, makeing a total
of 53 miles traveled to day. _y{thy?} team.
09\05\1899 (Tuesday)
Worked to day as usual at the
International Silver works.
09\06\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked as usual, Received{Recived!} 13.50 my
last weeks pay.
09\07\1899 (Thursday)
Worked as usual to day, this evening
Mary and I attended the Grange.
09\08\{1899} (Friday)
To day I worked as usual. This evening
we had a drum Corps meeting.
09\09\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\10\{1899} (Sunday)
This forenoon Father Called and wanted
me to go with him to a clambake
out on Southington mountain at
Mr. Morris Hemingways hotel,
I told him that I would go
Mr. Fred Brainard ar{or?} Mr. Runge
of Meriden{Merriden!} called and wanted
to buy a power blower which I
have, I bargained to sell it to him
for $4.00
Father called at noon for me to
go to the clambake, and when we
got there we found the bake nearly
ready. They were baked the Rhode
Island way that is by making a
bed of loose{loase!} stones about 14 inches
deep and 5 or 6 feet across and
then bulding a fire on the bed
which het{heat?} the stones very hot,
hen when the stones are hot
enought the fire is swept off the
stones and they are covered with
sea weed and they put on 1 barrel
of little-neck{little-neh!} clams, and 1 barrel{barrell!} of
long clams{clans!}, 1 dozen lobsters{lbsters!}, and
1/2 dozen blud fish, some chickens
a lot of common{cammon!} potatoes and
some sweet potatoes, also
a lot of green corn, the whole
of which they buries with
Sea weed and covered with sail
cloth, and the hot stones steamed
it about 1/2 hour when it was
done, there were about 20 persons
present, and all had what they
could eat and there was quite
a little left.
09\11\1899 (Monday) {11?}
Worked as usual to day
09\12\{1899} (Tuesday)
Worked as usual in the shop
09\13\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked in the shop to day.
09\14\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked as usual. This evening
Mary and I attended the Grange
09\15\{1899} (Friday)
Worked as usual. This evening
the following members of the Mattatuck
Drum Corps went to Marian{?},
Charles Cass, Clyde Miller and Sam
Squires, Fiffers{Fifers?}, Henry Buckingham,
Bass drummer, Gardener Hall, Irving
Miller, Howard Neil, George Cass,
Charlie Hotchkiss and myself; snare
drummers; we drove to the house of
Mr. Billings Neil, where we formed
and marched, South to the house
of Mr. Bennett Upon{Upson?} and couter-marched{countermarched?}
to the road that runs
to Southington and Cowpounce{?},
then back to Mr. Neils where we
had hot coffee, doughnuts, pie, cake,
apples, grapes, etc, after which we started
home, each wagon carried a torch which
lit up the road, we got home at quarter
to one.
09\16\1899 (Saturday)
Worked as usual. Cousin Marion
Gillette of North Goshen who has been
at Fathers house since last sunday came
to our house to day.
09\17\{1899} (Sunday)
This morning we had breakfast of
stewed oysters, after which we hitched
Jack into th two seated canopy top wagon
and drove Mt Carmel{?}, where had the
horse put out{.?} and left orders to have it
fed and then we, Clyde, Marion Gillette,
Margaret, irving, and I took the trolley
car and went to Light house{2 words?} point,
riding 15 1/2 miles for 20 cts we remineed{remained?}
there till 5 o'clock when we came home
by the same way that we went,
reached home at 9 o clock.
Rev. Mr. Howell preached at Mill Plain{Plan!} Chapel
09\18\{1899} (Monday)
Worked in th shop as usual.
09\19\{1899} (Tuesdayz)
Worked as usual at the Factory of
the international silver company
which is designated{disignated!} as Factory J.
09\20\1899 (Wednesday)
Worked as usual to day.
Received{Recived!} my pay for last weeks work.
09\21\{1899} (Thursday)
Worked as usual today.
{new paragraph?}
This evening mary and I went to
he Grange. The meeting was in
charge of WorthyPomona, who is
Mrs. John Gallagher.
09\22\{1899} (Friday)
This is my wifes birthday 39 years
old, Worked as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps had its
weekly meeting this evening and elected
officers as follows, Charles S Miller, Leader{?}
Charles Cass, assistant leader, Gardner
J Hall,{,?} SEcretary, George Cass, treasurer
and Howard Neil property manager,
{new paragraph?}
To day is also Mrs. Sara H. Hine's
birthday she is 50 years old.
09\23{24!}\1899 (Saturday)
Worked as usual in Rogers Brothers factory,
and as I have not worked at many different
kinds of jobs, I think I can remember what
I have done, First, I forged over a spoon
blanking die for James Byrned, next made
a new drop belt 9" wide for James Claffey,
then ailed{oiled?} the shafting all over the shop,
then turned up a polishing wheel of
sea-horse hide, then went outside and
orked till noon getting out a strump{?}
that had fallen down the bank and
crushed the fence down, next oiled up
the loose pulley about the shop, which
took till 12.30 then ate my dinner, after
which, I went to work at the stumps
and worked till 4.30 when I quit, and
went home, the shop shuts down at
5 o'clock saturday nights, and I work 1/2 hour
as{?} noon, so I get through at 4.30
09\24{25!}\{1899} (Sunday) {Only "Sunday" is written next to this entry}
Stayed{?} about home all the forenoon
except that I went horseback to James Stovells{?}
and paid to him my Mill Plain School tax
which amounted to $6.65, went to the
Mill Plain Chapel, the Reverend{Reverand!} Mr.
Granger of the third Congregational Church
preached, after which Mary and I went out
the Meriden road and back through
East Farms, stopping at mother Pierponts
and made arrangements for me coming
to stay there nights, she stays
there alone and I am afraid that some
one may break into the house and
injure her, a week ago last night
some one stole a lot of chickens from
her.
09\25\{1899} (Monday)
Worked to day as usual.
09\26\1899 (Tuesday)
While{Wh___!} workinga t the shop this forenoon,
at about 10.o'clock I being outside
heard Benedict & Burnhams whistle
blowing for a long time, I went to
the engineer and he went into the
office and they ascertained{asertained!} that all the
whistles in town were blowing in honor
of the arrival{arival!} of Admiral{Admeral!} Dewey, in
New York, Bay the whistling{whistleing?} was kept
up for about an hour, and flags were
run to the tops of the flagstaffs all over
town. The noise reminded me of Lee's
surrender in 1865 only there are more
whistles in Waterbury now than then.
09\27\{1899} (Wednesday)
Worked as usual to day at the
shop. Today is my 41 st birthday.
Mary and I went to the
grange tonight
09\28\1899 (Thursday)
Worked as usual to day.
{new paragraph?}
This evening about 50 members of
the mad River Grange wne to
visit the Watertown Grange, Mary
and her Mother, and mrs. Anne
Hall went with Wilson L. Pierpont{?}.{.?}
and I took Clara French, the Grange
meets in the Town Hall at Watertown
and it is a good place for them.
{new paragraph?}
We furnished the programe{?} with
singing, dramas, and re_itatins{recitations?}
I recited "Songs of the Camp."
{new paragraph?}
We left to come home at 11 o'clock
and We got home and went to
bed at 1 o'clock.
09\29\1899 (Friday)
I worked to day at the factory.
This evening Company's A. and G.
left Waterbury for New Haven
to go to New York to take part in
the Parade which is to be given
in honor of Admiral{Admeral!} Dewey.
09\30\{1899} (Saturday)
Worked as usual to day.
{new paragraph?}
Next monday is to be the town
and City election, and there is
considerable excitement among
the Democrats.
10\01\1899 (Sunday)
I worked about home till eleven o'clock
and then Pierpont{small blank space precedes name}, Irving, Clyde,
margaret,
Ruth and myself, went after nuts, we
first went to a large walnut ree east
of the Doolittle place, where we piacked up
quite a lot of them, from there we went
east{-?} through the Doolittle woods picking
up chestnuts as we went, then into
Wilson Pierponts lot, and to Mrs.
Charles Frosts lot, we got 1 1/2 bushels
of butternuts and a bushel and a half
of walnuts and chestnuts, we found
them to be quite heavy before we
got them home, we balanced{balenced!} the bag
of nuts on a fence-stake{?} and carried
the stake by the ends, one following
the other, got home a little before 5.
Dr. Parry preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
10\02\1899 (Monday)
Worked as usual to day.
{new paragraph?}
The parade saturday in New York
was ahead of any military parade
ever given in New York then being
over 55.000 men in line, from Connecticut
there went the 1st and 2nd{"nd" is underlined}
2nd{"nd" is underlined} Companys Governors foot
Guards.
The Second Regiment went from
New Haven on the steamer Skinnycook{Shinnycook?},
which broke a paddle wheel
which made them so late tha_{that?}
they only went through half of
the parade.
10\03\1899 (Tuesday)
Worked as usual to day.
{new paragraph?}
Yesterday was election in Waterbury
verything went democratic{demacratic!} in
the town and City except that
eight{exght!} Aldermen were elected.
I did not go to vot as I was very
busy in the shop.
10\04\{1899} (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been very
nice, I have been working out of
door setting window glass about
the shop some of the time, this
evening Clyde, Irving, and I worked
on the stone wall __{we?} are building
East of the house.
Howard Neil called this evening.
{new paragraph?}
I received{recived!} my pay at the shop to
day 13.50
10\05\1899 (Thursday)
Worked to day at Roger & Brother's
Factory, from 7 to 12.30 and from 1 to 5.30
{new paragraph?}
This evening Mary and I attended
the Grange meeting, there was a
class of nine young ladies and
three men taken in. The ladies
were Flora Hitchcock, Miss Wells, Miss
Kellie{?}, Mrs. Eddie, Miss Hurlburt,
Miss Mable Gillette, Miss Laura Gillette,
Miss Lauton{?} and Joanna Lund.
{new paragraph?}
The men were Mr. Eddie, Mr. Fowler,
Mr.{Mrs.?} George Monroe.
=====[end of physical journal book]=====
{The following notes are written on the next page of the
manuscript:
Read by Margaret Miller Northrop Hall
August. 1943,
Read by Ruth Miller Brundage - Jan 1944
" " Frank Pierpont Miller, - March 1944.
" " Raymond H Miller{?} Nov. 19__{1944?}
" " Marian Northrop Kraft Sept. 1988
{Two pages later the following notes are written:
Read by Ruth Miller Brundage
June - 1944}
=====[end of physical journal book]=====
=====[[start of new Journal Book]]=====
10\06\1899 Friday
This morning I got up at quarter past
five o'clock and Irving and I put
things in order in the new building
for the meeting of the "Drum Band"
this evening. Worked all day at
Rogers Brothers factory.
This evening the Drum Band met and
we practiced from 8 to 10 o'clock.
Rogers + Brothers factory commenced
8 hours to day.
10\07\1899 Saturday
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
Margaret and I went to the city
this evening and purchased some
groceries. I also bought two pairs of
overalls at Mears store on East-Main
street for 95 cts.
10\08\{1899} Sunday
This morning I took the wood burning
grate out of the kitchen stove and put
in the coal grate and started a coal
fire, after breakfas {breakfast??}, I mounted the
horse and went to Mr. Farrigus {??}
and had Willie cut my hair for
which I paid him 20 cts. I then went
east over across the gravel dam in
the Reservoir to Ed Holmes and
engaged three barrells of charcoal
then went south to the Meriden
road and by said Meridan road to
the road that took me to East Farms.
I stopped at the cemetery there and met
Mr. John Todd and also mr. Franklin
Todd of Erhart P.O. Medina County
Ohio who formally lived in Wooleult {??}.
Had a nice visit with him.
A serious explosion occured at the
factory of the Seaville Mfg. Co. at about
9.30 o'clock yesterday morning, which
was heard a distance of three miles,
by it 2 men were injured, and the
roofs of the Jafian {??} shop were blown
off, and the windows of all the
buildings near were shattered.
It was caused by an accumulation
of gas in a Jafian {??} oven.
Mr. Rafter of Waterville preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel to day.
10\09\1899 Monday
The weather to day has been very
good except a little damp.
Worked at Rogers Bros. factory, most
of the time putting new pipes at the
springs that supply the water trough
by the side of the street.
I have but little to write about, but
must write something for practice
as it is hard for me to write good, so
I write a little every day.
10\10\{1899} Tuesday
The weather to day has been perfect.
Worked as usual.
10\11\{1899} Wednesday
Worked in the factory. This forenight
was very foggy, but it lifted about
9 o'clock and the weather was fair.
The Wolcott fair was held to day, there
was a large crowd present.
Mary, Margaret, Ruth, Frank, and
Raymond of my family attended.
Wrote J.E. Smith that the Mattatuck Drum
Band would be pleased to play at Lieutenant
Kelloggs reception.
10\12\{1899} Thursday
Worked to day as usual in the
factory most of the time, only
when I worked in the shop yard
building a fire hose house.
Mary and I went to the Grange
this evening. I filled the Lecturers
chair in the place of Arthur Pierpont
who was obliged to stay at home
on account of a sick cow.
10\13\1899 Friday
Worked in the factory as usual
to day.
This evening Margaret and I went
to town and I bought a pair of shoes
of G.W. Minor, for which I paid
2.00.
Mary called to day on Mr. Byam
at his home, and he as one of the
Executive Committee of the Grange
said that Mother might have
the hall to hold Thanksgiving in.
While Mary was visiting, Clyde {??}
went to Ed Holmes and got three
barrels of charcoal for which he is to
pay 1.00.
10\14\{1899} Saturday
Rogers Brothers factory did not run
to day, but I worked cleaning out the
water pipes that run from the steam
pump to the water closets in the making
room.
10\15\1899 Sunday
Sunday is a very warm day for
this time of year. This forenoon I
went over to see George Cass {??}about
getting a Bass Drum head for the
bass drum that Henry Buckingham
uses.
While I was there I signed a joint
note or bond of $150.00. The contracting
parties being Mrs. Grace Cass {??}and
Mr. Huntington and Warner of
Woodbury.
Mr. Garrison preached at Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
10\16\{1899} Monday
Worked as usual.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Band met at my place.
We expect to turn out in the parade
which is to be given in honor to
Lieutenant Kellogg who is now
on his way home from the Phillipines.
The Colombia beat to day in the
race with the Shamrock (both yats {??})
for the international cup which
has been kept in this country
47 years.
Warren Whitchcock, School com-
mittee for this district called to
night and enumerated the school
children of my family. There were
six of them between the ages of 4
and 16.
10\17\1899 Tuesday
Worked as usual. Mr. C.E. Smith
the secretary of the Committee on
music for the Kellogg day parade
sent me word that they had engaged
ten brass bands to head the ten
division s, and that Drum Corps
could not turn out only as they
went with the orders that participat-
ed in the parade, I then went to
the committee on music of the Brook-
lyn athletic club who had seen me
before, and they had engaged the Sacred
heart Drum Corps. Then I offered
our services to the foresters {??}, and
they gladly accepted the offer.
10\18\1899 Wednesday
Worked as usual in the factory to
day.
One week ago today Mr. David
Porter told me that the deeds
were being drawn, transferring
the 45 acres of land south of the
Plank Road from the heirs of
Timothy Porter to Mrs. David
B. Hamilton who intends to
give it to the City of Waterbury
for a public park. This evening
some of the Drum Band boys
met here and we put a new head
in the Bass drum that Henry
Buckingham uses.
10\19\{1899} Thursday
I worked as usual to day, build-
ing a fence on the North side of
the yard at the factory.
Great preperations {preparations??} are being
made for the parade to be
given in honor of Lieutenant
kellogg tomorrow.
this evening Mary and I attended
the Grange. The fourth degree was
worked on a class of sixteen. The
entertainment programme was in
charge of Miss Gurtrude {Gertrude??} U. Bradley
and she invited all the granges
in this vacinity {vicinity??} and there were
present members from Watertown,
Prospect, Bristol, Whigville,
Cheshire, and Southington. They
numbered about 410 members.
A fine supper was served after
the exercises in the lower hall.
I had a talk with B.J.{??} Hoggett about
getting the Hall for Thanksgiving
Day. Came home and went to bed
at 1.30 A.M. Mrs. Frederick Thomkins
was buried from Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
10\20\{1899} Friday
This morning I went to work
and staid at the shop till 10 o'clock
when I came home and got ready
to turn out in the Parade that
was given this afternoon.
I met the members of the Mattatuck
Drum Corps at 1 o'clock at Spensers
feed store and we went from there
to a hall on Bank Street, where we
met the American Lodge of Foresters
for whom we played.
We turned out 14 pieces, they were
Charles Cass, Clyde Miller, Harry
Buckingham, and Luke Henderson,
piffers{??}, Henry Buckingham, and
Elgie Bronson, Bas Drummers,
arthur Harrison, George Cass,
Irving Miller, George Atkinson,
Howard Neil, Charles Hotchkiss,
Miles Booth, and myself, Snare
Drummers.
The division to which we were
attached which was the 9th formed
on Central Avenue and we started
on the march at 15 minutes past 2
and passed through Church Street to
Grand, then to Bank to Exchange Place
and down South Main to Washington
and to Brooklyn and then up Bank
to Grand, down Grand to Union to
Mill up Mill to East Main to Dublin
and countermarched to Center Square
then up North Main to Grove to Prospect
down Prospect to the center out West Main
to Central Ave. up Central Ave. to Hillside
Ave. to North Willow to West Main
to the North side of the green to East
side of Green to South side of green
where we passed the reviewing stand
which was in the form of a gun-
boat on which was Lieutenant Kellogg
of the Navy, the City officers, His
Excellency the Govoner {Governor??} of Connecticut
Launsbury{??{ by name, and his staff,
and many other men of note,
often passing the Gunboat we marched
up Church Street to Grand to Bank,
and into the Foresters Hall where we were
dismissed.
There were about 3000 men in line with
10 Brass bands and several Drum bands.
I think it is safe to say that we attracted
as much attention as any of the organizations
although we looked rough and had no
uniforms.
This evenings american which generally
ridicules the Mattatuck Drum Band
had the following.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps attracted a
lot of attention. Their specialty seems to
be in making noise and in it they
excelled. The drums, which looked like
small barrels, gave out a hollow sound,
deafening to the ears but effective,
in as much as they drew the attention
of the spectators.
10\21\1899 Saturday
Worked as usual at the factory. The
Mill did not run.
The weather is growing colder.
10\22\{1899} Sunday
Weather very cold this morning.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
There was a large attendance. The Rev.
Mr. Davenport preached.
10\23\{1899} Monday
The weather to day has been very warm.
Worked as usual in the factory.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met this
evening and practiced.
10\24\1899 Tuesday
Worked as usual to day.
The leaves have fallen from the trees
and the woods are on fire in many
directions to day.
10\25\1899 Wednesday
Worked as usual to day.
This evening all of my family and I
went to the Mill Plain Chapel to
the supper and entertainment which
was given by the Ladies Union.
This was the first supper this fall
and was well attended. The price of
the supper was 15 cts and they made
9.00. The entertainment was very good.
10\26\{1899} Thursday
Worked as usual to day.
It is now certain that Mr. D.B.
Hamilton owns the land that is to
be given to the City for a Public
Park to be known as Hamilton
Park in honor of Capt. D.B. Hamilton.
Mrs. Hamilton was out looking at
the land to day. The grange let
Mary hire their Hall for Thanksgiving
day for $10.00.
10\27\{1899} Friday
Worked as usual to day. The weather
has been very warm. This is a
dry fall. Many of the wells are dry
and the streams are low. Went to {bed??}
early this evening at about 8.30
o'clock.
10\28\{1899} Saturday
Worked as usual to day, got through
at 4.30 came home and laid well till
after dark, when we ate our supper after
which Clyde, Irving, Mary, and myself
went to the new building and cut
up cabbages for sour-crout till nine
o'clock, it rained a little this evening.
10\29\{1899} Sunday
This day is Sunday, but alas I
have spent it in working in the
shop. A shafting got out of line
as was running dangerously, so
Laurence Tobirl{??}, Fritz Snowman
and myself went to work at nine
this morning and worked all day
repairing it, but only got it about
half done at night, it will run
however but not right.
The weather to day has been dull
with a little rain, but tonight it
looks as if it were coming off colder.
Dr. Anderson preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
10\30\1899 Monday
Worked in the factory today, did
not get through till 6.30 as I stayed
to put in a lot of taper keys in
the spur wheel on the Waterwheel
shaft.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met
and practiced this evening.
Quite a number of young ladies
came to hear the music and
have fun with the boys.
10\31\{1899} Tuesday
Worked as usual in the factory.
The weather has been wet all
day. Went to see Mrs. Annie Hall
about the Grange Records this
evening. Stopped at John Frenches
on my way home. Mrs. John French
told this evening that Lauren Carter had
foreclosed the mortgage on Thomas Melbournes{??} place.
11\01\1899 Wednesday
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
The news papers state today
that the Boers of South africa who
are at war with England have
captured 2000 British troops to-
gether with a large baggage train
and battery of cannon.
Went to see Mrs. Hall again tonight
last night I walked but tonight I
road {rode??} horse back.
11\02\{1899) Thursday
Worked to day as usual in the
factory. Last night as Mary
and I were about to retire for the
night, she called my attention
to a great light in the South-east
in the Naugatuck valley. The
heavens were all lit up and the
fire seemed to extend a great
distance and looked like a great
forest fire. This morning I
learned that it was the greatest
fire that had ever visited Waterbury.
Nine dwelling houses and two
tenement blocks being b urned
to the ground in Simonsville.
The fire swept up Stony Hill
from near South Main Street
to chapel Street and burned out
21 families and rendered 82 persons
homeless.
Mary and I went to the Grange
this evening. Mary payed 5.00
to the Secretary towards paying
for the hall for Thanksgiving
day.
11\03\1899 Friday
Worked as usual in the factory
to day.
11\04\{1899} Saturday
Worked as usual to day, among
other things I have helped place
the boundry stones on the
line between Rogers + Brothers
property and the land Mrs.
Hamilton has bought for a
City Park.
11\05\{1899} Sunday
After breakfast this morning
we hitched Jack into the two seat
wagon and Irving, Margaret,
Ruth, and I went first to Simons-
ville and saw where the great fire
last Wednesday night burned
ten houses and two blocks.
From there we went through
Naugatuck to Betheny and
over to Prospect and then home
where we arrived at 5 o'clock, we
found Henry Buckingham there.
He had come to copy some fife
tunes, which he did, and Clyde
and I made out the monthly report
of the Mattatuck Drum Corps.
Dr. Parry preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel.
11\06\1899 Monday
I worked as usual to day.
This evening the Mattatuck
Drum Corps met for practice.
The monthly reports were read.
11\07\1899 Tuesday
I got up at 5.30 o'clock had breakfast
of bacon and eggs after which I went
to work at Rogers Bros. factory
where I spent the day in working
at many different jobs.
11\08\{1899} Wednesday
Worked to day as usual. The weather
to day has been very nice.
This evening we went to the Chapel
to the supper furnished by the Ladies
Union, they realized about 8.00.
11\09\{1899} Thursday
Worked to day as usual.
This forenoon George Partrel came
to the shop to see me about the
Mattatuck Drum Band going
to Litchfield to play tomorrow
in honor of the return of Captain
Calvocoresses{??} of the United States
Navy. At noon I sent word around
by Clyde and George Cass{??} to
different men, and at evening
I went to Wolcott and saw Luke
Anderson and Adelbert Norton
about going.
11\10\1899 Friday
Got up at 5 o'clock. Clyde and I went to
Rogers Brothers factory where we oiled up
the shafting, after which we returned home
and ate breakfast, then we hitched the
horse into the business wagon and
loaded in five drums and Clyde, Irving
and I drove to Ozera's {??} Dunworth's livery
stable where the Mattatuck Drum Corps
loaded into his big bus and we started
for Litchfield where we arrived at 12:30
o'clock. We went to Mr. Seth Pratts' stable
and had dinner near by at a resterant
after which we formed and marched to
the center of the West Park where played
several pieces, after which we took our
place in the line which was forming.
The parde {parade??} first marched to East Street
where we halted with the right resting on
South Street and formed in two lines
one on each side of the street after which
Lieutenant Commander Colvacoresses{??} of
the United States Navy was driven through
the line everybody saluting, after which
we marched down South Street and across
to meadow, up meadow to West Street then
to North to the residence of the late Dr.
Buill{??} where we counter-marched to the center
where we passed in review, before the
Grand Stand after which we listened to
remarks by the honorable George Woodworth,
this was followed by an address by United
States Senetor{Senator??} Platt after which the Honorable
J. Demings Perkins made an address and
oresented Commander Colvacoresses{??} with
a sword which was given in behalf of the
town of Litchfield. Colvoresses{??} replied in
a fine speech in which he said that he
did not deserve the honor that the people
were giving him, that he had tried to
do his duty as a good American officer
should, that circumstances took him to
Manilla Bay, and that by honoring him
that they were honoring the branch of the
service to which he is attached, the Navy.
He was followed by State Senetor{Senator??}
Pratt{??} after which all proceeded to the West
end of the East Park where Colvocoresses{??}
set out an oak tree, to be known as the
Colvocaresses{??} oak, after this the parade was
dismissed and we returned home which
we reached at about 8:30 o'clock. Colvocoresses{??}
was Capt. of the battleship Concord at the battle of
Manilla Bay.
11\11\1899 Saturday
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
it has rained most of the time to day and
this evening it is cooler.
11\12\1899 Sunday
Went to the shop at 9 and worked till
12 o'clock in the Waterwheel could not do it
at any other time as the Mill is running.
This afternoon went to the Chapel and
heard the Rev. Mr. Rafter preach.
11\13\1899 Monday
Worked as usual to day, after dinner I
went to town to get the check cashed that
the Mattatuck Drum Band received for
playing at Litchfield, wrode {rode??} in on the
trolley car, went first to the Citizens National
Bank but Mr. Curtis the cashier would
not cash it as I did not know anyone
there except himself, so I went to the
Manufacturers Bank and they cashed
it for me, got back to the shop at 2 o'clock.
This evening the Drum Band met at my
place and practiced. Those of the boys
that were present that went to Litchfield
were paid 2.00 the amount due them.
The weather was very cold.
11\14\{1899} Tuesday
Worked as usual to day. It began
snowing about 5 o'clock this evening
and now at 9:30 there is about 1 1/2 inches
on the ground.
11\15\{1899} Wednesday
This morning the snow lay on the ground
two inches deep, the weather changed
to fog this afternoon and part of the
snow melted. The grange fair opened
this evening. Mary, Clyde, and Margaret
have gone.
11\16\1899 Thursday
I worked as usual to day in the factory.
Pierpoul and Irving drove the horse. When I went to
work, we went in on the old Cheshire road
till we got a little West of the new City
line which crosses the road just East
of my shop and there turned South
to the Plank road and West along
Plank road to a pair of bars beyond
the residence of Fred Tompkins where
I got out and walked across the new
park property to the shop.
The first work I did was to oil all of
the main shafts in the shop, then
pointed up a brick furnice {furnace??} that I
built in the yard yesterday, then
worked at blacksmithing a spell,
then set windowglass till noon,
\and then shortened a large belt
and axled up the countershafts for
the rools {??} then ate dinner.
After which I helped rig up a heat-
guage{gauge??} on the muffle {??} and then
forged a large leaver {lever??} for a power
press, then repaired a driving
belt for a large drop, after which I
put in a window glass, and it was
time to stop work 5:30.
Mary, Clyde, and Keith, and Pierpoul
went to the grange fair tonight.
11\17\1899 Friday
Worked to day as usual.
This evening I went to Mr. Adelbert
Nortons in Woodealt {??} and paid him
the 2.00 due him from the Mattatuck
Drum Band. I also engaged a hog of
his to be butchered at about Christ-
mas time, came home very fast
as I was {on??} horseback.
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic cemetery
on Dublin Street was dedicated in
Oct. 1858. The first person buried
there was a young man named
Pierce Rice, who lived on Williams Street.
The first burial in the Calvary K.C.{??}
Cemetery was a child of P.J. Bolans who
was buried in July 1892. The first
person buried in the new St. Joseph's
Cemetery on Dublin Street was
the wife of John J. McDonald who
was buried 1898.
A remarkable fact is that Mr. Patric
Boylan dug the first Graves in each
of the Dublin Street Cemetary's.
11\18\1899 Saturday
Worked as usual to day. When I came
home from the shop tonight, stopped
at my shop and got some coats, vests
hats and other things that belonged
to the Drum Band. We, Irving, Pierpont{??}
and I went to town and bought 1gt{??} of
oysters and 2 lbs of crackers for .50 cts.
We also bought a small blank book for .05 cts.
and a pound of butter for .20 cts.
11\19\{1899} Sunday
Went to Father's this forenoon to
see him about getting the City to
put a fire hydrant near my
shop. Went to the Chapel this
afternoon, Rev. Mr. Hannon preached.
Also went to Father's this evening.
Brother Frank and his wife were
there, also Will Gillette and Ira.
11\20\1899 Monday
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met
at my place this evening for practice.
Miles Booth, who is a trolley car
conductor, came and invited the
members to play next Friday
evening to advertise a socible {sociable??}
that is to be given by the Motor-
Men and Conductors. Quite a
number of the boys are going.
11\21\{1899} Tuesday
Worked to day as usual.
Morris Alcott showed me to day a written
invitation which he had received to the
wedding of Charles Monroe and Mrs.
George Downs, which is to take place
in Bristol Dec. 8th.
11\22\1899 Wednesday
Worked as usual. Received my last
weeks pay 13.50.
Hear to day that Arthur Blewett who
works for David J. Porter was taken to
the hospital yesterday sick with the
typhoid fever. He is a nice young man
and his home is in Vermont.
Sixteen years ago at seven o'clock in
the morning on Nov 22nd 1883 Mary A.
Pierpont and I were married in Mill
Plain Chapel by the Rev. Mr. Micon
who was then pastor of Trinity Church.
We went to Boston on our wedding trip
where we staid {stayed??} several days, and returning
set up housekeeping in the chambers of
mother Pierpont's house at East Farms.
This evening my whole family
except Clyde went to the supper
at the Mill Plain Chapel, given
by the Ladies Union, they cleared
about $11.00.
11\23\1899 Thursday
Worked to day repairing the governor on
the waterwheel at the factory.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange. The Lecturers' hour was in
charge of the Watertown grange, and
there were present about 70 visitors.
Mrs. John McCoy who lives in the
next house East became the mother
of a child this noon.
A family named Lawton has moved
into the new house next South of Ervis
E. Wright's.
11\24\{1899} Friday
Worked to day as usual.
This evening most of the members of
the Mattatuck Drum Corps and several
of the old members turned out in the
center to advertise the dance which
was given by the Conductors and
Motormen of the trolley line. We here
at home could hear the drumming
very plain.
11\25\1899 Saturday
This day I worked as usual till 4:30 o'clock.
Clyde went to town this morning and
bought 13 bushels of charcoal for which he
paid 10 cts. per bushel, also 92 pounds of bailed {baled??}
hay for 90 cts. also 1 bag of oats for 1.15.
11\26\{1899} Sunday
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
rev. Dr. Davenport preached.
This evening I wrode {rode??} horseback up
to the Red Bridges and across the mad
river and down the Woodtick and
Meriden road to Father's, there I met
Miss May Goldsmith and Mira Somers.
William Gillette and Brother Frank
was there also, his wife and her sister
Mrs. Fanny Rumans from British
Columbia. Soon I came home.
A man by the name of Michael
Murphy was found dead this
morning in the old clay hole South
of the Plank Road, west of the
Brass Mill road. He had a bottle
with him and to appearances had
been drinking. He lived in Brooklin.
11\27\{1899} Monday
Worked as usual to day. The Matta-
tuck Drum Band met for practice this
evening.
Harry Kilbourn called and said that
he could not act as janitor for Thanks-
giving at the Grange Hall only to
open and close it.
11\28\{1899} Tuesday
Worked as usual.
Mary went to see Mother about
getting someone to wash dishes
Thanksgiving. They talked of Mrs.
Hesphelt and Mary stayed to
see her. She said that she thought
that she could. I drove down
horseback and told Mother, at
which she seemed much pleased.
11\29\{1899} Wednesday
Worked as usual to day.
11\30\1899 Thursday
To day is Thanksgiving. This morning
I took a load of water in milk cans
to the Grange Hall, got there before
nine o'clock. I then took two loads
of water, vituals {victuals??} and crockery, and
got the hall ready. The Summers
family met there to the number
of fifty, had a very nice dinner
also a very good literary entertain-
ment and in the evening ice cream.
All seemed to enjoy it very much and
we left for home about 9:30.
12\01\{1899} Friday
Worked as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to
the grange.
12\02\{1899} Saturday
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
After work Irving came to the shop
with the big wagon and I sent him
home, and then I went to Laurence
Tobins and got an organ which I
had agreed to buy and started home.
At the New St. Joseph's Cemetery
I met Clyde who was coming to meet
me. We drove home and left the organ
on the wagon which we ran down in
the swamp. We then ate supper, after
which Clyde and I went to the factory
and we shortened the main belt on the
little engine which was 18 inches wide.
It took 1 1/2 hours, then we went to town
and purchased some groceries after which
we came home. We then unloaded the
organ as all of the little ones were in bed
and put it in the front room, where
we intend to keep it till Christmas
and then give it to the girls.
12\03\1899 Sunday
This forenoon I stayed about home.
Went to the Chapel the afternoon and
heard Mr. Parry of the Grand Street
Baptist Church preach an excellent sermon.
Came home and took a horse back ride
to see Daniel Squires but he was not
home. The fire alarm gong has sounded
twice to day, this forenoon for a fire
near the corner of Bank and Grand Street
and this afternoon for a fire near the corner
of Franklin and Union Square.
12\04\{1899} Monday
Worked to day in the factory.
It is now half past ten o'clock and
I am tired, but it seems as if I had
left undone something if I go to sleep
and do not write in this book, this
is I suppose owing to habit.
The fire gong blew an alarm at 5:30
this afternoon for Exchange Place.
Mr. Byars who has charge of the
burnising {??} machine department saw
me to day and wanted to see Clara
French about giving her a job at
work. I told him where he could
find her at Scovills factory, and he
went to see her. She called this
evening and told me to tell him
that she would go to work Wednesday.
The drum Corps met for practice
this evening. Henry Buckingham was
44 years old to day.
12\05\1899 Tuesday
Worked to day as usual.
The Boers of South Africa are supris-
ing the whole world by their deeds.
They have driven the British into
the Orange free Stautes {??} and into
Natal{??}, notwithstanding that the
British have an army of 100,000 men
at Mooder river. 4,000 Boers were
met by 10,000 British which they
held in check for 10 hours killing
1,000 of their number.
This evening I went to see Daniel
Squares about going to the grange
next Thursday evening, and
from there to the shop where I
worked 1 hour laising{??} a heavy
belt.
12\06\{1899} Wednesday
2nd Snow
Worked as usual to day.
Received my last weeks pay 11.59.
The snow fell deep enough to cover
the ground.
There was a supper at the Chapel
this evening.
12\07\{1899} Thursday
Worked as usual.
The grange met to night. They took
no nitice of my appeal to the grange
in regard to paying the 5.00 which\
I paid last Saturday for the use
of the hall Thanksgiving day.
12\08\1899 Friday
3rd Snow
Worked as usual to day.
Snow which had fallen during
the night lay on the ground this
morning to the depth of 1 1/2 inches.
It had nearly all gone this evening.
12\09\1899 Saturday.
Worked as usual to day in the
factory.
Mr. Charles Monroe and Mrs. Emma
Downes were married in Bristol last
Wednesday evening.
12\10\1899 Sunday
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
Rev. Mr. Rafter of the Waterville
Episcopal Church preached.
12\11{1899} Monday
Worked as usual to day in the factory
of Rogers & Brother.
12\12\{1899} Tuesday
Worked to day as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to
visit Mr. Robert Worden at East Farms.
12\13\1899 Wednesday
Worked as usual to day.
It rained nearly all day yesterday,
which is the first rain we have had in
weeks, nearly all of the wells in this
section are very low or dry,
and the streams are lower than they
have been known to be in years.
12\14\{1899} Thursday
Worked as usual in the factory to
day. This evening Mary and I
went to the Grange. It was the elec-
tion of officers and B.F. Hoggett was
elected, Master; Harry Coe, Overseer;
Mrs. Warren B. Hitchcock, Lecturer;
Warren B. Hitchcock, Steward;
the meeting then closed at 10:30.
J.J. Byam died last night at 11:30
o'clock of Brights disease after an illness
of many months, he lived on Cherry
Farm south of the Meriden road
opposite Shelton Hitchcock's.
12\15\1899 Friday
Worked as usual to day. The weather
to day has been wet especially this
forenoon. Saw Morris Alcott about
getting an entertainment for the
Chapel supper next Wednesday
night. he was about to give it up
when I encouraged him a little
and did a little planning by which
we soon had quite a programme
planned and he is going to Water-
ville to night to see about it.
This evening I went to see Robert
Worden about entertainment at
the Chapel, went horse-back and
got home about 7:30 o'clock.
12\16\1899 Saturday
Worked as usual to day. The factory
is going to shut down to night till
after January 1st. Morris Alcott
went to Waterville las night and
saw Mr. Rafter about the entertainment
at the Chapel. He will come and read
and recite, also he will bring a piano
player and another talented young
lady. There are 13 young ladies
who are practiced in a broom drill,
who Mr. Rafter thinks will come
and he was to let Morris know to
day but he did not, so I went to
Waterville to night to see about it.
I wrode {rode??} my horse, after work found
Harry West who had charge of the
drill and he saw some of the young
ladies and they were all anxious
to come, so I came home stopping
at Morris Alcott's house and letting
him {know??} that they were coming and
also at Warren Hitchcock's, but he
was not at home.
News has been received to day of a
great battle that was fought a few
days ago between the Boers of South
Africa and the Brotish army of
60,000 men under General Briller in
which the latter army was routed
with great loss which included 11
cannons. The Boers are surprising
the world by their acts and bravery.
They have not yet been beaten in
a battle in this war.
12\17\1899 Sunday
The weather to day has been cold
and stormy.
Mr. J.J. Byam was buried from
the Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon, there were present about
250 persons, a number of which were
of the order of Woodmen, and many
Grangers also were present, the
Rev. Mr. Waters of Woolcott{??} officiated
and also the Grange buryal{burial??} service
was used.
After the funeral I saw Warren
Hitchcock about the entertainment
at the Chapel next Wednesday evening
when I got home Irving gave me a dollar
which Mr. Worden had left to have an
advertisdement put in the newspaper
tomorrow, but as Warren Hitchcock
had already said that he was going
to attend to it, I carried the money
and gave it to Mrs. Munson. I then
wrode {rode??} out the Meriden road to
East Farms to see Mr. Worden, staid {stayed??}
there about 1 1/2 hours then came
home and ate supper of baked spair {spare??}
rib.
12\18\1899 Monday
Worked to day as usual in Rogers
Brothers factory.
The drum corps had a meeting this
evening.
Old Robert Hotchkiss, a veteran of
the 20th Comm.{??} in the war of the
Rebellion was there and he told of
some of his experiences as a soldier
at the battles of Chanslorville,
Bullrun, Gettysburg, Chatanooga,
Peach-tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah,
and other places, which very much
interested the boys.
12\19\1899 Tuesday
Worked as usual to day.
12\20\{1899} Wednesday
Worked as usual to day.
The Ladies Union had a supper and
entertainment at the Chapel this
evening, the supper was furnished by
Mrs. Elmer Hitchcock, Mrs. Worden,
Mrs. Milan Northrop, my wife and
I think Mrs. Annie Munson.
The entertainment consisted of
a piano solo by Inez Bethweth,
a drill by thirteen young ladies of
Waterville who represented different
nations by their flags and dress,
a violin solo by Miss Dechand of
Cherry Street, a piano solo by
Miss Barker of Waterville, and
readings by Rev. Mr. Rafter of
Watervilee, the supper realized 7.00.
12\21\{1899} Thursday
Worked as usual. This evening
Robert Worden and I went to see
Mr. Davenport about a letter he
sent me about the old trouble at
the Mill Plain Chapel being re-
vived in regard to the piano which
was bought two years ago.
I have heard nothing about it
except that Warren Hitchcock
told Mr. Worden that Mr. Tucker
showed him a lot of papers, and
told him that I was to blame for
the whold thing.
12\22\1899 Friday
Worked as usual. This is the short-
est day of the year.
To day I went to town and had the
check of 15.00 cashed at the Fourth
National Bank, and this evening
paid it to Mrs. Hine.
12\23\{1899} Saturday
Worked as usual to day, the weather
for the last week has been very warm,
the ground has hardly been frozen
more than two days at a time so far.
This evening I went to the Chapel and
helped trim it up for Christmas. There
were but few people present, got home at
about 10 o'clock. Rob Hotchkiss came to
day and salted down the pork.
12\24\1899 Sunday
A snow storm set in from the North
East this morning which turned into
rain, and has continued to rain hard
all day, but has now at 9 o'clock cleared
up. Ruth and I went to the Chapel this
afternoon, there were but few there as it
rained hard and they had no service.
We walked home in the rain, accompany-
ing Miss Agness Able as far as her
home.
12\25\{1899} Monday
This day is Christmas and we were up
before six o'clock, and the children were
at their stockings which were filled with
little presents. Margaret and Ruth together
had the organ which I bought of Laurel
Tobin. They seemed to enjoy it very
much, after breakfast Clyde went to
East Farms to Grandma Pierpont's
with some little presents, and she sent
over some sheets and holders that
she had made herself, only Clyde
lost the holders. I jumped upon the
horse's back and wrode {rode??} back and found
the holders in front of the place where
the old Baxter barn used to stand
beyond the horse brook.
After coming back I rode to Father's
and carried down a bag of apples
after which I went over to George
Casses {Cass'??} where I stayed a while.
At noon we went to Father's where
all of our family were present except
Brother Fred and his wife who are
in Detroit, Mich. We had dinner at
about 1:30 after which we went upon
Crow Mountain where there is a
lot of valuable wood land which is
about to be cut off as many of
the brass mills are about to give
up burning oil and are going to
burn wood again for annealing.
In the evening we had a Christmas
tree which was enjoyed by the little
children as well as by the old folks.
at about 9 o'clock we left for our several
homes.
Mr. Stephen Harrison died this morn-
ing of heart disease, his wife is first
cousin to my mother.
12\26\{1899} Tuesday
Worked as usual. This evening
Mary and I and the children went
to the Chapel to the Sunday school
Christmas entertainment, there was
a good attendence {attendance??} the Chapel was well
filled.
12\27\1899 Wednesday
Worked in the factory as usual putting
up timber-work for a new shaft.
Received my last week's pay 13.50.
Mr. Byers also gave me Clara French's
pay, which I carried up to her this evening.
12\28\1899 Thursday
Worked as usual in the factory to day.
Mary and I went to the Grange this
evening, there was a small attendence{attendance??}
present, about 28.
12\29\{1899} Friday
Worked as usual. The weather to day
has been very cold, below the freezing
poing, skating is very nice, and the
boys enjoy it very much up on
Frost's pond.
12\30\1899 Saturday
Worked as usual to day.
The weather has been cold all
day.
12\31\{1899} Sunday
Very cold weather to day.
Miss Sophia Johnson was buried
from the Chapel at one o'clock to
day, she was a Swede{??} girl 28 years old
who worked at one time for David
G. Porter.
Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
[[to be continued]]
Transcribed and edited under the direction of Robert A. Kraft, his
great grandson;
Copyright 1995 [latest modifications and corrections, 01ap2004]
1\01\1900 {Monday}
This is the first day of the
New Year and is the beginning
of another century.
In years gone by I have known
several persons who was {were??} born
during the year 1800 and I used
to wonder if they would any of
them live to see 1900 they are
all dead. John Abix who was the
oldest died in 1893.
I have known many persons who
were born previous to 1800 and
17 years ago at a forth {fourth??} of July
celebration in New York I met
a man 103 years old who had
seen and talked with General
George Washington.
I have spent all of this day about
home, the weather has been
cold and it snowed till about
two o'clock, and there is about
5 inches now on the ground
which has fallen to day.
1\02\1900 {Tuesday}
Worked to day as usual in Rogers
& Brother spoon factory at Mill
Wright work.
This day has been rather cold.
I walked to the shop this morning
as the horse was very smooth and
I was afraid that it would slip
on the snow.
But to night Irving came after me
as he had had the horse shod at
my shop for which they charged
1.25.
1\03\{1900} Wednesday
Worked as usual to day.
This evening we, Mary, Clyde,
Irving and myself went to the
Chapel to the supper and entertain-
ment. There was a good attendence {attendance??}
and the entertainment was very
good. When we came home the
thermometer was six degrees below
zero.
1\04\1900 Thursday
Worked as usual to day.
This has been the coldest day of the
season so far, the thermometer stood
at ten degrees below zero.
1\05\{1900} Friday
Worked as usual. The streams are
very low and wells are now dry
that have stood the drouth {drought??} of the
fall.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Able,
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Spender, Mr.
and Mrs. Morris Alcott, Mr. and
Mrs. Warren Hitchcock, Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Worden, and two of
the Worden boys met at our house
to make arrangements for the coming
fair which is to be given at the
Chapel next month.
1\06\1900 Saturday
Worked as usual.
Got out of the shop at 4:30 and came
home and set two large window
glass{glasses??} and also one glass in the door
of the big clock.
1\07\1900 Sunday
The weather to day has been very
nice and not very cold.
This afternoon we went to the Chapel
the Rev. Mr. Buckley preached, after
Chapel I went horseback out to
Arthur Pierpont's and ordered a load
of wood for the Chapel, after return-
ing ate supper of roast spairrib{spare rib??}
after which Mary and I went down
to Father's and stayed till eleven
o'clock when we came home it
was raining and the road was
rather slippery.
1\08\{1900} Monday
Worked to day as usual.
This morning it rained quite
hard and was very slippery,
but to night it had come off
cold and it froze quite hard.
We had a drum band meeting
this evening which was well attended.
1\09\1900 Tuesday
Worked in the factory as usual.
We drew the water out of the ditch to day
at the shop to repair the gates and con-
denser strainer, and the boys caught
a number of pickeral {??}.
The ice men are getting in their ice
at the Brass Mill Pond Hall and Upson
are operating. Th City Ice Company
are filling their houses at Wedges pond.
Ed Pritchard is filling his houses at
the upper pond at Wedges place, and
the Mill Plain Ice Company are filling
their houses.
This evening sister Iva and William
Gillette called and made us a visit.
1\10\{1900} Wednesday
Worked in the factory as usual to
day. I am not feeling well as I
have a cold coming on, as has
many others. It seems as if
everybody had colds now.
1\11\1900 Thursday
Worked in the factory putting
a new main shaft and friction
clutch so as to connect the small
engine and waterwheel together
without stopping the power.
Weather has been cold to day
and it began hailing at 5:30
o'clock, when I went to bed at 10
it was about 3 inches deep on
the ground.
We have received news that the
town of Ladysmith in South
Africa which is beseiged by the
Boers cannot hold out much
longer and that General White
and his 10,000 British troops will
have to surrender.
General Roberts who the British
Government has appointed com-
mander-in-chief of the forces
in South Africa has landed at
Cape-Town last Tuesday and
a reenforcement {reinforcement??} of 50,000 troops
are on their way to join him,
which all togather {together??} will make a
British force of 225,000 men sent
to South Africa, which is the bigest {biggest??}
army which the British have ever
put in the field.
Great things are expected of General
Roberts, as were of General White
and General Buller, both of which
have been defeated.
1\12\1900 Friday
Worked to day as usual in
the factory.
This evening I went to see the
Rev. Mr. Davenport about Chapel
matters, he was very plesant {pleasant??}, but
somewhat in a hurry as there
was going to be a business meeting
on his church at 8 o'clock.
At 7:30 I went and called on Captain
James Croft who is staying with
his brother Fred at No. 48 Holmes
avenue, he has been with the
army in the Phillapine {Philipine??} Islands
for the past year, and has
taken part in all of the principle
battles. He showed me many {refecks??}
in the shape of Japanese and Spanish
swords, canes, ctc. also many pictures
of places where he had been. He expects
to start for Montania {Montana??} on the 22nd of
this month. I had a nice visit and
enjoyed it very much, as I had not
seen him in 13 years.
1\13\1900 Saturday
Worked as usual in the factory.
This evening Irving, who came
with the team after me to the
shop, and I went to town to have
an advertisement put in the
American, for the supper and
entertainment to be given at
the Mill Plain Chapel next
Wednesday evening, we also
went to Mark's store on south
Main st. and bought a pain {pane??} of
glass 11x24 for which we paid
22 cts.
1\14\1900 Sunday
Got up this morning at 8:30 built the
kitchen fire, by first laying in a hod
of charcoal then wet it with kersene
oil and lit it after which I put on the
hard coal then I went to riddlering{??}
the ashes, after which breakfast was
ready, which was stewed oysters, after
eating we went to the barn and did
the chores, after which Irving and I
repaired the dam which was leaking.
We then sat in the house until it was
time to get ready for the Chapel which
we attended there was a goodly number
present, Rev. D. Parry preached.
After we got home from the Chapel
Clyde and I hitched the horse into the
sleigh and drove to Woodtick to Cousil
David Frisbie to see him about smok-
ing some hams, it snowed hard
while we were going but stopped
while we were there, while there
Frank and Burt came with the
school teacher, a Miss Britter who
they were fooling with.
We then went to Mr. John Todd's
to see if Mrs. Todd would read at the
Chapel next Wednesday night at the
entertainment, she said that she
would, we staid {stayed??} there till after nine
o'clock when we came home where we
arrived at 10:30.
1\15\1900 Monday
Worked as usual to day in the
factory. Sleighing very good, bus
is getting thin.
Hod drum corps meeting tonight.
Weather has been very nice and
not very cold.
1\16\1900 Tuesday
Worked to day in the factory.
This evening Mary and I went
to Mr. John Todd's and carried
five reading books which we left
for Mrs. Todd to look over, we also
went to Mr. J.H. Garrigus and
I had Willie cut my hair and
Mary sold Bessie a cupon {coupon??} for a
silk skirt.
1\17\1900 Wednesday
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening we went to the Chapel
to the supper and entertainment
there were about 95 present and
the entertainment was good, it
consisted of a Recitation by Ruth
Todd, a Duett {Duet??} by Inez Beckwith
and Miss Wheeler, a violin solo by
Master Tompkins who is 11 years old,
reading by Mrs. J.R.S. Tood {??}, violin
duett {duet??} by the Master's Thompkins,
Piano and Mandolin by Miss
Edith Burrell and her brother.
1\18\{1900} Thursday
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went
to the Grange. They installed the
new Officers and had a supper
but as it was late we came home.
1\19\{1900} Friday
Worked as usual. This morning
it was very foggy so much so
that when I went to work we
could not see one telephone pole
from the other and it has remain-
ed foggy nearly all day.
In the fog this morning two
electric cars on the Naugatuck
line crashed into each other below
Hopeville, both cars were badly
smashed and one man badly
injured as were several passenger
more or less injured one of the
cars was in charge of William
Kilbourn conductor.
1\20\1900 Saturday
Worked as usual in the factory,
got out at 4:30 and came home and
cut wood till dark.
1\21\{1900} Sunday
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
Rev. Mr. Hannon preached there was
a large attendence {attendance??}.
Mr. Agustus Mashier is very sick.
1\22\1900 Monday
Worked in the factory to day, stoped {stopped??}
at five o'clock and went to the American
Office and had the following advertisement
put in the paper for tomorrow evening
Mill Plain Chapel, Lecture, given by
Rev. Dr. F.J. Parry. Subject, The Mirthful
Side of Life. Wednesday evening
Jan 24th 1900. admission 15 cts. children .10
Rogers and Brother factory resumed
work to day after a shut down of
about 4 weeks, starting on 8 hours
time.
Had a drum corps meeting this
evening.
1\23\{1900} Tuesday
Worked to day as usual. The weather
to day has been warm and nice.
Mr. Nelson Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Portland
Orogon {Oregon??} visited the factory to day
he was until 8 years ago bookeeper
there, also he was a member of the
Mattatuck Drum Band.
1\24\1900 Wednesday
Worked a {as??} usual.
Mr. Frank Allen's wife died yesterday
aged 43 years. They live on East Moun-
tain, over the line in Prospect.
News has been received to day that
General Buller with a force of 50,000
British has been defeated near the
Tuglla {??} river in South Africa
by the Boers. He was on the way
to release General White at Lady-
smith who is beseaged {besieged??}. This defeat
will I think be the turning point
of the war.
There was a Lecture this evening
at the Mill Plain Chapel, by the
Rev. Dr. T.J. Parry Subject, "The
Mirthful Side of Life." The chapel
was well filled and the lecture
good. Received 13.08 and there is
more yet to come.
1\25\{1900} Thursday
Worked in the factory to day.
Weather wet and cold, to night it
was very foggy. Mary and I went to
wrode {rode??} up to the hall with Wilson
L. Pierpont, it was very dark.
1\26\{1900} Friday
Worked in the factory to day.
The weather is very cold and windy.
The papers to day says there is great
rejoicing in England because General
Warren who commands the leftof
General Buller's army has captured
"Spion Nop" {??} a hill that commands
the reagon {region??} all about.
1\27\1900 Saturday
Worked in the factory to day.
Last night was very windy and
cold, as has been today.
News has come to day that when
General Warren captured Spion
Nop {??} with a force of 4,000 men he
found that it had only been
defended by 100 Bore riflemen not
one of which was to be found, and
no sooner had he established him-
self there than batteries 3 miles
to the Northwest and Northeast opened
on him a tremendous shell fire which
no human power could stand as the
Boers had previously got the exact
range. The British tried to sent up[
artilery {artillery??} but the Boers changed the
range so as to rake the south solope,
and it was impossible to get the
guns up the hill, at night General
Warren retired leaving the hill covered
with dead and wounded.
1\28\1900 Sunday
Mr. Agustus Mashier died last
night at 11:30 of Brights disease.
We attended the Chapel this after-
noon Rev. Dr. John G. Davenport preached
there was a good attendence {attendance??} although
the weather was threatening at the
time meeting opened, and it began
snowing before meeting was out.
Wrote a letter to Fred who is in Detroit
this evening.
1\29\1900 Monday
Worked to day as usual.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Band met and practiced.
1\30\{1900} Tuesday
Worked in the factory to day.
Mr. Agustus Mashier was buried
to day with Masonic honors in
the Pine Grove Cemetery {Cemetary??}. He was
never a church-man since I knew
him, they had used the Episcopal
service and Dr. Rooland{??} officiated.
He was 89{??} years old.
Elton Edwards told Mary as she
was going to the funeral that
Harice{??} Tucker and him had been
into the old tannery building
and broke out several of the
windows.
1\31\{1900} Wednesday
Worked to day as usual.
The ladies union held a supper and
entertainment at the Chapel this
evening, there was not a large attendence {attendance??}
present, the night was very cold,
but the entertainment was good it
consisted of recitations and music
by Mr. Bacon and the Misses Barkers
of Waterville, playing on the piano by
Ray Worden etc.
2\01\1900 Thursday
Worked in the factory to day as
usual. This has been the coldest morn-
ing thus far this winter. The ther-
mometer stood at 5 about zero.
This evening Mary went to the
Grange, but I stayed home and
worked whitewashing the cellear {cellar??}
till 9:30 when I went to bed, the
weather is very cold.
2\02\{1900} Friday
Worked as usual in the factory.
The weather has been very cold.
2\03\1900 Saturday
Worked as usual to day, this morn-
ing was very cold the thermometer
standing at 4 degrees below zero.
2\04\{1900} Sunday
Went to the Chapel this afternoon
the Rev. Mr. Parry preached.
After Chapel Mr. Beckley who was
killed at the Waterbury Manufacturing
Co. last Friday was buried in the
Pine Grove Cemetery {Cemetary??}. Many of the
people stayed to the funeral, we saw
the procession coming in the distance.
First about 50 Free Masons marching
with their white aprons on, next came
the minister in a carriage, then a bus
filled with "Red Men" of the Indipendent {Independant??}
Order, the{then??} the hears{hearse??} containing the
corps {corpse??}, then hacks and carriages.
The services at the grave were conducted
by the Masons first, who used their
usual form and droped {dropped??} into the grave
a sprig of Green. The{then??} the "Red Men"
who went through their ceremony
which included the letting go of
a white dove, which seemed at first
bewildered but flew and alighted on
the ridge of the Chapel where it remained
till after we had departed. Around the
Masons who droped {dropped??} a sprig of green into
the grove was Mr. Gaylord Alcott who
is sexton of the Pine Grove Cemetery {Cemetary??} and
is the oldest Mason in Waterbury having
joined the Order 52 years ago.
2\05\1900 Monday
Worked as usual in the factory.
It rained very hard all night
and this morning, the Mad river
was higher than I have seen it
in a long time.
2\06\{1900} Tuesday
Worked as usual to day.
Mrs. Able and Mary went this
afternoon soliciting for the
Chapel Fair which is to be given
next week, they went up the
Doolittle and Woodtick roads
also in the Meriden road from
Mrs. Anna Halls.
This evening Mr. Worden and I
went to the Parish house of St.
John's Church where the "Boy Choir"
was rehearsing and say Mr. Minor
the leader about getting them to
go the {to??} the Chapel and sing at the
Fair, they are to let us know
next Friday evening.
2\07\1900 Wednesday
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
Received my pay for last weeks work
$13.50. This evening Mary and I went
up to Thoedore{??} Manson's and with others
made up crash{??} enough to cover the
Chapel floor, and also the dining
room, we brought home the dining
room crash{??} and Mary and I stitched
it up on our sewing machine, and
got through at eleven o'clock.
After which I copied about 20 verses
of Olliver Wendel Holmes' poem
"Grandmothers Story" which took\
till half past one o'clock.
2\08\1900 Thursday
Worked as usual to day.
It has rained nearly all the time
to day. This evening Mary and I
went to the Grange. I staid {stayed??} til nine
o'clock and walked home, the roads were
so muddy that my rubbers kept pulling
off. Mary staid {stayed??} and is going to ride
home with her brother Wilson L.
Pierpont.
2\09\{1900} Friday
Worked to day as usual.
Nelson Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Portland, Oregon
called at the shop to day and I had
a long talk with him, was glad he
called.
This evening Mr. Worden called and
he and I went to the Parish house
and saw Mr. Minor the Leader of the
Boy Choir and he told us that he
and 14 of the boys would come out to
the Chapel and sing at the first
night of the Fair, we then went to P.B.
Norton's stable and enganged{engaged??} a bus to run
use for 1.00 per night, we then stoped {stopped??} at Mr.
Duzenbury's market and he told us that
the Y.M.C.A. Orchestra would be at
their building ready to come out at
7:30 o'clock Thursday evening.
2\10\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day as usual. To night
after work Irving and I worked white-
washing in the cellar.
2\11\1900 Sunday
Got up at 7:30 and had breakfast
of stewed oysters, stayed about home
and read till noon when I got ready
and went with Robert Worden to
the trolley cars at Silver street
top meet Dr. Rooland{??} who preached
at the Chapel.
Nelson Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Portland
Oregon, who is here on a visit was
at the Chapel, he expects to leave
for the West tomorrow. This evening
I went to St. John's Church to see Mr.
Minor the leader of the Boy Choir about
singing at the Chapel Wednesday night,
as I was watching at one door to see him
when he came out, he passed out an other
and ran and jumped on a trolley car
and started for Naugatuck where he
lives. I went to Smith's Livery
stable and got my horse and wrode {rode??}
him home, stopping at Father's on
the way.
2\12\1900 Monday
Worked as usual in the factory
to day, it has rained more or
less all day and travelling is very
muddy.
This noon I went to the American
office and had an advertisement
put in the paper advertising the
Chapel Fair for which I paid $2.00
for an inch of column space three
days.
This evening Mary and I went
to the Chapel and with Hiram
Able and Morris Alcott put the crash{??}
on the floor and got the chairs put
away and one booth erected.
2\13\{1900} Tuesday
Worked to day as usual. Went to the
Chapel this evening and helped get it
ready for the Fair.
Has rained very hard all day and the
water in the river is higher than it
has been before in years, and the shop
had to shut down at half past two o'clock.
2\14\1900 Wednesday
Worked to day as usual.
It has cleared up and the weather is
good. Went to the Chapel Fair this
evening, there was a large crowd
there.
2\15\{1900} Thursday
Worked to day in the shop.
Mr. Henry Carter of Wolcott died
to day in the livery stable of
Philo B. Norton on Phoenix Alley.
He was sitting in a chair when he ex-
claimed to Lyman Norton Lyme "I'm
sick" and then fell over dead, he is
aged 61 years.
I have known him ever since I was
a small boy, he was a good man, a leader
in all Church matters, and a deacon.
Has represented the town in the Legislator {Legislature??}
several times, been Selectman many
years was on the town school board, President
of the Wolcott Agricultural Society.
Master of Mad River Grange, and was
chosen juror for many years in suc-
cession, and was respected by all men.
This evening all of my family except
Margaret and Pierpont went to the
Fair at Mill Plain Chapel, there was
a large attendence {attendance??}. The Young Men's
Christian Association's Orchestra
furnished entertainment, and was fine.
Uncle A.W. Goldsmith came out to the
Chapel to see about repairing the brick
work around the furnace in the cellar
so as to keep the water out, he thought
it would cost from 10 to 20 dollars.
2\16\1900 Friday
Worked in the factory to day as
usual. The weather to day has been
clear and cool.
the ladies of the neighborhood who are
interested in Chapel work went to
the Chapel to day and took down
the trimmings and cleaned it out
so that the men can go tonight
and take the booths down.
Mr. and Mrs. Thoedore {Theodore??} Munson
had a new son born to them at
noon to day.
Mrs. McCouley who lives in
a house that stands midway between
the Wolcott and Woodtick roads
and South of the Stilson road died
last Munday {Monday??}, she was an old lady.
2\17\{1900} Saturday
Worked in the factory, got through
at 4:30 as usual saturday {Saturday??}.
It has snowed hard since 9 o'clock
this morning and there is about
8 inches of snow on the ground to-
night. This evening Clyde, Irving
and myself went to the Chapel and
built a fire in the furnace in the
cellar, the pit of which was nearly full
of water and we had to bail it out
before we could make the fire burn.
Soon Hiram Able and Warren Hitch-
cock came and we took down the booths
and tables used at the fair, and took
up the crash {??} that covered the carpet,
also we swept it out and put things
in order for the meeting tomorrow,
we got through at nine o'clock and
came home in the big farm wagon
the weather was very stormy and
the wind blew the snow with such
force that it was hard to breath {breathe??}.
2\18\1900 Sunday
To day the snow lies piled in drifts
and the wind has blown hard all
the time.
Irving and I started at eleven for
Woolcott to attend the funeral of
Mr. Henry B. Carter we went by
way of Mill Plain and the West Wolcott
road as that way we caught less wind.
The road for the most part was covered
with snow but in places was bare
and nearly all of the way the sleigh cut
through to the ground.
We reached the Church a little before
one o'clock and after hitching the horse
under the sheds and covering him well
with blankets, went inside to get out
of the wind and cold, soon the pro-
cession arrived and the corps {corpse??} was
borne into the Church and placed
before the alter {altar??} by Mr. Austin B.
Pierpont, Mr. William Fabor, Mr. Evelin
Upson and Mr. Frederick Higgins
who acted as pall carriers. The
funereal discours {discourse??} was preached by
the Rev. Mr. Waters. The Church
was well filled, which was remarkable
as the snow and wind togather {together??}
with the cold was almost unbearable.
After the sermon the Grange com-
mitment service was used in
the Church as the weather was
so severe that it could not be used
at the grave, after which the remains
were placed in the ambulance which
was used as a hearse and borne to the
grave yard a {at??} the foot of the hill, the
men only going to the grave, except
the hack which contained the near
relatives of the deceased, i.e. Mr. Carter
wife Frederick Carter, brother Mable,
adopted daughter and her husband.
After the funeral we started home
and in coming down the steep hill\
near the Nenry Carter place broke
one of the shafts of the sleigh. I tied
it up however and came along
and we encountered big drifts
of snow this side of Woodtick
but managed to get along till we
got this wside of Lilley Brook when
we got into one so deep that the
snow was coming over the dash board
and the trace broke, I had a cold time
fixing it and with a shovel which
I carried dug a way through the
rest of the way, only to find an-
other drift farther on blocking the
road up entirely fully six feet deep and
five rods long this I dug through
and found the rest of the way fairly
easy.
2\19\{1900} Monday
Worked as usual to day. This has
been a very disagreeable day as the
wind and snow blew hard and it
has been very cold.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met
for practice this evening.
2\20\1900 Tuesday
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to
Mrs. Able to see about arranging
for the next supper at the Chapel
which takes place one week from
tomorrow night.
Mrs. Able seemed rather stubborn
and cared not wheather {whether??} the
Chapel went ahead or not, she
seemed rather tired.
2\21\{1900} Wednesday
Worked to day in the factory.
Last evening Murry Beebe family
of Vermont and Miss Bessid Miles
and a Mr. Pulver and Miss Cheffield
were married at the house of Mr.
David Shannon near the Grange
hall. Murry is about 22 years of
age and Bessie 19.
The insurance on my shop
of $1000.00 came due to day, on
which there is a premium
of 27.50, this evening I sent
Clyde and Irving to Mr. John
G. Jones with 20.00 and will
pay the balance next week.
This evening Bertha and Clara
French and Olive Able came to
our house to make arrangements
for the married men's supper at
the Chapel, also to talk over the
young ladies' and single men's
supper.
2\22\1900 Thursday
This is Washington's Birth-day
and the Factories are generally
shut down as it is a legal holoday {holiday??}.
I stay home and white washed the
inside of the hen-coop this fore
noon, as it was very stormy
it having rained hard all night
and today the mad River was
highter than it has been before
this year.
This evening I went horse-back
out to harry Laughton's just
over the Cheshire line to get the
money for Chapel fair tickets
he had sold also stopped at Mr.
Worden's, then came home ate
supper and went to the Grange.
2\23\{1900} Friday
Worked to day in the factory.
The weather has been warm and damp.
2\24\1900 Saturday
Worked to day as usual.
Henry and Harry Buckingham
came this evening and we practiced
drumming and fifing sacred music,
untill {until??} about 10 o'clock.
Wrote a letter to Ridaback{??} & Co. of 141
Grand Street N.Y. about Military
goods.
2\25\{1900} Sunday
The weather to day has been cold
and windy, a little snow fell this
morning.
Mr. Able called and told us that
there would be no service in the
Chapel on account of the cellar being
flooded. I immediately went and
saw James Porter about the drain
as I never knew just how it was
laid. I then went to East Farms
and saw Mr. Worden and we went
to the Chapel taking a lot of tools
and Clyde, Irving and Pierpont.
We found about a foot of water in
the cellar. I found a bank of dirt
in front of the drain pipe which I dug
away. I then ran in a 16 ft. stick and by
nailing on continuous poles punched
a way clear through the pipe, which was
about 50 ft. long, the water then ran out
in about 1/2 hour, we then came home
it being very cold.
This evening we Mary and I went to
Hiram Able's and paid to Mrs. Able
$22.55 which I had got from the sale
of tickets for the Chapel fair.
Charles Cass and wife had a
10 pound baby girl bourn {born??} to them
yesterday.
2\26\1900 Monday
The weather to day has been very
cold, to night the thermometer
stood 4 above zero at 10 o'clock.
The Mattatuck Drum Band
met for practice in my house
to night as it was to {too??} cold for
them to meet in the new build-
ing and also Clyde painted the
stovepipe and stove with black
japan last Saturday which made
such a smell that one could not stay
in the building.
2\27\{1900} Tuesday
To day has been very cold 2 below
zero this morning.
News has come to day that Gen.
Cronje of the Bore {??} army in South
Africa has surrendered with 4,000
men yesterday morning to Lord
Roberts who had him encompassed
with an army of 50,000 English
who have been bombarding him
since a week ago Sunday morning.
After work, i went out to Mr.
Robert D. Barrett's with Mr. Byers
who wished to see Mr. Barrett in
the interests of the Royal {Cleanrun??}
lodge of which Mr. Barrett is a
member. Mr. Barrett is very sick.
2\28\1900 Wednesday
The weather to day is not so cold.
Worked in the factory as usual.
This evening all of my family
went to the Chapel to the supper and
entertainment. The supper was a very
good one and the entertainment
interesting. It was furnished by the
teachers of the school, Miss May
Tatem and Miss Height, they had
the children sing, recite, and march
which was very interesting.
The water in the Chapel cellar is
making lots of trouble, the furnace
which heats the building was put
in new last summer and in order
to have it heat proper the {they??} dug a
pit two feet deep and bricked up
the sides and placed the furnace
in it, not the water comes in and
fills it up so the fire will not
burn, the Chapel committee had
uncle Goldsmith lay the brickwork
over again but still the water
comes in, and he says that he
cannot fix it till dry weather.
I told them that I thought that I
could fix it, and they told me to
do so if I can.
3\01\1900 Thursday
Worked as usual in the factory.
This morning when I got up it was
raining and so icy that I could
not drive the horse to the shop so
I had to walk. The rain kept coming
harder and faster till night when
the river was a foot higher than
I have seen it for several years.
The shop had to stop work at four
o'clock because the water set back
through the raice {race??} way into the
wheel pit of the big engine.
3\02\{1900} Friday
Worked to day as usual in the
factory. The weather has been quite
cold to day and a little snow fell.
This evening Clyde, Irving, Hiram
Able and myself went to the
Chapel and partly made a
wooden pump to pump out the
furnace pit, came home at nine
o'clock and went to bed.
3\03\1900 Saturday
Worked in the shop as usual
except that tonight we had to draw
the water out of the ditch and get
into the water wheel and get out a
stick that had cloged {clogged??} the gate.
The weather is quite cold.
3\04\{1900} Sunday
The weather has been very nice
and warm to day. This morning
Irving, Clyde and myself went to the
Mill Plain Chapel and put in a copper
dam pump to pump the water out
of the pit that the furnace is in, it
worked good.
In the afternoon we attended worship,
the Rev. Mr. Parry of the Grand Street
Baptice {Baptist??} church preached.
3\05\1900 Monday
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for
practice this evening, we took a short
march up to Mainson's corner.
The French girls (Bertha and Clara)
had a kitchen dance at thir {their??} house this
evening.
3\06\{1900} Tuesday
Worked in the factory. Mr. James
Tobin the superintendent has been
home sick yesterday and to day.
This evening Irving and I went
to the Chapel and worked repairing
the furnace pit in the cellar.
The young people of the neighbor-
hood met in the Chapel to practice
a drill that they expect to give some
time in the future.
3\07\{1900} Wednesday
Worked in the factory 9 hours this
noon I went up on east mountain
to see Miles Payne and was gone
one hour, this evening Irving
and I went to the Chapel and
I worked on the furnace pit in
the cellar. About 8 o'clock the young
people came and the rehursed {rehearsed??} a
fancy drill that is to be given in
the Chapel two weeks from next
Thursday evening. Morris Alcott
also came and helped me on the
furnace pit till 10 o'clock.
To day Mary, Mrs. Able and my
Mother went to the Chapel and
worked quilting a bed quilt.
When Pierpont was carrying Mother
home in the team they met Clyde
with Father's horse and buggy who
waid that Sister Cara had been
taken sick with a fit.
3\08\1900 Thursday
Worked to day in the factory.
This evening Irving and I went
to the Chapel and worked on the
furnace pit till 10:30 o'clock.
Mary went to the grange.
3\09\1900 Friday
Worked to day as usual in the fac-
tory. Last night Michael Dunn
died very sudden of heart disease
he worked yesterday as usual in
the shop and we were talking as
we did almost every day he was
45 years old and had worked at
Rogers and Brother's factory many
years.
The Connecticut Light and Power
Company have today put up sever-
al new electric arc lights one
on the South side of East Main
Street west of my shop, one near
the Mattatuck factory, one on
the Meriden road North of
Carrington's brook and one at
the fork of the Woodtick and
Meriden roads, near the Mill
Plain Chapel.
The Mill Plain School closed to
day for two weeks on account of
many of the pupels {pupils??} being home
sick with the measels {measles??}.
This evening Irving and I went to
the Chapel and worked a little while.
3\10\1900 Saturday
Worked to day as usual in the shop.
This evening after work I went horse
back out on Southington mountain
to see Sam Samuelson about mixing
Carlsen's Portland cement.
A family has moved to day into
the Thomas Melbourne place, which
is now owned by A.B. Pierpont.
A Mr. Brewey of Watervill {??} has
rented the Byam farm.
3\11\1900 Sunday
The weather to day is rather cool.
This morning I saddled the horse
and went over to George Casses and
then he and Charlie Hotchkiss and
myself went horseback over to George
Hines and he saddled his horse
and we then rode to my house
where we watered the horses and
then went to Mr. Robert Hotchkiss
then up to Mr. Thomas Fairclough's
house in Wolcott where we got warm
and he gave us plenty of apples to eat
and cider to drink after which we
went to Mr. William Prichard's and
he gave me {the??} address of Earnest Nichols
No. 78 Maple Street Bristol Conn. which
I wanted.
We then came home stopping on the
way at Adelbert Norton's.
This afternoon I went to the Chapel
the Rev. Mr. Brickley of Trinity church
preached.
3\12\{1900} Monday
Worked to day in the factory.
The weather has been very cold and
windy. Mr. Michael Dunn who died
Thursday night of a paraletic stroke
had a very large funeral yesterday.
It was from the Church of the Sacred
heart (Roman Catholic) and was atten-
ded by many carriages and over
200 people on foot, he was buried in
the new Saint Joseph cemetery.
The Mattatuck Drum Band had
a meeting to night, the minutes of
several meetings past were read
by the Secretary as was the Consti-
tution and By Laws.
3\13\1900 Tuesday
Worked as usual to day.
The weather was very cold this morn-
ing but is warmer to night.
Irving and I went to the Chapel
this evening and repaired the
pump that pumps out the furnace
pit.
3\14\{1900} Wednesday
Worked in the factory to day.
The weather has been very nice and
clear.
This evening, the married men
furnished the supper at the
Chapel, they cleared 19.00.
3\15\1900 Thursday
Worked 10 hours to day as usual.
It began snowing this morning at
nine o'clock and has snowed all day
at night it is about 4 inches deep
and still snowing.
Am going to bed at 9:30 as I am tired
and lame.
3\16\{1900} Friday
Worked to day as usual.
This morning the ground was cov-
ered in many places with slush knee
deep and it was hard traveling {travelling??}
especially for the girls that worked
in the factory.
Clara French began working in
the machine burnishing room at
Rogers & Brothers factory, she left
her home in time but before she
reached the shop she was wet through
and late so she turned back and
went home.
This evening the young folks and
myself went to the Chapel, I tried
a new barrell {barrel??} of Royal Crass{??} cement
on the furnace pit, and found
that it worked much better than
the Alson's which we have had.
There has been a great ice storm
to day and the trees and building
are covered with ice.
3\17\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day as usual in the factory.
This is Saint Patrick's day and is
observed by the Irish by wearing
green ribbons and other emblems.
This day is remarkable from the
fact that the British Government
have given her Irish soldiers liberty
to wear their national plant the
Shamrock and the green and all
of the high government officers are
wearing, in years past it has been
scrictly {strictly??} forbidden.
Clyde and Bertha French went with
my team to day canvassing for
the Young Ladies supper for the
Chapel which is to be given one
week from next Wednesday evening.
Clyde, Irving and myself went to
the Chapel and worked on the furnace
pit a while this evening.
It has been very cold all day and
the boys have had great sport skating
on the frozen snow in the lots.
3\1\1900 Sunday
Stayed about home all day except
that I went to the service at the Chapel.
The Rev. Mr. Trinkans of Waterville
preached.
3\19\1800 {1900??} Monday
Worked as usual.
It has rained all day and much
of the snow has disapeared {disappeared??}|.
Stoped {stopped??} at my shop and looked at
platform which needs repairing.
Told Peter that I would see about Mr.
Clark's wagon which he had run out.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for
practice to night.
3\20\{1900} Tuesday
Worked as usual. This is the first
day of spring, and is warm and
spring like.
This evening I went and saw Sam
Squires and George Cass and Chas
Hotchkiss to see if they will come
and practice at my house tomorrow
night.
The man who has moved into the
Thomas Melbourn place is Mr.
Smithfield and he works at the
clock shop gets 2.75 per day.
3\21\1900 Wednesday
Worked in the factory to day as
usual.
This evening Charles Hotchkiss, George
Case, Clyde, Irving, Henry Bucking-
ham, Harry Buckingham, Sam
Squares and myself practiced
drumming and fifing by the
new method at my house.
3\22\{1900} Thursday
Worked to day as usual.
Henry Buckingham got through
working at Rogers & Brothers this
morning after working there 17 years.
3\23\1900 Friday
Worked to day as usual in the
factory. This evening the boys
met for practice at my house.
3\24\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day in the factory .
This evening Clyde, Irving and
I went to the Chapel and worked
on the furnace pit.
3\25\{1900} Sunday
Went to the Chapel this after-
noon, Rev. Dr. Davenport preached.
3\26\{1900} Monday
Worked in the factory to day
as usual.
This evening the Mattatuck
Drum Band held a meeting
to practice. We also went up to
Charlie Casse's where we bid him
good bye as he is about to move
away to Southington.
Every member of the Band was
present.
3\27\1900 Tuesday
Worked to day as usual.
This evening the young people
went to the Chapel to rehearse {reherse??} for
the entertainment to be given
at the Chapel tomorrow evening.
Irving has been home from school
sick. Henry Buckingham went to
work at Seaville Mfg. Co's to day.
3\28\{1900} Wednesday
Worked to day as usual.
To day in the factory the boys
that work in the making room
struck for more pay.
To day was pay day and this
afternoon after they had received
their pay they marched in
a line about twelve in number
to Mr. Tobin's office and asked for
more pay. He told them to go back
to work but they took their coats
and went home.
This evening the Ladies Union had
a supper and entertainment at
the Chapel. The young ladies furnish-
ed the supper was fine and the
entertainment was excellent.
3\29\1900 Thursday
Worked as usual in the
factory. This evening Charles
Cass, Henry and Harry Buck-
ingham, George Cass, Charles
Hotchkiss and Irving and I
met and practiced playing
sacred music.
General Hubert who was Commander-in-Chief
of the Boer forces in South Africa was buried
to day.
3\30\{1900} Friday
Worked as usual in the factory
to day.
Mr. Byers who is a foreman
of the Machine Burnishing room
of Rogers & Brothers moved to day
into Mr. Carlson's house on the
Southnayd road.
3\31\1900 Saturday
Worked this day as usual,
although the factory did not run
for want of work (or orders).
Received {recived??} a letter from Mrs. John
J. Able No. 1604 Bolton Street Baltimore
Md., enclosing two letters which
Mr. James M. Somers of 158 Park
St. Bridgeport sent her, giving
much information regarding the
Geneology of the Somer's family.
4\01\{1900} Sunday
The weather to day has been clear
and cool, there has been many forest
fires.
This forenoon Charlie Cass, Charlie
Hotchkiss, Henry and Harry
Buckingham, George Cass,
Sam Squares, Clyde, Irving and
myself met and rehearsed fifing and
drumming sacred music, we got through
at about 11:30 o'clock.
This afternoon Mary and I went to
Motehr Pierpont's at East Farms and
there met Wilson and Charlie Pierpont
and we went to the South Woods
and found that Sidney Bronson
had chopped over a piece of land
that belonged to Mother Pierpont
the bounds of which are not to be
found. They agreed that I should
trace the records and find the bounds
if possible and then have Sid pay
the price that the wood was worth
standing.
The Children went to the Mill
Plain Chapel, the Rev. Dr. Parry
preached.
The Rev. Dr. Rooland of St. John's
Church, handed in his resignation
to take effect July 1st he has preached
there 16 years.
4\02\1900 {Monday}
Worked to day as usual in the
factory.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met
for practice at eight o'clock this
evening after practicing a while
we went up to John French's and
drummed in the house to drive
the rats away, after playing
several tunes, the girls brought
out cakes, fruit, coffeee etc. all
of which was very good, at ten
o'clock we came home, and I
went to bed at 10:30.
Charlie Cass moved to day
from the Doolittle place to the
Dick Frisbie place in Marion.
4\03\{1900} Tuesday
Worked in the factory,
the Connecticut Light and
Power Company are surveying
for a trolley line to connect
the Waterbury line at Silver
Street with the Bristol line
at Compound Pond. They have
surveyed up East Main Street to
the Meriden Road and out the Mer-
iden Road to Frank Lockhart's
where they leave the road and
run NorthWest back of Lock-
hart's house and on up the run
to Kilbourn's swamp and across
the West Wolcott Road south of
George Prichard's house and
then North across Long HIll
Road then East crossing the
Wolcott Road again and then
to the vicinity {vacinity??} of the Mad
River which they follow to
Woodtick.
4\04\1900 Wednesday
Worked as usual in the factory.
This evening I worked repairing my
harness.
4\05\1900 Thursday
Worked in the factory.
This evening George Cass, Charlie
Hotchkiss, Charlie Cass, Harry
Buckingham, Clyde, Irving, and
myself practiced drumming and
fifing the following tunes which
we intend to play at the Chapel
next Wednesday. Coronation,
Portuguese Humn, Onward
Christian Soldiers, and Auld Lansyne.
Mary went to the Grange,
I went to Mr. Carlson's and measured
the distance from the house to
the well for a pipe to connect
the tank in house with the
pump.
4\06\{1900} Friday
This morning I wrote a letter
to Montgomery Ward & Co. of Chicago
about boot tops, also a letter to the
M. Richardson Co. of New York, in
which I sent 1.00 to pay last year's
subscription of the "Blacksmith
and Wheelwright" and a letter
to Mr. Buell of Moodres{??} Conn.
Worked in the factory ten hours.
This evening I repaired the horse
saddle, and then practiced drum-
ming with Irving while Clyde
played the fife.
4\07\1900 Saturday
Worked in the factory nine hours
although they pay for ten hours
work Saturdays. The shop was shut
down to day, but the machinists and
several others worked. I worked rep-
airing the main shaft where one of
the pillow blacks had been burned
out and was loose.
The Waterbury Republican Publish-
ing Co. offered to pay the expenses
of ten School teachers of the town
and city who obtained the largest
number of votes of the people who
buy the Republican News paper.
Each paper entitled the purchaser
to 5 votes. Yesterday evening the
voting ended, and announced {??} the
ten who are going is Cousin
Jennie Phillips, she received
about 70,000 votes.
This evening Sam Squares,
George Cass, Harry and Henry
Buckingham, Clyde, Irving,
and myself met and rehearsed
drumming and fifing. We prac-
tised till 10 o'clock.
I sold to Miles Payne one planing {plaining??}
machine for planing {plaining??} wood for
which he paid me $10.00 he also paid
me 1.00 for a saw arbour. He bought
too a length of shaft two hangers
and three belt pulleys, weight 300 lbs
for which he is to pay $9.00.
4\08\1900 Sunday
Got up at six this morning and
white washed my little-room,
after which I did the barn chores,
then Pierpont and Raymond who
were up called the boys and
girls, and we had breakfast
after which, Harry and Henry
Buckingham, George Cass, Charlie
Hotchkiss came and we practiced
drumming and fifing sacred music
till near noon after which George Cass
and Henry Buckingham went to
Marion to see Charlie Cass, and
Harry Buckingham stayed and
copied {copyed??} music.
I got washed and saddled the horse
and went to Dan Square's to see
if Sam would get Sidney Risland's
drum tomorrow. I then came home
and got ready for the Chapel service
which I attended. The Rev. Mr. Rafter of
Waterville preached, the service was
fairly well attended, Mary and I
came home together {togather??} crossing the
lots, as we came home we saw away
to the South, east and west
great forest fires burning.
After we had ate supper of baked
potatoes, baked beef, escollaped oysters,
pudding, etc., I went out to see
Mr. Harry Garrigus about doing
some joiner work at my shop,
came home at eight o'clock.
While I was there Henry Cass came to
see Bessie.
While we were eating supper George
Cass and Charlie Hotchkiss came to
see Clyde about making arrangements
for the poverty supper to be given
at the Chapel next Wednesday evening.
4\09\1900 Monday
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Band met for practice, it was voted
to go to Marion and drum three
weeks from to night.
At 4 o'clock I left the shop and Clyde
and I went to Mr. Carlson's and
laid a water-pipe from the pump
to the house, the well is a drilled well
6 in. in diameter and 66 ft. deep, the
first 30 ft. is through earth and the
remainder rock, they drilled 62 ft.
before striking water and then it
filled up to within 15 ft. of the
top, I did not have pipe enough
into six inches so I could not
finish the job.
4\10\1900 Tuesday
Worked as usual in the factory.
Went to night after work to Mr.
Carlson's and put in the re-
mainder of the pipe, then came
home had supper of roast beef
of which I am fond, then went
to the Chapel and rehearsed
martial music for the enter-
tainment next Wednesday
evening, it was cold when we
came home.
4\11\{1900} Wednesday
Worked as usual in the factory.
This evening, the young met of
the neighborhood gave a poverty
supper at the Chapel.
The supper was the same as usual
but they fined everybody a small
fee that wore any jewelry {juelery??} white
collars, cuffs, shirts, or ribbons {ribbens??},
neckties, etc. etc.
For entertainment a few of the
members of the Mattatuck Drum
Corps played sacred music, it
did not seem to take very well.
Then we played the Russian march
to the old style and time and that
brought great applause.
They took in 14.22.
4\12\1900 Thursday
Worked in the factory to day as
usual.
To day is my Father's birthday and
he is 70 years old, this evening all
of the children and their wives {wives??} and all
the grandchildren had supper at Father's
in honor of the event, there were 21
present including Mr. William Gillette
and Hattie Burgher of Prospect,
Frank, who is a rooler{??} at Benedict &
Burnham's had to work till 10 o'clock
and could not be there and Fred
and his wife who live in Detroit
were absent.
4\13\1900 Friday
This is Fast day and the factory
is closed.
This morning Clyde mounted on
Father's horse and I and old Jack started
for Woodbury. Went in East Main
Street to Silver, then over new Washing-
ton Street to the old Lawn Plot Road
on Highland Avenue as it is now
called then across Tamrack Swamp
to the Middlebury Road which we
follwoed to Middlebury then on
past the lower end of Luassapough{??}
Pond and over the hills to Wood-
bury which we reached at noon.
We went to Mr. Shelley's blacksmith
shop and saw him, and told him that we were looking for some grand army
men who knew about the exercises
that were to be held on Decoration
Day, he referred me to a Mr. Strong,
and Mr. David L. Somers, who
were members of the "Order of American
Mechanics," who have charge of the
exercises, we then went and had
our horses put out at the Central
Hotel and had dinner our selves
for which we paid .50 cts. each for
the dinner and .25 cts. each for the
horses' feed.
We then called on Mr. Strong at
his Drug Store and gave him our
terms which were $12.00 and expenses.
He seemed pleased, and will let us
know next week whether they will
need us or not.
We then went to the house of
David L. Somers, which was situated
off the road from Woodbury to
Watertown. He too seemed pleased
as it relieved him of a load, he had
to look up a Drum Corps.
We then came home via the
Watertown and Bunker Hill roads where
we turned South and came out
onto the Middlebury road at
Tamrack Swamp.
We then stopped at Mr. George Connor's
for a few minutes and then came
home which we reached at about 6:30
o'clock.
4\1\1900 Saturday
No work in the factory to day.
Did not get up till 6:30 o'clock,
had breakfast late and went to
my shop with Clyde and loaded
a lot of plant on the wagon for
him to take to the shop of
C.E. Smith on Benedict Street
to have edged up, went with
him the first load and he kept
on drawing all day, I went to
a barber's shop and had my
hair cut and also got shaved, for
which I paid 35 cts. I then went to
the town clerk's office and looked
over the land records to find
out about the property of Austin
Pierpont 1850, stayed there till noon,
came home, got dinner, and went
back again taking Irving with
me, worked copying till 5 o'clock
when we came home.
4\15\1900 Sunday
Stayed about home till Chapel time
when I went to the Service. This is Easter
Sunday and the Chapel was filled
nearly every seat being taken.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached.
After service we came home, and I
ground up some horse radish after
which we ate supper of roast beef, after
supper I jumped on the horse's back
and went to Adelbert Norton's in
Wolcott and got a uniform that he
had that belonged to the Mattatuck
Drum Corps.
Ted Hine got shot in the leg last
Friday by an Italian who was try-
ing to sell him a revolver, and not
knowing that it was loaded, it
went off while he was showing
him how it worked.
4\16\1900 Monday
Worked in the shop to day as
usual.
Clyde worked drawing plank
from my shop to Mr. Smith's
mill and had them edged up and
then drew them back again.
The Mattatuck Drum Band
had a meeting this evening
and they voted to appoint
Howard Neal, Herman Gessert
and George Somers a committee
to act with the Leader to see
about repairing the uniforms,
also voted to have each member
buy a pair of indigo blue pants
to use with uniforms.
4\17\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at Rogers & Brothers'
factory.
Charlie Trepanier commenced
working at my shop putting down
a new floor and the west staging.
4\18\{1900} Wednesday
Worked in the factory as usual.
Received my pay at the shop
which amounted to 9.00.
Wrote three postal cards to Concrete
side-walk contractors this morning
for Morris Alcott.
Charlie Trepanier worked for me a spell to
day.
4\19\1900 Thursday
Worked to day as usual for Rogers
& Brothers.
This evening I went to the Grange
and heard Dr. Munn lecture on
the Mound builders of North
America.
4\20\{1900} Friday
Worked as usual to day.
The weather has been wet and warm.
We ploughed the garden this evening.
4\21\{1900} Saturday
The factory shut down to day, but
I had work. This evening I worked
papering my room.
4\22\1900 Sunday
Went to the Chapel to day, the Rev.
Dr. Harman preached the attendance
was not as large as it is sometimes.
This evening I went out and saw
Nelson Todd about land bounds.
4\23\1900 Monday
Worked as usual to day. The weather
has been fine.
A family of Italians (I think) has
moved into the Doolittle place to
day. The Mattatuck Drum Band
met for practice this evening and
after transacting the usual business
we went out and marched down the
Cheshire Road, up the Southayd Road
to the Meriden Road out the Meriden
and down the Doolittle Road to
John French's where we stopped and
had a drink of water and after play-
ing several pieces, and getting Clara
and John who had gone to bed up
we marched home. This morning
Clyde, Irving and I got up at 3:30
this morning and went to the
Doolittle place and got a load of
hay.
4\24\1900 Tuesday
Worked as usual to day. This noon
as the children were eating dinner
Margaret had a sort of spasm,
and Mary sent for the doctor who
did notning for her and could not
account for it. This evening I went
to see Edwin Welton on Linden
Street but he was not at home.
4\25\[1900} Wednesday
Worked to day as usual at Rogers &
Brothers Factory.
This evening I went to the supper
and entertainment at Mill Plain
Chapel. This is the last regular
supper to be given this season.
The supper was a success about 10.00
was realized.
The entertainment consisted of
a selection on the piano, a
reading by Mrs. Eddy, recitation
by Lena Hurlburt, reading by
a watch-shop girl, flute solo by Rev.
Mr. Pinkus, bass solo by Mr. Buck
of Waterville, reading by Mr. Rafter
of Waterville etc.
4\26\{1900} Thursday
Worked in the factory to day.
The weather was very cold last
night.
This evening I received a uniform
coat from Major Charles B. Andrus
of the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford
and Irving and I went to town with
it and saw Mr. Gessert about having
our coats made over similar to
it.
4\27\{1900} Friday
Worked in the factory to day
as usual. The factory did not run
to day.
4\28\{1900} Saturday
Worked in the factory.
This evening Irving and I went
to town and saw Mr. Gessert and
he said that the uniforms for the
Mattatuck Drum Corps were not
worth making over.
We then went to Mr. Davenport's
and borrowed the history of Fairfield
County and also the history of Conn.
by Barber.
Irving then went to Mr. Gessert's tailor
shop and got the coat that belonged to
the Putnam Planx of Hartford
and then both of us went to Goldstine's
on South Main Street to see about having
boot-tops made for the drum corps.
4\29\1900 Sunday
This morning Irving, Pierpont
and myself, and Clyde on his
Bicycle went up to the North West
part of Wolcott and got a lot of trailing
arbutus.
John Cunningham of the 9th Regt.
United States Volunteers who died
while in service in the Phillipine Islands
last January was buried in Calvary
Cemetary this afternoon with military
honours, C.J.C.D.G.{??} attending in
a body, and fired three volleys over
the grave.
The Rev. Dr. Anderson preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
4\30\1900 Monday
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening it was very cloudy
and dark, we had a slight thunder
shower about six o'clock. About 7
Herman Gessert, George Somers,
Burt Haskins, and Howard Neal
came in a double team, and George
Cass and Harry Buckingham
were in George Cass' team, Fred
Somers and George Atkinson were
in George's team, Charlie Hotchkiss
and Sam Squires were in Charlie
Hotchkiss' team, and I had Clyde,
Irving, Henry Buckingham and
myself in my own team, and we
went to Marion where we drummed
from Mr. Neal's to Charlie Cass'
house where we had cake, lemonade,
cider etc. after which we marched to
Mrs. Neal's and had more refresh-
ments, and then came home where we
arrived at about 2 o'clock.
As we went through East Farms
the Southwoods were all on fire
and a great amount of wood that
was cut and piled ready for market
was burning in amount I should
judge about 200 cords, it belongs
to Sidney Bronson and Benedict
& Burnham.
5\01\{1900} Tuesday
Ringland Brothers' Circus is
in town to day and nearly all
of the factories are closed.
I worked planting in the garden
till 9 o'clock when I hitched up
and took the children down to
see the street parade, which was the
largest I ever saw. I stood near the
Soldier's monument and by the
clock in St. John's Church tower. It
was 1/2 hour in passing. There
were four bands of music, many
open cages containing Lions,
Hoppopotomas', Leopards, Tigers,
etc. etc., also about 10 Elephants, one
of which was drawing a heavy
cannon, and many horse back
riders etc., we came home after
the parade, and worked in the garden
till about 5 o'clock, when I rode to
David Frisbie's at Woodtick, came
home at dark, am not feeling well to
day as I caught a bad cold yesterday
and last night and have the grippe
or influenza, which almost everyone
is suffering with.
5\02\1900 Wednesday
Worked as usual in the factory to day.
Received my pay 13.50 for last week's
work.
5\03\1900 Thursday
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
We had a thunder shower at six this
evening and it is still raining.
5\04\{1900} Friday
Worked in the factory today as usual.
The weather is very cold. Quite a little
snow fell this forenoon so the ground
was covered, but it soon melted.
5\05\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day. This evening Irving
and I went to town. It was so cold
that we wore our overcoats. We
went first to Jones and Margan's
Clothing Store where I bought a pair
of blue pants for $3.50, a hat for .98 and
they threw in a pair of webbing sus-
penders. We then went to P.J. Boylan's
hardware store and bought a lot of
seed and a belt punch for .50 cts.,
we then went to Hemingway's fish
market and bought 1/2 pk. of clams
for .30 cts. We then went to City
Corners to Brother Frank's and
he gave me a lot of garden seed. We
then came home which we reached
about 9 o'clock.
5\06\1900 Sunday
This morning Clyde took the horse and
buggy and with a party of young
folks went to Meriden Mountain. They
were to be back before Chapel time but
George Hine's horse had the colic and they
thought it would die, so they were late
about getting home.
This afternoon I attended meeting at the
Chapel, the Rev. Mr. Parry preached, the
Chapel was well filled.
5\07\{1900} Monday
Worked to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met this
evening and elected officers as follows:
C.S. Miller Leader, Charles Cass Assistant
Leader, George Cass Secretary,
Charles Hotchkiss Treasurer, Howard
Neal Property Manager.
5\08\1900 Tuesday
Worked to day.
This evening I rode horse-back to
Cheshire center and saw Rev. Mr.
Nichols about turning out in
Cheshire Decoration Day. He thinks
that they will have no exercises there.
{5\9\1900} Wednesday
Worked as usual today.
The Ladies of Mill Plain gave
a stocking sociable this evening
in the Chapel, i.e. the ladies
sent out a large number of very
small stockings to the people, and
they brought them to the door and
each contained double the number
of cents that the size of the stocking
was that they wore. This was taken
from the stocking and the
stocking was returned, and they
received a check which entitled
each to ice cream and cake.
They took in $41.00.
5\10\1900 Thursday
Worked to day as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange.
I also went to Simonsville and saw
Brother Frank. He was to find out from
Jim Walker how the Second Reg't used
to whiten their cross belts, but Jim
had forgotton and Frank told me to
see Major Spenser.
5\11\{1900} Friday
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening planted potatoes, and
worked about the garden. There was
a severe frost this morning as there
has been for several mornings.
{5\12\1900} Saturday
Worked as usual to day.
There was a frost this morning.
This evening I got through work at
4:30 o'clock came home in the
spindle buggy which Irving drove
down after me, had supper of
codfish and potatoes, after which I
and Clyde went to the Mill Plain
Chapel and helped Morris Alcott lift
up the platform so as to get the
crash from under it. I then went\
to see Mark Pond but he was not
home. We then drove to town, and
went and saw Mr. Minar about
making some boottops for the
Mattatuck Drum Band. I also
bought a pair of shoes for 2.50, we
then went to No. 61 Church Street
and saw Major Spenser about whiting
leather belts. He said use pulverized chalk,
gum arabic and glycerine. We then
went to the store of P.J. Baylor and
bought a hoe for which I paid 45 cts.
We then went to Hemingway's
fish market and bought 1/2 peck of
long clams for which I paid .30 cts.,
we then came home and then Clyde
and I finished a grape arbor which
we started this morning.
5\13\1900 Sunday
This morning I arose at about 6:30,
called Clyde and we ran the grape vines
upon the arbor, after which we ate break-
fast of boiled long clams. I then rode
over to George Cass' to see if he would
like to go to Cornwall Hollow Decoration
Day, provided the drum band did not
turn out, then came home and got
ready for the Chapel which I attended
at three o'clock. The Rev. Mr. hannon
preached. When we were coming home
Mrs. Cora Broadbent who has been
doing house-work for Major Tucker
told Mary that she is to get through
at Mr. Tucker's tomorrow or next day
as Mr. Charles Horn has rented Mr.
Tucker's house and is going to move
in Tuesday.
While I was waiting for supper,
Mary's brother Charlie Pierpont came
and wanted me to go out to the
South Woods and look at some land
bounds with him and John and
Elmer Pierpont. I ate a little supper
of pork and cowslips, and started
horseback and went out the plank
road and got there before they did,
found John Pierpont already there
and in a hurry to get away. John had
already been over the ground with Sid
Bronson yesterday and Uncle Joe Somers
this morning and found nearly all
of the bounds. They decided to have
Mr. Patten survey the land and make
a map of it. John borrowed some maps
from Jennie Bronson, and after we
had finished I carried them home
to her, I then went up and in the
Meriden Road home, and then listened
to Mary while she read to the children.
Robert D. Barrett who lives in the
old John Mix place, died at 11 o'clock last
night of a tumor inside of the lower
stomach.
5\14\{1900} Monday
Worked to day in the factory.
Mr. Charles Horne moved into
Mr. George W. Tucker's house to
day, the family consists of Mr.
and Mrs. Horne, Mrs. Horne's mother,
and a young man boarder.
Mr. Horne is a superintendant at
the Seaville Mfg. Co.
5\15\1900 Tuesday
Worked in the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I went to Mr. Robert
Barrett's funeral, it was held in the
Mill Plain Chapel and the Rev. Mr.
Hanman of the First Methodist
Church officiated. He was buried
on the South slope of the hill in
the Mill Plain on Pine Grove Cemetary.
This afternoon I went after the funeral
to see Nelson Todd about the bounds
in the South woods of East Farms.
5\16\{1900} Wednesday
Worked to day as usual. Received
my pay for last week's work.
After I got home Irving, Pierpont,
Raymond, Margaret, and Ruth
went out to the South Woods
at East Farms and gathered 1/2 bushel{??} of cowslips.
5\17\{1900} Thursday
Mary and
I went to the Grange this evening.
The factory did not run to day on
account of Forepough's Circus being
in town. I spent the greater part
of the day in working about home.
this afternoon Wilson Pierpont and
I went out to the South woods and
looked over the bounds of Mother
Pierpont's piece of woods that Sid
Bronson had cut off. We found
three of them, but the North West
bound we could not find.
5\18\1900 Friday
Worked as usual to day.
5\19\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day, but the shop did
not run.
5\20\1900 Sunday
The sun shone bright this morning. I got
up about seven o'clock, had breakfast
of codfish potatoes oatmeal etc. after reading
a spell in the History of Fairfield County,
Irving, Pierpont, and I went out to see
Nelson Todd and have him show us the
bounds in the South woods, but he
was not at home. We then went over
to the old William Munson place
and to an old Saw Mill site. This mill
was built by Warren Austin and Charles
Hall in company, when it was finished
they got mad at each other and neither
dared use the mill, so it ratted down
not a vestige of it remains except
some of the stone work on which it
stood.
This afternoon we went to the
Chapel. Rev. Mr. Hannon preached.
After Chapel Mary and I went to see
Mother who has been very sick.
5\21\1900 Monday
Worked to day in the factory.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps held its regular meeting for
practice.
5\22\{1900} Tuesday
Worked to day for Rogers & Brother's
as usual. The factory ran 10 hours for
the first time since last December.
5\23\{1900} Wednesday
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
This evening Mary and I went to the
annual meeting of the Mill Plain
Chapel Society. The following
officers were elected:
Morris Alcott for the Episcopal Committee,
Charles Schiller " Congregational Committee,
Willie Garrigus " Methodist Committee,
Robert Worden " Baptist Committee,
Arthur J. Pierpont, Secretary,
H.J. Able, Treasurer,
Inez Beckwith, Organist,
Mr. Garrigus, Sunday School Superintendant,
Henry Cook, Asst. Superintendant.
The treasurer reported 47.04 in Chapel
treasury, and Mrs. Munson reported
199.44 in the treasury of the Ladies
Union. Mr. Garrigus reported 42.08
in the Sunday School treasury.
making a total of 288.56 in all.
5\24\1900 Thursday
Worked to day as usual.
The weather to day has been fine.
Mary and I went this evening to
the Grange.
5\25\{1900} Friday
Worked to day as usual.
5\26\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day moving the fence
on the North side of Rogers & Brothers
shop to the new line adjoining
the park.
This evening Irving, Pierpont, and
I went to town, and saw the new
10 inch morters and piles of bomb
shells that were placed about the
Soldier's monument yesterday.
I then went and saw major Spenser
about the program of exercises at the
dedication of the Sedwick memorial at
Cornwall Hollow. He sent me to Mr.
Melton who is in the Waterbury shoe
store, who had a program which was
sent him by the Honorable Thoedore{??}
Sedwick Gold of cornwall. I then went
to H.W. Lakes drug store and bought
1 lb. of ground chalk, a small bottle of
glycerine, and 1/4 lb of gum arabic.
We then came home and I then
drove to Arthur Pierpont's at East
Farms, after Mary. The Storrs
Agricultural College extension circle
held their last meeting and a prize
was to be awarded the one who had
the best paper and Mary and Rev. Mr.
Waters of Wolcott were the judges.
5\27\{1900} Sunday
Stayed about home a good share of
the day except that I went to the
trolley car and met Mr. Davenport
and carried him to the Chapel where
he preached. There was a good attendence.
I carried him back to the cars and then
took Father's team which I had home.
Clyde met me there with my own
team, and we went and saw Charlie
Hotchkiss about going to Cornwall
Holloy{??} next Wednesday. We then
came home and ate supper of boiled
chicken. This evening Agness and
Olive Able came and brought their
little baby and played on the organ
several pieces, they then were weighed
and Agness weighed 121 lbs, Olive 122 1/4
lbs and the baby 26 lbs.
5\28\1900 Monday
Worked all day as usual in Rogers & Brother's
factory.
The weather has been very cool to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met this
evening for practice, Herman Gessert
presented a bill from his father Herbert
Gessert for cleaning and repairing the
Drum Corps coats and vests which amount-
ed to 14.00 which was approved and ordered
paid.
5\29\1900 Tuesday
Worked this forenoon in the factory.
Came home at noon and got ready to
go to North Goshen, ate my dinner.
Soon Charlie Hotchkiss came and
said that Henry Cook was not going,
so we made arrangement for Clyde
to ride in the two seated canopy top
wagon with George Cass, Rob, and Charlie
Hotchkiss, while Irving rode with me.
We started at two o'clock and went
through Waterbury Center, to Watertown,
then over newly worked roads, which
were soft and dusty to East Morris,
then through Litchfield center to
Goshen East Street which we travelled
to North Goshen, which we reached at
8 o'clock. We soon had our horses put
out in comfortable barn stables, and
Cousin Malachi, and Lillie and Marion
had supper ready, which we ate with a
relish, after which we fed the horses, and
then thought of retiring for the night
as we were quite tired, but Marion
suggested that we sing which we did
till near midnight while she played
on the organ. In the meantime Cousin
Lillie and Mal had got a great supply
of bedding and blankets in the room
which was their parlor and after we had
done singing, at Cousin Lillie's request
I told all the rest to leave the room, while
she and I spread two beds on the floor.
We then retired, Charles Hotchkiss and
Clyde in a bed in an adjoining room
and Rob Hotchkiss, George Cass,
Irving and myself in the beds on the
floor. It mattered not whether we
had a high bed or a bed on the floor
for we all slept sound.
5\30\{1900} Wednesday
This morning we got up at quarter to
four and after folding up the quilts
and blankets we went to the barn
and looked after the stock or rather
the horses. We then went up to
Mr. Thoeren Luddington's and got
permission to use his boats on the
north Pond and also the key to
the little building where they store
the oars {ores??}. We then went to the
pond and took two boats and rowed
to the North end and then started
for the tipping rock about 1/4 mile
distant. We picked some large winter-
green berries, and young wintergreen
on the way. The rock sets on the top
of a large flat ledge, and it is said
to weight 80 tons. It is somewhat the
shape of an egg lying on its side.
By lifting on the long end a little
while it will tip to the East, the
top moving about three inches, and
then by using a very little power
it will continue to rock back and
forth. Robert Hotchkiss had his camera
with him and took a picture of the
rock and all of us on it. We then went
back to cousin Mal's and had breakfast
of fried ham and canned salmon {caned samon??} after
which the boys went out on Beaver Pond
in a boat fishing. Cousin Mall caught
three pickeral that would weigh 3/4 of a
pound each and Rob Hotchkiss caught
one about the same size and another
that weighed 2 3/4 lbs.
We then got ready, and while we
were hitching up to go to Cornwall
Hollow there passed a number of
teams all going too, each of which
was decorated with flags and many
contained an old veteran, dressed in
blue with the cross of the Sixth Army
Corps on his breast. The distance is
four miles, and as we went down
the mountain into the hollow
we could look across the valley
and see long lines of teams
coming from every direction.
We found a place to put our horses
in the yard of a farmer just
North of the Cemetary and then we took
a look at the Memorial, which
consisted of a base of cut granite
about 12 ft. wide by 20 ft. long on
the North end of which stands a mon-
ument about 18 ft. in height and 2 1/2 ft.
thick by 5 ft. at the base.
On the front of the monument is the follow-
ing inscription composed by Dr. William
Welch of John Hopkin's University.
This memorial including ordnance.
Used in the Mexican and Civil wars
And given by the government of the
United States in honor of
Maj. John Sedwick,
Commander of the Sixth Corps,
Army of the Potomac,
Who gave his life for the
Preservation of the Union.
"A skillful soldier, a brave leader, a
beloved commander, and loyal gentle-
man. The fittest place where man
can die, is where man died for man."
On the North side is inscribed a list
of the battles in which General Sedwick
participated,
Vera Cruz,
Cerro Gordo,
Peribla {??}
Cherribusco,
Il Molino del Ray,
Mexico.
Fair Oaks.
Antietam.
Fredericksburg.
Gettysburg.
The Wilderness,
Spottsylvania.
At Spottsylvania May 1 1864 Gen.
Sedwick was killed.
In front of the monument and mounted
upon a large block of granite is a large
howitzer which I should think is 10 ft.
long and would fire a 10 in. shell, while
on each side of the base stands three
piles of bomb shells 10 in. in diameter.
We then went into the little Baptist
Church, and also into the Cemetary
where we spent some time looking about.
Soon we heard the music of a brass band
in the distance and saw a cloud of dust
which told that the procession from the
Rail Road Station at Cornwall Bridge
six miles away was approaching.
A procession was immediately formd
consisting of the Governor and his Staff
officers, veterans of the war of the rebellion,
and citizens headed by the Winsted Band
which marched to General Sedwick's monument
in the Cemetery, where the exercises opened
by a prayer by Rev. W.C. Ferris. The next
was the placing of a garland of leaves
at the foot of the monument by the
Admiral Foot Posts of New Haven,
then General Laurence laid at the foot
of the monument a Rebel battle blag which
was captured at Spottsylvania Court House
by the Sixth Corps, he tore off a strip and
presented it to Hon. J.S. Gold, who was
chairman of the Committee of Arrangements
and is 82 years old.
Then came the decorating of the soldiers
graves by the veterans, while the assembly
moved to the memorial which stands in
the street in front of the Cemetary.
Then came an address by J.S. Gold and
he also presented the memorial to the
town of Cornwall, next Miss Clara
B. Sedwick unveiled the monument
and the Hon. David L. Smith, Chairman
of the Board of Selectment, accepted it in
behalf of the town.
Then the assembly adjourned to a
large two center pole tent where dinner
was served to all.
It is estimated that there were present
about 7,000 people. Free lemonade was
also served throughout the day.
After dinner the speakers assembled
on the platform which had been
erected in front of the Church.
J.S. Gold read a poem which was
written by Mrs. Elizabeth John Vail.
There was also a poem read that was
written by the Rev. Samuel J. Andrews.
J.S. Gold had several letters of regret
from gentlemen of high standing
among which was one from President
McKinley.
Next came an address by his
Excellency George E. Lansbury.
Then followed a speech by Hon.
E.J. Hill, ex-United States Senator.
Also, the reading of letters of regret
from Gen. Miles, USA., Gen. Wilson,
and several other Generals of the
U.S. Army.
Then an address by Dr. Welch.
Next came Governor Pingeree of Vermont
who had come 400 miles to attend
this dedication, he had served under
General Sedgwick in the war.
He was followed by the Rev. Samuel
Seaville of Cornwall, who mad a
spicy address.
Then followed remarks by General
Kent who was an officer under
Gen. Sedgwick in the war.
The exercises were then concluded
by the Band playing several patriotic
selections.
We then went to the Barn and
hitched up our horses and started
for Waterbury 30 miles distant, it
was then about 3:30 o'clock.
We travelled from Cornwall
Hollow up the mountain to Goshen
Center, thence to Litchfield Center, then
down South Street to the Thomaston
Road which we took and came to
Renold's Bridge, then through Waterville
to Waterbury and home, which we
reached at 9:30 o'clock.
5\31\{1900} Thursday
Worked 10 hours in the factory to day.
Mary and I went to the Grange this
evening, it was Chaplin's night and
he, Mr. Garrigus, wished me to read
a poem but the print was so fine I
could not see to read it and I got
Mary to do it for me, and I came
home as I was very sleepy.
6\01\1900 Friday
Worked in the factory to day.
6\02\1900 Saturday
Worked as usual to day, but the factory
did not run.
This evening I went to town to see Mr.
Wallace Camp, about the mortgage on my house.
6\03\1900 Sunday
I did not get up very early this morning,
but when I did, I cut Pierpont's and Raymond's
hair and ate breakfast of boild canned salmon,
after which I helped Irving write an article
on the Rev. John Read who preached in Waterbury
in 1699.
This afternoon my whole family went to
the Chapel to hear the Rev. Mr. Buckley
preach and also to hear his Choir sing.
There were 24 singers in the Choir and
such good singing was never heard in the
Chapel before. After Chapel Clyde went and
carried Mr. and Mrs. Porter home after which
he came back to the Chapel and Mary, Ruth
and Margaret rode home.
6\04\{1900} Monday
Worked to day as usual in the fac-
tory, I went out and worked out
the fence that we are building
between Rogers & Brother's property
and Hamilton Park, after I had
oiled up the shafting.
6\05\{1900} Tuesday
Worked in the factory to day. This
forenoon I went to the Waterbury
Lumber Co. and bought a lot of lumber
for Rogers & Brother's. I also called on
Mr. Wallace Camp to see about paying
him the interest money I owe Mrs.
Catherine Munger on a mortgage
note she holds against me.
Also I called on Mr. Porter Wood to
see about the tuition money that
the State pays for the education
of children in High schools in every
town except Waterbury.
This evening I went to the Chapel
and helped get ready for the straw-
berry festival to be given tomorrow
evening.
6\06\1900 Wednesday
Worked painting roofs at the shop
to day.
This evening I drove my team t o
carry passengers from the trolley
cars to the Chapel, made nine
trips altogether. The festival was a {success??}.
The Chapel cleared about $38.00. Mary
sold ice cream. Mr. John Lines' orchestra
furnished the entertainment which was
of a musical nature and was excellent.
Came home and retired at eleven o'clock.
6\07\1900 Thursday
Working painting the roof's of the
Office and Packing Buildings. It
began to rain at three o'clock and
continued till the present time. It
has washed much of the paint off the
roofs.
6\08\{1900} Friday
Worked painting roofs at the shop
today. The lumber came that I
ordered last Tuesday.
6\09\{1900} Saturday
Worked in the factory to day.
Got through at 4:30 and went to the
Chapel and worked grading and
repairing walk.
6\10\{1900} Sunday
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
Rev. Mr. Parry of the Grand Street
Baptist Church preached.
6\11\{1900} Monday
Went to the factory this morning but
Mr. Tobin sent me up to the Brass
Mill to repair the waterwheel so we could
run water over it to help us out.
The wheel is a 34 ft. overshot with 10 ft.
buckets, and was made in 1845, has run
ever since till about 4 weeks ago when
it got clogged.
6\12\1900 Tuesday
Worked to day at the factory paint-
ing the roof over the buffing and
burnishing rooms.
6\13\{1900} Wednesday
Worked in the factory to day.
There is great excitement in this neigh-
borhood tonight over a rape that
has been committed at East Farms.
About 2 o'clock Windola Northrop who
attends school there went out to the
watercloset and after she had entered
a man rushed in and grabbed her and
held his hand over her mouth and
threatened to kill her with a big knife
he had in his hand if she made any
noise. He then raped her and told
her that if she told he would kill
her.
I heard of it at about 8 o'clock and
immediately put the saddle on Jack's
back and in a short time was at
Charlie Browne's house. He told me
about it and soon Mr. Northrop
came. They were going to town to
see Sheriff Rigney. They had all-
ready been to Cheshire, but could
get no trace of the man, who Mrs.
Northrop, who met him on the road
described as rather short and stout
somewhat, with a smooth dark face,
wore a brown hat, and brown coat
and dark pants. When Milan Northrop
and Charlie Brown started for town
I started for Cheshire to see John
Mass who lives at Gilletts Corner
on the Plank Road. I stopped at Ed
Welton's but they had seen nothing
of him. I went on and soon reached
John Masse's, they were in bed but I got
him up and we found that a man
answering that description had been
there at about three o'clock and she
had given him something to eat, and
that he stopped at Mrs. Water's about
one mile East nearly an hour later.
John masse's boy also met him this
side of Cheshire before five o'clock.
Ed Bronson and George Benham
had already been to Cheshire and
they learned that a man of that
description had been at Dunworth's
Hotel and bought a glass of beer
and then went on. They also learned
that there is a bald spot on the top
of his head, as he was passing a
ball that chanced to play from
some boys that were playing
struck his hat and knocked it
off. When I got back I stopped at
Mother Pierpont's and telephoned
to the police headquarters and let
them know that the man had gone
to Cheshire. I then went to Sid
Bronson's and talked with them a
spell, then went to Chas Brown's and
left word for them to tell Milan
and then started for home. I met
Charlie Brown and Milan Northrop
near Wedge's house. They had seen
Sheriff Rigney and he is coming
out in the morning. I then came home.
6\14\1900 Thursday
Worked to day in the factory.
6\15\{1900} Friday
Worked in the factory to day.
6\16\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
The factory shut down at noon, i.e.
those that were working which in-
cluded the machinists and several
others, the rest of the hands did not
work at all to day.
This afternoon Clyde, Irving and I
went to the Mill Plain Chapel and
worked grading around it and
mowed the grass.
This evening Clyde and I went to
town to see about having boot tops
made for the Mattatuck Drum Band.
We could not find anyone who would
make them.
6\17\{1900} Sunday
Mrs. Thatcher who lives with her
family which includes her husband
and four children in the old Levinas
Warner place on the West Wolcott
Road died last night.
The death was caused as follows.
Several days ago she with her son
had been away with a new horse
and on their return home the boy
threw the reins on the horse's back
as he had been in the habit of doing
with the old horse when he started
and ran away. Mrs. Thatcher attempted
to jump from the wagon and caught
her leg in the wheel which broke it.
It was set about five hours after
but not properly and Friday
night lockjaw set in which caused
her death. She was a splendid woman
and loved by all who knew her.
She is to be buried at Pine Grove
Cemetary tomorrow afternoon.
We all went to the Chapel this after-
noon and heard the Rev. Mr. Bassett
preach.
After Chapel Clyde and I went to
David Henderson's on the West Wolcott
Road and saw Archie about learning
the boys to fife.
We then came home and had supper
and I then went out to Robert Worden's
and then to Charlie Cass' at Marion
where I stayed till 10 o'clock got home
at eleven.
6\18\{1900} Monday
Worked to day in the factory.
This evening I went to see Luther
Bradley about doing some carpenter work
about the Chapel. He was so busy that
he could not do it. While I was riding
out I met Edie Pierpont and she told
me that Sheriff Rigney had caught
the man who assaulted Windola
Northrop last Wednesday.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met
for practice this evening. We marched
to George Cass' and he gave some
lemonade and bananas.
Mrs. John Thatcher was buried in
the Pine Grove Cemetary this
afternoon, the funeral service was
held in the Mill Plain Chapel and
the Rev. Mr. Waters of Wolcott officiated.
The Chapel was well filled, the pall-
bearers were John Gallagher, Arden H.
Cae, George W. Tucker and Wilson Pierpont.
Mrs. Thatcher was 43 years old.
6\19\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
6\20\{1900} Wednesday
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening Clyde and I went to
town and saw Mr. Mellon at the
Waterbury Shoe Store about getting
boot tops for the Mattatuck Drum
Band. He thought he could furnish them
for 1.74 per pair. I also bought a pair
of everyday shoes for $1.50.
We then went to Hotchkiss and
Templeton's and bought two scythes
for 1.50, one scythe for .60, five
lbs. spikes .25, 2 screw hooks .10 and
one emery scythe sharpener .15 cts.
We went to see Mr. Davenport about
coming to Mill Plain Chapel to
preach Sunday, but he was not at
home.
Irving graduated from the eighth
grade int he Crosby grammar school
to day.
6\21\1900 Thursday
Worked to day as usual.
The National Republican Convention
at Philadelphia have to day
nominated President McKinley
and Governor Roosevelt of New York
candidates for President and Vice
President of the United States.
Mary and I went to the Grange this
evening.
Mr. James Porter was taken sick this
forenoon with chills and shakes, they
called Dr. Axtelle.
Irv's 14th birthday.
6\22\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Martelle came to work at
Rogers & Brother's painting.
6\23\1900 Saturday
Worked at the factory this
forenoon, shut down at noon.
this afternoon I went to Waterville
to see John Chatfield who is a school
visitor about the tuition fee we
have to pay the city high school.
He was not at home. Then went
and saw Dr. Cook at Waterbury
Center, after supper went and
saw Mr. Chatfield, Mr. Martelle worked
puttying.
6\24\{1900} Sunday
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached, there
was a large attendance it being
Children's Day.
6\25\{1900} Monday
Worked in the factory to day, unload-
ing a car load of box-stuff that came
from Maine.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for
practice this evening.
Chas Hotchkiss reported 19.30 in the
treasury. Mr. Martelle worked puttying
and painting.
6\26\{1900} Tuesday
Worked in the factory today.
Mr. Austin B. Pierpont stopped
peddling meat to day, he has
peddled continuously for 31 years to
my knowledge.
Mr. Martelle worked puttying.
6\27\1900 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day turning
posts.
Mr. Martelle worked puttying windows.
7\28\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory painting the
roof on the burnishing shop.
The weather has been very hot and I
suffered from the heat on my head
and considerable from the heat that
came through the soles of the rubbers
that I wore.
About 4 o'clock Irving came and
called me down, and said that the
horse was in the Brass Mill Pond
and drowning, we went there as
fast as we could and found that
they had driven in from the
Brass Mill Road along the North
side of the pond to a place that we used
to call deep-hole and left the horse
by the water where the bank was
very steep while they undressed
to go in swimming, he soon stepped
in and the wagon pushed him
farther out so that he was soon
beyond his depth and the buggy
kept him from turning toward
the shore and he soon drowned.
In his death struggle, he freed
himself from the buggy and
Clyde towed him ashore where
he laid when I got there. I tied
the lines together, and Clyde hitched
the end to the shafts and we pulled
the buggy out. I then sent him to
get Wilson Pierpont to come with his
pair of horses to pull Jack out of the
water, and sent Irving home after
tools to bury him with. Soon Irving
returned and after a while Clyde
andWilson came and we pulled the
horse up on the side hill and dug a
grave, while we were digging it
thundered and lightened, and as
we were turning the horse into
the hole the rain began to fall
in torrents, we partly filled the
grave up and then went home as
we were all wet through. Clyde will
finish filling the grave tomorrow.
6\29\1900 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The shop shut down for the usual
summer vacation to night.
Austin B. Pierpont has assigned
Liabilities over $29,000 assets over $15.000
so last night's paper stated.
Austin Pierpont let me take his
drivin horse to use.
Clyde went to work for Arthur
Pierpont to night.
6\30\{1900} Saturday
Worked till noon to day, this
afternoon Irving and I went
to Tracy's lumberyard and
I paid a bill that they sent
for work and lumber bought in
1897 that amounted to $1.53.
I then got some lumber for the
Mill Plain Chapel for the steps
and other repairing.
We did a little work about the
Chapel and then came home.
This evening Irving went to
James Stouells and paid
my school tax which amounted
to $7.00.
They had the annual School meeting
of the Mill Plain District last night
and elected the following officers:
Warren Hitchcock, Committee
B. Frank Hoggett, Clerk.
Mark Pond, Treasurer.
James Stovelle, Collector.
7\01\1900 Sunday
Got up at 8 o'clock this morning, had
breakfast of baked beans, after which
Margaret and I went to Cheshire and
saw Elliott Doolittle about buying
his grass that is standing in his
lots on the Doolittle road. He is to
let me know Wednesday whether
I can have it or not, I offered hhim
$8.00 for it.
He told me that the Doolittle homestead
is to be sold this week. It consists of
the House and barn and 115 acres of
land, except what he owns which is
about 15 acres. From Mr. Doolittle's
we went to Charlie Cass' in Marion
and then home.
This afternoon we went to the Chapel
and heard Rev. Mr. Parry preach,
then went and saw Thoedore{??} Munson
about his grass which he wants to
sell, offered him $10.00 for it.
The weather to day has been nice
and clear.
7\02\1900 Monday
Worked to day at the factory painting
the edges of the roofs.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps met for practice.
7\03\1900 Tuesday
Worked in the factory to day.
The weather was very hot.
Went and saw Theodore Munson
this morning about his grass, but
he had sold it.
To night I saw Thomas Mills and
engaged to buy the grass on the
two lots west of his house for
$10.00.
7\04\1900 Wednesday
This is the One Hundrethand
Twenty-fourth anniversary of the
Independance of the United States,
and should be observed with Thanks-
givings, with bonfires, and with
illuminations.
One cannot help thinkint of the
two little Republicks in South Africa,
i.e. the Transvaalt, and Orange Free
State, who are now at war with
England under circumstances
similar to those of our own Country
in 1776. They with an army of 50,000
men are fighting the force of 250,000
trained soldiers that Great Britain
has sent to conquer them.
But the Boers are perservering
and in the end I hope will be
successful.
Clyde came home last night
from Arthur Pierpont's and early this
morning we started and mowed at
Fourmills, and we mowed most of
the day, till we had the two lots down.
irving mowed some too, the first
he ever did, and towards the last he
kept up and did it well for a new
beginner.
This evening all of us except
Clyde, who went to Naugatuck to
see the fireworks, went out to Robert
Worden's and saw their fireworks,
stayed till about 10 o'clock.
7\05\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to
day painting.
To night after work we got in
two loads of hay and heaped up
the rest, as fast as we could as it
began to rain. Clyde and Irving
set up the posts and made the floor
for a hay stack to day.
7\06\1900 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
Had charge of a gang of painters and
another gang that were removing the
fence on the North side of the shop
yard.
The boys drew up all the hay to day
from Thomas Mills'.
7\07\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving and I went to
town and left an order with Mr.
Melton of the Waterbury shoe store
for 15 pairs of leggins for the Mattatuck
Drum Band.
I then went to Mr. Bottel's store and
bought two scythe whet stones for
.08 cts. and several papers of 8 oz. tacks.
Irving bought some butter and
mustard.
We stopped on the way home and
I paid Henry Byrnes $7.00 towards
a horse I am to buy of him.
7\08\1900 Sunday
Irving and I made a cover for the
hay stack this morning.
This afternoon we all went to the
Chapel. Dr. Rooland who was to
preach did not come, so Morris
Alcott read the Episcopal service.
He made it very interesting.
This evening Mary and I drove over
to her brother Elmer's on Hospital
Avenue, but they had gone away
so we went up to her sister's Mrs.
George Connors at the top of West
side Hill, stayed {staid??} there till after
nine o'clock. Mr. William Ackerman
and his daughter of Jersey City
were there visiting.
Mrs. Eliza Clark Davis was buried
from Mill Plain Chapel last Friday,
she was aged 54 years.
7\09\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory. Had charge
of a gang of painters, and a gang
of men digging post holes and setting
posts. This noon I went to the Fourth
National Bank and had a Check
for $25.00 that Peter Larague gave
me yesterday for a lot of lumber.
\this evening I paid Thomas Mills
$10.00 for the hay I bought of him.
\the Mattatuck Drum Band had
a meeting to night. They voted
to adjourn the meetings till the
15th of August.
7\10\1900 Tuesday
To day the weather has been very
cool for this time of year.
Worked at the factory looking
after many men.
I learned to night that the
Doolittle place has been sold
to Mr. Knapp the Livery
Stable keeper.
This evening Irving and I began
cutting grass on the lot opposite
the Mattatuck which I bought of
James Porter for three dollars.
7\11\1900 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Received my pay for last week's work.
7\12\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day, build-
ing a new fence in front of the Com-
pany's houses that Martain Cunning-
ham and Henry Buckingham live
in.
This afternoon at about 4 o'clock there came
up a sever thunderstorm, the lightning
flashed and the thunder roared as loud
as I ever heard it before, and a good
shower of rain fell, which was much
needed as we have had no rain before
in several weeks.
Irving brought home the horse
that I bought of Henry Byrnes
tonight, I paid $15.00 for it, it
looks poor and thin.
Mary and I went to the Grange
to night.
7\13\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory building the
fence in front of the Company's houses.
7\14\1900 Saturday
Worked at the factory painting the
Burnishing and Buffing shop.
After I got home we brought up what hay
we had mowed and put it on the stack.
7\15\{1900} Sunday
Tis hard for me to set myself to
writing my entry in this book to
night, although I am not as tired and
weary as I am many other nights,
but it is hard to begin, I suppose it
is my weakness that prompts me
to feel that it is easier to let it go
undone than to do it.
What I write amounts to but little,
but as I have acquired the habit of
writing every night, and have done it
several years, I feel that I have not
fully completed my day's labor if
I go to bed without writing.
I have fallen fall short of the
object I sought to attain when I first
began to write every evening.
When I was a schoolboy I was consider-
ed an extra good writer, and I now
have a gold pen and holder that I took
as a prize for the best writing in the
school of 60 scholars.
Miss Manervy Webb was the teacher
and the school was in the present
primary school building near the corner of
Cole and South Elm streets the first
year school was ever kept there, 1873
I think.
Hard work, carelessness, and lack of
practice, made me so poor at writing
that I could hardly read my own
letters, so I resolved to write some
every day expecting at the time to
soon regain my lost art, but I
find it has gone forever, for after
two years I cannot wsee very much
improvement.
However I find some of my records
very convenient to refer to, in
regard to facts, dates, etc. etc.
so considering all I think I will
continue to scribble on for the sake
of writing something every day.
This afternoon I hitched my horse into
the two-seated canopy top carriage and
went to Father's and left my horse and
took his and went to the trolley car
at Silver Street and met Mr. Trinkus
of Waterville and a quartette of four
and took them all but two to the
Chapel and they sang at the service.
There was a large attendence, after
the service I carried three of them back
and Willey Garrigus carried the other
two back.
7\16\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day, this forenoon
painting the burnishing building and
this afternoon helping to lay floor in
the machine burnishing room.
7\17\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day laying
floor in the machine burnishing room.
\the floor stuff was 2" wide matched board
maple and matched at the ends, the
first I ever saw that way. It has
been one of the hottest days I ever
saw and I worked tso hard that the
floor was wet with drops of sweat
that ran off from us.
This evening I and Irving mowed
a little while as James Porter's
swamp. He came down and among
other things he told {tole??} me that the
first brass caster at Benedict and
Burnham's was an Englishman
by the name of Green. The first
at Scovill's that he remembers was
a Mr. Benham and later Cealy
Doolittle, the first at Holmes and
Hotchkiss & Brown & Elton's was
Preserved Carter.
7\18\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory at various
jobs. This evening Mary and I
went to town.
7\19\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
7\20\1900 Friday
Worked at the factory to day paint-
ing Martin Cunningham's house.
7\21\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day
painting the inside of the machine
burnishing room this forenoon,
and getting the mill ready to
start up this afternoon for
Monday.
7\22\{1900} Sunday
The Rev. Mr. Holden preached at
Mill Plain Chapel this after-
noon.
7\23\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day,
caring for the belts, shafting, pipes,
etc. which kept me very busy as
the Mill started up this morning
after a shutdown of three weeks.
This evening we raked up hay and
got in one load.
Mary said that Mr. McKoy who
digs the graves in Calvary Cemetary
told her that he had buried thirty-
six children from the first to the
19th of this month.
7\24\1900 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day getting
Hugh Byrnes' room ready to start
up; this is the plating room.
This evening Irving and I and Mary
got in two loads of hay.
7\25\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day paint-
ing the windows in Mr. Byers' room
which is the machine burnishing room.
Yesterday's paper stated that Henry
Hall, son of the late Nelson Hall,
who is with the Regular U.S. Army
in the Phillipine Islands is dead.
Painters have finished working on
the Mill Plain Chapel and it looks
very good, the colors are gray trim-
med with dark gray.
7\26\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day painting
window sashes in the machine burnish-
ing room.
Irving went to work at Rogers & Broth-
er's to day wiping blanks for John
Rearden at the big drop.
Nellie Connor had a tumor removed
at the Hospital to day by Dr. Axtella
and Dr. Anderson.
7\27\1900 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual, first oiled the shaft bearings
all through the shop and looked the
power over, which I do every morning
to see that all is right, repaired {??} some stream
pipes next, then painted windows
in Mr. Byers' room.
This evening I attended the school
meeting at the Mill Plain School
House. It was called to hear the
report of a committee which was
appointed at the annual meeting to
ascertain the price of putting in a
furnace and making a cellar under
the schoolhouse for the same,
also to lay a tax on the list of
1900,.
The Committee reported that
Wm. Knibbs would build the cellar
for $235.00 i ft. deep.
Gaffeney & Cronan would did
it $287.00 10 ft. deep.
Sam Samuelson $280.00 10 ft. deep
and 250.00 7' deep.
Mr. Disley will put in a furnace
for $220.00 and Barlow Brothers
will put it in for $250.00.
Motion made by Mr. Truiss
that the present Committee
be instructed to put in suitable
heating arrangements as soon as
possible. Amended by Mr.
Atkinson that the expense
not exceed $600.00. "Carried."
it was then voted to recind the
vote passed at the annual meeting to
lay a 10 mills tax, as some thought it
illegal.
Mr. Hoggett then made motion to lay
10 mills tax of list of 1900. Amended
by Mr. Atkinson to 15 Mills. "Carried."
8 voted yes and 5 no, for the amendment
on the original motion 8 voted no and 5 yes.
the District Committee reported
that there is $93,000 worth of taxable
property in the district.
Meeting adjourned.
7\28\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
As Irving and I were leaving the
shop at 5 o'clock this afternoon, Pierpont
who came after wus with the team told
us that there was a man drowned
in the Brass Mill Pond and had
been in the water since 4 o'clock.
We drove up to the ice-houses by
the pond and found that he was
in the water about half way between
the overflow and the mouth of the
ditch. Dr. Axtelle was there and
offered $10.00 to anyone who would
get him out, several boys and
men undressed and dove after
him and finally one found
him in about 8 feet of water about
25 feet from the shore, but they
could not get him to the shore.
Finally a large strong man dove
and got him by one leg and got
him to the edge of the water.
His name was John Ring or Ring-
wood and he was about 85 years of
age I should think.
7\29\{1900} Sunday
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
Rev. Mr. Hannon of the First M.E.
Church preached.
After Church Ruth and I went in
the buggy out on Southington moun-
tain and up around through Wood-
tick for a ride.
7\30\1900 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
Two men painted the smoke-stack
to day, which is of iron and 90 feet
high, 4 ft. diameter and round.
They first placed a 30 ft. ladder
at the botton of it and then they
had a pole with an S hook tied on
the upper end of it with a cotton
string that they pushed up care-
fully against the side of the
stack and by nailing lengths
on the bottom they made the
pole long enough to reach the
top, the man on the top kept
pushing it up while the man
at the bottom held in his hand
a line the size of a clothes line
which was hung double over the
S hook at the top but he stood
a distance from the stack which
pulled the top out a little from
the top and when the hook was
within about 8 inches of the top
the pole leaned over and the
wind blew it still more and
it fell and broke into several pieces.
They got another pole and tried again
and hooked the hook over the top rim
of the chimney, they then spliced
the end of the line onto a 3/4 inch
rope and drew that up over the S hook
and on the end of this rope they
tied a light pair of tackles which
they drew to the top, on the bottom
end they hooked a seat board on
which one man sat and the other
drew him up and he painted the
stack with a white wash brush
on a handle about 6 feet long.
7\31\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
A strange accident happened last
night, on Doublin Street.
Mr McManus, a contractor, is building
a sewer along the street and they were
blasting with dynamite during the
day, some of the cfharges in the holes
failed to explode, but later blasts blew
the rock to pieces, the stone was given
to Patrick Phalen the police-man and left
in his yard.
About quarter to seven last night Joe,
the son of Patrick, was wheeling dirt and as
he finished, he said to a boy named
Kenneydy, "this is my last load. Come down
to the barn while I put up the wheel barrow."
The Kenndy boy aged 6 years followed
him to the barn having in his hand at
the time a hatchet, and as he went he
picked up a railroad spike which he tried
to drive into a post. Soon the Phalen boy aged
14 years came and looked at the rocks
near by that had been drawn in, and
noticing a hole in one asked young
Kennedy to let him take the spike
and hatchet. He placed the spike in the
hole and struck it about four blows
and then looked at it, while he was
doing this the Kennedy boy stepped
back and turned round. The Phalen
boy struck the spike once or twice
more and there was a terrific explosion
which blew the boy about
thirty feet away but did not hurt
him very much. It knocked the
Phalen boy over back and killed him
almost instantly. It seems that
the hole into which Phalen drove
the spike contained a charge of
unexploded dynamite which he set
off.
8\01\1900 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Irving and I mowed grass near
the pump station to night.
The family of Knopfs who have bought
80 acres of the Doolittle place have been
moving in to day.
8\02\1900 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
8\03\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory.
8\04\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
8\05\{1900} Sunday
Went to the Chapel, Rev. Mr. Faster of
N.Y. preached. Margaret and I went to
Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
8\06\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day. This forenoon
at blacksmith work and flashing up the
roof around the new skylights over the
back passage from the boiler room.
This has been the hottest day of the
year so far.
8\07\1900 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day. This
evening I went to John French's to
see about Bertha going to work in the
spoon shop.
8\08\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Miss Gertrude U. Bradley left to day
for New York to sail for Paris to attend
the great exposition.
8\09\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather has been very hot.
9\10\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The casting shop of the Cheshire
Brass Company burned last night,
also the barn at the Benedict & Burn-
ham's Co.
8\11\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day
as usual. The weather has been
very hot, the thermometer standing
at 100 above zero in many of the
rooms. Stayed at the shop till
half past six o'clock shortening the
engine belt, which is twenty-four
inches wide.
Then Irving, Pierpont and I went to
town, and bought one half pk. of clams
a lobster and watermelon.
When we came home we stopped at
Father's and found him a little better.
Frank was there with his new
graphaphone and played several
pieces which I enjoyed.
8\12\1900 Sunday
At about eight o'clock this morn-
ing the weather changed from
hot to cool weather.
I stayed about home all day till
about 5 o'clock when Mary and I
went over to Southington and saw
Charlie Cass. We stayed till after
nine o'clock.
Rev. Dr. Rooland preached at the Chapel
to day.
8\13\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather has been much cooler.
8\14\1900 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
A bad accident occurred on East Moun-
tain this morning a little before 7 o'clock.
The wife of Mr. Rudolph who lives in
the Thomas Payne place, and her sister,
a German woman about thirty years
of age started for town and soon
the horse started on a mad run.
Mrs. Rudolph was thrown out of
the wagon above the watering trough
and had her arm broken, her sister
clung to the wagon till the foot of
the mountain was reached when
she was thrown out and the back
of her head was stove in, her wrist
was broken as was her middle
finger on the same hand, and
her leg was broken in two places.
The buggy was smashed into kind-
ling wood (it was bought new last
week) and the horse ran to Simons-
ville where it was caught.
Dr. anderson attended the women
and thought they would come
out all right.
Father seemed to be a very little
better to day.
This evening I rode up to John
French's to see about Bertha going
to work at the spoon shop.
8\15\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I rode horse-back up
the Doolittle road to the Red Bridges
and back by the Woodtick and
Southmaid roads. I did not enjoy
it very much on account of my
shoes. The style now is to
have the toes of the shoes run to
a point and in order to let a
person's foot in it is necessary to
have the shoes much longer than
they would otherwise have to be.
My toes do not come wihtin
two inches of the toe end {??} of my
shoe, and as the stirrups on
my saddle are of the Mexican
pattern with guards so that
one's foot cannot enter, only
about three inches, the soles
of my shoes bend up and it
is hard to keep my feet in
the stirrups so that riding
is not very comfortable.
I will not buy any more
of those kind of shoes {and he
never did-M. Hall, August 14, 1943.}
8\16\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day and
tonight till 8 o'clock.
8\17\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory till 5:30 o'clock.
8\18\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory till 8 o'clock.
After the power stopped Laurence Tabin
and I put a strainer over a five inch
pipe that takes the water from the
wheel case and distributes it to the
wash tubs about the shop.
8\19\{1900} Sunday
Stayed about home till Brother
Frank came to see me, when we
hitched up and we drove to Mix-ville
and saw where the fire burned the
casting shop, we also went into
the mill, from there we went to
Prospect center, and from there
out the Union City road to Simons-
ville and left frank at Glenn
Street where he lives, and then came
home.
8\20\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
Morris Alcott told me to day that
Major Tucker had sold his place.
8\21\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
8\22\1900 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Called at Father's and saw him, he is
but little better, it will be three weeks
tomorrow since he was taken sick
with the chills and fever, malaria.
8\23\{1900} Thursday
Worked as usual to day.
The weather has been clear and very pleas-
ant. The Connecticut Brigade are
in camp this week at Niantic, it
includes the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
Regiments of infantry, the Gilford Battery
and I think the colored Battalian.
Mrs. Louise A. Upson, wife of the
late Lucian Upson, died this morning
at the home of her daughter, Miss J.
Henry Garrigus of the South end
of Wolcott, she was 83 years old, and
was remarkable in being a living
daughter of a Revolutionary Soldier,
her Father was Levi Johnson of
Wolcott and lived on the road that
runs East from the church, the cellar
can now be seen near where the
first road turns to the left.
I heard today that George W. Tucker
is going to Massachusetts to live.
Margaret was taken with a chill
this noon, Father is worse to day.
8\24\1900 Friday
Worked at the factory of Rogers &
Brothers to day.
When I came home to night I stopped
at Father's and found him sick with
a chill. In every house from Ashton's
Corner to East Farms people are
sick or have been so within one
month, the cause of this sickness
of chills and fever has yet to be
learned as it was never known
of before last year in this locality.
8\25\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day at the factory.
There was two large plating tubs
brought to our factory from the
factory of Rogers & Hamilton which
the Silver Trust is closing up.
This evening when I came home,
I stopped at Father's and found him
sick with a chill, Dr. Morgan
and Dr. Fitssimons was there
and I had quite a spirited talk
with the Doctor because he did
not do better, he got mad and so
did I so there were two mad ones.
Clyde, Pierpont, and I went to
the Chapel and clipped the grass
with a lawn mower and trimmed up
the edges of the walks and driveway.
8\26\1900 Sunday
Clyde came home from Arthur
Pierpont's where he has worked for
the past 4 weeks.
This afternoon I went to the trolley
car and met the Rev. Mr. Holden
and carried him to the Mill
Plain Chapel where he preached.
I then took the carriage which was
Father's home and was there when
he had another chill which lasted about
one half hour. Had a talk about
changing doctors, Mother is very
set on keeping Dr. Morgan, she said
that I made Father much worse
by talking to the Doctor yesterday
but Father said, when she was out,
that he thought the doctor had
gone to work in earnest, and that
I had made him get a move on
himself, and to let the matter
rest for a few days.
I then came home and had supper
of salmon salad and tomatoes after
which Clyde, Irving and I went
out to the South woods and looked
at some posts and rails that
Clyde cut for the Chapel sheds
to hitch horses to. We then went to
Arthur Pierpont's and looked at a stone
post that Clyde split out.
We then went to the house and
Lucy gave us each a plate of ice
cream, some peaches, etc.
We then came home over the Meriden
Road, which we reached a little before
the nine o'clock whistle blew.
The weather has been extremely hot
all day.
8\27\1900 Monday
Worked to day at the factory setting
plating tubs which were brought
from the Rogers and Hamilton shop.
When Pierpont came with my dinner
he said that Irving had had his
finger cut off. I have since learned
that he and Clyde were drilling a
rock, and Irving was holding the
drill when Clyde missed his blow
and struck Irving on the finger
which was close to the rock as the
drill was in nearly the whole
length and smashed. Mary and
Clyde drove to Dr. Barber's office
and he called in Dr. Castle and
they cut the finger off at the second
joint, it was the third finger on the
right hand.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met
this evening and practiced they
decided to go to Southington to drum
for a Fair to be held Sept. 2nd.
8\28\{1900} Tuesday
Worked to day in the factory.
This evening I went to Simonsville
horse back to see brother Frank about
changing doctors for Father, but
he was not at home.
8\29\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the Factory to day.
This evening I went to see Mary
about Father.
8\30\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
The new boot-legs for the
Mattatuck Drum Band came
to day, and this evening Charlie
Hotchkiss, Henry Buckingham,
George Cass and several
others worked on them.
8\31\1900 Friday
Worked to day as usual in the
factory. Several of the drummers
came and worked on the bootlegs.
9\01\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory from 7
till 12:30 and from 1 till 5:30, met
Mary with the team at the Plank
Road where the path from the spoon
shop comes out and rode home
with her. This evening, Clyde, Irving,
Henry and Harry Buckingham
worked on the boot-letgs for the
Drum Corps, till we got them
about finished.
9\02\1900 Sunday
This morning we got up at 7:30
and did the chores, after which I
sent Pierpont down to Martain
Cunningham's with a note asking
him if he would like to go to
Wolcott to look at the Reservoirs that
empty the factories along the Mad River
with water so that we would know how
much more there was in them. He sent
word that he would be ready at noon.
When he came we started and went first
to Chestnut Hill reservoir and then over
Spindle Hill to Cedar Swamp. We found
that the water in Chestnut Hill reservoir
had been drawn down about 12 feet and
Cedar Swamp Pond was lowered about
6 feet.
There are a great abundance of apples
and grapes, but everything is suf-
fering from the dry weather.
The Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at
the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
Father slept through the time for
having a chill yesterday and did not
have any.
9\03\1900 Monday
This is Labor Day and is a
legal holiday in this state.
We got up at 5 o'clock and got the
horse and canopy top wagon
ready to go to Southington.
We ate breakfast after which several
members of the Drum Corps arrived
and we started for Charlie Cass'
in Marion, which we reached in due
time. We found that he had a
fine decorated wagon that he was
going to take to the Fair at South-
ington and which we were to
drum for. He hitched two pairs
of horses to it and we formed in
front. There were present Charles
Cass, Harry Buckingham, Roy
Burch, and Clyde Miller, (Fifers;)
Henry Buckingham, and Herman
Gessert, (Bass Drummers)
Irving Miller, Charles
Hotchkiss, George Cass, George
Atkinson, George Somers, Howard
Neal and myself (Snare Drummers)
We marched from Marion through
Mill Dale to the Fairground.
The road was very dusty and the
weather hot. We played nearly
all of the way. The ground is located
on the East side of the main road nearly
one mile North of the bridge over the
Quinnapiac River at Mill Dale.
We marched onto the Fairground
playing the "Russian March."
We seemed to attract a great deal of
attention, and after reaching our
place, were met by the officers of
the association who invited us
to refreshments, which proved to
be soda water, Chockolet, Black-
berry, Sweet Cider etc. etc. after
which we did as we pleased till
noon when we were given our
dinner, which consisted of boiled
oysters, roast beef, pork steak, etc.
They had fine exhibits of cattle, sheep,
swine, poultry, fruit, vegetables, etc.
also good horse racing and
cattle drawing.
We left the Fairground for home
after 4 o'clock and reached Marion
before 6 and left for home about
8 o'clock.
9\04\1900 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Laurence Tobin and
I worked till seven straightening up
a shaft cuplin {??} in Mr. Byers' room.
9\05\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Laurence Tobin,
James Byrnes, James Cahill, Fritz
Snoman, and I worked till eight
o'clock, raising up a spur gear on
the waterwheel shaft, which had
slipped down.
9\06\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Irving told me tonight that Father
is better and sat up to day, and
that Ervis Wright is sick with
the typhoid fever {feaver??}.
This evening Irving, Pierpont, and
I went to the Chapel and began
taking the furnace apart in order
to repair the pit that it sits in.
9\07\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. This evening Irving, Clyde,
and I went to the Chapel and worked
taking the furnace out of the pit
in the cellar.
9\08\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I stopped and saw
Father who is getting along much
better.
9\09\{1900} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Rooland preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel to day.
9\10\1900 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met
this evening and voted in Roy a member.
9\11\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
9\12\1900 Wednesday
Worked at the facotyr to day
painting skylights on the roof some
of the time.
At about 11 o'clock the wind began
to blow for the first time in many
days, and increased in violence until
it had blown off many of the leaves
as well as most of the apples, peaches,
and other fruit, it blew down a large
apple tree in Father's yard.
The Mill Plain Chapel gave a
peach festival this evening which
was well attended. The Orchestra
of the Second Church furnished
music which was much enjoyed.
Clyde and I went to see Mr. Kelsey
about Austin Pierpont's account.
9\13\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary and I went to the Grange
to night.
9\14\{1900} Friday
I worked to day at the factory
of Rogers & Brothers till 5:30 o'clock
when I drove up to the Mill Plain
Chapel and put up a shutter that
the wind blew off from the Shannon
memorial window last Wednesday.
Sam Samuelson came and I made
arrangements with him to fix the
pit that the furnace sits in in
the cellar.
We then came home and ate supper of
succotash after which Clyde, Irving
and I worked on the new blacksmith
shop till near 9 o'clock.
9\15\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day at the factory, we
put in place a large plating tub that
was brought from Rogers & Hamilton's
factory.
When I came home I found Clyde
and brother Frank cutting up the
old apple tree that blew down at
Father's. I stopped and helped run the
crosscut saw to saw off the stump.
We then came home and after supper
worked on the blacksmith shop till
about 9 o'clock.
9\16\1900 Sunday
Got up at 6:30 o'clock and looked over
my old account against A.B. Pierpont,
which I have to make out for the receiver
Mr. Kellogg.
Then did the chores about the barn etc.
till breakfast time, ate breakfast which
consisted of stewed oysters, after which
I tinkered up a little wagon for
Pierpont and read till it was time
to get ready for the Chapel, when
Spenser Monroe called and wished I
would help him get work as he is out of
a job. I told him I would do what I could,
I then went to the Chapel, got there in
time to hear part of the sermon which
was preached by Mr. Bassett of the
Farm Street Methodist Church.
After we got home, Clyde, Irving,
Adolphus Grecter and myself started
out to look at the Southington reservoir.
We met Sidney Spender up by the
Doolittle place and he went with
us, we found the water very low
but everything in good order, we
also visited the old Upson burying
ground in the South East part of
the town of Woldcott, we then went
to Arthur Merriman's to get a drink
of sweet cider, but he had not made
any yet so we came home, from
the top of the mountain near Ed
Holmes' place we saw a building
burning on the hills far across
the valley to the North East.
I think near Kensington. It was
quite dark when we got home, the
boys rode their wheels and I went
Horse-back.
9\17\1900 Monday
I worked to day in the factory as
usual. The Mattatuck Drum Band
met and practiced to night.
The fire that we saw yesterday
from the Southington mountain
proved to be the barn at Miss
Porter's School for Young Ladies
in Farmington Center which was
burned together with 75 tons of hay
and farming tools. The barn was 40x80
feet with a cow shed 24x49 feet; it caught
fire by spontaneous combustion in
a large bin of oats.
9\18\{1900} Tuesday
Worked to day at the factory moving
the acid house to make room for the new
addition which they began building
onto the machine burnishing room.
9\19\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Last night at about 9:30 the fire alarm
blew and this morning I learned that
two houses situated on the South corner
of South Main and West Clay streets
were burned.
9\20\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
The government census bureau announ-
ced that the population of the Town
and City of Waterbury is 51,142.
9\21\1900 Friday
Worked to day in the factory as usual.
9\22\{1900} Saturday
Worked to day at the factory.
9\23\{1900} Sunday
Stayed about home all day except
a while this afternoon. I went to the
Chapel and heard Mr. Parry preach.
This evening I wrote a letter to Fred
who is in Detroit.
9\24\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met
for practice this evening.
9\25\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Father went to work to day, but
came home at 4 o'clock and had a touch
of the chills and fever {feaver??}.
Clara French is home sick with the
chills and fever {feaver??}. Mary and Raymond
went to the City this afternoon and
paid to Mr. Camp who is agent for
Mrs. Munger 30.00 interest money.
She then went to Mr. Kelsey's and gave
the girl who was there her and my
accounts with Austin Pierpont.
She then went and saw her sister
Nellie who she found sick in bed
and very weak suffering from an
operatioon which was performed at
the Hospital several weeks ago.
9\26\1900 Wednesday
I worked to day at the factory
putting up a plank work to hold a
wall of earth under the acid houses.
To day is my birthday. I was born
in 1858 and am 42 years old.
I received my pay to day which
amounted to 13.50.
Mr. William Frey died at the Hospital
last night, he has lived in this neigh-
borhood all his life, he is I think about
42 years old.
9\27\1900 Thursday
Worked to day in the factory as usual.
The weather is very warm and the
streams are low and springs, wells, etc.
are drying up.
Henry Buckingham is moving from
the little house opposite the spoon shop
to the house on the East corner of East
Main and Niagra Streets.
This morning I took eighty dollars
which Mrs. Annie Munson sent to me
night before last to Morris Alcott
and he paid it to Mr. Woodruff for
painting the Chapel.
9\28\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I find that I lost my reckoning for the
past five days by calling the 22nd the 23rd
but I have marked the figures over
which brings my birthday to the 26th
when it should have been the 27th.
Mother is down very sick again.
Father had a chill this afternoon
and came home from the shop at
4 o'clock. Cara is also sick. This
morning Mary and I were awaken-
ed by some one groaning and the voices
of men over on the Southmaid Road.
Today we learned that Mr. Hennisy
came home at about two o'clock, and
found an Italian in his house under
the table. He had a fight with him and
threw him out of the door, the dog
then tackelled {??} him and chewed him
considerable, then they dragged him down to
the Mattatuck Shop and threatened
to hang him to the beam over the gate
and one of them went in after a rope
but instead of getting it he telephoned
for the police, who soon came and
took him to the lockup. This morning
he was tried and sent to the New
Haven jail for 10 months.
9\29\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual, this evening we worked on the
blacksmith shop.
9\30\{1900} Sunday
The Rev. Dr. Anderson preached at
the Chapel this afternoon, after
Chapel Mary and Margaret went
over to West Side Hill and saw Mary's
sister Nellie Conner who is sick.
Pierpont, Raymond, and i went
out on Southington mountain and
saw Mr. Samuelson, we then went to
Mr. H.H. Garrigus' house and saw
him about putting a bill before
the next General Assembly so that
the inhabitants of the town of
Waterbury may have the same privileges
that the people of the rest of the state
enjoy.
10\01\1900 Monday
Worked in the factory to day.
This is town election, the candidates
for Selectmen are John B. Doherty
and George Boughton, Republican;
Mortimer Doran and Mr. Disley
Democrat; only a few from our shop
voted and I think the ballot will be light.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met for prac-
tice this evening, we marched around the
{Sentence left unfinished??}
10\02\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mortimer Doron, Democrat, was elected
First Selectman and Mr. Disley second,
nearly all of the town officers elected
were democrats.
Yesterday morning Hiram Able left
$45.00 when he went by to work for
me to take to the shop and give to
Morris Alcott to pay for the concrete
walk at the Chapel, I gave it to
Mr. Alcott as requested.
10\03\1900 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
10\04\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary and I attended the
grange, it is a splendid moonlight evening.
10\05\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
Father did not work to day or yesterday
as he is feeling very weak.
Mother is quite sick with the chills
and fever {feaver??}.
Tonight when I came home from work
I stopped at Father's and he told me that
Mr. Upson saw him to day and told
him that he need not work any
more only to look after things
about the building and dam and
to stay about the factory holidays
and Sundays, and that the Waterbu-
ry Brass Company would pay
him $8.00 per week.
10\06\1900 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Came home at 4:30.
Clyde helped Mary move from the
house corner of Cassett and Walnut Streets
to a house on Coe Street.
Mother is sick in bed to day with chills
and fever {feaver??}.
10\07\{1900} Sunday
This forenoon I went out to Sam
Samuelson's to see when he is coming
to do the work at the Chapel.
Came home and after getting some
lunch I went to the Chapel and
heard Rev. Mr. Perry preach, after
which I came home, and carried Mary
out to her Mother's at East Farms
and I went out to see Morris Bergher
at Prospect.
10\08\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
Ida Baxter died to day with the typhoid
fever {feaver??}, this has happened on her 17th
birthday.
10\09\{1900} Tuesday
Worked to day as usual.
It has rained all day {rest of the sentence is illegible??}
have filled a little.
It is said that the Wolcott Fair which
was to have been held tomorrow is
to be postponed on account of the rain.
A Polander boy who worked at the shop
caught his hand in a pair of gears nad
had 4 fingers cut off.
Ida Baxter is to be buried from the
Chapel tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.
10\10\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day, it has
rained more or less all day which has
filled the river up so we have all the
water we need to run with at the shop.
The Wolcott Fair was to have been held
to day but was put off on account of the
weather.
Ida Baxter was buried from the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
Clyde began his duties at the Chapel
as janitor this day by opening it for
the funeral.
I received my pay at the shop to day
for last week's work, it amounted to
13.50.
10\11\1900 Thursday
I worked to day as usual in the shop.
The weather has been fair and cool, and
the Wolcott Fair has been held, it is said
to have been the largest and best fair
ever held in Wolcott.
Of my family Pierpont and Irving
were all that attended.
Miss Gergrude U. Bradley returned from
Europe night before last.
10\12\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day. This fore-
noon I left the shop and went to town
at 10 o'clock, saw Dr. Danoline{??} about the MIll
Plain School, then went and saw attorney
James Russell chjairman of the town board
of education and left Irving's bill of tuition
then went and saw Porter Woods about
the consolidation of the town and
city government, also met Mr. Carnes,
the city engineer. He was surveying
at the corner of South Main and Grand
Streets where they are repairing the
stone culvert.
10\13\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory this day.
We had a car load of box stuff come
which took us all day to unload, and
we had to stay til near six o'clock to
night.
10\14\{1900} Sunday
Dr. Rooland preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
10\15\1900 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mother has been up to day from her
bed, Father has been in bed all day
and is very weak.
This evening I went to the City Hall
and attended the joint meeting of the
Selectmen and the town board of school
visitors, among the business trans-
acted was the matter of tuition of scholars
in the high school, the board thought
it a great injustice, but claimed that
they could take no action in regard
to the matter.
10\16\{1900} Tuesday
Worked to day as usual in the factory.
Sam Samuelson worked to day on
the pit at the Chapel, he began yesterday.
10\17\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This morning there was a severe frost,
the first we have had this fall.
10\18\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mary and I attended the Grange this evening.
Mother Pierpont was elected Pomona{??} for the
remainder of the year to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation fo Mrs. Eddy
who has moved to Greenfield, Ohio.
10\19\1900 Friday
Worked this day at the factory.
10\20\1900 Saturday
Worked to day at the factory.
10\21\{1900} Sunday
Worked to day at the factory from 9 to
2 o'clock. The cause of it was that we had
to change some pulleys on the shafts and
piece a large belt which we could not do
when the power was running.
Rev. Mr. Hannon preached at the Chapel.
10\22\{1900} Monday
Worked to day at the factory.
10\23\{1900} Tuesday
Worked in the factory to day.
The weather has been very warm.
10\24\1900 Wednesday
Worked at the factory, have been very
busy, on account of the big load that
has been added to the engines and water-
wheel, there is 175 horse power pulling
on the large engine, 35 horse power on the
waterwheel and 40 on the little engine
that runs the dynamos and this increased
load causes the belts to brake and
slip.
I learned to day that Austin B.
Pierpont has been discharged from
bankruptcy.
10\25\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
Heard to day that six writs of
attachment has been served on
Austin B. Pierpont, Arthur Pierpont
and Lucy Pierpont, in all amount-
ing to 22,000, by the creditors of
Austin.
Mary and I went to the Grange
this evening, the Grange voted
to have the executive committee
see Wme.{??} Faber who is Trustee and
have him make over the papers
and deeds to the Board of Trustees
which was appointed some time
ago.
10\26\{1900} Friday
Worked to day as usual in the
factory.
This evening I went to the City
Hall and attended the meeting of
the Town Board of School Visitors.
The people of the Oronoke school district
were there in two factions, those
from the "North end" and those
from the "South end," they have
failed to provide suitable accoma-
dations for the scholars, and the
Town Board has cut off their
appropriation of public money which
amounts to 20.00 a week.
I brought before the Board the
matter of having to pay $10,00 per term
for each of my boys in the high
school, and they assured me that
they would have the matter brought
before the Legislature.
10\31\{1900} Wednesday
Worked to day as I have every working
day since last Friday, have been
very busy and at night tired and
sleepy, and up late together with poor
health have kept me from making
my usual entry in this book at night.
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at Mill
Plain Chapel last Sunday.
Last night I went to a Republican
rally at Polis Theater, Mr. Bruce and
Samuel J. Fessenden spoke to a
large audience.
11\01\1900 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. I received a telephone message
from Rathbun of Hartford stating
that the sound foney association of
Hartford wished the Mattatuck Drum
Corps to play in the parade to be
given in that city next Saturday,
but as our letter heads read that we
had 21 men when in reality we only
have 16, he did not know about hiring
us until he had consulted the rest
of the Committee. He said he would
telephone later, as he did not telephone,
I went to the Mattatuck shop this
evening and called him up nad
he told me that he had written me
to the effect that we were engaged
at our own terms i.e. 18.00 and expenses
that we are to go on the train that
brings the Torrington League and pay
our own car fare which will be 1.08
and also pay for our own dinner which we are
to have in New Britain, we are to
play for the Harford Current
at the head of a procession of about
100 men, and the Honorable Joseph
Hawley will follow us in his automo-
bile, and to present them our bill
after the parade is over and they will
pay it. I immediatedly sent Clyde
down town to notify the boys
there, and George Cass and I went
to Marion to get a Bass Drum
and to notify Charley Cass that
there would be a meeting of the
Drum Band tomorrow night.
I am going to bed at 11:30.
11\02\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Corps
met and made ready to go to Hartford
tomorrow. We had a lot of hard work to
keep everybody good-natured and make
the clothes fit. Herman Gessert did not bring
his pants and I had to go to his house and get
them which makes it 11:30 bed time.
11\03\{1900} Saturday
Got up this morning at 4 o'clock and Clyde
and I went to the spoon shop, and we oiled
up the shaft bearings which took over an
hour, we then came home and ate our
breakfast and got into our uniforms and
started for Spenser's Feed Store where we
were to meet at eight o'clock, all were on
time and we marched down East Main Street
through Bank and Grand Streets to the
depot, where we waited nearly an hour when
we were put into a passenger car which
was hitched onto the Torrington train when
it came and we started for Hartford with
13 cars, we did not stop till we reached New
Britain and there we waited quite a spell
and we got out and strode about the
place and looked at the new soldier's mon-
ument, after which we went back to our
trian where they brought us hot coffee and
sandwiches, at 11:45 we started for hartford,
we got out at the Asylum Street Station
and went immediately to the Current's
office on State Street where we were obliged
to wait about an hour and while we
waited we went and looked at the steam
fire propeller, and also at the Connecticut
River, we soon started and formed in
the line and marched I should judge about
7 miles, there were 16,000 men in the parade
and 50 bands and 50 Drum Corps.
After the parade we went to the train and
each had a bag of lunch given him and hot
coffee, we reached Waterbury at 6:30 and marched
to Henry Gessert's taylor rooms on Bank
Street where we broke ranks and payed
each of the boys their expenses, but kept
the remainder till Monday night.
The names of those who went were Charles
Cass, David Wall, Clifford Keaton, Clyde
Miller, harry Buckingham, and Roy Birch,
fifers, Bury Young, George Somers,
and Herman Gessert, Bass Drummers,
Irving Miller, George Atkinson, George Cass,
Howard Neal, Charles Hotchkiss, and
myself, Snare Drummers.
11\04\1900 Sunday
Stayed home till about 3 o'clock, Frank
came after me as Father's horse was sick. I
went down and found him all right, but
Mother is much worse and Father no better.
Ira wanted us to get together and decide
on some plan for to help the old folks along
so Will Gillette went and got Mary Jenner
and we decided to change doctors.
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel to day.
11\05\1900 Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps had a meeting at which David
Wall was voted in a member.
11\06\1900 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This has been Election day, the factory
shut down from 12 to 2 so as to give
the men a chance to go and vote.
I left the shop at 1 and got back at 2
o'clock, after I had voted for McKinley
for President of the United States
and McLean for Governor of Conn.
both candidates on the Republican
ticket.
11\07\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Dr. B. Art. Ward moved from his house
opposite M. Tuckers to town to day.
The returns fo yesterday's election show that
William McKinley is elected President and
Theodore Roosevelt Vice President of the
United States and that George P. McLean
of Simsbury is elected Governor of Conn.
Edward O. Keeler is elected Lieutenant Governor.
Willie Garrigus and Fannie Hitchcock are
married this evening at the bride's home
on the Meriden Road, I suppose, as they were
to be.
11\08\1900 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
There is a great scarcity of water I never
knew so little water in Mad River.
The City is repairing up the old pump
station on the Plank Road and expect
soon to pump the water from the
river into the City water pipes.
11\09\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The first snow of the season fell to day.
it has fell at intervals during the
whole day and at times the ground
was covered so as to be all white.
Mary went to Ansonia to visit cous-
in Emma Drew.
11\10\1900 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and I went to
the Chapel and put in the cold air
pipe to the furnace.
11\11\{1900} Sunday
This day has been rather cold and
damp. The Rev. {illegible??} preached
at the Chapel to day {illegible??}
minister from {illegible??}
church.
This evening Margaret and I went
to Bucks Hill and saw William Faber
and family.
11\12\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory.
there was a large parade in Bridgeport
to day 20,000 men in lne, it being the
100 anniversary of the organization of the
town, Mattatuck Drum Band met to
night for practice.
11\13\{1900} Tuesday
Worked to day at factory.
There was a school meeting at the Saw
Mill Plains school house this evening at
which I attended. They voted to have the
Committee Clerk, and Treasurer look up
the matter of consolidation with the
other committees of the town, Mr. Hitch-
cock resigned and wished me to act
for him.
11\14\{1900} Wednesday
Worked to day as usual. This
evening we put down the oilcloth
in the sittingroom and put up the stove.
11\15\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening a party from Mill Plain
which included myself and wife went
to Waterville on the trolley cars and
attended the fair given by St. Paul's
Episcopal Church.
Miss Olive Able went to work at Scoville
last Monday
11\16\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factoyr to day as usual.
This evening Albert Spender and I
went to the Selectmen's office and saw
Mr. Doran about consolidation and
also about paying tuition matters, he said
he would be obliged to see the Town attorney.
11\17\1900 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day, got
through work at 4:30 and came home
stopping on the way to see Father and
Mother who are sick with the malaria.
After I got home the boys and I worked
building a forge in the blacksmith shop
but did not complete it.
11\18\{1900} Sunday
This morning I got up at 7 o'clock and went
to work at the shop putting in an iron drip
tub in the plating room. Laurence Tobin
and I worked at it till 9 o'clock when we
had it finished, after which I came home
and rested till noon, after which I got ready
and went to the Chapel and heard Rev. Mr.
Hannon preach, theirewas a fair attendance.
The weather to day has been very nice, and
many people were out. Willie Garrigus and
his bride were to the Chapel, they returned
from their wedding trip to New Jersey last
Thursday.
11\19\{1900} Monday
Worked to day as usual.
Father had a severe chill yesterday and
Will Gillette went and told Frank and he and
Rolland Jenner got Dr. Rabbinis to attend him.
Father likes him very much.
The fifers of the Mattatuck Drum Corps
met here for practice this evening.
It is now raining and it is much needed
as the streams are very low.
11\20\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at factory to day.
Went to Brass Mill and got Father's
pay for him which I left with him
to night when I came home from shop.
He had a chill to day.
This evening I went to Mr. Mark Pond's
house and there met Mr. Frank Hoggett
and Warren Hitchcock, and arranged to
see the committee of the several school
districts of the town in regard to
consolidating the City and Town
Governments; came home and wrote
a letter to mr. William Milton and it
is now 12 o'clock.
11\21\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Dr. Parry of the Grand St.
Baptist Church gave a lecture in the Mill
Plain Chape, Subject the Laughable Side
of Life. I and every member of my
family attended.
11\22\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange, Mr. William Faber was there.
11\23\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Warren Hitchcock, B.F.
Hoggett and myself drove over to
Oronoke district to see Mr. William
Johnson the School Committee in regard
to consolidating the Town and City
governments. He was not at home but
his wife told me that we would find
him in Watts Saloon. We then went
and saw Mr. Rasmussin, Committee
of the Town Plot district but he was
in bed, we then came to the center
and found Mr. Johnson in Watts'
Saloon on South Main Street playing
cards. He told us that he would
call a meeting of the voters of the
district and would also make out
a list of the School expenses for the
last 5 years and give it to me.
11\24\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Clyde and I went and
saw Mr. Rassmussin at Town Plot.
He said his district is much opposed
to consolidation and he has called a
school meeting to be held next Satur-
day evening.
11\25\{1900} Sunday
The weather is cold and went, Pierpont and I
went to Marion this forenoon to tell Charlie
Cass that the Mattatuck Drum Corps was
to turn out tomorrow night, it was after
three o'clock when we got home so I did not
go to the Chapel, but the rest of the family
went.
Mary and I went down to sister Mary
Jenner's and there met Frank and Gussy,
his wife. We agreed to pay the hired woman
7.50 her wages due, and to divide the sum
among us, Frank, Fred, Mary, Iva, and
myself, to pay.
I wrote to Fred in Detroit and told him
of it.
Rev. Mr. Holden preached at Chapel.
11\26\{1900} Monday
Worked at factory to day.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Corps
played for Wodham's Post G.A.R. to
advertise an entertainment that they
gave in the City Hall, it was a lecture "The Battle
of Gettysburgh" and was illustrated by maps
and views on canvas reflected by a calcium
light.
Bought 1 ton of coal to day of F.J. Wood
for which we paid 6.75.
Mary received a lot of stationary from
the Waturbury American and commenced
corresponding for the paper tonight
under the head of Mill Plain.
11\27\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory. Went to bed early.
11\28\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Warren Hitchcock and myself
drove to Waterville and saw Mr. Edward's
and Mr. Wolf who are Committees of the
Waterville School district about opposing
consolidation of the Waterbury town
and City governments. They said
that they would call a school meeting
and get the opinions of the people.
11\29\{1900} Thursday
This day is Thanksgiving and
there is no work.
This morning I was ready at 9 o'clock
when Warren Hitchcock came and we drove
to Simonsville to see Mr. Whightman the
Committee of the School there, but he was
not at home, we then went to South Brooklyn
and saw Mr. Green, the committee of that district,
he said that he would call a meeting, but
thought that they would favor consolidation.
We then went and saw Mr. Wills com-
mittee of Bunker Hill district, he too said
he would call a school meeting and that
they were very much opposed to
consolidation. We then drove to the
center where I left Warren and he came
home while I went to Uncle Joseph
Somers' house on East Clay Street
where were assembled Father, Mother,
Uncles, Aunts, and cousins, to
the number of fourty-nine and we ate
Thanksgiving dinner, after which I
walked to Simonsville and saw Mr.
Whightman and he told me that
he had a petition handed him this
morning to call a school meeting, and that
the people of Simonsville are much opposed to
consolidation. I then returned to Uncle Joe's
where we had ice cream in the evening,
and listened to brother Frank's gramophone.
We then went to Uncle Goldsmith's at the
East end of Clay Street and saw a lot of
Chinese and other foreign money, and
many curiosities from China, Japan, the
Phillipine Islands and other places that
he had sent home, he is at present in
the engine department of the United States
Transport Meade which left San Francisco
for China a short time ago, this will make
his second trip to China.
We then came home. Clyde and Irving walked
and the rest of us rode in the two-seated wagon.
Mrs. John Frey of Mill Plain died last
night aged 68 years.
This ends the entering of records in this book
which is the third one I have filled.
[[end of Journal Book]]
[[new journal starts here:
November 30, 1900 to April 21, 1902
Charles S. Miller
Waterbury, Conn.
Mill Plain District]]
11\30\1900 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This morning Constible Rametti came to
the factory and sommonsed me to appear
at the court of Common pleas (criminal side)
to be held in New Haven next Monday {monday}
morning at 10 o'clock,
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange. Yesterday was Thanksgiving.
12\01\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I saw Town Clerk Brett about
drafting a bill to be brought before the
incoming Legislator {{illegible word}} Waterbury
on an equal footing with the other towns
of the state, He said that he would do
all that he could about the matter, and
soon he brought Mr. Gilfoil the newly
elected Democratic Representative, who
wishes me to call at his office,
I then went and saw George Driggs at
his home on West Main Street . He is
Secretary and Treasurer of the
American Pin Co. of Waterville and
he told me many things about con-
solidation that will be useful to me
before this campaign {campaigne} is over.
I then went to my team which was hitched
by the North side of the green and there met
Mary and Margaret who had been to hear
Pro Russell read at St. Margaret's school and
then we came home. I remember it, an
anniversary of something.-M.H.
12\02\1900 Sunday
We attended divine service at the Chapel
this afternoon which was well filled.
Rev. Mr. Perry preached, taking for his
subject "The girl in the home".
In the evening I called on William Purdy,
Miles Payne, and Gilbert Hatchkiss
on East Mountain.
12\03\{1900} Monday
This morning I got up at 4 o'clock and
Clyde and I went to Rogers and Brothers
factory and oiled up the shafting. We
then came home and I ate breakfast
and got ready and took the 8, 12 train
for New Haven where I arrived in due time
and reported at the Court {Cort} House where I
stood with the rest of the jurors but as
4 prisoners pleaded Guilty and another
was sick, and for other reasons still
other cases could not be heard Judge
Stdley excused us till 10 o'clock next
Monday morning.
I then took a walk out Orange street and
East Rock to the Soldiers Monument
which I ascended by 106 steps which
wound round a center column in a spiral form.
After I came down I took the trolley
cars back to the green after which I
ate dinner and then went to the
historical rooms at 144 Grove Street,
where I looked at the old curious things
after which I walked to the depot where
I took the cars home.
12\04\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
12\05\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day
This evening Warren Hitchcock, B. F.
Hoggett and myself went to Wolcott
and heard Sec. Hine of the state board
of education speak on public libraries.
The meeting was held in the church at
the center.
12\06\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went and saw Mr. Frank
Gilfoil the newly elected representative to
the General Court, and made arrangements
to have the law amended {amenden} regarding
the tuition of scholars in the outlying
districts who attend the high school in
the City of Waterbury. He seems very
glad to take the matter up.
I then attended the town meeting
at which it was voted to divide the
Oronoke school distrcit according
to the report of a committee which had been
appointed for that purpose.
They also voted to call the south end Oronoke
district and the North end Park Road district
Number 11. Meeting then ajourned.
I then went to Simonsville and saw Mr.
Webster who keeps a drug store there and
who I had heard was working against
paying his tuition for his boy, but
he was not as earnest as I had hoped.
12\07\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day, this evening
I attended the school meeting at the East Farm
school house where they appointed a
committee consisting of George Benham,
Sidney P. Bronson, and Arthur J. Pierpont,
to meet with the committe appointed
by the districts to oppose consolidation.
Mary went to the Grange fair
which was held last night and to
night.
12\08\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
The boys went and chopped wood at James
Porter's woods at East Farms for the first
time to day.
12\09\1900 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewis, assistant minister of St.
John's episcopal church preached at Mill
Plain Chapel to day. The boy choir of the
same church did the singing. The attendance
was the largest I ever saw at the Chapel at
a regular meeting.
The weather is very cold tonight.
12\10\{1900} Monday
The weather to day is cold, thermometer stood
3 degrees above zero this morning.
Clyde and I got up at 4 this morning and
we went down to the spoon shop and oiled
up the shafting after which we came home
and ate breakfast, and then I started for
New Haven. Pierpont carried me in the
spindle buggy to the trolley cars at
Silver street and then I rode to Nauga-
tuck on them for which I paid 10 cents
then I took the steam cars to New Haven for
which I paid 75 cents. I met on the cars Mr.
Samuel Wilson of Wolcott who was to serve
on the jury also. We went to the county
court house and had to wait till noon
when they called us up into the court
room and discharged us as there was no
case to be tried. Judge Studley of the
court sent us to the clerk and he paid
us off. I received 12.96 for mileage {milege} , and wages,
for two Mondays.
Mr. Wilson and I went to the First nations
Bank and got our checks cashed, and then
went to Childs restaurant {restaurent} and had dinner
for which I paid 25 cts. We then went to
the Conn experiment station where we
stayed till 4 o'clock when we took the
trolley cars back to the center and I
rode out to Brtanford on the new
trolley road which is just completed.
Came back on the next car and it was
dark and cold. Took the 7.50 train
home which I reached at 9.40 o'clock.
12\11\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather this morning was very cold.
12\12\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
12\13\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I attended the
Grange, it being the election of offciers
the following were elected.
Harry Coe Master, Warren Hitchcock
Overseer, Girtrude W Bradley Lecturer,
Adelbert Hitchcock Steward, Charles
Hotchkiss Assistant Steward, Wilson
L. Pierpont Chaplain {Chaplin}, John Todd Treasurer
Anna Hall Secretary, Lewis Hitchcock
Gatekeeper. Mrs. Mary Pierpont {{Pamona??}}
Mrs. John Todd {{Ceries??}}, Mrs. Thomas
Fairclough {{Flora??}}, Edith Pierpont Lady
assistant Steward. B. F. Hoggett executive
committee.
12\14\{1900} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and I made two
pots of saurkraut {saurcraut}, then the boys and
Margaret and Ruth went to Frosts pond
skating.
12\15\1900 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
12\16\{1900} Sunday
This morning Pierpont and I drove
to Wolcott to Mr. H. A. {{Narton's??}} to see
if we could buy a hog, but he had none.
We then went to Charles {{Minars??}} one
mile North of the center but he had
none and did not know of any. Then
came home.
This afternoon went to the Chapel
which was largely attended. Rev. Mr.
Wrimner of Simonsville preached.
12\17\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The weather to day was has been very cold.
12\18\{1900} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Last Satursay yhe Mail carrier for the
first rural distrcit in this part of the
State began his duties. His route is
out the plank road to the pump station
then up the river road to the Southmaid
road by the Mattatuck shop then over
the Southmaid road to the Woodtick road
to the Stilson road which he travels to
the Pritchard road, then back to the
Mad River at the twin bridges and
up the Woodtick road to the Merritt
Seat place, back to twin bridges and
down the Doolittle road to our corner,
then out Cheshire road to East farms
schoolhouse, up to Meriden road, out
Meriden road to the road that goes to Woodtick
over which he passes, and at Woodtick
West to the West Wolcott road and
down to Mark {{Warriers??}} corner and
back up to Browns corner, west
over Chestnut hill to Bucks hill School
house and down through Piersollville
to the center of Woodbury.
12\19\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
12\20\{1900} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange.
12\21\{1900} Friday
Worked as usual.
This evening I went to the Chapel
and worked with others in trimming
it with evergreens for Christmas.
12\22\{1900} Saturday
Worked at the factory. This evening
I attended the meeting of the Committee of
the School districts of the town at the
City court room in the City hall to
take measures to oppose consolidation.
12\23\{1900} Sunday
Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
and the orchestra of the second church
Sunday School furnished the
music for the singing. The Chapel
had more people in it than ever before
at a preaching service; there were more
than 200 present.
12\24\{1900} Monday
Worked at the factory to day. The
making and polishing and trimming
rooms were shut down for their
vacation. They paid off this afternoon
and I received 13.50 for last week's work.
This evening the boys and I went
to the Chapel and prepared it for
Christmas.
12\25\1900 Tuesday
This day is Christmas. The first
thing the boys and I did after
they had enjoyed their presents
was to work shingling the
blacksmith shop partly after which
we went up in Mrs. Frost's lot
and got a Christmas tree and
took it to the Chapel and set it
up. We then came home and went to
Father's where all of my brothers and
sisters were met with their children to
eat Christmas dinner, after which in
the evening they had a Christmas
tree and many presents were given.
We also enjoyed some nice music and
Fred sang sveral selections. He and
Addie came from Detroit to spend
Christmas here.
12\26\{1900} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon I left the shop and
went to town and bought a present
after which I came home and went to
the Chapel and helped trim it up.
At 7:30 the Christmas exercises
opened with readings, recitations,
singing, etc., after which the presents
were given out to the scholars of the
Sunday School {sundayschool} by Santa Claus {cloths}
The Christmas tree looked very nice
when lit up with little wax candles
and trimmed with shiny balls and
{{brade??}}
12\27\1900 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. The Grange had a Christmas tree
this evening, and there was a large number
present. Mary and the children attended
but I stayed home and went to bed.
12\28\{1900} Friday
Worked to day as usual.
This evening I went to see Mr. Gilfoil
about bringing a bill regarding tuition
before the General assembly. He thought
that it was unnecessary as the revised
City charter would cover it. I then
went to Bunker Hill and saw Mr. Wells
about it; found him at the Chapel there
where they were having a Christmas tree
and exercises. He thinks consolidation
will be fought to the end. I then took
a trolley car home.
12\29\1900 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. This evening the Mattatuck
Drum Corps had a meeting and
brother Fred was present and gave
an exhibition of fire drumming.
He is the best drummer that I
know of.
12\30\{1900} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Anderson preached at
the Chapel to day.
12\31\{1900} Monday
This is the last day of the nineteenth
century. I worked at the factory as
usual.
This evening Clyde, Irving, Mary,
and I went out to Jacob Henry Garrigris'
and witnessed the marriage of their
daughter Bessie to Arthur Joseph
Pierpont. The ceremony was performed
in the parlor by the Rev. Dr. Davenport
of the second congregational church
at 8:30 o'clock. Mortimer Pierpont and
Jessie Garrigris acted as best man
and brides maid. There were about sixty
five guests present. They received many
presents which included 2 clocks, 2 stands,
an easy chair, spoons, ladles, trays, pictures,
pillows {pilows}, holders, and many other things.
Several who were there went to Waterbury
center to see this century out, and the new
one begin. There is to be lit on the green
36 electric arc lights, the band is to play
and also the chimes and other exercises are
to take place.
Arthur and Bessie are going to leave
at 11 o'clock for Meriden where they intend
to take the express train for Boston and
are to return Wednesday.
Mrs. John Alexander died yesterday
afternoon aged 84 years.
01\01\{1901} {Tuesday}
This day was issued in by the ringing
of bells, the firing of cannon. displays
of fireworks, music, the shouting of
men, and a grand illumination of
the green by electricity.
There was watch meetings in
the Methodist and St. John's Episcopal
churches, which ended at 12 o'clock and
which was attended by an immense
throng of people. Service also opened
at midnight in the church of the
immaculate conception and other
catholic churches.
This has been a general holiday.
The stores, banks, and businesses
Generally has been suspended.
I did not work at factory.
01\02\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual; received my pay at the
usual time this afternoon.
Mrs. Jane Welton, half sister of
David Porter, died at Mr. Porter's
home yesterday afternoon at
6 o'clock, aged 82 years. The same
afternoon at about 7:30 Mr. Timothy
Porter of Stamford aged 75 died. He was
half brother of Mrs. Welton.
The Ladies union had a supper and
entertainment at the Chapel this evening.
01\03\1901 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mr. Charles D. Hine,
secretary of the state board of Education,
gave a fine lecture which was illustrated
by {{calcicum??}} lights views. The subject
was cities of Northern Italy, principally
Venice.
01\04\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather is cold and clear, the
travelling excellent.
The ice men have cutting.
01\05\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
This evening the Mill Plain Choir
met at my house for practice. There
were present Morris Alcott, Harnald
Lanton, Charles Hotchkiss, Inez Beckswith,
George Cass, and Edward Hutchens.
The girls that sing did not come.
01\06\1901 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Buckley of the Trinity church
Preached at the Chapel to day.
01\07\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Yesterday there was a stabbing {{affray??}}
on the John D. Johnson's pond down on
East Main street. It seems that the boys
stole wood of some Italians who live
near the pond to build a fire on the ice.
The Italians remonstrated, but the boys
heeded them not, till the Italians, father
and son, tried to drive them away. When
the boys set upon the son with their
shiny sticks, skates, etc., the father
came to help him and a general fight
began and the boy drew his knife and
stabbed three of the boys and the rest
ran, but soon returned and the Italians
retired to their house opposite the new
Hendrican school. The police soon came
and arrested them and they are mow in
the lockup. The condition of the boys who
were stabbed is: two are in a critical condit-
ion and the other is able to be about.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met this evening.
01\08\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The school at Mill Plain opened this morn-
ing, with Miss F. May Fatem teacher in
the primary room, Miss Daisy Falmage
teacher in the middle room and Mrs.
Barlow in the highest room.
Yesterday Pierpont had a bad accident
happen his hand. He was on Frost's pond
and slipped and fell just as a boy named
{{Greeter??}} came along on a bicycle {bicicle} he put
out his hand to push away the wheel when
it caught between the chain and sprocket
wheel which nearly tore the index finger
apart at the first joint. He came home
and Mary took him down to Doctor Bartier
who did it up. He is now getting along
very nicely.
Cousin Marion Gillettte of North Goshen
was married New Years day to Mr.
Samuel Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Goshen center.
01\09\1901 Wednesday
Worked aat the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to see Mr. Gilfoil
but he was in Hartford at the opening
of the Legislature {{Legislator}}. I then went to the
town clerk's office and saw Mr. Brett
about drafting a bill for Mr. Gilfoil
to present to the General Assembly.
Then I went to Porter Woods' office
and got there petitions against
consolidating the town and City
governments, and came home and
directed one send to Warren B. Hitchcock
of Mill Plain district, one to George
Benham of East Farms district, one
to Miles Payne of East Mountain
district.
01\10\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening it is very icy and
it still rains and freezes as it falls.
Mary went to the Grange.
01\11\1901 {Friday}
Worked to day as usual at the factory of
Rogers & Brother.
Everything is coated thick with ice and
a little snow fell which has made very
good sleighing.
Many of the old trees are broken down and
many of the small ones have broken
branches causes by the great weight
of ice.
01\12\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving and I went to
the Town Clerk's office and copied records
of the present Tucker place at Mill Plain.
01\13\{1901} Sunday
This morning I gor up at 8 o'clock and
cooked the breakfast of stewews oysters
after which Raymond and I drove to
William Pritchard's in wolcott. In
many places the trees were bent across
the road and in some cases it was hard
to get through.
This afternoon Dr. Parry preached at the
Chapel. There was a large attendance.
01\14\1901 Monday
Worked to day at the factory.
This evening I went and saw Representative {Representive}
Gilfoil about bringing the tuition bill
before the Legislature {Legislator}.
I then attended the meeting of the commit-
tees of the outlying districts held in
the city court room at City hall to
oppose consolidation. The special
committee appointed to procure attorneys
reported that they could not retain
{{Grager??}} of Durby or Warner of Woodbury
but that they could get Green Hendrick.
Some of the district committees could
not engage to vouch for the pay which
would amount to $300.00 until they
had reported back to their district
which would take till next week and
it looked as if the thing would fall
through till I and our committee,
Warren Hitchcock and B.F. Hoggett,
gave our personal security for out
districts share, and so reported
when several other committees agreed
to do the same and Mr. Hendrick was
engaged.
01\15\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Clyde, Irving, and I went
to Mrs. Theodore Munson's and got
her cook stove and carried it over
to the Chapel and set it up in the
place of the one already there.
01\16\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The Ladies Union of Mill Plain
gave a supper and entertainment
this evening which was in charge
of the young ladies. The supper was
good, and the entertainment fine.
01\17\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. This evening Mary and I
attended the Grange. The newly
elected officers were installed and
she is now {{Ceries??}}
01\18\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. This evening Harry {{Stilbourne??}}
called and we figured up our old
accounts and found that I owed
him 33.00. I payed him 7.00 leaving
a balance of 26.00 now due.
There are many cases of the Grippe or
influenza about here now as there are
all through the Eastern part of the country.
100,000 cases are reported in New York City.
01\19\{1901} Saturday
Worked to day in the factory as usual.
The weather has been very cold.
I went down town to night expecting to
attend to some business but it was
so cold and windy that I came home
as soon as I could. The thermometer stood at
2 degrees below zero when we got home and
the wind was blowing hard.
01\20\1901 Sunday
Mr. Garrison of the Farm Street church
preached at Mill Plain Chapel to day, he
is a local preacher.
01\21\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
Queen Victoria is very sick at Orsbourn
in the Island of Wight. Her death is
expected at any time.
01\22\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to the City
hall and saw Mr. Brett, the town
clerk, about the petition to be brought
before the General Assembly.
01\23\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day
as usual.
Queen Victoria died last night at
6:30 o'clock at the age of 82 years.
Her death was caused, it is thought
by many, to be due to worry over
the reverses and defeats of the
British army in South Africa which
the small army of the Boers seem
to be beating.
I was {{a boating??}} on
Jim Porter's swamp.
Louis Monroe & Frank
Wright & Lena Hespalt
ere there.
01\24\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange.
01\25\1901 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Wolcott and saw
Evelyn Upson who is Representative from
that town to the General Assembly to
find out how much longer the Legislature
will receive new business, and also
to talk on consolidation matters.
He told me that the time expires the
15th of next month and gave me much
other information.
01\26\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening saw Town clerk Brett.
Selectman Doran and Representative
Frank P. Gilfoil about having a tuition
bill drafted.
01\27\{1901} Sunday
Henry Nalson Hall was buried to
day. He died June 17th at Manilla,
Philipine {Fillipine} Islands of malaria fever.
He belonged to Co. L. 21, United States
Infantry. Had previously served in
the 9th infantry against the Indians
in Calefornia, Arazona, and New-
Mexico; also in the late Spanish
war and was at the charge on San
Juan hill July 2nd, 1898.
When he died they buried him at
Manilla and since cold weather
the Government {{disintered??}} the
remains of three hundred soldiers
including Hall and brought them
to San Francisco on the transport
Grant, and Hall's remains were {was} sent home
which they reached last Wednesday
afternoon and were taken in charge
of by undertaker Wake.
The funeral was held from the under-
taking rooms of the Boston furniture
Company this afternoon and was
attended by Companies A and G,
C.N.G., and a great concourse of
people. They marched with the funeral
train to the Mill Plain Chapel
which was filled to overflowing and
many had to stand outside, while
the cemetary hill was covered with
people. Dr. Davenport preached the
funeral sermon and the choir sang
three very appropriate hymns. After
the service the funeral formed in
front of the Chapel. First a military
guard of 16 men commanded by a
Seargent bearing rifles on their shoul-
ders, then the hearse, and six infantry
men pall bearers. Three walked on
each side of the hearse, then came
the hacks and carriages carrying
relatives and friends and then
{{obay??}} 100 soldiers without arms
marched two and two. At the grave
the military men formed in a
circle enclosing the grave, the mourn-
ers standing within the circle.
After the remarks and prayers by
the minister, three {{vellies??}} were fixed
by the guard over the grave and
the bugler played the "taps" which
ended the funeral service.
The remains were enclosed in a heavy
oak casket which was in a heavy box
made of 1 1/2 " fine plank bound with
band iron.
On the end of the box was marked
Henry N. Hall. Co. L. 21st U.S.
Inf. on a card which was pasted
on was the following
Manilla P.I.
Nov. 19th, 1900
I certify that Henry N. Hall, Late.
Sergt. of Co. L. 21 Inf. U.S.A. died of
Malarial fever at Manilla on June
18th, 1900, and that his remains have
been placed in a proper hermetically
sealed casket, and that their removal
will not endanger public health.
Charles Syrech
Capt. Ass't. Surgeon U.S.A.
For Board of Health.
Henry N. Hall was son of the late
Nelson Hall.
01\28\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory.
This evening the pipes of the Mattatuck
Drum Corps met for practice.
01\29\1900 Tuesday
Worked to day. This evening I went
to town and saw Mr. Gilfoil about
presenting my tuition bill before
the Legislature. He says that he
will present it tomorroe.
01\30\{1900} Wednesday
Worked to day.
01\31\1901 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. Saw by this evening's
paper that Mr. Gilfoil presented
my tuition bill before the General
Assembly.
02\01\{1901} Friday
Worked as usual to day.
02\02\{1901} Saturday
Worked as usual to day.
This evening Mary and I went
to town. I went to the town clerk's
office and looked up some old records
and then saw the Selectman.
Queen Victoria of England is buried
this day.
02\03\1901 Sunday
This forenoon Clyde Irving, Pierpont
and I went to the Chapel and swept
it out, built fire, and got it ready
for service this afternoon. Then
Pierpont and I went upon the
North end of Long hill to see
where the district line between the City
of Waterbury and the Bucks hill district
runs. When we got home it was too
late for Chapel service so I lay down
and had a nap.
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at the Chapel.
02\04\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
It has snowed most of the time to
day and there is now about 10 inches
on the ground and it is still snowing.
George Somers and Roy Birch came
to night to attend the Drum Corps
meeting but we had no meeting, so we
stayed and Clyde made an ax handle
and I a vice bench.
02\05\{1901} Tuesday
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
The weather has been Cold, windy and
the air full of snow.
02\06\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
02\07\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to the Grange.
02\08\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual. The
weather has been very cold for the
past three days.
Clyde worked this afternoon helping
Wilson Pierpont cut ice. It was
seventeen inches thick.
02\09\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day. The shop
closes at 5 o'clock Saturdays and as I
work 1/2 hour at noon. I get out at half
past four.
Irving met me at the shop with the
team and I rode home after which
we shod the horse. She kicked like
fun and Irving and Clyde held her
at the nose with a pair of tongs.
The choir of the Mill Plain Chapel
met here this evening to rehearse the
hymns they are to sing to morrow.
There were present Mr. Hutchens, Harold
Lanton, Charlie Hotchkiss, George Cass,
Morris Alcott, Hiram Able, and Frank
DeBisop, bass and tenor, Bertha French,
Ida Spender, Clara French, Cara Miller,
Agness Able, Annie Munson, alto and
soprano, and Inez Beckwith organist.
02\10\{1901} Sunday
Weather very cold and windy, but
the sleighing is good.
Rev. Mr. Holden preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel. There was a good attendance
considering the weather.
After supper Margaret and I drove
to George Sprague's on East Mountain
and saw Miss Jennie about playing
at the Chapel next Wednesday evening
at the Fair. She said she would come
if we sent after her.
02\11\1901 Monday
I worked in the spoon manufactory
of Rogers & Brothers, on Silver street,
to day.
This evening Mary, Clyde, Irving,
and I went to the Chapel and with
others who were there built the
booths that are to be used st the
fair for the sale of goods. We worked
there till ten o'clock.
02\12\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather to night is very cold.
Mary, Clyde, and Irving went to
the Chapel this evening to get it
ready for the fair tomorrow evening.
Mary and Clyde have now (9 o'clock)
got home, but Irving is yet there
waiting for Mr. Walker to tune
the piano.
02\13\1901 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This has been the coldest day of
the winter so far. The wind has
blown a gale and the thermometer has
stood about zero. This evening the
fair at the Mill Plain Chapel opened.
I went and got there a little after eight
and stayed till after nine when the
entertainment was over. When I came home
the entertainment consisted of
music on the piano by Miss Jennie
Sprague and Myrton Judd; Recitations
by Pearle Fairchild, a girl by the name
of Pullen and a little boy, a dialogue
by George Sills and My daughter
Margaret, and several songs.
02\14\1901 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather has been windy and cold
though not so bad as yesterday.
This evening the orchestra of the Young
Men's Christian Association are to furnish
the entertainment and Clyde with
Father's two-seated wagon and Irving
with my two seated wagon and Mr.
Warden with his two seated wagon
have gone to the Y.M.C.A. building
to meet them and bring them out.
I intended to go to the fair, but I
now think that I will not.
02\15\1901 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather is a little warmer, so that it
has thawed some.
The springs and streams are very low.
We have had no rain since christmas
and but little since the early part
of last summer.
This evening Clyde and I set three
window panes, one in my room,
14X28", and two in the North West
bed room, 14X26".
02\16\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and I chopped
wood till supper time, and after sup-
per we worked in the shop till nine
o'clock.
02\17\{1901} Sunday
The weather to day has been nice and
warm. The boys and I went to the
Chapel this forenoon and got it
ready for service.
When I was coming home I met
Miles Payne who had come to see me
about a wood saw arbor. I showed it to
him and he took 49 {{??}} of steel stake
holders. Father came to see me about
Fred and money matters pertaining
to his board which is long past due.
I got ready to go to the Chapel but it
was so late I backed out and stayed at
home. This afternoon Clyde, Irving,
Pierpont and I went up and looked
at the piece of woods that Mr. {{Knapp??}}
has beeen cutting off East of Frost's
pond, and east of Hiram Able's house.
Mary told me that Rev. Mr. Hannan
preached at the Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon. This is his last Sunday there as
he is soon to move to Brooklyn, N.Y.
to take charge of a large church.
02\18\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The dust house got on fire this morning.
02\19\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Weather has been nice and warm.
02\20\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
There was a surprise party given by the
young people of Mill Plain on Arthur
Pierpont and his wife last evening.
There were about 40 present.
02\21\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary went to town to day and
reinsured my shop for $1000.00 for
one year fpr the premium of 27.50
in the agency of J. G. Jones.
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange. {{Miles??}} Bradly was
installed Lecturer.
02\22\{1901} Friday
Worked at factory.
This is Washington's birthday and
is a holiday. The banks, schools, etc.,
are closed.
I raised the flag on the pole upon
Rogers and Brothers' office in honor
of the day.
02\23\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
02\24\{1901} Sunday
This forenoon I went to the factory
and worked till 1 o'clock, refraining
a clutch and belt on the main
shaft.
The weather has been cold to day
so after I got home I staid there
except that Mr. Warden came
and got me to go up to Munson's
corner to look at his wagon which
broke down with him as he was
going to the Chapel.
Mr. Lewis of St. John's Church
preached at Mill Plain Chapel.
02\25\1901 Monday
Worked to day at the factory.
This evening I went out to get
signatures on a petition against
consolidation of the City and
Town governments.
Went first to Mr. Mcloy's, then
Thomas Mill's, thence to Mr. Andrew's,
then to James Porter, then Albert
Gillette, then Mr. Tyler, then Paul
Hesphelt, then Mr. Hennessey, then
Mr. Gillette, then Mr. Barbour, then
Mr. Beckwith, then Mr. Anderson,
then Lewis and Old John Frey,
then Hiram Able, and then home.
02\26\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the facrtory to day.
This evening Pierpont and I started out
with the petition against Consolidation of
the Town and City governments of
Waterbury. We went first to Mr.
Batchelor's on the plank road then to
Mr. Carlson's on the Southmaid road,
then to Mr. Atkinson's on the Wood-
tick road then to Mr. Sherman's and
Mr. W.H. Woodinge opposite the school house
then to M. F. Fairchild's, then to Frank
Welton's then to H. M. Judd's, then to
Edward Baldwin's, then to John
Thackerie's, then to H.H. Hulbert's
on the Frost road, then to Wm.
Atkinson's, then to Albert Spender's,
then to J. L. Jones, then to Frederick
Reel's and Thomas {{Holms'??}} on the
Meriden Road, then home.
02\27\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening is the supper and en-
tertainment at the Chapel. It is
in charge of the young men, all of
my family are there except me.
02\28\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange.
They had a debate; The subject of which
was, Is it right for the United States
to take from the Philipinos their
Islands. For the Affirmative were
Mr. Lewis Garrigus and Senator
Garrigus of Indiana, Negative, William
Lyler and myself. Time did not
permit of my speaking only for a
short time.
03\01\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory. At the time
of the fire someone did not shut off
the main valve of one of the four way
hydrants {hidrants} and it froze up. We had to
dig down by it and built a little {{fre??}}
and throw it out.
03\02\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
03\03\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Parry Preached at Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
There was a good attendance.
Mr. Koot of Waterville drilled
the choir for the first time
last night at Inez Beckwith's.
This evening Margaret and I
went to Wolcott and saw Evelyn
Upson.
03\04\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
I wrote a letter to Attorney Porter
Wood, requesting an interview
some evening.
This day President McKinley
is to be inaugurated President of
the United States for the next
4 years.
03\05\1901 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather this morning was very
cold and windy.
03\06\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening all of my family attended
the lecture given by Dr. Parry at the
Mill Plain Chapel. The subject was
Quo Vodis and it was illustrated by
{{sterioptican??}} views. The attendance
was small owing probably to the
cold weather.
03\07\1901 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended the meeting
of the committees of the outside
school districts at the City hall
to prepare to oppose Consolidation of
the Town and City governments
of Waterbury.
The Town has engaged Joe Barbour of
Hartford to work in the Legislature.
03\08\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Clyde, Irving, and I
worked in the blacksmith shop till
after 9 o'clock.
The child of Theodore Munson was
buried this afternoon. Rev. Mr. Daven-
port officiated. He (the child) was one year old
the 16th of February.
03\09\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
03\10\1901 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bentham of Waterville preached
at the Chapel this afternoon. His choir of
St. Paul's church came with him and
joined with the Mill Plain choir which
made the singing better than we ever
had at an Episcopal service before. They
numbered altogether about twenty six
singers.
03\11\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
It rained all night and the river
was quite high this morning.
There was a leak in the embank-
ment of the ditch at the shop and
Tom Keegan and I with sledge and
chistle cut through the frost and
repaired it which took till noon,
The river rose seven inches between
10 and 12 o'clock. When we returned
to the shop the high water had obliged
the engineer to take the main belt
off from the engine, so the people
were sent home. About two o'clock
the water began falling and I put
the belt back on again and got things
ready to start again in the morning.
This evening Irving, Clyde, and I made
a heavy pair of hinges for the black-
smith shop doors.
{03\12\1901 Tuesday [no entry]}
03\13\1901 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Our boy Pierpont was taken very sick
yesterday and last night he was very
sick. Mary staid up with him all
night and I was up a part of the time.
To day we had Dr. Barber call and see
him and he said he had a bad attack
of influenza but he thought that he
would come out all right. He is much
better now but still breathes very
hard.
03\14{1901} Thursdayt
Worked at the factory to day.
Ex President Benjamin Harrison
died at 4 o'clock this morning.
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange.
03\15\1901 Friday
Worked to day at the factory to day.
Mr. George B. Cantor died yesterday
aged 54 years.
03\16\{1901} Saturday
Worked at factory to day.
This evening I went to the Town Clerk's
office with Michael Cass of Silver Street
to find out what we could about his
property. I then went and saw Mr.
Gilfoil, the representative to the Legisla-
ture regarding the tuition bill which
is now before the house.
It seems that the towns of Middle-
town and Wattingford are in the
same condition as Waterbury, and
have to pay a large tuition to the
highschool by the parents of the
children who attend. There has been
one hearing already, and there is
soon to be another.
03\17\{1901} Sunday
Mr. Waters of Wolcott preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon.
{03\18\1901 Monday [no entry]}
{03\19\1901 Tuesday [no entry]}
03\20\1901 Wednesday
Worked to day in the factory as
I did yesterday and the day before.
I have not made an entry in this book
since last Sunday night, which is due
to my not feeling well, and after my
day's work was over and opportunity
offered I went to bed sick and tired.
Monday evening Mary and
I went up to Mr. Able's and spent the
evening. The occasion was a gathering
of the neighbors which Mr. and Mrs.
Able had invited in honor of Miss
Agness 22nd birthday. There were about
thirty present and we had an enjoyable
time. Last night I went to bed early.
Mary and Irving went to a Lecture
down to the highschool.
News has come to day that the Boers
in South Africa have rejected the
terms of peace offered by the British
Government and they intend to
continue fighting. May they fight
until they conquer and gain their
liberty.
03\21\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange.
03\22\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
There is a party and dance this
evening at John French's house
which Bertha and Clara have got up
as they are to move over into Charlie
Monroe's house next week.
03\23\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory till eight o'clock
this evening.
The Mill Plain Chapel choir met at
my house this evening to rehearse the
hymns they are to sing tomorrow.
03\24\{1901} Sunday
Although to day is Sunday I worked
in the factory from 9 o'clock toll one
refraining the main shaft, water wheel,
etc., work that could not be done when
the mill was running.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon, and the Second Congregational
church. Sundayschool orchestra played for the
singing.
03\25\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory this day as
usual.
03\26\1901 Tuesday
Worked this day at the factory of Rogers
and Brother on Silver Street.
It has rained nearly all day.
03\27\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to the Town clerk's
office and copied titles to Michael Cass's
property on Silver Street. I then went
to Judge Camel's office and saw rep-
resentative Gilfoil who told me that
the bill making the amount of the
tuition fee that the state will pay
for educating town scholars in
highschools $30.00 instead of 20.00 as
here to before, per year, and that my
bill will not be brought up before
April 9th.
I then came out to Mill Plain
Chapel and brought home my
family. The supper was given
by the married men and they
cleared about $17.00.
03\28\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory this day.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange. In the early part of the evening
they had a debate on the Philipine question.
Those who spoke in favor of our government
were Lewis Garrigus and Professor Davis
G. Porter. Those in favor of the Philipine
people were David Hotchkiss of Prospect,
William Tyler of Bucks hill and myself.
Soon after nine o'clock the young people had
a masquerade dance.
03\29\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
School closed in the Mill Plain
School to day for one week's vacation.
Aquinaldo, President and leader of the
Philipine Government and forces,
was captured by General Frederick {{Funston??}}
last Saturday.
03\30\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory till half past four
when I came home and shod the horse and
repaired the shafts on the farm wagon.
School closed at Mill Plain yesterday for
one week's vacation. The teachers are
Miss May Fatern of Hartford in the
primary room, Miss Talmage of Prospect
in the intermediate room, and Miss
White of Middlebury in the highest
room.
03\31\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Fletcher of Oakville preached
at Mill Plain. Chapel was well-filled.
04\01\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The wind blew very hard all last night
and has blown all day.
This evening several members of the
Mattatuck Drum Corps met for practice.
They were Roy Berch, Dave Waugh,
Harry Buckingham, Irving, and myself.
I received a card by mail to day an-
nouncing the wedding of Mrs. Anna
Hall and Wilson L. Pierpont, which
is to take place April ninth.
04\02\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to John Wokelie's
to see a horse that I am thinking of
buying. I did not see it as Harry
had it to the shop where he works.
04\03\1901 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
It has rained hard all day.
This evening the boys and I worked in the
blacksmith shop making a latch for the
door, after which I came in and worked
carving the seat of a chair.
04\04\{1901} Thursday
Worked at factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to the Grange.
04\05\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This is Good Friday but I had to work
putting in a big gear.
04\06\1901 Saturday
Worked at factory to day.
04\07\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Parry preached at Mill Plain
Chapel. This is Easter Sunday and
the service was very interesting; it
included considerable singing.
This evening Margaret and I went to Evelyn
Upson's.
04\08\1901 Monday
Worked at factory to day.
04\09\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the committee at City hall that are
opposed to consolidation and arranged
to go to Hartford and oppose it before
the committee on Citys and Boroughs
tomorrow. Nearly all of the committees
are going by way of the Highland
division of the Consolidates road
at a price of 100 up and return.
04\10\1901 Wednesday
This morning Irving and I went to
the shop and oiled up the shafting.
The weather was rather wet. We then
came home and ate breahfast, and
then with Clyde started for Hartford.
We drove to Marion and left our team
at Charlie Cass's and then took the
trolley cars al Mill Dale and rode
to Lazy Lane for which we paid
five cents. From thence we rode to
Plainville on the trolley cars of the Connecticut
Light and Power Co. (previously we had
been riding on the Southington and
Meriden Company's cars.) for which
we paid 20 cts. At Plainville we took
the cars on the new third rail system
of the Highland div. which are the
only third rail cars in the World
except one line in Mass. and Rhode Island.
They glided along very swiftly and we
were soon in Hartford. The fare was 20 cts.
We went first as we had plenty of
time to the Wadsworth Athneum and
looked at the fine paintings by Trumbell
and the other paintings and relics.
We then went and viewed the Conn-
ecticut river which was very high, the
water almost touching the East Hartford
bridge. In East Hartford many of
the houses were in water up to the
windows.
We then went to the Capitol where
the hearing on consolidation was to
take place in the Supreme Court room.
The city was represented by lawyers
Chas. Root and John {{Kellogg??}}, the town
by Lawyers Brackelsly of Hartford,
Carmody, Wood, Kendrick of Waterbury,
and Joe Barber of Hartford.
The City called Lawyer Terry, the
Mayor of Hartford, Mr. Jenks of
Waterville and one or two others,
to testify in favor of Consolidating the
Town and City governments.
The town called to the stand the committees
of the several school districts, namely
Thomas Miles Payne of East Mountain,
Mr. Edwards of Waterville, and several
others, when it was too late to call more.
I will say here that the hearing also took
place yesterday.
We left Hartford st 6 P.M. by third
rail and came home the same way that
we went.
The Ladies Union had a supper at Mill
Plain Chapel this evening.
04\11\1901 Thursday
This morning Irving and I went to
the shop and oiled the shafting.
After breakfast I started for Hartford,
drove to Marion, the walked to Mill Dale,
and then took trolley to plainville and
thence by trolley cars to New Britain
and Hartford, fare 33 cts to Hartford
from Mill Dale.
I went immediately to the Capitol and
at 2:30 the hearing began. There were
several called who spoke against consolidation,
including myself. I took the 6 o'clock
third rail car out of Hartford to Plainville
and came home.
04\12\1901 Friday
This morning Clyde, Irving, and I went
to the shop and oiled up.
I then came home and May and I
started for Hartford, driving to Mill Dale
and there took the trolley to Meriden
fare each 15 cts, then took the steam cars to
Hartford fare each 40 cts. We went immedi
ately to the Capitol and heard the lawyers'
pleas for and against Consolidation.
They were finished at nearly two o'clock.
We then went to the top of the dome
where we could see a great distance in
every direction. The Connecticut river
was high, the waters overflowing the
lowlands and down the valley.
After looking about the Capitol building
we went to Calinder's restaurant and had
dinner, after which we went to the {{Atheneran??}}
and from there we took the New Britain
trolley cars and came home by trolley to
Mill Dale and drove the rest of the way.
04\13\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
04\14\1901 Sunday
Rev Dr. John G. Davenport preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
04\15\{1901} Monday
Worked at factory to day.
The weather has been cold and wet all day.
This evening several of the young men of the
neighborhood expected to give Wilson Pierpont
and his new wife a serenade.
04\16\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
04\17\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day. This
evening the boys and I worked making
a heavy latch for the blacksmith shop
and then whitewashed part of the West side
of the cellar.
04\18\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange this evening.
04\19\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
Thomas Hill's girl, aged twenty years, was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon.
04\20\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon after work, Clyde, Irving,
Frank, P and I went to the Chapel and
raked off the grass and trimmed about
the walks, also fertilized the grass and
rolled it down, after which we came
home and ate supper of beef soup and
Clyde went to the Chapel and opened it
for the choir rehearsal, but they had none
as it rained very hard. Mary and I went
to the City and bought a lot of groceries
and provisions. We returned home after nine.
It rained hard all the time we were gone.
04\21\{1901} Sunday
It rained hard all night and this morning
the river was very high. The brook in
the lower end of our lot was so high
that it flowed over much of the ground
in a great pond.
Clyde and Irving went to the Chapel
and pumped the water out of the furnace
pit and built a frire and had things ready
for sunday school and service, but it rained
so hard that no one came but Inez Beckwith
and Henry Cass. We, Clyde, Irving, Ruth,
Frank, Pierpont, and I stayed till after three
o'clock, when we came home and ate supper
of fried shod and scalloped{{escaloped}} oysters.
After supper Irving and I went to the
Spoon shop and saw that everything was
all right for running in the morning.
The water was the highest it has been in
years. We then drove to the Brass mill
and found the water ready to run over
the grovel dam. We drove and told Father
who has charge of the dam there, and he
gave us some shovels and a pick and we,
with Will Gillette, went there and raised
the bank about a foot higher. It was
quite dark when we were done.
We then came home.
04\22\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather has been wet and cold.
04\23\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather is cold snd rainy.
Fritz Hanson is moving from the
Ashton place to the Edward Scott farm
on the old Prospect Road.
Wilson Pierpont is also moving his new
wife's goods from her house, the one next to
Grange Hall, to his place at East Farms.
04\24\1901 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
It has rained all day.
This evening the Ladies gave a supper and
entertainment at the Chapel.
04\25\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to
the Grange.
This is the 29th day that it has rained
in succession.
04\26\{1901} Friday
I worked at the factory to day.
The weather has been cool and clear.
Wilson Pierpont has been moving his
wife's goods to his house to day and
Clyde has been helping him this afternoon.
Mary, Clyde, and Irving have gone to
a party at Albert Spender's this evening
to surprise Miss Ida this being her
twentieth birthday.
Irving and I plowed the East garden this
evening.
04\27\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
04\28\{1901) Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Chapel to
day.
04\29\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day. The weather
has been rather warm.
04\30\1901 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The bill consolidating the town and city
governments passed the house to day by
a large majority so the Waterbury American
says.
We had a little shower this afternoon.
05\01\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Planted onion seed to night, my first
planting.
05\02\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange. This is neighbor's night, and there
were present about 186 members present.
They came from Cheshire, Prospect,
Southington, one from Whigville, one from
Bristol, several from Plymouth, some from
Watertown, one from Middlebury, and
a large number from Beach Valley.
There was also present State master Patterson
of Hope Grange of Torrington, and State
Overseer of Weston.
The program was good but very loud and
the supper did not end till near one o'clock
this morning.
05\03\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
05\04\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
05\05\{1901} Sunday
This has been a nice warm day. The buds
on cherry and plum trees are about to
burst into blossom.
Rev. Mr. Parry preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
to day.
After chapel Margaret and I went for a ride
over the Long hill road and across the new
Pond at Lake-wood thence up Bucks Hill
and past Wm. Tyler's farm with its large
peach orchards to the highest point on
on the road where we turned East and went
to Mr. John Bishop's where there is a high tower
built for observation. This is the highest {{illegibleword}}
in Waterbury and from this point could be
seen Ivy mountain in Goshen, Mt. Tom in
Litchfield, Mokath mountain in Cornwall,
the Hanging mountain in Naugatuck, Middle-
bury center and many other places. There
were several fires in the woods in the distance,
the largest of which was to the Southward
and seemed to be in the neighborhood of
Mark Warmers. When we came home we
came across wincum bridge and past
Buckshill school house and down North
Main Street to Cherry to East Main and
home. At the corner of Dublin Street we
saw the fire that we had seen from the
tower and it seemed to be near the Brass
Mill. At Wolcott street it looked as if it
was North of East main St. At Ashton's
corner we thought that it was my shop
as it was directly back of Mr. Wright's house
but when we got to my sho we saw it was
in Cavalry Cemetary about a dozen rods
South of my house and there was a large number
of people at work putting it out.
05\06\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
05\07\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Carpenters are out on a Strike for eight
hours work and two dollars and a half per day.
They have been out since the first of May. Several
of the contractors have given in to them, but
some say they will not.
{05\08\1901 Wednesday [no entry]}
{05\09\1901 Thursday [no entry]}
05\10{*08}\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
50 machinists struck at the Waterbury Clock
Co. to day because the company discharged
two men who belonged to the machinists
union.
The strike of the carpenters is ended,
The Master carpenters agreeing to give
them 8 hours after Nov. 1 at 10 hours' pay.
05\11\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Irving, Pierpont, and I went
to the Chapel and cut the grass with a lawn
mower and trimmed the edges of the drives
and walks.
05\12\1901 Sunday
This morning Laurence Tobin and I went
to the shop and repaired the governon and
gate to the waterwheel, which took us till
half past one o'clock.
I then came home and ate dinner and soon
Mr. Howard Wright, a medical student who
attends a college during its terms and works
in the vacation, at present at the factory,
came and we hitched up and we drove to Marion
where we looked over several ploughed pieces
of ground in search of Indian arrow points
we finally drove to compounce pond looking
all the way but failed to find any.
We drove partly around the lake and out
onto the road at the South end then taking
the road west we went up the mountain
to Wolcott and then home.
Mary told me that the Rev. C. E. Bentham
of Waterville preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
this afternoon.
05\13\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps met for practice. There were but
six members present, but there were a large
number of boys and visitors.
{05\14\1901 Tuesday [no entry]}
05\15\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory yesterday and
all night, 23 hours in all continuously.
Mr. Bloomfield's son-in-law died and
Mr. Bloomfield, who is the regular watch-
man, had to be out and I took his place
and got home at about half past seven
this morning.
Mrs. Ashton, widow of Richard, died
yesterday morning, aged 79 years. She
is to be buried in the Pine Grove
Cemetary. She lived in her own house
corner of the Meriden and Cheshire roads.
05\16\1901 Thursday
Watched at the factory last night.
At 6 o'clock I had to make a round of all
of the rooms and close the doors and
windows. In making a round I had
first to go into the pipe room and insert
a key in a circular lock which connected
two electric wires which were connected
with a clockwork in the main office
which punched a hole in a paper dile so
they could see that the watchman went
his beat all right. From the pipe room
I went to the men's burnishing room and
there turned the key then to the further
end of the firls burnishing room, then
through the stock room to the
North end of the shipping room, using the
key every time, then to the main office
then up the office stairs to the room over
the office, then to the east die sinkers room,
then to the packing room, then down stairs
and through the {{slackend making??} rooms to the west end
of the polishing room, then back and to
the girls inspecting room, then to the trimming
room then up stairs and through the long
room to the west stairs down and back
to the polishing room then through the muffle
rooms to the belt turning off room,
then back to the satin room the place of
beginning. I had also to keep steam up in
the boilers, had to make a round every
hour from six at night to five in the
morning.
05\17\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\18\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory.
It is expected that many of the machinists
of Waterbury will strike monday for nine
hours time and ten hours pay.
05\19\{1901} Sunday
There was no minister at the Chapel
to day. It was Methodist sunday but
William Garrigus's committee failed
to get one, so the service was led by
Hiram Able, and consisted of lesson reading,
singing and prayer.
05\20\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This is an eventful day for Waterbury.
There are over 800 machinists on strike
and nearly all of the machinists are out
from Holmes, Booth, & Hayden's; The Ring Co.,
Blume and Atwoods, The Farrell Foundry
and Machine Co., The Waterbury Machine Co.,
Manville Bros., The E. J. Manville Co.,
Randolph & Clows, Blake & Johnson's,
Steel & Johnson's, The Waterbury Clock Co.
and others.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met for
practice this evening.
Mary has gone to Prospect to a grange
meeting with Wilson Pierpont and his
wife.
05\21\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
There are about 500 of the 800 machinists
out on strike. It is estimated that
there 50,000 machinists in the United
States on strike.
05\22\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
This evening we had a meeting at the
Mill Plain Chapel of which I was chairman
and the following officers were elected for the
coming year. Morris Alcott, Episcopal
committee, Charles S. Miller, Congregational
committee, Hiram Able, Methodist
committee, and Robert Worden, Baptist
committee, Arthur Pierpont, Secretary,
Hiram Able, Treasurer,
Al Judd, Sunday School Superintendent,
Henry Cass, Librarian, and Inez
Beckwith, organist.
05\23\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
MAry and I attended the grange this
evening.
Mr. John Leines engaged the
Mattatuck Drum Band to play for
the Veterans of the Civil war next
Decoration day at 1:00 each man.
05\24\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
05\25\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
I received by Adams Express to day from
New York a set of nine volumes of
Redpaths history of the world, which I subscribed
for a week ago, the price of which is 35.00 to be
paid for in installments of 2.00 a month to
John Wanamaker of New York. I paid 1.00 when
I subscribed.
05\26\{1901} Sunday
I got up at 5 o'clock and fed the horse and
got ready and had Mary put up some lunch
after which I drove to the corner of Walnut and
Orange streets and met Howard Wright
and we drove to Pines Bridge. We were in
search of Indian history and Indian relics.
We went through the Cemetary at Pines
Bridge. The oldest grave stone bore the
date of 1797. We heard of an Indian burying
ground on the West side of the river.
We found it located on the West side
of the Rail Road about three-fourths
of a mile south of the main road that
crosses the river and upon a high bluff,
on the south side of which runs a little
brook. There were several stones,
some of brown stone and at least
one of blue stone. All were broken
not one standing. On one stone was
the name of Joseph Riggs, died 1791,
on another Mrs. Joseph Riggs, and
on another the name of Johnson.
From the burying which contained
about twenty graves many of which
were unmarked. We went up onto
the flats on the West side of the river
between Beacon Falls and Pines Bridge
and searched for Indian flint. Mr.
Wright found one fine arrow point
made of dark flint, but I found nothing
but quartz chips and other signs of
Indian occupation. We then drove
back to Pines then West to the edge
of Oxford and up on Riggs street to a
point on the highland where we turned
to the right and crosseed over a rough
mountain South of Andrews moun-
tain and came out at the south
end of Naugatuck village. We then came
home which we reached at about 7:30
o'clock. J. G. Davenport preached at Mill Plain.
05\27\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met for
practice this evening. There were present
Clifford Heaton, Roy Birch, David Waugh,
Harry Buckinham, and Clyde Miller,
Fiffers, George Cass, Irving Miller,
and myself, Snare Drummers, and George
Somers Bass Drummer.
05\28\1901 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps had a
special meeting to night to prepare
to turn out Decoration day.
There were present Clifford Heaton,
Clyde Miller, and Harry Buckinham,
Fiffers. Chas. Hotchkiss, George Atkinson,
Irving Miller, George Cass, and myself
Snare Drummers.
05\29\{1901} Wednesday
Today {{Forepaugh's??}} Circus is in
town and the Factory did not run,
so Irving and I papered the front
hall and stairway which took all day.
05\30\{1901} Thursday
This is Decoration day and the
Mattatuck Drum Corps assembled
at Grand Army Hall at 10 o'clock.
At 10:30 the parade formed in front
of the hall as follows, a firing
squad of Co. A. C. N. G., the veterans
of the civil war about 50 in number,
the sons of veterans, and a few
veterans of the late Spanish war.
We marched to the Soldier's mon-
ument where prayer was offered
by the Chaplain of the sons of vetera-
ns after which there was singing
by a quartette of Highschool boys
after which Rev. Dr. Davenport read
Lincoln's address at Gettysburgh
after which Rev. Mr. Grauger delivered
an address after which there was
more singing then the Drum band
played a durge, after which the firing
squad fired three volleys and then
we marched away to the first church
where the veterans were photographed.
We then went to the hall where dinner
was served. At 1:30 o'clock we marched to
Polis theater where Rev. Dr. Parry delivered
an illustrated lecture on the civil war
which was very instructive.
This forenoon delegations of the Wadhams
Post G. A. B. visited the several cemetaries
in the town and placed flowers and flags
on the graves of dead soldiers, and at
four in the afternoon the Warman's
relief corps and the sons of veterans
decorated the urn in the Riverside
Cemetary which was erected to the unknown
dead.
The members of the Mattatuck Drum
Corps that turned out were: Fred
Peltier (Drum Major), Chas. Cass,
Dave Waugh, Clif Heaton, Clyde Miller,
Roy Birch, and Harry Buckingham (fiffers),
myself, (Bass Drummer) Gardener Hall,
George Cass, Charles Hochkiss,
Irving Miller, and George Atkinson
(snare drummers).
05\31\1901 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\01\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\02\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Parry preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel to day.
06\03\{1901} Monday
Worked at factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met
for practice this evening.
Mr. Baldwin of the Wolcott Road
came to hear us drum.
06\04\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
06\05\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
After work F. Pierpont and I went
up to William Blewett's and bought
two dozen tomatoe plants for which
I paid 50 cts.
06\06\1901 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\07\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\08\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\09\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bentham preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
A meeting of the Chapel committee was
held this afternoon and I was appointed
chairman for one year.
06\10\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\11\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Clyde, Pierpont, Irving,
Margaret, and Ruth, and myself went
to the Chapel and put the crash over
the carpet and got things ready for
the festival tomorrow night.
I heard to day that the charter for the
Cheshire trolley road which has passed
the legislator provides that the road
shall run on or near the old Cheshire
road. This will bring it by my house.
06\12\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the Ladies gave a straw-
berry festival at the Mill Plain Chapel
this evening which was well attended.
John Lines orchestra furnished music.
06\13\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mr. Wright, Irving and
I went up to Wilson Pierpont's,
Springfield meadow to look after
Indian arrow points. We found many
chips, but only found one quartz bird
arrow point.
06\14\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\15\1901 Saturday
I worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon Irving, Clyde, Pierpont, and
I worked at my shop repairing the runway
that goes to the storeroom over the back
shed.
After supper I went to town to attend
the meeting of the committees of the
various school districts of the town to
arrange to pay the lawyers for opposing
consolidation, but the meeting had been
put off till July 1st and Mr. Ferrell
did not notify us.
Pete Laroque paid me 25.00 rent for my
shop.
06\16\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon. This evening
Mary and I drove out to John Tood's and
then up through Woodtick to William
Prichard's but they were not at home
so we went up accross Wolcott hill and
then home. The new flag pole that is
to be raised at Wolcott center lay there
on three or four horses and we looked
at it. I should think it is 75 feet long.
They are to have a public flag raising
July 4th.
06\17\1901 Monday
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Corps
met at our place for practice.
06\18\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the boys and I planted
in the garden seeds in the places where
the ones formerly did not come up.
06\19\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
0620\{1901} Thursday
Worked at factory.
06\21\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\22\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\23\{1901} Sunday
This morning Howard Wright and I went
to Wolcott to look after Indian relics but
we found none. We got home at noon and ate
dinner after which I went to the Chapel which
was crowded as it was children's day. Mr. Daven-
port officiated or talked to the children.
After the service there was a funeral from the
Chapel Mrs. Woodhill being the person
buried.
George Benham's three children were baptized
as was one by the name of George Gale.
06\24\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Clyde, Irving, Pierpont, and
I worked at John Reid's getting hay from
his story meadow on the East side of
the road at the top of the hill near the
old Coles Graniss place I took the meadow
to cut on shares.
06\25\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the boys and I worked at the
hay at Reid's. Mr. Howard Wright came
and helped us.
06\26\{1901} Wednesday
Worked this day at Rogers & Brothers
factory. The weather has been very
hot.
06\27\{1901} Thursday
I worked at the factory to day.
The weather has been very hot.
This evening Irving and I in one team
and Clyde and Olive Able in another,
went to Wolcott center and attended
an entertainment given by the
Wolcott Flag association in a tent
on the green.
The programs consisted of first,
Drum Major exercise by Major Fred Peltier.
Second a Duet by Miss Upson and Miss
Haugh. Third Songs by two minstrels.
4th Clog dance by Hogan Brothers,
5th Dialogue by some young people
of Wolcott, which was well rendered.
6th Song and remarks by Luke
Henderson, who was dressed as a
nigger minstrel.
7th Mr. J. B. Clark Song.
8th Slight of hand tricks by Mr.
Sting and Mr. Merrill.
9th {{illegible word??}} Quartette of Co. A.
2nd, Regt. C. N. G. sang several
slections, one of which was, "My
old Kentucky home."
10th Recitation by Mrs. J. R. S. Todd,
entitled "Our Flag".
10th William Gillette and Mr. Davis
who impersonated {personited} two old Rubins.
12th
Story by David B. Wilson.
The next as the drawing of
a parlor lamp, which each that paid
an entrance fee had a check that
entitled him to a chance.
No. 323 drew it and it was held by
a boy named Herbert A. Snow, who
lives in Woodtick.
06\28\1901 Friday
I worked this day at the factory, and
it has been very hot. The thermometer
stood at 100 degrees above zero in some of
the rooms.
This evening I attended the annual
School meeting at Saw Mill Plains
School house.
Meeting was called to order by the
Clerk Mr. Hoggett at 8:20 o'clock.
Mr. Theodore I. Munson was elected
chairman, minutes of the last
meetings were read and and accepted.
Report of the committee Warren B.
Hitchcock was read and accepted.
Treasurer Martin Pond reported
the district to be 2,050 dollars in dept
and $107.00 on hand.
Tax Collector James Strovelle's report
was accepted.
Next was the election of Officers for
the coming year, and Warren
Hitchcock was elected, Committee.
B. F. Hoggett, Clerk.
Martin Pond, Treasurer.
James Strovelle, Tax Collector.
It was then voted to lay a tax of 10
mills on the dollar on the list of 1901.
Voted to elect two additional committee
men, and William Atkinson and
Theodore Munson were elected.
06\29\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather has been hot.
This evening we got up two loads of
hay from Thomas Mills and then
I went to Oakville on the new trolley
road to see Mr. Fletcher about preaching
at the Chapel tomorrow. I did not see
him as he had gone to Bridgeport.
06\30\{1901} Sunday
This morning I went to Oakville
and saw Mr. Fletcher and he said
he would come to Mill Plain and
preach this afternoon, which he did
after I carried him to the trolley
car. I drove home and did not go
away again as it was too hot.
07\01\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. The weather is very hot. The
thermometer stands 100 in the shade.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps met for practice and made
arrangements to go to Wolcott July
4th to attend the flag raising.
07\02\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day till
4 o'clock when we shut down on
account of the heat. The thermometer
registered 103 in many of the
rooms.
Cousin Ann Frisbie who lives in
Woodtick had a slight shock yesterday
and it is reported that she is quite
sick to day.
We had a thunder shower this
evening that cooled off the air
some.
07\03\1901 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day. The
weather has been very comfortable.
Barney Burns and Mary Ann Cummings
of Niagra Street were married at the Church
of the Sacred Heart this morning.
A house on Hickory Street (Abrigador) was
struck by lightning last evening.
Edward Byers who lives on the Southnayd
road had a son born Sunday.
07\04\1901 Thursday
There has been the least noise this day
of any 4th of July I can recall. At sun
rise I heard no heavy cannon as Church
bells as has been the custom of former
years.
At 9 o'clock Wm. Gaithwait came to my house
with a four horse wagon to take the members
of the Mattatuck Drum Corps to Wolcott to
attend the Flag raising. About 12 of the boys
went. We were met this side of Wolcott
center by William French who gave us each
a drink of sweet cider. We then reloaded
our drums at the town hall, and then took
a hand at raising the flag pole, which now
stands in front of the Church on the green
and is 68 feet in height. The large Wolcott
tent was next raised, and several times
we were called on to drum and fife. We
were soon joined by several members of
the old Wolcott Drum Band which I joined
in 1876, when Mr. Levi Atkins was leader.
The Wolcott Drum Band was organized in
1766 at the time of organizing the first
military company in Farmingbury parish
of which Aaron Harrison was Captain,
Herman Hall, Lieutenant, and Josiah Rogers
Ensign. The exercises began at 2 o'clock by
raising the flag. Mr. Henry Minor who
is 91 years old, and who has helped raise
4 other liberty poles on Wolcott green, pulled
up the flag, after which the drum band
played the "Three Cheers" at which the cannon
was fired and the Church bell rang and
the band played {plaid} "Rally around the flag",
after which the school children sang while
they stood about the foot of the pole.
All then went to the big tent where we
listened to a speech by Mr. Waters, the
minister, and also a speech by Mr. John
Saxe of Waterbury. The band had a fine
dinner in the tent, and then after playing
several pieces we came home.
07\05\{1901} Friday
This morning Clyde did not feel well
and I stayed home from the shop and
we went down to Father's to mow. Before
noon Clyde came and we, Clyde, Irving,
and I cut all of his grass, but it rained
this afternoon and we got in but little
after which we came home and I worked at
odd jobs of repair work.
07\06\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The shop shut down for the 4th, 5th, and
6th, but I had work repairing.
07\07\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon, after
Chapel Margeret and I went to Wolcott
to see Arthur Harrison and we got caught
in a shower at Mr. Norton's at the foot
of the hill so we went into his barn
and staid till it was over.
07\08\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The making, trimming, polishing, and
muffle room started up this morning.
07\09\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Jane Porter told me that he had a thermom-
eter that he bought 55 years ago for .75 cts,
and when he built his house in 1848 he
hung it in the North west corner where
the L part joins on, and it has hung there
ever since. He has been in the habit of
watching it in hot weather and has never
seen it above 100 degrees till Tuesday,
one week ago to day when it was 104
and he thinks it the hottest day ever
known since he can remember. He was
born in 1818.
07\10\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\11\1901 Thursday
I worked at the factory to day until
5:30 o'clock.
07\12\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\13\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we drew a load of hay
from Tom Mills' lot and put it on the
stack.
07\14\{1901} Sunday
I worked at the factory seven and one half
hours to day, and am very tired as it
has been very hot. We had to line up a
shaft for a large drop which we could
not do when the power is running.
Howard Wright came to see me this
morning and ate breakfast with us.
We intended to take a ride which
I would have enjoyed very much.
I did not attend the service at the
Chapel as I wished to do. They had
an Episcopal service which was con-
ducted by the Rev. Mr. Pooley of
Oakville who is assistant to Rev. Mr.
Cunningham of Watertown.
I got through work at 4:30 o'clock and have
spent the rest of the day in sitting down
and reading.
07\15\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day for the mast
part repairing the hydraulic press but we
could not get it to force over two hundred
and fifty tons owing to a leek in the plunger.
It had ought to force 600 tons. We cut a
new packing and now have it in the press
and will try it tomorrow.
We finished haying at Mills lots to
day. The boys mowed about one and
one half acres this forenoon and we
drew it up in two loads tonight.
After supper Clyde and Irving went
horse back up to Atkinson's dead-
meadow in swimming.
The weather to day has been very
hot.
07\16\1901 Tuesday
This has been a very hot day.
I worked at the factory as usual. The first
thing this morning I oiled the shafting
and saw that all the belts, barings,
and etc. were all right. I found in William
Kennedy's room that the main loose
pulley had set fast on the shaft, after
"oiling up". Laurence Tobin and I put new
packing into the hydraulic press, but it
still leaked between a ring of the piston
so there will have to be a new ring
made. Then John Templeton and I got
the pulley loose in William Kennedy's
room so they could work there all right.
Then, after dinner, we cuppled the shaft
in the buffing room so they could work
there, and after that we got in two guides
for a new heavy drop and set one of
them up. I have done many other odd
jobs, all together making a busy day
and as it was very warm, so much so
that it was hard to breathe over head
in the shop where we worked some of
the time and my clothes were sweat
through. After work I came home and
worked on a little two-wheeled cart for Pierpont
and after supper we took two old cats over into
Elliott Doolittle's lot and shot them, after which
Clyde shot at Walter Mill's hat which was
set on a stick about six rods away. He did
not hit the hat but the gun hit him a knock
in the shoulder which made him stagger
back a few steps. The gun is an old musket
which was formerly a flint lock and made
in 1811 and was used in the War of 1812. My
grandfather Miller had it for a training
musket and he gave it to me.
07\17\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I wrote a letter to Mr. J.
R. Orr of New Haven who has lately
bought the Oak Tree house in Southbury.
07\18\1901 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I attended the
Grange meeting.
Mr. William Atkinson approached me
in regard to joining a court of the order of
America which is to be organized in
Mill Plain.
07\19\1901 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The weather has been very hot and
dry.
07\20\{1901} Saturday
Went to work at 4:30 o'clock this
morning and repaired a 10" belt
that drives a pair of spoon rolls that
broke yesterday afternoon. It took till
six when I came home and got my breakfast
and returned to work at eight. When I got back
there was a lot of work waiting for me.
Clyde is going to Buffalo next Monday
to the pan-American exposition and he
went this evening and bought his ticket
at the Rail Road depot for which he paid
$12.00.
07\21\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Pruner of Simonville
preached at Mill Plain Chapel.
The weather has been very hot and dry.
This morning as it was very hot I put
the saddle on the horse and rode out the
Cheshire road to the lot beyond the Goodyear
place and there turned in and went through
the lots to the old Holt place on bound live
highway, and then followed the old highway
North to the Cheshire road thence east of
Cheshire road to the old Backbone road
up the backbone road to the road that
goes to Ed Todd's brick house, down Todd's
road nearly to the house where I turned
North and went through the woods to
the Meriden road and then in Meriden
road and back home.
Martin Pierpont, who is going to Buffalo
tomorrow with Clyde, came tonight and
is staying with him.
07\22\{1901} Monday
This is thought by many to be the
hottest day so far this year. There are
many deaths reported in the papers to
night caused by the heat. The city
thermometer registered 97 degrees in the
shade but many others went up to 104.
This morning we got up at about
four o'clock, and Clyde and Martin
Pierpont got ready and Irving took
them to the depot in the buggy at 5:30
to take the train for Buffalo to attend the
Pan American exposition. Jessie Pond
and her mother Mrs. Martin Pond also
left on the same train. They are going
to New York and there ferry over
to Jersey City where they take the
Lehigh valley train which takes
them to Buffalo without change
of cars.
The meeting to organize a Court of Foresters in
Mill Plain was held in the School house this
evening. It was called to order by B. F. Hoggett
and Mr. Twiss was elected chairman. B. F. Hoggett
was elected Sec. Mr. J. J. McDonald was
introduced and remarked about the "Order
of Foresters". Next, Mr. Carney of Waterville
spoke on the same subject as did Mr.
George Husker, Wm. {{Kleuche??}}, Mr. Green Davis,
and Alex Haxton. It was then voted that
the chairman appoint an organization committee
of five, and he appointed William Atkinson,
Theodore Munson, Warren Hitchcock, Benjamin
Hoggett, and Oscar Fairchild committee. It was
also voted to call the Mill Plain Court, "Court
D. B. Hamilton." Twenty men signed application
papers and will have to go to Waterville to
be obligated, among them was myself.
07\23\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory till three o'clock a little
before three as Laurence Tobin, John Templeton,
and I were taking off a {{cuplin??}} box from a
2 1/2 " shaft. As I was on one side turning the
screw and they were on the other side with a brass
punch and sledge a piece of brass flew from
the punch and struck me in the head and
cut a hole in my forehead about one inch
long. I worked a little while longer and then
came home, as the sweat and spider webs
that we put on to stop the blood smarted.
We had a postal from Clyde which stated
that they were stranded in jersey City as
they missed the ferry and no train was going
west till evening; that their tickets would be
good and would have to wait 9 hours.
07\24\1901
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
No news from Clyde to day.
James Farrell died this morning at
the soldiers' home in Norotan Heights,
aged 69 years and 8 months. He was son
of Benjamin Farrell and was born on
the plank road where Mr. Batchelor now
lives.
07\25\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I attended
the Grange. The Grange voted to let
the new order of Foresters, which is to
be organized in Mill Plain, rent the
upper hall for 75.00 per year.
07\26\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Morris Alcott, Mr. Judd,
and I went to Waterville and were ex-
amined by Doctor Ryder who passed es
as candidates to become members of the
order of Foresters.
07\27\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
After work Irving, Pierpont, and I set two
tires on the wheels of my best buggy.
While we were eating supper, about 8 o'clock,
Clyde and Mart Pierpont came in, having
just returned from the Pan American
Buffalo and Niagra Falls. They left Buffalo
at 4 o'clock this morning and came by way of
Mohawk valley and Hudson River to New
York City andthen home.
They intended to stay till Monday but
Mart was taken sick so they came to day.
07\28\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Parry preached at Mill Plain Chapel.
I did not attend. Pierpont and I took the team
and went over to West side hill and saw Mr.
Benham. We then went to the old oronoke
school house, then turned South and went to
the Meloneleck hill road and over Town flat
and through Brooklyn and home.
07\29\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\30\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\31\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\01\1901 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mill Plain Chapel Sunday school had their
annual picnic to day at Compounce
lake. Mary and the Children went
and they report a good time. They rode
over in three buses to the number of about
60 and many others went by private teams.
08\02\1901 Friday
Worked at the factory.
08\03\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day one and one
half hours overtime.
To day Mary and the children went
out to Theodore Munson's cottage at
Hitchcock's pond and spent the day.
08\04\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Hollister preached at the Mill
Plain Union Chapel to day.
The notice that action on the resignation
of the episcopal committee would take
place next Friday evening at 8 o'clock was
read.
After supper Mary and I went over to
west side hill and I went to Mr. Benham's
and she stopped at her sister's where I
called later and spent the evening.
08\05\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Loevelette Upson died this forenoon
at about 10 o'clock of dysentery.
08\06\1901 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day ten
hours as usual.
This evening at 8 o'clock I attended a
town meeting held in the City hall.
After reading of the warning I
nominated John O'Neal chairman
and he was elected. They then voted
to appropriate $900.00 state money
for the repair of special section if
highways in the town, also voted
to build a new bridge across the Mad
River at the Rutter place or between
Munson's corner and the Chapel at
Saw Mill Plain.
08\07\{1901} Wednesday
Worked this forenoon in the factory.
It rained hard this forenoon but cleared
away at 11 o'clock.
I came home at noon and Mary and
I went out to Levelette Upson's funeral.
We got there at five minutes to two as
we supposed the funeral was to be at
two but it was held at one, but we
heard the last of Dr. Davenport's prayer.
There was a good number of friends and
neighbors present. He was taken to Woodtick
and buried. In the funeral procession were
first the minister with Mr. Twiss in a
single carriage, next the carriage with
the pall bearersm who were Embert Wright,
Adelbert Hitchcock, John Todd, and
Edward Todd. Next came the hearse, then
about four double carriages and then
came six or eight single teams. After the
service at the grave, I came home by the
Woodtick road and left George Alexander
who rode to the burying ground with
me at the Meriden road. Mary started
home afoot, but George Hitchcock overtook
her and gave her a ride to his house when Mr.
Judd came along and gave her a ride home.
When I got home I found Clyde getting ready
to go to Ida Spender's wedding which was to
be held in the Mill Plain Chapel at five o'clock.
So we all went and saw Ida married to
Frank Debissop, by Rev. Mr. Davenport.
The Chapel was prettily trimmed with ferns
and flowers. The ushers were Clarence and
Arthur Worden, Clifford Heaton, and Clyde
and Sidney Spender and Mary DeBissop
stood up with the bride and groom.
We then came home and ate supper of bread
and milk, after which we worked in the garden
a while after which I dressed Raymon's foot
that he cut with an ax last Friday.
08\08\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange.
08\09\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mary and the children and Miss Picket
went up to Mr. Garrigus's place in Wolcott
and picked bill berries.
This evening Mary, Clyde, and I went
to the Chapel to a meeting to elect
a committee to fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation of Morris Alcott
from the Episcopal Committee.
08\10\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day till 4:30 when
I came home and set a tire in the spindle
buggy.
08\11\1901 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this P. M.
This evening Mary and I went over to
West side hill. She stopped at her brother
Elmer's and I went to see Mr. Benham
and we talked over the tuition matter.
08\12\{1901} Monday
Worked as usual to day.
This evening Clyde, Mary, and I attended
a meeting of the Mill Plain Union
Chapel society and elected Chas. Mashier
episcopal committee in the place of
Morris Alcott who resigned.
08\13\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. This evening nineteen of
the men of Mill Plain went to
Waterville and were initiated into
the Order of Foresters of America.
08\14\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Agnes Able commenced working at the
New England Watch factory.
Mark Pond started this morning for
Buffalo to attend the exposition.
08\15\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I attended the Grange.
08\16\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory till 9 o'clock to night.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps had a meeting to
night to take action in regard to turning
out for a drummers convention that
is to be held in Waterbury the 24th of this
month.
08\17\1901 Saturday
Worked till 5:30 this evening. We have
had heavy showers this afternoon and
tonight.
08\18\{1901} Sunday
The weather has been very nice to day.
This afternoon the children of Mother
Pierpont met at her home at East Farms.
There were present: Charles J. Pierpont and
wife, Austin B. Pierpont and wife, Nellie
Pierpont Connor and husband George,
Wilson L. Pierpont and wife, Elmer
Pierpont and wife, and Mary Pierpont
Miller and husband who is myself.
We all sat on the rocks under the butternut
trees back of the house and had our picture
taken.
Rev. Mr. Moffett of the Waterville methodist
church preached at the Mill Plain Union
Chapel.
08\19\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps had a
meeting this evening and decided
to turn out next Saturday to the
drummers' convention to be given
in this City.
08\20\{1901} Tuesday
Worked to day at factory.
The weather has been very warm.
This evening Mr. Eugene Benham of
West side hill and I went to see C. S. Chap-
man, corner of North Willow and Rosiland
avenue aboue the vote raising the tuition
for children in the highschool from 30.00
to 60.00 per year. He said that he thought
it was intended to mean only scholars
from other towns, and not those who
reside in Waterbury outside the City.
We then went to see Mr. Tinker, superinten-
dent of schools, and he said that it cost
60.00 to educate scholars in the Highschool
and that it meant all scholars outside
the present City. We showed him the
charter and he was puzzled at first, but\
thought that the board could only
charge 30.00 according to that.
{08\21\1901 Wednesday [no entry]}
{08\22\1901 Thursday [no entry]}
{08\23\1901 Friday [no entry]}
{08\24\1901 Saturday [no entry]}
08\25\1901 Sunday
I have neglected to enter any events
in this journal since last tuesday night.
Wednesday Aug 21st I worked at the
factory as usual. Wednesday evening
I went to the Grange hall where the
Court of Foresters named Court D.
B. Hamilton was instituted, by state
Grand Chief Randil of Rockville and
State Grand Treasurer Dickinson of
Meriden, assisted by the officers of
Court Walsh of Waterville. There were
40 members at the organization. After
the exercises a supper was served
in the lower hall which made it very
late when I got home as I turned
from the Cheshire road onto the
Doolittle road near my house. I
nearly ran into another team which
I noticed was a canopy top buggy.
I unhitched the horse and went
into the house at quarter to one.
Thursday Aug 22. Worked at the factory as usual.
When Pierpot brought my dinner to day at
the shop he told me that Father had 45 chickens
stolen from his coop last night. I told it to
Morris Alcott and he said that he met
James O'Bryan last night in his canopy
top wagon near Mr. Travers' on the Stilson
road, a little time before I met the canopy
top wagon. This led me to think that the
O'Briens might have stolen the chickens.
When I went home I saw Will Gillette at
Father's and told him that it was the O'Briens
that stole the chickens I thought, so then we
agreed on a plan of action which we carried
out and was as follows. I went to the
Grange and remained there till 9:30 o'clock
when I left and mounted my horse and
went up the Woodtick road and
across over lovers lane to Mark Warner's
where I left my horse under a shed and
then called at the house where I saw George.
I asked him where his father was and he told
me that he was down the road, and we went
and found him and Morris Alcott down near
the Levinas Warner place where the O'Briens lived.
I left them and went and hid back of a stone
wall cast of the house across the road.
In the mean time Will Gillette had driven
to Simonville and got brother Frank and
drove to Mark Warner's and they stationed
themselves where they could watch. At twenty
minutes past eleven the O'Briens came out
and hitched up their team and started up the
Buckhill road. I ran as fast as I could and
got my horse and Will Gillette gave two
sandwiches which I put into my packet and
then I started after the O'Briens. The night
was dark as pitch. I drove past Lakewood
and up the main Buckhill road to where the
road that goes to Waterville turns off where I
dismounted and lit some matches and saw
that the tracks turned towards Waterville. I then
followed on, stopping at times to listen for some
times I heard the team. When I was going down the
hill into Waterville I passed them at a place where
they had driven out on the side of the road and
stopped. I left on down the hill and round the
corner till I was out of sight, when I started fast
as the horse could run to the Buckhill road
which I turned up and waited till I saw them
go down the street and turn towards the
rail road. I could not follow as they would
see me, for the electric lights were very bright.
When they were out of sight I started and followed
them under the rail road after which they
turned south, then west, and then south onto
main street where I could follow the tracks
no farther as the road was so hard.
I then went up to the center and tried to find
an officer, but he had just left on an electric
car for Waterbury. I then drove back to the
Warner place where I left my horse and reported
to the boys what I knew and then took my
place back of the wall where I had been before
I lay there a long time in the rain till about
half past three o'clock when Frank and Will
joined me and we all waited till five
minutes past four when the O'Briens came
down the Bucks hill road and stopped at the
corner of the Wolcott road and sat there in the
wagon a little while and then drove into the
barn yard and up to the wood house and
unhitched the horse and one of them led him
to the barn while the other worked about the
wagon unloading chickens I judged as we
could hear them. They then drew the wagon
to the barn and lit a lantern and cared
for the house, after which they went to the
wood shed and picked up two or three bogs
of chicken and carried them into the wood
house or around the South end, and soon after
went into the house.
We then went back to the shed where we left
the horse and started across the lots to the
Bucks hill road and then went to Waterville
to find where they stole the chickens. We did
not find out. But we found that the following
persons had had chickens stolen, and it has been
since proved that they were taken by the James and
Joseph O'Brien. Mr. Greatsinger of Waterville
had 83 stolen. Mr. Lorenson had 64. David
Sprague had 10. Mr. Johnson, 14, and a man
who lives on the upper Waterville road had 6 stolen.
Mr. Noble of Wolcott had 32 stolen. Mr. Garthwaits,
14. Mr. Kilbourne, 26. Mr. Baldwin, 24. Mr. Mc Carthy,
6. Mr. Mc Kniff, 12. Mr. Marrow, 46. Mr. Frey, 30.
and Father, 45, total 410. There are probably
others that we have not heard of.
After canvassing Waterville Will and I drove to
Father's, leaving Frank in the center where he ate
breakfast at about 8 o'clock, after which I came
home and lay down till noon when I went to
work in the shop. Will went and saw prosecuting
attorney Durant and then with detective
Cabay went to the Warner place and arrested
the O'Briens. Father went there in the
afternoon and identified a lot of his hens but
could not catch but 8 of them. The prisoners
were locked up but in the afternoon James
was released on $300.00 bonds and he imme-
diately left town, saying that he was going
to South Africa. Mother, Morris Alcott,
Mr. Fray, and I were summonsed to court
at 9 o'clock Saturday morning.
Saturday, Aug. 24, I went to the shop at
5:30 and oiled up. Then came home and
went to City hall to the trial of the
O'Briens. James had fled the town but
Joseph was there and stood trial but was bound
over to the superior Court under bonds of
$500.00. I then went and saw Perry Morris
at his livery stable on Spring street. I also
saw Dr. Davenport and he told me that he would
be at the Chapel to day.
I then came home, ate dinner, and put on
my drum corpd uniform and taking a
number of drums went back to town
and met my Corps at Cherry Street and
marched to the North side of the green where
there were assembled about a dozen corps.
The occasion being a convention of the drummers
and fifers of this part of the state, we started
on a march down Bank street to Brooklyn
and across to South main Street and back
to the center where we went into the City
hall as it was raining very hard, and had
been for nearly half of the march.
As soon as the Corps got into the hall I came
home as I was completely played out and
could do no more.
To day Sunday Rev. Dr. Davenport preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel. There was a large
attendance.
08\26\{1901} Monday
This morning I went to the Police court
and the bond of three hundred dollars
for the ofference of Mr. O'Brien was
called and settled so I came home
and went to work at the factory at
noon and worked till 9 o'clock to night,
as the shop ran till that time.
08\27\1901 Tuesday
Worked 13 1/2 hours at the factory to day.
Clyde and Irving finished painting the
sharehouse at my Carriage shop to day
the first coat.
{08\28\1901 Wednesday [no entry]}
08\29\{1901} Thursday
Am tired and sleepy to night.
Yesterday I worked as usual and last
night I watched at the factory as Mr.
Bloomfield the regular watchman was sick
with the malaria. To day I have not slept
any as it was hot and the flies bit.
08\30\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory till 9 o'clock
this evening. Received my last week's pay
this P. M. $10.80 was out 1 1/2 days.
08\31\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Samuel Ovaitt [Oviatt] and Cousin Marion, his
wife of Goshen, came to our house this
afternoon visiting.
This evening Mr. Eugene Benham called
to see me about tuition matters. We met
at Porter Woods law office this evening and
agreed to attend the meeting of the City
board of education to be held in the City
hall next monday evening at eight o'clock.
09\01\{1901} Sunday
Sam Ovaitt [Oviatt] and Marion staid with me
all day. This afternoon we went out to
the top of Southington mountain and looked
at the peach orchards. Clyde, Marion, Sam,
and I went. We had father's horse as mine
is lame.
09\02\1901 Monday
This is labor day, and is a legal holiday.
There has been a parade of the "Trades unions"
about the center this noon, and picnics at
the driving park on the Watertown road
and at Forest park on the Bucks hill road.
I went this morning and saw Charles
S. Chapman in regard to the tuition
matter, and called at Judge Cowell's office
but he was not in town. This evening
I went to the center and met Eugene
Benham and Porter L. Wood and we
went to the high school to attend a meeting
of the City board of Education, but they
did not meet as there was not a quorum
present.
09\03\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hourd to day.
This evening I went to the center and
there met Mr. Benham and Mr. Woods
and we went to the Highschool snd
attended the meeting of the Board of
education, and they voted to let the
tuition remain the same as it has
been for the people of the towns of
Waterbury in $30.00 per year but after
Jan. 1st, 1902, the non-residents of the
town of Waterbury will have to pay
$60.00 tuition for scholars who attend the
high school, and after Jan. 1st the new
charter provides that the first taxation
district must pay $30.00 tuition for
every scholar who attends the highschool.
09\04\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting
of Court D. B. Hamilton Foresters
of America.
09\05\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory till 9 o'clock
to night.
09\06\1901 Friday
Worked at the factory till 9 o'clock
to night.
This morning Clyde was taken
with severe pains in the back of
his neck which pained him to
move and he has been in bed nearly
all day.
President Mc Kinley was shot at
Buffalo, N. Y., to day while in the
temple of music at the pan-Amer-
ican exposition by a stranger
who fired two shots which took
effect in the abdomen.
09\07\{1901} Saturday
Worked to day at the factory.
The papers dtate that while the con-
dition of the president is critical,
that one of the bullets has been re-
moved and hopes are entertained for
his recovery.
09\08\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewis of St. John's Church
preached at Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon.
The condition of the President is
said to be much better to day.
09\09\1901 Monday
Worked in the factory to day 13 1/2 hours.
The condition of the President is still
improving. It is thought that a plot was
laid by the Order of Anarchists to kill
him and the lot fell to Leon Czolasz
who committed the deed, and that he
would have been punished by death if
he had not done it.
09\10\{1901} Tuesday
Worked 10 hours at the factory.
This evening the boys and I went to the
Chapel and got it ready for the peach
festival tomorrow night.
09\11\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to West Side
Hill and saw Mr. Benham and
we together went to Porter L. Woods's office
in exchange place and saw him about
the Town meeting which has been peti-
tioned for. I then came to Mill
Plain and attended the peach
festival at the Chapel, but did not
stay very long. I walked home and went
to bed at 10:40.
09\12\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the Factory.
Miss Olive Able began working
at the spoon shop this morning in
the machine burnishing room.
This evening Mary and I attended
the Grange. Clyde joined to night
and took the first degree.
09\13\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
To night we blasted a big rock which
was in front of the house by the
road.
The condition of the President has changed
much for the worse, and the papers to-
night report him in a critical state.
09\14\1901 Saturday
President Mc Kinley died this
morning at 2:15 o'clock.
We were first notified of his death
by the toling of St. John's church bell
at about six o'clock, then came the
paper telling that death was caused
by gangrene settung un around the
bullets which Czolgosz shot into him.
It is now said that the bullets were
poisoned.
09\15\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
09\16\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
I bought to day for Roland Jenner of
Rogers and Brothers 6 tea spoons, 1 butter
knife, and 1 sugar shell, for 2.50.
09\17\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at factory to day.
President Roosevelt has issued a procla-
mation to the effect that next Thursday
be observed by the Nation as President
Mc Kinley's funeral day.
09\18\{1901} Wednesday
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. George Rockwell, Secretary of the
International combine, whose headquarters
are at Rogers Bros. factory, said today ,"that
nobody shall work in the factory tomorrow."
This evening I attended a meeting of the
democratic voters of the fifth ward, hwo
appointed a committee of nine to make up
a ward ticket. The meeting was held at
N0. 10 Grand Street (up stairs).
09\19\{1901} Thursday
This morning I got up at about six
o'clock and the boys and I drilled a hole
in a rock by the side of the road in front
of the South garden, and after breakfast
I blasted it.
This being the day that expresident.
Mc Kinley is to be
buried at Canton, Ohio. The children
went to school as usual where they remained
till ten o'clock, and all the schools had
memorial services appropriate to the day.
For myself, Mary and I went to St.
John's Church where union services of
all the protestant churches in the City
were held. There were so many that the
church could not hold them and they
had the Second Congregational church
opened and had service there also.
The service opened by a hymn by the
boy choir, then prayer by Rev. Mr. Davenport,
then, Hymn "Nearer my god to thee" by the
congregation. This was followed by an
address by Rev. Mr. Parry of the first
Baptist church, next song, then prayer
by Rev. Mr. Lewis of St. John's, then song
and an address by Rev. Dr. Anderson, and
service closed by the singing of "America" by
all.
After church was out Mary Margaret,
Ruth, and I took the trolley car at the
corner of the green and went to the
Waterbury Cattle show and Fair which
is being held at the driving park on the
Watertown road, nearly all the cattle were
taken away yesterday but Arthur Pierpont
had forty five head there and there were
a few more belonging to others. The poul-
try exhibit was large and there was a
great variety of fowls. The fruit and
vegetable exhibit was rather small but what
was there was very good. There was also
a great variety of needle-work, pies, cakes,
bread, etc., etc. There were a great num-
ber of fakers and catch penny shows.
For music they had the Waterbury
military band, and the Drummer boy
of the Rapponhannoe was there with
his son and they played several pieces
such as "Marching through Georgia"
and several Durges. At about 12:30
a carriage drove onto the ground bring-
ing Mayor Kilduff, Dr. Parry,
and Father Slocum. All business
was stopped and the Band played
"Nearer my god to thee," after which
Mayor Kilduff made a speech, after
which the Rev. William Slocum of the
Church
of the immaculate conception, deliver-
ed a very fine address. This was
followed by a prayer by Rev. Dr. Parry.
The exercises were held out of respect
to our dead President.
There were not many people at the
fair, but as Margaret and I were
coming down on the trolley we
met ten cars crowded with people
going to the fair, so that in the
afternoon there was a great crowd
there.
Margaret and I came to the City
hall which we reached at ten min-
utes past two, and we went in only
to find it crowded with people
who had come to attend the Memorial
Service in honor of President
William Mc Kinley.
The services opened at 2:30 with
music by the American Band which
played a portion of the twelfth Mass
Lead Stindly Light, Holy City,
and the Star Spangled Banner.
Next came an address by Mayor
E. G. Kilduff, then a prayer by
Rev. F. D. Brickley, then the singing
of the Hymn By the Audience,
"Nearer, My God to Thee."
Next an address by John O'neill.
Next Song by the Concordia Society,
then Address by Rev. Dr. Parry.
Next, Hymn, "Lead Kindly Light"
by a Quartette, then an address by
Rev. William J. Slocum, next Singing
of the Hymn, "America", by the audience.
This was followed by the Benediction
by Rev. Dr. J. G. Davenport.
We got out of the hall as soon as we
could and saw the Militia men, the
Veterans of the war of the Rebellion,
and the Sons of Veterans as they
came out and marched away.
At 3:30 o'clock the hour that President
Mc Kinley's funeral started from
the Church at Canton, Ohio. St. John's
Church bell began to toll, and
continued tolling about one half
hour. At the same time all the
trains in the United States no
matter where they were came to a
stand still and so remained for
five minutes, as did also the trolley
cars in Waterbury and I understand
they did in nearly or all the other Cities.
After the services in City Hall the
American Band gave a Memorial Concert
on the Green, which consisted of six
selections as follows, March, Sacred
Medley, Flower Song, Patriotic Selection
Hymns, "Lead, Kindly Light" and
"Nearer My God to Thee" and Sang
"Star Spangled Banner".
After this Margaret and I boarded an
East Main Street car where we were
joined by Mary and Ruth who had
just returned from the Driving park
and we came home.
09\20\{1901} Friday
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\21\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\22\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
09\23\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\24\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The trial of Leon Czolgosz began
yesterday at Buffalo, N.Y. He is
charged with murdering President
Mc Kinley.
09\25\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The jury found Czolgosz guilty
of murder in the first degree yerter-
day afternoon for the murder of
President Mc Kinley. He is to
receive his sentence tomorrow at
2 o'clock.
09\26\1901 {Thursday}
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather has been very nice all day.
My name appears to day on the ticket
of the Democratic party as a representative
to the convention to nominate the candidates
for the City school board.
They have closed the Meriden road
at Munson's corner which turns the
travel of that thoroughfare down past
our house. The road is closed be-
cause they are taking down the bridge
over the Mad River near Major Tucker's,
and are taking it to replace the wooden
bridges at the Mad River crossing
near B. F. Hoggett.
09\27\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
Czolgosz, the murderer of President
Mc Kinley, was sentenced to be
electrocuted to day, during the week
beginning Oct. 28th.
09\28\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
At the primary election held yesterday
evening, the ticket that I was on was
defeated.
09\29\1901 Sunday
Rev. Dr. Anderson preached at Mill Plain
Chapel. As the bridge across the Mad
River on the Meriden road was down
and there was no way of crossing, the
attendance was small.
09\30\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Bros.
to day.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps met at my place for practice.
Arthur Pierpont and his wife called
and he reckoned up his accounts with
Clyde in regard to their milk business.
10\01\1901 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
I see by the papers to day that the
Republicans nominated Judge Cowell
for mayor and George Boughton and
William Atkinson for selectmen last
evening.
10\02\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Received my pay which amounted to
thirteen dollars and fifty cents for
last week's work.
10\03\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I attended
the Grange.
10\04\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This morining and evening Irving
and I worked drilling a deck hole in
the big rock which is in the water ditch
in the North West corner of my lot.
10\05\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day till five o'clock.
After I got home from the shop we fired
the blast in the big rock which blew it all
to pieces. We used over 1/2 pound of black
blasting powder and it moved every bit
of the stone.
10\06\{1901} Sunday
This morning Margaret, Ruth, Pierpont,
and I went over in the woods to the North
East and picked up a lot of chestnuts.
This afternoon we went to the Chapel and
heard Rev. Mr. Parry preach.
After we got home Mary and I went to
Sam Wilson's who lives near the Great
falls on the Mad River in Wolcott.
We got home at about nine o'clock and it
was very cold.
10\07\{1901} Monday
This morning I got up at 5:30 o'clock and
wrote several letters, after which we ate
breakfast of hash potatoesm etc. Then, Pierpont
carried me to Silver Street where I took
the trolley car to the center as this is
City election. I went immediately to
attorney Porter Woods's office, but found it
closed, but as I was coming away I met Mr.
Benham and we went to City Hall and saw
Town clerk Brett and asked him to draw up
a motion to present at the annual town
meeting providing that the tuition fee of
scholars living in the town of Waterbury and
attending the highschool in said town
shall be paid by the town of Waterbury.
Mr. Brett sent us to Town attorney Carmody
but we could not find him, so Mr. Benham
went in search of Mr. Wood and I went up
in the hall and drew up a motion in writing
as the time of calling the meeting had arrived,
but just then Mr. Benham and Mr. Woods
came with his motion and the meeting was
called to order by Town Clerk Brett who
read the warning, after which the Select men's
yearly report was accepted, then the tuition
motion was read by Mr. Woods and it was
carried by a unanimous vote, after which the
meeting ajourned to meet again at eight
o'clock this evening, and the crowd dispersed
to their several voting places. I went to
the building erected for voting purposes of Scoville
street and voted the straight Republican ticket for
City officers, George H. Cowell for mayor, etc.
I also voted against amending the constitution
of the State of Connecticut.
I then went to Hotchkiss and Templetons hard-
ware store and bought two pounds of blunt
toe calks for which I paid twelve cents. I then
went to Dexter's Drug store and bought twenty
five trolley car tickets for which I paid one
dollar. I then took the trolley car home and
then changed my clothes and went to the
shop which I reached at ten o'clock, and worked
till half past five. When I came home and after
working a spell had supper of sweet potatoes, meat,
etc. I have spent the evening in reading, writing, etc.
The Mattatuck drum Corps met for practice this
evening.
10\08\1901 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The following were elected at yesterday's
election: Mayor Edward G. Kilduff, democrat;
City Clerk, Michael J. Ryan, democrat;
City Treasurer, George A. Gibson, democrat;
Comptroller, Michael D. Russel, dem.;
Sheriff, John W. Mc Donald, dem.;
Agents Bronson Library Fund; H. A.
Fuller, dem., and Earl A. Smith, republican.
Selectmen, Mortimer Doran, dem.;
William T. Disley, dem., and George A.
Boughton, republican. Board of Education:
Isadore Chase, dem., George W. Russell,
dem., Charles Y. Kent, dem.; Timothy J.
Carmady, dem.; Dr. E. W. Goodenough,
republican; Chas. S. Chapman, rep., and
Wilfred E. Griggs. Town Clerk, Frank
P. Brett, dem. Tax Collector, William E.
Thoms, dem. Board of Relief: John J. Siefn,
John F. Healey, and Edwin W. Biggerstaff, Rep.
Constables: Maurice F. Carmady, dem.;
Thomas H. Pryor, dem; Walter B. Lannen,
dem; Edward J. Donahue, dem; William
M. Gillette, rep. John Barrie, rep., and
George O. Booth, rep.
For Aldermen, the First, Second,
and Third Wards went Republican and
the Fourth and FIfth went Democratic.
The question of Constitutional amend-
ment was voted favorable.
10\09\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
10\10\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Mad River Grange.
10\11\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory.
10\12\{1901} Saturday
To day I have worked repairing the roof
of my blacksmith shop. I mean the shop
that I have leased to Mr. Laroque.
This evening Irving and I went to the
Chapel and repaired the walls of the
pit that the furnace is set in.
10\13\1901 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Pooley of Oakville preached at Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
Frank came to see me this afternoon
and stayed till after Chapel commenced,
so I did not get there till after service was over.
10\14\1901 Monday
Worked at the factory to day till
9 o'clock.
10\15\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual, till 8:30 o'clock.
Mrs. Levelette Upson is to keep house
for Major Tucker.
John Mc Coy has moved to day from
the Cemetary house east of us to day
to a house on east main street.
10\16\{1901} Wednesday
Worked in the factory 10 hours to day.
The Wolcott Fair was held to day and
it is estimated that there were 9000 people
there.
10\17\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory till 8:30 o'clock
to night.
10\18\1901 Friday
Worked at the factory till 8:30 o'clock.
10\19\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day till 4:30 o'clock.
Irving and I shod Clyde's milk horse this
evening.
10\20\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Pruner preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
10\21\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory 13 hours.
10\22\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory 13 hours.
10\23\1901 Wednesday
This morning I got up at four o'clock and
Irving and I went to the shop and we oiled
up the shafting after which we came home
and had breakfast and we got ready and
Mary and I started and rove with old
Nell to Cheshire depot where we put the
horse in a barn owned by a widow lady.
We then went to the depot to take the
train for New Haven to attend the cel-
ebration, this being the week of the Bi-
Centennial of Yale College, President
Roosevelt came to Farmington yesterday to
visit his sister, and we understood
that he was going to New Haven on the
regular train on which we were going,
but he came down on a special train
of two cars and an engine ten minutes
ahead of the regular. As the train passed
the Cheshire station the President came to
the rear door of the train and waved his
hand.
Our train was ten minutes late in reaching
New Haven, and on looking out of the car
windows we saw the Governor's Foor Guards
in their Grenadier red coats and bear skin
hats drawn up in line and ready to
march. We got out of the cars and hurried
fast as possible to get a glimpse of the
president but we could not reach the
column before it started. We hurried
across streets and around blocks to
reach the front of the parade but
the crowd was every where and twice
we were in time to see only the rear
end, i. e. the rough riders and artillery.
The buildings everywhere were trimmed
with blue bunting and yellow chinese lanterns.
While the president was going from the rail-
road station to the Colleges, cannons were
being fired from ships in the harbor and
all of the Church bells in the City were
ringing and many whistles were blowing
altogether the President received a very
patrioric reception.
At ten o'clock several companies of the
1st Regt. C. N. G., headed by Colts band of
Hartford, marched through Center street
and formed on the right side of Elm
Street at present arms. This was followed
by the 2nd Regiment, 10 companies which
lined up on Elm street, then the colored
batallion followed, and lined up on Center
street. Then came the Second Regiment
band followed by the Governor's Foot
Guards, the Gatlin Gun platoon, and
the mounted infantry which lined
up on Center Street.
The procession came from Yale College
and marched down Elm Street through
Center to the Phelph Gate of the College,
into the Campus and out through the
Vanderbilt gate and across Chapel
street to the Hyperion theater building.
The procession was headed by a squad of
Policemen, then came mounted marshalls
followed by a brass band, then Yale
College graduates, hundreds and thousands
of them, some coming from the ends
of the world to attend this bicentennial
of Yale College. Hundreds of the graduates
were clad in robes of various colors and
hats with square tops also which distinguished
their degree of learning. There were some
there that graduated in 1830. Among the
most noted graduates walked President
Roosevelt. He was clad in gray citizen's
clothes and President Hadley of Yale
marched by him, while in front marched
two detectives and six others followed.
My wife and I stood in front of Center
Church and I had a fine view of the President
as he posed. He is a nice looking man though
not so large as I expected to see.
Back of the graduates came the Yale students
but they could not get into the hall as
it was already full uf the graduates.
The title of L. L. D. was conferred upon the President
in the Hyperion by Professor Hadley, after which
he went to Proffesor Henry Farnum's house
on prospect hill and had dinner.
Mary and I waited in front of the Hyperion
to see the President come out after the
exercises were over, but he came out of the
rear entrance and was driven up on block
and over to Prospect hill, I heard the crowd
cheer up the street and saw the mounted police
and the President's carriage crossing the
horses were on a dead run.
Mary and I went through the Campus and
into the Chapel. We also went into University
hall which is not yet fully finished. We
then walked out to East Rock and went
up the Soldier's monument where we had
a fine view of the surrounding country
and the City and harbor although it was
a little hazy. We then walked to Whitney
avenue and took the trolley cars to Mount
Carmel (fare 20 cts). We got our team and
drove home, where I found Mr. Atkinson
and Mr. B. F. Hoggett waiting to see me
to find out about the boundaries of the
highway that passes their houses. I told
them that I would give them a copy of
the original layout.
10\24\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory thirteen hours.
10\25\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory ten hours. We did
not work to night as the Rogers Bros. benefit
association has a sociable in the City hall
this evening and the boys and girls all
want to go.
10\26\1901 Saturday
Worked to day at the factory.
This evening the boys and I drew stones
out of the swamp.
10\27\{1901} Sunday
I had to work in the factory putting
a large pulley on the main shaft to run some
new drops we are putting in.
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
10\28\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory thirteen hours to day.
This evening two boys, Glen Cornelus and
Elmer Coe of Wolcott, came to learn to drum.
This is the week that Czolgoz, the murderer
of President Mc Kinley, is to be electrocuted
and the time is set for him to be put to
death tomorrow morning at seven o'clock.
10\29\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory 13 hours to day.
Leon Colgosz, the murderer of President
Mc Kinley, was electrocuted at Auburn
Prison, N.Y., this morning at 7:11.
10\30\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory 10 hours to day.
10\31\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory 13 hours to day.
11\01\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory 13 hours.
Sent Post Office Order to John Wanamaker
of New York for $1.50, a payment on Red-
path's history of the World.
11\02\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory 9 hours but they
give ten hours pay.
Last night a delegation from the trim-
ming room went before Mr. Rockwell in
his office and complained of having
to work nights in the dust and of the
time of washing up being reduced, etc.
He told them that he would have
the best blower in the market put in
next January that would exhaust all
the dust out of the room, and that
they might have twenty five minutes
to cool their wheels and wash up in,
but he hoped they would continue to
get the work out as he was pushed with
orders if part of them worked two nights
and the other part two other nights.
This was agreed to.
Tonight after I got home I sharpened
a lot of stone drills, and Irving and I
made a hitching post out of a two
inch bar of round iron.
11\03\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel to day.
The Meriden turnpike is still closed to
travel. They have but one {{abutmnt??}}
partly built for the new bridge at
the Mad River crossing near Major
Tuckers.
This morning I rode out to Gillette
corners and saw John Mass about the
horse that Mr. Sinnette wishes to sell
me.
11\04\{1901} Monday
Worked at Rogers & Brothers spoon factory
13 hours.
11\05\{1901} Tuesday
Worked in the factory 13 hours.
This is election day in which the people
vote for representatives to the Constitutional
Convention to be held to amend the
constitution of the state of Connecticut.
Stephen W. Kellogg and Francis P. Guil-
foile were the candidates of Waterbury.
The former Republican and the latter dem-
ocrat. I did not go to vote.
This afternoon Irving went to Mr. Sinnette's
at Gillette's corners and got a large black
horse that I am thinking of buying.
11\06\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening the Ladies union of Mill
Plain Chapel society held a meeting
and elected officers for the coming year.
They also had a supper and entertainment.
The entertainment was given by members
of St. Paul's methodist church.
11\07\{1901} Thursday
Worked in the factory 13 hours.
11\08\{1901} Friday
Worked in the factory 13 hours.
11\09\{1901} Saturday
Worked in the factory 5 hours.
{11\10\1901 Sunday [no entry]}
11\11\1901 Monday
Rev. Mr. Lewis of St. John's Episcopal
Church preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
yesterday afternoon.
Saturday afternoon my wife and I
started with our team and drove to Mr.
Samuel Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] in Goshen center. We
left home at 1:30 and went by way of
the center of Waterbury to Watertown,
then to East Morris and through Litch-
field center to Goshen, which we reached
at about 7 o'clock.
He lives in the first house east of
the meeting house on the Torrington
road (on the south side of the road) The
family consists of Samuel Ovaitt [Oviatt],
his wife, who was Marion Gillette of
North Goshen, a cousin of mine, his
mother, and Miss Rosa Hubbard, who
has lived in the family for many
years and is about 40 years of age.
We stayed over night and the next forenoon
Marion, Mary, and I went to Church.
The edifice was about half-filled with
people. Probably there would have been
more there if the weather had not been
so cold and windy.
In the afternoon Mary and I went to the
Cemetary and spent about an hour looking
at the monuments, etc.
We then returned to Mr. Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] and had
supper, after which we went out to the
barn and did the chores. I milked three
of the cows out of his seventeen and Sam
and Marion milked the rest.
They then run the milk through a ma-
chine which separated the cream from
the milk. After the pigs, hens, horses, etc.,
had been cared for we went into the
house and Marion played on her organ
while she and I sang till bed time.
We got up early this morning and did
the chores after which we had breakfast
and then started for home. We came though
Goshen East Street, and over Chestnut hill
in Litchfield where we stopped for an hour
and a half and visited Mr. William Morse
and wife. We also stopped at the new Branch
dam which they are raising fifteen feet
higher. They had a large force of men at
work and four steam derricks in operation
along the top of the dam. We then came
through Renols bridge and Waterville home
which we reached at half past four.
11\12\1901 Tuesday
Worked at the factory thirteen hours.
11\13\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory 10 hours.
To day we had the first snow of the
season.
11\14\{1901} Thursday
Worked thirteen hours at the factory.
It snowed again to day so that it
lay on the ground to the depth of two
inches.
I paid James Sinnelt twenty five
dollars on the big black horse.
11\15\{1901} Friday
Worked thirteen hours in the shop.
Mr. Joseph Bloomfield died this morning
at quarter past seven. He has worked for
Rogers Bros. for the past 30 years and as
night watchman 25 years.
11\16\1901 Saturday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
11\17\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffiatt preached at
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
11\18\{1901} Monday
Worked in the factory thirteen
hours.
11\19\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening I went to the tax collector's
office and saw Mr. Thoms about a bill
of 80 cts he sent me with liens and casts
which amounted in all to 2.48. He found
that it was a mistake on his part and
abated all but the 80 cts.
11\20\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening we went to the Chapel
to a supper and an entertainment which
was managed by Miss Fannie Porter.
They cleared $12.64.
11\21\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory thirteen hours.
11\22\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory thirteen hours.
I paid James Sinnett twenty five dollars to
day, a balance owed him on a horse.
11\23\{1901} Saturday
To day I worked ten hours.
After work we shod old Nell.
11\24\{1901} Sunday
This has been a very stormy day. This
morning the snow lay on the ground
about an inch thick and the wind blew
very hard, but it began to rain at 8 o'clock
and kept it up all day.
Rev. Mr. Holden preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
11\25\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory ten hours to
day.
This evening Clyde, Pierpont, Irving,
and myself went out to Ed Pritchard's
place at Wedges and got an old mill-
stone that I bought of William Howd
several years ago.
Saturday noght there was a man by
the name of Bowe shot on the plank
road by an Italian who lives in the
Harper's Ferry house. Bowe and several
others tried to get into the Italians'
house and also threw stones at it.
When the Italians fired and the shot
struck Bowe in the stomach, he walked
to the center and from there was
carried home in a hack. He lived on
Silvian avenue. At 10:30 P.M. he expired.
The Italians are under arrest, charged
with murder.
11\26\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
11\27\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours
11\28\{1901} Thursday
Thanksgiving day
State of Connecticut
By His Excellency
George P. McLean, Governor,
A Proclamation.
In harmony with the sacred custom of the
fathers, and in grateful recognition of the
ever-present fulfilment of the promises of
God, I hereby appoint Thanksgiving the twenty-
eighth day of November, as a day of
Thanksgiving and Prayer,
and I recommend that the people of Connecticut,
as the children of one father, dedicate this day
to deeds of charity and brotherly love and in
their churches and homes render praise
and thanksiving to the God of Nations, for
the full measure of peace and plenty he has
given to our beloved commonwealth.
Given under my hand and seal of the State,
at the Capitol at Hartford, this fifteenth
day of November, on the year of our Lord,
one thousand nine hundred and one, and
the independence of the United States,
the one hundred and twenty-sixth.
George P. Mc Lean
By his Excellency's Command:
Charles G. R. Winal,
Secretary.
The Somers family met at the home of
Andrew W. Goldsmith on Clay St. There
were present 41 persons. They were: uncle
Dwight Somers and Wife and Joe and Eugene
Smith, uncle Joe and family of five; Uncle
Goldsmith and family of two; Father and
Cara, Iva, and Mother; George Somers and
WIfe; Robert Somers, Wife and child; William
Gillette, Charles Phillips and Wife; myself,
Wife, and six children; Frank Miller and
wife; Ben Chatfied, Frank Frisbie,
Rolland Jenner, Wife and two daughters,
and Amy Miller.
11\29\{1901} Friday
I worked at the factory ten hours.
The weather has been very cold.
11\30\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening I went out to Adelbert Hitch-
cock's in Wolcott to see if I could sell old
Nell.
12\01\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
12\02\1901 Monday
Worked thirteen hours at Rogers & Brother's
factory.
Saturday evening at about quarter to six
as two brothers James and John Sinnett,
who live with their father on the Chatfield
place on the plank road at Gillett's corner,
were driving home from work the britchen
broke as they were descending the hill in
front of Robert Hotchkiss and the horse
broke into a run and became unmanage-
able and as they turned the corner by the
Wedge place the buggy tipped and they
were thrown out. John struck on his head
and was unconscious when James found
him. James also received a head wound
and his wrist was broken. He carried his
brother into Mr. Blackburn's house and
they sent for Dr. Donahue who ordered
James taken to the hospital where he
died at ten minutes past three this
morning.
The brothers worked at Rogers & Brothers.
James is a polisher and John a rooler.
{12\03\1901 Tuesday [no entry]}
{12\04\1901 Wednesday [no entry]}
{12\05\1901 Thursday [no entry]}
{12\06\1901 Friday [no entry]}
{12\07\1901 Saturday [no entry]}
12\08\1901 Sunday
I have been busy, tired, and indolent for
the past five days that I have failed to
keep a record each day.
Tuesday I worked 13 hours at the factory.
Wednesday I worked 10 hours. In the evening
the ladies' Union gave a supper and entertain-
ment at the Chapel. I had charge of the en-
tertainment, which was furnished by the
Driggs school Orchestra under the management
of Miss Niven, Principal; I furnished three of
the five teams that carried the entertainers
from the trolley cars to the Chapel, and also
paid their car fare, 1.12.
Thursday I worked at the factory thirteen hours.
Friday " " " " " fifteeen "
Saturday " " " " ' ten "
Today Mr. Bishop, a layman, preached at Mill
Plain Chapel.
The weather has been very cold some of the time
during the past week. Yesterday morning the
thermometer stood at seven below zero, but
to day the weather has been warmer so it
has thawed a little. The sleighing has been
good for the past three days.
12\09\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory thirteen hours to
day.
The weather has been warmer and it has
thawed quite a little.
12\10\{1901} Tuesday
Worked thirteen hours.
12\11\{1901} Wednesday
Worked ten hours.
12\12\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the factory thirteen hours.
12\13\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory thirteen hours.
12\14\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
12\15\{1901} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Pruner preached at Mill Plain Chapel.
12\16\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Clyde began peddling milk for Arthur
Merriman yesterday. Merriman has
bought out Arthur Pierpont's day
route.
12\17\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
12\18\{1901} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening the Ladies' union held a
supper and entertainment at the Mill
Plain Chapel. All of my family attended.
The price of supper was 15 cts each, and
the entertainment consisted of recitations,
music on violin and piano together
with singing, and a dialogue entitled
the district school.
12\19\1901 Thursday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening I went to the Chapel and
helped tie greens for christmas.
12\20\{1901} Friday
Worked ten hours to day at the factory.
This evening I went to the chapel and helped
trim it for christmas.
12\21\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening I went to the Chapel and
helped trim it for Christmas.
12\22\{1901} Sunday
Had Christmas service at Chapel.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached and the
Choir rendered several special selections.
12\23\{1901} Monday
Worked at Rogers Brothers factory ten
hours.
This morning at about 8 o'clock Clyde and
Irving were geting some christmas trees
for Rev. Dr. Davenport over on the ledge
by the Mad River and in order to get
such trees as they wanted they sowed the
tops off from some very high hemlock
trees. As Clyde was descending one of the
tall trees two of the branches that he
had hold of broke at the same time and
he fell a distance of twenty five feet to
the ground. He called and Irving went
to his assistance and helped him get
home. They hitched up soon as possible
and drove to Dr. Barber's office on North
Main Street and found that Clyde had
sprained his left wrist and broken his fore
finger on the right hand and cut and bruised
his head besides several other bruises about
the body.
12\24\1901 {Tuesday}
Worked at the factory ten hours to day.
This being Christmas eve the factory
closed at 5 o'clock.
I received my pay for last week's work
which amounted to 13.50.
Clyde has been in bed nearly all day.
His hand is badly swollen.
12\25\{1901} Wednesday
This is Christmas day. This morning
the children were up early and dressed
and then went down stairs and
opened their stockings and found them
full of presents. I foun in mine a watch
made by New England Watch Co.
of this City. On the wrapper was written
Papa from Clyde, Irving, Margaret,
Ruth, Pierpont, Raymond, and Mama.
This noon we went to Father's where
all of my brothers and sisters and
their wives were assembled, except Fred
and his wife who live in Detroit.
In the afternoon we had dinner, and
in the evening a christmas tree for
the Children, but there were some
presents for the grown up people. I received
a linen handkerchief from Clyde.
12\26\{1901} Thursday
Worked at the Chapel this evening
with Hiram, Able, and Agnes getting
ready for the Christmas entertainment
tomorrow evening.
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Rogers & Brothers factory finished 35,000
gross of spoons, knifes, forks, ladles, etc.,
this past yeat.
12\27\{1901} Friday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening the Mill Plain Chapel
held its Christmas celebration.
The Chapel was filled full of people,
both young and old.
The programs consisted of Recitations,
songs, dialogues, music, etc.
They also had a Christmas tree and a fire
place. A Santa Claus came in through the
fire place and gave presents to all the scholars
and teachers.
12\28\{1901} Saturday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
The spoon shop shut down to night for the
new year's vacation.
12\29\{1901} Sunday
Dr. Davenport preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon. The day has
been very stormy and the attendance
was small.
12\30\{1901} Monday
Worked at the factory ten hours repairing.
12\31\{1901} Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Repairing the engine, Mr. Beniji
Lockwood of the Charles Engine Co.
of Providence, R. I., where the engine
was made thirty years ago, has charge
of the work and I am helping him.
01\01\1902 Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours on
the engine.
This evening the Ladies Union gave
an oyster supper and entertainment
at the Chapel.
01\02\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange, and all of the young folks
went skating up on Frost's pond.
01\03\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory 10 hours.
01\04\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory 10 hours.
The highway and new bridge at the
crossing of the Mad River at the old
tannery pond on the Meriden Road is
now open to the public.
The weather is very cold to day.
01\05\1902 Sunday
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
this afternoon.
Yesterday the papers contained an account of
the sinking of the steam ship Wala-Wala
off cape Menecino on the Pacific coast which
had been run into by a French bark.
Cousin Willie Goldsmith was supposed to
have been on board as this is the ship
that he sailed.
This morning a telegram came from the
ship Company that he was aboard. but
was among those that was saved.
The Walla Walla went down last Thursday.
01\06\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day piping and
also at other odd jobs.
This evening Irving, Pierpont and I went
to the Chapel and took down a portion of
the furnace pipe which is rusted out and
am going to send in to Barlow Brothers
to be repaired.
I then called on Charles Mashier and
talked over Chapel business.
01\07\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hours this
day.
This evening the Foresters Fair opened
at the Grange hall.
I went up to Farm street to see Rev. Mr.
Bassett. I found him in the basement
of the church conducting a prayer meeting
which was well attended. After the meeting
was over I did my business with him
and drove home.
01\08\1902 Wednesday
Worked at the factory 10 hours to day.
James Gibbons, who works at the shop,
injured his foot by driving a pick ax
through it. I did it up and stopped the flow
of blood so that they could take him
down to the doctor.
01\09\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
01\10\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening the boys and I went to
the Chapel and took down the Christmas
green and tried to put up the new furnace
pipe but it would not go as it is too
small.
Cousin Willie Goldsmith telegraphe
from San Francisco that he was aboard
the Walla Walla but wass all O.K.
He sent the message last Sunday night.
01\11\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory ten 1/2 hours.
The boys and I went to the chapel and
put up the furnace pipe and oiled the
clock and swept out the building.
01\12\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Waters of Wolcott preached at
the Chapel.
I worked at the factory this forenoon form
9 to 12 o'clock putting wooden cogs in a
big iron {{belvel??}} gear which we have got to
run tomorrow when we start up the shop.
This evening Margaret and I went up
to Woodtick and saw Mr. Gustave Cornelius.
Were gone from home one hour.
01\13\1902 Monday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
They started up the factory to day, all except
the trimming, plating, burnishing, buffing,
and packing rooms.
01\14\{1902} Tuesday
I went to work at six this morning as I had
to put the gear in that runs the trimming
room and they wanted to start it up. I
came home and ate breakfast after seven
o'clock. To day we put a large exhaust fan
in place in the trimming room whixh has
thegreatest capacity of any exhaust fan in
Waterbury. It is a 60" double fan, is to make
1300 revolutions per minute and weighs 1 and 1/2
tons.
Laurence Tobin and I went to the vacant
factory of Rogers and Hamilton and
took out a bolting box and a large
belt pulley off from the main shaft in
the making room, and we got their chain
tackles, all of which we brought to Rogers
& Brothers factory.
01\15\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
I had charge of the entertainment at the
Chapel to night.
01\16\{1902} Thursday
Worked as usual to day 10 hours.
This evening Mary and I attended the
grange. Mr. Rich of Meriden left a
type writer to day.
01\17\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory ten hours to
day.
01\18\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory 9 hours.
01\19\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett preaches at the Chapel
to day. Aside from going to Chapel
I stayed home all day and did some
copying on the typewriter which
is a Blickensderfer.
01\20\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended the first
meeting of the City board of ed-
ucation, and the Committees of
the outlying school districts. The object
of the meeting was to form some plan
by which the City board and the district
Committees can work together in harmony.
Secretary Charles D. Hine, of the State
board of education, was there and addressed
the meeting and also gave much useful
information.
01\21\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
01\22\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening Clyde and I lengthened
out a set of reach irons one foot for
Arthur Merriman for which I charge 1.00.
Raymond, F. Pierpont, Irving, and
Margaret all have the mumps.
01\23\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This noon we started up the new
exhaust fan in the trimming room.
It is a double 60 in. fan, of greater
capacity than any other in this
City and requires 38 horse power to drive
it.
01\24\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory today.
01\25\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
All odf my children except Ruth are confined
to the house with the mumps.
01\26\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Claskey conducted the
Episcopal service at the Mill Plain
Chapel. Mr Claskey is assistant to
Mr. Lewis of St. John's Church.
St. John's church was originally St.
James Church.
01\27\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory ten hours as
usual. This evening I filed a wood
saw for Milan Northrop and also
one for Ed Branson.
My five children who have the
mumps are a little better.
The weather is very warm and rainy.
Have had but little cold weather so far.
01\28\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
01\29\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Pierpont, Raymond, and Margaret
have recovered from the mumps and
went to school to day.
We attended an entertainment
at the Chapel which was given by the
young Ladies.
01\30\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Mary ent to the Grange this
evening but I stayed home and did
some copying on the typewriter.
01\31\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory 10 hours.
02\01\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory nine hours.
This evening Irving and I went
to Woodtick to instruct a class
indrumming. We had frosted
coke, cocoa, and other refreshment
which Miss Cornelius prepared.
{02\02\1902 Sunday [no entry]}
02\03\1902 Monday
Yesterday the weather was wet, stormy,
and cold. The wind blew a gale.
In the afternoon I attended divine service
at the Mill Plain Chapel. The Rev. Mr.
Parry of the Grand Street Baptist church
officiated. After supper Mary and I
went down to Father's. We had not been
there when the fire alarm whistle
blew three blasts which was a signal that
there was a fire in exchange place. This was
at 6:30 P.M. Wm. Gillette, who was there, thought
that it might be his father's office, as he had
had a large wood fire there in the afternoon,
and he started to take the trolley car
to go down.
Iva happened to go to the kitchen and
called our attention to the red sky
and I saw a blaze which led me to think
that a big fire had started, so I slipped
on my overcoat and articles and started
but met Will outside of the yard coming
back. He said that it was a big fire
and he wanted to take his horse, so we
went to he barn and hitched him into
Father's buggy and started first on a trot
then a gallop, and finally on a run. We
left the horse at Philo B. Norton's stable
and walked to exchange place which we
reached at 6:50 and found that the fire was
at Reid & Hughes dry goods tore on the
West side of Bank street.
The wind was blowing fierce and soon
the building was wrapped in flames and
the ajoining buildings were igniting.
Then a general alarm calling out the en-
tire fire department of the city was sounded
but it was to non purpose. The flames spread
to the buildings on the East side of Bank
street and across, sweeping all before them
to South Main street, which it crossed,
and burned the buildings to Brook street.
They also spread to the Franklin Hotel
and burned the long row of blocks
along Grand Street to Levenworth street.
Chief enginer Snagg and Mayor Kilduff,
seeing that the center of the City was
likely to be burned out, called on Hartford,
New Haven, Bridgeport, Torrington, Nagatuck,
and Watertown for help, and they all responded
by sending hose pipe and steamers, so at
one time we had seven steamers at work.
By midnight the fire seemed to be under
control and I came home. At 2 A.M. I looked
and could see no signs of fire but at 5 the
heavens were all aglow, and the wind
still blowing. When I went to work I drove
down and found that the Scoville house
was in ruins, it haveng taken fire
at about two o'clock, from some unknown
cause.
The fire had burned, besides the Scoville
House, all but three blocks from Center
Street to Grand street, on the West side of
Bank, and the same number on the East
side, and all but three blocks from
exchange place to Scoville street on the
West side of South Main, and four on the
East side, and all the buildings from
Bank to Levenworth streets, on Grand,
except the Waterbury Bank and one house.
The loss is estimated at $3,000,000. Such a
fire was never known of before in this
City, and probably not in the state.
At about nine o'clock fifteen strokes were
sounded on the City hall bell which
out the entire militia force, and they
were set on guard duty at the streets
where the firemen were at work and
also to guard the property which had
been saved.
02\04\{1902} Tuesday
Worked ten hours at the factory.
The chief topic of conversation of every-
body has been the Great Fire. Last
evening a train from Meriden brought
over 500 people, and the City is filled
with strangers to day.
There were thirty buildings destroyrd
by the fire, and more than one hundred
business establishments.
02\05\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
The City is thronged with visitord
who come to view the ruins of the
fire.
The train that brought the steamer
from New Haven was comoposed of
an engine, flat car, and caboose, with
the firemen in the caboose when they
left New Haven, but soon the speed in-
creased so that the steamer began to
rock on its fastenings on the car
and the firemen had to go out and
hold it on. The train went faster, and
faster, till it passed the beacon where
they saw the fire, and the engineer
threw the throttle wide open and the
speed was so great that the men feared
they would be swept from the car in
going round the curves. This together
with the driving snow and wind
benumbed them so they were nearly
frozen when they reached Waterbury.
They declared that the speed and cold
made it the most diagreeable ride
ever taken in this vicinity. The run
from New Haven to Waterbury was
made in thirty two minutes.
The run from Hartford was made in
forty one minutes. A man who was
at the depot at New Britain when
the train passed told me that he saw
only a streak as it passed.
02\06\1902 Thursday
Worked as usual.
This evening Irving and I worked ironing
Arthur Merriman's milk wagon.
Mary and Clyde went to the Grange.
02\07\{1902} Friday
Worked as usual. I went
to town to night after work.
After supper we worked on the milk wagon.
02\08\{1902} Saturday
Worked as usual.
Irving and I went to Mr. Cornelius to
teach the boys to drum.
02\09\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Caskey, who is assistant to Mr.
Lewis of St. John's Church, preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
News has reached us to day that a great
fire is raging in Paterson, New Jersey.
The loss has already reached millions.
02\10\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
The loss at the Paterson fire is reported
at $2,000,000.
02\11\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
02\12\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory. This evening we
went to the Chapel. During the entertainment
I recited "The Song of the Camp."
02\13\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening I worked ironing Arthur
Merriman's milk wagon.
02\14\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
This evening we worked on Arthur Merriman's
milk wagon.
02\15\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Margaret Julia Mills and I went to
Woodrick this evening.
02\16\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
I had to work at the shop six hours.
02\17\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
About 15 inches of snow fell to day.
The girls on the hand burnishing and
machine burnishing rooms went home
at noon.
02\18\{1902} Tuesday
Worked ten hours.
02\19\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
We got up this morning at 5 o'clock
and the boys and I put the wagon
body on the sled so that Irving
could get a load of coal this afternoon
At half past five I went to Mr. Able's and
got Miss Agnes and carried fer in the
sleigh down past the Mattatuck factory
as the snow drifts were very deep along
the Doolittle road.
At quarter to seven I left home and went
to work. Pierpont {is} going to bring back
the team.
After work to night Pierpont came
after me and we went to Turnbull's
store and saw the famous painting of
the blacksmith which is valued at $50,000.
After supper I filed a saw for Wilson Pierpont.
02\20\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary, Clyde, and I went to the
Grange.
02\21\{1902} Friday
Worked as usual to day.
It has snowed nearly all day but only about
5 inches has fallen.
02\22\{1902} Saturday
Washington's birthday.
When I got up this morning at 5 o'clock I
looked out and saw that the snow lay deep
on the ground and it was still snowing hard.
We dug out the paths about the house and
barn and then hitched up old John into the
pring, and Clyde started ahead horseback
with old Nell and we went up the Doolittle
road to Manson's corner and broke out the
road. When we came back we stopped at Mr. Abel's
and Mrs. Abel wished us to get some pancake flower
and 50 cts worth of fresh pork when we went to
town.
We started for town about half past nine and
as there had been only one team in the Cheshire
road it was slow traveling. We went first
to J. G. Jones's insurance office in the Apothecaries
Hall where I had the insurance on my shop
renewed, which expired yesterday. The amount
was $1000 and the premium I had to pay was
27.00. We then got a lot of groceries at Turnbull's
general store on East Main St. Some oysters
at Hemingway's, and a box of crackers at
the National Biscuit Co.'s. Mr. Abel's goods
we got at Mc Carty's.
Business in general was at a stand still, although
a few shops were running. The trolley cars only
ran from the Car barns to the center.
It stopped snowing at about five o'clock and
the snow is about two and one half feet
deep on the level, including the 15 inches that
fell a few days ago.
02\23\1902 Sunday
This morning we went to the Chapel and
dug out the paths. No teams got through
the Meriden road to day. The drifts are
very deep.
There were 26 at the Sunday school, but
there was no service. At about six this
evening two engines came in the Meriden
railroad and plowed it out, but they
have only got the trolley cars running
to Benedict and Burnham's, on the South
Main street line.
02\24\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
A stranger who was a tramp and whose home
is in Mass., was discovered by Dr. Axtelle
to have the small pox as he was talking
with two policemen on Bank street this
forenoon. He was immediately taken to
the pest house, and an old man who had
had it sent to take care of him. He was
aged 28 years. He had stayed in the police
station one night and in the Salvation
Army home three nights, so that a large
number of people had been exposed.
02\25\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This morning I drove to Hiram Able's and
got Olive and Agnes and carried them
to the Trolley car track at Silver street
as they could not walk on account of the
deep soft snow, it having rained all
night. This evening I went to town after
work, and brought the Abel girls home
from the end of the trolley track. The
slush was knee deep most of the way
and the Doolittle road was nearly
impassible.
02\26\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
The weather to day has been rather warm,
and the travelling very bad.
This morning I carried the Abel Girls to
Silver Street and met them there at night
and carried them home.
{02/27/1902} Thursday
Worked to day at the factory as usual.
This morning I carried the Abel girls to
the trolley cars so that they could go
to work. The travelling was the worst I
ever saw. This evening when I went to
the trolley cars to meet the Abel girls.
(Agnes works in the New England Watch
shop, and Olive works at Rogers Bros.)
I found a long line of men and women
standing on a point of firm snow that
ran out into the slush which was knee
deep. I drove out to them and carried
them to the sidewalk corner of Silver and
East Main Streets I had my large box sleigh
and made two trips.
I then carried the Abel girls home.
02\28\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This morning I sent Clyde up after the
Abel girls, and then carried them to
Silver street. It has rained hard nearly
all day and this evening when Pierpont
came for me at the shop I soon had a
big load of girls in my sleigh who wished
to be carried to the side walk on East
Main Street I carried one load and came
back for another, in the two loads I carried
about thirty. I then carried Bertha French
and Olive Abel home.
03\01\1901 {1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory ten and one half
hours.
This morning when I got to the shop they
had cut the 24 inch belt off the engine
fly wheel on account of the high water.
It took till 8:30 to put it on again and
then it ran till 4 o'clock when the high
water forced us to cut it off again.
The weather has been very warm and
the snow has melted fast.
03\02\{1902} Sunday
This day I worked at the factory from 9 till
2 o'clock, putting on the 24 in. main
belt which was taken off yesterday after-
noon on account of the high water
while we were putting it on the river
rose over a foot, as it was raining
very hard and the weather was warm.
03\03\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
03\04\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The doctors are having a rush of business
vaccinating people. They charge one dollar
each and some of them vaccinate over one
hundred a day.
The snow is nearly all gone and the
weather is warm.
03\05\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours. This is pay-
day and I received my pay Fifteen dollars
and nineteen cents for last week's work.
This morning it began snowing at about
8:30 o'clock and has kept it up ever since.
There is about nine inches on the ground.
This evening Irving came for me with
the wood sled, and I carried Olly Able,
Elsie Anderson, and Bertha French, home.
03\06\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange.
03\07\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\08\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening it stormed hard and I
stayed home and worked on picture frame.
03\09\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Caskey preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
03\10\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
It is reported that there are 15 cases of small-
pox in town to day.
03\11\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
All of the employees of the New England
Watch Factory are ordered to be vaccinated
by Drs. Axtelle and Anderson at the
Company's expense. They began at 9 o'clock
yesterday morning.
All of the school children are ordered by
the board of education to be vaccinated
by next Thursday or they cannot attend
school.
03\12\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Another case of small pox has broken
out this morning and the patient has
been removed to the pest house.
All of the school children in the out
lying districts are ordered vaccinated
by next Monday or they cannot attend
school Supper and Entertainer in
charge of the Young men.
03\13\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
03\14\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
There were two more cases of small
pox reported to day making eighteen in
all.
Gregory Byrnes, son of Stephen, was
drowned in the mud hole opposite the
Farmers Home this afternoon he was
aged seventeen years.
03\15\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day 10 hours.
This evening Irving and I went up
to Mr. Clemmet Cornelus in Wood-
tick and gacve the Wolcott boys a
drumming lesson. We stayed there till
9:15 o'clock when we drove down
to Theodore Munson's where a large
number of friends and neighbors had
assembled and surprised Mrs. Mun-
son. It being her birth-day 33 years
old, we stayed there till after midnight.
03\16\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Pruner preached at Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
This forenoon I rode horseback out to
Morris Burger's in prospect, and from
there to Henry Hodges and then North
up the old Bound road and across the
lots by the old Poach place onto the
Scott road and home. The mud was
breast deep on the horse in many
places.
03\17\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
This morning we sent the children
to school, but the teachers sent
them home again because they had
not been vaccinated. There were only
about 18 out of the whole three rooms
that were vaccinated. In the three
rooms were about 100 scholars.
03\18\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The factory commenced working till
7 o'clock last night, but I did not work.
This evening I vaccinated Margaret, Ruth,
Frank Pierpont, and Raymond with
vaccine points purchased of H. W. Lake
for 10 cts.
03\19\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
There are 23 cases of small pox in
town now. Mary vaccinated me this
evening.
03\20\{1902} Thursday
I worked at the factory to day ten hours.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Grange.
03\21\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon notices were posted in
all the rooms at the factory to the effect
that all of the employees not previously
vaccinated must be at the expense
of the Company.
03\22\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening Irving and I went to William
French's at Wolcott Center and gave drum-
ming lessons to about a dozen of the Wolcott
boys. We had a rough muddy ride. In
some places the mud was so deep that
the wheels went in up to the hubs.
Although the snow has been all but gone about
here for some time, there are many drifts
left in Wolcott. There was one near the
Fairground where the road from Hag-
field comes to the main road that is
six feet deep.
03\23\1902 Sunday
To day I worked at the factory seven hours
putting up a set of idle pulleys over where
the roughers out men work.
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
Yesterday Dr. Anderson came to
the shop to vaccinate the people that
work there. There were but 38 vaccinated
out of the 400 that work there.
03\24\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\25\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
03\26\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening all of us went to the
Chapel to the supper and entertainment
given by the Young people.
To day Clyde took old Nell down to Sackett's
stable and had her sold at auction. She brought
15.00.
03\27\1902 Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary and I went to the Grange.
03\28\{1902} Friday
This is "Good Friday", a legal holiday.
Business is generally suspended but our
shop worked except the packing, buffing,
plating, and burnishig rooms.
03\29\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Clyde, Irving, Harry
Buckingham, and I went to Mr. Cornelus's
house in Woodtick and gave a drumming
lesson to the following boys:
Clemmet, Gustave, and Charlie Corneilus,
Chris Tuttle, Francis Taft, Edward
Garthwait, Elair Baker, and several others.
The weather to day has been damp and
foggy and the roads were quite muddy.
03\30\{1902} Sunday
They wanted me to work at the factory
to day connecting the main shaft with
the new shaft that they are putting through
the center of the polishing room, but my
arm which was vaccinated has been
so bad that I did not work, and could
not, and I am very glad as I do not like
to work Sundays.
Rev. Mr. Fletcher of Oakville preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This is Easter Sunday and the Chapel
looked very nice with all of the flowers
about the alter.
03\31\{1902} Monday
This morning I went to the factory
and worked one half hour when I came
home because I did not feel well from
the effect of vaccination.
This forenoon the boys and I began
painting the house white.
This evening the following members of
the Mattatuck Drum Corps went to
Nangatuck and attended a concert and
sociable given by the Nangatuck Drum
Corps. Fifers: Clifford Heaton, Harry
Buckingham, Sam Squires, and Clyde
Miller; Snare Drummers: Howard
Neal, Irving Miller, myself and
Gardener Hall; Bass Drummer:
Henry Buckingham.
04\01\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at factory.
04\02\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This morning, about 6 o'clock, the fire
bell on City Hall and the Fire
alarm whistle on the electric power
house sounded number 54 and it
turned out to be at the corner of River
and Baldwin Streets. The fire was caused
by one Mrs. Stack, who lived on Pemberton
street who it is supposed attempted to light
a fire with kerosine oil by pouring it
from a lamp into the stove. The lamp
exploded which set her clothing on fire
and she was burned to death. Her husband
who was asleep in an ajoining room
rushed in and tried to save her but
he was also burned so that it is ex-
pected that he cannot live.
A young son of Mr. and Mrs. Stacks
died yesterday and they had a Wake
last night which lasted till 5 o'clock
this morning when the last of the
people went away.
04\03\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to the Grange.
04\04\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory.
04\05\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
This evening Margaret, Ruth, and I
went to Woodtick and I gave a lesson
in drumming to a class of boys.
04\06\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Parry preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
04\07\1902 Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The weather has been dull and rainy.
This evening I worked finishing and
varnishing eight oak picture frames
that I had made for pictures 14 X 18 inches.
04\08\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The small pox has broken out in the
family of Mr. Trepania of Silver street
again, and they have two policemen
guarding the house.
04\09\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
This evening all of my family attended
the supper and entertainment given
by the married men at the Chapel.
The supper was excellent and the enter-
tainment the best so far this season.
04\10\{1902} Thursday
Worked as usual.
After work I went to town.
04\11\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers
ten hours as usual.
04\12\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
Freddie Jones went to work at the factory
this morning.
This evening Irving, Harry Buckingham
and I went to William French's house
on Wolcott hill and gave drumming in-
structions to Clement & Cornelis,
Gustave Cornelis, Elmer Coe, Francis
Scott, Marty Taft, Hilaire Baker,
Edward Garthwait, Theodore Wielers,
Cyrus Tuttle, Rollo Hammel, and
Herbert Snow were not there.
04\13\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Stanfield of Waterville
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
04\14\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Dr. Kilmartin, the health officer, reports
finding three more cases pf small pox
to day. This makes more than 50 cases
that the Board of health claims to have
found, but it is my opinion that there
is not a case of genuine small pox in
the City of Waterbury.
04\15\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
04\16\{1902} Wednesday
Worked in the factory.
04\17\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Got up at 5 o'clock and painted on the
house till it was time to go to the shop
and painted again after supper.
{04\18\1902} Friday
Worked as usual in the factory.
04\19\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory till half past
four.
This evening I went to Wolcott to give
a lesson in drumming to a class of
boys. Margaret and Ruth went
with me and I left them at Mr.
Clement Cornelius's in Woodtick
while I went to Mr. Harvey Coe's
at Hagfields and instructed the
boys.
04\20\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett of the Farm Street
Methodist Church preached at Mill
Plain Chapel to day.
04\21\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. Dr. Linsley of Hartford
and Dr. Townsend of New Haven,
members of the State board of
health, were in town to day and
examined the patients at the Pest-
house, and 30 others who are sick at
their own homes, 70 in all and pro-
nounce it small pox.
04\22\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary, Irving, and I went to
the Chapel and got the tables etc. ready
for the fair which is to be held tomorrow
night and the night after.
The girls came and trimmed the tables
and booths etc.
There were Alice Beckwith, Bertha and
Clara French, Agnes and Olive Able,
Mrs. Munson, my wife and others,
Clarance Warden, Clifford Heaton
Irving, Robert Beckwith were also there,
beside Hiram Abel.
04\23\1902 Wednesday
This morning I repaired the buggy till
it was time to go to the shop.
I went to work as usual at Rogers & Bros.
but soon went to the factory of Rogers
& Hamilton on the upper end of North Main
Street and worked there with Laurence Tobin
and John Templeton taking out machinery
till twenty minutes to twelve, when
we took the trolley car and came to
Rogers & Bros. factory and had our dinner
we then went back and took down shafting
etc. till night, the machinery and shafting
is to be brought to Rogers Bros. factory.
At 5.15 we came again to Silver Street on the
electric car and Tobin and Templeton went
to the shop and I came home.
The Fair at Mill Plain Chapel opened
to night, but I did not go, as I felt tired
and sick, but went to bed at 8 o'clock.
I would like to note here that Mrs.
Homer Twitchell of Union City died
Sunday afternoon at one o'clock of an
internal cancer, she was buried at East
Farms cemetery yesterday afternoon
by the side of her former husband Mr.
William E. Austin, she was formerly
Miss Hattie Ashton.
04\24\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I went to the Fair at the
Chapel, there was a large attendance
and the entertainment which consisted
of music by an Orchestra was good.
04\25\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening we painted on the house.
04\26\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Clyde, Irving, Harry
Buckingham, Clifford Heaton, and I went
to Woodtick to the house of Charles S. Tuttle
to give instructions to my little drummers.
04\27\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
to day.
04\28\{1902} Monday
Worked as usual to day.
This morning and evening we painted on
the house.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps held a meeting
this evening.
04\29\{1902} Tuesday
Worked as usual.
This morning we painted on the house.
This evneing it rained a little so we
plowed the East garden partly.
04\30\{1902} Wednesday
Worked to day in the factory of Rogers &
Brothers.
The Government of the United States appro-
priated yesterday $130,000.00 for a public
building in Waterbury.
05\01\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\02\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\03\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
This evening Irving, Harry Buckingham
and I went to Wolcott and taught a number
of boys to drum.
05\04\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon, the building was
well filed.
05\05\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual
to day.
{last sentence is unintelligible??}
Corps held a meeting in my carriage
house, and elected the following officers
for the coming year. Leader, Clifford
Heaton, assistant Leader Irving
Miller, Secretary Charles S. Miller,
Treasurer Gardener Hall.
05\06\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to James Slovell's
and paid my last year's school tax which
amounted to $21.00 and interest 1.60 rate of
taxation 15 mills.
We learned to day that a great fire last
night destroyed the central part of the
town of New Milford causing a
loss of $500,000.00.
05\07\1902 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day, ten hours.
This evening we finished planting our
onions.
05\08\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evneing everybody attended an
orange supper at the Chapel which
consisted of orange shortcakes, oranges
cut up, and meats, pies etc. etc.
There was also a fine entertainment
which consisted of recitations, singing,
violin and piano, music etc.
The Chapel was well filled to overflowing
and the net proceeds were about thirty
dollars and a profit of about $20.00.
I presented the Chapel with one dozen
silver spoons, one dozen silver knives
and forks, which Mr. Frank Ells of Rogers
& Brothers gave me.
05\09\{1902} Friday
Worked at Rogers & Brothers as usual.
After work to day I went to towna nd bought
a pair of shoes at Allen and Bradley's for
$1.25.
05\10\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evneing Clyde, Irving, Harry Buckingham,
Clifford Heaton and I went to Harvey Coe's
in Wolcott and taught about seventeen
boys to fife and drum.
After we were through practicing they
passed "raspberry schrub" to drink.
05\11\1902 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Stanfield of the Waterville episcopal
church preached at Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon.
This afternoon I measured the walnut tree
which we set up about three rods eastward
of the North East corner of my house and it
measured one and one half inches.
05\12\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Corps
met for practice, on motion of Howard
Neal it was voted that the dues be
paid during the past winter months.
05\13\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
We finished painting the windows in
our house to day.
This evening Constable Ray Perkins came
and summoned Mary to appear before
the Superior Court at Waterbury to-
morrow at 10 o'clock as creditor in a
case against Austin B. Pierpont who
assigned insolvent debtor in March
1899.
05\14\{1902} Wednesday
This morning I got up at 5 o'clock and
marked out a pair of homes for Clyde to take
to town and have sowed out on a band saw.
I then ate my breakfast and went to the
shop where I worked one hour oiling up
the shafting, I then came home and changed
my clothes and Mary and I walked to
the trolley car at Silver Street and then
rode to the center, and went immediately
to the Court house on Levenworth Street
where the Superior Court met at ten o'clock
Judge Robinson presided.
The charge of fraud was brought against
Austin B. Pierpont and his son Arthur
J. Pierpont and an attempt was made
to prove that Austin sold his farm
to Arthur on Mar 1st 1899 to prevent
those that he owed from having it
when he assigned in June 19.00 the
witnesses for the plaintiff were William
Tyler of Bucks Hill, Chas Bennett, of
Cheshire, Warren Hall of Waterbury,
Valentine Bohl of this City, Mr. Linsley
of Woodbury, Henry Nettleton of Washing-
ton, Mrs. Austin B. Pierpont, Mrs. Mary
A Pierpont, and my wife.
TGhe Witnesses for the defense were
Austin B. Pierpont, Arthur J. Pierpont,
Edwin Todd of Marion, George W.
tucker, John Pierpont, D.B. Wilson and myself.
The creditors claimed their several
amounts aggregated over $29,000 and
placed the price of the farm at $10,000.
It was proved that Arthur bought the
farm in good faith not knowing of
his father's indebtedness at the time,
and the Judge decided the case in his
favor.
05\15\{1902} Thursday
I got up at four o'clock this morning and
Clyde and I went to Hiram Able's and
ploughed his gardens, we got home soon
after six, and I ate my breakfast and went
to the shop.
Irving dislocated his thumb this even-
ing while jumping over the fence in
front of the house.
Dr. Lodge set it, charged $1.00.
Mary and Clyde went to the Grange.
05\16\{1902} Friday
Worked in the shop to day.
05\17\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Went to Wolcott this evening.
05\18\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett preached at Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
The consolidated Rail Road commenced
running regular trains from Waterbury
to New Haven, by way of Cheshire to
day.
05\19\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
05\20\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
To night Mary and I went to Middlebury
and attended the Grange meeting there.
05\21\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
05\22\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\23\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
05\24\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening I went to the City
to see George Platt about turning
out Decoration day.
05\25\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon.
05\26\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met at
my house this evening.
05\27\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Last night the horse that Clyde
and Arthur Merriman were
peddling milk with got frighten-
ed at the cars at Silver Street
and dashed down past the
spoon shop just at the people that
work there were coming out,
there were many narrow escapes.
05\28\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory this day.
This evneing the Mill Plain Chapel
Society held its annual meeting
at the Chapel and elected the following
Officers Committee to represent the
Episcopal denomination Austin B.
Pierpont Com. for the Congregational
Charles S. Miller for the Baptist
Robert Warden for the Methodist
Hiram Abel Secretary, Arthur J.
Pierpont Treasurer, Hiram Abel,
Organist, Inez Beckwith Sunday
School superintendant Mr. Judd
Librarian, Clifton Heaton
The Ladies Union reported a balance
of $177.93 on hand and the Chapel
Treasurer $56.25 making $234.18
cash on hand.
It was voted that the Chairman
of the Chapel Committee myself should pre-
pare a report for the past year and give
the same to the Sec.
It was also voted that I should buy
25 new singing books (the Church
Hymnary).
05\29\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
05\30\{1902} Friday
This is Decoration or Memorial day
and this morning Clyde, Irving,
and myself put on our Continental
uniforms and with Clifton Heaton
and Charlie Hotchkiss started
towards the Center drumming
we were soon joined by George
Cass and we marched to the
trolley cars at Silver street which
we boarded and rode to Grand Army
Hall on East Main Street, we were
here joined by the other boys so we
had the following.
Fred Pelitier, Drum Major
Charles Cass, Clyde Miller, Harry
Buckingham, and Clifton Heaton.
Fifers C.S. Miller, Bass drummer
Charles Hotchkiss, Irving Miller
and George Cass, snare drummers.
At 10 minutes to ten, the veterans of
{unintelligible sentence??}
to the Soldier's monument where the
line formed. Lieutenant Colonel Gettes
Chief Marshal, it was composed of
the American Band, Companies A
and G of the Conn. National Guard,
the Hubernian Rifles, the Veterans
of the Civil War, the Sons of Veterans,
the Veterans of the late Spanish war,
the Sacred Heat Drum Corps and
several civil organizations etc.
The line of march was along the
south side of the Green to exchange
place through Bank St. to Center to
Levenworth to Grand to South Main
to East Main, to Cherry, where we
countermarched to North Willow
Street then countermarched to
Grand Army Hall where we had
dinner.
At one o'clock we fell in and marched
to the Soldier's monument where
the exercises were held they consisted
of prayer by the Chaplain of the
S. of V. The reading of Lincoln's
Gettysburg Address by Mr. Byatt
an address, the best I ever heard, by
the Rev. Dr. Slocum, the firing
of three volleys, by a firing squad
of Co. A. a dirge by the Mattatuck
Drum Corps, and the Benediction.
05\31\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\01\1902 Sunday
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
06\02\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\03\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\04\{1902} Wednesday
To day Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Circus exhibited in Waterbury. The children
went down and viewed the parade, they
said that they counted 225 horses in
the parade.
This morning early about five o'clock
Clyde, Irving, Pierpont and I went to
the Chapel and clipped the grass with a
lawn mower, and got the ashes out of the
cellar, and riddled them and put them on
the drive way.
We then came home and ate breakfast
after which the boys went and saw the
circus parade, and then went up to the
Branch Reservoir and then on to East
Morris, and back home, which they reached
at about 2.30 o'clock, having rode over
33 miles as their cyclometer on the bicycle
showed.
But I took the horse and went up to Mr.
Able's and ploughed his garden, which took
till noon.
This afternoon I made a pair of Homes for
plowing etc.
06\05\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
I saw by the papers that the terms of
peace were signed, last Saturday between
the English Government and the Boers
in South Africa.
The terms as published are, that the
Boer prisoners 25,800 of them be returned
from St. Helena, Bermuda, and India,
and all set at liberty that none of
the rebels in Cape Colony shall be
executed, that the Boer language
may be taught in the schools,
that the Officers of the Governments
of the Transs Valle and Orange Free
State shall be Dutch, that the Boers
must give up their fire arms, except
their rifles.
06\06\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\07\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory 9 hours
but they give 10 hours pay at
Rogers & Bros. Saturday.
This evening I went to Mr. Harvey
Coe's in Wolcott and gave drumming lessons.
06\08\1902 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
06\09\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\10\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
I ordered of Maynard Merrill & Co.
of New York 25 copies of the Church
Humnary for the Mill Plain
Chapel.
To day when Mary brought my dinner
to the shop, she told me that some
one had entered Mother Pierpont's
house yesterday and took One Hundred
Dollars.
06\11\{1902} Wednesday
Worked as usual at the factory.
This evening The Ladies gave a Straw-
berry festival at the Chapel.
Mr. John Lines' Orchestra furnished
entertainment, I think without a doubt
his is the best orchestra in the City
as all of the musicians are experienced
professionals of the leading bands of
the City.
06\12\{1902} Thursday
Worked a the factory as usual.
Mrs. Francis French (formerly Pond) of
Torrington and first wife of William
French of Wolcott, was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon.
This evening Mary and I attended
the Grange, it was Flora's night
and she had a special entertainment
of Recitations, Music, Minstrels, etc.
06\13\1902 Friday
Worked as usual in Rogers & Brother's
factory.
This evening the voters of Saw Mill
Plains school district met in the
school house and transacted the following
business.
Elected Warren Hitchcock Committee
" B.F. Hoggett Clerk
" James Stovelle Tax Collector
" Martin Pond Treasurer
Voted to lay a tax of four mills on
the list of 1902
Voted to pay the committee $50.00
for the coming year. Voted to
comply with the recommendations of the
board of school visitors in regard to
repairing the school house.
Voted to adjourn at about 10 o'clock.
06\14\{1902} Saturday
Worked in the factory to day 11 1/2 hours.
This afternoon the factories of The Benedict
& Burnham Mfg. Co. The Holmes Booth &
Hayden's Co., The Waterbury Brass Co.
The Chase Rooling Mill Co., The Water-
bury Button Co., The Scoville Mfg.
Co., The E.J. Monville Machine Co.,
The Manville Co., The New England
Watch Co., The Waterbury Lumber and
Coal Co., The Randolph O. Clowes Co.
and several others, shut down, and
are to till next October and pay the
help full pay.
06\15\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
I took 25 new Church Hymnaries to the Chapel
which I purchased of Maynard Merrill & Co. of N.Y.
06\16\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\17\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Yesterday the proposed New Constitution was
rejected by the electors of Conn.
06\18\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at Rogers & Brothers as usual to
day.
06\19\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\20\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Mains Circus is in town to day and
Margaret and Ruth have gone to see it
with Clemment and May Cornelius.
To day has been the picnic of the East Farms
School, held in George Benham's Grove.
Mary and the little children went.
06\21\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory.
This evening Irving and I shod the
horse and set one buggy tire.
06\22\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Davenport officiated at the Chapel.
This is Children's day and the Chapel was
crowded, the Children sung and recited,
Ruth received a present from Dr. Davenport
for not being absent from Sunday School
during the past year, it was a testament.
Ruth, Frank, Pierpont, and Raymond,
Henry Miller were baptised by Mr.
Davenport.
After service I drove out to the Lewis
burying ground near the Southington
reservoir and then North upon old road
and turned West and came out by
Arthur Ferrell's house, then over through
Woodtick home.
I then attended a Memorial service at
Grange Hall at which Dr. Anderson
officiated.
06\23\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\24\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
06\25\1902 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
It is reported that Edward II King of
England died this day.
Clyde and Irving howed James Porter's
potatoes this forenoon, and this afternoon
Irving and Pierpont got in the hay that
they mowed in James Porter's door yard
yesterday.
06\26\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary and I attended the
Mad River Grange.
It is reported to day that King Edward
is not dead, but a little improved in
his health.
06\27\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This morning the boys and I got up at
four o'clock and went down to Father's
and I mowed till six, when I came home
and went to the shop, but the boys
kept mowing till near noon and mowed
nearly all of the lot.
Father and Gussie went to Bristol
with a load of goods for Frank to day.
06\28\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to the Chapel
and counted the singing books and
found that there was 36 old books
there and 25 new ones.
06\29\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bruno preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon, the attendence
was small as it rained very hard.
06\30\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day, we took out the
drivind pulley on the main shaft and put
on a larger one which was 78 inches in diam-
eter.
This evening I gave instructions in
drumming to Fred Jones, F. Pierpont
Miller, John Mulhurn, Seth Anderson,
Joseph Pierpont, Clarance Brown
and Walter Mills.
07\01\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\02\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
07\03\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Clyde, Clifton Heaton,
and Sidney Spender, left on the
six o'clock train on the Naugatuck
Road for New York to spend the
4th.
Mary and I went to the Grange
but I came home before it opened.
07\04\{1902} Friday
Bang, Bang, Bang, Pop, Pop, Pop there
has been a continual roar of cannon
and fire works in every direction
all day, this evening the heavens
were lit with rockets and Roman
candles in all directions, we went
up on the big rock on Red Oak Hill
back of Mr. Knops and had a good
view of them. I worked at hay this
afternoon, getting in 70 heaps from mr.
Mill's meadow.
07\05\{1902} Saturday
I did not go to the shop to day, but
worked about home this forenoon.
This afternoon Margaret, Pierpont, and
I went out on Southington Mountain
but the horse was taken sick and
lay down, so we came home.
07\06\1902 Sunday
Rev. Dr. Parry preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
This evening I took Clyde over to
Arthur Merriman's in Southington
to have him ready for work tomorrow
morning, as he is going to peddle
milk for him.
07\07\{1902} Monday
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
I came home to dinner to day, for the first
time since I worked at Rogers & Bros. nearly 3 years.
07\08\{1902} Tuesday
Worked in the factory as usual.
07\09\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
07\10\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
James Byrnes broke his leg last night
just above the ankle.
This forenoon a sheriff came to the shop
and read a warrant for me to appear before
the City court this afternoon to act as
juryman but later he returned and left
word that they did not want me till
tomorrow afternoon.
07\11\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I went to the City Court in
the City Hall at two o'clock, and was sworn
with five others to act as juryman on
a case of eviction of one Mr. Cane
against Mr. Kelser, Mr. Cane owns a
house on Woodlawn Terrace which he rented
to Mr. Kelser on the 2nd of June he served
eviction papers on Kelser but he has not
evacuated hence the suit. The jury returned
a verdict for the plaintiff.
07\12\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
07\13\{1902} Sunday
Rev. mr. Barnes preached at the Chapel
this P.M.
Mr. Judd, Mr. Warden, Clyde and
I went over to Morris Park and
saw Mr. Hemmingway about holding
the Mill Plain Sunday School
picnic there.
We then went to Arthur Merriman's
and left Clyde, and then came
home.
07\14\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Irving went to work for Samuel Ovaitt [Oviatt]
at Goshen Center to day, he went by
train to Torrington.
07\15\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Susy Bronson and Charlie Brown
were married yesterday forenoon by the
Rev. Mr. Lewis of St. John's Church.
07\16\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\17\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\18\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary told me this morning before
I got up that she heard at the Grange
last night that Rev. Dr. Parry died
yesterday afternoon, and later I learned
he died very suddenly of neuraliga
of the heart, he rode to the Post Office
on his wheel in the afternoon and
not feeling well went home, and
was soon dead. He was pastor of
the first Baptist Church on Grand
Street and was aged 55 years.
07\19\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day, putting i a
new bulkhead and repairing the ditch.
07\20\{1902} Sunday
No service at the Chapel to day on account
of Dr. Parry's funeral.
This afternoon I went to the funeral
service of Dr. Parry at the 1st Baptist
Church of Grand St.
The church was crowded, there were twelve
ministers, nearly all took part in the
service. Father Slocum of the Church of
the Immaculate Conception was there.
This is the first time I ever knew a Roman
Catholic priest to attend service in a
Protestant church.
The remains are to be taken to Philadelphia
tomorrow for internment.
There were about 50 present at Sunday School
at Mill Plain.
07\21\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory.
The shop resumed operations to day
after a shutdown of three weeks, all
except the Burnishing, Buffing, Plating
and packing departments.
07\22\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
07\23\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
07\24\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
07\25\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory.
07\26\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
07\27\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bruno preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel to day.
07\28\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\27\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
07\28\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
There was an Italian killed on the
Meriden Rail road this forenoon, a
little
East of the Horse Brook.
He with other laborers were on a
hand car, which they had just
lifted on the track, after the New Haven
train had passed, when an excursion train
bearing the Baptist and Methodiest Sunday
Schools of Simonsville, which were going to
Hanover Park came along round the
curve and struck the hand car throwing
the men in several directions and killed
one by the engine passing over him.
07\31\1902 Thursday
Worked in the factory to day.
The following rule is useful to obtain
the distance across the corners of a square.
Multiply the side of the square by 1.414.
To obtain the distance across the corners
of an octagon, multiply one side by
1.155.
08\01\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
08\02\1902 Saturday
This morning F. Pierpont and I got up
at 4:30 and went to the factory and oiled
up the shafting after which we came
home, ate breadkfast, and started for Jashen.
We drove first to Ferryville 9 miles,
then to East Church, 2 miles, thence to
Harwingston, 7 miles, thence to Farring-
ton 5 miles, there to Goshen 6 miles.
We left home at twenty minutes past
seven, and reached Samuel Ovaritt's
in Goshen at quarter to four.
We found Irving there at work gettin
in hay.
08\03\1902 Sunday
This morning we got up at about 5 o'clock
and I helped milk there was a hired
man by the name of Sam Mansfield.
Irving, myself and Samuel Ovaritt,
who did the milking, we milked thirteen
cows, after which Sam Mansfield ran
the milk through a separator {separator} which took
about 15 minutes, in the meantime
Irving and Sam had the choers {chores} done
and then we went into the house and
had breakfast, of pancakes, corned beef,
salt pork, potatoes, cake pie, etc.
After breakfast, we, Pierpont, Irving, and I went
for a walk up to the slaughter and on into the
woods, we followed a cart path for a long
distance, till we thought it time to start
home, when we started South West by the
compass, and came out onto the cart path
near where first entered the woods.
We then went to the house and got ready
and went to church, service began at 10:45
and ended at 12. the minister was from
Winchester who exchanged with the regular
preacher, the church is a fine one inside for
a country town, has stained glass memorial
windoes {windows}, pipe organ, nice class room, piano,
etc., etc. after service we went to Mr. Ovaritts
and had dinner of boiled chicken, etc,
and after dinner Irving and Sam Mansfield
froze some ice cream, which was very nice.
Irving and I then walked over to Canada village {villege}
one and half miles and visited with Fred
Lencus till after four when we came home
and ate supper, after which we did the chores
and then had ice cream again and visited
till bed time.
Rev. Mr. Smith of Simonsville Baptist church
preached at Mill plain Chapel.
08\04\1902 Monday
This morning we got up at five o'clock and
did the chores we then had breakfast of
pancakes and codfish which Rose Hubbard
had prepared for us. then after bidding
all of the folks good bye, except cousin
Marion and Mother Ovaitt [Oviatt], Pierpont
and I started at quarter to seven for
Waterbury. we came from Goshen center
through Litchfield, to East Morris
thence to the West Branch reservoir and
to Renals Bridge to Waterville where
we turned and came across country
to Lakewood and on home which we
reached at quarter to twelve, the day
has been very warm, and driving hot.
got ready and went to work at Rogers
and Bros. factory at half past twelve,
and worked till 5:30.
08\05\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Mary and the children spent this day
at Abrinsons cottage at Hitchcocks pond
on Southington Mountain.
08\06\1902 Wednesday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This day Mary went to Yalesville
with Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Todd and
attended a Phonological meeting at
the residence of Mr. Norris Barnes,
they also went through his peach orchards.
Margaret and Amy Miller went to
Bucks Hill visiting at William Fabers.
after work I went down town and did
several errands, and a few minutes
before six it began to rain hard and
we had the most severe thunder storm
we have had this season. I went up
Walcott street and paid Mr. Fowler $1.50
for a box of envelopes he had printed
for me, we then came home the rain
coming down in torrents till we were
nearly home. I put on some dry clothes
and drove to Mr. Todds he lives in the
North West corner of Cheshire, waited till nearly nine before
they came, then
got Mary and came home.
08\07\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Mary and the children went to barn-
pounce pond the occasion {acassion} being the
picnic of the Mill Plain Sunday school.
there were about 88 there in all, some
40 went in busses and the rest in
private teams.
This evening I stopped at my shop and
Peter Larogue gave me a check for 20.00 for
last months rent.
08\{08}\1902 Friday
I worked in the factory to day.
This morning Pierpont and I worked in
the garden straightening {straitiening} up the corn that
the wind blew down during the storm
Wednesday.
08\09\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day from 7 to 12:30.
and from 1 to 4:30. Nine hours at 10
hours pay each Saturday.
The great trolley car strike in New Haven
was ended this morning by the
Company taking back the men that
were discharged.
This evening I opened the Chapel for
the Choir rehearsal. there were but
four there, and they adjourned at
nine o'clock.
08\10\1902 Sunday
This morning Raymond and Pierpont
got up at about 6:30 and I arose soon
after, we did the chores {choers} and then
called Mary and the girls, and we soon
had breakfast of boiled meat and potatoes
etc. I then hitched up and Margaret
and Pierpont and I went out to Theodore
Munsons cottage at the pond on Southing-
ton mountain near Shelton Hitchcocks
and he gave me a ride in his new
gasonline launch, which ran at a rate
of about seven miles an hour.
at quarter to twelve we started for
home, and brought Mrs. Munsons
goods to her house, she is coming home this afternoon.
When we reached home we had dinner
of meat and pudding, after which we
got ready and went to Mill Plain Chapel
where Mr. Lewish preached. after service we
came home had supper, and I stayed about
home the rest of the day.
08\11\1902 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The great Trolley car strike in New
Haven was ended Saturday
night by the Company taking
back the men they had discharged.
At our shop the timmers, polishers,
buffers, etc. have joined unions and
last Saturday they sent a com-
mittee into the Office to try and
get more pay for the trimmers
but they did not succeed, what
the result may be I do not know.
The price of coal has advanced to
9.50 per ton, one year ago it was
about $4.00 per ton.
08\12\{1902) Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
The watch factory commenced work
yesterday after a vacation of two weeks.
Agness Able has not gone to work as
her mother is sick and needs her to
do housework.
08\13\1902 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\14\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This morning was very foggy. I could
not see from one telephone pole to the
other.
Clyde got through peddlering milk
for Arthur Merreman to day.
08\15\{1902} Friday
Worked in the factory to day.
Clyde has about 250 points.
An expert from Boston has been
at the factory and he tells us that
we have 17 ft fall of water on our
wheels and one is a 40 inch 8" bucket
and the other 20 inch diameter 5" bucket
15 horse power.
The Chestnut Hill Reservoir in
Walcott holds 43,000,000 gallons of
water, Hitchcocks Reservoir
holds 39,000,000 gallons, and
Cedar Swamp 34, 000,000 gallons.
This evening I rode horse back to
James STovells and paid my Mill
Plain School tax $8.30.
08\16\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to the rehearsal
at the Chapel of the choir.
Clyde mowed yesterday and to day
in Porters swamp, and yesterday
brought home two loads of hay
and to day we put one load in
Fathers barn and one load on
our stack.
08\17\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett of Waterville
preached at Mill Plain Chapel.
08\18\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
08\19\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
When I came home from the shop
to night there were three surveyors
at work in front of my house survey-
ing for a trolley road from Cheshire
to Waterbury.
08\20\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\21\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
08\22\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\23\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
Came home at 12:30 and ate dinner and
then we got ready to go to South Britain.
Soon Henry bass drove into the yard
and we hitched up and waited a while
for Charlie bass to come from Southing-
ton. after he came we started. Clyde
and Cliften Heaten in one team
with Fathers horse, charlie and Henry
bass in another buggy with Henrys
horse, and I with my two seated
canopy top. I picked up Henry and Harry
Buckingham down by the "Farmers
Home" and tied their bass drum on
the back of the wagon, and one snare
drum on each side and then we drove
through Waterbury Center and over
West-side hill and on through Middle-
bury and Southbury to South
Britain. we started at twenty min-
utes past three and reached South
Britain at quarter to seven.
We saw by way over many large pieces
of silo corn growing and a great abun-
dance of apples, potatoes, etc.
Met George bass and Charles Hotchkiss
about a mile this side of Britain
near the old flood bridge, they had
boys who took our teams and we
marched into the village playing
"Yankee Doodle",. After marching about
a while we went to the factory of
the Hawkins Co. where we found
Mr. Hawkins much surprised at our
coming. then with him Mrs. Hawkins
and Mable we went to a hall where
we found a fine supper awaiting us
which had been prepared {prepaired} by the
people, there were lots of good things
Salmon {samon}, dried beef, sandwiches, pressed
beef, rye bread, layer cake of all kinds
as well as frosted, each was served
with a plate on which were a piece of
squash, blackberry and apple pie,
chocolate {chockalet} creams and other candies,
ice cream, watermelon, bananas, etc.
etc. and as we ate some young ladies
played on the piano and at intervals
a graphaphone was playing.
After the supper was finished I in
behalf of the Abattatuck Drum Corps
thanked the people for the entertainment
and refreshments, after which we
played two or three tunes.
I would like to state here that provisions
kept coming in at the beginning of
the evening and the supply was so
great that they sent men out to tell
the people not to send in any more
and they fed every body in the Hall
yet there was a large quantity left.
AFter we had played in the Hall we
marched about the village and played
for the benefit of several ladies who had
never heard a Drum Band before.
We then marched to Mr. Hawkins factory
where we left our drums and then went
to the several places where we were to
sleep. Henry and Harry Buckingham
at Mr. John Squires, Charlie and George
bass, Charles Hotchkiss, Clifton heaton,
and Henry bass at Mr. Platts, Clyde
and I at Mr Hubbells.
In the morning we strolled about
the village after which we returned
to Mr. Hubbell's and had breakfast.
We then went down the street and
met the rest of the boys and at
quarter to eleven we went from Mr.
Hawkins factory to the Church in full
uniform and attended divine worship.
After church we marched back to the factory
after which we had dinner, and at about
five o'clock we started home, which we
reached at about 7 o'clock.
08\25\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory.
Clyde went to Sam Ovaitts [Oviatt's] in Goshen
today.
08\26\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Worked night and morning getting
saddle etc ready to go to New London.
08\27\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
08\28\{1902}
Worked at the factory to day.
Clyde and Irving came home from Goshen.
09\04\1902
Friday August 29 was Olive Abel's birthday
20 years old, the occasion was celebrated by
a party at her home in the evening.
This morning we got up at an early
hour; Clyde went down to Father's and
got his horse, while Irving got out
from Wilson Pierpont, and we saddled
up. I on my own horse {hourse}, and we went
over and had Miss Alice Beckwith take
our photographs, after which we came
home, fed the horses, ate breakfast,
and started for New London, rode
to Cheshire, thence to Yalesville, thence
to Durham, thence to Higgannum,
to Haddam, to Shaylerville, to Fuler-
ville, where we stayed over night
with Mr. John S. Warner, he hesitated at
first about keeping us, finally he said that
he could keep our horses, and we told him
that we could sleep on the barn floor, to
which he consented, we unsaddled and
put the horses in the barn and unrolled
our blankets, ate our supper of such
provisions as we had, then spread our
blankets on the hay and slept.
We traveled about 40 miles that day.
08\30\{1902} Saturday
We were awakened by a man coming
into the barn to feed the stock at
daybreak, we fed our horses, rolled up
our blankets and had breakfast in
the house of hash and pan-cakes, we then
paid Mr. Warner $1.50 for keeping, breakfast, etc.
He then showed us about his tobacco fields,
sheds, etc.
We had a piece of sumatra tobacco which had
just been cut of about three and one half
acres, which was covered with a cloth
tent 8 1/2 feet high, in making the top as
cover 1800 yards of coarse {course} cotton cloth
was used, it took a woman one month
to stitch it together, and she used $5.00
of thread, the sides were made of burlap.
His two tobacco sheds measured together
in length 350 feet and were 27 feet wide,
2 stories high and full.
We left Tylerville at about 7.20 and
soon came to the Universalist camp
meeting at Goodsperds Landing, where
we stopped a little while, and then drove to
the River, which we crossed of the Ferry
boat F.l. Fowler, on leaving the Connecticut
River we drove to Hadline where we
each bought four quarts of oats and
then drove on to North Lyme, the roads
through this region were very dusty
as there had been no rain in a month,
while at home it had rained nearly
every day. At North Lyme we got
permission of Mr. S. Nelson Jewett
to pass through his yard to the big
brook and wash our horses' backs, feed,
bathe, eat our dinners etc., while there.
Mr. Jewett came to see us, after looking
at our blankets, clothes, saddles, etc. that
were spread about on the grass, he ex-
claimed, I don't see how in the devil
you get all them things on those hourses'
backs. We asked him if he had any good
water to drink, to which he answered,
yes sir, you go up to that well by the
road {rode} and you will find as good water
as there is in this town or any other
town, or in this state or the United States
or any other country. he soon left us
and we saddled our horses and star-
ted for North Lime two miles distant.
We had just crossed the line into New London
county, and the weather was intensely not.
After, corn, and all kinds of crops (except
hay) seemed much better than here, the trees were loaded {loded}
with apples and all kinds
of fruit. After passing through the village
of N. Lime we traveled to East Lyme
or Flanders as the people there call it,
passing on the way Powers Lakes,
which were Natural beauriful lakes,
about one mile and one half long, each.
there were two of them, one on the North
side of the road, and the other on the
South side, about two miles apart.
after passing the last one, we came onto
the New London and Lyme turnpike which
is a fine wide road.
After leaving Flanders we galloped rapidly
on passing many places which had been
burned, some shops and factories, but many
were dwelling houses. I judge that we
saw at least twelve places that had
been destroyed by fire during the day.
Our road lay through a rich level country.
at about 4 o clock we crossed the head of
{Ni}antic bay and found a place to
put up our horses at Mr. Willis &
Minors, two miles West of New London
at a place known throughout that
region as Jardon, but on the map
as Waterford.
As Mr. Miner had no objections of our sleeping
in his barn we walked to the City and
bought our supper at the Globe restaurant
on Bank street and also bought provis-
ions for the next day. while we were
returning the heavens were lit up
by the flahshes of the search lights
on the Forts at Fishers, Phim, Gull,
and Block Islands.
We remained up sometime, then lay
down on our blankets and slept.
08\31\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Dr. DAvenport preached at Mill
Plain Chapel.
We were up this morning at about
six, ate our breakfast of crackers, cheese,
cakes, dried beef, etc., after wich we walked
to New London, went first to find
Edward C. Ford who once lived in WATER-
bury, but now is manager at N. Lon-
don for the Southern New England
Telephone Compant. He lives at No. 4
Summit Street, which we had a great
time in finding. and when we got
there his daughter told us that he had
gone to the beach to bathe. We then
went to the corner of Voxhall and William
streets and took a trolley car for ocean
Beach, which we reached in due time.
This beach fronts on the Sound and is
about one mile WEst of the lighthouse.
We watched the bathers quite a while
after which we started west along the
beach but were soon stopped by a creek
that came in from the North.
We then followed the bank of this
creek around till it brought us back
up the beach where we started, we then crossed
over the street and through some cottage
yards to the shore and we followed it till
we came to some private grounds near
the Light House.
Soon after we came to the beach we heard
the firing of heavy cannons off on Fishers
Island, and soon we saw a great WArship
leave the harbor and sail away to the
South West, the firing continued all the rest
of the afternoon, we soon reached a point
opposite the Peaquot House where we stopped
and wrote a letter home, Clyde writing the
events of the first day, I the second, and
Irving the third, we then walked up the
harbor street till we were tired, then we
took the cars and went to Voxhall street
and from thence to Mr. Fords', we found
him at home, and also found Mr. Walter
Morse of Waterbury there, had a fine visit
and he told us of a steam boat "Gipsey" that
left at 5 o'clock for Norwich. we were pleased
to take it and sailed up the Thames River
past the United States coaling station
at Groton, and saw the Old Man-of-War
Constitution (Ironsides) on the New London
side. the whole sail was one of the pleasantest
I ever enjoyed, it was Old Home week in
Norwich and everywhere, Flags, bunting,
and decorations, were in abundance.
We only stayed long enough to catch
a trolley car which took us back to New
London. the fare up, on the boat was 20 cts.
and on the trolley car we paid 5 cts. four
times coming down.
We immediately walked out to Mr. Miners,
ate our crackers, biscuits, etc. and lay down
on our blankets and slept.
09\01\{1902} Monday
This is Labor Day and is a Legal
hallow day. In New London there was a
parade of about 500 workingmen in line.
In other Cities it was observed by pa-
rades of Labor organizations.
We were up at an early hour ate our
breakfast of what was left from the
day before, and started for New London
but soon took a foot path across lots
for "Jordan" we soon came to a bridge
of a single plank a foot wide and about
two hundred feet long, which we crossed
and came to the center. there is an
inlet at this point that sets back from
the sound and we thought that we would
like to take a sail, so I went to a little house
by the side of the water and asked the women
ther if I could hire a boat, the old little
women said that we could take hers, so
we rowed down to the Sound about four
miles, and went in bathing, but the
water was very cold.
We then sailed back and paid the old
women twentyfive cents, then we walked
up the Rail Road to Fort Trumbull two
miles distant. we went all about the Fort
it is now out of date, and is only used for
headquarters for officers and troops. they
are taking the cannons out of it and are
carrying them actoss the river to Fort
Griswold. Fort Trumbull is finely
built of solid cut masonry, and must
have been impregnable, before the days
of steel rifled cannon, several of the
old cannon that are there now are
sixteen feet long with sixteen inch
smooth bores, and measure over four
feet across the britch on the outside.
After leaving the Fort we went to a restaurant and had dinner,
after which
we went to the dock and took a steamer for
Fishers Island which we reached in about
an hours' time. We walked at once to the
South end and saw the signal station,
search, light, lookout, etc.
The war ships had been sighted on all
were on the alert, the guards told us
that Block Island had been captured
by the fleet the night before, and
they expected an attack sometime
during the night, the pickets soon saw
us and drove us away, we then [went] over
to the camp where there were about
1100 troops encamped, the camp was the same
as other camps that I have seen, except that our
Regiment had steeple, instead [of] tents.
We went from the camp to the Mortar battery
but the guards would not let us near it,
so we went back in the rear of the works
on a hill about half of a mile away and
with the lid of our field glass was able {abel}
to see all inside. there were four mortars
in pits about thirty feet deep with walls
of solid concrete perpendicular {perpanticular} for about
thirty feet. these walls were on three sides
and the other side was open. the pit was
about thirty feet square, and at the top
of the concrete walls the earth slanted
up about eighteen feet higher, there were
two of these pits each containing two
mortars, on the front the ground slopes
to the water in the form of a natural hill,
while to the right and left of the pits
are the "Range Finders" and in the space
between the pits are the boilers, and mag-
azine. we then went over to Fort Wright.
the guards would not let us very near
this Fort so we saw but little except six
long range 12 inch rifled steel cannon
and two rapid fire guns, each of the
cannon had a pit for itself {itsself}, at this
Fort a man was killed a little while before
we got there, he was loading a cannon
and didd not have the cartridge clear in
and in closing the breech cap it struck
the head of the cartridge with such force
that it exploded, blowing him to atoms.
we stayed till twenty minutes to five,
the boat leaving at five, and the
dock was one and one half miles away.
we started byt the roads were so crooked
that we got bewildered and nearly got
left, with a bound we jumped onto the
boat after the wheel had begun to turn.
We reached New London and went to
the Eastern Ship building Company's
yards, where are building two of the
largest iron ships ever built. they
are for the Union Pacific Rail Road
and are to run between San Francisco
and Japan, and China. they are 625 feet
long and seventy eight feet high from
the ground to the top of the deck.
(We then climbed {climed} up Groton hights.)
I would here state that 1000 men have been
working on the ships two years and now they
have all of the men working on one of the
ships in hopes to get it finished by next
summer.
After ascending Groton hights we
visited Groton battle monument, but
could not go up it as it was too late.
In front of the monument stands a
long breech loading steel rifled cannon.
We then went over to Old Fort Griswold.
As far as I could judge it has not been
changed since Revolutionary times
and the ditch, walls, gates, and embank-
ments are much the same as then.
Where Colonel Ledyard stood when
Major Bromfild killed him with
his own sword, there is a granite
stone about 8 inches high, which is
enclosed by an iron fence. On the stone
was carved, On this spot Colonel William
Ledyars was killed by his own sword
in the hands of a British officer Sept
6th 1781.
We also visited the lower or Western
works of the fort. these have all been
made over, and mounted with heavy
cast-iron cannon, which are now
out-of-date, some of the guns have
been taken down, but the works
are well kept.
We remained on the parapet of the
fort till nine o'clock watching
the search lights, when we went
down and crossed the ferry and made
our way back to Mr. Miner's, where
we lay down, but were soon aroused
up by the heaviest firing of cannon
that I ever dreamed of. We went
outside, the heavens were lit up
by the red flashes, and the roar
was tremendous, jarring and shaking
everthing. The firing we learned since
was between the war ships and the Forts
on Gull Island, over 10 miles from where
we were.
There was firing at intervals during
the night so we did not sleep very
much, but at about five in the morn-
ing it commenced heavier and fas-
ter than before and continued for
about an hour.
We got up at 5 and cared for the
horses, ate our breakfast of such food
as we had, saddled our horses and started
for home.
We drove first to New London and bought
a "Morning Telegraph" to see an account
of the battle the night before, and then
rode out Broad street and kept on the
Hartford and New London turnpike,
came to Chesterfield, thence to Salem,
about three miles farther on we stopped
at a farm house and bought some bread
and milk for dinner, and fed our
horses, with oats that we bought of a
woman of Salem. we then set out for
Colchester, where we stopped {stoped} and Irving
had a shoe put on his horse, and I got
shaved. we then rode on to Abarlborough
where we bought some oats at a country
store, and then went on, but I was suf-
fering from a pain in my shoulder {shouldier}
and side, and told the boys to find a
place where we could stay over night.
we stopped {stoped} at the next house which proved to
be the best place I ever stopped {stoped} at. we had a
fine supper, good beds, good stables for
the horses, and a hearty breakfast of ham,
eggs, bread, potatoes, cake, pie, etc. the
Man's name was Frank W. Coleman, and
he lived 14 miles from Hartford on the
Hartford and N. London turnpike, in
the town of Marlborough opposite
Terrymugas Lake.
We left a little after seven in the morn-
ing and soon came to Marlborough Mills.
but alas, the mills are gone, the two large
cotton mills burned down some years ago and
the silk mill has moved its business to Paterson
New Jersey. we continued on through Glas-
tonbury, and East Hartford, passing on
the way hundreds of acres of tobacco,
everything throughout this region grew
thrifty and it seemed a sin that such good
land could not be put to a better use,
than raising that which is an injury to
mankind. we crossed over the temporary
bridge that spans {spands} the Connecticut
River, and through Hartford to West
Hartford, where we stopped {stoped} and Irving had
another shoe put on his horse, and we
continued on to Farmington where
we bought oats at a Grist Mill and fed
our horses, and ate our own lunch.
We then went on to Briston where we
ate supper with my brother Frank, and
stayed till about seven o'clock, when
we rode through Bristol, and Walcott
home, which we reached after nine o'clock.
Thursday I did not go to work to day
but this evening I went to the Grange
with Mary.
09\05\1902 Friday
I worked at the factory to day, had a hard
days work, as things were many that
needed to be done.
09\06\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
To day Clyde and Irving mowed what was
left not already mowed of James Porter's
swamp, and we put it into Father's barn
tonight.
09\07\{1902} Sunday
There was a memorial service held at
the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon
at three o'clock, in memory of Rev.
Francis Parry of the First Baptist
church.
The Ministers present were Dr.
Davenport of the Second Congregational
Church, Rev. Mr. Bassett of St. Paul's Methodist
Church, Mr. Lewish of St. John's Episcopal
Church, Mr. Smith of the Simonsville
Baptist Church, Mr. Holden, assistant to
Dr. DAvenport, and Mr. Blanchard, a
retired Methodist minister.
The order of exercises were as follows.
Hymn, 589 Church Hymnary.
Invocation, Rev. Charles L. Smith.
Scripture Lesson, Rev. John. N. Lewish.
Prayer, Rev. Edward D. Bassett.
Hymn 943'
Address, Rev. John Lewis.
Hymn 938
Address Dr. John G. Davenport.
Offertory.
Hymn, 946
Benediction. Dr. John G. Davenport.
The chapel was crowded, and the collection
amounted to $10.02
09\08\1902 Monday
Worked at the factory.
This day a committee of Polisher and
Ragwheelers went into the office and
presented their grievance {grevence} to Mr. Rockwell.
09\09\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
There is much talking about strike
to day at the factory.
09\10\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
This evening we attended the Peach
festival at the Chapel. there was a large
attendance. the net recips. are about $24.00.
Mr. John Limes and his Orchestra
furnished music.
09\11\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
There is quite a little excitement about
strike, several committees called on
Mr. Rockwell, but he wishes them to
call tomorrow.
09\12\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Committees from the Trimmers,
Polishers, Roughingout, Ragwheelers,
and Buffers departments, waited on
Mr. Rockwell in the office and presented
grievances {grievencies} etc., as well a demand for
more pay.
It is said that he would give the pay,
but did not wish to do away with the
contract system {sistem}, or recognize the Labor
union at present.
Today Mary's sister Mrs. George W. Connor
of West Side Hill had an operation, in
the form of a removal of something
that stopped the passage of the
intestines, and the doctors found a
cancer. they say it is only a matter
of time, and that a short time before
she will succomb {secome} to it.
09\13\1902 {Saturday}
This is Clyde's birthday he is 18 years
old.
I worked at the factory as usual.
09\14\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Barnes assistant ot Mr. Lewis
of St. John's church preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
09\15\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory.
This morning at 7.30 the rag wheelers
at the factory to the number of about
40 went out on strike, because they
were not given more pay. they were
soon followed by the Stampers who num-
bered 11 men, and soon a few of the trimmers
went out.
09\16\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The strikers are still out, and the Trim-
ming, two inspecting, two wash and
the muffle rooms will have to shut
down to night.
Ergot.
09\17\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The works at Rogers and Brothers
were shut down to day owing to
the strike.
This afternoon President with
the committees of the several rooms
met Mr. Rockwell and Mr. Tobin in
the Office and a partial settlement
was reached, and the mill will
start up tomorrow.
09\18\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual
to day.
The factory started up this morn-
ing but not with a full force,
the rest are to come in tomorrow.
09\19\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Nearly all hands came to work to day.
09\20\{1920} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
The girls at the Mattatuck shop struck
yesterday because they were cut down
25 cts. per day in their pay, and because
a man by the name of Saunders was put
over them as boss, in the place of Nellie
Cass.
09\21\{1902} Sunday
I worked at the factory five hours to day
putting new packing in the heater.
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
The strike at the Mattatuck factory has
been settled by the Company giving the
girls back the 25 cts per day.
09\22\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This is Mary's birthday.
This evening the boys and I painted
one coat of lead {led} on the spindle buggy.
09\23\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
09\24\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
09\25\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather is very wet, it having
rained nearly every day more or
less since the first of August.
Owing to the great strike of the
coal miners in Pennsylvania,
the price of hard coal has reached
the high price of $13.50 per ton.
This is the highest it has been
since the Civil war, when I remember
father paying $18.00 per ton.
It has since been down to $4.50 per ton.
Mary and I went to the Grange.
09\26\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps had a meeting
this evening.
We learned to day that the International
Silver Company has been bought out by the
newly organized United STates Silver Co.
09\27\1902 Saturday
Worked as usual at the factory to day.
This is my birthday and Mary invited Father
and Mother, and Frank and his wife to supper.
I am forty-four years old, and I received two
lead pencils, and a very pretty set of pearl
sleeve buttons from the children.
This evening I went up to Walcott to instruct
a class of boys in the art of drumming. it is
a dark wet night.
09\28\1902 Sunday
This forenoon I worked as fast as I could
ailing two harnesses, and getting the team
ready to get the minister for the Chapel.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
09\29\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory.
09\30\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Waterbury agricultural fair opened
to day. it is being held at the Driving
Park on the Watertown road.
The weather is wet as it has been for a
long time.
10\01\1902 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as ususal.
I received my pay for last week's work
as I do every Wednesday. it amounted to
13.50.
The price of anthracite coal has reached the
highest price I ever knew $20.00 per ton,
and it cannot be obtained in many
cases at that as the supply is out.
To day the casters at Scovills factory
could not work as the coal is out.
this means a general shut-down for
the works.
The high price is owing to the great
strike in the coal fields of Pennsylvania
which has lasted 21 weeks.
10\02\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to
the grange.
A motion was made by William Faber
that the Executive Committee be in-
structed not to let the hall for six months.
I amended the motion so that it
should lie over for one week, which
was carried.
10\13\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Today I applied to Mr. Rockwell for
more pay, he said "I will look it up."
Which means I suppose that I will not
get it.
10\04\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Henry Cass, Harry
Buckingham, Robert Beckwith and I
went up to Woodtick and gave a drum-
ming lesson to a number of boys.
Yesterday President Roosevelt and
the owners of the coal mines and the
committee of the miners met at WAshington
but no agreement was reached.
This evening I received a valuable lot
of books from cousin Elliot Somers.
10\05\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Simonsville
Baptist church preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel.
10\06\{1902} Monday
Worked as usual.
10\07\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as ususal.
President Stone of Penn has called out
the entire Militia force of the State, to
protect the men who wish to go to
work in the mines against the strikers.
10\08\{1902} Wednesday
Worked as usual.
The Ladies' Union had a supper and en-
tertainment at the Chapel this evening.
I did not attend.
10\09\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening Mary and I attended
the meeting of the Grange. it was
voted that the Executive Committee
be instructed not to rent the hall for
six months. This vote is intended to
drive the Forersters out of the hall
who are paying $75.00 per year or over
3.00 per night for the use of it.
10\10\10\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The Danbury fair started Tuesday
and will end tomorrow. yesterday was
Waterbury day and many went from
here. The last train for Waterbury left
Danbury at about 6.30 and was to
run onto a siding at Sandyhook for
the regular westbound train to pass.
but for some reason the train kept
straight {strait} ahead on th emain track and
ran into the regular, causing the
death of one young lady
and the injuring of twenty others.
Among the passengers was Mr. James
Tobin, superintendent at the factory where
I work. When the young lady (Miss
Quinland of Nangatuck) who was
killed, came in, he got up and gave
her his seat as she wished to sit
near her friends. and he took a
seat on the left hand side of the
car a few seats farther back, when
the crash came, he saw the car
crushed to splinters ahead of him and
the people go down, but the car stopped {stoped}
one seat ahead of him, the young lady
in it being caught, but he was not
injured.
10\11\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory till 4.30.
I did not go to Wolcott this evening
on account of the rain.
As Clyde had not returned from
New Britain where he has gone to
play foot-ball with the Highschool
team, and Irving wished to study.
I went and opened the Cahpel for
the Choir rehearsal {rehersal}.
There were Inez Beckwith, Bertha and
Clara French, Mrs. Munson,
Agness, and Olive Abel, Mr. Burgess,
and Mr. Wood the instructor, present.
We stayed till after 10 o'clock, and
came home in the rain.
10\12\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewish of St. John's church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
10\13\1902 Monday
Worked at the Factory to
day.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs.
Walter Garrigus yesterday afternoon.
10\14\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
It is stated that the great coal strike is
ended.
10\15\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon Mary and I went
to the Wolcott fair, it was held
on a lot at the place where the
Bristol road turns of f from the
main Wolcott road one mile South of
the center. there was a great crowd of
people present, and all of the place was
occupied for hitching horses in the lots
and roads that could be found.
10\16\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Mary and I attended the Grange this
evening. The Propect grange was present
and furnished the programme.
10\17\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Last evening when we were coming
home we noticed an eclipse of the
moon, which became total at about 1.30.
we did not stay up any longer to
see it.
This evening the boys of the Mattatuck
Drum Corps met for practice.
10\18\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Flanigan has worked at the Chapel
two days digging a ditch to drain the cellar-
pit where the furnace is. he got through
last night.
The great coal strike is ended. coal is $20.00
per ton to day.
This evening I went to Adelbert Norton's at
Wolcott to teach the boys how to drum.
10\19\{1902} Sunday
Worked at the factory 5 hours to day.
Rev. Mr. Stockdale preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
10\201902 Monday
Worked at the factory.
10\21\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
10\22\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
10\23\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Mary and I attended the grange.
10\24\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory till 9.30 = 14 hours.
10\25\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Wolcott and gave
drumming lessons to a class of boys.
10\26\1902 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
10\27\{1902} Monday
Worked as usual to day.
To day it was decided that Clyde
has won the second scholarship in
the great educational contest given by
the REpublican news paper, he having
550 points. This entitles him to a
four years course in the Holy Cross
College at Worcester Mass.
This is a Catholic College and he is
thinking of exchanging with George
H. Smith, who won first prize but who
prefers Syracuse University. he asks {askes}
$50.00 for the exchange.
I have been to a Republican rally at
Polia's theatre. the theatre was addressed
by Sec. of the Navy Mr. Moody
and Joe Barber of Hartford.
10\28\{1902} Tuesday
Worked as usual.
Mr. George H. Smith came this
evening and Clyde gave him his
note for 8 months for 40.00 to pay the
difference in the scholarships.
So now he is going to Lafayette College at
Easton, Pa.
To day I bargained for a Webster's {Webesters} Dictionary
and an Educator from the New York
World publishing Co. on the following
conditions i.e. that I pay one dollar
tomorrow, and .20 cts per week for 18
months which gives me the daily and
sunday World.
10\29\1902 Wednesday
Woked at the factory to day.
It snowed quite a little this forenoon.
10\30\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
10\31\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Clyde's picture is in to day's
Republican, and it is printed that
he is going to Lafayette College at
Easton Penn.
11\01\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving, Harry Bucking-
ham, Henry bass, and Clyfton Heaton
went to Wolcott and gave drumming
lessons to a class of boys.
11\02\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Simonsville
Baptist church preached at the Cahpel
this p.m.
11\03\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
11\04\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory nine and one half
hours.
This evening the following members of
the Mattatuck Drum Corps turned out
Clyde Miller, Clifton, Heaton, and
Harry Buckingham, Fifers. Henry
bass and Henry Buckingham, Bass
Drummers. George Cass, Charlie
Hotchkiss, Irving Miller, and myself,
snare drummers.
We took the trolley at Silver Street
and went to the Naugatuck Rail Toad
where we boarded a train for Watertown.
We immediately on our arrival there
marched to the House of M. Buck-
ingham who has this day been el-
ected representative {representivite} to the Legislator
and escorted him through the
principal streets of the town and back
to his house where we had refreshments
and at eleven o' clock we started home
on the train. when we reached
Waterbury we walked up Bank
and through Center Street where we
met some members of the Republican
club, who engaged us to go serenad-
ing. We went first to the headquarters of
the Waterbury Club on North Main STreet,
where Mr. George Lilley, who had just
been elected Congressman at large, came
out and said that he could not make
a speech, but if we would go to his house
he would give us some refreshments
so we marched to his home on North Willow
street and had sandwiches, cakes, coffee,
etc. soon the Italian brass band came
with a delegation of about 300 more, and
we left and marched to the home of
Mr. John Lines on Grand street. he
had retired but soon came out and
made a short speech. we then went
to the home of Mr. Cross whowith
Mr. Lines had been elected represen
-tative {representive}, and lived on Grove STreet. he too
got up and came out, and made a
few remarks. we then broke up and
came home, and I went to bed at about
2 o'clock this morning.
11\05\1902 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day ten
hours, and tonight I intend to go to
bed early.
11\06\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
This evening Ruth, Margaret, Pierpont,
Raymond and I sorted over apples
and picked out 15 1/2 bushels of specked
cider apples. we got through at about
quarter to eleven.
11\07\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The young boys of the drum band who
are learning met and practiced this evening.
11\08\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Rob Beckwith , Arthur Heaton,
and I went to Harvy Coe's in Wolcott
and gave a drumming lesson.
11\09\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Barnes preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
11\10\1902 Monday
Worked at the factory from 7 this
morning till 12:30 and from 1 to
5:30. Rob BEckwith called this
evening and I lent him Fred's
drum.
11\11\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Fair given by the Ladies of Mill
Plain at the Chapel opened this evening.
there was a large attendance, and the
entertainment was nice. it was given by
people from Waterville. everybody except my-
self seemed to have a good time.
11\12\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
Went to the Chapel to night.
11\13\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I went to the grange.
11\14\1902 Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
this evening the Mattatuck Drum Corps
met and practiced.
11\15\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
This evening the following members of
the Mattatuck Drum Corps marched to
the home of Mr. John Brown in Wolcott.
he lives corner of the West street on the
Chestnut hill road. Clifton Heaton,
Larry Buckingham, Clyde Miller, (fifers).
Henry Cass, and Irving Miller
(Bass Drummers). Robert Beckwith and I,
snare Drummers. Arthur Heaton, Henry
Beckwith, Fred Jones, Clerance Brown,
Wlater Mills and Frank P. Miller, went
with us. The Wolcott drummer boys were
there, also a large number of friends and
neighbors, to the of about 100 all told.
11\16\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffiatt of Waterville preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
11\17\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory 11 hours, moved back
the main pulley in the North shaft of the
polishing room.
The City engineers have been at work
to day and for several days past relaying
out the Cheshire road from Silver Street
to Calvary Cemetary gate to a 60 ft.
roadway, and the engineers of the
Conn. Light and power Co. have been
surveying for a trolley line to Cheshire.
11\18\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory ten hours as usual.
11\19\{1920} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The City engineers have been working
surveying about my house to day for
the widening of East Main Street
and the building of the Cheshire trolley line.
11\20\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended the Grange
with Mary. There were a large number
of visitors from Watertown Grange there
about 54 and they furnished the programme
for the Lecturer's hour.
The Somers family is to meet in
the Baptist Church in Simonsville to
observe Thanksgiving.
11\21\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The papers of to day state that a settlement
has been reached between the International
Silver Company and the newly organized
United States Silver Co., who have lately
acquired the controlling stock of the
International Co., by which the Internation
al Co. can retain their business by
turning oover tothe US. Co,=. 1,000,000 worth of the prefered
stock and taking
$2,000,000 of common stock on which
they have got to pay and interst
to the U.S. Co. of $140,000 per year.
they also gain control of the C. Rogers
Co. in Meriden. the three Rogrsers's
returning and are to receive salaries {saleries}
of 5,000 two of them and the other
$6,000 for 5 years.
11\22\1902 Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Nineteen years ago this morning at 7
o' clock I was married in the Mill Plain
Chapel, to Mary A. Pierpont.
11\23\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Dr. John T. DAvenport preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this P.M.
11\24\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual today.
11\25\{1902}
Worked at the factory to day.
11\26\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Ann, Wife of David L. Friskie died at
their home in Woodtick last night at 6 o'clock.
I worked till 7 tonight in the waterwheel at
the factory, repairing the gate stern.
11\27\1902 Thursday
This is Thanksgiving and the Somers
family attended their annual reunion
at the Baptist Church in Simonsville.
the meeting was in charge of Uncle Dwight Somers.
11\28\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory till noon to day.
This afternoon Mary and I went to
cousin Ann's funeral at Woodtick.
There were many people there.
Mrs. Henry Pierpont was buried
at East Farms this noon. Mary
attended the burial.
11\29\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
The boys worked chopping down trees up
on Wilson Pierpont's Springfield meadow.
we are to have half of the wood for chopping.
This evening Margaret, Ruth, and I
went up to Adelbert Norton's in Wolcott
and I gave a class of boys their lesson in
drumming. the girls played and sang.
Mr. Clem Corneilus told me that
Peter Larogue would give me 3,000 dollars
for my shop if I would sell.
11\30\1902 Sunday
Seth Brell of Plymouth preached
at the Chapel this afternoon. he is a
student attending Yale College {Colleage}.
Mrs. Judd, the mother of Mrs. Thomas
Hill of Wolcott was buried from the
Chapel this afternoon at one o'clock.
12\01\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual to
day.
About two and one half inches of
snow fell last night.
12\02\{1902}
Worked at the factory.
12\03\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Irving Pierpont and
I went to the Chapel and I loaded
a blast in the ditch that the boys
had dug to drain the cellar.
The hole that they drilled in the
rock was about sixteen inches deep
and I put in about five inches of
dynamite {dinimite} then, four inches of
black powder into this. I put the
fuse, then five inches of dynamite {dinimite}
and then tamped. I felt a long
fuse, Irving lit it and we waited
a long time but it did not go
off. we did not go near it abain
but came home.
And I filled {filed} a crass cut sewer.
12\04\1902 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mrs. Nellie Connor died this afternoon
at 2 o' clock of cancer in the stomach
after an illness of many weeks.
She was 59 years old.
This evening I attended the GRange.
it was charter members night and
there were many of the older mem-
bers present. of the 50 charter mem-
bers in 1887 there are but 19 left
that are members now.
12\01\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
12\06\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. This evening I went to Wison
& Singletons and bought a pair of
pants for which I paid 4.00.
12\07\1902 Sunday
Yesterday it snowed and this morning
it was snowing again and kept it
up till about 4 o'clock.
Nellie, Mary's sister was buried from
her home on West side Hill this afternoon.
the relatives and a few neighbors assembled
at the house at 2 o'clock and the Rev. Mr.
Brickley read prayers, then they took
her to Trinity Church, where the
funeral services were held. the
Church was well filled, with friends
considering the weather which was
cold and stormy. we then took her
to Pine Grove Cemetery, where they
buried her east of the Chapel on the
hill. we reached there at 4 o'clock.
There were many pieces of flowers
which were very nice.
12\08\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The shop went{?} till 9 o'clock to night but
I did not work as I was not feeling well, but
Pierpont and I shod the horse.
12\09\{1902} Tuesday
Worked till 9 o'clock to night.
This is the coldest day since 1884 at
this time of year. this morning the
thermometer was 15 degrees below
zero and to night it is 6 below.
12\10\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Ladies Union gave a supper and
entertainment at the Chapel this ev-
ening. The entertainment was fur-
nished by Mr. and Mrs. Sills, and
consisted of recitations, dialogue,
and reading. 05 cts admission and
10 cts supper.
12\11\1902 Thursday
Worked till 9 o'clock to night.
12\12\{1902} Friday
Worked 10 hours to day.
Sleighing is still good though the
snow is thin.
Some of the Mattaluck boys came
and practiced this evening.
Margaret and Amy went to
Bristol to visit Brother Frank and
Missy{?}.
12\13\{1902} Saturday
Worked as usual at the factory.
It is cold and snowing, blowing
and drifting. the Chapel Choir
met for practice at Mr. Able's this
evening, and as the snow was deep
I took my horse and bob sleigh and
went and got Inez Beckwith, Bertha,
and Clara French and Mrs. Munson
and carried them to Mr. Able's
house. I then went down to Fred
Tompkins' and got Olive Able who
was snowed in there and carried
her home. I then came home, and
Clyde took the team back and car-
ried the girls home again.
12\14\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Barnes of St. Johns Church
preached at Mill Plain Chapel.
Coal is very scarce, hard coal
is selling for $12.00 per ton and the
dealers will not sell it in lots
larger than 1/2 ton, soft coal is $8.00.
In Seymour they are out of coal
only three tons on hand in the
dealers' bins. the schools are to be
closed, and the coal taken for poor
families, in many other places it
is nearly gone.
12\15\{1902} Monday
Worked as usual at Rogers & Bros.
The snow is 15 inches deep on the
level, and sleighing is fine.
12\16\1902 Tuesday
Worked 10 hours.
It has rained all day and the
snow is nearly gone.
12\17\1902 Wednesday
Worked 10 hours at the factory as usal.
Received {Recived} 14.80 my last week pay.
The Labor union known as the Metal
Workers Union are to try and get
established 9 hours a working day
after Mar 1st 1903.
James While who lives in Mrs.
Wilson Pierpont's house north of
the Grange Hall, has bought of
David Shannon a lot 100 ft
front on the Southmaid Road
south of where he lives. he paid
I think $600.00.
12\18\{1902} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The Officers of the Grange were
elected to night, -- Warren Hitchco-
ck was elected Master, Lewis
Garrigus, Overseer, Bessie White,
Lecturer, Mrs. Anna Pierpont
Secretary, C.S. Miller, Chaplain,
etc. etc.
Cort. D. B. Hamilton, elected Officers
last night Morris Alcott, was elected
Worthy Chief.
12\19\{1902} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary, myself, Margaret,
Ruth, Pierpont, and Raymond, went
to the East Farms Schoolhouse, and
witnessed the Christmas exercises
and the distribution of presents.
all who attended brought a five cent
present and there were distributed
throughout the audience numbers two
of a kind and the rule was to exchange
presents with the person who had the
same number as he had.
The schoolhouse was well filled {filed} with
people, and all had a good time. a
christmas tree well loaded with
presents and Santa Claus were featured.
that attracted much attention.
12\20\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Pierpont and I went to
the center and bought two sets of No. 6
horse shoes for the horse.
The MIll Plain Chapel Choir met here
tonight and practiced. they are
Inez Beckwith, Organist, Clara French,
Olive Abel, and Agnes J. Abel, soprano,
Bertha French, and Mrs. Thoedore Munson,
alto, Mr. McLowery, Sidney Spender,
and Clifton Heaton, Tenor, Clyde
Miller, Hiram Abel, Mr. Judd, and
Mr. Burgess, Bass.
12\21\1902 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett of the Farm STreet Meth-
odist church preached at Mill Plain
Chapel, this afternoon.
It has rained hard all day and I did not
go to service. but this evening I went
down home.
12\22\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory 10 hours.
The water in Mad River was so high
during the night that the watchman
John REARdon, and the engineer,
Martin Cunningham were obliged
to take the main belt off, so that
the main part of the factory could not run.
12\23\{1902} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
12\24\1902 Wednesday
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
The whistle blew at 5 o'clock so all hands
went home having worked 9 hours but
will receive {recive} 10 hours pay.
12\25\{1902} Thursday
This day is Christmas and we have
observed it in the following manner {maner}.
Enjoyed seeing the children open their
stockings and take out their presents,
after which we ate breakfast, Clyde,
Irving, Pierpont and I then went
down the old Prospect road and past
Scott's pond and over in the woods
near the old Baldwin cellar after
running ground pine with which to
trim the Chapel, but we found the
snow so deep that we could get
but little. we then came home and
got ready and went down to Fathers'
where we had Christmas dinner at
1 o'clock. Turkey, chicken pie, Indian
pudding, all kinds of sweet cakes, and pies,
nuts, etc., etc. in the evening we had a
christmas tree, on which there were presents
for all. I received {recived} a pair of knit scotch
gloves, two pairs of woolen {wolen} stockings, and
a handkerchief {hankerchief}, besides several small sums of
money. after the presents had been given
Will Gillette and I had some raw
oysters and crackers to eat and cider
to drink which was very pleasant {plesant}, while
the others ate cake and other refreshments.
We got home at about nine o'clock.
It has snowed nearly all day, and
the snow is about 8 inches deep on the
ground.
12\26\{1902} Friday
Worked as usual at the factory.
this evening I went to help trim the Chapel
for their Christmas entertainment.
12\27\{1902} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mill Plain Choir went over to
Mr. Woods' to rehearse {reherse} this evening. he
lives on the Watertown road first
house above the iron bridge.
I worked sawing wood till 9 o'clock, it
is very cold zero".
12\28\{1902} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Davenport conducted the
Christmas service at the Chapel.
this makes the 19th Christmas he
has been there, Mr. Eldridge of the
first Methodist church having been
there one Christmas.
After service I went to the factory and
repaired the fire sprinkling pipe in the
plating room. This evening I attended service
at the Second Church.
12\29\{1902} Monday
Worked at the factory ten hours.
The thermometer registered below zero yester-
day morning and this morning.
12\30\1902 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The shop shuts down tomorrow night
for the winter vacation so they say.
They had the Christmas Sunday
School entertainment at the Chapel
this evening. they consisted of singing,
recitations, etc., etc., also a Christmas
tree, and Santa Claus, and presents
for all the scholars.
The Chapel was crowded, with men,
women, and children.
12\31\{1902} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual to
day. This evening I went and saw
Frank Judd about shingling the front part of my shop.
Jan. 1 1903 to May 31, 1904
Charles S. Miller
Waterbury, Conn.
Mill Plain District
01\01\1903 Thursday
The factory shut down last night
for the winter vacation.
To day we took off the engine belt
and are to send it to the Jewell
belt Company in Hartford to
have another thickness put on it.
we also took out the bevel gear {geer} on
the water-wheel shaft and are to
send it to Bristol to have new wooden cogs put in.
01\02\1903 Friday
Worked at the factory to day on repair
jobs.
Coal is scarce. Irving went all over
town looking for some this afternoon
but could find none at any price.
01\03\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
01\04\1903 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Simonsville
Baptist Church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
01\05\{1903} Monday
This morning I was not feeling well
so I did not go to the shop.
Got up after Seven and ate breakfast
after which I soled two pairs of shoes,
then ran the washing machine for
Mary and worked in the black-smith
shop till noon, when we had dinner.
after which I went to Professor
Coultier's office in the Platt Building
corner of E. Main St. and Phoenix
AVe. and had my eyes fitted to a
pair of eye glasses, the backs {bacs} of which
are to be rolled gold and are to
cost $4.00. came home over Long
hill, and after supper filed a cross
cut saw for Eddie Bronson.
01\06\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory, weather Cold.
01\07\1903 Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
01\08\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
After work to night I went to W. B.
Coulters and got a pair of eye-glasses
the backs {bacs} of which are rolled {roled} gold and
the price $4.00.
Irving went to the Waterbury lumber
and Coal Company and bought 1/2
ton of soft coal for which he paid
$4.25.
01\09\{1903} Friday
Worked as usual at the factory.
01\10\{1903} Saturday
Worked at leveling up the heavy drops
at the factory.
01\11\1903 Sunday
Worked at barn chores {choers} a little time this
morning, then Father came and
told us that the trolley cars are not
running as the men have struck.
We then went to Austin Pierpont's
and told him as he was to get the
minister for the Chapel who usually {usualy}
came on the car to Silver street.
It was snowing quite hard, but Austin
drove to church street and got Mr. Lewis
and he preached.
The City Board {Bord} of Public works was out
yesterday afternoon looking over the
proposed trolley route to Cheshire.
They say that the road {rode} in front of
my house is to be cut down 4 feet
and the two rows {roes} of trees in front of
David Porter's house are to be cut.
also Mr. Wright's bank is to be cut
back 10 feet etc., etc.
01\12\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Not a trolley car is running to day
on account of the strike. the tracks
are covered with ice from the storm last
night to the depth of three inches in many
places. the boys and girls of the neighbor-
hood are having a fine time sliding on the
ice on the hill in front of my house.
they go 5 or 6 rods beyond the bridge over
Mad River.
01\13\{1903} Tuesday
Worked repairing the waterwheel at the
factory.
This evening I went out sliding with
the boys and girls. we had three double-
ripers. the boys Clyde and Irving went
to Wolcott and got another that belongs
to brother Fred, that has been stored at
David Frisbie's for several years.
01\14\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day getting things ready
to start up tomorrow.
It is said that the Connecticut Power and Lighting
Company ran a trolley car to the depot this
after noon from the car barns. this is the first
car out since last Saturday.
Mary and the Children have gone to
the Chapel to the supper and entertainment
given by {buy} the East Farms folks.
The entertainment is in charge of Miss Sedig
the school teacher.
01\15\1903 {1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
The Ladies cleared 15.93 at the supper last night.
The strike of th eTrolley car men is still
on as single car has been run over some of
the streets to day.
Factory started, except plating, Burnishing, and
Buffing departments.
01\16\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day putting
elevator in the trimming shop.
The Trolley Company ran a few cars to
day. but not on time, not many people rode.
One Mr. Lockwood has moved into
the Old Barns Place, where Johm French
used to live on the Doolittle road.
I got a pair of eyeglasses of Prof. Coulter of steel for
which I paid 2.50.
01\17\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory 9 hours.
Only a few of the trolley cars ran
to day, but few people ride upon
them. only 30 people rode yesterday.
nearly everybody wears buttons
with the words "We Walk" on them
and the sympathy of the public
is with the strikers.
Last night a crowd of about 500
collected about the car barns and
broke many of the windows {windoes} with
stones and scared the men
who are lodged there who were
brought from New York to break
the strike.
The Mill Plain Chapel Choir met at
my house for practice this evening.
01\18\1903{1902} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett of the Farm street
Methodist church preached at Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
01\19\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory.
This evening May and Emily Corneilus
of Woodtick came and made arrangements
for the Mill Plain people to give an enter-
tainment in the Chapel at that place on Feb. 4th.
01\20\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day. Did
not feel well on account of a sore throat.
This evening I went to see Mr. Wood about
getting the Chapel Choir to sing at Wood-
tick. Also went to East Farms and saw
Charlie Brown, Edith Pierpont and
Miss Selid about the entertainment.
01\21\{1903} Wednesday
This morning my throat was very sore
so I did not go to work. I lay in bed till
8:30 when I got up, had breakfast, read awhile,
then repaired a number of sets of blinds
that have been broken.
This morning it rained quite hard
and the roads were very icy.
01\22\{1903} Thursday
Did not feel well this morning but
got up at seven. After breakfast I made two
ax handles for Clyde and worked on a set
of small bob sleighs that I am making.
01\23\{1903} Friday
Went to work this morning. Found
plenty to do.
The trolley car strike is no nearer a
settlement than it was a week ago.
Mr. Alden Young, President of the Conn-
ecticut Lighting and Power Company,
has been in town to day, but nothing
as far as we have heard has been done
towards a settlement.
Last evening Mary and I attended
the Grange. The new officers were in-
stalled and I was installed Chaplain.
01\24\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
Warren Hitchcock has had a telephone put
in his house last Wednesday.
Went to John French's to see if I could
get Bertha and Clara to sing at
Woodtick Chapel Feb 4th. Also went
to Mr. Beckwith's and invited the
Choir to go and sing, which invitation
they accepted.
01\25\1902{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
There were but few there on account of the
snow storm.
01\26\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The finishing department started to day.
01\27\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the Board of Public Works in the City
Hall annex in the Old Bronson Library
building, corner of Levenworth St.
I was there wirh other property owners
along the Cheshire road to determine
the location of the tracks, whether in
the middle or on one side of the road.
To day the striking motor men and con-
ductors started to run buses along the
streets where the trolley cars run.
01\28\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended the supper and
entertainment at the Mill Plain
Chapel. It was in charge of the young
ladies. They cleared $12.32.
01\29\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I went over and saw Helen
and Laura Gillette to see if they would
take part in an entertainment to be
given at the Woodtick Chapel next Wed-
nesday night. Helen will sing and
Laura will recite.
01\30\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
This evening I saw Charlie Knap and he
said that he would take a load of people
up to Woodtick next Wednesday evening.
Mary and the children went to east
Farms to a social held in the school
house. Cara went with them.
01\31\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening I went to Woodtick with
Pierpont and saw the inside of the Chapel
and made arrangements with Mary Cor-
neilus for the entertainment next Wed-
nesday evening.
I also attended the rehearsal of the Mill
Plain Chapel at Inez Beckwith's.
Pierpont and I also went to town
and bought some groceries.
02\01\1902{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Baptist church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
A crowd of about 5000 gathered about the
center late last night and smashed several
trolley cars, hurt a lot of the non-union
men tried to set the trolley barns on
fire and had a great racket generally.
The police were unable to do anything
to prevent it.
02\02\1902 {1903} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This morning I saw by the bulletin
at Tochia's store that 1000 troops
had been ordered to Waterbury
on account of the riot Saturday
night. Later I learned that Mayor
Kilduff ordered of Governor Chaim-
berlain through County sheriff
Dunham the Militia and Compa-
nies A, B, Y, K, and H of Hartford
and D of Bristol, and E of New Britain
of the First Regiment, and later came
Company C of Rockville, and G of South
Manchester. These arrived early last eve-
ning, and about 10 o'clock five Com-
panies arrived from New Haven. B, C,
D, E, F, of the 2nd Reg. and were com-
manded by Colonel
Schultze. Lieutenant Malloy had
under his command the Gatlin gun
division consisting of two machine
guns and one 10 pounder.
They are quartered as follows: First
at the Auditorium on South Main
Street, 2nd Regt. at the Armory
and at the High School. One of the
machine guns is stationed at the
Armory and the other at the Power
house of the Connecticut Railway
and Lighting Co. The whole military
body is commanded by General
Frost. Companies A and G of this
City are also on duty. The whole
number of men under arms is
1000. There has been nothing for
them to do to day.
There were 18 non-union men
injured last night. No one killed,
twelve cars were badly broken
by stones being thrown through
them.
02\03\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
This evening Pierpont and I went to the
City after work. We saw the soldiers
cooking their supper in front of the
Armory and in front of the Auditorium
they had fires in the gutters over
which they cooked their vitals in large
frying pans and kettles, each of which
was about 4 ft. long and about 2 ft. wide.
The trolley cars are running but no
one rides.
02\04\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
It has rained all day and this
evening also. We could not go to Wood-
tick to give our entertainment, but
Mary and I went up and made ar-
rangements to give it tomorrow even-
ing. We came back and told all
we could see and I wento to East
Farms and saw Charles Brown and
he said that he would go and take
a load tomorrow evening.
02\05\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening as I left the shop at
5 o'clock Pierpont gave me a letter
saying that Clem Corneilus could
not come down with his team after
the people to night, so I thought
I would take my own team and
Father's, and then I went to East
Farms and saw Charlie Brown but
he was not going, so I went up and
saw Arthur Pierpont who said that
he would go and take his team
and vegetable wagon, and take a
load. So I came home and got ready
soon as possible and we met at the
Chapel at 7:30 and loaded into the
wagons and we started, two double
teams and four single. We reached
Woodtick at 8 o'clock.
Our program consisted of singing
several selections by the Mill Plain
Choir, readings, recitations, solos, etc.
There was a chorus of 8 girls blacked up
who sanf twice. One [iece was "The
Ole Folks at Home" and also a "Shadow
Pantomime", which was very funny.
They had supper and also ice cream.
Got home at 11:30 and to bed at 12.
The First Regiment left town to day.
02\06\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The New Haven Companies of the 2nd
Regt. left for home to day.
02\07\{1903} Saturday
Worked as usual to day.
There has been no trouble over the strike
to day. The cars are running but few
people ride on them.
02\08\{1903} Sunday
Rain and ice, there were but few at
the Chapel this afternoon.
Mr. Barnes of St. John's preached.
Companies A and G were relieved from
service to day. There is no military
force on duty in the City now.
02\09\{1903} Monday
Worked as usual to day.
I have just heard a heavy explosion
in the City, probably another trolley
car is blown up.
02\10\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to the City hall
annex to attend a meeting of the Board of
Public Works in regard to extending
the trolley tracks to Cheshire, but the
meeting was put over on account of
the death of City engineer Corn's little
boy, who died of a contagious disease and
the house is quarantined and he is in it.
The trolley companies' receipts averaged
for last year $800.00 per day.
02\11\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
It is said that there are 86,000 trolley car
conductors and motor men in the
United States that belong to the union
and that each of these have con-
tributed $1.00 to the cause of the strikers
here, making $86,000; and that they
intend to get 25 automobiles right
away to carry passengers on our
streets.
02\12\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
Went to see Frank Judd about
shingling my shop.
02\13\1903 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
Clyde and Frank Judd worked
shingling on my shop this after-
noon. This evening Pierpont and I
went to Hotchkiss & Templetons and
bought 24 lbs. of shingle nails and
5 lbs. of 10 A nails, cost $1.05.
Ruth Miller's birthday, 13 years.
02\14\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Frank Judd and Clyde worked shingling and
putting up stagings on my shop this day.
Roy Judd and Irving helped.
They put on about five thousand.
The strikers started a new bus on the East
Main street line yesterday. They have
about 20 buses running now about
the City.
02\15\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett of Waterville preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
02\16\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
02\17\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
Snow fell to the depths of about one foot
to day. The rural Free Delivery mail
man did not make his trip to day.
The trolley cars only run on some of
their lines to day as the "scabs" or strike-
breakers, so called, but who are really New
York toughs who are brought here to run
the cars as no one in Waterbury will do it,
are not able to on account of the snow.
Although the strike has now lasted 40 days,
hardly any one rides in the cars.
The strikers are running buses which
are well-patronized.
02\18\{1903} Wednesday
Worked as usual to day.
This morning the thermometer registered
14 degrees below zero.
02\19\1903 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
Bertha French is quite sick with a swelling
in the throat.
The sleighing is fine. Clyde has been drawing
wood from James Porter's woods back of
Luther Bradley's
To night after work I carried Miss Welton
who lives in Watertown to the Naugatuck
depot, and then went to Allen &
Bradley's and bought a pair of shoes for
98 cts. and a pair of Arctic overshoes for 98.
Mary and Clyde went to the Grange
this evening.
George Pierpont was married to Annie
Slowson at her home on Adams Street
at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Mary went
to the wedding.
Fourteen below zero this morning.
02\20\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening a hot sociable was given at
the Chapel for the benefit of the Sunday
School. They cleared about 4.90.
The thermometer was 8 below zero this
morning.
02\21\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
The linemen in the employ of the Conn.
Power and Lighting Company went out
on strike because the Company hired
a non-union man from Bridgeport to
be their boss.
Thetrimmers have also struck for an
advance to 2.00 per day from 1.50 and 1.75.
To day Ralph Blakeslee took the school
children for a sleigh ride to Naugatuck
and through the principle streets of the
City. They went in 42 large two-horse
sleighs.
The Mill Plain Choir met for practice
here this evening. Those present were:
Clara French, Agnes and Olive Able,
Clifford Heaton, Sidney Spender, Clyde
and Irving Miller, Mr. Allen Burgess,
and Mr. John Wood, who is the instructor.
This evenig I went to J. G. Jane's office and
had the insurance on my shop renewed. It
is $1000.00 on which I paid $30.00.
The thermometer was 17 below zero this morning.
02\22\{1903} Sunday
Rev. John G. Davenport preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon. His sermon
was a discourse on George Washington, this
being his birthday & have forgotten the text.
Sleighing never was better than to day.
02\23\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
The electric light trimmers, the line men,
the motor men, and conductors, all in
the employ of the Connecticut Power
and Lighting Company are out on strike
and to night not an electric street
light is to be seen.
Margaret {is} 14 years old to day.
02\24\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
02\25\1903 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The City was in darkness last night
owing to the striking trimmers.
The company got some new men
from New York to take their places
but the union men got them away.
Colonel Burpee has sent to New Haven
to Sheriff Dunham to have a lot of
deputies sent here again. Before when
they were here it cost the County $300
per day.
There was a supper and entertainment at the
Chapel this evening.
02\26\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mary and Clyde attended the Grange.
The citizens held a mass meeting in
the City Hall last evening to oppose
a bill requiring labor unions to
be incorporated. That has been presen-
ted by Senator Tracy to the Legislature.
The hall was packed.
02\27\{1903} Friday
Worked as usual.
02\28\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The first of the large automobiles arrived
from Hartford last night and it is to
be put into commission on our
streets to day.
It is to be run by the striking
conductors and motormen.
There are seven more coming.
03\01\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Simonsville
Baptist Church preaches at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon. I did not
attend as I have a bad cold.
03\02\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
03\03\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
Oscar L. Fairchild and family moved
from their place opposite the Mill Plain
school house to a place he has lately
traded for in Southbury.
03\04\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
There is hardly an electric street light burning
to night in Waterbury owing to the
strike. The boys break the globes in
spite of the deputies that the high sheriff
has sent here.
03\05\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\06\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening several boys came and
we drummed a while.
Mary and the small children went to
East Farms and attended the sociable
given by the teacher Miss Selig in the
school house.
03\07\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\08\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel to day.
Pierpont and I drove to Bristol this morn-
ing to visit brother Frank. We staid
there till 5 o'clock when we started home
in the rain. The mud was very deep, up
to the hubs in some places, and the
rain came down in torrents. We did not
get home till 8 o'clock.
03\09\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
Last night, at quarter to ten, a policeman
named Paul Mendelsohn was shot and
killed on a trolley car at the terminus
near Forest Park on North Main Street
by some one yet unknown.
As the motorman and conductor tell it,
four masked men attacked the car and fired
a volley of pistol shots, one of which struck
the policeman over the heart.
This is the 58th day of the strike.
03\10\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
There is great excitement in the town
over yesterday's, or rather Sunday's,
murder.
03\11\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The funeral of Paul Mendelsohn
was largely attended to day. He was
buried in the Milchezedeck cemetary
on the Plank Road.
The funeral of the Italian who was
shot in the "Dog's Nest" Sunday
was a large one, and passed by here
he being buried in the Cavalry Cemetary.
Mary and the children have gone to
the Chapel to a supper and entertainment.
The Connecticut Power and Lighting
Company ran its cars out East
Main Street to Silver this afternoon,
the first time since the strike began
but once, i.e., two months. Each car
is guarded by policemen and
deputies.
03\12\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
03\13\{1903} Friday
Worked as usual.
$18, 850.00 is the amount of the
reward offered for the information
that will lead to the conviction of
the paries that murdered Paul
Mendelsohn last Sunday evening.
$10,000.00 is offered by the state. $5,000
by the Trolley Company. $3,000 by the
citizens of Waterbury. $200 by the City
of Waterbury. $250 by the Central Labor
Union. $200 by the Old Fellows, and $200
from some other society.
03\14\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
After work, Pierpont and I planted
some sweet peas, lettuce, radishes, and
tomato seed. We also transplanted
some currant bushes.
03\15\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Stockdale preached at the
Chapel to day.
We heard to day that Judge
Elmer has had injunctions served
on the officers of all of the trade
unions in the City. They were
served yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Jones, who lived in the Butler
Frost place, has moved into Mrs. Frost's
house which was formerly occupied by
John French.
This is Mr. Fred Tompkin's birthday,
68 years old.
03\16\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\17\{1903} Tuesday
This is St. Patrick's day.
I worked as usual to day.
03\18\{1903} Wednesday
Worked as usual.
This is Agnes Able's 24th birthday.
To day Mr. Marlon of the Central
Labor Union went to New York
to consult with President Young
of the Connecticut Lighting and
Power Company in regard to a
settlement of the strike.
03\19\1903 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
03\20\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
03\21\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
After work the boys and I worked
draying stoves from the new ditch at
the Chapel. We got very wet as it rained
hard.
03\22\{1903} Sunday
Worked at barn work for a spell this
morning getting the team ready to
carry the minister to the Chapel.
Mr. Davenport preached this afternoon.
03\23\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory.
Mr. Byers norified Mr. Rockwell that
he is going to get through at Rogers
Brothers and is going to Newbury-
port to work for Mr. Risley at the
Towel Companies works.
03\24\{1903} Tuesday
Worked as usual.
03\25\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The ladies had a supper at the
Chapel this evening.
03\26\1903 Thursday
Worked at the factory.
03\27\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
03\28\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
I sent a written application to Mr.
Rockwell for the position that
Mr. Byers now holds, i.e., that
of foreman of the machine burnish-
ing room.
03\29\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bruno preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
03\30\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
I applied to Mr. Rockwell in person
for the position of foreman of Mr.
Byer's burnishing room. He said
that two others had applied before me
but the he would let me know
in two or three days.
03\31\1903 Tuesday
Worked as usual at the factory.
Thepolice arrested five strikers and
13 others yesterday charged with
murderous assault. They had a
hearing to day but I have not heard
how it came out.
About 8:20 o'clock this forenoon a
head-on collision occured on the
Naugatuck Rail Road just below
the place where the Meriden
Rail Road crosses below Booth &
Haydens. An engineer and fireman
were killed outright and one other
fatally injured, and 14 hurt.
04\01\1903 Wednesday
Worked as usual at the factory.
The strikers were tried before the
City court yesterday and 5 of them
were bound over to the next term of
the Superior Court, and the case was
continued till to day when the rest
were bound over.
04\02\{1903} Thursday
Worked as usual.
This morning and evening we worked
building a front fence.
04\03\{1903} Friday
Worked as usual.
The weather is warm and nice.
04\04\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The weather has changed from warm
this morning to freezing cold to
night with snow on the ground.
04\05\{1903} Sunday
Cold. Rev. Mr. Smith of the Simons-
ville Baptist Church preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
George Edwards and wife and son Elton
called this afternoon.
Mary, Margaret and Ruth went down
to Charlie Pierpont's this afternoon.
04\06\{1903} Monday
Worked as usual at the factory.
04\07\{1903} Tuesdat
Worked in the factory as usual.
This evening I went to Driggs and Smiths
and hired a man to come to the Chapel
and tune the piano.
04\08\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
It has rained very hard all day.
There was an entertainment and supper
at the Chapel this evening in charge
of the young men. They cleared $20.10.
04\09\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
04\10\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual
repairing the exhaust pipes in the
trimming room. The factory did
not run as this is Good Friday.
04\11\{1903} Saturday
I staid home and worked building
a new fence in front of my house
to day.
04\12\{1903} Sunday
Easter Sunday. Rev. Mr. Holden
preached at the Chapel. The altar was very
prettily trimmed with flowers.
Mr. Davenport was to preach but was
called to Middlebury to attend the
funeral of Rev. Mr. Griggs of the
Congregational Church.
04\13\{1903} Monday
Worked at the fatcory to day as usual.
Mr. Edward Byers sold his horse
harness and wagon for $15.00 to Charles
Judd.
Worked on the fence this morning.
04\14\1903
Worked at the factory to day.
The wind has been in the North East
all day and it has rained nearly
all thetime. I went to the office to
see Mr. Rockwell about taking charge
of Mr. Byers' room, but he has been
in Meriden all day. He has been in
Virginia and New York, New Jersey,
etc., for the past two weeks and I could
not see him before.
04\15\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This morning I called at the office and saw
Mr. Rockwell about taking charge of Mr. Byers'
room. He said that he would look it up and
he called Mr. Byers in soon. Afterwards Mr.
Byers told me that I am to have it, but
that Minnie Dugan is to have charge of
the work.
It has rained all day.
To morrow at 12:30 the Minnesota is to
be launched at New London. I intended
to see it, but cannot on account of my
work, and am afraid it will not be launched
on time owing to the bad weather.
04\16\1903 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This morning I thought that I was
to have charge of the machine burnish-
ing room, but this afternoon Mr. Byers
told me that he thinks that I am turned
down. Minnie Dugab is to have
charge of the work and they expect
to get along some way.
04\17\{1903} Friday
To day I saw Mr. Rockwell and Mr.
Tobin in the office and they told me
of the arrangements that they were
making in regard to the machine
burnishing room. I am left out.
They told me that they would give
me more pay.
The largest ship in the world was launched
at New London yesterday. She is the
Minnesota, 630 ft. long, 76 ft. ide, 88 ft.
high to top of deck, will carry 38,000 tons
of coal and 286,000 barrels of flour.
04\18\1903 Saturday
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
After work or at 4:30 I carried Mr. Byers's
tool chest to Adams Express office on center
street, and shipped it to Newburyport, Mass.
I then drove to Mr. Dallas's flower store on
Union street, and just before I entered
William Atchenson told me that Mr.
Swift's barn at Mill Plain was on
fire and that the firemen had just
started. I did an errand and started
fast as possible. When I reached Mill
Plain I found the old tannery in
flames. Mr. Swift's barn had burned
and the sinders had been carried by
the wind to the tannery and started
that. It caught at about 5 o'clock and
at six the frame was falling. So fast
did it burn, the woods, lots, fences, etc.
took fire, as did also Mr. Knapp's barn
twice. Mr. Swift lost all his tools,
horse, wagons, bicycle, etc.
04\19\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
There were large crowds out to see
the ruins of the Tannery and Mr. Swift's
barn.
04\20\{1903} Monday
Worked in the factory as usual.
Worked on the front fence this
morning and evening.
04\21\{1903} Tuesday
Worked on the fence morning and
evening, and in Rogers & Brothers
factory during the day, ten hours.
04\22\{1903} Wednesday
Worked in the factory as usual
to day.
Received my pay to day, $15.00 instead
of $13.50 which I have been getting.
04\23\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
04\24\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met and
practiced as usual.
04\25\{1903} Saturday
Worked as usual to the factory to day.
This evening we worked on the fence.
04\26\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Haldon preached at the Chapel
to day.
Gaylord Alcott died this forenoon,
aged 79 years.
Major George Tucker has sold his
place to James White.
04\27\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the woods out on the South
hill were on fire, and the report spread
that Wilson Pierpont's house was on
fire. Frank Hoggett, Frank White,
Lydia Janes, and several others started
to go out but turned back at our
house.
Edith Pierpont came driving up
the road greatly excited because
some one had told her that her
house had burned down.
Wrote a letter to Mr. Edward Ford,
No. 4 Summit St, New London.
04\28\{1903} Tuesday
Worked in the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended Gaylord Alcott's
funeral. It was held from the Chapel at
2:30 o'clock and was largely attended.
The service in the Chapel was conduc-
ted by the Rev. Mr. Lewis of St. John's
Church. The services at the grave were
under the auspices of the Free Masons.
After the funeral I went to town and
bought 5 gals. of Linseed oil @ 55 cts., and
33 lbs. of venetian red @ 2 1/2 cts of the Apothecaries
Hall, Co., and a box of coal from Miller
and Strickland's for 15 cts, and we went to
the Post Office and got 2 P.O. Orders for
$1.25 and $2.00, then came home.
Mary and Ruth went to the wedding of
Willie Conner and Carra Millis. It was
held in the black corner of North Willow
and West Main Street.
04\29\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Received a letter from R. Wallace & Sons Mfg.
Co. of Wallingford requesting me to come
over and see them about taking charge of
their machine burnishing room.
04\30\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Wrote to R. Wallace and sons that I
would not come.
Mary and Irving went to the Grange
this evening. Clyde went to an en-
tertanment given by the high school
debating club.
05\01\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. Mr. Tobin took me into the
machine burnishing room to make
some burnishers for the machines
that burnish the buts of the blades.
Wrote a letter on my type writer
to the Connecticut Magazine of
Hartford renewing my subscription
for 1 year, $2.00.
05\02\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
Yesterday Superintendent Tobin told me
to go into the machine burnishing room
and make a set of new burnishers for one
of the knife blade shoulder machines.
This evening I went to Woodtick and gave
a class of boys a drumming lesson.
05\03\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Simonsville Baptist Church
preached at the Mill Plain Chapel.
05\04\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory.
05\05\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
05\06\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
05\07\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as ususal.
Worked in the machine burnishing
room making burnishers for the
knife handle burnishing machines
yesterday and to day.
05\08\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
After work I went to town and bought
a box of crackers for $1.30 and then went
and saw Mr. Hayes at #38 Walnut
Street and he engaged the Mattatuck
Drum Corps to play for Wadham's
Post No. 49 G.A.R. on May 30th which
is Decoration Day.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps had a
meeting this evening.
05\09\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to Adelbert Norton's
on Wolcott and gave a drumming
lesson to a class of boys.
05\10\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Barnes preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
It is reported that two boys or
young men were drowned at
Shelton Hitchcock's pond at
about 2 o'clock this morning.
They were fishing and two of
them attended to change their
seats and tipped the boat over.
Their names were James Corr
and Willie Garthwait and
Corr lived on East Main Street
near Orange while Garthwait
lived on the Main Wolcott Street
on Wolcott line
05\11\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual
to day.
It was found that Will Garth-
wait swam to the shore yesterday
morning but was exhausted and
they did not find him for some
time.
Corr's body has not yet been
found. This afternoon they have
been firing off dynamite in
the water in hope to raise
it but did not succeed. They
killed many fish. Clyde and
Irving went out and saw them
fire the dynamite.
There was a great forest fire on
the Wolcott mountain North of
the Southington Resorvoir this
afternoon.
05\12\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
05\13\{1903} Wednesday
Worked as usual to day.
Irving went to work or Mr. Joseph
Smith, learning to be an architect.
05\14\{1903} Thursday
Worked at Rogers & Brothers as usual
to day.
05\15\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory.
05\16\{1903} Saturday
Worked as usual in the factory.
All or nearly all of the factories
in the city closed at noon to day
except ours, and gave the men a
half holiday and a full week's pay.
This is to last till next Sept. The
machine shops and the Waterbury
Clock shop work 9 hours all the
year round.
I went to Harry Coe's in Wolcott
and gave a drumming lesson to the
boys.
05\17\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett of Waterville
preached at the Mill Plain Chapel.
Margaret, Keith and I drove to
Waterville and I visited Haber
Welton who is very rich.
Uncle Ben Somers called to day
and he showed me the place on
Mad River where the Indians
used to dig the lead.
05\18\1903 Monday
Worked the factory to day as usual.
This evening I drove to see Mr. Russell
but did not find him.
I then went to Hotchkiss and
Templeton's hardware store and
bought some seed beans, then
went to the Post Office but found
it closed. I then waited for Irving
and when he came we drove to
Mr. Robert Worden's on Orange
Street and saw him about the
service which is to be held at the
Chapel next Sunday.
Yesterday they had a fierce riot
in Bridgeport between the trolley
strikers and the strike-breakers.
Over 40 persons were injured.
05\19\1903 Tuesday
Worked as usual to day.
This evening I went to town
and went to Mr. Margroff's office
to see him about playing in
Watertown Decoration Day, but his
was not in.
I then went and saw Mr. Russell and
he wanted to hire 10 men to play next
Saturday evening: 4 fifers, 4 snare-drum-
mers and 2 bass drummers. We {{illegble word}}
on 75 cts. per man.
I then went to see Mr. Worden about
the 20 th anniversary service at
the Chapel. He could not get Mr.
Haywood and wished me to see Mr.
Smith of Simonsville.
Then Irving and I came home. After
supper, Clyde and I went and saw
Mr. Atkinson about getting the uniform
that belongs to the Mattatuck Drum
Corps that George wore. We did not get it.
We then went to Dan Squires
after Sam's rig, but he was not at
home.
05\20\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening I went to see Mr. Daven-
port about the Sunday service but
he was away at a wedding.
I then went to see Dr. Anderson but
could find no one.
I then went to Simonsville to see
Mr. Smith but could find no one.
I stopped in the center and got Irving
and we hurried home but got wet
as it rained quite a little.
05\21\1903 Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
05\22\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
05\23\{1903} Saturday
This morning we got up early
and Pierpont, Margaret, Ruth
and Annie and myself drove over to
Milldale and left the team at Mr.
Noble's and took the trolley car and
went via Southington, Plainville,
New Britain to Hartford. We visited
the Aethenium, Capitol, etc., and
went over to East Hartford and
saw the sights. We then came home
by the third rail to Plainville and
then by trolley to Southington where
we took our team.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps turned turned out for the "Patriotic
Order Sons of America" There were
present: Fifers, Charlie Cass, Clyde
Miller, Clifton Heaton,
and Henry Beckwith.
Bass Drummers, Henry Cass
and Irving Miller.
Snare Drummers, Harry Buck-
ingham, Rob Beckwith, Joe Pierpont
and myself.
05\24\1903 Sunday
The twentieth anniversary of the found-
ing of Mill Plain Chapel which
will be the 27th of this month was
observed by special service at the
Chapel this afternoon.
Dr. Davenport, Dr. Anderson, Mr. Buckley
and Rev. Mr. Smith were the ministers
present.
There was a large congregation and
the service was very interesting.
There was 17 present who were there at
the dedication 20 years ago.
05\25\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. This evening I went to see
George Edwards.
05\26\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening I went to Arthur
Harrison's in Wolcott and got his
Bass Drum which he wished me
to letter. With the following "Wolcott
Drum Band", organized 1767.
05\27\1903 Wedenesday
Worked as usual at the factory.
This evening was held the annual
meeting of the Mill Plain Chapel
Society and the following officers
were elected:
Episcopal Committee Ausitn B. Pierpont
Congregational " Henry Cook
Baptist " Henry Judd
Methodist " Chas. Monroe
Secretary Arthur Pierpont
Treasurer Hiram Able
Organist Inez Beckwith
Sunday School Super. Henry Judd.
" " Librarian Sidney Spender
Money in the Chapel treasury
" " S. School "
" " Ladies' Union "
05\28\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
05\29\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps had
a meeting for practice. There were
present Chas. Cass, Henry Beckwith,
Harry Buckingham, Clyde Miller,
Clifton Heaton, Henry Cass,
Irving Miller and myself.
05\30\{1903} Saturday
This is Decoration Day. No work.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps played
for Wadham's Post. Besides the
men mentioned above there were
present Rob Beckwith, Joe Pierpont,
George Cass and Charles Hotchkiss.
Frank De Bisop acted as Drum Majoe.
05\31\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Buckley of Trinity Church
preached at the Chapel to day.
06\01\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\02\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the fatcory to day.
The trial of the strikers who attacked
the motorman and conductor at
Labor's siding at Waterville last February
began to day. The strikers had for
attorneys: John O'Neal, James Russell
of Waterbury, Senator Kennedy of Nauga-
tuck, Beveher of Meriden, C. S. Hamilton
of New Haven, and Daniel Davenport
of Bridgeport, while the state has
Williams of Derby and John Kellogg.
06\03\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day
as usual.
06\04\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
Last night when I went to bed
the moon looked like a dull red ball
of fire and the sun looked the same
when it arose this morning and
kept looking duller and fainter till
about three o'clock this aftrenoon it
was no longer to be seen. The at-
mosphere has been full of smoke
and at times objects a quarter of a
mile away could not be seen.
We could not make out where all
the smoke came from. Everything
is coated with a thin layer of
white ashes or dust. Some say
that there are great forest fires
raging up about Plymouth.
This evening the young people of
Mill Plain went up to Saint Paul's
Methodist Church at Farm Street and
furnished an entertainment for a sup-
per. I made the program announcements
and recited "The Dutch Volunteer".
06\05\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Corps
held a meeting for practice.
Mr. james Tobin came home from his
vacation.
The darkness of yesterday was caused
by great forest fires in New York
state in the region about Lake George
and Northern Vermont, New Hampshire
and Maine.
06\06\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Corps marched to Harry Coe's home
in Wolcott where we were entertained
with refreshments, etc., by Mr. and
Mrs. Coe. There were Clyde Miller,
Henry Beckwith, Harry Buckingham,
Arthur Heaton and Clifton Heaton,
Fifers. Henry Cass and Irving
Miller, Bass Drummers.
Chas. Miller, Seth Anderson, Clarence
Brown, Rob Beckwith, Fred Jones
and Joseph Pierpont, Snare Drummers
and I would add Henry Buckingham
and Adelbert Norton to the Bass Drum-
mers.
06\07\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Haywood, the new minister,
at the Grand Street Baptist Church,
preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
this afternoon.
We had for supper this evening a
peck of round clams which Clyde
brought for a clam bake over to John
French's, but they could not have
it on account of the rain.
This is the first rain we have had
of any account in eight weeks.
This evening we saw a reflection of
a great fire in the North East. I
should think it was in the direction
of Mr. John Todd's place. Saw it at
about 10 o'clock P.M.
Mr. and Mrs. Mulhern, who lives
next house east, had a son born
to them last evening.
06\08\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The fire that we saw last night
has proved to be Arthur Merri-
man's cow barn just over the
Southington line east of Hitchcock's
Pond.
06\09\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\10\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
06\11\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day
as usual.
06\12\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for
practice this evening.
06\13\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Adelbert
Norton's in Wolcott and gave drumming
lessons to a class of boys.
06\14\{1903} Sunday
George Johnson was buried from his
old home. Rev. Mr. Holden officiated.
I was one of the pall bearers. The others
were Hubert Wedge, Max Reed, Hiram
Abel, and he was buried in the Pine
Grove Cemetary.
Rev. Mr. Barnes preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
06\15\1903 Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\16\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as us-
ual.
06\17\1903 Wednesday
Worked to day in the factory.
Margaret graduated from the Crosby
Grammar School to day.
The Mayor of the City of Waterbury
(Edward G. Kilduff), the Board of Alder-
men, and the Board of Public Works,
were arrested to day on warrants
issued by Judge Stoddard for not
complying with the order of the
Court, in not allowing the City
sewerage to empty into the Nauga-
tuck River. The order was issued
three years ago last January.
06\18\{1903} Thursday
Worked as usual.
Clyde and 74 others graduated from
the Waterbury high school to day.
They had the graduating exercises in
Polias Theater this evening. We
attended. The building was filled
to overflowing.
My nephew Harry Connor and a Miss
Curtiss of Woodbury were married in
Woodbury at the home of the bride
this afternoon.
06\19\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met this
evening for practice.
06\20\{1903} Saturday
Worked as usual.
Did not go away this evening
as it stormed hard.
06\21\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Basset preached at the
Chapel to day. There were but few
present as it rained hard.
Agnes Abel is sick with bumbago.
06\22\1903 Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\23\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\24\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
Grace Cass came to work at Rogers &\
Brothers this morning in the inspecting
room.
06\25\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Received a new lap robe by Adams
Express this evening from Montgomery
Ward's and Co. of Chicago for which I
paid $1.35.
06\26\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps held
a meeting this evening and decided
to go to South Britain, July 4th.
06\27\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. This evening I attended
a drum corps meeting at Andrew
Slater's house in Woodtick.
06\28\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Davenport officiated at
the Chapel this afternoon.
It was children's day and the
Chapel was more than full.
There were several babies baptized
and Mr. Davenport gave prizes
to several children who had
attended Sunday School every day
during the past year.
06\29\1903 Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
06\30\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Barnam's and Bailey's great circus
exhibited in town to day.
07\01\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\02\1903 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met for
practice this evening and made prep-
arations to go to South Britain to-
morrow.
The factory shut down to night for the
summer vacation.
{07\03\1903 Friday [no entry]}
{07\04\1903 Saturday [no entry]}
07\05\{1903} Sunday
Yesterday morning I got up at four and
helped the small boys celebrate the 4th
of July by firing firecrackers and my
old musket.
Then I got ready and we started for
South Britain. There were Charlie
Cass, Henry Cass, and Clyde Miller
in Charlie Cass's team. Joe Pierpont
and Harry Buckingham in Joe Pierpont's
team. Irving Miller and Clifton Heaton
in Father's team. Fred Jones, Rob Beck-
with and myself in my team.
We started at quarter to seven and
drove through Watertown to North
Woodbury where we met George Cass
and Charlie Hotchkiss and we marched
through Woodbury Street to the
Curtis House where we had cool
drinks. We then got into our teams
and drove through Transylvania
to South Britain which we reached
at 12 o'clock. We put our teams
out at a barn in the lower part of the
village and then marched back to the west bank
of the Pomperang River, back of Mr. Hawkin's
factory where we found picnic tables
waiting. We sat down with about 200
others, men, women, and children, and had
a fine dinner.
In the afternoon we witnessed a ball game
and saw 5 or 6 men shoot at clay pigeons.
After the picnic Robert Beckwith and
I were taken to Mr. Mitchel's where we
were to board while we staid in South
Britain. After supper we marched and
drummed to a high hill west of the
village where we witnessed a fine dis-
play of fireworks. We then marched
back to the village playing "When
Johnny Comes Marching Home Again"
and left our drums at Mr. Hawkin's
shop and we went to our several
boarding places. In the morning I
got up at 6 o'clock and strolled through
the village to the picnic ground
where I found fragments of cake, bis-
cuit, etc., which I crumbled and threw
into the river to see the fish jump
at them. There were great numbers of
them, mostly {{duce??}} and shiners of
large size, some of which were a foot
long. In the meantime the other boys
had gotten up at 4 o'clock and they
walked over to Bennett's Bridge and
to Sandy Hook where they saw where
the Rail Road bridge had been burned over the
Pomperang River. At quarter to 11
we formed and marched to the Meth-
odist Church, the Congregational Church
being in a state of repairs and many
of its members attending the Methodist.
After dinner, George Cass took me in
his team to Mr. Mitchel's who lives
on the east bank of the Hous-
atonic River about two miles above
Sandy Hook. It was a fine place
and well kept, with fine grounds
and a large flower garden. Every
thing was in good order. We stayed
about two hours when we drove to
South Britain by way of Bennett's
Bridge. About 6 we started for home
coming through Southbury and over
the Strongtown Hills through Middle-
bury. Reached home about 9 o'clock.
Rev. Mr. Smith preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel to day.
07\06\{1903} Monday
Sister Iva was married this afternoon
at 2:30 to William M. Gillette by the
Rev. Joseph Anderson. They were married
at Father's house and there were
present a large number of people.
07\07\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
07\08\1903 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\09\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
07\10\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The new iron smoke stack was
raised to day. It is 90 ft. high and
4 ft. 6 in. in diameter. Mr. J. Daily
raised it.
07\11\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
07\12\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewis of St. John's Church
preached at Mill Plain Chapel.
07\13\1903 Monday
Worked in the factory of Rogers &
Brothers to day. The factory started
up this morning after a shut down
of one week. It has been a hard day
for me, on account of the belts not run-
ning good.
Mr. Dibble of Shelton put in a new
governor on the large water wheel to day.
This evening Margaret, Ruth and
Pierpont went out to Mr. Garrigus's
and got Mr. Cooks one horse mowing
machine, which I have borrowed of
him.
07\14\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This afternoon we had a very hard
shower.
07\15\1903 Wednesday
To day I mowed at father's place with
the one-horse mowing machine.
We mowed the whole lot.
07\16\{1903} Thursday
To day I mowed the lot corner of the
Cheshire and Harper-ferry roads near
the bridge and the lot where Tom
Mill's horse stands and we got in
the Hay or Father's, 4 loads (1 horse).
Clyde came after 5 o'clock and
Irving after 6.
07\17\{1903} Friday
Mowed by hand the swamp in the
lot where Tom Mills lives and got the
good hay and put it in my stack
and one load in my barn.
The Mattatuck Drum Corps met
for practice this evening. I was tired
and did not play.
07\18\1903 Saturday
This forenoon I mowed the large lot
corner of the plank road and
Harper Ferry road opposite the City
pumping station, i.e., with machine
but there remains much land
mowing.
This afternoon it rained and for
a while Marion Brewster, Loise
Jenner, Amy Miller, Margaret,
Ruth and I looked at a lot of
pictures that I have got.
Then I spent the rest of the afternoon
at work at odd jobs and in the
garden.
Last Wednesday evening at 9 o'clock
Bertha French was getting ready for
bed and was partly undressed when
she wanted something downstairs.
She went to get it and as she was
looking under the cough the lamp
set the fringe on fire, which in
turn ignited the carpet, curtains,
papers, etc., etc. She screamed and John
came and they put the furniture out
of doors and put the rest of the fire
out with water, and thus ended what
might have been a bad fire.
07\19\1903 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Stockdale preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
07\20\{1903} Monday
I got in four loads of hay in good
condition from the corner lot on the Plank
Road.
07\21\{1903} Tuesday
Mowed in the swale in the corner
lot on the Plank Road and put in
a load of bog hay in Father's barn.
07\22\{1903} Wednesday
Mowed the remainder of the boggy
swale and got in all of the hay in
father's barn.
07\23\{1903} Thursday
Worked in the west garden all of
the forenoon and helped Clyde hoe
potatoes up in Wilson Pierpont's
Springfield meadow.
07\24\{1903} Friday
Went to work in the factory this
morning. There was lots of work for
me to do. I went to work getting three
new drops in running order.
07\25\{1903} Saturday
Worked as usual in the factory.
07\26\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Holden preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon. The
attendance was rather small.
07\27\1903 Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Pope Leo XIII was buried at Rome last
Saturday at sunset.
Clyde went to work for Arthur Pier-
pont to day.
07\28\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
07\29\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening as I left the factory
Pierpont told me that he heard
that there was a girl drowned
in the Brass Mill Pond. I started
up the street and found out on
inquiry that a little child had
been drowned in the muck hole
south of the Plank Road near
Mr. Fred Tompkin's house.
I drove over and found a small
crowd around a child about
6 years old who had been on
a raft with her brother and
had fallen off and was drowned.
She had been out of the water
but a few minutes. Her name
was Schafer and she lived on
East Main St. opposite the old
tan shop pond.
07\30\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Agnes Abel went to work
at Rogers & Brothers to day.
07\31\1903 Friday
Worked with Thomas Keelier repairing
the flume gate at the old Brass Mill
ditch nearly all day.
This morning Irving and I mowed
the swamp.
08\01\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I carried Johnny Herfs
new drum up to him. I bought it
of the Rogers Music house of Middle-
town, N. Y., for $6.50 and paid 50 cts
express. Wolcott drummers met at
Mr. Baker's.
08\02\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Reed, a colored preacher,
officiated at the Mill Plain Chapel.
08\03\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
08\04\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
08\05\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\06\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The making department went on 8
hours time to day. The trimming
department started on 8 hours
last Monday.
08\07\1903 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mill Plain Sunday School
had a picnic at Compounce to day.
They went over in three buses, i.e.,
Arthur Pierpont's, Ed Holmes's, and
Ed Todd's, and several single teams.
08\08\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
They stopped making forks of the jumbo
pattern yesterday. Sent home about 34 men.
08\09\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Barnes preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
08\10\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factroy to day.
The great trolley strike which has
lasted seven months was declared
off last night.
08\11\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
08\12\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factroy to day.
Laurence Tobin went to Litchfield's
to day to remain a while to improve
his health.
Clyde came home from Cheshire
where he has been working to have
his teeth fixed as they have ached bad
for the last three days.
08\13\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
08\14\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This evening Irving, Henry Cass,
Cliff Heaton, Fred Jones, and
Clarence Brown went over to
Robert Beckwith's and drummed for
a while after which Mr. Beckwith invited
us into the house where they gave us
frosted cake, watermelon, root beer, etc.,
for refreshments.
08\15\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual to
day. This evening Pierpont, Irving and
I finished the hinges and hung the
front and west gates in our fence.
08\16\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
08\17\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\18\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
John Templeton was sent to
New Haven jail for chasing his
wife with a razor.
We worked on the big gate this
morning and to night.
08\19\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
08\20\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
08\21\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as
I generally do.
Harry Andrews of Wolcott died
yesterday of Pleurisy aged 32 years.
08\22\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I rving, Pierpont and I
welded and set a set of new arms on
my spindle wagon.
Clyde came home from working for
Arthur Pierpont.
08\23\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
I attended Harry Andrews' funeral
at Wolcott Center at 2 o'clock this
afternoon. There was a great number
present. The church was crowded and
many had to stand outside.
Rev. Mr. Waters officiated. I was one
many had to stand outside.
Frank Coles, Willie Pritchard, Arthur
Harrison, B. F. Hoggett, and another
who I did not know.
After the funeral I drove down past
Mark Tuttle's corner and turned
into a cart path which continued east
over the mountain and I finally came
out near where the City of New Britain
is building a large reservoir. I then went
down onto the Compounce road and
to Marion and home.
08\24\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory.
David Shannon died last night
of heart disease at 10 minutes past
six. He had been out looking about
his home lot with his wife and returned
and was sitting on the veranda when
he died suddenly.
08\25\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended David
Shannon's funeral. It was held
in the Chapel which was crowded
with people. Rev. Dr. Davenport
officiated.
08\26\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Clyde has been working digging
his potatoes up in Wilson Pierpont's
Springfield meadow.
To day he sold 10 bushels @ .70 $7.00.
Yesterday 5 bu @ .70 3.50 4 bu @ .65 2.50 6.10/13.10.
08\27\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
Clyde sold 3 by @ 65 to day.
08\28\1903 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
08\29\{1903} Saturday
This morning I went to New Haven
Jail for Mr. Rockwell who is secretary
of the International Silver Company
after John Templeton's who has been
serving 10 days for quarreling with
his wife. I was to have met him
at the Jail. I got there at 8:05 but he
had gone to the depot. I went there
and found him. He had seen a friend
and borrowed enough money to buy
a ticket home, so we took the 8:43
train via Cheshire home. I left him
at the Dublin Street Station and
came home, stopping at the shop a
minute on the way, and changed
my clothes and went to work.
This is Olly Able's birth-day. She is
21 years old.
08\30\{1903} Sunday
I worked at the factory three and
one half hours to day getting two
polishing lathes ready to run.
This afternoon I attended service at
the Mill Plain Chapel. Rev. Mr.
Davenport officiated.
08\31\1903 Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I drove to town after
work and bought 18 one and one
sixteenth common buggy spokes for
which I paid 98 cts. I then came home
and after supper went to the new building
till Harry Beckwith came and said
that his father wished me to make
a spanner wrench out of a piece of
machinery steel that they had to
unscrew some bugs out of a parcopine
boiler. I made it with Pierpont to
strike.
09\01\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory this day.
This evening I went to town and
bought 10 pounds of 14 3/16 tool steel
for $1.50 and a bar of 14 1/4 iron for
42 cts to make some sleigh shoes
of. After supper I painted on my
buggy.
Bertha French and Cliff Heaton came
and they practiced singing.
09\02\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
09\03\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
09\04\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory.
09\05\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory till 9 o'clock
to night.
09\06\{1903} Sunday
This forenoon Mary and I attended
worship at the Second Congregational
Church of which we are members.
Clyde and Irving became members
with nine others.
This afternoon we attended service
at the Chapel. Rev. Mr. Smith offi-
cialed.
09\07\1903 Monday
This is a legal holiday, "Labor Day".
I worked about home till 10 o'clock when
we hitched up and Pierpont, Raymond
and I went down town and saw the
parade of "Union men". It was quite
long taking about 3/4 of an hour to
pass. There were 5 bands and 5 drum
corps.
Clyde went to Wolcott to the clam
and corn roast.
They had a ball game between the
Wolcott nine and a nine from Mill
Plain. The Mill Plain beat.
They also had a tug-of-war, potato
race, tub race, foot race, wheel-barrow
race. Clyde took the first and second
prize for the tub race, which was
given on Pritchard's Pond. He, crossing
the pond, came back and crossed
again before the others got over.
09\08\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day and
till 8 o'clock to night.
09\09\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
09\10\1903 Thusday
Worked at the factory to day.
09\11\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we had a surprise party
at our house and on Clyde. About 50 of his
friends and neighbors came. They pre-
sented him with a present in the form
of thirty dollars. They played games
and danced. Clyde had been to the
dentist and had some of his teeth drawn
and others filled and had no idea of a
party till he got into the house and saw
all of the folks.
09\12\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
This evening we set the stone hitching
post that Clyde made in the street
west of the house. The Choir met for
practitce at the Chapel this evening.
09\13\{1903} Sunday
This is Clyde's birthday, 19 years old.
I worked at the factory all day repair-
ing the 20 inch turbine waterwheel.
Tonight I am tired, sick, and weary.
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Chapel.
09\14\{1903} Monday
This morning Clyde and I took the
8:55 train on the Naugatuck Rail
Road. He bought his ticket for Easton, Pa,
paid $4.42. I bought mine for New York,
$1.95. We reached New York at 10:30. Clyde
left a suit of clothes at a store on 3rd
Ave. to be pressed. We then went to the
East River Bridge where we staid for
some time viewing the sights and then
started for the Pennsylvania Rail-Road
Station in Jersey City, stopping on the
way at 65 Cortland Street (Robert Ingers
& Co.) where I bought a set of ankle supports
and Clyde bought a pair of white
slippers. We waited for the train
which left at 1:05. I bid Clyde good-bye
at the gate to the enclosure where the
trains start, and after he had gone I
took the 23rd Street ferry back to N.Y.
I walked out 24th Street to 9th Ave
where I took the elevated cars to
155th Street Station where I took the
train on the Putnam division of
the N.Y. Central to Brewster's
where I changed and took the N.Y.
and New England road to Waterbury
which I reached at 8:05. Pierpont
was on Grand Street waiting for me
and we drove home.
09\15\{1903} Tuesday
Staid about home all day, not feeling
well.
09\16\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
There was a very hard wind
storm this afternoon. The rain
fell in torrents and many trees
and branches were broken down.
We had a letter from Clyde which
told us that he reached Easton
all right, and that he wished
us to send him a bed and a bed-
ding, so Mary, Pierpont and I
went down home and packed
up a bed that William Gillette
and Iva had bought but could
not get up stairs in the house.
While we were there Cara knock-
ed my lantern off from the
sink and it blazed up and
I threw it out of doors, where it
burned up.
At about 5:30 George Paretree's
Livery Barns, corner of Brook
and East Main Streets, took
fire and burned out the inside but
the firemen got the better of it.
09\17\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
09\18\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory.
09\19\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
After work I fitted the sleigh shoes to
the runners.
09\20\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This forenoon Pierpont and I
rode horseback. He had Wilson
Pierpont's dolly. We went out the
Meriden Road to the Todd Road
where we took the "Old Bound Line
Road" which we followed to Todd's
saw-mill where we turned to the
right and went to the bridge at
the head of the Saw Mill Pond
where we turned to the left and
went through the woods and
came out at the north end of Hitch-
cock's Pond, back of Hemingway's
Hotel. We then rode north to the
Southington Reservoir which we crossed
on the dam. We then went north on
the old road that runs on the
top of the Southington mountain
till we came out near the house
of Benjamin Bronson, east of the
north east burying ground in Wolcott.
We passed four or five celllars on the
old road, then we turned back a
mile and went east down the
mountain till we came to the
new road that goes to the dam
that the City of New Britain is build-
ing for a reservoir. We took this road and
followed it about a mile till we came
to where they are building the dam.
We then went down the mountain to the
distributing dam where we saw the
waters of Roaring Brook tumble over
the rocks in its fall of 400 feet.
We then climbed back and mounted
our horses and rode to the Compounce
Road which we followed south till
we came to the road that goes
west up the mountain past the
Old Lewis Burying Ground, which
we followed till we struck the South-
ington Mountain Road and followed
it and the Meriden Turnpike home.
Today Irving and Henry Cass have
gone on a trolley excursion to Mount
Tom in Mass. They drove to Mill
Dale and there took the trolley, fare
$1.00 for round trip.
09\21\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory as usual.
09\22\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
This is Mary's birthday, 43 years old.
09\23\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I carried Miss
Welton to town when I went
down after work, and bought two
sheets of tin, 20" X 28" @ 14 cts per sheet.
09\24\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the shop to day as usual.
09\25\{1903} Friday
Worked as usual.
09\26\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This P.M. worked on my own shop
repairing stairs, etc.
To day was the fiftieth anniversary
of Father's and Mother's wedding.
The occasion was celebrated by many
friends calling on them, and by the
giving of gold presents. About $50.00 in
gold money was given and a breast pin
to mother, a gold-handled umbrella to
father and several other presents.
09\27\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bruno preached at the Chapel.
After service we went to Father's and
ate supper. This is my birthday, 45 years old.
09\28\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I went to Walter Garrigus's
and paid him $3.00 for lumber.
09\29\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Brother's.
A petition was sent to sent to the office of all the
silver shops in New England asking for
9 hours for a day's work, the pay to remain
the same as now. The petition was
sent by the labor unions.
09\30\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary read a letter from Clyde this
evening.
10\01\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
To day I called on Mr. Rockwell in the
office and had a business talk.
Mr. Judd opened his grocery
store in the new Forester's Hall
to day.
10\02\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\03\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
Last evening Charles Monroe called
and wished the Mattatuck Drum
Band to play at a flag raising at
the new Hamilton Hall.
A number of the boys came and
practiced drumming. They were
Clarence Brown, Harry Buck-
ingham, Seth Anderson, Rob
Beckwith, James Alcott, Fred Jones,
Joe Pierpont and Irving.
This evening I stopped and worked
at the roof of my shop.
Morris Bergher of Prospect died yesterday.
I worked with him four years ago at Ben-
edict & Burnham's, blacksmithing.
Hiram Abel told me this evening
that Mrs. Buss of Spenser, Mass. is
dead and is to be buried at the
Pine Grove Cemetary. She was
formerly Emily Doolittle, aged 58.
10\04\1903 Sunday
I worked all day taking out the
little waterwheel which became loose
on the shaft.
Rev. Mr. Reed preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon. He is a
colored preacher.
10\05\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. Mrs Buss was buried at
the Pine Grove Cemetary.
10\06\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
The Mattatuck Drum Band attended
a flag raising at the new Forester's
Hall this evening. There were
present: Fifers, Harry Buckingham,
Arthur Heaton, Bass Drummers:
Henry Buckingham, and Henry
Cass, Snare Drummers: Clarence
Brown, Fred Jones, Irving Miller,
James Alcott, Rob Beckwith and
myself.
10\07\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers
to day as usual.
10\08\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory as usual.
10\09\{1903} Friday
Worked as usual to day.
10\10\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
10\11\1903 Sunday
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended service at
the Mill Plain Chapel. Rev. Mr.
Carnes preached.
10\12\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day
as usual.
10\13\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
We had a letter from Clyde telling of
the floods in the Deleware and Lehigh
Rivers at Easton. The Deleware rose
over thirty feet.
10\14\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
10\15\1903 Thursday
Worked at the factory.
10\16\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
10\17\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory.
10\18\{1903} Sunday
This morning Irving and I took a
large wardrobe that Mary had got
apart and put it up in Irving's room,
but before we had it finished William
Atkinson came and made arrangements
for the Mattatuck Drum Band to turn
out some evening to advertise the
fair to be given by the Foresters
in their new hall.
This afternoon we attended services at
the Chapel. No minister came but Mr.
Judd conducted the service.
10\19\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
To night I brought home six 50 lb.
standard weights to repair and test
my large scales with that I am
going to let Mr. Henry Judd take
he keeps the store in the forester's
hall.
Chatfield and Chatfield are build-
ing a receiving vault in the
Mill Plain Cemetary.
Elsie French went to work at the
factory of Rogers & Brothers.
10\20\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory of Rogers
& Brothers.
Paid Thomas Mills $13.00 for
hay.
10\21\1903 Wednesday
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Bro.
Pierpont inspired his ankle by jumping
in the sand bank up by the red
bridge.
We put new cards in the big clock
to night.
10\22\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
10\23\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Last Saturday Ervice E. Wright had
George Atkinson arrested for alienating
his wife's affections, in a suit of damages of
$10,000. Atkinson had a hearing to day and
tried to have the bond reduced, but the
judge, Wheeler, would not grant it.
10\24\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Band
turned out to advertise the opening
fair of the new Hamilton Hall to be
given next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday nights in Mill
Plain.
There were present Charles Cass, Arthur
Heaton, and Harry Buckingham
(Fifers). Henry Buckingham, Irving
Miller and Henry Cass (Bass Drummers),
Clarence Brown, Fred Jones, Joe Pierpont,
Charles Miller, James Alcott and Rob
Beckwith (Snare Drummers).
We rode in on a wagon owned by Ned
Pritchard, started from my house at 7:45,
went to Silver Street and marched down
East Main Street to Exchange Place,
down Bank o Meadow, through Meadow
to South Main, up South Main up
North Main to Cherry, down Cherry to
East Main where we got into the wagon
and rode to Hamilton Hall.
10\25\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at
the Chapel at Mill Plain. I attended the
service and stayed home the rest of the
time because I am very lame.
10\26\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I attended a school meeting
in the Saw Mill Plain school house. Said
meeting was called to provide some
means for providing suitable means
for the educating the scholars of
the class in the 7th grade. B. F.
Hoggett, Warren Hitchcock, Charles
Miller and James Strovelle were ap-
pointed a committee to provide
such means. It snowed a few flakes
to day.
10\27\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. To night they open the fair
in the new Hamilton Hall.
Mary has gone and is working
in the kitchen.
10\28\1903 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. Margaret, Ruth, and I worked
on a show case in my desk room
this evening.
{10\29\1903 Thursday [no entry]}
10\30\1903 Friday
Yesterday morning I had Pierpont
carry me to the Highland Division
Station of the New York, New Haven
and Hartfors Rail Road where I
took an excursion train for Boston
at 6:45. Arrived at Boston 11:05 at the
Southern Terminal Station where
I took the elevated cars to the North
Union Depot where I
took train at 12:30 on the Boston
and Maine Rail Road and arrived
at Newburyport 1:53. Mr. Byers met
me at the Depot and we went to
the Fowle Mfg's works where I saw
sterling silver ware in processes
of works, bowls, pitchers, spoons,
etc., etc. At 3:35 took train for Boston
where I ate supper and took trolley for Black
Bay Station. Stopped at the Merchants and
Manufacturers Exposition a few minutes
and took train for Waterbury at 6:50,
arrived 11:45. Irving met me at Depot with
team. Paid $200 for excursion to Fair,
90 cts. to Newburyport, and 77 cts. return
to Boston.
To night I attended the Forester's Fair
at their new Hamilton Hall.
I worked in the factory as usual to day.
10\31\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening all of our folks attended
the Forester's Fair. Got home at mid-
night.
11\01\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Smith of Simonsville Baptist
Church preached this afternoon at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
11\02\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\03\{1903} Tuesday
Worked as usual.
11\04\{1903} Wednesday
Worked as usual at the factory to
day. Charles Hotchkiss (son of Robert)
and Miss Edith Platt of South Britain
were married this afternoon at the Congre-
gational Church in South Britain this
afternoon. Bertha French acted as brides-
maid and George Monroe as groom.
11\05\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\06\1903 Friday
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Bros.
11\07\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Pierpont brought 1/4 ton of soft coal of
the City Lumber & Coal Co. for $1.50 and he
drew it home in the little dump carts.
11\08\1903 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Barnes of St. John's Church
preached at Mill Plain Chapel this
P.M.
This morning Pat Slavin and his
boy Henry and I drove to the new
dam that the City of New Britain
is building over on the Southing-
ton mountain. We then drove around
the north end of the place where the
pond is to be and down an old road
to the Compounce, from thence over through
Lazy Lane to a road that runs
north and south, which we followed
and it brought us out at H. D. Smith's
forging shop. We then drove home.
11\09\{1903} Monday
Worked as usual.
Colonel Sheriff Dougherty came
to the shop and summonsed me to
appear at the Superior Court next Thursday as Juror.
11\10\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
I received a copy of Collier's eweekly
which I subscribed for last June.
It is dated Oct 17, 1903, Vol XXXII, No. 3.
Agnes Abel went home to day at noon to day no work.
11\11\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Received an other copy of Collier's
Weekly for Nov 7th, 1903, vol. XXXII, No. 6.
11\12\{1903} Thursday
Went to the Court House at 9:30
and registered as Juror but
was excused till tomorrow at 10
o'clock.
11\13\{1903} Friday
Went to the Superior Court at 10
and was excused till 2 o'clock
but stayed in the court room
and listened to the plea of John
O' Neil and State Attorney Williams.
At 2 we met and I sat in my
chair till near 6 o'clock but my
turn did not come. Out of the
60 jurors summonsed 7 were selected
and 14 left to be examined next
Tuesday. I among the members.
11\14\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
11\15\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett preached at
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
11\16\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\17\1903 Tuesday
This morning at 9:30 I
went to the Court House and was
examined, but was found lacking in
all the qualities necessary for a Juror
to try the eight boys now under
arrest for assaulting the motorman
and conductor on a trolley car at
Faber's switch on the night of Feb. 26th
last.
Altogether there has been 97 men
summonsed to get the panel of
jurors.
I was excused at 11 o'clock and came home
and this afternoon repaired the windows
in my blacksmith shop at home and
worked ironing a bob-sleigh that I am
building.
Mary, Margaret, Ruth and Irving
have gone to the Chapel to a rehearsal
for the Sunday School Christmas en-
tertainment.
11\18\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Irving has gone to Waterville
to drill with the Grange team
at St. Paul's fair.
Margaret has gone with him.
The factory went on 8 hours time
tomorrow Thursday.
11\19\{1903} Thursday
Worked as usual at the factory.
Ralph N. Blakesdale has bought
the Doolittle Farm of Mrs. Knapp
and to day he has drawn a number
of loads of manure out and has
had two teams plowing in the
lot north of the house and has
had nine men getting out stones.
11\20\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
11\21\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
11\22\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bruno preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This day is the 20th anniversary
of my marriage, and Father and
Mother, sisters Mary and Cara,
Roland Jenner and his children,
and Amy came to supper.
They gave me several pieces of
china and Roland Jenner gave
$1.00 and Mother Pierpont who was
present gave $5.00.
11\23\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we worked making
shaft shackles for bobs.
11\24\1903 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
11\25\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
11\26\{1903} Thursday
Thanksgiving day.
I worked making a pair of shaft
shackles for the set of bob sleighs
that I am making.
At noon I got ready and went to
Hamilton Hall to the reunion
of the Somers family. There were
fifty three present including
several who were not part of the family.
Dinner was served in the banquet
hall at 1:30 o'clock and consisted
of all kinds of meats, fowls, vegetables,
oysters, nuts, etc. After dinner many
retired to the upper hall and enjoyed
music, singing, dancing, etc. At 6:30
we again sat down at the tables and
enjoyed ice cream and coke. The party
broke up at 9 o'clock. Mother paid
$5.00 for the use of the hall, etc.
11\27\1903 Friday
Worked in the factory nine hours.
The factory shut down Wednesday
night for the rest of the week, but
the mechanics are working as are
the packers.
Mary brought a ton of coal for $7.00
of Fred Woods.
11\28\{1903} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we laid carpet and
oil cloth in the sitting room and put
up the coal stove.
11\29\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
Wrote a letter to Newburyport this
evening.
11\30\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The burnishing and buffing rooms
went on eight hours time to night.
They begin work at 8 tomorrow
morning and quit at 5.
12\01\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
To night Hiram Abel told me
that he had the Insurance on
the Chapel renewed for three years.
It is insured for $3,000.00 and the
amount paid is $50.00.
The Grange are holding a fair
to night. Mary and Irving
have gone. It is snowing quite
hard at this time, 9 P.M.
11\02\{1903} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
Snow is about 6 in. deep and
it has drifted a little.
There were but few at the
Grange Fair last night.
Mr. Cooper came and borrowed
my team this afternoon.
12\03\{1903} Thursday
Worked as usual.
12\04{sic duplicate entry}\{1903} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
12\04\{1903} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the Mill Plain
Sunday School met at my house
and rehearsed Christmas exercises.
12\05\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I worked on my sleighs.
12\06\{1903} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Reed of the Colored Baptist
Church preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. Sid Spender, Inez Beckwith,
Bertha and Clara French and Mr. Payne
called this evening.
12\07\{1903} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
Wrote a letter to Clyde last night.
12\08\{1903} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
12\09\{1903} Wednesday
Worked as usual at the factory.
Mary has been down town working
at a rummage sale which is given by
the ladies of the Mill Plain Chapel
at a store on Harrison Alley.
12\10\1903 Thursday
Worked at the factory.
The Machine Burnishing Room
has worked this week exceot last
night till 9 o'clock.
12\11\{1903} Friday
Worked as usual to day.
The Mill Plain Sunday School met
to rehearse Christmas exercises at my
house this evening.
12\12\1903 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mill Plain Chapel Choir met at
my house for practice this evening.
There were present Inez Beckwith,
Mrs. Swift, Mrs. Munson, Olive
Abel, Agnes Abel, Clara French,
Cliff Heaton, (who is home from Yale)
Sid Spender, Mr. Burgess, Hiram
Abel, Irving Miller, Mr. Strong,
and Mr. Wood, the Instructor.
12\13\1903
Rev Ab. Barnes preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel.
Worked three hours at the factory
putting on a new maine belt.
12\14\1903
Worked at the factory as usual.
12\15\1903
Worked at the factory.
12\16\1903
Worked at the factory.
This evening the ladies gave a supper
at the Chapel, realized over 12,00
They are cutting ice at Wedges and
the Brass Mill ponds.
12\17\1903
Worked at the factory as usual.
12\18\1903
Worked at the factory today as usual.
The weather is very cold all day.
Last night the Grangers elected
officers. Warren Hitchcock elected
Master, Charles Mashier, Overseer.
S.B. Piwepour -- Lecturer, Jacob Farrigus
Chaplain, etc.
12\19\1903
Worked at the factory to day
This evening Pierpout -- and I
went to the Waterbury Lumber
and coal Co. on Meaday Street
and got two pieces of white wood
boards 7/8 thick 6" wild and 6' long. Two
pieces 2 1/2" long 8" wide 7/8 thick
one piece 3/8 thick 3' long 14" wide, all
plained and sandpapered for
which I paid 1.50.
We then went to Hemingways fish
market and bought 1 pt of oysters
paid 15 cts, and to Spensers feed
store and got a log of oats.
Very cold all day.
12\20\03
Rained hard all day long.
Staid home, did odd jobs and
read. (Mary, Keith, and Kay maid
went to the Chapel. No service
19 in sunday School.
Rev. Ab. Zieter of Sernousville
came, drive out.
12\21\1903
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
12\22\1903
Worked at the factory
this evening the Sunday school
children met at the Chapel for
rehersal for Christmas.
As Irving was blowing out the
lamps on the chandilier, it fell to
the floor and smashed.
12\23\1903
Worked at the factory to day
Clyde came walking in at about
1 o'clock having arrived to spend
from Lafayette College {Coledge} of Easton
Pa. We did not expect him till
tomorrow and was greatly surpris-
ed.
Ralph Blakeslee finished drawing
manure to his farm to day, he
has drawn about 800 loads and
about 4/5 of them weighed 5,000 lbs
each the other 1/5 (thru horse teams)
weighed 7,000 lbs, he weighed each
load.
12\24\1903
Worked at the factory till 5 o'clock
this afternoon.
Mr. Snapp and family moved from
the Doolittle place to their new farm
in Cheshire.
12\25\1903
This day is Christmas, and it
has been observed by our family
as follows.
We got up early this morning
and found our stockings (mine
included) of presents, which were
unpacked much to the amusement
of the children, after which we ate
breakfast.
After which I worked on the sleigh
which I am building till noon.
We then got ready and went down
to fathers where we all had dinner.
Beside our own family there were
present Judge Gillette and wife
and Willie Goldsmith who has
just returned after an absence of
six years, during which he has
traveled the world over, the last
distant land visited was Alaska
which he left about the middle of last
October.
After dinner they had a Christmas
tree which was loaded {loded} with presents
for all.
I received two hankerchiefs, a neck-
tie, a pair of suspenders, an Indian
arrow pain of cunning workman-
ship, etc.
I enjoyed a fine visit with Judge
Gillette, who is one of the best learned
men in the state.
12\26\1903
This seems the shortest day I
ever saw. Got up at about eight
o'clock, went to work in my shop
on the sleigh I am making, soon
had breakfast, after which Clyde
and Irving came and went to
work on two double rippers that
are broken, and we worked all day
till six in the evening.
This evening Irving went to the
Choir rehearsel at Inez Beckwiths.
It snowed hard this forenoon, and
after dinner it came off cold till
now it is zero.
12\27\1903
Cold all day, only a few at the
Chapel. Mr. Holden preached.
12\28\1903
Worked at the factory to day.
It is growing cold 10 below
zero now 9 o'clock.
Mr. Miles Ovaitt [Oviatt] died at Portland
Oregon Dec 19th aged 73 years
He moved from here in May
1892 having lived in the house
opposite the spoon shop on silver
street, he was engineer at Rogers
& Brothers for several years.
12\29\1903
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. The machine burnishing
room shut down to day for two
weeks.
12\30\1903
Worked at the factory to day.
The trimming room shut down to
day for two weeks.
12\31\1903
Worked at the factory to day
as usual.
This evening we went to the
Forersters Hall to a rehearsal {rehersal} of the
Mill Plain Sunday School exercises
for Christmas, which is to be given
tomorrow evening.
After the rehearsal {rehersal} was over a lot
of us went to a dance which
Charles Bass gave in his new
barn. I drove down with my bob
sleigh and had on thirteen boys
and girls when I got there.
We stayed and I watched the dance
till midnight when we went into
the house and had cake, coffee, etc.
after which we wished each other
a happy new year, and went home.
01\01\1904 Friday
New Year's Day
Worked ironing my new sleigh and
helping the boys repair two double-
rippers.
This evening the Mill Plain Sunday
School gave a Christmas entertain-
ment in Hamilton Hall.
It was under the management of
Mr. Judd and Agnes Abel and was
very pleasing to all.
01\02\1904 Saturday
Worked at the factory to day. It
snowed all day. Very cold.
01\03\{1904} Sunday
Snow about 14 inches deep and
very cold.
Iva came after me because Cara
was very bad.
Clyde, Pierpont and I took a snow
plough and went up the Doolittle
Road and to the Chapel where we
ploughed out the paths and came
down the Southmaid Road
and down home and then up
to my house.
Went to the Chapel this afternoon.
Rev. Mr. Brooks preached.
Frank Lockhart died this afternoon
at half past three this afternoon.
He was taken sick Friday with
typhoid pneumonia.
01\04\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
This has been a remarkably cold day.
This morning the thermometer stood at
zero but now at 9 o'clock it is 24 below.
This is as cold as I ever knew it to be.
01\05\{1904} Tuesday
Worked all day thawing out water
pipes.
This is the coldest day I ever knew.
The thermometer stood at 25 below
zero at my house, 30 below at John
French's, 25 below at Mrs. Lockhart'd,
28 below at Rogers & Brother's spoon
shop, 26 below at Waterville, and
26 below at East Main Street.
Now at 8 o'clock it is 21 below.
01\06\{1904} Wednesday
Worked at the factory of the International
Silver Company.
This was the coldest morning I ever
knew. The thermometer stood 28 degrees
below zero at my house at quarter
to seven.
Clyde left for Lafayette College at
Easton on the 7:50 train this morning
on the Naugatuck Rail Road.
Frank Lockhart was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon.
When Irving came home tonight
he said that a passenger train
was burned this evening on
the Naugatuck road after six
it caught from a lamp that exploded.
All of the passengers got out.
01\07\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
We received a postal from Clyde
stating that he reached College all
O. K. He says that there is only
a few inches of snow in Easton and
that the Delaware River isn't
frozen over.
01\08\1904 Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
01\09\{1904} Saturday
Worked as usual to day.
01\10\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
Irving has given up being janitor
at the Chapel and Mr. Candee began
his duties to day.
01\11\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
01\12\{1904} Tuesday
Worked at the factory. The Making
room started up this morning.
01\13\{1904} Wednesday
Worked as usual at the factory
to day.
01\14\{1904} Thursday
Worked as usual at the factory.
The whistle has blown for the
first time to day.
01\15\{1904} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening about 50 young
people njoyed the sliding on the hill
in front of our house.
I am very lame now, but I worked
painting my sleigh.
01\16\1904 Saturday
Worked as usual at the factory.
Mr. Delehanty has taken charge
of the trimming room. Mr.
Charles Allen has been put on
the facing job.
01\17\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
Last Saturday evening there
was held a prayer meeting in
the Chapel and I suppose there
was one to night, as a notice
was read to that effect to day.
01\18\1904 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
It has been very cold all day.
01\19\{1904} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
This morning the thermometer
registered 24 degrees below zero
where it usually hangs by
the back door, but Pierpont
carried it for me and hung
it on the wire fence down by
the brook and it went down
to 34 below. This is the coldest
I ever heard of in Waterbury.
01\20\{1904} Wednesday
Worked as usual.
Last Saturday they Connecticut
Lightning and Power Company
turned the electric current from
the New Power station at Bull's
Bridge in New Milford onto the
Oakville and Waterville lines of
trolley cars. The Oakville line worked
all right, but the Waterville troubled
them, burning the insulation off
the wires and setting many of the
poles on fire all the way to Bull's
Bridge.
01\21\{1904} Thursday
Worked as usual.
To night I painted on my sleigh.
01\22\{1904} Friday
Worked as usual.
Stripped my sleigh to night.
01\23\{1904} Saturday
Worked as usual.
Painted and varnished on sleigh.
01\24\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Holden preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this after-
noon.
After service Raymond, Pierpont
and I drove out the Cheshire
Road and looked at the survey
stakes where they are going to
build the new trolley line to
Cheshire.
01\25\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went and notified
Clara French, Clarence Brown, and
Olive Abel, that they could go to
work tomorrow, Clarence to start
at 8 o'clock and the other two at noon.
01\26\{1904} Tuesday
Worked as usual at the factory.
It began snowing at noon and
continued till eight to night after
which Pierpont and I hitched the horse
onto the snowplough and went up
the Doolittle Road, down the Meriden
and Southnayd to the Cheshire and
then west to father's where we stopped
and had hot coffee and doughnuts
after which we came back and went
down the Harper Ferry road to
Charlie Cass and then home.
01\27\1904 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The evening the boys and I put the
bells on our new sleigh and put the
straps on the shafts, etc.
01\28\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Used my new sleigh for the first time
this morning.
01\29\1904 Friday
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
It has snowed nearly all day.
This afternoon the Board of Puvlic Works
came out and looked over the route of
the proposed new trolley line to Cheshire.
This evening I went to a play in Palias
theater colled the "Waterburyans", given
by Boston parties partly for the ben-
efit of the boys club.
There were 920 school children that
took part in the play.
01\30\{1904} Saturday
Worked. This evening I went to
J. G. Jones and renewed the insurance
on my blacksmith shop, which runs
out Feb 21st $1000.00 at $30.00 per year.
01\31\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Brunal preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Yesterday Pierpont hitched onto the
snowplough and ploughed out the paths
about the neighborhood.
02\01\{1904} {Monday}
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
02\02\1904 Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day till
noon.
This afternoon I attended a meeting
of the Board of Public Works held in
the old Bronson Library, for the
purpose of hearing the property owners
along the line of the proposed
Chedhire Street Trolley Railway.
David Porter objected to having the
shade trees cut in front of his
house and the bank moved.
He wants the road moved south
where the barns now stand and
the barns moved away.
In front of my house they in-
tended to take 10 ft off my front
yard, but I now think they will
go on the other side of the street.
02\03\{1904} Wednesday
Worked as usual.
Last night Chas. Cass came and
hired my horse to use to take
a party of young people sleigh
riding over to Morris Park.
One of his horses was sick.
02\04\{1904} Thursday
Worked as usual.
Weather very cold.
Made arrangements to attend the
launching of the Dakota (one of the
largest ships even built) at New
London Saturday.
02\05\1904 Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
It has been a bright nice day. I hope
the weather will be as fine tomorrow
as it is to day. I have nearly every-
thing arranged to start for New
London in the morning.
02\06\{1904} Saturday
Got up at 4:30 this morning ate
breakfast and got ready and Irving
hitched up at 5:30 I started for New
London with Pierpont to drive. It
was raining very hard and froze
as it fell, coating everything
with ice. We went to Mr. James
Tobin's on Dublin Street and found
him nearly ready and we drove
to the depot, it being quite dark.
We bought tickets for New London
and went to New Haven by way
of the Naugatuck Rail Road, chang-
ing cars at New Haven, reached
New London shortly after ten
and I went to the Office of the
Southern New England Telephone
Company, where I found Edward
C. Ford, and he directed us to the
ship yards of the Eastern Ship-
building Company at Groton.
We then took the ferry boat "Col/
Ledyard" and crossed to the
Groton side of the Thames River
and walked to the ship yardm but
could not get in till twelve o'clock
but we could see the great ship
from anywhere in the vicinity as
it was the largest thing ever built
there. The "Dakota" is 630 feet long, 73 feet
6 inches wide, 88 feet high to Captain's
bridge, 56 feet high to main deck but
there are 5 more decks to go on above
this, 177 ft high to top of mast.
The cargo capacity is about 30,000
tons. She is equipped with 16 Niclausse
water tube boilers, and two 5,000 horse
power engines.
The Minnesota twin sister to the
Dakota was launched last April and
lies in the river by the side of the
shops. They are the biggest ships ever
yet built in the world and there are
but four harbors in the United
States that they can enter where
loaded, via Portland, Me., Seattle,
New London and I have forgotten the
other (they cannot enter New York
harbor.)
We stayed outside viewing the ship
and derricks, etc. till they opened the
gates and then we went in and saw
the preparation for launching.
The keel of the ship rested on sticks of
yellow pine over 20 ft long and 14 X 188
which rested on the granite bed
which had been blasted away and
smoothed for the purpose.
Along both sides of the keel and
resting on the ends of these sticks
timbers 12 X 18 inches were bolted
together forming a solid timber
way 18 in by 5 feet which extended
the whole length of the ship and
out into the water about 200
feet. This is known as the bed
way, on the outside of this is
bolted a stick 6 X 18 which projects
up above the bed way 6 inches.
This in turn is shored up by
sticks of chestnut which are braced
against the stick and the other
end runs back into the ground.
The whole surface of the bed ways
are coated with an inch of tallow
and top of this a sliding way is
placed composed of timber 12 X 18
bolted together making a way
as long as the ship and 4 ft 6 inches
wide, top of this is placed the
packing, that is timbers fitted
between the running ways
and the bottom of the ship, at the
front end and {{illegible word}} is a
frame work of timbers called a
"cradle" which the ship rests in,
between the running way and
the packing wedges were driven
which were of oak 6 ft long and
tapered from 1/2" to 6". These were
driven in about 10 in apart by
using sticks of timber about
16 ft long 8 X 16 through which
holes were bared one near each
end and 2 near the center.
Through these holes were ropes, which
were grasped by two men on each side
of the stick and other men had hold
in other places about 20 men to each
stick. There was one of these gangs
gor about every 16 wedges, and they
began driving all together, first
on one wedge and then on another,
and so back and forth. It was a
busy scene.
A large number of these gangs. They
would back away a half dozen paces
and then rush at the wedge with
their stick of timber hitting it a
tremendous blow, and the sound
of the many blows on each side
of the ship made the earth tremble.
And thus they raised the ship off the
keel blocks.
To prevent it from sliding on the bed
ways, "triggers" were placed two on each
side, which were made by log screwing
a large block on the bed way and
about 10 ft front of this another block
was screwed on the sliding way,
between these a stick of 12X12 timber
was placed.
When the time to launch came these triggers
were hoisted out by hydraulic jacks,
but there was another arrangement
at the upper end of the ways.
(The ways slanted at an angle of about
20 degrees) which consisted of a stick
of oak 6" X 8", one end of which was bolted
to the sliding way and the upper end
to the bedway. These had to be sawed
in to before the ship could be released.
This was done by gang crosscut saws,
that is crosscut saws about 12' long
and with three handles on each end
so it took 6 men to run each saw.
On the outside of each of the oak sticks
at the place where they were to be
sawed a piece of pasteboard was
pasted with a mark down across
it where it was to be sawed.
This was marked in inches and
the last two in fractions of inches.
After the triggers had been hacked
out and a girl, Miss Mary Belle
Flemington of Ellendale, North
Dakota, who had come all the way
for the purpose, held a bottle of
wine in her hand ready to dash it
against the bow, was ready. President
Harrison of the Eastern Ship-
Building Company gave the order
to saw the two oak sticks asunder.
The twelve men set to work with
a will, a man stationed for the
purpose watched the marks on the
paste boards and they shouted
1, two, three, four, 1/2, 3/4, 5,
etc., while President Harrison guided
the speed of the saws so that one
should not get ahead of the other.
It was expected that when these sticks
were sawed in to the ship would move
but it did not.
Large jack screws had been placed
against the ends of the way, and
a crowd of men moved these while
others ran against the sliding
ways with their rams, and still
others drove wedges in the kerf
where the oak sticks had been sawed.
In about five minutes I saw that
it moved a trifle and the screws
began to move easier then.
It could be seen it moved a little
and then Miss Flemington broke
the bottle of wine which splashed
all over her and all about at the
same time saying "I christen thee
the Dakota" and it moved a very
little faster and faster and faster
till it rushed into the water.
At the lower end of the ways
the weight was so great and
the friction so much that the
whole bow of the ship was hid
from sight in a cloud of smoke.
At the same time the ship moved
the men began to cheer and it
seemed that 100 whistles began
blowing and a mighty din arose.
There were a couple of tugs hitched
to it and as she went out in to
the river they checked her so that
she only went half way across.
They then anchored her there.
Mr. Tobin and I then went to the
South ferry but the crowd
was so great that we walked to
the North ferry but both boats
were running on the South ferry
and we had to wait a
long time before the boat came
for us. We then crossed over
and went to a restaurant and
had dinner and I called on
Ed Ford a few minutes, after
which we took the express train
that leaves there at 3:52 and
arrived in New Haven at 5:05.
We then took the loop train
which leaves at 5:10 and due in
Waterbury at 6:00 but above
Mt. Carmel there was a caboose
on the track and we had to wait
for a freight train to back down
and get, which made us an hour
late.
02\07\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Brooks preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel.
02\08\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
The City of Baltimore is on fire and
already the loss has reached over
100,000,000 dollars.
02\09\{1904} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
It is reported that the loss caused
by the great fire in Baltimore is
over 300,000,000 dollars. The fire is
now under control.
They called help from Philadelphia,
New York, and other places.
02\10\{1904} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
The war between Japan and Russia
has began by the Japanese sinking
eleven Russian gun boats.
The ladies gave a supper and
entertainment at the Chapel this
evening. Cleared over $13.00.
The entertainment was furnished
by the Woodtick people.
02\11\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day
as usual.
02\12\{1904} Friday
Worked at the factory to day.
The young ladies of Mill Plain gave
the young men a sleigh ride to
Morris Park hotel, and a supper
this evening.
Telephoned Mr. Sewell about trolley tracks
and he told me to telephone Mr. Hill of N. Haven
and the R. & L. Co. would stand the expense.
02\13\{1904} Saturday
Worked as usual to day.
I have reached an understanding with
the Connecticut Railway and Lighting
Company that they will just come
into my front yard with their tracks
and that they will lower my front
fence down 4 feet to the grade of the
street.
This evening I went to see Chas
Monroe, and brought home a load
of men and women from the Choir
rehearsal at French's.
02\14\1904 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
I did not attend.
At six this evening Irving looked
out and saw a bright light on
the sky, so we hitched up and started
to see what it was. We found it
to be George Hitchcock's house
on fire. It started at half past
four and had been burning
ever since.
It burned to the ground but the
barns were saved owing to the
snow that had fallen on the roof.
They saved nearly all of Mr.
Hitchcock's furniture and the
house was fully covered by in-
surance. Willie Garrigus, who
lived upstairs, saved his tools
and a chamber set.
George Hitchcock moved his furniture,
etc. over into the Griswald house which
he had bought some time ago.
While we were going to this fire, we saw
another, in the direction of Lakewood.
02\15\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
To day I leased my carriage shop to
Peter Laroque for three years longer
for $20.00 per month.
02\16\1904 Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
This is the eighth week of continuous
sleighing, and there has hardly been a day
in that time when it has thawed.
To day has been the coldest to be out
in yet.
Yesterday Ed Holmes's house and barns,
etc., over on Southington Mountain
burned to the ground.
There was no one at home at the time.
He was away in the woods burning
charcoal, and his wife had gone
over to their son Charlie's house.
They are Swede people and
live at the place formally known
as the Capt. Nathaniel Lewis place.
02\17\1904 Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
02\18\{1904} Thursday
Worked as usual.
02\19\1904 Friday
Worked at the factory.
02\20\{1904} Saturday
Worked at the factory 10 1/2 hr to day.
The Mill and all of the factory which
runs by the engiune shut
down at noon to day so that they
could bore out the cylinder.
02\21\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett of Waterville preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
I did not attend.
02\22\{1904} Monday
Worked as usual to day.
Washington's birthday. Banks closed.
No school.
The roads were very slippery this morning.
02\23\{1904} Tuesday
Worked as usual to day.
Had a talk with Superintendent Tobin
about working at some other work than
the job I am now on.
02\24\{1904} Wednesday
Worked at the factory to day.
02\25\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
I told Mr. Tobin that I was going
to get through a week from next
Saturday, because I am getting to
home to do the work.
He told me not to get through but
take a rest, and he would give me
any job in the shop that I wished
so that I should not be on my foot
so much and that he would hire
a man to take my place while I was
gone, and that I could have all
the help I wanted when I came
back. Manager Rockwell told me
the same thing.
He told me to send John French
to see him and he would set him
to work if I wished.
I saw John French when coming home
from work and he said that he
would go to the shop and see about
the job in the morning.
02\26\{1904} Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
John French called at the shop and
Mr. Tobin gave him the job at $2.00
per day.
This evening about 32 people went
to the Bunker Hill Chapel and attended
the supper and entertainment given
there.
02\27\{1904} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I worked on a small
fire engine that I and the boys are
making.
02\28\1904 Sunday
Rev. Alexander Hamilton preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
This evening I attended a Christian
endeavor meeting at the Chapel.
02\29\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
John French went to work at the
factory of Rogers & Brothers this morning.
I sold my large bob sleigh to day to
Henry Judd for $20.00 to be paid
for by installments to be paid by
May 1st.
03\01\1904 Tuesday
Worked at the factory as usual.
It has snowed and rained nearly
all day.
03\02\1904 Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
Cousin David L. Frisbie died last
night at his home in Woodtick aged
62 years and 11 months, after a long
and painful illness.
Mary and Mother Pierpont (who has
been staying with us since New Years)
Ruth, Pierpont, and Raymond went
out to East Farms to an entertain-
ment given in the Schoolhouse.
William Gillette and Iva came
after me after supper and we drove
out to Woodtick and saw cousin
Frank and Burt Frisbie, and
found that cousin David is
to be buried Friday afternoon
at two o'clock.
We went in a sleigh, but the sleighing
is getting thin as it is warm.
We have had good sleighing since
the day before New Years.
03\03\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
Twenty Russians left Ansonia
day before yesterday, at the call
of their country, to serve in the
Russian army in their war with
Japan.
03\04\{1904} Friday
Worked at the factory.
Cousin David L. Frisbie was buried
this afternoon.
This evening several of the boys of
the neighborhood called and drummed.
The ice is over 30 inches thick on
several of the ponds about here
which is the thickest ever known by
the oldest people.
03\05\{1904} Saturday
Worked as usual.
I got through work at the factory
to night for two weeks, as I am
very lame and it is hard to get
along.
03\06\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Brooks of the Simonsville
Baptist Church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service Raymond, Pierpont
and I went to Woodtick by way
of the Meriden and Todd roads.
We found the roads very slippery
but the neverslip horse shoes held
the horse well.
{03\07\1904 Monday [no entry]}
03\08\{1904} Tuesday
Yesterday morning I hitched up and
started for New Haven at 8 o'clock. It
was raining slightly when I started.
Went by way of the back road through
Naugatuck and the East side of Bethany
Center. I left the direct road and turning
to the right went over a narrow and
crooked road, which passed through a
rocky and wooded country and brought
me out at Woodbridge Center.
I took the direct road from there to
New Haven.
When near Westville it began to rain
so I put up the umbrella and drove to
a livery stable in Westville where I had
the horse put out and fed at 12 o'clock.
I then took the Whailey Avenue trolley
cars and went to Howard Ave. where
I saw Dr. Sweet. He examined my
foot and said the cords and sinews
were swollen and strained, and that
I must keep off from it for a spell
or they would materate and raise
the devil with me.
He said get some strong hops and
make a strong tea of them and
bathe the foot three times a day 15
minutes each time, and then
put on some liniment that would
color everything red and cover
with oilsilk and after I had used
up the bottles of this, to use two
other bottles he gave me.
He charged $4.00.
I left there about 1:40 and went to the
house which Benedict Arnold once lived
in and which they are now tearing down
and got some lath and one hand-made
lath nail. I then went to a restaurant
on Crown Street and got a dinner of
roast beef for which I paid 15 cts.
While getting dinner John Hine, son
of Mrs. Sarah Porter Hine came past
me. He told me that he had a plumb-
ers store down the street a few doors
and invited me down there. I went
and found that he had a fine large
store. I bought a pipe 1" by 3/4" cross, and
then went to the Green and took
a car to Westville.
Here I took my team and drove
across to Dinwell Avenue, the rain
falling in torrents and the wind
blowing a gale. Left Westville 3:30.
Through Centerville many of the
houses were surrounded with
water 6" deep top of the ice and
the streets were all flooded so
in many places the water was
a foot deep on the trolley track.
Above Mr. Carmel I left the turnpike
and took the road that runs under
the mountain. The rain was falling
fast all the time and in some
places the water was two feet deep.
Soon I came to a place where the water
was up to the buggy body for a
distance of 12 or 13 rods, on a little
I came to a bridge which was
under water and attempted to
drive over it when the horse
went down. It seemed that the
bridge was covered with snow
about three ft deep and the water
had softened it and the horse went
through to the plank which were
all right. I thought that I would
not go much farther as it was
getting dark so I stopped at a large
white farmhouse above Brooksvale and
knocked at the door. A lady came and
I asked if I could stay over night as
the road was dangerous. She called an
old man who said that they had not
got good accomodations for my horse,
but if I could put up with such as
they had, they would keep me. They
sent a boy out to the barn and he showed
me a good stable where I put the horse
out and gave him plenty of good hay.
We then went into the house and they
gave me a good supper. The family consisted
of Mr. Alexander Doolittle and wife and daughter
Emma. He was 80 years old, his wife 75 and
Emma about 30. They were of the good old
American type, and were very nice people.
I had a nice room to sleep in and in
morning a fine breakfast, after which at
about 9 o'clock I resumed my journey
and found the water over the road
in several places but the streams had
gone down as it had stopped raining
during the night. I reached home at 11 o'
clock. This afternoon I cleaned out many of
my old paint pots, etc. and got ready
to paint my blinds.
03\09\{1904} Wednesday
This morning I went to town and bought
2 galls. of linseed oil and 1 lb of lampblack.
Came home and painted blinds.
03\10\{1904} Thursday
Painted blinds all day.
03\11\1904 Friday
Painted blinds all day in the cellar.
03\12\1904 Saturday
Painted blinds all day. Finished the 34 pairs
first coat.
03\13\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at Mill Plain
Chapel, assisted by Mr. Parson.
03\14\{1904} Monday
Painted blinds all day.
It is reported that Port Arthur has been
captured by the Japanese.
Arthur Pierpont drew five large loads of
hay from Ralph Blakeslee'd barn, which
he bought off Charles Knapp before he
moved away.
03\15\{1904} Tuesday
Worked painting blinds all day.
03\16\1904 Wednesday
Finished painting blinds this morning
and then painted the lattice work of the
verandas and the veranda floors.
This is Mrs. Theodore Munson's birthday.
Mary thinks she is 38 years old.
03\17\{1904} Thursday
This forenoon I painted the floor of the girl's
room and the hall floors and also the
floor of my room.
This afternoon I took two plank to Thomas
Heaton's shop on Benedict Street to have
them sawed into felloes.
{03\18\1904 Friday [no entry]}
{03\19\1904 Saturday [no entry]}
03\20\{1904} Sunday
Friday morning I went to Heaton's shop
and got the felloes for which I paid 50 cts,
came home, and repaired the buggy shafts.
When Margaret came at noon we got
ready and started for Goshen, went by
way of Waterville, Thomaston, and Farring-
ton. Started at 2 P.M. Got there at 7:45. There
was a little snow on the ground here that
had fallen during the forenoon, but when
we reached Camps Mills we came to good
sleighing and in Goshen the snow lay
five inches deep, beside great drifts of
old snow. After we left Goshen East Street
and turned west towards the center we
passed through a drift that had been
dug out for the road for about twenty
rods where the snow was two feet higher
than our heads as we sat in the buggy.
I will state here that we passed through
about twenty five rods of ice cakes that
had been washed upon the road by
the Naugatuck River a short distance
south of Frost's bridge.
As the cakes of ice lay every way upon
the road they would average four feet
in depth, and through this they chopped
the road way. The cakes were about
20 inches thick.
We reached Samuel Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] in Goshen soon
after dark where we staid till this afternoon.
Yesterday I went to the woods and helped
them draw out logs. the snow lay four
feet deep but was so hard that the horses
only went in about 18 inches except when
they pulled hard when their hind feet went
way down. I never saw such deep snow
before. We drew one load of logs over to the
saw mill in West Goshen.
This morning we went to church then
had dinner and started for home at
two o'clock. Came through Litchfield
center, Morris center, Bethlehem, and
Watertown, found many drifts till we
reached Watertown. Reached home at
quarter to eight.
Friday was Agnes Abel's birthday; 25 years old.
03\21\{1904} Monday
Worked about home at odd jobs.
03\22\{1904} Tuesday
Worked in my blacksmith shop all day build-
ing a small fire engine.
Clyde came home from college this forenoon.
He left Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., at five
yesterday afternoon and came to New Yorl
on an express train. There he took a boat to
New Haven and there took the trolley to Derby
and Seymour, then took steam car to Nau-
gatuck, and trolley the rest of the way to
Silver Street.
The young men gave a supper and entertainment
at the Chapel this evening.
03\23\{1904} Wednesday
Worked about home all day. Am very lame.
03\24\{1904} Thursday
To day Clyde and I rode horse back over
on Southington Mountain to where they
are building a large dam for the water
supply for the City of New Britain. They
are not working on the dam but everything
is ready to start when the weather will
permit.
When we came home we stayed at
Arthur Merriman's and went through
his new home.
03\25\{1904} Friday
I worked to day on the little fire engine.
03\26\{1904} Saturday
Went to town this morning and bought
a pair of shoes for $1.50. Saw Ed Johnson
at the waterworks shop.
Worked about home the rest of the time.
03\27\{1904} Sunday
Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
03\28\1904 Monday
I went to work to day at Rogers & Bros.
factory at my new job which seems
to be my old one with more to look
after. I find plenty of work that has
been waiting for me for some time.
I hope that I can be able to stand it.
03\29\{1904} Tuesday
Worked as usual at the factory to day.
Mr. Bolton moved into Annie Hall
Pierpont's house to day.
03\30\{1904} Wednesday
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
To day I went to town and had a check
of $20.00 cashed at the Fourth National
Bank. I then got a P.O. Order for $11.75 and
sent it to Montgomery Ward & Co., Chicago;
also an order for $4.00 and sent it to
John Wanamaker of New York.
The main shaft that runs the plating
room and machine burnishing room broke
this morning at about 10 minutes past 8 o'clock.
03\31\{1904} Thursday
Worked as usual in the factory to day.
The shop shut down tonight for two weeks.
George French and another man from Naugatuck
called to see me about drumming this evening.
{04\01\1904 Friday [no entry]}
04\02\{1904} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
Ralph Blakeslee has rented his house to a
family that has moved in to day.
He has had four or five teams at work
to day filing in the hollow above his
barn.
04\03\1904 Sunday
This is Easter Sunday. The Chapel was
crowded with men, women, and children.
Dr. Davenport officiated and the choir
rendered several selections which were
very nice.
04\04\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory. Came home
to dinner.
04\05\{1904} Tuesday
Worked at the factory. Came home
to dinner.
04\06\{1904} Wednesday
Worked repairing in the spoon
shop to day.
The woods in the Cavalry Cemetary
caught fire as some of the workmen
were burning heaps of brush and the
fire spread rapidly till the whole grounds
were on fire. My house and Thomas Mills'
house were in great danger of burning
but alderman Ralph Blakeslee came
along and he telephoned to the fire
department and they came with a
steamer and hose wagon andpumped
from the river and put out the fire
on this side.
This evening I carried Clyde to
Cheshire where he took the trolley
car to New Haven where he will
take the 10 o'clock boat to New York
and there take an express train
to Easton at 4 in the morning.
04\07\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening an officer came and sum-
monsed me to court tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock at the superior
court. It is a case of an Italian being
killed at Holmes Booth & Haydens. I know
nothing of it.
04\08\{1904} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Ralph Blakeslee has had a large force
of men and five pairs of horses getting
the stores off his farm to day.
04\09\{1904} Saturday
Worked in the factory to day.
Ralph Blakeslee has had eight pairs
of horses and 20 men at work on
his farm to day getting stones off.
He brought the men out in a band
wagon this morning.
04\10\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Barnes, assistant rector of
St. John's Church, preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
04\11\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
They started up the plating and machine
burnishing rooms this afternoon.
04\12{*}\1904 Tuesday
To day I attended court at the Superior Court
room in the Court House on a case of
an Italian who was killed at the factory
of Holmes, Booth & Hayden's, in Nov,
1902. I was called as an expert on mechan-
ical matters.
04\13{*}\{1904} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
04\14{*15}\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day putting
in the new main shaft.
04\15{*16}\1904 Friday
Worked at the factory as usual.
Walter Garrigus had a son born to
them this morning.
04\16{*17}\{1904} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we went to Father's
to a birth-day party. Father's birth-
day was last Tuesday, 12th. He says
that he is 75 years old and mother's
was yesterday. She is 70 years old.
04\17\{1904} Sunday
Dr. Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
{04\18\1904 Monday}
Worked as usual to day.
The Factory started up to day after a
shutdown of two weeks.
04\19\{1904} Tuesday
Worked in the factory to day.
The weather is very cold. Snowed a
little to day.
04\20\{1904} Wednesday
Worked to day. Weather is very
cold all day. Snowed a little.
04\21\1904 Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
Ordered a road map of New Haven
County. L.J. Richards Co. of Pawtucket,
R. I. this morning for 1.50 cts. But
this afternoon Mr. Tobin came to me
in the shop and told that there was
an agent there that had a map of
New Haven County. I found that
he was an agent for the Richards Co.
and was selling them for 98 cts. I told
him that I had ordered one, but I did
not think it right to make me pay
1.50 in Pawucket when I could get one
here for 98 cts. After considerable talk
he let me have 52 cts so my map
will cost 98 cts.
04\22\{1904} Friday
Worked at the factory.
04\23\{1904} Saturday
Worked at the factory. Drew a load of hay from Father's.
This evening the Choir met at our house.
04\24\{1904} Sunday
Irving, Mr. Henry S. Allen and I went
to Cheshire and looked over the old copper
mines and also the old copper mines.
04\25\{1904} Monday
Worked as usual in the factory.
Varnished the drums.
04\26\{1904} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended the Chapel fair
given in Hamilton Hall.
04\27\{1904} Wednesday
Worked in the factory.
This evening I attended the fair.
04\28\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory.
04\29\1904 Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
04\30\{1904} Saturday
Worked at the factory to day.
It is said that we cleared over a
hundred dollars at the Chapel fair.
05\01\1904 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Brooks preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Agnes J. Abel joined the Second
Congregational Church this fore-
noon.
05\02\1904 Monday
Worked at the factory to day.
I have been down to a meeting of the
Board of Education held in the High
School and there I set forth the condition
of the Mill Plain School.
The Carpenters are out on strike because
the builders will give then but $2.50. They
want $2.80.
05\03\{1904} Tuesday
Worked at the factory.
The papers are full of what I said
at the meeting of the Board of Education
last night.
05\04\{1904} Wednesday
Worked as usual at the factory.
To night I fixed drums all the
evening.
05\05\1904 Thursday
Worked at the factory.
05\06\{1904} Friday
Worked at the factory.
05\07\{1904} Saturday
Worked at the factory. All of the
departments were shut down except
the Machinist and Die sinking.
John R. Platt of Prospect died last
Thursday afternoon.
05\08\1904 Sunday
Rev. Mr. Barnes of St. John's Church preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
05\09\{1904} Monday
Worked in the machine burnishing room
some of the time to day as Lawrence
Tobin is home sick with the rheumatism.
05\10\{1904} Tuesday
Worked at the factory to day.
Ralph Blakeslee had 31 horses engaged
drawing stones off the lot back of the
house to day.
05\11\{1904} Wednesday
Worked at the factory.
David Porter has Nelson Dingwell
moving his barn from the south
side of the road up in back of his
house. They have got it across the
road to day.
05\12\{1904} Thursday
Worked at the factory to day.
They are drawing ties and poles for
the new trolley line to Cheshire.
the Connecticut Railway and Light-
ing Company are laying rails up
Cole street for the Baldwin street
extension.
Worked planting the garden this
morning and evening.
05\13\{1904} Friday
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mattatuck Drum Band had a meeting this evening.
05\14\{1904} Saturday
Worked repairing the waterwheel gears
to day.
Went to night to see Mr. Eagan at the
Grand Army Hall about drumming
Memorial day.
05\15\{1904} Sunday
Rev. Mr. Moffett preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
05\16\{1904} Monday
Worked at the factory. The engineers are
working on the new layout for the Cheshire
trolley.
05\17\{1904} Tuesday
Worked as usual.
05\18\{1904} Wednesday
(Worked) To day several loads of sections
of building went past, for barracks
for the workmen who are to work on
the new trolley road.
05\19\{1904} Thursday
Worked in the machine burnishing
room to day.
Mr. Ley of Springfield has the contract
of building the new trolley road to
Cheshire. The price is said to be
$175,000.00 for the eight miles.
He has rented A. B. Pierpont's upper
barn for $10.00 per month, half of Mother
Pierpont's barn for 500 per month
and has put up a large building
back of the Old Finton Delaney
place. He expects to keep horses, men,
and tools in these buildings.
05\20\1904 Friday
Worked at factory.
Work was began to day on the
Cheshire Street Railway. Two wheel
scrapers and a plow worked by four
pairs of horses began work on the
hill East of my shop. They lowered
the road quite a little, carrying the
dirt into the swamp.
The Mattatuck Drum Band turned out this
evening to a Barn dance, given by Cort D.
B. Hamilton of Hamilton Hall. There were
about 500 present and many funny costumes.
05\21\{1904} Saturday
Worked at the factory. All except the
mechanical department has shut down.
The force working on the trolley road
has been about doubled to day.
[[end of Journal]]
//start of new vol//
JOURNAL of Charles Somers Miller, 1904-1906
05\22\1904(Sun)
Rev Mc Holden preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel.
About 100 Italians passed our house on their
way to their quarters at East Farms to
day, they are to work on the new trolley
road.
This afternoon after service at the Chapel
Irving, Mary, Clara and Bertha French
and I went to ride out through East
Farms to Elmer Hitchcocks and up past
the Byan place, to the Meriden Road
and home, we stopped at the place where
George Hitchcock is building a new
house where the old one was burned
down, He is setting the new one about
fifteen feet farther back from the street.
05\23\1904(Mon)
Worked at the factory.
They cut down the row of large elm trees
East of D.G. Porters to day.
05\24\1904(Tue)
Worked in the factory to day as usual
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for
practice this evening,
05\25\1904(Wed)
Worked in the factory of Rogers & Brothers
as usual.
The annual meeting of the Mill
Plain Chapel Association was held
and the following were elected officers
for the coming year.
A. B. Pierpont. Episcopal Committee
Henry Cook. Congregational "
Charles Monroe Methodist "
Henry Judd Baptist "
Henry Judd Sunday School Super't
Inez Beckwith. Organist.
Sidney Spender Librarian
05\26\1904(Thur)
Worked at the factory as usual.
Fifteen Double dump Carts came from
Hartford last night, and 50 Italians
arrived{. this} to work on the new trolley-road.
This morning nine double dump
carts and a large force of men
began working on the hill by my
house.
This evening I worked in the garden
till dark, and then drove to the
Apothacaries hall and bought a white-|
wash brush for 1.50
05\27\1904(Fri)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Lay has about 200 men to work
on the trolley line
They are grading the hill by my house.
The Mattatuck Drum Band had
a rehersal to night
05\28\1904(Sat)
Only the mechanics and Die sinkers
worked at the factory to day.
We worked in the garden this evening.
They took Robert Hatchkiss to the
soldiers home at Noroton this forenoon
He enlisted in Waterbury in Co 20th
Reg. C. V. his first battle was Chansallersville,
was in the Shenedore valley.
at Gettysburgh, then went and
joined the army under Gen Grant
at Chattanoga went with Sherman
to Atlanta and the sea at Savanah
then marched up through South
Carolina and North Carolina and
through Virginia to Washington.
Went through more than twenty
battles and never received a wound.
He is broken in health and is
feeble, 65 years old.
05\29\1904(Sun)
No minister at the Chapel this afternoon
had a praise service conducted by
Mr. Abel.
Last night at about midnight
five double dump carts and
12 horses arrived from New Haven
and are quartered in Ralph Blakeslee's
barn at the Doolittle place
they are to work on the New
Cheshire Trolley Road.
05\30\1904(Mon)
Decoration Day.
We arose early this morning and
had breakfast before six o'clock.
Then the members of the Mattatuck
Drum Band came. They were Chas
Cass, H. Clifton Heaton, David
Waughh, Harry Buckingham,
Fred Lund and Arthur Heaton (Fifers);
Irving Miller, Joe Pierpont, and
Henry Cass (Bass Drummers);
Robert Beckwith, James Olcott,
George Cass, Clarence Brown,
Fred Jones, and Chas S Miller,
Snare Drummers;
James Haloran, Drum Major,
We left my house at 7.15 and
marched to the end of the
Trolley linen {sic} to Silver street
where we took the East Main
street car to Oakville, where we
took the Steam cars to Watertown.
We marched to the town
hall, Then escorted the Old
veterans, Firemen, and
School children, to the Lawn
Cemetery, then back to the
Evergreen Cemetery and to
the New Cemetary, then back
to town hall where, they had
speaking, singing etc.
We came home on the 12.43 train,
to West Main street and marched
playing from the center {to} through
East Main Street to Silver Street
where we broke ranks and went
home.
In the afternoon, Harry Buckingham,
Clif Heaton, and Sidney
Spender came; Also Laease{??} James,
Marion Brewster, and Amy Miller{??}
and they had a lot of fun, Irving
and Pierpont took the horse and
plough and went out and ploughed
Pat Hayses garden.
Yesterday the bays and I went out
over the survey of the proposed
trolley road and I counted 116
holes drilled in the bolders ready
to be loaded and fired between
the land of the Colnary Cemetery
and the crossing at Wedges.
One Hundred Italians came to
day from Boston to work on the
railroad.
05\31\1904({Mon}Tue)
Worked at the factory.
As I was hoeing in the garden
this evening I heard 38 blasts
fired in rapid succession out
along the line.
06\01\1904(Wed)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving and I went
down to my shop property and measured
the distance from the boundry
stone between Ervice{??} E. Wright's
property and my East boundry
fence next to James Porters property
and found it was 60'10" to the
second post in the fence, the distance
to the line strait across was 60' 8 1/2"
The distance from the North West
corner of Mrs. Hines house to the
center of the boundry stone was 74'
1"
I then went to the Chapel where there
was a meeting of the members of the
Pine Grove Cemetery association, there
were but about 14 present, and they
elected the following trustees, James Porter,
Mark L. Warner, Warren B. Hitchcock,
Theodore Munson, Hiram Abel, Elliot
Doolittle, and Ward B. Porter,
The Pine Grove Cemetary Association has in
the Bank $4,632.56 Perminent Fund $3,700.00
Cash on hand. {erasure of next date heading}
From June 1st 1903 to June 1 1904 there has
been 88 burials.
06\02\1904(Thur)
Worked at the factory this afternoon.
This forenoon, as I had been thinking
during the night that I ought to do
something about the cutting down of
the road in front of my shop, as
they, (the Trolley Company) are cutting
it down five feet, where by agreement
they were to cut it but three, and
by so doing were going to leave the
shop door four feet above the street.
I went first and got William Gillette,
and we went to Ralph Blakeslee's farm
and telephoned to New Haven to Engines
Hill, and I told him of it and of the
damage it was to be to me and that it
would oblige me to lower the whole
factory two or three feet, and I told
him that they had better stop work at
that point. He told me that he would
come and see me, and see if something
could be done to make matters satisfactory,
but could not come to day.
we made an appointment to meet at
11 o'clock to morrow and my shop, and he
said that one Mr Turner his assistant
had already started for Waterbury and
that I could see him and arrange
matters till tomorrow.
I found Mr Turner at about 10.30 at
the concrete bridge they are bulding
over Carrington Brook by David
Porters, and we walked up to my shop.
I told him the circumstances and he stoped {stopped}
the men working there.
06\03\{1904} (Friday)
This morning I met Mr. Hill and
Mr. Turner of New Haven at my
blacksmith shop and we planned
to have the ground in front of the
door graded so it can be used to
good advantage, but not to consider
the matter settled till we could
see how it worked. They are cutting
down the street in front 4' and 4{???}.
I am very lame and have not worked
to day, have worked about home
and watched the men work cutting
down the road in front of the
house. They are taking it down
2.7 feet, it is very hard work on
account of the rocks. They have done
much blasting. Ralph Blakeslee
came and took me up to his place
and showed me where they were getting
the stones out and where they were
planting potatoes.
He is filling up a swamp East of the
old barn with the rocks about 9 feet
deep and there is more than 1/2 acre in
the swamp.
The Mattatuck Drum Band Elected Officers met for {???}.
06\04\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Fred Ley{??} & Co. have more than 300 men
working on the Trolley line, they have
many double dump carts.
About 30 Italian laborors {laborers} passed by
to night with trunks on their heads
and backs on their way to Boston,
having left the trolley work.
06\05\1904 (Sunday)
Frank and Gussy{??} called on us
and he and Will Gillette, Irving
Pierpont and I went out over the
line of the new trolley extension
to Summit. They are now working
building a concrete arch over
Carrington Brook near David Porters.
Next they are cutting down the
road on the hill in front of my
Carraige shop 4{?}4 and are carring{carrying}
the dirt, some of it East and some
of it West and filling in at the
foot of the hills. Next they are
cutting down the hill East of
Mad{??} River and front of my house
and filling in the flat at the
bottom. Next they have opened a
pit in the lot East of the Calvary
cemetery gate. Next they are
cutting at Wedges corner at the
crossing over the Cheshire road.
Next they are cutting in Milan
Northrop's lot East of the Lane{??} at
East Farms. Next they are cutting
in Griswold's lot and filling in his
pond. Next they are beginning a rack{??}
cut by Mitchels{??} cut on the Rail Road
beyond Cat{??} Swamp. Next they are
cutting a small cut this side of
Summit and are digging for a bridge
near Summit Station.
We turned North here and went to
the Cheshire Road and then went
North over the Old Backbone Road
to the Meriden Road where we stoped {stopped}
at the Wheelmens Rest and had some
cool drinks, and then drove home.
Rev. Mr. Smith of Simonsville preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
06\06\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
This eveing I went to town and
bought three brass nipples{??} and two
iron ells.
06\07\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\08\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we attended a Strawberry Festival
at the Chapel. It was crowded and they
cleared over 40{??}.
06\09\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This has been a wet day.
06\10\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Band
met for practice this evening.
06\11\1904 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we finished the new
chicken yard and then planted beans,
corn etc.
06\12\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
After service Margaret, Ruth, Amy
and Mary Miller, and I went to
ride out along the new line of the
trolley road. We drove through East
Farms, out the Plank Road through
Gillette's Corner and on to Rag
Hollow and over to the notch{??} in
the rock's{??} then up to Cheshire Center.
Then we drove up the Southington Road
past the new Power House and turned
to the left and drove home through
Moses Farms.
06\13\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\14\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Workman have finished the new concrete
arch over Carrington Brook near David
Porters and now all of the workmen
have left off work west of here and
have gone east to work, expecting
the steam shovels to finish here when
they come.
06\15\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked as usual to day.
The blasting along the new trolley
line as {at} six o'clock sounds like war
or batteries of cannons. We will hear
15 or 20 reports[??} not far off, then a
dozen away in the distance and more
and more till it is almost a continous
roar of blasts while Ralph
Blakeslee's shakes{??} everything.
They say tha blasting breaks up
setting hens, but notwithstanding
all this rumble and roar, Mary had
a hen come off a few days ago with
14 chickens from 14 eggs and one
yesterday with 13 chickens from a
setting of 13 eggs.
06\16\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this day.
This evening I worked hoeing in the garden.
When Irving came {??}the told of the Excursion
steamer Gen. Slocam taking fire in
Hell Gate this morning and over 500
people were burned and drowned.
06\17\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice
to night,
06\18\1904 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The plating, burnishing and buffing
rooms did not work yesterday or to
day.
They had a school meeting in the
Saw Mill Plain School Houe this
evening and they voted
to build on one or two rooms.
They also elected a committee of five
to confer with the Board of Education
in regard to the same. It consisted
of Thomas Heaton, Charles Miller,
Hiram Abel{??}, Morris Alcott, James White,
and the committee{??} Warren B. Hitchcock.
06\19\{1904} (Sunday)
The methodist minister of Simonsville
preached at the Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon.
06\20\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\21\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Band turned out
for the Graduating Class of the High
School last night which went about the City
and serenaded the Professors and
teachers. It was a long march and
I was so lame that I was obliged to
drop out. This is the first time I ever
left the ranks while on duty in
over 30 years of drumming and marching.
06\22\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This has been one of the most
disagreeable days of my life. I have
suffered all day with my lame
foot, besides a fierce toothache that
has caused my face to swell and
I am in pain all through my head.
Irving's graduating class held
class exercises in Assembly Hall
this afternoon.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
City Board of Education.
06\23\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I, with some of my
family, attended the Graduating
Exercises of the High School of which
Irving is one, in Polis{??} Theatre.
The attendence {attendance} was very large, and the
exercises fine. Ron{??} Walter Chandler
of New York was the orator and the
best I ever heard.
06\24\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to Cheshire and saw
Elliot Doolittle about selling
his land to Ralph Blakeslee.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for
practice, were payed off for service at
Watertown.
06\25\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the electors of the Saw Mill Plains
School District, in the school house
for the purpose of electing Officers
for the ensuing year, etc.
06\26\{1904} (Sunday)
This is Children's Day at the Chapel
and it was crowded. The building
was prettily trimed {trimmed} with flowers
and ferns which made it very
attractive. Rev. J. G. Davenport
officiated.
06\27\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended the celebration
of unvailing {unveiling} the Monument that
marks the spot where Count {??}
Rachambeau's army of 6000 men
encamped on the night of June 27,
1781 and also the next year, their
return from Yorktown.
Alderman Ralph Blakeslee took me
over. The monument was erected
by the American Irish Historical
Society aided by several French
societies of this city.
Before the ceremonies ended, Mr. Blakeslee
and I left and we then went to
Cheshire and saw Mr. Elliot Doolittle
about selling his land on the Doolittle
Road and we talked and Mr. Blakeslee
talked till 10 o'clock when Mr. Doolittle
agreed to sell it for $4,500, on piece
of 19 1/2 acres and one of 24 acres, the
larget situated{??} on the East side
of the Doolittle Road and is bounded
East on Wilson{??} Pierpont, South
on Huber Wedge, Pat Hays and
land belonging to the Catholic people,
West on Mary Doolittle and North on
Ralph Blakeslee.
The smaller piece lies on the West
side of the Doolittle or Frost Road and
is bounded East on highway, South
on land belonging to the Mattatuck
Mfg.{?} COmpany, West on the Mad
River and North on Mr. Blakeslee's
land.
He paid $100 down and Mrs. Doolittle
gave a receipt for the same. Mr. Doolittle
is coming to Waterbury next week
and they are going to have the papers
drawn.
06\28\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\29\1904 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\30\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
B. S. Wedge{??} died yesterday, aged 58 years.
07\01\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met at
my house for practice.
07\02\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The shop shut down to night fo the
July vacation.
This evening Frank, Raymond and
I went to town and I bought a staw
hat for each of them for which I paid
{??}.00. I also bought a suit of clothes
of Charles Phillips at Jones and
Morgans which they charged 18.00
but he finally let me have it for
12.00. The boys bought a lot of fireworks
and a watermelon.
The steam shovel came to day
to work on the trolley road. They
brought it up on rails which
they put down for the purpose.
The hill was so steep and the
rails so poorly laid that it
got stuck in one place and droped {dropped}
through in a nother so they
only got as far as Fathers by
night. It weighs 35 tons as it
stands now and 42 tons when
put together.
07\03\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. {?----------?}, assistant to Mr. Haywood
of the First Baptist Church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
07\04\1904 (Monday)
Indipendence {Independence} Day. Irving,
Margaret, Ruth, Frank and I went
to Nangatuck and saw the parade
this forenoon.
This evening Mary, Margaret,
Ruth, Frank, Raymond, Irving, Amy
and I went up the Watertown Road
and saw them se off $1000.00 worth
of fireworks on the side hill east
of the town house.
We all rode in the two seated wagon
except Amy and Irving who went
by trolley.
07\05\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory, took
out the little waterwheel gear
shaft.
07\06\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day, turning
up a shaft for the little water wheel.
Ralph Blakeslee has bought the two lots
north of my place of Doctor Mary
Doolittle of Ansonia.
07\07\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The steam shovel commenced digging
this morning at 10.30 in front of
Fathers barn for the new trolley
line.
07\08\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\09\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I stoped {stopped} and saw the
Steam Shovel work. It has moved
600 yards of gravel to day.
07\10\{1904} (Sunday)
Mr. Mc Kinley preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
After service, Irving, Clara French,
Ruth and I drove out the Plank
Road to Alfred Brook's place and
there went down the mountain
to Mixville and down to Tucker's
farm and on to Cheshire to see
where they are working on the
trolley road.
07\11\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Clyde came to night from Northfield,
Mass. where he has been attending a convention
of the Y.M.C.A. for students
from all the Colleges this side of the
Missippi {Mississippi} Rover and Canada.
He went to Northfield from Lafayette
College June 20th.
07\12\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\13\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\14\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank said that from our house he
saw men at work ploughing and getting
out stones for Ralph Blakeslee in his
walnut tree lot, and men at work
hawling {hauling} stones off his barn lot, and
men ploughing in his south lot and
the West side of the road and men {???}
in the lot above, and men spreding {spreading}
manure in the lot above that which
altogather {altogether} made a busy time of farming.
This evening Sidney Spender, Stewart
Judd, H. C. Heaton and Irving as a
quartet, had a rehersal {rehearsal} at our house.
Inez Beckwith played.
07\15\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The little son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter
Garrigus died this afternoon.
Attended a school meeting at Mill Plain
this evening.
07\16\{1904} (Saturday)
I did not work to day as I was
not feeling well.
Went down and saw the steam
shovel work this afternoon.
07\17\{1904} (Sunday)
Attended the funeral of Walter
Garrigus' little boy, and then went
to the Chapel. Mr. Maffett{??} preached
and also attended the funeral.
07\18\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This has been a hard day for me as
I have not felt well. I asked for permission
to be out of the shop for
several days, which was granted.
07\19\{1904} (Tuesday)
Clyde, Frank, Raymond and I
worked haying to day. We mowed
and got in the lot corner of the
Cheshire and Harper-|Ferry Roads
and part of the lot this way of it {??}
where Thomas Mill's house stands.
Workman worked drilling in the
rock opposite my shop all last
night and I can hear them now.
There are 4 men holing drills and
8 strikers. They wish to blast away
enough rock to make the road 60 ft.{??}
wide.
07\20\{1904} (Wednesday)
Mowed the meadow{??} where Mills
house stands and nearly all of the
corner lot across the river from the
pump station.
I went around the East portion
of Ralph Blakeslee's farm with
him and showed him the bounds.
07\21\{1904} (Thursday)
Irving stayed out and helped us.
We finished mowing by hand in
the corner lot and got in all of the
hay. I then took Henry Cook's mowing
machine home.
07\22\{1904} (Friday)
I went with all of my folks{??} to
the Mill Plain Sunday School
Picnic at Compound Pond. We
drove all the way. There were three
buss loads and several single teams.
It took about two hours to drive over.
{07\23\1904 (Saturday) [no entry]}
{07\24\1904 (Sunday) [no entry]}
{07\25\1904 (Monday) [no entry]}
07\26\1904 (Tuesday)
Last Saturday, Clyde, Irving and
I drove to Samuel Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] in Goshen.
We went to Oakville, then to Minortown,
then North Woodbury, then to
Washington Center, then Washington
depot, then New Preston depot then
to New Preston then to Lake
Waramaug, then to Warren, then
East Cornwall, West Goshen and
Goshen, distance 44 1/2 miles.
Laft Waterboury at 8 in the morning
and reached Goshen at 9 at night.
Had a fine supper. We then went
to bed, the boys in the middle chamber
and I in the front, which was
good enough for President Rosevelt {Roosevelt}.
Sunday morning the boys helped
milk the 24 cows that Sam is now
milking after which we had breakfast
and then attended worship at
the Goshen Church. After meeting
we went home and ate dinner,
after which we staid about all the
afternoon as it rained hard.
Late in the afternoon we went up
to Ivy Mountin and up the
tower, but it was so foggy that
we could scarcely see the ground.
Monday, we got up and after
breakfast, ground up the scythes
and Clyde, Irving, Fred Williams
and I went mowing in the North
swamp Before noon we had mowed
nearly all of it.
After dinner we hitched up and
started for home at 3 o'clock. We
came through Farrington{??}, East
Litchfield, Camps Mills{??}, Fluteville,
and then turned and went over
Plymouth Hill and through Ferryville{??}
and Wolcott, home, which
we reached at 8 o'clock.
Mr. Mc Kinley preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel last Sunday afternoon.
Clyde went to work at Mathew's {Matthew's} and Willard's
this morning.
07\27\1904 (Wednesday)
I worked about home all day to day.
Ralph Blakeslee began filling in the
Frost Road at the foot of the hill
by the North end of my house lot.
{07\28\1904 (Thursday) [no entry]}
07\29\{1904} (Friday)
Yesterday morning Frank Pierpont,
Raymond and I went to Stratford
to Cousin Melville Curtis{??}.
We drove to Nangatuck, MAry,Ruth,
and Amy going to bring the team
back. There we took the steam cars
and went to Seymour where we
took the new trolley line to Derby
where we took the Bridgeport trolley
and went to Stratford.
In the afternoon we went over to
Milford and to Walnut beach where
we dug some clams. We reached home
about 7 o'clock. This morning we
went to Bridgeport when Cousin
Melville went in{??} and on to Fairfield
where we staid some time visiting the
old cemetary {cemetery}, etc.
We then came back to Stratford
and had dinner.
In the afternoon we went to the
river below Washington Bridge and
hired a row boat and sailed to
Milford Point where Raymond went
in swimming and where we got
a mess{??} of mussels.
I then rowed back against the
wind and tide and we took the
trolley cars to Ansonia and the
steam cars home.
07\30\{1904} (Saturday)
I worked about home all day.
Mary and Ruth went on an excurtion {excursion}
to Glen Island to day.
07\31\1904 (Sunday)
Mr. Long preached at the Chapel to
day.
08\01\{1904} (Monday)
Went to work at the factory to day.
08\02\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
This evening Ralph Blakeslee came to see
me about filling in the road along the West
side of my lot. I only wanted it filled to
the first telephone pole, but he intended
to fill it to a point near my big gate.
He has agreed to fill to the afore said
telephone pole.
08\03\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Fred T. Ley{??} and Company of Springfield,
Mass. who are building the new
trolley line for the Conn. Lighting and
Railway Company have
made the bridge over the Mad
River ready for the rails.
08\04\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They are laying new 12" water pipes along
silver{??} street for the new high water service
which is to be taken from the East Mountain
Reservoir.
08\05\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I came home by way of
the Chapel and stoped {stopped} at Judds Store
and bought a bottle of ink, a letter pad
and box of blacking{??} for which I paid 15 cts.
When I got to the brook by my place,
I had to unhich {unhitch} and leave the buggy
as it was all dug up to lay in 2 lines
of 24" tile pipe. After Irving came we
went and drew the buggy over and
while there, Mrs. Butler came and we
helped her across. She was going up to Mrs.
Jones who is sick, having had a baby
girl this afternoon.
This evening a few boys came and
drummed.
Clyde, Irving and Margaret have gone
to a party down to their cousins,
Louise{??} Jenner's.
Sent a letter to the Blacksmith and Wheelwright
containing 1.00.
08\06\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
After work I stoped {stopped} and saw the steam
shovel work for a while, and then came
up and watched Ralph Blakeslee's men
draw stones and fill in the road
against my lot.
When Clyde came, we sawed up some
of the old timbers that were in the
frame of the old shear{??} shop that burned
in Oct. 1896.
08\07\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Read (Colored) preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
After service, Irving, Louise Jennes{??},
Mariam{??} Brewster, Clifton Heaton,
Jasie{??} Logan of Fonton, Mass. and myself
went to ride to see the work that is
being done on the new trolley road.
We drove out the Plank Road and at
times got out to see the work that is
being done over at the crossing of the
Mixville Brook. Yesterday a train of
five dump gravel cars broke loose of
the engine that was holding them
and ran down the steep grade and off
the end of the trestle that had been
constructed to dump off from and
fell thirty feet, landing in a
heap all smashed.
Clif {Cliff}, the girls and I walked over the
layout and brooks while Irving
drove the team down through Rag
Hollow and met us near the Tucker
Place. We then drove through the
Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks and on through
West Cheshire to Cheshire where we
saw the trolley car come in from
New Haven.
They are working in places all the
way from here to Cheshire on the new
road.
From Cheshire, we drove South till we
came to the second road that turns
to the right, which we took and traveled
till we came to the road that turns
south, beyond which the road was but
little traveled, so we turned south
and drove a long distance before
we came to a house. Here Irving
enquired the way, and we found we
were within a mile of Brooksvale,
but we turned the first right hand
road and came onto the New Haven
Road which we followed back to
Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks and then we
came home after which Irving took
the girls home with the team.
08\08\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clara French and Agnes Abel went
to work to day at noon.
Clyde told me that Olive Abel is
not going to work any more as she
is to be married the 15th of next month.
Mr. Stagg, an inspector of the tracks
on the new trolley road, came to board
at our house tonight.
08\09\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
08\10\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
They have brought the steam shovel up
to a point about midway between my
house and Thomas Mills.
08\11\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
They are laying the trolley rails by my
shop to day.
The rails are the longest I have ever seen,
over 70 feet and 6" high.
08\12\1904 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The steam shovel is working in the bank
opposite my house. Many of the people
of the neighborhood came to see it work.
To day they laid the tracks for the
gravel trains to run on past the
front gate of my house, and tonight
the little engine brought up two cars and
left them.
08\13\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The boys and I finished sawing up
the remaining timber of the frame
of the old shear shop to night.
Ralph Blakeslee has finished filling
in the foot of the hill on the Frost
Road to night. He has put in there
over 3000 loads of stones.
08\14\1904 (Sunday)
Patrie Slavin, Dennis Slavin and Patrick's
son Henry, Clyde and I drove out along
the line of the new trolley road to its
end in Cheshire. They are working in
place all along the line.
The hardest places are at the Roaring
Brook near the Blakeslee Road in
Cheshire, and the fill across the Mix
meadows. At the Roaring Brook they
have a high fill of over 50 feet I think
and a little west, a deep rock cut.
At the Mix meadows there is a fill 38 ft.
high and a little west there si a cut 58 ft.
deep.
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Advent Church
preached at the Mill Plain Chapel to day.
08\15\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory today as usual.
This afternoon Thomas Mills house took
fire from sparks sent out by the
little locomotive that draws the gravel
train. They put it out after it had burned
a hole in the roof.
One of the horses working in the rock
cut near Wilson Pierponts backed off
the stone arch over the "Horse Brook"
and fell back into the water and would
have drowned had not an Italian held
his head above water while another man
cut the harness off. They then got
him out and found no serious injuries.
This forenoon, two of the gravel cars
ran away while being loaded at the
steam shovel and ran down to Thom {Tom}
Mills house where one jumped the
track and ran into the bank and upset.
Mrs. Spenser Monroe had a girl baby born
this morning.
08\16\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this morning and
all day.
08\17\{1904} (Wednesday)
This forenoon a constable came to the
factory and summoned me to go to
cort {court} this afternoon to do juror duty.
I worked till noon and then went to
the City Court held in City Hall
at 2 o'clock and sat with five other
jurors on the case of Mrs. Margaret
Dorothy against one Malone and
Mc Cahey{??}.
Mrs. Dorothy leased the above parties
a building on East Main Street for
hotel purposes in July 1902 for a
term of 5 years, and since June they
have not paid the rent on time and
according to the lease and{??} she wishes
to put them out.
After hearing the evidence, the Jury
decided in favor of the plaintiff.
The blasting about here is something
terific {terrific}. Ralph Blakeslee set off some
wind{??} blasts that shook a vase off
from the shelf in my house.
To night we attended a meeting and
entertainment at Hamilton Call{??}.
The Paymaster for Walter Burk & Co.
who is building three miles of the
east end of the Cheshire trolley line
has ran away yesterday with $6,000
which had been given him to pay
off the help.
Will Gillette went over to Cheshire
late last night and attached{??} cars,
tools, horses, carts, steam drills,
boilers, derricks, locomotives etc.
08\18\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\19\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Five years ago to day I went to work
at Rogers and Brother{??} Factory.
Ralph Balkeslee had a force of men at
work digging out the west and north
ditch in my lot so he can drain his
swamp better.
The Mattatuck Drum Band held a meeting.
08\20\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
The steam shovel is at work in the
bank opposite my house.
08\21\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Basset preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
I attended a Christian Endevor {Endeavor} Meeting
this evening in the Chapel.
Harry Wakelee was buried at Woodtick
this afternoon.
08\22\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers and Hamilton
to day at steam fitting work about the
boilers.
08\23\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at Rogers and Hamiltons to
day at steam fitting.
I have just returned from a strole {stroll?}
with Laurence Tobin{??} and Dennis
Slavin. We looked at the steam
shovel and at the little locomotive
that had ran off the track and at
the cars that ran away down the
hill this afternoon and got smashed
and at the grade they are making
to lay the trolley rails in east of
my house and at the steam drill
up in Ralph Blakeslee's lot that they
are using to get the field racks out with.
08\24\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Clara and Bertha French
came and helped Clyde get things
ready for an entertainment at the
grange.
08\25\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening when I came home from work,
a constible {constable} had been to see sister Iva
and left 58 warrants with her for
Will, gar{?????????} the property which
he had attached{??} that belonged to Walter
Berk Co. constructers of the Cheshire
Trolley Road whoes {whose} paymaster ran away
with $4,200 last Friday. The writs
were gotten out by the Italian laborours {laborers}
who have had no pay for 45 and in
some cases 60 days.
Today they put up the trolley wire
from Silver Street to the Mad River.
Yesterday Mary sent Frank and he
brought Mr. Baker, an old man who
lives up near the Red Bridges ({???} Lee's
father-|in-|lay {law) and he sat in our front
yard and watched the steam shovel
work and visited.
To day she sent and had Mrs. Chas{??} Frost,
Mrs. Porter and Mother Pierpont come
who with a dozen more had quite a
visit.
08\26\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
To day a construction car came out
to the Mad River about noon. This is
the first car that has come over the new
trolley tracks from Silver Street to the
bridge over Mad River.
08\27\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory all day.
They have moved the steam shovel
to the pit in the lot east of Calvary
Cemetery to day.
08\28\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
After service Amy, Margaret, Frank and
I went for a ride. We drove out the Plank
Road and saw where they are working on
the new trolley road to Gillette's Corner
and then turned South and came out on
the main Prospect Road, which we followed
west to East Mountain where we saw
the new water pipe they are putting in
for the high service in Waterbury, and
we there had to drive around by the Gilbert
Hotchkiss place on account of the road being
closed.
08\29\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Olive Abel is 22 years old to day.
08\30\{1904} (Tuesday)
This morning Clyde, Irving and I
got up at 3.30, ate breakfast and drove to
Seymour where we left the horse at a livery
stable and then took the trolley cars for
Stratford. Soon after we got aboard we paid
our fare of five cents. When we reached
Ansonia we paid five cents more and got
a transfer. At Derby we left the Ansonia
cars and got aboard of the Bridgeport cars
and used our transfers. Soon we paid
five cents more and then five cents
again, and at Paradise Green we paid
five cents again, and this took us to
the pole in Stratford, where we met
Charlie Stagg and we went to his house
where he gave us some second hand
clothing and then we went to the
boat house and got his launch ready
and got aboard. Had trouble starting the
engine, sailed to the mouth of the Housatonic{??}
River intending to fish for blue fish,
but it was so rough that we could not
get out side of the break water, so we
turned back and fished inside and we
caught two little fish. After
a time we went to the mouth of a creek
on the east side of the river below Washington
Bridge and fished for a long time.
Charlie caught four or five but none of
the rest caught any. We had lunch and
then sailed out{??} the river four or five
miles and back again to the landing
where we left the boat and then went
and called on Cousin Clarissa and Melville
Curtis, and there took the trolley cars to
Shelton and Derby to Seymour, wher {where} we
took the horse and drove home, reached here
at ten minutes past ten.
This day the cars have run regular to
the Mad River.
Had school meeting this night.
08\31\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\01\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening after work I went to the apothecaries
hall and bought one{??} gallon{??} of
boiled linseed oil for 60 cts.
All the girls in the machine burnishing
room went up to Olive Abel's to supper.
There were ten of them, and they went
on invatation {invitation} of Olive, who expects to
be married the 14th of this month.
09\02\1904 (Friday)
Worked as usual to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice.
09\03\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Commenced working on the dow{??} to day.
This evening at about 8 o'clock a train
of gravel cars ran away without any
engine down the hill in front of my
house and a little this side of the bridge,
jumped the track. No one was hurt.
09\04\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
to day.
This morning we took the trolley at
the bridge and went to church at the
Second Congregational.
09\05\{1904} (Monday)
Although this is Labor Day, a legal
holiday, I have worked hard on Roger's
bras {brass??} dow{??}.
They are moving the steam shovel to
East Farms. Have got it as far as Rob
Hotchkiss.
The Mill Plain Christian Endevor {Endeavor}
Society gave a picnic at Quassapaucy{??}
to dya. They went in 3 large
busses. Mary and Frank, Raymond
and Ruth drove over.
09\06\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\07\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening as I came home from
work they were unloading rails this
side of the bridge for the new trolley
road. They were 70 ft. long and 6 in.
high and weighed 1570 lbs. each.
I can remember when the longest
railroad rails about here were 16 1/2
feet long and two men could lift
them easily.
09\08\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
09\09\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\10\1904 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mrs. Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Goshen came to day.
09\11\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After Chapel, Mrs. Ovaitt [Oviatt], Margaret,
Agnes Abel, Wilber{??} and I went for a
drive out the Meriden Road and down
through East Farms and in the
Plank Road.
09\12\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This noon I heard of the death of
Charlie Conner.
He was killed by the cars on Saybrook{??}
Saturday night.
09\13\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Irving, Vernon{??}, Abel and
I went over to the Foresters{??} Hall and
got sixteen double seats and took them
to the Chapel to be used at the wedding
of Olive Abel tomorrow.
09\14\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day till 10.30.
I then came home and got ready, had
dinner and then Mary, Clyde, Irving,
Ruth and I walked to the bridge over Mad
River where we took the trolley car and went
to the bridge over the Nangatuck River at
West Main Street where we took a hack{??}
and went to the home of Mr. George W.
Connor to attend the funeral of their
son, Charlie. The house was full of
relations and friends. Rev. Mrs. Buckley
of Trinity Church officiated.
We then went to Trinity Church where
the funeral service was held.
The church was well filled, about half of
the congregation being workmen of the
Waterbury Brass Company where Charlie was
superintendent. Soon after the service
commenced there was a great down pore {pour}
of rain with thunder and lightening so
we had to wait some time till the rain
had abated when we went to the Pine
Grove Cemetary {Cemetery} where he was buried by
the side of his mother.
Olive Abel and Allen Burges were
married this afternoon at 3 o'clock in
the Mill Plain Chapel. While they were
standing there it rained torrents and
the thunder and lightening was terific {terrific}.
09\15\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked as usual to day.
Mrs. Ovaitt [Oviatt] left our house to day for
Bristol.
Clyde left on the 6.15 train for Easton
last night.
09\16\1904 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\17\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I worked on the little fire
engine that I am building.
09\18\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Zeiter{??} of the Simonsville Church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service Irving, Amy, and I drove
over to Mix's meadows in Cheshire
where the engine and six gravel cars
ran off a trestle 38 ft. high on the new
trolley road.
09\19\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
John French did not work this forenoon.
09\20\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\21\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
09\22\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This is Mary's birthday, 44 years old.
Had a heavy frost this morning.
09\23\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\24\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\25\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
09\26\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory as usual
This is Fannie and Mary Porters birthday,
48 years old.
09\27\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Burges returned
from their wedding trip to Penn last
night.
This is my birthday, 46 years old.
09\28\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening about 40 boys with drums
and fifes, tin pans, horns, cow bells, and
other bells went up to Hiram Abel's
and gave Allen Burges and Olive a
serenade. They fired guns and then
played three times on the drums
and fifes, as no one came out, then
they began to pound and make a great
racket that sounded as if all thunder
and bedlem {bedlam} was let loos {loose}, which they
kept up for some time till Mrs. Abel
came out with a broom and drove
them all out of the yard.
09\29\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\30\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\01\{1904} (Saturday)
To day Frank, Raymond, Ruth and I
went out to Mother Pierponts and picked
up apples. We sent the first load of
14 bags full home at about 10 o'clock, and
Mary and Margaret came back with
Frank. When he brought the team back
we picked up two loads more, and
finished at about four, after which we went
up on the hill and picked up chestnuts. We
had half a bushel that we had found.
Last night the boys serenaded Allen
Burges and his new wife at Hiram Ables {Abels}.
10\02\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Haris preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel.
10\03\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\04\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys of the neighborhood
came in and Mary read Sy
Clfe{??} to them.
10\05\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
They began working till 9 o'clock last
Monday night in the making,
polishing, trimming and machine
rooms.
10\06\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\07\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
10\08\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked as usual to day.
10\09\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service, Mary, Margaret,
Irving and I went to ride out to
ALfred Brooks' place to see the work
on the new trolley lines {????????}.
10\10\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\11\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory all day.
This evening Raymond Bolton, Clarence Brown,
Fred Lund and Henry Beckwith came
and heard Mary read the "Green Mountain
Boys".
Pete gave me check for 40.00.
10\12\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Wolcott Fair was to have been
held to day but was postponed on
account of the rain.
10\13\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
10\14\1904 (Friday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
Mary and the boys and girls
went to the Wolcott Fair.
I wrote a letter to Chas{??} Stagg
of Stratford this evening.
10\15\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Irving got through working for
Joseph Smith to night. He has been
studying architecture.
10\16\{1904} (Sunday)
Re. Mr. Moffelt of Waterville preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service, Mary and I went to
Mr. Judds where we took tea and
in the evening we went to the
Christian Endever {Endeavor} Meetings.
10\17\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Irving went to work at the
Farrell Foundry{???} and Machine
Company at mechanical drawing{??}
this morning.
10\18\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Sent an order to Montgomery
Ward & Co. of Chicago, also an order
for goods to Sears Roebuck & Co. of the
same place to night.
10\19\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This is our payday. I received my
pay, 15.75, for last weeks work.
This evening we attended a
rally of the Christian Endever {Endeavor}
Society at the Mill Plain Chael.
Rev. Mr. Harris was there and
presided.
After the service, refreshments were
served.
10\20\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They have finished digging the
cellar of the new Mill Plain
School House.
Mr. Walker who has charge of the
new Hamilton Park is putting
walks and drives about it.
After work we picked over apples
and have about 9 bushels. Tomorrow
Frank and Raymond are going
to take them out to Mintres{??}
Cider Mill on the Plank Road
and have them "made up".
10\21\1904 (Friday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brother
this day.
We had a heavy rain storm accompanied
with much wind this forenoon, but it
cleared up about two o'clock.
10\22\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Ralph Blakeslee told
me that he thought he would
accept the nomination for Representative
to the Legislator {Legislature}.
10\23\{1904} (Sunday)
This forenoon at about ten o'clock
Patrie{??} and Dennis Slavin, Irving,
I and Pat's boy Henry started in my
two seated wagon and drove over to
the Meriden Mountain. We left the
horse at the foot of the path that
leads to the top of West Peak, and went
up to the summit where we had
a fine view of the Sound, Long
Island, and all of the surrounding
counrt, saw Mt. Tom{??} in Massachusetts
and Manadonack{??} in New Hampshire.
We then went over to the new tower
on East Peak and went to the top. We
then got the team and went through
the Hubbard Park and on to West
Main Street, where we turned north
just before we reached the Waterbury
R. R. crossing and drove up through
Cat Hole Pass to Kensington and from
there to Southington and home, which
we reached at 8 o'clock.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternon.
10\24\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Bolton got through die sinking{??} at
the shop Saturday night.
Elsie and Cara French went to work at
Platt Companies{??} Button Shop this morning.
10\25\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening as we were coming home
from work we saw that the trolley
company were{??} cutting away the
bank in front of Ervice{??} Wright's place.
A number of the boys of the neighborhood
came in to hear Mary read
the "Green Mountain Boys".
10\26\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\27\1904 (Thursday)
I worked for Rogers $ Brother from 7 to 12.30 and
from 1 to 5.30. Ten hours, (our regular days
work) to day.
This evenign Mary went to a usical
entertainment at St. Margarets School but
they did not have it, as the principle {principal}
musition {musician} is sick.
I went to see Mr. Jones about being
made a voter, and he said that he will
be made tomorrow.
10\28\1904 (Friday)
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
They had a party over to Charlie Casses'{??}
to night, a surprise on Henry
and Grace. Quite a number of the
young folks met at my house and
went ver in a body.
10\29\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I, with Ruth, went to
the center and Ruth got her mother's
new hat and a quart of oysters
and then we came home, and I
brought Agnes Abel up from Silver
Street.
10\30\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev.{??} Mr.{??} Anderson preached at
the Mill Plain Chapel to day.
After service I went out to Wedge's{??}
and looked at the new concrete arch
just completed.
10\31\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening sister Iva gave a Haloween {Halloween}
party at Father's house. Everybody had to
wear a mask. Mary had a rig{??} for me which
made me look like a farmer, but I went
over to Frenches and Bertha dressed
me up like an old woman and
Mary or no one else knew me.
11\01\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
11\02\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to the Chapel to
a supper and entertainment given by
the ladies union. The supper was excellent
and cost 15 cts. each.
The entertainment consisted of singing
and recestations {recitations}.
11\03\{1904} (Thursday)
I worked to day as usual.
The Grangers had a musical entertainment
in their hall this evening.
Mary and Irving went.
11\04\1904 (Friday)
I worked today moving the fence out
into the street in front of the shop.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Band went to the center and marched
to the corner of South Main and then
to East Main Street and to Hamilton
Hall escorting a Band wagon load
of Republican speakers who spoke to
an audience of men, women, boys
and girls. They were all Republicans
and spoke for Theodore Rosevelt {Roosevelt} for
President.
11\05\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
11\06\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris of the First Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel to day.
This forenoon at abouy a quarter to ten,
sister Iva came and said that Cara had
been having an unpleasant time and
had gone away, they knew not where,
and she wanted something done to prevent
her from repeating it many
more times, as Amy says that she
cannot stand it and longer and
Will says that he will get out if he has
to put up with it.
I went down and saw Will and made
arrangements to have him see a
lawyer and see if we could not
have a consivator{??} appointed over
her effects and person.
I attended service at the Chapel this
afternoon as is my custom.
After service Ruth, Irving, Miss
Marshal and I went out along the
line of the new trolley road that
is being built. We went as far as
the cut that they are putting through
the ledge east of the bridge east
of Gillette Corners, then came home
by the Plank Road.
11\07\{1904} (Monday)
Worked to day moving the fence
and gatehouse in front of the
factory farther out into the
street.
Warren Hitchcock's wife had a little
girl baby born lst Friday,
wight {weight} 3 lbs.
Mr. Mulhern's wife had a baby
girl born to them a few days
ago.
11\08\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
This is Presidental Day and I voted
for Theodore Rosevelt {Roosevelt} for president and
the strait Republican ticket.
11\09\{1904] (Wednesday)
Worked as usual, came home at 5 o'clock. At{???}
I am going to Watertown with the Mattatuck
Drum Band.
11\10\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Last night I went to Watertown with
the Drum Corps, 12 men. We left the bridge on
the 6.22 trolley car and went to the
Nangatuck Rail Road Station where we
took the steam cars. At Watertown we
headed a parade which was given in
honor of the Republican victory.
{11\11\{1904} (Friday) [no entry]}
11\12\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked yesterday and to day.
Last night there was a great Republican
rally in town on account of the Rep'
victory. I turned out and drummed
with the Mattatuck Drum Band, 13 men.
There were thousands in line, nearly
factory in town being represented by
a large body of men.
11\13\{1904} (Sunday)
Very stormy, wind, rain, snow,
hail and sleet.
No service at the Chapel, but they had
Sunday School.
Mr. and Mrs. Judd at our house to supper.
11\14\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\15\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked to day in the factory.
11\16\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked as usual today in the factory.
This evening Ruth, Margaret, Frank, Ray and I
attended a lecture at East Farms School House.
11\17\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Workmen began laying tracks for the
trolley road east of the Mad River Bridge.
Mary and Irving have gone to the Grange
Fair.
11\18\{1904} (Friday)
I worked as usual to day.
Mr. Charlie Stagg of Stratford came to
board with us to day. He is an inspector
of the track laying for the Connecticut
Electric Railway and Lighting Company.
The Grange Fair is on to night.
11\19\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Barlow Brothers
Store and bought three lengths and
one elbow of stove pipe of Russian iron
for which I paid 2.00 and a zine covered
stove board for 1.00.
11\20\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
I attended the Christian Endever {Endeavor} Meeting
this evening.
Wrote a letter to Clyde.
11\21\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Went to the Nangatuck freight
depot and got two cushions and a
box that came from Chicago.
11\22\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The workmen are digging and blasting
in front of my house to day for the
tracks.
Twenty one years ago to day I was married
to Miss Mary A. Pierpont of East Farms
in Mill Plain Chapel.
11\23\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The belt that drives the grea fan in
the trimming room got wet this
noon and came apart this afternoon.
We repaired it and had it running
by three o'clock.
11\24\1904 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day.
The Somers family met at Uncle Joe's
house and had dinner. There were about
40 present.
They laid the rails past my house
to day for the trolley road.
Wrote a letter to Mr. Albert Hill,
New Haven.
11\25\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Charlie Stagg came again after spending
Thanksgiving at his home in Stratford.
They finished laying tarck to day for
this fal,l laid to a little beyond
Calvary Cemetery gate.
11\26\1904 (Saturday)
Worked as usual to day.
This evening I drove to town and
got one quart of oysters for 35 cts., came
home and we put the roof on the wood
shed.
11\27\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams, assistant to Mr.
Davenport, preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. He has preached at South
Britain for some years past.
The weather has been cold and snowy.
11\28\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Charlie Cass went to work at the Waterbury
Lumber and Coal Company this
morning. Sherman Monroe went to
work as stationary engineer for Reid
and Hughes this morning.
Warren Hitchcock's little child died last
Friday and was buried yesterday afternoon.
11\29\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to fathers and got an organ that I bought
for Mary in 1876, paid $225.00 for it.
11\30\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the Ladies Union gave a
supper and entertainment in the Chapel.
Ther {There} was a large number present and
they cleared $14.00.
12\01\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
I carried{??} Miss Welton in town to night.
We worked cleaning the organ.
12\02\1904 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I went to the Fourth National Bank this noon
and got two checks cashed, one from Emil{?}
Marggraff of Watertown for $19.20 and
one from Ralph Blakeslee for $18.00. They
were for the Mattatuck Drum Band and
were pay for playing in a parade in
Watertown and in a parade in Waterbury
after election.
12\03\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It has been very cold, a little snow fell.
12\04\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
to day.
12\05\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Snow fell to the depth of 3 inches to day.
12\06\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and girls of the neighborhood
called in and Mary read to
them a while, after which they practiced
singing Christmas carols for the Chapel
entertainment.
12\07\1904 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\08\{1904] (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\09\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\10\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Peter Laroque paid check of 20.oo to day.
12\11\1904 (Sunday)
This day has been cold and stormy.
Rev. Mr. Verder preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. He is assistant to Rev. Mr. Buckley
of Trinity Church.
12\12\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory all day.
It has snowed nearly all day but the
snow is only about three inches deep.
12\13\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked in the shop all day.
It snowed all night and the snow was
15 inches deep this morning. I got up soon
after five, and hitched into{??} the snow
plow and made a path to the end of
the trolley line and up the Southmaid
Road to Mr. Frey's and came home.
Hitched into my sleigh after breakfast
and went to the shop, (drove up and got
Agnes Abel). It continued to snow
till noon and in all 18 inches fell.
12\14\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked in the factory.
This evening I drove out to Mr. Marities{??}
on the Plank Road to order some cider
for Mr. George Rockwell, Secretary of
International Silver Co., and for
Fred Chase, President of the Chase
Rolling Co. It was a hard, cold drive,
the snow being deep and the thermometer
6 below zero when I got home.
I then went to James Porter's and he
lent me and old fashioned shirt and
vest to wear at the Fair of the
Patriotic Sons of America to be given
in City Hall. I then went out to
Char{??} Cass, and then came home.
Captain Baugs{??} was buried in the
Pixie Grove Cemetery to day.
The bugle sounding "taps"{??} and the
musket firing three vollies {volleys} were
heard throughout tis region.
12\15\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory all day.
This evening I got ready soon as possible
and Bob Beckwith came and we went
over to Charlie Casses' and we finished
our rigging out{??}, Charlie with continental
coat, buff facings, no shirt, buff pants,
white stockings, buff boot tops, black
wig with stubby whiskers and bandage
about head with blood spot on it.
I was dressed with pants, stockings etc.
like Charlie, but had white waist belt,
an old fashioned shirt and sleves {sleeves} rolled up
and thrown open at brest {breast??} and an old
fashioned vest, thrown open in front,
gray wig on my head and mustache and
eye brows white.
Bob was dressed in Cuff{??} continental
uniform.
We drove to City Hall and soon went
over to "Platt's Clock{??}" where the parade
started and we headed it and went
down South Main St., up Grand, up
Bank and to City Hall. In the Hall
we paid {played} "Yankee Doodle" on the stage.
It was hard marching as the snow
was deep.
12\16\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I called for Charles Cass
and we went to the City and drummed
through the streets about the center to
the City Hall. We did not play on the
stage owing to the small attendence.
It is cold to nigh {night}.
12\17\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day till 5 o'clock.
This evening Charlie, Bob and I drummed
about the streets and on the stage.
We also looked at the moving pictures.
Stayed till about 11 o'clock when we drove
home, it snowing very hard.
The making department shut down to day.
12\18\{1904} (Sunday)
At two o'clock I went to the undertaking
rooms of Mr. Edmurador{??} on
Center Street and attended the funeral
of Mattie Wedge{??} Baxter Hill who died of pneumonia
at Henry Wedge's last Thursday.
Rev. Mr. Harris officiated and the
pall bearers{??} were Max Reed, Mr. Blackbourn,
Wilson Pierpont and I. She was
buried on the East side of the Pine
Grove Cemetery.
Rev. Mr. Stockdale preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
About 6 inches of snow fell last
night. This morning we hitched a small
stone drag{??} back of it and Frank,
Ray and I ploughed out the roads
over to Casie's{??} and up the Southmaid
out the Meriden and
down the Doolittle roads.
12\19\{1904} (Monday)
Worked today at the factory.
I made scrapers for the workmen to
clear the snow off from the pond in
Hamilton Park.
12\20\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
They stoped {stopped} work in the machine burnishing
room to day.
12\21\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked.
Allen Burges brought home my sleigh
which he has had on his trip to Morris{??},
Watertown selling tea since Sunday
night.
Clyde came home from Lafayette
College this evening at about 8 o'clock.
Will Gillette and Iva caled to see Clyde
but he and Irving had gone skating on
the Brass Mill Pond.
Will and Iva then started north up the
road. We think they went to serenade
Burt Frisbie up in Woodtick who is lately
married.
12\22\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This morning the thermometer stood 14
degrees below zero.
This evening Clyde, Irving, Mary and
I went up to the Chapel and trimed {trimmed} it.
There were several young men that
came and helped as did Clara French.
12\23\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I carried Ruth to the rehersel {rehearsal} of the Sunday
School children at the Chapel.
12\24\1904 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory ti day.
The buffers got through work to day.
Shelbourne Rockwell gave me a Christmas
present yesterday. I do not know what it
is but I think it is a book.
This is Christmas Eve and there is a row of
stockings hung up in our sittingroom some
of which are already filled.
12\25\{1904} (Sunday)
Christmas. This morning we all got
up at day light and all unpacked their
stockings, Grandma Pierpont (who came
over yesterday) and all. I had a pair of
wolen {woolen} mittens, some handkerchiefs, oranges,
candies, etc and $5.00 in cash. The childrens'
stockings were well filled.
The weather has been very cold all day
and at four o'clock it began snowing.
The attendence at the Chapel was large
and the singing better than I ever heard
there before by the Choir. Dr. Davenport
read a story to the people which was
very interesting.
12\26\1904 (Monday)
This day is observed as a holiday for Chirstmas.
We had dinner at Fathers and in the afternoon
Frank(brother) , Clyde, Irving,
Vernon Abel and I went to Nangatuck
and went through the new school house
that Mr. Whittimore is building and
is to give to Nangatuck as a present.
It is certainly a nice building.
When we came home we walked up
the railroad to Platts Mills and saw
the steamshovel and steam derricks
and drills that are at work double
tracking the Nangatuck Rail Road.
In the evening we had a Christmas
tree at Fathers and lots of presents
for all.
12\27\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Robert Hotchkiss died at the soldiers
home at Noroton{??} and is to be buried
at the Pine Grove Cemetery tomorrow
afternoon.
It has stormed hard all day and the
Christmas entertainment at the Chapel
is posponed {postponed} till tomorrow evening.
12\28\1904 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we went to the Christmas
entertainment at the Chapel.
12\29\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\30\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
12\31\1905 {1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
After work, Frank and I went to the Waterbury
Lumber Yard and got some oak board that
I had left there last night to be plained.
We then went to the Danbury Hat Store
and I bought a black felt hat for 1.90.
Then went to Hotchkiss & Fempletons
and got some brass screws and round
nickel head screws for 55 cts.
Sleighing is about gone.
//end of 1904 entries//
01/01/1905 (Sunday)
This morning I took the trolley and went
to the second church.
This afternoon Edward Manwaning who
has been sick over two years at Mr. Barry
Garrigus' with consumption and who died
last {[blank]} was buried from the Chapel
at 3 o'clock. Rev. Dr. Davenport officiated.
01/02/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory getting things
ready to start up to morrow.
The Japanese captured Port Arthur
from the Russians yesterday. The
Russians surrendered about 20,000
men.
01/03/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked lining up an idler and bracing
the same so as to make the new belt
on the Brown engine run true.
This morning it was very slipery {slippery} but
it has snowed nearly all day and
is still blowing and snowing so
that sleighing has come again.
The making department started up
to day.
01/04/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked to day in the factory.
The ladies gave a supper and entertainment
at the Chapel this evening.
01/05/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Last evening there was a school meeting called
but I objected to any business being done as the
meeting had not
been advertised.
01/06/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Florence Abel began working in the watch shop
yesterday.
01/07/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked as usual at the factory to day.
01/08/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Verder preached at the Chapel
to day.
01/09/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The roads are very icy and some
bare{?} ground.
01/10/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked.
01/11/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I saw Mr. Rockwell about getting more pay.
He said that "he would look it up".
01/12/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
01/13/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The {They} too Henry Buckingham's wifle {wife} to
the insane asylum at Middletown
yesterday.
01/14/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening the Chapel choir met
at our house and practiced.
01/15/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Moffett preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. He said that probably
this was his last sermon, as he expected
to be transfered to another field of labor.
He is the Methodist Minister at Waterville.
Clara French told me that her father
got hurt at the factory yesterday after
I left.
01/16/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
They started up the plating department
this moring. Minnie{??} Dugan sent for
Agnes Abel to come to work tomorrow noon.
01/17/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory.
This evening after work, I went to Hotchkiss and
Fempletons and bought three dozen brass round
head screws for 45 cts. I also bought two five
stove pipe ells for 50 cts. of Minor on Grand
Street.
I sent my subscription for the Conn. Magazine
to night - 2.00.
Enclosed in a letter, 6.00 to Ralph Blakeslee for
wood.
Enclosed in letter to P.F. Callier, Providence R.I., 1.30 to pay
balance of contract for weekly paper.
Enclosed in letter, 5.20 to P.F. Callier and son,
New York to pay for this year's supscription
to Callier's Weekly.
01/18/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
William Warren died at his home on
the East side of the Woodtick Road
opposite the school house (a little north)
this morning at 5 o'clock of pneumonia.
01/19/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Mr. John Lines was buried this afternoon
from the First Baptist Church, the Rev.
John Davenport officiating. Mr. Lines
was a man whom was well liked by
everybody. For years he was superintendent
of the Upper Shops at the Scoville
Mfg. Co. He was also a veteran fireman
and veteran soldier having served
over three years in the 14th Conn.
Infantry, in the war of the Rebellion
took part in thirty battles.
For years he was at the head of Lines
Orchestra.
01/20/{1905} (Friday)
Worked this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended Willaim
Warren's funeral. It was held in the
Chapel and was the largest funeral ever
held there, the concarse{??} of people being
so great that all the standing room
was taken and about seventy five stood
outside. Mr. Warren was Assistant
Superintendent at the watch shop and
that factory shut down this afternoon.
There were about fourteen nice floral
pieces given by friends and relations.
The funeral was paid for by the New England
Watch Co.
01/21/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day {???} some of
the time. The rest of the time I was at the
old Rogers & Hamilton factory taking
out the machinery and stock and bringing
them down to our shop.
They are also taking out the Engine.
01/22/{1905} (Sunday)
Cold and stormy. Carried mother
Pierpont to the Chapel, but did not
stay as I was not feeling well. Rev.
Dr. Davenport preached.
01/23/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
01/24/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory, was up to Rogers
and Hamilton factory this afternoon.
01/25/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
We had a great snow all day and to night
I ploughed out the road up to Ralph Blakeslee's
barn and up the Southmayd {Southmaid} Road
to Judd's Store.
01/26/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory, 9 hours.
Mr. John Frey died last night at 9 o'clock
of pneumonia, aged 77 years last Tuesday.
I dug and plowed out the Doolittle Road to
Mr. Ables this morning{??}.
01/27/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers and
Hamilton all day taking out pipe fiiting,
grit{?} etc.
Hubert Wedge got badly hurt at the
factory of the Waterbury Lumber and
Coal Co. yesterday by a belt braking {breaking}
and the hooks catching him in the
neck.
01/28/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the unoccupied shop of Rogers &
Hamilton on Griggs Street.
To day Ralph Blakeslee gave his annual
sleigh ride to the school children of
Waterbury. He had 60 large sleighs, each
drawn by 2 large horses except one and
that had 4 horses. There were about
three thousand children in the sleighs.
01/29/1904 {1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Anderson of the First Congregational
Church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Mr. John Frey was buried in the Pine
Grove Cemetery this afternoon.
01/30/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01/31/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
02/01/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The weather is very cold. The thermometer
stood at 15 below zero this morning.
02/02/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Cold, thermometer stood 16 below this
morning.
02/03/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The themometer {thermometer} stood 4 below this morning.
Went this evening to Nangatuck to see
P.O. Laughlin{?}.
02/04/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Colder this morning. The thermometer
was 18 below zero this morning.
02/05/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
02/06/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The snow fell to a depth of 6 inches
this forenoon.
Yesterday Sidney Spender was 21 years
old.
I went to see James Porter this evening.
02/07/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
02/08/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
There are many sick persons about Mill Plain
at this time. Mrs. Lockhart is sick with
Pluresy{?} and Jaunders[?}. Earnest Welton's wife
is very sick with pneumonia. Chas{?} Cass
is down with the Grip. Mrs. Morrow is
sick with influenza and Murry Bubec{?}
is also sick.
02/09/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
02/10/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to Rogers & Hamilton and got a
lood {load} of steam fittings.
02/11/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and I brought up
a large iron straitening plate from my
shop that weighed 3200 lbs., drew it upon
my sled with my horse.
Last night the boys gave a magic
lantern exhibition in our house. There
were about 20 children present who
paid .01 ct. admission.
02/12/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This forenoon at 11 o'clock Margaret and
I left home and drove to Bristol. We
found the snow very deep and more
than half the distance, the roads
are dug out by hand. Drifts 10 feet
deep are to be found in many
places. The weather was cold. We {When} we started,
the themometer {thermometer} stood 14 above zero and it
remained cold all the way up. Got to Bristol
at 2 and put the horse out at a livery stable
and then went up to Franks on High Street,
staid there till four and started for home
in a blinding snow storm. It was after
five before we got out of Bristol and we
were obliged to travel slow up the mountain
so darkness set in when we were
near Cedar Swamp Pond, and it was
hard to see the track. As we were driving
down the hill this side of the Ransom
Hall Pond{???}, we ran a runner up on the
drift and it tipped us over and threw
the horse down. I had Margaret hold the
horse down and then unhitched him
and pulled the sleigh back and the
horse jumped up and we tipped the
sleigh up and started again. It was
now raining very hard. We reached
home at 8 o'clock.
02/13/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Yesterday Ruth was 14 years old and tonight
a large number of young people of the
neighborhood gave her a surprise party.
02/14/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening a party of the Grangers went
to Cheshre {Cheshire} in Arthur Pierpont's bob sled.
Mary and Irving went from our house.
02/15/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary went to the Foresters' supper
and dance and also went to the
Grange.
02/16/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
The fire inspector came around the
factory to day.
02/17/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I had a talk with Mr. Rockwell this forenoon
about nickel silver.
After work I went to Simonsville to
see Robert Somers about metal.
02/18/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked to day.
This evening I went to town and bought
a pair of gloves.
02/19/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the Chapel.
Went to Simonsville and saw Rob Somers.
02/20/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to J.G. Jones and had my shop insured, {???}1000.00.{?}
02/21/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02/22/{1905} (Wednesday)
Washingtons birth day.
This morning I raised the flag {???}
the office at the factory.
02/23/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to the D.A.R. entertainment
at the Second Church.
The {They} had a great collection of old relicks {relics}.
02/24/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This is Margaret's 16th birthday and the young
people gave her a party tonight.
02/25/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Frank is sick with something that looks
like poison that has broken out on his
body.
02/26/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel.
Margaret, Ruth, Raymond and I went
for a sleigh ride out the Plank Road to
where they are working on the new
trolley road. The steam shovel is at
work this side of Rag Hollow Brook
and they have steam drills at work
in rock cuts near Ed Welton's house
at East Farms and at Shingle Mill
Brook in Cheshire.
02/27/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
02/28/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
03/01/{1905} (Wednesday)
Did not feel well so I did not go to work.
This evening I attended the entertainment
and supper at the Chapel. The building
was filled. The entertainment consisted
of music by the new orchestra and singing
by a Miss Goodwin and Mr. Walter
Haden.
03/02/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I sent home Major Tucker's scrap book
by Adams Express to day.
They found the little Italian boy who
was drowned in Scoville Ditch day before
yesterday, this afternoon at about four
o'clock.
03/03/1904 {1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary and Irving have gone to
Southington with a party of Grangers
in Wilson Pierpont's team sleigh.
03/05{04}/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked in the factory to day as
usual.
03/06{05}/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
03/06/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Dayton Woodin told me to day that he
has bought the De Lay place on the Woodtick
Road and expects to move there by
April 1st.
03/07/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked to day.
03/08/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03/09/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03/10/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Murkden{??} in Manchura has fallen to
the Japanese and people look for the
end of the war now.
03/11/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03/12/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Verder preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
03/13/{1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers &
Hamilton on Griggs Street drawing
the water out of the pipes etc. and
making preperations {preparations} to abandon the
shop.
03/14/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers and
Hamilton.
03/15/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at Rogers & Brother factory.
03/16/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at Rogers & Bro.'s this forenoon
and at Rogers and Haniltons this afternoon.
03/17/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Hamilton
to day.
This is St. Patricks day.
03/18/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The finishing department started to day
to work Saturdays for the first time
this year.
This is Agnes Able's birthday, 26 years
old.
03/19/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Moffelt{?} of Waterville preached
at the Chapel.
Mort Pierpont's birthday, 21 years old.
03/20/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
A lot of men began work getting the poles ready
for the trolley wire to day.
03/21/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03/22/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked in the factory.
This evening Mary and I took supper
at Charles Monroe's.
The workmen have set the trolley poles
on the North side of the road nearly
to my house.
03/23/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03/24/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
03/25/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
03/26/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel to day.
03/27/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03/28/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
03/29/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The trolley men were putting up
poles in front of my house to day.
The Ladies Union gave a supper
and entertainment at the Chapel
this evening which I attended.
03/30/1904 {1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Susia{?} and Mr. Whitikes{?} of
Boston came to our house and engaged
board to come tomorrow
morning. They are foremen on
the new trolley road.
53 Italians came yesterday.
03/31/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The boarders came this morning.
Mother Pierpont went up to Charlie's
to day after staying here over three
months.
04/01/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04/02/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel to day.
Vernon Abel was confermed {confirmed} at St. Johns
Church this forenoon and Clara French
at Trinity this evening.
04/03/{1905} (Monday)
Worked moving the sheds opposite the
factory to day.
Bertha French began working at the
pin factory in Oakville to day.
There was a fire that burned over the lots
between the Plank Road and East Main St.
near Mad River. They called out the fire
steamer from town to put it out.
04/04/1905 (Tuesday)
I worked this day at the factory of Rogers &
Brother moving the horse sheds that stand
opposite the office, so they will stand parallel
with the street.
I ordered 300 ft. of 3/4" cotton woven hose
pipe of the Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co.,
price 9 cts. per ft.
04/05/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
04/06/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Susia began keeping his horse{?} in
my barn to day.
04/07/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04/08/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory this day as usual.
Came home and Frank and I welded the
axles for the hose{??} east we are building.
04/09/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Reed of the colored baptist church
preached at the Chapel to day.
After service, Ruth, Margaret, Clara
French and Irving drove out the Meriden
Road to Arthur Pierpont's and Irving
had a talk with him about enlisting
in Co. A 2nd. Regt. C. N. G.{???} We then
drove to the rock cut near Ed Weltons
where we saw a steam drill at work.
Then in the Plank Road and saw the
locomotive which has arrived last night
and then home.
04/10/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory this day raising
the roof of the 40 ft. horse shed.
04/11/1905 (Tuesday)
I worked to day at carpenter work at the factory.
04/12/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the Christian Endever {Endeavor} Society
held a business meeting and afterwards
an entertainment in the Chapel.
There were about eighteen at the business
meeting.
The entertainment consisted of gessing {guessing}
on advertisement pictures, i.e. look at
the picture and gess {guess} what it advertised.
There were about fifty pictures and
Miss Faterm{??} gessed {guessed} the largest number
and received a box of candy as a prize.
Thn many of the young ladies carred {carried??}
baskets of eatibles which were auctioned off
and I happened to buy Margarets. The
gentleman who bought the box was supposed
to divide its contense {contents} with the
lady who furnished it. They raised
over six dollars, which it was voted to
keep as a nuculus {nucleus} for a fund to buy library
books with.
My father is 75 years old to day.
04/13/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04/14/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
04/15/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This is Mother's birthday, 71 years old.
We went down home and had supper
there in honor of the event.
04/16/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Very cold and a little snow.
04/17/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They laid 1200 feet of rails on the new
trolley road. Began at the edge of Otter[??}
Swamp, this side of the Horse Brook
and laid west, east of said point{??}.
They are laid to the Cemetery at
East Farms.
04/18/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04/19/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I received my weekly pay to day, 15.00.
04/20/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked as usual to day.
Fred Thompkins and Milan Northrop
have sold their places on the Plank
Road to the City for the park to
take possession. Northrop got 3,500.00
and Thompkins about 2,300.00.
Mrs. Augustus Moshier died yesterday
aged 55 years. Died of the sickness known
as plurel{??} pneumonia.
04/21/{1905} (Friday)
This is Good Friday and the factories do
not work.
Got up this morning at the usual time
and ate breakfast with Mr. Susia and
Mr. Whitiker who went to work as
usual on the trolley road. Mr. Susia
had a general oversight over the building
of this end and Mr. Whitiker has charge
of building the stone arch near the East
Farms Cemetery.
After breakfast, Irving and I sawed
up a lot of logs with the crosscut saw,
after which we went down to the lot
west of the swamp west of James
Porter's barn and ploughed for potatoes
till about four o'clock when it began to
rain and it continued to rain hard
the rest of the day.
Mrs. Moshier was buried this afternoon.
04/22/{1905} (Saturday)
I worked this morning on a little hose
cart I am making. Then went to
ploughing and finished the piece I
began yesterday. Frank then harrowed
it and we then furrowed it out, which
took till nearly five o'clock. We then
came home and Father came and we
tried the little fire engine we had made.
Father was pleased as it worked like one
which he used to belong to{?}.
We then went out by the Calvary
Cemetary {Cemetery} Gate and saw them lay the
connecting rail so now the rails are
laid out to the cross road near the
East Farms Station.
04/23/{1905} (Sunday)
"Easter Sunday". This morning I went
to Church at the Second Congregational.
Mr. Davenport preached.
On the afternoon, I attended service at
the Chapel. Mr. Davenport officiated
there also. The attendance was large
and the service nice.
After service, Margaret, Florence
Abel, Minnie Lewis and I went
for a ride out along the line of
the new Cheshire trolley to Cheshire
and back over Dicks Road home.
04/24/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
04/25/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked as usual.
04/26/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Haywood preached at the Chapel to night.
04/27/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
04/28/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
04/29/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Paid Mr. Camp 30.00.
Bought of D.B. Wilson 2 bags plaster for
1.50, 1 {??} potatoes of I.D{??}. Spencer, 90 cts., one
bag oats 1.10.
04/30/{1905} (Sunday)
Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel.
Mary and I went with Iva and Wm.
Gillette to High Rock Grove, Beacon Falls
and Pines Bridge.
05/01/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05/02/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
05/03/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
05/04/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
05/05/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05/06/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked as usual to day at factory.
05/07/{1905} (Sunday)
This morning we went to church
at the cummunion {communion} service.
Clifton Heaton joined the church
(Second Congregational).
This afternoon Margaret and I went
to Uncle Goldsmith's and got a lot
of curosities {curiosities} of Willie{?} that he had
gathered from all parts of the world.
We then went to the Chapel
and attended service. Rev. Mr.
Harris officiated.
After service as I was backing the
horse, out of the shed Kathalene {Kathleen}
Judd came and told us that
Mr. Lee's{??} house was on fire.
I drove up there fast taking
Hiram Abel, Margaret, Amy, George
Hanson, and Bob Beckwith.
We found William Mc Grath's barn
in ashes and, and a cinder had blown
over the river to Mr. Lee's house and
set the roof on fire, but Vernon
Abel climed {climbed} up the gable{?} shingles
with a pail of water and put it
out. It burned a hole in the roof.
05/08/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we went to Hamilton
Hall and fitted up my currosities {curiosities}
for exhibition.
05/09/{1905} (Tuesday)
I spent this day at Hamilton Hall
arranging my exibit {exhibit} of Curos and
collecting them from others who
loned {loaned} them to me.
05/10/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked this day at the factory.
The Chapel fair opened this evening at
Hamilton Hall. The attendence was
large. I had a fine collection of curiosities
on exbition {exhibition}.
05/11/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Attended the fair this eve.
05/12/{1905} (Friday)
Worked painting on the inspecting
room of the factory. We are to paint
the whole plant green.
{05/13/1905} (Saturday)
Worked.
{05/14/1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley{??} preached at the
MIll Plain Chapel this P.M.
05/15/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day painting the
inspecting and south side of the polishing
rooms.
The 60 ton locomotive made several
trips up and down past my place
to day.
05/16/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Agnes Abel is sick and did not work
to day or yesterday.
Charles Cass planted his potatoes
to day.
05/17/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05/18/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mary and Irving have gone to Watertown
to a Grange meeting.
The New Mill Plain Schoolhouse is nearly
completed.
05/19/1905 (Friday)
Worked wiring the{??} and piping the large
desk in the main office to day.
This evenign Nelson Dingwell called
and we looked the shop over in regard
to setting it down three feet. It is
now three ft. 6" higher then the trolley
tracks. He wants $265.00{??} to do the job.
This evening a number of Mattatuck
boys came and practiced for Decoration
Day.
05/20/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked painting Mr. Tobins new office
and putting in the shipping{??} room
and Rogers & Hamiltons water closet.
05/21/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter, the new methodist
minister of Waterville preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service, I carried Mary out to
Mother Pierpont's and then with
Frank and Margaret went over
to Suttons cut and saw Cliff
Whittiker fire 12 rock blasts and
a mine that blew up a whole bank
of earth and hard-|pan. They dug
four holes or tunnels into the face
of the bank for a distance of 10 feet
and in these they placed 150 sticks
of diamite {dynamite} and then packed mud and
clay on it and tamped{??} the holes
full again and fired them with
a battery. The sight was grand. Earth
black, red, and grey was thrown into
the air in every direction 100 ft, togather {together}
with rocks, stumps, bushes, trees
etc. This, with the cloud of white smoke,
made an interesting sight.
We then got our team and started
home, stopping at East Farms and
getting Mary. As we were coming
to the arch at Wedges, we saw people
looking from the new trolley track
down on to the Plank Road and seeing
a cloud of dust, we climbed the
embankment and saw Co. A. 2 Regt.
C.N.Y. {??} in heavy marching order
going to summit to encamp for
the night and to spend tomorrow
as field-|day. We jumped into
the team and drove as possible
and came onto the road ahead of
them at E. Farms Station and
went to George Falmaye's where we put
the horse under the shed and waited
for them. They left the Plank Road
at Mintie's{??} and marched west and
into the lots to the south where
they put up their shelter tents and
built several fires, it being cold and
by this time it was dark, so we started
home which we reached about 9 o'clock.
05/22/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day putting in Mr.
Hayden's water closet and repairing the heavy
Peck{?} lifter drop.
There are several cases of scarlet fever about
Mill Plain, little George Hitchcock, one of
the Warren children, a child of Mr. Beckwith's,
and one of the Henesey children on the Plank
Road.
05/23/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory at water closet and
painting the trimming rooom bridge.
05/24/{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory painting nearly all
day.
This evening Frank and I repaired a
Breed weeder and intend to use it on
our potatoes in the morning.
05/25/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory painting skylights nearly
all day.
This morning Irving, Frank and I went
down and ran the Breeds weeder over
our potatoes.
They elected the same officers at the Chapel last
night that they had last year.
05/26/{1905} (Friday)
Worked painting ventilators etc. to day.
05/27/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory, painting windows
on the trimming room this forenoon
and dressing the wood work in the closet
in the main office this afternoon.
05/28/{1905} (Sunday)
This morning the first trolley car
passed my house. It was the construction
car and had a platform car in
front containing a large coil of trolley
wire. As the cars moved along, the wire
unwound and workmen fastened it
to the cross wires overhead. They put
up about one mile of wire. It reached
from the bridge over Mad River to
Wilson Pierponts and back again. Got home
at about quarter to eight.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service, Mary, Irving, Clara French
and I went out the Plank Road for a short
drive. We went to Summit and across
to the Cheshire Road and home.
05/29/1905 (Monday)
Worked painting windoes {windows} on the trimming
shop to day.
05/30/1905 (Tuesday)
Decoration Day. This morning the Mattatuck
Drum Band left the bridge at 7.37
and went to Oakville on the trolley
and there took the steam cars to Watertown
where we took part in the Memorial
exercises.
We marched from the station to the town
hall, where the lines formed soon after
9 o'clock. It consisted of Marshal, Mattatuck
Drum Band, Firemen, School Children,
Verterans in bus, speakers of the day in
cariage {carraige}, and citizens in carraiges.
We marched from Town Hall to Town
Cemetery, to Evergreen Cemetery, to
Town Hall.
At the Town Hall the exercises were
as follows,
Song by Mrs. Grannis "Star Spangled Banner",
Prayer by Chaplain Rev. V. Mac Nicoll,
Song by Quartette, "Kellers American Hymn",
Adress by Thomas F. Divine,
Song by Mrs. R.S. Mary, {???} to night{???}
Roll of Honor by Secretary John L. Scott,
Song by Quartette, "Vacant Chair",
Song by Quartette and Audience, "America"
Benediction.
There were with the Drum Band,
Irving Miller, Major
Chas{?} Cass, Fred Lund, Clifton Heaton,
and Harry Buckingham., "Fifers".
Joe Pierpont, Fred Williams and
Stewart Judd, Bass Drummers.
James Olcott, Clarence Brown, Bob
Beckwith, Gardener{?} Hall and C.S. Miller,
snare drummers.
A party of young ladies and young men
also went from Mill Plain.
05/31/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked painting windows to day.
06/01/1905 (Thursday)
Worked painting cornace {cornice} on trimming room.
06/02/1905 (Friday)
Worked painting on trimming room.
James Porter and his wife were married
60 years ago yesterday and have lived togather {together}
ever since.
{06/03/1905} (Saturday)
Worked repairing the electric shandilier {chandelier}
in the office and painting on the front
of the making room.
06/04/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This morning Frank and I drove out
the Meriden Road and up to Tood's{??} saw
mill where we looked at a lot of slabs,
and then out and across the gravel
dam to Sam Samuelsons but we did
not see him as he had gone away. We
then drove home stopping at
East Farms and saw Mort Pierpont's
cellar for his new house.
This afternoon after sevice, Frank
Howland, Margaret, Ruth and I drove
out the Plank road to Gillette Corners
and got John Mass and with his wife
Ruby, and little girl we went over to the
cave where in early times the Indians
kept a girl hid for a long time, hoping
to get a ransom but she was finally rescued
by the whites. We then drove down
through Mixville and home.
06/05/{1905} (Monday)
Worked hubbing in a large ladle die, and
painting.
We hoed our pootatoes this evening.
06/06/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked painting 4 hours this forenoon
and piping this afternoon, as it rained.
06/07/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at odd jobs about the shop as it
was stormy.
06/08/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at painting at the factory
one half day.
After work Frank and I went to the
Waterbury Lumber and Coal Co's.
and got a load of lumber.
06/09/{1905} (Friday)
Ringling's Brothers Circus is in town
to day and there is no work as nearly
all the factories have shut down.
This morning early, Irving, Frank
and Clara French went down to the
Nangatuck depot to see them unlode {unload}
the circus cars, and at ten, Mary,
Frank, Raymond and I went to
see the parade. We saw it come in
West Main Street. It was a large parade,
over a mile in length, consisting of
many chariots, one of which was
drawn by 24 gray horse, 4 abrest {abreast}.
Another was drawn by 20 Shetland ponies,
4 abrest {abreast}. There were 25 elephants and a large
number of camils {camels} etc.
After the parade had passed, we went
to the grounds south of West Main
Street next to the Nangatuck River ,back
of the car barns, and went round the
tents and into a side show where were
exibited {exhibited} Japanese and Russian war scenes.
We (Ray, Frank, Stella Benham, Carrie
Benham and I) came to the center and
we found Mary, and came home,
where we had dinner and then
I worked on the new engine house
that we were building till evening
when we, Frank, Ray and I, went to
the circus. They had three rings,
and there was so much to see that
I have forgotten nearly all as I am
sleepy.
06/10/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked painting on the factory to day.
06/11/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. I stayed home. This forenoon
I went out the trolley line to Suttons cut.
They expect to begin laying the rails
tomorrow east of Ed Weltons.
06/12/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06/13/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this day painting
the burnishing shop.
06/14/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked painting the burnishing shop.
Helen, Laura and Mable Gillette,
three sisters, were maried this
afternoon.
06/15/1905 (Thursday)
Worked painting on the factory all day.
06/16/{1905} (Friday)
Worked painting on the factory.
Had School meeting tonight and
elected Henry Judd Committee {??},
Mark L. Warner Clerk, Martin
Pond Treasurer, and John F. Gallagher
Tax Collector. There was a large attendence
at the meeting.
06/17/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked painting the factory.
06/18/{1905} (Sunday)
Went with B.F. Howland out on the old
town bound looking after the Peter Gilkey
cellar.
06/19/{1905} (Monday)
Worked painting on the shop to day.
06/20/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory at odd jobs.
This evening saw the night gang that
is working under Clif Whittiker beyond
Calvary Cemetery digging away
the bank. They carry it in train
to the other side of the Cheshire line.
06/21/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked about the shop at odd jobs as it
rained.
I went to town and saw Dentist Brewster
about having my teeth filled and fixed.
He said that it would cost from 15.00 to
$20.00 and I am to go to his office next Monday
afternoon.
(Margin note: Tony Petti)
Tony Petti sent me his figures for stonework
about my shop, 120.00.
Mr. Dingwell's figures for lowering it
is 265.00.
This is Irving's 19th birthday and Father,
Mother, Mr. and Mrs. Susia came to supper
in honor of the event. Will Gillette and Iva
intended to come but could not as he
has to stay in the Cort {Court} House with the
three prisoners who murdered old Mr.
Lochwood over near the Park Road.
06/22/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06/23/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory, went to Woodtick
this evening to see Chas Tuttle.
06/24/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Ploughed out my potatoes this evening.
06/25/{1905} (Sunday)
Childrens' day at the Chapel.
Dr. Davenport talked to the children and read
a story.
Margaret and I went to Woodtick and saw
Chas Tuttle.
06/26/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon till half
past twelve. Then I went to Dr. Brewster's
dentist rooms on Bank Street and had
him treat two dead teeth and fill one
which took him till quarter to six.
I then came home and finished hoeing
my potatoes.
06/27/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day painting and
taking down awnings on the office.
Three of Taylors painters came to work to
day.
To night is the election of officers of the Christian
Endever {Endeavor} Society. Mary and the girls have
gone.
06/28/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day till 12.30, then
went to Dr. Brewster and he worked at my
teeth till 5.30. Came home on the trolley and
after supper, took Mary and went up to
John Gallagher's and paid my school tax of
$5.00.
It is said that they laid the last rails
on the Waterbury and Cheshire trolley
line yesterday.
06/29/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06/30/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
A train load of the Italians who work on
the trolley line were sent to Derby to night
to work on some concrete piers they are putting
in there.
07/01/1905 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory till 12.30 then went
to Dr. Brewster and had him work on my
teeth. Paid him $10.00.
A new trolley car went out over the new line
tonight. This is the first car out.
The factory shut down to night for vacation.
07/02/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
After service Margaret and I drove out
the Plank Road and through the Notch-|in-|
the-|Rocks to Pecks Lane which we went
up and in through Mase's{??} farm and home.
The rails are laid all the way to Cheshire
and they were putting up the trolley wire
at Summit. The steam shovel is working a
little this side of the Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks and
one engine carries the dirt to Summit and
the other carries it to Cheshire.
07/02/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel.
After service, Margaret and I drove over to
Cheshire by way the Plank Road, saw them
putting up the trolley wire at Summit.
We went over through the Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks
and turned up Peeks Lane to Frank Slopers.
07/03/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/04/1905 (Tuesday)
Band, Bang, Bang, Pop, Pop, Pop all day long.
Forth {Fourth} of July is passing.
There has been a grand parade in Waterbury
to day for the first time since
1865 (on the 4th).
There were 7 devisions (divisions) composed of
local organizations. The Mattatuck Drum
Band headed the fifth division and we
had a very warm march.
Govonor {Governor} Roberts and Staff were here.
This evening there was a fine display of
fire works, given near the Waterville road.
Frank, Ray and I went to see it. We
drove up the Watertown road.
07/05/{1905} (Tuesday) {Wednesday}
Worked to day at the factory.
07/06/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon thill 12.30,
then went to Dr. Brewster's and he finished
fixing my teeth, charged 14.00.
Agnes Abel started this morning for Spenser{??}, Mass.
Bertha and Clara French went to New Milford.
07/07/{1905} (Friday)
Worked linig up the trimming room shaft{??}.
Clyde came home from Coledge {College} at Easton
to spend his vacation.
07/08/1905 (Saturday)
Worked lining trimming room shaft.
07/09/{1905} (Sunday)
Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel.
Clif Whitiker left this afternoon at
5 o'clock for Boston where he is to take
charge of a gang of telephone pole men.
07/10/1905 (Monday)
Worked on the trimming room shaft.
Clyde went to work for the Conn. Railway
and Lighting Company to day, as conductor
on the Oakville and East Main line.
07/11/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
The hand burnishers came in to work to
day.
To night Clyde, Irving and I went out to
Summit and saw the place where the
track is settleing {settling}. It is down about three
feet and the hole is said to be 27 ft.
deep and about 75 ft. long.
07/12/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/13/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/14/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/15/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/16/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Wagner preached at the Chapel
to day.
07/17/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The factory started up to day.
07/18/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07/19/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Bertha and Clara French returned
home from Northville and South Britain
yesterday.
07/20/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked to day in the factory.
Agnes Abel returned from Spenser,
Mass. where she has been spending her
vacation to day. Her sister, Mrs.
Allen Burgess, had a boy baby yesterday.
07/21/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
07/22/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
William Gillette and Iva returned
home from Detroit to night where
they have been visiting brother Fred.
07/23/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
07/24/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/25/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
The machine burnishing room started
up to day.
07/26/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr. Lease's baby died last night.
07/27/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clara is 40 years old to day, had a birthday
party.
07/28/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Lease's baby was buried to day.
07/29/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Charles Cass went to Marion to day
and Monday he starts for New Hampshre {Hampshire}
with his family where he intends to stay
till cold weather, hoping to improve his
wife's health. She is sick with consumption.
07/30/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Brooks of the Simonsville
Baptist Church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Clyde came home this morning
at about 2.30. He had been conductoring {conducting}
on a special trolley car, and
got to his room at midnight.
Soon after he was awakened by the
cry of fire and opening his blinds,
found the livery stable adjoining
only two feet away in flames. He
gave the alarm and got the people out
of the block and the firemen put the
fire out, but his room was all wet
and the windows burned away on
the side next to the stable. There were
eight horses burned to death.
He boards on Gilbert Street.
07/31/{1905} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The trolley company began digging
in my yard this forenoon.
08/01/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08/02/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Miss Jessie Pond was married this afternoon
to Mr. Cornell.
08/03/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory till three o'clock bricking {breaking?}
up the door and windows in John Reardon's
(the watchman) house. Then came home because
I was not feeling well.
08/04/{1905} (Friday)
An eventful day. I was aroused at 2.45
this morning by Will Gillette who called
me up and told me that Mr. Wales, superintendent
of the trolley company, called him and said
that Clyde had been arrested and was held
for $5000 bail in the police station. We
hurried to town and saw Charles Pierpont,
George Connor and Ralph Blakeslee
and asked them to give bonds for his appearance
in the City Court. They all greed {agreed}
and we went to the police station where
Ralph Blakeslee the whole bond
saying $5000. I'd give 45,000 for that boy.
Clyde was released, and we shook his hand
and returned home, got breakfast and
went back to town at 7 o'clock getting ready
for the court. In the meantime, Will
Gillette and Mr. Blakeslee saw attorney Megs
(the prosecutor) and concluded that as the
facts were as follows, that Clyde and
Harry Coleman, his moterman, were
coming in West Main Street at 12 o'clock,
they saw the reflection of a fire on a building
and they ran{?} to it and saw a
barrel of paper etc. standing in a corner
ablase {ablaze}. Clyde pulled the barrell away
and stamped the fire out, while Coleman
went for an officer. Soon (about three
minutes) another officer Donohue came
with a man with a shot gun and
placed Clyde under arrest. The policeman
left the man with the gun to guard Clyde
with orders to shoot him in the leg if he
tries to run, while he went away and
saw Chief Snagg who told him to do
his duty. He came back and called a
patroll {patrol} wagon and took Clyde to the police
station.
There was no case against him and the Court
dismissed him.
The morning paper (Republican) however
came out with conspicuous head lines stating
that the fire-|bug had been caught etc.
which stured {stirred} people up very much and
Clyde seemed to have the sympathy of
many.
08/05/{1905} (Saturday)
Yesterday afternoon I was invited to ride
over to Cheshire on the new trolley road.
The car ran from Waterbury center to
the Waverly Inn in Cheshire in 32 minutes
and we went to Dickermans corner
in Milldale and made the return
run in 9 minutes (4 miles).
This day I have spent about home. This
afternoon I repaired a wheel on my big wagon.
B. F. Howland came to see me this afternoon
and stayed to supper.
08/06/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
After service I took Sidney Spender and
Inez Beckwith, Irving also accompanied
us, out to Gillette Corners and saw the
Indian cave. We then drove out the
Plank Road to Rag Hollow and through
Mixville, home.
08/07/1905 (Monday)
This day I repaired a pump at the
Moshier place for William Atkinson
for which he paid me $6.00.
The State Rail Road Commesioners {Commissioners} went over the
new Cheshire line to day.
Ralph Blakeslee is drawing{?} the stones from the
swamp at the foot of my lot.
Miss Bessie Parks is staying at our house now.
Night before last was her first.
08/08/{1905} (Tuesday)
To day Frank, Raymond and I went to Hartford.
We drove over to Milldale and left the horse
at Mr. Nobles and took the trolley cars to
Plainville thence to New Britain and to
Hartford, fare 25 cts.
At Hartford we saw the construction of the
stone bridge that they are building across
the Connecticut River, the large steam propeller
fire engine etc., and I went to see Dr.
Sweet about my lame foot. He did not know
what the matter is, but told me to beat up
an egg and stir in salt and bind it on
my foot every night and also use some
of his liniment three times a day for
two weeks and then come and see him.
08/09/{1905} (Wednesday)
To day I have staid about home, except I went
to Ed Todds and bought 111 ft. of 2" chestnut
plank for 2 cts. per ft.
The Connecticut Railroad and Lighting
Company started their cars on the new
road to Mt. Carmel to day. The first
car left the center at 5.45 and they
have been running every 1/2 hour since.
08/10/{1905} (Thursday)
Staid about home all day.
Frank worked for the man that is building
the new house below Mrs. Shannon's
drawing stone for a well.
About 5 o'clock, a Mr. Hull of Tarrington
came and wanted to find the place
where his father lived pryor {prior} to 1829. We
went looking and he thought that it was the
Martin Widge place.
08/11/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory till 3.30 when I came to
my shop and met Mr. Albert B. Hill of New
Haven who represents the Connecticut Railway
and Lighting Company in regard to
lowering my shop. The cost will be about
$600.00, six hundred dollars. He said that
that he would give $300.00.
Mary and the family went to a picnic at
Burt Frisbies in Woodtick.
08/12/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The trolley cars to Mt. Carmel{?} ran of{??} 15 minute
skegule {schedule} to day.
08/13/{1905} (Sunday)
Mr. Mc Kinley prreached at the Chapel to day.
The trolley cars are carrying crowds to New
Haven to day. The East Main St. cars
began running to Calvary Cemetary {Cemetery} to day.
08/14/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08/15/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
08/16/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08/18/1905 (Friday)
Worked yesterday till 8 o'clock last
night putting trusses under the bridge
that crosses the ditch.
To day I worked 10 hours.
The Mill Plain Sunday School went
to Compounce{??} to have their annual
picnic.
08/19/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Stoark and Mr. Mc Manns called at our
house to see about taking up the front faucet{?}
and grading the yard.
08/20/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter of the Waterville Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
The trolley cars are running heavily
ladened all day on the New Haven
line.
08/21/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08/22/{1905} (Tuesday)
Went to Hartford to day by trolley,
fare 45 cts. each way. Saw Dr. Sweet,
went to Capitol, saw G.D. Hine{?}. Saw{?}
state board of education. Went to
Springfield and back, fare 25 cts., came
home. Started 7 S.M. back 4.40.{????}
The Conn. Railway and Lighting Co.
began grading in my yard, Mc Manns
1 man.
08/23/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the shop.
Mc Manns had 5 men and boss working
in my yard, one horse and cart.
08/24/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
There were 10 men and two teams at
work in my yard to day. It rained
this afternoon.
Cousin Emma and Helen Drew from
Ansonia came to day by trolley from
their home via New Haven.
08/25/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
There were 10 men and 2 teams at work in my
yard to day.
08/27/1905 (Sunday)
Yesterday I worked as usual.
10 men and 2 teams worked grading my yard.
Last night Mary and I took the trolley and
went to Cheshire, thence to Dickermans
corner, thence to Lazy Lane, thence to
Compounce, then to Bristol and staid
over night with Brother Frank on High
Street. This morning George Edwards
came and took us to his home in Whigville
where we staid till 6.50 when he carried
us to the Railroad station in Bristol
where we took the cars and came to
Waterville and then came home by
trolley. We had to get off at the Mattatuck
factory as there was a car off the track
having been struck by one of the New
Haven cars.
08/28/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
There were 8 men, two carts and a boss
at work in my yard to day.
08/29/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
There were ten men working grading my
yard.
08/30/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
It rained nearly all day, but seven men
worked a while and three more longer till
near noon, grading.
They took Olive Burgess to her home on
Ward Street this afternoon and Agnes
went there to live.
Had a school meeting in the new school
house this evening. We met in the old
school house but adjourned to the new as all
the desks and seats had been removed.
08/31/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr. Mc Manns had 7 men, the boss and
one cart working in my yard to day.
Mr. Hill called to see how the work was
progressing.
09/01/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
7 men and boss worked in my yard to day.
09/02/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
6 men and boss worked in my yard this day.
09/03/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
to day.
09/04/1905 (Monday)
I worked at the factory 4 hours this forenoon packing
the stem of the turbine waterwheel.
Irving and Vernon Abel are in New York having
gone there Saturday night, were going by
trolley to New Haven and by boat from there.
09/05/{1905} (Tuesday)
I staid home and worked putting back the
fence in front of my plce. There were
six Italians and Mr. Dwyer, the foreman.
Irving came home from New York last night.
School opened to day and was kept for the
first time in the New Saw Mill Plains
School House.
Mr. Ward and Mr. Howland called last night.
09/06/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked grading about my house.
Superintendent Stark of the Conn.
Railway and Lighting Co. came and ordered
Foreman Dwyer and his seven men to quit
at noon which they did.
Went to the Chapel to a peach festival this eve.
09/07/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory all day.
Mr. Dingwell, house mover, William Knibbs,
mason, and Henry Hotchkiss, joiner, met
at my shop this evening to see about
lowering the building.
09/08/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09/09/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
09/10/{1905} (Sunday)
Went by trolley to Savin Rock to day.
Started at about 11 A.M., back 9 P.M. Father, Mother,
Wm. Gillette, Iva, Roll and Mary, Mr. and Mrs. Dinnisk{?}.
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Chapel.
09/11/1905 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Clyde left this morning for College at Easton
where he is to study two years longer.
09/12/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09/13/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
The Mad River Agricultural Society held its
fair in the Grange Hall this afternoon opening
at 4 o'clock with a baby show.
09/14/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers dug about 19 bushels of potatoes
to day.
The Grange Fair was held to day in the
lot between the David Shannon place and
the Cemetary {Cemetery} and in the Grange Hall.
There was an attendance of about 1,500.
09/15/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers dug 15 bushels of potatoes and
I carried them down to Fathers to night.
09/16/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers dug 18 bu. of potatoes to day.
Gave James Porter three bushels to pay for
the land.
09/17/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fairchild of the Simonsville Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
I went to Prospect and saw Mrs. Ecabert{??} Hitchcock
this afternoon.
09/18/{1905} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers worked cleaning my shop cellar.
A very wet day.
09/19/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Recived {Received} a letter from Mr. Sewell to day.
Fred Bowers worked cleaning my shop cellar.
Rained all day.
09/20/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Wet all day.
09/21/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
It has been clear to day.
09/22/{1905} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers worked digging potatoes to day, dug
16 bushels.
This is Mary's birthday, 45 years old.
09/23/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at home with Fred Bowers rebuilding
the old fence by the oak tree in my yard.
09/24/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Stancliff of Waterville preached at
the Chapel.
09/25/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Engineer Hill and Mr. Sewell called to
see me at my shop about fixing it.
They offered $350.00 which I did not take.
09/26/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Had a heavy frost last night, the first.
09/27/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This is my birthday, 47 years old.
Morton{?} Pierpont and Jessie Garrigus were
married at 4 o'clock at the bride's home
this afternoon by the Rev. Dr. John Davenport.
Irving and I went to Waterville and saw
John Sewell about my shop property.
I told him that I should not take less
than $700.00 for the damage they caused
and he said that it was up to Mr. Hill
and he would telephone him tomorrow.
Paid William Camp $36.00 interest on morgage {mortgage}
note on my house.
09/28/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked as usual at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Mill Plain Improvement Society and
they voted to call the corner where I lived
Oak Corner and call the streets and
roads about Mill Plain by their present
names.
09/29/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09/30/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Hill of New Haven called me up
by telephone and we settled on the
price of damage done to my shop
property by the trolley company
cutting down the street, by setting
the amount at $440.00 for which
he will send the check.
10/01/1905 (Sunday)
This morning Frank, Irving, Margaret and
I started and drove to George Edwards in
Burlington where we staid till 4 o'clock.
When we started for home, came by
Compounce Pond.
Rev. Mr. Salsman preached at the Chapel.
10\02\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
To day is City election. Ralph Blakeslee
is Republican candidate for mayor, and
Mr. Thames{?} the democrat.
10\03\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr.Thames{?} is elected mayor of the
City of Waterbury over Ralph Blakeslee
(Republican) by a majority of 582 votes.
10\04\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I went to the Mill
Plain Chapel and saw Inez Beckwith
married to Sidney Spender by the Rev. De
Witt Williams.
This evening Irving and I went to Simonsville
and saw Robert Somers who had just
returned from Wallingford where he had
attended a meeting of stockholders
of the new Wallingford Metal Company.
Met for the purpose of electing officers.
Frank Welton is elected President. Mr.
Cullenbeck of Wallingford, Secretary
and Colonel Levenworth, Treasurer.
I told Cousin Robert that I would put
in $1000.00.
10\05\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to see Judge
Gillette about drawing the deed of my
shop property to Mrs. Larocque{?}.
10\06\1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory till 2.30 when I went
to town to have the deeds drawn to sell my
Carriage factory. Went to Judge Gillette's
office where I was to meet Mrs. Larocque.
Got there, but I found no one. Soon Lauren
Carter came and said that he had $1000.00 for
Mr. Larocque. He waited a while and went away.
Soon Mr. and Mrs. Larocque came, and I went
over to the City Hall to fing {find} Mr. Gillette. Found
him over in the Courthouse. After a time
we went to his office and called Mr. Carter,
but Mr. Carter would not give the money
to Mrs. Larocque untill {until} I held the property
free from all incumberence {encumbrance}, so Mr. Gillette
said come tomorrow afternoon and I am
to have Edwin Welton there.
I went and saw Mr. Welton at his home
on Linden Street and he said that he would
be at the Gillette Office at 4.30 tomorrow.
Ralph Blakeslee is bailing his hay, has two
stacks bailed already.
10\06{07}\1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day till 4 P.M.
then went to Judge Gillette's Office where I met
Mr. Welton, Mr. Carter, and Mr. and Mrs.
Larocque came later having been detained
on account of a fire on East Main Street.
I signed a warranty deed conveying my
shop property to Mrs. Larocque and Mr.
Carter gave me a check for $1000.000 and
Mrs. Larocque gave me a check for $16.00
and a bank note on Edward Scott for $80.00
and cash $904.00. I then paid Edwin Welton
$1053.00 which I owed him, $870.00 on a
mortgage note and the remainder
interest. He then gave me the note and
a Quit Claim deed, and also the old
mortgage deed.
Ralph Blakeslee has mowed his farm
over the second time. Got more hay
than I ever saw got before in a year.
10\08\{1905} (Sunday)
I worked at the factory from 9 to 5.30 packing
the cylinder head of the Brown Engine.
George Henry of Cambridge, Martin
Cunningham, the engineer and myself
and John French worked.
Professor David G. Porter died last
evening at 6 o'clock of applexy {apoplexy}.
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
10\09\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory till 9 o'clock this
evening. This evening we repaired the
Brown engine as the packing that we put
in yesterday blew out.
This noon I deposited in the Waterbury
Savings Bank $867.00.
10\10\{1905} (Tuesday)
Went to Hartford and saw Dr. Sweet.
Went by trolley to Plainville and by
third rail the rest of the way. Came
home by trolley all the way. Stoped {Stopped}
in Cheshire and saw Mr. Lanyon{?},
the town clerk.
10\11\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day. About
7 o'clock John French came and said
that they could not shut the gate to
the waterwheel, so I went to the shop
and found a large hole washed under
the head rack, so we cannot use the wheel
tomorrow.
David Porter was buried to day. Rev. Mr.
Haywood of the First Baptist Church officiated.
10\12\1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\13\1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\14\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Last night we brought up the saw table
from the carriage shop.
10\15\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Walters preached at the Chapel
to day.
After service Mary and I went out and
saw Mort Pierpont's house. It is nearly
ready for plastering.
10\16\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day repairing
the waterwheel which broke down this
morning.
10\17\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\18\1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\19\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Margaret and I went to Prospect to an
entertainment. Irving and Mr. Boyd went also.
10\21\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Shod the horse this evening.
10\22\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
10\23\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\24\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\25\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon at 4 o'clock as Mr. Willis
Hall who has just built a house just east
of the Cheshire line for his son Gardener,
was driving by my house with a business
wagon looded {loaded} with wood, while crossing
the trolley track, a Cheshire car came
and struck the horse and broke his
leg, threw Mr. Hall over onto the wood
and injured him considerable. It also broke
the shafts{??}. Dr. Bland{?} came after an hour
and a quarter and shot the horse.
10\26\1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\27\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\28\{1905} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\29\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
10\30\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
10\31\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this day.
Wrote Mr. Hill of New Haven, asking him to
send check for $440.00.
11\01\1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary told me that Mrs. Burgess is to
have her operation performed to day by
Doctors Anderson and Graves.
11\02\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Irving went to the funeral of Colonel
Schukes at New Haven this afternoon
with the 2nd Regt.
11\03\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
11\04\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\05\1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Saalsman{?} preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
This morning John French, Spenser
Monroe, Mr. Bock, Irving and I
took the trolley cars and went to
Mansfields point in East Haven
where we dug a lot of clams, oysters,
mussels etc. and then fished a
spell and came home.
11\06\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the Mill Plain Improvement Society.
They voted to petition the City Board
of Aldermen for two electric lights
to be placed on the Meriden Road and
one on the Southmaid Road.
11\07\1905 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day repairing
electric lights, wires, etc., also making patterns,
polishing wheels, etc.,etc.
This evening I recived {received} a check from the
Connecticut Railway and Lighting Co.
for $400.00 for damage done my shop
and also $40.00 for work and new posts
that I did on the fence in front of my
house.
This evening Irving and I dug holes
for the new posts in the new clothes
yard that we are making for Mary.
11\08\1905 (Wednesday)
I worked in the factory to day ten hours.
I signed receipt which read as follows,
George J. Roberts, Contractor,
Farifield Ave. , and Water St.
Bridgeport, Conn.
To Charles S. Miller
Mill Plain, Waterbury, Conn.
Date What For Amount Total Amount
1905 To payment towards lowering
11\1 East End Carriage Company's shop
and any and all damages. It said
Miller's shop property on East Main
Street, Waterbury caused by change in
grade of highway and constructing
the Cheshire Street Railway. 400.00
to payment in full covering expenses of
new posts changing fence, any and
all damage caused by changing grade
of highway and constructing the Cheshire
Street Railway in front of said Miller's
residence on East Main Street, Waterbury. 40.00
440.00
------------------------------------------------------------Right of way
Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------
Payment Approved
{Signature} EWP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recived {Received} pay November 8th 1905
From George J. Roberts, Contractor.
Four hundred forty -----------------Dollars in full for above bill
$440.00
Charles S. Miller
Please receipt and return to E. W. Poole, Agent.
11\09\1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This noon I went to the Colonial Trust Company's
Bank and had my check from the Connecticut
Railway and Lighting Co. cashed and took the
cash to the Dime Savings Bank and deposited it.
11\10\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary, Irving, and I went to
the Polis Theater to see the "Old Homestead".
11\11\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we worked grading the new
clothes yard.
Frank and Raymond went to Ed Todd's
Saw Mill and got a load of slabs 81 ft.
They paid him 5.00 for 2 1/2 {???} already bought.
11\12\1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
Cousin Anna Pierpont, Margaret and I
went for a ride over to West Peak in Hubbard
Park but it was so haisy {hazy} that we could
see but little, and it was getting dark so
we came home.
11\13\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\14\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We put up the clothes wires in the new yard
to night.
11\15\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this day.
11\16\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Edward Scott paid me the amount of 80.00
of a note I held against him.
I painted the new clothes posts red this evening.
11\17\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Cousin Marion Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Goshen came
to visit us to day. Her health is poor and
Dr. Wadhams advised her to stay away
from home awhile.
11\18\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\19\{1905} (Sunday)
At noon Mr Tobin came and told me
that a fire plug blew out and had wet
some of the main belts in the factory
so I went and dried them by using
hot sand, worked 3 1/2 hr.
11\21{20}\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\22{21}\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Henry Judd moved into the Johnson
house last Thursday.
They have drilled to a depth of 120 ft. in
the Pine Grove Cemetery to day.
The well at the new school has gone dry.
11\23{22}\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory making sectional
polishing wheels for backing off spoons.
This evening Ruth and I went to see
Cousin Robert Somers who told me that
the Wallingford Metal Co. are considering
a proposition from the Meriden Board of
Trade to locate in Meriden.
11\23\1905 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers and Bros.
to day.
11\24\{1905} (Friday)
Worked this day at the factory.
Ralph Blakeslee has had a thrashing machine
and a straw bailer at work at his
farm to day.
11\25\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory till seven o'clock
this evening.
11\26\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
11\27\{1905} (Monday)
Worked as usual to day.
11\28\1905 (Tuesday)
(Margin note: First snow)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
The first snow fo {of} the season fell this
afternoon when the ground was covered
an inch deep.
Frank and Raymond went down town this
evening to carry a transparancy about
the streets advertising Company A dance
tomorrow evening.
This Christian Endevor {Endeavor} Society give {gave] an
entertainment at the Chapel this evening.
Mary, Ruth and Marion Ovaitt [Oviatt] have
gone.
11\29\1905 {Wednesday}
Worked at the factory to day.
Co. A. 2nd Regt. is giving a dance this
eveing {evening} in their armory on Phoenix Ave.
Irving has charge of the coat room, and
Frank has gone to help. Ruth, Marion
Ovaitt [Oviatt], Margaret and Mr. Boyd have gone
from here.
Will Goldsmith came to day and engaged
1 bu. of potatoes for tomorrow to be delivered
at the Forester's Hall.
It has rained nearly all day.
Frank went to the depot and got 125 ft.
of woven garden hose which came by
freight on the New England Rail Road
fron {from} the Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co.
11\30\{1905} (Thursday)
This is Thanksgiving day, and the Somers
family met at the Foresters Hall in Mill
Plain and observed the occasion with a
dinner and dancing and singing music, etc., etc.
49 persons were present and all had a good
time.
12\01\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The shop worked to night.
Post Master Gurnesey has his new house
nearly finished. It is located above Kilbournes
on the West Wolcott Road.
12\02\1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I worked repairing my bob
sleigh.
12\03\{1905} (Sunday)
I staid about home, it being very rainy
till four o'clock in the afternoon when
Ruth and I took the Cheshire trolley cars
and soon paid the conductor 5 cts. which took
us to Cheshire line where we paid 10 cts.
which took us to Cheshire. Here we found
the Milldale car waiting, which we took
and paid 5 cts. and rode to Milldale where
we found the Southington car waiting
which we boarded. Paid 5 cts. which took
us to Lazy Lane where we paid 5 cts. which
took us to Plainville where we boarded the
New Britain car and road to White Oak
Park on a transfer and then paid 5 cts. which
took us to New Britain where
we boarded the Hartford car and paid
10 cts. which took us to the City Hall in
Hartford where we arrived at 6.25. We went
to Goodwins Drug Store where I purchased
a bottle of Dr. Sweet's Joint Liniment and
then caught the same car and came home
the same as we went arriving at 9 o'clock.
12\04\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\05\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\06\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Forerster's {Forester's} Fair opened this evening
at Hamilton Hall, Mill Plain.
12\07\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to town and bought a
pair of shoes.
12\08\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\09\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Marion Ovaitt [Oviatt] returned from a visit
to Bristol where she has been for several
days. The Forerster's {Forester's} Fair ended this
night. It has been held four evenings.
12\10\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
About 8 inches of snow fell during the
night and this morning, Irving took
the snow plough and made a path
up the Frost Road, in the Meriden, down the
Southmaid, and up the Cheshire, home.
I took the 12 o'clock trolley car and went to
Bristol, 2 hours ride, 40 cts. fare. Saw brother
Frank and came home at six.
12\11\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
(James Lauton died in Hacketts saloon
this forenon, the 12th.)
(Walter Morse's house on Mitchell Ave.
burned this forenoon, the 12th.)
William Howd has moved into Luther
Bradley's house to day.
12\12\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\13\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this day.
This evening the Ladies gave and entertainment
and supper at the Chapel.
There was a good number present.
Dr. Davenport was there and thanked them
for a bed quilt that they made him a
present of.
12\14\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\15\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and girls have gone
up to Frosts pond skating.
I saw by the paper that there were 3,318
school children in Waterbury. Of this number,
500 do not attend school.
12\16\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
12\17\1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fairchild preached at the Chapel
to day.
12\18\{1905} (Monday)
Worked this day at Rogers & Brothers
Silver Factory on Silver Street.
12\19\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I began trimming the
Chapel for Christmas.
Lillie Jones broke her leg last night while
skating at Frost's Pond.
12\20\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clyde came home from Colleage {College} to
spend the Christmas vacation.
This evening we worked a tthe Chapel.
12\21\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
The weather is rather mild.
This evening we worked trimming the
Chapel.
12\22\{1905} (Friday)
I staid home and trimmed the Chapel
for Christmas.
12\23\{1905} (Saturday)
I worked nearly all day trimming the Chapel.
Clyde, Margaret, and the small boys
helped me.
12\24\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport at the Chapel this P.M.
After service he went out J.H. Garrigus{??}
and married Annie Garrigus to Lewis
Hitchcock.
We went to service at the Second Congregational
Church this evening.
12\25\1906 {1905} (Monday)
Merry Christmas.
We got up all at the same time and
came down stairs, Raymond first then
Frank, Ruth, Margaret, Irving, Clyde,
Mary and myself. We found our
stockings loaded and lots of presents
that could not be got inside.
After breakfast the boys and girls
went up to Frost's Pond skating but
I dug out a ditch in the swamp.
At 12.30 we all went down to Fathers
where we had Christmas dinner.
There were present Father, Mother,
Frank and his wife Gussie from Bristol,
I and my wife and children, Mary
and her husband Rolland Jenner of
Cae{?} Street and children Louese {Louise?} and
Effel.
12\26\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon Mr. Mulhern's chimney took fire
and Mrs. Mulhern put it out as she supposed by
putting salt on it at the upper stove pipe hole.
Soon Mr. Mulhern saw as he was coming down
from the Cemetery that the house was on
fire. He got a ladder and Mr. Smith, the
grocery man placed it on the roof of the
varanda {veranda} and climbed up the volley{??} of the
roof and with pails of water, put out the
fire on the out side and they went up
in the attic and put it out there.
In the meantime the boys telephoned
for the firemen, and the steamer and
hose wagon came out, but Clyde headed
them off at Tom Mills' house.
12\27\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The factory shut down all but the
polishing room.
12\28\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather is very mild with no snow.
12\29\{1905} (Friday)
Worked to day as usual.
Sheriff Doroughty came to the shop and
summoned me to report in New Haven
next Tuesday at the Superior Cort {Court} to do
juror duty.
12\30\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The polishing room shut down to night.
This closes everything except the packing
room.
12\31\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This evening the Choir gave a Can-ta ta.
//end of 1905 entries//
01\01\1906 (Monday)
This morning Frank and I went out to Todds
Saw Mill on the "Old Bound Line Road"
and got a load of slabs. Clyde and I
sawed them up.
01\02\{1906} (Tuesday)
I went to New Haven and served on juror
duty in the Civil side of the Superior
Cort {Court}, in a case of one Douglas against
Galway in a suit to recover ownership
of a pair of horses, three hacks{?} ro carriages
etc. We gave the verdict to the plantiff
and awarded him $650.00 damages for the
defendant keeping them 10 1/2 months.
Mrs. James Strovell who lives on the
Stilson Road died of a shock and appoplexy {apoplexy}
early yesterday morning.
01\03\1906 (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven this morning.
Sat all day as juror on a case of Linch
against Landey, but it is not finished.
Came home on the car that leaves
New Haven at 5.18, got home at 7.
It is raining and the ground is
covered with ice.
There has been but one snow fall this
winter so far, and that very light.
Clyde left this morning for Colleage {College}.
01\04\{1906} (Thursday)
Attended court at New Haven to day.
01\05\{1906} (Friday)
Attended court at New Haven to day.
Brought in verdict for plaintiff and
damage of $25.00 in case of Lynch
against Landy. This case has been on
for the last two days and a half.
Started on a case of Johnson against Opper
this afternoon. Four day at New Haven @ 3.00 =
12.00, sixty miles travel @ .06, $3.60 + 12.00 = 15.60 due.
01\06\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day on the general
repairs.
Sheriff Wm. Gillette placed an attachment
on the grocery store of Smith & Wood in
Hamilton Hall, Mill Plain this morning.
01\07\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Nichols preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This morning we attended worship at the
Second Congregational Church.
Margaret joined the church and became
a member.
01\08\{1906} (Monday)
Worked in the factory to day.
01\09\{1906} (Tuesday)
Went to New Haven to day. The case
of Johnson vs. Opper was again
taken up and was decided in
favor of the plaintiff Johnson and
to recover 30.00 cost.
The lawyers were Hamilton for Johnson
and Stoddard and Goodhart for
defendant.
At four o'clock the case of Rogers
appeal for Probace was taken up
and I was not drawn on the panel.
01\10\{1906} (Wednesday)
Attended court in New Haven. The
Rogers case was finished at 4 o'clock
in favor of the defendant, and the
case of Adams against Lindsley was
started. I am drawn on this case.
The attournies {attorneys} for the Rogers case were
Newton, Church, {??} Hewitt for plaintiff and
Bristol, Stoddard, Beach $ Fisher for
defendant.
01\11\1906 (Thursday)
Went to New Haven to day.
The case against Lindsley was settled
when we came into court and we were
excused till two o'clock.
Charlie Tuttle, Ed Holmes (jurors from
Wolcott) and I went over and examined the
curosities {curiosities} in the Peabody Museum, which
a part of Yale College. We staid there till
time for dinner, when I went to Childs
Resterant {Restaurant} on Church Street and had an
oyster stew, .20 cts. When Court opened
at 2 o'clock, the Case of Semon, Trustee vs.
Adams was opened and I was thrown off,
and Judge Thair excused me so I came home.
This evening Frank, Raymond, Irving and
I went up to the Chapel and took down the
Christmas greens, and we brought them
home and burned them in the garden.
01\12\{1906} (Friday)
This morning I went to New Haven and
attended the Superior Court. At noon the Judge
excused me till ten o'clock Tuesday morning.
I went out and took dinner, and then took the
trolley car at the corner of State and Chapel
and went to Wallingford via Fairhaven,
Mounaese{??}, and North Haven. I walked
from Wallingford Center to Wallice's factory
where I took the trolley for Meriden. These
roads seemed to run through an interesting
country but it was so foggy that I could
see but little. From Meriden I came to
Milldale, then Cheshire and home.
Four days at the Superior Court @ 3.00 = $12.00 60 miles
travel @.06 per mile 3.60 + 12.00 = 15.60 add last week 15.60 = 31.20.
01\13\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day on general
repairs making up stands for the iron
tubs in the wash rooms.
01\14\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. Snow fell to the depth
of four inches this morning and I have
seen several sleighs, the first this winter.
01\15\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\16\{1906} (Tuesday)
Went to New Haven to the Superior Court.
The case of Semon{??} Trustee vs. Adams was decided
this morning.
C.S. Hamilton for Semon and Slade, Slade, & Slade
for Adams.
01\17\{1906} (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven and was put on the case
of Williams against Egan of Waterbury. Took all
the forenoon. Verdict in favor Williams and
$640.10 damage awarded.
This afternoon, the case of Garry against Wurr was
on. We the jury were out from 3.30 till 6 o'clock. Verdict
rendered for defendant. Ely & Barclay for
Williams and Cole for Egan.
Rosenburg for Garry, Rosenbluth for Wurr.
01\18\1906 (Thursday)
Went to New Haven to day. The case of
Russell against the Connecticut Railway
and Lighting Company was put on and
we decided it in favor of the plaintiff with
$700 damage.
The lawyers were Hamilton and Walsh for
the plaintiff and Hicks for defence.
01\19\{1906} (Friday)
Went to New Haven to day and sat on
the case of {?} Sandee & Morse vs. Woodruff.
Court adjourned till next Tuesday at
10 o'clock. Four days at New Haven 12.00, travel
3.60 = 15.60 + 31.20 = $46.80.
01\20\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\21\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalters preached at the Chapel{?}
this afternoon.
To day has been very warm. I went to meeting
without any overcoat and was very warm.
Max Reed has sold his place and bought
Frank Judd's place.
01\22\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day making
a new kind of polishing wheel for Mr. Haywood
who has taken charge of the polishing
department. He came from Reid & Bartons,
Providence R.I.
01\23\{1906} (Tuesday)
I went to New Haven to day, the case of
Morse & Candee vs. Woodruff. We decided
in favor of the plaintiff and awarded him
$500 damage.
01\24\{1906} (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven. The case of Pricella
vs. Cole was put on to day and I was not
drawn as juror and Judge Thair excused
me before noon.
So I went to the Art Gallery at Yale,
corner of Chapel and High Sts. and
then went down to Bell dock and saw
them unload coal and lumber from
ships and barges, Left New Haven at 3.20
and came home by trolley, through
Hamden and Cheshire.
01\25\1906 (Thursday)
I went to New Haven and atteded the Superior
Court but as the same case was on (Pricilla vs.
Cole et. al.) we staid about the Court house
till noon when we were excused and I
came home.
01\26\{1906} (Friday)
I went to New Haven. Found that the
Juoriors {Jurors} found a verdict after being out
from 4 to 6 o'clock for the plaintiff with
200 damage. Fitz Gerald & Wals for
plaintiff. Paige, Banks & Hincks for the
defendent {defendant}.
This evening Frank P. Welton and Robert
Somers called and I subscribed $1000
for the organization of a new German
Silver and Brass Company to be organized
Mar. 1st and the factory is to be located
on the meadows on the Watertown road
near the Buncker {Bunker} Hill Chapel.
Four days this week at New Haven @ 3.00 per day, 12.00
30 miles @ .12 cts. per mile 3.60 = 15.60 add 46.80 = 62.40.
01\27\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\28\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. John Davenport preached at the Chapel to day.
01\29\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the Chapel {factory???} to day as usual.
01\30\{1906} (Tuesday)
I went to New Haven to day and sat on the
case of Mrs. Geelan, Administrator against the
Benedict & Company coal dealers. This case is
now ready for the Judge's charge.
They have the drilled well finished in the Pine
Grove Cemetery and have taken the drilling
machine to Wolcott. They went down 176 feet
and claim to have a flow of 12 gallons of water
per minute.
01\31\{1906} (Wednesday)
I went to New Haven this morning. The Geeland vs.
Benedict case was decided in favor of the defendant.
The Doctor George Leiniger Chemical Co. vs.
Peck was next called and I was drawn off
the jury.
02\01\1906 (Thursday)
Went to New Haven this morning. Was excused at
noon. Called at Mr. Alexander Doolittle's at
Brooks Vale this afternoon.
02\02\{1906} (Friday)
Went to New Haven this morning. Excused at
noon. Stoped {Stopped} at Mt. Carmel this afternoon.
At New Haven 4days this week @ 3.00 = 12.00 30 miles
@.12 3.60 + 12.00 = 15.60 + 62.40 = 78.00.
02\03\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
02\04\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Reed (colored) preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
02\05\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\06\1906 (Tuesday)
Went to New Haven to day.
The case of Docotr George Lenninger Chemical
Co. vs. Peck was decided in favor
of the defendant. The lawyers were
Wright for plaintiff and Thomas for
defendant.
02\07\{1906} (Wednesday)
Cold this morning about zero, but no
ice cut yet this winter and no sleighinhg
except one day.
I went to New Haven but the case that
was to have been tried to day was settled
out of Court last night, so we were out of
business and came home.
02\08\{1906} (Thursday)
Went to New Haven but was drawn
off the jury. Judge Thair excused me
at noon. I went over to Yale Colleage {College} and
saw Clifton Heaton. Took the 2.eight{2.08??} car
home.
Last night I went with Sheriff Wm. Gillette
to the store in the Forersters Hall and got
my heavy scales. He posted a notice
that the goods would be sold Feb. 21st.
The Ladies Union held an entertainment
and supper at the Chapel last evening,
cleared about $12.00.
02\09\1906 (Friday)
I went to New Haven to day, and the case of
Raynor against the City of New Haven was begun
and I am on the case.
Account 4 days @3.00 12.00 30 miles @.12 3.60 = 15.60 + 78.00 = 93.60
02\10\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\11\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Wolatencroft preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
02\12\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
02\13\{1906} (Tuesday)
I went to New Havem this morning and found
that the case of Raynor vs. City of New
Haven was withdrawn.
But the case of Jacobi vs. Austin of Wallingford
was put on and I am on this case.
02\14\{1906} (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven to day.
The case that was put on yesterday was decided
in favor of plaintiff with $425.00 damage.
The case of Clark vs. Dunn was put on
but I was drawn off the jury.
02\15\{1906} (Thursday)
Attended the Su[erior Court at New Haven. The
case of Clark against Dunn was decided for
the plaintiff. The case of Clark against
Unmae et als was put on. I am on the Jury.
02\16\{1906} (Friday)
At New Haven to day. Clark vs. Unmae
still on.
Four days at New Haven this week at 3.00 per day
12.00 60 miles travel at .06 per mile = 3.60 = 15.60 + 93.60 = 109.20
02\17\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Miss Alice Rosevelt {Roosevelt} was married to day to
Senetor {Senator} Longworth at the Whitehouse in
Washington.
02\18\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Wagner preached at the Chapel to day.
02\19\1906 (Monday)
I worked this day at the factory of Rogers & Brother.
This afternoon I recived {received} a telephone message from
Mrs. Jarrett stating that there would be no
Court at New Haven tomorrow, but it would
be held next day.
02\20\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked to day as usual at the factory.
I recived {received} a letter from Mr. Fowler, Clerk of the
Superior Court at New Haven stating that
I was excused till 10 o'clock tomorrow.
02\21\{1906} (Wednesday)
I attended Court at New Haven to day.
The case of Doughlass against Unmack{??}
was decided for the plaintiff with
O'Connor to pay damage to
Doughlass of $740.00 damage.
Juror George D. Hall's father died last
Saturday and was buried yesterday
and that was the reason that no court was
held yesterday. Mr. Hall lived in Wallingford.
02\22\{1906} (Thursday)
Went to New Haven and sat on the
case of Moony vs. The Connecticut
Railing and Lighting Co.
02\23\1906 (Friday)
Went to New Haven to day. Case of Mooney
against the Conn. Railway and Lighting CO.
on all day.
Three day{s} at New Haven @3.00 9.00 mileage 3.60
12.60 + 109.20 = 121.80.
02\24\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
02\25\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel.
02\26\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
02\27\{1906} (Tuesday)
Went to New Haven on the trolley
car that leaves here at 8 o'clock, reached
there at 9.30, went to Court at 10 and
received Judge Thairs charge on the
case of Mrs. Mooney of Derby against
the Connecticut Railway and Lighting
Company for injuries received in Ansonia a year ago
last August that resulted in his death.
The Jury went out at 10.20 A.M. and
were out till 3 P.M. when we disagreed{??}
and the Court accepted it. From first
to last the Jury ballot stood 4 for
plaintiff and 8 for defendent {defendant}.
Oliver Ambler of Southbury, Duncan
Gibbard of Prospect, Charles Maker
and myself of Waterbury were for the
plaintiff. David Plum{?} of Prospect,
Howard Hecox of Southbury, Mr. French,
James Bucklee, and Mr. Butter{?} of Seymour,
George D. Hall of Wallingford, and Charles R. Baldwin
of New Haven were for the Trolley Company.
02\28\1906 (Wednesday)
Attended Superior Court at New Haven.
The Case of Whitings appeal from the New
Haven Probate Court was put on and
the Jurors chozen {chosen} were Holmes of Wolcott,
Butter, French and Buckley of Seymour,
Hall of Wallingford, Tuttle of Wolcott, Maker
and myself of Waterbury, Clark of Woodbridge,
Ambler and Hecox of Southbury, and David
Plumb of Prospect. The day was taken
up in hearing evidence.
I would like to note here that Mr. Henry B.
Hall of Wallingford, one of my fellow jurymen
died early this morning. Yesterday
he was in attendance at court and left at 2 o'clock,
apparantly well as usual, died apoplexy.
03\01\1906 (Thursday)
Attended Court at New Haven. The entire
day was taken up by examining one witness.
03\02\{1906} (Friday)
Attended Court at New Haven. Mr. Leroy
Whiting, the same witness that was on the
stand yesterday, was on today till three o'clock
when Judge Dow was called to testify.
At Court 4 day @3.00 = 12.00 60 miles @.06 3.60
15.60 121.80 = 137.40.
03\03\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory this day.
Mr. Haywood of Providence has taken charge of
the polishing room.
03\04\{1906} (Sunday)
It rained hard all night and the streams
were quite high this morning.
Rev. Mr. Smith preached at the Chapel (Baptist)
to day. Mr. Henry Judd called this evening and
said that he is going to call a school meeting the 13th.
03\05\1906 (Monday)
I worked to day at the factory of Rogers &
Brothers, or the Inrerntional Silver Co.
(Factory J{???})
The Waterbury Athletic Association is
about to be organized with a Capitol of
$10,000 and have purchased four acres of
land south of Wedges Corner of Morris{??}
Reed for a ball field.
03\06\{1906} (Tuesday)
I attended Court and the Whiting Case
was continued all day. Mrs. Leroy Whiting
was the witness, and it took up nearly all
day to her her evidence.
03\07\{1906} (Wednesday)
I attended Superior Court at New Haven.
The Colonel Whiting case was continued.
A young lady was the first witness
called, was succeeded by two spiritualists
from Niantic{?} Campground who had
known Mr E. L. Whiting. They testified that
he was queer. Next came a Grand Army
Nurse and then Mrs. Cooley. A nurse was
on the stand the remainder of the day.
03\08\{1906} (Thursday)
Attended the Whitting case in the Superior
Court at New Haven to day. This is the
6th day of the trial.
The weather to day has been as nice as any day
I ever knew at this time of year.
Went down home this evening and saw Amy
who had just returned from New York where
she has been for a month past working at
milinery {millinery} work.
03\09\{1906} (Friday)
Attended the Whiting trial at New Haven to
day. At 4 o'clock this afternoon the first witness
was put on for the defence. I saw Mr. Fowler,
Clerk of the Superior Court of New Haven
and he told me that Amy Miller might go
out of the state provided her father and mother
gave their consent. Four days at Court @3.00 = 12.00
32 miles travel @.12 cts. 3.84 = 15.84 + 137.40 = 153.24.
Ten weeks, 4 miles extra travel @.06 = .24 per week 2.40
155.64
03\10\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Recived {Received} a letter stating that a meeting is
to be held in the Business Mens Rooms in
the Jones and Morgans Building next
Wednesday evening at eight o'clock to
elect dirielars{??} and for any other business
proper to come before said meeting.
This is to be the first meeting of the stockholders.
The letter is signed by Frank
P. Welton, Robert D. Somers, and Abel
Kenworthy.
03\11\{1906} (Sunday)
A lay preacher from Waterville preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
03\12\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Board
of Education in the High School Building with
Mr. Henry Judd.
03\13\{1906} (Tuesday)
Sat at the Whiting Case in the Superior
Court in New Haven all day.
Attended school meeting
at Mill Plain. Mr. Judd resigned from Committee.
03\14\{1906} (Wednesday)
The Whiting Case was settled by the
brothers Le Roy and Howard Whting
this forenoon and we jurors were excused
till tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Clerk Fowler paid me a check of $80.40
for five week service to Feb. 5th or 6th.
To night I attended a meeting of the Waterbury
Metal Company held in the
Waterbury Business Mens Association's rooms
for the purpose of organizing the new
company. There were I should think
about 50 stockholders present, and they
elected a board of directory consisting of
Frank Welton, Robert Somers, Cornilus
Tracy, Abel Kenworthy, Mr. Keeley,
Mr. Beardsley and Ambrose Wells.
The name was also changed to the "Waterbury
Rolling Mills Incorporated".
03\15\{1906} (Thursday)
Went to New Haven, was challenged off from
the case that was called. I then started
for Hartford at noon by trolley, but the
fierce storm and snow hindered so that
I did not reach Plainville till 4 o'clock
and as the New Britain cars were not
running on time, I returned and came
home.
03\16\{1906} (Friday) 90.72 due
Worked at the factory to day.
Three days at New Haven @$3.00 9.00 68 miles travel @.06
4.08 .06
18.08 4.08
03\17\1906 {Saturday}
I worked at the factory to day.
There are five weeks pay due me at the factory.
03\18\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Walters of the first Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
Irving, Clara French, Lydia Jones and I
went out for a sleighride after service, up to
Wolcott Center.
03\19\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory. It is snowing
and I went round the ú with the snow
plough after work.
03\20\{1906} (Tuesday)
I attended Court at New Haven to
day. The case of {? ?} vs. Merrill was
decided for the plaintiff with $400 for damage.
The case of {? ?} vs. the City of Derby
was put on this afternoon. I was drawn off, and
am excused till next Tuesday.
03\21\1906 (Wednesday)
I attended a meeting of the Board of Public Works
last evening and they assured me that they
would grant me a new street light on the
Meriden Road, next week when I am to appear
in the interest of the Mill Plain Improvement
Society.
This morning when Joe Pierpont called to
leave the milk this morning, he told us
that his father's house burned to the ground
at 12 o'clock last night. We went out quick
and took the goods that had been saved
over to Austin Pierponts and Mother Pierponts.
There were in the house at the time Wilson and
his three sons Joe, Charlie, and Nathan. The
smoke awoke them and they escaped with their
clothes and saved some of the furniture.
Wilson lost all his clothes except a night shirt and
vest, pants, shoes, and hat which he had on, all
the money he had about $5.00, watch etc. He came
over to our house and we fitted him out with clothes
and I gave him $10.00 and he went down town and
got shirts etc. He expects to live in Mother Pierponts
house for the present.
03\22\1906 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day, recived {received} three
weeks pay i.e. 3/3/06, 3/10/06, and 3/17/06.
Clyde came home for his spring vacation last
night.
03\23\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day. This evening
Clyde and I went to town to see if we could
borrow a transit for Clyde to survey Arthur
Pierpont's farm with. We saw George Chatfield
and he is using his. We then saw Ben Chatfield
and he said that he would see if he could find
one.
03\24\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
James Porter died this morning at four
o'clock after a long illness. Would have been
88 years old next Monday.
03\25\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. Ben Chatfield called and said
that his father had a transit that Clyde
could take. He went and got it at Albert
Chatfields.
This evening Mary, Mother Pierpont and
I went out home and Mary and I went
up to Arthur's.
03\26\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day repairing the
hydraulic press so that each stroke of the
pump would send the guage pointer 5 tons
ahead up to 650 tons. I hardened 8 steel dies
this afternoon.
03\27\1906 (Tuesday)
I went to Court at New Haven this morning
and the Case of Mc Earney vs. the City of
Derby was still on trial and is expected to
last till the end of the week. At noon the
judge excused me for the term.
The Judge's name is Thair of Norwich.
The Clerk is Edward A. Anketell
Assistant, Mr. Fowler
Stenographer, Mrs. Merrit Carter.
Mr. Fowler gave me acheck for $104.64, the balance
of my pay.
03\28\{1906} (Wednesday)
To day I staid about home all day except I
went to the Dimes Savings Bank and deposited
the checks I received for Jury duty which amounted
$185.04.
03\29\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Clyde and Arthur Dunn have been surveying
to day. To night Clyde went to New Haven.
03\30\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\31\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank and I took the five o'clock trolley car and
went to Ives Corner and walked a mile to Brooks
Vale to Mr. Alexander Doolittle's to see if he wanted
Frank to work for him during vacation, but he did
not as he had a man and boy already.
04\01\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Nichols preached at the Chapel this P.M.
Ruth and I went for a ride to Cheshire and Prospect,
found lots of mud.
04\02\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mr. Henry Judd and I attended the
meeting of the Board of Education. Mark Warner,
John Gallagher, B.F. Hoggett, and Ned Pritchard
were also there.
04\03\1906 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory today.
04\04\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
04\05\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory, hardened six dies.
04\06\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Sister Iva had a child born this morning
at two o'clock named Mansfield Miller
Gillette.
To day I drew from the Citizens Bank two
hundred and fifty dollars and this
evening I took it to Simonsville and gave
it to Robert Somers' wife (he not being at
home) to give to her brother Frank P. Welton.
I then came out to the Chapel to the supper
and entertainment.
04\07\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at Rogers & Brothers factory to day.
04\08\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchum preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. After service, Ruth and I went out to
Morris Rid's place and saw the grand stand
and base ball ground that they are building.
Then we took the trolley cars and went to
Uncle Will Somers, but he was not at home so
we went over to Cousin Rob Somers and he
was not at home. We then went to church in
the Simonsville Baptist Church. The Rev. Mr. Williams
of the Second Congregational Church preached.
Then we took the trolley cars up through Baldwin
Street to exchange place and out East Main St.
home.
04\09\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day. Hardened 5 dies.
It has snowed to the depth of about four inches
to day.
04\10\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day, hardened six dies.
The snow had all gone this morning.
04\11\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory, hardened six dies and 1 punch.
This evening Irving and I went to Cheshire to
see Mr. Jacob D. Walters who is County Comissioner.
04\12\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this day.
I had Irving go down to fathers and telephone
to Cheshire to see if Mr. Walters was at home.
Soon he returned and said that he would be
home in about an hour. We boarded the 7.30
car at my gate and went to Cheshire and
found Mr. Walters home, second house North
of the Acadamy. I told him that they intended
to have a Saloon at Wedges Corner and that
we were oposed {opposed} to it. He assured me that no
license should be granted etc. We spent about
an hour with him and then came home.
04\13\1906 (Friday)
This is Fast Day and I stayed home and worked
in the swamp grubbing out the bogs.
The first game was played at the new ball
grounds south of Wedge's Corner this afternoon
between the Newark's and Waterbury's there
were about 10,000 persons present.
04\14\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked to day at the factory.
04\15\{1906} (Sunday)
"Easter Sunday". Rained hard all the forenoon.
Cleared up after noon. Frank and Raymond Munson
took my team and went to several houses
and got flowers for the Chapel. The service
there was grand. Dr. Davenport officiated
and they had the best singing that I hever heard
there. The Choir was composed of Clara G. French,
Maragret Miller, Fritsa Hansen, and Lydia Jones,
Sopranos. Bertha J. French, Mrs. F. Young,
Mrs. F.A. Munson, Bessie Parks and Minnie Judd,
"Altos". Sidney J. Spender, H. Clifton
Heaton and George Hansen, "Tenors".
Stewart H. Judd, Clarence Brown, Henry
Beckwith and Irving C. Miller, "Basses".
"Organist" Morton W. Judd.
"Director" Godfrey K. Reed.
04\16\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day, hardened 5 dies.
This evening James White, Henry Judd,
Mr. Packer and Dayton Wooding went before
the Board of Education with a petition to
have me appointed School Committee of the
Saw Mill Plain District. They had 33 signers.
Opposed was Mark L. Watner, John F. Gallagher,
Edward S. Pritchard, and B.F. Haggett with a
petition for Chas Lee. I have been told
by Mr. Judd that I am appointed.
04\17\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Lewis Beckwith is sick with the Pleuracy {Pleurisy} and
Pneumonia, was taken sick Fast Day.
04\18\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Went to Mark Pond's this evening to see about
school matters.
Lewis Beckwith died this noon of Pleural Pneumonia.
04\19\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
San Francisco, Cal. is nearly destroyed by an
earthquake and fire. Yesterday morning at
5.30 occured a shock which lasted three minutes
that felt{?} many of the large buildings to
the ground, and burst the water mains so
that the firemen had no water, and the
City is now burning up.
04\20\1906 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
04\21\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went up to James White's and
he and Miss Bessie went up to Mark Warner's
who is Clerk of the School District and Bessie and
I went in, while Mr. White went up to Rob Wakelee's
and we or rather Bessie copied some of
the records of the votes taken at School Meetings
pertaining to the New School House. She took
them in short-|hand.
04\22\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fairchild of Simonsville preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
Margaret and I drove out to Arthur Pierpont's
and up to Charlie Tuttle's after service.
04\23\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory till 7.30 this evening.
In yesterday's Sunday Herald there appeared a long
article entitled "Miller Lands Place".
A.B. Pierpont sold the "Old Wedge Place" near the
arch Saturday to a frenchman.
04\24\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day and this morning.
04\25\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day till 8 o'clock.
04\26\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving and I went up to John Gallagher's
and Mark Warner's and I got the district tax
list from Mr. Warner.
04\27\1906 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\28\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day till six o'clock.
04\29\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Dinsmore of the First Congregational
Church preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
this afternoon.
The first Sunday game of base ball was played
at the new field at Wedges Corner to day.
This evening Mary and I called at George
Benhams.
04\30\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\01\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I took the district tax list to
the assessor's office to have a new list made.
I then cam back to Mill Plain and visited
the School.
05\02\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to John Gallagher's and saw him
about the District tax I am laying.
Allen Burgess moved into the Fred Frost place
last Saturday.
05\03\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
After work, Raymond and I planted potatoes
down to fathers.
Frank and Irving finished ploughing at
Murry Beeke's.
05\04\{1906} (Wednesday) {duplicate entry =? Friday}
Worked at the factory to day.
05\05\{1906} (Thursday) {duplicate entry =? Saturday}
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\04\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.*
Went to John Gallagher's and saw his tax
book and saw Mark L. Warner and showed
him my appointment of School Committee and
he showed me the notice he received from
Clerk Fitzgerald.
05\05\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
We finished planting potatoes to night.
05\06\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Smith of Simonsville preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
Margaret and I went for a ride after service
at Gillette's corner. We took in Burnice Falmage
and we went down through Matthews Street
and over by Lights Pond and down the
Mountain to Alexander Doolittle's at
Brooks Vale where we staid till 8 o'clock.
05\07\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Mr. Stovells and got an
old tax book.
Mr. Hoggett came to my house and lift {left} a
copy of a warning of a school meeting while
I was gone.
05\08\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to Hotchkiss & Templetons
and bought two ounces of onion seed for 30 cts.
After I got home I went up to Mr. Hoggett
and he told me that he would call a meeting
of the Building Committeee next Thursday
evening at 8.30.
Henry Cook has the frame of his house up.
05\09\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
05\10\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Building Committee of Mill Plain of
Ed Pritchard's house.
05\11\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Went up to James Whetes this evening.
05\12\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I posted a notice on the sign
board at the School House calling a School
Meeting for Monday eving {evening}, May 21st.
I also took a copy to the District Clerk,
Mark L. Warner.
05\13\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. {? ?} preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. Theodore Munson{?} and I drove out
to Hitchcocks Pond.
05\14\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This morning at half past four I heard a
rumble that felt like an earthquake. The
doors and windows shook. I{It??} proved to be the
mgazines {magazines???} at the Union Metallic Cartridge
Companies in Bridgeport {??????}. Nearly all the
windows in Bridgeport and many in Stratford
were broken, and the report was heard
in New London and Litchfield.
This evening I attended the meeting of the
Mill Plain Improvement Society. I was
chosen a committee to see about getting
police protection for this part of the town
next circus day.
05\15\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Miss Welton won $500.00 from St. Ann's Fair
to day.
{05\16 through 05\22 lacking}
05\23\{1906} (Wednesday)
Owing to a press of work and business, all of
my time has been used and I have made
no entries for several days.
I have worked in the shop every day except
2 1/2 hours last Thursday forenoon when I went
down town and got the District tax list
and I worked three hours Sunday forenoon.
Last Friday evening I took the tax book
up to John Gallagher and left the tax
sheet with Mark Warner.
Sunday, Rev. Mr. Buckwalter preached
at the Chapel.
Monday evening we had a School Meeting
and on Motion of Thomas Holmes, it was
voted that we pay all the bills that
come before this meeting i.e. 367.75.
Yes 22 No 17
This evening I attended the annual
meeting of the Mill Plain Chapel Society.
The following officers were elected.
Committee
A.B. Pierpont 9 Episcopal
J.H. Garrigus 12{??} Methodist
C.S. Miller 11{??} Congregational
Henry M. Judd Baptist
Secretary
Bessie White 12
Treasurer
H.J. Abel 16
Sunday School Superintendent
Henry M. Judd
Organist
Mr. Reed
Librarian
Joe Pierpont .
05\24\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day piping a wash
bowl in Mr. Tobin's office.
Finished planting the East Garden to night.
Thomas Mills had me make some teeth
for his hand cultivator.
Mad dogs have done great damag [damage} and
the City government has ordered every
dog in the town tied up or shot on account
of the rabies.
05\25\1906 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\26\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\27\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon at a meeting of the Chapel
Committee. I was chosen chairman of the board.
After service I drove over to Waterville and
on over to where they have started to build
the new Waterbury Rooling Mills Factory.
05\28\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
It has rained all day.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Mill Plain Society. There were but few
there on acout {account} of the rain and no business
was done.
05\29\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went out to George Benhams and
he showed me how to file tax leans{?} on school
property.
Irving has gone to New Haven where he is to
meet Clifton Heaton and both are going to
Easton, Pa. to visit Clyde at Lafayettee {Lafayette} Colledge {College}.
05\30\1906 (Wednesday - Decorations Day)
We worked about home this forenoon and after
dinner, Frank, Raymond and I hitched up and drove
over by Lakewood to Waterville and over to where
they are building the new Waterbury Rooling Mills
Inc., and watched them put in some of the concrete
foundations, and then we went to where they
are widening the trestle near the Oakville Company's
factory for the trolley tracks. We then
went to Watertown and found that they had
got the tracks laid from the foot of Candee{??}
Hill to a point this side of the Catholic Church
in Watertown. From the Center we came South
west of the Middlebury Road till we struck
the Woodbury and Waterbury stage road which
we followed home.
05\31\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We had a frost yesterday morning that did
much damage to gardens.
Had a letter from Clyde and a postal from
Irving stating that he was a {at} Jersey City and
about to take cars for Easton.
06\01\1906 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Henry Cook is having his new house painted
and Mr. Carlson is having the frame of his
houses put up to day. They are being built on
the west side of the Southmaid Road.
06\02\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Frank and I went to town and
bought some garden seeds, and other things.
When we were coming home, we met thirty
trolley cars coming for the Ball grounds and
nearly all were loaded.
Ralph Blakeslee showed me some rye last
night that was 6' 10" high.
The Mill Plain Sunshine Circle met here yesterday
afternoon.
06\03\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketcham of Woolcott {Wolcott} preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Last night at about 10.30, Irving came home after
having spent since last Tuesday with Clyde in
Easton, Pa.
06\04\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening we went over to John French's
and moved their piano to Charlie Monroe's
to be used next Wednesday at the wedding of
Miss Elsie French.
06\05\1906 (Tuesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
This evening we set out pepper and tomatoe {tomato}
plants in the garden.
06\06\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Elsie French and Willie Bock were married
at Charlie Monroe's house this afternoon by
the Rev. Mr. Fairchild of Simonsville.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Pine
Grove Cemetery Association and the following
Trustees were elected, Mark L. Warner,
Hiram J. Abel, Warren Hitchcock, Theodore
Munson, Ralph N. Blakeslee, Mr. Jessel,
and Mr. Candee.
06\07\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
The lightening struck about here during
Tuesday night's thunder storm as follows,
Struck a telephone pole on Niagra Street.
Struck a tree in Porter's Woods over on the
Meriden road.
Struck a tree in the Pine Grove Cemetery.
Struck a house over at the foot of East Mountain
on the South side of the Prospect Road.
George Hitchcock has sold his house and 40
acres of land to Franklin Peck of Waterbury.
06\08\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\09\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\10\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Dallas preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service, I took Mary and Mother Pierpont for a
ride out the Meriden Road and in the Cheshire Road.
This morning sister Cara called and told us that
Judge Charles Gillette died of heart trouble this
morning.
06\11\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
I attended the meeting of the Mill Plain Improvement
Society and they appointed a committee of Mr. James
White, Mr. Spender and Mr. Hoggett to push through
the grading of the Meriden Road in front of the
school, also Mr. Pond, a committee to interview
the property owners in regard to opening a
new road from the Woodtick Road near his house
to the Woolcott {Wolcott} Road near Mr. Kilbourne's. Also we
elected the following officers, James White President,
Benjamin F. Hoggett Vice President, M. Packer
Secretary and B.F. Pond Treasurer.
Old Home Week opened in Meriden to day.
Minnie Lewis and a Massachusetts fellow were
married to day.
06\12\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Barnum and Baily's great circus has been
held on the James Porter farm to day.
The tents consisted of one five center pole
managerie {menagerie} tent, one ten center pole circus
tent, one 2 center pole dressing tent, one
one center pole dressing tent, one large
two center pole side show{??} tent (on south
side of Cheshire Road), one small two center
pole side show tent on south side of road.
The first three tents were on North side of
road. There were also two three center pole
tents for horses, one six center pole tent
for {????} the men, one blacksmith
shop tent, two cook tents, and three
small tents for washing dishes, supplies etc.
These tents were on the Southmaid Road.
Thye had 500 horses and have 1200 people
on their pay roll.
Yesterday they exibeted {exhibited} in Holeyoke, Mass.
Tomorrow they are to exibit {exhibit} in Bridgeport.
Thursday in New Haven, Friday
in Hartford, Saturday in Springfield,
and all of next week in Boston.
06\13\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Judge Gillette was buried at Pines Bridge
yesterday afternoon from his home corner
of Prospect and Buckingham Street.
Mary and a party consisting of Stewart
Judd, Mort Pierpont, Arthur Pierpont, John
Tood, George Warner, Bertha Lud, Bertha French
went this morning to Commencement at
the Connecticut Mechanical and Agricultural
College at Storos{??}.
06\14\1906 (Thursday)
This forenoon I visited the Mill Plain School
and this afternoon Mary and I went to Meriden
and saw what we could of the celebration.
We missed the parade but enjoyed the Love
Exhibit on the Parish house of St. Andrews
Church. We drove over.
06\15\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
06\16\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\17\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. {? ?} of the Farm Street Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. After service, Margaret, Henry
Beckwith and I went for a ride out the
Cheshire Road, up the Scott Road to Scotts
Upper Pond and we drove over across the
dam to the Baldwin place on the old
bound line road, then on East to the
road that goes from Prospect Center
to Summit and home by the Plank
Road.
06\18\{1906} (Monday)
Worked to day at the factory.
This evening I pasted a notice for a
School Meeting to be held Monday,
June 25th at 8 o'clock P.M.
06\19\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day. This evening
we moved the French girls piano home from
Monroes. Went to Mr. Ponds and figured school acts.
06\20\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Paid my school tax, 9.10 to John Gallagher,
collector, and got Mark Warner's bill for wood.
06\21\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
We all went to Polis Theter {Theater} to night to
the graduating exercises of the High
School scholars.
06\22\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went and saw Mrs. Judge
Gillette and she gave me all the Judge's
collection of minerals and Indian relics.
06\23\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\24\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchum of Wolcott preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
06\25\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Had school meeting this evening.
Mark Warren elected Committee, B.F. Hoggett
Clerk, George Warner Treasurer, and John Gallagher
Tax Collector. Margaret went to work
in Miller & Pecks dry goods store to day.
06\26\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\27\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This forenoon at about 9 o'clock, Eugene Rowley,
John Scott and {------} Sullivan lost their lives
at the factory of the Benedict & Burnham Co.
by being drowned and suffocated in a cellar{??}
of oil.
06\28\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\29\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\30\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
07\01\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon, it being Childrens' Day.
07\02\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers
to day.
07\03\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\04\{1906} (Wednesday)
Rained by{??} showers till after dinner.
There is no celebration that I know of anywhere
to day. Everything is very quiet.
07\05\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\06\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Ralph Blakeslee commenced haying to day.
Mary Porter called and told Mary that I could
have the hay in the swamp opposite the house
for 4.00 and the hay in the lot this side of
Mrs. Hines and that on Bilberry{?} Hill.
07\07\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory putting back the
big Peck lifter drop that I took out day before
yesterday to have the foundation bed stone
chipped level.
07\08\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lepley preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. {??}
07\09\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
I attended a meeting of the Mill Plain Improvement
Society this evening, and we talked over
the building of a new road from Murtain
Ponds over to the West Wolcott Road to
come out between Robert Welton's house
and barn. Robert Welton was there and
offered the land for the right-|of-|way
through the property that he owns.
Irving left home this morning at four
o'clock for Camp at Nyantic where the
2nd and 4th Regts. are to spend this week.
07\10\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Platt's large elevator took fire this
morning and burned to the extent of
$5,000.00 damage. A large quantity of grain
was burned. It is located on Benedict St.
07\11\1906 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual, 11 1/2 hrs.
The finishing department of the factory
started up Monday "full time" after a
shut down of a week. The making
department has not stoped {stopped} at all, only
one day, July 4th. This is the first
year that it has run without a stop.
07\12\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
07\13\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Milo Peck has leased the Byam Place
out on the Southington Mountain
for three years.
This evening after work, I carried the
District Committee man's book and
the key to the School house up to
Mark L. Warner.
07\14\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Last evening the Trustees of Pine Grove
Cemetary {Cemetery} met and voted to buy the lot
adjoining the Cemetary {Cemetery} property on the
South and North of Mrs. David Shannon's
property of Ralph N. Blakeslee. The vote
stood 5 for and 2 against, Mark Warner
and Warren Hitchcock against, and
Mr. Jessel, Thae{?} Munson, Hiram Abel,
Thomas Candee and Mr. Blakeslee for
it. But Hitchcock and Warren are standing
out against it, and they and Blakeslee
have consulted Chas Root, the lawyer
and he has given it as his opinion that
they have not the power to sell.
07\15\{1906} (Sunday)
I worked repairing the waterwheel three
hours this morning.
Rev. Mr. Bulkwalter preached at
the Chapel this P.M.
Mort Pierpont and Jessie had a son born
to them night before last, Laurence Austin.
//end of vol 1904-06//
07\16\1906 (Monday)
I worked for the International Silver Co.
to day at the factory of Rogers & Brother.
In the forenoon Laurence Tobin and I went
up to the factory of Rogers and Hamilton
and set some iron plates in the floor of the
boiler room and we took a load of wheels out
of the trimming room and brought them
down to our shop.
They say that this is the last time that
we are going up there as the factory is to
be occupied by another company.
07\17\{1906} (Tuesday)
I staid about home all day some time
up in Ralph Blakeslee's barn watching a
man put a reaper and binder together.
This evening I went over to John Frenches
and had him stitch up a trace{??}
07\18\{1906} (Wednesday)
We went up to Mr. Blakeslee's and saw
them use the reaper together with the
binder attachment some time. Then
Frank, Raymond and I mowed the lot
corner of the Harpers Ferry Road and Cheshire
Road.
07\19\{1906} (Thursday)
Early this morning Irving and I went
down and mowed in Thomas Mills'
home lot and afterwards Frank mowed
the rest of the lot with the machine.
We got in four loads.
Mary and Ruth attended a picnic at
Arthur Pierpont's given by the Grangers.
07\20\{1906} (Friday)
We all went to day to a picnic of the
Mill Plain Sunday School at Compound
pond. Mary, Margaret, and Ruth went
on the trolley cars and Frank, Raymond,
Mrs. Candee, and Florence White
drove. Irving came over in the evening.
It took me two hours to drive over.
There were about 50 there, and about
15 children went over in Arthur Pierpont's
vegetable wagon.
07\21\1906 (Saturday)
Today I mowed the swale{??} west of Thomas
Mills' house, and then opened out a
lot of hay we had cocked{??} up, and just
as it was dry and we went for the
team to get it in with, a shower
came and wet it all. We shook it
out later and put it in winnows.
Mr. and Mrs. Burgess went to the
shore at Walnut Beach this afternoon.
We mowed part of the lot above
Hiram Able's lot this afternoon.
07\22\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Phipps formerly of Propsect
preached at the Chapel this P.M.
After service Bessie White, Clara
French, Irving and I went for a ride.
We went over across Lake Wood and
up North Main Street, over to Perkins
Ave. to Waterville and over the new
bridge to where they are putting
in the foundations for the Waterbury
Rolling{??} Mills factory and then up
Bunker Hill, and down to Robbins
Street which we turned up to Middlebury
Road, out Middlebury and
up the Park Road past where Thomas
Lockwood was murdered, to the
Litchfield and New Haven Turnpike
which we traveled to Union
City, then up the Waterbury Road to
the Pearl Lake Road and soon home.
07\22\{1906} (Monday)
Irving and I got up early this morning
and we went up and mowed in
the stony meadow above Mr. Able's.
It has been cloudy all day and we
could not get in any hay although
we got one lot ready but had to
heap it up as soon as possible and it
rained long and wet it.
This evening I went down to Father's
and Wm. Gillette showed me some old
papers that were his father's, among
them a writ "To The Constable of Stratford",
dated 1711.
07\23\{1906} (Tuesday)
Today has been cloudy and we have
worked about the gardens.
Mrs. Abel and Agnes and the children,
Wilbur and Olive Bergess' baby went to
Walnut Beach to see Olive who has been
there since last Saturday.
Ruth went out to Mort Pierpont's this
morning to work.
Thomas Candy, the sexton of Pine Grove
Cemetery, has bought Mr. Carlson's
place on the Southmaid Road.
07\24\{1906} (Wednesday)
We got in all the hay that was out at
Jones and also that at Thomas Mills.
07\25\{1906} (Thursday)
This morning we started haying in the
lot corner of the Harpers Ferry and
Plank Road and got nearly all of it
in.
Henry Cass told me this morning that
Berkeley S. Hotchkiss died soon after six
this evening. He was in his buggy
coming out East Main St. near
Dublin when an automobile nearly
ran into him and his horses started
to run, but were soon stopped and
he was dead when taken from the
team.
07\27\1906 (Friday)
This morning Frank mowed the circus
lot east of Mrs. Hines' house and
we got it in together with what was
left in the lot corner of Plank and
Harper's Ferry roads. I mowed seven
swaths{??} across the swamp opposite
James Porter's house and we raked
up a lot of course{??} hay in the Sherman
Bronson lot.
07\28\{1906} (Saturday)
Today we got three loads of hay from
Mr. Blakeslee's lot, and one load from
Mr. Porter's lot.
07\29\{1906} (Sunday)
Today Mary, Margaret and Irving and
I went by trolley to Cheshire and attended
church after which we took the trolley
and went to Mt. Carmel and went up
the north side of the mountain and
over to the third peak to Mr. Brockett's
cottage where we found Charlie
Pierpont, his wife and Anna. After a
time, Mr. Brockett came and we went
to the place where they draw the
water up the ledge, at this point it
over 200 ft high, and the spring is
out from the bottom a distance so
that a large wire stretched from
the spring to the top of the ledge
is over 300 ft long, and at the top
of the ledge there is a windlass{??}
to which is wound a small cord
which runs over a double pulley
that runs on the wire and by
unwinding the windlass, the pulleys
run down the wire to the spring
and a pail is lowered from the
pulley into the water and by winding
up the windlass, the pail of water is
lifted from the water and drawing up
to the pulleys which in turn runs up
the wire to the top of the ledge.
We then went down the south side
of the ledge of the third peak to "Abram's
Cave" which by mean of a lantern
and candles Irving, Margaret and
I went through. We went in a crevice
only large enough for one at a time
in an easterly downward direction about
4 rods, then turning to the right down
straight 10 ft, then west into a room
that hold 14 people, then up and
south 60{80??} ft and in a small hole to
the right into a large crevice
and then back out.
Rev. Mr. Ketchum of Wolcott preached
at the Chapel.
07\30\1906 (Monday)
I went to work at the factory to
day as John French called yesterday
and said they needed me.
Today Colonel Cummings' "Wild West"
and "F.F. Main's Great Show"{??} was given
on the lot between James Porter's house
and my father's place. Mary, Ruth,
Margaret, Irving and I went in the
evening and Frank and Raymond went
in the afternoon. The show was very
nice, admission 25 cts.
07\31\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
08\01\1906 (Wednesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
Mary, Frank and Raymond went
out to Harry Garrigus's and picked
about 8 quarts of blueberries{??}.
08\02\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Joseph F. Platt has bought Mr. Albert
Spender's place for $2,250.
08\03\1906 (Friday)
I worked at the factory today.
08\04\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory today.
This evening the boys and I took the
little fire engine up to the bridge
on the Meriden Road near Mr. White's
and tried it. It worked well. Threw
water 20 ft over Mr. White's house.
08\05\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Union City
Baptist Chapel preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
08\06\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Very warm weather.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the Pine Grove Cemetery Association
held in the Chapel.
It was voted to sell a strip of
land along the bank of the river to
the Mattatuck Mfg. Co for a pond
for $100. Also to buy the lot south
of the Cemetery of Ralph Blakeslee
for $1,700.00. Vote on the first sale
stood, 27 cast all in favor. On the
purchase, 30 votes cast all in favor.
08\07\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked to day for the International Silver
Company at their spoon factory on
Silver Street.
08\08\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked to day 11 1/2 hr. in the factory.
08\09\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\10\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
08\11\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory today until noon, when
I came home on the trolley car, had dinner,
after which Frank and Raymond hitched up and
Irving and I started for Goshen. We drove up
through Wolcott to Hancock's station where we
crossed the New England Rail Road and went
up the Todd Hollow Road to the first road
that turned off to the left which we took and
soon came to a road that ran north along
the top of a ridge which we traveled. This
took us through a fine country where there
were fine farms well kept. The view from the
road was grand. Off to the right, Terryville,
Bristol, East Plymoth and the hills of many
other towns were to be seen. To the left, Watertown,
Plymoth and many other towns could be
seen. We crossed the state road that runs
from Plymoth to Terryville and had gone
north two or three miles when a hard
shower overtook us, and we drove under a
shed. Soon the owner came and he proved
to be Mr. Buell{??}, father of Rev. Seth
Buell who I have heard preach in our chapel
but is now living in Nebraska. He showed
us about the place, took us into the shop
where there was a gasoline engine, jig saw,
wood cut off saw, slitting saw, forge, etc.
also into the milk room which they built
themselves and a three story hen house.
We left there about 6.30 and went through
a nice country to Harwington{?} where we
turned west and went down by the
church beyond which we took the first
road to the right and went to Torrington.
But darkness overtook us before we
reached there. We had the horse put out
at the Allen House stable and fed, while
we walked to No 248 South Main St.
to Mr. L C Hull's. But we did not find
anybody home so we went to the stable
and left at 9.30 for Goshen. It grew very
dark before we reached West Torrington
and it thundered and lightninged
often. We bought a lantern and started
up the hill. Soon it began to rain, a
little at first but soon it poured. We had
blankets and a rubber boat which
covered us well, which with an umbrella
kept us nearly dry, although the water
ran from the umbrella in streams, and the
road was running like a river. But we kept
on and reached Samuel Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] after the
storm had subsideed at about eleven o'clock.
They were all up and after we had put the
horse out and fed him, we went in the house
and had a good supper of blackberry shortcake
and went to bed. In the morning it
was clear and cool. We had a late breakfast of
beef steak and vegetables and at quarter to eleven
Marion, Irving and I went to church which was
the next building west up the hill. The edifice
was well filled and the service interesting. Have
forgotten the minister's name.
We stayed about the house, had dinner and
started for home at 3.30, came south from Goshen
center to the Litchfield line, then east over
the hills to the town house and south along
Chestnut Hill past where Grandpa Miller
used to live (one half mile south of the Torrington
Road on the east side of the street)
and on over the hills through Northfield
to the south past of Thomaston where we
struck the Nangatuck River which we
followed to Waterbury and drove home.
Got there at 8.30.
08\13\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Rev. Mr. Kitchum preached at the Chapel yesterday.
Warren Hitchcock and William Atkinson have
bought Thomas Holmes' place on the Meriden
Road.
08\14\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory this day,
Mary, Raymond, Mother and Ruth
went to the seashore at Forth Trumbull
Beach to day.
08\15\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The Connecticut Railway and Lighting
Company began digging in front of my
house this morning for the double track
which they are going to put in all the
way to Mt. Carmel.
To day is Raymond's birthday. He is 11 years
old and is my youngest child.
08\16\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Irving, Frank and I got up early and mowed
in Porter's swamp this morning.
08\17\{1906} (Friday)
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening Irving, Frank, John French
and I mowed in Porter's Swamp.
08\18\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys took our little fire
engine over the third dam and pumped
from near the gate, The hose reached up
the Southmaid Road to Mr. Carlson's house
and the water nearly over it. they
then took it over to John French's
and played three streams all over
his house.
08\19\{1906} (Sunday)
Very hot. Rev. Mr. Phipps at Chapel.
08\20\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Had adjourned school meeting to night.
Voted to pay the bills of the building
committee which were E.S. Pritchard $83.00,
Thomas Heaton $162.00, and B.F. Hoggett
10.00. This with other bills already paid
makes a total of $18,619.72 that the new
school house has cost.
They voted that the committee lay
walks and finish grading the grounds.
It was also voted that the hiring of
a janitor be left with the committee.
08\21\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening John French came and we
welded a set of axles for him.
A number of young ladies came this
evening and had a choir rehearsal.
08\22\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked. Frank has gone to Savin Rock
to day. I went up to the old Rogers
and Hamilton Factory and got a rolling{??} mill.
Charles Blackburn's barn burned
last night at midnight, cause unknown.
08\23\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They have placed a cannon in Hamilton
Park to day. It is a relic of the Civil
War and was used I think by Co J.
10th Illinois Regt. The City bought
it in 1877 I think from the Farrell
Foundry in Ansonia.
Paid Thomas Mills 11.00 for grass.
08\24\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
08\25\1906 (Saturday)
Worked at factory.
08\26\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel.
After service Irving, Bessie Parks,
Margaret and I went for a ride up
and saw the concrete foundations they
are putting in for the new Waterbury
Rolling Mills. We then went north past
the poor house and over Nova Scotia
Hill and turned west and went into
Watertown by Hemingway's Silk Factory.
We attended service in the new Methodist
church after which we drove home.
08\27\{1906} (Monday)
I have had a stiff neck for the past two days
but this morning I got up and fed the horse
and got my scythe to mow the clothes yard
but when I took the first stroke I was taken
with a great pain in the neck and could
not move my arms without causing more
pain. I got into the house and sent Ruth
for Dr. Barber. He came about 10 o'clock and
said that I had the rheumatism of the neck
and gave me medicine to take which was
worse than the rheumatism. This afternoon
I got better and cleaned the shelf clock.
I also watched the men move the track
in front of the house. They worked all
night last night and the night before.
08\28\1906 (Tuesday)
I went to work at the factory to day.
08\29\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Bessie Barks left boarding at our house to day.
08\30\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\31\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Thomas Holmes gave a
moving picture entertainment in Hamilton
Hall this evening.
09\01\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Lewis C. Hull of Torrington called this evening
and borrowed Beers History of New Haven County.
09\02\{1906} (Sunday)
This afternoon a man and his wife, another
man and his wife had trouble with their
automobile in front of my house and they
came into the yard and sat down while
the younger man repaired the machinery.
I got into a conversation with the old gentleman
who proved to be H. Wales Lines of Meriden
who I showed several of my old documents
and he borrowed a letter I had, written by
Harris Hotchkiss of Plainfield N.J. in 1878
giving a description of Waterbury as it was
when he was a boy together with his business
experience here.
09\03\{1906} (Monday)
Labor Day. Staid about home all day.
09\04\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The labor unions had a great parade in
town yesterday, about 5,000 men and
60 young ladies who belong to the
Danbury's Hatters Union took part in
the parade.
Tonight Irving and I helped John French
move his piano. I ordered 3 tons of coal
for the Chapel of John McElligot for $7.00 per ton{??}.
09\05\1906 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brother to
day as I usually do.
This evening Frank and I helped John French
to finish moving. We brought over two loads.
09\06\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Theodore Abel told us that
his sister Mrs. Allen Burgess "passed away"
this afternoon at about 5 o'clock.
Burr Johnson finished haying in the swamp
opposite the James Porter place this afternoon
and I paid him $3.00. This is the last of my
haying. I have a good supply of good hay
and bedding on hand.
A large gang of men are laying the double
trolley track in front of my house today.
09\07\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The funeral of Olive Abel Burgess is to be
held Sunday at one PM in the Mill
Plain Chapel. She died of quick consumption
and was aged 24 years.
The workmen are going to work all night
on the double track.
Anthony Ashbourn was killed by the
cars nears the Manhan{??} Canal last
Monday and is to be buried in the
Mill Plain Cemetery tomorrow.
Mary, Irving, Margaret and Ruth
have gone to a lecture in the Second
Congregational Church. Ruth expects
to join next Sunday.
Frank and Raymond are in bed up
stairs and Clyde is in Atlantic
City, conductor on the trolley cars.
09\08\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\09\{1906} (Sunday)
Mrs. Olive Abel Burgess was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon. The Rev. Mr.
Walters of the first Methodist Church
officiated. The Chapel was filled to overflowing
and there was a great quantity of
flowers.
The Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the regular
service.
Yesterday Anthony Washburn was buried
from the Chapel.
09\10\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory today as usual.
Commenced working nights at the factory till
7 o'clock.
09\11\{!906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\12\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I received a letter from H. Wales Lines
of Meriden today.
Mr. William White has bought the
Levelette Upson place yesterday.
09\13\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory today.
Cora French and George Bradley were
married last night by the Rev. Mr.
Nichols at his house.
This evening I took $250.00 and paid it
to Robert Somers to be paid to the
Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. as a payment of
stock
Clyde is 22 years old to day.
09\14\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory today.
James Stovelle and Miss Cole were
married in Brooklyn, N.Y. last Wednesday
night.
09\15\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Tonight after work I went up to John
French's and helped him clean his well.
09\16\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchem preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Mary and the two boys, Frank and
Raymond, together with Roy Munson
returned from the shore this noon where
they went yesterday with Miss Pickett
to Adelbert Hitchcock's cottage at Rockfeller's
crossing about two miles west of Savin Rock.
This evening nearly all the church going
people about here went to the Second Congregational
Church, the occasion being
the twenty fifth anniversary of Dr.
Davenport's pastorate.
09\17\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we worked digging a well
back of the engine house.
The factory began working till 9 o'clock P.M. to
night.
09\18\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mrs. Annie Garrigus Hitchcock was
buried from her father;s home this
afternoon. Rev. Mr. John Davenport officiating.
She was buried in the Woodtick
Cemetery.
Dr. Davenport married her to Louis B
Hitchcock last Christmas Eve.
The funeral was largely attended.
09\19\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Wrote letter to Judge Welch of Torrington and
to James W Hayne, Postmaster of Torrington.
09\20\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\21\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\22\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
46 years ago to day my wife Mary was born
at East Farms.
The trolley cars ran on the double track this
morning for the first time past my place.
09\23\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon. It will be
twenty five years in November when
he first came to Mill Plain and
preached in the schoolhouse. He preached
there ten times before the Chapel
was built.
Mr. Mayberry who died in Middletown
was buried from the Chapel
yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Knipp and Mr. Swartz who
work at Scoville's have moved into
the Thomas Holmes place on
the Meriden Road.
Emma Drew of Ansonia came to
visit me last night. To day she sang
in the Chapel choir and after service
she, Irving, Mary and I went for
a ride out the Meriden Road and
across past the Byam place and in
the Cheshire Road.
This evening we went to the Second
Church and Dr. Davenport preached
the same sermon that he preached when
he first came to Waterbury.
09\24\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we worked digging the well.
09\25\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at factory to day.
This evening we finished digging the well
and stoned up a little of it.
Received a letter from H Wales Lines of
Meriden stating that he is going to call
some Sunday.
09\26\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked in the factory to day.
The Mad River Grange Agricultural Fair
Association held their exhibition on the south
end lot of the Pine Grove Cemetery to day.
09\27\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I am 48 years old to day and am remembered
as follows. Mary gave me a white shirt.
Cousin Helen Drew, a nice handkerchief, and
Margaret, two blue handkerchiefs.
09\28\1906 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Tonight we pumped the water out of the
well and stoned up some of it.
09\29\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\30\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Dinsomre preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. I did not attend as I
was not well, had a head cold.
10\01\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\02\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a Republican
Convention of which I was a member
to nominate delegates to the convention,
to nominate a candidate for Judge
of Probate. I suggested James White
from my ward, the 5th.
10\03\1906 (Wednesday)
I worked at the International Silver Co's
Factory J. The International Silver Co.
now owns 29 different factories in the
United States and Canada.
10\04\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Danbury Fair is now going on
all this week. 27 car loads of people
left Waterbury this morning to attend.
More people attended yesterday than
ever before.
10\05\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\06\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
10\07\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Nichols preached at the Chapel.
Something happened to the trolley
to day. At about 11 o'clock the cars stopped
running on the Cheshire line. They
say that the power has given out at
the Cheshire end. Many people went
out this morning and had to get home
as best they could. Some walked from
Cheshire. One man walked from Milldale.
10\08\{1906} (Monday)
I worked in the factory to day.
We learned that about one hundred feet
of the embankment to the race way
at the New Milford Power Company's
plant at Bulls Bridge washed away
yesterday (caused by muskrats burrowing
through) which was the cause of
the cars not running yesterday. The
street lights in Waterbury, Southington,
Plainville, and New Britain were out.
To day the cars are running at long
intervals and many factories that
get their power from there are out of
business.
10\09\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They have about 150 men at work repairing
the break at Bull's Bridge. The cars are
off time all day.
It has rained hard all the afternoon.
10\10\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Wolcott Fair was to have been held to
day but on account on the rain it was
put over till tomorrow.
10\11\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Wolcott Fair was held to day on Mr.
Thomas Fairdough's lot one mile south
of the center. They say that there was a
large crowd there.
Frank drove Arthur Pierpont's bus.
It snowed quite hard for about one hour
after dinner and it melted as fast as it
fell.
10\12\1906 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\13\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Fred Frost, aged 60 was killed this forenoon
at about 10 o'clock at the waiting station near
the Mattatuck factory. He and his wife were
going to their farm which is situated one
mile north of here and they had just
alighted from a trolley car when an automobile
owned by A.M. Young of New
York came by and struck him killing
him instantly.
He sold a few days ago the property left
him by his father Wm Butler Frost, corner
of Union Street and Union Square to
Father Slacome for a hospital and expected
to go to Newberryport, Mass. to
live in a few days.
10\14\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. After service I went with Frank up
to Browns Meadows where the Waterbury
Rolling Mills Inc are building their mills.
This last week they have put up the steel
frame of the casting shop. The steel for the
mill is expected this week.
10\15\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Coroner Mix found the man that drove
the auto responsible for the death of Fred
Frost, to day.
Cleaned out our new well and finished
it up to day.
10\16\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\17\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
The Connecticut Railway and Lighting
Company has a hearing last evening before the
Board of Public Works in regard
to putting the trolley tracks up
the Meriden Road to the Stilson Road.
There were many outsiders at the hearing
who were opposed to it, fearing that Mr.
Charles Clark of Milldale will not be
able to get his charter for the track in the
Meriden Road.
10\18\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\19\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mill Plain Choir met at my house
for practice tonight. There were 18 present.
10\20\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It has rained hard all day.
Frank and Ray have been out to
Mother Pierpont's picking up apples all
day yesterday but could not go to day
on account of the rain.
10\21\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchman preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This evening I saw Joseph Long at his
home 174 Prospect Street about the early
history of the brass manufacturing
business at Wolcottville.
10\22\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Margaret and Ruth began to night
to take sewing lessons in town.
10\23\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked to day at the factory.
10\24\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Ladies Union held a meeting at
the Chapel and elected officers and
this evening held a supper and entertainment,
cleared about 8.00.
10\25\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\26\{1906} (Friday)
Worked to day in the factory.
10\27\{1906} (Saturday)
Today I worked in the factory ten hours.
10\28\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel.
The Committee held a meeting after
service and talked over sundry
matters and appointed Mr. J.H. Garrigus
to repair the rail on the side
of the front steps and patch the roof
of the shed.
10\29\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\30\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\31\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked in the factory to day.
Last evening the Democrats nominated
Mark L. Warner of Mill Plain candidate
for Representative to the Legislature.
11\01\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\02\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I went to the corner of Canal and Grand
Streets and bought a ball of linen thread
and a piece of black wax and came home
and repaired me harness.
11\03\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory, except a little
time this morning when I went to
Mr. George Rockwell's house, No. 30 First
Avenue and measured his steam pipes and
went to the M.F. Daily's Co. and ordered
asbestos covering for them.
Frank and Raymond took eight bushels
of apples out to Minties Cider Mill on
the Plank Road and brought back 25 gallons
of cider.
This evening I filled a six gallon keg and
took it down to father.
I then went up to James Stovelle's and
engaged the Foresters Hall for the Somers
family to hold their reunion in next
Thanksgiving Day.
09\04\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter preached at the Chapel.
This morning Frank, Raymond and I
took the trolley car and went to the Bunker
Hill Chapel where we alighted and walked
over Steels Brook on the footbridge to
the Waterbury Rolling Mills and
saw that they had the iron frame
of the mill up. The casting shop is
nearly covered in and they are putting
the rood on the boiler house. I saw Mr.
Robert K. Brown near here and had a
long talk with him on historical matters.
From the mill we went north east and
crossed the Nangatuck River on a wire
foot bridge 225 feet span. We then
walked down the Nangatuck Rail Road
to Brown's Bridge where they have built
some high concrete abutments{???} for the
lower Waterville road to cross the canal
and rail road on. We then viewed the
new concrete walls about West Main
Street and the site where the New Station
is to be built. Farther on they are filling
over the meadows between the Nangatuck
railroad and the river where they are
building a new bridge on the north
side of the present wooden covered one.
They have two steel stringers in place
that reach from the middle pier to the
south side, a span of 115 ft, the girders{??}
are 9 ft in height. We then saw the new
bridge over Bank and Washington streets
and took a look at the concrete retaining
that Benedict & Burnham are building
on the east side of the Nangatuck which
is about 50 feet farther out into the river
than the present wall is and this wall
is over 100 ft out from the original
bank as it was when I was a boy.
They are also extending the sewer south
under Washington Street Bridge.
11\05\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The church at Prospect burned last
night. It was valued at $6000.00, insured
for 3500.00, cause of fire unknown.
11\06\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This is State Election day and I went at about
8 o'clock to Union Square and voted the Republican
ticket. It was as follows: Governor Rollin S. Woods,
Lieutenant Governor Evert J. Lake, Secretary
Theodore Bodenwein, Treasurer Freeman
Patten, Comptroller Thomas T. Bradstreet,
Attorney General Marcus H. Holcomb,
Representative at Large George L. Lilley,
Representative in Congress Nehemiah
D. Sperry, Senator Irving H. Chase,
Sheriff Jacob D. Walter (not elected),
Judge of Probate Robert A Lowe, (I did
not vote for him)
Representatives to the Legislature
Augustus J. Goodrich,
Abner P. Hayes.
Justices of the Peace:
Charles W. Bauby
Lucien F. Burpee
Ulysses G Church
Edward F. Cole
George H. Cowell
George H. Freeman
Abner P. Hayes
John P. Kellog
Joseph E. Lauber
Laurance L. Lewis
Samuel J. Marsh
Patrick J. Memahom
Charles E. Megs
Frederick M. Peasley
Joseph H. Reid
Howard B. Snow
11\07\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\08\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\09\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\10\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\11\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Stansfield of Waterville preached at
the Mill Plain Chapel to day.
This morning Frank, Raymond, John French
and I took the first trolley car and at 7
o'clock and went to Mansfield's pont{??} in
the extreme south east part of East Haven
and dug out of a creek near No-mans-land
about one bushel of oysters, one half bushel
mussels and 1/2 bushel of long clams. It rained
very hard while we were there and we
got wet through. We left there about one
o'clock and took the trolley car at Momargen{??}
and paid 5 cts to East Haven where we
took the car that came from Branford,
paid 5 cts to New Haven Green where
we took the car for Mt. Carmel on transfer
to Whitneyville, paid 5 cts to Mt. Carmel,
where we took the Connecticut Railway
10 cts to Cheshire, paid 10 cts to Welton's
Crossing, paid 5 cts home where we
arrive at 4 P.M.
11\12\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\13\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\14\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Yesterday the power from Bulls Bridge gave
out again and the factories that are depending
on that electric power were obliged to shut
down, and the cars are off time.
This evening Mary and Irving and 27 other
Grangers went to Cheshire to visit the Grange
there. They were dressed in the clothes of the
olden time, as it is Old Folks Night.
11\15\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It began snowing this forenoon at about
10 o'clock and tonight there was six inches
of snow on the ground. I took the horse
and snow-plough and went up the Frost
Road, over the Meriden, down the Southmaid
and up the Cheshire roads. It is now
raining.
11\16\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mill Plain Choir met for rehearsal
at Bessie White's, first house west of Mad
River on the Meriden Road.
11\17\{1906} (Saturday)
To day I worked at Mr. George Rockwell's house,
No 30 First Avenue, covering his steam pipes
with asbestos covering.
11\18\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Phipps preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
The weather to day has been very warm.
I spoke to Elsie Anderson about playing at the
Chapel on Sundays.
11\19\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at Mr. Rockwell's house all day.
11\20\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at Mr. Rockwell's house nearly all
day. This afternoon I went up to see
the Waterbury Rolling Mills which are
being built. They have the boiler house
and casting shop nearly completed and
are putting the roof on the rolling mill.
They were putting the string{?} pieces on
the bridge over Steels Brook. While I was
there one of them which they had placed
fell over, catching a man's leg under it
and crushing the ankle. He was an
Italian and no one knew his name.
11\21\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day. I received my
weekly pay to day as I do every Wednesday $15.
11\22\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day. The factory is
running till 9 o'clock this week. Last week
it did not work only till six.
Twenty three years ago this morning I was
married.
11\23\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Collies and Sherwoods
and bought a pair of shoes for 2.50.
11\24\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\25\{1906} (Sunday)
This morning John French and I took the
first trolley car east and went to Mt
Carmel where we took the consolidated
cars to New Haven Green. Then we
took the Branford car to East Haven
Green and there changed and took the
Momorguin{??} car to No-mans-land
where we crossed over to Mansfields
Grove and we then went up the creek
nearly 1/2 mile where we got a lot of
oysters, clams, mussels etc. We reached
there at 9.15, having been 2 1/2 hours going.
It was low tide at 1.20 and we had all
the food that we could carry and
started for home at 2.30. After we reached
New Haven Green, the cars were crowded
but we got home at 5.30.
When I got home, I found Eleanor and Susan
Moss and their brother at supper with
my folks. They were from Cheshire and
in the evening we all went to the
Second Congregational Church.
Friday evening Irving went to New
Haven and staid with Cliff Heaton over
night in Yale College and yesterday attended
the football game between Harvard and
Yale teams. Yale beat 6 to 0, there were
32,000 persons present.
To day there was a game at the field at
Wedges Corner between the Nangatuck
and Waterbury teams at which there was
6,000 present.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel.
11\26\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They are cutting down the large maple
trees on the south side of the East Main St
Road opposite the Meriden Road to make
room for the roadway between the
trolley track and the sidewalk. They
are large trees, three ft. in diameter and
there are I think five of them.
11\27\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
11\28\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I went up to the works of the Waterbury
Rolling Mills Inc. and paid to Robert
Somers two hundred and fifty dollars,
a payment of one quarter of my portion
of stock. They have the casting shop about
completed and the mill is being enclosed
in the engine room is ready for the
engine which has been shipped.
Clyde came at about eight and surprised us
all, having come from Easton since 11 this morning.
11\29\{1906} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving.
This forenoon all of my family went
up to Hamilton Hall to the annual
Somers family reunion.
We had dinner at noon (Dwight L Somers in charge), after which
a business meeting was called and I was
chosen chairman, but as several of the
men wished to go to see the ball game, we
adjourned to meet again at about six
o'clock. At about the appointed time, the
meeting was resumed just as the ice
cream was being served and the
following business was transacted:
on notion of William Gillettte, Dwight
L. Somers was elected president,
Mr. Joseph H Somers was elected vice
president, myself secretary and Mrs.
Charles Phillips treasurer.
An entertainment committee consisting
of William Gillette, Irving Miller,
Robert Somers, Mrs. Benjamin Chatfield
and Mrs. Rolland Jenner was elected.
It was also voted to assess each member,
as near equally as may be, a sum
sufficient to pay the rent of the hall
and other incidental expenses, the treasurer
to make the collection.
It was also voted to name the organization
the Somers Family Association.
There were about fifty who sat down to
dinner. Those present were Mr. and Mrs.
Dwight L Somers (2), Mr. and Mrs. Robert D.
Somers (4), Gordon Somers (5), Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Somers (7), Mr. and Mrs. Louis Somers (9),
Mrs. Lillian Somers Smith (10), Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph H. Somers (12), Mr. and Mrs. George Somers (14),
Miss Lizzie Somers (15), Miss Josephine Somers (16),
Miss Myra Somers (17), Miss May Somers (18),
Mr. and Mrs. Heman Miller (20), Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Miller of Bristol (22), Mr. and Mrs.
Charles S. Miller (24), Clyde A. Miller of Lafayette
'07 (25), Irving C. Miller (26), Margaret Miller (27),
Ruth Miller (28), Raymond and Frank P. Miller (30),
Mr. and Mrs. Rolland Jenner (32), Miss Louise
Jenner 933), Miss Ethel Jenner (34), Miss Cara
Miller (35), Mr. and Mrs. William Gillette (37),
Mansfield Gillette (38), Miss Amy Miller (39),
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Goldsmith (41), Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Phillips (43), Mr. William Goldsmith (44),
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Chatfield (46), Roda
Chatfield (47), Mr. and Mrs. Frank Woolworth (49),
Miss Frances Woolworth (50), Mr. and Mrs. Bert
Frisbie (52), Mr. and Mrs. Frank Frisbie (54)
and Mrs. Charles Gillette (55).
The entertainment consisted of a bountiful
thanksgiving dinner, music, singing,
recitations, dancing, etc. etc.
Besides those already mentioned, there were
present several others including Miss Thayer,
Mr. Boyd and Clifton Heaton of Yale.
It was announced that the reunion next
year should be held in the same hall and
Mrs. Heman Miller will act as hostess.
11\30\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\01\1906 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\02\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
Went to Cheshire this afternoon. When I got
home all the folks were up to the Chapel to the
Christian Endeavor Meeting.
12\03\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Snow fell to the depth of three inches to day.
12\04\1906 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
12\05\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Tonight Frank and I shod the horse with
never slip shoes.
12\06\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The snow is all gone.
12\07\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the shop all day.
12\08\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
12\09\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck, assistant at Trinity Church,
preached at Chapel.
12\10\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers
to day.
12\11\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This morning it was very icy as it
rained and froze all night.
We had the mill Plain Chapel insured
yesterday for $2,500.
The factory of Rogers & Brothers are working
till 9 o'clock at night this week.
12\12\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers
to day as usual.
The people who live on the Frost Road in the
Saw Mill Plain District are myself at the
south end corner of the Cheshire Road, then
next is Ralph Blakeslee's house, occupied by
Mr. Sweet and wife, next Mrs. Frost's house
occupied by John French and family,
opposite is Hiram Abel and family,
next beyond the brook is Mr. Jones and
family, next on the west side is Mrs.
Frost (widow of Charles) and Mary, and
Warren Hitchcock and family, then
beyond the Meriden Road lives Theodore
Munson and family and his mother
who is very sick. Further on is the
Butler Frost place, now owned by Mrs.
Frederick Frost of Hartford, who had
sued Alden Young for killing her
husband with his automobile, house
now occupied by Allen Burgess, Agnes
Abel and his child, next lives Sam Atkinson
and wife, next on the west side Mr. Platt
and housekeep, then William Atkinson
next, at the bend in the road top of the
hill lives George Atkinson and wife.
At the foot of the hill lives Charles Lee,
his wife and two young daughters, opposite
lives Rufus A. Pulford and wife in a house
that he built. Next to Charles Lee lives
Benjamin Franklin Haggett and wife,
then Earnest Robinson and family and
beyond, the Frost Road meets the Woodtick
Road at the Red Bridge so called.
12\13\1906 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Last night at 6 o'clock died Mr. Samuel
Dodd of Meriden. He was president of the
International Silver Company.
12\14\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Cousin Hellen Drew came from Ansonia
night before last and is at our house.
Last evening she and I drove out to J.
Henry Garrigus and I got a roll of salve{??}
and paid him 1.00.
To night she and Walter Boyd are going
to attend an entertainment at the
Buckingham Hall called Messiah.
12\15\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Helen Drew went away yesterday afternoon.
The factory shut down this afternoon on
account of Mr. Dodd's funeral (he is buried
in Meriden). Frank, Raymond and I
took the horse and drove over Chestnut
Hill, saw some men fishing at the reservoir
and then went up onto the Bucks Hill Road
south of Burday{??} Welton's and came south
a little way and turned to the right and
went north over World's End Hill and
continued north and east and north
until we came out on a strange road
where we turned to the left and went
down a very steep hill and came on
to another road running at right angles
to the one we were on which we followed,
it being very dark, and finally we
came to Hancock's Station.
Then we took the road to the Gate House on the
Nangatuck River where the towns of Thomaston
and Waterbury meet and there followed a
boy who had a lantern fastened under
teams. On the way here Raymond took the
trolley car home and Frank and
I drove to the center of Waterbury and
we bought one quart of oysters for thirty
five cents and then we drove home reaching
there at about 7.
12\16\1906 (Sunday)
Went to the Second Congregational Church
this morning and heard a minister from
Boston preach.
This afternoon I went to Cheshire on the
trolley car and looked through the cemeteries
at the center and then went to Brooks Vale
and called on Mr. Alexander Doolittle, staid
there till nine, and walked to the trolley
line at Ives Corner. It was so dark that
I could hardly keep the road some of the
way.
12\17\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\18\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
About midnight last night, Clyde came home
to spend his vacation. He brought Mr. Kimball,
a classmate whose home is at Port Deposit,
Maryland with him. When he got here, he
climbed up the grape arbor and got into
the boys window and went down and let
Kimball in.
12\19\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\20\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Jennine Phillips came and ordered
1/2 dozen Mystic desert spoons.
12\21\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
12\22\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\23\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport was at the Chapel
this afternoon. This makes the 22nd Christmas
he has been there.
This has been a cold day.
12\24\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day,
Clyde and Chester Kimball went to
Hartford and saw the new bridge across
the Connecticut River that is being
built. They have the arches finished.
They also went into the Capital and
upon the top of the dome.
12\25\{1906} (Tuesday)
Christmas.
This morning we all got up at about 7.30
and we filed downstairs, Raymond, Frank,
Ruth, Margaret, Irving, Clyde, Chester
Kimball, Mary and I. We emptied our
stockings and had lots of fun, after which
Clyde and I went out the Meriden Road
beyond the watering trough and got a
Christmas tree and took it over to the
Chapel.
We then came home and after breakfast
I shod the horse while the boys cut up
some wood. At noon we got ready and
went down to Father's where we had
dinner. There were present Father and Mother,
Frank and his wife Gussie, I and my wife
and Clyde, Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Frank
and Raymond and Chester Kimball, Mary
and her husband, Roland Jenner and Louise
and Effel, Cara, Iva and her husband
William Gillette and son Mansfield,
Fred's daughter Amy, he is in Detroit,
and Mrs. Charles Gillette.
In the evening we had a Christmas tree
and all received presents, after which a
lunch was served and we left for home
at nine o'clock.
In the afternoon Irving, Frank and I
went up and saw the new mills of
The Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. They
have the buildings about finished except
putting in the windows in the mill.
The engine has not come yet.
12\26\{1906} (Wednesday)
This morning I got up at 7 o'clock, had breakfast
and hitched up the horse into the two
seated wagon and Frank and I started
for East haven to get some oysters, leaving
Clyde, Raymond and Chester Kimball to
come on by trolley car.
We drove over the Old Cheshire Road through
the notch-in-the-rocks where we turned
short to the right and along the road
under the mountain through Brooks Vale
and onto the New Haven turnpike north
of Mt Carmel. We stopped under the church
sheds and fed the horse at Mt Carmel, and
then went on to Angurville where we
turned east and took the first road south
through Fair Haven along the east side of
Quinnapiac{??} River and on to East Haven
Green where we turned south and saw
Clyde, Raymond and Kimball who had
just left the Branford car at the Green.
We then traveled on to Mansfield's Grove,
but stopped before we reached the Grove and
left the horses in the woods and we got
into a brook and got about four bushels
of oysters and after feeding the horse and
eating lunch, we started for home. We
were obliged to stop and put in new
calks{??} into the horses shoes to keep him from
slipping and came past the stone church in
East Haven at 20 minutes to 4 and drove on
to Mt. Carmel where we fed the horse and
put in new calks{??} as the road was very
hard and icy, which made the horse lam
and we had to go slow, but we got home
at eleven o'clock.
12\27\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\28\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
They had a Christmas tree at the Chapel
this evening.
12\29\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
The packing room shut down tonight, thus
all of the shop is closed for vacation.
12\30\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport at the Chapel, his sermon
included a review of the past year's events
and he said that he attended a funeral this
morning before service which made the 100th
person he had buried since coming to
Waterbury 25 years ago.
12\31\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
//start of new vol//
JOURNAL of Charles Somers Miller, 1904-1906
05\22\1904(Sun)
Rev Mc Holden preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel.
About 100 Italians passed our house on their
way to their quarters at East Farms to
day, they are to work on the new trolley
road.
This afternoon after service at the Chapel
Irving, Mary, Clara and Bertha French
and I went to ride out through East
Farms to Elmer Hitchcocks and up past
the Byan place, to the Meriden Road
and home, we stopped at the place where
George Hitchcock is building a new
house where the old one was burned
down, He is setting the new one about
fifteen feet farther back from the street.
05\23\1904(Mon)
Worked at the factory.
They cut down the row of large elm trees
East of D.G. Porters to day.
05\24\1904(Tue)
Worked in the factory to day as usual
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for
practice this evening,
05\25\1904(Wed)
Worked in the factory of Rogers & Brothers
as usual.
The annual meeting of the Mill
Plain Chapel Association was held
and the following were elected officers
for the coming year.
A. B. Pierpont. Episcopal Committee
Henry Cook. Congregational "
Charles Monroe Methodist "
Henry Judd Baptist "
Henry Judd Sunday School Super't
Inez Beckwith. Organist.
Sidney Spender Librarian
05\26\1904(Thur)
Worked at the factory as usual.
Fifteen Double dump Carts came from
Hartford last night, and 50 Italians
arrived{. this} to work on the new trolley-road.
This morning nine double dump
carts and a large force of men
began working on the hill by my
house.
This evening I worked in the garden
till dark, and then drove to the
Apothacaries hall and bought a white-|
wash brush for 1.50
05\27\1904(Fri)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Lay has about 200 men to work
on the trolley line
They are grading the hill by my house.
The Mattatuck Drum Band had
a rehersal to night
05\28\1904(Sat)
Only the mechanics and Die sinkers
worked at the factory to day.
We worked in the garden this evening.
They took Robert Hatchkiss to the
soldiers home at Noroton this forenoon
He enlisted in Waterbury in Co 20th
Reg. C. V. his first battle was Chansallersville,
was in the Shenedore valley.
at Gettysburgh, then went and
joined the army under Gen Grant
at Chattanoga went with Sherman
to Atlanta and the sea at Savanah
then marched up through South
Carolina and North Carolina and
through Virginia to Washington.
Went through more than twenty
battles and never received a wound.
He is broken in health and is
feeble, 65 years old.
05\29\1904(Sun)
No minister at the Chapel this afternoon
had a praise service conducted by
Mr. Abel.
Last night at about midnight
five double dump carts and
12 horses arrived from New Haven
and are quartered in Ralph Blakeslee's
barn at the Doolittle place
they are to work on the New
Cheshire Trolley Road.
05\30\1904(Mon)
Decoration Day.
We arose early this morning and
had breakfast before six o'clock.
Then the members of the Mattatuck
Drum Band came. They were Chas
Cass, H. Clifton Heaton, David
Waughh, Harry Buckingham,
Fred Lund and Arthur Heaton (Fifers);
Irving Miller, Joe Pierpont, and
Henry Cass (Bass Drummers);
Robert Beckwith, James Olcott,
George Cass, Clarence Brown,
Fred Jones, and Chas S Miller,
Snare Drummers;
James Haloran, Drum Major,
We left my house at 7.15 and
marched to the end of the
Trolley linen {sic} to Silver street
where we took the East Main
street car to Oakville, where we
took the Steam cars to Watertown.
We marched to the town
hall, Then escorted the Old
veterans, Firemen, and
School children, to the Lawn
Cemetery, then back to the
Evergreen Cemetery and to
the New Cemetary, then back
to town hall where, they had
speaking, singing etc.
We came home on the 12.43 train,
to West Main street and marched
playing from the center {to} through
East Main Street to Silver Street
where we broke ranks and went
home.
In the afternoon, Harry Buckingham,
Clif Heaton, and Sidney
Spender came; Also Laease{??} James,
Marion Brewster, and Amy Miller{??}
and they had a lot of fun, Irving
and Pierpont took the horse and
plough and went out and ploughed
Pat Hayses garden.
Yesterday the bays and I went out
over the survey of the proposed
trolley road and I counted 116
holes drilled in the bolders ready
to be loaded and fired between
the land of the Colnary Cemetery
and the crossing at Wedges.
One Hundred Italians came to
day from Boston to work on the
railroad.
05\31\1904({Mon}Tue)
Worked at the factory.
As I was hoeing in the garden
this evening I heard 38 blasts
fired in rapid succession out
along the line.
06\01\1904(Wed)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving and I went
down to my shop property and measured
the distance from the boundry
stone between Ervice{??} E. Wright's
property and my East boundry
fence next to James Porters property
and found it was 60'10" to the
second post in the fence, the distance
to the line strait across was 60' 8 1/2"
The distance from the North West
corner of Mrs. Hines house to the
center of the boundry stone was 74'
1"
I then went to the Chapel where there
was a meeting of the members of the
Pine Grove Cemetery association, there
were but about 14 present, and they
elected the following trustees, James Porter,
Mark L. Warner, Warren B. Hitchcock,
Theodore Munson, Hiram Abel, Elliot
Doolittle, and Ward B. Porter,
The Pine Grove Cemetary Association has in
the Bank $4,632.56 Perminent Fund $3,700.00
Cash on hand. {erasure of next date heading}
From June 1st 1903 to June 1 1904 there has
been 88 burials.
06\02\1904(Thur)
Worked at the factory this afternoon.
This forenoon, as I had been thinking
during the night that I ought to do
something about the cutting down of
the road in front of my shop, as
they, (the Trolley Company) are cutting
it down five feet, where by agreement
they were to cut it but three, and
by so doing were going to leave the
shop door four feet above the street.
I went first and got William Gillette,
and we went to Ralph Blakeslee's farm
and telephoned to New Haven to Engines
Hill, and I told him of it and of the
damage it was to be to me and that it
would oblige me to lower the whole
factory two or three feet, and I told
him that they had better stop work at
that point. He told me that he would
come and see me, and see if something
could be done to make matters satisfactory,
but could not come to day.
we made an appointment to meet at
11 o'clock to morrow and my shop, and he
said that one Mr Turner his assistant
had already started for Waterbury and
that I could see him and arrange
matters till tomorrow.
I found Mr Turner at about 10.30 at
the concrete bridge they are bulding
over Carrington Brook by David
Porters, and we walked up to my shop.
I told him the circumstances and he stoped {stopped}
the men working there.
06\03\{1904} (Friday)
This morning I met Mr. Hill and
Mr. Turner of New Haven at my
blacksmith shop and we planned
to have the ground in front of the
door graded so it can be used to
good advantage, but not to consider
the matter settled till we could
see how it worked. They are cutting
down the street in front 4' and 4{???}.
I am very lame and have not worked
to day, have worked about home
and watched the men work cutting
down the road in front of the
house. They are taking it down
2.7 feet, it is very hard work on
account of the rocks. They have done
much blasting. Ralph Blakeslee
came and took me up to his place
and showed me where they were getting
the stones out and where they were
planting potatoes.
He is filling up a swamp East of the
old barn with the rocks about 9 feet
deep and there is more than 1/2 acre in
the swamp.
The Mattatuck Drum Band Elected Officers met for {???}.
06\04\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Fred Ley{??} & Co. have more than 300 men
working on the Trolley line, they have
many double dump carts.
About 30 Italian laborors {laborers} passed by
to night with trunks on their heads
and backs on their way to Boston,
having left the trolley work.
06\05\1904 (Sunday)
Frank and Gussy{??} called on us
and he and Will Gillette, Irving
Pierpont and I went out over the
line of the new trolley extension
to Summit. They are now working
building a concrete arch over
Carrington Brook near David Porters.
Next they are cutting down the
road on the hill in front of my
Carraige shop 4{?}4 and are carring{carrying}
the dirt, some of it East and some
of it West and filling in at the
foot of the hills. Next they are
cutting down the hill East of
Mad{??} River and front of my house
and filling in the flat at the
bottom. Next they have opened a
pit in the lot East of the Calvary
cemetery gate. Next they are
cutting at Wedges corner at the
crossing over the Cheshire road.
Next they are cutting in Milan
Northrop's lot East of the Lane{??} at
East Farms. Next they are cutting
in Griswold's lot and filling in his
pond. Next they are beginning a rack{??}
cut by Mitchels{??} cut on the Rail Road
beyond Cat{??} Swamp. Next they are
cutting a small cut this side of
Summit and are digging for a bridge
near Summit Station.
We turned North here and went to
the Cheshire Road and then went
North over the Old Backbone Road
to the Meriden Road where we stoped {stopped}
at the Wheelmens Rest and had some
cool drinks, and then drove home.
Rev. Mr. Smith of Simonsville preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
06\06\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
This eveing I went to town and
bought three brass nipples{??} and two
iron ells.
06\07\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\08\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we attended a Strawberry Festival
at the Chapel. It was crowded and they
cleared over 40{??}.
06\09\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This has been a wet day.
06\10\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Band
met for practice this evening.
06\11\1904 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we finished the new
chicken yard and then planted beans,
corn etc.
06\12\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
After service Margaret, Ruth, Amy
and Mary Miller, and I went to
ride out along the new line of the
trolley road. We drove through East
Farms, out the Plank Road through
Gillette's Corner and on to Rag
Hollow and over to the notch{??} in
the rock's{??} then up to Cheshire Center.
Then we drove up the Southington Road
past the new Power House and turned
to the left and drove home through
Moses Farms.
06\13\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\14\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Workman have finished the new concrete
arch over Carrington Brook near David
Porters and now all of the workmen
have left off work west of here and
have gone east to work, expecting
the steam shovels to finish here when
they come.
06\15\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked as usual to day.
The blasting along the new trolley
line as {at} six o'clock sounds like war
or batteries of cannons. We will hear
15 or 20 reports[??} not far off, then a
dozen away in the distance and more
and more till it is almost a continous
roar of blasts while Ralph
Blakeslee's shakes{??} everything.
They say tha blasting breaks up
setting hens, but notwithstanding
all this rumble and roar, Mary had
a hen come off a few days ago with
14 chickens from 14 eggs and one
yesterday with 13 chickens from a
setting of 13 eggs.
06\16\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this day.
This evening I worked hoeing in the garden.
When Irving came {??}the told of the Excursion
steamer Gen. Slocam taking fire in
Hell Gate this morning and over 500
people were burned and drowned.
06\17\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice
to night,
06\18\1904 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The plating, burnishing and buffing
rooms did not work yesterday or to
day.
They had a school meeting in the
Saw Mill Plain School Houe this
evening and they voted
to build on one or two rooms.
They also elected a committee of five
to confer with the Board of Education
in regard to the same. It consisted
of Thomas Heaton, Charles Miller,
Hiram Abel{??}, Morris Alcott, James White,
and the committee{??} Warren B. Hitchcock.
06\19\{1904} (Sunday)
The methodist minister of Simonsville
preached at the Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon.
06\20\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\21\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Mattatuck Drum Band turned out
for the Graduating Class of the High
School last night which went about the City
and serenaded the Professors and
teachers. It was a long march and
I was so lame that I was obliged to
drop out. This is the first time I ever
left the ranks while on duty in
over 30 years of drumming and marching.
06\22\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This has been one of the most
disagreeable days of my life. I have
suffered all day with my lame
foot, besides a fierce toothache that
has caused my face to swell and
I am in pain all through my head.
Irving's graduating class held
class exercises in Assembly Hall
this afternoon.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
City Board of Education.
06\23\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I, with some of my
family, attended the Graduating
Exercises of the High School of which
Irving is one, in Polis{??} Theatre.
The attendence {attendance} was very large, and the
exercises fine. Ron{??} Walter Chandler
of New York was the orator and the
best I ever heard.
06\24\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to Cheshire and saw
Elliot Doolittle about selling
his land to Ralph Blakeslee.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for
practice, were payed off for service at
Watertown.
06\25\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the electors of the Saw Mill Plains
School District, in the school house
for the purpose of electing Officers
for the ensuing year, etc.
06\26\{1904} (Sunday)
This is Children's Day at the Chapel
and it was crowded. The building
was prettily trimed {trimmed} with flowers
and ferns which made it very
attractive. Rev. J. G. Davenport
officiated.
06\27\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended the celebration
of unvailing {unveiling} the Monument that
marks the spot where Count {??}
Rachambeau's army of 6000 men
encamped on the night of June 27,
1781 and also the next year, their
return from Yorktown.
Alderman Ralph Blakeslee took me
over. The monument was erected
by the American Irish Historical
Society aided by several French
societies of this city.
Before the ceremonies ended, Mr. Blakeslee
and I left and we then went to
Cheshire and saw Mr. Elliot Doolittle
about selling his land on the Doolittle
Road and we talked and Mr. Blakeslee
talked till 10 o'clock when Mr. Doolittle
agreed to sell it for $4,500, on piece
of 19 1/2 acres and one of 24 acres, the
larget situated{??} on the East side
of the Doolittle Road and is bounded
East on Wilson{??} Pierpont, South
on Huber Wedge, Pat Hays and
land belonging to the Catholic people,
West on Mary Doolittle and North on
Ralph Blakeslee.
The smaller piece lies on the West
side of the Doolittle or Frost Road and
is bounded East on highway, South
on land belonging to the Mattatuck
Mfg.{?} COmpany, West on the Mad
River and North on Mr. Blakeslee's
land.
He paid $100 down and Mrs. Doolittle
gave a receipt for the same. Mr. Doolittle
is coming to Waterbury next week
and they are going to have the papers
drawn.
06\28\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\29\1904 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\30\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
B. S. Wedge{??} died yesterday, aged 58 years.
07\01\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met at
my house for practice.
07\02\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The shop shut down to night fo the
July vacation.
This evening Frank, Raymond and
I went to town and I bought a staw
hat for each of them for which I paid
{??}.00. I also bought a suit of clothes
of Charles Phillips at Jones and
Morgans which they charged 18.00
but he finally let me have it for
12.00. The boys bought a lot of fireworks
and a watermelon.
The steam shovel came to day
to work on the trolley road. They
brought it up on rails which
they put down for the purpose.
The hill was so steep and the
rails so poorly laid that it
got stuck in one place and droped {dropped}
through in a nother so they
only got as far as Fathers by
night. It weighs 35 tons as it
stands now and 42 tons when
put together.
07\03\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. {?----------?}, assistant to Mr. Haywood
of the First Baptist Church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
07\04\1904 (Monday)
Indipendence {Independence} Day. Irving,
Margaret, Ruth, Frank and I went
to Nangatuck and saw the parade
this forenoon.
This evening Mary, Margaret,
Ruth, Frank, Raymond, Irving, Amy
and I went up the Watertown Road
and saw them se off $1000.00 worth
of fireworks on the side hill east
of the town house.
We all rode in the two seated wagon
except Amy and Irving who went
by trolley.
07\05\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory, took
out the little waterwheel gear
shaft.
07\06\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day, turning
up a shaft for the little water wheel.
Ralph Blakeslee has bought the two lots
north of my place of Doctor Mary
Doolittle of Ansonia.
07\07\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The steam shovel commenced digging
this morning at 10.30 in front of
Fathers barn for the new trolley
line.
07\08\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\09\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I stoped {stopped} and saw the
Steam Shovel work. It has moved
600 yards of gravel to day.
07\10\{1904} (Sunday)
Mr. Mc Kinley preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
After service, Irving, Clara French,
Ruth and I drove out the Plank
Road to Alfred Brook's place and
there went down the mountain
to Mixville and down to Tucker's
farm and on to Cheshire to see
where they are working on the
trolley road.
07\11\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Clyde came to night from Northfield,
Mass. where he has been attending a convention
of the Y.M.C.A. for students
from all the Colleges this side of the
Missippi {Mississippi} Rover and Canada.
He went to Northfield from Lafayette
College June 20th.
07\12\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\13\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\14\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank said that from our house he
saw men at work ploughing and getting
out stones for Ralph Blakeslee in his
walnut tree lot, and men at work
hawling {hauling} stones off his barn lot, and
men ploughing in his south lot and
the West side of the road and men {???}
in the lot above, and men spreding {spreading}
manure in the lot above that which
altogather {altogether} made a busy time of farming.
This evening Sidney Spender, Stewart
Judd, H. C. Heaton and Irving as a
quartet, had a rehersal {rehearsal} at our house.
Inez Beckwith played.
07\15\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The little son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter
Garrigus died this afternoon.
Attended a school meeting at Mill Plain
this evening.
07\16\{1904} (Saturday)
I did not work to day as I was
not feeling well.
Went down and saw the steam
shovel work this afternoon.
07\17\{1904} (Sunday)
Attended the funeral of Walter
Garrigus' little boy, and then went
to the Chapel. Mr. Maffett{??} preached
and also attended the funeral.
07\18\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This has been a hard day for me as
I have not felt well. I asked for permission
to be out of the shop for
several days, which was granted.
07\19\{1904} (Tuesday)
Clyde, Frank, Raymond and I
worked haying to day. We mowed
and got in the lot corner of the
Cheshire and Harper-|Ferry Roads
and part of the lot this way of it {??}
where Thomas Mill's house stands.
Workman worked drilling in the
rock opposite my shop all last
night and I can hear them now.
There are 4 men holing drills and
8 strikers. They wish to blast away
enough rock to make the road 60 ft.{??}
wide.
07\20\{1904} (Wednesday)
Mowed the meadow{??} where Mills
house stands and nearly all of the
corner lot across the river from the
pump station.
I went around the East portion
of Ralph Blakeslee's farm with
him and showed him the bounds.
07\21\{1904} (Thursday)
Irving stayed out and helped us.
We finished mowing by hand in
the corner lot and got in all of the
hay. I then took Henry Cook's mowing
machine home.
07\22\{1904} (Friday)
I went with all of my folks{??} to
the Mill Plain Sunday School
Picnic at Compound Pond. We
drove all the way. There were three
buss loads and several single teams.
It took about two hours to drive over.
{07\23\1904 (Saturday) [no entry]}
{07\24\1904 (Sunday) [no entry]}
{07\25\1904 (Monday) [no entry]}
07\26\1904 (Tuesday)
Last Saturday, Clyde, Irving and
I drove to Samuel Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] in Goshen.
We went to Oakville, then to Minortown,
then North Woodbury, then to
Washington Center, then Washington
depot, then New Preston depot then
to New Preston then to Lake
Waramaug, then to Warren, then
East Cornwall, West Goshen and
Goshen, distance 44 1/2 miles.
Laft Waterboury at 8 in the morning
and reached Goshen at 9 at night.
Had a fine supper. We then went
to bed, the boys in the middle chamber
and I in the front, which was
good enough for President Rosevelt {Roosevelt}.
Sunday morning the boys helped
milk the 24 cows that Sam is now
milking after which we had breakfast
and then attended worship at
the Goshen Church. After meeting
we went home and ate dinner,
after which we staid about all the
afternoon as it rained hard.
Late in the afternoon we went up
to Ivy Mountin and up the
tower, but it was so foggy that
we could scarcely see the ground.
Monday, we got up and after
breakfast, ground up the scythes
and Clyde, Irving, Fred Williams
and I went mowing in the North
swamp Before noon we had mowed
nearly all of it.
After dinner we hitched up and
started for home at 3 o'clock. We
came through Farrington{??}, East
Litchfield, Camps Mills{??}, Fluteville,
and then turned and went over
Plymouth Hill and through Ferryville{??}
and Wolcott, home, which
we reached at 8 o'clock.
Mr. Mc Kinley preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel last Sunday afternoon.
Clyde went to work at Mathew's {Matthew's} and Willard's
this morning.
07\27\1904 (Wednesday)
I worked about home all day to day.
Ralph Blakeslee began filling in the
Frost Road at the foot of the hill
by the North end of my house lot.
{07\28\1904 (Thursday) [no entry]}
07\29\{1904} (Friday)
Yesterday morning Frank Pierpont,
Raymond and I went to Stratford
to Cousin Melville Curtis{??}.
We drove to Nangatuck, MAry,Ruth,
and Amy going to bring the team
back. There we took the steam cars
and went to Seymour where we
took the new trolley line to Derby
where we took the Bridgeport trolley
and went to Stratford.
In the afternoon we went over to
Milford and to Walnut beach where
we dug some clams. We reached home
about 7 o'clock. This morning we
went to Bridgeport when Cousin
Melville went in{??} and on to Fairfield
where we staid some time visiting the
old cemetary {cemetery}, etc.
We then came back to Stratford
and had dinner.
In the afternoon we went to the
river below Washington Bridge and
hired a row boat and sailed to
Milford Point where Raymond went
in swimming and where we got
a mess{??} of mussels.
I then rowed back against the
wind and tide and we took the
trolley cars to Ansonia and the
steam cars home.
07\30\{1904} (Saturday)
I worked about home all day.
Mary and Ruth went on an excurtion {excursion}
to Glen Island to day.
07\31\1904 (Sunday)
Mr. Long preached at the Chapel to
day.
08\01\{1904} (Monday)
Went to work at the factory to day.
08\02\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
This evening Ralph Blakeslee came to see
me about filling in the road along the West
side of my lot. I only wanted it filled to
the first telephone pole, but he intended
to fill it to a point near my big gate.
He has agreed to fill to the afore said
telephone pole.
08\03\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Fred T. Ley{??} and Company of Springfield,
Mass. who are building the new
trolley line for the Conn. Lighting and
Railway Company have
made the bridge over the Mad
River ready for the rails.
08\04\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They are laying new 12" water pipes along
silver{??} street for the new high water service
which is to be taken from the East Mountain
Reservoir.
08\05\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I came home by way of
the Chapel and stoped {stopped} at Judds Store
and bought a bottle of ink, a letter pad
and box of blacking{??} for which I paid 15 cts.
When I got to the brook by my place,
I had to unhich {unhitch} and leave the buggy
as it was all dug up to lay in 2 lines
of 24" tile pipe. After Irving came we
went and drew the buggy over and
while there, Mrs. Butler came and we
helped her across. She was going up to Mrs.
Jones who is sick, having had a baby
girl this afternoon.
This evening a few boys came and
drummed.
Clyde, Irving and Margaret have gone
to a party down to their cousins,
Louise{??} Jenner's.
Sent a letter to the Blacksmith and Wheelwright
containing 1.00.
08\06\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
After work I stoped {stopped} and saw the steam
shovel work for a while, and then came
up and watched Ralph Blakeslee's men
draw stones and fill in the road
against my lot.
When Clyde came, we sawed up some
of the old timbers that were in the
frame of the old shear{??} shop that burned
in Oct. 1896.
08\07\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Read (Colored) preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
After service, Irving, Louise Jennes{??},
Mariam{??} Brewster, Clifton Heaton,
Jasie{??} Logan of Fonton, Mass. and myself
went to ride to see the work that is
being done on the new trolley road.
We drove out the Plank Road and at
times got out to see the work that is
being done over at the crossing of the
Mixville Brook. Yesterday a train of
five dump gravel cars broke loose of
the engine that was holding them
and ran down the steep grade and off
the end of the trestle that had been
constructed to dump off from and
fell thirty feet, landing in a
heap all smashed.
Clif {Cliff}, the girls and I walked over the
layout and brooks while Irving
drove the team down through Rag
Hollow and met us near the Tucker
Place. We then drove through the
Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks and on through
West Cheshire to Cheshire where we
saw the trolley car come in from
New Haven.
They are working in places all the
way from here to Cheshire on the new
road.
From Cheshire, we drove South till we
came to the second road that turns
to the right, which we took and traveled
till we came to the road that turns
south, beyond which the road was but
little traveled, so we turned south
and drove a long distance before
we came to a house. Here Irving
enquired the way, and we found we
were within a mile of Brooksvale,
but we turned the first right hand
road and came onto the New Haven
Road which we followed back to
Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks and then we
came home after which Irving took
the girls home with the team.
08\08\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clara French and Agnes Abel went
to work to day at noon.
Clyde told me that Olive Abel is
not going to work any more as she
is to be married the 15th of next month.
Mr. Stagg, an inspector of the tracks
on the new trolley road, came to board
at our house tonight.
08\09\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
08\10\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
They have brought the steam shovel up
to a point about midway between my
house and Thomas Mills.
08\11\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
They are laying the trolley rails by my
shop to day.
The rails are the longest I have ever seen,
over 70 feet and 6" high.
08\12\1904 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The steam shovel is working in the bank
opposite my house. Many of the people
of the neighborhood came to see it work.
To day they laid the tracks for the
gravel trains to run on past the
front gate of my house, and tonight
the little engine brought up two cars and
left them.
08\13\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The boys and I finished sawing up
the remaining timber of the frame
of the old shear shop to night.
Ralph Blakeslee has finished filling
in the foot of the hill on the Frost
Road to night. He has put in there
over 3000 loads of stones.
08\14\1904 (Sunday)
Patrie Slavin, Dennis Slavin and Patrick's
son Henry, Clyde and I drove out along
the line of the new trolley road to its
end in Cheshire. They are working in
place all along the line.
The hardest places are at the Roaring
Brook near the Blakeslee Road in
Cheshire, and the fill across the Mix
meadows. At the Roaring Brook they
have a high fill of over 50 feet I think
and a little west, a deep rock cut.
At the Mix meadows there is a fill 38 ft.
high and a little west there si a cut 58 ft.
deep.
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Advent Church
preached at the Mill Plain Chapel to day.
08\15\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory today as usual.
This afternoon Thomas Mills house took
fire from sparks sent out by the
little locomotive that draws the gravel
train. They put it out after it had burned
a hole in the roof.
One of the horses working in the rock
cut near Wilson Pierponts backed off
the stone arch over the "Horse Brook"
and fell back into the water and would
have drowned had not an Italian held
his head above water while another man
cut the harness off. They then got
him out and found no serious injuries.
This forenoon, two of the gravel cars
ran away while being loaded at the
steam shovel and ran down to Thom {Tom}
Mills house where one jumped the
track and ran into the bank and upset.
Mrs. Spenser Monroe had a girl baby born
this morning.
08\16\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this morning and
all day.
08\17\{1904} (Wednesday)
This forenoon a constable came to the
factory and summoned me to go to
cort {court} this afternoon to do juror duty.
I worked till noon and then went to
the City Court held in City Hall
at 2 o'clock and sat with five other
jurors on the case of Mrs. Margaret
Dorothy against one Malone and
Mc Cahey{??}.
Mrs. Dorothy leased the above parties
a building on East Main Street for
hotel purposes in July 1902 for a
term of 5 years, and since June they
have not paid the rent on time and
according to the lease and{??} she wishes
to put them out.
After hearing the evidence, the Jury
decided in favor of the plaintiff.
The blasting about here is something
terific {terrific}. Ralph Blakeslee set off some
wind{??} blasts that shook a vase off
from the shelf in my house.
To night we attended a meeting and
entertainment at Hamilton Call{??}.
The Paymaster for Walter Burk & Co.
who is building three miles of the
east end of the Cheshire trolley line
has ran away yesterday with $6,000
which had been given him to pay
off the help.
Will Gillette went over to Cheshire
late last night and attached{??} cars,
tools, horses, carts, steam drills,
boilers, derricks, locomotives etc.
08\18\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\19\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Five years ago to day I went to work
at Rogers and Brother{??} Factory.
Ralph Balkeslee had a force of men at
work digging out the west and north
ditch in my lot so he can drain his
swamp better.
The Mattatuck Drum Band held a meeting.
08\20\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
The steam shovel is at work in the
bank opposite my house.
08\21\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Basset preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
I attended a Christian Endevor {Endeavor} Meeting
this evening in the Chapel.
Harry Wakelee was buried at Woodtick
this afternoon.
08\22\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers and Hamilton
to day at steam fitting work about the
boilers.
08\23\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at Rogers and Hamiltons to
day at steam fitting.
I have just returned from a strole {stroll?}
with Laurence Tobin{??} and Dennis
Slavin. We looked at the steam
shovel and at the little locomotive
that had ran off the track and at
the cars that ran away down the
hill this afternoon and got smashed
and at the grade they are making
to lay the trolley rails in east of
my house and at the steam drill
up in Ralph Blakeslee's lot that they
are using to get the field racks out with.
08\24\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Clara and Bertha French
came and helped Clyde get things
ready for an entertainment at the
grange.
08\25\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening when I came home from work,
a constible {constable} had been to see sister Iva
and left 58 warrants with her for
Will, gar{?????????} the property which
he had attached{??} that belonged to Walter
Berk Co. constructers of the Cheshire
Trolley Road whoes {whose} paymaster ran away
with $4,200 last Friday. The writs
were gotten out by the Italian laborours {laborers}
who have had no pay for 45 and in
some cases 60 days.
Today they put up the trolley wire
from Silver Street to the Mad River.
Yesterday Mary sent Frank and he
brought Mr. Baker, an old man who
lives up near the Red Bridges ({???} Lee's
father-|in-|lay {law) and he sat in our front
yard and watched the steam shovel
work and visited.
To day she sent and had Mrs. Chas{??} Frost,
Mrs. Porter and Mother Pierpont come
who with a dozen more had quite a
visit.
08\26\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
To day a construction car came out
to the Mad River about noon. This is
the first car that has come over the new
trolley tracks from Silver Street to the
bridge over Mad River.
08\27\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory all day.
They have moved the steam shovel
to the pit in the lot east of Calvary
Cemetery to day.
08\28\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
After service Amy, Margaret, Frank and
I went for a ride. We drove out the Plank
Road and saw where they are working on
the new trolley road to Gillette's Corner
and then turned South and came out on
the main Prospect Road, which we followed
west to East Mountain where we saw
the new water pipe they are putting in
for the high service in Waterbury, and
we there had to drive around by the Gilbert
Hotchkiss place on account of the road being
closed.
08\29\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Olive Abel is 22 years old to day.
08\30\{1904} (Tuesday)
This morning Clyde, Irving and I
got up at 3.30, ate breakfast and drove to
Seymour where we left the horse at a livery
stable and then took the trolley cars for
Stratford. Soon after we got aboard we paid
our fare of five cents. When we reached
Ansonia we paid five cents more and got
a transfer. At Derby we left the Ansonia
cars and got aboard of the Bridgeport cars
and used our transfers. Soon we paid
five cents more and then five cents
again, and at Paradise Green we paid
five cents again, and this took us to
the pole in Stratford, where we met
Charlie Stagg and we went to his house
where he gave us some second hand
clothing and then we went to the
boat house and got his launch ready
and got aboard. Had trouble starting the
engine, sailed to the mouth of the Housatonic{??}
River intending to fish for blue fish,
but it was so rough that we could not
get out side of the break water, so we
turned back and fished inside and we
caught two little fish. After
a time we went to the mouth of a creek
on the east side of the river below Washington
Bridge and fished for a long time.
Charlie caught four or five but none of
the rest caught any. We had lunch and
then sailed out{??} the river four or five
miles and back again to the landing
where we left the boat and then went
and called on Cousin Clarissa and Melville
Curtis, and there took the trolley cars to
Shelton and Derby to Seymour, wher {where} we
took the horse and drove home, reached here
at ten minutes past ten.
This day the cars have run regular to
the Mad River.
Had school meeting this night.
08\31\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\01\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening after work I went to the apothecaries
hall and bought one{??} gallon{??} of
boiled linseed oil for 60 cts.
All the girls in the machine burnishing
room went up to Olive Abel's to supper.
There were ten of them, and they went
on invatation {invitation} of Olive, who expects to
be married the 14th of this month.
09\02\1904 (Friday)
Worked as usual to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice.
09\03\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Commenced working on the dow{??} to day.
This evening at about 8 o'clock a train
of gravel cars ran away without any
engine down the hill in front of my
house and a little this side of the bridge,
jumped the track. No one was hurt.
09\04\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
to day.
This morning we took the trolley at
the bridge and went to church at the
Second Congregational.
09\05\{1904} (Monday)
Although this is Labor Day, a legal
holiday, I have worked hard on Roger's
bras {brass??} dow{??}.
They are moving the steam shovel to
East Farms. Have got it as far as Rob
Hotchkiss.
The Mill Plain Christian Endevor {Endeavor}
Society gave a picnic at Quassapaucy{??}
to dya. They went in 3 large
busses. Mary and Frank, Raymond
and Ruth drove over.
09\06\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\07\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening as I came home from
work they were unloading rails this
side of the bridge for the new trolley
road. They were 70 ft. long and 6 in.
high and weighed 1570 lbs. each.
I can remember when the longest
railroad rails about here were 16 1/2
feet long and two men could lift
them easily.
09\08\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
09\09\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\10\1904 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mrs. Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Goshen came to day.
09\11\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After Chapel, Mrs. Ovaitt [Oviatt], Margaret,
Agnes Abel, Wilber{??} and I went for a
drive out the Meriden Road and down
through East Farms and in the
Plank Road.
09\12\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This noon I heard of the death of
Charlie Conner.
He was killed by the cars on Saybrook{??}
Saturday night.
09\13\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Irving, Vernon{??}, Abel and
I went over to the Foresters{??} Hall and
got sixteen double seats and took them
to the Chapel to be used at the wedding
of Olive Abel tomorrow.
09\14\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day till 10.30.
I then came home and got ready, had
dinner and then Mary, Clyde, Irving,
Ruth and I walked to the bridge over Mad
River where we took the trolley car and went
to the bridge over the Nangatuck River at
West Main Street where we took a hack{??}
and went to the home of Mr. George W.
Connor to attend the funeral of their
son, Charlie. The house was full of
relations and friends. Rev. Mrs. Buckley
of Trinity Church officiated.
We then went to Trinity Church where
the funeral service was held.
The church was well filled, about half of
the congregation being workmen of the
Waterbury Brass Company where Charlie was
superintendent. Soon after the service
commenced there was a great down pore {pour}
of rain with thunder and lightening so
we had to wait some time till the rain
had abated when we went to the Pine
Grove Cemetary {Cemetery} where he was buried by
the side of his mother.
Olive Abel and Allen Burges were
married this afternoon at 3 o'clock in
the Mill Plain Chapel. While they were
standing there it rained torrents and
the thunder and lightening was terific {terrific}.
09\15\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked as usual to day.
Mrs. Ovaitt [Oviatt] left our house to day for
Bristol.
Clyde left on the 6.15 train for Easton
last night.
09\16\1904 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\17\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I worked on the little fire
engine that I am building.
09\18\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Zeiter{??} of the Simonsville Church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service Irving, Amy, and I drove
over to Mix's meadows in Cheshire
where the engine and six gravel cars
ran off a trestle 38 ft. high on the new
trolley road.
09\19\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
John French did not work this forenoon.
09\20\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\21\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
09\22\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This is Mary's birthday, 44 years old.
Had a heavy frost this morning.
09\23\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\24\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\25\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
09\26\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory as usual
This is Fannie and Mary Porters birthday,
48 years old.
09\27\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Burges returned
from their wedding trip to Penn last
night.
This is my birthday, 46 years old.
09\28\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening about 40 boys with drums
and fifes, tin pans, horns, cow bells, and
other bells went up to Hiram Abel's
and gave Allen Burges and Olive a
serenade. They fired guns and then
played three times on the drums
and fifes, as no one came out, then
they began to pound and make a great
racket that sounded as if all thunder
and bedlem {bedlam} was let loos {loose}, which they
kept up for some time till Mrs. Abel
came out with a broom and drove
them all out of the yard.
09\29\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09\30\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\01\{1904} (Saturday)
To day Frank, Raymond, Ruth and I
went out to Mother Pierponts and picked
up apples. We sent the first load of
14 bags full home at about 10 o'clock, and
Mary and Margaret came back with
Frank. When he brought the team back
we picked up two loads more, and
finished at about four, after which we went
up on the hill and picked up chestnuts. We
had half a bushel that we had found.
Last night the boys serenaded Allen
Burges and his new wife at Hiram Ables {Abels}.
10\02\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Haris preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel.
10\03\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\04\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys of the neighborhood
came in and Mary read Sy
Clfe{??} to them.
10\05\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
They began working till 9 o'clock last
Monday night in the making,
polishing, trimming and machine
rooms.
10\06\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\07\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
10\08\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked as usual to day.
10\09\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service, Mary, Margaret,
Irving and I went to ride out to
ALfred Brooks' place to see the work
on the new trolley lines {????????}.
10\10\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\11\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory all day.
This evening Raymond Bolton, Clarence Brown,
Fred Lund and Henry Beckwith came
and heard Mary read the "Green Mountain
Boys".
Pete gave me check for 40.00.
10\12\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Wolcott Fair was to have been
held to day but was postponed on
account of the rain.
10\13\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
10\14\1904 (Friday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
Mary and the boys and girls
went to the Wolcott Fair.
I wrote a letter to Chas{??} Stagg
of Stratford this evening.
10\15\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Irving got through working for
Joseph Smith to night. He has been
studying architecture.
10\16\{1904} (Sunday)
Re. Mr. Moffelt of Waterville preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service, Mary and I went to
Mr. Judds where we took tea and
in the evening we went to the
Christian Endever {Endeavor} Meetings.
10\17\1904 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Irving went to work at the
Farrell Foundry{???} and Machine
Company at mechanical drawing{??}
this morning.
10\18\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Sent an order to Montgomery
Ward & Co. of Chicago, also an order
for goods to Sears Roebuck & Co. of the
same place to night.
10\19\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This is our payday. I received my
pay, 15.75, for last weeks work.
This evening we attended a
rally of the Christian Endever {Endeavor}
Society at the Mill Plain Chael.
Rev. Mr. Harris was there and
presided.
After the service, refreshments were
served.
10\20\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They have finished digging the
cellar of the new Mill Plain
School House.
Mr. Walker who has charge of the
new Hamilton Park is putting
walks and drives about it.
After work we picked over apples
and have about 9 bushels. Tomorrow
Frank and Raymond are going
to take them out to Mintres{??}
Cider Mill on the Plank Road
and have them "made up".
10\21\1904 (Friday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brother
this day.
We had a heavy rain storm accompanied
with much wind this forenoon, but it
cleared up about two o'clock.
10\22\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Ralph Blakeslee told
me that he thought he would
accept the nomination for Representative
to the Legislator {Legislature}.
10\23\{1904} (Sunday)
This forenoon at about ten o'clock
Patrie{??} and Dennis Slavin, Irving,
I and Pat's boy Henry started in my
two seated wagon and drove over to
the Meriden Mountain. We left the
horse at the foot of the path that
leads to the top of West Peak, and went
up to the summit where we had
a fine view of the Sound, Long
Island, and all of the surrounding
counrt, saw Mt. Tom{??} in Massachusetts
and Manadonack{??} in New Hampshire.
We then went over to the new tower
on East Peak and went to the top. We
then got the team and went through
the Hubbard Park and on to West
Main Street, where we turned north
just before we reached the Waterbury
R. R. crossing and drove up through
Cat Hole Pass to Kensington and from
there to Southington and home, which
we reached at 8 o'clock.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternon.
10\24\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Bolton got through die sinking{??} at
the shop Saturday night.
Elsie and Cara French went to work at
Platt Companies{??} Button Shop this morning.
10\25\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening as we were coming home
from work we saw that the trolley
company were{??} cutting away the
bank in front of Ervice{??} Wright's place.
A number of the boys of the neighborhood
came in to hear Mary read
the "Green Mountain Boys".
10\26\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\27\1904 (Thursday)
I worked for Rogers $ Brother from 7 to 12.30 and
from 1 to 5.30. Ten hours, (our regular days
work) to day.
This evenign Mary went to a usical
entertainment at St. Margarets School but
they did not have it, as the principle {principal}
musition {musician} is sick.
I went to see Mr. Jones about being
made a voter, and he said that he will
be made tomorrow.
10\28\1904 (Friday)
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
They had a party over to Charlie Casses'{??}
to night, a surprise on Henry
and Grace. Quite a number of the
young folks met at my house and
went ver in a body.
10\29\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening I, with Ruth, went to
the center and Ruth got her mother's
new hat and a quart of oysters
and then we came home, and I
brought Agnes Abel up from Silver
Street.
10\30\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev.{??} Mr.{??} Anderson preached at
the Mill Plain Chapel to day.
After service I went out to Wedge's{??}
and looked at the new concrete arch
just completed.
10\31\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening sister Iva gave a Haloween {Halloween}
party at Father's house. Everybody had to
wear a mask. Mary had a rig{??} for me which
made me look like a farmer, but I went
over to Frenches and Bertha dressed
me up like an old woman and
Mary or no one else knew me.
11\01\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
11\02\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to the Chapel to
a supper and entertainment given by
the ladies union. The supper was excellent
and cost 15 cts. each.
The entertainment consisted of singing
and recestations {recitations}.
11\03\{1904} (Thursday)
I worked to day as usual.
The Grangers had a musical entertainment
in their hall this evening.
Mary and Irving went.
11\04\1904 (Friday)
I worked today moving the fence out
into the street in front of the shop.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Band went to the center and marched
to the corner of South Main and then
to East Main Street and to Hamilton
Hall escorting a Band wagon load
of Republican speakers who spoke to
an audience of men, women, boys
and girls. They were all Republicans
and spoke for Theodore Rosevelt {Roosevelt} for
President.
11\05\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
11\06\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris of the First Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel to day.
This forenoon at abouy a quarter to ten,
sister Iva came and said that Cara had
been having an unpleasant time and
had gone away, they knew not where,
and she wanted something done to prevent
her from repeating it many
more times, as Amy says that she
cannot stand it and longer and
Will says that he will get out if he has
to put up with it.
I went down and saw Will and made
arrangements to have him see a
lawyer and see if we could not
have a consivator{??} appointed over
her effects and person.
I attended service at the Chapel this
afternoon as is my custom.
After service Ruth, Irving, Miss
Marshal and I went out along the
line of the new trolley road that
is being built. We went as far as
the cut that they are putting through
the ledge east of the bridge east
of Gillette Corners, then came home
by the Plank Road.
11\07\{1904} (Monday)
Worked to day moving the fence
and gatehouse in front of the
factory farther out into the
street.
Warren Hitchcock's wife had a little
girl baby born lst Friday,
wight {weight} 3 lbs.
Mr. Mulhern's wife had a baby
girl born to them a few days
ago.
11\08\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
This is Presidental Day and I voted
for Theodore Rosevelt {Roosevelt} for president and
the strait Republican ticket.
11\09\{1904] (Wednesday)
Worked as usual, came home at 5 o'clock. At{???}
I am going to Watertown with the Mattatuck
Drum Band.
11\10\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Last night I went to Watertown with
the Drum Corps, 12 men. We left the bridge on
the 6.22 trolley car and went to the
Nangatuck Rail Road Station where we
took the steam cars. At Watertown we
headed a parade which was given in
honor of the Republican victory.
{11\11\{1904} (Friday) [no entry]}
11\12\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked yesterday and to day.
Last night there was a great Republican
rally in town on account of the Rep'
victory. I turned out and drummed
with the Mattatuck Drum Band, 13 men.
There were thousands in line, nearly
factory in town being represented by
a large body of men.
11\13\{1904} (Sunday)
Very stormy, wind, rain, snow,
hail and sleet.
No service at the Chapel, but they had
Sunday School.
Mr. and Mrs. Judd at our house to supper.
11\14\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\15\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked to day in the factory.
11\16\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked as usual today in the factory.
This evening Ruth, Margaret, Frank, Ray and I
attended a lecture at East Farms School House.
11\17\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Workmen began laying tracks for the
trolley road east of the Mad River Bridge.
Mary and Irving have gone to the Grange
Fair.
11\18\{1904} (Friday)
I worked as usual to day.
Mr. Charlie Stagg of Stratford came to
board with us to day. He is an inspector
of the track laying for the Connecticut
Electric Railway and Lighting Company.
The Grange Fair is on to night.
11\19\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Barlow Brothers
Store and bought three lengths and
one elbow of stove pipe of Russian iron
for which I paid 2.00 and a zine covered
stove board for 1.00.
11\20\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
I attended the Christian Endever {Endeavor} Meeting
this evening.
Wrote a letter to Clyde.
11\21\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
Went to the Nangatuck freight
depot and got two cushions and a
box that came from Chicago.
11\22\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The workmen are digging and blasting
in front of my house to day for the
tracks.
Twenty one years ago to day I was married
to Miss Mary A. Pierpont of East Farms
in Mill Plain Chapel.
11\23\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The belt that drives the grea fan in
the trimming room got wet this
noon and came apart this afternoon.
We repaired it and had it running
by three o'clock.
11\24\1904 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day.
The Somers family met at Uncle Joe's
house and had dinner. There were about
40 present.
They laid the rails past my house
to day for the trolley road.
Wrote a letter to Mr. Albert Hill,
New Haven.
11\25\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Charlie Stagg came again after spending
Thanksgiving at his home in Stratford.
They finished laying tarck to day for
this fal,l laid to a little beyond
Calvary Cemetery gate.
11\26\1904 (Saturday)
Worked as usual to day.
This evening I drove to town and
got one quart of oysters for 35 cts., came
home and we put the roof on the wood
shed.
11\27\1904 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams, assistant to Mr.
Davenport, preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. He has preached at South
Britain for some years past.
The weather has been cold and snowy.
11\28\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Charlie Cass went to work at the Waterbury
Lumber and Coal Company this
morning. Sherman Monroe went to
work as stationary engineer for Reid
and Hughes this morning.
Warren Hitchcock's little child died last
Friday and was buried yesterday afternoon.
11\29\1904 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to fathers and got an organ that I bought
for Mary in 1876, paid $225.00 for it.
11\30\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the Ladies Union gave a
supper and entertainment in the Chapel.
Ther {There} was a large number present and
they cleared $14.00.
12\01\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
I carried{??} Miss Welton in town to night.
We worked cleaning the organ.
12\02\1904 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I went to the Fourth National Bank this noon
and got two checks cashed, one from Emil{?}
Marggraff of Watertown for $19.20 and
one from Ralph Blakeslee for $18.00. They
were for the Mattatuck Drum Band and
were pay for playing in a parade in
Watertown and in a parade in Waterbury
after election.
12\03\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It has been very cold, a little snow fell.
12\04\{1904} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
to day.
12\05\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Snow fell to the depth of 3 inches to day.
12\06\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and girls of the neighborhood
called in and Mary read to
them a while, after which they practiced
singing Christmas carols for the Chapel
entertainment.
12\07\1904 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\08\{1904] (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\09\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\10\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Peter Laroque paid check of 20.oo to day.
12\11\1904 (Sunday)
This day has been cold and stormy.
Rev. Mr. Verder preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. He is assistant to Rev. Mr. Buckley
of Trinity Church.
12\12\{1904} (Monday)
Worked at the factory all day.
It has snowed nearly all day but the
snow is only about three inches deep.
12\13\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked in the shop all day.
It snowed all night and the snow was
15 inches deep this morning. I got up soon
after five, and hitched into{??} the snow
plow and made a path to the end of
the trolley line and up the Southmaid
Road to Mr. Frey's and came home.
Hitched into my sleigh after breakfast
and went to the shop, (drove up and got
Agnes Abel). It continued to snow
till noon and in all 18 inches fell.
12\14\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked in the factory.
This evening I drove out to Mr. Marities{??}
on the Plank Road to order some cider
for Mr. George Rockwell, Secretary of
International Silver Co., and for
Fred Chase, President of the Chase
Rolling Co. It was a hard, cold drive,
the snow being deep and the thermometer
6 below zero when I got home.
I then went to James Porter's and he
lent me and old fashioned shirt and
vest to wear at the Fair of the
Patriotic Sons of America to be given
in City Hall. I then went out to
Char{??} Cass, and then came home.
Captain Baugs{??} was buried in the
Pixie Grove Cemetery to day.
The bugle sounding "taps"{??} and the
musket firing three vollies {volleys} were
heard throughout tis region.
12\15\1904 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory all day.
This evening I got ready soon as possible
and Bob Beckwith came and we went
over to Charlie Casses' and we finished
our rigging out{??}, Charlie with continental
coat, buff facings, no shirt, buff pants,
white stockings, buff boot tops, black
wig with stubby whiskers and bandage
about head with blood spot on it.
I was dressed with pants, stockings etc.
like Charlie, but had white waist belt,
an old fashioned shirt and sleves {sleeves} rolled up
and thrown open at brest {breast??} and an old
fashioned vest, thrown open in front,
gray wig on my head and mustache and
eye brows white.
Bob was dressed in Cuff{??} continental
uniform.
We drove to City Hall and soon went
over to "Platt's Clock{??}" where the parade
started and we headed it and went
down South Main St., up Grand, up
Bank and to City Hall. In the Hall
we paid {played} "Yankee Doodle" on the stage.
It was hard marching as the snow
was deep.
12\16\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I called for Charles Cass
and we went to the City and drummed
through the streets about the center to
the City Hall. We did not play on the
stage owing to the small attendence.
It is cold to nigh {night}.
12\17\{1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day till 5 o'clock.
This evening Charlie, Bob and I drummed
about the streets and on the stage.
We also looked at the moving pictures.
Stayed till about 11 o'clock when we drove
home, it snowing very hard.
The making department shut down to day.
12\18\{1904} (Sunday)
At two o'clock I went to the undertaking
rooms of Mr. Edmurador{??} on
Center Street and attended the funeral
of Mattie Wedge{??} Baxter Hill who died of pneumonia
at Henry Wedge's last Thursday.
Rev. Mr. Harris officiated and the
pall bearers{??} were Max Reed, Mr. Blackbourn,
Wilson Pierpont and I. She was
buried on the East side of the Pine
Grove Cemetery.
Rev. Mr. Stockdale preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
About 6 inches of snow fell last
night. This morning we hitched a small
stone drag{??} back of it and Frank,
Ray and I ploughed out the roads
over to Casie's{??} and up the Southmaid
out the Meriden and
down the Doolittle roads.
12\19\{1904} (Monday)
Worked today at the factory.
I made scrapers for the workmen to
clear the snow off from the pond in
Hamilton Park.
12\20\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
They stoped {stopped} work in the machine burnishing
room to day.
12\21\{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked.
Allen Burges brought home my sleigh
which he has had on his trip to Morris{??},
Watertown selling tea since Sunday
night.
Clyde came home from Lafayette
College this evening at about 8 o'clock.
Will Gillette and Iva caled to see Clyde
but he and Irving had gone skating on
the Brass Mill Pond.
Will and Iva then started north up the
road. We think they went to serenade
Burt Frisbie up in Woodtick who is lately
married.
12\22\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This morning the thermometer stood 14
degrees below zero.
This evening Clyde, Irving, Mary and
I went up to the Chapel and trimed {trimmed} it.
There were several young men that
came and helped as did Clara French.
12\23\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I carried Ruth to the rehersel {rehearsal} of the Sunday
School children at the Chapel.
12\24\1904 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory ti day.
The buffers got through work to day.
Shelbourne Rockwell gave me a Christmas
present yesterday. I do not know what it
is but I think it is a book.
This is Christmas Eve and there is a row of
stockings hung up in our sittingroom some
of which are already filled.
12\25\{1904} (Sunday)
Christmas. This morning we all got
up at day light and all unpacked their
stockings, Grandma Pierpont (who came
over yesterday) and all. I had a pair of
wolen {woolen} mittens, some handkerchiefs, oranges,
candies, etc and $5.00 in cash. The childrens'
stockings were well filled.
The weather has been very cold all day
and at four o'clock it began snowing.
The attendence at the Chapel was large
and the singing better than I ever heard
there before by the Choir. Dr. Davenport
read a story to the people which was
very interesting.
12\26\1904 (Monday)
This day is observed as a holiday for Chirstmas.
We had dinner at Fathers and in the afternoon
Frank(brother) , Clyde, Irving,
Vernon Abel and I went to Nangatuck
and went through the new school house
that Mr. Whittimore is building and
is to give to Nangatuck as a present.
It is certainly a nice building.
When we came home we walked up
the railroad to Platts Mills and saw
the steamshovel and steam derricks
and drills that are at work double
tracking the Nangatuck Rail Road.
In the evening we had a Christmas
tree at Fathers and lots of presents
for all.
12\27\{1904} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Robert Hotchkiss died at the soldiers
home at Noroton{??} and is to be buried
at the Pine Grove Cemetery tomorrow
afternoon.
It has stormed hard all day and the
Christmas entertainment at the Chapel
is posponed {postponed} till tomorrow evening.
12\28\1904 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we went to the Christmas
entertainment at the Chapel.
12\29\{1904} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\30\{1904} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
12\31\1905 {1904} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
After work, Frank and I went to the Waterbury
Lumber Yard and got some oak board that
I had left there last night to be plained.
We then went to the Danbury Hat Store
and I bought a black felt hat for 1.90.
Then went to Hotchkiss & Fempletons
and got some brass screws and round
nickel head screws for 55 cts.
Sleighing is about gone.
//end of 1904 entries//
[CSM Journal for 1905]
01/01/1905 (Sunday)
This morning I took the trolley and went
to the second church.
This afternoon Edward Manwaning who
has been sick over two years at Mr. Barry
Garrigus' with consumption and who died
last {[blank]} was buried from the Chapel
at 3 o'clock. Rev. Dr. Davenport officiated.
01/02/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory getting things
ready to start up to morrow.
The Japanese captured Port Arthur
from the Russians yesterday. The
Russians surrendered about 20,000
men.
01/03/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked lining up an idler and bracing
the same so as to make the new belt
on the Brown engine run true.
This morning it was very slipery {slippery} but
it has snowed nearly all day and
is still blowing and snowing so
that sleighing has come again.
The making department started up
to day.
01/04/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked to day in the factory.
The ladies gave a supper and entertainment
at the Chapel this evening.
01/05/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Last evening there was a school meeting called
but I objected to any business being done as the
meeting had not
been advertised.
01/06/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Florence Abel began working in the watch shop
yesterday.
01/07/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked as usual at the factory to day.
01/08/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Verder preached at the Chapel
to day.
01/09/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The roads are very icy and some
bare{?} ground.
01/10/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked.
01/11/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I saw Mr. Rockwell about getting more pay.
He said that "he would look it up".
01/12/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
01/13/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The {They} too Henry Buckingham's wifle {wife} to
the insane asylum at Middletown
yesterday.
01/14/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening the Chapel choir met
at our house and practiced.
01/15/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Moffett preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. He said that probably
this was his last sermon, as he expected
to be transfered to another field of labor.
He is the Methodist Minister at Waterville.
Clara French told me that her father
got hurt at the factory yesterday after
I left.
01/16/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
They started up the plating department
this moring. Minnie{??} Dugan sent for
Agnes Abel to come to work tomorrow noon.
01/17/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory.
This evening after work, I went to Hotchkiss and
Fempletons and bought three dozen brass round
head screws for 45 cts. I also bought two five
stove pipe ells for 50 cts. of Minor on Grand
Street.
I sent my subscription for the Conn. Magazine
to night - 2.00.
Enclosed in a letter, 6.00 to Ralph Blakeslee for
wood.
Enclosed in letter to P.F. Callier, Providence R.I., 1.30 to pay
balance of contract for weekly paper.
Enclosed in letter, 5.20 to P.F. Callier and son,
New York to pay for this year's supscription
to Callier's Weekly.
01/18/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
William Warren died at his home on
the East side of the Woodtick Road
opposite the school house (a little north)
this morning at 5 o'clock of pneumonia.
01/19/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Mr. John Lines was buried this afternoon
from the First Baptist Church, the Rev.
John Davenport officiating. Mr. Lines
was a man whom was well liked by
everybody. For years he was superintendent
of the Upper Shops at the Scoville
Mfg. Co. He was also a veteran fireman
and veteran soldier having served
over three years in the 14th Conn.
Infantry, in the war of the Rebellion
took part in thirty battles.
For years he was at the head of Lines
Orchestra.
01/20/{1905} (Friday)
Worked this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended Willaim
Warren's funeral. It was held in the
Chapel and was the largest funeral ever
held there, the concarse{??} of people being
so great that all the standing room
was taken and about seventy five stood
outside. Mr. Warren was Assistant
Superintendent at the watch shop and
that factory shut down this afternoon.
There were about fourteen nice floral
pieces given by friends and relations.
The funeral was paid for by the New England
Watch Co.
01/21/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day {???} some of
the time. The rest of the time I was at the
old Rogers & Hamilton factory taking
out the machinery and stock and bringing
them down to our shop.
They are also taking out the Engine.
01/22/{1905} (Sunday)
Cold and stormy. Carried mother
Pierpont to the Chapel, but did not
stay as I was not feeling well. Rev.
Dr. Davenport preached.
01/23/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
01/24/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory, was up to Rogers
and Hamilton factory this afternoon.
01/25/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
We had a great snow all day and to night
I ploughed out the road up to Ralph Blakeslee's
barn and up the Southmayd {Southmaid} Road
to Judd's Store.
01/26/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory, 9 hours.
Mr. John Frey died last night at 9 o'clock
of pneumonia, aged 77 years last Tuesday.
I dug and plowed out the Doolittle Road to
Mr. Ables this morning{??}.
01/27/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers and
Hamilton all day taking out pipe fiiting,
grit{?} etc.
Hubert Wedge got badly hurt at the
factory of the Waterbury Lumber and
Coal Co. yesterday by a belt braking {breaking}
and the hooks catching him in the
neck.
01/28/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the unoccupied shop of Rogers &
Hamilton on Griggs Street.
To day Ralph Blakeslee gave his annual
sleigh ride to the school children of
Waterbury. He had 60 large sleighs, each
drawn by 2 large horses except one and
that had 4 horses. There were about
three thousand children in the sleighs.
01/29/1904 {1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Anderson of the First Congregational
Church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Mr. John Frey was buried in the Pine
Grove Cemetery this afternoon.
01/30/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01/31/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
02/01/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The weather is very cold. The thermometer
stood at 15 below zero this morning.
02/02/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Cold, thermometer stood 16 below this
morning.
02/03/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The themometer {thermometer} stood 4 below this morning.
Went this evening to Nangatuck to see
P.O. Laughlin{?}.
02/04/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Colder this morning. The thermometer
was 18 below zero this morning.
02/05/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
02/06/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The snow fell to a depth of 6 inches
this forenoon.
Yesterday Sidney Spender was 21 years
old.
I went to see James Porter this evening.
02/07/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
02/08/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
There are many sick persons about Mill Plain
at this time. Mrs. Lockhart is sick with
Pluresy{?} and Jaunders[?}. Earnest Welton's wife
is very sick with pneumonia. Chas{?} Cass
is down with the Grip. Mrs. Morrow is
sick with influenza and Murry Bubec{?}
is also sick.
02/09/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
02/10/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to Rogers & Hamilton and got a
lood {load} of steam fittings.
02/11/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and I brought up
a large iron straitening plate from my
shop that weighed 3200 lbs., drew it upon
my sled with my horse.
Last night the boys gave a magic
lantern exhibition in our house. There
were about 20 children present who
paid .01 ct. admission.
02/12/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This forenoon at 11 o'clock Margaret and
I left home and drove to Bristol. We
found the snow very deep and more
than half the distance, the roads
are dug out by hand. Drifts 10 feet
deep are to be found in many
places. The weather was cold. We {When} we started,
the themometer {thermometer} stood 14 above zero and it
remained cold all the way up. Got to Bristol
at 2 and put the horse out at a livery stable
and then went up to Franks on High Street,
staid there till four and started for home
in a blinding snow storm. It was after
five before we got out of Bristol and we
were obliged to travel slow up the mountain
so darkness set in when we were
near Cedar Swamp Pond, and it was
hard to see the track. As we were driving
down the hill this side of the Ransom
Hall Pond{???}, we ran a runner up on the
drift and it tipped us over and threw
the horse down. I had Margaret hold the
horse down and then unhitched him
and pulled the sleigh back and the
horse jumped up and we tipped the
sleigh up and started again. It was
now raining very hard. We reached
home at 8 o'clock.
02/13/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Yesterday Ruth was 14 years old and tonight
a large number of young people of the
neighborhood gave her a surprise party.
02/14/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening a party of the Grangers went
to Cheshre {Cheshire} in Arthur Pierpont's bob sled.
Mary and Irving went from our house.
02/15/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary went to the Foresters' supper
and dance and also went to the
Grange.
02/16/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
The fire inspector came around the
factory to day.
02/17/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I had a talk with Mr. Rockwell this forenoon
about nickel silver.
After work I went to Simonsville to
see Robert Somers about metal.
02/18/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked to day.
This evening I went to town and bought
a pair of gloves.
02/19/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Bassett preached at the Chapel.
Went to Simonsville and saw Rob Somers.
02/20/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to J.G. Jones and had my shop insured, {???}1000.00.{?}
02/21/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02/22/{1905} (Wednesday)
Washingtons birth day.
This morning I raised the flag {???}
the office at the factory.
02/23/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to the D.A.R. entertainment
at the Second Church.
The {They} had a great collection of old relicks {relics}.
02/24/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This is Margaret's 16th birthday and the young
people gave her a party tonight.
02/25/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Frank is sick with something that looks
like poison that has broken out on his
body.
02/26/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel.
Margaret, Ruth, Raymond and I went
for a sleigh ride out the Plank Road to
where they are working on the new
trolley road. The steam shovel is at
work this side of Rag Hollow Brook
and they have steam drills at work
in rock cuts near Ed Welton's house
at East Farms and at Shingle Mill
Brook in Cheshire.
02/27/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
02/28/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
03/01/{1905} (Wednesday)
Did not feel well so I did not go to work.
This evening I attended the entertainment
and supper at the Chapel. The building
was filled. The entertainment consisted
of music by the new orchestra and singing
by a Miss Goodwin and Mr. Walter
Haden.
03/02/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I sent home Major Tucker's scrap book
by Adams Express to day.
They found the little Italian boy who
was drowned in Scoville Ditch day before
yesterday, this afternoon at about four
o'clock.
03/03/1904 {1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary and Irving have gone to
Southington with a party of Grangers
in Wilson Pierpont's team sleigh.
03/05{04}/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked in the factory to day as
usual.
03/06{05}/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
03/06/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Dayton Woodin told me to day that he
has bought the De Lay place on the Woodtick
Road and expects to move there by
April 1st.
03/07/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked to day.
03/08/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03/09/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03/10/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Murkden{??} in Manchura has fallen to
the Japanese and people look for the
end of the war now.
03/11/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03/12/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Verder preached at Mill Plain
Chapel.
03/13/{1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers &
Hamilton on Griggs Street drawing
the water out of the pipes etc. and
making preperations {preparations} to abandon the
shop.
03/14/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers and
Hamilton.
03/15/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at Rogers & Brother factory.
03/16/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at Rogers & Bro.'s this forenoon
and at Rogers and Haniltons this afternoon.
03/17/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Hamilton
to day.
This is St. Patricks day.
03/18/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The finishing department started to day
to work Saturdays for the first time
this year.
This is Agnes Able's birthday, 26 years
old.
03/19/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Moffelt{?} of Waterville preached
at the Chapel.
Mort Pierpont's birthday, 21 years old.
03/20/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
A lot of men began work getting the poles ready
for the trolley wire to day.
03/21/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03/22/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked in the factory.
This evening Mary and I took supper
at Charles Monroe's.
The workmen have set the trolley poles
on the North side of the road nearly
to my house.
03/23/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03/24/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
03/25/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
03/26/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel to day.
03/27/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03/28/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
03/29/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The trolley men were putting up
poles in front of my house to day.
The Ladies Union gave a supper
and entertainment at the Chapel
this evening which I attended.
03/30/1904 {1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Susia{?} and Mr. Whitikes{?} of
Boston came to our house and engaged
board to come tomorrow
morning. They are foremen on
the new trolley road.
53 Italians came yesterday.
03/31/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The boarders came this morning.
Mother Pierpont went up to Charlie's
to day after staying here over three
months.
04/01/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04/02/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel to day.
Vernon Abel was confermed {confirmed} at St. Johns
Church this forenoon and Clara French
at Trinity this evening.
04/03/{1905} (Monday)
Worked moving the sheds opposite the
factory to day.
Bertha French began working at the
pin factory in Oakville to day.
There was a fire that burned over the lots
between the Plank Road and East Main St.
near Mad River. They called out the fire
steamer from town to put it out.
04/04/1905 (Tuesday)
I worked this day at the factory of Rogers &
Brother moving the horse sheds that stand
opposite the office, so they will stand parallel
with the street.
I ordered 300 ft. of 3/4" cotton woven hose
pipe of the Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co.,
price 9 cts. per ft.
04/05/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
04/06/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Susia began keeping his horse{?} in
my barn to day.
04/07/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04/08/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory this day as usual.
Came home and Frank and I welded the
axles for the hose{??} east we are building.
04/09/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Reed of the colored baptist church
preached at the Chapel to day.
After service, Ruth, Margaret, Clara
French and Irving drove out the Meriden
Road to Arthur Pierpont's and Irving
had a talk with him about enlisting
in Co. A 2nd. Regt. C. N. G.{???} We then
drove to the rock cut near Ed Weltons
where we saw a steam drill at work.
Then in the Plank Road and saw the
locomotive which has arrived last night
and then home.
04/10/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory this day raising
the roof of the 40 ft. horse shed.
04/11/1905 (Tuesday)
I worked to day at carpenter work at the factory.
04/12/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the Christian Endever {Endeavor} Society
held a business meeting and afterwards
an entertainment in the Chapel.
There were about eighteen at the business
meeting.
The entertainment consisted of gessing {guessing}
on advertisement pictures, i.e. look at
the picture and gess {guess} what it advertised.
There were about fifty pictures and
Miss Faterm{??} gessed {guessed} the largest number
and received a box of candy as a prize.
Thn many of the young ladies carred {carried??}
baskets of eatibles which were auctioned off
and I happened to buy Margarets. The
gentleman who bought the box was supposed
to divide its contense {contents} with the
lady who furnished it. They raised
over six dollars, which it was voted to
keep as a nuculus {nucleus} for a fund to buy library
books with.
My father is 75 years old to day.
04/13/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04/14/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
04/15/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This is Mother's birthday, 71 years old.
We went down home and had supper
there in honor of the event.
04/16/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Very cold and a little snow.
04/17/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They laid 1200 feet of rails on the new
trolley road. Began at the edge of Otter[??}
Swamp, this side of the Horse Brook
and laid west, east of said point{??}.
They are laid to the Cemetery at
East Farms.
04/18/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04/19/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I received my weekly pay to day, 15.00.
04/20/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked as usual to day.
Fred Thompkins and Milan Northrop
have sold their places on the Plank
Road to the City for the park to
take possession. Northrop got 3,500.00
and Thompkins about 2,300.00.
Mrs. Augustus Moshier died yesterday
aged 55 years. Died of the sickness known
as plurel{??} pneumonia.
04/21/{1905} (Friday)
This is Good Friday and the factories do
not work.
Got up this morning at the usual time
and ate breakfast with Mr. Susia and
Mr. Whitiker who went to work as
usual on the trolley road. Mr. Susia
had a general oversight over the building
of this end and Mr. Whitiker has charge
of building the stone arch near the East
Farms Cemetery.
After breakfast, Irving and I sawed
up a lot of logs with the crosscut saw,
after which we went down to the lot
west of the swamp west of James
Porter's barn and ploughed for potatoes
till about four o'clock when it began to
rain and it continued to rain hard
the rest of the day.
Mrs. Moshier was buried this afternoon.
04/22/{1905} (Saturday)
I worked this morning on a little hose
cart I am making. Then went to
ploughing and finished the piece I
began yesterday. Frank then harrowed
it and we then furrowed it out, which
took till nearly five o'clock. We then
came home and Father came and we
tried the little fire engine we had made.
Father was pleased as it worked like one
which he used to belong to{?}.
We then went out by the Calvary
Cemetary {Cemetery} Gate and saw them lay the
connecting rail so now the rails are
laid out to the cross road near the
East Farms Station.
04/23/{1905} (Sunday)
"Easter Sunday". This morning I went
to Church at the Second Congregational.
Mr. Davenport preached.
On the afternoon, I attended service at
the Chapel. Mr. Davenport officiated
there also. The attendance was large
and the service nice.
After service, Margaret, Florence
Abel, Minnie Lewis and I went
for a ride out along the line of
the new Cheshire trolley to Cheshire
and back over Dicks Road home.
04/24/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
04/25/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked as usual.
04/26/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Haywood preached at the Chapel to night.
04/27/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
04/28/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
04/29/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Paid Mr. Camp 30.00.
Bought of D.B. Wilson 2 bags plaster for
1.50, 1 {??} potatoes of I.D{??}. Spencer, 90 cts., one
bag oats 1.10.
04/30/{1905} (Sunday)
Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel.
Mary and I went with Iva and Wm.
Gillette to High Rock Grove, Beacon Falls
and Pines Bridge.
05/01/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05/02/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
05/03/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
05/04/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
05/05/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05/06/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked as usual to day at factory.
05/07/{1905} (Sunday)
This morning we went to church
at the cummunion {communion} service.
Clifton Heaton joined the church
(Second Congregational).
This afternoon Margaret and I went
to Uncle Goldsmith's and got a lot
of curosities {curiosities} of Willie{?} that he had
gathered from all parts of the world.
We then went to the Chapel
and attended service. Rev. Mr.
Harris officiated.
After service as I was backing the
horse, out of the shed Kathalene {Kathleen}
Judd came and told us that
Mr. Lee's{??} house was on fire.
I drove up there fast taking
Hiram Abel, Margaret, Amy, George
Hanson, and Bob Beckwith.
We found William Mc Grath's barn
in ashes and, and a cinder had blown
over the river to Mr. Lee's house and
set the roof on fire, but Vernon
Abel climed {climbed} up the gable{?} shingles
with a pail of water and put it
out. It burned a hole in the roof.
05/08/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we went to Hamilton
Hall and fitted up my currosities {curiosities}
for exhibition.
05/09/{1905} (Tuesday)
I spent this day at Hamilton Hall
arranging my exibit {exhibit} of Curos and
collecting them from others who
loned {loaned} them to me.
05/10/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked this day at the factory.
The Chapel fair opened this evening at
Hamilton Hall. The attendence was
large. I had a fine collection of curiosities
on exbition {exhibition}.
05/11/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Attended the fair this eve.
05/12/{1905} (Friday)
Worked painting on the inspecting
room of the factory. We are to paint
the whole plant green.
{05/13/1905} (Saturday)
Worked.
{05/14/1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley{??} preached at the
MIll Plain Chapel this P.M.
05/15/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day painting the
inspecting and south side of the polishing
rooms.
The 60 ton locomotive made several
trips up and down past my place
to day.
05/16/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Agnes Abel is sick and did not work
to day or yesterday.
Charles Cass planted his potatoes
to day.
05/17/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05/18/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mary and Irving have gone to Watertown
to a Grange meeting.
The New Mill Plain Schoolhouse is nearly
completed.
05/19/1905 (Friday)
Worked wiring the{??} and piping the large
desk in the main office to day.
This evenign Nelson Dingwell called
and we looked the shop over in regard
to setting it down three feet. It is
now three ft. 6" higher then the trolley
tracks. He wants $265.00{??} to do the job.
This evening a number of Mattatuck
boys came and practiced for Decoration
Day.
05/20/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked painting Mr. Tobins new office
and putting in the shipping{??} room
and Rogers & Hamiltons water closet.
05/21/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter, the new methodist
minister of Waterville preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service, I carried Mary out to
Mother Pierpont's and then with
Frank and Margaret went over
to Suttons cut and saw Cliff
Whittiker fire 12 rock blasts and
a mine that blew up a whole bank
of earth and hard-|pan. They dug
four holes or tunnels into the face
of the bank for a distance of 10 feet
and in these they placed 150 sticks
of diamite {dynamite} and then packed mud and
clay on it and tamped{??} the holes
full again and fired them with
a battery. The sight was grand. Earth
black, red, and grey was thrown into
the air in every direction 100 ft, togather {together}
with rocks, stumps, bushes, trees
etc. This, with the cloud of white smoke,
made an interesting sight.
We then got our team and started
home, stopping at East Farms and
getting Mary. As we were coming
to the arch at Wedges, we saw people
looking from the new trolley track
down on to the Plank Road and seeing
a cloud of dust, we climbed the
embankment and saw Co. A. 2 Regt.
C.N.Y. {??} in heavy marching order
going to summit to encamp for
the night and to spend tomorrow
as field-|day. We jumped into
the team and drove as possible
and came onto the road ahead of
them at E. Farms Station and
went to George Falmaye's where we put
the horse under the shed and waited
for them. They left the Plank Road
at Mintie's{??} and marched west and
into the lots to the south where
they put up their shelter tents and
built several fires, it being cold and
by this time it was dark, so we started
home which we reached about 9 o'clock.
05/22/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day putting in Mr.
Hayden's water closet and repairing the heavy
Peck{?} lifter drop.
There are several cases of scarlet fever about
Mill Plain, little George Hitchcock, one of
the Warren children, a child of Mr. Beckwith's,
and one of the Henesey children on the Plank
Road.
05/23/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory at water closet and
painting the trimming rooom bridge.
05/24/{1904} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory painting nearly all
day.
This evening Frank and I repaired a
Breed weeder and intend to use it on
our potatoes in the morning.
05/25/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory painting skylights nearly
all day.
This morning Irving, Frank and I went
down and ran the Breeds weeder over
our potatoes.
They elected the same officers at the Chapel last
night that they had last year.
05/26/{1905} (Friday)
Worked painting ventilators etc. to day.
05/27/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory, painting windows
on the trimming room this forenoon
and dressing the wood work in the closet
in the main office this afternoon.
05/28/{1905} (Sunday)
This morning the first trolley car
passed my house. It was the construction
car and had a platform car in
front containing a large coil of trolley
wire. As the cars moved along, the wire
unwound and workmen fastened it
to the cross wires overhead. They put
up about one mile of wire. It reached
from the bridge over Mad River to
Wilson Pierponts and back again. Got home
at about quarter to eight.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service, Mary, Irving, Clara French
and I went out the Plank Road for a short
drive. We went to Summit and across
to the Cheshire Road and home.
05/29/1905 (Monday)
Worked painting windoes {windows} on the trimming
shop to day.
05/30/1905 (Tuesday)
Decoration Day. This morning the Mattatuck
Drum Band left the bridge at 7.37
and went to Oakville on the trolley
and there took the steam cars to Watertown
where we took part in the Memorial
exercises.
We marched from the station to the town
hall, where the lines formed soon after
9 o'clock. It consisted of Marshal, Mattatuck
Drum Band, Firemen, School Children,
Verterans in bus, speakers of the day in
cariage {carraige}, and citizens in carraiges.
We marched from Town Hall to Town
Cemetery, to Evergreen Cemetery, to
Town Hall.
At the Town Hall the exercises were
as follows,
Song by Mrs. Grannis "Star Spangled Banner",
Prayer by Chaplain Rev. V. Mac Nicoll,
Song by Quartette, "Kellers American Hymn",
Adress by Thomas F. Divine,
Song by Mrs. R.S. Mary, {???} to night{???}
Roll of Honor by Secretary John L. Scott,
Song by Quartette, "Vacant Chair",
Song by Quartette and Audience, "America"
Benediction.
There were with the Drum Band,
Irving Miller, Major
Chas{?} Cass, Fred Lund, Clifton Heaton,
and Harry Buckingham., "Fifers".
Joe Pierpont, Fred Williams and
Stewart Judd, Bass Drummers.
James Olcott, Clarence Brown, Bob
Beckwith, Gardener{?} Hall and C.S. Miller,
snare drummers.
A party of young ladies and young men
also went from Mill Plain.
05/31/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked painting windows to day.
06/01/1905 (Thursday)
Worked painting cornace {cornice} on trimming room.
06/02/1905 (Friday)
Worked painting on trimming room.
James Porter and his wife were married
60 years ago yesterday and have lived togather {together}
ever since.
{06/03/1905} (Saturday)
Worked repairing the electric shandilier {chandelier}
in the office and painting on the front
of the making room.
06/04/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This morning Frank and I drove out
the Meriden Road and up to Tood's{??} saw
mill where we looked at a lot of slabs,
and then out and across the gravel
dam to Sam Samuelsons but we did
not see him as he had gone away. We
then drove home stopping at
East Farms and saw Mort Pierpont's
cellar for his new house.
This afternoon after sevice, Frank
Howland, Margaret, Ruth and I drove
out the Plank road to Gillette Corners
and got John Mass and with his wife
Ruby, and little girl we went over to the
cave where in early times the Indians
kept a girl hid for a long time, hoping
to get a ransom but she was finally rescued
by the whites. We then drove down
through Mixville and home.
06/05/{1905} (Monday)
Worked hubbing in a large ladle die, and
painting.
We hoed our pootatoes this evening.
06/06/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked painting 4 hours this forenoon
and piping this afternoon, as it rained.
06/07/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at odd jobs about the shop as it
was stormy.
06/08/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at painting at the factory
one half day.
After work Frank and I went to the
Waterbury Lumber and Coal Co's.
and got a load of lumber.
06/09/{1905} (Friday)
Ringling's Brothers Circus is in town
to day and there is no work as nearly
all the factories have shut down.
This morning early, Irving, Frank
and Clara French went down to the
Nangatuck depot to see them unlode {unload}
the circus cars, and at ten, Mary,
Frank, Raymond and I went to
see the parade. We saw it come in
West Main Street. It was a large parade,
over a mile in length, consisting of
many chariots, one of which was
drawn by 24 gray horse, 4 abrest {abreast}.
Another was drawn by 20 Shetland ponies,
4 abrest {abreast}. There were 25 elephants and a large
number of camils {camels} etc.
After the parade had passed, we went
to the grounds south of West Main
Street next to the Nangatuck River ,back
of the car barns, and went round the
tents and into a side show where were
exibited {exhibited} Japanese and Russian war scenes.
We (Ray, Frank, Stella Benham, Carrie
Benham and I) came to the center and
we found Mary, and came home,
where we had dinner and then
I worked on the new engine house
that we were building till evening
when we, Frank, Ray and I, went to
the circus. They had three rings,
and there was so much to see that
I have forgotten nearly all as I am
sleepy.
06/10/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked painting on the factory to day.
06/11/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. I stayed home. This forenoon
I went out the trolley line to Suttons cut.
They expect to begin laying the rails
tomorrow east of Ed Weltons.
06/12/1905 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06/13/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this day painting
the burnishing shop.
06/14/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked painting the burnishing shop.
Helen, Laura and Mable Gillette,
three sisters, were maried this
afternoon.
06/15/1905 (Thursday)
Worked painting on the factory all day.
06/16/{1905} (Friday)
Worked painting on the factory.
Had School meeting tonight and
elected Henry Judd Committee {??},
Mark L. Warner Clerk, Martin
Pond Treasurer, and John F. Gallagher
Tax Collector. There was a large attendence
at the meeting.
06/17/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked painting the factory.
06/18/{1905} (Sunday)
Went with B.F. Howland out on the old
town bound looking after the Peter Gilkey
cellar.
06/19/{1905} (Monday)
Worked painting on the shop to day.
06/20/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory at odd jobs.
This evening saw the night gang that
is working under Clif Whittiker beyond
Calvary Cemetery digging away
the bank. They carry it in train
to the other side of the Cheshire line.
06/21/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked about the shop at odd jobs as it
rained.
I went to town and saw Dentist Brewster
about having my teeth filled and fixed.
He said that it would cost from 15.00 to
$20.00 and I am to go to his office next Monday
afternoon.
(Margin note: Tony Petti)
Tony Petti sent me his figures for stonework
about my shop, 120.00.
Mr. Dingwell's figures for lowering it
is 265.00.
This is Irving's 19th birthday and Father,
Mother, Mr. and Mrs. Susia came to supper
in honor of the event. Will Gillette and Iva
intended to come but could not as he
has to stay in the Cort {Court} House with the
three prisoners who murdered old Mr.
Lochwood over near the Park Road.
06/22/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06/23/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory, went to Woodtick
this evening to see Chas Tuttle.
06/24/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Ploughed out my potatoes this evening.
06/25/{1905} (Sunday)
Childrens' day at the Chapel.
Dr. Davenport talked to the children and read
a story.
Margaret and I went to Woodtick and saw
Chas Tuttle.
06/26/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon till half
past twelve. Then I went to Dr. Brewster's
dentist rooms on Bank Street and had
him treat two dead teeth and fill one
which took him till quarter to six.
I then came home and finished hoeing
my potatoes.
06/27/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day painting and
taking down awnings on the office.
Three of Taylors painters came to work to
day.
To night is the election of officers of the Christian
Endever {Endeavor} Society. Mary and the girls have
gone.
06/28/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day till 12.30, then
went to Dr. Brewster and he worked at my
teeth till 5.30. Came home on the trolley and
after supper, took Mary and went up to
John Gallagher's and paid my school tax of
$5.00.
It is said that they laid the last rails
on the Waterbury and Cheshire trolley
line yesterday.
06/29/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06/30/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
A train load of the Italians who work on
the trolley line were sent to Derby to night
to work on some concrete piers they are putting
in there.
07/01/1905 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory till 12.30 then went
to Dr. Brewster and had him work on my
teeth. Paid him $10.00.
A new trolley car went out over the new line
tonight. This is the first car out.
The factory shut down to night for vacation.
07/02/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
After service Margaret and I drove out
the Plank Road and through the Notch-|in-|
the-|Rocks to Pecks Lane which we went
up and in through Mase's{??} farm and home.
The rails are laid all the way to Cheshire
and they were putting up the trolley wire
at Summit. The steam shovel is working a
little this side of the Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks and
one engine carries the dirt to Summit and
the other carries it to Cheshire.
07/02/1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel.
After service, Margaret and I drove over to
Cheshire by way the Plank Road, saw them
putting up the trolley wire at Summit.
We went over through the Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks
and turned up Peeks Lane to Frank Slopers.
07/03/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/04/1905 (Tuesday)
Band, Bang, Bang, Pop, Pop, Pop all day long.
Forth {Fourth} of July is passing.
There has been a grand parade in Waterbury
to day for the first time since
1865 (on the 4th).
There were 7 devisions (divisions) composed of
local organizations. The Mattatuck Drum
Band headed the fifth division and we
had a very warm march.
Govonor {Governor} Roberts and Staff were here.
This evening there was a fine display of
fire works, given near the Waterville road.
Frank, Ray and I went to see it. We
drove up the Watertown road.
07/05/{1905} (Tuesday) {Wednesday}
Worked to day at the factory.
07/06/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon thill 12.30,
then went to Dr. Brewster's and he finished
fixing my teeth, charged 14.00.
Agnes Abel started this morning for Spenser{??}, Mass.
Bertha and Clara French went to New Milford.
07/07/{1905} (Friday)
Worked linig up the trimming room shaft{??}.
Clyde came home from Coledge {College} at Easton
to spend his vacation.
07/08/1905 (Saturday)
Worked lining trimming room shaft.
07/09/{1905} (Sunday)
Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel.
Clif Whitiker left this afternoon at
5 o'clock for Boston where he is to take
charge of a gang of telephone pole men.
07/10/1905 (Monday)
Worked on the trimming room shaft.
Clyde went to work for the Conn. Railway
and Lighting Company to day, as conductor
on the Oakville and East Main line.
07/11/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
The hand burnishers came in to work to
day.
To night Clyde, Irving and I went out to
Summit and saw the place where the
track is settleing {settling}. It is down about three
feet and the hole is said to be 27 ft.
deep and about 75 ft. long.
07/12/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/13/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/14/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/15/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/16/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Wagner preached at the Chapel
to day.
07/17/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The factory started up to day.
07/18/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07/19/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Bertha and Clara French returned
home from Northville and South Britain
yesterday.
07/20/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked to day in the factory.
Agnes Abel returned from Spenser,
Mass. where she has been spending her
vacation to day. Her sister, Mrs.
Allen Burgess, had a boy baby yesterday.
07/21/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
07/22/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
William Gillette and Iva returned
home from Detroit to night where
they have been visiting brother Fred.
07/23/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
07/24/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07/25/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
The machine burnishing room started
up to day.
07/26/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr. Lease's baby died last night.
07/27/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clara is 40 years old to day, had a birthday
party.
07/28/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Lease's baby was buried to day.
07/29/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Charles Cass went to Marion to day
and Monday he starts for New Hampshre {Hampshire}
with his family where he intends to stay
till cold weather, hoping to improve his
wife's health. She is sick with consumption.
07/30/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Brooks of the Simonsville
Baptist Church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Clyde came home this morning
at about 2.30. He had been conductoring {conducting}
on a special trolley car, and
got to his room at midnight.
Soon after he was awakened by the
cry of fire and opening his blinds,
found the livery stable adjoining
only two feet away in flames. He
gave the alarm and got the people out
of the block and the firemen put the
fire out, but his room was all wet
and the windows burned away on
the side next to the stable. There were
eight horses burned to death.
He boards on Gilbert Street.
07/31/{1905} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The trolley company began digging
in my yard this forenoon.
08/01/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08/02/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Miss Jessie Pond was married this afternoon
to Mr. Cornell.
08/03/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory till three o'clock bricking {breaking?}
up the door and windows in John Reardon's
(the watchman) house. Then came home because
I was not feeling well.
08/04/{1905} (Friday)
An eventful day. I was aroused at 2.45
this morning by Will Gillette who called
me up and told me that Mr. Wales, superintendent
of the trolley company, called him and said
that Clyde had been arrested and was held
for $5000 bail in the police station. We
hurried to town and saw Charles Pierpont,
George Connor and Ralph Blakeslee
and asked them to give bonds for his appearance
in the City Court. They all greed {agreed}
and we went to the police station where
Ralph Blakeslee the whole bond
saying $5000. I'd give 45,000 for that boy.
Clyde was released, and we shook his hand
and returned home, got breakfast and
went back to town at 7 o'clock getting ready
for the court. In the meantime, Will
Gillette and Mr. Blakeslee saw attorney Megs
(the prosecutor) and concluded that as the
facts were as follows, that Clyde and
Harry Coleman, his moterman, were
coming in West Main Street at 12 o'clock,
they saw the reflection of a fire on a building
and they ran{?} to it and saw a
barrel of paper etc. standing in a corner
ablase {ablaze}. Clyde pulled the barrell away
and stamped the fire out, while Coleman
went for an officer. Soon (about three
minutes) another officer Donohue came
with a man with a shot gun and
placed Clyde under arrest. The policeman
left the man with the gun to guard Clyde
with orders to shoot him in the leg if he
tries to run, while he went away and
saw Chief Snagg who told him to do
his duty. He came back and called a
patroll {patrol} wagon and took Clyde to the police
station.
There was no case against him and the Court
dismissed him.
The morning paper (Republican) however
came out with conspicuous head lines stating
that the fire-|bug had been caught etc.
which stured {stirred} people up very much and
Clyde seemed to have the sympathy of
many.
08/05/{1905} (Saturday)
Yesterday afternoon I was invited to ride
over to Cheshire on the new trolley road.
The car ran from Waterbury center to
the Waverly Inn in Cheshire in 32 minutes
and we went to Dickermans corner
in Milldale and made the return
run in 9 minutes (4 miles).
This day I have spent about home. This
afternoon I repaired a wheel on my big wagon.
B. F. Howland came to see me this afternoon
and stayed to supper.
08/06/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
After service I took Sidney Spender and
Inez Beckwith, Irving also accompanied
us, out to Gillette Corners and saw the
Indian cave. We then drove out the
Plank Road to Rag Hollow and through
Mixville, home.
08/07/1905 (Monday)
This day I repaired a pump at the
Moshier place for William Atkinson
for which he paid me $6.00.
The State Rail Road Commesioners {Commissioners} went over the
new Cheshire line to day.
Ralph Blakeslee is drawing{?} the stones from the
swamp at the foot of my lot.
Miss Bessie Parks is staying at our house now.
Night before last was her first.
08/08/{1905} (Tuesday)
To day Frank, Raymond and I went to Hartford.
We drove over to Milldale and left the horse
at Mr. Nobles and took the trolley cars to
Plainville thence to New Britain and to
Hartford, fare 25 cts.
At Hartford we saw the construction of the
stone bridge that they are building across
the Connecticut River, the large steam propeller
fire engine etc., and I went to see Dr.
Sweet about my lame foot. He did not know
what the matter is, but told me to beat up
an egg and stir in salt and bind it on
my foot every night and also use some
of his liniment three times a day for
two weeks and then come and see him.
08/09/{1905} (Wednesday)
To day I have staid about home, except I went
to Ed Todds and bought 111 ft. of 2" chestnut
plank for 2 cts. per ft.
The Connecticut Railroad and Lighting
Company started their cars on the new
road to Mt. Carmel to day. The first
car left the center at 5.45 and they
have been running every 1/2 hour since.
08/10/{1905} (Thursday)
Staid about home all day.
Frank worked for the man that is building
the new house below Mrs. Shannon's
drawing stone for a well.
About 5 o'clock, a Mr. Hull of Tarrington
came and wanted to find the place
where his father lived pryor {prior} to 1829. We
went looking and he thought that it was the
Martin Widge place.
08/11/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory till 3.30 when I came to
my shop and met Mr. Albert B. Hill of New
Haven who represents the Connecticut Railway
and Lighting Company in regard to
lowering my shop. The cost will be about
$600.00, six hundred dollars. He said that
that he would give $300.00.
Mary and the family went to a picnic at
Burt Frisbies in Woodtick.
08/12/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The trolley cars to Mt. Carmel{?} ran of{??} 15 minute
skegule {schedule} to day.
08/13/{1905} (Sunday)
Mr. Mc Kinley prreached at the Chapel to day.
The trolley cars are carrying crowds to New
Haven to day. The East Main St. cars
began running to Calvary Cemetary {Cemetery} to day.
08/14/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08/15/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
08/16/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08/18/1905 (Friday)
Worked yesterday till 8 o'clock last
night putting trusses under the bridge
that crosses the ditch.
To day I worked 10 hours.
The Mill Plain Sunday School went
to Compounce{??} to have their annual
picnic.
08/19/1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Stoark and Mr. Mc Manns called at our
house to see about taking up the front faucet{?}
and grading the yard.
08/20/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter of the Waterville Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
The trolley cars are running heavily
ladened all day on the New Haven
line.
08/21/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08/22/{1905} (Tuesday)
Went to Hartford to day by trolley,
fare 45 cts. each way. Saw Dr. Sweet,
went to Capitol, saw G.D. Hine{?}. Saw{?}
state board of education. Went to
Springfield and back, fare 25 cts., came
home. Started 7 S.M. back 4.40.{????}
The Conn. Railway and Lighting Co.
began grading in my yard, Mc Manns
1 man.
08/23/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the shop.
Mc Manns had 5 men and boss working
in my yard, one horse and cart.
08/24/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
There were 10 men and two teams at
work in my yard to day. It rained
this afternoon.
Cousin Emma and Helen Drew from
Ansonia came to day by trolley from
their home via New Haven.
08/25/1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
There were 10 men and 2 teams at work in my
yard to day.
08/27/1905 (Sunday)
Yesterday I worked as usual.
10 men and 2 teams worked grading my yard.
Last night Mary and I took the trolley and
went to Cheshire, thence to Dickermans
corner, thence to Lazy Lane, thence to
Compounce, then to Bristol and staid
over night with Brother Frank on High
Street. This morning George Edwards
came and took us to his home in Whigville
where we staid till 6.50 when he carried
us to the Railroad station in Bristol
where we took the cars and came to
Waterville and then came home by
trolley. We had to get off at the Mattatuck
factory as there was a car off the track
having been struck by one of the New
Haven cars.
08/28/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
There were 8 men, two carts and a boss
at work in my yard to day.
08/29/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
There were ten men working grading my
yard.
08/30/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
It rained nearly all day, but seven men
worked a while and three more longer till
near noon, grading.
They took Olive Burgess to her home on
Ward Street this afternoon and Agnes
went there to live.
Had a school meeting in the new school
house this evening. We met in the old
school house but adjourned to the new as all
the desks and seats had been removed.
08/31/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr. Mc Manns had 7 men, the boss and
one cart working in my yard to day.
Mr. Hill called to see how the work was
progressing.
09/01/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
7 men and boss worked in my yard to day.
09/02/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
6 men and boss worked in my yard this day.
09/03/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harris preached at the Chapel
to day.
09/04/1905 (Monday)
I worked at the factory 4 hours this forenoon packing
the stem of the turbine waterwheel.
Irving and Vernon Abel are in New York having
gone there Saturday night, were going by
trolley to New Haven and by boat from there.
09/05/{1905} (Tuesday)
I staid home and worked putting back the
fence in front of my plce. There were
six Italians and Mr. Dwyer, the foreman.
Irving came home from New York last night.
School opened to day and was kept for the
first time in the New Saw Mill Plains
School House.
Mr. Ward and Mr. Howland called last night.
09/06/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked grading about my house.
Superintendent Stark of the Conn.
Railway and Lighting Co. came and ordered
Foreman Dwyer and his seven men to quit
at noon which they did.
Went to the Chapel to a peach festival this eve.
09/07/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory all day.
Mr. Dingwell, house mover, William Knibbs,
mason, and Henry Hotchkiss, joiner, met
at my shop this evening to see about
lowering the building.
09/08/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09/09/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
09/10/{1905} (Sunday)
Went by trolley to Savin Rock to day.
Started at about 11 A.M., back 9 P.M. Father, Mother,
Wm. Gillette, Iva, Roll and Mary, Mr. and Mrs. Dinnisk{?}.
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Chapel.
09/11/1905 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Clyde left this morning for College at Easton
where he is to study two years longer.
09/12/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
09/13/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
The Mad River Agricultural Society held its
fair in the Grange Hall this afternoon opening
at 4 o'clock with a baby show.
09/14/1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers dug about 19 bushels of potatoes
to day.
The Grange Fair was held to day in the
lot between the David Shannon place and
the Cemetary {Cemetery} and in the Grange Hall.
There was an attendance of about 1,500.
09/15/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers dug 15 bushels of potatoes and
I carried them down to Fathers to night.
09/16/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers dug 18 bu. of potatoes to day.
Gave James Porter three bushels to pay for
the land.
09/17/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fairchild of the Simonsville Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
I went to Prospect and saw Mrs. Ecabert{??} Hitchcock
this afternoon.
09/18/{1905} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers worked cleaning my shop cellar.
A very wet day.
09/19/{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Recived {Received} a letter from Mr. Sewell to day.
Fred Bowers worked cleaning my shop cellar.
Rained all day.
09/20/1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Wet all day.
09/21/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
It has been clear to day.
09/22/{1905} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Fred Bowers worked digging potatoes to day, dug
16 bushels.
This is Mary's birthday, 45 years old.
09/23/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at home with Fred Bowers rebuilding
the old fence by the oak tree in my yard.
09/24/{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Stancliff of Waterville preached at
the Chapel.
09/25/{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Engineer Hill and Mr. Sewell called to
see me at my shop about fixing it.
They offered $350.00 which I did not take.
09/26/1905 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Had a heavy frost last night, the first.
09/27/{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This is my birthday, 47 years old.
Morton{?} Pierpont and Jessie Garrigus were
married at 4 o'clock at the bride's home
this afternoon by the Rev. Dr. John Davenport.
Irving and I went to Waterville and saw
John Sewell about my shop property.
I told him that I should not take less
than $700.00 for the damage they caused
and he said that it was up to Mr. Hill
and he would telephone him tomorrow.
Paid William Camp $36.00 interest on morgage {mortgage}
note on my house.
09/28/{1905} (Thursday)
Worked as usual at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Mill Plain Improvement Society and
they voted to call the corner where I lived
Oak Corner and call the streets and
roads about Mill Plain by their present
names.
09/29/{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09/30/{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Hill of New Haven called me up
by telephone and we settled on the
price of damage done to my shop
property by the trolley company
cutting down the street, by setting
the amount at $440.00 for which
he will send the check.
10/01/1905 (Sunday)
This morning Frank, Irving, Margaret and
I started and drove to George Edwards in
Burlington where we staid till 4 o'clock.
When we started for home, came by
Compounce Pond.
Rev. Mr. Salsman preached at the Chapel.
10\02\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
To day is City election. Ralph Blakeslee
is Republican candidate for mayor, and
Mr. Thames{?} the democrat.
10\03\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr.Thames{?} is elected mayor of the
City of Waterbury over Ralph Blakeslee
(Republican) by a majority of 582 votes.
10\04\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I went to the Mill
Plain Chapel and saw Inez Beckwith
married to Sidney Spender by the Rev. De
Witt Williams.
This evening Irving and I went to Simonsville
and saw Robert Somers who had just
returned from Wallingford where he had
attended a meeting of stockholders
of the new Wallingford Metal Company.
Met for the purpose of electing officers.
Frank Welton is elected President. Mr.
Cullenbeck of Wallingford, Secretary
and Colonel Levenworth, Treasurer.
I told Cousin Robert that I would put
in $1000.00.
10\05\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to see Judge
Gillette about drawing the deed of my
shop property to Mrs. Larocque{?}.
10\06\1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory till 2.30 when I went
to town to have the deeds drawn to sell my
Carriage factory. Went to Judge Gillette's
office where I was to meet Mrs. Larocque.
Got there, but I found no one. Soon Lauren
Carter came and said that he had $1000.00 for
Mr. Larocque. He waited a while and went away.
Soon Mr. and Mrs. Larocque came, and I went
over to the City Hall to fing {find} Mr. Gillette. Found
him over in the Courthouse. After a time
we went to his office and called Mr. Carter,
but Mr. Carter would not give the money
to Mrs. Larocque untill {until} I held the property
free from all incumberence {encumbrance}, so Mr. Gillette
said come tomorrow afternoon and I am
to have Edwin Welton there.
I went and saw Mr. Welton at his home
on Linden Street and he said that he would
be at the Gillette Office at 4.30 tomorrow.
Ralph Blakeslee is bailing his hay, has two
stacks bailed already.
10\06{07}\1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day till 4 P.M.
then went to Judge Gillette's Office where I met
Mr. Welton, Mr. Carter, and Mr. and Mrs.
Larocque came later having been detained
on account of a fire on East Main Street.
I signed a warranty deed conveying my
shop property to Mrs. Larocque and Mr.
Carter gave me a check for $1000.000 and
Mrs. Larocque gave me a check for $16.00
and a bank note on Edward Scott for $80.00
and cash $904.00. I then paid Edwin Welton
$1053.00 which I owed him, $870.00 on a
mortgage note and the remainder
interest. He then gave me the note and
a Quit Claim deed, and also the old
mortgage deed.
Ralph Blakeslee has mowed his farm
over the second time. Got more hay
than I ever saw got before in a year.
10\08\{1905} (Sunday)
I worked at the factory from 9 to 5.30 packing
the cylinder head of the Brown Engine.
George Henry of Cambridge, Martin
Cunningham, the engineer and myself
and John French worked.
Professor David G. Porter died last
evening at 6 o'clock of applexy {apoplexy}.
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
10\09\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory till 9 o'clock this
evening. This evening we repaired the
Brown engine as the packing that we put
in yesterday blew out.
This noon I deposited in the Waterbury
Savings Bank $867.00.
10\10\{1905} (Tuesday)
Went to Hartford and saw Dr. Sweet.
Went by trolley to Plainville and by
third rail the rest of the way. Came
home by trolley all the way. Stoped {Stopped}
in Cheshire and saw Mr. Lanyon{?},
the town clerk.
10\11\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day. About
7 o'clock John French came and said
that they could not shut the gate to
the waterwheel, so I went to the shop
and found a large hole washed under
the head rack, so we cannot use the wheel
tomorrow.
David Porter was buried to day. Rev. Mr.
Haywood of the First Baptist Church officiated.
10\12\1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\13\1905 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\14\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Last night we brought up the saw table
from the carriage shop.
10\15\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Walters preached at the Chapel
to day.
After service Mary and I went out and
saw Mort Pierpont's house. It is nearly
ready for plastering.
10\16\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day repairing
the waterwheel which broke down this
morning.
10\17\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\18\1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\19\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Margaret and I went to Prospect to an
entertainment. Irving and Mr. Boyd went also.
10\21\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Shod the horse this evening.
10\22\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
10\23\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\24\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\25\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon at 4 o'clock as Mr. Willis
Hall who has just built a house just east
of the Cheshire line for his son Gardener,
was driving by my house with a business
wagon looded {loaded} with wood, while crossing
the trolley track, a Cheshire car came
and struck the horse and broke his
leg, threw Mr. Hall over onto the wood
and injured him considerable. It also broke
the shafts{??}. Dr. Bland{?} came after an hour
and a quarter and shot the horse.
10\26\1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\27\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\28\{1905} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\29\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
10\30\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
10\31\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this day.
Wrote Mr. Hill of New Haven, asking him to
send check for $440.00.
11\01\1905 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary told me that Mrs. Burgess is to
have her operation performed to day by
Doctors Anderson and Graves.
11\02\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Irving went to the funeral of Colonel
Schukes at New Haven this afternoon
with the 2nd Regt.
11\03\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
11\04\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\05\1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Saalsman{?} preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
This morning John French, Spenser
Monroe, Mr. Bock, Irving and I
took the trolley cars and went to
Mansfields point in East Haven
where we dug a lot of clams, oysters,
mussels etc. and then fished a
spell and came home.
11\06\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the Mill Plain Improvement Society.
They voted to petition the City Board
of Aldermen for two electric lights
to be placed on the Meriden Road and
one on the Southmaid Road.
11\07\1905 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day repairing
electric lights, wires, etc., also making patterns,
polishing wheels, etc.,etc.
This evening I recived {received} a check from the
Connecticut Railway and Lighting Co.
for $400.00 for damage done my shop
and also $40.00 for work and new posts
that I did on the fence in front of my
house.
This evening Irving and I dug holes
for the new posts in the new clothes
yard that we are making for Mary.
11\08\1905 (Wednesday)
I worked in the factory to day ten hours.
I signed receipt which read as follows,
George J. Roberts, Contractor,
Farifield Ave. , and Water St.
Bridgeport, Conn.
To Charles S. Miller
Mill Plain, Waterbury, Conn.
Date What For Amount Total Amount
1905 To payment towards lowering
11\1 East End Carriage Company's shop
and any and all damages. It said
Miller's shop property on East Main
Street, Waterbury caused by change in
grade of highway and constructing
the Cheshire Street Railway. 400.00
to payment in full covering expenses of
new posts changing fence, any and
all damage caused by changing grade
of highway and constructing the Cheshire
Street Railway in front of said Miller's
residence on East Main Street, Waterbury. 40.00
440.00
------------------------------------------------------------Right of way
Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------
Payment Approved
{Signature} EWP.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recived {Received} pay November 8th 1905
From George J. Roberts, Contractor.
Four hundred forty -----------------Dollars in full for above bill
$440.00
Charles S. Miller
Please receipt and return to E. W. Poole, Agent.
11\09\1905 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This noon I went to the Colonial Trust Company's
Bank and had my check from the Connecticut
Railway and Lighting Co. cashed and took the
cash to the Dime Savings Bank and deposited it.
11\10\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary, Irving, and I went to
the Polis Theater to see the "Old Homestead".
11\11\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we worked grading the new
clothes yard.
Frank and Raymond went to Ed Todd's
Saw Mill and got a load of slabs 81 ft.
They paid him 5.00 for 2 1/2 {???} already bought.
11\12\1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
Cousin Anna Pierpont, Margaret and I
went for a ride over to West Peak in Hubbard
Park but it was so haisy {hazy} that we could
see but little, and it was getting dark so
we came home.
11\13\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\14\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We put up the clothes wires in the new yard
to night.
11\15\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this day.
11\16\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Edward Scott paid me the amount of 80.00
of a note I held against him.
I painted the new clothes posts red this evening.
11\17\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Cousin Marion Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Goshen came
to visit us to day. Her health is poor and
Dr. Wadhams advised her to stay away
from home awhile.
11\18\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\19\{1905} (Sunday)
At noon Mr Tobin came and told me
that a fire plug blew out and had wet
some of the main belts in the factory
so I went and dried them by using
hot sand, worked 3 1/2 hr.
11\21{20}\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\22{21}\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Henry Judd moved into the Johnson
house last Thursday.
They have drilled to a depth of 120 ft. in
the Pine Grove Cemetery to day.
The well at the new school has gone dry.
11\23{22}\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory making sectional
polishing wheels for backing off spoons.
This evening Ruth and I went to see
Cousin Robert Somers who told me that
the Wallingford Metal Co. are considering
a proposition from the Meriden Board of
Trade to locate in Meriden.
11\23\1905 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers and Bros.
to day.
11\24\{1905} (Friday)
Worked this day at the factory.
Ralph Blakeslee has had a thrashing machine
and a straw bailer at work at his
farm to day.
11\25\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory till seven o'clock
this evening.
11\26\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
11\27\{1905} (Monday)
Worked as usual to day.
11\28\1905 (Tuesday)
(Margin note: First snow)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
The first snow fo {of} the season fell this
afternoon when the ground was covered
an inch deep.
Frank and Raymond went down town this
evening to carry a transparancy about
the streets advertising Company A dance
tomorrow evening.
This Christian Endevor {Endeavor} Society give {gave] an
entertainment at the Chapel this evening.
Mary, Ruth and Marion Ovaitt [Oviatt] have
gone.
11\29\1905 {Wednesday}
Worked at the factory to day.
Co. A. 2nd Regt. is giving a dance this
eveing {evening} in their armory on Phoenix Ave.
Irving has charge of the coat room, and
Frank has gone to help. Ruth, Marion
Ovaitt [Oviatt], Margaret and Mr. Boyd have gone
from here.
Will Goldsmith came to day and engaged
1 bu. of potatoes for tomorrow to be delivered
at the Forester's Hall.
It has rained nearly all day.
Frank went to the depot and got 125 ft.
of woven garden hose which came by
freight on the New England Rail Road
fron {from} the Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co.
11\30\{1905} (Thursday)
This is Thanksgiving day, and the Somers
family met at the Foresters Hall in Mill
Plain and observed the occasion with a
dinner and dancing and singing music, etc., etc.
49 persons were present and all had a good
time.
12\01\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The shop worked to night.
Post Master Gurnesey has his new house
nearly finished. It is located above Kilbournes
on the West Wolcott Road.
12\02\1905 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I worked repairing my bob
sleigh.
12\03\{1905} (Sunday)
I staid about home, it being very rainy
till four o'clock in the afternoon when
Ruth and I took the Cheshire trolley cars
and soon paid the conductor 5 cts. which took
us to Cheshire line where we paid 10 cts.
which took us to Cheshire. Here we found
the Milldale car waiting, which we took
and paid 5 cts. and rode to Milldale where
we found the Southington car waiting
which we boarded. Paid 5 cts. which took
us to Lazy Lane where we paid 5 cts. which
took us to Plainville where we boarded the
New Britain car and road to White Oak
Park on a transfer and then paid 5 cts. which
took us to New Britain where
we boarded the Hartford car and paid
10 cts. which took us to the City Hall in
Hartford where we arrived at 6.25. We went
to Goodwins Drug Store where I purchased
a bottle of Dr. Sweet's Joint Liniment and
then caught the same car and came home
the same as we went arriving at 9 o'clock.
12\04\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\05\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\06\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Forerster's {Forester's} Fair opened this evening
at Hamilton Hall, Mill Plain.
12\07\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to town and bought a
pair of shoes.
12\08\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\09\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Marion Ovaitt [Oviatt] returned from a visit
to Bristol where she has been for several
days. The Forerster's {Forester's} Fair ended this
night. It has been held four evenings.
12\10\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
About 8 inches of snow fell during the
night and this morning, Irving took
the snow plough and made a path
up the Frost Road, in the Meriden, down the
Southmaid, and up the Cheshire, home.
I took the 12 o'clock trolley car and went to
Bristol, 2 hours ride, 40 cts. fare. Saw brother
Frank and came home at six.
12\11\{1905} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
(James Lauton died in Hacketts saloon
this forenon, the 12th.)
(Walter Morse's house on Mitchell Ave.
burned this forenoon, the 12th.)
William Howd has moved into Luther
Bradley's house to day.
12\12\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\13\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this day.
This evening the Ladies gave and entertainment
and supper at the Chapel.
There was a good number present.
Dr. Davenport was there and thanked them
for a bed quilt that they made him a
present of.
12\14\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\15\{1905} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys and girls have gone
up to Frosts pond skating.
I saw by the paper that there were 3,318
school children in Waterbury. Of this number,
500 do not attend school.
12\16\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
12\17\1905 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fairchild preached at the Chapel
to day.
12\18\{1905} (Monday)
Worked this day at Rogers & Brothers
Silver Factory on Silver Street.
12\19\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I began trimming the
Chapel for Christmas.
Lillie Jones broke her leg last night while
skating at Frost's Pond.
12\20\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clyde came home from Colleage {College} to
spend the Christmas vacation.
This evening we worked a tthe Chapel.
12\21\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
The weather is rather mild.
This evening we worked trimming the
Chapel.
12\22\{1905} (Friday)
I staid home and trimmed the Chapel
for Christmas.
12\23\{1905} (Saturday)
I worked nearly all day trimming the Chapel.
Clyde, Margaret, and the small boys
helped me.
12\24\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport at the Chapel this P.M.
After service he went out J.H. Garrigus{??}
and married Annie Garrigus to Lewis
Hitchcock.
We went to service at the Second Congregational
Church this evening.
12\25\1906 {1905} (Monday)
Merry Christmas.
We got up all at the same time and
came down stairs, Raymond first then
Frank, Ruth, Margaret, Irving, Clyde,
Mary and myself. We found our
stockings loaded and lots of presents
that could not be got inside.
After breakfast the boys and girls
went up to Frost's Pond skating but
I dug out a ditch in the swamp.
At 12.30 we all went down to Fathers
where we had Christmas dinner.
There were present Father, Mother,
Frank and his wife Gussie from Bristol,
I and my wife and children, Mary
and her husband Rolland Jenner of
Cae{?} Street and children Louese {Louise?} and
Effel.
12\26\{1905} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon Mr. Mulhern's chimney took fire
and Mrs. Mulhern put it out as she supposed by
putting salt on it at the upper stove pipe hole.
Soon Mr. Mulhern saw as he was coming down
from the Cemetery that the house was on
fire. He got a ladder and Mr. Smith, the
grocery man placed it on the roof of the
varanda {veranda} and climbed up the volley{??} of the
roof and with pails of water, put out the
fire on the out side and they went up
in the attic and put it out there.
In the meantime the boys telephoned
for the firemen, and the steamer and
hose wagon came out, but Clyde headed
them off at Tom Mills' house.
12\27\{1905} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The factory shut down all but the
polishing room.
12\28\{1905} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather is very mild with no snow.
12\29\{1905} (Friday)
Worked to day as usual.
Sheriff Doroughty came to the shop and
summoned me to report in New Haven
next Tuesday at the Superior Cort {Court} to do
juror duty.
12\30\{1905} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The polishing room shut down to night.
This closes everything except the packing
room.
12\31\{1905} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chpel
this afternoon.
This evening the Choir gave a Can-ta ta.
//end of 1905 entries//
[CSM Journal for 1906]
01\01\1906 (Monday)
This morning Frank and I went out to Todds
Saw Mill on the "Old Bound Line Road"
and got a load of slabs. Clyde and I
sawed them up.
01\02\{1906} (Tuesday)
I went to New Haven and served on juror
duty in the Civil side of the Superior
Cort {Court}, in a case of one Douglas against
Galway in a suit to recover ownership
of a pair of horses, three hacks{?} ro carriages
etc. We gave the verdict to the plantiff
and awarded him $650.00 damages for the
defendant keeping them 10 1/2 months.
Mrs. James Strovell who lives on the
Stilson Road died of a shock and appoplexy {apoplexy}
early yesterday morning.
01\03\1906 (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven this morning.
Sat all day as juror on a case of Linch
against Landey, but it is not finished.
Came home on the car that leaves
New Haven at 5.18, got home at 7.
It is raining and the ground is
covered with ice.
There has been but one snow fall this
winter so far, and that very light.
Clyde left this morning for Colleage {College}.
01\04\{1906} (Thursday)
Attended court at New Haven to day.
01\05\{1906} (Friday)
Attended court at New Haven to day.
Brought in verdict for plaintiff and
damage of $25.00 in case of Lynch
against Landy. This case has been on
for the last two days and a half.
Started on a case of Johnson against Opper
this afternoon. Four day at New Haven @ 3.00 =
12.00, sixty miles travel @ .06, $3.60 + 12.00 = 15.60 due.
01\06\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day on the general
repairs.
Sheriff Wm. Gillette placed an attachment
on the grocery store of Smith & Wood in
Hamilton Hall, Mill Plain this morning.
01\07\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Nichols preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This morning we attended worship at the
Second Congregational Church.
Margaret joined the church and became
a member.
01\08\{1906} (Monday)
Worked in the factory to day.
01\09\{1906} (Tuesday)
Went to New Haven to day. The case
of Johnson vs. Opper was again
taken up and was decided in
favor of the plaintiff Johnson and
to recover 30.00 cost.
The lawyers were Hamilton for Johnson
and Stoddard and Goodhart for
defendant.
At four o'clock the case of Rogers
appeal for Probace was taken up
and I was not drawn on the panel.
01\10\{1906} (Wednesday)
Attended court in New Haven. The
Rogers case was finished at 4 o'clock
in favor of the defendant, and the
case of Adams against Lindsley was
started. I am drawn on this case.
The attournies {attorneys} for the Rogers case were
Newton, Church, {??} Hewitt for plaintiff and
Bristol, Stoddard, Beach $ Fisher for
defendant.
01\11\1906 (Thursday)
Went to New Haven to day.
The case against Lindsley was settled
when we came into court and we were
excused till two o'clock.
Charlie Tuttle, Ed Holmes (jurors from
Wolcott) and I went over and examined the
curosities {curiosities} in the Peabody Museum, which
a part of Yale College. We staid there till
time for dinner, when I went to Childs
Resterant {Restaurant} on Church Street and had an
oyster stew, .20 cts. When Court opened
at 2 o'clock, the Case of Semon, Trustee vs.
Adams was opened and I was thrown off,
and Judge Thair excused me so I came home.
This evening Frank, Raymond, Irving and
I went up to the Chapel and took down the
Christmas greens, and we brought them
home and burned them in the garden.
01\12\{1906} (Friday)
This morning I went to New Haven and
attended the Superior Court. At noon the Judge
excused me till ten o'clock Tuesday morning.
I went out and took dinner, and then took the
trolley car at the corner of State and Chapel
and went to Wallingford via Fairhaven,
Mounaese{??}, and North Haven. I walked
from Wallingford Center to Wallice's factory
where I took the trolley for Meriden. These
roads seemed to run through an interesting
country but it was so foggy that I could
see but little. From Meriden I came to
Milldale, then Cheshire and home.
Four days at the Superior Court @ 3.00 = $12.00 60 miles
travel @.06 per mile 3.60 + 12.00 = 15.60 add last week 15.60 = 31.20.
01\13\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day on general
repairs making up stands for the iron
tubs in the wash rooms.
01\14\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. Snow fell to the depth
of four inches this morning and I have
seen several sleighs, the first this winter.
01\15\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\16\{1906} (Tuesday)
Went to New Haven to the Superior Court.
The case of Semon{??} Trustee vs. Adams was decided
this morning.
C.S. Hamilton for Semon and Slade, Slade, & Slade
for Adams.
01\17\{1906} (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven and was put on the case
of Williams against Egan of Waterbury. Took all
the forenoon. Verdict in favor Williams and
$640.10 damage awarded.
This afternoon, the case of Garry against Wurr was
on. We the jury were out from 3.30 till 6 o'clock. Verdict
rendered for defendant. Ely & Barclay for
Williams and Cole for Egan.
Rosenburg for Garry, Rosenbluth for Wurr.
01\18\1906 (Thursday)
Went to New Haven to day. The case of
Russell against the Connecticut Railway
and Lighting Company was put on and
we decided it in favor of the plaintiff with
$700 damage.
The lawyers were Hamilton and Walsh for
the plaintiff and Hicks for defence.
01\19\{1906} (Friday)
Went to New Haven to day and sat on
the case of {?} Sandee & Morse vs. Woodruff.
Court adjourned till next Tuesday at
10 o'clock. Four days at New Haven 12.00, travel
3.60 = 15.60 + 31.20 = $46.80.
01\20\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\21\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalters preached at the Chapel{?}
this afternoon.
To day has been very warm. I went to meeting
without any overcoat and was very warm.
Max Reed has sold his place and bought
Frank Judd's place.
01\22\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day making
a new kind of polishing wheel for Mr. Haywood
who has taken charge of the polishing
department. He came from Reid & Bartons,
Providence R.I.
01\23\{1906} (Tuesday)
I went to New Haven to day, the case of
Morse & Candee vs. Woodruff. We decided
in favor of the plaintiff and awarded him
$500 damage.
01\24\{1906} (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven. The case of Pricella
vs. Cole was put on to day and I was not
drawn as juror and Judge Thair excused
me before noon.
So I went to the Art Gallery at Yale,
corner of Chapel and High Sts. and
then went down to Bell dock and saw
them unload coal and lumber from
ships and barges, Left New Haven at 3.20
and came home by trolley, through
Hamden and Cheshire.
01\25\1906 (Thursday)
I went to New Haven and atteded the Superior
Court but as the same case was on (Pricilla vs.
Cole et. al.) we staid about the Court house
till noon when we were excused and I
came home.
01\26\{1906} (Friday)
I went to New Haven. Found that the
Juoriors {Jurors} found a verdict after being out
from 4 to 6 o'clock for the plaintiff with
200 damage. Fitz Gerald & Wals for
plaintiff. Paige, Banks & Hincks for the
defendent {defendant}.
This evening Frank P. Welton and Robert
Somers called and I subscribed $1000
for the organization of a new German
Silver and Brass Company to be organized
Mar. 1st and the factory is to be located
on the meadows on the Watertown road
near the Buncker {Bunker} Hill Chapel.
Four days this week at New Haven @ 3.00 per day, 12.00
30 miles @ .12 cts. per mile 3.60 = 15.60 add 46.80 = 62.40.
01\27\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\28\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. John Davenport preached at the Chapel to day.
01\29\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the Chapel {factory???} to day as usual.
01\30\{1906} (Tuesday)
I went to New Haven to day and sat on the
case of Mrs. Geelan, Administrator against the
Benedict & Company coal dealers. This case is
now ready for the Judge's charge.
They have the drilled well finished in the Pine
Grove Cemetery and have taken the drilling
machine to Wolcott. They went down 176 feet
and claim to have a flow of 12 gallons of water
per minute.
01\31\{1906} (Wednesday)
I went to New Haven this morning. The Geeland vs.
Benedict case was decided in favor of the defendant.
The Doctor George Leiniger Chemical Co. vs.
Peck was next called and I was drawn off
the jury.
02\01\1906 (Thursday)
Went to New Haven this morning. Was excused at
noon. Called at Mr. Alexander Doolittle's at
Brooks Vale this afternoon.
02\02\{1906} (Friday)
Went to New Haven this morning. Excused at
noon. Stoped {Stopped} at Mt. Carmel this afternoon.
At New Haven 4days this week @ 3.00 = 12.00 30 miles
@.12 3.60 + 12.00 = 15.60 + 62.40 = 78.00.
02\03\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
02\04\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Reed (colored) preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
02\05\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\06\1906 (Tuesday)
Went to New Haven to day.
The case of Docotr George Lenninger Chemical
Co. vs. Peck was decided in favor
of the defendant. The lawyers were
Wright for plaintiff and Thomas for
defendant.
02\07\{1906} (Wednesday)
Cold this morning about zero, but no
ice cut yet this winter and no sleighinhg
except one day.
I went to New Haven but the case that
was to have been tried to day was settled
out of Court last night, so we were out of
business and came home.
02\08\{1906} (Thursday)
Went to New Haven but was drawn
off the jury. Judge Thair excused me
at noon. I went over to Yale Colleage {College} and
saw Clifton Heaton. Took the 2.eight{2.08??} car
home.
Last night I went with Sheriff Wm. Gillette
to the store in the Forersters Hall and got
my heavy scales. He posted a notice
that the goods would be sold Feb. 21st.
The Ladies Union held an entertainment
and supper at the Chapel last evening,
cleared about $12.00.
02\09\1906 (Friday)
I went to New Haven to day, and the case of
Raynor against the City of New Haven was begun
and I am on the case.
Account 4 days @3.00 12.00 30 miles @.12 3.60 = 15.60 + 78.00 = 93.60
02\10\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\11\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Wolatencroft preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
02\12\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
02\13\{1906} (Tuesday)
I went to New Havem this morning and found
that the case of Raynor vs. City of New
Haven was withdrawn.
But the case of Jacobi vs. Austin of Wallingford
was put on and I am on this case.
02\14\{1906} (Wednesday)
Went to New Haven to day.
The case that was put on yesterday was decided
in favor of plaintiff with $425.00 damage.
The case of Clark vs. Dunn was put on
but I was drawn off the jury.
02\15\{1906} (Thursday)
Attended the Su[erior Court at New Haven. The
case of Clark against Dunn was decided for
the plaintiff. The case of Clark against
Unmae et als was put on. I am on the Jury.
02\16\{1906} (Friday)
At New Haven to day. Clark vs. Unmae
still on.
Four days at New Haven this week at 3.00 per day
12.00 60 miles travel at .06 per mile = 3.60 = 15.60 + 93.60 = 109.20
02\17\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Miss Alice Rosevelt {Roosevelt} was married to day to
Senetor {Senator} Longworth at the Whitehouse in
Washington.
02\18\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Wagner preached at the Chapel to day.
02\19\1906 (Monday)
I worked this day at the factory of Rogers & Brother.
This afternoon I recived {received} a telephone message from
Mrs. Jarrett stating that there would be no
Court at New Haven tomorrow, but it would
be held next day.
02\20\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked to day as usual at the factory.
I recived {received} a letter from Mr. Fowler, Clerk of the
Superior Court at New Haven stating that
I was excused till 10 o'clock tomorrow.
02\21\{1906} (Wednesday)
I attended Court at New Haven to day.
The case of Doughlass against Unmack{??}
was decided for the plaintiff with
O'Connor to pay damage to
Doughlass of $740.00 damage.
Juror George D. Hall's father died last
Saturday and was buried yesterday
and that was the reason that no court was
held yesterday. Mr. Hall lived in Wallingford.
02\22\{1906} (Thursday)
Went to New Haven and sat on the
case of Moony vs. The Connecticut
Railing and Lighting Co.
02\23\1906 (Friday)
Went to New Haven to day. Case of Mooney
against the Conn. Railway and Lighting CO.
on all day.
Three day{s} at New Haven @3.00 9.00 mileage 3.60
12.60 + 109.20 = 121.80.
02\24\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
02\25\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel.
02\26\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
02\27\{1906} (Tuesday)
Went to New Haven on the trolley
car that leaves here at 8 o'clock, reached
there at 9.30, went to Court at 10 and
received Judge Thairs charge on the
case of Mrs. Mooney of Derby against
the Connecticut Railway and Lighting
Company for injuries received in Ansonia a year ago
last August that resulted in his death.
The Jury went out at 10.20 A.M. and
were out till 3 P.M. when we disagreed{??}
and the Court accepted it. From first
to last the Jury ballot stood 4 for
plaintiff and 8 for defendent {defendant}.
Oliver Ambler of Southbury, Duncan
Gibbard of Prospect, Charles Maker
and myself of Waterbury were for the
plaintiff. David Plum{?} of Prospect,
Howard Hecox of Southbury, Mr. French,
James Bucklee, and Mr. Butter{?} of Seymour,
George D. Hall of Wallingford, and Charles R. Baldwin
of New Haven were for the Trolley Company.
02\28\1906 (Wednesday)
Attended Superior Court at New Haven.
The Case of Whitings appeal from the New
Haven Probate Court was put on and
the Jurors chozen {chosen} were Holmes of Wolcott,
Butter, French and Buckley of Seymour,
Hall of Wallingford, Tuttle of Wolcott, Maker
and myself of Waterbury, Clark of Woodbridge,
Ambler and Hecox of Southbury, and David
Plumb of Prospect. The day was taken
up in hearing evidence.
I would like to note here that Mr. Henry B.
Hall of Wallingford, one of my fellow jurymen
died early this morning. Yesterday
he was in attendance at court and left at 2 o'clock,
apparantly well as usual, died apoplexy.
03\01\1906 (Thursday)
Attended Court at New Haven. The entire
day was taken up by examining one witness.
03\02\{1906} (Friday)
Attended Court at New Haven. Mr. Leroy
Whiting, the same witness that was on the
stand yesterday, was on today till three o'clock
when Judge Dow was called to testify.
At Court 4 day @3.00 = 12.00 60 miles @.06 3.60
15.60 121.80 = 137.40.
03\03\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory this day.
Mr. Haywood of Providence has taken charge of
the polishing room.
03\04\{1906} (Sunday)
It rained hard all night and the streams
were quite high this morning.
Rev. Mr. Smith preached at the Chapel (Baptist)
to day. Mr. Henry Judd called this evening and
said that he is going to call a school meeting the 13th.
03\05\1906 (Monday)
I worked to day at the factory of Rogers &
Brothers, or the Inrerntional Silver Co.
(Factory J{???})
The Waterbury Athletic Association is
about to be organized with a Capitol of
$10,000 and have purchased four acres of
land south of Wedges Corner of Morris{??}
Reed for a ball field.
03\06\{1906} (Tuesday)
I attended Court and the Whiting Case
was continued all day. Mrs. Leroy Whiting
was the witness, and it took up nearly all
day to her her evidence.
03\07\{1906} (Wednesday)
I attended Superior Court at New Haven.
The Colonel Whiting case was continued.
A young lady was the first witness
called, was succeeded by two spiritualists
from Niantic{?} Campground who had
known Mr E. L. Whiting. They testified that
he was queer. Next came a Grand Army
Nurse and then Mrs. Cooley. A nurse was
on the stand the remainder of the day.
03\08\{1906} (Thursday)
Attended the Whitting case in the Superior
Court at New Haven to day. This is the
6th day of the trial.
The weather to day has been as nice as any day
I ever knew at this time of year.
Went down home this evening and saw Amy
who had just returned from New York where
she has been for a month past working at
milinery {millinery} work.
03\09\{1906} (Friday)
Attended the Whiting trial at New Haven to
day. At 4 o'clock this afternoon the first witness
was put on for the defence. I saw Mr. Fowler,
Clerk of the Superior Court of New Haven
and he told me that Amy Miller might go
out of the state provided her father and mother
gave their consent. Four days at Court @3.00 = 12.00
32 miles travel @.12 cts. 3.84 = 15.84 + 137.40 = 153.24.
Ten weeks, 4 miles extra travel @.06 = .24 per week 2.40
155.64
03\10\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Recived {Received} a letter stating that a meeting is
to be held in the Business Mens Rooms in
the Jones and Morgans Building next
Wednesday evening at eight o'clock to
elect dirielars{??} and for any other business
proper to come before said meeting.
This is to be the first meeting of the stockholders.
The letter is signed by Frank
P. Welton, Robert D. Somers, and Abel
Kenworthy.
03\11\{1906} (Sunday)
A lay preacher from Waterville preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
03\12\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Board
of Education in the High School Building with
Mr. Henry Judd.
03\13\{1906} (Tuesday)
Sat at the Whiting Case in the Superior
Court in New Haven all day.
Attended school meeting
at Mill Plain. Mr. Judd resigned from Committee.
03\14\{1906} (Wednesday)
The Whiting Case was settled by the
brothers Le Roy and Howard Whting
this forenoon and we jurors were excused
till tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Clerk Fowler paid me a check of $80.40
for five week service to Feb. 5th or 6th.
To night I attended a meeting of the Waterbury
Metal Company held in the
Waterbury Business Mens Association's rooms
for the purpose of organizing the new
company. There were I should think
about 50 stockholders present, and they
elected a board of directory consisting of
Frank Welton, Robert Somers, Cornilus
Tracy, Abel Kenworthy, Mr. Keeley,
Mr. Beardsley and Ambrose Wells.
The name was also changed to the "Waterbury
Rolling Mills Incorporated".
03\15\{1906} (Thursday)
Went to New Haven, was challenged off from
the case that was called. I then started
for Hartford at noon by trolley, but the
fierce storm and snow hindered so that
I did not reach Plainville till 4 o'clock
and as the New Britain cars were not
running on time, I returned and came
home.
03\16\{1906} (Friday) 90.72 due
Worked at the factory to day.
Three days at New Haven @$3.00 9.00 68 miles travel @.06
4.08 .06
18.08 4.08
03\17\1906 {Saturday}
I worked at the factory to day.
There are five weeks pay due me at the factory.
03\18\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Walters of the first Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
Irving, Clara French, Lydia Jones and I
went out for a sleighride after service, up to
Wolcott Center.
03\19\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory. It is snowing
and I went round the ú with the snow
plough after work.
03\20\{1906} (Tuesday)
I attended Court at New Haven to
day. The case of {? ?} vs. Merrill was
decided for the plaintiff with $400 for damage.
The case of {? ?} vs. the City of Derby
was put on this afternoon. I was drawn off, and
am excused till next Tuesday.
03\21\1906 (Wednesday)
I attended a meeting of the Board of Public Works
last evening and they assured me that they
would grant me a new street light on the
Meriden Road, next week when I am to appear
in the interest of the Mill Plain Improvement
Society.
This morning when Joe Pierpont called to
leave the milk this morning, he told us
that his father's house burned to the ground
at 12 o'clock last night. We went out quick
and took the goods that had been saved
over to Austin Pierponts and Mother Pierponts.
There were in the house at the time Wilson and
his three sons Joe, Charlie, and Nathan. The
smoke awoke them and they escaped with their
clothes and saved some of the furniture.
Wilson lost all his clothes except a night shirt and
vest, pants, shoes, and hat which he had on, all
the money he had about $5.00, watch etc. He came
over to our house and we fitted him out with clothes
and I gave him $10.00 and he went down town and
got shirts etc. He expects to live in Mother Pierponts
house for the present.
03\22\1906 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day, recived {received} three
weeks pay i.e. 3/3/06, 3/10/06, and 3/17/06.
Clyde came home for his spring vacation last
night.
03\23\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day. This evening
Clyde and I went to town to see if we could
borrow a transit for Clyde to survey Arthur
Pierpont's farm with. We saw George Chatfield
and he is using his. We then saw Ben Chatfield
and he said that he would see if he could find
one.
03\24\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
James Porter died this morning at four
o'clock after a long illness. Would have been
88 years old next Monday.
03\25\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. Ben Chatfield called and said
that his father had a transit that Clyde
could take. He went and got it at Albert
Chatfields.
This evening Mary, Mother Pierpont and
I went out home and Mary and I went
up to Arthur's.
03\26\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day repairing the
hydraulic press so that each stroke of the
pump would send the guage pointer 5 tons
ahead up to 650 tons. I hardened 8 steel dies
this afternoon.
03\27\1906 (Tuesday)
I went to Court at New Haven this morning
and the Case of Mc Earney vs. the City of
Derby was still on trial and is expected to
last till the end of the week. At noon the
judge excused me for the term.
The Judge's name is Thair of Norwich.
The Clerk is Edward A. Anketell
Assistant, Mr. Fowler
Stenographer, Mrs. Merrit Carter.
Mr. Fowler gave me acheck for $104.64, the balance
of my pay.
03\28\{1906} (Wednesday)
To day I staid about home all day except I
went to the Dimes Savings Bank and deposited
the checks I received for Jury duty which amounted
$185.04.
03\29\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Clyde and Arthur Dunn have been surveying
to day. To night Clyde went to New Haven.
03\30\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\31\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank and I took the five o'clock trolley car and
went to Ives Corner and walked a mile to Brooks
Vale to Mr. Alexander Doolittle's to see if he wanted
Frank to work for him during vacation, but he did
not as he had a man and boy already.
04\01\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Nichols preached at the Chapel this P.M.
Ruth and I went for a ride to Cheshire and Prospect,
found lots of mud.
04\02\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mr. Henry Judd and I attended the
meeting of the Board of Education. Mark Warner,
John Gallagher, B.F. Hoggett, and Ned Pritchard
were also there.
04\03\1906 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory today.
04\04\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
04\05\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory, hardened six dies.
04\06\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Sister Iva had a child born this morning
at two o'clock named Mansfield Miller
Gillette.
To day I drew from the Citizens Bank two
hundred and fifty dollars and this
evening I took it to Simonsville and gave
it to Robert Somers' wife (he not being at
home) to give to her brother Frank P. Welton.
I then came out to the Chapel to the supper
and entertainment.
04\07\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at Rogers & Brothers factory to day.
04\08\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchum preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. After service, Ruth and I went out to
Morris Rid's place and saw the grand stand
and base ball ground that they are building.
Then we took the trolley cars and went to
Uncle Will Somers, but he was not at home so
we went over to Cousin Rob Somers and he
was not at home. We then went to church in
the Simonsville Baptist Church. The Rev. Mr. Williams
of the Second Congregational Church preached.
Then we took the trolley cars up through Baldwin
Street to exchange place and out East Main St.
home.
04\09\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day. Hardened 5 dies.
It has snowed to the depth of about four inches
to day.
04\10\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day, hardened six dies.
The snow had all gone this morning.
04\11\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory, hardened six dies and 1 punch.
This evening Irving and I went to Cheshire to
see Mr. Jacob D. Walters who is County Comissioner.
04\12\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this day.
I had Irving go down to fathers and telephone
to Cheshire to see if Mr. Walters was at home.
Soon he returned and said that he would be
home in about an hour. We boarded the 7.30
car at my gate and went to Cheshire and
found Mr. Walters home, second house North
of the Acadamy. I told him that they intended
to have a Saloon at Wedges Corner and that
we were oposed {opposed} to it. He assured me that no
license should be granted etc. We spent about
an hour with him and then came home.
04\13\1906 (Friday)
This is Fast Day and I stayed home and worked
in the swamp grubbing out the bogs.
The first game was played at the new ball
grounds south of Wedge's Corner this afternoon
between the Newark's and Waterbury's there
were about 10,000 persons present.
04\14\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked to day at the factory.
04\15\{1906} (Sunday)
"Easter Sunday". Rained hard all the forenoon.
Cleared up after noon. Frank and Raymond Munson
took my team and went to several houses
and got flowers for the Chapel. The service
there was grand. Dr. Davenport officiated
and they had the best singing that I hever heard
there. The Choir was composed of Clara G. French,
Maragret Miller, Fritsa Hansen, and Lydia Jones,
Sopranos. Bertha J. French, Mrs. F. Young,
Mrs. F.A. Munson, Bessie Parks and Minnie Judd,
"Altos". Sidney J. Spender, H. Clifton
Heaton and George Hansen, "Tenors".
Stewart H. Judd, Clarence Brown, Henry
Beckwith and Irving C. Miller, "Basses".
"Organist" Morton W. Judd.
"Director" Godfrey K. Reed.
04\16\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day, hardened 5 dies.
This evening James White, Henry Judd,
Mr. Packer and Dayton Wooding went before
the Board of Education with a petition to
have me appointed School Committee of the
Saw Mill Plain District. They had 33 signers.
Opposed was Mark L. Watner, John F. Gallagher,
Edward S. Pritchard, and B.F. Haggett with a
petition for Chas Lee. I have been told
by Mr. Judd that I am appointed.
04\17\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Lewis Beckwith is sick with the Pleuracy {Pleurisy} and
Pneumonia, was taken sick Fast Day.
04\18\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Went to Mark Pond's this evening to see about
school matters.
Lewis Beckwith died this noon of Pleural Pneumonia.
04\19\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
San Francisco, Cal. is nearly destroyed by an
earthquake and fire. Yesterday morning at
5.30 occured a shock which lasted three minutes
that felt{?} many of the large buildings to
the ground, and burst the water mains so
that the firemen had no water, and the
City is now burning up.
04\20\1906 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
04\21\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went up to James White's and
he and Miss Bessie went up to Mark Warner's
who is Clerk of the School District and Bessie and
I went in, while Mr. White went up to Rob Wakelee's
and we or rather Bessie copied some of
the records of the votes taken at School Meetings
pertaining to the New School House. She took
them in short-|hand.
04\22\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fairchild of Simonsville preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
Margaret and I drove out to Arthur Pierpont's
and up to Charlie Tuttle's after service.
04\23\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory till 7.30 this evening.
In yesterday's Sunday Herald there appeared a long
article entitled "Miller Lands Place".
A.B. Pierpont sold the "Old Wedge Place" near the
arch Saturday to a frenchman.
04\24\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day and this morning.
04\25\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day till 8 o'clock.
04\26\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving and I went up to John Gallagher's
and Mark Warner's and I got the district tax
list from Mr. Warner.
04\27\1906 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\28\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day till six o'clock.
04\29\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Dinsmore of the First Congregational
Church preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
this afternoon.
The first Sunday game of base ball was played
at the new field at Wedges Corner to day.
This evening Mary and I called at George
Benhams.
04\30\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\01\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I took the district tax list to
the assessor's office to have a new list made.
I then cam back to Mill Plain and visited
the School.
05\02\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to John Gallagher's and saw him
about the District tax I am laying.
Allen Burgess moved into the Fred Frost place
last Saturday.
05\03\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
After work, Raymond and I planted potatoes
down to fathers.
Frank and Irving finished ploughing at
Murry Beeke's.
05\04\{1906} (Wednesday) {duplicate entry =? Friday}
Worked at the factory to day.
05\05\{1906} (Thursday) {duplicate entry =? Saturday}
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\04\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.*
Went to John Gallagher's and saw his tax
book and saw Mark L. Warner and showed
him my appointment of School Committee and
he showed me the notice he received from
Clerk Fitzgerald.
05\05\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
We finished planting potatoes to night.
05\06\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Smith of Simonsville preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
Margaret and I went for a ride after service
at Gillette's corner. We took in Burnice Falmage
and we went down through Matthews Street
and over by Lights Pond and down the
Mountain to Alexander Doolittle's at
Brooks Vale where we staid till 8 o'clock.
05\07\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Mr. Stovells and got an
old tax book.
Mr. Hoggett came to my house and lift {left} a
copy of a warning of a school meeting while
I was gone.
05\08\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went to Hotchkiss & Templetons
and bought two ounces of onion seed for 30 cts.
After I got home I went up to Mr. Hoggett
and he told me that he would call a meeting
of the Building Committeee next Thursday
evening at 8.30.
Henry Cook has the frame of his house up.
05\09\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
05\10\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Building Committee of Mill Plain of
Ed Pritchard's house.
05\11\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Went up to James Whetes this evening.
05\12\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I posted a notice on the sign
board at the School House calling a School
Meeting for Monday eving {evening}, May 21st.
I also took a copy to the District Clerk,
Mark L. Warner.
05\13\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. {? ?} preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. Theodore Munson{?} and I drove out
to Hitchcocks Pond.
05\14\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This morning at half past four I heard a
rumble that felt like an earthquake. The
doors and windows shook. I{It??} proved to be the
mgazines {magazines???} at the Union Metallic Cartridge
Companies in Bridgeport {??????}. Nearly all the
windows in Bridgeport and many in Stratford
were broken, and the report was heard
in New London and Litchfield.
This evening I attended the meeting of the
Mill Plain Improvement Society. I was
chosen a committee to see about getting
police protection for this part of the town
next circus day.
05\15\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Miss Welton won $500.00 from St. Ann's Fair
to day.
{05\16 through 05\22 lacking}
05\23\{1906} (Wednesday)
Owing to a press of work and business, all of
my time has been used and I have made
no entries for several days.
I have worked in the shop every day except
2 1/2 hours last Thursday forenoon when I went
down town and got the District tax list
and I worked three hours Sunday forenoon.
Last Friday evening I took the tax book
up to John Gallagher and left the tax
sheet with Mark Warner.
Sunday, Rev. Mr. Buckwalter preached
at the Chapel.
Monday evening we had a School Meeting
and on Motion of Thomas Holmes, it was
voted that we pay all the bills that
come before this meeting i.e. 367.75.
Yes 22 No 17
This evening I attended the annual
meeting of the Mill Plain Chapel Society.
The following officers were elected.
Committee
A.B. Pierpont 9 Episcopal
J.H. Garrigus 12{??} Methodist
C.S. Miller 11{??} Congregational
Henry M. Judd Baptist
Secretary
Bessie White 12
Treasurer
H.J. Abel 16
Sunday School Superintendent
Henry M. Judd
Organist
Mr. Reed
Librarian
Joe Pierpont .
05\24\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day piping a wash
bowl in Mr. Tobin's office.
Finished planting the East Garden to night.
Thomas Mills had me make some teeth
for his hand cultivator.
Mad dogs have done great damag [damage} and
the City government has ordered every
dog in the town tied up or shot on account
of the rabies.
05\25\1906 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\26\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\27\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon at a meeting of the Chapel
Committee. I was chosen chairman of the board.
After service I drove over to Waterville and
on over to where they have started to build
the new Waterbury Rooling Mills Factory.
05\28\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
It has rained all day.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Mill Plain Society. There were but few
there on acout {account} of the rain and no business
was done.
05\29\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went out to George Benhams and
he showed me how to file tax leans{?} on school
property.
Irving has gone to New Haven where he is to
meet Clifton Heaton and both are going to
Easton, Pa. to visit Clyde at Lafayettee {Lafayette} Colledge {College}.
05\30\1906 (Wednesday - Decorations Day)
We worked about home this forenoon and after
dinner, Frank, Raymond and I hitched up and drove
over by Lakewood to Waterville and over to where
they are building the new Waterbury Rooling Mills
Inc., and watched them put in some of the concrete
foundations, and then we went to where they
are widening the trestle near the Oakville Company's
factory for the trolley tracks. We then
went to Watertown and found that they had
got the tracks laid from the foot of Candee{??}
Hill to a point this side of the Catholic Church
in Watertown. From the Center we came South
west of the Middlebury Road till we struck
the Woodbury and Waterbury stage road which
we followed home.
05\31\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We had a frost yesterday morning that did
much damage to gardens.
Had a letter from Clyde and a postal from
Irving stating that he was a {at} Jersey City and
about to take cars for Easton.
06\01\1906 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Henry Cook is having his new house painted
and Mr. Carlson is having the frame of his
houses put up to day. They are being built on
the west side of the Southmaid Road.
06\02\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Frank and I went to town and
bought some garden seeds, and other things.
When we were coming home, we met thirty
trolley cars coming for the Ball grounds and
nearly all were loaded.
Ralph Blakeslee showed me some rye last
night that was 6' 10" high.
The Mill Plain Sunshine Circle met here yesterday
afternoon.
06\03\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketcham of Woolcott {Wolcott} preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Last night at about 10.30, Irving came home after
having spent since last Tuesday with Clyde in
Easton, Pa.
06\04\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening we went over to John French's
and moved their piano to Charlie Monroe's
to be used next Wednesday at the wedding of
Miss Elsie French.
06\05\1906 (Tuesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
This evening we set out pepper and tomatoe {tomato}
plants in the garden.
06\06\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Elsie French and Willie Bock were married
at Charlie Monroe's house this afternoon by
the Rev. Mr. Fairchild of Simonsville.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Pine
Grove Cemetery Association and the following
Trustees were elected, Mark L. Warner,
Hiram J. Abel, Warren Hitchcock, Theodore
Munson, Ralph N. Blakeslee, Mr. Jessel,
and Mr. Candee.
06\07\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
The lightening struck about here during
Tuesday night's thunder storm as follows,
Struck a telephone pole on Niagra Street.
Struck a tree in Porter's Woods over on the
Meriden road.
Struck a tree in the Pine Grove Cemetery.
Struck a house over at the foot of East Mountain
on the South side of the Prospect Road.
George Hitchcock has sold his house and 40
acres of land to Franklin Peck of Waterbury.
06\08\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\09\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\10\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Dallas preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service, I took Mary and Mother Pierpont for a
ride out the Meriden Road and in the Cheshire Road.
This morning sister Cara called and told us that
Judge Charles Gillette died of heart trouble this
morning.
06\11\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
I attended the meeting of the Mill Plain Improvement
Society and they appointed a committee of Mr. James
White, Mr. Spender and Mr. Hoggett to push through
the grading of the Meriden Road in front of the
school, also Mr. Pond, a committee to interview
the property owners in regard to opening a
new road from the Woodtick Road near his house
to the Woolcott {Wolcott} Road near Mr. Kilbourne's. Also we
elected the following officers, James White President,
Benjamin F. Hoggett Vice President, M. Packer
Secretary and B.F. Pond Treasurer.
Old Home Week opened in Meriden to day.
Minnie Lewis and a Massachusetts fellow were
married to day.
06\12\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Barnum and Baily's great circus has been
held on the James Porter farm to day.
The tents consisted of one five center pole
managerie {menagerie} tent, one ten center pole circus
tent, one 2 center pole dressing tent, one
one center pole dressing tent, one large
two center pole side show{??} tent (on south
side of Cheshire Road), one small two center
pole side show tent on south side of road.
The first three tents were on North side of
road. There were also two three center pole
tents for horses, one six center pole tent
for {????} the men, one blacksmith
shop tent, two cook tents, and three
small tents for washing dishes, supplies etc.
These tents were on the Southmaid Road.
Thye had 500 horses and have 1200 people
on their pay roll.
Yesterday they exibeted {exhibited} in Holeyoke, Mass.
Tomorrow they are to exibit {exhibit} in Bridgeport.
Thursday in New Haven, Friday
in Hartford, Saturday in Springfield,
and all of next week in Boston.
06\13\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Judge Gillette was buried at Pines Bridge
yesterday afternoon from his home corner
of Prospect and Buckingham Street.
Mary and a party consisting of Stewart
Judd, Mort Pierpont, Arthur Pierpont, John
Tood, George Warner, Bertha Lud, Bertha French
went this morning to Commencement at
the Connecticut Mechanical and Agricultural
College at Storos{??}.
06\14\1906 (Thursday)
This forenoon I visited the Mill Plain School
and this afternoon Mary and I went to Meriden
and saw what we could of the celebration.
We missed the parade but enjoyed the Love
Exhibit on the Parish house of St. Andrews
Church. We drove over.
06\15\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
06\16\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\17\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. {? ?} of the Farm Street Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. After service, Margaret, Henry
Beckwith and I went for a ride out the
Cheshire Road, up the Scott Road to Scotts
Upper Pond and we drove over across the
dam to the Baldwin place on the old
bound line road, then on East to the
road that goes from Prospect Center
to Summit and home by the Plank
Road.
06\18\{1906} (Monday)
Worked to day at the factory.
This evening I pasted a notice for a
School Meeting to be held Monday,
June 25th at 8 o'clock P.M.
06\19\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day. This evening
we moved the French girls piano home from
Monroes. Went to Mr. Ponds and figured school acts.
06\20\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Paid my school tax, 9.10 to John Gallagher,
collector, and got Mark Warner's bill for wood.
06\21\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
We all went to Polis Theter {Theater} to night to
the graduating exercises of the High
School scholars.
06\22\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went and saw Mrs. Judge
Gillette and she gave me all the Judge's
collection of minerals and Indian relics.
06\23\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\24\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchum of Wolcott preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
06\25\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Had school meeting this evening.
Mark Warren elected Committee, B.F. Hoggett
Clerk, George Warner Treasurer, and John Gallagher
Tax Collector. Margaret went to work
in Miller & Pecks dry goods store to day.
06\26\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\27\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This forenoon at about 9 o'clock, Eugene Rowley,
John Scott and {------} Sullivan lost their lives
at the factory of the Benedict & Burnham Co.
by being drowned and suffocated in a cellar{??}
of oil.
06\28\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\29\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
06\30\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
07\01\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon, it being Childrens' Day.
07\02\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers
to day.
07\03\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\04\{1906} (Wednesday)
Rained by{??} showers till after dinner.
There is no celebration that I know of anywhere
to day. Everything is very quiet.
07\05\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\06\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Ralph Blakeslee commenced haying to day.
Mary Porter called and told Mary that I could
have the hay in the swamp opposite the house
for 4.00 and the hay in the lot this side of
Mrs. Hines and that on Bilberry{?} Hill.
07\07\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory putting back the
big Peck lifter drop that I took out day before
yesterday to have the foundation bed stone
chipped level.
07\08\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lepley preached at the Chapel this
afternoon. {??}
07\09\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
I attended a meeting of the Mill Plain Improvement
Society this evening, and we talked over
the building of a new road from Murtain
Ponds over to the West Wolcott Road to
come out between Robert Welton's house
and barn. Robert Welton was there and
offered the land for the right-|of-|way
through the property that he owns.
Irving left home this morning at four
o'clock for Camp at Nyantic where the
2nd and 4th Regts. are to spend this week.
07\10\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Platt's large elevator took fire this
morning and burned to the extent of
$5,000.00 damage. A large quantity of grain
was burned. It is located on Benedict St.
07\11\1906 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual, 11 1/2 hrs.
The finishing department of the factory
started up Monday "full time" after a
shut down of a week. The making
department has not stoped {stopped} at all, only
one day, July 4th. This is the first
year that it has run without a stop.
07\12\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
07\13\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Milo Peck has leased the Byam Place
out on the Southington Mountain
for three years.
This evening after work, I carried the
District Committee man's book and
the key to the School house up to
Mark L. Warner.
07\14\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Last evening the Trustees of Pine Grove
Cemetary {Cemetery} met and voted to buy the lot
adjoining the Cemetary {Cemetery} property on the
South and North of Mrs. David Shannon's
property of Ralph N. Blakeslee. The vote
stood 5 for and 2 against, Mark Warner
and Warren Hitchcock against, and
Mr. Jessel, Thae{?} Munson, Hiram Abel,
Thomas Candee and Mr. Blakeslee for
it. But Hitchcock and Warren are standing
out against it, and they and Blakeslee
have consulted Chas Root, the lawyer
and he has given it as his opinion that
they have not the power to sell.
07\15\{1906} (Sunday)
I worked repairing the waterwheel three
hours this morning.
Rev. Mr. Bulkwalter preached at
the Chapel this P.M.
Mort Pierpont and Jessie had a son born
to them night before last, Laurence Austin.
//end of vol 1904-06//
07\16\1906 (Monday)
I worked for the International Silver Co.
to day at the factory of Rogers & Brother.
In the forenoon Laurence Tobin and I went
up to the factory of Rogers and Hamilton
and set some iron plates in the floor of the
boiler room and we took a load of wheels out
of the trimming room and brought them
down to our shop.
They say that this is the last time that
we are going up there as the factory is to
be occupied by another company.
07\17\{1906} (Tuesday)
I staid about home all day some time
up in Ralph Blakeslee's barn watching a
man put a reaper and binder together.
This evening I went over to John Frenches
and had him stitch up a trace{??}
07\18\{1906} (Wednesday)
We went up to Mr. Blakeslee's and saw
them use the reaper together with the
binder attachment some time. Then
Frank, Raymond and I mowed the lot
corner of the Harpers Ferry Road and Cheshire
Road.
07\19\{1906} (Thursday)
Early this morning Irving and I went
down and mowed in Thomas Mills'
home lot and afterwards Frank mowed
the rest of the lot with the machine.
We got in four loads.
Mary and Ruth attended a picnic at
Arthur Pierpont's given by the Grangers.
07\20\{1906} (Friday)
We all went to day to a picnic of the
Mill Plain Sunday School at Compound
pond. Mary, Margaret, and Ruth went
on the trolley cars and Frank, Raymond,
Mrs. Candee, and Florence White
drove. Irving came over in the evening.
It took me two hours to drive over.
There were about 50 there, and about
15 children went over in Arthur Pierpont's
vegetable wagon.
07\21\1906 (Saturday)
Today I mowed the swale{??} west of Thomas
Mills' house, and then opened out a
lot of hay we had cocked{??} up, and just
as it was dry and we went for the
team to get it in with, a shower
came and wet it all. We shook it
out later and put it in winnows.
Mr. and Mrs. Burgess went to the
shore at Walnut Beach this afternoon.
We mowed part of the lot above
Hiram Able's lot this afternoon.
07\22\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Phipps formerly of Propsect
preached at the Chapel this P.M.
After service Bessie White, Clara
French, Irving and I went for a ride.
We went over across Lake Wood and
up North Main Street, over to Perkins
Ave. to Waterville and over the new
bridge to where they are putting
in the foundations for the Waterbury
Rolling{??} Mills factory and then up
Bunker Hill, and down to Robbins
Street which we turned up to Middlebury
Road, out Middlebury and
up the Park Road past where Thomas
Lockwood was murdered, to the
Litchfield and New Haven Turnpike
which we traveled to Union
City, then up the Waterbury Road to
the Pearl Lake Road and soon home.
07\22\{1906} (Monday)
Irving and I got up early this morning
and we went up and mowed in
the stony meadow above Mr. Able's.
It has been cloudy all day and we
could not get in any hay although
we got one lot ready but had to
heap it up as soon as possible and it
rained long and wet it.
This evening I went down to Father's
and Wm. Gillette showed me some old
papers that were his father's, among
them a writ "To The Constable of Stratford",
dated 1711.
07\23\{1906} (Tuesday)
Today has been cloudy and we have
worked about the gardens.
Mrs. Abel and Agnes and the children,
Wilbur and Olive Bergess' baby went to
Walnut Beach to see Olive who has been
there since last Saturday.
Ruth went out to Mort Pierpont's this
morning to work.
Thomas Candy, the sexton of Pine Grove
Cemetery, has bought Mr. Carlson's
place on the Southmaid Road.
07\24\{1906} (Wednesday)
We got in all the hay that was out at
Jones and also that at Thomas Mills.
07\25\{1906} (Thursday)
This morning we started haying in the
lot corner of the Harpers Ferry and
Plank Road and got nearly all of it
in.
Henry Cass told me this morning that
Berkeley S. Hotchkiss died soon after six
this evening. He was in his buggy
coming out East Main St. near
Dublin when an automobile nearly
ran into him and his horses started
to run, but were soon stopped and
he was dead when taken from the
team.
07\27\1906 (Friday)
This morning Frank mowed the circus
lot east of Mrs. Hines' house and
we got it in together with what was
left in the lot corner of Plank and
Harper's Ferry roads. I mowed seven
swaths{??} across the swamp opposite
James Porter's house and we raked
up a lot of course{??} hay in the Sherman
Bronson lot.
07\28\{1906} (Saturday)
Today we got three loads of hay from
Mr. Blakeslee's lot, and one load from
Mr. Porter's lot.
07\29\{1906} (Sunday)
Today Mary, Margaret and Irving and
I went by trolley to Cheshire and attended
church after which we took the trolley
and went to Mt. Carmel and went up
the north side of the mountain and
over to the third peak to Mr. Brockett's
cottage where we found Charlie
Pierpont, his wife and Anna. After a
time, Mr. Brockett came and we went
to the place where they draw the
water up the ledge, at this point it
over 200 ft high, and the spring is
out from the bottom a distance so
that a large wire stretched from
the spring to the top of the ledge
is over 300 ft long, and at the top
of the ledge there is a windlass{??}
to which is wound a small cord
which runs over a double pulley
that runs on the wire and by
unwinding the windlass, the pulleys
run down the wire to the spring
and a pail is lowered from the
pulley into the water and by winding
up the windlass, the pail of water is
lifted from the water and drawing up
to the pulleys which in turn runs up
the wire to the top of the ledge.
We then went down the south side
of the ledge of the third peak to "Abram's
Cave" which by mean of a lantern
and candles Irving, Margaret and
I went through. We went in a crevice
only large enough for one at a time
in an easterly downward direction about
4 rods, then turning to the right down
straight 10 ft, then west into a room
that hold 14 people, then up and
south 60{80??} ft and in a small hole to
the right into a large crevice
and then back out.
Rev. Mr. Ketchum of Wolcott preached
at the Chapel.
07\30\1906 (Monday)
I went to work at the factory to
day as John French called yesterday
and said they needed me.
Today Colonel Cummings' "Wild West"
and "F.F. Main's Great Show"{??} was given
on the lot between James Porter's house
and my father's place. Mary, Ruth,
Margaret, Irving and I went in the
evening and Frank and Raymond went
in the afternoon. The show was very
nice, admission 25 cts.
07\31\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
08\01\1906 (Wednesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
Mary, Frank and Raymond went
out to Harry Garrigus's and picked
about 8 quarts of blueberries{??}.
08\02\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Joseph F. Platt has bought Mr. Albert
Spender's place for $2,250.
08\03\1906 (Friday)
I worked at the factory today.
08\04\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory today.
This evening the boys and I took the
little fire engine up to the bridge
on the Meriden Road near Mr. White's
and tried it. It worked well. Threw
water 20 ft over Mr. White's house.
08\05\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Union City
Baptist Chapel preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
08\06\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Very warm weather.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the Pine Grove Cemetery Association
held in the Chapel.
It was voted to sell a strip of
land along the bank of the river to
the Mattatuck Mfg. Co for a pond
for $100. Also to buy the lot south
of the Cemetery of Ralph Blakeslee
for $1,700.00. Vote on the first sale
stood, 27 cast all in favor. On the
purchase, 30 votes cast all in favor.
08\07\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked to day for the International Silver
Company at their spoon factory on
Silver Street.
08\08\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked to day 11 1/2 hr. in the factory.
08\09\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\10\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
08\11\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory today until noon, when
I came home on the trolley car, had dinner,
after which Frank and Raymond hitched up and
Irving and I started for Goshen. We drove up
through Wolcott to Hancock's station where we
crossed the New England Rail Road and went
up the Todd Hollow Road to the first road
that turned off to the left which we took and
soon came to a road that ran north along
the top of a ridge which we traveled. This
took us through a fine country where there
were fine farms well kept. The view from the
road was grand. Off to the right, Terryville,
Bristol, East Plymoth and the hills of many
other towns were to be seen. To the left, Watertown,
Plymoth and many other towns could be
seen. We crossed the state road that runs
from Plymoth to Terryville and had gone
north two or three miles when a hard
shower overtook us, and we drove under a
shed. Soon the owner came and he proved
to be Mr. Buell{??}, father of Rev. Seth
Buell who I have heard preach in our chapel
but is now living in Nebraska. He showed
us about the place, took us into the shop
where there was a gasoline engine, jig saw,
wood cut off saw, slitting saw, forge, etc.
also into the milk room which they built
themselves and a three story hen house.
We left there about 6.30 and went through
a nice country to Harwington{?} where we
turned west and went down by the
church beyond which we took the first
road to the right and went to Torrington.
But darkness overtook us before we
reached there. We had the horse put out
at the Allen House stable and fed, while
we walked to No 248 South Main St.
to Mr. L C Hull's. But we did not find
anybody home so we went to the stable
and left at 9.30 for Goshen. It grew very
dark before we reached West Torrington
and it thundered and lightninged
often. We bought a lantern and started
up the hill. Soon it began to rain, a
little at first but soon it poured. We had
blankets and a rubber boat which
covered us well, which with an umbrella
kept us nearly dry, although the water
ran from the umbrella in streams, and the
road was running like a river. But we kept
on and reached Samuel Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] after the
storm had subsideed at about eleven o'clock.
They were all up and after we had put the
horse out and fed him, we went in the house
and had a good supper of blackberry shortcake
and went to bed. In the morning it
was clear and cool. We had a late breakfast of
beef steak and vegetables and at quarter to eleven
Marion, Irving and I went to church which was
the next building west up the hill. The edifice
was well filled and the service interesting. Have
forgotten the minister's name.
We stayed about the house, had dinner and
started for home at 3.30, came south from Goshen
center to the Litchfield line, then east over
the hills to the town house and south along
Chestnut Hill past where Grandpa Miller
used to live (one half mile south of the Torrington
Road on the east side of the street)
and on over the hills through Northfield
to the south past of Thomaston where we
struck the Nangatuck River which we
followed to Waterbury and drove home.
Got there at 8.30.
08\13\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Rev. Mr. Kitchum preached at the Chapel yesterday.
Warren Hitchcock and William Atkinson have
bought Thomas Holmes' place on the Meriden
Road.
08\14\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory this day,
Mary, Raymond, Mother and Ruth
went to the seashore at Forth Trumbull
Beach to day.
08\15\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The Connecticut Railway and Lighting
Company began digging in front of my
house this morning for the double track
which they are going to put in all the
way to Mt. Carmel.
To day is Raymond's birthday. He is 11 years
old and is my youngest child.
08\16\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Irving, Frank and I got up early and mowed
in Porter's swamp this morning.
08\17\{1906} (Friday)
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening Irving, Frank, John French
and I mowed in Porter's Swamp.
08\18\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys took our little fire
engine over the third dam and pumped
from near the gate, The hose reached up
the Southmaid Road to Mr. Carlson's house
and the water nearly over it. they
then took it over to John French's
and played three streams all over
his house.
08\19\{1906} (Sunday)
Very hot. Rev. Mr. Phipps at Chapel.
08\20\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Had adjourned school meeting to night.
Voted to pay the bills of the building
committee which were E.S. Pritchard $83.00,
Thomas Heaton $162.00, and B.F. Hoggett
10.00. This with other bills already paid
makes a total of $18,619.72 that the new
school house has cost.
They voted that the committee lay
walks and finish grading the grounds.
It was also voted that the hiring of
a janitor be left with the committee.
08\21\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening John French came and we
welded a set of axles for him.
A number of young ladies came this
evening and had a choir rehearsal.
08\22\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked. Frank has gone to Savin Rock
to day. I went up to the old Rogers
and Hamilton Factory and got a rolling{??} mill.
Charles Blackburn's barn burned
last night at midnight, cause unknown.
08\23\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They have placed a cannon in Hamilton
Park to day. It is a relic of the Civil
War and was used I think by Co J.
10th Illinois Regt. The City bought
it in 1877 I think from the Farrell
Foundry in Ansonia.
Paid Thomas Mills 11.00 for grass.
08\24\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
08\25\1906 (Saturday)
Worked at factory.
08\26\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel.
After service Irving, Bessie Parks,
Margaret and I went for a ride up
and saw the concrete foundations they
are putting in for the new Waterbury
Rolling Mills. We then went north past
the poor house and over Nova Scotia
Hill and turned west and went into
Watertown by Hemingway's Silk Factory.
We attended service in the new Methodist
church after which we drove home.
08\27\{1906} (Monday)
I have had a stiff neck for the past two days
but this morning I got up and fed the horse
and got my scythe to mow the clothes yard
but when I took the first stroke I was taken
with a great pain in the neck and could
not move my arms without causing more
pain. I got into the house and sent Ruth
for Dr. Barber. He came about 10 o'clock and
said that I had the rheumatism of the neck
and gave me medicine to take which was
worse than the rheumatism. This afternoon
I got better and cleaned the shelf clock.
I also watched the men move the track
in front of the house. They worked all
night last night and the night before.
08\28\1906 (Tuesday)
I went to work at the factory to day.
08\29\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Bessie Barks left boarding at our house to day.
08\30\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\31\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Thomas Holmes gave a
moving picture entertainment in Hamilton
Hall this evening.
09\01\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Lewis C. Hull of Torrington called this evening
and borrowed Beers History of New Haven County.
09\02\{1906} (Sunday)
This afternoon a man and his wife, another
man and his wife had trouble with their
automobile in front of my house and they
came into the yard and sat down while
the younger man repaired the machinery.
I got into a conversation with the old gentleman
who proved to be H. Wales Lines of Meriden
who I showed several of my old documents
and he borrowed a letter I had, written by
Harris Hotchkiss of Plainfield N.J. in 1878
giving a description of Waterbury as it was
when he was a boy together with his business
experience here.
09\03\{1906} (Monday)
Labor Day. Staid about home all day.
09\04\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The labor unions had a great parade in
town yesterday, about 5,000 men and
60 young ladies who belong to the
Danbury's Hatters Union took part in
the parade.
Tonight Irving and I helped John French
move his piano. I ordered 3 tons of coal
for the Chapel of John McElligot for $7.00 per ton{??}.
09\05\1906 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brother to
day as I usually do.
This evening Frank and I helped John French
to finish moving. We brought over two loads.
09\06\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Theodore Abel told us that
his sister Mrs. Allen Burgess "passed away"
this afternoon at about 5 o'clock.
Burr Johnson finished haying in the swamp
opposite the James Porter place this afternoon
and I paid him $3.00. This is the last of my
haying. I have a good supply of good hay
and bedding on hand.
A large gang of men are laying the double
trolley track in front of my house today.
09\07\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The funeral of Olive Abel Burgess is to be
held Sunday at one PM in the Mill
Plain Chapel. She died of quick consumption
and was aged 24 years.
The workmen are going to work all night
on the double track.
Anthony Ashbourn was killed by the
cars nears the Manhan{??} Canal last
Monday and is to be buried in the
Mill Plain Cemetery tomorrow.
Mary, Irving, Margaret and Ruth
have gone to a lecture in the Second
Congregational Church. Ruth expects
to join next Sunday.
Frank and Raymond are in bed up
stairs and Clyde is in Atlantic
City, conductor on the trolley cars.
09\08\1906 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\09\{1906} (Sunday)
Mrs. Olive Abel Burgess was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon. The Rev. Mr.
Walters of the first Methodist Church
officiated. The Chapel was filled to overflowing
and there was a great quantity of
flowers.
The Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the regular
service.
Yesterday Anthony Washburn was buried
from the Chapel.
09\10\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory today as usual.
Commenced working nights at the factory till
7 o'clock.
09\11\{!906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\12\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
I received a letter from H. Wales Lines
of Meriden today.
Mr. William White has bought the
Levelette Upson place yesterday.
09\13\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory today.
Cora French and George Bradley were
married last night by the Rev. Mr.
Nichols at his house.
This evening I took $250.00 and paid it
to Robert Somers to be paid to the
Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. as a payment of
stock
Clyde is 22 years old to day.
09\14\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory today.
James Stovelle and Miss Cole were
married in Brooklyn, N.Y. last Wednesday
night.
09\15\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Tonight after work I went up to John
French's and helped him clean his well.
09\16\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchem preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Mary and the two boys, Frank and
Raymond, together with Roy Munson
returned from the shore this noon where
they went yesterday with Miss Pickett
to Adelbert Hitchcock's cottage at Rockfeller's
crossing about two miles west of Savin Rock.
This evening nearly all the church going
people about here went to the Second Congregational
Church, the occasion being
the twenty fifth anniversary of Dr.
Davenport's pastorate.
09\17\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we worked digging a well
back of the engine house.
The factory began working till 9 o'clock P.M. to
night.
09\18\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mrs. Annie Garrigus Hitchcock was
buried from her father;s home this
afternoon. Rev. Mr. John Davenport officiating.
She was buried in the Woodtick
Cemetery.
Dr. Davenport married her to Louis B
Hitchcock last Christmas Eve.
The funeral was largely attended.
09\19\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Wrote letter to Judge Welch of Torrington and
to James W Hayne, Postmaster of Torrington.
09\20\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\21\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\22\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
46 years ago to day my wife Mary was born
at East Farms.
The trolley cars ran on the double track this
morning for the first time past my place.
09\23\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon. It will be
twenty five years in November when
he first came to Mill Plain and
preached in the schoolhouse. He preached
there ten times before the Chapel
was built.
Mr. Mayberry who died in Middletown
was buried from the Chapel
yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Knipp and Mr. Swartz who
work at Scoville's have moved into
the Thomas Holmes place on
the Meriden Road.
Emma Drew of Ansonia came to
visit me last night. To day she sang
in the Chapel choir and after service
she, Irving, Mary and I went for
a ride out the Meriden Road and
across past the Byam place and in
the Cheshire Road.
This evening we went to the Second
Church and Dr. Davenport preached
the same sermon that he preached when
he first came to Waterbury.
09\24\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we worked digging the well.
09\25\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at factory to day.
This evening we finished digging the well
and stoned up a little of it.
Received a letter from H Wales Lines of
Meriden stating that he is going to call
some Sunday.
09\26\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked in the factory to day.
The Mad River Grange Agricultural Fair
Association held their exhibition on the south
end lot of the Pine Grove Cemetery to day.
09\27\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I am 48 years old to day and am remembered
as follows. Mary gave me a white shirt.
Cousin Helen Drew, a nice handkerchief, and
Margaret, two blue handkerchiefs.
09\28\1906 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Tonight we pumped the water out of the
well and stoned up some of it.
09\29\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\30\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Dinsomre preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. I did not attend as I
was not well, had a head cold.
10\01\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\02\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a Republican
Convention of which I was a member
to nominate delegates to the convention,
to nominate a candidate for Judge
of Probate. I suggested James White
from my ward, the 5th.
10\03\1906 (Wednesday)
I worked at the International Silver Co's
Factory J. The International Silver Co.
now owns 29 different factories in the
United States and Canada.
10\04\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Danbury Fair is now going on
all this week. 27 car loads of people
left Waterbury this morning to attend.
More people attended yesterday than
ever before.
10\05\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\06\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
10\07\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Nichols preached at the Chapel.
Something happened to the trolley
to day. At about 11 o'clock the cars stopped
running on the Cheshire line. They
say that the power has given out at
the Cheshire end. Many people went
out this morning and had to get home
as best they could. Some walked from
Cheshire. One man walked from Milldale.
10\08\{1906} (Monday)
I worked in the factory to day.
We learned that about one hundred feet
of the embankment to the race way
at the New Milford Power Company's
plant at Bulls Bridge washed away
yesterday (caused by muskrats burrowing
through) which was the cause of
the cars not running yesterday. The
street lights in Waterbury, Southington,
Plainville, and New Britain were out.
To day the cars are running at long
intervals and many factories that
get their power from there are out of
business.
10\09\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They have about 150 men at work repairing
the break at Bull's Bridge. The cars are
off time all day.
It has rained hard all the afternoon.
10\10\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Wolcott Fair was to have been held to
day but on account on the rain it was
put over till tomorrow.
10\11\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
The Wolcott Fair was held to day on Mr.
Thomas Fairdough's lot one mile south
of the center. They say that there was a
large crowd there.
Frank drove Arthur Pierpont's bus.
It snowed quite hard for about one hour
after dinner and it melted as fast as it
fell.
10\12\1906 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\13\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Fred Frost, aged 60 was killed this forenoon
at about 10 o'clock at the waiting station near
the Mattatuck factory. He and his wife were
going to their farm which is situated one
mile north of here and they had just
alighted from a trolley car when an automobile
owned by A.M. Young of New
York came by and struck him killing
him instantly.
He sold a few days ago the property left
him by his father Wm Butler Frost, corner
of Union Street and Union Square to
Father Slacome for a hospital and expected
to go to Newberryport, Mass. to
live in a few days.
10\14\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lewis preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. After service I went with Frank up
to Browns Meadows where the Waterbury
Rolling Mills Inc are building their mills.
This last week they have put up the steel
frame of the casting shop. The steel for the
mill is expected this week.
10\15\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Coroner Mix found the man that drove
the auto responsible for the death of Fred
Frost, to day.
Cleaned out our new well and finished
it up to day.
10\16\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\17\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
The Connecticut Railway and Lighting
Company has a hearing last evening before the
Board of Public Works in regard
to putting the trolley tracks up
the Meriden Road to the Stilson Road.
There were many outsiders at the hearing
who were opposed to it, fearing that Mr.
Charles Clark of Milldale will not be
able to get his charter for the track in the
Meriden Road.
10\18\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
10\19\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mill Plain Choir met at my house
for practice tonight. There were 18 present.
10\20\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It has rained hard all day.
Frank and Ray have been out to
Mother Pierpont's picking up apples all
day yesterday but could not go to day
on account of the rain.
10\21\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchman preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This evening I saw Joseph Long at his
home 174 Prospect Street about the early
history of the brass manufacturing
business at Wolcottville.
10\22\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Margaret and Ruth began to night
to take sewing lessons in town.
10\23\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked to day at the factory.
10\24\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Ladies Union held a meeting at
the Chapel and elected officers and
this evening held a supper and entertainment,
cleared about 8.00.
10\25\1906 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\26\{1906} (Friday)
Worked to day in the factory.
10\27\{1906} (Saturday)
Today I worked in the factory ten hours.
10\28\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel.
The Committee held a meeting after
service and talked over sundry
matters and appointed Mr. J.H. Garrigus
to repair the rail on the side
of the front steps and patch the roof
of the shed.
10\29\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\30\1906 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\31\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked in the factory to day.
Last evening the Democrats nominated
Mark L. Warner of Mill Plain candidate
for Representative to the Legislature.
11\01\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\02\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I went to the corner of Canal and Grand
Streets and bought a ball of linen thread
and a piece of black wax and came home
and repaired me harness.
11\03\{1906} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory, except a little
time this morning when I went to
Mr. George Rockwell's house, No. 30 First
Avenue and measured his steam pipes and
went to the M.F. Daily's Co. and ordered
asbestos covering for them.
Frank and Raymond took eight bushels
of apples out to Minties Cider Mill on
the Plank Road and brought back 25 gallons
of cider.
This evening I filled a six gallon keg and
took it down to father.
I then went up to James Stovelle's and
engaged the Foresters Hall for the Somers
family to hold their reunion in next
Thanksgiving Day.
09\04\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter preached at the Chapel.
This morning Frank, Raymond and I
took the trolley car and went to the Bunker
Hill Chapel where we alighted and walked
over Steels Brook on the footbridge to
the Waterbury Rolling Mills and
saw that they had the iron frame
of the mill up. The casting shop is
nearly covered in and they are putting
the rood on the boiler house. I saw Mr.
Robert K. Brown near here and had a
long talk with him on historical matters.
From the mill we went north east and
crossed the Nangatuck River on a wire
foot bridge 225 feet span. We then
walked down the Nangatuck Rail Road
to Brown's Bridge where they have built
some high concrete abutments{???} for the
lower Waterville road to cross the canal
and rail road on. We then viewed the
new concrete walls about West Main
Street and the site where the New Station
is to be built. Farther on they are filling
over the meadows between the Nangatuck
railroad and the river where they are
building a new bridge on the north
side of the present wooden covered one.
They have two steel stringers in place
that reach from the middle pier to the
south side, a span of 115 ft, the girders{??}
are 9 ft in height. We then saw the new
bridge over Bank and Washington streets
and took a look at the concrete retaining
that Benedict & Burnham are building
on the east side of the Nangatuck which
is about 50 feet farther out into the river
than the present wall is and this wall
is over 100 ft out from the original
bank as it was when I was a boy.
They are also extending the sewer south
under Washington Street Bridge.
11\05\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The church at Prospect burned last
night. It was valued at $6000.00, insured
for 3500.00, cause of fire unknown.
11\06\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This is State Election day and I went at about
8 o'clock to Union Square and voted the Republican
ticket. It was as follows: Governor Rollin S. Woods,
Lieutenant Governor Evert J. Lake, Secretary
Theodore Bodenwein, Treasurer Freeman
Patten, Comptroller Thomas T. Bradstreet,
Attorney General Marcus H. Holcomb,
Representative at Large George L. Lilley,
Representative in Congress Nehemiah
D. Sperry, Senator Irving H. Chase,
Sheriff Jacob D. Walter (not elected),
Judge of Probate Robert A Lowe, (I did
not vote for him)
Representatives to the Legislature
Augustus J. Goodrich,
Abner P. Hayes.
Justices of the Peace:
Charles W. Bauby
Lucien F. Burpee
Ulysses G Church
Edward F. Cole
George H. Cowell
George H. Freeman
Abner P. Hayes
John P. Kellog
Joseph E. Lauber
Laurance L. Lewis
Samuel J. Marsh
Patrick J. Memahom
Charles E. Megs
Frederick M. Peasley
Joseph H. Reid
Howard B. Snow
11\07\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\08\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\09\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\10\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\11\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Stansfield of Waterville preached at
the Mill Plain Chapel to day.
This morning Frank, Raymond, John French
and I took the first trolley car and at 7
o'clock and went to Mansfield's pont{??} in
the extreme south east part of East Haven
and dug out of a creek near No-mans-land
about one bushel of oysters, one half bushel
mussels and 1/2 bushel of long clams. It rained
very hard while we were there and we
got wet through. We left there about one
o'clock and took the trolley car at Momargen{??}
and paid 5 cts to East Haven where we
took the car that came from Branford,
paid 5 cts to New Haven Green where
we took the car for Mt. Carmel on transfer
to Whitneyville, paid 5 cts to Mt. Carmel,
where we took the Connecticut Railway
10 cts to Cheshire, paid 10 cts to Welton's
Crossing, paid 5 cts home where we
arrive at 4 P.M.
11\12\1906 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\13\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\14\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Yesterday the power from Bulls Bridge gave
out again and the factories that are depending
on that electric power were obliged to shut
down, and the cars are off time.
This evening Mary and Irving and 27 other
Grangers went to Cheshire to visit the Grange
there. They were dressed in the clothes of the
olden time, as it is Old Folks Night.
11\15\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It began snowing this forenoon at about
10 o'clock and tonight there was six inches
of snow on the ground. I took the horse
and snow-plough and went up the Frost
Road, over the Meriden, down the Southmaid
and up the Cheshire roads. It is now
raining.
11\16\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mill Plain Choir met for rehearsal
at Bessie White's, first house west of Mad
River on the Meriden Road.
11\17\{1906} (Saturday)
To day I worked at Mr. George Rockwell's house,
No 30 First Avenue, covering his steam pipes
with asbestos covering.
11\18\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Phipps preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
The weather to day has been very warm.
I spoke to Elsie Anderson about playing at the
Chapel on Sundays.
11\19\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at Mr. Rockwell's house all day.
11\20\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at Mr. Rockwell's house nearly all
day. This afternoon I went up to see
the Waterbury Rolling Mills which are
being built. They have the boiler house
and casting shop nearly completed and
are putting the roof on the rolling mill.
They were putting the string{?} pieces on
the bridge over Steels Brook. While I was
there one of them which they had placed
fell over, catching a man's leg under it
and crushing the ankle. He was an
Italian and no one knew his name.
11\21\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day. I received my
weekly pay to day as I do every Wednesday $15.
11\22\{1906} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day. The factory is
running till 9 o'clock this week. Last week
it did not work only till six.
Twenty three years ago this morning I was
married.
11\23\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Collies and Sherwoods
and bought a pair of shoes for 2.50.
11\24\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\25\{1906} (Sunday)
This morning John French and I took the
first trolley car east and went to Mt
Carmel where we took the consolidated
cars to New Haven Green. Then we
took the Branford car to East Haven
Green and there changed and took the
Momorguin{??} car to No-mans-land
where we crossed over to Mansfields
Grove and we then went up the creek
nearly 1/2 mile where we got a lot of
oysters, clams, mussels etc. We reached
there at 9.15, having been 2 1/2 hours going.
It was low tide at 1.20 and we had all
the food that we could carry and
started for home at 2.30. After we reached
New Haven Green, the cars were crowded
but we got home at 5.30.
When I got home, I found Eleanor and Susan
Moss and their brother at supper with
my folks. They were from Cheshire and
in the evening we all went to the
Second Congregational Church.
Friday evening Irving went to New
Haven and staid with Cliff Heaton over
night in Yale College and yesterday attended
the football game between Harvard and
Yale teams. Yale beat 6 to 0, there were
32,000 persons present.
To day there was a game at the field at
Wedges Corner between the Nangatuck
and Waterbury teams at which there was
6,000 present.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel.
11\26\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They are cutting down the large maple
trees on the south side of the East Main St
Road opposite the Meriden Road to make
room for the roadway between the
trolley track and the sidewalk. They
are large trees, three ft. in diameter and
there are I think five of them.
11\27\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
11\28\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I went up to the works of the Waterbury
Rolling Mills Inc. and paid to Robert
Somers two hundred and fifty dollars,
a payment of one quarter of my portion
of stock. They have the casting shop about
completed and the mill is being enclosed
in the engine room is ready for the
engine which has been shipped.
Clyde came at about eight and surprised us
all, having come from Easton since 11 this morning.
11\29\{1906} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving.
This forenoon all of my family went
up to Hamilton Hall to the annual
Somers family reunion.
We had dinner at noon (Dwight L Somers in charge), after which
a business meeting was called and I was
chosen chairman, but as several of the
men wished to go to see the ball game, we
adjourned to meet again at about six
o'clock. At about the appointed time, the
meeting was resumed just as the ice
cream was being served and the
following business was transacted:
on notion of William Gillettte, Dwight
L. Somers was elected president,
Mr. Joseph H Somers was elected vice
president, myself secretary and Mrs.
Charles Phillips treasurer.
An entertainment committee consisting
of William Gillette, Irving Miller,
Robert Somers, Mrs. Benjamin Chatfield
and Mrs. Rolland Jenner was elected.
It was also voted to assess each member,
as near equally as may be, a sum
sufficient to pay the rent of the hall
and other incidental expenses, the treasurer
to make the collection.
It was also voted to name the organization
the Somers Family Association.
There were about fifty who sat down to
dinner. Those present were Mr. and Mrs.
Dwight L Somers (2), Mr. and Mrs. Robert D.
Somers (4), Gordon Somers (5), Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Somers (7), Mr. and Mrs. Louis Somers (9),
Mrs. Lillian Somers Smith (10), Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph H. Somers (12), Mr. and Mrs. George Somers (14),
Miss Lizzie Somers (15), Miss Josephine Somers (16),
Miss Myra Somers (17), Miss May Somers (18),
Mr. and Mrs. Heman Miller (20), Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Miller of Bristol (22), Mr. and Mrs.
Charles S. Miller (24), Clyde A. Miller of Lafayette
'07 (25), Irving C. Miller (26), Margaret Miller (27),
Ruth Miller (28), Raymond and Frank P. Miller (30),
Mr. and Mrs. Rolland Jenner (32), Miss Louise
Jenner 933), Miss Ethel Jenner (34), Miss Cara
Miller (35), Mr. and Mrs. William Gillette (37),
Mansfield Gillette (38), Miss Amy Miller (39),
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Goldsmith (41), Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Phillips (43), Mr. William Goldsmith (44),
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Chatfield (46), Roda
Chatfield (47), Mr. and Mrs. Frank Woolworth (49),
Miss Frances Woolworth (50), Mr. and Mrs. Bert
Frisbie (52), Mr. and Mrs. Frank Frisbie (54)
and Mrs. Charles Gillette (55).
The entertainment consisted of a bountiful
thanksgiving dinner, music, singing,
recitations, dancing, etc. etc.
Besides those already mentioned, there were
present several others including Miss Thayer,
Mr. Boyd and Clifton Heaton of Yale.
It was announced that the reunion next
year should be held in the same hall and
Mrs. Heman Miller will act as hostess.
11\30\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\01\1906 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\02\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
Went to Cheshire this afternoon. When I got
home all the folks were up to the Chapel to the
Christian Endeavor Meeting.
12\03\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Snow fell to the depth of three inches to day.
12\04\1906 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
12\05\{1906} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Tonight Frank and I shod the horse with
never slip shoes.
12\06\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
The snow is all gone.
12\07\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the shop all day.
12\08\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
12\09\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck, assistant at Trinity Church,
preached at Chapel.
12\10\1906 (Monday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers
to day.
12\11\{1906} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This morning it was very icy as it
rained and froze all night.
We had the mill Plain Chapel insured
yesterday for $2,500.
The factory of Rogers & Brothers are working
till 9 o'clock at night this week.
12\12\{1906} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers
to day as usual.
The people who live on the Frost Road in the
Saw Mill Plain District are myself at the
south end corner of the Cheshire Road, then
next is Ralph Blakeslee's house, occupied by
Mr. Sweet and wife, next Mrs. Frost's house
occupied by John French and family,
opposite is Hiram Abel and family,
next beyond the brook is Mr. Jones and
family, next on the west side is Mrs.
Frost (widow of Charles) and Mary, and
Warren Hitchcock and family, then
beyond the Meriden Road lives Theodore
Munson and family and his mother
who is very sick. Further on is the
Butler Frost place, now owned by Mrs.
Frederick Frost of Hartford, who had
sued Alden Young for killing her
husband with his automobile, house
now occupied by Allen Burgess, Agnes
Abel and his child, next lives Sam Atkinson
and wife, next on the west side Mr. Platt
and housekeep, then William Atkinson
next, at the bend in the road top of the
hill lives George Atkinson and wife.
At the foot of the hill lives Charles Lee,
his wife and two young daughters, opposite
lives Rufus A. Pulford and wife in a house
that he built. Next to Charles Lee lives
Benjamin Franklin Haggett and wife,
then Earnest Robinson and family and
beyond, the Frost Road meets the Woodtick
Road at the Red Bridge so called.
12\13\1906 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Last night at 6 o'clock died Mr. Samuel
Dodd of Meriden. He was president of the
International Silver Company.
12\14\{1906} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Cousin Hellen Drew came from Ansonia
night before last and is at our house.
Last evening she and I drove out to J.
Henry Garrigus and I got a roll of salve{??}
and paid him 1.00.
To night she and Walter Boyd are going
to attend an entertainment at the
Buckingham Hall called Messiah.
12\15\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Helen Drew went away yesterday afternoon.
The factory shut down this afternoon on
account of Mr. Dodd's funeral (he is buried
in Meriden). Frank, Raymond and I
took the horse and drove over Chestnut
Hill, saw some men fishing at the reservoir
and then went up onto the Bucks Hill Road
south of Burday{??} Welton's and came south
a little way and turned to the right and
went north over World's End Hill and
continued north and east and north
until we came out on a strange road
where we turned to the left and went
down a very steep hill and came on
to another road running at right angles
to the one we were on which we followed,
it being very dark, and finally we
came to Hancock's Station.
Then we took the road to the Gate House on the
Nangatuck River where the towns of Thomaston
and Waterbury meet and there followed a
boy who had a lantern fastened under
teams. On the way here Raymond took the
trolley car home and Frank and
I drove to the center of Waterbury and
we bought one quart of oysters for thirty
five cents and then we drove home reaching
there at about 7.
12\16\1906 (Sunday)
Went to the Second Congregational Church
this morning and heard a minister from
Boston preach.
This afternoon I went to Cheshire on the
trolley car and looked through the cemeteries
at the center and then went to Brooks Vale
and called on Mr. Alexander Doolittle, staid
there till nine, and walked to the trolley
line at Ives Corner. It was so dark that
I could hardly keep the road some of the
way.
12\17\{1906} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\18\{1906} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
About midnight last night, Clyde came home
to spend his vacation. He brought Mr. Kimball,
a classmate whose home is at Port Deposit,
Maryland with him. When he got here, he
climbed up the grape arbor and got into
the boys window and went down and let
Kimball in.
12\19\1906 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\20\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Jennine Phillips came and ordered
1/2 dozen Mystic desert spoons.
12\21\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
12\22\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\23\{1906} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport was at the Chapel
this afternoon. This makes the 22nd Christmas
he has been there.
This has been a cold day.
12\24\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day,
Clyde and Chester Kimball went to
Hartford and saw the new bridge across
the Connecticut River that is being
built. They have the arches finished.
They also went into the Capital and
upon the top of the dome.
12\25\{1906} (Tuesday)
Christmas.
This morning we all got up at about 7.30
and we filed downstairs, Raymond, Frank,
Ruth, Margaret, Irving, Clyde, Chester
Kimball, Mary and I. We emptied our
stockings and had lots of fun, after which
Clyde and I went out the Meriden Road
beyond the watering trough and got a
Christmas tree and took it over to the
Chapel.
We then came home and after breakfast
I shod the horse while the boys cut up
some wood. At noon we got ready and
went down to Father's where we had
dinner. There were present Father and Mother,
Frank and his wife Gussie, I and my wife
and Clyde, Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Frank
and Raymond and Chester Kimball, Mary
and her husband, Roland Jenner and Louise
and Effel, Cara, Iva and her husband
William Gillette and son Mansfield,
Fred's daughter Amy, he is in Detroit,
and Mrs. Charles Gillette.
In the evening we had a Christmas tree
and all received presents, after which a
lunch was served and we left for home
at nine o'clock.
In the afternoon Irving, Frank and I
went up and saw the new mills of
The Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. They
have the buildings about finished except
putting in the windows in the mill.
The engine has not come yet.
12\26\{1906} (Wednesday)
This morning I got up at 7 o'clock, had breakfast
and hitched up the horse into the two
seated wagon and Frank and I started
for East haven to get some oysters, leaving
Clyde, Raymond and Chester Kimball to
come on by trolley car.
We drove over the Old Cheshire Road through
the notch-in-the-rocks where we turned
short to the right and along the road
under the mountain through Brooks Vale
and onto the New Haven turnpike north
of Mt Carmel. We stopped under the church
sheds and fed the horse at Mt Carmel, and
then went on to Angurville where we
turned east and took the first road south
through Fair Haven along the east side of
Quinnapiac{??} River and on to East Haven
Green where we turned south and saw
Clyde, Raymond and Kimball who had
just left the Branford car at the Green.
We then traveled on to Mansfield's Grove,
but stopped before we reached the Grove and
left the horses in the woods and we got
into a brook and got about four bushels
of oysters and after feeding the horse and
eating lunch, we started for home. We
were obliged to stop and put in new
calks{??} into the horses shoes to keep him from
slipping and came past the stone church in
East Haven at 20 minutes to 4 and drove on
to Mt. Carmel where we fed the horse and
put in new calks{??} as the road was very
hard and icy, which made the horse lam
and we had to go slow, but we got home
at eleven o'clock.
12\27\{1906} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\28\{1906} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
They had a Christmas tree at the Chapel
this evening.
12\29\{1906} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
The packing room shut down tonight, thus
all of the shop is closed for vacation.
12\30\1906 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport at the Chapel, his sermon
included a review of the past year's events
and he said that he attended a funeral this
morning before service which made the 100th
person he had buried since coming to
Waterbury 25 years ago.
12\31\{1906} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
01\01\1907 (Tuesday)
New Years Day. The weather has been warm.
This morning foggy, then sunshine and
tonight cloudy, but it has been warm
and the ground is quite muddy.
I have spent the day in working, putting
up a washing machine in John Fabin's
room. Only about a dozen worked. There
are about 400 that work when the shop is
running.
This evening Clyde went to town and
Clifton Heaton called to see him. In the
parlor Irving, Chester Kimball, Clifton
and Margaret are playing cars.
Clyde and Chester of Lafayette and
Clifton of Yale, all in class of '07.
01\02\1907 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Albert Moss told me that the concrete
for the arch at Cotton Hollow on the trolley
line was made 1,2 and 5 i.e. one bag
100 lbs Portland cement 2 wheel barrows
of sand and 5 wheel barrows broken stone
or small cobbles.
01\03\1907 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory putting in machines
for washing forks in John Tobin's room.
01\04\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
They started the engine and did a little
work to day.
01\05\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Irving was promoted to sergeant in
Co A, 2nd Regt., C.N.G.{??} last night,
Clarence Brown has gone to work in
the rolling mill at Benedict & Burnhams.
Loaned book pumps and hydraulics to Martin
Cunningham to day.
01\06\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Smith of the Baptist Chapel at
Union City preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
01\07\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Bros to
day.
This evening I called on the honorable
Frederick J. Kinsbury and we talked
about the early history of the brass
industry in Waterbury.
01\08\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went down to father's.
01\09\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Went to the Chapel this evening
to a supper and entertainment
given by the ladies.
01\10\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
01\11\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\12\1907 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day,
01\13\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Frederick Buck preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
01\14\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Kent Bender came to board with us
to day. He has gone to work in the Mattatuck
shop.
01\15\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\16\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Sent a history of early brass industry
and a list of the original men
who founded it in the Nangatuck
Valley.
01\17\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory of the Rogers
& Brothers this forenoon. This afternoon
I attended a stockholders meeting of the
Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. in their new
office near their factory on the Brown
meadows. The same directors were reelected.
They are Mr. A.H. Wells, F.P. Welton, R.
S. Somers, M.E. Keeley, F.R. Beardsley,
Corneilas{??} Tracy and Abel Kenworthy.
President Ambrose H. Wells,
Secretary and Assistant Treasurer
Frederick Beardsley, Vice President
Abel Kenworthy, Treasurer Frank
P. Welton, General Manager William
G. Martin.
01\18\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We hitched into the sleigh this morning
for the first time this winter. Sleighing is
good although this evening is is misting
and foggy.
01\19\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The City of Kingston on the island of
Jamaica was destroyed by an earthquake
last Monday. There were 400 killed
and over 1000 injured.
01\20\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Phipps preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This day has been very warm and
the sleighing has all gone.
01\21\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
01\22\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked as usual to day.
01\23\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
I find that my pay is raised .25 a day.
01\24\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This was the coldest day so far. The thermometer
registered 22 below zero this morning.
This evening Sheriff William Gillette
called and wanted me to go up to Woodtick
with him as he was going to serve
a writ of attachment on DeWit Cowles
Wedrove to Mr. Cowle's house and attached
a large fine pair of horses for a bill of
$110.00 which on Wooding of Wolcott Center
claimed that Cowles owed him. Mr.
Clement Cornelius went bondsman
for him in the sum of 200.00.
01\25\1907 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
It has snowed all day but it is only
about three inches deep.
01\26\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
To day Ralph Blakeslee gave the school
children of Waterbury a sleigh ride.
He had one hundred and sixteen loads
drawn by two hundred and thirty two fine
horses. The horses were furnished by Blakeslee
about 120, Chase Rolling Mill 28,
and the others by the Scoville Mfg Co, Benedict
and Burnham Mfg Co, The Waterbury Brass Co,
Tracey Brass, The Waterbury Lumber & Coal Co,
The Brass City Lumber Co, The City Lumber
& Coal Co and others, besides all the big
sleighs that Waterbury could furnish.
Twelve came from Meriden, two from
Plainville, from from Bristol, seven from
Nangatuck, some from Middlebury,
Watertown, and Waterville. There were
a little less than 6,000 children in the
sleighs. The parade formed on the
north side of the green and after having
their pictures taken by a moving picture
machine, went out West Main St, up
North Willany{??}, through Grove, up Bishop,
over Elizabeth, down North Main, over Silver,
in Dublin, down Mill, down Baldwin,
down Washington, up South Main,
out East Main to Stanley Park and
counter march to the Green and dismissed.
01\27\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel.
Margaret, Irving, Mr. Bender and I went
for a sleigh ride over to Mr. Mosses in Cheshire.
Last night Sheriff Gillette came and
named{?} me to appear before the Superior
Court Criminal Side to be held at New
Haven on Tuesday, the 29th day of
January 1907 at 10 o'clock in the
forenoon.
01\28\1907 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
The first trolley cars ran through to
New Haven this morning. They bore the
words Newhave, Congress Ave to
Davenport Ave. Hitherto they ran to
Mt. Carmel and we had to change there
and take the consolidated cars for New
Haven.
01\29{1907} (Tuesday)
This morning I got on the trolley car at
my gate and went to New Haven, started
at six minutes after eight o'clock and
arrived there 9.30. At 10 went into the
juror room of the criminal side of
the County Court House and jurors
kept coming in till the room would
not hold them. Some were sent into
Sheriff Dunham's office to make
more room. There were finally 58
men there. In due time we were
called up a long flight of stairs
into the court room and the roll
called. We were then sent back
and they began calling up one at
a time, by lot, and after putting them
a most rigid examination, accepted or
excused them as the case might be.
My turn came at about three o'clock
in the afternoon when the messenger
ran through the rooms calling
Charles S. Miller of Waterbury. I followed
him and was given the foreman's
chair in Court. Thereupon the clerk
administered an oath and the states
attorney Williams asked my name
and how long I had lived in Waterbury.
I replied all my life. What is your
occupation? Reply. I look after the general
mechanical work at the International
Silver Works. Do you believe in capital
punishment? Reply. I think there are
causes that demand it. he then put
the question in stronger language
and I replied that I did. Do you know
of any reason why you cannot fairly
and conscientiously try this case?
Reply. I do not. The attorneys for the
defence then took me and asked numerous
questions among which were, are
you interested in any other business
other than that which you have spoken?
Reply. I am. What is it, the name I mean?
Reply. The Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc.
Is Mr. Williams the attorney for that
corporation? Reply. He is not. Defense,
accepted. State: accepted as eleventh
juror. And I took my seat. They then
examined about eight other men and
then selected a Mr. Mansfield of
Wallingford for the 12th man. He is
a druggist. The remainder of the day
was taken up in the examination of a
doctor from the New Haven Hospital
who prepared the autopsy on the
murdered man. Before the examination
of the doctor was begun, the
following oath was administered to
us. You solemnly swear by the name
of the ever living God, that without respect
of persons or favor of any man, you will well
and truly try and true deliverance make
between the state of Connecticut and the
prisoner at the bar, whom you shall have
in charge, according to law and the evidence
before you; so help you God.
The following are the jurors chosen and their
place of residence:
1. Frederick Drapier of Nangatuck
2. Thomas Crane, Ansonia
3. Charles A. Bradley, Southbury
4. W. H. Todd, North Haven
5. Arthur Benham, West Haven
6. S. E. Dudley, North Branford
7. John R. Loomis, West Haven
8. John Clark, West Haven
9. J. W. Talmage, Hamden
10. George W. Thorpe, Meriden
11. Charles S. Miller, Waterbury
12. R. N. Mansfield, Wallingford
01\31\1907 (Thursday)
Yesterday I went to New Haven and attended
court, but as Judge Case charge us not
to talk about the case or read any news
papers, I will write nothing about it now.
Last night I staid at Mr. Alexander Doolittle's
in the south west corner of the town
of Cheshire. This morning I took breakfast
and took the train to Brooksvale on the
Canal Railroad and went to New Haven
and attended Court all day.
02\01\{1907} (Friday)
This morning I started for New Haven
at 7.42 in a hard snow storm. The cars ran
very slow on account of the snow and when
we reached Mt. Carmel, the car that should
have come north went back to New Haven
just before we reached there, causing a delay
of about 24 minutes before another car came.
When we had exchanged crews and started,
I asked the conductor what time we would
reach New Haven and he said 10.15. I told
him of the other car coming and going back
and that I was a juror in the Superior
Court on an important case and that
Judge Case might think that the Consolidated
Rail Road was to blame if the Court
had to wait and that they might hear from
it. He went to a telephone and called some
one and soon returned and ran the car
very fast all the way to New Haven so I
reached there at 10.04 and before the Court opened.
02\02\{1907} (Saturday)
To day I worked at the factory all day
making copper pickle baskets for Mr.
White's part.
02\03\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Westworth of the seventh day advent
denomination preached an excellent sermon
at the Chapel this afternoon. After service,
Mr. Jacob Garrigus, wife and daughter,
Fannie Manwarren and her son Paul came
and took supper. Albert Moss and his
sister Sue, Fritzie Hanson and Amy
were also there, which with our own family
made 15 to supper and we all went to the
Chapel to an illustrated lecture on the
life of Christ given by Mr. Westworth.
To day is Clara French's birthday, 25 years
old I think.
Mr. Noble's house up in Wolcott burned
this morning. It stood at the north end
of Plumb Street on the left hand side,
the way of Cedar Swamp Pond.
02\04\1907 (Monday)
I worked t the factory to day putting drain
and steam pipes under the plating room.
This evening I wrote brother Fred of
Detroit, Mich. and H. Wales Lines of
Meriden.
02\05\{1907} (Tuesday)
This morning the snow had fallen
to the depth of about 15 inches and the
trolley cars were only partly running.
I drove to the Nangatuck {?????} Rail
Road depot and found it crowded with
working people anxious to go to Oakville,
Waterville, Nangatuck and other points to
work. But no trains. Finally we learned
that a train was coming from the
north which should leave according to
schedule at 8.55. It left Waterville at 8.18.
Next we got word that it was stuck
fast in the snow at the West Main
Street crossing and was delayed one
half hour. It finally came and we started
down the road, very slow in some places
and at Derby had to wait until a
scraper and two engines had plowed
out the road from New Haven. We then
went in, reaching there at ten minutes
to twelve. On the train at Derby I found
two other jurors, Mr. Drapier of Nangatuck
and Mr. Charles Bradley of South Britain
who had come to Waterbury the night
before. There was no Court held so we
reported to Clerk Fowler which entitled
us to our pay. I then went to Child's
Restaurant and got a stew of oysters for 20 cts
and then came back to the green and took
the Derby trolley car to Derby where I
changed and got aboard of the Ansonia
car which I rode to Seymour where I
walked to the rail road station and got
aboard the steam cars and came to
Nangatuck where I walked to the east side
of the river and took the trolley home
where I arrived at six o'clock.
02\06\{1907} (Wednesday)
To day I went to New Haven by trolley
through Cheshire. Snow drifts were deep
all the way, in some places up to
the car windows.
This is my fifth day of attending
the trial of Sam Knox for the murder
of one Mr. Kelley on Church Street,
New Haven nearly opposite the post
office on the night of Jan 1st.
02\07\{1907} (Thursday)
Went to New Haven to day and sat in
the Superior Court on the murder trial of
a colored man, Sam Know. All of the evidence
was given and both state and defence rested.
And Judge Case said that we would
have to come again next week, so he
would adjourn till 10 o'clock next Tuesday.
02\08\1907 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Found plenty of work.
Sleighing is good all about here.
02\09\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory all day.
02\10\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck (Episcopal) preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service, Mary, Ruth, Arline, and Geraldine
Belding and I drove up to Dayton C.
Wooding's and gave him an agreement
allowing DeWitt Cole of Wolcott permission
to cross his home lots in drawing wood
from the East Hill. We then went to
Woodtick and south past Chas Tuttle's
and John R. S. Todd's to the Meriden Road.
And in the Meriden Road and down to
East Farms and home. It snowed very
hard while we were coming south from
Woodtick and we stopped at Arthur Pierpont's
and borrowed a lantern.
02\11\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\12\{1907} (Tuesday)
This is Lincoln Day.
Attended Court at New Haven. The day
as spent in arguments. The first to
speak was Assistant State Attorney
Wheeler, then Attorney Isabel, then
Goodhart, then State Attorney Williams
who ended at 4.30.
This morning the thermometer was 10ø below
zero.
02\13\1907
Attended Court at New Haven. After the
opening at 10 o'clock we received the Judge;s
charge, Judge Case, and at 10 minutes to
eleven, we retired to the jury room and
soon elected Mr. Mansfield of Wallingford
foreman and myself clerk. We then
balloted and it stood Manslaughter 1,
Murder 2nd Degree 3, Homicide 1, and Not
Guilty 1. In all we took 6 ballots and
deliberated on the case 2 hours.
We then wrapped on the door and were
admitted into the court room where we were
asked for our verdict and our foreman announced
manslaughter. The state attorney
thought that the Judge should give the maximum
penalty and defence thought that
it should be a light penalty. The judge then
sentenced him to state prison to serve
there from five to seven years.
We then went to the Clerk's office and he
paid us in cash. I received $39.24. I then
went to Child's Restaurant and had dinner
and looked about the city till about 4 o'clock
when I took the trolley car and went to
Brooksvale where I visited Mr. Doolittle for
a time and then walked north and over to
the trolley line where I got a car and came
home.
02\14\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mrs. James Porter died this morning,
aged 90 years and 6 months.
Her maiden name was Sophia Beecher
and she was born on the west side
of the road that runs from Summit
to Prospect Center in a house that
stood on the site of the present one
north of the watering place.
02\15\1907 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
A large party of my friends and neighbors met at
my house this evening and gave me
15.00 which had been raised by subscription
from making snow paths.
02\16\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Mrs. James Porter was buried in
the Pine Grove Cemetery this afternoon.
02\17\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. John G. davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon. I was not there
for this morning. I went to Meriden
and visited the honorable H Wales Lines.
Had a most profitable and enjoyable
visit. Took dinner and supper and
in the afternoon went for a walk
with him. We visited first. Dea E. B.
Everitt, then Ex Gov Abrian Chamberlain,
and John Coe, the last two resides on
Colony Street.
02\18\1907 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day. The first regular
trolley car ran to Watertown to day.
02\19\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
02\20\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The young men gave a supper and
entertainment at the Chapel this evening.
02\21\1907 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day putting in a
pump to pump water for the closets.
This evening the Grange gave a masquerade
ball and Mr. Beuder, Margaret, Ruth,
Amy, Fritzie Hanson and George Hanson
went from here.
02\22\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day. Washington's
birthday. I raised the flag over the office.
Irving went to New York to day.
02\23\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\24\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Walters preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
02\25\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\26\1907 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving and I went to Nangatuck
and saw Mr. William Ward about
historic matters concerning Nangatuck.
02\27\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They tried the new gas furnace to day
for the first time, hardened four dies.
02\28\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mary went to the Grange this evening.
The thermometer was ten degrees below
zero this morning and we now have
had five weeks of continuous sleighing.
03\01\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Howard J. Rice of New Haven left
a Remington typewrote for us to try.
After work tonight Frank, Raymond and
I went down town to see Co F of New Haven,
or the New Haven Grays as they are commonly
known, come in and march up
Bank Street. They are the crack company
of New Haven and are composed of business
and professional men for the most part.
They are here on invitation of Co A
or the Chatfield Guards to a banquet
to be given at the Hotel Elton in their
honor. The governor Rollin Woodruf is
here also.
While waiting at exchange place, we found
Ruth, Margaret, Bertha and Clara French
and Fritzie Hanson and we all went
to the depot{??} where Co A went and came
up to the armory with the two companies.
The Grays wore their gray
uniforms, the same kind that I
wore when I belonged to the 2nd Regt
in 1878.
03\02\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I learned this morning that the special
train that was baring{??} the company
of Grays and Governor Woodruf home
from the banquet at the Hotel Elton
last night was wrecked by a head
on collision near the Eagle Brewery
one half mile south of the depot and
both engineers and both firemen
were killed and about twenty of the
soldiers were wounded. Two were taken
to the Waterbury Hospital and the rest
were taken to New Haven by trolley.
I went to night and saw the wrecking
crew move the last of the tender
from the track.
03\03\{1907} (Sunday)
I worked at the factory until ten o'clock.
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel to day.
This evening Margaret, Amy, Irving
and I went over to Prospect near Rag
Hollow and went through the mansion
that Mr. Albert B. Field is building.
03\04\{1907} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
03\05\1907 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\06\1907 (Wednesday)
I worked to day at the factory of Rogers & Brothers.
This evening Sheriff Gillette came and summoned
me to court tomorrow morning
in a case of Peter Laroque against the
Fred F. Ley Co for obstructing the highway
and cutting off his business.
03\07\1907 (Thursday)
This morning I went to the Superior Court
and this afternoon I was put on the witness
stand to testify. The witnesses called were
Ervis & Wright, Peter Laroque, myself and
Mr. Montey and the blacksmith.
The Court then adjourned to meet again
next Tuesday morning at 10
o'clock.
03\08\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I worked putting rims on
my little buggy wheels.
Pete Laroque has rented the Slavin Blacksmith
Shop on Silver Street and is fitting
it up to carry on the carriage repair
business.
One Mr. Pease is doing business in the shop
that I built and sold to Laroque who leased
it to Pease.
03\09\1907 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day. George Wilcox of
Meriden, President of the International Silver
Company, visited the factory.
03\10\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley of Trinity Church preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon. The attendance was
small on account of the snow storm.
We brought home one dozen singing books to
be repaired at the Waterbury Blank Book Co. There
are already one dozen there.
On counting the books we find that there are
42 books. This includes all that we know of.
03\11\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Last Saturday night at about 10 o'clock,
Mrs. Lucretia Munson died, aged 67 years.
She was widow of Seneka L. Munson, who
lived corner of the Meriden and Frost
Roads and died about twelve years ago,
and mother to Theodore and William
Munson.
03\13\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory four and one half hours.
yesterday I went to William Brewster's
office and he worked repairing my teeth
from eight to ten o'clock. I then went to the
court house and attended the trial of
Laroque against the Fred F. Lye Co as
witness in the Superior Court. Came
home at one o'clock, had dinner and
attended the funeral of Mrs. Lucretia
Munson which was held at her house at
two o'clock. I then went to the Chapel and
attended the funeral of a Mr. Gary of
Union City who was buried in the
Pine Grove Cemetery at the same time
that Mrs. Munson was. I then came home
and got aboard of the trolley car and went
to New Haven. Went to a book store near
the corner of Chapel and York streets to
buy a book but found it closed. I then
came down Chapel Street and bought two
quires{??} of typewriting paper and boarded
the Waterbury trolley car and came to
Ives Corner and walked to Brooksvale
to Mr. Alexander Doolittles where I stayed
over night.
This morning I got up and after a breakfast
of ham and eggs, Arthur and I went out and
saw a calf that was born without any
tail. I then went to the house and left $2.00
and walked to Ives Corner and took the
car and came home. At eighteen minutes
to ten I took a car and went to town after
which I went to Mr. Brewster's office and he
worked on my teeth till noon when I came
home and had dinner of fried cod fish after
which I went to the shop.
The first express trolley car came from New
Haven yesterday morning and began
doing business. It comes from New Haven,
passes through Waterbury to Nangatuck where
it starts on its return trip.
Mr. George Pritchard, aged 88, died of old age
this morning at his home on the east side
of the Wolcott Road between the Stilson and
Pritchard Roads.
03\14\1907 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The case of Peter Laroque against the Fred
F. Ley Co was decided today in favor of
Laroque with damage of $250.00.
Yesterday Michael Haran who lived above
Bucks Hill was found frozen to death in
his house where he had been lying on the
floor for about two weeks. Two of his cows
had died of starvation, and some of the
hens. He had lived alone in a house that
stood between Bucks and Spindle Hills.
03\15\{1907} (Friday)
I worked in the factory to day as usual.
Mr. Mulken had my horse to day. Paid 2.00.
03\16\1907 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I used my sleigh last Thursday for the last
time this winter I think.
03\17\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckwalter of Waterville Methodist
Church preached at the chapel this
afternoon.
The snow is nearly all gone.
This is St. Patrick's Day, and the Irish observe
it be wearing a twig of shamrock.
Last Friday Mr. J. H. Coupland, agent
for the Blickensderfer Mfg Co of Stamford
called at my house and took my typewriter
to Middletown where he is to
sell it for 20.00 and he is to send me
a new one next Monday from the factory
for which I am to pay a balance of
$30.
Last Saturday a son was born to Mr.
and Mrs. William Back. Mrs. Back was formerly
Elsie French.
03\18\{1907} (Monday)
I worked in the factory to day as usual.
To night I worked recovering an old lounge{???}.
03\19\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03\29\1907 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
My new typewriter came to day by Adams
Express and I went to their office on Center
Street and paid them thirty dollars and fifty
cents, which with my old writer makes $50.00.
The Waterbury American stated to night
that Ernis{?} E. Wright has been appointed
administrator on the estate of Mrs. James
Porter.
03\21\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Finished trimming the lounge{???} to night.
03\22\1907 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\23\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Harold Drew of Ansonia called this
evening and took the trolley car to
New Haven where he is to study. He
is in the law school at Yale College.
03\24\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Westworth of Hartford preached
at the Chapel this afternoon and this
evening he gave an illustrated temperance
lecture.
Yesterday was a fine day and last night
it thundered and lightninged, but to day it
rained and this afternoon it hailed and now
it is snowing.
I went out and saw Hubert Wedge about
some lumber. He is getting the second
floor of his new house ready to rent.
03\25\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory all day.
Edward S. Pritchard of the Stilson Road had
rented his house to George Kyle and is
going to move to Meadows End the middle
April.
Rob Hotchkiss went to work at Shelton
lat Wednesday.
03\26\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03\27\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory all day.
03\28\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked in the factory to day.
Mary, Ruth, Margaret, Frank, Raymond
and Irving had gone to an entertainment
at the Grange Hall.
We received a letter from Clyde last night.
He is spending this vacation with Chester
Kimball at his home in Port Deposit, MD.
They intended visiting friends in Baltimore
Monday and Tuesday and yesterday Clyde
intended going to Washington while Chester
went home to attend a sociable that he had
agreed to. They are to return to College
next week.
To night after work, Frank and I went to
town and bought a set of steel tires for .90,
two lbs of barbed wire staple .10, one pane of
glass 14 x 28 .31 cts, one horse whip .50 twenty
five lbs white lead 1.07.
03\29\1907 (Friday)
Fast day. We spent the forenoon building
a fence along the east side of the garden
between my property and that of the Church
of the Immaculate Conception.
After dinner Frank and I went out on
the Southington Mountain and saw Ed
Holmes, and the mud that we drove
through was very deep. From Arthur
Pierpont's to the Meriden Road, it was
up to the hubs of the wagon the greater
part of the way, and for a distance of
half of a mile this side of the Cheshire
line it was very deep and in places all
the way it was bad.
03\30\1907 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory all day.
This evening I put a set of tires on my
piano buggy wheels.
03\31\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
after which he attended a funeral at the
cemetery of a Mrs. Walker, sister of Edward
Pritchard. When we had come home
and had supper, Margaret and I drove
out to Elwen{??} Hitchcock's and left an
Easter lilly that the Chapel ladies sent
to him as he is sick. We then went
to Mr. Doolittle's at Brooksvale where
we met his son Judson Doolittle who
is a civil engineer and lives at Mt
Vernon{??}, N.Y. and is employed in the
Greenwood Cemetery.
04\01\1907 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It snowed about two inches last night and
it is very cold to day.
04\02\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Allen Burgess moved into the Rodier place
yesterday. A family has moved into the
Robert Hotchkiss place to day.
04\03\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The young ladies gave a supper and entertainment
at the Chapel this evening.
Frank went down to Mr. Doolittle's horseback
and took his lantern home.
The name of Dublin Street was changed by
the Board of Aldermen last week to Hamilton
Avenue.
04\04\1907 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Mary, Margaret, Irving and
Ruth went to the Grange Hall to a sociable.
There is a great famine in China. The people
are dying of starvation by the hundreds
every day. This country is sending relief.
I gave one dollar a week ago Sunday at
the Mill Plain Chapel.
They cast the first metal at the Waterbury
Rolling Mills Inc. last Saturday and
began rolling last Monday.
04\05\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\06\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I shod the horse.
04\07\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel
to day. Mr. Elliott called to see me to
day.
04\08\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory 10 hours.
04\09\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
It began snowing this morning and has
snowed hard all day. It is now about 7 inches
deep. After I got home tonight, I hitched onto
the snowplough and made a path up the
Doolittle Road, then in the Meriden, down
the Southmaid and up the Cheshire roads
home.
04\10\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The snow lay on the ground 12 inches
deep this morning.
04\11\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked in the factory.
This evening Irving and I made
picture frames.
04\12\1907 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\13\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked in the factory all day.
Bertha French got through working at
Rogers & Bros to night.
04\14\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
04\15\{1907} (Monday)
Worked in the factory to day.
This evening Mary, Margaret, Frank,
Raymond, Mr. Bender and I went to
Polia's Theater and heard Capt Peary
lecture on his trip to the Arctic
regions. He has been farther north
than any man ever living. He expects
to start again next year.
04\16\1907 (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory to day as usual.
04\17\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\18\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day laying a
tile pipe from the new water closet in
the girls inspecting room to the river.
04\19\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
It has snowed hard to day so that
it lay on the ground an inch thick to
night.
04\20\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
After work, Frank and I drove up
through the Bunker Hill district across
the lower end of Watertown to a
Mr. Joseph Blanchett's just over the
line in Woodbury where I engaged
1600 ft of chestnut boards to be delivered
within four weeks at $20.00 per thousand.
The weather was very windy and
cold. We came home through Middlebury
and saw where the new trolley
road is being built.
04\21\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchem of Wolcott preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
Mr. Godfrey Reed has taken charge
of the choir again. Played the organ
to day.
04\22\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Irving and I went to Mr.
H. Wales Lines in Meriden and got
and old bible that he loaned me to
exhibit in my case of old rare books
at the Chapel Fair to be given tomorrow
night. The book was published in London
on 1610 and was printed by Robert Barker.
04\23\1907 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Attended the chapel Fair at Hamilton Hall
this evening. There was a large attendance.
04\24\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clara French got through working at the
spoon shop to night.
This evening I carried Mr. Lines' bible
home. He gave me two pictures of
Senator Orville Platt.
04\25\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
To night I paid Hubert Wedge ten
dollars for timber.
04\26\1907 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clara French went to work at the watch
shop yesterday noon as stenographer.
Bertha French went to work in Attorney
Makepeace's office yesterday.
04\27\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked in the factory to day till six o'clock
taking the Peck lifter to pieces.
After work we went to the Chapel and
fixed rail by the side of the front steps,
the organ and the clock.
04\28\{1907} (Sunday)
Irving, Margaret and I went on to the
train to Litchfield station and walked
up to where Grandfather Miller used
to live. We stopped by the way and
got some arbutus{??}. There we called
on Mr. Harris at the corner of the
Torrington Road after which wee
walked to Torrington and took the
train to Waterville and the trolley
home.
04\29\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This afternoon I attended a stockholder's
meeting of the Waterbury Rolling
Mills Inc. and it was voted to increase
the capitol stock from 100,000.00 to
200,000.00.
04\30\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Planted garden this evening.
05\01\1907 (Wednesday)
Worked at he factory to day.
They auctioned off building lots at Highlawn
to day, sold two, highest price 185.00..
05\02\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
They have sold a number of building
lots at Hamilton Park plot, opposite me
old blacksmith shop.
05\03\1907 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It is reported that they auctioned off five building
lots at Highlawn yesterday and to day for
prices ranging from 180.00 down to 100.00.
05\04\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It has rained most of the time to day.
05\05\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. I worked at the factory
4 1/2 hours to day repairing a stem pipe.
05\06\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
It is reputed to day that they have sold
10 building lots at Hamilton Park Plot
along the Meriden Road and up back of
Father's.
05\07\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\08\1907 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The weather is cold and rainy.
05\09\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day putting
up the lifter for the Peck drop.
05\10\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
After work, Frank and I went to the
Foresters Hall and carried some
tables and trimming over to the
Chapel.
05\11\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked as usual at the factory to day.
It has been cold to day, mowed this
morning and noon.
05\12\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service I went on the trolley car
to Cheshire, got off at Richard's Corner
and walked to Brooksvale and examined
the place where a Mr. Hitchcock dug for
gold nearly 100 years ago. I then went to
Mr. Doolittle's and visited with him a short
time and came home on the trolley
car.
05\13\1907 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Last Wednesday the bill incorporating
the Waterbury and Milldale trolley line
passed the legislature.
This evening Frank and I printed
the Chapel steps and rails at the side
of the steps.
05\14\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
05\15\1907 (Wednesday)
I worked at the Rogers & Brothers factory to day.
After work I worked making a horse power to
run a saw. Had supper of baked meat pie
and boiled canned corn, after which I rode
on the trolley car to City Hall where I paid
my tax of nine dollars.
05\16\{1907} (Thursday)
I have worked in the factory to day ten
hours.
It has rained in showers all day.
05\17\{1907} (Friday)
Worked in the factory to day.
Mr. Douglas Maltly died yesterday
afternoon.
05\18\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank ploughed Father's and Mr. Harvey's
gardens this afternoon.
05\19\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Arnold of the Methodist Church
in Waterville preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
After service I drove across the Harper's
Ferry Road to the Prospect Road which I
followed to Prospect where I saw the new
Soldier's Monument which was placed
on the Green last fall and is to be dedicated
next Decoration Day.
I then went down the Cheshire Road
to Matthews Street and over across to
Gillette's Corner and in the Plank Road.
Miss Mable Lines came to day and
Margaret, Ruth, Mr. Bener and her went
for a walk to Prospect Center where they
met Burnis Falmage when she came
out of the Grange Hall which they use
for a Church since the old one burned.
And together they walked to Miss
Falmage's house near Summit and
then came home. This as a matter of
record is the first Sunday Ruth has
missed from Sunday School in five
years.
05\20\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day. As I was
driving through Hamilton Park this morning
to the shop, I noticed that all the water
was out of the ditch and on entering I found
that the earth embankment between the
bulkhead and the wheel pit had in some
way let a portion of the water through
and had forced the wall in quite a little.
The watchman discovered it at nine
o'clock last night and he notified
Superintendent Tobin and he got several
men and they shut the head gate but
there was a big stick under it so a lot
of water still passed through.
I took Fint Gleason, Patrick { } and Andrew
the Italian and went up to the dam and
by putting small bundles of brusk and
then sod and earth in front of the gate
succeeded in stopping the water. We
found that the gates are badly rotted
and will have to be new. This will take
some time and will give me a chance
to repair the waterwheel which needs
it very much and which I intended
working night and Sundays on.
Frank ploughed Mr. Jones's garden to
night.
05\21\1907 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank ploughed the Misses Porters' garden
to day.
Mr. Blanchette of Woodbury sent
me 1200 ft of chestnut boards yesterday.
05\22\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked in the factory to day.
This evening the meeting of the Mill
Plain Chapel Society was held in the
Chapel and I was elected Chairman.
The reports showed a balance in the Chapel
treasury of 57.20 and in the treasury
of the ladies union of 320.00.
The following officers were elected
for the coming year.
Chapel Committee for the Episcopal
Denomination - Austin B. Pierpont
Methodist - Hiram Abel
Congregational - Charles S. Miller
Baptist - Henry Judd
Secretary - Bessie White
Treasurer - Henry Cook
Sunday School Superintendent -
Henry Judd
Organist - Mr. Godfrey Reed.
Librarian - Earl Munson
Janitor - Mrs. Munson
The matter of incorporating the
society was taken up and it was
voted that the matter be left
with the Chapel Committee.
04\23\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked repairing the waterwheels to
day.
Mr. Cattell and a boy were killed
by the Watertown train at the
crossing near the town house or
Brookside home by the engine striking
the wagon as he was driving across
the tracks.
04\24\1907 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day repairing the
1200 pound Peck lifter hammer putting in
a city water pipe from the street 2' in
diameter, repairing the waterwheel etc.
Buffalo Bill's Wild West show
exhibited on the Porter lot this side of
Father's. They are giving only one
performance which was this afternoon
starting at 4 o'clock and closing at
six. Were late in getting here and it
was all owing to a shotness of help.
05\25\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked in the factory to day till noon when
the shop shut down for a half holiday.
All of the factories in Waterbury shut
down Saturday afternoon or work nine
hours and give a full week's pay except
our shop. Some of the help handed in a
petition to the office last Wednesday
asking for Saturday afternoon off with
full pay which was rejected. They then
asked for Saturday afternoon without
pay which was given. Yesterday
forenoon another petition was sent
in asking for work and pay Saturday
afternoon the same as we have been
having. haven't heard what may be
done. I did not sign any of the
papers.
This afternoon Frank, Raymond and
I ploughed the lower gardens and
stacked up 1830 ft of chestnut boards
which I bought of Mr. Blanchette of
Woodbury to build over our barn
with.
05\26\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Andrews of Hartford preached at the
Chapel this afternoon. This evening rev. Mr.
Westworth gave an illustrated stereoptician
lecture which was well attended considering
the rainy weather.
05\27\{1907} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary, Margaret,
Ruth, Mr. Bender, Bessie White, Mrs.
White and I went to the armory to see
the battalion drill of Companies A
and G. The drilling was very good and
there were many people present to
witness it. Company A gave a
competitive drill in which nine
men took part, one after another were
put out on account of making mistakes
until only two were left, Sergeant
Louis Stocking and Sergeant Irving
C. Miller. The prize was awarded
to Sergeant Irving C. Miller in the
form of a gold medal by Major
Tilson of New Haven. He also took
the Hitchcock medal for bringing
in the most recruits to the Company.
After the medals were awarded they
had a dance.
05\28\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory to day.
The weather has been very cold.
Usually at this time of year, we
are gathering flowers for the veterans
to decorate the deceased soldier's graves
but this year there is no flowers to
be found to speak of. I have not seen
a honeysuckle, daisy or lilac in
bloom.
05\29\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Clyde came home this afternoon, bringing
with him a Mr. Woolcock whose home is in
Pennsylvania. They came from New York
where their senior class of Lafayette College
had a supper at the Hoffman house last
night. Clyde told me that he has secured
a position from the City of Waterbury
making maps etc.
Miss Maud Honeyman of Plainfield,
New Jersey came this afternoon. She is
engaged to be married to Mr. Bender
and came on invitation of Mary and
to the surprise of Mr. Bender.
There was a severe frost this morning and
water froze over 1/4 inch thick with ice.
05\30\1907 (Wednesday)
Decoration Day. This morning Irving,
Clyde, Stewart Judd and I got our drums
out and Clyde fifed and the rest drummed
for a time.
We also got the fire engine out and
showed Mr. Woolcock how it worked.
This afternoon, Margaret, Ruth and I
went to Prospect to the dedication of the
Soldier's Monument. There were present
about 1300 people, veterans from Waterbury,
Cheshire, Nangatuck, Betheny and other
places, the Boys Brigade from St. Pauls Church
and the Cheshire Band and Nangatuck
Drum Corps were in attendance. There was
singing and speaking by Rev. Mr. Soule{?} of
Nangatuck Judy Cowell, Senator Phalon,
Representative Lavergne G. Clark, the Honorable
F. D. Bradstree of Thomaston.
Clyde and Mr. Woolcock left this afternoon for
college at Easton Pa.
05\31\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory.
Clyde went back to college yesterday
afternoon.
06\01\1907 (Saturday)
I worked in the factory to day packing
the shafts of the two waterwheels and
this afternoon put in a new galvanized
iron pipe to take the city water from
the watermeter to the boiler room in
place of the old one that was full of
rust.
Mr. Bender and Miss Maud Honeyman
to whom he is engaged to be married
went up to Bidwell Street to look at a house
that they are talking of buying.
06\02\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
After service the Committee held a meeting
and appointed A. B. Pierpont Chairman.
The Committee voted that the Secretary
count the money that is collected and give
it to the Treasurer and that the Committee
approve all bills and that the Chairman
keep a record of the bills so approved.
Also that I look up the matter of the new
water supply put in the Chapel in the regard
to health.
06\03\1907 (Monday)
I worked in the factory to day repairing
the waterwheels and helping Mr. Daylie's
men put in a new 6" section pipe to
the big steam pump.
Tonight shod the hose and planted sweet
corn. Miss Maud Honeyman went home
to day.
06\04\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory to day.
06\05\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Phillip Frey is to move in Mrs.
Anna Hall Pierpont's house next to
the Grange Hall where Mr. Rooland the
mail carrier has moved out.
I attended the meeting of the Pine Grove
Cemetery Association this evening and
the following officers were elected:
Trustees Mark L. Warner, Hiram
Able, Warren Hitchcock, Theodore
Munson, Ralph Blakeslee, Mr. Jessell
and Mr. Candy, Austin B. Pierpont,
Charles S. Miller, auditors.
They had a new map of the grounds
drawn by Mr. Patten.
06\06\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
06\07\{1907} (Friday)
Worked as usual to day in the factory.
06\08\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I repaired the shaft iron
on my new concord buggy.
06\09\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley of Trinity Church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service Clara, Bertha French,
Margaret and I went for a drive
up to Wolcott past Pritchard's Saw
Mill and over the hill at the meeting house
and down past Mark Tuttle's corner and
home through Woodtick.
06\10\1907 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Robert Hotchkiss has bought of William
Atkinson the Gallagher place up by the
red bridge.
06\11\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brothers which
is Factory J of the International Silver Company.
06\12\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked in the factory to day,
Yesterday afternoon, as Cousin Robert D.
Somers was showing a man how to run
a pair of straightening rolls at the Waterbury
Rolling mills, the glove on his
hand caught between the metal and
the roll and drew his hand in up to
the wrist. He showed remarkable grit,
not uttering a sound as the hand was
being crushed by the roll except to
give directions to the man to stop
the machine and while others sickened,
he looked at the ruined hand and
considered if there was not a chance
to save it.
They telephoned and Dr. A.A. Crane
came and had him taken to the
hospital where the hand was amputated
three inches above the wrist joint by
Dr. Crane, Dr. Frost, Dr. Demming,
and Dr. Graves.
At last account he was comfortable.
06\13\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Irving brought home the tickets
that are to take us to Easton to
see Clyde graduate from Lafayette
College. They cost 3.65 each.
We had a severe frost yesterday morning
and one Tuesday morning.
06\14\1907 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We are getting ready this evening to
leave on the 6.35 train in the morning
for Easton to see Clyde graduate
from Lafayette College. Mary, Ruth, Margaret,
Irving and I are going.
06\28\{1907} (Friday)
To night at 6.30 I arrived home and after
supper attended the Saw Mill Plain School
meeting which had been called by Committee
man Mark L. Warner. On the informal
ballot that was taken, there was 46 votes cast of
which Warren Hitchcock received 28 and I
received 23. On the formal vote which was
next taken, I received 24 and Warren 23 votes
so I am the Committeeman. The other officers
are Clerk B. F. Haggett, Treasurer James
White, Collector John Galagher,. They voted
to lay a tax of four mills on the list of
1906 and to pay Miss Totem 20.00 for service
as principle and to pay the collector 75.00
and not to pay me anything.
{Here follows the record of the weeks (6/15 - 6/27) that were previously
skipped over above:}
06\15\{1907} (Saturday)
We, Mary, Margaret, Ruth, Irving and I left
Waterbury on the 6.50 train and went to New
York where we went across the city and
river to the Delaware and Lacawana train
and went across New Jersey to Easton
where Clyde met us at the the station and
we took the trolley to College Hill but
when near the top of the hill, the top of
the car took fire and we had to walk the
rest of the way to the house of Mrs. Carwin,
corner of Porter and High Streets. There were
besides us a Mr. and Mrs. John Kimball and Mary of
Port Deposit, MD, a young lady from Scranton,
PA, and a young man from down in New
Jersey. In the evening Clyde came and
we went to the theater to a play given by
some students of the college entitled Lafayette
(College) Fifty Years Ago.
06\16\{1907} (Sunday)
After breakfast this morning, we attended
religious service at the Chapel at the College.
Had a sermon by President Warfield. The
Chapel was well filled and the senior class
came in dressed in their gowns and
caps of black. Clyde was with them.
After service we walked across the campus
of seven or eight acres surrounded by college
buildings on all sides to the hall where Clyde
and Chester Kimball roomed. They have a sitting
room and two bedrooms. They have them all
fixed up in attractive stile. On the side wall
are many familiar photographs of Waterbury
people. Soon we went to dinner, all of our party
went to our boarding place except Irving and
I. We went to Clyde's club in Marteen Hall
where we ate dinner, had roast beef, corn, greens,
pudding, ice cream, coffee etc. I then went to
where Mary and the girls were and got ready
to go up Weygadp Mountain. After waiting
some time, Clyde, Chester, Irving and a couple
of pretty girls came, and we walked to the
foot of the mountain where Mary and Mrs.
Kimball took the trolley car and the rest
walked to the top where there is a large brick
hotel from which we had a fine view in
every direction, north through the Delaware
Water gap thirty miles away, west over
a fine farming country and through the wind
gap many miles away, south over the City
of Easton and the mountains beyond, east
and east{??} across the Delaware and into
New Jersey a great distance, in this direction
more than half of the ground was ploughed
and panted, much of it with wheat. We went
out on the point of the mountain where
we could look down to the river 500 ft below
and had a fine view of the road and country.
We went back and met Mary and Mrs.
Kimball and I went out to the peak again
with Mary. We then came back and took
the trolley at a platform made of concrete
where the seat was a plank 40 or 50 ft long,
14 in. wide and 2 1/2 thick set up on end all
of which was made of concrete in one piece.
Near by was a dancing pavilion, the floor
posts, seats and steps of which were all
one piece of concrete. About the grounds
were many seats 6 ft long that could be
carried about made of one piece of concrete.
Stading on the mountain we could see
the smoke and steam rising from two great
Portland cement works at the west and two
beyond the Delaware north, and the Vulcanite
and another works at the south while
at the foot of the mountain on the Jersey side
there is a mine where they are getting out cement
rock. The cement works run night, day and
Sunday. We came home by trolley to the foot of
the mountain and walked the rest of the way.
After supper, Mary and the girls went to service
at the College Chapel but I took a walk down
by the river and around to the center of the
town, just as the church bells were ringing
and went into the First Dutch Reformed Church,
the chimes of which were playing familiar
hymn ("I Need Thee Every Hour"). The service was the same as the
Congregational except that the people stood
up when they prayed. The church was
built in 1776. In 1777 important Indian treaties
were made within it, and it was used for
a hospital during the Revolutionary War. It
is fine inside, largest organ I ever saw.
06\17\{1907} (Monday)
This morning I took a walk about the town and
among other things saw a big canal boat come
up the canal by the Delaware and into a lock
and after being lifted up about six feet, it was
drawn out and went up the Lehigh River.
The boat was empty and weighed about 18 tons
and was drawn by two mules. The same
boat when loaded would weigh about 120
tons and yet two mules would draw it.
They have begun haying here, saw one large
field mowed. The grass grows large and higher
than at home.
At two o'clock we went to the College exercises
which were held on the south side of Old South
College on a platform built for the occasion
and trimmed with many colors of hunting,
also wired with hundreds of electric lights
for use in the evening.
I could not hear the programme but saw
one student after another speak and at intervals
the Allentown Band played. Then came the awarding
of the presents. These consisted of toys etc.
such as nigger dolls, horse, drum, frogs etc.
each of which had some reference to some
deed, joke or act of the student such as one
who had had some hobby received a little toy
horse, another who had taken the part of an
Irishman in some play received an Irish flag.
Several who had taken the part of girls
in the theater received girls' hats, another
who was just married received a toy baby
etc. etc. They were all accomplished with very
able remarks but I could not hear them
Clyde received a small kerosene oil can
about which was wrapped a card bearing the
word fire in big letters. This had reference
to the time that he was arrested for putting
out the fire at McArthur's back two years
ago.
In the evening we went to a promenade{??}
which was held at the same place. I went with
Mary and Mrs. Kimball and we sat on the steps
of Old South and listened to a fine band concert.
Towards the end of it Mr. James Gayley
of New York who is worth over eleven millions
of dollars and a graduate came marching
down through the crowd with a brass band
he had hired playing "There Will Be A Hot
Time In The Old Town Tonight." After a time
he and his wife and three or four others marched
down to the center with the band playing.
After the exercises in the afternoon, Irving and
I went up the Lehigh in the trolley cars to
Island Park. On the way we saw many factories
and we went under two suspension
foot bridges said to be about 130 feet above the
river and over 1/2 mile long. Near the park
is a chain bridge over which he mules
cross as the draw the canal boats.
06\18\{1907} (Tuesday)
At the appointed time Irving met me and
we took the trolly cars and went up the Lehigh
Valley to South Bethlehem, passing through Freemansburgh
and several villages and the best
farming country that I ever saw, so stones
and hundreds of acres of wheat, barley and
rye and thousands of acres ploughed and
planted with potatoes, corn and many
other things. The houses were mostly built of
stone, some of brick and a few of wood, nearly
all plain two stories high, with slate roof. The
barns were nearly all of stone and very
large, all slate roofs and small queer looking
holes through the ends to ventilate the hay.
In many places the fences were post and rail,
four rails high, the posts were of slate 2" thick,
12 or 14" wide and about 4' 6" high above ground, with
holes in them the same as wood in which the
rails were put. The horses used by the
farmers were the largest and best I ever
saw anywhere, saw two and three working
in different parts of the same cornfield
cultivating. In going up the valley we saw
many factories, also iron and zinc works,
but at South Bethlehem saw the largest steel
works that I could imagine as large as all
of the shops in Waterbury put together, and
employ 20,00 men and cover a distance of
three miles by the side of the Lehigh River.
And there are more forges, furnaces and fires
than I ever saw before and more large tacks
and chimneys that all in Waterbury put
together. We crossed over to Bethlehem
paying 2 cts toll at the bridge and went back
to Easton by trolley, and got up on the
campus just as they were arranging to
take Burr Mc Kintosh's big picture (said
to be the largest ever taken in the world
14' long 11' high). They placed the chairs in
a circle about 150 ft in diameter and had
the classes sitting in groups and the visitors
standing in back together with several
class bands. The camera was in the center
of the circle and when all was ready it
made on very slow revolution and the
picture was taken. Mary, Irving and I
stood back of Clyde and I suppose that
we are in the picture. In the afternoon we
went to a ball game between the Bucknell
College team and the Lafayette. Soon the
senior class came marching onto the
grounds, followed by a band, then class of
'76 and other bands and classes till all down
to 06 were there and many of the older
graduates beside, 11 large bands in all.
After marching clear round the grounds and part
way again, the classes formed "company front" on
the north side of the ground, bands consolidated
in front, and all marched across the ground. Bands
playing all together "Onward Christian Soldiers"
and "How Firm A Foundation". The colors of the
dress of the several classes, the fine appearance
of all, and the long front of the bands, about 1/4
of a mile I should judge (the classes were nearly
double that length) made an appearance which
for beauty could not be excelled and the music
was grand beyond description. At a dinner
which was given to the older graduates in a large
tent on the campus, the sum of $50,000 was
subscribed and the competes a fund of half
a million dollars which has been raised for
an endowment college fund. This evening
Clyde, Irving and the girls have gone up
to Paxinosa{??} to a college dance.
06\19\{1907} (Wednesday)
At 10 o'clock we were in Pardee Hall where the
graduating exercises were to be held.
Soon we heard a band coming playing
"Tell Me The Old Old Story" and the seats on the
large stage were soon filled with the most
learned men that this and other states afforded,
Governor Stuart of Penn, Gov Hughs of New
York, several Chief Justices and High Judges,
professors, doctors etc. The senior class
marched in and took seats that had been reserved
for them in front of the stage and the
auditorium was soon crowded. The exercises
opened with a prayer by Rev. William Henry
Roberts D.D.,L.L.D. of Philadelphia, Moderator of the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. He
was introduced by President Warfield. All of
the men who occupied the stage were dressed in
robes or gowns and caps which were trimmed with
rich colors denoting their degree of learning.
Next came the Salutatory which was delivered
by a student of Easton in Latin, then
an oration by Edmond G. Wilson of West
Philadelphia, then conferring of prizes, next
oration "The Early History of Medicine", with
valedictory address by Henry Claud Updegrove
of Easton. He did well. There were many wet
eyes when he bade the College and class fairwell.
After this the class sang their parting song and
gave the class cheer. Then an address by
James Gayley, M.E., S.O.D. of New York, he is Vice
President of the United States Steel Co. and a
civil engineer and worth over eleven millions.
Next conferring of degrees by President Warfield,
Clyde marched upon the platform with
the other candidates for the degree and received
the degree granted by Lafayette College of C.E.
After the class degrees were given, the Governors
of New York and Penn and several Chief Justices
were given the degree of D.l. and many other
doctors and professors were granted degrees, then
the Benediction. Soon a parade was formed
in front of the auditorium and marched, headed
by the band playing 'How Firm A Foundation."
to a tent on the west side of the campus where
the ladies of Easton had prepared a dinner for
the thousands of college men that were there.
In the afternoon we went about the town
and over to Phillipsburgh and saw many things
of interest among which was the famous Greens
Bridge, two miles south east of Phillipsburgh.
The young folks went up to Island Park this
evening.
06\20\{1907} (Thursday)
Irving and I left Easton and went to Allentown
by trolley, expecting to go to Perkeyomen but
were four minute late for the train so we
bought tickets to Lansdale $1.00 and went there
by express train, passing through a long tunnel
at Acorn. From Lansdale, we went by trolley
to Norristown and walked across a wooden
covered bridge (counting our paces and found
it to be 1000 ft long) to Bridgeport where we
took train to Valley Forge, .18 cts. Went through
Washington's headquarters, saw Varnum's
headquarters, Fort Huntington, Fort Washington,
walked for miles along breastworks and
entrenchments, saw where huts stood where
soldiers lived, went up observatory tower
120 steps, saw the whole camp, four miles
long, three wide, saw soldiers' graves, old
redoubts etc. etc. Took cars to Philadelphia
58 cts, stayed over night at Winsor Hotel
near City Hall.
06\21\{1907} (Friday)
We went to a restaurant and had breakfast
after which we went to John Wanamakers Store,
corner of Broad and Market streets and after
walking about two miles and going down three
stories below the street level and up five above.
we succeeded in buying a collar, tire, shawl strap
and rubber cloth. We then went up to Fairmont
Park. I was there was the Centennial Exposition
in 1876 but had not been in Philadelphia since.
Saw nothing that I recognized in that part of
the city. We then took trolley to Independence
Hall and went through it. We then went to
the Penn R R station and bought tickets for
Port Deposit, MD. Took express to Perryville
on the Susquehanna River and train to Port
Deposit. We found Mr. John Kimball in his
office and he soon got a buggy and took us
about the place and up to the Jacob Tome
Institute which is beautifully located on
a hill east of the town. The buildings are
of stone well built and everything is there
that money can buy to make a good
institute. We found Mary in one of the buildings.
She had come in from Mr. Kimball's farm with
a two seated carriage and she took us out to
the Waterworks and there we saw the best
filtration plant that has ever been built. We
returned to Mr. Kimball's office and there found
Chester who had just come from Lafayette
College. He told us that Mary, Clyde and the girls
expected to leave Easton for home that day.
We then started for Mr. Kimball's home,
Mr. K{?} and I in the buggy and the rest in
the two seated carriage. Mr. K took me up the
River Road and showed me where the ice piled
up so high that they made a tunnel through
it for the cars to pass through and there
were great granite quarries where they were
using compressed air to drill with. A man
could drill 10 5/8" holes with their drill while
I could drill one by hand.
We reached Mr. Kimball's home, two miles
from the town up on a hill and the finest
place I ever saw, large house, barn three
stories high with hay bay 120' long, 16' wide
and three stories high, barn floor 36' wide.
He has 16 acres wheat, 14 acres corn and many
of other truck{??}. We had a fine supper and went
to bed and slept sound.
06\22\{1907} (Saturday)
We left Mr. Kimball's this morning at
eight o'clock in a buggy and he drove us to
the Port Deposit depot where we bought tickets
for Washington $2.01. Went to Perryville
where we changed cars and crossed the Susquhanna
River to Havre De Grace and sped
on to Washington, passing through two
long tunnels at Baltimore. At Washington
we went into a colored barber shop and got
shaved and had our shoes blackened. Then
we went up Pennsylvania Avenue and up
68 steps to the Capitol which we went through
and up 347 steps to the top of the dome where
we could look all over the city. We then
came down Pennsylvania Ave. to the
White House which we went through. We saw
many other buildings but did not stay to
look at them, but went to the dock and took
the steamer to Mt. Vernon. As we were
walking to the tomb where Washington
lies, we met Mr. William Leggett and his
new wife from Waterbury. They were on their
wedding trip and were the only people that we
knew after we left Easton. At the tomb we saw
the marble caskets that contain Washington
and his wife, then we went to the mansion,
saw the kitchen with its great fire place and
crane, got drink of water from the old well,
saw the room and bed, 2nd floor, where Washington
died, room and bed, 3rd floor, where
Mrs. Washington died, Lafayette Chamber
and all the other rooms and halls. They
are furnished as they were when Washington
was alive. The brick barn, coach house with
his old coach, bake house, laundry building,
butter house, spinning house and many
other houses are the same as they were while
Washington was living. When we passed
Mt. Vernon, the bell on the boat tolled and
the band played "Rock of Ages". Every vessel
tolls its bell or lowers its flag while passing.
We took trolley to Alexandria, on the
way we passed through a woodland which
was fragrant with the odor of the white
honey suckle. It runs in a vine and has
many white blossoms. At A-, we bought
tickets from Fredericksburg, 1.40 and took
express train not stopping until we got there.
The land through which we passed is mostly
clay, sand and not very productive. Reached
there at 7.34 and went to the Excelsion{?} Hotel,
the only hotel in the place, had supper of
steak, rice, potatoes, southern cup cakes,
apricots, and coffee, supper bread and breakfast
1.50 each. The hotel stands on the west side
of Main Street which runs nearly north
and south with buildings 2 and a few 3
stories high and touch each other, not a
tree to be seen in the length of the street.
This street is paved, but the other streets
are not, and where we cross them stones
are placed nearly two feet apart and
we had to step from one to the other in
crossing.
06\23\{1907} (Sunday)
After breakfast this morning, Irving, I and
a man from Texas hired Mr. J. A. Turner who
was a Confederate soldier and was in the
battle of Dec 13th 1862 and a three seated top
wagon, pair of horses with a colored driver,
and went over the battle field, saw where
the Union forces were repulsed, where
Mere's Irish brigade was cut to pieces,
where the New Jersey Regiment which got
nearest the Confederate works was annihilated,
where the Confederate line of battle was, where
the rebel batteries were posted on Maryes
Heights{??} and where the Washington batteries
were that mowed the Union men down,
where the federal batteries were on the
east side of the Rappahannac{??}, where the
buildings where shattered by our shot and
shell, and several buildings with many
bullet holes in them, saw where the bridges
were thrown across the river over which our
troops marched. Went up to Falmouth
and saw where President Lincoln reviewed
the union army. Saw Washington's home
and where his mother is buried. Saw
General Murser's{??} home and his monument,
the Rising Sun Tavern, where Washington
entertained Lafayette, the cemetery
where 16,000 Union soldiers who were killed
in the battle are buried, and another where
2,500 Confederates who were killed are
buried, after paying Mr. Turner 1.00 each,
Irving and I went to St. George's Episcopal
Church where we attended service. This
church had 15 cannon balls shot through
its steeple during the battle. After service,
we went to the station and bought tickets
to Richmond $1.85 and traveled through a
country that was much of the way
sand, clay or swamp, not many houses
or towns and here and there nigger huts
and shanties. At Richmond we went
about the town and to the Capitol and
about the park where there are many
grey squirrels. Saw 14 at once on the
grass. After looking about, and as the weather
was becoming hot, we took the
trolley to Peterburgh, .40 cts where we
went over many of the old military
works which were used during the siege.
Went out toe the crater 2 1/2 miles south west
where the Union men blew up a rebel
battery with four tons of powder and
a Mass Regt charged in but, not being
reinforced, were all killed or captured.
Went along the works to Fort Stedman
two miles, and darkness coming up, we
turned back to town and got rooms at
the Stafford house 1.00 each.
06\24\{1907} (Monday)
This morning we went to a restaurant
and ordered breakfast, but it was so rank
and the place so full of flies that we could
not eat, so went to the station and
took the train to City Point. The train
consisted of an engine, one freight and
one passenger car. The passenger car
was divided in the middle by a baggage
apartment and front of this the black
people rode, and back of it, the white.
At City Point, we took the steamer Pocohontas
and stopped at the principal landings as
we sailed down the James River. Stopped
at Jamestown for 1/2 hour and went ashore
and saw the old church tower built 1610
and the old fort and grave yard and many
other things of interest. We stopped at Newport
News and Old Point Comfort and
landed at Norfolk just before dark, having
sailed 100 miles for 1.00. We went direct
to the Gladstone Hotel where we engaged
rooms for .75 cts each and then went out
to the Exposition grounds. They looked just fine
as all of the buildings were outline
with electric lights while several search
lights were throwing their lights in
every direction. It is eleven miles from
the city to the grounds and costs 10 cts
by trolley.
06\25\{1907} (Tuesday)
WE spent all day at the Exposition, coming
back to the hotel to night. Got our meals
last night and to day at Hudson's English
Kitchen for 50 cts. Supper tasted good last
night as we had nothing to eat during the
day, and the night before we were so hot and
tired that we went to bed, having eaten nothing
since breakfast.
06\26\{1907} (Wednesday)
We expected to sail for home tonight but
could get no tickets as they had all been sold
and we found that the next best thing was
to engage passage on the Jamestown
for New York and leave tomorrow noon.
So we paid 6.50 for tickets including state
rooms. We then went over to the Portsmouth
Navy Yard where we spent the afternoon
looking at war ships, torpedo boats,
submarine boats, shops, cannons, dry docks,
new guns that they are putting into the
Missouri that have a 12" bare{??} and are 42 ft long.
We went aboard of the battle ship, Kentucky,
and returned to Norfolk at about 4 o'clock and
took a boat and went up to the Exposition to see
where the fire was this morning. When we got
there we found six squares burned over, on
which stood last night hotels, saloons, restaurants,
play houses and other buildings including
many stores. It started at five this morning
and is still burning in the evening. We came
back by trolley.
06\27\{1907} (Thursday)
We got up early, had breakfast and took trolley
at corner of Main and { } streets for Point
Pleasant. It was an express and went very
fast, When near the end of the line, a car
that was in back of us ran into the rear of
our car as we stopped to let a passenger off.
It smashed the platform and broke the
door and rear end, but no one was hurt.
We soon took the boat and went across
to Old Point Comfort and went immediately
to Fortress Monroe which
is the largest fort in the United
States. WE walked nearly around it on
the parapet, saw many large disappearing
guns and many things of interest,
among which was a fence over 1/2 mile
long with rails of iron top and bottom
but the pickets were musket barrels set
in three to the foot about.
Went back by boat and trolley to Norfolk
and went aboard our boat which was the
Berkley, but she only carried us across the
bay to Pinners Point where we landed in
a large warehouse which covered about six
acres and was filled with cotton, pig iron,
barrels, and hagsheads of vegetables and
a great variety of merchandise. We
passed through to the south side and
went on board the Jamestown ocean
steamer which lay at the south side
of the building and was taking on board
a cargo of freight. On the south side of
the ship lay two barges loaded with
barrels of new potatoes and there were
20 negroes on each barge loading them
into the Jamestown. As they were rolling
them in in, I timed them by my watch
and they put in twelve barrels a minute
from each barge and they kept it up for
two and one half hours after we got there,
and the barges were about half unloaded
when we arrived. As I was watching the
potatoes go into the vessel, a fleet
of twelve sloops{??} and schooners went by
drawn by a tug all loaded to the water's
edge with barrels of potatoes and two
other schooners followed them all loaded
with new potatoes. While they were loading
the potatoes into two gang ways on one
side, on the other they were loading in
pig iron, cotton, peanuts, carpets, and
other manufactured goods until it seemed
as though they would sink the ship. Finally
we got under way at five o'clock and steamed
up through Hampton Roads and out into
the ocean. Before dark we had supper for
which we paid 1.00 each but I did not eat
much as I was not hungry. We made
the acquaintance of a Mr. Roes of Houston
and Mr. Langley of Galveston, Texas
and we sat on the deck and talked till
quite late when we went to our state
room No 31 and went to bed. I was not
sleepy but the rocking of the ship soon put
me asleep and I knew nothing until
day break when we were off Delaware
Bay and land in sight. About eight we
were able to see the Jersey coast and we
kept it in sight all the way to New York.
The lag line showed that we were going
about 14 miles an hour. We reached New
York at one o'clock and dock at Pier No 26,
North River. We walked over and took the Faunt{??}
Avenue elevated cars and went to 42nd
street where we went to Grand Central
depot and bought tickets for New Haven,
1.50. Then we went to Childs Restaurant and
had dinner, took train at three o'clock and
reached New Haven about five and took
trolley for Waterbury, which we reached
at 6.30 at my own gate having traveled
all the distance without injury or accident
for which I thank God.
To night I attended a meeting of the voters of the
Saw Mill Plain School District and was elected
District Committee.
06\29\1907 (Saturday)
I worked to day at the factory.
06\30\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
to day.
After service I went to see Mr. James White
but he was not at home. I walked home
and took Raymond, Frank and went
to Austin Pierpont's and told him to
order 30 tons of egg coal at 7.00 per ton
for the Mill Plain School. I then drove
round by Mr. White's and talked school
matters a while, when I came home and
went down and saw mother.
07\01\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory all day.
07\02\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\03\1907 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
07\04\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked with Frank and mowed the
orchard est of the house where Mr.
White lives for the Mattatuck Company.
07\05\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
07\06\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory repairing, the
factory shut down Thursday for the
rest of the week.
07\07\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel.
07\08\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Frank finished mowing the field back
of the Mattatuck factory to day and
drew the hay to town for them.
07\09\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank finished haying in the meadow east of
the Mattatuck factory ditch.
07\10\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\11\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank mowed and got in the hay in
the yard in front of the Mattatuck factory.
07\12\{1907} (Friday)
I worked in the factory.
It has rained nearly all day.
07\13\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
After work I went up to Mr. James White's
and helped Frank get in the hay, after which
I came home and raked up my hay, when
Nathan Pierpont came with his father's
machine and I took it and went down
to Father's and mowed as long as Frank
and I could see, when Frank took the
machine home.
07\14\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the Chapel
this P.M.
I went for a trolley ride over to Cheshire
and called on Mr. Doolittle.
The new trolley road was opened for
travel yesterday from Nangatuck to
Seymour and to day crowds went that
way to New Haven.
07\15\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Mark L. Warner came this evening
and gave me the key to the school house
and turned over the Committee man's
book.
07\16\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
board of "Public Works' in regard to a layout
of the Woodtick Road from the Meriden
Road to the north line of the Old School
property. I reported in favor of the layout.
Mr. Raymond and Frank Welton were also
there.
07\17\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\18\1907 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\19\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank got in the last of Father's hay
to day.
07\20\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I mowed the grass on the
west side of the road opposite my house.
07\21\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr { } preached at the Chapel.
After service Mary, Ruth, Bessie White,
Bessie Parks and I went out to Arthur
Pierpont's for a ride.
This evening the young people of the
neighborhood held a praise service at my
house.
07\22\1907 (Monday)
{Margin note: Wooster Mc Guen}
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I ordered of Mr. Mc Elligott
thirty tons of egg coal for the Mill Plain
School Adelbert Chandler has bought the
Wooster Mc Guen place in Oxford and is moving
there to day.
07\23\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Frank and Raymond worked at Mr.
White's raking and getting in hay.
Irving left yesterday morning at four o'clock
for Camp Woodruff at Nyantic where he's to stay
with the soldiers the rest of the week.
07\24\{1907} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to Mr. Banley's office
and countermanded an order that Austin
Pierpont had given him for 30 tons of coal
for the mill Plain School. I then went to
Hotchkiss and Templetons and bought
a Newport lawn mower for the school.
Cost{??} 6.50. Worked in the factory
9 hours.
07\25\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory all day. Frank mowed
the lot corner of the Cheshire and
Harpers Ferry roads and drew it up
to the house and tonight Clyde and I
stacked it.
07\26\{1907} (Friday)
Worked in the factory all day. Frank
mowed the lot that Thomas Mills
house stands in.
07\27\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Clyde, Frank, Raymond and I got up
at four this morning and did the hand
mowing in the meadow that Thomas
Mills' house stands in. We worked
as long as we could see carting hay and
building stacks.
Irving came home from camp to
night at seven o'clock.
07\28\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
07\29\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank mowed for Maurice Reed this forenoon
and this afternoon mowed the west
part of the lot corner of the Harpers Ferry
Road and the Plank Road. Tonight Clyde,
Irving, Raymond, Frank and I took
our scythes and did all of the hand mowing
there.
07\30\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked to day moving the old grit shed
at the factory. After work we got three
loads of hay in to the barn at the James
Porter place and brought our load home.
Mr. Grant, Mr. Levenworth, Mr. _______
and I began moving a store {stone??} building
at the factory to day.
07\31\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day moving
the building.
We worked till nine o'clock to night
getting in hay from the corner lot.
Put thee loads in Porter's barn and
brought one load home. This finishes
our haying.
08\01\1907 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory, got the building
in place and started on another, the carpenter
shop.
Little James Elliott died this
morning at the Misses Porters'.
08\02\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I worked tearing down my
barn.
08\03\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
night and morning worked tearing
down barn.
08\04\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaughn of Waterville preached at
the Chapel.
08\05\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory jacking up the
carpenter shop.
08\06\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
08\07\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory moving the
carpenter's shop. This is said to be
the hottest day this year.
08\08\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked moving the carpenter's shop.
Had it in place to night.
Clyde and I hewed timber for our
barn.
08\09\1907 (Friday)
I worked at the factory.
08\10\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we hewed timber for
barn.
08\11\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
08\12\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to see building
inspector Chatfield to obtain a permit
to build my barn.
08\13\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
After work I met Mr. and Mrs. White
at the school house and engaged them
to clean the buildings.
Obtained a building permit of
Mr. Chatfield to build my barn.
08\14\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
Frank came home from the shore to
day, but Mary did not come.
Mr. and Mrs. White cleaned the school
house to day.
08\15\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked in the factory to day.
Mary came home from Fort Trumble
Beach, Milford to day.
08\16\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Williams began work at the school
to day.
08\17\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They have been laying out curved driveways
in the new part of the Pine Grove Cemetery.
08\18\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harold preached at the chapel this
afternoon.
08\19\{1907} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Winters who lives in the third house
above the school house on the Woodtick Road, same
side, died this morning.
08\20\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked moving the old joiner's shop into
place at the factory.
This evening I shod the horse and then
Frank, Raymond and I went to the brass
mill place to get some sticks of timber
but they were so large that we could
not handle them.
08\21\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we worked hewing timber
for the barn. When we stopped at dusk,
Irving saw smoke rising from over
the hill south of us and he and
Walter Mills went up through the
cemetery to see what it was. Soon
Walter returned and said that it was
the Blodgett barn on the Plank Road
and that the house was in danger and
to come with the engine soon as
possible. We hitched up and fastened
the engine back of the wagon, went
to the fire. When we got there the
city engine and chemical engine
were there so we ran our engine
into the Grove house yard and
saw{??} the house burn down.
No one was living in the house when
the fire started as Martin Burns and wife
who had been living there were in Danbury
where they had gone to bury a child.
The house was built I think by Benjamin
Farrell when he built the saw mill
opposite. He lived there many years
after which the place was sold and
by which name it has gone by ever
since although he has been dead about
ten years.
08\22\1907 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
08\23\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Drew sheks{??} from the old Brass Mill.
08\24\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
it rained quite hard to day., the first in 76 days
except two slight showers.
08\25\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at
Chapel.
08\26\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\27\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\28\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory tearing out the
muffles that stood on the south side of
the large chimney.
Ms. Judd finished painting the porches
to the school house.
08\29\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Mrs. Anna Lurch of Easton Pa. came
to day on a visit.
To night Clyde, Anna Lurch, Margaret,
Irving, Ruth and mr. Bender went to
Cheshire to an entertainment which
is given on the green for the benefit
of the library.
08\30\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They are building a new house on
Edson Avenue.
Yesterday they sold about ten building
lots at Highlawn at prices from $110 to
$2.10.
08\31\1907 (Saturday)
To day I worked 9 hours as is the custom
at our shop Saturdays. All of the other
shops in town shut down Saturday afternoon
or run nine hours all of the days
of the week.
After work the boys and I dug for the
foundation of the barn. We lighted torches
and worked till we finished at about nine
o'clock.
09\01\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
After service Frank, Raymond and I went
for a ride. We drove down East Main and over
Silver and Washington Streets to Highland
Avenue, then South to the Town Plot Schoolhouse
then west over Meloneleck Hill and took
the road south and down a steep hill and
over Hop{??} Brook then the Old Litchfield and
New Haven Turnpike which we traveled
under the arch and took the first road
to the left which brought us out in Millville.
We then drove to Nangatuck and
over to the east side of the river where we
put Raymond aboard of the trolley cars and
we drove home by the back road. Raymond
got home twenty minutes ahead of us.
The earth is so dry that the meadows are
all brown and the pastures dried up. In the
woods many of the trees are dead and the
leaves have turned yellow and dropped off
while everywhere under the trees the
ground is covered. Much of the corn is
a failure and in some instance whole
gardens have failed.
09\02\1907 (Monday)
This is Labor Day and I stayed home
and worked on the barn when it did
not rain. When it did I set two tires on
the team wagon.
09\03\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\04\1907 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory this forenoon and
this afternoon visited the school and
appointed Miss Peck principle and
arranged the matter of having the
ninth grade taught in the Saw
Mill Plain School.
We have had showers more or less all
day.
09\05\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\06\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
09\07\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory as usual.
09\08\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley of Trinity Church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
09\09\1907 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\10\{1907} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
09\11\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
09\12\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\13\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clyde is twenty three years old to day
and this evening we had a party supper
and there were present beside our own
folks, Will Gillette and Iva, Miss
Anna Lurch and a Miss { }.
09\14\1907 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day lowering
down the roof of the building that used
to be used for storing grit etc. in and
which we have now moved and joined
to the old carpenter shop in the new
yard.
This evening by working hard the
boys and I mixed tow batches of concrete
and put it in the farms under the sills
of the new barn, a batch is one wheelbarrow
of cement (Atlas Portland), two of sand
and five of cobble stone.
09\15\{1907} (Sunday)
This morning I attended service in the
Second Congregational Church and
heard Rev. John Davenport preach. After
service I took the trolley and went down
South Main Street to Nangatuck, Beacon
Falls, Seymour, Ansonia, and Derby,
where I took the Bridgeport car and
went through Shelton and by the
Housatonic River to Stratford where
at the "Pole", I left the car and walked along
the road to the Washington drawbridge
where I saw the new steel railroad bridge
up the river with its new draw that lifts
up. While I was on the Washington bridge,
a tug came up the river having two
barges laden with coal in toe, and
I saw the man open the draw. It is
swung by an electric motor which
turns the pinion that swings the
draw. I then walked to the east end
of the bridge (for about an hour while
I was on the bridge there were automobiles
crossing nearly every minute
and some of the time two, three and
four and trolley cars quite often) where
I took the trolley to "Meadows End" and
there walked along the beach to Fort
Trumble Beach, where I boarded a New
Haven car and at New Haven, I got
on to a Waterbury car and came home.
Rev. Mr. McNichol of Nangatuck preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
09\16\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory at joiner work
on the buildings that we have moved.
Mr. Grant helped me.
09\17\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory.
Mr. Chatfield's men put up a derrick
and commenced taking up the wall
between the ditch and pickle room.
Frank went to night with John French
to move Elsie's furniture from South
Main St. to their new home on East
Main near the junction of Wolcott.
To night Raymond and I mixed a
batch of concrete and put it into
the farms under the sills of our new
barn.
09\18\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory as usual.
09\19\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked to night putting concrete into
the forms under the sills of the barn.
At the factory I worked at joiner
work at the old joiner shop.
Clyde has been sick since Monday
with a severe billions attack, has
had Dr. Cowen, a woman doctor.
Day before yesterday Mr. Clark
saw a deer crossing the road between
my house and Mr. Blakeslee's barn.
09\20\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day at
joiner work
The City has a derrick in the
muck hole opposite the farmers home
and are going to clean it all out and
make a clean basin and put a
fountain in the center.
09\21\1907 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day eight hours.
As beginning this week, minors and
women can only work fifty eight hours
per week according to law, and they
shut down the whole factory.
I finished the concrete foundation of
my barn to night.
09\22\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
Mr. Thomas Nolan, a foreman in the
Farrell Foundry, called to day and
spent the afternoon. Mr. Cande's wife
and little boy called about five o'clock
and staid till after supper. They were
all very much interesting the fire
engine and especially the new
sprinkler.
09\23\{1907} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day inside
as it has rained hard all day.
09\24\1907 (Tuesday)
I worked to day at the factory to day
at joiner work.
After work Frank and I went to Hotchkiss
and Templeton's and I bought for the
Mill Plain School District 4 feather
dusters $1.80, 1 Whisk Broom .25, toilet paper
.10, in all 5.15. I also bought for myself a
brick trowel at a store on East Main St
where they are selling out, for .40 cts.
Irving and Mr. Bender took a load
of his goods down to Misses Porters'.
09\25\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\26\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as I usually do.
there was a hard frost this morning.
Mr. Bender left this morning for New
York. From thence he is going to Plainfield
N.J. to marry Maud Honeyman.
Clyde went to see Dr. Benedict to night.
09\27\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the Rogers & Brothers all day.
This is my birthday. Born 1858.
Frost this morning.
Went up to the Schoolhouse to repair the
watercloset this evening.
09\28\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory moving the little
building that Edward Cunningham
makes boxes in, over and joined it
onto the girls inspecting room.
The City made voters to day and Clyde
and Irving were made.
09\29\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Gulick preached at the Chapel.
Margaret began singing in the
Second Congregational Church choir
last Sunday.
It rained all the forenoon but it
cleared up this afternoon and after
service and supper I took a ride on the
trolley car to Cheshire.
09\30\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day finishing
up the building that Mr. Cunningham
makes boxes in.
10\01\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked putting up a trolley track
over the pickle tubs and putting in
a water tub and various other jobs.
10\02\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day making a
draft tube for the the pickle tubs.
10\03\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory with Mr. James
Grant on the draft tube and had my
gang of men unload a car of grits
F. {Frank??} went to Mc Cormick's mill and got
Mr. White's cider to night.
10\04\1907 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
To night Frank and I went to the
school house and worked with Mr. Camdey
on the sewer pipe and the cesspool.
10\05\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\06\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service I went on the trolley car
to the Notch-in-The-Rocks where I got off
and walked south picking up a few chestnuts
on the side of the road as I went
till finally I came to Brooksvale where
I visited Mr. Alexander Doolittle and
family a while, and then walked to
Ives Corner where I took the trolley home.
When I reached home, Irving had
just returned from Bulls Bridge where
he and Walter Boyd and another young
man had walked to day. They left
Waterbury at 5.30 this morning and
walked to Middlebury to Woodbury to
Rosbury to New Milford where they
took dinner at a hotel at 12.40, then on
to Bulls Bridge 34 miles.
They then took train to Bridgeport and
home.
10\07\{1907} (Monday)
Worked in the factory to day.
This is Election Day and the voting
has been done by machines for the
first time. Our factory closed at 11.00
and we went to vote on Union Square.
There were about 88 men ahead of me and it
took about half of an hour for me to vote.
Clyde and Irving voted for the first
time.
10\08\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory.
William Thomas was reelected Mayor and
the whole Democratic ticket elected except
town clerk. To day at about quarter
past nine a whirl wind passed over
a portion of the city which did much damage
in blowing over a two story barn on Town
Plot, blew in one side of Holmes Both and
Hayden's Casting Shop and did much other
damage. At our factory it lifted the cap{??}
from the trap door on top of the office and
landed it in the street and broke in a
big skylight under which four girls were
working, but none were injured.
At Father's it blew down one of the
large Maple trees on the front yard and
broke down eight more, blew the water
closet away and broke down the well {???}.
At my house it blew down the maple
tree in the north west corner of my lot
and broke down a grape arbor, broke a
branch from an apple tree, blew down
two fences and broke several branches
on the oak in the corner of the front
yard.
Mr. Candy has been sick for the
past two days and the doctor says that
it is pneumonia to day, so to night I
engaged Mr. Williams to take his
place. I also went to the school house and
repaired the water closet.
10\09\1907 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\10\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Large crowds went from here yesterday
and to day to the Danbury Fair.
Ralph Blakeslee has cut and carried from
his farm forty tons of hay this year and
raised over thirty acres of rye.
10\11\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory making over
the doors of the muffle room.
Yesterday Dana Elliott Doolittle died
at his home at Masses Farms in
Cheshire. He had gone to the barn to
do the chores and did not return later.
They found him lifeless. He was
aged { } and was the son of Jesie and
is to be buried at the Pine Grove
Cemetery.
10\12\1907 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day on
odd jobs.
Frank and Raymond went out
to Mr. Lease's on the Edward Scott
farm and bought 15 bushels of apples
at 10 cts per bushel and toed them to
Minties Cider Mill on the Plank
Road and had them made into
cider which nearly filled the cask
and he bought three gallons to have
it full.
10\13\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
Mr. Thomas Candy died last night
at 8 o'clock of pneumonia. He has
been janitor of the school and
sexton of the cemetery, is to be buried
next Tuesday from the Chapel.
This evening I took some guide bars{??}
out to Austin Pierpont's that Irving
has been making.
10\14\1907 (Monday)
I took the enumeration of the scholars in
the Saw Mill Plain School District to
day and find that there is 140. It has
taken all day and I have worked hard.
10\15\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked in the factory to day. We unloaded
a can of oil.
10\16\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
Wolcott Fair to day, there was a large
attendance. Frank, Raymond and Irving
went.
10\17\1907 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\18\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory finished moving
the old box building to day.
I took the school enumeration list to
Justice of the peace McMahon and swore to
10\19\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked to day at the factory.
10\20\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lepley preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
10\21\{1907} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Brother-in-law William Gillette received
the appointment of Clerk of the District
Court to day with a salary of three
thousand dollars.
10\22\1907 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day putting
doors on the old box shop.
10\23\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\24\{1907} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
10\25\{1907} (Friday)
To day I worked at the factory as usual.
Have worked every evening this week
on the frame of the new barn.
10\26\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
After work Frank and Raymond with
myself worked on the frame of our barn
till 10 o'clock. It was very cold.
10\27\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon. It rained
at times all the afternoon.
10\28\{1907} (Monday)
I worked all the afternoon taking
the showcase apart that Rogers &
Brothers had at the Worlds Fair at
Chicago 1893, and on the box store
house in the forenoon.
After work, Frank and I went
to town and I bought a rip saw
for 2.25 and three 3 cornered files
for .25 six inches long.
I then came and saw Mrs. Little
who has just moved into their new
house on Edson Street about their
children who are scholars. They
have two, Elsie 10 and Milton 6 years
old. I then went and saw Mrs. Candy
about what is due on Mr. Candy's
account.
10\29\1907 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\30\{1907] (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day sorting
iron and put up a flower pipe from
the trimming room to the annealing{??}
furnace in the muffle room.
10\31\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory putting in
a heating coil in the little building
that Mr. Edward Cunningham
makes boxes in.
This is Halloween or Cabbage
Night and Margaret and Ruth
have gone to a party down town.
Clyde has gone to another party
and Mary, Frank, Raymond
and Irving have gone up to Grange
Hall to the Grange Fair.
I having not{??} been out and a party
of boys have put a sign board 10 ft
long and 8 high in front of our gate.
11\01\1907 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The Grange Fair is going on to night
and Ruth, Margaret, Burnace Falmage,
Irving and Mary are there.
I went to Oakville by trolley
to see Rev. James Reese about seeing
the incorporated article of association
of the Oakville Congregational Chapel.
He sent me to Mrs. Robinson who
lives on Falls Avenue. He showed
them to me and I then came home.
11\02\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day
cleaning the yard. Mr. James
Grant gets through to night and
is going to work at the American
Pin Company in Waterville Monday
morning.
It has rained all day, but
Frank went out to John Todd's
and got 290 ft of plank and drew
them to Henry Cass to have them
sawed into pieces five inches wide
for rafters for my new barn.
11\03\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught of the Simonsville Baptist
Church preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
This evening I went over to Cheshire
for a trolley ride.
11\04\{1907} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening Frank drew a stove
and some other goods from Mrs.
Candy's up to Robert Hotchkiss.
11\05\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory moving
the iron goods out of the shed and
over to the new place where we are
going to keep it.
11\06\1907 (Wednesday)
I worked moving a car load of grit in
barrels into the north shed and repairing
electric lights and putting a steam
ejector into the pit of the new oil
muffle.
11\07\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked to day putting in a floor
in the middle shed.
11\08\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory laying a plank
floor in the store house on the south
side of the yard.
Money is getting very scarce and
many of the factories are working
short time, but we are working nights.
We received our pay in gold this
week.
11\09\1907 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day overseeing the
digging of a ditch to drain the water from
going into the new muffle room. We work
only nine hours Saturdays, stop at five
but I work half an hour at noon and
get out half an hour early at night.
To night after work we put the sills
on top of the posts of the barn that we
are building.
11\10\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This evening all our family except
Frank and Raymond went to the Second {Congregational}
Church and heard the choir sing the
dramatic cantata "David". There were
twenty eight singers of which number
were Margaret and Irving.
11\11\{1907} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\12\1907 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\13\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Patrick Lyman died this morning,
having been sick since last Saturday.
We received our pay to day in
gold. Some of the factories have
paid off in checks and the banks
will not take them and store
keepers charge ten percent for
cashing them.
The Dimes Saving Bank,
the West Side Saving Bank and
the Waterbury Savings Bank have
decided to enforce the ninety day
law and require three months
notice from depositors before
they will pay.
11\14\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day
as usual.
This evening we put into place some
of the heavy timbers of our barn.
11\15\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
11\16\{1907} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory filling in the ditch that
we made to drain the water from the muffle
room.
This evening we shod the horse, repaired
some chains and made some large spikes.
11\17\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Honmold{??} of Waterville
Methodist church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This evening I went to Mr. James
White's and saw him about making
arrangements to use Hamilton Hall
Thanksgiving Day.
11\18\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory putting new
sills under the old iron shed and
getting ready to move it.
11\19\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked repairing the old iron shed
at the factory.
About three o'clock a large balloon
passed over here going southward. It
contained two men and was going at
a rapid rate of speed.
By tonight's paper we learned that it
started from Pittsfield, Mass.
This evening Irving set the joyce
for the upper floor of the new barn.
11\20\{1907} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day moving
the old iron building.
This evening Irving, Frank and
I went up to the Hamilton Hall and
measured the distance from the
nearest water in the brook south
west of the building to the hall and found
it to be 405 feet.
We then went over to the School
House and looked at the steam
heating apparatus.
11\21\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory.
A car load of chickens, ducks, pigs,
sheep and cattle came onto the siding
by Silver Street and was taken to
Pierpont's new Slaughter at East
Farms to be butchered.
11\22\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory.
Twenty four years ago today I was
married.
11\23\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. B. F. Howland called this evening.
I gave him 2.00.
11\24\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. It snowed this morning,
then hailed and rained very hard all
day from the north east.
This is Mr. Davenport's birthday.
He was born in 1840.
11\25\{1907} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Earl Munson, son of Theodore, had
an operation performed on him
by Dr. Anderson and Barber for appendicitis.
The two Finlanders who work
for me and Con went onto nine hours to day.
11\26\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day
tearing away the old cake{??} shed.
11\27\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked to day clearing away the
old cake house.
Edward Payson Weston completed
his 1,234 mile walk from Portland, Main
to Chicago at 12.15 yesterday noon, making
the distance in 24 days, 19 hours and 15
minutes and beating the time he
made 40 years ago 1 day, 3 hours and
25 minutes. He is now 69 years
of age. On his trip he passed
through Waterbury each time.
I have forgotten the road he
came in on 40 years ago but he
went out West Main St and over
West Side Hill to Kent.
This time he came from Bristol
through Hancock Valley and Waterville,
lunched at the Elton and
left up the Valley Road to Thomaston,
Torrington etc.
11\28\{1907} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving and we all went to Hamilton
Hall to the Somers Reunion, except Clyde
who went to Easton. Will write the rest tomorrow.
11\29\{1907} (Friday)
{Margin note: Mother Pierpont}
I worked getting ready to move the old
iron shed a little farther to the west as
Mr. Rockwell wished it set different.
Mother Pierpont came to live with us
a while to day as Wilson is moving into
the Laughton place on the Idylwood Avenue.
This morning at twenty minutes to seven,
a terrible accident happened at the West Main
St crossing by a double header freight
train running into a trolley car as it was
crossing the tracks. There wee two young
men and three young ladies killed and
twenty four injured. They all worked at the
Oakville Co and were on their way to work,
only two escaped without injury, the motorman
and a man that was standing in the
front platform.
This forenoon Roy Munson came into
the yard on his bicycle and said that the
chimney on the Holmes house was on fire
and wanted Irving to go up with the
engine. The hose was hung up drying
having been used yesterday to fill the
tank at Hamilton Hall and they had
to wind it onto the jumper and then
they started, Irving and Irving Hitchcock
drawing the engine and Raymond
and two Mulhern boys on the jumper.
Roy Munson started down the road after
Frank who had gone with his mother up to
Fray's Store. He met them at the foot of
the hill and Frank hurried and overtook
Irving at Mrs. Frost's and he hitched the
engine back of the wagon and Ray hitched
the jumper back of Dan Squire's team
and they got there quick and soon had
a stream on the fire and put it out.
At the business meeting of the Somers
Family Association held yesterday, at 5.20
o'clock, called to order by Sect., minutes of
last meeting read and accepted, as was
also the Treasurer's report, and the report of
the Entertainment Committee.
A new Entertainment Committee was
elected consisted of Miss Elizabeth,
Josephine, Myra, May, Mrs. George
and Mrs. David Somers.
There were present Mr. and Mrs.
Dwight L Somers (2), Mrs. Lillian Smith (3),
Mr. and Mrs. E. Joseph Somers (5) and son
Joseph Gray (6), Mr. and Mrs. Robert D.
Somers and son Gardon (9), Mr. and Mrs.
Louise J. Somers (11), Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H
Somers (13), Miss Elizabeth (14), Josephine (15), Myra (16)
and May Somers (17), Mr. and Mrs. David Somers
(19), Mr. and Mrs. George H. Somers (21), Mr. and
Mrs. Herman Miller (23), Miss Cara Miller (24),
Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Miller of Bristol (26),
Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Miller (28), Irving C (29),
Margaret (30), Ruth (31), Frank P. and Raymond
Miller (33), Mr. and Mrs. Roland Jenner (35),
Miss Louise and Ethel Jenner (37), Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew Goldsmith (39), Mr. William
Goldsmith (40), Mr. and Mrs. Charles Phillips
(42), Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Chatfield (44),
Road (45), Mr. and Mrs. William M. Gillette (47),
Mansfield Gillette (48), Mrs. Gillette (49),
Miss Amy Miller (50), Mr. and Mrs. Berkeley
Frisbie of Wolcott (52) and Miss Mary
Thayer (53).
Besides the bountiful Thanksgiving
dinner, the entertainment consisted
of music, reading, singing, dancing
and etc.
11\30\1907 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory moving and setting in
place the scrap iron shed.
12\01\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought from the Simonsville Baptist
Church preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
this afternoon.
12\02\{1907} (Monday)
I worked to day at the factory.
Went to night to see James White
about engaging Hamilton Hall for
the school teachers to give an entertainment
in next Monday evening.
I did not see him as the show had
made horse-shoers busy and at 8 o'clock
he had 25 horses in the shop.
12\03\{1907} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory.
12\04\1907 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
12\05\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory getting the
hose house ready to move.
12\06\{1907} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual,
moved the hose house.
12\07\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Simonsville and saw
Miss Peck about the school entertainment
to be given in Hamilton hall next Wednesday
evening.
12\08\{1907} (Sunday) Rev.
Mr. Buck preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon. This morning
I saw the Chief of Police Beach and engaged
an officer to come out to Hamilton Hall
tomorrow night. I then went to the
Second Congregational Church and heard
Dr. Davenport preach.
Came home on the trolley car with
Margaret.
To day is Mother Pierpont's birthday.
She is seventy nine years old and
Mary invited all of her brothers
here to supper in honor of the event.
There came Charlie, Austin, Elmer and
Wilson with their wives and George
Conner. Mother knew nothing about
it and she went to the Chapel with
me, and when service was over she rode
to our house with Austin and was
surprised to find her children there.
The weather has been nice and warm
to day.
12\09\1907 (Monday)
I worked to day tearing down the
strip house.
This evening I attended the
entertainment at Hamilton hall
given by the school children. They
did well and netted nearly $20.00.
We hired a police man to preserve order.
12\10\1907 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day putting
in a partition in the iron house.
12\11\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory.
The Ladies had a supper at the Chapel.
12\12\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory tearing down
the old strip house.
We began working eight hours to day.
12\13\{1907} (Friday)
I worked tearing down the old strip house.
Fred Williams started for Fort Slocum
to join the regular army to day.
12\14\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory today.
About nine inches of snow fell to day
and after work I went up the Frost Road
in the Meriden Road and down the
Southmaid Road with the snow plough.
12\15\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. McNickol of Nangatuck preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
12\16\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day eight hours.
President Roosevelt went to Hampden Roads
to see the Battleship fleet start on its sail
of more than 14,000 miles into the Pacific.
The fleet, which is the most powerful one
that the world has ever seen, is commanded
by Reas{???} Admiral Robby Evans
and is composed of the following battleships:
the Kansas, Vermont, Louisiana, Georgia,
New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, Minnesota,
Ohio, Missouri, Maine, Alabama,
Illinois, Kearsarge and the Kentucky, in
all 16 ships with a total tonnage of
223,836 tons and carry a total of 360 guns
and 12,793 men.
Mr. William Doolittle was killed
by the trolley cars in Cheshire to day.
12\17\1907 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day 4 hours.
This afternoon I visited the Mill Plain
School and then went to Waterville to
find out what I could about Miss Russell
as a school teacher.
12\18\{1907} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day 8 hours.
Had orders to day to let all of my men
go on account of dull times.
This evening I saw Mr. Snow about
incorporating the Mill Plain Chapel
Society.
12\19\{1907} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Frank and Raymond and I went out
to Wilson Pierpont's farm and sawed off
one length 18" long of a log 3' 6" diameter
as we have done for the last three nights
and brought it home.
12\20\{1907} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day eight hours.
The engine did not run at the factory to
day. The shop has shut down for some time.
12\21\{1907} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day 8 hours.
I went to Waterville this evening and saw
Miss Carnes and Miss Chase about teaching.
12\22\1907 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
Went this evening and saw Mr. Tinker
about teachers and went to Waterville
and saw Mr. Grant and family.
12\23\1907 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day 8 hours.
Mrs. Elmer Hitchcock died yesterday afternoon
of pneumonia. It has rained hard all day
and taken nearly all of the snow.
12\24\1907 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
After work Frank, Raymond and I made
two 3\4" turn buckles.
12\25\{1907} (Wednesday)
Christmas this morning. I found my
stocking hanging with the rest and a
number of presents in it which included
a warm winter cap, a shirt from
Mary, the cap was from the boys, an
envelope from Mother Pierpont containing
ten dollars for "Charlie and Mary", a lead
pencil from Raymond, a coin from Margaret,
a handkerchief from Ruth and other presents.
This afternoon we all went down
to Father's and had dinner and in
the evening we had a Christmas tree
which had an abundance of presents
on for all.
All of Father's children and grandchildren
were home except brother Fred
who lives in Detroit.
Will Gillette had electric lights put
into Father's house yesterday.
12\26\1907 (Thursday)
Irving, Frank, Raymond and I went out
to Wilson Pierpont's pasture lot and sawed
off 14 cuts of wood eighteen inches long
from logs, the smallest of which was
20 inches in diameter and up to 3'6" in.
Frank and I worked on cross-cut saw
while Irving and Raymond worked the
other. We brought home two loads of
small wood.
12\27\{1907} (Friday)
This morning Frank and I went M.
J. Dayleys & Co place of business and
Frank carried out two lengths of 1 1/4 pipe
for George Monroe and I saw Mr. Dayley
about the heating arrangement at the
Mill Plain School. He said that he would
come out right away so I took the trolley
car and got there soon as possible and
he came soon. We found several things
out of order and we spent all the forenoon
there.
Theodore Munson was there cleaning
windows.
In the afternoon we worked on our
barn.
12\28\1907 (Saturday)
We worked on our new barn all day
and raised the rafters.
Henry Cass sawed his thumb so he had
to have it taken off Christmas Day.
12\29\{1907} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Dinsmore preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
This has been the mildest and most
pleasant day I ever knew at this
season of the year.
12\30\{1907} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening they had the
Christmas exercises at the Chapel
and although it was rainy, muddy
and very dark, yet there was a
large attendance. All the Sunday
school was there and many others.
12\31\1907 (Tuesday)
I worked to day at the factory putting
up some posts to support the cross
trusses{??} of the Making Room.
I received my pay for two days
work last week 8 hr 4.40.
Mr. Williams called to night and
gave me his bill for janitor service
at the school 4 weel {? ?} 24.00 from
Dec. 1 to Dec. 28.
Michael Tokis has bought the land
on the south side of the Plank Road
and is building a house there. He bought
thirty two acres.
01\01\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
This has been a nice day even
weather, cool enough so it has not thawed
much. No snow and fine skating.
In this vicinity there have been
hundreds out, on the old brass mill
pond, pond in Hamilton Park, the
Spectacles Pond, Frost's Pond and other
places.
01\02\1908 (Thursday)
I worked in the factory to day.
01\03\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day making
repairs about the drop hammers
shafts etc.
Received a telephone message
that the slate for my barn has
come to the Depot and there is
a demerrage{??} bill of over 3.00 on it. The
freight bill is 20.46.
01\04\{1908} (Saturday)
This morning Irving and I went to
the new Consolidated Freight Depot and
after interviewing a number of clerks
and agents found that they had not
notified me that the car of slate was
there and there is no demerrage{??} to
pay, and they will take it around
to the International Silver Co's siding
for 2.00 and give me four days to
unload it.
01\05\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel
this P.M.
Charlie and Elmer Pierpont came
this afternoon to see Mother Pierpont
about buying the old farm at
East Farms, he having sold his
farm of 72 acres a few days ago.
01\06\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day repairing
8 hours.
After work i went to the Dublin Street
station to see about the car load
of slate which has not come yet.
01\07\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The slate has not come and I went
down to the Station to see about it.
The Agent had the bill last night
and the car No 46556 of the N.Y.C.
S.H.R. Railroad was placed on the
siding{??} at the International Silver
Company on Silver Street.
To night is one of the roughest I ever
saw, the wind blew a gale, the rain
fell in sheets, and it is almost impossible
to walk as it is so slippery.
01\09\1908 (Thursday Morning)
Yesterday I worked at the factory
eight hours.
After work I had Frank come after
me with the big wagon and we brought
up 214 pieces of slate 22 x 14. We then
ate supper and Clyde and Irving
went over to Mr. Mulhearn's and got
his wagon and went down to the
car with Frank and Raymond and
got a load while Irving and I unloaded
the load that was here.
We kept drawing till all of it was
up, 1200 pieces, weight 6 1/4 lbs each,
7500 lbs total.
Mr. James Barnes who lives opposite
the old school house died this morning.
01\09\1908 (Thursday Evening)
I worked to day at Rogers & Brothers
Factory eight hours.
Sister Iva telephoned me this morning
that Will had received a letter
from Detroit stating that Brother
Fred had undergone an operation
for appendicitis and is in a critical
condition. He also telephone Frank
and Roll. I went up home and Frank
was there this noon and we made
arrangements for him to go out.
I was to give him $25.00 which
I sent down to Mother to night.
I went to the Dublin Street station
and paid the freight on the slate
which was 20.46 and 2.00 for bringing
the car around the the International
switch.
01\10\1908 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day eight hours.
Frank left this morning on the 6.30 train
for Detroit.
01\11\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory putting up
a large counter shaft for the new
Rolling Mill that is to stand in
the old machine room.
Will Gillette had a telegram from
Frank this afternoon which saw that
Fred was getting along nicely.
01\12\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Bukley preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
It has rained hard all day. I did not
go to service.
01\13\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory eight hours.
To night I attended an illustrated
lecture in the Chapel given by Rev. Mr.
Lewis on his travels through Europe.
Frank returned to day from Detroit.
Have not heard how Fred is.
This morning I went to work at
eight o'clock. There were about 50 men about the
gate waiting to get in. They were sent away
for another week.
The Watch Factory laid off 100 {???}
to night.
01\14\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory eight hours.
There isn't a shop in town that is
working full tine at present.
01\15\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Will and Iva called to night and
Will gave me $5.00 and some cents that
Frank had left after paying his
expenses and giving Fred 15.00 out
of the 25.00 I gave him as my share
to pay his way to Detroit and back.
01\16\1908 (Thursday)
Worked 8 hours at the factory.
They laid off 40 hands at the watch
shop yesterday.
01\17\1908 (Friday)
Worked 8 hours at the factory.
01\18\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked 8 hours at factory.
Worked on the new barn after I came
home from the shop.
This evening I went to Hotchkiss &
Templeton's and ordered a 24 ft ladder.
There is not a factory in Waterbury
that is running full time at present.
01\19\{1908} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Second Church
this morning, and then went and viewed
the changes that are being made by
the Consolidated Rail Road where
they are raising the tracks and building
the new passengers station. They have put
in the concrete foundations for he new
depot and have the tracks up to the
new grade in some places. I walked
down the new track that leads onto
the Nangatuck Road below Holmes Booth
to Hadens Factory, and on down to the
new sewage disposal plant where I took
the trolley and went to Nangatuck, then
to Derby and New Haven, but as it was
very cold, I took the Country Club cars
and came to South Whitney where there
were thousands skating and took the
Waterbury trolley and came to Brooksvale
where I visited Mr. Doolittle and found
Mrs. Doolittle sick in bed with the grip.
About nine o'clock I left and came home.
01\20\{1908} (Monday)
Worked at the factory 8 hours.
This morning Will Squares was nearly
killed by a blast of dynamite exploding
in a well the he was working in up
at Highlawn.
01\21\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours.
Worked putting the covering
boards on the north side of the
barn.
01\22\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours to
day.
01\23\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory eight hours.
The weather so far this winter has been
very mild. The thermometer has reached zero
only once, and we have had only one snow
that made sleighing.
01\24\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day eight hours.
We had a fierce snow storm this morning.
I went round with the snow plow.
01\25\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory eight hours to day.
01\26\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. Mr. Godfrey Reid resigned
as organist instructor.
I wrote a letter to Mr. Langley of
Houston, Texas.
01\27\{1908} (Monday)
i worked at the factory to day 8 hours.
To night Reut{??} Bender came and told us
that he was going to get through at the
Mattatuck Co and go to New York and
enter the employ of the Otto Gas
Engine Co.
01\28\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours.
01\29\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked 8 hours in the factory.
Machinists began working 9 hours to day.
01\30\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours.
Mr. Elmer Hitchcock died yesterday at
the home of his son Edson on Buckingham
St.
01\31\{1908} (Friday)
i worked this day at the factory 8 hours.
Kent Bender and his wife left the
up stairs tenement in the James Porter
house which was fitted up for them
last fall and went to New York to
live yesterday.
Thermometer 14 below zero this morning.
02\01\{1908} (Saturday)
The factory did not run to day
but I and several others worked.
I lined up a tab that is used for
hot water, soap solutions and cold
water, which leaked so that all
mixed together.
This morning it snowed about 6
inches deep and turned to rain before
noon, and tonight it is growing
colder and everything wet is turning
to ice. Elven Hitchcock was
buried in Pine Grove Cemetery this
afternoon.
02\02\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the
Chapel this afternoon. Hard ice
and slippery to day, cold and freezing.
02\03\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours this day.
Clara French is 27 years old to day.
02\04\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
I attended a meeting of the Good
Roads Association last evening of
which I was made a member at their
last meeting.
02\05\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours.
Vernon Able and Hattie Wiskers
were married to day and are going
to housekeeping Charlie Lee's house.
02\06\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers &
Brothers eight hours.
02\07\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory eight hours.
02\08\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory 8 hours.
02\09\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Berkley preached at the Chapel.
02\10\{1908} (Monday)
Worked at the fctory 8 hours.
This morning was the coldest so far,
18 degrees below zero.
02\11\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory 8 1/2 hours.
I ran the new oil muffle this afternoon.
02\12\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory all day on the
oil muffle. 8 hours.
02\13\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked 8 hours on the muffle.
02\14\{1908} (Friday)
I worked this afternoon on my barn and
visited the school this forenoon.
02\15\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked on the barn for a time this
morning till it began to rain at
about nine o'clock when we went to
work in the shop on a foot press, then
in the cellar on a waterwheel till about
4 o'clock when we went to see the high
water in the river.
02\16\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
02\17\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory eight hours to
day.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the good Roads Association in the
Business Mens Association rooms.
I was appointed inspector of the fire
gates, hydrants and valves at the
factory by the Superintendent to day.
02\18\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked in the factory eight hours.
02\19\{1908} (Wednesday)
This day has been very stormy, snowed
till about three o'clock and then it
rained hard. A supper was to have
been given at the Chapel but it
was put off on account of the storm.
I worked eight hours in the factory and
received my last week's pay $8.94.
02\20\{1908} (Thursday)
i worked in the factory to day eight hours.
To night we all went to the Chapel to
a supper and entertainment given by
the ladies. The attendance was large
and they realized about $28.00.
02\21\{1908} (Friday)
The factory did not run to day and
Irving and I worked on our new barn.
02\22\{1908} (Saturday)
Washington's birthday, all business
is stopped to day, owing to the dull
times. Benedicts & Burnham have
let 32 machinists and 15 casters go
this week and many other factories
have let many of{??} help go.
Irving and I worked on the barn
while Frank drew from town a load
of coal and a sled load of manure.
Coal is selling for 7.75 a ton.
This afternoon we took a load of plank
up to Henry Cass to have it sawed
up into dimension{??} stuff but he
wasn't home, We went up after six
and he sawed it up.
02\23\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
to day. Mr. Davenport is sick.
To night the Pierpont family gathered
at Wilsons and had supper in
honor of his 53rd birthday which was
last Sunday. He lives on Idylwood
Ave.
02\24\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours.
Miss Amy Dugan died of pneumonia
yesterday.
Margaret is 19 years old to day.
02\25\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory eight hours to day.
02\26\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory eight hours to day.
02\27\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours.
02\28\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory 4 hours this forenoon
and this afternoon Irving and I worked
on the new barn till four when Irving
and Mary went out to East Farms to get
some apples and Raymond helped me until
we had to give it up on account of the
cold. Then we went to sawing wood till
it was dark.
02\29\{1908} (Saturday)
To day Irving and I worked on our barn
and covered the north end and painted it red.
Frank took Henry Cook to the station
to take the train to Georgetown where is to
superintend the State Farm there.
Allen Burgess and Agnes Able have moved into
the Porter place to day.
03\01\1907 (Sunday)
Reverend Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel
to day. This afternoon after service I went
out to Arthur Pierpont's to see about getting
a piece of ground at Mother Pierpont's to
plant potatoes on. He said that I could
have it free of charge.
03\02\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory eight hours to day.
This evening the school gave an entertainment
in Hamilton Hall to raise money to buy a
book case with. Although the night was stormy,
the attendance was large.
03\03\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory eight hours.
03\04\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory eight hours to day.
Allen Burgess has moved into the upstairs
tenement of the Porter House opposite the
Mattatuck factory.
03\05\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory eight hours to day.
03\06\{1908} (Friday)
To day Irving and I worked on our new
barn although it snowed fierce. Some
of the time we had to work in the cellar
getting out cornice pieces etc.
This morning early Frank, Raymond
and I took a load of manure out to
Mother's place. We had to leave half of
it at the foot of the hill and took the
other half to the upper end of the west
meadow, west of the spring that supplies
Mother's place.
03\07\{1908} (Saturday)
We worked all day on the barn
putting on the roofboards, cornice
etc.
03\08\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. The weather has been
very warm and to night it rains.
03\09\1908 (Monday)
This day I worked at the factory
nine hours.
Mr. Edward Taylor called this
evening to have Clyde survey
a two acre lot that he has bought
of Henry Wedge on the north
side of the trolley track this side
of the arch.
I attended a meeting of the
Good Roads Association in the
Business Mens Association Rooms
and signed the articles of incorporation
as a charter member.
When I came out on the car,
County Commissioner Jacob Walters
of Cheshire called me to his seat
and we had a fine visit.
03\10\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked 10 hours to day.
03\11\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked 10 hours to day in the factory.
03\12\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory then hours to
day and this evening Frank,
Raymond and I put the roof boards
on the west side of the barn.
03\13\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory all day.
This evening Clyde said that
he had been working in the Meriden
Road this afternoon surveying it
so as to make a road sixty feet
wide from East Main Street to
a point north of the school house.
The City expects to put 1000 men
at work on it tomorrow.
03\14\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked all day at the factory.
This morning I put the first
slates on the barn.
03\15\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. This afternoon we had a
severe thunder shower.
03\16\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory 10 hours to day.
After work Frank and I put slate
on the roof of the barn but it was very
cold.
03\17\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory 10 hours.
This is St. Patrick's Day and the Irish
as a rule all wear green in the form
of ribbons, ties or shamrocks.
It snowed this afternoon.
Sixteen men and three double dump carts
began widening the Meriden Road.
03\18\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory ten hours to
day.
It has snowed, hailed and rained
all day.
This evening I got together and sealed
36.00 to pay Wallace Camp interest.
03\19\1908 (Thursday)
I worked to day in the factory.
03\20\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Truman Kilbourn died at his home
on the Wolcott Road last night after a
long illness aged 76 years.
03\21\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day ten hours.
Mr. Kilbourn was buried in the
Pine Grove Cemetery this afternoon.
03\22\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. De Witt Williams preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
It has rained and been disagreeable
weather all the afternoon and evening.
03\23\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I went to 136 Grand
Street and saw Attorney Nathaniel R.
Bronson about incorporating the Mill
Plain Chapel Society, but he was
called away by telephone and I made
an appointment to meet him tomorrow
night at six o'clock. I then went to
the Waterbury Lumber and Coal Co.
and paid a bill of 21.78 for a book
case for the school house. I then went
to Ralph Blakeslee's office and saw him
about Cemetery and Chapel matters.
I then ordered of Mr. Disley a galvanized
iron ridge roll for my barn for which
he is to charge 4.00. I then walked to
exchange place and took a car home
and then drove out to Jacob Garrigus
to see Mrs. Fannie Manwarren but
she was in town at Mrs. Carrie Upson's
on Field Street and was coming
out to the Grange this evening to attend
a meeting of the officers. I then came
home, but oh the mud was up to the
hubs. Had supper and went down
to the Southmaid Road and waited from
seven to nearly eight to see Mrs.
Manwarren when she came out but
she came not. I then went to the Center
and attended a meeting of the Good
Roads Association which expected to
be organized under the incorporation
laws of Conn. but could not as there
was only 36 members present and
the law requires 49 which is two
thirds of the Charter names, so the
meeting adjourned till next Monday
night. I then came home by trolley.
03\24\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day till five
o'clock when I took the trolley car at Silver
Street and went to #136 Grand Street
and saw Nathaniel Bronson about
incorporating the Mill Plain Chapel
Society. He will take the matter in
hand and is to see Mr. Snow and
get the papers etc.
I then came home, had supper and
with Albert Moss, went out to Arthur
Pierpont's to see Mr. Fannie Manwarren
about continuing the mortgage she
holds on Henry Cook's house. If Mr.
Hayward buys it, she wants half of
it at least {???} Cook sells.
03\25\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory ten hours to
day.
After work I came home and worked
on the barn.
03\26\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory 10 hours to
day. After work I worked on the barn.
Stanley Heaton and the Munson
boys and Bob Calking called this
evening to see the fire engine.
03\27\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory 10 hours.
03\28\{1908} (Saturday)
I staid home and put the slate on the
est side of the barn.
03\29\{1908} (Sunday)
Mr. Gulick of the Third Congregational
Church preached at the Chapel to day.
03\30\1908 (Monday)
I worked to day in the factory.
Phillip Frey moved to day to the
house that Arthur Griswould built
at East Farms.
03\31\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked all day at the factory.
We put the ridge roll on the barn
this morning and this completes the
slate roof.
Wilson Pierpont moved into his
wife's place at Mill Plain to day.
04\01\1908 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The City have{??} a large gang of
men and carts grading the
Meriden Road from East Main
St. to the Chapel at Mill Plain.
This evening Raymond, Frank
and I took a load of lining
boards up to Henry Cass and
had them ripped up into strips.
04\02\1908 (Thursday)
I worked in the factory all day.
04\03\{1908} (Friday)
I worked in the factory all day, although
the shop is running 8 hours a day
and four days a week.
We had snow this morning.
04\04\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked all day at the factory.
Weather has been very cold and snowy.
04\05\1908 (Sunday)
I did not go to the Chapel but this
afternoon took Raymond and Roy Munson
and drove out the Plank Road to Rag
hollow and up the Hollow to where the
City of New Haven are building a
large reservoir. We then took the
Betheny Road and a man told us
that we were ten miles from Waterbury
and five from Nangatuck. We then went
through Straitsville and Nangatuck
and home.
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
04\06\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at factory to day.
Laid floor in the barn this evening.
04\07\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory all day.
04\08\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I attended a supper at the Chapel this evening.
04\09\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day ten hours.
04\10\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory all day.
04\11\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
04\12\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the Chapel.
Called on Mr. Doolittle at Brookvale this
evening. This is Father's birthday, 78 years old.
04\13\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
04\14\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I visited the school
Wrote a letter to Mr. Cotting of Chicago
this evening.
04\15\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory all day.
This evening I went to B.F. Haggetts and
got a copy of the vote to lay a tax of
4 mills on list of 1907 and a copy{??} of the
last tax sheet. Mother is 74 years old to
day.
04\16\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
School closed this noon for the Easter
vacation.
04\17\{1908} (Friday)
To day is Good Friday and Clyde,
Irving, Frank and Raymond went
out to Mother Pierpont's and made a wire
fence around half of our acre in the north
east corner of the west meadow and
George Benham plowed it and we
are going to plant potatoes there tomorrow.
Clyde and Irving went home at noon.
About ten o'clock, Mother Pierpont went
out the back door and as she was coming
in and about to step into the kitchen,
she fell backwards down the steps and
onto the ground. Ruth saw her fall and
screamed Mama. We hastened out and found
her unconscious and Clyde, Mary and I
carried her in and laid her on the lounge
and Margaret hastened up to Mr. Sweets
and telephoned for Doctor Barber. After
some minutes Mother revived and we could
not find that any serious injury had happened.
Doctor came and we got her up
stairs and in bed and aside of a bruise
on the hip she seemed all right.
04\18\1908 (Saturday)
This morning Irving, Frank, Raymond
and I went out to our lot at Mother Pierpont's
place and we furrowed out the piece
while Irving planted the seed potatoes
and covered with earth, which took us
till night.
Mr. Roberts moved into Mother's house
day before yesterday.
04\19\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold{??} of the Waterville Methodist
Church preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
this afternoon.
After Chapel I went to Southington
by trolley to see Mr. Martin Frisbie,
had a very interesting visit. He told
me many incidents connected with his
war experience at Chambersville, Gettysburg,
Chatanooga, Lookout Mountain,
all of the battles to Atlanta and the
march to the sea at Savannah, the
march through South and North
Carolina and Virginia. He belonged
to the 20th Regt.
04\20\{1908} (Monday)
I worked to day at the factory.
04\21\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I engaged Wm. Aitchenson to be janitor for
the Mill Plain School, @ 6.00 per week, to
take Mr. Williams place.
04\22\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory all day.
04\23\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\24\{1908} (Friday)
Worked as usual in the factory to day.
04\25\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day. The factory
only runs 8 hours a day and is closed
Friday and Saturday.
There is but only one of two shops in town
running 6 days.
Mr. Williams got through being janitor.
04\26\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
to day.
04\27\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
William Aitchenson began caring
for the school to day.
04\28\1908 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
04\29\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
04\30\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon went to the Registers
of Waters office and got a list of
the voters in Mill Plain District.
05\01\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
05\02\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
05\03\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. { } of the Simonsville Baptist
Church preached at the Chapel to day.
This morning Irving and Henry Little-
John (Littlejohn) started at 5.10 to walk
to Hartford. They went by way of
Southington, Berlin and Hartford
and New Haven Turnpike. They reached
the City Hall in Hartford at 12.55, their
pedometers recording 32 miles.
They spent some time walking about
the City and then boarded a train
for Bristol and started from that
boro{??} at 3.45 for home through Wolcott
on foot, and reached home at 6.15,
having walked 49 miles.
05\04\1908 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Attorney
Howard B. Snow's office and
signed the incorporation papers
making the Mill Plain Chapel
Society an incorporated institution.
They are to be sent to Hartford
to the Secretary of State tomorrow.
05\05\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory all day.
The incorporators of the Mill Plain
Chapel Society are A.B. Pierpont,
Henry M. Judd, Hiram J. Abel,
Charles S. Miller and Miss Bessie
White.
05\06\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\07\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked to day in the factory.
05\08\{1908} (Friday)
I worked all day at the factory
although the shop runs only eight
hours, four days a week. This is a
dull time for Waterbury, nearly all
of the shops are on short time and
are running short handed.
05\09\1908 (Saturday)
This forenoon I worked on my new
barn. In the afternoon I went
to Branford and saw Mrs. Eli
Rogers about the Frisbie genealogy
that her husband prepared, but she
lent it and it has never been
returned. But she told me that
Mr. Henry Rogers of 211 Orchard
Street, New Haven has one that
he copied from his brother Eli.
05\10\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold{??} preached at the
Chapel to day.
Friday Frank plowed Thomas
Mills' garden.
Yesterday he plowed Fathers',
Spenser Monroe's and James White's.
05\11\{1908} (Monday)
I worked t the factory to day.
This evening A.B. Pierpont,
H.M. Judd, H.J. Abel, myself and
Miss Bessie White met at Miss White's
house and organized Mill Plain
Chapel Society Incorporated with
A.B. Pierpont, H.J. Abel, Henry M. Judd,
C.S. Miller {------------------------
----} trustees, with Miss Bessie
White Secretary and Treasurer,
A.B. Pierpont Chairman of the Board.
05\12\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
05\13\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory.
05\14\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank plowed Mr. Trover's garden
this morning.
05\15\1908 (Friday)
To day I worked at the factory ten hours.
I received a letter from Wadham's Post
G.A.R. engaging the Mattatuck
Drum Band to play in the parade
on Memorial Day.
This morning Frank plowed Charles
Sanford's garden.
Tonight I took some window paps{??}
up to Henry Cass and had them
rabbetted{??} out. When I got home I found
the house full of young people who
had come to give Frank a surprise
party, but when he realized what was
on, he jumped out of the north window
in my room and the boys could not
find him again.
05\16\{1908} (Saturday)
No work to day in the factory.
This forenoon Frank plowed Charles
Sandford's garden and drew
manure from town and Raymond
and I worked on the barn, covering
it with corrugated iron. This after
noon we went to New Haven by
trolley, fare 5 cts to Cheshire line,
5 cts to Prospect line, 5 cts to Cheshire
Center, 5 cts to Hamden line, 5 cts to
Mt. Carmel, 5 cts to Whitneyville and 5 cts to New Haven,
35 cts. We called on Mr. Henry Rogers of
211 Orchard Street to get information
concerning the Frisbie Genealogy
of which he had a store. We then went
to Foots Fish Market and bought two
quarts of long clams, and then
took the trolley to Mt. Carmel where
we stopped and visited my sister Cara
who keeps house for Mr. Elem{??} Dickerman.
At about nine we came home.
05\17\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley of Trinity preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
05\18\{1908} (Monday)
I worked to day ten hours in the
factory.
05\19\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked to day in the factory ten hours.
05\20\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked in the factory to day as
usual. This evening after work,
Frank, Raymond and I went out
to Mother Pierpont's and ran the
Breed weeder over the potatoes and
planted the sweet corn.
05\21\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. It has rained at times
all day.
05\22\{1908} (Friday)
I worked to day as the shop all run{??}
8 hours.
05\23\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked about home nearly all day
except 2 1/2 hours that I took to do
some errands about town before
dinner. Gave tax book to Mr. Gallagher
this afternoon.
05\24\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
I with Mary, Ruth and Irlene
Belden went for a ride up through
Woodtick and past Ransom
Hall Place and by Morris Park
and home. I left the school tax
sheet and book etc. with Mrs.
Robinson to give to Mr. Haggett
as we went up.
05\25\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
05\26\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
To night the Mattatuck Drum
Band met at my house for practice.
05\27\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the Mill Plain Chapel Society
Inc.; and the business of the
old Mill Plain Chapel Society was
closed up and it was voted to
turn over all the property of the
society to the Mill Plain Chapel
Society Incorporated and the
following trustees were elected
for the coming year,
A.B. Pierpont Episcopal
H. J. Abel Methodist
C. S. Miller Congregational
H. A. Buckingham Baptist
Bessie White Secretary
Meeting then adjourned till
two weeks at 8 o'clock.
05\28\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\29\1908 (Friday)
I worked at the factory ten hours to day.
This evening Robert Beckwith came and
got his drum, and Henry Beckwith and
Stewert Judd exchanged their pants
for larger ones. We, that is the
Mattatuck Drum Band are to report
at the Grand Army Hall tomorrow to play for
the Veterans of the Civil War.
05\30\1908 (Saturday)
{Margin note: Who turned out - M.L.C.
Fifers - Chas Cass, Henry Beckwith, Harry Buckingham, Clyde Miller
Bass Drummers - Henry Buckingham, Stuart Judd
Snare Drummers - Chas Miller, Rob Bookwith, James Alcott, Gardner Hall}
This is Decoration Day. Got up early
and went with the other members of
the Mattatuck Drum Band to the
Grand Army Hall on Bank Street
and from there escorted Wadhams
Post No 49 to the Soldier's Monument
where the Veterans placed large
bouquets
of flowers at the foot of
the monument, then marched back
to the hall, where the Spanish War
Veterans were assembling and then
"fell in" and marched to State
Street and took our position at
the head of the War Veterans in
the first division. Here we waited
about half an hour while the other division
were forming one on Central Ave.
and on Prospect Street, one on Holmes Ave
and perhaps others. At twenty minutes
past nine, the line moved. First came
police squad, then Ca's Grand A, C. W.
G. Co. E Hiberman Rifles and Boys
Brigade Co G was preceded by the
American Band. Then came the
Mattatuck Drum Band, the Veterans
of the War of the Rebellion and Spanish
War. Then the other divisions
which included civic organizations
and 2,500 school children, in all there
were over 5000 in line.
We marched in West Main Street
past City Hall and out East Main
Street to Hamilton Park where
the following programme was carried
out: 1. Overture by American Band
2. Singing "The Star Spangled Banner"
by the school children, 3. Address of
Welcome by Alderman Walker, 4. Singing
by Concardia Singing Society,
5. Address, Rev. C. A. Dinsmore, 6.
Singing "The Red White and Blue" by
school children, 7. Address, Rev.
M. J. Trainor, 8. Singing by Lyra
Singing Society, 9. Music, American
Band, 10. Address, Rev. John N. Lewis,
11. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
by W. C. Kennan, 12. Singing
America, all joining led by American
Band, 13. Tattoo{??} Mattatuck Drum
Corps, 14. "Taps" by the Buglars.
After the exercises we marched
back to the Grand Army Hall and
were dismissed and in the afternoon
it rained very hard. During
the exercises at the park, there were
several light showers.
05\31\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Bukley preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel.
06\01\1908 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Saturday afternoon after the parade,
Clyde and two other young men started
for Bulls Bridge to see the power
plant there. They walked to Washington
in the rain and staid over night
and the next morning went to
Bulls Bridge where after looking
about, they took the train to Bridgeport
and then home.
06\02\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the Ladies gave a
Strawberry festival at the Chapel
which I attended.
06\03\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
The annual meeting of the Pine
Grove Cemetery Association was
held in the Chapel this evening
and Warren Hitchcock, Mark Warner,
Theodore Munson, Hiram Abel,
Charles Jessel, Ralph Blakeslee and
Martin Pond were elected trustees
for the coming year.
06\04\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\05\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day this
forenoon. In the afternoon, I
visited the school and saw Ralph
Blakeslee who procured from
Warren Hitchcock a copy of the
deed and articles of incorporation
of the Pine Grove Cemetery.
06\06\{1908} (Saturday)
This morning Frank, Raymond and I
hoed our potatoes out at Mother Pierpont's
and this afternoon we worked on our barn.
06\07\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught of Simonsville preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
I met him at the trolley car at the
Mattatuck Shop and carried him to
the Chapel where while during the
service, he read the articles of incorporation
and by laws, when I carried
him to his home on Piedmont
Street, after which Mary and I went
for a drive down the back road to
the Union City Road then up towards
Prospect and turning to the left
came out at the head of the upper
reservoir and then came home.
06\08\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory all day.
06\09\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day ten
hours.
06\10\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day ten hours.
This evening I posted a notice for
a School Meeting to be held Friday
evening June 19 at 8 o'clock to
elect officers, lay a tax etc.
I then attended the adjourned
meeting of the Mill Plain Chapel
Society Incorporated and after
amending the bylaws so as to
include all the members of the
Mill Plain Chapel Society.
They elected Dayton Wooding
Treasurer, Arthur Pierpont Sunday
School Superintendent and George
Hanson Librarian.
06\11\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\12\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
06\13\1908 (Saturday)
I worked about home this forenoon.
Frank, Raymond and I hoed our
potatoes out to Mother Pierpont's this
afternoon and this evening Ruth and
I went up to see Mr. Chas Baker
in Wolcott to get Ellie to attend
the bacaloric{??} sermon to be preached
at the Chapel tomorrow.
06\14\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Bukley preached a bacaloric{??}
sermon to the graduating
class at the Chapel this afternoon.
This afternoon I took a trolley
ride to Cheshire.
06\15\{1908} (Monday)
I worked this day at the factory.
06\16\{1908} (Tuesday)
I attended the graduating exercises
at the Chapel this evening.
The program consisted of Song, Praise
Ye Jehovah, Salutary, Frank Miller,
Song "Believe Me', School
Recitation "The Frenchman And The Flea
Powder." - Elby Baker
Class History - Frank Miller
Class Prophecy - Ruth Lackhart
Song "Graduation Song" - Olga Hanson
Class Will - Lundel Heaton
Song "How Can I Leave Thee" - School
Presentation Speech - Olga Hanson
Valedictory - Elba Baker
Song "The Watch On The Rhine" - School
The five named in the program
constituted the class which was the
first that ever graduated from the
Mill Plain School.
06\17\{1908} (Wednesday)
Barnams & Baileys Great Show was
given on Porters Lot to day. All of the
factories in town closed.
This afternoon I attended the Class
Day Exercises of the Graduating
High School of which Margaret
was one. There were 78 in class.
06\18\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory.
This evening I attended the Graduation
of the High School Class at Polis Theater.
General O. O. Howard of the Civil
War made the address and Mayor
Thoms presented the diplomas.
06\19\1908 (Friday)
I worked to day at the factory
10 hours.
This evening I attended the
school meeting and at the election
of officers for Committee
man I received 26 votes and Warren
Hitchcock 29 so he was elected.
B.F. Hoggett was elected Clerk,
Mark L. Warner Treasurer and James
White, Theodore Munson and Edward
S. Pritchard Auditors. I was also voted
to lay a tax of four mills on the dollar
on list of 1908 to become due and
payable June 1, 1908.
06\20\{1908} (Saturday)
I went up to the schoolhouse with
Frank and Raymond and took the
seats that we had extra over to
Hamilton Hall where they belonged.
I then worked about home the rest of
the day but it was very hot.
06\21\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
06\22\{1908} (Monday)
I worked to day at the factory.
06\23\{1908} (Tuesday)
June 23, 1908. I worked to day at the
factory ten hours.
06\24\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked today in the factory.
Frank began haying at Father's
Monday morning and is working
at it yet.
06\25\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank finished Father's haying
to day.
06\26\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at factory to day.
06\27\{1908} (Saturday)
Frank, Raymond and I worked covering
the barn with iron.
06\28\1908 (Sunday)
This is Children's Day at the Chapel
and the building was crowded.
Dr. Davenport preached.
After service I took a trolley ride to
Cheshire and while riding down the
mountain this side of Mixville Station,
I saw a deer standing in the woods
about four rods south of the tracks.
This is the first wild deer that I
ever saw, although nearly everybody
else has seen them.
06\29\{1908} (Monday)
This day I worked at the factory.
Frank began haying at Mills place
to day, mowed and got in the
corner meadow.
06\30\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Frank mowed the home meadow at
Mills to day.
07\01\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Mfg Co broke ground
Monday morning to build a large
additional factory 150 ft by 40,
three stories high.
Mrs. Ovaitt [Oviatt] left for Danbury where
she is to stay a few days, and is the going
home.
07\02\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked in the factory all day.
The shop closed for two weeks to
night.
07\03\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
07\04\{1908} (Saturday)
To day I worked about home this
forenoon and this afternoon. We
hitched the horse into the two seated
wagon and Raymond, Frank, Mary
and I went for a ride over through
Mass Farms and out on to
the Southington Road and past
Dick Morgan's gardens and took
the first road to the left and came
over through Marion and up the
mountain and home.
Irving went last night to Milford
Beach and staid with some Nangatuck
friends. Clyde and the girls spent
the day at Hitchcock's Ponds and
then went to Milldale and took
the trolley cars to Compounce
to see the fire works but they
did not have them so they came
home by steam cars.
07\05\{1908} (Sunday)
There was no minister at the
Chapel to day but we had singing
prayer by J.H. Garrigus, a story
by Mrs. Garrigus.
To night we went to see the
soldiers Co.'s A and G start for
Watertown, NY. They left in a
special train of ten cars and
were to take on Co. M at Torrington.
From this neighborhood went
Irving, Clarence Brown, George
Hanson, Albert Leach and Roy
Judd.
07\06\1908 (Monday)
I worked to day at the factory.
Last Friday the first regular
trolley cars ran over the new
road through Middlebury to
Quassapang{??}, the fare is 15 cts.
07\07\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day
as usual.
Frank finished haying at
Mills lots to day.
07\08\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
this evening I took the Committee's
book and keys up to Warren Hitchcock.
07\09\1908 (Thursday)
I worked to day as usual lining up
the shaft that runs the trimming
room.
Frank went to Hartford and bought
a dash board of L.L. Ensworth & Son
for 1.85.
07\10\{1908} (Friday)
I worked all day at the factory with
Patrick Slavin and John French lining
up the main shaft that runs out to
the trimming room.
07\11\{1908} (Saturday)
Frank, Raymond and I went to
Mansfield's Grove in East Haven
after clams but others had been
there in the creek and got them
all before we arrived, so we got
about 4 quarts and half a bushel
of mussels. We also went sailing
in a row boat, went down of first
car and came home at 7.30.
07\12\1908 (Sunday)
This dat has been very hot.
Rev. Dr. Buckley preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
07\14\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory.
We had a heavy shower this after-
noon which did much good as things
are very dry.
07\15\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Irving arrived home this morning
at about 12 o'clock from Pine Camp
near Watertown N.Y. where he has
been with his regiment, together
with a Massachusetts, Penna,
Maryland and regular army
regts. since a week ago last Sunday.
07\16\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day ten hours.
The Mattatuck Manufacturing Company
began building a big dam on
the Mad River above their third dam
and east of the late David Shannon
place, started work yesterday.
Frank worked to day and yester-
day for the ice corporation hauling
ice out of the house at the Brass
Mill Pond.
Ralph Blakeslee estimates that he
has cut and stored on hundred and
sixty tons of hay.
07\17\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day 10 hours.
Paid Thomas Mills 6.00 towards hay.
07\18\{1908} (Saturday)
No work in shop, worked about home
when it did not rain. We had three
hard showers after dinner with much
thunder and lightening.
07\19\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught of the Waterville
Methodist Church preached at the Chapel
to day.
After service Irving and Ruth walked
from the Chapel to Mr. Wailliam
Mass's house at Mass Farms in
Cheshire and Mary, Margaret and
I drove. We had a fine time and
left for home at about 8.30 but before
we had come for it rained very hard
and was dark, several times we
met automobiles and some passed
us and as it was very dangerous,
we stopped at Harry Laughtons
and borrowed a lantern after
which we got along much better.
07\20\{1908} (Monday)
Rogers & brothers whistle blew at
7 o'clock this morning for the first
time since last October. Work full
time to day.
Frank and Raymond went out
to Hitchcock's Pond to camp
out with the other Mill Plain
boys. They expect to be gone a
week.
07\21\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\22\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory ten hours to
day.
07\23\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked all day at the factory.
They have the new factory at the
Mattatuck shop up three stories.
07\24\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day ten
hours.
07\25\1908 (Saturday)
No work at the shop to day.
this forenoon it rained and I
worked in my blacksmith shop.
This afternoon Frank, Raymond
and I worked putting corrugated
iron covering on the south end of
my barn.
Frank and Raymond came
home from the camp at Hitchcock's
Pond this noon.
Last night Clyde left for
New York to take a Civil Service
examination.
This noon Irving left for
Litchfield with Dr. Dewing to
go canoeing and to camp on
the shore of Bantam Lake to
night and tomorrow night in
a shelter tent they borrowed of
Co A.
07\26\{1908} (Sunday)
{Margin note: Aunt Fan died}
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
This morning Iva and William
Gillette came and told us that
Aunt Fan Somers died last night
very suddenly. He washed his
two seated carriage and was
going to bring Uncle Joe out
to Pine Grove Cemetery to
get a lot to bury her in.
After service, I went to Cheshire
and called on Mr. Doolittle.
08\27\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
08\28\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon
and at 2.30 went to Uncle Joe's at 109
Chestnut Avenue. We went in a
hack that came to Father's house
after us, while another hack came
after Father, Iva and Mother and
still another called at the same time
for Mr. Jerry Durand, Mrs. Scott
and Mr. and Mrs. Berkeley Frisbie.
There were a large number of
friends and relations in attendance
at Aunt Fan's funeral,
Rev. Dr. Buckley officiating.
The honorary pall bearers were
Elliott Somers, Ward B. Porter,
Albert Chatfield and Edward Root,
which the active bearers were
Frank and Berkeley Frisbie,
Benjamin Chatfield, William
Gillette, Chas Phillips and Joseph
Somers. They buried her in the
Pine Grove Cemetery across the
drive-way from the south east
corner of the Chapel.
07\29\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day
ten hours as usual.
07\30\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Someone is building a house west
of the head of Elson Avenue in front
of the old quarry and a cellar is
being made on the east side of
Elson Avenue near the Old Saw
Mill patch. The boys took our fire
engine up to the brook by Jones for
exercise this evening.
07\31\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory ten hours.
08\01\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked about home all day, except
the time it took me to go over and
see the new dam that contractor
John Gaffeney is building for the
Mattatuck Mfg Co. They are nearly
ready to begin work on the arch,
that is to carry the water under
the dam.
08\02\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught of Simonsville was
at the Chapel to preach but as he was
not well, Mr. Smith of the South
Waterbury Church preached for him.
After service Mary, George Byam
and Bessie Parks went for a ride
up to Wolcott and stopped at Evelyn
Upson's.
08\03\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank began pedding{??} milk for
Morton Pierpont last Saturday
Aug 1st.
08\04\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
The first trolley car went over the
new road to Thomaston yesterday
forenoon, and was received with
shouts of joy, the waving of handker-
chiefs and blowing of factory whistles.
Regular cars are expected to begin
to run tomorrow, fare to be 15 cts
and running time 45 minutes.
08\05\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked a the factory to day ten
hours.
We had a severe thunder shower
this afternoon.
The first regular trolley car left
the center this morning for
Thomaston.
The have built the new brick shop
at the Mattatuck Companies
up four stories and nearly all
of the bricks laid.
08\06\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
We had a severe thunder shower this
afternoon.
The Consolidated Rail Road Co
put up an electric signal to stop
trolley cars in front of my house to day.
08\07\1908 (Friday)
I worked at the factory ten hours to
day. There was another severe storm
this noon.
08\08\{1908} (Saturday)
I had no work at the factory, worked
on the barn.
This evening the boys of the neighborhood
came and took the fire engine
up to the "Red Bridge" and played
for exercise. Earl Munson was
foreman, Stanley Heaton assistant.
08\09\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the Chapel
to day.
Mrs. John Hine began work on
her new house Friday.
Hon H Wales Lines, Ex Governor
Chamberlain, Mr. John Coe and
another man called to see me this
forenoon.
08\10\1908 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Will Gillette, Iva and Mansfield went to
Madison this morning to stay a week.
08\11\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory ten hours to day.
08\12\{1908}| (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Margaret and Ruth went to East
Morris to visit Cousin Lena Franklinton
last Monday forenoon, expect
to stay till Saturday.
08\13\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked to day in the factory and it
has been the hottest day that I ever
knew in the shop.
08\14\{1908} (Friday)
I worked to day in the factory.
This evening the fire-boys had me
sound the fire alarm by striking
half second beats on the bass drum
while they ran from Munson's Corner
and took the engine from the house
up to Blakeslee's barn, the whole
time occupied in running from
Munson's and up to the barn
was nine minutes, and it took five
minutes to run from Munson's
to my house.
08\15\{1908} (Saturday)
No work at the factory so I worked
about home. Raymond and I
drew gravel for concrete this
forenoon and this afternoon we
went to John Gaffeney's and bought
four bags of Alpha Portland Cement.
We then put in a concrete curb
across the front of the shed of
the new barn.
08\16\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold preached at
the Chapel to day.
After service, I went over to Rag Hollow
and saw the new dam that is being
built by the New Haven Water Co.
I t is built on the site of the Old
Capt Mix Pond which was formally
built for a saw and grist mill and
used later to manufacture spoons
and also buttons. At one time
they made flints there for flint
lock muskets. I followed the
pipe line over the mountain and
through the Cornwell Avenue, stopping
at Mr. Fred Doolittle's and saw
Elmer Hotchkiss and Mrs. Doolittle
who was formally Mrs. Susie Nichols
of Wolcott with whom I went to school
in the little stone school house in
Woodtick in 1871.
08\17\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day. This afternoon
I worked the oil muffle.
08\18\1908 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory all day running
the oil muffle.
This evening the boys took the little
fir engine up to the little brook near
Peter Lund's and they had a stream
on his house in three and one half
minutes, having run from Zena
Bowen's, unlimbered the engine
and laid three hundred feet of hose.
08\19\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The Excelsear{??} Pomona Grange gave
a picnic at Hamilton Park to day.
There were about 700 present.
08\20\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
08\21\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
08\22\1908 (Saturday)
I attended a picnic of the Mill
Plain Sunday School at Compounce
Pond. We went over on a special
car engaged for $40.00 which carried
88 persons. Had a good time although
it rained hard much of the time.
I walked up to the Bristol Brass
Companies Works and saw Frank
and went over to Bristol and took
dinner with him, after which he
gave me a lock that was used on
an old Canal Waterhouse in Granby
and some hand forged nails that
were made by prisoners in
Old New Gate Prison.
We then went to Compound
by trolley and at quarter to six
came home.
08\23\{1908} (Sunday)
{Margin note: Mother Pierpont came to stay with us}
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the
Chapel this P.M.
We went over to Elmer Pierpont's,
it being his 51st birthday.
08\24\1908 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Margaret went to work at Plume &
Atwoods office to day as stenographer.
08\25\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at factory to day.
To night we mixed concrete and
put on a floor in the barn.
08\26\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
08\27\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day setting up
a washer.
Mary, Mother Pierpont, Margaret,
Ruth and Irving went to a lecture
on the "telephone" at the Grange this
evening. Ruth Todd came to day to
visit Ruth.
08\28\1908 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mary and Mother Pierpont went to
Savin Rock on the trolley to day.
08\29\{1908} (Saturday)
No work at factory to day.
We worked hard and put a concrete
floor in the north half of the new
barn.
This evening the boys had a fire
drill, went up to the brook by William
Jones and ran from John French's
house, unlimbered the engine and
had a stream through the hose in
one minute and three quarters.
08\30\{1908} (Sunday)
Mr. and Mrs. Ferris Turkington of
Morris called this noon. They drove
down from Morris with a fine
pair of bay horses.
Rev. Mr. Ketchem of Wolcott preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service, Mary, Bessie White,
Miss Schelz and myself went for
a ride out to the Indian Cave near
Summit. We then went over to Rag
Hollow and saw the reservoir that
the New Haven Water Co are building.
Then went east down a steep
mountain into Cheshire and up
the road that runs north at the
foot of the mountain and over the
mountain and in the Plank Road
home.
08\31\{1908} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
09\01\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\02\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
Cara came home from Elam Dickerman's.
09\03\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory fitting up the
wash room where the men worked that
roughed out the work.
Raymond worked yesterday and to
day for Ralph Blakeslee "jumping hay".
A new house is being built on the
cellar of the house that burned which
Wilson Pierpont lived in at East
Farms.
Mr. Sarah J. Hine is building a
large double house and two houses
are being built on Hamilton Park
Plot, one for Mr. Porter and the other
for some one else.
09\04\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Raymond stopped working for Ralph Blakeslee
bailing hay to night.
09\05\{1908} (Saturday)
To day Frank, Raymond and I worked
hard and put in a concrete floor in the
inside part of the barn.
09\06\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Phipps of Prospect preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service I took a trolley ride to
Cheshire and called on Mr. Alexander
Doolittle at Brooksvale.
09\07\{1908} (Monday)
This is "Labor Day". Raymond, Frank
and I worked all day digging potatoes
at East Farms.
09\08\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
I stopped to night and saw Miss
Bradley about early Chapel matters.
09\09\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
This evening I went out to East
Farms on the trolley car and helped
Frank and Raymond dig potatoes.
09\10\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day fitting up
the new washer etc.
After work I went to East Farms and
dug potatoes.
09\11\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Went to East Farms and dug
potatoes to night.
Charlie Tokio{??} has the cellar dug
and walled up for his new brick
block{??} which he is going to build
at the corner of East Main and
Silver Streets.
Thomas Hays has his wood
block up and covered that he is building
opposite the fountain in Hamilton
Park.
09\12\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory this forenoon
but staid home this afternoon and
out a partition in the barn as far
at the lumber would go that we
had on hand and then Frank and
I went to Tracy's Lumber Yard
and got over two hundred feet
Caroline pine boards then inches
wide for which I paid $4.14. It was
dark by the time we got home.
Miss Helen Drew, Gussie and
Minnie Sehnukes of Ansonia came
this evening.
09\13\1908 (Sunday)
Clyde is twenty four years old
to day. Clyde, Irving, Margaret,
Helen Drew and the Sehnukes girls
went to church this morning.
This afternoon we all went to
the Chapel and when we came
home we found Will Gillette, Iva
and Mansfield, Rolland Jenner, his
wife and Louise and Effel, Wales
and Miss Mc Kinley, Austin Pierpont,
wife and Mother Pierpont, three young
people from Nangatuck and soon Evelyn
Upson and wife and Paul Manwaring
from Wolcott came as did also my
father and J. H. Garrigus, wife and
daughter Minnie and Arthur Pierpont,
wife and two daughters.
Clyde and Irving were both surprised.
Frank, Mack and Helen Haywood
and her brother were here, in all 40
people. Miss Emery, Miss Rollinson
and Mr. Carpenter were from Nanga-
tuck.
09\14\1908 (Monday)
I worked to day putting up a shaft
through the south west part of the
making room.
09\15\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
Irving left this morning for New
York where he expects to attend the
Pratt Institute tow years. He boards at
272 Vandervilt Ave, Brooklyn, N.Y.
09\16\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
I received a letter from Cousin Elizabeth
Somers this evening asking me
to engage the Hamilton Hall for
the Somers Family Reunion on
Thanksgiving Day. I saw James
White and he said that we could
have the hall.
09\17\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\18\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
They have a great electric welding
machine on East Main Street
welding the trolley rails from
Wolcott Street west to Cherry.
Yesterday Orville Wright while
taking a trial trip in his new
aeroplane at Fort Meyer at Washington
had the propeller give out
and the machine shot to the ground
injuring Mr. Wright and killing
Lieut. Thomas E. Selfridge, a passenger.
09\19\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day, only
the machinists and die sinkers worked,
the rest of the factory being idle.
The atmosphere for several days
has been thick and smoky owing
to the great forest fires that are
raging in the towns of Canaan and
Salsbury in this state and in the
state of Main and in Canada. In
Canada several villages have been
burned out and many lives lost.
At times to day the sun was entirely
obscured by reason of the
smoke and when we could see it,
there only appeared a dim red spot.
This day remained me of the
dark day of 1881 when many people
thought that the final judgement
was at hand, although this has not
been as dark as that day.
09\22\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold if Waterville preached
at the Chapel to day.
This day Frank and I went
out on the old boundary road that
formerly divided Waterbury from
Wallingford and later from Cheshire
and still divides Waterbury
from Cheshire from the Meriden
Road south to the Prospect town
line but now continues in a strait
southerly direction to Straitsville.
We were in search of the Old Peter
Gilkey Place cellar and after searching
a long time were returning home
when we met George Cass in the
woods and he went back and
showed me. It is in the town of
Prospect on the west side of the old
highway about a good quarter of
a mile north of where the present
traveled road turns east from it
near the house owned by Wm Purdy.
The next cellar place north of the
Gilkey Place where stands a large
pine tree known as the Baldwin
Place and that north of this is the
Porch Place and next north near a
big rock is the Falmage Place, north
of which is the rock where the towns
of Prospect, Cheshire and Waterbury
come together, north of this is the old
road, crosses the Plank Road and in
Car Swamp it crosses the Meriden
Rail Road and the Cheshire trolley
line and on north past the old
Holt cellar and north of this it
crosses the Cheshire Road and through
the lots across the Todd Road where it
is traveled past the old Hitchcock cellar
on the west side and the old Hall
cellar on the east side and past
the present Byam place to the
Wolcott line on the Meriden Road.
After service Mary, Ruth, Helen
Haywood and I went for a ride to Wolcott.
09\21\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day ten
hours.
09\22\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This is Mary' s birthday, 48 years old.
09\23\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The factory began working
eight hours, six days a week this
morning.
The loss by fire in the forests
of New York State is over one
million dollars a day.
09\24\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked in the factory all day.
This has been a dry, hot day. The sun
has been blood red and cast hot red
beams that were most stifling.
09\25\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\26\1908 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\27\{1908} (Sunday)
My birthday, 50 years old.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
09\28\{1908} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
We have had a little rain to day,
the first that has fallen since the
first Sunday in this month.
This evening I saw Mr. George E.
Terry about the Chapel and he
informed me that it belongs to
the Cemetery.
09\29\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory ten hours to day.
09\30\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
William Gillette came to the shop
this noon and engage the Mattatuck
Drum Band to play for the Clark
Commandry of Free Masons at the
laying of the cornerstone of the new
stone bridge at Hartford, Oct 8.
10\01\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked to day at the factory.
10\02\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met
here this evening for practice.
10\03\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory. Nearly
all of the shops in town are now
running on full time.
Frank, Raymond and I worked this
morning and to night renailing the shingles
on the house.
10\04\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught of the South Waterbury
Baptist Church preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
10\05\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory 11 hours to
day.
Ralph Blakeslee has put into his
barn forty tons of rowen{rotten??} hay which
was not properly dried and it has
now all rotted so that they will
have to throw it all out as manure.
Arthur Pierpont had engaged
to buy it for his cows.
10\06\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day ten hours.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met at
my house this evening for practice and
made everything ready to go to
Hartford next Thursday with Clark
Camandry{??} Night Templers to the dedication
and laying of the last stone
on the new stone bridge across the
Connecticut River.
10\07\1908 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
There was a great industrial parade in
Hartford of 10,000 men and many
floats and 30 bands and drum corps
to day in honor of the dedication of
the new bridge.
10\08\{1908} (Thursday)
Late last night Charlie Cass came over
from his home in Southington and slept
with Clyde. At quarter past four, Frank
got up and drove out to Cheshire after Gardner Hall.
Soon we all got up and got ready to
take the 6.15 car. Soon Stewart Judd,
Rob Beckwith and Henry came and
we boarded the car and went to the
Center where we met the other boys
in front of the entrance to the Masonic
Hall on Grand Street. They were Jojo's{???} -
Emuel Parant, Fifers - Charles Cass, Harry
Buckingham, Bass Drummers - Stewart Judd
and Henry Buckingham, Snare Drummers -
John Marrow, Gardner Hall, James
Alcott, Robert Beckwith and Chas S. Miller.
We headed the Clark Commandry and
about two hundred other Free Masons and
marched to the new temporary depot
where we boarded the 7.10 train which
took us to Hartford, where we marched
and counter marched for some time not
knowing where to go till finally we
were sent to Anne Street where we
waited until the parade started at
10.30. We then marched up to Main Street
and to the south side of the Post Office,
from thence to State Street to the
New Stone Bridge across it to
East Hartford. We met the front
of the Parade returning at the east
end of the bridge and then we went
nearly to the Congregational Church
and returning, met the rear end of
the procession on State Street. We then
marched to the Masonic Temple at No 53,
Anne Street where we were dismissed
with orders to assemble again at 5 o'clock.
There were about 10,000 masons in
the parade from all over the state and
I should have stated that while we were
over in East Hartford, the line halted
while the High Masonic Officers laid
the last stone in place on the bridge
which was at the west end on the
north side and was a corner stone
that weighed five tons.
In the after noon we witnessed
a great military parade with over
6,00 in line including the entire brigade
of the Conn National Guard, four companies
of the Coast Artillery W.S.A. from
New London, first company, Governor's
Horse Guards, Putnam Phalanx,
Ancient and Honorable Company of
Boston, Providence Light Infancy,
Old Guard of New York City.
As this parade returned across
the bridge, the Governor and Officers
unveiled the tablet at the west end of
the bridge near the corner stone
and dedicated the bridge.
It is said that there were more
people in Hartford to day than there
ever was at any time before.
At five we assembled at the
Masonic Temple and took the
5.30 train home where we arrived at
about eight o'clock and escorted the
masons to their hall and then went
home. This evening there is to be set
off $5,000 of fire work but we could
not stay to see them.
10\09\{1908} (Friday)
I worked at the factory all day.
10\10\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked at Rogers & Brothers factory ten
hours.
10\11\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Bukley preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
Roll and Mary called this afternoon.
Frank and I went over to Cheshire on the
trolley cars and called on Mr. Frederick
Doolittle.
10\12\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\13\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\14\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory.
They held the Agricultural Fair at
Wolcott to day.
10\15\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
10\16\1908 (Friday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
10\17\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory.
10\18\{1908} (Sunday)
Mr. Harnold preached at the Chapel.
Clyde, Rolland Jenner and I went
on the trolley car to Woodbury and
looked at the rungs of the Rolling
Mill at Pomperang which was burned
about three years ago where Rolland
Jenner worked eight years. We also
went upon a high rocky ridge east
of the Main Street and up a high
iron tower where we had a fine view
of the town of Woodbury and the
Pomperang Valley. We then returned
and went to Waterville where Clyde
took some pictures of the road
and work where he surveyed. We also
called on Mr. Grant and looked at
the new factory that Balke and Johnson
are building.
10\19\1908 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\20\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
At fifteen minutes past from this
afternoon, there occurred a terrific explosion
which shook the whole town. We soon learned
that it was a powder house on Long Hill
back of Fred Kilbourn's which was owned
by Hotchkiss S. Templeton and contained
half a ton of dynamite, several kegs of
powder and a quantity of fire works.
10\21\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
The explosion yesterday broke many
windows all over town and did much
damage to houses on Long Hill.
10\22\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory all day.
10\23\1908 (Friday)
I worked at the factory all day.
Mr. Lahey, a reporter for The American,
called last night to get information
concerning the Mattatuck Drum Band
to be published in tomorrow's issue.
Frank paid the interest, 36.00, to day.
10\24\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We finished repairing the veranda
roof late tonight.
10\25\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This forenoon Frank and I drove over and
saw Charlie Cass.
After service this afternoon I went on
the trolley car to Brooksvale and saw
Mr. Doolittle.
10\26\1908 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day ten hours.
This noon the Rev. Father Slocom of the
Church of the Immaculate Conception
was buried in the new St. Joseph's Cemetery
on Hamilton Avenue. It was the largest
funeral I ever saw. There were over 150 priests
present and not withstanding the rain
that was falling at the time, there were
over 4,000 people who walked and rode.
Every hack in the City was in the
procession and in order to have what
was needed, some were brought from
Meriden and Nangatuck. Companies A
and G, C.N.G. and the Hiburnian
Rifles were there, as were also all of the
Catholic marching societies.
All of the business about the center was
suspended. Our factory closed from 9 to 11.
10\27\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory all day.
This evening I attended a Republican
rally at Hamilton. The speakers were
the Hon George H Cowell, M.J. Byrne
(candidate for Judge of Probate), Capt.
A.J. Goodrich and Mr. Andrews.
The attendance was small, about 50.
10\29\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a Republican
rally at Polis Theater. Preceding the
speaking there was a street parade of
about 150 men (The Taft Marching Club)
wearing linen dusters and hats and
carrying torches. They had {???} Brass
Band and Drum Corps and it rained
hard. The speakers were Senator
Butterworth of New Haven, Lieutenant
Gov Lak and Ex Attorney General King.
The theater was crowded.
10\30\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
10\31\1908 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\01\{1908} (Sunday)
{Margin note: Mother Pierpont}
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Irving came home from Brooklyn where
he is attending Pratts Institute and
staid last night, but left tonight
to return.
We had for company to supper
Miss Rollinson, Miss Emory and
Mr. Carpenter from Nangatuck
and Fritzie Hanson and Mother
Pierpont who has been here since
last { }.
I wrote letters to Mrs. Oviatt, Torrington,
Hon H. Wales Lines, Meriden, Mr. E. L. Cotting, Chicago
and Mr. James Somers of Bridgeport.
11\02\{1908} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
11\03\1908 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory all day.
This is Election Day and I voted at
Union Square for William H. Taft
for President, James S. Sherman for
Vice President.
William E. Sessions of Bristol
Alton Farrel of Ansonia
Charles H. Klincke of New London
William E. Burnham of Bridgeport
Eugene S. Bass of Windom{??}
Henry H. Bridgeman of Norfolk
Wilber A. Bolkwell of Chester
For Presidential Electors.
For Governor,
George L. Lilley of Waterbury.
Lieutenant Governor,
Frank B. Weeks of Middletown.
Secretary,
Matthew H. Rogers of Bridge Port.
State Treasurer,
Freeman F. Patten of Stafford.
Comptroller,
Thomas D. Broadstreet of Thomaston.
Representative at Large,
John L. Tilson of New Haven.
Representatives,
Abner P. Hayes
Capt. Goodridge.
Judge of Probate,
M.J. Byrne.
11\04\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The election yesterday went Republican.
The straight Republican ticket was carried
in Waterbury except State Senator when
John Hurley was elected in place of
Charles C. Comeford.
11\05\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory filling the spaces
between the bricks with mortar in the
brick house.
11\06\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
11\07\1908 (Friday)
I worked to day at the factory.
11\08\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clyde commenced surveying in Prospect
for the new City Reservoir that is projected
to be built on the fulling mill brook.
In taking the levels from East Mountain
and Prospect Reservoirs, they found that
the bass board of the David Hotchkiss house
is 597 feet higher than the base of the
Soldiers Monument in Waterbury.
11\09\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel to day.
This evening I carried Bessie White,
Harry Buckingham and Ruth to Prospect
to attend the Christian Endeavor Meeting
which was held in the Grange Hall. The
new stone church is nearly finished outside.
11\09\1908 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
In surveying for the reservoir in
Prospect, Clyde found that the green
in the Center by the Library is 596 feet
above the base of the Soldier's Monument
in Waterbury.
11\10\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
11\11\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The City is laying a 8" water main up
the Meriden Road and up onto Hamilton
Park Plot.
11\12\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
11\13\1908 (Friday)
I worked the factory of Rogers & Bros ten
hours to day.
11\14\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked as usual at the factory to day.
This is tag day, that is, the Anti-
Tuberculosis League of this City have
taken the means of employing hundreds
of ladies, many of whom are school
teachers, to stand on street corners,
canvas the factories and make a house-
to-house canvas, soliciting money
of any amount of 5 cts or over for which
they give a white tag about 2 inches
square with the words "Tag Day" and
"The Anti-Tuberculosis League of
Waterbury". In the center of the card
is a red cross with two bars.
They all asked everybody whom they
met and many men had tags hanging
from every button.
11\15\1908 (Sunday)
{Margin note: Mother Pierpont went home to live with Mrs. Downes}
This morning the ground was covered with
snow about 1 1/2 inches deep.
Rev. Mr Harnold preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
It is reported that they raised $5,905.27
by the tag method yesterday.
After service Mary, Miss Peck the
school teacher, Miss Calkins and myself
went for a ride up to Charlie Tuttle's at
Woodtick.
11\16\{1908} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Elmer Pierpont's third wife died
last Saturday and is to be buried
tomorrow afternoon in River Side
Cemetery.
11\17\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory till noon to day. This
afternoon Mary and I attended the funeral of
Elmer Pierpont's wife. Austin and Wilson
Pierpont, George Conner and I were the pall
bearers.
11\18\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
11\19\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory all day.
11\20\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\21\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
11\22\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
to day as usual on the fourth Sunday
in each week {month??}.
This day is the twenty fifth anniversary
of my weeding.
This forenoon Mary, Ruth, Raymond
and I went to Woodbury on the
trolley car, fare .25 each. We left the
car at the lower end of the street and
walked up to the Carriage Shop and
then up on the town rock and up
the steel tower where we had a
fine view of the whole town and
that part of the Pomperang River.
We left there at 12.30 and reached
home at one thirty. I hitched the horse
into the two seated wagon and went
down to the Mattatuck Shop and
met Dr. Davenport and carried
him to the Chapel and after service
took him back again.
12\23\{1908} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Clyde is till surveying in Prospect for
a new City reservoir on the Union City
Brook at a place known as Russell's Pond.
12\24\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\25\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Went to night and saw James White about
the Forersters Hall which is to be used by
the Somers Family Association tomorrow.
We are to take our fire engine up and
pump water into the tank from the brook
south west of the hall. Many of the
wells about Mill Plain are dry.
12\26\{1908} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day. This morning Frank,
Raymond, Clyde and I took our fire engine
and went to the brook that runs through
the swamp back of the Forersters Hall
and pumped the tank in the hall full
of water. We then came home and I
took up a load of provisions and helped
clean out the hall. Then came home and
got ready and went up to the dinner
of the Somers Family Association. There
were about 47 who sat down . After dinner
we visited and about six we had ice
cream and the young people danced.
Irving came home this morning from N.Y.
11\27\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went up to James White's
and paid him 5.00 for the use of Hamilton
Hall yesterday for the Somers family.
12\28\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\29\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchem of Wolcott preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
This evening we had company at
supper. Friends of Irving from
Nangatuck, Mr. Carpenter, Miss
Rollinson, Miss Emory, beside
Helen Hayward, George Byam
and Fritzie Hanson, beside our own
family.
After supper Irving left for
New York by trolley to New Haven
and express for New York.
11\30\1908 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
12\01\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
12\02\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we had a meeting of
the Chapel officers at our home.
There were present Chairman A. B.
Pierpont, Harry Buckingham,
Mr. Hiram Abel and myself, Trustees,
Dayton Wooding Treasurer, Miss
Bessie White Secretary, Arthur
Pierpont Sunday School Superintendent
and Mrs. Theodore Munson
Secretary and Treasurer of Ladies
Union.
12\03\{1908} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory.
12\04\1908 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. James Summers of Bridgeport
called on me at the factory but I
was very busy sunning the oil
muffle and could not see him but
a few minutes.
12\05\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory.
Clyde has been measuring up the
Payne Reservoir in Prospect to
day to ascertain the number of
gallons that it contains when
full. It is now empty.
12\06\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the
Chapel.
12\07\1908 (Monday)
I worked at the factory nine hours.
It snowed early this morning and
later turned to rain, in all two inches
fell.
12\08\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\09\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\10\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory running the
oil muffle.
This evening the boys and John
French, myself and James White
went up to the Forersters Hall and
pumped the tank full of water with
our fire engine.
12\11\1908 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening all of the people of the
neighborhood went to the Hamilton
Hall to a fair given by the Mill
Plain School. The entertainment
consisted of a fine supper and music
dialogues, speaking etc. and there
were several booths where flowers,
candy and fancy goods were sold.
It snowed to the depth of two
inches this forenoon but tonight
it rains.
12\12\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
They netted about $60.00 at the School
Fair last night.
12\13\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Bukley of Trinity Church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
12\14\1908 (Monday)
I worked at the factory ten hours to day.
Shut down the making department and
oil muffle last Saturday.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the Mens League at the Lecture
Room of the Second Congregational
Church. State Road Coommissioner
Mc Donald spoke very interestingly
on the good roads question.
12\15\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening my wife, Bessie
White and I drove to Prospect and
attended the Dedication of the New
Congregational Church. The ministers
in attendance were the Revs. Dr.
Anderson, Dr. Davenport, Mr.
Hildreth of Prospect and Mr. Phipps,
now of Waterbury but formerly of
Prospect. Dr. Davenport preached
the sermon. Mr. Hildreth read the
dedication exercises and Dr.
Anderson offered prayer. There
were present a good number of
people from Prospect, Cheshire,
Nangatuck, Waterbury and other
places.
12\16\{1908} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\17\{1908} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Bros
to day.
12\18\{1908} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\19\{1908} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day taking
the Peck lifter drop bed off from its
foundation.
The factory closed to night for
Christmas vacation.
12\20\1908 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold of the Waterville Methodist
Church preached at the Mill Plain Chapel
this afternoon.
After service I went for a trolley ride
to Brooksvale and called on Mr. Alexander
Doolittle.
12\21\{1908} (Monday)
I worked to day at the factory.
Irving came home from Brooklyn
N.Y. late Saturday night for his
Christmas vacation.
12\22\{1908} (Tuesday)
Worked this day in the factory.
Ruth is working every evening in
the store during the holidays.
12\23\{1908} (Wednesday)
Worked to day at the factory.
Weather coldest so far this season. This
evening the thermometer stands 1 above
zero.
12\24\1908 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
12\25\{1908} (Friday)
Christmas Day. We all had our
stockings full of presents this morning.
This afternoon we all went down to
Father's to celebrate Christmas as we
have for over twenty five years.
At 1.30 we had dinner and there were
present Father and Mother, Mrs. Charles
Gillette, brother Frank and his wife,
myself, wife and Clyde, Irving, Margaret,
Ruth, Frank and Raymond, Amy Miller,
William Gillette and wife Iva and son
Mansfield, Rolland Jenner and wife Mary
and daughter Louise and Ethel
and sister Cara. Mr. Radcliffe and
wife came in their automobile in the
afternoon and staid during the evening.
then we had a Christmas tree and all
received many presents.
12\26\{1908} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
12\27\{1908} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport was at the Chapel and
conducted the Christmas service by reading
two stories and by talking to the Sunday
school scholars.
12\28\{1908} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the Mill Plain Sunday
School gave an entertainment this
evening in honor of Christmas. It consisted
of music, reading and recitations etc.
with a Christmas Tree and Santa Claus
and cards and pop corn balls, oranges
and many presents for all the scholars.
12\29\{1908} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Marion Ovaitt [Oviatt] came on a visit this
evening.
12\30\1908 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
A terrible earthquake occurred on
the Island of Sicily and the lower part
of Italy night before last and it is now
stated that over 150,000 people lost
their lives.
An accident occurred on the Oakville
trolley line before seven o'clock this morning
in which several people were injured.
The brakes on one car failed to work
and the car ran into the car in front.
12\31\1908 (Thursday)
I worked to day at the factory.
M{Mrs.??} Katherine Munger died this
month.
01\01\1909 (Friday)
I worked at the factory all day to day.
Weather has been mild and skating
good. To night many of Irving's
friends gave him a surprise party.
01\02\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day getting
things ready to start up Monday
morning.
01\03\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Hildreth of Prospect preached at
the Chapel this afternoon.
After service Margaret and I went by
trolley to Mr. Martin Frisbie's in
the north end of Southington and I
gave him the geneology of his family
back to Edward the Settler at Branford.
I found Mr. Frisbie not very well
and he said that his wife is sick in
bed. His son was there and two
sons' wives and daughter and grand
daughter.
01\04\1909 (Monday)
I worked to day at the factory.
The factory started up this morning
but few worked.
01\05\1909 (Tuesday)
I worked to day piping up the sink in
the trimming room.
This has been a rainy day throughout
and the first since last June.
The water in the City reservoirs
is very low but it is hoped that
this rain will fill them up some
and kill the bad taste.
01\06\{1909} (Wednesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
The weather has been uncomfortably
warm but to night it is coming colder.
I would note that Irving returned
last Sunday afternoon to Brooklyn
to attend the Pratt Institute the coming
term.
01\07\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. James Tobin's wife was taken
sick last night with pneumonia and
to day is not expect to live.
The money raised in Waterbury
for the earthquake sufferers of
Italy and Sicily to day amounts
to almost 1,900.00.
The Wigwam Reservoir has raised
to within 10 ft of the spillway. It
was down 30 ft below, now all danger
of a water famine is past.
George Frey sold his milk
route to Mr. Bergin of Wolcott.
01\08\{1908} (Friday)
Worked to day at the factory.
I would here note that George L. Lilley
was inaugurated Governor of Connecticut
last Wednesday and has rented a
house in Hartford in which to live.
01\09\1909 (Saturday)
I worked to day at the factory.
Margaret and Ruth went to night
to South Britain to visit George Cass
and family. I intended to go in the
morning but cannot as I have got
to work in the factory.
01\10\{1909} (Sunday)
I worked boring holes in the muffle
for a heat gauge this morning two
hours. John French helped me.
This afternoon I arrived Mr. Buck
from the trolley car at the Mattatuck
Shop to the Chapel where he preached.
Daton Wooding brought him back
and I brought Miss Pierce the organist
and her two sisters.
Margaret and Ruth have just
returned from South Britain 9.45.
01\11\1909 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. James Tobin's wife is very sick with
pneumonia, not expected to live.
This evening Clyde and I attended a meeting
of the Men's League at the second church.
01\12\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to night.
Mr. Carnes spoke last night of city
water supply, sewage disposal and
the surge pland{??} now being built
and street pavement.
01\13\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
Went to the Chapel this evening
to a supper and entertainment given
by the Ladies Union.
01\14\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr. Tobin's wife died this morning.
01\15\1909 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
01\16\{1909} (Saturday)
This forenoon I attended the funeral of Mrs.
Margaret, wife of James Tobin. Patrick Slavin,
Frederick Snowman, Michael Whalen
and I hired a hack which called at the
factory at 8 o'clock for us. We went to
Mr. Tobin's house and went from there
to the Church of the Sacred Heart where
solemn high mass was held and from
there to the Old Saint Joseph's Cemetery
where she was lowered into the grave.
The casket in which she as buried
opened on the top and side and showed
the whole length. There were over fifty
hacks and many other carriages.
The weather was very cold.
I worked at the factory this afternoon.
01\17\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold of the Waterville
Methodist Church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. It snowed last night and
this morning. I went round the Frost, Meriden,
Southmaid and Cheshire Roads with the
snow plough.
01\18\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Although but four inches of snow
fell, the sleighing is good.
01\19\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This morning was the coldest so
far this season. Our thermometer stood
at thirteen degrees below zero at
six o'clock this morning.
01\20\{1909} (Wednesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
This evening I attended a special
school meeting at Mill Plain to take
action in regard to the City of
Waterbury amending its charter
so that the Board of Education shall
have the power to hire and discharge
teachers and fix there salaries.
A committee of five were appointed
to work with the committees of other
districts consisting of Warren B. Hitchcock,
Charles S. Miller, James L. White, B.Y.
Hoggett and Hiram J. Abel.
01\21\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended a meeting of
the stockholders of the Waterbury
Rolling Mills and the following
directors were elected:
A. H. Wells, m. E. Keeley, Abel
Kenworthy, Corneilus Tracey,
Frank Welton and Robert Somers
and Mr. Beardsley.
During the month of December last,
the mill finished 180,000 pounds of
metal. This is said to be the largest
month's work ever turned out with
three pairs of rolls in Waterbury.
Rogers & Brothers factory went
on short time to day.
01\22\1909 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\23\{1909} (Saturday)
I worked to day at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the committee's appointed by the School
Districts of the town to act in regard
to the bill amending the City charter
so as to give the Board of Education
power to hire and discharge and fix the
salaries of teachers.
It was voted that the Committee's
appear before the Board of Aldermen
next Monday night and ascertain if
possible what the bills are that the
City wishes to present to the Legislature.
01\24\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel.
01\25\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the Committees appeared
at the City Hall before the Board of
Aldermen but no notice was taken
of them. The bill was read requesting
City Attorney Kellogg to draft a
bill amending the Charter so that the
Board of Education shall have power
to hire, discharge and fix salaries of
teachers in the outlying districts.
The bill was tabled{??}.
01\26\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
01\27\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I called on Rev. Mr. Chion of
the Third Congregational Church to get
him to come to the Chapel but he
could not come next Sunday as he is
to preach at Thomaston.
I then called on Chief Snagg of the
W.F.D. regarding the appointment
of a fire warden in this part of the
City.
01\28\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
01\29\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at factory to day as usual.
01\30\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Snowed about 5" to day.
01\31\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Phipps preached at the Chapel.
Mary and I went out to J.H. Garrigus after
Chapel{??}.
02\01\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
John French brought his bobs tonight
and we helped him put the shoes on.
02\02\1909 (Tuesday)
I worked to day in the factory.
John French finished putting the
shoes on his bobs this evening.
I bought a hand beader of D.B. Wilson
tonight after work.
The sleighing is good and the
weather warmer.
02\03\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked to day at the factory.
Mr. Marcus Fairchild died at the
Soldiers Home at Norton yesterday.
02\05\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\06\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank finished cutting 29 fence posts
out to Mr. Garrigus.
Attended a meeting of the Committees
of the School Districts at the business men's room.
02\07\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
02\08\{1909} (Monday)
I worked at the factory ten hours to
day. All of the factory except
the machinists wok 8 hours.
02\09\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Robert Somers called to night to see me
about spoon blanking presses.
02\10\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Went to night to South Waterbury
and saw Robert Somers and Abel
Kenworthy about spoon blanking
business.
Mary went to the Chapel to
a supper given by the Ladies Union.
02\11\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
02\12\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Frank and Raymond worked at
Garrigus's chopping white birches.
I went to night to see Mr. Kenworthy.
This is Lincoln's birthday, the 100th.
02\13\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\14\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
I went to Brooksvale after service.
02\15\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Bible class met at our house
this evening.
02\16\1909 (Tuesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
We have had rain and mist all day
and tonight it has frozen so now
all of the trees and shrubs are covered
with ice.
02\17\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory putting up a
new shaper.
Everything is covered with ice
to day and many trees are broken,
trolley and electric wires are down
and everything is slippery.
The cars did not run past here
until eight o'clock.
02\18\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked to day at the factory.
The ice still stays on everything.
02\19\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening very stormy. Bessie Pierce
came and we had singing.
02\20\1909 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
To night I worked on the new
waterwheel.
02\21\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Harnold preached at the
Chapel.
George Cass came from South
Britain and got Clyde's drum corps
uniform. Yesterday Rev. Mr. Williams
came and borrowed a drum
corps uniform to use at an entertainment
to be given in the
Simonsville Methodist Church.
02\22\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This is Washington's Birthday, a legal
holiday. Schools, banks, library etc.
closed. I raised the flag over the
office this morning.
02\23\1909 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
A rain storm which changed
to snow set in at five o'clock and
has continued ever since.
I worked this evening on the water
wheel.
02\24\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
02\25\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\26\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Invitations were sent out to day for
the wedding of Miss Girtrude U.
Bradley and Mr. George Walker, the City
Superintendent of Parks.
02\27\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
02\28\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service I and Mary with
Mrs. Downs went out to Mother
Pierpont's. We found there Frank
Frisbie and wife and Augustus
Cornelius's daughter.
Wrote to State Forester Haws
and Mrs. Samuel Ovaitt [Oviatt] this
evening.
03\01\{1909} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mrs. Sarah J. Hine moved into her
new house last Saturday.
03\02\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03\03\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual. Frank brought home Wilson
Pierpont's horse and wagon. We rep. wagon tonight.
03\04\1909 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
President William H. Taft was
inaugurated at Washington to day.
It has been a very stormy day
with wind, snow and rain.
03\05\{1909} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. George Walker and Miss
Girtrude U. Bradley were married
this afternoon at the old David
Porter homestead, by Dr. John
G. Davenport, assisted by Rev. Mr.
Dallas of St. John's Church.
Yesterday Frank with Wilson
Pierpont's horse and wagon and
our horse drew a large black
oak log from Morris Alcott's to
Bauley's Steam Saw Mill on the
Meriden Road at the old David
Frost place where turning into
the gate he broke the pole.
03\06\1909 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Early yesterday morning
Frank, Raymond and I went
up to the Frost Place and
drew the wagon from under
the log and brought it home
and to night we went up and
with tackle and block drew the
log up to the mill.
To day Frank and Raymond
drew the rest of the logs except
one 20 ft from Morris Alcott's,
used the sled till noon when
the snow got so thin that he
took the wagon.
03\07\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
03\08\1909 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The large barns owned by Edward
and John Pierpont burned to the ground
to night.
As I was walking home from the
shop through Hamilton Park, I saw some
boys running east and wondered what was
the cause. Soon I saw the steamer
drawn by three horses. I ran by the
side of it till Will Gillette overtook
me. He had Capt McEnvoy of Engine
Co No 2 in the carriage with him.
I got in and he ran his horse and
we were soon there but could find
no place where we could use the
steamer so they sent it back.
Both barns were in flames and
the men of the automobile squad
were putting water on Hattie Pierpont's
house. I with others went to carrying
out the furniture from the
house occupied by Elihue Barber
and fought the fire with pails,
pans, coal hods{??} etc. for over an
hour but the water gave out
and the fire got the best of us, and
the house burned. Then Will Gillette
drove over and got my engine and
we set it over to a large spring
and soon had a stream on the
other barn, and another stream on
the house and so saved the barn
on the east side of the driveway.
My engine got there at five
minutes to seven and we worked
it till midnight when John and
Ed hired eight men and they kept
it going till six o'clock next morning.
They estimated the loss at $10,000
which included 80 tons of hay, 10 cords
of stove wood, many wagons, carts,
sleighs, harness, two mowing machines,
two hay rakes, hay tedders{??},
40 hogs that had been butchered,
a mow of stray{??} etc.
03\09{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory,
The brass mill in Mixville burned
between midnight and morning.
Loss estimated at $18,000. The casting
shop did not burn.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the District Committees with the
Taxation Revision Committee in
the police court room in the City
Hall. I saw Chief Snagg and he signed
the papers appointing Arthur J. Pierpont
District Fire Warden.
03\10\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a supper
and entertainment in the Chapel.
03\11\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr. James White and I called on Chief
Snagg and he signed papers appointing
Arthur J. Pierpont Fire Warden for
the territory from the Prospect
Road to the Wolcott Road.
We then attended a meeting of
the Committees of the School Districts
in the City Hall.
03\12\1909 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Spent this evening at home.
03\13\{1909} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day ten
hours.
This evening I went to Colby S.
Sherwood's shoe store and bought
a pair of shoes, paid $2.50.
Came home and worked with
Frank sowing up some large black
oak logs with the cross cut saw.
After supper I worked on the farm
for the waterwheel pit.
03\14\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service I went to Mixville
by trolley and saw the ruins of
the Brass Mill that burned last
Monday morning. I then spent
the evening with Mr. Harry Brooks.
03\15\1909 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Spent this evening working on the
waterwheel pit.
03\16\{1909} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening Cousin William Goldsmith
called and told us all about
his sojourn on the Island of Cuba
from which he has lately returned.
He also told of many places he
has visited in different parts of
the world, including the Klondike,
Pacific coast, Navigator Islands,
Phillipines, Chine, Japan, India,
Celon, Red Sea, Gibraltar, Europe,
England and the West Indies.
03\17\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
Went this evening after work to
Sanderson's Store and bought a
pair of pants 2.00. Went also to
Hotchkiss & Templetons and bought
a box of welding compound .25 and
a whip .25.
03\18\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Agnes Able's birthday, 30 years old.
03\19\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the various school district committees
of the town of Waterbury to take some
action to oppose the consolidation
of the Town and District schools.
No action was taken.
03\20\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
After work Frank, Raymond and I
ironed off 1.2 set of wagon wheel.
The old ice house and wagon shed at
the Wilson Pierpont place burned last
evening.
03\21\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught of Waterville preached at
the Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
A. B. Pierpont was there having returned
from Florida yesterday.
After service I went to a fire in the
woods at the old Wilson Pierpont place.
There was a number of men there putting
out the fire including Arthur J. Pierpont,
the newly appointed Fire Warden.
03\22\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the District Committees and Board
of Aldermen in the Police Court Room.
03\23\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended the adjourned{??}
meeting of the Board of Aldermen
where the bill was adopted to
consolidate the school governments of
the town and City, the bill to have
a hearing before the Committee of
Education in Hartford next Thursday.
03\24\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03\25\{1909} (Thursday)
To day I went to Hartford to the
hearing before the Committee of
Education regarding the consolidating
of the City and District
Schools.
I also bought 1/2 set of wheels of
L. L. Ensworth.
03\26\1909 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
03\27\{1909} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Milan Northrop of East Farms
died of consumption yesterday.
To day Frank and Raymond
drove to Hartford, started at
6 o'clock and went through East
Farms, Plantsville, Southington,
Plainville and Farmington,
reaching L. L. Ensworth, where
they left their load of wagon
axles and got in return one
set of axles and a set of platform
circles. They then went out and
looked at the new stone bridge
over the Connecticut River and
then started home. Stopped between
Plainville and Southington one hour
and fed the horse. Reached home at
about 8 o'clock, out{???} the way up they
stopped six miles this side of Hartford and fed.
03\28\1909 (Sunday)
Mr. Milan Northrop was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon at three
o'clock. No regular service was held.
Dr. Davenport officiated at the
funeral. The pallbearers were Milo
Peck, Edwin Todd, A. B. Pierpont
and John R. S. Todd.
After service all of the brothers
and sisters of Austin B. Pierpont
met at his home at East Farms
in honor of his 60 birthday which
was Feb 11 when he was in Florida.
03\29\{1909} (Monday)
I was sick this morning with a bad
cold and did not go to work.
Towards noon I helped Irving paint
windows in the house. He came
home from Brooklyn last Saturday.
To night I sent letters with money
from Edward A. Pierpont to the
following: Earle Munson 1.00, Stanley
Heaton 1.00, Robert Calkins 1.00,
Roy Munson .40, Bennie Jones .40.
03\30\1909 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Irving painted on the windows of
or house. I helped him to night.
03\31\{1909} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. James Elliott is building two
double houses on Elliott Street.
This evening I went to the office
of W.H. Camp and paid the interest
from Mar 18 to April 2 and arranged
to have Morton Pierpont pay Mr.
Camp the $12.00 next Friday.
04\01\1909 (Thursday)
I worked to day at Rogers & Brothers factory.
This has been a warm nice day.
Frank drew home our lumber from
Banley's Saw Mill.
04\02\1909 (Friday)
I worked to day at the factory.
To day Morton Pierpont paid
Waluce Camp Administrator on
the estate of Joseph Munger, twelve
hundred dollar, $1,200.00, the
amount of the mortgage I owed
the Munger estate. I am to have
the note, deed etc. drawn in
favor of Mr. Pierpont.
04\03\{1909} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to the office of
Howard B. Snow and engaged him
to draw up a mortgage note and
deed in favor of Morton E. Pierpont
for $1200.00. They are to be ready
to sign next Wednesday night.
04\04\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
04\05\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory till five o'clock
when a telephone message came calling
me to come home at once. I started
and as no car came, I walked fast
and when near Mrs. Hine's new
house, saw a great fire raging in
Calvary Cemetery and soon saw
some boys coming with my fire
engine which we used to pump
the water from Tom Mill's well
and put out the fire from the
Cheshire Road to the next lot. We
then took the engine to a small
pond back of Joe Gilbert's and
put out the fire along the west
side of the cemetery. Then we moved
it into the lot west of M. Butler's
house and there put out the rest
of the fire. Clyde put out the
fire around Mr. Butler's house
and saved it from burning.
Soon there came a call that
the barn at the Blodgett place was
in danger so we took the engine
there and pumped out of the
old cistern and put out the
fire and then dragged the
hose over the top of the hill
near the center of the Cemetery
and put out the rest of the fire.
We then saw a big fire in
the woods south of East Farms
and I came home and harnessed
the horse and went round by
the old pump station to the
Blodgett place to get the engine
but the boys had already gone
out and up the Scott Road with
it. Clyde said that he did not
want to send the boys into the
dark woods so we recalled them
and we took the engine to East
Farms and we went to putting
out the fire with shovels, hoes
etc. and at ten o'clock, we had it
out, it having burned from the
Plank Road at East Farms to
the Scott Road near Nelson Todd's
and all of the ground to Wedges
Corner.
04\06\1909 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Mary and I went to
Attorney Howard B. Snow's office and
signed a mortgage note and deed
for 1,200.00 in favor of Morton E.
Pierpont.
04\07\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
04\08\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\09\{1909} (Friday)
This is Fast day.
We put me{new??} forward wheels on Frank's
team wagon and a new axle and bed
on front end.
04\10\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Painted a grape arbor and house after
work to night.
04\11\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
As I was getting ready for the
Chapel, word came to come up to
a forest fire with the engine soon
as possible. The fire was on the
hill north of the Meriden Road
east of Munsons Corner and
extended from Earnest Welton's
to the little hill north of the watering
trough on the Meriden Road.
We went in a wood road but as
there was no water within reach,
we sent for rakes, shovels, hoes
etc. and by backfiring, succeeded
in getting the fire out when the
different parties of men met.
Chase who fought on the north
line, those from the south line
and those from the east, there
must have been over one hundred
and over a hundred acres burned
over. This evening I called on Mr.
Doolittle at Brooksvale.
04\12\1909 (Monday)
Worked in the factory to day.
Clyde staid home and he, Frank and
Raymond painted on the house.
04\13\{1909} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory.
04\14\{1909} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory running
the muffle.
It rained hard all day and the
boys painted blinds in the new
building.
04\15\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory running
the muffle.
The ladies had a supper at the
Chapel this evening.
04\16\{1909} (Friday)
I worked at the factory all day.
Will Gillette called to night and said
that he is trying to buy Mark Pond's place
for $8,000.
04\17\1909 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day until
five o'clock.
Clyde and Frank left this morning
at ten minutes to six for New York
to visit Irving.
04\18\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Orsbourn preached at the
chapel this afternoon.
Clyde and Frank returned from
New York this afternoon.
04\19\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Wrote William H. Ely of New Haven.
04\20\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Received answer from Mr. Ely
appointing Friday afternoon as a time
to see him.
04\21\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
A very rainy day.
04\22\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Governor George Leavens Lillie died
at this temporary home in Hartford
at 7.26 last night of heart disease.
All flags were raised at half mast
to day.
04\23\{1909} (Friday)
I worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I took the trolley
and went to New Haven when I
met Austin B. Pierpont, we having
been appointed a committee by
the Mill Plain Chapel Society to
ascertain the legal rights of the
Chapel regarding the ground and
horse sheds etc.
He informed us that we are
entitled to the buildings of the
Chapel as we are complying
with the conditions of the
grantor (Mrs. Lydia Sackett) as
she specified them in the deed
and that the horse sheds are
held by adverse possession.
04\24\1909 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory this forenoon.
All of the shops in town shut down
and all business was suspended
this afternoon on account of Governor
Lille's funeral which was the
largest ever seen in this City.
The funeral was held in Hartford
this forenoon and the remains were
brought here and services held
in St. John's Church of which he
was a member, Rev. John Lewis
officiating. The line then moved
out West Main St. to River Side
Cemetery and was composed of
first a squad of police followed
by Colonel Getty and staff officers{??}
of the Second Regt Infantry succeeded{??}
by Second Regt Band of New Haven
then Troop A Cavalry of New Haven
then Second Regt then Coast
Artillery Band and Regt, next
came the Naval Reserves, then First
Separate Company of New
Haven (colored) next Colts Band
of Hartford leading the Governor's
Horse Guards, dismounted, of
Hartford then Second Co Governor's
Foot Guards of New Haven and
Second Co Foot guards, then
First Co Governors Foot Guards
Band of Hartford and First
Company Foot Guards, next
came Honorary Pall Bearers
and Governors Staff and hearse
drawn by four black horses, then
came carriages containing mourners,
members of the Legislature,
City Officials and Court Officers
from all over the state to the number
of 75, then the Order of Elks, {?????}
of the World and 25 more hacks.
We heard 3 volleys and "taps" at the grave.
The City was thronged with people and
fifteen police were called from New
Haven to do duty at the Cemetery.
04\25\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Bukley preached at the chapel
this afternoon.
04\26\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Wm. Gillette called and told me
that he had bargained for the Martain Pond
place for 7,900.00, expects to get deed tomorrow.
I told Mrs. Abel about the advice Mr.
Ely gave us regarding the Chapel.
04\27\{1909} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
We finished painting the house this morning
but the fence and other buildings are
not finished.
04\28\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
William M. Gillette told me this evening
that he signed the purchasing papers
of the Martain Pond place yesterday noon.
I took the Chapel books up to Bessie White
to night.
04\29\{1909} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory ten hours to day.
Snow fell to the depth of two inches
this afternoon.
Austin B. Pierpont called to day
and said that the new bell for the
Chapel was at the depot and he will
bring it out tomorrow.
04\30\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory all day.
This evening I went to the Chapel
and drew the new bell upon the first
floor. John French, Frank and Raymond
helped me.
05\01\1909 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we went to the
Chapel and lifted the bell up
into the belfry.
05\02\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel.
05\03\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\04\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
05\05\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
05\06\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
05\07\1909 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We finished painting the New Building
or Carriage House this morning, it taking
Clyde, Raymond and myself 1 1/2 hours.
Last night we painted the engine house
in half an hour and before that the
wood house and before that the house.
05\08\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked in the factory to day.
05\09\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley of Trinity Church
preached at the Chapel this afternoon.
This morning Clyde, Frank and I
went by trolley to Waterville where we
were joined by B.F. Howland and went
to Reynolds Bridge where we walked to
the old Josh Seymour place, from there
up the mountain to the old Hotchkiss
place, no houses, then out onto the traveled
road that goes from Nova Scotia Hill to the
Thomaston Road and went up that
road to the old Worrell Place which house
burned during the winter, then to an
old marble quarry near the Saw Mill
pond then to the Saw mill known as
Bidwell's Saw Mill, the north and
up the Thomaston Road to the Reservoir
near the Branch Brook where we left
the road and walking in a south easterly
direction ascended the Eagle Rock where
we had a fine view of the country to the
north, east and south. We had a hard
time getting down the south end of
the rock and went south east to
the cellar of the old Ebenezer Richards
house, then over the hill east to Joseph
Scott's grave, he was killed by the
Indians in 1706 or 8 near where the
grave is, then to the New Rock House
Cave south east from the grave about
half a mile. I would here state that we
visited the old rock house where the
first settlers of the region staid while
they built their houses. It is situated
a little south of west of the new trolley
bridge. From the New Rock House we went
down the mountain to the Seymour Cellar
where the British horses were hidden during
the Revolution and on across the plain
and down the "Pipe Line" to the Deep River
Brook which we went up to the Jerico
Quarry which has not been worked for
a number of years. There is a large
cellar there where lived Ben Smith
Welton. We then walked to Frost's
Bridge where we took the trolley and
came home.
05\10\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\11\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory.
05\12\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\13\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the Collectory all day.
This evening Raymond and I went to
the Chapel and tinned over part of the
roof in the tower under the bell.
05\14\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This morning Ray and I went up to
the Chapel and worked on the roof from
four to six when we came home and
I went to work.
This evening after work in the factory,
Clyde and Raymond with myself
went to the Chapel and soldered
the roof in the bell tower and
put the bell frame together.
05\15\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory for ten hours.
This morning Raymond, Frank and
I went to the Chapel at five o'clock
and got the bell frame ready to
fasten down and to night after
work, Roy Munson, Raymond and
I placed the bell in position and
I make it ring for the first time.
05\16\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Orsbourn preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This forenoon I went to the Second
Baptist Church in South Waterbury to
have the Sexton Mr. Mitchell show me
how to ring the bell. I staid through
the service. There were fifty persons
present.
This afternoon I went to the Chapel
and I rang the bell first of all.
Earle Munson also sounded it
as did Mr. Mitchell who came from
South Waterbury.
This evening I visited George
Benham.
05\17\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\18\1909 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to East farms
and helped plant potatoes. Frank
plowed the ground yesterday and
spread most of the manure and
this afternoon went out and dropped
the seed and Raymond dropped the
plaster while Clyde and I covered
it up. We done all but four rows.
Charles Pierpont came this evening
and Mary and I signed a paper which
was drawn by the Probate Judge
appointing him Conservator{??} over his
mothers' affairs.
05\19\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Yesterday Rev. Dr. Lawson entered complaint
against Sunday baseball and moving
picture shows and the ticket sellers were
warned to appear in court this morning.
05\20\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Wrote William H. Ely attorney, New Haven,
this evening asking receipt for money paid
or Mill Plain Union Chapel.
05\21\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Raymond and I went to the
Chapel to finish putting the toller on the bell
but could not get in as Frank Judd had
the key.
05\22\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to the Chapel and
fixed the place for the tolling hammer.
Had to bring the hammer home and
sharpen the lever.
05\23\{1909} (Sunday)
This morning I put new shoes on the
horse and after breakfast of stewed
oysters, Frank and I went to the Chapel
and put the toller on the bell which was
used this afternoon for the first time.
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
This evening I went to Cheshire and
saw Mr. Brown and attended church.
05\24\{1909} (Monday)
I worked at the factory.
This evening we sowed grass seed on
the East Garden on which we sowed
oats this morning.
05\25\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory all day.
05\26\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening the annual meeting of
the Mill Plain Union Chapel was held
and A.B. Pierpont was elected to represent
the Episcopal denomination, Hiram J. Abel
the Methodist, Chas S. Miller the
Congregational and Harry Buckingham
the Baptist, Miss Bessie White was elected
Secretary, Dayton C. Wooding Treasurer,
Arthur J. Pierpont Sunday School Superintendent,
George Byam Assistant, Frank
Welton Librarian.
It was voted to let the Cemetery hold
their meetings in the Chapel and A.B.
Pierpont received a vote of thanks for the
bell that he has donated to the Chapel.
There were voted into the Society 20
new members.
05\27\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
To night Clyde, Raymond and I put
a line of tile pipe under the garden.
05\28\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\29\1909 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory nine hours.
To night after work I welded the back
tires for Frank's team wagon wheels.
Austin B. Pierpont came this evening
and we audited the books of the Pine
Grove Cemetery.
05\30\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Chumm of the Third Congregational
Church preached at the Chapel
this afternoon on the sin of playing ball
on Sunday.
After service I went to Brooksvale
and found Mr. Alexander Doolittle very
sick. His son Judson was there and Mr.
Jacob Walters called.
05\31\{1909} (Monday)
This day is observed as Decoration
Day, and the new Soldiers Monument
in the Pine Grove Cemetery was
dedicated by Wadhams Post No 49 G.
N. R. There were 54 veterans of the
Civil War and Co A and G of the 2nd Rgt,
the "Red Men", the Woodmen, Odd Fellows
and others. There were several speakers and
songs by the Mill Plain School and
Concordia Singing Society etc.
I spent most of the day repairing
Frank's wagon.
06\01\1909 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\02\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day ten hours.
This evening the Pine Grove Cemetery
Association held its annual meeting
in the Mill Plain Chapel and elected
the old board of trustees over again.
They are Mark L. Werner, Hiram J.
Abel, Warren B. Hitchcock, Theodore
Munson, Charles Jessel, Ralph N
Blakeslee, and Martin L. Pond.
Austin B. Pierpont and Charles
S. Miller were elected auditors.
On motion of A.B. Pierpont, seconded
by C.S. miller, that the Cemetery
Association quit{??} claim the land on
which the Chapel stands
to the Mill Plain Union Chapel Incorporated.
It was voted on motion of William Atkinson Sr.{??}
that the question be tabled for twenty
years.
06\03\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening a fair which is to be held
jointly by the Forersters and Grangers
opened in the Halls owned by them.
06\04\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\05\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\06\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught of Simonsville Baptist
Church preached at the Chapel this
afternoon.
After service the Chapel officers met and
elected A.B. Pierpont Chairman of the
Chapel Committee.
We saw to day that the rail and posts
(the property of the Chapel) that ran south
from the back line of the horse sheds has
been taken up and the posts and rails lies back of the sheds.
06\07\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
06\08\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
06\09\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs.
Warren B. Hitchcock this morning.
This evening Raymond and I went
to the Chapel and measured up the
bell and came home and made an
iron to hold a roll for the bell rope to run
on.
06\10\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I went before the Board
of Assessments to have the sprinkling
assessment abated from this vicinity.
There were Mrs. Sara J. Hine, Miss
Fannie Porter, Ervice E. Wright,
George E. Judd and myself.
They said that they would report
it unfavorable.
To night's American, Cheshire News
stated that the funeral of Alexander
Doolittle of Brooksvale was largely
attended from his house Monday
afternoon.
06\11\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
06\12\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the Committees from the outside
districts at the business men's rooms
which was held to settle up the bills,
50.00 for Attorney Byrne, 50.00 for circular
letter to members of the Legislature, 12.00 for
use of Hall and 6.00 for sundries.
It was voted that the Secretary notify the
Board of Finance that the outside districts
are opposed to the Superintendent of
Schools Mr. Tinker getting an increase of
salary of 400.00
06\13\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
After service Mary, Estella Benham,
Bessie White and I went for a ride up
the West Wolcott Road across by the
Woodtick School and Chapel and down
the Todd Road to East Farms where
we left Miss Benham and Bessie White
took the trolley to town. We stopped at
Mother Pierpont's and then came home
and had supper, after which I went down
home and staid till 10.30.
06\14\1909 (Monday)
Worked to day at the factory.
This evening we dug holes for posts
for a new fence along the Frost Road.
Ralph Blakeslee is drawing lumber
for his new barn.
06\15\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Saturday, Sunday and yesterday
they laid the eight inch main across
Mad River for the Mattatuck Mfg Co.
Saturday they built a coffer dam
from the East side to the middle and
put the pipe part way across and
Sunday and yesterday they put it
the rest of the way by building a
coffer day{??} from the west side, taking
away the one on the east side first
and turning the water over the pipe.
Irving arrived home from Brooklyn
this evening to spend his summer
vacation.
06\16\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
We dug post holes and set posts along
the Frost Road this morning and evening.
06\17\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked in the factory to day.
This morning Clyde, Irving, Frank,
Raymond and I with our scythes went
to the lot that Thomas Mills house
stands in and mowed the heavy
grass there.
They have put up the posts for
Ralph Blakeslee's barn to day.
06\18\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\19\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening we got in a large load
of hay from Thomas Mills lot.
The boys hoed the potatoes to day.
06\20\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Orsbourn preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
This evening Earl Munson and I went
to Cheshire to the Congregational Church
to have Mr. Jacob Walters show us how
to ring the bell, but we got there too
late, their service begins at 7 while
we thought that it was 7.30.
06\21\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\22\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Had graduating exercises in Chapel this
evening.
06\23\{1909} (Wednesday)
Ringling Brothers Circus was in
town to day and the factories
closed for the day.
I worked with the boys at the
fence and at nine o'clock went to
town to see the parade but was
too late in getting in so went to
the grounds and looked about and
over to where the new railroad
station is being built. From there
to South Main St. where I took a
Nangatuck car and went there
and boarded a New Haven car and
went to New Haven where I called
on Mr. Henry Rogers at 211 Orchard
Street where I staid some time and
then went to the center where I took
the Cheshire car and got off at
Sanford Road and went to Brooksvale
where i called on Mr. Doolittle
and learned that Mr. Doolittle died June
4. Mr. Dr. Horton or Mt. Park came
from New Haven and looked the
farm over with a view of buying.
When we got back to the house
we found an automobile there with
several people and we went to Ives
Corner and took the trolley home.
06\24\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This has been a very warm day.
06\25\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended the annual meeting
of the voters of the Saw Mill Plain School District
for the election of officers which
resulted in Warren B. Hitchcock's receiving
19 votes and I 11 for Committee.
B.F. Haggett was elected Treasurer and John
F. Gallagher tax collector.
06\26\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
hoed in the garden till supper time.
After supper went to town and handed
in my list to the assessors, went to
Miller & Pecks and bought two lap
blankets.
06\27\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport was at the Chapel
this afternoon as has been his custom for
the past twenty six years. The building
was full and the music, singing and
recitations by the children interesting.
There were nineteen Sunday School
scholars who had not been absent
or only absent once during the year
to whom Dr. Davenport gave prizes in
the form of a book to those who had
been absent only once and a picture
to those who had not been absent at
all.
There were babies baptized.
After service, Margaret, Ruth, Mary
and I went for a ride out to Arthur
Pierpont's. He had there the heaviest
grass I ever saw.
06\28\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.'
06\29\1909 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\30\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I took the base of the Peck drop out
from the pit to day. It weighed nine tons.
07\01\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\02\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Ralph Blakeslee has finished his big
barn.
07\03\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\04\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. After service Ruth,
Miss Bessie White and I went for a
ride up through Wolcott, stopped at
Pritchard's Saw Mill and saw the
natural well and then went over
the Center Hill and down by
Mark Tuttle's Corner and through
Woodtick and home.
The weather was so cold that
it was uncomfortable.
07\05\1909 (Monday)
July 5th but observed as the 4th.
Many young people from
this neighborhood have gone to
the shore to spend the day.
Frank and I worked all day
setting fence posts in the rock
fill along the Frost Road.
07\06\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
07\07\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
07\08\1907 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory with William
Chatfield's men putting in a new
seven ton foundation stone for
the 1200 lb drop.
07\09\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day on the
drop foundations.
Frank and William Gillette did the
haying at Father's to day and
drew the hay to Will's barn at
the Martain Ponds place.
07\10\{1909} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day on
the engine repairs. We are
putting on a new cylinder, two
new eccentrics{??}, new crank pin etc.
Ralph Blakeslee got in
twenty one loads of hay to day
that weighed twenty tons.
Mr. Barnes borrowed my jumper
and hose. We had to go and get it to night.
07\11\1909 (Sunday)
The new Waterbury Rail Road Station was
opened to the public to day for the first
time. This morning I left home after 11 o'clock
and went to Hartford by trolley to see
Dr. Henry Sweet about my knee. Found
him at his home No 150, Blue Hills Ave.
and he said that I had ruptured the
berseraf{??} of the knee. Told me to use the white of
an egg and salt every night and apply
his joint linment{??} three times a day.
After leaving him I went to the center
and took the Middletown car and
passed through Rocky Hill and
Cromwell to that City where I took
car and came to Meriden and then
home.
Irving, Margaret and Ruth left
home this morning soon after six and
walked to Wedges and up the Scott
Road to Prospect then to Straitsville
to Betheny Center to Woodbridge Center
and to Ansonia which they reached
at one o'clock having walked 20 miles.
After spending some time at Mr. Schmack's
they came home by trolley.
07\12\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day. The shop
started up this morning after a vacation of
a week. The engine has a new cylinder
etc. which have been put in since the
shutdown.
Frank and Wilson Pierpont mowed
two lots west of Thomas Mills' house
and we got in one load to night.
07\13\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\14\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\15\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Frank mowed the east part of the
meadow corner of the Harpers Ferry
Road and Plank Road to day and
drew it up and we unloaded it to
night which finished our haying.
07\16\1909 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank began peddling milk with
Morton Pierpont last night.
07\17\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The boys had a fire drill this evening.
They took the engine up to the brook
by Mr. Jones.
07\18\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Orsbourn preached at the
Chapel this morning.
07\19\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\20\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Margaret and Ruth returned from
East Morris where they have been visiting
Cousin Leva Turkinton.
07\21\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Stanley Swift came last night to visit
Raymond.
07\22\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\23\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
07\24\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Raymond and I went to
Hotchkiss & Templetons and bought
16 rods and 2 ft of "American wire fence"
58" high and a roll of barbed wire and
six pounds of staples for which I
paid 9.83. We then came home and
put up the fence along the Frost
Road.
07\25\1909 (Sunday)
I worked at the factory one hour with
John French putting on a driving belt
for a pair of rolls.
Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
to day.
After service Mary and I took a
car and went to Cheshire 15 cts.
where we changed and went to Milldale
5 cts. About one mile this side of Milldale
we saw an automobile turned on
its side by the track, where at about
three o'clock Mr. C. G. Buckingham of
West Haven in turning out for a
mud puddle got onto the trolley
track and the car hit the auto wrecking
it and throwing Mr. Buckingham
under it killing him. In the auto were
two nieces and Mrs. Buckingham, all
three were injured more or less.
From Milldale we went Meriden
10 cts, then changed and at Pratt St.
took the cars to Middletown, 15 cts, changed
again at corner of Court and Main
Sts for Hartford car and went to
Cromwell 5 cts, where we went to
the greenhouses of Mr. Pierson. They
are of grand size, 60 ft wide and 300 ft
long and there are a great many of
them.
07\26\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Raymond went to camp with
the Mill Plain boys at Hitchcock's
Pond this afternoon.
07\27\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
07\28\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day covering
the cylinder of the engine with asbestos
covering.
Mary left this afternoon for a
visit to Elena Turkinton at East
Morris and next Friday she
expects to go to Cousin Marion Oviatt's
at Goshen.
07\29\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
07\30\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
07\31\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I worked cutting the tops
of the posts of the new fence on the
Frost Road.
08\01\{1909} (Sunday)
Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service I took a trolley ride
to Cheshire and walked to Brooksvale
and called on Mrs. Doolittle.
08\02\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary returned from Goshen
this afternoon.
08\03\1909 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\04\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Burr Blakeslee's son and the Rev.
Mr. Mitchell of Plymoth Hill were
drowned at Fisher Island yesterday.
08\05\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Mill Plain Sunday School
had their picnic at Quassapaug{??}
yesterday afternoon.
I finished building the wire
fence along the Frost Road this
evening so that it is ready for
painting.
08\06\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\07\1909 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This morning John French was
run into by the 6.30 Cheshire trolley
car near Silver Street which smashed
his buggy, threw his horse down and
threw him under the running board
of the car.
08\08\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the Chapel.
After service Mary, Leta Clark,
and Emma Brown with myself
went to Prospect for a ride.
08\09\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
08\10\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day covering
the main steam pipe in the engine
room.
08\11\1909 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Brother
to day in the engine room.
To night I drove to Hamilton Park Plot
and there are ten new houses built,
eight of them are on Edson Avenue.
08\12\{1909} (Thursday)
I worked in the factory to day.
08\13\{1909} (Friday)
I staid home and with Raymond's
and Frank's help finished painting
the new fence on the Doolittle or
Frost Road as it is now called.
Ogie{??} Hanson died at the
Waterbury Hospital last night at
ten o'clock of pneumonia. He was
19 years old.
08\14\1909 (Saturday)
Worked at home to day putting in foundation
of wagon shed.
08\15\{1909} (Sunday)
Ogie Hanson was buried from the
Chapel at two o'clock this afternoon.
Rev. Mr. Williams, assistant to Mr. Davenport
of the Second Cong. Church,
officiated. There were over 274 people in
the Chapel. The pall bearers were Earl
Munson, Frank Miller, Stanley
Heaton, George Aitchenson, Harley
Caulkins, Frederick Hespheldt.
08\16\{1909} (Monday)
Rained. Moved the chicken coop
to the east side of my lot. Frank and
Raymond helped me, wet through all
day.
08\17\{1909} (Tuesday)
Rained hard.
Put underpinning under
chicken coop etc.
08\18\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked building a chicken yard to day.
08\21\{1909} (Saturday)
Last Thursday morning Frank, Raymond
and I left on the first trolley
and went to Huntington, Mass.
by way of Cheshire, Plainville,
Hartford, West Springfield, Westfield
from Huntington to our
destination in Worthington is 13 miles
and as the automobile bus did not
leave until four o'clock, we started at
1.30 and walked getting to John Hart's
house about six o'clock where we found
Margaret and Louise Jenner.
We staid there over night and next
morning he hitched up his pair of grey
horses and took us up to the center
and over the hills where we had a fine
view of the surrounding country.
Mr. Hart lives on Judge Cowell's farm
of about 900 acres. We staid there
Friday night and left for home
this morning at 6.30, five of us. John carried
us over to the corner where we took the
auto for Huntington, paid 1.25 each and
came home the remainder of the distance
by trolley, reaching here at six o'clock.
08\22\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Williams preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Irving returned home from the army
campaign where he has been for the
past week, in the vicinity of Boston
Fountain, New Bedford etc. with the
Conn. Brigade.
08\23\{1909} (Monday)
Helped William Gillette build a
foundation for his office which we
are going to move to his place now
occupied by Martin Pond.
08\24\{1909} (Tuesday)
Helped William Gillette move his cottage
up to the Martin Pond place to day.
08\26\1909 (Thursday)
Raymond and I worked on the under-
pinning of the wagon shed that we are
going to build this forenoon and
Frank with the team helped Will
Gillette move his books etc. up to the
Pond place. This afternoon he helped
us at the stone work.
This evening I went to Cheshire on the
trolley.
08\27\{1909} (Friday)
We, Frank, Raymond and I, worked
and finished the underpinning and
got in the oats that we mowed
yesterday.
08\28\{1909} (Saturday)
Frank, Raymond and I put up the
frame of our shed.
This noon Margaret and Ruth went
to Bantam Lake to stay over Sunday.
08\29\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Chumm preached at the Chapel.
After service I drove out to the water
supply reservoir in Rag Hollow and over
Cornwell Ave. to Cheshire and then home.
08\30\{1909} (Monday)
Went to work in the factory to
day.
08\31\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank and Raymond staid up to Wm.
Gillette's new place last night. Eleven
boys came to steal apples, pears etc. but
they drove them away.
Mary has gone out to her
mother's to stay to night, while Mrs.
Flint, who takes care of Mother Pierpont,
has gone to the shore.
Mr. Sampson has bought of Mr.
James Elliott his new double house on
Elliott Avenue for $5,600.
09\01\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mary came home from her mother's to
night.
09\02\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked to day in Rogers Bros factory.
Helped Will Gillette move this evening.
We took up one load.
Iva's birthday, 35 years old.
09\03\{1909} (Friday)
I worked in the factory.
09\04\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
09\05\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught, Baptist minister of
South Waterbury, preached at the Chapel.
09\06\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory (Labor Day).
This evening Frank, Raymond,
myself, Wm Gillette, Rowland Jenner
and Benjamin Chatfield took Will
Gillette's piano up to their new place.
To night Will, Iva and Mansfield
are going to stay up there for the
first time.
09\07\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
We took a large load of furniture
up to the new place for Father and
the folks to night.
09\08\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked in the factory.
Helped Will Gillette move this evening.
09\09\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked in the factory.
We helped Will Gillette move, took three
loads up tonight.
09\10\{1909} (Friday)
Worked in the factory to day.
Helped move to night. Father, Mother
and Cara went to the new place to day.
09\11\1909 (Saturday)
Worked in the factory to day.
Clyde, Frank, Raymond, Will Gillette
and I with my team and Will's
team finished moving this evening.
I finished putting the slate on
the shed roof to night by lamp
light.
09\12\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Bukley preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
I took a trolley ride to Cheshire.
09\13\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
09\14\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I went to Allen Burgess's
and Mrs. Chas Mashier's and got their
signatures to the Chapel Constitution
and by-laws.
09\15\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening, got Mrs. Frank Welton,
Mr. Pardiss and Wm.Gillette to sign
the Chapel Constitution.
09\16\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
09\17\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
09\18\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening Margaret, Ruth, Frank,
Raymond, Mary and I went up to
Will Gillette's to a clam chowder
supper. Rolland Jenner and wife
and daughters Louise and Effel
and Miles Payne and wife were there
also.
09\19\{1909} (Sunday)
No minister at Chapel to day.
09\20\1909 (Monday)
Worked in the factory to day.
09\21\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked in the factory to day.
09\22\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Had supper at the Chapel this evening
which was given by the Ladies Union.
They also gave an entertainment of
dialogues and music, altogether
they realized 17.00, charged 10 cts
admission.
09\23\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked in the factory.
The Grand Jury rendered a bill
of murder in the first degree against
Sophie Kritchman and { } Mitchel
to day and they were taken to
New Haven Jail.
09\24\1909 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I went to Brooksvale and saw
Mrs. Doolittle about electric light fixtures.
09\25\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked to day in the factory.
Brother Fred D. Miller came from Detroit
to day to be present to morrow at the
55th anniversary of Father and Mother's
marriage, Sept 26, 1858.
09\26\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
There was a large number of callers
at William M. Gillette's this afternoon, the
occasion being the fifty fifth anniversary
of my parents marriage. Among those
present were Dr. Rev. Joseph Anderson D.D.,
Rev. Dr. John G. Davenport D.D., Rev. Mr.
Phipps and wife, Uncle Goldsmith and wife,
Uncle Dwight and wife, Uncle Joe,
Brother Fred, Sisters Cara and Mary
Jenner and husband and daughters
Louise and Effel and many others.
Clyde went to New York yesterday afternoon
to witness the opening of the
Fulton celebration.
09\27\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory of Rogers & Bros to
day. This evening I attended the Republican
Convention to nominate candidates
for the coming City election. I was a
delegate from the fifth ward to nominate
candidates for the Board of Education.
We nominated Charles Chapman, Merrick
Gallon, Miles McNiff and Mr. Phillip N.
Bernstein.
Raymond returned from Georgetown
where he went Saturday and Sunday
to take a cow for Arthur J. Pierpont.
09\28\{1909} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\29\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This afternoon a sheriff came to the shop
and read a warrant to me calling me
to act as juror in the District Court
tomorrow.
09\30\{1909} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the Court House
on Levenworth Street and was paneled
as juror on the case of Atwood against
Ricker, it lasted all day.
10\01\1909 (Friday)
Spent the day in Court.
10\02\{1909} (Saturday)
Attended the Waterbury District Court
and heard Carmody plead before Judge
Peasley for the plaintiff and Ryan and
Russell for the defense in the case
of Atwood against Ricker. The arguments
and Judge's charge took until
four o'clock when the case was given
to the Jury. The first ballot was
for the plaintiff to recover 800 and
some odd dollars of the defendant,
money that he had received
fraudently.{??}
The jurors were: 1. Mark L. Warner,
2. Wallice H. Camp and 3. Charles S. Miller of
Waterbury, 4. Charles J. Cook, Cheshire,
5. Almus S. Brown, Wolcott, 6. George
E. Goodwin, Nangatuck, 7. Jarvis J.
Thompson, Bethlehem, 8. William W.
Morris, Prospect, 9. Milo Grey, Thomaston,
10. Henry S. Judd, Middlebury, 11.
Oliver Gilbert, Southbury, 12. Gilbert
A. Stone, Watertown.
10\03\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ketchum of Wolcott preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
After service we went over to Will
Gillette's and we, Mary, Iva, Will and I
out to Southington Mountain where
they are cutting the Meriden Road
through some twenty feet deep.
10\04\{1909} (Monday)
I worked to day in the factory.
This is election day and I went to
Union Square and voted on the machine,
the Republican ticket.
To night it is reported that William
Hotchkiss is elected Mayor of the City
of Waterbury and all of the ticket has
gone republican.
10\05\{1909} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the officers of the Chapel at the
Chapel to make arrangements to
raise money for the Chapel.
There were present A.B. Pierpont,
H.J. Abel, H. Buckingham and
C.S. Miller, Committee, Bessie White
Secretary, Dayton Wooding Treasurer,
Arthur J. Pierpont Superintendent
of Sunday School, George Byam
Assistant, Mrs. Annie Munson
and Mrs. C.S. Miller of the Ladies
Union.
10\06\{1909} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
10\07\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\08\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory ten hours as usual.
This evening I attended a sociable given
by the teachers of the Mill Plain School
for the purpose of raising money to pay
the debt of $40.00 on the school piano.
10\09\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
The boys, Frank and Raymond, picked
up apples out to Mother Pierpont's place
to day.
10\10\1909 (Sunday)
I worked at the factory to day putting in
a 800 lb Peck lifter drop.
This evening I attended service at the
Second Congregational Church.
10\11\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\12\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked putting in a 800 lb hammer drop
at the factory.
10\13\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I called at Mr. James
White's to Miss Bessie about writing
a circular letter for the Chapel but
she and her mother had gone to the
theater.
I then called on Father and Mother
at Mr. Gillette's and found Father
quite cheerful. White there after
nine, Will and Iva and Mansfield came, having
just returned from Lowell, Mass.
where they have been at the wedding
of Will's brother Edward. They came
all the way, 153 miles, in an automobile
since nine o'clock this morning.
10\14\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked in the factory till 3.00 P.M.
when Frank came after me as
Father had died at 2.00 P.M. He
was sitting in his chair in the
kitchen when he gave a sigh and
Mother and Iva hastened to him
but he breathed his last in two
minutes. Will passed by and Father
spoke about the weather to him
but before he reached the barn,
Iva called him back and when
he returned father was dead.
Doctor said it was heart disease that
caused his death.
10\15\1909 (Friday)
I spent nearly all of the forenoon at
William Gillette's and at non he
and Iva and I went to town and
over to Riverside Cemetery and
made some arrangements for
the funeral which is to take place
tomorrow at two P.M. I bought an
overcoat at Sanderson's for 18.00.
Fred and his wife came last night
from Bristol.
10\16\{1909} (Saturday)
Father was buried to day in his
lot in Riverside Cemetery. The funeral
was from William Gillette's house at
Mill Plain, at two o'clock, Rev. Mr.
Dinsmore of the First Congregational
Church officiating. The pall bearers
were Frank and Will Gillette, Clyde
and Irving, Rolland Jenner and
myself.
10\17\1909 (Sunday)
Mr. Orsbourn preached at the Chapel.
Irving went back to Brooklyn to
night at six. Went by trolley to
New Haven.
After service I went to Brooksvale.
Emma sick.
10\18\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\19\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\20\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a type-
writters party out at George
Benham's. There were Miss Bessie
White, Fritzie Hanson, Bertha
French, Margaret Miller, Estella
and { } Benham, stenographers. They made 25 copies
of a circular letter for the Chapel.
There were also a number of friends
and neighbors present and after
they had tired of writing, had cake,
pumpkin pie, doughnuts, sweet cider,
coffee etc.
10\21\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I went to Colby & Sperwoods
and bought a pair of shoes 2.50.
I then went to Sandersons and bought
a pair of overalls and jumper 6.00 and
two pairs of gloves for 6.50.
10\22\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\23\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\24\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel to day. After service I drove
out to Ed Chatfield's in Prospect and
three of the Benham girls went with
me.
10\25\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we took our old cook
stove up to Hamilton Hall.
10\26\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we took the fire engine
up to the brook, back of Hamilton Hall
and pumped the tank full of water.
10\27\{1909} (Wednesday)
I worked in Rogers & Brothers factory
all day.
The Chapel Fair opened in Hamilton
Hall this evening. There was a good
number present.
10\28\1909 (Thursday)
Worked in the factory.
To night I went to the Chapel Fair at
Hamilton Hall.
10\29\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
The boys brought home a big load of
apples from Mother Pierpont's to night.
10\30\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This afternoon a sheriff came and read
a warrant for me to appear before the Court
of Common Pleas at New Haven next
Tuesday at 10 o'clock in the forenoon to
serve as Juror.
10\31\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
George Alexander died this morning
at 12.30 A.M., aged 60 years of
consumption. He died at his home on
the Meriden Road.
After service at the Chapel, Mary,
Miss Peck, the school teacher Mrs.
Theodore Munson and I went for
a ride, taking with us one hundred
dollars to pay Frank Judd for painting
the Chapel. We went out the
Meriden Road to the top of the
mountain where they are cutting
the road through the rock, and saw
that they had about four rods
more to cut. We then came
back through East Farms, stopping
at Mother Pierpont's for Mary to
make a call. We then came to Frank
Judd's, he lives on a hill between
the Turkey hill and Beaver Pond
Brooks, south of the Plank Road. It
was quite dark about 6.30. I went in
and paid him one hundred dollars,
eighty in bills and twenty in fifty
and twenty-five cent pieces. He seemed
quite please and gave me a receipted
bill dated yesterday.
11\01\1909 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day. I told
Mr. Tobin the Superintendent that
I had been summoned to Court
and we saw Mr. Rockwell and he had
a letter written to the Clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas of New Haven
asking the I be excused.
11\02\{1909} (Tuesday)
This morning I took the 7.30 trolley and
went to New Haven. When I got off the
car at the green, I met County Commissioner
Jacob Walters and told him that I wished
to be excused from jury duty. He said that
he would help me and took me to the
Commissioner's office in the Courthouse
where he saw the Clerk of the {?} and the
Judge. I was sent to the Jury room
and when we were called into the
court room, he stated my case to the
Judge and he excused me. After a
time, I was called into the clerk's office
and paid 5.64, my fee for being called.
I then went to Child's restaurant and
got dinner of fried oysters, custard
pie and coffee 35 cts. I then went about
the City till after noon when I took
the trolley and went to Sanford Ave.
in Cheshire and walked to Mrs. Doolittle's
and left my overcoat and went upon
Mount Sanford where I saw some of the
finest scenery I ever looked at. I did
not get down till dusk and found
Mrs. Doolittle worried through fear that
I was lost. After a time the hired boy
and Miss Emma returned, having been
to Cheshire Center, and we had tea. I
spent the evening with them and came
home by trolley.
11\03\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
George Alexander was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon. Mr. Davenport
officiated. The pall bearers were
Austin B. Pierpont, George Benham,
Jacob Garrigus, John and Ed Todd and {???}.
11\04\1909 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day,
Frank took a load of apples up to Mr. Mackcormick's
cider mill and brought back
a cask of cider. He also took up a load yesterday,
11\05\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\06\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
11\07\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the Chapel.
Frank and Gussie visited at Wm.
Gillette's to day.
11\08\{1909} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\09\1909 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
11\10\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked as usual to day.
11\11\{1909} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank and Raymond went out
to Arthur Pierpont's and got some
turnips and also three cedar
trees which we set before the privy
door tonight.
Mary has gone to the Grange.
11\12\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank took about thirty bushels of
cider apples up to Mackcormick's mill
in Wolcott for Will Gillette.
President Taft is in Middletown to day.
11\13\1909 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\14\{1909} (Sunday)
This morning Frank, Raymond and I
drove to Bristol and visited Brother
Frank who lives on High Street. We staid
there till after three o'clock when we started
home. Came on over Fall Mountain and
past the Cedar Swamp Pond on the
west side and past Homer Atkin's
and Evelyn Upson's to Pritchard's
Saw Mills and home at 7.30.
Rev. Mr Buckley preached at the
Chapel to day.
11\15\{1909} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Shelton F. Hitchcock died yesterday
forenoon from old age and a shock, aged 86 years.
11\16\{1909} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Shelton Hitchcock was buried in Pine Grove
Cemetery this afternoon, Dr. Davenport and Mr.
Ketchum of Wolcott officiating.
11\17\1909 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory.
11\18\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\19\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
11\20\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
After work Frank and I went to the
swamp back of the Forersters Hall
and cleaned out a deep place so that
we could have a place to use the
engine to pump water for the tank
in the Hall Thanksgiving Day.
11\21\{1909} (Sunday)
Mr. Orsbourn preached at the chapel
this after noon.
11\22\1909 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Max Gross has the frame up
for his three family house on Elliott
Avenue and Mr. James Bowe has
the cellar dug for the three family
house that he is about to erect on
the south side of the street.
11\23\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
This noon I went to the District Court
and met Will Gillette and we went to
the Probate Court and I was appointed
Administrator on my Father's estate.
I then went to the sign post on the
Green and posted a notice and had
Will put one in the paper.
11\24\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank, Raymond and I worked on
the team wagon putting on the body
that we bought of Mr. Jones.
11\25\1909 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day. This morning Clyde,
Frank and Raymond and I took the fire
engine to the brook back of the Forersters
Hall and filled the tank in the attic of the
Hall.
This afternoon we attended the annual
reunion of the Somers family in Hamilton
Hall. A bountiful Thanksgiving dinner
was served in the lower hall at two
o'clock to which 50 sat down.
After dinner an entertainment was
in the upper hall which consisted of music,
dancing, etc.
There were present Mr. and Mrs.
Dwight L. Somers, Mr. and Mrs. Robt
D. Somers and son Gordon, Mr. and Mrs.
Louis J. Somers and son, Mr. Joseph H.
Somers, Mr. and Mrs. David Somers,
Miss Elizabeth, Josephine, Myra and Mary
Somers, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Somers,
Mrs. Herman Miller, Mr. and Mrs.
Frank H. Miller of Bristol, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles S. Miller, Clyde A., Irving C.,
Margaret, Ruth, Frank P. and Raymond
H. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Rolland
Jenner, Miss Louise and Ethel Jenner
and Miss Cara Miller.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew W. Goldsmith,
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Phillips,
Mr. and Mrs. William M. Gillette and son
Mansfield,
Miss Amy Miller, Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Frisbie, Miss Marion Griswold,
Miss Martha Schulke, Mr. Clifford
Northrop, Merton Judd, George Hanson,
Paul Downs, Mr. Charles Norton of
Bracton, Mass., Lewis Nichols,
Miss Rhoda Goldsmith of Los Angelos
Cal. and Miss Fritzie Hanson.
11\26\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
11\27\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Cara left Will Gillette's to day and
went to Richard Morgan's in Cheshire.
11\28\1909 (Sunday)
All of my family went to Church this
morning to the Second congregational
church and heard Dr. Davenport
preach. Irving and Mr. Norton
left after dinner for Brooklyn,
Margaret and Ruth going to Ansonia
with them where they all
visited the Schnukes. At evening
the girls came home and the boys
went on.
Cara came back this afternoon
accompanied by Mrs. Morgan.
This evening I went to Brooks-
vale.
11\29\{1909} (Monday)
I worked at the factory.
11\30\{1909} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Frank too $11.00 to Thomas Mills
this morning to pay for hay.
12\01\1909 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
12\02\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Last night the boiler in the Radcliffe's
factory in Shelton blew up,
killing the fireman and doing 200,000
dollars worth of damage, blowing
out windows all about the town.
12\03\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\04\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
To night at about six o'clock
Austin B. Pierpont had his leg broken
while caring for his horse in the
stable.
12\05\1909 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
Dr. Goodenough attended Austin Pierpont
last night.
12\06\1909 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I saw Clarance Judd
about printing the list of Chapel
members and worked on the
team wagon.
12\07\{1909} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Albert Robinson came to work
with me to day.
12\08\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\09\{1909} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
12\10\1909 (Friday)
I worked at the factory putting in
Mr. Mooney's 900 lb drop lift. Albert
Robinson came to work last Tuesday
and we have worked on this
drop ever since.
12\11\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked on Mooney's drop with
Albert.
12\12\{1909} (Sunday)
Mr. Orsbourn preached at the Chapel.
12\13\{1909} (Monday)
Albert and Charlie Peterson, 1/2 day, helped
me on Mooney's drop.
It snowed to the depth of four inches
to day.
12\14\{1909} (Tuesday)
Albert and Charlie helped me on James
Mooney's drop to day.
This forenoon Irving Welton was
killed while casting at the Waterbury
Rolling Mills, a crack in the pot
let some melted metal into the
water in a skimming tank which
cause the iron cover to fly and
hit him with a force that lifted
him ten feet into the air and broke
his neck, arm and several ribs.
This evening I attended a
school meeting and it was voted
to ley a six mills tax and Mr.
Griggs, Vernon Abel and Frank
Welton were a committee appointed
to get estimates for painting
the school house and report at
a future meeting. The Committee
was instructed to sink{?} the well
deeper. It was also voted to pay
the committee which went to
Hartford (Warren Hitchcock and
myself) in the interests of
consolidating their expenses.
Snow turned to rain and this morning it
is all gone.
12\15\{1909} (Wednesday)
Albert and I walked on Mooney's
drop.
12\16\1909 (Thursday)
Albert Robinson and I worked getting
the timbers ready for the drop next
to Mooney's.
12\17\{1909} (Friday)
This forenoon I went to see Doctor
Barber about my lame arm. He said
that the ligaments were strained
and that muscular rheumatism
had set in.
This afternoon Albert and Charlie
Peterson helped me on drop next to
Mr. Mooney's.
12\18\{1909} (Saturday)
Worked with Albert to help on
drop next to James Mooney's.
My lame arm is much better.
12\19\{1909} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
I went out to East Farms to see Austin
Pierpont who is confined to the house
with a broken leg.
12\20\1909 (Monday)
Albert and I worked on the drop
next to James Mooney's.
Michael Mimchochi{??} wife,
mother-in-law and child
have moved yesterday to
the Pulford Place west of the
center of Prospect on the
Union City Road.
12\21\{1909} (Tuesday)
Albert and I worked on the drops.
This evening Mary, Frank and I went
to the Chapel and tied greens for Christmas.
Irving came home from Brooklyn
this noon.
12\22\{1909} (Wednesday)
Albert and I worked on the drops
This evening Mary, Jennie Phillips,
Irving, Frank, Raymond and I went
to the Chapel and tied greens.
Edward Pritchard drove into the
yard to night and said that they had
just finished filling Austin B. Pierpont's
ice house with ice.
12\23\1909 (Thursday)
Albert and I worked on the drops.
12\24\{1909} (Friday)
Albert and I worked 1/2 day putting long
bolts into the two drops. This afternoon
I worked making a pattern for the small
drop lace.
Went up to the Chapel and helped
George Byam and Stanley Clark finish
trimming the Chapel for Christmas.
12\25\{1909} (Saturday)
Christmas Day. All of our family
went up to Will Gillette's to dinner
this afternoon and had a tree this
evening. There were present Mother 1,
Frank and his wife 3, myself 4, Mary 5,
Clyde 6, Irving 7, Margaret 8, Ruth 9,
Frank 10 and Raymond 11, Rolland Jenner
and Mary 13, Louise 14, Effel 15,
Amy Miller 16, Cara Miller 17, Mother
Gillette 18, William Gillette and Iva
his wife 20, Mansfield Gillette 21,
Edward Gillette and his new wife 23.
A snow storm started at noon
and it is still snowing.
12\26\{1909} (Sunday)
Snowed hard all day. To night it is
15" on the level and still snowing.
The roads are badly drifted and
many impassable.
This forenoon Clyde, Frank with
shovels, and I with horse and
snow plough, went up the Frost,
over the Meriden and down
the Southmaid Roads and dug
and ploughed them out.
The was Sunday School at
the Chapel, 33 present, but no
service.
This afternoon Raymond, Irving,
Ruth and I with the horse and
sled went up to Will Gillette's
and visited. Dr. Edward and
wife were there.
12\27\{1909} (Monday)
Worked making a pattern for a casting
to extend the base of the small Peck
drop. Frank left to day for Darien where he
is going to work for Mother Pierpont cutting
ice.
12\28\{1909} (Tuesday)
Finished the pattern to night.
Weather cold and traveling
difficult on account of snow drifts.
12\29\{1909} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory moving the big
blanking and press.
This evening all of our family except
Irving went up to William Gillette's.
The Jenners were there also, the occasion
being to bid farewell to Dr. Gillette and
wife who start tomorrow for Phoenix, Arizona.
12\30\1909 (Thursday)
Worked trying to start syphon etc
and unloading three Peck lifters
which came weight 3200 lbs each.
Bessie White's birthday, 30 years.
12\31\{1909} (Friday)
Worked at odd jobs about the factory.
Shop closed to night for vacation.
This evening the Sunday School had
Christmas exercises at the Chapel. It
was very interesting, everybody had
presents and there was a large number
present, although the weather was cold,
10 below zero at midnight.
Raymond and Roy Munson rang
the Chapel bell five minutes at twelve
o'clock when the new year came in.
[[continued]]
01\01\1910 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory taking down
three old hand lifts to replace with
power lifts.
01\02\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. Last Sunday being stormy,
the Christmas service was held.
Saw by the paper that J. B. Dill of
New York had purchased the Alexander
Doolittle place in Brooksvale.
Irving returned to Brooklyn to resume
his studies in the Pratt Institute.
01\03\{1910} (Monday)
Worked changing the 10 horse power motor
in the muffle room etc., factory closed.
Clyde began engineering for the
American Brass Co.
Bertha French went to work as
stenographer for the Travelers Insurance
Co at New Haven.
Lena Hurlbert began teaching
at Summit District.
Bill Hotchkiss and the other
newly elected officers began
their work of governing the City.
01\04\1910 (Tuesday)
Charlie Peterson, John French and I put
up a 600 lifter for Michael Summder's
drop.
01\05\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory at odd jobs.
01\06\{1910} (Thursday)
Charlie Peterson, John french and I
worked on timbers of drops.
01\07\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory getting timbers ready
and putting them in {? ?} three drop
lifters. Charlie Peterson helped get them
ready till three o'clock when five more
men helped draw them up.
01\08\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory, lifted up two of the
Peck lifts.
01\09\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
Mother Pierpont is worse, Mary went out
to see her after service and then went
to town and got some medicine.
I went to Cheshire and right back.
01\10\{1910} (Monday)
Put up another lift this morning
and set one. Mr. Andrews and
Hobert{??} helped me.
01\11\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked setting lifts. Mr. Andrews and
James Byrnes helped.
01\12\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked putting up drop lifts. Mr. Andrews
helped. Gus made bolts, Jamie Byrnes
cut threads.
Started up the power at 5 o'clock that
P.M.
01\13\1910 (Thursday)
Worked putting pinons and pulleys
on lifts. Mr. Andrews helped.
Started up the factory this morning
on full time.
01\14\{1910} (Friday)
Worked on drops. Mr. Andrews helped.
Snowed this day. After work Raymond
and I went round with the snow
plough.
01\15\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked with Westley Andrews putting
the 900 pound hammers into the drops
and at other odd jobs.
A snow storm set in yesterday
afternoon and continued till nine
o'clock to day. I plowed out the
roads last night and went over
them again this morning.
Street Superintendent Chatfield
telephoned before six this morning
and wanted me to open the roads in
this district so I sent Raymond and
had him plough out the Frost Roads
to the Red Bridge and down the
Woodtick and Meriden Road to Ashton's
Corner.
01\16\1910 (Sunday)
Mr. Orsbourn preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service I went on the trolley
to Ives Corner and walked to Brooksvale,
passing through snowdrifts that
had been dug out over twelve feet deep.
The Doolittles were moving, staid there
till eight, then went to Cornwell Ave.
where I staid till 10, came home by trolley.
01\17\{1910} (Monday)
Worked trying to start the oil
muffle till noon this afternoon. I
helped fix Michael Saunder's drop,
ready to work on act{??}.
01\18\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory rep. electric wires
and starting up a drop.
Rev. De Witt Williams, assistant to
Dr. Davenport of the Second Congregational
Church died of an operation
for strangulated hernia this morning.
Has rained all day, much of the
snow has gone.
01\19\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory on different jobs.
James Ward Beecher Porter died at his
home on Cherry Street last night at
11.00 of {? ?} disease, aged 56 years.
01\20\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory about the new
drops this forenoon. This afternoon
I went to the Dimes Saving Bank
and deposited Father's dividend
check from the Ansonia Bank and
drew fifty dollars. I then went
to the Waterbury Rolling Mills Co and
attended the Stockholder's Meeting, no
dividend was declared, property worth
$217,000.00 about. Then came to the Mattatuck
Co. office and saw George Judd and had
him take the clause off from the Insurance
Policy of the Mill Plain Chapel
that states it is mutually agreed
that the land belongs to the Pine
Grove Cemetery.
01\21\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory on drops 1.2 day and
repairing pipes in the afternoon.
Rained hard all day.
01\22\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked about the factory at repairs
getting ready to start Monday as
the factory could not run on account
of high water in the river which
filled the wheel pit so they had to
cut the main drawing belt off, and
it also got into the pits where
men stand who work the drops.
The river was the highest that it
has been in years.
01\23\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fisher of the Bunker Hill
Church preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This evening Mary and I went to the
Christian Endeavor Meeting at the Chapel
after which we called at Will Gillette's but
he was not at home.
01\24\1910 (Monday)
Worked to day on the drops, Mr. Andrews
helping me.
This evening I went to Will
Gillette's and gave him $50.00 of my
money to pay to Filley S. Grove Co.
I also gave him a money order from
Fred for $38.00 for the same parties
and gave him a pay check on the
Comptroller of the City to draw my
pay for plowing out the roads.
01\25\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked this forenoon on drops. Mr.
Andrews helped me. This afternoon
I repaired belts etc.
Rained and snowed all day.
01\26\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked about the drops at the factory.
Mr. Tracy has a gang of men
building up the old trimming
room two stories high. Wm. Chatfield
is doing the mason work.
01\27\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at factory at odd jobs.
Mary went to Ansonia.
I stripped two wheel on big wagon
to night.
Sophie Kritchman is being tried for
murder in the Superior Court of this City.
01\28\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory at odd jobs.
Cousin Elliott Somers died this
morning at the house of Charles Chatfield
on Windsor Street. Was found
in his room with his throat cut
with a razor. He was born in 1833.
01\29\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at factory at odd jobs.
01\30\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Chum preached at Chapel.
I attended cousin Elliott Somer's
funeral, was pall bearer with Ben
Chatfield, Wm Gillette, David Somers,
Joe Somers, Lewis Somers, Mr. Pole, Mr.
Cheeney. Dr. Anderson officiated.
He was buried in the west half
of Riverside Cemetery.
01\31\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory, got in a new rolling
mill.
Elliott Somers will Mother and Cara
$500.00 each.
Hubert Wedge was married in New York last
Saturday.
02\01\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at factory, got in one new rolling
mill.
02\02\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at factory, got in another new
rolling grading mill.
02\03\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory repairing the electric
clocks and the steam pipe that
runs underground to the oil tank.
02\04\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at factory setting rolling mill in
forenoon and belting up Mooney's drop
in afternoon.
02\08\{1910} (Tuesday)
Have been so busy and tired that I have
failed to make entry. Saturday worked in
factory, at night Frank and I went
down and took hose pipe off from a
car of fuel oil that I left running into
the underground tank when I came
home. Sunday the Rev. Mr. Vaught
preached at the Chapel. I went to
work at the factory at 8 and worked
till 5. Several carpenters were
there tearing out the old floor over
the water wheel pit and I had to
look after the pipes, wires etc.
Monday and to day worked as
usual.
This morning Sophie Kritchman's
trial was dismissed from
the Superior Court by Judge
Curtis and the Jurors discharged.
Attorneys Kennedy and Cassady
were dismissed from the case
because of a letter published in
the Waterbury Republican this
morning which threatened Sophie
with death and which Mr. Kennedy
had published before the Court had
seen it. It was directed to Sophie Kritchman,
Court House.
02\09\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
02\10\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Frank and Raymond drew old
lumber from the shop in the newly painted
wagon to day.
02\11\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
As Stanley Clark was trimming out
a tree at the old D.G. Porter place this
afternoon, he fell and broke his leg
twice, injuring his head and side.
He was taken to St. Marie's Hospital.
02\12\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
About 8 inches of snow fell last
night. Raymond plowed out the
Southmaid, Meriden, Frost and
Woodtick Roads.
02\13\1910 (Sunday)
Worked at factory all day putting up bearing
for waterwheel main shaft.
Stanley Clark died at 5 this morning.
02\14\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at factory.
02\15\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at factory. Stanley Clark
was buried from his house at Beacon
Falls, buried in cemetery at Pines
Bridge.
02\16\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at factory.
02\17\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at factory to day.
02\18\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This P.M. I staid out and we put hay stack in.
02\19\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Uncle Joe Somers died this afternoon
after a long sickness of influenza.
02\20\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Orsbourn preached at the Chapel.
Brother Frank came down to Wm. Gillette's
from Bristol last night and called this
A.M. and paid me 38.00, his share to
apply on Father's funeral expense.
[[new book starts here]]
{Feb. 21, 1910 to
July, 24, 1914}
Charles S Miller.
"Oak Corner"
Waterbury
Connecticut
Cheshire Road.
02\21\1910 (Monday)
This day I worked at the factory of Rogers &
Brother till noon, came home and ate
dinner, and went to West's the optican{optician?}
and had my old glasses repaired,
which cost 70 cts, I also ordered a pair of
new glasses to be ready at about 5.O'
clock. Then started for uncle Joes funeral
at 109 Chesnut ave, but as there was
an abundance of time went out
Grand Street and looked about the
New Union Rail Road Station, till
2 o'clock when I walked up Meadow
Willow and Johnson Sts to Chestnut
Avenue. There were many at the
funeral, Rev. Dr. Dinsmore of the
First Congregational Church officiated
the Pall Bearers were Benjamin
Chatfield, Charles Phillips, Joseph
Somers, Frank H Miller, Frank
Frisbie and myself, after everything
was ready the funeral was held
back to give the people at the Cemetery
time to get the grave ready as
they had struck a large rock which
had to be blasted, we reached the
Cemetery about 4.30 and found a
huge piece of rock hanging on a
lifter over the grave, so tat it
was necessary to place the coffin
in the vault where it remained
fill after the service was over and
the mourners gone, when the grave
was ready and the pall bearers
carried it to the grave and lowered
it to its last resting place.
I then hurried home and got 5.00
and took the trolley car at madRiver
Bridge and went to West's and
gave him the 5.00 for a new set of
glasses leaving my old ones to
be repaired, I then went to Davis
G Nye's{?} and bought this record
book for .75 cts then went to the
___k{Pa_k? word difficult to read} Restaurant{Restaurent!} and
got supper of
_o_st{roast? word difficult to read} beef 35 cts, then took Cheshire
rolley and went to Cheshire to
attend an Old Folks{Foolks!} Concert given
by the Mill Plain Choir, but was
an hour in getting there as there
was trouble{troubel!} with cars ahead on the
line, went to Mrs. Doolittles new place
and returned to the hall where I took
tickets at the door, the concert was good,
reached home after eleven.
02\22\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the Mill Plain Improvement
Society held in Hamilton Hall{?}
the purpose of which was to organize
and get new members.
William M Gillette{?} offered to get
the old flag pole from the Court
House to put on the School H___s_{House? word difficult to read}.
02\23\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
1512}
02\24\{1910} (Thursday)
I worked at the facory to day.
Margaret is 21 years old to day, Iva had
a party of young people at her place in honor
of it.
02\25\1910 (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mr. James Elliott is building a large
house corner of Elliott{Eelliott!} ave on the
Soughmayd{?} Road.
02\26\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory
02\27\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fisher preached at the Chapel to
day. I will here state that the Ladies
cleared at the supper given last Friday
evening $35.50
After service Mary and I went out to
see her mother, we found her in bed
but some better than usual.
02\28\{1910} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
It has been very warm and foggy
and it has taken nearly all the ice
and snow away.
03\01\1910 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Bros
ten hours.
Last night I wrote a letter to John
Hart of Worthington Mass. askind
him if my wife can go up there and
see them make mapel{maple!} sugar, and
perhaps get some.
Mr. Northrop and wife called
this evening, and Clifford called
to see Margaret.
Clyde and Fritzie Hansen to
whom he is engaged to be married
went to the theater{thaeter!}.
03\02\1910 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mrs. Thomas Heaton died this
morning of brakeal{bronchial?} asma{asthma?} aged 46,
years.
03\03\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening mary went to the Grange
{new paragraph?}
I went to Cheshrie and saw Mrs. Dool_____ {I can't read the rest
of the sentence}
03\04\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03\05\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory this day.
{new paragraph?}
Mrs. Thomas Heatons funeral was
held in the Chapel this afternoon.
{new paragraph?}
Frank and Raymond{?} worked at
Mrs. Walkers to day cutting up the
maple tree that Stanley Clark fell
from when he was killed.
03\06\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev Mr. Vought of the South Waterbury
Baptist Church preached at the Chapel
his afternoon.
03\07\{1910} (Monday)
I worked in the factory this day.
This evening I worked making over
the old Business wagon.
03\08\1910 (tuesday)
I worked this day at the factory of Rogers _{&?}
Brothrs putting up a lathe in the leather
room.
P. Mr. Clyde is engaged to Fritzie Hansen
Margaret is engaged to Clifford Northrop,
and Irving is engaged to Dorothy _________{Heatersley? Name is
smudged, difficult to read}.
of Brooklyn N.Y.
03\09\1910 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Renewed subscription for FArm and Fireside
Bought one doz orange spoons for Mrs.
Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Goshen and sent them to Miss
Girtrude Hepinstall{?}, 417 ___ch{?} Street
West Haven, sent them yesterday
afternoon.
{Note in margin of text:
1650}
{Is this 16.50}
03\10\{1910} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
The new part of which has been built on
the machine room where the old wheel
house, which was afterward used as a
trimming room{roon!} is finished nearly.
03\11\1910 (Friday)
I worked to day at the factory.
A great trolley stike is on in
Philadelphia 120.000 men are out.
03\12\1910 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day{to doay!}.
Clifton Heaton reached hom from Paris
to day, he has been gone two years, and
returned on receiving a cable gram{2 words?}
that his sister was sick, and mother
was dead, landed at New York this
morning and reached home this
afternoon.
03\13\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. D. Buckley preached at the Chapel
his afternoon.
The wood in Calvary Cemetery{Cemetary!} was
burned over to day, and Long hill is
burning to night.
03\14\1910 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This morning I was awakened at about
four by the blowing of the whistle of the
Mattatuck factory and calling the boys
we hastened{haistened!} down to find the Japon{Japan?}
shop on fire but by the use of the automatic
fire extinguishers and a line
of hose they soon had it out.
Chieff Snagg came in his automobile
and the chemical{cemicle!} and hose autos{.?} also
came, the steamer and Hook-and-
ladder came as far as niagara street.
This evening as we were talking
after supper about seven the whistle
lew again and we hastened{haistened!} down
to find the carpenters shop on fire.
{new paragraph?}
We put on two streams{'?} from a hydrant
and soon had it out, some one had
placed a bunch of waste{waist! waiste!} soaked in
kerosene{karasene!} oil on the side of the
building under the window and
lit it, this morning a box filled
with oily waste was lit __{in?} the Japan
room.
03\15\1910 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
03\16\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
{Note in the margin of text:
1650}
03\17\{1910} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This is St. Patricks day and all of the
irishmen are wearing green in form
of ribbons{ribbens!} paper etc.
Mary and I ware getting ready to go
to Massachusetts in the morning.
03\21\1910 (Monday)
Last Friday morning Mary and I
took the 7 A.M. car and went by trolley
to Plainvillee{?}, fare .30 Then by steam
to Westfield{Westfield?} Mass fare .70 and by
trolley to Huntington fare .20 where
we arrived{arived!} at 12 M. went to take
stage to Worthington but found
an old single buckboard drawn
by an old horse driven by an old
sea captain named Porter who
could not carry us, so I went to
Mr. Fred P. Stanton who has a
lumber mill and Livery Stable
and engaged a double buckboard
with a young man to drive, and
we started, we saw great banks
of ice along Westfield River where
the flood had washed it up.
At Norwich bridge tehre had been a great
ice jam the greatest ever known and the
lands above the bridge were covered with
large cakes of ice, it was feared that the
bridge would be swept{sweapt!} away, at Pitcher
bridge no damage was done as the bridge
was very high above the water, as we went
North we found more and more snow,
we passed through, Kniteville{?}, South Worthington
and Ringville, above Ringville the driftsWorthington
had been dug through which were more
than five feet deep, turning at the second
road{,?} to left above Ringville we encountered
great drifts eight feet deep in which the
wheels went is{in?} so deep and the hubs on one
side stuck into the drift wall where it
had been dug out so firm that the
horse could not draw it out, we pulled
and lifted and finally got it out, but
farther on the traveling was so bad that
we had to walk and when we came to
a place where the team could turn
about I paid the young man three
dollars and he turned back and we
walked the rest of the way to the house
where we found{,?} Mrs. Hart her mother
and their aunt Said. John was up to the
sugar camp and I walked up there about
a mile distant. Found him in the sugar
house attending the fire over which was
a pan about ten feet long four feet wide
and eight or ten inches deep in which was
eighteen barrells/barrels{?} of sap boiling, we staid
there till dark when we filled the fire
with wood and went home and ate supper
of fried ham, after which we returned
to camp and found that the sap in
the pan had boiled away three inches
since we had been gone and was still
three inches deep, at ten it was only one and
one quarter deep and we filled it full again
and put in a large quantity of wood and went
home and I to bed and slept sound till morning,
John was up at three and went up to
camp and started the fire, came home and
we had breakfast, after which we went up
to the camp, yesterday the hired men, Morris
Smith{?} and Leon, gathered ten barrels of sap.
John attended to the boiling and Morris,
Leon and I gathered sap, nearly all of the
tubs were full and before night we had
gathered thirty barrels, had the three
big tanks{tanks!} in the sugar house full as well
as the boiling pan and a load on the ox
sled, we staid in the camp till late when
we came home and ate supper.
John telephoned to Captain Porter the slage{stage?}
driver and he said that he would leave
his place at half past six and be at the
corner at seven to carry us to Huntington
in the morning. We were up at
five and John hitched up the gray horses
and we started with our baggage, but
the snow was deep and we had to go
slow, _ne{and?} reached the corner before
seven but the old Captain was there
before us, he had two old poor horses
and a light two seated wagon, and
one passenger{passinger!}, but two boxes of maple
sugar and other freight, we got on
the back seat and we starter{?} over the
drifts and frozen ground at the
steep hill above Kingville one of the
horses fell down but was up in a
minute and three of the _races{traces? braces?}
were unfastened, they adjusted
the traces and went sliding down
the hill and the traces sliped off
gain, this time we fastned themff
on with little pieces of wood, and
all went well till we reached South
Worthington when at the store there
was two cases of maple syrup that
weighed over two hundred pounds
which the Captain loaded on, I was
afraid that the axles would break
but the old driver said that they
were tough axles and drove on, at
the steep hill below the bridge
the horse fell again and horse wagon
and all slid down the hill, at two
places the ice was so sidling that
the hind wheel of the wagon rubbed
against the rail beside the road
had it given away we would have
gone down sixty feet into the Westfield
River. We reached Huntington at
ten o'clock and boarded a trolley car
and came home via Westfield, Springfild{Springfield?},
Hartford, New Britain,
Plainville, Southington, and Cheshire,
reaching home a little before six
{new paragraph?}
Fare .75 cts each on Stage and .98 cts{?}
on trolley.
03\22\1910 (Tuesday)
I worked to day at the factory.
03\23\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
11.00}
03\24\1910 (Thursday)
I worked in teh factory to day as uysual.
{new paragraph?}
Irving and Miss Hattersley came from
Brooklyn{Brookly!} to night.
03\25\{1910} (Friday)
Good Friday, I worked at the factory
this forenoon, but came home at
noon as I had a lot of work to day
Had dinner and after a while
went out to work, soon we saw a
smoke coming from the west and
Frank and Raymond started up
to Blakeslees' lot myself following
to see where it was, we saw that
it was the woods and the ice-houses
and barn at the Lockhart place on
the Meriden Road, we ran over and
went to work putting out the fire
in the lot between the burining barn
and house and up through the
swamp on Charlie Monroes property
The City fire department came
and placed a steamer on the dam
and soon had two streams on the
fire, I saw Wm Gillettes and he asked
where my engine was I told him that it
was not there, but he said it was womewhere
for he telephoned for it, I started
up the road and found it back of
the Forersters Hall{?}, we took it to the
brook and put out the fire back of the
hall and then went through the swamp
and onto{outo!} the road and up Gillettee7s{?} tone{?}
and over onto Bauleys meadows{?} but
a gan{gang?} of men were ahead of us and put
he fire out with brooms, shovels, hoes,
etc. we then went to the rear of the
big burning ice house and put a
stream on there but the City fire-men
soon put another there, and soon{_oon?} had
he fire out, we then realed up and
went up to William Gillettee's where Iva
gave us refreshments, there was another
fire burning over at Long Hill, and still
another up North East in Wolcott, soon
Mrs. Bessie Mosher{?} telephoned that
a fire was burining on the Southmaid{?}
road and we started down{dow!} but it was
only a bush and grass fire, so we
came home, and it was after six when
the{thhe!} engine was washed and hose hung
up.
03\26\1910 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day, the big gear
wheel on the lift next to Mansfilds{Mansfields?} drop
broke and I took it down adn we sent it to
New Haven to have it replaced.
The Jury on the Kutchman - Mitchel
murder brought in a verdict after being
out is hours, it was as follows, ___eph{Joseph?}
Mitchell guilty of murder in the second
degree, Sophie Kritchman{?} guilty of manslaughter{1 word? hypenated?},
the penalty for Mitchel is
imprisonment for life, and Sophie gets
fifteen years in prison, She is 24 years
old. The trail has lasted since the 25th
of january, and has cost the sxtate over
twenty thousand dollars.
The crime for which they were sentenced
was the murder of Br__aslaw{Braraslaw?}
Kulvinskas{?}, of Union City they hired
him to a lonely{lovely?} spot near the old
New England Station and shot him on
Friday afternoon Sept 17th last, and left him
for dead, but he did not die and they returned
next morning and shot him
again and cut hi_{his?} throat, and still
he lived and later some boys found him
who notified the police{poliece!} and he was taken
to the Waterbury hospital where he died later.
03\27\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. J. _.{G.?} Davenport{,?} preached at the Chapel
this afternoon, this is East Sunday and
there was{wa!} a large attendance{attendence!}, and many
flowers.
Irving and Dorothy Hattersley returned
to Brooklyn to night, went bry trolley to
New Haven, and express to New York.
Clyde returned from New York last
Saturday morning, where he had been visiting
the new waterworks dams now under
construction in the Catskills mountains
to supply{suply!} New York City with water.
03\28\1910 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
{new paragraph?}
Sentence was passed by Judge
Williams at new Haven this
morning against Joe Mitchel and
Sophie Kritchman.{.?} He to State prison
for the remained of his life, and she
from twelve to fifteen years.
03\29\{1910} (Tuesday)
I worked ten hours at the factory.
This evening Frank Raymond
and I went up to Wm Gillette's
and took out a length of pipe from
his barn well that has been burst
by the frast{frost?}
03\20\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in the margin of text: 12 37{note is difficult to read}}
03\31\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day
This evening I saw Frank Judd about
doing some work at the Chapel.
I then took trolley at Wedges Corner
and went to Cheshire where I staid till
ten.
04\01\1910 (Friday)
Workd at the factory to day
04\02\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual
When Raymond ad i were coming
home we saw a fire South of the
Plank road above the Bladget{Blodget?} place
which we put out with some shovels
that we borrowed from Mrs. Joe
Gilbert.
04\03\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vaught{?} preached at the Chapel.
04\04\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the shop.
04\05\1910 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory
04\06\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
{Note in margin of text:
16 50}
04\07\{1910} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory as usual.
04\08\{1910} (Friday)
Worked to day in the factory.
Mr. Tobin raised my pay from _.75{2.75?} to
3.00 per day
The men of the Chapel{Chape!} gave a supper
this evening the proceeds of which was
over 28.00{_8.00!}
04\09\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at factory.
This eve attended the Mill Plain improvement
meeting.
04\10\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley at Chapel this P.M.
This P.M. went to Ives Corner by trolley
and walked to top of Mt. Sanford.
04\11\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at factory.
04\12\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Farrington{?} has cellars dug on Idylwood
avenue{?} for three, three family houses.
Mr. Elliott is finishing his new house
on Elliott Avenue.
Ruth returned from New York where
she has been visiting Irving.
04\13\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day
Clyde came home sick this noon.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
The Jail at new Haven burned this forenoon
the prisoners were taken to police{poliece!} headquarters
and the armory{armary!}, several firemen were
burned to death.
04\14\1910 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory
Mary went to the grange.
04\15\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at factory.
Went to see Chief Snagg about my
appointment as fire warden.
04\16\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day
Had Fire drill to night also a
drill 2 weeks ago.
04\17\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Osborn preached at the Chapel
04\18\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory
04\19\1910 (Tuesday) {Please note that year was written as 19010}
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
Received my appointment of Fire
Warden from State Forest Fire
Warden Samuel N Spring to day.
04\20\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00
Is this note with the entry for 04\20\1910?}
04\21\{1910} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day putting the
fixtures in the new pipe shed.
To night Raymond and I piped the
bath tub
04\22\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we went out to Charlie
Cass at the Barnes peach orchard to a
dance in the large new barn, there were{wer_?}
about 150 people there.
04\23\1910 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\24\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fisher preached at the Chapel
Austin B. Pierpont and wife returned
from Florida yesterday.
04\25\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\26\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Last evening I attended an Old
Folks Concert given by the Mill
Plain Choir in the Church at
Wolcott for the benefit of the
Wolcott Grange I went with my
two seated wagon and took Mary,
Mrs. Sidney Spender, Leda Clark{?}
and Bessie White{?}, Will Gillettee{?} went
with a pair of horses and his wagonette
and carried Margaret, Ruth,
Clifton Northrop, Fritzie Hansen,
and Iva, and O how it rained.
{new paragraph?}
Will said that he never saw it rain
harder, the Choir went in Arthur
Pierponts vegetable{vegtable!} wagon.
Mr. Emmons house burned
yesterday, it stood on the Plank
Road near East wood{2 words?}.
04\27\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory{.?}
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
04\28\{1910} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory.
04\29\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory as usual to day.
04\30\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at factory.
This evening the boys had a fire drill
went with the engine up to the bridge
by James Whites.
05\01\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
After service mary and I went over
to Cheshire, and visited mrs. Doolittle.
05\02\1910 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
05\03\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\04\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended the funeral
of Mrs. Stephen Harrison aged 83, She
was daughter of James Somers, She died
at Albion Mich, at the home of her
daughter Mrs. Mary Goodrich, she
also leaves one sone George of new York
State. REv. Mr. Dinsmore officated
Pall Bearers were Julus Moltby{?},
Archie Smith and son, Mr. William
Gillettee{?}, Mr. ____________________ and myself.
{new paragraph?}
Buried in the family lot at Riverside
Cemetery.
05\05\1910 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
To day Clyde worked sounding the
Brass mill Pond preparatory{preparitory!} of
measuring the quantity of water it
contains.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
05\06\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This noon Mary telephoned that the
woods south of the plank road at
Eastwood was on fire, started by
Ed Holmes steam saw mill, it
burned over a large tract and some
card{cord?} wood and saw logs.
Ed Holmes and three men worked
from 10.30 till 5.30 putting it out, Mr.
Lease and two men, and Frank and
Raymond also put it out
05\07\1910 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Edward VII King of England died
of Pneumonia last night aged 69 years
Paid John Galligher my last years
school tax 11.20
05\08\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley preached at the Chapel
this P.M. Has rained all day.
{next line is difficult to read}
Telephoned to Cheshire.
05\09\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day
Saturday evening Frederick Chase's
barn burned in Middlebury Coss{Conn?} 6.500'{?}
We were looking at it from here in
front of the house
05\10\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked to day in factory.
05\11\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
{Note in margin of text:
16 50{?}}
05\12\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr. Farriton{?} is building three new
houses on Idylwood avenue.
05\13\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I heard the telephone ring this morning
at three and could not find who rang it
but central told me to look at the
Comet, I looked to the North East and
saw Halleys Comet, and then called
the folks, so we all saw it, a very
remarkable Comet, this makes
four that I have seen, but this is
not as large as the one in 1881 or 2.
05\14\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at factory
{new paragraph?}
Attended meeting of improvement Society
{Is there any text at the very bottom of this page?}
05\15\1910 (Sunday)
Mr. Osbourn preached at Chapel.
Margaret, Ruth, and Mary went
with me for a ride to the highest
part of Brucks Hill{?}.
05\16\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at factory.
Got up at 4.30 and Raymond, Freask{Frank?}
and I went up to the old tannery
place and got a load of old lumber
out of the old ice house which I
bought of the Mattatuck Co for 2.00
{new paragraph?}
We got the _irst{first?} load Saturday
morning and the se__rd{second?} Saturday
evening.
05\17\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
We got a load from the ice house
this morning early this is the last.
05\18\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
Paid Property tax tonight 15.39{.?}
{new paragraph?}
Went to Cheshire __{by?} trolley{trolly!}
{note in margin of text:
18 00}
05\19\{1910} (Thursday) {1907 is written as the year for this entry}
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
05\20\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I announced the programs
at the entertainment at the strawberry
supper{suppir?} at the Chapel.
05\21\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening Clyde, Frank, Raymond, and
I went up to Will Gillette's and with his
help with Conney{?} we set the two granite
Columns that he got from the Court
Hose at the corners of the street and
his driveway.
05\22\{1910} (Sunday)
I went to the factory and with Mr. Case{Cass?}
and an other{2 words?} man from Bristol examined
the waterwheels, found that the big one
had worn and gone down two inches
and the other about three quarters of an
inch, was there from 9 to 1 o'clock.
Mr. Davenport preached at the Chapel.
To night at 8 o clock died John Pierpont
at the home of his siter Hattie Pierpont
at East Farms, of pneumonia and
heart disease{desease!}.
05\23\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon, this
P.M. went to the District Court in Old
Fellos Hall and with Will Gillettee went
to Probate Court in Citizens Bank building
and prepared to settle Fathers estate{istate?}.
{new paragraph?}
I then{thent!} went to City Clerks Office and
asked for an abatement on my street
sprinkling{sprinkleing!} assessment{assesment!}, and found that
my tax bill{word difficult to read} which I paid last Wednesday
as not receipted went to tax collector
Ells and he found that he took in 15.39
more __{on?} Wednesday than he could account
for so he receipted the bill.
Placed a notice board at the enterence{entrance?}
of Pine Grove Cemetery to night, to be used
to post notice of Cem meeting on.
05\24\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at factory to day
05\25\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Last evening Agnes Abel and
Allen Burgess were married by Dr.
John G. Davenport at his house, she is 31.
John Pierpont aged 61 years was buried
in the Pine Grove Cemetery this P.M.
I attended the annual meeting of the
Mill Plain Union Chapel this evening
and the following officers were elected
Episcopal Committee Austin B Pierpont,
Baptist Harry Buckingham, Methodist
H J. Able, Congregational Charles S Miller
Secretary Bessie M White{?}, Treasurer{Theasurer!}
Dayton C. Wooding{?},
Sunday School Superintendent Arthur
J Pierpont{name is smudged}, Librarian{Lybrarian!} Frank Welton{?}.
05\26\1910 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
We have been out looking at
the comet.
05\27\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I took the Sec and Treas book
of the Pine Grove Cem out to A.B. Pierponts and audited them
{"audited them" is smudged}
05\28\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
We find by the books that the repairs
to pump and engine in the Pine Grove
Cemetery cost 25.95 last year beside a
set of batteries.
Balance cash May 26th{?} 1910 $1.171.20
Permanent funds
Lydia Sacket fund $3.094.98
Henry Hall .309.00
Elezebeth Sandor_{Sandord?} .100.00
Joseph Laurence 1.000.00
Had fire drill to night{.?} at our brook
engine worked fine.
05\29\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Churin{?}. Preached at the Chapel.
After service Mary, and Mr. and Mrs. Sidney
Spender and son Donald went for a ride
up the Scott road and we looked over
where a fire had burned over about
an acre, which Mr. Lease and mon{man?}
put out, we then went to Prospect center
then down the Straitsville road to
Horatio Clarks and home by head{?} of
Union City brook.
05\30\{1910} (Monday)
Decoration day staid home, worked in
garden and about the place.
05\31\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
06\01\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{note in margin of text:
16.50}
This{word is smudged. Is is crossed out?} evening attended meeting of
Pine Grove Cem Association in Mill
Plain Chapel, and the following officers
were elected.{,?} Mark L Warner, H.I. Abel,
Warren B. Hitchcock, Thoedore Munson,
Charles Jessell, Ralph N. Blakeslee, and
Martin A. Pond, Trustee's Austin B.
Pierpont, and Charles S. Miller Auditors.
06\01\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
B. F. Haggetts{?} wife was buried this
afternoon at one o'clock from the Chapel
{new paragraph?}
Dr. J. G. Davenport officiating, the
Grange burial service was used.
Lyndle Heaton was buried this
afternoon at 2.30 from the Chapel.
{new paragraph?}
Dr. J. G. Davenport officiating.
06\03\{1910} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mary and Mother went to Brooklyn
N.Y. to visit Irving.
06\04\1910 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
{new paragraph?}
This evening I took my pressure gauge{guage!}
to Cheshire and took the pressure of
the water found it to be 55 lbs at
the house of Mrs. Alexander Doolittle
on Cornwell ave.{?}
06\05\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought{Wought?} preached at the Chapel
fter service the Committee electedat the Chapel
myself chairman for the coming{comming!}
year.
We had a severe frost this morning
which cut down corn and beans also
tomatoes.
06\06\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory this day.
{new paragraph?}
Mary returned from New York to day.
The Mill Plain Sunday School teachers
had a sunset party at Maple Hill Farm
this evening.
06\07\{1910} (Tuesday)
Maurice Reed who was arrested{arested!} Sunday for
selling liquor at the ball Grounds Sunday was
{next line is difficult to read. This line is written in the margin}
fined $7_.00{?} in court this Tuesday morning
06\07\1910 (Tuesday) {This is the second entry with the date 06\07\1910}
Worked at the factory to day.
06\08\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked __{at?} the factory to day.
{note in margin of text:
15 00}
06\09\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\10\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\11\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
After work I went to William Gillettes
and Mary, Cara, Iva, myself, and
Mother signed the settlement papers
on Fathers estate.
06\12\{1910} (Sunday)
Mr. Osborn{?} preached at Chapel
{new paragraph?}
After service Frank, Raymond, Nathan
Pierpont and I went for a ride down
to Laverne Clarks in Prospect.
06\13\1910 (Monday)
I workd in the factory to day.
Charles K. hamilton{?} broke the worlds
record to day by flying from new York
to Philadelphia and back again.
06\14\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\15\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
This evening I went to the Levenworth street{?}
engine house to see Chief Snagg regarding
Fire Warden work.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
06\16\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
{new paragraph?}
Went this evening and handed in
my list of ratable property to the
assessors.
Then went before the Board of abatements
and applied{applyed!} to have my sprinkling
tax abated.
Called on Chief Snagg about Fire matters.
06\17\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the Mill Plain electors in the
School House, W. B. Hitchcok{Hitchcock?} elected Committee
B. F.{?} Hoggett clerk, Mark Warren Treas, W M Gillette
C. S. Miller, and James White Auditors.
06\18\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the Mill Plain Improvment
Society, at Hamilton Hall.
06\19\{1910} (Sunday) {Was the year erased from this entry?}
Jon French and I worked at the
factory shortening two blower belts
in the trimming room.
06\20\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Wrote Cray{?} Brothers.
06\21\{1910} (Tuesday)
Irving came home from Brooklyn N.Y.
{new paragraph?}
Frank lkeft this P.M. for Stamford where
he is to work for A.J. Pierpont on a farm.
06\21\{1910} (Tuesday) {This is the second entry for this date}
Worked at the factory to day
{new paragraph?}
Attended the graduating exercises of
the Mill Plain School held in the Chapel
06\22\{1910} (Wednesday) {No entry is written below the date}
06\22\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day there
were not many there as Barnum
and Bailys circum was in town.
{Note in margin of text:
2010}
The crowd tat rode on the trolley
cars was so great that they could
only move at about six P.M. going
up the hills.
06\23\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory, about 20.000 at circus yesterday.
{new paragraph?}
Paid Wm. Byrnes 10.00
06\24\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening attended meeting of
Mill Plain Improvement Society.
Paid Wm Byrned $5.00
06\25\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at factory.
06\26\{1910} (Sunday)
Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel
Childrends day Chapel croweded.
After service{.?} Mary, Margaret,
Louese Jenner{?} and I went for a
fide over th Meriden road tooked{looked?}
at the rock cut just finished through
the top of the mountain, stoped
at Charlie Cass, got strawberries
they had pciked nine bushels this
A.M. saw George Cass and his ne_{new?}
Mc Farland automobile, went
to Marion - and then South to
Moses Farms and home
06\27\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory fo day
Raymond went to work for Ralph
Blakeslee last Saturday.
06\28\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
After work Clyde, Ray and I went
out to East Farms and cultivated
and hoed the potatoes.
06\29\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
06\30\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. J. G. Jones sent me a bill for the
{12.00 is written above "bill for" in the previous line}
renewal{renewel!} of my insurance on my
house.
07\01\1910 (Friday) {07\01\1910 (Friday) is written above this entry}
Worked at the factory to day
finishing a{an?} annealing furnace.
I went to Adams express office and
got a package which came from Cleveland
Ohio. 70 cts
Irving and Dorothy came from
Brooklyn to night.
07\02\{1910} (Saturday)
This morning I got aboard of the trolley
car and went to New Britain to see
Charles K. Hamilton fly, this day
being the first that ever anyone has
made a successful flight-in new
England, he went up from Walnut
Hill Park at about ten but the
engine failed to work good and
after soaring high in the air he
came down in a Swamp about a
mile South of where he started.
I ran to the spot and found that
he had broken the rudder and
one of the wings and some wire
braces, the machine is of the air-plane{air-plain!}
type with two sails one above the other
about thirty feet long and fout{fourty?} feet
wide with two small sails front and
a sail and rudder back, it s{it?} drven{driven?}
by an eight cylinder gasoline{gasolene!} engine
which turns{turnes!} a two bladed propeller
made of a single stick of wood.
He worked about the engine and parts
of the machine until about five P.M. when
he went up again and sailed in a
circle a mile in diameter three times
when he came down again, they wheeled
the machine onto the park grounds
and he went up again and after circleing{circling?}
about three times landed in
the park, again he went up and circled
about and soon disappeared{disapeared!} to the east
and was gone about ten minutes when
I saw him reutnring High up, the
machine tooking{looking?} only about one foot
long, again landed where he did
before, again he started but had
risen only about 15 feet when he
stoped the power and the machine
sailed along the ground and stoped
which was the last. There were 5 {ink blot. Is "5" correct?}
people present.
07\03\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel.
Went up to Wm Gilletts this evening
Frank and wife and Rolland Jenner and
wife were there.
07\04\{1910} (Monday)
Staid about home all day, mower
the meadow (part west of brook) corner of
Harpers Ferry and Plank road, North
corner, about 12 M. one of the Mulhern{?} boys
came and said that I was wanted at
home right away{sway!}, that Raymond had
shot himself while loading an anville
that they had sent for Doctor.
I went up and found Raymond
with a hole in his jaw where the
hammer o_{or? on?} punch hit him and face
and hands blown full of powder
and brick dust, he was tamping
the charge when it went off.
07\05\1910 (Tuesday)
Mowed the west half of the lost cor{?}
of Harpers Ferry and Plank Rds with our
horse nd new machine that Frank
bought of the D. G. Porter estate, no one
helped me but Mary helped load one
load
07\06\{1910} (Wednesday)
Irving helped me and we mowed
the East part of the meadow cor
Plank and H Ferry rds and the lot
cor of Harpers Ferry and Cheshire
Rds, and got them in.
07\07\{1910} (Thursday)
We mowed the East half of Thomas Mills
home lots to day and got in part of the hay.
07\08\{1910} (Friday)
We mowed the remaining grass on our
home lot and got in the last at Tom
_ills{Mills?}
07\09\1910 (Saturday)
We got in the last of our hay to day.
07\10\{1910} (Sunday)
Mr. Buckley preached at Chapel.
07\11\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at factory.
Mr. Rierce{?} came to see me this
evening
{Note in margin of text:
15 00}
07\12\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\13\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual
07\14\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day
This evening I called on Chief Snagg
of the W. F. D. and reported to him
the fires we had put out this year since
my appointment as fire warden, ____{?} over
to Cheshire and returned{"to Cheshire and" is either crossed out
or smudged}.
07\15\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory this day.
This evening I attended a meeting at the
School House where it was voted to lay
a six mill tax, and to raise the salary{salery!}
of the three lower teachers 50.00 and the
Principal{Principle!} 75.00
07\16\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory
07\17\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Smith of St. Pauls methodist
Church preached at the Chapel.
After service mary and I went for a
ride Carried the minister home{?} near
Division Street and then went up
N Main St. and over Chestnut Hill road
to the West Wolcott Raoid and
looked at the nw house that Abed{Abel?}
Alcotts son is building, then came
home stoping at Dayton Woodings.
07\18\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\19\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon
Thios afternoon I met Wm Gillette
at the Probace office{Probate?} in th Citizens
Bank building and we finished
settling{./} Fathers estate paid Judge
Byrne $15.00
We then went to D. B. Wilsons
store and looked up red shirts
caps, and bells for the fire Co.
I then went to Dr. Brewsters
and had tooth filled.
In the evening we had a laun{lawn?}
party at our house, but as I
was tired and teeth ached I went to
ed.
07\20\1910 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
{Note in margin of text:
1800}
Engaged Elsie Anderson to play the
organ in the Chapel this is to fill the
vacancy{vackency!} caused by Murtin Judd
going Syracuse.
07\21\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Irving, Raymond, Nate Pierpont
and I put the flagpole on the barn
this evening.
07\22\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory
Nate Pierpont and RAymond went to
Thomasten{Thomaston?} horseback after seven cows
for A. B. Pierpont, but they did{di_d?} not get
them ast the man that was to bring
them from Farrington{?} did not get
Mr. Pierponts letter.
07\23\1910 (Saturday)
F{I?} Worked at the factory putting up
a dust collector with Mr. Frnk{Frank?} for
the Sterling Blower Co. of Hartford.
Nate Pierpont and Raymond
went to Farrington{?} and got cows
except one.
07\24\{1910} (Sunday)
Irving, Dorothy, Mary, and I{,?} took
the trolley cars this morning and
went to Woodbury where we met
George Cass with his automobile and
he took us through Southbury Main
street and over across he{the?} Housatonic
river to Sandyhook and then back
to Southbritain, to his house where
we got ready and went to church
and hear Mr. Wallace nutting
preach, we then returned to his
house where we staid the rest of
the day except we went over the
hill{bill?} and saw a large Chestnut
tree that was struck by lightning
and shattered and killed we then went
over to the mill pond and went sailing
in Georges motor boat.
We left about eight and he brought
us to the trolley and then we came
home.
07\25\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
07\26\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\27\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
Raymond went through Southmayd{?}
Raod with the Subscription paper to raise
money to buy uniforms{unifornes!} for the fire
company.
07\28\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
07\29\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The Epworp's League{?} of St. Pauls
Methodist Church came to our
place and had ice cream etc, came
by trolley but walked back.
07\30\{1910} (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
{new paragraph?}
Irving started for Pittsburgh
Pa this morning to work for the
Westinghouse Electric Company
07\31\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Churn, preached at the
Chapel this afternoon
Elsie Anderson played the organ
Last Sunday and to day.
{note in margin of text:
Elsie
Anderson}
08\01\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\02\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day
{new paragraph?}
Mary and Raymond went to
Bantam Lkake to day.
08\03\{1910z} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Dorathy Hattersley{?} is keeping
house she and I went to town this
evening.
Ruth went to work book keeping
for the Mattatuck Co last monday
08\04\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory
Mary and Raymond came home
from Litchfield to day.
Alexander Dallas received{recived!} the deed of the Kilbourn_{?}
property yesterday, and he bought the Lackhart
place a week ago.
08\05\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
{new paragraph?}
Ruth had postal from Hiram Abel mailed
in Lynchburgh Va.
08\06\1910 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day with Frank
Fleck{?} putting in a Sterling blower
sistern.
08\07\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Gaffeney{?} of Prospect preached
at the Chapel. Florence White played.
{Note in margin of text:
Flarence{Florence?}
White}
I went to work this morning at 7.30
and worked till 3.00 With M_{?} Fick{?}
measuring up the waterwheel's which
are 4 4" and 20" the large case is
8' diameter and 5' 2" high, the small case
is diameter high the penstock{penstack?}
48 diameter, there is 22' fall.
08\08\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\09\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\10\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day
{Note in margin of text:
2040{or 20 40?}}
Dorothy Hattersley{?} left this
morning for Barnstable, Cape Cod.
Judge Cowell died this morning.
08\11\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon
This P.M. took 1.31 steam cars and
went to Ansonia, and at the national
Bank had the ten shares of bank
stock which Father owned transfered{transferred?}
to mother. Then went by trolley
to New Haven and went to Lighthouse
point, came back to the
City bought 2 qts o_{of?} long clams at
Foots on State St. and came hom{home?}
via Cheshire.
Workmen are tearing down the
old log sloping dam at the Brass
Mill pond which was built in 1845 {or 1865?}
08\12\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\13\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
08\14\{1910} (Sunday)
]
Went to New Haven this P.M. and
Saw Samuel Ovaitt [Oviatt] who is sick
at the Elm City Hospital, when
I came home I stoped at Brooksvale
and found the Alexander Doolittle
house torn down and the cellar
enlarged for a new house.
Hiram Abel and Allen Burgess
returned from a southern trip last
night.
Margaret returned from
a two weeks vacation a{at/} Bantam
lake to day.
Mrs. Munson played organ at
the Chapel.
08\15\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
08\16{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The sample rig for the fire
Company came to day, I had James
Mulhern put it on and we went
up to Will Gillettes and we ordered
three dozen more, Shirts, Caps, and
belts.
08\17{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
Note in margin of text:
18 00}
08\18\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\19\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day
{new paragraph?}
They are raising a 60 ft drrick{?} at
the old Brass Mill dam to day.
08\20\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\21\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Otto Rand preached at the Chapel.
Frank called and we looked over
things that belonged to Father.
08\22\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
{new paragraph?}
Philapino who worked the 1260 lb_{lbs?}
drop had his thumb smashed off
this morning this leaves only
the little finger on the left hand
as he has lost three fingers before.
It is reported to day that James
Tabin{?} the superintendent{supertendent!} is seriously
sick.
08\23\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
08\24\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day hardening
dies this P.M.
{Note in margin of text:
18 90}
08\25\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
08\26\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mrs. Lucy Frost died in Hartford
to day.
08\27\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory
08\27\{1910} (Saturday) {The entry for 08\27\{1910} is written twice}
Worked at the factory
08\28\{1910} (Sunday)
Received{Recived!} telegram at 9.00 from
Pittsburgh that Mr. Edgar L
Cotting of Chicago was co_ing{coming?}
to coming on the 12.15
train to see{seet!} me, he arrived{arived!} on
said train and we got Will Gillettee{Gillettes!}
to take us up to the Timothy Roat{?}
place where his great-grand{?} father
Orrin Jacksons family lived and to
Chas Tuttles where his Grandfather
Salmon Upson lived in 1840 and to
the Cemetery where his ancesters are
buried then over to the Upson Burying
ground on Southington mountain
and to the Thomas Upson place
just over the mountain where Gen
Lafaette{?} staid over night in 1778
then to the East Farms Burying ground
where his great great Grand fathers{2 word?}
Phineas Castle is buried, then
home, we staid up till after midnight
looking up historical matter and
was up early next morning and
when he left he took some of my
papers to Ansonia{?} on the train
so that he could copy more and
left them with Clyde to bring back
08\29\1910 (Monday)
Worked at factory.
The uniforms for the Boys Fire Co
arrived to day, from Chicago.
08\30\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at factory
The Chapel Ladies gave a peach{?}
supper at the Chapel cleared $29.30
this evening.
08\31\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
09\01\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I was at Will Gillettes
nd we gave several boys of thelettes
neighborhood{neighbarhood!} their uniforms for the
Fire Co.
09\02\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Raymond went to Sandyhook
and got a back for the buggy that
he took over two weeks ago.
09\03\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
After work we put the flag pole
that Will Gillette got from the
old Court House and gave to the
school district on the school house.
09\04\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Wought{Vought?} preached at the
Chapel this P.M.
After service I went for a trolley
ride to Cheshire visited the episcopal
Cemetery{Cemetary!} and walked about and
came home.
09\05\1910 (Monday)
Labor day.
This morning we marched up to
Will Gillette's with the fire engine
I drummed for the boys to march
when we got there we had 23 riged{rigged?}
out in uniform and at 9._0{9.30?} started
and went up the Woodtick road to
Dayton Woodings back to the bridge
where they pumped and threw a
stream of water into the air 70 ft.{,?}
then went down the Frost rd to the brook
south of Mr. frosts where they played
for a few minutes, and then went
back to Munsons Corner and in
the Meriden Raod then down the
Southmayd{?} Road to East main St.
then back to the third dam where
they placed the engine at the mouth
of the ditch and run a line of hose
up onto the road and threw 65 ft.
Then went to Will Gilletts and broke
ranks.
This P.M. Frank, Ray, and I went
to Naugatuck{Naygatuck!} to see the fire parad_{parade?}{punctuation?}
but it was over before we got
there, but we looked over the
hose carriagss{carriages?} etc. saw one old
engine that was made in 1810
at Bethel Conn.
Clyde and Fritzie went to Wolcott
Center to a clam bake there was
a large number present.
09\06\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day
09\07\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\08\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at{et!} the factory to day
This evening I saw Miss Doolittle
about finishing some pictures.
09\09\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory
Went to see Mr. tucker{?}.
09\10\1910 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory this A.M.
This afternoon the boys fire Co
had a drill at Will Gillette's in uniform
{new paragraph?}
After the drill I went with Ralph
Blakeslee and saw Mr. Combalac{?}
about{abour!} hiring the Boys Club Band for
the Fire Parade next Thursday.
Then went to see Mr. Tinker{?} but
he is not at home, then saw
Chief Snagg, about his seeing
hin{him?} Monday and to borrow three
caps from him etc.
09\11\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the
Chapel.
09\12\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Will Gillette and Iva returned from Worthington{?}
Mass last night, they went
up Sat afternoon to see about Judge
Cowells estate thery{?}.
This evening I went to see Mr. Tinker{?}
superintendent of schools in regard to
excusing the fire boys and the boys
club Band next Thursday A. M. but
Chief Snagg had seen him to day
and he brought the matter before the
Board of Education this evening and
they voted to excuse them.
Saw Mr. Combalac{?} of the Boys Club
and he wants me to be present at
their meeting tomorrow eve and ask
them to turn out, went to see Wm
Gillettee but he and Iva had gont to
see Roll and Mary down town.
09\13\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening the boys had a fire
drill at the corner near the Schoolhouse
Wm Gillette{Gillettes?} engaged the Boys Club
Band to play in the Fire Parade for
the Mill Plain Company on the 15th
There{Ther!} was a party at our house
to night of Clydes friends who
brought many mechanical tools for him
in anticipation of his coming marriage.
09\14\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in the margin of text:
13 50}
As I was oiling the lifts of the drop
hammers one of the heels of the cranks
caught my arm and cut a bad gash
in it to the bone, came home and
dressed it and went back to work.
09\15\{1910} (Thursday)
Some of the boys of the Fire Company
assembled at my house at
eight o clock and started with
the fire engine for Phillips Corner
where we found the rest and at
Union Squre{Square?} were joined by the
Band then went to Grand St
where we halted in front of the
Library and waited for the City
department which formed at 9.30
then marched through Bank St. to
Green where they were inspected then
out{aut!} West Main to Willow counter-marched{1 word? hyphenated word?}
past review at City Hall
to Bank to Grand to S Maint{Main!} out{aut!}
East main to Cherry counter marched
{new paragraph?}
Green out W Man{Main?} to Willow
counter marched to Levenworth
__ere{where?} the Parade was dismissed{dismised!}
then to Grand to Cottage Place
at Boys Club where the Band
left us and after paying $25.00 for
their services we came home
reached here at 11.45
09\16\1910 (Friday)
Worked at thefactory to day.
09\17\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory today.
09\18\{1910} (Sunday)
{I can't read the 1st half of the next line}
____ ____ ________ __{of?} the first
methodist church preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service Mary, Bessie Parks
and I went for a ride up to Woodtick.
09\19\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\20\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
This evening the boys of the fire Company
met at William Gilletts and turned in
their uniforms.
09\21\1910 (Wednesday)
I worked to day at the factory as usual
William Curkee called this evening for
two Fire Permits one for himself and one
for Malcolm Reed.
{Note in margin of text:
16 50}
This afternoon Lillian Davenport and
Anna Pierpont{?} came to our place and
had a corn rost{roast?}.
Fritzie hansen had supper here she
and Glyde are getting their house on
Edson Ave ready to occupy next
month after their marriage.
09\22\1910 (THursday)
I worked at Rogers & Bros factory to day as
usual.
My wife is fifty years old to day.
{new paragraph?}
This evening Mr. Perkinso_{Perkinson?} and Mr.
Lilley called to see if I favored the
nomination of William Gillettee and
Mr. Lillie for Representatives{Representitives!} to the
Legislator{Legislature?}, they were pleased with
my opinion in their favor as I am
a delegate to the twon convention.
09\23\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening my wife's brothers and
their wifes i.e. Charles J. Pierpont, and
wife Juliaette, Austin B. Pierpont,
and wife Lucy, George Connor{?} and
Mrs. Nellie Neal, Wilson L. Pierpont
and wife Anna, and Elmer Pierpont
took supper at our house in honor
of Maries Birthday{Burthday!}.
At the supper the announcement
was make{made?} that Clyde and
Fritzie Hansen, irving, and Dorothy
Hattersley of Brooklyn N.Y. and Margaret
and Clifton Northrop{?} are to be married
this fall.
09\24\1910 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank and Ray went to Bristol.
09\25\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Mill Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This A.M. I went up to Woodtick
and saw mr. Carnelus{?} about getting a
crane fron{from/} a fireplace in the old Orren
Jackson{?} house, saw Chas Tuttle and
his mother and they gave me a
foot stove and warming pan each
over 150 years old to send to Edgar
Cotting of Chicago.
This evening I went to Cheshire saw
Mrs. Doolittle{?} Emma{?} is in Boston{.?} Mass
09\26\{1910} (Mondy)
Worked at factory.
Mary and Fannie Porter are 54 years
old. Worked on waterwheel pit tonight.
09\27\1910 (Tuesday)
I worked ten hours at Rogers & Bro's
On Sept 27 1858 I first saw the
light of day I was born on Cherry
Street Waterbury in a house that
stood on the West side of the Street
a little North of where Walnut Street
turns off, on the site where the
house stood the Second Advent
Church now stands.
09\28\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory all day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
09\29\{1910} (THursday)
Worked at the factory to day
Went up to Woodtick this evening
and procurred{procured!} from Mr. Cornelus{?}
the crane and one And_ iron from
the Timothy Root house.
Wrote Edgar L Cotting of Chicago
telling him the above.
09\30\1910 (Friday)
Worekd at the factory.
Frederick Kinsbury the most
prominent citizen of Waterbury
died to day aged 88.
10\01\1910 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
This evening I worked digging the trench
or the foundation of our wash house.
10\02\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Lawson preached at the
Chapel.
10\03\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day. 8 hours
{new paragraph?}
Bought a suit of clothes of Upson _{&?}
Singleton for 19.00 to wear at Clydes
wedding next Thursday.
10\04\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Went to Cosgroves barber shop
and had my hair cut tonight
after work.
10\05\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Dorothy Hattersley came this evening.
10\06\{1910} (Thursday)
Clyde Austin Miller and Fritza hansen
daughter of Fritz hansen who lives on the
Woodtick road above the red bridges were
married at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the
Mill Plain Chapel. The Rev. John G. Davenport
D.D. performing{preforming!} the ceremony. The church
decorations consisted of palms ferns
flowers and autumn{autum!} leaves. The ushers
were George M. Hansen a brother of the
bride: Frank P. Miller a brother of the
groom and Nathan Pierpont a cousin.
{new paragraph?}
Lyle Traver{?} was the best man and the
maid of honor was Miles Florence M Upson{?}.
{new paragraph?}
The organist was Mill Louis M. Jenner
{new paragraph?}
The wedding march from "Lohengrin"{"Leohengrin"?} was
played as the bridal party entered the
Church and Mendelsshon's{Mendelson's?} march as
they were leaving. The bride wore a gown
of white messaline{muslin?} and a tulle, and carried
ride roses. Her maid a {of?} honor wore
embroidered cream colored batiste and
carried a large bundh of pink carnations
{new paragraph?}
After the ceremony a reception and
dinnr was given at the brides home.
{new paragraph?}
Mr. and Mrs. Miller left later in the
afternoon for New York City whence
they will sail for Bermuda.
I worked this A.M.
10\07\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\08\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Had postal from Clyde, he and his
wife have{__ve!} been staying at St. Dennis{.?}
hotel but were to sail to day
for Bermuda{Burmuda!}.
10\09\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck{?} preached at the
Chapel this P.M.
Dorothy Hattersley left to
day for Brooklyn on the 4.35
trolley, I went to Mt.
Carmel and came back to
Cheshire where I visited Judson with
Doolittle.
10\10\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day
10\11\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
Received our pay to day
{Note in margin of text:
15 90}
10\12\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked with Raymond putting in
concrete forms for our wash house
this A.M. and at two o'clock we
went down town and saw the Italian
parade came back and finished
putting in forms. Frank went
to Meriden and played football.
10\13\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
10\14\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
10\15\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Frank played football this P.M.
on the High School team
against the Bridgeport high team
and the Waterbury beat.
Frank, Ray, and I worked till
11 P.M. putting in concrete foundation
for waterwheel{1 word?}.
10\16\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. mr. Smith of the Methodist Church
preached at the Chapel.
After service I went to Middlebury
and looked about the center for a time
then went to Woodbury by trolley
and saw Sireno Saxon who worked
on the old stone factory when it was
built at Rogers & Bros{?}, and also
helped build the Brass Mill in 1845{?}
he was born 1819.
10\17\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening Raymond and I put
in nearly one side of the concrete
foundation.
10\18\{1910} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as usual.
{new paragraph?}
This evening Pay Mr. Bates and I put in
one batch of concrete in the forms for
the foundation of the new wash house.
10\19\1910 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
{Note in margin of text:
15 00}
Clyde and wife returned tonight{1 word?} from
their trip to Bermuda on{an!} Steamer Trent{?}, Monday morning
they witnessed the rescue of Walter Wellman{?}
and his crew of five men from the
air Ship America which had become{became!} disabled{disabeled!},
he talked with all of them and heart
their story of adventure after leaving
Atlantic City last Saturday morning
for London.
Ray and I worked till 11.-0{11.30?} putting in concrete
foundation, finished it.
10\20\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\21\{1910} (Friday)
Worked to dsay at factory.
This evening I took supper at Clydes
new home on Edson avenue.
10\22\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory
{new paragraph?}
Worked of{?} {blank space}
10\23\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Holmes preached at chapel.
10\24\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
10\25\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day
Clyde and Fritzie came this evening
and we made arrangements{arangements!} to go to Brooklyn
next saturday and see irving and
Dorothy married.
10\26\{1910} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day nine hours
{note in margin of text
18 00}
This noon I received a telephone message
that the woods opposite the James
Porter place was on fire, and I hastened
there and with Frank and Ray who
were there already we put it out.
10\27\1910 (Thursday)
I worked ten hours at the factory of Rogers &
Brothers on Silver Street to day. Mr. James
Tobin is expected to die at any time.
It has rained some to day which is much
needed. They expected to finish the concrete
work on the new Mattatuck Companies
new dam back of the Pine Grove Cemetery{Cemetary!}
to day.
This evening Mary has gone to the
Grange, Clyde is at his new home on
Edson Avenue, Irving is at his boarding{bording!}
place on De Kalb Avenue (I suppose) in
Brooklyn N.Y. Margaret is in the
sitting room{roon!} with her fellow Clifford
Northrop.{./} Frank and Raymond are
up stairs studying{stud_ing!} and Ruth is up
stairs{spairs!}.
10\28\{1910} (Friday) {10\2_\{1910} (Friday) is written above entry}
I worked at the factory to day.
10\29\1910 (Saturday)
Got up this morning at four, got ready
and after breakfast Margaret, Ruth, mary
and I walked to the waiting station at the
Mattatuck factory and took trolley to corner
of West main and Meadow Streets where walked
to the new Union Station, where we met sister
Mary Jenner and her daughters Louese{?} and
E__el{Ethel?}, and Clyde and wife Clifford Northrop
Wilson Pierpont and wife, took 7.55 train for
New York to attend Irvings Wedding.
{note in margin of text:
Irvings
Wedding}
Near th Stratford junction we were
hindered by the draw bar of a car on a
heavy freight train being broken, and we
did not reach new York on time (40 minutes
late) we rushed through the station and
took subway train through the tunnel
under East River to Brooklyn at Hoyt
St,{,/} took De Kalb trolley to Stuben St
and walked to Mr. Bevens{Bivens!} at 179. where the
ladies got ready and we men went
to a house on Willoughby Ave{?} where
we got ready then went to St. Marys
Episcopal Church near by on Willoughby
Ave{?} where the ceremony took place
after which we went to Mrs. Lords at 176 Emerson
Place{?} where the reception was held, after which
Mary and I Clifford Northrop Margarets{Margaret?}
walked to Myrtle Ave took trolley to Norstrand
Ave took Long Island{Iiland!} R R to Belmont
Park where the great Aviation contest was
held,{,?} we saw five machines in air at one
time, and watched the Frnch machines
till nearly dark, but what interested us
as much was the great number of automobiles
that we met leaving the park, I
timed the number that passed us in half
minute and{And!} Mary counted 29, but at other
times fully 100 passed a minute, we then went
to station had tt{to?} wait a long time before{befor!} we could
board{bord!} a train on account of the crowd there being
over 25000 people there at Park, got off at Nostrand
Ave and walked a long distance before we could
find a place where we got supper, it was at a
restaurant{_estaurent!}, I had stewed oysters and Mary had
soup beef vegtables ett{etc?} .50 cts thent{then?} took cars to
Stuben St. went to Mr. Bevens who took us
and Louese{?} and Ruth throught eh Pratt
Institute where we saw places where all
arts and trades are taught, Mary and
and{written twice} I then went to th place where we
were to stay over night but they were
in bed and had given up expecting us as
we did not call at eleven o'clock, (on account
of being late,) so we went back to Mr. Benens
and they fixxed{fxxed!} the couch for one and a
Morris chair with a bos to lengthen it
out for the other, we passed a comfortable{confortable!}
night and in the morning we went
out to get breakfast, after a long walk
found a bake shop open where we got
a good breakfast, Maryh had toast{tost!} with eggs
and I a small steak{stake!} 45 cts.{.?} returned to mr.
Bevens and soon he took us over to the
Institute to see what we did not see before
but there was so much that was interesting
that Mary left and went to church and I
staid till about two o'clock when we returned
to the house and found that mary and
the girls{girles!} had already gone to Irvings
at 7_4{764?} De Kalb Ave and left word for me
to follow.{.?} I found them there had a good
visit and supper which Dorothy cooked
and at 3.45 left for the Grand Central
depot under the guidance{guidence!} of Mr. George
Jameson who was visiting at Irvings and
was his class mate{two words?} in Pratts{?}, I would here
state that Mr. Bevens took us to the top of
the Pratt Institute tower Saturday night and
this A.M. he took me up where we could
see over the City and East River and the
harbor. We went on elevated road to the
old bridge where we left cars and walked
across, as we were going onto the bridge
we saw three Adams Express wagons coming
each had a mounted policeman{plieceman!} in
advance, a policeman{polieceman!} and detective on
the seat with the driveral several militia{militea?}
men inside and a mounted police{poliece!}
in rear to guard them against the
strikers, when near the South tower we
saw a French monoplain{?} high up over
the City making for the Statue of liberty
which it circled about and flew back
over the Borought of Brooklyn, At North
end of bridge we took subway to Grand
Central Station and caught train and
came to Bridgeport where got out and
took train for Naugatuck valley reaching
home before nine o'clock.
10\31\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\01\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Doctor said that James Tobin{?} might die
at any time this P.M. and could not live
longer than{that?} 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning.
11\02\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
I has been expected several times to day
that Mr. Tobin could not live.
{Note in margin of text:
14 70}
11\03\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It has rained hard all day.
Mr. Tobin had a bad spell last night, he
has willed $10.000 to each of his five children
they had the leading medical expert
from{fron!} Yale College examine him this P.M.
11\04\1910 (Friday)
Worked as usual at the factory to day.
Rained all last night and to day.
The Yale expert says that Mr. Tobin has
no cancer but the enlargement of the
heart, and that there is a chance for
him yet.
Clyde has bought the building lot
cornere{corner?} of Southmayd{?} and Elias{?} Sts
for $700.00 paid $300.00 down and rest
mortgaged{morgaged!} to Mr. Little of whom he
bought it, no interest to be paid
for 18 months.
11\05\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual
Frank, Raymond, and I put up part
of the frame of wash house to night.
11\06\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the
Chapel to day.
Mr. James Tobin died at five
o'clock this morning. Aged 6_{62?}.
11\07\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory. Bought truss{?} or Roberts{.?}
11\08\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory 1/2 day.
{new paragraph?}
First snow of the season, about two
inches fell{fill!}
Mr. James Tobins funeral took
place this A.M. The men of
Rogers & Bros assembled at the
shop at 7.30 to the number of 25_{250/}
and marched in a body to the
house where we viewed the remains
then in advance of the funeral
to church of Sacred Heart where
service was held, after which we
went to the Old St. Joseph{?} cemetery
where the body was lowered
into its grave.
Election day voted at Union Square
for governor{./} etc.
11\09\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at factory, went to S. Waterbury
and saw Robt Somers.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
11\10\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
11\11\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
To day they are putting the pumpt into
the new pump house that they have
built in Silver Street at the corner of
the plank road to pump the water
from the low service into the high
service pipe.
11\12\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as
usual.
This evening Ray Frank and I
put some roof boards on the wash
house frame.
11\13\{1910] (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service saw where Will Gillettee{?}
is putting in his new privet{?}
and flower hedge, also saw the
new hot houses that Mr. Dallas is
building on the Lockhart place.
11\14\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Mr. Rockwell told me to day that
he is going to give me charge of
all the machinery in the shop.
11\15\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Had Mr. Robert repair my truss{?}{,?} this evening
11\16\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this afternoon.
{Note in margin of text:
16.50}
This forenoon at 10 o clock Margaret was
married to Clifford Wesley Northrop at the Mill
Plain Chapel by Rev. Dr. John G. Davenport
The episcopal service was used, Mi__{Miss?}
Louese Jenner played the wedding march
they left in John Castles auto to depot
where they boarded train for a trip
to New York and Washington, on thers{their?}
return they will reside on North Willow
St.
11\17\1910 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day. 9 hours
This evening I went to Cheshire and
repaired the lock on the front door or
Mrs. Doolittles house.
Saw Mr. Roberts and had him make
over my truss.
11\18\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
11\19\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening we were putting
the break on the team wagon.
11\20\{1910} (Sunday)
Worked at the factory {-?} six hours
putting {-?} pulley on waterwheel
driving shaft.
Rev. Mr. Holmes of first Methodist
Church preached at the Chapel.
{new paragraph?}
Margaret and Clif{?} returned from their
wedding trip to new York and Washington
this evening,{,?} and mr. and Mrs.
Northrop and John Castle{?} and
wife came to supper. Margaret
and Clif have gone to mr.
Castles to stay over night.
{new paragraph?}
They began running through cars to Bridgeport{?}
to day.
11\21\1910 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day
11\22\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked a the factory to day ten
hours Nov 22 1883 I was married.
11\23\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day
11\24\{1910} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving day The Somers family
Association held their annual reunion
at Hamilton Hall 46 sat down to dinner.
11\25\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory, put up the
new exhaust fan over the dip tubs
in the muffle room.
This evening went to town and
saw Dr. Roberts and had him fit my
truss over{.?} as _{!?} have suffered much
from my rupture to day.
11\26\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day
11\27\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Preached at the Chapel this
afternoon I did not attend as I was
sick
11\28\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory today
We put in the concrete foundation
for the pump.
The Wolcott Agricultural Society has
purchased{purchesed!} 38 acres of the south part of
the Orren Hall farm for a Fair Ground{.?}
03\29\1910 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as
usual. About two inches of snow
lay onthe ground this morning
that had fallen during the night.
{new paragraph?}
Clara French 29 and Edward Heaton
25 were married in the Mill Plain
Chapel this evening at six o'clcok
by the Rev. Dr. Buckley of Trinity
Church. The Chapel was well-filled
with people and prettily decorated.
I paid James White $5.00 for the Somer_{Somers?}
Family Association for the use of
Hamilton hall Thanksgiving day.
paid him at his barn about 6.30
11\30\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factoy to day.
{Note in margin of text:
15 00}
12\01\{1910} (THursday)
Worked at the factory
Went to Levenworth St and saw
Dr. Engley.
Paid Morton Pierpont 16.00
12\02\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory
12\03\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
12\04\{1910} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
12\05\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mrs. Charles Gillette died last night
and they have brought her body out to
Brightwood from which place the funeral
will be held.
12\06\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory, put in counter
shaft{?} for the new three cylinder pump.
12\07\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended mrs. Gillettes
funeral at William Gillette's house, she
was takin in hearse to the funeral trolley
car at the Mattatuck factory and then
conveyed to the Cemetery at Pines
Bridge where she is buried.
Mr. Dalie's three men were at the
factory putting in the suction pipe
4" for the Blake-Knowles pump.
{Note in margin of text:
Pump}
12\08\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory
Dayley had three men{mem!} at work on
the pump.
Engaged Mrs. Stuart Judd to play the
organ at the Chapel.
12\09\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day
Dayleys men got through working on pump
this noon.
12\10\1910 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Engaged Frank Judd to make
door at mother Pierponts{Piprponts!} house.
12\11\1910 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the
Chapel.
After service I went to Brooks vale
and saw that Mr. J. B. Dill has done
nothing towards building up the
old Doolittle house.
12\12\{1910} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual
12\13\{1910} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day
12\14\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
Last evening Raymond and I
{next line is indented}
Attended a lecture in
Buckingham Hall by Colonel
Mosby{?} the confederate gorilla{garella!}
leader of the rebellion he is now
77 years old, but very active.
12\15\1910 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\16\{1910} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I walked to the center
and when I came out kept on to
Cheshire and called at the Doolittles
12\17\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
12\18\{1910} (Sunday)
Mr. Northrop preached at the Chapel
{new paragraph?}
The gate of the Mattatuck shop
pond in the rear of the Pine Grove
Cemetery was closed last night and the
water set back to the olkd tannery dam
tonight. I carried two boxes of silver
to Cheshire tonight.
12\19\1910 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to Rogers
& Bros to day.
12\20\{1910} (Tuesday)
I worked at Rogers & Bros to day.
12\21\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The factory closed this evening
for two weeks.
12\22\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day{,/} had
one gang of men putting pulley
on main shaft in wheel pit, another
putting pulley on main shaft in
making room, another putting
key in pulley at ladle rolls in
making room on the main shaft
and Mansfild{Mansfield?} and Mooney
taking out Hibbards drop.
Mary has gone to the
Grange.
12\23\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day, we put new
16" belt to drive making room.
Wrote letter to Irving _t{at?} Brooklyn N.Y.
12\24\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factorey to day.
Margaret adn Cliff have come home to
spent{spend?} Christmas as has Clyde and
Fritzie.
12\25\{1910} (Sunday)
Christmas. Rev. John G. Davenport
preached, and read a story at the
Chapel, the attendance{attendence!} was rather
small.
The Mattatuck Company closed
the gate of their new dam yesterday
morning and at eight o clock P.M. the
water was running over the spilway.
12\26\1910 (Monday)
This day is observed as a legal
holiday, Christmass. Raymond,
Frank and I worked this A.M.
putting the cornice on the North
end of our new shop.
This afternoon we all went up
to Wm Gillettes, to dinner and
a Christmas tree, there were
twenty three there which included
Mother.1 Frank and wife 3 myself
and wife 5 Clyde and wife 7 Clifford
Northrop and Margaret 9 Ruth 10 Frank 11
and Raymond 12 sister Cara 13 William
Gillette and wife and son mansfield 16
Rowland Jenner and wife 18 Louese
and Ethel Jenner 20 Burnard{?}
and Burness Carter 22
12\27\1910 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day, drew all
he water out of the ditch so we could
repair the waterwheel.
12\28\{1910} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Chatfield sent a mason out to lay
up the boiler fire walls.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
Frank and Raymond began working
at ice for Arthur Pierpont.
12\29\{1910} (Thursday)
Worked at the factor to day, rep wat wheel{?}.
Last night about 11.30 Irving and Dorothy{Dorothys!}
came from Brooklyn, the house was dark
when they came but they got into a
window and went up stair sand to bed
about 8.30 this morning mary heard
some one calling mama and she went
out doors and looked all about, soon she
heard it again, and after looking out
in the streets, she concluded that it
was up stairs, and she went up
and found them.
Mr. Dayly had two men.
12\30\1910 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
Two of Mr. Daylys{Dallys?} men who had been
piping got through at 3 this P.M.
James Byrnes and I cut the stone for
Hibbards drop anvil to set{sel!} on.
Mr. Dayly had two men ___{got?} 3.3_{3.30?}
12\31\{1910} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Lined up the Main shaft from the
waterwheel.
01\01\1911 (Sunday)
Staid home all day.
01\02\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory 9 1/2 hours.
We put up clutch Wouth side of little
engine room and shaft and pulley in
engine room.
01\03\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Dayly had two men
01\04\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
{Note in margin of text:
13.50}
Mr. Dayley{Dayly?} had two men
01\05\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory
Chatfild{Chatfield?} had man and helper
{new paragraph?}
Started the big engine to day.
01\06\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day. (Chatfield{Chalfield!} had 2
__{?} men{?} to noon.
{The comment in parenthesis is written below the previous line.
difficult to read.}
Went to #30 Laurel St to see Bessie Pierce
about playing organ at the Chapel, but she
had gone to Woodbury.
01\07\1911 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\08\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
Went out to mother Pierponts with Chas
J. Pierpont to see about repairing the chimney.
01\09\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\10\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
01\11\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
Mr. Yarrington called to see about selling
an organ to the Chapel.
01\12\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
01\13\1911 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Billy Cunningham began working
for me last ___nesday{Wednesday?}.
01\14\1911 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
01\15\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Smith preached at the Chapel,
to day.
01\16\{1911} (Monday)
Worked _t{at?} the factory to day 9 hours.
Factory began working short time.
01\17\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory 8 hours.
01\18\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory 8 hours
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
01\19\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory 8 hours.
01\20\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory 8 hours.
01\21\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day 8 hours
After work{./} Frank and Raymond helped
me build the shop.
01\22\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. John G. Davenport preached at the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service mary Raymond and
I went to Margarets on North Willow
street.
Mary told me to day that Mrs.
David Down_{Downs?} told her ____{that?}
Charles j. Pierpont with Lawyer
Howard B. Snow went to mother
Pirpont with a writing and got
her to sign it, making over some
$5.000 worth or Property, and that
she Mrs. Jennis Downs{?} and Miss
Francis, Seymour were witnesses and
signed as such.
Brother Frank came from
Bristol{./} and we marked a lot of
specimens{specemins!} that he gave me.
01\23\1911 (Monday)
Worked eight hours in the factory
to day. Miss Seymour is sister to
Mr. Smith's wife of Watertown, who
lives at Smith's Pond.
{Note in margin of text:
Francis
Seymour}
01\24\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory eight hours.
The Ladies Union gave a supper
and entertainment at the Chapel
last evening, The men of Bunker
Hill Chapel furnished the entertainment
which was a minstrel show.
01\25\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day eight
hours. Mary went out to East Farms
to see her mother, she found her out of
her head and wishing that she could
go home.
{Note in margin of text:
15 30}
Frank took home to Mr. Dingwell's
two jack-screws tat mr. Woodfall used
in raising up the chimney at Mother
Pierponts house.
01\26\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day{.?} eight
hours.
01\27\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory eight hours.
The children have the measles{measels!}.
{new paragraph?}
At East Farms there 38 registered{regerstered!},
and out of this number 27 are home
sick, with measles{measels!}. At Mill Plain
in the lower grade a short time ago
there were 6 scholars{schollars!}, and only 7 attending.
The Driggs school off{?} North
Main St is closed the cause, so
many scholars{schollars!} are sick with the
scarlet fever. Many people have
the grip.
01\28\1911 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory eight hours.
01\29\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Cham__{Chamra?} of the Third
Congregational Church preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon.
01\30\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory eight
hours.
01\31\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory eight hours.
02\01\{1911} (Wednesday)
{The entry is very light. I can't read it. e.s.}
{Note in margin of text:
14 40}
02\02\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory eight hours
02\03\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory eight hours
Saturday worked at the factory
eight hours Feb 4
{"Feb 4" is written at the end of the previous line. Are
the previous two lines the entry for 02\04\{1911} (Saturday)?
Should the entry be "worked at the factory eight hours"? e.s.}
02\05\1911 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel
{new paragraph?}
After service I walked out the Meriden
Road across{acrass!} the old Edmond Austin{Auslin!}
roa_{road?} and out onto the Cheshire road
then across the Holt land to the
trolley track and walked to
Summit station where I took the
trolley to Cheshire{,/} but as it was
very ____{?} I took the next car home.
{The next entry is very light. Difficult to read}
02\08\{1911} (Monday)
Work___ ____________________________
02\07\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory eight hours.
The snow lies on the ground about
six inches deep, this is the deepest
snow we have had this winter to
f__{?}
{Is there additional text on the previous line? e.s.}
02\__\{1911} (Saturday) {Is the entry for 02\10\{1911} (Friday)? e.s.}
Worked at the factory eight hours
Frederrick Radcliff of Shelton{?} commited{committed!}
su__ide{suicide?} last Wednesday by hanging
himself with a trunk strap in the attic
of his home
A new house is being built on a lot
that Mrs. Sarah Hine sold west of her
house{hous!}, also three -3{?} family houses are
being built on Idylwood Avenue south
of the Old Joe Porter place, by Daniel
Farrington{?}.
Frank and Raymond went to Frank
Bradleys in Southbury and got a
new organ for the Chapel, they started
at 4 this morning
02\12\1911 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley at chapel this P.M.
02\13\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory eight hours.
This evening I read a paper before the
mens civic and social league at the
Baptist Church in South Waterbury, on
the history of the early brass industry
of Waterbury.
02\14\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
02\15\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory 8 hours
{Note in margin of text:
14 40}
02\16\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory eight {-/} hours.
02\17\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory eight hours.
02\18\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory eight {-?} hours
02\19\{1911} (Sunday)
Went to see Charlie Cass about being
in the tableaux next wednesday evening
at the first Methodist Church.
02\20\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
02\21\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
02\22\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evening Charles Cass, Norman
Crowey and myself personated the
painting "Spriti of 76" at the 1st Methodist
Church.
02\24\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
Mary and Wilson went to the Probate
office and saw the report of Charles J.
Pierpont as consevator{conservator!} of Mother Pierpont
which amounted to between 5 and 6 thousand
dollars for last year or from the
time he was appointed
Yesterday morning as Charles Cass was
cutting a stake in the woods his ax blanced
and cut his foot, he was brought to Waterbury
and taken to Dr. Goodenough who
with Dr. Crane{Crave?} dreesed it and he is to
stay there 48 hours.
{Is anything written at the top of page 120 of manuscript above
the entry for 02\25\{1911} (Saturday)?}
02\25\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory
02\26\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Lentz preached at the Chapel.
02\27\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
02\28\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
03\01\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
03\02\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
03\03\1911 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day
03\04\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
03\05\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel
this afternoo.
03\06\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory
03\07\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
03\08\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00{_8 00!}}
03\09\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
This evneing I went to Cheshire and
called on Mrs. Alexander Doolittle
03\10\1911 (Friday)
Worked at the factory ten hours to
day. The factory is only running
eight hours.
Mrs. Alexander Doolittle was
eighty two years old last monday
the 6th.
There{Ther!} are four new houses on
_lliott{Elliott?} Avenue.
03\11\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
03\12\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buck preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
Mrs. Noble came this evening
came after service and I gave her
all the information that I had
concerning Peter Gilkie{?} the man
who counterfeited{counterfitted!} Spanish Milled
dollars{dallars!} at his house in Prospect
in 1783 and was sent to New Gate
Prison.
03\13\{1911} (Monday) {03\13\1910 (Monday) is written above entry}
Worked at the factory ten hours.
03\14\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
This evening I attended a meeting of
the board of Public Works at the City Hall
annex cor of Levenworth and West main
Sts, and saw maps of the New Layout of
the Cheshire Road from the City Line
to Wedges Corner, the Street is to be
60 ft wide all the way. The new layout
gives me about three felt{feet?} of land at the
West end of my line and takes about
one foot in the center, while the East
end remains about the same.
03\15\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 75{?}}
03\16\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
03\17\1911 (Friday)
This morning Mr. George Hayward{?}
and I went to meriden to Factory H
or the C Rogers Co{?}, to look as some
polishing lathes that are like some
that Mr. Rockwell wishes us to have
made. We saw Mr. Ganes and he showed
us the Lathes and all of the machinery
in the shop and gave the price 19.04
each that 7{?} cost. We came back to Waterbury
and I went to Blake & Johnsons and
saw mr. Edwards about making 4 and
he gave me the price as from 85 to
_0{90/} dollars, but wished to figure finer
and is to call me up tomorrow.
03\18\{1911} (Satruday)
Worked at the factroy to day
03\19\{1911} (Sunday)
Worked at the factory to day ten hours{rours!}
Clyde and I went out to the Old
Peter Gilkie place and took pictures of
the old cellar.
03\20\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory ten hours.
03\21\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day{.?}
03\22\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory all day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
03\23\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
03\24\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual
{new paragraph?}
This has been a very cold and windy day.
03\25\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day
This evening I called at the house of
Edward Craft{?} 21 Farnham Ave and saw{saue!}
James Croft{Craft?} with whom I went to school
before I was ten years old when I lived
on Clay Street and we went to school
to Miss Margaret Bradley, He went to
Windham, Fergus County <pmtam_{Montana?}
in 1881 and took up a land claim{ctaim ?} and
has been raising sheep ever since, except
at time spent in the Phillipine Islands
when he was Captain in the U.S.
Service. Willia Stanley also
called, he was a school mate and we
were all borne in 1858, but have not
seen each other in eleven years.
{new paragraph?}
Frank and Ray put a fire nosth{north?} of
turkey hill{.?}
03\26\1911 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Holmes preached at the Chapel.
This evening I went out and inspected
the powder house where Hotchkiss &
Templeton{,?} heap their powder and dynamite{dymamite!}
{new paragraph?}
I then took the trolley and went to
Cheshire, looked about the center and
came home.
03\27\{1911} (Monday) {This entry is labelled 03\26\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Hayward was made Super{?} or the
Polishing department.
03\28\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory ten hours
03\29\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin o text 18 00}
03\30\1911 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers & Bros
to day, designing the new French Grey
Room. This evening I was at Wm Gillettes{Gillittes!}
putting a pump in his barn.
03\31\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
Was at W Gillettes to night
04\01\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day
Worked{Woked!} at Will Gillettes/Gillettee{?} to night.
04\02\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel.
{new paragraph?}
I went to Cheshire and carried over
a knife to mrs. Doolittles/Doolittle's{?} hired girl to
take the place of one that was broken.
04\03\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory. The woods N.E. of
my house was on fire to day.
04\04\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at Will Gillettes to night and
last night
04\05\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
04\06\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Gardener and the mechanical
engineer from Meriden came to
day and talked over the project
of buying the Old Brass Mill
Property.
04\07\{1911} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Mary went to stay with her mother
to day, as miss Seymour went to
New London to a funeral.
04\08\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
Edward Cunningham{?} died this morning
04\09\1911 (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley preached at the Chapel.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Pierpont celebrated
the tenth anniversary{annaversery!} of their marriage
last evening.
Clyde and Fritzie and Cliff and
Margaret called this evening.
This morning the ground was covered
with snow to the depth of xis inches
04\10\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\11\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\12\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
{Note in margin of text:
17 85{?}}
04\13\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\14\1911 (Friday)
Good Friday Worked about home
put tile into{,?} ditch 12 length and
worked on the new shop.
04\15\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory{,/} to day.
Mr. Rockwell, The Chief mechanical
Engineer of the International Silver Co
of Meriden. Mr. Fitch{?} the Hydraulic{Hydraulc?}
Engineer Mr. Wm Chatfield, Mason
contractor, and myself, Master-Mechanic
inspected the dam at our Factory
in regard to putting in a sluce{?} way
to carry away the sand that has
washed in from the old Brass Mill
Pond and filled __{it?} up eaven{?} with
the overflow.
04\16\{1911} (Sunday)
The snow fell this morning to the
Depth of _our{four?} inches.
Rev. Mr. Smith was at the Chapel
this afternoon. I did not go.
04\17\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\18\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Rockwell, Wm Chatfield, the Engineer
from Meriden, Mr. Fitch, and{?} myself met
at the Office at 10.30 and viewed the
dam to see about putting a sluce{?}
through the dam to draw the sand
out that has accumulated there.
04\19\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
15 00}
04\20\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
04\21\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factoy to day.
{new paragraph?}
Irving and Drothy came from New York
this forenoon and Irving went to the
foudnry and made arrangements to go
to work there about june 1st.
There was a fire on Crow hill this
afternoon{.?}
04\22\{1911} (Saturday)
This forenoon I went to Derby to
the Derby Silver Co and looked at
a waterwheel, this afternoon went
to the factory.
Continuation of Charles S Miller manuscript from 1910 to 1914
04\23\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel, this afternoon.
There was a fire in the lot owned by
Mr. Dallas back of Wm Gillettes{Gillittes!} many
from the Chapel went and helped{pelped!} put
it out.
Mary and I went to Thomaston for
a trolley ride.
04\24\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Rockwell and I went to see the work
that is being done at the dam, Mr.
Chatfield has the derrick up and is ready
to begin work as soon as the Meriden
men will decide to have it done.
04\25\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day. Mr. Rockwell
was at home sick. Mr. Gardener, the
purchasing{purchesing!} agent came from Meriden
and together{togather!} with mr. Fitch the hydraulic
engineer looked over the work at
the dam and Mr. Gardener accepted my
plan of the gate, conduet{conduct?}, and concrete
work, Mr. Fitch to have charge of the
job.
There was a fierce brush fire in the
woods North of the trolley tracks at
Wedges corner, this afternoon, which
burned over about six acres.
04\26\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
{Note in margin of text:
18.00}
04\27\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory
There was a fire in the woods near the
old Brass mill to which our _ous{hous? house?} went
and put it out.
Saw Chief Snagg this evening.
04\28\1911 (Friday)
{Beginning of next line is difficult to read}
Work__ __ ___ {Worked at the?} factory to day.
There was a great forest fire on East
Mountain this afternoon about 125
acres burned over
04\29\{1911} (Saturday)
{Beginning of next line is difficult to read}
W_____ __{Worked at?} the factory
04\30\{1911} (Sunday)
{Beginning of next line is difficult to read}
___ __ _____{Rev. Mr. _____?} preached at the Chapel.
I went to Cheshire to night.
05\01\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\02\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
05\03\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
05\04\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day
05\05\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory
05\06\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked{Workede!} till eleven
05\08\1911{1910!} (Monday)
Last Saturday Clyde and I took
the 1.20 train and went to new
York to visit Irving, we got there
at Four and walked to Fifth Ave
where we saw the Momans Sufferages
parade there were about 2 000{?}
in li_e{line?} with many bands, we
then went to the new Pennsylvania{Pennysvania!}
Rail Road Station and looked
it over then took Elevated
Raod to Park Place and then
walked over the old Brooklyn
bridge and took a Dekalb Ave{?}
car to No 764 corner of Thompkins
ave and found Irving and Darothy{Dorothy?}
at home, in the evening we went
Cony{Coney?} Island, got home at midnight.
We staid in the house
all the Forenoon Sunday and
helped Irving pack his goods
and get ready to move today{1 word?}
to Waterbury. After dinner we
_ook{took?} car over the new Williamsburgh
bridge and went to the
Pennsylvania{Pennysvania!} Station{Statiion!} and there we
got on one of the 1_0{160?} ton electric locomotives
and went through the tunnel
under the East River to Sunnyside
yard in Brooklyn, where we went
through the repair shops and Engine
______{houses?}, later we returned by another
tunnel and after looking about
the station we walked to the place
where the Grand Central Station is
being built and there took the Boston{Baston!}
express to new Haven and returned
home from there by trolley.
05\09\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\10\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
M__{?} Lanish{?} came from Meriden and
we looked over the dam, ditch, and
waterwheels.
{Note in margin of text:
16 20}
05\11\1911 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\12\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
05\13\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
05\14\{1911} (Sunday)
Worked at the the{written twice} factory dam, drawing
the sand from the pond. 4 hr.
05\15\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory
05\16\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
05\17\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day putting up
the hangers and started the shafting in
the new French Gray room.
05\18\{1911} (Thursday) {originally run on with previous entry}
Mr. Rockwell{?}
went to Meriden this afternoon to
attend the funeral of ex Gov Chamberlain{?}
05\18\{1911} (Thursday) {The original entry; see above}
Worked at the factory to day.
05\26\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as I
have every day since the last writing
except sunday. Last Saturday I had
14 men and used the new sluce gate to
get the sand out of the pond while the men
shovelled{shoveled!} out sand. Sunday attended
service at the Chapel Rev. Mr. Barto{Barta?} preached.
Wm Gillette and wife left Sunday with
Mr. and Mrs. Radcliffe of Shelton in mr.
Radliffe's auto for a vacation trip
through Mass New Hampshire and to
lake George, Monday evening I went
with the Mattatuck Drum Band and
the Mill Plain Fire Boys Company
to Waterville to a Fire Parade.
{new paragraph?}
Wednesday evening attended{attinded!} the annual
Chapel meeting held for the election of
officers. The newly elected officers were
Episcopal Committee{Committes?} A B. Pierpont,
Methodist H J. Able{?}, Congregational
Clyde A Miller{?}, and Baptist Harry Buckingham{?},
Miss Bessie White Secretary{,?}
Daton C Wooding{?} Treas, Arthur J Pierpont
Sunday School Superintendent, Earl
Munson Sunday School Secretary Frank
Welton Librarian{Lybrarian!},{,?} I had held the
office of Cong Committee many years
and declined to serve longer.
Irvings goods came from New York
yesterday and he is putting things to
order to day.
05\27\{1911} (Saturday)
The factory shut down to day but
I with two men worked till noon.
This P.M. I got the waterwheel into
the pit{,?} in the new shop and built
a small dam North of the building.
05\28\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Fisher preached at the Chapel,
this P.M. After service I went out to where
Wm Lease has a steam saw mill at work
on the Scott farm North of the Scott Road
from there I went down onto the polank
road and took the trolley car at East-Wood{1 word? hyphenated?}
and went to Cheshire got off at
Maple St and saw where they are bilding
a new factory at the Ball and Socket
works then called on Mrs. Doolittle a while
and came home.
05\29\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
05\30\{1911} (Tuesday)
Decoration day Clyde, Irving, Harry
Buckingham played for the Wadhous{Wadhouse?}
Post No 49 G.A.B. in the parade, and
at the unveiling{unvailing!} of the Lincoln tablet
at the High School{Scool!} this A.M. This P.M.
worked about home.
{A check mark and a line are drawn in the margin
of text}
05\31\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
Filled out an application to join
the Wadhams{?} Post Associate society
this evening.
Mr. Height{?} of the Jolley Waterwheel
Co of Holyoke Called at our factory
and looked over our waterwheel
06\01\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day
06\02\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory
Mr. Elliott is buildin a wooden block
opposite the Mattatuck office in which
the Frenchman Mr. Bunettee{?} who now
has a store in the waiting station is
to open a new store.
The Mattatuck Co have their new
Mc Cormick horizontal{horosontial!} shaft, turbine
water wheel in place.
06\03\{1911} (Saturday)
Our factory shut down to day, but
I worked this forenoon ascertaining the
number of H.P. required to drive the
Trimming department, the number to
drive the trimming exhaust fan, the
H.P. to drive the quarter turns and
long shaft, and the H.P. to drive
the Making and Polishing rooms.
This P.M. I was a pall bearer
at Luthur Bradley's{?} funeral, the
other bearers were, Clarance{?}, and
Henry Judd, and Wilson L Pierpont.
{new paragraph?}
Mr. Bradley{?} died of apoplexy{appplexy?} and
was buied in Mill Plain Cemetery
aged 77 He was the last surviving
veteran about here that marched
with Sherman from Atlanta to the
sea.
06\04\{1911} (Sunday)
Reev. Mr. Vought of South Waterbury preached
ath the Chapel, after service Mary Mrs.
Morrison{?} Bessie White and I went up to
Bucks Hill for a ride.
06\05\1911 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the Associate members of Wadhams{?}
Post G.A.R. Which i have lately joined.
06\06\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Mr. Rockwell is to be away for a week.
06\07\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
12 00}
06\08\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Board of abatements{abatiments!} and had my sprinkiling
assessment{assesment!} abated one half, to 2.00 I
think
06\09\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory
06\10\1911 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers. & Bros
which is Factory J of the International
Silver Co, where I hold the Postiion of
master Mechanic.
Went{Wen!} this A.M. to Dr. Bresters and
had a tooth bored out.
06\11\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Dr. Buckley preached at the mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon.
After service Frank and I went out the
Meriden Road and saw where the Stata{Stapa? State?}
is making over the bend to the South
beyond the waering trough by the holmes
place. We then went to Willie Garrigus
and saw his shop and new pump, which
works very fine.
06\12\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\13\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\14\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
06\15\{1911} (THursday)
This morning I went to Meriden
to Factory H and looked over thir{their?}
blower system{sistem!} on thir{their?} drops.
06\16\{1911} (Fridy)
Worked at the factory
Went to Meriden this A.M.
06\17\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
06\18\{1911} (Sunday)
Went with Morton Pierpont, Frank,
Raymond, and Nate Pierpont up to the
new branch dam that they are building
at Morris, wex{we?} then went to Mr.
Turkentons{?} at East Morris, then to
Deer Island in Bantam Lake and
stoped at the Northrop Cottage where
we had dinner, Left there at 4 o'clock
went to Litchfield Center and was
home at 5.30. This evening I went
to Cheshire
06\19\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
06\20\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
06\21\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
06\22\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
06\23\1911 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\24\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
06\25\{1911} (Sunday)
Childrens{Children's?} day at the Chapel.
{new paragraph?}
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the
Chapel, and gave prizes{pri_es!} to the
scholars{schollars!} who had attended Sunday
Sxhool every Sunday during the
past year.
06\26\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{new paragraph?}
Went to City Hall and gave to
the assessors my tax list, and
to the Comptroller and got a check
for $106.70 and had it cashed at the
manufacturers Bank, then went
to Dr. Brewsters nd had my te_th{teeth? teath?}
fired.
06\27\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This eve I attended the School meeting
of Saw Mill Plain School Dist
It was voted to accept the Recommendation{Recomadation!}
of the Board of Education to have more
roours{hours? rooms?} added, and Wm Gillette, Chas
Woodard, James White, B. F Haggett{?},
and Michael Donovan, were elected
a building Committee with Power
to act.
Mr. Frederick Little{.?} was elected
Committee, Clement Griggs, Clerk,
Dayton C. Wodding, Treasurer, and
John Gallgher Collector.
Meeting adjourned at 11.45
06\28\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
06\29\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
06\30\[1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory
07\01\1911 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day
07\02\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vough preached at the Chape{Chapel?}
07\03\{1911} (Monday) {Munday!}
Hottest day ever known 103 in shade
{new paragraph?}
Did not work.
07\04\{1911} (Tuesday)
Saw Charles K. Hamilton{?} fly at the
driving Park.
This is the first flight ever made
in Waterbury.
07\05\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory{.?}
07\06\1911 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
07\07\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at th factory.
07\08\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
07\09\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the
Chapel{Chapel!}.
07\10\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
07\11\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
I{?}
07\12\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
12 00}
07\13\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
07\14\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
07\15\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
07\16\{1911} (Sunday)
Worked at the factory.
07\17\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The shop started up this mornig after
a shutdown of two weeks.
07\18\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\19\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory this day.
{Note in margin of text:
18 00}
07\20\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day
Mr. Rockwell{?} raised my pay to 3 75{?}
to day
07\21\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day
A boy by the name of McLemon{?} was
killed by a flash of light while under
the maple tree on the{thi!} west side of the
road at the top of the hill this side
of the brook on the Frost Road.
07\22\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
07\23\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. John G. Davenport preached at
the Mill Plain Chapel this P.M.
{new paragraph?}
After service Irving, Dorothy,
Mary and I went for a ride and
trhough Prospect.
07\24\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\25\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\26\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
22.50}
07\27\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
07\28\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
07\29\{1911} (Saturday)
07\30\1911 (Sunday)
This forenoon Mort Pierpont telephoned
and wanted to know if We, Mary, I, Irving
and his wife wished to go to Goshen.
We certainly did and we started at
11.45 passed through Waterville, Thomaston{Thamaston!},
East Litchfield{Litchfilld!} Tarrington{?} then went
to cousin Almira Rouns{?} who lives
in the North West corner of Tarrington{?}
town then to North Goshen, then to
Goshen Center, via East STreet where
we had dinner with Samuel Ovaitt [Oviatt]
we then went through West Goshen and
down Bunker hill into Cornwall whee
we visited the best piece of white pine
here is in the state of Connecicut, it
covers about 40 acres and the owner
values it at $1.000 per acre, we there took
a back road for Warren, but came out
at Woodville and from there went to
the lower end of Waramang lake{?} and
wne tround it, after which we passed
through new Preston to New preston
Depot on the Shepang Rail Raod then
to Washington depot{?} to Washington
Center to Hotchkissville, to North
Woodbury, to Watertown, to Waterbury
and home at 8.15 P.M. having traveled
over 98 miles.
Rev. Mr. Holmes{?} preached at the Chapel
{a mark is on the next line}
07\31\1911 (Monday) {Munday!}
Worked at the factory
08\01\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
08\02\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
11 50}
08\03{08!}\1911 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
08\04{09!}\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
08\05{10!}\1911 (Saturday)
I worked at th factory today.
After work I got the floor in my shop
ready for the concrete.
08\06{11!}\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at the Chapel
this afternoon. After service Clyde,
Fritzie and I went for a ride over the
Lakewood road, to Bucks Hill, where
we stoped at Allen Burgess then down
to Graystone{?} and towards Hancocks
station where we turned South and
came home by way of Wolcott.
08\07{12!}\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
Mr. Keegan the roofer came from
New Haven and looked o_ur{over? our?} roofs
over, and repaired them some.
This evening Miss Pickett came and got
some vegtables{vegtiables!}, and Bessie White came
to borrow my torch.
08\08\1911 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank got two loads of sand from
the Spoon shop pond and five
bags of cement{ciment!} to make the
floor of the shop where the water
wheel is.
08\09\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text: 22 50}
08\10\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon Frank Raymond, and
I put a concrete floor in my water wheel
shop They started the new waterwheel
at the Mattatuck shop to day.
08\11\{1911} (Friday)
Worked all day at the factory.
This forenoon I went up to the pin
shop in Waterville to look over their{there? theri?}
Electric drive Mr. T/F/L{?} Newell their
Master Mechanic showed me about
08\12\1911 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
yesterday Mort Pierpont and wife and
two others went by auto to Hudson and
down the Hudson River 120 miles and
left it near Yonkers{Younkers!} and came across
country to Greenwich and home the
whole distance being about 103 miles.
Last night a man named Knapp{D Knapp?}
was nearly killed this side of silver
street, his horse being frightened by
the trolley. Mr. Knapp is a contractor
on the State road that is being built
to the top of the mountain near
]Hitchcocks pond.
08\13\1911 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached at the Chapel
this afternoon.
08\14\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\15\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
08\16\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\17\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\18\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory this day.
08\19\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\20\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Smith preached at the Chapel{Chape! Chapl!}
this afternoon.
After service mary and I went for
a trolley ride to Middlebury, saw
Mr. Addison Clark, and he took{look!} us
to his new home{,?} and later showed
us over the Westover School.
{Is there a comment in the margin of text or is it a mark?}
08\21\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory{.?}
08\22\1911 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
08\23\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
22.00}
Raunand{?} has gone to short beach to stay
to day and to morrow.
08\24\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
08\25\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory
08\26\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
This evening I went to Mr. Haywards
cottage at Milford on Thompson St
{new paragraph?}
Mary went at noon.
08\27\{1911} (Sunday)
Stayed at the shore all day and
came home on the steam cars from
the Naugatuck junction{upper case?} 60 cts.
08\28\{1911} (Monday) {1910 is written above entry}
Worked at the factory to day.
08\29\{1911} (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory{.?}
08\30\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day{.?}
{Note in margin of text:
22 50}
08\31\{1911} (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\01\1911 (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual.
{new paragraph?}
Robt Somers{?} and I went to Thomaston{/}.
09\02\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day
09\03\{1911} (Sunday)
This morning at quarter to six Mother
Pierpont died after an illness of over
two yearts, she ha_{had?} a bad spell
two years ago last April from which
she has never regained her health.
09\04{02!}\1911 (Monday)
This is Labor day, I have not been
out of the yard all day, but put a
chimney in my waterwheel shop and
did other odd jobs.
09\05{03!}\{1911} (Tuesday)
Oworked at the factory this fore noon{2 words?},
{new paragraph?}
This P.M. attended Mother Pierponts
funeral.{.?} Rev. Dr. Buckley of Trinity
Church officiated, with prayers at the
house and burial service at the
Chapel, she was buried in Pine
Grove Cemetery, The pall bearers{bearesrs!}
were Charles J. Pierpont, Austin B.
Pierpont, Wilson L. Pierpont, Elmer
E. Pierpont, William Conner, and myself{hyphenated?}.
She was 82 years old the 8th of
last December
09\06\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
22.50}
09\07\1911 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual
09\08\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
09\09\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
09\10\{1911| (Sunday)
Rev. M. Waterbury{?} of the Episcopal
Church in Waterville preach__{preached?} at the
Chapel this P.M.
09\11\{1911} (Monday)
I worked at Rogers & Brothers factory to
day.
09\12\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day
09\13\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory
{Note in margin of text:
16 87?}
This evening we went to Clydes to
supper, it being his 27 birthday.
09\14\1911 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day
09\15\{1911} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Yesterday morning we had a killing frost
that made tomatoes, Cucumbers, grapes,
beans, and other vegetables{vegtables!} loo_{look?} nearly
dead, today it has rained.
09\16\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon Mary and I went to
bantam Lake in Litchfield with
John Castle Margaret Lena Castle
Johns wife, e went to the Northrop
Cottage on Deer Island and stayed
over night. {... continued next entry}
{09\17\1911 (Sunday)}
{run on with last entry ...} Sunday morning Mary
and I went up to Bantam and attended
the methodist church. After service
we met Mr. Stoddard{?} who lives out
two miles on the Washington road
and he took us through the electric
power plant, which is run by a
turbine water wheel, they have also
{the next six lines are difficult to read, the text is very light}
a Buckeye steam engine which they
use when tge water is low, we also
went to the Connecticut Electric Co's{?}
shop where they make electric switches
we then returned to the lake, and
had dinner, after which Mary and
I went up the lake in a row boat
to see the outlet of the lake, but we
could not find it, we then returned
and got ready and left there in
John Castles auto{,?} and came home,
left at 6 30 reached our house at 8.00 PM.
09\18\1911 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\19\{1911} (Tuesday)
I went to the factory this morning
and worked till 8 o clock when I took
the trolley and went to New Haven{.?}
where I served as Juror in the Court of
Common pleas.
09\20\1911 (Wednesday)
I went to the factory this mornng and
saw that things were going all right.
At 8 o'clock I went to New Haven an{and?}
served on jury all day in the Common
Pleas Court, but to night{2 words?} I got excused.
{new paragraph?}
Clyde and Fritzie had a daughter
borne to them at noon to day, they
have named it Ruth Florence.
09\21\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
20.62}
09\22\{1911} (Friday)
Worked in the Rogers Bros Factory
This morning at 10 We George Conner
Hary and Will Connr C J. Pierpont{:?}
Elmer Pierpont Wilson L Pierpont,
and Mary and I, but not Austin
B. Pierpont{,?} all appeared in the new
Probate office before Judge Slavin
and had henry F Rolland appointed
administratpr on the estate of Mother
Pierpont.
09\23\1911 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory to day.
09\24\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. M_{Mr.?} Fisher preached to the
Chapel this afternoon.
After service Mary, Irving Dorothy
and I went for a ride up to Wolcott
Center.
09\25\{1911} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This{Tis!} evening I being a representative{representive!} to
the City convention from the 5th
Ward_{Wards? Ward,?} attended said convention
and nominated William _{L? K?} Hotchkiss
for Mayor and the other City candidates{contidates!}
who served the last two years.
09\26\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
09\27\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day
{Note in margin of text:
15 75}
09\28\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon, this
afternoon went to New Haven to get my
pay for serving on jury last week on
the Court of Common Pleas{Please!} all I could
do was to sign my name of the p_ylist{paylist?} of
jurors and the clerk will send me a
check tomorrow.
I attended a school meeting this evening
in the Mill Plain School house, which was
called to see about getting water for the
children to drink. They voted to instruct
the Committee to borrow $2.000 to pay to
have the water main extended from Mr.
Dallas place. It is understood that the
City will pay back to the District the $2.000.00
when the water pays 10_{10%?} on the money
invested. It was also voted to pay the
tax collector Mr. John Gallagher $50.00
additional to his salary{salery!} making it
$25.00 William M Gillette_{Gillettee? Gillettes?}, John Gallagher,
Charles S Miller, Benjamin{,?} F{?} Hoggett,
and Frederick Little were appointed a committee
to report the action of the meeting
to the committee of the board of Aldermen.
09\29\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I met Wm Gillette John Gallagher,
and B.F. Haggett{?} and we went to the
Mayors{Mayars!} Office and met the Aldermen
committee and agreed to report the
districts action to the Baord of Aldermen
next Monday eve, and they advised
putting in an 8" main with one hydrant
near the Foresters Hall and one near the
school house.
09\30\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
10\01\{1911} (Sunday)
Staid home all day.
10\02\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\03\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
The City went democratic to day it
being election Mr.{?} Reeves{?] elected mayor
by 237 majority.
10\04\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
20 63{Is the "0" in superscript? 2063?}}
10\05\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
10\06\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\07\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
10\08\1911 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Todd Preached at the Chapel.
10\09\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\10\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon
{new paragraph?}
This afternoon mary, Margaret,
Mrs. John Castle, Frank, and I went
to the Wolcott Fair, it was held on
the new ground in Woodtick there
were about four thousand people present.
10\11\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
22 50}
10\12\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory
To night Mary and I went to Sister
Mary Jenners on Kingbury street{,?} it
being their twnty{twenly!} fifth wedding
anniversary{anneversery! word difficult to read}.
10\13\1911 (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
10\14\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\15\{1911} (Sunday)
REv. M. Rodd{?} Preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
10\16\{1911} (Monday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers &
BRos to day.
10\17\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
10\18\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
_0 62{20 62? note is difficult to read}
10\19\1911 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory this day 10 hours
{new paragraph?}
The old stone chimney that stood on
the West side of the Wolcott road above
the Lakewood Road fell down to
day. It was built in 1742 by
Ebenezer Warner and has remained
in the Warner family ever since.
10\20\{1911} (Friday)
I worked at the factory this day
10\21\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
10\22\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mrs. Regal{?} o_{of?} Wolcott{,?} preached
at the Chapel this afternoon.
10\23\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory.
10\24\1911 (Tuesday)
I worked at the fctory of Rogers & Bros
ten hours to day.
Clyde returned from Port Deposit
Maryland{Mariland!} Sunday evening at ten
o'clock, where he has been visiting
Chester Kimball with whom he roomed
at Lafayeete College, when he reached his
home on Edson Avenue he found it
empty as his wife was up to her fathers.
Mrs. Bessie Hart and her mother
of Worthington Mass called this
afgernoon with sister Mary with
whom they are visiting.
Effel Jenner{?} has came{come?} to stay
wtih Ruth tonight, Ruth is attending
night school studying chemistry{chemestry!}.
Frank has been working up to the
Chapel with Mr. Ryan{?} repairing the
stone work under the horse shed, and
setting a stone bound to mark the
South West corner of the Chapel
land.
{Note in margin of text:
Stone
Bound.}
10\25\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
22 50}
10\26{*27}\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory
10\27\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory ten hours
10\28\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory
Mr. Ryan and Frank set a boundary{boundry!}
stone at the South West corner of
the Chapel plot of land.
{Note in margin of text:
Chape{Chapel?}}
10\29\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached a memorial{memaral? memoral?}
sermon at the Chapel this afternoon
in commemoration of Mother Pierpont.
10\30\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
10\31\{1911} (Tuesday){Tusday!}
Worked at the factory.
11\01\1911 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day
{Note in margin of text:
22 50}
11\02\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked as usual at the factory.
This evening I went to Cheshire on the
trolley cars.
11\03\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
11\04\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
11\05\{1911} (Sunday)
{Next line is difficult to read}
Rev. Mr. Vought preached at ___{the?} ______{?}
11\06\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
11\07\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory{.?}
11\08\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
22 50}
11\09\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at ___{?} factory
11\10\{1911} (Friday)
{The next line is difficult to read}
Worked at ___ factory.
11\11\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
11\12\1911 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Todd ________ __ ___ ______{preached at the Chapel? Line is
difficult to read}
11\13\1911 (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day
11\14\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory.
11\15\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory.
{Note in margin of text:
22 50}
11\16\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory to day as usual
11\17\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
11\18\{1911} (Saturday)
Worked at the factory.
11\19\1911 (Sunday)
A Missionary from the South
Smerica preached at the Chapel this
Afternoon.
Ralph N. Blakeslee Died this
morning after a long sickness
of heart disease{desease!}, he was aged 55 years.
11\20\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day
11\21\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
11\22\{1911} (Wednesday)
______ __{Worked at? Beginning of line is difficult to read} the factory
to day.
{Note in margin of text:
22.50}
11\23\{1911} (Thursday)
Worked at the factory.
11\24\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
11\25\1911 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory this forenoon
this afternoon Frank, Raymond and
I slated the West side of the wheel
house.
11\26\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. J. G. Davenport ________{preached?} at
the Chapel this afternoon.
Bernard Carter Began taking care of the
Chapel to day.
11\27\{1911} (Monday)
Worked at the factory to day.
This evening I attended a meeting
at the School House called for
the purpose of having the City
water put into the building{,?}
and buying more land to
enlarge the school grounds/Grounds{?}
{new paragraph?}
Both measures were voted
favorable.
11\28\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory
11\29\1911 (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
22 50}
11\30\{1911} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving, Frank and Raymond
went to New Haven with the Crosby
High School football team to play the
new Haven High School team. The
New Haven team beat them 7 to 0.
I went to New haven with them
and then went by the Shore Line
Trolley to the end of their road at
Ivory town{,?} walked back to Essex and
____{ther? then?} took the trolley home.
The Somers family{?} held their
annual reunion in the Grange Hall
there were over sixty present.
12\01\{1911} (Friday)
I worked at the factory to day.
12\02\1911 (Saturday)
To day Frank Raymond and I put on
the Slate roof on the East{Eeast!} side of
my machine shop, we also repaired
the dam, and shod the horse.
12\03\{1911} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Vought of South Waterbury
preached at the Chapel
After service all of my family
gathered at my house and had
supper.
12\04\{1911} (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
12\05\{1911} (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day
12\06\{1911} (Wednesday)
Worked at the factory{factorey?}
{new paragraph?}
Wrote A B Pierpont of Orange City concerning
{continuation of this line is written arount the side of the page.
Difficult to read}
Bound__{Boundry! Boundary?} stone __{at?} Ch____{?}
{Notes in margin of text:
Chapel
{The next note is difficult to read}
__ 00{12 00?}}
12\07\1911 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day
The Grange had a supper in
their Hall this evening __{at?} which
several men of Mill Plain were
invited including myself.
12\08\{1911} (Friday)
Worked at the factory.
{for 12\09\1911 - 12\17\1911 see next entry}
12\18\{1911} (Monday)
I have been very busy and tired
for the past ten days. {...>>}
{12\10\1911 (Sunday)}
{<<...} On Sunday
afternoon Rev. Mr. Todd preached at
the Chapel. {...>>}
{12\11\1911 (Monday)}
{<<...} Monday night we
connected the Electric motors
with the several shafts in the
Trimming Room. We are putting in
Seven motors in this Department,
of the six motors,{,?} t_at{that?} we started
only Three {*two} are now running one
15 H.P. and one 10. two of the others
were not powerful enough and
one would not go.
{12\13\1911 (Wednesday)}
Wednesday Mr. Ryan began digging,
to put City water in the Chape.
Mr. White and Mr. Nodine are putting
the water in their houses and the
trench was open by the Chapel and
by paying one third of the expense
of laying from the junction of
Woodtick and Meriden Roads to
a point in front of the Chapel
they would let us connect with
their pipe, by Saturday night.
Mr. Ryan had the pipe laid inside
the Chapel gate.
{12\17\1911 (Sunday)}
Sunday Rev. Otto Brand of
the Waterville Methodist Church
preached at the Chapel.
To day I have worked in the
factory as usual.
12\26\{1911} (Tuesday)
I have worked in the factory every day
except Sundays and yesterday which was
Christmas, Dr. Davenport preached at
the Chapel last Sunday, and yesterday
all the Miller family assembled at
Mothers who lives with William Gillette
at Brightwood in Mill Plain.
We have had no snow of any account
this winter and at present the roads
are very muddy.
{no entries from 12\27\1911 - 01\07\1912, partial blank page}
01\08\1912 (Monday)
I worked at the factory of Rogers
& Bros nine hours. Have worked
every day this year except Sunday
the 1st{7st!} and have had plenty to do
as the factory is shut down and
we are making many repairs.
The weather has been very mild
this winter until last week when it
came off cold and last Saturday
morning was one of the coldest
that I ever knew owing to the wind
but the thermometer{themometer!} only registered{regerstered!}
zero, this morning it was 5 be___{below?}
01\11\1912 (Thursday)
Have worked nine hours Tuesday
and ten Wednesday. Received my
last weeks pay yesterday which
amounted to 21.38. Sleighing is
very good and weather cold.
{new paragraph?}
This morning 8 below zero at my
house.
Factory started up this morning
run nine hours to day, tomorrow
will run eight hours.
Mr. Laneish/Laneisk{?} came from Meriden
this P.M. to test out motors in
Triming shop that would not
run, but gave it up as his indicators
would not work.
01\15\1912 {Monday}
This evening Frank and I,
assisted by Bernard Carter
and nahan Pierpont turned
on the City water into the Mill
Plain Chapel.
01\17\1912 {Wednesday}
I worked at the factory to day
as usual.
{Note in margin of text:
22 13}
The weather is very cold, yesterday
morning 8 below this morning
it was the same, while Sunday
morning it was 24 degrees below
zero, the paper states that,{,?} last
Sunday morning in Woodbury in
several parts of the Town the thermometer{themometer!}
registered{regerstered!} 30 below the coldest ever known
in that town.
01\23\1912 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day as I
have done every{eviry?} day since last writing
To day I have bought a Maxwell
Automobile of Mr. Williams of the
Waterbury Automobile Co for 250.00
paid 50.00 down and am tomorrow to
pay 225.00, 25 00 extra for wind shield.
01\31\{1912} (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as I
have every day this year.
Frank has been drawing logs{,?} up
to Pritchards saw Mill in Wolcott
for Wilson L Pierpont yesterday
and to day.
{Note in margin of text:
25 50}
Last Saturday George Hitchcock{?},
broke his leg while drawing out
wood, on the South side of the
Meriden Road near mrs. Frosts
Pond.
02\07\1912 (Wednesday)
I have worked every day since
the last writing. The weather
has been very cold, no thaw
last month, and good sleighing
though only about three and
one half inches of snow.
{Note in margin of text:
24 18}
Mr. George Rockwell started
for Florida last Monday to be
gone two weeks.
02\08\{1912} {Thursday}
I worke_{worked?} this{.?} day in the factory to
day. Last night Mary Wilson Pierpont
and I took my old horse and went
out the Meriden road to Edwin Todds
to see him about the distribution of
mother Pierpon__{Pierponts?} estate, they thought
that the land could be divided into
six parts and let the house go undivided
When we were ready to come ho_e{home?}
we found that the horse had broken
the hitch strap so we had to walk
Wilson went the meriden road and
we came through East Farms, where{?}
we got home we found the horse here
all right
02\19\1912 (Monday)
This morning I met Wilson Pierpont
at the Colonial Trust Building and
sar{saw?} Mr. Henry Ralond{Rolond?} about dividing
and settling{settleing!} Mother Pierponts estate,
which is now blocked by a dept Thaedore/Thaedare{?}
Conner oves{?} Woodbury parties, He Mr.{?}
Roland thinks it can be attanged{aranged!} so the
settlement{?} can go on{,?} by Mr. Conner
seeing seeing{written twice} the parties that have
placed the leans{?} on, and have them
release them until he gets his share
and the_{then?} pay them. We then went
to Judge Slaveris{?} office and saw
him, and Saw Mr. Charles J.
Pierpont about having Mr. Renols{?}
survey the farm.
This eve C J. Pierpont telephoned
that Rends{?} would survey
and map the farm for 40 ar{or?} $45.00
02\21\{1912} (Wednesday)
Last night C J Pierpont telephoned
that Renols would start surveying
at 8 o'clock this morning.
Called at W. L Pierponts house
before 7 but did not see him.
03\04\1912 (Monday)
I have worked at the factory every
day since last writing (Sundays
excepted) except last Saturday when
I stayed home and Frank and
I repaired my Auto.
Yesterday Mr. Vought preached
at the Mill Plain Chapel.
George Hitchcock who broke his leg
over a week ago is bad off as gang{?}
Green has set in
03\14\1912 (Thursday)
I went this noon to the Mill Plain Chapel
and showed Mr. Pattens{?} men the bounds
of the land that goes with the Chapel as
they are to survey it and make a map.
Last Tuesday I saw Mr. Patten about
making the map at 9 A.M. at 1 P.M. went
to Mr. Renols{?} Office and saw the map tha_{that?}
he made of the property of Mother Pierponts
Estate, and at 2 P.M. went to the Colonial{Coloni_l!}
Trust Building with Wilson L. Pierpont
and saw mr. Roland about sending a
release of C. J. Pierponts Estate to the
Judge of Probate, Met Charles, Elener{?}
and Wilson Pierpont at Renolds Office{.?}
03\18\{1912} (Monday)
Sar Mr. Patten about having the
sewer and water pipes put on the
Map of the Chapel property.
03\22\{1912} (Monday)
Irving Went to Kingston N.Y. last
Sunday night wi__{with?} __{Mr.?} Cander{?} to see
about making machinery on his return
last Wednesday night he was taken
sick and has been in bed since,
{new paragraph?}
Doctor Deming{?} has not given out
what the disease{desease!} is but thinks
some pleurisy{pluersy!} and some Pneumonia
Magaret had a Daughter
born last Tuesday morning
Mar 19.
03\28\1912 (Thursday)
I worked at the the{written twice} factory this morning
till 9 o'clock when I went to East
Farms and there met C J. Pierpont
William and Harry Conner{,?}
and Wilson L. Pierpont, and Mary
who were heirs to Mother Pierponts
estate Elmer Pierpont and Thoedore Conner{,?} were
not there, Attorney Joseph Reid,
Mr. Renolds, and Edwin Todd, were
the Distributers. To Austin B. Pierpont
they gave all the land lying South
of the Cheshire{.?} Road for his Sixth part{2 words?}
To Wilson L. Pierpont the East half
of the East Lot with the barn for his
Sixth Part. To Mary A. Miller the
West Meadow and including lot above the spring
to{ato?} a point 140 ft North of the Chestnut
tree thense West to Land of Edward
Pierpont{?}, for her 6th part. To the Conner
Boys the West Half of the East Lot
and a strip 100 ft wide North of Maries
North Line for their 6th part. To
Charles J. Pierpont a strip containing
over 7 acres North of the Conner
Boys Land for his 6th part. To
Elmer Pierpont 7 acres on the North
bond of the farm for his 6th part,
Wilson L. Pierpont has bought Elmer
out for $800.00.
04\03\1912 (Wednesday)
{Note in margin of text:
19 50}
04\22\1912 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
One week ago this morning at 2.30{?}
A.M.{?} The British Steam Ship
Titanic sunk off{of!} the banks of New
Foundland, with a loss of 1632 lives
She was the largest Ship ever
built {.?}882 ft long. Cause of
sinking she ran into an Iceberg{Ice Bergh!}
at 10.30 Sunday Night.
To night I went to town after
work and saw the City Hall
burn, all above the First floor{floar!}.
05\06\1912 (Monday)
Last Friday{.?} DAyton C Wooding{?}
Austin B. Pierpont{,?} and myself
went to New Haven and saw
Printice{Prentice?} W. Chase about the
land around Mill Plain
Chapel.
Frank told me to day that
Wilson L. Pierpont has bought
the old Pierpont{.?} Homestead at
East Farms, and also the
land that Charlie J. Pierpont
owned
05\14\1912 (Tuesday)
To day Austin Pierpont, Daton
Wooding, and myself went to
New Haven and saw Printice{Prentice?} Chase
regarding the Chapel property.
He drew a deed for the Cemetery{Cemeteary!}
to present to their officers and sign
giving us the lot on condition
that we give them a strip{stirip!} 55 ft
wide oiff from the South end,{,?} and
the use _f{of?} the drive way for foot
and vehibles{veicles!}.
At 11.15 to night I saw Mr. Warren
Hitchcock and offered him the deed
but he would not accept it, had no
time to talk as he was getting aboard
of the Trolley to go to work.
05\22\{1912} (Wednesday)
This eve I attended the Annual meeting
of the Mill Plain Union Chapel
and the following Officers were
elected.
Episcopal Committee A B. Pierpont.
Methodist H. J. Abel.
Congregational C S. Miller.
Baptist Henry Judd,
Secretary Bessie Whie{.?}
Treasurer Dayton Wooding,{,?}
Sunday School Superintendent
Arthur J Pierpont,
Librarian Stanley Heaton{?}.
06\12\1912 {Wednesday}
The Pine Grove Cemetery held their
annual{.?} Meeting thie evening
___{and? Is word smudged or crossed out?} elected Officers for the
ensuing year as follows.
{new paragraph?}
Trustees Warren B. Hitchcock,
Arthur Bluett, Edson Hitchcock
George Walker, Miss Fannie
Porter, Thoedore Munson{?}, and
Mark L. Warner. The trustees
elected in turn Warren Hitchcock,
President, Fannie Porter Secretary,{,?}
and Edson Hitchcock Treasurer
06\29\1912 {Saturday}
I worked at the factory this forenoon, but
this afternoon I staid out and went to
the funeral of Henry Wedge, who died
Thursday night aged 80{?} years.
{new paragraph?}
After,{,?} I returned Clyde, Fritzie, Raymond
and I went to the East End Garage{Girage!} and
had the Auto Tank filled with gasoline{gasolene!}.
After supper we went out to Arthur
Pierponts _n{in?} the Auto, while we were
gone Mr. Taylor came, and we came
home soon and he drove the auto
out there again very fast, and back
again.
06\30\{1912} (Sunday)
This morning I went to Russells
corner on the Trolley car, and walked
to French Hill where a monument
was Dedicated by the Irish Historical
Society of Connecticut, there
were about 5000 present including
Governer{Govoner!} Baldwin, a Representative{Representitive!} of
The French Embassador{Enbassidar/Enbassidor!}, Judge Welch
of New Britain{?} was the Orator{Orotor!} of
the day.{.?} I will here state that this
was Childrens Day at the Chapel
and Dr. Davenport had charge of the
]service, Irving carried the Dr. for
me from the Trolley{.?} to the Chapel.
{new paragraph?}
Irving, Dorothy Frank, and I
left here at about 7 o'clock in my
Auto and went through the Center
to Watertown to Woodbury, and
home via Middlebury where arrived{arived!}
at a little after 9.
07\01\{1912} (Monday)
The Factory closed down last
Saturday night for the Summer
Vacation. This afternoon I went
to town to see about having some
Clutches{?} welded to the Shaft.
08\11\1912 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Ingraham{/} preached at
the Chapel this afternoon, he is
a Methodisy minister from South
Waterbury,{,?} Bernard Carter{.?}
carried him from the Trolley car
to the Chapel with William Gilletts{?}
team. I got my auto ready this
morning, and took Fritzy, Dorothy
Ruth and Frank and went to Seymour
to the Camp of the 1._t{ft?}, 2 nd, Con__{Const?}
_nd{and?} a Maine Regiment they were
encamped 3/4 of a mile up the Oxford
Road, there{thers!} was also two Companies
of Colored United States Calvary
from Fort Eathen Allen Vt.{?}
08\29\1911 (Thursday)
Last night when I got home from
___{the? Is word smudged or crossed out?} Factory Mary showed me a
note written by Raymond{Roymond?}, which
said that he had been a bad boy
and could not stand it any longer
so he is going West, and had taken
his{.?} Bank Book, he also took{.?}$5.00
of Franks money, on his bank
book was 48.40 which he got by
an order on which was written
the name of Mary A. Miller{,?}
and Howard Mott{?} as witness
Howard Mott says that he said that
he was going to Detroit.
09\20\1912 (Friday)
Arthur J. Pierpont died this morning
at 2.30 o.clock from the effects
of burns that he received last
Monday while tightening up
the flews{flues?} of his farm engine
boiler, the threads of one of the
flews gave away and the fl__{flew!}
blew out scalding him terribly{terribley!},
but we thought that he would
recover, and was surprised to learn
this morning of his death{.? -?} he was
aged 35 years.
09\22\{1912} (Sunday)
The Funeral of Arthur Joseph Pierpont
took place to day, with prayers at
the house, where were gathered a
large number of people many
coming in Automobiles{Automobilis?} and
many in Carriages, Rev. Dr. Buckley{?}
officiating{officiateing!}. The procession
proceeded{proceded!} to the Mill Plain Chapel
the hearse and Carriages by the
Meriden turnpike and the Autos
by the Cheshire Road, at the Chapel
were gathered between 5 and 600 people
from the neighboring{meighboring!} towns as well
as Waterbury. Two Auto loads
coming from the Connecticut
College{Colleage!} and Some from Winsted
Stamford and Wallingford.
There were more Flowers than I
ever saw at any funeral in the
Pine Grove Cemetery{Cemetary/Cemetory!} The scholars{schollars!}
of his Sunday school each dropped{droped!}
a bouquet in the grave as did
all the relatives. There were
many teams about the Chapel
and fifteen Automobiles.
10\22\1912 {Tuesday}
This day I have worked at the factory of
The International Silver Co where I hold
the position of Master Mechanic.
Last evening{.?} Dayton Wooding and
Wife, William Gillette, my Wife and
I went in my Auto via Watertown
to Woodbury where we attended an Oyster
supper and entertainment in the basement
of the Methodist Church, we came
home the same way that we wen_{wnet?}
reached{,?} out house at about 10.30
This Forenoon at 10. o'clcok Miss
Amy Miller was married in the
First Church by Rev. Mr. Dinsmore
to Mr. Russell of Bridgeport.
To day they are putting hot
water heat in our house{.?}
11\24\{1912} (Sunday)
I attended meeting at the Chapel, Dr.
Davenport read a Thanksgiving story.
{new paragraph?}
I carried him and his friend from
the trolley in my auto. After service
Mr. Rocksburgh funeral was held
in the Chapel as it rained very
hard out side The service was by
the Masonic order.
Mr. Henry Hall who died on the
trolley Car Nov 16th left to the Chapel by
will $100.00
11\26\1912 (Tuesday)
I worked in Rogers & Brothers Factory
to day.
This evening Frank got home from{f_on!}
the Connecticut College{Colleage!} to spend
Thanksgiving.
11\28\1912 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day I attended the
annual reunion of the Somers family
which was held at William M Gillette_{Gillettes?}
house, there were 54 members present.
Louis and George Somers and I.
went out the Meriden Road and saw
where they were building the new
Trolley road They have it partly
built from Alexander Avenue to a
point beyond the Todd road. {Is text written above this line for insertion?}
12\01\{1912} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Chapel this afternoon
Rev. Mr. Buckley preached, after
service I took the younger Anderson
girls and Miss Brown with Frnk to
run the machine and went up over the
new state road to its end to Pritchards
saw mill, and then up over Wolcott
Center and down to Tuttles four
corners and down through Woodtick
and home, after which we took Ruth
and Marion Griswold{?} and went out
the Meriden Road to Maple Hill
Farm.
Frank Judd{?} worked yesterday
putting up a porch over the Kitchen
door.
12\04\1912 (Wednesday)
I worked at the Factory to day.
{new paragraph?}
Sherbern Rockwell{?} got through and
went to New York.
{new paragraph?}
On Dec 2{?} I received a Postal from
Miss Fannie Porter notifying me
of a joint meeting of the Cemetery{Cmetery!}
and Chapel Officers to be held in
the Chapel on Jan 3 1913.
{Note in margin of text:
Chapel}
{new paragraph?}
{the beginning of the next two lines are difficult to read}
Saw George Walker and Arthur
Blewitt{?}, about Chapel.
12\11\1912 {Wednesday}
This evening I took my auto and Mary
Mr. and Mrs. Abel and Thoedore Munson
went first down to the Center where I
bought two cans of carbide then we
came to Charles Monroe's where we
spent the evening it being his 60th
birthday. We started for home after 10,
and after leaving Mr. Munson and
the Abels{Abe'ls!} I overtook Warren Hitchcock
and brought him down to my corner
where he told me that he had up to
his house an Insurance Policy for the
Mill Plain Chapel which he said he
received on the 7th, he said it was a
renewal{rebewek!} plicy and would expire in
1915.
12\12\{1912} {Thursday}
I worked at the factory to day as usual
This evening I went to Warren Hitchcocks
and got the Chapel Insurance
Policy and then went to Will Gillettes
where we looked it over and found
the following clause, "It is mutually
understood and agreed that the
above described buildings stand
on land owned by the Pine Grove
Cemetery"
This coming at this time made
me feel discouraged, but Will
drew up a paper addressed to
Messers Judd and Puffer requesting
them to sent a corrected
Policy{Poticy!} to Miss Bessie White Sec,
{new paragraph?}
I am to gen{?} the four members
of the Chapel Committee to sign
it Have Mr. Judds{?} already.
12\14\1912 {Saturday}
Yesterday morning I got Hiram Abel
to sign the paper that Mr. Judd and
I signed last night, Mary and
I spent last evening with Mr. and
Mrs. George Edwards at 60 Cook{?} St.
{note in margin of text:
Chapel}
I received{re__ived!} a letter to day from Judd
and Peffer{Puffer?} stating that they had
drawn another Insurance Policy
as instructed by the Chapel committee
and had mailed the same to Miss Bessie White
I paid Mr. Gilson{?} the balance I owed on the
new Machine book which was 15.00 Paid 7.50
last month.
12\15\{1912} {Sunday}
Rev. Mr. Bartow{?} preached at the Chapel{Chapl!} this P.M.
{new paragraph?}
After service I with mary, Dorothy, Ruth{?} and
Irving went down to The Factory where the
joiners are at work.
Julieete, wife of Charles J. Pierpont died
this evening at 6.20 of Pneumonia.
12\16\{1912} {Monday}
Worked at the factory to day taking down
shafting.
This{Ths!} evening I attended a Special School
Meeting of which I was Chairman at Mill
Plain, they voted to let the basement to
Mr. Bradley for the boy scouts, also to
install a telephone, and accepted the
tax collectors report.
12\17\{1912} {Tuesday}
Worked at the FActory this A M.
This P.M. I attended Mrs. C. J. Pierponts
funeral at which I was a Pall Bearer with
Elmer Pierpont, Georg Benhan{?}, J. K. Smith,
{new paragraph?}
Rev. Mr. Buckely and Dr. Davenport
officiated, She was burried on top of
the Hill in Pine Grove Cemetery.
I had a long talk with Mark Warner/Warnes{?}
this P.M. about Chapel Matters
{note in margin of text:
Chapel}
12\18\{1912} {Wednesday}
This noon Wm Gillette{Gillettee?} called at the shop
and took me to James Whites and Mr.
White and I apprised the personal property
of the estate of Henry H_ll{Hall?} which
amounted to $8637.73
12\20\{1912} {Friday}
To Day Wm Gillette and Lawyer{Lawyier!}
Divine{?} called at the Factory and
had me apprise the REal Estate of
the Late Henry Hall.
12\22\1912 {Sunday}
Rev. Dr. Davenport preached at the Chapel{Chapll!}
this P.M.
This forenoon Irving called with a Mr.
Parker and they got a Christmas tree
and then we took the auto and went
up near Perkins Pond on Bucks Hill
and saw them working putting the
cut through for the new trolley road
from Waterville to Chase's Rolling Mills.
I should judge tat the cut was 75 ft
deep and they first drilled holes with 2
Will __{?} drilling machines to the bottom
first through earth and the rest through
solid ledge{legge!}, in which dynamite{dinamite!} is exploded
which loosens up the rock and
earth which is taken up and loaded
onto cars with a large Steam Shovel,
and two Steam Derricks, there are at work
also, compressed air drills and Steam Drills,
and three Sadel Locomotives{Lacomotives!}.
12\25\{1912} {Wednesday}
Christmas. The descendants{descendents!} of Mother
to the number of Twenty two met at
William Gillettes{Gillittes!} this P.M. This
A.M. I saw Warren Hitchcock about
Chapel Matters. He said that he
Recognized{Recagnized!} Mc Authority in the
matter other than the Cemetery{Cemetary!}, that
they held the deed, and the land
held the building, and that they
owned it.
This noon Frank and I went to Bucks
Hill with Mr. Holihan of Edson Avenue
and brought his Grandmother aged 9_{96?}
his Father and sister down to his
house.
12\28\1912 (Saturday)
This evening Wm Gillettee{Gillittee!} and I went
to New Haven and Sar P. _{H?} Chase.
12\29\{1912} {Sunday}
Dr. Dinsmore preached at the
Chapel.
After service I took my Auto and with
Ruth Mary and Mable Griggs Carried
Dr. Dinsmore down to the First Church
we then went to Waterville and saw
the ruins of the Sprague Schoon{School?} that
burned a few nights ago we then went
to Bucks Hill and visited Mables{?} Parents
Mr. and Mrs. William Faber
01\03\1913 (Friday)
To day I worked at the Factory of The
International Silver Co, putting up
machinery and altering shafting
as they are raising the roof of the
making room.
This evening I attended a joint{jount!}
meeting of the Trustees of the Pine
Grove Cemetery, and the Chapel officers
held in the Mill Plain Union Chapel.
{new paragraph?}
Its purpose was to bring about a reconciliation{reconcilation!}
regarding the trouble that has
existed between the Cemetery and the
Chapel{Chape!} regarding the ow_ership{ownership?} of
Chapel and grounds which both parties
claim{clain!}. The Chapel offered to
give the Cem _0{50/60?} ft off from the South
end of the lot if the Cemetery{,?} would
give them a deed of the remainder
and thus settle it.
The Cemetery offered to lease{leas!} the
ground and buildings for a long
term of years __y{say?} 50 and give
the Chapel $500.00 and pay 40 or 50. dollars
per year for the use of it{.?} to hold funerals
__d{and?} meetings in.
Neither offer was accepted.
{new paragraph?}
The Mill Plain Union Chapel Society
has used Chapel Sheds and Grounds
for nearly 30 years.
01\05\1913 (Sunday)
Rev. mr. Vought{Voughl?} preached at the Chapel,
this afternoon{.?}
01\14\{1913} (Tuesday)
Telephoned Warren Hitchcock about the
adjourned meeting to be held in the
Chapel. He said that he had not
got the papers yet, and when he
had them he would let us know abou_{about?}
the meeting
01\17\1913 (Friday)
Last Monday morning we started up
the Factory after a shutdown to three
weeks, During that time we have raised
the roof of the making room an{and?} put
in two saw{sow!} tooth sky lights, and rearranged{rearrainged!}
much of the machinery.
This evening Will Gillette and I
went to the Chapel and put in a
length of pipe where the old one was
burst by freezing.
01\27\1913 (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Owen preached at the Mill
Plain Chapel this afternoon.
This evening we attended the
Second Congregational Church in
the City, and heard Rev. Mr. Brown
the Concardia{Concordia?} singing society
rendered fine selections but they
were in the German Language
and we could not understand the
words.
01\31\1913 (Friday)
Attended a joing{Joing?} meeting of the Pine
Grove Cemetery Officers and Chapel
officers, at which a Lease was offered
with nearly every kind of a condition
in it
02\07\1913 (Friday)
This day I worked at the factory of the
International Silver Co, on Silver Street
We are taking out the old National
waterwheels one 44 inch and one 20 in
which was put in in 1873 and am now
ready to install one 22,,{"?} Mc Cormick{Mc. Cormick?}
wheel.
A daughter was born to day to
Mr. and Mrs. William Gillettes{Gillettee?} named
Louis.
Last Wednesday I received my
weeks pay $30.00
02\15\1913 (Saturday)
To day I worked at the factory, we
are putting in a new Mc Cormick{Mc Cormic!}
Waterwheel, to day we set the bed Frame{Frome!}
in place.
This evening I called at Wm Gillette's and
found Mother very low with bronchitis{brontites!},
Uncle William Somers was there and
we walked down to the Trolley car
to gether{to gather!}.
The Mill Plain Sunday School
went for a sleight ride this evening,
and had an oyster supper in the
Grange Hall on their return.
02\16\1913 {Sunday}
Sister mary called me by telephone last
night at Midnight and told me that
Mother passed away at 11.20 the end
was very quiet wi__{with?} but little suffering
{new paragraph?}
She was born in Middlebury{Middle bury!} April
15, 1834.
02\17\1913 {Monday}
Worked at the factory to day.
Wm Gillette told me to day that Brother
_red{Fred?} and Raymond are coming from,
Detroit and will reach here tomorrow
noon to attend mothers funeral{funerol!}.
This evening I hired Jessie Fowler{?}
to come to work at the factory next
Monday morning, at 3.00 per day.
02\19\1913 (Wednesday)
To day at 2.30 o,clock the funeral of
my dear Mother was held from the
home of William Gillette{?} at Brightwood
Mill Plain, Waterbury, Rev. Dr. Dinsmore{?}
officiating Mr. John Bradley{Brodley?}, Arthur
Hayward, Louis Jenner and Effel
Jenner sang several selections,
{new paragraph?}
Brother Frank, myself, Fred, Rowland
Jenner, Wm Gillettee, and Clyde were
the Pall Bearers.
She was buried in the family
lot where Grandma and Grandfather
Somers are buried in Riverside
Cemetery.
03\06\1913 (Thursday)
This day I worked at the factory in the
forenoon. In the afternoon Fred Snowman{?}
and I went to the Farrell Foundry and
saw many things, among which was
an electric chuck for holding work
on a surface grinder.
News came tonight{1 word?} that Mrs.
George Rockwell died suddenly at
Atlantic City this morning.
03\11\1913 (Tuesday)
I worked in the Factory to day
This noon Ruth went to the Conn.
Agricultural College{Colleage!} to serve as
stenographer{stinggragher!} for President Beach.
03\24\{1913} {Monday}
Mr. Louis Blanchard commenced
Repairing our house, put up part of
fram of stairs and shingled some
on North side of east _nd{end?},
{new paragraph?}
Have got to get a building permit.
03\25\1913 {Tuesday}
I worked at the factory to day.
This morning I went to the Building
Inspectors office and gave him a map
of my house and lot but he would
not give me a building permit as
I did not have an elevation of the
west side o my house and the outside
stairs.
{Note in margin of text:
Tin 4 00
50 lbs
Lead 4.00
3 galls
Oil 192
Mr. Blanchard and two men worked
till two o clock, shingling.
03\26\{1913} {Wednesday}
This has been a very stormy day but
Mr. Blanchard has been to the building
Inspector{Inspecter!} Chatfield and got a building
permit
03\27\{1913} {Thursday}
Stormy Day, Mr. Blanchard and one
man worked on{an!} my house, cut through
two inside doors and put up a pair
of stairs on the outside
03\28\{1913} {Friday}
Sherbourn Rockwell Fred Snowman
and I went to Bridgeport to Holmes
& Edwards Factory, this A.M.
03\29\{1913} {Saturday}
Mr. Blanchard and two men worked on the
house to day.
03\30\{1913} {Sunday}
Attended the Chapel to day
{new paragraph?}
Mr. and Mrs. Foster and Son came and
looked the House over to day.
03\31\{1913} (Monday)
Mr. Blanchard and 2 men worked on
house.
04\01\{1913} (Tuesday)
Mr. Blanchard and 2 men worked on
house.
04\02\{1913} (Wednesday)
Mr. Blanchard and 2 men worked on
house
04\03\1913 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory.
Mr. Blanchard and Mr. Cramer worked
putting on Plaster Board to day.
04\05\{1913} (Saturday)
Paid Mr. Blanchard 55.00 dollars this
P.M. Went to town this evening and
bought 100. lbs Carter Lead 7.50, 4 galls
Raw oil _{@?} 55 220
25 lbs #B.C. Green @ .18 450
1 Gal Turps 60
1 pt Jopan{Japan?} 20
_____
15.00
{The following notes are written in the margin of the text:
The following note is written next to the line beginning with
"Paid Mr. Blanchard...:"
22.00
The following not is written next to the line with "15.00:"
15.00}
From Hotchkiss & Templeton, lock/lack{?} 30
{Note in margin of text:
30}
04\12\{1913} (Saturday)
Mr. Blanchard worked to day. This evening
I paid him 40.00
{Note in margin of text:
$40.00}
04\19\{1913} (Saturday)
I worked at the Factory to day, getting
ready to put in the new penstock for
the New Waterwheel.
Mr. Lenskey is making a fifty
foot Roadway of the Frost Road.
{new paragraph?}
Duringn the week he has{shas!} set the fence
on my lot back about Four and one
half ft at the North end, and it
and it {written twice} runs to nothing at the end
near the big gate.
This evening I paid Joe the Italian
who laid up the wall in the cellar Seven]and one half dollars
{Note in margin of text:
7.50}
04\24\1913 (Thursday)
Mr. Lenskey has many teams{.?} at work
on the road above the Old Doolittle
House. To night{2 words?} Irving and I took the
Auto out for the first time this year.
05\06\1913 (Tuesday)
I attended to the connecting of the
waterwheel penstock, and various other
duties at the factory to day.
{Note in margin of text:
10.00}
{new paragraph?}
This evening I paid Louis Blanchard
10.00 on account.
{Does note in margin go here?}
05\08\1913 (Thursday)
Mr. and Mrs. Foster and their son
Donald moved into the upstairs
of our house, to day.
05\14\{1913} (Wednesday)
They, Mr. N. E. Reed{?} is painting my house
to day This evening I bought of Zigtatzki{?}
and Marks Co 50 lbs White Lead{Leaad!} and
three Galls oil at 5.75 I also{atso!} bought
of Hotchkiss & Templeton a roll of
Chicken Nalling{Netting/} 2.90
{Note in margin of text:
5.75}
05\23\1913 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day putting
in the Head Gate for the penstock.
This evening I took my Auto and
with Mary and Mrs. Munson went
to town and paid S J Bear{?} a bill for
hardware 7.16
{Note in margin of text:
7._6{7.16?}}
Last saturday Mary, Irving,
Dorothy{Dorathy!}, Margaret, and I went in
my auto to Storrs{St_rrs!} and saw Frank
who is there at College, and Ruth who
is keeping books for President Beach.
05\24{[?or 25?]23!}\1913 {Thursday??}
Finished Concreting{Concreating!} in headgate of waterwheel
penstock to day.
To night Mary paid N E Reed 40.00 and
I paid him $5.00 for painting house.
{Notes in margin of text:
5.00
5.00}
05\26\{1913} (Monday)
To night I paid Lewis Blanchard 40.00
on account This makes 145.00 paid him to
Date. __{Am? Are?} to pay him 160.00
{Note in margin of text:
40.00}
05\06\1913 (Friday)
To day I worked at the factory as{-?}
usual spent nearly all the day
figuring the amount of money
that would be saved should we
generate our own electric current
to run our Trimming Rooms
instead of buying it, the amount
saved would be about
$3,000 dollars.
This evening Mary and I
went up to Wm Gillettees in
my auto but he was not at
home so we took Mrs. Streeter
and started for her home met
her husband near the Forersters{?}
hall and then took them for
a ride down East Main Street
to Cherry to Grove to Willow
to West Main to East main to
Albion{?} where we left them and
came home, Mr.
{new paragraph?}
Mr. Linskey{?} has put a curb
of cement on both sides of the Frost
road and is building a little
waiting Station at my corner of white
bricks.
06\10\1913 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day{.?}
Yesterday after work I went to M J Dalys{?}
and paid him $3.00 for a pump pipe I put in
my house
{Note in margin of text:
3.00}
To day I handed in my tax list and
then went to Chatfield and Chatfield
and paid them 3.00{?} for Cement Li_e{Lime?}
etc{ets!}.
{Note in margin of text:
3.00}
06\14\{1913} (Saturday) {plus 06\11\1913 (Wednesday)}
I worked at the factory this forenoon 1/2
holiday this afterday{1 word?}.
Last Wednesday evening the Pine
Grove Cemetery held their annual meeting
in the Mill Plain Chapel, and elected
Warren B. Hitchcock, George Walker,
Fannie Porter, Edson Hitchcock, Arthur
Blewitt, Thoedore{Thaedore?} Munson, and Mark
L Warner{?}, Trustees for the coming year.
{new paragraph?}
They voted that they own the Chapel
and Voted that the matter of digging
up the Boundry Stone be left with the
Trustees. Voted{Woted!} that the matter of procuring
the keys and changing the locks be left
with the Trustees. Voted that the insuring
of the Chapel be done by the Cemetery.
Frank Came{-?} home from the Connecticut
College{Colleage!} for his summer vacation T____day{Thursday?}
evening.
06\15\{1913} (Sunday)
Mr. Blanchard called this morning
and wanted all the money due him
17.00 which I paid.
{Note in margin of text:
17.00}
I attended sevice at the Chapel this
afternoon Rev. Mr. Bronson officiated,
{new paragraph?}
After Chapel I took Clyde and his
wife and two children and Mr. and
wife and two children and we went
for a ride to union City over the
Whittnnore{Whittenore?} road to middle bury
and out to Quassapang{?} then back
to Middlebury and through Guntown{?},
and Millville{Mill ville?} to Naugatuck
and south through Straitsville{?} to where
they are building a large reservoir for
the Burough of Naugatuck, and then
home.
06\11\1913 {Wednesday; out of order, repetitious}
Pine Grove Cemetery meeting was
held in the Chapel this evening
Mr. Warr__{Warren?} B. Hitchcock, George Walker
Mark Warner, Thoedore Munson,
Fannie Porter, Edson Hitchcok and
Arthur Blewitt, were elected trustees
for the ensuing year.
The following votes were taken
That we own the Chapel and that the
Chapel be instructed that they use the
same as they have until such time as
the four denomination{?} cease to use it,
when it shall revert to the Cemetery for
a burial Chapel.
{Note in margin of text:
Chapel{Chape!}}
Motion made by Livi{Levi?} Tillotson{?}.
Voted To dig up the Boundry
stone
Voted To insure the Chapel to the
Cemetery.
Voted. That they have a key and
that they use the Chapel at any and
all times, and change the locks{lacks!} if
they see fit.
06\26\1913 (Thursday)
I telephoned Mr. Ludwig of
Tolland{?} to night concerning
his horses that ran away
07\02\{1913} (Wednesday)
Paid Hotchkiss _{&?} Templeton 19.70 for
Hard wars{Hard ware? Hardware?} for my house
08\18\1913 (Monday)
Mary left for Cleveland this noon{noom!}
at 1.20 for New York where {,?} she is to
Join{Jain!}, her Cousin Libbie Harris, and
then they will travel together{togather!}.
09\11\1913 (Thursday)
Mary Returned this noon from
a trip to Niagra, Cleveland,
Detroit and Buffalo{Buffalow!}.
09\21\{1913} (Sunday)
I have not worked the past week but
spent Monday and Tuesday at various
kinds of business, Wednesday Mary
and I went in my auto to Sam Ovaitts [Oviatt's]
in Goshen, Tuesday Sam Marion his wife
Lillian Gillette, Marions mother, and
Mary and I went to Falls Village{Villeage!} and
saw the new dam canal and power
plant that the United Electric Light{Leight?}
and Water Co are building, on the
site of and old canal that was
built in 1851 by F. W. Goldsminth{?}.
after having our dinner in the Auto
by the side of the road near the
East end of the Bridge we went to
Amesville, then{,?} to the twin lakes,
Thence East to the Housatonic River
which we crossed on an iron toll bridge
located over a dam at an Electric
power plant at North Canaan, from
there we went through he towns
of North Canaan and Norfolk to the
Hallmeadow Road which we followed
to West Tarrington{?} and then west
to Goshen.
We remained in Goshen till Sunday
afternoon {the next 1 or 2 words difficult to read} the __{?} weather
being wet and
foggy all the time.
09\29\{1913} (Monday)
Last Saturday morning Clyde
Fritzie, Irving Dorothy and I took
my auto and went to Falls village{villeag!}
and saw the new Power plant which
is being built at that point, the
Dam is completed more than{tham!} half
across the river from the East side
nd the canal is nearly finished,ide
all of the water wheel cases are set
and the Bulkhead is finished but the
penstocks{penstacks!} are not put together{togather!}.
From the village{villeage!} we went to
Lime Rock{?} where we saw the Iron
works, and saw them run off a
lot of Pig iron. We then returned
to Falls village{Fallsvilleage! 1 word?} and had our auto filled
with Gasoline{Gasolene!} and oil and at 5.45 started
for Goshen which we reached at 7. P.M.
10\08\1913 (Wednesday)
This morning I telephoned Mr. Phelps
of Rockville and asked if I could retain
him on the Ludwig Case but he is
too{to!} busy, and recommended{recomened!} John E. Fisk,
whom I retained
This evening I wrote up all the details
of the case and sent them together{togather
with a letter which Mr. Noon sent me
and the complaint which Sheriff
Foster left me.
10\09\1913 (Thursday)
This evening Attorney{Attourney!} Howard B.
Snow Called me up and said{raid!} that
Mr. Fisk{?} of Rockville has told him
that Mr. Ludwig{Leidwig?} would settle if
we would pay the Sheriff 6.00 the
Justice 1.00 and Mr. Noon 5.00 Mr.
Ludwig wants 15.00. I talked
over the wire with Mort and we
thought that we had better not
Pay Mr. Ludwig anything and
I told Mr. Shaw{?} so, H{?} asked me
to call up Mr. Fisk{"Noon" is crossed out} and tell him
which I did, after a time he called
me and said that they would settle
for{far!} the 12.00.
{Semicircle is drawn in margin of text}
10\10\{1913} (Friday)
I worked{woiked!} at the factory to day
Saw M. E. Pierpont at Mr. Munsons
silver wedding this evening and
he said that he would pay 1/2
of the 12.00
11\19\1913 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day as
Master Mechanic of Factory J International
Silver Co. I received my weeks pay
30.00
To day they started running the
new Green cars on the Milldate{Mill date?}
trolley hin{line?} at noon, tonight at
9 o'clock{o'clack!} they had carried 282
passengers.
11\24\1913 (Monday)
Last Saturday Mr. and Mrs. George
Edwards, mary and I went by train
to Danbury where walked about the
place for over an hour and saw the
principal{principle!} buildings etc till it was
time to take the train for New Milford
where we went after my Auto which
I left there with a broken axle a week
ago last wednesday, we found it
all ready for us ar{as?} the Arcade Machine
works,. and after having a good
dinner at Youngs Hotel, we paid
our bill for repairs $9.50 and nearly/nearby{?}
$2.00 for Gasoline{Gasolene!} and oil and started
for Marble Dale where we stoped at
a cousins of Mr. Edwards by the
name of Lyons, where we visited a
while, with Mrs. Lyons{Leyons?} two sons and
a daughter, we then went to New
Preston{?} where we stoped at Mr. Miron
Cables where we staid 1/2{?} hour visiting
with M_{Mr.?} Cables{?}, and Miss Cables{/} his
sister and Mother Cables 93 years old
we then journeyed through Woodville
and across{acass? acoss?} the Shepang River and up
over the hills by the side of mt. Tom
pond through Gooseborough and
Bantam to Litchfild{Litchfield?} where we went
up North Street aways, and turned round
and came hgome through East Morris
and Estertown, stoppin ar{at? on?} Mr. Edwards
on Cook St. and had supper, Reached
about 8 o'clock.
11\27\1913 (Thursday)
The Somers family met at Ben Chatfiwlsa on
Hewlett Street{?} and had dinner there were
48 present{,?} and all had a nice time.
12\19\{1913} {Friday}
Frank Came home this evening to
spend Christmas. He brought a letter
From Ruth at Storrs which she had
received from Raymond _ho{who?} is in
Detroit which stated that he is not
coming home for Christmas
The old Blacksmith shop opposite
Edson Avenue that I built in 1887
got on fire last night and was damaged
to the extent of $500.00
The new electric lights were used
in my house Dec 12 for the first time.
01\01\1914 {Thursday}
{Note in margin of text:
1914
Jan 1}
Jan 1 The Chapel fences is gone from under the sheads{sheds?}
01\21\1914 (Wednesday)
Mrs. Rasoline Scott{?} Widow of the late
Edward Scott died Monday Jan 19th
1914 of Cancer of the stomach aged 84 years
02\18\1914 (Wednesday)
Have had some very Cold weather, 14 below
zero this morning 8 below yesterday, 8 below
the morning before. Last Friday and
Saturday snow fell to the depth of 15 inches
on the level, but drifted in some places.
{new paragraph?}
Monday about 3 inches more fell.
Fritzie Clydes wife{wiff!} had a son born
this afternoon.
02\22\{1914} (Sunday)
Rev. Mr. Owen preached at the Mill Plain
Chapel this afternoon. The attendance{attendence!} was
small owen{owing/} to the large amount of snow
and bad traveling there is about 2 ft of
snow on the ground. The thermometer{themometer!}
registered{regerstered!} 12{degree symbol} below zero.
02\26\{1914} (Thursday)
This is the most severe winter that
I have seen for many years, the
snow lies two feet deep on the
ground, more than since the great
storm of 1888 when the snow was
three and one half ft deep, for seven
days in succession the paths{pathes!} had
to be dug out as the snow either
fell and filled them or it blew in
for many mornings the thermometer{themometer!}
has been below zero, to day 13 below
yesterday{westerday!} 11 below{,?} and many times
8 and 10 below.
03\08\1914 (Sunday)
This afternoon Margaret gave birth to
a daughter at the Waterbury hospital{haspital!}
at 5.30 P.M.
03\18\{1914} (Wednesday)
Louis B. Hitchcock was almost instantly
killed at 10 AM. to day, while working
on a switchboard in the cellar of the
Office of the American Brass Co. his
arm came in contact with a live wire
of 440 volts and the current{curr_nt! currant!} passed
through his heart and out the other
arm to ground.
03\19\1914 {Thursday}
I worked this day at the factory.
Putting in washing Machine in George
Haywards{?} Polishing Room, and taking
out pickle tub in Annealing Room __{to?}
be Recovered.
03\20\{1914} {Friday}
I worked at the factory this forenoon.
This afternoon attended Louis
Hitchcocks funeral{funereal!} at the house of
Jacob H. Garrigus in South Part of
Wolcott{Wolcatt!} Mary and I drove out, a_{?}
bitter cold time{atime!}, Rev. Mr. Owen{?} of
the second{secong!} Congregational Church
of Waterbury officiated the Pall Bearers
were his brothers-in-law Mr. Morton
Pierpont{-?} Mr. James Hubbell, Mr. Burton
Russell, and Willia_{William?},{,?} Harry and
Walter Garrigus there were a
large number present including
a trolley car load of Electricians{Electricions!}
{new paragraph?}
Burial was in Woodtick Burying
Ground
[[07\24\1914 (Friday) {alone on back unlined page}]]
[[{included below at appropriate place}]]
{Notes at end of text:
Read by R{uth} M B{rundage} -
May 1946
" " F{rank}.P.{?}M{iller}. Dec. 1946
R{ay}.H.M{iller}. 8 - 47
Read by Marian Northrop Kraft Nov. '88}
{@@RAK-- This note is written in the 1st page:
These loose pages were included
at the start of the 1914-28 Journal
when xeroxed by Robert Kraft on
30 June 1992.
The words "March 27, 1914" are in the
hand of CSM
"to May 3, 1914" are probably Marian Kraft
or possibly Margaret Miller Northrop Hall. }
Charles S. Miller.
Oak Corner.
Waterbury
Conn.
March 27, 1914. to May 3, 1914.
1914\03\27 {@@Thursday?}
Yesterday John Todd told me that
Edward Holmes who lives in the old
Capt Nathaniel Lewis place on the East
side of Hitchcocks Lake is dead.
To day I went to the Factory at
eight as usual and then went to the
Farrell Foundry and Machine @@Cos with
Sherbourn Rockwell, Frank Tobin and
Mr. Mansfield and tried striking up
some Sharon table spoon handles in
a new 400 ton Toggle Jointed Press, it
worked very good, and done the work
better than the drops do it.
1914\03\30 (Sunday)
Rev Dr. Dinsmore preached at the Chapel
this afternoon the attendance {@@attendence?} was not large
Mr. Edward Holmes was buried from
the Chapel this afternoon at ___ ______{@@One Gelack?}.
Clyde moved yesterday into Gardner
Halls house on _____{@@Edian?} Avenue next
North of the house he has been living
in.
{@@RAK-- Please note that the previous 2 paragraphs are difficult to
read. es}
1914\03\31 (Tuesday)
I worked to day 9 hours in the factory
after 5 o clock I took my Auto down to my
old shop to have Mr Tellman{@@?} paint it.
1914\04\26 (Sunday)
We have received a letter from Raymond
which stated that he was married in
New York last Monday to Margarete
Hardy of Meriden.
1914\05\02 (Saturday)
To day I met a surrogate Judge
from New Jersey and signed an
affidavit {@@affadavit} regarding my signing
Nathan T. Porters{@@?} will in 1896.
1914\05\03 (Sunday)
Attended service in the Second
Cong Church this forenoon.
This afternnon Clyde, D. H. Tierney
Mr. Charles Cummerford and I went
in my auto to middlebury and
Woodbury over the road traversed by
Rochambeans army in 1781, at
Woodbury we ate supper at the Curtis House
and then came home via Middlebury
Center.
{end of loose pages}
=====
{entry found alone on back unlined page of previous journal}
{see above after 03\20\1914}
07\24\1914 (Friday)
Last Wednesday Clyde Moved to Farrengton{?}
where he is engaged{ingaged!} it the construction
of a large casting shop at the Coe Brass
works.
=====
{start of new journal}
{"Dec. 13 1914 to July 29, 1928" added at start,
probably by Marian N. Kraft or Margaret M. Hall}
1914\12\13 (Sunday)
About the 25th of last month as I was
passing through the cellar in the dark
I walked against a carpenter horse on
which was a heavy piece of 6" Steam pipe
and knocked a small piece of skin off
my leg above the ankle point, a short
time after the coting {@@coating?} got knocked off
again, and then again until it
developed in a large red sore. One week ago
to day I saw Young Dr. Barber and he said
that the red sore was caused by bad blood
circulation and if it were tightly bandaged
it would heal, he bound it very tight and
it began to swell and pain. Worked Monday
and suffered much and Tuesday saw
Dr. Henry Sweet. Office 150 Blue Hills Av {@@Ave?}
Hartford. He gave me two washes to
apply one day, the other at night staid home
Wednesday, went to Hartford and saw
him again Thursday, said that he
had got the best of the erysipilas{@@?} in
it and to continue the treatment.
Worked Friday and Saturday putting
in foundation for Mortas{@@?} 10 H.P. and
shaft in Polishing Room on South side
near center. (Factory has large order for
tea spoons.) To day the spot on my leg
that is open is larger than {@@that} a silver
dollar and red about 10" up and down
and more than half way around, but
is not badly swollen.
1914\12\14 (Monday)
I worked at the factory this forenoon, and
this afternoon at 2 went to Dr. Browns {@@Browns or Brown?}
office in Citizens
Bank Building and he dressed my leg.
Weather very cold.
1914\12\16 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory till three this {@@thus?}
afternoon when I went to Dr. Browns
office and had my leg dressed.
{1914}\12\17 (Thursday)
Worked at the factory till three this
afternoon when I went to Dr. Browns
office and had my leg dressed, went
to Hills in exchange place and
had my hair cut, and shaved.
To day the State Commissioners
went over the New part{@@Part?} of the
Milldale Trolley line i.e. from
Hitchcocks lake to Milldale and they
expect to open the road for public
use next Saturday.
{1914}\12\20 (Sunday)
I attended Chapel this afternoon {@@-?} Rev
Mr. Thompson the the first Methodist Church
preached, after service a party of young {@@-?}
people of which Frank was one went to
Milldale on the New Trolley line which
was opened to the public yesterday.
Frank came home from Storrs College {@@Colleage}
Friday evening to spend Christmas yesterday
he drew in two loads of Cornstalks from
East Farms.
1914\12\21 (Monday)
This morning it snowed about three
inches deep, later turned to rain. I went
to work at 8. This afternoon I went to
Dr. Brown and he dressed my leg, after
which I went to Hotchkiss and Templetons
and ordered about $900.00 worth of Atkins
Tool Steel, for making dies, after which
I ordered about the same amount of
Jessup Tool Steel of Charles A Templeton.
Frank has worked about home to day.
{1914}\12\22 (Tuesday)
Cold Day. Worked at factory, except
time that I went to Dr. Browns and
had leg dressed.
Frank painted on Barn to day. This
evening we attended Christmas exercises
at the Chapel, about 130, Sunday School
Scholars{@@Schollars}, and building filled to overflowing
with parets {@@parents?} and friends, good entertainment
and lots of presents.
{1914}\12\23 {Wednesday}
Dr. Brown dressed my leg this afternoon,
after which I returned to the factory and put
in Lathe sinks in "French Gray" Room.
Frank painted on barn.
1914\12\25 Christmas {Friday}
Frank and I raised new smoke stack
on garage {@@girarge} this forenoon.
Had Christmas dinner at three o'clock
There were present, Mary\1/ and I.\2/
Clyde\3/ Fritzie\4/ Ruth\5/, Dick\@@6/, and Willard\7/
Irving\8/ Dorothy\9/ and Enid\10/,
Margarite\11/, and @@Clif Northrop\12/, and children
Marion\13/, and @@Bethe\14/.
Ruth\15/ and John Brundgage{@@Brundage?}\16/.
@@Frank, P Miller\17/,
Raymond and Marguerite his wife are in
Detroit.
In the evening we had a Christmas tree
which was much enjoyed by all. There{@@Ther} were
also present Mr. Morton Pierpont{@@Pierepont} and Wife
and two children Ralph and Paul. Mrs.
Bessie Pierpont with her three children Hellen,
Hazel and Marion and Mrs. Minnie
Hitchcock.
1914\12\28 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory till three when
I went to Dr. Brown and had him dress
my leg. Frank painted barn Water Closet
Hen House etc.
1914\12\27 (Sunday)
Cold day 17 below zero this morning.
Attended service at Chapel this afternoon
Dr. Davenport officiated.
1914\12\28 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day from 8
to 5.30
Frank and Charlie Welton Drew Wood
Charlie Welton came at noon {@@,?} went home at 4.
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text:
4
.60}
{1914}\12\29 (Tuesday)
Worked at the factory to day.
It has stormed and Frank could not
work, Charlie Welton came to tell us that
he could not come because his mother
had to go to town and have a tooth drawn.
{1914}\12\30 (Wednesday)
Frank and Charlie Welton worked __{@@in? at?} the wood
Charlie worked 5 hrs
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text:
5
.75}
Commenced Running Making Room
from 6.30 P.M. to 6.30 A.M. stopping 1.2 hr at @@Midnight
1914\12\31 {Thursday}
I worked at the factory to day.
Frank and Charlie Welton worked at cutting
wood.
[[end of 1914 entries, page 8 of journal]]
[[start of 1915 entries, page 8 of journal]]
1915\01\01 {Friday}
I worked at the factory to day We keep the
large Corless{@@Carless?} Engine and power running
night and day.
My leg has broken out in another place
and to night I went to see Dr. Brown at 6.15
by appointment waited one hour but he
failed to come.
Frank and Charlie Welton worked at wood.
{Note in margin of text:
18 hours
.15
__________
90
18
________
2.70 }
1915\01\02 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory from 7.30 to 3.
when I went to Dr. Brown and{@@an} he did up my
leg. I then came home as it pained me
very much.
Frank worked about the place.
1915\01\03 (Sunday)
I stayed at home all day.
This evening @@Russell Smithe hitched his horse
in my wood sled and took His Wife and her
sister and Mary and Frank for a @@straw {@@strow?}
ride out the Cheshire up the Pierpont, and
in the Meriden Roads.
{1915}\01\04 (Monday)
Frank left this noon for College at Storrs.
I worked at the factory. This afternoon I
went to Dr. Brown and had my leg dressed.
{1915}\01\05 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory. Went and had
leg dressed this P.M.
{1915}\01\06 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory to day. Went to Dr.
Brown and had leg dressed, for which I paid
him @@1.00 Got watch from @@Jewelers _.__{@@1.00?}
1915\01\07 (Thursday)
Very mild day snow and Ice nearly all gone
Factory running 22 1/2 hours. Went to Dr.
Brown and had him dress my leg{@@legs?}
1915\01\08 (Friday)
I worked at the Factory to day 10 hours.
Went to Dr. Browns this afternoon.
{1915}\01\09 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day
Had Dr. Brown do up my leg.
{1915}\01\10 (Sunday)
John French, Russell Hayward, @@Harry Wlitborn{@@?}
Thomas Bequal, Jessie Fowler, Charlie Peterson,
Dick Cosgrove and myself, with Fred Snowman
this A.M. Worked at the factory putting
in lathe_{@@lathes?} and rep machinery.
1915\01\11 (Monday)
I had Dr. Brown dress my leg to day.
The factory ceased running after nine o clock
at night this day
{1915}\01\12 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Dr. Brown Dressed my leg.
Received my weeks pay 30.00
{1915}\01\13 (Wednesday)
Worked at the Factory 11 hours to day.
Got my supper at the Chapel to night for _25{@@.25?}
{1915}\01\16 (Saturday)
Worked at the Factory to day as I have done
every day since last Tuesday.
This evening Mary and I went to see the
moving {@@movering?} pictures at Princess Theater on
Center Street.
{1915}\01\17 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Chapel Rev. Mr.
Thompson of First M.E. Church Preached.
1915\01\18 (Monday)
I worked at the factory to day.
This evening I called at Mr. William Gillettes.
{1915}\01\19 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day
This evening Mary and I took supper at
Irvings.
{1915}\01\20 (Wednesday)
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Northrop
and their {@@Their} two daughters took supper at our
house.
{1915}\12\21 (Thursday)
I worked at the factory to day.
Went to Cheshire
1915\01\22 {Friday}
I worked at the factory to day
This afternoon Clyde and Fritzie brought little
Ruth to the Waterbury Hospital{@@Haspital} from Farrington
where they live, and it was discovered that she
has a cancer in her stomach{@@stomack?}.
{1915}\01\23 (Saturday)
Worked at the factory to day.
Clyde, Wife and Ruth returned to Farrington
{@@RAK-- Should the previous line be indented? es}
to day.
{1915}\01\24 (Sunday)
Worked at the factory till 10 o'clock putting new
seat and Flopper Valve in 8" back pressure
valve on heating system{@@sistem}.
Attended Chapel this Afternoon.
Mr. Hansen and Wife returned from Farrington
this forenoon having gone up there Saturday with
Clyde and Fritzie
At the Hospital{@@Hostital} yesterday the doctors found
a Sarcoma in Ruth for which they claim there is
no cure.
1915\01\29 {Friday}
Yesterday Mary went to Farrington and
saw Clyde, Fritzie and little Ruth. Found
Ruth cheerful but far from well.
To day I worked at the Factory putting
in 4 new Buffing lathes.
1915\01\31 (Sunday)
Snowed nearly all day but only about two
inches fell.
Mary and little Dick staid home from the
Chapel but I went. Rev. Dr. Dinsmore preac hed
but few people there.
1915\03\07 (Sunday)
Clydes daughter @@Ruth Florance died Friday
evening at their home on Albert Street
in Farrington, and was buried from
there yesterday afternoon at 1. o'clock Rev.
@@{@@blank space} officiating. I was the only one
from Waterbury that was there@@, a
quartet {@@quartette} from the Congregational Church
sang, "Tell me the Old Old Story@@", and
"Bright Gems for his Crown@@", there were many
people there, and many Flower pieces.
We took the little casket in a hack{@@?} to
the train that left then at @@2.08 and came
to Waterbury where @@Mr. Hanson was waiting
with an Express wagon and two hacks, which
we rode {@@wrode} in to Pine Grove Cemetery where
the Burial service was performed {@@preformed} by
Dr. Davenport.
Ruth was Three years and @@{@@blank space} months
old. Had been sick about two months
with a Sarcoma which had attained
the size of a mans{@@man's} head.
1915\06\14 {Sunday}
At a meeting of the members of the Mill
Plain Chapel Society at which there
were about 16 present, it was voted
that the agreement offered by the
Pine Grove Cemetery be accepted
11 voting in @@favor of it.
1915\06\24 {@@Wednesday}
Ruth and @@Agustus {@@Augustus?} of Brundage were
married in the Mill Plain Chapel this
afternoon at 4 o'clock by the @@Rev. Mr. Deitz
of New Haven.
1916\01\31
{@@RAK-- What day of the week is January 31, 1916? es}
Raymond went to work in the Overland
Derby, Garage this morning.
Frank worked chopping in the pasway{@@passway?}
at East Farm and drew over two loads
of wood.
1916\02\03 {@@Thursday}
Yesterday Frank went to work out to
J. Henry Garrigus cutting wood and
trimming apple trees, but it came on to snow
and he came home at night{@@,?} while he was
there they killed Mr. Garrigus old horse.
To day Frank has been drawing in logs {@@lags?}
from East Farms.
1916\02\09 {@@Wednesday}
The Boy Scouts came tonight {@@2 words?} and received
instructions in making chain links etc.
{1916}\02\10 {@@Thursday}
Frank Worked at J. H. Garrigus trimming
fruit trees. @@{@@blank space?} @@Estella Inson wife of Frank
has bought a new house back of my old
paint shop of Fred Little.
1916\02\12 {@@Saturday}
Frank worked at H. H. Garrigus trimming Apple
trees to day. This {@@Thid?} afternoon I was out of the
factory{@@,?} as they stoped working Saturday
afternoons at the beginning of this year, and
I worked on a draw bar for my auto. I had
Mr. Andrews draw three logs to the @@Mc Cormic
saw Mill in Wolcott. it snowed this
afternoon
1916\02\13 (Sunday)
Snowed all day lies{@@?} about 14 inches deep
Frank left for Storrs to begin his studies
tomorrow, having been home about two
week {@@weeks} on {@@an?} account of an outbrake {@@outbroke?} of scarlet
fever at the College. Raymond came home
from Derby last night. Went back this afternoon,
I took the horse and @@Snow plow and went through
{@@RAK-- Is "Snow" capitalized? es}
the Streets on Fairlawn Manor to the Meriden
Road, @@just before @@dark.
1916\02\14 (Monday)
The weather to day has been cold 6 below
zero this morning and now 9 P.M. 17\o/ {@@degree symbol} below.
1916\02\18 (Friday)
Wednesday while cleaning out a sewer pipe
at the factory I ran a rusty dirty wire into
my and {@@hand?} at the lower joint of my third
finger, which poisoned {@@pois_ned? poisened?} it and it swelled
had{@@?} Dr. Brown do it up, but it got worse {@@wores?}
and that with a grip cold forced me to
stay at home yesterday, but I went to
work to day{@@, punctuation?} and got along very well.
1916\02\20 (Sunday)
Yesterday was cold and snowed I worked in the
forenoon at the factory, in the afternoon I
sent Mr. Andrews up to the saw mill in Wolcott
with a big chesnut log to be sawed into 2 x 6-14'
pieces, while I worked on some whiffletrees.
Over 5000 left the American Brass works in
Ansonia on strike Friday.
To day it snowed the greater part of the
time I attended service in the Chapel this
afternoon Rev. Mr. Thompson preached.
1916\02\22 (Tuesday)
Washingtons Birthday. I raised the flag on the
pole over the Office of Rogers & Brother this
morning.
Raymond @@Came from Derby and got
ready and left for Detroit this noon where
he expects to remain three weeks and then
go to Russia in the employ of the
Federal Auto Truck Co who have sent
many trucks to the Russian
Government since the war began.
1916\02\24 (Thursday)
Mary said that Dorothy telephoned
to day that Irving had bought the
Carlson place.
1916\02\27 (Sunday)
This day has been cold and a little snow
fell.{@@.?} Bettie went home to day after a stay
of over one month. Mary and I went to
the Chapel this afternoon.
1916\02\29 (Tuesday)
Mrs. Charles Frost died last Monday
morning at 4 o'clock from old age, aged 85 years.
1916\03\01 (Wednesday)
I worked at the factory till noon, this afternoon,
at 2. I attended Mrs. Frosts {@@Frasts} funeral. Rev. Dr.
Buckley officated, services were held in the
Chapel,{@@,?} the Pall Bearers were George Walker,
Mark Warner, John French, Hiram J. Abel,
John Gallgher, and Myself. she was buried in
the family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery.
1916\03\12 (Sunday)
This day I attended service at the Chapel Rev.
Dr. Buckley of Trinity Church preached, there were
26 people present.
The day has been cold with about 15 inches of
snow on the ground. We have had 37 snow
storms thus far this winter and a combined
depth of seven feet and four inches @@has fallen.
{@@RAK-- Please verify that "has" is correct. Not "have." Thank you.
es}
Last evening Mary and I went to Cheshire
to an entertainment given in the Town Hall
there by the Ladies Society of the
Congregational{@@?} Church of Cheshire, and the Camp fire
girls {@@gireles?} of Mill Plain. The entertainment was
good and there was {@@were?} a number of people present
from Mill Plain.
1916\03\17 (Friday)
This {@@Ths?} is St. Patricks day and the coldest
that I ever say, the thermometer {@@temometer?} was
9 below zero this morning at 6 o'clock
and now 9 o'clock is 9 above, it has no_ {@@not?}
thawed during the day, and the cold
snow lies on the ground about 19 inches
thick, w_e {@@we?} have @@had snow nearly every
day this week which @@has made the number
43 snows this winter with a combined fall
of 7 ft and @@7" inches Building operations,
{@@RAK-- Both """ and "inches" are written. es}
and outside business is at a standstill
so far this week. The great factory of Scovills
Mfg Co. is greally {@@greatly? really?} delayed, in building, as is
all of their outside work.
1916\03\22 (Wednesday)
It has snowed all day and tonight I plowed
out the streets on Fairlawn Manor.
The snow is now about three feet on the
level and it has snowed nearly every
day for the past week. snow that fell
last November is still {@@,?} on the ground and
it has been good sleighing and sliding since
last November. Last night a trolley car was
stalled in the snow at Hitchcosks' {@@Hitchcock's?} lake on {@@an?}
the Milldate Line and had to stay there
till this morning. Last Monday night
a car was stalled on the New Haven line
in the south part of Cheshire and the people {@@peopl}
were obliged to remain in the car all night.
1916\03\26 {Sunday}
Yesterday as I did not work in the factory in
the afternoon I sent Mr. Andrews up to @@Mc Cormicks
saw Mill with a load of logs, and after he got
back at 6 o'clock we went over to Irvings with
the horse and sled @@used helped him move
into the Carlson place which _he {@@he?} has bought
we took over six loads which took till ten
o'clock. The sun shown out very bright and
the now lowered about seven inches but it
is hard getting about on account of the
great body of snow.
To day I attended service at the Chapel there
were about twenty nine present, at evening
I attended service at the Second
Congregational {@@Cangregational?} Church.
1916\06\16 {@@RAK-- What day of the week is this? es}
Mr. Russell Smith who has rented
the upper floor of our house for
the last three years, has notified
us that he is to move out, {@@,?} on July 1st
and last night we rented it to
Mr. George Bacon for 12.00 per
month.
On June 14 Louis Jenner and
Will Service were married.
1916\06\20 {@@RAK-- WHat day of the week is this? es}
Raymond telegraphed from yesterday
morning that he was about to
leave for the front or Mexican
Border with the M.N.G
All of the @@C.N.G. are being held
in readiness {@@rediness} at their armories.
1916\06\23 {@@RAK-- What day of the week is this? es}
I left the factory to day at 11 o'clock
and went to the center and saw
Companies A. H. and G leave for the
war there were about 4_0 {@@460?} men
that got onto the train that
left the station for @@Niantic via
Hartford. There were about 12,000
people at the station to see them off.
1916\07\04 {@@RAK-- What day of the week is this? es}
I attended the dedication of the Soldiers
Monument at Wolcott
1916\07\11 {@@Tuesday?}
The German submarine Dutchland
arrive at Baltimore {@@Baltamore} this morning
Some say that it arrived Sunday
{@@RAK-- Is there a new paragraph here? es}
July 9. This is the first submarine
to cross the Atlantic ocean, and she
brought a cargo of @@die stuffs{@@?}, of
which there has {@@have?} been a great scarcity {@@scarciity}
since the war began.
1916\07\16 (Sunday)
This morning I took Robert Streeter
and wife, and Mrs. Bessie Hart and
went to Grove Street where Mrs.
Streeters sister joined us and we
started for Bantam Lake going
through Watertown. Bethlehem,
And Morris, from there {@@thers?} we went
to the village {@@villege} of @@Bantam thence to
@@Mt. Tom Lake to where the Boy
Scouts are encamped and got
Robert Streeter Jr. and we then
went to the house where they are
to spend their vacation on the east side
of the lake, then Mrs. Hart and I went
through Litchfield to Farrington and
stoped at Clydes where _e {@@we?} found Mary
who had came up on the cars.
and we, and Clyde {@@Clyd?} Fritzie Dick, and
Will got into my auto and went to
Goshen where we stopped at Marion
Oviatt's and Allen Vaills. We then
returned to Farrington and Mary.
Mrs. Hart and I came home.
1916\08\20 (Sunday)
On Aug 18th Uncle Andrew Welton
Goldsmith died at his home on Clay
Street aged 75 years and 1 month.
Last Monday @@Aug. 15, 1916 Raymond left Detroit
{@@RAK-- Please note that it looks like "Aug. 15, 1916" was either
inserted or used as a heading. I think it is an insertion. es}
for the Mexican border there to enter
the Government service, _o {@@to? so?} have charge
of 8 Federal Auto trucks and drivers
He and Drivers trucks {@@.?} etc @@ars {are?} sent
by the Federal Auto Truck Co of Detroit
Mich
1916\12\09 (Saturday)
This morning Mary and I went to New York
to see Raymond take Ship for Russia. We reached
the Pier at @@foot of 30th St Brooklyn at @@12.30
Raymond came in an automobile about @@1.30 and
we visited until @@2. o'clock when he went aboard
{@@.?}
but soon Returned as the time of sailing had
been extended till 2.30 at which time he again {@@a_ain?}
went aboard the Norwegan {@@Norweagen} Steamer @@Bergensjford,
on which about 860 Passengers {@@Passingers?} sailed nearly all
Norweagans {@@Norweagens? Norweagins?} and Swedes {Sweeds?}. We went
outside the
warehouse and waited in the rain till 3._0 {@@3.30?} when
the Bergensjford forced out by two tugs
started down the bay, but as it was very stormy
we could not seet {@@see?} it very far. We then took
the subway train over to New York and had
Dinner at Childe Restaurant {@@Rest_raunt? Restaraunt?} 42nd St. and
at six started for home, reached Waterbury at
9.30 and home 10.30.
1916\12\21 (Thursday)
This mornings Republican Reported that
the {@@.?} Bergensfjord on which Raymond
sailed had arrived at Kirkwell Dec
18.
1917\01\04 (Thursday)
Last Saturday Irving laft working at the
Farrell Foundry & Machine Co.{@@,?} Where he has
had charge of a drafting room for several
years, {@@blank space} and to day he went to work at
the Scoville Mfg Co where between 12 and
13,000 others work.
1917\01\21 (Sunday)
To day I went by trolley to Stratford and
attended Cousin Melville Curtis's {@@?} funeral.
He was buried with Masonic honors {@@honars?} from
the Methodist Church.
Came home with Wm Gillette with Iva, Mary and
Rollin {@@Rolling?} Jenner in Wills Auto.
1917\02\01 (Thursday) {@@RAK-- Please verify date. It is hard to read.
es}
A son David Pierpont was born to Irving and
Dorothy {@@Darathy?} at the Waterbury hospital {@@haspital?} this morning
{@@RAK-- Please verify the previous 2 lines. Text is difficult to read.
es}
1917\02\02 (Friday)
Sherbourn Rockwell, Fred Snowman, and I
went to Jersey City to day to see a @@Oxey {@@Oxery?}
@@Aceteline machine for cutting press Dies.
1917\03\24 (Saturday)
We attended the funeral of Aunt Lizzie
Somers from the house of Mr. William Gillette
the burial was in Pine Grove Cemetery.
She died at Monmouth Maine, aged 59{@@?} and
was the wife of Benjamin Somers, now living in
Prospect.
{1917}\03\27 (Tuesday)
We received a letter dated Jan 30, from Raymond
who is in Petrograd Russia
Mrs. Alexander Doolittle of Cheshire was buried in
St. Peters Cemetery to day.
1917\03\28 (Wednesday) {@@RAK-- Please verify "28." Text is difficult
to read. es}
To day an order came from President {@@Presdent} Woodrow
Wilson calling out the Second Conn{@@?} Infantry{@@Infrantry?}
Governor {@@Govoner} Holcome immediately reissued the
order and at 2.45 the Fire gong sounded
the Military call.
{1917}\04\03 (Tuesday)
This morning Cos A. G. and H. left town on a
special train, their destination {@@detination?} being kept
secret.
To day President {@@Presdent} Wilson declaired War against
Germany, but the Senate blocked {@@blacked?} it and
then adjourned.
{1917}\04\06 (Friday)
Good Friday. {@@blank space} President Wilson signed
at midnight last night the Declaration of
War with Germany.
1917\05\05 (Tuesday)
This is draft Registration {@@Registeration} Day and
every yound man from 21 to 30 has
to register {@@regerster} for the Draft that is
to follow. all of the whistles {@@whisstles} in
town blew this morning at seven,
again at 12.30 and at 7 P.M. This
noon I went to City Hall and there
was a row of men that reached out
of the east end of the building and
along {@@afong?} Field Street and down @@Grand
Street to the Bronson Library {@@Lybrary}, waiting
their turn, and like crowds were
at the headquarters in the other
four wards.
{1917}\06\10 {@@RAK-- For your information "1913" is written in the
original}
Mary went to Storrs {@@Stoars?} to day with
Mort Pierpont, in his Automobile together {@@togather}
with Bessie, and Jessie Pierpont.
1917\07\02 (Monday)
Jack Brundage and Ruth with their
little son Rger {@@Roger?} came this evening
from Storrs to stay over night.
In the morning they expedct to
resume their journey to Danbury. {@@,?}
by auto.
{1917}\07\03 (Tuesday)
T__ {@@Two? Four? Text is difficult to read} Companies of the first
Regiment
from Hartford encamped on the
West side of the Frost Road about
half way between the Meriden
Road and the Red bridge over
the Mad River.
1917\07\08 (Sunday)
Companies {@@Copanies} A. B. C. and D of the 1st
Regt ar {@@are?} encamped in the Blakeslee
Lot North of my home lot on the
Frost Road. The two companies
above mentioned have moved down
to this Camp. New Recruits are
arriving {@@ariving} daily, and the Bristol
Co is nearing war strength 150
men.
1917\07\20
Draft Day. Today 10.000.000 young men
between the ages of 21 and 31 years of age {@@arg} are
drafted to make up a great army of 650.000
men. I went down town this noon and a
list of about _00 {@@700?} number were {@@was?} posted in
the window of the "Evening Democrat" and
there were many young men looking it over
@@and some found their own number that
indicated that they were drafted, they kept
posting {@@pasting?} the numbers as they received them
from Washington.
1917\07\21 (Saturday)
Among those who are drafted in this
neighborhood are Arthur Baker, of Davis St.
Leroy Judd or @@Bosevelt St. @@Wm Aitchensons
son of the Woodtick Road, and several
others.
1917\07\22 (Sunday)
To day Mary went to short Beac_ {@@Beach?} with
Irvings folks.
I went to Wolcott with my auto and
took Mr. Fredrick Nichols the oldest living
native {@@note above text: aged 84 {@@84?}} of Wolcott, Mr. Elmar
Hotchkiss.
Mrs. Frederick Doolittle, and Joseph
Doolittle {@@Dolittle} her son all {@@oll?} of Cheshire.
1917\07\23 (Monday)
The soldiers at Camp Blakesless, broke
camp at 6.30 this morning and
marched to the Depot and took the train for
New Haven, to join the rest of the Regt.
at the Yale bow_ {@@bowl?}. Those encamped at
Fairlawn were Co A of Hartford. B. of
Hartford C. of Middletown, and
D of Bristol. The two Conn Regiments
are to leave soon for Charlotte N.C.
1917{@@?}\07\24 (Tuesday) {@@RAK-- Is "1917" or "1912" written
next to entry. es}
Brother Fred arrived in town this noon
Wm Gillette and I met him at the train
He left Detroit yesterday afternoon.
{@@RAK-- Is there any punctuation in the previous line? es}
I wrote a letter to my son Raymond
who is in Petrograd Russia. to day.
1917\07\25 (Wednesday)
Received a telegram from Raymond this
morning stating that he had crossed {@@crassed?}
Siberia and Japan and is at San Francisco {@@Sanfrancisco?}
and wished {@@wiched} me to sent @@him $250.00.
Which I did by Postal {@@Pastal} telegraph {@@telegrapp?}.
1917\07\26 (Thursday)
Received a telegram from Raymond
to day which stated, {@@blank space?} Thanks Daddy leave
for home sweet home to day.
1917\07\27{@@?} (Friday)
{@@RAK-- Please verify "27." Text is difficult to read. es}
This morning I took Al Whiteman, James
Doran and Morris Henry and went to @@Watertown
and cut and hued {@@hoed?} 2 16 ft gate poste {@@singular?}.
1917\08\10 (Friday)
Raymond reached home this afternoon after
stoping for several days in New York.
1917\08\13{@@?} (Monday)
{@@RAK-- Please verify "13." Text is difficult to read. es}
Saturday afternoon Brother Fred who came
from Detroit, some time ago, @@Raymond, Mary
and I went in my car to Storrs by way
of Wolcott, Bristol, Plainville, Farmington,
Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester Green,
Bolton Notch, @@Quarryville, Coventry,
Mansfield Depot, and Mansfield 4 corners,
@@stayed over night, and visited Frank, and
Ruth. Came home yesterday over the same
route that we went up, to Plainville then
Southington and Plantsville.
1917\09\03 (Monday)
Last Saturday, {@@,?} at 1 P.M. Mr. and Mrs.
James White, Bessie {@@.?} and Marion in their
auto, and Mary, Raymond, @@Florance White
and I in our auto left Mr. Whites house
for Worthington, we went by way of
Southington, Plainville Farmington, Avon
Simsbury, @@Granby Southwick {@@Southwich?} to
Westfield where we went out the Southhampton
road to the solders camp, where it is
said that @@25 000 men are encamped.
{@@RAK--I think there is a space in "25 000." Please verify. Thank
you. es}
We stayed about the camp till after
five o'clock when we passed through Russell,
Huntington, @@Ringville, South Worthington
to {@@.?} @@Mr. John Harts, where we staid over night
having traveled 78 miles.
In the morning after breakfast we
went through the towns of Chesterfield, and
@@Crummington to the old home of the poet
William Cullen Bryant, then through
Charlemont and @@Zohar to the East @@Portal
of the @@Hoasack Tunnel {@@Tunnell?}.
From there back seven miles to the
Mohawk Trail and over the Hoasack
mountain to North Adams, thence through
Adams to Savoy, and on through @@Windsor,
@@West Cummington and @@Cummington to
John Harts, where we staid over night.
This morning we left at 9.30 and came
through @@Pery, Hindsdale, Dalton to
@@Pittsfield where we had dinner. We then
came through @@Lenos, Stockbridge,
Sheffield, Ashley Falls, Canaan,
Norfolk, Farrington, @@Harwington, @@Thomaston,
to Waterbury reaching home at 5.30
having traveled @@294 and used
20 galls {@@golls?} of Gasoline.
1917\09\05 (Wednesday)
This morning twelve drafted men left
for Camp Devan at Ayer Mass, they are
the first of 1200 drafted men to leave for
the war. 12 more are to follow tomorrow
The City Officials, The City Guards, Home
Guards, Machine Gun Plattoon with several
@@bands and a large concourse of people went to
the station to see them off.
{1917}\09\20 (Thursday)
@@508 Drafted men left Waterbury to day
for the War. They went on the @@1.15 Special
train to Camp Devens at Ayer, Mass.
1917\09\24 (Monday)
This morning Mrs. Frank Welton, Miss
Charlotte Welton Raymond H. Miller, Mary
and I started on an automobile trip which proved in @@myo
4 Cylinder 35 H.P. to be over 1300 miles __ {@@in?} Overland distance
touring Car.
We left Waterbury at @@7 A.M. and passed through the
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? Is "A.M." in caps? es}
following places, Middlebury, Woodbury, {@@blank space} Southbury,
Sandy Hook, Newtown, Danbury, where we stoped
for 35 minutes, through Mill Plain, across State line,
Brewster, N.Y. @@Tily Foster where we looked at the
old iron mine. Middle Branch, Carmel, West
Branch, Boyd Corner, @@Kents Cliff, Meads Corner
Stopped for lunch at 11.3_ {@@11.35?} for 1 hour, by side of road.
Then through Nelsonville, Cold Spring,
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
on-the-Hudson, @@Viewed West Point Storm King, Beacon, and ferried
to Newburgh .63 cts Visited Washingtons
@@Headquarters etc. and on through @@Coldenham.
Montgomery, Crossed the @@Wallkil River, Bloomingburgh,
High View, @@Manakating, @@Top of Shawangunk Mts. {@@,?} @@Watsbaro
{@@Watsbaro?}, Rock Hill 4.50
Bridgeville, Crossed @@Neveraink River Monticello, Harris, Ferndale,
Liberty, {@@.?} 5.50 where we stiad over night at Yendes Jim {@@Iim?}.
Evening, saw them make sweaters. Went to moving pictures.
Room #15 @@Welton #12, Ray @@Roon {@@Room?} #8.
{@@RAK-- Please note that the dates are indicated in a slightly different
format. The year is not always written in. The day of the week is not
always written. Also, the date is not alway separated from the entry.
This format is from page 41, entry for 09/25/1917, to page 49, entry for
10/06/1917. I used the same format throughout this section. es}
{1917}\09\25 {Tuesday}
Paid Hotel $9.00 11 galls gasoline {@@gasolene?} 3.08 Car Storage
.50 Left 7.45 and {@@.?} on through Parksville,
Livingston Manor, Roscoe, Crossed Beaver Kill {@@Hill?} {@@,?} Cooks
Falls, @@Horton,
East Branch, on Delaware River, Fisk's Eddy,
Cadosia, where we looked at the R.R. Coal Storage {@@.?}
yards, Hancock, Hales Eddy, @@Deposit @@Left the @@Delaware {@@,?}
@@Mc Clures
Settlement, Lunch 11.40-12.20 Damascus, on
the Susquehanna River, Windsor, Binghampton,
1.40 to 2.30 Johnson City, Endicott, @@Vestal
had blowout of tire, 3-3.20 @@Apalachin {@@Appalachian?}, @@Owego,
Tioga, Smithbaro, Barton, Waverly, @@Near Penn Line,
{@@RAK-- Did I insert "Near Penn Line" in the correct place? es}
@@Chemring, Follwed Newton River, Lowman, (Sullivans Battlefield
monument@@,) Elmira, Horseheads, Big Flats.
{@@RAK-- Should the "," go after the ")?" es}
6 30 {@@6.30?} where we staid over night with a farmer Mr. R. W.
@@Farr. R.D. #_ {@@1?} Elmira.
{1917}\09\27 (Wednesday)
Mrs. Farre $6.00 10 galls gas and
all 306. {@@blank space} Left 7.20 on through
Corning, which was all decorated, soldiers
leaving for the war. {@@., ,, or blank space?} Painted Post {@@Past?},
Indian Monument, @@Cohocton River{@@?},
{@@RAK-- Did I insert "Cohocton River" in the correct place? es}
Coopers Plains, @@Campbell, @@Savona. Bath 9.20
Left tires to be repaired, {@@,?} then through Cold Spring,
Hermitage, @@State Fish Hatcheries, Pleasant {@@Plesant Valley?},
{@@RAK-- Did I insert "State Fish Hatcheries" in the correct place? es}
@@Rhe_ms {@@Rheims?} to @@Graper
Hammonsport, where we stopped at the home
of William Bacher, whom Ray met in Petrograd,
where we had dinner, he lives on the east short,
of @@Kenke Lake. Mr. Bacher, Raymond and I {@@,?}
spent the afternoon at the Curtiss @@Areoplane Works
and we staid that night at the Loomis House.
@@Went to moving picture
{@@RAK-- Did I insert the previous line in the correct place? es}
{1917}\09\27 (Thursday)
Paid Hotel 5.00 Car 1.00
@@Left 6.40 Returned to Bath where we had
breakfast .25 each. Paid 5.00 tire repairs. Gas
and oil 1.25 {@@blank space?} then through @@Keona, @@Avoca {@@Avaca?},
Wallace,
@@Cohacton (where we had tire blowout@@,) Wayland
{@@RAK-- Should "," go after the ")?" es}
Dansville, Cumminsillve, {@@blank space?} @@West Sparta
Mount Morris, @@In the Genesee Valley, (boutht _ruit {@@Fruit?} etc.)
{@@RAK-- Did I insert "In the Genesee Valley" in the correct place? es}
Genes_o {@@Genesco?}, @@Gen Wadsworths Estate,
Avon, @@Crossed Genesee River {@@,?} had lunch side road. Caledonia,
{@@RAK-- Did I insert "Crossed Genesee River" in the correct place? es}
Leroy, @@Mr. G. Tughell's{@@?} farm, here we saw a large thresher working
{@@RAK-- Did I insert "Mr. G. Tughell's farm" in the correct place? There
is not a marker as to where to insert this phrase. es}
that blew the straw out through a pipe ont_ {@@onto?}
the stack. {@@blank space?} Stafford, {@@blank space} Batavia, @@Celery
East Pembroke, @@Beaks {@@,?} Pembroke, {@@blank space} @@Clarence,
Williamsville, @@Oik Well Towers {@@,?} Snyder, Egertsville,
@@Curti_s {@@Curtiss?} Aerodrome, here we saw
10 planes {.?} go up and all kinds of stunts
done in the air, 3 loops in succession and Right and
left bank spirals etc. then on to Tonawanda where
we staid at the Hotel Lincoln, having traveled
120 miles this day.
{1917}\09\28 (Friday)
Hotel 10.00 Gas oil etc 3.00
Left Tonawanda 8.15 through La Salle, to @@Niagara {@@Niagra}
Falls, where we drove out on @@Goat Island, and then
crossed the bridge into Canda .75 toll, went to
the Factory of Wm. {@@.?} Rogers Co. {@@,?} and saw Mr. Hess.
had lunch on the cliff above the whirlpool,
then returned to the American side, and saw
many of the sights and went under the
@@Brdolvale Falls, then back to the Factory at 3.00
and Mr. Hess took his auto and we went
through Victora {@@Victoria?} Park, and up on Falls View,
where we had a grand view of all of the falls, {@@,?}
{@@RAK-- Is "," correct? Text is difficult to read. es}
then to @@Lundys Lane Battlefield, @@Monument to the Heaven {@@Heavin?} of
Ontario, and to
Queenstown Heights {@@Hights} battlefield, saw old Forts
@@Bracks Monument etc. then through St. Davids
to @@Stamford where we stiad over nighgt {@@.?} with
Mr. Wm Hess {@@.?} at his farm, had fine peach
orchard, peaches nice and ripe.
{1917}\09\29 (Saturday)
Left Mr. Hess house 8.20 and went
through St. Davids, Homer, and came to
the new Weland Canal now being constructed,
passed over the old Canal and saw a large
Yacht lowered through a lock{@@?}. through
St. Catharines, Jordan {@@Jardan?}, Vineland, Beamsville {@@,?}
Grimsby {@@Grimsly?}, Manufacture Ch____ {@@Cheese?} {@@,?} Winona,
Fruitland, Stony Creek
battlefield, large monuments,) Bartonville,
{@@RAK-- Should the "," go after the ")?" es}
Hamilton, 11.45 where I went to our factory
@@whice {@@which?} is the "Meriden @@Bratania Co. of Canada, where
Mr. David Laidlaw showed me about.
Left Hamilton Ontario 1.30 and had lunch
on the shore of Lake Ontario, then through
Aldershot, Burlington, Port Nelson, Bronte {@@Bronts?},
Oakville, Port Credit, Toronto, to Scarboro
where we staid at West Hill Hotel. They at
this hotel had given lunches before we got
there to 360 wounded soldiers each of which
had lost {@@last?} and arm or leg in battle in France.
They were brought from a hospital {@@haspital?} in Toronto where
there were 1200 wounded, {@@,?} by a masonic lodge in
75 autos. We have traveled to date 609.3 miles.
{1917}\09\30 (Sunday)
Paid Hotel 11.25 Gas and oil 2.10
Left West Hill 9.35 through Scarboro
Dunbarton, Liverpool, to Pickering where we
attended service in a Presbyterian Church at 10.30
Rev. Mr. Marsh. {@@blank space?} then through Whitby, Oshawa,
Bowmanville, Newcastle {@@1 word?}, Newtonville, to Welcome, {@@.?}
where we staid over night with Mr. Arthur E. Lewis.
address R # Port Hope Ontario {@@Ontaria?}. @@Census 1 man to 100 acres,
{@@RAK-- Did I insert "Census 1 man to 100 acres," in the correct place?
es}
Paid Mr. Lewis 8.00
{1917}\10\01 (Monday)
Left Welcome 8.10
Port Hope, Colburg, Brookside P.O. {@@blank space} @@Grafton,
Colborne, Brighton, Smithfield, Tranton,
Bellville. Lunch by side River @@Trent, {@@.?}
Shannonville, @@Mariesville, Napanee, Gas and
oil 2.30, Gasoline {@@Gasolene} 40 cts per gal. Odessa, @@Cataragris@@.
{@@RAK-- Should "." be ",?" es}
Kingston. Here we saw many soldiers,
and there was a large camp east of the
City, then on to @@Gananogue. - @@Ontario, having
traveled 117.4 miles this day. Here we engaged {@@engagid?} lodging
in the International Hotel. @@Gan_nogue {@@Gananogue?} is
on the @@St. Laurence River opposide {@@apposite?} Clayton
N.Y. at a point where the river is seven
miles wide, and is dotted with the 1000 islands
the view from the dock is grand, and the
scenery most interesting.
{1917}\10\02 (Tuesday)
Paid Hotel $11.00
Left @@Gananogue{@@?} at 8.15 and passed
through @@Lyn. {@@,?} beyond we had to pay
10 cts toll, then to @@Brockville {@@Brackville?} where we
crossed the @@St. Laurence River into New {@@.?}
York on account of poor roads. The Canada
road had not been worked this year on account
of the scarcity {@@scacity?} of men. River two miles {@@,?} wide
Ferry @@Boat "John Webster" 2.25, came to Morristown, thence
{@@RAK-- Is "Boat 'John Webster' inserted in the correct place? es}
to Ogdensburg, stopped for lunch at @@12.25
at 1.25 started and passed through
Waddington, where we had to make a long detour {@@deture}
over very poor {@@poar?} roads, come on to the
state road again and came to Messena
where we saw the second largest water
power plant in the world, (next to Niagra)
@@The water from the @@St. Laurence {@@St. Laurince?} is taken
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
across {@@acrass?} the country in a large Canal
and after pasing through the wheels is
discharged into the @@Grasse River at
@@Messena and emptied into the @@St.
Laurence {@@St. Lawrence?} below the rapids.
We then passed through Roquette River,
Hogansburg {@@Hagansburg?}, Bombay, Fort Covington Center,
Westville Center, Constable, to Trout River,
on the boundary {@@boundry} line between Canada and
the U. S. which we reached at 5.35 as no one was
in the U.S. @@Custom {@@Custom} House we stoped at the
tavern of Mr. Dolan, the line passing through
the house. This night we had traveled 894.8
miles {@@.?} with 115. miles which we had came to day
added made 1009.8 miles.
{@@RAK note: paperclipped to p. 45 (3 Sept 1917)
{I typed this material here after the entry for 10\02\1917 that begins on
page 45. es}
Hamilton is a large City of over 100.000. Robert Land
was the first white man to settle there. At the
beginning of the American Revolutionary War he
he [@@sic] with his wife and two sons lived on the bank
of the Delaware {@@Deleware} River. Being a firm @@Loyalist he, at
@@a @@war meeting declared in favor of the King.
On his return home, he found his house in ashes
and his family gone. He then made his way to
@@Niagra, and setting out with gun and ax reached the
{@@RAK-- Ok to change "Niagra" to "Niagara?" Should "sic" be written
next to "Niagra?" es}
west end of Lake Ontario, where at Burlington Bay
in 1778 he took up 500 acres of land, now covered
by the City of Hamilton. The next season he
planted 1 @@qt of wheat which he procured by walking
_0 {@@50?} miles to _t {@@Ft.?} Niagra. He lived alone at Burlington
B_y {@@Bay? Boy?} for several years having never seen a white {@@while?}
woman in that locality, when one day a
woman with her two sons, {@@,?} in an exhausted
condition called at his door. They were his wife
and sons who he had long given up for dead.
At the time their home on the Delaware was
destroyed she had been driven away on her return seeing blood
she supposed {@@supposid?} he husband had been killed, {@@,?} she made
her way to Nova Scotia with her two boys, where after
suffering untold hardships, {@@,?} they wandered
Westward hoping to find a home, at Niagra she
learned that a Mr. Land was living at the west
end of the lake, weary as they were they hastened
on, with the result that the long lost {@@last?} were
again united.
{@@RAK-- I think that the following text is a second entry. es}
To perpetuate the name and _ame {@@fame?} of @@Laura Secard
who walked alone nearly twenty miles _y {@@by?} a circuitous
{@@curcuitous?} {@@,?}
difficult, and perilous route {@@,?} through woods and swamp {@@,?}
and over mud roads to warn a British Outpost
at @@De Chews Falls of an intended attack, and
thereby enabling Gen Fitzgibbons of the 24th
of Jun 1814 with less than 50 men, {@@,?} of her
Majesty's 49th Regiment, with 15 Militia
men, and a small force of 6 nations
indians under Capt Wm Johnson to surprize {@@surprise}
the American troops and capture Gen
@@__________ of the United States army and
{@@RAK-- Blank line drawn in text. es}
his entire force of 547 men with 2 field {@@,?}
p__ces {@@pieces? prices?}.
The story is told, that in order
to pass the U. S. guards, she took her
pail, and told them that she must go
to a spring in the woods to get the
pure water for her sick husband.
The picket @@detained her, while one of
their number {@@mumber? mimber?} went to the house to
ascertain if the man was rearly {@@really?} cisk,
finding her statement true she was
allowed to pass.
The next day, on her return {@@,?} after a
weary march of over 40 miles, she found
the pail, and true to her word, filled
it with spring water and took it to
her sick husband. }
{1917}\10\03 (Wednesday)
Left Trout River at 8.05 after the @@Custom
House officer had made out our pass papers
on both sides of the line, and passed through
Kensington, Elgin, Huntington, we saw
many log houses in this country.
@@De Witteville {@@1 word?}, @@Chateangay River, @@Ormestown,
Bryson, here road became very bad, clay, chains
on all four wheels mud to the @@running board,
{@@RAK-- Please verify that "running board" is 2 words. Thank you. es}
for miles. (Fenian Battle Monument on left.)
Howick, English River, {@@blank space} @@St. Martine,
St. Philomene, St. Isidore, (saw golden
images on posts {@@pasts?} by the roadside that
devout Catholic {@@Cathalic?} people kneel before.
@@St. Constant, hwere we traveled by the side
of the broad St. Laurence {@@,?} to @@La Prarie.
St. Lambert, across Victoria Bridge
1.3 miles long .75 toll. {@@,?} patrolled {@@patroled} by armed
guards {@@gards} who examined our auto, into
Montreal, to Victoria Square, {@@blank space} where we
staid from 2.30 to 3.15 when we recrossed {@@recrassed?}
the Victoria Bridge, and passing through
St. Lambert (where we got gas and oil 2.25 gas
38 cts Took King Edwards highway through
La Prarie {@@blank space} Douglas Corners, @@Napierville,
@@Lacolle @@P. I. {@@P. Q.?} where they took our Canadian
Pass papers at the Custom House, {@@blank space?} at the
Line we had a @@tire puncture, then to
Rouses Point N.Y. where we staid at
@@Hotel Mountgomery {@@Montgomery?}.
{1917}\10\04 (Thursday)
Paid Hotel $10.00 Car .50
Gas and oil 1.82 Gas 27 ctx.
Left Rouses Point 8.20 wet and foggy.
Came through Coopersillve, to @@Chazy
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
Landing where we took ferry across {@@acrass?} Lake
Champlain 2.00 Isl La Matte, thence through
Alburg, La Grange, {@@blank space?} Ladds Poi_t {@@Point?}, Grand Isl
@@Keelers Bay, {@@blank space?} South Hero, aross {@@across, arass!}
Sand Bar
Road and Bridge, into Vermont main
land, had blow out, along shore of Champlain
and @@Malletts Bay to Burlington, where we had
Lunch at a Restaurant {@@Restaurent}, had 4 tubes and 2
shoes repaired 5.00 stopped from 2 to 3.40
then through Shelbourn, Charlotte,
North Ferrisburg, @@Furrisburg, @@Verginnes {@@Virginnes?},
New Haven @@June, to Middlebury, where
we staid at the Addison Hourse.
Went to Moving Pictures in evening.
{1917}\10\05 (Friday)
Paid Hotel 13.75 Car 1.00
Gas and oil 2.47
Left Middlebury 8.10 and came through
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
@@Salsbury, Brandon, Pittsford here we went
down into a marble quarry. Rutland,
Clarendon, Wallingford, South Wallingford,
Danby, North Dorset, stopped {@@or stoped? difficult to read} at
Marble Saw
Mill East Corset, (had Lunch@@.) Manchester
{@@RAK-- Should the "." go after the ")?" es}
Center, Manchester, @@Sunderland, Arlington,
Shaftsburg Sta. {@@,?} Shaftsbury Center,
Bennington, Pownal Center, Vt.
White Oak, Mass, {@@.?} Williamstown 5.15
Rained all day. here we stopped at {@@.?} the
{@@RAK-- Should the previous line be a new paragraph? es}
Pilgrim Inn.
1917\10\06 (Saturday)
Left Williamstown 8.30 and came through
Sweet Corners, South Williamstown,
New Ashford, Lanesboro Pittsfield, @@Lenox
Stockbridge, here we went up to the
Indian Monument, and read the following
The Ancient @@Byrial Place of the {@@,?}
{@@RAK-- Should "Byrial" be "Burial." I think that it is copied
exactly from the original so I typed it as written in the journal.
es}
Stockbridge Indians,
1734
{@@blank line?}
The Friends of our Forefathers
1877.
{@@blank line?}
Then on through Houstonic, @@Van Drisinville,
Great Barrington, Ashley Falls, Mass. {@@,?}
Canaan, Conn, Norfolk, South Norfolk,
@@Farrington, East Litchfield, Campville,
Thomaston, Waterville, and Waterbury, 2.45
@@Having traveled 1.309.2 miles
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
Used 89 galls Gasoline {@@Gasolene}. Nearly 16 miles to gal.
Spent 117._0 {@@117.80?}
{@@RAK-- Blank page}
1917\11\08 (Thursday)
Raymond H. Miller {@@Blank space?} Enlisted into the
Government Service last Tuesday and was
examined at the recruiting {@@recriting} station in this City.
This morning he left for Fort Slocum
New York there to take the final examiantion
and is then to report at Wahington
to serve in the Quartermasters Department.
1917\11\13 (Tuesday)
We had a letter from Raymond. He still
is at Fort Slocum, has had the final
examination and expects his uniform yesterday
the letter was written last Sunday.
{1917}\11\14 (Wednesday)
Received a card from Raymond, dated
yesterday, and they have had orders
to leave Fort Solcum {@@Slacum?} at 4 o clock
to day, destination unknown.
Saw Robert Beckwith in town, this
noon. He told me that @@Roy Munson,
Walter Mills, Fred Jones, and himself,
were going to leave tomorrow morning
for the war. He to enter the Navy,
Fred Jones and Roy Munson the
Aviation {@@Avation} Corps at Fort Sam Houston
Texas and Walter Mills the Infantry
at Camp Devens {@@.?} Mass.
Fred Jones who has lately
returned from Montreal to enlist
Called this evening to bid us good
bye as he is to start in the morning.
1917\11\19 (Monday)
Yesterday morning mary and I went to
Frank Weltons and took him and his wife
and we started for Goshen. We stopped at
Oakville at 10.30 and went to Church and then
went to East Morris where Mary saw Lena {@@Lina?}
Turkington, then on through Litchfield to
Sam Ovaitts [Oviatt's] in Goshen where we had a most
excellent {@@excelent} dinner, {@@,?} and we cut up half of a hog
Sam bought for me of Mr. Wright of West
Goshen it weighed 122 lbs at .25 per lb. {@@,?} 30.50
We then returned home by way of Farrington
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
stopping at Clydes.
We received a letter from Raymond to day
dated last Friday at Camp @@Meggs Washington
@@D.C. He has received his uniform etc.
1917\11\@@26 (Monday)
{@@RAK-- Please verify "26." Text is difficult to read. Thank you.
es.}
We received a letter from Raymond to day
he is still at Camp Meggs Washington, {@@,?} D. C.
To day at 4 P.M. I went to Lawyer {@@Lawyier}
Walkers office and there met Mildred and
Merritt Pierpont.
{1917}\11\27 (Tuesday)
Went this morning to the Probate Court
Rooms in City Hall and sa_ {@@saw?} Judge Slavin.
1917\12\@@25 (Tuesday)
{@@RAK-- Please verify "25." Text is difficult to read. es}
@@Christma's {@@Christmas} {@@blank space} Last evening Frank came
from Storrs, and staid here over night.
This morning Mary and I got up about 6.30
and as I was taking care of the hares{@@?} at the
barn {@@blank space?} Raymond came in clad in his uniform {@@uniforn}
of olive drab, he had traveled all night from
Camp Meggs Washington D. C. where for
48 hours previous he had been doing guard
duty, did not know that he could come home
till six last evening, we were all glad to him
and much surprized {@@surprised}, {@@,?} after breakfast Ray
and I got the bob sleigh out of the woodhouse
while Frank shod the horse, and Frank
and I took the horse and sleigh and went
to East Farms and got a christmas tree,
when we got back Fritzie with Dick and
Willard had came {@@come?}, from her Fathers in
Cheshire, and Clyde was c__ing {@@coming?} from their
home in Farrington later, at 11.30 Frank took
"Old John" and the two seated sleigh and went
over to Irvings and got Ruth and her baby
Roger, and Dorothy {@@Dorathy?} with her Children Enid
and David, Jack and Irving walked over.
@@Jack Brundage {@@,?} and Ruth with their son Roger
came from Storrs last night and staid at
Margarets over night. Soon Margaret and Cliff
with their children Marion, Betty, and {@@ang?} Gene {@@,?}
came, and we sat down to dinner twenty in
all, it was @@in deed a good happy family.
At five o'clock we had the Christmas tree all loaded
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
with present for all. Raymond took them from
the tree until he had to leave at 5.45 for Camp
as he must be there at @@Reville at six in the
morning, it was sat to part with him as they
have received sailing orders to cross to France
soon. after Ray had gone Frank took his place
at the tree, and passed out the remaining
presents, after which the party broke up,
Clyde and family started for Farrington. {@@,?} I took
the old Horse and sleigh and carried Irving
and his family to their home, then came
back and got Margaret, Ruth, with the
children Marion, @@Bettie, @@Jene, and Roger and
took them to Margarets home on Beecher Av.
came home and put the horse out, etc. Clyde
and Family {@@.?} returned as they missed {@@mised?} their
train. Thus ended this merry Christmas.
1918\01\20 {@@RAK-- I think the day of the week is Saturday for this
entry. }
We had a postal card from Raymond last
Wednesday written Monday which stated that he
was leaving Camp Meggs Washington D. C. at 9 P.M.
for Hoboken he thought, to take ship for
france.
Last Thursday Jan 17 an order came from
Washington that all of the Factories using {@@useing?}
coal east of the Mississippi {@@Missippi} River should close {@@clase?}
from Friday morning till next Wednesday
morning, five days, to save coal.
100 ships loaded with war {@@was?} supplies are ready to
sail from New York but have no coal.
1918\01\10 (Sunday)
No news fromn Raymond since Jan 10th, we
suppose {@@.?} that he has crossed over to France.
The War is making conditions hard here
all of the factories except those making
war good are obliged to close {@@clase?} each
Monday, and no factory can run
any more hours then they did when
the order first came Jan 17. The coal {@@.?}
situation is getting worse, on account
of the severe weather. The first snow that
fell last November is still on the ground
and there has been but one day that
it has thawed since Christmas, and
then it rained. While many mornings
the thermometer {@@themometer} stood 10-12-15 and one
morning 25 below zero. Many families
are without coal, as there is scarcely
any to be had. We were fortunate {@@fortunat} in
obtaining 300 lbs yesterday. The Carroll
coal Co obtained a supply and Mary
engaged @@200 lbs at .55 cts per @@hd, price set
by Government, and I went after it
with the horse and sleigh, had to get
tickets at the coal Office and then go
over the River to the Car where {@@wher?} there {@@ther?}
was a rush of autos, Wagons, Sleighs
and men and children with hand
sleds. I got my 200 lbs and by coaxing
and paying the coal man procured {@@pracured?}
100 lbs more. Wood is selling from 8 to 12.00
per cord. Sugar {@@.?} can only be procured {@@pracured?} in
one or two pound lots Butter 50 cts per poun_ {@@pound?}
Eggs .80 and 1.00 per Dz. Flour $8.50 per 100 lbs
and but little to be {@@he} had. Salt Pork .45 per lb. etc
1918\02\26
This morning 150 young men between 21 and
31 years old left for the war, they are to go
to camp Davens at Ayer Mass, this makes
about 3000 men who are in the service from
Waterbury.
1918\03\31 (Sunday)
Easter Sunday. {@@Blank space.} This morning at
two o'clock according {@@accarding?} to a govenment
order all clocks {@@clacks?} were to be turned one
hour ahead, the purpose is to save daylight.
A great battle is raging {@@rayging} in @@France,
{@@RAK-- Should "France" be in lower case? Text is difficult to read. es}
the Germans started an attacking drive
last thursday wa week ago, and have
been forcing back the British and French
and on the river @@som me {@@some?} have reached
a point near @@Ameans{@@?} fifty miles west of their
old line of battle.
1918\04\02 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory to day. This evening {@@.?}
after work I took three loads of manure
out to East Farms, in a wagon that I
hitch back of my auto.
1918\04\20 (Saturday)
@@To boom the third Liberty Lone this @@afternoon
there was the larges parade ever seen in
Waterbury. The Home Guards, the City
Guards, 100 Men from Camp Devens, Mass, {@@.?}
100 men of the Yale Naval {@@Navil?} Unit, the G. @@_. {@@A.?} R.
The Spanish War Veterans, the Boy Scouts,
the others composed the First Division.
The Second Division was composed of the
mothers of men in the United States Service
who rode in about 150 automobiles, then
came numberous Factory Floats and
Factory employees, and many other Organizations
I turned out with the Old Mattatuck Drum
{@@RAK-- 1. Is the previous line a new paragraph?
2. There is a check mark in the margin next to the previous
line.
es}
Band that headed the Second or Mothers Division
The men present were Fifers, Charles Cass of
North Farms Wallingford, Clyde A. Miller, of Farrington,
Harry Buckingham, and George E. Edwards of
Whigville. Bass Drummers, Henry Buckingham, and
@@Irving C. Miller. {@@Blank space?} Snare Drummers, C. S. Miller,
George Cass, of Wallingford, Gardener Hall of
Cheshire, and Fred D. Miller, 10 men in all {@@,?} in
continental {@@contentinental? contintinental} uniforms.
1918\05\03 (Friday)
Came Mildren Pierpont this dy to live with
us Judge Slavin of the Probate Court {@@Cort} appointed
@@Mary her Guardian {@@Gardian}, and I went to Dr.
Charles Beers on Bunker Hill and got
her. We then went to her home on
Montgomery street {@@Street?} and got her trunk
and goods, and in_ended {@@intended?} to get her brother
Merritt but he was out, so we returned
to Dr. Beers, his wife is Mildred's half sister {@@punctuation?}
after a time Merritt came and he and I,
went over to Montgomery street a_d {@@and?}
got his things after which we returned
to the Doctors and Mildred and I came
home in my automobile.
1918\05\10 (Friday)
We took down the shed at Wm Gillettes that
joins on the west side of the barn
I had @@Albert Witeman, Ed De Mars James
Doran, Hayt Simons, John French, George
Goodwin and Westly Andrews to help me.
We had a hard shower that delayed the
work.
1918\06\01 (Saturday)
Mary, Mildred Pierpont and I went to Storrs
this afternoon in my auto. We went by
way of Southington Plainville Farmington
West Hartford Hartford, East Hartford,
South manchester, @@Manchester Gran, @@Bolton
Notch, @@_uarryville {@@Quarryville?}, ?Coventry, and Mansfield.
Stayed over night at Ruth's and got two
{@@RAK-- Should the previous line be a new paragraph? es}
little pigs of Frank which he would
not take any pay for and came home
Sunday afternoon without a stop except one
at a spring in Coventry {@@,?} where we got a drink.
1918\06\08 (Saturday)
Wrote a letter to Raymond who is serving
in the Machine Repair Shop #303
Quartermaster Corps, National Army, American
Expeditionary Forces {@@Farces?}. His address is
Army Post Office 708.
1918\06\14 (Friday)
This morning Mary, I, and Mr. and Mrs.
@@Gardener Hall went to Burlington to attend
the @@Flagday {@@1 word?} and Graduating {@@Gradiating?} Exercises {@@.?}
We went by way of Southington Plainville
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is a new paragraph.
Thank you. es}
Polkville to Whigville where we were @@entertained
@@a{@@?} George Edwards House, {@@,?} and Where Irving
soon joined us with his Auto bringing
Harry Buckingham {@@Brickingham?} his Wife and Mrs.
Jones. We then all went to Burlington
Center and were soon joined by Charles
and George Cass who came from
Wallingford in their Auto. We then Played
several pieces and a procession was formed
composed {@@compased?} of all of the school children in the
town headed by the mattatuck Drum Band
We then marched around the Green @@three
{@@RAK-- Is there text written in the margin next to the previous line?
es}
times, then went in @@to{@@?} the Church where
School exercises were held and Graduation
Diplomas {@@Diplamas?} were given. The members of
the Mattatuck Drum Band present were
George Edwards, Charles Cass, and
Harry Buckingham. Fifers, {@@Blank space? } Irving
Miller Bass Drummer, Gardener
@@Hall, George Cass, and myself. Snare
Drummers.
{@@RAK-- Please note that there is a large check mark written in the
margin of the previous paragraph. es}
1918\09\02 (Monday)
Last Saturday Mary, Margaret, with _er {@@her?}
two children Marion and Betty, and _ {@@I?}
Went to Williamantic {@@Williamantis?} and saw Frank
in the hospital {@@haspital?} where he is sick with
the tyhpoid fever, we found him some
better, we then went to _uth's {@@Ruth's?} at Storrs
where we staid over night, and Sunday
we went again to the hospital {@@haspital?} and
saw Frank he looked better than the day
before but is very thin and weak, we then
went to the depot and met @@Ja__ {@@Jack?} Brundage
who had came {@@come?} on the train from Hartford
@@an {@@and?} he got in the auto and we went back
to Ruths. After supper we visited Mr. Harry
Garrigus and went toi church. Monday we
left Storrs and came home, stopping at
Willimantic {@@Williamantic?} to see Frank at St. Joseph's
hospital {@@haspital?}. We then came to Hartford where
we stopped at the State Fair for three hours
and then came through Newington @@New Britan {@@New Britain?}
Shuttle Meadow, Southington and home.
I would here state that last Sunday was
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
the first Sunday that the Government
requested that no Pleasure autos be used
except in cases of necessity {@@necesesety?} __ {@@or?} m_rcy
{@@mercy}.
1918\10\02 {@@RAK-- What day of the week is this? es}
Wolcott Fair. @@_ {@@A?} exhibit of Curos etc. in
our case Books Papers etc in another,
and Minerals in the third{@@.?}
1918\10\03 (Thursday)
Mildren Pierpont went to war in the
Chemical Department at Benedict &
Burnhams.
1918\10\04 (Sunday)
No meeting at the Chapel to day as there were
not enough people there.
1918\10\20 (Sunday)
Meetings at the Mill Plain Chapel are {@@ar?} postponed {@@posponed?
pasponed?}
until further {@@farther} notice on account of the influenza {@@inflenza}.
{@@RAK-- Please note that I changed "farther" to "further." es}
No meetings were held in any of the Churches
in Waterbury to day.
Irving called last night, having just
came {@@come?} from Calkvary Cemetery where about
thirty of the Scovills {@@Scoville?} Mfg Co's men are
employed with ab___ {@@about?} 20 other men in digging
graves for the dead, he said that at dark
there were still nine adults and two infants
yet unburied, most of them they were laying {@@lying?}
side by side in a huge trench, there are
so many to be buried that auto herses
are running at top speed carrying the dead
to the Cemetery, and returning for more,
without any service at the grave, while there are
many funerals.
Mildred {@@Mildered} Pierpont has been sick in bed since
last wednesday. {@@. or ,?} Irvings wife and daughter
are sick. Margaret, and her three children have
the influenza {@@influerza?} but all are better now.
1918\10\27 (Sunday)
No service in any protestant {@@prodisent?} Church in Waterbury
to day on account of the @@influenza. O_er {@@Over?} 500 pe____
{@@people?}
have died with it thus far this month, last
monday the U. S. Employment bureau sent out a c_ll {@@call?}
to the factories for 100 men to dig graves in the
Calvary Cemetery, our (the International Silver
Co) @@qu_ta {@@quota?} was 5 strong men, {@@,?} which we sent,
these {@@these?} men @@an {@@and? on?} a pair of horses and scoop
scrapes dug two trenches the @@wid__ {@@width?} @@_hat {@@that?}
a coffin is long and places the bodies in
side by side. Tuesday they wanted the
men again.
Yesterday James Doran and I killed
"Old John" my old horse which I have had
since 1901, {@@.?} and which was 38 years old, we dug
a grave in the corn lot and led him by the
side of it with the halter, blindfolded {@@1 word?} him
and struck him on the forehead with the
head on the ax, he fell over back down into
the grave and we covered him over.
This morning we turned our clocks
back one hour, after having had them
run one hour ahead of sun time since
last March, the idea was to gain
dayligh during the War, and save coal {@@Coal?}
etc I liked the hour ahead best.
1918\11\11 (Monday)
This morning we were awakened a little before
three {@@thres?} O'clock by the blowing of whistles {whislles?}, which
were
sounding the @@lidings {@@tidings} of the signing of the
Armistice {@@Armistace} and the cessation of hostilities and
all knew that the war is at an end.
I got up dressed and took my drum and
marched along over @@Farlawn Manor, shouting
as I passed the houses, "Turn out and meet at
the school house" {@@.?} After reaching the school as no
One was there I went down the Meriden Road and
got Henry and Harry Buckingham, Henry with
his Bass Drum and Harry with Fife and we
started back to the school, soon we met about
100 men, women, boys and girls, headed by
s_me {@@some?} boy scouts with two large flags and
Irving drumming. We faced about and started
for the center, at the corner of the Meriden Road
and East Main Street a green Trolley car took
us aboard and carried us to the Crosby Hight
School {@@Sschool} where we got out and marched down
E Main St. amid the din of whistles, blowing
of horns {@@hornes}, shouting of people, clapping of
tin pans, while Autos ra_ed {@@raced?} up and down the
street_ {@@streets?} drawing strings of iron street {@@.?} c____ {@@cans?},
old stoves {@@stones?} and the like, and everything was
in use that could make a noise, while
great fires were burining in the streets,
and old wagon, (and some new ones)
{@@RAK-- Should "wagon" be "wagons?" es}
were piled hight with lengths of pi__et {@@pikket? piket?}
fence, boards, tar barrells, wood etc and
drawn through the streets all ablaze {@@ablze}
As we were the first parade in the center
soon there were thousand_ {@@thousands?} following us, we
went from the Center up Levenworth St to
Grand out grand to Band, marching through
cols @@of fire 1 1/2" deep that burned my shoes,
the fire was scattered from a large burning
truck loaded with wood and dro__ {@@droun? drawn?} by an
auto, on Bank St I saw a large Gargabe can
break loose from a string that was being
drawn by an auto, a man seized it and thre_ {@@threw?}
it up among o__ {@@our?} Auto truck load of men
who were shouting and pounding @@buzsaws
etc, on the corner of Center Street a half drunk
orator was making a curb speech as the
truck was passing, the garbage can came
down over his head shoulders {@@shouldiers} and all and
@@bre{@@?} him to the side walk {@@2 words?} {@@,?} we then went
out East Main St to the Mill Plain School
where the parade broke up and I came home
ate breakfast, and went out to Cheshire
in my auto with Henry and Harry
Buckingham, and got Gardener Hall, and
we put on our uniforms and with irving
went to the corner of Prospect on {@@an?} West Main
Sts where we were to drum for the division of
the @@Scovills {@@Scoville?} Mfg Co. {@@,?} but they had gone before
we got there, we then went over Church St. _oping {@@hoping?}
to head them off on Grand, but they had passed
so we fell with the Waterbury Farrell Foundry {@@,?}
and Machine Cos {@@Car?} Division, as the parade
was marching very fast we went down
bank St (where I bust my drum,) Down South
{@@RAK-- Should the "," go after the ")?" es}
Main, across {@@acras?} Liberty to Baldwin in hopes to
head off Scovills but they had passed, the
Parade went over Liberty St to Bank, to
Washington to Baldwin.
At Baldwin St we fell in with the Waterbury
@@_lack {@@black?} Car Division and played for them
up Baldwin and out Mill to East main
where there was a counte_ {@@counter?} march and
we met Scovills men coming in at
Hamilton ave, and glad they were
to see us for they were weary with
the long march and the music cheered
them @@u_ {@@up?}, {@@,?} we then went u_ {@@up?} Cherry @@out
Grove. In @@Willow and West Main to
the Green and dismissed I suffered quite a
little as I have had 7 boils and an abscess {@@abcess?} on the back of
__{@@my?} ________ ____
1958 __{@@my?} ________ ____
{@@RAK-- I can't read the text written above this line. I think that
this text is to be added at the end of the line. es}
1918\11\22 (Friday)
Frank came home from Storrs having
been sent away with many others who
were Drafted and Enlisted in the service
as they are not needed on account of
the war ending.
We had a family gathering this evening
it being the 35 anniversary of our marriage.
1918\11\25 (Monday)
Frank went to work at Scovills to day
driving team.
{1918}\12\01 (Sunday)
Frank left this noon for Wisconsin to bring
back a car load of cattle for Mr. Harry
Garrigus of Storrs.
{1918}\12\03 (Tuesday)
First Snow
{1918}\12\04 (Wednesday)
President Wilson ca___d {@@called?} for France.
{1918}\12\06 (Friday)
Second Snow
{1918}\12\07 (Saturday)
Went to Storrs this afternoon Mary, @@Mildre_ {@@Mildred?}
Miss Jenkins and I, {@@,?} went by way of Mansfiel_ {@@Mansfield?}
Station 53 miles.
1918\12\08 (Sunday)
Stayed over night with Ruth, went to Church
this A.M. and came home this afternoon by
way of Williamantic @@63 miles{@@.?}
1918\12\11 (Wednesday)
Snowed 1"
{@@RAK-- Is there a comment written in the margin of the previous entry?
es}
1918\12\14 (Saturday)
Mr. Miner Blackman and I butchered my
two red pigs to day, they were born May 1, and
one weighed 155 and the other @@16_ {@@164? 169?} lbs.
1919\02\16 (Sunday)
We attended the funeral of @@J. Henry
Garrigus this afternoon at three in the
Mill Plain Chapel. @@Rev. Mortemor {@@Mortimer?} Owen,
of the Second Congregational Church
officiating. I carried Hiram Abel and Warren
Hitchcock out to the house, as We were
to serve as pall bearers, the other three
bearers were @@H. V. Warner and Samuel Wilson
of Wolcott and Edwin Todd of Wolcott.
Frank, Howard Garrigus, Paul Manwaring,
and @@Mr. Pomroy came from Storrs this
morning. Coming in @@Mr. Pomroy_{@@Pomroys?} auto from
Willimantic in two hours and a quarter.
Mr. Garrigus served in the Eighth Conn{@@.?}
Regt for four years in the Civil War and
the @@G.A.R. conducted the services at the
Grave.
1919\03\30 (Sunday)
This morning we set our Clocks and Watches
ahead one hour to conform to the daylight
saving law.
We the members of the Mattatuck Drum
Band are making arrangments {@@arangments} to go {@@,?} to
Boaton the last of this week @@# {@@?} with the
Mayor and City delegates of WSaterbury
to welcome home the 102 Regt from @@France {@@.?}
We expect to take about 26 men, 15 from
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line a new paragraph? es}
here and 11 from @@Moodus and East
Hampton. We had a letter from Raymond
yesterday, he is still in Sampeigne, France.
1919\04\08 (Tuesday)
Last Friday at 4.40 I received a {"at"} telephone
message from James White secretary to
the mayor of Waterbury that the train
would leave for Boston Saturday at One
o'clock to welcome the 102 Regiment home. I immediately telephoned Clyde
in Farrington, George Edwards in
Whigville, Charles and George Cass in
Wallingford and Irving telephoned
Dr. Cook in Moodus {?}, and we made
arrangements{arangements}, to start, two Autos
for Moodus at six the next
morning. Saturday morning one of
the police {poliece} and one Fire department
auto left for Moodus at the
appointed {appainted?} time, {.} and at eleven {@@eleveven}
we assembled on the varanda of
Scovills club house and drummed
several pieces. This was the first
time that some of us had ever seen
each other and played together {@@tagather}.
We then marched to City Hall and
after having our pictures taken marched
to the Depot and took a special train for
Boston. We had twenty men they were
{Fifers is written in the right margin for this group}
Charles Cass of Wallingford,
Clyde A. Miller of Farrington,
Harry Buckingham,
George A. Edwards of Burlington,
George J. White East Hampton
Ralph Sellens " "
James Phalen
{all the above marked as "Fifers" in the right margin}
{"Bass Drummers" is written in the right margin for this group}
Henry Buckingham,
John Morrow,
Herman G. Gessert
Will Cahill East Hampton
{all the above marked as "Bass Drummers" in the right margin}
{"Snare Drummers" is written in the right margin for this group}
Charles S. Miller
Elmer E. Ventres Moodus
Frank S. Lecrenier. {@@.?}
Fred G. Hefflon East Haddam,
Irving Miller
Joseph F. Emerson East Hampton,
Howard Neal,
Gardener Hall,
George Cass Wallingford,
{all the above marked as "Snare Drummers" in the right margin}
We reached Boston about 5.30 and
marched through crowded streets to the
Liberty Hall on the Common, where
we played several pieces, after which
we were {@@wers} assigned to the Somerset Hotel
on Commonwealth Ave, where we went
and stayed till Monday morning as
the ship was not to dock till Monday
at 4 P.M. we spent Sunday, in looking
about the City, went to Cambridge,
through the @@museum {@@musiun} at Harvard
College, over to Bunker Hill,
Charlestown. The Old North Church and many
other places of interest. Monday we were
ordered for duty at one o'clock on the
Commons and headed the Waterbury
Delegation {@@Dilegation} marched to the dock, as our
band had been much advertised in
the Boston papers, and our loud
playing attracted large crowds we had
some difficulty in getting through and
had to break ranks several times, we
also had to stop playing several times
because the {@@he} large truck horses were
much frightened and some did much
damage in backing into automobiles, and
through plate glass windows etc and @@thrown, {@@,?}
themselves down, etc
At the wharf we boarded the Ferry boat
John L Sullivan and sailed down the harbor
to where the transport @@Agamanon lay at
anchor, {@@,?} we sailed round her twice every
available {@@avalable} inch of deck space was covered
with men and what cheering and band
playing, soon she lifted anchor and
sailed up the harbor, all the other boats
keeping near her, and every steam
whistle blowing making a din and noise
never to be forgotten. The transport landed
at Commonwealth pier, and we landed
at our dock after which we marched
to the Commons, the crowds clapping their
hands and {@@an} cheering as we passed.
Our train left South Station {?} at 11 and
we reached Waterbury at 4 in the morning
but I did not get things all {?} fixed and
the boys started for Moodus etc till
after six o clock, tuesday morning.
[[end of page 79.]]
[[there are no entries for the period until April 8, 1921(!)
[[which begins at the top of page 80.]]
[[there are no entries between April 8, 1919 and the following]]
[[there is no indication of any break in the sequence,
[[from page 79 to 80 in the Journal]]
1921\04\08
To day I went to New Haven in my
auto To the Governors {@@Governors} Foot Guards
armory on Whiting street where I obtained
eight pairs of pants and eight vests
of Mr. William E. Shart {@@Short?}, paid him 10.__ {@@10.00?}
Went vie Cheshire and Hamden saw
much plowing done. Plum {@@Plun?} trees in blossom {@@blosson?}
and the gardeners have many seeds in
the Ground, Came home via Derby
Ansonia and Naugatuck, saw men planting {@@,?}
@@potatoes at Beacon Falls.
1921\04\14 (Thursday)
I worked to day at the factory of Rogers &
Bros 9 hours.
Went this forenoon to City Hall and
saw Town Clerk Palmer in regard to
putting the East Farms Cemetery in better
shape, also saw the City Engineer in
regard to putting in a watering trough
at East Farms{@@.?} He sent me to see Mr.
Sherwood the Chairman of public Works {@@.?}
who wishes me to send in a written __tter {@@letter?}
describing location etc.
This afternoon I notified the men
who work for me that their wages were
to be cut, some @@.05 cts per hr, some .10 and
some more.
Irving telephoned to night that he is
laid off at Scovills.
1921\09\26 (Monday)
To day Daniel Squares worked for me at East Farms
9 hours, {@@blank space} and @@Sam Samulson 8 hours, @@Dan and
I drew stones with my ox and cart and Sam
laid them for the foundation for a barn.
1921\09\27 (Tuesday)
My Birthday 63 years old.
@@Daniel Squares {@@Squres} worked on the foundation of my
barn, drawing stones 9 hrs at .35 per hr {@@-?} 3.15
Sam Samuelson worked 8 hrs laying stones,
Paid Chatfield & Chatfield for 1/2 yd Sand 1.75
Small Truck 4 Bags cement 4.00
1 @@Bbl Lime 4.75
_____
10.50
{@@RAK-- Please note that a bracket is drawn connecting "cement" and
"Lime" and pointing to "Small Truck." es}
Large Truck, 2 1/2 yds Sand @3.25 8.12
_____
18.62
1921\09\28 (Wednesday)
Daniel Squares worked to day tending mason
9 hours. {@@blank space?} Sam Samuelson laid stone 8 hours.
I drew stone with Jasper (the ox)
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is a new paragraph. Thank
you. es}
1921\09\29 (Thursday)
Dan Squires {@@Squired?} worked on foundation of BArn
9 hours. {@@blank space} Sam Samuelson Worked 8 hours.
1921\09\30 (Friday)
Dan Squires worked 8 hours on foundation of
barn. {@@blank space?} Paid him $15.00 to day.
Due him to date, to @@_____ {@@__glet? night} 15.40 owe him .40
{@@RAK-- Did I insert the previous line in the correct place? es}
Sam Samuelson worked 7 hours, am to @@pay
him .50 cts per hr.
1921\10\01 (Saturday)
Dan Squires worked till noon 5 hours
Sam worked till noon 4 hours.
Ernest Sleveland worked in the afternoon 5 hours we
put up the west end, and one section of the South side
of the building.
1921\10\02 (Sunday)
12 members of the Mattatuck {@@Mattacuck} Drum Band went
to Watertown and played for the combined
Sunday Schools of the place, which had a
parade.
1921\10\03 (Monday)
Sam Samuelson Worked to day 5 hours
we raised one section of the barn and
stoned up the spring, it rained all the
afternoon.
Charlie Fitgerald {@@Fitzjereld} worked 10 hours @ .35
Paid him 3.50 Paid the Hotchkiss Co for
25 lbs 4" and 25 lbs 5" spikes 2.50 Paid Chatfield
& Chatfield for 2 Bags cement 2.00 1/2 @@lb_ {@@lbs? lbl} Lime 2.50
Total 4.50
{1921}\10\04 (Tuesday)
Sam worked 8 hours Fitzgerald worked 9 hr
{1921}\10\05 (Wednesday)
Sam worked 4 hours, got through at noon.
Paid 31.00 in full to date {@@dat.?}
Charles Fitzgerald {@@Fitzjerald?} worked 9 hr Paid 6.30 in
full, to date @@(Over)
Dan Squires worked 9 hours, this P.MN. he
husked 10 bushels of corn in 4 hours and
cut the stalks and bount them in
bundles.
1921\10\06 (Thursday)
Dan Squires worked 9 hours digging potatoes.
Raymond worked 10 hours.
Went to work at the factory after 2 weeks vacation.
@@Sherbourn Rockwell told me of Raymonds trouble and that the
Company was going to oppose Compensation etc, through attorney Bronson.
1921\10\07 (Friday)
Dan Squires Worked 5 hours digging potatoes.
Sherbourn Rockwell, @@Mr. Walker, Raymond, and I had
a conference with Attorney Nathaniel Bronson in his office
to settle Raymonds {@@Raymons?} trouble, {@@blank space} it all failed.
1921\10\08 (Saturday)
Albert Ascott asnd I Blasted out rocks in the
upper meadow at East farms this forenoon.
this P.M. We with James Doran made @@Conorote
Fence posts. Paid Albert 3.00 James 1.50
{1921}\10\09 (Sunday)
Went to the Mill Plain Church this A.M.
Heard @@Rev. Mr. Dry preach.
This P.M. I went to Wolcott and paid Homer
Atkins, Carl Moulthrop, and @@H. A. Norton for
drumming at the Wolcott Fair. 3.16 each.
1921\10\10 (Monday)
Worked 8 hours at Factory J International
Silver Co. equiping the new plating @@room.
Had the Left rear spring of my auto repaired
by @@Mr. Perriault paid 4.75 Paid Irving @@2.00 for
making plans for my barn. Bought of
Ziglatzki-Marks Co. 5 gals linseed oil 5.00
@@1-3" Wall Brush .75
50 lbs Atlantic Lead 6.25
1/2 gal @@turps @@.40
1 @@pt Brown Japan 50
______
13.10
___{@@?} 21
______
@@12.89
{1921}\10\11 (Tuesday)
I worked at the factory equiping the plating room.
The Mattatuck Drum Band had its regular
weekly {@@weekley} meeting this evening.
The Sunday School teachers met this evening
at Irvings hourse and gave Mildred a shower.
{1921}\10\12 (Wednesday)
I Bought 5 gals of Morto oil of @@Maltby Bros
for 4.00 also 1 gal of {@@.?} Kerosene for @@.20
Paid Raymond 4.00 for work last week.
Paid Mildren @@.50 for ticket to supper at
church Friday evening.
1921\10\13 (Thursday)
Raymond worked 10 hours out to East Farms
Painting the Farm Gates and the Cemetery {@@Cemetary}
fence.
I paid the @@Malbty Garage {@@Girage} 7.13 for repairing
my auto. Paid William Pritchard 10.00 for
wood.
1921\10\14 (Friday)
I worked at the factory 8 hours.
Bought of Ziglatzki & Marks Co 1-3 1/2" flat
Paint Brush 1.90 less 10%=1.71 and 50 lbs of
Atlantic Lead @@6.25 = 7.95 @@_{@@%?} = 7.80
Raymond worked @@9 hours painting the
Cemetery {@@Cemetary} fence at East Farms.
{1921}\10\15 (Saturday)
I worked this A.M. at the Factory{@@.?}
James Doran worked Painting fence at
East Farms 10 hr paid him 3.00
This afternoon @@Albert A_cott {@@Ascott?} helped me
blast, {@@,?} at East Farms and helped me fix
my auto this evening paid him 2.00
Ray painted at East Farms 10 hr.
1921\10\16 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church
this forenoon. After dinner mary and
I went to Charlie Tuttles at Woodtick
I paid him 3.16 for drumming at the Wolcott
Fair. Then went to Arthur Harrisons
and paid him 6.96 for drumming at the
Wolcott Fair Sept 16th and for drumming at
Manchester Sept 17, then went to @@Newell Moulthrop_{@@?}
on S Elm St in Bristol and paid him 3.16 for
drumming at the Wolcott Fair, then to
Whigville and paid him 3.80 for drumming at
Manchester, then came home {@@hom?} via Wolcott.
{1921}\10\@@17 (Monday)
James Doran worked painting the Fence at
East Farms 8 hours.
Raymond attended the hearing before the
compensation Commissioner to day.
{1921}\10\18 (Tuesday)
Raymond painted the cemetery fence @@9 1/2 hours
to day.
James Doran painted the fence posts @@9 1/2 @@hr{@@hrs.?} at
East Farms. Bought 5 gals oil @@5.00
1921\10\19 (Wednesday)
I worked 10 hours in factory
Raymond worked 10 hours @@at Painting Cemetery Fence. East Farms.
{@@RAK-- Did I type the previous line correctly? Should it be:
"Painting Cemetery Fence at East Farms." Please advise. es}
James Doran worked 9 1/2 hr at @@" "
{@@RAK-- I think that the " " " " symbols indicate "East Farms." es}
Paid Ziglatzki & Marks 50 lgs Lead 6.25
" Charles Penniman, Rep Battery etc 2.50
" Warren B. Hitchcock for wood 6.00
@@{1921}\10\20 (Thursday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "1920" is written as the year for this entry. es}
It rained all day @@J__ {@@Jun? Jim?} or Ray did not work. {@@.?}
1921\10\21 (Friday)
Jim worked 8 hours
Ray " 9 " on Cemetery {@@Cemetary} Fence
Paid M E Pierpont $75.00 for lumber.
1921\10\22 (Saturday)
James Doran worked painting the fence 8 hr
Paid him $12.00 tonight in full to date
@@______ _______ _______ _______
{@@RAK-- I indicated the text that was underlined in the previous line.
Is "Paid" underlined? es}
Raymond worked @@4 hours blasting rocks etc
Paid Ray 10.00 on account
_________________________
{@@RAK-- Please note that the previous line is underlined. es}
Albert Ascott worked {@@workedd?} this P.M. Blasting out
rocks due him 2.00
{1921}\10\23 (Sunday)
This afternoon I went to Woodtick got Charlie
Tuttle and went up @@_o {@@to?} Brother Franks at west {@@West?}
{@@RAK-- Please note that I can't read the letter before "o" on the
previous line. "to" is a guess. es}
Simsbury. got home about 8 P.M.
{1921}\10\24 (Monday)
James Doran worked painting the fence at
east Farms 7 hours
Ray worked 8 hours
{1921}\10\25 (Tuesday)
James Worked 8 hours
Ray worked @@_ ___ {@@9 1/2} "
Paid Raymond 19.60 in full to date.
{@@RAK-- Please note that something is written above the previous line,
but I can't read it. All I can read is: "Santr_a." es}
{1921}\10\26 (Wednesday)
James Worked 7 hours
Ray Worked {@@Werked?} 9 hours
{1921}\10\27 (Thursday)
James Worked 9 hours
Ray 9 1/2 hours.
{1921}\10\28 (Friday)
James Doran worked painting
Raymond worked painting at the farm. 8 1/2 hr
They finished all the painting to day.
1921\10\29 (Saturday)
I worked at the factory 9 hours on the equipment
for the plating room.
1921\10\30 (Sunday)
Paid James Doran 12.00 in full for last weeks
work.
Attended service at the Mill Plain Chapel.
Went for a ride with, {@@,?} Mary, Marion Pierpont
Mrs. Garrigus, and Bessie Pierpont{@@.?} over to Marion,
then to Cowpounce lake, then to Bristol stopping
at @@Mr. Edward Allen's, {@@,?} then through Wolcott
home stopping at Homer Atkins, and Arthur
Harrisons.
{@@RAK-- Is there text written at the bottom of this page? es}
{1921}\11\02 (Wednesday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "1920" is written as the year for this entry.
es.}
Paid Raymond 13.35 Pay in full to last
Saturday night.
1921\11\07 (Monday)
Raymond worked
{1921}\11\08 (Tuesday)
Raymond worked painting arbor etc
{1921}\11\09 (Wednesday)
Raymond worked. @@Rainy day.
{@@RAK-- Should the text "Rainy day" go on a different line? es}
Bought 5 gals of Raw Oil of Ziglatski-Marks
Co @@$5.00
Started plating in the new circular _ubs {@@tubs?}
this P.M.
{1921}\11\10 (Thursday)
Raymond worked
Paid Ray on account 1_.00 {@@10.00?}
{@@RAK-- Please verify previous line. Text is difficult to read? es}
1921\11\11 (Friday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "Nov" is written twice in the previous line.
es}
Armistice {@@Armistis} DAy. The Mattatuck DRum Band
turned out in the big paragde in Waterbury
Holiday
{1921}\11\12 (Saturday)
Ray worked
1921\11\13 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church. @@Rev. Mr. Dry.
{1921}\11\14 (Monday)
Ray worked __ {@@10? 16?} @@hours
{1921}\11\15 (Tuesday)
Ray worked Painting wagon 10 hours.
1921\11\@@16 (Wednesday)
@@Raymond worked 10 hr at East Farms on barn
Arthur Baker worked 8 hr " " " @@70 cts @@"
{@@RAK-- Please note that I inserted a few extra spaces in the line beginning
with "Raymond" in order to line up the quotation marks of the previous 2
lines. Please advise if this is ok. es}
{1921}\11\17 (Thursday)
@@5
@@Arthur Baker worked @@4 hours
Ray Worked 10 hours.
1921\11\18 (Friday)
ARthur Baker worked on the barn 8 hours
Ray worked 10 hours.
1921\11\19 (Saturday)
Ray worked 10 hours.
Paid him 18.00 in full {@@fill} to night {@@to to night}.
Arthur Baker worked _{@@4?} hours.
1921\11\21 (Monday)
{@@RAK-- I think that "1921" is written twice as the year for this
entry. es}
Ray worked 10 hours
Arthur Baker worked 8 1/2 hours
{1921}\11\22 (Tuesday)
Ray worked 10 hours
Arthur Baker worked 8 hours.
{1921}\11\23 (Wednesday)
Ray worked __ {@@10? 16?} hours
Arthur Baker worked __ {@@_0? 10?}} hours
{@@RAK-- Is there text written in the margin next to the previous
entry? es}
1921\11\24 (THursday)
Thanksgiving Day The Somers Family met
at all Souls Church on Hewlett Street for the
Thanksgiving dinner there were 66 present.
{1921}\11\25 (Friday)
Raymond worked on the barn @@_ {@@0?} hours
Arthur Baker worked @@_ {@@0? 6?} hours
{1921}\11\26 (Saturday)
Raymond worked 6 @@? hours
{@@RAK-- "?" is written above "6." es}
Arthur Baker worked 5 @@? hours
{@@RAK-- "?" is written above "5." es}
I was out to the farm this P.M. Rained very
hard.
At 6 P.M. Mildred Pierpont and Arthur
Bird were married in the Mill Plain
Church {@@Churcch} by the Rev. Laurence Dry.
The Church was full.
{1921}\11\27 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church
Went out to Bessie Pierpont in the
afternoon, and saw Frank, Ruth Hazel, and @@Florenc_ {@@Florence?}
Bailey start for Storrs.
1921\11\28 (Monday)
Rained hard all day.
{1921}\11\29 (Tuesday)
@@Pay {@@Ray?} worked this afternoon, @@5 hours.
Arthur Baker worked this afternoon @@4 hours
{1921}\11\30 (Wednesday)
Arthur Barker worked 8 hours.
Ray worked 10 hours.
Paid Arthur Baker @@_0.00 {@@50.00} on account.
1921\12\01 (Thursday)
Arthur Baker worked on my barn 8 hours.
Ray worked 10 hours.
Paid Ray 10.50 for last weeks work.
{1921}\12\02 (Friday)
Ray Worked 10 hours
Arthur Baker worked 8 hours
{@@RAK-- Copy of Receipt for Payment included in journal.
Receipt is dated Nov. 30, 1921. It indicates that Charles S. Miller
paid Arthgur Baker, Jr. $50.00 "On account for work on barn." es}
1921\12\03 (Saturday)
Ray worked 6 1/2 hours
Arthur Baker worked 8 hours.
{1921}\12\05 (Monday)
Raymond worked 9 hours painting the
barn at East Farms
{1921}\12\06 (Tuesday)
Raymond worked 9 hours painting the
barn
1921\12\07 (Wednesday)
Raymond worked 9 hours @@painted the
@@horse rake etc.
{1921}\12\08 (Thursday)
9 hours on @@barn
{1921}\12\09 (Friday)
Ray worked 9 hours paint___ {@@Painting?} on @@barn
Paid Dan Squires 10.30 in full to date
1921\12\10 (Saturday)
Raymond worked 5 hours painting on
my house and 4 hours at farm work
at East Farms.
Paid him 16.20 in full to Date.
Paid Ziglotzki and Marks.
For 1 qt Dryers 75 75
1 glass 14 x 26 52
6 " 6 x 8 36
___
10% 88
8 80
___________________
155
1921\12\11 (Sunday)
Attended Service {@@service?} at the Mill Plain Church
Communion, 2 new members were admitted.
{1921}\12\12 (Monday)
{@@RAK-- Date is written in the journal. There is no entry. es}
{1921}\12\13 (Tuesday)
{@@RAK-- Date is written in the journal. There is no entry. es}
{1921}\12\14
Raymond worked painting the veranda {@@varanda?}
roofs, and did some work at the farm. @@8 hours
{@@RAK-- Did I insert "8 hours" in the correct place? es}
This evening Albert and I repaired
my car.
1921\12\15 (Thursday)
Went to George Benhams and got the
amount of the Back taxes on the Conner
lot, also visited Iva this evening.
{1921}\12\16 (Friday)
Ray worked 2 1/2 hours, about home.
{1921}\12\17 (Saturday)
Ray worked 7 hours about the house in
the a.m. and he, and Albert Ascott and
I sawed a big pile of wood in the
afternoon.
Paid Ray 5.25 for this weeks work.
{1921}\12\19 (Monday)
Raymond worked 9 hours
{1921}\12\20 (Tuesday)
Ray worked putting wood in the wood
house etc 10 hour {@@hours?}
{1921}\12\21 (Wednesday)
Ray worked putting wood in wood
house 10 hou__ {@@hours? house?}
I bought the Conner lot to day @@a_{@@an? af?}
Ene__ {@@Enell?} Robert of Hartford, for 400. Judge
Bradstreet did the business. Paid Judge
Bradstreet 6.00 for his services
{1921}\12\22 (Thursday)
Ray did not work to day.
{1921}\12\23 (Friday)
Ray Worked this afternoon.
Paid Arthur Baker 23.50 if full to date.
{1921}\12\24 (Saturday)
{@@RAK-- The date is written in the journal, but there is no entry. es}
1922\03\11 (Saturday)
I paid Albert Ascott 2.00 for grinding in the
valves on my Auto etc this afternoon.
Paid Charles Pennimam 29.63 for putting
a new Hartford Storage Battery in my auto.
Paid 1.20 for a pair of Rubbers.
1922\03\12 (Sunday)
I attended service this forenoon at Mill Plain {@@.?}
Union Church. Heard Rev. Mr. Dry. {@@.?} preach.
This afternoon, I took Mr. and Mrs. George Benham
of East Farms and went up above Waterville
and saw where Frosts Bridge was washed
away last week, we then went up above
@@Renolds Bridge and over the new concrete
road to Watertown and then {@@them?} home.
Paid 1.35 for 5 galls of gasoline.
" 2.00 " church.
1922\03\13 (Monday)
Worked 10 hours in factory.
Paid 1.00 for Blacksmith and Wheelwright.
1922\03\14 (Tuesday)
Paid the Hotchkiss Company 6.84 for iron
Paid The Southern New England Telephone Co
3.55 For telephone for February.
Paid the Hotchkiss Co 6.20 for 5 gals of raw oil
and 1 qt dryer.
1922\03\15 (Wednesday)
Paid Mary 9.00
Paid Tracy Bros 2.00 for sawing and plaining
drum Stock{@@stock?}.
Paid 2.80 to irving for Freight on concrete
@@Past {@@Post?} machine.
1922\03\17 (Friday)
Paid Ziglotzki-Marks Co 3.00 for @@50 lbs of
@@ventian Ped. {@@ventian Red. ?}
Paid Chatfield & Chatfield 6.00 for 6 bags
of Atlas @@Cement. @@___ _ ___ ________ _.60-590
{@@RAK-- I can't read the previous line. es}
Paid @@Dora Egan Town Clerk 1.50 for recording
{@@RAK-- Please verify previous line. Text is difficult to read. es}
2 deeds, Paid 4 car ____ _ ___ {@@.32} ___{@@cts?}
{@@RAK-- I can't read the previous line. es}
1922\03\18 (Saturday)
Paid Irving 20.00 for Painting
the house
Paid Albert Ascott 2.00 for helping
to make 6 concrete Field Fence
Posts {@@Pasts?}, and painting small chicken
coops.
Weather has been very cold.
1922\03\@@19 (Sunday)
Paid 2.00 to Church.
Paid @@135 {@@1.35} for Gasoline.
{@@RAK-- I think that he wrote the date as March 20, 1922 and he also
indicates the day is Sunday. So I labelled this entry as for
March 19, 1922.
1922\03\20 (Monday)
Paid 9.95 to Chandler & @@Farquhar Company of
Boston for small Lathe. Paid .08 for P.O. Oorder {@@Oorder}.
Paid @@.32 {@@.?} for Trolley Car Fare.
1922\03\21 (Tuesday)
Paid .16 Car Fare
1922\03\22 (Wednesday)
Paid .10 for 2 set screws {@@Screws?}. Paid .05 for paper of 3 oz tacks
Paid .32 Car Fare.
1922\03\23 (THursday)
Paid for Trolley Fare 16 cts.
Irving painted the house roof to day
nearly finishing it. He also repaired
the pump and drain pipes.
1922\03\24 (Friday)
paid .16 Trolley fare.
Paid John Italian 1.50 for 3 hours work trimming
grape vines.
Paid Albert Ascott 2 00 {@@2.00?} for making Concrete posts
{@@pasts?}
1922\03\25 (Saturday)
Paid Albert Ascott 2.00 {@@or 2 00?} for helping me at the
Farm draw Manure on the hill lot.
Paid 16 cts Car fare.
1922\03\26 (Sunday)
Paid 2.00 to Church
" 1.87 for 5 galls of Gas to @@Mr. Montambeau
Went to Farringford and saw Clyde, brought
Dick home with us.
1922\03\27 (Monday)
Irving went to work on the new @@Twon Plot
School house.
Paid .16 Trolley Fare.
1922\03\28 (Tuesday)
Paid .16 cts Trolley care fare.
{@@RAK-- ".?" es}
Four boys came to learn to drum this
evening.
1922\03\29 (Wednesday)
Paid 32 cts for 4 Trolley car fares.
Paid .50 to the Hamilton Hardware Corporation
for packing my auto pump.
Dick and Albert helped me tonight to draw
manure (7 loads) out to the farm.
Received My Pay from factory 49.50
1922\03\30 (Thursday)
Paid Walter Garrigus, for the City Lumber & Coal Co
@@18.00 for 2250 {@@22.50?} shingles.
Paid 16 cts car fare.
Ice and rain tonight
1922\03\31 (Friday)
Paid @@32 Car fare {@@blank space} Took my Drum Corps Coat to
Upson and Singleton to have it sent to New York
to get prices of New Coats, that cost {@@cast?} 36.00
1922\04\01 (Saturday)
Paid .16 cts {@@.?} car fare.
Paid Mort Pierpont 2.00 for 80 ft of Chestnut boards
Paid Albert Ascott 2.00 for helping cut down a
large branch of the Maple trees on the Frost Rd
that was broken off by the ice.
1922\04\02 (Sunday)
Paid Church 2.00
" for 5 gals of gasoline at the foot of Southington
Mountain 1.25
1922\04\03 (Monday)
Paid Trolley 2 @@fairs 16 cts
1922\04\04 (Tuesday)
Paid 2 trolley Fairs 16 cts.
This evening @@Francis Kachinka {@@Rachinka?} {@@blank space}
@@Firtwengler.
Thoedore {@@Thoedare?} Montanbeau, {@@,?} and Arthur Bird, came to
learn
how to drum.
{@@RAK-- Your notes are on the left hand side. There are other notes
written on the right hand side. es}
interleafed at p. 106 (1914-28 Journal)
@@C. S. Miller
Diaries
MNK writing (?) 1899-1914
Who
What is "MPC" M. D. C.
or "MDC" 1881-1919
information
@@RAK-- RAK note written along margin on right hand side of page:
Blue Ruler - J. H. Miller Co Inc. Springfield MA }
1922\04\05 (Wednesday)
Paid Car Fare .16 Received Rent @@1.2 00
" Pay 4_.50 {@@48.50?} = 61.50
{@@6?} Paid for Cherry Stain 27. hair Cut & Shave .50
{1922}\04\06 (Thuesday)
Paid Car fare {@@far?} .32 Paid Mary 1_.00 {@@15.00}
Paid Mary 15.00
{1922}\04\07 (Friday)
Paid Trolley Care Fare .16 cts
{1922}\04\08 (Saturday)
Paid Trolley @@fare .08
Paid Albert Ascott 2.00 for helping cut up the big
apple tree that grew near the North West corner of
the barn at East Farms, that was broken down
by the great ice storm a week ago.
Paid @@Mr. Phanauf tax on Connor {@@Corner?} lot .91 cts Paid
Paid George Benham " " " " 2.08 " "
{1922}\04\09 (Sunday)
Paid 2.00 to Church
" 1.25 for gasoline over at the foot of the
Southington mountain.
1922\04\10 (Monday)
Paid Old Tramp {@@blank space} .50
Staid home from Factory on account of health.
Dan Squires worked 1/2 day cutting brush wood.{@@.?}
here, and 1/2 day cleaning up the yard. 10 hours
1922\04\11 (Tuesday)
Dan Squires worked cleaning up the yard,
and the rest of the day at the farm, plowed for
peas, and drew Manure. 10 hours
{1922}\04\12 (Wednesday)
Dan Squires worked 10 hours to day.
1922\04\13 (Thursday)
Dan Squires did not work to day.
I trimmed the small appletrees etc. at the Farm.
Received my pay 49.50
{1922}\04\14 (Friday)
Good Friday.
Paid the "Mc Coy Music Co. 16.00 for 4 drum heads
2 snare strainers 2 sets of snares.
Worked at the farm this P.M.
{@@RAK-- Is anything written next to the previous line? es}
1922\04\16 (Saturday)
Daniel Squires worked to day at the farm
Plainting Peas, plowing etc.
Raymond helped me at the farm.
Paid @@Mr. Keringdy 2.10 for 21 00 lbs of 1/2" crushed
stone.
Paid Mc Coy music house .25 cts for difference
between a 19" and 20" drum head.
1922\04\16 (Sunday)
Paid Church 2.00 {@@blank space?} 246 present at
Easter service.
Paid @@1 48 for 5 gals Gasoline.
Mary, Raymond, Ruth, his wife and
I went up to John Wakelees {@@Wakelee's?} in Wolcott.
@@1922\04\17 (Monday)
Dan Squires worked 6 1/2 hours
Paid Dan Squires 10.00 for last weeks
work 4 days.
This evening I turned out with the
Mattatuck Drum Band, for the @@YD men.
1922\04\18 (Tuesday)
Daniel Squires worked 10 hours.
1922\04\19 (Wednesday)
Daniel Squires worked 10 hours.
1922\04\20 (Thursday)
Paid 1.35 for Gasoline
Dan Squires worked 10. {@@.?} hours
{1922}\04\21 (Friday)
Dan Squires worked 10 hour_ {@@hours?}{@@.?}
Paid 20 cts for cream and cake at
Mill Plain Church Entertainment.
Paid Charles A. Templeton 4.83 for 1/4 and 1/2 Round Iron.
{1922}\04\22 (Saturday)
Paid Dan Squires 13.00.{@@.?} for this weeks work.
Dan Squires worked 5 hours
This {@@Tis?} P.M. I worked at Irvings ploughing his gardens.
1922\04\23 (Sunday)
Paid Church 2.00
Jack Brundage called this afternoon, came in
his new Earl car.
1922\04\24 (Monday)
Paid Fire Marshall {@@Marshall} Holland 25 cts for permit to
use Explosives
Paid the Hotchkiss Co 8.00 for dynamite {@@dyamite?} Exploders
and 2 Dry Batteries.
Paid @@John W. Gafney 4.75 for 5 bags of cement.
Mildren Paid me 2.25 for one gal maple syrup.
1921\04\25 (Tuesday)
Dan Squires worked 10 hours
Paid .20 cts Trolley 2 fares from East Farms.
{1921}\04\26 (Wednesday)
Daniel Squires worked 10 hours
{1921}\04\26 (Wednesday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that this second entry has the same day and date as
the previous entry. es}
Received Pay 49.50
@@Dan Squires {@@Sqired} worked 10 hours Paid Mary 9.00
{1921}\04\27 (Thursday)
I worked alone
Paid @@Stephen Kachinka 1.00 for 5 hours work
this P.M.
{@@RAK-- FYI-- There are a lot of marks written in the previous
sentence. es}
1922\04\28 (Friday)
Paid Stephen Kachinka 1.00 _ {@@5?} hrs
1922\04\29 (Saturday)
Paid Stephen Kachinka _ 00 {@@2 00?} 10 hours.
{1922}\04\30 (Sunday)
Paid Church 2.00
Paid Irving 17.00 to Balance accounts to date.
Paid 1.35 for gasoline at Notch in the Rocks.
Paid .20 to Mrs. Atkins for milk.
1922\05\01 (Monday)
Paid 1.45 for gas at Goshen where we went
and attended the funeral of Rose Hubbard.
{1922}\05\02 (Tuesday)
Paid Dan Squires 10.00 in full to date.
" " worked 10 hours.
@@Paid {@@-?} @@Stephen Kachinka 1.00
1922\05\03 (Wednesday)
Paid Stephen Kachinka _.00 {@@1.00?}
Paid 1.45 for drugs.
{1922}\05\04 (Thursday)
Paid Stephen Kachinka {@@Kachitka} - 1.00
{1922}\05\05 (Friday)
Paid S Kachinka {@@Katchitka}. .50
I Planted Potatoes in the rain this
forenoon.
1922\05\06 (Saturday)
Paid Andy Kachinka {@@Katchika} 1.60
" Steve " 1.00
{1922}\05\07 (Sunday)
Paid Church 2.00
" for Oil and Gas 4.65
Went with my auto with a party {@@partie} of Mill Plain
people to New Haven to look over the "{@@'} Church of
our Redeemer@@", on Cold Spring St.
{@@RAK-- Should ""," be ","?" es}
{1922}\05\08 (Monday)
Went to work in the Factory after being
out one month.
1922\05\09 (Tuesday)
Paid Mary 9.00
Paid Trolley .25
Went up to Browns in Wolcott with the boys to
drum.
{1922}\05\13 (Saturday)
Paid Stephen Katchitka .86 } and one fife 136
" Andrew " 1.35 }
{@@RAK-- Please note that the brackets on the previous 2 lines are
just 1 bracket connecting the two lines. es}
@@For helping me Friday evening and @@at the
farm Saturday.
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the "For helping ..." is indented. Thank
you. es}
{1922}\05\14 (Sunday)
Paid the Mill Plain Church 2.00
" for 5 galls of Gasoline 1.45
1923\03\13 (Tuesday)
Frank P. Miller{@@,?} stoped {@@staped} here over night
and @@today {@@1 word?} went to Kent where he is
to take charge of the farm connected
with the Kent School.
1924\09\26 {@@RAK-- What day of the week is this? es}
Last Tuesday after working 33 hours on the
new Mill Plain Church I finished {@@finshed} putting up
the 3 ton steel I Beams that support the second
floor of the Sunday school building. Wm
Garrigus, Ernest Cleveland, and Leland
Garrigus helped me. We used a 10" x 10" yellow pine
pole 36' long and [[guys etc that we borrowed @@from
the Scoville Mfg Co. {@@,?} and set a @@5 ton Yale @@blocks {@@blacks?}
etc borrowed from the Waterbury Brass Co.
{1924}\09\24 (Wednesday)
I put in concrete posts {@@pasts'}
and graded in front of my house, and next day,
finished grading etc. Thursday I worked
at the farm cleaning the @@brush out of the
Connor {@@Corner?} lot, and digging for an addition to
my barn.
{1924}\09\@@26 (Friday)
{@@RAK-- I think that the date is the 26th, but it also looks like the
25th. Please verify that the 26th is correct. es}
I sp_nt {@@spent?} at the farm digging for the barn
addition.
{1924}\09\27 (Saturday)
Worked at the farm digging and drawing
the dirt away.
1924\09\28 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church
Rev. Mr. Dry preached. after service the
people went and looked over the new
stone Church. The foundations are in
for the Church (on North side only) and the
tower, the Sunday school addition is
up one story {@@stary}, and the girders are on for
the second floor.
This afternoon I took Rowland Jenner
and Mr. Carpenter in my @@Hupmobile
to Simsbury to see brother Frank.
found him a little better, and able to walk
about the house a little.
1924\09\29 (Monday)
At midnight last night marked the beginning
of standard time, and to day the factories
cars and business in general started one
hour later than yesterday, I was working
_ut {@@out?} to the farm and it got dark so quick
that I could not see in the barn to
put up the tools at six o'clock.
1924\09\30 (Tuesday)
This day it has rained hard all day.
I have worked in the Wheel-house{@@,?} flooring
over the old water-wheel pit and putting up
a foundation for the Gasoline Engine.
Went to town this noon and {@@ang} got paint, spi___ {@@spikes?}
etc.
1924\10\01 (Wednesday)
The weather to day {@@1 word? hyphenated?} has been clear and cool.
this forenoon I Cleaned out the wheel house
and placed the engine on its foundation
and belted it to the main shaft, and
belted up the drill press. In the afternoon
I went out to the farm and dug 1/2 bu potatoes
ans gathered a lot of corn.
Mr. Morton Pierpont delivered two loads
of sand, one at my house, the other @@out
to the farm.
{1924}\10\02 (THursday)
This forenoon {@@fornnoon} I seeded the front lawn
that portion of __ {it?} where I am building
the new fence, then I went to the Waterbury
@@Casting Co and left a pattern of a fence
casting to have 10 iron one made,{@@.?} I then
went to M. J. Daly & Sons and had a thread
cut on one end of an 1 1/4" pipe, IU then went
to the Dimes Savings Bank and drew $500.00
This afternoon I cut and stacked my
field corn.
This evening I carried mary to the
Grange meeting, then went to Mr. James
Whites house and paid Bessie 500.00 one
half of the amount I pledged to build the
Mill Plain Church, {@@blank space?} then went to Irvings
and had him make plans for an addition
to my East Farms Barn.
1924\10\03 (Friday)
Went to my farm in my automobile
and got the ox and cart and @@stone drag
and brought them over home, and with
the ox and cart wne to the stone elevator
and got one ton of crushed stone.
(over)
then drew away the large heap of stones
in the front yard, then took the ox out
to the farm, {@@,?} and spent the rest of the
day about the school grounds helping
Irving and George Benham run the
lines where the new fence is to be
built.
1924\10\04 (Saturday)
This forenoon I worked on the foundation stone,
for the addition to my barn at East Farms.
In the afternoon I picked up apples.
{1924}\10\05 (Sunday)
This forenoon I attended service at the Mill
Plain Union Church, after which I looked
at the new Church building. They have the
Sunday School building up one story {@@storie} and
are placing the floor joice on, the cellar is
dug and the footinghs are in for the main
Church. Mary and I took dinner with mr.
James White and Bessie and marion,
after which we went in my car up
to the Branch Dam in the town of Morris and
Bessie took a picture of the East end of the tunnel
thas {@@that?} is to bring the water from the Shepang
River, to the @@Br_nch {@@Branch?} @@Reservoirs, they have been
{@@RAK-- Is "Reservoirs" plural? es}
working there about one month {@@,?} and are
in about 150 feet. From there we went
to the Bantam river and took pictures
of the tunnels there, they have penetrated
the hills both {@@bothe?} to the East and West of the
river about {@@abot} 16 or 1800 feet, they are progressing
at these two entrances {@@entrences}, and at the East{@@.?}
end about 15 ft every 24 hours {@@punctuation} work is going
on night and day, with three shifts of men
who work 8 hours each. From there we
went to Woodville to the West entrance {@@enterence}
Where they have entered the hill about two
miles, the whole length of the tunnel is
to be about seven miles.
1924\10\06 (Monday)
This morning I stored away a ton of crushed stone
in the wagon shed, and repaired the floor in the
wheel house before breakfast, {@@,?} after which I went
to the farm and cultivated about some fruit
trees, then picked up apples and so 2 bushels of butter nuts.
1924\10\07 (Tuesday)
Picked up apples and cut and stacked Corn to day
{1924}\10\08 (Wednesday)
Mary and I went to West Simsbury and saw
Brother Frank, we found him a little better.
{1924}\10\09 (Thursday)
_ut {@@Put? Dut?} and put in the cellar 7 even bushels
of good potatoes.
This evening I paid Bessie White $500.00 to
held build the new church at Mill Plain.
{1924}\10\14 (Tuesday)
Last Friday Mary, Irving,{@@,?} and wife and three
children, Enid, David and John, went in my
@@hupmobile to Mr. John Shermans at South
Kingston R.I. near Point Judith where we staid
till yesterday noon. Friday afternoon{@@.?} we went
to Wakefield and did some trading. Saturday
we helped Mr. Sherman draw a large seine and
caught half a bushel of fish. Sunday morning
Irving and I went to the @@cove at the upper
end of the pond and got a bushel of oysters
we then all went to the Baptist Church at
Wakefield after which we went to @@Narrigansette
Pier and on down to Point {@@Paint?} Judith where we
looked at the Light House, Break=water {@@=?} and
Life saving station etc. after which we
returned to Wakefield and went to Tower Hill
where we visited Mr.where we visited mr. and Mrs. Morelock, after
which we returned to Salt Pond, where we had
supper of Black and Flat fish, and in the
evening we attended a harvest festival
service in the Church at Perryville.
Monday morning Irving David Enid and
I got up early and rowed to the South
end of Salt Pond and walked over the
sand bar to the ocean front, with Black
Island @@in @@front of us distant 10 miles, we walked
along the beach eastward and viewed many
wrecks that had been thrown {@@throwne} up by the sea{@@.?}
after which we @@returned to Mr. Shermans place
where Mary and Dot had breakfast for us,
we then, after a time started home at noon, coming
through Wakefield, @@Wickford, @@Apponang, Coventry,
@@Central Villeage, @@Brooklyn, Williamantic and Hartford
134 miles.
@@1925\02\16 (Monday)
{@@RAK-- Is "1925" correct? Text is difficult to read. es}
To day I Chopped wood on the land east
of the wheel house.
{1925}\02\17 (Tuesday)
Went to Bristol this forenoon to the Sessions
foundry Co and got 30 small castings for the
fence. George Benham went with me, we went up
by way of Southington and came home through
@@Plymoth.
This afternoon worked in my blacksmith shop
and chopped fire wood.
The boys met to night and practiced their
drumming lesson, for the third time in as many
weeks. They are John Garrigus, @@Charles
Mongahan, Ralph {@@Rolph?} Pierpont, and Stephen and
Andrew Kitchenka.
{1925}\02\18 (Wednesday)
I Choped {@@Chopped?} down trees near the Wheel house
about 7 hours, went out to the farm this
morning and evening and took care of
my ax {@@ax?} out there, and repaired the
auto steering gear.
1925\02\19 (Thursday)
This morning went out to the farm and turned
Jasper out and fed him {@@hin?}. Came hom na d
chopped down trees the remaineder of the day.
This evening I carried Mary to the Grange
and I went to @@Robert Wakelees in Wolcott _nd {@@and}
left $2.00 for @@Robert Jr. to pay him for fiofing
in the parade Nov 11.
{1925}\02\20 (Friday)
Worked Chopping till 4 P.M. when I went
__ {@@to?} town.
{1925}\02\21 (Saturday)
Helped George Benham @@saw a large chestnut
tree into five @@foots lengths with my
@@cross-cut {@@hyphenated?} saw {@@.?} this forenoon
This afternoon I chopped down trees by
the wheel house till four o'clock when I went
to Wolcott and Paid @@Bement Wakelee, Robert
Browne, Franklin Browne, Arthur Harrison
and Chgarles @@Tutt__ {@@Tuttle?} each 2.00 for Fifing and
drumming in the Armistice day parade
the 11th of last Novemeber. This evening mary
and I went to the moving pictures at Mill Plain Church{@@.?}
1925\02\22 (Sunday)
Attended Service at Mill Plain Union Church
this forenoon. This afternoon I went up an {@@and?}
vosited my brother Frank at West Simsbury
Mary, Howard Neal, Enid Miller, and Bessie
Northrop went with us. We found Franks
health improved. We went vie Southington,
Plainville, Farmington, Avon, and Simsbury.
33 miles. Returned by same route.
{1925}\02\23 (Monday)
I finished chopping down trees by the wheel
house, and cut some wood into stove length
this afternoon.
This evening Irving, Harry Buckingham {@@.?}
and I. Represented @@Wellards {@@Willards?} painting "The
Spirit of 76" at the Concarda {@@Concorda?} Singing Societies
Grand Ball in The Buckingham Hall.
We Led the grand March and drummed.
Yankee Doodle, and Greens March. There were
over 2 000 {@@2000?} people present and it is said to be the
largest masquerade ever held in the City.
1925\02\24 (Tuesday)
I carried out wood and piled and cut it up.
Four of @@O'Conners German @@Police {@@Poliece} dogs killed
and injured another of @@Mr. Hapennies chickens
this morning.
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text:
DOGS}
This evening I attended a Church Supper {@@supper?} at
Grange Hall.
{1925}\02\25 (Wednesday)
I got out wood a_d {@@and?} cut up the small wood
The boys came this evening and drummed.
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text:
DOGS. }
A dog came into the yard and chased {@@chaised}
our chickens.
I with George Benham went to Hartford and
called at the office of the Commissioner on Domestic
Animals {@@Animats?} at 257 Capitol {@@or Capital} Ave, we saw Depute
@@Dr. George E. Carvin {@@Carrvin? Carwin?}. On Feb 20, a
Commissioner - with the local Dog Warden (@@Mr. Dexerix
called at my house.
1925\02\26 (Thursday)
It rained hard all night and until 2 P.M.
to day, when it snowed for an hour and then came
off very windy and colder.
I went out to the farm and did the chores there
at 8 o'clock as I do every morning, then came
home and groundout the throtes of the big
wood saw teeth, after which I went down town
and did some Bank business, and trading,
came home had dinner, piled wood in the wood
house, and wheeled out wood the rest of the
day.
{1925}\02\27 (Friday)
To day after chores I got out wood and put
it over the fence{@@,?} and cut up quite a ___e {@@pile?}
George Benhams Chimney caught @@___ _his {@@this?}
_______ {@@morning?}.
{1925}\02\28 (Saturday)
{@@RAK-- Please verify the date for this entry. The text is difficult to
read. es}
@@_____ __ the last of the wood and piled
it up ready to saw, _ten {@@then?} chopp_ {@@chopps?} most o_ {@@of?}
_________________________________________
{@@RAK-- I can't read this line. es}
is about 10 cords. We went to moving pictures
a_ {at?} ________________________________
{@@RAK-- I can't read most of the previous line. es}
{@@RAK-- I had some difficulty reading the text for the previous entry.
es}
1925\03\01 (Sunday)
I with Mary attended service at the Mill Plain
Chapel this forenoon.
It has stormed all the afternoon and to nigh_{@@night?}
when I w___ed {@@walked?} out to the farm to put Jasper (ox)
in for the night {@@,?} it rained the hardest and
the wind blew the strongest that I ever knew
it to {@@.?} it blew me off the concrete road several
times and wet my clothes through. @@through
{@@RAK-- "through" is written twice. es}
I had on good hip rubber boots, and Cape Cod
Fishermans rubber coat and hat.
{1925}\03\02 (Monday)
Chopped small wood this forenoon from
9 before that time I went out to the farm
and brought the cart down from the shed {@@shead?}
on the hill and put it in the barn.
This afternoon I got my wood saw frame
down and mounted my engine on a truck
that I had made. The weather is very cold
tonight.
1925\03\03 (Tuesday)
This morning was raw and cold, I went {@@wen} out to
@@__{@@?} farm and took care of Jasper, after which
I rigged up my engine and saw and sawed
wood till four o'clock when I went @@____ ____ {@@my guess: down town.
es. }
and bought 2 lbs of Resin and 1 lb of bees wax {@@2 words?} to
make some grafting wa_ {@@was? was?} @@o_ {@@of?}
This evening Andrew and Stephen Kitchenka,
Ralph Pierpont, John Garrigus, and Charles
Mongahan came to learn to drum.
{1925}\03\04 {Wednesday}
President Coolerida {@@Coolidge} was inaugurated {@@inaugerated} president
of the United States to day. Many people
listened to his address on thei radio {@@rodio?} sets
for the first time.
I sawed up my pile of wood. James Doran
came after dinnr and helped me, about
eleven cords in all.
{1925}\03\05 (Thursday)
I put up my @@sas {@@saw?} and fixtures and got
ready to split wood. I also mounted my
concrete mixer on the truck with the engine{@@.?}
1925\03\06 (Friday)
I made two trace chains out of 1/4" iron, and two
tools for grafting, sharpened picks, crow bar,
@@made {@@nade?} one large S hook and two small ones,
put sleigh up in the barn and did other Jobs
Yesterday Lyman Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Goshen called with
his new wife, they were married last Saturday
at her home in Farrington, her name was
@@Marie Nield.
David,{@@,?} Irvings boy helped me to day.
{1925}\03\07 (Saturday)
I put the iron shield on the engine and
concrete @@mi_er {@@mixer?} this forenoon,{@@.?} David helped
This afternoon @@_{@@I?} split wood etc.
{1925}\03\08 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church,
Rev. Laurence Dry.
This afternoon Irving, Dot, David, Mary and
myself went to Farrington and saw @@the
temporary ___________ they were @@building
@@yesterday{@@,?} the @@___f of which ____ ___ ___
_______ __ _____ @@_eriouslys {@@seriously?} and @@13 that were
taken to the hospital
{@@RAK-- I had a lot of difficulty reading the @previous paragraph. es}
1925\03\09 (Monday)
I split wood to day, this afternoon I
went out to Maple @@Hill Farm and got
some Baldwin apple graft @@cions.
1925\03\10 (Tuesday)
I split wood all day.
This evening five Boys came and took
their drumming lesson.
{1925}\03\@@11 (Wednesday)
This morning after chores at the farm
I visited George Banham, then took Mary
up to Mill Plain to the Grange Hall
while I got ten gallons of Gasoline for
2.50 then down to mr. George's store
on East Main St.{@@,?} then Home and {@@amd?}
I finished splitting wood, and I
wheeled eight loads into the wood
house and piled it up, after which
I went down town.
This evening attended a @@me_ting {@@meeting?} of the
mens club at the Mill Plain Church.
1925\03\12 (Thursday)
Mary and I went up to West Simsbury and
staid with brother Frank while his wife went
to Hartford on business, she returned at about
four, and we came home, this evening mary
went to the Grange.
{1925}\03\13 (Friday)
I wheeled wood into the woodhouse {@@RAK-- 1 word?} and piled
it nearly all day.
{1925}\03\14 (Saturday)
This morning I went to Mort Pierponts
but he was at No 2 house on the Cheshire
road in front of the East Farms Burying {@@-?}
ground @@_{@@:?} getting ready to put a concrete
floor in the cellar, but was one man short,{@@,?}
So I halped him, there were four of us, Mort
and his son {@@sor?} Ralph, @@Arthur Baxter @@___{?} I, we starte_
{@@started?}
at 10 A.M. stoped a_ {@@ar. an?} hour at noon and finished
at 3 P.M. Ralph ran the mixer. he gave me @@Cr 2.00
Mort and I then went out to his lumber yard
and got some @@plank for me to mnake a stable
{@@RAK-- Should "plank?" be "planks? es}
floor for which he charged {@@.?} $5.00
This evening Mary, I, and Mrs. Benham with
@@with little @@George Inson went to moving
{@@RAK-- Please note that "with" is written twice. es}
pictures at the Mill Plain Church.
{1925}\03\15 (Sunday)
I attended Service at the Mill Plain Church.
This afternoon I took a walk through the lots
north of the land that I own at East Farms.
This evening I did not attend service as I
could not start my car.
The Stone masons started work on the
new Mill plain Church last monday as the
weather now permits them to lay stone.
@@1925\03\16 (Monday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "1924" is written as the year for this entry.
es}
I put a plank floor in the stable where
I keep Jasper at East Farms, did not quite
finish it, after work I went down town and
bought some spikes.
Mary and I got Irvings talking machine this @@evening
{@@RAK-- Did I type "evening" in the correct place? es}
{1925}\03\17 (Tuesday)
Finished the stable at East Farms, and
riddled ashes all the afternoon.
The boys came and drummed this evening
Rained all t__ {@@the?} afternoon.
1925\03\18 (Wednesday)
Drew three loads of manure up on the hill
this forenoon, and painted the new stable
at the farm.
Ordered paint to cover my house of A B
Bantley of The Stanely Chemical{@@Cemical} Co, East
Berlin Conn.
{1925}\03\19 (Thursday)
It rained all of the forenoon I worked
oiling and greasing my auto, and making
fixtures for my new front fence.
{1925}\03\20 (Friday)
Painted all day till five o'clock on the barn
at the farm. AFter 5 o'clock I went to the
Hotchkiss Co on South Main St and bought 5 galls.
@@Linseed oil for 7.00
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line indented? es}
Mr. William Hazelhurst has bought the
middle house of Morton Pierpont and moved
in Wednesday @@last.
{1925}\03\21 {Saturday}
I painted three sides of my barn at East Farms.
This evening saw pictures at Church.
1925\03\22 (Sunday)
Attended service this forenoon at the mill
Plain Church.
This afternoon Raymond, Ruth, his wife Mary
and I went to Litchfield {@@Litchfild} via Farrington, and
visited with Mr. William Marsh whom I @@_ad {@@had?}
not seen since 1874. This evening we attended
service at the Mill Plain Church, which was
well filled at the @@sining was in charge of
the mens club.
{1925}\03\23 (Monday)
Painted on my barn all day.
Mr. A. B. Benton of Westfield came this noon at
the farm and brought paint to paint my
house, for which I paid him 34.36
Paint made by The Stanley Chemical Co.
East Berlin Conn.
{1925}\03\24 (Tuesday)
Walked out o the farm and fed Jasper, then
came home by trolley, took my broken auto
spring to Mr. Perriault on South Main St
and left it to be repaired, then went to
Wheeler & Norris hardware store on Center
St and ordered numbers for my house 2271,
then paid telephone bill @@2.95 then to Citizens
Bank and got check cashed, and home and
out to the farm anbd painted till 4.30 P.M.
@@when I took the trolley and went and got {@@RAK-- "when" or "then.
es. }
the repaired spring.
This evening 7 boys came to practice
drumming.
{1925}\03\25 (Wednesday)
Put spring on my auto {@@.?} then went out to
the farm. It came on and rained so I @@brough_ {@@brought?}
home a load of kindling wood in the trailer
and worked about home the rest of the day.
1925\03\26 (Thursday)
Painted three sides of my barn the second
coat. This evening I carried Mary to the
grange. I then went up and saw Charlie
Tuttle in Woodtick, came back at 10. and
brought Mary @@___ {@@hom? home?}
{1925}\03\27 (Friday)
Went out to the farm this morning
but as it looked like rain, I dug fence
post {@@past?} holes and set fence posts{@@pasts?}, for a
fence to connect the lane with the
barn.
{1925}\03\28 (Saturday)
It has rained the greated part of the day.
I worked on the front fence that we are
building. This evening Mary and I went
to the Mill Plain Church and saw moving
pictures.
{1925}\03\29 (Sunday)
After {@@Alter?} breakfast I went to the farm at East
Farms and took care of Jasper, and cleaned {@@claned?}
the Stable as I do every day. When I came
in I brought Carrie and Alice Benham,
Margery Chapin, Edward Wilson and two other
children and carried up to Sunday School.
When I returned home I saw by th_ {@@the?}
@@Sunday Republican that a Mrs. Pierce of
Meriden was killed out beyond the
Arch at Reedville this A.M. between 12 and 1 o'clock
she and her husband were coming from @@Merid__ {@@Meriden?}
and the head lights of another car they met
blinded Mr. Pierce, and he ran his car into
a rock and telegraph pole which caused his
car to turn turtle which injured his wife
so she died before they reached @@St. Maries
hospital. They were followed by a Mr. Miller
of Meriden who carried Mr. and Mrs. Pierce
to the hospital.
This evening Mary and I attended service
@@at the Mill Plain Union Church.
{1925}\03\30 (Monday)
It has rained all day. I worked on my {@@ny?}
front fence.
{1925}\03\31 (Tuesday)
This morning Mary and I left home at
8 o'clock and went to Simsbury to stay
with my brother Frank while his wife
went to Hartford to attend to some business
We stoped at the farm where I did the
chores, and again in Southington where
I bought 10 gals of gas for 2.50 and one quart
of oil for .25 cts, reached Franks at West Simsbury {@@,?}
at 10. Frank and I went up in @@William Flemig's {@@Fleming's?}
woods and got a long fish pole, and after
dinner we went to Simsbury where I had my
hair cut, paid .50 saw @@Mr. Hall about the
Mattatuck Drum Band playing in
Simsbury this season, went to the Atlantic @@&
Pacific Tea Store where Frank bought a bag
of flower and some chees, returend home
and soon Gussie and Mrs. Walcourt returned
from hartford, and after 4 o'clcok we left for
home, which we reached at 6, we stopped at
East farms and did the chores.
{@@RAK-- Should "farms" be Farms? es}
After supper, Ralph Pierpont, FRank,
Andrew, and STeve Kitchenka, Charles
Monhahan, and John Garrigus came and
took a drumming lesson.
1925\04\01 (Wednesday)
I wetnt out to the farm this morning and
worked there all day. Cleaned out the
spring, repaired the Watering trough,
and built a fence.
1925\04\02 (Thursday)
Worked out to the farm all day finishing up
the barn.
{1925}\04\03 (Friday)
Finished painting the barn at the farm.
This evening I went to the Better Home's
Exhibit {@@Exibit} at the Armory on Field Street.
{1925}\04\04 (Saturday)
Got stone off the corn lot to day, have
three more large ones to blast.
{1925}\04\05 (Sunday)
Went to the farm this morning and fed and
cleaned Jasper, brought Alice and Carrie Banham
in to Sunday School. Mary and I attended service
at Mill Plain Church, at noon we were looking
at Mort Pierponts {@@Pierpont's} bran {@@brand?} new Catillac {@@Catalac}
Auto when
three pieces of fire apparatus and the Hook
and Ladder went up the Woodtick road
We followed in my car and found the
house of @@Joseph Grenier in flames, @@__{@@?}
{@@RAK-- Is something written at the end of the previous line? It seems
that something maybe "it" is or should be written there. es}
stood on Highlawn, soon however th_ {@@the?}
firemen had two streams from a hydrant
@@nere {@@near?} by playing on the fire and had
it under control. We then went out
the Meriden Road and down Pierpont
road and left the Benhams at their
home, came home had dinner, after
which we took Enid and started for
Prospect, at the top of the mountain we
over took @@David Pechard {@@Pichard?} and he went
with us, near the upper Reservoir we
stopped and viewed the scenery, but when
we tried to go the car would not start. I
tried for a time to start it but to no avail
I went to a house near by and found a
man who had a Hup and he started it
for me we then went to Prospect Center where
we saw Long island Sound, and visited the
burying ground, then came to Mill Plain
where @@Mr. Pechard {@@Pichard?} left us and we went out the
Meriden Road and down to East Farms and
put the ox in for the night, and came home
had supper, and went to evening service at
Mill Plain Church, it was well filled, then home.
1925\04\06 (Monday)
I drilled holes in rocks and got them ready
to blast where I ___ {@@___?} to palant oats, at the farm
Came home at four put up two lengths of
rail on the front fence, then went to the
central fire station and got a License to
use explosives.{@@.?} there{@@There?} has been several bush
and forest fires to day.
{1925}\04\07 (Tuesday)
I blasted and got out rocks at the
farm to day.
{1925}\04\08 (Wednesday)
I worked all day drawing rocks off the
land. There were many forest fires
to day {@@.?} I saw four burning at one time.
{1925}\04\09 (Thursday)
This morning @@Mr. Warren B Hitchcock
@@M. {@@Mr.?} Morton E Pierpont and I went _o {@@to?}
Hartford to see the State Fire
Warden Austin F. Hawes, at 255
Capitol Ave. We went in mr. Pierponts
new @@Catillac {@@Catalac} Car left his house at 9 and
were in Hartford at 10. We tried to
get Mr. Hawes to establish a fire patrol
for the week end, but instead{@@.?} he wished
to appoint one of us Fire Warden.{@@.?}
especially myself and had the papers
made out. However I would not
sign them until I had seen Chief
Henry Heitman of the Waterbury
Fire Dept. We came home at noon
and saw Mr. Heitman and as @@a__ {@@all?}
was agreeable.{@@.?} I have signed the paper
and returned to Hartford.
Soon after noon a large fire burned
the west portion of Calvary Cemetery
over. Two fire companies {@@campanies?} were called
to put it out. After the fire was out
and the firemen gone, another fire
was started across {@@acrass?} the street west
of my house, and I with help put
the most of it out, but soon a company {@@campany?}
of firemen arrived and helped.
1925\04\10 {Friday} Good Friday
This morning I repaired a hand fire
pump for Morton Piertpon.
Then went to East Farms to do my
work at the barn. Saw a fire burning
down in the South east woods. I took
Mr. Pierpont's fire pump and one of mine {@@myne}
and got Frank, Andrew, and Steve
Kitchenka and went to work putting ou_ {@@out?}
the mile long line {@@tine?} of fire. Charles Welton
came and helped. We started at quarter to
twelve and it took 3 hours.{@@.?} Welton atarted
1 hr later.
{1925}\04\11 (Saturday)
Today{@@1 word?} I filled holes where I got the stones out
of the oat lot.
Mary and I went to see the moving
pictures at Mill Plain Church.
{1925}\04\12 (Sunday) Easter
This has been a fine clear day. We attended
service at the Mill Plain Church, whic_ {@@which?}
@@___{@@?} filled to capacity {@@capasity}, every seat taken and
many standing. This afternoon I went to
Wolcott to _ee{@@see?} Fire Warden Henry Norton {@@punctuation, ,?} but
he had gone to Bristol. When I came home
a fire was burning {@@,?} on East {@@Eest?} Mountain.
@@Raymond and Warren Hitchcock had already
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is indented. es}
telephoned and were coming to help, I got
pumps and brooms ready and we went
up the old road to the @@__re {@@fire?}, a company
of City Firemen were there ahead of us
but we put out @@_ome {@@some?} of it after it had
burned over about three acres.
An other @@fi_e {@@fire?} was burning by the
side of the Plank Road at the junction {@@lower case?}
of Turkey Hill and BEaver Brook which
we put out, this burned over about 1/2 @@acr_ {@@acre? acres?}.
In the evening we attended service at the
Mill Plain Chruch, at this morning service
we took in 22 new members which brings
the total to over 400.
{1925}\04\13 (Monday)
I drew manure and put it on the lot where
I am to plant oats and started plowing.
this evening Lew and Joe Somers came
to see me about making a polishing machine.
{1925}\04\14 (Tuesday)
Plowed all the forenoon, this afternoon
I went to the Somers Co to arrange about
starting a machine for polishing thin
brass strips from 1 to 2000 ft long.
I then went to East Mountain and saw
Mrs. Rudolph about forest fires. {@@,?} came home
and went to East Farms where I did some grafting.
@@1925\04\15 (Wednesday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "1225" is written as the year for this entry.
es}
This morning Lewis Somers Called at eight
o'clock and we went to @@Danelson {@@Danielson?} via Hartford
and Willimantic to sere about some Buff wheels
for polishing long brass strips. We went to
the Williamsville Buff Mfg Co and brought
two wheels home with us a 14" and 10" got home
at about 6 P.M. having traveled 170 miles
This morning I took my car to Malthys
garage to be repaired, @@ths {@@this?} evening I called for
it and paid 10.13
1925\04\@@17 (Thursday)
{@@RAK-- Is "17" or "7" written as the date for this entry? The previous
entry is for the 15th so I think that the date should be around the 17th.
Also, should the entry be for Friday? es}
I went to the farm this morning and worked on
a fence next to Irvings land, a little after
two this afternoon we saw smoke coming over
the hill near the upper end of the Scott Road.
I got Ralph Pierpont and Joseph Mehan and I
had two boys and we went fast me in
my auto and Ralph with his auto truck, up
the Scott Road and found a large fire that
burned over sixty acres.
We went back to work and at 5.30 we saw
more smoke and hastened back to where the
fire was before and found a great fire raging
it took till 7 o'clock to put it out.
{1925}\04\18 (Saturday)
I finished the fence to day. This afternoon
we saw a fire at oak Rock {@@.?} to which we
Frank Kitchenka, Andrew Kitchenka and
I hastened, it burned over about one acre.
{1925}\04\19 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church,
@@Rev. Laurence Dry preached.
Rained hard all the afternoon.
{1925}\04\20 (Monday)
Went to the farm this morning with @@Johnny {@@Johnry?}
Carey tried to plow with Jasper for potatoes
{@@RAK-- Is the name Johnny Carew? es}
up on the hill in the @@Connor lot, but the turf
was hard and we did not make out very well.
We then dug away from in front of the barn
doors till four o'clcok when the hard snow that
was falling caused us to stop. We then went
down to Cass store and bought some seed oats
and grass, then to town and got some linen
@@thread {@@threadl?} and came home and repaired a
trace. Warren Hitchcock came and showed
me a fire extinguisher that he had bought
for {@@far?} 16.00
1925\04\21 (Tuesday)
Wrote @@Austin F Hawes to day for @@Mrs. Rulolph {@@Rudolph?}
I made a form and bent the ox bow so as to
make it wider.
This evening the boys came to practice drumming
as they do every @@_uesday {@@Tuesday?} evening Irving and
Howard Neal @@came and we went out to the
@@garage {@@gariage?} and drummed till ten o'clock.
1925\04\22 (Wednesday)
I cleaned up the front yard and hedge, put down
some linoleum in the kitchen and spaded a
portion of the garden to day.
{1925}\04\23 (Thursday)
Went to Irvings this morning and looked
over some drawings of a polishing machine
that we are designing for the Somers Co
and took them down to their factory in
South Waterbury, {@@.?} and looked over some of
the patterns that they had made.
Then went to police {@@poliece} headquarters and saw
@@Chief Beach {@@Black?} about Fire Warden Business {@@bussiness?},
then to Prosecuting {@@Prasicuting} attorney James Larkin, {@@.?}
and reached home at 11. had dinner and
went to the farm and planted a @@_iece {@@piece?}
of oats and grass seed.
{1925}\04\24 (Friday)
I dug away the bank North of the big barn
door at the farm, to day, and dug around some
of the fruit trees.
1925\04\25 (Saturday)
Johnnie Carew helped me draw stones away at the
farm this forenoon, Raymond came out and
helped me plow turf in the Conner lot
{1925}\04\26 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
After service we went over and looked the
new church over, the masons have the walls
up ready for the third floor.
{1925}\04\27 {Monday}
This forenoon I plowed turf in teh Connor {@@Conner?}
lot and @@until {@@util?} 3 this P.M. when I came home
got ready and went down to the spoon
shop and showed Mr. Warner where the
property bounds are next to Hamilton park.
@@I then went down town.
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line indented? es}
{1925}\04\28 {Tuesday}
Ploughed in the Connor lot till 11.00 o'clock when I
went to the City and did some bank business, and
bought 4 3/4 rope thimbles and paid telephone bill.
Came home had dinner and Irving came and we
@@a lot of hooks for his new fence, then to the farm
{@@RAK-- Please verify the previous 2 lines. Was a word written in the
margin? es}
and plowed till six.
This evening Ralph Pierpont, John Garrigus, Frank
and Stephen Kitchenka came and practiced drumming.
@@Chas Mongahan came also.
1925\04\29 (Wednesday)
This morning I finished plowing turf in
the Connor lot. and harrowed it, at about
3 o'clock M E. Pierpont Came and wished
me to sharpen over forty machine drills
and points that they were using in
getting out the stone for the new Mill
Plain Church. I stopped and came
home bringing the ox and cart @@plow's {@@plowe's}
harrow etc, and sharpened 1 doz drills
and three points.
This evening I attended a meeting
of the mens club at the Mill Plain Church.
{1925}\04\30 (Thursday)
Rained all day {@@deg?} slowly. took Jasper cart etc
and went to Irvings and plowed and
harrowed his garden, had dinner
there and loaded a barrel {@@barrell} of paint etc.
Came {@@came?} home repaired the harrow, sharpened
some drills went out to the farm with Jasper
had supper. Went to mr. Rudolphs on East
Moutain with some letters regarding setting
Pine trees, etc. took Mary up to grange,
went after her at 10 @@home and now to bed,
wet, cold, and weary.
1925\05\01 (Friday)
This forenoon I helped Irving build a new
front fence at his place on the Southmaid
road. This afternoon I sharpened 18 drills
for Mort Pierpont then went to the farm
and did the chores.
This evening @@Carrie and Alice Benham
called and left the old Chapel record
book.
{1925}\05\04 (Monday)
Saturday morning Mary and I left at
about 10 o'clock and went to Kent we went
in my Hupmobile by way of Middlebury
Woodbury {@@,?} @@Roxbury, Bridgewater, New
{@@RAK-- Is there a "," in the original? Is it ok to insert a ",?" es}
Milford, Gaylordsillve, and Kent, which
we reached about @@1 o clock Standard time.
found the family well, Frank was at work
getting stones of a piece that they were
plowing for potatoes.
I went over to Kent Center and got two
tires repaired that blew out on the trip
over, but one did not hold and we went
over again ater supper, and left it to
have them put a new tube in. We also
called at a variety store which had a very
interesting assortment of goods.
{1925}\05\03 (Sunday)
This morning was attended Church at
the Congregational edifice, after which
we went down the west side of the river
to see where the ice and high water had
been, then home and had dinner, after
which we went for a ride up to the @@Spectick
ponds where @@we saw several summer camps
and then went east to Warren center then
north to Swifts bridge, stopping and saw
Mrs. Marvin and Mr. Patterson, then down the
new concrete road and home, where Frank
and two men milked over 20 cows and cared for
them and 7 horses, and did all the chores,
after supper we went to South Kent, where he has
25 head of young cattle which he salted, in the
School there, there are 40 boys, while in the School
at Kent there are 260 boys. This school started
in 1906 with 11 boys.
{1925}\05\04 (Monday)
Started for home at about 10 came the @@s_me {@@same? some?}
{@@RAK-- I think the word should be "same," but it looks like "some."
es}
route that we went reached home at 1. P.M. 47
miles. this afternoon {@@_? @@I?} sharpened 36 stone
{@@RAK-- I think that "I" is crossed out in the previous line. Please
verify. es}
drills for Morton E Pierpont.
1925\05\05 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I mowed the lawn in front
of the house and then went to East Farms and
harrowed the piece where I am to plant potatoes.
This afternoon I helped Irving build a
fence south and west of his lot.
This evening the boys came to learn to
drum.
1925\05\06 (Wednesday)
Took the Spring off from my Auto and took
it to mr. Parriault's on South main st to have
it repaired. Then went to Daily Bros and
got two 1 1/2" Pipe @@Caps. Then home and sharpend
18 drills for M E. Pierpont. Then planted peas
lettuce {@@lettice} and radish {@@RAK-- radishes?} in garden. After
supper
went out to the farms and got wormes {@@wormer?} nests
off the apple trees.
{1925}\05\07 (Thursday)
This morning I worked about the front yard,
then sharpened @@9 Compressed air stone drills and
19. {@@.?} small drills. Then went to the farm and
plowed a few furrows in the garden there.
{1925}\05\08 (Friday)
This morning I went to he farm and plowed
the garden, and got off stones.
This evening, Clyde Irving, Raymond and
I went to Bronsons Studio at Mill Plain and
had our pictures taken. @@W {@@We?} were in full @@Continent__
{@@Continental?}
uniforms with our drums and Clyde had his
fife.
Irving gave me the deed to his lot at east farms
He is preparing {@@prepairing} to start for @@Milwaukee {@@Milwakey}
next
sunday noon.
1925\05\09 (Saturday)
This morning I made a bin on the West
side of my Blacksmith {@@Blacksmitti?} shop to hold 1/4 ton
of coal. James Egan helped me all day.
I then took a barrel {@@barrell} of ashes and a barrel {@@barrell}
of hen manure out to the farm, came home
and went to Irvings and took his trunk
and family down to the depot, and started
the trunk to Milwaukee {@@Milwaukie?}, so as to have it
there when Irving gets there Tuesday.
Came home and loaded my 18 ft ladder on
the trailer and took it home, had dinner
then loaded four concrete fence posts on the
trailer and took them out to the farm, got
Jasper hitched him to the drag and drew
the stones off the lower garden, and harrowed
it. {@@.?} then we got worms nest's out of the apple
trees the rest of the afternoon.
1925\10\10 (Sunday)
Attended service {@@servics} at Mill Plain Church.
Took dinner with Irving and his family, Said
good bye to Irving and he left at 1 P.M. for
Milwaukee.
I came home and got ready and Morton E
Pierpont called for me at two {@@tuo?}, and we went
and got Mr. Dry and then started out the
Meriden Road and took in William Garrigus
and we all started for Granville Vt and @@N.Y.
in Mr. Pierponts new Catillac {@@Catalc?} Car. We went
by way of Hartford, Springfield, Holyoke {@@Halyoke?} and
Greenfield, where we stopped pver and had
supper, 55 cts. Then on to Bernardstown where
we had to detour {@@detur} to Northfield and up the
East side of the Connecticut River to Brattleborough
and on the Putney Vt where we stoped at 9 o'clock one night
at the Putney Inn {@@Iinn}, having traveled 135 miles
{1925}\05\11 {Monday}
We left Putney at 5.40 this morning
and drove in the rain to @@Bellows Falls
where we ate breakfast at the @@Stas
Restaurant {@@Restaurent}. They had a large fire
in the City the night before. The
Post Office building and many offices and stores {@@storis?}
were burned, the ruins were still smoking We then
went on through Chester, to Ludlow where we stopped
for gas. While the jolly old fellow was pumping the gas
into the car I tucked a ten dollar bill into his pocket
to pay for it, and as soon as he leg go the pipe Mr.
Garrigus put a bill into his hand, while Mr. Dry
tried to put another into his other hand, and Mort
had his hand full of bills to pay, but the man
said "dont pay any more, my pockets are full
of money already" We then traveled north
through the most beautiful mountainous
country I ever saw to Plymouth, the boyhood
home of {@@af} President Collidge {@@Cooledge?}. Passing on the way
Tyson Lake, Plymouth Pond and the vilalge of {@@af?}
Tyson on through Plymouth Union to the old
town Burying Ground where we visited the
grave of the Presidents son Calvin who died in
Washington some nine months ago.
We then went up past the Church{@@.?} and the
old home where his parent live oppostite {@@apposite?},
having travele_ {@@traveled?} 190 miles. Then returning
passed on up the deep wooded valley to
Bridgewater Corner's, where we turned
west and drove over the Green Mountains
to Rutland, where we stopped a short
time. Then headed for Poultney. 15 miles
distant passing through West Rutland,
Castletown, and Fair Haven reaching
Poultney at @@10.00 Having traveled 246 miles,
here we found Mr. H. A. Mallot{@@.?} of the
New York Consolidated State Co. He
took us to their quarry south of the
town where we saw large quantities of
slate of all sizes and colors {@@colars?}. He also took
us to another mine near Hampton.
Returning we had dinner at a restaurant {@@restaurent}
near the depot. We then went to the
office of the @@F C. Sheldon Slate Co at
Granville N.Y. and then to their
large mine near @@Rupert Vt where we saw
a fine lot of slate ready to ship.
We then started for home passing
through Salem, Cambridge, and @@Haosick
Fally N.H. @@Pawnal Vt Williamstown Mass
to Pittsfield where we took supper at
the Wendell Hotel. Left there at 8.30
and reached home at 11.10 P.M. having
traveled a total {@@?} 434 miles.
{@@RAK-- Please verify the previous line. Text is difficult to read.
Is there a word between "total" and "434?" Thank you. es}
1925\05\12 (Tuesday)
I spent nearly all day plowing at the farm.
{1925}\05\13 (Wednesday)
This morning I repaired the hen coop {@@coorp?}, and
sharpened a lot of {@@af?} drills and points for
the Church, then went to the farm and
plowed and harrowed etc, came home
got ready and went to town and did
several errands. This evening the boys
that are learning to drum received their
drums, and we went to Mr. George Browns
in Wolcott all in Mr. Pierponts {@@Perponts?} truck,
@@We were there joined by F. Brown, Band
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line indented? es}
@@R Wakelee fifers and all marched to
Charles Tuttles in Woodtick, {@@.?} he drummed
several pieces for us, and we then marched
back, and came home.
{1925}\05\14 (Thursday)
I finished plowing the gardens at East Farms
and dressed them with @@the weeder drew stones
{@@RAK-- Is something written above "the" or is it just the "h?" es}
off the @@potatoe piece @@__{@@?}
{@@RAK-- I can't read the word at the end of the previous line. es}
1925\05\15 (Friday)
I planted in the garden this forenoon
and planted garden seeds etc. Came home
at 4 and went down town and ordered a
plow point of @@Plumb Bros, and bought @@some
seeds.
{1925}\05\16 (Saturday)
John Carew and James Egan came to help
me this morning. We went to the farm
and planted some seeds We then went and
put a sign over the entrance {@@enterance} to Maple Hill
Farms. Came back and found Ray
planting. Soon Mr. Dry came and
wished Mary and i to go to Meriden
and look at some slate roofs {@@roof's}, to leave
at 12.30 which we did, got back about two,
I painted the iron rail on the front fence
this afternoon, and did odd jobs.
1925\05\17 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. @@Laurence {@@Lawrence?} Dry. This day was the
every member @@canvass {@@canvass}, and after service I
took my wife and @@Miss Aetchenson to call
on several members, including Mr. Bergen
in Woodtick and Miss Pickett in Middlebury.
{1925}\05\18 (Monday)
Johnny Carew came this morning and
helped me take down the wire fence North
of the barn and we loaded the posts {@@posts'?} and
wire into the trailer and took them out to
the farm. Soon after we arrived {@@arived} there
Mr. Edson Stocking of Simsbury, Deputy
State Fire Warden, Called to loo_ {@@look? @@lood?} over
the 300 tract that had burned over in
the South east corner of the town, he gave
me 18 Fire posters 3 wire Brooms and 1
single fire pump. This afternoon we
prepared {@@prepaired} the potatoe ground for planting.
1925\05\19 (Tuesday)
This afternoon as I was digging potatoe
holes on the Conner lot, at the time I
finished at 5 P.M. Mr. Mortimer Pierpont
called and wished me @@__{@@to?} go to Manchester
and look at some slate roofs {@@roof's?} on a new
Methodist church adn on some new large
schools, he would call at 6.
I hastened home and put things to rights
in my garage for the Drum Band meeting
this evening {@@punctuation?} and was just sitting down
to supper when he called. He had his
new cadillac {@@cadalac} five passenger {@@passinger} car, and
his wife Jessie was with him, we went
to Rev. Mr. Dry's on the Southmaid road
and Mrs. Dry joined us, @@a_ {@@as?} did Mr. William {@@Willian}
Garrigus on the Meriden road.
We then drove to Meriden where we
looked over several new roofs of @@differen_ {@@different?}
patterns and colors {@@color's} of slate, then @@on
to Manchester, where we saw some of
the best roofs that were ever put on in
Connecticut, then home which we reached
at 9.30 The Mattatuck Drum Band
had held their meeting and elected
the following officers for the coming year
Charles S. Miller, Leader, Raymond H.
Miller, Assistant leader, Howard Neal
Secretary and leland Garrigus Treasurer.
{1925}\05\@@20 (Wednesday)
I dug potatoe holes all day. This
evening I attended a meeting of the following
members of the Building committee at
the Mill Plain Chapel to consider the
@@__nd {@@kind?} of slate bo but for the Church
roof Rev. Laurence Dry, M E Pierpont
Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Miller, {@@,?} and Mr. W. L.
Garrigus. We decided to write for more
information.
{1925}\05\@@21 (Thursday)
I finished digging holes in the tough old
potatoe lot before noon, Jame Eagan
came to help me. This afternoon a man
was sent from the Church to help me
sharpen the air drills, at about two
a telephone call was received that a fire
was burning at the head of Cedar Street
I took the man and James Eagan and
our equipment and hastened to the
place, @@the wind was blowing hard
and the fire was fierce. We put it out
time and again, {@@,?} but the wind started
it many times, {@@,?} several houses were in
danger, one company of firemen were
ther. The fire was not all out safe to
leave @@__{@@td?} ten o'clock at night.
This evening I attended a lecture
at Grange Hall given by Mr. Hawes
State Fire Warden.
1925\05\22 (Friday)
I sharpened drills till two o'clock when
I went to town and did several errands
then went to Woodtick to see Chas {@@Cha's?} Tuttle
he was not @@home This evening the @@new {@@neu?}
drummers came and practiced and
received their uniforms, so that they
could turn out with the drum Corps
in Cheshire next sunday.
1925\05\23 (Saturday)
I planted all of my potatoes to day, had
James Eagan, and John Carew, help me.
also planted in the garden at the farm
and set out @@36 {@@3.6?} tomatoe plants, and hoed
in my home garden.
This evening we had a hard thunder
shower.
{1925}\05\24 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church
this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended the Memorial
exercises at the graves of deceased soldiers
at Cheshire, with the Mattatuck Drum Band.
We left my place at one P.M. daylight saving
time, in our own cars. The parade started at
two, after placing flowers on the graves in
Hillside, St. Bridgets, and St. Peters Cemeteries
we marched to the Town Hall where we heard
speaking singing etc, after which we went to
Odd {@@Old?} Fellows hall where we had dinner.
Those of the Drum Band who were present
were @@(over)
Major Peter Shea,
Fifers, James Phalen, Franklin Browne.
@@Bement Wakelee, Robert Wakelee, Andrew
Kitchenka, John Sexton and harry Buckingham
Bass Drummers,
Ray Miller, Jerald Turtwengler, and
Frank Kitchenka.
Snare Drummers
Charles S Miller, Stephen Kitenka, Ralph
Pierpont, Charles S Tuttle, Arthur Harrison,
Leland Garrigus, Charles @@Monghan, Gardner
Hall, and Howard Neal.
1925\05\25 (Monday)
This morning I clipped the grass in my front
yard, spaded the garden. after dinner
went to the farm and saw George Benhams
Cow that the dogs had bitten, {@@blank space?} then dug
some post holes.
{1925}\05\26 (Tuesday)
Last night at 10.30 as I was about to
retire Mary told me that the chimney
was afire. She called the firemen and
we had a hard time putting it out which
took till about one o'clock.
This morning I went on he roof and took
down the chimney that was injured by the
firemen and cleaned some of the bricks.
after which I put on my uniform and
went to he armory at 11.30 and at twelve
with James Phalen who played the fife
while I drummed we marched with seven
veterans of the Civil War to the Hotel
Elton where the Rotary Club furnished
a fine dinner and entertainment for
the G.A.R. men.
I then came home and worked about
home. This evening we had a drum
Band Meeting.
1925\05\27 (Wednesday)
I worked repairing the Chimeny and
sharpening stone drills to day.
{1925}\05\28 (Thursday)
Finished Repairing Chimney, and worked
@@_____{@@about?} home
{@@RAK-- Is "about" crossed out or is it smudged? es}
1925\05\29 (Friday)
This forenoon I had charge of the Memorial
exercises at Reedville School, and we
marched to Calvary Cemetery where
we placed flags and flowers on the graves
of Peter mc Kenna Arthur Honner, John
@@Irving/Irwing{@@?}, John E. Shoemaker, Laurence {@@Lawrence?}
Leonard, James Sweeney, Thomas Walsh,
and @@Patric Cushing, Veterans of the Civil
War who are buried in the soldiers plot,
also, James Sullivan, J.J. Carroll, George
@@Lachance, Thomas Pryor, Thomas Eagen
and @@Patric Hayes, who are buried elsewhere {@@elswhere?}.
And the following Spanish War Soldiers,
John Cunningham, @@Michel Miller,
Thomas Crean @@Joseph {@@Jaseph?} Packett, Geroge
Picket, and F. J. Walsh.
We then marched back to the School
{@@RAK- Is the previous line indented? es}
house where we disbanded.
In the afternoon I spoke at the
East Farms School where they had very
pleasing exercises, @@Recitations {@@Resitations?}, singing, etc
similar {@@simular?} to those held at Reedville in the fore
noon, after which we marched to the East Farms
Cemetery and laid flowers and placed flags
on fourteen soldiers graves, while it rained quite
hard, as we left the school to go to the Cemetery
the procession was @@led {@@lead?} by three Mill Plain Girl
Scouts, the middle one Carrying a flag, then came
four Mattatuck drummers in full uniform and one
fifer. They were Ralph Pierpont, Charles Mangahan, and
myself drummers and John Sexton fifer, then about
forth scholars {@@schollars} bearing flags and flowers, at the
Cemetery a flag was placed in the marker on the
grave and flowers placed beside it after {@@aftere} which
taps were sounded at each grave, and after all of
the graves had been decorated @@Miss Gessert of
the scouts played taps on her bugle, we then went
back to the @@school house{@@2 words?}.
1925\05\30 (Saturday)
Decoration day. This forenoon I helped Mr. Wm
Loomis and other "Sons of Veterans" place potted
plants on the soldiers graves in Calvary and
East Farms Cemeteries, after which I with other
members of the Mattatuck Drum Band assembled {@@assmbled}
at John Price printing office on Bank St. and
marched to the State Armory on Field Street
where the parade formed, and we marched to the
Soldiers Monument, where we played a @@durge,
while they placed flowers at its base, we then
marched to the new West Main St. bridge @@where {@@wher?}
flowers were @@ca__ {@@cast?} on the waters, in honor of
the sailors that @@lost{@@last?} their lives in the late war.
We then returned to meadow St. and went to the
Honor Roll, where suitable {@@suitible] exercies were held, after
which {@@whitch?} we went to @@Library{@@Lybrary} Park where there was
speaking, and we were dismissed.
There were present Major Peter Shea.
Fifers, James Phalen. Harry Buckingham.
Frank Browne, @@Bement and Robert Wakelee, John
Sexton and Andrew Kitchenka.
Bass Drummers, Raymond Miller, John
Garrigus, @@Gerald Turtwengler, and Frank
Kitchenka.
Snare Drummers. Charles S. Miller, Ralph
Pierpont, ARthur Harrison, Leland Garrigus,
Charles @@Monihan, Charles S. Tuttle, and
Howard Neal.
1925\@@05\31 (Sunday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "June" is written as the month for this entry.
I think that it should be "May" and typed "05" for May. es}
The Mattatuck Drum Band went to Wolcott
this day. We left my house in Ralph
Pierponts Truck which carried the drums
and in Frank @@Kitchenka's {@@Kitchenkas?}, Leland
Garrigus, and My Car.
At Wolcott we attended service in the
Church, which was well filled, Rev. Mr.
@@Toleman preached, {@@blank space?} after which we played
a @@durge to the Soldiers monument, which
the Sons of Veterans decorated, then to
the Cemetery where service was held and
flowers placed on the soldiers graves.
We then marched to the Parish House where
dinner was served, to all, after which
the Drum Band went to the Cemetery
and decorated the grave of Homer
Atkins {@@blank space?} Mr. Tollman offering {@@affering?} prayer and
Mr. Young making an address, after which
the benediction and @@taps.
Those present were {@@blank space?} Major {@@Majar?} Peter Shea.
Fifers, {@@blank space?} Robert Wakelee, Frank Browne, @@Bement
Wakelee, Andrew Kitchenka and John SExton
Bass Drummers, {@@blank space?} Frank Kitchenka{@@,?} John
Garrigus and Leland Garrigus. Snare Drum_ers {@@Drummers?}
Ralph Pierpont, @@Charles Miller, ARthur
{@@RAK-- Is " S" included? es}
Harrison, Charles Tuttle. @@F.C. Moulthrop,
and Charles Monihan.
1925\06\01 (Monday)
Planted corn on the hill, finished
plowing and harrowed it and furrowed
it out put in hen manure and covered it
{1925}\06\02 (Tuesday)
Finished planting the corn and put
ashes about the young apple trees and
dug around them.
{1925}\06\03 (Wednesday)
Worked about home in the morning
and went to he farm this afternoon,
and strengthened the barbed wire fence
east of the garden, as I was driving a
staple into the fence post {@@past?} a flash of
lightening {@@lighting} came and shocked me.
Came home and it rained and
hailed very hard, accompanied by great
thunder and lightening.
Attended the meeting of the annual
business and eclection of officers of the
Mill plain Union Chapel, this evening
and I was elected a deacon to fill out the
unexpired term of my son Irving who has
gone to Milwaukee.
@@1925\06\04 (Thursday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "1924" is written as the year for this entry.
es}
I took my car to pieces to paint the
rusty spots. At 10. Mr. Dry came and
we went to M.E. Pierponts, and we
Bessie Pierpont and we all a
committee went to Hubbard Park
and selected a suitable {@@sutible} place to hold
a service, Sunday June 14th We then
went to he Meriden City Hall and then
to Webster st and got p@ermission from the
superintendent of Parks.
Reached home at @@12.30 had dinnr, went
down town bought Paint etc. and to bank.
Worked the rest of day on my car.
1925\06\05 (Friday)
This morning Mr. Smith came and we
sharpened a lot of Compressed air drills,
and did other work which took till two
O'clock then I worked on my car the rest
of the day.
{1925}\06\06 (Saturday)
I worked on my car this forenoon, and this
afternoon, John Sexton, Franklin Browne,
Ralph Pierpont, Steve Kitchenka, and I,
met about 200 Girl Scouts on the Green and
we drummed and escorted them to Fulton
Park. We went up Prospect Street to Grove,
out Grove to Cook and up Cook to the Park,
where the Girls {@@Girles} held exercises all the afternoon.
{1925}\06\07 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church
Weather very hot 96\o/ {@@degree symbol} in shade as it has
been for the last four days.
After service Enis, Kenneth, David and I
walked out to @@the farm. Ray and Ruth were
there, and they brought us home in their Ford.
1925\06\08 (Monday)
Finished repairing my car.
This afternoon I went down town and bought
6 dozen flags for the Church to use next sunday
{1925}\06\09 (Tuesday)
Went to the Somers Co to day and worked
on the polishing machine.
{1925}\06\10 (Wednesday)
To day Mary Kenneth Brundage and I
went to Simsbury and saw my brother
Frank. We found him @@much improved
in health.
{1925}\06\11 (Thursday)
I worked at the Somers Co on the
polishing machine.
{1925}\06\12 (Friday)
Worked at the Soemrs Co.
After five I went to the farm and planted @@a
lot of evergreen corn, and pop corn.
1925\06\13 (Saturday)
I worked at the Somers Co on he buff machine
till eleven, Came home and got ready
and went to Bristol with the Mattatuck
Drum Band and played in the parade of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
There were present of the Drum Band@@.
Peter Shea Major.
Fifers, @@Robt {@@RAbt} Wakelee, Bement Wakelee, Garry
Buckingham, Frank Browne, Andrew
Kitchenka, and John Sexton.
Bass Drummers,
Frank Kitchenka, John Garrigus, Gerald
Turtwengler, and Leland Garrigus.
Snare Drummers,
Chas Miller, Ralph Pierpont, Stephen @@Kitchenka
Arthur Harrison, Charles Tuttle Howard Neal,
and Charles Monahan.
{1925}\06\14 (Sunday)
To day the Mill Plain Union Church,
went to Hubbard Park in Meriden in
50 Automobiles and held service on the
east shore {@@shard?} of the long lake at the
north end, there were about 250 present.
1925\006\15 (Monday)
Worked at the Soemrs Co to day.
Ralph Pierpont was operated on at the Waterbury
Hospital {@@Haspital?} to day for rupture.
{1925}\06\16 (Tuesday)
This morning Lewis Somers and I went to
Southington to look for @@_ {@@a?} rouge manufacturer
and also to New Britain but we found none.
We had a Drum Band Meeting this evening.
{1925}\06\17 (Wednesday)
I worked at the Somers So six hours to day.
Went to the farm this evening.
{1925}\06\18 (Thursday)
Worked at the Somers Co to day.
{1925}\06\19 (Friday)
Worked at the Somers Co@@, Mr. Sampson
went with {@@withe?} me at @@two o'clock.
This evening I took my trailer {@@trailor?} and carried
a load of old lumber to Sandy Hook for Ray
1925\06\20 (Saturday)
I went to the this morning and cultivated
and hoed {@@howed} my corn.
{1925}\06\21 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church
Rev. Mr. Dry.
After service Arthur Blewett his two sons,
Mary, I, and Kenneth {@@Kennith?} Brundage, went in
my auto to the Avon College {@@Colleage}, and up to
Mr. Eddies @@Toe{@@?} Path Lodge and saw his
wonderful sunken gardens, and @@museum {@@musium}.
etc. We then went on to Avon, and @@Conton
and back home, via Unionville, Bristol
and Wolcott
{1925}\06\22 (Monday)
I went to the Somers Co to day.
{@@RAK-- Is there another line of text? es}
{1925}\06\23 (Tuesday)
Worked at the @@______ __ {@@Somers Co} @@__ ___ {@@to day}
{@@RAK-- I took a guess as to the text in the previous line. Please verify
the previous line. Thank you. es}
Irving came home from Milwaukee to day
@@1925\06\24 (Wednesday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "1924" is written as the year for this entry.
es. }
I went to the Somers Co to day.
{1925}\06\25 (Thursday)
I worked at the Somers Co
{1925}\06\26 (Friday)
Dick and I went to the farm this @@forenoon
and got things ready to go to haying.
This afternoon we went up the Scott
road after dinner and left {@@lift?} some money
at Mr. Haggertys to pay him for putting
out forest fires. We then put up four
fire notices on the Scott road and
one on the plank road. Then we
worked at the farm the rest of the
afternoon, and Dick went home to
@@Tarrington this evening to return
tomorrow {@@tomarrow?} afternoon
{1025\@@06\27 (Saturday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that "May" is written as the month for this entry.
es. }
I worked at the Somers Co{@@.?} this forenoon
putting a 25 H.P. Motor on the new polishing
machine. This P.M. I spent at the farm. @@__{@@?}
{@@RAk-- I think that something is written at the end of the previous
line. I can't read what it is. es}
Pierpont family reunion was held in
the Mill Plain Union Chapel this evening
There were about 91 people present.
1925\06\28 (Sunday)
This day the first service was held in
the new Mill Plain Union Church.
It was held on the second floor, the
walls of the third are not all up and
roof is not on. The service was
a childrens day service, and there were
many baptisms. After which the
audience went out and the Corner
Stone was laid by Rev. Mr. Dry.
{1925}\06\29 (Monday)
I worked to day at the Somers Co five hours.
This evening @@____ ______{@@?} of Irving
{@@RAK-- I can't read two words in the middle of the previous line. es}
met at the Chapel and had supper with
his family, and bid him good bye, had
speeches by Rev. Mr. Dry, @@Mr. Hubbard, Mr.
Ogdon, Mr. Blewett Mr. Jones and others,
and presented him with a fine leather @@travelli_ {@@travellers?
travelling?} bag.
{1925}\06\30 (Tuesday)
This forenoon Mr. Smith came and we
@@sharpened a lot of compressed {@@comprissed?} drills, and I sharpened
many, small drills.
In the afternoon I went to Irvings at 175
Southmaid Road and got two @@loads @@of
{@@RAK-- Please verify "loads of." Text is difficult to read. Thank
you. es}
sundry things that he had left {@@lft?}, after disposing
of all that he could.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Band held
a rehearsal {@@rehearsll} and voted to give Irving a fountain
pen. He and Dot and John spent the night
at my house.
{1925}\07\01 (Wednesday)
This morning Irving Dot and John left
at 7.50 to go to their house and later
took the train, having been joined at
the station by Enid, David and @@Barbara {@@Barbira?}
who staid at Maple Hill last night.
After they had gone Dick and I went to
the farm and mowed the middle lot, then {@@thin?}
cultivated the potatoes, and @@paris{@@?} greened{@@?} {@@.?}
@@then and then got the hay in the barn.
{@@RAK-- Should "then" be them?" es}
1925\07\26 (Sunday)
On the Fourth of July the Mattatuck
Drum Band turned out for the Cottage
park association had a short march
about the boulevard and other streets
in that section of the City and the
parade ended in Foulton Park, at
noon.
After {@@Afer?} dinner Mary and I went to
Mr. Shermans at South Kingston
@@R. I. {@@R. J.?} we went by way of Middletown
Marlborough, Colchester, Norwich,
and Westerly. We staid there till
Monday and came home, {@@.?} Raymond
@@Ruth and Dick were there and they
staid till Sunday.
{@@RAK-- There are a couple of blank lines with smudges. Should this be
text? Are the next three lines of text a new entry? What is the date for
this entry? es}
To day I attended service at the Mill
Plain Church Rev. Mr. Dry preached.
It has rained off and on during the day.
1925\07\27 (Monday)
It has rained at times all day. I mowed
a little in the lower end of my lot this
morning, and cleaned out the barn,
after which I went out to East Farms
and unloaded a load of hay, repaired
the roof on the barn, and cut some hay
in the upper lot. Came home and
cleaned barn, and at six o'clock went
to the Somers Co, and met Mr. Muse of
Southington and we tried out the big
polishing machine, he recommends {@@recomends} a
harder wheel.
{@@1925}\@@08\@@__{@@9?} (Sunday)
{@@RAK-- Is the date the 9th of August? Please verify that the year
for this entry is "1925." There is an ink blot over the "5." es}
Mary and I went to day over to Rays
camp at @@Zoar Lake, on the west side a
little south of the site of the old @@Bennetts
bridge
{1925}\08\30 (Sunday)
Last Friday evening M. E. Pierponet, Wm
Garrigus, Bessie pierpont mary Miller,
and myself went to Southington and listened
to a set of Chimes in the Congregational Chur__ {@@Church?}
{@@RAK-- Note in margin, next to first line: Church}
{@@RAK-- What is punctuation after "Congregational Church?" ".?" es}
Saturday after the building {@@buildding} committee
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line indented? es}
met at the new church and decided to leave
out the north petition in the lage east
room on the first floor, and install @@cooling {@@_ooling?}
doors @@in the place of the @@folding {@@foulding?} doors
at the south end, also not to order the
Chimes until later, as it will take a
long time to build the tower.
1925\09\05 (Saturday)
To day I got in two loads oif hay from
Mr. Hazlehearsts, and @@Mr __________ lots
{@@RAK-- Line is drawn in text. es}
near the Cemetery at East Farms.
@@Tony Mapoli helped me I gave 1.50
{1925}\09\06 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Chapel. Rev. mrs. Coe of Wolcott preached
small congregation. He announced {@@.?}
that there was cleared at the Lawn {@@Laun?}
@@Fate{@@Fete?} given at Bessier Pierponts last
wednesday evening $160.00.
1925\09\07 (Monday)
This is @@Labor {@@Labour} Day, and I inteneded to go
to Goshen Fair, but it has rained all day
I worked about home, and sharpened a lot
of stone drills, and points for the new church {@@chirch?}.
{1925}\09\08 (Tuesday)
This morning I finished a pattern for castings
for my front fence, and then went to town,
Down between the Meriden road and Idylwood
avenue they are putting down new trolley
rails and paving the streets, (one way traffic {@@trafic}
I left my car on Grand St. and went to
the Law Office of @@Meyer Hincks & Traurig and
did some business with mr. Meyer, paid him
1.00. Then went to the Waterbury Savings bank
and got my @@sal_ry {@@salgry? salary?} check cashed. @@71.50 Then to
Upson and Singleton's, and bought a suit of
clothes 35.00. then home, had dinner and went
out to the farm, and finished mowing Charles
Wilkenbach lot, and brought home a load of
@@vegetables {@@vegtables?}
{@@RAK-- I think I typed correctly the spelling for "vegetables." Please
verify that I typed this word correctly. Text is difficult to read.
Thank you. es}
1925\09\09 (Wednesday)
This morning I went out to the farm at
8 o'clock and I @@ba_ed {@@bored?} an 1 1/2" hole in each
corner of the hay rigging on the cart and
put stakes in the holes that stood up two
feet and two inches down nailed a board
six inches wide from {@@fron?} one to the other on the
sides of the rigging so the hay will not
fall off. I then spread the hay I mowed
yesterday and when dry raked it up
and finished heaping at noon. 43 heaps.
I then got the ox and fed him, ate my
dinner and yoked him into the cart,
and loaded on the hay, the rigging
worked good holding the slippery swamp
hay in place, I got onto the loade and
@@stamped {@@stomped?} it down and placed on twenty
eight @@heaps took it up to the barn and
put it on the @@stack, and then drew up
the remainder, and stacked it, then
cleaned up the floor of the barn and
came home @@at @@_____{@@five?}.
{@@RAK-- Is "five" correct? Text is difficult to read. es}
Mary, Margaret, and I intend to go to
the state fair at hartford tomorrow {@@tomarrow?}.{@@.?}
so I drove up and saw Charlie Tuttle at
Woodtick but he could not go, came home
by the Todd and Meriden @@roads, Frank
Cripping was cutting @@ensilage corn in
her Bessie Pierponts lot corner of Todd and Meriden roads
with a new two horse cutter, the corn was
fourteen feet high and very heavy, and
the big team had all it could do to
draw the cutter.
Came home had supper, and mary
has arranged {@@arrained} to have @@Mrs. Patchen go to
Hartford with us tomorrow.
{1925}\09\13 (Sunday)
Last Thursday Mary, Mrs. Patchen Margaret,
and I went in my auto to Charter oak Fair
at Hartford. It was the best Fair I ever saw
in this state. In the evening mary and I
went to a supper at Grange Hall.
Friday I worked mowing the swamp east
of the Cemetery {@@Cemetary} at east FArms. It was the
hottest day of the year.
Saturday I mowed nearly all day in the
swamp, very @@hot
@@1925\09\13 (Sunday)
{@@RAK-- 1. Please note that "1924" is written as the year for this
entry.
2. Please note that this is the second entry for this date.
es. }
Attended service at Mill Plain CHurch
Mrs. Coe of Wolcott preached.
Staid home all of the afternoon and read.
{1925}\09\14 (Monday)
This morning it looked {@@tooked?} like rain, about
nine it cleared some and I went to
the farm and finished mowing, and
this afternoon raked the hay all into
@@winrows{@@?}.
{1925}\09\17 (Thursday)
Tuesday I got five loads of hay and
put it on the stack.
The Chimney on the Church is finished {@@finshed}
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text:
Church}
and looks fine, it is four feet square
and fourteen feet high above the roof
base and lined with a round @@tile {@@ti_e?}, the
outside is of stone.
Wednesday, I s___pened {@@RAK-- Text is hard to read. My guess is
sharpened} a lot of small
drills this morning, then went to the
@@f___ {@@farm?} and drew concrete posts {@@pasts?} up to
the shed {@@sked?} lot. This evening ten members of
the Mattatuck Drum Band played to
advertise the big fair of St. Paul and St. Peters
church.
To day I sharpened a lot of small drills
and went to the farm and worked @@_n {@@on?} a
new fence, at the shed lot.
1925\09\20 (Sunday)
Last Friday I went to the Wolcott Fair
with the Mattatuck Drum Band, and we
played more or less all day. The fair was the
best I ever saw in Wolcott but the attendance {@@attendence}
was less than sometimes.
Saturday at Wolcott fair with {@@withe?} the
Drum Band the attendance {@@attendence?} was very large.
The American @@Legon {@@Legion?} Band played each
afternoon.
This afternoon at 1.30 a young man named
@@Frank Innacent {@@Innocent?} was working for Raymond
on the roof of the casting shop at the West
Mill of the American Brass Co. when he seized
an electric wire charged with 2300 volts, it
killed him {@@hin} instantly. They were standing
on he ridge of a metal sky light at the time
Ray @@grasp on the wire and he fell through
{@@RAK-- Should "grasp" be "grasped?" es}
the sky light pulling Ray after him, bur Ray
caught hold of the sash and held the man
by one leg over 70 ft above the concrete floor {@@floar?}
till help came and they pulled him up through
the broken glass onto the roof.
The man was 20 years old and his home
was at Reynolds {@@Reynalds?} Bridge.
To day I attended service at the Mill Plain
Church, @@Rev. Laurence Dry. He has returned
from a three @@weeks trip to Nebraska.
{@@RAK-- Should "weeks" be "week?" es}
This afternoon Mary and I went to
the home of Mrs. Homer Atkins in Wolcott
and got a drum and violin that Homer
wished me to have when he died.
{1925}\09\21 (Monday)
I went to the farm this morning and
@@built @@fence all day
{1925}\09\22 (Tuesday)
Marys Birthday Born Sept 22, 1860
@@I @@picked grapes all the forenoon, sharpened
drills and points this afternoon, then delivered
some grapes that were engaged, by Mrs.
@@D.C. Wooding, @@Mrs. Clarence Wooding and
@@Mrs. Cruse, then went to the center and
bought six, six quart fruit baskets.
{1925}\09\23 (Wednesday)
@@To day I cut corn at the farm, after I ate
{@@RAK-- Is "To day" 2 words? Text is difficult to read. es}
my dinner I washed my auto which took
two hours. When I came home I came by
the new Mill Plain Church, they have
put the slate opn the east side of the
{@@RAK-- Not in margin of text: Church}
roof, began last monday morning.
{1925}\09\24 (Thursday)
@@Clif, Margaret, Mary and I went to
the Springfield fair. We left at eight
and it took us two and one half hours, {@@,?}
to get there @@57 {@@?} miles. It was a grand fair
could not describe it. We left there at 5.30
reached home before 8.
1925\09\25 (Friday)
This morning I went up to the Mill
Plain Church and saw the slters putting
on the slate with copper nails. They
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text: Church}
have the @@lkath {@@lathe?} all on on the first floor
and the @@stone work on the south end
is finished, and they are laying up
the chimney top.
I then went to the farm and cut
corn, and set {@@sit?} fence @@posts {@@pasts?} the rest
of the day
{@@RAK-- Is there a note in the margin of the text next to the previous
line? es}
This evening I went to @@Mr. Earl Hartleys
the tax collector for East Farms School
District and paid my school tax, I also
paid Irvings and Mary's.
{1925}\09\26 (Saturday)
I sharpened stone tools this morning
@@after which I went to town and paid
@@m_ {@@my} telephone bill, and then drove
to Plymouth {@@Plymoth} Fair, they had a large
nice country @@fair.
1925\09\27 (Sunday)
My birth day born 1858. Attended
service at the Mill Plain Chapel. @@Rev.
Laurence Dry
This afternoon mary and I went to
Plymouth {@@Plymoth?} Fair ground where we helped
Morton Pierpont take down the
tents and load them into his truck.
This evning we went with others
over to Marion where Mr. Dry held
service in the brick Chapel, it was
well filled.
{1925}\09\28 (Monday)
I went to the farm and dug potatoes
to day.
{1925}\09\29 (Tuesday)
I dug potatoes to day.
{1925}\09\30 (Wednesday)
Finished digging potatoes to day.
Went to town @@____ {@@this?} @@__ternoon {@@afternoon?} to
have a new furnace {@@furnice} pipe made{@@.?}
1925\10\02 (Friday)
To day I finished cutting corn, at the farm
{@@RAK-- Is "To day" 2 words? es}
and picked beans, and made barn repairs
the rest of the day.
1925\10\16 (Friday)
Last saturday Mary, Raymond, Ruth,
and I started at 8 o'clock in my @@Hupmobile
and went on ehumdred miles to mr. John
Shermans at Potters Pond near point
Judith in Rhose Island. We reached there
before @@one {@@ane?}, {@@,?} o'clock. The weather was cold and
he wind blew a gale. Ray and I went to the
flats and got a mess of long clams, which
we had for supper.
Sunday we went to church at Perryville, {@@,?}
after which we drove to Narragansett Pier
then to Saunderstown where we took the
ferry @@1.35 to Jamestown and went across
@@Conavient Island and took ferry 1.35 to Newport,
where we saw the @@Old stone windmill tower
and other sight and then on the Portsmouth
and Britts hill where we viewed an old
Revolutionary Fort etc. Then returned hom
by the same route that we went. The speedometer
reading @@60 miles.
1925\10\19 {Monday} 9 P.M.
Gray Somers telephoned a short time ago
that Uncle Dwight L. Somers had just
died. @@93 years of age.
1925\11\15 @@{@@RAK-- What day of the week is this? es}
I attended the last regular service that
is to be held by the Mill Plain Union
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text: Church}
Church in the old Chapel that was
built in 1883. REv. Mr. Dry officiating.
This afternoon a drive to raise money
for the new Church was started, Mr.
W. Percy Ogden had it in charge.
1925\11\22 (Sunday)
This morning at ten o'clock the first
sunday school convened in the new
Mill Plain Union Church, there were
about 275 present, at eleven the Preaching
service met Rev. Laurence {@@Laurence} Dry officiating
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text: Church {@@?}}
@@Text. "Press onward toward the goal,"
There were about 300 present.
Thjis evening the Christian Endeavor {@@Endevor}
Society gave a play and service, there
were about 325 present.
The meetings were held in the
gymnasium {@@gymmasium} which is not yet complete.
This day is our 43rd wedding
anniversary {@@annaversary}. @@We {@@we?} were married in the Chapel
at Mill Plain before it was six months
old. Our's was the first wedding.
1925\11\26 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving. The Somrs family met
at All @@Soles {@@Soules} Church and hled a reunion
and had dinner. There were 50 present.
Robert Somers was elected President {@@Preident} to
succeed {@@su_ceed? susceed?} his father. @@W. M. Gillette was
elected Vice President.{@@.?} Mary and I, and
Ruth Brundage were all of our branch
that were present.
{1925}\11\28 (Saturday)
I worked at Wm Gillettes to day taking
down the small portible house that
stood back of his dwelling. He is to
send it to his brother Dr. Gillette of
New Hampshire, town Londonderry.
1925\11\29 (Sunday)
Attended service in the new stone Mill
Plain Union Church, @@Rev. Laurence Dry
officiating. The service was held in the
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text: Church}
@@gymnasium {@@gymmasium?}, there was no heat only
what two wood burning stoves gave and
it was very cold. They get the steam
heat on tomorrow it is @@expected {@@erpected?}
1925\11\30 (Monday)
This morning Mrs. Benham of East
Farms telephoned that Mr. Benham
was sick and wished me to do the
chores, {@@,?} I milked his four cows and
cleaned the stables, carried the milk
to Edward Bronsons, etc.
The I went over to my place and
took a load of manure up on the
hill and, blasted out a big rock
and drew a lot of corn stalks from
@@Harold {@@Harald?} Pierponts to my Barn, and
then did Mr. Benhams chores.
1925\12\01 (Tuesday)
@@To day I did the chores at Mr. Benhams
{@@RAK-- Is "To day" 2 words? es}
Went {@@Wen} to town this noon and paid
my telephone bill, and tzx bill at City
Hall
This evening I attended at
@@meeting of the official board of the
{@@RAK-- Should "meeting" be "the meeting?" es}
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text: @@Church{@@?} es}
Mill Plain Union Church.
The heating plant was started
this afternoon.
19825\12\02 (Wednesday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that both "Nov" and "Dec" are written as the month
for this entry. es}
This evening I attended a meeting of
@@of the members of the Mill Plain Union
{@@RAK-- Please note that "of" is written twice. es}
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text: Fair es}
Church, and also everybody else that
wished to come. It being the first
night of the first, @@night of the first
{@@RAK-- Is the phrase "night of the first" duplicated? es}
Fair held in the new church. About
340 sat at a fine turkey supper, and
@@altogather there were about 600 present.
{@@RAK-- Should "altogather" be "altogether" or "all together?" es}
1925\12\03 (Thursday)
This morning I went to East Farms
and did the chores, and then to
@@G. W. Benhams, but he had improved
{@@RAK-- Please note that the previous line looks like it is indented in
the original. es}
in health and he his morning work
all done. Came home and repaired
two auto tires. Went to Wm Gillette's
and got a load of ladders, tools, @@plank,
{@@RAK-- Should "plank" be "planks?" es}
etc.
This evening I attended the second
night of the Church fair at Mill
Plain there were about 400 people
there. The weather being very wet.
1925\12\07 (Monday)
Last Friday at 5 P.M. Mary, Miss
May Bronson of Waterville @@and {@@an?} myself in
@@Hazle {@@Hayle?} Pierponts {@@Pierpont's} Dodge Car went to Storrs
@@College {@@Colledge?},{@@,?} which we reached at eight o'clock.
After supper we went to the Howley
Armory where they had a grand dance.
Saturday was spent about the @@College {@@Coleage?}
Hazle and I went to Willimantic and had
her car repaired, on the way home she drove
round by Hanks Hill and left me at the house
of @@O. G. Hanks where I visited with mr. Hanks
till dark, I thenk @@walked{@@waked?} to Ruth's house where
we had supper, and then we all went to the
Armory to an entertainment.
Sunday morning we all went to Church
in the old Congregational Church and heard
Rev. Mr. Allen preach, after which we went home
to Ruth's and had tinner. In the afternoon
Jack and I went to the power plant, and up
to the hen houses, then back home and had
sipper. About six we left for home stopping
at Hartford for Miss Bronson, we came
via Farmington, Bristol, Plymouth {@@Plymoth}, and
Waterville where we left Miss Bronson
we reached home at eleven.
This noon I went to town and got the
Somers Co check cashed at the Merchants Trust
Co, and then went to Bristol and got ten
castings at the Sessions Foundry Co.{@@.?}
came home, and cut wood.
1925\12\08 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Mill Plain Church
and staid till noon. This afternoon I sharpened
a lot of stone cutters tools, and {@@an?} then worked
about the house.
{1925}\12\09 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the Mill Plain Church
and Mr. Garrigus set me to laying the
maple floor {@@floar?} on the East side room of the
stage.
{1925}\12\10 (Thursday)
Worked at the Church to day 8 hours.
{1925}\12\11 (Friday)
Worked at the Church 8 1/2 hours
{1925}\12\12 (Saturday)
@@Worked {@@Wolked?} this forenoon sharpening drills.
This afternoon worked at the church.{@@.?} 3 1/2 hr
Robt Somers came and took me to the
Waterbury Rolling @@Milton{@@?} to see the fly wheel.
1925\12\13 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
This evening Mary and I went out the Cheshire
Road to see the New work being done
{1925}\12\14 (Monday)
Worked to day at the Church.
{1925}\12\15 (Tuesday)
Worked at the Church th8is day 7 hrs
Robt and Gordon Somrs came and took
me up to the Waterbury Rolling Mills
to see the fly Wheel that is loose on
the shaft.
{1925}\12\20 (Sunday)
I have worked at the Church all of this
week @@principally{@@?} laying the maple
floor in the gallery.
(over)
@@The service this morning was well
{@@RAK-- I indented the previous line. Is this ok? es}
attended, the gymnasium where it was
held was very prettily decorated with
{@@RAK-- Note written in margin of text: Church es}
ground pine laurel etc.
At 4.30 this afternoon a Vesper service was
held the gymnasium was lighted with many
candles, and colored lights.
There were about 26 people in the Choir
and 170 in the congregation.
Program,
Processional "O came all Ye Faithful" {@@Faithfal?}
"The first Noel". {@@."?} Choir
Invocation.
"Angles {@@Angels?} from the Realms of Glory"
O Little town of Bethlehem. Quartette
Responsive Reading.
Floria
"Draw Nigh Emmanuel" Choir
"We Three Kings of Orient are" Choir
Scripture Lesson Isa 9:1-7
Offeratory "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen"
Daxology
Prayer
"Holy Night, Peaceful Night". Choir
"Joy to the World"
Benediction {@@Beneiction?}
Response {@@Responce?} by Choir
Postlude.
1925\12\21 (Monday)
Shortest day of the year.
Was at East Farms before six this morning
and drew a load of manure up on the hill.
Finished laying the floor in the gallerys of the
gymnasium and started laying in the South
West Room.
Will and Leland Garrigus worked on the hand rail
on the gallery.
{1925}\12\22 (Tuesday)
Worked all day laying the floor in @@in the
{@@RAK-- Please note that "in" is written twice in the original. es}
south west room.
{1925}\12\23 (Wednesday)
{@@RAK-- Please verify the date. All I could read was "Wednesday."
Thank you. es}
Worked laying the floor in the south
(over)
west room and did quite a little
trimming @@the{@@?} hall.
This evening they had the christmas
exercises in the gymnasium which was
{@@RAK-- Note in margin of text: Church}
well filled @@435{@@?} being present.
{1925}\12\24 (Thursday)
Worked at the Church all day i. e. from
eight to five, finished the floor {@@floar?} in the
south west room and started laying
in the south east room.
Will and Leland Garrigus worked at
Warren Hitchcocks house @@on {@@an?} a new bath
room.
{1925}\12\25 (Friday)
Christmas.{@@,?} All of my children came
home except Irving and his family who
are in Milwaukee and Clydes wife who
is sick. There were 23 here.
1925\12\26 (Saturday)
I worked with Leland Garrigus laying the
maple floor in the South East upper room {@@froom?} of {@@af?}
the Gymnasium.
{1925}\12\27 (Sunday)
Attended service in the Mill Plain Church.
{1925}\12\28 (Monday)
Began laying the main floor in the gymnasium
Leland Garrigus was out with a sore {@@sar?} finger
{1925}\12\29 (Tuesday)
Laid floor all day, John Garrigus helped
this afternoon.
{1925}\12\30 (Wednesday)
Laid floor {@@floar?}, John Garrigus helped all day
and Leland this afternoon.
{@@RAK-- The dates for the entries from Sunday, Dec. 27, 1925 to
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1925 were all corrected. Please advise if I
typed in the correct dates. es}
{1925}\12\31 (THursday)
Laid main floor John Leland and I.
1926\01\01 (FRiday)
1926 was ushered in by the blowing
of factory whistles and the ringing
of chimes in St. Johns church.
Mary and I went to Elton Edwards
to hear the ringing of the old
Independence {@@Indipendence} bell in Philadelphia, on
his radio, but at midnight there
whistles and gongs that we could
hear nothing else.
To day I made the woodwork for the
auto business body for the Ford car
1926\01\3 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mil Plain Church
138 in attendance {@@attendence}.
{1926}\01\08 (Friday)
Began @@faying{@@?} the red oak floor in the
Sunday school rooms over the gymnasium
in the Mill Plain Church, started at
the north end.
1926\01\10 (Sunday)
Attended Church as usual to day 110 people
present
1926\01\11 (Monday)
I worked at the Mill Plain CHurch to day @@8 1/2{@@?}
hours making over the room for the moving
picture machine. Wm Garrigus, Leland
Garrigus and I on the joiner work and
@@Mr. Iman and his son laying up the gypsum
blocks.
This morning was the coldest yet this
season 2 below zero. Last saturday it
snowed to the depth of four inches.
{1926}\01\12 (Thursday)
Worked at Mill Plain Church, in the
fore noon @@o_{@@on?} the moving picture room, and
we i.e. Wm Garrigus and Leland together {@@togather}
with myself put the roof on the tower, all
but the @@f_lt{@@felt?}.
1926\01\13 (Friday)
Coldest morning as yet six degrees below
zero. I went to East Farms and took care
of Jasper, and then went to Maple hill and
got @@Hazel Pierpont and then back home.
At nine Mary, Hazle and I started for Kent
we went through Middlebury, Southbury,
Roxbury, Bridgewater, New Milford, and
Bulls Bridge, reached there before noon.
In the {@@the} afternoon Hazel, Elsie, Frank, and
{@@RAK-- "The" is written twice in the original. es}
their daughter {@@dayghter} Mary Ann, went up through
Macedonia to West Farm owned by @@Miss Myra
Hapson, and saw a fine heard of @@Gurnsey
cows, and two large black pair of horses,
and many colts that she is raising to sell.
The buildings were all in good order with
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is indented. Thank you.
es}
planty of feed and hay for th stock.
When we left there we were over @@Shiff
mountain and down a long steep hill and across
an iron bridge to North Kent and home
to Franks where @@_e? {@@we? use?} staid over night.
This morning (thursday) {@@()?} after breakfast
and chores, Frank took us, mary Hazel
and I in his Buick {@@Buic} car to the Kent Schools
which we went thorugh, we met Father Sill,
and several other of his assistants, visited the
Main Building Dining Hall, Entertainment
hall, Post Office, Infirmary {@@Infermary?} etc. from there
we went to South Kent where they were
cutting ice and saw a new {@@mew?} Ice saw work,
after which we went to Macedonia where Frank
did some buisness and then on over the line
into New York through @@South Amenia to
Wassaic where Frank saw about buying a lot of
grain, then back home and had dinner after
which we left for home, came through Cornwall
Bridge, Cornwall Plains, up Bunker HIll, through
West Goshen,{@@.?} Goshen where we stoped and saw
the Ovaitts [Oviatts], then to Farmington where we saw
Clydes wife, and down the valley of the
Naugatuck and home, the distance from Kent
home being @@46 miles.
1926\01\15 (Friday)
I worked to day laying a red oak floor in
the north east room on the first story of
the Mill Plain Union Church.
1926\01\17 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church
Rev. laurence Dry preached, there were 17 in
the Choir and 135 in the congregation 152 in all.
This afternoon Howard Neal called and read
me an article he had written for the sunday
Republican about the Mattatuck Drum Band.
We, Mary, Howard, and I, went to Cheshire
to see Gardner Hall but he was not at @@home.
1926\01\16 (Saturday)
{@@RAK-- Please note that the entry for January 17, 1926 is written
before the entry for January 16, 1926. es}
This fore noon I worked at the Mill Plain
Church laying floor in the N. E. room on
the first floor.
This afternoon I turned out with the
Mattatuck DRum Band to observe Banjamin
Franklins birthday. We assembled in the
City Hall. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the
D.A.R. a number of printers, and the
Mayor and several City officials at 2.30
we marched to the Franklin statue in
libary park, playing as we went. At the
statue we listened to an address by the
mayor, and @@Mr. Haddoni, and the printers placed
a wreath on the statue, after which we marched
back to City Hall where disbanded.
There were present, Frank Brown,e Bemit
Wakelee, John Sexton, and Andrew Kitchenka,
Fifers. {@@blank space} Frank Kitchenka Bass drummer,
C. S. Miller.{@@.?} and Ralph Pierpont, Snare
drummers.
1926\01\31 (Sunday)
Raind all day. {@@blank space} I attended service at
the Mill Plain Union Church this forenoon
and Mary and I went to West Simsbury
this afternoon to visit my brother Frank.
1926\03\01 (Monday)
Mrs. Ineson came to live in our front
room.
1926\03\11 (THursday)
I attended a meeting of the Fire Wardens of
New Haven County, at the Yale Forestry {@@Forerstry}
buidling on propsect St New Haven, to day.
1926\03\@@26 (Friday)
This evening the Mattatuck Drum
Band went to Hartford to broadcast @@broodcast}
at the Travelers {@@Should this be Travellers?} Insurance station,{@@.?}
The tunes that were broadcasted were
1 Brigade Quickstep.
2 Old Army March.
3 General Greens march,
4 White @@Cackade.
Those who played were, Major Peter Shea,
who broadcasted an address.
Fifers. {@@blank space} Charlie Cass, Bement Wakelee,
Robert Wakelee, James Phalen, @@Thedare {@@Theodore?}
Kents, Andrew Kitchenka John Sexton and
Franklin Browne.
Bass Drummers. {@@blank space} Raymond Miller,
George Cass, @@Girlad {@@or Gerald?} Turtwengler,
Frank Kitchenka, and the snar drummers
were Charles S. Miller, Ralp;ph Pierpont,
Stephen Kitchenka, Robert Prabst,
Gardner Hall, Charles S Tuttle, Arthur
Harrison, and Howard Neal.
1926\06\12 (Saturday)
The Rev. Laurence Dry pastor of the
Mill Plain Union Church for the
past six years, who resigned two
weeks ago, left this morning in
his Buick {@@Buic} Sedan for @@Estes Bark,
Colorado.
The Mattatuck Drum Band leaves
tomorrow for the grand military parade
at the @@Susqui Centennial at Philadelphia
we are going in a large Auto Bus owned
by the Bunker Hill Transportion {@@Transportation?}
Company which leaves my house at 7 A.M.
and the Armory at 8.
Those who are going are Peter Shea,
Drum Major, Charles S. Miller Leader,
Fifers Charles Cass, @@Bement Wakelee,
Robert Wakelee, James Phalen, Theodore
Kurtz, Andrew Kitchenka John Sexton
Frank Browne, and Mr. Greenwood.
Bass Drummers.
Raymond H. Miller, George Cass,
John Garrigusx, and Frank
Kitchenka.
Snare Drummers.
Chas S. Miller, Stephen Kitchenka,
Ralph Pierpont, @@Robt Prabst,
Gerald Turtwengler, Chas Monahan,
Chas S. Tutle, and Howard Neal.
@@1926\06\20 (Sunday)
{@@RAK-- Is "1926" correct? es}
Last Sunday morning the
Large auto Bus owned by the
Bunker Hill Transpotation {@@Tranportion} Co.
drove to my place at Oak Corner
and a large part of the Mattatuck
Drum Band got aboard after
securing our @@drum's on top
{@@RAK-- Should "drum's" be "drums?" es}
and left at 7 o'clock, and went
to the Armory on Field St.
where we met the {@@-?} Sedgwick
Guard and they loaded into
three more large @@busses{@@?} and
all started @@Philadelphia at 8.50
{@@RAK-- Should "started Philadelphia" be "started to Philadelphia?" es}
The other Busses soon left us and
we went via Derby, Nichols, Bridgeport
and Stamford to New York. Crossed
the Hudson at Dikeman St. Ferry{@@,?}
at 1 PM.{@@.?} and @@ascended {@@assended} the @@palisades{@@palsades?}
where we stoped at a refreshment
stand for some timnes. Then on through
Newark, Newbrunswick, @@Prenston/Prinston {@@Princeton?},
and Trenton where we crossed the
Delaware at {@@at} 5.45 (day light saving
{@@RAK-- "at" is written twice. es}
time) and on to Philadelphia via
the Roosevelt {@@Rosevelt} boulevard and arrived
at the hotel "Robert Morris" at Arch
and 17th Sts. at 7.45 P.M.
Monday at 9 o'clock we formed
and marched up Parkway about one
mile and formed with the rest,
of the Conn troops, and after some
delay the whole line moved down
Park Way to Broiad St and around
City Hall, then out South Broad
St. to the @@Seaqui Centennial grounds
where we passed in review in
the huge Stadium where there
were seated over 80,000 people who
applauded us heavily, as did the crowd
along the whole line of march when we
played. {@@blank space} @@_n{@@On?} the Reviewing stand
were Gen Pershing, and staff, @@Gov{@@?}
Charles Dean of Rhode Island, Gov
Robinson of Delaware, Gov John H.
Trumbull of Conn, Gov Byrd of Virginia
Gov Mc Cloud of South Carolina {@@South Carolinia?},
@@___{@@Gov? looks like You? } of Penn, and @@Lieut Gov Allen
of Mass. The parade was the
grandest i ever saw. The line of
march about 10 miles long, and
weather very hot.
Tuesday we left the hotel at
9 A.M. marched to the Penn station
on Market St. and boarded the
train which took us to Valley Forge
where we played at @@Washingtons{@@Washington's?}
Head Quarters {@@Head Qurters} and went through
the house, after which we took
Busses and went to the Waterman
Monument, and played @@dow_ {@@down?} the
hill to where dinner was served.
@@After all of the troops of the original
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is indented. Thank you.
es}
thirteen States passed in review.
the grandest @@sight I ever saw. after
which we took busses, and train back
to Philadelphia.
Wednesday we left the hotel at 9.50
for home, came back by the same
route we went except that we crossed
the Hudson at 23rd St. {@@.?} Ferry
and reached home at 10 P.M.
1927\05\19 (Thursday)
This afternoon William Gillette and his
son Mansfield @@_nd {@@and?} I drove my
Hupmobile to @@Old Saybrook where I bought
a used Packard Touring Car of @@A L
Dudley for 850.00 and left my old
Hup for him to sell.
1927\05\22 (Sunday)
This morning Mary and I left home
at @@8.20 and drove to Raymonds cottage{@@,?}
on the West side of Lake Zoar in
my Packard Car, after which we all
went to the Congregational Church
at New Town and attended service{@@.?}
[1928\02\12 (Sunday); see below]
[1928\02\13 (Monday); see below]
[1928\02\14 (Tuesday); see below]
[1928\02\17 (Friday); see below]
[1928\02\18 (Saturday); see below]
1928\04\07 (Saturday)
The last service that I attended at the Mill
Plain Union Church was Sunday Feb 12,
On monday Feb 13th I and Leland Garrigus
worked for Morton E. Pierpont, putting up
beaded ceiling in the "horse part" of his
new barn at East Farms.
The day was wet with snow and ice on
the ground. I came home at noon in my
little Ford truck, and not feeling well
lay down on the bed, having a bad
cold and coughing my hernia's causing
much pain Mary telephoned Dr. Barber.
He came next morning, prescribed {@@priscribed?}
medicine @@etc.{@@itc.?), said that he was afraid of
pneumonia, and that I must stay in bed.
There I remained until Friday, having
never before been in bed 24 hours since
@@1875. Friday and Saturday I went down
town and did some business, and Saturday
night was taken sick again and have
been down ever since, soon after I had a
talk with the Doctor and he gave me full
information regarding operations for
rupture, and it was decided that I should
go to the Waterbury Hospital and that
he should operate as soon as I was in the
proper condition. I having a bronchial {@@bronkill}
cough that must be cured before I went.
[1928\03\08 (Monday)]
This took till Mar 8th When Will Gillettee
came with his nice Packard car and
carried Mary and I to the Hospital.
I was accepted at the office and after
answering many questions {@@qustions}, age, name, residence,
occupation, etc etc. was taken up on the
elevator to the third floor, and given
a bed in a large room with seven others.
A night shirt was given me, and a screen
placed between me and the door, which
was at the head of my bed and I was told
to undress, at 2 P.M. Soon a nurse {@@nerse?} came and
she took an inventory {@@invantory} of my clothes and
everything that was in my pockets and
all and took them away.
The afternoon was long as I lay there
with nothing to do till supper was brought
at 5 o'clock. I ate little, and the night
soon passed, as there was much to attract
my attention. The nurses were very busy
attending to the wants of others, at 5.30 they
brought to each of us a wash basin of
water, soap, cloth, and towel, and those
that were able {@@abel} washed themselves and
the nurses washed the others, this day
was Friday, soon a nurse came and
rubbed my back with alcohol, another
took my temperature {@@temperture}, another my pulse.
then breakfast was brought at 7.
Druring the forenoon Dr. Barber called and
said that I didn't belong there, called the
head nurse. Soon an intern {@@inturne} came and
said that he was going to take me to a
private room. He took me to No 321 where
there @@wasd two empty beds, I took the one
nearest {@@neares} the window and there I remained
without moving two feet for nearly a month
except the two times that I was operated
on. That evening I had several callers
including Ray and Mary, all visitors were
cleared out at eight o'clock.
Soon after a man came in and inquired {@@iquired} if
I was Miller. I told him that I was, he soon
returned with a tray of shaving tools and
proceeded to shave me clean from my breast {@@brest}
to my knees, soon after he returned and
asked if I had had had a good bath in the tub
since I came in, told him no, said I had better
have, and soon took me to the bath room
and such a scrubbing as @@Lary gave I had
never had before, it was now past
midnight, and I had about rested from the
scrubbing when in came a nurse and
bored out my belly button and filled it
with something that looked like soft wax.
then another nurse came and painted
my middle all all over red, (having washed
and thoroughly wiped it before).
Then after a little came Carl, and gave me
a great in_ections {@@injection?} which cleaned me all
out by this time it was daylght, I
had passed an interesting night, soon
a little nurse came and wound a broad
bandage about my stomach {@@stumach} very tight
and pinnted it then painted my
lower part again so I was red as an
Indian and it is there yet, soon another
nurse brought a pair of large cotton
stockings which reached up to the top of
my legs and tied them there with a
pucker string. Then a tall fellow came
with with a rubber tired 4 wheel truck,
which he placed beside my cot, it was about
18" wide, he told me to get onto it then
put a sheet over me and wheeled me down
the corridor and onto an elevator then
up and down the corridor and out a wing
into a small operating room. By the clock
it was 10 minutes to 8, here he put me on
another wagon that had small iron wheels
and covered my feet and limbs with a
black blanket, then wheeled me out into
the corridor and down to end and in
door to left, and under a large reflector
with a light in the center, by the clock it
as 8 A.M. The nurses were all hooded and
heads wrapped in white nothing but their
eyes showing, with brown rubber gloves
on their hands. One of them had a
tray with liquid in it which she rubbed
on, with what looked like a piece of white
felt, held in a little pair of tongs, she
rubbed for about 10 minutes, he rubbing
gave a smarting sensation, in the
meantime, the man had got done up
in white, and raised my knees and
placed a small hard pillow under them
and placed a large tray on top of them
which he secured so I could not raise
my knees, then put an iron yoke across
my chest, and secured it, then placed
towels across my stomach and across
my legs, then towels up and down
on each side, and over a white rubber
spread with a square hole in it where
they worked. Then Dr. Barber came all done
up in white like the rest, and he cut a
slit about 6" long up and down, below there
was a big hole in the lower skin caused {@@caus}
by the big truss I had worn and torn
by coughing, and then the flesh and
cords were grown onto the intestines
on the middle side. These had to be
cut clear. This was done by lifting
everything up and the doctor cutting the
flesh off with a pair of scissors, when
all was clear they replaced the intestines
cords etc but the skin would not
cover the opening on account of the
years that the rupture, and truss had
held it @@____ {@@open?} (since 1883). He then made
another cut cross wise above the first
and forced my right testicle up through
this cut and cut it out of the white
sack that enclosed it, and let me tell
you I felt it when they cut the connecting
cord, or cords, three times they then
drew the white sack {sock?} over the opening
and stictched the two sides and top
wtih many stitches then closed
the outer skin and stitched it.
Doing the other side was put off as
all had had enough, it was now 10 A.M.
and they bandaged me up and wheeled
me down to my cot, where I lay going
through the regular routine {@@rotene?} until
Wednesday March 21st when I went
through the second operation the
preparations were similar {@@simular} to the first. We
did
not think that this was to be more than
an ordinary operation but when they
opened it there too the organs and flesh
had grafted together owing to the
pressure of the truss, separating {@@seperating} these
was more painful than the first
operation, they took a silk ribbon 1/4" wide
then pulled the outer opening above where
intestines were grown to the flesh {@@fest?} and put
the ribbon under the gut and lifted all
up and turned it over and used ribbon
for a @@gauge {@@guage?} to cut the flesh away,
at one time I counted 16 clamps and
tools that they were using, as they
cut a nurse would keep it wiped clean,
and when the blood spurted {@@spirted} they would
put on a clamp that would hold it, as they
leaned the intestines they would lay them
out some one side and some the other, I
could feel them pulling round to my back,
when they were freeing the testicle cord it
hurt clear up to my neck. When they had
all laid out I was afraid that they would
never be able to get them all back again,
but they put them all back very carefully
and sewed it up, then stitched up the
outside, 2 hours work for four people
Doctor, Intern, and two nurses, I might
mention here, That when they were cutting
my nut out 6 or 8 young nurses came
and watched them. They seemed very
much interested, they would look at
that, and then look at me to see what
kind of a looking old chap I was.
I could see all that they were doing
by looking up into the reflector {@@refecter?}.
The second time I wore my glasses and
I could see better than the first.
Soon they wheeled me down and put
me to bed, where I spent most of the
time reading. They took the outside stitches
out about 8 days after operations.
I suffered hardly any pain only during
the operations, and had every care and
attention that one would need.
A special nurse 4 nights after the first
operation, and 2 nights after the second.
[1928\04\12 (Wednesday)]
Came home Wednesday April 4th
Raymond and Mary came over after me
with my Packard, and I paid them my
bill of 138.00 having previously paid
36.00 for night nurses, 174.00 total.
Have got to pay Dr. Barber{@@Dr. Barper} 150.00 making
a total of 324.00
1928\05\25 (Friday)
This afternoon I went with Mr. Rockwell
to Hartford and saw Dr. Sweet about Mr.
Rockwells hand.
{1928}\05\27 (Sunday)
Went to Cheshire with the Mattatuck
Drum Band, 19 men.
{1928}\05\28 (Monday)
I worked this forenoon on @@my Ford Truck
and this afternoon Jean and I went out to
the farm and planted peas, Beans.
1928\05\29 (Tuesday)
Mary got up and with Genes helpd got our
breakfast, @@Mrs. Leppenwell came and did
the washing. I went out to the farm and
@@harrowed{@@?} the upper garden, came home before
noon and found the sink {@@sinc} tile clogged, it
took till after three to get it opened, after
which Gene and I Carried Ralph Pierponts
uniform home, and we drove to Rob
Wakeles and got his rig for Robt Probst
to wear tomorrow. The Mattatuck Drum
Band met for practice this evening.
{1928}\05\30 (Wednesday)
Memorial day. I turned out with 18 @@others {@@RAK-- Is there an "*" or
a comment written in the right margin? es}
of the Mattatuck Drum Band for to @@Wadb___ {@@Wadborn Wadbourne?}
ms @@post No 49 of this City, there @@ar {@@are?} only
13 veterans left, out of 432 that belonged
when the Post was in its prime.
At 7.30 I was at Arthur Harrisons after him
to play, we then went to @@De Wit Coles {@@De Witt Coles?} in
Woodtick and got Chas S. Tuttle.
1928\05\31 (Thursday)
Mary is better to day, so that she is up some
of the time. I worked on the little Ford truck
this forenoon, and after school @@Gene and I went
to the farm and planted potatoes.
1928\06\01 (Friday)
I worked on my auto truck this forenoon,
and planted potatoes at the farm this
afternoon.
{1928}\06\02 (Saturday)
This forenoon I worked on my Ford truck and
went down town. This afternoon, Miss Pickett called
to see mary and I carried her home to Mrs.
Abbotts in Middlebury, and we got some
flowers to put on the graves of deceased
drummers in Wolcott tomorrow.
{@@RAK-- Please verify that "tomorrow" is 1 word. Thank you. es}
1928\06\03 (Sunday)
I went to Wolcott to day with the
Mattatuck Drum Band to thed decoration
of the soldiers graves. The sons of Veterans
of the Civil War of Southington and
Cheshire had charge. The services began
at eleven in the Church Rev. Mr. Carlson
in charge There were five veterans of
the Civil War present, Charles Russell
of Mill Dale, @@James Younge and Homer
Northrop of Waterbury, Newell Moulthrop,{@@,?}
of Bristol, and one from Bridgeport.
After the Church service the line
formed out in front, and marched
round the Soldiers Monument, halted
and placed flowers about it, then
went to the cemetery {@@cemetary} where the
G.A.R. had their service. After which
the Drum Band placed flowers on
the graves of their dead members {@@memebers}
The graves decorated were those of
@@Erastus Atkins, Stiles Atkins, and
Levi Atkins all snare drummers,
Prosper Hull and Sidney Alcott, fifers
@@Elihu Moulthrop{@@?}, Bass Drummer, and a
member of the 20 Regt during the Civil War.{@@.?}
Sherman Moulthrop snare drummer, he also
drummer in the 9th Regt during the Civil
War. @@Thoedore Moulthrop Bass drummer,
@@Homer L. Atkins fifer and drummer, he
was the last Leader of the Wolcott Drum
Band {@@,?} and Samuel Benham, a drummer
in the Revolutionary army.
Those of the Band that were present
were Peter Shea Major, Charles Cass,
Franklin Browne, Andrew Kitchenka,
and Morris Tyler, Fifers
Howard Neal, and John Garrigus,
Bass Drummers,
Charles S. Miller, @@Luverne Fox, Edgar
Upson, Louis Greenwood, Charles,{@@,?}
S. Tuttle, Herman Gessert, Arthur
Harrison, and Carl Moulthrop. Snare
Drummers, {@@blank space} Charles Tuttle and
Carl Moulthrop, carried the stretcher
loaded with flowers, Arthur Harrison
lead the way to the graves beating
time on muffled drum and I placed
the flowers on the graves, the whole band sounded taps after placing
flowers on each grave.
{1928}\06\04 (Monday)
I worked about home this forenoon, and worked
on the Ford truck this afternoon, and went
down town and bought some paint.
1928\06\05 (Tuesday)
Rained all day, I worked on my little Ford
truck, and painted most of it.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice this
{@@RAK-- Is it ok to indent the previous line? es}
evening.
{1928}\06\06 (Wednesday)
Rained this forenoon, finished painting and
work on Ford. This eve went to @@farm{@@?} and
did some planting. Sold the old Ford running
gear to John Garrigus for @@$10.00
{1928}\06\07 (Thursday)
This morning I mowed the clothes yard and
west of the garden, I then went to @@Saxe and
@@Flotnes and bought 4 doz tomatoe plants 1.00
this afternoon went to the farm and set
them out, repaired my Packard car.
Mrs. Leffenwell came and washed 1.50
@@1928\06\08 (Friday)
Went to town and got a transfer license for my
Ford car in the name of Charles S. Miller and
Raymond H. Miller.
This afternoon planted garden at East Farms.
{1928}\06\09 (Saturday)
This forenoon I got the Ford car ready to
run, in the @@afternoon Gene, Dotty and I
went to the farm, and planted in the
garden. {@@,?} Cleaned out the spring etc.
1928\06\10 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church this forenoon @@Rev. J. C.{@@?} Todd.
This @@afternoon Cliff, Margaret, Mary, and I
went for a ride up to Wolcott, center then down
the old county road to marion and up
to @@Compounce pond, and back up Southington
Mountain, where they are building a new
road,{@@,?} and home.
1928\06\11 (Monday)
This morning I mowed, weeded {@@weded} garden,
and after dinner repaired auto.
This evening Ray came and @@planted @@his
garden. I sharpened 10 drills for Lee Garrigus. @@1.00{@@?}
{1928}\06\12 (Tuesday)
Mowed this morning and went to the
farm. This afternoon I went to Rag Hollow
and saw the work on the new road that
they are guilding from West Cheshire to
Prospect.
{1928}\06\13 (Wednesday)
Worked about home and at the farm to day
This evening{@@.?} Mary, Gene, Mrs. Ineson and I
went to the Mill Plain Church to a
strawberry supper. We then drove to Woodtick and
saw Charles Tuttle, then to maple Hill
and saw Bessie Pierpont.
1928\06\14 (Thursday)
Worked about home all day
sharpened 6 drills for Lee Garrigus.
{1928}\06\15 (Friday)
Visited Raymonds new bakery this morning
they expect to have it ready to use next month.{@@.?}
Went out to the farm AM and to town this
afternoon,{@@,?} sharpened 6 drills for Lee Garrigus @@.80{@@?}
Paid Telephone bill.
{1938}\06\16 (Saturday)
Went to Bridgeport to Champs Farm to the
Foremans outing of the International Silver Co
There were about 350 foremen {@@foreman?} and 50 others there
we had an elaborate {@@elaberate} dinner and a good
entertainment about 33 went from Waterbury {@@Watererbury}
Branch (Robers and Brother) I roade {@@wrode} down with
Watson Furgushon{@@?}, and Robert Carter.
The Company paid for all.
{1928}\06\17 (Sunday)
Attended childrens day exercises at Mill Plain
this afternoon went to meeting at Woodtick
Chapel, then Mary Cgarles Tuttle and I came
{@@RAK-- Is it ok to insert a comma after "Mary?" Is there a comma
there in the original? es}
to Margarets on Beecher ave and got Margaret,
Gene, Bettie and the baby and we went to East
Morris to Gerris Turkingtons, but he was not
at home, then we came to Laverne Fox in s not
Watertown and made a call, we then carried
Charles Tuttle home, and came home ourselves.
1928\06\18 (Monday)
Worked about home all day
{@@RAK-- Is there text written in the margin of the text? es}
1928\06\19 (Tuesday)
Worked about home his forenoon
Went to town and put in my list at the
assessors {@@assescors} office.
Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice.
{1928}\06\20 (Wednesday)
Mary and I visited sister Iva at the Waterbury
hospital {@@hospitial? haspitial?} and also @@Mr. Shaepick, this
afternoon
Then we went for a ride to Prospect center and
down the new state road that they are building
to Cheshire.
{1928}\06\21 (Thursday)
Longest day of the year. Mowed the
Lawn and worked about home and out to
the farm. Ray came and hoed his garden,
this evening.
{1928}\06\24 (Sunday)
Attended Church as usual. This afternoon
Margaret, Cliff and @@two {@@tow?} girls, Mary and
I drove to Birchmere camp at Bantam lake.
Gave 5.00 towards Lewis B. Holes Fund, and 10.00 towards
Pierpont Window
1928\06\25 (Monday)
@@Louis B. Holmes of the Southmayer Road
was buried his afternoon in the new Pine
Grove Cemetery {@@Cemetary}. Funeral services were held
in the Mill Plain Church which was well filled.
{@@RAK-- Is there any text written to the right of the previous line?
es}
{1928}\06\28 (Thursday)
I worked about home and out to the farm to
day. This evening @@Ray called and took me
up to @@Capitol avenue to see his new house
that is being built.
1928\07\16 (Monday)
To day I got in three loads of hay at East
Farms, Richard Miller of Tarrington and
James Egan helped.{@@.?} me.
{1928}\07\26 (Thursday)
Finished haying to night. Dick Miller,
James Egan and I mowed the swamp south
of the Cheshire road back of the properties of
Mr. Hazleherst, Mr. Wilkenbach, and Harold {@@Harald}
Pierpont, and got in the last three loads
to day.
{1928}\07\27 (Friday)
This morning Margaret, and her daughters
Bettie and Gene, Northrop, and Mary
and I with Dick Miller. Went in my
Packard Car to West Haven where
we had a @@shore{@@share?} dinner at Wilcos
Pier Restaurant {@@Restaurent}, after which Margaret
the Girls and Dick went bathing.
We came by the @@shore {@@share?} road through
Milford and across the stratford
@@bridget {@@bridge?} to Shelton @@Darby {@@Derby?}, West Ansonia
@@Senmour{@@?} and Naugatuck.
1928\07\29 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church this
forenoon. This afternoon {@@-?} Mary, myself with
Cliff and his daughters Gene and Betty went to
Farrington and carried Dick home. We went through
Watertown, and stoped at Ferris Turkingtons in
East Morris, and at Camp Birchmere at Bantam
Lake and saw Marion Northrop. When we came
home we went through @@Nepang, to @@Collinsville
then to Unionville, Bristol and through Wolcott
home.
[[end of Journal;
[[Read by Ruth Brundage - July '47
[[ " " Frank P. Miller - Dec. 1947
[[ " " Marian Northrop Kraft - Dec 1988
[[ " " " " " May 1992]]
[[there is no break between entries on p. 220 of the Journal;
[[May 22 1927 is followed directly by April 7 1928]]
1928\04\07 (Saturday)
The last service that I attended at the Mill
Plain Union Church was Sunday Feb 12,
@@On monday Feb 13th I and Leland Garrigus
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is indented? es}
worked for Morton E. Pierpont, putting up
beaded ceiling in the "horse part" of his
new barn at East Farms.
The day was wet with snow and ice on
the ground. I came home at noon in @@_y {@@my?}
little Ford truck, and not feeling well
lay down on the bed, having a bad
@@cold {@@cald?} and coughing my @@hernia's causing
{@@RAK-- Should "hernias" be "hernia's?" es}
much pain mary telephoned dr. Barber.
He came next morning, prescribed {@@priscribed?}
medicine @@etc.{@@itc.?}{@@,?} said that he was afraid of
pneumonia,{@@,?} and that I must stay in bed.
There I remained until Friday, having
never before been in bed 24 hours since
@@1875. Friday and Saturday I went down
town and did some business, and Saturday
night was taken sick again and have
been down ever since, soon after I had a
talk with the Doctor and he gave me full
information regarding operations for
rupture, and it was decided that I should
go to the Waterbury Hospital {@@Haspital?} and that
he should operate as soon as I was in the
proper condition. I having a bronchial {@@bronkill}
cough that must be cured before I went.
This took till Mar 8th When Will Gillettee
came with his nice Packard car and
carried mary and I to the Hospital {@@Haspital?}.
@@I was accepted at the office and after
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is indented. es}
answering many questions {@@qustions},{@@,?} age, name, residence,
occupation, etc @@etc. was taken up on the
{@@RAK-- "etc" is written twice in the original. es}
elevator to the third floor, and given
a bed in a large room with seven others.
A night shirt was given me, and a screen
placed between me and the door, which
was at the head of my bed and I was told
to undress, at 2 P.M. Soon a nurse {@@nerse?} came and
she took an inventory {@@invantory} of my clothes and
everything that was in my pockets and
all and took them away.
The afternoon was long as I lay there
with nothing to do till supper @@wa {@@was?} brought
at 5 o'clock. I ate little, and the night
soon passed, as there was much to attract
my attention. The nurses were very busy
attending to the wants of others, at 5.30 they
brought to each of us a wash basin of
water, @@soap{@@?}, cloth, and towel, and those
that were able{@@abel} washed themselves and
the nurses washed the others, this day
was friday, soon a nurse came and
rubbed my back with alcohol, another
took my temperature {@@temperture}, another my pulse.{@@.?}
then breakfast was brought at 7.
Druring the forenoon Dr. Barber called and
said that I didnt {@@didn't?} belong there, called the
head nurse. Soon an intern {@@inturne} came and
said that he was going to take me to a
private room. He took me to No 321 where
there @@wasd two empty beds,{@@,?} I took the one
nearest {@@neares} the windown and there I remained
without moving two feet for nearly a month
except the two times that I was operated
on. That evening I had several callers
including Ray and Mary, all visitors were
cleared out at eight o'clock.
Soon after a man came in and @@inquired {@@iquired} if
I was Miller. I told him that I was, he soon
returned with a tray of shaving tools and
proceeded to shave me clean from my @@breast {@@brest}
to my knees, soon after he returned and
asked if I @@had had a good bath in the tub
{@@RAK-- Please note that "had" is written twice in the original. es}
since I came in, told him no, said I had better
have, and soon took me to the bath room
and such a scrubbing as @@Lary gave I had
never had before, it was now past
@@midnight, and I had about rested from the
{@@RAK-- Please verify that "midnight" is not hyphenated. es}
scrubbing when in came a nurse and
bored out my belly button and filled it
with something that looked like soft wax.{@@.?}
then another nurse came and painted
{@@RAK-- Is the previous line indented? es}
my middle @@all all over red, (having washed
{@@RAK-- "all" is written twice in the original. es}
and thoroughly wiped it before){@@.?}
Then after a little came Carl, and gave me
a great in_ections {@@injection? inpection?} which cleaned me all
out by this time it was daylght, I
had passed an interesting night, soon
a little nurse came and wound a broad
bandage about my stomach {@@stumach} very tight
and pinnted it then painted my
lower part again so I was red as an
Indian and it is there yet, soon another
nurse brought a pair of large cotton
stockings which reached up to the top of
my legs and tied them there with a
pucker string. Then a tall fellow came
@@with wtih a rubber @@tired{@@?} 4 wheel truck{@@.?}
{@@RAK-- Please note that "with" is written twice in the original. es}
which he placed beside my cot, it was about
18" wide{@@,?} he told me to get onto it then {@@them?}
put a wheet over me and wheeled me down
the corridor {@@carridar?} and onto an elevator then
up and down the corridor {@@carridor?} and out a wing
into a small operating room. By the clock
it was 10 minutes to 8, here he put me @@o_ {om?}
another wagon that had small iron wheels
and covered my feet and limbs with a
black blanket, then wheeled me out into
the corridor {@@carridor} and down to end and in
door to left, and under a large reflector
ith a light in the center, by the clock it
as 8 A.M. The nurses were all hooded and
heads wrapped in white nothing but their
eytes showing, with brown rubber gloves
on their hands. One of them had a
tray with liquid in it which she rubbed
on, with what looked like a piece of white
felt, held in a little pair of tongs, she
rubbed for about 10 minutes, he rubbing
gave a smarting sensation, in the
meantime,{@@,?} the man had got done up
in white, and raised my knees and
placed a small ard pillow under them
and placed a large {@@laige?} tray on top of them
which {@@whiceh?} he secured so I could not raise
my knees, then put an iron yoke across
my chest, and secured it, then placed
towels across {@@acrass?} my stomach {@@stumach?} and across {@@acass?}
my legs, then towels up and down
on each side, and over a white rubber
spread with a square hole in it where
they worked {@@warked}. Then Dr. Barber came ll done
up in white like the rest, and he cut a
slit about 6" long up and down, @@blow{@@?} @@thers{@@?}
was a big hole in the lower skin caused {@@caus}
by the big truss I had worn and torn
by coughing, and then the flesh and
cards were grown onto the intestines
on the middle side. These had to be
cut clear. This was done by lifting
everything up and the doctor cutting the
flesh off with a pair of scissors, @@whe_{@@when? Text is difficult to
read. es}
all was clear they replaced the intestines
cards etc @@but the skin would not
cover the opening on account of the
years that the rupture, and truss had
held it @@____ {@@apum?} (since 1883) He then made
another cut cross wise {@@crass wise} above the first
and forced my right testicle up through
this cut and cut it out of the white
sack that enclosed it, and let me tell
you I felt it when they cut the connecting
cord,{@@,?} @@_r{@@or?} cords, @@<u>three times</u> they then
{@@RAK-- I think that "three times" is underlined. Please verify. es}
drew the white sack over the opening
and stictched the two sides and top
wtih many stitches then closed {@@clased?}
the outer skin and stitched it.
@@Doing the other side was put off as
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is indented. es}
all @@had had enough, it was now 10 A.M.
{@@RAK-- Please note that "had" is written twice in the original. es}
and they bandaged me up and wheeled
me down to my cot, @@where I lay going
{@@RAK-- There is a carat symbol before "where" but I don't see any
text to be inserted here. es}
through the regular @@routine{@@rotene?} until
Wednesday March 21st when I went
through the second operation the
preparations {@@preperations} were similar {@@simular} to the first. We
did
not think that this was to be more than
an ordinary operation but when they
opened it there @@to{@@too} th organs and flesh
had grafted together {@@togather} owing to the
pressure of the truss{@@truse?}, separating {@@seperating} these
was more painful thatn the first
operation, they took a silk ribbon 1/4" wide
then pulled the outer opening above where
intestines were grown to the flesh {@@fest?} and put
the ribbon under the gut and lifted all
up and turned it over and used ribbon
for a @@gauge {@@guage?} to cut the flesh away,
at one time I counted 16 clamps and
tools that they were using, as they
cut a nurse would keep it wiped clean,
and when the blood spurted {@@spirted} they would
put on a clamp that would hold it, as they
leaned the intestines they would lay them
out some one side and some the other, I
could feel them pulling round to my back,
when they were freeing the testicle cord it
hurt clear up to my neck. When they had
all laid out I was afreaid that they would
never be able to get them all back again,
but they put them all back very carefully
and sewed it up, then stitched up the
outside, 2 hours work for four people
@@Doctor, Intern, and two nurses, I might
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is indented? es}
mention here,{@@,?} That when they were @@cutting
my nut out 6 or 8 young nurses came
and watched them. They seemed very
much interested, they would look at
that, and then look at me to see what
kind of a looking old chap I was.
I could see all that they were doing
@@by{@@ly?} looking up into the reflector {@@refecter?}.
The second time I wore my glasses {@@glassss} and
I could see better than the first.
Soon they wheeled me down and put
me to bed, where I spent most of the
time reading. They took the outside stitches
out about 8 days after operations.
{@@RAK-- Should text read "after the operations?" es}
@@I suffered hardly any pain only during
{@@RAK-- Please verify that the previous line is indented. es}
the operations, {@@,?} and had every care and
attention that one would need.
A special nurse 4 nights after the first
operation, and 2 nights after the second.
Came home Wednesday April 4th
Raymond and Mary came over after me
with my Packard, and I paid them my
bill of 138.00 having previously paid
36.00 for night nurses.{@@.?} 174.00 total.
Have got to pay Dr. Barber{@@Dr. Barper} 150.00 making
a total of 324.00
1928\05\25 (Friday)
This afternoon I went with Mr. Rockwell
to Hartford and saw Dr. Sweet about @@Mr.
Rockwells hand.
{1928}\05\27 (Sunday)
Went to Cheshrie with the Mattatuck
Drum Band, 19 men.
{1928}\05\28 (Monday)
I worked this forenoon on @@my Ford Truck
and this afternoon Jean and I went out to
the farm and planted peas, Beans.
1928\05\29 (Tuesday)
Mary got up and with Genes helpd got our
breakfast, @@Mrs. Leppenwell came and did
the washing. I went out to the farm and
@@harrowed{@@?} the upper garden, came home before
noon and found the sink {@@sinc} tile clogged, it
took till after three to get it opened, after
which Gene and I Carried Ralph Pierponts
uniform home, and we drove to Rob
Wakeles and got his rig for Robt Probst
to wear tomorrow. The Mattatuck Drum
Band met for practice this evening.
{1928}\05\30 (Wednesday)
Memorial day. I turned out with 18 @@others {@@RAK-- Is there an "*" or
a comment written in the right margin? es}
of the Mattatuck Drum Band for to @@Wadb___ {@@Wadborn Wadbourne?}
ms @@post No 49 of this City, there @@ar {@@are?} only
13 veterans left, out of 432 that belonged
when the Post was in its prime.
At 7.30 I was at Arthur Harrisons after him
to play, we then went to @@De Wit Coles {@@De Witt Coles?} in
Woodtick and got Chas S. Tuttle.
1928\05\31 (Thursday)
Mary is better to day, so that she is up some
of the time. I worked on the little Ford truck
this forenoon, and after school @@Gene and I went
to the farm and planted potatoes.
1928\06\01 (Friday)
I worked on my auto truck this forenoon,
and planted potatoes at the farm this
afternoon.
{1928}\06\02 (Saturday)
This forenoon I worked on my Ford truck and
went down town. This afternoon, Miss Pickett called
to see mary and I carried her home to Mrs.
Abbotts in Middlebury, and we got some
flowers to put on the graves of deceased
drummers in Wolcott tomorrow.
{@@RAK-- Please verify that "tomorrow" is 1 word. Thank you. es}
1928\06\03 (Sunday)
I went to Wolcott to day with the
Mattatuck Drum Band to thed decoration
of the soldiers graves. The sons of Veterans
of the Civil War of Southington and
Cheshire had charge. The services began
at eleven in the Church Rev. Mr. Carlson
in charge There were five veterans of
the Civil War present, Charles Russell
of Mill Dale, @@James Younge and Homer
Northrop of Waterbury, Newell Moulthrop,{@@,?}
of Bristol, and one from Bridgeport.
After the Church service the line
formed out in front, and marched
round the Soldiers Monument, halted
and placed flowers about it, then
went to the cemetery {@@cemetary} where the
G.A.R. had their service. After which
the Drum Band placed flowers on
the graves of their dead members {@@memebers}
The graves decorated were those of
@@Erastus Atkins, Stiles Atkins, and
Levi Atkins all snare drummers,
Prosper Hull and Sidney Alcott, fifers
@@Elihu Moulthrop{@@?}, Bass Drummer, and a
member of the 20 Regt during the Civil War.{@@.?}
Sherman Moulthrop snare drummer, he also
drummer in the 9th Regt during the Civil
War. @@Thoedore Moulthrop Bass drummer,
@@Homer L. Atkins fifer and drummer, he
was the last Leader of the Wolcott Drum
Band {@@,?} and Samuel Benham, a drummer
in the Revolutionary army.
Those of the Band that were present
were Peter Shea Major, Charles Cass,
Franklin Browne, Andrew Kitchenka,
and Morris Tyler, Fifers
Howard Neal, and John Garrigus,
Bass Drummers,
Charles S. Miller, @@Luverne Fox, Edgar
Upson, Louis Greenwood, Charles,{@@,?}
S. Tuttle, Herman Gessert, Arthur
Harrison, and Carl Moulthrop. Snare
Drummers, {@@blank space} Charles Tuttle and
Carl Moulthrop, carried the stretcher
loaded with flowers, Arthur Harrison
lead the way to the graves beating
time on muffled drum and I placed
the flowers on the graves, the whole band sounded taps after placing
flowers on each grave.
{1928}\06\04 (Monday)
I worked about home this forenoon, and worked
on the Ford truck this afternoon, and went
down town and bought some paint.
1928\06\05 (Tuesday)
Rained all day, I worked on my little Ford
truck, and painted most of it.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice this
{@@RAK-- Is it ok to indent the previous line? es}
evening.
{1928}\06\06 (Wednesday)
Rained this forenoon, finished painting and
work on Ford. This eve went to @@farm{@@?} and
did some planting. Sold the old Ford running
gear to John Garrigus for @@$10.00
{1928}\06\07 (Thursday)
This morning I mowed the clothes yard and
west of the garden, I then went to @@Saxe and
@@Flotnes and bought 4 doz tomatoe plants 1.00
this afternoon went to the farm and set
them out, repaired my Packard car.
Mrs. Leffenwell came and washed 1.50
@@1928\06\08 (Friday)
Went to town and got a transfer license for my
Ford car in the name of Charles S. Miller and
Raymond H. Miller.
This afternoon planted garden at East Farms.
{1928}\06\09 (Saturday)
This forenoon I got the Ford car ready to
run, in the @@afternoon Gene, Dotty and I
went to the farm, and planted in the
garden. {@@,?} Cleaned out the spring etc.
1928\06\10 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church this forenoon @@Rev. J. C.{@@?} Todd.
This @@afternoon Cliff, Margaret, Mary, and I
went for a ride up to Wolcott, center then down
the old county road to marion and up
to @@Compounce pond, and back up Southington
Mountain, where they are building a new
road,{@@,?} and home.
1928\06\11 (Monday)
This morning I mowed, weeded {@@weded} garden,
and after dinner repaired auto.
This evening Ray came and @@planted @@his
garden. I sharpened 10 drills for Lee Garrigus. @@1.00{@@?}
{1928}\06\12 (Tuesday)
Mowed this morning and went to the
farm. This afternoon I went to Rag Hollow
and saw the work on the new road that
they are guilding from West Cheshire to
Prospect.
{1928}\06\13 (Wednesday)
Worked about home and at the farm to day
This evening{@@.?} Mary, Gene, Mrs. Ineson and I
went to the Mill Plain Church to a
strawberry supper. We then drove to Woodtick and
saw Charles Tuttle, then to maple Hill
and saw Bessie Pierpont.
1928\06\14 (Thursday)
Worked about home all day
sharpened 6 drills for Lee Garrigus.
{1928}\06\15 (Friday)
Visited Raymonds new bakery this morning
they expect to have it ready to use next month.{@@.?}
Went out to the farm AM and to town this
afternoon,{@@,?} sharpened 6 drills for Lee Garrigus @@.80{@@?}
Paid Telephone bill.
{1938}\06\16 (Saturday)
Went to Bridgeport to Champs Farm to the
Foremans outing of the International Silver Co
There were about 350 foremen {@@foreman?} and 50 others there
we had an elaborate {@@elaberate} dinner and a good
entertainment about 33 went from Waterbury {@@Watererbury}
Branch (Robers and Brother) I roade {@@wrode} down with
Watson Furgushon{@@?}, and Robert Carter.
The Company paid for all.
{1928}\06\17 (Sunday)
Attended childrens day exercises at Mill Plain
this afternoon went to meeting at Woodtick
Chapel, then Mary Cgarles Tuttle and I came
{@@RAK-- Is it ok to insert a comma after "Mary?" Is there a comma
there in the original? es}
to Margarets on Beecher ave and got Margaret,
Gene, Bettie and the baby and we went to East
Morris to Gerris Turkingtons, but he was not
at home, then we came to Laverne Fox in s not
Watertown and made a call, we then carried
Charles Tuttle home, and came home ourselves.
1928\06\18 (Monday)
Worked about home all day
{@@RAK-- Is there text written in the margin of the text? es}
1928\06\19 (Tuesday)
Worked about home his forenoon
Went to town and put in my list at the
assessors {@@assescors} office.
Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice.
{1928}\06\20 (Wednesday)
Mary and I visited sister Iva at the Waterbury
hospital {@@hospitial? haspitial?} and also @@Mr. Shaepick, this
afternoon
Then we went for a ride to Prospect center and
down the new state road that they are building
to Cheshire.
{1928}\06\21 (Thursday)
Longest day of the year. Mowed the
Lawn and worked about home and out to
the farm. Ray came and hoed his garden,
this evening.
{1928}\06\24 (Sunday)
Attended Church as usual. This afternoon
Margaret, Cliff and @@two {@@tow?} girls, Mary and
I drove to Birchmere camp at Bantam lake.
Gave 5.00 towards Lewis B. Holes Fund, and 10.00 towards
Pierpont Window
1928\06\25 (Monday)
@@Louis B. Holmes of the Southmayer Road
was buried his afternoon in the new Pine
Grove Cemetery {@@Cemetary}. Funeral services were held
in the Mill Plain Church which was well filled.
{@@RAK-- Is there any text written to the right of the previous line?
es}
{1928}\06\28 (Thursday)
I worked about home and out to the farm to
day. This evening @@Ray called and took me
up to @@Capitol avenue to see his new house
that is being built.
1928\07\16 (Monday)
To day I got in three loads of hay at East
Farms, Richard Miller of Tarrington and
James Egan helped.{@@.?} me.
{1928}\07\26 (Thursday)
Finished haying to night. Dick Miller,
James Egan and I mowed the swamp south
of the Cheshire road back of the properties of
Mr. Hazleherst, Mr. Wilkenbach, and Harold {@@Harald}
Pierpont, and got in the last three loads
to day.
{1928}\07\27 (Friday)
This morning Margaret, and her daughters
Bettie and Gene, Northrop, and Mary
and I with Dick Miller. Went in my
Packard Car to West Haven where
we had a @@shore{@@share?} dinner at Wilcos
Pier Restaurant {@@Restaurent}, after which Margaret
the Girls and Dick went bathing.
We came by the @@shore {@@share?} road through
Milford and across the stratford
@@bridget {@@bridge?} to Shelton @@Darby {@@Derby?}, West Ansonia
@@Senmour{@@?} and Naugatuck.
1928\07\29 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church this
forenoon. This afternoon {@@-?} Mary, myself with
Cliff and his daughters Gene and Betty went to
Farrington and carried Dick home. We went through
Watertown, and stoped at Ferris Turkingtons in
East Morris, and at Camp Birchmere at Bantam
Lake and saw Marion Northrop. When we came
home we went through @@Nepang, to @@Collinsville
then to Unionville, Bristol and through Wolcott
home.
[[end of Journal;
[[Read by Ruth Brundage - July '47
[[ " " Frank P. Miller - Dec. 1947
[[ " " Marian Northrop Kraft - Dec 1988
[[ " " " " " May 1992]]
[[start of new Journal]]
08\02\1928 (Thursday)
Raymond and Ruth moved from the parsonage
corner of the Southmayd {??} road, and Homestead one,
to their new house on Capitol Avenue.
I worked about home this forenoon, and drew wood
from the rear of the school lot at East Farms
for Harold Pierpont this afternoon, but about
three we gave it up as it was very hot. I
felt the heat more than at any other time
this year.
{08\03\1928 missing?}
{08\04\1928 missing?}
{08\05\1928 missing?}
08\06\1928 (Monday)
This morning my wife and I with Jean and Bettie
Northrop left home for Ithaca N.Y. at 9:12.
We passed through Middlebury at 9:45. Reached Ben
Sherman Hill in Woodbury at 10:07. Roxbury 10:25
Bridgewater10:40 New Milford 10:50 Kent 11:32 where
we ate our dinner at my son_s house. Left Frank_s at
1:26 and crossed the line into N.Y. at 1.40
reached Millbrook 2:47 Washington Hollow 2:55
Pleasant Valley 3:10 and Poughkeepsie 3:25 at
Poughkeepsie we got fruit maps {?? can_t quite read it} etc. Then I took
the ferry to Highland. Ferry 85 cts, left High-
land at 4:24, Esapus 4:47, Kingston 5:15
Ulster 5:38. 3 quarts oil 75 cts. Ashokan Dam
Spillway and Airating {aerating} 7:15.
Stayed{sic!} at Watson Hollow Inn, at West
Shokan, \120 miles from home./ {supralinear addition}
08\07\1928 (Tuesday) {entry on same line as above}.
Left the Inn
at 8:20. Reached Boyceville 8:45, Phoenicia, 9:10
where we had breakfast 3.00, left 10:15 reached
Shandaken 10:28, then over the mountain to
Westkill 11:45 Lexington 12:10 Prattsville 12:30
Stanford 1:27 Harpersfield 1:35 West Harpersfield
2:30 where we stoped at the house of Mr. Edward
N. Gaylord, a decendant of Capt. Levi Gaylord
who emigrated from Farmingbury [now Walcotts] {inserted} to Harpersfield
in 1785. In the afternoon Mr. Gaylord, Mary and
the girls took my car and we went to Oneanta
twenty miles west, and then back again and
stayed{sic!} over night. That evening we visited
Mr. Harper Gaylord, at his home, in West Har-
persfield. Next morning Aug 8, we left Mr. Gaylord_s
and went through North Harpersfield at 9:50, through
Jefferson 10:10 and reached William Henry Decker_s
at Shew Hollow at 10:51. We remained here till
5 P.M. Having a good time and Mr. Decker and
I drummed on Mr. Decker_s drums. He is a
large man 82 years old, very smart and
strong, and has a large farm 560 acres.
We traveled to Grand Gorge, which we reached
at 6:00 and passed through Prattsville 6:15
reaching Ashland at 7:00 where we stayed{sic!} over
night. We left there next morning and passed
through Windham, East Windham, Cairo, Leeds
and reached Catskill at 11:07 Where we ferried
across the Hudson river to Greendale, price 55cts
and on through Hollowville, Martindale,
Croryville {??}, and ac{r}oss state line into Mass.
at 2:03 P.M. through South Egermont, Great Barrington
Sheffield, Ashley Falls, Canaan, Norfolk,
Farrington, and reached home at 5:37.
{08\08\1928 through 11\09\1928 are missing (two blank pages)}
{he probably put them in another book, but where is it?}
{note correct spelling of "stayed" in above piece; edited?}
11\10\1928 (Saturday)
The Mattatuck Drum Band turned out
this day with the veterans of the World's War
to celebrate Armistice Day.
The line of March was out West Main St to
Meadow, to Grand past City Hall in review
to Bank, to East Main, to Cherry, to Grove
to Wilbie High School, where exercises and
pictures were given
Those of the Band present were
Major Peter Shea
Fifers- Charles Cass, James Phalen, Robert Wakelee,
Bemerst {??} Wakelee, Franklin Browne, Andrew Kitchenka
Ralph Adams, Morris Tyler, and William Greenwood.
Bass Drummers- Frank Kitchenka, George Cass,
Rob_t {??} Probst, and John Garrigno.
Snare Drummers- Charles S. Miller, Ralph Pierpont,
Lauverne Fox Jr, Lauverne Fox Sr, Kerman Gessert,
Arthur Harrison, Howard Neal and Edgar
Upson.
11\11\1928
The Mattatuck Drum Band turned out for the
Veterans of the World's War, formed in the Armory
on Field st, and marched to the Honor Roll in
Lybrary {??} Park, where services were held.
Those present were Major Peter Shea.
Fifers: Chas Cass, James Phalen, Wm Greenwood,
Ralph Adams, Andrew Kitchenka, and Morris
Tyler.
Bass Drummers: Frank Kitchenka, John Garrigno,
and Robert Probst.
Snare Drummers: Ralph Pierpont, Lauverne Fox Sr,
Lauverne Fox Jr, Charles S. Miller, Herman Gessart,
Edgar Upton, Arthur Harrison, and Howard Neal.
11\12\1928
This forenoon I took the speedometer shaft of my
Packard car down town to have it reparied.
This afternoon I went out to the farm and
dug around and pruned apple trees. We had the
first snow of the season and I got quite wet,
about 1 inch fell.
11\13\1928
This morning I took some hard wood boards to Robert
Tyler_s Ladder Shop on the Meriden road and had it
dressed to make picture frames.
This afternoon pruned young apple trees and dug around
them at the farm and went to town after my speedometer
shaft. The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice
in my barn this evening.
11\14\1928
Worked at the farm this forenoon at the young apple
trees. This afternoon I filed a single crosscut saw
for Ed Bronson, went to town and repaired my
Packard car.
This evening attended a scotch {??} entertainment
at the Mill Plain Church.
11\15\1928
This morning, Mary, Margaret with her baby and
I went to Kent to visit our son Frank, we
went by way of Middlebury, Southbury,
Toxbury, Bridgewater, and New Milford.
While there, Frank took Margaret and I
up on Skipp Mountain, and through Macidonia {??}
into New York state. We left there for home at 4:30
came by way of Cornwall, Goshen, Leitchfield.
East Maris, and Watertown, reached home 6:30.
Distance 47 miles going, 42 coming.
11\16\1928
Today I trimmed young apple trees and
cultivated them on the hill.
This evening Mary and I went to the
moving pictures at the Church.
11\17\1928
Very warm. Thermometer 60 at 8 P.M.
Trimmed apple trees about the barn lot.
11\18\1928
Attended Church this A.M. Went to service in
Woodtick Chapel this P.M. and at Evening
service at M.P. Church, had dinner at Clifford
Northrop_s.
11\19\1928
Worked about home all day. About 6 P.M. began to rain
very hard.
11\20\1928
Worked about home part of the forenoon. Went to
the Mill Plain Church with a furnice {?? furnace} punch bar.
Rev Mr. Todd wants me to be purchasing agent for
the church. this P.M. worked at apple trees at the
farm. this evening the Mattatuck Drum Band
met for practice, also had a raffle drawing.
Ticket #251 drew the Thanksgiving dinner, it was
held by Billy Hesphelt of Pierpont Hights {Heights}, there
was $145.00 worth of tickets sold.
11\21\1928
Went out to the farm this morning and
trimmed apple trees and pulled out some
rocks, at noon went to the Church with
Mary and helped them trim their booth.
Finished the trees at the farm this afternoon.
This evening attended the fair at the
Mill Plain Church. The ladies served 325 suppers,
bought one gallon of transmission oil of Howard
Caley.
11\22\1928
Forty five years ago today Mary and I were
married in the new Mill Plain Chapel, by
Rev Joseph Micae {??} pastor of Trinity. (we were
the first ever married in the Chapel.)
Today I repaired a large plow iron for
the Calvary Cemetary, and worked on a
large tripod for heavy lifting.
This evening we attended the second
night of the fair at the Mill Plain Church.
11\23\1928
Helped Mr. Albert the janitor of Mill Plain Church
to put up a basket ball ring in the gymnasiums
this forenoon, and brought home a load, remains
of the fair. Worked about home this P.M.
11\24\1928
Made iron steps for Raymond_s Iron Clother pole {??}
this A.M. This afternoon went out to the farm and
worked about home.
11\25\1928
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
and spent the rest of day at home, went to
evening at M.P. Chruch.
11\26\1928
I made picture frames in the wheel house this
forenoon. This P.M. I went and saw M.E. Pierpont_s
new milk house and ice cream plant.
This evening I made a pair of drum sticks.
A man had his car go down a 14 ft bank by
Beebies gas station, he borrowed a chain of me
and brought it back with a broken hook.
11\27\1928
Wether {weather} cold. Henry Beckwith repaired my
Packard and tigtened the clutch on my Ford.
[Paid 1.50] {added underneath}
11\28\1928
Did blacksmith work this forenoon till Arthur
Winchell came to install the radio set that Ruth
Brundage gave us, this P.M. I went to Cheshire and
got two sticks 2x4- 20ft long [1.65] {inserted}, and made them
into a mast for the radio wire.
Mrs. Girtrude Bradley Walker died this morning aged 79.
11\29\1928
Thanksgiving day. The somers family held their
reunion and had dinner at the Woodstock Chapel
there were about 47 present. They made a donation
to the Chapel of $30.00 We afterwards went to
the house of Berkeley Frisbie and visited a spell.
11\30\1928
Snowed this morning, turned to rain at night.
I have made 9 picture frames today for Drum
band pictures.
12\01\1928
Alfred Winchel installed the radio today.
I dug out the ditch west of the drinking trough
at East Farm and put a hasp on the big door
of the barn. A dog cme into the yard
and went into the chicken yard and nearly
killed a hen. I caught the dog and called
the dog warden and he took the dog.
12\02\1928
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church
this morning. Went to Cheshire and saw
Dea Brown this afternoon, and at Church
this Evening.
12\03\1928
Worked about home all day. Bessie Pierpont took away
two loads of hay from my home barn, Rained this
evening
12\04\1928
Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice today.
Charles Tuttle took dinner with us, and I carried him home.
Goul {??} Clark drew the last of the hay away from my
barn, showed Mrs. Fogg where the first Baptist Church
stood.
12\05\1928
Daniel Farrington and I apprised {appraised} the Mrs.
Thomas Mills Estate this forenoon, $11957.27.
Cleaned and oiled My Packard Car this
afternoon, and cleaned out the barn.
This eve attended a meeting of the Official
Board of Mill Plain Union Church.
{12\06\1928 (Thursday) is missing}
12\07\1928
Yesterday morning Raymond Ruth, Mrs.
Clarance Brown, and myself left at 7:30
for New York in my Packard. We reached Roxey_s
garage, Car 149 and St {?? State} Street at 10:30. Just
90 miles. We took the elevated cars and went
to {nothing written} street and from there we went to St. Regas
restaurent and had dinner, after which we went
to the Seventh National Exposition, Power and
Mechanical Engineering Grand Central Palace
at Lexington Avenue, 46 to 47 sts, where we spent
the afternoon, that is Ray and I, while the women
went shopping. We saw all kinds of Machinery, principally
Electric, at six the women came and we all met
Mr. Leonard and went to 50th st where we
had supper, and at 7:10 we took the elevated
cars to 145 st where {we} got our auto and started
down the concorse {concourse}, the street lights were grand
but farther on, red, white and blue lights were
hung on each side of the street for more than
a mile, they were hung in line with the
lamps about one foot apart, we got lost,
but found a man in an auto who piloted
us up to the Boston Post Road, and we reached
home at 10:30.
Today I have worked about home. Took my
big car over to Henry Beckwith_s to have
him take the carbon out, and I sharpened
10 picks for the Calvery Cemetary.
12\08\1928
Worked about home today.
Snowed this evening, there was many auto accidents.
12\09\1928
Attended Service at Mill Plain Union Church
this morning and evening. Attendance 126 morn
_ 185 eve
12\10\1928
Ground covered with snow. Wrote this forenoon
for the Community news. Cleaned out the
upper part of the barn this P.M.
12\11\1928
Worked about home most of the time today,
went out to the farm this noon, and down to
Margaret_s, and to the Cobler_s this forenoon.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice this
evening.
12\12\1928
Made a center rest for my small Lathe to turn
drum sticks, this P.M. I went to the farm and took
care of jasper, and drilled and split a large stone.
12\13\1928
This A.M. I went to Margaret_s and got a type{-}written
article and took it up to the Church to Mr. Todd.
He showed me a letter that he had written to
the Pastor of the cummunity church at Hartford
in regard to the plans that Irving drew for
our church and which they wish to use. They
are to pay $1000.00 for them.
12\14\1928
Worked about home most of the day.
This evening Rev and Mrs. Joseph Todd called,
they had just returned from Hartford where they
had been to see the minister of the Hartford
Community Church about an article and picture of
their proposed Church that was published in the
Hartford Times last Sunday under the name of a
Hartford architect, and not giving Irving C. Miller
any credit for the for the plans {not a typo} etc. He learned that
it was a mistake and they are doing all in their
power to correct it.
12\15\1928
This forenoon I worked on the new iron clothes posts
for Marie_s drying wires.
This afternoon worked on Leland Garrigno_s new
house on the Meriden Road near his father_s.
12\16\1928
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, morning
and evening. Attendance Morning 134, evening 72.
12\17\1928
At 11 A.M. I began work on a Cornish Tractor that
belongs to the Calvary Cemery putting a snow
plow on it. This afternoon has been very rainy.
12\18\1928
worked putting snow plow attachment on Tractor,
finished at 2 P.M. Mr. Garthwait gave me 10.00 for
what I did. I repaired the sidewalk on the Frost
Road. The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice.
12\19\1928
Put up tools, bolts, iron, etc. and went out to the
farm and took can of Jasper and got in a lot of
bedding from the stack, came home at noon, and
Mary and I got ready and went to Mrs. George
Hitchcock_s funeral, she was aged 82 years. Rev Joseph
Todd officiated.
12\20\1928
Cleaned the yard etc and went out to the farm and
cared for Jasper (the ax) then went to Bessie Pierpont_s
lot on the Todd Road and chopped on a big dead
chestnut tree till noon. This afternoon I finished cutting
down the tree, it measured 3 1/2 ft across the stump.
This eve went to the Sunday School Christmas excercises at
the Church, 450 present in the gymnasim. {last 2 lines squeezed in at
bottom of page}
12\21\1928
This morning at 9 o_clock I was at Dr. Brewster_s dentist
and he filled one of my teeth, it took hime one hour and
he charged $5.00. This afternoon went to Todd road
and cout out and brought in 1 load of wood.
12\22\1928
Cold this morning, themometer {thermometer} stood at zero.
After breakfast I killed three hens, and we picked
and dressed them for Christmas. I then went to
the farm and took care of Jasper, then went up to
the Todd Road, and cut out a load of wood and
brought it home. After dinner Rev Mr. Todd came
and told us, that a committee of the Hartford
Community Church will be at our church and
have a check of $1000.00 for Irving to pay for the
plans. I made a big iron pipe frame {??} for a 5 ft
cross cut saw.
this evening, Mary and I went to Charles Tuttle_s
and he gave her $5.00 for the curch dept.
Mr. Todd told us that they had raised over
$6000.00 which completed the $75000.00 dept and Completion
fund, and $1000.00 besides.
12\23\1928
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church
this morning. The church was very pritily {prettily} decorated
for Christmas. A building committee from the
Church in Hartford was there to observe acostic {acoustic}
properties, and they brought a check of $1000.00 to
be sent to Irving to pay for the plans, and a
letter confirming the adoption of the same.
This afternoon I attended Christmas service at
the Woodtick Chapel, and this evening at-
tended vesper service at Mill Plain Church.
When we reached home this noon we found
Frank and his family here from Kent, they
were on their way to Starr_s.
12\24\1928
Put togather {together} a doll Carriage, a scooter, and
express wagon for Rev Mr. Todd. This afternoon
went out to farm and took care of Jasper
and got a Christmas tree, repaired the
Covering on the hot water pipes in the
cellar, and went to the dentist at 5 o_clock.
12\25\1928
Merry Christmas. We had our Christmas dinner
as we have been in the habit of doing every year.
Clyde was here from Farrington, with his wife Fritzie
and sons Dick, Willard and Bobbie, and daughter Nancy.
Irve is in Milwaukee with his family, we called him
on the long distance telephone, and were told that
Barbara was better and the rest were quite well.
Ruth was here from Starr_s with Jack and their
sons Roger, Kenneth, Pierce and Daughter Peggy.
Margaret came with Clifford, and their daughters
Marian, Bettie Jean, and Wanita. Frank came from
Kent with Elsie and two daughters and son
Dwight, and Ray and Ruth completed list 27
in all. Later we had a Christmas Tree, and all
had more or less presents. {??}
The day has been the pleasentest Christmas day
that I remember.
12\26\1928
This forenoon I filed a cross cut saw and made a frame
in the afternoon went to the Todd road and cut up a big
chestnut log.
12\27\1928
This morning I put my ax, cross, cut saws, wedges
etc in my Ford truck, and went to the farm
and took care of Jasper. At 8:20 I got into the
truck intending to {go} to the Todd road and cut up
the big chestnut log. My car was on the north
side of the road headed East on our own land, I
wished to continue east, and aftyer waiting for
cars to pass, I noticed the nearest car [was one] {inserted} going west
about 400 ft away. I crossed diagonally to a point
within about three feet of the south side of the
roadway, when I was struck by a 1/2 ton
truck driven by Eben A. Hale of Cheshire, who
was coming at a terrific rate, he struck my left
Front wheel and Mr. Forrest Chapen who was near-|
by said that my car went in the air and was
thrown about thirty feet, I saw the car coming
and put on power to cross ahead of him, the nest
I rember {remember} I was head down and a stream of
blood was running in a pool in the top of my
hat. I was over Mr. Hazelhurst_s front walk. My
car was turned over, and I was in with top steering
wheel, cushion etc. Mr. Chapen and Mr. Wilkensback
pulled me out. The other car continued on past the
hous{e} and down towards the cemetary and was brought {to}
a stop on the level driveway past Mr. Gretter_s garage.
The telephoned for the police and Mr. H.V. Hayes and
Carl Hesphelt came. Mr. Hayes said that we wer both
to blame, soon Mr. Wilkensback brought me home in
in his car and we called Dr. Barber who came and after
looking me over, took two stitches in the cut on my
head. Mr. Montambeau towed my car in and
left it in my yard.
12\28\1928
Have been in the house nearly all day, my leg
pains me much. Eben Hale and his sister called
and asked for a settlement, I suggested that they
pay me $50.00.
12\29\1928
Rather sore all over especially the bruse {bruise} on my
leg and side. This afternoon Mr. Eben Hale and
an insurance adjuster Mr. Sanbourn from Keen
New Hampshire called and began quissing {quizzing}.
I told them that as the car was owned jointly
by Ray and myself they would have to talk to
both of us. We called Ray at the factory and made
an appointment for 7 this evening.
When the time arrived they all called and
after some discussion it was agreed to settle
for $45.00 and Mr. Sanbourn drew a check for
that amount and We signed a release.
Howard Neal called this afternoon
12\30\1928
Not feeling very well. I attended service at the Mill
Plain church. Mr. William Jones called for Mary and
me and took us up in their Car.
Today Ray bought a second hand 1925 touring car
of R.W. Henion for $25.00 and brought it here.
This evening I am not feeling as well, the wound
on my head pains, and my leg hurts.
12\31\1928 (Monday)
Staied in house all day. Doctor came and dressed
the wound on my head and it is now better.
[[end of 1928 entries]]
01/01/1929
Very stormy all day, snow, rain and freeze.
Have been in house all the day.
This afternoon Wm. Gillettee {??}, Iva, and Louis called.
01/02/1929
Ground covered with ice. In house all day.
Daoctor came before noon, my head is better tonight.
This is night for monthly meeting of Mattatuck
Drum Band. No on came.
01/03/1929
Cut stove wood this forenoon. At noon Margaret
came and looked over some papers that I had written
for the Community News. After dinner Mr. Haig
came with another lady reporter for the Republican
and looked over my Noah Webster book for an
article for the paper. Thy took my picture also.
The rest of the day I spent sawing wood.
Ed Bronson brough two saws to be filed.
01/04/1929
Repaired shoes and filed Ed Bronson's saws
this forenoon. Worked on the 1925 Ford car
this afternoon, Mr. Hale of Cheshire called
this forenoon.
01/05/1929
Worked on autos. Dr came before noon and
dressed my head. Mr. Wilkinsback called this
noon. Howard Neal called after dinner.
Weather has been cool.
01/06/1929
Rained hard all night and a greater part of the
day but tonight it is turning cold.
We did not go to church as my head hurt
and Mary did not feel well.
This eve Ray and Ruth called.
01/07/1929
The doctor called today, paid him $10.00, 8 more
due. Took the big car and went out to the
farm. Worked on the Ford cars the rest of
the day.
01/08/1929
Went to the farm this afternoon. Worked on automobiles
the rest of day.
Mattatuck Drum Band met this evening, were paid
for Armistice day.
Mr. Coley left 5 gals of engine oil. Paid him $3.25
01/09/1929
Worked on Ford car this forenoon. After dinner went to
farm, then to town to Doctor. To bank and had 98.26
transfered {transferred} from my book to the Mattatuck book.
01/10/1929
Took up my written article for the Community News to Rev
Mr. Todd this noon, "The Early Churches of Mill Plain." The rest of
day worked on Ford
01/11/1929
Repaired the truck for Calvary Cemetary, and
worked on the Ford what time I had. Went to
Mr. Montambeau's tire shop and got two felt
washers, and paid him $3.00 for towing my
truck home Dec 27, 1928
01/12/1929
This afternoon I went to the doctor's office and he dressed
my head. Spent the rest of the day working on the
Ford.
01/13/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Church.
Clyde and Family [except Dick] {inserted} called. Snowed this evening
Mrs. Bessie Pierpont is 50 years old today.
01/14/1929
Very cold this morning. 18 below zero.
Did odd jobs about home all day.
01/15/1929
Snowed hard this morning. I cleaned out all of the
walks, and made an electric heater. This afternoon I
went to North Main St and saw Dr. Barber, he did up
my head. I paid hime what I owed hime $14.00.
Had a ton of soft coal come today.
Howard Neal called this evening.
01/16/1929
15 below zero this morning. Went to farm this noon.
Worked about home rest of day. Mad three hooks
for chains.
01/17/1929
Cold, icy, and wet today. Worked on Ford car.
01/18/1929
Warm and thawed today, snow nearly all gone.
Got my old wrecked Ford into the shed and started
taking it apart. W.L. Garrigno got hurt out at
M.E. Pierpont's new barn yesterday where a staging gone
wrong. {??}
01/19/1929
Worked all day taking the delivery body off one Ford
and putting it on another.
Weather warm and thawing.
Lewis Somers and wife called last evening.
01/20/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Church. This afternoon
went to Woodtick to service. Howard Neal and Marian
Northrop went also.
01/21/1929
Worked about home most of the day. Repaired three chains
made punches and bold chisels, worked on Ford body.
Went to Mill Plain Church and got bill board.
Weather cold.
01/22/1929
Weather nice and clear, not very cold. Worked
about home
01/23/1929
Weather this morning about 2 inches of snow on the
ground, fell during the night. This forenoon I sharpened
14 hand drills for Calvary Cemetery, swept the paths
and worked the rest of day on car.
Mary and I went up to Rays and had supper, and
spent the evening.
01/24/1929
It has been cold today. I attended the the stock-
holders meeting of the Waterbury Rolling Mills
Inc, this afternoon. Went to Mr. J.K. Smith's house on
first ave and got him and carried him up.
01/25/1929
Snow. Hail, and Rain all day, got Ford into the
big garage and fixed the stove so it is warm.
01/26/1929
Mr. Newell Moulthrop of Bristol died this morning at 2:30,
he was the last surviving member of the Wolcott Drum
Band that went to the Civil War, had his Bass Drum
captured from him at Irish Bend La, 1863. Hew was
a member of the 23 Regt C.V. {??} was over 90 years of age.
I have marched many miles with him.
A fleet of eight air plains {planes} passed over this morning
headed South West at about 9:30
01/27/1929
Mary and I attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
01/28/1929
Cold day. Reparied washing machine this forenoon
worked on auto this P.M. Ray called this evening and
showed me about dash light.
01/29/1929
Very cold all day, and windy I worked on top of car.
01/30/1929
Nice cool day. Worked on the Ford Car. We received a
letter from Irving today that says the A.O. Smith
Co. is now makng 365 auto frames per hour since
they improved the machine, before they could only
make 312 per hour. They hope to make farther improve-
ments so that they can turn out 425 finished and
painted frames per hour.
Mary and I went to Margaret's to supper this evening,
it being Jean's 13 birthday.
01/31/1929
Ordered a top cover from Sears and Roebuck of boston
and one 29x 4.40 Baloon tire.
Got in a lot of bedding for the ox out to the farm
and worked on the Ford auto the rest of the time.
02/01/1929
This fornoon I sharpened seven picks and three large bull
points for the Calvary Cemetary. The weather cold, the
themometer {thermometer} has not been above freezing for a week.
02/02/1929
Mr. Bell died yesterday, he was Mrs. Haypenny's father.
Weather today has been cool.
02/03/1929
Attended Mill plain Union Church this morning.
There 16 in the Choir, and 140 total attendance.
Rev Joseph O. Todd preached.
Weather has been cold.
02/04/1929
Mr. Bell was buried this afternoon, I was one of the
pall bearers, from house to Christs Chapel, then to
Pine Grove Cemetary.
Weather Cold, zero this morning.
02/05/1929
5 below zero this morning, thawed a little at noon.
Had a letter from Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Vancover {Vancouver} Washington
yesterday telling of the death of his wife.
The Mattatuck Drum Band held its monthly meeting to-
night. Morris Tyler, Ralph Adams, Edgar Upson, John Garrigno
Frank Kitchenka, Howard Neal, Lauverne Fox Sr., myself
and Lauverne Fox Jr were present.
02/06/1929
Snowed at times all day turned to rain this even-
ing. We attended the men's club fair at the Mill
Plain Union Church this evening.
I finished making the top for the Ford truck.
Bought a Ton of coal (soft) {$}9.35 of Goldsmith Chatfield Co.
02/07/1929
Heavy rain all night and this morning, much
damage done by roads washing etc. The bridge on
the Mattatuck Ca's {??} dam washed away tonight.
Mary and I attended the men's Fair at the Mill Plain
Union Church.
02/08/1929
Weather today fair and warm. Worked about house all
day.
02/09/1929
The Gas Company are sinking a gas regulator
in the ground under the sidewalk on the
Frost road close to my fence.
I worked all day on the little Ford truck.
02/10/1929
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church this forenoon at 11 o'clock.
No one is allowed to cross the footbridge on
the dam at Homestead avenue.
Ferris Turkenton and his wife of Morris called
this afternoon. Roy called this evening and
waited for Ruth to come. She had been visiting
in New Haven.
02/11/1929
This morning I went to the center and bought paint
to paint the Ford with. Got my drivers license for
1929 (paid 3.00) bought tape for Ford dash, went to the bank
made a deposit, and got a check cashed, came home and
worked on the Ford car some, this afternoon.
02/12/1929
Worked painting the Ford truck.
02/13/1929
Cold all day themometer (termometer), zero this morning, 30 above
at noon.
02/14/1929
Worked on Ford truck most of the day.
02/15/1929
I repaired and put up an adertising board in the
front yard this morning. This afternoon went and
to the farm, care of Jasper came back and went
to the Mill Plain Church and got a nice hat
that I drew at the men's fair, came home and
cut down a large wild cherry tree, then went down
town and bought some paint and varnish.
02/16/1929
Worked about home all day, except the time it
took to go out to the farm and take care of
Jasper. A real estate man offered me 12,000.00
dollars for this place today. Mr. David Pichard
offered 15,000.00 some time ago.
The weather today has been warmer than it
has been before in some time.
02/17/1929
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Church this forenoon.
This afternoon we went to the Woodtick Chapel.
Rev Joseph Todd officiated. We took Mrs. George
Brown home and made a call on Mr. Browne.
02/18/1929
I varnished the Ford Truck today. Weather has been fine.
Men began digging a cellar on the lot north of mine
today for a two story, two family house, for Mr. Brennan.
02/19/1929
Nice day spent most of the time sewing new celoid {??}
windows in my car.
This evening I wrote Drum Band Music on the
curtains in the Band Room.
02/20/1929
Very cold. I stitched lights in my car, and chopped
wood.
02/21/1929
Snowed today to a depth of about 10 inches. I made fine
picture frames, and towards night dug out the paths.
02/22/1929
Washington's birthday, weather has been warmer.
I went to Woodtick and saw Mrs. Badger and gave her
an account of Theodore Boynton who lived in the house
where she now resides.
02/23/1929
Margaret's Birthday, 40 years old. Her daughters ---- {?? can't read}
birthday 1 year old.
02/24/1929
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
this forenoon. Mary and I took dinner at Howard
Neal's at 41 {or is it 141?} street. This evening Roy and
Ruth called.
02/25/1929
This morning I went down town and had my
license transfered {transferred} to my new truck.
02/26/1929
Stormed all day, rain and ice. I wrote and worked about
home all day except after dinner I went to the farm and
cared for Jasper as I do every day.
02/27/1929
I sorted bolts the most of the forenoon, and put
pictures in frames. This afternoon James Egan and
I went out to the farm and dug a trench to turn
the water away from the barn.
02/28/1929
Rain and snow all day. Went to town this noon
then went out to the farm and cared for Jasper
and worked about the barn this afternoon.
03/01/1929
This has been a fine day. I went to town and bought
a wiper for my Packard and a motor gasket for my Ford.
Theodore Munson called this evening and told of the death
of Miss Adella M. Shannon at Medina N.Y. last Tuesday.
03/02/1929
Rained this forenoon turned to snow and
still snowing.
Mr. Henry Cooley was brought home from the
hospital this afternoon.
An agent brought a large radio yesterday and
set it up, but we did not care for it and they took
it away today.
03/03/1929
Mary and I attended service, morning and evening
at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Traveling bay snow and wet, thawed much.
03/04/1929
President Hoover was inaugrated {inaugurated} today. Weather fair till
about four o'clock when it rained.
I started up my made over Ford truck today.
03/05/1929
Worked on car this morning, and on the barn this P.M.
Rained all day.
03/06/1929
Weather fair but very muddy.
Went to town this afternoon and gt some wigs for
the drummers to wear next friday evening.
This eve attended a meeting of the official board.
03/07/1929
Growing colder all day, tonight freezing.
Had a letter from Milwaukee written by Irving,
he had his operation last friday.
Edgar Upson and Morris Tyler came this evening
and practiced for the event tomorrow night.
03/08/1929
Chopped down trees on the Calvary Cemetary lot.
Morris Tyler, Edgar Upson and I represented "the spirit of
76" at Temple Hall this evening.
03/09/1929
All kinds of weather today. Warm, sun, rain, snow.
Wind and very cold tonight. I cut wood on the Cemetary
lot.
03/10/1929
Mary and I attended worship at the Mill Plain
Union Church this morning and evening.
03/11/1929
Have been making a drag for the Calvary Cemetary
to dress their roads with.
Weather has been nice today. Mr. Brennan has two
large cellers {cellars} dug ready to wall up north of my
lot. Had a ton of soft coal come today, $9.35.
03/12/1929
The Gas Company filled the hole in my side-
walk this afternoon. The weather today has been
fair.
03/13/1929
The Republican reported this morning that there
was 10 brush fires yesterday.
The weather today has been warm and fine.
Miss Harriet Pierpnt died this evening at 6:30
aged 76, last September.
03/14/1929
Rained all day. I put 16 wheel barrow loads of hen
manure on the front lawn.
Went to Montambeau's and got my recharged battery.
Repaired the sidewalk for a distance.
03/15/1929
Rained more or less all day. I wheeled ashes into the
drive way this forenoon. This afternoon took a old
auto body out to the farm, and later got anouther
body ready to load.
03/16/1929
This afternoon at 2:30 we attended the funeral of Miss
Harriet Pierpont. Rev John Lewis of St. John' Church
officiated, she was buried in East Farms Burying Ground.
She died of cancer.
03/17/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Church. Morning
and evening.
03/18/1929
I choped {chopped} down a big white oak tree this morning,
this afternoon I picked 6 stone boat loads of stones
off the garden out to the farm.
03/19/1929
Chopped wood this morning, this afternoon got out
manure at the farm.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice this
evening.
03/20/1929
The paper states that there has been 12 [[eight]] brush
fires in town that the firemen put out.
Mary, Margaret, Hiram Able and I drove to
West Haven this morning to the Armstrong Rubber
Co. and I bought a tire and tube for the Ford truck
for $6.98 and a tire and tube for my Packard 33 x 4 1/2
for $15.45 {??}. We then went to the West Haven shore and
ate our dinner by the side of the water. We then
went to Charlie Cass'es at North Farms in Wallingford
and got some apple tree grafts, and then came home
by way of Meriden.
03/21/1929
Today I choped {chopped} down a large maple tree two feet in
diameter.
03/22/1929
Chopped wood all day, except the time I went out to
the farm to care for Jasper.
03/23/1929
This morning I chopped wood, and this afternoon dug
a ditch through the swamp east of the hen house.
Rained hard at noon, but warm.
03/24/1929
Attended service this morning and evening at
The Mill Plain Union Church.
A small meeting was held at the East Farms
Cemetary of those interested, and they elected
the following officers, President Charles S. Miller,
Vice President Morton E. Pierpont. Secretary
Howard Neal. Treasurer Morton E. Pierpont.
03/25/1929
Chopped up a tree, went out to the farm, came back,
choped {chopped} some more till driven to cover by the rain.
This evening it thundered and lightened.
03/26/1929
I harrowed the garden at East Farms this afternoon,
and sawed the large branches of the maple
tree that I cut down. It has rained quite a
little.
03/27/1929
Nice weather today, finished cutting cord wod
and commenced cutting stove wood.
Mary and I went to Raymon{d}'s to supper and
spent the evening.
03/28/1929
Carried my writing down to Margaret to be
typewrittin this noon. Tomorow at Teeds gap in
Wallingford the Wallingford Trap Rock Quarry Co
are to explode 38 tons of dynamite.
03/29/1929
Good Friday or Fast Day. This morning
Mr. and Mrs. Hapenny and their daughter,
Mary and I in my Packard car left home
about nine o'clock and went to Kent, we
went by way of Middlebury, Woodbury,
Southbury, Roxbury, Bridgewater, New Milford,
Gaylords Bridge, and Bullsdridge, the whole
being 47 miles. We visited the Farm barns and
buildings and after dinner Frank took his Buic {Buick ??}
Car and took us up the new road through Macidonia
over the New York state line. We then returned
to the Kent school, where he showed us through
the store, the cooler, the boiler room, the kitchen,
Dining hall, and Main Building, after which we
returned to the barn, and saw the milking
machines set to work, and the milking and feeding
progress, after which, we started for home about
4 o'clock we came by way of Kent Falls, Swifts bridge
Cornwell bridge, Bunker hill, West Goshen, Goshen,
Farrington, and Thomaston.
03/30/1929
Damp and rain. I repaired the fence about the East
Farms Cemetary some.
This forenoon Mary told me that Frank Kitchenka
had been here and left word for me to call Peter
Shea. I called him and he informed me that
a man from Hartford was here yesterday to see if
the Mattatuck Drum Band would go to Richmond
Va with the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford next
month. The paper stated that there was 24 fires yesterday.
03/31/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church this
morning and evening.
Clyde called this afternoon with his family.
04/01/1929
The paper stated that there were eight fires yesterday
mostly bush fires.
Major Peter Shea, Frank Kitchenka and I went to
Hartford this evening in Frank's new Chevolay {Chevrolet} Car
to meet members of the Putnam Phalanx and made
arangements {arrangements}, which are to be confirmed to go
to Richmond with the whole Mattatuck Drum
Band on May 9th 10-11-12 and 13.
04/03/1929 {date wrong for the rest of the week, corrected on 04/08/1929}
This day I worked about home taking the engine out
of the old Ford.
The Mattatuck Drum Band [[went]] held a meeting
and voted to go to Richmond Va. next month,
May 9-10-11-12 and 13.
04/04/1929
Fine weather, went up to Woodtick after dinner to
see Chas Tuttle, but he was not at home.
Attended the meeting of the Official Board
at the Mill Plain Church.
04/05/1929
This forenoon saw Chas De Bissop about seeding the Church
lawn, went with him to the New Haven Reservoir in Prospect,
where he made a bargain with the New Haven Water Co.
to clean the bottom of the new pond which is formed by
making the new road, with his steam shovel for $60.00
per day.
This afternoon choped {chopped} wood till four o'clock when it began
to rain, then I went up to Woodtick to see Charles S.
Tuttle about drumming at Richmond Va. next mont.
04/06/1929
This forenoon I took Margaret, Miss Pickett, Mary,
and myself and we went to the Cemetery at
East Morris and looked over the graves of Miss
Pickett's family, then from there we went to the East
Cemetery in Litchfield and Margaret and I looked
through that yard, saw the graves of my grandfater
and grandmother.
04/07/1929
Chopped fire wood all day.
04/07/1929 {date now correct}
Attended service morning and evening at Mill
Plain Church.
This afternoon Howard Neal, Miss Pickett and Mary
and I went to Mr. Lewis in Marion, and to Arthur
Harrison's and Chas Tuttle's in Wolcott.
04/08/1929
Sawed. Choped {chopped} fire wood and got it into the wood
house and piled up all day.
Weather very hot, 98ø at noon.
Mr. Frank E. Soule
750 Main St
Hartford In charge of M.D.B.
for Richmond trip.
Headquarters in Putnam Phalanx 314 Washington St.
04/09/1929
Cut stove wood all day and piled it in the woodhouse.
Weather hot but not as bad as yesterday.
The Mattatuck Drum band met for practice this
evening.
The present members of the Band are Peter Shea
Drum Major Fifers
Charles Cass William Greenwood.
James Phelan Morris Tyler.
Andrew Kitchenka Ralph Adams
Franklin Browne John Sexton
Bement {??} Wakelie Robert Wakelie
Bass Drummers
Frank Kitchenka George Cass
John Garrigus {??} Ray Miller
Robert Probst Paul Miller
Snare Drummers
Charles Miller Lewis Greenwood
Charles Tuttle Charles Monahan
Arthur Harrison Edgar Upson
Lauverne Fox Ralph Pierpont
Herman Gessert Howard Neal
04/10/1929
Rained hard all day, some snow.
Went to Mill Plain Church and gave my writing
to Mr. Todd. Went to town this P.M., made a pair
of drum sticks.
The following are the newly elected
officers of the Putnom Phalanx April, 1929
as announced by Major Clifford D. Perkins.
Major E.C. Bigelow, adjutant Captain Frank
E. Soule, chief of staff; the Rev Sherrold Soule,
chaplain; Lieutenant O.L. Lord, quartermaster;
Lieutenant Charles F. Coates, inspector, Lieutenant
John B. Byrne, judge advocate; Lieutenant
Thomas H Dackrell, paymaster; Captain Joseph
E. Root, M.D. surgeon; Lieutenant George A. Long,
engineer; Lieutenant George Zunnee, commissary;
Lieutenant H. B. Babcock, assistant inspector;
Lieutenant D. K. Goodwin, assistant quartermaster
Lieutenant N.W. Schwab, assistant commissary;
Lieutenant D.McMilan, assistant engineer; Lieutenant
Thomas E. Duncan, assistnat paymaster; Lieutenant
John A. Gleson, ade {aide?}; Honary {honorary} staff, Robert Karl F.
Brown, Captain Robert Parteous {??}.
04/11/1929
Finished chopping stove wood today.
Saw Charles De Bissop about grading about the church.
04/12/1929
Rained hard all day, I made tow pairs of drum
sticks, and four drum slings.
Went to town this noon.
04/13/1929
Lowery day with snow.
Went to the tailor in Cheshire and took over
John Garrigus {??} Drum Coat and Mr. Fox pants
to be repaired.
Finished cuting stove wood and got it all
into the woodhouse.
04/14/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Church morning
and evening.
04/15/1929
This morning I took a load of old Auto parts out
to the farm and brought back a load of wood.
This afternoon I worked repairing a large iron
gate that belongs to St. Joseph's Cemetary.
We recived {received} a confirming letter from Hartford
stating that the Mattatuck Drum Band have
been chosen by the Putnam Phalanx to accom-
pany them to Richmond next month.
04/16/1929
Rained hard all day. I worked reparing the
big iron gate to St. Joseph's Cemetary.
The Mattatuck Drum Band had a rehersel {rehearsal}
and meeting tonight.
04/17/1929
Wen{t} to town to town this morning and left a copy
of the history of the Mattatuk Drum Band with
Peter Shea to have printed by the John Price
Printing Co.
04/18/1929
Went to John Pricis {Price's} printing office and got Peter Shea's
measure for Drum Band Pants.
04/19/1929
I painted boottops this morning, then went to
Mr. Atkinson's in Wolcott and got the measure of
Robert Wakelie's Vest and pants. After dinner I took
them to Cheshire to Mr. S. Garson the tailor and
also the measure of Pete Shea's, and James Phelan's
and at Coat of [[John]] Robert Wakelie to have the sleeves
made 1" longer.
When I got home Mr. Hapenney had left 12 drills to
be sharpened, which I daid {did}. Then went to St. Joseph's
Cemetary and looked at a fence that is to be repaired.
Then went to John Sexton's home and made
arangements {arrangements} to use his uniform for Bob Probst
to wear to Richmond.
04/20/1929
Went up East Mountain and saw Charles De Bissop
about and Iron Fence and grass seeding about the Mill
Plain Church. I set out five apple trees at the
farm this morning.
Halled {hauled} a white oak log and a maple log up from
the edge of the swamp with Nicholas Hapennie's
Tractor.
Weather damp and rain this afternoon.
04/21/1929
This A.M. at 11 o'clock we attended service at Mill
Plain Church, at 3 we went to Woodtick Chapel.
Mr. Todd officiated. We brought Chas Tuttle home
with us, had supper and at 7:30 went to Mill Plain
Church.
04/22/1929
Worked about home today.
This evening Howard Neal, Frank Kitchenka and I
went to Hartford to the Putnam Phalanx Headquarters
at 314 Washington St to see about going to Richmond
but there was no one there but the janitor. The company
had gone to New Haven to atted the powder house ball.
We left John Sexton's uniform with Robert Probst.
04/23/1929
Worked at flower beds and at East Farms Cemetery.
The Mattatuck Drum Band held a practice and
business meeting tonight.
04/24/1929
This morning I took the measure of William Greenwood's
Vest to Cheshire. I then went to Morris Cemetery
with Mary and Miss Picket and plubed up the
stones and fixed up the lots of her mother and
brother.
04/25/1929
This morning it rained a little and I went to East
Farms and worked pulling brush stumps and roots
with my ox from under the fenel.
This afternoon it rained hard, and I lettered 2 bass
drums, whitened belts, and colored boot tops etc.
04/26/1929
This morning I went to the farm and spred {spread} manure
on the big garden and plowed aroun it a few times.
This afternoon I went to town and paid my back
auto tax, and paid the telephone bill, then I
walked up the Naugatuck river to where they are
putting the new trunk line sewer in opposite
the junction of the Bunkerhill road and looked
that over, the sewer is a large concrete pipe
about 60 inches in diameter, and in lengths about
6 ft long, after I got home I painted the iron
clothes posts in the back yard green.
04/27/1929
I spaded in the garden this morning then went
to Hattie Pierpont's place, and Mary got a lot
of dishes that cousin Mary Pierpont gaver her.
I repaired the Cemetery gate at East Farms.
Went this afternoon with Mary and got a load
of dishes at Hattie's place, then went to town
etc.
04/28/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Church
Weather fair till about 5 P.M. when it began to rain,
is now raining very hard at 9.
04/29/1929
Worked all the forenoon lettering signs etc, this afternoon
at farm and garden etc.
This evening went to Hartford with Herman Gessert
and made the final arangements {arrangements} with the Officers of the
Putnam Phalanx to go to [[Boston]] Richmond, Washington,
Yorktown etc. Got home at midnight.
04/30/1929
Plowed my garden at East Farms and worked about home.
The Mattatuck Drum Band held the usual Tuesday
evening meeting tonight, and made arangements {arrangements}
to go to Richmond next week.
05/01/1929
Plowed Mr. William Garrigus garden at East Farms this
forenoon, spaded the last part of my home garden this P.M.
Attended the Official Board Meeting at the Mill
Plain Church, this evening.
05/02/1929
This morning I went to the shoe shop on Grand
Street and saw about the boottops that are there
being made, but they could not get the spring.
I went to the Hotchkiss Co. and got some
spring steel and took it to the Waterbury
Metal Co. on Jefferson st to have the springs
made.
Then I went to Cheshire and saw about
the Pants and vests that Mr. Garson the
tailor is making, and he agreed to have
them ready by Saturday night.
This afternoon I went to the Mill Plain
Church and carted soil on the lawn and
soon had Mr. Albert and his three boys
helping and soon had the lawn covered
and I sowed the grass seed and we had it
raked off by six o'clock
05/03/1929
Worked at the Mill Plain Church today putting in
a tile drain from the west side of the sunday
school building to carry away the roof rain
water. This evening I set out a Maple tree east
of the barn.
05/04/1929
This morning I worked up to the Mill Plain
Church digging a large hole to be stoned up
for the drain roof water to run into, it is
located about 4' north of the Homestead ave
curb stone and about 4' east of the tower walk.
This noon Capt Frank D. Soule of Hartford
telephoned and wanted me to send him the
names of the members of the Mattatuck Drum
Band that expect to go to Richmond next week.
I had Margaret typewrite a letter and took it to
the Post office and mailed it after 2 P.M. The names
are to be sent to the hotel in Richmond where we are
to stay, for reservations.
I then went to the Leader Shoe Shop on Grand
street and got a new pair of boottops and my
own. Then drove to Mr. Garson's tailor shop
in Cheshire after 4 new pairs of drum band
pants etc which were to be ready, but they
were not done, will be ready at 5 P.M. monday.
05/05/1929
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church this
morning and at 5 P.M. vesper service.
Went to Wolcott and saw Arthur Harrison and
Charles S. Tuttle abut going to Richmond.
05/06/1929
Sharpened picks for Calvary Cemetery this
morning, and worked at Mill Plain Church.
Went to Cheshire this P.M. and 4 pants, 2 vests etc.
05/07/1929
I was elected Leader of the Mattatuck Drum Band
this evening. I have served as leader for the past
48 years.
05/08/1929
Worked about home today, went down town twice
about Morris Tyler's boottops, and made arange-
ments {arrangements} to have Mrs. Sidney Bronson take a
picture of the drum Band before it leaves tomorow.
05/09/1929
The weather today was nice and warm
At 5:30 this afternoon a Waterbury and Hartford
Bus came to my place, where the Mattatuck Drum
Band was ready for Hartford. We lined up by the
side of the Bus and had our picture taken after
which we got aboard and started, picking up
Charles Cass at the Mill Dole {or is it Dale?} Fire house.
We reached the Putnam Phalanx Headquarters
No. 314 Washington Street at 7:15 and after having
our baggage marked Richmond Va, Hotel Jefferson
and after all things were ready, we played a couple
of pieces in the yard, after which we started for
the rail road station which we reached in due
time and loaded our drums into the baggage car, and we
boarde the last car on the train, which was a
sleeper and the corps had it to themselves. The train
started at 10 P.M. soon a porter let down the
births {berths} and some tried to sleep. We reached Washing-
{word unfinished} soon after 7 next morning where we had breakfast
in the Rail Road station, and after a stop of an
hour, were on our way to Richmond which we
reached a little after 10 A.M. We formed at the train
and marched up through the depot to the street,
playing "Ole Zip Coon" and recived {received} great applause.
WE were then loaded into taxies and taken
to Hotel Jefferson, where we were assigned rooms.
Edgar Upson, Chas Cass, Arthur Harrison, Lauverne
Fox and myself having No 629 with three beds.
About 2 P.M. we were taken in taxicab to Monument
square where the parade was formed and we
marched to Byrde Parke{.} {T}he Mattatuck Drum Band
received great applause all along the line of march
at the Park the{y} had a grand review, after which we had
our picture taken, and were then conveyed to the Hotel,
and had our supper.
About 7 P.M. we fell in and played about one mile to
the armory where we took part in a concert, after which
they had a grand military ball, but most of us
were tired we went to the hotel and to bed.
05/11/1929
After breakfast some of us went by buss {bus} and others
by train to Williamsburgh where we viewed the William
and Mary Colleges and saw the work that is being
done to restore the town back as it was in Revolutionary
days which is to cost $10,000,000 the money being furnished
by John Rock{e}feller Jr. We then took busses and went
to Jamestown where we saw the old Church tower erected
of bricks brought from Ingland in 1609, and all of the
other sights, and many relics, after which we went back
to Williamsburgh and had dinner in the Collegge {college} dining
hall. Then we took busses for Yorktown 16 miles distant
where we saw the battle monument and other sights
after which we took busses back to Williamsburgh,
and after a tune took the train home to Richmond.
We then went to the armory and had our supper arfer
which we returned to the Jefferson and to bed.
05/12/1929
After breakfast we got ready and marched a long
distance tothe State House and the tropps went to
Church, but there was not room for the bands. I was
taken sick on the march and was not able to return
with the band but after a time a man brought me
in his auto to the hotel, where we had dinner and
then another dinner at the Connellwell Club, which
was the grandest dinner I ever saw, after which we
returned to the hotel, and prepared to go to
the train, which we did and left Richmond a{t}
four P.M. ariving {arriving} in Washington about 7 and had
supper and then entrained for home. We reached
Hartford at 6 A.M. next morning, there was a
buss waiting at the station which we boarded and we
reached Waterbury before nine o'clock.
05/13/1929
After reaching home this forenoon I lay down and
slept till 4 o'clock, after which I worked about home.
05/14/1929
I worked out to the farm most of the day getting
the potatoe ground ready.
Had Drum Band meeting this evening.
05/15/1929
This forenoon I plowed Mr. Wilkensback and Harold
Pierpont's garden
This afternoon Mary and I went over to Kent
to see Frank and get some potatoe seed. We stayed
over night.
05/16/1929
Yesterday afernoon the man that was driving the
potatoe planting machine broke the pole, and
I fitted a new one, which we put in this morning
and we had the maching working. It planted a
bushel of cut seed every ten minutes, as fast fast as
Frank and I could cut them, by noon they had nearly
all of the seventy bushell {bushels?} of seed planted.
After dinner we started for home. Frank and his
family came with us to Maback {??} tower which we went up
and as it was a clear day we could see a great distance.
We left them near Tyler Pond and came home via
Goshen, Litchfield, East Morris and Watertown.
05/18/1929
Today I finished plowing the gardens of Mr. Wilkensback
and Harold Pierpont which took till near non then
drew Manure up on the hill, and Harrowed the
garden south of the barn at East Farms.
The Mattatuck Drum Band turned out this afternoon
to a convention in town that was given by the
Oakville Corps.
05/19/1929
Attended worship at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rained hard this afternoon.
05/20/1929
Worked all day at the farm getting the ground
ready to plant potatoes, and the large garden ready
to plant. Three Albert boys helped me after 3:30.
I went to their home and got thme on the corner
of Woodtick Road and Mansfield Ave, paid .60.
05/21/1929
Rained hard this forenoon. Went down town and
paid all of my sprinkling tax, all of my Packard auto
tax, all of my Ford truck tax, and half 75.37 of my
property tax.
05/22/1929
Worked all day plowing the lot on the hill for potatoes and
corn, had three Albert boys helping me after 4 P.M., .50.
05/23/1929
Worked all day at the potatoe lot plowing and gettin
out stones. Had 3 Albert boys helping me. 1.00
05/24/1929
Finished plowing the loton the hill and harrowed it.
Three Albert boys helped me after 3:30. .50.
05/25/1929
Planted potatoes today on the hill. Three Albert boys
helped, 1.00.
05/26/1929
This A.M. attended service at Mill Plain.
This afternoon the Matttatuck Drum Band turned out
21 men at Cheshire. Major Peter Shea. Fifers Chas Cass,
James Phelan, Robert Wakelie, Frank Brown, Bement
Wakelie, John Sexton, Morris Tyler, Ralph Adams,
Andrew Kitchenka and William Greenwood.
Bass, Frank Kitchenka and John Garrigus {??}, and Paul Mill.
Snare Lauvaine {??} Fox, Edgar Upson, Louis Greenwood
Herman Gessert, Chas Tuttle, Arthur Harrison, and
Howard Neal.
At 5 P.M. Mr. Todd preached to the veterans at
Mill Plain.
05/27/1929
This forenoon I nailed on the copper ridge on the Mill
Plain Church that the wind had loosened.
Then I repaired the sink pipe, and went to East Farms
and plowed the upper garden some.
05/28/1929
Plowed the remainder of the upper garden and harowed
both gardens. Had the Albert boys help me repair
the fence at the north east corner of my home lot,
and Rainy mowed the front lawn.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice.
05/29/1929
Very hot, planted the home garden and some at
East Farms.
05/30/1929
Decoration Day. The Mattatuck Drum Band
turned out for Wadhams Post No. 49 G.V.R {??}
There are only nine Civil War Veterans now
living in Waterbury. This afternoon I went to the
Mill Plain Church and with Mr. Albert made a work bench.
05/31/1929
Clyde called this afternoon and said arrangements are
completed so that he leaves Farringtton next Monday
for Toronto, Canada.
I planted the lot on the hill to corn this forenoon.
This evening I went to Charles DeBissops {??} and
got some tomatoe plants.
06/01/1929
Planted garden at East Farms etc. 2 Albert boys
helped 1.00.
06/02/1929
Attended service at Wolcott Rev Mr. Cabbage officiated.
There were present at the service of decorating the
soldiers monument and graves in the Cemetery but
two veterans of the Civil War Charles Russell of Southington
and James Young of Waterville. Ten years ago there
was 31 present. The Mattatuck Drum Band placed
flowers on the graves. Levi Atkins, Erastas Atkins,
Prosper Hull, Sidney Alcott, Theodore Moulthrop,
Sherman Moulthrop, Elihu Moulthrop, Samuel Benkaman,
and Homer Atkins.
06/03/1929
Went to town this forenoon. This afternoon with the
Albert boys we cultivated a number of apple trees
in the lower lot.
06/04/1929
Mary was taken sick unable to speak, had Dr.
Barber come after Dinner, she is much better to-
night. This afternoon two Albert Boys helped
me dig about apple trees at the farm [on the hill. 50 [[100]] {{50› instead of a $1.00 perhaps?]
06/05/1929
Mowed some in the yard at home, took
a load of hay to the farm.
Mary and I attended a supper and the
Annual meeting at the Mill Plain Union
Church. 2 Albert boys .50.
06/06/1929
Cut some grass in the yard near the brook
and got a load out to the farm.
Bought a hay rake for .75 two Albert boys, 50.
06/07/1929
Planted and made picture frames, it rained a little.
06/08/1929
Mowed some out to the farm, planted beans and peas
in the upper garden, got in a few heaps of hay
and mowed two tiers in the East Farms Cemetery.
Rane {??} Albert went to the Hospitial {Hospital} with an appendicitis.
06/09/1929
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This afternoon Margaret Clif{Clip?}, Marion, Bettie, Gene and
Anita Northrop, and Mary and I went to Morris
to a Girl Scout Camp at the South End of Bantam
Lake where Marion is going the last of this
month.
06/10/1929
Mary was not very well today, I helped some
about the washing, and mowed about the yard,
in the afternoon I cleaned some of the East
Farms Cemetery.
06/11/1929
I repaired my Ford truck yesterday afternoon and
it works much better today. Dr. Barber came
this noon and prescribed for Mary.
I worked about three hours in the East Farms
Cemetery.
06/12/1929
Worked all day in East Farms Cemetery, clearing
it up. 2 Albert boys helped me this A.M. 50.
Raymond and Ruth called tonight.
06/13/1929
Very Hot. Worked all day in the Cemetery
finished cleaning it up except a big pile of
rubbish that I have got to cart away.
06/14/1929
Very hot 90ø. Repaired a broken bramble scythe
this morning, and mowed the passment {??} from
the street to East Farms Cemetery. This afternoon
trimmed the trees, and raked up the litter.
This evening Edgar Upson came and we put a tire rack
on his Ford Truck.
06/15/1929
Went to Mill Plain Church and got four iron barrels,
and then, went to East Farms Cemetery and with
Ray and Rob Albert we carted away several loads of
rubbish wood etc. We then howed {hoed?} and cleaned the
gardens of weed stones etc. 1.00
06/16/1929
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Church, Mr. Arthur Purinton officiated, as Mr Todd
is sick in the Hartford Hospitial {Hospital}. The attendance was 93.
When we came out Frank was there, having just
came from Kent, with him was his family Elsie,
and children Mary, Sann, {??} Bertha, and Dwight.
We then all went to Margarets on Beecher Avenue
where after a time, Clydes family came from
Farrington, Fritzie, Dick Willard, Rob and Nancy.
Clyde is in Toronto engineering for the American
Brass Co, they are building large factories at
West Toronto. At two P.M. we sat down to dinner
which Margaret had planned, as at the last of
this month Clyde is coming and his whole family
are going to Canada.
At three o'clock I was at the Woodtick Chapel and
gave a talk on the old liberty bell at Philadelphia,
which I have seen several times.
A very hot day.
06/17/1929
A very hot day 120ø in sun. I fixed the spring in the
east lot this forenoon so that the water could be used,
and howed {hoed?} corn the rest of the day.
06/18/1929
Very hot 113ø in sun, howed {hoed?} corn nearly all day.
Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice this evening.
06/19/1929
Finished hoeing corn tonight.
Attended strawberry dfestival at Mill Plain Church
this evening.
06/20/1929
This forenoon I sharpened 30 hand drills and 9 picks for the
Calvary Cemetery. This afternoon I went to the Colonial Trust
and got the interest on my Mill Plain Church Bonds 42.00
6 months, paid telephone bill, took bill to the Ever Ready shoe
Co, bought hat, and Cabbage seed, came home and repaired
wheel barrow, and put tire on my Ford car. Ground
scythe for Mr. Albert, and took paint to Mill Plain Church.
06/21/1929
I cultivated corn and potatoes all day, very hot
and dry.
06/22/1929
Raymond and Rob Albet helped me today. This
forenoon I repaired a half ton Cyclone hoist that
belonged to the Pine Grove Cemetery, but was borrowed
and broken by the Calvary Cemetery.
This P.M. We worked hoeing potatoes and getting
stones off the lot.
06/23/1929
A week ago today Caroline Benham appeared with
a new Pontiac 5 passenger closed car.
Mary and I attended service at the Mill
Plain Union Church, Mr. Perdieu officiated.
Mr. Todd is still in the Hartford Hospitial {Hospital} with
bad eyes. Weather still dry and hot.
06/24/1929
Very hot day. No rain for nearly five weeks, everything
drying up. Worked hoeing my potatoes, and cleaning the
stones off the piece. Ray and Rob Albert helped me.
My sister Mary Jenner, received a telegram from Kenosha
Wis last friday that cousin Theodore Boyngton {?? g inserted} died
Tuesday the 19th at the age of 90 years. I think that
he is the last survivor or nearly the last of Co C of
the the 14 Regt that left Waterbury in 1862 for the
Civil War with 100 men.
06/25/1929
Mary, Margaret and I attended the Mill Plain Church
Sunday school Picnic at Light House Point.
There was about 400 present. We went with my
Packard car and carried Mr. Albert down.
We left there about 6:30 to come home reaching
here before 8:00 but the Trolley cars did not arrive
till nearly one hour later. Just before they
came we had a down pore {downpour} of rain, many people
got drenched.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for paractice
this evening.
06/26/1929
This forenoon I made a pair of shafts for my
cart, cut out a big tree limb that broke off
the corner oak, and mowed some grass.
This afternoon I went to City Hall and handed
in my tax list. Then to the Town Clearks {Clerk's} office
and copied the Charter of the East Farms Cemetery.
06/27/1929
Worked all day with the Albert boys to helk {??} a
yard for the small chickens.
Mrs. Emma Drew of Ansonia spent the day with Mary.
Weather very fine.
06/28/1929
Finished building chicken yard. This morning I took to
Mr. Garson (Tailor) in Cheshire six buttons for a pair
of Drum Band pants that he is making for George
Cass, of Wallingford.
After I got back I bought one gal of drab paint and
we painted the chicken yard till it began to rain
then the Albert boys and I changed the oil in
my big car.
Clyde, Fritzie, Nancie and the youngest boy
called. Clyde and Fritzie have arranged to leave
next Sunday for Toronto.
06/29/1929
This forenoon I went to Torrington to Clyde's and
got their cook stove which they gave us, set it
up this afternoon. Ray Albert helped me.
This evening we attended the Pierpont family reunion
in gymnasiums of the Mill Plain Union Church,
there was about 60 members present.
06/30/1929
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
this forenoon. Rev. Mrs. {??} Coe officiated {sentence inserted above} Attended the birthday
gathering
at Maple Hill Farm this afternoon, the
accasion {occasion} being the 87 birthday of grandmother
Garrigus {??} about 46 present.
This evening Mary and I went to Woodtick
and saw Mr. and Mrs. Badger.
07/01/1929
Rainy and Ray Albert helped me. Ray mowed the
lawn and Rainy and I set up the old cok stove in the
Wheel house, and finished painting the chicken coop.
This P.M. We worked at the farm.
07/02/1929
Dick and Williard came from Torrington this forenoon
in their Chevolet {Chevrolet} car. Yesterday Clydes goods were taken
by truck to Toronto.
Margaret, Mary, Dick, Willard, Jene, and Anita, went
to Savin Rock in with me in my Packard, and got
a mess of mussels.
Dick and I went to the farm and hoed in the garden
towards night.
07/03/1929
Dick and I worked out to the farm till Dick left
for Torrington at 3 P.M. I staid {stayed} till 5 o'clock.
Ruth Brundage and family called at 7 o'clock they
were on their way to Danbury to spend the forth {Fourth}.
07/04/1929
They Mattatuck Drum Band turned out 17 men at
Cottage Park this forenoon. I went in my uniform
but did not drum.
07/05/1929
Dick came from Torrington this morning and
helped me get in some hay this afternoon, and
went to Cheshire at 6:45 this evening and expects
to start from Hanson's at 6 A.M. tomorrow with
Willard and Alga Hanson for Toronto.
07/06/1929
This morning at 7:45 Dick Williard, and Olga Hanson
passed by here enroute for Torono, in the rain, but
it soon cleared, and became very hot.
I worked all day sharpening monument lettering
tools for Mr. Baldwin of Cottage place.
07/07/1929
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J.O. Todd officiating.
This afternoon I took Cliff Northrop Margaret,
Gene, Mary and others up to Camp Birchmere at
the South end of Bantam Lake.
Mr. James White was buried from the church at 4 P.M. I was {entry ends}
07/08/1929
Ray Albert helped me at the farm getting the
mowing machine ready for use etc.
Hot, Dry, Day.
07/09/1929
Worked at haying today. Ray Albert helped me. Rob in P.M.
Mary went to short beach, witht he society of berry pickers.
07/10/1929
Mowed the south part of the barn lot this forenoon
got in one load this afternoon, when it rained hard.
I then went to town and bought some arsnate {??} of lead
and a pair of pants. This evening I and Mary went
up to Woodtick and saw Charles Tuttle.
07/11/1929
Mowed in the barn meadow, east side, got in west
and south, put wire fense {fence} about upper garden.
07/12/1929
Haying today weather very hot, went to town
this noon.
07/13/1929
Plough out my corn and potatoes on the hill
and hoed them. Them after noon I got in two
loads of hay.
Today Charles S. Tuttle of Woodtick started for
St. Louis with his son Cyrus and his wife to
be gone two weeks.
07/14/1929
Attended service at MIll Plain Union Church this
forenoon. WEnt to Camp Birchmere at Bantam
Lake this afternoon. Took Cliff, Margaret Gene and
the baby Northrop's and Mary.
07/15/1929
This forenoon repaired the up stairs pump.
Mowed hay, and in afternoon took a load out
to the farm, put poison on the potatoes and set
out cabbage plants.
07/16/1929
Rane helped me mow the Meadow west of the upper shed
and we raked it up, we finished mowing the barn lot.
Mattatuck Drum Band held a meeting to practice.
07/17/1929
Rane and Raymond Albert helped me today, we got
in one load, and mowed most of the young orchard
on the hill. .90
07/18/1929
Got in nearly all the hay in the young orchard on
the hill. Rane and Raymond helped 1.00
07/19/1929
My sister Mrs. Rowland Jenner, My daughter Mrs. Margaret
Northrop, her two daughters Gene {??} and Anita, with my wife
Mary and myself, went to West Simsbury to
visit my brother Frank. Went via southington
Plainville, Farmington, Wheatougue {??} to W. Simsbury.
Returned via Canton, Unionville, Bristol, Wolcott,
and home. They are building a new concrete bridge
across the Farmington river at Avon.
07/20/1929
I set out Cabbage plants in the upper barn lot
garden most of the time today.
07/21/1929
Attended service at the MIll Plain Union Church,
this forenoon, Rev. Joseph Todd officiated. 100 present.
This afternoon attended at the Woodtick Chapel.
Rev. Joseph Todd, only about a dozen present.
After service I took a picture frame to Arthur
Harrison's and after a visit we came home.
07/22/1929
Mowed the north lot on the hill and got it in.
Rane & May {Ray?} helped 1.00.
07/23/1929
Worked haying in Mr. Hazelhurst's lot. Mowed it with
the machine except the North West corner.
Weather very dry.
07/24/1929
Worked haying in the swamp, got in the Hazelhurst
lot and mowed part of Mr. Wilkinsbach lot.
Very hot. Rane helped after 9:40 .50.
07/25/1929
Rained last night, today sprinkled, and damp.
Mowed in the swamp, Mr. Wilkinsbach and Harold
Peirpont's lots, have over 1/2 acre to cut.
07/26/1929
Got in two loads of good hay, Clarence Pierpont, and
Ned Wilson helped. 10. .15
07/27/1929
Got in two loads of bog hay. Clarence and Ned
helped.
07/28/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Church, Rev Mr. Todd
officiated. This P.M. Charles Tuttle came in having
just returned from a visit to his son's Cyrus at
St. Lewis. After dinner I carried him to his home in
Woodtick. Called on my cousin Burt Friskie {??}.
07/29/1929
Worked at haying in the swamp by the Cemetery at East
Farms, got in two loads this forenoon, rained some
before dinner. This afternoon I went downtown on the
trolley car. Paid a back tax to Collector Guilfoil, went
to bank, and called at the factory of Rogers & Brother.
07/30/1929
Got in one load of hay and mowed some.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice this
evening.
07/31/1929
Got in last load from Harald {Harold} Pierpont's lot, and
mowed some in Mr. Greeter's lot.
Official board of Mill Plain Union Church met
at Rev. Mr. Todd's house this evening and
transacted business.
08/01/1929
Mowed all day in Mr. Greeters lot except when it rained
a little this afternoon.
08/02/1929
Finished mowing Mr. Greeter's lot, and raked up some
08/03/1929
Got three loads of bedding from Mr. Greeter's lot
and put it on the stack.
Then mowed two hours in the Cemetery.
Gave Howard Neal 1.00 to buy a record book with.
08/04/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church 104 present.
This afternoon Mary and I called on John Todd, he told
me much of the Todd's that are buried in East Farms
Cemetery.
08/05/1929
Today I set up Mr. William Todd's Grave stone in East
Farms Cemetery, and straitened {straightened} up the stone of
Mrs. Ives Lewis, and Mowed some, in all 8 hours.
08/06/1929
Mowed all day in East Farms Cemetery. 8 hrs {inserted} (and pulled up vines)
Mattatuck Drum Band had a meeting this evening.
08/07/1929
Worked all day 8 hrs in East Farms Cemetery cleaning
it up and pulling out stumps.
08/08/1929
Pulled stumps and repared the fence at East Farms Cemetery
6 hours. Took Charles Tuttle's uniform home, and offered
to take him to Torringtong next Saturday to the Drummer
and Fifers convention. He did not want to go.
08/09/1929
Cut grass about home and did other work all day.
08/10/1929
Attended the 44 annual State Drummers and Fifers
Convention at Torrington there were about 55 drum corps
that partisipated {participated} in the parade, some coming from
New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
I went with the Mattatuck Drum Band, but did not drum
nor wear my uniform.
08/11/1929
Attended service at MIll Plain Union Church, the service
was conducted by a Yale student named Mr. Van Wagner.
Had a heavy thunder rain all night that was much
needed.
08/12/1929
This morning I took a box containing the head of a
moveing {moving} picture machine to the express office for the
Mill Plain Union Church, Then took my Packard
car to the Packard Girage {Garage} to have the carburetor
repaired, and left it to have new piston rings put
in and other repairs made.
I then came home and dried out a lot of hay
and took two loads out to the farm, Clarence Pierpont
and Ned Wilson helped.
08/13/1929
Mowed the remaining grass on my home lot this morning
and then went to the farm, and with the help of Clarance
and Ned mowed away a load of hay, came home and
did a job of blacksmith work for Ed Scott, and after dinner
went to the Packard Girage {Garage} and look my car over
and told them not to spend over 60.00 on it, bought a
gal of white paint of Sears & Roebuck for 2.10 came
home and repaired a harrow for Ed Scott.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice, and
made arrangements to go East Hartford nex {no t} Saturday
to drum for the Southington Fire Department.
08/14/1929
Howed {hoed?} in the garden, spread hay, took a load out to
the farm, and sharpened stone drills.
Raymond is home sick since last Monday.
08/15/1929
Sharpened picks and bars this morning for Calvary
Cemetery, Mowed the swamp, and painted the fence at
East Farms Cemetery. 1 hr.
08/16/1929
Painted one hour on Cemetery fence. Then with Ned Wilson
went to Wolcott and saw Charles Tuttle about going to
East Hartford Tomorrow.
Then came home and loaded on a small load of
swamp grass, with Raymond's help, and Ned and
I started for the farm, as we were going down the
hill this side of the Horse Brook a small dog ran
in front of car and was crushed under the
wheels. The dog was [a police {dog}] {inserted} owned by Armondo Paslino
was two months old.
08/17/1929
The Mattatuck Drum Band went to East Hartford
to the State Fireman's Muster {??}. There were 44 Fire Compa-
nies in line with 22 Bands and Drum Corps. I rode
up with Herman Gessert in his Buic {Buick} Car, he also carried
Charles Tuttle. It was a fine parade, I did not wear my
uniform or drum. When I came home at 7:45 took the
trolley to Plainville, where William Greenwood and
Neal and Wheeler overtook me, and I came the rest
of the way in Greenwood's car.
08/18/1929
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
Girtrude Coe officiated. This afternoon Mary and
I went up to Old Mrs. Garrigus and gave her the Chur {??}
flowers and then went to Charles Tuttle's, and back home.
08/19/1929
Rained nearly all night, I sewed in two celeoid lights
in the back right Curtain of my big car. This afternoon
I dug a ditch to drain the swamp, went out to the farm
this evening.
08/20/1929
This morning I mowed the front lawn, and then went
to the Packard garage and got my car which they
had repaired $63.75 worth. This afternoon I painted
the Cemetery fence.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice.
08/22/1929
Yesterday morning Margaret, Betty, Anetia, my wife
and I started for Storrs. We reached Hartford at 11 AM,
and I went immediately to the State Library, where
I met Mr. George S. Goddard, State Librarian, with whom
I left a copy of the History of the Mattatuck Drum
Band, and at Original Revolutionary Journal written
by Juday Frisbie my great great grandfather.
Also an account book kept by Judith Frisbie 1775-1793.
He wishes to have them copied and placed
on file in the State Library.
I was with him till after 1 P.M. when I met the
others at my car, and we went to an Alylum {??} St
restaurant where we had dinner. After which we
visited the Wadsworth Atheneum, and the J. Pierpont
Morgan exhibit.
We then took my car and drove on through
East Hartford, Burnside, Manchester, Bolton Natch
Coventry, and Mansfield Depot to Storrs, where
we stayed with Ruth over night.
We spent the forenoon at Storrs and at 2 P.M.
started for home coming by way of Eagleville
and down the state road that runs east of
the Willimantic river, till we met the Hartford
road west of Willimantic center, and we followed it
to the Columbia road, which we took and son
came to Columbia Center, and on to Hebron, and
through Martboro, Pactopaug, East Hampton, Portland
across the Connecticut River to Middletown wehre we
stoped {stopped} for refreshments, and on through Middlefield,
Meriden, Cheshire, Southington, Wolcott, and home.
the whole distance up and back being 117 miles and 57
miles going up.
08/23/1929
This forenoon I dug out a spring in the swamp east
of the engine house, and cleaned off the hay and put
it in the chicken yard. Then painted the East farms
Cemetery fence, 6 hours.
08/24/1929
Painted the Cemetery fence 7 hours.
08/25/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, Rev
Mrs. Girtrude Coe of Wolcott officiated, reported that
Rev Mr. Todd returned from his vacation last Wednesday
night, but he did not attend church.
Wrote letter to George S. Godard State Librarian and
to Allan Forbes Boston, also to Fred D. Miller Tarrytown N.Y.
08/26/1929
This morning I went to town and bought at Sears & Roebuck
one gallon of white paint for which I paid 2.90. There was
a large cicus parade about the center in which there were three
chariots carrying brass bands, many cages of wild animals
eight camels, 9 elephants, and many horse-back riders etc.
It was Christe Bros. Circus.
08/27/1929
This morning I trimmed the front walk and then
painted the East Farms Cemetery fence.
08/28/1929
Went to Robert Tyler's and he sawed out some strips and
plained them for picture frames, I then painted on
the Cemetery Fence the rest of the day.
This evening the ladies of Mill Plain Church gave
a lawn fete and supper, which was fairly well attended.
08/29/1929
Worked painting East Farms Cemetery fence.
Received a letter from Lewis L. Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Vancouver
Wash. Miss Pickett came today.
08/30/1929
This morning I went [to] SEars and Roebuck's new store on
Grand street and bought one gal of white paint for 2.90
then went to East Farms and finished putting on the
white paint.
08/31/1929
Howard Neal and wife Mary and I left this
morning for Kent in my big car, where arived {arrived}
at Frank's home at 11:00 A.M. Howard and I went to see
his potatoes and corn and on returning dinner was ready
Frank had returned from New Milford where he had been
to have the milking machine repaired. After dinner we went
to the great field in front of the new public school where there
is being held a great carnival to raise money to buy a new
fire engine. This afternoon there was held a fire parade, and
hose laying and squirting contest. There were Fire Companies
there from Canaan, Danbury, Poughkeepsie, and Dover, N.Y.
and Watertown. The Watertown Co had the Oakville drum
fife and bugle Corps, there were also tow new engines
on exibition. {exhibition}
09/01/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church Rev
Joseph Todd officiated.
This afternoon I went to Cedar Swamp pond
in Wolcott to see T. Carl Moulthrop.
09/02/1929
Painted the sollder {soldiers?} markers and fence post black
in the East Farms Cemetery, etc (Labor Day)
09/03/1929
Painted posts on Cemetery Fence, put up mowing machine
and other tools and picked beans.
09/04/1929
Went to Sears and Roebuck's and bought 2-33x4 1/2 tires
came home and put them on my car and dressed top
etc.
09/05/1929
Worked on my car nearly all day. Went to Cheshire this
P.M. and left a suit to be pressed. Very hot 112ø in sun.
09/06/1929
Polished and oiled my car, and worked at the farm.
09/07/1929
Picked beans, and went to Cheshire and got my {word missing}
at Mr. Garson's, Had fine shower this evening.
(Note: 9/9/29 through 10/16/29 completed previously)
09/09/1929
Making preperations {preparations} to leave in the morning for
Toronto and Milwaukee. Mary and I expect to start
in my Packard auto. Rev. Joseph Todd called with his
family this afternoon. This evening Ray called.
09/10/1929
This morning at 10:10 Mary and I started for Toronto
and Milwaukee. We went up the Naugatuck valley
to Torrington, then up Hall Meadow to Norfolk and
through Canaan to Ashley Falls where we ate dinner
by the road-side. Then on through Egermont to New-|
York State to Hillsdale where we turned North through
Austerlitz, Spensertown, Chatam, Valatia, East Greenbush
through Albany. Staid at night six miles beyond on
the Schenectady Road, at Mr. Frank H. Roots. 116 miles.
Paid $4.50 for lodging, supper and breakfast.
09/11/1929
We left Mr. Roots at 9:15. Passed through Schenectady, Amsterdam,
Fonda, Little Falls, where we saw the highest canal lock said to
be the highest in the world 60ft. Then Herkimer, Utica, Wampa-
ville. Chittinango where I got shaved and hair cut for 75 cts.
Then through Fayetteville to Syracuse, where we staid at
the Knapp Farm at No. 2800 East Genessee St. Traveled 139 miles.
09/12/1929
Left the Knapp Farm this morning and passed through
Syracuse, Camillus, Elbridge, Sennett, to Auburn
where we saw the large stone State Prison, then through
Seneca Falls where we stoped {stopped} for a time and and saw many
interesting sights, then through Waterloo and Mt. Junus {??}
to Phelps, where we bought some fine melons at a farm
and ate dinner by the side of the road. Heere {here} we saw
a large gravel plant that washed over 1000 tons per day
to be used on the roads, in place of broken stone. Then
on through Clifton, Manchester Victor, Mendon, Pittsford
to Rochester which we were a long time getting through
on account of the thousands of autos that jammed
the streets. We finally got out Loyall ave and on
through Spensersport to Brockport, where we were
stoped {stopped} on the main street by a great bridge that
rose up in the air 25 ft in front of us. The bridge
was 75 ft long and 50 ft wide, and over the Erie Canal
and went up to let a tug a two large barges and
a long rope and two more barges through after which
the bridge lowered to the street level and we drove
on to Holley where we staid over night at Mr. Ray Handy's.
Mr. Handy told me that the Canal is level for 80 miles
through that section. Traveled this day 126 miles.
09/13/1929
This morning we left Mr. Ray Handy, at 9:30. He had
many acres of fine small grapes ready to pick. We passed
through Fancher, Albion, Medina, Gasport, to -ackport {can't decipher first
letter}, where we stoped {stopped} and I looked the canal locks over. There
is a drop of seventy feet between the leavels {levels}, which is
cared for by three locks on the new canal, the gates
of which are operated by electric motors. The locks are
made of solid concrete in the most substantial
manner, and the gates of structural steel. It began
raining before we reached the town, so I bought a pair of
rubbers. The rain was much needed, as they had no rain
since june and everything was very dry. We passed on
through Cambria, and Sanbourn to Niagra Falls {Niagara}.
We crossed the river on the center arch bridge, and
went to the Costom House {?? Custom} where I filled out the necessary
papers and traveled through Brock Park by the side
of Niagra River {Niagara} at St. David's, stoping {stopping} in the meantime
to view the Falls, Whirlpool, New Powerplant, Rapids
and later saw where the river into Lake Ontario.
At St. Davids, we got into a restaurant out of the rain
and had dinner, after which we continued on through {h left off originally}
St. Catharine's, acras {accross} the New and old Welland canal
on through Jordan, Vineland, Beamsville, Grimsby,
Winoug, hear {here} the rain ceased, and the road across
the Bay was dry, though the traffic was very heavy
we spead {sped} on through Burlington, Bronte, Oakville,
Port Credit, to Mimico, where we reached Clyde's House
on Belvedere Bvd at six P.M. having traveled 142 miles.
The total distance from home being 523 miles and the
roads concrete pavement nearly all the way.
09/14/1929
This forenoon I walked out to the plant of the
American Brass Co. where Clyde took me to the
place where the new factories are being built.
It will be a large Brass Mill when all is
completed which they think will take three
years. This afternoon I cleaned my car, and in
the evening Clyde took Fritzie, Mary and I,
a long ride about the large City of Toronto
803,00 population, and a well built place, no
wood buildings within the City limits. We rode
about 30 miles
09/15/1929
Clyde took Fritzie, Nancy, Mary and I up North into
York and Simcoe Counties. We passed through the
towns Aurora, Bradford, Churchill, near Lance Simcoe
through Barrie and Brentwood to Woodland beach,
on the West side of Georgian Bay. 113 miles.
The Country there is fine farming land, and now
the fences for the mostpart {most part} are made of pine stumps
and near every barn is a great pile of wheat
stray left by the thrashing {?? threshing} machine, while in
the fields are droves of hogs, sheep and cattle, and many
horses. We traveled along the beach a long distance, meeting
some people that Clyde knew. Clyde and I went to the
North in the woods till we could go no farther with auto
and then walked about four miles and came to an Indian
camp, but no one was at home that we saw, but we
thought that some were about watching us, as we saw
bushes moving several times. We made our way back
to the shore where the folks were, and started for
home, via Elmvale, to Barrie and over the same
route we come up on, reaching Mimico at 8:30 having
traveled 213 miles.
09/16/1929
This morning I repaired our suit case. This afternoon
I walked to Mimico Rail Road station and to a factory
where they made tile pipe.
This evening Clyde and I rode over to the south
side and took a ferry and went to Ceuter Island
where we remained till after dark, and then came home
10 miles.
09/17/1929
This forenoon took Nancy and went up to the
Lenndas road and out to Cooksville and back.
This afternoon took Nancy Fritzie and Mary and
rode about Mimico. 27 miles.
09/18/1929
This forenoon I took the trolley cars and went to
the Royal Ontario Musium {museum} in Toronto on Broorer
st. What I saw there was far ahead of anything
I had ever seen before. This evening Clyde
took Mr. and Mrs. Risley, Mary and I and
drove to Rivervale Park. Where we saw a
wonderful collection of caged annimals {animals} and
many other things. He then took us about the
City and throught the grounds of the famous
Toronto Fair. They are more extensive and better
buildings than the susqui {sesqui} Centennial at Philadelphia
in 1926 were, among other things that we saw was a
stick of fur wood from British Columbia for a flagpole
183 feet long 10" at tip, and 30 at butt. It was so long that
no cars could bring it, so they brought it on a ship
down the Pacific ocean through the Panama Canal
up the Atlantic and up the St Laurence river and
through Lake Ontario. Traveled about 30 miles.
09/19/1929
We left Clydes at Mimico this morning at 9:25
and we went up on the Dundas road and through
Cooksville, Erindale, Trafalgar, Pamero, Nelson
to Cloppisons Corners, where we turned square south
to Dudas then west through Sucaster, Alberton,
Cainsville, and Brautford beyond the town we stoped {stopped}
beside the road and ate our dinner, at 12:30. We stoped {stopped}
back at Dixy and ran out the old engine oil and filled
it with fresh. Also filled our gas tank. The weather was
cold at 1:30. We started on through Paris, Princeton East-
wood, Beachville, Jamesford, London, Lobo Poplarhill {??}
Adelade, and Warwick to the Homestead of W.J. Cochrane
on London Road, Wyoming P.O. Lamburton County. Ontario
where we spent the night. This day we traveled162 miles
through a fine Country nearly level. A great wheat land
the farmers are thrashing it out. They pay .05 cts per
bushel and every farm where the thrashes has been large piles
of straw are to be seen.
09/20/1929
This morning was cold and everything was coated
heavy with frost. We left Mr. Cochrane's at 9:00
and traveled 18 miles. Sarnia, where we crossed the
St. Blair river on a ferry (Paid .70 cts) to port Huron where
the Custom officers took our papers and after looking
the car over told us to go on. Here we filled with
gas and oil, then on through Goodells, Emmet, Capoe,
Amlay {??} City to Attica where we stoped {stopped} by the roadside
and ate our dinner at a place where a gravel hill had
been dug away and used in road making. We had
traveled all the forenoon through a contry that
was nearly leve. This afternoon we passed through
Lea Peer, to the large City of Flint, where many au-
tomobiles are made. We met and passed many long
auto trucks carrying four and five finished autos.
After leaving Flint we passed through Kirby, Owoeso,
Shepperdsville, St. Jons, and after a long detor we
reached Lyons, Where we staid overnight at the house
of a fine german family Mr. John Kalb. Having traveled
163 miles.
09/21/1929
We left Lyons at 8:30 passed through Iona, Sarnac, Lowell,
Ado {??} to Grand Rapids, concrete road and quite hilly.
From Grand Rapids we passed through Marne, Coopersville
and to Grand Haven over a narrow and hilly road
most of the way. We reached Grand Haven at 12:15 by
watch which gave Conn. daylight saving time, but 10 AM by their
Western time, and the boat didn't leave till 11.30 at night.
So we had a long wait. We walked down the river to the
Lake where there was a fine beach that extended south
a great distance. We had traveled 75 miles in coming
from Lyons. At about six we went to a restaurant and had supper, after
which we went to the dock and
saw tow large ships come in one of which was the Milwaukee
which was owned by the Grand Frusik {??} Rail Road and used to
carry cars across from Milwaukee, and which was sunk during
a great storm, about Oct {19}20? with all on board about 50 persons
and 17 cars. I procured our passage as follows. Auto $10.00,
two tickets $8.00, State Room $4.25 = $22.25.
At 9 P.M. our boat the Missouri arrived and we
immediately went aboard and procured state room No.
103. The steamer left at 11:30 and soon passed out of
the Grand Rapids River into Lake Michigan and
sailed with a quiet easy roll, caused by a slight swell
as on the ocean, this roll continued till we passed within
the breakwater at milwaukee, at 5:30. We docked at
Broadway and Erie St at 6 A.M. having sailed 90 miles
Irving, Dot, John and Barbara soon came, and Irving Mary
and Barbara in their Dodge Car, and Dot John and I in
mine following drove across the city of Milwaukee to
Irvings home, 6823 Cedar Street, Wauwatosa, 6 miles.
09/22/1929
After breakfast Irving and his children John and
Barbara with myself in Irvings car went to a
large grand church on the East side of the City
about five miles away, near the Lake front where
we attended sunday school service, after which we
visited several fine parks along the Lake front,
and others on our way back home.
After dinner Irving took the children Dot,
Mary and I and drove by many interesting places
and through several parks, one of which contained
the most beautiful flower garden I ever saw,
besides of fine conservatory filled with raire {rare}
plants and flowers and tropical fruits growing.
Altogather {altogether} we drove 50 mile, on reaching home we had a
lunch and retired. We were weary and tired after a day
of wonderful sightseeing.
09/23/1929
Wrote several letters this forenoon. This afternoon I read
and was about the house till five o'clock when Irving
came and took us all in his car to Washington Park.
09/24/1929
This forenoon cleaned my car. This afternoon Irving came
at three and took me to Floks Foundry and machine
workds. The casting done here is all of steel and most
of it very heavy. The machine work is heavy steel.
They make many heavy nicely cut herring bone
gears for fast speed. We saw the parts of a huge
pipe welding machine that Irving has charge
of making, that is over 40 feet long and will
weigh over one million pounds.
09/25/1929
Cleaned my car this forenoon. This afternoon I
walked down Wisconsin Ave and examined a long
high viaduct made of concrete, it is said that
this was the first of the many large concret
bridges that have been built in Milwaukee.
It is standing the weather very well. I continued
my walk till I was well down in the City. I took
the trolley cars back. Irving came home at five
and he took us out to a town on a hill by the
name of Prospect. The land there abouts was fine
for cattle raising and the view from the town
was grand, there were several small lakes near
by {nearby} and several apple orchards. We passed on
through Waukesha, this county is noted the
world over for its fine guernseye {guernsey} cattle. We
saw many large cattle farms, and a prosperous
looking county, reached home after dark
having traveled about 40 miles.
09/26/1929
This forenoon Mary, Dot and I went to Bristol 12 miles
west of Kenosha. We went by way of Durham and
Union Grove. At Bristol we met Mrs. Willis Upson, and
Mr. Frank Upson. He is a grandson of Salmon Upson
who emegrated {emigrated} from Wolcott in 1840. We had dinner
at Shotnell's hotel in Bristol, came home via Racine.
Traveled 95 miles.
09/27/1929
Seventy one years ago today I was born on Cherry
Street, Waterbury Conn. The house in which I was born
stood on the West side of the street above Maple where
the Universalist Church now stands.
Dot took me in Irvings car to the works of the
A.O. Smith Corporation, where Irving is employed
and he showed me a most wonderful machine over
500 feet long that was making more than 400 Buic {Buick}
Auto frames per hour complete, and when they
left the machine they were nicely painted.
Beside the Buic{k} they make 8 other kinds of
frames, i.e. , Oakland, Chevrolet, La Salle
Pontiac, and the other makes used by the General
Motors Corporation. They also make immense heavy
oil cracking stills, and steel gas pipe in lengths
40' long, and from 6" to 24" diameter at a rate of
over 20 miles a day.
09/28/1929
This morning Dot, Irving, Mary and I left Irving's
at 7:30 for Pine Lake in the north of Wisconsin. We passed
through Germantown, Jackson, West Bend, Barton,
Kewaskum, Wausousta, Eden, Fond-du-Lac, Van Dyne,
Oshkash {Oshkosh}, Neena, Menasha, Appleton, Mackville,
Twelve Corners, Black Creek, Briarton, Bonduel,
Cecil, Pulcifer, Gillette, Suring, Breed, Mountain,
Lakewood, Townsend, Carter, Soperton, Wabeno, at
this place we saw numerous saw mills and a spot
one half mile square covered with high piles of
lumber, and trains of cars piled high with
logs, to be sawed, Under a neat little shed near
the Rail Road Station was a Pine Log, 14 ft long
and 5'2" in diameter. This and 5 sixteen ft logs
were in one tree, which Totaled 900 ft of lumber.
Laona, Crandon, Argonne, and Pine Lake. 237 miles at
5.15 o'clock. We went to a cottage owned by Herbert Dixon who
is a trapper, and guide, etc. Pine Lake is a fine sheet of water
8 miles long and one and one half wide, surrounded by woods.
09/29/1929
Spent the morning strolling through the woods. This
afternoon Irve, Mary and I took a boat and rowed out
to the middle of the Lake. Dot and Herby Dixon
went fishing and Dot caught a pikeral twenty six
inches long. As it was growing dark we went
in and had supper. The women do not go out after
dark without protection on account of bear. Two or
three nights ago a woman saw one looking
in at the window. They are seen quite often about, and deer
is pleanty {plenty}.
09/30/1929
This forenoon, Irving took Mary, Mrs. _____ {no name}and I
to Laona 26 miles where we saw the Lumber Mill
of The Connor Lumber and Land Co. Which is
the largest Hard Wood Saw Mill in the Country.
250,000 ft every ten hours. This mill contains three sets
of large band saw mills. Three sets of band resaws,
one of which is horizontal. Three sets of double edging
saws, and Leath {?? lathe?} and Shingle Mills, etc.
During the afternoon Mrs. _____, Irving and I went
Southeast about four miles, and then walked through
the woods a long distance to and iron Fire Lookout
tower on a hill which was not very high but higher
than any other for miles about. The tower was about
75 ft high and the top was reached by a straight single
narrow ladder. We climbed up and had a fine view
of the county.
10/01/1929
This morning we left Pine Lake, and stoped {stopped} at Jay
Dixon's where Irving bought three bushels of potatoes
@ 140 per bu. We then went on through Argonne, Crandon,
Mole {??} Lake, Pickeral Lake, Lify, Hollister, Longlade,
Markton. Here we entered the Menominee Indian
Reservation, and rode forty miles on their territory.
The Indians live for the most part in log cabins of which
we saw many. From time to time we came to large
pine trees standin{g} in the center of the road, many
of them were named, as "Lone Pine", "Big Pine", "Bent Pine"
etc etc. The road ran near the wolf River and we stoped {stopped}
at Big Eddy Falls, wher{e} the river rushed over a rocky
ledge and fell in to a large eddy below. Here
on the level rock near the falls has been held many
Indian celebrations. Three miles below the Falls
we came to "Spirit Rock." On this rock the Menominee
Indians have for many years placed their offerings
to the Great Spirit. The rock which was a round
boulder is now about five feet high and is fast-
crumbling away, and the Indians beleave {believe} as
the rock crumbles, so their tribe deminishes {dim...}
and in time they and the rock will disappear
forever togather {together}.
Four miles farther on we came to Keshena where
ther is two large Indian Schools. One of which
is maintained by the Government, and the
other by the Catholic denomination. We soon
passed out of the Indian Land and came to
Shawano where we stoped {stopped} and had dinner at
a restaurant, having came 82 miles. We left at
1.30 and wnt on through Embarrass to where John
Dixon lives, on the old Dixon homestead. John is a
brother of Herbert and Jay Dixon of Pine Lake
region. Here Irving bought some eggs. We then
went on through Clintonville, Shugar Bush,
New London, Hortonvill, Greenville, Oshkash {Oshkosh},
Rosendale, Ladoga, Waupun, Burnett, Minnesota,
Juneau, Oak Grove, Watertown, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee,
and Wauwatosa, which we reached at 6.45 having come
251 miles.
10/02/1929
This forenoon I walked to Wauwatosa Center and
tried to buy a pair of pants, but could not find
any sutible {suitable}. Wauwatosa was formerly a town to
the West of Milwaukee. Now the Center of the town
is there with its stores, Churches etc. and it
keeps its name, but the City of Milwaukee has
extended its Avenues and Streets to it, and
far beyond to the North and South so as
quit encompass it.
This afternoon Mary and I took the Wells street trolley
cars to 10th street, and went to the Milwaukee Musium {Museum}
where we spent the afternoon. There was so much t see and
the time was limited, so I walked hurriedly through the
whole building, as I did through the Centennial exposition
at Philadelphia in 1876 thus obtaining a general idea of
the whole, and if I go again I will know where the
interesting points are.
10/03/1929
This morning I went with Irving to the extensive
Works of the Allis-Chalmers Co. Here I saw them
making many Steam Turbine Engines some of which
were of great power. Several large Gas Engines were
being constructed one of which was 10,000 Horse Power.
Many large elctric Generators, and Motors were
being made, and there was being manufactured
several steel Double Turbine Waterwheels that
was ever made some over 18 feet in diameter. {??}
They were forging and immence {immense} steel ring on a
Hot Forging Press that had a ram pressure
of 25,000 tons. They have the largest Boring
Mill in the World, with a plate 40 feet in Diameter, but it
will swing 50ft, and will take wrk 16 ft high. It cost
$250,000. These are only a few of the wonderful things
that I saw.
This evening Irving took Dorothy, Barbara, Mary
and I in his Dodge Car, and we went to Bristol,
and visited Cousin Frank Upson at his fine large
farm on the Kenasha Road {Kenosha?}. He had invited in
several relatives, and provided a nice supper
to which the following sat down. Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Upson, and son and daughter Donald and
Dorothy. Mr. Willis Upson, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse
Stanley and sons Chester and Roger. Mrs Nellie
Jashlin, Irving and wife Dorothy and Mary and
I. Distance to Bristol and back 81 miles, and I
had traveled about the City 20 miles. Total 101 miles.
This day we took my car to 2501 Wisconsin Avenue
to have carbon removed and valves ground.
We went to 3rd St and bought a pair of pants, $6.50.
10/04/1929
This morning I rode down Wisconsin Avenue to 31st St
with Irving, and looked about, after which I took th etrolley
and rode to Wauwatosa center and went to the Cemetery
and looked it over, then walked home, had dinner, and
then cleaned the yard, which took nearly all of the aftenoon.
Cousin Lillie Graham came at four and staid all night.
She lives in Kenosha. Traveled about 10 miles.
10/05/1929
This forenoon I went with Irving about 1 1/2 miles when he
went to work and walked back, stoping {stopping} to see a large
power shovel that was cutting down a hill about seventy
feet high, on the North side of State street.
Irving and I brought my Packard home from 3501
Wisconsin Ave where it had been repaired, cost 23.65
which Irving paid. He then took cousin Lillie Dot
Mary and I downtown to the Milwaukee Journal
Office where we looked up a route for me to follow when
we go home. After which we went to Lincoln Park
where we saw many wild animals etc. About 15 miles.
10/06/1929
This morning all of us attended the Emmanuel Presbyterian
Church on the East side of the City. After dinner we
went out to Delifield, to Cushing Park, where there
was supposed to have been set out a tree dedicated
to Sergeant Thaedore Boynton of the Civil War, but we
failed to find it. In Delifield there in the park
is a high Memorial Monument to Lieutenant
William Cushing who preformed {performed} the braves act
of the Civil War in destroying the rebel iron clad
Abermarl, of the seventeen men he was the only one
the escaped. The monument is also in memory
of two of his brothers. There native home was near-
by. We also visited a large Military training school
and a fish hatchery.
In the evening we took Lillian to the electric
R.R. station and she returned to Kenosha.
Traveled 70 miles.
10/07/1929
This morning I went with Irving about two miles
and walked back. Saw a deep stone quarry where
they in former years got ut building stone but now
they crus nearly all of it. Very interesting to see athe
cars drawn up an incline loaded with stone which is
dumped into a crusher then run through two other
breakers, and is soon delivered into trucks or in a
great pile in the yard.
This afternoon got my car out and filled with oil
and gas. Tires inflated to 45 lbs and made ready
to start for home tomorrow.
10/08/1929
We Irving {??}, Dot, Mary and I left Irving's place at
Wauwatosa at 8:45 and went to Wheaton Ill.
via Durham, Waterford, Geneva Lake, Richmond,
Elgen to Geneva Ill., wher we turned East and
went to Whetons, where we saw Enid at the College.
We took dinner at the College dining hall, and then
went East through Chicago to the Lake shore
drive, which we followed South through Whiting
and Gary, where the smoke was so thick from the
extensive steel mills as to obscure objects in the
distance as a fog. We passed on to the
Indiana Sand Dunes Park, near which we obtained
lodgings witha Mr. Nelson. Here Irving and Dorothy
left us and they took the trolley express to Milwaukee.
We had very good accomodations. Traveled 195 miles.
Gas and Oil at Chicago $4.85.
We saw the Great American Tin Plate Mills at Gary.
10/09/1929
We left Mr. Nelson's House eleven miles West of Michigan
City at 8:10. Mr. Nelson's House is located on the
main road {[in the town of Chesterton Ind.] inserted above line} leading from
Detroit and all other places
East and North in Michigan. Back of the house ran
a trolley fast (75 miles per hr) express road, between that
and Lake Michigan ran the Express and Freight Rail
Road. There was constant travel on all three roads.
We passed through Michigan City Rolling Prairie, as this
name implies, the fine farming land was of a rolling
nature. Through South Bend {[Count. seat] added}, Oscola, Elkhart, on fine
Brick pavement through the fine City of Lagrange, through
the village of Flint, and the largertown of Angola, and
soon crossed the line at Columbia into Ohio. Here we had
to turn South on a long detour, and East through Montpetier,
West Unity, Hammer, and into Fulton County at Fayette.
Beautiful traveling, fine concrete road winding among many
lakes, of which this County contains about 100, those that
we passed were rather small. The land was green and
fertile and well cultivated. Corn and wheat the pricipal
crops, with many acres of sugar beets. We turned down
a side road near the Village of Oak Shade and ate our
dinner, after which we went Charager, {??} and twenty miles
farther on we turned due south and came to Manmee.
For miles we have passed through a level country.
Here we engaged lodgings for the night with Mrs.
Carney 215 E Dudley St. Traveled 206 miles.
10/10/1929
We left Mrs. Carney at 8:40. Gas and Oil $4.13. Crossed
the Manmee River to Perrysburg and started out on a
brick pavement which continued with scarcely a break
for two hundred miles till entered Pennsylvania.
After leaving Perrysburg the road was strait {straight} and level
save a little rise at stony ridge for thirty miles to
Fremont, and the land in all directions was sea level
as far as the eye could reach. To the North of the road was
great lime works. At Lime City was a sign that said
"This is the Lime Center of the World." The land was
richly cultivated principally to corn and wheat, the
wheat was just coming up and the great level fields were
quite green. After passing through Lemoyne, Woodville,
Hessville, and Fremont, on through Green Creek and up
a long grade into Clyde, which was a town of about
4,000 inhabitants, and the principle business was
growing nursery stock. There was plantations of young
trees of many kinds, in all directions. We then passed
through Bellevue, Monroeville, Norwalk, East Townsend
Wakeman, Kipton to {inserted} Oberlin. This town is noted for its
fine College which was started before the town was
organized, bu t now has many fine brick buildings.
Nin{e} miles farther on we crossed Black River and {inserted} came to the
Manufacturing
City of Elyria. There are falls here 40' high which give great water power
{inserted} then over many miles of road to
Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland, where we found
Cousin Elizabeth Harris at 1362 Andrews Avenue, and they
persuaded us to stay all night. Traveled 157 miles.
10/11/1929
We left Cousin Libbie's at 10, and came throught he City of
Cleveland. When we passed out of the thickly settled
part on the East we had traveled 21 miles. On the
East side we passed the extensive Automanufactory
of the Hupmobile Co. The total population is about
1,000,000 people, and it reminded me of what I had read
back East of Colonel Moses Cleveland. He had been
an officer in the Revolutionary War. His home was in
Canterbury Conn. About 1796 He lead a number
veterans who received soldiers rights of land from
the State of Conn in the Western Reserve as payment
for their services in the War. They settled at the mouth
of the Cuyahoga River where the magnificent City
Cleveland now is. Named in honor of the Colonel.
Soon after he returned to his native home, and in
describing the site said "that he hoped some day
that the place would be as large as Old Windam"
Conn. We got our first sight of Lake Erie as we passed
through a fine Park bordering the water before
reacing the Center of the City. W continued
Eastwardly through Euclid, Willoughby, Mentor
to Painsville. The country through which we
passed was in a high state of cultivation,
there were many signs out. Honey for sale
by the pound or ton, and one read Honey for
sale, by the Pound, Ton or Carload. There were
great vineyards of grapes, with signs Grapes for
sale by the ton. Many of the grapes were
not picked, as there is not much call for them
this season. All along this shore road were
great Fruit and vegtable {vegetable} farms, beside
much wheat and Corn. We passed through
several towns with good old Conn. names,
Madison, North Madison, Saybrooke, Fairfield etc.
At North Madison we stoped {stopped} at a station for
dinner. It was a farming village of four
corners. Post Office on one, school diagonally across
on another, and Restaurants on the other two.
Here the large through Busses stop to refresh
and refewell {refuel}. While we were there, one from {inserted} N.Y. to
Santa Fae {Santa Fe}, and one from {inserted} N.Y. tto Chicago, also
one bound for New York stoped {stopped}, which made business
lively. A young man about 26 with his bride had
dinner with us. He had a new Buic{k} car with Kansas
markers. I remarked that they were a long way from
home. He answered yes, 1400 miles. I live in Oklahoma, but
bought the car in Kansas. She was a young College bred
Indian girl dressed in the hight {height} of style and puffed her
sigerette {cigarette} rather naturally. She said He owns a large ranch
in Washita, where we married, we have been to
Niagra {Niagara} and are now returning home. I wish we had
our horses though. He said that he did not like driving
a car, that they would have come the whole distance
horse back, had it not been for the paved roads.
He saw that I was from Conn and they asked if
I had ever seen the salt Atlantic Ocean. They were
greatly interested in the tides etc. of which they had
never before heard. I started for the Post Office, They
waived me good bye and drove west.
We jouneyed on through Astabula, Amboy
Conneaut where there was many fields of yellow
pumpkins, here we crossed the line into Penn,
and here we left behind the brick pavement and
had to proceed with care, for they were putting
down a new, three way concrete pavement for
several miles. In Penn, we soon passed through
Springfield, Girard, Fairview, and on over the
most dangerous looking and steep road I ever
{saw} into the large city of Erie, where while going
down a steep paved hill, we turned square to the right
and started on a crooked hilly road for Waterford 14
miles distan, no more straight and level Ohio roads.
Passing through Union City, we stoped {stopped} for the
night at a grand old farm house of H. N. Harris.
Having traveled 140 miles.
10/12/1929
We left this morning at 8:30, passed through Carry
stoping {stopping} at Columbus for Gas and Oil $2.75. Then on
through Pittsfield, a rather hilly but fine farming
country, through Irvington, and Warren where
we crossed the Allegheny River on a long iron
bridge. Then up hill through Carendon, on up
through Fiona {??}, where there was oil wells every-
where which was operated by wire cables hung
on low iron tripods about 6 ft high. These were
in rows extending in smoe cases a mile or more,
at the end of each cable would be a bell crank that
was connected to the pump rod. Oil pipes ran in
every direction to receiving tanks. We at dinner
by the side of the road where there was a frame and
pipe arangement for loading 6 oil cars at one time.
Numerous signs about "No Fire or Smoking allowed. Danger."
After dinner we passed through Sheffield, and Ludlow,
many oil wells, to Kane, Elevation 2200 ft above sea
with large oil derricks in every direction, some of
these wells are said to be 7000 ft deep and many of
them yield thousands of barrells of oil every 24 hours.
The main street of Kane is on the top of a ridge,
with stores on each side. We were told that the wind
blows hard and cold, snow comes in November and
stays late in the spring, and were it not for the
oil business people would not endure the hard
winters. After passing through Kane we came
to a farm where they raise many{inserted} wolves for their fir {fur},
many people vist the place, we then over Mt. Jewett
which is 40' higher than Kane, and down a steep
and crooked road through Hazel Hurst, and up
through Smithport, and on through Caryville
down and up through Prt Allegany {?? Allegheny}, Roulett,
Cloudersport and to the summit of Denton
Heights 2424 ft elevation, highest point of the
Allegheny mountains that we crossed, here is the
dividing line between the Atlantic Mississippi dranage {drainage}
sistems {systems}. A little North of this point there is a large
spring on the top of the mountain ridge with
three outlets, the east lets the water down into
Pine creek and the Susquehanna, to the Atlantic.
The west to the Alleganey, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.
The North to the Genesee River and into Lake
Ontario. It is said that the wind sometimes turns
all of the water into one outlet, and sometimes
into another. This spring is considered one of
the wonders of the Country.
After passing Denton hights {?? heights}, a sign read "Long
Dangerous Hill". We went down down much of the
way steeper than Southington Mountain for
Four miles when we crossed Pine Creek and over
a slight rise then down hill and grade for
five miles more, to West Pike where there
was an extensive tannery. Three miles farther
we came to Galeton, a one street Villeage {village} on the
steep side of the mountain, the buildings on the
left side of the street were many of them high
above the street level, while those on the right
were built up as supported on posts, the river
running back of them. Two and one half miles
farther on we found lodgings at the house of Mrs.
Emma E. Tate at Galeton {inserted}. At this house she had water and gas
piped in from her own farm. We traveled this day 157 miles.
10/13/1929
We left Mr. Tate's at 9:45 expecting to attend
church at the first Village which was Ganes, but
there was no Church there, a little farther on we
came to the noted Hunting Valley Inn. There is a
great Canopy roof extending the whole length
of the building and reaching out about 30 feet hung
by rods, under which the great New York Busses
stop. We were told that some days they serve
1200 meals. About church time we reached Ansonia,
named after Anson G. Phelps of N.Y. and Conn, who at
one time did a great lumber business here, and whom
Ansonia Conn. was named after, but the church
was not used. We then sped on and reached
Wellsboro after driving 22 miles and attended
service at the Prebyterian Church. I think this
I think that this {repeated} distance was the greatest I ever
traveled to attend worship. The church was a beautiful
one and the service grand, and well attended.
Wellsborough is a neat built place, 3 Churches
8 or 10 stores. In earlier times it was a center for
a great lumber trade, but that is now gone
and the place is rather dull. ther is a glass
plant where many electric light bulbs are
made, and a large mild factory. There
is a large fire clay mine up onthe steep
side of the mountain where they send the
clay down to the cars in a steep shoot {chute},
this was first made of wood, but the bottom planks
wore away fast, so now they have lined it
with thick glass, which stands well. There are
many rattlesnakes about on the mountains.
I me{t} Mr. W.H. Whiting who showed me
about the place which took all the afternoon,
so this day we traveled 22 miles.
There are many people in this town wh accomodate
tourists. We staid at the Evens House on Main
Street.
10/14/1929
We left WEllsboro at 8:45 and came through
Mansfield, Mainsburg, Troy, Towanda, which is the
County seat for Bradford County, here we crossed on a
long iron bridge over the Susquehannah River.
We then ascended on a road cut into the side of the
mountain to a hight {height} of over 400 ft above the river
which was nearly strait {straight} beneath us. We turned sharp to
the left and passed through the deepset rock cut I ever
saw then down across a heavy concret bridg{e} and
and {repeated} up and to the right and through another cut
like the first, we soon came out on Indian Lookout
Rock, where we were 505 feet above the river, some of the
boys threw stones down into it. Here the Indians kept
a lookout that watched Sullivan's army when it went
up the valley to conquer the six nations in1779. We saw
several monuments that marked his camps.
In 1793 during the French Revolution a Colony of French
fled from their Country and ascending the river
and {repeated} built a settlement onthe opposite side and a
little above Lookout rock, one log house was the largest
ever built had 16 frieplaces, they also built a house
for the King but he never came, and after peace
was restored many went back to France, a few
remanined and their descendents are now living
in the vacinity. We soon entered Wyalnsing {??}, and
found Mr. Allen Bugess, whose wife was Miss Agness
Abel. They pursuaded us to stay at their house
over night. During the afteronn, they took us
across the River and up the Sugar Run Valley
to the Villages of Forkston and Mehoopany.
We saw many intersting sights among the
mountains and crossed two old wood covered
bridges that wer build over 100 years ago.
On our return we went up the Susquehanna to
Terrytown, where stands a two story log house
built over 100 years ago, the logs of which are pine
and very large and hewn, they are in a good
state of preservation, and the owner Mr. Charles
Cowles, is repairing it up in its original Sahpe
and is to live in it. After leaving this place we
haistened {hastened} to Mr. Burgess's place so he could do his
milking. We traveled 103 miles.
10/15/1929
Left Allen Bugess at 8:30 at Skinners Eddy we filled
with gas and oil, then on through Meshoppen, Trankhammack,
Mill City, Schultzville and into Scranton, where there was
coal mines on all sides, and great piles of colum {??} and
coal for miles towards Carbondale, which we passed
through. Then on through Wymart, Prompton over hills
and moutains, through Seeleyville and Honesdale,
Wayne County to Indian Orchard, where we stoped {stopped} and
had dinner by a Cemetary. This forenoon we have had
hard traveling through the Lacawanna mountains.
We were soon through Hawley and traveling up the
the Lackawaxen {??} Valley where there were large silk mills
and Power plants, soon I noticed a large pipe
running along the side of the Valley opposite, after
a time we crossed the River and pipe, and there
I learned that the pipe was 14 feet in diameter
3 1/2 miles long, made of wood and banded with
1" round iron every 4 1/2 inches, that it furnished
water for a power plant at Kimballs and the
water wheels were 500 feet below the level of teh
water in the pond. The dam is of concrete 60 ft high
located at Wilsonville. The pond is 14 miles long,
3 1/2 to 4 miles wide and 45 miles around it, and
furnishes electricity for Pike and Wayne Counties.
We then had a 17 mile drive through a lonely and
dreary country to Milford on the Delaware River
and through a beautiful farming land six
miles to Matamoras where we crossed the River
on a largenew bridge to Port Jervis where
we clim{b}ed a high mountain where we had a most
wonderful view of the Valley of the Neversink {??} and
many villages, passing through Slate Hill
we came to Cannon Inn, kept by E.M. Deckers,
New Hampton N.Y. Having traveled 144 miles.
10/16/1929
We left Mr. Deckers at 8:45 and came through
Goshen, Monroe, Highland Mills, Highland
Falls on the Hudson, Ft. Montgomery, crossed
the river on Bear Mountain Bridge. We stoped {stopped}
on the Highway east of the bridge which is
blasted out of the side of the mountain, to
view the scenery, which was grand, then on
to Peekskill where we stoped {stopped}, while Mary bought some
refreshments, and we came through Mohegan, Mahopac,
Corotn Falls, Carmel. Had our dinner by side of road. Then
through Brewster, and crossed the line into Conn,
through Mill Plain, Danbur, New Town, Sandy Hook,
Southbury, Middlbury and home which we reached
at 4:20 having traveled 111 miles.
The Total Cost of the trip was $167.15
Total miles traveld about 3600
Distance from our house to Clyde's in Mimico 523 miles
" " Clyde's house to Irvings house in Wauwatosa 496 miles
Distance from my house to Irving's via Niagara Falls, Port
Huron, Grand Haven, across Lake Michigan, 952 miles.
Distance from Irving's house to mine via Chicago
Michigan City, Ohio and Penn, and Bear Mountain Bridge,
1245.
10/19/1929
Dug potatoes.
10/20/1929
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Had dinner at Margarets and we spent the afternoon
there.
10/21/1929
Dug potatoes. Mr. Morris Alcott, who lived on
the Wolcott Road, died, today at St Mary's Haspitial {hospital}
where he had been taken for an operation of the
kidneys. He worked for Rogers & Brother over 54 years.
10/22/1929
Husk out Pop corn, and gathered sweet corn.
10/23/1929
This forenoon got in Carrots, beets etc from the farm.
This afternoon I went to Mr. Morris Alcott's funeral
he was buried on the top of the hill in the Original
Pine Grove Cemetery.
10/24/1929
Sharpened a lot of picks, for St Joseph Cemetery this
morning. This afternoon at the farm, Cut corn, picked
up butternuts, Apples etc.
10/25/1929
Hust corn and got in the stalks, as they were
very dry.
10/26/1929
Husk corn and got in corn.
10/27/1929
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Joseph Todd preached.
10/28/1929
Finished getting in corn.
10/29/1929
Sharpened drills this morning, then went out to the
Farm and got in cabbage.
10/30/1929
This forenoon I went to town and did a lot
of business. This afternoon worked at the farm.
10/31/1929
Worked about home this morning, then out to
the farm, and plowed in the upper lot on the
hill, and husked corn.
11/01/1929
Worked about home this forenoon, at the farm
this afternoon.
11/02/1929
Gathered leaves, and repaired car this forenoon.
Plowed at the farm this afternoon till it rained
then husked corn.
11/03/1929
Attended Church at Mill Plain. Rev J. O. Todd.
11/04/1929
Finished plowing turf on the hill at the farm.
11/05/1929
Began painting the long wire fence on the north
side on the hill. The Mattatuck Drum band held
a meeting this evening.
11/06/1929
Painted fence. This evening I attended a meeting
of the Official Board of Mill Plain Union Church.
11/07/1929
Put reflector on Edward Upsons Truck, and painted
fence at the farm. Miss Pickett came here to
live.
11/08/1929
Painted Fence.
11/09/1929
Painted fence.
11/10/1929
I attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
The Mattatuck Drum Band went to Hartford
and played for the Putnam Phalanx at Armistice
excercises. I did not go.
11/11/1929
Armistice Day. Many Factories closed for the
first time. I turned out with the Mattatuck Drum
Band in the parad{e} this evening.
11/12/1929
Painted fence. Attended Drum Band meeting
this evening.
11/13/1929
Painted fence all day. This evening I attended
a supper, given by the mens league at Mill Plain Church.
Mr. Arthur Bleavett {??} told of his recent trip to Calafornia {California}.
11/14/1929
Rained. Worked about home.
11/15/1929
Rained. Made four picture frames. Repaired ladder,
and worked at the farm.
11/16/1929
Painted fence.
11/17/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Church.
11/18/1929
Painted fence.
11/19/1929
Painted fence.
11/20/1929
Painted fence.
11/21/1929
First snow, one inch deep on ground this
morning when I got up. Went down town and
paid my taxes, bought a pair of overalls 1.69
and a set of woolen underware {-wear}, 5.10 at Sears &
Roebucks. This afternoon did blacksmith work.
11/22/1929
Painted fence.
11/23/1929
Repaired auto this morning. Painted fence
in the afternoon.
11/24/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
J. O. Todd preached.
11/25/1929
Worked all day repairing big scraper for
Calvary Cemetery.
11/26/1929
worked on scraper till four o'clock, then went to
the farm.
11/27/1929
worked about home this morning, and painted
Fence till three, when it rained.
11/28/1929
Thanksgiving Day. The descendents of Almira Frisbie
Somers gathered for the 62 time on Thanksgiving day.
this year at the Woodtick Chapel. there were thirty
five present. Mr and Mrs Benjamin Chatfield
were host and hostess. The women of the Chapel
served a full corse {course} turkey dinner at one o'clock.
1.50 per plate. After dinner a social time was enjoyed
followed later by a business meeting at which robert
Somers president presided. Those present included
Mr and Mrs Benjamin Chat field, Miss Roda Chat-
field, Miss Elizabeth Chatfield. Mrs. Jane Phillips
Miss Elizabeth Somers, Miss Josephine Somers
Miss Myra Somers, Miss May Somers, George
Somers, Mr and Mrs Charles S. Miler, Mr and Mrs
Raymond Miller, Mr and Mrs Rowland Jenner,
Mr and Mrs Philip Reutter, Miss Ruth Reutter,
Mr and Mrs William gillette, Miss Louis Gillette {Louise?}
Mansfield Gillette, Miss Cara Miller, Berkeley
L Frisbie, Mr and Mrs Robert Somers, Gordon
Somers, Mr and Mrs Louis Somers, Ellsworth Somers
and two guests Miss Betty Keeler and John McCourt.
Mrs Gustave Cornelis had charge of preparing the dinner.
11/29/1929
Painted the wire fence North side of the farm till
three o'clock when I used all of the paint.
11/30/1929
Very cold 6 above zero this morning and cold all day.
I went to town this forenoon, bought window cord
clothes line, and got white paint.
12/01/1929
Attended Church at Mill plain. Rev J.O. Todd preached.
There was 159 in attendance 22 in the Choir.
Jack and Ruth Brundage and family were there
Jack, Ruth and sons Roger and Pierce stayed at
Bessie Pierponts last night. Peggey stayed at Will
Gillettes and Kenneth stayed with Margaret. This after-
noon they went to their home at Storrs.
12/02/1929
It has snowed nearly all day, about 5 inches deep.
I have repaired windows, put in new cord and
made them slide easily. there has been several
auto accidents near here on account of cars skid-
ing {skidding}, as many drive without chains.
12/03/1929
This forenoon I repaired windows. This afternoon went
to the farm, and then to edgar Upsons and shod his
horse. Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice.
12/04/1929
Repaired windows, and worked about home. This evening
I attended a meeting of the Official Board of Mill Plain Church.
12/05/1929
Repaired tires on the truck. Repaired the window in
me Desk room. This P.M. worked at the farm.
12/06/1929
Repaired windows this morning. This afternoon took
my Packard Car to the Packard Station on Field
Street and had the ignition tested, and a new
condenser put in. Then went out to the farm
and gave Jasper his feed, came back and took
half a bushel of potatoes down to Margaret.
It has thawed slightly today.
12/07/1929
Cleaned out the large girage {garage}, and polished the
car. Mr. Ed Scott of Cheshire brought a two
horse sled pole, and I put the brace irons on
it for him. After dinner I went to the farm and
painted fence. This morning it was very foggy,
and it has thawed some all day.
12/08/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church this
morning. Miss Pickett and Mrs. Coley rode up with us.
Attended evening service. There was a male colored
quartette present that sung several selections.
12/09/1929
Worked nearly all day repairing my stone boat.
Mr. Hay penney Called this evening and we had a good
visit.
12/10/1929
Spent 4 hours making over a big snow plow for the
Calvary Cemetery.
Harry Buckingham died this morning.
Samuel of Goshen {??} died this morning.
Snow fell about two inches deep during the night.
12/11/1929
Worked on the big iron snow plow 8 hours today.
Mr Hapennie sent a man to help me.
This evening Mary and I attended a supper and
address at Mill Plain Union Church the supper was
one dollar each. Dean Brown of Yale Universaty {University} gave
the address.
12/12/1929
Worked four hours on snow plow, with man to
help. this after noon we attended harry Buck-
inghams funereal {funeral}. I then went to town and
saw Dr Barber about my bronchial trouble.
Then went to the farm. It began snowing about five.
I received a fine all wool sweater from Clyde and Fritsa {??}
they sent it from Eatons store Toronto.
12/13/1929
Finished the snow plow after two hours work.
It has rained all day but not very hark {??}
12/14/1929
Worked about home, and to the farm all day.
12/15/1929
Warm and thawing snow nearly all gone.
We attended worship at Mill Plain Union Church.
There was an attendence {attendance} at the morning service of 134.
At evening there was a sunday school entertainment
"Christ is born" with an attendance of 330.
12/16/1929
Repaired the brake on the Cemetery Tractor.
This evening I went to Meriden with Mr Arthur
Grass and Fred Pretat to a Foremens meeting
of the International Silver Company, there were
about 300 Foremen present.
12/17/1929
Did odd jobs about home, and repaired steel
wedges for Ed Scott.
Gave instructions to members of the Mattatuck
Drum Band this evening.
12/18/1929
Rained all day. Did a lot of blacksmith work for Ed Scott
of Cheshire this forenoon. Then went to town on the trolley
car and got my interest at the Colonial Trust Co. on my
Church bonds. Did several errands and came home and
put new crass {??} chains where needed in my car chains.
12/19/1929
Rained all day. Miss Pickett went to Middlebury
to stay at Mr Fenn's house for the rest of the winter.
12/20/1929
Mary and I went to Simsbury and visited brother
Frank 69 miles up and back.
12/21/1929
This day has been very cold. I have worked about
home and repaired the screen in the Bowling Alley
at the Church. This afternoon I took 5.00 that Andrew
Kitchenka left over to Henry Buckingham, a gift of
the Drum Band.
12/22/1929
Shortest day of the year. Mary was taken with a
sever attack yesterday afternoon, and we had Dr.
Barber came out last evening. Last night she
could not speak a loud word but today she is
much better. She could not go to church. I got ready
but my car was frozen and it took a long time
to thaw it out, and I did not go, this afternoon
I went to Woodtick and saw Charles S. Tuttle.
12/23/1929
We received a ton of soft coal today. I went to the
state regerstration {registration} station on Benedict St and got
Licence for the Ford truck $15.00. This day has been
very cold, and tonight it is snowing.
12/24/1929
Got my big car ready to go to storrs tomorrow, and did
odd jobs about home, and took care of Jasper at the farm,
as I do every day. Miss Pickett came back tonight.
12/25/1929 {and, it seems, 12/26/1929}
This morning I took my big car and went down to
Margaret's on Beecher ave, and got Cliff, Margaret, Gene
and Anita, and brought them here, where we finished
loading the car, and took Mary aboard, and we started
for Storrs at 10 A.M. went out through East Farms where I
took care of my ax and did the chores. We went through
Southington, Plainville, Farmington, West Hartford,
Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, Bolton, Coventry,
Mansfield, 4 Corners and Storrs 54 miles, which we
reached at 12:15. Had dinner at Ruth Brundage's house.
I and my wife, Frank Elsie, and children Roger, Kenneth
Pierce and Peggy, Clifford Northrop and Margaret children
Marion, Betty, Gene and Anita, all sat down to dinner.
In the afternoon they enjoyed a Christmas Tree and
presents were distributed, after which Ray, Cliff Northrop
Marion Betty and Ruth (Ray's wife) left for waterbury.
All of the rest of us staid {stayed} over till today, we at
Ruth Brundage house, while Frank and his
family staid {stayed} at his wife's fathers house Mr.
Harry Garrigus, Frank and family left
after dinner for their home in Kent 80 miles,
while I, Mary, Margaret, Gene and Anita came to
Waterbury, reaching here at 4:30.
12/27/1929
Spent this day the greater part riviting and
tightening up a large gravel scraper.
12/28/1929
Rained all day. cleaned out the wagon shed, and
put things to rights on the upper floor of the barn.
12/29/1929
Attended service at Mill Plain Church, Rev J O Todd
officiated.
This afternoon went up to Berkley Frisbie's in Woodtick.
12/30/1929
Worked about home. Cleaned water closet, went to town.
12/31/1929
Last day of the year. Quite warm for this time of year.
Painted fence at East Farms. Put my new markers
on the Cars 1799 on the Packard have had this number
since 1916, and 23982 on the Ford Truck.
01/01/1930
I painted several lengths of the North boundry {boundary}
fence at the farm. The weather has been very
warm, and it began to rain about three o'clock.
This evening Mary and I attended a meeting
of the Official Board of the Mill Plain Union
Church I, Arthur Blewett, and Leslie Coolie
were appointed a committee to provide for the
extending of the sewer up the Southmayd {??}
Road and connecting with the church.
01/02/1930
Worked all day putting a rear axle in the Ford
truck. The weather has been very warm.
Mary went and saw Dr. Barber about her cough.
01/03/1930
Rained hard this morning. Worked on my auto truck
most of the day.
01/04/1930
I worked sharpening picks and drills for Calvary
Cemetery this forenoon. Made Lathe tools this afternoon.
Snowed this forenoon. Cold tonight.
01/05/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev J O Todd preached.
01/06/1930
Today I went to Mort Pierpont's new barn and got his sig-
niture an{d} {??} Wm Le Roy Garrigus to a petition for the ex-
tension of the sewer on the Southmayd Road to the
Mill Plain Union Church. I then took it to the City Hall
and lodged it with the City Cleark {Clerk} to be acted on.
Mayor Frank Hays was sworn in today at City Hall.
01/07/1930
Worked repairing two grave lowering devises for
Calvary Cemeter.
Mattatuck Drum Band held the Regular Monthly
Meeting this evening.
01/08/1930
Went with Nicholas Hapenny up to the Caronium {??}
Plating works on Brown's Meadows this forenoon
and cleaned the parts of lowering machines.
01/09/1930
Repaired a push scraper for the Calvary
Cemetery. This afternoon went out to Edgar
Upsons and set a shoe on his horse.
Yesterday and today have been remarkably
warm, Thermometer 60 degrees at noon today.
01/10/1930
This morning I went to the Chromium Corporation
of America Inc., and left eight hand screws to be
plated. then came home and brightened the eight
corner pieces and then repaired my big lathe.
01/11/1930
Cold day. I worked about home all day.
This evening I telephoned James Phelen about
extending the sewer on the Southmayd Road.
01/12/1930
Attended worship at Mill Plain Union Church
this forenoon there were 112 people present.
It has snowed and rained all day.
01/13/1930
Rained all day. I went to town this morning.
Worked in wheel house making a countershaft for
the big lathe.
01/14/1930
Worked in the wheel house. Rained nearly all day.
This evening Arthur Blewitt and I appeared before
the Board of Public Works and tried to get the
sewer on Southmayd road extended so to connect
with the Church.
01/15/1930
Worked on the grave machines this afternoon.
This forenoon I went to the Office of the Street,
Water, and Sewer Inspector and got a Waver form
for the sewer extension on Southmayd road.
01/16/1930
Put together two grave lowering machines.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Edward Craft called.
01/17/1930
Finished the grave machines.
Today has been very cold.
01/18/1930
Snowed hard this forenoon but turned into
rain and froze, everything is now coated
with ice.
Lots of excitement in the Piersall locality
yesterday. Two youn{g} fellows named Brophey and
Schrager, went to New Britain Thursday evening
and were there joined by two more, and all armed
stole a automobile and drove to Cheshire where
they had the car filed with gas, and then robbed
the station of $75.00 then drove to Bristol to rob
another station, but there happened to be a poliece-{police}
man there, who questioned them, and one on the
back seat shot him in the back dead, they
then returned to New Britain where two remain-
ed and Brophey and Schrager came to Water-
bury where they abandened {abandoned} the Franklin car on
Camp St. and immediately word was sent through-
out the state. Police started a surch {search} and about
9 o'clock Brophey was located near Mr. Block's
barn at Piersallville. Four poliece {police} went there
and as they were getting out of their car
Brophey opened fire on them, sending a bullett
through the coat of one, he then ran the poliece {police}
shooting but failed to hit him. Poliece {police} came
from New Britain, Bristol and officers from
Wolctt, Prospect, and armed citizens joined
in the hunt through the woods to the number
of over 1000, but the{y} did not get him till eight
o'clock at evening, then he was caught by three
officers on Cook St. after he had emptied his
revolver shooting two of them in the wrist.
Schrager had been captured in front of the Hotel
Elton as he was about to enter a bus for New Britain.
The others had been captured during the day at
New Britain.
01/19/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Mr. Todd preached.
A very cold day.
01/20/1930
Cold worked in wheel house all day.
01/21/1930
Worked in the wheel house all day.
Howard Neal, Ralph Adams, Franklin Browne, Edgar Upson
Mr. Wheeler, and another man of the Mattatuck Drum
Band met for practice this evening.
01/22/1930
Worked in wheel house all day.
01/23/1930
Worked in Wheel House this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended a meeting of the stockholders
of the Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc.
When I went up I called for J.K. Smith on First AVe.
and took him up and brought him back.
01/24/1930
Worked in the Wheel house today making bass drum
sticks, Edgar Upson called for his snare drum sticks
that I made over. They work much better.
01/25/1930
This day has been rather cold. I worked most of the time
in the wheel house, repairing the machinery, and made
one pair of bass drum sticks.
01/26/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Joseph
Todd officiated. I then went to East Farms and took care
of my ox there then came home and remained in the
house the rest of the day as it was very cold, at this time
it is 6 below zero. 9 P.M.
01/27/1930
this forenoon I went to town. The rest of the day worked
about home. This evening wrote a letter to Lewis L.
Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Vancover [Vancouver] Wash.
This evening 6ø below.
01/28/1930
Worked about home anc cleaned the barn a{t} East
Farms.
01/29/1930
Got iron work ready to repair the Bowling alleys at the
Mill Plain Church. This afternoon I drew manure
to the hill lot at the farm
This evening attended an entertainment given by
the mens {men's} club at the church.
01/30/1930
Cold today snowed this afternoon.
This evening, Mr. Charles G. Frisbie of 1366 Prarie Avenue
Des Plaines Illinois, Called. He is now located at
Hotel Garde New Haven. He gave me the address
of Miss May Frisbie Bristol Wisconsin.
01/31/1930
Worked repairing the stove in the wheel house.
Cold today. This evening Mary and I attended a party
given at Mrs. George Browne's for Marion Northrop.
02/01/1930
Put new transmition {transmission} bands in the Ford truck
And worked at the farm barn etc.
02/02/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Church Rev Joseph Todd.
We went to Margarets to dinner, in honor of Marion
who is to leave next Thursday for New York to
enter St. Lukes hospital to study for a nurse.
There were 147 in attendance at Church.
02/03/1930
This forenoon I took the spring off my Packard car
the Left back, which was broken.
This evening Frank Kitchenka, Lovaine {??} Fox
myself and James Phelan, in his Pontiac Car
went to Hartford and attended a meeting
of the Putnam Phalanx, at their headquarters
314 Washington St. and accepted their invitation
for the Mattatuck Drum Band to affiliate with
them, in parades, etc.
02/04/1930
This forenoon I took the broken spring to
Perryault's shop on South Main St. and had it
repaired. This P.M. I took two old music book{s}
to Mr. Hazelhurst to have them rebound, and
went to Mr. M.E. Pierpont's new barn and had him
sign a waver for the extensionof a sewer on the
Southmayd Rd. I then went to Wm Garrigus shop
on the Meriden Rd. and he signed it, they are
trustees of the Mill Plain Union Church.
This eve the Mattatuck Drum Band held a
regular meeting and, voted to affiliate with
the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford.
02/05/1930
Put spring on car, and did odd jobs about home and
at the farm. Mary and I attended meeting of official
board of Mill Plain Church.
02/06/1930
Zero this morning. Mary and I went to Margaret's this
morning and brought little Anita up to stay here all
day while Margaret Cliff Bettie and Mr. Way went to
New York with Marion whi is to enter St. Luke's hospital.
They went in Mr. Way's Car. I cut down an old apple tree in
the yard.
02/07/1930
Chopped wood at home, and set a shoe on Edgar Upson's
horse.
02/08/1930
Chopped wood, and this afternoon made music books,
and practiced drumming.
02/09/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
This afternoon went to Wolcott and saw George Browne.
02/10/1930
Went out to Bessie Pierpont's lot on the Todd road and
cut out a load of wood, snowed hard this afternoon.
02/11/1930
This forenoon I went down town and did business
and got my drivers licence for 19.30 and got Attorney
Meyer's to sign a waver for a sewer on the Southmayd
road. P.M. Went out to the Todd Road and got a load of wood.
02/12/1930
Linc{o}ln's Birthday. I put up the flag. This morning
I cut down an old apple tree, and did blacksmith
work the rest of the day.
02/13/1930
Rained all day. Did odd Jobs about home.
02/14/1930
Sewed in two celeoid {??} windows in my big car, and
set a shoe on Edgar Upson's Horse. Worked at the farm.
02/15/1930
Brought in two truck loads of wood from the Todd road
lot, began snowing this evening.
02/16/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Church, attendance
rather small as it was very cold and windy.
This afternoon Mr. Charles Frisbie of Del Plains
Wis who is now in New Haven on business called
and we went up to Wolcott and saw the place where
his great grandfather Sheldon Frisbie lived before
he went west, years ago. We also called on Berkley
Frisbie in Woodtick.
02/17/1930
Twenty degrees below zero at six thirty this morning.
I sawed wood all the forenoon witht he buck saw.
This afternoon I repaired Edgar Upson's wagon shafts
02/18/1930
Uncle Benjamin L. Somers {??} died yesterday morning
at the house of Mrs. Homer Atkins in Wolcott at
the age of 83 years. He has been living at Mrs.
Atkins for the past five years, and his relitives {relatives}
have been paying his living bills for many
years. I cut up and drew two loads of wood
today. They are building a new gasoline
station at the Tom Mills place at the foot of the
hill, south side, West of here.
02/19/1930
This forenoon I brought in a load of wood.
This afternoon We attended Uncle Benjamin's funeral
at the Clark Undertaking Rooms No 20 State St.
Rev. Mr. Geasner of All Soles {Souls} Epscapal {Episcopal} Church
officiated. He Benjamin was buried in the Pine
Grove Cemetery by the side of his wife, in the
south east corner between the roadway and river.
This evening Mary and I attended a supper
and entertainment given by the Men's Club
of Mill Plain Church
02/20/1930
Tis forenoon I repaired a grave lowering devise for
St. Joseph Cemetery and took the tubes over to the office.
This P.M. I got Miles Upson and we cut down a tree and
cut it up, on the Todd road lot.
02/21/1930
This morning Margaret, Mary and I with Veta {??}
Went to Hartford to the state Lybrary {Library} where I saw
Mr. Goddard and got some photo copies of pages
of the Juda Frisbie Jounal, pretaining {pertaining} to Reuben Frisbie.
02/22/1930
Washington's Birthday I raised the flag.
I drew in two loads of wood from the Todd road.
Dirt roads are almost impassable on account of
the mud.
02/23/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Church
Rev. Raymond Bates officiated.
02/24/1930
Drew in crushed stone and covered the front
walk, and back yard.
02/25/1930
Worked at the farm pruning apple trees and
drew manure to the Connor lot on the hill.
02/26/1930
Pruned apple trees and painted fence at farm
rained and snowed this evening.
02/27/1930
Snow about two inches deep this morning. I made
a case for my French meterinome {metronome}. This afternoon
painted fence at the farm.
02/28/1930
Worked about home this forenoon. Finished painting
the North boundary fence at the farm, and painted
some on the middle lot fence.
03/01/1930
Jed Wilson and Clarance Pierpont and I went to
the Todd Road and cut down a large Chestnut
tree and brought home a load of wood, this
afternoon. I put up the metrinome {metronome} in the drum
room.
03/02/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev J. O. Todd.
03/03/1930
Weather. Snow fell during the night to the depth
of about one inch. Today has been raw, cold and
windy. This forenoon I went to the lot on the Todd
road and got a load of wood, this afternoon I
set a shoe on Edgar Upson's horse at the Maple
Wood Farm, in Wolcott then Miles and I went
to the wood lot and sawed the large tree that
we had cut down into srine {??} lengths.
Had a letter from Clyde in Toronto today,
he says that this is the best winter he has
ever seen. The themometer {thermometer} hasent {hasn't} reached
zero there this winter.
03/04/1930
Weather cold, I drew in two loads of wood from the
Todd road. Edgar Upson broke his arm today
while cranking his car.
The Mattatuck Drum Band held its regular
monthly meeting tonight.
03/05/1930
Cold today{.} I drew in two loads of wood from Bessie Pier-
pont's lot on the Todd road, and cut up wood at home.
This evening, We attended a meeting of the official Board
of the Mill Plain Union Church.
03/06/1930
There has been great excitement in the City today on
account of the Russian communists who were going to
form in front of City Hall and have a big parade.
{A}t ten o'clock there was a great crowd out, and at the
apointed {appointed} time a few formed and began shouting "Fight
the poliece {police}" The poliece grabbed them and rushed them
into the prison and the rest dispersed, and all was
quiet the rest of the day.
03/07/1930
Pruned grape vines this forenoon. Went to Hamilton
Park and did some engineering this afternoon,
and pruned an apple tree a{t} Margaret's.
03/08/1930
Rained all day, repaired tires on my car, and
worked on a grave lowering device. {device}
03/09/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, Rev
Joseph Todd {officiated}. Had dinner at Margaret's on Beecher
Av. This evening Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle called to borrow
some old clothes. Also Bessie {and} Jessie Pierpont.
03/10/1930
Worked for St Joseph's Cemetery repairing a grave lowering
devise {device}. Berkeley Le Frisbie {??} called to see me about the
new road they are to build by his house.
03/11/1930
Trimmed apple trees out to the farm. Went to
Wolcott to see Charles Tuttle but he wasn't at home.
Traveling bad. Members of the Mattatuck Drum
Band met for practice.
03/12/1930
Spent 1/2 day at Hamilton Park connecting a motor
to run a grindstone.
Trimmed apple trees at the farm.
Forty two years ago today snow began falling that
resulted in the great blizzard of 1888. On March 12th
at about four in the afternoon Sunday snow began
falling slowly during the night, all day Monday and
Monday night and the greater part of Tuesday by
which time it was piled in many places 15 ft deep. Had
it lain level it would have been 3 1/2 ft deep. All traffic
was entirely blocked. It was a week before many of the
roads were dug out.
03/13/1930
Very pleasant day. {C}ut out the wood from the branches,
pruned off the trees etc.
Eight members of the Mattatuck Drum Band went
to New Haven to visit the Lancroft {?? Leancroft} Drum Corps.
They were John Garrigus, Morris Tyler, Ralph Adams,
Howard Neal, Frank Kitchenka, Henry Wheeler, Andrew Kitchenka
and Mr. Sutton.
03/14/1930
This day was mostly spent at the farm, drilling
rocks for blasting. The weather came off towards
night very cold.
03/15/1930
I repaired a walk roller for the Calvary Cemetery.
This noon Frank with his children Mary, Bertha
and Dwight came from Kent. He {"e" inserted in text} also brought his
wife and a friend Miss Chase, but left them in
the center as they wished to attend a meeting.
After dinner Frank, Dwight and I started to go
out to the farm, we went via the Meriden road
as there was a fire burning there. {W}hen we reached
Alexander Ave the fire was burning near several
houses, and there were two companies of firemen
there with streams of water putting it out.
Farther on we saw the fire close to a house on
Alexander Ave and several other buildings.
Frank drove up there just in time to see
the fire coming down from the North close
to a girage {garage}. Two girls were fighting it with
brooms, but the wind was blowing a gale and
the weeds were high and the fire was driving
them. I got there just in time and a woman
brought a dish of water. I wet my broom and
managed to keep it from burning the build-
ing. Then we went up the hill and the fire
was burning to the north in a line over a mile
long. There was a big man there who said
"this must be put out," he took off his big coat,
and starting a the end began beating it out.
{A}nother man found an old garment and fastened
it on a stick and did good work, while Frank
and I cut bunches of green brush and all to-
gather {together} we made good headway, although at
times the wind blew so hard that the fire
would jump beyound {beyond} us, but we managed
to put it out to the end, which was a wet
swamp. Then we came back and reached the
hill we could see it burning up in Wolcott.
Hundreds of acres were burned over.
We then went out the Meriden Rd, and down
the Pierpont Rd to East farms, where we looked
the farm over, and then home. They left for Kent at 6 P.M.
03/16/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, Rev.
J.O. Todd preached.
In the afternoon we had dinner at Bessie
Pierpont's, Maple Hill Farm, Where we met Mr.
Warren Upson.
03/17/1930
This morning I took a lot of silver Knives,
Forks and spoons down to the factory of
Rogers Bros to have them done over. They
belong to Kent Grange, and Frank brought
them over last Sat. I then went to City
Hall Fire station and got a permit to use
explosives and then bought at the Hotchkiss
Co 6 sticks of dynamite. This afternoon I repaired
Chains, pulley blocks, etc.
03/19/1930
At the farm I got out rocks, with Jasper all day.
03/20/1930
Sharpened tools all day.
03/21/1930
At the farm getting out rocks etc.
03/22/1930
Worked all day repairing the back fenders of a heavy
truck for St Joseph Cemetary.
03/23/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church,
Re{v} J.O. Todd officiating.
This afternoon Mary and I went up to Woodtick
and saw Berkeley Frisbie. Ther are building a
state road by his house. We then called on
Charles Tuttle. then came to Ray's on Capitol
Ave and had supper, and visited during the evening.
03/24/1930
Repaired Fenders for truck for St. Joseph's Cemetery.
This afternoon went to the farm and prepaired {prepared}
to blast rocks.
This evening Mary and I went to Henry Buck-
inghams's on the Meriden road. The occasion being
the 50th anniversary of their marriage, there were
about 80 persons present.
This day has been very dry and many bush
and grass fires, the fire men were called out 25
times.
03/25/1930
Rained hard all day. Went to town this forenoon. This
afternoon Mr Hapenny came to see about having a large
dirt conveyor made. Mr. Charles S. Tuttle came later,
and spent the night. We had a drum practice.
03/26/1930
Tore down the chicken yards today.
03/27/1930
This forenoon wrote a letter to Mae Belle Frisbie, Bristol
Wis. This afternoon cleaned up the yard.
Cold with fluries {flurries} of snow.
03/28/1930
Ben {Been} busy making a new chicken yard.
The bank in Watertown was robbed of about 16000
dollars this morning, by four men, they escaped
to Waterbury in a stolen car.
03/29/1930
This forenoon I repaired a heavy chain, fixed an
inch wire cable ready for use, and built a heavy
stone boat for Calvary cemetery. This Afternoon
I sold Mr. Gray 6 concrete fence posts, and got
1 doz eggs for setting, took a basket of potatoes
to Margaret's and got typewritten copies of
a letter I wrote Miss May {?? Mae} Belle Frisbie, Bristol
Wis.
03/30/1930
Nice day, attended at Mill Plain
Church this morning and again this
evening.
03/31/1930
This morning I repaired the woodhouse window
and plumbed up the posts for the chicken yard.
In the afternoon went out to Edgar Upson's
and took the shoes off his horse, and got one doz
eggs, then came tot he farm and drew 6 five
gallon cans of water up on the hill, to have in
case of fire.
Took 3 concrete posts to Mr. Gray.
04/01/1930 {March crossed out}
Worked putting chicken netting up, and blasting out
rocks at the farm.
this evening I attended a meeting of the Board
of Public Works, to see about putting a sewer on the
Southmayd road.
04/02/1930
Blasted out rocks at the farm all day.
Attended a meeting of the Official Board of the Mill Plain Union Church.
04/03/1930
Worked at the farm all day hawling {hauling} out rocks.
04/04/1930
Worked today getting out rocks.
This forenoon we saw a smoke over East and we unhitched
the ox and put him in the barn, and got the pump
when Will Garrigus came, and we started, it porved
to be Mr. Albert's yard and Mr. Clarence Chapin's
yard. Mrs. Chapin had been burning some papers
and the wind blew one that was burning and it
set the grass and weeds on fire. {W}e went to putting
it out and soon the fire Company came and we put
it all out. We went back and I started eating my
dinner when Will Garrigus came again and said that
{the} chicken house was on fire. We hurried over at about
12.10 but before we reached there it had broken out
and was burning fierce. However we forced the
fire back for a while, but the wind blew just then
and the fire drove us out, by this time a fire company
arived {arrived} and they soon had a large stream of water
on but the builtion was about 125 ft long and was
a total loss. Mr Albers said that it cost 2500 dollars.
04/05/1930
Worked at blacksmith work, and at the Chicken yard
this forenoon. Out to the farm and helped put out
fire on Warren Hitchcock's land, opposite Bessie
Pierpont's house, and got a load of bark from
the Todd road.
04/06/1930
Attended service morning and evening at
Mill Plain Union Church. Rev J.O. Todd preached
in the morning and Dr. A.R. Atwood the Cowboy
preacher in the evening.
04/07/1930
Worked on new chicken yard most of the time today.
Rained very hard this afternoon.
This evening a young lady came and took the names
etc. for the 1930 U.S. census. I guess there is 112,000 people
in Waterbury.
04/08/1930
Very cold. This forenoon I worked on chicken yard.
This afternoon went to the spoon shop and got a
lot of silver that they refinished for Frank, that
belongs to the Kent Grange.
04/10/1930
Yesterday morning Mary and I went to Kent via
Middlebury, Woodbury, Washington, New Preston,
New Milford then to Kent. We stayed at Franks
over night. They are building 70 ft on the North
side of his barn. {C}ame home this afternoon via
Cornwell Bridge, {w}here I stoped {stopped} and looked over
the great new concrete bridge that they are
building over the Housatonic {??} river Rail Road etc.
Then we came through Cornwell, up Bunker Hill through
Goshen, Litchfield, Bantam, Morris, Bethlehem, Watertown
and home. It was 54 miles going over and 53 coming
home.
04/11/1930
Rained hard this morning. I took my big car and
went to Hartford to the K.B. Noble Co. and bought some
tools for sharpening hollow air drills, paid 7.70 then
went to the State Library and gave Mr. Goddard a
drum that was made in 1882, to be placed on exibition {exhibition}
with other relics. I also got the Judah Frisbie books
that I had loaned him.
I then drove out Albany Ave and turned right
and went to simsbury and saw my brother Frank,
then came home and found that it had rained here
all day, while up there they had had no rain.
04/12/1930
Worked at the farm plowing for pop corn, but a the {??}
stones, the ground is covered thick and it will be a job
to get them off.
04/13/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church both
morning and evening. in the evening the young
people gave a pagent {pageant} in which 40 took part.
04/14/1930
Worked about home all day.
Forest Chapin of East Farms was married to
Mrs. Grace Stutevant of Greenfield Mass last Saturday
morning.
04/15/1930
Worked at the farm plowing for pop corn all day.
this evening brother Fred D. Miller of Tarrytown
N.Y. came to the Drum Band meeting and
Charles Tuttle was there also, and they did
some fine drumming.
04/16/1930
{2-3 words seem to be whited out here} Worked making gates for the
chicken yard. Plowed at the farm.
04/17/1930
Rained all day. Worked about home.
04/18/1930
Good Friday. Worked on chicken yard. Rained this
afternoon. Mr. Herbert Gad came to see me about
the new History of New Haven County.
Ray came and cleaned out the chicken coop.
04/19/1930
Built chicken wire fence in the lower yard
today. {B}rother Fred who is staying with Wm
Gillettee {?? double "e"?} called this afternoon and left some drum
music that he had written.
Fritsa, Clyde's wife called this afternoon.
She came from Toronto Friday.
04/20/1930 Easter Sunday
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church this
morning. At Woodtick chapel this afternoon and
again at Mill Plain this evening. Called on B. Frisbie
and Arthur Harrison. {this line squeezed in at bottom of page}
04/21/1930
Worked all day hauling manure up on the hill
and plowing for oats. Weather cold.
04/22/1930
Went to the Spencer grain Cp. this forenoon and bought
3 pks of seed oats, a bag of fertilizer and 12 little chicks,
(Plymouth Rocks) made a gate, and this afternoon went
to the farm and got out manure.
The Mattatuck Drum Band met for practice this
evening, we practiced with the metrinone {metronome}.
04/23/1930
Very cold and snowed this afternoon. I mad{e} hinges
for two gates and sharpened some stone drills,
then went to the farm and plowed a piece above the
barn and planted it to oats and grass, and sowed
oats and grass on the hill.
04/24/1930
Made hinges for two gates, and made gates etc.
Went out to the farm, and took care of the ox.
A young man buy {by} the name of Smith who works
for the Warden Milk Co. was coming in the
Cheshire Road on a motorcicle {-cycle}, when he was
thrown off and badly injured near the water
trough, the machine kept of and ran into
the ditch on the North side of the road, and
stoped {stopped} agains the sluice bridge to my
driveway. The weather has been very cold.
04/25/1930
Repaired stone wall north of the clothes
yard, and made fence on the east side of
our lot near the chicken. Then went
downtown, paid telephone bill, bought one gal
paint of Sears & Roebuck, went to the bank and
then came home. Went out to the farm and
took care of the ox. Then took the front spring
off an old Ford car, and put it on my car.
04/26/1930
Worked all day at the farm getting rocks off the piece
where I am to plant potatoes. Hauled up a load of
manure and harrowed it and sever other loads
that I had previously drawn up.
04/27/1930
Turned all clocks one hour ahead this morning to
Day Light Saving time.
Attended service at Mill Plain Church.
Rev J.O. Todd preached.
This afternoon took most of Margaret's family
and went to Prospect to see Edgar Wallace but we
did not find him at home. We then went to see
Mr. Brown in Cheshire, but he died this
morning aged 92 years.
04/28/1930
This forenoon I went to the Hotchkiss co and bought
a lot of garden seeds. Went to the City engineer's
office and showed Mr. Root the church plans and
he is to have the sewer on the Southmayd Road made
24 in. lower than the sewer where it comes out of the Church.
04/29/1930
Worked all day at the farm plowing and harrowing for
potatoes.
04/30/1930
Spend all day getting out rocks on the lot on the hill
where I am going to plant corn.
05/01/1930
Plowed for corn and got rocks, and harrowed
all day.
05/03/1930
Yesterday I furrowed out for potatoes till noon. Then
I got ready and went to Kent in the afternoon
taking Mary my wife, and Marion, Gene, and
Anita Northrop, {W}e went via Middlebury, Wood-
bury, Southbury, Roxbury, Bridgewater, and
Newmilford {New Milford}, 47 miles. We found that they have
built a new addition 70 ft long and 39 ft wide
to the main barn. We stayed overnight, and
got a bushel of seed Green Mountain potatoes, and
left for home at 10 this morning, coming by way of
East Kent, Lake Waramang, New Preston, Washington,
Woodbury and middlebury, 41 miles, reached here at
1 P.M. This afternoon I worked about home.
05/04/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church
Re{v} J.O. Todd preached. Dedicated the new babtismal {baptismal}
fount given by Mrs. Ralph Blakeslee., and babtised {baptised}
25 children and 2 persons {2 inserted in text}, and received 22 new members.
There were 220 people present.
05/05/1930
Furrowed out for corn and potatoes all day.
05/016/1930
Planted potatoes all day.
05/07/1930
Finished planting potatoes on the hill. {V}ery hot
98 in shade, 112 in sun. Attended Official Board meeting this eve.
Heavy {squeezed in at bottom of page}
05/08/1930
Worked about home. Repaired some harrow irons for Edward
Scott of Cheshire. sharpened some stone drills, and
repaired a lot of wedges for Almas Browne and spent
the rest of the day repairing a heavy iron gate for
St. Joseph's Cemetery. Rained this evening.
05/09/1930
Worked on Cemetery gate till 4 P.M. when I finished it,
then went to the farm, and brought back some fertilizer
and worked in the garden.
05/10/1930
Worked in the garden, and at the farm.
05/11/1930
This is Mother's day. We attended service at
the Mill Plain Church. Rev. Joseph O. Todd officiated.
John Brundage and family from Storrs drove
into the yard about 10 o'clock, they were on their
way to Danbury, but had left Ruth at the Mill
Plain Sunday School. After service we with Ruth drove
up to John Wakelee's and over to Charles Tuttle's, and
home through East Farms, stoping {stopping} at Bessie Pierpont's
a few Minutes. We had a picnic dinner in the East
Yard, and soon Frank and family came from
Kent, and we had a very enjoyable time.
05/12/1930
Worked in the garden at the farm plowing and
getting off stones.
This evening Will Gillette and Iva called and
and {repetition in text} Mary and I went up to Charlie Tuttle's in
Woodtick, to see about him storeing {storing} Father's old
buggy.
05/13/1930
Took the old buggy from Will Gilette's old barn on
Radcliff Ave. to Cha's Tuttle's this morning and
then went down the Todd Road to East Farms
where I worked the rest of the day getting the
garden ready to plant. This evening the
Mattatuck Drum Band went to John Wakelee's
place in Wolcott to practice.
05/14/1930
Worked most of this day at the garden in
East Frams. Planted peas & beans.
This evening went to a supper at Mill Plain
Church. Took two baskets of potatoes to
Margaret.
05/15/1930
Rained nearly all day. I sharpened a lot of
tools for Almas Browne, and some for brother
Frank who lives in West Simsbury, repaired
a garden rake, made six latches for gates.
This evening The Lancraf {??} Drum Band was
entertained at the Eeast {East} Farms School House
by the Mattatuck Drum Band. {T}here were
27 New Haven men, and 25 Mattatuck men.
05/16/1930
This forenoon I went to City Hall and paid
my taxes $214.69. Came home and mowed part
of front lawn. This afternoon I took the battery of
my small car to Montambeau's to have it recharged,
then went to the farm and drew stones off the patch
where I am to plant {p}op corn.
05/17/1930
Mr. Manual came over this morning (at the farm)
and we planted 6 rows of mangles, he furnished
the seed and I prepared the ground. {W}e are each
to have half of the beets. This afternoon I drew
the stones off the pop corn piece.
05/18/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
Every member canvass {-ed?} for money this afternoon.
05/19/1930
Worked at the farm.
05/20/1930
This forenoon I sharpened a lot of compressor drills for
Calvary Cemetery, drew manure up to the corn lot
on the hill this afternoon. This evening the Mattatuck
Drum Band went to John Wakelee's to practice, after
which many of us went to Charles' Tuttle's and got him
up and he gave an exebition {exhibition} of drumming.
05/21/1930
Planted corn on the hill all day.
05/22/1930
Went to town this morning, and came home, and
put hooks on Edgar Upson's Ford Truck. Planted in
the garden this afternoon.
05/23/1930
Very hot 95 in shade, but I caught a bad cold.
Planted garden and painted chicken yard gates.
05/24/1930
Planted garden at home and at the farm.
05/25/1930
Attended service at Mill pLain Union Church, Rev
J.O. Todd {officiated}.
The Mattatuck Drum Band went to Cheshire.
05/26/1930
Spaded the south half of the home garden, put 24 wheel
barrow loads of manure on it.
05/27/1930
Planted in the garden a tthe farm, and some at
home.
05/28/1930
Mowed and cleaned off the west front lawn, and plowed
some. Rained all the afternoon.
05/29/1930
cleared off stones and planted potatoes on west side
of the barn lot at East Farms. This morning I
repaired a plow wheel for Edward Scott.
Rained this afternoon.
05/30/1930
Memorial Day. I turned out with the Mattatuck Drum
Band at the Parade in Waterbury. The members present
were, Major Peter Shea.
Fifers, Bement Wakelee, Franklin Browne, Robert
Wakelee, Morris Tyler, Ralph Adams, Andrew Kitchenka,
William Greenwood.
Bass Drummers, George Cass, John Garrigus,
Marven Wheeler, and Frank Kitchenka.
Snare Drummers, Charles S. Miller, Louverne Fox,
Ralph Pierpont, Lewis Greenwood, Edgar Upson,
Robert Probst, Herman Gessert, Charles Tuttle, Arthur
Harrison, and Howard Neal.
Late in the afternoon I planted potatoes at the
farm.
05/31/1930
This morning I went to Charles De Bissop's and got
1 1/2 doz tomato plants. Then came home and mowed
the lawn, and worked in the garden.
06/01/1930
This morning the Mttatuck Drum Band went to
Wolcott to observe the memorial exercises at the Center.
A delegation of Grand Army men (only one Mr. Charles
Russell) Women's Relief Corps, Sons of Veterans, and
World's War Veterans from Southington were there,
and three Civil War Veterans went up with us. they
were Zenas bowen, Mr. Homer Northrop, and Mr. James
Young. All served under General Grant, in the
Army of the Potomac. Charles Russell was with Sherman
in his march to the sea.
At 11 o'clock all went into the church where Rev. Mr Cabbage
conducted service, and after service all organizations
wen{t} to the the Cemetery where the graves of the dead
soldiers were decorated, after which we returned to
the Parish House and had an excelent dinner which
the ladies of the town had prepared. After dinner
many of the members of the Drum Band (while others
were at the second table) tok their flowers and marched
to the cemetery, which we entered to the tune of a dirge
and placed them on the graves of the gollowing former
members, Levi and Garry Atkins, drummers, Sidney
Alcott and Prosper Hull fifers, Sherman Moulthrop,
who drummed in the Civil War, Thoedore {Theodore} Moulthrop
a Bass drummer, Elihu {perhaps written over Sidney} Moulthrop, a former drum
major, and who served in Gen Sherman's Army, and
Samuel Benham who drummed int he Revolutionary
army. those of the drum Band that were present
were Peter Shea Drum Major.
Fifers Robert Wakelee, Franklin Browne, Morris Tyler,
Ralph Adams, Charles Cass, James Phelan, Andrew
Kitchenka, and William Greenwood.
Bass Drummers, George Cass, John Garrigus.
Marven Wheeler, and Frank Kitchenka.
Snare Drummers, Charles S. Miller, Louverne Fox,
Ralph Pierpont, Lewis Greenwood, Edgar Upson,
Robert Probst, Herman Gessert, Charles Tuttle,
Arthur Harrison, and Howard Neal.
06/02/1930
The mattatuck Drum Band went to Boston today.
The occasion was the tercentary {tercentenary} of Massachusetts Bay Colony,
and the Annual Drum Head Election of officers of the
Ancient and Honorable Artilery Co of Boston.
A large New England Bus started from the Elton Hotel
this morning at 4:30 with the boys thatlive near the
center aboard, and came to my place where the
drums were loaded on, and and {word repeated} the boys here got
aboard, and started at 5 A.M. Ralph Adams was picked
uyp at the enterance {entrance} of the new Pine Grove Cemetery.
At Will Garrigus's house, John Garrigus, Ralph Pierpont,
Rob and Bement Wakelee got aboard. At Mr. Tyler's,
Morris, and Edgar Upson got on, and Charlie and
George Cass were picked up at Mildale. We reached
314 Washington St. Phalanx Headquarters at 6 o'clock.
We left there at 6:30 and marched ahead of the
Phalanx to the Railroad Station where a special
train was boarded which carried the First Co. of
Govanor's {?? Governor's?} foot Guards with band, and Putnam
Phalanx, and us. We reached Boston a little
after 10 and marched to Fannel
Hall. Where after a time a fine dinner was served
to hundreds of troops. After dinner we formed
on the street, and after much marching and counter-|
marching were finally placed in the line, and moved.
The line of march was said to be eight miles long and
ended in the commons, where a grand review was
held, after which we were given checks for supper at the
Westminster Hotel. We met many of different commands
that we had seen before at Valley Forge, Washington,
Richmond and Bennington. We went to Westminster
in Buses and had a fine supper, after which we
walked to the South Station where we boarded
a train which left at 8 for Hartford, which we reach-
ed at 11. We then boarded a bus for Waterbury and
reached home soon after midnight.
Those wh went were, Peter Shea Drum Major
Fifers, Chas Cass, Rob and Bement Wakelee, James
Phelan, Andrew Kitchenka, Ralph Adams, Morris
Tyler, Wm Greenwood, Franklin Brown.
Bass Drummers, George Cass, Frank Kitchenka
John Garrigus, and Marvin Wheeler.
Snare Drummers Charles S. Miller, Louverne Fox,
Ralph Pierpont, Rob Probst, Arthur Harrison,
Charles Tuttle, Herman Gessert, Edgar Upson, Louis
Greenwood, and Howard Neal.
06/03/1930
Went downtown this morning and planted at the farm
in the afternoon.
06/04/1930
Very Hot. Worked at the farm all day. Mowed side of
road and planted. Attended Mill Plain Union Church
Annual meeting this evening.
06/05/1930
Ground Tools this morning and worked at the
farm the rest of the day.
06/06/1930
Mowed Mr. Raymond C. Even's door yard this morning,
and sharpened a batch of air drills for Calvary Cemetery.
Planted corn and potatoes at the farm this P.M.
06/07/1930
Went to Sears and Roebuck store and bought paint
for the Kitchen, worked at the farm this afternoon.
Rained this P.M.
06/08/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church Rev
J.O. Todd {officiated}. Children's Day. Church full to overflowing.
06/09/1930
Rained more or less all day. I painted the ceiling of
the kitchen, and cut wood, repaired my big car.
06/10/1930
Mowed the front Lawns this forenoon, and put a
handle in a big plow for the Calvary Cemetery
this afternoon.
06/11/1930
Sharpened a lot of air drills for the Cemetery
and worked about the house today. This evening
Ray, Ruth, Mary and I went in Ray's new car to the Waterbury Hospital
to see Margaret {written vertically in margin at bottom of page}
06/12/1930
Painted the Kitchen floor and sink drains, and cultivated
my potatoes and corn.
Bought a new couch of Albert furniture Co for 25.00
06/13/1930
Repaired table and chair, and went to town this forenoon.
Howed {hoed} garden and potatoes and corn at the farm this afternoon.
06/14/1930
This forenoon I sharpened 16 large air drills for the Calvary
Cemetery. This afternoon I howed {hoed} potatoes and corn.
Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Decker came on a visit from
Gilboa {??} New York. He is 84 years old and drove all the
way in his own car. Irving left Milwaukee at 10 A.M to
come to Waterbury.
06/15/1930
In my car when we went to Church <there> was <in my car> Miss Pickett,
{text in brackets <> is inserted in original text with carot}
Mr. and Mrs. William Decker, Mary and I.
Rev. Mr. Owen of Bunker Hill Church preached.
Afternoon we went to Wolcott then to Cha's Tuttle's, and to
Bessie Pierpont's where we had lunch, and much music.
06/16/1930
This morning Mr. <and Mrs> Decker and I went to Watertown
and saw Mr. Fox. We then came to Bunker Hill
where we visited sister Iva and she called Wm
Gillette her husband and we had a great time.
This afternoon we went to West Haven
where we had a shore dinner at Wilcox pier
restaurent {restaurant}.
06/17/1930
Went to Hartford witht he Mattatuck Drum Band
and played for the Putnam Phalanx, in their Bunker
Hill excercise. Those who went were Frank Kitchenka
Drum Majo. The fifers were Morris Tyler, Ralph Adams,
Andrew Kitchenka, James, Phelan, and Wm Sutton.
Bass Drummers, George Cass, Marvin Wheeler,
and John Garrigus, Snare Drummer Cha's S. Miller
Louverne Fox, Arthur Harrison, Edgar Upson, Herman
Gessert and Ralph Pierpont.
We went in our own cars. Distance 44 miles.
06/18/1930
Mowed the front yard this morning, and went to
town. This afternoon we went to Mort Pierpont's new barn
and saw them milking and making ice cream cakes.
This evening, Mr. and Mrs Decker, Mary and I went to
a supper at the Mill Plain Church.
Irving and Dot were there having arived {arrived} a short
time before from Milwaukee Wis. They came by
boat across lake Michigan then drove to Detroit, then
by boat to Buffolow {Buffalo} and by auto the rest of the way.
06/19/1930
This fornoon Mr. and Mrs. Decker, Mary and I went
to Charles De Bissops on East Mountain, and saw
his fine flowers fruit etc. We then went to Edgar
Wallace in East Prospect, and then through Mass
Farms and up to Marion and up the Southington
Mountain, stoped {stopped} at Maple Hill and saw Irving
and Dot. This evening We went to Bunker
Hill and visited with Will and Iva Gillette.
Cha's Tuttle, Mansfield and Louis were there also.
06/20/1930
Mr. and Mrs. William C Decker Decker started for their home
at Gilboa N.Y. at seven this morning.
I went to East Farms and spent the day hoeing
and cutivating {cultivating}.
06/21/1930
Put arsnate {??} of lead on my potatoes and hoed in
the garden's at East Farms.
This evening We attended a picnic supper at Bessie
Pierpont's. There were present Irving and Dorothy Miller,
William, Iva, Mansfield, and Lois Gillettee {Gillette}, John Bradley,
wife and boy, Mary and I, and Jessie and Bessie Pier-
pont.
06/22/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Joseph Todd officiated.
Irving and Dorothy sat with us.
06/23/1930
Howed {hoed} potatoes and garden at the farm, Clarence
helped, paid .30
06/24/1930
Worked a{t} farm in forenoon. Went to town and handed
in my tax list, and did several errands in afternoon.
Irving came from Short Beach where he has stayed
since Sunday.
Mattatuck Drum Band held meeting this evening.
06/25/1930
Irving, Dot, Mary and I went to Kent and saw front {??}
left picture of old Serub Oak School house with Rex Brasher
to be collared {?? colored}
06/26/1930
Hoed potatoes. Irving howed {hoed} till noon, and went
to Short Beach in the afternoon. I finished plowing
them out in the afternoon.
06/27/1930
Friday rained some in the morning, but very
hard in the afternoon. I mowed some about home.
Pierpont family reunion at Fulton Park this evening.
06/28/1930
Irving Mowed the front yard this morning and
I cliped {clipped} about the corners and fence.
This afternoon I finished hoeing the potatoes
06/29/1930
At 11 o'clolc we attended worship at Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev J.O. Todd officiated. Mary Jenner came
out and sat with us. Others in our seat were Jessie
Pierpont. Irving Miller and Dorothy his wife, they
Irving and Dot expect to start for Milwaukee in
the morning.
06/30/1930
This morning at 7.30 D.L.S. time Irvinag and Dot
left in their Dodge car for Milwaukee. They are to
take Cormeila {??} Walker with them.
I worked at the farm planting turnips and hoeing.
07/01/1930
Took a load of hay to East Farms. Hoed Potatoes.
Clarence helped, this forenoon. Hoed garden at home
and at the farm and plowed out potatoes and corn.
Rained this P.M. Mattatuck Drum Band had meeting.
07/02/1930
Finished hoeing <pop> corn and potatoes this forenoon.
Went to Dr. Barber's place in Wolcott and saw
Charles Tuttle and Arthur Harrison about turning
out July 4th.
Attended the Officiual Board meeting of the Mill
Plain Union Church this evening. I was elected
Purchasing Agent. Clarence helped: .50
07/03/1930
Put up windlass a{t} farm barn, and lifted up harrow
plows, cultivator, etc. Clarance helped: .70
07/04/1930
This morning The Mattatuck Drum Band
turned out for a celebration at Bunker Hill.
One of the finest forth {Fourth} of Julay parades I ever saw.
The Band turned out 18 men.
This afternoon Mary I and Cliff, Betty and Nita
Northrop went to Lake Zoar {??} and called at Raymond's
cottage, and he showed us about. {W}e got a lunch
at the restarent {restaurant}, and then came home via
Sandyhook, Newtown, Brookfield, Southville,
Bridgewater, Roxbury, Woodbury, Middlebury.
This evening Mary and I went up in Calvary
Cemetery where we saw more firework than I
ever saw before.
07/05/1930
Worked out at Farm. Clarance helped: .50
07/06/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church at
9 A.M. Rained this afternoon.
07/07/1930
Mowed in the Barn lot at East Farms. Clarance helped: .50
07/08/1930
Worked at hay at the farm. <Clarance helped: .50> Mattatuck Drum
Band practiced at Wolcott Fair Ground this evening.
07/09/1930
Got in three loads of hay. Clarance helped: .50
Held East Farms Cemetery Meeting, at East Farms
School.
07/10/1930
Circus in town today. I went to town and did
some business this forenoon, and paid Frank's
check to Frank Tobin at Rogers & Bros factory.
They are tearing down the old Plating, Buffing,
Burnishing, and Gray rooms.
this afternoon worked at the farm.
07/11/1930
Started to mow at East Farms this morning, but
the mowing machine broke and we were all the rest
of the day repairing it {squeezed in at bottom of page}.
07/12/1930
The Mattatuck Drum Band turned out at 4 o'clock
this afternoon at the Dedication of a Bronze Tablet
at the Hopeville School. The tablet has the names
of all who went to the World's War from that District.
07/13/1930
Attended Worship at the Mill Plain Union Church
at 9 o'clock, after which we went to Wolcott to
Church. This afternoon we went to Wolcott and
I saw Rev Mr. Cabbage about a map he is making
of the town of Wolcott. We then called on Charles
Tuttle and saw his son Cyrus and his wife who is
on for a visit from St. Louis.
07/14/1930
Rained, mowed front lawn, and worked about home
did blacksmith work for Almus Browne. Clarance .50
07/15/1930
Mowed out to the farm, got in 3 loads of hay.
Frank came this evening, took gun. C .50
07/16/1930
Worked at hay at the farm today. Clarance helped: .50
07/17/1930
Got in two loads of hay at the farm, Ned helped: .25
07/18/1930
Repaired scoop scraper, and mowed. Ned helped: .50
07/19/1930
This as been the hottest day 98 in shade.
Repaired heavy hinge for scraper this morning,
then mowed and got in large load of hay.
07/20/1930
Attended service at 9 o'clock at Mill Plain Union
Church Rev Joseph O. Todd {officiated}. Then went to Prospect
to Church, after which we drove south to Straits-
ville and up through Naugatuck back road
home.
07/21/1930
Hottest day this year 101ø in shade. Worked about
home most of the day. Cleaned spark plugs on the big
car.
07/22/1930
Went to the Waterbury Foundry and got a grate
for the Mill Plain Church.
Made over push scraper for Calvary Cemetery.
Mattatuck Drum Band Had meeting this evening.
07/23/1930
Worked haying at farm all day. Ed helped: .50
07/24/1930
At the farm got in 2 loads hay. {P}lanted turnips,
rained at 4 o'clock. Ed helped: .30
07/25/1930
Hot day 98 in shade 122ø in sun where we were working.
Mowed a{t} home today. Ed helped: .50
07/26/1930
Finished mowing my home lot, got one load out to the farm.
Clarance helped: .50
07/27/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, Rev J.O. Todd {officiated}
07/28/1930
This forenoon I went to the farm and got a cradle
that I have to repair, Brought Clarance back and
we took out three loads of hay that finished my
haying job here. We then took my Packard car to
Beebe's pit where I greased and oiled it all up. .50
07/31/1930
Last tuesday morning at 9 o'clock Gene Marion
and their Father Clifford Northrop and Mary and I
left for Lake Kanawakee N.Y. We went in my
Packard Car, via Danbury and Bear Mountain
Bridge. The lake is about twelve miles South
West from the bridge and 88 miles from here.
After leaving Marion who is to stay a month
and have charge of some girl scouts at a large
camp, {w} e returned to the bridge, and then went
North to West Point where we entered the grounds
and passed through and out of the North gate,
but the guard told us that we could not pass
on the Storm King highway to Newburgh as
there was large truck overturned that blocked
all traffic and we would be obliged to go to
Central valley 14 miles S.W. and then to Newburgh
which we did, after traveling about 30 miles. We
{f}erried across the River to Beacon, and then went
East through Fishkill to Pawling, where we turned
North and went to Windale where {we} turned East into
Connecticut to Gaylordsville, then up to Kent,
having traveled 180 miles. We stayed at his house
overnight, and the next forenoon. At 3 P.M. {w}e
left for home via Swift's Bridge, Warren, New Preston,
Washington, North Woodbury and Watertown.
08/01/1930
The Mattatuck Drum Band turned out this forenoon
for the Standard Oil Co, in a parade that represen-
ted the progress that has been made in the mode
of travel. They had all kinds of sleds, drags, wagons,
Coaches, stages, Carriages. The earliest Autos, and down to
the latest, auto trucks, tanks and Busses. The procession was
over two miles in length, and included three bands and
the drum corps. This afternoon I cradled a piece of oats. {??}
08/02/1930
This forenoon I cradled a piece of oats on the hill.
This afternoon made a tripod for lifting heavy
rocks, for Almus Browne.
As purchasing agent for the Mill Plain Union
Church ordered of Burns Bros, 50 tons of soft
coal for the church at 7.25 per ton net ton. {repeated in text}
08/03/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
at 9 o'clock, then at Prospect at 11:45 {overwritten 10:45}. This evening
drove up to Woodtick and saw Burt Frisbie
Margaret, Marion, Bettie, Anita. Mary and I.
08/04/1930
Worked sharpening drills. Went out to the farm and bound
oats, then got new battery and put it in the small truck.
08/05/1930
Did Blacksmith work for Almus Brone. Then Mary and
I went out to the farm and she picked black berries
while I bound oats, and then she loaded them while
I pitched on. Ned Wilson helped unload them. .35
08/06/1930
Mowed in the East Farms Cemetery most of the day.
08/07/1930
Mowed the rest of the Cemetery.
Recived {received} word that Clydes daughter Nancy died
in Mimico near Toronto Canada.
08/08/1930
Raked up the hay and cleaned the East Farms Cemetery
today. Rained last evening, but today is very warm.
08/09/1930
This day has been very warm. This morning Mary
and I went to the Rail Road station at 10.30 and met
Clyde who left Toronto at 5.30 last night with Nancy's
body. Mr Alderson took the body to his rooms on
Central Ave, and we brought Clyde home, stoping {stopping}
at Brook St and getting some round clams of which
he is very fond. Many friends and relations called
during the afternoon and evening to offer their
sympathy.
08/10/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
Clyde, Mary and I. Rev Mr. Emri {?? Emory?} Sites officiated.
About 11 o'clock Clyde received a telephone call from
Canaan, Conn stating that his family was arrived
there and would be here in about two hours.
They left Mimico Sat morning at 3 o'clock and
drove 453 miles to Claverick N.Y. where they
stayed overninght and then on to here where they
arrived at about 2 o'clock the whole distance being
553 miles. They Fritsa, Dick, Willard and Robert
came in a light Chevrolet Car.
After reaching here they had many callers.
Thirty came from Farrington during the afternoon.
08/11/1930
I worked mowing the grass about home this forenoon.
The funeral for Nancy was held this afternoon
at 4 o'clock in the Old Pine Grove Cemetery, she
was buried in Clyde's lot, beside her older sister.
Rev Mr. Coombs of the second church officiated.
After the funeral many of the friends came to our
house and lunch was served, after which William
Gillette took members of Clyde's and his wifes families
to Thomaston to the Park Hotel and gave us a fine
supper. There were thirteen that sat down to supper,
after which we returned to the Gillette home where
we enjoyed a plesant {pleasant} evening.
08/12/1930
Clyde, Bobbie, Willard and I drove down to Lighthouse
point, and looked about, then over to Mormorguin {??} where
we had dinner, and the boys went in bathing, we
then returned to Mr. Hanson's in Cheshire, where
we left Bob and willard, and Clyde and I returned
home.
08/13/1930
This morning Clyde went down to the American Brass
Co's office, and Fritsa, Willard and Bob came from
Cheshire. At 10.30 {w}e left for Brother Frank's at Sinsbury.
Clydy, Fritsa, Mary, Margaret, and Nita in his car,
Bettie, Gene, Willard, Bobbie and I in my car. We reached
there at noon, had dinner under the trees back of the
house. At Clyde and his family left for Farrington
where they expect to stay till Friday when they will
start for Toronto.
Son {soon} after {w}e left for home coming via Canton
Unionville, Bristol, and Wolcott.
08/14/1930
Worked at blacksmith work this morning. Then trimmed
up the Frast {??} road walk, which took till noon, then
went to Sears & Roebuck store and bought 2 sets of
Auto wrenches, and back fender drops, and one pint of black
paint. Took the back bumper off my Packard.
Mr. Farren called this morning and informed me
that they were putting a car load of coal in the
Church.
08/15/1930
I worked all day sharpening picks and grubs.
Clyde and family left Torrington at eight this morning for
their home in Toronto, Ontario {this line squeezed in before next entry}
08/16/1930
Worked all day at blacksmith work, sharpening tools
and repairing chains.
Seven of the Mattatuck boys returned from Gilboa
N.Y. this morning. They went out last Wednesday
to play for the annual homecoming picknic {picnic} at
West Conesville. Those who went were Bement Wakelee
Rob't Wakelee, Albert Atkinson, and Andrew Kitchenka,
Fifers. Frank Kitchenka, Bass, Ralph Pierpont, and
Edgar Upson, Snare Drummers.
08/17/1930
Attended service at 9 A.M. at Mill Plain Union
Church Rev Girtrude Coe officiating.
After service Mary and I drove 26 miles to
Ray's cottage at Lake Zoar, where we had a
fine dinner and then had a fine sail up
the Panperaug {??} River in his motor boat, then
down and about the lake. We got home at 8.
08/18/1930
This morning I went to Mr. Wolcott's girage over on
Bunker Hill to see about grinding cylinders and
putting in new rings. He asked $100.00 dollars fo
the job including new wires.
This afternoon I mowed round the upper lot at the
farm and worked in the garden.
Recived {received} a bill from Burns Bros #43 Grand St.
for 101,620 lbs Soft coal @ 7.50 per ton 381.05.
A discount of 25 cents per ton will be allowed
for cash on or before _______ {date missing} total discount $12.50.
This coal is for the Mill Plain Union Church. {This line underlined}
08/19/1930
Mowed and got in one large load of hay from the
young orchard lot on the hill. Ned Wilson, <.30> and Clarence
helped. This evening went to the MIll Plain Church to
see about ordering Paint and grass seed.
Then attended meeting of Mattatuck Drum Band.
08/20/1930
Got in load of hay and moved another, Ned <.30> and Clarance <.75>
helped, rained this evening.
08/21/1930
Finished mowing the young orchard on the
hill and got in one load. Ed and Clarance helped.
Attended a special meeting of the official board
this evening. We let the job of putting the sewer connection {?? Where's the rest of the
sentence?}
08/22/1930
Mowed the upper lot on the hill yesterday afternoon
and got in all the hay today.
08/23/1930
Rained nearly all day. I went and got Clarance
and we went to town, got iron and cement, for
myself and Paint and cement for the Church.
This afternoon we made a cement fence post
and repaired the cement floor in the Drum
Room.
08/24/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Church. Rev Mr.
Thomas Cochard {??} of Prospect preached.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Edwin Todd's
house on the Meriden Rd. in Cheshire to honor Roxanna
Tuttle's 90 birthday.
08/25/1930
Mowed Mr. Hazelherst's lot today. Clarance helped.
08/26/1930
We got in the hay on Mr. Hazelhurst's lot today,
two loads. Clarance.
08/27/1930
Mowed and got in hay on Mr. Charles Wilkinbach's
lot. 2 loads. Harald Pierpont pitched on, Clarence
helped. They began putting in the sewer connection
from the Mill Plain Church to the Southmayd Rd.
08/28/1930
Mowed and got in two loads of hay from Mr. Wilkens-
bach lot. Clarance helped. .50
08/29/1930
Mowed and got in two loads of hay from Harold
Pierpont's lot. Clarance helped.
08/30/1930
Rained last night. Worked about home. Made concrete
fence post. Repaired two autos. Mowed the swamp
east of the chicken coop, took load of manure to the
farm, and mowed away a load of hay,
Clarance helped. .50
08/31/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. John Howell of South Waterbury preached.
After service we drove over to Lake Zoar to
Raymond's cottage where we had dinner.
Mary, Margaret, Betty, Marion, Nita and a young
man, went with me.
09/01/1930
It rained hard this morning. By noon it
had cleared. It took Margaret, Gene, Marion
and little Anita and we went to Goshen Fair
but on account of the rain, the Fair was put
over till tomorrow. This afternoon many
people came, and had many attractions.
09/02/1930
Rained this morning. I mowed in the swamp.
East of the Cemetery at East Farms.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Band had
a meeting. Mr. Raymond called this morning
to engage the band 10 or 12 of them to play
for the Baking Company next Sat afternoon.
09/03/1930
Got in two loads of hay this afternoon. Bettie
and Gene helped. .75 This evening Mr. Raymond
called and engaged the Band to play next
Sat two hours, 12 men for 50.00.
09/04/1930
Finished mowing swamp east of the Cemetery and
got up two loads.
09/05/1930
Mowed part of Mr. Gretter's lot at East farms
West of the Cemetery, and got in one load
of hay from Harold Pierpont's lot.
09/06/1930
This forenoon I mowed in Mr. Greeter's lot.
This afternoon, I turned out as Leader of
the Mattatuck Drum Band in a parade
given by the Raymond Baking Co.
We had twelve men, and rode in a truck,
that was finely decorated and preceeded
by two Mr. Raymonds in a car, and headed
by a poliece {police} escort in a poliece {police} car, there
followed us twenty one delivery trucks.
We traveled about 18 miles about the
City starting at 4 and ending about
6 P.M. for which each man received 4.00
and there was two dollars left for the
treasury. Those who were present were
Andrew Kitchenka, Robert Wakelee, Arthur
Atkinson, William Greenwood and William
Sutton Fifers. Frank Kitchenka, and John Garrigus
Bass Drummers, Charles S. Miller, Louvaine {??} Fox
Lewis Greenwood, Howard Neal, and Edgar Upson
snare Drummers.
09/07/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O Todd {officiated}
This afternoon Mary and I went up to John
Todd's and to Berkley L Frisbie's in Woodtick.
09/08/1930
Finished mowing Langdon Greetter's lot and raked
up the hay and weeds, 45 large heaps.
Picked a basket and one half of beans in the garden
at the farm.
09/09/1930
Worked at the farm. This afternoon clarance and I got up
three loads of hay and put it on the stack.
Mattatuck Drum Band had a rehearsal this evening.
09/10/1930
Picked grapes and worked about home this forenoon.
This afternoon worked at the farm. Saw many airplanes
go over yesterday and today, there has hardly been a
time that they could {not} be heard. Last year we only
saw one now and then.
09/11/1930
Worked on a seed roller for the Calvary Cemetery.
09/12/1930
Worked on the seed roller most of the day.
The City has a gasoline shovel at work
opposite my place taking off the high bank
preparetory to grading.
09/13/1930
Finished the seed roller.
09/14/1930
Attended service at the mill Plain Union Church
Rev J.O. Todd {officiated}. This afternoon Mary and I called at Bessie
Pierpont's and John Todd's. {Squeezed in at bottom of page.}
09/15/1930
This forenonn did several jobs around home, then went out
to the farm and picked up twelve bushels of cider apples,
ten bushels Mr. Garrigus gave me.
09/16/1930
Picked up 4 bushels of apples at the farm this A.M. Went
downtown this P.M. and did some business, then got
ready to go to Paint {Point} Judith R.I. tomorrow. Irv {crossed out} Roy
came this evening and repaired and partly
connected up the electric stove. Rained hard
this evening with much thunder and lightening. {lightning}
all of the electric lights went out for some time.
09/17/1930
Mary and I with Margaret Marion and Nita Northrop
started at 10.15 for Rhode Island, went via Meriden, Middle-
town, Colchester, Norwich, Old Mystic Westerly, Chartistown {??}
to Mr. John Potter Sherman's, at Salt Pond, within two miles
of Point Judith. We stoped {stopped} at Old Mystic and saw Mr.
William H Jackson a full blood Pequot Indian, who could
not inform us where the old Pequot Fort of 1635 stood.
Marion took pictures of Mr. Jackson and family. We
reached Mr. Sherman's at 4 P.M. after having traveled 105 miles.
09/18/1930
Marion and I went to the mud flats where we got a
pail full of large mussels. After which Mary, Margaret
Marion and Nita, with myself took the boat and
rowed to the North Cove where we got some oysters.
We had a fine dinner. In the afternoon we went
to Wakefild {Wakefield}, Narragansett Pier and returned by way
of Piecedale.
09/19/1930
Marion and I went to the flats and dug some
large long clams this morning. In the after-
noon I hired Mr. robinson to take Mary, Marion
and myself for a sail in his Motor boat. We went
up Point Judith Pond {??} to the South End at Wakefield
and back about six miles. On the way back we
climed {climbed} to the top of Jumping Hill from which we
had a fine view f the surrounding country and
water. Earlier in the day we rowed in Mr. Sherman's boat
to the south end of Salt Pond and walked over the bar to the
ocean. Marion and I walked out on the great breakwater over
6000 feet to the Light Tower.
09/20/1930
While we were at breakfast at 9 Ray and Ruth drove in having
left Waterbury at 6.20. We, Marion and I went with him, to the
West Cove and got a lot of small round clams, after which
we went down by the Race and caught small crabs for
bait, and went fishing in the deep Sout Cove for black
fish but we did not catch any. We returned home and
had a good supper of Clam Chowder.
09/21/1930
Ray and Marion went out in the pond and got about
ten quarts of littleneck clams before.
Mary Margaret and Iwent to service at the Perryville
Baptist Church. The attendance was rather small, 37.
I met Mr. Christopher Browning and had an interesting
visit. We came home by way of Tuckertown, and after
dinner, I went out with Roay and Marion, and we all
got round clams so Ray had a bushel. We returned and
had supper and Ray and Ruth left for home in their
new Ford Runabout at Five o'clock.
09/22/1930
Mary's birthday 72 years old. This morning Marion and
I went to the South flats for mussels, but the tide was
high, we only got a few oysters. We came home and
took the Packard, and all went to Wakefield where we
did some trading. Then we went down the old road
to Point Judith Light House, where we looked about
at the Life Saving Station, etc. The sea was very
smooth. We had dinner and then came back to
Narragansett Pier. Then on through Piecedale to
Kingston, and drove about the State Collage
Grounds. Then on through West Kingston to the
Great Swamp. Where the Narragansett Fort stood
and where the great battle of Dec 19, 1675 was fought
which resulted in the total defeat of the Indians.
Five granite Monuments, and two tablets now mark
the place. We returned through West Kingston, there took
a crossroad through Tuckertown, and home.
I should have noted that in the forenoon while on
the road to Wakefield we visited the birthplace of
Comodore {Commodore} Hazard Perry. There is a very interesting museum
there now. This evening we had supper of rost {roast} oysters.
09/23/1930
This morning Marion and I started to visit an ancient Indian
Burial Ground, North of Charliston. But before reaching it
we came to an Air Port. Where we made a five minute flight
for 1.50 each. The first time we ever went up. The view we
had was grand. Could see forests, cleared-land, roads,
railroads, ocean, Lakes, Fields, Rivers, Buildings, and all
at the same time, so interested did I become at the sights
that for a time I forgot that I was sailing through the air.
After we landed we came home and had breakfast, and
then all returned to the Glying field, and Margaret and
Marion went up. We then went to the Old Indian
Burying Ground, Then to an Old Indian Fort South
West of Charlestown which we found in a good state
of preservation considering that it is over three
hundred years old. We then visited Mr. Christopher
Browning at his home near Green Hill, after which we came
home and Marion and I went to the flats where we gathered
a pail of mussels. We then went to wakefield where I bought
a clam dipper for 1.90 to replace Mr. Haywood's which was
I used {not a typo} and was stolen. After we returned Margaret and
Marion went bathing in Salt Pond, and I gathered a
pail of oysters. This evening we had supper of mussels,
clams, and oysters. We retired at nine.
09/24/1930
This morning Marion and I repaired Mr. Sherman's
boat. We then went across the pond and gathered
a lot of oysters. Marion went back to the house
and brought back Margaret, Nita and Mary,
and all gathered oysters till after noon, when
we returned to the West shore, but found that
we had so many oysters that we had to make
a second trip back to the boat. On the second
trip I met Mr. Joseph E. Champlin, who lives in
a house South East of Mr. Sherman's and had an
interesting talk, after which I went to dinner.
Then Marion and I took the boat and went
towards the Race, and got half a basket of little
neck clams. We then put up the boat and
walked to the South flats and got a pail of
large mussels. Then home, and I drove to the
store and Margaret got groceries, came home and had supper.
{bottom half of this line off page, but it's still legible}
09/25/1930
This morning we got ready to return to Waterbury
and left Mr. Sherman's at 10.15, stoped {stopped} at Browning's
girage {garage} in Perry ville and got gas and oil etc. Then on
through Charleston, Westerly, Norwitch {Norwich}, Yantic {??}, Fitchville.
{A}bout five miles beyond we ate dinner by the side of the
road, then on through Colchester, where we took the Hartford
road, but left it three miles out and went through
North Westchester to Westchester, then turned West to
Cornstock's Bridge wehre we rested and had ice cream,
then on West and came on the Middletown state
road two miles West of East Hampton. Then on through
Middletown and Meriden and reached home at
four.
09/26/1930
This morning I made a pole hook for Ed Scott, and
mowed the front yard. Went to the farm and cut
corn and picked up apples, etc, took Mr. Scott's hook
to him and brought back the pole.
09/27/1930
Seventy two years ago today I first saw the light
of day on Cherry St. Waterbury.
This forenoon I finished up Mr. Scott's pole for
his horse cart. This afternoon I went to East
Farms and got Clarance Pierpont and we
repaired the fence on the Frast {?? Frost?}Road where
it was smashed by an auto some time ago.
This evening Margaret brought a birthday cake
with 7 small candles in a row representing seventy
and 2 more at one side, making seventy two.
09/28/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church,
Rev J.O. Todd {officiated}. Had dinner at Margaret's.
Went to the farm this afternoon. Then to Mort
Pierpont's Dary {Dairy} Barn, where {I} saw his fine cows,
and had ice cream.
09/29/1930
This forenoon I repaired the sidewalk on the Frost {??} road and
did some business for the Mill Plain Union church. This
afternoon I went to the farm and repaired the fence on the
hill that runs East and West. A Mr. Scott has rented the
Hattie Pierpont place. Mr. William Garrigus is building
a girage {garage}. Mr. Charles Wilkinsbach is doing the work.
09/30/1930
This forenoon I went to the Mill Plain Church to see
about cleaning the boilers. This afternoon, I finished
repairing the fence on the hill, and picked up apples.
The Mattatuck Drum Band held a meeting this
evening, at which I with drew from practiceing {practicing} on
account of my age.
10/01/1930
This forenoon I went to the farm and picked up apples
till four, when I came home and went to the spoon
shop {??} and got Michael cunningham and took him to
the church to see the boilers. Attended a meeting of the official
board.
10/02/1930
Cleaned and raked the sidewalk on the Frost road this
morning, then finished picking up the apples at the farm
and cut 8 rows of corn. Had a frost last night.
10/03/1930
This morning I went to the Church and pumped 16 qts
of soda ash into one steam heating boiler.
This afternoon I went to the farm and cut corn.
10/04/1930
Finished getting apples at home, then went to the
farm and finished cutting corn, and dug some
potatoes.
This afternoon Mary and I went to the Wolcott
Fair and took all of the Northrop's except Cliff.
The Mattatuck Drum Band played there but I
did not drum.
10/05/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church
Sunday School Rally Day 415 present. Program by Chinese
Children of Hartford, Address by J. Quinter {??} Miller of Hartford
Rev J.O. Todd officiated.
10/06/1930
Worked all day sorting apples and getting cider
casks ready. Burt Gessert was arested {arrested} yesterday.
10/07/1930
Hooped and cleaned barrels, and took a load of
apples to MacCormic's cider mill in Wolcott.
10/08/1930
Took a load of apples to the cider mill, and a load of casks,
and brought back 51 gals of cyder, left a 7 gal keg at Roy's.
Worked on the iron fence of St. Joseph's fence, and went to the
farm, broke my engine when I tryed {tried} to start. Wm. Garrigus
towed me home.
Attended a meeting of the men's club at the church this evening.
10/09/1930
Did many odd jobs this morning and worked on the
iron Cemetery fence. Beckwith repaired the bendix
on my Ford car, charged 3.00. I went to the farm and dug
a basket of potatoes, and took them and a basket of carrots down
to Margaret's. I ground an ax for Beeby.
10/10/1930
I finished the iron fence today. Howard Neal called
this morning and talked about Drum Band matters.
Went to the East End Hardware store and bought
one quart of green paint for 1.10 to paint the fence
I repaired. Henry beckwith came and got my
large car and repaired the ignition <1.50> This afternoon
I made a steel lope {??} for the tractor that belongs
to the Calvary Cemetery.
10/11/1930
Worked on Cemetery tractor this forenoon. Then went to
the farm and dug potatoes, late this afternoon whitewashed
the North side of the blacksmith shop.
The Harub Memorial was dedicated this afternoon.
10/12/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev J.O. Todd {officiated}
This afternoon Margaret, Cliff, Gene and Nita with Mary and
myself, went to the North East part of Wolcott and visited
Winfield Norton, and we went to the place Elijah Royce
lived in Revolutionary times, and also to the place where
Capt Amos Beecher lived.
10/13/1930
Carried in a lot of wood, and sharpened a lot of picks for
St. Joseph's Cemetery. This afternoon dug potatoes at the farm.
10/14/1930
Packed a box of apples and got it ready to send to
John P Sherman at Wakefield R.I. Then went to town.
This afternoon took Ed scott's truck wheel home; then
dug potatoes.
10/15/1930
Worked at blacksmith work most of the day, as it rained
towards night went to the farm and dug potatoes.
10/16/1930
Dug 5bu of potatoes today. Went downtown and bought
a pair of shoes, late this afternoon.
Mary and I went up to Roy's and had supper there.
10/17/1930
I dug eight bushels of potatoes today, brought them
home and put them in the bin.
It is thundering now 9.45, we need the rain.
10/18/1930
Dug 6 bu of potatoes today.
10/19/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J.O. officiated. Started the fire in the furnace
today.
10/20/1930
Dug five bushels of potatoes, took 4 bu to Charles
Wilkinsbach and 5 bu to Wm Garrigus.
10/21/1930
Finished digging potatoes this noon, pelled {peeled} carrots etc.
this afternoon. Mattatuck Drum Band met for practise {practice}
this evening, I did not attend. Heavy frost last night.
10/22/1930
Painted the gate into the pasture this forenoon,
husked pop corn this afternoon. Heavy frost last night.
10/23/1930
Went to town this A.M. did odd jobs about home and went
to the farm.
10/24/1930
Repaired my Ford truck and did odd jobs all day.
Sharpened 5 stone drills for Charles Tyrell of Wolcott this morning.
rained mos tof the day.
10/25/1930
Worked about home most of the day. Rained more or
less all day, before noon a few flakes of snow fell the
first of the season.
10/26/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church, Rev.
J.O. Todd {officiated}. This afternoon Mary and I visited Char
Charles Tuttle {no typo} and George Browne in Wolcott.
Wrote letter to May Belle Frisbie, {of} Bristol Wis. this
evening.
10/27/1930
Harrowed in Mr. Gretter's back lot, and husked corn.
10/28/1930
This morning worked on Mr. Gretter's lot and jusked
corn the rest of the day.
10/29/1930
Rained hard nearly all day. I went out to the farm this
morning and got out five loads of manure from the
stable and put it at the apple trees in the barn lot.
Came home and after dinner made a double hook of
wood to hold the connetting {connecting} wires of Mary's electric
stove. Then to four bushels of potatoes to Rev. J.O. Todd.
This evening Ray and Ruth Called and Ray finished
connecting the electric stove.
10/30/1930
Plowed around the apple trees in the barn lot today.
Weather has been nice.
10/31/1930
Rained nearly all day. I made a guage {gauge} for measuring
Auto wheels. Went up to William McCormick's and
took a lot of Overshoot Waterwheel Catalogues etc.
11/01/1930
Cut up a lot of stove wood this forenoon.
Went to East Farms and harrowed Mr. Greeter's lot
and with Clarance Pierpont, put up the mowing machine,
and husked corn.
11/02/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, Rev J.O. Todd {officiated}
this afternoon went to B. L. Frisbie's and saw Carl D. Jackson.
11/03/1930
Husked corn on the hill all day. Weather nice and
warm. Ice froze 1/2" thick last night.
11/04/1930
This morning I went out to Edward Scott's. Then came
back to the farm and husked corn till four when it
began to rain.
This morning Mary and I went to 1775 East
Main and voted for Governor etc.
11/05/1930
Rained all day. Wilber F Crass {??} of New Haven was
elected Governor yesterday, he is a democrat but nearly
all of the other State officers elected were republicans.
I cut wood, and repaired the steering gear on
my big car. Put binding hooks on Edgar Upson's
new Ford delivery car.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Official
Board of the Mill Plain Union Church..
11/06/1930
Worked repairing the steering gear of my Packard car.
This afternoon went to the farm and pulled turnips
but the wind blew so hard and cold that I gave it up
and took the ox and harrowed Mr. Greeter's swamp.
11/07/1930
Very cold; froze all day. Went to town this forenoon
and did some business. Sawed wood a spell.
This afternoon put alcohol in the radiators of my cars
and went to the afarm and husked corn and drew
down a load of stalks from the hill.
11/08/1930
Took my Ford car to Henry Beckwith to have him repair
the electric switch. Went to the farm with my big car, and
with Clarance Pierpont and Sonny Wilkinsbach I went to
the corn lot on top of the hill in the ox cart and finished
husking corn, and brought down all the corn and stalks
and put them in the barn. Then pulled the mangles and
turnips which took till night.
11/09/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Joseph O. Todd officiated. There were 419 present at the
church service and over 300 at Sunday School.
After service we went to raymond's to dinner and
then he with Ruth, Mary and I went up to West
Simsbury to Brother Frank's. We found Frank and
Gussy quite well considering their age, he is 75 years.
11/10/1930
Went to Mill Plain Union Church and put soda ash
in the boilers this forenoon.
This afternoon was at the East Farms Cemetery, and
set up Amos Atwater's and Thomas Culver's grave <2 1/2> stones.
11/11/1930
Armistice Day. Banks and Schools closed. The Mattatuck
Drum band turned out for exercises at the Honor Roll
this forenoon, and again for the big parade this evening.
I worked about home this forenoon. This afternoon I set up
grave stones in East Farms Cemetery, 3hr, Arthur Baxter helped 2hr.
11/12/1930
Arthur Baxter and I worked in East Farms Cemetery
setting up headstones. We reset ten stones in 7 hours.
11/13/1930
This morning, Margaret, Nita, Mary and I went in my
Packard to Kent, to Frank's. WE went by way of Middlebury,
Woodbury, Southbury, Roxbury, Bridgewater and New Milford.
At New Milford we went down the Haustonic {??} River to "Lover's
Leap" a romantic spot at Still River. In old times, bfore the
high dams were built below, the people caught great num-
bers of shad at this place as they could not get above the
falls. The distance was 54 miles to Frank's place at Kent School
Farm. Good State Road all the way.
11/14/1930
Frank has the care of about 85 head of cattle, is producing
over 600 quarts of milk per day all of which is used in the
school. Margaret, Frank, Nita and I went up to Mr. William
Tobiu's {??} farm on Skiff Mountain, a very interesting place.
When we came down we followed a road that brought us
through Macedonia State Park. While we were gone the
men cut up two big loads of corn and put it in the
silo. This afternoon, Margaret, Frank Mary and I went to
South Kent and picked up about 1 bu of walnuts.
11/15/1930
This morning I called on Mr. Pratt who lives up
the Macedonia Road and he told that they stoped {stopped}
running the Iron Furnace on Macedonia Brook
about 75 years ago. The last man who ran it was a
Mr. Edwards who lived in a large house and had
a store built on to it which did a large business.
He brought some of the iron ore from Armenia {??} N.Y.
but the most of it came from South Kent. A man that
lived near used to start at three in the morning, go
to the mine in South Kent, load up, and get back at night
with one load; he barely made a living but followed it
for years. There was also a hammer there that drew some
of the iron into bars. The product of the furnac{e} was drawn
to Poughkeepsie. The reason why Mr. Edwards went out of
the iron business was that he woned a small mine in
Armenia where he struck a pocket of rich ore, which he
caused to be piled {on} top of the ground, about 75 tons, and some
New York men saw the pile, supposed the mine a rich
one {and} bought it for $17,000.00. This made Mr. Edward well
enough off so he stoped {stopped} business. There was a grist mill on the
brook near the Iron works at the same time, the owner of which
beside making ground feed made oak baskets on a large
scale. After leaving Mr. Pratt's I helped Frank clean out the
ensiledge {??} cutting traps from the barn yard, and then had
dinner and started for home. Mary and I, we came by way
of Swift's Bridge over the new road to Warren, then Woodville,
Bantam, Morris, Bethlehem, Watertown and Home, 46 miles,
rained all the way.
11/16/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, Rev. J.O. Todd {officiated}.
289 people present. Rained all day.
11/17/1930
Wet all day. Cleaned leaves off from fron yard, went out to
farm, did chores, took nine quarts of walnuts down to Margaret's
house, left them with Betty and Jean.
11/18/1930
Reset grave stones in East Farms Cemetery. 7 hours.
Arthur Baxter helped, 6 1/2 hrs.
11/19/1930
Was at East Farms Cemetery setting grave stones, 8 hr.
Arthur Baxter helped 8 hr.
11/20/1930
Set grave stones in East Farms Cemetery that had fallen
down or leaned badly. The weather today has been fine.
Arthur Baxter helped, 8 hr.
11/21/1930
Set grave stones. Arthur Baxter helped 8 hr.
11/22/1930
Set grave stones this forenoon, Art Baxter helped, 4 hr.
This afternoon worked about home.
11/23/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This was men's day and there were present 350 people.
11/24/1930
Set up grave stones in East Farms Cemetery.
11/25/1930
Rained. Arthur Baxter and I repaired broken Grave stones
in the Wheel House.
My son Frank and his wife Elsie had a daughter born
last Friday Nov. 21 at the New Milford hospital, they have
named it Jessie Garrigus Miller.
11/26/1930
Repaired the grave stone of Joseph Holt who died in
1824, the stone was broken in 4 pieces. {I}t has been
rather cool today.
11/27/1930
Mary and I went up to the Woodtick Chapel to the Somers
family reunion, there was 37 members that sat at the table.
11/28/1930
Very cold, froze all day. {S}et Elisha Munsun's grave stone and
his foot stone.
11/29/1930
This forenoon made nexts for the chicken yard.
This afternoon Baxter and I worked on a fence at the farm between
us and W. Garrigus. Paid Baxter 1.00.
11/30/1930
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. J.O. Todd officiated.
November has been Loyalty month and today
was Ladies Sunday. The women marched in
the Church in a body. The attendance was 327.
12/01/1930
Worked in East Farms Cemeterry {Cemetery} resetting grave stones.
Arthur Baxter helped.
12/02/1930
Very cold. I and Arthur Baxter repaired grave stones in wheel house.
12/03/1930
Worked about home all day. This evening Mary and I attended
a meeting of the Official Board of the Mill Plain Union Church.
12/04/1930
Arthur Baxter and I set fence posts in the old stone wall between
our land and Wm Garrigus. This morning I took my small cross
cut saw to the Mill Plain Union Church for the unemployed men who
are grading there to use. Paid A. Baxter 1.60.
12/05/1930
Set iron posts in the stone wall between Wm Garrigus and our land.
A. Baxter helped, paid him 1.60.
12/06/1930
This forenoon Arthur Baxter and I set grave stones in East
Farms Cemetery. This afternoon I worked about home.
12/07/1930
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
Joseph Todd officiated.
This afternoon Mary and I called on John R. S. Todd of
Wolcott, a Charles S. Tuttle.
12/08/1930
A. Baxter and I worked setting iron posts in the stone wall
at the farm. Paid him $2.00. Poped {popped} more than a bushel of
corn this evening for the Mill Plain Church Fair.
12/09/1930
A. Baxter and I worked on fence. Paid him 1.50.
12/10/1930
Painted posts to the fence, and gate at the farm. Art Baxter
sawed wood this afternoon. <I went to town> Paid him 1.60. Attended the
Ladies Fair ath Mill Plain Union Church this evening.
Mary sold pop corn.
12/11/1930
Arthur Baxter and I drew stones at the farm till three
when I came home and carried Mary and her pop corn
fixings up the the {to the} fair. Paid Baxter 1.40.
12/13/1930
Yesterday Mary and I went to Kent in my large
car. We went by way of Watertown, Bethlehem, Morris
West Morris, Romjord, Woodville, Warren and over the
new state road to Swift's Bridge, then to Kent. 45
miles, rained all of the way. This afternoon we
started for home at 2 P.M. came through Swift's Bridge,
Warrin {Warren}, Woodville, Bantam, Morris, Bethlehem, Watertown,
and home. 45 miles, 1hr 50 min.
12/14/1930
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, 216 present.
Weather cold and windy.
12/15/1930
Very cold day this morning. I filed three saws, one cross cut, and
two buck saws, then Art Baxter and I got down my strightening {straightening}
plate and fixed it ready for use, it weighs 4500 lbs. This afternoon
we went to the farm and drew six loads of manure up on the
hill and put it around the young apple trees. Paid him 2.00
12/16/1930
Very cold day, 4 below zero this morning. Worked in wheel house all
day repairing a large chair for Bessie Pierpont and did other odd jobs.
12/17/1930
Cold all day. A. Baxter and I worked about home, repairing tools for
the Cemetery and getting the big tiries off from Ed Scott's wheels.
Paid him 1.60.
12/18/1930
A. Baxter and I worked about the blacksmith shop all day, paid him 1.20.
12/19/1930
A. Baxter and I set two heavy Cart tires for Ed Scott of Cheshire.
Paid 1.60
12/20/1930
Nice day. A. Baxter and I worked about home and painted fence
posts at the farm this forenoon. Mr. Chester Kimball of Port Deposit {??}
Md. came this afternoon.
12/21/1930
This morning I took Mr. Kimball to the depot and he
took the 8.20 train for his home in Maryland.
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev J.O. Todd officiated, there were 257 present.
This afternoon they had Vesper service at which there was 167
present.
12/22/1930
This forenoon I went to the Parsonage at the Mill Plain
Church which is being repaired and painted, and is to be
occupied {on} the first of the year by Sam Squires. I ordered
glass putty, Paint and Paper etc. from Ziglatski Marks Co.
Then went to Benedict Street and got the License for my
Ford car, paid $15.00. This afternoon A. Baxter and I went out to
the farm and painted the posts for the fence we are building
and after they were finished we drew stones on the Fort Dunlap.
Paid Baxter 1.60. Mary and I went to the Christmas entertainment
at the Church this evening.
12/23/1930
This morning it was snowing hard when I got up, but
stoped {stopped} at noon, about 8 inches fell. I went out to the farm and
dug the tools, chains, drog {??} etc out of the snow and put them
away in the barn. Came home and did odd jobs, etc.
12/24/1930
Repaired and trimmed Bessie Pierpont's chair, and did odd
jobs about home, about 9 inches of snow has fallen yesterday
and today. Henry Buckingham was buried this afternoon.
12/25/1930
Christmas. Many Presents. Christmas cards came by the
dozens, and presents by the c.w.t. One fine hand-made card
came from Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Vancouver Wash, and a large
basket of fruit nuts etc. from the Mattatuck Drum
Band, and many presents from my children and
grandchildren. This afternoon we went to Christmas
dinner at Margaret's on Beacher Avenue. There was
Clifford and Margaret Northrop and their daughters
Marion, Bettie, Gene and Nita. Jack and Ruth Brundage
and Children Kenneth, Pierce, Roger and Peggy, Raymond
and Ruth Miler, and Mary and I. Frank and his
family in Kent could not come, neither could
Clyde and his family in Toronto come nor Irving
and his family in Milwaukee come. Had all came
there would have been 33 present. In the evening
we had a christmass tree, which was much enjoyed
by the children, and there were presents for all.
12/26/1930
Repaired my little engine in the wheel house. Louis
Somers and three state highway engineers called
to see about widening the Meriden Road to 4 rods {??}.
After dinner went out to the farm and did the
chares {chairs}, then took Bessie Pierponts great chair home,
then went to Mill Plain Church and ordered plaster board
and paper for the Minister's house, came home and turned
out to legs for chairs for Charles S. Tuttle of Wolcott.
12/27/1930
Stormed all day, snow. I worked about home all day, except the
time of going to the farm to do the chores.
12/28/1930
Mary and I atended service at the Mill Plain Union Church,
stayed home all day.
12/29/1930
Worked in the wheel house all day making a pulley.
A. Baxter sawed wood this P.M. Paid 1.00.
12/30/1930
Commenced making over my concrete mixer. This afternoon
went to the farm and Baxter and I put the wire on the division
fence.
12/31/1930
Last day of this year. The weather has been fine for
this season. I made two shaft bearings for my concrete
mixer this forenoon. This afternoon I took some paint
up to the Mill Plain Church to be used in the parsonage
but they did not need it. There are about 20 men working
about the grounds who are knon at {as?} unimployed,
they are paid 2.97 per 8 hours from a fund that is raised
by taxing the employed in the City one percent of their
pay. This afternoon Baxter and I worked on my fence at
the farm. Paid him 1.60.
{Bottom half of this page is blank}
01\01\1931
Nice cool day. A. Baxter and I worked abut home this forenoon,
and went to the farm and worked on the fence, but the snow
was deep and cold, and our fingers got num {numb} and we had
to give up at 3.30 and came home. Paid 1.45.
01\02\1931
Cold all day, 4 above {zero} this morning. Arthur Baxter and
I worked at blacksmith work till noon, split wood this
afternoon went to the farm and drilled a hole in a rock
for blasting. 1.60
01\03\1930
Mr. Albert called this morning and we went to
the farm in an auto owned by one of the unemployed
and I lent him a hand hammer, three hand drills
and six sets of half rounds and wedges. I worked on the
concrete mixer the rest of the day. Ray and Ruth
called this evening.
01\04\1931
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev. J.O. Todd [officiated}
After dinner Mary and I drove up and visited Chas Tuttle
at Woodtick.
01\05\1931
This morning Arthur Baxter and I went to Bessi Pierpont's
lot on the Todd Road and cut down a large chestnut tree
that was dead and cut most of it up, brought home a
load, began to rain before we started home. Paid Baxter 1.60.
01\06\1931
Rained this forenoon. Worked about home. This afternoon,
Art Baxter came and we ground axes and split wood.
01\07\1931
Art Baxter and I cut down and split up a large hickory
tree and cut down a large dead chestnut in Bessie
Pierpont's lot on the Todd road.
This evening Mary and I attended a meeting of the
Official Board at Mr. Todd's new home on Radcliff ave. <Paid Baxter 2.00>
01\08\1931
Sharpened tools, and sorted apple, and did odd jobs about
home. Found that someone stole the extra tire off my
Ford car last night, while I was attending the Board meeting.
Paid Baxter 1.20.
01\09\1931
Went to the Mill Plain Union Church to see about repairs that
are to be made, and ordered Paint, Varnish Glass etc.
Came home and ground six axes and bush hooks for
Calvary Cemetery. Bought a tire rim up at Mill Plain
and Art Baxter and I fitted it to my truck, and fitted
up an old tire and tube so as to have an extra to take
the place of the one that was stolen. I also fixed up a pump.
We then went out to the Todd road and sawed several
lengths off the big tree that we had cut down and
brought home load. Paid Baxter 1.60.
01\10\1931 {labeled in text 01\09\1931}
This forenoon Baxter and I went to the lot on the Todd road
and sawed off 3 cuts of logs and brought home one load. Paid 1.00.
This afternoon I repaired and sharpened my big crosscut saw.
01\11\1931
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. 167 present
Rev J.O. Todd {officiated} Nice warm day. This afternoon Mary and
I went up to Wolcott and visited George Browne.
01\12\1931
Snowed nearly all day about four inches. Went up to
the Church and measured a stained broken glass for
the door. Then went downtown on the trolley and
ordered disinfectent {disinfectant} and pipe fitting, valves and
glass for Church, and did other business. Went out
to the farm, and then dug paths etc.
01\13\1931
A. Baxter and I worked all day cross cut sawing and splitting
up alarge Chestnut tree at Bessi Pierpont's lot on the Todd
Road. Paid 1.60. Ray and Ruth called this evening.
01\14\1931
A. Baxter and I chopped down a large dead Chestnut tree
4'6" in diameter, and cut some of it up at Bessie Pierpont's
lot. Paid Baxter 1.60. Had Henry Beckwith tighten the clutch on
my Ford truck.
01\15\1931
Cold day, just zero this morning, and below freezing all
day. I worked in the Wheel House all day, doing odd jobs,
and filed two cross-cut saws for St. Jospeph Cemetery.
Edward Bradley, Super{in}tendant of streets who diead at St. mary's
Hospital was buried in Clavary Cemetery this noon.
01\16\1931
Very cold, zero this morning, a little warmer this after-
noon. Went to town and to the Barber's, out to the farm
and worked about home the rest of the time.
01\17\1931
A. Baxter and I sawed up the big chestnut tree that we cut
down last Wednesday, it was 4'6" in diameter. Paid Baxter 1.60.
01\18\1931
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This P.M Mary and I called on Birt Frisbie of Woodtick.
01\19\1931
Snow, Rain and Ice. Worked in the Wheel House all day.
01\20\1931
We went to the lot on the Todd {road} and split up some of the
big tree. Had to blast the logs as they were so large and
used up all of our powder, so we broughthome a load, and
I went downtown and bought 5 lbs of powder and 25 ft fuse.
Arthur Baxter helped. Paid him 1.60. This morning all of the
trees were coated with ice, but much heavier out there than
here.
01\21\1931
Very cold day, no thaw. Worked in wheel house sorting
bolts this forenoon. Attended a meeting of the stock-
holders of the Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. this afternoon.
Went up on the trolley car, and rode back to the
center with Judge Harry Beardsley.
01\22\1931
Very cold, no thaw all day. Worked in the wheel house.
Mary and I had supper at Raymond's.
01\23\1931
Very cold, below freezing all day. Worked in
the wheel houses and sharpened tools.
01\24\1931
Very cold, no thaw any part of the day, zero or lower every morning,
did a job for Ed Scott, and worked in the wheel house.
01\25\1931
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Mr. William Sutton called this afternoon and copied
some fife music. Then we went up to Geare {??} Brown's in Wolcott.
Very cold, and roads very icey.
01\26\1931
This day has been warmer, thawed quite a little.
I went to town and got some brake shoes for my Ford and
put them on. Worked most of the day in the wheel house.
01\27\1931
Warm day, ice thawed much. Mary and I took supper at
Mr. Hapennies. Worked all day in the wheel house repairing
benches etc.
01\28\1931
Worked in the Wheel house this morning. Went to the Mill Plain
Church and with Mr. Albert took a piece of scenery up to Wolcott
town hall. Came home and had dinner, then went to the
East End Hardware store and bought 38 ft. of window cord
and took it up to the Church. Then went to the lot on the Todd
road and got a load of wood, came to East Farms and took
care of the old ox, then home and unloaded the wood and
then got another load. Today I renewed my subscription
for Successful Farming for one year, 25 cts.
On Jan 22 I renewed Subscription for Geographic Magazine for
one year 3.00.
Jan 22 Renewed Subscription for Literary Digest for one
year 4.00.
We received a telephone message from Mr. Charles Tyrrell
that the School House on Wolcott Hill has burned to the ground
this evening.
01\29\1931
Snowed all this forenoon. Chopped wood and did odd jobs.
This evening Mary and I and Mr. and Mrs Service and daughter
Margery went to South Waterbury to Aunt Emogene Somers
along with many others to observe her ninetieth birthday.
I was at her wedding in 1862. They were married at Father's
house on Cherry street, and uncle Dwight left a few days
after for the war, he went in Co. C, 14th Regt. They hastened to
Washington where they received their guns, and marched directly
to the Antetam battle where nearly half of the company were killed.
He was in many battles during the three years he was out.
01\30\1931
cold day. I drew in four loads of wood from the Todd road
this makes 8 loads from that big chestnut tree. It began snowing
at about 3.30.
01\31\1931
Snow lay on the ground 5 inches deep this morning, made
paths, and worked in the wheel house. Chopped wood the
rest of the time.
02\01\1931
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
A very cold day, zero this morning and 20ø abouve the
highest during the day.
02\02\1931
Worked on big car all forenoon. This afternoon brought one load of
wood. Ray and Ruth had Packard to go to Mr. Robert's funeral in Cheshire.
02\03\1931
Cold this morning, 14ø below zero. I sawed wood, and
repaired Ed Bronson's buck saw frame and filed the saw
this forenoon. This afternoon Carried Mary up to the
Ladies Aid Society. Got my iron wheelbarrow from
Henry Beckwith's, he welded the broken handle. Then
went out to the farm, and Found the oldest Wilson boy
and George Monahan and another boy in my lot sliding
on a tobaggan. Came home and sawed wood till dark.
02\04\1931
Sharpened picks and tools for Calvary Cemetery all
the forenoon. Did chores at the farm and sawed wood
this afternoon. Mary and I attended the Official board
meeting of the Mill Plain Union Church.
02\05\1931
Zero this morning put new brake linings in my
Ford car. Repaired chains for large car, and cut wood.
02\06\1931
Drew wood from the lot on the Todd road all day. Went
to Woodtick and saw Charles S. Tuttle. He has cut a lot of
nice white oak wood and is cutting it up.
02\07\1931
Nice weather till night when it snowed. I drew in 2 truck
loads of wood, and cut up a lot of branch wood.
02\08\1931
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
Made all the snow pathes {paths} this morning, it has rained
slitely {slightly} all day, and is quite icy tonight.
02\09\1931
Rained and turned to snow this evening.
Took a check of 32.50 cts and deposited it at the Waterbury
savings Bank, but the clerk failed to set it down on my
Bank book.
02\10\1931
Shoveled snow pathes all forenoon. Repaired large snow plow for Calvary
Cemetery this afternoon.
02\11\1931
Took 2 bu pop corn to the church and went up to Chas Tuttle's,
cut up wood the rest of the day. Repaired Mr. Bagnel's truck.
This evening we went to the Circus at Mill Plain Church.
02\12\1931
Sawed wood the greater part of the day. This evening
Mrs {Mr.} and Mary Hapenney, Mary and I went to a
circus given by the men's club, in the gymnasium of
the Mill Plain Church, there were about 700 people
present.
02\13\1931
Worked at the farm drawing manure to the lot
on the hill. It thawed considerable {considerably} today.
02\14\1931
Repaired snow plow for Calvary Cemetery and worked at
the farm.
02\15\1931
Attended service at The Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd {officiated}
02\16\1931
Put celoid {?? celluloid} windo in my big car. Dunn Bros. took a bag
of feed out to the farm.
02\17\1931
This morning Mrs. Dawe of Wildemere Ave., Mrs. Crandall
of the Frost Road, and Mary and I went to Hartford in
my Packard, to attend a hearing held in the Senate chamber
on bills to repeal the Probition {Prohibition} act or to change it.
The house was crowded, The great majority of the people
favoring probition as it now is.
02\18\1931
Rained and thawed all day. I cleaned the chicken house
this forenoon and put the litter on the front yard.
Did the chores at the farm and sawed wood, and repaired
aunt Gene's chair.
02\19\1931
Snowed and rained all day. I took my big car to Henry
Beckwith's and had the valves ground, and a general repairing.
This afternoon I dug the paths out, etc.
02\20\1931
Snowed. Dug the paths out and took some potatoes
down to Margaret's and dug her paths out, went out
to the farm and did the chores. This afternoon went
to Charles S. Tuttle's in Woodtick, got stuck in a snow
drift, and walked to the house. Came home and worked
on my car.
02\21\1931
Worked on my big car most of the day.
02\22\1931
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
Ths afternoon Margaret, Nita, Mary and I
went to George Browne's in Wolcott.
Weather very fine.
02\23\1931
Today I drew out five loads of wood with my ox
and sled from Ed Bronson's woods down a cross road
to the Pierpont road, and from there to Arthur Baxter's
home on my small truck.
=====
Charles S. Miller
2271 East Main St.
Waterbury, Conn.
//start of new Journal 1931-33//
-----
02\24\1931 (Tuesday)
I drew four loads of wood from Bessie Pierponts lot on
the Todd Road to day.
02\25\1931 (Wednesday)
Went to Templetons store on Benedict Street this
morning and got my auto license paid, 3.00.
This afternoon drew wood.
02\26\1931 (Thursday)
Drew in four loads of wood. Gene{Jean} and little Nita
Northrop went out twice. The water started running in
the trough at East Farms to day, having been frozen
all winter.
02\27\{1931} (Friday)
Drew three loads of wood, and this finishes
the job. Colder to day.
02\28\1931 (Saturday)
Weather nice and warm. Sawed wood and repaired
fence at the farm.
03\01\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Joseph O. Todd preached.
03\02\{1931} (Monday)
Repaired Almma{?} Brown's truck and did odd jobs.
03\03\1931 (Tuesday)
Went to town this morning. To the Waterbury Savings
Bank and deposited two checks of 27.50 and drew out
cash on check of 71.50. Then went to Sears and Roebuck's
Store on Grand St. and tried to get a suit of
work clothes but they didn't have what I wanted,
but will try and get them. I came home and
sharpened some drills for the Mill Plain Church.
Had dinner, then took some wedges to Ed Scott
in Cheshire. Came back to the farm and took care of Joseph,
then came home and cut a little wood. Then took some pipe{??}
up to George Brown's in Wolcott. Then went over to Char
Tuttle's and got some iron wood to make some pullies of
and got home at dark.
03\04\{1931} (Wednesday)
Snowed all day. I sawed wood under the shed.
This evening Mary and I attended a meeting of
the Official Board at the Mill Plain Church.
Mr. Albert was discharged as janitor last
Saturday. He was arrested Sunday and tried
Monday morning. The charge was indecent
exposure with boys. He is out on probation for
six months.
03\05\{1931} (Thursday)
Snowed all night. Dug paths all the morning
and sawed wood the rest of the time.
03\06\1931 (Friday)
Weather fine and cool. This forenoon I went to Sears
and Roebuck's store on Grand Street and ordered a suit
of moleskin work clothes for 7.50. I also bought a 1/4 H.P.
motor for 8.35. Came home and sawed wood the rest
of the day. This evening we made out an order for
suds. Lewis Greenwood called and brought home
my drum, but I told him to use it till July as
the heads were bran {brand} new.
03\07\{1931} (Saturday)
Sawed wood all day. Weather fine. Ray and Ruth called
this evening.
03\08\1931 (Sunday)
Weather, snow, wind and rain with hail and ice, worst
storm of the winter.
Attended service at Mill Plain Church, Rev. J.O. Todd.
03\09\1931 (Monday)
I sawed wood all day. Have a large pile.
Weather has been warm and spring like.
03\10\1930 {1931} (Tuesday)
Stormed all day. Snow, Rain and sleet. I went to Wolcott to look
up the Public Records concerning Sheldon Freskie of 1834.
03\11\1931 (Wednesday)
Cold to day, some snow. This morning Ray called for
my rifle which he wanted to kill a skunk with up on
Capitol Avenue. I went to the Town Clerk's office and
copied records most of the day.
Ray and Ruth called this morning.
03\12\{1931} (Thursday)
I sawed wood all day with a buck saw. I have a power
saw, but it would be a lot of work to get it together as
I lent the saw and frame to Nicholas Haypenny.
The weather has been cold.
Cliff Northrop and Margaret called this evening and
we read letters from Rev. G. K. Curtiss and Emma L. Jackson,
both of Calafornia {California}. Cliff took my Drum Band uniform
to send to Irving at Wauwatosa, Wis.
03\13\{1931} (Friday)
Sawed wood all day. Have a bad cold, do not feel well.
Henry Beckwith brazed a steel jaw on my heavy blacksmith
vice.
03\14\1931 (Saturday)
Sawed wood all day. Finished to night, about seven cards.
03\15\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church to day.
Rev. John K. Benton.
03\16\1931 (Monday)
Worked at the farm all day with Arthur Barter. We trimmed
apple trees, amde an iron grape arbour, drew out five loads of manure,
trimmed up the brush and brought it home etc.
03\17\{1931} (Tuesday)
Cold and windy, went to see Dr. Barber this afternoon.
03\18\1931 (Wednesday)
Arthur Baxter and I cleaned out the chicken house this
morning. Then went out to the farm and cleaned out
Jasper's stable, and cut down the hay stack and
filled it up with fresh hay and drew off rocks from
the west side of the barn lot.
The City voted last night to build a nine room School House
on Woodland Street Fairlawn.
03\19\{1931} (Thursday)
Drew stones from along the west wall to the top
of Fort Dunlap in the barn lot at East Farms
to day. Artur Baxter helped. Went up to Charles
Tuttles in Woodtick late the afternoon. He gave me a
fine drink of sweet cider that he drew from the center
of a barrel that was frozen. It was very rich.
03\20\{1931} (Friday)
This morning I took Aunt Gene's chair home. There were about 200 of
the unemployed at work on the road, this side of Pritchard's Pond. I then
went up to Wolcott and saw George Browne. This afternoon I sharpened
4 picks for the Mill Plain Church, then took out my blower.
03\21\1931 (Saturday)
First day of spring. Warm nice weather, snow nearly all gone.
Went to The Hotchkiss Hardware Co. and bought a new sprocket
chain for my blower, and had a new pipe made at the Waterbury
Sheet Metal Works. Came home and worked the rest of the
day repairing and installing the blower.
03\22\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd officiated. This afternoon, Cliff Northrop,
his wife Margaret, and daughters Gene and Nita, with
Mary and I went up to Wolcott Center and I saw
Rev. Mr. Cabbage, after which we drove to Charles Tuttles
and then home. This evening Ray and Ruth called
and took Mary and I to their home on Capitol
Avenue. There we had a fine supper.
03\23\{1931} (Monday)
Did some blacksmith work this forenoon, then went to
the farm and got rocks and put them on Fort Dunlop.
03\24\1931 (Tuesday)
I with Arthur Baxter, worked at the drawing rocks, etc.
{03\25 and 03\26 lacking}
03\27\{1931} (Friday)
Last Wednesday forenoon, Margaret and little Nita,
Mary and I went to Storrs College to visit Ruth.
We left about eleven o'clock, stoped {stopped} at East Farms
and took care of Old Jasper, and then traveled over
Southington Mountain on the new road to Milldale
where we turned North through Plantsville, Southington,
Plainville, to Farmington, then through West Hartford,
Hartford, across the stone arch bridge to East Hartford
to Burnside, Mansfield Depot. To Mansfield Four Corners
then south four miles to Storrs where we stoped {stopped} at Ruth's
house, having traveled 55 miles in two and one half
hours in a heavy rain most of the way. I put my car
in a girage {garage} and stayed in the house the rest of the
day. Thursday morning when we awoke, there was
a blanket of snow on the ground about three inches
deep and still snowing hard. I did some odd
repair jobs, made a wooden thum {thumb} screw for the boys
gauge stick, oiled and repaired the clock, repaired
and cleaned the engine to my car. In the after
noon I went over to the new building and visited
Jack in his office, No. 155, where I stayed till six when
we came home and Jack started away to address a
meeting in some asjoining town. We had supper. and
visited and read and heard the radio, went to bed
early. This morning after nine o'clock, Margaret, Nita,
Marey, I and Ruth in Jack's Dodge car went to Gurley
Mills to see an old stone grist and saw mill on
the Fenton River. It was once owned by Governor
Cross' father and the Govenor {Governor} was born in the
house that stands near by. The present owner, Mr.
D{? ?} started up the saw mill and sawed some
black oak logs. Margaret bought an old chair
that was in the Grist Mill that formerly belonged
to the Cross family and is said to be over 150 yars {years}
old. We then went to the sheep barn and saw many
sheep and lambs. The shepheard {shepherd} Joe Pritchard took
his trained shepheard {shepherd} dog and a dozen sheep out
into a large field and showed us how the dog
could handle a drove of sheep. Some of the time, when dog
and sheep were quarter of a mile away, Pritchard could by
signs with his staff and by whistling cause the dog to
bring up the whole drove or only one if he wished and
drive it into the barn, and then go back and brig in
any number that he wished. What the dog could do was
truly wonderful. We left there and went to Ruth Brundage's
home where we had a fine dinner and after the children,
Roger, Kenneth, Pierce and Peggy had gone to school,
we got ready and started for home. We left at two
and came by way of Mansfield Four Corners, Coventry,
Bolton Notch to Manchester where we turned South
to Silver Lane. Then through Glastonbury, South
Glastenbury to Portland where we crossed over the
river to Middletown then on through Meriden to
Waterbury having traveled 65 miles in two and one
half hours. The weather has been perfect.
I would here state that when we left the Cros Mills in
Gurleyville, we visited the Indian Well which is situated
about an eigth {eighth} of a mile upon a ledge way up East of
the mill. It is formed in a solid rock about three and
one half in diameter and about the same depth.
03\28\1931 (Saturday)
This morning I sharpened five picks and repaired a crow
bar for the Mill Plain Union Church. Then went to the
farm and plowed a piece of the garden south of the barn
and planted six rows of pease {peas??}.
Ray and Ruth called this evening and brought half
a bushel of potatoes. Ray borrowed my hip rubber
boots and clam rake. He expects to go to Niantic
tomorrow and dig some clams.
03\29\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd officiated. There were 189 present including
21 in the Choir.
This afternoon Margaret, Cliff and little Nita
with Mary and I went to Charles Tuttles in Woodtick
and took the old Governor Cross Chair that
Margaret bought in Gurleyville to have Mr. Tuttle
fix it up.
03\30\1931 (Monday)
This morning I saw Nick Hapenny, Superintendent of
Calvary Cemetery about some tools that needed sharpening
and he sent down a truck load that kept me
busy all day. Miss Picket came this morning
to stay a few days.
03\31\{1931} (Tuesday)
Sharpened picks and grubs till three this afternoon. Then
went out to the farm and fed Jasper, then went to
Mrs. Arthur Harrisson's in Wolcott to see some old Church
Records but she didn't have them.
A man from Prospect brought 8 saws for me to file and
Charles Turrell brought a lot of chains to be repaired.
04\01\1931 (Wednesday)
Rained all day. I filed saws most of the day in the
wheel house.
04\02\{1931} (Thursday)
Drew five loads of manure upon the hill and three
loads onto the lower garden.
04\03\1931 (Friday)
Drew off stones from the place where I am to sow oats
and spread six loads of manure and plowed a spell.
Forrest and Carlton Chopin were burning over their
lot this forenoon. The fire got away from them and
burned to the East. The firemen came and put it
out. This evening Ruth and Ray called.
04\04\{1931} (Saturday)
I cleaned up the flower bed in the front yard
and did odd jobs. Wen {Went} up to the barber's had
my hair cut. This afternoon went out to the farm
and plowed.
04\05\1931 (Sunday)
Easter Sunday. Attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. 31 persons joined the Church. 495 in attendence {attendance}.
Miss Pickett went back to Waterville.
04\06\1931 (Monday)
A gang of the unemployed began grading the East Farms
School grounds to day. I plowed upon the hill and got
tools ready for planting oats. I repaired a new chair
for Nick Hapenny this evening.
04\07\{1931} (Tuesday)
This morning I drove to town in the rain and did some
business at the bank, paid the telephone bill and paid
the Hotchkiss Co. what I owed them. Then went to the
Spenser Grain Co. and bought 20 qts of seed oats, 5 lbs. red
clover seed and 8 qts. of red top for which I paid 6.98.
This afternoon I took Mary up to the Ladies Aid at
the Church, then went to Henry Beckwith's and
had him braze a steel tip on the point of my
Southberry Plow.
This evening the Mattatuck Drum Band held
a meeting and are to meet next week at Ralph
Pierponts. 50 years ago next Nov. 1 was elected Leader
and have held that office nearly all of the time ever since
and have furnished a place to meet and practice.
04\08\1931 (Wednesday)
Sowed my oats and grass to day and plowed for potatoes.
Ray and Ruth called this morning.
04\09\{1931} (Thursday)
Plowed turf all day. The weather has been cold and windy
and I caught a bad cold. Mary telephoned Doctor
Barber and he told her to get a prescription put up at
Kunkels Drug Store, which she did and I hope to be
better.
04\10\1931 (Friday)
I rigged up my hand cement mixer to run by
electricity this morning and did other odd jobs.
Then went out to the farm and harrowed the piece
that I plowed for potatoes, and plowed by the
sides of the young fruit trees, but I gave it up as
the coulter{??} got dull and didn't cut the thick
turf good. I then went to Wolcott and saw
Charles Tuttle's pile of wood. He thinks that he
has cut more than I have. I have about nine cords
and he went to work a second time and cut up about three
cords more so I guess he has more than I have.
The wind has blown fierce all day from the south.
Received a letter from Emma Jackson of Redlands, Calif. wanting
information of her great great grandfather and grandmother,
Ruben Frisbie and wife. They lived up towards Woodtick where Peter
Lund now 1931{??} lives.
04\11\{1931} (Saturday)
Plowed by the sides of the appletrees on the hill and started
plowing the buckwheat ground.
04\12\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Morton{?}
Owen of the Bunker Hill Congregational Church officiated.
This afternoon we went up to the Cemetery at Wolcott Center.
Mr. Ferris Furkenton{?} and wife called this evening.
04\13\{1931} (Monday)
This morning I sent a box to Miles Mac Bells Frisbie, Bristol, Wis.
containing Leaks{??}, Lillies{??} and blue myrtle{??} from the Charles Frisbie
Place in Wolcott. Went to the farm and plowed till night.
04\14\1931 (Tuesday)
This morning I took my big car and Margaret, Marion
and Nita and went to Kreigers store and left Marion,
and I bought a young appletree for 59 cts. We then went
out to get in the car and found a flat tire. We drove
to a tire repair shop on North Main St. and had it
repaired. Then we went up over Bucks Hill and Spindle
Hill to the Cemetery at Wolcott Center where Margaret
took pictures of the grave stones of Amos Seward, Dea{??}
Isaac Bronson and Thankful, his wife. We then came home.
I had a good dinner of mussels that Ray gave us that
he got off the rocks at Niantic Sunday. I then went out
to the farm and set out the delicious appletree in the
young orchard on the hill. It is at the West end of the
South row. I then plowed the rest of the day.
04\15\{1931} (Wednesday)
Finished plowing for buckwheat and harrowed the ground
over. After I got down to the barn, I saw that the lots on the
hill was all on fire. I got two pails of water and the pump
and started up. Two of Mr. Nodine's men were putting it out
with brooms. It burned over the west wood lot and some
of the oat lot and orchard lot.
04\16\1931 (Thursday)
Worked about home and chainged {changed} the oil in my Packard this
forenoon. At noon, Mary and I started and went to Capitol
Ave. and got Ruth and then went via Meriden to Charles Cass'
place at North Farms in Wallingford. There we got into his
Buic car with him and Tracy and we all went to Reed's
Gap where the Blakeslee Company of New Haven were
about to explode twenty seven tons of dynamite and
blow the side of the mountain out. The explosion toook
place at 2.30 P.M. and it took out and loosened up a piece
of trap{?} rock 220 ft. high, 170 ft. long and 75 ft. back. It made
but little noise but shook the earth. They tunneled straight
into the rock sixty feet, then at right angles south 35 ft.
and north 135 ft. and forty feet above this they put
another tunnel, same as the lower one. In these two
long paralel {parallel} tunnels which were 4 ft. high, they placed
the dynamite which they fired with a battery.
It was a grand sight to see the whole front of that mountain
come out and then fall down, sending up a cloud of smoke
and dust.
04\17\{1931} (Friday)
Wrote a letter to Mr. Austin L. Hawes, State Forest Fire Warden
at Hartford about forest, bush and grass fires.
Then went to the farm and plowed the garden, which took
till night. John Garrigus called this evening to see
about Fred's drums.
04\18\{1931} (Saturday)
Spaded in the garden and planted lettice {lettuce} and radishes. Then
went out to the farm and planted lettice {lettuce} and radish, and
hoed the peas. The worked on the fence. Came home and
Frank and Anderey{?} Kitchenka with John Garrigus called and
got one bass and one snare drum that belongs to brother Fred.
04\19\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
After service we went to Rays and had dinner after
which we went to brother Franks in West Simsbury.
When we came home, we came through Canton, Collinsville,
Nepang, Torrington and Thomaston.
04\20\1931 (Monday)
Went to the Chronimum {Chromium} Plating Works near the Poor House
this morning and left some work to be done.
Then went to Express Office and got two peach trees.
Then bought some varnish and iron. Came home, had dinner
and went out to the farm and set out the two Elbertha
peach trees, and cultivated about a lot of apple trees.
04\21\{1931} (Tuesday)
Worked at blacksmith work till the middle of the afternoon
then went to the farm and planted two rows of onions.
Got a letter ready to send to Mac Bells Frisbie, Bristol,
Wis. Received my tax bill 180.08.
04\22\{1931} (Wednesday)
Did blacksmith work. Then went to the farm and drew
stones all day. There was a bad fire south of Bever {Beaver} Pond Brook
about the ice house.
04\23\{1931} (Thursday)
Rained hard all the forenoon. I went to town and did
some business, and to the Town Clerk's ofice where I copied
records for a time. I then went to the Chromium Plating
Corporation and got my bumper parts and came home
on the trolley.
04\24\1931 (Friday)
Spaded in the garden, drew stones at the farm. This afternoon,
repaired the fence in front of Bessie Pierpont's land
on the Todd Road. Then went to Charles Tuttle's but he
was not at home. Came back to Mr. Kunkles cottage
and took the measure for a brace for his chimney.
Came home and made the brace.
Mr. Peters put a lot of furniture in the upstairs of
my barn to day.
04\25\{1931} (Saturday)
Drew off stones at the farm all day.
04\26\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
Rained all day. Daylight Saving Time started this morning.
04\27\{1931} (Monday)
Worked all day cleaning my big car and taking it apart.
04\28\{1931} (Tuesday)
Worked all day on my bug car.
04\29\{1931} (Wednesday)
Cold, some rain, some snow. Worked on my car part of the day.
Went up to Charles Tuttles this afternoon.
had Ruth type a letter and got it ready to send to Miss Emma
Jackson, Redlands, Cal.
04\30\{1931} (Thursday)
This forenoon I made a steel bumper part for Mr. Bunell.
Varnished my car this afternoon.
05\01\1931 (Friday)
Worked at the farm drawing off stone, and about home
this afternoon repairing my cars.
05\02\{1931} (Saturday)
I cultivated about the appletrees on the hill till the
rain drove me away at about three o'clock.
05\03\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This afternoon Mary and I went in my Ford truck
to Cheshire to Fritz Hansens to see Fritsa, Clyde's wife
who came from Toronto.
05\04\{1931} (Monday)
Went to town this morning. This afternoon worked
at the apple trees on the hill.
05\05\{1931} (Tuesday)
Worked at the apple trees on the hill all day.
05\06\1931 (Wednesday)
I harrowed and seeded and finished up Mr. Gruters back
lot to day. Fritsa came this afternoon. Clif, Margaret,
Bettie and Nita Northrop called this evening. Ray and
Ruth came later. Olga Hanson came and all bade
Fritsa good bye, and the two left for Cheshire. Fritsa
expects to sart for home in Mimico, Canada next Saturday.
Lewis Greenwood sent 12.00 to pay for a drum that
I sold him. I made the drum in 1881. Ray brought the
money.
05\07\{1931} (Thursday)
Put my big car togather {together} this forenoon. This afternoon,
drew stones off the corn lot. Ray came this evening
and got some clashing powder and fuse. Ruth brought
a new table spread and shelf cover for Mother's day
presents.
05\08\{1931} (Friday)
Mowed a part of the front yard this morning. Went to the farm
and spread manure, when it began to rain and rained very hard
the rest of the day. I finished up my big car.
05\09\{1931} (Saturday)
Plowed upon the hill for corn. Cam {Came} home about three o'clock and
did odd jobs, spaded the garden.
05\10\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. There were
216 prsent, including 21 in the Choir.
This is Mothers Day. Early this morning, Jack and Ruth
called, having driven from Storrs. They had Louis Gillitte
with them. She has been visiting at their home. They had stopped
at the Mill Plain Church and left Roger, Kenneth, Pierce and
Peggy at the Sunday School. After a time we all went to Church
and joined them and we had a seat full. Rev. Mr. Todd officiated
and a fine service. After we came home, Olga, Mrs. Hanson
and Fritsa came from Cheshire and we had a fine visit.
Fritsa is to stay over night as she is to leave early in the
morning to Toronto. Frank had previously called with
his family from Kent. He brought a bushel of seed potatoes
and a bag of fertilizer. After his starting for home, it began
to rain. Ray called later. We also had a telegram from
Irving and family from Milwaukee.
05\11\{1931} (Monday)
This morning Fritsa started for Mimico at 6.40 from
the corner of Grand and Bank streets. We got up early,
had breakfast and I took my Packard and Fritsa and
I drove to the corner of Bank and Grand which we
reached at 6.35. Soon Mr. Yates came. He had driven
from Stratford in 40 minutes and with him were
several people. Fritsa got in his car and they left at
the above mentioned time.
After I got home, I went to the farm and drew out
four loads of manure and finished plowing on
the hill for corn.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle called. He borrowed
some old clothes for a Church entertainment.
05\12\{1931} (Tuesday)
I harrowed the ground for corn and potatoes on the hill.
Rained this evening.
05\13\{1931} (Wednesday)
I made furrows with the plow for potatoes till about
four o'clock when it became so wet and cold that I came
home. John and Lee Garigus were painting on William
Garrigus' house. This evening Mary and I attended a
supper and entertainment given by the men's club
at the Mill Plain Union Church. Mr. Giles of the Dutch
Reform Church of East Orringe, New Jersey gave a very
fine lecture. He is 71 years old and came in his own
car 100 miles. They also had and {an} exibition {exhibition} of ladies attired
in old time dresses, etc. which included the dress that
Mary wore when we were married in 1883. We were the
first married in the Mill Plain Chapel, the year that it
was build {built}. They also showed the graduation dress that Mary
wore at the graduation of Clyde at Lafayette College in
1907.
05\14\1931 {1931} (Thursday)
Worked at blacksmith work all day making chain hooks
etc. for Charles Tyrell of Woodtick and a strap bolt for
Edward Scott of Cheshire. At supper time, John Garrigus
called and left a set of stensels {stencils} that he borrowed. Mr.
Fox called this afternoon. Joe Mulcum came this evening
and brought back Mary's dresses, etc. We had a postal from
Fritsa saying that they reached home at Mimico at 8.15, Monday
evening, having traveled 540 miles since 6.40 in the morning.
05\15\1931 (Friday)
The weather to day has been clear and warm. This morning I
did some blacksmith work, then took Edward Scott's strap{??}
bolt out to him, and worked at the farm the rest of the
day plowing out for potatoes and corn and harrowed
the buckwheat ground. The City road men commenced
repairing the tile pipes under the Frost Road.
{05\16 - 05\18 no entries}
05\19\1931 (Tuesday)
Last Sat. morning I went to the freight depot and got
some steel corrogated {corrugated} roofing for the chicken coop and
the engine house. Then Mary and I got ready and
I put a new set of spark plugs in the Packard car
and we started for Kent to visit Frank. All went
well till we reached the corner of Woodruff Ave. and
Scott Street when we were run into by a Ford car
driven by a young man named Gordon Renslow.
It swung my car around to the right and damaged
the front lift mud gard {guard}, bent the front bumper and
bent the steering {stearing} rod. His car ran across the street
and landed on a culvert stone cover and was
inpired {impaired??} some what. Soon the officers were there and
we tried to settle, but Mr. Renslow would not so the
constible {constable} notified us to appear before Judge Hungerford
next Monday evening at 8 o'clock. Mr. Bates took my car
into his girage {garage} near by and tested out the steering {steairng} gear
and saind that it seemed good enough so that we could
continue our journey. This we did and traveled through
Bethlehem, Morris, Bantam to Woodville, where they are
building a new road across the Shepang River and up
the mountain. We here went up the river to the new
dam that the City of Waterbury are building. They
are getting the concrete foundations in, and have done
much work, but it is only a few feet above the river level
We soon were on the road again and proceeded to
Warren, then over the new state road to Swifts Bridge
and South to Kent, where we found Elsie and the
children at home, but Frank was in the thirteen
acre lot South of the school planting potatoes.
Mary, Bertha and I went down there and found
the hired man, Dwight and Frank riding on the planter.
as it was getting late and the planter needed repairs. They stoped {stopped}
work and we started for home, where after milking, we sat down
to a fine supper, and in due time retired. Sunday morning
we got up and soon the new chime of ten bells began
to ring. They did not play a tune but just a wild clanging.
At the proper time, Mary, Elsie and I went to the New
School Church. The service was of the Church of England type
and very formal. After this service was over, we went
to Frank's Congregational Church. After service we went
home, had dinner and after a time, Frank, Elsie and their
children, Mary, Bertha, Dwight and Jessie all went for a
ride in my car. Frank's is being repaired at New Milford.
We went down the river on the west side to the Fuller
place which has been partly destroyed by fire. There
we saw some of the Kent school crews rowing on the river.
We then came to the field where Frank is planting
potatoes. He has several acres of oats which are up and
looking good. From there we went up the river
to the upper cleared lot, then in the lot below where
they are building a new barn out of an old tobacco
shed. Then we drove up through Masodonia over the line
into New York where the road is not so good, came
home and had supper, and in due time all retired.
monday morning, up at 6.30. Frank had finished
milking and was ready for breakfast. Soon after
breakfast, Mary and I got ready and left for home
at 8 o'clock, came through New Milford, Bridgewater,
Roxbury where we stoped {stopped} and got ten gallons of gas for
1.60 then through Southbury, Woodbury, Middlebury.
The new concrete road up Ben Sherman Hill is not quite
completed. We reached Waterbury at ten. I went and saw
Lawyer Phelan and had him make out a state report
of Saturday's auto accident and I retained him for
the tryal {trial} in Watertown in the evening. He wished to
go to Watertown and see the place where the accident
happened and see Mr. Shields. This we did, and returned
at noon. In the afternoon, I went to his office and signed
the report. During the afternoon, we made arangements {arrangements}
with Ray and Ruth to go to Watertown with us in the
evening. They came at 6.30 and we drove to Mr. Phelan's
house on Lexingotn Ave. and then via Thomaston
to Watertown to the Town Hall. Soon Mr. Renslow came
and he wanted to settle. The grand jury had charged him with
obstructing traffic. When the case was called, he pled {pleaded??} guilty and
Judge Hungerford find {fined} him five dollars and costs.
Tuesday, this morning I went to Bates Girage {Garage} in Watertown
and he put my front bumper on my car. Paid him 2.50, then
came to Jake's Auto Body Repair Shop on Meadow St. and left
my car to have the fender repaired. Came home on the
trolley car. Had dinner, then took the Ford truck and went
to the farm and got two concrete fence posts and
brought them to be used where the City men are repairing
the culvert at the lower end of my home lot. Then mowed
the front yard, and worked in the garden, till Mr. Ed
Scott came and brought some plow irons to be repaired
whitch [which} I fixed.
05\20\1931 (Wednesday)
This morning Ed Scott came and brought a steel plow
beam that was bent. We straitened it, and then after
I had breakfast at 9, I went to the farm and planted
potatoes till three when I came home and went to
Jake's shop and got my car which I brought home
and smoothed the repaired parts and painted them.
05\21\{1931} (Thursday)
Rained most of the day. The City men finished laying
up the wall in our home lot where the Ansebass{??} Brook
crosses the Frost Road.
I worked in the cellar sprouting potatoes and carrying
out old vetables {vegetables} till noon. Then went to the farm and
got some fencing and took Ruth Miller some pie-|plant
and then repaired the fence where the City men repaired
the wall over the brook on the Frost Road.
05\22\1931 (Friday)
Planted potatoes all day. Have planted altogather {all together} 28 rows
and 50 hills to the row, 1400 hills.
There has scarcely been a time to day that I have not
seen or heard an air plane passing overhead.
05\23\{1931} (Saturday)
Rained hard all the forenoon. I repaired my big
car, cleaned out the blacksmith shop etc.
This afternoon, cleaned out the chicken house and went to
the farm, howed the peas, lettice{lettuce}, and harrowed{?} the garden.
05\24\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd officiated. There were 106 present in the congregation
and 21 in the choir, total 127.
This afternoon Mary, Miss Picket and I went and called
on George Browne and Charles Tuttle in Wolcott.
To day many air planes have flown over Waterbury,
one 100{?} in the vacinity {vicinity}. From New York City to
Hartford in war manovers {maneuvers}.
Weather has been fair and cold.
05\25\1931 (Monday)
I went to the City Hall this morning and paid
my tax, $182.43. Bought some radish{??} seed at the
Hotchkiss Co. Then saw Lawyer Phelan and gave
him the bills for repairing my car, 8.50.
This afternoon, went to the farm and planted in the
garden and got the ground ready to plant pop
corn.
05\26\1931 (Tuesday)
Planted field corn on the hill. Many air planes went
over on their return from Boston going to New York and
Washington.
05\27\{1931} (Wednesday)
Worked in East Farms Cemetery setting Mrs. Benjamin
Hitchcock's grave stone and {??????}. Arthur Baxter helped.
05\28\{1931} (Thursday)
Mowed East Farms Cemetery and set grave stones.
Arthur Baxter helped.
05\29\{1931} (Friday)
Art Baxter and I worked at East Farms Cemetery
all day. The weather has been very hot.
{05\30 - 05\31 no entries}
06\01\1931 (Monday)
Last Saturday morning Mary and I drove over to
Lake Zoar where we found Ray and Ruth at their
cottage. After we had dinner, we took their motor boat
and sailed up the lake to where the river comes in.
When we came down, we stoped {stopped} on the West side and up the steep
bank we found a large spring gushing from beneath a large tree
of the nicest and coldest water I ever drank. We then came down and
turned and went up the Pomperang River to the rapids. Then
returned home, having sailed about 12 miles by estimation.
Sunday morning we all went to church in New Town. The service
was held in the basement as the church is being redecorated.
When we came home, we went round by Birkshire. After
dinner we took the boat and went down the lake to the
dam at Stevenson, a long sail. After we returned home,
Ray and Ruth got ready and started for home, but
Mary and I stayed over night and came home this
morning when there was not so much traffic.
It rained soon after Ray and Ruth left and continued
all night. After we got home, I mowed clothes yard and went
out to the farm and did some planting.
06\02\{1931} (Tuesday)
Worked at blacksmith work all the forenoon and planted
in the garden and went to Charles De Bissops and to the
farm and did some hoeing.
06\03\1931 (Wednesday)
Worked plowing for pop corn at the farm. This evening
Mary and I attended the annual meeting of the Mill Plain
Union Church and the election of officers.
06\04\1931 (Thursday)
Finished planting the home garden and finished plowing
the pop corn piece and harrowed it some.
06\05\{1931} (Friday)
Mowed the ground in front of our lot at East
Farms and got the stones off the pop corn piece
and got the hay that grew on the clothes yard in.
A Mr. Hall of West Field stoped {stopped} and I bought a pair
of heavy steel yards, a spade, a spading fork, a hack
saw and shaving knife for 1.00.
Weather has been very hot.
06\06\1931 (Saturday)
Planted pop corn at the farm. The wind and rain did
considerable damage down in Prospect last evening and
the lightening struck the Blackman house causing much
damage. It only rained a few drops here, but it pored {poured}
up in Woodtick. The Mattatuck Drum Band went to
Terryville to a convention to day and won first prize.
06\07\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
J. O. Todd. It has rained narly all day. This afternoon
I visited George Browne and Charles Tuttle in Wolcott.
06\08\{1931} (Monday)
This morning it rained. I took my16, 12, and 9 ft. ladders and other
tools out to the farm to fix the barn roof. I then came home
and went to town and did several errands.
Received a check from Lawyer Phelan for 5.00 from Mr. Ranslow
for damage to my automobile on May 16. I then got lumber ready
to take to the Mill to make Frank's wagon body.
06\09\1931 (Tuesday)
Very wet and rainy most of the day. This forenoon
I took a load{??} of hard wood boards and plank to
the T.G. Smith Co. at 18 Orange St. and had it sowed
and plained for a large wagon body, and bought
lumber for the bottom and sides, the whole costing
7.50. After dinner, I went to the farm and planted
some potatoes, and built a shelf in the barn,
and when I started for home, it began to rain
hard and pored {poured} for nearly an hour.
06\10\1931 (Wednesday)
Rained nearly all day. Wrote several letters this forenoon
and filed a number of my saws. This afternoon, worked on
Frank's wagon body.
06\11\1931 (Thursday)
Clarence Pierpont and I repaired the roof on my barn
at East Farms, and we got the paint ready to paint it.
06\12\1931 (Friday)
Painted on the roof of the barn. To day very warm.
Mary went out to Bessie Pierpont's this afternoon and Elizabeth
Harris was there from Cleveland and some other friends.
Miss Pickett came yesterday to stay with us.
06\13\{1931} (Saturday)
Finished repairing and painting the East Farms barn roof
and then finished planting the garden at the farm.
Clarence Pierpont helped, .50.
06\14\{1931} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended church, Childrens Day, the building
was crowded. This afternoon we went to Uncle Will Somers
on Baldwin Ave., South Waterbury.
06\15\{1931} (Monday)
Took half a bu. of potatoes to Charles Wilkensbach and cultivated
young apple trees all day.
06\16\1931 (Tuesday)
Finished cultivating the young apple trees on the hill
and cultivated corn and potatoes. Mowed the
front door yard this evening in the rain.
06\17\{1931} (Wednesday)
Took one bu. of potatoes to Charles Wilkensbach this
morning, then worked in the barn and cultivated
corn and potatoes the rest of the day.
This evening Mary and I attended a strawberry
supper at the Mill Plain Church.
This morning I repaired two crow bars and ground
two bush hooks for the M. P. Church.
The Great dirgible Las Angeles {Los Angeles??} crcled {circled} over
Waterbury this evening and sailed off to the
West. The Mattatuck Drum Band went to Brooklyn and Windham
to day with the Putnam Phalanx.
06\18\{1931} (Thursday)
Howed potatoes and corn all day.
06\19\{1931} (Friday)
Finished hoeing this noon. This afternoon, took my ox
and went to Harold Pieponts and we cultivated
his blackberries.
The weather has been hot, 92 in shade this noon.
06\21{20}\{1931} (Saturday)
Went to town this morning and bought six sticks of dynamite
and two sledge hammer handles of the Hotchkiss Company. Went to
Hills on Willow Street and bought a History of Norwich and Woodbury
for 10.00 and at the Colonial Trust Co., got the interest on my church bonds,
42.00. After dinner, went to town and saw the Eagles parade.
Weather, 96 in shade, 104 in sun.
06\22{21}\{1931} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended servise {service} at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This evening we visited sister Mary at Phillip Royters
where they are now living.
06\23{22}\{1931} (Monday)
Got{?} concrete fence posts on{??} the hill. Clarence helped, .45.
06\24{23}\{1931} (Tuesday)
Rained all day. Worked on Frank's wagon body, Clarence .70.
Went to Mr. Hills on Willow St. and bought a History of Wolcott
for Emma Jackson of Redlands, Calif.
06\24\1931 (Wednesday)
Clarence Pierpont and I set concrete posts on the hill and
repaired the middle fence, .70.
06\25\{1931} (Thursday)
Planted buckwheat at the East end of the long lot on
the hill. Clarence painted three lengths of fence, and
we leveled and plowed a terrace below the middle
fence, .60.
06\26\{1931} (Friday)
Worked nearly all day on Frank' s wagon body. Rained this
morning, but pleasant most of the day. Clarence helped, .70.
06\27\{1931} (Saturday)
Mowed and carried out to the farm a load of hay.
Clarence and I got down the mowing machine.
Scovills{??} foreman had an outing all day at the Luther Bradley
place at Reedville.
06\28\1931 (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. This afternoon, attended the Pierpont Family
Reunion. It was held at Bessie Pierpont's farm at Maple
Hill. There were about 50 present.
06\29\{1931} (Monday)
Went to City Hall this morning and handed in my
tax list. Did some bank business, and ordered a lot of
iron from the Hotchkiss Co.
This afternoon, worked at the farm making level dikes
up on the side hill, and howed the garden. Clarence
helped, .35.
06\30\{1931} (Tuesday)
Weather hot at noon, 96 in shade and 108ø in sun. Worked all
day making a terris ditch on the hill.
Mr. and Mrs. Rumpe{?} of Bunker Hill called this evening
to borrow the spirit of 76 uniforms.
07\01\1931 (Wednesday)
Sharpened tools this forenoon and finished the concrete
mixer this afternoon. Weather hot, at noon 90ø in shade, 100ø in sun.
Coley's cat in the chicken yard this morning, I{??} shot at it.
07\02\1931 (Thursday)
This morning Clarence Pierpont and I made twelve
swing chains for the Mill Plain Church play
grounds. We then worked on Frank's wagon body
and took a load of hay to East Farms.
We had a card from Fritsa that stated she and
Clyde left left Mimico Tuesday morning to visit
Irving at Milwaukee. They hoped to make
Detroit that day.
07\03\{1931} (Friday)
Mowed at the farm. Coley's cat was in the chicken yard. I{?} shot at it.
07\04\1931 (Saturday)
This is the first Fourth of July that I ever knew that was
not ushered in with the boom of cannon and the sound
of firecrackers and other noise. On account of so many
accidents arising from high power crackers etc., the City
of Waterbury passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale and
discharge of fireworks and to day has been as quiet
as any other holiday. This evening we heard fireworks
set off at Bunker Hill, Washington Park and Southington.
This morning Mary and I went ot Bunker Hill and saw the
parade there. Then we came home and I went to the farm and
pulled weeds from the parsnips, carrots, beets etc. While pulling
the weeds it was very hot and it thundered but not a drop
of rain fell, but coming home I saw puddles of waer in the
road before reaching the arch and this side they increased
in size and number till reaching home and here it had
rained very hard for some time.
07\05\{1931} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd officiated. This afternoon we went out to East
Farms Cemetery. Then we went to Woodtick to Charles Tuttles
and Barkley Fribies but no one was at home.
Robert Probst of Hartford called in the evening.
07\06\{1931} (Monday)
Rained. Clarence Pierpont and I made irons for swings
for Mill Plain Church playground. Bought some bushes
for the Church.
07\07\1931 (Tuesday)
I mowed and cleaned up the East Farms Cemetery to day.
Margaret got home this afternoon from a trip she and her
family took in their chevalex car out to York State.
07\08\1931 (Wednesday)
Made some irons for the new May Pole for the Mill
Plain play ground. This afternoon put arsnite of
lead on my potatoes to kill the bugs and plowed
out several rows.
This evening we attended a meeting of the East Farms
Cemetery Corporation. I was elected President for the
coming year, Howard Neal, Secretary, M. E. Pierpont
Treasurer, and Mr. Hoadley, Vice President.
07\09\1930 {1931} (Thursday)
This morning the heavy truck from Calvary Cemetery
drove into the yard loaded with picks, grubs
and plak{??} to be worked over. The picks and grubs sharpened
bolts placed in the ends of the planks. This has kept me and
Clarence busy all this hot day.
07\10\1931 (Friday)
Worked on planks this forenoon and plowed out corn and
potatoes this afternoon.
07\11\{1931} (Saturday)
Hoed popcorn this forenoon. This afternoon I turned out with the
Mattatuck Drum Band for the opening of the Mill Plain Union
Church. The parade consisted of the Mattatuck Drum Band,
the Mill Plain Boy and Girl Scouts, the St. Francis Drum
Corps and a long line of autos. It went down the Meriden
Road to East Main St., up East Main to Frost Road, to
Woodland Ave, to Meriden Road, to Southmaid Rd. to the Church
playground where they had sports and games. This evening
they had band concerts and speeches by Mr. Todd, Mr.
Harrison and the Mayor, and drilling by degree teams
and etc. Mr. Bernard Allen of Cheshire told me that Cara
was sick at Mrs. Bassetts in Whitneyville.
07\12\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This evening we went up to George Browne's where we had
supper. Mrs. Allen left a note stating that something must be
done about Cara.
Wrote a letter to Frank and Fred about Cara in Cheshire.
07\13\1931 (Monday)
This morning Mrs. Bernard Allen of Cheshire called to tell
us of Cara who is sick in Cheshire. Roll and mary, Iva and
my wife and I were present. We considered many things
and gave her 7.00 to use for Cara.
This afternoon Clarence Pierpont and I howed {hoed} pop corn
and potatoes at the farm.
07\14\{1931} (Tuesday)
Rained during the night and morning. Mary and I went to
the farm and picked peas. Clarence came and we came home
and worked on Frank's wagon body.
07\15\{1931} (Wednesday)
Howed {Hoed} corn and potatoes and sprayed the potatoes and
blasted a rock by the wall west of the barn.
07\16\{1931} (Thursday)
Howed {Hoed} the lot north of the barn.
07\17\1931 (Friday)
Got in two loads of hay and mowed a piece of clover
North of the barn.
This evening Mary telephoned Mrs. Bernard Allen in
Cheshire, who told us that Cara sat up a little yesterday.
She (Mary) telephoned Dr. Hayes and he said that
Cara is recovering from liver trouble.
07\18\{1931} (Saturday)
Cloudy and rain all day. Clarence and I worked
on the wagon body.
Late Frank came from Kent and called. He
was on his way to Storrs to get his family who
have been there two weeks.
07\19\1930 {1931} (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd. Mary and I called at Wm. Service place and got
Rolland and Mary Jenner and took them to church.
This day the Southern New England Telephone Co. began
using the dial sistem {system} of calling.
07\20\1931 (Monday)
Mowed the lot in front of the barn, and got in the
clover.
07\21\{1931} (Tuesday)
Got in the hay mowed yesterday, and this afternoon
went to Fred Pierpont's funeral, which was held at
Alderson's undertaking rooms on Central Ave. He was
buried in the New Pine Grove Cemetery. I later went
to town and did some errands.
07\22\{1931} (Wednesday)
This morning at 9 o'clock, Roland and Mary Jenner, with Mary
and I left for West Simsbury to visit brother Frank. We went
by way of East Farms, Marion, Plantsville, Southington, Plainville,
Farmington, Avon, Simsbury to West Simsbury, 35 miles.
We found Frank quite well but Gussie sick in bed with the
lumbags. We carried our dinner and stayed till fine d.s.t.{??} then
came home through Canton, Cherry Park, Unionville, Copper Mine,
Bristol and Wolcott, reaching home about 6.30.
07\23\{1931} (Thursday)
Worked in the garden at the farm, unloaded a load of hay and got
ready to cut east of the farm.
07\24\{1931} (Friday)
Mowed around Fort Dunlop and South and West of it and got it
in. Did hand mowing in the North East part of the lot.
07\25\{1931} (Saturday)
This morning I went out to the farm and Clarence Pierpont
and I planted some soft turnips, "as the old saying is,"
"Sow your turnips the twenty-|fifth of July, wet or dry."
We then mowed all that we could in the lower lot
with the machine. Ray and Ruth called this evening.
07\26\{1931} (Sunday)
Mary and I atended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd.
I saw by the paper to day that they are to discontinue the
New Haven trolley cars next fall and run busses.
07\27\{1931} (Monday)
Nearly finished haying in the barn lot to day.
Weather very hot. Recived {Received} 20.00 from Frank to pay on account
for wagon body.
07\28\{1931} (Tuesday)
One of the hottest days I ever knew. Thermometer 100ø in shade,
120ø in sun, after noon. Was mowind {mowing} on the hill at East Farms
and stoped {stopped} as I though that the ox would stop on account of
the heat.
07\29\{1931} (Wednesday)
Cradled my oats and mowed the clover on the
hill to day and got the clover in.
Weather very hot, not so bad as yesterday 98 in shade,
106 in sun, but there was a breeze. In the evening
we had a shower that cooled the weather some.
Early this morning dogs got into the chicken
yard and killed two hens and three chickens.
Mary went to Quassapang with Margaret and
others.
07\30\{1931} (Thursday)
This forenoon Clarence and I made a lot of links and
{?????} for the Playground at Mill Plain. Then we
mowed the lawns and beside the walk on the Frost
Road. I went to town and deposited money in the
DIme Savings Bank. They told me that there was
only six accounts there older than mine. My first deposit
was in 1871.
07\31\{1931} (Friday)
To day we raked, bound and got the ots {oats} in and mowed
the west end of the young orchard on the hill.
08\01\1931 (Saturday)
Hot day. Clarence and I mowed the young orchard on the
hill, and got in all ofthe hay.
08\02\{1931} (Sunday)
Mary and I with sister Mary Jenner attended service
at Mill Plain Church. This afternoon we called on
Char Tuttle and John Todd's folks.
08\03\1931 (Monday)
Clarence and I mowed and raked the back yard this morning
and then made a large Kings bolt{??} for De Wit Cole of Wolcott.
Then worked on four heavy horses for Calvary Cemetery.
This day has been very hot, 94ø in the shade. This evening we
had a heavy thunder shower with much lightening.
Last night when we returned from John R. S. Todd's,
we found a four quart measure filled with round clams,
oysters and mussels. On enquirey {enquiry} we found from
Jessie Pierpont that Frank and family of Kent went
down to Short Beach Saturday and stayed over night
and started for home about 4.30 and stoped {stopped} here and
left the food. When we found them, I made a hot
fire and we cooked mussels and had a nice
supper.
08\04\1931 (Tuesday)
Finished making four horses for the Cemetery. Ray called this
evening and told me about Ford cars.
08\05\1931 (Wednesday)
Finished my haying at East Farms to day.
This evening I went to see Mr. Fraser about buying 50 tons of
soft coal for the Mill Plain Church, and went to the Church
and saw Mr. Gold about some supplies he wished me to
purches {purchase}.
08\06\{1931} (Thursday)
This morning I ordered a lot of goods of Charles Templeton for
Mill Plain Union Church.
Clarence an {and} I worked on Frank's wagon body.
This forenoon I put the back bumper on my Packard car.
08\07\{1931} (Friday)
Hottest day, 118ø in sun, 100ø in shade. Clarence and I worked on
Franks wagon body. Ray took my Packard to see what
they would allow for a new{?} car.
08\08\{1931} (Saturday)
Worked on Frank's wagon body.
08\09\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mrs. Coe officiated.
Mary and I went up to Charles Tuttles. He wasn't at
home. Saw Mr. and Mrs. Seymour there.
08\10\1931 (Monday)
Worked on wagon body. This morning I went to the
farm. Clarence and I unloaded a load of hay, howed {hoed}
turnips and picled one half bushel of cucumbers, .75.
Ray telephoned this noon that he had sold my
Packard.
I ordered of the Burns Coal Co. 50 tons of soft coal
for 7.25 per ton for the Mill Plain Union Church.
Morris Henry called this morning, having just
returned from Detroit. Hand't seen him before
in eleven years.
08\11\{1931} (Tuesday)
Rained all day. Clarence and I worked on Wagon
Body.
08\12\{1931} (Wednesday)
Rained all day. Clarence and I worked on the wagon body.
This evening Ruth, Ray, Mary and I went to the Ford
Auto Station and looked at cars.
After which, we went through the new telephone building,
corner of Grand and State Sts.
08\13\{1931} (Thursday)
Worked on the wagon body. Weather hot.
Hazel Pierpont Jaoby came to Maple Hill from her
home in Cuba last Tuesday.
08\14\{1931} (Friday)
Worked on wagon body and finished it. Ready for
painitng.
08\15\{1931} (Saturday)
Painted wagon body. Then went to the farm and brought back
a bushel of cucumbers, corn and tomatoes.
Weather very warm.
08\16\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Edgar Bell of New Haven officiated.
Called on Charles Tuttle and Bert Frisbie. Wrote Miss Jackson.
08\17\{1931} (Monday)
Cleaned out the stable and {????} four loads to the orchard
on the hill. Annie Pierpont, Mary and Mr. and Mrs. Jackson
called on me at the farm and talked about the springs
that furnishes the Eanos{??} Pierpont house with water.
08\18\{1931} (Tuesday)
Finished painting Frank's wagon body. Went to the farm
and picked beans and moved the old haystack.
Wrote Frank that the wagon body is ready.
08\19\{1931} (Wednesday)
Mary and I went to Bristol this forenoon. We went firs {first}
to the Bristol Nerseries {Nuseries} and saw Mildred Byrd and while
Mary visited there, I went to the Ford service station and
looked over Ford cars and bargained to turn in my
Packard for 100.00 and pay 491.00 and get a Ford Runabout{?}
Am{?} to go tomorow and pay the money and get the car.
08\20\1931 {Thursday}
This morning I went to the Dimes Saving Bank and drew
two hundred and forty dollars and then went to the Waterbury
Savings Bank and drew 250.00. Came home and with
Mary in our Packard car went to Redferns girage {garage} in Bristol
where we left the Packard for 100.00 and paid 491.50 and got
a De Lux {Delux} Ford Roadster. We had the necessary transfer
papers drawn and then drove the car to Mildred's at the
Bristol Nuseries and then came home. I went to the
State Office at Benedict St. and had the transfer regestered {registered}
This afternoon I went to East Farms and mowed in Mr.
Gretter's lot.
08\21\{1931} (Friday)
Clarence and I mowed Mr. Hazelhurst's lot with the machine.
We made a hay rigging. Went to Cheshire and bought 4 sticks
of 2" x 3", 6' long. Wm. Gillette, Iva and Louis called this eve
to see the new car.
08\22\1931 (Saturday)
Clarence Pierpont and I got in the hay on Mr. Hazelhurst's lot.
I mowed some by hand. Ray and Ruth came this evening to
see the new car.
08\23\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Paul Grobill preached.
This afternoon Mary and I took our new Ford Runabout
and went to Charles Tuttle's corner and there
turned and went over Wolcott Hill and home.
08\24\{1931} (Monday)
Mowed the remainder of Mr. Gretter's swamp at East Farms.
Clarence helped. Did blacksmith work for Ed Scott.
08\25\{1931} (Tuesday)
Mowed and raked hay at East Farms. Clarence helped, .75.
Frank came for the wagon body. The price I gave him
was 47.88. He already gave me 20.00 and says that there is
25.00 more due me. But he brought and gave me 2 good iron
barrels, 1 side hill plow, 3 porcelin {porcelain} lined iron pots, 2 yellow pine
sticks 3" x 4" - 4' long, a lot of white oak boards 14' long, 2 oak sticks
6 x 8 - 12" and 18' long, a lot of 2" x 8" x 10" white oak plank, a bag of
sheep manure, a tub of salt, 2 chairs, parts of a reaper, etc., etc.
I loaned him an anville {anvil} on which I cut in C.S. Miller.
1885, the year I got it of Dennis Peck out on the Plank Road.
08\26\1931 (Wednesday)
Clarence and I got in 3 loads of hay. We then came home
and piled the lumber that Frank brought yesterday under
the shed and put the other goods away.
This evening Ray came and put the battery in my new
car and all is working well.
08\27\{1931} (Thursday)
This day has been damp and rainy. I mowed in Charles
Wilkensbach's lot and in Harold Pierpont's lot.
A family is moving into the Schewster house at
East Farms.
08\28\{1931} (Friday)
Clarence and I got in three loads of hay, put
two on the stack.
08\29\1931 (Saturday)
Mowed in the swamp. Rained at noon. Went to town
this afternoon. Ray called this evening.
08\30\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Edgar
Bell officiating. This afternoon Mary and I went in my new
Ford car to Woodbury and visited Miss Anna Pierpont.
08\31\{1931} (Monday)
Got in three loads of hay and mowed some.
Mr. Leslie W. Case of Tarrytown on the Hudson called at the farm looking for
information
concerning Justus {Justice} Pick of Wolcott.
09\01\{1931} (Tuesday)
Mowed and got in one load of hay. The called from the
Waterbury Republican and took pictures of the ox cart and hay
with Clarence and Sonny{??}. Wanted information of the Cemetery.
09\02\1931 (Wednesday)
Finished getting hay in the swamp East of the Cemetery.
This finishes my haying. Frank and Mr. Patterson called
at the farm this afternoon. Rained hard this evening.
09\03\{1931} (Thursday)
Clarence and I painted my Ford truck.
Weather has been damp and rained some.
09\04\{1931} (Friday)
This morning Mary and I left at about 9.30 for Kent
in my Ford Runabout. Went through Middlebury,
Woodbury, Southbury, Roxbury, Bridgewater and
New Milford, reached Kent at noon.
The people of Kent were having a fair, and this afternoon
was Firemen's Day. There were Companies present
from Patterson, Doverplains, and Steelworks N.Y.
and from Terryville, Watertown, Plainville, New Milford
and Kent. They had a fine parade, hoselaying,
races, etc. In the evening they had games of push ball
and exibition {exhibition} of throwing water, etc.
09\05\1931 (Saturday)
This morning I went with Frank and a man and
at the Fair Ground we were joined by two firemen
and they rolled up the hose that was left the night
before and gathered the large hose onto the reel and
took it to the Fire house and hung it up to dry.
They then cleaned the trucks and engine, coats,
boats etc. We then had dinner and then atended
a Democratic Rally at the Fair Grounds where
there were man speakers, including Govoner {Governor}
Cross of Conn. and Governor Rosevelt {Roosevelt} of New York.
They expected a great crowd of people from over the
state but less that {than} two thousand attended which
was a great disapointment {disappointment} to the Fair people as they
had a great amount of food left.
I had an oppertunity {opportunity} to shake hands with Gov.
Rosevelt {Roosevelt}.
09\06\1931 (Sunday)
The weather these days has been perfect. We attended
service at the Kent Congregational Church. This
was Comunion {Communion} Sunday. Frank is a deacon. The congregation
was rather small. After dinner, Frank took us all
in his buic {Buick?} car, 4 people and 4 children and we went 35 miles to
Proughkeepsee {??} where we crossed the Hudson on the new
suspension bridge over 3000 ft. long which cast over 6,000,000
dollars. We then went to Highland and crossed back
again of {on} the ferry. The cost for our party was .75 cts on the
ferry and 1.40 on the bridge. We reached home before dark.
09\07\{1931} (Monday)
Labor day. The Brundage family planed {planned} to hold a picnic
at Kent Falls, but Frank told them that there would be a
crowd there, and a place in Macedonia Park would be
much better. So they had it there. There were about
18 people prsent and all had a good time eating rost {roast} corn,
rost {roast} meat, onion and other things that were nice. We then
came to the Kent school and looked over the buildings
and climbed up the bell tower.
Then we went to the Fair grounds and saw a
jirow {gyro} plain {plane} take off.
09\08\{1931} (Tuesday)
We left Frank's house at about 9 this morning
and came to Cornwall Bridge then to Goshen
where we stoped {stopped} and saw Lyman Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] folks
a time then on through Litchfield to East Morris
down through the Branch to Reynolds Bridge to
Waterville, and over by Lakewood{??}, home, reaching
here at noon.
This afternoon we attended Daniel Squire's funeral
at the Mill Plain Church. He was 80 years old.
09\09\{1931} (Wednesday)
Did blacksmith work and varnished my delivery truck
this forenoon and did odd jobs about home.
Mary sent a letter to Irving telling him of Charles Logon of
Tauntion{??}, Mass. This evening we called on Charles
Tuttle. He did not go to New London last Sunday with the
Mattatuck Drum Band, but he starts for St. Lewis
tomorrow to visit his son Cyrus.
09\10\1931 (Thursday)
Put the truck togather {together} and went out to the farm and picked
beans, etc.
09\11\{1931} (Friday)
Very hot day, 96ø in shade, 116ø in sun. Gathered garden vegetables
at the farm and dug about apple trees. Clarence, Ted and
Sonny helped.
09\12\1931 (Saturday)
A little cooler. Was at East Farms this forenoon careing {caring} for the
young apple trees on the hill. Clarence helped. This afternoon
took the little truck to Mr. Garthwaits on Lillie Brook Hill in Wolcott
an {and} had the cororator {???} adjusted.
Ray and Ruth called this evening. They have a new little
dog, three months old.
09\13\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This P.M. called on Edgar Upson and John Todd and went
to the North East Cemetery in Wolcott.
09\14\1931 (Monday)
To day I pulled weeds and cultivated about the young
appletrees on the hill. Just finished when a shower came.
I got to the barn and after the shower cultivated the
row of appletrees North East of the barn.
I then picked half a basket of ripe tomatoes and a
doz. ears of evergreen corn and three mush melons.
Then drove up the Pierpont Road and in the Meriden
Road to Raymond's and gave them the vegetables except
2 melons and 6 ears of corn. They gave me a bottle of
fine root beer that Ruth had made which tasted
good as I was very warm. My clothing was all swat {sweat}
through.
09\15\1931 (Tuesday)
Worked about home all day. Weather was very hot.
This afternoon Clarence Pierpont and I put a roof of new
corrigated {corrugated} iron on the chicken house and got ready to
put one on the Fire Engine house.
09\16\1931 (Wednesday)
Clarence and I finished putting the iron roofs on and then
painted them.
09\17\{1931} (Thursday)
Worked about home and went to town to day. Went to the
farm and looked after things there, and finished picking
beans, etc. Had the barn at the farm insured for $900.00
through angency of Judd & Puffer.
09\18\1931 (Friday)
Wrote a letter to Mr. Leslie V. Case, Tarrytown on the Hudson. Finished
making two picture frames and repaired my auto and did other
odd jobs about home.
09\19\{1931} (Saturday)
Nailed the shingles on the roof of my house on account of the old
nails rusting away so that the shingles are blowing off. Drove
nearly six pounds of nails and only done a small part of the roof.
09\20\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev J. O. Todd.
Called on Winfield Norton this P.M. Ray and Ruth left a lot of
oysters that they got at Milford.
09\21\{1931} (Monday)
Did several jobs this morning and nailed on the roof.
Ordered 15 gals. of roof paint and bought 12 lbs. of shingle
nails. Wrote a letter to Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt], Vancouver, Wash.
09\22\{1931} (Tuesday)
Nailed shingles and repaired the roof. This is
Mary's birthday born Sept. 22, 1860. Received letters
and cards and presents from Clyde, Irving, Ruth
Brundage and others. This has been the hottest
Sept 22nd known for many years.
09\23\{1931} (Wednesday)
Finished repairing the roof. Ray called this evening
and we picked six baskets of Concord grapes.
{09\24 no entry}
09\25\{1931} (Friday)
Yesterday morning Mary, Jean Northrop, a girl friend,
and I went in my Ford car to the Springfield
Fair. We stayed all night at a house first, this
side of the bridge over the Westfield River.
Mrs. Everett H. Clark, No. 12 Springfield St. Agawam{??}.
We left there at five this afternoon and reached home
at 7.25 having traveled 53 miles.
09\26\1931 (Saturday)
Wet all day. I dug some potatoes and worked at the farm.
09\27\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This is my birthday. Seventy three years ago to day I first
saw the light of day in a house that stood on the West side of
Cherry Street where the Universalist Church now stands.
Margaret invited Mary and I to her house to dinner and
Raymond and Ruth togather {together} with Rolland Jenner and
sister Mary were there.
09\28\{1931} (Monday)
Was out to the farm, digging potatoes most of the day.
Put six bushels in the bin tonight.
Miss Pickett's sister Ella came today.
09\29\1930 {1931} (Tuesday)
Worked all day at blacksmith work.
The City men are laying a 30" sewer pipe North on the
Frost Road starting at the brook above my house.
09\30\{1931} (Wednesday)
Dug potatoes at the farm. Ray and Ruth called this evening.
10\01\{1931} (Thursday)
Dug potatoes, cut corn etc. at farm, cut the buckwheat.
A man was hurt in the new sewer. A big stone caved down and
caught him.
10\02\{1931} (Friday)
Finished digging the potatoes. Dug eleven and 1\2 bushels.
Clarence Pierpont, Ted Wilson and Charles Wikinsbach helped
pick them up.
10\03\{1931} (Saturday)
This forenoon I drew two loads of corn stalks from the
hill and stacked them up. Ted Wilson and Clarence Piepront
helped me. This afternoon Mary and I went to Wolcott
Fair. The attendance seemed much smaller than usual.
10\04\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon we went to Prospect and saw Halsey Clark. Came
home by the Brackett Cemetery.
10\05\{1931} (Monday)
Finished cutting field corn at the farm to day.
Brought home a load of buckwheat and a load of
vegtables {vegetables}.
10\06\{1931} (Tuesday)
Election day. Frank T. Hayes, democratic nominee for
Mayor and George Tracey, Republican. Mary and I went
to a store corner of East Main and Albion{??} Sts. and voted
the Republican ticket.
I repaired an iron plow beam for Ed Scott and worked
about home most of the day.
10\07\{1931} (Wednesday)
Painted the roof on my house.
Hayes was elected Mayor by a majority of over 6,000 votes.
Rained this afternoon.
10\08\1931 (Thursday)
Painted on the roof of my house. The City men cleaned
out the main ditches in my lot.
Rained this afternoon.
10\09\{1931} (Friday)
Painted on roof of house.
10\10\1931 (Saturday)
Finished painting the roof of my house, the first coat.
10\11\{1931} (Sunday)
This morning Ray, Ruth, Mary and I went to West Simsbury
to visit brother Frank. We stoped {stopped} in Farmington and attended
service at the Farmington Congregational Church after which
we drove to Franks where we found him and is wife quite
well. At 3.30 we started for home, came through Canton,
Unionville, Bristol, and Wolcott. We traveled in my new
Ford Roadster.
10\12\{1931} (Monday)
Painted on the roof of the house, second coat.
10\13\1931 (Tuesday)
Finished painting the roof of my house with more green shingle
stain. This evening sister Mary Rolland Jenner, Mary and
I went to William Gillette's to supper and to talk over arrangements
for the Somers Reunion Thanksgiving Day.
Ordered two appletrees, one Baldwin and one Grovenstone frm Mrs.
Winchell @ 1.00 each.
10\14\{1931} (Wednesday)
I went across the street to Walter Beebie's girage {garage} and he
gave me about five gallons of used mtor oil which I painted
on the shingles of my wood house. When I used shingle
stain, a gallon only covered eight feet square on account
of the shingles being very dry, so I covered them with
oil and will see if that makes any difference.
I have ordered ten gallons of stain to finish the wood
house and do the girage {garage}. This evening Mary and I
attended the mens supper at the Mill Plain Church.
10\15\{1931} (Thursday)
This day I worked about home all day, cleaned the toilet
and painted the posts and gates to the chicken yard, etc.
10\16\1931 (Friday)
Rained all the forenoon. Mary and I went to Hartford
and I procured a license and and markers, No. 1799 which I have
had for the past fifteen years, paid 16.00. Got home at noon
and worked making a crate to fasten on the rear end of
my Ford Runabout. Had twelve gallons of roof stain come
to day.
10\17\{1931} (Saturday)
Finished calf crate. Went to the farm and stacked the pop corn.
Then painted the chicken yard fence and gates, etc. Ray and Ruth
called as did she who was Elsie Jones of Cheshire, now Mrs., Doctor{??} Gill of
Hartford.
The Mattatuck Drum Band left this afternoon by bus for
Hartford where they joined the Putnam Phalanx and leave this
evening at 8 o'clock by special train for Yorktown where they
are to take part in the exercises attending the sesquicentennial
of the battle of Yorktown and the surrender of Lord Cornwallis.
Those who went were,
Drum Major, Pete Shea.
Fifers,
Charles Cass, James Phelan, Andrew Kitchenka, William Greenwood,
Raymond Atkinson, Albert Atkinson, Franklin Browne, Bement{?}
Wakelee, Robert Wakelee, Morris Tyler and Ralph Adams -11.
Snare Drummers,
Leland Garrigus (Leader), Howard Neal (Assistant Leader), Louvain
Fox, Herman Gessert, Arthur Harrison, Fransis Kitchenka (quartermaster),
Edgar Upson (Secretary), Ralph Pierpont, Louis Greenwood, and George
Cass - 10. Bass Drummers,
Paul Miller, John Garrigus, Marvin Wheeler (Treasurer) and
Robert Probst.
10\18\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
A very fair congreagation.
{10\19 no entry}
10\20\1931 (Tuesday)
Yesterday forenoon Mary and I started for Kent. We went
through Watertown, Bethlehem, Morris, Ramford, Warren
and North Kent to Kent, where we found Frank and his
family, all well. After we had eaten dinner, Frank took
Dwight and I over to South America, N.Y. then to the Steel
Works (a small village) where we arrived a little late to
see the champion chopper of the Untied States cut an
elm log 15" in diameter in two in one minute and 52 secons {seconds}.
A local chopper choped {chopped} the same log in two in 4 minutes and
58 seconds. The champion, a tall slim man, 6' 2" tall would
give anybody $50.00 that could chop a log in twice the time
that it would take him to do it. H {He} used an ax that weighed
six pounds. We returned through Amenia{?} Union stoping {stopping}
at the large farm of Mr. Ray Dene where they were milking
68 cows, sending away to Bridgeport over 20 cans
daily. We came over a high mountian and down a
wild road throug {through} Macadonia Park. We ate supper and
at 5.30, Frank and Elsie left for Danbury to attend a
masonic meeting, leaving the children in our care.
Tuesday morning, after breakfast, Frank and I
lengthened out the reach of a new iron wagon he
had bought, and put the body tha I had made
on it which took till noon, after which we looded {loaded}
a calf into a crate I had fastened on the back of
my car and Mary and I left at two for home.
We came by way of Swifts Bridge, Warren, Bautom{??},
Morris, Bethlehem and Watertown, reaching here
about four. I took the calf to the farm and fed it,
etc.
10\21\1931 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and cared for the stock
after which I took my new car to Bristol to have it inspected,
oiled etc. having run it over 500 miles. When I came home I stopped
at Arthur Harrison's and had him tell all about the Mattatuck
Drum Band at Yorktown, Va. where they passed in review before
President Hoover and the French officers.
10\22\{1931} (Thursday)
Painted the roofs of the wood house and the girage {garage}
to day and husked corn the rest of the time at
the farm.
10\23\{1931} (Friday)
To day I was at the farm digging potatoes and picking
up apples etc.
10\24\{1931} (Saturday)
Finished painting the woodhouse and girage {garage} roofs
and painted the blacksmith shop roof and water closet.
10\25\1931 (Sunday)
This morning Ray, Ruth, Mary and I went in my
new Ford car to Kent to take over a rope and post driver.
We went through by Stale Road, Watertown, Bethlehem,
Morris, Bantam, Woodville, Warren, Swifts Bridge,
and Kent. We went to the Congregational Church
where we attended service. Then we drove into Macedonia
Park where we had dinner and where a thunder
shower fell, after which we went to Franks and
stayed till three o'clock when we started for home.
Came through New Milford, Bridgewater, Roxbury,
Woodbury, Middlebury and home. We met hundreds
of autos on the road, reached home before dark.
42 miles going over, 45 coming back.
10\26\{1931} (Monday)
This morning after repairing the truck I went to the farm.
Took care of the stock and pulled beets and carrots till
noon, then went to town to see about getting 100
communion glasses for the church. Came home, had dinner
and sent out order to Lima{??}, Ohio for the glasses, then
went to the farm and pulled carrots and husked corn.
10\27\1931 (Tuesday)
This day I plowed along the North line fnce to prevent fire
from spreading on my land.
10\28\{1931} (Wednesday)
Cut brush and cleared along the North line fence and
plowed to day. This P.M. with the help of the children, I
husked a barrell {barrel} of corn.
10\29\{1931} (Thursday)
Rained all day. I went to Prospect and looked over the
Blackman PLace that Arthur Merriman has lately
bought and William Garrigus and his sons Leland
and John are making over for him. A new surfaced
hard road is being built from the corner of Waterbury
Road North towards Summit.
10\30\{1931} (Friday)
Went to Dentist Brewster this morning and had one tooth
pulled out and others repaired. After dinner, I took my Ford truck
to Ed Garthwait's in Wolcott and had the ignition repaired. I repaired
a wagon wheel for Ed Bronson and set the tire.
10\31\{1931} (Saturday)
This morning I went to town and got some money to use.
Then went to the farm and drew a load of manure up on
the hill, and plowed a couple of furrows across the North end
of the North West lot.
11\01\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went up to George Browne's
and took a frame that I made for his commission as
Judge of Wolcott. It rained hard while we were there,
but on reaching home we found that there had been
no rain here.
11\02\{1931} (Monday)
Husked corn all day.
11\03\1931 (Tuesday)
Will Service and I husked pop corn til the middle of the
afternoon, when we took a load of manure up the hill and
there got out stones. He worked from 8.30 to 5.
11\04\1931 (Wednesday)
Will Service helped me from 8.30 to 5 in upper lot. He cut
white birches, got out stones and grubbed up the ends where
I plowed a strip twelve feet wide to prevent the fire from
running onto my land.
This evening Mary and I attended a meeting of the
Official Board of the Mill Plain Union Church.
11\05\1931 (Thursday)
This morning I sharpened two stone drills and one
bull point for the unemployed men who are building
a swimming pool on Mad River below the Mattatuck
Co.'s dam at Homestead Avenue. They have
built a loose stone dam across the river. I think
that it will not be as high by spring or the
fine playground on the West bank will ne washed
out if we have generally have.
I went to the farm and fed the stock, drew a load
of manure on the hill, brought home a plow
and put an extension on the mole board, then
went to Church and got an order for lights,
and Ivory soat {soap} then went to George Brown's in
Wolcott and got Mary's hand bag. Then to Bessie
Pierpont's and leftt he round robbin then to the
farm and did the chores.
11\06\1931 (Friday)
To day has been cold and windy. I plowed on the hill
all day till 4 o'clock when I came home then went
to the East End Hardware Store and bought 1 1\2 doz.
Electric light bulbs for the Mill Plain Church.
Went to Coultneys and bought 12 cakes of ivory
soap for the Church. Mr. Gould, the sexton of the
Church told me that it snowed in Wolcott this morning.
11\07\{1931} (Saturday)
Very cold to day. I plowed on the hill till 3 o'clock.
11\08\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
This has been a nice day. Stayed home and finished writing
an account of the early brass industry in Waterbury as I know.
11\09\1931 (Monday)
Wm. Service came this morning to paper the hall and varnish
it, etc. I raked up leaves in the yard, then filled my little
truck with water and alcohol, and went to the farm and took
care of the stock, drew a big load of manure up on the hill.
Mr. Manual came and borrowed my heavy trypod {tripod} and
block, three chains, 3 grab hooks, 2 drills, and a hand hammer.
I mowed a lot of clump grass in the North West lot and
drew it to where I am to plant oats. Then I spread it and
two loads of manure and plowed some. Sonny Wilkensbach came
and rode down the hill. When I was feeding the calf and Jasper,
Margaret and three of her girls and two others came and several
East Farms children came and they had a good time on the
hay.
11\10\{1931} (Tuesday)
I plowed on the hill all day. WIlliam Service worked in
the front hall papering and repairing it.
11\11\{1931} (Wednesday)
Armistice Day. Schools are closed. Wm. Service worked
in the front hall. I finished plowing on the hill.
11\12\1931 (Thursday)
This morning I sharpened 3 stone drills for the unemployed
who are building a swimming pool on the
Mad River about eight rods below the dam of the
Mattatuck Manufacturing Company.
William Service came to work in the front hall.
I went to the farm and pulled and cut turnips
and cleaned up the lower garden and plowed the
greater part of it.
11\13\{1931} (Friday)
This forenoon I plowed at the farm, came home, had
dinner and filled the furnace{??} with water and then
went to town. At 5.30 we went up to Rays' and
had supper after which I read my paper on the
Early Brass Industry of Waterbury. Ruth is to
typewrite it.
11\14\{1931} (Saturday)
Will Service and I wroked about home all day.
11\15\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Joseph O. Todd
officiated. Rained this morning.
11\16\1931 (Monday)
This morning I went to the farm and drew manure on
the pop corn piece and plowed the lower end of it.
Will Service did not work.
This evening I put new leaders in the electric stove.
11\17\{1931} (Tuesday)
Plowed all day, finished the pop corn piece.
This evening I poped {popped} a bushel of corn on the electric
stove for the ladies fair at the Mill Plain Church.
11\18\{1931} (Wednesday)
Did the chores at the farm and worked cleaning the
Cemetery 5 hours. Went to the Womans Fair at the
Mill Plain Church this evening.
11\19\1931 (Thursday)
William Service and I worked putting in stakes
for contour lines at the farm 5 1\2 hours.
This evening we attended the fair at the church.
11\20\{1931} (Friday)
Wet all day. I plowed a conture {contour} ditch across the
pasture lot. Bent the beam of a small side hill
plow, had to move several big stones that were
in the line.
11\21\{1931} (Saturday)
Plowed with Jasper the contour ditches I am making
on the hill. This evening Will Gillette and Iva
called. They brought Mary Jenner to see about
the number of people that will attend Thanksgiving
Dinner.
11\22\1931 (Sunday)
This morning at 10 o'clock Marion Northrop was
married to Haward Kraft by Rev. J. O. Todd at the
Mill PLain Union Church. The best man, Floid {Floyd}
Goodwin and Gene Northrop was the bridesmaid.
Ray Miller and {? ?} Kraft were the ushers.
Mary and I attended service at 10.45, this
being Sunday.
Forty eight years ago this day, Mary and I
were married in the Old Mill Plain Chapel.
We were the first to be married there.
11\23\1931 (Monday)
William Service came at 8.30 this forenoon and we
went to the farm and worked till 5 on the conour (3.00)
ditch. Paid him this morning 2.20 for last Thursday.
11\24\{1931} (Tuesday)
Will Service and I worked on conture {contour} ditch from 8.30 till 5 PM.
3.00 paid him 6.00 to night. I received the following by mail
to day from the Literary Digest 354 - 360 Fourth Avenue
N.Y. "This certifies that the stenciled address here
imprinted is Charles S. Miller, 2271 E Main St. Waterbury,
Conn. {??} January 1928-|29-|30-|31-|32 our official record that the
person named is a subscriber for The Literary Digest and as
such has been allotted the right to one complete 25 volume
Set of the Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Encyclopedia
of the World's Knowledge as a Gift after signing the
subjoined agreement to continue as a subscriber for
The Literary Digest for three years beyond the time
to which his or her subscription is now paid, The Literary
Digest.
----do not detach----
Acceptance To be signed and mailed
The Literary Digest on or before Dec. 28, 1931
354-360 Fourth Avenue, New York, N.Y.
Certainly I accept your promised gift of the 25 vloume
Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Encyclopedia of the
Wolrd's Knowledge.
I am a subscriber for the Literary Digest and will continue my
subscription for at least 3 more years. I will pay the regular
subscription price (4.00 a year) for the additional three years as follows:
$2.00 when you notify me that my set of the Encyclopedia is ready
to ship to me, and $2.00 a month for five months thereafter. I will add
90 cents to my first remittance to cover the cost of packing and preparing
carriage costs on the Encyclopedia.
Name Charles S. Miller
Address 2271 East Main St.
Date Nov. 24, 1931 Post Office Waterbury State Connecticut
I have signed the above and it is ready to mail.
11\25\{1931} (Wednesday)
Worked all day on the upper ditch.
11\26\1931 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day. This morning at 7.00, Simon
Korting of 116 East Farm St. came and bought Old Jasper
the ox and we went to the farm and he loaded him
into a truck and took him away to butcher.
I filed and repaired a long crassent{??} saw for Frank
Welton and made a set of gate irons for Mr. Kunkle{??}
the druggest {druggist}. At noon, Mary and I went to the
Woodtick Chapel to the Somers family renuion. There
were 41 present.
11\27\{1931} (Friday)
Began snowing about 8 this morning. I
intended to go to Goshen buit gave it up on account
of the snow and went to the farm and worked
all day on the level ditch. Ruth and her three
boys stayed here last night and started for
Storrs this afternoon.
11\28\{1931} (Saturday)
I finished the level ditch at noon. This afternoon
I got the material up for a fence to be built across
the lane above the spring.
Ray came this morning and got the truck
to draw sand.
This afternoon I went to Montambeaus{??} and got
my battery that they charged, paid .75.
11\29\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Went to George Browne's this afternoon.
11\30\1931 (Monday)
To day I put in a new furnice {furnace} smoke pipe and repaired
the furnace in the cellar and did several other jobs.
12\01\{1931} (Tuesday)
I went to Brookfield to look up the town records
regarding Daniel Jackson.
12\02\{1931} (Wednesday)
Built a fence across the lane at the farm above the spring
to keep the calf from going up in the pasture.
12\03\{1931} (Thursday)
Made a gate in the fence above the spring and took the
mowing machine to pieces and put the pieces up in the barn.
Nice weather to day.
12\04\{1931} (Friday)
Mary and I called on Mrs. Fessenden{??} Ives of Goshen and also
at the house of Mr. Harry Green at West Goshen. It rained
hard the greater part of the time.
12\05\{1931} (Saturday)
Cool to day. I went to the farm this forenoon and put up
the mowing machines over head and did other odd jobs.
Ordered a plate of iron 1\8" thick, 10" x 14" {??} the Hotchkiss Company.
12\06\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd officiating. This afternoon Mary and I went
to East Farms and to the top of Southington Mountain
and North past Hitchcock's Lake to the Bergin Road
and through Woodtick to George Brownes, but no one
was at home. We then called on John Wakelee and
wife Rose.
12\07\{1931} (Monday)
Raked up and got off leaves from about the house this
forenoon till the wind began to blow hard. This
afternoon I cleaned out a piece of the middle ditch
till Charles Welton brought a single hand cross
cut saw to be filed. I went to the farm and fed
Teddy.
12\08\1931 (Tuesday)
Very cold this morning. Ice froze thick so that boys are
skating on the upper pond at Reedville. I began making
a small stone boat to draw off small stones with Teddy.
12\09\1931 (Wednesday)
Went to the farm and cared for Teddy, when it began snowing
and continued till night when it turned to rain. I worked on
the stone boat most of the day.
Wrote to Clyde this evening and to Fred at Tarrytown.
12\10\{1931} (Thursday)
Snow all gone. Cleaned the chicken coop and repaired
it and did blacksmith work.
Kerte{??} called this evening and I loaned him copy of
list of Mattatuck Drum Band.
12\11\1931 (Friday)
Rained most of the day. Repaired my good side hill plow
and did odd jobs about home.
Sent letter to Clyde containing list of Battery Mill
at Cotton Hollow.
12\12\{1931} (Saturday)
Cut up cherry tree at the ditches at the farm.
12\13\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd preached. Rained all day.
12\14\{1931} (Monday)
Wm. Service and I bolted planks for St. Joseph's Cemetery,
five hours. I paid Will 2.00. We then went to East Farms
and worked in the Cemetery three hours. Set stone
and brought home Mellissa Patton's stone to be repaired.
12\15\1931 (Tuesday)
Weather some cold, a few flakes of snow fell. William Service
and I worked at East Farms Cemetery. We reset Mr. and Mrs.
Enoc {Enoch} W. Frost's grave stones. They were large, heavy stones
and we set them deep in the ground.
Mrs. Fred Pierpont, widow, telephoned this evening that
Walter Pierpont died this evening at six o'clock at the
Waterbury Hospital.
12\16\1931 {Wednesday}
William Service and I worked in East Farms Cemetery
setting the William Frosts family grave stones.
12\17\1931 {Thursday}
William Service and I worked in East Farms Cemetery resetting
grave stones.
12\18\1931 (Friday)
Wm. Service and I set grave stones in East Farms Cemetery
all day. The weather has been mild for this time of the
year.
12\19\1931 (Saturday)
Wm. Service and I set grave stones in East Farms Cemetery.
The weather has been clowdy {cloudy} and warm, no frost in the
ground.
Before six, I went to the Railway Express Agency and
got a package which Emmma L. Jackson of Redlands,
Calf. sent me.
12\20\{1931} (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church and Vesper service at 4.
12\21\1931 (Monday)
William Service and I worked in the East Farms Cemetery.
12\22\1931 (Tuesday)
This is the longest night and the shortest day. Has been
warm and rainy all day.
Will Service and I repaired broken grave stones.
I went to the Colonial Trust Co. and got interest of
my Mill Plain Church Bonds, 42.00. I then went to Benedict
St. and got license for my truck, 15.00.
12\23\1931 (Wednesday)
This has been the warmest 23rd of December in over 40 years,
the paper stated to night. It has been above 55ø all day.
William Service and I repaired broken grave stones all day.
The Merchant's Trust Co. closed their doors to day. Great excitement.
12\24\1931 (Thursday)
Warm day. Will Service and I worked at grave stones till after
noon. I worked about home this afternoon.
12\25\1931 (Friday)
Christmas Day. All of the Miller families excepting Clyde's and Irving's
met at Ray's house on Capitol Avenue and had a dinner and Christmas
tree, and most of them received many presents. The weather was
warm this morning but grew windy and colder towards night.
12\26\1931 (Saturday)
William Service and I repaired the grave stone of Seabury Pierpont
in my wheel house, and then took it to the East Farms Cemetery
and set it up. The weather was some cold.
When we came home, we went round by Ray's and got table,
chairs, etc.
12\27\1931 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
J. O. Todd. The bell that Mr. Austin Pierpont gave to
the Mill Plain Chapel years ago and I hung the
same in the tower, was placed in the blfry {belfry} of the
new church last week by Julius Cole and others.
12\28\1931 (Monday)
This morning I took the striking hammer of the Church
Bell to Henry Beckwith to have him weld it togather {together}
where they broke it yesterday. I then went out to
the farm and drew down two small loads of
wood with Teddy, and worked about home the
rest of the time. Thawed a little.
12\29\1931 (Tuesday)
To day has been cool. Wm. Service and I repaired grave foot stones
till 10.45 and worked the rest of the day sharpening picks for
the Calvary Cemetery.
Aunt Ellen telephoned this noon that she and Will went
to Simsbury yesterday and visited Frank. They found
Gussie sick in bed.
12\30\1931 (Wednesday)
William Service and I trimmed the big Norway Spruce tree
that stands in the South East corner of East Farms Cemetery.
12\31\1931 (Thursday)
Wm. Service and I trimmed trees in East Farms Cemetery.
This morning I sharpened drills and repaired the tolling
hammer of the Mill Plain Church Bell.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Ferriss{?} Turkenton{??} of East
Morris called.
//end of 1931 entries//
01\01\1932 (Friday)
New Years Day. Wind from North East and turned colder and
snowed at 3.30 about 1" deep turning to rain at night.
I filed a large circular saw this morning, ground axes etc.
This afternoon, went to East Farms Cemetery and helped
Wm. Service trim out trees and load a load of wood.
01\02\1932 (Saturday)
Snowed and rained all day. I repaired Mary's writing desk.
Went to town and bought a horse skin coat at Sears & Roebucks
and did several other errands. Came home, had dinner and
slept till three. Then did odd jobs and went out to the
farm and cared for Teddy, etc.
01\03\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain union Church. Rev. Joseph Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went to George Browne's in
Wolcott. He is now judge of the new incorporated Wolcott
Cart.
01\04\1932 (Monday)
Worked about home. Took my truck to Henry Beckwith
and had him grind in the valves and clean the ignition
and give it general repairs. I made a pair of rough
shafts{??} for the small sled to brake {break} Teedy in at the
farm.
01\05\1931 {1932} (Tuesday)
William Service and I most of the day trimmed the
large Norway Spruce tree on the East side of the
gate at the East Farms Cemetery.
01\06\1931 {1932} (Wednesday)
Rained all day. Saw Mort Piepront this morning. He is building
a manure shed at his barn. Than I worked at the farm till after
noon. Came home and went to town and bought some tire chains
for my new car, came home and fitted some old chains to my truck.
01\07\1932 (Thursday)
William Service and I trimmed the large tree West of the gate
and the large double tree on the farther side nearly opposite the
gate. The weather has been mild, thawed all day.
01\08\1932 (Friday)
William Service and I trimmed Norway Spruce trees in
the East Farms Cemetery to day. Weather has been
moist, and some snow and rain. I brought home the
heaviest load I ever had on my little truck. It was green
wood.
01\09\1932 (Saturday)
We finished trimming trees in East Farms Cemetery this
afternoon. Snow and wet most of the day.
Warren Hitchcock and Luly Hassett were married at Hartford
this afternoon.
01\10\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd.
01\11\1932 (Monday)
This day has been cold. I drew out a few small sled loads
of manure and put it on the lower lot East of the garden.
Cut up a few branches in the Cemetery.
01\12\1932 (Tuesday)
To day Mary and I went to Bristol to have my little
Ford car oiled and inspected having run it 1000 miles.
We went by way of Waterville, Thomaston and Terryville,
had dinner at Arthur Birds. Rained some at noon.
We came home through Forestville, Plainville, Southington,
Plantsville and Marion.
After we got home I went to town.
This evening Mr. Bernard Allen and Mrs. Pease of
Cheshire called and talked about Cara and wanted
money to pay for her support.
01\13\1932 (Wednesday)
I drew in four loads of wood from the East Farms Cemetery.
01\14\1932 (Thursday)
This has been the warmest day for this time of year I ever
saw, 72ø at noon.
I have worked in the East Farms Cemetery all day.
I gave William Service's bill of 53.90 to Morton & Pierpont,
Treasurer and he gave me a check which I gave to Will
to night.
01\15\1932 (Friday)
This morning Mary and I went to West Simsbury to visit
Brother Frank. We found him and Gussy quite well considering
their age. He is getting a big wood pile up and burning
brush etc. while she is about the house.
01\16\1932 (Saturday)
This day has been warm. I worked leaning the East Farms
Cemetery and getting the brush out of it.
Gave Howard Neal $2.00 to buy a record book for the
Cemetery association.
01\17\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the mill Plain Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went up to Woodtick and
saw Charles S. Tuttle. Leland and John Garrigus were
there making araingements {arrangements} to go to New York with the
Mattatuck Drum Band next Friday.
01\18\1932 (Monday)
This morning I spread a bag of sheep manure on the
front lawn that Frank brought from Kent that
came from England a long time ago. I then went to
East Farms and burned some brush at the Cemetery
but the wind began to blow hard and I gave it up.
I then took Teddy hitched into a small sled and
went to the young orchard on the hill and spread
manure and also in the Barn lot.
Then I went to Ed Scott's to see if he knew of Cara.
From his place I went East and saw Fritz Hanson
working on the highway. He told me many things.
I then went through Mixville and on over Prospect Hill
and home at dark.
01\19\1932 (Tuesday)
Went to town to straighten out my account with the Catholic
Cemeteries Inc. Then went to the farm and did odd jobs about
the barn. Saw Mrs. William Garrigus and Mrs. Fogg in the
Cemetery. Mrs. Garrigus said that she would give toward
a $1,000 fund to maintain the ground.
I went to the sub station and got a Post Office Money Order
for $12.90 which is paid to the Literary Digest of 354-360 Fourth
Avenue New York. I enclose $12.90 payment in full for
three years subscription for the Literary Digest ($12.00) and
packing and carriage charges (90 cents) on the new Funk &
Wagnalls Standard Encyclopedia in 25 volumes cloth bound.
In consideration of this cash payment, you are to send me
free, the art print of 'The Presidents of the Untied States
Signed".
01\20\1932 (Wednesday)
I raked up leaves about the house all day. Mr. Henry Cooley
helped me about two hours.
Weather has been warm with some wind.
This evening Mary and I went to the Mill Plain Gym to an entertainment
given by the Ladies Union.
01\21\1932 (Thursday)
Raked and cleaned the East Farms Cemetery till after noon
when it began to snow. Then I burned brush till night.
01\22\1932 (Friday)
Burned two big piles of brush at the East Farms Cemetery
and raked over the South East corner of the ground.
This morning at ten o'clock, I went to M. E. Pierpont's
house and saw the Mattatuck Drum Band load into
a large New England Bus and start for New York
where tonight they will participate in the Beaux Arts Ball to
be held in the Waldorf Astoria ballroom. The drum band
and the Putnam Phalanx will have a prominent roll to play in
the "Pagent {Pageant} of Old New York And The First Inaugural Ball of The
United States of America". The pagent {pageant} is being staged as a part
of the George Washington bi-|centennial celebration.
More than 500 socially prominent New Yorkers will participate
in the pageant.
Oscar Todd and John Fulgham of Wolcott were found guilty by
a jury in the Superior Court yesterday on a charge of bribery and
are to be sentenced Tuesday. Bail was refused and they were taken
to New Haven jail.
01\23\1932 (Saturday)
Wet and rain all day. This morning I made hooks for
the doors of the barn at the farm, and then went there
and put them on. Then worked in the Cemetery cleaning
it up. It rained hard and I came home and repaired
the truck and did other work.
01\24\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went up to John Wakelee's in Wolcott.
There we met Mr. Major Wiliiam Besse and wife of Torrington{?}
01\25\1932 (Monday)
Finished cleaning the Cemetery this afternoon. Then cleaned
out the spring that supplies the iron trough by the road.
The weather has been rather mild.
01\26\1932 (Tuesday)
Painted the North boundary wire fence on the hill to day, 54 ft. of it.
Oscar Todd and John B. Fulgham, officials found guilty last Thursday
by a jury in the Superior Court on a charge of bribery, were each
given a suspended term of one to two years in the state prison
this morning by Judge Frederick M. Peasley. Each of the men
was also fined $300 and costs. Sent pictures of diger to Irving this
morning.
01\27\1932 (Wednesday)
Rained this fournoon {forenoon}. I filed saws, made rake handle and
did odd jobs about home.
01\28\1932 (Thursday)
This forenoon I painted wire fence on the hill. This afternoon I
attended a stockholders meeting at the Waterbury Rolling Mills.
They pay no dividends this year on account of the depression.
{01\29 no entry}
01\30\1932 (Saturday)
Yesterday morning Mary and I went to West Simsbury to visit brother
Frank. We left there about 2.30 to come home, but the rain was falling
and freezing as it fell, and the roads were very slippery. I put on chains
and started over the cross road to {????????} but before I was half
way there, the car skidded into a soft{?} gutter and I had a hard time
getting it out, and then turned back to Franks where we staid over
night and started home about eleven to day. We reached home about
one, and I worked here the rest of the day. Got pension check of
$25.00 cut from 71.50 which it has been since 1924.
01\31\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Mr.
Howland of Middlebury preached. Weather has been cold.
02\01\1932 (Monday)
Worked about home most of the day, and typed a long letter.
02\02\1932 (Tuesday)
Snowed the greater part of the day, ran the typewriter a spell.
02\03\1932 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I typed a long letter that was writen by
Josiah Atkins to his wife in Wolcott in 1781. Josiah was
in Camp in the Highlands of New York.
This afternoon I went out to the farm and drew out
manure with Teddy.
I attended a meeting of the Official Board of the Mill Plain
Union Church.
02\04\1932 (Thursday)
Got out manure with Teddy most of the day. The City men
are blasting out a ledge of hard rock opposite my house to widen the street.
02\05\1932 (Friday)
Snow on the ground 10 in. deep. It fell last night, first time I
have had to dig out pathes this winter. Have been digging
the most of the day. The state roads were plowed out when
we got up this morning as was the trolley roads. They were
hard to plow out, as it rained first and froze, then hail and
sleet and snow. Many autos got stuck fast and staid
out all night and many could not get them out this morning
as the snow was heavy and the cars could not push
through it. I went to town this afternoon.
02\06\1932 (Saturday)
I worked in the wheelhouse most of the time to day rigging up a
Blackmere rotory {rotary} pump. Aunt Imegene {Imogene} Somers died this
evening, aged 90.
02\07\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
Frank came this afternoon from Kent and borrowed my
Drum Band Uniform. Howard Neal called this
P.M. Ray and Ruth called this evening and got a
rack for holding a telephone directory, a vise and
leavel {level} that brother Frank sent him from Simsbury.
02\08\1932 (Monday)
Weather warm and snow melted much. I worked in the wheelhouse
on the pump. Leland Garrigus called this evening as Mary
wished to see him about the old uniforms that belong to the
Drum band.
02\09\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I worked in the wheel house. This afternoon, Mary,
Margaret and Ruth, Ray's wife, attended the funeral of Aunt
Emogene Somers on Piedmont St., South Waterbury. She was
aged 90 years. 68 years ago I saw her and Uncle Dwight married
at my father's house on Cherry St. That was in 1862 and a few
days after Uncle Dwight left for the War where he served three
years in Co. C 14 Rgt.
02\10\1932 (Wednesday)
Worked in the wheel house.
02\11\1932 (Thursday)
A dog caught a hen to day. The dog belonged to Harrry L.
Brinkman, 96 Frost Road. Mary went to Mr. Russel's funeral
with Mrs. Ralph Blakeslee.
02\12\1932 (Friday)
Worked most of the day in the Wheel House on the pump.
This is Lincoln's birth day. There is no school. Weather is very
foggy. Margaret called this afternoon. She was on her way home from
Storrs where she had been visiting Ruth.
02\13\1932 (Saturday)
The weather has been warm and the snow has melted much.
Nearly all gone. I took the chains off my truck last night.
Have worked to day in the Wheel House.
02\14\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I visited Fritz Hansen at Cheshire.
Wrote to Emma L. Jackson, Redlands, Cal.
02\15\1932 (Monday)
Cold day. Worked at the pump in Wheel House. This afternoon went
to Charles S. Tuttle's in Woodtick.
Got a bag of middlings for the young steer.
Received letter and check for 15.00 from Clifford Graves of
The Poinciana{??}, 434 West 120th St. New York.
02\16\1932 (Tuesday)
Cold to day. This morning, 4ø above zero. Have worked in the wheel
house all day.
02\17\1932 (Wednesday)
Worked in Wheel House most of the day.
This evening Mary and I went to the Washington supper at the
Mill Pain Union Church.
02\18\1932 (Thursday)
Cold to day. Worked on pump in Wheel House to day.
02\19\1932 (Friday)
Worked in Blacksmith shop all day.
Ray called this evening and told us that a little girl six years old
was killed on the Meriden Road near Capitol Avenue late this
afternoon as she was coming home from school. She was struck
by a heavy truck.
02\20\1932 (Saturday)
I sharpened and repaired picks, grubs etc. for the Calvary
Cemetery most of the day. The weather has been cold,
4ø above zero this morning.
02\21\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
When I went out to start my car this morning, the battery
was dead. I telephoned to Montambeau and he was here
in five minutes with another battery. When we got my
battery out. it was frozen and cracked, a thing that I
never had happen before, though I have had them in
very cold weather.
This afternoon Mary and I called on Burt Frisbie
at Woodtick.
02\22\1932 (Monday)
Washington's birth day. I raised the flag on the pole
on the barn. Sharpened tools for the Calvary Cemetery.
Wrote a letter to Clifford Graves of New York this evening.
02\23\1932 (Tuesday)
This morning Mary and I started for Bristol in a snow
storm, but the car skidded so much that we turned back.
I went down town and got my drivers license for 1932. Paid
3.00.
02\24\1932 (Wednesday)
Cold day. Not well this morning. This afternoon I went
to Redferns in Bristol where I bought my Ford car and
carried back the battery that came with the car which was
not good and got another which he gave me. I took it to
Montambeaus and he took out his battery and put the new
one in.
The City men finished blasting out the rocks opposite
my house on East Main St. and carting them away
to day.
02\25\1932 (Thursday)
Worked about home splitting wood and at the farm painting
fence on the hill.
02\26\1932 (Friday)
Trimmed apple trees on the hill and the young trees in
the barn lot. They were cutting ice on Welton's Pond on
the Plank Road 9" thick to day.
02\27\1932 (Saturday)
Finished trimming the apple trees.
Weather warm and thawing some.
02\28\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Judge Brown's in
Wolcott.
02\29\1932 (Monday)
This forenoon I painted fence on the hill, but this afternoon
it began to snow and I came home and went to
the Apothecarie's Hall and bought a 12 1\2 lb. tub of Atlantic
white lead and 1/2 pt. of dryers.
03\01\1932 (Tuesday)
Weather has been quite cool and windy. This morning I filed a
cross-|cut saw for Mr. Rocham. When I went out to the farm after
dinner, I drove over the Meriden Road to Ray's on Capitol Avenue
and left two dozen eggs. At the farm, I chopped down an old apple
tree that stood above the spring so the apples nearly all dropped and
rolled into the water and rotted. They apples were of little use,
right for cider only they ripened in early Aug. Before other apples
were ready, they had decayed.
Mr. Joseph Norris who built the house on the hill at the
North East corner of my land has moved away. It is said
that he has lost the place on account of his many debts.
Mr. Forrest Chapen who has lived in the house that
William Connor built several years ago. Has sold it and
moved to Fairlawn. It is said that he received a heavy cut
in his pay at the American Brass Co. which made it
impossiable {impossible} to maintain the large house.
Howard Kraft came this evening and took his furniture out
of the barn.
03\02\1932 (Wednesday)
I worked at the farm cleaning up the apppletree at the spring.
This evening, attended the meeting of the Official Board
at the Mill Plain Union Church.
I read a paper on how to raise money to pay off a portion
of the Church debt{??}.
03\03\1932 (Thursday)
Filed a cross-|cut saw for the man that
lives on the old Hiram Bucker{?} place in Prospect. He told
me that they were going to continue the State road
that they built last fall on past his house towards the Plank
Road. I let Mr. Fraser have 8.75 this morning to pay
the bill of the communion glasses.
A nice warm day above freezing.
03\04\1932 (Friday)
Nice warm weather. I painted fence on the hill.
The country is greatly stunned in regard to the
kidnapping of the baby son of Linburgh at Hopewell,
N.J. last Tuesday night. There is a general search being
carried on by Government, States, Cities and Towns. As yet,
no tidings have been obtained as to who the kidnappers
were.
03\05\1932 (Saturday)
Painted fence and fought fire at East Farms.
There were many fires, mostly set by boys. This noon
Mrs. Cooley discovered a fire in our back yard.
Mary called the firemen but they could not come
so she witht eh help of Mrs. Cooley and a man
put it out.
03\06\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon was very stormy, hail, snow and
rain.
03\07\1932 (Monday)
Wheeled wood into the cellar this morning. Then went
to the farm and drew down{?} wood with Teddy, and brought
home a load. This evening I popped nearly two bushels of
pop corn for the mens fair at the church.
03\08\1930 {1932} (Tuesday)
Very cold and windy day. Got wood into the cellar and
cleaned the ashes out, etc.
Gasoline is the cheapest now that I ever knew it. 13 1/3 cts.
per gallon.
A woman was hit and killed by an automobile out
near Merline Avenue last night.
03\09\1932 (Thursday) {Wednesday}
Weather cold and windy. Put up pump frame in
cellar. Went to Bank and to Bronson Lybrary {Library??}
This evening Mary, I and Mrs. Hapenny and
her two daughters went to the Mill Plain Church
Men's Fair.
03\10\1932 (Friday) {Thursday}
Coldest day of the winter. 8ø above and wind blowing
a gale. Worked in the cellar on pump.
This evening Mary, Mrs. Hapenny and I attended
the Church Men's Fair at the Mill Plain Union
Church. The Linburgh baby has not yet been recovered.
03\11\1932 (Friday)
Cold day. This afternoon I went to the Bronson Library and
looked up the Jackson family.
Lewis Somers and a friend called this evening
to get information regarding an article I wrote last
year on the early brass industry of Waterbury.
03\12\1932 (Saturday)
A very cold day. I cut and wheeled in wood into the
cellar. Forty four years ago to day the Great Blizard
of 1888 began. It was Sunday afternoon at about 4 P.M. Mary
and I were over East of Mass{??} Farms in Cheshire looking
at the construction work at the Meriden Railroad that
they were building at the time and before we got home
with our horse and carriage, the snow was quite deep. It
continued to snow all night. all Monday and night and
some Tuesday when the snow lay nearly four feet on
the level, but in most places it was drifted to a
great depth. Near the corner of the Meriden and Byam
Roads, I stood on top of a high drift and put my hand
down on top of a telegraph pole that stuck up through
the snow about 18 inches.
03\13\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Hotchkissville in Woodbury
and visited Miss Annie Pierpont.
The weather has been clear and some cloudy and some cold.
03\14\1932 (Monday)
This forenoon I went to the farm and drew down wood with the
little steer till noon when it turned very cold, so I put a load on
the truck and brought it home, and before I had it unloaded,
it began to snow and continued till night. So I worked in
the wheel house the rest of the afternoon.
03\15\1932 (Tuesday)
Cold day, 8ø above this morning. Worked in wheel house making
a safety valve.
03\16\1932 (Wednesday)
Repaired blinds in the Wheelhouse. Weather very cold.
03\17\1932 (Thursday)
St. Patricks Day. Little observed of late years. I repaired blinds and
went to town and saw James Phelan about having a police
patrol established on the Meriden, Pierpont, Cheshire and
Scott Roads to prevent the setting of fires without a permit.
03\18\1932 (Friday)
Worked at the farm painting fence till noon when on account
of its being very cold, I gave it up. I then drew wood with
the steer till 4, then came home.
{03\19 - 03\21 no entries}
03\22\1932 (Tuesday)
Saturday morning Mary and I left for Kent at 9.30.
We went through Waterbury, Middlebury, Woodbury,
Southbury, Roxbury, Bridgewater and New Milford, the
distance being 45 and 6/10 miles. After we had dinner,
Frank, Elsie and their children Mary, Bertha and Dwight
went in his truck up in Macadonia Park where we left
the truck and followed the Apalachian {Appalachian} Trail up on
Cobble Mountain which was very steep and rugged
and required the use of a rope in some places on account
of snow and ice, but for the most part the rocks were
bare. At the summit the view was fine in all directions.
We could see the Catskill Mountains in N.Y. and look
down on{?} Allgone{??} and Seatacoke{??} mountains in Kent.
We traveled along the summit for quarter of a
mile and then descended into a valley which we
followed to the Old Chipawalla Road down which we went
about two miles to the four corners where the Skiff Mountain
Road turns off. There we waited till Frank walked down the
road about a mile and got the truck and came back and
got us and all went home where we found Mary and Jessie.
We had walked and climbed about five miles and rode about
five miles more and the trip was worth it.
Sunday morning as we were getting into the auto
to leave for Church, Weneto (a young spanard {Spaniard??} who works
for Frank) told that early in the morning, three men
who were well known to them had ran off the road
south of Kent and plunged into the Housatonic River
and were drowned. There names were E.R. Malahan, Gilbert E. Vincent
and B. {???} Shove. As the natives figured it, Malahan
lived in Torington but ran a meat market in Kent
and the other two worked for him. They had been getting in
ice all Saturday and all had been drinking some. At ten o'clock
they were in Kent and one of them had bought a large supply
of groceries which was in Malahan's new red sedan. After that
time, they went to Wingdale N.Y. via Bulls Bridge and loaded
with hooch{??} and started home. It is supposed while traveling,
they fell asleep with the result as above stated. An Indian
who lives across the river heard the crash at 1.20. At 2.20
a Kent and Cornwall man were passing and one of them
noticed a light in the water. After they had gone about a
mile, they turned back and found it to be the head light of an
auto that was covered with 4 ft. of water, and found several lengths of State
rail broken away.
They went to a house nearby and called the Conaan{??} Barracks
and State Police investigated and called the Conn. Light and Power
Co. of New Milford who sent their large pole setting truck which
they placed in position and with a grapel, hooked in the front
end of the top, dragged the car to the road when they found
the three men in the car, one at he wheel and two on the back
seat. A section of the guard rail had pierced the wind shield
and gone through the left rear corner but missed striking
the men. All three men were married and beside the widows,
they have ten children, Malahan 3, Mr, Shove 4, and Mr. Vincent 3.
After Church, Frank drove down and we saw the place where
accident occured. We then went home and had dinner. Towards
night, we went to New Milford where Frank got a large milk can.
Monday morning, Frank and I and Dwight, after chores, drove in the truck
to the Jackson farm in Goshen but he was not home. We
then went to Beache's creamery in Bantam and got a number
of tubs of butter which he left at the school.
We intended leaving after dinner for home but as it snowed
hard and the roads were very slippery, Mary telephoned
Ray's wife that we would stay over till next day.
Tuesday morning Frank took four bales of bags{??} to the
Depot and carried Mary and Bertha to school, after which
we went to Macadonia Park and saw the care taker
about buying a hay rigging, after which Mary and I
started for home. We came to Swifts Bridge through
Warren, Woodville, Bantam, Morris, Bethlehem,
Watertown and Waterbury, 44.9 miles. On the high grounds
of Warren, Bantam and Morris, there was much ice.
03\23\1932 (Wednesday)
Did odd jobs about home and painted 12 lengths of fence at
th farm.
03\24\1932 (Thursday)
Went to town this morning and bought a push brush 20"
2.85, one qt. of oil 25{??} for the Church. I then went
to the farm and painted the fence.
03\25\1932 (Friday)
Painted fence on the hill. Good Friday. No school and but
few factories running.
03\26\1932 (Saturday)
Painted fence on the hill, very windy. Had to stop about
4 o'clock as it began to rain.
03\27\1932 (Sunday)
Easter Sunday. Attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church which was crowded. About 25 persons joined the Church
and about a dozen were babtised {baptized}. This afternoon Mary and I
went to Charles Hotchkiss in South Britain. Nice day.
03\28\1932 (Monday)
This morning ground covered with snow and rained hard. Stormed
all day. At ten I went to City Hall to see Mayor Hayes
about fires at East Farms. He was not in. I then called on
Chief Joseph Mc Lean of the Police Department. He said
that he would attend to it and have police patrol that
section. I then bought some pea seed and a small tub
of white lead.
03\29\1932 (Tuesday)
Painted fence on hill. Lewis Somers called this evening
and we made arrangements to go to Logtown next Sunday.
03\30\{1932} (Wednesday)
Repaired and painted fence on the hill. Cut the brush
along the Norris Road in front of my heavy fence.
Ray called this evening and spoke of having a garden
at East Farms.
03\31\1932 (Thursday)
Rained nearly all day. I went ot the farm and planted
six rows of peas, came home and started making a
little cart for Teddy.
04\01\1932 (Friday)
Painted fence. Weather cool. The East End News which is
published at 328 Frost Road by F.C. Beers appears this
week with eight pages 7"x10" all for one cent. It is a lively
record of a thriving community.
To day the Waterbury American called Ruth and wishes
her to act as the Mill Plain correspondent, a work which
they discontinued some months ago.
Mr. Hazelhurst has moved away from the house he
bought of M.E. Pierpont about four years ago and Mort now
has the house again.
04\02\{1932} (Saturday)
Repaired a pump for Ed Sampson of Bunker Hill and worked
about home most of the day.
04\03\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Louis Somer's place on
Piedmont St. and he and I went to Logtown in Prospect
where there once stood 8 houses on a highway within 3\4 of a mile
distance. All trace of whom the inhabitants were is now lost.
04\04\1932 (Monday)
This forenoon I went to the farm and painted fence. This afternoon,
worked on cart. At four thirty Ray came and we welded
the axel {axle} for the cart. Mary had a letter from Frank in Kent
and a large bottle of Maple Syrut {Syrup} that Elsie sent over by
Margaret who was over there yesterday.
04\05\1932 (Tuesday)
Fine day. Went to George Browne's in Wolcott after eggs to
set{?} but she had none. Worked on cart the remainder of
the forenoon and painted seven lengths of fence in the
afternoon. Mr. Peters called and paid ten dollars for
rent of the barn loft.
04\06\1932 (Wednesday)
Painted 18 legths of fence 162 ft. Wind blew strong from
the North. This evening Mary and I attended a
meeting of the Official Board.
04\07\1932 (Thursday)
Rained this morning. I worked on cart all day.
04\08\1932 (Friday)
Worked on little cart.
04\09,10,11\1932 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday)
This morning Mary and I left at 10.30 for Stan's in my little
Ford roadster. Went through Southington, Plainville, Farmington,
West Hartford to Hartford where we stoped {stopped} and saw a
great flower exhibit at the armory where we took dinner.
We left there at 1.30 and continued on through East Hartford
by Silver Lane to Manchester, Bolton Notch, Coventry,
Mansfield 4 Corners to Storrs, rained all the way.
Found Ruth and the children all well and happy.
Sunday we all attended service at the Storrs Church. After
dinner Jack took me to Gurleyville, stoping {stopping} on the way to
show me a piece of land that he is thinking of buying.
At Gurleyville we visited a small shop where they sawed out
pearl buttons, the shells coming from Australia. We also
visited a log camp where some boy scouts stay night and
day. We then came back to Storrs and took Ruth and
Mary to Grandma Pattersons and we continued on to
Wellington thence to Wellington Hill and to East Wellington
where we saw the largest poultry outfit I ever saw. They
had 58,800 eggs in incubators and thousands upon thousands
of young chicks and 38,000 laying hens and roosters, 200 hens
that had layed over 300 eggs in a year and one that had
layed 328 eggs. For this hen, they had been offered $1000.00.
From there we visited Mr. George Smith at Wellington Hill
who had many interesting antiques of many kinds. By this
time it was dark and we went home.
Monday rained all day. We started for home aboout 10.30,
came by Willimantic{??}, Columbia, Hebron, Marlborough,
East Hampton, Middletown and Meriden, 60 miles.
Reached home at 1.30. I set the boxes in the wheels of the
little cart this afternoon.
04\12\1932 (Tuesday)
Rained much of the time. I worked on the cart.
Louis Somers called this evening. She said business
is growing worse all the time.
04\13\1932 (Wednesday)
I finished the cart at noon. Went to the farm and got
stones off from the ground where I had pop corn last year.
Ray came and spaded a while.
04\14\1932 (Thursday)
This mornign I went to town and bought garden seed and
electric light bulbs, steel wool, etc. Came home, had dinner.
Took two pounds of steel wool and 2 -|100 WATT and 2 -|60 WATT
lamps to the church, came home and loaded the little cart
onto the truck and took it to the farm, hitched Teddy
in and took two young apple trees, a gravenstene{??} and Baldwin
up into the young orchard and set them out, after which
I prepared some ground in the lower garden for planting.
04\15\1932 (Friday)
This forenoon repaired a roller handle for Ed Scott of Cheshire.
This afternoon, drew 7 loads of manure up to the lot west of
the shed. This evening I called the dog warden but could
not get him as a dog nearly killed a chicken.
04\16\1932 (Saturday)
Cold day. Ground frozen this morning, 1" deep.
Was at farm to day, planted lettice {lettuce}, radish, onions and
set a trench of pie-|plant etc.
Ruth's first piece of news appeared in this evening's Amercan.
04\17\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon went to Prospect and saw Edgar Wallace at
his son's Clifford Wallace, at the center. Also called on Miss
Mable Hotchkiss at her home for information of the early
in habitants of Logtown. Very cold and windy.
04\18\{1932} (Monday)
Worked at the farm, painting fence and getting ready
to plant. This morning I went to Montambeaults{??} and
had my car repaired. Ray spaded at the farm this afternoon.
04\19\1932 (Tuesday)
Sowed oats and picked off stones etc. Ray spaded at the farm.
This morning's paper said that John Jacoby had been shot in
Cuba and is in critical condition.
04\20\1932 (Wednesday)
Sowed oats and grass seed on the hill. Ray came to the
farm this evening.
04\21\1932 (Thursday)
Picked stones off the lots on the hill where I had oats last
year and where I sowed oats this year.
04\22\1932 (Friday)
Nice day. William Garrigus and his two sons Lee and John
are preairing the house that Willaim Hazelhurst lived in
on the Cheshire Road. Dr. Egan is to move in soon.
I smoothed the ground where I sowed oats on the hill
and tamped{??} in the corn stumps.
04\23\{1932} (Saturday)
Dug out the level ditches at the farm. There has been many
forest fires. I saw the smoke rising from two large ones in Prospect
and one in Wolcott. The paper to night states that the Waterbury
Fire Department was called out 32 times, mostly brush fires.
04\24\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Girtrude
Coe conducted the service. Rev. {? ?} preached. Rev. J. O. Todd
is at his parents home in Illinois attending their golden
wedding. This afternoon Mary and I went with Margaret,
Howard Craft {Kraft}, and Marion to Wolcott and looked at the
Wird{??} house where Howard and Marion are going to
live. We then went to Bucks Hill where I saw Mrs.
Henry D. Hotchkiss. Then we went to Prospect and
saw the new house that Margaret's second daughter
and the man she is going to marry are thinking of buying.
04\25\1932 (Monday)
Worked about home part of the forenoon, then went to the
farm and burned some brush and planted in the garden
the rest of the day.
04\26\1932 (Tuesday)
The corner stone of the new Post Office on Grand St. was laid
yesterday. To day I spaded and painted a little in the garden here
till it rained. I went to the farm and used the small harrow on
the hill. A heavy thunder shower this morning.
04\27\1932 (Wednesday)
I spaded part of the home garden. The weather has been cold.
34ø above with more or less snow all day. At times it fell very
fast. Rith called. She brought a load of woman {women} from Storrs
in her car to attend a church coference {conference} at the first Church.
04\28\1932 (Thursday)
Cool weather. I went to town this morning and
paid the telephone bill, 3.00. Bought of the Hotchkiss
Co., one pr. of pruning shears, 2.75 and did other
errands. Came home and went to the farm and
put wood ashes about some young apple trees, etc.
04\29\1932 (Friday)
Harrowed ground for corn and potatoes and planted in home garden.
Ray came this evening and got a load of manure.
{04\30 - 05\01 no entries}
05\02\1932 (Monday)
Last Sat. morning I left home for Kent at 11.15 to go to
Frank's place and get seed potatoes, fertilizer and a
young pig. Went by way of Watertown, Morris, Romford,
Woodville, Warren and then West over rough hilley {hilly} dirt
road to Kent 42 miles at Woodville. I went up the
Shepang River and viewed the new concrete dam
that the City of Waterbury is building. It is about
2/3 two thirds{??} finished. When I reached Frank's house,
I took the children, Mary, Bertha and Dwight and
went to the field on the East side of the river South
of the public school where Frank with three men and a
pair of horses were planting potatoes with a machine.
It was Father's Day at the Kent school and they had a
boat race in the river, the fathers rowing against the
Sons. The Fathers beat.
Sunday Frank, Elsie and I went to the Congregational
Church. After we got inside, it began to rain and continued
the rest of the day.
Monday -| This morning they 15 forty quart cans of
milk to the school. After breakfast, we loaded the pig
into the rumble{??} on my car with potatoes and fertilizer
on the truck rack and I left there at quarter of nine
and came to Swifts Bridge, to Warren, to Woodville, to
Bantam, to Morris, to Reyonds Bridge, to Waterville and over
through Leakwood, home at 10.30. I took the pig to the farm
and left it. Then went to Bessie Pierponts and got a lot of
dandelion greens, came home and had dinner, then back
to the farm and started to build a pig pen. Ray came out
at evening. On Saturday, Frank took us to the Shatacook Indians
Burying Ground where the State has been putting a new stockade fence
around it. We counted 68 graves, probably there are many more.
05\03\1932 (Tuesday)
Spent the forenoon in the valt {vault} at the City Hall looking up Log
town records. This afternoon was at the farm building a pig pen.
Ray came in the evening.
05\04\1932 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I went to Maplehill farm and cut and shaped the
front door stone steps that Bessie Pierpont has had put
in place there. I then came to the farm and worked
on the pig pen. Ray came and helped me. Ray said that
all at the factory were notified of another cut in wages.
05\05\1932 (Thursday)
This forenoon I worked at blacksmith work. Then went to
the farm and cut pea brush and harrowed the potatoe
ground and worked on the pig pen. There was a big fire
in the south woods this afternoon. At night it was still burning.
05\06\1932 (Friday)
Went to City Hall and copied records this forenoon.
This afternooon worked at the farm on pig pen.
05\07\1932 (Saturday)
Finished the joiner work on the pig pen and drew the
stone for underpriming{??} and floor.
05\08\{1932} (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J.O.
Todd. Had dinner at Margaret's. After dinner I went
to Prospect and saw Mr. Cowdell and Edgar Jeralds.
Came home by Plank Road. This is Mother's Day and
we received a telegram from Clyde and Fritsa from
Mimico and from Ruth from Storrs.
05\09\1932 (Monday)
Filed two wood saws for Ed Bronson, then went to the farm and planted
potatoes on the hill. This evening I put stone under and in the
pig pen. Ray came and planted in his garden.
05\10\1932 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to Town Clerk's office and looked up Log Town
records and some Prospect Town Records at the South East corner of
the town.
05\11\1932 (Wednesday)
Planted potatoes on the hill all day.
05\12\1932 (Thursday)
Planted potatoes on the hill at the farm.
05\13\1932 (Friday)
This forenoon I went to the Town Clerk's office. Finished planting potatoes
this afternoon.
05\14\1932 (Saturday)
Ray and I worked putting up the fence about the pig yard.
05\15\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. This is 49 anniversary of the
opening of the old Chapel and the 4th anniversary of the Dedication of
the new Church. This afternoon Mary and I went to Prospect
and stoped {stopped} at Mr. Cowdell's and their daughter took us to
Straitville and back over the Hamden Road to Prospect. At one place,
in tunring out, we ran off the side of the road and were stuck
in the mud. Some people came along and pulled us out.
05\16\1932 (Monday)
Worked fixing pig yard. Ray helped this evening. Put pig in.
05\17\1932 (Tuesday)
Finished pig yard and repaired the lame fence.
Took book to Cowdell's in Prospect.
05\18\1932 (Wednesday)
This morning I saw Mr. Nodine and we agreed to divide
the fence between our properties, he to have the North
half and I the South half. This afternoon I built about 30 ft.
of the South end. Ray came and helped towards evening.
05\19\1932 (Thursday)
Worked in the garden at East Farms and late in
the afternoon, Ray came and we dug holes for corn on
the hill. This evening Mary and I called on Henry Hotchkiss
at Buckshill.
05\20\1932 (Friday)
This morning I drove to the farm in my roadster
and when I got back, drew the oil out and put in
new and drew the alcohol water out of the radiator
and put in fresh. I then went to the City Hall
and looked up Log Town records.
This afternoon I changed the water in the truck
and took a load of chicken manure to the farm
and planted in the garden there.
05\21\1932 (Saturday)
Finished planting the garden at East Farms.
Had a nice shower this afternoon which was much
needed.
05\22\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church, Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Mr. Cowdell's in
Prospect and Mrs. Cowdell, Nellie, Mary and I went
down the Parsons Road and Nellie and I went over
to the Log Town Road and found some of the old
cellars and I went the whole length of the road
from the Clark School to the Straitsville Road.
We then returned to Cowdell via Clark Hall and I
called on Mr. and Mrs. Walter Morse.
05\23\1932 (Monday)
Worked all day at the farm getting stones away
from the garden and making holes for corn
on the hill.
05\24\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to the City Hall and looked
up records, after which I went to the Waterbury
Savings Bank and drew 89 dollars and went to City Hall
and paid one half of my tax, 89.17. I worked at the farm the
rest of the day.
05\25\1932 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I worked at the farm. In the afternoon I
attended the Washington Bi Centennial Celebration
at Hamilton Park. They had a long and interesting
parade and at the Park, Govonor {Governor} Cross was the man
who made the address.
I later saw William Purdy on East Mountain
and then drove to Prospect Center and saw Mr.
Theodore Allen about the history of the old Prospect
Coronet Band. I then went to East Farms and
fed the stock. The pig had got out of the pen.
05\26\1932 (Thursday)
I worked at the farm all day. This evening Mr.
Peck came from Northfield and bought my old
Waterwheel shaft for 4.50.
05\27\1932 (Friday)
Planted corn on the hill and harrowed where I am to plant
pop corn this forenoon. This afternoon Mary and I
drove to Goshen and attended Cousin Lillie Gillette's
funeral. She was buried in the Cemetery at the Center
where her husband is buried, Cousin Malachi.
From there we drove to Kent to Frank's house. He
took me in his truck to see the ground he has
planted this spring, over fifty two acres of potatoes,
corn and oats, beside a large garden of about two
acres. While we were up the River the sky becam {became}
suddenly overcast with black clouds and before
we could get home it began to rain. In the evening
we went to an entertainment given by the
High School schollars {scholars} in the Community House
which was very good. We got home at elven o'clock
and went to bed and got up at five and got
ready and started for home which we reached at
8.15, then had breakfast and I went to the
farm and set out tomatoe {tomato} plants and worked in
the garden till noon. Then I worked mowing and
cleaning the Cemetery till four. While there, Mr.
Clifford Graves of New York came and looked the ground
over, especially the graves of his grandparence {grandparents} Eanok{?} W.
and Lydia Frost, and he seemed pleased with my
work.
{05\28 no entry}
05\29\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd. This afternoon Mary and I went to
the Old Lewis Burying Ground on Southington
Mountain after which we drove over Wolcott Hill
and to Woodtick and saw Chas Tuttle, then to East
Farmes {farms} and cared for the stock.
05\30\1932 (Monday)
Memorial day. Ray and I worked at the farm all day repairing
and building fences about the lane and pig yard.
05\31\1932 (Tuesday)
Mr. Frank Howland and I went to Prospect to find the
"Three Brothers" at the South East corner of the ancent {ancient??}
Town of Waterbury, now the South East Corner of the
Town of Prospect. While we tramped the woods of the mountain
over several times, we were unable to find them. We
then went to Prospect Center and saw Mr. Theodore Allen
and he refered us to La-|Verne Clark as knowing where
they are. We went to Mr. Clark's house and Mrs. Clark
told us that he had gone to Mrs. Buckley's funeral on
the Union City Road. We went to that place and
after the funeral was over, we saw Mr. Clark and
he said that he knew where the 'Three Brothers" were and
that he would show us, so we carried him down to
the University land and leaving our car, again entered
the woods and beat our way through the woods for
a long time only to meet with disappointment and
as it was getting late, we returned home leaving
Mr. Clark at his home on Clark Hill and Mr. Howland
coming to my house where we had supper.
06\01\1932 (Wednesday)
To day I worked at the farm all day building a fence
along the North end of the barn lot East of the lane.
Ray came and helped me in the afternoon.
06\02\1932 (Thursday)
I planted corn on the hill next to the North fence in the
East lot and got the ground ready to plant in the West lot.
06\03\1932 (Friday)
This morning I went to City Hall and looked up records.
This afternoon I planted in the Garden at home and mowed
grass.
06\04\1932 (Saturday)
Made holes on the hill to plant pop corn in. Weather
very warm. Ray was out till noon.
06\05\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd. This afternoon went to Prospect to Mr. Purdy's
and Mr. Cowdell's.
06\06\1932 (Monday)
Very warm, mowed the back yard, sharpened 6 picks, etc.
Saw Mr. Cooley about rent.
06\07\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to City Hall and copied records.
I then went to Dr. Barber's office and he examined me
and said that my heart is affected and that I must
not work for a while, and a good many other things
are not right. I have forgotten what they were, but I must
stop working. After I got home, I went to the farm and
cared for the stock and spent the rest of the day writing
the Frost family genealogy for Clifford Graves of 434
West 120 St. New York City.
06\08\1932 (Wednesday)
This morning I took some work to Miss Cowdell in
Prospect to have typewritten. Came back to the farm
and worked in the garden there the rest of the day.
Ray came towards night.
This evening we attended the annual meeting of
the Mill Planin {Plain} Church. I was elected deacon for
three years.
06\09\1932 (Thursday)
Planted pop corn on the hill to day and replanted some
of the garden.
06\10\1932 (Friday)
Went to City Hall and looked up records this forenoon.
This afternoon I cultivated appple trees at the farm on
the hill.
06\11\1932 (Saturday)
To day Mary and I attended the Bethany Centennial
Celebration. The programme was, 10.00 A.M. Ringing of Church
bells, 10.30 A.M. Flag raising exercises at Bethany Center, 11.00 A.M.
Re-|enactment of the first Bethany Town Meeting of 1832 in
the Congregational Church, 2.00 P.M. Official reception to
Governor Wilber L. Cross at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Burton L. Nelleton{??}, Bethany Center. 2.30 Address by his
Exellency the Governor in the grove near Christ Episcopal
Church, 3.30 Centennial Pagent {Pageant} under the personal
direction of Mr. Frank L. Fowler, Grand Marshal,
Music by the Mattatuck Drum Band of Waterbury
and the Woodbridge Bugle and Drum Corps.
The parade started at the fox farm near the {????} field
at 3.30 P.M. and ended at the Peck Road. The Church bells tolled
as the parade passed through the Center of the town.
The order of the Parade was as follows, No. 1. State Police, 2.
Horseback Riders, 3. Mattatuck Drum Band, 4. Indina
Family Float, 5. D.A.R. Float, 6. Sheep Float, 7. Spinning
Wheel Float, 8. Loom Float, 9. Plantation Float, 10. Old Phaton{??},
11. Old Time Sleigh, 12. Manufacturing Float, 13. Ancient Wooden Axle
Carriage, 14. Large American Flag, 15. Special Float, 16. Gate School
Float-|100 years ago, 17. Beecher School Float-|50 years ago, 18. Center
School Float-|The Present, 19. Racing Gig, 20. Baby Carriage, 21.
Charcoal Float, 22. High Bicycle, 23. Dary {Dairy??} Float 100 years ago,
24. Dary {Dairy??} Float-| The Present, 25. Fanning{??} Mill Float, 26.
Decorated Bicycles, 27. Woodbridge Bugle and Drum
Corps, 28. Four {???} Club Float, 29. Polish Float, 30. 1890
Oldsmobile, 31. 1932 Oldsmobile, 32. 1908 Buic, 33. 1932 Buic,
34. Old Ford, 35. 1932 Ford, Clowns, Town Crier, Pack Peddler.
06\12\1932 (Sunday)
Attended the Mill Plain Union Church. This was Children's
Day and the Church was crowded.
This afternoon I went to Prospect but it rained so I came
home by Hopkins Hill and Perl{??} Lakes.
06\13\1932 (Monday)
Planted in the garden. This afternoon I mowed in East Farms
Cemetery, 3 hr.
06\14\1932 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. Mowed in East Farms Cemetery,
3 hr.
06\15\1932 (Wednesday)
Rained most of morning but cleared before noon. I mowed the
grass in the street by the watering trough at East Farms
and raked up the grass in the Cemetery. This afternoon Ray
came and helped me cultivate my potatoes with the steer.
This evening we attended the annual meeting of the
Pine Grove Cemetery held in the Old Mill Plain Chapel.
The building would not hold all who came.
06\16\1932 (Thursday)
Rained much of the time to day. I cultivated and
hoed some of the potatoes on the hill.
06\17\{1932} (Friday)
Went to City Hall and looked up records this morning.
Cultivated and hoed potatoes this afternoon.
06\18\1932 (Saturday)
Cultivated and hoed potatoes all day.
06\19\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church. Graduation
sermon. This afternoon Mary and I went to Prospect.
Visited Treat{??} Hotchkiss. Mr. Cowdell and I went to the
Cemetery after which we visited Harvy Green.
06\20\1932 (Monday)
Repaired Coley's stairs this forenoon. I told Mr. Coley that they
must move on account of the trouble we have with the cats
that they harbor.
06\21\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon, went to Town Clerk's office and looked at records.
This afternoon finished hoeing potatoes.
06\22\1932 (Wednesday)
This morning I saw Mort Pierpont at his dairy barn and
made arrangements to get warm milk. I then went
to Mr. Cowdells' and got a paper written by Mrs.
Burkley on Prospect in young days. This morning
I wrote Howard Neal regarding the date of the
East Farms Cemetery Meeting and also about
money he owes me.
This afternoon cultivated and hoed corn and
potatoes on the hill.
06\23\1932 (Thursday)
I gathered the hay by the water trough and put it in
the pig pen and hoed potatoes.
06\24\1932 (Friday)
This forenoon I went to the town Clerk's office
and looked up records. This afternoon I hoed
potatoes.
06\25\1932 (Saturday)
To day we went to the Mill Plain Sunday School
Picnic at Smith's Pond in Watertown. The children were
conveyed in a large Buss and forty four automobiles.
I carried four besides Mary and myself. We all went in
a prosession {procession} led by a police auto. At the pond which
was of considerable size, they had many water races
such as canoe, boat rowing, swimming by boys and girls
in which Gene Northrop came out first, diving etc. They also
had running, sack and many other contests. Late in
the afternoon it rained. About this time we started home.
06\26\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
Joseph O. Todd. This afternoon I went to see Miss Bessie
Burkeley{???} at 1872 Middlebury Road about her father who
lived in Prospect years ago. He carried the colors of the 6th Reg in
the Civil War.
06\27\{1932} (Monday)
One of the hottest days I ever knew. I hoed potatoes on the hill
and it nearly done me up.
06\28\1932 (Tuesday)
I went to the Town Clerk's office this forenoon. This afternoon
I put arsnite of lead on the potatoes to kill the bugs.
06\29\1932 (Wednesday)
Hoed the corn on the hill and replanted it where the
starlings pulled it up. I hitched the steer into the big
cart for the first time.
06\30\1932 (Thursday)
Very hot day. I finished hoeing corn and cultivated about
half of the pop corn which is in the North West corner of the
North West lot.
07\01\1932 (Friday)
Replanted some of the corn on the hill and hoed some field
corn in the West piece. Ray helped me finish cultivating
the pop corn.
07\02\1932 (Saturday)
Finished hoeing all the corn and hoed a greater part
of the garden at East Farms.
07\03\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon we went to Cheshire at Mr. Hansens and
saw Clyde, Fritsa and Willard Miller who came form
Mimico, Toronto last evening. Clyde is to have two
weeks vacation and is to spend it about here.
07\04\1932 (Monday)
Rained much of the time to day. I hoed in the garden at
the farm and got the barn ready for hay.
07\05\1932 (Tuesday)
Clyde came this morning and we went ot the farm
and mowed in the barn lot and got the hay in.
This afternoon Fritsa came.
07\06\1932 (Wednesday)
Clyde and I mowed the steep side hill East of the barn
this forenoon, and in the afternoon, Mary, Fritsa, Clyde
and I went to West Simsbury and saw Frank and
Gussy. They were quite well. Got home before dark.
We all went in my little Ford car.
07\07\1932 (Thursday)
Clyde and Fritsa went to Hartford in my Ford
Roadster and I raked up the hay that we mowed
yesterday and got it in. Weather very hot.
07\08\1932 (Friday)
This morning I poped {popped} two bushels of pop corn
for the Reopening of the Mill Plain Church Play
Grounds and mowed at the farm this afternoon.
Clyde and Fritsa went to Torrington this morning.
07\09\1932 (Saturday)
Ray came out to the farm and we got in the hay that
I mowed yesterday and then mowed more in the
barn lot South of the garden.
This evening we attended the Reopening of the Mill
Plain Play Grounds.
07\10\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This afternoon we attended the Reunion of the
Pierpont Family. It was held at the farm of
Bessie Pierpont at Maple Hill. There were over
seventy present.
07\11\1932 (Monday)
Clyde and I mowed the East Farms Cemetery this forenoon.
It took us about two and one half hours. We then got in
the hay that Ray and I mowed Saturday in the Barn
lot. I then went to poisen {poison} the potatoes but above Ray's
garden I saw a large rabbit. I turned back and got
the rifle and shot it. Then I put arsnate of lead on the
potatoes. While I did that Clyde mowed the grass in the
lower meadow. When I came down Ray was there and we
three took our scythes and went to the lot by the shed
on the hill and mowed nearly half of it.
I gave Mort my bill for taking care of the Cemetery.
07\12\1932 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the dary {dairy} of M.E. Pierpont on the
Cheshire Road and got a drink of warm milk, after which I
stoped {stopped} at the farm and fed the steer and pig. Came home
and had breakfast. After which Clyde, Fritsa, Mary and
I drove in my Ford car to Torrington where we left Fritsa
at a house on Riverside Ave. and the rest of us drove to
Winsted over a fine new concrete road just completed.
At Winsted we went to the Winsted Mfg. Co. on the
Colbrook River Road where they make scythes and
bought two forty two inhes long, paid 1.40 each.
We then drove back to Torrington where we left Clyde
and Mary and I came on, stoping {stopping} at a rest place above
Campville where we had dinner. We then came home
where I bought a pair of work pants and then
came home and with the truck carried Mary to a
ladies meeting at Bessie Pierponts farm and then
went to our farm and got in a load of hay.
07\13\1932 {Wednesday}
Very hot day. I finished mowing the middle lot by
the shed and raked most of it up. Ray came late
and helped some.
This evening at 8 o'clock we attended a meeting
of the East Farms Cemetery Corporation that
was held in the Cemetery. There were not many
present. Officers elected were C.S. Miller, President,
M.E. Pierpont, Vice President, and Treasurer, Mr.
Hoadley, Vice President, Howard Neal, Secretary.
07\14\1932 {Thursday}
Very hot day. I mowed the clover on the hill and got
in a load of it. I also got in the hay in the middle lot
by the shed. I used the small truk to get it in.
07\15\1932 (Friday)
I mowed the herd's grass in{?} the West end of the upper lot
and raked it up. Ray came out this afternoon and we got
it in and we mowed the West end of the orchard lot
and got it in.
This evening I told Mr. Coley that they may stay
in our tenement until next Oct 1st. He guaranteed the rent.
A son was born this day to my granddaughter Marion
Northrop Kraft at the Waterbury Hopsital. They say that it
is to be named after me.
07\16\1932 (Saturday)
I mowed in the young orchard on the hill and got in
a small load.
07\17\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
Rained a little this afternoon. Mary and I called on
Cousin Bert Frisbie at Woodtick.
07\18\1932 (Monday)
William Service helped me mow the upper half of the orchard
on the hill and get it in after which we cultivated the
corn and potatoes part of each.
07\19\1932 (Tuesday)
William Service helped me this forenoon. We finished
cultivating the potatoes and corn and the pop corn.
This afternoon I cultivated the young apple trees on the
hill, all but one row. Weather very hot.
07\20\1932 (Wednesday)
I finished cultivating the young appletrees on the
hill and bourhgt down the tools.
This afternoon I went to Montambeault's and got a tire
that he repaired and then put in another second hand
steering wheel and gear as to replace the broken one.
Weather hot and dry.
07\21\1932 (Thursday)
Mowed the front lawn and trimmed the walks, etc.
Ordered 100 ft. hose for church.
07\22\1932 (Friday)
Mowed about my home lot, corner of East Main St. and
Frost Road and took a small load out to the farm.
We had a little rain this afternoon just after I got to
the barn which was much needed.
07\23\1932 (Saturday)
I took out two loads of hay to the farm to day.
07\24\1932 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church this
morning at 10 o'clock. Enid Miller of Milwaukee and Malcolm
Forsberg of Tacome, Wash. who expect to become missionaries to
Africa in a year, addressed the audiance {audience} and were very
interesting. They came from Monterey, Mass. where they are
preparing this morning and returned this noon.
This afternoon Mary and I called on Fred Berger at Summit.
07\25\1932 (Monday)
I cut my oats to day. This evening Ray came to the farm
and we mowed away two loads of hay. We picked cucumbers,
corn and pulled carrots and turnips.
07\26\1932 (Tuesday)
I went to East Farms and got in the oats. Ray came
this evening and helped me mow them away.
07\27\1932 (Wednesday)
This morning I repaired a heavy hoist for the Calvary
Cemetery and went to Prospect and to the farm and
cared for things there and worked on my Ford
truck, put in a new front spring etc.
07\28\1932 (Thursday)
James Mulhern brought a broken shipper{?} of his transmission
and we made a new one. I mowed some
about home and repaired the screen door.
07\29\1932 (Friday)
Mowed some by the wheel house and took a load of
hay out to the farm. This evening Nichalos {Nicholas} Hapenny
came and put sulphate of ammonia on my front
lawn. Weather is hot.
07\30\1932 (Saturday)
Finished mowing by the wheel house and took two
loads to the farm. Ray was out and we set out
cabbage plants. Cooler to day.
07\31\{1932} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
The battery ran out on my car and I had Mr. Montambeault
put in another at one o'clock and at six this one had
ran out. So we stayed home all day.
08\01\1932 (Monday)
Mowed and took to the farm two loads of hay.
Mr.{??} Mannel helped me put it in the barn. Ray came out
at 5 o'clock.
08\02\1932 (Tuesday)
I went to Mr. Montambeault's and took his battery
back and paid him 75 cts. for charging mine. I then
brought it home and put it in the car and after
dinner drove to Bristol and had the key switch
fixed at the Ford Agency. I then drove to West Simsbury
and saw brother Frank. He had fallen on some
rocks near the dam where he was mowing and
hurt his knee yesterday. He is able to be about a
little to day on crutches. I came home and did the
chores at the farm and picked a few blackberries.
08\03\1932 (Wednesday)
Mowed the swamp East of the chicken house this morning
and sharpened some drills for Paul Miller. It began raining
and continued the rest of the day. This afternoon I started
making an auto jack.
This evening I attended an Official Board Meetting of
the Mill Plain Church.
08\04\1932 (Thursday)
I did the chores at the farm and then made twelve
swing links for the playground at the Mill Plain
Church after which I mowed the front lawn with
the lawn mower. Worked at the farm the rest of the day.
08\05\1932 (Friday)
After the chores at the farm, I ground my schythe {scythe} and
trimmed the sides of the walk by the Frost Road
and cleaned it up. I put the grass and weeds from the
swamp in the chicken yard and worked in the wheel house.
08\06\1932 (Saturday)
Worked in the Wheelhouse most of the day. This afternoon
Mary and I went to George Browne's in Wolcott and got
a letter that I had lent him some time go. We then went
to our farm and picked two quarts of blackberries
and did the chores, etc.
08\07\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd officiated. Miss Emiline{?} Mangacello{??} and
Miss Virginia Roberts made adresses on temperense {temperance}.
After Church Mary and I went to Wolcott and saw
Marion Kraft's new baby which was named after me.
This afternoon we went to Prospect and called at Mr.
Cowdell's and Nellie gave me a large map of Prospect
that she had traced and enlarged, also a history
of the Old Prospect Coronet Band.
Tonight about 10.15 two cars, one a Buic and the other a New York
car, ran into each other in front of the house. The traffic was
heavy and soon the streets were blocked with cars and
trolleys and about 200 people assembled. One person was
taken to the hospital and the police arrested three
of the New York men for being drunk. Their cars were
badly smashed.
08\08\1932 (Monday)
To day I have been helping Mary clean our room
and bed etc. and painted the floor.
This morning our granddaughter, Betty Northrop, was
married to Vincent Joseph Simons at the rectory of St. Joseph's
Church at 9.30 o'clock.
08\09\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to City Hall and looked up records.
After dinner I repaired a large wire cable for the Calvary
Cemetery after which I went to the farm.
08\10\1932 (Wednesday)
I cultivated about appletrees this forenoon and went to Meriden
this afternoon with Mr. William Warner and saw Mr. Snow
about the early making of German Silver. I left letters and
papers with him. A copy of a letter I wrote to Clyde last
year about the early Brass Industry of Waterbury and
a letter written in 1878 by Harris Hotchkiss of Plainfield
N.J. to Major George Tucker, telling of his early experience
regarding the manufacture of brass in Waterbury,
also the State Agricultural Report on the Town of Wolcott
for the year 1846.
08\11\1932 (Thursday)
This day I spent at the farm cultivating about
young appletrees.
08\12\1932 (Friday)
This forenoon I went to City Hall and looked up
records. The rain fell fast a little after noon. After
it stoped {stopped} Mary and {I} went to the farm and picked
blackberries. This evening I attended a meeting of the Official
Board. They voted to buy Talking Moving Picture Machine.
08\13\1932 (Saturday)
I worked at the farm cultivating apple trees and
putting manure about the.
08\14\{1932} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
Kenneth Kingston of St. Paul's Methodist Church preached.
Frank called this evening. He with his family went
to Short Beach yesterday and stoped {stopped} here on his way
home.
08\15\1932 (Monday)
I started building a road to the top of the hill at the farm.
We started near the South West corner of the flat meadow
in the pasture and circled up the hill North West and North
East. Ray helped. This evening Clarence Brown borrowed
two stone drills. I sharpened them for him.
Warren W. Hill called to sell paint.
08\16\1932 (Tuesday)
Spent this forenoon at the Town Clerk's office copying
records. This afternoon I clipped the front yard and
went to Montambeaults to have my battery in my
old Ford car recharged. I then went to the farm and
picked beans, etc.
08\17\1932 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to Mr. Cowdell's in Prospect after
which I drew manure to the young appletrees on the hill
and cultivated about them till finally one wheel on
the cart gave out and I picked beans and vegetables
till night.
08\18\1932 (Thursday)
To day I repaired the cart wheel, finished an auto jack,
sharpened drills, etc. It rained this afternoon and
evening. Great preperations {preparations} are being made for
the convention and parade of the World's war veterans
tomorrow and Saturday. Over 10,000 men are expected
to be in line Saturday.
Leeland Garrigus called this evening and
invited me to attend a clam bake etc. of the
Mattatuck Drum Band and Putnam Phalanx next
Saturday.
08\19\1932 (Friday)
This morning I went to City Hall and copyed {copied} records.
This afternoon I drew manure up on the hill and
finished cultivating about the young apple trees.
The Boy Scouts have established a tent across
the Frost Road by Beebe's{??} Filling Station there to
give information to strangers coming into
town tomorrow as to where to drive and park
their cars, etc.
08\20\1932 (Saturday)
This morning I did the chores at the farm and then
got ready and at one o'clock, Ray came and we went
down town, he to take part in the parade and I to
look at it. It was to start at 2.30 but it was nearly
3 before it came down North Main. I think it was
the largest and best parade every seen in Waterbury.
It was given by the American Legion of Connecticut
who have been holding a State Convention here
the past two days. It is estimated that there were
10,000 persons in line, 8,000 veterans and 2,00 malitia {militia}
men. It took nearly two hours to see it pass a given
point. There was a great variety of uniforms and many
bands and Drum Corps.
08\21\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev. Girtrude
Coe of Wolcott preached. This afternoon we went to see Mr.
Henry Hotchkiss on Buckshill. We then went to Wolcott
and saw Charles Tuttle.
Mr. Coley and wife returned this evening from New
Jersey.
08\22\1932 (Monday)
The weather has been very warm to day. I got out
manure and put it about the young apple trees
in the barn lot.
08\23\1932 (Tuesday)
Went to the Town Clerk's office and copyed records this
forenoon. Mary and I picked blackberries this afternoon.
Went to see Attorney Phelan but he had gone to Wolcott.
08\24\{1932} (Wednesday)
Started getting out the stones on the road to the top
of the hill. The second one encountered proved to be a{?} big one
and had to be blasted twice which took most of the
day.
08\25\{1932} (Thursday)
To day has been very hot in the sun. I got out
rocks in the new road that I am building to
the top of the hill.
08\26\1932 (Friday)
This morning I went to Center Street and say {saw} Attorerney {Attorney}
Finton Phelan about getting the Cooleys out of my house.
I then went to the Town Records and to the Probate
Court Records and took a copy of Miss Harriett Pierpont's
will. This after noon I got out stones at the farm.
When I came home Mr. Cooley met me. He was fierce
because a writ had been served on him to move out by
Sept. 1st. He is going to see a lawyer tomorrow.
08\27\1932 (Saturday)
Worked on the road to the top of the hill. Ray helped get
out the stones this forenoon.
08\28\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev. Girtrude
Coe officiating. This afternoon I went to Mr. Cowdell's
in Prospect and to Edgar Gerolds. He knows much about
the history of Prospect.
08\29\1932 (Monday)
A very hot day. I worked making a road to the
top of the hill. The road was badly washed by the
great rain storm Saturdy night.
08\30\1932 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall to day and looked up records.
This afternoon mowed the front lawn. Arthur Byrd
and famiy from Bristol made me a visit, and in
the evening I called on Mr. Edgar Jerrels at Rag
Hollow.
08\31\1932 (Wednesday)
Rained and damp. This morning I went to Mr.
Cowdells in Prospect and left some record books for
Nelli. She and some others had gone up to Mass. to
see the eclipse. I came to the farm and got a basket
of tomatoes and corn and pulled two bushels of
weeds for the pig.
09\01\1932 (Thursday)
This day has been very hot. I sweat all of my clothes through
making a road to the top of the hill.
Mr. Henry D. Cooley and wife moved from my house
to day, having lived there fourteen years. They have
gone leaving three months rent unpaid, 36.00.
A lady called this evening and wanted to rent the tenement.
09\02\1932 (Friday)
Went to City Hall and looked up records concerning John
D. Johnson who ran a Brass Mill on the South side of East
Main St. opposite the high stone wall from 1838 to 1848.
Wrote a long letter to Mr. W.G. Snow Meriden.
09\03\1932 (Saturday)
I worked on the road to the top of the hill. Weather hot.
09\04\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
He has returned from his vacation to Canada.
P.M. Called on Edgar Jeralds in Prospect.
09\05\1932 (Monday)
A great day. Mary and I went to Southbury to
the Washington Centennial Celebration. I wore my
Centennial uniform and took my drum and
drummed in the Mattatuck Drum Band a short
distance. The weather was hot and I soon tired.
Mr. Goddard made the address. He is the state
librarian. Ray stad {stayed} at home and picked bushels
of apples. This evening Ruth and Jack Brundage
called. They had three of theur children. They had
been to Goshen Fir and were on their way to
Cheshire and later were to drive to Storrs.
09\06\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to City Hall. This afternoon
I moved part of the front lawn and repaired the
meadows of the upper tenement. This evening
Ray came and we sorted apples.
09\07\1932 (Wednesday)
Worked on the road. William Service worked in
the rooms up stairs yesterday and to day.
I attended a meeting of the Official Board of the
Mill Plain Church.
09\08\1932 (Thursday)
This morning I went to Prospect and with George
and Nellie Cowdell, looked up the old Blakeslee
place, and the old Daniel Baldwin place on the
old Round Line Road. The Blakeslee place was on
the Scott Road. I came back to East Farms and worked
on the road, and sowed grass seed on the part that
is finished.. ----------Wm. Service worked up stairs.
09\09\1932 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon and looked up records.
This afternoon filed a large circular saw for Mr. Rocham
and repaired windows up stairs. Then went to the farm and
did the chores.
09\10\1932 (Saturday)
I finished the steep part of the road to the top of the
hill and sowed grass seed on it and used the cultivator
and loosened up the sod for the strait and level part.
Wm Service worked this forenoon. I repaired the East
window and cuppord {cupboard??} door this morning.
09\11\1932 (Sunday)
This morning at about 2.40, we were awakened by
the fire engines passing by and on looking out
of the East window, beheld the sky all aglow with
sparks and red. I dressed quickly and started East
but had to pay much attention not to be hit by
the autos that were passing at a reckless spead {speed}.
Before I reached the top of the hill by Raymond's
Bakery, the road was lined on both sides and every
avalable {available} space for a long distance was occupied
by autos. The fire proved to be the great ice
houses on the Plank Road at Wedge's Pond and they
had just fallen in when I arived {arrived}. There was two
Fire Companies and they had two streams of
water playing on the fire, but it took till seven
o'clock in the morning to completely subdue it.
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Mr. Cowdell's in
Prospect and from there, Nellie and I visited two
Driver{??} places on the Straitsville Road.
09\12\1932 (Monday)
I worked to day on the road to the top of the hill.
Very hot. To night I attended a meeting of the Executive
and Finance Committee of the Mill Plain
Church.
09\13\1932 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon and got out rocks on
the road to the top of the hill in the afternoon.
09\14\1932 (Wednesday)
This morning I made a large hoisting hook for Charles
Wilkensbach and worked on the road this afternoon.
09\15\1932 (Thursday)
Very warm and close. I worked on the road to the top of the hill
at the farm.
09\16\1932 (Friday)
Rained all day. Went this morning to the Town Clerk's office
at City Hall. Worked about home this afternoon.
The Dog Warden, Mr. Loughlin, Tel No. 4-|4155 Street Dept. Office called
to day to see about a chicken that was killed by a small dog
that is owned by Mr. Harry L. Brinkman No. 96 Frost Road, Tel No.
3-|2330.
09\17\1932 (Saturday)
I worked on the road to the top of the hill at he farm till about
eleven o'clock when Frank and his family came from Kent
and we looked at the street and Grump (the pig) and went
upon the hill and looked at the potatoes and corn etc. till
noon when we all ate lunch under the trees West of the
barn. This afternoon Mary and I went to the Wolcott Fair.
Frank got there before us. They had a fine exhibit of
fruit, vegetables, poultry, a few cows, sheep, oxen, horses,
etc. Also, a large Wild West show of horse riding, steer
jumping, and riding etc., racing, both horseback and chariot.
There was for music, the Fulton American Band and the East
Hampton Drum Corps.
09\18\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J.
O. Todd officiated. This afternoon I and Mary went to
see Fred Berger at Summit, but he was away. We then
called on Mr. Edgar Geralds at Rag Hollow and then to
Mr. Cowdells. after which we went to Cousin Joseph Somers
at South Waterbury where we staid till ten o'clock.
09\19\1932 (Monday)
Did many odd jobs and worked on the road.
09\20\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to City Hall. This afternoon I worked
at the farm.
09\21\1932 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I went to the farm and mowed all of the yellow
blow{??} out of the barn lot and picked up a bushel and a half
of cider apples. I then worked on the road when I struck
two large rocks that have to come out. Ray came and we tried
them with bars but could not raise them. In the morning
I will raise the tripod and try the hoist.
This evening Ray and Ruth called and we looked up
cider mills and presses. We also looked up compressed air
water sistems {systems}.
09\22\1932 (Thursday)
Weather had been very warm but pleasant.
Mary's birthday. She was born at East Farms on
Sept 22nd 1860. William Service worked in {???}
upper rooms papering and painting all day as he has
done every day. I worked hard getting out rocks and
building the road at East Farms.
09\23\1932 (Friday)
Weather rather warm. To night I finished the work on
the road at the farm and put the tools all away.
I intended going to Springfield Fair yesterday
and to day but money is to scarce.
09\24\1932 (Saturday)
This forenoon I was at the farm. Drew down a small load
of corn from the hill and picked up apples for cider.
This afternoon I went to Prospect and saw Miss Mabel
Hotchkiss who sent for me to help her in naming the roads
of that town of which she is chairman of a committee.
09\25\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
Mortimer Owen of Bunker Hill preached.
This afternoon I visited Fred Berger at Summit.
09\26\1932 (Monday)
Ray and I picked up apples at the farm to day.
This evening Howard Kraft came and we gave him
the radio that was in the girage {garage}.
09\27\1932 (Tuesday)
My birthday. 74 years ago to day I was born on Cherry
Street, Waterbury where we lived till the fall of 1864 when
we moved into a house owned by Grandmother Somers on
Clay Street.
This forenoon I was looking up records concerning the
present Town of Prospect at City Hall. This afternoon
I worked sorting apples, etc.
09\28\1932 (Wednesday)
Rained this forenoon. I sorted and picked up apples.
We have thirty eight bushels of cider apples and about
a dozen bushels of good apples in the cellar.
Ray and Ruth called this evening.
Mr. Hapenny's man borrowed two jack screws.
09\29\{1932} (Thursday)
I picked up and sorted apples all day.
09\30\1932 (Friday)
Went to City Hall after doing the chores at the farm
this forenoon. Worked on my truck this afternoon.
10\01\1932 (Saturday)
I worked on my truck this morning. Ray came and helped
so we got through before noon. This afternoon I went to
the farm and picked up the last of the apples. We now
have 44 bushels of cider apples and about 14 bushels of
good apples in the cellar.
A dog has been catching a number of our shall{??}
chickens so last night Mary and I set three large
steel traps about a little chicken house where he has
been taking them and at daybreak this morning,
Mary awoke me, she having heard the dog yell.
I went dow {down} and found a large dog in the trap that
looked like a wolf. When I came near, he sprang at me. I got
an ax and when he sprang again, I hit him on the head and
soon killed him, then I buried him.
10\02\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church, Sunday School Rally
Day. About 260 Sunday School Schollars {Scholars} and a large
Congregation. Rev. J. O. Todd officiated.
This afternoon we went to Prospect and visited the house
where Benjamin Dutton Beecher lived who invented the screw
propeller for steam boats about 1831 and tried it out
on a canal boat on the Farmington canal at Cheshire.
Mr. Michael G. Valasek{??} lives there now on the Summit Road.
We then visited Mr. Cowdell and the Hotchkiss family.
10\03\1932 (Monday)
This morning I went to William MacCormick's in Wolcott and
as I had fourty {forty} four bushels of cider apples, he told me that
he gave three gallons of cider per bushel at his mill
and charged four cents per gallon for making. I then came
home and got my old cider barrels out and ordered
one for the Charles Templeton Co. and have enought to
hold 132 gals. I have washed them all out. Then I went
out to the farm where Ray has been digging potatoes
all day and helped him pick them up, etc.
10\04\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to City Hall. This afternoon made a
trestle to set cider barrels on, and did the chores at the
farm.
10\05\1932 (Wednesday)
Rained all day. This morning I loaded 18 bushels of
apples on my small truck and took them to Bill Mac
Cormick's cider mill in Wolcott. I then came to East Farms
via the Todd Road, the South mile of which is nearly
completed as a state road, the work having been done
in about one month. The Pierpont Road from the Meriden
to the Cheshire Road is very rough and in bad condition.
At East Farms I did the chores and then came
home and loaded 15 bushels of apples and three cider
kegs on casks on the truck and went to the mill again
and brought home a load of cider, then I loaded on the remainder
of the apples, about 11 bushels and two fifty gallon barrels and
went {to} the mill and brought home one barrel, 49 gallons.
Then went back and got the other 46 gallons, in all 109
gallons, paid him 4 cts. per gal for making 4.25. This evening
as we were getting the cider into the cold celler {cellar}, the lights
went out. Soon fortunely {fortunately??} Ray came and he tested all
the wireing {wiring} out and found two short circuits which he
repaired and then we got all the cider in the cellear {cellar}
and on the skids, after which we retired weary with
the wet day's work.
10\06\1932 (Thursday)
This day it rained all day. I have done many odd jobs
about home and the chores at the farm.
10\07\1932 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. Dug potatoes this afternoon.
10\08\1932 (Saturday)
Dug potatoes and drew a small load of corn from the
hill. Wm. Service finished work upstairs to day.
10\09\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church this morning.
This afternoon Mary and I called on Mr. William Chandler
of Prospect, after which we drove to South Waterbury and
called on Cousin Robert Somers.
10\10\1932 (Monday)
This morning I went to Mr. Cowdell's in Prospect and
left some typing to be done. I returned by the Scott
Road which is nearly impassable for an auto.
Workemen {Workmen} are cutting the brush on the Summit Road,
preparetory {preparatory} to starting grading for the State road for
a distance of about one mile.
10\11\1932 (Tuesday)
Sharpened picks and grubs for the Calvary Cemetery all
day.
10\12\{1932} (Wednesday)
Dug potatoes all day.
10\13\1932 (Thursday)
Finished digging potatoes. When I was ready to come home
from the farm, it being rather cold, I could not start my car
so I came home {??} the trolley car and later Ray went out
and he started it and we came home.
10\14\1932 (Friday)
This morning we had a heavy frost. I went to the City
Hall and got home at two P.M. Did odd jobs about home
the rest of the day.
10\15\1932 (Saturday)
This morning I moved Rowland Jenner's furniture from
the corner of Frost Road and {? ?} Road into my barn.
Phil Royter helped. I then repaired a large scraper
for Mr. Hapenney. Raymond came and helped me.
I then sharpened three grubs for the Mill Plain Church.
10\16\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church. In the afternoon Mary
and I called on Wm. Purdy on East Mountain Road and on the Cowdells
and at Hotchkisses.
10\17\1932 (Monday)
This morning Ray came and put a generator in my
Ford truck. We then went to the farm and Ray cut
corn on the hill and I carted it down with the steer
and cart till near noon when I cut too and we
finished cutting this afternoon. We took the truck
and brought it all down and stacked it up. It began
to rain at noon and increased during the time we
were working so by night it was raining quite
hard.
10\18\1932 (Tuesday)
Rained nearly all day. This morning I went to City Hall.
This afternoon I went to Prospect to see Edgar Wallice.
10\19\1932 (Wednesday)
I repaired and put new netting on the upstairs screen door
and painted it. Did odd jobs and sawed fire wood.
Rained hard all day. This evening Mary and I
went to a hash and pancake supper at the Mill Plain
Church.
10\20\1932 (Thursday)
Cut wood the forenoon. This afternoon I drew a barrel of wood
ashes to the young orchard on the hill and put them
around the trees. I then cultivated some of them.
10\21\1932 (Friday)
I went to City Hall this forenoon and worked in the vault
copying records after which I went to the Bank and drew 90.00
and paid the last instalment {installment} of my tax. I then went to
Prospect. They are working on the Summit Road and on
the Matthews St. Road making improved State roads, one
mile on each road.
10\22\1932 (Saturday)
My brother Frank's birthday, 77 years old.
This day I went to the farm at East Farms and cultivated
about 37 young appletrees on the hill, and also cultivated
a strip 12 ft. wide along the high fence on the North
side of our land where we had corn and potatoes
to keep the fire from crossing in case the land
above burns over before next summer.
10\23\1932 (Sunday)
This morning after going to the farm and doing the chores,
Mary and I took my Ford Roadster and went to Ray's on
Capitol Avenue, and there took in Ray and Ruth and
started to visit brother Frank at West Simsbury. Ray
drove and Ruth and Mary sat in the rumble seat.
We went out the Meriden Road and down the mountain
where we turned North just before reaching the rail
road crossing and followed near the old canal to
the H.D. Smith forging shop where we took Middle
Street and at the upper end took the right road which
brought us onto the Plainville Road and over Red Stone
Hill and into Plainville where we turned North
on North Washington Street which we traveled to
the crossing of the Farmington Road where we found
a new concrete bridg {bridge} on the Scott Swamp Brook. Here
we took the Unionville Road which is being reconstructed
and we found men, steam rollers and shovel in
operation near the upper end. We passed by them all and{??}
went on down a long hill and through the Village of
Unionsville and North up Lovely Street and on past
Cherry Park Fair Grounds to the Alberny Road
where we turned West and went to Canton Center where
we attended service in the Old Congregational Church.
The Congregation was rather small and the minister
seemed very active and good. After having drove
East we took the Bushy Hill Road which we left
at the top of the mountain and traveled North
to Frank's at West Simsbury. We found Frank
quite well and Gussie comfortable. They have a
young part Indian girl helping them so they are
getting along quite well. Ray built a fire out of
doors and fried a lot of meat cakes that he had
brough and we had a fine dinner.
After we had eaten, Frank, Ray and I went down the road
beyond the brook and Ray climbed and shook a walnut
tree and we picked up about 13 quarts of walnuts
after which we started for home coming over the
same roads that we went up on till {until} we got South of
Unionville when we turned West on the Copper Mine
Road but before reaching the mine, we turned South
on a new state road which took us onto the Farmington
Bristol Road which we followed into Bristol and on
through the town on West Street, up Wolcott Ave. and
up Fall Mountain past Cedar Swamp Pond and over Lindley's
hill to Woodtick where we turned South on the Todd Road and
on to East Farms where we stoped {stopped} and did the chores, then
we came in and went to Ray's where they unloaded and
then we came back home where we had supper.
08\24\1932 (Monday)
I went to Prospect this morning and could not get through
the Summit Road as they were putting in heavy concrete sluce{??} pipes
and blasting out the rocks preparatory to building a Town improved
road. I then went across the Juggernot Road and in Matthews
Street, but it was very rough but they have nearly finished the
second mile of that road. I came back to the farm and raked
up a lot of leaves and put them in the stable, after which I plowed
on the hill. The joiners werep {were} putting up the rafters on the new
house they are building north of out {our??} land.
10\25\1932 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to City Hall. This afternoon I worked at the
farm.
10\26\1932 (Wednesday)
This morning it rained quite a while. I went to the farm
and plowed on the hill till four o'clock, came home after
doing the chores and then attended a supper and lecture
of the Mens Club at the Mill Plain Church.
10\27\1932 (Thursday)
Rained all day, did the chores at the farm and
many odd jobs about home. I bought for the
Mill Plain Church 1 gal. flat while 2.75 {??} putty .10
Glass 14 x 30 .55 = 3.40 less .40 $3.00 1 doz toilet paper .50
Total 3.50.
10\28\1932 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. Mary and I called on Mrs.
Sarah Hine this afternoon. She is the only one left of James Porter's
family and is 83 years old.
10\29\1932 (Saturday)
Plowed at the farm most of the day.
10\30\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd.
This afternoon I went to Prospect and with Mr. Frest{??} Hotchkiss and
select man Albert Allen went down the old bound line road
to the three brothers which is a large pile of rocks with three
large chestnut trees growing out of it. The whole is the
bounds at the present time of the towns of Prospect, Betheny
and Naugatuck but in 1680, the same spot bounded New Haven,
Milford, Wallingford and Waterbury. The chestnut trees are
now each about two feet in diameter and all are dead, while
they stood with a space of about one foot between them. One was
in Naugatuck, one in Betheny and the other in Prospect. The
one in Prospect has fallen and lies prostrate on the ground.
We also visited the site of an old Saw Mill on the Salem Road.
This evening Mary and I attended a gathering at Rev.
Mr. Todd's house.
10\31\1932 (Monday)
I worked all day getting out rocks where we had potatoes
on the hill.
11\01\1932 (Tuesday)
I went to City Hall this forenoon. It rained hard
all the morning. This afternoon I did odd jobs about
home and chores at the farm.
11\02\1932 (Wednesday)
Lifted out rocks on the hill all day. Weather was fine.
This evening we attended a meeting of the Official Board.
11\03\1932 (Thursday)
Weather cool, ice froze 1/4" thick last night. Lifted out rocks all day.
11\04\1932 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. Did odd jobs about
home and at the farm this P.M. Sent to Hartford for
my auto licence {license}.
11\05\{1932} (Saturday)
Worked at the farm getting out rocks on the hill
most of the day. Raked up many leaves at home and
at the farm.
11\06\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church, Rev. J. O. Todd
officiated. The {They} had the Cotton Blossom (Negro) Singers present.
Mary and I went to Mr. George Driver's at the South
end of Prospect and to Mr. Cowdell's and over Matthews
Street to Fred Bergere. They have the second mile of
Matthews Street graded and ready for the crushed stone
and the second mile of the Summit Road is impassible {impassable}
as the Steam Shovel is working there.
11\07\1932 (Monday)
Rained all day. I made some auto irons for Ed Bronson
and did odd jobs about home.
11\08\1932 (Tuesday)
Election day. After doing the chores at the farm, Mary
and I went to a vacent {vacant} store at the corner of East Main
and Alma{??} Streets and voted for President Hoover, Govenor {Governor}
Trumbrell{?} and for Proabetion {Prohibition} etc. I then went to City Hall
till noon, after which I picked up four bushels of apples
and did other odd jobs.
11\09\1932 (Wednesday)
Rosevelt {Roosevelt} was elected president yesterday and Cross Governor
of Conn. To day I worked getting out stones on the hill
and doing work about the barn.
11\10\1932 (Thursday)
It rained hard all night and this morning. Mad River
was higher than it has been foor years as was many other
streams. Out to East Farms, Beaver Pond Brook flooded
the meadows and was over the Plank Road, the lower
end of the Pierpont Road was washed badly with water
running two feet deep in it between the two bridges.
Many cellers {cellars} were flooded all about Fairlawn. I worked
about home all day.
This evening Mary and I attended a social gathering
of the Church people at Raymonds. There were 32 present.
11\11\1932 (Friday)
I worked all day on the hill and got out one big rock.
11\12\{1932} (Saturday)
Finished getting out the stones on the hill, that is, all I am
going to get out this fall. Now I must break them up and
draw them away. The weather has been mild and clear to day.
11\13\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd. This afternoon I went to George Driver's in Prospect
and he showed me where the Avery{??} Hotchkiss Saw Mill
stood in early times 1784. The site is now partly
covered by the dam of the Naugatuck Water Co.
We also found the old celler {cellar} where {???} Stephen Hotchkiss
first settled, 1705 and where David Payne lived in 1824
and the place where Chaney Judd lived in 1797.
This evening we attended a social gathering at
Bessie Pierpont's.
11\14\1932 (Monday)
This morning I worked a spell in the East Farms
Cemetery. This afternoon Mary and {I} attended the funeral
of Robert Somer's wife. It was held at Aldersons on Central Av.
Sake{??} was buried in the Old Pine Grove Cemetery North of the Church.
11\15\1932 (Tuesday)
This morning I filed a saw for Mr. Michael G. Valasek of
Rpospect and carried it to him. I then went to Mr. Cowdels
and left a letter for Nellie to typewirght {typewrite}. I then worked
in the East Farms Cemetery the rest of the day mowing
and cleaning up.
11\16\1932 (Wednesday)
Rained some to day. I husked out 4 {???} of corn and
did jobs about the barn at the farm and raked and
cleaned the East Farms Cemetery.
11\17\1932 (Thursday)
Worked at East Farms Cemetery 5 1\2 hr. cleaning up and
setting stones.
{11\18 - 11\21 no entries}
{{Newspaper clipping - Headline:}}
{{Mill Plain Church To Mark Founding}}
11\22\1932 (Tuesday)
After doing the chores at the farm last Friday morning Mary
and I started to visit Frank's folks in Kent. We went by
way of Middlebury down Ben Sherman Hill and up Woodbury
Main Street and across the Cemetery Road through Hotchkissville
over the new State Road to Washington and on down the great hill
through Washington Depot and along the winding road
to New Preston, then up by the East Side of the beautiful
Lake Waramaug and over the hills and round the mountain
into Warren. The new road that is being built from
Warren to Kent is not completed. So we went to Swifts
Bridge and down the main road to Kent and reached
Frank' s some time after dinner. Elsie soon had a fine lunch
on the table of which we ate heartily. We spent the afternoon
looking the barns and yards over and in the evening
we all except Elsie and the baby went to the Community House
and heard the Mendleson {Mendelssohn} Chorus of Waterbury
sing. Thirty six men, they were fine.
Saturday morning we were up at the usual time but
Frank and the children Mary, Bertha and Dwight had their
breakfast. Frank gets up at five and with three men
do all the milking and feeding and are through by
about six, milk each day six hundred quarts and feed 95
head of cattle and 5 horses. Through breakfast at 7 and at
work letting out the cows, cleaning stables, etc. This day it
rained hard all day and before night, Massodonia
Brook had flooded the flat lands and the water was
tuching {touching} the old bridge. When Frank went to the School
Kitchen after the container that they carry their cooked supper
in, it was not yet filled so he took us, Mary, I, Mary
and Bertha and Dwight to see the high water at Bulls
Bridge. It was a sight to see, the river pouring over the
great dams and spillways and then rush through
the gorge over under the old covered bridge. We called at
the school at dark and got our suppers which we took
home and Elsie arranged it on the table and we all
partook after which we visited a spell and then retired.
Sunday morning, we were up and ate breakfast with
the rest. The weather was cold but clear. After the barn
work was done, we got ready and went to church. After service,
we had dinner and Frank and the children started for Storrs
to get a girl to do the house work while Elsie is sick.
While they were gone, I took a walk up to the Old Iron
Works in Macadonia Park and got back before dark.
Mary had gone with Jessie to take the container to the School
Kitchen. I got my car out and started but met them
near home so I drove up Main St. and back to warm up
the engine. After dark I went and got the container, as
I came by the New Church the chimes began to ring. They
sounded fine. Frank got back about seven bringing
Miss{??} Parker, having driven 180 miles.
Monday. We ate breakfast with the family and
I soon had the car at the door and we loaded up.
Dwight, Mary and Bertha got into the rumble seat
and I left them at the public school and we came on
through New Milford where we stoped {stopped} and Mary mailed
a letter. We then came up Chicken Hill and followed the
crooked and steep road to Bridgewater, then down to the
Shepang River and near it to Roxbury Depot, then up
to Roxbury Center, and on to Woodbury and home.
In the afternoon I sharpened some drills for Frank Welton
and did farm chores, worked on truck etc.
To day I husked corn at the farm. Weather cold.
11\23\1932 (Wednesday)
I husked corn at the farm.
11\24\1932 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day. For the first time since 1866 with one
exception, I haven't attended the Somers Family Reunion
on Thanksgiving Day. To day Mary and I took dinner
at Raymond's house on Capitol Avenue. There was present,
Ray, his wife Ruth, his wife's mother Mrs. Loucks and
Mary and I.
11\25\1932 (Friday)
To day I husked corn.
11\26\1932 (Saturday)
I finished husking corn after dinner. Weather, damp,
windy and towards night cold. The wind blew some
of the felt from the roof of the barn at the farm.
Mary recieved a letter from Elsie who is in the New
Milford Hospital with a new daughter that was born
last Monday named Lois Pierpont. This makes the fifth
child for Elsie and Frank and I believe the twentieth grand
child for Mary and I.
This afternoon Ray came to the farm and I went to his
house and helped him put up a roof over his South door.
11\27\1932 (Sunday)
Weather colder this morning than any morning so far this
fall. Ray came to adjust the generator in the new Ford
Run-A-Bout and then we could nto start it. Finally he
towed me up the street and it started, but by the time
I had breakfast and went out to the farm, it was to {too} late
for Church.
After dinner Mary and I went to Mr. Cowdell's in
Prospect and Mary stood there while Nellie and I went
to Fred Berger's at Summit Station and we all walked
up the Mintic Road to the line between the towns
of Cheshire and Waterbury which line we followed till
we came to the stone that marked line of Prospect.
We continued southward along the old road that
formed the bounde {boundary} between Cheshire and Waterbury
before Prospect was incorporated. About 30 rods{??} southerly{?}
we came to an old celler {cellar} where a man named
Andrew Peach built a house in 1798. He and his wife
Anna sold it in 1812 and we have no acount of anyone
living there since. We continued on nearly half a mile
and came to another house place where Daniel Baldwin
settled in 1798. It was later occupied by his son
Isaac. We then followed an old path Eastwardly to another
old house place, but we knew nothing of who lived here.
We then traveled North to the Plank Road and to Mr.
Berger's where Nellie and I took my car and came to
East Farms where I did the chores. Then we went
back the Plank Road and up the Summit Road
which they have done grading and are putting on
the crushed stone to Mr. Cowdell's where I took in
Mary and we came home.
11\28\1932 (Monday)
Very cold moring, ten above. It took me a long time to
get my car started and it was noon before I was ready
to leave for the farm. This afternoon I repaired the roof
of the barn where the felt blew off last Saturday.
11\29\1932 (Tuesday)
Cold this morning, 10 above. I went to the farm and did the
choers {chores} then home and sharpened picks etc. till noon. Then
repaired a clip for the Calvary Cemetery snow plow and filed
a cross cut saw for Chris Welton which I took out to him.
11\30\1932 (Wednesday)
Worked at blacksmith work and filing a large cross cut saw
for St. Joseph's Cemetery.
12\01\1392 (Thursday)
Drew out manure at the farm all day.
Charles De Bissop and Morton E. Pierpont started their lawsuit
against William and Edson Hitchcock and the Pine
Grove Cemetery for an accounting of the Perpetual Care fund.
It was heard before Judge Baldwin of the Superior Court.
He has ordered a complete report to begin when Edson Hitchcock
was first made treasurer twenty years ago. The report is to
be turned into {in to} the Court on the 16th of December.
12\02\1932 (Friday)
This morning I worked on the snow plow for the Calvary
Cemetery. Did my chores at the farm. Then went to
town. Worked again on the plow after dinner, then took
a letter to Miss Cowdell to be typewritten, saw Fred Berger
at Summit, then to the farm and home.
12\03\1932 (Saturday)
This forenoon I worked on the snow plow for Calavry Cemetery.
Mr. Dockrum of Waterville brought four gallons of winter oil
and I put five quarts in each of my Ford cars.
12\04\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev.
Joseph O. Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Cheshire and
visited Mr. Albert A. Adt.
12\05\1932 (Monday)
This morning Ray came and we cut a side out
of an iron barrel and made preperations {preparations} for butchering
Grump.
Then we went to the farm and plowed both gardens
in the lower meadow.
12\06\1932 (Tuesday)
Went to Mr. Cowdell's in Prospect and got a letter that was
typed for me. Mr. Blewitt called and was greatly excited
because Mr. Gramm{??} who is chair man of the Official Board
had received a communication from the trustees of the Mill
Plain Church recomending {recommending} the reducing of expenses and
among other things, the hiring of another minister.
In the evening Mr. Todd called and wished me to
attend the meeting of the Official Board tomorrow
evening. Mr. Brinkman's dog killed a hen this afternoon.
This makes six that the dog has killed.
12\07\1932 (Wednesday)
Went to the farm this morning and evening and did the chores.
I cleaned away the brush and got ready to build a fence
on the East side of the lot near the wheel house. I filed two
saws for Ed Bronson. I called the Dog Warden and he called
Mr. Harry Brinkman and told him to settle with me and
he came. I wanted six dollars and he said that he would
pay it. This evening we attended a meeting of the
Official Board of the Mill Plain Church and the report
of the Trustees was submitted to the Executive Committee
except the section which gave Mr. Todd sixty days notice
to resign which was unamiously {unanimously} rejected.
12\08\1932 (Thursday)
I built over the old fence south of the wheel house that
divides our land from that of the Roman Catholic land.
12\09\1932 (Friday)
Went to the town clerk' s office this forenoon and worked on
records. This afternoon I went to the Cemetery at Prospect
Center to the funeral of Mr. Herny D. Hotchkiss who died
at his home on Bucks Hill. He was born and lived in
Prospect until 1880 when he came to Waterbury.
12\10\{1932} (Saturday)
This forenoon I repaired the tea kettle and the electric
stove. This afternoon Ray came and we went to the
farm and got ready to have a man butcher Grump
in the morning. Then we went to his place North of the
Stetson Road and got his scalding barrel.
12\11\1932 (Sunday)
This morning I was up at 5.30. Found the ground covered
with about an inch of snow. After a hasty bite, I went out and
started my car when Ray came and we went to the farm
and got the barrel of water warm and at 7.30, Ray went to
the Stilson Road and got Mr. {? ?} who came and killed
Grump and dressed him off. Ray took the butcher home after
which we loaded the pig into the truck and brought it
home. I then, after having breakfast, went down to the
bridge and got a paper and, as the day was very cold,
staid in and read, etc. the rest of the day.
12\12\1932 (Monday)
This morning was very cold and the ground was covered
with about one and one half inches of snow on which was
a thick crust of ice. Ray came soon after eight and took me
to the farm where we did the chores. We then came home
and cut up the pig and got the meat ready to salt
down, and Mary cut up the leaf{??} and fat and we boiled
and tried{??} it to lard. Last night there was a large
fire, corner of W Main and State Streets. The building was
a large girage {garage}, the upper floor of which was piled with
auto tires all of which was burned togather {together} with eighteen
autos. The rubber and gasoline made a hot fire.
The loss is placed at $100,000.00
12\13\1932 (Tuesday)
This morning very slipery {slippery}. I went to the City Hall
this forenoon and cut wood in the afternoon.
12\14\1932 (Wednesday)
Margaret's little daughter Nita Northrop died at
the Waterbury Hospital last night at 8 o'clock of
spinal menengitis. She was 4 years and 10 months
old.
This morning I brushed out the snow paths. Snow
ahd fallen during the night to the depth of four inches.
Choped {Chopped} fire wood the rest of the day.
12\15\1932 (Thursday)
I worked about home cutting wood etc. This afternoon
Ray came and we salted down the pork, ham, bacon etc.
12\16\1932 (Friday)
Zero this morning, very cold all day.
Little Nita was buried in the New Pine Grove Cemetery.
The funeral service was held in the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Joesph Todd officiating. Ruth came from Storrs and
Frank from Kent. There was a large attendance of friends.
12\17\1932 (Saturday)
This has been the coldest day in years. There has not been
a time during the day that the themometer {thermometer} has registered
over three above zero. This morning it was five degrees below.
It took me a long time to get either of my cars started so
I could not go to the farm. I did odd jobs about home most of the
day.
12\18\1932 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev. J. O. Todd.
This day Fred Wilson was organist, and they had the regular
Chair of about 24 voices. For the first time the Boys Choir of
about 32 and the Junior Chair, about 34. Altogather {Altogether} there
were about 90 singers. This day has been cold.
12\19\1932 (Monday)
Ten below zero this morning. I cut stove wood and
kept the furnice {furnace} going which kept me busy.
12\20\1932 (Tuesday)
Cold weather, five below this morning, but it thawed
some at noon. I went to City Hall this forenoon
then came home and had dinner then carried Mary
up to the Mill Plain Union Church to attend a meeting
of the Ladies Union. I then went to the farm and did
the chores, then came home and cut wood till dark.
Arthur and Mildred Byrd of Bristol called this evening
and left some Christmas presents. We received a large
package to day from Irving from Milwaukee.
12\21\1932 (Wednesday)
I worked about home and did the chores at the farm,
then went to Chalres Tuttle's at Woodtick and had a
visit. Mary went to town this afternoon.
They are making over the road from the Wolcott
town line through Woodtick towards Bristol to a little
beyond Seavills{??} Reservoir into a State road.
12\22\{1932} (Thursday)
Shortest day of the year. Had to feed the chickens
at 4.30 as it began to be dark. I choped {chopped} wood all day.
Weather not very cold. Thawed quite a little.
12\23\1932 (Friday)
I choped {chopped} wood for the fire all day.
12\24\1932 (Saturday)
Weather warm, choped {chopped} wood. We received many
Christmas cards and Mary Hapenny brought a box of
oysters that came from Chespeake {Chesapeake} Bay and Leland Garrigus
brought a large basket of fruit from the Mattatutck Drum
Band.
12\25\1932 (Sunday)
Christmas Day. We attended service at the Mill Plain
Church. This afternoon Mary and I went to Margaret's
where we had a Christmas dinner and later a tree. We all
received many presents.
12\26\1932 (Monday)
This morning Cliff, Margaret, Mary and I, with Gene to drive,
went to Ruth's at Storrs. We went via Meriden, Middletown,
Postland, East Hampton, Marlborough, Hebron, Colombia and
Williomantis{??}. At none {noon?} we had a fine dinner and in the evening
a Christmas Tree. All had presents and all had a good time.
About eight o'clock we started for home. We came by the same
route that we went, reached home about 10 P.M.
12\27\1932 (Tuesday)
I worked about home all day.
12\28\1932 (Wednesday)
Worked about home. This afternoon I carried Mr. Dressler's{?} scalding
barrell {barrel} home. I then went to Woodtick and called on Charles Tuttle
then to East Farms and did chorse, then home.
12\29\1932 (Thursday)
Worked about home most of the day. This evening Mary
and I attended an entertainment and dance at the East
Farms school. There were many of the nighborhood {neighborhood} present.
I read a{?} paper {?????} to the early school and neighborhood.
12\30\1932 (Friday)
This morning I went to the vault in the Town Clerk's
office and looked up records. This afternoon, did chores
at the farm and dug a drain ditch by the Hog House.
12\31\1932 (Saturday)
Weather is very mild. I cut wood till it rained hard.
Then I repaired a steel stantion {stanchion} for Mr. Edward Scott
and cut wood, also repaired my truck and put the
1933 Markers on both cars.
//end of 1932 entries//
01\01\1933 (Sunday)
My Model A Licence reads as follows,
Dated Jan 1, 1933 Certificate No. 1799.
Name of Car, Ford. Style of Body, Roadster. Year of Model, 1931.
Model A, Piston Displacement 201. Color of Car, Maroon.
Personal Tax in Waterbury. Fee $16.00. 1933.
The No. on the plates of my Model T Ford truck is 24901.
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church, Rev. J. O. Todd. After service the members of the
Official Board had their pictures taken as well as other
orginazions {organizations}. The pictures are to be put into the new Church
Directory which is being published.
This has been a cold day.
01\02\1933 (Monday)
Choped {Chopped} wood and did the blacksmith work.
01\03\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to the town clerk's office and looked up records
this forenoon and cut wood this afternoon.
01\04\1933 (Wednesday)
Cut wood and repaired my auto truck to day.
Weather has been warm. This evening I attended
a meeting of the Official Board of the Mill Plain Church.
01\05\1933 (Thursday)
This forenoon I cut wood. In the afternoon went to the farm,
did chores and odd jobs. Then went up to Woodtick and
saw Charles Tuttle. He got his drum and played some of
the most diffcult {difficult} pieces I ever heard. He is ahead of any
one I ever saw for executing on the drum.
01\06\1933 (Friday)
Went to Town Clerk's office this forenoon.
Chopped wood this afternoon.
Weather very mild.
01\07\1933 (Saturday)
Cut stove wood all day, only when it rained twice.
Ex President Calvin Coolidge was buried to day.
His funeral was attended by President Herbert
Hoover and other government leaders from Washington.
The funeral service were held in the Edwards
Congregational Church at Northamton{????}, Mass. and
burial was at his old home at Plymouth Vt.
01\08\1933 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd. They had the regular Choir and
the new Boy's Choir of 35 boys. The regular had 24 men
an {and} women. Did choers {chores} at farm and spent the day at
nome.
01\09\1933 (Monday)
Snowed steardy {steady} and hard till noon about six
inches, then it turned to rain. I dug out the
pathes and did some other jobs this afternoon. Wrote
all the forenoon.
01\10\1933 (Tuesday)
Roads very slippery this morning, many autos skidded.
I went to Town to the Town Clerk's office. In the afternoon,
went to the farm, did chores and cleaned out the
lower spring and water trough by the side of the road.
01\11\1931 (Wednesday)
Cut stove wood at home all day.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Men's Club
at the Mill Plain Church.
01\12\1933 (Thursday)
I worked about home all day, except that I did the chores
at the farm. Painted and repaired the kitchen floor.
01\13\1933 (Friday)
Painted the desk room floor this morning and did odd jobs
about home.
01\14\1933 (Saturday)
Wheeled wood into the cellar all day and piled it up.
01\15\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Mr. Todd
had a special service as it was the fifteenth anniversary
of his wedding which took place in Calofornia {California}.
01\16\1933 (Monday)
Wheeled wood into the cellar and piled it up and made
fence, south of the wheel house.
01\17\{1932} (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this morning. Painted miss
Picket's window screens and repaired them this
afternoon.
01\18\1933 (Wednesday)
Repaired the fence and painted it near the wheel house.
01\19\1933 (Thursday)
Put in the screens in Miss Picket's room. Rained all the
forenoon. Set fence post {???} at the Northwest corner of
the home lot.
01\20\1933 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. Worked at the farm this
afternoon, drew a load of manure to the lot on the hill
and drilled a hole in a rock for blasting.
01\21\1933 (Saturday)
This morning I put new lining in my brake of the Ford Truck.
I then went to the farm and drew several loads of manure
up on the hill. The weather to day has been nice and warm
more like May than January.
01\22\1933 (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This afternoon we went to Mr. C. H. Martin's at East Farms.
We staid till about six, and it was very foggy when we came
home.
01\23\1933 (Monday)
At the farm all day drawing manure on the hill.
Drilled a hole in a stone for blasting in the lower
lot near the upper gate.
01\24\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to City Hall. Weather was mild.
This afternoon I drilled holes in rocks on the hill.
Bought of Mr. Beebe{??} five gallons of gasoline for the
truck, paid 70 cts.
01\25\1933 (Wednesday)
Worked at the farm all day drilling holes in stones.
The weather was cloudy and warm.
Ray and Ruth called this evening.
01\26\1933 (Thursday)
Snowed hard this morning but stoped {stopped} before noon. About
1 1/2" fell. This afternoon I attended a meeting of the shareholders
of the Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. No dividens {dividends}.
Ran behind eleven thousand dollars in 1932, 630,00 1931,
85,00 1930, but business in general is now very dull.
01\27\1933 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. This afternoon I filed
3 buck saw{s} for Ed Bronson and did other odd jobs about home.
01\28\1933 (Saturday)
Repaired chairs{??}, filed saws, ground axes, etc. in the
wheelhouse.
01\29\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Edgar Jerrolds
at Rag Hollow.
01\30\1933 (Monday)
Repaired furniture in the wheel house and did
odd jobs. Frank Welton called to find out about the
early schools of Mill Plain.
01\31\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. This afternoon I went to
Meriden to see Mr. Snow at the International Silver
Co. but he had gone to Hartford.
02\01\1933 (Wednesday)
This morning Mary and I went to West Simsbury
and there found Frank and Gussy in a fair state of
health considering their age. The weather was warm
and some cloudy but no storm. We reached home
about 5 P.M.
This evening we attended a meeting of the Official
Board of the Mill Plain Union Church at which it
was voted to see $2,000 worth of Church Bonds to help
pay the depts {debts} of the Church, especially a bank note
for 770.00 that was endorsed by William H. Garrigus
and Bessie Pierpont.
A committee was appointed to plan for the
observence {observance} of the fiftieth anniversary of the Church.
I consisted of, {? ?}.
02\02\1933 (Thursday)
I trimmed appletrees at home. In the afternoon drilled rocks.
02\03\1933 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. In the afternoon went
to Meriden and saw Mr. Snow at the International
Silver Works.
02\04\1933 (Saturday)
Trimmed apple trees at home and drilled rocks at the
farm.
02\05\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
The day has been very cold, the ground is covered with
snow about 1" deep, but the roads are very icy and
slippery.
02\06\1933 (Monday)
Very cold day. Did odd jobs about home.
02\07\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. This afternoon Mary
and I drove to Edgar Wallace place in Propsect where we
ontained some information regarding early manufacturing
in Prospect, especialy umbrella trimmings.
We then visited Theodore Allenen.
02\08\1933 (Wednesday)
Trimmed fruit trees and did the chores at the
farm. This evening I attended a meeting of the
Mens Club at the Mill Plain Church.
Thhis {This} forenoon I covered the ham and bacon with
licquid {liquid} smoke and Ray did the same to his
this evening.
02\09\1933 (Thursday)
Very cold day. Trimmed fruit trees about home.
02\10\1933 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. Very cold, worked about
home and did the chores at the farm.
02\11\1933 (Saturday)
This morning it was snowing hard and by noon about 10" had fallen.
It took me all the afternoon to get the pathes {paths} dug out, etc.
02\12\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Weather cold, 6 below
this morning.
02\13\1933 (Monday)
Cold this morning. 17 below zero. I dug out the clothes[??} paths and
worked in the Wheel house.
02\14\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. I got my auto driver's licence
on Benedict Street, paid 3.00 for it for one year from March 1st.
02\15\1933 (Wednesday)
Did Blacksmith work and odd jobs home.
02\16\1933 (Thursday)
Trimmed plum trees and apple trees. An attempt was made last
night to shoot President Elect Roosevelt at Miami, Florida last night
by a crank{??} named Zangara{?}. He fired five shots and hit five persons,
one of which was Mayor Cermae{??} of Chicago who isn't expected to
live, also a woman is expected to die. Luckily, Mr. Roosevelt escaped.
Morton Pierpotn is bad with the Rheumatism.
02\17\1933 (Friday)
Went to the Proabte Court Records this forenoon. This afternoon
ground Charlie Welton's ax and worked at the
farm. Harold Pierpont has four children sick with
the scarlet fever and his wife is sick too. Aunt Edna
has came from Hartford to care for them.
The style of woman's dresses are changing. They are making
them about two inches longer. For the last eight, the style
has had them reach to the knees only, and many wore
pretty silk stockings that they were not afraid to show above
the knees.
02\18\1933 (Saturday)
Trimmed apple trees at the farm. Warm day, snow
nearly all gone.
02\19\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd. Visited Morton Pierpont at his house this afternoon.
We rented the upstairs tenement of our house to day to
Mr. Vogal who has a wife and small child, price $10.00 per
month.
02\20\1933 (Monday)
Rained hard this morning. I cleaned the chicken coop and
did odd jobs about home. This afternoon I trimmed apple
tree branches at the farm and attended a meeting
of the Pine Grove Cemetery Association where it was
voted to accept an {a} resilution {resolution} empowering the Cemetery
to borrow $16,000.00 if they wish or for the treasurer to
pay back the $16,000.00 which the Court auditors find
he is short. Had a ton of soft coal come to day, $8.00.
02\21\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. Weather is cold and
windy.
02\22\1933 (Wednesday)
Cleaned up the brush from under the appletrees that I trimmed and
repaired the wheel drops on my little
car. This afternoon I trimmed appletrees at the
farm and called on Mort Pierpont.
02\23\1933 (Thursday)
I trimmed appletrees at the farm most of the day.
02\24\1933 (Friday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. While there, about
1000 unemployed marched into Field Street
and presented a petition to Mr. Harris of the Lincoln
House and also to Mayor Frank Hayes,
I went to Prospect and saw Patrick Spellman this afternoon.
02\25\{1933} (Saturday)
Trimmed appletrees till noon when it began to snow.
I then cut up a lot on {of??} corn stalks and did odd jobs about the
barn, etc.
02\26\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Moses
Lovell of the Second Congregational Church preached.
The Young People's Choir wore their new robes for the
first time to day. There were three Choirs. The regular
Choir about 30 voices, the Boys Choir about 36 white
robes with black collars, the Young People's Choir about
38 young men and ladies in White robes with red
collars. The Old Regular Choir war {wore} black robes.
They all sang good, nearly 100 voices all trained.
02\27\1933 (Monday)
Did odd jobs about home till noon. Then went to the farm
and trimmed an old appletree.
This evening Ray and Ruth called and we went to the
Grange Hall to a meeting of the newly formed Tax Payers
League. The income of the City has been much less
than the expenses for the past ten years, except one year
when the tax was 42 mills. They have borrowed money
to get by with and now there is a bill before the Legislature
to empower the City to borrow three million dollars.
This forenoon I sharpened some tools for Mr. Gray, .60.
02\28\{1933} (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. Trimmed appletrees
at the farm this afternoon.
03\01\1933 (Wednesday)
Finished trimming appletrees at the farm to day.
03\02\1933 (Thursday)
Snowed hard this morning. I did several jobs about
home this forenoon. This afternoon I worked at the
farm a spell trimming out the appletree brush.
Yesterday afternoon the inside of a house owned by
Mr. Swift was burned out. The house was the third
North on the West side of the Frost Road.
03\03\{1933} (Friday)
I made over a wheel barrow and did odd jobs at the
farm.
03\04\{1933} (Saturday)
Inauguration Day. To day President Roosevelt is inaugrate {inaugurated}
into the office of President of the United States.
03\05\1933 (Sunday)
Am not feeling well. Mary called Dr. Barber and he prescribed
licquid {liquid} medicine an dpills. I have a bad bronkill {bronchial} cough
and raise{?} much.
03\06\{1933} (Monday)
Staid in the house all day. Raymond did the chores at
the farm. Margaret and Marion called. Weather is dull
an {and} chilly.
03\07\1933 (Tuesday)
Staid in the house all day.
03\08\1933 (Wednesday)
Not much better. Weather chilly, raw and damp. Snowed at times
all day.
03\09\1933 (Thursday)
Snowed hard this morning. Mr. Vogal moved in up stairs
to day.
03\10\1933 (Friday)
Every body is short of money. The banks have been closed
since last Saturday. Many have checks but cannot get
them cashed, and there is no change to be had.
Weather is cold, raw and windy. Ray comes and does
the choes {chores} here and at the farm.
03\11\1933 (Saturday)
Papers tell of a great earth quake in Calafornia {California}. Hundreds
of lives have been lost and an untold amount of
damage done. Weather still very cold.
We called Dr. Barber and he ordered medicine of Mr. Kunkle{?}
for both Mary and me. I paid him three dollars for the
visit and paid Kunkle four dollars for the medicine. This
included medicine that he ordered last Sunday for me.
03\12\1933 (Sunday)
Weather cold and wet. Mary and I both staid in the house
all day. Ray came and brought in lots of wood, and did the
chores at the farm. This is the first time since I was in the
hospital in 1928 that we have not attended service on Sunday.
Gene came this afternoon and brought a fine dinner for me.
03\13\1933 (Monday)
Banks still closed, cannot get checks cashed, many are
without money.
This morning the sun came out but it soon clowed {clouded??} and
began to rain and has been wet and cold all day.
Ray let Teddy out this morning and shut him in this
evening at the farm. Mary and I fixed nests and put
two settling hens on to day.
03\14\1933 (Tuesday)
Damp cold day. Painted a wheelbarrow in the wheelhouse
but staid in the house most of the time.
03\15\1933 (Wednesday)
Cold all day with some snow. Staid in the house all day.
Am not feeling as well as I did yesterday.
03\16\1933 (Thursday)
Staid in the house all day. To night Ray came and he and
Mr. Vogal put up Vogal's pulley line.
Mr. Vogal paid me $10.00, one month's rent. Should have been
paid the 9th but he could not get it as the Banks were all
closed.
03\17\1933 (Friday)
To day I went to the farm and did the chores.
Mrs. Totten called and visited with Mary a long{??} yesterday
afternoon.
To day is St. Patricks Day and the girls and young Irish
are dressed with green caps, dresses, stockings etc. in his
honor.
03\18\1933 (Saturday)
Weather has been fine, not very cold. Have felt some better to
day. Cleaned the chicken house this morning and went to the farm this
afternoon and brought back five bags of oats for the chickens.
Money is scarce and many people are out of work. The factories
still continue to reduce wages.
03\19\1933 (Sunday)
Early this morning it was warm but it soon began to
snow and had snowed hard all day. This evening it had
turned into rain. We have staid in all the time except
I took the small car and went to the farm and did the
chores.
03\20\1933 (Monday)
Cold and rain all day. Went to the farm and did the
chores and repaired bolts in the Wheel House.
03\21\1933 (Tuesday)
Could {Cold} and rain most of the day. Thunder and lightening
this forenoon. Much of the snow is gone.
03\22\1933 (Wednesday)
This morning dawned clear with the sun shining, but later
it turned dull and grew colder towards night.
Ray and Ruth had a hen hatch six chickens this morning,
their first chickens. I hope Cooley's old cat won't get them.
03\23\1933 (Thursday)
Cloudy all day. I cut brush wood. Repaired the fence at the
North West corner of my lot. Mr. Hannon called and wished to
buy my place. We had a ton of soft coal come to day from the
Citizens Coal Co., paid $8.00.
03\24\1933 (Friday)
This morning I went to City Hall and studied East Farms
records. This afternoon went to Paul Kunkle's drug store and
got a little bottle of medicine for $2.50 and a fancy bottle of
olive oil for .25. I cut up brush wood the rest of the time aside
going to the farm and doing chores there.
03\25\1933 (Saturday)
Filed a long brass cut saw for Mr. Valesky{??} of Prospect. Planted four
rows of peas and finished cutting the brush wood.
03\26\1933 (Sunday)
Snowed hard all day, though at night there was only about four
inches as it was warm and settled, had it not settled there
probably {would} have been eleven inches.
Not feeling well. We did not go to Church.
03\27\1933 (Monday)
This morning the sun shown bright and warm, melting
the snow fast but it gradually grew colder so by
night it was chily. I worked at the rotary pump
in the cellar this forenoon. Went to the farm in the
afternoon and repaired Teddy's manger and trimmed
out the brush of two trees. To night my back is stiff so it
is hard to sit down and when down, it is hard to
get up.
03\28\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall. Got home at 2.30. Went to farm and
did the chores. Learned that Henry Kilbourne died last night.
03\28{29}\1933 (Wednesday)
Went to the farm and drew manure up on the hill.
Drew six loads. Ray and Ruth called this evening.
Ray took home two thick slices of ham.
03\30\1933 (Thursday)
Was at the farm this forenoon drawing manure up on the hill.
This afternoon Mary and I attended Harry Kilbourn's funeral
at the Mill Plain Union Church. It was filled with people.
He was buried in the Old Pine Grove Cemetery about eight rods{??}
south east from the old chapel.
After the funeral Mary and I went to the Plains Cemetery
this side of Plantsville and looked for the grave of Mrs.
Deborah Pierpont, widow of Ezra Pierpont who died in 1842.
03\31\1933 (Friday)
This forenoon I went to City Hall. This afternoon went to the farm
and did odd jobs till night.
04\01\1933 (Saturday)
Rained all day. Worked at the farm trimming apple tree brush, etc.
04\02\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O. Todd preached.
They had the Boys Choir, the Young People's Choir and the Regular Choir,
nearly 100 voices in all, and all fine.
04\03\1933 (Monday)
Worked all the forenoon repairing the washing machine.
Mr. Warren Hitchcock came for me {to} serve as a pall bearer for
Mary Frost who died yesterday at Mrs. Brown's on North Main
St. The other bearers are to be Theodore Munson, Hiram Abel
and Edson Hitchcock.
04\04\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon. This P.M. I attended Mary Frost's
funeral as pall bearers. She was the daughter of Charles Frost
who lived forty years ago in the house that Warren Hitchcock
now lives in but for a long time she has lived at Mrs.
Brown's home on North Main St. She is the last person by
the name of Frost, of all the numerous family who once lived
in this vacinity {vicinity}.
04\05\1933 (Wednesday)
To day I worked at the farm drawing out manure and
hauling stones from the potatoe {potato} lot.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Official
Board of the Mill Plain Union Church.
04\06\1932 {1933} (Thursday)
Repaired a washing machine for Mrs. Smalley of Cheshire
and then went to the farm and drew off stones from
the potatoe {potato} lot.
04\07\1932 {1933} (Friday)
Went to the Town Clerk's office this forenoon. Sharpened drills
etc. for the unemployed men who are working making
a ball ground East of the Mad River and South of Homestead
Ave. on the flat near the River. This evening Mary
and I attended an entertainment by the young people of Mill Plain Church.
04\08\1933 (Saturday)
Ray helped me this afternoon break up stones on the hill at
the farm. This forenoon I got ready.
04\09\1933 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Joseph Todd officiated. There were four vested choirs
of about one hundred and twenty voices. There was the
Regular Choir, the Boys Choir, the Girls Choir and the
Young Peoples Choir. The grandest singing I ever heard.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Prospect to Mr.
Cowdells and we stoped {stopped} at the Old Pierpont place
a little North of Turkey Hill. Mr. Steeves now owns it.
04\10\1933 (Monday)
This morning I repaired the washing machine and
sharpened some drills. I then went to the farm and
drilled holes in stones on the hill.
04\11\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to the Town Clerk's Office this morning. This
afternoon I went to the farm and drew brush upon
the hill to use to cover blasts with.
04\12\1933 (Wednesday)
Rained hard all day till dark, when it turned to
snow. I rep {repaired??} hat rack and the kitchen clock and did
odd jobs about the house and fired the brake on
the truck.
04\13\1933 (Thursday)
Blasted stones at the farm all day. This morning
there was about three inches of snow on the ground.
Arthur Bird and Mildred called this evening
and they said that there was six inches at their place
in Bristol this morning, and by noon it was all
gone.
04\14\1933 (Friday)
Good Friday. Worked repairing a wheel barrow for
Calavary Cemetery.
04\15\1933 (Saturday)
Finished Mr. Hapenny's wheel barrow and took it home to
him. I then went to the farm and blasted rocks on the
hill, except the time I spent helping the Italian get his car
out of the mud.
04\16\1933 (Sunday)
Easter. Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Todd. The attendence {attendance} numbered over six hundred.
There were four choirs. The regular seniour {senior} Choir of
about 30 members, the Boys Choir, the Girls Choir and
the Young People's Choir, all combined making over
100 voices. There were fifty seven who joined the
church.
04\17\1933 (Monday)
Drew stones off the lot on the hill this afternoon. This forenoon
it rained and I cut up cornstalks, etc.
04\18\1933 (Tuesday)
Rained hard this forenoon. Went to City Hall. Filed a
large circular saw this afternoon and did Blacksmith
work.
04\19\{1933} (Wednesday)
Rained all day. I sharpened a lot of picks and repaired
a wheel barrow. Put a tire on the wheel four inches wide.
This evening Mrs. Jones and Mr. Hill called.
04\20\1933 (Thursday)
Drew stones off the potatoe {potato} lot all day. Weather cold.
04\21\1933 (Friday)
Went to the Town Clerk's Office this forenoon and looked
up early records of South East Prospect. In the afternoon
I drew stone off the lot on the hill.
04\22\1933 (Saturday)
Drew stone the greater part of the day. Weather has
been cold and windy. Yesterday morning we had
a heavy frost.
04\23\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J.
O. Todd officiated. This afternoon Mary and I went
to Prospect. I left Mary at Mrs. Cowdell's while I went
to see the work that is being done on the Betheny
Road. I walked down about a mile. They have the
brush cut and the tile sluice pipes in, and they
say that they ar {are} grading on the lower end.
04\24\1933 (Monday)
I began plowing for corn and potatoes on the hill.
This evening I attended a Committee Meeting at the Mill Plain
Union Church.
04\25\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to the Town Clerk's Office this forenoon. Sharpened drills
this afternoon and did other odd jobs.
04\26\1933 (Wednesday)
I had Henry Beckwith tighten the clutch on my old Ford
car. I then went to Robert Tyler's on the Meriden Road
and had a board plained, then went to the farm
and plowed. This evening Margaret called and
brought a check from Ruth of $10.00 for me to use
towards a suit of clothes.
04\27\1933 (Thursday)
Weather very cold, ground frozen this morning.
I worked at the farm plowing most of the day.
04\28\1933 (Friday)
I went to the Town Clerk's Office this forenoon. I then went
to the clothing store of Joseph Hilton & Sons, cor {corner?} of Bank
and Grand, South East and bought a suit of clothes
for fifteen dollars and a top coat for eight dollars
and ninety five cents.. After I got home and had
dinner, I did several odd jobs and went to the
farm and did the chores, and then went and
got the clothes which the taylor {tailor} had altered
somewhat, then came home on the trolley.
Weather was cold.
04\29\1933 (Saturday)
Weather to day was warm and nice. I plowed
all day.
04\30\193 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev.
Joseph Todd.
Went to Prospect this afternoon. Saw Mr. Steves at
the ancient Pierpont place.
05\01\1933 (Monday)
Worked at the farm all day. Cleaned out the spring
and watering trough and planted onions and plowed.
This evening I repaired a lot of window screens.
Mr. Berkelee{??} Frisbie called this evening and invited
Mary and I to go to Silvermine (a village
North of Norwalk) next Wednesday.
05\02\1933 (Tuesday)
I went to the Post Office this morning (the first time
I was ever in the new building) and mailed a lot
of recorded matter about Ezra Pierpont - (great grand
father to my wife) to my son Irving in Milwaukee.
I then went to the Town Clerk's office. This
afternoon I went to Prospect and then to East
Farms and let the steer into pasture etc., then
home and worked on fly screens for the up
stairs windows.
05\03\1933 (Wednesday)
This morning Berkeley Frisbie and Mildred his wife
called and Mary and I went with them to Silvermine a
village North of Norwalk. We left my house at 9 and reached
Norwalk at 11. There we found Mr. Carl Jackson sitting
on the steps of the Armory reading a paper. He went ahead
in his roadster and we followed four miles to his
home. We staid there till four o'clock. Had dinner and
talked over geneological {genealogical} matters and many other
matters. When we came home we came by way of
Danbury, Newtown and Middlebury.
05\04\1933 (Thursday)
This forenoon I put the fly screens in Vogals{???}
part and worked at the farm this afternoon.
05\05\1933 (Friday)
Went to Town Clerk's office.
05\06\1933 (Saturday)
Worked at the farm nearly all day.
Weather damp and cold.
05\07\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
J. O. todd officiating. The sermon was by Dr. J. Quinter Miller.
Stayed home all the afternoon and wrote paper to be read at
Church, at one of the Fiftyth {Fifitieth} anniversary meeting{??}.
05\08\1933 (Monday)
I got out rocks and plowed a terrace North of Fort Dunlap
on which to set out grape vines, which took all
day.
05\09\1933 (Tuesday)
I went to the Town Clerk's Office an {and} studied and copied
records. This afternoon took up some grape vines and
took them to the farm and set them out.
Rolland Jenner spaded up a portion of my home
garden and planted radishes.
05\10\1933 (Wednesday) {no entry}
05\11\1933 (Thursday)
Yesterday Mary and I went to Kent where we stayed
all night at Frank's and came home this morning.
Brought one bushel of potatoes and a bag of fertilizer.
This evening we attended an entertainment given by
the Ladies Union and Mens Club. I read a paper.
05\12\1933 (Friday)
Worked at blacksmith work this forenoon. Went to the
farm and harrowed this afternoon.
05\13\{1933} (Saturday)
Got the ground ready to plant potatoes, furrowed
out some roots.
05\14\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
To day was celebrated the Fiftieth Anniversary of the
opening of the Old Mill Plain Chapel.
At 10.45 there was a {an} Anniversary Sermon by D. Charles
Dinsmore. At 2.30, a Fellowship service. The speakers
were Dr. John N. Lewis (Episcopal), Rev. David P. Gaines (Baptist),
Rev. Moses Lovel (2nd Congregational), Rev. Richard Haggerly
1st Methodist. At 3.45 a memorial service was held in
the Old Chapel. Dr. Lewis opened it. Rev. W. Moreton
Owen offered prayer and I read a paper giving a
history of the meetings held in the Shrub Oak Scool {Shcool}
house for eight years previous to the building of
the Chapel in 1883. Rev. J. O. Todd had charge of all of
the meetings to day.
05\15\1933 (Monday)
Furrowed out for potatoes.
05\16\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to the Town Clerk's office this forenoon. Furrowed out
for potatoes this afternoon.
05\17\1933 (Wednesday)
Planted potatoes till I used up all the fertilizer, then
went to Prospect and to Charles DeBissops.
05\18\1933 (Thursday)
Finished planting potatoes this afternoon.
05\19\1933 (Friday)
Went to Town Clerk's office this forenoon. This afternoon
went to the farm and planted a few potatoes on
the grape terris {terrace??}.
05\20-21\1933 (Saturday-Sunday) {no entries}
05\22\1933 (Monday)
Last Saturday morning Mary and I went to visit our son Frank
at Kent. We went via Thomaston, Terrington, Norfolk, Conoon,
South Conoon, Lime Rock, West Cornwall, Cornwall Bridge
and Kent. We staid over night and went to Church and
then Frank showed me about the farm. He has six acers {acres} of
potaotes planted and is planting eighteen acres of
field corn. We went to South Kent farm and he {gave??} salt to
22 head of cattles. We then went abou the new brick Chapel
that they are building for the South Kent school. We also
went up the new Warren Road that they are building.
The Blakeslee Co. of New Haven are building it. An other
company started to build it last year, but met with
great misfortune as the storms washed in a long deep
cut{??} which they were obliged to dig out twice.
We stayed over Sunday night and this morning we
went up the Macedonia Road and bought a little pig
of Mr. Schnider for 3.75 and brought it home in a box
on the trunk rack.
I took it to the farm and put it in the steer stable till I get
the pen repaired.
05\23\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I mowed the East yard about the garden
and the clthes {clothes} yard and went to the farm and mowed
about Ray's garden and cultivated both gardens, etc.
05\23{24}\1933 (Wednesday)
Took a load of hay to the farm and got the fertilizer
in and ready to plant field corn. Rained this afternoon
some. I furrowed out a strip by the North fence for corn.
This evening I went to Charles DeBissops on East Mountain
and got some tomatoe {tomato} plants and set them out.
Ray and Ruth came this evening.
05\24{25}\1933 (Thursday)
To day I planted corn with the corn plantes {plants} on the
hill in the East lot. In the West lot I planted three
rows across the North side. Then I plowed out one
row of appletrees in the young orchard on the hill.
This morning I took a lot of flower pots and the
box up to Charlie DeBissops. I then went over the
south end of East Mountain Reservoir and over
Clark Hill and down across the Union City Road
and South past the Clark School and Southeast
and out and across the Nangatuck Reservoir to the
Straitsville Road, then up to Prospect Center and
down through Matthews Street to the Plank Road
and to East Farms.
05\26\1933 (Friday)
Went to City Hall and paid my taxes. Automobiles
two listed 300, tax 4.88. First half property 4945 tax
80.36, total 85.24.
Then went to Records etc. This afternoon Roll Jenner
came and visited after which I went and bought seed
and worked at the farm and home planting them.
05\27\1933 (Saturday)
Planted in the gardens this forenoon. Mary and I
went to Wolcott this afternoon to the dedication of
a large gun of the late war. Judge Theodore Meyer
and Dr. O'Hara were the speakers. The Mattatuck
Drum Band was in attendance {attendence} and Veterans of
the World, Civil and Spanish Wars were there.
Just as the parade was in progress it began to
rain and all sought cover, some in the Town
Hall, others in horse sheds, church, automobiles,
etc. After the rain the exercises were continued
but the attendence was smaller and it continued
to rain more or less. After the benediction,
Mary and I went to Simsbury and visited
brother Frank. They are constructing a fine
new road over Fall Mountain along the East
side of Cedar Swamp Lake and down the
Mountain. We got home just at dark stoping {stopping}
at the farm and did the chores and found
that there had been a heavy shower here which
was much needed.
05\28\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J.O. Todd officiated. This afternoon we went to
Mr. Cowdell's in Propsect and Nellie and I located the
first layouts of land on the West side of the Old
Bound Line Road, from the Three Brothers to the
North line of the Layout to Rev. Samuel Hall.
05\29\1933 (Monday)
This morning I mowed the yard and ground the
new scythes that I bought at Winsted last year.
In the afternoon planted at the farm garden.
This evening planted thirty hills of potatoes in
the home garden.
Widow J. Henry Garrigus died last evenin {evening}
after a long illness, aged 91 years.
05\30\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning Ray came and went to the farm to
plant his garden there. I raised the flag as it is
Decoration Day and then ate my breakfast and
mowed a path to the wheel house and wen {went} to the forum where
Ray and I put the pig up in the pen. I then planted in
my garden and Ray went home before noon and it
began to rain and continued more or less the rest of the
day. I set out about forty four tomatoe {tomato} plants that
Ray gave me.
05\31\1933 (Wednesday)
Finished planting the garden at the farm, veyr wet.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Mrs. Jacob Henry
Garrigus' funeral. She was 91 years old. Oldest person
in Wolcott. Wrote to Mr. Snow of Meriden. Howard Neal
came this evening and paid $1.00, leaving $7.00 to be paid.
06\01\1933 (Thursday)
Finished planting garden at home. Mowed the grass
at the roadside about the watering trough at the farm.
This evening carried goods to Philip {Phillip} Royter's cottage
at Hitchcocks Lake.
06\02\1933 (Friday)
I wen {went} to the Town Clerk's office this forenoon. This after
noon I opened out a lot of hay that I have mowed and
mowed for two hours in the East Farms Cemetery
and then raked the hay up and raked up the hay
at home.
06\03\1933 (Saturday)
Worked in East Farms Cemetery 6 hours mowing and
cleaning it up. Cared for hay.
06\04\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd officiated. {?????} preached.
This afternoon I went to Prospect, to Cowdells, Drivers
and Fred Berger's. When we came home we stoped {stopped} at
Mort's farm and got a pt. of ice cream.
06\05\1933 (Monday)
Weather very hot. Worked in East Farms Cemetery 7 hours 3rd{???}
and a lot of hoeing in the gardens.
06\06\1933 (Tuesday)
Last night a thunder shower started and it continued to
rain hard all night and well into the forenoon.
After grinding my scythes, I mowed the front yard
by hand and after dinner went to the farm where
I made the barn ready to receive hay and then
plowed under the appletrees on the hill.
06\07\1933 (Wednesday)
Hottest day so far this year. I plowed under the appletrees
on the hill, dried hay and got it into the barn and did
many other odd jobs. This evening Mary and I attended
the annual meeting of the Mill Plain Church.
06\08\1933 (Thursday)
I finished plowing on the hill under the appletrees.
Got in a litle hay.
This evening Mary and I went up to Raymonds.
Weather very hot.
06\09\1933 (Friday)
At eight this morning I started for Hartford, stoping {stopping}
at the farm and doing the chores. I went in my Ford
runabout and reached the Capitol at nine fifteen, went
to the State Lybrary {Library} and looked up Prospect, Tyler
Records till one o'clock when I started for home, stoping {stopping}
at Mr. Goddards office where I met Mr. Snow of Meriden
and the three of us staid and talked so it was three
before I got out of the building. Reached home about
four thirty. Weather very hot. Heavy shower this
evening.
06\10\1933 (Saturday)
Worked at the farm all day. Cultivated the corn and
potatoes on the hill. Very warm.
06\11\1933 (Sunday)
Attended worship at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Children's Day. The Sunday School which numbers
over four hundred schollars {scholars} had charge of the exercises.
This afternoon I called on Mr. Thomas Payne on
East Mountain. His wife is very sick, not expected to live
from one day to another. Then I came home and Mary and I
wen {went} to Woodtick and called on Berkeley Frisbie and Mildred,
his wife.
06\12\1933 (Monday)
This has been as hot as any day I ever saw or knew.
I mowed at the farm and replanted the garden there
and some of the time lay in the shade.
Thomas Miles Payne's wife died this morning.
06\13\1933 (Tuesday)
Went to the Town Clerk's Office this forenoon and
after dinner went to Meriden and saw Mr. Snow.
We have found that the first German Silver
made in the country was cast at Benedicts factory by
Capt. James Grannis for Fred Curtiss of Hartford who
procured sime nickel and had Mr. Grannis mix it
with copper and zinc and cast it. Then it was rolled
into sheets. Mr. Curtis took it to Hartford and
made it into spoons. This was in 1834.
06\14\1933 (Wednesday)
Weather cool. Cultivated and howed potatoes and corn
on the hill.
06\15\1933 (Thursday)
At the farm hoed potatoes and corn this forenoon.
Attended Mrs. Thomas Miles Payne's funeral in
the afternoon. Rev. Mortimer Owen and Rev. Mr. Cockard of Prospect.
{????} attended, Owen of Bunker Hill, Long Church.
Then went to the farm, fixed fence
and hoed in the garden.
Ringland & Barnham's Circus was exhibiting in
Waterbury to day.
Enid, Irving's daughter, graduated from Wheaton's
College at Wheaton, Ill. to day I suppose as this is
the appointed time.
06\16\1933 (Friday)
Howed {Hoed} corn and potatoes all day. This afternoon it
rained quite hard for a time.
06\17\{1933} (Saturday)
Bunker Hill Day. The Mattatuck Drum Band went to Hartford
and with the Putnam Phalanx {????????} observed the occasion.
I hoed corn till the middle of the afternoon when a hard
shower came up. Then I stored away hay in the barn
and came home etc.
06\18\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd preached to the graduates of the schools and colleges
in this vacinety {vicinity}. There were 22 present.
This afternoon Margaret, Cliff, Mary and I went in
their car to West Simsbury to visit Frank. We went
over Southington Mountain and through Mill Dale,
Plantsville, Southington, Plainville, Farmington,
Avon, Wheatogue where we turned to the left and
came out at West Simsbury. Hard surfaced road
nearly all the way. Years ago I used to drive to
Plainville over the Southington red sand narrow
dusty roads at 5 or 6 miles per hour and had a
good time at that.
06\19\1933 (Monday)
This forenoon I built a fence of chicken netting from the Northwest
corner of the Barn to the Frost Road to keep the chickens out of
Mr. Vogal's garden. I bought a can of powder to kill the Mexican
beetles that eat the bean leaves, last year was the first that
we had them, and a can to kill other incex {insects} on other plants, .20 each
and a bag of 100 lbs. corn meal, 1.55. Went to the farm and planted
where the corn missed and built a little bridge in front
of the North stable door. Weather very cool.
06\20\1933 (Tuesday)
To day we voted on the repeal of the 18th Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States. This morning Mary and
I went to the Anderson School and voted against repeal.
Fourteen years ago the amendment was passed and
we have had few drinks since.
To night a drunken driver bumped into a large
car in front of our hous {house} and smashed the front wheel
and fender and then ran away.
I went and handed in my tax list at City Hall
and looked up records in the vault. I then went
to Woodtick and saw Mr. Garthwait about repairing my
old Ford truck. Then went to the farm and hoed in the
garden till night.
06\21\1933 (Wednesday)
Worked in the garden at East Farms all day.
This morning I took my Ford truck to Edward Garthwaits
in Wolcott and had the engine repaired, 4.50.
This evening Mary and I attended the annual meeting
of the Pine Grove Cemetery. The following were elected
trustees, W. B. Hitchcock, Theodore Munson, E. W. Hitchcock,
A. F. Meyerhans, A. E. Blewitt, J. W. Gardner and F. A. Wells.
We learned by the paper that it was Peter Griffin that
was drunk and smashed into the truck owned by Mr.
Manthey of the Plank Road near Summit Station last
evening in front of our house. He is Chairman of
the Board of Aldermen of the City of Waterbury.
After hitting Manthey{'s} truck he swevered {swerved} across the
street and struck a small runabout and continued
his mad run till after he passed the Cheshire
Town Line where he charged into the railing on
the right hand side and a plank of the railing went
through the radiator and on through the large sedan
taking off the leg and killing Timothy Sullivan who
was riding with him. Cheshire officers investigated
and arrested Griffing {Griffin}. A hearing was held and he
was released on $5,000 bonds. Mayor Hayes furnished
the bond.
06\22\1931 {1933} (Thursday)
This morning I went to Prospect and left some letters
for Miss Cowdell to type, then went to East Farms and
did the chores and set out a lot of cabbage plants.
Then came home and sharpened picks and grubs till
dark. Hot work.
06\23\1933 (Friday)
This day I ground two sets of knifes for the mowing
machine, then went to the farm and got the machine
ready to mow, then mowed around the upper pice {piece?}
by the pig yard.
This evening Mary and I attended a reception at the
Woodtick Chapel which William Garrigus and Sons
have lately completed. My son Irving was the architect.
There were many there.
06\24\1933 (Saturday)
Mill Plain Sunday School Picnic. This morning I
went to the farm and did the chores, then came
home and took my Ford Runabout and went up
to the Church where they were loading up to start
for the picnic. I opened up my rumble seat and
took four boys, Pierce Carew, Robert Holmes, Howard
Heaton and Bobby Reed, and we went to the Y Camp
at Smith's Pond in Waterton where they had all
kinds of water sports and land games and races
etc. At noon they had a picnic dinner in the grove.
06\25\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J. O.
Todd. This afternoon we attended the Dedication of the
New Woodtick Community Chapel. The order of service
was, Organ Prelude, Processional Hymn 173, Invocation
Rev. R. Wiley Scott of Wolcott Congregational Church,
Lords Prayer Responsive Reading, Glora, Anthem, Dear
to the Heart of the Shepherd by young peoples choir of Woodtick,
Scripture and Prayer Rev. H. Gertrude Coe, Announcements,
Offoering, Doxology, Anthem - "Lead and Keep Me",
Dedication Sermon - Rev. J. O. Todd, Hymn 177,
Dedication of Chapel - Rev. Joseph O. Todd, Rev. R. Wiley
Scottt, Rev. H. Gertrude Coe, Recessional Hymn 358,
Benediction Rev. R. Wiley Scott, Organ Pasttude Mrs.
Germam{??}.
After this service Mary and I went up over Wolcott
Hil and to Arthur Harrison's then home. Sister
Mary and Rolland Jenner called. Had supper after
nine o'clock.
06\26\1933 (Monday)
Mowed with the machine, first time the steer was hitched
into a mowing machine. Ted Wilson helped me 70{??}.
Rained and we cut up a large appletree limb and
repaired the fence. Then mowed some more till 5
o'clock.
06\27\1933 (Tuesday)
Sticky weather with much damp. We mowed the lot
half way up the hill West of the shed and have the
hay in the lower lot out. Ted Wilson helped, 80.
06\28\1933 (Wednesday)
Turned over all of the hay and managed to get it
dry and got it in two loads from the middle lot.
Ted helped me, 70.
06\29\1933 (Thursday)
Hottest day so far this year. We got in two loads of hay and
mowed round the piece on the hill three or four times.
The grass is heavy and the steer panted so pulling the
mowing machine that we gave it up. Ted helped, 75. 100 over{??}
This evening I painted the roofs of the chicken house and
part of the engine house.
06\30\1933 (Friday)
Finished mowing the heavy grass in the upper lot
on the hill and we raked it up and got it in half of
it. Ted helped 75 - 55.
07\01\1933 (Saturday)
This morning Ted and I got in a large load of hay
from the upper lot on the hill. We brought it down
on the truck and got into the barn by noon. Then
Teddy Wilson left and went home and the whole Wilson
family are going to Mansfield's Grove at the sea
shore for a two weeks vacation. This afternoon I
hoed in the garden, then Howard Neal came and
we went to the Cemetery and posted a notice calling
a meeting of the Association for evening of July 12th.
When we came up we stoped {stopped} at the watering trough and
Howard got a drink, then a few drops of rain fell, and we
ran for the barn, but before we reached it we were
wet through and the rain was falling in torrents.
After it ceased I picked a mess of peas and pulled
up the vines and came home. It rained again through
the evening.
07\02\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Joseph Todd preached. This afternoon Margaret
and Cliff came and carried Mary and I up to
Wolcott to Arthur Harrison's where I left a new scythe
for him to try. We then came home stoping {stopping} at
the Bucks Hill Cemetery.
07\03\{1933} (Monday)
This morning I got most of the weeds out of the
home garden and charged the battery on my
best car. Then went to the farm and did the chores.
Came home, had dinner and got ready and went to
Frank Ineson's funeral at the Old Pine Grove Cemetery.
He was 59 years old. We waited a spell and then attended
the funeral of Charles Brown who's {whose} wife was Susie Bronson.
I came home and worked late oiling up my best car.
07\04\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I finished weeding the garden then
got my good car ready to run and mowed some
big grass by the Wheel House. Had dinner and
went to the Farm. I saw Mr. Barbour who lives at
the Hattie Pierpont place and who has torn down the
old barn and bought a chestnut stick 6" x 6" - 18' for 75.
I took it to our barn on my truck. Then got the steer and
plowed out corn and potatoes on the hill, then came
home and raked up the hay when in {it} began to rain.
This has been the quietest Forth {Fourth} of July I ever knew.
Weather cool and damp with little sunshine.
07\05\1933 (Wednesday)
Weather damp. little rain and little sunshine. Mowed big
grass at home and took a load to the farm where I plowed out
corn and potatoes till 4.30 when I raked and heaped the load
out there, came home and raked and heaped the hay here.
This evening we attended a meeting of the Official Board
at the Mill Plain Church. They appointed officers. Mr. Reece
is appointed purchasing agent in my place. Hope he will be
able to buy without money.
07\06\1933 (Thursday)
Weather to day very hot. Finished plowing out the corn and
potatoes on the Hill East lot, hoed eight rows and got in a
small load of hay that I took out from here.
07\07\1933 (Friday)
Howed {Hoed} corn and potatoes on the hill all day.
07\08\1933 (Saturday)
Plowed out three rows of corn two hundred and thirty
four feet long in the Northwest lot and hoed them
then put arsnate of lead on the potatoes to kill
the bugs, howed {hoed} in the garden etc.
Weather very hot and dry. Sun burned my back
and arms so the skin is peeling off.
07\09\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Jones of the Seymour Congregational
Church officiated. After service I went to the farm and did
the chores then Mary and I drove to Mr. Winfield Norton's
in Wolcott North East part and found him sick in bed.
We visited with his son John and wife after which we
drove over to Spindle Hill to Henry Norton's but he was
away. We saw his son Kenneth. I was looking for information
concerning Elsworth Norton who was killed at Rapidonford,
Va. in 1863. We then visited Judge George Browne
and had tea there. Wiliiam Gillette and Iva came along
while we were at Henry Norton's and we enjoyed a visit
with them.
07\10\1933 (Monday)
Mrs. John R. S. Food{??} died last night after an
illness of long duration although she has been
able to be about until within the last two weeks.
This morning I went to town adn to the
Waterbury Savings Bank on the West cor. of North
and Weest Main Sts. and got a check for 25.00 cashed.
I then went to the new telephone building, cor. of
Grand and State Sts. and paid my telephone
bill then saw attorney Phalen about collecting
a bill against Howard Neal then to the Army
Store, cor. of Bank and Grand Sts. and bought two
work shirts for 79 cts. each then home and cleaned
the ground between my fence and trolley track.
Had dinner and went to the farm and pulled
the pea vines and picked the peas and cleaned
the North spring. Then went to Mort Pierpont's
Dary {Dairy} Barn and he paid me 10.80 for work done
in East Farms Cemetery the past year.
Rained this evening.
07\11\1933 (Tuesday)
This day I mowed the grass in the East Farms
Cemetery which took seven hours.
07\12\1933 (Wednesday)
This morning I raked all of the East Farms Cemetery
over and took away the rubbish.
I then came home and Mary and I went to Mrs.
Carrie Patchens funeral. She was 74 years old and was
buried from her daughter's home on Fairlawn Avenue to
the Old Pine Grove Cemetery. We then waited at the Mill
PLain Church till 3.30 when Mrs. John Todd's funeral
was held. There was a large attendance. She was buried
in the family lot at Woodtick. Rev. J. O. Todd officiated
at both funerals.
07\13\1933 (Thursday)
To day I worked in the garden at the farm getting the
weeds out of it and pulled four bushels of over wripe {ripe}
radishes. I stored away several loads of hay.
The weather has been very warm.
07\14\1933 (Friday)
To day I set out about one hundred cabbage plants at the
farm. This afternoon Mary and I went to the funeral
of Elliott Bronson at Wolcott Center. We then went
up over a narrow steep up and down dirt road to
the Bristol line the West side of Cedar Swamp Pond
where we came to a good state road which we followed
through Bristol (via) Wolcott West and North Streets and out
the Farmington Road a new brick school house wher {where} we
angled to the Northeast to Unionville and then on to
West Simsbury where we found my brother Frank and
his wife quite comfortable considering their age.
We staid til {till} six and then came home.
07\15\1933 (Saturday)
I set out a row of cabbage plants at the farm and
howed {hoed} in the garden. Came home and after reading
the paper about kidnapping that is now being
carried on by gangsters in the country and resting,
I mowed the back yard.
07\16\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
Joseph Todd officiated.
This afternoon Mary and I went out to Bessie Pierpont's
at Maple Hill Farm and had a good visit. Here daughters
Marion and {? ?} were there, as were Mr. and Mrs.
Anniman, Mrs. Bessie Mashire of Prospect and Mrs. Sarah
Hine. They were all Grangers and later left for Cheshire
where they were going to hear Mr. Gardener, High Preast {Priest}
De-meter{??} speak. We came home and soon Mr. and Mrs.
Berkley Frisbie of Woodtick called as they were about
to leave Mr. and Mrs. Ferriss Furkenton of East Morris
called. Joseph Pierpont and wife and son Wilson of
Ware, Mass. called after dinner.
07\17\1933 (Monday)
This forenoon I mowed all of our front yard then
I took some wagon irons out to Ed Scott's in Cheshire
then came to the farm and mowed a small
piece of clover, and then came home and raked
up the grass that I mowed in the morning.
07\18\1933 (Tuesday)
Mowed the West end of the orchard on the hill and got
it in togather {together} with all the other hay that was out.
Ted Wilson helped, .70. Weather was dry and good.
07\19\1933 (Wednesday)
Ted Wilson, .75 and I mowed part of the orchard on the
hill and got the hay into the barn, etc.
07\20\1933 (Thursday)
Finished mowing on the hill. Ted Wilson, .65 and I got it
raked up a little befar {before} two. It began thundering a little
before one and as soon as it was raked up we went
for the trunk to draw it down when it begn {began} to
rain hard. We drove down to the barn and put
the truck under the maple trees when it began to
hail stones about the size of hazelnuts now and then.
Soon the lightening and thunder was fierce and the
hail increased bothe{?} in quantity and size till the
ground was nearly all covered and we picked up
many that measured 1 1/2 inches in diameter and
now and then one that measured 2 inches the
longest way. They pounded many holes in the
felt roof of my barn so that afterwards when
it rained it leaked everwhere {everywhere}. The roof was put
on in 1921 and never before did the hail make {a}
leak in it. The hail lasted about one hour when
it began to rain hard. Ted Wilson went home
to get some dry shoes on and found that the hail
had broken 22 pains {panes} of glass in their house.
Mr. and Mrs. James Upson of Southington called
this evening to talk about historical matters.
07\21\1933 (Friday)
This morning I carried a letter to Maple Hill Farm
and left it but Bessie Pierpont was not at home.
I stoped {stopped} at Mort's and saw the damage done by
the hail yesterday. It pelted his barn{??} and garden
and vegetables so the stalks were standing
nearly bare and the ground was thick with
apples under the trees.
Mr. Prilneitz who lives in the Wiliiam Austin place
was raking the leaves off his lawn as the ground was
covered thick with them under the trees all about
East Farms.
I dried and drew the hay that got wet yesterday
from the hill and mowed some in the lower lot.
Ted helped, .35.
07\22\1933 (Saturday)
Very hot day. I mowed at out home lot and then
went to the farm and mowed the big grass next
to Mr. Fred Wilson's fence which was for the most
part lying flat but there was much of it.
I then came home and went down town to Sears &
Roebuck and bought five rolls of tar felt to cover the
South side of the roof of the barn, paid $10.40.
There was a great crowd, principally women, in the
town shopping. The stores were crowded and as
I looked along Bank Street the sidewalks were white
with the hats on the heads of the women, they were
so numerous.
07\23 \1933 (Sunday)
To day I drove to John Norton's in Wolcott and he and
I left about 10 and went to Mr. Charles Norton's
place at Plesant Valley in the Town of Barkhamsted
where we staid till four when we came back to
Wolcott via New Hartford, Pine Meadow, Satan's
Kingdom, Collingville, Unionville, Plainville and
Bristol where I left Mr. Norton at his home in Wolcott
and I reached home at about six.
07\24\1933 (Monday)
This day has been very hot. Ted, .75 and I spread out all of
the hay that was mowed and before noon we came
over and put a big load on the truck, but the heat
was so great that we had to work very slow. After dinner
we went to the farm and turned over the hay there and
got it in in two loads and then unlowded {unloaded} the truck.
When we were through my clothes were driping {dripping} wete with
sweat and we were well tired.
Sears and Roebuck's truck brought five rolls of three {??????}
coated roofing that I ordered Saturday and piad $10.40.
07\25\1933 (Tuesday)
Weather cool, damp and rainy. I went to the farm and
Sid and I unloaded a load of hay and cleaned up the
barn. Then he howed {hoed} in the garden and I mowed by
hand till the middle of the afternoon when it rained
hard. William Purdy of East Mountain died last
night.
07\26\1933 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and mowed by hand as the
weather was damp. Came home before noon. Soon Cousin George
Somers of Cleveland, Ohio came and took dinner with us.
At three Mary and I attended William Purdy's funeral at his
house on East Mountain. There were many people there.
He was buried in the Prospect Cemtery. Rev. Mr. Cochard,
the Odd Fellows and another minister officiated.
We then went down the new Betheny road which is not
yet completed to the old New Haven Road which we followed
to Straitsville where we turned to the right by the old
tavern and took the Hopkins Hill Road but before we got
to the top of the first hill the wheels spun round in the
gravel and we had a hard time getting up. Mr. Evens and
his two sons came and helped and we managed to get to the
top of the hill after which we came over Hopkins Hill and
up the Hopkins Road to Pearl Lakes and on home.
07\27\1933 (Thursday)
Mowed with the machine n the barn lot and Ted .80 and I got
in three loads of hay.
07\28\1933 (Friday)
Mowed with machine in barn lot. Ted helped, .55 and we got
it in. I then went to Prospect and paid Nellie Cowdell 1.00 for
typewritting{??} over paid .25 then came home and redd {read} the paper
when Rev. Dr. Johnson and wife called. He is Irving's minister
in Milwaukee and is on his way to the White Mountains to
spend his vacation.
07\29\1933 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and mowed a small piece
of old dry grass. Weather very hot. Then I came home and
went down town and did some errands and came home
and had dinner after which we started for Kensington to
attend the Upson Family Reunion which was held in the
old Congregational Church which was built in 1774.
We stoped {stopped} at Maple Hill and got Bessie Pierpont and
she rode in the rumble seat. We went to Meriden and
on West Main St. at Capitol Avenue turned North
and went through Cat Hole Pass and on through a
fine farming country to the Meeting House.
There were many people there so that the Church was
well filled. Some from Talmage, Acron and other places
in Ohio, others from New York state and Montreal and
many other places. There were many fine addresses and
appaers read and much given of interest to the Upsons.
We came home through Southington.
07\30\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
This afternoon attended the family reunion of the
Descendants of Ezra Pierpont which was held at Maple
Hill Farm. There were about thirty five present.
Raymond H. Miller was elected President and Marion
Pierpont Secretary.
Frank and his family of Kent was present.
07\31\1933 (Monday)
Hottest day I ever knew. Ted and I finished the machine
mowing at the farm. So hot that it made the steer puff{??}
and we had to stop for a spell. We raked the hay up and
then cleaned out the lower spring but it was so hot that
we did not get the hay in. Had slight shower this evening.
08\01\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I finished hand mowing at the farm.
Weather hot, 110ø after dinner. Ted, .75 and I got in a big
load of hay.
08\02\1933 (Wednesday)
Finished haying at the farm and cut the oates {oats}
and got them in. Ted, .50 helped. Weather very hot.
For five days the thermometer has stood at nearly
{??} 100ø in shade at noon and 110 in the
sun. That is where we worked with all of our
clothes sweat through.
[[end of Journal Book]]
[[start of new Journal Book]]
Charles S. Miller.
No 2271 East main St
Waterbury
Conn.
From Aug 3rd 1933 to Nov 8th 1935.
08\03\{1933} (Thursday)
Mowed the tall grass next to the Frost road this
forenoon, and took a load to the farm. Ed{50?} helped
Mary went out with us and we picked about two quarts of
bill berries{hill berries?} in the North East lot on the Hill.
08\04\{1933} (Friday)
To day I mowed the tall grass and weeds in the North
part of my home lot, and Ted{65?} and I took out three loads
and put them on the stack. Weather was cood/cool{?} with rain
last night. The trolley men have been repairing the
track in front of my house yesterday and to day.
08\05\{1933} (Saturday)
Weather to day has been just about right. I finished
mowing the North end of my home lot and cliped
about the lot in odd{add?} places. Did the chores at the
farm, and then clearned and polished part of the
little car.
Mr Winfield Norton of Wolcott{Wolkott?} Died last night aged
79 years, after a twn weeks illness.
08\06\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended worship at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev
Girtrude Coe{?} of Wolcott preached{preacheded?}.
Had dinner at Margarets on Beecher Avenue.
As we were coming home a flood of water came
out of the main gate of the Mattatuck ___{M_g?} Co's gate{gale?}
by the mad River Bridge and rushed across the
street we drove through it, but soon it increased in
volum{volume?} and flooded the entire street and rushed
down White Oak lane. The 36 wooden pipe that conveys
the water from the dam to the power house
had burst. just above the waterwheel house and
forced earth bricks and stones all over the street
stoping{sloping?} all trafic{traffic?} for a spell, a trolley car tried
to run through it but got off the trace.
After a time they closed{clased?} the head gate at the dam
and the water ceased.
We came home and I went to the farm{,?} and
then, to Prospect stoped at Mr Cowdells and left
some papers, then went over the Parsons Road which
they are making over into a inproved{improved?} road, here
I met Mr William Morris and Patrick Spellman{?} and
they gave me much information concerning{concrning?} that
locality, then I went on to the West school house
where i turned North, and crossed the new Union
City road and went up to Leverne Clarks{?} where I
stoped and visited a while, got home after dark, and found
that Frank and family had been here and left some cloru's{?}
oysters and muscles{mussels?}. They had been down to Short Beach at
Morts Cottage where they went the day before and were on
their way home{?} to Kent. We cooked some and they were good.
08\07\{1933} (Monday)
This morning Ted Wilson{30?} came and we raked and
loaded a load of hay{,?} then we pulled some weeds
by the wood pile{,?} and as I had to grind the sickle we
went to the Wheel house nd he turned the grindstone
and and{written twice} the cracks that were caused by
the shafts rusting opened and it came apart, so
we got the shaft out. He wiped up my car and I
got ready and went down town and did some bank
business. Three savings Banks have consolidated
The Dimes savings bank, The Waterbury saving Bank
and the West Side savings Bank, and all are doing
business at the Dimes Bank Building.{.?}
After dinner Mary and I went to Wolcorr and
attended the funeral of{af?} Winfield Norton, after which
we went to Bristol. to the Nurseries to visit
Mildred, but found that they had gone to
Clinton to spend their vacation, Merritt Pierpont
was there and we had a good visit, then we
started home/via{)?} Terryville but before reaching Plymath{Plymouth?}
we turned down{?} the Todd Hollow Road and came to the
Rail Road where they were building a new bridge, so
we were obliged to turn back to Plymoth{Plymouth?} and{?} come
home by way of Thomaston and Waterville.
08\08\{1933} (Tuesday)
To Day Ed{100?} and I took the last of the hay on the hom_{home?}
lot to the farm and put it on the stack.
We then came home and cut the weeds and grass
East of the hen yard in part, and then put new
shoes on the big dirt scraper for the Calvary
Cemetery, which took till seven o'clock, as soon as
_e{we?} began to work on it the rain started and every
time that we got a shoe red hot and went out
to fit it it would pour and wet us through, but
about the time{lime?} that we were through heating the
irons the rain ceased.
08\09\{1933} (Wednesday)
Finished mowing the swamp East of the chicken yard
and Ted{70?} and I got it into the yard, We then cleaned and
repaired my little car and mowed beside the walk
on the Frost road, etc.
08\10\{1933} (Thursday)
This morning Ted and I finished trimming the high
hedge, and then went to the farm. He on his wheel,
and I in my truck, stoped and left a pair of heavy
shoes at the cobblers to be soled and healed, and also
at Bessie Pierponts and left a plant that mary sent her.
She is greatly concerned over the wellfare{welfare?} of Hazel and
Hellen{?}, they were to leave Havanna to day for home.
This mornings paper says that Cuba is in a state of
War, and Strikes and riots.
At the farm Ed and I got out some stones and plowed
about the young apple trees, etc.
08\11\{1933} (Friday)
Was at the farm all day getting stones out of the
barn lot above Fort Dunlap, Ted{70?} helped me.
08\12\{1933} (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and plowed out
the 2nd terrace above Fort Dunlap{?}, which{whicls?} took till
noon, then came home and, in the afternoon
made an ox bow pin, as we cannot buy them
any more, then I did odd jobs about home, and
went to bed tired and weary with the labor of
the past week.
08\13\{1933} (Sunday)
This morning I went to the farm and did the
chores, came home had breakfast, and at nine
Margaret and Cliff called and we all wnet
to Rays Cottage at Lake Zoar{?} where we rested
a spell and then had dinner, after which all
Margaret, Cliff, Mary and Ray took Rays morot
boad and Sailed{sailed?} down the pond four or five
miles, and back and up above where they ar{are?}
pulling the piers for a new concrete bridge
above the old iron present bridge. After they
came back we had supper and then started
for home at eight o'clock, which we reached in
due time.
08\14\{1933} (Monday)
Wet and rain this morning, I wnet to the farm and
hoed in the garden. Ted came, but went home again
on account of the rain. I cultivated{cullivated?} about the fruit
trees, and plowed on the terrice{terrace?} but plowed into a
hornets nest, they stung the ox and I took him
away. I then went went{written twice} up the rough Pierpont
road{soad?} and up the Todd road to Charles Tuttles.
They are building over the North end of the Todd
road, putting a concrete pipe sluce{slice?>} at Misery
Hollow and fillind{?} it in _bout{about?} seven feet
and changing the road about its width North, a
large steam shovel is working half way down the
hill and at the bottom __e{are?} filling about five{?} feet,
are putting in a new bridge at Lillie Brook and
running the road farther East, Have been working
four days.
08\15\{1933} (Tuesday)
To day Ted and put more than half of the new felt
roof on the Barn at East Farms south side and
covered the one that was full of holes made by the
great hail stones{.?} a few weeks ago.
08\16\{1933} (Wednesday)
We finished putting the new roof on the South side
of the Barn, and repaired the North side, and got
ready to truss{triss?} up the stable roof.
The town is repairing the Pierpon road, and ree{?} to
put oil on it.
08\17\{1933} (Thursday)
Rained this morning, Ted and I got up the 6'x6"
chestnut stick in the stable to truss up the roof
and then went to patchen{patchin?} the roof and repairing
it. The gutter stick{slick?} had rotted so we wne tover to
Cheshire Depot and bought another 3"x2" long for .36 cts
and brought it back by the Plant road, and made the
roof ready to paint tomorrow.
08\18\{1933} (Friday)
This morning I went to the farm, and Ted{?} and
I painted the roof on the North side with aspholt{asphalt?}
paint, and as we finished about eleven it began
to rain, and continued the rest of the day.
After dinner we came home and worked in
the Wheel house hanging the new grindstone{?}
that I bought of the C. S Templeton Co{?} for $5.00
I then worked on some chair irons for Christs
Chapel. This afternoon there was a bag of feed
delivered, and it appears that Frank in Kent
sent it and paid for it.
08\19\{1933} (Saturday)
Ray went to the farm this morning and gathered
vegtables from his garden etc. Mary and I soon
came and Mary went to picking blackberries
and I took the steer{.?} and cultivated under the young{yound?}
appletrees on the hill. Ray and Mary went home
before noon, and I finished about three, when it
began to thunder, so I took four scithes{scythes?}, two axes
and two hoes and came home and ground them.
It rained the rest of the afternoon.
08\20\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
C. E Benedict Preached. The son of Howard Seymour of
Watertown sang a solo, Ruth, Rays wife was in our seat
she hasent{hasn't?} been there for a long time as they and
Morton Pierpont dont like Mr Todd and only come when
he dosent{doesn't?} preach, however there is a goodly attendance
every sunday.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Leverne Clarks
on Clark Hill, in Prospect where we talked over matters
concerning the history of the place, and of the early
Metodist{Methodist?} meetings held there about 1800.
08\21\{1933} (Monday)
Began raining light and fine this morning.
I went to the farm{.?} and got ready to repair fence
soon it rained harder, so I came home and lay
down, then ate dinner and wrote up some accounts
and made chair{?} irons for Christs Chapel, and it rained
hard all the afternoon, Bellie{?} came after eggs, and
later Margaret came.
08\22\{1933} (Tuesday)
Rained nearly all day and did a lot of good as it filled
the springs and streams. This morning I finished making
a lot of chair irons for Christs Chapel, then went to
the farm and did the chores, after which I finished
making up a list of the men who went from the
town of Woolcott{Wolcott?} to the War of the Rebellion 1861 to 1865,
have been working a long time on it.
I also finished getting information for the present, of Stephen
Upson the settler in Waterebury/Watersbury{?} and his son Thomas.
John Serton{Seton?} of Prospect came this evening and copied
fife music.
08\23\{1933} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and Ted Wilson and I
set two bar posts{?} at the Southeast corner of the orchard
lot, but at noon it began to rain and I came home.
Hellen Pierpont{,?} got home from Cuba yesterday,
but Hazel was not allowed on the boat{biat?} as it was
crowded with people fleeing from the Island on account
of the revolution there.
08\24\{1933} (Thursday)
Rained nearly all day. I spent the time in reading
writing and doing odd jobs about home.
Margaret Cliff John Castle and wife left night
last for Cape Cod{?} to get Jene{?}, has rained nearly
all the time since they started.{.?}
08\25\{1933} (Friday)
This morning Ted Wilson and I finished repairing
the bars at the South East corner of the young orchard
lot, we set concrete posts eight feet long and wired
the old wooden bar posts to them, and made a
good job of it, we the{then?} cultivated the young appletrees{.?}
After that we drilled a hole in a big rock East{east?} on the
barn and intend to blast it out.
08\26\{1933} (Saturday)
Nice sunny day. I shook out the hay that I had
mowed and it dried well. Helped Mary this morning
clean our bed etc. Then went to farns{farm?} got
vegtables{vegetables?}, apples etc.{.?} and got in hay and cultivated
about apple trees{?} in the barn lot.
08\27\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Girtrude{Firlrude?} Coe{?} of Wolcott preached, the Attendance
was small. This afternoon Mary and I went to
Rag Hollow and I saw Mr Edgar Jerrels who was born
in 1850.{.?} about some historical facts, then we went through
Prospect Center and out the Salem or Parsons road
which is being made over into a state ade{?} road and
on past the Indian well so calld, and over Pond
Hill to the Naugatuck old Cemetery, where I found
many graves of interest to me, then we went to
Baptist Corner, where I went into a small Cemetery
where the graves were nearly all of the Wooster family who
formerly owned all the land there abouts{,?} Harry Roberts
]lives in a house next South who I had not seen for over
fifty years, we had an interesting visit. He took me
to the North West{Wist?} corner of the Hopkins and Union City
roads and showed me the spot where the first Baptist
Church stood, in the early part of the eighteenth century.
08\28\{1933} (Monday)
Ted Wilson and I finished drilling a hole in a large rock
in the{copy is light} Barnlot above Fort Dunlap{?}, Weather very hot, we
drew down an old Ford auto body and loaded the
the{written twice} blast and covered it with the auto body and
brush and sticks, then we fired it and blew the rack
all to pieces, without any damage. Soon it began to
thunder and a few drops fell. We went to the barn
and got the mowing machine in and Ted o_led{oiled?} it{il?}
while I got pieces of stones{?} away but it began{?} to
rain and then blew and pored{poured?} and hailed, and
after it stoped we went home.
Yesterday Rays wife Ruth was taken to the Waterbury
hospital{?} and this morning at eight an operation
was preformed{performed?} on her for appendex{appendix?} removal etc
Raymond called this evening and said that _heshe?} is
getting along very Confortable{Comfortable?}
08\29\{1933} (Tuesday)
Nice weather though rather warm. Worked at the
farm getting out rocks. East of the barn and North
of Fort Dunlap. Ted Wilson lited the blasts and
then run.
08\30\{1933} (Wednesday)
Ted Wilson and I got stones onto Fort Dunlap.
Weather very warm.
Rays wife is getting along very well at the hospital{.?}
08\31\{1933} (Thursday)
Ted Wilson and I got stones on Fort Dunlap, but we could
not get many up, either with out ton hoist or the steer
because they were so large and heavy, we had to blast
and break many, and did not make much headway.
09\01\{1933} (Friday)
Ted Wilson and I got stones upon Fort Dunlap{Dunlop?} to
day, we used the,{,?} steer and rope and chain lakeles{?}
hitched to at tripod on top of the pile.
09\02\{1933} (Saturday)
This morning I went down to the center to the bank and
got a check cashed. The town was full of people and
automobiles, I then went to the new building corner
of State and Grand Sts and paid{?} the telephone bill,
then to Templetons{?} store{?} Cor of Benedict and Meador_/Meadorn{?}
sts{Sts?} and paid for a grindstone, then back to center and
did several little errands{?}, and home at noon.
This afternoon went to the farm and brought
home vegtables{vegetables?}, etc. This evening wrote a letter to
the Waterbury American, about forest{?} fires and many
{next line difficult to read}
{other things?}
09\03\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the mill Plain Union Church
Rev J O Todd who has returned from his vacation
at Old Orchard Maine, officiated.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Wooster
Street Naygatuck{Naugatuck?} and visited Mrs Jones who was
a native of Prospect, and descended from Isaac
Hotchkiss who came from Betheny{?} and bought
the house and land, that Ezera{?} Pierpont built{?} and
occupied{accupied?} in 1781. She knew much of the history of
Prospect and Naugatuck.
09\04\{1933} (Monday)
Rain. Rain. Rain. To day is Labor day and we
were going to the Goshen Fair. But we staid
home, I went to the farm,{,?} and did the chores, and
then went to Charles Tuttles in Woodtick. Yesterday
they put in the South abutment of the bridge
over Lillie Brook near where he lives. To day the
water is high, so they got it in just in the right
time. This afternoon I read and looked up records,
etc.
09\05\{1933} (Tuesday)
To day I was at the farm all day getting rocks upon
Fort Dunlap. I got the last of the heavy ones up, I
worked alone.
09\06\{1933} (Wednesday)
Went to prospect this morning, and then to the
farm and got three or four stone boat loads of
stone upon Fort Dunlap and then plowed a terrice{terrace?}
and got a lot of vegtables and came home, the
weather _as{was?} very hot.
The City has been surface harding the Plank
Road from the Harpers Ferry Road to the Scott Road,
last week.
09\07\{1933} (Thursday)
Went to Mr Cowdells in Prospect this morning,
found that there is ten new houses{?} built and being
contructed between his house and the plank road.
Came to the farm and repaired the fence at the
South East corner of Clydes{'?} lot. The weather was
very hot.
09\08\{1933} (Friday)
This forenoon I went to the Town Clerks office and
copied records. This afternoon Mary and I went
to Naugatuck and saw Mrs Jones{Jownes?} about the
Wooster family.
09\09\{1933} (Saturday)
To day Mary and I went to Goshen Fair. They had
a good fair and a large attendance. After dinner
we left the fair and drove to Kent to see Frank.
We found him with his ensilege{?} cutter just set up
and used a little. Monday he intends to start
cutting corn. We left there at 6.30 and it was
dark when we reached Waterbury Center, where we
were a long time getting through on{an?} account
of the heavy traffic.
When we reached home we found Margaret and
Cliff putting up new curtains in the Kitchen.
09\10\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd officiated. After service Mary and
I went to East Farms where I did the barn chores
then we went to Capitol Aven and saw Ruth
who Ray had brought home from{_?} the Waterbury hospital{hospitol?}
earlier{aurlier?} in the day, then we came home and had lunch{lench?}
and read the Sunday Republican.{.?} and got ready to go
to Naugatuck, when Mr H. A. Barnes{?} of 115 Chapel St
New Haven called, and wished{?} to know{knoww?} about the
boundry line of the West side of the Colleage Farm in
the lower end of the town of Prospect. He has bought
the farm and there is a dispute aout the West line.
I gave it to him, I then went to Naugatuck to see
Mr Shelon Payne{?} who lives at the Corner of Ward and
Spenser Streets and who is 92 years old, but he was not
at home. I then came home{?} through Middlebury
Center.
09\11\{1933} (Monday)
Mowed a lot of rowen{?} at the farm this morning
and then worked getting the bank away from the
fence at the Southeast corner of Clydes lot.
Gathered a lot of vegtables and brought{?} home etc.{.?}
Edgar Upson son of Evelyn of Wolcott and Miss
Butler of Watertown{Waterloun?} Avenue were married at the
Mill Plain Union Church by Rev J. O. Todd at
two o'clock{a'clock?} yesterday.
09\12\{1933} (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to the Town Clerks office and looked
up records. After dinner I went to the farm and did
the chores, then I went to Mr Coudells and left some
typeing{typing?} for Nellie to do, then I went to Naugatuck
at the West side corner of Ward and Spenser Sts
and found Mr Sheldon Payne, He is ninety one
years old and very active and a good mind
and memory{?}. He is very interesting. We talked
about Prospect so fast and long, that I did not get
to the subject that I went for, the College Farm.
09\13\{1933} (Wednesday)
This day I was at the farm all day, opened ___{?} and
dried the rowen{?}, then worked at the fence digging
away the bank and stones that Mr Norris threw
against it when he graded/gradid{?} Norris street ten years ago.
As he is dead and buried Norwich he cannot get
them away. I stoped at three and went down to
burn and turned over the hay,{,?} and raked it up
and loaded it on the cart and got it in the barn.
Then I came home not feeling very well{,?} as I have
a bad cold.
09\14\{1933} (Thursday)
Rained all day. I staid in the nearly all the time as
I had a bad cold spent the time writing etc.
This forenoon I drove to Prospect to see about some
letters that were typed fore{for?} me, then I went to East
Farms and unloaded{untoaded?} a{?} load of hay,{,?} came home
and cleaned out the furnace and started a fire as
the house was cold, etc etc.
09\15\{1933} (Friday)
Rained all day. This morning I went to the Town
Clerks office and looked up records, then I wen{went?} to Sears
and Roebucks and bought a pitcher pump{.?} to lawyer
Phalens office, the{they? then?} told me that Howard Neal is
paying steadily{sleadily?} on the account he owed me.
Came home had a good dinner went to the farm
and did the chores, Came home and filed a large
circular saw for Mr Rocham, etc.
09\16\{1933} (Saturday)
Rained all day. This is Wolcott fair day. I staid about
home, except when I went to the farm and did the chores{choses?}
Ray and Vincent {blank space in text} came and ray picked a basket
of tomatoes and vegtables, I then went up to Chas
Tuttles, The new bridge over Lillie brook is nearly completed,
The Fair is prosponed{postponed?} for one week.
09\17\{1933} (Sunday)
This is the anniversary of the battle of Antetam, when
I was young on the 17th of Sept in many holmes{homes?} there
were many sad thoughts for in 1862 a Company of
about 100 men left Waterbury and a few days after
took part in that bloody battle and nearly half of
them were killed and many wounded. It is also
the 54 anniversary of the dedication of the Capitol Building
at Hartford. In Sept 1879 I was a member of the Wolcott
Drum Band, and we played at the Dedication of the
Soldiers monument at Wolcottville (now Tarrington) Gen
Joseph. R. Hawley{?} mad the principal address, and
before night he engaged us to play for his old Regt{?}
of Veterans athe/at the{?} 7th Conn,{,?} at Hartford on the 17th. On
that Day more Conn Veterans were togather{together?} than
ever before, or since. They marched in their old regiment
formation carrying the Battle flags of the Civil War
which were assembled for the first time since the War
and were deposited in the Capitol Building by the
same men as/us{?} far as possible{passible?} who bore them through
the battles of the war. On the whol{whole?} of the many celebrations
I have taken part in during the fifty five years
that was the most imposing.
To day It{?} rained all the forenoon. We attended
service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. J O. Todd,
This afternoon Mary and I went to see Walter Marse
{next line difficult to read}
in Prospect They are building a new State ade{?} road {by his house?}
09\18\{1933} (Monday)
To day I worked repairing fence at the farm and cutting
brush on the West side of Norrist Street, I also put up a
scare-Crow in the corn on the hill.
09\19\{1933} (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to the town Clerks{Clerk's?} office and
looked up records. After dinner I did the chores at
the farm, then I went out the plank road and up
he Summit road which was very rough had to travel
in slow speed, stoped at Mr Dowdells, but he had
gotn to summons jurimen for the Court in New
Haven tomorrow. I then went down the old Bound line
road, and explored a pathwaw{pathway?} that turned in below
the Salem road, then went through the Salem road
and on to the Pond Hill School House, and down
and turned right and came home.
09\20\{1933} (Wednesday)
To day I finished repairing the fence at the South East
corner of Clydes lot.
A new Iron fence is distributed and lying in bunches
to be built in front of Calvary Cemetery.{.?}
{No entry for 9\21\{1933} (Thursday)}
09\22\{1933} (Friday)
My wifes birthday she was born in 1860.
Yesterday she and I went to the Springfield Fair
we left here at about nine, then went to the farm and
did the chores, then on over Southington Mountain,
through, Southington, Plainville, Farmington,
up the East side of Farmington river to Tarriffville{?}
then to East Granby, through West Suffield{?} to
Feeding Hills and to West Springfield where we
stoped at the second house West of the Agawam{?}
bridge Mrs Maynards,{,?} and engaged rooms for the
night,{,?} and here left our car and walked to the
Fair Grounds,{,?} a short distance a little before
noon, paid one dollar each to enter. It certainly
was a wonderful exibition{exhibition?}. I did not see only a
part of it although I staid till ten a{at?} night and
after three to day, when we left for home coming
through Agawam, Suffield to West Suffield and
the rest of the way as we went up.
09\23\{1933} (Saturday)
This forenoon I painted wire fence at the farm.
This afternoon mary and I went to Wolcott{Wotcorr?} Fair.
09\24\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev J
O Todd, officiated.
This afternoon Mary and Iwent to Prospect to Mr Cowdells,
and then over the rough Salem road which they are
making over to Pond Hill in Naugatuck where we called
on mrs Jones{,?} and a blind lady.
09\25\{1933} (Monday)
To day I went to the farm to paint wire fence, But
found the steer in the young orchard, so I set posts
in the center of the East wall where he got over and
strung{slung?} a single barbed wire up about fifteen
inces. This took till after noon, then I went to painting
the wire fence.
09\26\{1933} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerks house in
Prospect, but no one was home. I then went to Mr
Cowdells and paid Nellie for typing letters etc. then
went{wint?} to the Cemetery where there was a grave open
ready to receive old Ralph Driver. Stoped at the
nearby house of Mr Sinnett and had a long
talk{.?} about the old place where they live{.?} I{It?} was
formerly the Harris Platt house, then I came home
and had dinner, after which I went to Walter Morse
place in prospect, where I staid till night. When I
came home I stoped at the Town Clerks house and
made an appointment to call there next Friday
morning at nine o'clock.
This evening Ed Scott called and I lent him two
taps{tops?} and some cap screws, to repair his corn
cutter with.
09\27\{1933} (Wednesday)
My Birthday I was born in 1858, on Cherry Street
west side in a house that stood where the Advent
Church now stands.
To day I spent{went?} to the farm painting the wire
fence, and cutting corn.
09\28\{1933} (Thursday)
I cut corn all day and took it down and stacked it
near the barn, Worked hard to finish the job and got
through at dark which was at six,{,?} as we started
on standard time last Sunday.
This morning I wrote a letter to Mrs Jones in Naugatuck,
and to Fred at Tarrytown. Redc a letter fron{from?}
attorney Phalen, with check for $7.00 from H Neal.
09\29\{1933} (Friday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerks Mrs Talmage.
in Prospect and studied the early Perambulations
of the bounds of the Twon. Then I came home and had
a good dinner of clam chowder that Mary had prepaired,{,?}
and went down town and saw Attourney Phalen
about collecting he has done, and other business
Then I came home and went to the Cemetery in
Prospect and copied inscriptions on the grave
stones.
09\30\{1933} (Saturday)
Got things ready and dug nearly three bushels
of potatoes to day, and brought in a lot of vegtables.
Weather was clear and nice.
10\01\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Congregational Church in
Litchfield, Mary and I left here at tnine and went
across by Lakewood park to Waterville then up and
across{acrass?} Reynolds bridge and up the West Branch
to East Morris{,?} and then North over a rough dirt
road to South Street and to the Church in the
Center. I used to attend that same Church in
1870 with my Grandfather. He told me that he was at
the raising of it in 1829, when a boy, that he carryed{carried?}
beer for the men to drink,{,?} from a store North of the
Jail. This church was mowed away on to the Wolcottville
road and made into an amusement{amucement?} hall about 1878-9?
and a new one built on it{its?} site. But a few years ago
it was moved back again, after the later Church was
taken down, and has been restores{restared?} to its former
beauty, at an expense of One Hundred and ten thousand
dollers{dollars?}. It was done as the Inhabitants considered it
more in keeping with the architecture of the Town.
Then we went to Mr {blank space in text} Newburies{?} just over the
line in Tarrington where we had a fine visit.
We left there about four and went across the country
to Litchfield station,{,?} reached home before dark.
10\02\{1933} (Monday)
I dug potatoes on the hill most of the day. Mildred
and Arthur called this evening.
Ray went to the farm and got a load of cabbage's
and is making saurkraut{sauerkraut?} this evening.
I{J?} wrote a letter to Fred at Tarrytown telling him{hin?}
that Ray and I could not go to his place tomorrow.
10\03\{1933} (Tuesday)
Election day Mayor Frank Hayes, Democrat{Denocrat?} was reelected
by over 9000 majority as was the other Democrat officers.
This morning I went to the Town clerks house in Prospect
and copied the Perambulations{Peranulations?} between that town
and Cheshire
boundry line, that took till noon. I did not get there till
after ten as I went to the Anderson school to vote.
After noon I wen{went?} to the Cemetery and copied toom{tomb?} stone
inscriptions, till five, when I came home over Clark
hill.
10\04\{1933} (Wednesday)
This morning {.?} Men were setting long iron posts
across{acrass?} the road for a new iron fence in front
of Calvary Cemetery, Other men were building
nice looking stone posts for the gates and ends
of the fence.
I sharpened picks the greater part of the
forenoon for Calvary Cemetery.
In the afternoon I dug potatoes at the farm
10\05\{1933} (Thursday)
This morning{moring?} I went to the farm did the chores and
took the steer and cart upon the hill but it
bagan to rain I dug 1/2 but of potatoes when it
rained so hard that I gave it up and came
home. This afternoon I went to the center and{dnd?} did some
bank business and bought a shirt/winter{?} working)
and a pair of suspenders, then came home and worked
on my records till bed time. It rained hard all day.
10\06\{1933} (Friday)
This morning I went to Prospect and saw Walter
Morse. They were laying crushed stone past his
place, while we were sitting{setting?} on his varanda{veranda?} they
brought the stone in trucks and laid and rolled
about a quarter of a mile in length.
Towards noon I went to the Cemetery in
the Center of the Town and copied the inscriptions
from the grave stones. After that I went to Cowdells{?}
and got some type written work I had them
do.
10\07\{1933} (Saturday)
To{Td?} day I dug potatoes,{,?} it took all day to dig and
pick up, and get a lot of vegtables and do the
Chores at the farm. The weather has been nice
and cool, a good day to work.
10\08\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev J. A.
Todd, All four Choirs were in attendance, they were the
Boys Choir, The Girls{?} Choir the Young{?} Peoples Choir, and
the Seinour{Senior?} Choir. The Boys and Girls Choirs{Chairs?} each about
30{?} in numbers wore white capes and black collars. The
Young Peoples about 30 in numbers wore white capes and
red collars while the large Synour{Senior?} Cour{Choir?} were robed in
black Gounds{Gowns?}, The seinour{senior?} Choir came into the
Chancel part from one side and part{?} from the
other, while the other three came in the side door and
down the side isle{aisle?} and up the center {.?} to their places{?}
all singing, while Mr Fred Wilson made the organ
peal fourth{forth?} the praise.
Mr J. Henry Manick and his wife formerly Anna Pierpont
of from Longwood Fla met us at the church and came
to our house and had dinner. Mr J Henery{Henry?} Mennick{?}
has been elected Mayor of his Town.
After they left Mary and I went to visit Judge
George Brown in Wolcott.
10\09\{1933} (Monday)
Dull and lowery day. I finished digging the
potatoes at the farm. We have now twenty one
and a half bushels in the cellar. I brought in
a load of beits{beets?} carrots and other vegtables from the
garden.
10\10\{1933} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to Hartford and got my motor
licence{license?} for my runabout car, stoped at the State
Lybrary{Library?} and saw Mr Goddard{?} about Revolutionary
soldiers of Wolcott. Then I came back to Prospect and
worked in the Cemetery there till night. Hand{had?} my
dinner in Farmington near where they are making
the over pass over the College Highway for the new
Hartford road.
10\11\{1933} (Wednesday)
To day I finished cutting corn and stacking it, then
finished gathering carrots, and then cultivated about
some appletrees, and worked on terrices{terraces?} above fort
Dunlap.
This evening I attended a supper of the Mens Club
at the Mill Plain Church.
10\12\{1933} (Thursday)
Was at the farm making terresses{?} and getting out stones
This is Columbus day, no school.
10\13\{1933} (Friday)
This morning I went to the Waterbury Savings Bankd and
had my account corricted{corrected?}, Then I went to City
Hall and got some records. Then to the farm and
did up the chores, Came home and had dinner
then went to Charles DeBissops{?} on East Mountain
and looked at a sign that needs repairing
for the Mill Plain Church, then to Prospect
and at dark finished copying all of the inscriptions
on{?} all of the grave stones.
10\14\{1933} (Saturday)
At the farm making terrices and getting{gelling?} out rocks{racks?}.
This afternoon and evening I repaired a large plow
for the Calvary Cemetery.
10\15\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church Rev J
O. Todd{?}. This afternoon Mary and I went to Naugatuck,
Mort and Jessie{?} Pierpont started for Chicago to atten_{attend?}
the _air{fair?}, this ___ning{morning?} {Monday Oct 16th 1933.}
{entry for 10\16\{1933} begins in the entry for 10\15\{1933}}
10\16\{1933} (Monday)
To day when I got out to the farm smoke was blowing
out of the breather pipe of my engine, and I was scared,
fearing that that it was worn out. I finished getting
the stones away, and making the terresses. At noon
I went over to Jacob Albert's and saw him about
getting a release from she who was{.?} Mrs Wilner{?}
when I bought a piece of land on the hill.
about 3.30 I drove to Mr Garthwaits in Wolcott
and he looked at my engine and all appeared to
be right, we think that there must have been
water in the oil that made it smoke.
10\17\{1933} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the farm and did the
chore, then I started for Mr Cowdells in Prospect.
Went out the Plank road, and started up the
Summit road but a workman told me that I
could not get through at{as?} the steam shovel was
working and blocked the way. I then went on out
the Plank Road and up Matthews Street, They are
still working there putting in the ends of the culverts
and finishing the shoulders, but the road
is fine. I went to the Town Clerks and copyed{.?} the
Original peramulations{perambulations?} of the line of bounds
between
Waterbury and Prospect, made in 1827.
Then I went to see Gould Clark{.?} but he was not
at home. Then I came home, it began to rain
and rained hard all the afternoon. I did odd
jobs{?}.
10\18\{1933} (Wednesday)
To day I plowed _{a?} strip twelve feet wide next to the fence{?}
with the concrete posts to keep the fire from running
onto my land.
This noon I saw Jacob Albert, They say he is a Jew.
10\19\{1933} (Thursday)
To day I repaired a large double iron{?} gate for St
Joseph's{Josephs?} Cemetery, it took about{?} nine hours.
The weather has been fin_{fine?}. Teddis{?} Vogal{?} went
out to the farm with me when I did the chores.
10\20\{1933} (Friday)
This morning I went to City Hall and looked up records{recards?}
then went to attourney Phalens office and had him draw
u_{up?} a _int{Qint?} Claim Decd{Deed?}, then came home had dinner
_nd{and?} went to the far_{farm?}, and did the chores then mary
and I went to Union City and saw Mrs Jones, about historical
matters.
10\21\{1933} (Saturday)
At the farm to day,{,?} gathering apples, and husking corn
and repairing the pig pen.
10\22\{1933} (Suncay)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd is sick and another minister preached.
After service we went to the farm and did the chores{,?}
and then came home and read the Sunday Republican
and then went to John Wakelees in Wolcott where we
visited till towards dark, when we went to the
new girage{garage?} that Howard Kraft and Marion built
and are building on Spindle Hill near Mr Petersons,
it was then dark and we came home.
Just as we were finishing supper Frank and
all his family called from Kent,{,?} they stayed
about one hour.
To days paper states that the Waterbury and
Mill Dale Trolley line is to be discontinued and
busses put on{.?} some time this week. It was started
about twenty years ago. From the top of Southington
mountain to Mill Dale it was abandoned several
years ago.
10\23\{1933} (Monday)
This morning{moining?} I went to Old St Joseph's Cemetery and
looked at the gates that need repairing than I
went to Levergne{?} Clarks in Prospect to see Gould
but could not find him,{,?} came to the farm and
did the chores, then came home and cleaned up a heater{,?}
and after dinner went to St Josephs Cemetery and worked
on the gates till night, at both Cemeteries both Old and New.
10\24\{1933} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Waterbury Savings Bank and
drew out 86.24 and then went to the City Hall and paid
it to the tax collector, the Oct half, the other half I apid
last May, I then worked in the Town Clerks office till one,
then went to the Manufacturer and Citizens Bank and got
a check cashed for 28.41 and then went to Judd and Puffers
and had the Insurance on my house renewed for three
years paid 9.00 went and paid my telephone bill 2.75
came home had dinner, went to the farm and dit
the chores{choers?}. Camne home, and the electric fuses had
burned out. I tried to fix them, but could not. Telephoned
Ray and he came down and after much labor got it
to working, Rained hard during the middle of the day.
10\25\{1933} (Wednesday)
To day I repaired a large gate for the St Josephs Cemetery
that was made of iron, trucks and autos had ran{run?}
into it when open at both ends and bent the frame
pickets and all.
10\26\{1933} (Thursday)
This day I repaired some grave hooks,{,?} put a wide tire
4" on a wheelbarrow, sharpened some picks, and repaired
gate irons for St Joseph's Cemetery.
This morning was cold ice froze. A ton of soft coal{cool?}
came from the Citizens Coal Co $8.00
10\27\{1933} (Friday)
Got up early this morning went to the farm and did the
chores. Came home had breakfast, and got ready quick, and
Cousin Berkele{Berkels?} Frisbie{?} and wife called and we left after
eight Mary, with us and went to Silver mine, about four
miles North of Norwalk, a{and?} visited all day with Mr and
Mrs Carl Jackson. Their dayghters{daughters?} came one from the law
school at new Haven, the other from New York. They are a
very interesting family. We went via Naugatuck, Derby,
Shelton, Bridgeport, Westport, Rained some during the
day. Reached home at 8 o'clock.
10\28\{1933} (Saturday)
To day I husked corn at the farm. Weather fine and
clear.
10\29\{1933} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Roy Schramm{?} of Broadview Community Church, of
Hartford officiated, and Rev J. A. Todd preached at his Church.
After service {.?} Mary and I went to margarets on Beecher Ave
and had dinner, after which we went to Lavergne Clarks
on Clark Hill in Prospect where we had supper and a good
visit.
10\30\{1933} (Monday)
This day I husked corn all day, the weather was nice.
Wrote a letter this evening to Charles F Norton{?} Pleasant
Valley telling him that {.?} Margaret, Cliff, Gene, Mary and
I were coming up next Sunday to call on them.
10\31\{1933} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to Prospect stoping on the way to
see a new pair of steers that Fred Berger has bought.
I had to turn back on the Summit Road as I could not
get through a{as?} they have not all the sluces{?} in. The grading
is completed.
This afternoon I plowed on the hill.
11\01\{1933} (Wednesday)
This mornng I went to Prospect and then came
back to the farm and gathered all of the good cabbages
and loaded them into the truck, then plowed on
the hill in the west lot next to the North fence.
I saw Mr Albert about getting a Release{?} from she that
was Mrs Wilner.
11\02\{1933} (Thursday)
Weather to day has been clear and warm.
I worked at the farm cultivating about the appletrees{.?}
on the hill and did other odd jobs.
11\03\{1933} (Friday)
This morning I went to the City hall and looked up records.
This afternoon went to the farm and got out manure.
11\04\{1933} (Saturday)
I went to the farm and did the chores, then went
up the Summit Road to Prospect stoping{etoping?} at Mr
Cowdetts{?} and got {.?} Nellin {.?} and we went to Clark
Hill where we were joined by Levergne an/on{and?} Gould{?}
Clark then went to the North{Northe?} West corner
bound of the Town of Prospect and from there followed the
line between the Towns of Prospect and Naugatuck 800{?} Rods
to a Great flat Bed rock, where we left the line and returned
home.
11\05\{1933} (Sunday)
This morning soon after nine o'clock Margeret{Margaret?}, Cliff,
and Gene came and took Mary and I in their Chevolet
Car to Pleasant Valley, where we attended service in a
little white Methodist Church which wa very interesting.
After which we went to the home of Mr Charles Norton
where we had an interesting visit{vislt?}. He is a fine fiddler
and played while I drummed, and Gene played the piano
after a time, we went to Mr manchesters and looke{looked?}
over the violins that they had made, which were very
fine workmenship, after which we returned to Mr Nortons
and loaded my _rum{drum?} on the car and we left for home
which we reached about six. Gene drove all the way,
and we all ate supper here, Closing{Clasing?} a very pleasent{pleasant?}
day.
11\06\{1933} (Monday)
This morning the ground was covered with snow
about one inch deep, all day it has rained and
snowed so there is a part of the ground covered to
night. This morning I went to the farm and
got out ten loads of manure{.?} and put it on the
garden and about the appletrees{.?} by which time I
was wet through, and I came home.
11\07\{1933} (Tuesday)
This morning{mornining?} I went to the office of the Conn
Electric Light and Power Co and paid our electric
light bill, 5.80? they sent a bill of over 20.00 all of which
had been paid except last months.
I then went to the Town Clerks Office and worked till
one o'clock, then came home had dinner, Mr and
Mrs Peters came and paid 14.00 rent for barn room.
Then I went to the farm and plowed a spell in the
lower garden. by night nearly all the snow had gone
but the day has been wet and cold.
11\08\{1933} (Wednesday)
Stormy morning with snow and rain, I indexed
records, and then went to the Wheelhouse and filed
saws till Mr Hapenny{?} came with an iron
screw shackel{?} that belonged on their{this?} tractor that
was broken, and wanted it welded and the thread
recut, I with the help of big Jim repaired it and
repaired several Steel wedges{.?} for Ed Scott of{af?}
Cheshire, and sharpened drills for Fred Berger{?} of Summit.
Then after dinner went{.?} to the farm and did the chores and
came back and worked on cross-cut saws for Charles Welton
of East Farms till dark, then did odd jobs.
11\09\1933 (Thursday)
This morning I went to Prospect down the Straitsville
Road and st{at?} the Horatio Clark place turned
West and across{acrass?} the Naugatuck Reservoir and a
little beyound{beyond?} left my car, and then walked about
half a mile to the big bed flat Rock that marks
an angle in the West boundry line of the Town
of Prospect,{,?} then I went looking for the bounds
that we could not find last Saturday. With a
line ten rods I measure 5 1/2{degree symbol} West of North 80 rods
where the first heap{.?} of stones should be according
to the records, but could not find it, then I continued
on and 75 rods found the bound that
we missed the other time, then I measured back
South 80 rods and found the first bound, which
according to my measurements was 68 rods North of
the large flat Rock. by this time it was noon,
and after doing some exploring I cam{came?} back to East
Farms, and as it was Snowing I came home.
Two autos came togather{together?} last night in front of our
our{written twice} house about six o'clock. One was a runabout driven
by a girl, and the other a large sedan driven by
ayoung man, which was going West, and occupied
by three other young Cheshire young men who were
going to Night school. The girl was coming up the
hill at a rapid rate of speed on the North side of
the road{soad?} and the man turned to the left to avid{avoid?}
being hit, when she turned to the right and struck
him in the running board and tipped the large
car over, No one was injured, but both cars were
badly damaged.
11\10\1933 (Friday)
Cold weather for this time of the year.{blank space} This morning
I went to the Town Clerks office, as I am in the habit
of doing Friday forenoons. This afternoon{aflernoon?} I repaired
the cap on the radiator of my runabout Ford Car,
and did other odd jobs. Put alcohol in my Cars.
11\11\1933 (Saturday)
This morning I put up brackets to hold the new
electric wires that run to the wheel house, then
I pulled all of the carrots in the garden, and after
dinner went to the farm where I plowed in the
garden till dark{.?} came home, and after supper indext{indexed?} a
picture that I am going to take to Charle Norton at Pleasant
Valley next Monday. Agout{About?} 8.30 Ray called after my hip
rubber boots, as he wants to go to Niantic{?} tomorrow after
sea food, and he said that it was snowing hard, We looked
out and much to our surprise found that about two inches
had fallen since dark and it was still snowing hard.
11\12\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church{Churcch?} Rev
J. O. Todd{.?} officiated.
This afternoon{aflernoon?} I went to Mr Cowdells in Prospect and to
Lavergne Clarks.
11\13\1933 (Monday)
This morning Gene Northrop and I left at nine and went
to Pleasant Valley. We went up over the snow clad hill
of Woolcott{Wolcott?} through Bristol, Unionville, Collingsville,
Pine Meadow, and New Hartford.
We stoped at Charles Nortons and there I got 100 Raspberry
plants, and had a fine visit.
11\14\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to City Hall {.?} after a Photographer,
for the newspapers had been here{?} and took our (Mary
and mine) pictures for the papers to be used at our
50th wedding anneversary{anniversary?}. This afternoon I went
to Mr Scovills at Clarks hollow in Prospect. I found
that I knew him when a boy, and went to the old Clay
Street school with him soon after the close of the Civil
War, and have not seen him to know since.
It snowed hard this forenoon and the ground is now
covered, and the weather has come off very cold.
11\15\1933 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and set out the Rasp
berry plants that Mr Norton of Pleasant Valley gave me
the snow was nearly two inches deep but there was no
frost, and there was 96{?} plants.
I then plowed in the garden but it became so cold that
the earth froze to the plow and froze when I plowed it out
so I gave it up and came home.
Mary's and My picture was in the American this
evening, and a description of our lives and that the
fiftieth anniversary of our marrage{marriage?} will be celebrated
in the Mill Plain Church.
11\16\1933 (Thursday)
Chopped wood all day only the time that I went to
the farm and did the chores.
11\17\1933 (Friday)
Very Cold this morning ice everywhere. I went to the
Town Clerks in Prospect and looked up the Perambulations
of the line between Prospect and Woodbridge now Betheny,
and other matters. Came home at noon and did odd
jobs about the place.
11\18\1933 (Saturday)
Cold day. Worked in the Wheel house most of the time{.?}
and tended the furnace fire.
Went to the farm and did the chores.
11\19\1933 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd, officiated. {blank space in text} After warde {Afterwards?}
we went to
the home of Morton E. Pierpont, where we had a sumptiou_{sumptious?}
dinner of turkey and many other good things.
Ray and Ruth were there, and we had a fine visit
during the afternoon.
They told of their visit at the Worlds Fair{,?} and
of their visit at Irvings in Milwaukee.
They had a great Ice Cream Cake about 2" thick and 10"
across with fancy cream trimmings{.?} and the words, "Charles,
Mary. 50 anniversary." etc on it.
11\20\1933 (Monday)
This day has been cold. I took out the electric pump
that I had in the cellar, and put in a pitcher pump
so I could get water for the furnace and other purposes,
and did other odd jobs, etc.
11\21\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerks office where I
staid till after one. When I got home I found Ruth Brundage
here with Margaret fixing Mary's clothing
in preperation{preparation?} for the event tomorrow. I went to
the farm and did the chores{chares?} etc. This evening we
had supper at Margarets.
11\22\1933 (Wednesday)
Fifty years ago this morning Mary and I were
married in the Old Mill Plain Chapel at Seven
o'clock in the morning {.?} by the Rev Joseph Micow{?}.
In comemeration{commemeration?} of that event, our Children
planned a recepion{reception?} which was held in the parlors
of the New{.?} Mill Plain Union Church, and such a
wedding anniversary was never held before in Mill
Plain. When Charles De Bissop came in he said that
they ought to have us at the Church Fair that he
scarcely{?} find room to park his car. The street yard and playground
{play-ground?}
was full, more cars that he had ever seen before there{?}.
By count there were over 203{.?} people there.{.?} Beside relations
Neighbors
and Friends. The Boys Choir to the number of 30 marched in
and tendered us their congratulations. Soon this was
followed by a delegation of men with whom I worked at
the International Silver Co.{.?} years ago, all of whom I was glad
to see. before they left Max Gross{?} in their behalf presented
me with a five dollar gold piece, for which I thanked them.
Refreshments of cakes, ice{.?} cream and tea were served, and
next was heard the martial strains of Hail to the Chief played
by the Mattatuck Drum{Druma?} Band as they came marching in
all fully equiped in their grand uniforms, which added color{colar?}
to the whole affair. They planyed another selection. Ten years
ago they played at our 40th anneverary{anniversary?}, {,?} and 50 years
ago they
serenaded us, Not one now remains in the band who played
at that time, By a fine speech delived by Ralph Pierpont they
presented me with a $50.00 bill. There were many other
presents, among which was a fine silver set presented
by Robert, Lewis & Joseph Somers{.?} $5.00 bill from Elizabeth,{,?}
Mira, May, and Jasephene{Josephine?} Somers $5.00 bill from Mrs Benjamin
Chatfield, a fine tray from my sister Cara, a large
tray of fruit from Joseph Mulcum, a lot of fine apples
from Morton E Pierpont, a Gallon can of Maple syrup
from somebody, we think Frank, and many flowers from
different persons, esepally{especially?} one large basket from the Mill
Plain Union Church. Among those present were myself
and Wife, Mr and mrs C. W. Northrop, Mr and Mrs A. J. Brundage
Robert, Kenneth, G. Pierce, and Margaret, M. Brundage, Mr and
Mrs R. H. Miller, Mr and Mrs V. J Simons, Mr and Mrs H. R. Kraft,
Charles H. Kraft, W. E. Gibson, Jean Northrop, Mr and Mrs A. G.
Bir_{Bird?}, Mr and Mrs W. A. Service, Margary Service{?} Mr and Mrs
E. W. Russell, of Bridgeport, Mr and Mrs P. A. Reutter H. J.
Ahle, C. W. Wolcott, Mrs F. R Turkington Alice Turkington
Lucy and Ferrice Turkington{?} of Morris, Mrs W. P. Jones,
Mr and mrs Max. E. Kraft, Mr and Mrs John E Peterson,
Frank Spray, Mr and Mrs Robert Gardner, Mrs Beatrice
Pierpont, Mrs J. R. Jacoby, Marion Pierpont, Mrs W. E. Gibsom{?},
Cara A. Miller, of Cheshire, Alie Pickett, B. J. Butter,
Lois Gillette, Mary Miller, Berta and Dwight Miller
Mr and Mrs Frank P. Miller. Mrs Harriet Henion{?}.
Harold Pierpont, Mrs Sarah Hine, Mrs Armond Reid
Mrs John Reed, Misses M__a{Myra?} and May Somers, Mrs
Edwin Charles, Gladys Charles Mr and Mrs Henry
Menick of Florica, Josephine and Elizabeth Somers
Mr and Mrs Herbert Wilcos, Mrs and Mrs Thoedore{Theodore?} Voghel{?},
and{.?} Son,{,?} Mrs Morton Fogg, Elton Alexander, Frank and
Eunice Frisbie, Mrs Florence Kilbourne, Mrs William
Carter, Mary Hapenny, Nicholas Haypenny, Mr and
Mrs William Gillette, Mr and Mrs Howard Neal.
Mr and Mrs Charle_{Charles?} Penniman, Robert Clark
Irving B. Steadman, Mr and Mrs Joseph E. Somers, Edith Somers
Mr and Mrs Leslie Coley, Mrs Joseph Maulkern, Mrs Dorothy
Green, Mrs Morton E. Pierpont, Laurence Pierpont, Mr and Mrs
Rowland Jenner, Mr and Mrs Arthur Gross, Mrs Walter Colby Sr{?}
Mrs N. J. Hapenny, Mrs Fanny Upson, Mrs Minnie Hitchcock
Mrs Edgar Upson, Robert E. Lewis, Fred Pretat, Oscar Brehn,
Laurence Cunningham, Fritz Snowman, Albert Ascott,
Ernest Rogers, James Maddaloni.
Armond Schupack{Schupach?}, John Stuhlman, Frank Tobin,
G. M. Haward{?}, Arthur Gross, Max Gross, Mrs Charles
Cars, Jaseph{Joseph?} Picard, Mrs Leland Garrigus, Mrs Milton
Reed, Mr and mrs L. G. Somers, Robert Somers, J. Ogren{?},
Arthur Heaton, Charance{Clarence?} F. Brown, Louis Holmes, Eddie
Kahl, Rev and Mrs J. O. Todd, Mrs George Browne, Sarah
Browne, Charles J De Bissop, Al Crandall, Harry Storet,
Arthur E. Blewitt, Mr and Mrs Elmer Coe.
Burton Beecher Mr and Mrs Nathan Pierpont,
Mr and Mrs George Pierpont, Frank Tracy, Michael
Cunningham, Olga Hanson. Of the Mattatuck Drum
Band were Lee Garrigus, Leader, Robert Browne,
George Cass, Charles Cass, L. A Fox, Howard Neal,
Paul Miller, Charles Tuttle, Edgar Upson, Arthur
Yarrington, Milton Reed, Andrew Kitchenka, and
Ralph Pierpont.
Mr and Mrs Benjamin Chatfield, Mansfield
Gillette, C. Raymong Gansing{Ganning?}, Lenard{Leonard?} Coley, and
George Hubbard.
11\23\1933 (Thursday)
This morning Iva Gillette telephoned that they wanted
to take Mary and I down to the sea shore{?} to have
a shore dinner, We accepted the invatation{invitation?} and
They called at quarter to one with their nice
Packard car. The party included Will and Ive
Gillette, Margaret Northrop, Mary and I. We
went through Cheshire, Wallingford, Montoese
and other places that I did not know, and came to
the Post road in Branford, where we stoped at a
place called the Oasis, and had a fine shore dinner.
After which we went through Gilford and to
Hammonassett Beach then to Madison and home
by North Madison, Rockland, Durham, and Meriden,
after an interesting ride and fine dinner.
Among the 50th Anniversary Cards we have received
They were sent by the following people.
James H. Courtney, Rob, Joe & Lou Somers, Mrs.
Margaret Northrop, Frank Tobin, Phil, Ethel, &
Ruth Royther{Routher?}, Mr & Mrs George Cowdell, Miss
Nellie Cowdell, Mr & Mrs William A. Taber.
From the Drews, Ansonia, Nellie, Libbie, Jennie, Cleveland
Ohio, Francis Lee Case{?}, Joseph E. Emerson, E. Hampton Conn,
Harriet L. Heinon, Dr. & Mrs. Chas. S. Beers,
Elton, Jane Alexander & sons, Harold & Sarah Pierpont,
Doris & Will Jones, Mr. & Mrs. Voghel{Vaghel?},
Mrs. John Hart, Naugatuck, R. Kingston.
Ward & Girtrude Henion, Mr & Mrs Ralph Roberts,
Mr & Mrs C. H. Lee, Mr & Mrs Hapenny, Mort, J{?}, and Boys.
Mr and Mrs H J. Hamel.{.?} New York. Mr & Mrs Joseph Mulkern,
Mr & Mrs W L Garrigus, Mrs David B Hotchkiss,
Mr & Mrs John Castle, Mr & Mrs Robert Clark,
Mr & Mrs Louis Brewster, Mr & Mrs George Hubbard,
Cornelia M. Walker, Mr & Mrs George Woodward,
Mrs W Lynn, May Pierpont and the Boys.{. or ,?}
Mr & Mrs Walter Beebe{Beibe?}, Eliz, Joephene{Josephine?}, Myra, May,
& George Somers, May & John, Gertrude{?} & Ted,
Mr & Mrs Robert Gardner, Mame & Roll.
Mr & Mrs E. L. Raymond, Anna Pierpont, Hartford,
Annie J. Pierpont, Woodbury. Mr & Mrs Laurence Fraser,
Will, Louise & Margery Service.
Mr & Mrs John Mckay, Mr & Mrs Signery Spender,
Clyde, Dick, Fritsa, Willard, Bob, and Ronald, Toronto,
Letters from
Edna L. Foster, Watertown. Bert P Garrigus, Storrs,
Mr & Mrs G. H. Goddwin, Mr & Mrs Howard Newbury,
Torrington, Mrs R E Streter, Emma{Enma?} Drew.
11\24\1933 (Friday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerks Office. This
afternoon after the chores at the farm Went to Prospect and
spent the most of the afternoon at{.?} Mrs Murpheys place
on the Straitsville{?} Road.
11\25\1933 (Saturday)
This Morning. I went with the Mattatuck Drum Band
and attended Major Pete Shea's funeral,{, or .?} I served as
an honorary pall {.?} bearer, and walked at the head of
the left side of the Hearse from the house to St
Margarets Church,{,?} and from there to the grave in
the New St Joseph's Cemetery.
Petes{?} was a large funeral, headed by the poleace{police?},
and Massed Colors, the Mattatuck Drum Band
The Putnam Phalanx{.?} of Hartford, The Mayor and several
ex mayors, a firing squad The hearse then Veterans of
all Wars{.?} and a long train of auto Carrigges{Carriages?},
While passing through the Center, the chimes of
St Johns Church payed{played?}, "America," and "Nearer my
God to thee{thei?}."{or".?}
This afternoon Ray came and put up wires from the
Girage to the Wheel House, got through at dark.
11\26\1933 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church{.?}
Rev J O. Todd, Preached and Fred Wilson is orgnist{organist?}.
This evening the Concordia Singing Society were
there and gave a concer, which was fine.
The weather to day has been fair and warm.
11\27\1933 (Monday)
This morning I drove over to South Britain and got
Mr Frank Howland and we went to Danbury
and looked up the Distribution of Daniel Jackson who
died in Brookfield about 1800. From there we drove to
Kent. Saw Elsie but not Frank as he had gone to South
Kent. Then we drove over Kent Mountain, where Mr
Howland used to live when young. They have a new
road built about two miles out of Kent and the same
West of Warren. We reached home before dark.
11\28\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the City Hall. This afternoon{aflernoon?}
surveyed 70 Rods of the Log Town Road.
11\29\19833 (Wednesday)
To day Lavergne and Goulde Clark and Nellie Cowdell
went over the bound line from the large flat bed
Rock which is 800 Rods from the corner of Prospect Waterbury{Walerbury?}
and Naugatuck South{south?} to the Three Brothers at Betheny
Naugatuck & Prospect, two of the bounds we were unable
to find.
This afternoon I plowed in the garden at East Farms.
11\30\1933 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day. This forenoon I went{.?} to the
farm and plowed in the garden.{.?} till a great fire
was started in the swamp near Mr Montgomeries
house and raged through the Catails{Cattails?} and grass.
I went to protect the Cemetery. Soon the firement
came and they got it under Control{Contral?}.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Rays to a
fine Thanksgiving dinner.
12\01\1933 (Friday)
This morning was warm but it was freezing cold to night.
I finished plowing the gardens at East Farms, and went
to Cowdells and got some typewritten work which I sent
to Cousin{Couin!} Emma Jackson Redlands Calif.
12\02\1933 (Saturday)
This morning I cut up cornstalks at the farm. Worked at
the small car all the afternoon. Wrote a letter to Cousin Emma
Jackson of Redlands Calf. this morning.
12\03\1933 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd, preached. This afternoon{aftirnoon?} I went to
Naugatuck and saw Mrs Jones about geneological
matters. This evening Ray and Ruth called.
12\04\1933 (Monday)
To day I graded a road{rood?} out to the farm the upper half from
the gate to the barn{barm?}.
To night I went to the Mill Plain Church and
gave drumming lessons to a class of young men.
Weather has been dam{damp?} but not cold.
12\05\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to Prospect and surveyed the Log Town
Road{Rood?} through{.?} it is 368 Rods long from the Straisville Road
to the West Prospect Schoolhouse where if Joins the Salem Road.
It passes through a rough stony land without much water.
The weather was fair and not cold.
12\06\1933 (Wednesday)
Wet rainy day. This morning I undertook to put new
brake lining in my old Ford car, but lost a washer
down in the gear case, and have worked all day trying
to get it, run the car out so I could see, then it rained
hard an{and?} wet me through, so I had a time of it. Will
have to take the gear case apart tomorrow.
12\07\1933 (Thursday)
Worked on my Ford Car all day, and had to get
Walter Beebe who runs a Gasoline Station just West
of the Frost road to help me and we got out the washed
that I let drop into the gear case, and at dark was
ready to put in the brake bands. A big job for a slite{slight?}
cause.
12\08\1933 (Friday)
Finished the Ford truck this afternoon, and filed
a single Crosscut{Crasscut?} saw for Ray Bronson of Bunker
Hill and one for his Father {Raymond is crossed out} P. Edward
Bronson of East Farms. Then took the truck and
went to East Farms and did the chores.
12\09\1933 (Saturday)
Weather to day has been cool. Snowed a little this morning
I raked up leaves and put them in the chicken yard,
then took a sixteen ft ladder to the farm, and left
it, anmd took a check of $70.00 to Lee Garrigus. for the
Mattatuck Drum Band. from the City of Watervury
pay for playing Armistice day parade.
I cam{came?} back to the farm and cut the branches off
the maple trees West of the barn{barnd?} that were so low
as{?} to stike the auto tops.
While there Mr Scott brought a lot of iron that
he wanted made into sled iron, so I came home
and sawed up old cart{cort?} tires all the aternoon.
12\10\1933 (Sunday)
The weather has been cold just zero this morning and
cold all day. We attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church Rev Joseph O Todd{?} officiated.
This was Scottish Sunday and there were many Scotch
Societies{societies?} represented about 100 persons in all, their
singing
was excelent{excellent?}. This evening we attended a meeting of
the young peopld and Mr Raymond of the Raymond
Baking Co told of his{.?} experiance{experience?} in America, from a
poor emigrant boy {is word crossed out?} 1900 to a successful
Business man
at the present time. From a watch case maker in Switzerland
to the Proprietor{Proprietar?} and Manager of the Largest Bakery
in this part of
the State
12\11\1933 (Monday)
Weather cold and snow on the ground, this morning
I went to Pierpont Hights{Heights?} and saw Mr Smith
about butchering the pig. He says that he will do it
next Thursday. Did the choers{chores?} at the farm, then came
home {,?} and worked on irons for Mr Edward Scott to
put on a log sled that he is building.
News has reached us that Lilian Cass daughter
of Charles Cass of North Wallingford, could not be found{?}
this morning. They all went to bed last night as usual
After a long search, one person said "we have looked
everywhere except down the well,"{or ",?} They looked
there, and finally a man went down and found
her in the water clothed only in her night dress.
Her death is a mystery.
12\12\1933 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the City hall and looked
up records. Then I went to Benedict Street and
got the 19.34 auto license for my little truck 15.00
Then to the farm and did the chores everything
froze up. Weather very cold.
12\13\1933 (Wednesday)
We Margaret, Mary and I went to Wallingford to Lillian
Cass funeral. There were more flowers there than I ever saw
at a grave. When the Sexton took them off the mound and placd{placed?}
them on the ground they would cover a spot one rod squre{square?}.
It began snowing before __{we?} reached home.
12\14\1933 (Thursday)
To day the snow lay four inches deep on the ground,
and the themometer{thermometer?} three below at seven{.?} o'clock{a'clock?}.
I went to the farm and were getting things ready
to butcher the hog, when Mr Smith and his son came{cam?}
and we got the water hot and killed and had him
dressed off before noon, and I brought him home
Three Mill Plain boys came this evening and copied drum
music.
12\15\1933 (Friday)
To day I made ironwork for Edward Scotts sled.
He came for them this evening.
Weather has been very cold.
12\16\1933 (Saturday)
To day Ray came and we cut up all of the meat. I
took a letter to the {M is crossed out} Leyland Garrigus, gav{gave?}
Jack 1.00 towards
flowers for Lillian Cass. To night I made over irons for Scott.
12\17\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev
J O{.?} Toodd{Todd?}. Weather wet and rained all day, stayed
home.
12\18\1933 (Monday)
To day I worked repairing the iron gate of
St Josphs Cemetery, and did other odd jobs.
12\19\1933 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to the Office of the Town Clerk{:?}
and tried to find out when the old Lewis house
was built in Naugatuck, for Mrs Jones.
After doing the hores at the farm I went to Mr
Cowdells in Prospect and got some work they did.
The weather has been mild and it thawed some.
12\20\1933 (Wednesday)
Rained all day{.?} and very icey{icy?}. Many automobile
acident{accidents?} more now than ever before, owing to the
speed that people drive, and as the roads are slippery
the cars skid down banks through fences, and even into
the fronts of builsind, thereby injuring many peopld
and wrecking cars. Wrote Clyde. Worked on gate.
12\21\1933 (Thursday)
I finished the repairing of the Cemetery Gate to day.
This evening two boys came George Baldwing and Ernest
]Robinson and copyed drum music.
12\22\1933 (Friday)
This forenoon I spent at the Town Clerks office.
Did chores at Farm this afternoon and, bought a gal
of White paint at East End hardware store 2.50. and 1 pt{?}
of stove pipe enamel at Sears & Roebuck .35
Weather has been fari.
12\23\1933 (Saturday)
To day I apinted the greater part of the grape arbor on
the East side of the house, and trimmed the grape vine.
This evening I made prien{?} and put over the Ham
and Bacon, in six weeks it will be ready to smoke.
]Mary is busy sending out Christmas cards.
12\24\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Church Rev J. O. Tood{Todd?},
Fine singing by all four Chairs{Choirs?}.
This P. M. went to mrs Jones. Attended vesper service
at Mill Plain at 4.30 Church lighted with candels.
{Next line difficult to read}
Weather warm, and thawing.
12\25\1933 (Monday)
Christmas. This forenoon I painted on the grape
arbour, and went to the farm and did the chores.
At noon we all went down to margarets, where
we had a fine Christmas dinner. Those present were
Cliff and Margaret Northrop{,?} Mr and Mrs Howard
Kraft, and{ant?} their son Chrarles{Charles?}, Mr and Mrs Raymond
Miller, Mr and Mrs Vincent, Simons, and Gene{.?} Northrop
Mrs Ruth Brundage from Storrs and Sons Rogere{Roger?} and
Pierce, and Daughter Peggy, Enid Millr, My wife and I.
Later Frank came from Kent with Elsie, and children
Mary, Bertha, Dwight Jessie, and Louis.
In the evening, we had a Christmas Tree {.?} and all
got many presents.
When we came to draw for next years presents I
drew Elsie Miller of Kent.
12\26\1933 (Tuesday)
Snowed hard all day{,?} about 10 inches fell. I stayed{stoped?}
in the house nearly all day{,?} as I had an attack of
brontetas{bronchitis?}. We received{recived?} to day a nice Christmas
reath{wreath?} of
hawley vine with an abundance of large red berries
from William Pierpont of Portland oregon, and the
same mail brought a fine hand made Christmas
card from Lewis L Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Vancouver Ore. with{wilk?} a
fine holly reath{?} worked in on it.
{next sentence difficult to read}
ono{one?} of the best pieces of work I ev__{ever?}
saw{?} of the kind.
12\27\1933 (Wednesday)
Snow this morning about here is eleven inches deep
I was busy till noon digging out the snow paths,
Got the delivery car out at noon and went to the
farm and did the chores{choers?}. Bad traveling this side
of the arch, the East side the State had the road plowed
out {.?} good and wide, But this side were deep ruts.
12\28\1933 (Thursday)
Coldest morning yet 6 below and cold all day I
did odd Jobs about home, and the chores at the farm.
12\29\1933 (Friday)
This has been the coldest day I ever kn_w{knew?}, the
themometer was 20 {degree symbol} below zero this morning and
at Noon it was 9 {degree symbol} below tonight it is 15 {degree symbol}
below.
But few autos are out, and the people when they
get off the trolley cars hasten to get where it is
warm.
This morning I went to the Town clerks office and at
noon went to the farm, on the trolley.
12\30\1933 (Saturday)
Themometer 15 {degree symbol} below zero this morning, but at
noon it was 10 {degree symbol} above, and tonight about zero.
An{Am?} not feeling well and have spent nost{most?} of
the time in the house, except that I filed a larg{large?}
circular saw for Mr Rochambea__{Rochambear_?}, and then had a
time getting my car thawed out, so I could go to
the farm and dod the chores.
There are{are?} but few autos on the road on account of
the cold.
12\31\1933 (Sunday)
On account of not feeling well I stayed indoors all day
except the time it took to go to the farm and do the
chores. The weather has been cloudy and some rain
and mist{.?} which made paths and roads very slippery.
Mr Dockum brought two gallons of engine oil for my
model T Ford, car 130
01\01\1934 (Monday)
This day has been fairly warm, some fog, some rain
and thawed much. I painted the stove and pipe in the
Drum Corps room. The stove and pipe in the garage{Girage!}, and
the stove and pipe in the wheel house, and did other jobs.
01\02\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerk's Office, then came
home and went to the Farm and did the chores, then
did odd jobs about home. Saw Fire Marhal{Marshall?}. about
Mr Garrigus fire \at the farm./{supralinear addition}
This evening Joseph Auzooino from Tarrytown called
he had been sent by Brother Fred to call on me{.?} and
get a drum of his. I gave him one that was made by
William Brown in Winsor in 1830.
The weather to day has been cold but above zero for which
we are thankful.
01\03\1934 (Wednesday)
This day has been cold. I did odd jobs about the home.
Wrote a letter to mr Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt], Vancouver, Wash, and to
Mr William E Pierpont at Portland Ore, and to Cousin Miss
Emma L Jackson, of Redlands Calf.
01\04\1933 (Thursday)
Winter weathr Cold. Snow, Ice, and slippery.
Did odd Jobs, getting in wood, selling window
glass, etc.
01\05\1933 (Friday)
Ice, Ice, Ice. everwhere{everywhere?} the women{?} cant get out of
doors put ashes{?}
on the walks and the rain that is falling freezes and
soon it is all ice again. I went to the Town Clerks
Office this forenoon, and drove to the farm after dinner
and did the chores, and sliped about considerable.
Mort Pierpont, is President of the milk Producers Association,
and there has been a controversy{controversery?} carried on
in the papers and otherwise, with the President of
the Milk Control Board, in which Mort has tired and
is not to carry argument any father, But is{?}
going to act, which seems to me would be{bi?} much
better.
01\06\1934 (Saturday)
Wet and icy I repaired and painted windows in the
Wheel house and in the Blacksmith shop. I saw William
Garrigus at the farm, about the fire hazard he has mantained{maintained?}
an{and?} which nearly set fire to my property, and
of which I saw the City Fire Marshal{Marshall?}, Garrigus was very
mad and talked{takked?} very rank to me, But after he had
gone a while I turned on him, and he quieted, but
I gess{guess?} out friendship is strained.
The{Then?} I went to Prospect and left some type work
to be done at George Cowdells, then came over the
main road over East Mountain home.
01\07\1933 (Sunday)
Rained hard all day. We attended service at the Mill
Plain Union{Unibn?} Church. Rev Joseph Todd officiated. I went to the
farm and did the chores, then staid in the house the remainder of
the day. Ray{?} and Ruth called in the evening.
We received a nice callender{calendar?} from Kent yesterday, with
pictures{piclures?} of
Father Sill and others on it.
01\08\1934 (Monday)
This morning I bought two pounds of putty and a package
of glazier points, then fixed up ladders and plank and
took out the broken glass from mrs Vogals{?} front closet and
set in a new one, and painted the sash and ridge board
over the front poarch{porch?}. I amde an iron for Ed Scott and
took it out to him. He has a steam saw mill at his
place sawing up logs. I am to have slabs for pay.
Charged .50 for iron and .50 that he ows{owes?} me toatl 1.00 on account.
01\09\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerks office.
This afternoon I did chores at farm, then changed the
oil in the Model T car, and repaired windoes{windows?}.
01\10\1933 (Wednesday)
Weather to day has been nice. I went to Cheshire Depot and
got two sheets of beaver board and some lumber to make
a partition{paitition?} in the upper{?} hall, and then came home
and repaired windows.
01\11\1934 (Thursday)
To day I put a Beaver-board partition across the long
hall at the head of the stairs. I put it there so the
cold air couldnt go up into Mrs. Vogals{?} room and
so Miss Pickett couldnt hear the Vogals Radio and
also Mary could open the door into our room at
the head of the stais and get the heat from the
radiator{rodiator?}. This evening three Mill Plain boys came to learn
to fife.
01\12\1934 (Friday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerks office.
After doing the chores at the farm I took the
brake out of the ford car and started to repair
it. The day has been mild for this time
of the year.
01\13\1934 (Saturday)
I finished repairing the brake of my Ford Car which
took till noon, then I went to the farm, and after
I came back finished the partition in the upper hall.
01\14\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J O Todd officiated. This afternoon I went to see
Mrs. Jones in Naugatuck. But she is in St Mary's
Hospital with a broken hip, she fell on the ice Christmas day
and Mr Jones now is very sick, I went to get a record book that
I left there the day before Christmas.
01\15\1933 (Monday)
I set glass and puttyed and painted windows this
forenoon, then I went to the farm and did the work
there then went to Mrs. Edgar Wallace funeral in
Prospect. There were many there, so many {word hard to read, ink blot}
automobiles
that there was no toom to put an _ther{an other? word hard to read,
ink blot} car
near the house. She was buried in the Cemetery at
Prospect Center. It was very cold there and some
of the women shivered from want of more clothing.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church
and instructed a class in drumming.
01\16\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning{mornining?} I went to the Town Clerks office and
looked up records. After doing the chores at the Farm I
sharpened a load of picks for Calvary Cemetery, which
took till six o.clock{o'clock?}. Yesterday was uncle Will and Aunt
Ellen Somers sixtieth wedding anniversary. he is 80 years
old. I think she is a little older.
01\17\1934 (Wednesday)
Repaired saws and Windows all day
01\18\1934 (Thursday) {Thirsday?}
This morning I sharpened picks and put handles in
two sledges for St Joseph's Cemetery.
This evening two boys came for Fife lessons.
01\19\1934 (Friday)
Went to the Town Clerks Office this forenoon. When I got
home Mary told me that Mr Arthur Jones of Naugatuck{Nougatuck?}
was dead, his wife is in St Marys Hospital with a broken
hip, she fell on the ice Christmas day.
01\20\1934 (Saturday)
Nice weather thawed a little. I repaired and painted
windows. A Ton of coal came to day.
Mr Eastwood called.
01\21\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
J. O. Todd. After Church I and Mary went to the farm
and then to Prospect, to Cowdells, and then through
the Parsons road and up the Clark road then.
down the Union City road to Baptist Corner then up past the
Brockett Cemetery, and up the Pearl lake road home, where we
stayed the rest of the day.
In to days paper was the following. {blank space} A announcement was
made this past week of the marriage in Millerton N.Y. on{?} Monday
of Mrs. Marion G Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Milldale, formerly of Goshen to Robert
Bergeron of New Britain. The attending couple were Mr and Mrs
Samuel Thomen of Torrington. Following the cerimony{ceremony?} a
reception
was held at the Thomen residence. Mr and mrs Bergeon
will reside in Milldale.
01\22\1934 (Monday)
Weather Cold Repaired windows all day.
01\23\1934 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall to day. This P.M. went to Prospect and
got some work that was done. Rained hard this Forenoon.
01\24\1934 (Wednesday)
To day I repaired and painted windows all the time
except when I went to the farm, and cleaned the furnace
and riddled ashes etc.
01\25\1934 (Thursday)
This morning I repaired windows{windoes?} up stais in the barn.
This afternoon I went to the Barber up at the old Doolittle,
place and he cut my hair and shaved for .75 Then hastened
to the farm and did the chores, and in fifteen minutes
I was at the office of the Waterbury Rolling Mills Cor, where
I attended the annual stockholders meeting. They paid
a quarterly divident of 1 1/4 op the first paid in two years.
I got home at 4 o'clock and mary and I went to South
Waterbury and visited Uncle William Somers.
01\26\1934 (Friday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerks office. This afternoon
worked on windows{windoes?} in the barn, setting glass puttying
and painting them.
01\27\1934 (Saturday)
This forenoon I repaired and painted windows, but it came
on to snow and I had to stop. This afternoon two young
men Mr Eastwood and Hurlburt{?} came and we repaired
a lot of heavy chains for Calvary Cemetery.
01\28\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Joseph
Todd officiated. The weather was wet and cool.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Judge George Browns
in Wolcott. We had an enjoyable visit.
01\29\1935 (Monday)
Cold and windy day, froze hard at noon. I did several
jobs. Cleaned out Mrs. Vogals{?} sink pipe, which her sister
from New York stoped up by poring melted sausage{sassage?} grease
down and it hardened. I cup up old auto tires to burn
in the stove in the wheel house and repaired one
half of a window in the barn, but it was to{too?} cold to
be out of doors. My car froze up going to the farm.
01\30\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning was very cold 2 below zero. I went to the Town
Clerks Office, after which I came home, and after dinner wnet
to the farm, came back home, put up curtains etc.
01\31\1934 (Wednesday)
One of the coldest days, and windy. Have burned
much coal in the furnace I painted and repaired many
windows I think I have them all done.
02\01\1934 (Thursday)
Began snowing at 8 this morning and has snowed
all day. I repaired drawing board and picture frames
etc
02\02\1934 (Friday)
Dug out snow paths all the forenoon. Snow about 10"
deep. Filed saw, and did odd jobs, etc.
02\03\1934 (Saturday)
This morning{mornin?} I took up the hams and bacon and hung them
up to drain. I then worked in the Wheel house, made
a wind mill from a Ford radiator fan wheel. Very cold
all day.
02\04\1934 (Sunday)
Attended Service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
J. O. Todd. Snowed nearly all day and very cold.
02\05\1934 (Monday)
Cold Day. Worked in Wheel House, etc.
This evening I went to Mill Plain Church and gave
lessons in drumming to a class nine boys.
02\06\1934 (Tuesday)
Cold 15 below zero this morning the themometer{thermometer?} hasnt
been{ben?} above freezing any time for a week, some of the coldest
weather I ever knew.
I knew a week in the year about 18_2{1882?} when the themometer
was below zero all of the time, mornings usually from 10 to
14, and at noon 1 or more below.
On New Years day in 1874 I saw ice cut on Wedges
Pond on the Plank Road 32" thick, the thickest ice I ever
saw cut in Waterbury. I{In?} 1890 there was scarcely any
ice cut 4" Inches{"?} was the thickest that it froze and that
was in January.
02\07\1934 (Wednesday)
Cold weather 6 below this morning here{hese?} but others
reported 15 below. I did odd jobs, repaired the corn
sheller{?} in the hen house and did several jobs in
the wheel house.
02\08\1934 (Thursday)
Six below this morning 2 above at noon 8 below this evening
and going down fast, no thaw so far this month.
I went{wen?} to the farm and did the chores. Put liquid{licquid?} smoke
on hams and bacon, and worked the rest of day in Wheel
house, making a hay rake. Hiram Abel called.
02\09\1934 (Friday)
This mornig the themometer regerstered{registered?} 26 below
zero the coldest I ever knew here, at noon 5 below
and 10 below this evening.
I went to the Town Clerks office this forenoon,
Then to the farm on the trolley, and staid in the
house the rest of the day.
But few autos are out as the oil is so hard that
they cannot be started unless kept in heated girarges{girages?}
02\10\1934 (Saturday)
This morning it was 10 below zero, 20 above at noon
and 8 above this evening. I went to the farm on then
trolley car. This afternoon I took the cool grates out of
the kitchen stove and fixed it to burn wood.
This evening a ton of coal came, after dark, which was
very welcome as we were nearly out, it was soft coal
price $8.00.
02\11\1934 (Sunday)
This day was warmer 10 above this morning 32 at
noon and 18 above this evening To day is the first time
that the themometer has been up to the freezing point
this month.
We attended the Mill Plain Union Church this
forenoon, Rev Clarance Wells{?} of the Watertown Congregational{?}
Church preached. Went to the farm and did the chores
then staid hom the rest of the day.
This afternoon Cousin Berkeley and Mildred Frisbie of
Woodtick called, as did Nephue{Nephew?} Ferress{?} and Lena Turkinton
{Turkington?}
of East Morris.
02\12\1934 (Monday)
The weather to day has been milder thawed some
Wrote a letter to Mrs. Renfro of Sioux City Iowa this
morning and did odd jobs about home etc.
02\13\1934 (Tuesday)
I went to City hall this forenoon. Weather not so cold
but at noon it turned cold and windy an{and?} at night
it was below zero and wind blowing.
02\14\1934 (Wednesday)
Cold 6 below zero this morning, but we dont mind it so much
now. I sharpened frost bars and repaired the truck for Calvary
Cemetery this forenoon. After dinner I went to the farm, then
to Cowdells in Prospect, and left some typewriting to be done{,?}
then went to making a new pinion for the old clock.
This evening Ruth called and paid for the sholder{?}.
02\15\1934 (Thursday)
Thawed considerable to day. I worked all day on the old
Clock that is nearly 150 years old, made{nade?} a new pinion
out of iron wood that Charles Tuttle gave me four years
ago, and it is hard and strong. I had to rig up my
little speed lathe to turn it out, and turn down the
old shaft{,?} that part is finished except I have no fresh
glue.
02\16\1934 (Friday)
I went to City hall this forenoon. Ths ground is still
all covered with snow, and weather is cold.
I had a flat tire on my new car the first one.
02\17\1934 (Saturday)
This day I sharpened a lot of bars, Frost fins, and
picks for Calvary Cemetery, and finished fixing
the old clock that Grandfather Miller gave me in
1875, that his father traded two hogs for, in 1790.
His Father was Timothy E. Miller and he lived on
Chestnut Hill a mile North of the four Corner in
Litchfield, and half a mile South of the Torrington
Road.
02\18\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev
J. O. Todd. This afternoon I went with William Leroy
Garrigus to Wolcott center and visited Mr Moss{Mass?} a New York
man who has bought the Old Erastus Warner place and is
repairing it up in good shape.
02\19\1934 (Monday)
This morning I made an iron for Edgar Upsons truck
end board and did several other odd jobs.
This evening I went to the Gim{Gym?} of the Mill Plain Church
and gave a drumming lesson to a class of boys. It was
snowing hard when I came home.
02\20\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning the snow about here is 30 inches deep no
trolley cars running to day, a snow plow went east during
the night but it hasnt came{comne?} back, and scarcely any
auto trucks are running, cars are stalled everywhere
since last night. The Frost road is drifted so no cars can
pass, I walked out to the farm and beyond the arch
there was only a single track, and there were many stalled
cars.
02\21\1934 (Wednesday)
Shoveled{ink blot} snow all day. Lots of snow everywhere.
A trolley snow plow that went out yesterday morning
before day light got stuck in the snow at the
Notch-in-the Rocks and the crew have been digging
all the time till they returned this morning at
about eight o'clock.
A sweeper came out from town on the South track
and they got the cars running a little after noon.
Lots of trouble with Auto trucks The Byrowley Co
have twenty five stalled in different parts of the State
One of their large trucks was stalled in the drifts
on the Frost Road above Circular{Ciscular?} A_{Aa?} since _ight{night?}
before __st{last?}. They got it out this afternoon.
B__{But?} li__le{little?} Groceries, Meat, and Milk are being
delivered. 2 below this morning
02\22\1934 (Thursday)
Wahingtons birthday No School. This day it
thawed some and rained, Everybody busy
shoveling snow and breaking out roads so
autos can travel. Snow about 20 inches deep
The time of the Great storm in 1888 it was
40 inches deep
Zero this morning.
02\23\1934 (Friday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerks Office, then
went to the farm by trolley and did the chores ther{there?}
Weather very cold, came home and kept warm.
The Government will not allow the C.W.A. men to shovel
snow, 1,600 of them have been digging the streets out for
three days and the City will have to pay over 18,000 dollars.
The themometer four below this morning
02\24\1934 (Saturday)
Great time opening roads and paths. The City had
four heavy trucks, and two with snow plows in
front{fpont?}, and they hitched another in front and they
could take a little snow and ice off the Frost
road. With the truck pulling ahead of the plow
they managed to take it down about half the
depth to hard ice and snow after going over it
many times.
I dug out the drive way but did not take a car
out as there is no place to part at the farm, as
the road is very narrow there.
We listened to Jack Brundage talk over the radio
this noon. he has a good voice.
The themometer was{ws?} 3 below this morning.
02\25\1934 (Sunday)
Real winter of the old fashioned sort, more snow
than we have had in ten years, and the coldest
weather I ever knew. Six below zero here at 8.30
this morning.
Ralph and Laurence Pierpont, and little Ted Wilson
started this morning at five o'clock, for Florida,
The themometer was 15 degrees below zero when
they started.
We didnt got to Church this morning as{at?} the
walking was hard, and there was no place to leave
the car up there, only a single track plowed
by the church, and if a car stoped it would block
everything. And it is the same at East Farms
so I go out on the trolley car.
This afternoon it began snowing again
at about four o'clock, if we get as much as we
already have it will make it bad. As the banks
at the sides of the roads are{?} so high and big that
there is no place to plow more out. But then!
02\26\1934 (Monday)
Snowed all day, about ten inches has fell last night
and to day. Making more snow on the ground now
than has been at any one time in ten{ink blot} years,
I went to the farm on the trolley, and did the chores
But few people are out to day, and only a few cars, they are
running snow plows to keep the roads, and car tracks open.
This evenings paper stated that Edgar Jeralds{?} of Prospect
Died last night.
Hazel Pierpont Jacoby sailed from New York for her home in
Guaro{?} Cuba last Saturday. She has been spending the
past fe months with her mother Bessie Pierpont of Maple
Hill Farm.
02\27\1934 (Tuesday)
Have shoveled snow all day, except the time I took to
go to the farm, and repair the kitchen pump.
02\28\1934 (Wednesday)
Twenty two below zero this morning. I went to shoveling
out my driveway{,?} so I can get my Car out, but did
not. I went to the farm on the trolley as there is no
place to park a car on the side of the road, the snow
banks are high where the snow plows have thrown it
out. Snow is about {.?}24 inches deep about here now.
I cleaned out the back-house which a long time.
03\01\1934 (Thursday)
Warmer to day. Thawed some
I put up a new Windmill on the garage{girage!} made
from the fan wheel of an old Ford Engine.
I got my little Ford car out to day and drove
out to the farm. Had to shovel a place in front
of the gate to set it.
03\02\1934 (Friday)
This day has been warmer and it has thawed some,
I have done odd jobs about the place.
I went to the farm and got stuck turning round,
but the mail man, and another helped me and I got
out. Cousin Lewis Somers and wife called this evening.
03\03\1934 (Saturday)
Warm and thawing all day, I moved the great{?} bank
of snow so I could get the business car out and I
put it in the garage{Girage!} where I will paint it.
Put my other car in the business car garage{girage!}.
Snow is settling lots of Water{water?} running.
Roads are rutted deep and are dangerous.
03\04\1934 (Sunday)
At 10 this morning I went to the Mill Plain Church and
told about one hundred Sunday School Schollars{Scholars?} about
Mill Plain as it was when I was young or about Sixty five
or Seventy years ago.
We later attended service Rev J. O. Todd, officiated, traveling
bad on account of Snow banks and ice ruts.
This afternoon, I went to South Waterbury and visited
Uncle Will Somers.
03\05\1934 (Monday)
To day has been warm, much snow melted and
run away. I have worked all day cleaning my
business car,{,?} getting{gettin?} it ready to paint.
A ton of coal came this afternoon.
03\06\1934 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon, and did several
errands about town before I came home. After dinner
I did the chores at the farm, and then worked on
the business car, etc.
03\07\1934 (Wednesday)
Spent all day getting the business car ready to
paint, and repairing it. Gave the top a coat of
dressing.
03\08\1934 (Thursday)
To day I painted on my business auto all day
it snowed all the afternoon.
This evening Ernest Robinson and George
Baldwin came and wrote drum music.
Yesterdays paper stated that Leland Garrigus
had been appointed Drum Major of the Putnam
Phalanx of Hartford.
03\09\1934 (Friday)
Went to examine records at the Town Clerks Office
this forenoon, then I bought paint and varnish
and did other errands. Went to the farm, after doing
a job making a heavy Neckyoke ring for Ed Scott.50
03\10\1934 (Saturday)
Painted on my car all the forenoon.
It has snowed all the afternoon and and{written twice} is still
snowing this evening.
03\11\1934 (Sunday)
Snow lay on the ground about seven inches deep this
morning. {blank space} Did not got to Church as it took till near
noon to get dug out. Ray and Ruth called this evening.
03\12\1934 (Monday)
I in 1888 March 12th the great blizzard started Snow was
three ft 6 inches on the level, and many great drifts. I
saw one on the Meriden Road beyond the present Todd
road that was{word smudged} at{as?} high at{as?} the top of the
telegraph
pole.
To day I worked at the farm getting out manure,
Covered the raspberries, and drew three loads on
the hill, some of the snow was three ft deep where
we drew over. It held up ox cart and all.
03\13\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I got up as the sun was just
showing in the East at 6.30
I went to the Town Clerks Office this forenoon.
I left my old watch at Mrs. Halls on Bank St to
be repaired
It has thawed much to day, but there is
plenty of snow left yet.
03\14\1934 (Wednesday)
At the farm I drew manure up on the hill till noon
when it began to snow hard, and I came home and
got the business car ready to varnish.
03\15\1934 (Thursday)
I finished varnishing the business Car this forenoon
Then I went to the farm, and was home again
before four o'clock when Mrs. Hauce{?} and Miss
Brown of Naugatuck called to find out historical
matter about the town of Prospect previous to 1850.
03\16\1934 (Friday)
I went to the City Hall this forenoon. This day
has been warmer than any day we have had
for a long time.
03\17\1934 (Saturday)
St Patricks Day. Years ago we used to parade this
day. Drum for the Irish temperance Societies
march through the mud ankle deep. Long before
the streets were paved.
To day I got my delivery car to gather and ready
to run. Then little Teddy Vogal{?} and I went to
the farm, and I choped down a large old apple
tree at the upper end of the barn lot.
Came home and cleaned out the chicken Coop
03\18\1933 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Joseph Todd Officiated. Went out to the farm, and
as we went Carried, Mr Montgomery, and Sarah
Pierpont home.
Staid home all the afternoon, Rained quite hard
before night. Spend my time in reading.
03\19\1933 (Monday)
Was at the farm all day drawing manure up
on the hill. Used my business auto.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church
Gymnasium and gave drumming lessons to
a class of boys.
03\20\1934 (Tuesday)
Went to City Hall this forenoon.
After dinner, Went to the farm and did up the chores.
Then I went to East Mountain and saw Miles
Payne. To get there and keep on the State roads I went
from East Farms East to the Notch-in-the-Rocks, and
then West over the old Plank Raod, then up the Rog{Log?}
Hollow Road to Prospect Center, and in the Waterbury
Road to East Mountain. Along the Waterbury Road opposite
the residence of Mr Harry Talmage there is a bank of snow
{next line is difficult to read}
7' high and 10 rods long, all other snow is gone.
03\21\1934 (Wednesday)
To day I sawed up the big old appletree on the
hill in the barn lot.
The weather was nice, not warm enough to thaw
much. {blank space} Received a letter from Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt]
who lives in Vancouver Washington State, 34 {degree symbol} above
zero is the coldest weather they have had.
03\22\1934 (Thursday)
At the farm I split up the old appletree and with
the steer drew it down near the gate.
The weather has been quite cool to day.
A young man got killed at the arch at Reedville
Monday morning, he was delivering milk and did
not see the trolley car as he{hi?} ran and it knocked
him off and to the concrete road below,{,?} in stiking
he fractured{fractired?} his skull.
03\23\1934 (Friday)
Went to the Town Clerks office this forenoon.
To the farm this afternoon, did chores, etc
This evening Mary and I went to the Mill Plain
Church Gymnasium to a play Given by the Maple
Hill Club, Lient{?} Governor Wilcox was there and gave
an illustrated{illustriated?} lecture on hunting. etc.
03\24\1934 (Saturday)
Cold this morning. Ray called. I showed him my
new Remington 22 Rifle that I bought yesterday.
Went to the farm, after repairing the cap on the front
Rith wheel of my car, and filing a saw. Drew a load
of Manure up on the hill and brought home a load of
wood. Snowed this afternoon and evening.
03\25\1934 (Sunday)
Nice day, rather cool.
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J O Todd.
From Church I went to Mr Blewitts and got my
paper as I am in the habit of doing{dooing?}, then I went to
East Farms, and carried out Mr Montgomery, and
two small Girls. Did the chores and came home and
looked the paper over.
Mr Howard Neal called and we had a good visit,
Rev Mr Hautz{?} of Naugatuck called.
And Later{?} Arthur Byrd and Mildred with their
children called, and all had{haa?} an interesting time.
03\26\1934 (Monday)
To day I built under the floor under the radiator under
Miss Picketts room to keep the rats from knawing{gnawing?} through.
Went to Mill Plain Church to night and gave drumming lessons, in a
{next line difficult to read}
room North of the Bowling Alley.
03\27\1934 (Tuesday)
To day I sharpened a lot of tools for the Calvary Cemetery.
made an iron post driver, made a heavy cutting
iron for a scraper, and did several toher small
blacksmith jobs for other people.
Rained more or less all day.
03\28\1934 (Wednesday)
Rained all day. Cleaned Chicken coop and did
other odd jobs about home{?}.
03\29\1934 (Thursday)
To day I was at the farm, drawing manure up on
the hill, and drawing stones back down and putting
them into the gulley that the melting snow washed
out. I cannot get any pea seed to plant, I wish
to plant them in March.
The weather has been fair all day.
03\30\1934 (Friday)
Repaired a rifle this morning and made four countersunk
head bolts for the Calvary Cemetery. Then went
to the farm and drew manure, and repaired the road
leading to the top of the hill, and harrowed two pieces
of ground. Brought home a load of wood tonight.
03\31\1934 (Saturday)
This morning I went down town to buy some pead seed
after going to several stores I got a pound of dward and
one pound of high telephone peas. I brought them home
and huried{hurried?} out to the farm, and dug to{two?} trenches 50'
long and planted the dwarf, then ate my dinner and
planted the high peas, as it began to rain.
Ther{There?} was about six inches of earth that was thawed
and below that it was frozen.
It rained hard all the afternoon.
Howard Neal called and we made arrangements
to go over the line between Prospect and Waterbury,
next Saturday.
04\01\1934 (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church Rev J. O. Todd, officiated. The Church was full to
capacity, all four choires, many flowers, a large
number joined{jouned?} the church.
This afternoon we went to Burt Frisbies at Woodtick.
All of the streams are high from the rain yesterday
Ray and Ruth called, Ray has painted his car.
Margaret reported that Ruth Brundage is in the
Danbury hospitial{hospital?} sick.
04\02\1934 (Monday)
At the farm to day I repaired the road to the top of the
hill, but did not finish it.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church and
gave drumming lessons to a class of boys.
04\03\1934 (Tuesday)
I went to the City Hall this morning, Saw Mr
Anderson, Mr Howland and Mr Clarance Styles{?}.
This afternoon I carried Mary up to the Mill
Plain Church to the ladies Union entertainment
Then I went to the farm, and did the chores, then
I came home and painted on the grape arbor.
This evening Baldwin and Ernest Robinson
came and copied drum music.
Weather has been fair and warm.
04\04\1934 (Wednesday)
Wet and rainy. I made a surveyors{surveyoss?} rod and cleaned
up two rifles. Cleaned out the furnace pipe, and
did other odd jobs. This afternoon I went to John
Gaffeneys{?} to get a bag of Porland cement and some
bricks but they were out of them, and are not
going to sell any more. {blank space} Then I went to the farm
and as it was raining I went up to Woodtick and
saw Chas Tuttle. He is tearing down his large barn
{next line difficult to read}
East of the house.
04\05\1934 (Thursday)
This morning I bent-some break shoes of 4x1 1/4" steel
for De Witte Cole{?} of Wolcott. Jimmie Egan came and
we went to Cheshire where I bought a bag of Cement
and three pieces of 2x3"-10' for 1.48{?} then we came to the
farm and we drew with the chain{?} block and takles{?} a
large rock from the road on the hill, then I took the steer
and plowed six or eight furrows on the hill.
The{Then?} I came home and drilled the brake block{;?} and rigged
the enginelathe to countersink them.
This evening mary and I went to William Garrigus
on the Meriden Road and I borrowed his transit to do
some surveying{suryeying?} saturday.
04\06\1934 (Friday)
Rained more or less all day. I worked in the wheel house
all the forenoon. This afternoon repaired a brake iron
for Mr Cole of Wolcott{Woolcott?}.
04\07\1934 (Saturday)
Rained all the forenoon. After doing the chores at the farm
I painted on the grape arbor, and repaired in after which
I cleaned up a small piece of the yard.
04\08\1934 (Sunday)
We ttended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
Joseph Todd preached. When we came home and out
to the Farm We took out Mr Montgomery{?}. and Harald Pierpont's
wife and child.
This afternoon we called on Judge George Browne, and
Mary traded three dozen eggs for two settings of eggs,
with Mrs. Browne.
04\09\1934 (Monday)
Plowed at the farm, Jinnie Egan{?} came and spread{spreal?}
the manure. We set two hens this evening.
This evening I gave drumming lessons at
the Church.
04\10\1934 (Tuesday)
I went to City Hall this forenoon. This P.M. I went
to Prospect and visited Thomas Payne on East
Mountain, and went to margarets and Paid her
and got the names of the people in the picture.
04\11\1934 (Wednesday)
Plowed on the hill the greater part of the day.
Jimmie Egan{?} helped, he spread the manure
04\12\1934 (Thursday)
Rained this morning. I wrote letters to Frank in Kent about
potatoes, to Fred in Tarrytown about drums, and to Mrs.
Renfro in Sioux City Iowa about the Somers family.
This afternoon I raked up leaves and cleaned the North
yard.
04\13\1934 (Friday)
This day I plowed on the hill for corn, oats, and potatoes
Good cool day to work. Jim Egan drilled a hole in
a rock and we blasted it this noon.
04\14\1934 (Saturday)
To day Howard Neal came at a little before nine and
we took my old Ford car and started to get Gould
Clard{?} on{of?} Clark zHill in Prospect, all went well till
we got on the upper Peach Orchard road, where we got
into the mud up to the axles but we managed to
pull through. We got Mr Clark and then started
to suvey the line between Prospect and Waterbury
We stoped at Mr Steves and left the car and it
began to rain. We looked over the site of the old
Pierpont house, and the sun came out. We then
climed{climbed?} to the top of Turkey Hill but the undergroth{undergrowth?}
was to thick that we could not see away. We then
went down and got out things and started for
the corner bound of Cheshire, Prospect and Waterbury,
and when we reached it, the rain began
to fall, and it rained harder and harder to
we started back without doing much work, and
by the time we reached home the sun was
shining.
04\15\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd. {blank space} This afternoon we went to Judge
Browns in Wolcott, and took supper ther. Mary
exchanged two dozen eggs with Mrs. Brown for
setting.
04\16\1934 (Monday)
Rained off and on all day, toward night it rained
hard. I went to the farm and plowed on the hill,
got wet through but finished.
04\17\1934 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I spent writing letters to Mrs. E L Jackson
Redlands Calf. to Mr Wm E Pierpont, 148 Second St -
Portland Oregon, and to Lewis L Ovaitt [Oviatt] Vancouver, Wash
and sent all pictures of our relations taken on our
50th wedding anniversary.
04\18\1934 (Wednesday)
To day I went to farm and drew manure to the lot
West of shed on the hill and plowed part of it I
staked out.
04\19\1934 (Thursday)
I plowed at the farm finished James Egans piece and
plowed under the appletrees on the Hill.
Ray came this afternoon and trimmed his grape
vines.
04\20\1934 (Friday)
Was about home this forenoon. This afternoon at the
farm made over orad. Blasted roak. Peas are up 1"
Teddy went with me
04\21\1934 (Saturday)
This morning I went to Clark Hill in Prospect and got
Gould Clark and then went to Prospect Center and
we got harry Talmage Jr. We{?} then went to Summit and
saw Fred Berger, then up the Mintie Road to the Bound of
Cheshire, Prospect and Waterbury. We then set our transit
56{degree symbol} West of North and started on the line between Prostpect
and Waterbury, at night we got to the angle near the
Corner of Scott road but could not find it.
04\22\1934 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J A. Todd. This afternoon We went up the Scott road and
I found the corner bound of Prospect, it is in Frank
Bergins lo_t{loft?} corner of the Austin and Scott road.
130 ft West of the Austin Road and 250 ft North of{af?} the
Scott Road. While at the bound I saw a great cloud of
smoke rising from the Forest Chapin house opposite the
East Farms School House, as though it was on fire.
04\23\1934 (Monday)
Did odd jobs about home and painted the grape arbor.
04\24\1934 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to the Bronson Lybrary{Library?} and
studied the Tuttle Geneology.
This aternoon cam{came?} home and painted and repaired
the East Grape Arbor, and cleaned up the yard.
This evening Mr John Barr called and wished to
find out about Revolutionary solders{soldiers?}.
04\25\1934 (Wednesday)
This morning I drove to prospect{Prospect?} to tell Harry
Talmage that I am going away Saturday The
Road department are moving houses, trees, etc getting ready
to make over the State road up East Mountain. I took some
work to Cowdells to have done then went to the farm
and planted.
04\26\1934 (Thursday)
Filed a large circular Saw for Mr Rocham. Fixed a
leaver for Mr Ed Scott. Repaired a transit box for
Will Garrigus instrument Planted and did other
jobs.
04\27\1934 (Friday)
This morning awned{dawned?} fair and warm, and after
doing a job for Mr Edward Scott, I went to the Farm
and cleared the stones out of the pig pen and it began
to rain a little, then it would break away, then I
got the ox and cart and began getting out the manure
and spreading it on the upper end of the lot, when
it rained harder and grew colder, anfter{after? and after?} the third
load it rained hard and I was all wet so I stoped
and came home, and got my car ready to go to
Kent tomorrow.
I then read in the paper about John Dillinger and
his gang that the Government has got over 5000 Officers
out to capture dead or alive. He is the most noted outlaw
ever known, has got out of prison three times, and
with his gang has killed and murdered thirteen
men, robbed numerous banks, in Iowa, Wis. Ill.
Ind. Ohio and other places. Has robbed many
poliece{?} arnels{arsenals?} of machine guns, pistols guns and
bullitt{bullett?} proof vests, poliece and de__ctives{detectives?}
have laid
traps for him in many places, but he shoots his
way out, and disapears{disappears?}. His last battle was at
Mercer. Wis{?} last Sunday night, When he and his
gang of five killed three men in getting away, H_{He?}
has women with him much of the time, and they
cepture three of these. The Government has air planes
and guards everywhere in the locality where they
think he is, but still he eludes them. To date it
has cost the government over $2,000,000 hunting him
and the lives of several Federal officers.
05\01\1934 (Tuesday)
Last Saturday morning Mary and I in my little
runabout Ford car started for Kent, to see Frank
and his family and get some seed potatoes and
fertilizer. We went vie Middlebury down Ben
Sheman Hill on the new road, into Woodbury
then through a portion of Southbury then Rocksbury
and down through Roxbury station where we crossed
the Shepang River and on through Bridgewater
up over Chicken Hill and down into New Milford where
we crossed the Houstonic River{?} and travled up the West
side through Gaylordsville, and past the great power
plant at Bulls Bridge and reached Kent before noon
having traveled at the rate of thirty miles per hour mos_{most?}
of the way.
After dinner I went with Frank and the men dwon to the
field south of the School where they were planting potatoes
and with three others cut potatoe seed and although we
cut as fast as we could, we could not keep up to the
planter, it took a bushel of seed for a row, and two men
and a pair of hroses ran the planter.
The next day Sunday the time changed to daylight
saving time and all hands had to be up and milking
at four o'clock. Had to turn clocks and watches ahead one
hour. They are milking about sixty cows and about eight
hundred quarts per day.
We went to church at the Congregational Church, ther_{there?}
was a small attendance.
Some time after dinner Frank took his Buic{Buick?} car
and Mary and I and his children mary, Bertha, Dwight,
and Jessie, and we went for a ride up the Kent Mountain
Raod which _hey{they?} are building new to connect two
miles already built at each end, and they are slahing{blastin?}
out rock cuts forty feet deep and building where it
seems impossible to make a road, at one place we got
stuck in the mud on the old raod, as did two other autos
that came along. They managed by backint to go
round through a steep side field. I went to a house
in East Kent where I barrowed{borrowed?} two shovels, and
soon after I got back, the man that I borrowed them
of and his son came with a truck (They knew Frank.)
and hitched on and pulled frank out with what help
we could give with our own car. We then proceeded
over a very rough road through East kent, to Warren
Center, then South through the town of Warren to Waramang
Lake, and on through New Preson and Marbledale
and a little South we turned to the right and went
up a steep hill and West over hills and down throuh{through?}
deep valleys and through Upper Mariall and on over
steep and winding roads to mud pond a wild spot
where there was real log huts, they call them cabins,
and on to South Kent. Then over the mountain West,
where the new school chapel is built, and to Bulls
Bridge then up the State road home. When we
arived{arrived?} the men had finish/finished{?} milking, nearly
800 quarts for the day.
Monday I went to the field and cut potatoe
seed till noon. Then with a bushel and a half of
seed and one hundred pounds of fertilizer and
numereous{numerous?} other goods that Elsie put in the
car, all of which they would take no pay fo
we started for home. Came by way of South
Kent, whgere we stoped at Boyds Store and got five gallons of
gasoline, then through Upper Maryoll/Maryall{?} and New Preston Hill
where there is a stone Church built in 1824 and down into
New Preston, then to Washington Depot, and over Washington
Center to Hotchkissville where we stoped and Mary visited with
Mrs. Elton Edwards, then on through Watertown and home.
05\01\1934 (Tuesday)
To day I worked at the farm. Got out manure from the
pig pen till noon, then harrowed and bushed the ground
for potatoes.
This evening I practiced with the Mattatuck Drum
Band at Mr Morton Pierpont's place. They elected Officers
Lee Garrigus Leader, Andrew Kitchenka Assistant
Leader, Edgar Upson secretary, and Ralph Pierpont
Treasurer, there was a large attandence{attendance?}.
05\02\1934 (Wednesday)
This day I furrowed out for potatoes and corn on the hill
all day. In the afternoon Jim Egan came and we planted
five or six rows.
I then came home and put new rubber hose pipes on
the engine of the Ford delivery truck, but it began to
rain before I had it finished and the two inch pipe was
not renewed.
05\03\1934 (Thursday)
Rained hard all day. I went to Town this forenoon
and di some business. Thsi afternoon I
telephoned Francis Egan and we sharpened some
cutting bars. Then I repaired some Lawn
Moers, etc.
05\04\1934 (Friday)
Rained more or le_s{less?}, finished furrowing out at the
farm, set out a quart of onion sets, etc
Mr John Barr called this evening and we looked
up Revolutionary historicl matters.
05\05\1934 (Saturday)
Jimmie Egan and I planted potatoes on the hill
finished.
05\06\1934 (Sunday)
This afternoon Mary and I called on Halsey Clarks
folks on Clark Hill in Prospect.
05\07\1934 (Monday)
We planted Jimmie Egans potatoes to day.
05\08\1934 (Tuesday) {This record dated 5/7/1934}
Jim Egan and I finished planting potatoes and we plowed
around the appletrees in the barn lot.
05\09\1934 (Wednesday)
James Egan and I planted the big piece of corn on the
hill to day. Fine weather.
They brought a large steam shovel into the Calvary{.?}
Cemetery East of the gate where they are grading, where
road need to run, and filling in the hollow where the
old Lewis House stood.
05\10\1934 (Thursday) {This record dated 5/9/1934}
This morning I repaired the foot starter switch on the
Ford, delivery car. After dinner little Teddy and I
went to Cowdells and got some work and then to
the farm, where I worked the rest of the day.
05\11\1934 (Friday)
James Egan and I drew munure{manure?} on the hill and plowed
for corn. When we went out we drove up East Mountain
then out the Old Gilkey Road to the Scott road, then down
to the Cheshire rod{road?} then out to Ed Scolls in Cheshire,
and left a key for my farm gate then to the farm.
05\12\1934 (Saturday)
James Egan came this mornng and we took my
Ford car and went to Lavergne Clarks in Prospect
and then got Gould Clark, then we went to Harry
Talmages and got Harry Jr and we all went up the
Scott road to Mr Bergins where we began to survey
the line between Prospect and Waterbury, by starting
at a pile of stones on a ledge about 130 ft Westerly
of the Austin Road and about 250 ft Northerly from
the Scott road. We set the transit 72 {degree symbol} W of South and
ran across the Scott road and through Archie
Haggerties{?} lots to a great swamp which we had to
cut our way through for about sixty rods, then
through woods to the end of 160 rods where we found
an old heap of stones, then on 80 rods more but we
failed to find the bounds, and it being late we came
home.
05\13\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev J
O. Todd. Had dinner at Margarets on Beecher Ave,
Frank came from Kent with his family in a new
Buic{Buick?} car, We all went to East Farms and looked
over crops and place, He{He or We?} started back home. Mary
and I went to Cowdells, and Mrs. Hotchkiss, Mable __nt{lent?}
me some papers and a letter.
05\14\1934 (Monday)
This morning I went to the farm and planted three rows
of field corn next to the North fence, and then got off
a lot of worms nests from the wild cherry trees west of
the hill lot.
This afternoon James Egan and I repaired the Cemetery
fence for the New St Josephs Cemetery, three lengths of
which were badly bent and broken.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church and
gave drumming lessons to a class of boys, Franklin
Browne was there and fifed.
Rained this morning, Fair the rest of the day. 4 hr
05\15\1934 (Tuesday)
Rained all day. James Egan and I worked repairing
the iron Cemetery Fence 8 hours. We then went to
Mort Pierpont's dairy{dary!} and looked at a big wagon
wheel that he wanted me to repair.
05\16\1934 (Wednesday)
James Egan and I set up the fence that we repaired at the
new St Joseph Cemetery, 8 hr.
The Lane Construction Co of Mariden{Meriden?}. started work on the new
State road up East Mountain to day.
05\17\1934 (Thursday)
This morning James Egan and I went to St Josephs
Cemetery and put in the cement foundation for
a fence post.
He left me then as he has a job in the Raymond{?}
Baking Co.
I went to East Farms and planted potatoes (Irish
Coblers) between the young apple trees on the hill
which took all the afternoon.
05\18\1934 (Friday)
Mowed the door yard this forenoon. Then worked on
Mort Pierpont's Wheel.
05\19\1934 (Saturday)
Got lumber out of the pile and cut to lengths the
spokes for Mort Pierpont's wheel. This afternoon I
took it to Robert Tylers on the Meriden Road and
he sawed it up and plained{?} it to size. When
I got home Ray was there setting our tomatoe plants
He gave me over a dozen which we set out, then
we went to the farm where he set out a good
number in his garden and I set out fourteen
plants in mine.
05\20\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev J O Todd.
This afternoon mary and I went to George Brownes and got
the Line of decent{descent?} from Revolutionary soldiers of Franklin
and Robert. We then went to Mrs. Jones in Naugatuck
where we staid till it began to rain and thunder and lighten{lightening?}.
We then came home, and I carried mary up to the MIll
Plain Church, and I went to John Wakelie's{?} in Wolcott, where
I staid till 7.20 when I came to the Church in a hard shower
and got Mary and came home.
05\21\1934 (Monday)
Went to Robert Tylers to have a picture frame stuff got
out, and to the farm. Then came home and made
spokes for a wheel.
This evening I gave instructions in drumming to
nine boys at the Mill Plain Church.
05\22\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the hardware store and bought
a handle for a spading fork, and some seeds. Then I went
to Prospect. Found men working on the new road up
the East Mountain. They had moved the house from
opposite the School house to the East side of the road,
and are going to tear down the four or five houses
at the foot of the mountain corner of the Harpers
feery road, on the high hill East of the upper Reservoir
they have men cutting brush and a large air compressr{compressor?}
drilling racks, while other men are moving poles and
wires. I went on and left some work at Cowdells
then came to the farm and did the chores, and
home and, worked on the wheel making new
spokes.
05\23\1934 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the bank and drew out
eighty five dollars, and then went to the City Hall
and paid the first half on my tax, then after
doing some errands came home, and cleaned
out the out house and took the load to the farm
and spread it. Then came home and made
spokes the rest of the day.
Sergeat{Seargeant?} Russell Called and wished me to have the little old
Fire Engine in a parade to be held Aug 18th.
05\24\1934 (Thursday)
I worked all day on wheel. Mary went to town _nd{and?}
paid her taxes.
05\25\1934 (Friday)
Rained all day. Repaired and packed Vogals{?} pump
had to go to town for packing.
This evening went to Mill Plain Church to help make
out a list of deceased early members.
05\26\1934 (Saturday)
Ro day Ray came and we went to the farm and worked
in the gardens, and planted some. Mowed the clothes
yard etc. Recd a letter from Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Vancouver Wash.
05\27\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev J O Todd,
held a Memorial Service.
This afternoon Mary and I went up on East Mountain
and called on Mrs. Willis Lounsbury. She is sick but
able to see folks, her alement{ailment?} is hopeless so the Doctors
say. We talked about the Boiling Spring and other things.
From there we went to Harry Roberst{?} at Baptist Corner
near the Wooster Cemetery.
Nice Weather all day.
05\28\1934 (Monday)
Mowed and cleaned up the East Farms Cemetery.
This evening Mr Vogal{?} dame down and said he would
pay 20.00 per month if I would put in City Water and
gas. Marvin Wheeler borrowed my Continental boot
leggins. {blank space} Went up to the Maple Hill Club Cabin at
the Frost Pond, but no drummer boys were there.
05\29\1934 (Tuesday)
Worked about home this forenoon. Setting a big tire
on Morton E. Pierpont's wheel etc James Egan helped
me. This afternoon Teddy and I went to the farm.
05\30\1934 (Wednesday)
Decoration Dy. This Morning I went to the New
St Josephs Cemetery. Where the Mattatuck Drum Band
and members of the American Legion Drum Corps, and{an?}
War Veterans were assembled at the grave of Major Shea
I was called to make an address, and prayer.
All went away, and when I got into my car I could
not make it go. I tried and tried every way that I
Knew, Then I walked home{hom?} and telephoned Ray. Who came
and started by pusing me with his car, when we got
home, we found that the battery ground connection
was caroded{corroded?} through.
This afternoon I went to the farm and cultivated
under the apple trees on the hill.
Weather has been fair.
05\31\1934 (Thursday)
Worked all day at Farm Mowing, Cultivating etc
This morning I went to the Fort Station on Cottage place
and got a ground lead, and put it on my car.
06\01\1934 (Friday)
This morning I took Morts{Mort?} Pierpont's wheel out to him
and paid him .30 for a hundred of land lime. He paid
me for repairing the wheel 8.40 I spent the rest of the
day cultivating and hoeing the raspberries.
06\02\1934 (Saturday)
To day I plowed on the hill in the west lot for corn.
Weather very warm.
This evening mr Blanchard called to see about
putting City water in the house.
06\03\1934 (Sunday)
This morning{mornining?} I put on my uniform and took my drum
and with Mary went to Wolcott and turned out in the
Dedication exercies. They had service in the Church and
then marched to the Cemetery and decorated the soldiers graves
Chas Russell of Southington was the only surviving Divil war
veteran present, after a fine dinner in the Beecher Memorial
hall. The Mattatuck Band went to the Cemetery and put
flowers on the graves of the former members.
06\04\1934 (Monday)
This morning two Blanchards came and looked the hous_{house?}
over. to figure up the cost of repairs, etc.
I went to the farm and planted.
06\05\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the East End Hardware Store
and go a paper of Radish seed and some Romatoe plants
Then I went to the farm and planted in the garden
and set out the tomatoe plants, between the young
apple trees, Then planted pop corn between the
apple trees on the hill, then cultivated potatoes and
corn on the hill. This evening Ray came and
we hoed his garden here.
Howard Neal called and left a statement that
he had prepaired. regarding land deals of the
original Ezera Pierpont{?}.
06\06\1934 (Wednesday)
Mowed some this morning, and cultivated
Corn and potatoes on the hill.
Cultivated James Egans potatoes, and he hoed
them.
Mr Albert Blanchard called and gave me
the figures for putting in city water. Toilets
and bath tub etc 429.00
06\07\1934 (Thursday)
Cultivated and hoed on the hill
Mr George Blanchard called and gave figures on
making joiner work for toilets etc 178.00
06\08\1934 (Friday)
Repaired a lawn mower for Mr Clark at Christs Chapel
2.00 Then finished mowing the frong yard and went
to the farm and hoed potatoes and corn.
06\09\1934 (Saturday)
This morning I sharpened the large tools for cutting
out ivy bushed for Mr Clyne and tempered them
Then James Egan and I went to the farm and
finished hoeing the corn and potatoes, and I mowed
some grass. This Evening Mr George Blanchard
came and We signed agreement, that he do joiner
work for 178.00. and Mr Albert Blanchard and
I agreed that he do pluming{plumbing?} work for 409.00.
06\10\1934 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church,
Childrens sunday. Church well filled. This afternoon I
went to John Nortons in North East Wolcott.
They are about to take the.{?} Trolley Cars off East main
St and run Busses in their stead.
They first ran Trolley cars on East main St in 1894{?}
First to Wolcott St and later to Silver St. In 1904
they started running to Cheshire and Mount Carmel
where passingers{passengers?} changed to the New Haven cars.
About two years later the Waterbury cars began
running through to New Haven.
Before the Electric cars ran on East Main St Hares{?}
Cars carried the passengers They started running
about 1886{?}, and before that time a single omnibus
made regular trips from Silver St to the center.
06\11\1934 (Monday)
To day at about 8.30 Mr Blanchard set a man to work
digging a trench to the street for the water pipe.
This afternoon a lot of 4" soil pipe came and was
unloaded on the North side of the house.
This morning I went up East Mountain and saw
them{then?} making the new road. They have three large
steam and gas shovels and.{?} one large pusher, one
small and, all kinds of Improved road machinery.
I went to Cowdells and got some work, Mr Cowdell
is in Hartford to day at a hearing of the Public
Utilities Commission regarding the abandoning
of the East main Trolley line and substituting
busses.
I then went to the farm and weeded the garden.
06\12\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning at 9 o clock I went to the Department
of Public Works on Benedict Street and got
a permit for water and Receipt for fees.
Application No 14170.
Mr Chas S. Miller.{.?} is hereby permitted to have a 3/4 inch
Service Cock inserted in East Main St water pipe to supply
premeses{premises?} at No 2271 {blank space} Street with water,
for purposes
specified in application of file with this Bureau.
{note in margin of text:
575}
Plumber Blanchard, Thomas J Flemming Supt
Date of Tapping For Commissioners
Fee Charge 5.75
Received by L.C.B.
Mr Albert Blanchard came with two men and dug a
trench from across the Street to the house, and they
encountered numerous rocks and stones some of which
were large I went to East Farms and got my tripod
and hoist to lift out one. They then put in a 3/4" brass
pipe and were obliged to{ta?} bend it around the rocks,
it cam on to rain, and they had to stop a spell,
then they covered the part in the Street and Side walk,
This evening it rained hard.
06\13\1934 (Wednesday)
To day the connection with the water main on the
Frost Road was made and the water turned into
the cellar. Mr George Blanchard and his son worked
on the lower toilet got the window in and etc.
I mowed the west part of the front yard and then
went to the farm and mowed the roadside by the
watering trought and got it up to the barn.
The bendix spring broke on the starter and I
came home and to Coplains and got a new one
for .50{?} and got it on before dark.
06\14\1934 (Thursday)
To day George Blanchard and his son worked at Joiner
work they cut out the particion{partition?} and set the studs and
put the window in up stairs.
Albert and his digger Jimmi_{Jimmie?} put in the Septic Tan_{Tank?}
and connected it with the house and did other work.
I raked the west half of the front yard, and took a
load of green grass out to the farm and mowed
some and dried some and heaped the rest up.
06\15\1934 (Friday)
To day the Blanchards George and Son worked on
Bath rooms,{,?} and put the clapboards on{in?} by the windows
Albert put in the Soil pipes and drain to Septic tank
and vent on the roof.
I got in ten heaps of hay at the farm.
06\16\1934 (Saturday)
James Egan went to the farm and hoed his potatoes
and part of mine. I cultivated his and mine and my
corn Albert Blanchard worked this forenoon till two o clock.
Roy planted corn in Jim Egans garden.
06\17\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Joseph
Todd. Special Service for the graduates{groduates?} of Grammer, and
High Schools, and Colleges.
We took dinner at Margarets on Beecher Avenue.
06\18\1934 (Monday)
This morning I went up on East Mountain and saw
where they are making the new road.
Got a dozen tomatoe plants of Charles De Bissop{?}.
Saw Mart{Mort?} Pierpont about his broken wheel, he is to
send check and get two new wheels for 6.00 and on{one?}
ade{made?} for 2.00 I then went to the farm and hoed
potatoes, and hoed some in the garden
06\19\1934 (Tuesday)
Rained hard all day. I repaired and made over
a cutting bar for Edgar Upson and turned four
Bass drum sticks for Frank in Simsbury who Fred
sent to, to make them.
Albert Blanchard came this afternoon and we
carried the new sink up stairs and he took the pump
out of Mrs. Vogals kitchen.
06\20\1934 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the Gas and Electric
Light Office and signed an agreement to have
Gas put into the house.
I then went to the bank and drew out Two
Hundered{Hundred?} Dollars, which I brought home and
paid to Albert Blanchard, for work he has
done at our place.
I then went to Simsbury to Brother Franks
and took two pairs of Bass Drum sticks that
I made yesterday out of apple tree wood that
he furnished, he is going to finish them
and sent them to Fred at Tarrytown.
06\21\1934 (Thursday)
James Egan came this morning and we mowed
the front yard, he with a lawn mower I with a
scythe. Then we went to the farm and first we
weeded out his beets parsnips etc. Then we{wa?} got
down the mowing machine, and he went home
and I put it togather. The weather was hot and
I could not work very fast, then I picked a mess
of peas and came home.
Two joiners have been working, and the Gas
man came to see about putting the gas in.
This evening two boys came and we practiced drumming.{?}
06\22\1934 (Friday)
To day I went to the farm and mowed about the
old haystack, then I made a new hay rigging for
the cart. I poisened{poisoned?} the potatoes so as to kill the
bugs.
George Blanchard and his man worked on the Bath
rooms etc.
06\23\1934 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the City Hall and handed
in my list to the Assesors{Assessors?}. Then I went to the
Colonial Trust Co and got 28.00{?} on the bonds
I hold against the Mill Plain Church 1400.00 at 4 op{%?}.
Then I went to the Dime Saving Bank and drew $1.00.00{?}
and Came home. This noon I paid George Blanchard
$150.00 for work 100. from Bank 10.00 from Bond interest, and Mary
gave 40.00.
The Blanchards did not work to day.
I went to the farm and got in a little hay and
mowed some.
Bought, of East End Hardware Co 50' rubber Hose 4.25
06\24\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd. This afternoon We took Jean
Northrop in the Rumble seat and drove to
North Haven to the basement of the Congregational
Church where the Pierpont family reunion
was held, there were 81 present, and over 22.00
was collected, to pay expenses.
06\25\1934 (Monday)
To day George Blanchard and man worked till noon, Albert
was not here at all.
I Cultivated potatoes and got in hay at the farm.
To night I went to the Cabin at Frosts Pond and
gave a drumming lesson to a class of Boys.
06\26\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I called up Albert Blanchard and told
him that I would get some one else on the job
if they did not finish it.
James Egan came and we went to the farm, he
hoed his potatoes, after we had mowed away the
hay on the barn floor. I finished cultivating mine
and howed some.
Both of the Blanchards worked to day.
They have the Vogals Bath room nearly finished.
06\27\1934 (Wednesday)
This morning I mowed the clothes yard, Then the Blanchards
came and went to work. I went to the farm and hoed
potatoes and corn. Edgar Upson came and wanted me
to repair his cutting bar. I came home and forged out
two guide irons and fitted them up and repaired
the bar. Then I put a handle on Harold Pierpont's
spading fork, and a handle in a hoe.
Mr Blanchard the plumber came and said he had
finished his job, and I owe{?} him 220.00.
06\28\1934 (Thursday)
To day I hoed Corn and potatoes and cultivated
the corn in the North West lot.
This evening some boys came and we repaired
a drum.
06\29\1934 (Friday)
One of the hottest days I ever knew. 106 {degree symbol} in shade.
I painted the windows and new siding where the
bath rooms were put in.
Then sharpened a load of{if?} picks for the Calvary
Cemetery, hot work.
Men are installing the gas meter to day.
06\30\1934 (Saturday)
Very hot. This morning I went to town, at bank drew 200.__{200.00?}
and at the Colonial Trust had check cashed for 43.06
Came home and painted the inside of bath room windows.
Mr Albert Blanchard came and I paid him $220.00 in full.
I went to the farm with some hay and gathered garden
pease, etc.
07\01\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J O Todd. Had dinner at Margarets, this
afternoon, Cliff, Margaret, Vincent, Betty, Mary and
I went to Quassapang{?} and all but Mary and
I went swimming. Came home and staid here
the rest of a_e{the?} day.
07\02\1934 (Monday)
This morning I went to Cheshire and bought a lot
of clear white pine boards for which I paid 4.96
I went{wen?} via of East Mountain and left a large flower
basket at Saxe and Flotas Green{?} house corner of Brass
Mill road and Hamilton Avenue, then I went up
East Mountain and found the road blocked at the
top and had to deture{detour?} up the Peach Orchard Road
and over past the Gaff Links{?} to the School House
onto the old road again.
After I got home from Cheshire I took the lumber to Mr
Tylers on the Meriden road and had it cut up for
which I paid 2.00. I then brought it home and jointed
it, and{ang?} was ready to use it{,?} when Edgar Upson came
and wanted the pitman rod of his mowing machine
repaired, this took till night. I went and gave a
drumming lesson to the Maple Hill Club boys at
Frosts pond.
Aft__{After?} I got home I paid James Egan 4.00 for help repair
St Josephs Cemetery Fence.
07\03\1934 (Tuesday)
To day has been very hot. I worked finished the joiner
work on the bath Rooms.
07\04\1934 (Wednesday)
Worked all day on the Bath rooms, practically finished
the wood work.
07\05\1934 (Thursday)
Worked all day on toilet rooms.
07\06\1934 (Friday)
this morning at 9.30 Mary and I drove over
to New Milford where we stoped at the Hospitol{Hospital?}
and Mary went in and saw Elsie and her
new baby girl. We then went __{to?} a reteraunt{restaurant?}
and had dinner. Then we drove to Kent and
found Frank at the plains getting in hay.
He killed a big rattle snake{2 words?} this morning
on the West side of th mountain.
We went to the house and barn and looked
about, he has them about half full of hay now.
We then came home via South Kent, New Preston
Hill stoping at the Church that was built of
stone in 1824, then through New Preston,
Washington Depot Washington, Woodbury, and
Middlebury and through Waterbury home.
07\07\1934 (Saturday)
At home all day on sizing bathrooms and toilets.
07\08\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, Rev
J. O. Todd.
This afternoon We went to Prospect Called on Mable Hotchkill,
and George Driver, and went to see Mr Orson Hotchkiss of Striatsville
{next line difficult to read}
but he was not at home.
07\09\1934 (Monday)
To day I mowed the East Farms Cemetery
This evening I went to the Maple Hill Club house and gave a drumming
lesson to a class of six young Men.
07\10\1934 (Tuesday)
Finished mowing the Cemetery and the way to it and drew
the hay up to the barn.
07\11\1934 (Wednesday)
To day Painted _t{At?} home
This Evening attended meeting of East Farms Cemetery
Association.
07\12\1934 (Thursday)
Painted and worked on toilets etc
This Evening Albert Crandall, Baldwing and Robinson
came and we made runway to Engine House etc
07\13\1934 (Friday)
Spent all day painting and finishing. Sent a letter to
Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt] at Vancouver Wash.
07\14\1934 (Saturday)
Worked painting toilets nearly all day. This evening
Mary and I went to the farm and picked the last of
the peas.
07\15\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Edward Jones of Seymour preached.
This afternoon we drove to Mr Orson Hotchkiss of Betheny
and visited a while, after which we drove towards Naugatuck
then turned to the right and up over Hopkins
Hill and home.
To day. Mr Morton E Pierpont and wife started for
the Pacific Coast in his new car.
07\16\1934 (Monday)
Worked varnishing toilets and painting the floors
and repairing the bins in the cellar.
This evening I went to the Maple hill Club and gave
a drumming lesson.
07\17\1934 (Tuesday)
Painted and varnished the upstairs bath room this morning{morming?}
Then went to Mill Dale and bought some bolts for
the Calvary Cemetery, then went to Cheshire and
bought some wall plaster. Worked about home till night
{next line difficult to read}
then went to farm and s__a__ed{sharpened? sprayed?} the _eans{beans?}.
07\18\1934 (Wednesday)
Worked all day repairing the pantry floor and shelves and
papering in Mr Voghals{?} Kitchen and bed room.
Mrs. Vogal came home from the hospital this afternoon.
07\19\1934 (Thursday)
Did blacksmith work for Paul Kunkle, and repaire_{repaired?}
floor in upper front room and hung paper in
upper Kitchen.
This evening some boys came and we cleaned
up the little Fire engine and jumper{jimper?}, and tried
it out. It worked much better than we expected
We repaired Baldwins drum head.
07\20\1934 (Friday)
This day has been intensly{intensely?} hot, and yet hay would not dry
I mowed the chicken yard and a little by the wheel house.
Toad{Towed? Took?} a small load to the farm.
07\21\1934 (Saturday)
Very hot, Mowed all the East side of lot.
Took load to the farm. Put poison on beares{berries?} to kill the
Mexican beetles that are eating the leaves.
07\22\1934 (Sunday) {07\29\1934 is the date given}
07\22\1934 (Sunday) {date given twice}
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev J O
Todd{?}. Very hot, staid home all the afternoon.
07\23\1934 (Monday)
They{The?} brought the large tractor from the Calvary Cemetery
to have new shoes put on. We worked on it all day.
It is reported{rported?} that John Dillinger the noted outlaw
was surrounded by Government agents yesterday and
shot in Chicago. He is said to be the greatest outlaw
the country has ever known.
Raymond came and put in electric lights in Voghals{?}
bath room, and in our toilet.
07\24\1934 (Tuesday)
Wor___{Worked?} on the Cemetery tractor. This forenoon I went
to Southington and got 150 bolts $7.00 I paid.
07\25\1934 (Wednesday)
Worked on the Cemetery Tractor all day. Brother
Fred _f{of?} Tarrytown Called to day with his new wife
and her sone in law. I settled with George Blanchard
to day for 14.00. This evening Mr Shoepeck{?} called,
togather with his Son, to get some stamps.
I ordered a Drum head for Albert Crandall, of
Tufftest Labratories 920 Chicopee St. Willimansett Mass.
07\26\1934 (Thursday)
Worked till three o clock on Tractor.
We had a severe thunder storm last night, and to day it
was very hot. This evening I saw Vernum Able{?} about getting
Boy Scouts to turn out in parade Aug 18th.
07\27\1934 (Friday)
To day I mowed the North end of the home lot. Weather hot,
muggy and rained several times.
Miss Thomas took Miss Pickett to the Waterbury Hospitial
to day.
07\28\1934 (Saturday)
It has rained six times to day, and between times it
has been very hot. I finished mowing the home lot.
07\29\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev J O.
Todd. This afternoon we went to see Roll Jenner at Phil
Reuter's cottage at the South End of Hitchcocks Lake,
then to Charles Tuttles in Woodtick.
The Benhams have a new car.
07\30\1934 (Monday)
To day Joe Howell came and we cleaned up the
sidewalks on the Frost Raod and on East Main Street.
We then mowed East of the chicken coop till the
sun came out, and then we tedded out all of the
hay that I mowed Saturday, and in the afternoon
took a load to the farm.
They have began{begun?} widening the street at the
arch a Reedville preparetory to taking down the
arch. {blank space} The paper stated to day that they
expect to start the new Busses running on
East Main ST and to Cheshire next Sunday,
they are to replace the trolley cars now in
use.
07\31\1934 (Tuesday)
To day Joe Howell and I mowed the oats and got
them in. We took out the last load of hay from
home and put it on the stack.
08\01\1934 (Wednesday)
Joe and I mowed the lot west of the shed on the
hill and got it into the barn.
08\02\1934 (Thursday)
To day Joe Howell and I mowed the upper lot with the
machine, then we raked it up and cocked it in
heaps.
08\03\1934 (Friday)
This morning I went down town on the trolley
car. I wondered if it would be my last ride on
the East main St line, as they expect to replace them
with busses which are to start Sunday.
Joe Howell mowed the weeds East of the hen coop
and put them into the chicken yard.
After I had my dinner We went up East Mountai_{Mountain?}
to prospect{Prospect?}. They had th new road up the hill
more than half graded.
Mrs. Willis Lounsbury{?} died night before last
and is to be buried in the Old pine{Pine?} Grove Cemetery
tomorrow.
We went to George Cowdells and found what they
use to kill bean bugs.
We then went to the farm and opened out the
hay and got in a load.
08\04\1934 (Saturday)
To day Joe and I mowed the West end of the orchard
on the hill, then we got in a large load that was
already mowed, and then got in what we mowed
in the morning.
We have watched with interest the trolley cars
passing through East{Eeast?} Farms, and wondered if
they would be the last they we would see, for tomorrow
the Conn Light and Power Co expect to replace
them with Busses to Cheshire. I think the first
trolley cars ran to Cheshire in 1905.
08\05\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J O Todd officiated. AFter service mary
and I went to Franks at West Simsbury,
We found him quite well, But Gussie{?} was very
sick confined to her bed and out of her head,
We went and came, through Wolcott, Bristol
Unionville, and Canton street.
08\06\1934 (Monday)
Joe Howell and I mowed the orchard on the hill
and got the hay in, to day
The new Busdses started running on the East
Main St and Cheshire line yesterday
morning. The East Main St busses run every ten minutes and
the Cheshire every half hour, with fares the same as they
were on the trolley cars.
08\07\1934 (Tuesday)
To day James Egan came and we went to the farm where
he Joe Howell and I hoed the pop corn.
This evening Albert Crandell{Crandall?} came and we worked getting
the fire engine ready for the great fire parade Aug 18th.
Miss Allie Pickett{?} who has lived here for a long time died
at the Waterbury Hospital to day.
08\08\1934 (Wednesday)
This morning Joe and I repaired a ton and one half
hoist for the Calvary Cemetery. This afternoon we
mowed the grass at the Norris place.
This evening I went to see Carlton Chapin about Boy
Scouts that are to parade, I then took a lot of red
shirts to Margarets{Margaret?} to be pressed, I then saw Mr
George F Magure about the parade.
08\09\1934 (Thursday)
This Forenoon Joe and I hand mowed at Mr Donovans
place which was the Norris place. This afternoon Margaret
Mary and I attended Miss Pickett's funeral at the
Alederson{?} Funeral home on Central Avenue.
Rev Mr Haggerty of the First Methodist Church
and Rev Mr Owen of the Bunker Hill Church Officiated
She was buried in the Riverside Cemetery.
After the Funeral Margaret and I went to several
stores to buy some red and yellow cloth, and
I went and saw the Fire Marshal{Marshol?} about the parade,
then I came home on the Buss{Bus?}. My first ride on
the new East Main Busses.
08\10\1934 (Friday)
Joe and I put a new beam in the Cemetery plow.
This evening I went with the Mill Plain Boys
up to the Wolcott Fair Grounds to practice marching.
08\11\1934 (Saturday)
To day Joe and worked about home in the morning,
then we went to the farm and finished mowing
for the Donovans on the hill. We then repaired the
East fence, I was so ho that we had trouble to breath{breathe?}
on account of the humidity, we had not a dry thread
on us but what was sweat through. We put up
the tools and got ready to come when Charles
Wolcott and Joseph Howell St came and we went over
the place and looked around. Then we came home
and after supper I went out to the East Farms to see Scout
Leader Carlton Chapin{?} but he was not at home. I then
drove to Vernum Ables{?} on the Frost Road and he
telephoned the Chief Scout Master {blank space} and also
the Wolcott Scout master, and he thinks that they
can furnish 25 or more scouts to report at my
place next Wednesday evening.
08\12\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Gurtrude Coe{?} Preached.
This afternoon I went to Hitchcocks Lake and
saw Harry Hyde who is a Boy Scout Official
about getting boys for the Parade next Saturday.
It rained very hard this evening.
08\13\1934 (Monday)
This morning Joe came and we worked about home
all day.
The Conn Light & Power Co had a steam
shovel at work tearing up the trolley rails this
morning but the smoke stack happened to hit the
trolley wire and quick as a flash it burned the
cable that held up the boom and that ended its
operations, but they gathered up the ties and rails of
{next line difficult to read}
the North line, and took them awa_{away?}
08\14\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning Joe and I went to the farm and mowed
the North west Corner of the barn lot and got it in
then we mowed more with the machine and then
came home.
This evening Albert Crandell{Crandall?} and several Mill Plain
boys came and we set a drum head and repaired
several drums.
08\15\1934 (Wednesday)
Joe and I worked about home all day. This evening
the boys of St Perers & St Pauls Church came and got
red shirts, and a number of Boy scouts came, and
after the shirts were fitted and the rain let up
we got the engine and hose cart out and marched
around the first block above here, the drummers
did very well.
08\16\1934 (Thursday)
Rained most of the day. We mowed at the
farm, and in the afternoon we came home and
worked here. Al{All?} Crandell{Crandall?} came and we repaired
drums in the evening.
08\17\1934 (Friday)
At the farm we dried hay and heaped it up.
This evening we had a rehersal{rehearsal?} of Our Fire Department, it
consisted of First a Color guard two stands of colors and
two riflemen then a banner with the words "Mill Plain"
Waterbury Conn, then a Drum Corps of Six men, next{nevt?} Capt
Mac Guire with 38 boys in red shirts and hats, then 16
Boy Scouts with the hose reel{?}.
They marched up the Frost Road over Woodland Avenue and
returned by Circular Avenue, An imposing{impasing?} neighbarhood
{neighborhood?}
parade.
08\18\1934 (Saturday)
Great day largest Fire parad{parade?} ever in Waterbury,{,?} over 8000
Firemen in line and about 80 pieces of fire apperatus, in
line. Ten Bands, and thirty two Drum Corps{,?} took two
and one half hours to pass the reviewing stand.
My personal part was to get my fire engine ready
with hose reel that I built about forty years ago
and at twelve thirty Chas Graham with his truck
came togather with the Drum Corps boys and we
loaded the Engine and jumper in with the drums
banners etc and drove to Freight St where the line
was forming. We unloaded and formed, and after
much monovering{manouvering?} got our position which was the
last Company in the first Division. At two o clock,
the line moved, up Meadow St to Grand and passed
the reviewing stand in front of City Hall, soon after
I fell out, and went back of the drowd and out on to
the street and waited till the Kent Company of
which my son Frank was Foreman came, then I
fell in with them and drummed again aby the revie_ing{reviewing?}
stand and continued on down Grand and up
South Main St to Scoville St where I got onto the Engine
and rode, I think the Company got more applause
while I was drumming than it did at any other
time. The line of march continued up So Main out East
Main up Cherry St over Grove St, down Willow St in
West main St along the North side of the Green, then
down Bank etc. through Grand St to the place of beginnin_{beginning?}
I staid on the Engine till it halted at the corner of
Exchange Place and East main. When I saw the head
]of the Parade halted at the North East corner of the
Green, I then went over to the North side of the Green
and waited a long time before the line moved, and
when the Mattatuck Band came along I fell in with
them and drummed through Exchange place and
Bank St to about Center St where I fell out and
made my way back to the North side of the Green
and waited till the Mill Plain Boys came along
when I fell in with them and drummed to Center
St as before, where I stood and saw the remained
of the Parade pass, as I supposed, then I made my way{was?} towards
City Hall to join the boys, but a large drum Corps was coming
and then a great many Bands, Companies and Drum
Corps passed. The line was so long our boys tole me that
when they got back to the place of starting, they found
many Companies waiting to march.
I started after all had passed for Wilby High School{?}
where the boys were to have dinner, By the time I got there
Our Band Boys had been there and gone, but Capt Mag
Guire was there with his Company. All had a good
dinner. Each drew a box that contined{contained?} two ham, and
meat sandwiches{?} of{a?} large piece of cake a larg{large?} cookey, a
banana, a cup of ice crea, and lemon ade was served.
After I had eaten I made my way to the South side of
the Green, where I got a Buss and came home.
Soon Brother Frank came and sister mary togather
with Roll and Laeise{?} and her daughter and others
were here and all had a good visit.
I sent Howard Kraft to West Simsbury for Frank
in the morning, and just before dark he came
and took him back.
The Mill Plain Band Boys had loaded the Engine
and brought it home and put everything up in good
order before I got home.
08\19\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev. Gertrude{Girtrude!}
Coe of Wolcott officiated.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Lavergne Clarks{?}
for a visit; soon Halsey{?} and his wife came, and all
staid to supper, we got home as it was getting dark.
08\20\1934 (Monday)
I worked all day on a large scraper for the Calvary
Cemetery.
Joe Howell went to th farm and opened out the H__{hay?}
and in the afternoon he raked it up and heaped it.
The trolley Co had a large Steam shovel pulling up
the rails in front of my house, to day on the
South line, they took up the North line some time ago.
08\21\1934 (Tuesday)
Joe and I went to the farm and got in three
loads of hay, and mowed some in the lower
Barn lot, besides we picked a bushel of beans.
Howard Kraft has broken his leg again to night
he is just able to be about from the effects of a broken
leg, which he broke playing ball at Millerton N.Y.
08\22\1934 (Wednesday)
To day Joe and I mowed the grass in the Barn meadow
South of the garden. I saw Bessie Pierpont and bargained to
trade hay for wood.
08\23\1934 (Thursday)
Joe and I worked at the farm mowing all day
Bessie Pierpont's men came and got 18 heaps of hay.
08\24\1934 (Friday)
To day Joe and I finished hand mowing in the
barn lot which was all that I have to mow.
It rained at times this afternoon.
After we finished we went to Charles Tuttles in
Woodtick then to Arthu Harrisons and got my
scythe{scyhe?} that I loaned him last year.
Joseph Howell got through to night, To morrow{Tomorrow?}
morning he and his father, Albert Crandell{Crandall?} and
wife expect to start for Chicago to attend the
Century of Progress Exhibition{Expisition?}.
08\25\1934 (Saturday)
A boy that lives near the Notch-in-th-Rocks has helped me
to day, we dried the hay and raked it up and then heaped
it 36 heaps. {blank space} The battery on my good car gave out and
tonight Ray and I went to Sears & Roebucks and got a
new one for 5.35 and the old one.
{no entry for 08\26\1934 (Sunday)}
08\27\1934 (Monday)
Yesterday morning at 9 o clock Mary and I left
for Kent, we went through Middlebury, Woodbury,
Hotchkissville Washington, New Preston to New
Preston Hill, Where w_{we?} attended service in an
Old stone Church that was built in 1824, the date
is cut in a block of marble that is over the
center door. The stone work is an excellent{elcelent?} job not
a stone has moved, the corners and walls are
true and strait as when built, and the
inside wood work is the same as then built.
I had a talk with the minister, and with Mr
David Strong, who has charge of Waramang
Park. I also called on mr Ferris{?} who lives East
of the Church. Then we journeyed West and{an?}
stoped at a Cemetery in Upper Mariall{?}, which
I look over, then we went to South Kent and
on to Kent, where we found Frank and his
family all well. After a time he took his new
Buic car and we looked at his corn and potatoes
then we drove to Bulls Bridge where the Conn -
Light and Power Co are repairing their ditch
and putting new gates, two sets, We then went
home, and after a time to bed.
Got up this morning and saw them milk
and then Frank and a man tied lines on{an?}
a small cedar tree one on each end, and the man went
on the hill North of the tool house{chouse?} and climed{climbed?}
a tree and
Frank ran a truck to the proper psotiion South of the
tool house, and both had the lines in hand and pulled
the tree so as to knock down a large hornets nest that
was under the cornice at the end of the shed, They wish
to get rid of the pests as it is near an upper door
where they want to put in hay.
Then I carried Frank, and children, Dwight and
Mary down to the Smith lot where he mowed a large
piece of rowen{?} with the tractor, on which there was a
seven foot cutting bar. He got through at noon and
we came home, and had dinner, after which Mary
and I left for home. We came by way of North Kent
Cornwell Bridge, Cornwell Goshen where we called
on Charles Stocking, then we came through Litchfield
East Morris, and down over where they are building
the new road to Watertown and home.
This evening I attended a meeting of the drummer
boys at their cabin at Hitchcock's pond near
the Frost road.
08\28\1934 (Tuesday)
Dick and I worked at the rasp berries at the farm, it rained
more or less, and at noon we stoped, and came home.
In the afternoon I worked at the wheel house, and
watched the roadmakers, making anew road where
the trolley tracks were taken up in front of our house.
08\29\1934 (Wednesday)
To day we worked at the berries, all day.
Bessie Pierpont's team came and took away 36 heaps
of hay, this with the 18 heaps taken last Thursday
makes 56 heaps in all.
The Conn Co has the road finished b_{by?} our place where
the two lines of trolley tracks were.
This evening Mort and Jessie Pierpont called and
told us about their auto trip to the Pacific coast
and their visit with William and Russell Pierpont
of Oregon and Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt] of Wshington.
08\30\1934 (Thursday)
Dick Trice and I worked about home all day
clipping the grass ad repairing walks steps
etc
This evening three Drum Boys came and copied
"The Turks Beat" and Half Time. Weather rather
cool.
08\31\1934 (Friday)
Dick and I finished hoeing the rasp berries, then{thene?} we
mowed the side of the road by the water trough, then
dug 1/2 bushel potatoes, then mowed briers in the pasture,
then got the hay in, etc etc.
09\01\1934 (Saturday)
This day Richard Tice/Fice{?} and I went to the farm and
pulled the onions and cleared the garden of some of the
weeds, then we went onto the hill and cut brush and
briers in the pasture.
09\02\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev J. O. Todd.
this afternoon Mary and I went up through Wolcott
and saw where they are building the new Bristol
road. Arthur Harrison told me that they have seven
steam shovels at work, and much improved _oad{road?}
building machinery. We called at Marian Kraft's
on Spindle Hill, and at Judge George Browns.
09\03\1934 (Monday)
Mary and I attended the large and fine Fair
at Goshen.
09\04\1934 (Tuesday)
We Dick Tice{?} and I cleaned out the open{,?} shed and
the truck garage{girage!}.
09\05\1934 (Wednesday)
Dick and I cut brush in the pature lot at the farm,
Margaret and Gene {.?} started for Tennesee{Tennessee?} this morning.
09\06\1934 (Thursday)
Dick mowed the front yard this morning while I went
down town and did some business.
After I got home we appempted{attempted?} to sharpen the lawn
mower but found that it was broken.
Ater dinner we went to the farm and repaired the
fence, and cut brush.
The Voghels got home this evening from New Bedford.
where they have been for upward a week.
09\07\1934 (Friday)
This morning I went up East Mountain where they are
constructing the new road. They have the crushed
stone laid and rolled most{nost?} of the way.
We then went to Templetons hardware store
_or{cor?} of Benedict and Meadow Sts and bought some
iron, then Paid Electric and Telephone Bills, and
came home and worked on two wheel barrows
the rest of the day.
09\08\1934 (Saturday)
Rained all day, but harder to night. I went out to
the farm and dug 1/2{?} bu potatoes and brought them
to Mrs. Voghel. Dick and I worked all day on the
wheel barrows, except the time I was gone to the
farm.
09\09\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev J O Todd
Officiated{?}. This afternoon I went to Seymour to see Mrs. Farrell{?}
but she was not at home, I then went to Southbury and
saw Mr Stiles{?}.
09\10\1934 (Monday)
Dick and I cut brush at the farm.
This {,?} evening I gave a drumming le__on{lesson?} to a class of
Boys in the Mill Plain Church.
09\11\1934 (Tuesday)
Henry Beckwith{?} came this morning and weldd two
wheelbarrow wheels and the lawn mower.
Dick and I finished up the wheelbarrows, etc. then we went
to the farm and finished cutting brush.
09\12\1934 (Wednesday)
Dick and I painted 15 lengths of fence at the farm
by the Norris road.
09\13\1934 (Thursday)
Dick Tice{?} and I painted the fence by the Norris
Road. This evening A. Crandell{Crandall?} came and we ___{set?}
a Drum head. Two other boys{,?} came and practiced
drumming. Clyde is 50 years old to day.
09\14\1934 (Friday)
Dick and I painted fence till it began to rain, then
e came home and did odd Jobs.
09\15\1934 (Saturday)
I went{wen?} to town this forenoon and paid Judd and Puffer
7.20 cts for insurance on the barn at East Farms for
three years. Myrtle West Hitchcock was buried this
afternoon from Christs Chapel to the New Pine
Grove Cemetery.
It has raned all day.
Margaret got home from Tenesee{Tennessee?} last night.
09\16\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
J. O. Todd. This day the service was broadcast.
Mary and I ate dinner at Margarets.
This afternoon I went up __{to?} Charles Tuttles and
got him and we went to Bill Mc Cormicks and
left a gallon bottle, then we went up on Miner hill
where they are building the new state road and
where they are making a ceep cut and a high fill
towards the river. While there it rained hard and
wet us nearly through. We then came back to Tuttles,
and soon I came home.
09\17\1934 (Monday)
Rained this morning, and rained all day but some of
time it rained as hard as I ever knew it.
Dick came and we did some blacksmith work for
Charles Tuttle of Wolcott, {blank space} and then I made two pairs
of orchestra drum sticks for brother Fred of Tarrytown
N.Y. Which took till night.
This evening I gave drum lessons to the Mill
Plain boys.
09\18\1934 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I turned out two pairs of Bass Drum
Stick. One pair for Fred and one pair for Mr Collinge{?}
of Hartford, I also filed a large circular Saw for a
man in Prospect. Dick polished my Ford runabout
car, after which we went to the farm by way{was?} of
Woodtick where I left at Chas Tuttles his door irons,
at the farm we dug 1/2 bu potatoes and cut a large
load of corn, picked up apples etc.
09\19\1934 (Wednesday)
Dick and I cut corn and drew it to the barn. all day.
{no entry for 09\20\1934 (Thursday)}
09\21\1934 (Friday)
Yesterday morning Mary and I started for the
Eastern States Exhibit at Springfeld{Springfield?} Mass, We went
up through Wolcott, past cousin Bert Frisbies on a good
new senficed{surfaced?} hardened road to the upper side of Scovills
reservoir where we struck into a narrow crooked hilly
dirt road which we traveled to the Bristol line, the
upper end they are beginning to rebuild as part of
the State road from Waterbury to Bristol. From Bristol
line by the East shore of Cedar swamp pond a new
State road has been built down Fall Mountain into
Bristol, which we traveled and on to West Simsbury
where we stoped at brother Franks and eft some
drum sticks that I have made for Fred, and Frank
is to finish. We reached Springfield at noon and{on?}
engaged lodgins at Mrs. Beans at 175 Maple
Street. W_{We?} then went to the fair, Which was large
and fine. Mary went to Mrs. Beans as she was tired
I went back to teh grounds and staid will ten o'clock
In the morning We went to the Fair again and
staid till five when we left for home, which
we reached at 7 P.M.
09\22\1934 (Saturday)
This is Mary's birthday she was born 1860.
Dick and I cut the corn and stacked it at noon it began
to rain and we came home. James Egan dug some potatoes.
09\23\1934 (Sunday) {date difficult to read, 09\24\1934?}
Attended service at the Miull Plain Union Church
Rev J O Todd
Took dinner at Raymonds this noon, this afternoon
Ra_{Ray?} and I went up over the line of the new state
road to bristol, We saw five steam shovels and a
Steam Dredge that they were using in the building
of the road, they have started in many places, but
in no place have they got it to grade.
09\24\1934 (Monday) {date difficult to read, 09\24\1934 or 09\25\1934?}
This forenoon Dick and I pulled carrots, parsnips, etc out
of the garden at East Farms. Dick went at noon and I
went up on the hill and dug potatoes.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain{?} Church and
gave a class of boys a drum lesson. Robert Browne{?}
was there to learn them to fife.
09\25\1934 (Tuesday) {date difficult to read, 08\25\1934 or 09\26\1934?}
Dick Tice__{Tice's?} Mother telephoned from Cheshire tat Dick
had gone{gon/} to work for somebody else, So I went to the
farm and howed half of the rasp berries, then dug
4 rows of potatoes and got 8 1/2 bushels.
09\26\1934 (Wednesday)
This forenoon{fournoon?} I went __{ut?} to Woolcott{Wolcott?} and saw the
Steam
shovels, steam drills, not steam, but compressed air drills
etc work where they are building the new Bristol
road. When I was coming away I found Mr Gallagher
with his auto stuck in the mud, I took him in my
car to mr Mc Cormicks where he got five gallons of
gasoline and we carried it up to the Minor place
and I hitched my little truck in front and we
started up both cars and he got out of the mud.
I then came to the farm and loaded eight
bushels of potatoes on the truck and came
home.
09\27\1934 (Thursday)
Seventy Six years ago I was born in a house
on Cherry Street that stood on the West side
where the Advent Church now stands. Here we
lived till the fall of 1864 when we moved to
the East End of Clay Street.
To day I went to the center this forenoon, and
dug potatoes this afternoon.
09\28\1934 (Friday)
Dug 11 bushels of potatoes to day.
09\29\1934 (Saturday)
James Egan and I went to the farm this morning to dig
potatoes, but it came on to rain ad we came home.
I did odd jobs the rest of the day.
09\30\1934 (Sunday)
Attended Service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev J A
Todd.
This afternoon I went up art of the new East Mountain
Road, and stoped at Mr Hodges House, found him
leaving with his family for Bridgeport, I then went Mr
Cowdells in Prospect, and to mr Brundages at summit.
then I came to M. E. Pierpont's dairy{dary!} barn where I stayed
some time.
10\01\1934 (Monday)
I dug potatoes.
This evening I attended the Maple Hill club drum repersal/rehersal{?}
{rehearsal?}
10\02\1934 (Tuesday)
I dug Potatoes to day
This evening I attended the meeting of the Mattatuck
Drum Band who entertained the Plainville Drum
Corps a_{as? and?} visitors.
10\03\1934 (Wednesday)
I finished digging the potatoes to day have 43
bushels, Jame{James?} Egan finished digging his.
10\04\1934 (Thursday)
Made a double takel block for Frank in Kent this forenoon
After dinner I look five bushels of potatoes to Rev Mr Todd,
then went to the farm and loaded 7 1/2 bushels of potatoes
on the truck and brought them home and put them in the
cellar. This evening some oys came and copied fife
music.
10\05\1934 (Friday)
Painted fence at the farm all day.
10\06\1934 (Saturday)
Rained hard all day, they say that this is the seventh
Saturday that it has rained in succession.
I filed three buck saws and one hand saw for
Mr Duprey of Prospect,
then I cleaned out the furnace in the cellar and
filled it with water and made it ready to light.
I also cleaned out the kitchen stove and pipe, etc.
This evening is very warm.
10\07\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
J O Todd officiated Rev Mr {blank space} Preached.
10\08\1934 (Monday)
Painted Fence at the farm. Ted Wilson helped me two
and on ehalf hours, 25 This evening I went and drummed
at the Mill Plain Union Church.
10\09\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I did a lot of work on the old truck, put in
oil, water, blew the tires up, put in a new battery which
I bought of Sears. & Roebuck for 5.95 and{an?} old battery, then
went to the farm and painted fence. Ted helped me .36
The Connecticut Co are taking up the trolley rails
through East Farms.
10\10\1934 (Wednesday)
This morning I filed a large circular saw for Mr
Duprey of Prospect. I then went to the farm and
painted fence. Ted Wilson helped mt this afternoon 36{26?}
All of the rails and ties on the trolley line are taken
up, and the poles that supported the trolley wire
are down out to the East Farms Cemetery.
10\11\1934 (Thursday)
Painted fence on the hill this afternoon Ted helped 36{26?}
This forenoon I went up to Wolcott to see the new Bristol road
that they are building.
10\12\1934 (Friday)
Ted Wilson and I got in the last of the corn to day, then
we painted fence and finished on the hill.
Cousin Lewis Somers called this evening and gave me a
section of the oak sill that lay in the river at Platts Mills 104 years.
10\13\1934 (Saturday)
This day is remarkable, as it is the first Saturday that it
has not rained seven weeks, but it has been very cold
and windy. {blank space} This morning I went to town. This
afternoon I Pained fence, Ned Wilson painted this
forenoon. 42{?}
10\14\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev
Joseph Todd.
This afternoon I went to Seymour to see Mrs. Benjamin
Farrell but she was not at home.
I then went to South Britain and called on Dell
Chandler.
10\15\1934 (Monday)
This morning I went to Plum Bros hardware store and
bought six sticks of dynamite.
I then went to the farm and painted fence, This afternoon
Ted Wilson came and we set two Concrete fence posts
This evening Rolladn Jenner and Phil Renter came and
borrowed my cross cut saw, After which I went to the
Mill Plain Church and gave a drumming lesson
10\16\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to Plum Bros Hardware store and ordered
a point for my Surucuse{?} side hill plow, Then I went to the
farm and repaired the East and WEst fence North of Fred
Wilsons house, Ted helped 36
10\17\1934 (Wednesday)
Painted fence, Ted helped 36
10\18\1934 (Thursday)
Painted the fence East of the Barn, Ted helped 36
This eve Albert Crandall{?} came with some boys and they practiced
bass.
10\19\1934 (Friday)
Painted the lower end of the fence. Ted helped 36
{no entry for 10\20\1934 (Saturday)}
{no entry for 10\21\1934 (Sunday)}
10\22\1934 (Monday)
Last Saturday at 3.30 P.M. Mary and I went to Kent, We
went up the Frost road then in the Meriden, then up the
Woodtick, over STilson up the Wolcott over the new fill across
the swamp where they dug out the muck 30' deep, then
over Lakewood, and up N Main St over Chase ave, and
over the Naugatuck River at Waterville, and out onto
the Watertown Road to Watertown, then over the new road
not fully completed to East Morris, where we turned West
and on through Morris Center, and up the West side of
Bantam Lake to Bantam where we turned West to
Woodville. and to Warren, Then West to the Kent town line
but the new road, is not completed so we turned North
to North Kent, then to Kent, where we found Frank
busy getting turnips into the South root cellar of the School.
Sunday we attended service at the Congregational Church
Rev Mr Bartlett. In the afternoon I took Mary, Bertha,
Dwight, and Jessie, in the Rumble seat and went up through
Macedonia Park and over Skiff Mountain and back home.
This morning Frank cut up four large loads of corn
and put it in the silo.
We left after dinner, and came home via Bulls Bridge,
Gaylordville New Milford, Bridgewarer, Roibury{?}, Southbury,
Woodbury, Middlebury, to Waterbury, which we reached
at 3.35. This evening I attended a meeting of the Mill Plain
drummers.
10\23\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to City Hall and paid my taxes.
This afternoon I plowed on the hill a strip twelve ft wide across
the upper lot to keep the fire from crossing.
10\24\1934 (Wednesday)
Plowed on the hill all day.
This evening the Mill Plain boys came and drummed
and we repaired a drum.
10\25\1934 (Thursday)
To day I plowed a strip twelve feet wide next to the North
fence in the North west lot on the hill.
The weather has been nice.
This forenoon Mary and Margaret went to City Hall
and paid Marys tax. They stoped at Plumb Bros store
and got a plow point for me.
10\26\1934 (Friday)
This morning was cloudy, Ted Wilson and I picked stones off
the corn and potatoe lots and drew them down and repaired
the road west of the shed till noon{50?}, when it began to rain, I
came home, and worked in the wheel house all the afternoon.
10\27\1934 (Saturday)
This morning I finished filing a 28" circular saw for
Mr Rocham, Then I went to the farm and Ned Wilson and
I finished picking stones off the potatoe lot and finished
pepairing{repairing? prepairing?} the road. We then went to the young orchard
on the hill and I plowed about some of the trees and
he put ashes about all, 75 I came home and went to
the East End Hardware store and bought 100 pound
of Atlantic White lead for 9.75.
10\28\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev J O. Todd. When we left the Church we drove
up through Wolcott to Bristol and went to Arthur
Byrds where we had dinner, after which we went
through the Bristol nerseries{nurseries?} and saw a great
variety of flowers, shrubs etc. We came home
via Plymoth{Plymouth?}
10\29\1934 (Monday)
This morning I filed a crosscut saw for Ed
Bronson. Then repaired my car and put a reflector
on it, and went to the farm and plowed, picked
up apples etc. {blank space} This evening I went to the Mill
Plain Church and gave a lesson in drumming, to
a class of boys.
10\30\1934 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I plowed about the appletrees on the hill.
I then husked some pop corn, and mixed paint for Ned
Wilson to paint the wire fence on the hill in the lot
West of the shed, then I came home and got my
drum and myself ready to got to Danbury with
the Mattatuck DRum Band this evening.
Ralph pierpont called at 5.30 and we drove in his
car to Meadow Street where we left his car and
loaded into a Connecticut Cos/Cas{?} Bus togather with the
rest of the boys, 28 in all and started for Danbury
with the Lyon's Club of Waterbury, We reached
Danbury about 7.30 and unloaded from the Bus
and marched to the Hotel Green where we found
several hundred{hundre?} Lyons assembled, members of
other Clubs from about the State and New York, Rhode
Island and other places. They gave us a fine
turkey supper, they also had{hade?} a fine antertainment
etc which lasted till about 10.30 when we were called
upon to play several selections outside, after which we
marched to the bus and loaded in and started for
home at 11 P.M. We reached Waterbury at 12.10 and Ralph
and I came here. He continued on to his home, it
was 12.30 when I got into the house.
10\31\1934 (Wednesday)
To day I filed a saw, and repaired two oil squirter_{squirters?}
for Frank (over in Kent) and did other jobs which
took till noon, After Dinner wne tot the farm and
gathered up a lot of leaves and put them in the
stables, Ted Wilson came and painted fence, and
I plowed on the hill Orchard till 5 o clock.
11\01\1934 (Thursday)
Rained hard all this forenoon. at Noon I went to
town in my{ny?} little car which I parked in Cottage
Place paid .15 I then went to the Colonial Trust Co
and got Mary's Church{Chirch?} Bonds cupons{coupons?} cashed, and
then went to the Waterbury Consolodated{Consolidated?} Banks
and got my pension Check cashed, I then drove
to Seymour and visitied Mrs. Benjamin Farrell,
about historical matters, and returned home as
it, was getting, dark.
11\02\1934 (Friday)
This morning I drove to Spindle Hill and took a
basket of potatoes and a small baket of vegtables
to Marian Kraft, I then drove down Mad River to
whre they are building a new Bridge above the
Reservair{Reservoir?} and leaving my car explores an old
road that lead up the East side of the River that was
in use in Revolutionary timess before the road on the West
side of the Rier was built, I then looked at the concrete
work that is being done in building the North abutmen_{abutment?}
of the bridge then I went to start my car, but found
that I had lost my key. I then went to William Mc
Cormicks, and his Son wne tiwht me and made a
wire connection between the switch wires ad I started
the Engine and drove home, I then went to Kaplains{?}
store and bought a #63 key for .15{15?} and the car was
all right again, but it was noon, I then went to
the farm and Ted Wilson and I husked corn all the
afternoon. Weather was very cold.
11\03\1934 (Saturday)
To day I husked corn, Ted Wilson helped from nine to twelve
I brought home seven bushels.
This morning was very cold, 16 {degree symbol} above zero.
11\04\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd, officiated, I staid home and read. all
the afternoon a_{as?} it rained very hard.
11\05\1934 (Monday)
This morning I went to the farm, and husked corn
This afternoon Red Wilson came and helped me 34{?}, we
husked out ten bushels. He told me that there
are eighteen young people that go from East Farms
to the High Schools in Waterbury every morning on
the bus. The weather has been fair and warm,
This eve I went to the Church and taught the boys to drum.
11\06\1934 (Tuesday)
To day it rained hard, I did odd jobs about the
place.
11\07\1934 (Wednesday)
I husked corn all day and finished husking,
Ned helped 36{?}.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Official
Baord of the Mill Plain Church.
11\08\1934 (Thursday)
To day I worked at the farm getting out manure
and putting it on the garden South of the barn
and plowed some of the garden. Ted painted fence 36{?}
This evening Al Crandel{Crandall?} came and we repaired
the electric stove, and with the Robinson boys practiced
drumming a spell.
11\09\1934 (Friday)
To day I plowed the garden and got out stove{stone?}. Ted painted fence
above the barn lot, 36{?}.
11\10\1934 (Saturday)
This forenoon I sharpened a lot of Picks and grubs for the
Calvary Cemetery. This afternoon I went to Cheshire
with Albert Crandell{Crandall?} and partly surveyed a boundry
line for James ___________{line drawn in text}
11\11\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church,
REv J. O. Todd. The service was broadcast as several
have been before.
This afternoon I went to the Center and saw the
great Armistance{Armistice?} Parade.
11\12\1934 (Monday)
With Ted Witson{Wilson?} I plowed and got stones out of the
garden at the farm.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church and
gave a drumming lesson to the boys.
To night they elected officers as follows.
Albert Crandell{?} Leader,
Robert Browne Assistant Leader,
George Baldwin Secretary and Treasurer,
Charles S. Miller, Instructor and General Manager,
A committes{committee? committee's?} to draw a Constitution and Bylaws
was elected Consisting of Charles S. Miller, Albert
Crandell{?}, and George Baldwin.
11\13\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the farm and started plowing
on the hill, but the ground was frozen two inches
deep, and it began snowing so I came home and
worked in the wheel house making three stands
to set show cases on. The snow continued all day
and at night the ground was covered.
11\14\1934 (Wednesday)
Worked all day in the Wheel house making stands
for Show cases. This evening Albert Crandall and
George Baldwin came and we drew up a Constitution
and By Laws for the New Maple Hill Continental
Drum Band, After which Ernest and Charles
Robinson, and the rest of us practiced drumming
11\15\1934 (Thursday)
To day I was in the wheel House making stands and fixtures
for at tent to use over graves in stormy weather{.?} for the Calvary
Cemetery.
11\16\1934 (Friday)
This morning I went to the Center and did business
of various kinds. Paid the Charles Templeton Co 53 cts for a
bar of 7/16" round machine steel. Got my auto licenses{licencis?} for
1935. Paid $16.00 for the Runabout, and $15.00 for the Light
delivery. Came home and changed the oil in the Runabout
by putting Winter oil, and put two quarts of
alcohol in each car. Then young Tutsey Vogal and I went
to th_{the?} farm and fed the steer. We went out over the new
road up East Mountain and through Prospect to
the Notch-in-the-Rocks, in Cheshire.
After we got home I made an iron and pipe frame
for a tent to use over graves when it is stormy, for
the Calvary Cemetery, then worked on stands for
show cases till long after dark.
{no entry for 11\17\1934 (Saturday)}
{no entry for 11\18\1934 (Sunday)}
11\19\1934 (Monday)
Margaret and Raymond came this evening, Margaret
had received a telegram from{forom?} Toronto informing us
that Clyde had passed away, at the Toronto hospital to
day. He was taken sick a week ago to day, worked in
the forenoon.
Last Saturday Mary and I left here to visit Ruth and
family at Stoorrs{Storrs?}, started at 10.30 stoped at the farm
and fed the steer, then we went through Cheshire,
Meriden, Middletown crossed the Connecticut River
to Portland{Rortland?} then through East Hampton, Marlborough,
Hebron, Columbia, Willimantic{?} to Storrs, where we
found all of the family quite well. But Jack was in
Hartford, and we didnt see him until the next
morning We all went to Church, after which I rode
down to Willimantic with Jack, and back again,
in the morning Ruth told us that Margaret telephoned
Sat night that she had a telegram from Fritsa
that Clyde was very sick. In the afternoon Jack
got the key and he and I went up in the Church
Tower and saw the lage set of thirty ... bells, after
we drove to Willinton{?} and visited Mr George V. Smith,
who has a large collection of curiasities{curiosities?} and old book.
We left Ruth's this forenoon before eleven, and came
home via Mansfield Depot{?}, Coventry, Bolton Notch,
Manchester, Silver Lane, East Hartford, Hartford,
West Hartford, Farmington, where we took dinner,
then through Plainvill{Plainville?} Southington to East Farms
where I did the chores and then home.
11\20\1934 (Tuesday)
Ray Called this evening and that arangements{arrangements?} had been
made so that Fritza and the boys are to leave Toronto tomorrow
morning and drive all day and expect to reach
here tomorrow night, and Mr Yates will leave later with
Clydes body and come by train and arrive in Waterbury
Thursday forenoon at 10 AM. Mr Alderson{?} will meet the
train and take charge and the funeral will be held
in the Mill Plain Union Church, with the Rev Mr
Joseph O. Todd, and Rev Mortomer Owen{?} officiating.
Burial will be in Clydes lot in the Old Pine Grove
Cemetery.
This forenoon I plowed in the upper lot on the
hill. Ted Wilson painted the gate by the road.
Several people called to day and evening, and offered their symphaty{sympathy?}
The new Silver St Bridge was opened to day for
travel.
11\21\1934 (Wednesday)
To day wet and clowdy{cloudy?}. Many came to offer sympathy.
In the afternoon Ned Wilson came and we carried out
the showcase in my room, and put it in the drum
room.
11\22\1934 (Thursday)
This is our 51st wedding anniversary. But other
matters have happened. This forenoon at about eleven
Mr Yates, arived{arrived?} in town from Toronto with Clydes
body, to gather with Fritsa, Richard, Willard, Robert, and
the child Ronald. Mr Alderson, met them and took
charge of the funeral. Ray, and Margaret, wer_{were?} there
also, and took the family to Margarets home{shome?} on
Beecher Avenue. Soon the other members of the family
arived{arrived?} Frank and family from Kent. Ruth and family
from Storrs.
The funeral was held from the Mill Plain Union
Church, at three o clock. Rev Joseph O Todd officiating
assisted by the Rev W. Moreton Owen{?}. The honorary
pall bearers were Frederick B. Schofield, Frederick E. Yates,
of Toronto Canada, Edgar C. Franklin, Carl F{T?}. Suhr, William
Bartlett, and Edwin W. Beardsley. The active bearers
were Wendell P. Viall, Edward G. Freethy{?}, Lyle C. Traver,
William C. Krusus{?}, Mansfield M Gillette and Morton
E. Pierpont. The Church was filled. The Mayor and about
40 others came from Tarrington, and about as many
more from the American Brass Co. and many frend_{friends?}
and relations from this City and adjoining towns.
He was buried in his lot in the Old Pine Grove Cemetery.
11\23\1934 (Friday)
This morning Fritsa and Margaret came and helped Mary
and Fritsa and I had a talk about Clydes affairs, she is going
to visit her parents in Cheshire this afternoon, and they
expect to start for Toronto tomorrow. Dick started last
night, Mansfield Gillette carried him to Bridgeport, where
he was to take an express for New York, and then to
Toronto, he wished to reach home to day, as he is
Captain of the football team of the University of Toronto
and they are to have a game tomorrow.
I worked in the show Room till noon and then went
to the farm and plowed this afternoon.
I am reminded at every step about here of work
that Clyde{clyde?} did when a boy, he was 8 years old when
we built this house, and he later helped to build the
barn and all the other buildings, and much of the
lumber and frame timber he drew from Brooksvale
in Cheshire when he was ten and eleven years old.
It does not seem right that I should outlive my boy.
11\24\1934 (Saturday)
This forenoon Albert Crandall and I drove to Manchester
and saw Mr _{M?} J Barry of 41 Florence St, about the drummers,
got back soon after noon.
This afternoon I plowed at the farm.
11\25\{1934} (Sunday)
Attended Service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd. We took dinner at Margarets, where we
spent the afternoon, after which we came home. Margaret
Cliff, Howard Kraft and wife were going to Bridgeport
where Fritsa, Willard, Robert, and little Ronald were to
take the train for Toronto at six o'clock. Mr William
Gillettee/Gillette{?} was going to Cheshire and get{?} them and
take them to Bridgeport, and all were to bid
them good by.
{no entry for 11\26\1934 (Monday)}
11\27\1934 (Tuesday)
I worked about home most of the day. In the afternoon I put
a lot of old books in a show case in the drum room.
At about 5.15 Margaret called, and we started{slarted?} for
Manchester, stoped at Albert Crandells{Crandalls?} and got George
Baldwin, Mc Carthy, and another. We got to Manchester
at 6.45 Went to the Recration{Recreation?} Building, and were met
by Mr Barry and others, Soon the remained of my
boys arrived about 15 inall, after which the members
of the Moodus Drum Corps came, and they gave
a short street parade. We then went in the small
Gininasium{Gymnasium?} where they played four pieces, and
my boys played two, then the Mattatuck boys
came, and they played some, after which we
went up in the Main Hall and after various
drumming We all consolidated about 36 in ___{all?} 7 Bass drums
and 2_{?} snare drums and six fifers. Many of the snare
drums were large and it was said the building viberated{vibrated?}
after a time there was some individual drumming,
and the Moodus Corps{Corpse?} played several in double beats
then we went to the floor above where there was a good
lunch served, then after a jolly good time we started
for home, which we reached at midnight in a Snow
storm. To day I have worked about home, much of
the time. Went to Charles Tuttles in Woodtick but he
was not at home, then we went to the farm in
East Farms and fed the steer, and cut up a lot
of corn stalks. This evening Mr Kirtz{Kirlz?} called,
and showed me a history of drums that he
is prepairing.
11\28\1934 (Wednesday)
To day I have plowed on the hill all day, some of the time
it has rained and some of the time it hasent{hasnt?}
11\29\1934 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day. At one o'clock the Decendants of David and
Almira Somers assembled to the number of about forty{fortry?} at
Mrs. Grays Tea Rooms at 437 Willow Street and had a fine
dinner, and Reunion, Mary and I were there, and our only
children were Margaret, and her husband Clifford Northrop.
11\30\1934 (Friday)
Rained all day. This morning I expected to go to the
farm and plow, and started but it began to rain again
I went to Montambeans garage{Girage!} and bought one gal of
winter oil for my old Ford car. paid 50 cts I then went to
Charles Tuttles at Woodtick and visited with him till
noon, then drove to he farm, but it began to rain
hard again, so I ate my dinner and fed Ted and
put things up, got the yoke and traces out when
it be_an{began?} to rain hard, so I came home and worked
in the Drum room, and at show cases the rest of
the afternoon.
12\01\1934 (Saturday)
This day I expected to go to Cheshire surveying, but
it has rained all day. I have spent most of the time
putting electric lights in the Drum Room, and doing
other odd jobs.
12\02\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev Mr Stokese/Stokesi{?}
of Hartford preadhed. Some say Mr Todd is sick, others that he was
called from town.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Mr Hansens in Cheshire
The weather to day has been fine.
12\03\1934 (Monday)
No rain to day. Plaowed on the hill all day. Ted Wilson
painted wire fence three hours.
12\04\1034 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I went to town and did a lot of business
got home at one. After dinner went to the farm and finishe_{finished?}
plowing. {blank space} This evening Mr Bartlett the head of the
Engineering Dept of Construction for the American Brass
Co, called to tell us of Clydes work on _he{the?} new Mills
that he had just completed, and showed pictures of
them.
12\05\1934 (Wednesday)
This morning I filed saws, and sowed wood etc.
This afternoon I went to the farm and repaired
the road up the hill in the pasture lot.
This evening I attended the Ladies Fair at the
Mill Plain Union Church. There was a large number
present. The weather to day has been fair.
12\06\1934 (Thursday)
This forenoon Leo Gallagher{?} and we went to Wolcott where we
called at Will Pritchards{?} then we went up over the North part{?}
of Spindle Hill and past Cedar Swamp pond{Pond?} to Allentown and
back to Pritchards Saw Mill then up over Wolcott Center
and North East out past the Bronson places nearby{?} to
the Southington line{?} then turned back to the North
Road and went to the Rufus Norton place then turned
WEst adn came out on the Bristol road, then South to
Woodtick and home. {blank space} In the after noon I went to the
farm, then home, and in the evening the Maple Hill
Drum boys came and we went up and seranaded
Mr and Mrs. Charles Wolcott, it being their fiftyeth{fiftieth?} Wedding
anniversary, after visiting{visitin?} a a {written twice} short time,
Mary and I
went to the Mill Plain Church to the Ladies annual
Fair. The Bunker Hill Church Band was in attendance
and rendered some fine music, there was other entertainment.
12\07\1934 (Friday)
Cold to day. This forenoon I went to th farm and
cut up a lot of Cornstalks. This afternoon The school
teacher Miss Hunt of the West districk{district?} in Wolcott came
with all of her schollars{scholars?} to see the curious things in
the drum Room. They seemed very much interested
and were here till dark.
12\08\1934 (Saturday)
Cold Day. At Noon Albert Crandall came, and we
went to Cheshire and surveyed{Surveyed!} a preliminary{prelimenary!} line
for surveying at James {blank space} Place
12\09\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
Joseph O Todd. This was Scotish Sunday. Several Scottish
societies were present, namely. The Daughters of Sciota, Robert Burns
Club, Bide-A-Wee Club, and Klan Mr Alpine, The Dhurch
was filled, although the weather was very cold.
The service was broadcast.
I went to th farm and did chores, then stayed{slayed!} at
home the rest of the day.
Howeard Neal called.
12\10\1934 (Monday)
This morning was cold mercury stood at zero,
warmest was at noon 22 above. I sawed adn split
appletree wood all the time except when I went
to the farm and fed ad watered the steer.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church
and gave drumming lessons to the boys.
12\11\1934 (Tuesday)
This has been colder than yesterday, zero this morning
and 14 above at noon and much colder this evening
I filed a crosscut saw for Charles Welton and repaired
Marys desk, etc.
12\12\1934 (Wednesday)
Seven above this morning. After I got out, (not very
early) I repaired the brien tub in the blacksmith
shop. Ruth came from Storrs and began cleaning
house. AT noon I went to the farm adn did the
chores. Then Back and sharpened tools all the
afternoon, for Calvary Cemetery. Margaret
and Ruth came in the afternoon and cleaned
the pantry and kitchen, etc.
12\13\1934 (Thursday)
Not so cold to day. Ruth and Margaret came this
morning and cleaned the front room and did much
other cleaning and arranging{aranging!}, etc.
I cut wood for the stove beside going to the farm etc.
This evening Arthur Bird and Wife of Bristol called
Margaret and Ruth took Mary to see Dr Barber this
afternoon.
12\14\1934 (Friday)
Margaret and Ruth came and cleaned. Ruth went
home at noon. Margaret came in the afternoon,
and brought a boy who cleaned the outside of the
windows.
12\15\1934 (Saturday)
Mary was sick during the night, and things moved
slow this morning. A light fall of snow lay on the ground
and the weather was biting cold. I got ready to go to
Cheshire surveying but when Mr Crandall{Crandell!} came
we thought it was too{to!} cold, and did not go, but spent
the time till noon looking up records, and reading
about the boiling sping on East Mountain, etc
This afternoon I choped wood and got it into the
wood house. {blank space} There are so many {somany!} auto busses
and cars, Trucks etc passing and stoping at
the corner that the wind carries a cloud of
smoke continaully in the street past the house
these cold days.
12\16\1934 (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Three Choirs and Rev Joseph O Todd
officiating. This afternoon, We went up to Wolcott
and saw the new Bristol road that they are building
which is about half graded. We visited at Judge George
Browne's till a late hour. It has snowed a little
this morning. Flakes large as goose{goase!} belly feathers.
While we were gone, Ray Ruth and Margaret came
and put up curtains etc. preparitory {usually spelled prepairatory!}
for Christmas{Cristmas!}.
12\17\1934 (Monday)
To day the weather has been fine. This morning
De Witt Cole came from Wolcott and wanted a
large T iron, and other pieces made for his
big wood wagon, this took till four o'clock then
I got out to the farm ad did the work there
then got ready, adn Mr Gross called and at
5.45 we started for Meriden after picking up
three other foremene of the International Silver
So. After we arrived{arived!} there we attended a great
banquet given by the International Silver Co
to its officials of which I am an ex. I met many
men that I worked with ten years ago.
12\18\1934 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to teh center and deposited a
check of $5.00 in the Waterbury Savings Bank which made
$1475.37 that I have there. I then went to the Colonial
Trust Co. and turned in ten cupons for Mary and
got $30.00 also turned in fourteen of my own and got
$42.00. Came home on the bus and then took an electric
toaster{toster!} that was Ruth's down to the Mattatuck factory
to be repaired. Then went to the farm, after cleaning
and taking away six wheelbarrow loads of rubbish
from the outside of our front fence{is this spelled fense!}.
After I came
back from the farm I put a new felt and slate coated
roof on the back-house, this took till dark.
This evening Mr Mathews came and brought his son
Albers{?} who is learning to drum.
12\19\1934 (Wednesday)
Rained hard nearly all day. First rain that froze
and made the roads very slippery, then heavy rain.
Margaret and Marian came and cleaned the
pantry. I worked for the most pat in the wheel house
on a large picture frame.
12\20\1934 (Thursday)
This morning I sent pay 2.60 to the Tufftest Laboratories at
Willamansett{?} Mass to pay for a drum head. I also ordered 32'
of Drum rope, I then went and saw Bessie Pierpont at Maple Hill
about getting an old appletree for wood, did work at farm and
worked in wheel house the rest of the day.
12\21\1934 (Friday)
About home doing odd jobs, principally picture frame.
12\22\1934 (Saturday)
To day I finished the picture frame for holding emblems,
and hung it in the drum room.
I then went to the farm and painted a little on the
fence, but it began to snow, so I came home.
12\23\1934 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd. The morning service was a Christmas
service. At 4.30 was held a Vesper Service. The Church
was lighted with candles, and the singing was excellent{excelent!}
All four Choirs were present. Two on the platform by
the organ, and two at the other end of the Church
in the balcony.
12\24\{1934} (Monday)
This day I have worked about home. This evening Albert
Crandell, Cahill, and Robinson came and brought a
nice radio and made me a present of it.
12\25\1934 (Tuesday)
Christmas day. We had a fine Turkey dinner, and in
the evening c Christmas tree, and many present
were distributed, Ruth and her family came from
Storrs, Ray and Wife, Margaret and her family, and
Frank and family came from Kent but did not get
here till after dinner. {blank space} In Ruth's family were
Augustus, Jackson Brundage, and Wife Ruth, Sons Roger, Kenneth
and Pierce, and Daughter Peggy.
Ray's family, Raymond H. Miller, and Wife Ruth.
Margaret's family, Clifford Northrop, and Wife Margaret,
with daughters, Marian, and Husband Howard Kraft with
sons Charles and __________ {line drawn in text, [Robert]}
Frank's family, Frank P. Miller and wife Elsie, and
daughters, Marion, Jessie, Louis, Bertha, and June,
and Son Dwight Somers.
12\26\1934 (Wednesday)
This morning the roads were very icy{icey!}. I put chains
on my car and went to the farm. Soon after I got
home it began to rain, which soon took the ice away,
and it continued till about five, when it grew cold
fast. This evening I attended a supper and an
election of officers of the mens club at the Mill Plain
Church.
12\27\1934 (Thursday)
A Cold wind has blown from the North West and
it has been very cold. I have been about home all
day. Filed a cross cut saw this morning, and worke_{worked?}
on picture frames etc. Mrs. Morris came this morning
and did the washing.
{no entry for 12\28\1934 (Friday)}
12\29\1934 (Saturday) {29?}
Rather cold all day. Did the chores at the farm then
went to town, and got a new large double cut file,
and some drops for my auto back fenders.
The roads are very icy and the autos skid.
12\30\1934 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd. Attendance rather small on account of
the ice on the ground. Weather very cold. I stayed
in all day except ehn I went out to the farm.
Howard Neal called this afternoon.
12\31\1934 (Monday)
The weather to day has been fair and not very cold.
I took the chains off my car wheels as the ice is nearly{marly!}
all gone. I have worked most of the time on picture
frames. This evening I went to the Gymnasium
and gave instructions in drumming. Not many
of the boys there, as so much is going on New Year's
eve.
[[continued]]
New Years Day. When we awoke this morning the
ground was covered with about four inches of snow
and it was snowing hard, about nine it turned
into to rain and continued till after noon, which
made traveling very splashy{spashy!}. I had to put on the
chains that I took off yesterday, to go to the farm.
This afternoon Albert Crandell came and we got
down the old drum form that I used in 1881 to
make the drums for the Mattatuck Drum Band
on. We are enlarging it and will make a bending
machine, to bend the shells of drums for the newly
organized maple Hill Continental Drum Band.
01\02\1935 (Wednesday)
Ground coated with ice, hard to get about. Made
picture frames all day.
01\03\1935 (Thursday)
Very slippery{slipery!} no thaw since sunday. This afternoon I
went to Charles Tuttles in Woodtick, and he drummed
the three Camps as written by Strube. He is the
best Drummer that I know of in the United States.
Painted fence at the farm, in the afternoon.
01\04\1935 (Friday)
Cold day. Six above this morning and very cold
all day. Have spent much time in the Show Room.
This evening Mr Mathews{?} brought his son Albert
to take a drumming lesson.
01\05\1935 (Saturday)
Four below zero this morning. I got ready to work
in the Drum Room this morning, when Albert
Crandall and James {blank space} came and wished me
to go to Cheshire and survey a line through
_ames{James?} land and set the boundry stakes, this
took till night.
01\06\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd officiated. All four Choirs were in
attendance, and the service was broadcast.
This afternoon I went to Wolcott and visited
with Judge George Browne. They are widening{wideing!} the
road to the East past his house 30 ft and the fill
is very high.
The weather has been warm so that much of the
ice has melted and ran away.
01\07\1935 (Monday)
I have done odd jobs about home principally getting
a machine ready to bend drum shells on.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church and
gave drumming lessons. Wrote a letter to Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt]
of Vancouver Wash. Weather wet
{no entry for 01\08\1935 (Tuesday)}
01\09\1935 (Wednesday) {01\08\1935 or 01\09\1935?}
Weather wet most of th time, Very foggy mornings.
I painted fence at the farm this afternoon.
This evening I attended the Installation of Officers
of the Mens Club at the Mill Plain Church.
Joe Holmes was made President.
01\10\1935 (Thursday)
Rained most of the day I worked in the Wheel House and
chicken coop.
01\11\1935 (Friday)
I went to the Town Clerk's office this morning and copied
records relating to Isaac Spenser taking up land in Prospect
in 1754. Then I went to pay our electric bill at the Conn Light
and Power Co. But had lost the bill and money. I then
went to the Bank and deposited a check and cashed
another. Then went to Templeton's hardware store {.?}
Cor of Benedict and Meadow Sts and ordered a grind
stone shaft. Then to Sears andRoebucks{Robucks!} on Grand St
and bought _{8?} auto chains for 2.32 then to Davis & Nye
on Bank St and got a Scrap book, Ink, Rubber bands{2 words?} and
clips then to the Telephone building and paid Telephone
bill, then home and had dinner. Then to farm and
did the chores. Then to Cheshire and saw Mr. Charles
Jackson and Wife about Lettering Hattie Pierpont's
monument in the East Farms Cemetery. Then home
had supper. Mr Matthews came with son Albert who
I gave a drumming lesson.
01\12\1935 (Saturday)
This morning I repaired the hen coop, put galvanized
iron covering under the roosts. I then worked in
the wheel house. Weather has been very cold.
01\13\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, REv
J. O. Todd. officiated. The young people's Choir took
the place of the Senior{Seinor!} Choir.
Mr. and Mrs. Peters brought some good and stored
them in the loft.
Bessie Pierpont's Birthday she was born Jan 13, 1879.
It is snowing his evening.
01\14\1935 (Monday)
Cold to day. Worked on bending machine in the Wheelhouse
most of the time.
This evening went tot he Mill Plain Church and
gave lessons in drumming.
01\15\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Town Clerk's Office {caps?} in the City Hall
and got the bill and money that I lost{last!} there last Friday and
then paid the Conn Light and Power Co what I owed them. Then I got
Mr. Howland and we drove to Farmington where we looked
up records at the Town Clerk's office.
The weather has been cold 6 above this morning.
01\16\1935 (Wednesday)
Cold to day. This afternoon I finished painting the fence
around the flat lot midway up the hill at the farm.
This evening Albert Crandell{?} came and we fixed up
a small drum. I worked on a bending machine in the
Wheel house.
This is a time of danger, on the highways on account of the
great speed that some people drive their automobiles, as there
is no speed laws in this state many run at 60 and 80
miles per hour through the country, their cars skid and
cause many acidents{acidents!} by hitting trees, railings, and
going off the side of the road at curves, many people
are hurt and killed by thus{this?} doing. But a worse
danger is caused by drinking people who leave the
saloons and _____ns{taverns?} and then get into their cars
and after driving a time lose their sense{sence!} and cause
untold damage and death, and so popular is drinking
since probition{proibition!} that the local courts scarcely punish
drinking men for causing damage.
01\17\1935 (Thursday)
This morning it was snowing hard when I got up
6.30 and continued till after noon, when it turned to
a light rain.
I worked at blacksmith work all the forenoon,
after dinner I made paths till after three o'clock
then went to the farm.
Mr Crandell and James came to see me about
the land that James {blan space} bought in Cheshire.
About six inches of snow fell{fill!}.
01\18\1935 (Friday)
Worked on the bending machine to day.
Mary attended the Hobo social{sacial!} at the Church to night
Albert matthews came to night{to nigh!} for his drumming lesson
01\19\1935 (Saturday)
Cold weatehr. Worked on bendin_{bending?} Machine.
De Wit Cole had me repair some wagon irons.
01\20\1935 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
J O. Todd. Weather fine rain which froze and everything
is coated{coted!} with ice
01\21\1935 (Monday)
Very-icey, with rain, a little{a;ott;e!} warmer towards night
Mrs. Callan called on business connected with the Daughters{Daughter!}
of the American Revolution.
I worked in the Wheel House.
01\22\1935 (Tuesday)
To day has been slightly{slitely!} warmer, but the ground is
covered with snow.
Last evening Mr. Crandell telephoned that the
Drum boys were going to Meriden to play basket ball
and there would be no drum meeting.
This forenoon Margaret phoned that six of the
boys were injured in an auto accident in returning
from Meriden. It was very foggy and at Mill Dale{?}
a Hartford buss was turning off the Meriden road
when the car t__y{they?} were in struck it at the front
door damaging the car they were in, but not injurin_{injuring?}
the buss very much. The six boys in the car were taken
to the Meriden hospital where they were treated and
all but two were discharged, Ernest Robinson, was badly
hurt, possibly his skull is fractured, and his scalp is badly
lacerated. William Cahill had nine stitches taken in
his scalp, and the flesh on his leg badly torn, they
are still in the Hospital, and are reported comfortable{confortabl!}
as could be expected to night.
01\23\1935 (Wednesday)
Worked on the bending machine in the wheel house to
day. It began snowing at eleven this forenoon and
and{written twice} is still snowing hard.
01\24\1935 (Thursday)
This morning there lay about 18 inches of snow on
the ground, but it was drifted in some places, and
not much in others. I dug the paths out and went
to the farm and did the chores, when I got back{?}
had a hard time getting the car into the garage{garoge!}
had to shovel much snow as it skidded down the
grade.
01\25\1935 (Friday)
Cold this morning ten below zero. I worked in the wheel house
on the bending machine.
Mrs. Thompson came and did the washing.
This evening Albert Matthews came for a druming lesson.
01\26\1935 (Saturday)
About two inches of snow fell last night, it was 14
above zero this morning I have worked som_{some?} of the
time on the bending{?} machine and have it finished
Albert Crandell called and a_{as?} he was going
through the yard found two dogs in the chicken
house trying{?} to kill the hens, he beat them away
with{wisth!} a broom. He told that Ernest Robinson
and William Cahill were getting along very well i_{in/ih?}
the Meriden hospital.
Had a letter from Irving and he says they have
had cold weather out there in Milwaukee one morning
seventeen degrees below zero.
01\27\1935 (Sunday)
10 {degree symbol?} below zero this morning and cold all day.
We attended service at Mill Plain Union Church this morning
Rev J O Todd. Went to the farm and did the chores. This
afternoon Cousin Elizebeth{Elizabeth?} Somers telephoned, that
Cousin{Couin!}
Jennie Goldsmith. Phillips passed away at the Waterbury
Hospital this morning.
This afternoon I attended a meeting of the Official
Board at the Mill Plain Church. Rev Mr Todd read a
report in which he stated that some time ago some
members headed by Mr. Hubbard called on him at
nine o'clock at night. They were Mr. George _ubbard{Hubbard?} and
wife, Mr. Ray Miller, and wife Mr. Burton Beecher, and
Mr. Morton E Pierpont and asked him to resign as
Pastor. He and a committee Arthur Blewitt and Aubury Hill{?}
took the matter up with Mr. John Coe and
two ministers, Mr. Gregg and another. They advised tat
he find another parish if possible, as the best way to smooth
the matter over. This he has tried to do. The matter was
a great surprise to nearly all of us.
All of the board present except Burton Beecher were
with Mr. Todd. Action was taken that those disaffected
members present their complaints in person and{an!} writing
before the Board that they may be considered by said
board and Congregation. Also there is an note formerly
$17,000 at the bank which has been reduced to about $8,000
which M.E. and Mrs. Bessie Pierpont endorsed{endarced!} that is now
ordered paid. A committee of several headed bay M.E
Pierpont was appointed to start a drive to pay said note.
etc. etc. etc.
01\28\1935 (Monday)
24 degrees below zero this morning, been a very cold day
The busses run very regular on the Cheshire line
every half hour, and pass here very often as the East
Main busses run to the arch as Reedville every seven
minutes. A ton{Aton!} of coal came to day. We have burned
a ton of soft coal in our furnace in 26 days this
month. Paid 8.00 per ton
01\29\1935 (Tuesday)
Not so cold. Thawed some at noon. This forenoon I
worked on a steaming chest in the Wheel house.
This afternoon I, with Margaret, and Bettie in Vincent's
car attended the funeral{funereal!} of Cousin Jennie Phillips
which was held from her house at no 303 Dwight St
Waterville. She has been principle{?} of the Spragne School
for the past thirty five years. Before that she taught the
Mill Plain School, where I was th first to hire her,
when I was the Committee of that District.
01\30\1935 (Wednesday)
8 degrees below zero this morning. Cold all day.
I helped Mary do the washing for the first time this
morning, and worked in the Wheel House on the steam
box. Sent $4.00{?} to New York.
01\31\1935 (Thursday)
Eight below zero this morning. Cold all day
fourteen above at noon.
This afternoon I did the chores at the farm and
then went out the Cheshire road to the Notch-in-
the-Rocks, then turned South on the Old Plank
Road, and up over Prospect Center, where I found
great banks of snow whwere the snow plows had
thrown{throun!} it out, and in some places they had
shoveled it where the drifts were deep so at the
sides of the road were piles ten and twelve
feet high.
I worked in the wheel house making snare tighteners,
etc.
The paper stated to night that Ernest Robinson
who was severly injured{injuired!} in an auto accident at
Mill Dale over a week ago is much improved
and his name is taken from the danger list.
02\01\1935 (Friday)
21 {degree symbol} below zero this morning. I worked in the
wheel house this forenoon, and went to town
in the afternoon.
02\02\1935 (Saturday)
This morning it was 10 above zero and at noon 38 above
first {-?} time I have seen the themometer above freezing in
over ten day, I have worked in the Wheel House making
snare tighteners.
02\03\1935 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd. After service Mary and I went to the
farm, then out the Cheshire Road to the Notch-in-the-
Rocks, then to Prospect where there were deep drifts of
snow, then in the Waterbury road home.
This evening I went to 142 Grove St and gor Miss. Kirk{?}
and took her to the Mill Plain Church, where she gave
a talk to the young people about her trip around the
world{wourld!}.
02\04\1935 (Monday)
Cold to day I havelped Mary with the washing this forenoon
did the chores at the farm and worked in th wheelhouse
the rest of the time. Wrote a letter to Frank at Kent
this evening. This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church
to give drumming instruction.
02\05\1935 (Tuesday)
Cold, snowed all day, fine snow only about 1" fell
This afternoon I carried Mary up to the Church to
attend a meeting of the Ladies Union. It was reported
there that she gave over $500.00 to the Church of money
she earned while reporting as Mill Plain correspondent{corraspandent!}
to the Waterbury American.
02\06\1935 (Wednesday)
Ten above this morning. Worked most{mos!} of the day
repairing a pair of sled shafts for Edgar Upson of
Wolcott.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Official
Board of the Mill Plain Union Church. Thers{?} was
a deligation{dilegation!} of eighteen headed by Morton E Pierpont,
who wished Mr. Todd to resign as pastor of the church.
They gave reasons through their Chairman Mr. Pierpont
but his voice was so low that I couldt{couldn't?} hear them, some
said that they were all personal reasons, and very
poor at that. By far the great majority of the
people are with Mr. Todd.
When I got ready to come home I brought Margaret
to her home on Beecher Ave and I found that my
car was froze, there{ther!} was so much steam coming out
that I had{hd!} trouble getting into the girage, as it cut
off my view. It was eleven o'clock{a'clock!} and the themometer
was ten below zero.
02\07\1935 (Thursday)
Seventeen below zero{,?} this morning. This is the coldest
winter tat I ever knew. On the average there has been
more real{rial!} cold that I ever knew before during a whole
winter. This is the 7th of Feb and winter is but little more
than half gone.
I have worked in the Wheel house much of the time.
Went to the farm and up to Woodtick and saw Chas
Tuttle. The main roads are polowed bare but the cross
roads are very slippery on account of the ice that was
under the snow. Near Mort Pierponts house I stoped
and took in Mr. Brown. Who lives on the Todd road and
then my car would not go ahead so I put on cha___{chains? chaings?}
and, then on the Todd road on the leavel near Mr.
Kunkels{?} my car skidded crosswise of the road and it
took some time to get straight again, I drove slow and
careful and got there all right.
02\08\1935 (Friday)
Snowed all day, but only made about one and one half
inches. I have worked in thWheel House all day only
the time I went to the farm. William Baldwin came
to night for a drumiing lesson, as did Albert Matthews.
02\09\1935 (Saturday)
Weather has been warm, and thawed to day.
This forenoon at about eleven Frank came from Kent
with his whole family in his new Buic car and
brought ten maple boards to make drums of.
We went out to the farm and saw the steer, after
which we casme home and they started back to Kent.
I worked making snare tighteners till night.
02\10\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain{Planin!} Church Rev
J. O. Todd. This afternoon I went to visit my
old and dear friend Edward Johnson at No 70
Chestnut Av. When I got there they told me he
died last November, I was greatly shocked to hear
it. had an interesting visit with his widow.
This evening Morton E. Pierpont, his wife Jessie, and
sons Laurence and Ralph, Came and brought their
moving picture machine, and shoed a lot of fine
pictures that they had takin on their various trips
to the Pacific coast{cost!}, Florida{Flarida!}, Worlds Fair at Chicago
etc. They took pictures of Mary and I.
02\11\1935 (Monday)
This morning I helped with the washing, then worked in the
Wheelhouse. Went to the farm, and then up to Charles Tuttles
This evening Went to the Church and gave a drumming
lesson.
02\12\1935 (Tuesday)
{line inserted above entry}
6 {degree symbol} below this morning
This morning I took three maple boards that Frank
brought to J. E. Smiths, on Benedict St and had them
plained to one eighth of an inch thick, after I got them
home plained the ends down and got them ready
to bend. It has thawed a little to day.
02\13\1935 (Wednesday)
To day was not so cold. I went up to Woodtick and
got Chas Tuttle and we bent up drum shells all{?} day{?}
b_t{but?} only got three made.
Then I carried hime home, travelling is very dangerous
as there is much ice on the roads.
More cold weather this winter than I ever knew before.
02\14\1935 (Thursday)
Worked in the wheel house most of the day.
This evening it is raining hard.
02\15\1935 (Friday)
To day has been warm and snow melted.
This forenoon I went{wen!} to J E. Smiths and had some
maple boards plained down to 1/8" thick, brought them
home and plained down the ends, and got ready
to bend them.
The great Hupman trial is ended. He is convicted of
kidnaping the Linber{Lindbergh?} baby and killing it, and
receiving the $50,000.00 ransom{ramsom!}. The trial was held
at Flemington N.J.
02\16\1935 (Saturday)
This morning I went up to Woodtick and got Charles Tuttle
and we bent up four drum shells. Albert Crandall
came and helped, the shells were 17 3/4" in diameter and
16 1/2" long of hard maple 1/8" thick.
This afternoon I went out to the farm after taking
Charles Tuttle home, and I saw several automobiles
in front of Mr Landon{London?} Greeters house and flowers at
the door indicating taht some one was dead within
When I got home Mary told me it was mr. Greeter he
died yesterday afternoon aged 49.
02\17\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev J O Todd.
Snowed nearly all day. Ruth came{cane!} from Storrs and
Peggy came with her. {blank space} Ray called this evening.
02\18\1935 (Monday)
This morning I took five maple boards to J E. Smiths
and had them plained to{.?} one wighth{?} of an inch,
and brought them home and thined the ends and
got them ready to bend.
This evening went to the Mill Plain Church and gave
a drumming lesson.
02\19\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning was warm, but it gret colder as{an!} the day
advanced, and to night is freezing cold.
I got things ready to bend drum shells this
morning{mornind!} and at nine John Mc Kay and __________
Cosgrove{?} came and at .2.30 w_{we?} had five shells
formed. I then went down town and looked at
Ford Light Delivery cars, Saw one that I think
will answer me. Came home, and then went to
the farm, and did the chores. Then went to Will
Garrigus and gave him my old truck.
02\20\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning I did the washing, and after dinner
went to the Ford Sale yard on West Main St
and bought a Used Ford Pickup Car #A4201587.
For which I paid $150.00
I gave them $1.00 to have the License{Licence!} transfered.
I also gave them another dollar to deliver the car.
This evening I met with Mr. and Mr. Badger,
Elizebeth Warner{?} and George Warner, Mr. __________
Mrs Terrell, Mr. and Mrs. Berkley Frisbie at
Mr. Frisbie's house in Woodtick, to arrange
for a{al!} tercentennial Celebration at Wolcott
this coming summer.
02\21\1935 (Thursday)
This morning I cleaned up th pickup car
that I got yesterday, and put it in running
condition I then went to the farm and
did the chores, then home and made blocks
to hold the numbers on the car.
02\22\1935 (Friday)
Washingtons Birthday. Celebrated. by No School,
Banks Closed, and but few papers issued, Many
entertainments{?} given in his name in the evening.
I worked about home, and on my new pickup car, and
went to teh farm and cut some wood.
This evening Mary and I attended an Washington
Entertainment at the Mill Plain Union Church.
When we came out it was snowing hard and about
two inches had fell.
02\23\1935 (Saturday)
Snow fell to the depth of about fourinches during
the night, and a light rain se in which has continued
all day making a crust on the snow and
everything very slippery.
Lee and Jack Garrigus came this afternoon and
got the old Model T Ford truck that I gave them.
02\24\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev J O Todd. {Blank space} This P.M. Arthur and Mildred Bird of
Bristol called, they had their youngest son Bobbie with
them.
02\25\1935 (Monday)
Henry Beckwith worked on my pickup. Mr. Harry A. Klilton{?} of
Watertown called this P.M. Weather warm and thawed much
02\26\1935 (Tuesday)
Henry Beckwith finished repairing my Pickup
For car, this afternoon, and I paid hime $10.00
I repaired the back end board, etc.
This evening Mary and I attended a meeting
of the Officers and Members of the Mill Plain
Union Church, to consider the recomendation{recommendation?}
or Morton E. Pierpont, George Hubbard, Burton
Beecher, RAymond Miller and wife and others
who have requested that Mr. Todd should
resign as pastor. The meeting was largely
attended, and Mr. John Coe, and Mr. Lewis
Reed of the Ministers association of Waterbury
was present. While a large amount of talking
was done, no action was taken, other than to
appoint a Committee of three, of the disaffected
persons, th_ee{three?} members{memembers!} in good standing
of the Church, and Mr. Coe is to appoint three
disinterested persons, making nine in all who
are to see if some arrangement cant be made
to settle the diffi__lty{difficulty?}.
When we came out, about six inches of snow
had fallen.
02\27\1935 (Wednesday)
When I got up this morning about eight inches
of snow lay on the ground, I got breakfast quick
as possible of pancakes etc. then I dug out the
paths, and then went to the State Motor office
o_{on?} Benedict Street and got my Auto Drivers License
paid 3.00 I then changed the cars, and after dinner
went to h farm and did the chores, then did
odd jobs about home.
This evening is very cold.
02\28\1935 (Thursday)
Cold Day. This forenoon I sharpened tools for the
Calvary and St Josephs Cemeteries. This afternoon I
took a point{pint?} of oysters to Charles Tuttle, in Woodtick,
then went to the farm, then home, etc.
03\01\1935 (Friday)
Nine degrees below zero this morning at 6.30 but at
noon it was 38 {degree symbol} above, and at night it was at freezing.
This afternoon I went to the farm and cut up two stacks
of cornstalks.
This evening Albert Matthew and William Baldwin came
for drumming lessons.
Set a hen in the Woodhouse this evening.
03\02\1935 (Saturday)
To day has been warm and much snow and ice
has melted. {blank space} This morning Albert Crandall
came and we repaired a door on my Pickup and
made a set of hooks for it. This afternoon James
Egan{?} came and we put them on. Albert Crandall
came with Ernest Robinson, and William Cahill
who have just been discharged from the Meriden
Hospital. We James Egan and I went to the farm
and then went up to Charles Tuttles in Woodtick
but he was not at home.
03\03\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
Dr Wm Frazier State Supt Congregational Churches, Hartford
Service broadcast.
03\04\1935 (Monday)
This morning, I did most of the washing etc. then visited
Bill Mosley{Masley?}. Went out to the farm and cut down a large
white birch tree. This evening I went to the Church and
gave drumming lesson.
03\05\1935 (Tuesday)
To day I cut up and brought hom an old apple tree within
the wall by the road in front of Bessie Pierponts house at
Maple HIll Farm.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Ter Centenneal{Ter Centennial?}
Committee at the house of REp Mr Badger in Woodtick.
03\06\1935 (Wednesday)
This I went down street and did some trading. Then
Teday Voghel{Voghal?} and I went to the farm where I cut some
large white lurches{burches? birches?}.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Official Board
at the Mill Plain Union Church.
03\07\1935 (Thursday)
Worked on the Pickup car cleaning the engine, and
changing wheels etc. Then went to the farm and did
the chores{,?} etc. Snowed all the afternoon.
03\08\1935 (Friday)
This morning I made paths, then went to Sears & Roebucks
and exchanged{exchamged!} my battery tester, after charging my
battery in my Ford Pickup, went to the farm, and to
Mr. Robert Tylers on the Meriden road and had a lot of drum
hoop sawed and plainned{plained? planed?}, paid him $3.00{?}
03\09\1935 (Saturday)
This morning Francis Crosgrove came at 9 o.clock, and
soon after Ernest Robinson came and we got twelve
drum shells ready to put the inside rims in
Albert Crandall came and after dinner we bent
them up and put them in. After which Crandall
worked on Bass Drum belts.
Signey Spender and John Mc Kay called this
afternoon. John McKay Jr helped this afternoon
bend the hoops
03\10\1935 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Chur__{Church?}
Rev J. O. Todd. {blank space} Had dinner at Margarets, and
there visited most of the afternoon.
03\11\1935 (Monday)
This morning I helped with the washing, then I
went to Robert Tyler's on the Meriden road and had
a lot of wooden clamps made.
This afternoon went to the farm and cut wood.
This evening went to the Mill Plain Church to drum____{drumming?}
no drumme_{drummer? drummes?} boys there. Fifers Browne, Troske{?}, and
Cosgrove were there.
03\12\1935 (Tuesday)
Rained this morning I made an iron rack for my car to
carry ladders on. Then I went to the farm and cut up
corn stalks.
03\13\1935 (Wednesday)
The snow lay on the ground about 4 inches thick this
morning, I swept out the paths. Then I had a hard time{tine!}
getting out my truck on account of the mud, I went
to the farm and cut a lot of corn stalks. Then went
to Calvary Cemetery and asked permission to get a load{lood!}
of gravel to put on the mud in the yard. They loaded
up their big truck and brought me a load.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Tercentennial
Committee at the Woodtick School House.
03\14\1935 (Thursday)
This forenoon I worked putting in the inside hoops of
the Drums. The afternoon I went to the farm and cut
white birches for wood.
[[Loose Postcard inserted somewhere in Journal
Front of postcard photo of Kent School Farm, Kent CT.
Reverse side of postcard
Address:
Mr. Charles S. Miller
2271 East Main St
Waterbury,
Conn.
Message:
Mar. 14, 1935
Plenty of lumber
come any time,
Frank {Pierpont Miller (son)}.]]
03\15\1935 (Friday)
This forenoon I worked on drum rims, etc. This
afternoon I went to the farm and cut white birches.
This evening William Baldwing and Albert Matthews
came and drummed.
03\16\1935 (Saturday)
This Francis Gosgrove, John Mc Kay, and Albert
Crandall came and we steamed and bent the
rim hoops for the twelve drums that we are making
We finished about one o'clock. While I was eating my
dinner Jimmie Egan came and wanted to help me
so we went out to the farm and cut wood till night
when I was good and tired.
03\17\1935 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
J. O. Todd. They had the Senior{Seinour!} and young peoples{people's?}
choirs
consolidated, and they did some fine singing.
This afternoon Margaret{Maigaret!}, Cliff, Mary, and I went to
Union Square{Squre!} and saw the St Patricks parade pass I
estimated that it was about three miles long.
After that Mary and I went out and visited John Todd.
03\18\1935 (Monday)
This morning I did the washing, then worked on my cars till
noon{roon!}. The{Then?} Teddy Voghel{?} and I went to the farm and
drew a load
of manure to the top of the hill and drew a load of wood down
then came home and cleaned out the chicken coop.
03\19\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning Margaret, Mary, and I started for
Kent in a snow storm at nine o'clock we went through
the center and up to Watertown, then over the new
state road built last year to East Morris, then
turned West and through West Morris to Lake-side{?}
then North to Bantam, and West to Woodville,
then to Warren, and West over the new road finished
last fall to Kent, which we reached a little past
eleven. Found Frank unloading a load of hay,
that he had brought from the hay barn up the
river. At noon he and I went to the Kent school
and got the dinner in a container and brought
it home. After dinner, we took my little truck
up to the barn and loaded on some lumber and
four hundred of land lime. The lumber was maple
for drums that I am making. At three P.M. we
started home in the rain which continued the rest
of the afternoon. Coming over the same road that
we went up on, I would here state thar{that?} _e{we?} stoped
at the home of Ferrice Turkinton{Turkenton?} in East Morris
and saw our neac{niece?} Lena and daughter, Ferris is
Represent__ive{Representative?} and was in Hartford. We reached home
before five.
03\20\1935 (Wednesday)
To day I have worked at the farm drawing manure to
the lot on the hill, and drawing wood that I cut down,
to a place near the big gate where I can load it on the truck
The weather has been fair and warm.
03\21\1935 (Thursday)
Rained all the forenoon, I did odd jobs about home, after dinner
I took some lumber to Robert Tyler's to have it sawed and
plained, but he was not at home, I then went to the farm
and did chores there, then came home and worked
on snare tighteners.
This evening Mary and I went to the Mens Club
Fair at the mIll Plain Church. Just before the close
Mary seemed to lose consciousness, and it was
some time before we could revive her. Leslie Cooley
brought her home in his large car, and they called
Dr. Hackett. She seems better now.
03\22\1935 (Friday)
This morning I got up and got my own breakfast
and washed up the dishes. Margaret came, I went to
the East End Hardware store and got a gallon of turpentine,
Margaret telephoned to Mrs Thompson to
come and help. I went out to th Charles Hall
house just beyond the Cheshire line and got her, then
Margaret, her and Mrs. Voghel took teh bed to pieces and covered
it with turpentine to kill any bugs tha might be on it
then brought it down and set it up in the front room{roon!},
and got Mary down onto{?} it. I filed two hand saws for
Mr. Miner, and after dinner went to Robert Tyler's and
had a lot of lumber sawed up and plained, then I
came home and got the rim stuff ready to be steamed{?}
and bent to morrow. Ray called. Mrs. Hgapenny called
I paid Mrs. Thoppson 1.00 This evening Mr. Matthews and
son Albert called, and Albert drummed.
Mary is much better to night.
Weather has been fair and rather warm.
03\23\1935 (Saturday)
This morning after I got my breakfast, I did the chores
about the place, took care of the fires, took up the furn___{furnace?}
ashes, fed the hends etc, then went to the Wheel House
and worked on snare tighteners till about nine when
John McKay and Frances Cosgrove{?} came and they
built a fire and we bent hoops for drum rims.
Then we repaired drum shells till night. Then
we went out to the farm and did the chores
there. Came home by way of the Meriden road,
and left the boys at Fair Lawn.
03\24\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Re J. O. Todd. Officiated. Mary staid home on account
of poor health.{. or ,?} Mrs. Thompson{?} was here, till after dinner.
Ray and Ruth called this evening.
This afternoon I went to William Mc Cormick's,
in Wolcott. This afternoon Rev. and Mrs. J.O. Todd called.
03\25\1935 (Monday)
This morning Mrs. Thompson did not come till late, I
got my own breakfast. Then I went to the farm and drew
four loads of manure up on the hill. Came home at
noon, and had a fine dinner. I then mixed a pot of
paint. John Mc Kay and Francis Cosgrove came and
they painted the ridges of the Barn, Woodhouse Shed,
Girage, Wheelhouse, Hencoop and Fire House, white.
To day the state has turned all the travel of the
Meriden road onto the Frost road and past here
which makes a lot of traffice. It is on account of the
building of a new bridge over the Mad River at the
crossing of the Meriden road.
This evening I went to teh Mill Plain Church and
gave drumming lessons.
03\26\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the farm and drew manure.
In the afternoon Frances Cosgrove and John Mc Kay came and
painted the ridges of the house, and put white on the Fire
Cngine House
This evening I attended a meeting of the members of the
Mill Plain Union Church, to hear the report of the committee_{committees?}
that had been considering the causes of the trouble between
some of the member_s{members?} Headed by M. E. Pierpont, and the
matter of causing Mr. Todd to resign. According to the
report they have brought about a reconciliation. The report
was accepted.
03\27\1935 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I wen to the farm and planted six rows of peas
I then put a load of wood on the truck and brought it home.
This afternoon I wtih Francis Cosgrove went to the farm and
drew stones off the garden and put them on Fort Dunlap.
This evening George Baldwin came and borrowed my Brass
Mill Drum. Alber{Albert?} Crandall has my Perkins Drum and
__________ Cahill has my Som_rs{Somers?} Drum.
03\28\1935 (Thursday)
This morning I went to the farm and plowed four
furrows across the Middle lot, Came home at noon
It rained the rest of the day. I glewed{glued?} the hoops for drums.
03\29\1935 (Friday)
This morning I went to the farm and plowed on
the middle lot. I came home and worked on
drums a spell. Then John Mc Kay and Frances
Cosgrove{?} came and we went to the farm and
drew stones onto Fort Dunlap. We then went
to Woodtick and saw Charles Tuttle.
This evening William Baldwin and Albert
Matthews came for DRumming lessons.
03\30\1935 (Saturday)
To day the weather has been cool.
This morning Albert Crandall came and we
got up steam and so_n{soon?} John Mc Kay and
Francis Cosgrove came and we bent the flesh
hoops for the twelve drums that we are making
This afternoon Albert Crandall and I finished
many of the rims.
To day a steam shovel has been brought
to the bank near the arch at Reedville to start
soon{?} making over the road at that point.
03\31\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev J O Todd.
After service I went to Cheshire to get Mrs Thompson to
come tomorrow and do the washing, but she was not at
home. I then went to Bill Mc Cormicks in Wolcott, but
while there a man and woman came who had their car
stuck in the mud up on the Tucker-ring road and
wanted young Mr. Mc Cormick to pull it out, but he
had gone away. They, the man and woman were to
broad cast at five o'clock and wanted to get to Waterbury
so I brought them to my place where they took
the bus. I then went to Cheshire and found that
Mrs. Thompson had gone to New York state for a month.
04\01\1935 (Monday)
Wet and rain after ten. Got up and did the washing
and got breakfast. Then I went to the bank and got
wome money. Then worked on drum hoop_{hoops?} till noon.
Then John Mc Kay and Frances Cosgrove came and as
it was raining, we went to North Wallingford and saw
George Cass about spraying apple trees. Then we went to
Charles Cass to see about fifing but he was not at home
saw Tracy. Came home and after supper Went to the Church and
gave drumming lessons. They began work on the new road at
Reedvill to day with a steam shovel. I{In?} Wallingford they are making a
{next part of sentence difficult to read}
surface{?} hardened road East of Broad swamp Pond.
04\02\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning I glued the flesh hoops of the drums
which took till noon. This afternoon John Mc Kay
and Frances Cosgrove came and we went to th
farm and drew stones on fort Dunlap.
04\03\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and plowed till
noon. This afternoon John Mc Kay and Frances
Cosgrove came and we went to the farm ad drew
_ome{some?} big stones up on fort Dunlap.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Official
Board at the Mill Plain Union Church.
The State is making fast progress at Reedville
on the new road. Grading with steam shovel,
pushe_{pushes?} and trucks. Air drills are drilling holes
in the concrete arch so as to, blast it up.
04\04\1935 (Thursday)
This morning I went to the farm and plowed,
This afternoon John Mc Kay and Frances Cosgrove
came and we repaired my pickup car.
About dark a Mr. Cazy{?} telephoned that an Albert
ran into some one down town with _y{my?} _ny{only?} car this
afternoon. I had let Albert Crandall and the
above mentioned boys take it to go after{apter!} some tables,
but they said nothing about an addident{accidint!} when they returned
the car. I immediately went to 313 and saw Crandall. He said
that a car stoped suddenly in front of him{?} and he bumped
it slightly. H{He?} said that the car was owned by Mrs. Perkins
nd he had offered to pay the bill, that Mr. Cozy{?} must berkins
the choffer{chauffer? chauffeur?}.
The weather to day has been fair and cool.
04\05\1935 (Friday)
This morning I went to the farm and took a load of bag
hay on the hill, and plowed till noon. Then came home
and after dinner made a post iron for Edward Scott, and
did odd jobs. Mary seemed more feeble, and I saw
Margaret and she called Dr. Barber, he will call in
the morning.
04\06\1935 (Saturday)
This morning{mornining!} I finished Mr. Scott's post iron 112{?} and drilled
some auto ladder irons, then worked on drums rims.
John Mc Kay and Francrs Cosgrove sandpapered drum shells
Margaret came up this morning and staid till noon.
Dr. Barber came about five o'clock. I had to go to Kunkel's
drug store and get a prescription filled, I then went to
Dr. Hackett's{?} and paid him $10.00 for doctoring Mary. I th_n{then?}
went to the farm and did the chores, at dark.
04\07\1935 (Sunday)
Mary is a little better this morning but not able
to get about only slowly. Dr. Barber told her that
it would be better for her not to go to church which
she much felt although not able to. It would not do
to leave her alone, so I stayed{stoyed!} with her most of the
day. Margaret came before noon and brought up
a fine dinner. This evening she went to the corner
of West Manin{?} and Willow Sts and tried to see a Mrs.
Montambeau{?} to come but she was not at home, the
lady next door said that she would telephone.
Ray called this evening.
04\08\1935 (Monday)
Mrs. Montambeau came this morning to take care of
Mary. Weather has been cold I have worked in the
Wheel House nearly all day.
04\09\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning the ground was covered with 1 1/2 inches
of snow and it continued to snow and rain all day.
Mrs. Montambeau came at 8 o'clock and staid till 8 P.M.
Mary seems some better, I worked at drums in the
Wheel house the greater part of the day.
04\10\1935 (Wednesday)
Rained this morning all the forenoon. Mrs. Montambeay{Monambeau?}
came about 8 o'clock. Dr. Barber called, said that mary's
Kidneys are effected{effected? infected?}. Mr. Todd called and{?} did
Len Turkington
and May Pierpont.
04\11\1935 (Thursday)
This morning James Egan came and we went to the farm
and drew a large load of old hay upon the hill and I plowed
some, he drilled a hole in a stone.
Mrs. Montambeau came, to eaight and went to town at about
three. Ruth came from Storrs and we were glad to
see her. Ray called this evening after work, Margaret came
after choir rehearsal{rehersel!}.
04\12\1935 (Friday)
This has been a wet and rainy day. Mrs. Montambeau
came this morning, Ruth came up from Margaret's where
she stayed last night. This forenoon Berkley L Frisbie{?}
called and told me that his brother, Cousin Frank Frisbie{?}
died this morning at about two o'clock at his home on
Bunker Hill. There were several callers this afternoon.
04\13\1935 (Saturday)
To day Albert Crandall came and we worked on
drums, the weather was wet and rainy all day.
Mrs. Montambeau came at about eight to take
care of Mary. Soon Ruth and Margaret came, and
Ruth stayed till four when she took a bus for Hartford
where she was to join{Join?} Jack and then they were going
home to Storrs. Ray came during the forenoon,
and Dr. Barber came. He said that Mary must be
kept very quiet. This evening Margaret went up to
Wolcott and got a woman to come and stay to night
I went to town this morning and paid the telephone
bill and did some chores. Payed Mrs. Montambeau{Montambeay!}
$10.00 to night before she went home.
Margaret had a letter from Irving stating{statinig!} that
he was coming next week. Mary seemed very pleased.
04\14\1935 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev J. O. Todd. Preached. Mary sat up some to day.
Frank and his family came from Kent{?}. Arthur
Bird and wife and son came from Bristol.
Rev. Todd called this afternoon. Margaret went to
Wolcott and brought nancy Goodson to stay to
night. Weather cold and wet for the most part.
04\15\1935 (Monday)
This morning was bright with lots of sunshine. I got
breakfast of boiled eggs and coffee bread etc. Mrs. Montambeau
came soon after eight, and I took my truck and carried Miss
Goodson to her home in Wolcott after which I went to the farm
and took a load of old hay to the lot on the hill, and then
plowed till noon, then I came home and had dinner,
and worked about here the rest of the day as it rained
all the afternoon. About five Ruth came from Storrs
and Mrs. Montambeau left I gave her $1.00 She expects to go to
New York tomorrow to be gone a week.
04\16\1935 (Tuesday)
To day dawned bright and cold. Ruth got breakfast and
I went to the farm and plowed till noon. This afternoon
I did odd jobs{Jobs?}. There was plenty of Company Rev. Mr. Todd,
Bessie Jessie and Sarah Pierpont, Lena Turkinton{?}, RAy
and others. Very cold to night.
04\17\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning _he{the?} ground was covered with snow about one and
one half inches deep. I repaired some cart irons for Ed Scott,
and put a new shaft{?} in a grind stone for Charles Welton and
did several other jobs. Mary had several callers to day.
I h_{had?} a letter from Irving stating that he e_pected{expected?}
to leave Milwaukee{?}
{next line difficult to read}
this evening and get here Friday b_{by?} Buss.
04\18\1935 (Thursday)
This morning Ruth got the breakfast and I did up
the chores, then I loaded Charles Welton's grindstone
into the truck and took it out, he paid $3.00 I then
went to Cheshire depot and bought thee{three?} pound{pounds?} of
Timothy grass seed 38 cts per pound, and a bag of
scratch feed for 2.05 Then I came to the farm and
so___{sowed?} the oats and grass seed,{, or ;?} came home and
after dinner filed two crosscut saws for Charles
Welton. Irving came from Milwaukee at about four
o'clock. This evening Iva and Will Gillettee came, as
did Margaret and Cliff.
04\19\1935 (Friday)
Mary seemed a little brighter this mroning. Irving
stayed at Margaret's last night and Ruth Brundage
stayed here. Irving came about 8.30 and we took Mary's
bed and clothes out and aired and cleaned them,
then we put them back again.
Then Irving and I went to Charles Welton's and
left two cross-cut saws that I had filed. We then
went to th farm and Albert Crandall came
and we set out thee{three?} chr_ry{cherry?} trees at the edge of
the lower garden, and two Baldwin apple trees
in the young orchard{archard!} on the hill.
After this we went to Charles Tuttle's in Woodtick, stopping
for Irving to make short visits at Jessie and Bessie Pierpont's{?}
Bessie is tearing down the long storage shed East of the
house. At Charles Tuttle's we enjoyed a good time hearing
him drum and talk.
The arch at Reedville has been bl__ted{blaster? blausterd?} down with
dynamite{diamite!} since I saw it yesterday, andnow the veiacles{vehicles?}
pass over the new{newe!} road south of it.
04\20\1935 (Saturday)
This morning I trimmed the rambler rose bush, then went
to work on drums. Soon Albert Crandall came, and
after a time ERnest Robinson and William Cahill, and we
got a lot of Work done. Mary did not seem as bright
this morning.{. or ,?} Dr. Barber came, but I did not see him.
This afternoon Irving and I took my car and went
over on to the Wolcott road which they are building
over into a state road adn we went up on it to
Prichard's Saw Mill, then we went up to the center
and down past Mr. Roger's place to Charles Tuttle's where
we drummed a spell, then we came to East Farms where{wher!}
we fed Buster then home. Had much company.
04\21\1935 (Sunday)
Raymond came and staid with mary while Irving and
I went to the Mill Plain Union Church. "East Sunday."
Rev J. O. Todd. Large attendance over 400 people including
the three Choirs. This afternoon we had many visitors
Arthur Bird and family from Bristol, Jack Brundage and
{...??}
Wolcott, Vincent Simons and wife from South Waterbury
Frank P. Miller and part of family from Kent. Ray and Ruth,
Phil Royter{?}
and family, Wm Service and family, and others,
Nancy Goodson of Wolcott came to take of{?} Mary at noon
Ruth went back to Storrs this afternoon.
04\22\1935 (Monday)
Mary is a little brighter this day.
This morning I made up the flower bed in the
front yard and did other odd jobs.
This afternoon Irving came and at three we went
to George Somers funeral in the old Pine Grove
Cemetery. After we went to West Cheshire and
bought some{som!} chicken feed. Then we went to North
Wallingford to George Cass where I fot{?} a gallon of
spray mixture and arsnate{arenate?} of lead. We also visited
Charles Cass, then we drove home in the dark
and rain, coming through Meriden and up the
Southington mountain.
04\23\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning I got the spray mixture ready with ten gallons in thi{?}
pumpt and ten gallons in a milk can. This afternoon little Teddy
Voghel and I took it to the farm and there loaded it into the
cart{?} and hitched Buster on and{dnd!} sprayed all the young trees.
This evening Cliff called and gave mary 102. Which he got
from thge Merchants Trust Co on Mary's book of 157. I paid
Margaret $10.00 and gave Cliff $10.00 to send to Ruth.
04\24\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning Irving came and bade Mary Good Bye and
left Waterbury on the 8 o'clock train for his home in
Milwaukee. Will go bny train to New York and there take
a bus for Chicago, and probably trolley the rest of the
way.
I went to the farm and cleaned out the barn then
loaded a load of old hay on the cart and drew it
up on the hill, and then plowed.
Nearly all of the trolley concrete arch t Reedveille is
blasted away, and the new road partly{?} graded.
04\25\1935 (Thursday)
This morning I took Charles Tuttle's{?} drum head to him.
Then went to th farm and plowed all day till 3.30 P.M.
Margaret came and stayed with mary this afternoon
while Nancy Goodson had the time off. Mary had
supper at the table with me, the first time in over a
month. Yesterday morning margaret with others
in her car went to the foot of Southington Mountain
to see the wreck where one of Carces five tone trucks
loaded with ten tons{ton's!} of brass goods got out of the
control of the driver and dashed down the mountain
and at the curve kept strait on and went through{throuth!}
a house and wrecked itsself beyond, killed the
driver, and then burned, and acattered the load
about for a great distance. The occupants of the
house were on the second floor asleep, and were
uninjured. But it awoke{awake!} all except one boy who it
is said slept through it
04\26\1935 (Friday)
To day I finished plowing on the hill and harrowed
a little. This forenoon a fire started in the East
end of the New Pine Grove Cemetery and spread
onto adjoining land. The City Firemen came and
put it out. About one o'clock it started again and
the wind carried it up the hill and it set
the large barn owned by Miss Charlotte Hartley
on fire. soon the Firemen came and saved the
house and put out the grass fire on each side
of it. The barn was a total loss.
04\27\1935 (Saturday)
Yesterday noon at{a!} twelve I was plowing at the farm
and all the steam whistles in town began blowing
and continued for ten or fifteen{fifteeen!} minutes.
I could not understand{uderstand!} the cause, until I got home
when I learned that it was the opening of the three
hundreth anniversary of the settlement of Connecticu_{Connecticut?}
The weather this day has been fair and warm
I have worked all day on the new drums tat
I am making.
Had a hen come off with twelve chickens.
04\28\1935 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd.
This afternoon{affernoon!} I carried nancy Goodson to her home in
Wolcott. Then I stayed home all day.
We had much company.
04\29\1935 (Monday)
Harrowed and made drills in the potatoe field.
This evening I attended Drum Band rehearsal{rehesel!} at the Mill
Plain Union Church.
04\30\1935 (Tuesday)
Cold and wet. Mary is able to sit up and ate
dinner at the table with us.
I cut wood, spread 100 lbs of ground lime-stone on
the front lawn. After dinner went to the farm
and plowed out drills for potatoes. Teddy Voghel
was with me and was very cold.
This evening several of the drummer boys came
and we set two Bass Drum heads, and talked
over matters.
05\01\1935 (Wednesday)
Went to the farm and planted potatoes. Albert Crandall
came in the afternoon and we tried spraying trees for
the tent cat_pillers{catapillars? catapillers?}, came home and repaired
the pump.
Cold and windy.
05\02\1935 (Thursday)
Planted potatoes
05\03\1935 (Friday)
Went to Cheshire and bought Fertilizer and seeds 2.50{?}
Planted potatoes
05\04\1935 (Saturday)
Worked at drums, Al Crandall, Francis Cosgrove, John Mc Kay,
and {blank space} Flemming helped.
05\05\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
REv J. O. Todd, Miss Goddson went with me, after service
I carried her home. Margaret came and stayed with
Mary and got dinner. Ferris Turkington, wife and
daughter called this afternoon.
05\06\1935 (Monday)
To day I cultivated the garden at East Farms and cultivated
the raspberries. Went to West Che_hire{Cheshire?} and bought a bag of
scratch feed 205.{?} and Garden Seeds.
This evening the Maple Hill Continental Drum Band went
the home of Charles Cass{?} in North Wallingford to hear
him fife.
05\07\1935 (Tuesday)
Rained nearly all day. I worked about home all day.
Will and Iva Gillettee called this evening.
05\08\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and hoed the raspberries
cleaned the lower spring, and planted cabbage and
tomatoes. Miss Goddson had the afternoon off, and
Mrs. Merino of Wolcott came and stayed with Mary.
05\09\1935 (Thursday)
This day I planted in the garden at the farm, and
got things ready so that when Albert Crandell came
at about 4 o'clock we sprayed the apple trees.
This evening William Gillette and Iva called. They had Chas Tuttle
with them
and we went to the Rail Road Station and saw the first Streamlined
train ever
seen in Waterbury. "The Comet" owned by the New York New Haven &
Hartford RR Co.
05\10\1935 (Friday)
Rained all the forenoon. I did odd jobs picked the sprout{sprouts?}
off from four bushels of potatoes and baged them up
Dr. Barber called, and said that Mary was better,
that when a warm day came she could go out
and take a short ride. I paid him{?} his bill of $15.00
This evening I went to a minstral{minsterel!} show given by
the Maple Hill Social Club.
I drummed with the boys, and with little Albert Matthews.
05\11\1935 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and did the Chores, then came
home and drilled holes in the rim hoops of drums. Frances
Cosgrove{?}, George Baldwin, John Mac Kay, Ernest Robinson, and
Albert Crandall, helped.
05\12\1935 (Sunday)
I alone attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J. O. Todd. After service home and dinner. Soon Jack
Brundage and family came from Storrs, and Nancy
had the{thi!} afternoon off. Jack brought specimens of rare
wood, he showed me how to kill and dress a chicken he
stuck a knife in the chicken's mouth and cut the jugular{jugler!}
vein{vain!} then picked it dry, and cut it up in a few
minutes. He and I went to the farm and looked
the appletrees over. While there Frank and his family
came from Kent. We all came home and found Phil
Royter with sister mary and her husband Roland
Jenner, and then Ray and Ruth came, and all brought
some presents for mary as this is Mother's Day.
{the following line is written in test}
Monday May
05\13\1935 (Monday)
This morning I repaired the washing machine and
ironing board, and did several{severarl!} other odd jobs, then
went to the farm and planted, carrots, Radish, lettuce, etc.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church, to give,
drumming lessons, but only four boys showed up.
Nancy said she will stay for $8.00 per week.
05\14\1935 (Tuesday)
To day I was at the farm drew two loads of old hay
upon the hill an put most of it about the young apple trees
05\15\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning margaret and I with Teddy Voghel started
at 9 o'clock for Fallsvillege{?} to get some Agricultural
lime
We went by way of Watertown East Morris, Litchfield,
Goshen, and Canaan. We got seven hundred pounds
then we went to Kent and took dinner at Frank's
after which we went down to the fields at the dump
then up to Macadonie Park{?}, and around by Myra
Hobson's place, and back to Frank's, and at three
we started for home, which we reached before five,
coming through Warren, Bantam, Morris, East
Morris, Watertown and Waterbury.
05\16\1935 (Thursday)
To day I worked at the farm, put hay about some of the
young apple trees, and destroyed twnt catepillar{cattipillar!} nests.
They{The!} have the concrete pavement in on the stret__{stretch?} of
the Cheshire road where the trolley arch was.
Lee Garrigus and Paul Miller called to night to
have me go, to Norwich Saturday to drum with the
Mattatuck Drum Band.
05\17\1935 (Friday)
This morning I went to the farm and put oil on
the tent caterpillar's{?} nests I then spread manure and
harrowed for cor_{corn?}. Came home early and repaired
an iron bracket for Ed Scott. Went to the store etc.
05\18\1935 (Saturday)
To day I put on my Continental uniform and went
with the Mattatuck Drum Band to Norwich. I drove
to M.E. Pierpont's residence at East Farms, where we
got aboard of a Bus that had came{come?} from Wallingford,
and at 9 AM, we went out the Meriden road and through
Meriden, Middletown, Portland, East Hampton, Marlborough,
Colchester, to Norwich Town, where we soon
turned Right, and went to the Fair grounds, Where
was held a Sheep shearing contest, and where we
played several selections. They then sent us down
to the Lower Norwich City where we drummed
to advertise the contest, and then returned to the
field, where the contest was still{sill!} on. On the ground
near by was a monument which marked the
spot where a fierce Indian battle took place in 2643{?}
On that spot Miantinomo Chief of the Narraganetts, was
defeated by the Mohegans{Mohikans?} under Uncas. He was taken prisoner
and later tried and executed.
After playing several pieces and having a lunch we
loaded again into the Bus and went through portions
of the Towns of Montville, Salem, Lyme{?}, East Hadam
where we crossed the Connecticut River, then through
Haddam, Higganum{?}, to Middletown, th__{then?} down to
Middlefield. Where we attended the crowning of
the appleblossom queen. This was held at the Lyman
farm of several hundred acres where there were thousand_{thousands?}
of apple trees all in bloom. There were about ten thousand
people there, and the entertainment consisted of many
sports, and exhibitions{exibitions!}. We played there several times
then took the Bus and came home, Reached her_{here?} at 10 P.M.
05\19\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev J. O. Todd,
officiated, and Mr. John Coe preached. Came home and staid
with Mary. Nancy went to her home.
There were visitors Mrs. Mulcern, Mrs. Green, Bessie and
Jessie Pierpont, and Rev. Mr. Todd.
05\20\1935 (Monday)
This morning I went to West Cheshire and bought some
grain and seed. Then I came to the farm and got
the ground ready to plant corn{corn_!}.
Albert Crandall came and worked on his garden.
05\21\1935 (Tuesday)
To day I got the ground ready to plant corn in the
upper lot on the hill.
The large crushed stone elevator that stood by the
trolley track West of Raymond's Bakery has been
taken down, and is now a thing of the past.
05\22\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the Bank and drew out 96.00{?} then
went to City Hall and paid $95.12 one half of Mary's
and my tax. I also paid the Water rent bill of 5.00 and
the Telephone bill of 3.20. Then I went to the Apothecaries
{Apothecaries'?}
Hall Co on Benedict St and bought 50 lbs of Nitrate of Soda
for $3.00. Came home, and went to the farm and got
ground ready for corn.
This is nancy's afternoon off. Mrs. Voghel stayed with
Mary, and got supper, I was with her this evening.
05\23\1935 (Thursday)
Rained this forenoon, I did odd jobs about the
chicken coop, and did blacksmith work for Edward
Scott of Cheshire, I went to Mr. Garthwait's in Wolcott
and had him look at my car. Then went to
Charles Tuttles{Tuttle's? Tuttles'?} and left a drum head. I then
went to the Farm and planted corn on the
hill.
05\24\1935 (Friday)
This morning I went to Mr. Garthwait's and
he{?} put a ball bearing in the Generator of
my red truck, and a fan belt on. I then went
to the farm and got the ground ready to
plant corn{corns!}.
This evening Mr. William Baldwin came for
a drumming lesson as did Albert Matthews.
05\25\1935 (Saturday)
I worked on the new drums till four o clock. Albert Crandall
helped. At four We took Mary for a ride, went down to
Margaret's, then up and saw the new bridge over the Mad
River on the Meriden road, then we went North and
crossed the River at the Woodtick road, then _outh{south?} on the
Frost road and out the Meriden road and up Capitol
Avenue and visited Ray and Ruth then out the Meriden
road and down the {Frost is crossed out} Pierpont road to East Farms
where we stoped at the farm, and then home.
This is the first time Mary has been out since Mar 21st.
05\26\1935 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J.O. Todd, officiated. This afternoon I took Mary
and and {written twice} we went out the new Wolcott road and
carried Nancy Goddson home. Then we went North
on the new road where it was finished and the rest
of the way on the old road to the top of Miner hill{bill!}.
Then we came back and stoped at George Browns{Brown's? Browns?}.
then to sister Mary Jenners{?}, and home.
05\27\1935 (Monday)
To day I got the ground ready nd planted corn
in the North West lot on the hill, I then went to
the bank on East Mountain and got a load of
sand for the chickens.
This evening I went with the boys to the Wolcott
Fair Grounds and drummed.
05\28\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning I planted the flint corn in the
Middle lot West of the shed. Then I worked in
the Cemetery about three hou_s{hours?}.
Albert Crandall and some boys came and
made Bass Drum belts.
05\29\1935 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I went to the East Farms Cemetery
and mowed grass.
Then I came home and put on my uniform and
at Noon James Phalen{?} called and we went to
the Hotel Elton where the Lyons Club were
having a dinner. They called on me to give
a brief history of the Mattatuck Drum Band,
and Drum several selections.
This afternoon I took Mary, Mrs. Voghel and two
children and went to the Pine Grove Cemetery
where Mary put flowers on her Mother's and Clyde's
graves. Then we went to East. Farms Cemetery.
05\30\1935 (Thursday)
Decoration Day. This morning the maple Hill Continen___{Continental?}
Drum Band met here and loaded their drums into
my little red truck, and at 7 started for Kent. We
went through Watertown, East Morris, Morris, Bantam
Woodville, and Warren to Kent. After a time the line
formed, at the Town Hall, which consisted of Mounted
men and girls, Kent School Band, Girl Scouts, Boy
Scouts School children carrying flowers, CCC Camp
men, 100 in number. Our Drum Band and then
the Fire Company. We marched to the Cemetery
back of the Congregational Church, where the School
Children put flowers on the graves of Soldiers then
Mr. Bartlett spoke and made a prayer, after which we
marched to the Cemetery near the Episcopal{Episcapal!} Church where
the Episcopal Minister spoke and made a prayer. Then
we marched to the monument, where Father Sill spoke
and made a prayer. Then we visited the Kent School
buildings and farm. Then we went to Macedonia Park
where we had a dinner. After which we started for home
where we arrived in due time.
05\31\1935 (Friday)
This morning I finished mowing the East Farms Cemetery
and raked over part of it.
I spent some time shaking tent catapillars{catapillers!} off{of!}
from the
young apple trees.
06\01\1935 (Saturday)
I worked at drums in the Wheelhouse till 4 P.M.
John Mc Kay, Frances Cosgrove, George Baldwin,
and Albert Crandall helped me.
Late in the afternoon, after Mrs. Hine who had
been calling had gone, I took Mary and Nancy
for a ride. We went up East Mountain,{,?} to
Prospect Center, then down the New Haven
road through Betheny, then up through Straitsville{?},
and Naugatuck, and by the back road
home.
06\02\1935 (Sunday)
I attended service at the mill Plain Union
Church. Rev J. O. Todd, officiated.
After dinner, I with Mary took Nancy to
her home in Wolcott. Then we started up
the new road for Bristol, but we could only
follow it to William Mac Cormick's, then we
went over Wolcott Hill, and North East to Plum
St which we followed till we found the new road
again, which was practically finished the rest of
the way to Bristol. We then went and called on
Mildred and Arthur Bird at the Bristol Nurseries{Nerceries!}.
We came home through Southington.
06\03\1935 (Monday)
This forenoon I went to the farm and worked in the garden
a spell. Then{The!} I rigged up the spraying outfit and sprayed
the young appletrees that were literally{litterly!} covered with the
tent caterpillars Took Mary and Nancy for a ride to Chas De Bissops{?}
{next line difficult to read}
and down the Peach Orchard Road then{the!} over Pond Hill and home.
This evening I went to the Boys Camp at Hitchcocks pond
East of the Frost Road, and gave a drumming lesson.
06\04\1935 (Tuesday)
Late in getting up this morning. Set out Tomatoe and Pepper
plants in the home garden. Then went to the farm and
set out tomatoe plants, and worked in th garden till
it rained hard when we came home. Later I went to
the Atlantic & Pacific store and got groceries.
Rained most of the day.
06\05\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning I made four hooks for Charles Tuttle of
Woodtick, and sharpened five drills for Frank Welton{?}
of the Woodtick road. This afternoon I went to the
farm and planted in the garden.
06\06\1935 (Thursday)
This morning {morninig!} when I got up it rained a little and
was very cloudy, I prepaired to go to new London
to play in the Mattatuck Drum Band to Commemorate{Commerate!}
Nathan Hall Day, and the unveiling/unveilling{unvailing!}
of a monument to his memory.
I was at Morton E Pierpont's place at 8 o clock and
soon the Bus came from Wallingford that was
to take us, and the boys came to the numbe_{number?}
of 18, and we left in the rain at 8.45 and
traveled out the Meriden turnpike through
Meriden, Middletown, Higganum, Haddam,
Chester, Deep River, Essex{?}, Saybrook, where we crossed
the Connecticut River of a long Bridge into Old Lyme,
and through East Lyme and Waterford to New London
which we reached soon after eleven.
We went about the town till noon, when we
_ad{had?} a fine dinner with the Sons of the American
Revolution in the basement of the methodist
Church. After which the procession formed,
and was composed of U.S. troops from Fort Wright
and other stations, with U.S. Marine Band, and
a large force of Marines{Marenes!}, this was followed by
numerous Patriotic organizations and Band, including
a large High School Band and 700 High School Girls
with hats on all __like{alike?}. Then came our Band
which headed the Sons of the American Revolution from
Rhode Island, Massachussetts, and from Connecticut, who
gave to the City of New London the Monument that was
later unvailed. On{One!} the way home we drove down
to North Wallingford and visited George Cass at his
home, who had lately been badly injured in the{thi!}
right leg.
06\07\1935 (Friday)
To day I spent putting new cutting blades on three
large lawn mowers for Calvary Cemetery, except I
with Mary and Nancy went to Cheshire and bought
a bag of scratch feed for the chickens.
Yesterday Mrs. Chipmans Chauffer{Chofer!} called on me
with a bill of 13.50 (about) for damage that Al{A?} Crandall
did when using my little truck.
I saw Crandall about it this evening.
06\08\1935 (Saturday)
Cloudy{Clowdy!} this morning. At 10.30 I put on my Continental uniform
and with my small car went to No 14 Holmes Avenue and
got Mr. Fox and we started for Oxford to celebrate the
Tricentennary{Tercentenery!} of that Town. When we got to Soughford we
inquired{enquired!} for Quakers Farms, and were there at 12 o'clock,
where we understood that a dinner was to be ready
at that time. But when we got there we found nobody
only a man at a newly erected platform who knew
nothing of a dinner and told us that the parade was
to start from Oxford center four miles away, so we
went there, and found many peopl and two High{Hight!}
School bands, and found the lady in charge who
told us that we were to be at Quakers Farms at 1.30
and have dinner, so we went back there and found
that the ladies were prepairing dinner in a Hall
East of the Church. We waited a long time but none
of our boys came. After a time M Hawkins whose{whos!} wife
was getting the dinner ready said that he would wait
no longer. So we three sat down, and then came a
load of our boys, and soon others came until all were
there. We had a good dinner, after which we loaded
into a large truck and started for Oxford{Orford!}, and then
it began to rain aplenty. at Oxford the other Bands
loaded into trucks, and after a time started South
of the road towards Seymour followed by a long
train of autos. We passed several places where Old
__ ____{sa anes?} and old people and antiques{anteaks!} were displayed.
We reached a point North of Seymour where we turned
about and counter rode until near Oxford we turned
West and went up over the mountains, now and then
passing ancient places where people were out in costume
some of which were very elaborate, it was raining all the time
and we got very wet. After a long wet ride we reached Quakers
Farms and as we were playing down the street a mounted ____{mous?}
horse jumped and plunged throwing{trowing!} the rider a distance
clear of him and down he went never to rise again for
he died within thirty minutes. We formed and lead a _ong{fong? long?}
procession up into a large field where in 1635 a meeting
was held and the town of Oxford was organized. That
meeting was reenacted{reeanacted!}, after which we marched down
into the street and up in{if!} front of the hall where we were
dismissed. {blank space} There were present in the Band The Major
Fifers Jame Phalen{?}, Andrew Kitchenka, Franklin Browne,
Robert Wakelee{Wakeles?}, Alber Atlkinson, {blank space} Snare Drummers
Chas
Monsham, Howard Neal, Louverne{Lauverne?} Fox, Charles Tuttle and
Charls Miller, {blank space} Bass Drummers, Paul Miller, {blank space}
Wheeler{Wheeles?} -
and {blank space} Judd.
06\09\1935 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev J O Todd. {blank space} This afternoon I took Nancy home and
then called on Willie Pritchard{?}.
06\10\1935 (Monday)
Rained this forenoon. I mowed the front and back yards.
This evening Frank and Elsie called, they had with
them Clyde Moses of Middlebury Vt{Wt!} who may go
to work for Frank. They all came from Storrs where
they had attended a Celebration of some sort.
06\11\1935 (Tuesday)
Warm day I cultivated corn and potatoes on the hill
till 3.30 came home and raked up the grass here.
06\12\1935 (Wednesday)
I cultivated all day. Miss Goddson ha_{had?} afternoon off.
06\13\1355 (Thursday)
Hot day. Cultivated most of the day.
06\14\1935 (Friday)
The corn in the middle lot needed weeding, I went
over it with the{he!} weeder, and howed it some.
]Then I banked the corn and potatoes on the hill.
Went down town and paid the Conn Light and Power bill
this evening.
06\15\1935 (Saturday)
Cultivated and hoed on the hill till about {-?} three when
a hard shower came up.
06\16\1935 (Sunday)
Attended Service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev J. O.
Todd.{.?} This was Children's{Childerens!} day.
To day was the first time that Mary has attended
since the middle of March, Nancy was with her.
This afternoon Mary and I carried nancy to her home
in Wolcott, then I called on Willie Pritchard after which
we called on Berkley Frisbie. He told of the letter he
received, stating their{thar!} cousin Carl Jackson died in
Brazil a week ago last wednesday.
06\17\1935 (Monday)
To day James Egan helped me a spell hoeing potatoes
and then I hoed alone. This evening I went to the
cottage at Hitchcocks pond and gave a drumming
lesson to the Maple Hill boys.
06\18\1935 (Tuesday)
Rained all day. I worked at{a!} bl;acksmith work, then
Louis Somers and mr. Smith called to see me about
the brass business{businers!} as connected with great uncle
James Somers and Grandfather David Somers and
down to Robert, Lewis and Joseph Somers. I then
went to town an_{and?} gave in my tax list and got my
bond cupons cashed at the Colonial{Coloneal!} Trust Co, I then
came{come!} home and made drum sticks.
06\19\1935 (Wednesday)
Finished hoeing on the hill, cut some grass
near the barn, and drew the weeder over the
lower piece of corn, and over the corn in the
North West lot.
This evening Albert mathews came and we
practiced drumming a spell.
06\20\1935 (Thursday)
Worked at the farm. This evening I attended an entertainme__{entertainment?}
at the Grange Hall, I drummed with the Maple Hill Boys etc
06\21\1935 (Friday)
I worked at the farm this afternoon. This forenoon Mary
Nancy and I went to Cheshire and got a bag of scratch
feed for 1.95 When we came back we stoped at the farm
and picked a mess of peas, which we had for supper.
06\22\1935 (Saturday)
Howed and weeded the garden at the farm.
06\23\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service with Mary and Nancy at the Mill
Plain Union Church. This afternoon we took nancy home.
06\24\1935 (Monday)
I worked at the farm, for the most part at garden work and
cultivating and hoeing, James Egan helped me till 11. and Ted
Wilson from 8.30 to 5. .90{?}
Margaret got home from Toronto at 3 o'clock this morning having
left there at 9 yesterday morning. She brought Bobbie with her.
06\25\1935 (Tuesday)
To day Ted Wilson and I cultivated and hoed potatoes on the hill till
three o clock when I came home, to meet a Mr. Smith who was to call
at four, but he failed to show up. We have had several showers to
day.
This evening{evenind!} Mr. Banjamin F Hubbell{?} called to make a
sketch of
a soapstone Indian pot that I have.
06\26\1935 (Wednesday)
Ted Wilson and plowed out and howed corn and potatoes. 90{?}
Nancy had afternoon off. In evening Mary and I went to
the farm and{an!} picked peas.
Mrs. Vogel mowed the front lawn.
06\27\1935 (Thursday)
We finished hoeing corn and replanting it. Then we
mowed the gra_s{grass?} by the road side at the watertrough.
06\28\1935 (Friday)
We finished mowing by the water trought and drive wa_{way?}
and hoed in the garden till 2.30 when I came home and
met mr. Smith at 3 PM, and we looked up the Somers
family in regard to their connection with the brass{?}
industry. I loaned him a letter that I wrote on
the subject of brass manufacturing in Waterbury
as I knew it. __{$_?} Paid 1.00 .40{?}
06\29\1935 (Saturday)
I went to the farm this morning and Ted Wilson
and I hoed in the garden, and mowed and ca___{cared? cased?} for
hay etc. till 11. {See below} Came home and got ready and
Mary, Nancy, and I went to Wolcott and attended the
tricentennial{tercennial!} celebration at the Center. Frank Browne
Arthur Harrison{?} and I represented the "Spirit of 76" I also
took charge of the Mattatuck Drum Band.
The Celebration was an interesting one{ond!} and
was well attended. The weather was perfect.
{the following equation was written in small handwriting in the
third line of the above paragraph:
40
.30 {this line is underlined}
10}
06\30\1935 (Sunday)
Mary I and Nancy Goodson to care for mary went
to New Haven this morning to attend the 12th Pierpont
Family Reunion. We went over the new road
through Propsect to the united Church Parish house
corner of Temple and Elm Sts. Where the Farmily assembled
and from there all walked to the Center Church a part
of the service was devoted the 250th anniversary of the ordination
or Rev. James Pierpont, who was the second ordained
of Center Church in 1685, and one of the founders of Yale
Rev. O E Maner pastor of Center Church spoke of Rev. Pierpont as
a Churchman, Rev. Herbert D. Gallandet a member of the Association,
spoke of him as the Ancestor{Ancester!}, and Samuel H Fisher
Chairman of the Connecticut tercentenary{?} commission
and representing Yale, described him as "the Educator"
After service we returned to the Parish House, and had a
bountiful dinner, about one hundred and thirty four sat
down, at this time a business meeting was held and the
same Officers were elected, Raymond H Miller President
Marion Pierpont, Secretary{Secretery!} and Treasurer Mrs. Edward Craft{?}
historian
and Arthur Bradley vice president. Howard neal and Arthur
Sherman Meloy of Stratford were names as assistant historia_{historian?}
After this meeting nearly all walked to th colleges where
they were conducted in groups with special guides through
many of the buildings, Special{Speilal!} rooms were opened for them and
in some special displays of books and papers had been prepaire_{prepaired?}
pertaining{pretaining!} to Rev. James Pierpont One large and beautiful
building
is named in hi_{his?} honor. The distance traveled was over two
miles. After this trip we returned to the parish house and
had a light lunch, said{?} good bys{?} after five and left for home.
The weather was perfect.
07\01\1935 (Monday)
Ted Wilson and I mowed in the BArn lot, and I repaired
a pitman rod for Edgar Upson, and we put my mowing
machine togather. This evening July 2nd Albert Crandall came
and I paid him 3.50 and he paid for the damage done
Mrs. Sarah Chipmans car. We saw Ralph Adams and
Michael Daily{?} about fifing in the Bunker hill parade
July 4th.
07\02\1935 (Tuesday)
We mowed in th barn lot, a little, and tried the machine
out.
07\03\1935 (Wednesday)
Ted Wilson and I mowed with the machine the lower part
of the barn lot, and got in one load.
We put poison to the potatoes{,?} before dinner.
Mary, Nancy and I went to Chreshre and got a bag
of scratch feed, for 1.95
07\04\1935 (Thursday)
This morning I went with the Maple Hill
Continental Drum Band to Bunker Hill,
and took part in a large parade, I wore{ware!}
my Continental uniform, and took the prize{prise!} for
something I know{knows?} not what.
07\05\1935 (Friday)
One of the hottest days. Ted Wilson and I got in a
load of hay, and mowed round the North West corner
of the barn lot. 66
This evening Louverne Fox called and showed me
a history and doings of the Mattatuck Drum Band
that he has prepaired, which was fine.
07\06\1935 (Saturday)
This morning Mrs. Garrigus called on the phone that buster was
in the garden at East Farms I went there immediately and
put him in the stable, and found that we left the gate open
a{at?} the upper end of the lot.
Later Mary and I went out and we picked a mess of peas and
I howed the garden, very hot.
07\07\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at{a!} the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev J O
Todd, not many present. In the afternoon We carried
Nancy home and I visited with William Pritchard.
07\08\1935 (Monday)
Ted Wilson and I mowed the East{Eeast!} Farms Cemetery.
07\09\1935 (Tuesday)
Ted Wilson and I worked in the East Farms Cemetery,
raked it all over and carted away the grass to my barn
after which my truck would not start. We worked at it
in the rain for a time, and then I walked home.
This evening Ray went out and found a bad battery
ground connection, he repaired it, and all was right.
07\10\1935 (Wednesday)
This forenoon Ted Wilson and I set stones in the
East Farms Cemetery. This afternoon I worked
about home as nancy had the afternoon off
and I stayed with Mary.
We had the annual meeting of the East
Farms Cemetery Association this evening, the
same Officers were elected, i.e. C.S. Miller, President
Harald Pierpont Vice president, Howard Neal Secretary{Secr_tery!},
and M.E. Pierpont, Treasurer. All bill paid and
about $400.00 on hand
07\11\1935 (Thursday)
Weataher hot. Ted wilson and plowed out the corn in
the lot West of the shed half way up the hill.
We got a load of hay. This evening mary, Nancy,
Margaret, and I went to the farm and picked 3 pecks of peas.
07\12\1935 (Friday)
Ted Wilson and I mowed the big grass in the North
West part of the barn lot. This has been one of the hottest
days so far this year.
07\13\1935 (Saturday)
I saw Morton Pierpont this morning and sold to
him the grass that we mowed yesterday, I then
opened it out and dried ti and heaped it up, then
went to the dary and told Laurence that it
was ready at 11.AM He came right over with the
truck and took it away by noon.
I then went to West Cheshire and bought a bag
of chicken feed.
After dinner we put poison to the potatoes, and
beans. Came home at about 4.P.M.
Ray called this evening. Has been to new London at
a Convention of the officers of various Family Reunions.
07\14\1935 (Sunday)
Mary, Nancy and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. {The next sentence is written above the line, no mark
is in the text to indicate where this sentence should be inserted}
Rev Thomas Crosby of South Waterbury.
This P.M. Mary and I carried Nancy home, then
we continued on the new road (nearly finished) to Bristol
and visited Mildred and Arthur Bird. I also called{colled!} __{on?}
Charles
Minor/Minos{?} on West Street.
07\15\1935 (Monday)
Ted Wilson and mowed in the North East part of
the Barn lot. {blank space} This evening Mr. & Mrs. Vogle, Nancy
Mary and I went to the farm and picked peas got
over 1/2 bushel. Took the washing to Margaret's.
07\16\1935 (Tuesday)
Ted Wilson and I mowed in the Barn lot and put the{thi!}
hay in winrows{?}. I went to town this afternoon.
Weather very hot.
07\17\1935 (Wednesday)
Ted Wilson and I hand mowed in the barn lot, and
mulched{milched!} the raspberries, and howed in th garden
Hot and muggy. 90 degrees in shade
07\18\1935 (Thursday)
{next line is difficult to read}
Ted Wilson got in the hay{,?} from the North East
part of the barn lot, two loads.
07\19\1935 (Friday)
Ted Wilson and I mowed, and got in the grass on the
lot West of shed. We mowed clover in the North East corner
{next line difficult to read}
of upper lot.
07\20\1935 (Saturday)
This morning Ted Wilson and I mowed the piece of grass West
of the potatoes, and turned out the clover that we mowed
yesterday, after dinner we raked up and heaped the clover
and then it began to thunder We, loaded the hay on to
the cart and got it into the barn, and I got home before
it began to rain. This evening I mowed the grass west
of the garden at home.
07\21\1935 (Sunday)
Attended Service at the Mill Plain Union Church
this morning at ten o'clock. Rev {blank space} of Winstead
preached. This afternoon Mary and I went to Bristol
and visited Charles Minor on West STreet.
07\22\1935 (Monday)
This morning I sharpened seven picks for the Calvary
Cemetery. It rained. Took the washing down to Margaret's.
Then I went to the farm and pulled up the pea vines
and got the ground ready to plant turnips. Ted Wilson came at
noon. Had a talk with Mr. and Mrs. Vogel about rent.
07\23\1935 (Tuesday)
Ver hot day. This morning Ted Wilson and I planted
turnips. Then we drew down a load of clover and
spread it near the barn, then we went on{?} the hill
and mowed in the West end of the orchard but it
was so hot that the {.?} ox could not stand it, so we
went down to the barn and turned over the clover, when
it began to rain and then we put it in the barn and
I came home and ground two scythes and repaired a
hay rake, this evening Mary, Nancy, and I went out
to Hitchcocks lake to see Mrs. Cowles about papering
the Voghel's rooms.
07\24\1935 (Wednesday)
This forenoon Ted Wilson and I mowed a small piece of
grass on the hill, then we mowed the oats, and I came home
and Dr. Barber called after dinner, and said that mary
was better. We then went to teh Somer's Brass Co. but
Lewis was away. We then went to Cheshire and got a
bag of scratch feed. This evening I saw Wm Garrigus
about the Vagel{?} ceiling, the cheapest would be 16.00
07\25\1935 (Thursday)
Rained hard all day. This morning Ted Wilson and I mowed
away the clover. Then we went to th shed on the hill and took
to pieces the wagon stored there.
07\26\1935 (Friday)
This morning I got up early and got my breakfast, and got
otu to the farm, but the weathewr was too{to!} damp to work at hay
so Ted wilson{caps?} and I finished taking the old wagon apart and
fixed up things in the shed, then raked up the hay and
heaped it, and raked up the oats.
This evening I went with the Mill Plain boys to the
Wolcott{Wotcott!} Fair grounds to practice, for the big parade
in New Britain tomorrow.
07\27\1935 (Saturday)
Weather clear and warm. The Maple Hill Drum Band
boys came, and we left here at 12.30 for new Britain
where we took part in the Tricentennial{Tercentennial!} Celebration and
{beginning of next line difficult to read}
the biggest parade ever in that place.
Those who went were. Fifers Fred Troskey{?}, Bob Hill, M
Daly, and {blank space} Cook, {blank space} Bass Drummers {blank space}
Fleming,
Joe Howell{,?} and Ernest Robinson, {blank space?} Snare Drummers,
C. S. Miller,
George Baldwin, Albert Crandell, __________ Cahill, __________ Robinson,
and
{blank space?} Mc Carthy.
07\28\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
J O Todd. Mr. Todd gave{?} me a check of $10.00. This afternoon
Mary and I took Nancy to her home in Wolcott and then
called on Berkelee Frisbie{?} and saw Mrs. Carl Jackson,
after which we went to Southington to see Mrs. James
Upson on Oakland St, but she was not at home. We
then drove South and on through Cheshire Street and
home. I saw Mr. Vogel and told him that I could not
lay out{.?} any money at present on their kitchen. He said
that they would move and be out by the 10th.
07\29\1935 (Monday)
Ted Wilson and I got in two loads of hay and one load
of oats, and mowed some in the orchard on the Hill.
This evening Al Crandall and Bob Hill came and
Hill took a Continental Coat and one pair of boot tops{?}
Crandall took Coat, Boottops, and hat.
07\30\1935 (Tuesday)
Ted Wilson and finished getting the hay at the farm
to day. This evening{evining!} Mary, Nancy and I went to
the far and drove up on{.?} the hill, dug a few
potatoes and got some vegtables. Later Mr.
Vogel called, and stated that he wanted to remain in
the rent up stair for $20.00 per month and he would paper,
and paint the kitchen etc. at his own expense.
07\31\1935 (Wednesday)
Ted Wilson and I worked a long time on the Washing machine
I went to town and{ang!} got Check cashed. Mr. Kurtz came and
took photograph of my old drums. Then I ground a lot
of scythes, and Wilson{Witson!} and I mowed a spell. I carried him
home and saw Raymond{?} about repairing the clutch
on the Washing machine.
08\01\1935 (Thursday)
Hot day. I mowed about home, Ted Wilson helped this
afternoon.
08\02\1935 (Friday)
Mowed about the home lot to day Wilson helped in
the afternoon. We unloaded hay, got the mowing
machine down from the hill, got vegtibles{usually spelled vegtables} etc.
Louis Somers called this evening, about _r{Mr.?} Smith
and my manuscript{manuscrip!}.
08\03\1035 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the Center, Mr. Smith carried{cirried!}
me down in his Packard car. He was here to return
some papers that I lent him. Went to Dimes{?}, and Manufacturer's
{Manufacturers'?}
Banks, then to Cheshire and got bag of
scratch feed and powder. Then I got on my rig to
represent the "Spirit of 76," and after dinnr the boys
came and at one o'clock Albert Crandall, Robert Hill,
Fifer){only ")" included} George Baldwin, Color bearer, and myself
drummer,
with Crandall, left for Washington, Mary and nancy
also went in my car. We went via Ben Sherman Hill,
Woodbury and Hotchkissville. The Celebration was
larger thatn any ever given in Washington (this state)
08\04\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev. Wyley Scott of Wolcott preached.
This afternoon Mary and I carried nancy home, then
we went to Charles Cass in North Wallingford and
mad a visit. We also stoped at George Cass.
All of the fish in the large reservoir near there died last
week. They claim that the hot weather head the water so
as to kill the vegtable matter in the bottom of the pond
and this caused the tons of fish to die. They had a large
number of men gather them and bury them about fruit
trees in the vicinity{vacinety!}.
08\05\1935 (Monday)
Mowed near the wheel house, Ted Wilson and I took a load of
hay to the farm this afternoon. He only helps me in the afternoon
as he and Laurence{Laurense?} Pierpont peddles milk at night,
while Yarrington is away on his vacation.
08\06\1935 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I mowed the lower part of the home{?} lot. This
afternoon Ted Wilson and I painted the, Deck roof over the
Vogal's kitchen and the roof over their varanda{varandd!}.
Received from irving my fife and fife book.
This evening Wm and Iva Gillettee called and we had
a nice visit.
08\07\1935 (Wednesday)
Mowed big grass in home lot this forenoon, and
Ted Wilson and I took a load out to the farm. We
worked on the washing machine.
Nancy was gone this afternoon, Mary got supper.
08\08\1935 (Thursday)
Ruth came from Storrs, and brought Peggy, and Frank's
wife Elsie, and children Marion, __________ and Dwigh{Dwight?}
Elsie and her children are visiting at her Father's
Prof{Prof.?} Hary Garrigus at Storrs and Ruth brought
them down here, and they returned at four P.M.
I mowed in the home lot West of the barn, and
Ted and I took a load of hay out to the farm.
Buster tore up the fence in the lot on the
hill We__{West?} of the shed and about ruined the
{next line difficult to read}
pi_ce{piece?} of corn{?} there.
08\09\1935 (Friday)
Mowed East of the Chicken coop, and put the hay
in chicken yard. Ted Wilson and I took the last
load to the farm, and fixed the barn yard
fence.
08\10\1935 (Saturday)
I mowed the front yard and did other odd jobs. Went to
the farm, got vigtables/vegtables{?} etc.
08\11\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Congregational Church at Prospect
Center Rev. Thomas Cochard{?}.
After dinner, Mary and I carried Nancy to her home in
Wolcott then we went to Mr. James Upsons at 56 Oakland St
Southington, and I turned in the papers that I received from ___{Wis?}
08\12\1935 (Monday)
This morning Mary and I did the washing. Then I went
to the new Lincoln store and bought a Wheel puller, and
brake lining for my Model A.1931. Ford truck for 2.16
and when I got home Ted Wilson was here and it took us
till six o'clock to put the New linings in th four wheels.
Nancy went up in our old room to sleep for the first
time to night. The weather to day has been clear and
warm.
08\13\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning I mowed the front yard. This afternoon Ted
Wilson and I repaired the roof where it leaked over Vogle's kitchen
We then raked up the hay that we mowed and took it to
the farm.
We received a letter rather a postal card from Irving
dated Alexandria{Alexandra!} Va on which he stated that he left home
last Sat and traveled 452 miles to Columbus Ohio
then to Middletown Maryland{Mareyland!} 3.66{or 366?} miles.
08\14\1935 (Wednesday)
This I went to West Cheshire and bought a roll of fil__{ink blot}
roofing
and a bag of Scratch Feed. At about 10.30 The Mill Plain Drum
boys came and we loaded our drums into my truck
and at 11.00{?} started for Warama_g{Waramaug?} Lake where the
Litchfield
Farm Bureau were having a Convention and field
day. There were thousands there and acres cov_red{covered?} with
automobiles. We played in the Pageant{Pagent!} several times and{an!}
received
great applause, Margaret took, Mary and nancy.
Of the Band who went were Fifers Michall{Michael?} Daly, Robert
Hill. Bass Drummers Ernest Robinson and Byron Flemming
Snare Drummers C.S. Miller, George Bldwin, Albert Crandall,
and Charles Robinson.
08\15\1935 (THursday)
I mowed about home, and did odd jobs all day.
Took a small load of hay to the farm, and there
thinned out one row of turnips.
Ted Wilson has gone to Maine with the Pierpont
girls Hellin{Hellen?} and marion, expects to be back Monday
08\16\1935 (Friday)
Worked about home etc.
08\17\1935 (Saturday)
This aternoon mary, nancy, and I attended the
Upson family Reunion at Farmington. There{Ther!} were about
131 present. We had our dinner in the Grange Hall
Irving and family arrived in Waterbury this
evening first at Margaret's, then up here and spent
the evening
08\18\1935 (Sunday)
This morning Irving came with his car and he,
Mary and Nancy and I went to the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Girtrude Coe of Wolcott preached.
We came home and had dinner. Those who sat down
were Irving{Irvind!} and Dorothy, their children David, Barbary,
and John, Margaret and Clifford Northrop, Mary and
I, and Nancy Goodson.
After dinner nancy went home, Margaret, David,
John and Barbara went for a ride, Irving, Do__thy{Dorothy?}
Cliff Mary and I, went over to Wallingford, and
called on George Cass, but he was not at home,
We then went to Charlie Cass, and made a
Visit. He will go to Kent next Friday with the
drum boys. When we left there we went North
up to the meriden and Middletown road{?} and came
through Meriden to, Mo__{Mort?} Pierpont's where{?} Margaret
and her party joined us, and Lena Turkington and
daughter called, and there we learned that nancy
had stuck a nail through her foot, and had
been taken to the doctor.
We had a fine supper, after which Cliff, margaret,
Mary and I came home. Soon Nancy came, she __{is?}
very lame.
08\19\1935 (Monday)
This morning I worked about home did the washing etc.
Irving came, But he left for Storrs at about 11.00 He and
Dorothy, David, Barbara, and John, to go to the funeral
of H__ry{Harry?} Garrigus son who was shot.
This afternoon I went to the farm and repaired the
barnyard fence.
This evening The drummer boys came and prepaired
to go to Kent next Saturday.
08\20\1935 (Tuesday)
Went to the farm and Ted Witson{Wilson?} and I set concrete
fence posts on the North side of the middle
lot West of the shed. In the afternoon Irving and
John came and altogather we set six posts.
Nancy's Parents came in the evening and
took her down to the doctor, after they got back
they spent much time in the drum room.
08\21\1935 (Wednesday)
Went to town this forenoon, and wrote a long letter
to Mr. Atherton of Litchfield. This afternoon Irving
came late and we went, and visited Wm Gillettee{?},
Art Warden, and Mr. Macken on Bunker Hill, and
then went to Wouth Waterbury and saw cousins Robert,
Louis and Joseph Somers, and went in their facotyr and
saw some wonderful electric furnaces that annealed
long strips of thin metal and they came out bright and
clean. The metal was pure nickel{nicel!}.
08\22\1935 (Thursday)
Thursday mnorning I took my Ford runabout and with Mary
and Nancy Goodson, started for Kent. W_{We?} first went to
Margaret's on Beecher Avenue, where Irving joined us with
his new Dodge car, and with him was Dorothy, Barbara
John and David. We went North through Lakewood,
Waterville, Watertown East Morris, Morris, Bantam,
Woodville, where we went up the Shepang River and
viewed the high new Reservoir dam, then we came
back onto the main road and went through Warren,
to Kent. We had dinner at Frank's, after which we went
to the great Meadows where the Celebration is to be and
met Mr. Mc Dowell, who arranged to have Frank take
Irving with a bass drum, and I with my large Snare
drum, and Rube __________ with a banner, and we went
to Flanders, where we got out and drummed, then
we went to North Kent where we drummed{drumed!} again and Rube
told in a loud voice about the Celebration then to Cornwall
Bridge where we done the same thing, then up to Cornwall
plains{?} where we drummed and shouted again then we went
to West Cornwall and did as before, then up to Canaan and
marched through the Main Street drumming, then to
Lakeville where we drummed and Rube shouted,
then to Sharon, drummed again, then to Amenia Union
and drummed the niggers out, then down through
Macadonia and home, after which the women loaded up
the cars with provisions and we went back up the Masadonia
brook and had a fine picnic supper, came home
after dark and went down to the meadows and saw
part of the pageant{pagent!} rehearsed{rehersed!}, then home and
to bed, Irv,
David and John slept in the barn on the hay.
Friday morning we got up and Irving{Iring!} got things
ready and about 8 a.m. started for milwukee, Frank
attended to business, I went down to the Great
meadow where they were getting{gelling!} ready for the Celebration.{.?}
At noon I came home and had dinner, after which, Rube
and I went town to the meadow, and mr. Mc Dowell got
M Reynols{Reynolds?} to take us in this car and we went to
New Milford where we got out and I drummed and
Rube shouted at every corner, we marched around
the square, then we went to Northville, we did our
part, but few appeared, then to new Preston, where we
repealed, then to Washington Depot,{,?} where we drummed
and marched through the main St and across the
narrow iron bridge. Then up the long hill to Washington
green where we drummed around the green.
Thgen over a long and interesting road to Litchfield,
where we drummed out a large number of people,
we went up West St and down South St a little way.
Then to Bantam where we played down the main
St. Then through Warren to Kent, which we reached
at 4.30. I took the drums that I had to the new
Sports hall, and then went with Charles Cass to
the place where his grandfather lived.
Tha Mattatuck and maple Hill drummer boys
now arrived to the number of 25 and we headed
a procession and the Governor{Govenor!} and played to
the Great Meadow South of the town, where were
assembled a great number of people, and there
the Goshen Coronet Band played, and then we
won much applause by palying severl old pieces
When it began{begn!} to get dark our boys left for home
I stayed and saw the Indians come up the river
in canoes, and come to the council fire and meet
the white men and smoke the pipe of peace, of the
4 or 5 white men not one knew how to smoke.
An old stage coach with 4 horses came driving up
to an old tavern, built for the occasion
These with many other attractsion made n ainteresting
pageant{pagent!} in the night, all lit up with search lights.
At about 11 P.M. I started for Frank's, but there were
so many autos passing out of the gate, and on the raod
that I made slow progress, But Frank had been home
with the folks, and came back looking for me, he
could not get onto the grounds at the gate as there
were such a rush of autos out. He went to a pair
of bars at the lower end and got in, as he did
not find me he started for home and overtook me
on the road a short distance up.
This morning I got up and we got ready soon
after breakfast{,?} and started for home, came by
South Kent to new Preston, then to Washington
where we stoped and saw Mr. John Hollister from
whom I bought a 24"{?} Bass drum for the boys.
Then we came home, and I fell{feell!} to the usual work.
08\25\1935 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev
Mrs. Girtrude Coe{?} preached, I suppose good, but I
could not hear a word.
After dinner Mary and I took Nancy home, and
then visited Charles Tuttle, then to the farm and
did chores etc, then home.
08\26\1935 (Monday)
Did the washing this morning. This afternoon Ted Wilson
and I went to Cheshire and got 2 bags of chicken feed.
Then we came to the farm and set 4 fence posts.
Weather hot at noon.
08\27\1935 (Tuesday)
To day Ted Wilson and I set some fence posts at the farm.
Tred came in the evening and we went to the Mattatuck
Drum Band meeting at Ralph pierpont's barn at East Farms.
08\28\1935 (Wednesday)
Ted Wilson and I drew fence posts on the hill and
set several, it __{is?} hard work as the posts are 8 ft long
made of concrete and weight 120 lgs each and are{ars!} set in
the ground 3 ft deep, it is very stony where we dig and
hard pan at the bottom of the holds.
08\29\1935 (Thursday)
This morning I did odd jobs about home, and got ready,
so that when Albert Crandall, and Mike Daly came.
We loaded up and started for Canaan to take part in
the Tercent_nary{Tercentenary?} Celebration, of Canaan{?} and North
Canaan{Canan!}.
We acted the "spirit of 76." There was a great concors{concourse?} of
people there from, Massachusetts, and New York state
and all the surrounding towns. More automobiles than
I ever saw before at such a Celebration
The parade consisted{consested!} of Mounted Marshals{Marshalls?}, Band
from Torrington{Tarrington?},
Float, A Colonial Town meeting, Float A{?} Colonial house,
Float, The covered wagon. Small drawn{?} by two goats, on side
was letered PIKES PEAK, OR BUST. Float, A meeting house Scene.
Float, An Indian Village. Float, An Old fashined Singing school_{?}
Float 1821. - 1935. Float, A Colonial Grist Mill, Fall Village
Firemen. Float, Colonial, and Modern girls, Gloat An
Old time Country store. Canaan Fire engine of 1839, and
Firemen, An Old Fashioned Wagon. Float, Spirit of Methodism{?}
Float. Winter Sports. Float An Old Fashioned Choir. FLOAT
A Forest Scene FLOAT. A{Aa!} Soldiers{Solders!} grave in France.
Boy Scouts,
West Scockbridge Band, FLOAT, An Old time Blacksmith Shop,
FLOAT An Old Fashioned School. FLOAT. An Old time Quilting Party,
Boy scouts of Canaan. Float. Southern New England Telephone
Co. Old Reo{?} Auto 1906. Old Buic 1908. Old Express wagon,
Old small Slay{Sleigh?} carrying one lady, drawn by a large negro,
"Spirit of 76" Large Float, Canaan Bord{Board? Bard?} of Trade, Wagons,
Marshal_{Marshall?} etc.
{New paragraph or is there a blank space in text}
The parade ended at Laurence Field at 5.30
where the exercises etc. were held, and where we had lunch
after which we left for home.
The weather has been cool and nice, only sweat a little.
08\30\1935 (Friday)
Ted Wilson and I set out to set fence posts but it rained
before we got two holes dug so we gave it up, and I came
home.
This evening Brother Fred and wife of Tarrytown called, with Wm
Gillette
08\31\1935 (Saturday)
To day{?} Ted Wilson and I finished setting the concrete fence
posts and straightened up the old wire fence. I came home
and went down town and bought binding wire of Plum
Bros and did other errands.
The weather has been nice and fair.
09\01\{1935} (Sunday)
Mary and I Attended Church at the Mill Plain Union
REv J. O. Todd, preached. Having returned from his
vacation. This afternoon we went to the farm and fed
the ox, after which we went out the pla_k{plank?} road and up
Matthews St to the road from Cheshire to Preospect, then
in from the Center on the Waterbury road and home.
Nancy Goddson came to night after a week vacation.
This evening Jack Brundage and all the family called.
09\02\1935 (Monday)
Stormy day. I worked polishing my little car, and cut wood.
09\03\1935 (Tuesday)
Went to town this forenoon, and with Ted Wilson made
fence, this afternoon.
09\04\1935 (Wednesday)
Rained all day. This morning I went to the farm and yoked up
Buster and started up to the lot but it came on to rain and I
came home. Then I went to the Wheel House and lettered some
signs for my little Ford truck, and sawed off a stock of
iron wood, and then sawed it in halves lenthwise to make
drum sticks of.
09\05\1935 (Thursday)
Rained at times all day. I went to Robert Tyler's and had
a stick of iron wood 18" long sawed into 1" square pieces, for
drum sticks. I then went to West Cheshire and bought
a bag of scratch feed 1.85 and a roll of barbed fence wire
for 3.50 then I came to the farm and took care of the ox,
and worked on Arthur Bird's{?} dr_m{drum?} the rest of the time
09\06\1935 (Friday)
I have worked on Arthur Bird's{Birds'?} drum nearly all day. Saw Chas
Tuttle this afternoon late.
The Vogle's returned this evening from their vacation to
New Bedford.
09\07\1935 (Saturday)
Ted Wilson and I made fence at the farm.
Put letters on my truck to night Nancy helped.
This is the first day this week that it has not rained.
09\08\1935 (Sunday)
Miss Goodson Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church Rev Joseph O{?} Todd officiated.
This afternoon Mary and I went to Wallingford and saw
one of the finest Tercent_nary{Tercentenary?} Pageants{Pagents!} held
in the State.
09\09\1935 (Monday)
Ted Wilson and I finished the fence t the shed lot at the
arm, as we were getting through it began raining and
continued through the evening.
Robert Browne called this evening to get drum notes,
I helped to do the washing.
09\10\1935 (Tuesday)
Fair weather. I hav_{have?} worked about home, Mr. Valaski of
Prospect brought a large circular saw and I filed it.
Mrs. J.I. Biam{?} called this afternoon and wished me to
wrtie a paper for her, "How Mad River Grange got its name."
This evening as I was writing The Maple{Mapli!} Hill Drummer
boys came and wished me to go to Cheshire and drum
to advertise Mr. Baldwin's new Bowling alleys.
I went and at up{?} after eleven having finished Mrs. Byam's
paper.
09\11\1935 (Wednesday)
Nice weather. This morning I took my little red truck to
The Malcome Motor Co's and West Main St and had the Speedometer
repaired, ad stop light repaired, after I got home
I worked on Art Bird's drum, and then cut wood, and
went to the farm and got a bushel of vegtibles{usually spelled
vegtables}, etc.
Nancy had afternoon off.
09\12\1935 (Thursday)
Nice Day. This morning I took Mary and Nancy and
Went to Bristol. Left them at Arthur Bird's at the
Bristol Nurserys{Nurseries?} and I ook my car to Redfernes Ford Co
nd had the Stop light repaired. Then I got the womenernes Ford Co
and came home, 12.7 miles from Arthur Bird's house to
outs. After dinner I took my pickup car to Redfernes
in Bristol and had a dash{dosh!} light put on, when I came
home I stoped at Carl Moulthrop's at Cedar lake, he is
80 years old.
09\13\1935 (Friday)
Cut Wood nearly all day. Went to town and saw them
inspect {-?} Cars on Freight Street. Painted Front Stops.
09\14\1935 (Saturday)
I got the wood into the Woodhouse{,?} and then worked
on Frank's Milk Truck
09\15\1935 (Sunday)
We attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev J O Todd.
This afternoon Mary and I went and visited Mr. John Hollister{?} in
Washington. We went and came back over Bunker Hill.
09\16\1935 (Monday)
Nancy staid at her home last night, but was here at seven, and
I helped to the washing. Then I repaired the stop light on the
pickup car. Then I loaded lumber tat I had prepaired and
took it to Robert Tyler's ladder shop on the Meriden road
and had it sawed and plained to build a milk truck
fro Frank. This evening I turned out a drum stick for
Robert Browne.
09\17\1935 (Tuesday)
To day I went to Freight St. and had my cars tested, got there{?}
at nine{ninen!} and there was about twenty ahead. I passed with
he Runbout on everything except wheel alighment and
brakes. Went to the Ford dealers and had the repairs
made, and passed, except one wheel, then I had that
repaired and all was O.K. This afternoon took the Pickup
car down and had much the same experience that I had
with the other car, both are 1931 mak.
Rigged stove over to burn coal.
09\18\1935 (Wednesday)
Worked at drums staining them, and went to Cheshire and
got bag of scratch feed. Nancy is away this afternoon.
09\19\1935 (Thursday)
Worked about home all day. Made fixtures{firtures!} for setting
drum heads, and set one head in Arthur Bird's drum{.?}
09\20\1935 (Friday)
Worked on Frank's Milk truck the greater part of the
day. This afternoon Mary, Nancy and Ted Vogel
went and saw Raymond, then to Bessie Pierpont's
and to the farm where we gathered a lot of
vegtables.
09\21\1935 (Saturday)
Worked most of the day on Frank's truck
The City is putting in a swer pipe from the Mad
River up East Main St and around the corner of
The Frost Road about 40 feet, where they expect to
stop for the present, at the corner they are putting
it at a depth of 15 feet.
09\22\1935 (Sunday)
Mary and I and Nancy attended service at the Mill
Plain Union Church, Rev J O Todd.
This is Mary's 75 birthday. This afternoon Maigaret{Margaret?}
and Cliff Northrop called, and Ferris and Lence{?}
Turkington, and Morton and Jessie Pierpont, allso called.
09\23\1935 (Monday)
I have donw some of the washing, and did some on Frank's
truck. {blank space} This afternoon Mary, Nancy and I attended the
funeral of Judge George W Brown of Wolcott. Margaret carried
us up in her car, Rev. John N. Lewis of St Johns{John's?} Church
officiated.
The service was held in the Woodtick Chapel{Chaple!} and the great
number of people in attendance was so large that the building
would only hold a small part of them. Over 100 people
walked to the Cemetery, and there was a long procession
of Automobiles. There were delegations, of Masons, Grangers
and Foremen from Scoville's in attendance.
09\24\1935 (Tuesday)
Worked to day on Frank's truck.
09\25\1935 (Wednesday)
Worked to day on Frank's truck.
To day we recieved cards announcing{announceing!}, that Mr. and Mrs.
James Lester Hackworth announces the marriage of their daughter
Lydia Catheryne, {blank space} to Mr. Mansfield Miller Gillette on
Saturday, the
twenty first of September. One thousand nine hundred and thirty
five. Louisville. Kentucky.
09\26\1935 (Thursday)
This morning Margaret came with her Chevolet{?}
car, and took mary Nancy and I to Simsbury to
to {written twice} visit my brother Frank. We went up over the
new State road in Wolcott to Bristol where we left
a drum that I had repaired at Arthur Bird's at
the Nurseries. We then went through Unionville an_{and?}
up Lovely street and past Cherry Park to West Simsbury.
We found Frank farily well and doing all
the house work, Gussy is blind and out of her head
most of the time. We staid there and ate the dinner
that we carried along with Frank's corn beef and
vegtables. Before two we left for Charles Norton's
at Pleasant{Plesant!} Valley We went up through North
Canton{?} over very rought and hilly roads, then
toe Bark hamstead{?}, passing several Churches and
groups of houses, but whether{wheather!} we went through
the center of the town, we know not. After
passing up and down long mountain raods
and crossing the Farmington River we reached
Mr. Norton's where we left a picture frame that
I made him, and after a short visit we left for
home, by way of Winsted, Tarrington{?}, Thomaston
etc. We reached home before dark.
09\27\1935 (Friday)
This is my 77th birthday, Nancy gave ma as a
present{presint!} three hankerchiefs. Weather fine.
I worked on Frank's milk truck.
09\28\1935 (Saturday)
I worked on Frank's milk truck all day.
09\29\1935 (Sunday)
Mary, Nancy and I attended service at the Mill Plai_{Plain?}
Union Church. Rev J. O. Todd.
09\30\1935 (Monday)
This morning I did most of the washing, in the afternoon
went to the farm and began digging the potatoes, dug
1 1/2 bushels.
10\01\1935 (Tuesday)
This morning I filled my car with oil then I went
to Cheshire and got a bag of chicken feed. Then came
to the farm and dug potatoes.
10\02\1935 (Wednesday)
Worked on the milk truck most of the day
The Mill Plain boys drummed for St Peters and Pauls{?} Church.
10\03\1935 (Thursday)
This forenoon I repaired the fence and gate on the hill, in the
afternoon Ted Wilaon and I got out a large stone{?} from the pass
way, and then dug potatoes.
10\04\1935 (Friday)
I repaired the gale{?} on hill, P.M. Ted and I dug potatoes.
10\05\1935 (Saturday)
Nice day. Heavy frost this morning.
Harry, Nancy and I went to the Harwington{?}
Fair. There were many fine exhibits, and a large
crowd of people, I counted 36 yoke of oxen, the
most that I have seen togather in several years.
We went over the new road through Wolcott, then
through Bristol, and up route 117, to harwington
22 1/2 miles.
10\06\1935 (Sunday)
Mary, Nancy and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev J O Todd.
This afternoon I carried Nancy Goodson home as she has got
through working here, as I could not afford to pay her.
When I came home I stoped at East Farms and took care of
the ox.
10\07\1935 (Monday)
This morning I cooked the breakfast. Then I took the
tuyer{tire?} iron out of my forge and the blower and repaired
them and Ted Wilson and I put them back again,
then we sharpened picks.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church and
gave a drumming lesson.
10\08\1935 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. This afternoon dug potatoes
Ted Wilson helped me.
10\09\1935 (Wednesday)
This morning I did the washing, and went to the Citizen's and
Manufacturer's Bank and got a check of $10.00 cashed.
This afternoon I went to th farm and dug potatoes.
This evening I went to the Men's Club supper at the Mill
Plain Church Mr Curtiss{?} told of the Manufacturer's exposition
{exhition?}
Ter_centenary{Tercentenary?} at Hartford.
10\10\1935 (Thursday)
Dug potatoes, to day. Ted Wilson helped in the afternoon.
We received a letter from Irving. His address now and
until Nov 15 will be EL MONTE HOTE, {, or .?} MONTE VISTA %{c/o?}
R.C. BORCHART{?}
COLORADO{CALORADO!}. He is employed at the gold mines near there by
L.R. Smith.
10\11\1935 (Friday) {Is entry for 10\11\1935 or 10\12\1935?}
I finished digging potatoes, and got down o__{one?} load of corn.
Ted Wilson and I husked it out, we also cut the pop corn and
husked it, found many corn borers{?} in the pop corn.
11\12\1935 (Saturday)
Ted Wilson and I cut corn all day.
11\13\1935 (Sunday)
Mary and I attended the Tercentenary{?} service at
Prospect{Porospect!}, the church was filled to overflowing. Rev.
Sher___{Sherwod? Sherwood?} Sould{?} of Hartford, preached the sermon and
the regular minister Mr. Cockrain officiated, after
ser__ce{service?} we viewed the, relics{relicks!} of former days on
ex________{exhibition?}
in the Grange Hall and in the old Parsonage, and
Lybrary.
11\14\1935 (Monday)
Te Wilson and I cut corn and husked corn.
This evening I attended the drum rehearsal{reshaal!}.
10\15\1935 (Tuesday)
We cut corn and husked it out Ted and I.
10\16\1935 (Wednesday)
We finished the large piece of corn on the hill.
10\17\1935 (Thursday)
Ted Wilson and I cut and husked corn{corm!}
Frank and Chas Patterson{?} called this morning.
10\18\1935 (Friday)
Ted Wilson and I finished husking corn and cleaned
up and plowed on the road up the hill.
10\19\1935 (Saturday)
Ted Wilson and I worked at the farm, he loaded manure and
made road, while I plowed.
10\20\1935 (Sunday)
We Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Church, Rev.
Wayne Wormer{Normer?}, preached, and Rev. Mrs. Coe conducted the
service.
After service we went to East Morris{Moris!} and had dinner with
_erris{Ferris?}
Turkinton{?}.
10\21\1935 (Monday)
Did the washing as Mary is very feeble, I then went to town
and paid the taxes and other bills. This afternoon worke_{worked?}
at the farm.
10\22\1935 (Tuesday)
I plowed in teh middle lot, and drew manure up on the hill.
10\23\1935 (Wednesday)
I plowed on the hill, Ted Wilson got out Manure{Manuer!}, and baged up the
corn
10\24\1935 (Thursday)
I plowed on the hill. Ted Wilson finished{?} getting out manure,
and worked on the road.
10\25\1935 (Friday)
Ted Wilson painted milk truck frame. I sharpened tools.
10\26\{1935} (Saturday)
Worked at farm plowing. Ted Wilson made road
10\27\{1935} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at Mill Plain. Then went to Gilletts{?}
on Bunker Hill had dinner. Then all went to Kent and got
Frank and we all went to Harring's{?} farm at Bulls bridge
and saw about holding the Somers Thanksgiving dinner
there. They want 1.25 per plate. The Royters{Royter's?} went also.
10\28\1935 (Monday)
I did the washing. Then went to Cheshire and got a
bag of Scratch feed. Then to the farm and plowed, Ted
Wilson{?} worked on the road.
10\29\1935 (Tuesday)
Plowed all day on the hill. Ted Wilson picked stones.
10\30\{1935} (Wednesday)
Finished plowing. {blank space} John Barr called this evening{.?}
10\31\{1935} (Thursday)
{next line difficult to read}
Worked __{on?} the milk truck in the forenoon, and went
to Woodbury and saw Hollister Sage in the afternoon.
Cara{?} called this afternoon and left her pension papers.
11\01\1935 (Friday)
Went to town this Forenoon{Farenoon!}, and made oath to
Cara's Old age Pension papers before Attourney Phelan{?},
and did other{ather!} business. Worked on Milk truck this
P.M.
11\02\1935 (Saturday)
Ted Wilson and I worked all day bending the axel for Frank's
milk truck. Ray came this afternoon and we welded it.
Weather moist but no rain.
11\03\1935 (Sunday)
Mary and I attended the Mill Plain Union Church{?}
Rev. Girtrude Coe preached
No rain
11\04\1935 (Monday)
I did the Washing this morning. Then I set the axel{axle!}
for the milk truck, and Ted Wilson and I worked on
it in the afternoon.
The Republican published this morning that Rev.
Mr. Todd is going to Worcester Mass to preach Dec 1st.
11\05\1935 (Tuesday)
I went to the farm this morning, brought{brough!} in vegtables.
Then worked on Frank's milk truck
This evening Will and Iva came and took Mary and I
up to Reutter's{?} and we talked over the matter of meeting
Thanksgiving.
11\06\1935 (Wednesday)
I worked on the milk truck. This evening John
Barr, Leland Garrigus, __________ __________ Howard Neal
and Louvane Fox, came and we arranged to
have the Mattatuck DRum Band, broadcast{broodcast!}
in December.
11\07\1935 (Thursday)
T{?} Wilson and I worked on the milk truck
Mary, Iva, Effel came and reported, and it
was decided to hold the Somers family Thanksgiving
dinner at Lakeside Tavert{Tavern?} at Hitchcocks
Lake. Price per plate 1.25
11\08\1935 (Friday)
This forenoon I went to Wolcott and saw Arthur Harrison
about drumming, then went up to Carl Moulthrops
and he will drum, then I saw Charles Tuttle, then
came to the farm, then home. This afternoon Wilson
and I worked on the truck.
[[Read by Ruth Brundage -Summer{?} 47
" " Frank P. Miller - January 1948]]
[[end of Journal book]]
No of Ignition Key to my Ford Runabout Car is A 1335
" " " " " " For Pickup " " A 1475
Both Cars are Model A, 1931.
Charles S. Miller
No 2271 East Main Street
Waterbury
Conn.
11\09\{1935} (Saturday)
Mary had a poor turn during the night, So{so?} this morning
I went out to Edgar Upsons to see Mrs Butler if she could
come and help us some, but she was not at home.
Came home and telephoned to Nancy Goodson, but as the
telephone is of no use, made out but little.
11\10\{1935} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church Rev Joseph Todd officiated{offciated}. He
resigned from the Pastorship of the Church to
accept the minisry of a Congregational Church
in Worcester Mass. He is to leave about Dec 1st
The attendance was rather large.
After service we drove out and saw Leland Garrigus{?}
and asked him to see Charles Cass in the Drum
Band in the Armistice Parade this afternoon, about
playing in the broadcast with those who had
played over fifty years,i.e. Arthur Harrison.
Frederick C Moulthrip, Charles S. Trittle, Gcouvani{?}
Fox and myself drummers, and James Pheland and
Charles bass fifers.
We left there and came home, then we went over
to visit James Phelan at 561 Highland Av. At 4.30
we left and drove out to Raymons where we had a
fine clam chowder supper, and visited till nine when
we drove home.
11\11\{1935} (Monday)
This morning I did the washing, and hung it
on the line, ub as the day has been warn{warm?} and
damp it has not dried. The gound is very
dry, last month was the driest Oct in 45 years{?}
and we have not had a rain since only a few
sprinkles. Ed Bronson called to have two hand
cross-cut saws filed, and Ed Scott had{?} me fix
the reflector light and fender light on his
truck. He is to have them inspected in a day
or two. I went to the farm and did other odd
jobs.
11\12\{1935} (Tuesday)
Very foggy this morning, fast driving of Autos was very
dangerous, slight warm rain throuout{throughout?} the day. I went to{?}
see Mrs John Wakelee{?} in Wolcott to acertain{ascertain?} who the
Revolutionary
soldiers were thlt{that?} their son Bemat{?} (who is a fifer in
the Mattatuck Drum Band) is decended{descended?} from. He is
descended from David Wakelee, Benjamin Bement,
James Thomas, Nathaniel Merrill, and Lien William
Andrews. Bement is one of the 21 members who are descended{?}
from Revolutionars{?} soldiers.
From Wakelees I went over Wolcott hill and saw Arthur
Harrison about practiceng/practicing{?} at Carl Moulthrops{?} tomorrow{?}
night, then I came to Woodtick and saw Charles
Trittle but as he is to have company, he cannot
practice with the other six who have been playing
over fifty years. I then came to East Farms and
cared for the ox, then came home and worked on
the milk truck. Ed Wilson came and helped this afternoon.
Nancy Goodson came to day and cleaned the
rooms.
11\13\{1935} (Wednesday)
Wet all day. We finished the wood and iron work
on Franks milk truck.
11\14\{1935} (Thursday)
I pained the milk truck a priming coat this forenoon
This afternoon Ted Wilson and I raked the leaves from
the front yard and banked the house with them put gravel
on to hold them.
11\15\{1935} (Friday)
This morning I dressed a chicken, Nancy came and
did house work, I did odd jobs about home and at
the farm.
11\16\{1935} (Saturday)
I painted the hand milk truck green this forenoon. Then
little Tutsey{?} and I went to the farm and got a load of cabbage
and carrots. Weather is rather chilly.
11\17\{1935} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Joseph O. Todd, officiated. The attendance was rather small
owing to the windy wet weather, the rain of the morning
turned into sleet which covered the paved streets to the
depth of one inch making them rather slippery.
This day being the twentyfifth{?} anniversary{?} of Margarets
marriage she invited us to a fine dinner, others who
were there were John Castle and wife Lena, Howard
Kraft and Marion and two children, Vincent Simons
and wife Betty. When we left their home on Beecher
Ave after Marion had read a letter from our Granddaughter
Enid, who is in Ethiopa{Ethiopia?},{?} the storm was raging at its
full hight{height?}, and the wind was blowing a gail.
Note in margin of text:
1st Snow
2"
11\18\{1938} (Monday)
About two inches of snow and sleet lay on the ground
this morning. I did the washing, and other jobs, such as
getting the wheels on the milk truck, etc.
This afternoon, Tutsy Vogel{?} and I went to the farm and
I got out a bushel of large parsnips, and some beets and
carrots. Weather has been cold and damp till towards
night when the sun came out.
11\19\{1935} (Tuesday)
This morning nancy Goodson came and I beat a large
rug, and she cleaned the house.
I went to the farm and pulled turnips till noon, Ted
Wilson came in the afternoon and we{?} finished pulling
all the turnips. To night I put seven bushels in the cellar.
11\20\{1935} (Wednesday)
After Breakfast I loaded the hand milk truck into my
Ford Pickup ruck and with Tutsey Vogel drove to Kent
and left it at Franks place. We went up the Frost Rd
over the Meriden{?}, Woodtick, STilson, Wolcott, Lakewood,
Bucks Hill{?}, Perkins Ave,{?} to Waterville, then to Reynolds
Bridge and up the West Branch road to East Morris{?}
then North to the Plains, then West across to the
main road East of Bantam, and through Woodville
to Warren, and to Kent, where we had dinner at
Franks. Soon after we left for home,{?} coming to
Bulls Bridge, South Kent, Maryall{?}, New Preston,
Washington, North Woodbury, Buker Hill{?}, Waterville,{?}
and home. The weather has been fair no rain and
no sun.
11\21\{1935} (Thursday)
We received two postal cards from irving who is at
Summitville Colo{?} setting up machinery at the Gold{?}
mines. I worked at the farm most of the day.
Rev Joseph O Todd called this evening.
11\22\{1935} (Friday)
This is the 52 anniversary of my marrage{marriage?}. This morning
I went to town and paid a lot of bills. Then I came
home and went to the fam and plowed the garden etc,
Nancy Goodson came and helped Mary.
This evening We went to the Mill Plain Union Church
for a fairwell{farewell?} party given to Mr Todd, who is to leave
for a Church in Worcester Mass after Dec 1st. There was
a great number of people there incluging{including?} Ex Gov Templeton{?}
Mr Irving Chase, a number of Ministers etc.
Mr and Mrs Todd{?} received a number of gifts including
flowers, money etc.
The weather to day has been warm for this time of the
year. I received a letter from Hollister Sage who is at
Homestead Florida.
11\23\{1935} (Saturday)
I worked about home all day, as it Rained, then turned
into hail, and snow, to night it his{is?} 3" deep on the
ground and still snowing.
Note in margin of text:
2nd
Snow.{?}
8"
11\24\{1935} (Sunday)
This morning snow lay six inches deep on the ground.
After breakfast I dug out the pathes{paths?}. The snow
plows were out early and the streets about here were
all plowed out, Mary and I attended service at the
Mill Plain Church.
11\25\{1935} (Monday)
Weather rather chilly. I did the washing, and after dinner
got my pickup out but found that it had frozen up
and the top cap of the engine had burst, so I took the
little car to go to the farm. We received a letter from
Irving to day that stated where he is at Summitville
Colorado elevated over 11.000 ft the snow had fell to a
depth of over 3 ft. this season and thermometer was once
14{degree symbol} below zero.
11\26\{1935} (Tuesday)
This morning I worked on shelfs a spell then went to Frederick
C Moulthrops{?} in Wolcott to tell him of the rehersal{rehearsal?}
for the broodcast{broadcast?} tonight. Then went to the farm and
did the chores there, and home agin, at 4 I drove to
Mr Moulthrops again, putting chains on my wheels
before I left the main road so as not to get stuck in
the snow as I did in the morning and brought him to
my place where we had supper, after which we went
to the drum room and practiced, after a time Albert
Crandall came and we practiced some more,
About nine o'clock Leland Garrigus{?} on Major Oswold
Amberlin{?} came and and{written twice} we all got ready and drove
to the broadcasting station of the American and Republican
on Grand Street where we rehearsed, after which
I went wilh{with?} Crandall and took Moulthrop home,{?} I got
home at midnight.
11\27\{1935} (Wednesday)
This day I worked about home all the forenoon and
After going to the farm in the afternoon I went up
to Charles Trittles and practiced drumming a
spell. It has thawed a little all day.
11\28\{1935} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving. Fortytwo members of the Somers
family sat down to dinner{,?} at the Lakeside
Tavern on the Meriden road{?} at the South end of
Hitchcocks Lake. It has rained some all day
but at dark it begn to rain hard, and at
five when we came home it pored{poured?}, and was very
dark.
11\29\{1935} (Friday)
This morning I worked on shelves, then went to the farm
and finished plowing the garden, then went to Cheshire
and got two bags of Chicken feed and 1/2 pt of mahogany
stayne{stain?}, for 4.29 came home and worked at shelfs{?} a spell
then went to Charles Trittles in Wolcott and practiced
drumming a spell then home and supper.
The sun has shown some, rather cool
11\30{1935} (Saturday)
Put up hhelves{shelves?} in my room and stained them mahogony
{mahogany?}.
Did a job{Job?} for Ed Scott, and went to town.
Weather was damp all day
12\01\{1935} (Sunday)
Mary and I went to Church in a snow storm.
Rev Josph O. Todd{?}, Officiated for the last time, He
expect to preach in the Pilgram{Pilgrim?} Congregational
Church in Worcedster Mass next sunday.
The Church was well filled.
Mr Todds new address will be 105 Brookline Street
Worcester Mass. The Pilgrim Congregational Church
is at 911 Main St.
12\02\{1935} (Monday)
This morning I did ht ewashing. Then I went to town
and bought some 1/2"x3/16" #24 thred machine screws to repair
my little truck with, Then with Mrs Vogel to stear/steer{?}
I changed and put the truck in the girage{garage?} and the car
in the shed, then went to the farm and did the chores
then to Charles Trittles in Wolcott where we practiced
drumming a spell, then home and arranged books etc
on the new shelfs.
A large gan{gang?} of City men are laying a storm water
swere along East Main St in front of our house they
are putting it down deep about 10' and as it is solid
rock it requires a lot of cutting with air compressors,
and blasting.
12\03\{1935} (Tuesday)
Worked putting patch on{-?} the truck engine.
12\04\{1935} (Wednesday)
Weather very cold froze all day. I went to Wolcott
this forenoon, and worked on my car this afternoon.
About 2" of snow fell{?} this morning
Note in margin of text:
3 Snow
2"
12\05\{1935} (Thursday)
Worked all day on the truck, only I went to town
and to the farm.
This evening Mary and I attended the Ladies
fair/farr{?} and supper at the Mill Plain Church.
Weather has been cold.
About one inch of snow fell this morning.
Note in margin of text:
4th Snow
1"
12\06\{1935} (Friday)
Cold and freezing all day. I worked on the little truck
till two thirty when I finished it.
Mrs Sarah J. Hine{?} was buried this afternoon in Pine Grove Cemetery
she was 86 years old
12\07\{1935} (Saturday)
I worked on the old clock all the forenoon,{?} but it does not
run. Went to the farm and to town this P.M.
12\08\{1935} (Sunday)
Attended Service/service{?} at the Mill Plain Church. Rev David P
Gains{?} of the 1st Baptist Church Officiated.
12\09\{1935} (Monday)
This forenoon I did the washing, after which I reputtyed{reputtied?} some
of the windows in the upper par of the house.
This evening I attended a repersel{rehearsal?} of of{writte twice}
Mattatuck Drum
Band that was held in the dance hall at the Wolcott Fair
Grounds.
12\10\{1935} (Tuesday)
I worked makeing{making?} a rack post{?} to carry ladders on the
truck{?}. Weather damp and cool.
12\11\{1935} (Wednesday)
We made a ladder rack for the front end of the truck.
Harriet Frazer and Laurence Pierpont{?} were married at the
Mill Plain Church this evening at 7.30 by Rev John Lewis of
St Johns Church.
12\12\{1935} (Thursday)
Weather dull and Chilly. This afternoon Lourane/Louvane Fox{?} and
I went to Charles Trittles and practiced drumming.
12\13\{1935} (Friday)
To day I repaired Vogels toylet{toilet?}. Cut down apple tree at the farm
at the upper end of barn lot, Ted Wilson and I sawed it down.
12\14\{1935} (Saturday)
After the chores this morning I went to the farm, and Ted Wilson
and I cut up the tree that we cut down yesterday.
Ray{?} came in the afternoon and borrowed the truck and went
to De Witt Coles{?} in Wolcott and drew to his place two loads of
horse manure. He left his car, and I drove it home.
Weather has been cool but not freezing.
12\15\{1935} (Sunday} {A.D. written following date}
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev Thoedore/Thaedore Bobolin{?} of the First Methodist Church.{?}
Preached. The church was well filled.
After service we went up to Wolcott and told Frederick
Carl Moulthrop that the Mattatuck Band is to
Broadcast next Wednesday night at.{?} 7.30 or 8.
12\16\{1935} (Monday)
Did the washing this morning. This afternoon Ted Wilson and
I sawed up the apple{?} tree that we cut down.
This evening I with the Foremen{?} of the International
Silver Co attended the annual supper in Meriden given
by the Internationgl{Interantional?} Silver Co.
12\17\{1935} (Tuesday)
Worked at the farm,{?} Ted Wilson helped, cut wood etc.
12\18\{1935} (Wednesday)
To day{?} I with Ted Wilson cut down an apple tree in the barn lot
North east of the barn and cut it up into 12" lengths.
This evening at 9.30 I went with the Mattatuck Drum
Band and broadcast several pieces, and I drummed a selection
with Frederick C Moulthrop on the bass. Charles Cass and several{?}
others fifing.
12\19\{1935} (Thursday)
Went to the farm and trimmed appletrees, and in the
afternoon Ted Wilson and I cut down two dead appletrees.
12\20\{1935} (Friday)
This morning the ground was covered with snow to the depth
of one inch but by ten o'clock it was all gone, but about four it
begn{began?} to snow and now 9 P.M. about 1 1/2" have fallen.
This morning I took my little truck to Mr Garthwaits{?} in
Wolcott to have him repair it, He brought me home in his
car, I then took my small car and went to the arm,
and worked till dark{.?} trimming appletrees, and Ted Wilson
and I sawed up a dead tree that we cut yesterday.
Toosey Vagel/Wagel{?} was with me at the farm all the time.
Note in margin of text:
5th
Snow.
12\21\{1935} (Saturday)
Cold Day. Worked about home{?} all day at blacksmith work.
12\22\{1935} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
John Lewis of St Johns Episcopal Church officiated.
There was a fair attendance.
Mary did not attend as the weather was very cold
dnd/and{?} she did not feel any two{too?} well.
This afternoon Margaret called and she had Dick with
her after traveling From Toronto by bus since eleven
o'clock yesterday he reached here at eleven to day.
12\23\{1935} (Monday)
I did the washing this morning, and then odd jobs
about the house and tended the fire, for the day is
very cold, freezing all day.
12\24\{1935} (Wednesday)
Very Cold all day,{?} the City has been finishing up
Storm water catch basin's{.?} a little East of my lot
on East Main St.
This morning I went to the Center on a Buss{Bus?}, and
then went to the Coloniel{Colonial?} Trust Co and got 14 cupons{coupons?} of
Church bonds cashed for $28.00.{?} then paid the Electric bill
of 3.66 at the Conn Leight/Light{?} and Power Co. then to the Southern
New England Co. and paid the Telephone bill 2.75.{?} then to
Davis & Nye, and bought two letter files{?} for $1.00 and 100 thumb
tacks for .20 Came home had dinner. Then wen{went?} to the
Cheshire{.?} Grain & Coal Co at West Cheshire and got
two bags of feed for 3.20 and a lump of salt .10 On the way
stoped and/an{?} paid Mort Pierpont one months milk bill 3.90
stoped at the barn and fed Buster and left{?} a bag of feed,
ame home and put up the truck and went down to
the Atlantic & Pacific store and bought some Groceries,
then did chores etc.
12\25\{1935} (Thursday) Christmas
This morning Vincent Simons and his wife Bettie Called
and took Mary and I up to Ruth Brondage place at Storrs.
We went vis Cheshire{?}, Meriden{?}, Middletown, Portland,
Marlborough, Hebron, Colombia{?}, Willimantic{?} and to
Storrs which we reached at 12M{?}. Soon others came and
we sat down to dinner, after which they had a Christmas
tree, and all got presents, I got hankerchiefs{?} from the Krafts'
a Towing steel tape fifteen feet long from Dwight Miller,
a fine picture of Dick Miller from Dick, Come{Comb?} and brushes
from Jean Northrop, $5.00 from Irving, $5.00 from Margaret,
1.00 from Ray Miller and 1.00 from Ruth and Jack, while Mary
got several{?} articles of clothing, a large bos of Chockolet
(Chocolate?} cars/cands{?}
and other things including 7.00 in cash, Such presents
show a very dutiful and prosperous family, I made a
present to Margaret of $2.00. At 5.30 Vin Bettie{?}, Mary and
I started for home. The weather was very cold, and he
had put much antifreeze in the radiator and it boiled
over several times, but we reached home at 8 P M.{P.M.?}
12\26\{1935} (Thursday)
Very cold day. I worked about home all day, Dick Miller
came and helped me load a chopping box into the truck
and we took it out to the farm, When we came back we
found Olga here waiting and, Dick went to her home in
Cheshire to stay tonight.
This morning about 1 1/2" of snow lay on the ground that
had fallen during the night. The day being very cold
the most of it is still lying on the ground.
6th Snow
1 1/2"
12\27\{1935} (Friday)
Cold day. I turned out drum sticks the greater part of
the day. Went to the farm, and had to break the ice
so the steer could drink. The spring are very low
as there have been no fall rains to fill them, water is
very scarce, Bessie Pierpont has to draw all the water
she uses from Morts dary{dairy?}.
12\28\{1935} (Saturday)
This is the coldes day yest/yet{?}, themometer{thermometer?} 8 above this
morning, 20 at noon with cold wind, I finished making{?}
drum{?} Sticks for Fred of Tarrytown.
We had a ton of soft coal come to night price 8.00
12\29\{1935} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
this fore noon 10.45 to 12. Rev James Gregg of the First Congregational{?}
Church preached. The day was very Cold.
My small car froze, they say it 4 below zero early. When I
looked at about 8 it was two above.
Dick started back to Toronto yesterday, about noon he took
a bus from here for Albany.
12\30\{1935} (Monday)
Cold day. This morning I did the washing, but as it was
snowing I did not hang the Clothes out.
It stoped snowing at about 20 o'clock, but remained{?}
coudy{cloudy?} and cold, I worked at blacksmith work till
the middle of the afternoon, then went to the farm,{?} and
did the chores there. About 3" of snow fell{?}
Note in margin of text:
7th Snow
3" fell
12\31\{1935} (Tuesday)
Very Cold day. I made drum sticks of iron wood all the
forenoon{,?} and made one this afternoon, Little Tutsy Vogel{?}
and I went to Charles S. Trittles in Woodtick and found him
not very well. We then went to the farm and took care of
the ox, then to the Atlantic and Pacific store and bought
some groceries.
City workmen began digging a trench up the Pierpont
road to lay water pipes in to Mort and Bessie Pierponts
houses.
01\01\{1936} (Wednesday)
Another Cold Day. I turned Drum Sticks in the Cellar
this forenoon, After dong the Chores at the farm I repaired
the tall clock{?} that my Grandfather Miller gave me, His
Father traded two dressed hogs for it when new{.?} in 1790.
He got only the works. The base was made by Mr Edwards{?}
about 1832.?{"?" in text}
Part of the hill corner of East Main St and Idylwood Ave
has been taken to fill in the swamp and low meadow
North side of the Meriden road by Mad River{?}, near the
New Concrete Bridge, and where the hill was they{.?} are
building a filling Station.
01\02\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I cleaned the Cellar etc. Then put pictures
into frames, and worked on picture frames, and at the farm
the rest of the time.
This evening {blank space in text} Auberton{?} came and I gave him a drumming
lesson.
It began snowing about four, and about one and one
half inches fell{?}, it then turned to rain and is still
raining.
Note in margin of text:
8th Snow
1 1/2"
01\03\{1936} (Friday)
Rained hard all night, and until the middle of the afternoon
I have worked in the Wheelhouse the greater part of the day.
01\04\{1936} (Saturday)
This day has been damp and warm, I have worked in the wheel
house most of the time, making picture frames. This morning
Alber{Albert?} Crandall called and wished me to file his hand saw, which I
did. This afternoon I went to Rays on Capiol{Capitol?} Ave,{,?} and
left a letter
and helped him a spell breaking up a rock, I then went to the
farm and did the chores, and cut up a lot of Cornstalks.
This evening I was out in the yard. The night is dark
and cloudy, and I noticed the head lights on the autos
coming down the Frost road, there was one right back
of the other and several going up and on the Cheshire
road it was the same at nine oclock{o'clock?}, while overhead
the air planes/airplanes{?} could be seen and heard. All of the
vehicles were going at a rapid and dangerous rate of
speed, In the night they run faster than in the day
time. There are so many people being killed and injured{?}
that, that the sentiment of the people in general is against
this fast and reckless driving, and probably something
will be done to lessen it, Just at present drunken
drivers are causing much loss of life and damage,
this is on the increase, since the repeal of Prohibition,
and as here in Waterbury the majority of the lawyers and,
Courts are in sympathy with the drinkers owing to its
popularity, and the drunken drivers are delt{dealt?} with very
liniently{leniently?}.
01\05\{1935} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church, Rev J.R. Coombs operstand{assistant?} of the second
Congregational Church preached. We staid home all
the afternoon.{?} A boy Joseph G Schilling{?} was killed on the Wolcott
Road near the junction of the Stitson road yesterday afternoon
at about 5.30 by a truck hitting him. The truck kept right on
and they do not know who he was.
01\06\{1936} (Monday)
It began showing{snowing?} soon after dinner and continued till
bout eight o'clock this evening.
This forenoon I did the washing, and at noon went
to town, This afternoon, Young Teddy and I went to
the Farm and cut up some corn stalks, and did the
hores, We came home and worked in the Wheel house
a spell.
Note in margin of text:
9th Snow{snow?}
1 1/2"
01\07\{1936} (Tuesday)
After getting breakfast and eating it with Mary. I went
to the Wheel house and finished putting pictures into
frames, and later hung them in the Drum Room.
I received a letter from Edgar C. L Cotting{?} of Tupelo
Miss.{.?} It told of the burial places of the widow of
Ashbill Upson{?}, and of the widow of Orren Jackson{?}
Mrs Upson{?} is buried in __________ Penn and Jackson
in Bristol Wis. I went to Woodtick to see Chas
Tuttle regarding the matter, but failed to find
him at home.
01\08\{1936} (Wednesday)
I worked about home, and cut up Cornstalks, and brush
at the farm{.?} etc
This evening I attended a meeting of the Mens Club at
the Mill Plain Union Church, Clarance Brown{?} was
elected Prisedent/President{?}. They had a fine supper{?} and speaker.
01\09\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning Mary and I prepaired{prepared?} to go to Simsbury
and carry up some small Drum sticks that
I turned for {.?} brother Fred, and Frank is to finish them.
But about 7 it began{?} to snow, so we gave it up, at 9 it stoped
so we started and fouud/found{?} good traveling after we reached
Bristol roads all bare, and we reached there all right,
but about 1.30 it began to snow hard and we started
for home, it was bad driving as the snow covered the
wind shield and the wiper would hot/not take it off, we
stoped at a gas station in Farmington on the Bristol.
and a Woman cleaned it with a wad of salt dun{?} up
in a cotton cloth, and gave it to me and{.?} said you
wipe it with this, which I did two or three times{,?}
and the snow ceased to stick, But it was a hard storm
on Wolcott Mountain so thick that we could not see
but a short distance, it later turned to rain and
continned/continued{?} into the night.
01\10\{1936} (Friday)
To day I got out lumber to repair the roof of the
shed on the hill at the farm.
This evening {blank space in text} Albertine came for a{.?} drumming
lesson. Had a battery put in my truck.
01\11\{1936} (Saturday)
To day I made an ax handle, and did a wagon job for De Wit
Cole{?} of Wolcott.
It snowed this afternoon so as to cover the ground.
Two Men, a Mr Rogers and another from New Haven came{?}
to look at my Indian collection, and at my drums.
Note in margin of text:
11th Snow{snow?}
2" fell
light.
01\12\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at Mill Plain Church.
Rev Mr Crosly{Crosby?} preached, He was from South Waterbury
Confederated Church{?}.
01\13\{1936} (Monday)
Did odd jobs about home. Went to West Cheshire this
afternoon and got a bag of feed and 10 lbs of Nails.
It rained very hard.
01\14\{1936} (Tuesday)
Did odd jobs and made two ax handles, of hickary/hickory{?} that
Frank brought{?} from Kent.
01\15\{1936} (Wednesday)
I filed a long cross cut saw for Frank Welton{?} to day
It rained hard this afternoon.
01\16\{1936} (Thursday)
Worked a{at?} blacksmith work the greater part of the
day. This evening Mary and I went down to the
Beacher Ave{?} to Margarets to supper, Ruth Brundage{?}
was there.
01\17\{1936} (Friday)
I went in my Runabout car to No 480 Watertown Avenue
and got the licenses for my cars for 1936. For the Pickup
I paid 10.20 and for the Roadster 7.00. Last year I paid
16.00 for the roadster, and 15.00 for the Pickup.
The City has about completed the New Bridge over
the Mad River at Benedicts & Burnhams{?}, on South Main
St,{,?} and laid temporary tracks so as to let three
trolley cars across that they may go to New Haven.
These{?} will be the last cars to travel from Waterbury
to New Haven. The first Trolley cars ran from the Barns
on the South side of West Main St near the Bridge over
the Naugatuck River{.?} to the Center and down
Bank St on July 28, 1894.{.?} Bbefore{Before?} that we had Horse
Cars. They commenced running Nov 18, 1886.
01\18\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning I finished some work I have been
doing at odd times all the week for {blank space in text} De Wit Cole{?}
in Wolcott
he called for it this afternoon.
This forenoon Frank and his family came from Kent
and we had a fine visit, He and they brought many
presents, including a block of slippery elm, from which
I pealed{peeled?} the bark and this evening made some Cough
Medicine.
It began snowing about the middle of the forenoon
and late in the afternoon it turned to rain.
Note in margin of text:
12th Snow
2 1/2" fell
01\19\{1936} (Sunday)
When we got up this morning it was snowing hard and
by 9 it was 6" deep. We did not got to Church, as it continued
to snow till about 1.30 when it stoped, but soon began to sleet,{?}
and later turned to snow and it is now 10 P.M. showing{snowing?}.
I went out to the farm and did the chores, started to walk
but soon a Bus came along and I rode. The snow was
about 10" deep. The City snow plow had cleared the road to
Reedville, and the State plows had plowed it out to Cheshire{?}
I came home on a Bus.
Note in margin of text:
13th Snow{snow?}
12" deep
01\20\{1936} (Monday)
This morning the snow{.?} lay on the ground{.?} about 12"
deep, I went to shoveling, and have been at it ever since
and am not yet dug out, as many places where I dug
it had drifted to the depth of three and one half ft
and in front of the drive ways the street plows had
piled it up four feet deep and very hard, and I had to
move a lot of snow to get my truck out, And{and?} out to
the farm had to dig again to get the car out of the
road, and more digging to get the barn door open,{,?}
and had to dig the snow away from the spring,{,?}
and break the ice so the ox could get water.
Now have got to dig the long walks by the side
of{?} the street.
the street and roads were all plowed out at
an early hour,{,?} by the State and City plows.
01\21\{1935} (Tuesday)
I dug snow the greater part of the day. This morning
it was very cold, Themometer{Thermometer?} 10{degree symbol} below zero,
Coldest
so far{for?} this winter.
King George of England dided last night.
Note in margin of text*
20{degree symbol} below
aero up in
Wolcott
01\22\{1935}
To day{?} I did odd jobs, and cut down a large dead plurm/plum{?}
Tree that stood North of the barn,{,?} amd cit ot omtp fore wppd/
Miss Nandy Goodson came this morning and tided{tidied?} up the
ouse.
The soldiers bonus bill has passed yesterday.
01\23\{1936}
This has been the coldest day of the winter so far
Ther ehemometer{thermometer?} regerstered{registered?} zero here this
morning{?}
and 10{degree symbol} above is the highest that has been, that
was at noon,{,?} and a stiff cold wind has blown
from the North West all ay.
I have worked in the wheel house makind drum
snare tighteners.
This evening Clifford German from Wolcott, and
Raymond Aubertin of Reedville came for drmming{drumming?}
lessons.
The main highways are all plowed out of snow
through the country. The State had the big
plows out all Monday night, but it is dangerous
traveling about in the City as the streets are
banked with snow and autas/autos{?} cannot pass
in many places. The City Government do not
seem able to handle the situation. While they
have Snow{snow?} removing machines, Steam shovels
etc etc{written twice} they have not used them, and{,?} they have
only a small force of men shoveling. Before
election they had thousands of men working on
the streets in order{,?} to get their votes,{,?} Mpw the{they?}
claim they have no money with which to hire
men.
01\24\{1936} (Friday)
Cold day, not so bad as yesterday, I wordked in
the Wheel house on the twelve large drums that
I am making. There is but little auto travel on
the roads, owing to the cold, and dangerous
conditions, Many of the country roads ars{are?} not
yet plowed out, and our City streets are very narrow,
as they only plowed the centers.
01\25\{1936} (Saturday)
Cold winder day. Zero this morning and there hs{has?} been no
thawing for a week, I worked at drums in the Wheel house
most of the day.
Mrs Vogle is sick, and has been since last Thursday
Nancy Goodson is careing{caring?} for her.
01\26\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church Rev Mr Shinn{?} of the West Side{side?} Hill Mehtodist
Church preached.
Cold day.
01\27\{1936} (Monday)
When we got up this morning the ground was covered with
snow, At times during{.?} the dy we had flurries of snow
but in all there was only about an inch.
I did the washing, and put up an moulding board in the
pantry and did odd jobs. Very cold all day.
Note in margin of text:
14th Snow
1" deep
01\28\{1936} (Tuesday)
Six above zero this morning and cold all day 20 above
the warmest. I worked in the Wheelhouse, and at the farm
cutting up corn stalks, etc. But little travel on the roads
on{an?} account of the cold
01\29\{1936} (Wednesday)
Cold 4 above this morning, 20 at noon, I worked on drums{?}
in the Wheelhouse.
01\30\{1936} (Thursday)
Twelve below this morning, and freezing cold all
day. I worked at drums in the Wheelhouse and
kept warm.
I had Hanlon put a new battery in my pcikup,
Sent a letter to Edgar L Cotting{?}, of Tupolo{Tupelo?} Miss.
01\31\{1936} (Friday)
Four below this morning, and freezing cold all day.
I worked on drums in the Wheelhouse, and went ot
Cheshire and got a bag of scratch feed and 50 lgs of
hay salt. Last night, Clifford German an{and?} Raymond
Aubertin, were here for drumming lessons.
02\01\{1936} (Saturday)
Four above zero this morning. Eighteen above the highest
freezing cold day.
The paper to day stated that Ralph Pierpont and
Lais Gillette{?} are to be married at the Mill Plain Church
the 24th of the month, at 2 o'clock.
I have worked in the Wheelhouse on drums, and
this forenoon in the blacksmith shop sharpeneing tools
or the Calvary Cemetery.
02\02\{1936} (Sunday)
Four above zero this morning,{,?} Twenty above at noon, and
freezing cold all day.
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev Mortimer Owen{?} preached.
This afternoon Mrs Vogel's brother came from New
York and cut Mary's hair bob short, because she
is unable to comb and braid it any more.
Two weeks ago to day it snowed, and it has
not thawed since, and all the roads except the main
ones, are covered with hard snow so cars skid
everywhere, many do not use chains, and the
cars have a hard time to get along if the tires
are worn{?} a little,{,?} Some of the non skid new tires
go very well.
02\03\{1935} (Monday)
Twelve below zero this morning, ut in the afternoon
the themometer{thermometer?} went up to 22{degree symbol} above at
four o'clock and
now it is snowing at 9 o'clock.
I did the washing this morning, then went to the
arm, and worked in the Wheelhouse on drums{,?} in
the afternoon. We received a letter from Irving written.{.?}
a week ago Sunday. From King Solomond {Solomon's?} mine, mailed
at Black Bear P.O. Siskiyou{?} County Calafornia{California?},
{new paragraph?}
Getting to the Mine on the mountains was hard as
the snow was so deep that it took eight days to
travel 150 miles. To some of the Camps the only
way they get mails and food in{?} is by pack
mules, 10 a a time, the mules wear snow shoes
12" square to hold them up in passing over 40'
drifts.
02\04\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning 20{degree symbol} above zero. To night 32 above with little
fine
rain. I put a pilot light in our sitting roon{room?} so that we
could till/tell{?} when the cellar light is on, I am apt to
leave in{it?} on all night.
I have not done much to day. Shoveled out the
long street path etc.{.?} did chores at the farm.
02\05\{1936} (Wednesday)
Not so cold to day. Thawed quite a little,{,?}
{new paragraph?}
I repaired Mrs Vogels bath room door, and our up stairs
East room door, Then I went to town did some Bank
business, then pair various bills etc, Then I came{come?} to
the factory of The International Siler Co, and Mr
Warner the Supertendant{Superintendent?}, showed me about, which interested
me very much.
02\06\{1936} (Thursday)
To day it is cold again, freezing hard all day.
{ne paragraph?}
I orked in th Wheelhouse, making Snare tighteners
for drums. This evening Mr German brought his
son Clifford for a drumming lesson, he is making
good progress.
02\07\{1936} (Friday)
Very cold day. I repaired some Snow plow irons
for the Calvary Cemetery this morning. Have been
to the farm, and the rest of the time I made
snare tighteners in the Wheel house.
02\08\{1936} (Saturday)
Cold all day. Thoedore Kirtz called to day and showed
me a drum that he got in Plainville.
I worked in the Sheelhouse making snare tighteners.
{new paragraph?}
The young people have mad a nice ice polo square at
East Farms East of the Cemetery, and were playing there
to day.
02\09\{1936} (Sunday)
It bean snowing at 8 o'clock this morning and
nowed hard till about 3 P.M.
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev F. L Sinclair{?} of All Soles{Souls?} Episcopal Church
preached, I went to th farm and did the chores
there, and after the snow stoped I dug out the paths
Note in margin of text:
16th Snow
6" deep
02\10^{1936} (Monday)
12 below zero this morning and very cold all day.
I did the washing this morning, and sharpened
a lot of hand drills for the Calvary Cemetery. This
afternoon went to the farm, and worked in the
Wheelhouse till dark.
About eight. The Citiaens Coal Co delievered a ton of
soft coal, with the weather at zero.
02\11\{1936} (Tuesday)
15{degree symbol} below zero this morning and freezing cold all, day.
{new paragraph?}
I sharpened tools for the Calvary Cemetery all the
forenoon, Went for the farm in the afternoon and.{.?}
worked in the Wheelhouse.
02\12\{1936} (Wednesday)
Six above this morning and freezing cold all day. I worked
]in the Wheelhouse most of the day.
The Waterbury American, printed this evening that Mr
George S Goddard of Hartford State Litirarian{?} died, I have
had much to do with him, regarding historical matters.
{new paragraph?}
Mr and Mrs William Gillette and Lois called this evening and
invited us to Lais{Lois?} wedding which is to take place the 24.
02\13\{1936} (Thursday)
Snowed all day, I worked in the Wheel house the greater part
of the day. This evening Clifford German came for
a drumming lesson.
Note in margin of text:
17th Snow
2 1/2" fell
02\14\{1936} (Friday)
The snow continued to fall during the night and
kept{?} on till about three in the{.?} afternoon, in all
about seven inches fell.
I went to town this forenoon, After dinner I went to
the farm and did the chores, then came home and
shoveled snow till after dark.
02\15\{1936} (Saturday)
To day it has thawed some, Themometer{Thermometer?} reached 40 above
at noon, This is the first that it has thawed since the
18th of January. A long freezing cold spell.
I worked in the Wheelhouse making snare tighteners.
02\16\{1936} (Sunday)
To day has not been very cold, but very slippery.
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev F H Roberts{?} preached.
Raymond got burned about the face and hands
while at his electrical work at the factory.
02\17\{1936} (Monday)
This forenoon I did the washing, then repaired my
tire chains.{.?} This morning Every/every{?} road was covered with
ice, and people slipped about,{,?} women fell down and cars
skidded, but it came warm and thawed much, I went
to the farm and got in a shock of corn stalks, and
cut some up, etc.
02\18\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning it rained and at eight it turned into
snow and snowed hard till noon, when it came off
cold, I worked in the Wheelhouse in the forenoon,
and went to the farm on the Cheshire Bus,{,?} after
I got home, spent the rest of the time digging out
the paths. Charles Belding{?} a tailor who I went to
school with was buried in Riverside Cemetery{?} this
afternoon,{,?} he was 74. Frances Cole{?} formerly of Wolcott, now
of Woodbury, was buried in the Center Wolcott Cemetery
this afternoon,{,?} Both died Sunday.
Note in margin of text:
18 Snow
4" fell.
02\19\{1936} (Wednesday) {Wendesday written in text}
Cold day 2 below this morning Staid in the house and
wrote Geneology Records for Mr Edgar L Cotting of Tupela/Tupelo{?}
Miss.{?}
02\20\{1936} (Thursday)
Colder day 20{degree symbol} below this morning, I wrote a spell and
orked in the Wheelhouse making snare tighteners.
This afternoon I got my truck out and strted to go
to Cheshre for feed, but when I got into the street there
as a tractor coming towing a large truck that
was beok{broke?} down,{,?} and I backed to get out of the way
and backed into a car and dented the fender, I went
to Hanlans to get it fixed. Then put my car up
and went ot the farm on a bus, as the roads
were terribley{terribly?} slippery.
02\21\{1936} (Friday)
12 below this morning, thawed a little at noon.
In the forenoon I went to the Cheshire Grain & Coal
Co and got two bags of feed.
The road was a glair{glare?} of hard ice all the way,{,?} it had
een sanded much of the way. I have emergency chains
on and drove slow, and got along all right.
Worked in the Wheelhouse the rest of the time.
02\22\{1936} (Saturday)
Washingtons{?} birth day. We put the flgg{flag?} up on the pole
on the barn. The day has been cold for the most part,
but it thawed some during the middle of the day.
I have worked in the Wheelhouse at snare tighteners{tightenere?}.
02\23\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church, Rev J. D. Walker{?}.{.?} of the Second Congregational
Church preached.
Ray called this afternoon,{,?} It has thawed some
02\24\{1936} (Monday)
An eventful day for Mary and I. This morning
I did the washing the hung it on the lines,
Then I started for the farm, But as I was leaving
Ruth Brundage came. She having came{?} from Storrs{?}
the night before and staid ar{at?} Reutters{?}. Before I got
back she had sent my suti to be pressed and was
busy{.?} doing everything, pressing Marys dress and
getting everything ready, for the weeing{.?} of Ralph
Pierpont and Lois Gillette{?}, which was to take place
At Trinity Church at two o'clock. We were to have
dinner at Margarets this being her birthday.
I took my car and carried Mary and Ruth down
and brought the car back and put it up, The reason
of this was, the roads are very narrow on account of
the deep snow,{,?} and coated with ice, and many cars
are damaged on account of other cars skidding into
them, So I walked down and had my dinner.
After a time Vincent and Betty came as did Jack and
Peggy. Then Margaret and Cliff loaded into Vincents car
and Ruth Peggy Mary and I into Jack Brundage's{?} car
and we all went to Trinity Church on Prospect St
where was held the grandes wedding I ever saw. The
ceremony was preformed{performed?} by Rev Henry Baldwin Todd{?}, former
ector{.?} of Trinity Church, assisted by the present rector{.?}
Rev Roger B F.{?} Anderson{?}. The Church was well filled,
and a recepton{reception?} followed at Th{The?} Gillette home on Farnam
Ave.{?} Bunker hill, at which many attended, Late in
the afternoon they left for a trip through the south,
{new paragraph?}
They had some trouble in getting away, as someone plugged
the keyholes to their car, and as they started someone
disvonnected the wires, and several started to persue{pursue?},
but Manfield Gillitte/Gillette{?} who was driving started the
car down the grade and while it was moving connected
the wires, and some one drove their{?} car across the
mouth of the street, Ono ff {One of?} the persuers{pursuers?} attempting
to pass round the car and over a great pile of snow
got hung up on the pile which raised the hind wheels
clear and they spun, This completely blocked the
street and Ralph and Lois got away.
02\25\{1936} (Tuesday)
To day has been warmer and thawed much, I worked in the
Wheelhouse making a machine to flut the snare tighteners.
02\26\{1936} (Wednesday)
It has thawed to day. I got in a stack{?} of cornstalks at
he farm, it required much woak/work{?} as the snow was three feet
deep about them and had to be dug away so that I could
chop them free from the ground as they were frozen down tight.
02\27\{1935} (Thursday)
Not very cold to day, it thawed much, I worked in the
Wheel house making Snare tighteners.
Ray brought out five gallons of paint that came from
Cleveland{.?} by freight.
02\28\{1936} (Friday)
Thawed much to day, I worked in{?} the Wheelhouse at drums.
02\29\{1936} (Saturday)
Thawed some I worked in the Wheelhouse.
Pur{Put?} the new 1936 markers on my cars.{.?} Worked at drums.
03\01\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev Gormer Lewis{?} of the third Congregational
Church preached.
This afternoon we went up to Woodtick and visited cousin
Bert Frisbie.
03\02\{1936} (Monday)
I ran the washing machine and did the wshing this
moring{morning?}, I then did odd jobs about the place and at
the farm.
03\03\{1936} (Tuesday)
This has been a nice warm day, about all of the snow that
fell during the night has melted, I choped down one of
the large willow trees at the{.?} lower end of my home
lot.
Note in margin of text:
19th Snow
2" fell.
03\04\{1936} (Wednesday)
Mailed letter to Mrs James Upson of Southington.
Weather has been warm, much snow melted.
Arthur and Mildred Bird called.
I worked cutting down large willow trees at the foot{?}
of the home lot, they{there?} were whips that I stuck in the
ground eleven years ago, now they are 13" in diameter and
very tall.
03\05\{1936} (Thursday)
I cleaned the spring and repaired the watering trough at the
farm, Then I cut wood a spell till it began to snow, Then I
finished marking the twelve new drums that I am making
and put them up in the barn.
Note in the margin of text:
20th Snow{snow?}
2 1/2" fell
03\06\{1936} (Friday)
This morning I made snow paths all about, then went to
he farm, and did the chores,{?} Then home and cut up wood
the rest of the day. It has thawed some, but came cold
towards night.
03\07\{1936} (Saturday)
I went to the farm this morning, and did the chores. Then
ame home and filed my little cross cut saw, Jimmie Egan{?}
came and we sawed up a willow log before noon. In the
afternoon{?} we cut up the rest of the wood.
This evening I attended a banquet, {,?} given by the Maple
Hill Club, at which the fathers were invited.
03\08\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev William Dickinson{?} of St Pauls Methodist Church preached
We staid home all the afternoon.
03\09\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I did the washing, then cleaned out the
chicken coop, and went to the farm and got in a stock{stack?}
of corn stalks, and cut up some of them.
Wailliam{William?} Garrigus{?} & Son and{?} others are repairing
and painting the interior of the house owned by M.E.{?}
Pierpont opposite my watering trough at East Farms
for Ralph Pierpont and wife who are now on their way
home from Florida where they have been on their wedding
trip.
03\10\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I cut up brush wood, Went to the farm in the{.?}
afternoon and trimmed one row of appletrees.
03\11\{1936} (Wednesday)
Rained hard all day. I cleaned{?} the chicken coop,{,?} and
repaired the front fence.
After dinner Teddy Vogel{?} and I went to the farm{?} and
did the chores. FWhen{When?} we were leaving Ralph Pierpont and
is new wife came out of their house and got into
their auto and drove towards town.
03\12\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning the streams were very high,{,?} the heavy rain
of yesterday and last night{,?} having caused them to rise.
I never knew so much water in my cellar.
I repaired the front fence, and cut brushwood at the
farm. This evening Clifford German{?} and Ray{?}
came for drumming lessons. Mr Kirtz called,{,?} he had
his book{.?} of drums.
03\13\{1936} (Friday)
I repaired blinds most of the day. Weather has been
chilly.
Yesterday morning the dam on Beaver Pond
Brook just above the Scott Road washed awaw{away?}, as
did the dam below the said road, which took away
the bridge and washed out the road that goes
over to the Scoville Property and by the house,
{new paragraph?}
That same dam, and a Saw Mill that stood just
below it was carried away by the great fobd{flood?} of Oct 9,
1869. When the Beaver Pond Brook, and Mad river were
higher than I have ever seen them since, and the old
people at that time said they had never knew the
water to be so high. On the Mad River, The Paper Mill
Lam{Dam?} at Woodtick was carried away. The bridge on the
Woodtick road was deep under water but remained.
The Meriden Road bridge was swept away,{,?} The
East Main St bridg{bridge?}{.?} remained, But the road east of
the bridge which was low at that time was badly
gullied{?} out for some distance. The Plank rood{road?} bridge
was secured by a large chain, but it swung around
on the West bank, Te{The?} bridge over Beaver Pond Brook
here it empties into Mod/Mad{?} River{?} was swept away.
{new paragraph?}
The dyke at the North West end of the Bross{Brass?} Mill Pond gave
way and did great damage to the rood{road?} an{and?} property
below. Part of the dam of Rogers & Brother, was swept
away,{,?} as was the Dublin St stone bridge of two arches.
The Baldwin St stone bridge of two arches was washed
away. Morris Garigan{?} went down with the bridge
and lost his life. The next bridge at that time{.?} was
the South Main St bridge which they{?} secured with
ropes so it did not go down.
03\14\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning Al Crandall{?} came and we painted
the East side of the barn, which took till noon. In
the afternoon I went to the farm and did the chores there
and then repaired my 24' ladder, etc.
By noon the snow had all gone.
Note in margin of text:
21{.?} Snow
About 1 1/2"
fell
03\15\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church, Rev David P. Ganes{?} preached.
This afternoon I went down town and saw{.?} the St Patricks
parade.
03\16\{1938} (Monday)
Did the Washing this morning and went to the farm, This
afternoon {blank space in text} Robinson came and we painted the
North end of
the barn.
03\17\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to{.?} town and did several errands,
{new paragraph?}
After dinner a man came and examined the telephone
and decided it best to put in a new one.
After which Francis Robinson{?}, Ted, and I went to the
farm and I planted six rows of peas, while Francis{?}
cut up Corn stalks, after we got home, We worked on drums,
Weather has been damp with some rain.
03\18\{1936} (Wednesday)
Rained all last night and to day. This forenoon I
repaired blinds,{,?} This afternoon Francis Robinson{?} rubbed{?}
down drum shells and I painted drum rims red.
There are reports of much damage done by high
water, The dam at new Hartford on the Farmington
river has broke away, causing many buildings{?}
and bridges to go down. About here bu tlittle
damage has been{?} done as I have heard
03\19\{1936} (Thursday)
Painted blinds this forenoon, In the afternoon I and
Francis Robinson went to the farm and I trimmed
appletrees and he cut brushwood.
Great Floods in the Connecticut River, Water the
highest ever known and still rising.
03\20\{1936} (Friday)
I finished trimming appletrees at the farm.
The Connecticut river is still rising and has caused about
$5,000.000 damage at Hartford. The water is up to Main St.
and highest ever known and still rising, Boy scouts
are canvassing this neighborhood for funds to aid the
suffering people who have been driven from their homes.
03\21\{1938} (Saturday)
Rained hard this morning, but stoped before noon.
This afternoon I went to the farm and drew two loads{?}
of manure up on the hill and spread it under
appletrees. This morning I cleaned the East Room
on the third floor, and took off the blinds to
paint them. I also worked on the new drums,
and repaired the door to the drum room.
The high water in the Connecticu River has
reached 37 feet the highest ever known, and is still
rising.{.?} at Hartford. All of the roads are overflowed
so there is no way to get into the City only
from the West. At Middletown the water is
touching the flooring of the bridge to Portland,{,?}
and the City is nearly surrounded by water, and
no road open only from Durham.
03\22\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev John Lewis of St Johns Church preached.
This afternoon Margaret Cliff, Bob Hill, Mary and I.{.?} went
to see the high water at Middletown. To day the water reached
a hight{height?} of 37.5 feet the highest ever known. All of the
roods{roads?} leading
into the City are under water except the one from Durham.
We went there, But the State Poliece{Police?} would not let us go any
farther{further?}, They turned all back only those living there. We got
within five miles.
03\23\{1936} (Monday)
I did the washing this morning, and the chores at the farm
Margaret called up and told tha the Red Cross wished
her to take some supplies to New Haven.{.?} and we could
go and from New Haven we would go to Middletown and
view the flood in the Connecticut River. She called about
2.30 Bob Hill drove, and anolher{another?} Bob{.?} and a girl between
occupted/occupied{?} the front seat. Mary, Margaret, and I the
back seat, We went dwon through Prospect, to No 89
Sheldon Ave where we left the Red Cross goods, and
then out State St onto the Durham Road to Middletown
There we drove down to the water from Main St.
The river had been to a hight{height?} of 37.5 ft but had gone
down about five feet,{?} but the low street, Rail Rood{Road?} and
the lower stories of many houses were under water.
About 700 people hod/had{?} been driven from their homes,
and were quartered in Churches, School Houses etc
{new paragraph?}
Many of the Barns, Sheds, Girages{Garages?} etc had been secured
by ropes, and Cables, and in one place other buildings
planks, and lumber had drifted against them and made{?}
a great pile of Wreckage. The river was just touching the
cross girders of the Portland Bridge, When the water
was at its hight{height?} the{they?} said it was even with the floor
plank. A lot of rubbish,{,?} timbers, trees etc had lodged.{.?}
against it and extended under and below it and
was serving to hold the{?} water back and making
a great pressure against the bridge which is over
1000 ft long which caused some alarm for fear it might{?}
push the high pears{?} over. So they were setting off
great charges of dynimite{dynamite?} in the obstructions, which
seemed to have but little effect as far as we could
see. The only road that we could drive out of the City
on was to Durham 5 miles then North 5 miles to the
Meriden road 10 miles to get 4 could we have come
strait.
03\24\{1936} (Tuesday)
To day Francis Robinson and I painted the South
end and West Side of the barn.
03\25\{1936} (Wednesday)
I painted the South end of the Girage{Garage?} to day. This afternoon
late I went out to the Hall place{Place?} and engaged Mrs Thompson
to come tomorrow.
03\26\{1936} (Thursday)
To dy{To day?} Mrs Thompson came to help stiad from8.30 to 1.30
paid her 1.00.00{100.00?} I painted the West side of the girage{garage?} this
forenoon, This{.?} afternoon Francis Robinson came and we
finished it. Weather has been fair and warm
William Jones{?} died to day.
03\27\{1936} (Friday)
It has rained all day, I mixed paint this morning, after
I had got breakfast, and after Mrs Thompson{?} came.
This afternoon Francis Robinson came{,?} and we rigged up
the paint mill dnd/and{?} Francis ran some through, then
we went to the farm and Francis cut up a stack of
Corn stolks/stalks{?} while I took a load of manure upon the
hill and put it under thi/the{?} appletrees. Then we came
home and Francis finished grinding four gallons of
paint, Whil I took{.?} care of the chickens, I got 18 eggs.
03\28\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning I got breakfast, and after Francis came we
painted the Wheelhouse, and then the Woodhouse{Wood house?}.
Mrs Thompson came and worked till four
Mr Walker came and informed me that I drew 5.00 worth
of groceries at the mens Circus at the Mill Plain Church
last night.
03\29\{1936} (Sunday)
Nice sunny warm day. Mary and I attended service at the
Mill Plain Union Church. Rev Waights G Henry Jr{?} assistant at
Bunker Hill Congregational Church preached.
We staid home all the afternoon.
Margaret told us to day that Cliff had been retired on
a small pension.
03\30\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I did the washing, Mrs Thompson came
about eight. After I was through with the wash, I took
my pickup car and went to the grocery store at the
fork of the Wolcott and East Main Sts and got 5.00
worth of goods that I drew at the Mens Circus last
week, but when I came to leav the gears were
locked on my car and I could not go forward as
back, I went to an Oil station near by and a man
there brought me to Hanlons station{?} and Mr Hanlon
went down and got it so I drove it up to his place
and it is there now.
I then painted the South end of my Girage{Garage?} a
second coat,{,?} and after dinner Francis Robinson
came and he painted the North end of the Girage{Garage?}
the South end of the Wheel house.{.?} the second coat, and
the North side of the Engine house, while I was
painting on the chcken coop.
Mary is very feeble, but cheerful.{.?}
03/31/{1936} (Tuesday)
I painted part of the chicken coop and Engine House.
Went to the farm and then to The Strass Hardware Co and
got 50 lbs of white lead,{,?} then to the East End Hardware Co{.?}
and got Lampblack, Dryers, and turpentine,{,?} came home and
helped Frances{?} paint on fence.
Mrs Thompson came and worked.
04\01\{1936} (Wednesday)
This morning it was rather Cold. After breakfast I repaired
and then painted some on the front fence, then I went to
the East End Hardware Co and got three gallons of linseeis/linseed{?}
oil for .85 per gal. I then went to the farm, stopping at
pine tree and got five gallons of gas for 88 cts, at the
farm I loaded up a load of wood in{?} my little truck.{.?}
and got some of the stones off the garden, then came
home, After dinner I put the wood in the Woodhouse and
after Francis Robinson came we ground four gallons of
white paint, and we painted on the front fence.
Mrs Thompson came and washed the sitting room
curtains elc.{etc.?} Some body stole 18 of my hens last nights.
04\02\{1936} (Thursday)
It has rained more{?} or less all day. This morning I went to the
farm and got the stones off the garden etc. This afternoon Francis{?}
painted most of the drum rime{rim?}, and I stained the shells
Mrs Thompson came to day.
04\03\{1936} (Friday)
Did chores at the farm, And went to town this morning.
This afternoon Francis and I painted
Mrs Thompson came.
04\04\{1936} (Saturday)
Francis came and we painted nearly all day.
Ray had the truck to draw bricks, from the West.{.?}
Brass Mill to his home.{.?}
Mrs Thompson Came
04\05\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended Church at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev Roscoe Nelson preached, They say he is
from Hartford.
04\06\{1936} (Monday)
Rained all day This afternoon Francis{?} and I put tacks in
drums etc.{.?}
04\07\{1936} (Tuesday)
Rained all day, I put tacks in drums, Francis not here.{.?}
04\08\{1936} (Wednesday)
Francis and I trimmed the barns, I repaired chicken house
and painted on the Girage{Garage?}.
04\09\{1936} (Thursday)
I went to Bristol this morning and bought two Baldwin
appletrees, came hom at 8.30 had breakfast then painted
on the Wheelhouse putting on the trim. This aflernoon/afternoon{?}
went to the farm and set the trees out, and Francis
and I cut up the brush in the orchard on the hill.
04\10\{1936} (Friday)
Francic/Francis{?} and I painted the trimmings on the North end of
the Wheelhouse, and put tacks in drums.
This is Fast day. Rained this forenoon.
04\11\{1936} (Saturday)
Rained hard nearly all day. Francis and I put brass
headed nails in drums.
04\12\{1936} (Sunday)
Easter Sunday. Church well filled, Rev Wesley.{.?} U Riedel{?}
afficiated/officiated{?}, three two woman and Fred Froskie{?} joined.
04\13\{1936} (Monday)
Rained nearly all day. Francis and I worked on drums.
and trimmed the upper North end of Barn.
Mary fell to night.
04\14\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the farm and cut up some corn
stalks, then I cultivated the lowed half of the garden, then
I came home and drew the water out of my cars, and
put fresh water in. Francis came and we took down{.?} the
flag pole and painted the lrim/trim{?} on the Barn etc.{.?}
I took my truck down to Dans/Dons{?} and had the tire fixed
Mary has been in bed all day.{.?} Dr Barber called this
evening and says that she must stay in bed for a
week, that she hurt her hip when she fell.
04\15\{1936} (Wednesday)
Rained nearly all day This morning I went up to{.?}
the Barbers{.?} and had my hair cut and a shave .75 cts then
went to Goodsons in Wolcott, no one at home. Then went
to Cottage place and parked my car, and to the Manufacturers
bank and got checks cashed, then to the Apothecaries
Hall and bought a book of gold leaf and varnish etc.
came home, and out to the Farm{.?} did chores there, and
worked about home all the afternoon, Went to Goodsons
and engaged a girl to come and slay{stay?} afternoons with{.?}
Mary. Rev Mr Todd{?} and wife called this aflernoon/afternoon{?}.
04\16\{1936} (Thursday)
This day has been cold and windy I went to the farm
and did chores. Then Francis and{.?} I painted the yard
gates and fence. I at 3 went to Woodtick school and got
Rosemary Goodson to come and stay with Mary, took her
home again.
04\17\{1936} (Friday)
This day has been cold and windy, but it did not rain.
I apinted about the Chicken yard all day.
Mrs Thompson came at 8.15.{.?} Miss Goodson came 3.45
Ruth and Jack called in the evening, Mary is so lame
that she is hardly able to move in bed.
04\18\{1936} (Saturday)
Cold and saw weather. Francis and I finished painting the
Chicken yard, and the door to the shed, Then we went to
building a new fence East opf the garden.
Mrs Thompson came, and at three I went and got Rosemary
Gibson.
04\19\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service a{at?} the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev
Thomos/Thomas{?} Chappell{?} assistant at St Johns preached.
Mrs Thompson came this morning, stayed till one
Dr Barber called,{,?} said Mary must lie in bed a week
longer, Mary is loosing gradually, growing weaker all
the time.
04\20\{1936} (Monday)
I did the washing this morning. Mrs Thompson came
and hung the clothes out. This afternoon Francis came
and we worked on the fence East of the garden. Mis{Miss?} Goodson
came the aflernoon/afternoon{?}.
04\21\{1936} (Tuesday)
To day has been clear and rather cool. Mrs Thompson came
this mornind{morning?} at 8.15 and staid till after one, Soon after Mrs
Crose called, and I with Francis went to the farm,
and staid till six, after I had gone Mrs Moulthrop called
as also did Mrs Harlod{Harold?} Pierpont, and Mrs Vogle came down
and found Mary alone,{,?} (She usually staid with her afternoons
especially when Rosemary was here,) and telephoned Margaret
who immidialely/immediately{?} came, and was here when I came.
{new paragraph?}
We agreed and she telephoned Mrs Pierce of Waterville
to come and care for Mary all the time for 15.00 per week.
04\22\{1936} (Wednesday)
To day has been clear and cool, I worked about home all
the forenoon, at one o clock I went to Mr Williams on
Downs St in Waterville and got Mrs Pierce{?} and brought
here here, Mrs Thompson went away after I paid her 1.00
I took my car to Dons{.?} and had the horn repaired, after
which Francis and I went to the farm, and we cultivated
he appletrees{?} in the Barn lot, after which I drew two
loads of manure up on the hill, and he cut up brush.
Mary seemed brighter to day, but her mind wanders
some.
04\23\{1936} (Thursday)
Mrs Pierce got the breakfast this morning before eight
a clock{o'clock?}, and I went to the farm and howed the peas
and trimmed two grape vines, and drew two loads
of manure up on the hill. Came home and had dinner
then went to Kunkets drug store and got alcohol, and
to the A. & P. and got Fish st___, oranges, Tapaoka{Tapioca?}. To the East
End Hardware, and got bolts, Bulbes{Bulbs?}, etc. Then to Dons and
got 5 galls of gas. Then Francis came and we went to Cheshire
and got 50 lbs white lead. Then to the farm and We cullivated/cultivated{?}
berries, then cultivated appletrees on the hill and brought
down a load of brush wood.
Clifford German came to night for a drum lesson.
04\24\{1936} (Friday)
This day has been fair and cool. I went this morning
to the Department of Motor Vhicles on Watertown{.?} Ave
and got{.?} my Drivers License for the coming year paid 3.00
Then I parked my car at a yard on Cottage place.15.cts
I then went to th manufacturers bank and got a check
cashed. Then pay my telephone bill 3.07 then to cor of
Meadow and Benedict Sts and bought some cememt{cement?}
to repair grave stones, and then home, and to
the A. & P. Store on E. Main. St and got 1/2 pk of greens
and at the East End Hardware and got 3 gals of
linseed oil @.90 = 2.70 This afternoon Francis and I
worked at the farm.
Albert Blanchard put a trap in our Sink pipe 3.90
04\25\{1936} (Saturday)
Clear and Cool. Heavy frost this morning.
Francis Robinson came and we went to the farm
and planted Leittice{Lettuce?}, Onions, and Radish, and repaired
the driveway{?} above the gate. Then we howed over part
of the garden above the barn, and after dinner sawed
up a {an?} appletree log at the ledge, and repaired the fence
there, and howed two roes{rows?} of Rasp berries.
Workmen have began drilling in the old pavement
on East Main St from the bridge to Calvary Cemetery
gate preparetory{preparatory?} to putting in a new pavement.
04\26\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
T/F{?} Bobolin{?} Preached. I did the chores at the farm and staid
home the rest of the day. Daylight Saving/saving{?} time started to
day.
04\27\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I went to the store and got groceries and meat.
Then out to the farm. Howed Rasp berries, and plowed about
the appletrees on the hill.
Francis Robinson began painting the Cemetery Fence.3 1/2 hr
04\28\{1936} (Tuesday)
I plowed about appletrees on the hill etc
Francis Painted on Cemetery fence 3 1/2 hr
04\29\{1936} (Wednesday)
Weather Perfect. I plowed and cuttivated/cultivated{?} under the
appletrees
on the hill.{.?} etc Francis painted on the Cemetery fence.
04\30\{1936} (Thursday)
Very pleant{?} day. This forenoon I worked at the farm, Francis
painted the Cemetery fence. Mrs Pierce had afternoon off
Margaret called,{,?} and staid all the afternoon Ferris Turkington{?}
and daughter called, I pained on the new wire fence East
of the garden.
05\01\{1936} (Friday)
This forenoon I took a load of manure on the hill, and
then killed worms nests on the trees.
This afternoon I worked in the Cemetery 3 hr. setting
stones etc.
05\02\{1936} (Saturday)
Very pleasant day Francis and I worked in the East{.?}
Farms Cemetery till three, Frank called and brought me
some polatoes/potatoes{?} from Kent. He was on his way to a
Sheepshearing
contest to be held at Old Farms Avon.
This afternoon Francis killed many worms nests, and
we gathered in the signs "No Trespass" to have them paint__{painted?}
over.
05\03\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at Mill Plan{Plain?} Rev Harald{?} Craw{?} preached
Rained all the afternoon, with thunder and lightening
05\04\{1936} (Monday)
Dr Barber called and found Mary better.
This morning I sharpened picks for Calvary Cemetery.
This afternoon Francis Robinson and I worked{?} on drums
and I varnished them.
Rained till middle of afternoon.
05\05\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to town and got my pension check
cashed, then went to City Hall and got Marys{?} tax bill.
Came home and worked in the garden till noon. After noon
Francis and I went to the farm and I took a load of
manure up on the hill, and then hand hoed under the
appletrees, and got the stones off.
Mary sat up to day.
05\06\{1936} (Wednesday)
This{.?} morning I went up on East Mountain and got a load
of sand and took it up to the Maple Hills Boys Club at
Hitchcocks pond{?}, then I went to the farm and plowed.
This afternoon Mr Thomas Barbour{?} or Portland a State
Highway Right-of-way agent called to see me about property
on the East Bristol Road in Wolcott, and Mr Saunders{?}
of South Meriden called to see the new drums that I
am making. I then went to the farm and plowed.
05\07\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I went and got 25 pounds of White Lead{?} of{?}
the Stross Co.{?} for 2.90 then, got groceries and seeds, then
went to the farm, and hoed the rasp berries. This
afternoon, I staid home all the time as Mrs Pierce{?} had
the afternoon off. Margaret came and said that Dick
Miller had just came{come?} from Toronto, and is to stay at
hir/her{?} house for some time.
05\08\{1936} (Friday)
I plowed on the Hill for pototoes/potatoes{?} and Corn nearly all
day. Weather has been very hot.
05\09\{1936} (Saturday)
I plowed harrowed, and bushed{?} the Corn and Potatoe{?}
land on the Hill Francis killed the worms nests {-?}
in the lower lot, and helped{?} me mark the rows for
the potatoes and corn.
05\10\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
D. P. Gains{?}, preached. Dick met me at the door and
sat with me. In the afternoon John Heinion and I
went to the South end of the Scott road and explores
it{.?} clear up through. We also went over on the old
Bound Line road{?} and visited the site of the Old Daniel
Baldwin and Peter.{.?} Gilkey{?} places. Weather fine.{.?}
05\11\{1936} (Monday)
Weather fair and nice. I worked all the forenoon furrowing{furowing?}
out for potatoes. In the afternoon Dick and Francis helped
me and we{.?} planted more than half of the piece.
05\12\{1936} (Tuesday)
This forenoon I furrowed out and planted potatoes. This
afternoon after francis{Francis?} came we finished planting potatoes
and put the chicken droppings in the corn furrows.
The weather has been very warm.
05\13\{1936} (Wednesday)
I went to the bank and got Mr Todds check cashed.
Came home and went to Cheshire and got seed
oats, then came to the farm and cultivated under
the appletrees in the{.?} barn lot.
This afternoon it rained all the time. Francis and
me sprouted the potatoes{.?} in the cellar and cleaned
the cold storage{?} celler{cellar?} out. Francis turned out some
knobs for the posts of the fence East of the garden{?}
05\14\{136} (Thursday)
This morning I planted three small pieces of oats.
This afternoon Mrs Pierce had off.{.?} I staid about home.
Margaret came after three. Dick had been to Tarrington{?}
and came when he got home. Weather has been cold
Francis mowed the front yard.
05\15\{1936} (Friday)
A heavy frost this morning. Dick came and we made a beam
for a heavy plow for the Calvary Cemetery.
This afternoon Francis, Dick and I went to the farm. They finished
plainting the potatoes, I bushed the peas and we all{?} howed in the
gardin{garden?}.
The Steam Shovel is now working in front of the Waiting
Station. Having dug out half of the width of the street from
the bridge up
05\16\1936{Saturday)
Cool pleasant day. Francis and I went to the farm,
and planted garden etc.
05\17\{1936} (Sunday)
Dick and I went to Kent.
05\18\{1936} (Monday)
Planted corn on the hill, and got{?} ground ready in
shed lot.
05\19\{1936} (Tuesday)
Dick and I planted corn at the farm. In the afternoon He
Francis and I built nearly a new wheelbarrow shed.
05\20\{1936} (Wednesday)
I went to town this morning and paid taxes and other
bills,{,?} at the farm in the afternoon.
05\21\{1936} (Thursday)
Mrs Pierce{?} was off this afternoon and I worked on{?}
the wheelbarrow shed. Francis painted at the
cemetery.
Dick and I went to Wolcott and looked up records{?}
and especially the Layout of the Todd road.
The City commenced poring{pouring?} concrete on the street
05\22\{1936} (Friday)
Dick and I started surveying the piece of land
owned by Bessie Pierpont at the junction of the
Todd road and Lewis avenue, Francis helped
in the afternoon. I worked eight hours.
Francis finished painting the Cemetery fence.
05\23\{1936} (Saturday)
Dick,{,?} I and Francis worked Seven{seven?} hours and a half
running and chaining the line on the East side
of Bessie Pierponts lot.
We then went to Cheshire for chicken feed but
the store was closed.
This evening I went to the Wolcott Fair Grounds
with the Maple Hill Boys and practiced drumming
05\24\{1936} (Sunday)
Fine pleasant Day Sunday. The City men have
worked in front of the house all day, getting the old
road dug up ready to put in the iron forms,{,?} for
the concrete on the first lane, there is to be four lanes,{,?}
and they have changed over the cross over{crossover?} for the Frost
Road by moving it farther East.
I did not go to Church as when I went to start my{.?} car
the battery was dead.
This{.?} afternoon Ruth and Jack with __________ and Peggy
called, Ruth staid here all the afternoon, And they took
me and we went to Jacks Fathers, Brundage farm
in Danbury. I saw some fine vegtables{vegetables?} growing,{,?} they
shoed me about{.?} 1800 young chicks, and hundreds
of hens{?}. There were many autos on the road, in
Middlebury were stationed two state Poliece{Police?} who
made every driver show their licence's{licenses?}.
05\25\{1936} (Monday)
Dick came at{.?} 8 o'clock and we went surveying at
Bessie Pierponts{.?} lot. We ran over the East line, and
got an opening throught the brush for dale ave.
I in the afternoon,{,?} Francis helped.
Dick and I were there 7 hours
05\26\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning the Great concrete miring{mixing?} machine.{.?} that cost
the City.{.?} $18.ooo was in front of our gate putting down the
new road. I watched it operate a while, till Dick came
He went to work on maps, and I went to the farm and
howed the weeds out of the potatoes and corm{corn?}. Ine{In?} the
afternoon Mary gave me an Order on the Bank and I went
down and drew $50.00. I came home and Francis and
I went to the farm and finished hoeing the corn and
polatoes{potatoes?}, and I hoed some in the garden.
05\27\{1936} (Wednesday)
To day I worked with Dick surveying on the Todd
Rood{Road?} and Lewis Avenue. It rained and we went
to Wolcott Center and looked up Records. 8 hours
We stoped at Charles Tuttle's as/a{?} short time.
This evening Clifford German came for a drumming
lesson.
05\28\{1936} (Thursday)
This forenoon I was with Dick three hours.
Mrs Pierce had the afternoon off and I stayed home.
Dick came and made maps. Francis came and
made knobs for the fence.
This evening the Maple hill Boys came and got
their drums, and went to the Wolcott Fair Grounds
to practice.
05\29\{1936} (Friday)
This morning I went surveying with Dick. H_{He?} was called
to go to the American Brass Co,{,?} and was given work,{,?} and
is to report Monday morning. We went out to the job
gain in the afternoon calling on the way for Francis,
I worked five hours.
After we were through, we went to Cheshire and got a bag
of feed.
05\30\{1936} (Saturday)
Decoration Day. Nice Weather, Rather cool.
This morning at 8 I started for Kent with the
Maple Hill Drummer boys to play in the Parade
in that place. I went in my small car, and took
three others,{,?} Fred Froskey/Troskey{?}, Bob Hill, and another.
We went through Waterville, Raynolds Bridge,
up by the Branch Reservoirs{?}, East Marris/Morris{?},
Marris/Morris{?}, Bantam, Woodville, Warren and over
the new road to Kent, where we assembled at
the Town Hall. At 10, The line formed and
marched. It was composed of Mounted Marshals{Marshalls?}
Kent School Band. Men from C.CC. Camps{?}, School
children, Bay/Boy{?} and Girl scouts, floats, Firemen.
etc We played for the Firemen who atteared{?} in
Red shirts, White pants, and fine caps. Marched
up Main St {.?} and into the Cemetery back of the
Congregational Church We played a dirge after we
entered the Cemetery. After the exercieses at this
place we marched by{?} was{way?} of a back street to the
lower Cemetery, where exercises were held, and
then to the soldiers monument at the Center
where a memarial/memorial{?} service was held.
We were then taken to a large house on the
East side of Main St where a fine dinner
was served us. Then the Maple Hill boys
went up to macadonia Park to the reunion
of the native of Kent, and had a fine time
I went to Franks, and he showed me his
crops, etc after{.?} which we went to the lone{?}
grave of John Rogers a Civil War soldier who
died of the small pox about 40 years ago and
was buried in his own garden at what was
then known at{as?} Alder City{?}, on the West side
of the Housatonic River, about {-?} 1/2 mile beloy{below?}
the North Kent Bridge. The grave is{?} between
the rood{road?} and the River, on a bank about 40 ft
from the water, A large willow tree stands at
he foot, and a smaller maple at the head and
about 18 towards the rood{road?} stands a large Locus{Locust?}
tree. Frank placed a flag on the grave last
night and his children laid flowers. To day{Today?}
he put a board at the head Marked John
Rogers. Civil War soldier, Died about 40 year ago.
aged 42,
We then went and viewed the North Kent bridg{bridge?}
as it lies by the West bank of the river, much bent
and twisted. We reached home before dark.
05\31\{1936} (Sunday)
This morning Ray and Ruth Came with their
large new Oldsmobile,{,?} and took Mary and I to
church, Rev W. Moreton Owen{?} preached. The attendance{?}
as about 140 including Choirs, Minister and all.
Mrs Pierce went away, and I staryed home all the
afternoon Ferris and Lena Turkinton{?} or East Morris
called.
06\01\{1936} (Monday)
Dick went to work at the American Brass Co this
morning. I went to the farm, and cultivated under
the appletrees on the hill. Ine{In?} the afternoon FRancis
Robinson came, and we picked stones off the Potatoe
and Stone lot.
06\02\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning everything was astir{?} about here
as the City are poring{pouring?} concrete on the{.?} second
lane of the Street by here and are coming up
the hill with the great mixer and new spreading
machine. This with the Steam roller, rolling down
the ground{.?} ahead{-?} of the mixer and all of the five
ton trucks bringing crushed stone, Sand and
cement, makes a busy time.
I went to the farm this morning and drove
over the potaloes/potatoes{?} and corn with the weeder, and
in the afternoon Francis and I finished picking the
stones off. 6 carts loads.
06\03\{1936} (Wednesday)
Very hot day. This forenoon I finished making a coop{?}
for little chickens, and did a lot of writing etc.
In the afternoon I went to the farm and hoed
and cultivated the trees in the lower lot.
Had a severe shower this evening.
06\04\{1936} (Thursday)
Nice Weather to day. I went to Robt Tylers{?} and had
soem 48 {.?}surveying stakes made, then wen{went?} to M E
Pierponts Dary{Dairy?} and Mort paid me for work done
in the Cemetery. Then to the farm and mowed about
the barn a little. This afternoon Francis mowed
the lawn and I worked in the garden.
06\05\{1936} (Friday)
To day I have cullivated/cultivated{?} my potatoes and corn.
Francis hoed in the afternoon.
The City men have completed the second lane
of concrete rood/road{?} from the Bridge to beyond the
Calvary Cemetery gate.
The weather has been fair to day.
06\06\{1936} (Saturday)
I helped Dick survey Mr Theriault's{?} property at the
'old{old?} Todd's Saw Mill place on Lilly Brook in Wolcott.
Francis Robinson helped, finished{?} at {.?}3 then went to Bessie's
piece{place?} till 5
06\07\{1936} (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church, Ray came with
his new car and Mary I and Dick went{.?} with them.
Rev Matthew Madden preached.
At this meeting, I was voted to engage Mr Madden to
become the settled{?} minister for one year.
06\08\{1936} (Monday)
To day has been very warm. I hoed potaloes/potatoes{?} and
corn on the hill all day. This afternoon Francis
helped and we finished.
This evening Dick{.?} came and finished the drawing{?}
and made a tracing of the Theriault Property in
Wolcott that we have surveyed.
06\09\{1936} (Tuesday)
Warm Dry day. This forenoon I mowed the roodside/roadside{?}
at the farm. In the afternoon Francis, the boy, and I
went about putting up trespass signs{sighs/} about the
farm. This evening Dick and I went to Mr Theriault
in Wolcott and took a bleuprint/blueprint of his property.
We then went to Bessie Pierponts and saw about
some surveying to be done{?}.
06\10\{1936} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to Thomaston Ave and had my
truck tested by the State It passed by recomending{recommending?} a
change from a green reflector on the rear end to a red
one. I brought it home and then took my little
roadster, and that passed. The testers seemed not
to be very strict this year. The testing of cars is
not very popular, as it takes so much of the owners
time, and is very inconvienient{inconvenient?} for those who
ork, and it has not amounted to much in
rigard/regard{?} to preventing accidents.
This afternoon Francis and I cleaned the spring
at the farm and then mowed in the Cemetery.
This evenind{evening?} Francis and I went with Dick and
cut survey lines through the brush at Bessie
Pierponts lot on the Todd road, it was hot hard
work.
06\11\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the Great Atlantic and Pacific
sotre and bought a lot of Groceries. Then came
home and did odd jobs/Jobs{?} the rest of the day,
cut much gra__{grass?}. This afternoon Francis Robinson
came and painted the fence East of the
garden{?} and the{?} clothes line posts. We guilded
the ball on the top of the flg{flag?} pole.
The City men are working in the street at our
orner getting ready to put down the concrete.
They sat that the Waiting Station is to come down.
06\12\{1936} (Friday)
This forenoon I worked about home and went to the farm{.?}
and planted cabbage etc. This aflernoon/afternoon{?} Francis and I
worke_{worked?}
mowing the Cemetery, three hours.
06\13\{1936} (Saturday)
Rained all day. In the afternoon Dick Francis and I went
to the Pierpont tract{.?} and set boundry{boundary?}{.?} stakes. Then
we went to Chas Tuttle's and he showed us an{.?} line
bound on the Old Bound Line.
06\14\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev
John Lewis preached. Mary did not go{.?} as it reined
In the afternoon I went __{to?} Chas Tuttle's.
06\15\{1936} (Monday)
Rained some most of the day. I mowed about home{?}
in the forenoon. In the afternoon Francis and I mowed
in the Cemetery.
06\16\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I took my truck to Dons{Dans?} and had a new
cap put on the engine. I went to the farm and hoed in
the garden. This afternoon Francis and I went{wint?} to the farm
and hoed in th gardens.
06\17\{1936} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to th Colonial Trust Co and
got Marys and my Church bonds certificate's{certificates?}
cashed, Mary 20.00 mine 28.00 Came home and
went to the farm. In the aflernoon/afternoon{?} Francis, his
brother{.?} and I took a load of hay out to the
farm.
06\18\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning The dy{Thedy?} Vogle{?} and I went to the farm
and cultivated the apple trees in the lower lot,
and some corn in the shed lot.
Mrs Pierce was out this afternoon and I stayed
a{at?} home, Roll Jenner came and lettered a lot of
ard for Pierpont records.
06\19\{1936} (Friday)
Rained this morning{.?} I sharpened a lot of picks
for the Calvary{.?} Cemetery. This afternoon Francis
came and we went to the farm and hoed the corn
in the lot West of the shed up the first/ferst{?} hill.
This evening I helped Dick survey.
Heard to day that Lewis Ovaitt [Oviatt] has died.
06\20\{1036} (Saturday)
This morning I went to Dons and had my engine and
radiator flushed out with water and air.
Then Dick came and we went out to the tract of land{?}
between the{.?} Todd Road and Lewis Ave, stopping on
the way{.?} and getting{.?} Francis Robinson, and surveyed
it, the lower end into building lots and streets.
This aternoon, we went over to the old Saw Mill
pond to see Mr Della Bello{?} about some surveying,{,?}
but he had gone home, We went into the old ice
houses and saw{.?} millions of mushroons{mushrooms?}.{.?} growing,
then we drove to Mr Garthwaits{?} and had him
epair the timer on the car.
The weather has been fine.
06\21\{1936} (Sunday)
The Pierpont Family Reunion was held to day in the
Community house in Morris Center. There were
about 150 present. Raymond was President and the
presideing officer, and did well. I went in my little
ar and took Mary, whe is very feeble.
06\22\{1936} (Monday)
To day Francis and I hoed my potatoes and corn. I first
ultivaled/cultivated{?} them with the ox.
06\23\{1936} (Tuesday)
The City has inslalled/installed{?} a fire hydrant on the opposite
corner of the frost road, and workmen are{?} commencing
putting in the foundation for a gas station back of the
hydrant, where Mr Beebes{?}{.?} GGas station used to be.
Francis and I worked in the garden at East Farms
his morning. This afternoon He put arsnate of lead
on the potatoes while I cultavated{cultivated?} under the appletrees
on the hill.
This evening Francis and I went surveying with
Dick.
06\24\{1936} (Wednesday)
Rained this morning,{,?} I worked about home. This afternoon
I went to the farm and hoed and fertilized my Raspberries
This evening{.?} I and Francis helped Dick survey at
Bessie Pierponts tract.
I received the following from Nelson C. Ovaitt [Oviatt], of
Ocean City N.J. in a copy of the Detroit Free Press{?}
Among the Death Notices were.{.?}
June 14th at the home of Carl E Henesner{?}.
Birmingham, Michigan. Lewis L. Ovaitt [Oviatt], of
Vancouver, Washington aged 78. Father of Mrs
Grant C. Braman{?}. Portland, Oregon and brother
of Nelson C. {blank space in text} Funeral services at Portland Oregon.
06\25\{1936} (Thursday)
Francis and I got down the mowing machine and put it
togather{together?}, then we hoed over the raspberries, then cleaned the
Cemetery.2 This afternoon we mowed the lawn, and ground
scylhes{?},{,?} and mowing machine knifes, and partly repaired
the cultivalor/cultivator{?}.
Mrs Pierce had the afternoon off.
06\26{1936} (Friday)
Francis and I mowed a small piece{?} in the barn lot.
06\27\{1936} (Saturdary)
This forenoon Francis and I went with Dick surveying out on
Bessies{?} Tract. It cami/cae{?} on to rain an noon. This afternoon I
worke_{worked?}
about home.
06\28\{1936} (Sunday)
Ray{?} came with his new car and we loaded Mary in and
ent to the Mill Plain Church. Rev H. Girtrude Coe{?} preached
This afternoon I went to Wolcott {.?} and saw Carl Moulthrop{?}.
06\29\{1936} (Monday)
Francis and I went to the farm and got in a lood/load{?} of hay
and mowed the North East Part of the Barn lot
Mr Joseph Porter{,?} of New York called on me this evening
He had his own fine car, Chofer{Chauffeur?}, Nurse and House keeper. He
is 88 years old.
06\30\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to town, Francis and I went
to the farm and got in a big lood/load{?} of hay.
This evening Dick, Francis and I went surveying.
07\01\{1936} (Wednesday)
Francis and I mowed the meadow South of the barn
We then went to Robet Tylers and had 105 survey
pins sawed out. This evening we helped Dick
survey.{.?} at Bessies tract.
07\02\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning Francis and I got in two loads of {-?}
hay. This afternoon Mrs Pierce had off and I staid
with Mary, I worked on Dicks ink rack.
Mr Coe{?} came to see me about making shutter irons
The great Concrete mixer was lyaing the last or 4th
lane in front of my gate, and the telephone Co
are changing their wires. The Texas Co are putting
up the frame of their building.
07\03\{1936} (Friday)
Francis ad I plowed out and hoed corn an{and?} potaloes/potatoes{?}
and got in a small load of hay.
07\04\{1936} (Saturday)
Francis and I went with Dick surveying this forenoon.
This afternoon I worked at odd jobs and made a survey pole.
07\05\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended servie at Christ Chapel, this morning
This afternoon I and Dick went{.?} to see Ed Todd.
The weather has been fine. Ths evening Ray came and
brought some fine round clams that he got at short Beach
07\06\{1936} (Monday)
Weather warm and clear. Francis and I hoed potatoes{?}
and corn. This evening Dick came and hod/had{?} supper of
clam chowder, and then worked on his picture developing
room.
07\07\{1936} (Tuesday)
Francis and I mowed with the machine the North Eat part
of the Barn lot. This afternoon I went and had my hair
cut, and soon after four Mrs Howard Coe{?} called and
took me to Woodbury where I measured up the windows{?}
and doors on a new cabin they are building on the
mountain East of Hotchkissville.
07\08\{1936} (Wednesday)
This morning I carried Francis/Frances{?} out to the farm to work
then I went to Wolcott to Mr Goodsons to get nancy to work
or us, but she has a Job{job?} in Naugatuck. Came home and
went to Bank and drew out $100.00 came home then went
up on East Mountain to mr Hodge, and he told me
of Mrs Purdy who I engaged. Then after dinner went to
the farm and we got in a load of hay.
This evening I attended a meeting of the East Farms
Cemetery Association.
07\09\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning{.?} I took a tire to have replaced by a new one
then went to Margarets and left some peas. Came home
paid Mrs Pierce 15.00 and told her that I must reduce{?}
erpence{expense?} and could not pay her so much. She said that
she would get through this noon. I went up East Mountain
and saw Mrs Purdy, she is coming in the morning
I then went to the farm{.?} and Francis and I worked in
the garden till noon. I came home Mrs Pierce had
dinner, and left at about one, I staid with Mary all
the afternoon. Very hot day.
07\10\{1936} (Friday)
This morning Mrs Purdy came to work.
Weather very hot. Francis and I went to the farm
He worked in the garden, and I mowed, all the ramining
grass in the Barn meadow. We went to Dons{?} and got
the new tire for the truck.
07\11\{1936} (Saturday)
Very hot day. This morning Dick Francis and I
worked surveying Bessie Pierponts lot.
This afternoon Dick and I fussed about here rigging
up an ink rack, and a dark room for doveloping{developing?} pictures.
07\12\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service in the Wolcott Church.
There was a goodley mumber/number{?} present considering the
hot weather. Mrs Purdy had the afternoon off.
The City opened the new street{.?} they constructed{constricted?} by
our place so now the public are using it.
07\13\{1936} (Monday)
Showers all round us but everything drying up
here. This morning I went to town and payed a
lot of bills. In the afternoon Francis and I went to
the farm, cleared the pea vines off and planted
watermellons, and picked seven qts of raspberries,{,?}
and got in a small lood/load{?} of hay.
Dick came this evening and we worked on his
water tank. His mother telephoned that they were
in Tarrington{?} and would be at the Waterbury station
soon _____ _______{after driving?} from Toronto. They expect to live
here in the future.
07\14\{1936} (Tuesday)
Very hot day. Francis and I mowed the upper lot on
the hill and this afternoon got it in.
This evenind{evening?} Dick and Willard came and{?} Dick
took my truck and they went out to Mr Della
Bellas{?} to see about a survey job. Dick paie me
45.00 to night for helping him, and truck stakes{?},
etc.
07\15\{1936} (Wednesday)
We had a thunder storm last night that cooled
the weather. Francis and I went to the farm
and trimmed about the lot on the hill and got
it, the hay in. We then went to Cheshire ond{and?}
got a bag of Scratch/scratch{?} feed, came home and
sharpened stone tools for Andrew{.?} Kitchenka.
This evening Dick, Willard and I went surveying{"g" written above text}
on Bessie's{Bessies?} tract.
07\16\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I worked about home repairing
the chicken coop etc. Mrs Purdy was off this after
noon and I worked on Dicks dark room and
did other jobs. Ferris Turkington{?} and wife called
as did Fritza.{.?} Dick came this evening.
07\17\{1936} (Friday)
This morning Willard Miller and I piped up Dicks
place in the dark room. Then we worked at blacksmith
work two hours. Teddy and I went{?} to the farm and
picked three qts of Rasp berries.
07\18\{1936} (Saturday)
Very warm day. I worked making hinges most of the
day. We are having a thunder storm this evening which
is much needed.
07\19\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at Wolcott. Rev Mr Dice{?}
officiated.
This afternoon,{,?} they had a miniture{miniature?} auto race on{?}
the hill between here and the Mattatuck shop. There were
thousands here to see it, about 150 boys,{,?} with cars
of their oun/own{?} manufacture were in the contest.
07\20\{1936} (Monday)
Francis and I made shutter irons till four{,?} when we
went to the farm and picked four qts of Rasp berries,{,?}
and brought in a lot of garden truck.
Rained hard ____{this?} afternoon{?}.
07\21\{1936} (Tuesday)
Worked all day on Mr Coes{?} shutter irons.{.?}
The City men are putting in concrete about the waiting
station __{in?} front of our house.
The weather has been very nice and cool all day
07\22\{1936} (Wednesday)
The weather to day has been fair, Francis and I
worked on shutter irons till three. Then went to the
farm and picked two quarts of Rasp berries, and
Beans, Cucumbers, and weeded the garden.
Dick came this evening and he and Francis worked
on their developing place.
07\23\{1936} (Thursday)
Francis Robinson and I worked on Mr Coes{?} shutter
irons, all day.
07\24\{1936} (Friday)
To day Francis and I worked on shutter irons.{.?}
Weather rain some of the time{.?}
07\25\{1936} (Saturday)
Francis and worked on shutter irons.
07\26\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service At Wolcott this morning.
The weather was fine.
Harvey{.?} Greene{?} from Summit called this afternoon,{,?}
his{?} wife and family were with him.
07\27\{1936} (Monday)
Francis and I worked on shutter irons{,?} and went to the
arm and got a lot of vegtables{vegetables?} etc
Frank called this evening, had been to Storrs.
07\28\{1936} (Tuesday)
Francis and I worked on shutter irons. This evening I
called on Miss Wakelee{?} about the old stone school house{?}
in Woodtick.
07\29\{1936} (Wednesday)
Francis and I finished Mr{.?} Coes{?} shutter irons
this noon. Then we mowed a small load of hay
and took it to the farm, where I worked in the
garden. Then went to Mr Pierponts dary{dairy?} and
paid my milk bill.{.?} Came{came?} home and went to the
Mill Plain Church with Albert Crandall and got
several tables and chairs and took them to his hous_{house?}
Mr Howard Coe{?} called this evening and ____ ___{took his?}
irons{.?}
07\30\{1936} (Thursday)
Francis and I mowed the lower end of our lot{.?} this
forenoon. This afternoon Mrs Purdy had off and I
staid with Mary. Mr Hollister Sage{?} ______{called?} this
afternoon. This evening I took my truck and
arried the tables and chairs back to the Church.
Dick came up this evening.
07\31\{1936} (Friday)
Francis and mowed the lower part of our lot and got
two loads to East FRams.
Albert Blanchard{?} Cleaned Vogles Toilet this morning
charged 3.25. Dick came this evening had my car to
take his girl to the show.
The City men put in the new curb of concrite/concrete{?}
in front of my house this forenoon.
08\01\{1936} (Saturday)
Francis and I mowed south of the Wheelhouse and chicken
yard etc. Dick came and we put up the flag pole.
Then we took a load of hay out to the farm. Dick and
Francis took the truck and carried a table from
Margarets down{?} town to John Castles.
Weather rather warm and dry.
08\02\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I atended service at the Prospect Congregational{?}
Church. It was a Re-Dedication Service and the Church
was filled to overflowing. Rev Thomas Cachard{?} was
the Minister, and Rev Kermit Green{?} of Waverly Pennsylvania,
a brother of Harvy{Harvey?} Green of Summit preached
the sermon.
After Church we went to Mrs Purdys on East
mountain and had dinner. She lives on the top of
a high hill.{.?} between the old and new roads near the
junction{Junction?}, have to drive up a very steep road opposite
Thomas Pains to reach the house. After a fine dinner
we came home where we staid the rest of the day.
08\03\{1936} (Monday)
Hot dry weather. I mowed the swamp East of the
chicken coop, and Francis mowed the yard, then we
brought a load of choped up brush wood, but when
we went back for another load the bottom of the
engine pan{?} struck a rock, which knocked open the
drain plug so the oil began running out. I took the
truck to Don Hannons{?} and he put on another pan
for 3.50 with new oil. but the engine knocked badly so
I left it to be repaired.
Francis and I cleaned up the little car. Dick came{?}
in the evening, I worked on his ink bracket.
08\04\{1936} (Tuesday)
Very dry hot weather. It has rained to the North
and South of us but we get{got?} little here. This morning
Francis and I went to the farm and I cultivated
under the appletrees in the barn lot and he hoed{.?} the
Rasp berries. This afternoon we mowed the{.?} West
end of the orchard{?} lot on the hill.
08\05\{1936} (Wednesday)
The weather this morning was damp, Francis and
I went to the farm and put up the hay that was
heating onto the upper mow, then we went up on
the hill and mowed around the edge where we{?}
mowed yesterday, then hitched the ox on to the
mowing machine and mowed the orchard lot{.?}
and raked it up an got it into the barn and
put it on the mow.
This evening I went to Dan/Don{?} Hanlans{?} and got
my truck that he had tightened the bearings on.
They have the building completed for the
Texico{Texeco?} Gas Station, and have 4 one thousand
gal tanks ready to set inthe ground.
I dug our first potaloes/potatoes{?} yesterday.
08\06\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I had Francis make lobles/lables{?} and
placed them in old books and journals{Journals?} that
I had and then took thm up to th Old Stone
School house in Woodtick Where a Celebration
was hel_{held?} dnd/and{?} the building dedicated as a memorial
to A. Bronson Alcott. This evening there
were many people there, and the Mattatuck Drum
Band played several pieces.
Mary and I went up at six, and got our things.
When we arrived home we found Dick and his
brothers, and Gene and a girl friend here.
It has rained{.?} quite hard some of the time to
day.
08\07\{1936} (Friday)
This morning Francis and I sharpened a lot of picks
for the Calvary Cemetery. While we were doing that
Frank drove in from Kent with a load of lumber on
a large Chevolet{Chevrolet?} truck, which we unloaded, and
some of which he wishes made into a large horse
sled. He soon left and stated for Storrs via Meriden
and Middletown.
Francis and I loaded hay on the truck{?} and took it
o the farm.
After which we put pickets __{on?} the fence East side of
the chicken yard.
08\08\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning Francis and I finished the fence{.?} __{up?}
the chicken yard. Then we went to the farm and
mowed thi/the{?} lot west of the shed on the hill,{,?} and
Dick came from Cheshire where he took a stove
with my truck, and we raked up the hay and got it
in. Ine{In?} the afternoon I did off jobs{Jobs?} about home.
08\09\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev Kermit Green{?} of Waverly Penn
preached. In the afternoon we went to Mrs John
Nortons{?} in Wolcott, She wished to find out about
Daniel Lane{?} who settled in Wolcott in 1773.
This evening Brother Fred and wife, Mansfield
Gillette{?} and wife and Wm Gillette{?} called and we
had a good visit.
08\10\{1936} (Monday)
Very warm day. Francis and I went to the farm
and raised up the North West corner of the shed
on the hill 9" an put stones under it, then he
lengthened out the rathers and I cultivated apple
trees on the hill{?}. Dick came this evening and
got my truck and went after a heater.
08\11\{1936} (Tuesday)
Weather hot and dry. Francis and I went to
the farm and worked in the gardens, and then
mowed the aats/oats{?} We then prepared the shed on
the hill for new roof. Fred and I attended M.D.B.{?}
_______{meeting?}.{?}
08\12\{1936} (Wednesday)
Francis and I went to O.Hearns{?} East End Hardware Co
and got 6 Rolls of Roofing{.?} Felt and took it to the farm
and finished the roof on the shed on the hill and
starled/started{?} on the stable of the barn.
Weather burning hot.
Frank came to day and brought Slabs, lumber, Sled,
and Piano{.?} stool.
08\13\{1936} (Thursday)
Francis and I went to the farm and put felt roof
on the stable shed. At noon we came home,{,?} and
I staid here all the afternoon as Mrs Purdy had
the time off. I filed a crosscut{.?} saw and did olher/other{?}
jobs in the Wheel House. This evening Fred came
and talked drumming etc.
Will Gillette came and we arranged to call or{on?}
Orlo Camp{?} on Preston Hill in the near future.{.?}
Weather has been very hot.
08\14\{1936} (Friday)
Weather very hot and dry. I went to town this morning
and paid bills. Then Farancis{Francis?} and I after dinner wnet
to the farm and finished putting the roof on the stable, then
picked beans dug potatoes etc.
Mr Hollister Sage called this afternoon and took several
books.
08\15\{1936} (Saturday)
Warm and dry. This morning I went to the
farm and cultivated under the appletrees on
the hill. Dick and Francis were there and
weeded in the garden and hoed under the
appletrees on the hill.
This aternoon{.?} Fred came, and Dick was here
and we varnished his ink rack{?} and table.
After five about eight of Freds drum boys came
from{.?} Tarrytown dnd/and{?} we had a good time and a
light lunch. Then we went to M.E. Pierponts
where we met the Mattatuck boys and hdd/had{?}
much drumming. after which they served a
a lunch.
08\16\{1936} (Sunday)
Hot dry day. Mary and I attended service at
the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr Gregg of
he First Congregational Church preached.
Dick and Margaret sat with us.{.?} It was hot
and we staid home all day.
08\17\{1936} (Monday)
Tounsond Garrigus{?} and I got in a load of oals/oats{?},
after dinner a thunder shower came up{.?} and
I came home and worked on Franks piano stool.
Two men came this evening to see abut leasing
360 ft of the South East corner of our home lot..for a
grave stone business. Loaned Mr Monnel{?}, 2 drills 1 sppon
and one 10 lb Sledge.
08\18\{1936} (Tuesday)
Weather fair and not to{too?} warm. This morning I
ook a load of slabs to the farm, and got Townson
nd we started back, when we found{.?} one tire was
flat. We stoped{?} at the news station just{?} this way
of my gate but they hadnt installed their free air
We then came over To Dan/Don{?} Hanlins{?} and there got
it fixed. Then we took a maple board up to Robert
Tylers{?} and had it sawed and plained, then came
back and repaired Franks piano stool, and at
night took another load of slabs to the farm and
brought back vegtables{vegetables?}. Mr Zepps{?} house caught
ire this afternoon, and was badly damaged.
08\19\{1936} (Wednesday)
This forenoon Tounsend{?} and I put a lot of the oak{?}
humber/lumber{?} up stairs in the barn, and the 3x4 up in the
shed, and took the long stuff out to the farm. This
afternoon I did little but read and went up to Chas
Tuttles, When I came home I could not get through the
Pierpont road as they are still laying{?} the water pipe
up there. Have been laying it since last March, A
great Public expensive job{Job?}.
08\20\{1936} (Thursday)
I went to the farm{.?} and set out a lot of cabbage plants
and Tounsend{?} watered them, and did a lot of other work{?}
08\20\{1936} (Thursday) {Same date given again, 2nd entry for 8/20/36?}
Weather rather hot and very druy. I went to the
farm and set out cabbage plants and Town
picked 1/2{?} l_s{lbs?} of beans. This fternoon Mrs Purdy
was off, and I took mary up to Wolcott to Marion
Krafts to get a flute but n one was at home only
lhe/the{?} dog. Mrs Purdy had the afternoon off.
08\21\{1936} (Friday)
This morning I went to the farm and set out
cabbage plants, and then went up on the hill
and cultivated under the apple trees.
This evening I took my tlou/blow{?} torch up to Raymond
to have him repair it for me.
He has put in a new cispool{cesspool?}, under the walk.
08\22\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning Will Purdy and I drove to Kent
to see Franks farm. We went through Waterville
Reynolds Bridge up past the West Branch Dams{?},
East Morris, Bantam Woodville, then to the
Shepang Reservair/Reservoir{?}, To Warren and Kent. We foudn
Frank ready to leave with his fire Compant{Company?}
for Greenwich to attend a State Fire Muster{?}
So we looked about as best we ould and had
dinner and came home.
08\23\{1936} (Sunday)
Mary and I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church Rev Mr Walker{?} Preached.
In the afternoon Jack Brundage{?} came with his
family, after they had gone Mary and I went to
the farm, and brought back some vegtables{vegetables?}.
08\24\{1936} (Monday)
Weather very warm. Francis and I went to the farm
and hoed our{?} gardens all over. Then we set two
concrete posts in the fence on the lot{.?} East End
back of the shed on the hill Then went to work
repairing the wall and covering the upper spring.
This evening Mr Smith of the American and the
Republican called to get information of Henry Kirk{?}
who was machinest{machinist?} at the Waterbury Brass Mill
in 1868, etc.
08\25\{1936} (Tuesday)
Hot day. My shoulders are all row{raw?} from working and
sweating Francis and I worked on the spring.
08\26\{1936} (Wednesday)
To day Frances{Francis?} and I worked on the spring at the farm.
08\27\{1936} (Thursday)
The hens layed no eggs to day{days?}.{.?} I worked at the
farm this forenoon on the spring putting a cover
of slabs over it.
Tis afternoon I staid with mary as Mrs Purdy
had the afternoon off. Miss Jillson{?} of Bunker Hill{?}
called to find about Joseph Clark who lived in
Betheny{?} in 1821.
08\28\{1936} (Friday)
To day I worked at the farm covering the Spring{spring?}.
Dick took my little car to go to Cheshire{.?} this
evening.
08\29\{1936} (Saturday)
Rained all day. I helped Dick repair his dresser
and did odd jobs{Jobs?} about home.
08\30\{1936} (Sunday)
Nice day. Mary and I attended service at Mill
Plain. Rev H A/S{?} Worth preached.
This afternoon Mary and I called on Mrs Jones
of Union City, she was not in. We then called __{on?}
Mr Sheldon Payne.
08\31\{1936} (Monday)
I worked to day on the spring at the farm. Robert Miller
helped me this afternoon.
This evening I attended a Republican Rally at
Hamilton Park. Mr Knox{?}, The cantidate{candidate?} for Vice
President spoke. There was a large attendance.
09\01\{1936} (Tuesday)
Nice and cool. I went to the farm and worked in
he garden and at the spring. After dinner Mrs
Purdy telephoned for me to come home as Mary
was worse, I came and found her in bed and
out of her head, Called the Doctor. he came in
the evening, said she was better than when he
saw her last. Prescribed medicine etc.
09\02\{1936} (Wednesday)
To day I went to the farm and worked on the spring{?}
got the Covering all on, which is made of slabs.{.?}
The weather has been rather cool.
09\03\{1936} (Thursday)
Nice weather to day. This morning I went to town and
did business. To day the City finished laying side
walks on the street from the bridge to Cavary{Calvary?} Cemetery
gates, and to the Frost Rd.
09\04\{1936} (Friday)
Weather to day has been clear and rather cool.
I went to the farm and finished banking{?} up the
spring. This afternoon I saw Rose Wakelee in Wolcolt/Wolcott{?}
about the Alcotts, A Bronson and Dr William.
I then went to the farm and dug potatoes and cultivaled/cultivated{?}
under the appletrees{?} on the hill.
To day I bought a dozen little chickens of the Spenser{?}
grain Co. for .12{?} each,{,?} one day old.
09\05\{1936} (Saturday)
Weather has been nice and cool to day. I went to the
farm this forenoon and put my tools etc. This afternoon
Dick came and we worked in the Wheel house
I ground a lot of paint,{,?} etc.
An Italian mon/man{?} came to see about renting a pie{ink blot, piece?}
of ground East of the house.
09\06\{1936) (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Mary did not go, as the Docotr thought her to{too?}
weak, This evening{?} Margaret and Cliff came
Margaret is going to Litchfield next Wednesday
to cook for Judge Swymour for a week.
Rev Matthew{.?} G. Madden{?}, preached his first sermon
as regular Pastor at Mill Plain to day.
Church program inserted in text
Left side of page:
Announcements
Ladies' Aid meeting Tuesday, September 8.
Men's Club meeting Wednesday, September 9.
Senior Choir rehearsal will be held on Friday.
Sunday School will reopen September 13.
The Men's Club will sponsor a Flower Show on September
11 and 12, afternoon and evening.
Right side of page:
The Mill Plain Union Church
WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT
MATTHEW G. MADDEN, PASTOR
Morning Worship 10:00 a.m. September 6, 1936
SILENT PRAYER
ORGAN PRELUDE
PROCESSIONAL HYMN 2
INVOCATION AND LORDS PRAYER
RESPONSIBE READING
GLORIA PATRI
SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS OFFERING DOXOLOGY
HYMN 150
SERMON
HOLY COMMUNION
HYMN 458
BENEDICTION
ORGAN POSTLUDE
SILENT PRAYER
09\07\{1936} (Monday)
Labor Day. Damp in forenoon, Sunshine in afternoon
Mary is hardly able to arise from her chair
although I help her all that I an, walks very feeble
with three inch steps. Whe is very cheerful and
eats well, and sleeps well.
Dick came this afternoon and made a frame{?}
for his Collige/College{?} banner, and we went to the farm
and dug half a lu/bu{?} of potatoes, some of which
weighed a pound, and we brought in 1/2 bu of
vegtables{vegetables?}, which I gave to him, as he helped
plant the potatoes.
09\08\{1936} (Tuesday)
Good weather. I painted the North side of the Blacksmith{?}
shop. After dinner went to Rbot Tylers{?} on the Meriden
Rd and had some{.?} sowing{?} and plaining dove/done{?}, and
then could not get through the Pierpont Rd, it
has been clased/closed{?} since lat March as they are putting
a 8" cast iron water main up to Bessie Pierponts
house, So{so?} I had to go out and down the Byam Rd{?}
and in the Cheshire Rd.
Mary is out of her head this evening.
09\09\{1936} (Wednesday)
Good cool weather, very foggy this morning.
I went to the farm and repaired the fence at the
North West corner of Fred Wilsons lot, Then went to Cheshire{?}
and got a bag of feed.
09\10\{1936} (Thursday)
Nice weather. This morning I went to the farm and
did odd jobs{Jobs?}. Staid with Mary this afternoon
s Mrs Purdy had the afternoon off.ary this afternoon
Wrote, Elsie, and Mr Todd, etc.
09\11\{1936} (Friday)
Nice weather. I repaired the washing machine this
orenoon. This afternoon Tutsy{?} and I went to the
farm and cultivated under the apple trees on the
hill. This evening Mrs Farrell{?} and three dayghters{daughters?}
from Seymour called, and we had an interesting
visit.
09\12\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning Dick and I went to Tarrington{?} an{and?}
looked up Farrell Records, Then Dick visited with
a friend whom he went to school with, While I
looked over the Cemetery. After dinner we drove
up to North Goshen and saw where Samuel Gillette{?}
lived and where the Church, and Saw Mill stood
and School{school?}. Then we went West to Cornwell{?}
Hollow, then Cornwall Bridge and to Kint/Kent{?}, where
we found Frank, and after visiting a time with
him, started for home in a shower, We came
through Warren, Woodville, Bantam Morris,
East Morris, Watertown, and Waterville, got home
a little after dark.
09\13\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached.
Staid home all the afternoon with Mary. Fritsa{?}
called towards evening with Ronald.
The Texico{Texeco?} Co opened their Gas Station across the
Frost Rood/Road{?} last night.
09\14\{1936} (Monday)
Weather has been clear and cool, I painted the
Wheelbarrow shed{,?} and did odd jobs{Jobs?} about home
this forenoon, Went to the farm and cultivated
under the appletrees North of the barn,{,?} then I found
that some one had let the water out of the spring
and old buster was very thursty{thirsty?}. I took him
to the trough and he drank much water. I then
gathered some mushmellons,{,?} and grapes which
I brought home.
Took some mellons dwon to Fritza{.?} this evening.
09\15\{1936} (Tuesday)
I worked on Franks slead{sled?}, and out to the farm and
some about home. Bob and I picked some grapes,
this evening at the farm.
Got a lood/load{?} of old pipe from The International Silver Co
this morning.
09\16\{1936} (Wednesday)
Nice cool day. Worked on Franks{?} sled, and did
other odd jobs about home, Took some pipe posts
out to the farm.
09\17\{1936} (Thursday)
Worked on Franks sled{.?} this forenoon. Mrs Purdy had
afternoon off, and I staid with Mary.
Mrs Vogle told us that a Cheshire Buss{Bus?} had an accident out
beyond Blackeys{?}, and several were killed at about six.
09\18\{1936} (Friday)
Rained all day. I worked in the Wheelhouse on Franks
horse sled, I went to the farm, and then out the Cheshire
rood/road{?} to where the accident ocured{occurred?} last evening when
4 people were killed and 16 injured It happened about ten
rods this side of ten mile river in the town of Cheshire{?}.
09\19\{1936} (Saturday)
Nice Weather. Wolcott Fair to day. I worked in the
Wheelhouse on Franks horse sled this forenoon, and
out to the farm in the afternoon. Then I drove up the
Pierpont road, the first time in many months, on
account of the putting in City water pipe main to
Bessie Pierponts house. Then on to Woodtick where
we saw the Fair from the road, then down to Beecher{?}
Ave where we left the car and to the store and got a
lot of Groceries, and 5 lbs of 6d{?} nails, But when I went{?}
to come home I could not go forward or back, I walked
to the Girage{Garage?} and got Dan/Don{?} Hannon{?}, and he fixed it
so it would go.
Dick went to Tarrington this afternoon.
09\20\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Mary was not well enough to go.
This service was Conducted by Rev Mr Madden.
This afternoon Margaret, Bobbie, Ruth, Roger.{.?}
Old Mrs Brundage and Gene Brundage, and
Peggy Brundage called, soon Dick came, and
then Mr and Mrs Ferris Turkington called
and we had a jolly time.
09\21\{1936} (Monday)
Wet and chilly this forenoon,{,?} I worked about
home, in the forenoon, This afternoon I went
to the farm and put up the mowing Machine,
and brought home a load of vegtables{vegetables?},{,?}
{New paragraph?}
This evening Tony Ciarlo{?},{,?} and Dominico
Anastasio, came to see about Leasing the South-East{?}
corner of our lot for 25.00 per month.
09\22\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went down town and had
Attourney{Attorney?} Phelan drow/draw{?} a lease for Tony Ciarlo,{,?}
and did other business.
This afternoon, I had my hair cut and then
went to Christs Chapel and saw Mr Clark,{,?}
about getting a girl to work for us.
09\23\{1936} (Wednesday)
This forenoon I flattened the ends of a lot of window
bars for the gas station across the Frost Road, drille
and countersunk them this afternoon,{,?} and went to
the farm, etc.{.?} John French told me of Mrs Paten.
09\24\{1936} (Thursday)
To ddy{To day?} I worked clearing the sidewalk of stones
and did other odd jobs{Jobs?} about home in the forenoon{?}
and went to the farm. Staid with Mary in the{?}
afternoon as Mrs Purdy had the afternoon off.
Tony Ciarlo and John L. Siriea{?}.{.?} Called.{.?} to see
about the Lease of the land.
09\25\{1936} (Friday)
It took all the forenoon for me to get the colble/cobble{?} stones
raked off the front walk. This afternoon I went to
he farm and put up a sign which said Private,{,?} Keip/Keep{?}
Out, placed it just above the Barn facing West.
{new paragraph?}
Then I came home and worked on Franks sled. This
evening I went at seven o'clock to Allourney{Attorney?} Phalens{?}
at 54 Lexington ave{Ave?} where I men{met?} Tony Ciarlo, and
we signed the Lease that gave Tony the use of
the South East corner of my lot.
The weather has been rather{.?} cool to day.
09\26\{1936} (Saturday)
This day I worked most of the time on Franks sled.
Dick came before dinner and we went to the farm
and got some vegtables{vegetables?} and did the chores.
The weather has been cold and a heavy frost this
morning. I have taken a bad{?} cold and had to
give up work this afternoon.
09\27\{1936} (Sunday)
My birthday 78 years old. Had a hard cold and
staid home all day. This evening Margaret, Gene,
Vincint{Vincent?}, Bettie his wife, Marion{?} with her two boys,
and several others came, and brought a large four
story birthday cake, and put on it a great mumber/number{?}
of candle and lit them, then they had me
blow them out, and served the cake to all that
wanted some.
Weather cold. Have had the furnace going all
day
09\28\{1936} (Monday)
Weather rather cool, Got to work and felt better,
dug six bushels of Potatoes to day, This evening
I went to Margarets, stoped on the way and
got Bobbie to help, then we looded/loaded{?} it into my
truck to take to Litchfield tomorrow morning
09\29\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to margarets, and she drove
and we went to Litchfield and took her washing -
machine, to Mrs Judge Seymours on South St for
Gene to use, while she is acting as a maid, We got
home before noon, and I begn{began?} work on some
window bars for the Gas{.?} Station/station{?}, which kept me
busy the rest of the day.
It began raining before noon, and has continued ever
Since{since?}.
09\30\{1936} (Wednesday)
This day has been very fair though rather cool,
{new paragraph?}
I finished making iron bars for the Gas station{.?}
windows, and then went to Cheshire and got a
bag of scratch feed paid 2.50 then came to the farm
and dug potatoes, Francis Robinson came at three
and dug and we picked up five bushels.
This evening Jack and Ruth Brundage came. They
have started on a long Western trip to be gone till{?}
about Christmas.
10\01\{1936} (Thursday)
Mrs Purdy got through,{,?} this noon I went down town
and did some Bank business, then I saw Mr Clark
at Christs Chapel and arranged for Mrs Payton to
come this afternoon, When she came, she{?} said that
she did not want to come till next week, I then
telephoned Mrs Purdy and she said that she
would come for a week.
10\02\{1936} (Friday)
Dug 8 1/2 bu potatoes. Francis helped this afternoon.
10\03\{1936} (Saturday)
Weather cool. Mary has been out of her head much of the day,
I did odd jobs about home.
10\04\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the{.?} Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached, There was a large attendance
Mary was not able to attend, I stayed home with
her all the aternoon. No one called. The weather
has been fine.
10\05\{1936} (Monday)
Weather to day has been fair and pleasant.
I dug potatoes and picked them up.
The Southern New England Telephone Company,
changed the{.?} Grey wire that supports their pole
at the corner of our place, from the decayed black
oak tree that stands in our{.?} yard at the South West
corner, to the large White Oak tree West of the house.
10\06\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to Christs Chapel and saw Mr
Clark about Mrs Payton coming to work for me.
I then went to the Mill Plain Church and saw Rev
Mr madden, the new minister, about Enid. I then went
To Charles Tuttles and got him, and we went to the
old Woodtick Schoolhouse, where we met Mr Hoddn{?},
Mr Fred Wilson and an achitect{architect?}, and planed{planned?}
restoring
the building as it was in our school days in 1870.
I then went to East Farms and gud potatoes.
[108-109 blank]
10\07\{1936} (Wednesday)
To day I dug Potatoes at the farm. This evening Mrs
Payton called and we arranges.{.?} to have her come to work
next monday morning at eight o'clock.
10\08\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning, I went to the Bank and got checks Cashed{?}
and then paid Dr Barbers bill, and the Conn Light
and Power bill, then went to Mr Hills and bought some
books, Mrs Purdy had this afternoon off and I staid
with Mary.
This evening Fritsa and Bobbie came and said
they had just received a telephone message that
Clifford Northrop had dided up at Storrs this
afternoon.
10\09\{1936} (Friday)
This morning I went to Cheshire and bought some bricks
and a bag of lime, I then went to the Coloniel{Colonial?} sand and
Gravel Co and got two barrells{barrels?}, of{?} washed sand and a
load of sand for $1.00 I then came home and found that
Mary had a bad turn, and was with her the most of the
afternoon, This evenings American stated that Cliff
Northrop is to be buried from the Mill Plain Union
Church tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock.
10\10\{1936} (Saturday)
Rained this forenoon, Dick came up and we finished
spreading the dirt on the walk on East main St.
At 2.30 Ray{.?} and Ruth called and took me in his
fine cart to the Mill Plain Church where we
attended Clifford Northrops funeral, He is buried
near the{.?} East Enerence{Entrance?} to the New Pine Grove
Cemetery.
10\11\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden preached.
This evening Margaret, Gene, Bettie, Vincint/Vincent{?}, Howard Kraft,
and Bobbie, called. Margaret and some of the rest
went down to Mr Clarks on Englewood Ave and got
Mrs Payton and a lot of her good and brought her
and them up here, Then Vincent and Howard took my
truck and went and got her cedar chest, and quilts
etc and took them up to her room.
10\12\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I went to the farm and cut corn,
till noon, then I came home, had dinner and then
put Franks slead{sled?} togather{together?}, Then got ready and
Margaret came and took Mary and I up to Philip
Reuters{?} where sister mary and Rowland Jenner are
celebiating{celebrating?} their Golden Wedding.
10\13\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the farm and cut corn and
stacked it up. Mrs Purdy got through working
here regular to day. Mrs Payton takes her place.
The weather this morning was very cold 22{degree symbol} above
zero.
10\14\{1936} (Wednesday)
This day has been cool. I went to the farm and
found the glass in the West window all shot to
pieces with air rifles, I then cut and stacked the
corn in the lot West of the shead{shed?}, Before I came
home I saw Mrs Garrigus{?} about the Window being
shot out.
10\15\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I made pins for the sled, Then Went
to the farm and gathered garden vegtables{vegetables?}.
Mrs Garrigus Called me, and siad she knew who the boys
were that shot the windows through.
10\16\{1936} (Friday)
Wet this morning but came off clear, I worked about
home this forenoon, Went to the farm this afternoon
and gathered garden vegtables{vegetables?}.
10\17\{1936} (Saturday)
Rained hard all day. I{?} worked most of the time on
Franks heavy slead{sled?}.
10\18\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church{.?}
Rev Matthew G Madden Preached.
This afternoon Ferris Turkington{?} and Lena called.
Dick and Rob borrowed my car to go to Cheshire to
elebrate Mr Hansons birthday.
10\19\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I went to City Hall and paid my taxes,
and to the Bank and had a check 45.50 cashed. Then to
poliece{police?} Headquarters and saw Chief Roach{?} about the
boys shooting out the windows of my barn with air
rifles, Then home and repaired a chair{?}.
Mr Kelley{?} cut down the large Black Oak tree in
the South{south?} West corner of my yard.
This afternoon Polieceman{Policeman?} Overton called and he
had been out to see mrs Garrigus about the boys
shooting out my windows.
10\20\{1936} (Tuesday)
Mrs Purdy came and did the ironing, I repaired the
rocking chair. This afternoon I went to the farm
and got some vegtables{vegetables?}{.?} etc.
10\21\{1936} (Wednesday)
Worked to day on Franks sled.
10\22\{1936} (Thursday)
The weather has been as near perfect as could be.
I worked on Franks sled till 11.15 When I took my small
truck and went up to Mill Plain where I parked my
car near the Church and then went over in front of the
Chase School{?} where I could see President Rosevelt{Roosevelt?}
who is
to speak at{.?} Lybrary{Library?} Park at noon, A large number of
people assembled and we waited till a few minules/minutes{?} afler/after{?}
twele when a single motercicle{motorcycle?} polieceman{policeman?} came
along
soon after two more came warning the poliece{police?} to clear
he strees, then Six Waterbury Poliece cars, the{then?} about
twenty five mounted poliece, the four large cars carrying{?}
secret service men, stadngin on the running
bars{boards?} then, Seventy five State poliece on motorcicls{motorcycles?},
then the Presidents large open car, The President{.?}
Mrs Rosevelt{Roosevelt?}, and Govoner{Governor?} Cross{?} on the
back seat,
then four cars of secret service men, then two long
lines of Military Oficials, than a long line of
cars etc the whole about one mile long I should
judge.
This morning Allin Burgers{?} of Syolosing{?} Pa and
his wife called, and daughter.
10\23\{1936} (Friday)
Weather,{,?} Cool with some rain, and cloudy.
This morning Rolland Jenner and I left for
Simsbury to visit my brother Frank. We went
up through Wolcott to Bristol where we stoped at
Redferns Ford station and had my car greased.
Then we went out the Farmington road, and up
through Polkville and past the old copper mine
{.?} and through Unionville to Conton{?} Street West
Simsbury, We found Frank chopping wood, and
Gussie{?} in bed hardly able to move, having been sick
for over three years. He gave me some drum stick
timber, and turning tools.
We came home, through Symsbury{Simsbury?}, Wheatang,
Avon, Farmington, Plainville, Southington, Plantsville,
and over Southington mountain, Stoped at
East Farms and fed the ox.
Reached home at 3.30
10\24\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning Dick came and we repaired the top
of the chimney. We then sawed off a few{?} cuts of
the oak tree.
10\25\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden Preached. This afternoon we {.?} had
several callers. Which included Robert, Fritsa, and
Ronald, Mrs Norman Reed and her mother, Mr
Beal, and her mother Mrs Hage{?}.
10\26\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I did the washing, but did not hang
it out as it rained quite hard. Then I took some
morter and pointed up the underpinning of the
house, and made some grout{?} and filled some rot{?}
holes in the Chicken house.
Then worked on Franks sled till it was dark.
10\27\{1936} (Tuesday)
Very cold this morning, ice froz 1/2" thick. I worked
on the sled this forenoon, After dinner I went to
Bristol to have my truck overhalled, but they could
not attend to it, so I came home again and went
to work on the sled
10\28\{1936} (Wednesday)
]Mary had a very poor night, tossed about and vomited,
and used the stool often, but was very patient, and no
omplaint, Has eat hardly anything to day.
This morning I went to Bristol to J. D. Redferns.
Ford station and had my, Pickup oiled and greased
also a new tire put on, and got two gats{?} of anti freeze
got home at noon. The state has began work on
he East Bristol Road in Wolcott at Scovills reservoir
and{.?} are grading and streightening{straightening?} it. North
to joing
the state road at Plumb St, South of the Cedar
Swamp Pond,
After dinner I went to the farm and gathered in
the cabbages, then I came home and worked on
Franks sled.
Tony {blank space in text} Began cutting the hedge and (removed the
fence{.?} yesterday).
10\29\{1936} (Thursday)
Went to Cheshire and got a bag of Lay Mash 2.55 very
high now, Stoped at the farm and{.?} did a little work.
Staid with Mary while Mrs Paton{Payton?} went down town.
Helped Tony {blank space in text} level the lines for a building.
10\30\{1936} (Friday)
This morning I worked on Franks sled, then went
to the store and got groceries etc, At the farm this
afternoon, and at the pole of Ranks{?} sled.
Dr Barber called to see mary, and prescribed etc.{.?}
Elton Edwards and Sarah{?} callid/called{?}, as did Roll Jenner.
10\31\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning Dick came and we surveyed{.?} a strait East
line along our property, and set the corners of
the ground that I leased, 13{?} North and South, 60 ft East{.?}
]and West.
11\01\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church{.?} Rev
Matthew G Madden{Maddin?}, who lives at 55 Wacona Avenue, preached,
This afternoon I went to Wolcott and saw the big Gasoline
Shovel{shovel?} work at Tuttles corner making the new East road to
Bristol. I then called on Art Harrison.
This afternoon. Howard Croft{?} borrowed my truck{.?} to go to
Litchfield and get magarets Washing machine.
11\02\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I ran the Washing machine and hung
he clothes out to dry. The rest of the time I worked on
he sled. This aftenoon I went to the farm and fed the
ox.
11\03\{1936} (Tuesday)
Election day. This morning I went to the Anderson
School{school?} and pulled the Second Leaver{?} in a voting machine
or Landon{?} for President of the United States and the
other republican officers.
Then I came home and made iron work for the sled.
This evening we listened to the election reports as they
came in on the radio. Waterbury went over 14000 democtratic{democratic?}
11\04\{1936} (Wednesday)
Rained all day. This morning I took my Pickup to
the Testing lane on Thomaston ave and, had it tested
but had to bring it back and hove{have?}, stop light repeaired{repaired?}
also tire ad brakes, by Charles Urban, I then took
my small car, but found the lanes closed on account
of the rain, I then drove through Wolcott to East Farms
and fed the ox then came home and worked on the
sled.
It is stated tha{that?} Roosevelt got a majority of over
10.000.000{10,000,000?} votes for President of the United States.
I notifyed{notified?} the Southern{southern?} New England
Tetephone/Telephone{?} Co
to take the Phone out of my house to day.
11\05\{1936} (Thursday)
I worked on the sled this forenoon,{,?} and staid
ith Mary in the afternoon while Mrs Paton{Payton?} went
down town. Dory Connor{?} called snd/and{?} visited/vsited.{.?}
Mary was glad to see him.
11\06\{1936} (Friday)
I worked most of the day on the sled. Went to Cheshire
and got two bags of feed{.?} and 4 lbs of 8d{?} nails, The state
is widening the road in many places, principally{?} back of
he railings
11\07\{1936} (Saturday)
Dick came this morning and we made the heavy pole
races for the sled, and I finished the sled all but
the extra floor. Dick sharpened the picks, and
partly made two picture frames, {, or .?} Mr Voghel{Vogel?} pitched on{?}
me about the mail.
11\08\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev M.{Mr?} Maddin/Madden{?}
prached, Rained this afternoon.
Ray called this evening and left some oyster, that he
got at Stony Creek. Tony put up concrete barrells{barrels?} to day for
his building.
11\09\{1936} (Monday)
This mornin{morning?} I did the washing, and then worked on Franks
two horse sled, which I finished before night except the
painting.
Today The Sou____ern{Southern? ink blot} New England Telephone Co took
their Telephone out. It has been in this house since
1893,{,?} but I have had a phone since 1885{?}.
1907{date written in text?
11\10\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I painted Franks sled, This afternoon I went
to the farm and husk{husked?} a bushel of corn, but it took a long
time to get ready, and the wind blew a gail, and would
blow the stalks out of the cart.
11\11\{1936} (Wednesday)
Armistis{Armistice?} Day. Fair and warm, This morning I went to
the Citizens Co Co{written twice} and ordered one ton of soft coal, Came
home and did odd Jobs{jobs?} till noon, After dinner I went to th_{the?}
farm and husked out two bushels of corn.
This evening I went down town and saw the Armistice Parada/Parade{?}
11\12\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the farm and stacked up corn
stalks, and husked corn. In the afternoon I staid
with Mary, while Mrs Paton{Payton?} went to town{.?}
We had a letter from Ruth she was in Elko Nevoda/Nevada{?} when
she{?} wrote it.
11\13\{1936} (Friday)
Went to thi/the{?} farm and husk{husked?} corn, etc.
11\14\{1936} (Saturday)
Dick came and we went to the farm and husk{husked?} corn
till noon. In the afternoon, Dick, Bobbie, and I went to
Wolcott at Howard Krafts{?} to see about some Surveying
of a pice of land on both sides of Mad River that
belongs to mr Carl Pererson. When we came back
we came to Truttle Corner and saw the work
they were doing on the New East Bristol Road.
11\15\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at Mill Plain Union Church, Rev M,
Madden officiated, after I went to the farm did the chores
The Depmsey boys were there and took the old Ford engine,
In the afternoon, Harold Pierpont{?} called wilh/with{?} his wife.
Later Ferris and Lena Turkinton{Turkington?} called.
Tony had a crew of men{.?} put up part of the frome/frame{?} of
his building.
11\16\{1936} (Monday)
I did the washing this morning, and put sales/soles{?} on a
pair of slippers, etc This aflernoon/afternoon{?} I went to the farm
and husked corn, but on account of the wind and
cold had to give it up, I came home and filed a
cross cut saw for Charles Welton.
11\17\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning was very cold 10 above. As I was filing a
Saw{saw?} Leouise/Louise{?} Service{?} called and told me that Franks
wife Agusta died last night, I soon went to the farm
and did my work there, Then with Roll Jenner We
drove to Simsbury and found Frank alone in the
house. The undertaker had taken the body over
to the town. The funeral is to be Thursday at 2 o'cloc_{o'clock?}
11\18\{1936} (Wednesday)
I went to the farm and drew all the corn into the barn,{,?}
The wind blew hard and cold. When I dame home I foun_{found?}
that my engine was frozen.
11\19\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the Bank and got, Howard Coes check
cashed, then to City Hall and paid Mrs Patons{Paytons?} Rent, then
to the Conn Light & Power Co and paid my light bill, then home
and put non freeze in my little car ad went to the farm
and did the chores, then came home and had lunch, And
at noon Effel Royter/Royton{?} called, and Fritsa Effel, Roll, and I
went to West Simsbury and attended the funeral of Franks
wife Gussie, Rev Mr Mitchel{?} of the Simsbury Congregational
church conducted the service and Mr Vincent of Symsbury{Simsbury?}
was the undertaker, There were about 50 persons present,{, or .?}
She is buried in Hartford.
We came home through Unionville and Bristol.
The weather this morning was cold 9 {degree symbol} above zero.
11\20\{1936} (Friday)
This morning I took my Pickup down to Dan/Don{?} Hannons
and found that the wishbove{wishbone?} brace was broken, left it
there to be repaired, I then took my Runabout up to the
Testing lane to have it tested, It passed all right
except the stop light was burned out.
I then went to the farm and did the chores, and
husked a bushel of corn, Came home had dinner
and staid with mary all the afternoon.
This evening Mr Kirtz{?} called.
11\21\{1936} (Saturday)
Ths morning Frank came from Kent{.?} got here at about 7.30
with his big truck, and unloaded Lumber, old wood
Feed, Fertilizer, Squash{squash?}, etc, and we loaded on the new
heavy sled that I had made. Dick came and we
sawed off a couple{?} of cuts of the big tree. This afternoon
he did not come, and a boy and I cut off another cut.
I went to the farm and did the chores, etc.
10\22\{1936} (Sunday)
This is Mary and My 53 Wedding anniversary.
Mary staid in the house all day as she has for a long
time, She appears more brighter than she has for some
time. I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew G. Madden{?}. Preached. His Subject was Great,
through Ordinary. There was a large congregation,
This afternoon I called on mr David Plumb of Prospect, who
old much of the history of the locality.
11\23\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I got breakfast, of Bacon and fried potatoes.
I did the Washing got through at 10 o'clock, Then repaired
the Woodhouse door and did other jobs till noon.
After dinner went to the farm, and husked corn etc.
11\24\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning the ground was covered with snow, and it scacely{scarcely?}
thawed during the day. I dug path's/paths{?} and got chains on
my car, Then went to the farm and husked corn.
Note in margin of text:
First
Snow
5"
11\25\{1936} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to Dan/Don{?} Hanlans/Hanlons{?} and he put non freeze
in my Pick up {.?}Radiator,{,?} and having put in another Wishbone{?}
Brace, I paid him 7.50 and then after dinner went to
the farm and husk{husked?} corn, When I came down out of the lot
Clarance{Clarence?} Pierpont told that the front wheel did not turn.
I found Old grease{?} had stuck the brake{?}.
11\26\{1936} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving day. I went to the farm. Then home Mrs
Paton{Payton?} went away before dinner, and I got dinner for
Mary and me, After which Mary lay down and had a
nap. William Gillette{?}, Fred and wife called, {blank space in text}
after they
left Mary was taken with a sick spell,{,?} and I had a hard
time of it, but luckily Margaret and the Brundage
boys came Margaret helped get things in order, and
telephoned for the doctor. He came and gave mary
a hypodermic, and she rested easier, Margaret staid
during the evening.
11\27\{1936} (Friday)
This morning I went to town and drew 25.00 from the
Bank and paid Telephone and Water bills. Then to Sears &
Roebuck's/Roebucks{?} and bought 20{?} cross chains for .98. Then home
{new paragraph?}
After dinner put cross chains in firtures{fixtures?} and then to
e farm and fed the ox, came home and carried
ood from the big oak in the front yard.
Mary is much better to day, Came out and ate supper, Cou{?}
talk very good.
This morning I saw attourner{attorney?} Tinton/Finton{?} J. Phalen{?}.
and gave him Mr Voghels{Vogels?} rent account to
collect. {blank space} Dr Barber called this afternoon found
Mary much better.
11\28\{1936} (Saturday)
This morning I cut up and carried{?} to the back yard some
of the big black oak tat stood in the front yard, I expected
Dick was coming up and we would saw up the log and
butt{?}. But Roll Jenner told me that he went to Canada last
Wednesday and will not be home till tomorrow, I went to
the farm and took out the broken windows, and came
home and got glass and worked on them.
They have been working on the buildingin the yard,
and filling in with dirt which they bring from the South
side of the Plank road {.?} near the mouth of Turkey Hill Brook.
Note in margin of text:
2 Snow
1" deep
11\29\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended Church at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev
Rev Matthew {.?} G. Madden{?} officiated, Subject of preaching
"From Nothing to Nothing" Mary was able to sit up
and eat at the table, though very weak, cannot talk very
loud, or stand on her feet without some one holding her.
11\30\{1936} (Monday)
This morning after breakfast I did the washing and hung
it on the line. I then took down the grape arbor that reache_{reached?}
on the land that I leased to Tony Ciarlo{?}.
After dinner I went to Mort Pierponts{?} and paid a milk bill 5.50
he gave Mary and I two baskets of nice apples, then stoped at the
arm, Then up to Thomaston Ave and had my truck tested, then home
and worked on{?} windows.
12\01\{1936} (Tuesday)
Cold day 4{?} below zero this morning. I went to town this forenoon,
then worked at windows in the Wheel house, This afternoon{?}
went to the farm, and repaired windows.
12\02\{1936} (Wednesday)
Rined all day. I worked in the Wheelhouse repairing
indows the greater part of the time, Snowed this
morning.
Note in margin of text:
3rd Snow
2 1/2" deep turned
to rain
12\03\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I made a mallet, and sawed wood etc
In the afternoon I staid with Mary as Mrs Poton/Paton{Payton?} went to {.?}
town.
12\04\{1936} (Friday)
This morning Dan/Don{?} Hannon{?} came and adjusted my timer
on the Pickup, I sawed wood for a spell, and then went
o the farm and husked corn till night.
The weather has been cool.
12\05\{1936} (Saturday)
I sawed wood and filed saws this forenoon. Dick
came and we cross cut 5{?} lengths from the big
butt log of the Black oak tree.
Weather rather cold.
Tony Cairlo{?} worked on his building with three or
four men.
12\06\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew G Madden{?}, Sermon{?} Testing Things that
Differ. It has rained all day.
12\07\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I did the washing, and filed a crosscut saw
and sawed wood till noon, I had Dan/Don{?} Hannon{?} repair the
calurator/carburator{?} on my Pick Up, then went t the farm and
finished husking corn. Weather has been cold all day.
12\08\{1936} (Tuesday)
This forenoon I sawed wood, In the afternoon worked at the
Farm.
12\09\{1936} (Wednesday)
Went to the farm and got out amnure and put it on the
garden, and spread it.
12\10\{1936} (Thursday)
Rained all day, Started making a Snow plow for
Dan/Don{?} Hannon{?}. I staid with Mary this afternoon. Mrs
Paton{Payton?} cleaned the Sitting Room.
12\11\{1936} (Friday)
Rained all day. I worked on Snow plow part of day, and
at farm cutting up corn stalks.
12\12\{1936} (Saturday)
To day I worked on Snow plow, and at the farm cutting
up cornstalks. Went up to Woodtick and sa_{saw?} Chas{?}
Tuttle, then home{.?} and more work on snow plow, down
to the store etc.
12\13\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev M. G Madden{?}, Minister, Subject; A Christian{Christion?} Despite.
the DEvil. {blank space in text} Tony Ciarlo{?} had a plummer
puting{putting?}
3/4" galvanized pipes in the cellar to carry the City
water out into his new building.
12\14\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I did the washing. Then when cleaning
out the furnace pipe broke a hole in it and had to
et a new one and fir it up and put it in, I then
went to the farm and tried to plow but there was to{too?} much
frost in the ground.
12\15\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to attourney{attorney?} Phelan's/Phelans{?}
Office and
he gave me a check for 21.00 to pay Mr Voghels{Vogels?} rent.{.?}
I then ordered ot the Citizens Co 1 ton of sof_ _oal{soft coal?}.
then went to Mr Hills and exchanged a history of
Derby{?} for a hist of Danbury/Donbury{?}, then did several other
errands, and came home. After dinner went to
the farm, and did the work there. Then went to
the farm, and did the work there, Then went to
Carl Moulthrops in Wolcott, then came home.{.?} stoping
at the Fulton market at Mill Plain and bought some
groceries.
Tony Cairlo is having the Plumming put into
his building to day.
12\16\{1936} (Wednesday)
I worked on the Snow Plow this morning, Did the work
at the farm this afternoon, and then put the wires and
lights on the Evergreen tree in the yard, and tonight
had it lit up.
12\17\{1936} (Thursday)
This morning I plowed a piece in the garden at the farm.
This afternoon I stayed home with Mary as Mrs Paton{Payton?}
had the afternoon off.
C{C?} Lena Turkington{?} called, And Roll Jenner called.
12\18\{1936} (Friday)
To day I worked on the Snow Plow.
12\19\{1936} (Saturday)
To day I worked on Snow Plow, It begn snowing about
four o'clock, but has now turned to rain.
Note in margin of text:
4th Snow
1 1/2" deep
12\20\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended Service at the Mill Plain Union Churce Rev M.
G Madden officiating. Subject "No Room in the Inn",{,"?}
Last night is snowed, then it rained very hard and
this morning the streams were very high{?}.
Out to the farm the water washed down the hill taking
much soil etc with it, The springs are now well filled.
12\21\{1936} (Monday)
This morning I did the washing, then odd jobs about the
place. In the afternoon I went to the farm and dug out
the drain ditches, Then came home and went to the
East End Hardware store and got two pains{panes?} of glass
for Vogles part of the house, then worked on the Snow
plow. Weather has been cool.
12\22\{1936} (Tuesday)
Shortest day. This morning I went to Pierponts
dairy, and got a drink of warm milk. Worked on
Snow plough. At dinner time Jack and Ruth
came in{.?} near the end of their long trip of about 12000
miles across the Continent and back by auto. The
longest continuous trip I ever knew of.
They had many curious things that they had gathered{?}
and a great store of information which was most interesting.
12\23\{1936} (Wednesday)
This morning I was awakened by a commotion{comation?} up stairs
at about two o'clock. Soon Mrs Payton came down and said
he house was on fire, I got on my clothes lively and
ran up stairs and opened the attic door, to find the inside
as well as the stairs and all above on fire. I ran East
to Nichaelus Haypennies{?}, and pounded on the door and
shouting fire aroused them, Mrs Hapenny{?} telephoned
the fire dept and I ran home, and when I was in the
yard the Fire Co was coming up the hill, Soon another
Co came, followed by the Hook and Ladder Co. They put
two streams on the fire, one up the front stairs, the other
up the back stairs. The flame was leaping high above the
chimney, after the water was turned on it was not time
before they had them subdued, All the people got out
of the house except my wife who was unable to move
very much, But a big fireman, Private Harold Parker{?}
took her in his arms as he would a child and carried her
to Mr Haypennies house, For which I wish to thank him
The lower floor was not damaged by fire, but well
drenched by water, but the Firemen covered my books
and much of the furniture{firniture?} with canvas{canvass?} so it was
not badly injured, Soon after the alarm{olarm?} was given
they telephoned Ray and he came, He in turn called
Margaret and Ruth at Storrs, and before eleven o'clock
they were here. This afternoon we took Mary down to
Margarets, and they and I could not agree on the way
she should be cared for, so I came away feeling very bad
for I know Mary wants me to care for her nights as I have
for nearly two years, But with all of my troubles I scarcely{scarely?}
know what I ought to do. To night I lie alone in this house.
12\24\{1936} (Thursday)
The weather has been warmed. This morning Mr Dalton{?}
and an estimator{istimator?} from Judd and Puffers Insurance{?}
office called and looked over the rooms of the house and
estimated the damage{damags?} at 1.700.00{?} dollars{dollers?}, and would
have the work done, or they would pay me the money
and I could have the repairs made.
I went and saw Will Garrigus and he is coming tomorrow
to look it over.
Yesterday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon Margaret,
Ruth, Will Gillette, Jack and I took Mary from Mr
Hapennies{?} house down to Margarets, where she is now.
12\25\{1936} (Friday)
Christmas Day. This forenoon William and John
Garrigus{?} came and looked the house over in regard to
making repairs.
I had dinner at Fritsa's{Fritsas?} and staid with Mary who is
at Margarets, while Margaret went and had{hade?} her
dinner, at about five we all assembled at Rays and
had a Christmas tree, and a fine lunch.
I am staying alone in the house to night.
12\26\{1936} (Saturday)
The Voghels{Vogels?} moved out of our house this morning.
Mr Blanchard gave 950, as the figures that he
would make my house good.
Dick, Bobbie, and I let the bedding down out of the
East room on the third floor, and then cleaned the
west side of the house where they littered the yard.
Dick split up a lot of wood.
12\27\{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church, Rev M G Madden{?}
Subject (The sun goes Down)
Went to the farm, then had dinner, Carried Mrs Payton home{?}
and went to Margarets and stayed with Mary will after dark,
Will and Leland Garrigus{?} called and looked the house over
12\28\{1936} (Monday)
This morning Robert Miller came up and we cleane_{cleaned?}
out the upstairs and took up the linoleum{lenolium?} and
Rolled it up and put it in the bar.
Mr {blank space in text} the electrician{electrition?} came to day
and looked
the house over in regard to new wiring{wireing?}.
12\29\{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Insurance Office of Judd & Puffer{?}
and agreed with mr Dalton on assessed{assest?} damage to my house
in the sum of $1700.00 I am to receive my check next
Monday. Robert Miller came this morning and we{?}
cleaned out the rooms on the third floor.
After which sawed off a cut on{?} the butt log of the
big oak tree, Then I carried Mrs Payton over to her
daughters on Lockhart Ave{?}, I stoped and saw Mary
at Beecher ave on my return, found her very weak
12\30\{1936} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to Lockhart Ave and got Mrs Payton
Robert Miller came and helped me get the Snow plow
down to Dan Hanlin's. He did not come in the afternoon.
12\31\{1936} (Thursday)
Robert came and helped me finish up the lifting
divice/device{?} for the Snow plow, and we went to the farm
and cut up a lot of corn stalks{corn stolks?}, I got Mrs Payton
and carried her home this evening.
It has rained all day.
[Separate Sheet found in 1935-37 Journal, pertaining to 1936]
April 29, Found windows shot through in my Barn
June 1, Stones in barrell of ashes.
July 8 Francis Worked at farm while I went looking for a woman{women}
to come and work Francis saw the Garrigus boy come
over on my lot and get on the mowing machine.
Was called home by his sister.{between the lines}
July 13 Found glass Jar shot to pieces{topieces}, by the wall
" 30 Found tops of oil pails dented and one tipped
over
Sept 24 Someone has been taking the Old Ford engine to
pieces.
Oct. 2 [ditto marks to previous entry]
" 4 Found Water turned on, at the Watering trough in
the lot.
Oct 14 Window panes{pains} shot out of West Window of barn,
Saw Mrs Garrigus about it
' 15 Mrs Garrigus Called me, and said she knew
who the boys were that shot the windows out
Oct 19 Saw Chief Roach about the above matters
" " P. M. Policeman{Polieceman} Overton called, he had interviewed
Mrs Garrigus.
01\01\1937 (Friday)
Robert Miller came this morning and we took down
he smoke pipe of the Girage{Garage?} and put it up East of the
house, and we put in an iron 8" pipe to connect with
the furnace, and bricked up the window,
01\02\1937 (Saturday)
Rained to night and snowed this afternoon.
Dick came up and we made a sleve{sleeve?} for the temporary
Furnice{Furnace?} pipe, and did other odd jobs.
Note in margin of text:
5th
Snow
1" deep
01\03\1937{1936} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev
Matthew Madden. This text or Subject was a "Chained Life." {".?}
After Service{service?} I had dinner at Margarets, then I went to
the farm. To day I have been here alone and got my
own Breakfast and Supper, Fried sausage for breakfast,
an{and?} had Fried oysters for supper.
The weather has been wet all day.
William Garrigus is coming to work on the house tomorr__{tomorrow?}
01\04\1937{1936} (Monday)
This morning William and John Ga__igus{Garrigus?} began
work on my house repairing where the fire burned
it, I went to the City Hall and got a Building
permit for which I paid $5.00 Then I went to the
Water Bureau for a permit for Tony Ciarlo, but he
must go himself and get it, I then went for the
Insurance, and found that the check will not be
ready before Wendesday, I then ordered a ton of soft
coal of the Citizens{Cilizens?} Coal Co for $8.00, then I came home
Soon a load of lumber came, Made a bargain with
Fritsa{Fritza?} that she will have the rent when ready, 7 1/2 hr
01\05\1937{1936} (Tuesday)
This morning I connected the furnace with the New Outside{Outsid?}
pipe and Will Garrigus and John took down the Chimney
I had them move the stove to the East side of the
oom and I ran the pipe through the window and
out and up.
Fritsa came up and we looked the rooms over
and she practically agreed to rent it.
Will and John worked 8 1/2 hrs.
01\06\1937{1936} (Wednesday)
This morning I went and got Mrs Payton, after which I
filed a circular saw and made a piece f a saw frame
Wm and John Garrigus have been getting the hole cut up
through for the New chimney, Mr Garthwate{Garthwaite?} who is to
build the chimney came to day and figured out the
material{materiel?} needed {nee ded?}, and tonight, the Cement, Lime,
Sand, Tile, Outlet pipe Tiles and tools came.
The Garrigus worked more than 8 hours.
01\07\1937 (Thursday)
Rained all day. This morning was very icey{icy?}. I went
to Lockhart Ave and got Mrs Payton, To night she staid
here in her room.
Will and _ohn{John?} Garrigus worked on the upper floor
taking down the burned{burnid?} partitions{particions?} and laying new
floor, etc about 8 hrs Edward Garthwait{Garthwaite?} came and
got the Chimney materials{matirials?} in, and laid the chimney
up about 4 ft.
I went down to Margarets and visited Mary twenty
minutes at six o'clock.
01\08\1937 (Friday)
Weather has been very warm, thawed all day.
This morning I went to Judd and Puffers Insurance
Office and they gave me a check fo 1.700.00 I took it to
the Waterbury Savings Bank and deposited it, keeping out
100.00 which I paid out, 44.14 for putting on temporary Roof,
500 for Building Permit, 50.00 to William Garrigus for work
leaving a balance of .86 cts
I sawed up logs in the front yard a greater part of
the day.
This evening I went to Margarets and visited Mary.
01\09\1937 (Saturday)
This morning Dick came and we cross cut
sawed all day{.?} and finished sawing up the
big tree in the front yard.
Will Garrigus with John and Lee worked on
the Roof, they got the Deck up.
Edward Gathwait{Garthwaite?} worked this forenoon and{ond?}
got the Chimney up through the sittingroom.
01\10\1937 (Sunday)
Rained this morning{mornind?} and turned into snow this afternoon
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Gregg of the First CongregationalChurch officiated
Text Kings and Kingdoms.
Note in margin of text:
6th Snow
1" fell,
01\11\1937 (Monday)
This morning I sharpened picks all the forenoon.
Went to the farm and did odd jobs this afternoon.
Will and John Garrigus put the roof on North and East
of the deck. Edward Garthwait laid the chimney
to a level with the upper floor.
Mr Lavellee and a helper put in the Electrik{Electric?} wireing{wiring?}
for the second floor.
The weather has been cool all day.
01\12\1937 (Tuesday)
This morning I raked and cleaned the East side of
the front yard, then did odd jobs about the house
and took care of the fires etc.
This evening Margaret, Mildred Bird, and
Robert Miller called.
01\13\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning I raked the West part of the front
yard clean, Sawed Wood and did ojj Jobs, etc Went
to the farm this afternoon, and later sawed wood.
The weather has been cool
Tony Ciarlo put a large Sign board on the top
of his building.
01\14\1937 (Thursday)
I finished sawing up the old oak tree to day.
William Garrigus worked all alone to day, he put in a
new frame and window in the North end and new glass
in{il?} all the other windows.
This day has been damp and wet
01\15\1937 (Friday)
Damp and wet to day, Worked in the Wheel house
and did odd jobs.
Will and John Garrigus put up the ceilings in the
Kitchen, Living{Leiving?} and Front rooms up stairs to day.
I went down to see Mary this evening at Margarets,
and made arrangements to bring her home Sunday.
01\16\1937 (Saturday)
Clear and cool, I cut up brush wood, Went to the farm
after dinner, then put the furnace pipe into the new
Chimney, and Dick and I took down the temporary
smoke pipe,{,?} and Dick split up a lot of Oak wood,
Will and his sons Leland and John nearly finished
the roof on the house, and repaired windows.
Edward Garthwait finished the chimney.
01\17\1937 (Sunday)
This morning Ray came with his nice war car,
and we went down to Margarets and got Mary and
brought her up here.
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church,
Rev Mr Madden preached Subject Living in a Chilly
Weather, Cold this morning,{,?} Rain to night. Tomb.
01\18\1937 (Monday)
This morning I ran the washing machine and did
the washing, Then I went to the farm, Had dinner. Then
went to the Manufacturer's Band{Bank?} and got check for 45.50
cashed, then took Trolley car and went to the Motor Vehicle
Dept on Watertown Ave and had my Car Licence{License?} renewed
for 7.00 Then I went to Mr Upsons office and had my eyes
tested for glasses, The{Then?} to the Bank and drew 300.00 from
my insurance{Iinsurance?caps?} account, then home and paid
W L Garrigus 300.00
Mary is out of her head tonight.
01\19\1937 (Tuesday)
Weather, Wet this morning cool this evening.
Will Garrigus and John put up studding on the third
floor this morning, John went away as he is going to
be married tomorrow, and Will worked alone in the afternoo_{afternoon?}
I cut up brushwood, Took Fritsa to Ruths to look at sinc{?}
and then we went to Cheshire and{gnd} got a bag of Dry mash,
01\20\1937 (Wednesday)
It began snowing at noon and continued till about
eight o'clock {blank space in text} Jack Garrigus and Martha Wakelee
were married at the Mill Plain Union Church at 10
this morning, by Rev Mr Madden, and have
started for Florida on their wedding trip.
William{Willcam?} Garrigus worked this afternoon putting
wall board on the upper rooms.
I went to Richard Upsons and got a pair of
glasses, paid 17 00{"00" is in superscript}
Note in margin of text:
7th
Snow
3".Fell
01\21\1937 (Thursday)
This morning the snow lay 4" deep on the ground
and I had plenty of paths to make. The wether
came warm and uch of it had gone before night.
{new paragraph?}
Will Garrigus lathed up the chimney, and did
othe work. Ed Garthwait came this afternoon and
thut{?} on the first coat{coot?} of plaster about the chimney.
Lee helped a short time this evening.
01\22\1937 (Friday)
Wet and foggy all day, Will Garrigus set partitions and
put on Wall Board all day. Lee stoped this evening
and helped.
I worked in the Wheel house at chairs and blinds
etc.
01\23\1937 (Saturday)
Weather rather cool. I worked some in the Wheel house
on blinds, etc This afternoon we set the stove back
again and connected it with the chimney.
Ruth and Jack called. Had been to a wedding at
Bridgewater. {blank space in text} Dick came and split wood, etc.
01\24\1937 (Sunday)
I attended Service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached. Subject;{;?} In reverse or{ar?}
Forward - Which?"{"?}{.?}
Weather was cool this morning, At noon it began to
rain and freeze and became{become?} very icy{icey?}.
01\25\1937 (Monday)
Rained this morning. I did the washing, and
repaired blinds etc.
William Garrigus worked on the roof, and putting
on Wall Board in the upper rooms, etc.
01\26\1937 (Tuesday)
This morning I hung the clothes out to dry, and
repaired the Clothes{Clolhes?} Line, by putting on a heavy spring
Worked in the Wheelhouse rep blinds chairs etc.
This afternoon I went to town and ordered a ton of
coal, and drew 20.00 from the bank.
Mr Charles Wolcott went to the farm with me.
No one worked on my house to day.
01\27\1937 (Wednesday)
Weather has been cool I worked at the Wheelhouse
on chairs etc. Chas Wolcott and I went to the farm
and he cut up some corn. We then drove home
through Prospect.
Will Garrigus did not work on my house to
day.
01\28\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I repaired the clock, and painted chairs
in the Wheelhouse. This afternoon Charles Wolcott
and I went to the farm and trimmed appletrees,
etc.
01\29\1937 (Friday)
I worked in the Wheelhouse on a book rack this forenoon.
{new paragraph?}
This afternoon Charlie Wolcott and I went to the farm and trimmed
appletrees. Will Garrigus came this morning at 7 and
set door casings etc, 9 1/2 hr.
01\30\1937 (Saturday)
Cool day, Dick came this morning and we put
Makers labels in the twelve new drums that we
are making, Then we put things to order on the
upper floor of the barn then we lowered the furniture
down out of the East room hird floor, Dick split and
piled a lot of wood.
We received a letter from Irving.
01\31\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew madden preached, Life at a Standstill
Ray Ruth Fritsa Robert, & Ronald came after church,
It soon began to Snow, and later turned to rain{.?}
This evening James{Jame's?} Paton called.
02\01\1937 (Monday)
I cleaned out the furnishings of the South room
third floor and put them in the East room ready
to lower down, and lowered some down before
noon. Chas Wolcott came and we lowered{,?} the
rest in the afternoon and put them under the
shed. Will Garrigus worked on the new stairs
for the third floor.
02\02\1937 (Tuesday)
Cold windy day. This morning I put the furniture{furnture?}
up in the barn, after a time Charles Wolcott came and
we soon finished it.
Albert Blanchard came and offered to put in
a porcelain{sparcelain?} combination Sink, hot water boiler, and
do all the piping and plumming etc for $112.00
Irving Hitchcock was killed a Scovills{Scoville?} factory
yesterday afternoon, by cranking a truck that
was in gear and ran ahead and crushed him
against an iron column and pipes.
02\03\1937 (Wednesday)
Weather cold this morning 4 above zero.
I worked in the Wheelhouse fixing{fizing?} furniture {.?} etc
Mr Wolcott came and we went to the farm, etc.
Wm Garrigus came this morning and hung the
three doors on the third floor, etc Lee came this
evening, and puttied the ceiling.
02\04\1937 (Thursday)
To day has been very cold, I have a hard cold
and have not done much work, Repaired a book
rack in the Wheel House{,?} etc Wm Garrigus did not
come to day. Albert Blanchard came and put in
a big combination sinc{sinc?}. and zHot Water boiler and piping
02\05\1937 (Friday)
Snow began this morning and continued till afternoon.
I worked in the wheel house on a book rack.
Will and John Garrigus Worked about eight hours up
stairs, Albert Blanchard came this afternoon{aflernoon?} and
brought the old sink down and put it in the cellar.
Note in margin of text:
8 Snow
3" fell,
02\06\1937 (Saturday)
Cool and Clear. Dick, Bob, Ronald and Fritsa came
Will, Lee, and John Garrigus worked, Plastering, Puttying
and Painting.
Dick cut brush wood etc.
02\07\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Mr Madden preached, Subject an Ambulance or{as?}
Fence. After service Ray and Ruth called, to see Mary
and look the house over.
This evening Mr Booth called and took a picture{piclure?}
of his Father that was taken in 1884 in the Mattatuck
Drum Band.
02\08\1937 (Monday)
Weather wet and cold, I ran the Washing Machine
this morning{.?} Will and John Garrigus painted ceilings etc
Mr Liddell had two men working putting in new
wires on the first floor, I set a glass 14x28 in East Kitchen
window.
02\09\1937 (Tuesday)
Wet cool day. This morning I went down town to the
Bank and drew out 335.33. and also had a check cashed
25.00 I then went to Judd & Puffers Office and paid my
Insurance, 11.50 then I came home and paid Will Garrigus
for work and materials from Jan 4th to Feb 4. $335.33
This settled all but 25.00 to Blanchard 163.00 to Liddell.
Will and John Garrigus painted mos of the time
to day. 9 hrs Lidell{.?} had two men working 9 hours
02\10\1937 (Wednesday)
Cool clear day, Will and John Garrigus Painted{Painled?} the
Kitchen, and did other work. 9 hr Mr Liddell had
two men here to day 9 hr.
Mrs Payton{Paton?} went to her house this afternoon{.?} and
I staid with Mary.
02\11\1937 (Thursday)
Cool clear day, I finished the book rack that I
have been repairing, and painted chairs, etc.
Will and John Garrigus put shelves in the Living{Leving?}
room closet, and painted etc.
Mr Libbell had two men working at electrical{eleclrical?}
work, Fritsa came and we decided on the paper
for the upper rooms.
02\12\1937 (Friday)
Nice cool day. This morning I went to the farm and
caired{cared?} for Buster. Then I Took Mr Charles Wolcott and
we went to Kent. We went via Waterville, Reynolds Bride{Bridge?}
then up the West Branch past the City Reservoirs and
through East Morris, and Morris Center, Up{up?} the West
shore of Bantam Lake where we stoped and saw men
cutting ice that was about nine inches thick.
They cut it with as{a?} large saw that was propelled by
a gasoline engine,{,?} and as it cut sent the powdered
ice ten feet in the air. The{They?} also had an elevator run
by power that slid the ice onto a platform where
several{severol?} trucks were loading at the same time.
Then we continued through Bantam, Woodville
Warren and to {ink blot} Kent where we arrived at the Solders{Soldiers?}
Monument at eleven. Mr Wolcott went to see his relations
and I went to Frank's. He was away so I went to the
barn and saw the cow. They are{ars?} giving over Seven
Hundred quarts per day now, and are eating about
40.000 lbs of hay, with grain and ensilege{?}. Took dinner
with Frank, and had a fine visit. After which we
looked at his new Tractor and attached Snow Plow.
At two Mr Wolcott came with his brother Olliver{?},
and we soon left for home coming through South
Kent. Merriall{?} to Preston Hill, where we went
North and down the longest and steepest mountain
road that I have seen in a long time to Mr
Orlo Camps{?} fine Stone residence, Mr Camp is
a fine man, but could tell me nothing of Elijah
Camp of New Milford, who owned the old Bass
Drum that I have. From there we went North
East to Waramaug{?} Lake which was a great sheet
of ice, and around the West side and across the
South End and over the hill to New Preston
Station on the Shepang Rail Raod,{,?} then through
Washington Depot, and up the hill through Washington{Washinglon?}
.{.?} and on to North Woodbury, then through Woodbury
and up the New Ban Cherman Hill road and
through Middlebury and home, which we reached
at dusk.
02\13\1937 (Saturday)
To day has been warm and nice, I did odd jobs about
home, Dick came and he and Robert brought up
a load of stuff and put it in the cellar.
We then put things to order up stairs in the Barn.
Will and John Garrigus painted and finished the Kitchen
This afternoon Lee came and the three papered the front
room between 4.30 and 5.30.
02\14\1937 (Sunday)
Rained nearly all day. I attended service{sirvice?} at the
Mill Plain Union Church. Rev Mr Madden preached
Subject "Troublesome{Troublesom?} Detours.
02\15\1937 (Monday)
Weather Clear for most part, and Cool. I did odd jobs
about home. Will and Jack Garrigus papered{,?} on the
2nd floor all day,{,?} Lee came this evening and helped.
02\16\1937 (Tuesday)
Cool weather. This morning I went to town and
did business. Got License for my truck $10.20
Will and John Garrigus pained floors and practically
finished the rooms on second floor.
Roll called and went to the farm with me.
I bought one ton of soft coal{.?} $8.00
02\17\1937 (Wednesday)
Cold to day. I went to the Bank and got 20.00 this
morning. Then I worked on odd jobs.
Will and John Garrigus worked on the third floor.
Lee came towards evening{eving?} and helped paint.
02\18\1937 (Thursday)
Fair and Cool weather, I did odd jobs and filed a saw{sow?}
fr{for?} Mr Rochan{?} {.?} this forenoon. This afternoon I staid with
Mary as Mrs Payton took the afternoon off.
02\19\1937 (Friday)
Fine nice day. This morning Roll Jenner and I left at
9 o'clock and drove to West Simsbury and visited my
brother Frank, We staid there till 2.30 when we left and
came home via Collinsville.
Will and John Garrigus worked on the third floor. Papered
the East room, etc.
02\20\1937 (Saturday)
Weather warm and clear. I did odd jobs about home this
forenoon, Dick and Bob took my truck and brought
up three loads of goods. This afternoon Bobbie and I
put the Bedding that was under the shed up in the
barn, and got all of Marys books up in the case.
They were formerly in the East room{roon?} on the third
floor{froor?}, and were some burned, Smoked, and wet{wets?} at the
time of the fire.
02\21\1937 (Sunday)
Warm Rain since noon. I attended service at the
Mill Plain Union Church. Rev M. Madden preached,
Church well filled. I went to the farm Alice Benham
rode{rade?} out to their place with me, After Dinner I staid
with Mary all the afternoon, Mrs Payton lay down.
02\22\1937 (Monday)
Washingtons Birthday. This morning As I was frying
some oysters Mrs Payton came down and as she passed
she took cover of the frying pan that I was using I told
her,{,?} I wanted that, She flew into a rage and accused me
of insulting her, and went to the sink and took up a
basket of clams that Ray had left and threw them
acrosst{?} the room to the floor, and said that she is not
going to stand it, etc etc. I continued to fry the oysters
and told her that she was excited, after a time she
quieted down, and continued as usual.{.?} After breakfast
I ran the washing machine, after which I took my truck
and{,?} went and saw Margaret about getting a younger
woman, This afternoon Chas Wolcott came and we went
to the farm, after which we drove through Prospect to
Naugatuck to Mrs Jones, but found she is in the hospital{hospitol?}
and could not help me, I then drove to George Drivers in
the South end of Prospect, but he knew of no woman, I then
came home an{and?} cut bruch wood.
Will and John Garrigus papered the South room on the
third floor, They got through at noon, 5 hr, as to attend
Joseph Weltons funeral{funerol?} in Waterville{.?} who was Will's cousin
Fritsa moved up some good this afternoon, Louise
Service brought them in her car.
02\23\1937 (Tuesday)
Very mild weather, for this time of year, I chopped up
brush wood and did other odd jobs about the place.
Will and John Garrigus finished papering the South
room third floor and painted all the floors up there, and
nearly finished.
After i had been to the farm I drove to South Waterbury
and visited Uncle Will and Aunt Ell__{Ellen?}. They are 83 years
old and have been married 63 years.
02\24\1937 (Wednesday)
Weather to day has been very mild, above thawing as
has every day been lately, There has been but little
ice not exceeding 3" thick this winter, now it is
all gone. I never knew such mild weather at this
time of the year. I helped elar the furniture
out of the big room, this morning, and then cut
brush wood till noon. This afternoon when I
went to the farm I found all the{lhe?} water out of
the trough. I cleaned the spring out and cleared
the strained{slained?} and got it running again.
Will and John Garrigus finished the upper floors
and started on the ceiling of the large room,
and had it nearly finished tonight. Lee came
after four and helped.
Mary sits in the front room and hardly
realizes what is going on.
02\25\1937 (Thursday)
Mild weather to day. I choped brush wood in the forenoon
and went to the farm, and worked on bedstead{bedstead?} in
the wheel house.
Will and John Garrigus put up the partition dividing
the large room and finished the ceiling.
02\26\1937 (Friday)
This morning the ground was covered with snow{.?}
but little remained to night.
This forenoon Rovert came and we t__k{took?} the truck
and went to Albion St and got a load of Fritsa's
goods and brought them up. I worked the most
of the day in the Wheel House getting old burned
paint off a bed stead.
William and John Garrigus worked on the big
room, Finished the partition and Will hung the
glass door, etc.
Effel and Louise with their cars brought up
some of Fritsas goods this afternoon.
The Electricians{Electritions?} where{were?} here and installed the
Switchboard and meters{meeters?} etc.
Note in margin of text:
9th Snow
1" deep
02\27\1937 (Saturday)
18{degree symbol} above zero this morning. Dick came early and took
my truck and has been usint it all day moving
up furniture {.?} and goods. They have them all moved
up now, I worked in the wheel house prepairing{preparing?} a bed-
stead for painting. Will John and Leeland Garrigus
papered, and varnished the big room which has been
divided.
02\28\1937 (Sunday)
Ten above zero this morning. It soon grew warm and
clear, I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church, Rev Matthew .G. Madden{.?} preached. Subject "Be
Still my Soul".{."?} Large Congregation.
This afternoon, Fritsa went to Cheshire with her
brother, Dick and Bob put up Radio wire.
Frank and family came from Kent, and made
a visit, Margaret came this evening.
03\01\1937 (Monday)
Weather 10 above this morning, but warmer through
the day. I did the washing after breakfast.
Then I worked in the wheelhouse on the bedstead.
Will and John Garrigus papered the front hall, etc.
Mr Labbell{Leabell?} with a helper put up the most of the
light fixtures.
Fritsa went to the hospital{hospilal?} for treatment of
a carbunkle{carbukle?} on{an?} her leg{lig?}.
03\02\1937 (Tuesday)
Nice warm day. I went to the Bank and drew
435.10 which I paid to Will Garrigus, this morning
I worked in the Wheelhouse on bedstead etc
Will and John Garrigus put up new shelves in the West room{.?}
near the bay window.
Mr Libbell finished the Electrical work.
03\03\1937 (Wednesday)
This day has been very mild as all days are this
year, I stained the bedstead with mahogany{mahogony?} stain
and did odd jobs, in the Wheelhouse.
William and John Garrigus repaired the Linolium in
the Middle room put in door sills, and varnished
the linolium, pained the floor in the West room,
and worked in th bath room.
Lee came this afternoon and helped.
03\04\1937 (Thursday)
To day I was within the house clearing out the N
W Room John Garrigus and I moved all the books
onto the new shelves in the center room and mowed
everything out of the room, and they pained the
metal ceiling and striped{sliped?} the paper from the walls
and did many other things.
03\05\1937 (Friday)
Weather fair and war, I polished the large clock and
set it up and running, this morning, and worked
on other jobs.
Will and John Garrigus Pained and papered the
North West Room, Sold Creuss{?} Co 1 bu Potatoes.
03\06\1937 (Saturday)
It has snowed by spells all day with about 1" on the
ground. This morning Will and John Garigus and
I cleaned out the front room, and Will and John
pained and paper it.
I did odd jobs etc.
Note in margin of text:
10 Snow
1" fell
03\07\1937 (Sunday)
Fritsa came home from the hsopital{?} about 4 o'clock
Philip Royter brought her.
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev M Madden preached.
03\08\1937 (Monday)
Rained all day. I worked helping clean out the
East Room up stairs, and did many other
odd jobs. Will and John Worked on the
East Room at the head of stairs 10 hr. Lee came
this evening
I sold The Frank Cruess & Sons Co 5 bu of
Potatoes delived @150=7.50
03\09\1937 (Tuesday)
This morning I sorted potatoes{polatoes?}, and worked in
he Wheelhouse etc. Will and John Garrigus finished
the room at the head of the stairs and Started{Slarted?} on
the Kitchen, 9 1/2 hr Lee worked this evening.
Willard Miller came this afternoon from Toronto.
03\10\1937 (Wednesday)
Rolland Jenner and I went up to Brother Franks in
West Simsbury. This forenoon and staid till after three
o clock.
Will and John Garrigus worked in the Kitchen to
day. 9 1/2 hr Lee came this afternoon.
03\11\1937 (Thursday)
Cool and showed{showered?} the greater part of the day.
I worked at blacksmith work most of the time.
This afternoon Mr Wolcott and I went to the farm
and to West Cheshire and got a bag of Dry Mash
after we got home I worked in the Wheel House
making a bos to keep Drum Sticks in.
03\12\1937 (Friday)
Weather Clear and Mild. I worked about the place etc.
Went to West Cheshire and got a bag of middlings 2.15.
03\13\1937 (Saturday)
Snowed hard this forenoon to the depth of 2 inches
it stoped about three o'clock.
William John and Leeland Garrigus came this
morning{mornining?} and renovated the pantry and
Will finished the toilet and painted the Bath
Room floor, Lee plastered up the cellar wall
on the North end west of the door, and patched
up the wall in the stairway.
Willard Miller left this morning for Toronto.
Dick took him to Hartford in a car, and there
he was to board a Bus for the remainder of
the trip.
Note in margin of text:
12th
Snow
2" deep
03\14\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden preached, Subject A'Pleasant
Way to goodness.
03\15\1937 (Monday)
Snowed all day,{,?} but this evening it turned to
rain, very disagreeable weather.
This morning I ran the washing machine and
did the washing. Then helped Mrs Payton put
the things back in the pantry. This afternoon
I went to the farm, and after I got home worked
on a bedstead and got it ready to varnish.
Note in margin of text:
13th
Snow
3" deep.
03\16\1937 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to town and drew from the Bank
$165.91 and this afternoon I paid of it to William Garrigus
158.91 and paid Sears & Roebusk{Robuck?} 6.90 for new Curtains.
This afternoon I went out the Meriden Road and
down the Pierpont Road to East Farms. We had
an Ice storm during the night and trees and
things about here were coated with about a quarter
of an inch of ice, But when I reached the high
ground on the Meriden road the White burches{bushes? birches?}
were bent to the ground and many branches
broken from the trees, This was true about the
Maple Hikl Farm and that vicinity{vacinity?}.
03\17\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning the ground was covered with
snow, by noon it was about gone. This forenoo_{forenoon?}
I put up curtains in my sleeping room and
repaired the Wardrobe and did{dig?} other jobs about{atout?}
the house, This afternoon I put up a __elf in the
Girage{Garage?} and repaired furniture, etc.
Note in margin of text:
14th Snow{snow?}
ground covered
03\18\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I with Ronald{Rhonald} went to Cheshire and got
a bag of Scratch feed 2.60 then came and did the work at
the farm. This afternoon Mrs Payton went to town and
I staid with mary. I pained the washing Machine.
03\19\1937 (Friday)
Weather clear ad warm, I worked all day{,?} putting up
curtains in the house, and fitting them, and am
not through yet.
03\20\1937 (Saturday)
Two years ago this evening Mary was stricken
in the Gymnasium of the Mill Plain Church.
She was brought home in Mr Colies car and
Dr Hackett called, I was thought then that
she could only live a short time, Her health
is better now than it has been in a long time.
To day I finished putting up{.?} curtains on the
third floor, South room, and varnished a bed
stead and Stand. The weather has been damp
and cool.
03\21\1937 (Sunday)
Clear and mild, I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church, Rev Matthew Madden preached,
The Church was well filled.
03\22\1937 (Monday)
Weather clear and pleasant. I did the washing
this morning{mornining?} and set up a bed in the East
Room{Roon?} 2nd floor. This afternoon I took Mary and
Mrs Payton out to the farm for a ride, First
time Mary has been out in a long time.
03\23\1937 (Tuesday)
To day I made a bin to keep hen manure in, and
cut up brush wood. Mr Frank Stapleton called
03\24\1937 (Wednesday)
Nice clear day. I choped brush wood all day, only the
time that Mary Mrs Payton and I went to the Farm.
03\25\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I worked at chairs in the Wheel house
This afternoon Mrs Payton was out and I staid
with Mary{,?} and pained the wash tubs.
It began snowing about three o'clock and stoped at
five about two inches fell.
Note in margin of text:
15th Snow
2" fell
03\26\1937 (Friday)
Cold day with some snow, I worked at chairs in
the Wheelhouse,{,?} much of the time. Dick was there
as to day was Good Friday and there was no business
at the office.
03\27\1937 (Saturday)
Cold day. This morning I killed and dressed two roosters{roostess?}
Went to the farm and got ground ready to plant
peas, and worked in the Wheel house on chairs.
03\28\1937 (Sunday)
Cold Day I did not got to Church, a Mrs Payton
wished to go. I staid with mary. Fritsa was with
her while I went to the farm
Easter Sunday, They say that the Mill Plain Church
was packed full.
03\29\1937 (Monday)
Coold day. I did the washing this morning and
stained two chairs. This afternoon I planted
6 rows of peas at the farm. This evening
Mr Stapleton called.
03\30\1937 (Tuesday)
Fine nice day, I worked in the South Room on
the third floor repairing iron beds and painting
them.
Note in margin of text:
16th Snow
1" fell.
03\31\1936{1937} (Wednesday)
To day Rolland Jenner, Ronald Miller and I went
to West Simsbury and visited Brother Frank.
While there Roll who was out of doors saw a great
smoke and fire over to the North East. He came
and told us, I with Roll and Ronald started over
across the lotts but It proved to be a mile away
when we got there we found the burning building
to be a tobacco barn about 100 ft long and a hay
barn across the street{slreet?}, both burning to the ground
The Simsbury Fire Engine was there bur could
render but little assistance as there was no water
near. The buildings were owned by Thomas Case.
We reached home about six o'clock.
04\01\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I painted the Single iron bed stead in
the South Room{Roon?} 3rd floor 2nd coat, and varnished two
chairs in the Wheelhouse. Then I went to the farm
and drew manure up on the hill.
04\02\1937 (Friday)
This morning I went to Plum Bros and ordered
two plow points and bought a roll of tie wire.
In the afternoon I stayed with Mary as Mrs Paton{Payton?}
went out. It has rained more or less all day.
04\03\1937 (Saturday)
Snowed this morning. I worked at chairs in the
Wheelhouse only the time I went to the farm, and
what I worked on Cultavator{?} irons, etc.
Note in margin of text:
17th Snow
1" fell
04\04\1936{1937} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden preached Subject "A Journey
into Life".{."?} I staid home all day.
The Weather was cool, with a few flakes of snow.
04\05\1937 (Monday)
Damp day. This morning I went to town and
and{written twice} attended to various business matters.
I did the washing before I went. This afternoon
went out to the farm and plowed some in the
garden, but it pained me so I stoped and went
into the barn and lay down. I think I broke{brok?} one
of my ribs, when I was thrown in the Wheelhouse
a few days ago. I came home and worked in
the Wheelhouse on burned chairs.
To day it is reported{.?} they are running
the last Trolley cars, They are all to be replaced
by Auto Busses.
04\06\1937 (Tuesday)
Rained hard this forenoon, I worked on furniture
in the Wheelhouse. This afternoon I went to the
Redfearn{?} Co in Bristol and bought a new tire and
tube{.}7.35 for my Ford truck.
04\07\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm{.?} and fed the
ox. I came home and took Ronald and went to
William Renters and Rolland Jenner got into my
truck and we started for Falls Villege{Village?} to get 500
lbs of Land lime. We went across by Lakewood
Park to the lower part of Waterville and across
the Naugatuck River to the Watertown Road and
then North through Watertown and _till{still?} North through
East Morris and through Litchfield Center and
up North Street to and through Goshen Center and
still North over and down Roberts Mountain to
Cornwall Hollow, where we stoped and got 5 gallons
of gas, then up through the Hollembeck{?} Valley{valley?} to
Falls Villege{Village?} where we went to the United States
Gipsum Co's works and bought 500 lbs of Land
lime{.?} 1.05 the distance was 42.2 miles. Then we
started at 11 o'clock for Franks at Kent we followed
the Housatonic River down through West Cornwall
and Cornwall Bridge and reached Franks
house before twelve the distance being 22.8 miles
had dinner there, and looked about some, and
Frank loaded in a bushel of Green Mountain
seed and three bundles of tobacco lath, and a
hickory stick for ox handles, and gave me
two axes, and other thins. We left there after
two o clock{a clock?} and came through Warren, and
Bantam, and down the West side of the Lake
to Morris Center and to East Morris then
turned South and came by the same road
that we went up in the forenoon. When
Roll got out at his house we had come 40.3 miles
from Frank's house.
The day was cold and windy this forenoon,
but came warmer and fine towards night.
04\08\1937 (Thursday)
Nice day. Tony Cairlo had his first car load of
Granite come to day. I went to the farm this
morning and cleaned the spring out, and plowed
a little. This afternoon Mrs Payton was out and
I had to stay with Mary. Bobbie painted the
shingles on the roof. He broke the Sky light.
04\09\1937 (Friday)
It rained most of the day, and turned to snow
this evening and just covered the ground.
I went to the farm this morning and plowed
in the garden till noon when it began to rain
harder, I drew two loads of manure up on the
hill, then came home, Ronald went out with
me. I killed and dressed a rooster and sold it
to Tony Cairlo. He had another load of granite
come to day.
Note in margin of text:
18th
Snow
Ground
covered
04\10\1937 (Saturday)
This morning it snowed, not enough to cover
the ground, I went to the farm and drew
manure up on the hill.
04\11\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev M Madden preached, Subject The Davel{Devil?} Lane.
Ruth and family came from Storrs and visited us
Margaret and Birt Frisbie and wife called.
04\12\1937 (Monday)
I did the washing this morning, and in the afternoon
went to the farm and finished plowing the lower garden
and plowed under the row of apple trees in the barn
lot.
04\13\1936{1937} (Tuesday)
Weather has been nice but a little cool. I worked most
of the day sharpening stone cutting tools for the
Calvary Monumental works. Robert Miller painted
on the roof, 4 hrs.
04\14\1937 (Wednesday)
I went to the farm this morning and planted
Onions, Radishes, Cabbage and tomatoes.
We had a thunder shower this afternoon.
Robert Miller painted on the roof 1 1/2 hours.
04\15\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I went to the farm and planted in
the garden Parsnips{Parsnps?} and Lettuce. It rained some,
This afternoon I staid home as Mrs Payton was
away.
04\16\1937 (Friday)
This morning I went to Watertown Avenue and
got my Drivers License for 1937-8 and then
did several errands{enrands?} about town, Came home on
the bus, After dinner I went to the farm and
planted a row of carrots. Soon Robert and Ronald
came and we hitched the ox into the cart and
went down and did a little plowing for Frank
Wright, Then we went up on the hill and
repaired the East fence by Norrist St
Robert worked 4 hrs.
04\17\1937 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools the greater part of the day.
Marion Kraft called with Mrs Dice, and looked
over my collection of antiques Later Rev Mr Dice
called
04\18\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden officiated.
Did chores at the farm and staid home the rest
of the time.
04\19\1937 (Monday)
I did the washing this morning, then went to
the farm and planted a row of carrots, and
then plowed some on the hill.
04\20\1937 (Tuesday)
Sharpened tools all day. Robert helped this afternoon.
04\21\1937 (Wednesday)
To day Rolland Jenner and I went to Brother Franks
at West Simsbury. We went through Wolcott, Bristol
Forestville, then North through Unionville West
Avon to West Simsbury 28 miles. Had dinner
there, and came home by the same route,{,?} in
the rain.
04\22\1937 (Thursday)
Wet and rain all day. I sharpened tools all day,
for Tony.
04\23\{1937} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, Robert helped me in the
afternoon and we made over a Sldge hammer, then
we went to the farm and made a fence by the Spring.
04\24\1937 (Saturday)
This morning I sharpened tools, and did blacksmith
work for Charles S. Tuttle I then went to W L Garrigus
and paid hi_{his?} bill of 24.30 and also left Fritsa's money
to pay her bill, Then, Dick, Robert, Ronald{.?} and I went
to Maple Hill where we left Dick and we went to the
Maple Hill Dairy where I paid a milk bill 6.50 to
Laurence, then we went to the lot on the hill at
out farm, where Robert spread the manure and I
plowed till 4.30 Dick came and took the truck
and came home and got his transit and tools and
then he and Robert went surveying at Bessie
Pierponts farm.
A family moved into the Hattie Pierpont house
to day.
04\25\1937 (Sunday)
I attended Service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew madden preached.
Cool clear day.
This afternoon I went to the farm Mary went with
us. Robert and I carried her to the car, and when we
came back Robert carried her into the house.
04\26\1937 (Monday)
Cool day. This morning I did the washing,
then did a job of blacksmith work for Mr Bromegen{?}
of Cheshire, and then sharpened tools all day.
This afternoon Robert painted on the roof.
04\27\1937 (Tuesday)
Rained all day. I sharpened stone tools all the
forenoon for Mr Cairlo. In the afternoon I went
down town and did some little business. Ordered
tie wire, a 22" drum head from Indiana, got money from
the Bank on the Building fund, etc.
Came home and went to the farm, see that my peas,
Radishes, and lettuce are up. We brought home a lot
of pie plant.
04\28\1937 (Wednesday)
Rained all the forenoon, I worked about home,
This afternoon I went to the farm and plowed in
the North lot on the hill.
04\29\{1937} (Thursday)
This morning I finished plowing on the hill. In the
afternoon sharpened points, Mrs Payton was away this afternoon.
This evening we celebrated Rolland Jenners 80
birthday which was yesterday, at Fritsa's. There was
present Will Gillette and Iva, Mansfield Gillette.
and wife, Lois and her husband Ralph Pierpont,
Philip Reuter, and Effel and daughter, Will Service
and Louise{Leouise?}, Rolland Jenner and Mary, Mary and
I Fritsa, Dick, Robert, and Ronald.
Weather has been clear{clears?} with sprinkles some of
the time.
04\30\1937 (Friday)
This morning I dressed a rooster for Fritsa. Then I sharpened
stone cutting tools all day.
05\01\1937 (Saturday)
Weather to day has been fair and warm. I sharpened
tools till 3 o clock Then Ronald and I went to the farm
nd cultivated the row of appletrees, and Rasp berriesrm
and some of the garden, Yesterday I hoed two rows
of peas.
05\02\1937 (Sunday)
Nice Clear warm day. I attended Service at the
Mill Plain Union Church, Rev Mr madden preached
Subject "Your Greatest Enemy.
This afternoon I took Mary out to the farm and
then up to Woodtick, stoped at Charles S Tuttles, then
came home.
05\03\1937 (Monday)
This morning I did the washing, then Robert and I planted
some seeds in the new garden, then we loaded up the
truck with burnt rubbish and took it to the farm and
unloaded it up in the pasture, then we took 300 lbs
of lime up on the hill and spread it.
05\04\{1937} (Tuesday)
I worked at sharpening tools in the forenoon, and harrowed
for potatoes and corn in the afternoon.
05\05\1937 (Wednesday)
Sharpened tools this forenoon, and furrowed out in the
afternoon for potatoes etc.
05\06\1937 (Thursday)
Sharpened tools nearly all day, Robert spread two big loads
of dirt on the garden North of the Girage{Garage?}, and cleaned up
the pile of burnt stuff. Weather warm with slight showers,
Mrs Paton was away this afternoon.
05\07\1937 (Friday)
Robert and I planted Potatoes to day. We also got the
worms{wormes?} nests out of the appletrees on the hill.
05\08\{1937} (Saturday)
I cultivated under the appletrees on the hill to day.
Ronald was with me till the middle of the afternoon
when Olga Hanson came and took him to Cheshire.
This evening Albert Crandall and George Baldwin
came and gave me a check of 3.90 to pay for my
drum head.
05\09\1937 (Sunday)
Mothers Day. I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church, Rev M Madden preached.
AFter Dinner, I took mary out to the farm for
a ride. After we returned hom, Jack Brundage
and Family came from Storrs, and Frank and
Family came from Kent, Margaret came up
and w had quite a family gathering. Ray had
been here after church.
05\10\1937 (Monday)
Weather Clear and Cool, I did the washing this
morning, Then I sharpened tools the greater part of
the day, Robert painted on the roof, three hours this
afternoon, I went to the farm and hoed two rows of
rasp berries.
05\11\1937 (Tuesday)
Clear and Cool. Frost this morning. I sharpened
tools this forenoon, Went to the farm and hoed
the Raspberries.
This evening Dick and I went to M E Pierponts
place where I gave instructions in drumming
to the Mattatuck Drum Band.
This forenoon I took my truck down to Dan Hannons
to have it repaired and inspected.
05\12\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to Cheshire and bought a bag of
fertilizer and some seed oats, then came to the farm
and plowed two small pieces and planted them.
05\13\1937 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day. Mrs Payton was away
this afternoon, and Mary sat alone in the house
Robert worked on the roof painting the shingles on
the North and East sides of the deck, and did other
work.
05\14\{1937} (Friday)
Roll Jenner and I went to West Simsbury and saw
Brother Frank.
05\15\{1937} (Saturday)
Sharpened tools, and repaired Mr Bromegins{?}
gractor iron, and Robert and I went to the farm
and destroyed worms nests etc.
05\16\1937 (Sunday)
This morning Rolland Jenner and I left Philip
Royters house a little after nine, for Kent, We went
through Waterville and across to the Watertown
Raod, then up through Watertown to East Morris
where we turned West and went through Morris
Center, and on around the South end and up the
West side of Bantam Lake to Bantam then turned
West and went West on the fine concrete road to
Woodville, where we turned North and West over
the fine black road to Warren Center, then turning
West went nine miles to Kent.
We planned to meet Frank at the Church, and
attend service. But we were told that Frank and
his family had gone to Storrs to attend some
celebration{.?} there, The attendance at the service
was very small about 25 persons. After service we
drove to Franks house. We found the door unlocked
but no one there, we then about the barn after
which we went to the All Gone Restaurant{Restaurent?} for
dinner but found that they served no dinners
now. We then went to {ink blot} hotel a little farther on
but there they served no dinners, then we went
to a restaurant{restaurent?} on Main St, where we were served
to good dinners for 75 cts, after which we walked down
and across the bridge to the School Chruch which
we looked over, and went up the bell tower and
saw a yound man ring the chimes, then we
climbed{climed?} the tower and saw the ten bells and
heard them ring.
From there we went to the cattle barn and
I found some seed corn for which I had come.
Roll wrote a note and left it on the table in
the dining room, telling that we had been there
and found the seed corn. We then started
for home,{,?} and after we crossed Main St at the Solders{Soldiers?}
monument,{,?} in front of the Kent Inn, Roll saw Will
Gillette's car. We stoped and he went in, and I soon
followed and we found Will and Ive, Phil Royter and
Effel at dinner. They were much surprised to see us
there. We then drove to South Kent where we turned
East up a steep hill {ink blot, and on?} several miles through
Merry-All and on East and N.E. to Waramaug Lake,
then down the West side to its outlet, then on East
over the hill to the Litchfield and new Milford
road to the Bee brook Road an down that road to
Washington Depot, then up the long hill to Washington
Center, and on to Hotchkissville, then down through
Woodbury street and up Ben Sherman hill and
through Middlebury,{,?} and on through Waterbury
Center and home. B____ok {ink blot} the great number of automobiles
that were out especially in Waterbury.
05\17\1937 (Monday)
I run the Washing machine this morning,{,?} and repaired
two chicken coops. This afternoon I went to the Spenser
Grain Co and bought 12, little chickens for 1.33 after
that Robert and I moved al{a?} lot of wood etc.
05\18\1937 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools, Went to the farm and to
Cheshire and got feed. This Evening I went to M E Pierponts
and gave drumming lessons to the Mattatuck Drum Band.
05\19\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to town and did some business
Sharpened tools, and repaired a chair, in the afternoon.
05\20\1937 (Thursday)
This morning Ronald and I went to the farm and
spread chicken manure in the furrows where we
are to plant corn.
05\21\1937 (Friday)
Nice warm day. I sharpened tools this morning, then
Ronald and I went to the farm, where I hoed in the
garden till noon, then we went up on the hill and I
covered the fertilizer{firtilizer?} and planted corn, planted
half the piece.
Fritsa cam home from the Waterbury Hospital this
afternoon.
05\22\1937 (Saturday)
Fair weather with slight rains, Robert and I worked
at the farm planting Corn. Heailed{?} worms nests
I weeded the potatoes. He loaded manure I drove
the truck to the corn lot{.?} West of the shed on the
hill. He spread the manure I plowed the upper
garden and a little in the corn lot.
05\23\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev Mr
Madden preached. The attendance was not as large as usual.
The papers state that the last Trolley cars ran in Waterbury
last night, Busses are to replace them and start running
to day. My Grandfather used to say, that work done on
Sunday never paid, and projects started on Sunday
never succeeded. I thought of it when I saw the Trolley
cars stat on Sunday. Now I see their end. But what
of the Busses, All of their lines have started on Sunday.
05\24\1937 (Monday)
I did the washing this morning and sharpened tools the
rest of the day.
05\25\1937 (Tuesday)
Sharpened tools all the forenoon. Plowed for corn at the
farm Robert Miller helped me at the farm.
This evening I gave drumming lessons to a large class at
M E Pierpont place.
05\26\1937 (Wednesday)
Was at the farm all day, at the corn Robers{?} came in the
afternoon and we planted all of the piece in the lot West
of the shed half way up the hill.
05\27\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I went to town and paid my taxes came
home, Mrs Payton had the afternoon off. I did a blacksmith
job for De Witt Cole of Wolcott, and then went to the Strass{?}
Hardware Co and bought 82 lineal feet of chicken netting
4 ft high, and Robert and I put it up.
05\28\1937 (Friday)
This morning I went to Holland and Hyghes and looked
at electric refrigerators{refrigators?}, Then went to Sears and Roebucks
and bought{.?} a pair of shoes, and got a Catalogue of refrigerators
{refrigators?}
and a confirmation of the order I put in yesterday for one.
//end of physical Journal//
[[flyleaf contains the notations:
Read by RMB - Mar. 1945 [Ruth Miller Brundage]
" " MMNH - July 1946 [Margaret Miller Northrop Hall]
" " F.P.M. August 1947 [Frank Pierpont Miller]
" " R.P.M. November 1984 [Robert Pierpont Miller]
" " MK Sept. 1987 [Marian Northrop Kraft] ]]
Charles S. Miller Journal 1937-39 [shevitz 1990]
05\29\1937 (Saturday)
This morning I had a ton of coal come. I was sharpening tools in
the blacksmith shop when it came. I got down a {an?} old spring
hammock and repaired and painted it. Then I went to M. E.
Pierpont's and payed a milk bill, and then cultivated in
the garden and under the appletrees in the barn lot, then came
home and went to Creuse Bros. and got some groceries.
05\30\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden preached.
Ted Williams of Tarrytown called in the afternoon with friends,
after I went to Woodtick and visited Aunt Frisbie.
05\31\1937 (Monday)
This morning I left at 8:15 with a bunch of Mill Plain drummers
for Kent, where we drummed in a Decoration Day Parade. {Caps.?}
06\01\1937 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools most of the day {.?} I went in town and looked
up {?} mattress for hammock, etc.
06\02\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning I repaired window screens then went to th farm and
planted in the garden, and planted corn in the upper garden
{comma or mark in original text?} and took {is text written in
the margin?} a load of old brick and {?} morter etc. up and
spread it on the pasture lot.
06\03\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I was at the farm and planted potatoes, Sharpened
{Caps?} tools all the afternoon.
Mrs. Payton was away this afternoon.
The weather was fair this fornoon but it rained more or less
during the afternoon.
06\04\1937 (Friday)
This morning I sharpened tools till 9:30 then Roll Jenner, {?}
and Ronald and I started to see my brother Frank in Simsbury.{?}
We stoped {?} in Bristol and left a pettern for two wheels to be
cast at the Sessions Foundry. {Is there punctuation in original
text?} Did {Caps?} the business wih Mr. Wilcox. We found Frank
feeling quite well. Roll set the table and we had a fine dinner
{punctuation or mark in text?} that we took up. When we came
home we went to North Canton {?} then to Canton {?} Center
{punctuation or mark in text?} then to Collinsville {punct.?}
then through Burlington {punctuation?} and Warwinton, {spl. &
punctuation?} and Terryville {spl. & punctuation?} and up the {?}
mountain and through wolcott {caps. & punctuation?} and home.
06\04/37 (Saturday) {June 5th?}
I sharpened tools this morning, {?} then Robert and I went to the
farm and I cultivated {?} the potatoes and corn on the hill, {?}
and Robert hoed all the time and I after cultivaating, {?} We
finished at 4 o'clock.
06\06\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden.
06\07\1937 (Monday)
I sharpened tools this farenoon {?} and did the washing. {?}In
{?} the afternoon Robert and I went to the farm and mowed a
little,{?} and got the Mowing {caps?} machine ready to use.
06\08\1937 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to Sears {Caps?} Roebuck Co and found That
{caps?} they would send the Electric refrigerator {spl?}
tomorrow. Then I came home and sharpened tools the rest of the
day. This evening I went to M {?} E Pierponts {?} place and gave
drumming lessons to a large class.
06\09\1937 (Wednesday)
Sharpened tools this farenoon, and howed and Weeded {Caps?} in
the garden. Sears & Roebuck delivered the Electric Refrigator
{spl?} this P.M. Mrs. Payton paid 79.50.
06\10\1937 (Thursday) {?}
This forenoon {?} I mowed the side of th road by the watering
trough at East Farms. I sharpened tools this afternnon. Mrs.
Payton was away.
Ralph Pierpont told me this morning {?} that his wife Lois {?}
had a son born at 10:45 last night at the Waterbury Hospital that
weighed 9 1/2 lbs. {?} and they named him William Seabury.
06\11\1937 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon{?}. In the afternoon Robert and
I went to the farm and mowed the upper part of the Barn lot.
Sears and Roebucks {?} man came a {?} set the electric refrigator
{?} going.
06\12\1937 (Saturday)
Robert Miller and I were at the farm Hand mowing {?} and we got
up {?} the hay by the road, {?} then raked and heaped up the hay
in the upper part of the barn lot, about 3.30 Rob came home and I
cultivated the corn in the Shed {caps?} lot, then hoed the corn
in the garden above the barn, and {?} hoed in the lower garden.
06\13\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev Lawrence
{?} Dry preached. He left the Mill Plain Church eleven years ago
and has preached n Nebraska ever since.{?} He with his wife and
two daughters are{?} now on their way to England and are stoping
at Mort Pierpoints. I went out to the farm, {?} but have
been at home all of the rest of the time.
Mary is not able to be about, {?} but sits up most of the time.
06\14\1937 (Monday)
I did the washing this morning, {?} and worked about home till
noon. Then Ronald {?} and I went to the farm and I cultivated
Corn {caps?} and potatoes on the hill till one of the hardest
showers caught me{?}. We had some blankets and made a _____{?}
tent by the fence which protected us till a fierce wind came and
blew {?} everything away and we got drenched to the skin. Then
we came home.
06\15\1937 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools till noon then went to the farm and cultivated
potatoes {mark in text or punct?} and howed some.
This evening went to M {?} E Pierponts place and gave drumming
lessons to a large class.
06\16\1937 (Wednesday)
Took a load of hay to the farm, and there opened out and dried a
lot in the Barn lot. Then got the cart {?} ready and Ronald and
I got in one lead when Wonny Wilkinsback {?} came and mowed it
away, {?} then we got in another load and a lot near the barn we
carried in on poles. It has been a nice drying day though cool
to night{?}.
06\17\1937 (Thursday)
This forenoon I hoed potatoes.{?} Mrs. Payton was away this
afternoon and was at home with Mary.
06\18\1937 (Friday)
Sharpened tools all the forenoon.{?} Went to the farm and
cultivated and hoed potatoes in the afternoon. Sonny Wilkinsback
{?} helped after school.
06\19\1937 (Saturday)
This morning Dick, Robert, and Charles Wilkinsback {?} hoed my
potatoes and corn, while I cultivated the lower piece of corn
which we hoed later.{?} When we got down to the barn we found
Charles Wolcott cultivating in the garden. I mowed out the
Rasberries {Caps & Spl.?} and the boys hoed them, {?} and helped
hoe the garden. This afternoon I went down town and saw a large
Parade of World war veterans, 7000 in line.
06\20\1937 (Sunday)
I attended the 14th annual reunion of the Pierpont family. It
was held at the summer home of the President at Lost Lake in the
town of Holland Mass. {?} seventy five miles from here. I went
with Raymond in his Olsmobile {?} togather {?} with Ruth Fritea
{?} and Ronald. We left at nine and reached there at 11.30 there
were 88 present. We reached home about six. Weather was very
fare{?}.
06\21\1937 (Monday)
Longest day of the year. Wet and rainy. I went to town this
morning, and after I returned sharpened tools. This afternoon I
went up Suburs {?} ave and paid Mrs. Haigh {?} for staying with
Mary yesterday afternoon. I then went to Cheshire and bought
arsnate {?} of lead.
06\22\1937 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to West Cheshire and got a bag of Scratch
{caps?} feed,{?} and Groceries, then we came to the farm and I
put arstate{?} of lead on my potatoes, and cultivated under the
appletrees on the hill. Sonny came after school and hoed them.
This evening I gave drumming instructions at Pierponts.
{Should text on additional page be typed?}
06\23\1937 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools in the afternoon. Ron and I went
to the farm and put nitrate {?} of soda under the appletrees on
the hill. Sonny did not come.
06\24\1937 (Thursday)
This forenoon I went to Waterville and got five gallons of auto
oil of {?} Mrs. Butcher{?} No 22 Byron St. Ronald was with me.
We then went up a very steep hill and over Spindle and Bucks
hill to Wolcott and over through the Center {caps?} and down past
the Rogers place and through Woodtick to Charles Tuttles
where we staid some time,{?} then we went to the farm {?} and
worked in the garden till noon. Mrs. Payton was away this after
noon {?} and I staid home and sharpened tools.
Fritsa {?} brought down some straw berry short cake for our
supper.
06\25\1937 (Friday)
This morning George Baldwin came with his car at nine and Ronald
and I went up to Cruse{?} store where we took in Rollond
Jenner{?} and we all drove to Brother Franks at Simsbury stopping
on the way at Sessions Foundry in Bristol and getting two iron
wheels paid 3.24 At Franks we left Roll and Ronald and George and
I continued on the Willimansitt Mass Where we found Mr. Kane who
makes drum heads, and we ordered 12 Beating 24" heads and twelve
24" snare heads,{?} and rawhide for snares and 480 ft of drum
rope. For the heads we are to pay
40.00
For 8' snare rawhide 2.88
" 480 ft Rope e{?} 2 1/2 sets{?} 12.00
_____
06\26\1937 (Saturday)
Today I sharpened tools all day in the Blacksmith Shop.
The Mill Plain Sundayschool had a picnic at Smiths {?} pond in
Watertown to day.
06\27\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Uniion Church
Rev Matthew Madden preached.
06\28\1937 (Monday)
Went to town this morning in the rain. Sharpened tool etc in the
afternoon.
06\29\1937 (Tuesday)
Went to farm and plowed out potatoes and corn. Sonny helped in
the forenoon. This evening I gave drumming lessons at East
Farms.
06\30\1937 (Wednesday)
Sharpened tools all day. Margaret is moving out of her house on
Beecher{?} avenue to day, and starts working for Adolph
Reymond{?} at 26 Westland Ave Milford tomorrow. Last night the
City decided to put a sewer through the Frost{?} Road.
07\01\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I went to the farm and hoed my Potatoes{caps?} and
corn on the hill. This afternoon Bharlie Wilkinsback{?} came and
I ploywed out and he hoed the corn in the shed lot.
07\02\1937 (Friday)
To day I sharpened tools all day. Mrs. Payton was away this
afternoon.
Mary was bad, out of her head much of the time and wanted me to
take her home.
07\03\1937 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and Charles Wilkinsback{?} and I
picked 3/4 of a bushel of peas and then pulled the vines up and
got the weeds off and prepaired{?} the ground for Cabbage{?}. We
then hoed the whole garden. To night came a heavy shower that
matted the ground, and set the weeds to sprouting.
07\04\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Abill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madded preached.
This afternoon Frank came from Kent and brought the most of his
family We had a good visit
07\05\1937 (Monday)
This day is observed as fourth of July holoday{?}
I mowed much of the yeard, and sharpened tools the rest of the
day.
Dick cliped the front yard with the lawn mower, an wheeled{?}
away the pile of chimney bricks, and made the yard look much
better.
The weather has been fair{?} and it has not rained.
07\06\1937 (Tuesday)
Mowed in the lower end of our home lot, and dried it and took it
out to the farm this afternoon, Chas{?} and I sharpened some
tools and did other work.
The {?} evening I gave drumming lessons to about 15 at Pierponts
07\07\1937 (Wednesday)
Worked at blacksmith work mos{t?} of the day.
Took a load of hay out to the farm.
07\08\1937 (Thursday)
This is one of the hottest days I{?} ever knew.{?}
Made a pair of skids{?} for Anthony Cairlo,{?} and sharpened some
Tools.{caps?} I mowed some this morning and took a small load of
hay to the farm.
This evening Dick and Bob took my truck and went surveying out on
the __________ Road for Bessie Pierpont.
07\09\1937 (Friday)
This morning I sharpened a lot of tools and Chas{?}
Wilkinsback{?} painted the skids that we made yesterday.
This afternoon we went to the farm and picked four qts of
rasberries,{?} then hoed in the garden, {?} and gathered a bushel
of spinish,{?} and repaired the barn, etc.
07\10\1937 (Saturday)
This morning I went to Mr. Beirs in Prospect to see about a work
woman Mrs. Doolittle. I then went to Clifford Wallaces,{?} then
to Merrimans station {caps?} and got 5 gals gas, then stoped at
Mr. Cowdells,{?} then to Bessie Pierponts house and found Mrs.
Doolittle. Then to the farm where we mowed a piece of grass, and
picked 2 qts of berries, and got the hay in Chas left at 330 and
at 4 I came home with my clothes all wet with sweat expecting to
take it easy. But Anthony was here with a lot of tools that he
wanted sharpened so he could have them early Monday morning, so I
went to work and sharpened them.
07\11\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mrs. Girtrude Coe{?} of Wolcott preached.
Mrs. Paton{?} laid down I got Alice Pierpont to stay with Mary
while I went to see Mr. Beirs{?} in Prospect
Mary seems a little weaker to night.
07\12\1937 (Monday)
This morning I went to the Bank and made some deposits,{?} and
drew out some money, then I did some errands, and came home.
This afternoon I went to the farm and Chas. Wilkinsback{?} and I
set out a lot of cabbage plants.
07\13\1937 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon.{punct?} Then went to the farm
and mowed a little in the barn lot, and broke a shaft on the
mowing machine, then I mowed by hand and we cleaned out the
spring some. This evening I gave drumming lessons.
07\14\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to Robert Tylers on the Meriden{?} Road and
had a pair of shafts for my mowing machine sawed out and brought
them home and finished them up, {?} after dinner we took them to
the farm and Charlie Wilkinsback{?} went to picking Rasberries{?}
and I mowed the tall grass about the spring. Charlie picked nine
quarts. I took two qts to Raymond and gave Charlie one quart and
gave Fritsa{?} two quarts, and we had plenty for supper.
07\15\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I and Fritsa{?} and Ronald went to the Farm,{caps?}
and Charlie and Fritsa{?} picked rasp berries{?} while I mowed.
In the afternoon I bared{?} out two cast iron truck wheels. Wet
all day. This eve I attended the East Farms Cemetery annual
meeting,{?} and elected President.
07\16\1937 (Friday)
This morning Roll Jenner and I went to West Simsbury and found
Frank in a lonesom{e?} state of mind.
He is not meeting with good success in morging {morgaging?} his
place,{?} and needs money to pay doctor and funeral bills etc
07\17\1937 (Saturday)
Weather very hot. Chas{?} Wilkinsback{?} and I have mowed some
and heaped the hay. We {or he?} picked four and one half qts of
berries.
07\18\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mrs. Girtrude Coe {?} preached there were only about a dozen
people there I got Sylvie Pierpont to stay with Mary. I went to
Prospect and visited Clifford Wallace.
07\19\1937 (Monday)
Went to the farm this morning,{?} while Charles picked berries I
mowed.{?} Afterwards we opened out the hay that was in heaps and
dried it and got all into the barn,{?} and at night I was good
and tire{d?} and my clothes all wet with sweat.{?} Charles
picked four quarts of berries, and we got in three large loads of
hay.
07\20\1937 (Tuesday)
Sharpened tools all day. Brother Fred was at o.b.{?} meeting
This evening went to Pierponts and gave drumming lessons.
07\21\1937 (Wednesday)
Sharpened tools all day.
07\22\1937 (Thursday)
Sharpened tools the greater part of the day. Mrs. payton had
afternoon off. Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
07\23\1937 (Friday)
I sharpened tools all day. Weather very warm.
07\24\1937 (Saturday)
Today I repaired my tripod for Anthony to use and put iron pins
on the legs.
I also put a ring in the front end of his truck to hitch blocks
to, to draw stone up the skids{?}
07\25\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at Wolcott Rev Mr. Dice{?} preached
Alice Pierpont staid with Mary. While Mrs. Payton lay down,{?} I
went to Prospect and saw Mr. Beirs but he was busy repairing the
lights on an automobile,{?} so I went on and saw Mr. Allie
Scoville{?} When I got home I found Dick and Howard Kraft
unloading Margurets things into my Barn.
07\26\1937 (Monday)
Chas and I mowed at the farm and raked the hay up. It{?} rained
and thundered and lighten_________{?} this evening.
07\27\1937 (Tuesday)
To day I sharpened tools. I went to town and paid Electric bill.
Chas Wilkinsback did not work this afternoon as he is getting
ready to go to camp with the Boy Scouts tomorrow.
A large Express package came from Willamarrsett ________{?} 17
drum heads and rope for the drums that I am making.
This evening I went to Mart Pierponts and gave drumming lessons.
07\28\1937 (Wednesday)
To day Ronald and I went to East Farms and dried out the hay and
got it all in the barn and got a lot of weeds out of the garden.
This evening Crandall{?} and Baldwin came and worked on Drum head
setting{?} tools.
07\29\1937 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools.{?} Mrs. Payton was away this afternoon and
Sylvia Pierpont came and staid with Mary, she got supper.
07\30\1937 (Friday)
I went to the farm and workedin the garden while Fritsa picked
Raspberries. We then drove to Chas Tuttles,{?} and I showed him
17 drum heads and we talked matters over,{?} then I came home and
sharpened tools, and worked on Window screens, and drum head
setters{?}.
07\31\1937 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the Maple Hill Dary{Dairy?} and paid Ralph
Pierpont a milk bill 6.30,{?} then I came back to the farm and
hoed in the garden a spell, then home and worked on window
screens and drums and drum tools.
This evening Dick and I practiced drumming a spell.
08\01\1937 (Sunday)
I attended Church at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev William Reed
of Yale College preached
After dinner I drove out to East Farms and got Sylvia Pierpont to
come and stay with Mary.
I went down to Prospect and saw Charles Finn{?} about historical
Matters.{?}
Mrs. Payton went to see Mrs. Eastwood who is blind and Sylvia got
supper.
08\02\1937 (Monday)
This morning I went down town and did some business.{?} Came
home and sharpened tools the rest of the day. Charles Urban{?}
polished my car, paid 4.00{?}
08\03\1937 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools the greater part of the day.
This evening I went to Morton Pierponts{?} and gave drumming
lessons.
08\04\1937 (Wednesday)
I took my truck to Dan Hannons to have it tuned up.
I and Ronny {?} went to the farm and I mowed the remaining grass
in the barn lot. I picked 1 qt{?} a{?} blackberries, and dug
some new potatoes.
08\05\1937 (Thursday)
I went to the farm and hoed a little in the garden,{?} But
sharpened tools most of the day. Charles Wilkinsback{?} and I
got in a load of hay, then we came home and cleaned up the little
Fire Engine.
08\06\1937 (Friday)
Roll Jenner Ronold{?} and I went up to West Simsbury and visited
Brther Frank.
08\07\1937 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon. Then made snares for the new
drums.
08\08\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden preached.
Alice Pierpont staid with Mary this afternoon while Mrs. Payton
slept.
We had thunder and lightening and showers all the afternoon,{?}
so I staid at home.
08\09\1937 (Monday)
To day{?} I sharpened tools and did odd jobs about home, Chas{?}
Wilkinsback helped.
Charles S. Miller
08\10\1937 (Tuesday)
I mowed the upper lot at the farm. Wehad several showers.
Chas{?} and I worked.
This evening I attended the Mattatuck{?} Drum Band Meeting where
I gave instructions.
08\11\1937 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools and worked about home all day
08\12\1937 (Thursday)
Charles Wilkinsback and I dried the hay on the hill and got in
two big loads.
This noon I went and got Alice Pierpont and she staid with mary.
Mrs. Payton went out this afternoon.
08\13\1937 (Friday)
I made a set of barn hinges for Bessie Pierpont this forenoon,
and sharpened tools in the afternoon. Chas Wilkinsback{?} picked
two quarts of blackberries in the forenoon,{?} but did not work
this afternoon.
The Maple Hill Drum boys were here for uniforms this evening, and
18 boy scouts were here from Wolcott and got riged{?} out to
dray{?} the Fire Engine in the Parade in Derby,{?} tomorrow.
Charles S. Miller
08\14\1937 (Saturday)
This morning I got my uniform on an tuned up my drum before
breakfast. About 10 o'clock Edward Garthwait drove in with a
large truck and about 18 boy scouts from Wolcott with Mr.
German{?} in charge. We borrowed Anthony Cairlos{?} long
skids,{?} and loaded my little Fire Engine in togather{?} with
the hose real,{spl?} and the boys got on their unidorms, and we
started for Derby to take part in the State Fire Parade. We
reached there before twelve, and went to a Restaurent{spl?} and
got dinner.{?} and at one formed in the Fifth{?} Division,
eleventh Co. There were over 70 Companies, and 39 Bands and Drum
Corps.
We were a long time in getting started owing to automobile
traffic jams. As the line advanced, at different places they
were confronted with a jam of automobiles, and although Derbys
whole poliece{police?} force was out, they were unable to handle
the situation, and called in lots of State{caps?}
poliece,{police?} as every avalable{?} plac{?} about the main
streets were taken up, with Busses{caps?} and cars, they stoped
all at the City limits and the people had to walk in.
Te{The?} parade formed at the Depot, and everybody drove there
with trucks, Busses,{caps?} and cars.{?} but it was dismissed at
coon hollow four miles away,{?} so people had to walk back to the
starting point to get their conveyances,{?} which caused much
dissatisaction {dissatisfaction?}
I started with the boys and drummed a short distance, but my wind
gave out, and I fell out. Then I walked slow up the
stereet{street?} to a point near the reviewing Stand, where I
could see all as they passed, Several large Continental Drum
Bands passed, but my own boys only twelve in number made a much
heavier sound and better than any of them.{punct?} I fell in and
drummed past the Reviewing stand and then fell out again,{punct?}
and saw the remainder of the line pass by.
Frank and his Kent Co looked{?} as neat as any of them, and
Marion fifed well in the Kent school Band.{punct?} At the end of
the march in Coon Hollow{?} which I reached by walking,{?} and
riding with a woman who had a car,{?} We were served with
sandwiches, and bottled drink, and then visited while Mr.
Garthwait{?} went for his truck.
When he came they would not let him into the Park so we took the
Apperatus{?} out and loaded into the truck. The boys got in and
we started for home which we reached soon after dark.
08\15\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev Mr Madden
preached.
Sylvia Pierpont stayed with Mary while Mrs. Payton went out.
08\16\1937 (Monday)
I sharpened tools all this forenoon, Charles Wilkinsback{?}
helped, We cut the grass by the side walk and trimmed up about
the yard.
Also went to the farm and got vegtables{vegetables?}
08\17\1937 (Tuesday)
Charles Wilkinsback{?} and I mowed and got in the hay on the East
and West end of the orchard on the hill, 31 heaps one load,{?}
The weather has been very hot. Mary Wooster Sutton{?}, the only
Woman lawyier{lawyer?} in Waterbury came to see me, about Capt
Charles Abbott{?}, and his dayghter{daughter?} Clara Belle
Abbott{?}, who is now 80 years old and lives in
Pennesylvania{Pennsylvania?},{?} and wishes to get an Old
gge{age?} pension.
08\18\1937 (Wednesday)
Sharpened{caps?} tools, and worked about home the most of the
day.
08\19\1937 (Thursday)
Charles Wilkinsback{?} and I worked about the farm {comma or mark
in text?}
Mowed the orchard on the hill and got the hay in to the barn.
I got Alice{?} Pierpont to stay with Mary while Mrs. Payton was
away. Weather very hot,{?} and dry.
08\20\1937 (Friday)
We mowed the lot West of the shed on the hill and got in the hay.
One of the hottest jobs I ever did.
This finishes up my haying.
08\21\1937 (Saturday)
Chas Wilkinsback{?} and I worked in the Wheelhouse to day. I {?}
making raw hide snares,{?} and he repairing and painting blinds.
{punct?}
It was very hot in the forenoon, but after dinner in{?} began
thundering and continued with lightening and little{?} rain into
the night
The sky was black, and many times during the evening {comma or
mark in text} our electric lights went out.
08\22\1937 (Sunday) {Original text lists 1936}
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church, Rev Matthew
Madden preached,{?}
It began raining in the night and has continued all day very hard
at times.
I went out and got Sylvia Pierpont to stay with Mary. But on
account of the rain, Mrs. Payton did not go away. Nor did I
{comma or mark in text?} though I started to see Mr. Hotchkiss{?}
or Betheny,{?} but came{?} back on account of the hard rain.
08\23\1937 (Monday)
I worked in the Wheel house {?} nearly all day making snare
clips, and getting the drums ready to finish
I set the snare head in two this afternoon.
08\24\1937 (Tuesday)
Charles Wilkinsback{?} and I worked in the Wheel house at drums
and chairs, and repairing my truck.
The Weather has been rainy and moist.{?} This evening I went
with Dick to East Farms and gave drumming lessons.
08\25\1937 (Wednesday)
We worked on my truck till the middle of the afternoon,{?} When
we heapped {heaped?} up the hay that I had mowed, and we took it
to East Farms going by way of the Meriden{?} Road and leaving the
Round Robin at Rays on Capitol Avenue.
I brought home Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Carrats{Carrots?}. Dick
mowed the lawn this evening.
08\26\1937 (Thursday)
Mrs. Payton was away this afternoon Alice{?} Pierpont staid with
Mary. I went to the farm and Chas Wilkinsback{?} and I repaired
the fence above the spring and then I cut weeds and oats on the
hill while he dug 1 bu{?} of potatoes,{?} This{?} afternoon we
worked in the Wheel house.{?}
Anthony Cairlos Brother is dead and he has not worked very much
for the last three days.
08\27\1937 (Friday)
This morning Ronny,{?} I and Roll Jenner drove to West Simsbury
and visited my brother Frank. We went by way of Wolcott Bristol
and out the Copper mine road to Unionville then up through West
Avon{?} to West Simsbury. While we were{comma or mark in text?}
it thundered and rained very hard,{?} Roll got the dinner of
stull{?} that we carried up. About three we left for home came
through Canton Street and past Cherry Park to Unionville,{?} then
to Forestville, and south{caps?} to Pine street to Bristol
through Wolcott home.
It was 31 1/2 miles going up.
08\28\1937 (Saturday)
C Wilkinsback{?} and {?} sharpened picks and worked in the Wheel
house to day
08\29\1937 (Sunday)
I and Fritsa{?} attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church.{?} Rev Matthew Madden preached.{?}
This afternoon I attended a gatherin and dinner of the Wolcott
Fire Department at the Chateau near Hitchcocks Lake on the
Meriden{?} Road.
08\30\1937 (Monday)
We sharpened tools and worked in the Wheelhouse,{?} rep furniture
etc
This evening Bement Wakeler,{?} brought Mr. Alfred Head{?} and
Wife of RFD. 2 Gilboa Way, and another man, who owned the grove
where the annual picnic is held in West Conesville {punct or mark
in text?} and also a girl.
08\31\1937 (Tuesday)
Charles Wilkinsback{?} and I worked at the farm mowed the
roadside by the Watering trough, and cut the oats on the hill and
brought them home.
This evening I went out to Mort Pierponts{?} with Dick and taught
drumming.
09\01\1937 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools, nearly all day. Charles{?} cut the
artichokes, and did several odd jobs about the home lot. This
afternoon We went to the farm and took a heavy load of
burnt stuff{?} and plaster etc. and put it on the road at the top
of the hill.
09\02\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I went to the bank and got my pension check cashed,
then came out and had my hair cut, and bought one point {pint?}
of furniture varnish,{?} at the East End Hardware Co then walked
home and went to sharpening tools.
After dinner I went and got Alice Pierpont and brought her in to
stay with Mary while Mrs. Payton was out, and I brought in Chas
Wilkinsback{?} and he varnished a chair in the Wheel house,{?}
then helped me sharpen some Four points,{?} Then we put on a
small load of hay and took it to the farm and put it into the
barn,{?} and then picked two dozen of corn, and then I drove to
the dairy and paid my milk bill 6.50 and came in stoping at
Creuss{?} store and got some groceries.
This evening I went to Will Services{caps?} and got some chicken
coaps{coops?}.
09\03\1937 (Friday)
Charles and I plowed about the appletrees in the Barn lot, and
som on the hill. We picked up two baskets of apples, one of
Tomatoes and a lot of corn.
09\04\1937 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and Chas Wilkinsback{?} and I
plowed under the appletrees. Charle{s?} started to come over
here with Mrs. Piercy{?} but I was out there at 8.30. We worked
about home this afternoon.
09\05\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service{s?} at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr
Madden preached,{?}
It rained all day. Mrs. Payton went out and Alice Pierpont came
and staid with Mary. Harold and Sylvia called in the evening,
and Alice walked home with them.
09\06\1937 (Monday)
Fine Weather. This morning Fritsa,{?} Ronald, Chas
Wilkinsback{?} and I started for the Goshen Fair{?}. We drove
over to Bunker hill and there got into Will Gillettes{?} big new
car,{?} and with Will and Iva{?} went the rest of the way. The
fair was fine and the attendance large about 10,000 people. The
grounds were filled with automobiles,{?} and both sides of the
road was lined with them South{caps?} for about a mile. I saw
many people that I knew and had a good time and reached hom{e?}
before six.
09\07\1937 (Tuesday)
The hens laid six eggs to day. I went to East Farms and mowed in
the Cemetery nearly{?} all day, 8hrs Wilkinsback 8.{?}
A new Street {caps?} light has been installed opposite my drive
way{?} on the Frost road to day.
09\08\1937 (Wednesday)
Today{?} I sharpened tools, and worked at the farm.
Frank came from Kent this forenoon and left some milk, I did not
see him.
09\09\1937 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and Worked {caps?} in the East
Farms Cemetery this afternoon 3 1/2 hrs Wilkinsback 2 hr{s?}
09\10\1937 (Friday)
Worked in the Cemetery 8{?} hours. Wilkinsback 2{?} hr{s?}.
Weather has been cool and a little sprinkle.
09\11\1937 (Saturday)
Mary had a poor night and to day is out of her head.{?} I worked
in the Cemetery 7 hrs Wilkinsback 7
This evening I put heads in two drums,{?} that I am making.
09\12\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Chuch.{?} Rev Mr Madden
preached, subject,{?} "The secret of Making Life worth
Living.{?}"
This afternoon Will and Iva Gillettee{?} called and took
Fritsa{?} Ronald and I{?} over to New Preston{?} to see Mr George
H. Couch{?}, but he was not at home we then went to Kent and
visited Frank,{?} and came home by way of New Milford.{?}
09\13\1937 (Monday)
Rained all day I worked at drums in the Drum Room setting heads,
putting on ears{?} and cords etc, In the late afternoon I worked
on Roberts desk,{?}
09\14\1937 (Tuesday)
Worked about home in forenoon,{?} and went to the farm and mowed
weeds in the potatoe lot.
09\15\1937 (Wednesday)
Fritsa{?} was excited this morning, When sister Olga came to go
to work in the bank,{?} she told that the woman Mrs Hivon,{?} who
lived in the next house south of them in Cheshire was murdered
last night by her mad husband, and that they hadnt {hadn't?}
caught him yet, and she wanted Fritsa{?} to go to Cheshire and
stay with thir {their?} mother, which she did.{?}
I sharpened tools all day, etc
09\16\1937 (Thursday)
I did odd jobs{caps?} about home this forenoon and went to the
farm in the afternoon, and mowed the weeds on the potatoes.
Alice Pierpont staid with Mary while Mrs. Payton was away.
09\17\1937 (Friday)
28 years ago to day I drummed in the Wolcott Drum Band at the
Dediation of the Capitol Building at Hartford.{?} On that day
were assembled more Civil War Veterans than were togather{?} at
any other time in Connecticut. To day Rowland Jenner and I went
to Simsbury and saw Brother Frank, While there Frank J Terry{?}
of Hartford called to tell Frank that he had sold Franks place
{Is the above text 1 paragraph?}
09\18\1937 (Saturday)
I worked at the farm a greater part of the day digging potatoes,
Chas Wilkinsback{?} and I dug 5 1/2 bushels. The weather has
been cool.
09\19\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church.{?} Rev M Madden,
Rained in the forenoon. Mrs. Payton was away and Sylvia Pierpont
came and staid with Mary.
09\20\1937 (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, and went to the farm and dug
potatoes this afternoon, Charles helped,{?}
09\21\1937 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon,{?} and made a smoke pipe for my
forge etc in the afternoon.
09\22\1937 (Wednesday)
Marys {punct?} Birthday 77 years old. Health very poor, but she
is patient and cheerful.
I sharpened tools and went to the farm and husked{?} out a bushel
of corn and dug 3 by{?} of potatoes.
09\23\1937 (Thursday)
I went to town this forenoon and drew out all the money I had on
my special book{?} of the Waterbury Savings Bank 32.84{?}. Then
I did some errands and came home and sharpened tools,{?} in the
afternoon I went to West Cheshire and got two bags of feed. This
evening Fritsa{?} had a birthday party in honor of Mary and
Iva{?} and Mansfield Gilletts{?} wife,{?} Well{?} Service and I,
at whitch{which} many of our family were in attendance,{?} they
gave many cheap but useful presents,{punct?} I received 28 of
them,{?} all of which i had use for.
09\24\1937 (Friday)
This morning Fritsa Rnald, and I in my pickup truck droe to West
Simsbury,{?} to Brother Franks,{?} and found that he had sold
much of his firniture {furniture?} etc. We put on a load of
goods that he may need here and brought it down.
09\25\1937 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon,{?} and Charles Wilkinsback{?}
came and picked two bushels of grapes,{?} and we took them up to
Creuss{?} Store {caps?} then we went to the farm and cleared the
weeds off the potatoes and I plowed some of the rows,{?} and
Chas{?} dug 1 1/2{?} bushels.
09\26\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Mr Madden preached.{?}
Alice Pierpont staid with Mary. I went to Mrs Jones{?} in Union
City,{?} and to see Freemont Hoadley{?} but he was away.
09\27\1937 (Monday)
This is my 79 Birthday. Margaret left a present last night of
5.00. I sharpened tools all the{?} forenoon, and dug potatoes at
the farm in the afternoon,{?} 5 bushels.
09\28\1937 (Tuesday)
Wet most of the day. I went to the farm and plowed out potatoes
and dug eight bushels.{?}
This evening I went to M. E. Pierponts{?} and gave drumming
lessons to a large class, among them was Mr Pullman of the Stony
creak {?} drum Corps.
09\29\1937 (Wednesday)
I finished up four drums to day{?} and did many other odd
jobs.{?}
This evening two boys came for fife lessons.
The weather has been clear and cool.
09\30\1937 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools most of the day.
The weather has been cool and nice. Mrs Payton was off this
afternoon and Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
10\01\1937 (Friday)
This morning Roll Jenner and I went to West Simsbury and found
Frank in good stirits {spirits?} as he has sold this place and
got his pay,{?} and is intending to come here next Monday. We
brought down a load of goods, as we were nearing Bristol my truck
began to go bad and missed,{?} We stoped as {at?} Redferns and
had it repaired and reached home at dark.{?}
Weather has been nice.
10\02\1937 (Saturday)
Charles Wilkinsback and I picked 25 bushels of field corn,{?} and
brought home the potatoes that I had baged up. This evening Fred
came from Tarrytown{?} and brought 15 drummers.{?} They tried
out my New Drums,{?} and visited here,{?} Then they went out to
Mort Pierponts{?} place and had a good visit and Drum with the
Mattatuck{?} Boys. Will Gillette{?} carried me out. We had a
good time till ten o'clock.
10\03\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden preached.{?} at noon I went to East Farms and
got Alice Pierpont,{?} to come and stay with Mary.
I went to Naugatuck{?} and saw Freemont Hoadley,{?} but did
little as he was going away to Bristol.{?} I then wend{went?}
over Hopkins Hill to Straitsville to see{?} Mr Hotchkiss but he
was away,{?} so I came home through Prospect.
10\04\1937 (Monday)
To day {1 or 2 words?} I drove to West Simsbury and got a load of
Franks {?} goods, and brought them and him down, above Bristol on
the old Copper Mine road we had a Blowout,{?} and had to change
wheels.{?} We stoped at Redfernes{?} Ford Station {caps?} ong{?}
got a new tire and tube.
Frank is occupying the East Roon{Room?} on the second floor. He
is furnishing the pillows Sheets {caps?} and coverings {punct?}
10\05\1937 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools and went to the farm and Frank and I picked
corn.
10\06\1937 (Wednesday)
Frank and I went to Simsbury and brought down the last load of
his goods,{?} Mrs. Lynch helped clean out the house, and when we
came away she rode down to her house and gave us a fine dinner.
10\07\1937 (Thursday)
This morning Frank and I went to Waterville to Mr Butchers{?} and
got five gallons of Motor oil We then went to the Center{?} and
Frank went to Richard Upsons{?} and had a pair of glasses partly
fitted,{?} then we went to the bank and I got some money.{?} We
then came home.{punct?} This afternoon we went to the farm and
picked corn all that I had.
Workmen started digging for a sanitary sewer up the Frost{?} road
{punct. or mark in text?} to day.
10\08\1937 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon,{punct. or mark in text?} and
some in the afternoon, and did odd jobs {punct?}
10\09\1937 (Saturday)
This morning I went to Upsons{?} with Frank and he got a pair of
glasses,{punct. or mark in text?} then we came home,{punct?} had
dinner and went to the farm and cut corn,{punct or mark in text?}
on the hill. Chas Wilkinsback{?} loaded it, Ronny went with us.
10\10\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev Matthew
Madden preached.
Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary while Mrs Payton went
away.
The weather has been wet and cold.
10\11\1937 (Monday)
I sharpened tools in the forenoon, and Frank Ronny and I went to
the farm and we cut quarter of an acre of corn.
A heavy frost this morning.
This evening Mr Wm Gillette called for me soon after seven and we
went to the Headquarters of the Wolcott Fire Department at
Hilchcocks Lake{?} they had voted me in as a Honorary Leife
{Life?} Member at a previous Meeting and the Chief gave me a
Badge.
10\12\1937 (Tuesday)
Frank and I and Ronny went to the farm this morning {typed at 1
word} and got down a load of cornstalks,{?} it ployed{?} Frank
out. In the afternoon, I got Charles Wilkinsback{?} to help as
it is Colombus Day{?} and there is no school and we got down the
rest on the lower lot and cut the standing corn on the upper lot
it made a {quote in test?} large load we got it down.
This evening I gave drumming lessons to a large class at
M.E Pierponts {punct?} hall at East Farms. The Mattatuck{?} Band
made arrangements to go to Tarrytown next Saturday {.}
10\13\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning I finished a drum. This afternoon Ron and I went to
the farm and husked 2 by of corn.
This evening two boys came to learn to fife.
10\14\1937 (Thursday)
Ronny and I went went {?} to the farm and gathered the apples,
and husked some corn
10\15\1937 (Friday)
I worked all day repairing a wheelbarrow for the Calvary
Cemetery.
10\16\1937 (Saturday)
I did odd jobs about hom,{home,?} and went to the store {punct or
mark in text?} and bought round steak and groceries paid 55 cts
per pound for steak. I bought one heavy wool shrrt{shirt?} for
2.50 and a lined blue jumper{?} for 1.90
This afternoon I got ready and put my uniform on,{?} and Wm
Gillettee {Gillette?} called for me at four and we went to the
headquarter of the Mattatuck Drum Band at M.E Pierponts at East
Farms{. or ,} Where the Band assembled and at five we started for
Tarrytown N.Y. about 30 men in a large new bus from
Wallingford,{?} where we were to visit the Continental Drum Band
of Tarrytown.{?} We reached our destination at eight.
They had a street parade in which I did not march,{?} after which
we went to a hall and had a lunch, {?} and we drummed and
visited, and left there for home after twelve,{?} which we
reached at three in the morning.
10\17\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr Madden
preached{, or .?} Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary while
Mrs Payton lay down. I went up to Woodtick and visited Chas
Trittle.{?}
10\18\1937 (Monday)
This morning Frank and I did the washing with my old bristol
machine {, or mark in text?} and hung it out, then I went to the
farm and gathered a big load of cabbage, Parsnips, and carrots.
10\19\1937 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all day{, or .?} Ruth called from storrs{?} and
took Mary for a short ride which she seemed to enjoy. Rained all
the afternoon.
10\20\1937 (Wednesday)
Rained and I worked about home all day.
10\21\1937 (Thursday)
Fair day. Frank and I went to Mac Cormicks Mill in Wolcott and
left two bushels of apples and got 8 gallons of cider. We also
went to Cheshire and got two bags of feed and some groceries.
10\22\1937 (Friday)
This morning I went to the farm and dug out of the garden the
parsnips and carrots, and plowed on the hill under the
appletrees.{?}
The weather has been fair till night when it began to rain.
10\23\1937 (Saturday)
Rained hard all day. I put up a rack for drums in the drum room.
10\24\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr Madden
preached. Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary. Mrs Payton
went out.
I went to Naugatuck and Prospect.
10\25\1937 (Monday)
This morning Frank and I did the washing in Our {caps?} old
machine bought in 1915 for $150.00 of the New England Electric
Engineering Co.
We then washed parsnips and carrots and took them up to Creuse's
store,{?} and sold them.
Mr. J. E. Rogers, Associate Editor for the American Historical
Society of No 90 Eighth Ave New York City called to get data for
a history they are publishing of this vacinety.{?}
In the afternoon I went to the farm and husked out some corn.
10\26\1937 (Tuesday)
Frank and I went to town this morning {mark in text?} and I Paid
{caps?} my taxes, and fing {find?} that I have Marys
{apostrophe?} paid bill of 12.60 but mine of 81.03 is missing.
This afternoon I went to the farm and plowed on the hill. This
evening gave instructions in drumming {1 word} to a class at
Pierponts.
10\27\1937 (Wednesday)
To day{?} I went to the farm and plowed the piece of land on the
hill where I had corn.
The weather was farir{fair?} and cool.
10\28\1937 (Thursday)
Rained all Day.{caps?} I made picture frames,{?} and did odd
jobs about home. Mrs Payton went away,{?} and Alice Pierpont
came and staid with Mary.
10\29\1937 (Friday)
The month is passing fast. I sharpened tools and did work about
home all day. Frank and Rollond Jenner{?} went to town this
afternoon.
10\30\1937 (Saturday)
I repaired a wheelbarrow for Calvary Cemetery, {?} and polished
my little Car etc. {caps?}
10\31\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev M. Madden
preached.
Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary while Mrs Payton slept.
I went to see Miss Jones{?} about historical{1 word} matter.
11\1\1937 (Monday)
This morning Frank and I did the washing.
Then I repaired a wheelbarrow for the Calvary Cemetery
This afternoon we went to East Farms and plowed some.
Mr Harry Matthews came this eve to see about m{?} fixing Alberts
drum.
11\2\1937 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools in the forenoon and plowed at the farm in the
afternoon.
11\3\1937 (Wednesday)
Frank and I went to Simsbury to day.{?}
11\4\1937 (Thursday)
To day{?} I sharpened tools till the middle of the afternnoon
when I went to the farm and cared for Brister.{?} I then went to
Woodtick and saw Charles Trittle,{?} then I wen {went?} and saw
Robert Wakelee {Wakelu?} about learning some boys to fife.
11\5\1937 (Friday)
I sharpened toolsthis forenoon. Went to Cheshire and got a bag
of oats,{?} then came to the farm and finished plowing in the lot
by the shed on th {the?} hill. Then went to Morton Pierponts
dairy and got five gallons of cider for Tony.{?}
The St Louis family burned leaves which got over in my lot and
burned a spot under a pile of slabs West of the Barn.
11\6\1937 (Saturday)
I worked on picture frames etc. This eve I set two drum heads,
etc Worked all day and didnt accomplish much.
11\7\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev M Madden
preached.
This afternoon I wen {went?} and saw John Todd{?} he is 92 years
old. Sylvia Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
Charles DeBissop{?} called and brought nice flowers to Mary.
11\8\1937 (Monday)
Frank and I did the washing this morning.{<?} after which I
corded up Albert Matthews drum.{,?} and a 16" drum of mine, that
Alber Crandell{Albert?} used.{,?} after dinner Ronney{?} and I
went to the farm and plowed.
11\9\1937 (Tuesday)
We had a ton of soft coal come to day.{?} They have the sewer
trench open a little beyond my big gate.
I plowed in my garden at East Farms this forenoon {punct?}
Made snares for drums this afternoon.
This evening I went to M.E Pierponts and gave drumming lessons.
11\10\1937 (Wednesday)
To day{?} Frank and I went to Simsbury{comma?} where I saw Wm
Flemig{?} and he told me much about chickens and his chicken
houses. We also went to the store in West Simsbury,{comma or
mark in text?} and I bought some Candy{caps?} for Mary, then we
went to the Law office of Mr Whitman and he completed the Will of
Frank in which he made me the beneficery.{beneficiary?} Then we
went to the South {upper or loer case?} end of the Town near
Wheatang{?} where we had dinner,{?} then we drove home via
Unionville, Bristol and Wolcott.
11\11\1937 (Thursday)
Armistice Day.{?} I went to the farm and plowed this morning.
This afternoon I started{?} sharpeneing tools but Frank came from
Kent and had all his family. We had a good visit. Alice
Pierpont came and staid with Mary. The weather has been cool.
11\12\1937 (Friday)
Very cold this morning. I sharpened drills this forenoon
Went to the farm inthe afternoon and moved soil from the{?} lower
end to the upper end of the garden.
11\13\1937 (Saturday)
Rained hard all day. I sharpened tools and did other
Jobs.{caps?..?} Alice Pierpont staid with Mary as Mrs Payton
went away.
11\14\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev. M Madden
preached,{.?} Ralph and Lois Pierpont had their baby baptised at
a special service, its name is William Seberry.{?}
The weather has been nice to day.{?}
11\15\1937 (Monday)
Frank and I did the washing this morning,{?} then I put up
pulleys and drew the hammuck {hammock?} up overhead on the front
varnda {veranda?}, and did other jobs, and filed Charles
Weltons{?} cross cut saw. This afternoon I went to the farm and
plowed some but it come on to rain and I had to stop. I then
went to Plum Brothers Hardware store and exchanged a plow
point,{?} and got a Syrcure{?} side hill plow point.
Insert in margin of text:
Water meter
Reading
Miller.
23646.
Tony.
04361.
11\16\1937 (Tuesday)
I plowed at the farm upon the hill.
This evening Albert Crandell{?} carried me to Morton E.{?}
Pierponts and I gave drumming lessons.
11\17\1937 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to town and paid my Water rent,{?} and did
several errands.
This afternoon I plowed at the farm.
11\18\1937 (Thursday)
This morning I ploughed at the farn{farm?}, and finished in the
North West lot in the afternoon.
The weather has been cool. Alice Pierpont came and staid with
Mary {punct or mark in thext?} this afternoon, Mrs Payton had
time off. Charles Welton was killed at the Austin road {?} while
crossing the Cheshire road {punct or mark in text?} last evening
about six o clock he was aged 74.
11\19\1937 (Friday)
I sharpened tools till three P.M. then went to the farm after
getting my truck from Dan Hannons{?} where he had been adjusting
the carbarator{?} and making repairs. After I got home I worked
making snares in the wheel house.{2 words?}
Insert in margin of text:
First
snow
1" fell 8{or &?}
deep on
ground
11\20\1937 (Saturday)
Snowed all day. I sharpened tools more than half the time. Went
to the farm and took care of the ox {punct or mark in text?} then
worked in the wheel house filing saws and making snares for
drums.
11\21\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr Madden
preached. Went to Berkley Frisbes{?} this afternoon. Alice
Pierpont came and staid with Mary.{punct or mark in text?}
11\22\1937 (Monday)
This is Marys and My {caps?} 54 wedding anniversary
The day has been bright and cool. We received{spl?} a nice card
and letter from Ruth at Storre, and another from Mary and Rolland
Jenner. Fritsa made us a nice cake with candles on it Mort and
Jessie Pierpont sent us a nice basket of apples.
Mary has been quiet and cheerful though out of her head some of
the time.
I have done the washing with Frank to help this morning,{?} and
then worked on a Sand{caps?} blast fixture for tony, {caps?,
punct or mark in text?} the rest of the day
11\23\1937 (Tuesday)
Cold this morning 2 above zero.{?} I worked in the Wheelhouse on
tonys sand blast machine.{?}
Ruth came this noon and staid till after four
Frank and Roll went to the pictures this afternoon.
11\24\1937 (Wednesday)
Was in the Wheelhouse most of the day making a sand blast
machine.
Weather cold.
11\25\1937 (Thursday)
This is Thangiving {Thanksgiving?} day The weather has been
bright and nice. We did odd jobs about the place this morning.
Mrs Paton{?} went away while I was sharpeneing tools at eleven
o'clock and Frank pot rost{?} a big piece of meat and cooked
vegtables {vegetables?},{or .?} Alice came at 215 {2.15?} and I
went to the farm and my truck ran dry of water, {?} as it had
frozen up and burst the connecting pipe to the radiator.{?} I
repaired it with tape, and filled the engine with water and
loaded on four bushels of corn, and came home where I found a
fine dinner awaiting me Mary.{?} Frank, Alice,{?} and I sat down
and ate a fine meal.
The Somers family{?} with whom I have spent many Thanksgivings
had their dinner at the Hotel Elton. 1.50 per plate,{?} I would
not go and leave Mary {punct or mark in text?} who seemed
brighter than usual and happy all day.
This morning Jack and Ruth,{?} with their {comma or mark in
text?} sons Roger, Kenneth,{?} and Pierce and daughter Peggy
stoped on their way to Danbury. {punct or mark in text?} and
brought presents, and a lot of iron wood {punct?} for drum
sticks.
We had a fine visit.
11\26\1937 (Friday)
This morning I went down town and did seviral/several{?} errands
came home and varnished picture frames. Frank and I went to
Cheshire and bought a bag of oats,{?} then we came to the farm
and put the mowing machine up, and loaded a load of corn on the
truck and brought it home. The weather has been clear an {and?}
cool.
11\27\1937 (Saturday)
Maist day.{?} This forenoon I made a corn bin under the shed
{punct or mark in text?} and got out lumber to repair the grades
in front of the barn doors out to the farm.
Frank and I went out and repaired the grades and brought home
some wood.
Fritsa is sick and had the doctor this day.
11\28\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr Madden
preached.
It rained hard all day. Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
I started to go and see Freemont Hoadley{?} down in
Naugatuck,{?} but it rained so hard that when I got to Prospect
I came back again.
11\29\1937 (Monday)
Frank and I did the washing this morning. Then I sharpened tools
till mid afternoon then we went to the farm and there we cleaned
out the spring and did other jobs.
Laurence Pierpont and wife had a son born at the Waterbury
Haspitial/Hospitial{?} yesterday {punct or mark in text?} named
Peter Austin Pierpont.
11\30\1937 (Tuesday)
Weather has been clear and cool. I sharpened tools much of the
time. Frank worked grading the back yard opposite/oppasite{?}
the cellar door, {or .?} Ron and I went to the farm and took care
of Brester/Brister{?}.
12\01\1937 (Wednesday)
To day {two words?} Frank and I went to see my son Frank at Kent,
we went up over the Stilson road {caps?} to Waterville. {or ,?}
the{n?} to Reynolds Bridge and up past the Branch Dam and through
East Morris,{?} and Morris and Bantam,{?} then North of Woodville
to Warren then on to Kent, which we reached about eleven o'clock
Frank soon came from South Kent with a load of hay, which they
unlowed {unloaded?} putting it up over the cow Barn. After a
fine dinner I went with Frank over to the depot and he got a load
of grain out of a car.{?} We staid at Franks till about 2.30
when we left for home, coming through Bulls Bridge {?} New
Milford. {or ,?} Bridgewater, Roxbury, Southbury, Woodbury,
Middlebury, {?} Waterbury and home,{?} which we reached just
before dark.
12\02\1937 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, then I sharpened a large
circular saw,{?} then Ronny went to the farm and did the cores
there, then to the First National store Car{bar?} of Knoll and
East Main and got some groceries, {or .?} Mrs Payton came and
went at one and Alice Pierpont came at two.{?} and staid till
about eight o'clock.
12\03\1937 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Ron and I went to Cheshire and
got a bag of laying mash, {or .?}
Weather has been cold.
12\04\1937 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and did other odd jobs about
home.{?} Th {The?} day has been cold.
I wrote to Ruth asking her to get a jacket for Mary to wear.
Ruth Miller telephoned that Ray had gone to the Hospital
{Haspital?} to have his teeth pulled out.
12\05\1937 (Sunday)
I attended Church at Mill Plain Rev Mr Madden preached.
Alice Pierpont came and staid while Mrs Payton went away.
I went to see Freemont Hoadley {?} at Naugatuck {?} but he was
not at home, {?} then I saw Harry Roberts {?} and he took me to
Hopkins Hill, {?} and showed me the old Hopkins place and the
Munrow {Murrow?}, {?} and Gibburd{?} places.
12\06\1937 (Monday)
Frank and I did the washing this morning, {?} then I did odd Jobs
{caps?} about the place {comma or mark in text?} and worked on
snares for the new drums. It rained nearly all day.
12\07\1937 (Tuesday)
This morning I made two clip jacks for Dan Hanlou {Hanlon?} to
fasten the snow plow onto his wrecker truck, {?} then I went to
the farm and to the Cruess Bros store{?}, then drove down to
Hanlons{?} and left the clip-jacks.
The two daughters of Mr and Mrs lelande Gray {caps?, spl?} who
lives at East Farms, {?} were killed in an automobile crash at
Union, {?} near the Massachusetts line last night about six
o'clock.{?} Their names were Mrs William Hartley 23. and Pauline
Gray 21. The car was driven by Edward Welch 21 who was killed,
{or .?} An other {2 words?} passenger was Ruth Chamberlain {?}
of Townsend {Townsent?} Vt. who was injured and is in the
haspital {hospital?} at Stafford Springs, {caps? comma or mark in
text?} with a broken leg and other injuries.
12\08\1937 (Wednesday)
Weather cold, {?} I worked in the Wheelhouse {1 or 2 words?} most
of the time.
12\09\1937 (Thursday)
Cold day. I painted the varanda {veranda?} floors, {?} and did
odd Jobs {caps?} in the wheel house, {or .?} We received to day
{2 words?} a nice Jacket {caps?} and two aprons, {?} and a pair
of slippers for Mary from Ruth. Margaret called this evening,
{spelling? comma, period, or mark in text?} Had been up to
Wolcott where Howard Kraft is building his new house.
12\10\1937 (Friday)
Cool clear day. I worked in the Wheel house all day. The City
{caps?} men are laying te sewer pipe under the brook pipe on the
Frost Road. The brook comes out from my lot. The sewer at this
point is down about 12 ft
12\11\1937 (Saturday)
Cold 5 below zero this morning. I did odd jobs about home and
went to the farm and got down a lot of hay to feed the ox.
12\12\1937 (Sunday)
Very Cold {caps?} 5 below this. {punct or mark in text?} I
attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr Madden
preached.
12\13\1937 (Monday)
Frank and I did the washing this morning. It was cold hanging
the clothes out to dry, {?} four above zero.
Then we went up to the Waterbury Rolling Mills where I turned it
{in?} certificates for 26 shares of stock at {an?} $100.00 par
{per?} value, and to receive four for one at $25.00 or 84 shares
this is in accordance with a vote passed by the directors some
time ago.
After dinner I went to the Assessors {?} office in the City hall
{caps?} and protested against the raise of $1000.00 on my
property, {?} it may not amount to anything.
12\14\1937 (Tuesday)
Cold day.{?} I sharpened tools most of the day.
12\15\1937 (Wednesday)
Not so cold to day.{2 words? punct?} I sharpened tools this
forenoon.{?} Went to Cheshire and got a bag of oats, then did
odd jobs in the Wheelhouse.
12\16\1937 (Thursday)
Everuthing {Everything?} was coated with ice this morning, but it
came warm in the afternoon and ice all melted away.
Mrs Payton was away this afternoon,{?} Alice came and staid with
Mary.{?} I worked in the Wheel house, {or .?}
12\17\1937 (Friday)
Wet and rainy. I worked in the Wheelhouse repairing a
wheelbarrow for the Calvary Cemetery.
12\18\1937 (Saturday)
Damp foggy day. I sharpened tools in the forenoon, {?} and
worked in the Wheelhouse in the afternoon, {, or mark in text?}
repairing the grindstone {or grind-stone?} belt and a
wheelbarrow.
12\19\1937 (Sunday)
Nice day. Mary had a bad night, is veru weak to day.
I attended meeting at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr Madden
Preached. {Caps?}
12\20\1937 (Monday)
Frank and I did a big washing this morning. {or ,?} then I worked
in the Wheel-house the rest of the day, excepting the time it
took to go to the farm and feed buster.
The weather was nice this morning but turned colder towards
night. We had a fine letter from Irving.
12\21\1937 (Tuesday)
Cold day. I went to town this morning and got Marys and my
cupons {coupons?} cashed at thte Colonial Trust Bank and then did
other business.{punct?} Came home and sharpened tools, and did
other jobs, etc.
12\22\1937 (Wednesday)
Nice clear day. I sharpened tools this forenoon, and Worked in
the Wheelhouse in the afternoon.
12\23\1937 (Thursday)
Nice weather to day. I went to town to do some trading this
morning. Then I repaired the varand {varanda?veranda?} door
curtain, {?} and put a new shade on the Front door.{?}
Alice Pierpont came this afternoon and staid with Mary I painted
the kitchen floor. We ate supper in the middle room.
12\24\1937 (Friday)
Showed this afternoon,{?} This morning I killed and dressed a
rooster and a hen for Fritsa. She is going to make one into a
chicken pie {1 or 2 words?} for our dinner tomorrow.{?} I have
spent most of the day getting a Christmas tree up and the lights
on it and finding the trimmings for it, etc. We expect many of
our children here tomorrow.
Note in margin of text:
2nd
snow
1" fell.
12\25\1937 (Saturday)
Christmas Day. The roads were covered with ice this morning,{?}
but by noon it had melted off. {or ,?} so that it was good
traveling. We had a Christmas tree at our house, {?} and all of
our Children and grand children and two great grand children to
the number of thirty came Irvings family of nine who are in
Milwaukee could not come. {?}
We all received presents and had a good time.
{New paragraph?}
Mrs Payton went to have a time with her folks, {?} and Alice
Pierpont came and staid with Mary. They had the table set up
stairs in Fritsa's {apostrophe?} part, {?} But the presents were
given out here. {?}
12\26\1937 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church. {punct or mark in
text?} Rev Mr Babilin {Bobilin?} preached. I went to the farm
and cared for the ox, then went and got Alice Pierpont, and
brought her over to care for Mary. Frank didnt feel well this
morning, {comma, period or mark in text?} ate no breakfast.
12\27\1937 (Monday)
Cold all day. I did the washing this morning, {?} then went to
the farm and did the chores there, {?} and sharpened a lot of
small drills, {?} and did other odd jobs. {Jobs?}
Frank is not feeling well to day, {?} and Mary is very weak.
{comma, period or mark in text?} but sits in her chair all
day,{?} cannot get up without help.
12\28\1937 (Tuesday)
Snowed all the fournoon.{?} I {?} sharpened tools till noon.{?}
Dan Hanlon {Don?} came and started my truck. Went to the farm
and did the chores, and husked corn till dark.
Note in margin of text:
3 snow
2 1/2" deep
12\29\1937 (Wednesday)
I husked corn under the shed all day, {?} about 20 bushels
{New paragraph?}
Frank helped some, {?} it was cold work.
Insert at p. 60-1
C. ELMER - WILSON
17 JOHNSON - ST. one side
Morris Cove {Comma or mark in text?}
New Haven, Conn.
Books cost $ 37.50
5x7 Picture .. $125.00
The Story of Connecticut other side
By {Caps?}
Burpee
12\30\1937 (Thursday)
The weather to ay has not been so cold. I sharpened tools this
forenoon, {?} Went to the farm and did my work there. Then went
to the dairy and paid my milk bill to Mrs Doolittle, {?} then
drove up the Pierpont road and in the Meriden road {?} and down
{doun?} the Frost road stoped at Cruess store {spelling? Caps?}
and got some groceries, {comma or mark in text?} then home, {?}
and ground an ax, {?} and sawed two double pointed chistles.
{chisles?}
Mrs Payton went out, and Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
12\31\1937 (Friday)
Cool day. I sharpened tools this forenoon, and went to town
after dinner, {comma or mark in text?} and paid bills, {comma or
mark in text?} then went to the farm after which I did some odd
jobs.
I ordered a book of maps of New England. {punct. or mark in
text?} of the National Survey Office of Chester Vermont. {The?}
01\01\1938 (Saturday)
Stormed all day Snow {caps?} and sleet. I dut {?} all the paths
out this morning, {comma or mark in text?} and worked in the Drum
Room most of the time. This evening it is raining and freezing
and the roads and paths are very slippery, {or .?}
Frank told me to day that he has decided to go to the Old fellows
home at Groton.
Edwin Todd died at the Waterbury Hospital
this afternoon.
01\02\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden Preached.
Dick Miller is 25 years old to day, {comma or mark in text?} and
they had a party at Will Gillettes in honor of the event
{New paragraph?}
Alice Pierpont came this afternoon and staid wihh {with?} Mary.
{punct. or mark in text?}
I went up to Woodtick and saw Charles Tuttle at Mrs
Cornetius. {?}
01\03\1938 (Monday)
This morning I did the washing then sharpened tools till noon.
Went to Cheshire and got a bag of oats for the chickens. Came
home and did odd jobs.
Wrote an advertisement and sent it to the New England Homestead.
01\04\1938 (Tuesday)
Very cold to day. I sharpened stone cutting tools all day. They
buried Edwin Todd to day in the Episcopal Cemetery in
Cheshire.{?} he was 83 years old and was brother to John R.S.
Toodd{Todd?}. He lived on the Meriden road {?} at the corner of
the Bryam/Byam road.
01\05\1938 (Wednesday)
Cool day I sharpened tools till about three then went to the
farm.
01\06\1938 (Thursday)
To day {?} the weather has been fair and not very cold.
{New paragraph?}
I sharpened tools this forenoon,{?} and went to the farm.
Ronald{?} went with me. After I came back {punct. or mark in
text?} I did odd jobs. Frank began packing his trunk making
ready to do to the Old Fellows home.
I made arrangements with Alice Pierpont to stay here, after Mrs
Payton goes.
01\07\1938 (Friday)
I went to town this morning and did several errands.
Came home and sharpened tools till noon.
Weather very foggy. Went to the farm and fed the ox.
{New paragraph?}
I saw Fritsa and arranged to have her care for Mary after Mrs
Payton leave, Mrs Payton says that she will go next Monday.
sent {Sent?} a PO Order to the New England Homestead of 2 6 {26?}
The fog took more than half of the snow away.{punct. or mark in
text?}
01\08\1938 (Saturday)
Weather fair and cool. I sharpened tools this forenoon
Worked on snares this afternoon.
Mr Pechard {?} called to see Frank about going to the Old Fellows
Home.
01\09\1938 (Sunday)
Attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev Mr Madden
preached.
{There is another line on the xerox copy, only the top portion of
the letters appears}
The weather has been very cold. I went over to Riverside
Cemetery to look at the graves of my relations.
01\10\1938 (Monday)
Mrs Payton got through working here to day. Roll Jenner and I
carried her goods to the first house on the East side of Silver
Street.{Caps?} Fritsa has helped care for Mary. Frank had a
sick night last night,{?} but is much better this evening.
01\11\1938 (Tuesday)
Alice Pierpont began working here to day, the hours before and
after school, at fifty cents per day.
Fritsa began yesterday, looking after Mary forenoons
{fore-noons?} and doing other jobs at fifty cts per day.
The weather has been clowdy/cloudy{?} and cool.
01\12\1938 (Wednesday)
To day {?} I sharpened tools in the blacksmith shop for Tony
Cairlo, and went to the farm and to Creuss store {?} and got
groceries.
The weather has bee {been?} very cold.
About 10" of snow fell last night and to day {?}
Note in margin of text:
5th Snow {caps?}
10" deep
01\13\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon,{?} after dinner I went to the
farm,{?} then up to Woodtick to Mrs Cornelus{?} and she told me
about Mrs Hugh Byers{?} who wants a job {only top of letters for
"a job" are on xerox copy}
01\14\1938 (Friday)
I sharpened tools part of the day and did other odd jobs about
home,{?} and went out to the farm etc.
01\15\1938 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools part of the day,{?} and went to the farm. This
morning I killed and dressed a rooster.
{New paragraph?}
Te {The?} weather has been very cold.
01\16\1938 (Sunday)
Cold day. Mary seems very weak and low, cannot get onto her feet
without help.
Margaret called, and told me to go to the Conn state{State?}
Employment service/Service{?} at 65 Bank St to get a woman to
help.
01\17\1938 (Monday)
Snowed all day but little fell. I did the washing this morning
which took till near eleven o'clock.
After dinner I went to the Connecticut Employment
service/Service{?} on Bank St, to see if I could hire a woman.
Note in margin of text:
6th
Snow {caps?}
3" deep
01\18\1938 (Tuesday)
Very cold day. 7 below this morning. I dug out the paths again,
wrung out the clothes and put them on the line and did several
odd jobs etc.
Went to Cheshire and got two bags of feed.
I engaaged/engaged{?} Mrs Margaret Mahler{?} to come here to work
next monday.
01\19\1938 (Wednesday)
This morning it was 26 degrees below zero at 6.30{?}
I have received yesterday and to day{1 or 2 words?} 21 letters
from women in all the New England states in answer to an
advertisement I put in the New England Homestead{some letters in
Homestead not on xerox copy} for a woman to do housework.
01\20\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, and chores etc took all the
afternoon. I recived {received?} 15 letters to day in answer to
my advertisement in the New England Homestead.
01\21\1938 (Friday)
I sharpened tools most of the day. Went out to Mort Pierponts
{?} and got a half bushel {?} of apples, and did the work at the
farm.
01\22\1938 (Saturday)
I dug out the paths, and then sharpened tools most of the day.
I received a bundle of letters from the New England Homestead{?}
in answer to an advertisement that I put in that paper for a
housekeeper. In all I have had 55 answers.
Note in margin of text:
7th snow
3" fell
01\23\1938 (Sunday)
I attended Church at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev{?} Mr Madden preached.
01\24\1938 (Monday)
The weather to day{?} is warm and damp.
Mrs Margaret Mahler came to work to day{?}.
Frank went and was examined by Dr Goodenough {Dr.?}
prepairatory/prepairatary{?} to entering the Old Fellows Home.
Rolland Jenner went with him.
01\25\1938 (Tuesday)
It rained hard all night and took about all of the snow away, I
sharpened tools the most of the day {punct?}
Louis Pichard called this evening and fitted me to a pair of
glasses, which are to cost $12.00
He {?} also fitted Frank to a pair.{punct. or mark in text?}
01\26\1938 (Wednesday)
Cold day. Frank and I went to Simsbury and he transfered his
money from the Bank to the Old Fellows Home at Groton, where he
intends to go.
He then called on several of his old neighbors, {or .?} and we
then drove home.{?}
01\27\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened {mark in text?} tools nearly all day, {punct. or mark
in text?} and did chores
Margaret Mahler was off this afternoon and Alice Pierpont staid
with Mary.
01\28\1938 (Friday)
Very coldday. I wrote letters all{?} the forenoon, answering
{punct. or mark in text?} the people who wrote in answer to my
advertisement for housekeper{housekeeper?} in New England
Homestead, received {?} 64 answers{punct?}
I sharpened tools the rest of the time.
01\29\1938 (Saturday)
Cold day 6 below this morning. I killed and dressed a
rooster{spelling?} and gave Fritsa half. Then I sharpened tools
the greater part of he day. Frank engaged Joe Howell to carry
him and his trunk to the Old Fellows Home, at Groton next
Tuesday. Leave here at about nine.
01\30\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
The preachin was by Adjutant Horace Weheatherly {?} of the
Salvation/salvation{?} Army.
01\31\1938 (Monday)
I helped start washing. {or ,?} then went and paid the
electric{?} light bill, then sharpened tools, and went out the
Meriden road {?} to the farm, {or .?} The roads were very
slippery on account of the snow.
Note in margin of text:
8th snow
2" fell
02\01\1938 (Tuesday)
Very cold all day. Frank left this morning at nine o'clock for
the Old Fellows home at Groton,
Joseph Howell Jr {.?} drove him over in his nice Chevolet car
I have sharpened tools the greater part of the day,{?} and went
to the farm and did the chores there,{or .?}
The City men have got new sanitary sewer in now on the Frost road
up to the end of my lot,{or .?}
02\02\1938 (Wednesday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools the greater part of the time.
02\03\1938 (Thursday)
Rained, I did oll jobs about the house and at the farm
Margaret Mahler had this afternoon off, and Alic Pierpont came
and staid with Mary,{or .?}
02\04\1938 (Friday)
i finished making a wood box this forenoon an {and?} went to the
farm and drew four loads of manure up on the hill, this
afternoon,
It came off very cold towards night.
02\05\1938 (Saturday)
I did odd jobs about home to day.{or ,?}
I lost my money purse, {comma or mark in text?} there was less
thn 1.00 in it so I was lucky.
02\06\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Matthew Madden Preached, there was a good attendance. This
afternoon I went up to Woodtick and saw Charles S Trittle {?} at
his home, {or .?}
Mrs Mahler had the afternoon off,{?} and Alice Pierpont came and
staid with Mary.{or ,?}
It has started to rain this evening.
02\07\1938 (Monday)
Margaret did the washing this morning, which is a great help to
me, {or .?}
I worked repairing a wheelbarrow for the Calvary Cemetery.{or,?}
This afternoon after I went to the farm I drove up to Mrs
Cornilus {?} and saw Charles Trittle.{?}
02\08\1938 (Tuesday)
This morning i went to the Corn Motor Vehicle place {?} on
Watertown Ave and got two licenses for my cars, {or .?} I then
came home and sharpened tools.{?} etc
Homer Northrop a veteran of the Civil War aged {gged?} 89 years
died last Saturday {caps?} and was buried in Riverside Cemetery
to day, {or .?} Mr Wayles Porter {?} is the only veteran left in
Waterbury now, and he is sick.
02\09\1938 (Wednesday)
Not very cold to day. {punt. or mark in text?} I sharpened tools
much of the time, {or .?}
Mr C. Elmer Wilson called.{or ,?} and I ordered a history of
Connecticut thas {?} is being published by Charles Bupee.
Entitled The Story of Connecticut, {or .?}
The Price is to be 37.50 and my picture 5"x7" is to cost 125.00
His address is
Mr C. Elmer Wilson, 17 Johnson St
Morris Cove,
New Haven Conn.
Note in margin of text:
What became/because of {an arrow or a box is indicated below this
phrase}
02\10\1938 (Thursday)
This morning I went to No 56 Bank street and had my picture
taken, then I came home and found Jack Brundage here, and we
loaded of {af?} fine mahogany {mahog-any?} table into his car, by
taking the leaves off.{punct. or mark in text?} then I sharpened
tools, till four when I and Ronny went to the farm and did the
chores.
The Weather has been fair and cool.
02\11\1938 (Friday)
I sharpened tools th most of the day.
02\12\1938 (Saturday)
This morning i got up at the usual time 5.45 and built the
kitchen fire, {comma or mark in text?} and started up the furnace
fire, {punctuation?}
Then I killed a rooster, and after breakfast, {or .?} I dressed
it, and gave one half to Fritsa and kept the other half, {or .?}
Charles Wilkensback {?} came and got own a barrell {barrel?} of
corn. {or ,?} Then we drew out the shanks of seven drills, and
sharpened paints till noon.{?} Roll Jenner came and told much
news.
This afternoon I filed two saws for a Prospect man, and sorted
out many washers and put them on Rods in good order in the
Wheel-house, then I went to the farm and took care of the
ox.{ax?}
02\13\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Matthew
Madden preached.
In the afternoon I went up to Woodtick and visited Charles
Trittle {Tuttle?} at Mrs Corneilus; {?} and while I was gone
Frank came from Kent, and brought some eatables, and a big stick
of ironwood
{New paragraph?}
Mrs Mahler was out this afternoon and Alice Pierpont came and
staid with Mary.
02\14\1938 (Monday)
Wet day. I sharpened tools most of the day. {, or .?} Charles
Wilkensback{?} struck {?} for me, {comma or mark in text?} to
draw out four drills {punctuation or mark in text?}
Markaret Mahler did the washingg which was a great help.
02\15\1938 (Tuesday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools all day. {punct. or mark in text?}
Chas Wilkinsback struk {struck?} for drawing out 11
drills.{drills?}
02\16\1938 (Wednesday)
Very cold day. {punctuation or mark in text?} This afternoon
Charles Wilkinsback {?} came and we drew out four stone
drills.{?}
02\17\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools all day. Weather very cold.
Mary is not so well to day. Margaret Mahler had the afternoon
off, {comma or mark in text?} and Alice Pierpont came and staid
with Mary
02\18\1938 (Friday)
To day {2 words?} I sharpened tools, {comma or mark in text?} and
after dinner Roll and I went to Cheshire, and sent to Frank, a
lage calnder, {calendar?} and cushion and three screw drivers.
{Text above "screw drivers": Postage.23?} We then went to the
Cheshire Grain Co and bought a bag of oats 146
This evening I helped Charles Urban {?} put in a Auto lifter,
{, or .?} furnished 18 bolts.
02\19\1938 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools most of the day.
This afternoon Bobbie and I and Chas Wilkinsback{?} cut up
cornslalks/cornstalks{?} at the farm after four o'clock.
02\20\1938 (Sunday)
I attended Church at Mill Plain Rev Mr Madden
About 3" snow fell to day.
Note in margin of text:
9th
Snow {snow?}
02\21\1938 (Monday)
I sharpened tools till 3.30{?} then went to the farm and Charles
Wilkensback and I cut up a big pile of corn stalks.{?} Margaret
Mahler did all the washing.
{new paragraph?}
The day has been cold, but it has thawed a little
02\22\1938 (Tuesday)
Washingtons birthday. I sharpened tools this forenoon and,
repaired a wheelbarrow, this afternoon.
Note in margin of text:
10th Snow {snow?}
3" fell,
02\23\1938 (Wednesday)
Rained all day I worked in the wheel house {2 words?} repairing
the stove pipe, and repairing a wheel barrow. {2 words?}
Note in margin of text:
10th snow {?}
1" fell
02\24\1938 (Thursday)
I worked in the wheel-house most of the day. Mrs Mahler was off
this afternoon, {?} and Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
02\25\1938 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, {comma or mark in text?} and
painted a wheel-barrow {or wheelbarrow?} this afternoon, {comma
or mark in text?} then I went to the farm and took care{?} of the
ox. {ax?} Then went to the Dairy and paid my Milk bill 6.51.
{?} After dinner I went to Levenworth st {St or stand?} and {?}
paid my Electric light bill. The weather has been cold.{?}
Attorney Alcorn{?} or Hartford was in town to day {2 words?} in
connection {mark in text?} with the suits that are to come.
02\26\1938 (Saturday)
I have worked all day sharpening tools, {punctuation or mark in
text?} except the time I went to the farm. The weather has been
very cold.{?}
{new paragraph?}
Roll Jenner told me that Fred has moved from Tarrytown{?} to
Bridgeport where his wife is going to open a store.
02\27\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service {Service?} at the Mill Plain Union
Church.{or,?}
{new paragraph?}
Rev Mr Madden preached.{?}
Mrs Mahler had the afternoon off,{punctuation or mark in text?}
and Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary. I ent up to
Woodtick and visited Charles Trittle{Tuttle?}. While there Dr
Barber came to see Charles. The Dr is going to Florida to stay
ten days.
It has snowed and rained all day.
02\28\1938 (Monday)
Snow fell to the depth of one inch. This has been the
caldest/coldest{?} day this winter. The
themometer{thermometer?} stood six above at noon dand{and?} a
cold wind was blowing/blouring{?} hard, that froze up many
ears.{?} I sharpened tools {punctuation or mark in text?} at the
forge till four o'clock, and got very cold at that, {or .?} Then
I went to the farm, {comma or mark in text?} and fed the ox.
Came home and did the chores and it was dark.
Margaret got a fine supper of hot oysters,{?} and warm
Coffee,{comma or mark in text?} and I warmed the house up with a
hot fire in the furnace,{comma or mark in text?} and we all felt
very confortable{comfortable?}.
Note in margin of text:
12 snow
1" dep {"?}
03\01\1938 (Tuesday)
I made drum ears, and snares all days/day.{. or mark in text?}
The weather has grown warmer.
03\02\1938 (Wednesday)
To day {2 words?} I sharpened tools and made snares for drums.
This afternoon Charles Wolcott called and we went to the farm and
soon Charles Wilkinsback{?} came and we got in a lot of
cornstalks.
{new paragraph?}
Mr Wolcott{?} and I then drove to the corner of East Main and
Knoll Sts {sts?} and I got some groceries{grocer-ies?} at the
First National Stores{stores?}. When we got home it was late,
{comma or mark in text?} but I cleaned out the chicken coop some.
The County sheriffs have been traveling{?} about the County
warning the 18 men who are to compose {com-pose?} the
Special{special?} Grand Jury that is to meet at the Court
House{?} next Tuesday to open the hearing for the illegal acts of
the City Officials{officials?}.
03\03\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools, and went to the farm and cut and got in
cornstalks.
03\04\1938 (Friday)
I sharpened tools, and cut and got in cornstalks,
Ruth called this evening.
03\05\1938 (Saturday)
Snowed this morning, {comma or mark in text?} turned to rain this
afternoon and nearly all went off.{punct. or mark in text?}
I killed and dressed a rooster this morning, {?} then filed three
saws for Mr Wanaski{?} of Prospect. Sharpened {caps?} a few
tools and went to the farm where Charles Wilkinsback and I cut up
a lot of corn stalks. Then {?} I went to the store and got
grocerier/groceries.{?}
Note in margin of text:
13th
Snow {caps?}
2" deep
03\06\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church, Rev Mr Madden
preached, Margaret Mahler had the afternoon off and Alice
Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
I went to Woodtick to see Charles Trittle,{?} but he was busy and
I went up to Art Harrisons,{?} and staid a while.
03\07\1938 (Monday)
I sharpened a few tools to day,{, or .?} This afternoon I went
to the farm and Charlie{?} and I got in the last of the
Cornslalks/Cornstalks{?} and {Is there a "-" in text or is this a
mark in text?} cut them up. I ordered a lot of garden{?} seeds
of Jim Brown Cleveland Ohio.{. or ,?} this morning.
03\08\1938 (Tuesday)
Cool to day. I worked in the Wheelhouse repairing a pair of
blinds, that Bobbie{?} broke, the night of the high wind.
To day {2 words?} the Great Court cases against the City
Officials {caps?} have started. The Special{special?} Grand Jury
of 18 men assembled at 10.{?} in the Court Roon{Room?} on{?} the
upper floor of the Court House on Levenworth St.{caps?} and the
other Courts{caps?} started at the same time.
03\09\1938 (Wednesday)
The weather has been fine and cool. I worked in the Wheel
house{1 or 2 words?} on blinds {punctuation or mark in text?}
this forenoon. This afternoon I went to the farm and Charles and
I{?} lrinmed/trimmed{?} apple trees,{, or .?} A man from Bristol
called and wished to sell me a new Ford truck,{?} But {caps?} all
the Pickups that they now build are much to large, so I am going
to have my car made{?} over,{, or .?}
03\10\1938 (Thursday)
This morning I drove to Bristol and left my truck {"-" or mark in
text?} to be repaired at the Ford agency,{, or .?} They sent a
man to bring me home and he used my truck.{. or mark in text?}
Yesterday Mr Zepp{?} looked at my Pickup and said that he would
paint it for 20 or 25 dollars.
{new paragraph?}
After I got home from Bristol I finished repairing and painting
the broken blind. Then I filed a saw and went to the farm and
Charles and I trimmed {punctuation or mark in text?} apple trees
and cut down a Butternut tree.
Margaret Mahler, had the afternoon off,{?} and Alice Pierpont
came and staid with Mary.{. or ,?}
03\11\1938 (Friday)
This morning I telephoned Redfern and he letephoned/telephoned{?}
back that he would put a reconditioned engine in my truck for
50.00 and that the whole cost would be 65.00{?}
{new paragraph?}
I sharpened tools at the blacksmith shop, and then went to the
farm where Charles Wilkinsback{?} and I sawed up the Butternut
tree. Came{?} home by the Meriden Rd and stoped at Rays and left
a copy of Irvins letter.
03\12\1938 (Saturday)
[[ 5 pages inserted. RAK notes: "already transcribed" "Notes on
Blizzard of 1888" ]]
[[ Page inserted
Line at top of page, difficult to read
Text lower down on page:
Lucia: her Problem {line is underlined}
Amonde{?} Minnie Douglas{?}
(1837-1916) {?}
New York, Sheldon
(1872)
Film
1517
Microfilm, Reel D16 ]]
[[ Edited version of Blizzard of 1888 (RAK)]]
Fifty years ago today, was the time of the great Blizzard of
1888. Mary, Clyde, Irving and I were over in Cheshire up Peck
Lane where the first road crosses (we had been looking at the new
Meriden Rail Road that was then being built). We had a horse on
a top two seated wagon. It began to snow at about four PM, and by
the time we got home, the snow was about three inches deep.
Next morning the snow was about 12" deep and I drove over to
my blacksmith shop that stood at the corner of what is now
Englewood Ave. and East Main St. It snowed hard all day. About
four in the afternoon I, with William Miller, a York State boy
who worked for me, started home. Where the snow was blown off
the road we walked in back of the sleigh, holding on. When we
came to deeper snow and the horse could go no farther, I got
ahead. We each had scoop shovels. I dug a path the width of the
shovel, stepping ahead at every stroke and William followed suit.
The horse kept his head over Williams shoulder. Some of the time
the sleigh was right side up and some of the time it was on its
side. Much of the time we were in snow up to our shoulders and
the horse was in up to his back. If we had stopped where the
snow was that deep we would have been stuck, for it was coming so
fast and the wind was blowing so hard that it filled the path
that we made nearly as fast as we could dig, and we could not see
ten feet ahead. Several times we got off the road, but the horse
would head right, and we would get ahead of him. We had the
hardest time in a great drift in front of where Reymonds Bakery
is now. On that hill a great drift had formed. The snow came
from the northwest, and filled in as fast as we could shovel it
out. The horse kept treading and crowding us and we kept
treading and digging and packed the snow so that it held us up
partly; when we got to the east side the drift was nearly
straight up and down. We jumped down and got out of the way
quick for the horse and sleigh came down in a heap. Beyond this,
the road was bare a short distance and we walked in back of the
sleigh.
The remainder of the way to East Farms we encountered no more
deep drifts although we had to do much digging. When we crossed
the horse brook, although there were rails on each side of the
bridge, the snow covered them and and it was all level. We were
holding on the back of the sleigh following the lead of the
horse. The snow was deep and he must have walked on the south
rail, for all of a sudden William went down and disappeared. The
storm was raging so loud that I could not stop the horse for some
distance. I went back and saw the snow moving and reached down
and drew him up on the rail. His feet were wet where he went off
the edge of the bridge and down into the water. We reached home
as it was getting dark, and it was snowing hard.
The next morning, Tuesday, it was still snowing, though not
so hard. I had left a fire in my boiler oven at the shop and was
afraid that it would burn out, causing the pipes to freeze and
burst, so I went and made a pair of snow shoes out of 1/2" bass
wood board about seven ft. long and 7" wide near the center.
They came to a narrow point at each end with a curved piece at
the front end that turned up so they would slide on the snow.
With these tied on my feet, and a measured ten foot pole for
support, I started for my shop two miles distant in the storm.
The snow at this time was falling steadily with but little
wind and the weather was not cold. I made fair progress by
pushing my rude skis (I had never seen a pair before) first one
and then the other. If I lifted them the snow would stick and
they were heavy. As it was, the snow stuck some and it was very
fatiguing. As I traveled I measured the depth of the snow. Some
places the road was nearly bare. Then would come drifts from four
to six feet deep, till I reached the brook East of Reedville, and
from there to the schoolhouse it was from four to eight feet
deep. Then came alternate places of shallow snow and drifts till
I reached the hill in front of what is now Reymonds Bakery, where
we had the battle with the snow the evening before. Here I found
the drift much longer but not so high, ten feet by measure.
Farther on, in front of what was then Mrs. Cass' house, the road
was bare; but around the curve in front of the present Calvary
Cemetary gate was a drift across the road twelve feet high, and
another about two rods farther on of nearly the same depth. There
was also a large drift extended from there along the road to the
Doolittle Road, now Frost Road, and into the lot where I now live
in a house I built in 1892. At that time, from this point west
to the foot of the hill, was a thick growth of woods and brush on
both sides of the road which continued till the bridge was
reached. There the snow lay about as it had fallen since it was
protected from the wind. As I passed I measured it in many
places and found it to be three and one half feet deep. I think
this was the average depth in this locality.
At about two o'clock, as I approached the site of what is now
the Anderson School, Mr. James Parter, who lived in a large white
house that stood there, saw me coming. I was the first that had
passed over the road that day. His yard was blown bare of snow,
and he came to the edge of the wall, and asked about the drifts
farther out. He was 70 years of age. I asked if he ever saw a
snow like that. He answered "No," but he thought that he had seen
as much snow on the ground once before. It had come in three
different storms.
There was a large drift that extended across the road about
where the steps are that lead to the present Anderson School. He
asked me to measure the depth of it. I ran my 10 ft pole down as
far as I could by lying down and pushing it with my hand. I
could not reach the ground, and farther over near the fence where
the ground was lower it must have been 14 or 15 ft deep. This was
the last deep drift before getting to my father's house which
stood nearly opposite Idlewood Avenue.
I stopped at my shop, arranged things there, and then went
down to father's. I found him digging a path to the well in about
five feet of snow. He used to tell us that the winters were not
as severe then as when he was a boy, so I asked him if this storm
equaled those they had when he was a boy. He said,"I never saw
anything like this before." I will here state that the path that
he dug was the next morning level full of snow again. After a
cup of warm coffee and a light lunch, I made my way home, which I
reached before night. It was still snowing rather lightly, but
during the night, the wind came up and blew the drifts still
deeper.
The next morning we were out early and I found a drift
against the east side of the house that was so high that when I
stood on it I put my hand down on the sill of the second story
window. William and I dug through this to get a path to the road
and barn. After breakfast, armed with shovels and the horse
hitched onto the sleigh, we started for the shop, but we had to
dig nearly all the way. Charlie Brown came and told me to put my
horse up and he would bring down John Pierpont's big oxen and
sled, which he did, but they only went to the first drift when
they got stuck and we had to dig them out, and then dig every bit
of the road to the Reedville school. There Mr Wilson Pierpont
and his hired man joined us making five in all, and we dug on
till we nearly reached Wedges Corner. When Mr Austin Pierpont
with two men, Mr William Austin with his big pair of horses and
long bob sled, and Edward and Charlie Welton overtook us, making
twelve men, we were not long getting to the big drifts on the
hill where the bakery now stands. Several more men joined us
here, but it was a long hard dig getting through this long hard
drift. In the meantime they kept the horses and oxen going over
the road and through the drift cuts tramping the snow down and
widening the road out.
On Mr. Austin's sled was a big load of milk from Maple Hill
Farm. Soon this big force of men was working in the drifts
beyond the Frost road, and digging it out to Mad River bridge.
Here we were joined by a party of East Main St. men who had heard
by telephone that a load of milk was on the way and had come to
help hasten it on. Before this combined force the big drifts
were soon cut through and we reached the Meriden Road, where we
found that one team had just been through with a load of milk;
Mr. Charlie Frost of Mill Plain, with John French and George
Edwards driving. After Silver St was reached, Mr. Pierpont
started to deal out milk. This was the first milk that many of
the people had had since the Sunday before. He was beseiged by
women and men with pitchers and pails, for at that time all milk
was sold and measured out of forty quart cans. The supply was
gone before Wolcott St. was reached.
After a lunch at Mr. Pierpont's Market, the East Farms men
started for home. I might here state that Tuesday afternoon when
I was walking home on my snow shoes, I saw Burr Johnson
floundering in the snow a short distance down the Harpers Ferry
Road. When I drew near, he shouted,"How can you walk? Oh you
have snow shoes on! I saw you going in and thought that here was
but little snow up on the road and I started out to Jim
Johnson's and have only got this far. I can never make it so I
will go back." Burr was a shiftless character who belonged to the
family of Johnsons who lived near Wedges corner many years. At
this time he was living alone in a small building at Harpers
Ferry on the Plank Road. He had run out of provisions, and after
leaving me he went to the home of Mrs Thomas Harper, who gave him
a few potatoes which he took home, and pared, and cooked. As the
snow was too deep for him to get out, a day or so after he
gathered the skins up, cooked them, and made another meal.
The road from Cheshire wasn't opened until the next Friday,
when Mr. Frank Wallace, who owned a team that drew German Silver
from the Mills in Waterbury to the R. Wallace & Sons Silver
Factory in Wallingford, got out a large party of men, put three
pairs of heavy horses on his huge sled, and set out after the
storm to open the road. They were nearly three days in reaching
East Farms. They were blocked by a great drift east of the East
Farms School house near the present residence of Mr. Martin that
was so high that they tunneled through it. All of the travel went
through this tunnel for more than a week until the sun softened
the roof and it fell. The first team that passed through this
tunnel was Frank Wallace's German Silver team, with six horses.
This was followed by a long train of Cheshire Farmers bringing
loads of butter and eggs, fruit, and vegetables and other produce
into Waterbury. As this long procession passed through East Main
St. it was joyfully hailed, for supplies were running low. As a
comparison, I have lived on this Cheshire Road for over 64 years,
and with the exception of 1888, I have never seen a day that I
could not travel to East Farms with a team, nor have I ever seen
a drift on the road over six feet high.
At the time of the Great Storm in March 1888, I was living at
East Farms in the house now owned and occupied in 1937 by Mr.
Fred Wilson on the North side of the Cheshire Road. I owned and
operated a Blacksmith and Wagon Shop that stood on what is now
the Corner of Englewood Ave and East Main St. about two miles
west of my home. I was aged 29 years. My family consisted of
two small sons, my wife, and myself. After I got home Tuesday
evening I went over to the Enos Pierpont place, the next house
west on the hill, after milk. While I was there, Mrs. Pierpont
asked, "Did you ever see anything like this?" and opened the east
outside door of the kitchen. The snow had drifted against the
house higher than the door, so that the whole imprint of the door
was in the snow. She said that this had never happened before,
and I know that it has never happened since.
[[end of edited version]]
Fifty years ago to day, was the time of the great Blizzard of
1888, I with Mary and Clyde and Irving were over in Cheshire up
Peck Lane where the first road crosses it.{?} (had been looking
at the new Meriden Rail Road that was then building.) When it
began to snow.{. or mark in text?} at about four PM We had a
horse an{on?} a{"a?" or is this mark crossed out?} top two seated
wagon,{, or .?} by te time we got home the snow was about
thee{three?} inches deep. Next morning it was about 12"
deck/deep{?} and I drove over to my blacksmith shop that stood at
lhe/the{?} corner of present Englewood ani{?} and East Main
St.{st.?} and it snowed hard all day,{, or .?} About four in the
afternoon I with William Miller, (a York State {caps?} boy) who
worked for me started home,{?} Where the snow was blown off the
road we walked back of the sleigh holding on. When we came to
deeper snow{?} and the horse could go no farther/further{?} I got
ahead and we eadh had scoop shovels{?} and I dug a path the width
of the shovel,{?} stepping ahead/ohead{?} at every stroke and
William followed and the horse kept his head over Williams
sholder. {shoulder? Is punctuation a "." or ","?} Some{some?} of
the time the sleigh was right side up {comma or mark in text?}
and some of the time on its side,{?} much of the time we were in
snow up to our shouldiers{shoulders?} and the horse was up to his
back.{?} If we stopped where the snow was that deep we would
have been stuck {punctuation or mark in text?} for it was coming
so fast and the wind was blowing so hard that it filled the path
that we maid{?} nearly as fast as we coud {could?} dig,{?} and we
could not see ten feet ahead,{?} several times we got off the
road.{period or mark in text?} but {lower case?} the horse would
head right, and we would get ahead of hin{him?}.{. or ,?} We had
the hardest time in a great drift in front of where Raymonds
Bakery is now,{comma or mark in text?} on that hill a great drift
had formed,{, or .?} The snow came from the North West,{comma or
mark in ext?} and filled in as fast as we could shovel{showel?}
it out but the horse kept treading and crowding us and we kept
treading and digging and packed the snow so that is held us up
partly and when we got to the East{?} side the drift was nearly
straight up and doune/doun{down?} We jumped down and got out of
the way quick for {mark in text of punctuation?} the horse and
sleigh came down in a heap,{?} beyond this the road was
{punctuation or mark in text?} bare a short distance and we
walked back of the sleigh,{, or .?} The remainder of the way to
East Farme/Farms{?} we encountered no more deep drifts
sthough/though{?} we had to do much digging.{. or ,?} When we
crossed/crassed the horse brook,{?} although there was a rail on
each side of the bridge,{?} the snow covered them and and
{written twice} it was all level. We were holding on the back of
the sleigh following the lead of the hors{horse?} the snow was
deep and he must{?} have walked on the
South{caps?} rail,{?} for of a sudden William went down an {and?}
dissapeared{dis-sapeared?}. The storm was raging so loud that I
could not stop the horse for some distance.{?} I went back and
saw the snow moving and reached down and drew him up on the rail
and his feet were wet where he went off the end of the bridge and
down into the water.
{new paragraph?}
We reached home as it was getting dark,{comma or mark in text?}
and it was snowing{word difficult to read} hard{is there a
period?} Next morning {punctuation or mark in text?} Tuesday it
was still snowing though not so hard.{?} I had lft {levt?} a
fire in my boiler over at the shop and was afraid that it would
burn out and then the pipes would freez{freeze?} and burst,{?} so
I went and made a pair of snow shoes out of 1/2" bass
wood/basswood{1 or 2 words?} board about {word difficult to read}
seven ft long and 7" wid {wide?} near the center and to a narrow
point at each end with a curved piece at the font{?} end that
turned up so they sould slide on the snow
With these tied on my feet,{?} and a measured ten foot{?} pole
for support.{. or ,?} I started for my shop two miles distant in
the storm,{?} the snow{?} at this time was falling steadily with
but little wind and the weather was not cold,{, or .?} I made
fair progress,{?} by pushing my rude skiis{skis?} (I had never
seen a pair before) first one and then the other,{, or .?} If I
lifted/lefted{?} them the snow would stick and they were
heavy/heavys{?}.{punctuation or mark in text?} as {word difficult
to read} it was the snow stuck some and it was very
fatgueing{fatiguing?}, as I traveled{?} I measured {mark in text
or punctuation?} the depth of the snow.{. or mark in text?}
som{some?} places the road was nearly bare then would come a
drifts{?} from for{four?} to six feet deep.{?} till I reached the
brook{?} East of Reedvill.{?} and from there to the
schoolhouse{1 word?} it was from four to eight feet deep,{, or
.?} then came alternate/olternate{?} places of shallow now and
drifts till I reached the hill in front present Raymond Bakery
where we had the battle with the snow the evening
bfore{before?},{?} here I found the drift much longer but not so
high ten feet by measure,{?} farther on in front of Mrs Cass{?}
now gone{?} house the road was bare{?} but around the curve in
front of the present Calvary Cemetery{?} gate was a drift
acrose/across{?} the road twelve feet high,{?} and another/an
other{1 or 2 words?} about two rods farther{?} on{?} of/af{?}
nearly{?} the sam{same? xerox copy may be smudged} depth,{?} and
a large drift extended from{?} there along the{?} road to the
Doolittle{?} road now the Frost Road{?} and{?} into the lot where
I now live in a house I built in 1892.{?} From this point West
to the foot of the hill at that time was a thick groth{growth?}
of Woods{caps?} and brush,{?} on both sides of the road,{?} which
continued till the bridge was reached, {comma, period or mark in
text?} and there the snow lay about as it had fallen as it was
protected from the wind.{period?} As I passed I measured it in
many places,{comma or mark in text?} and found it three feet and
one hald deep. This I think was the average/gverage{?} depth in
this locality{lacality?}. As I approached th site of the present
Anderson School. {Is school capitalized? comma or period?} Mr
James Porter{Parten?} who lived in a larg{large?} whight{white?}
house that stood there,{comma or mark in text?} saw me coming
{comma or mark in text?} at about two{?} o'clock,{comma or mark
in text?} I was the first that had passed over{?} the
raod/road{?} that day. His yard was blown bare{?} of snow,{comma
or mark in text?} and he came to the edge of the wall,{comma or
mark in text?} and asked about the drifts farther out.{?} H
{He?} was 70 years of age. I asked if he ever saw a {punctuation
or mark in text?} snow like that, he answered No.{?} but he
thought that he had seen as much snow on the ground{?}
one/ance{?} before,{?} but it came in three different storms,{,
or .?}
There was a large drift tht extended across the road/rood{?}
about where the stpes that lead to the present Anderson
school,{Is school capitalized? comma or period?} He asked me to
measure the depth of it.{?} I run my 10 ft pole down as far as I
could by lying down and pushing it with my hand and could not
reach the ground,{comma or mark in text?} and farther over near
the fence where the ground was lower it must have been 14 or 15
ft deep,{comma or mark in text?} this was the last deep drift
bfore{before?} getting to my fathers hous{house?} which stood
nearly opposite Idlewood Avenue.{?}
I stoped at my shop and arranged things there then went down to
Fathers,{?} I found him digging a path to the well in about five
feet of snow. He used to tell us that the winters were not as
severe then as when he was a boy,{?} I asked him if this storm
equeled{equaled/equalled?} those they had when he was a boy. He
said I never saw anything like this before,{, or .?} I will here
state that the path that he dug,{, or mark in text?} was the next
morning level full of snow again. After a cup of warm coffee and
a light lench{lunch?},{?} I made my way home,{, or .?} which I
reached before night,{?} it was still snowing but rather light,{,
or .?} but during the night the wind came up and blew the drifts
still deeper,{, or .?} The next morning we were out early and I
found a drift against the East{?} side of the house that was so
high that when I stood on it I put my hand down on the sill of
the second story window
William and i ug through this to get a path to he road and
barn,{, or .?} After breakfast armed with shovels and the horse
hitched into the sleigh we started for the shop, but we had to
dig nearly all the way,{, or .?} Charlie Brown{?} came and told
me to put my hore/hare{horse?} up and he would bring down John
Pierponts big oxen and sled, which he did,{?} but they only went
to the first drift when they got stuck,{, or mark in text?} and
we had to dig them out, and then dig every bit of the road to the
Reedville school,{?} There Mr Wilson Pierpont and his hired man
joined us making five in all, and we dug on till we nearly
reached Wedges Cornes,{Cornes?, comma or period?} When Mr Austin
Pierpont with two men, Mr William Austin with his big pair of
Horses and long bob sled, and Edward and Charlie Wilton{Welton?}
overtook us,{, or mark in text?} this made twelve men, and we
were not long getting to the big drifts on the hill where the
bakery now stands,{, or mark in text?} several more men joined
us/as{?} here, but it was a long hard dig getting through this
long hard drift, in the mean time {2 words?} they kept the
horses{?} and oxen going over the road and through the drift
cuts{?} tramping the snow down/doun{?} and widening{?} the road
out,{, or .?} On Mr Austins{?} sled was a big load of milk from
Maple Hill Farm.{?} Soon{soon?} this big force of men were
working in the drifts beyond the Frost road,{?} and digging it
out to Mad River bridg,{bridge? comma or period?} here we were
joined by by {written twice} a party of East Main St{st?} men who
had heard by telephone that a load of milk was on the way and had
come to help hasten{?} it on.{?} Before this combined force the
big drifts were soon cut through{?} and the Meriden Road{?} was
reached,{comma or mark in text?} where we found that one{?} team
had just been through with a load{?} of milk,{comma, period or
mark in text?} Mr Charles Frosts{Charlie? Frost's?} of Mill
Plain, with John French{F'rench? Trench?} and George Edwards
driving.{?}
After Silver St{st?} was reached,{,} Mr Pierpont,{, or mark in
text?} started to deal out milk,{, or .?} The first that many of
the people had had {written twice} since the Sunday {caps?}
before,{, or .?} He was beseiged by women and men with pitchers
and pails,{, or .?} for at that time all milk was sold and
measured out of{?} forty{?} quart cans,{, or .?} The supply was
gone before Wolcott St{st?} was reached. After a lunch at Mr
Pierponts Ma_______ {Ink blot, can't read word},{, or .?} The
East Farms men started for home.
I might here state that Tuesday afternoon{?} when I was walking
home on my sno shoes,{comma, period or mark in text?} I saw Burr
Johnson{?} floundering in the snow a{?} short distance down the
Harpers Ferry Road.{?} When I drew near,{, or .?} He shouted how
can you walk,{, or .?} oh you have snow{?} shoes on,{, or ;?} I
saw you going in and thought that there{ink blot, word hard to
read} was but little snow up on the road/rood{?},{comma or mark
in text?} and I started to go out to Jim Johnsons,{?} and have
only got this far,{, or .?} I can never make it so I{?} will go
back,{comma?} Burr{?} was a shiftless character who belonged to
the family of Johnsons{?} who lived near Wedges corner{?} many
years.{?} At this time he was living alone in a small building
at Harpers Ferry{F'erry?} on the Plank Road/Rood{?}.{?} He had
run out of provisions,{, or mark in text?} and after leaving me
he went to the home of Mrs Thomas Harper{Harpir/Hearpir?} who
gave him a few potatoes which he took home,{?} and pared the skin
off and cooked them and ate them,{comma, period or mark in text?}
as the snow was to {too?} deep for him to get out,{comma, period
or mark in text?} a day or so after he gathered{?} the skins up
and cooked them and made another meal.{?}
The road{?} from Cheshire wasnt{?} opened until the {punctuation
or mark in text?} next Friday,{?} when Mr Frank Wallace who owned
a team that drew{?} German Silver{silver?} from the
Milles/Miller{?} in Waterbury to the R Wallace & Sons{sons?}
Silver{silver?} {punctuation or mark in text?} Factory in
Wattingford.{punctuation or mark in text?} got out a large party
of men,{?} and put three pairs of heavy horses/harses{?} on his
huge sled, and set out after the storm {punctuation or mark in
text?} to open the road,{?} they were nearly three days in
reaching East Farms.{ink blot, text hard to read} They were
blocked{?} by a great drift East of the East Farms School house
{Is school capitalized? 2 words?} near the present residence {ink
blot, word hard to read} of Mr Martain that was so high that they
tunneled{?} through it, and all of the travel went through thi s
{this? ink blot, text hard to read} tunnel{?} for more than a
week when the sun sof tened {softened? ink blot, text hard to
read} the roof and it fell.
The first team that passed through this tunnel was Frank Wallace
German Silver{silver?} team, {the beginning of this sentence is
hard to read, comma or period?} with six horses, this was
followed by a long train of Cheshire Farmers bringing loads
of{af?} butter and eggs,{, or .?} fruit and
vegtables{vegetables?} and other{?} produce into{?} Waterbury, as
this long procession passed through East Main St{st?} it was
joyfully hailed for supplies were running low.
As a comparison,{?} I{?} have lived on this Cheshire Road/Rood{?}
for over 64 years, and with the exception of 1888 {punctuation or
mark in text?} I have never seen a day but that I could travel to
East Farms with a team, nor have I ever seen a drift on the
road/rood{?} over six feet high.
{new paragraph?}
At the time of the Great Storm{storm?} in March 1888 I was living
at East Farms in the house now 1937 owned an{and?}
accupied{occupied?} by Mr Fred Wilson on the North side of the
Cheshire Road. I owned and operated{aperated?} a Blacksmith and
Wagon Shop{shop?} that stood on what is now the Corner of
Englewood Ave and East Main St.{Is st. capitalized, period or
comma?} about two miles West of my home. I was aged 29 years,{?}
My family consisted{?} of two small sons, my wife, and myself.
After I got home Tuesday evening I went over to the Enos{?}
Pierpont place,{?} the next house west,{?} on thehill.{?} after
milk, and while there Mrs Pierpont asked Did you ever see
anything like this, and opened the East outside door of the
kitchen,{, or .?} The snow had drifted against the house higher
than the door.{. or ,?} so that the whole imprint of the door was
in the snow.{. or ,?} Whe{she?} said this has never happened
before since the house was,{, or mark in text?} built,{?} and I
know that it has never happened since.
03\13\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Re M. Madden Preached,{, or .?} Staid home and wrote all the
Afternoon. Mrs Mahler was out and Alice Pierpont came and staid
with Mary.
03\14\1938 (Monday)
Rained{?} all day.{?} I sharpened tools all day only the time
that I went to the farm.
03\15\1938 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tool the greater part{?} of the day. This afternoon
Ron and I went out to the farm,{?} and after Charles Wilkinsback
came we went up on the hill and trimmed the trees there.{?}
03\16\1938 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools all day. Went to the farm and did{?} the
chores there,{?} the weather was{?} wet an{and?} chilly.
03\17\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon,{?} This afternoon I went to the
bank and got money to pay for repairing my Pickup{?} car that is
being fixed in Bristol.
Margaret was off this afternoon,{?} and Alice Pierpont staid wth
Mary,{?} and got supper,{comma or mark in text?} etc.
03\18\1938 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this morning till after nine o'clock.{?} when
a man drove in with my Pickup truck,{?} which the Ford Motor Co.
of Bristol have made over,{?} and I drove it to Bristol and
settled for the job by paying $82.24{?} then I came home and
repaired a door on the truck and got it ready to paint,{, or .?}
I then went out to the farm and hitched{?} Buster{?} in the
Cart{caps?} and drew down a load/lood{?} of brush from the
orchard on the hill, and gathered brush{?} and wood{?} in the
Barn lot.
03\19\1938 (Saturday)
This day I sharpened tools. A man from New Haven brought a large
bos of tools for cutting marble,{?} which I sharpened.
I took my red Pickup over to Mr Zepps{?} to have it painted
green.
03\20\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev Mr Madden
preached. I staid home all the afternoon and wrote.
Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary, as Mrs Mahler went out.
Three years ago to night{2 words?} Mary was taken sick.
03\21\1938 (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon,{?} and did other jobs.
At the farm I planted four rows of peas this afternoon, and drew
in a lot of brush and wood.
03\22\1938 (Tuesday)
This day I put Franks Tool Chest up on ashelf in the
Girage,{Garage?} and his small chest on top with many other
things. This afternoon I was at the farm culling{cutting?} up
brush wood{2 words?} and Charlie Wilkinsback and I{?} gathered up
the remaining brush in the Barn lot.
This morning I sent to C. Elmer Wilson{?} of 17 Johnson St{st}
Morris Cove{?} New Haven a History of myself and Clyde,{?} and
Irving, Margaret, Ruth, Frank.
03\23\1938 (Wednesday)
Nice warm day,{?} themometer/thermometer{?} regerstered
{registered?} 70 {degrees} this noon
{new paragraph?}
Mrs Mahler sat Mary out on the varndd{veranda?} in the sun.
I worked in the Wheelhouse repairing a chair,{?} and a footstool,
this forenoon. This afternoon I went to the farm and drew three
loads of manure up on the hill.
Mrs Mahler was out this afternoon,{?} and Alice Pierpont came and
took care of Mary,{?} and got supper.
03\24\1938 (Thursday)
Fair day though some cool.{?} Mr Zapp finished painting my
truck,{?} 21.00{?} I went down to the Bank and drew the money.
He carried me down in his car, I came back in the Bus. This
afternoon I went to Cheshire and got a bag of oats, and some seed
peas,{?} which I planted{Planted?} at the farm.{?} Charlie
Wilkinsback{?} and I got out some monure/manure{?} I took one
load up on the hill, and put four on the garden.
03\25\1938 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. I went over to Ray Zapps{?} for
my truck that he had painted.{?} But we could not start is up,
after working a spell I telephoned to Bristol and they sent down
a man that started it,{?} I then went out to the farm, and we got
out manure.{?}
03\26\1938 (Saturday)
I went out to the farm and plowed on the hill till noon when it
began to rain,{?} and we gave it up.{?} Chas Wilkinsback{?}
spread the manure. This afternoon I made a bos to carry things
in for the truck,{?} and painted it green.
03\27\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.{?}
Rev.{?} Matthew Madden Preached.
This aflernoon{afternoon?} I went up to Woodtick and saw Charles
Trittle.{?} Alice Pierpont cam{came?} and staid with Mary.
03\28\1938 (Monday)
I worked plowing the West end of the big lot on the hill,{?}
which was heavy turf,{?} where I am to plant potatoes.{?}
03\29\1938 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools, and repaired a pair af{of?} shafts for Edgar
Upson,{?} and plowed my garden at the farm.
03\30\1938 (Wednesday)
Rainy and wet all day. This morning I went to the Bank and drew
ten dottars,{dollars?} then came home and sharpened tools and
repaired chains{?} for Ed Scott{?} of Cheshire, then sharpened
more tools, and Ronnie and I went out to the farm and fed the
ox.{?} I bought a pair of pants,{?} and two pairs of
stockings,{?} down East Main St.{st.?}
03\31\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools etc.{?} Mrs Mahler was away this afternoon{?}
and Alice Pierpont staid with Mary.
04\01\1938 (Friday)
I made a tempering tray this morning,{?} and sharpened tools all
the forenoon.{?} Went to the farm this afternoon and finished
plouring/plowing{?} the garden,{?} and plowed{?} the upper garden
by the farn{farm?}.
04\02\1938 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools a'll{all?} the forenoon.{?} Roll Jenner
planted parsley,{?} and beits{beets?}.{?} Ronny{?} and I went to
the farm and cultivated,{?} apple trees, and Rasp berries
{raspberries/rasberries?}.
04\03\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church.{?} Rev Mr Madden
preached.{?}
The weather to day{2 words?} has{?} been very chilly with a
little snow.
04\04\1938 (Monday)
Mrs Mahler did the washing this morning,{?} this gave me time to
make a tool bos for my truck,{?} and finish up the rocking
chair{?} that Mary sits in.
This afternoon Ron and I{?} went to the farm and I{?} harrowed{?}
the ground where I am to plant potatoes.{?}
{new paragraph?}
We also started making a grape arbor.
04\05\1938 (Tuesday)
Very cold day. I worked in the wheel house{1 or 2 words?} and
dug garden{?} this forenoon.{?} Went to Cheshire and got a
bog{bag?} of oats, 4 lbs clover seed,{?} 6 lbs timothy seed.{?}
I had a hard time getting my car started in Cheshire,{?} then I
came home,{?} and could not start my little car,{?} so I worked
in the Wheel house the rest of the day.
04\06\1938 (Wednesday)
Snowed this afternoon. This morning a man came{?} from Bristol
and put a new battery in my Ford{?} truck,{?} so I could start it
up.{?} Crandall{?} came and borrowed my bolt cutters.{?} I then
went to the farm and sowed aats{oats?} and grass seed.
Note in margin of text:
15th
snow
3 1/2" fell {3 1/2"?, hard to read}
04\07\1938 (Thursday)
Mrs Mahler was off this afternoon and Alice Pierpont came and
staid with Mary.
Snow{?} was 3 1/2"{?} deep on the ground this morning.{?}
04\08\1938 (Friday)
Rain and sleet all day. I sharpened tools in the blacksmith shop
most of the time{?} including four picks for Mr Anestacio.
{new paragraph?}
Margaret did not come back last night and I got Fritsa{?} to
dress Mary, and I got the breakfast of{?} boiled eggs etc.{?}
Fritso/Fritsa{?} tended Mary{?} and got the dinner,{?} and
telephoned and had Alice Pierpont come and stay with Mary and get
the supper.{?} Mrs Mahler did not come back{?} because her
nephue{nephew?} {blank space in text} Cordan/Cordon{?} was tried
Wednesday for hitting and killing a Mr Maxwell{?} on Thornaston
Ave{?} some time ago. Judge Inglis{?} sentenced{?} hin{him?} to
six months in New Haven jail.{Is jail lower case?}
04\09\1938 (Saturday)
To day{2 words?} it has rained all day nearly.{?} I worked{?} in
the Wheel House{2 words?} making an electric fan for my forge.
04\10\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Mr Madden preached.
This afternoon Roll Jenner and I{?} went up and saw Charles
Tuttle.{?}
The weather has been clear{?} and very cold.
04\11\1938 (Monday)
This morning I{?} went to Bristol to see about a new generator{?}
for my truck,{?} Could get one for 12.00
{new paragraph?}
I came back and took my car to Dan/Don{?} Hannon{?} and he fixed
me out.
I worked all my spare time on the blower, for my forge.
04\12\1938 (Tuesday)
I worked putting in blow pipes and laying up my forge. Weather
is clear and cool.
04\13\1938 (Wednesday)
I finished laying up my forge,{?} and in the afternoon Charlie
Wilkinsback and I built{?} a grape arbour/arbor{?} at East Farms.
04\14\1938 (Thursday)
To day{2 words?} I sharpened tools and repaired{?} a chain{?} for
Bessie Pierpont. This afternoon I went to the farm and made a
grape arbour.{?} Mrs Mahler was out{?} this afternoon Alice
Pierpont staid with Mary.{?}
04\15\1938 (Friday)
This is Good Friday. I repaired my blacksmith{?} shop and did
odd Jobs{jobs?}.{?} Roll Jenner{?} finshed{finished?} spading{?}
the garde{garden?} {and? Is a word crossed out?} planted
cabbage{?} seed. I set out 375{?} onion sets at the farm{?}
{new paragraph?}
Ther{There?} was a bad fire{?} in the South{south?} Woods this
afternoon. The firemen{?} put out some{?} of it but it
started{?} in another place and they left it burning.{?} It
rained in the eaving{evening?} and put it out, as it did many
other fires.
04\16\1938 (Saturday)
The weather has been cool but clear. I have been putting up an
electric/electrix{?} wire from my house to the Blacksmith shop to
run my fan,{?} and I have sharpened some tools. Mary is very
weak and hardly able to eat{?} her supper.{?}
When I{?} went out to the farm I found{?} that{?} my peas are
up{?} some an inch high.{?}
04\17\1938 (Sunday)
I attended{?} service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached.{?} This was Easter Sunday{sunday?} and
the Church was filled to overflouring/overflowing,{?} and the
woman{?} folks were dressed/dreased{?} out with very old
fashioned hats.{?}
04\18\1938 (Monday)
It has rained most of the day.{?} I finished{?} putting{?} in
the Electric blower in my forge.
04\19\1938 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools most of the day,{?} using the newly rigged{?}
electric fan,{?} at the farm I planted three rows of
spinish{spinach?}.{?}
04\20\1938 (Wednesday)
Roll Jenner{?} Ronny and I went to{?} Falls
Villege/Villige{Village?}{?} and got{?} 500 lbs of Land{?}
lime{?} then we went to Kent and{?} got some seed{?} potatoes and
100 lbs of fertilizer and brought home a pair of scales and a
Wheelbarrow{?} to be repaired.{?} We went up through Wolcott,
and Bristol to Terryville,{?} then to Harrvington{?} then to
Norfolk{?} and Canaan,{?} and down to{?} Falls
Villege{Village?},{?} and got the lime,{?} then we came
through{?} Cornwall by the Houstonic{?} River to Kent,{?} which
we reached at noon.{?} We staid till 3.30 then left{?} and came
home through Warren,{?} Bantam,{?} Morris,{?} Thomaston,{?}
Waterville,{?} Reached home at 5._0{Text difficult to read}
04\21\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools,{?} and went to the farm and plowed al/ol{a?}
little{?} on the bill/hill{?} for corn.
04\22\1938 (Friday)
I sharpened tools and made 2 long 3/4" bolts for Chas Urban.{?}
Then I went{?} to the farm and plowed a spell.
This morning I went up the Watertown Road and got my{?}
Drivers{Driver's?} Lisence{License?} for 1938-9.{?} Paid 3.00
04\23\1938 (Saturday)
I plowed for corn and harrowed my potatoe{?} ground and bushed{?}
both pieces,{?} Charles{?} Wilkinsback{?} helped.
04\24\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church{?} Rev Mr Madden,{?}
This afternoon I went to Woodtick{?} and saw Charles S
Tuttle.{?}
04\25\1938 (Monday)
I furrowed out for potatoes and corn.
04\26\1938 (Tuesday)
Planted{?} 16 rows of potatoes,{?} Chas Wilkinsback{?} helped
after{?} school.
04\27\1938 (Wednesday)
I went to town this morning.{?} This afternoon I planted
patatoes/potatoes{?}.{?}
04\28\1938 (Thursday)
I worked about home,{?} and finished planting
patatoes/potatoes{?} at the farm.{?}
04\29\1938 (Friday)
I worked at the blacksmith shop,{?} and at odd jobs{Jobs?}.{?}
In the afternoon I and Ron went to spindle hill and{?} saw
Marions{?} New House.{?} I also saw Mr Person about{?} selling
seed patatoes{potatoes?}.{?}
04\30\1938 (Saturday)
Clowdy{Cloudy?} and wet,{?} some rain.{?} I worked sharpening
tools.{?}
{new paragraph?}
This afternoon I went to the farm and worked in the garden
there,{?} spread 100 lbs of lime,{?} and put poison on the
spinich{spinach?}.{?}
05\01\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service{?} at the Mill Plain Union Church{?} Rev Mr
Madden Preached.{?} This afternoon I visited cousin{?} Berkley
Frisbes/Frisbie{?} at Woodtick.
05\02\1938 (Monday)
This morning I picked out four bushels of potatoes for seed and
after dinner I went to Bristol with my truck to Redferns{?} and
had my brakis/brakes{?} adjusted,{?} and anti rattlers put on the
hood,{?} and paid them 7.00 for a new battery and the old one,{?}
and .40 cts for the rubber anti rattlers,{?} then I brought the
potatoes{?} to Mrs person on Spindle{spindle?} hill
{punctuation?} and left them, she did not pay.
05\03\1938 (Tuesday)
Charles Wilkensback helped me to day.{?} We did odd jobs about
home, and painted Fritsa's Varands/Varanda{Veranda?} and
slairs{stairs?}.{?}
05\04\1938 (Wednesday)
I did odd jobs about home and sharpened tools,{?} Charles
Wilkensback/Wilkinsback{?} and I took a load of hen{?} manure{?}
out to the farm{?} and spread it where we are to plant corn and I
bushed{?} the potatoes, etc.
05\05\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon.{?} This afternoon{?} I took
three bushels of potatoes{?} to Mr Petersons in Wolcott.{?}
{new paragraph?}
Then we went to Marion{?} and got a bag of fertilizer,{?} and a
pound of bens,{?} then came to the farm and tied up the grape
vines and cut wood,{?} then to{?} the A.V P.{?} store
apposite/opposite{?} Beecher ave,{?} and got groceries
andfish.{?} Chas Wilkensback{?} helped me{?} to day{2 words?}.
Mrs Mahler had the afternoon off,{?} and Alice Pierpont{?} came
and staid with Mary.
05\06\1938 (Friday)
Charles Wilkensback{?} helped me to day. He threaded{?} bolts{?}
and we repaired Charles Urbans{?} lifterr/lifter{?}.{?}
This afternoon{?} we haed{had?} Rasp berries{Raspberries?} at the
farm{?} till it rained.{?}
05\07\1938 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools till noon.{?} C Wilkinsback{?} pained{?} the
roof over the bay window, and the.{?} Grape arbors{?} and
rail.{?} at the North East door. This aflernoon{afternoon?},{?}
we went to the farm and finished hoeing the raspberries{1 word?}
and planted.{?}
05\08\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service{?} at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached.{?}
To day{2 words?} is Mothers Day.{?} At noon Ray called and left
a{?} box of candy. A little{?} later Ruth came from
Storrs{storrs?},{?} and Peggy with her.{?} Soon{soon?} after
Frank and his family came from Kent,{?} and Margaret,{?}
cam/com{?} from New Haven,{?} and Jean and Miss Hough called.
05\09\1938 (Monday)
I sharpened tools and worked at the farm.
05\10\1938 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools and was at the farm{?}
This evening{?} I went to East Farms{?} and gave instructions in
drumming{?} to a large class{?}
05\11\1938 (Wednesday)
I went to town and did several errands,{?} and had my hair
cut,{?} came home and went to the farm and got the ground ready
to plant corn.
05\12\1938 (Thursday)
It snowed this forenoon,{?} and the weather was wet{?} and cold.
In the forenoon I repaired{?} chains{chairs?} and sharpened
Grubs{?} and picks for the Calvary and St Josephs Cemeteries,{?}
and,{?} did other odd jobs.{?} In the afternoon,{?} Ronny and I
loaded{?} a lot of hen manure into the truck and took it to the
farm{?} and put it in furrows{?} plowed for{?} corn in the lot
west of the shed{?} on the hill and covered it up.
Mrs Mahler had the afternoon off,{?} and Alice Pierpont came and
staid with Mary.
05\13\1938 (Friday)
Cold this morning{?} and a heavy frost.{?} I sharpened tools
till noon.{?} After dinner{?} went to the farm{?} and planted
corn,{?} all the field corn.
Lent Edward Wilson a set of Bass Drum notes{?} I left them at
his house.
05\14\1938 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon.{?} In the afternoon{?} went to
the farm{?} and with Chas Wilkensback/Wilkinsback{?} put wood
ashes about the appletrees on the hill,{?} and I{?} plowed out{?}
two{?} roes{rows?} of them.
Rained this evening.
The Hansons{?} have moved into my room at the head of the stairs.
Note in margin of text:
Hansons
05\15\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church{?}
Rev Mr Madding{Madden?} preached.{?} Attendance small on account
of the bad cold storm. Mrs Mahler away this P.M. Alice came{?}
Note in margin of text:
Tony's Meter{?}
reading{?}
06588
05\16\1938 (Monday)
I mowed some grass about the house, then went to the farm{?} and
hoed in the garden and plowed about the appletrees on the hill,
and brought hom a load of cut wood.{?}
Roll Jenner{?} told this morning that his neace{neice?} had{?}
been killed in an auto accident in Georgia{,?} and her son had
been seriously injured.{?} That they are going to bring the body
to Woodbury for burial.
05\17\1938 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Spencer{spcner?} Grain Co{?} and
bought 12 little Rhode Island{?} Red chickens for 12 cts{?}
each,{?} then I sharpened tools till,{?} noon.{?} Then I went
out to the farm, and took Anthony Ciarlos{?} bill of $50.00 to
Morton Pierpont for lettering Hattie Pierponts monument and
setting Foot stone{2 words?} in East Farms Cemetery. He gave me
a check which I later gave to Ciarlo.{?}
This evening I attended the meeting of the Mattatuck{?} Drum
Band,{?} and gave instructions to a large class
Note in margin of text:
____________{word difficult to read}
nt. in{?}
E Farms{?}
Cemetery
05\18\1938 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools and and {written twice} did odd jobs. In the
afternoon I went to the farm{?} and turned{?} the hay over and
planted garden seed and cultival__{cultivated?} the upper garden,
etc.
05\19\1938 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools{?} and did other work,{?} and went to the City
hall{caps?} and paid my taxes{?} i.e.{?} the first half of{?}
them $104.55. This afternoon I{?} went to the farm and got in a
small load of hay and cuttivaled{cultivated?} the lower half of
the lower garden.
Mrs Mahler had{?} the afternoon off, and Alice Pierpont{?} came
and staid with Mary,{?} who is very weak.{?}
To dy {To day?} it was given out that the Grand Jury that has
been in session for the past 11 weeks{?} investigating the
financial affairs of the Waterbury City Government,{?} Holds{?}
27 responsible.{. or ,?} and Bench warrants have been issued for
the{?} accused
05\20\1938 (Friday)
Rained all day.{?} I sharpened{?} tools all day.{?}
05\21\1938 (Saturday)
Frank came this morning at about 8.30 from the Old Fellows
home{?} at Groton.
I sharpened tools all the forenoon, and went to the farm{?} this
afternoon{?} and Charles Wilkensback{?} helped me hoe the Rasp
berries{Raspberries?} and he got the ground ready to plant corn
in the upper garden and I mowed{?} all round both{?} gardens.
05\22\1938 (Sunday)
I attended service at the{?} Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr{?} Madden preached.{?} Frank went with me{?}
Margaret Mahler had the afternoon off and Alice Pierpont came and
staid with Mary.
05\23\1938 (Monday)
After doing the chores this morning Frank and I Went to
Simsbury,{?} where he visited old friends
{new paragraph?}
We went up through Wolcott to Bristol then to Plainville{?} where
we had a fine visit with Mr and Mrs Anderews{?} on Canal
St.{st.?} Then we went up through Unionville to West
Simsbury,{?} and visited Mrs Leynch{Lynch?} and Mr Warner,{?} and
at his daughters place,{?} and at Wm Flemigs,{?} and at the West
Simsbury{?} store,{?} then we came to Wheataug/Wheatoug{?} and
through Farmington,{?} where we stoped at four o'clock and had
dinner{?} and then home.
05\24\1938 (Tuesday)
Rained off and on all day. I made a large trypod{tripod?} for
Tony to set up a large Monument.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Mattatuck Drum Band
and gave instructions.
05\25\{1938}
To day{2 words?} I took{?} Frank to the Old Fellows Home in
Groton. Roll Jenner went with us. We went
by way of Cheshire,{?} Meriden,{?} Middletown,{?} where
we saw the high new{?} bridge that they are building,{?}
then on through Portland,{?} and Colchister{Colchester?},{?} Norwich,{?}
and down the East side of the river to Groton{?} 74 miles.{?}
When we came home, we crossed the river{?} and
through New London to Colchester, and home by
the same route{?} as{?} we went, except we came{?}
direct in the Meriden Rd.{?}
05\26\{1938} (Thursday)
I made drills,{?} filed{?} a saw and sharpened a pair of hand shears{?}
and a lawn mower{?} this forenoon. This afternoon I went{?} to
the farm{?} and run the weeder over part of my potatoes and
corn. Worked in the rain.
05\27\{1938} (Friday)
I sharpened tool {tools?} all the forenoon. This afternoon{?} I went
to the farm{?} and ran the weeder over the potaes{potatoes?},{?} and
Charles Wilkensback planted sweet corn.
05\28\{1938} (Saturday)
I went to New Haven{?} to day{2 words?} and saw the big
parade.{?} Went with the Mattatuck{?} Drum Band{?} in
a large Bus. I did not march, but stood at the
Corner of{at?} Dwight and Chapel Sts{sts?} and saw it
pass by which took two hours.
05\29\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr
Medden preached.{?}
Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
05\30\{1938} (Monday)
Decoration day,{?} I worked all day cullivating/cultivating{?} my weedy{?}
potatoes.
05\31\{1938} (Tuesday)
I worked hard and hoed my potatoes,{?} to day.{2 words?}
06\01\{1938} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools{?} all the forenoon{?} and went to the
farm,{?} and hoed the{?} garden North of the barn,{?} and
planted in the big garden,{?} beats{beets?}, parsnips and beans,{?}
etc.
06\02\{1938} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon,{?} and went to the
farn{farm?}{?} and planted garden etc{?} this afternoon.
Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary this
afternoon as Margaret was out.{?}
06\03\{1938} (Friday)
I sharpened tools,{?} and took{?} out to the farm{?} the chicken
houses,{?} that Will Service{service?} gave me. I planted over
the missing corn in the shed lot.
06\04\{1938} (Saturday)
I sharpened{?} tools{?} and went to the farm{?} to plow out
my potatoes and corn,{?} but befor{before?} I had done{?} much
it began{?} to rain and I had to stop.
06\05\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church.{?} Rev Mr
Madden preached.{?}
Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
I went to Nayaatuck{?} and saw Freemont Hoadley.{?}
Margaret Northrop came and took a load of her goods
from the barn in my truck,{?} to her new house on
Spindle Hill in Wolcott.{?}
06\06\{1938} (Monday)
I went to the farm and mowed{?} some{?} and
plowed{?} out corn{?} and potatoes,{?} all day,{?} got
dinner at Atkins,{?}
06\07\{1938} (Tuesday)
I sharpened{ink blot, word hard to red} tools{?} this forenoon,{?}
This afternoon I took
a Bass drum up to Mr Lynch{?} of Woodtick{?} and a small
load of furniture{?} to Margaret{?} at Spindle Hill.{?}
Then went to East farms{caps?}{?} and plowed out my
potatoes{ink blot, hard to read} and corn,{?} Chas Wilkinsback{?} howed.{?}
06\08\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning{?} I took{?} the blower apart,{?} and took
it down to Dan/Don{?} Hannans{?} and,{?} We got it so it
would run, then I mowed sum{some?}{?} and went out to the
farm{?} and hoed potatoes and corn,{?} After school
was out Charlie{?} Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?}{?} came and helped me.
This evenings{?} American stated that Mr
Benjamin F/L{?} Howland{?} has been missing from
his home in South{south?} Britain since last Monday,{?}
and a large party of State{state?} poliece{police?}{?} and citizens
were searching Flag swamp{?} for him.
For the past 50 years{?} I have worked with Mr Houland{Howland?}
in searching the public records.
06\09\{1938} (Thursday)
Sharpened{sharpened?} tools this forenoon,{?} and hoed potatoes
and corn, after school Charlie Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} helped me
and we finished the upper lot.
They found Mr Howland{?} at the foot of an enbankment{embankment?}
in Flag swamp last{is word crossed out?} night,{?} after he
had been out two nights and the greater{?} part of
two days,{?} and in rain both nights.
06\10\{1938} (Friday)
I sharpened tools,{?} and took{?} a small load of hay to the farm{?}
and planted corn,{?} where it had missed.{?}
06\11\{1938} (Saturday) {Is 11 crossed out?}
Rained all day.{?} I sharpened tools all day.
06\12\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church,{?} Childrens{?}
day,{?} a large conregation{congregation?}.{?} Three Minister's
{Ministers?}.{?}
06\13\{1938} (Monday)
I worked at the farm all day,{?} Mowed{?} the roadside{?}
by the watering{?} trough,{?} and up the driveway,{?}
and hoed all of the garden,{?} Charlie Wilkinsback{?}
a mess of peas.{?}
06\14\{1938} (Tuesday)
I did several off jobs{Jobs?}{?} about home, and{?} sharpened
some tools,{?} my electric blower has played out and.{?}
I had{?} to blow my fire by hand.{?}
This afternoon{?} I took the last of Margarets{?} goods
up to spindle{lower case?} Hill,{?} I then went to the farm{?} and
put arsnate{?} of lead on the beans and other vegtables{vegetables?}.{?}
06\15\{1938} (Wednesday)
I did odd jobs{Jobs?} about home and mowed down grass North
of the Garden. At the farm I raked up the hay,{?} and
Charlie and I loaded it on the truck{?} and took it up
to the barn.
06\16\{1938} (Thursday)
Alice Pierpont staid with Mary this afternoon
while Mrs Mahler was out. Two lades{?} from the
Waahams Relief Corps{?} came{?} to see Mary.
I mowed about the home lot this forenoon.{?}
{new paragraph?}
After Alice came,{?} I took half a bushel of potatoes
and the same amount of{?} spinich{spinach?} wp/up{?} to Marion
in Wolcott.{?} I then went to East Farms and mowed
about the Raspberries,{1 word?} and worked at hay.
06\17\{1938} (Friday)
This afternoon I cultivated my corn in the shed lot,{?}
and got in a small load of hay.
06\18\{1938} (Saturday)
I did off jobs{Jobs?}{?} and at the farm cullivated/cultivated{?} the corn
again,{?} and C Wilkensback/Wilkinsback{?} and I hoed it
Rain this morning,{?} but the day has been very hot.{?}
06\19\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service {ink blot} at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached.{?}
This afternoon{?} Frank and family came from Kent
I did not see them{?} as I went up to Woodtick{?} to see{?} Charles{?}
Tuttle.{?} Alice Pierpont was here when they came.
06\20\{1938} {Monday}
I did writing this morning{?} and{?} odd jobs{Jobs?} about home
this afternoon{?} at the farm{?} I{?} worked in the garden
06\21\{1938} (Tuesday)
I set a beating head in one of the new snare drums{?}
that I am making,{?} this morning,{?} and then
sharpened a lot of tools,{?} then wen{went?} to the farn{farm?} and
weeded out the spinich{spinach?}{?} and hoed{?} part of the garden
Weather was very hot.{?}
06\22\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning{?} I went down town and did a lot
of errands.{?} I{?} set a drum head and {ink blot} did odd
jobs{Jobs?} about home{?} then I went to the farm{?} and
got the watering trough up in the lot{?} running and
weaded{weeded?} Parsnips till night.
Alice Pierpont staid with Mary as Mrs Mailor{Mahler?}{?} was
out this afternoon.
06\23\{1938} (Thursday)
I went to town this forenoon{?} and sent a P.O.
Money Order{?} for 25.00 to the{?} Rosewater{1 word?} Electric
Company{company?}{?} of Cleveland Ohio for an Electric{?} Fan
to blow my fire with. I went to the store of
Joseph Hilton{?} & Sons{sons?} at the Cor/Car{Corner?} of Bank and Grand
Streets{street?} and got a pair of gray pants that I ordered
yesterday,{?} I set a drum head,{?} this afternoon I
went to the farm and pulled weeds,{?} in the garden
Dick had my truck this evening as he was
surveying building lots for Bessie Pierpont
on{?} the Todd{?} Road.
06\24\{1938} (Friday)
This morning I sharpened tools etc,{?} Went to the farm
via Woodtick{?} and weeded the garden,{?} Charles W.{?}
helped.{?} Weather very hot.
06\25\{1938} (Saturday)
I did set one drum head and sharpened tools.{?}
Went to the farm{?} and put arsnite of lead on{?} the
potatoes and plowed them out and Charles Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?}
hoed some.
06\26\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended{?} service at the Mill Plain Church.{?} Rev
Matthew Madding{Madden?} preached. A large body{?} of
the members of the masonic order attended.{?}
This afternoon I went up to Woodtick and saw
Mr Bergin and Chas Tuttle{?}.
06\27\{1938} (Monday)
Rained all day. This morning I went to City
Hall and handed in my tax list,{?} then I went
to Chatfield and Chatfield{?} and ordered 10 pieces
of 1/2" refnforce{reinforce?} steel for posts,{?} etc
06\28\{1938} (Tuesday)
I mowed{?} some this morning in the lot near the Wheel
house,{2 words?} and sharpened tools. Went to Cheshire and got thr__{?}
bags of feed. Rained all day.
06\29\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning I{?} sharpened tools,{?} C. W{?} cleaned outside
the fence.{?} Tis{This?} afternoon I went to Woodtick and saw
Chas Tuttle. The{?} to the farm and plowed potapoes/potatoes{?}.{?}
Theis{This?} evening I turned out with the Mattatuck{?}
Drum Band, for the opening of the new play ground{2 words?}
on Homestead Avenue.
06\30\{1938} (Thursday)
Sharpened{sharpened?} tools this forenoon,{?} C.W.{?} cleaned up the
grass etc North of the gate by the walk. We took{?} a load{?}
of hay out to the farm,{?} and then worked{?} at the
Weeds in the potatoes.
07\01\1938 {Friday}
I with Chas Wilkinsback hoed in garden, and
Potatoes and Corn.{?} all day.
The new electric blower{?} came to day{2 words?} from
Cleveland.
07\02\{1938} (Saturday)
Chas Wilkensback/Wilkinsback{?} and I connecled{connected?} up the new
fan.{?} Then we repaired drums
07\03\{1938} (Sunday)
I did no go into church as the hour was changed 1/2
ahead, and I was late. Ruth and family from{?}
Stoors{Storrs?} called. We had a nice visit. After they{?}
went to Danbury{?} where they intend to spend the{?}
4th. I went to Woodtick and saw Charles Tuttle on/an?
Select man Bergin.
07\04\1938 (Monday)
This has not seemed like Indipendance{Independence?} Day{.?} This
morning{?} there was no noise,{?} in the evening{?} We
heard a few fire crackers.{?} In the good old times
We used to hear the sunrise cannons in every
direction,{?} and in the evening,{?} guns and fire
works of every discriplion/discription{description?}.
I sharpened tools{?} a while{?} this morning,{?} and then
went to the farn{farm?} and plowed out the corn in the
shed lot.
07\05{1938} (Tuesday)
Nice weathir/weather{?} rather cool,{?} Yesterday was the coldest{Coldest?}
fourth of{?} July I ever knew.{?} I needed a jacket{Jacket?} on all day
to keep warm,{?} although I was plowing.
To day{2 words?} Charles Wilkinsback and I mowed the East
Farms Cemetery and aleaned it.
This evening they came after me and took me{?}
out to East Farms to instruct the Mattatuck{?}
Drum Band in the art of drumming{?} etc.
07\06\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning{?} I went to the Bank and paid Mr
Roberts{?} of the American Historical Society{?} of{?}
New York $125.00 for a{?} copper plate Portrait{?} of myself.{?}
Chas Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?}{?} and myself mowed the lower
end{?} of my lot,{?} then we went to the farm{?} and
put Arsnate of lead on the potatoes,{?} and picked
berries etc.
07\07{1938} (Thursday)
To day{2 words?} I sharpened tools the greater part of the
time.{?} Chas Wilkensback{?} came at eleven o'clock,{?}
and cliped the front yard,{?} and opened out the
hay in the lower{?} part of the yard,{?} and cleaned{?}
the chicken coop,{?} then he mortored it up, etc.
Mary had a poor spel{spell?} this afternoon, Alice Pierpont
was with her. Fritsa came down and helped and we
got her in. The weather has been nice to day.{?}
07\08\{1938} (Friday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon. Chas Wilkensback{?}
mowed{?} East{?} of the Chicken coop. We took a good
load of hay out to the farm.
Warm day.
07\09\{1938} (Saturday)
C. W.{?} and I{?} sprouted potatoes{?} this morning{?} and
gat/got{?} Franks things{?} up in the barn,{?} then went to
the farm {is comma in text?} and put the mowing nachine{machine?}
togather{together?},{?} and picked
berries and peas.
07\10\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.{?} Rev
Mr Madden preached.
Alice Pierpont came and staid with Mary this
afternoon. I went up and saw Chas Tuttle.
07\11\{1938} (Monday)
Worked at the farm{?} all day haying C. Wilkinsback{?} helped
07\12\{1938} (Tuesday)
Charlie{?} Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} and I worked in the garden at the
farm cleaning ou the peas and radishes etc and hoeing,{?}
We set out 310 Cabbage plants.
07\13\{1938} (Wednesday)
I sharpened{?} tools this forenoon,{?} and repaired chains
for the St Josephs Cemetery.{?} Went to the farm in the
afternoon and Charlie{?} and I got into the barn{?} a{?}
large load of hay.{?} We did not unload it.
This evening I attended a meeting of the East
Farms Cemetery Association that was held in
Ralph Pierponts hous{house?} apposite/opposite{?} the iron water
trough at East Farms. There were present M. E.
Pierpont,{?} Harald{Harold?} Pierpont,{?} Howard Neal and
myself.
07\14\{1938} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools all day. Alice Pierpont did{?}
not come to take the place{?} of Margaret this
afternoon{?} as she fell when the grape arbor borke/barke{broke?}
doe{down?}{?} on which she and her father was standing
painting their house,{?} and they think broke
her leg at the ancle{ankle?}.
Fritsa looked after Mary,{?} and got supper
for us,{?} and put Mary to bed.
07\15\{1938} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon.{?} Charles Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?}
came and made a shelf{?} for the cellar,{?}
and we went to the farm and picked six
qts{?} of rasp berries{two words?},{?} this with the two quarts{?} which
we picked{?} this morning{?} made 8 qts picked to
day.
This evening Roll Jenner and I went{wint?} to
Hitchcocks{?} lake{?} and heard a concert given by
The Wolcott{?} coronet{?} Band.{?} The first concert
they have given.{?} They numbered about twenty.
07\16\{1938} (Saturday)
I sharpened tools all day.
07\17\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev Madden
I staid with Mary this afternook/afternoon{?}.
07\18\{1938} (Monday)
Many showers to day{two words?}. I sharpened tools till the
middle of the afternoon.{?} Chas,{?} picked 4 1/2 qts of Rasp
berries{2 words?} this forenoon then came over here,{?} and this
afternoon we went to the farm{?} and unloaded a
load of hay,{?} and then put up the roof{?} of a small
shed at the west{?} end of the barn.
They took Alice Pierpont to the haspital/hospital{?} to have{?}
her ancle{ankle?} set and put in a plaster cast.
07\19\{1938} (Tuesday)
Rained all day,{?} and all night last night,{?} washing
gardens, roads etc very bed.{?} I sharpened tools this
forenoon.{?} Went to the farm{?} in the afternoon stoping
at Mr Herman Manuels{?},{?} to see if I could get Bettie{?}
to stay with Mary{?} Thursday afternoon,{?} But she
has gone to Mr Sills{?} on Cook St{st} in Prospect to care
for{?} children for the week.
I hoed and weeded the parnips, till it began to
rain hard.{?} then Ronny and I ran for the barn.
07\20\{1938} (Wednesday)
Rained all the forenoon. I worked{?} in the Wheelhouse{1 word?}
This afternoon{?} I went to the farm and hoed the Cabbage/Cabbages{?}
and set out the missing ones,{?} and mowed some,{?} and
picked berries,{?} etc.
07\21\{1938} (Thursday)
Rained{?} most of the time This morning S. W. and I picked five{?}
qts berries. Sharpened{sharpened?} tools this P.M. I took Care of Mary P.M.
07\22\{1938} (Friday)
Rained all day.{?} I sharpened tools, all day
{new paragraph?}
Yesterday,{?} Mayer?Mayes Hayes{?} and 24{4?} others who are
charged with Conspiricy{Conspiracy?} to defraud the tax payers
of Waterbury{?} of over a million dollars,{?} were brought
before the Superior{superior?} Court to plead.{?} All pleaded{?} not
gilty{guilty?} except one.
07\23\{1938} (Saturday)
Rained nearly all day,{?} lots of water everwhere{everywhere?} streams
are high. I worked in the sheel house{2 words?} repairing {word hard
to read} scales etc.{?}
07\24\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church{?} Rev
Mr Madden,{, or .?} I staid with Mary this afternoon,{?}
{new paragraph?}
Frank and Elsie,{?} called with three of their
children,{?} Mary seemed a little brighter to day{2 words?}
may be{?} because it has not rained.
Leina/Leena{?} and Ferris Tarkington{?} called this evening.
07\25\{1938} (Monday)
Fair day with but little rain.{. or ,?} after thirteen
days of rain,{?} I sharpened tools all day, Charles{?}
Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} cut two big dead lims{limbs?} from the large
black oak tree in the front yard and cut them
into stove wood,{?} he mowed the front lawn and the
chicken yard,{?} cleaned the eve{?} troughts{troughs?} etc.
07\26\{1938} (Tuesday)
No rain to day.{?} though damp and muggy. I went to
the farm and charles{Charles?} and I mowed about the spring{?}
near the road, and mowed the oats on the hill,{?}
and some in the barn lot near the upper spring.
This evening Laurence Pierpont came and
tooke me out to Mort{Mart?} Pierponts hall where we gave
instructions to the Mattaluck{Mattatuck?} Drum Band.
07\27\{1938} (Wednesday)
This forenoon{?} I sharpened tools.{?} In the afternoon Charles{?}
Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} and I turned over the hay by the lower{?}
spring,{?} then we raked{?} up the oats and loaded them on
the truck{?} and brought them home and stored thim/them{?}
in the shed,{?} We then sent back and raked up the
hay{?} and loaded it on the cart and backed it in
to the barn. The weather has been very hat/{hot?}.
{Is there text in margin or mark in text?}
07\28\{1938} (Thursday)
Fair day.{?} We had a heavy thunder shower in the
night. I sharpened tools, and repaired scales{?} etc
C. Wilkensback/Wilkinsback{?} helped this forenoon.{?} I and Fritsa
cared for Mary,{?} as Margaret Mahler was away
aftirnoon/afternoon{?}.
07\29\{1938} (Friday)
Worked at mowing by hand and with the machine{?}
and unloading a load of hay,{?} and Chas Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?}
and I raked{?} the hay that we mowed into winroes{?}
This has been the hardest work I ever done at hay
on accouth{account?} of the heat{?} and my{?} age{?} has some to
do with it. When I reached home I found that
Mary had fell,{?} on account of her increased
weekness{weakness?}, but fortunately{?} she did not hurt{?}
herself. I had to help Mrs Mahler{?} get her onto{?}
the bed.
07\30\{1938} (Saturday)
At the farm{?} C Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} with Dick Pierpont{?} to
help,{comma? text hard to read} gat/got{?} in two loads of hay{?}
that we mowed
yesterday,{?} and we repaired{?} the fence at the
top of the hill{?} above the spring. In the forenoon{?}
I sharpened tools,{?} and Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} dried{?} the hay.{?}
Mr Robbins{?} called{?} at the farm{?} and told
me that they had a fine story written about
me{?} that covered eleven pages to go into
the "Story{story?} of Connecticut".{."? ,"?} to be published
this fall.
07\31\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden,{?}
Sylvia Pierpont{?} staid with Mary this afternoon.
08\01\{1938} (Monday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon. This afternoon Dick
Pierpont and I went to West Cheshire and got a bag of
oats, and a lot of groceries,{?} Then we came to the farm
and picked some rasp berries,{?} and then mowed the
grall{grass?} in the North East corner of the Barn lot,{?}
{new paragraph?}
then we picked some apples and gathered some ionions.{?}
cucumbers,.{?} and beets, and washed them, then we
came home, and I repaired Paul Millers{Millera?} snare
drum
08\02\{1938} (Tuesday)
One of the hottest days of the season, I sharpened
tools this forenoon{?} and the heat of the fire made
sweat{?} all my clothes through. This afternoon I
went to the farm{?} to mow,{?} and did only half
what I wanted to on account{?} of the heat{?}.{?}
This evening I gave instructions to the Mattatuck{ink blot, hard
to read}
Drum Band.
08\03\{1938} (Wednesday)
One of the hottest daysI ever knew. I worked at the
farm mowing{?} this forenoon, and got in two
loads of hay in the afternoon, Dick Pierpont
helped me, we had to stop several times on
account of the heat,{?} Many of the factories
closed{?} down, as the heat was to intense to
work.
08\04\{1938} (Thursday)
Another{another?} hot day.{?} I sharpened tools this forenoon{?}.{?} and
mowed{?} and did odd jobs about home{?}
Sylvia Pierpont staid with Mary this afternoon.
{new paragraph?}
Margaret Northrop called yesterday and said
that she{?} has sold her house on Beecher Avenue,{?} and
is now staying in her new house on Spindle Hill.
08\05\{1938} (Friday)
Hotter still. Cidk Pierpont and I were at the farm
doing odd jobs{Jobs?}. We dug{?} our first potatoes yesterday.
08\06\{1938} (Saturday)
This morning{?} I put on my Continental uniform
and at 10.15 Al Crandall{?} and George Baldwin.{?} and
Charles{?} Crandall{?} called and we went out to
____{Mort?} Pierponts place where the Mattatuck Drum
Band assembled and{?} at eleven, we for the most part
loaded into a Bus,{?} and went to Middletown{?} to
play at the opening of the new bridge across the
Connecticut River. There were 24 in the Band and
they played for the Putnam Phalanx of Hartford.
The parade was the largest ever in Middletown
15.000{?} in line,{?} including much fire apperatus{apparatus?} and
many floats. The line of march was up through
Main St and over the old bridge and up Main
St in Portland{?} one and one half milie/miles{?} and back {ink blot}
over the high new bridge past{?} the Reviewing stand{lower case?}
in the center of the bridge and back down Main St.
{new paragraph?}
It rained during the entire march. I roade on the
Fire truck of the Terryville{?} Fire Department.
08\07\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
{new paragraph?}
Rev Mrs Girtrude {Gertrude?} Coe{?} of Wolcott preached.
Sylvia Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
{new paragraph?}
I went to Cheshire to see Mr Harry Jerolds{?} about
Rgg{?} Hollow,{?} in Praspect/Prospect{?}.
08\08\{1938} (Monday)
To day{2 words?} I worked at the farm{?} mowing the archard/orchard{?}
on the hill. Charlie Wilkinsback and Dick Pierpont
helped me. We had a hard thunder shower{?} this
evening.
08\09\{1938} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, and after dinner
went to the farm and We raked up the hay{?}
and got in one large load.
Ruth called to day{2 words?} she was on her way from
Storrs{?} to Danbury. Mary had a bad turn for the
worse,{?} to day{2 words?}.
08\10\{1938} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, C.{?} Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?}. Dick
Pierpont{?}
and I unloaded a load of hay and got in a load. Then
we picked up{?} over four bushels of apples. Nancy Chapin{?}
and a McKenna{?} boy and girl picked eight quarts of
blackburries{blackberries? 1 word?}. I had two quarts.
08\11\{1938} (Thursday)
This morning it rained hard all the forenoon.
I worked at the wheelhouse{1 word?} repairing and painting{?}
a pair of scales{?} for Frank P. Miller{?}. At noon{?} it
stoped raining.{?} and I called Charles Wilkinsback
over and we got/jot{?} a heavy pair of scales from
under the shead{shed?}{?} ond{and?} put them into the drum
room{?} where I will paint them. We then{?} went to
the farm,{?} and hitched Buster{?} into the cart/Cart{?} and
went up on the hill,{?} and then hitched Buster
into the mowing machine and mowed the
East end of the upper lot.
Mrs Mahler{?} had the afternoon aff/off{?} and Sylvia
Pierpont came{?} and staid with Mary.
Charles Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} shot a rabbit{?} at the farm{?}
to day{2 words?} with a .22 rifle,{?} this makes four that he has{?}
shot{?} in a month.
08\12\{1938} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon,{?} Went and took
Charles Tuttles{?} drills to him,{?} then went to the
farm{?} and with the two goys got in a load of hay
and mowed around the edges{?} of the East part af/of{?}
the upper field.
08\13\{1938} (Saturday)
Went to the farm this forenoon,{?} and with Charles
Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?},{?} and Dick Pierpont mowed the shed
meadow,{?} and dried it and got it into the barn.{?}
this finishes my haying.{?} I brought home,{?} corn.{?}
pieplant{1 word?},{?} cucumbers,{?} beets,{?} and carrots.
When I got home I found Mary very low,{?} Margaret{?}
and I got her to bed{?} and called the Doctor,{?} soon Dr {Dr.?}
Barber came, and examined her, said she was very
sick but had a strong heart,{?} and wanter to see her
next week.
08\14\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at Prospect, this forenoon,{?} Rev Russell
J C _mpton{?} of Yale divinity school preached.
Sylvia Pierpont came and staid with Mary.
I wrote a letter to Mr Frank Howard No60 Atwater St
East Haven. Thaedore/Thoedore{?} Kirty/Kirtz{?} called.{?}
08\15\{1938} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. At the farm{?} C Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?}
and Dick Pierpont helped me cut brush{?} and
trim up the whiteburches{whitebirches?}. The weather was very hot.
08\16\{1938} (Tuesday)
Sharpened{sharpened?} tools this forenoon. In the afternoon
The boys and I trimmed out the fence{?} at the
upper end of the Barn lot. Very hot weather.
08\17\{1938} (Wednesday)
I helped Tony set up a big cross of granite this
forenoon. At thi/the{?} farm{?} Dick Pierpont{?} and I
planted some turnips,{?} and set out{?} some cabbage
plants,{?} and picked three qts of black berries,{?}
and a lot of cucumbers and a few tomatoes
08\18\{1938} (Thursday)
To day I made a stop to go on the ways af/of{?}
Charles Urbans{?} oiling/ailing{?} lift.{?} Charles Wilkinsback{?}
helped me. It has rained several times.
08\19\{1938} (Friday)
This morning{?} I went to the bank{?} and gat/got{?} my
pension check cashed.{?} Then went to{?} Sears and Roebucks,
and saw about the refrigator{refrigerator?},{?} and sharpenea/sharpened{?}
tools the most of the time.
08\20\{1938} (Saturday)
This morning I went to the store and got groceries,{?}
and sharpened tools.
I got ready and put my fire badge on.{?} to attend the
Firemens parade in Milford, at 12.05 Edward Garthwait{?}
called, and took me to the Fire House at Hitchcocks{?}
Lake,{?} where we loaded into a large buss{bus?},{?} about
thirty some went in their own cars,{?} There were
about 40 in all,{?} 20 firemen and 20 in the Band
including three woman{?} players. We came in the
Meriden Road{?} and across Silver St then down
through Prospect and Betheny{?} on the new road
and onto the Post road{?} at Allentown,{?} and on to
Milford{?}. The parade formed at 2.00 P.M.{?} I stood near
the Reviewing stand and saw it pass by.{?} there
were more than 79 companies and Bands and Drum
Corps.{?} that made a procession over three miles long.
They marched to Walnut Beach Park where{?} they
disbanded,{?} We left there at eight o'clock and came{?}
home through Naugatuck{?}, and Waterbury{?} center
stoping at the East End Fire house{2 words?} ans {and?} serenaded
the firemen,{?} and then brought me home at eleven,{?}
08\21\{1938} (Sunday) {?}
I attended service at the Wolcott Church.
Rev Mr Dice preached,{?} Mary is very lowe now.{?}
Sylvia Pierpont came and staid this afternoon,{?}
while Margaret was out.
08\22\{1938} (Monday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day. Went to Cheshire
and got a bag of oats,{?} and fifty pounds of hay salt.
08\23\{1938} (Tuesday)
I mowed the grass about the hous/house{text smudged}{?} and did other
odd jobs{Jobs?} this forenoon,{?} At the farm{?} Charles Wilkensback
{Wilkinsback?}
Dick Pierpont and I dug out the drain by the side of
the road from the Water through West,{?} Then we picked
all the dry beans in the garden, etc.
08\24\{1938} (Wednesday)
I worked about home this forenoon,{?} Dick Pierpont
and I mowed the weeds in the chicken yards, and
took a small load of hay to the farm where we{?}
picked{?} berries{?} and dug some potatoes.
08\25\{1938} (Thursday)
I went to the American Legion Home Club{?} on
Holmes Avenue{?} this morning and saw Loverne{Laverne?}
Fox about going to East Haven Saturday,{?} then
came home and worked on my car.{?} Went to the farm{?}
and cut brush. Sylvia Pierpont came and staid
with Mary,{?} this afternoon while Mrs Mahler was
out.
08\26\{1938} (Friday)
Finished painting scales,{?} and did odd jobs. At farm
Dug potatoes,{?} Dick, Chas,{?} and I worked on car.
08\27\{1938} (Saturday)
This morning after a lot of trouble getting my
car started{?} Mr Lovene{Lavene?} Fos and I went to the
home of Mr Frank.H. Howard{?} at 20 Atwater
Street{street?} East Haven.{?} to a meeting, and dinner
of Old Drummers and others, called on
invitation of Mr Howard.
The drummers present were.{?}
I
Julian Palmes{?}, R.T.{?}D. East Hannam, of{?} Arnold Petterson.{?}
Drummed 49 years with Moodus{?} Drum and Fife Corps.{?}
II
Alex. B. Smith,{?} Clintonville Conn. Has drummed
47 years, with Bunnels,{?} Lancrfts{?}, Quimriapics{?}, and
2nd Co Govonore{Governor?} Foot{F'oot?} Guards, Corps.
III
George S. Cook,{?} 869 Quinniapoe{?} Ave New Haven, Conn
Bass drummer, Drummed 46 years with Bunnells{Bunnell's?},
Lancrafts{?}, Quinniapes{?}, and Govonor{Governor?} Foot Guards, Corps{?}
IIII{?}
Mr Walter Barker{?}, Higganum{?} Conn. Has drummed
51 years, with the Chester,{?} and Higganum{?}.{?} Drum Corps{?}
V
Mr Frank H Howard{?}.{?} No 20 Atwater Street East
Haven Conn,{?} Has drummed 50 years,{?} with
Co K. 2nd. Regt. C.N.G.{?} Lancrafts/Lancrofts{?}, Graphaphone{?},
Bunnells{?}, and Old Connecticut,{?} Drum Corps.
VI
Charles .S. Miller.{?} 2271 East Main St Waterbury Conn.
Has drummed 66 years with the Old Waterbury Drum
Corps,{?} and the Wolcott and Mattatuck Drum Bands.
{new paragraph?}
Was Leader of the latter Band from 1881 to 1931. Fifty
years.
VII
Mr Lavane A Fox{?}. 17 Holmes Ave Waterbury, Conn.
Has drummed 53 years with the Eagle Drum
Corps of Plantsville and with the Mattatuck{?} Drum
Band of Waterbury.
08\28\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service in Prospect.
Sylvia Pierpont staid with Mary who is very low. I went
up to see Chas Tuttle, at Woodtick. Ray called while I was
gone.
08\29\{1938} (Monday)
I did odd jobs about home, and with two boys to help
cut brnsh{brush?} at the farm in the afternoon. Nice weather.
08\30\{1938} (Tuesday)
Did blacksmith work this morning. Dick Pierpont
and I cut brush this afternoon.
Mary seems very low. Has not known me at all to day.
08\31\{1938} (Wednesday)
Mary is very low to night, does not seem that she
can live till morning.
I sharpened tools this forenoon, and cut brush at the
farm with Charles Wilkinsback in the afternoon.
After four I went up to Wolcott and saw Margaret
at her new job of keeping Restaurent{Restaurant?} on the State
road, this way of Cedar Lake.
09\01\{1938} (Thursday)
Mary passed this day in bed, hardly able to speak
a loud word, and is wasted away so she is not much
more than a skeliton{skeleton?}.
I did several jobs about home this morning, and
with Charles Wilkinsback and Dick Pierpont cut
brush at the farm in the aflernoon/afternoon{?}.
09\02\{1938} (Friday)
I did blacksmith work this forenoon,{?} and cut
brush at the farm,{?} Had Dick Pierpont, and Charles
Wilkinsback help m{me? ink blot} Mary seems a little better
to day, has spoken several words{?} and seemed to
know me.
09\03\{1938} (Saturday)
Worked at blacksmith{?} work with,{?} Dick Pierpont and
Charles Wilkinsback to help me bend a big pair of
Andirons for Howard Coe, and we had to make
a new smoke pipe for the{?} forge.
09\04\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Mr Madden preached. The congregation was rather
small. Wylvia Pierpont is sick and cannot come and
stay with Mary.{?} So{so?} I have staid with her all the
afternoon.{?} She{she?} is very low.{?} and unable to speak
hardly a word,{?} and utterly helpless, and so thin
and light that Margaret takes her up in her arms
when she wishes to change her.
09\05\{1938} (Monday)
This is Labor Day. I have forged tools all day.
{new paragraph?}
Frank and his family called at noon, and
stayed only a few minutes, they were on their
way to the Garrigus{?} Family Reunion, which is
being held at the home of Mr William Le Roy
Garrigus{?} on the Meriden Road.
Ruth and most of their family had been to
Jacks home in Danbury,{?} and stoped her on
their way home to Storrs{?}, and brought nice flowers
and fruit for Mary.{?} I am afraid Mary will never eat the fruit
09\06\{1938} (Tuesday)
To day Dick Pierpont,{?} Charles Wilkinsback and I
finished up the largest set of Andirons for Howard
Coe that I ever saw.
Mary is some{?} better to day, and has talked some{?}.
09\07\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning Rolland Jenner and I started
at 8.30 for Kent to take two pair of scales over to
Frank we went via Lakewood Waterville,{?} Reynolds{?}
Bridge. The Branch Dams, East Morris, Morris
Lake Side, Ba_tam{ink blot, word hard to read}, Woodville, Warren,
to Kent{?},{?}
where We left the scales, and I called on Ben Pritchard{?}
whom I have not seen since 1868, and we{?} had dinner
with Elsie.{?} Frank left as 12.{?} for Nashua NH{?},{?} and
we left at 1.30 for Falls Villege{Village?} going up through North
Kent, Cornwall Bridge, West Cornwall, to Taff{?} Villege{Village?}
where we bought 400 lbs of Lime for .85{?} then we came
home through Cornwall Hollow, Goshen{?}, Litchfield{?}
East Morris{?}, Watertown, Oakville, Waterville to Mill plain{Plain?}
56 miles.
Mary is very low to night.{?} Mr Madden
the minister called this evening,{?} and prayed
for her.
09\08\{1938} (Thursday)
I have forged tools all day.{?} Mary is very low
{new paragraph?}
Mr Madden called this evening,{?} Sylvia Pierpont
was here this afternoon,{?} Iva called this afternoon.
09\09\{1938} (Friday)
I have forged all day on tools, and made hooks and
put them on steps and made irons and repaired
a set of old Andirons for Mr Howard Coe of the
American Brass Co.
To day Mary was worse the side of her nect and
lips turned black,{?} and we fear she will not live
till morning.
09\10\{1938} (Saturday)
Worked on Andirons and at other odd jobs in the
Wheelhouse, and Roll Jenner and I went to the
farm and got a load of vegtables{vegetables?}. I took two
baskets to Mrs Mahlers sister at #65 Cherry St.{?}
09\11\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached,
Mary is very low,{?} We fear she will not live till
morning.
09\12\{1938} (Monday)
I was at the farm cutting brush nearly all
day. At 11.30 last night Mary made a pecular{peculiar?}
noise{?} in breathing I could feel no pulse,{?} and
thought the end was near,{?} I got dressed and was
about to call Mrs Mahler,{?} when the pulse beat strong.{?}
and to day she has taken some food and milk etc.{?}
and is better.
09\13\{1938} (Tuesday)
I went to the bank and got my pension check cashed.{?}
and on the way home stoped at the First National
store corner of Knoll St and bought some groceries
and then walked home
This aftirnoon/afternoon{?} I went to Cheshire to ges{get?} some
spinich{spinach?}
seed,{?} and then back to the farm, where we picked up
with the boys to help after school, 10 1/2{?} bushels of apples,{?}
I dread this night as Mary is so sick, God only
knows whither{whether?} she will live till morning.
09\14\{1938} (Wednesday)
I did odd jobs about home, till after dinner, when
Ronald and I went to the farm, and Dick Pierpont
helped me and we mowed the weeds on the potatoes.
Dr Barber called after dinner. He said that Mary
couldnt{?} last more than a day or two longer and
was likely{?} to go at any time.
The weather has been nice to day.
I dug out the ditch East of the hen house this morning.
09\15\{1938} (Thursday)
Rained this morning.{?} I worked on drums etc
{new paragraph?}
This afternoon Ronald and I went up to Margaret{Margret}
Northrops place in Wolcott and took up a basket of
apples and a basket of potatoes. Mary breathed
shorter this morning and lay with her eyes closed
and her breathing continued in shorter breaths till
four forty-five, when she made a slight movement
and passed on, at the age of 77 years 11 months and 23
days, at 4.45 in the afternoon. two minutes later
I drove into the yard, having been up to Margarets
Restaurent{Resturant?} in Wolcott.{?} Soon{soon?} I had Fritsa
telephone to Will Gillette, who is to handle the funeral, and
estate. He and Iva came about 5.15 and he called
Dr Barber, who saw about the burial permit, and
then Will called Alderson the undertaker, who
came in about half an hour, and they took
Mary away to their funeral parlors on Holmes
Avenue. Then Will telegraphed to Irving who
is in Wawantosa Wisconsin{?}. Soon after nine Dick
came down and said that Irving and Dot would be
here at ten minutes after ten tomorrow. Will called
up the Somers people and the Drews in Ansonia, and
then Fritsa telephoned all of my family, and before
she came down stairs Raymond was here.
Note in margin of text:
Mary
died
09\16\{1938} (Friday)
A sad day. This morning I drove over to Bunker
Hill to see Iva but she was out, so I came
home and
did other things till two o'clock when Mr Alderson came
and took me down to his funeral home where I met
Will Gillette and we picked out a casket, and arranged
the funeral, which was to cost 345.00 less a dicount{discount?}
of 16 00{"00" in superscript lettering} if paid within thirty days. Then
we went to Will's
home and saw Iva and decided on the shade of cloth,{?}
and I went and bought an{?} suit of clothes at Hiltons
{new paragraph?}
Then we came to the Cemetery{?} to see about the grave
but they had it half dug,{?} We then came home and
had supper. At 6.45 Ray called,{?} and took me and
Dick, himself and wife to the funeral home,{?} where we
staid till nine, and received many Frends{Friends?} and
relations who called to see Mary as she lay in the
casket.
08\17\{1938} (Saturday)
This morning I went and got{?} my clothes at Hiltons cor{?}
of Bank and Grand sts and did other errands. We had dinner
and at 2.25 after the greater part of{?} the family had assembled,
and Mr Alderson came with two cars we went
to Mill Plain Church to Marys funeral, the Church
was well filled with people.{?} Rev Mr Owen and Mr
Madden officiated.{?} We took our last look of{?} Mary and
they closed the lid,{?} and then wheeled her out to the
door where the pall bearers{2 words?} took her{?} and put her in the
hearse and then drove to the cemetery, and placed her
in the grave, just as the service ended it began to
rain,{?} and every one{2 words?} ran for cover.{?} We all returned
home{?} and had refreshments, and a time visiting
after which all except Irving and Dot returned hom
They{?} Irving and Dot{?} staid here.
09\18\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church Rev Mr
Madden officiated.{?} Irving went with me, Dot went to
visit her sister in Marble Dale{?} who came after her with
a{an?} automobile at 10.00.{?} I in the afternoon it rained and
Irving and I staid in all the afternoon, except,{?} Uncle
Will Somers and Aunt Ellen from South Waterbury, and
Amy Russell from Bridgeport, and Roll Jenner
called,{?} After service Irving and I went into the
Cemetery and looked at Marys Grave, it was
covered with beautiful flowers.
09\19\{1938} (Monday)
I sharpened tools the greater par of the day.
Irving took my little car and went to Marble
Dale{?} and got Dot.{?} It rained{?} nearly all the way.{?}
over and back.
Mary has been helpless{?}, and sick for three years
and one half,{?} but we miss her.{?} She has not been
ablt to talk much for three months, when she was
able, she would smile and bow her head in appreciation
and be happy,{?} for all that we did for her
09\20\{1938} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools most of the day,{?} it rained
hard at times.{?} Irving and Dot left this noon for
the Springfield Fair they went with Mort{?} and Jessie{?}.
09\22\{1938} (Thursday)
Had Mary lived she would have been 78 years old to
day. But it was not to be.
Yesterday forenoon Irving Dot and I went up to
Wolcott to Margarets place where we had dinner.
{new paragraph?}
We then got ready and in my little car started
for Storrs{?} to visit Jack and Ruth Brondage{?}. We
left Dorothy{?} at Jessie Pierponts, and then started
out the Meriden Road,{?} as we were going down
Southington mountain{?} it rained some.{?} We had
sprinkles and light rains in the forenoon, and had
been told that it was reported that the Connecticut
River and other streams were high.{?} It continued
to rain harder at spells, and as we were crossing,
the Connecticut River at Middletown on the new
high bridge we saw that the river was very high
and all the low country flooded,{?} and the rain
began falling hard{?} and the wind kept blowing
harder and harder,{?} as we were leaving Portland
on the new four land concrete road where it
paralels{parallels?} the river,{?} the meadows were flooded
clear to the road, and the wind beat the water
so as to make white caps on the waves and it
pounded with such force against the new bank
as to cause it to wash down and let the cable
fence.{?} down and undermind{?} the cement road in
places. The storm increased in violence until
we reached East Hampton,{?} where we were stoped
by the poliece{police?}{?} as the street was blocked by fallen
trees{?} and the wires were down before we reached the
four corners.{?} we proceeded on and at Lake Poetopang/Paetopang{?}
the water was running over the street for a distance
of about eight rods, autos{?} were passing through.{?} so
we tried it, and just reached the East side when
our engine stoped, but after some effots{?} got it
running,{?} and drove out by the side of the street.{?}
after{?} much spitting and barking it ran more
regular, and we went ont, but the storm increased
and soon we encountered many trees felled{?} across
the road, but we managed to get by them all.{?}
at one place a large oak lay across the road and
the wind and storm bent another that stood by
it so that it almost touched our{?} top as we passed
wheather{whether?} it came down{?} or not we never knew as
the storm ws{was?} so wild, with wind, rain, and leaves{?}
that filled the air so we could see but about two
rods ahead. When we reached the top of the hill
this side of Marlborough the force of the wind was
so great that we feared the car would be blown
over, had it not been an open sided car and
the wind blew through, it probably would
When we reached Marlborough four corners the
Polieceman{Policeman?} on{mark above word} duty there told us that
the roads{?}
in all directions except the one that we came on
were blocked{blacked?} with fallen trees,{?} and we could
go no farther. We would have to spend the night
there so we drove over back of{?} an{a?} gas station and
Irving went in.{?} and I sat in the car,{?} I never [saw]
{word written in brackets} such a
storm several large trees in a yard near by were
blown down, and a girage{garage?} had{?} the doors and one
side blown in, and the felt [s]hingles {"s" is in brackets} on the roof of
the large house were first turned up and then
striped{?} off in many places, as were the roof of
many other buildings near by. The people here
could not help us so{?} we drove over to the store on
the West corner, and stoped in an{?} angle formed
by two joined buildings with the storm beating
against the back of the car.{?} Irving went in the
store while I sat in the car, soon another big car
drove up, and the mon/man{?} jumped out and ran into
the store, but scarcely{?} had he left before the storm
hit the car and drove it ahead, but the building{?}
was there to stop it.{?} Soon Irving came and said that
there was a shed on the opposide{opposite?} side of a large barn
that stood on the South West corner. We drover over there
and found the shed, but the open par of it was filled
with Stage scenery,{?} this we moved to another part and
then drove in. At this time the storm was at its
hight{height?} about four o'clock it rocked{?} the huge{?} building.{?}
about four rods South stood a large ofl vacant white
house that was longer than the barn, and many
tiems the wind, though it was raining harder than
I ever saw it before and the water was two inches
deep on the ground, would swoop down and with
great force sweep the earth clearn of water and nearly
knock us down if we stood near the front of the shed.
We found a door that opened into the large barn and found
there a nice bed roon{room?} all{?} furnished with bed bedding
and everything, but the window had{?} been left partly
open and things were damp. Two men one a lawyier{lawyer?}
from New York drove in,{?} and could not get into the
shed so they drove over to the house and found the
back door untocked{unlocked?}, and entered{?}. After the storm had
abated some We went over and found the house fully
furnished with the best of everything. Later we learned
that the caretaker had gone on an errand to another town
and was unable to bet back.{?} We were afraid to stay there
without permission so we went to the stor and enquired/inquired{?}
if any people could keep us,{?} Irving went up the
Hartford road and after interviewing several
places found where we could have supper and
get dry at Mr Elmer E. Halls{?}. Soon we had a fine
supper,{?} The{the?} ministers wife came in and told us that
the steple had been blown from the Church that had
slood{stood?} for nearly 100 years, and that the large window
in the gable end of the lybrary{library?} hdd/had{?} been blown
out and much{?} damage caused by the water, and
a house nearby had been blown from its foundation,{?}
and still the dhimney stood, Mrs Hall said
that she had anly/only{?} one spare bed and a woman
called in the morning whas/whos{whose?} husband could
not come after her on account of the bridg{bridge?} being
whshed{washed?} away,{?} would have to accupy{occupy?} that. It was
decided that Irving nd I go to the bed in the barn
Mr Hall went with us with his lantern to light the way,{?}
over fallen trees and ponds{?} of water. When we reached
there, Irving thought it to{too?} damp for me, and Mr
Hall said I could sleep on their couch, so I returned
with him. There was no lights as all wires were down
save that in the houses, by candles and kerosene
lamps{?} which the people had brought out and cleaned
In the morning Irving came and we had breakfast,
and started for Storrs. Such distruction{destruction?} I never
before heard of as we witnessed before we reached
Hebron{?}. Whole orchards with the trees partly uprooted
and lieing{lying?} flat on the ground. The road was
choaked{choked?} with trees that had been{?} blown across
it but the tops had been cut away so we could get{?}
through by driving out on the side, many barns
were blown down, others the roof were gone many
houses the shingles mostly felt were striped off
wither in part or the whole side, about some places
the great maple shade trees were blown against the
houses causing the roof and sides to be crushed
in, at one place the roof of the{?} barn lay in the
road se{so?} we were barely able to get past. At
Hebron Center there was not a place that escaped
damage, and the same{?} condition exhisted{existed?} till we
reached Columbia. Before reaching the latter place{?}
we came to a party of State men with truck and
tools cutting their way througha bunch of large
maples that lay across the road, and claring the road
for travel,{?} at Columbia a man came in with a large
new sedan which was crushed in by a large tree falling
on it,{?} he excaped injury and drove the car in after getting
the tree off. The destruction was great at Columbia hardly
a big shade tree was left standing barns were blown
down or unroofed and not a house escaped injury.{?}
many were crushed in by big{?} trees falling on them.
the steeple of the Congregational Church was blown down
We have seen four steeples lying on the ground that was
blown from Churches yesterday, beside one [in] Glastenbury{?}
and one in Marlborough, that we did not see.
We were told that we could not get to Wilmantic without
going through Lebinon{Lebanon?},{?} and a man came in who
said that if we got to Wilimantic{?} we could not get to
Storrs as the Fenton River flooded all the roads to
the North. We decided to go to Bolton Notch and there
try. At Andover the steeples were blown off the Churches
and all through this country the damage was great
{new paragraph?}
Hop River{?} was higher than ever before known,{?} but the
new cement road was good all the way. When we
reched Bolton Notch we saw people from Mansfield{?}
Depot{?} they all told that the river there was deep
over the road and there was no way to get to Storrs
We saw a man who had came/come{?} from Berlin
through Hartford,{?} he told that the river there
was up nearly to the road and still rising and
if we were to cross we must hurry and get there.
{new paragraph?}
We started for home, but the distruction/destruction{?} along{?} the
way no one can describe through Manchester, Barns
were down, roofs{?} were off,{?} and hundreds of trees
uprooted, and everything that could be was washed
out. At Silver Lane we counted in one plac{place?} 20 big
tobacco sheds that were down all filled with tobacco.
When we reached the East Hartford road it was filled
with cars, and we could go only a few steps at a time
at Hacanum River{?} the water was nearly a foot deep
for a distance but the road to the bridge was nearly{?}
two feet above the water, on the West side the water
was a foot lower than the street. This side of
Hartford{?} the damage was less{?}, no more washouts
and the trees were not stript{stripped?} of their leaves, but
here and there trees{?} were down, and most of the
corn was flat{?}, much of the fruit and apples were
on the ground.{?} We reached reached{written twice?} M E Pierponts{?}
place
at noon and had dinner there with Jessie and Dor{?}
after which Irving Dot and I came home.
This evening at six o'clock Will Gillette{?} came and
took Irving Dot and I doun/down{?} to a fine Dining place on
the Post road{?} in Franford{?}, where we had the finest
shore{?} dinner I ever ate.{?} In our party were Will an{and?} Iva
Mansfield and wife and Fritsa Ralph Pierpont and
wife, and Irving and Dorothy. We were joined by
Morton E Pierpont and Jessie, Laurence Pierpont{?} and
wife,{?} Bessue{Bessie?} Pirepont{Pierpont?} and Mr and Mrs Frazier and{?}
wife. We all sat at one table.
09\23\{1938} (Friday)
This morning Irving and went to the Court House
and met Will Gillette{?} and we went to the Probate Court
and presented Maries{Mary's?} Will,{?} Jidge Slaven{?} wanted an{?}
invantory{inventory?} of her estate.{?}
We spent the rest of the forenoon cutting up a maple
tree that the wind blew down.
After dinner Irving and Dot got ready and I carrid{carried?}
them to the Rail Road Station and they started for
Wauwatosa Wis in a bus to Stamford{?} where they will
stay over night, and tomorrow go on.
09\24\{1938} (Saturday)
I has{?} Dick Pierpont, and Chas Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} come{?}
over this morning, and we finished cutting up
the trees that were blown down,{?} then we went
to the East Farms Cemetery,{?} and trimmed out some
on a big tree that was blown down.
09\25\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden officiated.
Dick Miller has been appointed Superintendant{Superintendent?} of
the Sunday School, and Robert treasures.
09\26\{1938} (Monday)
I met Will Gillette at the Court House this morning
at 10 o clock{o'clock?} and We went to the Probate Court and
arranged to have Maries{Mary's?} Estate advertised,{?} and heirs{?}
notifed that a hearing would be held on Oct 2, at 9 o clock
This afternoon I went out and paid Alice Pierpont
for repairing two Swaters. Then I plowed out potatoes
and dug them.
09\27\{1938} (Tuesday)
This is a great occasion as it is my birth day I am
80 years old. This evening the Mattatuck{?} Drum
Band sent a Auto for me, and took me to heir{their?}
Head quarter at East Farms, where they had
a fine table set, (all of which I knew nothing)
in the form of at{a?} T at the head of which they
set me before a great Birthday cake 15" in diameter
and so large that it was heavy to lift. There were
about fifty that sat down to the table, which was
loaded with good things to eat and drnk{drink?}.
09\28\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning I cleaned the West part of the yard, and
filed a cross cut saw. Then went to the farm and dug
potatoes.
09\29\{1938} (Thursday)
I repaired the skylight on the roof this forenoon.
Dug potatoes in the afternoon,{?} Dick and Charlie helped
09\30\{1938} (Friday)
Rained all day,{?} did odd jobs{Jobs?} this morning, sharpened
tools in the afternoon. Tony has hurt his foot and
cannot work.
10\01\{1938} (Saturday)
Charles Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?},{?} Dick pierpont and I dug nine bushels
of potatoes, and picked 24 1/2 bushels of corn to day.
10\02\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden officiated.
This afternoon Margaret was away and I went
to Praspect{Prospect?}{?} and visited Mr and mrs Wilson{?} on
the Summit Road. They are very much interested
in historical,{?} matters about that locality{?}.
10\03\{1938} (Monday)
Went to the Probate Court this morning and
Judge Slavin appointed Wm M Gillitte{Gillette?} administrator
on Maries{Mary's?} estate. He called this evening to get
deeds, Maps etc. I with the boys help got{gat?} all the corn in,{?}
at the farm. A young lady called from the International Silver Co
about my pension
10\04\{1938} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon. Went to Cheshire
and got a bag of oats. Stoped at East Farms and
got Charles Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} and had him help dress
a large hammer. Yesterday{?} I turned over Marys Dime Bank
book 17.00 to Wm Gillette. Also Aldersons bill 319.00 and Ansonia check 4.50
10\05\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning I repaired the skylight on the roof of
the house. Then went to the farm and loaded corn
and Dick Pierpont and I cut corn on the hill.
10\06\{1938} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon{,?} and went to Prospect{?}
to Treat Hotchkiss{?} to look up maps of the
Samel Road, which was laid out in 1818.
Mrs Mahler had the afternoon out.
10\07\{1938} (Friday)
At blacksmith work this forenoon, Cut corn at
the farm this afternoon.
Nice weather all day.
10\08\{1938} (Saturday)
Charles Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} came this morning and we
did some blacksmith work, then worked in the cellar,
and then cleaned the clothes yard, and went to the farm
and got in two big loads of cornstalks.
10\09\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church Rev Mr Madden
This afternoon I called on Mary Jenner, and Charles Tuttle.
10\10\{1938} (Monday)
I worked on Dicks Andirons, and after dinner went
up to Margarets place in Wolcott and took up a basket
of apples, I then went to the farm and unloaded a
load of stalks, and Dick and I cut some.
10\11\{1938} (Tuesday)
to day I sharpened grubs for the Calvary Cemetery
this forenoon. After dinner I went to 331 Hamilton
Avenue and saw James Doran{?}, then I went to
the farm and set out some peach trees, then cut
corn and got in a big load.
10\12\{1938} (Wednesday)
Dick Pierpont came this morning and we repaired
the Skylight on our roof, then we went to the farm
and Charles Wilkensback{Wilkinsback?} joined us and we unloaded
a load of corn stalks and stored them away in the
barn. Then we picked up a cart load of apples on the
hill. I have received letters to night that I must
answer from Mr William E Pierpont of Portland
Oregon{?} The International Silver Co of Meriden.{?}
{new paragraph?}
From the Grand daughter and Husband, Malcolm and
Enid Fasberg, of Milwukee Wis, and from Irving
of Wauwatosa Wis. The weather to day has been
warm and perfect.
10\13\{1938} (Thursday)
I did odd jobs about home this forenoon. This afternoon
I took a book home to Ruth Hotchkiss in Prospect.
Iva telephoned this morning and wished her
to tell me that cousin Lewis Somers was found
dead in his automobile in Cromwell,{?} this morning.
10\14\{1938} (Friday)
I plowed at the farm the piece where I had corn
on the hill. This evening Raymond and Ruth
called and Fritsa and I went down with them
to Aldersons Funeral Home where Louis Somers
was in a casket banked all round with flowers.
I seem that he went to the Riverton Fair{?} Wednesday{?}
after which he went on a business trip and was passing
through Cromwell about 10.30 when he was stricken
with a heart attack, He is supposed to have driven
to the side of the street and threw the machine{?} out of
gear, and died, the car remained running with
lights on till five in the morning. I know nothing more
10\15\{1938} (Saturday)
This morning I rode down on the bus and went to
Aldersons Funeral Hom on Holmes Avenue at eleven
o'clock and attended Cousin Lewis Somers Funeral.
There was a large attendance of people there, and when
they started away, there was a long funeral train.
{new paragraph?}
I do not know where they buried him.
I came home and had dinner, then{?} I took my small
car and went to the funeral of Frederick C Moulthrop{?}
in Bristol. I first went to Wolcott and got Mr Arthur.{?}
Harrison{?} and we went to the funeral togather{together?}.{?} it was
held at two oclock{o'clock?} in the Memorial Chapel of the West
Street Burying Ground, and he was buried{?} in the
Cemetery near by{?}.
We then drove to the Bristol Nercerier{Nurseries?} and I visited
with Mildred Bird{?} a spell, after which we came home.
10\16\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev Mr
Madden preached. This afternoon I went to Mr Wilsons{?}
on the summit Road in Prospect, where we had supper.
While there we visited the old Daniel Baldwin place{?} and
the place where Peter Gilkey{?} the counterfitter{counterfeiter?} lived
when
he was arrested in 1783.
10\17\{1938} (Monday)
This morning I went to the Bank and got my International
Silver Co. check cashed, then I went and
paid my electric bill of 6.11 to the Conn Light and
Power Co,{?} and went to Sears &{?} Robuck{Roebuck?} and found
that they have sent out another electric refrigator{refrigerator?}.
{new paragraph?}
I did other errands, and came home, and after dinner
went to the farm and plowed in the upper corn lot,{?}
{new paragraph?}
then I went to the Maple Hill Dairy and paid my
milk bill 12.81{?}. To night the paper states that this
has been the warmest Oct 17.{?} in 30 years.
10\18\{1938} (Tuesday)
I went to the farm and plowed next to the North
fence to keep the fire from running on my land.
This afternoon I sharpened tools and went to town
and did some errands.
This evening Laurence Pierpont came and took
me out to the Mattatuck Hall to give drumming
]instructions.
10\19\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning I filed 4 hand saws and did other jobs.{?}
in{In?} the afternoon I plowed at the farm, etc.{?}
Dick told me this evening that he was goint to
New York to the Main Office of the American Brass
Co. Monday to work as purchasing agent.
10\20\{1938} (Thursday)
This morning I sharpened tools then{?} got ready
and Mr Fox came and we drove to the home of
Mr Alex Smith at Clintonville, where we were
entertained, by looking over his fruit farm, and
apple storage house, and his fine collection of
drums, and Drum instruction books etc.
When we came away he put two fine baskets of
apples in the car.
10\21\{1938} (Friday)
This morning I went and left a basket of apples
at Mr Fox place on Holmes AVenue, Then went to
the store and got some groceries, Then went to the
farm and plowed till night.
The weather is cooler.
10\22\{1938} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont helped me and we{?} finished plowing
on the hill and grubed the ground next to the
walls, Dick raked up the leaves near the barn and
we got them in.
10\23\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church
Rev Mr Madden preached, He lives on the Plank
Road. This afternoon I went to the house of Mr
Parley N. Wilson.{?} R.F.D. #2 Waterbury. He lives in
a nice new stone house on the Summit Road in
Prospect. There we made arrangements to visit
Mr Alex Smith of Clintonville next Sunday
afternoon,{?} and see his fine collection of Indian
relics. I then went to Naugatuck and visited
Mr Sheldon Payne who is 96 years old, and very
active and intelligent. I staid till it was dark
and had to drive home, but fortunely{fortunately?} I came
by the back road and found{?} but little{?} traffice.
Dick came in a little time ago and bade
me good lye{bye?}, as he is to leave for New York with
Mr Heaton, to take up his new work in the
New York office of the American Brass Co as
Purchasing agent. The Company is leaving
his old pasition/position{?} here open for three months. so
is he does not like it, he can returen,{?} or if they
dont like him, he has{?} nothing to lose.
10\24\{1938} (Monday)
This morning I went to the assessors{?} office{?} to see
about Tonys{?} building tax, then I bought some
Fire brick for the stove, I put them in. It rained
all day.
10\25\{1938} (Tuesday)
I went to the Assessors Office this morning to
see about getting Tony Cairlos{?} tax abated from
my tax bill. But failed to do it. I then went and
saw Will Gillette{?} at the Court House, about the
deed to our place. Then I went to the Waterbury
Savings Bank{?} and drew out $93.00{?} and went
to the City Hall and paid my tax $92.15.{?} and
then came home. In the afternoon I went to the
farm and plowed where I had corn in the shed lot.
This evening Brother Fred from Bridgeport
with a lot of drummer boys from Tarrytown
N.Y. called, about 8 o'clock,{?} but as I did not know
that they were coming,{?} I could give them but
little entertainment. They left and went to
the Mattatuck Drum Band Headquarters{?} at
East Farms,{?} But there the Band{?} was holding
no meeting as some of the boys were repairing
the floor of the hall.
10\26\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning I did odd jobs about home,{?} in the afternoon
I plowed at the farm.
10\27\{1938} (Thursday)
I went to the farm after putting{?} cord{?} and ears
on another new drum that I am marking. I have
one more to do,{?} then I will have the last six
finished. At the farm I sorted apples and brought
home a load at noon. Margaret had this afternoon
off.{?} I got ready and went to Prospect and visited
Miss Ruth Hotchkiss{?}, and we talked about Capt
David, her grandfather, but she knew but little
of his military history.
10\28\{1938} (Friday)
Dick Pierpont helped me to day. We sorted all the apples
and got the barrels ready to mak{make?} Cider.
I sharpened tools for a man down town.
10\29\{1938} (Saturday)
Fine clear day. Dick Pierpont helped ma and we
took fifteen and one half bushels of apples up to
Mc Cormicks{?} Cider mill and had it made into 65{?}
galons{gallons?} of cider. We took the barrels up and brought
he cider home and got it in the cellar.
10\30\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached.
After dinner I went to the farm and fed buster{Buster?},{?}
then I went to Mr Wilsons on the Summit Road
and Mr and Mrs Wilson Miss Wilcockson{?} and I
went in his car to Clintonville to Mr Alex Smiths
and saw his fine collection of Indian relics and
his apple Store House with 3500 bushels of apples
in it, and he took us to his South Orchard of 800
trees,{?} 260 of which were blown down, Then we went
to New Haven where we left Miss Wilcoxen{?} who was
going to take a bus to her home in Stratford{?}, and
we came to Prospect by the new road. I had
suppir{supper?} at Mr Wilsons and then came home.
10\31\{1938} (Monday)
This forenoon I husked out 6 bushels of corn. After
dinner I went to West Cheshire and got feed,{?} then came
to the farm and pulled beets and carrots and brought
them home.
11\01\{1938} (Tuesday)
I husked corn this forenoon. Went to and plled{pulled?}
turnips. This evening I attended a meeting of
the Mattatuck Drum Band.
11\02\{1938} (Wednesday)
I Husked corn this morning, and went to Margarets{?}
place on route 69 in Wolcott{?} and took up three bottles
of sweet cider, then I called on Charles Tuttle at the
Old Garrigus{?} homestead, he is staying with Minnie
Hitchcock{?}.
11\03\{1938} (Thursday)
I husked corn this forenoon, and went to see the
Hotchkisses{?} in Prospect this afternoon about historical
matters.
11\04\{1938} (Friday)
I finished husking corn this morning,{?} and did
odd jobs{?} about the place. In the afternoon I picked{?}
out one bushel of potatoes and 1/2 bushel of beets,{?}
carrots, and turnips, and took them down to
Margarets Mailors sister{?} on Cherry St. then I
took 1/2 lis/lbs{?} potatoes and a small basket of vegtalbe{vegetables?}
to Margaret Northrop in Wolcott.
11\05\{1938} (Saturday)
To day I cleaned the garden at the farm and
plowed it.
11\06\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rv Mr Madden officiated.
This afternoon I went with Ruth Brundage{?} and
some of her family up to Marian{-on} Kraft's hous{house?} on
Spindle Hill where they held open house in honor{?}
of Mr and Mrs Forsberg who are to sail for Africa
Nov 26. to do missionary work in the Anglo-Egyption{Anglo-Egyptian?}
Sudan. There were many that called.
11\07\{1938} (Monday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day. Mr Sonders of
South Meriden{?} called this evening.
11\08\{1938} (Tuesday)
Rained all day. This is election day. This
morning Fritsa went up the the Chase school
and voted she for Baldwin, and I for McLevy{?}
for Govenor{Governor?}. This evening Laurence
Pierpont{?} came and took me out to the
Mattatuck Hall to give lessons in drumming{?}
11\09\{1938} (Wednesday)
To day I worked repairing Frank P. Millers,
hay grapple, and sawed up a pile of stove wood.
Baldwin was elected Govorner{Governor?} of Connecticut
yesterday. Waterbury gave MdLeary{?} a good majority.
11\10\{1938} (Thursday)
I repaired a hay grapel{grapple?} yesterday and to day,
then filed saw etc.
11\11\{1938} (Friday)
Armistice day. I made a sledge hammr handle
and did odd jobs about home.
11\12\{1938} (Saturday)
Warm Nov day. I sharpened tools all day.
11\13\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Re{?} Mr Madden preached.
This afternoon I went to Prospect and saw{?} Mabel
Hotchkiss{?} about historical matters.
This evening I went to the Mill Plain Church{?} and
heard Enid and Mal/Mol{?} Forsberg talk of Missionary
work in Etheopia{Ethiopia?}. They expect to leave Tuesday for
New York{?} and sail for the Dgyptian Sudan Nov 26.
10\14\{1938} (Monday)
I sharpened tools all day for the man down near Christs
Chapel. This evening{?} Enid and Malcolm Forsberg
called and we had a nice visit. They are to leave
tomorrow for Brooklyn New York,{?} and are to sail
for the Egiptian{Egyptian?} Sudan Nove 26.{?} on the Steam Ship
Coninthia.
10\15\{1938} (Tuesday)
I raked up a lot of leaves from the back yard and
put them in the chicken yard, and then finished
sharpening tools, and went to the farm and
plowed the upper garden.
10\16\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning I raked up more leaves, then
went and called on James Doran, then to East
Farms and worked on the lig{big?} tree{?} that blew down
in the Cemetery.
William Gillette{?} called this evening to see about
settling Marys estate.
10\17\{1938} (Thursday)
Rained this morning. I went to the Bank and got
my penion check cashed, ad then paid my elecric
light bill. After dinner I went to the East Farms
Cemetery and worked cutting up the big Norway
Spruce tree that blew down. It is about three feet in
diameter at the butt and about 100 feet high.
10\18\{1938} (Friday)
Wet foggy day. The fog was very thick all night and
day{?} till three o'clock, when it lifted. I was working at
the East Farms Cemetery on the big tree, and
when the fog dissipeared{dissapeared?} I went to Cheshire Depot
and got a bag of oats. I went out the plant road,
and at the top of the mountain saw the whole
Mixville{?} valley covered with fog, soon I was down
in it and fount it thick all the way to the Rail
Road.
11\19\{1938} (Saturday)
To day I went to the East Farms Cemetery{?} and with
Dick Pierpont cut some of the branches off the big tree.
{new paragraph?}
We took a truck load up to the barn, and I brought another
load home. It began to rain about two o'clock{?} and has
rained all the time since. I put the side curtains on
my little car.{?} and got it ready to fo to Kent tomorrow.
11\20\{1938} (Sunday)
This morning I was at Phillip Reuters house at 8.50
and got Roll Jenner and we started for Kent. We went
through Mill Plain, and stoped at the junction of
stelson/Stilson{?} and Wolcott Rds and got five gals of gas .85 cts
then on through Waterville, Reynolds Bridge, up the
Branch past the Reservoirs, East Morris,{?} Morris, Lake
side Bantam, Woodville, Warren, to Kent. We went
to the Church where we attended service and Frank
and{?} Elsie joined us. Then we went to Franks home
and had a nice turkey dinner which was sent in
from the school. After which we got in Franks
Brue{?} Car and we went up the West road over the
New York line, then back and down to the
South lots where he had potatoes,{?} then up the
River on the Skiff mountain{?} road near the white
hay barn where he is claring the land of
stones, and he showed us the old ford across
the river to the island, then to the East shore
where the first road from Albany to Hartford crossed{?}
before the first bridge was built in Revolutionary
times, which was Bulls Bridge on which Gen{?} Washington
was one of the first to cross, before it was fully finished.{?}
We then went to the burning barn. of Bill Templeton{?},
which took fire{?} Friday morning at three while
there was a great fog, the hay was still burning and
they had three streams of water playing on it and
several trucks carting it away to a great heap in
the meadow where it was still burning. At the time
of the fire there was about 100 tons of hay and 50{?} cows in
the building. The firemen got out all but two of the
cows, many of which was overcome with smoke{?} they
put ropis/ropes{?} on them and dragged them out, they
all recovered except the two that perished.
This barn was suronded{surrounded?} on all sides by other barns
and a large silo. The corner of the North West barn
came within four inches of this burning structure
but the firemen saved it without a scartch{scratch?}.
Mr Templeton says that he will build again.{?}
From there we went to Franks and got into my
little car and came to East Kent to Waramug{?}
Lake to New Preston, to Bee Brook, to Washington,{?}
to Woodbury, to Middlebury and through
Waterbury home.
This evening Robert Miller is 20 years old and
the Family gave him a birth day party. Those who
attended were.{?} Wm Gillette{?} and wife, son Mansfield,{?}
and wife Robert, Miller. Louese{Louise?} Service. Philip
Renter, and wife, Clifford Heaton{?} of N.Y. Ralph
Pierpont and wife. Wm Service and wife. Fritsa.
{new paragraph?}
Dick,{?} and Ronald Miller,{?} myself and several
others,{?} Robert received many presents, all of{is "all of" crossed out
or is text smudged?} a
useful and inexpensive kind.
11\21\{1938} (Monday)
Cold morning. I sharpened tools until three in
the afternoon,{?} when I went to the farm and did the
chores there,{?} then I went to Thoedore{Theodore?} Munsons{?}
and got a small stove that I am to repair.
11\22\{1938} (Tuesday)
Fifty five years ago this morning at 7 oclock Mary
and I were married in the Mill Plain Chapel. Little
did we know then where we would be now,{?} Mary has
been in her grave two months and seven days,{?} and
I am here writing and know nothing of what is
ahead,{?} and it is well that I dont.
I have been sharpening tools to day and doing
other odd jobs. To day is Robert Millers{?} birth
day 20 years old. They gave him presents and
had a party last Sunday evening in advance.
11\23\{1938} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the barber down on East Main St.
and had hair cut and shave, then went to East Farms Cemetery
and cut up branches{?} on the big tree{?} till it rained{?} hard
at three, when I came home, Raining to night.
11\24\{1938} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day I went with Somers Family
to the Elton Hotel{?} to dinner 1.50 per plate.{?} 49 members
of the family sat at dinner, of turkey etc etc.{?}
Next year the Miller Family are to entertain.
11\25\{1938} (Friday)
This morning it was snowing hard as it had been
during the night, it stoped at about nine, with 12"
of snow on the ground and the wind blowing cold
I shoveled out the pathes{paths?} which took till noon.
This afternoon I repaired the chains for my truck
and put them on and had a hard time getting
to the street. Cliff Heaton{?} shoveled the snow
out of the back yard and I went to the farm
and fed buster{Buster?}, then went to the store down
opposite Beecher Avenue{?}, and bought fish oysters
and crackers etc. By night the City and State
had the roads pritty/pretty{?} well plowed out, and the
snow lay in great winrows along the sides.
Note in margin of text:
First
Snow{caps?} 12"
deep
11\26\{1938} (Saturday)
This has been the coldest day that I ever knew in
Noember. This morning the snow lay a foot deep on
the ground, and the themometer/thermometer{?} regerstered{registered?}
zero,{?} and it
did not get higher than fifteen above till after six P>M> it
is now at Nine twenty eight above. I worked clearing the
snow from the driveway,{?} and Cliff Heaton cleared a
large spot in the back yard se{so?} we have plenty of room to
turn the cars about.
There has been many accidents on account of cars
skidding as many drive about without chains. Many
cars were frozen this morning.
11\27\{1938} (Sunday)
This morning we found that it had snowed eight
inches during the night, so now the snow lies20"
deep on the ground, and it is snowing again{?} this
evening. I staid home and dug out the pathes{paths?} and
went to the farm and fed the ox, etc.
Note in margin of text:
Second
Snow 8"
deep
11\28\{1938} (Monday)
This morning it was zero and has not thawed all day
and the weather coudy{cloudy?} and threatened snow.
I worked in the wheel house and took lumber to
Robert Tylers Ladder shop to have{?} cut up and plained,{?}
then went to the farm and fed the ox. This morning
we found that 2" of snow had fallen during the night.
Note in margin of text:
Third
Snow 2"
deep
11\29\{1938} (Tuesday)
Lots of snow everwhere{everywhere?}, tut it has{?} settled quite a
little to day, with but little thaw. I repaired a large
snow plow,{?} for the Calvary Cemetery.
William Gillette{?} Administrator called this evening{?}
and we went over the papers on Marys Estate,{?}
after which I went to East Farms and gave drumming
lessons.
11\30\{1938} (Wednesday)
To day the weather has been cool, but it thawed some.
I went to the Bank and got money and paid the water rent and
Margaret Mahler.
The great trial of Mayor Hayes{?} and 26 others for conspiericy{conspiracy?}
to defraud the tax payers of Waterbury of more than a million
dollars started yesterday.
12\01\{1938} (Thursday)
Cold day. I worked in the Wheelhouse the greater part
of the time.
To day the Court chose{?} the 2nd Juaror/Juror{?} for the Great
trial of the conspiritors{conspirators?}.
12\02\{1938} (Friday)
Cold day 2 above zero this mornin{morning?}, and 18 above the highest
to day. I spent most of the day in the Wheel house.
Went to Cheshire and got feed, much snow{?} along the
Plank road, and driving was very slippiry{slippery?}.
12\03\{1938} (Saturday)
Cold day. I worked in the Wheel house most of the
time.
12\04\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Unin Church
Rev Mr Madden preached.
It rained hard last night a{?} about half of the
snow was gone this morning. This afternoon
I went up to the Garrigus{?} place and saw
Charles Tuttle. This evening Mr and Mrs
Ferris Turkington{?} of East Morris called, They
expect to leave for Florida Jan 1st,{?} to stay the
rest of the winter.
12\05\{1938} (Monday)
To day has been wet and rainy, with fog late in
the afternoon. I worked on a wheel barrow for Frank
in Kent most of the time, but cleaned out the spring
at the farm.
12\06\{1938} (Tuesday)
Damp day. I worked in the Wheel House and at the
farm. This Evening Ralph Pierpont came for me
and took me to the Mattatuck Hall{?} to give drumming
lessons.
12\07\{1938} (Wednesday)
To day I repaired Fritsa back stairs, and worked in the Wheel
house. Went to Cheshire and bought lumber to repair a long
step ladder, and a bag of middlings. The weather has been
fair not very cold.
12\08\{1938} (Thursday)
To day a ton of soft coal came. I ironed the wheelbarrow
this forenoon. Did work at the farm and other odd
jobs. This evening I attended the Leadies{Ladies?} Fair at the
Mill Plain Union Church, and had a turkey supper.
12\09\{1938} (Friday)
I pained the wheelbarrow, and sharpened tools and did some
work at the farm. After it stoped raining this afternoon I took
the fine flowers that I bought last night up to the Cemetery
and put them on Marys grave.
12\10\{1938} (Saturday)
I worked in the Blacksmith shop{?} sharpening stove cutting
points much of the time, and did some work at the
farm. The weather has been{?} wet and damp.
12\11\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain union Church Rev
Mr Madden preached. This afternoon{?} I went up to
Margarets place on Spindle Hill, and Marion, Margaret
and I called on Mrs Atkins.
12\12\{1938} (Monday)
Wet damp day. I sharpened tools most of the time{?}
and did the chores at the farm.
12\13\{1938} (Tuesday)
I went to town and got check cashed at the bank 25.00
then bought a pair of work shoes and a pair of slippers,{?} then
came home and sharpened tools till noon. This aflernoon{afternoon?}
I worked{?}
at the farm and cleaned out the chicken coop.
This evening I went out to East Farms and gave drumming
lessons to a dozen boys.
12\14\{1938} (Wednesday)
Weather has been cool all day. I made a hook and sharpened
tools, and Roll Jenner came and we did up a pair of shoes
for Frank, and a pair of Rubbers of Ruth's{?} and took them over
to Cheshire, and sent them by Parcel Post. The shoes to Frank
H Miller, Old Fellows Home at Groton Conn, and the Rubbers
to Mrs A.J. Brundage{?} Storrs Conn.
James Egan took my Runabout Roadster down on Thomiston
Avenue and had it texted.
12\15\{1938} (Thursday)
James Egan came this morning and took my truck to
be inspected It did not pass on account of the brakes.
I sharpened tools, Went to the farm, and worked in
the Wheel House.
12\16\{1938} (Friday)
I worked in the Blacksmith shop all day, except the time
Roll Jenner and I went to Chshire.
The day has been very cold,{?} 6 above this morning and
no thaw all day.
12\17\{1938} (Saturday)
I worked in the blacksmith shop all thre forenoon.
This afternoon Dan Hanlon{?} repaired the front spring on
my truck, then I went to the farm and fed Buster,
and put stop leak in my Radiator, came home and
filed Ed Bronsons cross cut saw.
12\18\{1938} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Robert Faster/Foster{?} preached, as Mr Madden at his
doctors advice{?} will not preach. In the afternoon I went
to Prospect and visited Mr and Mrs Wilson on the
Summit Road where I took tea, after which I drove home
in second gear much of the way as it was snowing
and raining{?} and very dark, and the road was
very slippery.
12\19\{1938} (Monday)
This morning Jimmie Egan{?} took my truck and had it
inspected, and brought it back, and had Dan Hanlon{?} readjust
the brakes, then took it down again and it passed.
I have worked all day in the Wheel house. Wet and Snow.
12\20\{1938} (Tuesday)
This morning I went down town and deposited a
check in the Bank then I went to the Colonial Trust
Co{?} and got .14 Mill Plain Union Church cupons{coupons?} cashed
28.00 I then went to Sears and Roebuck's and bought 36{?}
cross chains for my Auto. When I got home I found
that Will Gillette{?} had been here and wanted me at his
office at 1.45 to attend a Probate hearing at 2. I went
there and attended the haring{hearing?} on Mary's estate. I was the
only one that appeared.
This evening I went to the Mattatuck hall and gave
drumming lessons. The weather was cold.
12\21\{1938} (Wednesday)
Cold and Snow to day. I sharpened tools this forenoon
and nade{made?} over a pair of wheel chains this afternoon.
12\22\{1938} (Thursday)
Shortest day, and good and cold. I sharpened tools
his forenoon, and finished my wheel chains.
This afternoon I took some vegtables{vegetables?} to Margaret{?}
up at Spindle Hill, and came home over Wolcott
Center and down the County road to Hitchcock
Lake. Men are working on the County road making
a good sursface{surface?} hard road of it, from the
Lake to the East Bristol Road.
12\23\{1938} (Friday)
Cold and snow to day I worked in the Wheelhouse
this forenoon. This afternoon I took a small load of
Wood and a pair of Old Andirons up to Margarets
home on Spindle Hill in Wolcott.
12\24\{1938} (Saturday)
Cold{?} day, snowed a little{?} last night. I worked in
he Wheel house the most of the time. Went to the
farm after dinner. Had supper up stairs with Fritsa
and her family.
12\25\{1938} (Sunday)
Christmas Day. I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church Rev Mr Madden preached.
This afternoon I went and visited Charles Tuttle,{?} he is
staying with Mrs Minnie Hitchcock{?} at the old Garrigus{?}
Homestead, in Garrigus{?} Court, North of the Meriden
Road in Wolcott.
12\26\{1938} (Monday)
This day was observed as Christmas and my
family gathered at Margaret's and Marian{-on} Kraft's on
Spindle Hill in Wolcott and had a grand dinner
to which 32 sat down, and in the evening we
had a Christmas tree and many presents for
all.
12\27\{1938} (Tuesday)
Last night it snowed about 5" deep but it turned
to rain and settled much. The greater part is gone
by tonight. This morning I went and got a
check for 19.02{?} cashed at the Manufacturers
Bank, and went to Templetons store and bought
iron to make andirons of,{?} then I went to the
American Sheet Metal Works and got a piece
of cold rolled steel, and came home, dug out the
paths, and worked a little in the Wheelhouse, and
went to the farm.
12\28\{1938} (Wednesday)
Cold day. This morning I met William M Gillette{?}
as{at?} his office in the Court House,{?} and we arranged
to the final settlement of Marys estate, then
we went to Lawyer Finton Phalen{?} and he drew up
he deed to me.
12\29\{1938} (Thursday)
Cold day. I worked in the Wheelhouse, after dinner
Will Gillette{?} phoned for me to be at his office at two
I went there and he said the Probate Court allowed
me 40.00 per week since Marys death for carrying
on the business, it amounted to 600.00 and we
went to the bank and he paid it out of her estate{?}
What I have loaned and paid is a great deal more{?}
than her estate is, Which she wanted me to have, and
which the Court has allowed.
12\30\{1938} (Friday)
Another cold day. I did odd jobs both here and out to
the farm. This evening Will Gillette called to see about
the Insurance on{?} this house.
12\31\{1938} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont came and helped me put the corn up
in the bin, and then helped me make a pair of Andirons.
[[Edited by Robert A. Kraft, 21 March 1991]]
01\01\{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
Rev Mr Madden preached.
This afternoon,{?} I went to the house of Mr David
Plunb{?} in Prospect, but he is in Florida, but
I saw his sons, and had a good visit.
The weather has been cold all day.
Last year my good wife was taken by dath.
We know not what this year may bring forth.
01\02\{1939} (Monday)
This day was observed as New Years day. I worked in
the Blacksmith Shop making a pair of Andirons.
Dick pierpont{Pierpont?} helped me.
01\03\{1939} (Tuesday)
Worked in the lacksmith shop.
Told the boys that I would stop them using the pond if
they damaged the Cemetery any more
01\04\{1939} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day. The weather has
been very cold. I received a letter from brother Frank
who is t the Old Fellows Home at Groton.
01\05\{1939} (Thursday)
Cold day. I worked on my gasoline engine to get it
to run, most of the day.
I went to the Pine Grove Cemetery with Tony Cairlo{?}
to have him put a top{?} on the monument in our lot
and a footstone{foot stone?} and lettering etc it will all cost
estimated One Hundred Dollars.
I went to the farm and put a wheelbarrow load of
manure on the pie plant.
01\06\{1939} (Friday)
Rained hard this morning, I worked in the Wheel
house repairing a 8' step ladder for the Calvary
Cemetery.
01\07\{1939} (Saturday)
This day has been warm and nice, Dec{Dick?} Pierpont came to
help me make a pair of Andirons but the iron was to poor
So{so?} we worked in the Wheelhouse and at the farm.
01\08\{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev Mr Madden
This afternoon I went to Prospect and saw Mrs Bottomely{?}, on the
straitesville road{?}.
[[end of Journal volume]]
Read by M. Hall
Sept, '46
Ruth M. Brundage - June 1948
M.M. Brundage Sept 1948
Frank P. Miller, Dec. 28, 1948{?}
R.P.M November 1984 [Robert Pierpont Miller?]
Marian Kraft 9/9/87
[[end of flyleaf]]
[[start of new Journal Book]]
Inserted in front cover of Journal:
Newspaper clipping concerning the marriage of Reutter and Jenner
Charles S. Miller
2271 East Main St.
Waterbury, Conn.
Jan. 9 1939.
01/09/1939 (Monday)
This morning I went to the New York Body Co. on
Meadow St. to have nerve celioid{??} put in the side
curtains of my little car. Then to C.L. Fimpletons
and bought iron to make andirons of. Then
to Davis & Nye and bought this book. Then to the
Bank and deposited some money on my Line
Savings Bank Book and had a check cashed,
and then home at noon.
This afternoon I repaired the washing machine
and went to the farm where I wheeled some
manure on the garden.
Mr. Charles S. Futtle of Wolcott died this
morning at the Waterbury Hospital. He was
aged 78 years. He and I sat side by side in
the little stone school house on the Nicholds
Road in Woodtick in 1871. Miss Julia Pickett
was our teacher.
01/10/1939 (Tuesday)
Rain and wet all day. I worked in the Wheel
House this forenoon. Went to Spindle Hill in
the afternoon.
01/11/1939 (Wednesday)
Clear cool day. I went to town and got a piece of
galvanized iron, and my auto curtains at
the New York Auto Body Works where the put
in new cellioid. {??}
This afternoon I attended Charles S. Futtles
funeral. It was held at the Alderson Funeral
Parlor. He was buried in the Woodtick Cemetery.
The Bearers were Louvane Fox, Arthur Harrison,
Charles Cass{??}, Franklin Browne, Andrew Kitchenka
and Ralph Pierpont, members of the Mattatuck Drum
Band. Honorary Bearers were Charles S. Miller
and James Phelan, all in full uniform.
O1/12/{1939} (Thursday)
Cool day. I sharpened tools all the forenoon.
Went to Cheshire and got a bag of oats, then
to Prospect and saw Miss Murphy about the
people living on the Parsons Road. Then home
at dark, and killed and dressed a rooster for
Marion Kraft.
01/13/{1939} (Friday)
This morning I called for Roll Jenner{??} at 8.30
and we started for Kent. We went to Spindle Hill
where we left the chicken at Marion Kraft's, and then
went down Fall Mountain and up Todd{??} Hollow to
Plymouth. Then Thomaston, East Morris, Morris, Lake-|
side, West Morris, Romford, Woodville, Warren, to Kent
where we left the hay grapple and wheelbarrow and
took on feed, fertalizer{fertilizer}, harness, old wheelbarrow etc.
and left for home at 2.30. Came through New Milford,
Bridgewater, Roxbury, Southbury, Woodbury, Middlebury,
Waterbury and home, which we reached at 4.30
01/14/1939 (Saturday)
It has snowed to day about ten" deep. I have worked
on a pair of andirons the greater part of the time
with Hick Pierpont to help, when we were not digging
out the paths.
The young people at East Farms have two Hockey
yards built and night before last Mr. Atkins
thought that there would be about 200 auto loads
of people there. He wished me to open my lots to
the autos. There {are} several new houses being built
about Mill Plain, 4 on the old Boen Property above
the bridge on the Woodtick Rd. Several of the Mattatuck
Boys attended the Inaugural Military Ball at Hartford.
01/15/1939 (Sunday)
Four above this morning. I attended service at the
Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached,
the attendance was larger than usual.
This afternoon I went to see Mr. Hoffnagle on
the Parsons Road in Prospect. Found out much
about the Old Hotchkiss Saw Mill etc.
01/16/{1939} (Monday)
5 below this morning. I sharpened tools most of
the day.
01/17/{1939} (Tuesday)
Cold day. Worked sharpening tools in the
Blacksmith Shop and went to the farm and fed
the ox.
01/18/1939 (Wednesday)
Cold day, 20 above at noon. Sharpened picks, and
four points in the blacksmith shop, went to the
store and farm this afternoon.
01/19/1939 (Thursday)
Snowed all day but made only 2" on the ground.
I have worked in the Wheel house all day.
In the Great defraud trial they got the 14th
Jurior {Juror} yesterday.
01/20/1939 (Friday)
Three below this morning and cold all day. I worked
in the Wheelhouse drilling 1000 holes in the new washing
machine cylinder.
01/21/{1939} (Saturday)
Three above this morning and cold all day.
I worked drilling holes in the cylinder of the washing
machine all day, and still have more to drill.
Hiram Abel came to see me this afternoon. He is 83
years old.
01/22/1939 (Sunday)
Rained this morning. I attended service at the
Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden
preached. This afternoon after doing the chores
at the farm, I went to Prospect and visited
Mable and Ruth Hotchkiss, who showed me the
maps of the road that the state is building
past their house. They are making it 75 and
100 ft. wide, 75 ft. in the clear between the fences
and will cut down 4' in front of their house.
01/23/1939 (Monday)
Three above this morning and very cold all
day. I finished repairing the washing machine.
Then in the afternoon went to the farm and cut
up corn stalks.
01/24/1939 (Tuesday)
Not so cold. Snowed some. I worked in the Wheel
house repairing a saddle for Frank to be used
at Kent.
This evening Laurence Pierpont came for
me to give drumming lessons at the
Mattatuck Hall at East farms.
There was a large number of people at
the Hockey games at East Farms. Every
avalable {available} place was taken up with autos along
the road.
01/25/1939 (Wednesday)
Warm this morning but cold the rest of the
day and colder still to night.
I filed two crosscut saws and did other work
in the Wheelhouse. Fill Frank came from Kent
with Dwight, Bertha, June and another. I was
glad to see them. He took a lot of bags and
the sideboard of the wheelbarrow that I
repaired, some time ago.
01/26/1939 (Thursday)
Very cold day. I sharpened tools this forenoon.
This afternoon I attended a stockholders meeting
at the Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc., after which
I came home and went to East Farms, in my
little car which froze up when I got there. I called at
Atkins station, but they had no antifreeze.
01/27/1939 (Friday)
Cold day. Below 20 above all day. I sharpened tools
till 9.30. Had Fritsa call Mr. Barber as I have developed
a bad bronchal {bronchial?} cough. I went to the store and got
meat, fish, groceries etc. and got home and got my
heavy clothes off before the Dr. came. He told me
that I must keep quiet and rest, and not do much
work, and take the medicine regulary {regularly} etc. So I ate
dinner, then lay on the couch a long time. Then
went down to the drug store and got the prescriptions
filled which took a long time and cost $2.35.
Then I went out the Meriden Road fast and down
to East Farms and had to move a half ton of
corn stalks to get hay to feed the ox. Then I took
care of him and came home, and drove up and
saw Roll Jenner, who is sick with a bad foot.
Then I hurried home in the dark and did the
chores. We only had six eggs. Had a fine sutter {supper??}
of mush and milk, and have {been} reading and writing
ever since, stoping {stopping} at 7.00 to take a pil {pill} and at 8.00
to take a teaspoonful of medicine, which I must take
every four hours. It has cost $5.35 to day to be
sick, doctor 3.00 and medicine 2.85. We will hope for
the best.
01/28/1939 (Saturday)
Another cold day. I have staid in the house much
of the time, done some reading and wrote a letter
for the Round Robbin which came last night.
This evening Will Gillette called. He and Iva are
staying out at Ralph Pierpont's to night while
Ralph and Lois go to New York to attend the
Grand Ball given by the Old Guard of New York
City. Dick came up from New York this afternoon.
He tells that he bought car loads of rice and
shiped {shipped} it to Chile{??} for the Earthquake sufferers
and a ship load of sugar flower and staple
supplies and clothing. The ship left yesterday
and is not to stop till it gets there, only what
is necessary going through the Panama
Canal. He says that the Anaconda mines and
properties{??} were not badly wrecked as they were
North of the quake zone. In their town ar {are} 22,000
people and they need supplies of all kinds.
01/29/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
The Reverend Robert Foster of the South Federated Church
preached. His subject was "Christians for to day"
Mr. Madden is conducting service this morning
at the First Congregational Church in Cornwall.
I have staid in all the afternoon as I am not feeling
any to lively. Fritsa told me that they have
taken Roll Jenner to the hospital this afternoon.
01/30/1939 (Monday)
It was raining when I got up this morning but
the weather turned cold and the snow came in
place of the rain and it has continued all day. It
is now three inches deep and the traveling is
very slippery, the worst traveling I have seen this
year. I went to the Maple Hill Dairy and got a saddle
that Laurence Pierpont let me take, so I would have
a pattern to repair Franks from.
A number of the Mattatuck Boys and their women
went to New York Saturday night and attended
the Old Guard Military Ball held in Hotel Commodore.
01/31/1939 (Tuesday)
Snowed off and on all day. I have not felt very well
and have not done much work. Sharpened tools
this morning and did odd jobs the rest of the
day.
The Great Conspiricy {Conspiracy} Trial of Mayor Hayes
and 21 others started this morning. They have
been sitting since last Nov. 29 selecting 14 juriors {jurors}.
02/01/1939 (Wednesday)
Cold day. I staid in most of the day.
This morning I went to the Bank and got
a I.S. check cashed, 25.00, and went to the
farm.
02/02/{1939} (Thursday)
Snow and fog to day. I sharpened tools this
forenoon. Mrs. Nahler had the afternoon off.
I drove down to Prospect and called on
Ruth Hotchkiss, a short visit. When I left there
the rain froze on my windsheild {windshield} so I could not
see, and I had a time getting to East Farms, where
I did the chores and then home.
02/03/1939 (Friday)
This morning at about seven o'clock Will
Service came in and told that Rowland
Jenner died this morning about 5 o'clock at
the Waterbury Hospital. He said that he and
the Royters were there when he passed on.
This day has been warm enough so it has
thawed some.
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to
the farm and called at Royters in the afternoon.
02/04/1939 (Saturday)
Snowed a little this morning and thawed some
but the air has been cold all day. I sharpened
some tools and did odd jobs but all that I did
didn't amount to much.
This is bad weather for the health and nearly
everybody is sick with cold or something.
The first week of the Great Fraud Trial is ended and
the week has been taken up hearing the testimony of
the first witness, Mr. Levy of New haven who says that
he received over $125,000 of the Cities{??} money but turned
back to Mayor Hayes and Leary and Olson all but $15,000
of it. He is not through with the testimony.
02/05/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
The day has been rather cold and the ground covered
with ice. In the after, Jack, Ruth and Roger called.
They came from Storrs to the Alderson Funeral Home
to see Rowland Jenner whoes {whose} funeral is to be held to
morrow. Later Frank and Elsie came from Kent
with some of their children.
Fritsa had a party up stairs in honor of her
mothers 75th birthday.
02/06/1939 (Monday)
This is getting to be a real sad place about here. There
are to {too} many funerals that we are called on to
attend. Scarcely has one grown dim by time before
another is inaugurated. To day, this afternoon,
we have laid Rowland Jenner to rest in the
New Pine Grove Cemetery. This was a large funeral.
It was from Aldersons Funeral Home. Fred and
wife and I rode in Will Gillette's car with him
and Iva.
The weather has been cool and thawed some.
02/07/{1939} (Tuesday)
(Margin note - Snow 7")
The ground was covered with snow this
morning. Before I got out Robbie had swept
out the paths in the backyard. I swept the
front paths and along the street about 460 ft
in length. I then worked on pads for a riding
saddle, in the wheel house but the day
was gone before I had accomplished much.
This evening Laurence Pierpont came and
took me to the Mattatuck Hall at East Farms
where I gave him special drumming lessons.
He is making good and correct progress.
02/08/1939 (Wednesday)
Cool weather, ground very slippery. Have not done much
as I did not feel like work, but did finish ling ---{??}
the saddle I am repairing for Frank, my son.
02/09/{1939} (Thursday)
Damp day. Did odd jobs about home in the forenoon.
Margaret had the afternoon and evening off. I went
to Prospect. The state men are cutting the old large
trees along the Union City Road and along the
Waterbury Road, preparing to widen, regrade, and
surface harden them. I called on Miss Hotchkiss. They
are to sell a lot of their land and trees to make the
road wider and straiter.
02/10/{1939} (Friday)
Cold out and icy day. Very slippery everywhere.
I sharpened tools, very cold in blacksmith shop.
Went to the store and out to the farm.
02/11/{1939} (Saturday)
I have spent much of my time to day in the
Wheelhouse stitching leather for saddles.
02/12/1939 (Sunday)
I have staid in the house nearly all day, as I did
not feel very well, and the back yard is so slippery
that I am afraid to try to walk out there and it would
cause much work to get my good car out.
I used the truck to go to the farm in as it has
chains on. I only have to use them in my yard
and on the side of the road at the farm. Everywhere
else it simply wears them out.
02/13/1939 (Monday)
Thawed some to day. I have felt very dull and
have only fussed some on a saddle in the wheelhouse.
To day I raised the flag on the pole on the barn
but to night I could not pull it down as it caught
on the ridge so I pulled it up and left it.
We had a ton of soft coal come to night after
dark. It took the man about six minutes to
unload it, with his new improved elevator
dump truck.
02/14/{1939} (Tuesday)
(Margin note - Union City Road being regraded)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. In the afternoon,
Ronnie and I Went in my little truck down to
Prospect where the Stare is regrading the main road
from Union City to Prospect Center. They are now
working from the crossing of the Black Hill Road
to the Straitsville Road with steam shovels, trucks
and pushers{??} through a hard country to build a
road.
To night I went to Pierponts and gave drumming
lessons.
02/15/{1939} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the State Office on Watertown
Ave. and got the 1939 Leicenses {Licenses} for my cars. Had to
pay 10.20 for the pickup and 7.20 for the roadster.
The weather has been wet and foggy all day but
much of the hard ice has gone and it is less
slipery {slippery}. The Fairlawn Gas Station across the
street was broken into last night.
02/16/{1939} (Thursday)
I worked in the wheelhouse this forenoon. In the
afternoon I staid in the house, as it has been the
coldest feeling day of the winter and my feet
were swolen {swollen} and I had a bronchial cold and
did not feel well.
02/17/1939 (Friday)
This has been a cold day. This morning I went
to the Bank and drew 20.00. Then came home after
paying a bill to the Conn. Light and Power Co.
of 6.27. I then got my truck out and went down
to the Drug Store and got medicine and fish,
clams and onions at the Atlantic & Pacific Sea
store. This afternoon Ronnie and I went to the
farm and cleaned out the spring and did the
chores. Then we went to the dairy and I paid
my milk bill.
02/18/1939 (Saturday)
Much of the ice and snow has gone to day. This
forenoon I have repaired a drum that I made 57
years ago for the Mattatuck Drum Band. Now Laurence
Pierpont is to use it. This afternoon I have did
little, except the chores at the farm,
02/19/{1939} (Sunday)
I did not attend service, as I telephoned the doctor
last night and the office girl said that he would
probably call before noon to day. I waited and he
came about 2.30. He bandaged my legs and
feet and told me to keep them elevated so that
the blood would have easier circulation, and not
stand on them very much, so I have sat with them
in a chair ever since.
Wm. Gillette called this evening.
02/20/{1939} (Monday)
This has been a warm day up to 60ø this P.M. I have
staid in the house, only the time I went to the farm.
02/21/{1939} (Tuesday)
I have staid in the house the greater part of the day and
kept my feet elevated in a chair.
This evening Laurence Pierpont came and we drummed
on a chair in the kitchen.
02/22/{1939} (Wednesday)
(Margin note - Snowed 1 1/2 deep)
Snowed this morning and came off cold. I staid in
the house all day. Only when I went to the farm to
feed Buster the ox. The swelling on my feet have have gone
down but the little sore on my right foot is getting
very painful toward morning each night.
Wrote a letter to Frank at the Odd Fellows Home at
Groton, Conn.
02/23/{1939} (Thursday)
I have been in the house all day only the time it
took to do the chores. Weather has been cool and
damp. Margaret and Ruth came over this afternoon
and looked over the dishes in the pantry and
made a list of the old and valuable ones, that
formerly belonged to the Warners and Pierponts.
02/24/{1939} (Friday)
To day Margaret and Ruth came and continued
to look over Mary's clothes etc. and make an
invatory {inventory} of them. Margaret Mahlor went to
her sisters. The doctor came this afternoon
and did my feet up again. He said that
I could stand on them and work at the forge
one hour each day next week.
02/25/1939 (Saturday)
Cool day. Margaret and Ruth came again to day
and looked over the things on the third floor.
Mr. Harry Roberts of Nangatuck was buried this
afternoon in Riverside Cemetery. Mrs. William
Fabar or Buckshill died this morning.
Berkeley Frisbie{??} and wife called this afternoon.
02/26/1939 (Sunday)
This morning everything was covered with ice. Margaret
started for Church soon after six but came back on account
of the ice. It has rained all day and froze as
it fell. I staid at home only put chains on my
little car and went to the farm and fed the ox.
Wrote a letter to Irving at Milwaukee.
02/27/{1939} (Monday)
I sharpened tools and did odd jobs about home this
forenoon. This afternoon Ronnie and I attended the
funeral of Mrs. William Fabar. She was buried in
the cemetery at Bucks Hill and was formerly
Hattie Scott, daughter of Merritt of the Woodtick
Road, Mill Plain.
02/28/{1939} (Tuesday)
This morning I sharpened tools etc. It rained
hard nearly all day. Ronnie and I went to
the farm and did the chores there.
03/01/{1939} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools a while this morning and did odd
jobs. This afternoon I took an overcoat to Margaret's
on Spindle Hill. Stoped {Stopped} on the way and saw William
Fabar.
03/02/1939 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and did other odd
jobs about home. This afternoon I, with little Ronnie,
went to Prospect and visited the Hotchkiss family.
03/03/{1939} (Friday)
Cool day. I sharpened tools this forenoon.
This afternoon Ronnie and I went to Prospect
and saw Mrs.{??} Elizabeth Murphy who
lives on the Straitville Road about the
early schools at Prospect Center.
On the Waterbury Road, they have cut
all the great maple shade trees on both
sides and the high stumps now line the
way. The state is to regrade and widen
it as they are the Union City road.
03/04/{1939} (Saturday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and did some
work at the farm in the afternoon.
03/05/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
Fair day. I staid home only did chores at the farm.
03/06/1939 (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Worked in the Wheelhouse
and went to the farm in the afternoon.
The weather has been fairly pleasant but I am not
feeling too well.
03/07/{1939} (Tuesday)
Not feeling very well to day I have done but
little work. This afternoon, I took some of the old
clothes that were in the upper room that Margaret
and Ruth have put in bags, down to the Hotchkisses
in Prospect for their hired help to wear.
This is bad weather for people that have colds.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bird of Bristol called this afternoon.
03/08/{1939} (Wednesday)
Snowed all day. I did not go out of the house. This
morning I was bad. Fritsa gave me an injection
and that relieved me but still I had a great pain
in my left side. The sore on my heal {heel?} is much
better but take it altogether, I am very weak.
03/10/1939 (Friday)
I have been in the house the greater part of the
day, and I am not feeling well. Now I have broken
out all around my body in great red blotches.
Fritsa says it is the shingles. It is very painful.
03/11/1939 (Saturday)
This day it has snowed nearly all day but has
not made very deep on the ground, about 3".
Last night was a sad, painful, lonely and sleepless
one for me. Whatever way I turned, my body,
body{??} and legs and knees pained so there was no
sleep for me, and by morning I was weared out.
Fritsa telephoned the Doctor Barber and he came
while we were at dinner. He said it started
in my back and partly circled my body on
the inside, then broke through to the outside
and that it would be some time before it will
be well.
03/12/{1939} (Sunday)
I did not attend service to day as I was not feeling
well. There was a lot of snow fell{??} to day, as it
snowed all day.
03/13/{1939} (Monday)
I remember nothing that happened this day.
Nor did I remember scarcely any thing that happened
till the next Friday forenoon.
05/29/1939 (Tuesday)
{Journal skips here to May, this is probably the wrong date}
(Margin note - Ralph Pierpont got his drum.)
Very warm day. This morning I ran the washing
machine, along with Mrs. Giddings. Then I did but
little the rest of the day. Ralph Pierpont came and
got his drum that I made for him.
This afternoon Dick Pierpont came and mowed the
front yard.
I took Mrs. Giddings down to the A&P store on East
Main St. opposite Beecher Ave. and then we went up
to the Pine Grove Cemetery and put flowers on Mary's
grave. Then we went up the Woodtick Rd. to Woodtick
then down the Todd Rd. and in the Meriden Rd. then
down the Pierpont Rd. and in the Cheshire Rd., leaving
Dick at his home.
05/13/1938 (Saturday)
{Wrong year on this entry.}
Last Thursday about six o'clock, May 11, Raymond brought
me home from the Waterbury Hospital where I had
been since Mar. 14th. I have suffered all pain and
agony than any man ought to suffer.
When I was taker there, Doctor Barber said that
I had the shingles. I was broken out with blotches
and large pimples around the left side of my body
and back. Those on my side looked like bee stings
but on my back were blotches 1 1/2 in. long and about
the size of ones finger, and were filled with water
and they broke when I lay on them and at times I
was lieing {lying??} in a puddle of water. But it was all
very painful, and I remember nothing that happened
Mar. 14, the day that they brought me in, or the
succeeding days till Friday when my mind
gradually returned. In a few days they got the
shingles healed, and began to arrange for me to go
home. But my bowels did not work right. They
gave me enema's time and time again, but they
kept growing worse, and finally stoped {stopped} all action
for two days. They were very painful, when Dr.
Carman Modregno performed an operation and
opened me out and took away great masses of solid
matter and finally got a passage through, then by
the use of oil and medicine, they got them
working right, and after a few days again I was
making arrangements to go home again. But a great
bunch came out on my side, in three days it was
eight inches in diameter and projected out four inches.
The doctors got their heads together, and at night
gave me some sleeping pills, and I slept and in
the morning the bunch had gone down. They
explained that there was on my side a pain spot
and there two large mussells {muscles} crossed, and the pain
caused the mussells {muscles} and nerves and cords to contract
into the bunch, and when I slept, the pain ceased and
the nerves etc. relaxed and returned to their places.
But the bunch has since returned but nothing like
as large, and by rubbing and heating etc., we have
kept it down.
05/14/{1939} (Sunday)
I staid in the house all day, and visited with
brother Frank who came from Groton yesterday
morning. We are having our meals up stairs
with Fritsa. Frank left at 4.15 when Mr. Goldsmith
called for him. I am in pain most of the time
and very lame.
The weather has been clear and cold for this
time of the year. Mr. Clark came this evening
and told of Mrs. Giddings of New Milford wanting a job.
He will write her.
05/15/1939 (Monday)
To day I have staid about the house all day, did
go out to the chicken coop.
Fritsa did the washing this morning.
05/16/1939 (Tuesday)
Was in the house all day, unable to go very
far. I worked, caining{??} the back of my desk chair.
Sister Mary called this afternoon.
05/17/{1939} (Wednesday)
Staid in the house all day. Cained{??} the back of
my desk chair. Mort left one pt. of milk this
morning.
(Crossed out: Charlie Wilkensback worked 40)
05/18/{1939} (Thursday)
I was in the house most of the day, worked caning{??}
the back of my desk chair. Mr. Clark came and said
that Mrs. Amanda Giddings of No. 32 Main St.,
New Milford would come to work for me next Monday.
Charles Wilkensback came. (40)
05/19/{1939} (Friday)
I was in the house the most of the day. Not very well.
Cained{??} the chair a little. Charles Wilkensback came.
Told Dick Pierpont not to feed Buster any more.
05/20/1939 (Saturday)
My side and back pain me bad when I attemp {attempt} to
move. Charles Wilkensback came and cleaned the
hen coop this forenoon and cleaned the yard.
Ray came this evening and looked up Oil Burners.
Irving wrote me a letter in which he states that
his son David is married to a girl who attended
Wheaton College.
05/21/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
This afternoon Mr. George Hall of West Hartford
and Wolcott called with Margaret and Mr. Hall
told me that he is going to marry Margaret.
05/22/{1939} (Monday)
This morning Ronny and I went out to the farm
and teathered {tethered} Buster by the barn to eat the grass
there. Mrs. Almira{??} Giddings of New Milford
came to work for me this afternoon. Frank went
from Kent and got her and brought her over.
05/23/1939 (Tuesday)
I and Ronny went to the farm and tethered Buster out
this morning. This afternoon Charlie Wilkensback and
Dick Pierpont came and spaded part of the garden.
Ruth Brundage called this afternoon.
05/24/{1939} (Wednesday)
I planted a row of radishes this morning, the first
seed that I have planted.
Dick Pierpont came this afternoon and spaded in
the garden and we went to the farm and took
care of Buster.
05/25/{1939} (Thursday)
To day I did not feel very well. I ate some has{??} for
supper and the corned beef that it was made of
was not good and it made me sick all night, and
I have not been so well to day.
This evening the girls drum corps from Mill
Plain came up East Main St. and went up the
Frost Road and another corps came down the
Frost Road and they passed each other in front
of my house.
05/26/1939 (Friday)
This day I spent about home. Some of the time I
got things ready to sharpen Fritsa's lawn mower.
Mrs. Giddings is a excelent {excellent} cook, and gives me
good meals.
05/27/1939 (Saturday)
This morning Dick Pierpont came and after I had
my breakfast, he caught a rooster and I cut his
head off and Mrs. Giddings dressed it, after which
Dick and I went to the Wheel House and we sharpened
Fritsa's lawn mower and after dinner
Dick mowed the front yard. Then we got the truck
out and we cleaned it up and got it in running
order. Then I carried Dick home.
05/28/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. Came home, had dinner
and spent the rest of the day on the varanda {veranda}.
Mr. Robert Clark called in the evening.
Mrs. Giddings and Ronald went up to the circle in
Calvary Cemetery after supper.
05/29/1939 (Monday)
This day I did but little, only sat on the front
varanda {veranda}. Dick Pierpont came and mowed the front
and West side of the house. To day I received a circular
from the Quaker Hill Inc., Nurserymen of
Newark, New York State., offering
me the agency for their goods.
05/30/{1939} (Tuesday)
Memorial Day. The Mattatuck Drum Band
turned out in the usual parade in this city.
I and Dick Pierpont did odd jobs and some
planting and mowing.
Sheldon Payne of Nangatuck is dead, aged 96. The last
survivor of the Civil War.
05/31/{1939} (Wednesday)
Very hot day. I planted some, and did odd jobs
till Dick came and then we cleaned out the stove.
then we went to the farm and shut the gate by
the spring so I will not have to go as far to go in the
morning as I tie him down in the lower lot.
06/01/1939 (Thursday)
I planted some in the garden etc. Dick came and
we repaired the stove, and did other jobs.
We went to the farm and put Buster in the barn.
The following appeared in the Mill Plain News in
the American. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Hansen of Cheshire
announce the engagement of their daughter, Mrs. Fritsa
Hansen Miller of Oak Corner to Prof. H. Clifton Heaton
of New York University, New York City. The Wedding
will take place June 24 at the Mill Plain Union Church,
Rev. Matthew Madden, pastor officiating.
06/02/1939 (Friday)
To day I planted some in the garden and did several
odd jobs. This afternoon Dick came and we cleaned
the wheels on my little car.
Fritsa told me to night that Ruth Miller had a
note from Margaret in which she stated that she
and George Hall were married at the Pilgrim Church
in Worcester, Mass. by the Rev. J.Q. Todd{??} and she
wished Ruth to put it in the paper.
06/03/1939 (Saturday)
After breakfast I took Mrs. Giddings down to the store.
Then I went to the farm and with Dick we
cultivated the garden and fixed the two springs
so they would run the water through the pipes,
and did other odd jobs.
[[ Here are found several different documents and clippings.
There are four programs for services at the Mill Plain
Union Church, dated December 31, 1939, June 10, 1940,
March 24, 1940, and December 3, 1939. There is also
what appears to be a newspaper clipping. It is a picture
of the view of the waiting station at Fairlawn Manor,
looking North on Frost Road. The date on the clipping is
only a handwritten "1930's". There is another clipping
of some sort which is an add for silver plated knifes,
forks and spoons. And finally, there is a postcard to
Charles S. Miller from Major Frank E. Soule, Commandant
and Lieutenant Harrison C. Bracken, Secretary concerning
the regular monthly meeting of the Putnam Phalanx
Veteran Corps of Hartford, Connecticut. ]]
06/04/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union church.
Rev. Matthew Madden preached.
Went to the farm and tied Buster out this morning.
This evening I took Mrs. Giddings out to Mr. Evetta
on {??} Street but he was at his farm in Cheshire.
So then we went to my place at East Farms and
I put Buster in the stable. Then we went East to
the Chester Road, then out the Plank Road, down
the Summit Rd. to the Salem Rd., then West on the Salem
Rd. to the Hopkins Rd. Then to Wooster St., down Wooster
and onto Prospect St., Union City then up the back
Waterbury Rd. to Perl Lake Rd. and home.
06/05/1939 (Monday)
To day I planted some and did odd jobs about
home. This afternoon Dick Pierpont and I plowed
eight drills across the garden at East Farms to
plant potatoes in.
This evening's American had the announcement
of Margaret's marriage to George Hall at Worcester,
Mass. by the Rev. J.Q. Todd{??}. It was in the Wolcott
News, and Mill Plain News.
06/06/1939 (Tuesday)
I set out pepper plants and tomato plants and loaded
a load of chicken manure in the truck. This afternoon
I took it to the farm and Dick Pierpont and
I out it in the trenches we had made for potatoes.
This morning when I went to the farm, I came
home through Prospect and found that they were
making over the Waterbury road from the new
Catholic church to the Waterbury line.
It is very dry and the streams are getting very
low. We need rain very bad.
Wm. Gillette called this afternoon and we straitened
up the cash account between up.
06/07{1939} (Wednesday)
To day after school, Dick and I planted 8 rows of potatoes
across the garden at the farm and plowed out 6 drills
for corn. I did odd jobs about home this forenoon.
To night Ray brought oil burners for the cook
stove that he got at the Triplex Stores for 7.95 and
an electric grill that he bought at Sprague Electric
supplies Inc. for 5.20.
06/08/1939 (Thursday)
This morning I took the old grill off the electric stove
and put on a new one that Ray got yesterday.
Then Ronald and I went to West Cheshire and
bought a bag of scratch feed and suds. When we
came home, at the Notch-|in-|the-|Rocks, they were
getting ready to set a big blast off. They sent men
out each road in sight of a mile with red flags
to stop all passers. Then they blew a large gong,
and in five minutes set the blast off. We were
near the Flagman on the Plank road and we
only heard a dull thud and saw nothing unusual.
We came home and after dinner we unloaded
the grain and I loaded a load of chicken manure
and took it to the farm and Dick Pierpont and I
put it in drills and planted six rows of corn
across the garden.
06/09/1939 (Friday)
This forenoon I sorted potatoes and did other
odd jobs about the house and premeses {premises}. Dick
came in the afternoon and we planted sweet
corn in the garden. then we went to the farm
and caired {cared} for Buster and then took Laurence
Pierpont's drum home.
06/10/1939 (Saturday)
Very warm day. This morning I went to the farm
and tethered Buster out. Came home, had breakfast, and
then worked in the cellar sprouting and sorting potatoes.
This afternoon Cliff Heaton, Fritsa, Ronald and Mrs.
Giddings went to New Haven. Fritsa to buy a fine
wedding hat and Mrs. Giddings to call on her
sisters who live on Dixwell Avenue.
I finished the potatoes and went to the farm and
put Buster in the stable. They got home from New
Haven soon after six, and then we had supper.
06/11/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
Mr. Madden preached.
In the afternoon, Fritsa invited me to go to
Starrs with her and Cliff. We went through Middletown,
Portland, Hebron, Colombia and Willimantie.
At Starrs they were having graduating exercises.
Gov. Baldwin was there and gave out the diplomas.
We came home through Manchester, Hartford,
Bristol and Wolcott.
06/12/{1939} (Monday)
I staid about home all day recuperating.
Dick came and cut grass this P.M.
06/13/{1939} (Tuesday)
This morning I did but little as my side pained
me very much. I went down to Han Hannans{??} and
got my car. Then Dick Pierpont came and he
mowed the backyard and I trimmed up about
the rose bushes. We went to the farm and put
Buster in and repaired the lain fence where he
had horned it down.
06/14/1939 (Wednesday)
This morning Mrs. Giddings and I drove to her
place in new Milford. We went through Waterbury,
on the new road through North of Middlebury, through
Roxbury to Bridgewater, then New Milford. I left
her and drove on to Franks place in Kent. Found
him and his men washing out the cow barn.
After dinner, Frank, Marion and June went
down through Scaticook{??} to Bulls Bridge where
on the East side of the river below the bridge
we found the old Iron Furnice {Furnace}, which it is said
was first operated before the Revolutionary War
but was last run in 1896. It is now in ruins.
We left there and looked at Franks fine
potatoes and alfaffa {alfalfa} near the public school,
some of the fine hay he had cut. Then we went
up the Skiff Mountain Road and saw his
large piece of corn. Then on up the river road
to where Alder City formerly stood. To the grave
of John Rogers, a Civil War veteran, which is between
the road and river, and over which he has put
a good sized concrete monument.
We then drove to his house and I got into my
car. They put in cream, and other things and I
left for home at 4 P.M. Drove 15 miles to New Milford
and got Mrs. Giddings. Then we came through
Washington, Hotchkissville, North Woodbury, Watertown,
Oakville, Waterville, to Mill Plain at 6.30.
06/15/{1939} (Thursday)
This day I spent much time doing nothing as my
side hurt when I worked. This afternoon Dick came
and we mowed around the garden, etc. I hoed some
in the garden.
06/16/{1939} (Friday)
This morning George Hall and Margaret came
with his new Buic {Buick} car and took sister Mary
and me to their summer house at Wolcott
Center where we remained all day and had
dinner and supper. He took me through his
extensive grounds of ten acres or more, the
entire place being covered with clipped walks,
rock gardens, groves, swimming pool, vegetable
gardens, fruit, flowering plants and springs
with many other novelties such as I have never saw
anywhere else.
06/17/1939 (Saturday)
This is the 164 anniversary of the Battle of Bunker
Hill. We hear little of it now.
This has been a nice fair day. Not hot like 1775 which
was one of the hottest days ever known.
I have done odd jobs about home. Not feeling very well.
06/18/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
In the afternoon after a fine dinner of roast beef, etc.,
I went to East Farms and got Mr. Adkins{??} five
gallons of gas for which I paid .68 cts. I then went up
the Pierpont Road and out the Meriden Road, up the
Todd Road, up the East Bristol Road to Mark Tutter
corner then to the Center and to Margaret's where I
went down the path to the swimming pool where I
sat on a bench and wrote letters the rest of the
afternoon, when I came home.
06/19/{1939} (Monday)
This day in the forenoon I spent the time writing
to Mrs. Edeth J. Kebian, 131 Dwight St., New Haven
about her ancesters {ancestors}, Mix and Blakeslee who lived in
Prospect about 1845. In the afternoon, Dick
came and we took a load of hay to the farm.
06/20/1939 (Tuesday)
This morning I worked in the garden planting the
corn over and do other odd jobs. This afternoon
wend{??} over to Cheshire and saw Emma Doolittle then
went to Prospect to see Ruth Hotchkiss but could not
get there on account of the Waterbury Road being
blocked in front of the New Catholic Church where
it is being made over and the steam shovels are at
work, so I came over the old Waterbury Road.
This evening we went to sister Iva's who gave a
shower for Fritsa and Margaret. There were a
great number of relations and friends present
and each received a card table full of presents.
06/21/{1939} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and staked out
the ox. Then I came home and repaired the hose
pipe and sprinkled the garden. Dick came and
painted rose{??} racks, and we cleaned the path
to the Wheelhouse, and then went to the
farm and put in Buster. We went to the store
and I left my black suit to be cleaned and
pressed.
06/22/1939 (Thursday)
I did odd jobs about the home place and in the
afternoon went to the Hotchkiss Place in Prospect to
see about cemeteries, and how the new Waterbury Road
is getting on. They have the greater part of the grading
done. The new Union City Road they have nearly
completed. They are putting on the last of the hard
finish.
06/23/1939 (Friday)
This morning I worked in the garden, and repaired the
old hose that belongs to the fire engine, and then
sprinkled it. Dick came this afternoon and helped
me to repair the hose pipe, and then he mowed the
lawn, etc.
06/24/{1939} (Saturday)
The Great event to day was the marriage of Fritsa to
Professor Clifford Heaton of New York City. It was
the grandest wedding ever held in the Mill Plain
Union Church. The church was well filled with guests.
The Episcapal {Episcopal} service was used by Rev. Mr. Madden
at four o'clock in the afternoon, after which a reception
was held in the Church Parlors and soon after
they left amid a great shower of confetti for a
two weeks wedding trip to nobody knows where.
06/25/1939 (Sunday)
To day I attended the Pierpont family reunion
which was held at the Second Congregational
Church in Greenwich. I went with Raymond and
Ruth Miller. There were nearly about 100 present, and
all had a good time.
After dinner they took me through a large garden
and Estate of a wealthy man. There was the greatest
variety of flowers, shrubs, vines and mases{??} that I
ever heard of. We rode on the New Merritt Park way
for a long distance.
06/26/{1939} (Monday)
To day I worked in the garden and did other jobs
about home. Dick came and cleaned from the front
fence and we put up the rose arbour{arbor??} in the front yard.
This afternoon we went to Cheshire and
got feed, then drove through Brookvale, and East Prospect,
home.
06/27/1939 (Tuesday)
This morning I drove over to Mill Dale to Clarks
Bolt Shop to see Ed Todd about the East Farms
Cemetery. After dinner Charles Urban saw
me about renting the up stairs tenement
after Fritsa goes to New York.
06/28/{1939} (Wednesday)
To day Dick and I worked repairing the fence by the
Frost road and did other jobs.
06/29/{1939} (Thursday)
The weather has been very dry. The dryest {driest} June since
1912, so the paper says. This morning Dick and I
went to the farm. I hoed the corn, and he the
ground for the cabbages. In the afternoon I drove
down to Prospect but could not go out the main
road as it was closed by the workmen who are
making it over.
This evening it began to rain, the first of any
account this month. A few days after I got out
of the hospital, Dick and I planted some potatoes
at the farm. The ground was so dry that only a
few are up now.
06/30/1939 (Friday)
This morning I made a cage of laths to put
setting hens in, and hung it up on the grape
arbor by the girage {garage??}. In the afternoon, as it was
wet, Dick and I set out 200 cabbage plants at
the farm. This evening Mr. George Goodwin
came to see me. Dick came this evening
from New York.
It rained for the most part all day. It will do
a lot of good.
07/01/1939 (Saturday)
This morning Dick Miller ate breakfast with me
and dinner also. He helped Dick Pierpont mow
down by the Wheelhouse. This afternoon Pierpont and
I raked the hay up and carried it to the farm and
put it on the mow.
07/02/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. This afternoon I visited
John Todd on the Todd Road.
The weather to day has been perfect.
07/03/{1939} (Monday)
To day has been perfect weather. Richard Pierpont
came and clipped all the grass that we cut with
the lawn mower. I filed a saw for Tony Cairlo
and ground up the scythes. After dinner we took
a small load of hay to the farm, and there
hoed the potatoes, corn, etc. A few boys at various
places were firing off fire crackers which they
buy in Wolcott or adjoining towns. Here
the police are raising about to ketch{catch??} the boys
who violate the City law prohibiting the sale
and use of fireworks.
My sister's birthday was this day, 77 years
old, and at her daughters, Mrs. Phillip Royter's.
They had a party. I was present, as was my
sister Iva and her children and their families,
10 in all.
07/04/1939 (Tuesday)
This morning Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield Gillette called
for me at 11 A.M. and I went with them to Mr. Radcliff's
cottage at Laurel Beach in Milford, where we
found Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Service, Mr. and Mrs. Radcliff,
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gillette, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
Pierpont and two children came later. There were also
Miss Margery Service, Ruth Royter, and three or four
others. We went down through the back road to
Union City, then through Beacon Falls and at
Seymour crossed the wide new concrete bridge
that replaced the old wood covered bridge. Then
down the West side of the river through West Ansonia
and Derby and over the Housatonic to Shelton and
down the new river road to Stratford. Then crossed
the Washington Bridge, into Milford along the
Post road and turning South to the Beach. But alas
the old marshes and land is all covered with
streets and buildings, and where I used to dig
clams over 60 years ago, the bars are covered with
people and no clams are to be found. In my
younger days, there was a small hotel at
Burns Point, one on Charles Island, one at
Meadows End and 4 or 5 shacks on Milford
Point and no other buildings along the shore.
We had supper there and about nine we left
Wm and Iva Gillette, Mr ------- and I in Wills
new Buick and came to the Post road and
found two processions of autos, one going East,
the other going West. We fell in with those going
East and passing Milford, turned North and
came through Orange and on to Woodbridge
where we turned East and over to the New Prospect
Road and home. When we came down East
Mountain, we saw the fine display of fireworks
that were set off in Hamilton Park and they
were in full view the rest of the way home. They
left me at my house a little after ten and I stood
out and watched the rockets and other pretty fireworks.
Nice weather to day.
07/05/1939 (Wednesday)
Richard Pierpont came this morning and we
mowed the lower end of my lot by the Wheel
House. the grass was big and the weeds tough
and I strained my side and have been in great
pain ever since. I lay down after sinner, but got up
at 1.30 and took my Pick Up and took some letters to
Spindle Hill, and then called on Margaret at
the Center. Then came home and we heaped up
the hay, and I have done but little ever since.
07/06/1939 (Thursday)
This forenoon I did odd jobs, and in the afternoon
sharpened 11 drills, the first tools I have sharpened
since early March.
07/07/{1939} (Friday)
Dick and I did odd jobs. I went over the
garden and got the weeds all out. dick mowed
East of the chicken house.
We took a good load of hay to the farm.
07/08/{1939} (Saturday)
Fritsa and Cliff returned from their wedding
trip to night. I worked at the farm, and
did work on my little car.
07/09/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew Madden preached.
After dinner I went over to Plantsville to see Mr.
Edward Todd about East Farms Cemetery matters
but he was asleep so I came away.
After I got home, Mrs. Giddings son came from
Stamford and we had a fine dinner, after which
we took a ride up to Waterville and saw the Chase
Metal Works Buildings. Then we went North and
turned East and passed Hoadleyville{??}, but before
we reached Terryville, we turned right and up
Fall Mountain to Wolcott Center, and saw Margaret,
then down through Woodtick and home.
They left for Stamford before dark.
07/10/1939 (Monday)
This morning I sharpened tools. Dick came
and we went to the farm, and worked there the
rest of the day.
07/11/{1939} (Tuesday)
This morning I sharpened tools. Dick came and
repaired the fence on the East Line, and mowed
the grass in the front yard.
We then went to the farm and cleaned out the
stables which have not been cleaned out since
before I was sick.
This evening Fritsa and Cliff, or Mr. and Mrs.
Clifford Heaton returned from New York.
07/12/1939 (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools, then went to the
farm and Dick and I plowed out the corn and
potatoes and hoed the whole garden.
This evening I attended a meeting of the East
Farms Cemetery Association. I offered my
resergnation {resignation} as President, but they would
not have it, and elected the shame officers as
they had before, Howard Neal, Secretary, and
M.E. Pierpont, Treasurer.
07/13/{1939} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the Colonial Trust Co.
and got my Mill Plain Union Church Bonds
Coupons, cashed $70.00, then went to the Waterbury
Savings Bank deposited 30.50 in checks.
Then came home, had dinner and took a ride
to Prospect and made a bad call, then went
to Straitsville and South on N.H. road to Hotchkiss
Corner then up through Prospect to the Plank
road and through Mixville and home.
07/14/{1939} (Friday)
Sharpened tools till noon. Then went to the farm and
put fertilizer on my cabbages, and hoed them etc.
07/15/1939 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools this morning. Richard Pierpont
came and clipped the grass in the backyard. The we
went to the farm and got the mowing machine
down, and put it together and repaired it. That
took the rest of the day.
Fritsa and Cliff came home from Starrs{??} yesterday
and brought Ronny back home.
07/16/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mortimer Owen of the Banker Hill Church
officiated. When the collection was taken up, I put
in envelopes to fill the plate all it would hold
as I had many that were sent to Mary all of
which I put in .25. Then there were many extra ones
in which I put in .10 and I was back on my own,
in these I used .60. All together they totaled about
33.75 in silver, the largest I ever gave at any
collection. After dinner I went to Prospect
and had a fine visit with Senetor {Senator} Joseph Lawler,
after which I came to Mr. Williams, then to the
farm and put up Buster, then home and Mrs.
Giddings had a fine supper for me.
07/17/{1939} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this morning. After breakfast I
ran the washing machine, then ground the mowing
machine knives and scythes, then
went to the farm and rigged the machine ready
for use, cleaned the stable, etc.
07/18/{1939} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this morning, then went to the
farm with Dick Pierpont to help hitched {hitch} Buster
into the mowing machine and mowed about 1/8 of
an acre of heavy grass and we dried it ang {and} got it
in the barn. Dick tried to drive the ox but found
that he could not manage him, so I had to
drive him, and I made better work than I thought
I could. I received a very interesting letter from
my grand daughter, Enid Forsberg from S.E.
Soudan{??}, East Africa.
07/19/1939 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this morning. Then I took my little
car and drove to Orange at Garden Street and
engaged Mrs. Mary Ingraham to come and
work for me on Aug. 1st, as Mrs. Giddins {Giddings} is
going to get through the last of this month.
07/20/1939 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this morning. Dick came and
painted trellises and we split wood. Then we
went to the farm, with Cliff Heaton and I
showed him the bounds of their lot that
Mary gave to Clyde.
Dick and I worked on the lane fence.
07/21/1939 (Friday)
This morning I sharpened tools, and went to the
store with Mrs. Giddings. Dick came and did
odd jobs and we split a lot of appletree wood.
After dinner we went to the farm and worked
on the fence in the lane.
07/22/{1939} (Saturday)
I sharpened tools this morning. Then dick and
I went to the farm and worked repairing
the lane fence.
The weather to day has been fine.
07/23/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew Madding {Madden??} officiated. His subject,
"The Impact of Gossip Upon the Soul."
This afternoon I visited John Todd.
07/24/1939 (Monday)
Dick and I went to the farm and mowed the
lot North of the barn and got it in N.E{??} the
part of it East of the path to the gate.
07/25/{1939} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this morning and went to the
farm with Dick and did odd jobs.
07/26/{1939} (Wednesday)
Dick and I mowed the lot next {to} the street at
the farm with the ox and mowing machine.
Cliff Heaton came and helped mow by hand.
In the afternoon, Dick and I raked it up and
got it in the barn. We had bad luck as
the gears locked on the truck and the truck
was stuck between a manure pile and the
barn. We had to move the manure, and get
the ox and hitch on the truck and pull it
out. Blanchard worked 4 hrs.
07/27/{1939} (Thursday)
This morning Dick and I went to Cheshire and
got lumber, log cement and bag{s} of oats.
Dick cut grass, helped Blanchard, and we split wood.
Blanchard worked 8 hours.
07/28/{1939} (Friday)
This morning I sharpened tools and went to the
farm. Then went up to John Wakelees in Wolcott
and got sand. Dick and I split old appletree
wood, then went to Cheshire and got feed and
a plank for front step.
The weather is very hot, every day.
Blanchard worked eight hours.
07/29/{1939} (Saturday)
This morning Dick and I split wood, and helped
Blanchard. This afternoon Dick and I painted some,
but it rained and we had to stop. We then cleaned
up after Blanchard. He got through at noon. Four
hours. A total of twenty four hours = 24.00
07/30/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madding {Madden??} preached, his subject
was, "The Rich Man and the Beggar."
07/31/{1939} (Monday)
This morning I took Mrs. Mary Giddings to her
home in New Milford. Dick and Alice Pierpont
and Ronny Miller went, then we went to Franks
at Kent where we had dinner.
08/01/1939 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to East Farms and engaged
Alice Pierpont to come and work for me to day.
Dick came and painted the greater part of the
day. This evening I went to the rehersal {rehearsal} of
the Mattatuck Drum Band. The Plainville
Corps were there as guests.
08/02/{1939} (Wednesday)
This morning Dick and I went to Cheshire and
got a bag of cement and lumber. then we put up a
farm{??} for coping on the wall at the North West
corner of the house.
08/03/{1939} (Thursday)
Dick and I put concrete coping on top of wall
at North West corner of house.
08/04/{1939} (Friday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day. Went and paid
electric light bill. Dick cut grass and did other
jobs. Had a letter from Mrs. Margaret Pitkin of
137 Fayette St. Lowell, Mass. of Mrs. M Clifford applying
for a job.
08/05/1939 (Saturday)
This morning I sharpened tools. Alice Pierpont
came at about ten. Then I got the Washing machine
out and did the washing. Alice hung them out.
After dinner I worked in the garden, and did
odd jobs till supper time. Alice got a fine supper,
after which she washed all the dishes up and I
carryed {carried} her home in my little truck.
I received a letter to night from Miss Emma
Haywood, East Harwich, Mass. Cape Cod.
applying for a job housekeeping.
08/06/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. No subject on program.
This afternoon I went to Margaret's in Wolcott and had
supper there.
08/07/{1939} (Monday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day. Dick went
home at noon.
I received a letter from Mrs. Jennie R. Sartuell,
Winchester, N.H. for a job of housekeeping.
08/08/1939 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day. Took my truck
to Mr. Hammans and had it repaired.
Received a letter to day from Miss Emma
Haywood from Boston General Delivery,
Devonshire Street.
08/09/1939 (Wednesday)
This morning I got up at 5:45 and cooked my
own breakfast, as I do every morning, and
after I had eaten it, I went to the farm and
Dick and I mowed, with the machine with the
ox to draw it, the North East corner of the
barn lot. We raked it up and got it in.
It was well that we did for it rained hard
this evening.
08/10/1939 (Thursday)
Dick and I mowed by hand the remainder of the barn
lot at East Farms and we got it in.
Alice Pierpont got through working for me to
night.
08/11/{1939} (Friday)
I have stayed about home all day. went up to
the Mill Plain Diner and got dinner. Got breakfast
and supper myself. Has{??} letter from Emma Haywood
to night and answered it.
08/12/{1939} (Saturday)
I have been about home all day writing some
and doing odd jobs. Mailed a letter to Miss Emma
Haywood this morning. Got telegram this afternoon
that she would come next Monday or Tuesday. I
answered back to come as soon as possible.
08/13/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
A salvation army officer officiated, as Mr. Madden
is away on his vacation. I got my own meals
and staid home all day.
08/14/{1939} (Monday)
I worked about home all day, only I went down town
this morning. I received a letter from Irving and
one from Mrs. Mary Ingrahan, #7 Green St, Merrimac,
Mass., Miss Emma Haywood.
08/15/{1939} (Tuesday)
I got my own breakfast this morning and washed
up the dishes. Then I went to the farm and Dick and
I mowed with Buster, the West end of the orchard on
the hill, and got it in.
08/16/{1939} (Wednesday)
This forenoon I worked about home. In the afternoon I
went to the Rail Road station to meet Miss Emma
Haywood who was coming from Boston to do
housework for me, but she didn't come. But when
I got home she was sitting on the varanda {veranda} waiting
for me. She had come through on the bus.
To day the Jury found Mayor Hayes and 18 others
guilty of defrauding the City of Waterbury out
of over three million dollars. The trial started
last November.
08/17/{1939} (Thursday)
This morning Miss Haywood got my breakfast
and then I went out to East Farms and got Harold,
Alice and Richard Pierpont and then we drove
over and across Bulls Bridge into York State
where they got on the Appalattion {Appalachian} Trail that
comes from Florida and goes to Maine. There
I left them and I went to Franks in Kent and
they were to follow the trail over the mountains
and were going to stay at Franks place to night.
I staid about Franks till three and then left for
home. I came through Warren, Romford, Waterville,
Lakewood, Mill Plain and home, the whole being
80.3 miles.
08/18/1939 (Friday)
This morning I sharpened tools and unloaded the
truck. Then Emma and I went to the store and got
some groceries, and I did odd jobs about the place.
08/19/1939 (Saturday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools, etc. This afternoon
I went to Bridgeport to the State Firemens Annual
Parade. Edward Garthwait called for me, and
took me to Hitchcocks Lake to the Fire Engine
house where there was two busses waiting, one
for the men and one for the women to go in.
We left there at 1.30 and reached Bridgeport some
after two. The line of march was about five
miles long and ended on Pleasure Island.
It began to rain soon after the First Division
reached the Island, and by the time the eighth
division, an hour later, reached there, it was
raining quite hard. We had a sandwich or two
and a bottle or two of soda for lunch. But there
was not much left after the third division got in.
We left there about 10.30 and I reached home
a little before twelve.
08/20/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mrs. Gertrude Coe preached. Her
subject was, "God and the Harvest".
After dinner, Emma Haywood and I went for an
auto ride. We went up through Wolcott, and through
Bristol, then up through Edgewood, and out the
Copper mine road to Lake Garda{??}, then down to
Plainville, and over Pine street to the Forestville
School House, then down past Componce Pond
and South and up the Southington Mountain on
the Meriden Road and home. The day has been
warm and muggy.
08/21/{1939} (Monday)
Hot high humidity. I sharpened tools this morning.
After breakfast, I got the washing machine
out and Emma Haywood and I did the largest
washing that has been done in my house in
five years.
This day I suppose ends up the great conspiracy
trial that has lasted more than seven
months in which it has been proven that the
following convicted men with others
have defrauded the tax payers out of over three
million dollars in the City of Waterbury.
Sentence is to be imposed this afternoon by
Judge Inglis of Middletown on the following
men: T. Frank Hayes, Mayor of the City
of Waterbury since 1930 and between 1935 and
1939, Lieutenant Governor of the state of Connecticut.
2. Daniel J. Leary, Former controller of the City
of Waterbury, and prominent business man.
3. Carl D. Olsen, former Vice President and Treasurer
of the Waterbury Trust Company and former
member of the police board.
4. Thomas P. Kelley, member of the board of Aldermen,
and executive secretary to Mayor Hayes.
5. Thomas J. Fleming, Superintendant {Superintendent} of Streets
6. Martin J. Dunn, attorney, former purchasing
agent for the city.
7. Charles S. O'Connor, Corparation {Corporation} Council for
the City for past 16 years.
8. John H. Grary, Chairman of the Democratic
Town Committee, for many years and City
assessor.
9. Thomas A. Shanahan, City assessor for years.
10. Phillip Coppeto, contractor.
11. Frank Santalusia, contractor.
12. James P. Healey, local business man.
13. Henry Minor, lawyer, Chairman of the City
Police Board, and and member of Fire Board.
14. Simon J. Alderman, New Haven auditor.
15. Donato Pietraria, Bristol contractor.
16. John G. Purdie, New York private detective.
17. John S. Johnson, New York broker and business
associate of Leary.
18. George H. Kingsley of Bogota, N.J., main
partner in New York auditing firm which
made annual City audit.
19. John W. Meany of Bogota, N.J., a partner
in the George H. Kingsley & Co.
20. Edward G. Leavy, New Haven, Lawyer,
pleaded guilty.
21. Harry MacKenzie, Bethel, Lobbyist, pleaded
guilty.
22. Charles G. Willamson, Daren, Lawyier {Lawyer} and
lobbyist, who was found guilty by Judge
Inglist.
23. Timothy Morgan, City Hall Superintendant {Superintendent},
who pleaded nolo contendere.
08/22/{1939} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this morning a while. This
evening I went with the Mattatuck Drum Band
to Plainville to visit the Plainville Drum Corps
and there they drummed.
Mayor Frank Hayes and the others were sentenced
yesterday afternoon. They all took appeals to the Supreme
Court, and are now out on bonds, as follows,
Sentence Bonds
Mayor T. Frank Hayes 10 to 15 years 50.000
Daniel J. Leary 10 to 15 years 50.000
Carl D. Olsen 7 to 12 years 50.000
Thomas P. Kelley 7 to 12 years 50.000
Thomas J. Fleming 1 to 3 years and 500. 10.000
Martin J. Dunn 2 to 6 years and $500 10.000
Charles S. O'Connor 2 to 6 years and $500 10.000
John H. Grary 2 months Jail and $500 5.000
Thomas A. Shanahan 2 months Jail and $500 5.000
Phillip Cappeto 4 to 8 years and 500 25.000
Timothy J. Morgan Judgement suspended, no record
Frank J. Santalusia 4 to 8 years and $500 $25.000
James P. Healey 2 to 5 years and $500 $10.000
Henry W. Minor 1 to 5 years and $500 $10.000
Harry E. MacKenzie 9 months in Jail In Jail
Charles E. Williamson 1 year and $500 10.000
Edward G. Leavy 1 year in Jail In Jail
Simon J. Alderman 1 to 5 years and 500 $7.500
Donato Pietraria 2 to 5 years and $500 $10.000
John G. Purdie 1 year in Jail and $500 $10.000
John S. Johnston 2 to 5 years and $500 $20.000
George H. Kingsley 1 to 3 years and $500 $10.000
John W. Meany 1 year in Jail, $500 $10.000
08/23/1939 (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools, then I polished the
buttons on my uniform and took it to the tailors
to have it cleaned and pressed. This afternoon, I went
to the farm, and arranged to hitch the mowing
machine {to the} back of the truck. Went to Mr. Tyler's and
had some sawing done.
08/24/{1939} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this morning. Then I made a device
to hitch my mowing machine back of my
truck to mow.
08/25/{1939} (Friday)
This morning I sharpened tools and made mower
irons. Went and got my uniform that was
pressed, and did other odd jobs. Went to the
farm and worked on the mowing machine but
the rain drove me back home.
Margaret Hall and Ruth Brundage (my daughters)
called this evening and they put a patch
in my buff uniform pants.
08/28/{1939} (Monday)
Last Saturday I went to the Worlds Fair at New
York with the Mattatuck Drum Band, and came
home last night with Mansfield and Will Gillette.
At 6.30 Saturday morning the Band which was in
an Eagle large Buss called for me, and at the
Center we took on a number of boys at the Elton
Hotel. Then we went out West Main St. and on
through Middlebury, Woodbury, Southbury,
across the Housatonic River at Sandy Hook,
at the underpass of the Rail Road which cleared
our load of drums on the top of the buss by only
one half inch. Much care had to be taken. Then
we went on through Newtown to Danbury where
we stoped {stopped} about half an hour, then on through
Ridgebury, and into York state and on to
New York City which we entered by Central
Park Avenue, but before reaching the Park we
turned left, and after winding and turning
many corners passed over the Whitestone Bridg {Bridge}
and some miles beyond, drove into the grounds
of the Fair. Here we left the Buss at about ten
o'clock and after going some distance, climed {climbed?}
up many stairs to the bridge walk that would
take us into the fair. But instead we crossed
it and went down many stairs, then we walked on
the level some distance, then down many stairs
to a subway station where we boarded a train
and were yanked over and through tunnels
to New York where we got out at 8th Avenue, and
climed {climbed?} to the street, and went to the Capitol
Hotel, corner of 50th street, where we arranged for
our rooms. Mine was No. 2010 and I had for comrades,
Pete Shea and two Putnam Phalanx men.
As it was near noon now, we went out on the
street where I fell in with Howard Neal and we
went to a restaurant and got dinner, after which
we thought that we would go over to Brooklyn and
see a ball game. But Howard hears{??} some boys
talking about it and they said that there would
be a great crowd there, and one might not be able
to get in. So we decided to go to the Fair and we
took a subway train that took us over, but on
the other side it went up and up until it became
a high elevated train. When we reached the station,
we had to jump off lively to get the train out of the
way of the next. Then we had to walk over a
high bridge about 60 ft. wide and near 1/2 mile
in length to where we put a 50 ct. price in a
slot which released a turn stile and we
entered the Fair and after going down grade{??}
for a distance were on the ground at the
Worlds Fair. I have attended the Centennial
Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876, the Foreign
Exposition at Boston in 1888, the Jamestown
Exposition in 1907 and the Suski Centennial
in Philadelphia in 1926. But this is much the
largest of any that I have seen, and the general
features are different. Here the motive{??} power
is electricity or gasoline where at the others it
was steam or water. Here the buildings and
roofs are of concrete where at the others they
were of wood, stone or brick, while the roofs were
of wood, iron or slate.
There was a huge cash register that appeared
to be made of concrete on the top of one of
the highest buildings that was the size
of a two story dwelling house. It revolved
slowly and it recorded the attendance each
hour in plain sight of all that looked up
at it. At 10 o'clock, Saturday night it regerstered {registered}
206,868 that had attended that day. On the
next day, Sunday, there were many more.
At the Centennial in Sept. 1876, I was there on
New York day{??} and the attendance was 135,00,
the largest up to that date. A few days later
was Pennsylvania day with the largest number,
235,00.
My time was limited from about 2.15 to 10.30
P.M. Three times I rode about the grounds in
the sight seeing trains and busses and each
time the route was different, and each time
I saw wonders, and buildings that I had not
seen before. I went through several buildings
and saw automobiles that would start and stop
at the command of a person standing a distance
away with no one inside. At the word it would
open and close the doors, and turn on and off the
lights, stear {steer} to the right and to the left. In fact -|
it seemed to be as well broke as my old ox,
"Buster", is and it was wonderful.
But the most wonderful of all that I saw
was shown by the Corning Glass Co. Brittle glass
such as windows are made of was drawn into fine
fiber, and about 6 or 8 of these were spun together
on a regular spinning frame such as spins
cotton thread, and the thread then was wove
into cloth on a fast running loom striking about
200 strokes per minute I should judge. Some of the
thread was braded {braided??} into tape or tape machines.
The thread was very strong. I could not pull strong
enough to break it though only 6/1000 of an inch diameter.
The thread and cloth has more of a glass than silk
and about as pliable. water does not effect it much
and they had curtains of many shades and tints.
This process was invented about four years ago.
Neal and I took a subway train that landed us
at 50th St. on 8th Av. at out {our??} Hotel and I got to
bed at midnight. After a good night's sleep we
all got up at about 6 A.M. Soon 200 troops arrived
from Boston and then they kept coming from
other places. Neal and I went out and got our
breakfast at a restaurant. Then I staid at the
hotel till 11 A.M. when it was time for the Band
to fall in and head the Putnam Phalanx to the
Pennsylvania Station. The boys loaded their
suit cases into a taxy{??} and Joe Howell, Pete Shea
and I rode over 12 miles to our Buss where we
waited till 2.30 for the other boys to come. They
were required to, after getting off the car's head
the military organizations acroos the half mile
bridge and into the grounds, and then came
and get their drums. {?? Sentence does not make sense} Then we went to the
place where the parade formed near the
center of the grounds, and after some delay
the parade of the organizations of the Centennial
Ligion {Legion??}, about 1800 in all, men from New Hampshire
to South Carolina, all observed the anniversary
of the Battle of Long Island, fought 1776.
Near the Johns Manville Exhibit where the parade
started I was surprised to meet Will Gillette and
Mansfield. They had driven down in the fore-|
noon and they invited me {to} ride home with
them. We were to meet at the "Court of Peace"
where the parade was to be reviewed and
dismissed. I was in uniform, but not in the
parade. I walked by the nearest course, about
two miles to the Court and saw the boys come
in, and the review and exercises after which I
kept with Will and Mansfield, and we walked
a long way across the ground to the main gate.
On the way we went through the French Building
which was full of wonders.
Outside the gate we went to the parking grounds
and found Mansfield's car among the thousands
there and started for home, crossing the White-|
stone Bridge, and on till we entered Connecticut
at Greenwich where we paid our third toll of 10 cts.
Previously Mansfield had paid 25 and 10 cts. Then
we came at 50 miles per hour over the New Merrit
Park way to Westport, the end. There we went
North to Bethel, then on towards Newtown. Someone
said something about stopping for something
to eat. To this I readily agreed as I had eaten
nothing except a hot dog since early breakfast.
We stopped at Sidney Bronson's Place, this side
of Lake Zoar{??}, where we had a fine meal.
Then on home, stopping at Mansfield's house
and Lydia came with us to my house which
we reached about ten o'clock.
08/29/{1939} (Tuesday)
This morning I began sharpening tools which
job{??} lasted all day as Tony had three stone
cutters working.
08/30/{1939} (Wednesday)
Rained all day. I sharpened tools all the time
but am not caught up, as they keep bringing
them in.
08/31/{1939} (Thursday)
Rained hard this morning. I sharpened tools the
greater part of the day.
Emma Haywood went away this evening.
09/01/1939 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Dick Pierpont came
and mowed the grass, then we went to the farm
and hitched the mowing machine back of the the truck
and mowed about half of the orchard on the hill.
To night Louvane Fox called and gave me a card
from Alex Smith of Clintonville inviting me
to his place on Sept 10.
09/02/{1939} (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and Dick and
I mowed the remainder of the orchard on the
hill and raked it up and got it in.
09/03/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Joseph Johnson preached. His subject was,
"Whose Son is Christ."
I came home and had dinner, after which
Emma went away and I took my car and
went to the Maple Hill and saw Bessie Pierpont,
then went to Wolcott Center to see Margaret
but no one was at home, so I came down to
Fairlawn and saw sister Mary, then home
and had supper, and then wrote for the Round
Robin.
09/04/{1939} (Monday)
Labor day. Emma, Ronney and I went to the
Goshen Fair. There I saw Avary Vale{??} about
the Bass Drum.
The new Mayor of Waterbury, Patrick M. Perrillo, is
now in power. Last Saturday Mayor T. Frank Hayes
who is under sentence of 10 to 15 years in prison
resigned, and within an hour Perrillo was sworn
in.
09/05/{1939} (Tuesday)
This morning Dick and I started mowing on the
hill but the rain stoped {stopped} us.
09/06/{1939} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. This afternoon
Dick and I mowed the big lot on the hill.
When I got home to night Brother Frank was
here from Groton and we had a good visit.
Mr Goldsmith was coming over and he brought
him.
09/07/{1939} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. This afternoon
I went to the farm and began raking up
the hay on the hill. Soon Dick came and we
raked it all up, 31 heaps, and loaded it on the
little truck and we put it in the barn.
Mr. Goldsmith came this afternoon and took
Frank and they went up to the Waterbury
Rolling Mills, but the failed to see Robert
Somers.
09/08/1939 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. At 8.30, Mr. Goldsmith
called with a new Pontiac car for Frank and
they were going first to Bristol, then to Simsbury,
then to Hartford and on home to Groton.
This afternoon I went up to Wolcott and saw Margaret
and made arrangements to go to the Springfield
Fair. Then I went to the farm and put ashes on the cabbages.
09/09/1939 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools the greater part of the day.
Dick came this afternoon and clipped the grass
after which we went to the farm and pulled weeds
out of potatoes.
09/10/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew Madden preached. Subject, "Our American
Homes." I had a blowout and Charles Urban fixed
it. After dinner, Mr. Louvane Fox called and we
drove to Mr. Alex Smiths place on the Pond
Hill Road at Clintonville, where we joined
delegations from the Old Brunnells, Stony Creek,
Higgamum{??} and other Drum Corps, and we
drummed in Mrs. Smith's apple packing
house, and there enjoyed a fine dinner.
It rained some so we were obliged to stay
in doors. We reached home about seven
o'clock.
09/11/{1939} (Monday)
I sharpened tools most of the time to day. I went to
the store and got groceries and went to the American
Legion, 17 Hotmes Avenue and carried Mr. Fox apples
and brief{??} home.
09/12/{1939} (Tuesday)
To day I sharpened tools and did odd jobs
about home and pulled weeds at the farm.
09/13/{1939} (Wednesday)
I did odd jobs about home all day and sharpened
some drills for Andrew Kitchenka, and pulled
weeds at the farm.
09/14/1939 (Thursday)
Worked repairing the furnace pipe, etc. most of the
day. Howard Neal called this evening to see
about making a list of members of the Mattatuck
Drum Band.
09/15/1939 (Friday)
One year ago to day Mary died. To day I have staid
about home all day nearly. Went to the bank and
got my pension check cashed and then paid my
electric bill, 6.25.
09/16/{1939} (Saturday)
Worked in the Wheelhouse on the furnace pipe
all day. Weather very hot.
Emma Haywood told me this morning that she
will get through in two weeks.
09/17/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. Subject, "The Law of Sacrifice."
This afternoon I went to Mr. Wilson's on the Stilson
Road and saw Mrs. Wilson and a fine trailer that
her daughter and husband came across the country
from Oregon in, and they told me all about the
Warners and Aviatts{??} that went to Portland in
1892. All but one who went from here are dead.
From there I went to M. E. Pierponts Grove at
East Farms where the Mattatuck Drum Band
had a fine dinner which included reguld{??}
Rhode Island Clam Bake. The Bake was in
the charge of Mr. George Cass of Wallingford who did his
part to perfection. President Ralph Pierpont
with a corps of assistants handled the tables
and Sargeant{Sergeant} Andrew Kitchenka, the refreshment
stand. There were present members of the
Putnam Phalanx of Hartford, drummers and
fifers from Plainville, Wolcott, Wallingford,
Hartford, and Waterbury.
All were loud in proclaiming this a most successful
gathering of the one hundred and seventy two
year old organization.
09/18/1939 (Monday)
Very cold morning and cool all day. I sharpened tools
all the forenoon. Worked on the furnace pipe all the
afternoon.
09/19/{1939} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the American Legion Home
and saw Mr. Fox. Then I came home and worked on
the heating furnace. After dinner I went to Wolcott
and saw Margaret and George, about going to
Springfield Fair next Thursday. Then I drove
over Spindle Hill and down Fall Mountain nearly
to Hancocks Station, then out to Bristol Road and
turned off and went up the Mountain to Cedar
Swamp Pond, then across the dam and down
the Waterbury Road and turned down the County
Road to Hitchcocks Lake and in the Meriden
Road and down the Pierpont Road to East Farms
and home.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Sincaster called
to see about renting the upstairs.
09/20/{1939} (Wednesday)
This morning I went and with Mr. Fox to the American
and Democrat Office to have a notice about the Mattatuck
Band put in the paper.
I did odd jobs about the house.
09/21/{1939} (Thursday)
Went to Eastern States Exposition at Springfield.
In a prominent place in front of the Main
Building was a large sign which had on it,
Baby Beef
Grand Championship
Won by Dwight S. Miller of Kent, Conn.
Weight 1090 lbs., Sold to First National
Starr of East Hartford, Conn. Price 54 cts., pound.
So it brought about $588.60. Good for Dwight.
Emma Haywood and I rode to the Fair with
Margaret and her husband, George Hall.
We left here at 7.00 and drove to their place
on Wolcott Hill where we got into their new Buic {Buick}
and then went to Bristol, to Farmington then
through Avon, Simsbury, Granby, Southwick,
and Feeding Hills to West Springfield, which
we reached soon after 9.15. Paid 1.00 each admission
and 1.00 for the car. It was a grand fair
with much to be seen. We saw Dwight and the
prize steer, and after a time saw Frank, Elsie,
Marion and Bertha from Kent, Prof. Harry
Garrigus from Starrs and Mr. and Mrs.
Cooley of Waterbury. We left there at 4.00 for
home, came through Suffield, Windsor Locks{??},
Winsoa{??}, Bloomfield, West Hartford, where
we stoped {stopped} at the Hall place and Rigg St.
for a short time then on to Wolcott where Emma
and I got into my little car and came home,
reaching here before dark.
09/22/{1939} (Friday)
This would have been Mary's birth day had she
lived, but that was not to be. How differently I
would have done had I known that she was to go first.
But now it is to late.
Today I have done much the same as I do every
day about the place. Mr. Gladding and daughter called
this evening to see about the rent. He is from Cheshire.
09/23/{1939} (Saturday)
To day Dick Pierpont came and finished digging
the rain cistern West of the house, then we drew
two loads of stone on the truck and stoned it up.
We went to East Farms and got two flat stones,
2' long, 1 ft. wide and 6" thick and put them on the top.
I went with Albert Crandall to a street beyond
Knoll St. and laid out a fence that he is to build.
Mr. Carew called this evening to see about the
rent.
09/24/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. this afternoon I called
on David Plum and Walter Morse, both of Prospect.
Emma went away yesterday afternoon and came back to
night.
09/25/{1939} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this morning, then worked on the
furnace in the cellar the rest of the time.
Mr. Gladding and daughter of Cheshire called
this evening to engage the rent up stairs and so
did Mr. Careo{??} and wife to look at it.
09/26/{1939} (Tuesday)
This morning I went with Anthony Cairlo{??} to the
assessors office to have his shop put in his name.
Then went to the Town Clerk's office to get a manual
of the state. Then to the engineer's office to see about
numbering my house.
Came home, had dinner, and went to Bristol and
had my clutch tightened and a new battery put
in, then went to Forestville and saw Mr. Dresser{??},
then to Cheshire to see Mr. Gladding. He was not
home, then home, etc.
09/27/{1939} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Mr. Gladding
and daughters came to day and engaged the
rent in my house at 25.00 per month and 2.00
for the shed to keep his car in. He depsited {deposited} 2.00.
I have worked on the furnace, and painted it,
and got it ready to run.
09/28/{1939} (Thursday)
This morning I got the furnace in the cellar
going and went to the stores, etc. Then I sharpened
tools the rest of the day.
09/29/{1939} {Friday}
Sharpened tools all the forenoon. After dinner I
went to Bristol and had my little car repaired
and oiled and greased. Then I went to Cheshire
and got a bag of oats.
09/30/1939 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and Dick and
I mowed away the last load of hay and we put
up the mowing machine, and cut the corn and
put the stalks in the stable, and pulled the weeds
out of the cabbages, and cultivated the cabbages.
I told Emma Haward {Haywood} to get through next week.
10/01/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew Maddin {Madden} preached. Subject, "Christianity's
Greatest Enemy." After dinner I went out the Plank
Road and saw Walter Morse. Ray came this evening.
10/02/{1939} (Monday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon. Went down town
and did errands this afternoon, etc.
10/03/1939 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day.
This evening the big truck of the Mill Plain
Trucking Co. came and loaded a part of Fritsa's
furniture on and left here at 8.35 for Tuckahoe,
New York City, and Fritsa, Ronny and Bobbie
left at the same time. Bob is to return Thursday
and Fritsa is comming [coming} up next Saturday.
Her address is 295 Westchester Ave. Crestwood,
Tuckahoe, New York.
10/04/1939 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools all this forenoon. In the afternoon
I went to see Walter Morse in Prospect. But he was
going to see the doctor, as he was sick with the
tick dollarne{??}. He told me to see the work they were
doing on the Juggernat Road. Of that old narrow
crooked road, they are making a nice strait
wide hard gravel road. On this road at the
brook crossing, Dutton{??} B. Beecher in 1832 made
the first screw propeller ever known to the world, and
the engine that drove it, which he put in a boat and
used it on the Farmington Canal at West Cheshire.
10/05/1939 {Thursday}
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to Bristol
in the afternoon.
This evening Ed Croft, Ed Maher, and two
Kane Brothers called.
10/06/1939 (Friday)
I moved the pile of dirt West of the house and
cleaned the yard. In the afternoon I went to the
farm and dick and I mowed the garden
and the roadside about the watering trough.
10/07/{1939} (Saturday)
This forenoon I carried Emma Haywood and her trunk
and baggage to the depot where she took the train
for Boston. Her trunk was heavy, weighed over 200 lbs.
Dick Pierpont helped load it, and unload it at the
station. Then we came home and Dick got dinner
after which we went to the farm and tedded{??} out the
hay, then came home and made some irons for
Al Crandall. Then we went to the farm and
raked up and got in the hay by the road. Then I
came home and got my own supper, etc.
10/08/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew G. Madden preached. His subject was,
"The Power of Religion, Its Personal Incarnations."
After dinner I drove out the Plank Road to Mr.
Frank Brook's place, and talked over the history of
Mr. George Hine and his Blacksmith shop.
10/09/1939 (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to Cheshire and
got a bag of scratch feed, 185{??}, and stoped {stopped} at the Maple
Hill Dairy and paid my milk bill, 7.00. At the farm,
I raked up the hay, then came home and got
supper and ate it all by myself.
Wrote Stephen Gladding of Cheshire, and told him
the upstairs rent will be ready after next Thursday.
10/10/1939 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. After dinner I did odd
jobs, and took a load of furniture over to Hansons
in Cheshire. This evening I attended a meeting
of the Mattatuck Drum Band, and after the meeting
Ralph Pierpont showed moving pictures of the Band
at the Worlds Fair, and at other places, and
many other pictures. It was fine entertainment.
10/11/1939 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools to day in the fournoon {forenoon}. In the after-|
noon, I went to the store and got a lot of groceries,
and at East Farms, and with Dick to help, got in
some hay that I had cut. Mr. Gladding called to
see about the rent.
10/12/{1939} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. In the afternoon Dick
Pierpont came and we cleaned out the rooms up stairs
and the cellar so that the Gladdings may move
in Saturday.
This evening I visited the Benham house.
Mrs. Benham, Alice and Carrie and I played a
new of checkers, They generally beat {me},
but I did {win} once. Altogether it was an enjoyable evening.
10/13/{1939} (Friday)
I sharpened a few tools this forenoon. After dinner
I went to Cheshire and bought a stair tread
and brought it home and put it in the
outside stairs. Ray called this evening and
brought some fire clay, etc.
10/14/1939 (Saturday)
This forenoon I worked in the Wheelhouse on four
points and other odd jobs. Went to the Wolcott
Fair this afternoon. There were many Drum
Corps there. They all met at the Depot in Waterbury
and marched through the town to the
junction of Wolcott and East Main Sts., where
they tuck {took??} busses and cars and drove to the
Fair where they competed for prises {prizes}.
The attendance at the Fair was not as large
as it used to be.
10/15/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was, "What
Must I Do To Be Saved."
Last night Cliff Heaton, Fritsa, Dick and
Ronny came from New York. Dick and Ron
slept in the East room, 2nd floor, and Cliff and
Fritsa had the front room.
They left a little before dark this afternoon
for Tuckerhoe {Tuckahoe}.
I made clam chowder for dinner. This afternoon
I went up to Wolcott and saw Arthur Harrison.
10/16/1939 (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. After dinner I filed
two saws for Ed Bronson, then I took some goods
up to Ruth Miller for Fritsa to be sold at a
rummage sale.
This evening went and made arrangements
to play checkers next Thursday evening with
the Benhams. Then I came home and prepared
to go to Kent tomorrow.
10/17/{1939} (Tuesday)
I went to Kent and saw Frank about lumber at
Mr. Chase's Mill. Rough pine board {??} .03 per ft. and
frame stuff. Plained{??} 1/2 ct. per ft. extra.
10/18/{1939} (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools. Did the washing
in the afternoon.
10/19/1939 (Thursday)
Sharpened tools this forenoon, and did odd jobs in
the afternoon. This evening I called at the Benhams
and played checkers with Mrs. Benham and Alice.
10/20/{1939} (Friday)
I sharpened and made over a lot of four points
and did other odd jobs about the place. Lay down
a spell as I did not feel very lively.
10/21/1939 (Saturday)
After breakfast and after I had washed the dishes,
Dick Pierpont came and we cleared the garden
of all the old vines, etc. and put the beets and
cabbages in the cellar. Alice Pierpont came
and did the ironing and made the beds, and
the bed on the third floor, and we had dinner
after which Dick and I went to East Farms
and brought in a load of cabbages, and put
them in the cellar. We found that Alice had
gone. Then we went to the farm again and
mowed away a load of hay and dug a few
potatoes and gathered some turnips.
10/22/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
This afternoon I went to Wolcott to Arthur
Harrisons.
10/23/1939 (Monday)
I got up 6.30 this morning and got breakfast for myself
of fried oysters. Then I got the washing machine out
and heat{ed} the water and did the washing and hung
the clothes out to dry. Then went to the store and
got meat for dinner and came home and cooked
it and had dinner, and washed up the dishes.
Then went to the farm, and left a wheel at Atkins
to have a new tire put on. Then went to Harold
Pierponts and left $1.00 for Alice, then went to
the garden and dug nearly a bushel of potatoes
and Dick came and we pulled about six bushels
of turnips. I brought them home and put them
in the cellar.
10/24/1939 (Tuesday)
Weather to day has been very cold.
I went to Barkhamsted to day. Went by Wolcott
through Bristol, Unionville, Collinsville, then out
the New Hartford new concrete road almost to
the Satans{??} Kingdom Bridge where I turned
North to Barkhamsted Center, passing by the
large new reservars {reservoirs}, then East to Marshal
Case's{??} house but I did not see him as he
was away. However, I had a fine visit with his
family and took dinner there. I left about 2.30
and reached home in about one an {and} one half hours.
10/25/{1939} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and did odd jobs
the rest of the day. The weather was very cold
this morning.
10/26/{1939} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to the farm
and picked up apples this afternoon.
Got a new tire for the little car of Mr. Atkins
for 5.50. The weather to day has been warmer.
Mr. Charles Penniman repaired the wiper on
the windshield of my roadster.
10/27/1939 (Friday)
Foggy and wet all day. I sharpened tools and
worked on my cars and in the Wheelhouse,
etc. all day, besides doing the housework.
10/28/{1939} (Saturday)
Rained this morning. Dick came and we cleaned
out the corn bin and cut wood till dinner time.
Alice came and did up the work, and got dinner.
In the afternoon, Dick and I went to the farm and
picked up apples. This evening Dick Miller came
from New York and is going to stay over night.
10/29/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Matthew Madden preached. His
subject was, "A Pharisee Goes to Church."
After I ate my dinner at noon, Ray and Ruth
called and I went with them out through
Cheshire, then through Wallingford to North
Haven, then East to Clintonville, to Northford
to Totoket{??} to North Branford, to Stony Creek
Station and to the shore, where we got a lot of
oysters and mussels. Then we came back to the
Post Road and went East to the Oasis where we
had a fine supper. Then we came home by
the same route that we went.
Dick came in last night from New York
and staid over night, and had breakfast
this morning and went to Church. To day
Fritsa, Cliff, and Ronnie came and took some
goods in their car to New York.
10/30/1939 (Monday)
After breakfast, I got the machine out and did the
washing and hung it out on the line and
soon it was dinner time. After dinner I sharpened
tools, but it began to rain and got dark and
I could not see to temper{??}, so I worked in the Wheel
House.
10/31/1939 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. In the afternoon,
cleaned the stove out and blacked it, and
did other jobs about the house.
It rained had {hard} all day.
11/01/{1939} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, and did odd
jobs about the place in the afternoon.
11/02/{1939} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. In the afternoon
I fitted keys for several doors, where the keys are
missing. This evening I went up to Raymond's
to take up a dish and they wished me to stay to
supper. Ray is very busy as the mill is running
night and day on war brass.
11/03/{1939} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and in the afternoon
I went to Cheshire and got a bag of oats, 1.50, got wood
into the wood house and did other odd jobs.
A little dirty white dog came in the yard and
killed a chicken yesterday afternoon.
Here is a program for a service at the Mill Plain
Union Church dated July 30, 1939.
11/04/1939 (Saturday)
Dick came this morning and we sawed up wood and
gathered leaves, etc. Alice came and did the ironing
and got dinner, and put in jars a lot of beets,
made apple sauce, macaroni etc. In the afternoon,
Dick and I went to the farm and got out manure and
put it one the garden and plowed some.
This evening Pearly Wheeler and wife came from
Prospect and took their plans and figures for their
Girage{??}.
A little later, Fred came with two auto loads of
drummer boys from Tarrytown, N.Y. and we went
to the Mattatuck Hall where we drummed and
had refreshments and saw moving pictures till
near midnight.
11/05/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev.
Matthew Madden preached or lectured. His subject
was, "Hell Takes A Holiday."
11/06/{1939} (Monday)
I got breakfast of clam chowder, after which I did
the washing and hung the clothes out to dry.
Then I put weather strip on the outside door up
stairs and fixed the threshold and painted the
upper varanda {veranda}
11/07/{1939} (Tuesday)
Cold day. I went up to Wolcott Fair Grounds
to see 300 soldiers drill but they were nearly
all off in the woods and brush out of sight.
However there were eleven army trucks standing
in line, that the troops came in from the
Armory in Waterbury.
I finished painting the back stairs.
Dick, Fritsa, and Ronny came from New
York. It is election day there, and Dick did
not work.
11/08/{1939} (Wednesday)
I went to town to day and did several errands.
In the afternoon, went to the farm and spread manure
on the garden and plowed some.
Had a ton of soft coal come to day.
11/09/{1939} (Thursday)
Cold morning with a little snow. I went to the store
and sharpened tools this morning. Out to the farm
and plowed some this afternoon.
11/10/1939 (Friday)
Nice day. Sharpened tools this forenoon.
Finished plowing the garden at the farm.
A parade with the two Mill Plain Drum
Corps came up East Main St. and turned up
the Frost road bearing banners that said,
"Vote For Sculley for Mayor."
11/11/{1939} (Saturday)
Armistis {Armistice} Day. Dick came and we took a load
of apples up to Mr. Cormick's Mill in Wolcott and
brought back cider. Then we cut wood till noon,
and Dick Miller, Dick Pierpont, Alice Pierpont,
and I had dinner after which I sharpened six
stone drills. Then Dick Pierpont and I went to
the farm and made a drain on the North and
East side of the garden, so that the water that
comes down the hill won't wash it out.
11/12/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Matthew G. Madden preached. His
subject was, "Selling Short Your Conscience".
Dick Miller came from New York last night
and staid her over night. After breakfast he
went to Church with me, after which he took
dinner here.
I went to Cheshire and had a fine visit at
Mr. Joseph Doolittle's. Ray called this evening
and left a small apple pie that Ruth made.
11/13/1939 (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, and part of the after-|
noon. Then I took a gallon of new cider up for Ray
and then went to the farm and fed Buster, and
then to the Nathonal{??} Store car{??} of Knoll End, East
Main St. and got a lot of groceries.
Cold day and some snow.
11/14/{1939} (Tuesday)
Very cold day. I sharpened tools nearly all day,
went out to the farm and did the chores.
Election day. I hear that Waterbury went democratic.
This evening I attended a meeting and
rehersal {rehearsal} of the Mattatuck Drum Band at their
hall at M.E. Pierponts place.
11/15/{1939} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day.
Weather not so cold, thawed some.
Wrote to C.E.B.{??}
11/16/{1939} (Thursday)
This forenoon I did the washing and in the
afternoon repaired the lock and some window
locks, in Mr. Gladding's part up stairs.
The weather came off warmer. This evening
it is quite warm.
11/17/{1939} (Friday)
I sharpened tools, and worked at blacksmith work
most of the day. Two women agents called with
novelties. I bought a 1.00 worth.
11/18/{1939} (Saturday)
Dick came this morning and we made an iron
for the snow plow for the Calvary Cemetery,
and he and Alice went at noon. I worked on the
snow plow all the afternoon.
11/19/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden, subject, "Three Voices".
After dinner I drove over to Joe Doolittle's in Cheshire
and then went to Pearly Wilsons in Prospect.
11/20/1939 (Monday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. After dinner I
went to town and did some business. Came home
and gathered up leaves, etc.
11/21/{1939} (Tuesday)
I did the washing this morning and sharpened
tools. This afternoon, went to John Wakelee's funeral
at the Woodtick burying ground. The weather was
very cold and windy. There was a large number
of people there. He was a large, heavy man and
they had ten pall bearers, four on each side
and one at each end.
He was killed last Sunday. He was staring
to go for a load of wood, and cranked his truck,
which was in gear, and it shot ahead and
knocked him down and shoved him along the
ground a distance of more than sixty feet, and
crushed his breast, so he died when they got
to the Waterbury hospital.
11/22/{1939} (Wednesday)
Fifty six years ago to day, I was married to Miss
Mary S. Pierpont in the Old Mill Plain chapel
by the Rev. Mr. Micae{??}, the first minister of Trinity
Church. He has long since passed on as has
all who were at the wedding except my sister
Mary and myself.
To day I sharpened four points this forenoon.
In the afternoon I had my little truck repaired
at the new repair shop at East Farms, and I went
over to Cheshire and got a bag of oats.
11/23/1939 (Thursday)
I worked at blacksmith work this forenoon. Alice Pierpont
came after noon, and did up the work and got supper.
I went to the farm, and had the lamps on my truck
repaired.
11/24/1939 (Friday)
Cold day. The ground is very dry. Have not had
any rain for a month.
This forenoon I sharpened tools, and after dinner
filed saws and did other work in the Wheelhouse.
Cliff, Fritsa, and Ronny came from New York
this afternoon. To night they stay with the Hansons
over at Cheshire.
11/25/1939 (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont came this morning and we cut up
the maple tree in the lower end of our lot that
was blown down by the Hurricane a year ago last
September. This afternoon I attended the funeral
of Edward M. Scott, who lived over the line in
Cheshire. Rev. John Lewis of St. Johns Church
officiated. The burial was in the original part
of the Pine Grove Cemetery. Mr. Scott was son
of Merritt Scott and formerly lived on the
Woodtick Road, first house South of the Lovers' Lane.
11/26/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev Mr. Madden. His subject was, "The Men Who
Forget". After service, had a little visit with Carrie
Benham. After dinner I drove to Spindle Hill
to see the Krafts about Thanksgiving, but they
had gone to New York. I then went North up
the West side of Cedar Lake and then turned
West, up over Fall Mountain, and through Allen-|
town and down over Grassy Hill and Spindle
Hill, then down through Woodtick to east Farms
where I did the barn chores, etc. then home.
11/27/{1939} (Monday)
This morning I went to the City Hall and paid
my Water Rent Bill, $19.84, came home and worked
in the Wheelhouse. After dinner I went to Spindle
Hill, then to East Farms, then down to the store
and home and boiled potatoes, onions, and meat
for supper.
11/28/1939 (Tuesday)
To day I did not get through with my house work
till ten o'clock. Then I did odd jobs about the place
and out to the farm all day. The ground is very
dry. We have had no rain in six weeks.
11/29/1939 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Got my truck from
Dan Hanlon's repair shop and did odd jobs and
raked up a load of leaves in the front yard and
took them away.
11/30/{1939} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day, the Somers Family had their
reunion at the Elton Hotel. There were 52 present.
The day was fair and the dinner good.
12/01/1939 (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon, and one hr. in the
afternoon. Then went to the store, and over to
Cheshire and got a bag of oats and a bag of scratch-|
feed.
12/02/1939 (Saturday)
Sharpened tools and did blacksmith work nearly
all day. Alice Pierpont came and did up my
work. Has been a wet rainy day.
12/03/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Matthew G. Madden preached.
His subject, "The Christ Men Lived By".
The attendance was not very large.
After church I drove to Rays on Capitol
Avenue. Soon Mr. Heinion{??} and wife came
and Ruth got the nicest turkey dinner
that I ever saw, and everything was
cooked to perfection.
Just at dark I went to East Farms and
fed my steer, etc.
12/04/1939 (Monday)
This morning I made eleven four points for the
monument maker. Went to the farm in the
afternoon and after, cleaned the yard, and
spent much time reading.
12/05/1939 (Tuesday)
I made a lot of four points to day and sharpened
ten more which kept me busy till three in the
afternoon. Then I had to get my truck from Dan Hanlon's.
12/06/{1939} (Wednesday)
This morning I got up and got breakfast and then
did the washing. Did not feel very well as my
feet and legs pained me from getting them frost-|
bitten in the Blacksmith shop.
This afternoon I went up to Wolcott and saw
Rose Wakelee about the place where William Sizer
lived and other historic matters.
12/07/1938 {Wrong year} (Thursday)
To day I have not done much work as my lid{??} was
very painful. This evening I went to the Ladies
Mill Plain Fair at the Mill Plain Church.
There was a great crowd there.
12/08/1939 (Friday)
A cold day. It has been freezing all day. I have
been in the house the greater part of the time.
This afternoon I went to West Cheshire and got a
bag of cement and six hundred pounds of
crushed stone. This morning I went out to East
Farms, found all dark.
12/09/1939 (Saturday)
Cool day. Dick came this morning and we
repaired the concrete floor in the Coal Bin
and then we made five 8 foot concrete fence posts
which took all afternoon.
Bobbie Miller came and got his nice roller
top desk which Arthur Pierpont owned when
he was living. Alice Pierpont came and did
up the housework.
12/10/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Matthew G. Madden preached or
lectured. His subject was, "The Church In The
Present European Crisis".
After service I drove up to Rose Wakelee's and
left word that I would not be up later in
the afternoon, as I was going to attend Mr.
Sheldon Payne's funeral in Nangatuck.
Mr. Payne had a large funeral, held in the
Congregational Church. The burial is to be
later, at the convenience of the family.
Mr. Payne was 97 years old and was
born on the College Farm in Prospect.
12/11/1939 (Monday)
(Margin note: First snow, 1 1/2" fell.)
Rained all night and turned to snow about 10 A.M.
and continued until about 4 P.M., and about 1 1/2"
fell. The roads are covered with ice but the cars
seem to run all right. Now the tires are figured
and they do not skid as they did ten years ago
when they were plain and small and carried
high air pressure, 80 lbs. for 4 tires.
I sharpened tools for a spell this morning but
gave it up as it hurt to stand on my feet.
12/12/1939 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. I attended Aunt
Ellen Somers funeral at the Aldersons Funeral
home at two o'clock this afternoon. It was a rather
large funeral. They buried her in the Old Pine
Grove Cemetery, about ten roads{??} North of the
North East corner of the Mill Plain Church.
12/13/1939 (Wednesday)
(Margin note: Second snow. 1" fell.)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. In the afternoon I
lay and rested till 2.30 then I put a new handle on
the coffee parcolator{??}, but had to go to the farm and
feed the ox, after which I finished the parcolator{??}. It took till
six o'clock. One inch of snow fell after 6.30 and before 8.30.
12/14/1939 (Thursday)
This morning I sharpened tools, etc. till noon.
After dinner I filed a saw, and did other odd
jobs. Calvary Cemetery sent in a truck load
of grave planks to be bolted up. All makes
it very busy for me. I did the washing this
afternoon, and I did not have time to rest
my old lame legs. The weather has been
freezing all day, and I got quite cold when
I went to the farm to feed Buster.
12/15/{1939} (Friday)
I have worked at many odd jobs to day.
The weather has been rather cold, and I could
not get about very lively.
12/16/1939 (Saturday)
This morning Dick Pierpont came and we
worked all day bolting grave planks, etc.
Alice came and cleaned the house and did up
the work, etc.
Robert P. Miller came here to room. Tonight
is his first.
12/17/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject
was, "Little Journeys To Bethlehem".
Went to the farm. Dick called this afternoon and
got some books to take back to New York.
This afternoon I went to Marion's at Spindle
Hill. This evening I attended moving pictures
at the Mill Plain Church in the Gymnasium.
The weather has been wet and clowdy {cloudy} all day.
12/18/{1939] (Monday)
This morning I went to the Colonial Trust Co.
and got 24 Mill Plain Church Bond certificates.
Cashed 48.00. First I went to the bank and deposited
210.50. 156.00 from the Waterbury Rolling Mills, two checks
of 25.00 each from the International Silver Co. and 4.50
from the Ansonia Bank. After doing other errands,
I came home and got dinner, and filed a cross-|
cut saw for Ed Bronson. Then Margaret and
Ruth called. After they had gone, I went to the
farm and cleaned the spring and did the chores
and went to the Atlantic & Pacific Store and got
some lamb chops. Then home and got supper and
ate it. Phil and Effel{??} called this evening.
Robert Miller staid here last night. Had breakfast
this morning.
12/19/1939 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to the farm
and did odd jobs in the afternoon.
Weather rather dull and dark.
12/20/1939 (Wednesday)
Worked in the Wheel House the greater part of
the day. This evening Alice Pierpont came
and helped me put up presents for Christmas.
I gave all my children, grandchildren and
great grandchildren a dollar bill each, $41.00.
It has rained all day.
12/21/1939 (Thursday)
To day I filed a large circular saw, and did other
jobs, and went to the farm and down to the
store. The weather has been cloudy and cool.
Last night Alice Pierpont and I addressed
Christmas cards to the children and people
that I am responceable {responsible??} for belonging to the
Miller Family. Enclosed in each card was a
new one dollar bill. The cards are to be placed
on the Christmas Tree, that is to be at the
house of Mr. Howard Kraft and Margaret Hall
on Spindle Hill in Wolcott.
The list is as follows, 1. Mrs. H. C. Heaton 2. Mr.
H. C. Heaton 3. Richard H. Miller 4. Willard Miller
5. Robert Miller 6. Ronald Miller.
7. Irving C. Miller 8. Mrs. Irving C. Miller 9. Enid
Forsberg 10. Mr. Malcolm Forsberg and their son 11. Peter
12. David Miller 13. Esther Miller and son 14. Dick
15. Barbara Miller 16. John Miller.
17. George Hall 18. Margaret Hall
19. Howard Kraft 20. Marion Kraft, sons 21. Charles & 22. Robert
23. Vincent Simons and 24. Bettie Simons
25. Gene Northrop.
26. Mr. S. J. Brundage 27. Mrs. Ruth Brundage
28 Roger Brundage 29. Kenneth Brundage 30. Pierce Brundage
and 31. Peggy Brundage.
32. Mr. Frank P. Miller 33. Mrs. Elsie Miller
34. Mary Miller 35. Bertha Miller 36. Dwight Miller
37. Jessie Miller 38. Lois Miller, and 39. June Miller.
40. Mr. Raymond H. Miller 41. Mrs. Ruth Miller.
12/22/1939 (Friday)
(Margin note: 3rd snow, 1/2" fell)
Winter began to day and it was cold and windy.
I sharpened a lot of picks, a grubb{??}, and a lot
of single points for hand work.
Had a letter from Irving and another from Frank
and a number of Christmas cards.
12/23/1939 (Saturday)
To day Dick Pierpont came and we worked in the
cellar, and we made five concrete fence posts
and then we came up and put two new strings
in the old tall clock that is 150 years old.
Alice came and did up the housework and got
a fine dinner of cabbage, potatoes, cakes, pie, etc.
Bobbie left this afternoon for New York to spend
Christmas there.
12/24/{1939} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew Madden officiated. His subject
was "Christmas Thoughts". The church was filled to
capacity, about 50 in the choir.
In the afternoon I went to Spindle Hill in
Wolcott to Margarets and Marions house
where we had a Christmas dinner and in
the afternoon, a tree.
12/25/1939 (Monday)
Christmas Day. This morning the ground was
covered with a thin coating of snow.
At quarter of eleven, Vincent and Betty Simons
called and they took me in their car to West
Hartford to Margaret Halls house on Riggs
Street, where after a time, Mr. Hall's brother,
Robert, and wife came, then his daughter and
her husband, and his son and his wife came
and their children, and the Kraft family came
to the number of eighteen, and we had a fine
dinner, after which presents were given out from
a Christmas tree. All received many presents.
Altogether I have received many presents this
Christmas. They included, a Connecticut Guide
Map and Connecticut Guide Book. From George
and Margaret Hall. A Kent Church Calender
and a lot of fancy home made cookies. From
Frank and his family. A dozen stockings from
Bobbie. Three fine handkerchiefs and a fine pair
of stockings. From Byron and Jean.
A pair of gloves and a block of fine cheese from
Irving and Dorothy. A nice handkerchief
and pair of stockings, no name and a box of
candy that I lost.
All of the above were on the Christmas tree
at Spindle Hill.
Then I received at West Hartford, Christmas Day,
From Margaret, a lead pencil and magnifier
and four twenty five cent pieces.
From Vincent Simons, a one dollar bill.
Then I found at home, from Dick Miller,
six long nice saw files, and a nice home
made file. From Ronald Miller, a nice pair
of No. 10 fur lined slippers that will keep my
feet warm cold mornings.
From Ruth Brundage, a large box
containing one pt. jar of preserves, one half
pt. jar of tomatoe{tomato??} preserves, one pt. jar of
string beans, one pt. jar of tomatoes, one
tin gt.{??} can, not marked, one small tin can
of Tuna Fish, one brass ear of corn,
one nice box of chocolates, and a dozen and
a half of nice sweet potatoes.
Vincent, Betty and I left the Hall place soon after
six to come home. We saw many nice houses
decorated with Christmas greens ets{??} and many
colored lights. One house had Santa Claus
standing on the front porch under a great
lighted bower of trimmings, and we saw
dozens of lighted Christmas Trees all along
the road. In Bristol there were many.
12/26/{1939} (Tuesday)
Cold day. This morning I sharpened single points
all the forenoon. In the afternoon I staid in the
house except the time it took to go to the farm to
do the chores there, on account of the cold.
12/27/{1939} (Wednesday)
Four above zero this morning. I built a fire in
the blacksmith shop and sharpened a lot of points
and large chisels, but it was so cold that my
feet began to feel chilled and I stoped {stopped} and stayed
in the house the rest of the day. George Hall and
Margaret called this afternoon. We had a fine
visit. I received several Christmas cards, and
a large box from Portland, Oregon. From Billy
Pierpont. Bobbie's bill for last week, 2.25.
12/28/{1939} (Thursday)
Two above zero this morning. I sharpened drills
this forenoon. After dinner I went to Chatfields
& Chatfields and bought 20 pieces of steel for
reinforcing concrete fence posts, 3.95. Then I
went to the Alling Rubber Co. and got a rubber lip
for my cane and a roll of tape, .40. Then went to
the Connecticut Light and Power Co. and paid my
electric bill, 3.52. Then to the Citizens Coal Co. and
ordered one ton of soft coal. Then home, etc.
12/29/1939 (Friday)
Cold day. This morning I did the washing etc.
This afternoon, went to Cheshire and got a bag of
scratchfeed, and 500 lbs of fine crushed stone.
12/30/{1939} (Saturday)
(Margin note: 4th snow, 4" fell.)
This morning the ground was covered with snow
to the depth of four inches.
I went and met Wm. Gillette at Attorney {Attorney?} Phelan's
office to arrange for the settlement of Marys
estate but it is delayed again.
Wm. Gillette told me last night that Brother
Fred is in the Hospital in New York.
Alice Pierpont came this afternoon and did up the work as
she does every Saturday.
Dick came this afternoon and we made five
concrete fence posts.
12/31/1939 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject, "As The
Door Closes". Mr. Madden called to see me
yesterday. He told me that Arthur Blewitt fell
on the sidewalk and broke his hip.
01/01/1940 (Monday)
Two below zero this morning. I have staid in the house
the greater part of the day, as it has been very
cold. I went to the farm this afternoon and did
the work there.
They have a nice pond, and a hocky {hockey} yard in
the lot West of the Cemetery. By damming the
little brook where it went under the trolley road
made a good pond for the yard.
Another party dammed the Hog Pound Brook
where it went under the trolley road and have
a larger pond East of the Cemetery, where the
young people have fine times skating.
Now the skates are made on shoes for the purpose
and they are rather expensive.
In my time the skates were straped {strapped} over the
foot and heal {heel??}, and would fasten to any kind of
boot or shoe. But they would not fasten to the
high heeled shoes that the girls wear now.
Last night Fritsa, Willard, and girlfriend, Bobbi
and Ronald called having just come from New
York.
01/02/1940 (Tuesday)
Zero this morning, after breakfast. I went to
Spindle Hill in Wolcott and got the presents I
gave Fritsa's family at Christmas. They called
in the afternoon for them. Fritsa took about two
dozen eggs. I did the washing this afternoon,
and also the chores at the farm.
01/03/1940 (Wednesday)
Eight above zero this morning. I sharpened drills
and picks this morning. Went to the farm
and did odd jobs the rest of the day.
01/04/{1940} (Thursday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools this forenoon. I went
to Judd and Puffer's{??} office and had the Insurance
renewed for three years on my house. Paid 12.50,
then I came home and then went over to Southington
and saw Mrs. Doolittle. She told me of Ann
Card, and tonight I wrote to her at Holyoke{??}, Mass.
01/05/{1940} (Friday)
Sharpened tools and did other jobs to day.
(Margin note: 5th snow, 1" fell.)
01/06/1939 {Wrong year} (Saturday)
Cold day. I have worked all day making a snow
plow for cleaning sidewalks for Calvary Cemetery.
Jim helped me. Dick came, and Alice did up the work.
01/07/1940 (Sunday)
Cold day. I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Matthew G. Madden preached.
His subject was, "A Good Beginning In A Bad Spot".
After service I went to East Farms and fed and
watered Buster, then came home and staid in
the house the rest of the day.
01/08/{1940} (Monday)
(Margin note: 5th Snow, 1 1/2" fell)
Cold. Windy and snow. I went to Whitneyville
this morning to see Mr.{??} Ann Card about coming
to work for me. She seemed like a nice woman, and
came up and looked the place over, but did not
seem to like it. She thought that her daughter
who lives in Holyoke{??} would object to her working.
Will let me know at the last of the week.
She returned on the New Haven Bus and I forgot
to give her the money to pay her fare. Of course
she would not like it.
It looks as though I am doomed to do my own
house work the rest of my days. The constant
dish washing makes my hands soft and it
hurts to do the heavy blacksmith work.
01/09/1940 (Tuesday)
(Margin note: 6th snow, 4" fell.)
Cold day. I worked in the Wheelhouse all day on
the snow plow.
01/10/{1940} (Tuesday) {Wrong day}
Cold day. I sharpened tools, and worked on
the snow plow.
01/11/{1940} (Thursday)
Cold day, three below this morning. I worked
in the Wheelhouse all day on the snow plow.
This evening I went up to Raymonds and
helped him to lay out a golden cross that is
twenty nine inches high and three inches
wide. I am to make the base of good white
oak. When finished, it is to be placed in
the chancel of the Mill Plain Church
in honor of Mary.
01/12/{1940} (Friday)
(Margin note: 7 snow about 3 1/2".)
I worked all day on the snow plow and finished
it at dark. It snowed the greater part of
the day, but not hard.
01/13/1940 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon till the electric fan
stoped {stopped} and all the lights in the house were out.
I telephoned to the Conn. Light and Power Co. and
they sent a man out after dinner and he put new
fuses in the meter.
Dick split and piled wood and then we worked
on the fence post molds in the wheelhouse.
This day has been the warmest in over two
weeks. It has thawed some, but many of the
roads are slippery, still my auto does not
skid very much. When I first had a car in
1909, the tires were smooth and they skidded and
slipped. We used to take 3/4 " ropes and wind them
around rim and tires but they soon wore out.
Then we used long small chains that we wound
round the rim and tires. These lasted better. There
were no surface hardened roads those days,
only in the cities where they were paved with
stone blocks.
Mr. George Bacon and his wife were killed
up near Pittsfield yesterday, when his car
skidded on a hill into a truck, and four boys
who were on {in?} the back seat were injured.
The Bacons lived in this house in 1918.
01/14/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church
at 10.45. Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject
was, "A Life Sustaining Fact".
This morning was cloudy, a little snow, about two
o'clock it began to rain and has rained hard up
to now, 10 P.M.
01/15/{1940} (Monday)
I worked sharpening tools for Tony Cairlo all
day. A great amount of rain fell yesterday and
last night and took the snow away. This
morning there was a thick fog but the rest
of the day was warm and some of the time
cloudy.
01/16/{1940} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools much of the time to day.
Went to M. E. Pierponts and got a basket of
Baldwin apples this noon. It was very cold
and the wind blew very hard.
01/17/{1940} (Wednesday)
Very cold. I sharpened tools nearly all day.
Went to Cheshire and got a bag of oats.
Alice Pierpont came this afternoon and ironed.
Laurence Pierpont came this evening and took a
drumming lesson.
01/18/{1940} (Thursday)
Cold day. I worked on a snow plow for the Calvary
Cemetery all day.
01/19/{1940} (Friday)
(Margin note: 8th snow, 2 1/2" fell.)
I worked on tools in the blacksmith shop most
of the day. Made over my hardening solution.
This morning snow fell to the depth of 2 1/2 inches.
01/20/1940 (Saturday)
Zero this morning. Cold all day and colder to
night. Dick and Alice came this morning at
eight. Alice washed the dishes, and did a lot of
cooking, and cleaned the house, and got dinner
and got through at one o'clock.
Dick and I fixed the ends of the fence post molds
and then got a lot of wood into the Wheelhouse
to burn. Then we took the pickup and got a load
if wood down by the Wheelhouse and brought
it up to the Woodhouse, and split some of it
up, and I sharpened tools till after three, when
it was so cold that we stoped {stopped}.
01/21/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was,
"If Jesus Came To Waterbury". The attendance was
fair, as the weather was very cold all day. Auto
traveling is dangerous as the snow and ice is
slippery. As I was coming home, I stoped {stopped} at Phil
Reuter's and saw my sister Mary, and staid to
dinner. During the afternoon, William Service and
Louise called, and later George Hall and Margaret
came from West Hartford and called here, then
they stoped {stopped} up there and we all had a good visit.
Before dark I went to the farm and let the ox
out for water, and fed him. He came back in
lively as it was very cold. Then I came home
and found the house nice and warm, and on
the door step I found a quart jar of peaches, and a
pint jar of Chilia{??} sauce, and a jar of preserves that
Margaret had left.
01/22/{1940} (Monday)
Very cold. I was in the blacksmith shop sharpening
stone cutters tools all day till three o'clock.
01/23/{1940} (Tuesday)
Another cold day. I sharpened tools, etc.
Laurence Pierpont came and practiced drumming
to night. They began leaving one quart of milk
this morning.
01/24/{1940} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools for the stone cutter down town, and
in the afternoon did the washing. It has been a
cold day, with a little fine snow.
01/25/1940 (Thursday)
Cold day. I sharpened many stone tools to day.
Arthur and Mildred Bird of Bristol called
this morning. They were going to Southington.
01/26/{1940} (Friday)
Another freezing day. 20ø above is the highest to day.
I sharpened tools most of the day.
Iva is taking care of the children while Ralph
and Lois have gone to the Old Guard Ball at
the Hotel Comodore {Commodore?}, New York with other members
of the Mattatuck Drum Band.
Brother Fred is in the Rosevelt {Roosevelt} Hospital, N.Y.
They took his bladder out as it had a cancer
in it. They say he is improving in health.
1/27/{1940} (Saturday)
I sharpened and made four points to day.
Very cold weather. Mr. Frank Howland is
91 years old to day. Alice Pierpont came and did the work.
1/28/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was, "Seventy
six years of Courageous Living."
This afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Ferris Furkington{??}
of East Morris called.
The day has been very cold. I went to Church
then out to East Farms and did the chores there
and back home and have staid in the rest
of the day.
01/29/{1940} (Monday)
Cold day. I went to town this morning and did
not get back till near noon. I then ground up
four cabbage heads and put{??} them in pt. cans.
Then had dinner, and then went to the Wheel-|
house and ground and marked{??} two dozen four
points and got them ready to forge.
Then took a dozen eggs up to Ruth. They had a
break down in the shop and Ray has to work
to night. Then I went to the farm and fed the
ox.
01/30/{1940} (Tuesday)
Another cold day. I made a lot of Four Points
to day. The long continued cold seems to be
taking the life out of old folks. But in Florida
they are suffering more than we are, as they are not
prepared for it.
01/31/1940 (Wednesday)
Cold day. But it thawed some this noon. I did the
washing this morning, then did odd jobs, taking
quite a rest between them, as I did a little to {too?] much
work yesterday. In the afternoon I got Dick Pierpont
to help and we cleaned out the spring at the farm
that supplies the water trough, but the trough
pipe is frozen up, and it will stay frozen till
spring.
Laurence Pierpont and Leland Garrigus{??} came
this evening and practiced the Double Drag
for an hour.
Dan Hanlon brought my truck home tonight.
He would take no pay for repairing it.
02/01/1940 (Thursday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools. This afternoon Alice
Pierpont came and cleaned the rooms.
I went to West Cheshire and got two bags of feed.
The paper to night states that Mrs. Nellie Hotchkiss
of Prospect died last night, and is to be buried in
Prospect next Saturday afternoon.
02/02/{1940} (Friday)
(Margin note: 9th snow, 1/2" fell.)
Not quite so cold to day, but cold enough. I sharpened
picks and bars, etc.
02/03/1940 (Saturday)
Cold day. This morning I sharpened a lot of tools.
Dick Pierpont came and split and piled wood in
the woodhouse.
This afternoon at two thirty I was at the Aldersons
Funeral Home attending the funeral of Mrs.
Nellie Hotchkiss, widow of David. There was a
large attendance and they had two ministers,
Rev. Thomas Cochard{??} of Prospect, and Rev. C{??}car Locke
of Oakville. After the funeral was over I came
home on the Buss.
02/04/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. Subject, "Let's Build A
New World." The attendance was rather small
as it was very cold weather. No thaw to day.
After service I went to the farm and fed buster {Buster},
then came home and have staid here all the
time. This is the sixth Sunday of this cold
weather, there were tow days that it rained and
then froze up again. Now the people stay in
doors. The attendence at Church is small. There are
but few autos out, and scarcely no one a foot,
as the steady cold weather is more than they
want to meet, unless obliged to.
02/05/1940 (Monday)
It has thawed a little to day. Thermometer stood at 38ø
this noon. Mr. Blanchard came and repaired the
heater pipe up stairs, 3.70.
02/06/{1940} (Tuesday)
Warmer and rain. I sharpened tools, and worked
on a snow plow for Dan Hanlon. He helped me.
02/07/{1940} (Wednesday)
Comfortable day. I sharpened brood chisles {chisels??} this
morning, and Dan Hanlon came and we worked
on his snow plow.
02/08/{1940} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools and did odd jobs about the place.
Weather was some warmer.
02/09/{1940} (Friday)
I sharpened tools and finished Dan Hanlon's
snow plough {plow}. I did the washing this afternoon.
02/10/1940 (Saturday)
Snow and rain. Everything is coated with ice. Dick
came this morning, and we worked in the Blacksmith
shop making over a lot of machine chisles {chisels} for the
stone cutters.
Alice Pierpont came this morning and did up
the housework, and made a fine dinner of succotash
and creamed potato, etc. and made apple sauce,
a big apple pie, and large dish of clam chowder.
But few autos are out tonight as the roads are
very slippery.
Elton Edwards called to day, as the family
that have occupied his house have moved away
and they left the key with me.
02/11/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. madden officiated. This was Scout Sunday
and there were many Boy and Girl Scouts there.
This afternoon I went up to Wolcott to see Rose
Wakelee but she was going away, so I went
and saw Mr. and Mrs. Berkley Frisbie, had
supper and spent the evening there.
02/12/1940 (Monday)
I sharpened tools and filed saws, etc.
Millie Cowdell and Miss Falmage called this
morning to see about historical matters, regarding
the town of Prospect.
02/13/1940 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to Prospect
and saw Ruth Hotchkiss and then went to the
State Station on the Watertown Ave. and got my
two cars registered. This evening Wm. Gillette
called and told of getting my children to sign
a release (which was unnecessary) giving me
Mary's part of our place. He also said that Beula{??}
telephoned thar {that} Fred has pneumonia. He is in
the Rosevelt {Roosevelt} Hospital in New York.
Laurence Pierpont came this morning and practiced
drumming.
02/14/1940 (Wednesday)
(Margin note: 10th snow still falling and blowing, 10 inches fell.)
This morning the ground was covered with snow. About
8 o'clock it began snowing and soon the wind began to
blow from the North East, and the rest of the time
it blew a gale and snow fell fast and piled in
drifts, and it is still snowing and blowing
at 9.15. I sharpened tools this forenoon. Alice Pierpont
came this afternoon and did the ironing, etc.
02/15/1940 (Thursday)
I spent most of the time to day shoveling out the
paths. The snow was hard to shovel as that at
the bottom was damp and heavy and it stuck
to the shovel. The roads and streets were
drifted in places, and the snow plows were
out all night. The wind filled them in again
so the plows had to go over some of them
several times.
02/16/1940 (Friday)
I sharpened tools. Dan Hanlon came with his
snow plow, and pushed the snow back so I could
get my car out. I went to the store and got
a lot of groceries, etc.
The weather has been cold in the forenoon, thawed
some in the afternoon.
02/17/1940 (Saturday)
I worked in the blacksmith shop all day. Sharpened
tools, and repaired the big tractor snow plow
for the Calvary Cemetery.
Alice Pierpont came and did housework.
Dick Pierpont did odd jobs and helped on the
tractor.
02/18/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew Madden preached.
After service, Ralph and Lois Pierpont had their
son baptized. I then went out the Meriden
Road and down the Pierpont Road to East Farms
and up through the deep snow to the barn and
fed the ox. Then came home and got my
books, papers, etc. and put them in the car, and
drove to Will Service's where I had a nice
dinner of spareribs. Then went up to Wolcott
to Rose Wakelee's where we looked up historical
matters till dark, when I came home as many
of the Waterbury roads are not plowed out very
good and all are uneven and narrow.
02/19/1940
(Margin note: 11th snow about 3 inches.)
William Service called this morning while I was
at breakfast and told that Iva had a telephone
message from Beula{??} that Brother Fred died this
morning early at the Rosevelt {Roosevelt} Hospital, N.Y.
I went over to Bunker Hill to Farnham St.
and saw Iva. She telephoned to New York and
got the undertaker and arranged to have
the funeral in the Hall Memorial Chapel
and burial in the family lot in Riverside
Cemetery. After dinner in the snow and rain,
Will and I went to the Cemetery and arranged
to have the grave dug and the Chapel opened,
etc. Then he drove to the Center. The streets were
so rough with ruts of ice that he did not want
to come out, so I took the Bus and rode home.
Tony needed sharp tools. I went to sharpening
till five thirty.
02/20/{1940} (Tuesday)
(Margin note: 12 snow, about 7" fell.)
I sharpened tools and did repairing on a snow plow for
the Calvary Cemetery.
I went to the store and got groceries. I stoped {stopped}
on the way home and saw Mary at Phil Reutter's.
02/21/1940 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. At 2 o'clock I attended
the funeral of Brother Fred Dwight Miller. It
was held in the Hall Memorial Chapel in the
Riverside Cemetery. Rev. Mr. Gregg of the first
Congregational Church officiated. He was buried
in the family lot in Riverside Cemetery, next
to Mother. The pall bearers were, Mansfield
Gillette, Robert Miller, James Phalen, and
Ralph Pierpont.
02/22/1940 (Thursday)
Washington's birthday. I sharpened tools.
This evening I had supper at Raymons {Raymonds}.
02/23/{1940} (Friday)
Cold day, 4 below zero this morning. I sharpened
tools, and helped Tony work on his air compressor.
Wrote a letter to Ruth Hotchkiss this evening.
02/24/{1940} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont and I repaired the covering on
the heater pipes in the cellar to day.
Alice came and did up the work.
02/25/{1940} (Sunday)
(Margin note: 13 snow, 2 1/2" fell.)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
I did not know the minister that preached
and heard nothing that he said, as I am hard
of hearing, and he talked very low.
This afternoon I went to Rose Wakelee's in
Wolcott to correct the list of soldiers that went
from that town to the Civil War.
02/26/{1940} (Monday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools nearly all day.
02/27/1940 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon. Went to
town this afternoon and paid my electric
light bill, 4.49, and then went to the Telephone
Building and ordered a new Telephone put
in.
Ralph and Laurence Pierpont came to night
and practiced drumming.
The weather has been cold all day. It was 4ø
below this morning.
02/28/{1940} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools.
Mr. Dan Butter put in a Telephone for me to
day.
02/29/{1940} (Thursday)
The weather has been rather mild, and it
has thawed quite a little. I sharpened tools
this forenoon, and changed the plates and
numbers on my cars this afternoon. Then
went to the store and did some trading etc.
03/01/1940 (Friday)
(Margin note: 14th snow, 1" fell.)
I sharpened tools all day. Miss Alice Pierpont
came and did the washing and a lot of other
work, and made a big dish of apple sauce, which
was good. I have had to hustle to keep the
tools sharp for the stone cutters and grave
diggers and I find
That if I by my forge would thrive,
I myself must hammer and drive.
Work hard all day,
Sleep sound all night,
Save every cent,
And do my work right.
03/02/{1940} (Saturday)
Pleasant day. Thawed some. I sharpened tools
much of the time.
03/03/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Mr. Madden is sick and Rev. John Cooms{??}
of the Second Congregational Church preached.
After dinner I went to Rose Wakelees at Wolcott
and we added to and corrected the list of men
who went to the Civil War from Wolcott that I have
made out.
03/04/1940 (Monday)
(Margin note: 15th snow, 3" fell.)
This morning everything was covered with
about 3/4" ice. Soon it began snowing fine snow
and tonight it is 3" deep.
I sharpened tools till eleven when the electricity
went out, and my fan stoped {stopped} and I stoped {stopped}.
But few cars are out. I went to the farm
but my wind shield coated with ice and the
wiper would not take it off and it was hard
to see.
03/05/{1940} (Tuesday)
Very slippery this morning. I dug out the paths
and cleaned the varandas {verandas} off of snow and ice
and then sharpened a few tools. In the afternoon
I worked on the White Oak Base of a golden cross
that is to be placed in the Mill Plain Union
Church on the altar in memory of Mary.
03/06/{1940} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools. In the afternoon I went to West
Cheshire and got four bags of feed.
Dick Pierpont helped me get a bag of middlings{??}
up to the barn at the farm and unload the rest
here.
03/07/1940 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this fournoon {forenoon} and did some other
jobbing{??}. Alice Pierpont came and did the washing
and some cleaning and changing the beds, etc.
It has thawed quite a little to day.
03/08/{1940} (Friday)
I worked in the Blacksmith shop nearl {nearly} all day.
Weather rather mild and thawed some.
Elton came and borrowed some tools as he is
repairing his house and papering and painting
the inside.
03/09/{1940} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont helped me at blacksmith work this
forenoon. In the afternoon I went out and saw John
R. S. Todd who is 94 years old about historic matters
concerning Wolcott.
Alice Pierpont came and did up the house
work.
03/10/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. John Cooms{??} preached.
This afternoon I went up to Phillip Reutter's and
saw sister Mary. There were many of our family
there as it was Effel's birthday.
03/11/1940 (Monday)
Cold to day. I sharpened tools to day. Went
to the farm this afternoon to feed the ox, and
when I tried to start my little truck the
starter wouldn't go. I went to Harald{Harold??} Pierpont's
and telephoned Dan Hanlon to come out
and start it. Had to wait a long time
before he came. The wind was blowing very
cold, and I got chilled through before I got
in as I ahd light clothes. He came and
could not start the engine, so he hitched
on and towed me half a mile, and the engine
started. Then I came by myself and left the
car at his place to be repaired.
This evening it has turned very cold.
03/12/{1940} (Tuesday)
I made a lot of large four points to day.
The weather has been cold, still it has thawed
some.
03/13/{1940} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to Prospect
and saw Ruth Hotchkiss this afternoon, and
then came home and worked on the base of the
golden cross that is to be placed in the Chancel of
the Mill Plain Church in honor of Mary.
03/14/1940 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools much of the time to day.
Mr. Dains of North Woodbury called this
noon to see about painting my house.
He wanted 128.80 to do the job.
03/15/{1940} (Friday)
I have worked in the blacksmith shop nearly
all day. It rained hard last night and took
a lot of snow off.
03/16/{1940} (Saturday)
(Margin note: 16th snow, 8" fell.)
To day I have staid in the house nearly all the
time as I did not feel very well. It has snowed
most of the time. This forenoon I went to the
store and brought groceries, and before dark I carried
Alice Pierpont home and did the work at the farm.
03/17/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Mr. Arthur Westwood preached as Mr. Madden is sick.
This afternoon I went to Mr. Wilson's on the
Summit Road in Prospect and had a nice visit.
03/18/1940 (Monday)
Thawed quite a little to day. The snow is gradually
going. I sharpened tools and did odd jobs
about home.
Ordered al {a} lot of garden seeds of F. H. Woodruff
& Sons of Milford, 4.60 worth.
03/19/{1940} (Tuesday)
Thawed a lot to day. Much snow has melted.
I sharpened tools to day.
Had a ton of coal come.
Received a letter from Margaret Hall.
03/20/{1940} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools. Sent a letter to Mr. Dains
of North Woodbury that he could paint my
house.
03/21/{1940} (Thursday)
I worked in the Blacksmith shop most of the time
to day. I ordered 5 Bartlett Pear Trees of Jim
Brown of Cleveland, Ohio for 2.75.
03/22/{1940} (Friday)
(Margin note: 17th snow, 2" fell.)
Cold day and snow. Good Friday.
I did odd jobs and some blacksmith work.
This evening I went to Rays and we took the cross
that we made and put it in the Mill Plain Church.
This evening Will Gillette and Iva came to see
about Cara who is sick in a Meriden Hospital.
03/23/{1940} (Saturday)
This morning Will Gillette called at nine and
we went to Cheshire and saw the Congregational
minister about Cara. He said she is very low in
the Carlson Hospital in Meriden and she wants
in case she dies, the service held in the Congregational
Church in Cheshire and Alderson for the
undertaker. We then went to see Mr. Norton, the
select man. He was not at home but Mrs. Norton
knew all all about it.
This afternoon I went and saw sister Mary.
To day has been very cold.
03/24/{1940} (Sunday)
Easter Sunday. I attended service at the Mill
Plain Union Church. Mr. Arthur Westwood
preached. The Church was filled to capacity
and the Seinior {Senior} and Young Peoples Choirs
were consolidated sand {sang} fine.
On the "Order of Service" was printed the following.
We have two gifts on the Alter {Altar} this morning.
The Altar Cross, presented by Charles S. Miller
and Raymond H. Miller, also an Altar Cloth
which is hand made and presented to the Church
by the Church Benefit Group.
The Heatons and Dick and Ronny Miller
came last night from New York and this
morning came and attended Church service,
after which we all went to Cheshire and had
dinner at Mr. Hanson's house.
This day has been freezing cold all the time.
03/25/1940 (Monday)
(Margin note: Cara died last night at about 10.30.)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. This afternoon
I met Wm. Gillette and we went to Attourney {Attorney}
Phalen's office and he approved William's report
on Mary's estate. Then we went to the Probate
Office and the Judge said that we should have
a hearing, and Mr. Phalen is to notify the
parties interested.
Mr. Gillette told that young Mr. Alderson
telephoned that Cara died last night, at
the Crosson{Carlson??} Hospital in Meriden.
03/26/1940 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools to day.
This evening Ralph and Laurence Pierpont came
and practiced drumming.
03/27/{1940} (Wednesday)
(Margin note: 18th snow, 6" has fallen.)
Cara S. Miller was buried this afternoon in the
Riverside Cemetery, in the North East corner of
the Somers-|Miller Lot next to Grandmother
Somers grave. She was 74 years old, and died of
a cancer on the rectum at the Crosson{??} Hospital
in Meriden. The funeral services were held at
the Congregational Church in Cheshire. Rev. J.
Herbert Bainton officiated. Undertaker Alderson
had charge of the funeral. There was no service at
the grave. She was buried at the expense of the
state, as she was an old age pensioner.
Began snowing at four o'clock.
03/28/{1940} (Thursday)
This morning after doing the housework I
swept out the paths. It would have been all
right if I hadn't done it, for before night the
snow was nearly all gone. I then sharpened
tools. Alice Pierpont came and did the wash.
03/29/1940 (Friday)
A dull day thawed some and at dark it began
to rain. I sharpened tools part of the time.
Took the Round Robin letters up to Mr. Reutter's for
Mary to read.
03/30/{1940} (Saturday)
This morning was very foggy which continued
till afternoon when it turned to rain.
Dick Pierpont came and helped me in the
blacksmith shop till noon. Then we trimmed
an appletree and a maple in the back yard till
three o'clock when it began to rain hard and
we had to stop.
I received a Resolution of Respect fron {from} the
New Haven County Pomona Grange{??} in memory
of Cara Miller who died March 24, 1940.
Sent by Emerson J. Leonard, whos {whose} address
is Cook Hill, Wallingford.
03/31/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Richard Millard of St. John's Church preached.
03{04}/01/1940 (Monday)
I sharpened a lot of tools to day. The weather has
been rather cold.
03{04}/02/1940 (Tuesday)
I went to Cheshire and got two bags of feed for
the chickens and sharpened tools.
The weather has been cool.
Alice came and did the ironing this afternoon.
04/03/{1940} (Wednesday)
A cool day. I sharpened tools.
04/04/{1940} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools and did other odd jobs.
Alice Pierpont came and did the washing.
Dick Pierpont came after school and struck in
the blacksmith shop and trimmed an apple
tree.
04/05/{1940} (Friday)
I sharpened tools. Dick Pierpont came and cleaned
up the brush and wood where he trimmed the apple trees.
04/06/{1940} (Saturday)
Cool clear day. Dick Pierpont came this morning and
cleaned up the brush in the yard. I sharpened tools.
Then we trimmed the grape vines and rose bushes.
I filed a cross cut saw for Mr. Jones and Dick
dug out a drain. Then we went to the farm and
trimmed an appletree. Miss Alice came and
did up the ironing and cooked a big piece of
corned beef, and a head of cabbage etc.
Dan Hannon {Hanlon??} put a new glass in the door of
my truck.
04/07/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. John Cooms{??} preached. Rev. Girtrude served
the communion. This afternoon I went up to Rose
Wakelee's and we worked on the list of Civil War
Veterans. Margaret and George Hall called and we
looked over my garden seeds.
04/08/{1940} (Monday)
Rainy day. I did odd jobs about home, and with Dick
Pierpont went to Cheshire and there met Effel Reutter
at Mrs. Brook's Girage {Garage??} and got some of Cara's things
and took them up to Reutters and a cabinet to
Mr. Service's. This evening I went out to Ralph
Pierpont's and read a paper on Peter Gilkey{??}, the Revolutionary
Counterfetter {Counterfeiter}.
04/09/1940 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. I had Dick Pierpont
come and we cleaned the front yard and put fertilizer
on the most of it.
This evening Paul Miller, Leland Garriggns{??},
Ralph and Laurence Pierpont came and we
gave lessins {lessons} in drumming the double drag.
The weather has been wet and damp all day.
04/10/1940 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this morning, then went to the
barbers and had hair cut and shave {shaved}. After dinner
I went and got my pocket book from Hotchkisses
and then went to the farm and took care of the ox
and then went up Watertown Ave. and got my
Auto License, and then paid my Telephone Bill,
then went and paid my Electric Bill, then home
and supper. Then I went up to Reutters and
showed them the Resolutions of Respect I received
from the New Haven County Pomona Grange{??} for
Cara Miller who died Mar. 24.
The United States census taker called this after
noon. It was a young woman and I had to tell
her how old I was, where I was born, what I burned
for fewel {fuel}, how much my place is worth, how much
I earned, etc. etc.
04/11/{1940} (Thursday)
The wind turned South to day. The first time this
year that I have known. I did odd jobs about
home. Dick Pierpont came and we finished
cleaning the hen house and then put in
fresh leaves. We then went to the farm and
planted peas and then let the big gate down
to the lower hinges.
04/12/{1940} (Friday)
Rained all day. Have been in the house most
of the time. Filed a cross cut saw for Mr. Robert
Jones and went to the store and got some groceries
and at the farm and did the chores.
The funeral of Rev. John W. Lewis of St. John's
Church was held this forenoon at 11 A.M. The church
was filled and about 200 stood outside in the rain.
04/13/{1940} (Saturday)
(Margin note: 18th snow{???}, 3" fell.)
I was about the house and cleaned a lot of paint
brushes this forenoon. Alice came and did up
the work. In the afternoon Dick and I trimmed
apple trees at the farm. Berkeley Frisbie called
this forenoon and wished me to look up the ancestors
of Carl Jackson.
04/14/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
Rev. Matthew Madden who has been away sick
preached. His subject was, "On Being Religious".
Jessie Pierpont invited me out to their place
to dinner. This afternoon I went to Mr. Wilson's
in Prospect and there had supper.
04/15/{1940} (Monday)
Last night Bobbie brought Ronny from Cheshire
and he staid here over night. This morning Fritsa
came and she got dinner for me. Ronny and I
worked in the blacksmith shop in the forenoon.
After dinner Alice Pierpont came and cleaned the
kitchen and I painted the floor. Late in the afternoon
Fritsa came and she and Ronny went to her
father's house in Cheshire but they don't intend
to return to New York till next week.
04/16/{1940} (Tuesday)
I sharpened a few tools, and did jobs about the house.
In the afternoon Dick came and we set out in the
chicken yard four Bartlett pear trees. Then we
took one up to the Roys and then went to the
farm and I went to the store and got groceries.
Had a ton of coal come to day.
04/17/1940 (Wednesday)
This morning I cut kindling wood and did other jobs.
In the afternon I went to the farm via Prospect and
left an old pocketbook with Ruth Hotchkiss and
then continued on to East Farms where Dick Pierpont
and I hitched up Old Buster into the cart and took
a load of manure up on the hill, and then trimmed
apple trees, and brought down a load of brush.
I wrote a letter to Elsie this noon.
04/18/{1940} (Thursday)
Went to North Wallingford and saw Charles Cass
about putting nitrate of soda about appletrees and
other apple culture. The weather is wet but he
was plowing with a tractor getting the land ready
to set out strawberries.
Mr. Daines came from Woodbury to see about painting
my house. If weather is good, will start
Monday. I went to the East End Hardware Co.
and ordered the lead, oil, and other materials.
04/19/{1940} (Friday)
I sharpened tools and did odd jobs about the place.
This afternoon Dick came and we made over some big
wedges for Mr. Jones and spaded in the garden.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson called this evening to see about going
to Kent tomorrow.
04/20/1940 (Saturday)
Rained all day and cold and windy.
This morning, Mr. Pearly Wilson called and
we went to Kent in his new De Sota car. First we
went out to Middlebury Road beyond the Four Cornces{??}
and got Miss Julia Bronson, then over the Ben Sherman
Hill and up through Woodbury, then through Washington
and New Preston by Lake Waramaug
to Warren, then to Kent at 11.15. Found all of Frank's
family at home. Had a fine dinner. Then we went
up to Mr. Chase's{??} Saw Mill and went through
a large log restaurant and lodging house. Then
to his mill where he had a large supply of lumber
on hand. Then we went back to Franks and
got ready and started for home, by way of
Cornwall Bridge, Goshen where I stoped {stopped] and saw
Lyman Ovaitt [Oviatt], then on through Forrington, Thomaston
to Watertown, then to the Middlebury Road where
we left Miss Bronson, then on home, stoping {stopping} at
the store and got{??} some groceries. Frank gave me
a bushel of potatoes.
04/21/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Chruch.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was,
"This One Thing".
Rained all day.
04/22/{1940} (Monday)
(Margin note: 19th{??mistake} snow, 1 in. fell.)
This morning Mr. H.W. Dains and another man
came from Woodbury to paint my house. I went to
the Bank and got checks cashed for $77.00, then I
got my truck and went to the East End Hardware
and got 300 lbs. white lead, 11.25=33.75{??} 10 galls. Linseed
oil 1.00 per gal. = 10.00, one gal. turpentine .60 cts,
1 pt. dryer .30 cts., one pound lamp black 55.00,
2 gals. of green blind paint, 2.80 = 5.60 total 50.80. {???????}
The painters got here at 9 A.M. and left at 4.30 P.M.
I repaired blinds this afternoon.
Will Gillette called and left administration
papers.
Weather cold, sleet and rain and snow.
04/23/1940 (Tuesday)
To day has been cool and clear. This forenoon I
went to Prospect and to the store and got some
paint. The painters came at one and worked
till four thirty.
04/24/{1940} (Wednesday)
Cool to day. I got the garden ready for seeds. Dick and
I finished trimming the orchard on the hill at the
farm. The painters got here at 8 A.M. and quit at
4.30.
04/25/1940 (Thursday)
I planted lettuce, radish, parsnips in the garden North
of the girage {garage}. The painters Mr. Daines and Mr. Young
worked from 8 A.M. to 4.30 P.M., half hour at noon.
Dick Pierpont and I cleaned the brush from the barn
lot at the farm this afternoon.
04/26/{1940} (Friday)
I did odd jobs and planting this forenoon, and Dick
and I plowed the garden at the farm and did other work.
The painters worked from 8 A.M. to 4.30 P.M., 1/2 hr. at noon.
04/27/{1940} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont came this morning and we worked on cars
till noon. In the afternoon I worked on my little car.
Alice Pierpont came and staid till dark.
I turned my clocks one hour ahead to night as day light
saving starts tomorrow.
The two painters came at 8 this morning and got through
at 3.30.
04/28/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was, "Following
The Cross'. At this service the Memorial Golden
Cross that Raymond and I gave in honor of
my wife Mary was dedicated by the minister.
Of my family who were in attendance
were George Hall and Margaret, Raymond and
Ruth, Clifford Heaton and Fritsa, Ronald, Dick
and myself.
After Church, George and Margaret invited
me to take dinner with them. I came home
and put my car up, and got into their nice
Buic {Buick??} and we went through Cheshire,
and at Mt. Carmel turned East to North Haven
then down through Montese{??} up the road that
took us to Fotoket{??} and North Branford, then south
to the Post Road to the Oasis Dining Rooms, where
we had the nicest shore dinner. While we were
eating the head waiter said there were 250 at dinner
and up to that time they had fed over 800.
04/29/1940 (Monday)
This morning I went to Woodtick to Berkley L. Frisbie's
to see Mrs. Carl Jackson about the Jackson geneology.
I had to wait till near noon before she came, and
then I seemed to have what she wanted.
She wishes me to make out the complete list from
Daniel Jackson, the immigrant that settled in
Newtown, Conn. among the first settlers.
04/30/1940 (Tuesday)
This morning after breakfast, I took my Pickup and
went up and got Mr. Robert Jones and we went to
Falls Villige {Village} and got five bags of land lime. Then
we drove down to Kent and stoped {stopped} at Frank's and
had dinner that he got, as the folks were all
away. Then we went to the field near the Public
Schoolhouse and saw them plant potatoes, and
we looked at the farming machinere {machinery} in the old
tobacco sheds, then we drove to Merwinsville and
Gailordsville and home.
The painters came at 8 and left at 4.30.
This evening, Laurence Pierpont, Leland Garrigus,
and Paul Miller came and practiced drumming.
05/01/{1940} (Wednesday)
Cold and damp. Dick spread lime on the garden. Then
we went to the farm and harrowed{??} the upper lot where
we had it planted.
The painters came at 8 and left at {??}.
05/02/{1940} (Thursday)
This morning Dick and I cut wood for the stove and
then went to the farm and cleaned the stable out and
drew the manure up on the hill. It rained towards
night.
05/03/{1940} (Friday)
The painters came this morning, but it looked
like rain and they did not work, so I paid them
$40.00 and they went down to Woodbury, and I
went down to the bank and drew out 25.00 to
pay for the next paint. I came home, had dinner
and then went to Prospect and saw Mabel Hotchkiss
about Mr. Clark and Mr. Peck of Woodbridge, and
talked of the Historical Society that they are trying
to organize in Prospect. Fred Hotchkiss is having
an artesian {artisan??} well drilled near his chicken house.
His sister isout of town.
05/04/{1940} (Saturday)
Rained more or less all day. Alice came and did
the washing. Dick came this forenoon and mowed
the lawn and we then choped {chopped} wood till noon.
I did little this afternoon.
05/05/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden. No sermon, but he took in a class
of 33 new members.
I came home and have been here all the afternoon.
05/06/1940 (Monday)
I did odd jobs about home and painted some onion
sets{??}. This morning I went to the East End Hardware
Store and got 20 gals. of roof paint and 2 gals. of oil and
cherry varnish for 28.50.
Mr. Dains and Mr. Young nearly finished painting
my house.
05/07/{1940} (Tuesday)
The painters got through painting my house
this morning about ten o'clock and left for
Woodbury to paint a church.
Dick Pierpont came and repaired the
grape arbour {arbor??} and then spaided a part of the
garden. This evening I attended a meeting
of the Mattatuck Drum Band at the hall at
Mort Pierpont's house at East Farms.
Mr. H. W. Dains and Mr. Young of Woodbury finished
painting my house. It cost 179.30 as follows.
April 21, 300 lbs. white lead, @11.25 33.75
" 10 gals. linseed oil @ 1.00 10.00
" 1 gal. turpentine .60
" 1 pt. dryer .30
" 1 pound Lamp Black .55
" 2 gals. green for blinds @2.80 5.60 .
50.80
May 6, To{??} 20 gals. shingle stains @1.30 26.00
" " 2 gals. oil and varnish 2.50 .
. 28.50 .
79.30
. $100.00 .
Labor Total $179.00
Paid 40.00
" 40.00
" 15.00
" . 5.00 .
$100.00
05/08/1940 (Wednesday)
I painted an old grape arbor this forenoon. After dinner
I went to Treat{??} Hotchkiss in Prospect and bought
a dozen little chickens, brought them home and
then went up to Wolcott and saw Rose Wakelee, and
then went to the Center. The state has commenced
work on a road that runs past Arthur Harrison's
house from the East Bristol Road to the Center.
It has rained some this afternoon.
05/09/{1940} (Thursday)
This morning I sharpened tools till noon. In the
afternoon I went to the farm and set out a row
of onion sets{??}. Dick came and we yoked up Buster
and went up to the shed lot and plowed for potatoes.
05/10/{1940} (Friday)
This morning I sharpened tools. In the afternoon
I went to the farm and when Dick came we plowed
upon the hill.
To night's paper states that the Germans have
since yesterday captured the Netherlands, Belgium
and Luxembourg. They have previously taken over
Denmark and Norway.
The English have ordered 30,000 air plains {planes}.
05/11/1940 (Saturday)
This forenoon I went to the farm and Dick and I furrowed
out the land that we had plowed and karrowed{???} and
then Dick put in fertilizer and I covered it and Dick
droped {dropped] the potatoe {potato} seed and I covered the most of it
and we then picked off stones along the edge by the
grass.
05/12/1930 {1940} (Sunday)
I received a postal card from Ruth Brundage at
Storrs{??} yesterday stating that they were going
to Danbury this forenoon to see their mother
Brundage and invited me to go two {too}. They called
about eleven and we went through Middlebury,
Southbury, Sandybrook, Newtown and to Mr.
Brundage's house where we saw his extensive
gardens and went through many of his chicken
houses. He says that he has about 20,000 chickens,
large and small, and gets about 900 eggs a day
and uses 1/2 ton of feed each day.
05/13/{1940} (Monday)
This forenoon I planted in the garden. Dick Pierpont
came this afternoon and clipped the grass while I
planted cabbages etc.
05/14/1930 {1940}
I painted on the grape arbour {arbor} and Dick and I planted
at the farm.
05/15/1940
To day I took a long trip looking for a woman
to live with me. I drove to North Canton and
looked over the Cemetery there to find if Isaac
or Johnson Cleveland were buried there. I found
no trace of them, and called on the Misses{??}
Case who live in the large house on the South
corner of the Simsbury Road. Then I went to
Canton Center and looked over the Cemetery
there with no results. But I fell in with two
ladies who were interested in research work,
Mrs. Howard Allen and Mrs. Herman Melzer
and they refered me to Mrs. Edward
Hasford, whose husband died last
year{??} is descended from Johnson Cleveland
who lived in Wolcott in Revolutionary times
and served in the War. I called on several
others, but got no trace of a housekeeper.
05/16/1940
This morning my sore leg pained me and I
only did some painting on the grape arbor.
In the afternoon at the farm, Dick and {??} planted
and plowed about the stone heap for gourds.
05/17/{1940} (Friday)
Cut brush wood this morning after it stoped {stopped} raining.
This afternoon Dick Pierpont and I got out a load
of manure and put it about the big pile of rocks
and got ready to plant gourds.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Perley{Pearly??} Wilson called and I
bought a History of Stratford of Mrs. Wilson for $4.50.
05/18/{1940} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont worked at the farm this morning. Then
we came home and painted the picket fence West of the
barn and the hand rail at the back door.
The day has been cool.
05/19/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Todd preached.
As my sore leg caused much pain, I kept
very quiet in the afternoon, only went out
to Perly{Pearly} Wilsons and looked over some deeds
for them regarding the South end of the
farm, and had a nice supper out of doors,
back of the house, came home at dark.
05/20/{1940} (Monday)
This forenoon I figured up my accounts and found
that I have to pay tomorrow 110.00 taxes, water,
electric light, and telephone bill out of the way, then I
will have to pay 184.00{??} tax and a sewer assesment {assessment} of
886.65 to clear up everything.
This evening I went to Pearly Wilsons and gave them
a lot of garden seed. It was quite dark when I
came home.
05/21/{1940} (Tuesday)
Did odd jobs about home. Dick and I planted a lot
of Gourd seed about Fort Dunlop at the farm.
They are building a new house on the East side
of Norris Street opposite our lot at East Farms.
05/22/1940 (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools. In the afternoon
I went to the farm, and Dick and I began to plow
for corn, but it began to rain, and we gave it up.
Alice Pierpont came and cleaned the bath room.
05/23/{1940} (Thursday)
It has rained all day. I sharpened tools this forenoon.
The telephone man came to put in an extra bell, but it
was not loud enough. Dick Pierpont came this afternoon
and we forged a pair of tool tongs.
05/24/1940 (Friday)
(Margin note: Telephone bell.)
To day the Telephone Company put in a double 6"
bell in the hallway that rings every time the
telephone calls so that they can hear it up
stairs. This morning I sharpened tools. Dick
and I cultivated the raspberries at the farm
and planted beans and cucumbers.
05/25/1940 (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont came this morning and we dug
up two young appletrees in the yard North of the
house, and transplanted them. One North of the wall
and West of the blacksmith shop. The other in the
chicken yard in the angle near the drain outlet.
The weather was cold and damp and we planted
Golden Bantam and Stowells Evergreen corn
and cucumbers and beans in the garden.
On account of the wet, we got through at noon.
Cliff, Fritsa, Dick and Ronny came in the afternoon
from New York. Dick is going to stay
here and the rest are going to Cheshire to stay
to night.
05/26/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew G. Madden preached. His subject was,
"The Lost Chord".
Cliff, Fritsa, Dick and Ronald came from N.Y.
last night. All but Dick went to Cheshire to
sleep, but he staid here with Robert and had
breakfast here.
This afternoon I went to Wolcott and visited
with Margaret. They are grading the road
that runs East and West across Wolcott Center.
05/27/{1940} (Monday)
This morning I went to Prospect and bought one dozen
chickens of Treat{??} Hotchkiss. Then I went to see Nellie
Cowdell but she was in Cheshire. I came home and
took two bouquets up to the Cemetery and put them
on Mary's grave. Stoped {Stopped} and visited with sister
MAry till noon. Then came home and had dinner.
Alice Pierpont came and ironed and got a fine
supper and did up the work.
In the evening Mansfield Gillette called to
see about being Drum Major for the Mattatuck
Drum Band.
05/28/1940 (Tuesday)
This morning I got up and my old leg was very
sore and painful. I could do but little on account
of the pain. At noon I went and saw Dr. Barber
and he dressed it up but it has pained worse ever
since. When I got home Alice Pierpont was here,
cleaning the books and the top shelf in the study.
About 5.30 {??} of a sudden the rain came down hard
without warning and caught many out who ran
for shelter in the waiting station and in the Fair-|
Lawn Gas Station while many of the school children
took refuge under the trees, but they soon had to
run drenched through as the rain lasted about
an hour.
05/29/{1940} (Wednesday)
To day I have been about home all the time
looking over old letters and papers. My sore
leg has been very painful. Alice Pierpont has
been here and worked dusting and cleaning
the books in my study.
There has been no rain to day but the
weather has been cool with some sunshine.
05/30/1940 (Thursday)
This is Decoration Day. BUt alas, how different
from the Decoiation{Decoration??} days of 1869, when there were
long lines of men in blue and the school children
all with flowers and marched to the Cemeteries
and in with dirge step to the graves of those who
had passed on before, and tenderly laid the {??}
on, and with muffled drum, passed on to the
next one till all were decorated.
This day I have staid in doors and sorted
letters and papers and helped Alice Pierpont clean
my study and replace the books.
05/31/{1940} (Friday)
Rained hard all day. I did a little sharpening
tools and went to see Doctor Barber with my
sore leg. He said it was better, and did it up
again. I bought of Davis and Nye on Grand
Street, two files to file away written material.
Have worked some putting books back on
the shelves, etc.
06/01/{1940} (Saturday)
Alice Pierpont came and we put my books back on
the shelves and nearly finished cleaning my study.
Lena Turkenton called this afternoon.
Ray called this evening. Weather clear.
06/02/1940 (Sunday)
This morning Vincent and Bettie Simons called
at 8.30 and we drove to Storrs{??}. Where we found
Jack and Ruth and Piere {Pierre??}, Kennith {Kenneth} and Peggy all
well. At 10.45 we attended church all except Vincent
and Jack, after which we returned to Ruth's and
had a fine dinner. Then we went up to Mansfield
Four Corners and saw the house and farm that
they have bought, a nice large house about 200
years old, and barns and chicken coops, corn house,
wood shed etc. and 60 acres of good land. It will
make a good home for them. We came back to
Storrs and had ice cream and soon after 5 started
for home coming through Middletown, got home
before dark.
06/03/1940 (Monday)
I went and saw Dr. Barber about my leg. It was
worse so I did not do anything in the line of work
to day. Alice came and cleaned my room, and
Dick came and cut the grass, but did not do the
trimming.
06/04/1940 (Tuesday)
This morning I did writing etc. At 1.30 I went to
Dr. Barbour's {Barber's} office on North Main St. and he dressed
my foot and leg. Alice came and did the ironing
and we went to the store and got a lot of groceries.
Then we went to Wolcott and saw Margaret
and George Hall. The state are {is} regrading the
East and West road across the Center in front
of the Church. Then we came home down the
steep south hill, now called Brooks Hill, but in
my younger days, Malon Hotchkiss Hill.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Wilson called
and we had a fine visit.
06/05/{1940} (Wednesday)
My leg pains very much but not so bad as yesterday.
At 11 A.M. I was at Dr. Barber's office and
he did it up for me. They told me that
Charles Tuttle's place burned last night. This
afternoon I drove up there, this is what I saw,
some Cloppards{??} torn from the East side, all
otherwise was well. The paper to night said
the inside was damaged $2000.00 worth.
06/06/{1940}
I went and saw Dr. Barber at 1.30. Worked in the garden. Alice Pierpont
came and her mother. This evening Mr. and Mrs. Perly {Pearly} Wilson came
and took me to Cheshire and we visited Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop and
saw their nice flowers.
06/07/1940 (Friday)
Stayed about home all day except the time I went
to Dr. Barber about my leg.
06/08/{1940} (Saturday)
Very pleasant day. I had Dr. Barber dress my old
leg. It is much better than it was.
Alice Pierpont and her mother came and did the
ironing and put up curtains in my room.
I pulled weeds in my home garden so that there
isn't one to be seen. This afternoon I went to the
farm and there was plenty of weeds there. I hoed
many of them up.
06/09/1940 (Sunday)
This morning I was at Wolcott Center at 10 A.M. to
attend service with the Wolcott Fire Department
at 10.30. About 20 members arrived in thir {their} cars
and the band came to the number of about 25,
in neat white and blue uniforms. The firemen
had on blue uniforms. They formed in front
of the Grange Hall and with band playing
marched past the Town Hall then to the left
and strait across the green to the Church, the
band halting at the road which was dug up
as they are regraiding {regrading??} it. The members went
in and we sat in the two front seats on the
West side of the Church. But through{??} some
reason there was no Fireman's service and the
word Fire or Fireman was not spoken during
the service that I know of.
The service was entirely (except the Collection)
devoted to a Childrens Day Program and Baptism
and Reception of new members.
There were many that were disapointed {disappointed}, I among
the others.
When Charlie Tuttle's house was set on fire last
Tuesday night at about 10 o'clock, Howard Kraft who
lives on Spindle Hill was carrying things out of
his cellar when he heard the Fire Siren on the Engine
house at Hitchcocks Lake, over three miles away, sounding.
He telephoned the Foremans house and learned
that the fire was at Tuttles and drove as fast
as he could. The firemen with the engine were there
ahead of him, having came about three miles.
They put the suction in Lillie Brook from the bridge
and soon had two lines of 1 1/2" hose laid and streams
on the fire, which was started in two places in the
cellar and burned up through the three floors to
the attic, but was not allowed to break through
so it showed on the outside anywhere, only where
two or three pieces of clappords{??} were pulled off on
the East side.
The fire was first discovered by a man and woman
riding by in an auto who drove to Charlie Ferrells{??}
in Woodtick and from there the alarm was telehponed
in. The house has been vacant since Mr. Tuttle's
death over a year ago.
The Firemen certainly did good work and
should be commended for it.
06/10/1940 (Monday)
Rained all day and cold. Went and had Dr. Barber
dress my leg. He told that Itily {Italy} had entered the
war on the side of the Germans.
The Germans are now throwing shells across the channel
into England. They are to move 120,000 children into
the country from London to get them away from the
air rades {raids}.
I went to Cheshire and got a bag of oats and a bag
of scratch feed. At East Farms I got the cutting bar
and a scythe that needs grinding.
06/11/1940 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools to day. Weather wet and damp.
Alice came and got dinner and put up curtains
in my study and got supper, then Laurence
Pierpont came after her to take care of Peter this
evening, while they went away.
06/12/{1940} (Wednesday)
This noon I went to Dr. Barber and he dressed my
leg and I paid him $2.00{??} as I do every time, it all
helps to make my old leg more valuable. Alice
PIerpont came and got me a good dinner, and staid
till two, then went to the Church. To day is her
last day in school. In the afternoon I went to
the farm and cultivated some of the garden and
planted beans, Muskmellons, and corn. Then
I took the seeds that were left to Pearly Wilson
in Prospect and had a good supper that Mrs.
Wilson got for me. This day has been hot and
muggy. I sweat my clothes all through.
06/13/{1940} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to the farm
and Dick and I cultivated potatoes and repaired
the bars at the entrance to the orchard.
Alice Pierpont worked here to day. She got my dinner
and supper.
06/14/{1940} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went and saw
Dr. Barber at 1.30, then to the farm and Dick and
I built the fence over up the lane by the spring.
It is reported that the Germans have taken Paris to
day.
06/15/1940 (Saturday)
I have spent most of the day at the farm with
Dick weeding the garden. It has rained hard
several times. Alice came and did the ironing and
other work, painted the inside of the washing machine.
06/16/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was, "How
Much Are You Willing To Pay For Peace". This afternoon
I went to Prospect and saw George Cowdell and Mr.
Wilson.
06/17/{1940} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went and had Dr. Barber
dress my old leg. Came home and lay down a spell till
the pain cased {ceased} a bit, then got my car out and put
lumber in it and took it to Robert Tyler's and had
it sawed and plained for stakes for the truck.
Left a wheel at Adkins Gas Station to have the tire
fixed.
06/18/1940 (Tuesday)
I made stakes for my truck and bolted Cemetery
plank{??}. In the afternoon Dick Pierpont and I cultivated
the potatoes on the hill and did other jobs.
alice came and worked about the house. In the
evening, Ted Williams and a friend came from Tarrytown
and we had a fine visit.
06/19/1940 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Dick Pierpont came and
cut the grass. After dinner we went to the farm
and Dick and I hoed the potatoes. Alice Pierpont
came and cooked and cleaned, got dinner and
supper, etc. This evening I went to Treat{??} Hotchkiss
in Prospect and bought a dozen little chickens.
06/20/{1940} (Thursday)
(Margin note: Alice Pierpont got through.)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. At 1.30 I went to Dr. Barber's
and he dressed my leg. After dinner Dick Pierpont and
I drove to Winsted to get some scythes, but the factory
was closed and we had to come home without them.
The weather was very windy and cold. Alice Pierpont
worked to day for the last time, as she is going to Maine.
06/21/{1940} (Friday)
This morning Mrs. Harold Pierpont came and did
the ironing and got dinner. I went to the farm
and Dick and I repaired the fence by the spring. In
the afternoon Red Saint-|Lewis came to work and
we repaired the fence at the S. E. corner near
Norris Street.
06/22/{1940} (Saturday)
This forenoon Red and I made a yard for the young
chickens. This afternoon I hoed the garden and
did other odd jobs. Mr. John Barr and Mr.
Theodore Muscio called.
Fritsa and Cliff called in when they came from
New York. They are going to stay in Cheshire tonight.
06/23/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Church in Morris with other
members of the Pierpont family. This family held
a Reunion in the Community Building this day.
There were over 100 present from different parts
of the state and from Massachusetts.
I went up with George Hall and Margaret.
The weather was nice.
06/24/{1940} (Monday)
Rained all day. This forenoon I moed {mowed} North of
the garden a small spot and ground several
scythes. At 1.30 I went and had Dr. Barber dress my
leg. I then went to Mrs. Wilsons in Prospect
and we went to the Town Clerk's office (Mrs.
Harry Tolmage{??}) looked up records, etc.
06/25/{1940} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. It rained all the time.
This afternoon I went to the farm and hoed in the
garden all the time. It was very weedy.
06/26/1940 (Wednesday)
Rained nearly all day. I sharpened tools this forenoon.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing and got dinner.
In the afternoon I took Mrs. Pierpont home and then
hoed in the garden at the farm, with Dick and Red
to help.
06/27/{1940} (Thursday)
Laurence St. Lewis came and cut the grass with
the lawn mower. I mowed some about the garden.
John Barr called this afternoon. Is coming again Saturday.
I went to Mr. Wilson's and took supper there.
06/28/{1940} (Friday)
This forenoon I mowed and did odd jobs about
home. Mrs. Pierpont came and did the ironing.
I went at 1.30 and had Dr. Barber dress my old leg.
Wilkey was nominated President of the United
States at Philadelphia last night.
06/29/{1940} (Saturday)
This forenoon I mowed some in my home lot.
In the afternoon John Barr came to see me about
matters that happened over 60 years ago. He and I
are the same age and we voted for General Garfield
the first time we cast a ballot.
06/30/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew G. Madden preached. His subject was,
"How Christ Handled The Problem of Evil". I think
he done{??} a lot of gessing {guessing??}. This afternoon I saw Nellie
Cowdell about going to Woodbridge and looking
up the inventor of friction matches.
07/01/1940 (Monday)
This forenoon Dick Pierpont and I mowed the North end
of my home lot. This afternoon we took a large load
of hay to East Farms and put it in the barn.
I got a lot of groceries just as it began to rain.
07/02/{1940} (Tuesday)
Dick and Red came this morning and we cleaned
the garden of weeds. Then we put on a load of green
hay on the truck and took it to the farm, and
spread it to dry. Then we freed the garden out there
of weeds, got in the hay, and cultivated the potaotes.
07/03/1940 (Wednesday)
This morning Dick, Red and I hoed the potatoes
and planted turnips. We then hitched Buster into
the mowing machine, and mowed the lot north
of the barn. Dick drove and Red rode on the machine.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing and
got my dinner, etc.
07/04/{1940} (Thursday)
This forenoon I went to the farm and Red, Dick and
I mowed by hand. In the afternoon they came
over here, and we raised the flag and put Bunting{??}
and flags on the fence. Decorations for the Parade
that came down the Frost Road that was over a
mile long of Police, Firemen, Military, Two Brass
Bands, Bycicle {Bicycle} Corps Floats, etc. and twenty Drum Corps
from all over the state. They marched to Hamilton
Park where sports and contests were held, and where
tonight there were great Fireworks.
07/05/1940 (Friday)
Nice clear day. At the farm Dick, Red and I turned
the hay over. Mrs. Pierpont came and did the ironing
and mending and got dinner. I went down town
with Tony{??} and had Dr. Barber dress my leg and then
got medicine, then came home and went to the farm and
heaped up the hay and did other jobs, etc.
07/06/1940 (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and Dick and I hoed
in the garden, until the dew got dried off the hay. Then
Red came and we turned over all of the hay that was
mowed, and raked up a load and got it in. I came
home and had dinner, after which Mr. John Barr
came and brought Mr. Mathes, a photographer, who took
my picture for the Waterbury Democrat to be published
togather {together} with a story concerning my connection with
Waterbury business and with the Mattatuck Drum
Band. After they left I went to the farm where the
boys had got in another load of hay, and we got
in another which we left on the cart.
In the evening Fritsa, Ronny and Cliff called.
07/07/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. rev.
Mr. Madden preached. His subject was, "How Christ
Handled The Problem of Evil."
This afternoon I went to Wolcott and visited Arthur
Harrison, then came down and called on sister
Mary. While I was gone my son Frank of Kent
called and left some biscuit and crollars{??}.
The day has been clear and warm.
07/08/{1940} (Monday)
We mowed the South part of the lot in which the
barn stands at east Farms and got the most
of it in to day. Dick drove the ox and Red rode
on the machine. The day has been very warm.
07/09/1940 (Tuesday)
Sharpened tools this forenoon. Dick and Red opened out
the hay at the farm and got it into the barn, and then
mowed some. This afternoon I went to the farm and
Red and I unloaded the hay. Dick did not come this
afternoon.
07/10/1940 (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools, etc. Dick came
and cut the grass and did other odd jobs.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing.
Marion Kraft came and borrowed the History
of Wolcott, and took a paper that had a story
about myself published in it, "The Democrat".
07/11/{1940} (Thursday)
Worked at the farm all day. Dick and Red helped.
Went to Cheshire and got feed this afternoon.
Mowed the North East corner of the barn lot.
07/12/1940 (Friday)
Rained most of the day. Mrs. Pierpont came and
did the ironing and got dinner etc.
Marion Kraft and the minister from Wolcott
with two auto loads of boys came to look over my
Drum Room and relics, etc. I have spent the greater
part of the day in writing and filing away
papers.
07/13/{1940} (Saturday)
This morning I went to the farm and Dick Pierpont,
Laurence St. Lewis and I raked the hay into beds and
pulled the suckers from the appletrees in the lower
lot. In the afternoon, John Barr came and we
prepaired {prepared} an article for the news paper.
Then I went to Prospect and bought 13 little chickens
of Treat{??} Hotchkiss.
07/14/{1940} (Sunday)
A nice day. I attended meeting at the Mill
Plain Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
His subject was, "Who Is This Jesus of Nazareth".
After service I came home and had dinner all
by myself after which I made a bouquet of roses
and took it to the Cemetery and placed it on
Mary's grave. Then I went to Prospect and
saw Nellie Cowdell about the geneology of Jason
Hotchkiss of Wolcott. Then I went to Perly {Pearly} Wilsons
and met Mr. and Mrs. Birth of Milford and there
had supper. I {????} home and soon Mrs. Wilson
came and left a bag of redishes {radishes}. I gave her a dozen
of{??} eggs and a copy of the paper Democrat that had
an article in it about myself.
07/15/{1940} (Monday)
To day Dick Pierpont, Laurence St. Lewis and I hoed in
the garden at East Farms. Then we turned over the hay,
then raked it up and got it into the barn. Then we
took our scythes and mowed the remaining grass in
the barn lot. The weather has been nice all day.
07/16/{1940} (Tuesday)
This morning we rigged the mowing machine to
be drawn by the truck and started mowing the
orchard on the hill but the cluch {clutch} slipped and finally
burned out so it would not move the machine, so
the boys went down and got Buster and the cart but
forgot the chain to tow the truck with. In the meantime
it began to thunder, and Dick ran down and
got a chain but it was to {too} short and he had to
get another one, by this time it was pouring hard
but we drew the truck around and down the hill.
07/17/1940 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and Dick and
Red mowed with the ox and I by hand and we
finished the orchard.
Mr. St Lewis took my truck to his place to
put in a new clutch.
The weather has been hot and muggy.
07/18/{1940} (Thursday)
Went to the farm and we set the water trough in the
barn lot running, then we put arsnate{??} of lead on
the potatoes, then we raked up the hay on the hill
and got in a load.
The weather was very hot.
07/19/{1940} (Friday)
Very hot day. Dick Pierpont, Laurence St Lewis and
I got in the hay from the orchard on the hill and a small
load from the barn meadow near the spring. Then
we mowed a piece in the upper lot above the orchard
but it was so hot that it made the ox puff and
we had to stop at the end of every swath and let
him get his breath. This evening I called at
Wm. Service's and showed sister Mary Frank's Album and
talked with Wm. about the Sewer assesment {assessment}.
07/20/{1940} (Saturday)
Hot day. Mr. St Lewis sent my truck home to day
with a bill of 16.58 for a new clutch and universal.
I with Laurence St Lewis, raked up the hay on the
hill.
07/21/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was, "And
They Crucified My Lord". The attendance was
rather small andnthe day very warm.
I staid at home all the afternoon.
07/22/{1940} (Monday)
This morning I went to the farm and Dick, Red and I
did some mowing in the North lot on the hill.
This afternoon I went to the Colonial and got 48.00
dividend on the Mill Plain Church Bonds of $2,400.00.
Then I paid my dues at the Mattatuck Historical Society,
4.00, after which I went to the Southern New England
Telephone Co. and paid my bill of 4.27 there. Then to
the Connecticut Light & Power Co. on Levenworth St.
and paid my bill 5.40 there, then to Davis & Nye on Bank
Stand{??}, bought small account book, blotting paper and
bill heads for .85 then home, my clothes wet with
sweat.
07/23/1940 (Tuesday)
I was up this morning at five and got ready
after breakfast at eight and soon George Hall
and Margaret called and took me{??} to Pond Point
in MIlford to a cottage on the Water front where
we found Will Gillette and Iva and we had a
nice visit. Will and Mansfield took me for a
ride up past the place where Grandfather Somers
had a tide mill at the Gulf, and they showed
me the house where my mother used to live
when a girl. We went to Stratford to the Cemetery
where Cousin Melville and Clarisa Curtiss and
their son Robert is buried.
We also saw a large house where a large truck ran
from the street and into the corner of the house and
entered the room where a woman was sleeping.
The truck took fire and partly burned the house
out, but the firemen put the fire out, besides
the woman there were two men and two children
in the house, and for a time they could not
get out as the doors were clamped tight by the
shock, but the broke their way out, and all
were saved. But they were greatly surprised
to have the truck break into their house at mid
night. One {On} the way back Will bought some long
clams and we had them for supper and they
were good.
07/24/1940 (Wednesday)
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing, and got dinner.
I went and saw Adolph Reymond about the sewer
assesment {assessment}. In the afternoon I went to Oakville and
saw Mr. Frank E. Withey but he had gone to Boston.
Then I came to the Mattatuck shop and saw a lady
but got little information.
07/25/{1940} (Thursday)
To day we mowed on the hill and got in two small
loads. This evening I attended a Cemetery meeting
at East Farms and the following Officers were elected,
President Charles S. Miller, Vice President and Treasurer
Morton E. Pierpont, Secretary Howard Neil, Vice
President Ralph Pierpont.
07/26/{1940} (Friday)
To day Dick Pierpont, Laurence St Lewis and I got in
three loads of hay. Mrs. Pierpont came and did up
the work. My brother Frank came for a visit
from Groton. The weather has been hot.
07/27/{1940} (Saturday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. The weather was very hot.
This afternoon I drove to Oakville and saw Mr. Frank S. Winthrop
about the sewer assesment {assessment}.
07/28/{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. Subject, "I Will Make My
Way In The Wilderness".
Mrs. Herbert Taylor played the organ.
07/29/{1940} (Monday)
Dick, Red and I moed {mowed} the east end of the lot on the
hill this afternoon. This forenoon Red and I pitched
off a load of hay and gathered vegetables from the
garden. Four qts. of string beans to Mrs. St Lewis
and beans, carrots, beats {beets?}, and lettice {lettuce} to Fritsa at
Hitchcocks Lake.
07/30/1940 (Tuesday)
One of the hotest {hottest} days. 93ø in the shade. Dick, Red and I
finished mowing on the hill and we got the hay all in.
This evening Brtoher Frank and I went up and
had a visit with Raymond and Ruth.
07/31/{1940} (Wednesday)
Weather a little cooler to day. Red, Dick and I mowed the
lot west of the shed half way up the hill, and got the
hay in the barn to day, and finished my haying.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing etc.
Mr. Dains and Mr. Young came at 8 this morning
and worked till {??}.
08/01/{1940} (Thursday)
I was about home all day. Dick Pierpont and Red
St Lewis came and did several odd jobs, carried
sand in the cellar and brushwood into the Woodhouse
and Dick mowed the lawn, while Red and I went to
Cheshire and got two loads of crushed stone for the
front walk, and we trimmed the walk on the Frost
Road. The painters worked from 8 to 4 o'clock.
08/02/{1940} (Friday)
Did odd jobs about home. This evening, Mr. and
Mrs. Pearly Wilson went to Milford and visited
the {? ?} on Maple Street.
The painters worked from 8 to 4 o'clock.
08/03/{1940} (Saturday)
I did odd jobs about home, and gathered some
vegetables and took them to Hitchcock' Lake to
Fritsa Heaton.
08/04/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was, "Tinkering
With Morals". After service, which ended at 11 A.M., I came
home and brother Frank and I had dinner, and at
about three we went to Wolcott and visited Margaret
at Juniper Ledge. We had only been there a short
time when George Hall Jr. came with his wife and
two other ladies and soon, Lizzie, Myrah, May,
Josie Somers and Miss Woolworth came and they
had been there a short time when Fritsa Heaton telephoned
from Hitchcocks Lake that Will Goldsmith was at my
house to take Frank at Groton. So we came home
soon as possible and at six, they started for
Groton. After they had gone, I went to Pearly
Wilson's on the Summit Road in Prospect and
made arrangements to go to New Haven next
Wednesday with Mrs. Wilson to see the agent for the
W.P.A.{??} about my sewer assesment {assessment}. Then I drove
up on Route 69 and in the Scott Road which they
are making over from a rough dirt to a fine
graded surface hardened road. They have about
1/2 mile graded from the South end, then I came home.
08/05/{1940} (Monday)
This morning at 9.30 I went to the Y.M.C.A. and saw
John Barr about writing for the paper. Staid there
till noon. In the afternoon I mowed some and did
other jobs about the place. Went to Spindle Hill
to get my History of Wolcott, but Marion was not at
home. They are just finishing the grading and
surfacing of the Beach Road.
08/06/1940 (Tuesday)
I mowed the grass about the garden North of the
Girage {Garage?}, and did other odd jobs about home.
Cliff Heaton called and got three small stone
drills and six wedges and a hand hammer
and took them up to Hitchcocks Lake.
I went up to Marions on Spindle Hill after my
History of Wolcott but she had lent it to Mr.
German in Woodtick. I called there and got it.
08/07/1940 (Wednesday)
This morning at 8.45 I jumped into my little roadster
but the battery charg {charge} was dead, and it would not
go. I then put the charger on, and took my truck and
went to Mr. Wilsons in Prospect, and Mrs. Wilson
took their large De Sota car and we went to the
office of W.P.A. on Monson Street in New Haven
where I met Mr. Pastoris and we had a talk about the
work done on the sewer past my place on the Frost Rd.
by the W.P.A. and for which I am assesed {assessed} $886.64. He
called the attourney {attorney?} and they thought that the bill
was large and advised that I get a lawyer and
apply to the board of assessors for a statement of
the work done by the Works Project Administration.
After that we drove to Branford and had dinner at the
Oasis, then we came home.
08/08/1940 (Thursday)
This morning I went to the Y.M.C.A. Building to see
Mr. John Barr. At noon, came home and had dinner.
Then I took my Runabought{??} and went to Woodbury
to see Mrs. Russell, but she had gone to New Haven.
Two men were painting her house. I then went to
the foot of Goodhill where they had about 50 half in{???}
streams of water playing on a large price{??} of potatoes{???}.
Then I went up the hill and at the highest point
turned North and crooked{??} about and came out
on the Washington Road which I traveled to North
Woodbury. There I came East over the Old White Deer
Road to the North End of Quassapang Lake then to
Middlebury Center then down to Union City and
up East to the back Waterbury Raod which I traveled
to Pritcharde Pond and then home.
08/09/{1940} (Friday)
I sharpened picks for St. Joseph Cemetery this forenoon.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did odd jobs and cooked a
fine dinner. Dick came in the afternoon and put
up things and mixed paint and helped me set a drum
head and did other jobs. Late in the afternoon I took
vegetables to Fritsa at Hitchcocks Lake and had
supper there.
08/10/1940 (Saturday)
I was in the shop sharpening tools all the forenoon.
Dick Pierpont came at nine and cut the grass with
the lawn mower, and we had dinner togather {together}
after which he went to painting the front concrete
fence posts white. I cleaned and raked the yard
after which we went to East Farms and got a post
hole digger and then we dug about two posts and
straitened them up and put a good curve in the
fence. Then we raked up the hay and loaded it
onto the truck and took it to the farm. There we
picked a bushel of cucumbers and Dick's mother
had half and Laurence St Lewis mother had half.
08/11/1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
Girtrude Coe preached.
I had dinner with Fritsa at Hitchcocks Lake.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby called. They are
from Cuba. She was formally{??formerly} Hazle Pierpont.
08/12/{1940} (Monday)
I sharpened tools to day. Dick Pierpont painted
on the front fence. This evening Will Gillette called
and took me to Juniper Ledge in Wolcott where
a party composed of George Hall and Margaret,
who were the hosts, Wm. Gillette and sister Iva,
Fritsa Heaton and her family including Cliff, Willard
from Montreal, Robert, Ronald and Willard's girls,
Howard Kraft and wife and two sons, another
family of three that I did not know, Byron Fleming
and Pweewee[??} and others that I did not know.
The weather was warm and some of the young
ladies took off all their clothes except shoes and a
small wrap around the body. This mold of undressing
is becoming rather popular as I have seen several
on the streets of Waterbury to day. One step more
and the last of their clothes will be gone and
so will their modesty. Many of the younger
girls wear shorts and pajamas which make them
look, according to the Bible, abominable in the
sight of the Lord.
08/13/{1940} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to Woodbury and saw Mrs.
Russell and looked at her mowing machine, but it
was to {too} much worn. I got a large ox bow and she
gave it to me, then I came home. This afternoon
I went to Dr. Barber's and he bandaged up my leg.
Then I went to the Y.M.C.A. and spent the
afternoon with John Barr.
08/14/1940 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools most of the time to day. Dick Pierpont
came and painted on the front fence. Mrs. Pierpont
came and did the washing and ironing and cooked
me a large dish of clam chowder and other things
including a great bowl of tapioca pudding.
This evening Cliff and Fritsa Heaton called and
Ronny.
Mrs. Hattersley called this afternoon. She is
Irving's wife's sister. She had a letter from England
yesterday from her sister, who is in the northern
part and she states that the war is terrible that
the Germans are dropping bombs everwhere {everywhere} and
many people have been killed and she does not
expect to live through it as there is not a safe
place anywhere.
08/15/{1940} (Thursday)
I worked about home all day. Dick Pierpont came and painted
on the fence. This evening I went and visited Mr. Pearly
Wilson on the Summit Road.
08/16/{1940} (Friday)
I cut brushwood and did odd jobs about hom {home}. Went to Prospect
to see Ruth Hotchkiss, she had gone to town. Went up the newly
graded Scott Road to the Gilkey Road where it was closed,
then out the Gilkey Road to the Waterbury Road then
to the Summit Road and to Nellie Cowdells wher {where} I
left three record books of the Prospect Coronet Bands
of 1977 and 1854. Then I went to West Cheshire and
got 1000 lbs. of crushed stone and took it to Pearly
Wilsons and put it on their driveway. Then came
home an {and} worked. Mrs. Pierpont was here and got
a good dinner for me and Dick, who was painting
the front fence. As I was eating my supper,
Pearly Wilson called and wished to take me
to ride. We went to Watersville, then Thomaston
and Torrington to Goshen and to Tyter{??} Pond
where they wished to see some friends, but it was
dark and the woods thick and cottages everywhere
and no one knew of the Pritchards of Milford
for whom they were searching, so we turned
homeward through Torrington, Harwinton,
East Plymoth, Terryville{??}, Bristol, Wolcott and
home at 9.15.
08/17/1940 (Saturday)
I cut brush wood nearly all day. Dick Pierpont came
and painted the remainder of the front fence.
Mr. Garthwait called to know if I will be judge
at the Fire Parade at Hitchcocks Lake tomorrow.
[[end of Journal Book]]
[[start of new Journal Book]]
08\18\1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church
at 10 A.M., out at 11. Rev. Dr. B.A. Hayton of New Haven
preached. His subject was "The measure of a man".
I went out to Fritsa Heaton's and had dinner, and at
1.30 went to the Firemen's engine house on Central Ave
at Hitchcock's Lake where a parade was forming and
where I was to act as a judge.
There were frequent showers, but in the parade were
the following, the Thomaston Fire Dept. and Thomaston
Girls Drum Corps, Mattatuck Drum Corps, Milldale, Kensington,
Charter Hose Co. of Ansoniam St. Stanslans, Drum
Corps of Waterbury, Terryville Fire Dept., East End Community
Club Drum Corps of Waterbury, Woodbury and Hotchkissville
Depts, Mill Plain Fife and Drum Corps, Branford firemen,
Veteran Association of Hartford, St. Joseph's Fife and
Drum Corps, Springdale, Westfield, Danbury and
Newington Fire Depts., Plainville Fife and Drum
Corps. and St. Mary's Fife and Drum Corps of
Torrington. The line of march was West on Central
Rd. then East to East St. at the top of the Mountain
then North and past the reviewing stand at corner
of Central Ave. to the Mattatuck Golf Field where
the exercises were held.
08\19\1940 (Monday)
This morning I went to the Y.M.C.A. and visited
with John Barre in his room till eleven when I went
to the Conn. Light and Power Co. to see about the
sewer assessment, but found that it was the Conn.
Railway and Lighting Company that I wanted.
I then went to Sears and Roebucks and bought
some auto paint, came home and had dinner.
Dick Pierpont came and we washed and cleaned
my truck and began painting and varnishing
it. The weather has been very hot. This
evening we had a hard thunder shower.
The Germans are still dropping bombs all over
England as they have been doing for the past
week. The situation looks bad for England.
The country should send novies{?}, planes and
tanks and keep the fighting line in France,
and we should prepare for defense.
08\20\{1940} (Tuesday)
Dick Pierpont and I touched up my pick up car
and varnished it and it took all day.
This evening I went to Pearly Wilson's on
the Summit Road to make arrangements
for them to take me to Clintonville some
evening to see Alex Smith. Then I went
to the Mattatuck Hall to a Drum Band
Meeting. They had as guests the Plainville
Drum Corps and Alex Smith of Clintonville
and Mr. Cook of New Haven.
We had good visits and a lively time
drumming.
08\21\1940 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I clipped the grass in the back yard
and did other jobs. This afternoon I went to the
funeral of Mrs. Purdy who lived on East Mountain.
The funeral was held in the Prospect Congregational
Church and she was buried in the Prospect Cemetery.
08\22\1940 (Thursday)
I pulled the weeds about the fences in the chicken
yard and mowed the rest and went to Cheshire
and got a bag of chicken feed. This evening went
to Pearly Wilson's and made arrangements for
him to carry me to Clintonville tomorrow evening.
08\23\{1940} (Friday)
This morning I went to the farm and cut
brush wood. Mrs. Sarah Pierpont came and
did up the work. In the afternoon I was
at the farm and got vegetables for Mrs.
St. Lewis and did other odd jobs. This evening
went to Mr. Wilson's on the Summit Road and
we went in his Desota Car to Clintonville and
saw Mr. Alex Smith and he took us into his
house and we drummed all the evening,
he on his Morwn{??} drum that was made in
1832 and I on a heavy 20" drum that his great
great grandfather used in the Revolutionary
War. We made lots of noise and had a good
time. Got home at 11.30.
Jack Brundage called this evening. He is
in trouble in getting the money to pay for the
farm that they bought.
Robert Miller called me up and staid to
night.
08\24\{1940}
This forenoon I went to Danbury with the Wolcott
Fire Department that took part in one of the largest
fire parade ever given in this state. The bus stopped
here just before noon and took me on. All went well
with the boys singing and the band Playing till we
reached a point about three miles this side of Danbury
where we found the road blocked with a line
of autos that reached to the City, some of the time
it moved a little very slowly. Finally we reached
a cross road and Arthur Yarrington, the driver,
turned North and went to Brookfield where
we took the main Danbury Road down through
Germantown and came to Main St. This was
blocked at White St. and we turned West and
soon found our diversion on a side street, The
boys and Band got{???} and we started for the Fair
Grounds where the parade was to be dismissed
but had gone a short distance when the bus
stopped and could not be started. Art telephoned
to headquarters in Waterbury, and they started
a mechanic out to make the necessary repairs.
A friend and I walked to the corner of West
Street where we had a fine view of the marchers,
many had passed, but we stood there nearly
two hours watching the remainder, soon the
Kent Company came with their red shirts
and fire engine, they made a neat appearance as
any Company. Frank was at the left of the
front rank. I did not have a chance to speak
to him. It was a long procession of over 110
Companies, many from New York, and some
from Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, many
of Conn. There were about 62 bands ad drum
Corps and the line was about three miles long.
After it had passed, we returned to the bus
and found that the man had to return to
Waterbury to get some parts of the timer that
was worm out. Soon he came and had things
fixed, and we proceeded to the Fair Grounds,
two miles distant. The last half mile was crowded
with cars and the police and soldiers had
a time getting us through. We finally found
our party and set the bus, and then walked
about, but I stayed much of the time in the bus
with the drier till 11.30 when the lights were put
out on the grounds and half of the boys had not
returned. We started to leave and met an auto
load of them and they told that the remainder
were at the Elks Hall in Danbury. We then went
there and found the rest, some of the boys went in
but did not return with the other. Then we sent
others in to bring them out, and they had a
tussell as the first had Plenty of beer down {???}
it was hard to get them away from the dancing
girls, one fellow could not dance good because
his shoes hurt his feet. The girls took the shoes
off his feet, and with help cut the uppers from
the soles and put them on. Then the boys took
the gay ribbons from the girls hair and necks
and tied the soles on his feet and brought him
out, and we started for home at just 12 and
they were a happy gay crowd of singers. We
reached my home at 1.30.
08\25\1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Girtrude Coe preached. He subject was "Watchman
What of the Night". The church was out at 11 AM.
I came home and lay down but soon Bobbie came
and then others called, so that I had little rest.
About three I took my car and called on sister
Mary at Mr. William Service's house. She is
79 years old. I then went to Arthur Bird's in
Bristol and left a drum that I had repaired.
He paid me $4.00. We had a fine supper and
then he took me out through his fine garden.
There was not a weed in sight. It made me
feel like coming home and go to hoeing.
I left there before dark and came down the
West side of Cedar Swamp Pond and over Spindle
Hill and home before nine.
08\26\{1940} (Monday)
I have cut brush wood at the farm all day.
This evening Bessie Pierpont wished to know the
level of her house above the sea. I looked it up and
found it is 600 ft. My house is 430 ft. above sea
level. The center of Waterbury is 360 ft. Laurence
Pierpont's house is 500 ft. above. The highest point
on Southington Mountain, south of the turnpike
is 700 ft. above.
08\27\1940 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the farm and cut wood. After
dinner, I went and saw John Barr at the Y.M.C.A.
after which I came home, then with my truck I went
to the Hotchkiss Place and took home a towel. I asked
Ruth to go to the Goshen Fair but she had so much to do
that she could not go. I then drove up the Scott Road
as far as it is graded, about twelve rods above the
Gilkey Road. Here I had to turn about, then I went
out over Prospect Hill and down to Mixville and
in the Cheshire Road and home.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Mattatuck
Drum Band at East Farms.
08\28\{1940} (Wednesday)
This forenoon I went to the Waterbury Brass Co.
and met Raymond, and he took me through
the factory where I saw them make brass in large
quantities, and many other things that were of
interest. This afternoon I went to the Y.M.C.A.
and saw John Barr.
This evening Fritsa, Ronny, Bobbie and
Cliff called and they put the front room and
the room at the head of the stairs to rights.
08\29\1940 (Thursday)
This forenoon I went to the farm and got a lot of
vegetables for Fritsa. This afternoon I went up through
Woodtick and over the Ransom Hall Road and then
down East Street to Edward Thireault's{??} and gave
him $5.00 to pay for my trip to Danbury with
the Wolcott Fire Department. Then I went and
left the vegetables with Cliff Heaton at the Reutter
cottage at the south end of the lake.
I received a postal from Irving at Gettysburg
stating that he was headed for Philadelphia and
New York and expected to reach here tomorrow.
08\30\{1940} (Friday)
This morning it rained and continued all day.
Sarah Pierpont came and did up the work and
made a big dish of clam chowder. I sharpened tools
till I was called to the telephone when John Barr
called and wished a copy of the history of the
Mattatuck Drum Band to publish in "The Democrat".
As I had but one copy I called Margaret and she said
that she would type me a copy. I went to town and
got one hundred sheets of paper and carbon paper
and then did odd jobs and at about three Margaret
and George Hall called and got the paper etc.
We have been expecting Irving, Dot, John and
Barbara Miller. They left Milwaukee last Sunday
morning and visited Gettysburg, Philadelphia,
New York Worlds Fair etc. They came a little
after three in the rain. It has been good weather
here but they have been in the rain all the
time. This evening we all went up to Ray's and
had a good visit.
08\31\1940 (Saturday)
This morning I got breakfast and soon Irving
and Dorothy Miller came out and Barbara and
John came down, and we ate breakfast. Then I
did the chores and John and I went to Cheshire and
got a load of feed. Then we came home and all of us
went up to Fritsa's at Hitchcock's Lake and had dinner
after which we went to Milford and got some clams
at the old gulf. Then we drove through Woodmont,
Savin Rock, West Haven, New Haven to Northford
and Clintonville and visited Alex Smith, then we
drove home and had some clams for supper.
09\01\1940 (Sunday)
I with Irving, Dorothy, Barbara and John Miller together
with Ruth and Raymond, Robert, Willard and Ronald
Miller and Fritsa Heaton attended service at the
Mill Plain Union Church. Dr. B.A. Hylton lectured.
His subject was "Have Faith In God", but he talked against
conscript, draft and defence, and many people were
greatly offended and talked very Plain to him after
service. After service, Irving, Dorothy, John, Barbara
and I drove to Westbrook to Mr. John Walker's cottage
where all except me went bathing and they dug
some clams on the beach and when the tide was
low they went out to Salt Island where they
dug about half a peck.
At dark we came home through Essex, Deep River, Chester,
Haddam, Hegganum, Middletown and Meriden.
09\02\1940 (Monday)
I sharpened tool this morning after I had
my breakfast of baked oysters. After a time
Barbara and John Miller came down and they
got their own breakfast. Irving and Dorothy
went up to Wolcott and staid with Margaret
and came back before noon. Then we all
got ready and went out to the Garrigus
Family Reunion at Bessie Pierpont's Place.
There were over 100 in attendence. After that
Irving, John and I went down to the MaPle
Hill Dairy where Laurence was milking the
cows and Mort bottled the milk and cleaned
the milk room with steam and water, after
which Dorothy and Barbara came with Ralph
Pierpont after a hard shower and we all came
over to my house and got ready and started
for West Haven where Mort Pierpont wished
us to go as he would furnish entertainment.
We met him and Jessie at his barn and John
and Barbara rode with him and Jessie, Dorothy,
Irving and I in our car. We went to Wilcox Restaurant
where we had a fine shore supper and then
walked up and down the street and saw all
kinds of sporting games and devises, after which
we left for home and reached Mort's barn where
we found John and Barbara and came home a
little before midnight.
09\03\1940 (Tuesday)
I got up and we had breakfast and did odd jobs
about the Place. After dinner Irving, John and I
went to town and they did some banking
business after which we went up to the Waterbury
Rolling Mills and saw them cast and roll
brass, nickel, and silver and looked about the
Place. From there we went over town Plot and
down and crossed the river at the Bristol factories
and then to the Somers Brass Co. at South Waterbury
where we met Cousin Joseph Somers and Lewis
and Grey and Dwight Somers and they showed
us how the rolled metal down so thin that
six thicknesses equaled the thickness of a dollar
bill. We came home and after supper all went
out to Mort Pierpont's to the rehearsal of the Mattatuck
Drum Band.
09\04\1940 (Wednesday)
This morning Irving and Dot and Barbara and John
went over to visit her sister in Mable-dale and
I went to East Farms and cut brushwood. Mrs.
Sarah Pierpont came and did the washing and
the necessary housework. This afternoon we
all went to Margaret's Place in Wolcott where they
were a great number of our people assembled and
we had a fine picnic dinner out of doors south
of the house. At dark they assembled and a young
man Played on his banjo while the others sang
several songs after which we went in the house
and Ralph Pierpont showed a lot of moving
pictures that was very interesting.
09\05\{1940} (Thursday)
This morning we spent about home till 11 o'clock
when Irving, John and I went to the farm and
we hitched Buster into the cart and went up
on the hill and then we cut brush till three
when we came home and got something to eat
and then did odd jobs till about six when Irving
and his family on invitation of Mr. Mortimer
Pierpont went down to the oasis in Branford to
a shore dinner, and I suppose they are enjoying it
now at nine P.M.
09\06\{1940} (Friday)
To day Irving, Dorothy, Barbara, John and myself
went to the Brainard Flying Field in Hartford
and then to Ruth's at Storrs and back home.
Irving and Dot went out to Mort Pierpont's and
staid tonight.
09\07\1940 (Saturday)
To day Irving, Dorothy, John, Barbara Miller and
myself went to Westbrook and visited John Walker
and his son Donald and daughter Cornelia. We dug
some clams and mussels and had a fine dinner
after which Donald and Cornelia Walker, Alice Cummings,
Irving and Dot, John and Barbara Miller, went in
bathing. After that Donald Walker, Dorothy Miller,
Mrs. Cummings, John Walker and I in Donald's car
and Irving, John and Dorothy Miller and Alice Cummings
in Irving's car, drove out about Essex then to Old
Saybrook then up to Essex Landing then through
Ivrytown and Winthrop where took me into Irving's
car and Cornelia, Donald and John Walker and Alice
and Mrs. Cummings got into Donald's car and
they went to Westbrook and we came to Waterbury.
09\08\1940 (Sunday)
I and Irving attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached. He has
returned from his vacation. His subject was "A Hunger
For God". After service we had a good dinner that
Dorothy got ready and soon after I took my car
and went out to M.E. Pierpont's grove to the Annual
Mattatuck Drum Band Clam Bake. There were
about 60 men present. Irving, Dorothy, Barbara
and John got ready and started for Wisconsin
stopping at the Clam Bake a while and bade me
good bye. They were to stay at Fritsa's in Tuckahoe
to night and start early in the morning
for Philadelphia where Irving is to attend
to some business for the O.H. Smith Co. tomorrow
after which he starts for home.
After the dinner was over at the bake which
consisted of two bushels of little neck clams,
60 pounds of mackerel, 40 pounds of chicken, 1 bu of
sweet potatoes, 2 doz lobsters, 1 bushel of common
potatoes, a lot of sweet corn etc. together with an
abundance of frankfurts, briskets, sausages,
pickles, etc. and Plenty of drink.
Will Mansfield Gillette and I in Mansfield's
car went to Clintonville to Alex Smith's where
I had been invited to another dinner. We were
late in getting there, but I drummed some with
the drummers of that vicinity and we had a
good visit. Mansfield left me at Mort Pierpont's
house and I took my own car and came home.
Bobbie is going to stay here tonight and continue
right along.
The Great National Conscript Bill was
passed in Washington yesterday.
The government has sold to England 226
80 ton tanks to be used in the war. They have been
kept since the World War and are about twenty
two years old.
09\09\1940 (Monday)
This has been a quiet day. This morning I got breakfast
for Bobbie and I , then I sat and lay around the house
till noon and went to the farm and cut brush wood.
09\10\1940 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the farm and cut brush
wood. After dinner I went to Dr. Barber's office on
North Main St. and he dressed my leg. Then I
went to the Young Men's Christian Association
building and saw John Barr about having
the History of the Mattatuck Drum Band.
After supper I went to the Mattatuck Hall
at East Farms and was with the boys when
they practiced, and then read the history of
the band to them as many had not heard it.
09\11\{1940} (Wednesday)
This morning Mrs. Pierpont came ad did the
washing and did up the work. I got vegetables and went to the store etc.
Cut up brush wood and brought
in a load and put it in the woodhouse.
09\12\{1898} (Thursday)
To day I drew in two loads of wood from the farm.
After dinner I went up to Margaret's in Wolcott and
took up some glasses and a dozen eggs.
09\13\1940 (Friday)
Mrs. Pierpont came this morning and the ironing
and got my dinner etc. I went to the farm and
brought home a load of wood. After dinner I took
Mrs. Pierpont home and then brought in another
load of wood. Dick came and got lunch and then
mowed the lawn and I went for another load.
After unloading it, Dick and I brought in the
wood that was cut here and we put it in
the woodhouse.
The paper stated to night that the Germans had
damaged Buckingham Palace in London by dropping
bombs but the King and Queen were not injured
as they were down in bomb shelters.
09\14\{1898} (Saturday)
I went to the Bethlehem Fair to day. The street to
Watertown is impassable so I went to Waterville and
up the Thomaston Road and across Frost's Bridge and
then came out in Oakville, then up through Watertown
to Bethlehem and the Fair was held on the road
to Morris about a mile above the center.
It was a nice little fair with good exhibits of fruit
and vegetables, needle and {??????} work, poultry,
dogs, cats, pigeons and rabbits, 20 yokes of oxen, horses
cows and young cattle etc.
09\15\1940 (Sunday)
Two years ago to day Mary passed away at about three
in the afternoon. To day I attended service at the
Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
His subject was "The Rock and The Gates of Hell".
I came home and staid about the house till 3.30.
Then I went out to Pearly Wilson's on the Summit
Road. I overtook Miss Lines on the Austin Road and
carried her to Fred Berger's house.
I reached home at about eight o'clock.
The radio to day stated that they were dropping
bombs on London that weighed five hundred pounds.
09\16\1940 (Monday)
This morning I took my Runabout car to
Mr. Redfern's in Bristol to have it repaired.
I left it there and a young man brought me
home. This afternoon I went to the farm and
dug some potatoes and pulled weeds and
brought home a load of wood.
09\17\{1940} (Tuesday)
To day I dug potatoes at the farm. This evening attended
a meeting of the drum board. The Stonycreek
Corps and the American Legion Corps were visitors.
I mailed a letter to Alice Cummings.
09\18\1940 (Wednesday)
This morning I got up early and drove up to Margaret's
at Wolcott Center and at eight we started for the
New England State Fair at West Springfield. We
stopped in Bristol and I saw about my car that is
being repaired at Redferns and they will send it
down to day and I have arranged for Miss Gladding
to pay them the 25.00 that it will cost. We then went
to Hartford and across the stone bridge to East
Hartford where we took in George's daughter and
then went up the river and crossed at Warehouse
Point and on to the fair. We parked our car back
of the Maine building and I then made a tour
of the grounds by myself. I saw Dwight's baby beef{??}
and an attendant told me that it took the first
premium in its class, and the third in the New
England contest. The first was won by a Massachusetts
boy and sold for 1.00 per pound and weighed 1000 lbs.
The second went to R.J. Coy and sold for .50 per lb.
Dwight's sold for .20 per lb and weighed about 1000 lbs.
The fourth went to Miss Carter at Storrs and sold for
.10 per lb. I failed to see Jack Brundage. He was there
but we missed. We left at 3.30 and crossed the
Connecticut River at Springfield and came to West
Hartford where we left George's daughter who met
her husband, and we came to Wolcott and I took my
truck and came home, just at dark.
09\19\1940 (Thursday)
This morning I went to the City Hall and paid the
tax collector $443.32 cents, one half of the sewer assessment
against me for the sewer on the Frost Road. The other
installment comes due Feb 1, 1941.
I came home and had lunch and then went to
West Cheshire and got 900 lbs of 1/2" crushed stone
and put it on Mr. Wilson's drive way. He lives on
the Summit Road in Prospect.
Bobbie told me this afternoon, he had joined
the army and will have to go to Virginia for a
year. Will leave in November.
Sent a letter to Wm. Gillette to see if he could
have Mary's estate settled by Nov. 10th.
09\20\{1940} (Friday)
I stayed home all day, made egiht clamps for
setting bass drum heads and a bass drum gauge.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did up the work.
09\21\{1940} (Saturday)
This morning Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Wilson called and
we went to the Springfield Fair where we saw
many things among them the exciting and dangerous
automobile races. We got to Mr. Wilson's house at dark
where we had supper and then they brought me
home.
09\22\1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was
"Steady my son, steady father".
At 5 o'clock Ray and Ruth called with a nice new
Nash car and took me up to Plainville and we had a
nice sea food supper. They brought me home down through
Southington just at dark.
Had Mary lived she would have been 80 years old to day.
09\23\{1940} (Monday)
I dug potatoes at the farm to day. I took my dinner
and brought in to Ruth Miller on Capitol Ave.
cucumbers, musk mellons, corn, tomatoes, and
large turnips. This evening Byron Flemming
and I went to the Mattatuck Hall and set a
bass drum head.
09\24\{1898} (Tuesday)
To day I dug potatoes at the farm. This evening
Byron Flemming called and we drove out to
the Mattatuck Hall where we joined a lot of
other boys and we all went to Mr. Dresser's
house in Plainville where we met the Plainville
Drum Corps and members of the Moodus,
Manchester, Stonycreek and others and after
drumming a while we had a fine visit all
round and the ladies set a table and we
had frankfurts and hamberg{?} sandwiches,
crullers, doughnuts, and coffee and beer for
those who wanted it.
Mansfield Gillette and Ralph Pierpont went
to Boston to see the parade of the World's War
veterans. There were over 100,000 men in line and
they sat six hours and not half had passed.
We got home from Plainville at midnight.
09\25\{1940} (Wednesday)
To day I have been about home all day. Sharpened a
few tools. Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing
and got dinner.
It has rained all day.
09\26\{1940} (Thursday)
This day I went to Storrs to see Ruth and their house
that they are repairing at their farm. At ten o'clock
I was at the Hall home on Wolcott Hill and we started
George Hall, Margaret, Anna Pierpont Meanick from
Florida and myself. We went through Hartford
and got to Storrs before noon, and left there about 3.30
and I got home about five.
09\27\1940 (Friday)
My birthday, 82 years old. This morning I drove to
Cheshire and got two bags of chicken feed. Mrs. Pierpont
came and did up the work. I went to the Center on the
bus and at the Manufacturer's Bank on Levenworth
Street got the Waterbury Rolling Mill check for for 52.00
cashed. Then I went to the New. England Telephone Co.
on Grand Street and paid last month's bill, 4.00. Then
I went to the Conn. Light and Power Co. and paid
last month's bill, 4.80. Then to Judd S. Puffer's and
paid the insurance of the barn at Eat Farms, 7.20
on 900.00 for three years. Got home by bus at noon.
Had dinner after which I sharpened tools a spell,
then attended to a book agent who wished to write
my biography in a new History of New England
that is to be published. Then I found two old window
shasb{??} that need painting and repairing and
measured and planned to put them in my black-
smith shop so I can have more light.
After supper I telephoned Carrie Benham and offered
to help repair their heating furnace which is rusted
out. Last night was very cold and a heavy frost.
I slept cold and my joints cracked when I got up.
Soon I had a roaring fire in the cook stove and
in the furnace in the cellar and got the house
warmed up.
Yesterday the Germans dropped many large
bombs on London and all over England and there
were many fierce air battles, which brought down
about 90 German planes and the English dropped many
shells on the German works in France and Germany.
Yesterday, Japan, Italy and Germany signed a
ten year pact to stand by each other through the
war.
This country has passed the draft act to conscript
men from 21 to 35. Many are now enlisting and
will soon be in training.
09\28\1940 (Saturday)
This morning I started for the Durham Fair. I took in
Dick and Sylvia Pierpont at East Farms and went
to Cheshire where we turned East and across
Broad Swamp Pond and through Yalesville and North
Wallingford, then through Red's Gap to Durham.
The Fair was held on the west side of the Main Street
and in front of the Town Hall, and was a large one.
There were many horses, oxen, cows, sheep, pigs
and big displays of poultry, dogs. cats. rabbits,
flowers, fruit, vegetables, pies, cakes, and needle and knit
work. They had for entertainment jumping and
riding horses, performing and drawing oxen.
The North Branford Drum Corps gave an exhibition
drill and Playing. The Young Lady Drum
Major showed her dexterity in throwing and
twirling her baton, and Manager Arthur Hull
induced Walter Barker of Higganum and I to give an
exhibition in drumming, as the two oldest drummers
in the state. We drummed one piece together and
then he drummed a piece and I drummed the Double
Drag which brought forth great applause from the
thousand or more people who witnessed it.
This evening after I got home Dick with his friend
Miss Wilkens called and we had a nice visit. A
little later Ruth and Jack Brundage called as
they were on their way from Storrs to Danbury.
Lyndell Heaton and Alfred Northrop were married
this afternoon and Cliff and Fritsa Heaton and
Dick and Ronald Miller came up from New York.
09\29\1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. The
Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
The day was a nice one and after lunch I took my little
roadster and started for a drive up through Mill Plain
and kept on over Lakewood Road and down into Waterville
and up the River Road and across Reynolds Bridge
and up the old valley turnpike past the West Branch
Reservoir and through East Morris. By this time my
machine got to going and I stayed on through Morris
and Lakeside then over through Romford and past the
school and up the Shepang River and west to Warren
where I stopped at the store and bought five gallons of gas
for 1.00 then west nine miles to Kent where I found all
the folks at home. They game me a hearty welcome and
we had a happy time. Frank suggested that I ride
with him down to South Kent as two of the children were
there and were to be brought home.
I intended to return to Waterbury immediately
but Elsie said they had room for me to stay over
night, so I went with them, and we saw the new
Chapel and dormitory that had been built at the
South Kent School and the Place where they had
built a large sack of hay and the man staid and
finished putting a nice pointed top on it when it
began to rain and he got down and ran to the near
by shed when a flash of lightening struck the large sack
and it burned to the ground.
After viewing the interesting sights we returned home
and had a fine supper and all were in bed about nine
o'clock.
09\30\{1940} (Monday)
Frank and the men were out and feeding and
milking at five this morning as they are every
morning. We all Frank, Elsie, Marion, Bertha, Lors{??},
I don't know the name of the next, and June had a
nice breakfast.
Dwight is started on a four year course
in the Kent School and is not at home now. After
we finished I prepared to leave for home after calling
Robbie Miller on the telephone and telling him where
I was. I carried Marion and Bertha over to the soldier's
monument in Kent where they were to take the school
bus that was to carry them with others 18 miles to
Falls Village to the high school.
I took a map of Connecticut and drew a straight line on
it from my house to Kent and I tried to follow the
roads that ran nearest the line home. At the top of
Kent Mountain I turned south and traveled towards
Lake Waramaug. After going about three miles I found
that the road going East was washed out at the time
of the hurricane and had not been rebuilt so I was
obliged to go back again to the Warren Road. Then I took
the next road that turned South and the farther I went
down a mile long very steep and rock road that there
interceded another one and at the corner stood a large
white house. I went to the door. No one was at home, but
it was the same Place that I had stopped at two hours
before. I then drove to the Warren Road on the road that
I traveled, making three times that I had been over the
same road. I then went to East Kent and down the new
mountain road to Waramaug, then down around the
West and South side of the lake and over the road
East to the Litchfield turnpike. This East and West
road is on the line from my house to Kent. Then
I went up the Litchfield road and took the Romford
road over Romford and South and across east on a
narrow hilly dirt road to the Washington and
Litchfield road which I followed East half a mile to Bethlehem
then to Watertown and then home at 10.45.
Then I did the chores and after dinner sharpened
pick axes till night.
10\01\1940 (Tuesday)
To day I did odd jobs about home and worked cutting
out the West side of the blacksmith shop to put in
two windows.
This evening I attended the meeting of the
Mattatuck Drum Band at their hall at Morton
Pierpont's house at East Farms. We repaired Byron
Flemming's bass drum and then practiced a spell
when Theodore Williams came from Tarrytown N.Y.
and I had to give an exhibition of drumming
with him. He is the best drummer I ever saw
though only sixteen years old. He learned from
my brother Fred and Fred learned from me
in 1888.
10\02\{1940} (Wednesday)
Rained all day. I repaired two old window sash and
set the glass and puttied it in and painted them.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing etc.
10\03\1940 (Thursday)
This forenoon I made over a bass drum cord and did
other odd jobs about home. This afternoon I drove up
the Scott Road. There was an air drill at work just
over the Prospect line. Most of the blasting is done
and the roadway widened out and about half a mile
at the South end finished but the rest of the way
to the Prospect town line is very rough. I drove over
it very slow, then I went out to the main Waterbury
road and down the Summit Road to the farm and
got a lot of vegetables.
10\04\{1940} (Friday)
This morning I did odd jobs about home. Sarah Pierpont
came. I went to the Fulton Market and got some starrib{??}
swordfish and she got a good dinner. In the after
noon I went and had Dr. Barber do up my old leg
and I went to the Bank and deposited some checks
after which I visited John Barr at the Young Men's
Christian Association home, then I came home
and soon after four o'clock, Pearly Wilson called and
I went to his home in Prospect and all got ready
to go to Stratford. We started but went to Cheshire
to the home of Mr. Lathrop where we got a workman
and brought him to Mr. Wilson's home to stay while
Mrs. Wilson went to the World's Fair. Tomorrow we then
continued on down through Bethany, Woodbridge and
Orange to Milford where we stopped and Mr. Birth's house.
It was very dark and travel was very heavy on the
Post Road so Mr. Birth accompanied us the rest of the
way to Stratford as he knew the way to Mr. Wilcoxen's
house in Stratford where we were going. We reached
there about eight. I wished to see Mr. Wilcoxen as he is
the Town Clerk of Stratford and I wished to find out
about my Somers ancestors. But he was away and
could not be located. He had a large lot of books and
I looked at some of them. While Mrs. Wilson and Miss
Wilcoxen made arrangements to go to New York tomorrow.
They were school teachers together before Mrs. Wilson
got married. Miss Wilcoxen still teaches though a charming
young lady of about 32 years. Mr. Wilson and Mr.
Birth went down the street and they showed me
to Mr. Wilcoxen's room where I enjoyed some of his fine
books. To soon Miss Wilcoxen came and told me that
they wished me to get ready to return home.
We started, leaving Mrs. Wilson there and Mr.
Birth in Milford and Mr. Wilson brought me home
by the same course that we went. We reached here at
about 10.30.
10\05\1940 (Saturday)
Eventful days these. Lots of war news and presidential
election is approaching, and shall Roosevelt serve the third
term with the greatest National Debt that was ever known.
The draft is soon to start. The Waterbury Committees
have been named.
To day I worked on the Blacksmith shop, had Dick
Pierpont help and he did some painting on the chicken
yard fence. The weather had been nice.
Wm. Gillette called this afternoon.
10\06\{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew Madden officiated. His subject was
'The Search For Peace". There was a fair attendance. In
the afternoon I drove over to North Wallingford and
visited Charles Flass. He is sick with a heart
attack. Now he is able to sit up and get around
a little.
10\07\{1940} (Monday)
To day I finished digging my potatoes
and pulled two and one half buckets of large
turnips. This evening Byron Flemming
and I went to the Mattatuck Hall and repaired
a bass drum.
10\08\1940 (Tuesday)
It has rained all day. I took my dinner and went
to the farm but did little work as it was too wet.
However, I picked a basket of grapes and mowed
the weeds on the four sides of the garden. I took the
grapes up to Ruth Miller on Capital Avenue.
10\09\{1940} (Wednesday)
This has been a noteworthy day. The Presidential Elect
Candidate Wendell L. Willkie came to town. He was due
here at 12.50 but this morning as Stamford he was
held an extra hour by the great crowd and all along
the route the streets and roads were lined with
people eager to get a look at him. He rode in an
open auto with his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Governor
Baldwin. They were preceded by about 50 state
police on motorcycles and in cars, and a long
train of motorcycle police, and autos and busses.
I stood opposite City Hall and got a good view
of him when he arrived at 2.20 P.M. and saw Mayor
Sculley welcome him after which he proceeded
to Library Park where he made a 10 minute
speech to 15,000 people. When he left I was with
Carrie Benham when she got a picture of him.
He then went to the Hotel Elton for dinner.
I came home and found that Ruth
Brundage had been here and left some
good things for me to eat.
Sarah Pierpont came and did up the work.
10\10\1940 (Thursday)
This morning I worked on my little car, cleaning it
up and at noon I went to Mr. Adkin's station at
East Farms and got five gallons of gasoline for 75 cts.
Then I went to George Cowdell's and Nellie and I
drove to Woodbridge and saw Mr. Silas Peck.
She saw him about genealogical matters but I
talked with him about the original match industry
in Woodbridge. He gave me a lot of information
concerning it. We left there about four and got
home a little after dark.
10\11\{!940} (Friday)
This has been a cool day. I have worked in the
blacksmith shop all the time.
Mrs. Sarah Pierpont came and did up the work.
Received a letter from Alice Cummings.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Wilson called to
see about going to the World's Fair tomorrow.
10\12\1940 (Saturday)
This morning I got up at five and got breakfast etc.
and let Bobbie know that I was going to the World's
Fair. I left my cat at 6.15 and drove to Pearly
Wilson's on the Summit Road and he and I started
at 7 in his nice DeSoto car and drove to Milford
and there turned onto the Merrit Parkway which
is not et completed at that end, then on to
the New Bridge across the Houstonic River where
we were obliged to pay ten cents toll, then we
spread along the parkway without a stop till
we nearly reached the New York State line where
we paid another 10 cts. toll, then entering New York
under a bridge. We were on Hutchenson River Parkway
to the toll house near the Whitestone Bridge
where we paid .25 toll then we went up to a height
of nearly 150 onto the suspension across the sound
where we had a view of the land and water for
miles in every direction. But little time to look
however as we were traveling very fast and soon
reached the parking field, where we left our car on
Section A, Lane 3, Car No 734, Conn., having come 90 miles
in two and one half hours. Here we took a bus and
rode a very short distance to the gate. We paid nothing
for parking but five cts each for a 50 rod bus ride,
as nearly everybody else did. On paying 50 cts each
we entered the grounds. Before we left home Mrs.
Wilson charged us to visit the General Motors
building. We walked a long distance towards the
building and inquired of a policeman where it was.
He said that he had just come from there and that
we would have to wait nearly all day as there was
a line 4 deep and he should think three or four miles
long waiting to enter. We kept on and entered from
the rear and saw the working exhibit and the
auto exhibit, then we went through the Ford Exhibit
and through the railway exhibit and among other
tings and saw the largest locomotive ever built,
140 ft long, 4 cylinders, eight driving wheels and
the boiler so high that they could have no smoke
stack. Then we took a bus and went all about the
grounds and went through the Florida building
then about the grounds till four o'clock when
we started for home, but we had to walk a long
distance to the Long Island and Pennsylvania
gate, and soon we found our car, and started
but such traffic as we encountered on the
Hutchenson River Highway we never saw
before, for long distance we met the cars
running two about and going 50 miles an hour,
however on our side there was not half as many
and we got along very well. Pearly ran much
of the way 60 miles an hour and in two hours
we reached Milford where we stopped and at a
nice restaurant we had a nice supper.
We then came to his house in Prospect and I
took my car and reached home before eight o'clock
having traveled about 186 miles, and seen great
sights.
10\13\1940 (Sunday)
To day I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Mr. Madding preached or I should call it
a lecture. I have never heard him take a text from
the Bible. Today his subject was "The Revolt Against
Pain." He talked a half hour telling what he thought
of it, but I could not make it seem very instructive
or inspiring. At the end he said that "Pain makes
the man". Let us pray.
I came home and I had nothing very appetizing
to eat for dinner. I telephoned to Nellie Cowdell and told
her I was alone and wanted to go somewhere and get a good
dinner and would she go too. After some consideration,
she said she would go if I called. So I drove down and
we started down the New Haven Road and across the
country to Mt. Carmel and on down to Branford to
the Oasis on the Post Road where the place was surrounded
by auto. We went in and had to wait a long time
till we got our serving. I had fried oysters and she
had broiled mackerel, all of which was excellent. Then
we drove to North Branford, then to Northford and
to Clintonville where I visited Mr. Alex Smith
and got some fine Macintosh apples. Then we
came through North Haven and Mr. Carmel and to
West Cheshire and Prospect where I left her at her home
and I reached here after dark, having had an enjoyable
supper.
10\14\1940 (Monday)
To day I worked in the blacksmith shop most of the
time and repairing windows for the barn at
East Farms, in the Wheelhouse a spell.
10\15\{1940} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all day. Rained hard this afternoon.
Killed one of the spring roosters. Raymond had one half.
10\16\{1940} (Wednesday)
I have worked in the blacksmith shop nearly all day.
To day 16,404,000 men between 21 and 36 years of age have
registered for the War Draft.
10\17\{1940} (Thursday)
I have worked in the Blacksmith Shop most of the
day sharpening four points.
Weather has been cold. This evening Byron Flemming and
I went to the Mattatuck Hall to repair a drum but broke the hoop.
10\18\1940 (Friday)
This forenoon I sharpened a lot of four points and did other
odd jobs. This afternoon I went to Cheshire and got feed
and went to the Hardware Store on Main St. and got the
price of wire fence, 6.70 for 10 rods 4 ft. high.
Mrs. Pierpont came to day.
10\19\{1940} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont came this morning and mowed the
grass east of the chicken coop. Last night the hot
water pipes on the water heater upstairs got clogged
and forced the steam through the whole system of pipes.
I had the fire put out and shut the water off and this
morning turned it o to the sinks and toilets and
telephoned for Mr. Blanchard to come and fix the
heater. I repaired a drum hoop in the Wheelhouse
after which Dick and I got dinner. Then we washed the
dishes and went to the farm, we pulled some corn
and hitched the ox into the cart and went up on
the hill and picked up the apples, and then pulled
the turnips, and brought them home and put them
in the cellar. We had twelve bushels.
The paper tonight stated that the factories of Waterbury
had received a total of 13 million dollars in war orders
in the last five months.
10\20\1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Matthew Madden preached. "What happens to our
religion on Monday" was his subject.
I came home, and soon Laurence Pierpont drove
into the yard and told of the death of Addison Smith
who has been leader of the Plainville Drum Corps for
a long time, and the Mattatuck Drum Band had
been requested to attend the funeral this afternoon.
I telephoned Mansfield Gillette and he would carry
me. Soon he called and we went to the Mattatuck
Hall at East Farms where there assembled ten men
and we drove to Bailey's Funeral Parlor at Plainville.
There were assembled neighbors and friends
and the Plainville Drum Corps in uniform. Six of
our boys were in uniform.
After the service the funeral formed and then we
marched up Broad St and out Main St then up
Washington Street to the Cemetery, a distance of about
one and one half miles. The drum corps beating time
or playing, at the Cemetery they changed to
dirge time. Mr. Smith was 79 years old.
After the funeral a stranger carried me back in
his car to the funeral home and soon Mansfield
joined us there and we started in his car and
drove up through Unionville and Canton to New
Hartford. Then we turned south towards Harrington.
On a high raise of ground we saw a large church
bell mounted on two tall concrete pillars. We got out
and found that it was on the foundation of the first
church built in New Hartford but the church had
been abandoned and taken down years ago and the
bell and two bronze tablets on the foundation
marked the spot.
Then we sped south over a fine new surface hardened
road and after crossing the Harrington line turned
west on a dirt road and came to Mansfield Gillette's
bungalow in the woods where we stopped and looked
about, then we went west and entered the main
Harrington road, then west and south to Thomaston
then home to Mansfield's house where we had
supper. There were two Miller girls there whose home
is in Prospect and after supper Mansfield and
I carried them home, then he brought me home
and we said goodbye.
10\21\{1940} (Monday)
This day has been very cold and a few flakes of
snow fell. This morning I repaired and painted
a bass drum rim and put glass in two window
frames for the barn out East.
At three o'clock I attended the funeral of Allen
Burgess in the Pine Grove Cemetery. They
brought his body for Wyabusing{??}, Pa. this morning
coming through a snow storm the other side of
the Hudson River. His wife was Agnes Able, daughter of
Hiram and worked for us when Raymond was a
baby.
10\22\{1940} (Tuesday)
Very cold morning, 14ø above zero. I painted window
sash, and killed and dressed a chicken. This afternoon
I took half of the rooster up to Ruth Miller then went to
the farm and pulled my carrots and a few beets and
brought them home and put them in the cellar.
This evening I attended a drum corps meeting at East
Farms.
10\23\{1940} (Wednesday)
This forenoon I cut up and made four pipe fence
posts and went to the farm and got some drills
and sharpened them. This afternoon at the farm
Dick Pierpont and I lined out a fence and made the
holes for two fence posts.
Wrote a letter to Mrs. Allen Burgess at Wyabusing, Pa.
10\24\{1940} (Thursday)
I got in the vegetables from the garden at East Farms.
This evening I went with the Mattatuck Drum Band
boys to Stony Creek to visit that Corps at their hall.
We had a nice supper and a good time.
10\25\1940 (Friday)
Dick Pierpont helped me at the farm all day
drilling the bed rock for fence posts on the East
side of the lane. We went to Cheshire and got a
bag of cement and then up to Mrs. Wakelee's and
got a load of sand.
10\26\{1940} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont and I were at the farm building a fence
on the east side of the lane. We got the posts all set.
The weather has been nice and cool.
10\27\{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev.
Matthew Madden officiated. His subject was
"A Pastor Sits Down With Life".
10\28\{1940} (Monday)
Cold this morning. Sharpened tool all the
forenoon then after dinner I went to Cheshire and
got a bag of cement and Dick Pierpont and i
finished cementing in the fence posts.
We cut our initials on a bed rock north of the
barn and the date 1940.
10\29\1940 (Tuesday)
This morning was very cold. The ground froze
two inches deep in the garden. I got some of the
vegetables from the garden into the cellar and after
dinner went to Dr. Barber's and had my old leg
dresses, then went to City Hall and paid 96.61 tax
which is one half of the year's tax. I went to the
Connecticut Light & Power Co. and paid last month's
lighting bill, 4.22, then to the Southern New England
Telephone Office on Grand Street and last month;s
telephone bill, 4.22. I came to the Y.M.C.A. and
visited with Mr. John Barr. He wishes to publish
some of the event that have happened during our
lifetime. We are both the same age, 82 years.
At 4.30 I left him and came home on a bus and
got supper after which I wrote drum music and
selected fife tunes for Standard Drum Beats
till Mansfield Gillette called and took me out to
the Drum Band rehearsal at their hall at East
Farms where we practiced till 9.30 and then had
a business meeting. There were visitors from
Lancrafts Corps New Haven and from Meriden.
I got home at 10.30.
10\30\{1940} (Wednesday)
An eventful day for the names of some of the
young men between 21 and 32 who were drafted
into the United States Service yesterday were
published to day. Numbers to the extent of 5000
were of Western Connecticut and published to day.
It has rained all day and I have been
in the house all the time visiting and arranging
tunes and music for the Mattatuck
Drum Band to play.
And have written several letters etc.
10\31\1940 (Thursday)
Cool day. This forenoon I was about home doing up
odd jobs. This afternoon I went to the farm and Dick
and I drew an iron fence up to put in the land and
we took the mowing machine apart and got it ready
to put up.
11\01\{1940} (Friday)
To day I worked about home this forenoon. Mrs. Pierpont
came and did the work and go t dinner. In the afternoon
I worked on the fence. Dick Pierpont came and
we got the mowing machine up in the barn. Then
we went to Cheshire. Dick drove and at the Cheshire
Grain and Coal Co. we got a bag of laying{??} mash, then
we went up the hill to R.W. Hines Hardware Store
and bought 10 rods of wire fencing. Then we came to
Mort Pierpont's and got a bass drum and a tank.
11\02\1940 (Saturday)
Rained hard all day till just before dark when the
sun shone and there was a rainbow. I had Dick
Pierpont come and we painted up the stone wall in
the Blacksmith shop. Dick ran the concrete mixer
and I did the painting.
11\03\1940 (Sunday) {??}
11\04\{1940} (Monday)
Yesterday morning I started for Kent soon after
eight. Went through Waterbury, Watertown, Bethlehem,
Washington and Kent. Got there about eleven and went
to the Church service. Soon Frank and Elsie came. After
service we went to Frank's home and we had a good
dinner. In the afternoon Frank, Elsie, Marion and
Bertha went in their nice Buick car west into York
State through South Dover, Dover Furnace and up Plymouth
Hill to Washington. Then we turned North East through
a nice productive dairy country to Millbrook and
on to Amenia{??} beyond which we crossed the state
line in Connecticut and on to the grand old town
of Sharon, then to Amenia Union where the people
who live on the East Side of Main St are in Conn.
and those on the West are in New York. Then we
went south up mountains past Ray Dene's
farms. He makes more milk than any one else,
about 2000 qts per day. Then we came down through
Macadonia where we saw six large wild deer and
on over the Skiff Mountain and down a very steep
road to the river which we followed home. The men
had the milking and feeding about done and
after getting the grain and feed ready for morning
we went to the house and had a nice supper, eight
of us. Soon the milk was done up and after reading
etc. a spell one after another went to bed, by nine
o'clock all were in.
At five this morning the men were all out, feeding
and milking and soon after six they were through
about 500 qts and had breakfast by seen. Then the
cattle were let out and the barn cleaned and limed
and all were ready for the field work at eight. I
went up the river with Frank where he got the tractor
out, and went to plowing an eight acre piece where
he expects to spread 16 ton s of lime tomorrow and seed
it down to grass.
I walked back to the house and found that the
six children had all gone to school. Dwight is in
the Kent Preparatory. Mary is attending the Falls
Village High and the rest are in the Kent Public
School. I bid Elsie good bye and started about
eleven. When I got to Bethlehem I saw some of the
heaviest road work being done on the Woodbury
Road about a mile and one half south west of the
Center. Here they had a large steam shovel and
five ton trucks working, but farther up they
were changing the road to go through a high hill.
They had two of the largest scrapers mounted on
four large wheels with great rubber tires. Each could
be lowered down so the scraper which was about ten
feet long and seven ft wide and four ft or more deep.
These were drawn by great caterpillar tractors, the
largest I ever saw. They would drag those scrapers
through the hard wet earth till full then take
them down a 1/4 mile and dump and a huge pusher
would push the earth off the bank. In a few minutes
one of these scrapers would take away more earth
than a steam shovel would in an hour.
I left there and came home, reached here about
two o'clock having come 43 miles.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Wilson called.
11\05\1940 (Tuesday)
This is Presidential Election Day. About 8 this morning
Bobbie and I went up to the Chase School on the
Meriden Road and voted for Wilkie for President
and Baldwin for Governor, and all the other Republican
nominees on the ticket.
I made over the tool stand for the Blacksmith
shop etc. This evening I attended a meeting of
the Mattatuck Drum Band.
11\06\1940 (Wednesday)
At yesterday's election everything went democratic.
President Roosevelt won by a tremendous
majority and for governor Hurley got a 12,889
majority. Roosevelt starts on his third term as president
and at the farm Dick and I worked on the fence on
the Est side of the lane.
Mrs. Pierpont came this morning and worked
till near dark.
11\07\1940 (Thursday)
Cool day. This morning I took my pickup car to Dan
Hanlon's and had the point dressed. I worked in
the Blacksmith shop till noon. Then I went up the
Scott Road to Prospect. They have the road nearly
all graded in the town of Prospect to within about
fifty roads of the Waterbury line. Then I went to
Hines Store in Cheshire and bought some plain
wire. Then I came home to the farm and worked on the
fence. At 2.30 Dick came and we got the fence on
the East side of the lane about done by dark.
11\08\{1940} (Friday)
This morning I went to the store and to Prospect and plowed.
This P.M. Dick and I repaired fence. Mrs. Pierpont came to day.
11\09\1940 (Saturday)
This morning Dick Pierpont and I cleaned the front yard
of leaves. Then we went to the farm and worked on
the lane fence the rest of the day.
The weather has been clear and cool.
11\10\{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev. Mr.
Madden preached. His subject was "It is so easy to suit{??}".
After service Bobbie wished me to go with him to
dinner and we went to a dinner on West Main St.
near Thomaston Ave and I had a good roast lamb
dinner, then he brought me home.
After a time I learned that Margaret had been here.
I called her up in Wolcott and we talked about Thanksgiving
and Christmas. Then I called up Nellie Cowdell
and told her that I was thinking of going to Plainville
to dine and asked her if she would like to come. She
answered that she could and would be ready in half
an hour. I called and we went and had a good
dinner and a most enjoyable time.
When I came home I came over the Scott Road which is
not quite all graded.
11\11\{1940} (Monday)
I worked putting things to order in the blacksmith
shop to day.
11\12\1940 (Tuesday)
Rained all day.
I repaired the canvas that we gather leaves in.
This afternoon I went to Clintonville at Alex Smith's
and got some apples then to Cheshire and got two
bags of feed.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called and took
me out to the Drum Band Meeting.
11\13\{1940} (Wednesday)
Rained all day. I sharpened tools and worked in the
Blacksmith shop. In the afternoon Dick Pierpont
helped me drill holes for pins in the stone wall.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did up the work.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called and took
me out to the Drum Band Meeting.
11\14\{1940} (Thursday)
Rained all day. I worked in the blacksmith shop
and at odd jobs. The paper to night stated that
there is upward of 40,000 registered automobiles
in Waterbury. With the coming of the War, work
and big pay, the number of autos have increased
about 1000 a month.
11\15\1940 (Friday)
Rained this forenoon. After I had the dished washed this
morning Mrs. Pierpont came and wiped them and
did up the work and mending. I went to Prospect
and saw Nellie Cowdell then came to the farm and
did some work there, then came home and sharpened
tools the rest of the day. I received the family
round robin letter to day.
11\16\{1940} (Saturday)
Weather cloudy and cool, a few flakes of snow fell.
Dick Pierpont and I repaired the roof on the blacksmith
shop and Dick painted the West side.
11\17\{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached a sermon. For the first
time he had no subject.
At 4.00 o'clock I attended a Vesper Recital at the
Prospect Congregational Church by the
Mendelssohn Male Chorus of Waterbury. There
were about twenty five men in the Chorus and
the singing was wonderful.
11\18\{1940} (Monday)
I did odd jobs about home till noon then went to
the farm and I plowed in the lower garden till Dick
came. Then went up the Scott Road to the Prospect
Town line where there was a number of men working.
The exact place in the road where town line crosses
was in dispute and Selectman Walters wished me
to show them. Dick and I measured on the Austin
Road 250 ft then Mr. Walters came and we turned a
90ø angle and measured out into the lot 166 1/2 ft and
found the town corner bound on a ledge. We then
followed the West line to the crossing of the Road
and on to the Sorod bound and I set a pin at the
road crossing.
The weather has ben cool all day.
11\19\1940 (Tuesday)
I raked leaves and did other jobs about home this forenoon.
After dinner I went to the farm and plowed some and
after Dick came we got the tripod hoisted up and pulled
up some posts. Then we got it up to the ledge and
ready to lift stones to make a heavy wall.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Mattatuck
Drum Band at East Farms.
11\20\1940 (Wednesday)
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing and got
dinners etc. Dick helped this P.M. point up the chicken coop
and blacksmith shop and got in leaves. Sixteen enlisted
recruits left Waterbury this morning for Hartford
to receive their final examinations and then go on to
Camp Devons in Massachussetts. They were all
volunteers.
11\20\1940 (Wednesday)
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing and got
dinners etc. Dick helped this P.M. point up the chicken coop
and blacksmith shop and got in leaves. Sixteen enlisted
recruits left Waterbury this morning for Hartford
to receive their final examinations and then go on to
Camp Devons in Massachussetts. They were all
volunteers.
11\21\{1940} (Thursday)
This morning I went to Cheshire and got a load
of crushed stone and took it to Pearly Wilson's on
the Summit Road in Prospect and put it on his
driveway. Then I went to Mr. Cowdells but did
no business as Nellie was not at home. Then I
came home and after dinner went to the farm
and plowed some, then Dick and I cleaned out the
spring and we worked on the roof of the barn till
dark.
11\22\{1940} (Friday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. Mrs. Pierpont came
and did up the work. In the afternoon I went to
the farm and Dick and I put a gutter over the
big doors. Tony Cairlo drove in with my three
leg hoist and in going up in the lot drove off
the end of the shice{??} and got struck. We took the
three leg hoist and lifted it out.
The weather to day has been nice.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson called this evening.
11\23\1940 (Saturday)
The weather has been cool and damp.
Dick Pierpont and I finished putting the gutter on
the barn at East Farms. Then we worked on a
stone wall at the head of the lane.
11\24\{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
I staid home all the afternoon except I went to
the farm to feed the ox.
At noon I visited my sister Mary.
It has been wet and rainy all day.
11\25\{1940} (Monday)
I sharpened tools in the forenoon. At the farm with
Dick Pierpont putting up a heavy wall in the afternoon.
11\26\{1940} (Tuesday)
Margin note: First snow 3" fell
I sharpened tools till noon, and then went to
the farm and Dick and I lifted some big stones
in place on the wall with the three legged hoist.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called for
me and we attended a meeting of the Mattatuck
Drum Band. About 8 o'clock snow began falling and
now it is three inches deep.
11\27\1940 (Wednesday)
This morning the snow was five inches deep.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the washing.
I shoveled paths till noon. This afternoon I put
chains on my car and went out the Plank
Road then up the Summit Road to the library
in Prospect and saw Nellie Cowdell about some
books. Then I came over the Scott Road to the
Cheshire Road and out to East Farms and
tried to drive up in the lot but could not
make it as the snow was too deep, but I did
the chores.
11\28\{1940} (Thursday)
Thanksgiving. Cold and snow five inches deep.
The Somers family met for their annual reunion
at the Hotel Elton. There were thirty-nine present.
Were all the living descendents of David and
Almira Somers there would be I think
one hundred and twenty three. The dinner was
a fine one at one dollar and fifty cents a plate.
A great change has taken place in actions and
dress of women. Now many of them smoke
cigarettes which they never used to do and a few
years ago their dresses reached to the floor and were
too long and inconvenient. Then they shortened
them to the tops of their feet which was better,
them to the tops of their shoes, better still, then
still shorter and what did you think of it, then
up to the knees, and to day suggests cold knees and
legs. What next we will have to see, but now it
only takes a small part of cloth to make a dress
that it did in Civil War time when they wore
great hoopskirts of steels and the dresses reached
to the ground.
11\29\1940 (Friday)
This forenoon I went down town on the bus and
paid my water rent bill, my electric light bill
and my telephone bill. It snowed a little to
day. I went to the farm and did the chores etc.
11\30\{1940} (Saturday)
Margin note: 2nd snow.
This forenoon went to the store and worked in
the Wheel house. After dinner took an elm block
up to Tyler's ladder shop on the Meriden Road and
had him saw it partly up. He could not saw
it through as his saw was too small. Then I went to
the farm and fed Buster, came home and finished
sawing the block with the hand saw.
12\01\{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was "Echoes
In The Deep Places".
After service I went to East Farms and fed the
ox etc. Then I went to Raymond's and had a
most excellent dinner of turkey after which
Ray and I went up to Woodtick and looked over
the Charles Tuttle house.
As Raymond was going to New Haven to
take Ruth's mother home he invited me to
go too. We went down through Cheshire and
left her at her home on Whaley Avenue and
then came home through Prospect.
12\02\{1940} (Monday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools this morning and
went to the farm. This afternoon Dick and I
lifted a big stone up on the wall.
Byron Fleming came this evening and we
took off a base drum head and put it a soke{??}.
12\03\{1940} (Tuesday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools in the blacksmith
shop this forenoon. In the afternoon I went to Dr.
Barber and he did up my leg. Then I spent the
remainder of the afternoon with Mr. John Barr at
the Young Mens Christian Association Rooms.
Then I came home and got my supper. I just
looked at the thermometer and it is two above
zero.
12\04\{1940} (Wednesday)
Margin note: 3rd Snow, 3" deep.
I sharpened tools and did errands at the store
this forenoon. Mrs. Pierpont came and did
the washing and got dinner. This afternoon
I went to the Prospect Library and took back
a book and got Barbar's History of Connecticut.
Then I went to West Cheshire and got a load of
feed. This evening I attended a turkey supper
at the Mill Plain Church, given by the ladies.
When I came out it was snowing hard and the
snow lay on the ground about one inch deep.
The thermometer was at zero this morning.
12\05\1940 (Thursday)
Margin note: 4th snow, 4" fell.
It began snowing this morning and kept it
up till dark. I sharpened tools this forenoon.
Soon after dinner Miss Gladding came down and
wanted to know if I saw the wreck. We looked
out and saw that a buss and a large oil truck
had hit each other and the buss was over on
the lot. Both were greatly damaged.
12\06\1940 (Friday)
Cold day. Mrs. Pierpont came and did the ironing
and got dinner and did up the work.
I sharpened tools and did the chores at the farm.
Bobbie and a sergeant this evening were here
arranging to keep their company's accounts.
Wm. Gillette drove into the yard this morning and told
me that the Probate Court Hearing would be heard next
Monday morning at ten o'clock.
12\07\{1940} (Saturday)
It has been some warmer to day and it has thawed
some. I sharpened tools this forenoon. Worked on my
little car this afternoon and did several odd jobs
and went to the farm this afternoon.
The City is making a rude cinder walk from
the abandoned Reedville School to the East Farms
School for the children to go on. It is on the south
side of the road and it crosses the lawns in front
of the houses where the Greeters, Ralph Pierpont,
Charles Wilkensbach and Harold Pierpont live.
Their yards extend about eight feet out into the
street.
12\08\{1940} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was "That
Does Something To Me". After the service I came home
and after a time went out to the farm and did the
chores there. Then I went out to the house of Mr.
Merritt Walters on the Plank Road but found no
one at home. Then I went to Mr. Wilson's on the
Summit Road where I staid to supper and had
a nice visit with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and Miss
Valaski. I got home before nine.
12\09\{1940} (Monday)
This morning I went to the Office of the Probate
Court in the City Hall and there met Wm.
Gillette who as administrator on Mary's estate
had turned in his papers to Judge Lynch
for his approval. The judge examined them
carefully and approved them and Will is
to make the necessary transfers and then
turn them over to me.
I then went to the Law Office of Max and
Edward Trawig at 111 West Main St. 2nd floor
and talked about Mrs. Wilson's land on the
Summit Road. He wants me to come to his
office and bring Mrs. Wilson. He says that
there must be a law suit over it.
I then came home and took my car and
went to Prospect and saw Nellie Cowdell
about helping me do some work tomorrow.
Margaret called this afternoon to see about
the Christmas gathering.
This evening Byron Fleming came and
we put a head on a bass drum.
Mrs. Bird over in Rag Hollow called up
this evening to find out about the early
spoon making in Prospect for a Mr. Gaylord.
12\10\1940 (Tuesday)
This morning Miss Nellie Cowdell called and we
cut out the certificates of the Mill Plain Union
Church bonds and got them ready to collect the
interest the{??} on them.
Then I went to sharpening tools till noon
after which I went to East Farms and Dick
Pierpont and I lifted some large stones into place.
This evening Robert spent the evening here in
the kitchen with two nice young ladies.
12\11\{1940} (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools till noon. Mrs.
Pierpont came and did up the work. This afternoon I
went to the library in Prospect and took back The
History of Connecticut by Barber 1838 and borrowed
A History of Congregational Church in Cheshire. I then
called on Mrs. Joseph Bird and showed her some old spoon moulds.
12\12\1940 (Thursday)
This day I worked in the blacksmith shop. Dick
Pierpont came and helped me put steel points
in some long tubes and then make some
gate irons.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called and
took me and Howard Neal and together with
six or more Mattatuck boys went to Fair
Haven and visited the Lancroft Drum
Corps. They had drums 18" by 27" long and
a great number of snares on them. Their bass
drums were 26" diameter and about 12" lond{??}
and although they had seven snare and
three bass drums, the volume of sound was
not very great, nothing like the Mattatuck
boys would make with the same number of
drums. We came home through Montoese{??},
North Haven, Mt. Carmel, Cheshire.
12\13\{1940} (Friday)
This forenoon I did mechanical work in the Wheel
House and in the afternoon made over the gate
at the farm so we could raise it up in the
cold weather. Dick Pierpont helped me in
the afternoon. Mrs. Pierpont came and did up
the work. She was going to Hartford this afternoon.
12\14\1940 (Saturday)
I worked at the stone wall at the farm till three this
afternoon when Dick Pierpont and I were drilling a
hole in a stone and Dick struck my hand with
the sledge hammer which crippled me so we could
not work any more. I came home and dressed it
up as best I could with my left hand.
12\15\1940 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was
"A Powerful Weakness In Modern Living".
After noon I drove over to North Wallingford and
visited with Charles Cass who is sick with
hart trouble. It was after dark when I got home.
12\16\{1940} (Monday)
This morning everything was coated with ice.
During the forenoon many trucks, busses and
cars were unable to get up the hill but towards
noon it turned warmer and the ice turned to
slush and the traveling was better. I worked
in the Wheelhouse getting ready to make some
milking stools. This evening Byron Flemming
came and we finished repairing a bass drum.
12\17\1940 (Tuesday)
This morning it was very icy and rainy but
it cleared up before noon. I went to the Colonial
Trust Co. and got twenty four bond coupons
cashed, 48.00 and also a check of the International
Silver Co. cashed for 25.00. After dinner
I went to the farm and Dick Pierpont and I
got some big stones up on the wall.
12\18\{1940} (Wednesday)
I worked in the Wheel house this forenoon. Mrs.
Pierpont came and did up the work. I drove up through
Woodtick and on up to Mark Tuttle's corner then
down the County Road to Hitchcock's Lake and
there was plenty of ice to be seen on everything.
Then I came across Central Avenue and West
to the Todd Road but before I reached there the
ice was so smooth on the road that I could not
go and had to put chains on to get up the
high hill. I then went to the farm and took
care of the ox and then home.
12\19\{1940} (Thursday)
This morning I built a coal fire in th kitchen
stove and blacked it, then I got breakfast for
Robert Miller and myself of boiled eggs and fried
pork chops etc. with coffee. Bobbie left at eight for
the bank and I washed the sheds{??}. Then Nellie
Cowdell came and we directed and enclosed Christmas
cards to my children, their wives and husbands,
my grandchildren and great-grandchildren
and my brother Frank, forty-two in all, and in
each card we enclosed an old dollar bill. I
intend to put them all on the family Christmas
tree at Margaret's home in West Hartford on
Christmas Day. The list that we made is as follows:
1. Prof. Clifford Heaton 259 Westchester Ave. Crest Wood, Tuckahoe, N.Y.
2. Mrs. Clifford Heaton " "
3. Richard H. Miller " "
4. Willard C. Miller Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
5. Robert P. Miller 2271 East Main St. Waterbury, Conn.
6. Ronald F. Miller Tuckahoe, N.Y.
7. Irving C. Miller Tuckahoe, N.Y.
8. Mrs. " " " "
9. Mr. Malcolm Forsberg Khartoum, Africa
10. Mrs. Malcolm Forsberg " "
11. Peter Lee Malcolm " "
12. David P. Miller 306 N East Ave. Waukesha, Wis.
13. Mrs. David Miller " "
14. David C. Miller " "
15. Barbara Miller Care of Irving.
16. John Miller Care of Irving C. Miller
17. Mr. George Hall #45 Riggs St. West Hartford, Conn.
18. Mrs. George Hall " "
19. Mr. Howard Kraft Spindle Hill, Wolcott, Conn.
20. Mrs. Howard Kraft " "
21. Charles Kraft Care of Howard Kraft
22. Robert Kraft " "
23. Mr. Vincent Simons South Waterbury, Conn.
24. Mrs. Vincent Simons " "
25. Miss Gene Northrop Spindle Hill, Wolcott, Conn.
26. Prof. A. J. Brundage Storrs, Conn.
27. Mrs. A. J. Brundage " "
28. Roger Brundage Albany, Georgia
29. Kenneth Brundage Storrs, Conn.
30. Pierce Brundage " "
31. Peggy Brundage " "
32. Frank P. Miller Kent School Farm, Kent, Conn.
33. Mrs. Frank Miller " "
34. Mary Miller " "
35. Bertha Miller " "
36. Dwight Miller " "
37. Jessie Miller " "
38. Lois Miller " "
39. June Miller " "
40. Raymond H. Miller # 124 Capitol Ave Waterbury
41. Mrs. Raymond Miller " "
42. Mr. Frank H. Miller I.O.O.F. Home, Groton
My Brother, aged 85 years, Conn.
The above shows my children, their wives, my
grand children, their wives, and my great-grandchildren.
They are now living at the addresses
given and are all doing well. All are industrious
and were it in my power to ask it, I would not
wish them as a whole to be much better than
they are.
12\20\{1940} (Friday)
Robbie was vaccinated last night by the Army
surgeon for the small pox, and this morning his
arm was badly swollen. His first sergeant of his
company and last night the Colonel came from
Hartford and inspected his books and told him
that they were the best that he had see in
the regiment.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did the ironing and
got dinner and made up a large dish of
clam chowder to last two or three days.
I worked about home this forenoon and went
to the farm and Dick and I lifted heavy stones
on the wall with the rock lifter.
12\21\1940 (Saturday)
To day I worked all day at the farm with Dick lifting
big stones on the stone wall at the upper end of the
barn lot.
12\22\{1940} (Sunday)
This is the shortest day of the year. Has been
cool and damp but not freezing.
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. The Church was full and twelve
joined. Robert Miller was among them
and Mr. Gibson and wife and boy from Hitchcock's
Lake in Wolcott. Mr. Gibson has been
elected representative this fall, the first
democrat to be elected in that town in
sixty years. Rev. Mr. Madding officiated
at the Church service. His subject that he
preached from was "The Birth of Christ on
Appreciation". There wee 42 in the Choir, all
wearing white surpluses. They sang besides
the hymns, carols, and Miss Margaret
Mitchell was soprano soloist.
Mr. and Mrs. George Hall called this
afternoon and invited me to spend Christmas
at their home at 45 Riggs St., West Hartford.
12\23\1940 (Monday)
To day I have staid home all day, only
the time it took to go out to the farm and feed
the ox. Mr. Smith called to see about the
publishing of a New England History which
is to cost thirty five dollars. I signed an order
for one.
12\24\{1940} (Tuesday)
I worked about home all day. Mrs. Pierpont came
and did the washing and ironing etc. I went to
the farm and did the chores etc and to the store
and got five galls. gas.
Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Wilson called this evening
and she left me a big basket full of preserves etc.
12\25\{1940} (Wednesday)
Christmas Day. I got up and worked lively and
got breakfast of stewed oysters. Cliff Heaton's N.Y.
car was in the yard, so I knew that someone
was here. After nine, Dick came down and
took the car and went over to Cheshire and
I got ready to go to Margaret;s at West Hartford.
At eleven Vincent and Bettie Simons called
and we were at Margaret's before twelve.
About one we had dinner, about twenty sat down
and in the afternoon Ruth and her family came
from Kent and Bobbie and his girl and others
came so there were about 46 there at the evening
when they had a Christmas tree and many
presents were distributed. I received a lot of them,
more than twenty.
12\26\{1940} (Thursday)
I worked at odd jobs about home as I have a
bad cold. In the afternoon I went to West
Cheshire and got two bags of chicken feed.
I stopped at the farm and did the work there
and stopped at Mr. Schaffer's store and got some
groceries.
We have been having remarkable warm weather
of late. Christmas Day was very warm and thawing
all day and night. I think it the warmest Christmas
I ever knew and to day has been damp
and warm.
12\27\{1940} (Friday)
Another warm day, it has looked like snow.
I did work in the wheel house and other odd
jobs. This afternoon I went to the farm
[[(Continued on page 74) || (From page 71)]]
and did the regular work there. Then I drove
up the Todd Road and at Woodtick I saw
that the Charlie Tuttle house had been set on
fire and burned the most of the roof off.
It happened last Tuesday night after nine
o'clock. The Wolcott Fire Department responded
to the alarm but it was too much for them
and they called the Waterbury Fire Department.
Mrs. Pierpont came this morning and did
up the work. Fritsa Heaton called this morning.
After Bobbie got up, about ten o'clock.
He was inoculated for typhoid
fever by the army surgeon and his arm
is very sore and swollen.
He took Fritsa to Louise Service's. She is
going back to New York. The people there are somewhat
worried for fear Hitler will send over a lot
of airplanes and bomb the city. The government
are hurrying the setting up of air craft guns
but they have not enough to fully defend the
city.
12\28\1940 (Saturday)
Warm, some rain, lots of mud and the grass coming
up green. I worked about home in the forenoon and
after dinner I telephoned to Dick Pierpont and we went
to the Notch-in-the Rocks and got a load of crushed
stone and brought it home and put it on the
steps and walk back of the house.
We then went to the Blacksmith shop and made
a trimming tool for the machine lathe, then it was
growing dark.
This evening Bobbie came with his new service
uniform and overcoat on. It is rather dressy for
service. He is going to attend a military ball.
Dick Miller telephoned from down town that he
coming out to night.
12\29\{1940} (Sunday)
I got up and saw Cliff Heaton's New York car in
the yard so I got breakfast for three. As I was about
to start for church Bobbie came out and Dick
was not here. Bob took the car and went to
Cheshire. I went to Church. Soon Cliff, Fritsa, Ronny
and another lady came and we enjoyed the service.
Mr. Madden preached, his subject was "The Mainsprings
of Life". After service the Heatons called and
Fritsa took two dozen eggs and a bushel of potatoes to
New York.
12\30\1940 (Monday)
This forenoon I did work in the wheel house, had a
lot to do as the engine would not start.
This afternoon I went to the farm and Dick Pierpont
and I put some heavy stones on the wall.
Clear and cool to day.
The City is putting a crude side walk from
the old Reedville school to the East Farms School.
12\31\1940 (Tuesday)
I have worked all day sharpening stone drills.
The weather has been mild as it has been
for several days. The grass is turned quite
green.
01\01\1941 (Wednesday)
New Year's Day. Weather nice and warm. Grass
is some green on the Southern slopes.
Mrs. Pierpont came to day and did the washing.
I worked in the Wheelhouse getting wood
ready to make milking stools.
In the afternoon I went to the farm and Dick
Pierpont and I lifted some big stones on the
wall that we are building.
01\02\1941 (Thursday)
Margin note: 5th snow, 5" fell
I worked in the Wheelhouse this forenoon and
took my pickup down to Dan Hanlon's and he
had it go through the general inspecting line
and made several repairs on it. This afternoon
Dick Pierpont and I worked on the stone wall at
the farm. About four it began to snow and now
it is about two and one half inches deep.
I had a letter to day from Ronald W Mason, Superintendent
of the Odd Fellows Home at Groton, in which he
states that brother Frank's hearts is effected but
that he is up and about every day.
01\03\{1941} (Friday)
Margin note: 6th snow, 1" fell
This morning I dug out the paths and then
made twelve 1/4" drills for an Italian and did
other blacksmith work. I went to the farm and
took care of the ox then came home and worked
in the Wheelhouse till dark.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did up the work.
01\04\1941 (Saturday)
Margin note: 7th snow, 2" fell
I worked in the wheel house this forenoon.
This afternoon I went to the farm and to the Maple
Hill Dairy. The streets and roads were cleared of
snow before nine this morning. The State runs
its plows about 12 miles per hr and throws the
snow well back.
Wm Gillette saw me and said he had Mary's
estate about ready to turn over to me.
01\05\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject
was "As I Look On These Things".
The weather has been cold with a little snow.
The roads are clear of snow as the plows clean them
all bare. I have to use chains to get out of the yard
but the hard road wears them out.
01\06\{1941} (Monday)
This morning Bobbie left with his new uniform
on to report at the Armory at 8 o'clock. To day BATTERY
& COAST ARTILLERY is inducted in to the United
States Army.
Last night I fell on the bed, had a dizzy spell
but today I seemed to feel quite well again.
I have worked in the Wheel house the greater part
of the day. The weather has been quite cold.
I had a ton of soft coal come this afternoon.
Mr. Wm. Gillette came to night to see about
settling Mary's estate.
01\07\{1941} (Tuesday)
Cold day. I, after doing the dished and other housework,
worked in the Wheelhouse and did some odd jobs.
This afternoon I went to Kunkel's Drug Store and
bought a bottle of mineral oil. Then I drove up
Beecher Ave and out the Meriden Road and down
the Pierpont Road to the farm where I took care
of old Buster. Then I came home and worked
in the Wheelhouse till dark when William
Gillette came and turned over the settlement
papers and money, stocks, bonds and deeds of
Mary's estate, nearly five thousand dollar's
worth.
01\08\{1941} (Wednesday)
Cold day, two below this morning. After Mrs.
Pierpont came this morning I went to the store
and then worked in the Wheelhouse. This afternoon
I took a book to the Prospect Library and then
went to Cheshire and got a bag of middlings
and then came to the farm and did the work
there and came home and worked in the Wheel
house till dark.
01\09\1941 (Thursday)
Cold this morning but now it is some warmer
and is snowing a little.
Two men came this evening at 8 o' clock and
tried to start Bobbie's car. Then then went over
to Urban's gas station and got a can of gas
and put it in the car and after trying
quite a time, finally got it started and
backed it out into the street. Then stopped at
Urban's station and then went towards the City.
I have worked in the Wheelhouse most of the day.
01\10\1941 (Friday)
Margin note: 8th snow, 1' fell
It snowed last night about one inch but it made
the roads very slippery this morning.
I worked in the Wheelhouse this Forenoon. Mrs.
Pierpont came and did up the work and baked some
little cakes for me. This afternoon I went to the
Bank and deposited three checks, one from the Ansonia
Bank for 10.50, one from the Waterbury Rolling Mills
for 156.00 and one from Anthony Cairlo for 35.00. I had
a check cashed from the International Silver Co. for 25.00
and drew 28.65 and gave it to Mansfield Gillette to
give to his father, Wm Gillette, money that I owed him
in settling Mary's estate.
I then went to Dr. Barber's office and had him
bandage my legs.
Then I went to the Y.M.C.A. Building and
visited with Mr. John Barr till dark. Then I came
home and got my supper.
01\11\1941 (Saturday)
Cold winter day. I got lumber out in the Wheelhouse
for the legs of the milking stools and took it
to Robert Tyler's and had it sawed 1 3/8" square. Then
I went to the farm and took care of the ox and then
to the store and got groceries and then home.
My leg pains me and it is hard to get about
as it is, very uneven and slippery.
When I got up this morning I found a note on
the table written by Bob that read, "I have come
and gone - Bob".
01\12\{1941} (Sunday)
To day as I was very lame and I expected that
Bobbie might call, I did not attend service.
I did but little, sat by the window and
read. This afternoon Fritsa and Olga came and
cleaned and rearranged Bobbie's room and got
it ready so Alice Pierpont can have it. Then
came Margaret and her husband George Hall.
Then Cliff Heaton and Ronald came and as
Fritsa, Prof. Ronald and Olga were leaving Prof.
Brundage and Ruth came and we had a
fine visit. In the evening Bobbie came in
a new full dress uniform and settled his
accounts and got some things and probably
took his final leave. He has already earned
three stripes having received the appointment of
supply Sergeant. He has gone back to the Armory.
Tomorrow afternoon they are to have a final review
on Library Park Battery G and E. of the 208 Coast
Artillery and the band and Tuesday morning
they are to start at 5.40 for Camp Edwards at
Falmouth, Cape Cod.
01\13\1941 (Monday)
Cold windy day. I worked in the Wheelhouse this
forenoon. This afternoon I went down by the City
Hall and saw Battery G and E and the Band
parade down Grand Street out West Main and
over Levenworth and back to the Armory. I did
not stay any longer as it was so cold and
windy. They were to have guard mount on Library
Park at four, but it was too cold to wait.
01\14\1941 (Tuesday)
Cold day, 2 below this morning. I took my car to
Dan Hanlon's to have it repaired and inspected
this morning. Then I worked in the Wheelhouse.
In the afternoon I went and saw Dr. Barber and
he did up my ankle. Then I came home and had
my supper. This evening Mansfield Gillette and
Laurence Pierpont came to drum.
01\15\1941 (Wednesday)
To day I have been in the Wheelhouse turning legs
for milking stools. I have been very lame in
the ankle that I hurt. Mrs. Pierpont came this
morning and did the washing etc.
Alice Pierpont came this afternoon at 5.30. She
is going to stay a few nights.
Cold this morning, two below, very cold all day.
01\16\1941 (Thursday)
Margin note: 9th snow, 2" fell
It began snowing before noon, but by night
it turned into sleet and ice.
I have worked in the wheelhouse much of
the time.
Alice got a good breakfast and supper, much
better than I have been getting, and it tastes
better when someone else gets it and when
there is some one for company when you
eat it.
01\17\{1941} (Friday)
This morning everything was covered with
ice. I put sand and ashes on all the walks.
Then I worked in the Wheelhouse all day.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did up the work.
Alice has gone out to Laurence Pierpont's to stay
with little Peter. Will be back tonight.
01\18\1941 (Saturday)
Dull day, everything covered with ice. I went to the
store corner of Knoll Street and got meat and groceries
and to Cheshire and got a bag of scratch feed and a
bag of oats. Then I came to the farm and Dick and
I hitched the ox onto the little stone boot{??} and went
down to the road and drew up a bag of middlings
that was on the truck. We could not drive the truck
up into the lot on account of the ice. I came home and
worked in the Wheelhouse turning out milking
stool legs till dark.
01\19\{1941} (Sunday)
My foot was very sore and lame this morning
and the ground was all covered with ice so I
did not go to church. Alice Pierpont got a fine
breakfast of stewed oysters. Soon my foot pained
very bad and I called the doctor and made an
appointment at twelve. I went down on a bus
and as there were there, I had to wait and while
I was waiting, the Doctor had a hurried call to
go to Reutter's and see my sister Mary as they
thought the end was near. I arranged to wait
in the Office till he had been out and returned.
When he came back he found Mary very
low and the end may come any time. He
then did up my foot and I came home.
01\20\1941 (Monday)
Margin note: Mary died
As Alice Pierpont and I were eating breakfast,
William Service called and told us that sister
Mary Jenner passed away at 3.30 this morning.
I saw by the paper tonight that the funeral is
to be held Wednesday at 2 P.M.
Today has been very cold. I have worked
in the Wheelhouse, have had a hard time
of it as my foot has pained me greatly.
It is hard walking as everything is covered
with ice.
This day President Franklin D. Roosevelt was
inaugurated President of the United States for the
third time, the first President to ever serve three
terms.
01\21\1941 (Tuesday)
I have staid about the house all day, only the
time it took to go down and have the Doctor dress
my foot that pained me, so I slept but little last
night and I have been scarcely able to get about
to day. But it has felt much better since he
probed it out and did it up.
The weather has been cold;
01\22\1941 (Wednesday)
Mrs. Pierpont came this morning and did the
washing and got dinner.
This afternoon at 1.30 Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Pierpont
called for me and we attended my sister Mary's
funeral. It was held at Alderson's Funeral Home
at No. 20 Holmes Avenue. Rev. James H. Phillips of the First
Congregational Church officiated. Burial was in the New
Pine Grove Cemetery.
01\23\1941 (Thursday)
This morning at 9.30 Miss Rita M. Fitz, Maurice
Teacher and the scholars of the Woodtick school
came here to study history concerning the town
of Wolcott. They wish to get together a lot and
then publish a child's history of the town.
While they were here, Mr. Mason, Superintendent
of the Odd Fellows Home at Groton, telephoned
that brother Frank had a sinking spell and
was then lying unconscious and the end may
come at any time.
The rest of the day I have spent in the house
as it hurts me to walk.
01\24\1941 (Friday)
Margin note: 10th snow, about 5" fell
Margin note #2: Charles Cass died
This day I have staid in nearly all the time.
This morning Charles De Bissop called up and
told that Charles Cass passed away at 12.15 this
morning at his home in North Wallingford.
The funeral is to be Sunday at 2 P.M.
The weather has been cold and it began snowing
and blowing soon after dinner.
Mrs. Pierpont came and did up the work.
01\25\{1941} (Saturday)
This morning I shoveled paths till noon. Then
they brought in a big snow plow from the Calvary
Cemetery and we had to make a heavy hinge
bar for it that took all the afternoon.
After we had it finished, they pushed all the snow off
my back yard.
01\26\{1941} (Sunday)
Margin note: Frank Miller died.
This morning Mr. Howard Branch telephoned that
Frank had died at the Odd Fellows Home at
Groton. The funeral is to be held from Vincent's
Funeral Home in Simsbury at 2 P.M. Tuesday.
This afternoon I went with Mansfield Gillette
to Wallingford where we attended the funeral of
Charles Cass. The funeral was a large one. There
were about twelve of the Mattatuck Drum Band
there, the most of them in full uniform.
The weather was rather cold and windy.
William Gillette and Iva called this evening to
see about Frank's funeral.
01\27\{1941} (Monday)
Margin note: 11th snow, 1/2" fell
The snow began falling about eight this morning
and has continued all day. I sharpened a
few tools this forenoon.
I told Tony that he could have the use of a part
of the East end of the cloths yard to put a roof over
and store stone and his truck etc.
This afternoon I went to the store and got meat and
groceries, then I went to Dr. Barber's office and he
did up my lame foot.
Yesterday while I was at Charles Cass's funeral,
Robert Miller called. He left a note that stated
that he liked the life at Camp Edwards and he
wished me to write when I had time.
His address is
Sgt. Robert P. Miller
Battery G, 208th C.A. (AA){??}
Camp Edwards
Falmoth
Mass.
01\28\1941 (Tuesday)
Margin note: Frank's funeral
I spent the greater part of the forenoon in
getting ready to attend my brother Frank's
funeral in Simsbury. Mrs. Pierpont came and
did the washing and tidied up the house in
good order. At about 12.15, William Gillette and
Iva called and I got in their nice Buic car
and we called at the Service home and got
Louise, then we went over to Fairlawn Avenue
and got Effel Reutter and then we drove over
Fall Mountain and down through Bristol and
then up through Unionville and on to Simsbury
where we went to Vincent's Funeral Home which
is reached by turning West by the Methodist
Church and going up over the hill and on about
half a mile till a group of house is reached and
there is located in a neat old white house the
most complete looking funeral home I
ever saw. There was in attendance Louise Service,
Effel Reutter, Iva and Wm. Gillette and Margaret
and George Hall, in our group, William Fleming and
wife of West Simsbury and four Odd Fellows from
Hartford who were pall bearers and there was a
nice young minister who conducted the service.
After the service the ministers car led, then the
pall bearers, then the hearse and our car and
we drove to the old cemetery in Hartford. It
is located on Main Street on the West side opposite
No 1776 and there is a large public school opposite
the entrance. The Odd Fellows conducted the service at
the grave, after which we came home through Farmington,
Bristol and Wolcott. We reached here at 4.30 having
traveled a long distance and attended a funeral in
a short time.
01\29\1941 (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools etc. In the afternoon I
went to Prospect and saw a boy about learning to drum
and saw Clifford Wallace and he and Mrs. John Miller
who are on the school board gave permission to use the
basement of the school house next Tuesday night.
01\30\{1941} (Thursday)
To day has been cold and raw. I rigged up my lathe and
turned out one drum stick. This afternoon I got a lot of iron,
wood, or horn beam and took it to Robert Tyler's and he
rawed{??} it up into one inch square sticks 18" long.
Alice Pierpont got through to night.
01\31\{1941} (Friday)
Cold day, I worked in the cellar turning drum sticks.
This afternoon I saw Ralph Pierpont about the Prospect
boys that are to learn to drum.
02\01\1941 (Saturday)
It has thawed a little to day. I worked in the cellar
making drum sticks most of the time to day.
This evening Dick came. We had supper together.
He is to stay here tonight.
02\02\{1941} (Sunday)
Cold cloudy day. I have stayed in the
house all day.
Dick Miller stayed here last night, had
breakfast this morning and left about ten.
Mr. L.H. Thien called this evening. He is
from West Orange N.J. He lives at 169 High St.
opposite Russell Smith who lived in this house
about 25 years ago.
02\03\{1941} (Monday)
Margin note: 12th snow, 1" fell
I have turned drum sticks till three o'clock then
I went to Dr. Barber and he did up my lame
foot.
02\04\{1941} (Tuesday)
I got drum sticks ready and cut books etc. This evening
Mansfield Gillette took me to Prospect and we arranged
to teach a class to drum and fife. The meeting was
held in the basement of the school house. There were
a good number present.
02\05\{1941} (Wednesday)
Cold but it thawed some. I have been home all day,
sharpened tools some of the time. A book agent came
and I signed up for a history of New England.
02\06\{1941} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools some of the time to day. Dick Pierpont
came and helped me do a four point drill. Then we
took two bass and a snare drum out to Pierpont's
Hall.
The weather has been a little warmer and it has
thawed some this afternoon.
Eighty-five men are to leave at 7.55 tomorrow
morning for Hartford to be examined and those
who pass will go to a training camp.
02\07\{1941} (Friday)
Rained nearly all day. I sharpened a few picks for
the Calvary Cemetery and did other odd jobs and
staid in the house much of the time as my foot pained
me.
02\08\{1941} (Saturday)
The rain yesterday took most of the snow away and
to day there is much bare ground. I have been about
the house most of the time. Went to Dr. Barber and he
dressed my leg.
02\09\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. J. O. Madding preached. His subject was "The Last
Man That I Want To Meet". There was a fair attendance.
After service, Bobbie called. He obtained
a leave of absence from Camp Edwards. He
says that he likes army life and there is
plenty going on. He put his shoes the wrong
way under his bunk and had to work till
11 P.M. to pay for it.
He left at 2.45 for Cheshire. Then I took nine
music books up to Franklin Browne's in
Wolcott then I went to Arthur Harrison's to
find out about the first schools at the
South End. I got home at dark and was plenty
cold. The auto traffic on the Main Bristol
and Meriden Roads was very heavy. What
will it be when summer comes. there are about
50,000 licensed cars in Waterbury now.
02\10\{1941} (Monday)
Cold day, I have been in the house most of the time
writing and letting my ankle get better. I went
down to the First National Store, corner of E. Main
and Knoll St and got some groceries.
02\1\1941 (Tuesday)
Cold day. I have done but little work to day. I went
up to Wolcott looking up the origin of the early schools.
Miss Esther Bronson gave much information.
This evening Mansfield Gillette took me to
the Center School house in Prospect where a class
of boys and girls wish to learn to drum and fife.
The drummers names are:
1. Bob Sabo Girls to fife are, Feb 4, {??}
2. Bob Hodges 1. Sally Jane Miller
3. George Sabo 2. Dolores Wills
4. Al Rozum 3. Gertrude Clark
5. Jerry Meyer 4. Elaine Young
6. John Schwiezer 5. Mary Dupre
7. Bill Martison 6. Jackie Miller
8. Raymond Wadnais 7. Dolores Genest (Feb. 11, 1941)
9. Cecil Obar 8. Charlotte Messick
Feb 11, 1941 9. Jane Perry
10. Richard Chatfield
11. George Cooley
12. Robert Genest
13. Fred Coughlan
15. Donald Halbrook
16. Niclor Visockis
02\12\1941 (Wednesday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools some of the time. It
hurts to stand on my sore foot.
Made arrangements with Wm Gillette to go to
Brattleboro next Saturday and get Mrs. Lena Howe
to come and keep house for me.
I wrote history of the South Dist{??} Schools in Wolcott
for the Child's History by Woodtick School and also
drum music for the boys in Prospect who are learning.
02\13\1941 (Thursday)
This morning I cleaned and repaired the kitchen
stove and did other odd jobs. Ii the afternoon I went
to the Bank and drew out $443.31 and took it to
the City Hall and paid the last half of my
sewer assessment. Then I went up Watertown Ave
to the state Office and took out license for my
pickup truck, paid $10.20. Then I came to
Dr. Barber's office and he did up my lame foot,
paid $2.00. Then I came home.
02\14\{1941} (Friday)
Damp day. After I had been to the First National
Store and got fish and groceries and did the chores,
I turned drum sticks the rest of the time. I called
Wm. Gillette and he said, We will go to Brattleboro.
02\15\1941 (Saturday)
William Gillette carried me up to Brattleboro and
we got Mrs. Lena Howe to come and work for me.
We left here at eight and were in Brattleboro at eleven.
We got dinner at a hotel and then went up the West
Branch River Road four and one half miles to Mrs. Howes
home. We left there at twelve thirty and came 112 miles
to my house. There is hardly any snow here but
up there it is ten inches deep. The coldest weather we
have had here was two below but up there they told
that it had been ten below.
02\16\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden officiated. His subject was "This Current
Tragedy of Fretful Impatience".
Mrs. Howe went with me.
In the afternoon Arthur Bird and wife and two
sons called and Fritsa came from New York and
called, before going to Cheshire.
02\17\{1941} (Monday)
Margin note: 13th snow, 1" fell
I have turned drum sticks most of the time to
day. It began snowing about noon and tonight the
ground is covered.
02\18\1941 (Tuesday)
I worked in the wheelhouse this forenoon. This
afternoon I went to Wolcott to find out about the
school house in the South District. Miss Bronson
told when it was built.
This evening I went to Prospect to instruct
a class of boys to drum.
02\19\1941 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools all day.
02\20\{1941} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. At 1 P.M> I went to
Dr. Barber's office and Miss ----- did up my leg. Then
I came home and took my small car and went
to Prospect and saw Nellie Cowdell about the
members of the Drum Band. Then I came home
and Mrs. Howe got me a good supper.
02\21\{1941} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to town to
see about bus and train to bring Mrs. Hower {???????}
from Brattleboro here and fare.
(continued on page 100)
02\22\1941 (Saturday)
Washington's Birthday. Weather is cool. I sharpened
tools some of the time. Dick Pierpont came and sowed
up a pile of wood and he helped me forge a hardy{??}
for my anvil. This afternoon Frank and Elsie
came from Kent with five of their children and
we had a nice visit.
02\23\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Webb Wright of the South Confederated Church
preached. Mr. Howe went to Church with me.
This afternoon I went to Prospect and with Mrs.
Wilson made out a list of seeds to be ordered.
02\24\{1941} (Monday)
Cool day. I sharpened tools all day.
02\25\{1941} (Tuesday)
I was in the house nearly all day. Went to the
doctor and she did my leg up.
02\26\1941 (Wednesday)
Very cold day. I have staid in the house
nearly all the time as my foot and leg are
very painful. This evening Mrs. Sarah Pierpont
called and took Mrs. Howe up to the Church to
an entertainment.
02\27\{1941} (Thursday)
Another cold day, the ground is quite bare of snow
and ice but it does not thaw. I went to see the
doctor about my leg and foot and had it done up.
The rest of the time I have spent in the house.
02\28\{1941} (Friday)
Margin note: 13th snow, 5" fell
I have been in the house nearly all day. I killed and
dressed a roster this forenoon and sold half of it
to Ray and Ruth, together with a dozen eggs.
This evening it began snowing.
Ray and Ruth called at 5.45 for the chicken and eggs.
03\01\{1941} (Saturday)
I was in the house nearly all day not doing
much of anything as my leg pained me bad.
In the afternoon Mrs. Howe and I did it up
and after that it was better.
(continued on back page 96)
03\02\1941 (Sunday)
Last night Bobbie came in after dark and wanted
to stay over night. He got leave, and left Camp
Edwards last Friday and hitch-hiked to New
York where he visited his Mother and the folks.
He says that there are 24,000 men now in the
camp and he had to walk two miles to get
out. The camp is four miles across it both ways
and his company is in the center.
His address is: Sgt Robert P. Miller, Battery G
208, C.A. A.A. Camp Edwards, Mass.
03\03\{1941} (Monday)
I went and had Dr. Barber's nurse do up my leg
and it feels much better. The rest of the time I have
spent in the house. The day has been dull and
damp, towards evening it began to rain a little.
Mrs. Howe did the washing.
03\04\{1941} (Tuesday)
This afternoon was cold. Mansfield Gillette came and
took me to Prospect this evening where I gave
drumming lessons to about thirty in the class.
After I got home Mrs. Howe rubbed my neck and
chest and I slept much better than last night.
03\05\1940 {1941} (Wednesday)
This has been a cold raw day. I went and had Dr.
Barber's nurse do up my leg and have been in
the house the most of the time.
03\06\{1941} (Thursday)
Cold day. I went to Cheshire and got three bags
of feed. The rest of the {time} I have spent in reading and
writing etc.
03\07\{1941} (Friday)
Nice day. Ruth and Margaret came after dinner
and took me down to the doctor's and she did up my
sore leg. After we got home they went through a
lot of things that were in the pantry and some
silverware that was Frank's and they took several
pieces that they wanted.
L. Frank Hayes who was Mayor of Waterbury
for ten years and Lieutenant Governor of the state
and seven others started to severe prison terms
from ten to fifteen years imposed in the Waterbury
Conspiracy case.
The Supreme Court decided against them yesterday
and last night they were taken to
Weatherfield. Those who were taken were,
beside Mayor Hayes, Thomas P. Kelley, former
executive secretary to Hayes, Frank "Burns" Santalusia,
contractor, Phillip Coppeto, contractor, James P. Healey,
contractor, Thomas J. Fleming, former Superintendent
of Streets , Martin J. Dunn, former city purchasing
agent, and Herny W. Minor, former Chairman of
Waterbury Police and Fire Boards.
Ex-controller Daniel J. Leary could not be found,
nor could John J. Johnson of New York.
Four were cleared by the court ruling, they
were Simon J. Alderman
John Meaney
Charles S. O'Connor
and George H. Kingsley
Mayor Hayes is 57 years old.
03\08\1941 (Saturday)
Margin note: 15th snow, 18" fell
When I woke up this morning it was snowing hard
and nearly a foot of snow on the ground. It continued
to snow and blow till about two o'clock. By that time
about 18" had fallen. I was in the house most of the
time till four when I went out and shoveled out some
paths.
03\09\{1941} (Sunday)
I have been in the house nearly all the time, it has
stormed a little all day, wet and snow. Clarence Brown
called this afternoon.
03\10\1940 {1941} (Monday)
I went to Dr. Barber's office and had her do up
my leg. I dug out more paths to day.
I bought a briefcase to carry my books etc. to
the meetings in Prospect.
03\11\{1941} (Tuesday)
Margin note: 16th snow, about 4" fell
I dug out so I got my truck out and went down to
the store. Sent a money order to Woodruff + Sons in
Milford for seeds. I sharpened a few tools.
It began snowing about three and before eight
about four inches had fallen.
03\12\{1941} (Wednesday)
Margin note: 17th snow, about 2" fell
It snowed this morning about two inches deep.
I shoveled out the paths which took till near noon.
This afternoon I went and had Dr. Barber do up
my leg. He has returned from his vacation
I then went to City Hall to see Mr. Rowland
but he was not there.
03\13\{1941} (Thursday)
This morning it was eight above zero but by 9.30
it was thawing and it continued to grow warm
so the snow settled quite a little before night.
(continued on page 102)
The second batallion of the 102 infantry are to leave
Waterbury this evening at 7.55 for Camp Blanding,
Fla. Those that are going tonight number 269 enlisted
men and 18 officers, counting those that left yesterday
and before makes a total of 377 men in this unit
and upward of 1000 men who have left Waterbury for
the various training camps since Jan 1st.
There are to be 100 policemen on duty at the station
to keep the crowd back so that the train can pull out
on time. No one is to be allowed to go through the
stations subway.
03\14\1940 {1941} (Friday)
This forenoon I worked repairing the lead drain pipe
from the sink. In the afternoon I went to Dr. Barber's
office and he did up my leg. And oh how it has pained
ever since. Then I went to the office of the Connecticut
Light and Power Co on Levenworth St. and paid my
bill, 8.35 for two months, then I went to the Southern New
England Telephone Company and paid my bill, 8.25
two months. Then I went to the Post Office to see if I could
get a mailing box put at the corner of the Frost and
East Main Sts.
This morning 90 more men left for Hartford
to be put in the training camps.
03\15\1940 {1941} (Saturday)
To day has been fair weather. Snow has settled and
melted quite a little. I finished repairing and
putting in the sink drain pipe.
This evening Fritsa, Cliff and Ronald called.
They had driven up from New York.
03\16\{1941} (Sunday)
I have been in the house all day. Margaret and
George Hall called this afternoon.
03\17\{1941} (Monday)
Margin note: 18th snow, 1" fell
This morning it rained then it snowed quite a
little and then turned cold. By night it is
very cold. This afternoon I went and had
Dr. Barber dress up my sore leg and paid him
$2.00.
03\18\{1941} (Tuesday)
Margin note: 19th snow, 1" fell
This has been a very cold day and towards evening
it snowed. I did some machine work and made two
iron flanges for Tony today in the wheel house.
This evening I went to Prospect and gave drumming
lessons to a large class over thirty in all.
Mansfield Gillette came and got me and
brought me back.
03\19\{1941} (Wednesday)
A cold day. I worked in the blacksmith shop sharpening
tools.
03\20\{1941} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools the greater part of the time to day.
The weather has been rather cool. A bundle of garden
seed came from Woodruff's Seed Co. of Milford, came
by mail yesterday.
03\21\1941 (Friday)
A little warmer to day. Snow has gone quite a little.
I made drum sticks this forenoon and went and had
Dr. Walter Barber do up my leg.
03\22\1941 (Saturday)
I turned drum sticks and did odd jobs about home
to day and went to see Raymond who fell in the mill
of the Waterbury branch of the American Brass Co. and
hurt his hip. I found him in bed but not suffering
very much. This evening Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Wilson
called to have Mrs. Howe show them how to sew
a floor mat flat.
03\23\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev. Mr.
Madden preached. His subject was "Dirty Windows". This afternoon
Margaret and George called. Bobbie came from camp and called.
03\24\1941 (Monday)
I have worked in the wheel house repairing belts and
doing other jobs. It has thawed quite a little and the
weather has been damp.
03\25\{1941} (Tuesday)
It has thawed some to day. I worked on milk stools
in the wheel house. This evening Mansfield
Gillette called for me and we went to Prospect to
give instructions to drummers and fifers. After the
meeting we took the Chatfield boy and girl home
on the Prospect-Cheshire road.
03\26\{1941} (Wednesday)
Today I went to Kent but I did not see Frank
as he had gone to Litchfield to attend a meeting of
fire wardens. It was very windy going up but
coming back was not so bad. I left Mrs. Howe
at Mr. Athertons in East Morris when I went
up and called for her when I returned.
When I went to start my car to come home
the battery was dead. Elsie called up the garage
this way of the bridge and a man came and
put in another battery.
03\27\1941 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and went to the store
and got some fish and groceries etc. This afternoon
I went to the Town Clerk's office and saw Mr. Howland
about the history of Wolcott.
03\28\{1941} (Friday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon. I went down
to the corner of the Meriden Road to see Battery
E come in but though I waited an hour and a
half as did many others, it did not come.
I then went to Cheshire and got a bag of
scratch feed and came home and did the
chores.
03\29\{1941} (Saturday)
I sharpened a lot of tools to day.
The weather has been very good and it has thawed
quite a little.
03\30\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden officiated. His subject was, as
printed in the program, "When Pilot Encounters Christ".
This afternoon Mrs. Howe and I went to call on
the Wilsons in Prospect but they were not at home.
03\31\1941 (Monday)
I sharpened tools to day for the town man{??} and did
some errands.
04\01\{1941} (Tuesday)
I planted peas in the garden and at the farm.
This evening I went to Prospect and gave
a drumming lesson to a crowd of boys and girls.
04\02\{1941} (Wednesday)
I went to Kent to day. Took Mrs. Howe and left
her at Mrs. Athertons in East Morris.
We went through the Center and then through
Watertown where I saw Mr. Fox, then to Morris
and through Bantam, past Mt. Tom Pond{??} and North
of Woodville to Warren and then to Kent. I found
Frank up the Macadonia Brook cutting up
fire place wood. Before dinner I took my car to
the garage and after dinner Frank took me
over and I waited for them to put the battery
in and then I started for home. Came to
East Kent then to Waramaug Lake{??} and
around the West side and over to the New
Milford turnpike and down the Bee Brook
road to New Preston Station then over the
hills to Morris and got Mrs. Howe and
then through Waterville, home at 5 P.M.
04\03\1941 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools to day. This evening Ray and
Ruth called and got one dozen eggs and a loaf of
bread that Mrs. Howe made.
04\04\{1941} (Friday)
Today I split wood and did odd jobs about the
place. Yesterday I sent a check of fifty dollars to
William M. Gillette for taking me to Brattleboro{??}
and getting Mrs. Howe and bringing her down
etc.
04\05\{1941} (Saturday)
This morning Raymond Wadnais{??} and Richard
Pierpont came and we went down on the Plank
road and measured the fall at the site of the Benjamin
Farrell Saw Mill and found it to be 30 ft. We then
went up stream to the site of the Samuel Mix Saw
Mill and found the fall to be 10 ft. Then we went
to the site of the Joseph Beach Saw Mill and found
the fall to be 29 ft. We then carried Raymond over
to Cheshire and came home and got dinner.
It rained all the afternoon and I staid in.
04\06\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church. Rev.
Mr. Madden preached. "The Crass{??} and the Ordinary Man"
was his subject. This afternoon I and Mrs. Howe
went to Wolcott Center to see Margaret but she
was not there. We then went to Bristol to
see Mildred but she had gone to Church.
We then came home, and then went to
Prospect and saw Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.
04\07\{1941} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. This afternoon I went
to the farm and took care of Buster and got the
garden ready to plant onions. Dick Pierpont
came and went to the site of Wedges' old
saw mill when Jack Andrews came along and
I hired him to help us and we measured
the fall that they used to have at that {????}
which was 16' 1". Then we went to the site of
the old spinning wheel shop, Grist Mill, satenet{??}
shop, match shop, machine shop and other industries
and found that they had 13' 10" fall. This is
near the crossing of the Scott Road.
Then we went to the crossing of the Pierpont
Road over Beaver Brook and found that there was
10' fall at the saw mill the Zeba Farrell built
there in 1801.
Then we went to the corner of the Austin
and Plank Roads where Orren Austin built
a shop in 1826 for making wood clock movements
and ground feed and found that he
had 17' 7" fall.
Then we went up the Scott Road to the site of
Edward Scott's saw mill which was built about
1877 and found that he had 25' 8" fall.
Then we went to the site of saw mill that
stood down the stream about a hundred rods from
the bridge of the Manthey Road that was built
about 1830 by Orren Austin of East Farms and
Charles Hall of Cheshire. They got it ready for
business and the millwrights had the first log
on the carriage and his hand on the gate lever
ready to turn the water on when a financial
question came up between the two partners on which
they failed to agree. The gate was never lifted.
The log was never sawed and the mill went to
decay and nothing is left now but the line of
the log dam and a few foundation stones where
the mill stood. They had more than 25' fall.
04\08\{1941} (Thursday)
This morning I sharpened tools till after ten when
Frank came driving in from Kent with a load
of wood and some lumber and a bag of feed.
He had brought a man who worked for him
over to be examined for the draft. He had
dinner here and left soon after one. After he
had gone, I went to the farm and fed Buster
then I planted a row of onions and then Dick
came and we drove over and got Jack Andrews
and then went up to Turkey Hill in Prospect
and measured the fall where Joseph Paynes'
saw mill stood and found that there was 14' 11".
Then we went to find the place where Sherman
Hotchkiss's saw mill stood. We finally found it
and found tat they had 21' 10" fall. Then
we went to where Isaac Hotchkiss's grist mill
stood and found that there they had 13' fall.
Then we came over the Scott Road which they
were grading and left Dick at the Plank
Road and Jack near his house and I came
home. After supper, Ray and Ruth called and
soon Mansfield Gillette came and took me
to Prospect where I gave drumming lessons
to a lot of boys till nine o'clock when we
came up to East Farms and attended the
meeting of the Mattatuck Drum Band.
04\09\{1941} (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools and went to
the store and got some electrical fixtures
and groceries. Then we had dinner and
I went to the farm and got ground ready
to plant some seed. Soon Dick Pierpont came
and we came over and got Jack Andrews and
went to Govern{??} or East Mountain Brook and
measured the fall where Thomas Payne had
a shop where they made wooden dishes in
1830 and before they used china or earthenware.
The fall was twelve feet. Then we went to Charles
De Bissop's place and measured the fall where
Benjamin Farrell (son of Miles) had a millright
shop and cider mill. The fall here was 25' 10".
After supper Ralph and Louis Pierpont called
and took Mrs. Howe and I over to sister Iva
Gillette's on Bunker Hill where she gave a
donation party for Ruth Reutter and Margery
Service. They are both to be married before
long. There was between fifty and sixty persons
there.
04\10\{1941} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon at the farm. Dick
Pierpont trimmed apple trees and Jack Andrews
and I got out three loads of manure.
04\11\{1941} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and Jack came and
we cleaned the yard. This afternoon Jack Andrews
and I went to the farm and drew manure up to
the shed lot on the hill. After work we went to
John Chatfield's in Prospect and saw Miss Chatfield
about fifing. Then we went to Donald Holbrook's
and left a fife book there with him.
04\12\{1941} (Saturday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools and cleaned the
lawn. In the afternoon I went to the farm and
yoked up Buster and drew three loads of manure
up on th hill.
This noon Mrs. Howe's son William came
from Brattleboro, Vt. He left there at seven o'clock
this morning and caught a ride to Hartford
and then came here.
04\13\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was
"There Is No Death". This is Easter Sunday
and the Church was well filled, gallery and
all. I staid home all the afternoon, but went
to the farm at noon and did the chores.
04\14\{1941} (Monday)
William Howe came from Brattleboro last Saturday
and staid till this morning when he left for
Hartford where he expected to get work at Pratt &
Whitneys. I went upstairs and found that the
hot water faucet was leaking. I will get some
packing and fix it. Then I went to the bank
and deposited 58.00 and had my pension check
of 25.00 cashed. Then I went to the music store
and ordered six music books, a rubber drumming
pad and a mouth piece for my fife.
Then I went up the Watertown Avenue and
got my drivers auto license for the coming
year. Then I came home and took my car and
went to West Cheshire and got a bag of oats.
I stopped on the way home at John Chatfield's
and left a fife book for Ginette. Then I came
home and Mrs. Howe had a nice dinner ready
of hamberg{??} steak etc. After dinner I went to
West Cheshire again and got two planks two
inches thick, twelve feet long and nine inches
wide and two sticks of 2"x3", twelve ft. long for
the Prospect boys to drum on. On my way
home I stopped at the farm and got out two
loads of manure and put it on the garden,
then I came home and had supper.
04\15\{1941} (Tuesday)
This morning I packed the hot water faucet up
stairs and worked in the wheel house piecing
the planks together. Fritsa and Ronny came
from Cheshire and they were here to dinner.
This afternoon I went to the farm and tried
to plow, but did not make out very well.
This evening Mansfield Gillette came and
took me to Prospect to the meeting of the ones
that are learning to drum and fife.
04\16\1941 (Wednesday)
I worked in the wheel house on planks this forenoon.
In the afternoon I went to the farm and Dick
Pierpont came and we plowed for potatoes in
the shed lot.
04\17\{1941} (Thursday)
I planted onions in the garden and worked in the
wheelhouse this forenoon. At the farm this afternoon
Dick and I plowed for potatoes.
Mrs. Howe went to Prospect this afternoon.
04\18\{1941} (Friday)
Dick Miller came from New York last night
and got here about nine. He went away but
came back and staid over night. He is rather
unsettled about his business as he is drafted
and does not know what arrangements to make
regarding the future.
I was in the Wheelhouse making drumming
planks this forenoon. I set out onion sets at the
farm and Dick and I plowed some and I spread
manure and he harrowed the lot for potatoes.
There was a fire at Reidville. We saw the smoke
and heard the engines but did not know what
it was.
04\19\1941 (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont came this morning and he cleaned up
the front yard and I worked on the flower bed.
This afternoon we took one drumming plank to the
school house in Prospect and left it with Mr. Albert
Allen. Then we came to the farm and cultivated
the upper part of the garden.
Yesterday the garage of Hubert Wedge burned
to the ground. The fire was caused by a bush
fire that spread to the building and set it
going.
04\20\{1941} (Sunday)
This morning Ray and Ruth called at eight and
took Mrs. Howe and I up to see Ruth at Storrs.
We went through Meriden and Middletown
and Williamitic{??} to Storrs and after looking
the grounds over we went to Mansfield from
Corners where Ruth and Jack have their
new home. They have everything that one
needs and more besides. They have a fine
garden started and the place well fixed up.
We had a fine dinner there and started
home at six ten, came through Hartford
where it took a long time to get across the
bridge on account of a great traffic jam.
We reached home about 8.30 having traveled
fifty four miles.
04\21\1941 (Monday)
I worked about home all day. Dick Pierpont came
this afternoon and we spaided the garden. I
filed two saws for Edward Bronson.
04\22\{1941} (Tuesday)
This forenoon I worked in the garden and went to
Wolcott and drove over the Potoko{??} Ring Road, then
up to the Center and called at Ronson Bronson's
house. This afternoon went to the farm and
worked in the garden. This evening I went to
Prospect to teach drumming. Mansfield did not
go so I drove my own car.
04\23\1941 (Wednesday)
I planted lettuce and radishes etc. in the garden
at home and got ground ready to plant at the
farm. Dick and I repaired the fence on the west
side of the lane and fired up the stone wall at
the north of the barn lot.
04\24\{1941} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the Mecca Music Co. 203
Bank St. and got six music books, a rubber drumming
pad and two mouth pieces for fifes. Then I came home
and worked in the garden. In the afternoon I went
to the farm and planted cabbage and tomatoes
and onion seed. To day Ruth Royter was married
to E. Coe at the First Congregational Church.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Heaton of New York
and Amy Russell called. They had been to the
wedding and were on their way home.
04\25\{1941} (Friday)
Mrs. Howe and I went to Kent to day and
brought back some seed potatoes and fertilizers.
04\26\{1941} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont and I planted potatoes in the shed lot
on the hill. Cool day.
04\27\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was "Why
Bother About Religion."
This afternoon I visited Arthur Harrison up in
Wolcott. Daylight Savings time started this
morning. Many were late.
04\28\{1941} (Monday)
I planted and did odd jobs about home. This
afternoon Dick Pierpont came and we made
a heavy pair of gate hinges for Jack Brundage.
Dick mowed the grass with the lawn mower.
04\29{1941} (Tuesday)
I planted in the garden and did other odd jobs and
at the farm Dick Pierpont and I cultivated down a
ridge in the shed meadow and hauled down a
load of brush from the orchard on the hill.
This evening Dick Pierpont and I went to Prospect
to give drumming lessons. Franklin Brown was
there and about six of his girl fifers while I had
only two boys. A lot of them were away fighting
fire that was raging in the south part of the
town. While we were there another fire had been
started and they were after the one that started it
and called on Sheriff Allen to assist. He drove us
out and Franklin Browne took the girls and
came up to the Mattatuck Hall to there rehearsal
and I came too. There we had a good time.
04\30\{1941} (Wednesday)
To day I planted in the garden, sharpened tools and
at the farm Dick Pierpont, Red St. Lewis and I put
nitrate of soda about the apple trees on the hill and gathered
and drew down two cart loads of brush. The day has been
warm. With the help of the firemen and fire wardens
from Cheshire, Beacon Falls, Ansonia and other places
they put the fire out in Prospect and Bethany after it
had burned over two square miles.
05\01\1941 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this morning and planted peas in
the home garden. This afternoon at the farm Dick Pierpont
and I cultivated the garden. Then we plowed the road
wider above the gate to the shed and Dick drew down
dirt and filled up holes in the lot near the barn
while I planted in the garden.
I received a letter from Bobbie. He is now at Fort
Monroe, Va. learning to sight aircraft guns.
05\02\{1941} (Friday)
Cold day, had to put coat on to keep warm.
This morning I repaired the washing machine
and did other odd jobs. At the farm
Dick Pierpont and I repaired the ox cart and
he drew dirt and filled holes in the barn
meadow and I planted in the garden.
The paper to night stated that Roger
Brundage would graduate from the
flying field at Montgomery, Alabama
next June.
05\03\1941 (Saturday)
Cool day. I made a chicken warm little coop for
young chickens and planted some in the garden.
This afternoon at the farm I planted in the
garden and Dick drew dirt and filled up
holes in the barn meadow.
05\04\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Cochard preached. His subject was, "Can We
Reproduce Calvary". There was a small attendance.
This afternoon Mrs. Howe and I drove out to
Mr. Wilson's in Prospect and left some garden
seeds. No one was at home, only three dogs who
barked loud. Then we went to Berkley Frisbie's
in Wolcott.
05\05\1941 (Monday)
I repaired the door of the east room second floor and
fitted a key to the lock. At the farm Dick and I cultivated
around the west and south sides of the big pile of rocks
and plowed the gutter out the north side of the
road leading to the hill.
05\06\{1941} (Tuesday)
I wrote an index for the records that Mr. B. F. Howland
sent me of Wolcott Center and made a protector
for little chickens. In the afternoon I planted
about fifty hills of potatoes about Fort Dunlop
and planted forty nine hills of corn in the
garden. This evening Mansfield Gillette came
and took to Prospect where we had a class of
drummers and fifers. After nine we came to
the Mattatuck Hall at East Farms where they
had a good practice and then an election of
officers after which we had sandwiches and beer
and soda.
05\07\{1941} (Wednesday)
This morning I finished spading the garden
and did some blacksmith work for Mr. Clarke.
In the afternoon at the farm I finished planting
corn and cut brush wood. Dick drew dirt and
filled holes in the meadow.
05\08\1941 (Thursday)
This forenoon I went to Ruth Hotchkiss and got
a dozen little chickens. It has rained off and
on all day. I worked in the wheel house and
finished up eleven milking stools for
Frank to be used at Kent.
This evening Dick Pierpont came and we
wrote fife music.
05\09\{1941} (Friday)
I planted in the garden and did odd jobs.
Right after dinner we had a thunder shower, then
I cleaned up and polished my little car. Before
six Mrs. Howe and I went to the depot and met her
youngest daughter who had come from Brattleboro
and brought her out.
05\10{1941} (Saturday)
This morning I cleaned up my little car and
got ready and at 10.30 Mrs. Howe and her daughter
and I drove to Milford through Prospect, Bethany,
Woodbridge and Orange{??}. We stopped at the Gulf
and bought four quarts of clams. Then we went
along the shore road to West Haven where we
expected to get dinner, but no place was open
so we drove along the shore and out to Westville
where we got a good dinner. Then we drove
east to Centerville and up through Hamden
then up the west road under the mountain
till we came to a steam shovel that stood {????}
in a cut eight feet deep that extended entirely
across the road. We had to back up a long distance
before we could turn round and go back and
drive out onto the main road again. Then we
came home.
05\11\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. He dedicated the new
hymn books. The attendance was large.
Mrs. Howe's children came from Brattleboro
as this is Mother's Day. They numbered about
five and a child. Later Mr. and Mrs. Atherton
and their daughter came from Morris. Mrs.
Atherton is Mrs. Howe's step-daughter. They were
all nice people.
05\12\{1941} (Monday)
This morning I hoed over my garden. This afternoon
Dick came and we put up and painted a little gate
leading into the garden. I finished a pair of hinges for
Jack Brundage at Storrs. I received a little letter from
Milwaukee. It said "To tell you the good news.
A little newcomer, as cute as can be, has come to
join our family." Baby's name James Robert, Baby's
birthday April 10th, 1941. Baby's parents Mal & Enid
Forsberg. Weight, 6 lbs. 10 oz. Born in Khartoun O.C. {??}
Sudan, Africa.
05\13\1941 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools and made four stone chisels
and did a few odd jobs and went to the store.
In the afternoon went to Cheshire and got a
bag of oats then came to the farm and cut
brushwood a spell. Dick Pierpont came and
we drew down dirt and filled a hole in the
South East Corner of the barn lot near the
water trough that stands in the road.
This evening I attended a reception given
Charles Monahan at the { } on the Meriden
Road at Hitchcock's Lake. There were about seventy
five present. The first thing most of the boys
went to the bar and spent some time drinking
after which we had a fine turkey supper, after
which there was an entertainment, which consisted
of accordion playing, dancing, drumming etc.
05\14\1941 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to town and got my pension
check cashed. Then I went to Conn. Light & Power
Co.'s office on Levenworth Street and paid my
electric bill. Then I went to the telephone building
on Grand St. and paid my telephone bill.
After dinner I repaired the coop and put the
little chickens in it. Then I split up some wood
and planted some carrots and peas and beans
in the garden.
05\15\1941 (Thursday)
I cut up brush wood at the farm. Went to Cheshire
and got a bag of scratch feed for the chickens.
Dick Pierpont and I took out five heavy concrete
posts and with the ox drew three of them up on
the hill.
05\16\1941 (Friday)
I sharpened bars, chisels, drills and hand points
this forenoon, besides going and getting a lot of
groceries. A contractor from Derby is building a
large addition on the west end of the Anderson
School corner of East Main and Southmaid
Roads for a gymnasium for the East End Community
Club.
The Southmaid Road was named by Mr. George
Tucker in 1898. Mr. Tucker was manager of the
New Mattatuck Factory which had just been
built. The wooden shear shop had burned the
October before 1897.
In the afternoon Dick Pierpont and I repaired
the fence on the hill.
05\17\1941 (Saturday)
To day Dick Pierpont and I set out to repair the
long fence on the hill but before we had worked
very long it began to rain and we were obliged
to get under the cart for protection. We went to
our homes for dinner, after which we began working
again and it began thundering and lightening
and raining. We were wet to the skin and
finally had to give it up without accomplishing
very much. But the rain did a lot of good.
It continued to rain at times all the afternoon
but stopped towards evening. But now at
nine, it is thundering and lightening
fierce and raining.
05\18\{1941} (Sunday)
This morning Mrs. Howe and I drove to the
home of Mr. Raymond Atherton in East Morris.
We went up though Wolcott and then north
east over to Tolls Station then up through
Todd Hollow to Plymouth, then down through
Thomaston and up to Northfield, then west
over roads that bewildered me and came out
at the Branch Reservoir. Then up to Mr. Atherton's
in East Morris where Mrs. Howe's son from Brattleboro
had came the day before to get his wife
and son who were visiting there. We had a nice
dinner of roast beef and vegetables. There sat
down to table Mr. and Mrs. Atherton,
Mr. and Mrs. Howe, Miss Atherton, Mrs. Howe
and myself. About four, Mr. and Mrs. Atherton
and the little son left for Vt. and soon after
we left for home. We cam down through
Watertown and across through Waterville
to Mill Plain. There were numerous autos
everywhere on the roads traveling, standing
in door yards and in many places, dozens
and hundreds of used cars for sale.
05\19\1941 (Monday)
This day has been clear and cool with some
wind but not so strong as yesterday. This
morning I went to the farm and hoed my
cabbages and tomatoes. After dinner I hoed
some and cut brush wood till Dick came.
Then we went up on the hill and finished
repairing the fence which took till five o'clock.
Then I came down and got five gallons of gas
at the East Farms Station for .85 cts.
Billie Howe was here to supper. He came from
Brattleboro to Hartford this morning and
took an examination at Pratt & Whitney's
factory, and as he passed, he is to go to work
tomorrow.
05\20\1941 (Tuesday)
This morning I sharpened tools and did other
jobs about home. In the afternoon Dick Pierpont
and I put in a concrete gate post on the hill and
cut out a roadway across the wood lot.
We went up to Mort Pierpont's and got my
blackboard and brought it down to the farm
and put my name on it and took it to Prospect
to the school there.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called
for me and we went to Prospect and I gave
drumming lessons to four boys and we had
a good practice after which we came to the
Mattatuck Hall at East Farms and attended
the Mattatuck meeting.
05\21\1941 (Wednesday)
This morning I sharpened tools and worked on
lawn mowers etc. In the afternoon Dick and I repaired
the fence west of the gate on the hill etc.
05\22\{1941} (Thursday)
This day has been hot to work at blacksmithing
which I did, sharpening twenty-five lettering
tools, made six heavy truck hooks and did other
work so I sweat my clothes through. About four
the thunder sounded. Soon the wind blew hard
and the rain came down but it is a good weather
for things to grow.
05\23\{1941} (Friday)
This morning I went to Prospect and saw John Chatfield
and got Jinnell's fife book. Coming home
I overtook a woman and two children on the Plank
Road and gave them a ride to the Mintic{??} Road.
Farther on my engine did not act right. I stopped
and found that all the water was out and the
engine smoking. I walked a long distance and
got a quart can and a two quart pail full of water
and put it in. Then I ran down the road to the
pond and filled the radiator full of water, after
which I went to the East End Hardware Store
and got twelve and one half pounds of white
lead. Came home and had dinner when Ruth
Brundage telephoned that she was at Margaret's
up in Wolcott and would I come up to dinner as
Roger was there. I drove up and they had a table
set under an apple tree. Marion and Bettie were
there and it made quite a party. When I came
away they told me that one of my tires were
down. I changed it, in doing it some broke the
socket on my wheel wrench. I then came to the
farm and Dick Pierpont and I hoed the greater
part of the garden and Dick planted some lettuce
and beans. Then we mixed up paint and are
ready to paint the fence tomorrow.
05\24\{1941} (Saturday)
To day Dick Pierpont and I painted the fence on the
hill on the north side of the lot.
05\25\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden peached to those who he had
married since coming to the Church.
This afternoon I went out and visited Fred
Berger on the Plank Road. Mr. Walter Moss was there.
Then I went to John Chatfield's and left a fife book.
05\26\1941 (Monday)
This morning I went to the bank and drew out
one hundred dollars, then I went to the City
Hall and paid my tax, the first half 92.15 and
paid my water rent for the past six months, 11.94.
After dinner I went to the farm and hoed in
the garden and cut brush wood till Dick
came. Then we cultivated potatoes.
I received a letter from Dick Miller to day.
He is in Company B 42nd Engineers at Camp
Shelly, Mississippi. There are bout 60,000 men there,
mostly in tents. He spent on week at Camp Upton
on Long Island and then went by train 48 hours,
leaving Camp Upton at 3.30 P.M., Saturday May 17.
Arriving at Halliesburg, Miss. at 2 P.M. Monday, May
19. Travelled from Long Island to New York then to
Harrisburg, Pa to Pittsburgh, Pa to Hanover, Ohio to
Xenia, O. to London, O. to Loveland, O. to Cinncinati{??}, O.
to Louisville, Ky. to Nashville, Tenn. to Birmingham,
Ala. to Acron, Ala to Halliesburg, Miss. which
is about 14 miles north of Camp Shelly.
They are on the move from 5.30 A.M. till dark at
9 P.M. Temperature gets up over 100ø every day.
05\27\1941 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools for lettering for Mr. Ralph Stewart
and drills {for} Horace Read all the forenoon. In the
afternoon, I and Dick hoed all of my potatoes.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called for me
and we went to Prospect and I gave drumming
lessons to a good sized class, after which Ralph
Pierpont showed some fine moving pictures.
Then we came to the Mattatuck Hall at East
Farms and attended their meeting.
05\28\{1941} (Wednesday)
This morning it looked like rain. I hoed in the
garden and cleaned up my car. Went to
the farm and pulled weeds in the garden. When
Dick came, we painted fence till it thundered
when we came home, after which it rained hard.
05\29\{1941} (Thursday)
This morning I took my little truck to Bristol at
Mr. Redfern's and had it repaired. This afternoon
Dick Pierpont and I painted fence on the hill.
05\30\{1941} (Friday)
This morning Mansfield Gillette called at 7.30 and
we went to St. Joseph's New Cemetery where the Mattatuck {Band??}
assembled at 8.45 and we held service at the grave
of Major Pete Shea. I had charge and made a brief
address.
From there we went down town and formed at
the corner of Holmes Ave. and West Main Sts.
where the drum band headed the Boy Scouts.
I rode back of the scouts with a Mr. Chas H.
Horinbein{??}. After the parade Mansfield Gillette
brought me home.
In the afternoon I did odd jobs about home.
05\31\1941 (Saturday)
This morning I wrote what I want to say tomorrow
at the memorial service to be held at
the grave of Charles Cass in Wallingford, and at
the grave of Charles Tuttle in Woodtick and at
Wolcott Cemetery. I went to the farm in the afternoon
and pulled weeds and when Fritsa came we looked
at their lot. They are thinking of building a house
there.
06\01\{1941} (Sunday)
This morning Mansfield Gillette called at 8.30
and we went to the Mattatuck Drum Shed at East
Farms but no one was there. After a time, cars
began to arrive to the number of four and we
started in the rain for Wallingford which
we reached in due time and at the cemetery
we place flowers on the grave of Charles S.
Cass who was a member and died during the
past year. His brother George and widow Tracy
were there. I made some brief remarks. Then
we drove back to East Farms and with two or
three other cars went to the cemetery in
Woodtick where we placed flowers on the grave
of four former members and at the grave of
Charles S. Tuttle. I told them that I would
have to turn the hands of time back to 1864
to tell when I first knew him, that later I
sat by his side in the little stone schoolhouse
and 65 years ago we began drumming together
etc. ending with a blessing.
From there we went to Wolcott Center via
Woodtick Road. Here we were joined by a
number of sons of veterans of the Civil War
from Southington and we all attended
service in the church. Rev. Mr. Ells preached
a fine sermon.
From there we marched to the cemetery in
the rain and there placed potted plants on
the graves of former comrades of the Drum
Band. In my remarks I suggested that the
Drum Band during the coming years raise
a special fund if money for an inexpensive
but suitable memorial to be placed on the
grave of Capt. Aaron Harrison who was the
first commander of the drummers and fifers
in what is now Wolcott.
06\02\1941 (Monday)
This morning I did odd little jobs about home.
This afternoon Dick Pierpont came and cut the
grass. I went up to Mrs. Terrills in Woodtick, then
up to Margaret's at the Center but found no one
at home. Then I came down the Brooks Hill
Road and found the select men, had an old
shice{??} torn up and had to wait for over an
hour for them to put in a pipe, then I came
home.
06\03\{1941} (Tuesday)
Sharpened tools this morning. This afternoon Dick
and I repaired the spring.
This evening I went to Prospect to give drumming
lessons but it isn't working out very well
as the boys don't come very regular.
06\04\{1941} (Wednesday)
It has rained all day. This forenoon I sharpened
tools. In the afternoon, lettered my business car{??}.
This evening Ray and Ruth took Mrs. Howe and I
to the church to a strawberry supper.
06\05\1941 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools most of the day. Then I turned out
a gavel{??} for Frank that was the shape of a firemen's
play pipe. It has rained hard nearly all day
and the wind blew hard and took off a branch
of the maple tree by the big gate.
06\06\1941 (Friday)
I sharpened tools and Dick came and we put
the weight{??} letters on the business car. Then we
went to the farm and cleaned out the spring and
finished repairing it.
06\07\1941 (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont and I worked cultivating my potatoes.
06\09\{1941} (Monday)
Yesterday morning Mrs. Howe and I started
for Kent at 8 o'clock. We went with my business
car and took over eleven milk stools and a gavel{??}
made in the shape of a firemen's play pipe
which I had made. We went through the City
then over Bunker Hill to North Woodbury where
we got five gallons of gas and had the timer
adjusted. Then on through Washington to New
Preston, then up the East side of Lake Waramaug
and west across the north end and up
to East Kent then to Kent. We then went with
Frank and Elsie to church, after which we came
home and had a fine dinner, after which we,
Frank, Elsie, Mrs. Howe, Dwight, a girl and myself
drove over to Amenia, N.Y. and saw Mrs.
Howe's neice. Then we went east through Sharon
home{??} where we staid over night and in the
morning I went to Tobin's garage and had
a new tire put on and carburetor cleaned
and then as Frank was starting with six
men to hoe corn, we left for home. Came to
South Kent, then through Merryall, New Preston,
Romford, Bethlehem, Watertown, Waterville and
home at eleven. This afternoon I went to the
farm and Dick Pierpont and I hoed the garden
etc.
06\10\1941 (Tuesday)
This morning I repaired and ground tools
and did some mowing in the home lot.
In the afternoon I went to the farm and cut
up brush wood till Dick Pierpont came.
Then we hoed the potatoes and then mowed
the big grass by the lower spring.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called
and we went to Prospect and gave
drumming lessons and practiced several
tunes with the fifes. We then adjourned
the rehearsals till fall. Then we went up
to the Mattatuck Hall where they had
the Lancraff Corps of New Haven as
guests and had a lunch and a practice.
06\11\1941 (Wednesday)
i worked in the garden and mowed etc. This P.M. I went
to Cheshire and got feed. Then Dick Pierpont and i
painted six lengths of fence.
06\12\{1941} (Thursday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. In the afternoon I went
to the farm and opened out the hay and weeded
the garden. Then Dick and I cultivated the upper
end of the garden. Then we got in a small load
of hay and then put up a wire netting fence
about half of the garden.
Last evening Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Wilson
called.
06\13\{1941} (Friday)
Rained all day. I sharpened tools. Had Dan Hanlon fix
my car.
06\14\{1941} (Saturday)
I sharpened tools in the forenoon and worked
at the farm with Dick in the afternoon.
06\15\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at Wolcott. Rev. Mr. Elss preached.
Had dinner at Margaret's and staid there
part of the afternoon.
06\16\{1941} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. In the afternoon I
went to the farm and set out a lot of cabbage
plants and Dick Pierpont and I got down the
mowing machine and put it together.
This evening Bobbie came from Camp
Edward at Falmouth and is going to stay
here tonight.
06\17\{1941} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools and did other jobs. Repaired mowing
machine and Dick cut the grass in the door yard and
about the house.
06\18\{1941} (Wednesday)
I hoed the weeds from my garden and did other
odd jobs about home. In the afternoon at the farm
Dick and I put the mowing machine together
and did some repairing on it. Then we weeded
the garden.
This morning Mrs. Howe left for a 10 day stay
at her home in Brattleboro, Vt. Bobbie carried her
downtown in his car and she took the bus at
Baubies{??} on Exchange Place for Hartford where
she is to meet her daughter who came from Perth
Amboy and has been staying at Mr. and Mrs.
Atherton's in Morris.
06\19\1941 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools for Mr. Stewart then got my own
dinner and went to East Farms and Dick and I
hoed corn and then mowed around the north
part of the Barn lot.
The weather was very hot and I sweat my clothes
through.
Night before last as I was writing I see,ed to
lose all strength and power of my right arm
and could not raise it nor could I guide a
pen. It now has improved some but it is
hard to write.
06\20\{1941} (Friday)
I sharpened tools. Dick mowed near the Wheel House
and by the garden. We took the grass to the farm
and heaped up what was mowed there.
06\21\1941 (Saturday)
This day is very hot. I worked at blacksmith
work nearly all day. This evening I had supper
at Irving's on Capitol Avenue.
06\22\1941 (Sunday)
Today I attended the Pierpont Family Reunion at Storrs.
There was about 68 present. This meeting is to be entered
on the record as a reunion held in honor of Mary
Ann Pierpont Miller as she was the means of
organizing the association.
I went with Ray and Ruth. We went by way of
Middletown, Marlboro, Hebron, Columbia, Willimantic
to Storrs. I read a paper telling of what Mary
did etc. in getting together the first meeting and
reunion.
06\23\{1941} (Monday)
I sharpened tools all day. Dick Pierpont and
Vincent Codiano came and mowed in the forenoon.
It rained in the afternoon and they did
not work. Fritsa and Cliff called and Fritsa
took the map of their lot at East Farms to see
about building a house there.
Bobbie left this afternoon for Camp Edwards.
06\24\1941 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools nearly all day.
Dick Pierpont and Vin Codiano and I took up a
lot of tomato plants and took them out to the
farm and transplanted them. Then we came
back and Dick and Vin mowed the lower end
of my lot. Late in the afternoon we took out
a small load of hay.
06\25\1941 (Wednesday)
To day Dick Pierpont, Vincent Codiano and I plowed
out the potatoes. Then we got in a lot of hay.
Then we went to West Cheshire and got a bag
of dry mash{??}, then we went to the new Prospect
school and got a drumming plank and blackboard
and brought the plank up to East Farms
and put it up in the barn.
06\26\{1941} (Thursday)
I hoed and poisoned{??} my potatoes. Vincent helped
all day. Then in {and} sharpened tools.
In the forenoon I went to the Colonial Trust Co.
and got my Mill Plain Church Bonds cashed,
$48.00, then paid my telephone bill and the electric
light bill.
06\27\1941 (Friday)
Vincent Codiano helped me to day get a load of
hay out to the farm and clean out the drain
pipe. The weather has been very hot.
The paper to night stated that Wm. M. Gillette
is to be retired on July 1st on a salary of 3500.00.
06\28\{1941} (Saturday)
This day has been very hot.
Vincent and I finished cleaning out the sink
drain pipe and then planted some spinach.
Then we went to the farm and hoed the potatoes
about the big rock and planted some spinach
and hoed the garden and pulled weeds. I came
home and fitted a key to the door upstairs.
Then I went up to Margaret's in Wolcott and
had supper there.
06\29\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden officiated.
This afternoon I went to Wolcott and saw Art
Harrison, then I went and visited Margaret and
George at the Center.
Mrs. Howe came back this noon.
06\30\1941 (Monday)
To day Vincent Codiano and Dick Pierpont with
the machine and I by hand mowed the part of
the barn lot north of the barn and mowed around
the part south of the barn.
07\01\{1941} (Tuesday)
Very hot day. Dick, Vin. and I hand mowed in
the north east of the barn lot. Then we opened out
the hay all ready mowed and dried it and got
it in the barn in two loads, just before it rained.
This noon when I came home to dinner in the
Meriden Road I passed a long train of Army
trucks and several pieces of artillery. I counted
103 trucks, guns and officer vehicles. They
were standing close together and reached from
this side of the Pierpont Road to in front of
Wm. Garrigus's house.
07\02\{1941} (Wednesday)
Dick Pierpont, Vincent Codiano with the ox and
machine mowed the lot south of the barn and we
made it and got it in.
07\03\{1941} (Thursday)
Dick, Vin. and I mowed and got in a load of hay
from the barn lot at East Farms.
07\04\1941 (Friday)
This is a rainy and dreary Independence
Day. I have stayed home all the time and
did odd jobs. Raymond came this afternoon
and put in fuses and got my lighting system
so it worked.
Nothing has happened to make on think
it is the Fourth of July. The governing power
has forbidden the use of fireworks and
the parades that were set were abandoned
on account of the rain.
There was a great increase in the number
of autos on the streets.
No more do we hear the sunrise cannon
echoing up and down the Nangatuck Valley
as we did fifty years {ago??} when the great evening
guns at Fort Hale in New Haven
were distinctly heard in Waterbury and
everybody had fire crackers and fireworks
and made a joyful noise that
the prophecy of 1776 might be fulfilled.
"We will make this an immortal day when
we are in our graves. Our children will honor
it. They will celebrate it. They will celebrate
it with bonfires, with festivities, and with
illuminations.
Nothing of that kind this evening.
07\05\1941 (Saturday)
To day I sharpened tools all day.
About four o'clock a large parade of the East End
Community Club passed by here. The parade
was about 1/4 mile long.
Mr. Pearly Wilson and wife and sister and her
daughter called.
This evening Miss Gladding and I went to
the farm and picked some peas.
The weather to day has been very fair.
07\06\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was "Getting
The Best of Temptation".
This afternoon I went to Margaret's up at Wolcott
Center and we worked to index a lot of old records.
Before dark I came home and soon it began
to rain.
07\07\{1941} (Monday)
I have sharpened tools all day.
It has rained at times all day and is raining
this evening.
07\08\{1941} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools and saw Dr. Barber. He pulled a
wart or big bunch from the side of my face.
I sent a check of thirty five dollars to the American
Historical Company #80 - 90 Eighth Avenue N.Y.
to pay for a book on New England.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Mattatuck Drum Band at their hall in East
Farms.
07\09\{1941} (Wednesday)
This forenoon Dick, Vincent and I worked in
my garden at East Farms all the forenoon getting
the weeds out. In the afternoon we worked at my
home cutting the grass and I was making
tools. We made a grape arbor of the north side
of the garden.
07\10\{1941} (Thursday)
Dick, Vincent and I finished mowing the barn lot
and got the hay in. We then mowed the shed lot
and raked it up.
The paper tonight states that the Russian are
holding the German armies back.
Dan Hanlon has repaired my business truck and
had it inspected to day.
Cliff Heaton put lines on the south and west
sides of their lot to day.
07\11\1941 (Friday)
I and Dick and Vincent got in a load of hay
this morning and then mowed a load in the
orchard on the hill and got that in. We then
cut brush wood a spell.
07\12\1941 (Saturday)
Rained nearly all day. This afternoon Mrs.
Howe and I went to Wolcott to Margaret's place
as it was George Hall's birthday and at 5 P.M.
we had a supper at which there was about 58
present.
07\13\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His
subject was, "Getting The Best of Jealousy".
This afternoon I went up to Margaret's in
Wolcott and staid there till dark.
07\14\{1941} (Monday)
Dick Pierpont, Vincent Codiano with Buster and
the machine and I with the hand scythe mowed
the orchard on the hill and we got in one load.
Some girls came to visit us this afternoon, two Miss
Codians and Miss Chapin{??}. Two of them rode down
on the load.
07\15\1941 (Tuesday)
To day Dick, Vin and the ox mowed the west
end of the lot on the top of the hill with the
machine and we got in a load of the orchard
hay and raked up and cocked the hay that
we mowed.
This evening I attended a meeting of
the Mattatuck Drum Band. They are preparing
to turn out in the American Legion Parade
when the 208th Regt. comes on the 26th.
07\16\{1941} (Wednesday)
To day Dick Pierpont and Vincent Codiano came.
Dick cut the grass on the lawn and Vincent
helped me repair a drum for the Mattatuck
Drum Band. In the afternoon we all split
wood. This evening I attended a meeting of
the East Farms Cemetery Association at
which I was elected President.
07\17\{1941} (Thursday)
Rained all day. I sharpened tools.
This evening Miss Gladding and I went to the
farm and we picked peas. Then we went to
Plainville and ate lunch.
07\18\1941 (Friday)
I worked at the farm all day. Dick and Vin mowed
the center of the big lot on the hill and we got
in two loads of hay.
07\19\{1941} (Saturday)
I worked about home all day. Went to the farm with
Cliff Heaton and loaned him three small stone
drills and one splitting chisel and a hand drill
hammer. Took home the galvanized tank for
soaking bass drum heads, then I went to
Lee Garrigus and got an old bass drum head.
Gave William Service a basket of vegetables and
sold Cliff Heaton another basket.
07\20\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. { } of New Haven preached. This afternoon I
went to Wolcott Center to visit Margaret but failed
to see her. Then I came to Woodtick and visited
cousin Berkley Frisbie.
07\21\{1941} (Monday)
To day Dick, Vincent and I finished mowing
on the hill and we got it in which finished up
our haying. We then went to repairing the cart.
To day Cliff Heaton began breaking up rocks and
making a gate at their lot.
This evening Roy Judd called at seven o'clock
and took me out to the Mattatuck Hall where we
repaired and tuned up four or five bass drums.
There was Byron Flemming, Paul Miller, Roy
Judd, John Garrigus, Ernest Robinson and
Edward Wilson and myself working on the drums.
I think that the Mattatuck Band have eight bass
drums.
07\22\1941 (Tuesday)
Dick Pierpont painted on the cart and Vin and
I painted on the fence on the hill.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Mattatuck Drum Band.
07\23\{1941} (Wednesday)
Dick painted the cart and Vincent and I painted
the fence.
07\24\{1941} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon and some of the
afternoon. Dick Pierpont and Vincent Codiano came.
Vin. put wood in the woodshed and Dick went to
town and did several errands and then mowed the
lawns. After it began to rain, we polished my little
car and later trimmed up the edges of the grass.
07\25\1941 (Friday)
Vincent Codiano and I planted turnips and did
other odd jobs in the forenoon. In the afternoon
I cleaned and repaired the cook stove, etc. and
planted turnips in the home garden.
07\26\{1941} (Saturday)
This forenoon I did odd jobs about home and at
noon I went down town and paid my electric
light bill and my telephone bill.
Then I went to lawyer James Russell's office
at 77 Bank St. where after a while I met Wm
Gillette and party and from the window we
viewed the great parade of the American
Legion. The procession was about three and one
half miles long and took over two and one
half hours in passing. The 208th Regiment
Coast Artillery was in the line, 1600 men with
their long train of guns and search lights of
8 million candle power. I saw Bobbie Miller marching
in his Company G.
07\27\{1941} (Sunday)
I did not attend service to day but at eleven
was at Wm. Gillette's house on Bunker Hill
and we started for Tarrytown to take Theodore
Williams home. We reached there about four
o'clock and soon left and in two and one
half hours was home again.
07\28\{1941} (Monday)
To day Vin and I cut brush wood all day. Dick
finished painting the mowing machine and
then he too cut wood and we finished the
job.
07\29\1941 (Tuesday)
To day Dick, Vincent and I drew stones from and old
wall and put them at the wall north of the orchard.
In the afternoon we rolled away a large rock from
in front of Cliff Heaton's new gate on Norris St.
and drew away a lot of other stones.
This evening I attended a meeting of the Mattatuck
Drum Band. They are preparing to attend
the Drummers and Fifers Convention at Meriden
next month.
They also received a letter from Montpelier, Vt.
regarding the celebration to be held in that city
next month.
07\30\{1941} (Wednesday)
Rained all day. I did odd jobs about home. In the
afternoon Dick Pierpont and I made new tools and did
blacksmith work.
07\31\1941 (Thursday)
To day I had Dick Pierpont strike and I drew
out 24 chisels and tools for Anthony. Then he
mowed the lawns and I continued to sharpen
tools till night.
Mrs. Howe left this forenoon for her home in
Brattleboro, Vt. Mrs. Hitchcock Garrigus called
looking for curious old buttons.
Fritsa called and left the Round Robin letter.
Dick is in Louisiana with his Company building
a railroad. Bobbie is back to Camp Edward's.
Ken Brundage is 2nd Lieutenant attending
infantry school at Ft. Benning, Ga.
Roger Brundage is co-pilot on a B-18 Bomber
in Puerto Rico.
08\01\{1941} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. This afternoon
Dick Pierpont and I painted the heavy wire fence
on the hill.
08\02\{1941} (Saturday)
To day I worked at the farm painting fence and
cutting brush.
08\03\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev. Madden
preached. Had supper at Margaret's on Wolcott Hill.
08\04\1941 (Monday)
This forenoon I was at the farm. Dick helped Cliff Heaton
plow and scrape etc. and Vincent helped me make post
holes. This afternoon I attended Holsey Clark's funeral
at Prospect Center. The Church was full and the funeral
large. He was 86 years old and was killed last
Saturday by an auto on the Union City Road.
08\05\{1941} (Tuesday)
Dick Pierpont got hit by an auto last night that
knocked him down and hurt his side and arm.
Vincent and I repaired a post-hole digger and did
other odd jobs,
This evening I attended a meeting of the Mattatuck
Drum Band.
They voted to go to Milwaukee to attend the
American Legion Convention, Sept. 16th.
08\06\{1941} (Wednesday)
To day I dug post holes and helped Cliff Heaton
draw away stones. This afternoon I sharpened tools.
It rained hard with much thunder and lightening.
08\07\{1941} (Thursday)
To day I and Vincent dug post holes. Dick and Cliff
Heaton graded the road with the ox.
Mrs. Howe came from Brattleboro this afternoon.
08\08\1941 (Friday)
To day George and Margaret Hall called at nine and
we together with Mrs. Elles went to Milford to the
seashore at Walnut Beach where the Krafts have a
cottage for a month. We were back home at my
house at six.
08\09\{1941} (Saturday)
This forenoon I tied up the tomatoes at the farm
and brought home a load of brush wood and
did odd jobs about home.
Dick mowed the lawns this forenoon.
08\10\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the church in Wolcott. Rev.
Mr. Ells preached. then I had dinner at Margaret's
and came home in the late afternoon.
08\11\{1941} (Monday)
At the farm Dick and I dug post holes. Vincent cut brush.
After dinner we drew two loads of hay from Mr. Saintlewis
and put it on the ground on the hill northeast of
the barn.
Cliff and Arthur Heaton drove the stakes for
Fritsa's new house.
08\12\1941 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. In the afternoon I
went to the farm and dug two post holes.
Dick drew stones for Cliff Heaton.
I received a letter from Dorothy stating that
Irving is in the hospital and has been operated
on for an appendicitis.
08\13\{1941} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Dick, Vin and I took
10 concrete posts to the farm and drove up Norris
Street and in Cliff Heaton's new gate and then with
Buster drew them in the cart to the holes that are
dug for them and we set one.
The weather is very cold to day. Paper says
that there will be frost to night.
08\14\{1941} (Thursday)
I have been at the farm all day setting fence
posts that are marked 1939 made of concrete
along Norris Street.
Dick Pierpont and the ox have been drawing
stones for Cliff Heaton.
08\15\{1941} (Friday)
Margin note: Irving died
I worked at the farm repairing the fence next to
Norris Street. Dick helped Cliff Heaton draw
stone with the ox. While we were working this
forenoon Margaret came with a telegram which
stated that Irving died yesterday in Milwaukee
of a blood clot on the brain. He was 55 years
old last June. The funeral will be tomorrow.
He has lived in Milwaukee 15 years.
08\16\{1941} (Saturday)
To day I have worked about home most of the time.
Margaret Hall and Ruth Brundage left Springfield
last night for Milwaukee to attend Irving's
funeral. To day Jean Northrop got a telegram
before noon that they got there all right.
08\17\1941 (Sunday)
This forenoon Mr. Frobridge called and we talked
about Irving. Then I went to Wolcott, was too late
for church. Had dinner with George Hall and
Gene. They did not know when Margaret and
Ruth were coming back from Milwaukee.
IRVING CHARLES MILLER
Was born at 11.30 A.M. Monday June 21, 1886. Weighed
8 lbs 2 oz. At East Farms in the south east room
on the second floor in the house where Mr. Fred
Wilson now (1941) resides. Dr Walter Barber Sr.
was in attendance and Aunt Hannah Pierpont,
wife of Ezra Pierpont was the nurse.
He was baptized at the Second Congregational Church
in May 1888 by Rev. John Davenport. As a child
he was very fat and chubby. When he was about
14 months old, he and Clyde were very sick with
the dysentery. Dr. Barber called nine times.
He had a narrow escape from death by the kick
of a horse, June 20, 1897. I had turned the horse
out into the Doolittle house and I sent Irving to drive
him back. It was Sunday, about 1 P.M. Irving went
around him and hit him with a stick. The horse
kicked and struck him senseless. I went up and Charlie
and I brought him down and we telephoned for
Doctor Benedict. When he came we found that
the horse shoe had cut out a piece of the bone
about 3/8" wide and 1 1/4" and had driven the
skull in onto the brain. The doctor was very nervous
and afraid to touch it but showed me and
I took a nice hook that he had and worked it
very carefully under the crushed skull and then
I had to pull with all my strength to get it in
place. He lay unconscious till after seven o'clock
and then he came to and the next day was
much better.
08\18\1941 (Monday)
This forenoon Dick Pierpont and I mowed the
swamp east of the chicken coop.
This afternoon Mrs. John C. Kebabian of New Haven
called to learn about Capt. William Mix who
manufactured spoons in Rag Hollow in Prospect
in 1830. Later Mr. Raymond Miller called to
learn about Irving's death. He has been to
Brooklin Mane and got home this afternoon.
08\19\{1941} (Tuesday)
Rained all day. I ground mowing machine knives
and sharpened tools. Then after dinner I went
to the Waterbury Bank and had checks cashed.
This evening I wrote a letter to Miss Mary
A. Miller and sent her a check for $4.20 to
pay for typing she did for me.
08\20\{1941} (Wednesday)
Worked at the farm with Vincent cutting brush by the
Norris road. Dick and i mowed the road side.
08\21\{1941} (Thursday)
Cut brush at the farm all day with Vincent.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Wm Gillette and I and
Mrs. Howe had supper at the Oasis.
08\22\1941 (Friday)
I cut brush all day. Had Dick Pierpont and Vincent
Codiano help me and we cut the pasture all
over. Mrs. Ferris Turkington's daughter Lucy
who is married and lives in Springfield, Mass.
called this afternoon.
08\23\{1941} (Saturday)
This morning I took Vincent Codiano, young Garthwate{??},
Dick and Violet Pierpont and drove to Savin Rock
and saw the state fire parade which was two miles
long.
08\24\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Mrs. Coe of Wolcott preached to a small attendance,
about 30 present.
This afternoon I visited Mr. and Mrs. Walter Moss
on Matthews Street in Prospect.
Margaret and Ruth are still in Milwaukee but
expect to start home tomorrow, so Bessie Pierpont
told me.
08\25\{1941} (Monday)
Rained nearly all day. I have sharpened tools.
I received cards today from Margaret and Ruth,
dated Milwaukee last Friday stating that they were
to start at 5 A.M. to day for home with a Norwich school
teacher in her car. Expect to reach here next Thursday.
08\26\1941 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all the forenoon. Vin and I repaired
the mowing machine in the afternoon.
08\27\{1941} (Wednesday)
I worked at the farm. Dick Pierpont, Vin Codiano
and I cut brush in the north west lot and
cleared up a strip 15' wide along the north
side. In the afternoon Dick and Vincent
drew stones on the stone boat with the ox for
Mr. Codiano's cellar and I painted on the
fence. This evening Mr. Freeter and Mr.
Bunnell of Prospect called to talk over matters
pertaining to the history of Prospect.
The weather has been nice all day.
08\28\{1941} (Thursday)
To day I painted fence on the north side of the north
lot. Angelene Codiano painted two hours and
Dick and Vincent with the ox drew stones for
the cellar.
08\29\{1941} (Friday)
I painted fence this A.M. Drew stone for Codiano this P.M.
Margaret and Ruth returned from Milwaukee last
night. Had letter from Dick. He is at Lake Charles, {??}.
08\30\1941 (Saturday)
I did odd jobs about home and painted fence at the
farm till eleven. Then I came home, had dinner and
Mrs. Howe and I went to Goshen. It took us a long
time to get through the Center as there was so
much traffic. We went through Watertown and
East Morris where we found them regrading and
widening the road with two power shovels and
bulldozers, trucks, trenchdiggers etc. At the Litchfield
and Morris line it was dug up and very
rough. We had to go slow. Then on to Goshen, the
road was good. We went to the Fair Grounds
where they were putting up tents, tables and sporting
devices. We wished to arrange to have some of
Mrs. Howe's rugs put on exhibition. The President
told us to see the Secretary, Mrs. Blakeslee, who
lived in the Wright place west of the Center.
We went there and found no one at home.
We then went to Lyman Ovaitt's [Oviatt's] and found
on one at home. Then we went to Avery Vail's
in West Goshen and had a good visit but
they could not help us. So we went back to
the Fair Grounds and were directed to see the
President at the Wadham's place south of the
town. There he told us to see the Secretary
Monday morning and he thought the matter
could be settled. This evening two of Mrs.
Howe's daughters came from Brattleboro Vt. to spend
a day or two.
08\31\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mrs. Coe preached.
After service I went to Wolcott to Margaret's
and had dinner. It rained hard during
the afternoon. Mrs. Howe and the two girls
attended a Camp Meeting at Plainville.
This evening Cliff and Fritsa called.
They intend to go to New York tomorrow.
09\01\{1941} (Monday)
Lab Day. I attended the Goshen Fair. I went
out the Meriden Road and got Vincent Codiano
and his two sisters and in my little truck
we went through Waterville, Renolds Bridge
then up the West Branch past the reservoirs
to East Morris. Then turned north through
Litchfield Center. The Fair was large, with
a great attendance and large exhibits of all
kinds. Many cattle and horses and a
good brass band. We left at 4.20 to come
home and after traveling 27.3 miles reached
East Farms.
09\02\1941 (Tuesday)
I worked about home this afternoon. Went to Cheshire
and got a load of feed this afternoon and did
some work at he farm.
The town of Prospect and the stet are grading
and surface hardening the east end of the Plank
Road up the mountain to Matthews Street.
They have made it about twice as wide as it
was before. To day they were setting posts at the
turn in front of the Peach place.
09\03\{1941} (Wednesday)
I mowed and did odd jobs and sharpened tools.
This afternoon Dick Pierpont and Vincent Codiano
came. Dick mowed the lawn and Vin got wood into
the wood house and raked up hay.
09\04\{1941} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the bank and made a
deposit. Paid my telephone and electric light bill
and saw Attorney Phalen about a lease. Then
I went to Miss Wallace in Prospect.
This afternoon Dick and Vin mowed {?????} at
the farm.
09\05\{1941} (Friday)
This morning George Hall and Margaret
called at 9.30 with their new Buick car and took
me to Wildemore Beach in Milford where they
have a cottage by the shore. We went through
Prospect, Bethany Center, then through Woodbridge
Center. Then we went just west of Orange Center
and on through Milford Center and on three miles
to the beach. The whole distance from my house
was thirty two miles and we made it in a few
minutes over an hour. Going down on the high
hills it was very foggy. In the valleys it was
not so bad. About noon it cleared up and the
afternoon it was bright. Iva got us a fine
dinner of long clams. In the afternoon nearly
all the rest went in bathing.
Will took his car and we drove out over the
roads north west of the Center looking for the
cellar of the house where Grandfather David
Somers was born. Then we drove down to Devon.
The traffic on the Post Road was so numerous
that we had trouble turning off. At Devon
south of the post road the government is building
in a great number of single house and many
of them are sold before they are finished.
09\06\{1941} (Saturday)
I worked at the farm with Vincent at rowen{??} to day.
Bobbie came from Camp Edwards and staid here
to night.
09\07\{1941} (Sunday)
Ruth and Jack Brundage came and took many
pictures this forenoon. Ray and Ruth called this
afternoon and took Mrs. Howe and I up to Margaret's
in Wolcott to a meeting of those interested and
she and Ruth told of Irving's death and matters
connected with it.
09\08\{1941} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this morning. In the afternoon
I went to the farm and gathered vegetables
and took them to Ruth Miller.
09\09\{1941} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and at the farm
got in a large load of hay with no one to help
me.
09\10\{1941} (Wednesday)
This morning I went to Attorney Finton
Phalen's office where we met Anthony Cairlo
and we signed a lease giving him the
right to use a portion of my land for
monumental works for ten years from
the 24 day of Sept 1941 for 25.00 per month for
the first two years and 30.00 per month for
the last eight years.
I came home with Anthony and then
took my little car and went to Prospect to
see Miss Wallace but failed to find her so I
came home and did odd jobs about the place
and picked a bushel of grape.
09\11\{1941} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon.
Dan Hanlon came and got my truck and
repaired it. They took it to the inspecting
lan but I needed the lights focused and
one brake repaired.
This afternoon I mowed some by the wheel
house.
09\12\{1941} (Friday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools. In the afternoon
I mowed and did other jobs. Mrs. Howe was away
at noon.
09\13\{1941} (Saturday)
Mrs. Howe and I attended the Bethlehem Fair.
Mrs. Howe took the first premium on her
floor rugs. The weather was perfect for a
fair and the attendance was large.
09\14\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church at 10.45 A.M. Rev. Mr. Matthew Madden,
his subject was "The Funeral March of a Marionette."
I guess it was a good thing that I was hard
of hearing and didn't hear it.
This afternoon I went to Pearly Wilson's on
the Summit Road.
09\15\1941 (Monday)
I worked at blacksmith work this forenoon and
mowed the lower end of the lot by the wheelhouse
in the afternoon.
09\16\{1941} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Vincent Codiano and
his sister Arline and I took a big load of rowen
from here to the farm this afternoon.
The boys have broken the feed pipe to the
watering trough at East Farms so that the
water does not run into the trough anymore.
I put the trough there in 1921 and have kept it
in repair ever since but think I will not maintain
it any longer. It is used by many truck
drivers and motorists as a place to get a drink
but it has been an expense to me for which I
have received no recompense.
A trough has ben maintained at or near this
place for many years, long before I can remember.
1867.
09\17\1941 (Wednesday)
When I was young I heard much of the 17th of Sept.
as the anniversary of the battle of Antietam of
the one hundred men who left Waterbury in 1862
and went immediately to Washington, then
marched twenty miles into the battle. One half
were either wounded or killed.
To day I have sharpened tools and took a
load of hay to the farm and Vincent and I
mowed away three loads that filled my
barn well full.
Ray and Ruth came to the farm and picked
a basket of tomatoes.
Dan Hanlon put a new battery in my
truck.
09\18\{1941} (Thursday)
To day I went to the Springfield Fair with George
Hall, Margaret, Marian{Marion!} Kraft and Mrs. Howe.
09\19\{1941} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went to the bank and
to the farm and picked grapes and dug a few potatoes
this afternoon. Vin helped me after school.
09\20\{1941} (Saturday)
I worked in the blacksmith shop all day. There was
a severe frost this morning.
09\21\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Matthew Madden preached. His subject was
"The Glory of Life Lies On Its Horizons".
After dinner I went to cousin Berkeley Frisbie
at Woodtick but no one was at home.
Then I drove up to Elmer Coe's but he had gone
to Hartford. I then went to Margaret's at the
Center where I staid a spell, then came to
Woodtick and found Mr. Frisbie doing his
chores, then came home.
The weather has been nice to day but rather
cool to night.
09\22\{1941} (Monday)
I dressed tools and etc. this forenoon. In the afternoon
I drove down through prospect and back to
the farm and Vin and I picked grapes and dug
potatoes and pulled corn.
If Mary had lived she would have been 81 years
old to day.
09\23\{1941} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and dug potatoes in
the afternoon. I attended a meeting of the
Mattatuck Drum Band this evening.
09\24\1941 (Wednesday)
I worked in the blacksmith shop sharpening lettering
tools for Mr. Stewart. I and Vincent dug 4 bushels
of potatoes this afternoon.
Mr. Warren D. Moore of Sonotone{?} New Haven Co.
Eldorado Building, 1143, Chapel St. called this
forenoon to sell me a devise to help my hearing,
price $55.00.
09\25\{1941} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools and dug 2 1/2 bushels of potatoes. To
day Vincent helped after school.
09\26\{1941} (Friday)
Mrs. Howe and I went to the Durham Fair.
09\27\{1941} (Saturday)
This day I am 83 years old. Mrs. Howe and I and
Miss Mable Gladding went to the Durham Fair
to day. Mable rode in the rumble seat. It was
21 1/2 miles, we went through Reeds Gap.
Mrs. Howe had two floor rugs on exhibition.
They took a special premium.
There were a great number of people present
with a large show of cattle, a few sheep, some
good looking pigs, many horses and poultry,
rabbits, dogs, fancy needle work, fruit and
vegetables, a large display of farm machinery
including tractors, snowplows, cultivators,
plows, mowing machines, seeders and much
other. They had drawing contests of oxen and
many pairs of horses.
Yesterday the Durham School Drum Corps
was in attendance and played very good.
They called on me and I drummed several
selections on the band stand.
To dat the North Branford Drum Corps
were there with new drums, six snare and
four bass, twelve fifes and a fine drum
major. They played well and did the best
drilling I ever saw a drum corps do. They
ranged in age from 14 to 20 years.
Last year they took the champion prize at
the Worlds Fair. Burns Moor of New Haven
is their instructor.
09\28\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden officiated. His subject was "The
Zest of Life Lies In Playing Games".
This afternoon Fritsa, Cliff and Ronny came from
New York. George Hall and Margaret came from
Wolcott. Frank and Elsie came from Kent. Jack
Brundage and Ruth came from Storrs. Wm.
Gillette and Iva came from Bunker Hill and Ray
and Ruth from Capitol Avenue. They all came to
celebrate my 83rd birthday. They brought many
presents of fruit and cake etc. Jack Brundage
showed moving pictures that were very interesting.
They all left for home about eight o'clock.
To day we turned our clocks back one hour to
standard time.
09\29\{1941} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Dug potatoes and pulled
corn and picked tomatoes at the farm. Vin helped after
school.
09\30\{1941} (Tuesday)
I did to day much the same as yesterday.
the ground is very dry. My springs at the
farm are very low. I have to water the ox at
the trough as the water in the spring is so
low that he can't reach it.
This evening I went to Plainville to the
home of Mr. Dresser to celebrate his 70th birthday.
I rode up with Mansfield Gillette.
We turned off the Meriden Road and went
up the Todd Rd and through Wolcott and
Bristol to Mr. Dresser's house on Pine St. The
distance was 11.2 miles. We came home
through Southington and up the mountain
and the distance to the Todd Rd was
just the same.
10\01\1941 (Wednesday)
Worked about home in the forenoon and did
odd jobs and dug potatoes at the farm in the
afternoon.
10\02\1941 (Thursday)
I dug potatoes nearly all day at the farm.
This afternoon two men called from the Republican
Office and took a picture of me drumming and another
of me at work in the blacksmith shop. They
asked many questions. Mr. Ganis was one of the men.
10\03\{1941} (Friday)
Rained and was wet all day. I worked in the blacksmith
shop.
10\04\{1941} (Saturday)
To day Mrs. Howe and I went to the Harwinton Fair.
Mrs. Howe took the first and second premium on
her floor rugs.
10\05\{1941} (Sunday)
To day I went to Kent with Charles Wolcott and Mrs.
Wolcott. We attended the Congregational Church, it
being the 200th anniversary of the organization of the church.
They had an old fashioned choir and the minister preached
a sermon that was preached two hundred years ago.
There were four former pastors in attendance. They
had a service in the forenoon, then a dinner in
the community house and then another service in
the afternoon which lasted till four o'clock. Then
the Wolcotts and I left for Waterbury which we
reached at twenty five minutes to six. We went
over in just one hour.
10\06\1941 (Monday)
I finished digging the potatoes to day and put them
all up in the cellar, 18 bushels.
The weather has been nice.
10\07\{1941} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all day. The weather has been
wet and at time rained.
10\08\{1941} (Wednesday)
I sharpened Mr. Stewarts lettering tools and a lot
of 3\8" drills for Mr. Cairlo. Went to Cheshire and
got a bag of scratch feed. The springs at the farm
have nearly dried up and I have to water the ox.
10\09\1941 (Thursday)
Cool day. I sharpened tools all the forenoon and repaired
some strap bolts for Mr. DeWit Cole of Wolcott.
Then I went to the farm and watered to ox as the
springs have gone dry. I gathered and brought home
a bushel of red beets.
10\10\{1941} (Friday)
I sharpened and made seven four points for cutting granite
this forenoon and welded some strap bolts for Fred
Clark. Mr. Clark formerly lived in Litchfield but
now lives on Ridgefield Avenue.
10\11\{1941} (Saturday)
Mrs. Howe and I went to Riverton Fair. We went
up through Wolcott, then through Bristol then up
past the old Copper Mine and on through Unionville
where we bought five gallons of gas for 97 cts. Then we
went up the Farmington River Road to Collinsville
then up the east side of the river to Satans Kingdom
where we crossed and on through New Hartford
and Pleasant Valley and up by the west side of
the river to Riverton where we turned right and
crossed the river on a new concrete bridge and
then just beyond turned right into the fair
ground. It was the largest fair that we have
been to except Springfield. Mrs. Howe entered
two floor rugs that she had made for exhibition
and got 1st and 2nd and an extra sweepstake premium.
She did well as there were several nice rugs there.
09\12\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the mill Plain Church. Rev. Madden
preached. His subject was "The Shadow On The Conscience".
The congregation about half filled the church.
This afternoon Mrs. Howe and I were invited to
dinner at Mr. William Garrigus' house.
Mrs. Garrigus showed us a great collection of
curious things that filled three rooms in the attic.
09\13\{1941} (Monday)
I made and sharpened tools till three o'clock then
went to the farm and pulled beets and did other
jobs. The weather has been cool.
09\14\{1941} (Tuesday)
I sharpened a lot of tools for lettering for Mr. Stewart and
did a lot of steel 1/8" drills for Mr. Cairlo and some four
points. This morning I went to the bank and got checks
cashed and then paid telephone bill, $8.25 and light
bill, $8.89.
09\16\1941 (Thursday)
Yesterday morning Mrs. Howe and I left for
Brattleboro Vt. at 8.30 in my little pickup truck to
get her Matag{??} washing machine. We reached there
at her son's house in West Brattleboro at one P.M.
and had dinner. Then we came back to the center
and visited the rooms where he daughters live.
Then we drove out five miles to Mrs. Howe's old
home on the New Fane Road but before going
out we visited her brother Ned who showed us
many tables, boxes and curious things that
he had made out of cedar and other woods.
They all showed fine workmanship. We had
supper at her sons and staid there overnight.
In the evening her brother and his wife came
and we had a good visit. Her older son and his
wife and little boy were there also and the three
men loaded the heavy washing machine into
my truck.
In the morning I got ready to leave but found
that my gas tank was near empty. Mrs. Howe
told me that I could get gas up the road two miles
at a store so I started and found that the road
was down grade to within about forty rods of
the store and there at the foot of a hill my car
stopped and I walked up to the store and Mr.
Newton loaned me a can and put into it a
gallon of gasoline for which he charged thirty one
cents. I carried it down and put it in the car and
then drove up to the store and had the tank filled
up full, seven gallons, for which I paid him 1.46. Then
I drove to the house and at 9.00 we left and
came to Brattleboro where we stopped for half an
hour while Mrs. Howe did some errands. Then we
traveled down through Guilford and soon crossed the
line into Massachusetts and then on through Bernardston
and Greenfield and South Deerfield and Whatley
and Hatfield. Then into North Hampton and on through
East Hampton and South Hampton and Westfield and
Southwick and crossed the line into Connecticut then
on through Granby and Simsbury and Unionville and
Bristol and Wolcott and home at one thirty, having traveled
one hundred and eleven and one half miles.
This evening I went in full uniform with Major
Mansfield Gillette and the Mattatuck Drum Band to
West Hartford to the Dedication of the Noah{?} Webster
Hartford after which we went to the home of the artist
on Sedgewick Avenue and saw many pieces of marble
statuary, some in process of carving. We were nicely
entertained and had a pleasant time.
10\17\{1941} (Friday)
This morning I put on my uniform and at
7.15 Ralph Pierpont came and we went to City
Hall where there were assembled about 66{??} drafted
men and they were escorted by the Mattatuck
Drum Band to the depot where they took the 7.55
train to Hartford to be examined and inducted into
the service.
Then I came home and after breakfast I sharpened
tools and went to the farm.
10\18\{1941} (Saturday)
Yesterday I received a letter from Dick Miller. He is
in Hattesburg, Miss. He has been promoted to Staff Sergeant,
the first to receive a commission in the regiment of 1200 men.
To day I have sharpened tools and been out to
the farm and fed and watered to ox. It has been
cloudy all day and is raining a little now.
10\19\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was "The Escape
From Frustration".
This afternoon Mrs. Howe and I went and visited
Mr. and Mrs. Berkley L. Frisbie in Woodtick.
10\20\{1941} (Monday)
I welded and lengthened bolts all the forenoon.
This afternoon I took a rug for Mrs. Howe to #16 Cherry
ave. to Mr. Leather. At the farm I gathered cabbages.
10\21\19410 (Tuesday)
I worked at blacksmith work and at the farm I gathered
apples and turnips and other vegetables. Vincent helped.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called and we attended
a meeting of the Mattatuck Drum Band.
We repaired Cliff Heaton's gate on Norris St.
10\22\{1941} (Wednesday)
I sharpened a lot of tools and worked on grave plank
for the cemetery.
Vincent helped.
10\23\{1941} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the bank and drew out 95.00,
then went to the City Hall and paid the last half
of my tax, 92.15 then I came home and after dinner
drove over to Cheshire Depot and got a bag of
oats for the chickens. Then I worked on planks for
the Calvary Cemetery. Vincent Codiano came
and threaded the bolts.
It has been damp and rained some.
10\24\1941 (Friday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools and worked on cemetery
plank in the afternoon. Vin helped after
school. Mrs. Howe went to Bridgeport to day but
was back before supper time.
10\25\1941 (Saturday)
To day I gathered in the garden vegetables and finished
the cemetery plank.
10\26\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church. Rev.
Mr. Madden preached. His subject was "A Politician Goes To
Church". Cliff, Fritsa, Bob and Ronny called this
morning. Ray took my truck and went to his
cottage at Lake Zoar and brought back a load of
wood{?}. This afternoon Mrs. William Garrigus and I
went to Laverne Clark's to see some buttons as
she is getting a collection.
10\27\{1941} (Monday)
I did tool making and other jobs to day beside
going to the farm and pulling 1/2 bushel of turnips.
This evening it is raining slightly. Water is
very low in all the reservoirs about here and
many dug wells and springs are dry and some
of the drilled wells have failed.
10\28\{1941} (Tuesday)
I made and sharpened tools and did other jobs
about home. Then went to the farm and pulled
the rest of the turnips and got the garden ready
for plowing. This evening I attended a meeting of
the Mattatuck Drum Band.
10\29\1941 (Wednesday)
I sharpened four points all the forenoon. Went to the farm
in the afternoon and took away the fence that was around
the garden. then went to the store and did several
errands. This evening Ray, Ruth, Mrs. Howe and I
went to a turkey supper at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Ray came after us and brought us home.
10\30\{1941} (Thursday)
I made a lot of four points this forenoon. Then cleaned
out the chicken house and took the manure to the farm
and put it on the garden. Then I pulled up all the
tomato sticks and put them by the barn.
Mrs. Howe went to Hartford and met her daughter
who had come from Brattleboro and brought her
here.
10\31\{1941} (Friday)
This morning Vincent Codiano came and we loaded up
a load of hen manure and took it to the farm and he
spread it on the garden and I plowed it in.
Mrs. Howe's daughter has been here to day and
this afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Atherton of Morristown
called.
11\01\{1941} (Saturday)
Mrs. Howe's daughter left for Perth Amboy this morning by bus.
It has rained all day. I have been making the blacksmith shop tight.
11\02\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was
"A Grand Invitation". The seats were about half
filled.
This afternoon Mrs. Howe and I went up to
Woodtick and visited the Frisbies.
The weather has been nice all day.
11\03\{1941} (Monday)
I did odd jobs about home and plowed and repaired
fence at the farm etc.
11\04\{1941} (Tuesday)
I finished plowing at the farm and got paint
ready and painted some fence by the gate on
the Cheshire Road. This evening Mansfield
Gillette called and we attended the meeting of
the Mattatuck Drum Band.
11\05\{1941} (Wednesday)
I painted the heavy wire fence by the side
of Norris Street this forenoon. In the afternoon
I went with Mr. and Mrs. William Gillette and
Mrs. Howe over to Colchester where Mrs. Howe
bought a nice coat.
11\06\{1941} (Thursday)
Rained all day. I repaired Mr. Gladdings kitchen light
and our sitting room table light. Went to the stores
and out to the farm and worked on a pair of and{??}
irons that I am making.
Vincent Shelley was elected mayor of the
City of Waterbury last Tuesday by a majority
of 20,00 votes. He is a Democrat.
Bobbie came from Camp Edward and staid here
last night.
11\07\{1941} (Friday)
I sharpened some tools and made some small
steel cutting chisels this forenoon. In the afternoon
I went to the farm and painted the heavy wire
fence along Norris Street.
11\08\{1941} (Saturday)
I worked the greater part of the day finishing
a set of fire place and{??}irons for Ruth Brundage
and did other odd jobs.
11\09\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Church in Wolcott. Rev. Mr.
Ells preached, then Margaret and I went to Mrs.
Warners, the town clerk, and looked up some old
records. Then I came home and went down to the
Center to see the Armistice Parade. Then I came home
and Bobbie left for Camp Edwards in the rain.
Ned Howe and wife came from Vermont. Billy and his girl
were here.
09\10\{1941} (Monday)
This morning Ned Howe and I went to the
Waterbury Rolling mills and looked the works
over. It was a real novelty for him to see the
metal rolled and handled. he left this afternoon
for Brattleboro.
I have been taken with a bad cough and
wanted to go to bed early but Mr. and Mrs.
Pearly Wilson came and I had to stay up and
felt very bad.
09\11\{1941} (Tuesday)
I coughed all night and was about used up this
morning. I have staid in the house most of
the day and have looked up old Frisbie
family records.
09\12\{1941} (Wednesday)
I did not cough so much last night but I
have been in the house all day, only when
I went out to feed the hens and do the
chores.
09\13\{1941} (Thursday)
Margin note: 94"
I stayed in the house all the forenoon. In the
afternoon I got my pickup out and then went to
the store and got some fish and groceries.
Then I went to the farm and took care of the ox
and measured his girth which is 94 inches. Then
I raked up two bundles of leaves and put them in
the stable and came home.
Tony is building an addition on the north
side of his shop for an air compressor.
Dick Miller came from Camp Shelby last night
and staid here. The Anaconda people went to Washington
and got him out of the service so he could
work again in his New York office for the,
He says that he is sorry to leave the service
as he has got accustomed to it. He holds the highest
rank of any of the new recruits and has over one
hundred men under him and gets along very well with
them.
11\14\{1941} (Friday)
This morning I killed a rooster and cleaned up
leaves about the yard. This afternoon went to West
Cheshire and got a bag of oats for the chickens.
When I came back I stopped at Pierpont's Dairy
and paid my last month's milk bill, 4.90, then
I came to the farm and took care of the ox and
raked up a lot of leaves and put them in the stable
for bedding. Then came home and did the chores,
had supper and read the War and Strike news, etc.
11\15\1941 (Saturday)
To day I gathered leaves in the yard. Margaret and
Charlie Kraft came from Wolcott and they threw
out some old stuff from the pantry and Margaret
looked over a lot of stuff in the barn.
Margaret, Charlie and I went out to the farm
and did the chores there. Then we rode out the
Plank Road and up the Summit Road and then
over and on the new graded Scott Road and
then home.
11\16\1941 (Sunday)
I did a lot of coughing and did not feel very
well, so I staid in the house all day and watched
the hundreds of autos, buses and trucks speed by.
While over head, the sound of air planes is incessant,
though not so many to day as usual.
11\17\{1941} (Monday)
This morning I went to town and paid my
electric light bill. Then went out Grand Street
and paid the telephone bill, came home and
gathered leaves and did other odd jobs.
11\18\{1941} (Tuesday)
I cleaned the front yard of leaves and in the
afternoon went to the farm and painted two lengths
of fence and cleaned up a lot of leaves etc.
11\19\1941 (Wednesday)
I went to the farm and painted wire fence
both fore and after noon.
There is a great national question up now.
President Roosevelt has ordered the Labor
Union leaders not to stop the mining of
coal and John Lewis, their president, has
ordered a strike of 53,000 miners and they
are out and stopping the production of millions
of dollars worth of orders for defence.
11\20\{1941} (Thursday)
This is Thanksgiving Day. The Somers Family
held their reunion at the Hotel Elton. There were
fifty one present and all had a good time. Had a
fine turkey and many other nice things to eat
at a cost of 1.65 per plate.
Cliff Heaton and Fritsa with Ronnie came up from
New York last night and staid at her parents in
Cheshire last night and this noon they called
and took Mrs. Howe and I down to Elton and
when they brought us back they took us over to
Cheshire for a ride. The ride was all right if I
had my eyes shut all the time. But I could see
the danger was great as the road was full of autos
and the driving was too fast to be safe.
11\21\1941 (Friday)
A pleasant cool day. This morning I went to the
farm and painted the wire fence on the north line
next to Mr. Codiano's and in the afternoon painted
at the same place.
A steam shovel is working in the lot west
of my upper lot. Miss Codiano said that they
are going to erect a number of houses there.
11\22\{1941} (Saturday)
To day I painted the north boundary fence to my
land at East Farms. It is a long slow job as the
fence is of wire, the posts of concrete and the wire
is well rusted. The fence was built in 1922 and I
think this is the third time it has been painted.
On Thursday, Nov 22, 1883, Mary and I were
married. I was twenty four years old then. I now am
approaching eighty four years. Mary was 22 then
and she died Sept 15, 1938, two or three days before
the great hurricane. I can readily recall the
date of our marriage for engraved in her ring
was C.S.M. to M.A.P. Nov 22, 1883. It was in rhyme
and easy to remember.
11\23\1941 (Sunday)
I did not go to church to day. Mrs. Howe and I took
dinner at Raymond's and spent the afternoon there.
Mr. and Mrs. Loux were there.
11\24\{1941} (Monday)
I painted fence on the hill to day. There is a lot of
building going on near my land. The Norris
House at the north east corner is being made into
several teniments{?} by raising the roof and
turning the sun parlors into living rooms
and the Ed Pierpont cottage is being made
into a two story house. Workmen have been
making a new roof high above the old one. I
thought the wind would take it off as it
was blowing hard and very cold.
11\25\{1941} (Tuesday)
This has been a cold day. Ice froze 1 1/4" thick last
night. I sharpened tools this morning. Went
to the farm and painted fence in the afternoon.
Got very cold by night.
Mr. Manthay's large barns at Summit
burned last night. They got out 38 cows but
a pair of horses burned. The loss is estimated
at $27,000. The Cheshire Fire Dept. was there and
save the house. Merrit Walters dammed the
brook where it crosses the Plank Road so they
got water.
11\26\{1941} (Wednesday)
Cool day. This morning I went to Prospect and
saw Mrs. Earl Cooley about giving drumming
lessons to her son and several other Prospect
boys. Then I went to West Cheshire and bought
a bag of scratch feed.
After dinner I intended to go to the farm but the
battery in my car was dead so I did odd jobs
about home all the afternoon.
11\27\1941 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and painted
fence on the hill in the afternoon.
There was a steam shovel working in the lot
west of my upper lot and another a little farther
north. Both were digging cellars. The shovels are
operated by gasoline and are very small of the
caterpillar type. They dig a common cellar in
from five to seven hours where the digging is
hard and rather stony.
11\28\{1941} (Friday)
I went to the farm this forenoon and took my dinner
and staid till night. Finished painting the fence
on the North line. Mrs. Howe went to Springfield
and did not get home till 7.30.
11\29\1941 (Saturday)
I worked about home most of the day., in the drum room
putting up things and making more room for the drum
classes that are to start soon.
When I went to the farm I drove up East Mountain
and out the Wm Morris Road and down the Summit
Road and saw Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. Mrs. Wilson said
that the mail man had just told that the Prospect
Congregational Church had burned this morning.
11\30\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. madden preached. his subject was "The Nation's
Number Two Man".
This afternoon Mrs. William Garrigus called and
with Bessie and Jessie Pierpont we went to Prospect
and saw the ruined walls of the Church that
burned yesterday. It seems that the oil heating
apparatus exploded, setting the fire. They had
plenty of fire fighters from Cheshire, Nangatuck
and Waterbury but there was no water to be had.
From there we went to Laverne Clark's and
got some old buttons for Mrs. Garrigus's collection.
Some we found where an old shop had stood
on the Allen Road opposite the Old Ed Allen
place. We had a nice visit with Mrs. Clark.
Mrs. Howe's son Billy and his girl called this
evening.
12\01\1941 (Monday)
This forenoon I sharpened double stone chisels and worked
in the drum room getting it ready for the boys
to practice in that are to take lessons.
Mrs. Cooley telephoned that the Prospect
boys would begin ext week Wednesday
evening at seven o'clock.
12\02\{1941} (Tuesday)
I worked in the drum room all day repairing
and putting things in order.
It has rained all the day, only light some of
the time.
12\03\{1941} (Wednesday)
I have been in the drum room most of the
day. This afternoon I went to the farm and did
the chores there. Then I drove to Prospect and saw
the burned wall of the church and came home
by the Scott Road.
12\04\{1941} (Thursday)
Foggy this morning. I went to Wolcott. Then I
did odd jobs about home. This afternoon Dick
Pierpont and I got in a lot of leaves at the farm
and worked some on the fence.
12\05\{1941} (Friday)
This morning I went to the City office on Benedict
Street to find out about our water meters and about the
pay. Then went to City Hall and paid my water
rent for six months, $15.19. This afternoon I have done
odd jobs and practiced drumming to get in shape
to give instructions. It has been wet and rained
all day.
Yesterday afternoon there came together two
automobiles at our corner. Both cars were badly
wrecked and it sent one across the street and
through the new fence that the Mattatuck Co.
have built. They say that no one was very
badly injured.
12\06\1941 (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont and I repaired the fence along the Frost
Road this forenoon. Mr. Atherton and his wife and her
sister called to visit Mrs. Howe this afternoon.
12\07\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden officiated. His subject was "The
Most Delightful Beggar I Have Ever Met".
This afternoon I went up to Woodtick and had
a nice visit with Mr. and Mrs. B.L. Frisbie.
Mrs. Howe said that it was announced this
evening in the radio that President Roosevelt
had declared war on Japan.
The good old folks used to say that any
war or battle started on Sunday always ended
in defeat to those who started it.
12\08\1941 (Monday)
This noon at 12.30 President Roosevelt declared
war against Japan in Congress at Washington.
We could hear him very distinct over the radio as
we were at dinner. The applause was great and
prolonged when he finished.
This day has been cold and the ground
frozen. I was in the Drum Room all the forenoon.
Bobbie called after dinner. He staid in Hartford
last night and was on his way to Camp Edwards.
There was a lieutenant with him.
This afternoon I was at the farm and Dick and
I put up a gate post fastened to an ash tree for
the gate in the northwest corner of the barn
lot.
12\09\{1941} (Tuesday)
I went up to Wolcott this forenoon and did odd jobs
about home. This afternoon Dick Pierpont and I went
up on the hill and saw where they are making the
new roads and laying out building lots west of
my upper lot.
12\10\1941 (Wednesday)
i went up and saw Rose Wakelee this morning and
we looked over records. This afternoon Dick
and I finished the gate.
The day has been rather cool.
This evening Mr. Cooley brought up Cecil Obar and
his son from Prospect and they took drum lessons.
12\11\{1941} (Thursday)
This noon at 12.30 we heard over the radio President
Roosevelt declare war on Germany and Italy.
This has been a cold day below freezing all day
long.
12\12\{1941} (Friday)
To day has been cold, 14 above this noon. I have done
odd jobs and filed saws all day.
I sold my ox to L.H. Weinstein of Sharon to day
for $130 dollars.
12\13\{1941} (Saturday)
It has snowed all day and this evening it turned to
rain. About two inches fell.
Dick Pierpont came and we cut the branches that grew in
the north side of the clothes yard. This afternoon we
did not work.
12\14\1941 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden officiated. His subject was "The
Man With A Prejudice".
The snow that fell yesterday was about all
gone this morning but the day has been quite
cool.
This evening at seven, Laurence Pierpont
called and took me to East Farms where his
wife and Hazel Jacoby{??} got into the car and we
went to the home of Mr. Karczak Ziolkowski,
216 Sedgewick Road, West Hartford, Conn.
where we had a nice visit. He is an artist of
a high order. He showed me a great variety of tools
that he used in his work of carving marble
and I could tell how the steel was made and
could make nearly all of the tools. In talking we
got tired of standing up and he took me into
another shop and set me in a high chair and
he took an iron 1 1/4" pipe 18" long that was set in a block
and while we were talking he plastered the table with
a sort of putty and with his fingers and tools
he shaped my mouth, nose, eyes, ears and the
rest of the front part of my head so I felt as
though I was made of clay putty. But his work
was wonderful and by measurement the sizes
were correct but what the idea of it was I don't
understand.
12\15\1941 (Monday)
Cold day. I did odd jobs about home
all day.
12\16\{1941} (Tuesday)
This forenoon I cut up brush wood and
went to West Cheshire and got two bags
of feed for the chickens.
This afternoon Dick Pierpont came
and we cut down the maple tree in
the clothes yard.
Dick says that many of the high
school boys are enlisting in the Navy.
They are now taking them at the age
of seventeen.
12\17\{1941} (Wednesday)
I chopped up brush wood and did other
odd jobs about the place. Dick Pierpont
came in the afternoon and we run the
cross cut saw and cut up the maple logs.
At evening Ray and Ruth called and
made some arrangements about
Christmas. Then Wm Gillette and
Iva called and we talked about every-
thing.
12\18\1941 (Thursday)
I cut up brush wood and did errands at
the store etc.
At seven P.M. Laurence Pierpont
called and he and I went to the
house of Korczak Ziolkowski
at 216 Sedgewick Road, West Hartford,
the sculptor. He had me sit in a comfortable
high chair while he fashioned my old head
of a sort of clay putty with his hands and
a wooden tool. I sat there for almost two hours.
I have received several Christmas cars
by mail to day.
12\19\1941 (Friday)
I did cut up brush wood and sharpened
marble tools and did other odd jobs about home.
Had a ton of soft coal come this forenoon.
12\20\{1941} (Saturday)
{Margin note: 2nd snow, 1" fell}
This day has been cold. This morning the
ground and street were very slippery. Many
cars skidded, some turning round three
times and two jumped on the sidewalk
and went through the Cemetery fence.
One big truck turned cross wise the street
and that blocked everything.
After nine o'clock they put ashes on the
hill and that fixed it all right.
12\21\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden officiated. His subject was "A Simple
Story In A Befuddled World."
This day has been cold. Two above zero
this morning. George Hall and Margaret
called this noon.
12\22\1941 (Monday)
Shortest day of the year, rather cold 2 above
zero this morning. I have cut wood and
did small odd jobs about home.
This evening Laurence Pierpont called
and took me to the home and studio of
Mr. Korczak Ziolkowski, West Hartford
where I sat for about three hours while he
looked at me at times and made a
reproduction of my head and shoulders.
He had me put my uniform on and he
reproduced buttons, bade{??}, collar, tire
and all prefect to measurements and
appearance. It was certainly wonderful
how he could do it.
We came home through Farmington,
Plainville, Southington (which was all
lit up with Christmas lights), Plantsville,
Milldale and up the Southington Mountain,
reaching my home in a little less
than one half hour.
12\23\{1941} (Tuesday)
I have cut wood and did some work at the
farm in the barn.
This evening Louise brought me a box
of candy and some cake.
Mrs. Howe left at nine for her home in
Vermont to be gone till Sunday.
12\24\{1941}(Wednesday)
Rained hard this forenoon. I went to the
bank. Have been about home the rest of the
day.
12\25\{1941} (Thursday)
Christmas Day. The weather was cool and
clear. At noon Ray and Ruth called for
me and we went up to the north end of
town and took in a man and his wife
and we then drove over through Waterville
and across through Oakville, up through
Watertown and west on the Bethlehem
Road and stopped at the house of Mr.
Johnson. Soon two other parties from Woodbury
came and Miss Johnson got fine
dinners for us all. We left there and
drove back to Waterbury stopping at Ray's
house. Then we went up through Wolcott
and Bristol and out to Hartford where
we saw the new bridge being built over
the Connecticut River at Dutch Point. They
are still working to get the bodies of the
men that were killed when the span went
down about three weeks ago.
We then visited the Brainard field and
saw a large plane take off. There is a camp
of soldiers near by. They have several
machine guns and we saw four anti air
craft guns with boxes of ammunition
piled handy by.
Then we returned through Hartford
to Margaret's at 45 Riggs Avenue in
West Hartford where we saw many of
our relations and had a good visit.
In the evening Jack Brundage and Ruth
and Miss Turnbull and I went over to
Korczak Ziolkowski's house at 216 Sedgewick
Road and looked at a lot of sculpture
work and the folks looked at the head
bust that he is making of me. They say
that it looks very natural. We then came
back to Margaret's and had some refreshments,
after which Miss Turnbull brought
me home.
12\26\1941 (Friday)
Rather cool to day. I got up and fried
bacon, eggs and potato for breakfast
after which I sharpened and made tools
for the West Hartford sculpturer {sculptor}. I went
up to Ruth Miller's and got my Christmas
presents.
12\27\{1941} (Saturday)
To day I have sharpened tools for Korczak
Ziolkowski and did odd jobs about home.
12\28\{1941} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Matthew G. Madden, minister. His
subject was "What I Believe About The Judgement."
This afternoon I went over to Mr. Clarks
at 73 Greenleaf Avenue.
Mrs. Howe came home from Brattleboro
while I was gone. This has been a nice day
for this time if year.
12\29\{1941} (Monday)
I did odd jobs about home to day. This
evening Laurence Pierpont called
and we went to West Hartford. Stopped
first at Margaret's and got a letter, then
to Korczak Ziolkowski's the sculptor
where I sat in a high chair for an hour.
Then I stood up for an hour with my
uniform on, then I sat again for an hour
while he made the shape of my head and
shoulders.
He had two pretty girl students working
on another image and in the studio were
a lot of women listening to a lecture by a
doctor and when they were through, the
doctor and some of the ladies and girls
came in and looked at the work there and
then looked at me and said that it was
nice. In fact, I think the bust did look better
than I do. Then when we were ready to go
home, we all had to go into a small eight
cornered bar room and have something
to drink. I took sweet cider but nearly all
the others took other drink. Then they began
to talk and told everything they knew
till eleven thirty when we broke up and
Laurence and I started from home at quarter
to twelve and at quarter past he drove into
my yard.
12\30\1941 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools much of the time to day
and did some errands.
This evening Theodore Kirtz came and
brought his big book that tells about the
ancient drums of the country and we
looked up my records and talked till near
midnight, all about drums.
12\31\1941 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Dick came
after dinner and we made shanks on
many many marble tools and then made
two king bolts for Mr. DeWitt Cole of
Wolcott. While we were drawing out one
of them, a boy friend came after Dick
with his nice car. Dick, to show off,
suddenly began striking faster and
struck my hammer and drove it against
my face under my right eye. It nearly
knocked me out, cut quite a gash,
but we finished the bolt and I had
Mrs. Howe clean it and do it up with
a plaster.
This evening Olga Hanson left a
box that Dick is to call for and take
to New York.
01\01\1942 (Thursday)
This morning I sharpened tools for Mr.
Ziolkowski of West Hartford and
did other odd jobs. Dick Pierpont came
in the afternoon and we cleaned the
whole yard of leave. Dick Miller and
his girl called this afternoon. He said
that they may get married this
month. He expects to be called back
into the government service at any
time.
01\02\1941 (Friday)
I worked at tools all the forenoon.
Dick Pierpont came at noon and we
went to the farm and loaded the building
that I used for a pig pen on the truck and
brought it home.
News came to day that the Japanese have
captured Manilla.
01\03\{1942} (Saturday)
I have made tools much of the time to day
for Mr. Ziolkowski. Dick Pierpont came
and we went to the farm and got the tools
there and put up things. Then we came
home and Dick cleared away the fence
and we set the lines and Dick dug the
trenches and put in the loose stones
for the foundation for the building.
01\04\{1942} (Sunday)
{Margin note: 3rd snow, 6" fell}
This morning when I got up the ground was
covered with snow and it still was snowing.
It stopped at about 10.30 and the ground was
covered about 6" deep.
The street plows soon had the roads
cleared and I shoveled out my paths.
I have staid home all day.
01\05\{1942} (Monday)
I sharpened tools and worked about home
to day.
The weather has been mild and fair.
01\06\1942 (Tuesday)
I have made and sharpened tools all day.
The weather has been cold, 8 below zero
this morning, 14ø above at noon and
below this evening.
01\07\{1942} (Wednesday)
Cold day, 10ø above this morning, 14 at noon
and at 9 P.M., 6 above.
I put new cross chains in my truck
chains and sharpened tools to day.
01\08\1942 (Thursday)
14ø below this morning, 12ø above at
noon. There was a big fire on Bank St.
opposite the Apothecary's Hall this forenoon.
Four stores were burned out. A general
alarm was sounded and the whole Fire
Department was called out. It was after
noon before it was under control.
I did odd jobs about home, put chains
on my truck and went to West Cheshire
and got a load of feed for the chickens.
Found the road very slippery and the
ice so hard that the new chains on
the wheels barely took hold.
This evening Laurence Pierpont
took me to Mr. Ziolkowski's in West Hartford.
It was 8ø below zero when we started and
19ø when we returned at 11.45. I am no longer
made of putty for the head etc. has been
moulded and cast and is now made
of plaster and they call it a cast of Major Miller.
01\09\1942 (Friday)
Cold day, 14ø below zero this morning, 14ø
above at noon and tonight 10ø above.
I have sharpened tools to day.
Had a ton of soft coal come to day, price
8.00.
01\10\{1942} (Saturday)
{Margin note: 4th snow, 2" fell in the night}
Cold day. I went to the Colonial Trust Co.
and drew the interest on my church bonds,
48.00. Then I came home and swept out the
paths etc. This afternoon I went to the
town clerk's (Mrs. Warner) and copied records.
It was a cold ride home. The wind blew the
snow in drifts in the road while the thermometer
stood at zero.
01\11\{1942} (Sunday)
20ø below zero this morning and cold all
day. I staid in the house and kept the
fires burning and kept warm.
There were several auto accidents at our
corner on account of the hard ice.
01\12\{1942} (Monday)
Not so cold, 6ø below this morning. I have
made and sharpened tools all day.
01\13\{1942} (Tuesday)
I made tools for the West Hartford sculptor.
01\14\1942 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I made tools. In the after-
noon, I went to Wolcott to the town clerk's
office and looked up records.
01\15\{1942} (Thursday)
I did odd jobs about home most of the day.
Went to see John Frisbie but found no one
at home.
Word came to day that Dick Miller had
returned to the {army??}, at Camp Dix. He had only
twenty four hours notice. It has broken up
their plans as they expected to be married
the 24th of this month.
I got a basket of nice apples of Mort
Pierpont.
Andrew Kitchenka left to day for Pearl
Harbor where he is to do electrical work.
He gets his ticket to San Francisco and
from there his pay begins. His home is
at the junction of the Pierpont Road on
the south side of the Plank Road.
01\16\{1942} (Friday)
Cold day. I turned a lot of file handles
out of cotton wood for Frank P. Miller
who furnished the wood.
This evening Mansfield Gillette called
at 7.15 and we, his wife and Laurence
Pierpont and his wife went to West Hartford
to Mr. Ziolkowski's where they took my picture
beside the cast head he made of me.
01\17\1942 (Saturday)
I did odd jobs about home to day and
some errands etc.
01\18\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
His subject as "Working A Seven Day Week."
Margaret and George Hall called after
dinner. Then I took my car and called on
Mr. Arthur Harrison of Wolcott. His health
seems to be failing somewhat.
It has thawed some, but the roads are
still very icy.
01\19\{1942} (Monday)
Rained all day. This afternoon I went to
Wolcott and copied records.
01\20\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the bank and deposited
some checks. Then I paid my telephone and
electric light bill. After dinner I went to the
Mill Plain School and voted for the Republican
Representative for Congress. Then I drove over
to Cheshire and got a bag of oats and a bag of
scratch feed and I did other jobs.
01\21\1942 (Wednesday)
To day I have been to Wolcott all day looking
up records concerning the place that George
Hall, my son, owns.
01\22\{1942} (Thursday)
This fore noon I worked in the blacksmith
shop. I went up to Cousin Berkley L. Frisbie
and met Mrs. Carl Jackson and gave her
a lot of information concerning the Jackson
family. There I learned that they took
Arthur Harrison to Middletown last Tuesday.
This evening Bobbie Miller called. He was on
his way from Camp Edwards to Fort Monroe
Va. where he is to receive instructions.
His regiment left Camp Edwards to day
for the Pacific coast, about 1700 men with
their anti air craft batteries. He expects
to stay Tuckahoe to night.
01\23\{1942} (Friday)
I have been at home all day making tools
and drilling stones etc.
Mr. Kirtz called this evening.
01\24\{1942} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont came and helped me make
a lot of tools, for Mr. Ziolkowski and we did
other odd jobs,
01\25\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject
was "The Problem of Living In Two Violently
Antagonistic Worlds."
After dinner I went up and saw Mr.
John Frisbie.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Korczak
Ziolkowski called a short time.
01\26\1942 (Monday)
{Margin note: 5th snow, 1 1/2" fell}
I sharpened tools and did other odd jobs.
It snowed this forenoon, then again towards night.
01\27\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the post office and got
two Federal Auto stamps for which I paid $4.40.
Then I came home and Mr. Blanchard came and
cleaned out the pipes that connected Miss Gladding's
stove with the hot water boiler. This noon Mr.
and Mrs. Ferris Turkenton of East Morris called
and we had a good visit during the afternoon.
I looked over a lot of books that was Mary's that
are stored in the barn. They are all black and
damaged, the effects of fire and water when the
house burned.
01\28\{1942} (Wednesday)
{Margin note: 6 snow, 2" fell}
I have been about home all day reading, writing
etc. It has stormed the greater part of the time.
01\29\{1942} (Thursday)
This afternoon I went to the Town Clerk's office
at Wolcott looking up records.
01\30\1942 (Friday)
Cold this morning, three below zero.
I sharpened tools and did other jobs.
This afternoon I went to Wolcott to Mrs.
John Warner's and copied records.
01\31\{1942} (Saturday)
Dick Pierpont came this morning and we
cut down the big maple tree that stood
in the sidewalk on the Frost Road,
just this side of the brook. It leaned
out over the street and hitch on two
pairs of tackles and used wedges to
trow it into the lot. We sawed it down
and when we were half through, it began
a fine cold rain which increased so as
to drench us through before we got it
down.
02\01\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Mr. Madden officiated. His subject
was, 'The Problem of Living in the Towering
Shadows of Frustration."
The attendance was small.
This afternoon I went up to Woodtick
and visited Cousin Berkeley Frisbie.
02\02\{1942} (Monday)
This morning I went to trimming out
the big maple tree that Dick and I cut
down Saturday. This afternoon Dick came
and a boy named Gaston Lavoie that lives
at 175 Circular Avenue came and wanted
to work and he and Dick handled the
cross-cut saw in good shape and another
boy came and he and I kept the brush picked
up and cut a lot of wood into stove length.
The day has been cold. Towards night it
grew cold. At five I was good and cold so
I paid the boys and sent them home.
02\03\1942 (Tuesday)
Cold day. I staid in the house most of the time,
8 above zero at noon.
02\04\{1942} (Wednesday)
Not so cold to day. I filed saws and did other
odd jobs this forenoon. This afternoon Gaston
Lavoie came and we drew up brush and chopped
up a lot.
02\05\{1942} (Thursday)
{Margin note: 7th snow, about 5" fell}
Snowed all day, but now it is raining a
fine mist. I have been in the house the
most of the time.
I saw by the paper to night that Mr. Hiram
J. Able died this morning. I think that he
was aged 85 years old.
02\06\{1942} (Friday)
This morning I was busy shoveling out
the paths and doing chores etc.
This afternoon Gaston Lavoie came and we
cut up a lot of brush wood.
At dark Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski
called to see about bringing the plaster
head of myself to Waterbury. They say
that there is to be a writeup in the
papers about it. I cannot understand
what it is all about.
02\07\1942 (Saturday)
Rained hard nearly all day. I staid in
the house. At two o'clock, I went to Hiram
Able's funeral. He was born in 1855.
02\08\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Matthew G. Madden,
minister. His subject was "This Makes
An Upright Lad." The congregation was
rather small. The traveling was very
bad.
After service, Mr. Madden had the
people remain seated and he stepped
down in front of the seats and offered
his resignation as a pastor of the
church, much to the surprise of all.
02\09\{1942} (Monday)
Joseph Dioro and Gaston Lavoie ran the
cross cut saw and cut up some of the
big maple tree and I cut the small
wood.
02\10\1942 (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Federal Tax
Office, but could not complete my list.
This afternoon the boys came and we
worked on the tree.
There has been pieces in all three of the
Waterbury papers and pictures of me
concerning the unveiling of my bust next
Sunday afternoon in the Mattatuck Historical
Rooms. Last evening Laurence Pierpont
called to see about sending out
invitations.
02\11\{1942} (Wednesday)
Nice day. Gaston and Joe sawed the log in
two three times.
This forenoon I went to the Federal Office
and they completed my income tax list.
I have to pay $54.76.
02\12\{1942} (Thursday)
This forenoon I went to the bank to get
money to pay the income tax but found
it closed as to day is Lincoln's Birthday.
I came home and sharpened a few tools.
In the afternoon the boys came and
finished sawing the big log.
02\13\{1942} (Friday)
This morning I went to the Bank and drew
54.76. Then I went to the Post Office and paid
my income tax of 54.76. Then I paid my
telephone bill 4.24, then my electric light
bill 4.24, then came home, had dinner
and worked in the blacksmith shop
all the afternoon. It has been a very
cold day.
02\14\1942 (Saturday)
This forenoon Joe came and we split
wood. In the afternoon I sharpened tools.
Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski and we
made arrangements for tomorrow's
celebration when they would unveil my bust
at the Mattatuck Museum.
Mr. Charles Wolcott died this morning.
He was a native of Kent.
02\15\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Matthew Madden
officiated. His subject was "The Four
Essentials of Vital Faith."
This afternoon at the Mattatuck
Historical Museum was as unveiled
a sculptured bust of myself that
was the work of Korczak Ziolkowski,
the noted sculptor of West Hartford
who is nationally renowned.
There were over three hundred there,
people from nearly every quarter
of the state. The Mattatuck Band in
full uniform and full ranks were
present and made a fine appearance.
Tea was served and altogether it was
the greatest event of my life.
02\16\1942 (Monday)
To day I did odd jobs and split wood.
02\17\{1942} (Tuesday)
I sharpened and made tools to day.
Rained in the forenoon, foggy all day.
02\18\{1942} (Wednesday)
Went to Cheshire this morning and got
a bag of feed.
This afternoon Dick Pierpont came and we
did a lot of blacksmith work. Made tools
for Mr. Korczak Ziolkowski and a wrench.
02\19\{1942} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Dick came
in the afternoon and we split wood etc.
Roger Brundage is in Puerto Rico, a lieutenant
in the Flying Corps and is pilot on the B19,
the largest air plane in the world. It has a
wing spread of 212 feet and carries 8 tons of
bombs.
02\20\{1942} (Friday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools and Dick and
I cut wood.
02\21\{1942} (Saturday)
Cold day. I made marble tools for Mr. Ziolkowski
and did other odd jobs. Had a hard time
starting my gasoline engine in the wheel house.
02\22\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church, Rev. Mr. Madden officiated.
His subject was "The Four Essentials of
A Vital Faith." The congregation was
small and the day very cold.
This afternoon I visited Mr. Clark
at his home on Greenleaf Avenue.
02\23\{1942} (Monday)
{Margin note: 8th snow, ground covered}
Fair day. This is observed as Washington's
Birthday. A holiday. Dick Pierpont
came and we got the woodhouse ready
and put in some wood.
After five o'clock it snowed hard for
a little time and covered the ground.
02\24\{1942} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools and did odd jobs.
This afternoon, Dick Pierpont came and
did some work. Mrs. Kilbourn came
with about a dozen girl scouts to see
me about the history of Mill Plain
and see the things in the Drum Room.
Charles DeBissop telephoned this
evening that Tracy Cass's house burned
to the ground this afternoon. It was a
large two story building and stood
in North Wallingford.
02\25\1942 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the state office
on Watertown Avenue and had my registration
renewed on my pick up.
I got no license to run the roadster so
I will have the tires to use on my other
car.
02\26\{1942} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. This afternoon
Dick Pierpont and I made a large
sharpened tool.
Laurence Pierpont gave me a lot of
pictures that came from Hartford of
me taken at the unveiling, Feb. 15.
02\27\{1942} (Friday)
{Margin note: 9th snow, 1 inch fell}
I have worked in the blacksmith shop
all day.
02\28\1942 (Saturday)
{Margin note: 10th snow, 1 1/2 inches fell}
This is the last day of the short month of
February. I have worked in the blacksmith
shop much of the time. Repaired the fence by
the Frost Road. Mrs. Hapenny came to give
instructions for the dark out tomorrow night
and Ray called to get some pictures to
have enlarged. The dark out signals
blew this afternoon.
Air planes are constantly passing over,
all going to the south west.
03\01\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Matthew Madden
preached. His subject was "The Four
Essentials of A Vital Faith."
The Church was about half filled.
This afternoon I went to Marion Kraft's
on Spindle Hill and showed the pictures
that were taken at the unveiling,
Feb. 15.
This night we are now at 7.30 P.M
waiting for the signals of the first
blackout signals that have ever been sounded
here for a war.
03\02\{1942} (Monday)
I worked in the wheel house this forenoon.
Dick Pierpont came and we fixed the
fence by the Frost Road.
We had the first blackout last
night at 8.45. I did not hear the sirens
as they did not work well. Many did
not hear them but I knew when
the lights went out. So I sat in the
dark for about 15 minutes.
03\03\{1942} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all day. It rained
all day.
03\04\1942 (Wednesday)
I was in the house nearly all day as I
had a bad cold. The weather has been
cold, raw and damp. Mrs. Pearly Wilson
called this afternoon.
03\05\{1942} (Thursday)
I have been in the house the greater part
of the day on account of a bad cold.
To day has been a little warmer and
pleasant.
03\06\{1942} (Friday)
Cold and chilly. I worked in the wheel house
some and some of the time did not do
much. This afternoon went to West
Cheshire and got two bags of chicken
feed. This morning I chopped the head
off from Old Jake, the old rooster and
Mrs. Howe dressed it.
The snow an ice is about all gone.
This morning it rained hard and
later turned to snow.
03\07\{1942} (Saturday)
I have been about home the most of the
day.
03\08\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Church.
Madden preached. His subject was the same
as last Sunday. Went to Spindle Hill this P.M.
03\09\1942 (Monday)
I have a bad cold and cough and as it
was raining hard this morning, I
staid in the house all day.
Mr. Robert A. Square, Box 894 Meriden
called to see about his ancestors in
who were Isaac Hotchkiss, family of
Wolcott.
03\10\1942 (Tuesday)
I have been about home all day. The
weather has ben chilly. Have spent
much of the time in the wheel house.
Mary named it the wheel house because
the waterwheel was in it.
03\11\{1942} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools all day. Dick came
and got wood into the woodhouse.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Pearly
Wilson called to see about building
a double garage.
03\12\{1942} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the Mattatuck
Historical Rooms and showed Mr. Hodden
the pictures taken at the unveiling of
my bust Feb. 15 and left the address
that I made on that occasion. I then went
about town and paid bills for light and
telephone etc. Went to Cheshire and saw
Mrs. Doolittle.
03\13\1942 (Friday)
I sharpened tools all day.
03\14\{1942} (Saturday)
{Margin note: 11th snow, about 1" fell}
I worked about home in the wheel house making
a frame tressel for a pair of balance of scales that
my Grandfather brought from California
in 1860 that they used to weigh gold dust on
when they were mining.
Ray and Ruth called this evening. While
they were here it began snowing and about
one inch fell.
Something remarkable has happened
this day. At the age of eighty three and
one half years, I have been offered ninety
five cents per hours to work for the
American Brass Co forging tools etc.
03\15\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Mr. Madden preached. His subject
was "The Meaning of the Divinity of Jesus
Christ."
This afternoon I visited Berkeley Frisbie
in Woodtick.
03\16\{1942} (Monday)
Was about home all day. Dick and I made
a sharpening tool in the blacksmith shop
this afternoon.
03\17\1942 (Tuesday)
I worked about home all day, sharpened a
lot of tools.
03\18\{1942} (Wednesday)
I sharpened a lot of tools. Dick came
and trimmed the grape vines and
we dug out a ditch.
03\19\{1942} (Thursday)
This forenoon I worked in the wheel house.
In the afternoon Dick Pierpont and I cut
brush along the east side of Norris St.
03\20\{1942} (Friday)
I was in the wheel house this forenoon.
Mrs. How left for Brattleboro this
forenoon. In the afternoon, Dick and
I were at the farm. Dick cut brush on
the east side of Norris Street and we
hauled down a load back of the truck.
I have not been feeling very well to
day and after I got home, I called up
Louise and he called the doctor.
He came about 9 o'clock and left some
red pellets for me to take.
03\21\{1942} (Saturday)
I staid in the house all day, only
I went to the store in the afternoon.
03\22\{1942} (Sunday)
I staid in the house all day alone except
Ray and Ruth called a short time this
afternoon, and in the evening Louise
Service came and greased my chest.
Will came and went home with her.
We have had all kinds of weather today,
sunshine, snow, cold, rain.
03\23\1942 (Monday)
I have been in the house all day on account
of my cough. Mrs. Howe got home at
midnight and her youngest daughter
came with her. I have written several
letters to Dorothy, to Ruth Brundage,
to Korczak Ziolkowski and to Elsie.
This afternoon Frank and Elsie and four
of their children came from Kent and
we had a good visit.
It snowed this afternoon.
At 8.30 this evening we had a black
out. The sirens sounded but i did not
hear them. We put out all the lights
but we could see a number west that
shown all through it. At 8.45 the lights
went on again.
03\24\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning I sharpened tools etc.
In the afternoon Dick and I worked on a
frame for Mrs. Howe. Margaret came and
said that Marion had twins this morning
and one died. The other they are going
to call David. The one that died is to
be buried in the Woodtick Cemetery tomorrow.
This evening Lee Garrigus came and
we drummed a spell.
03\25\1942 (Wednesday)
This forenoon I sharpened a lot of
tools and forged some new ones.
This afternoon I went to the Cheshire
Grain Co and bought a bag of oats.
I came to the Maple Hill Dairy and
paid my milk bill to Laurence
Pierpont, then came home.
The autos are getting fewer, owing
to the war time ban on tires.
03\26\{1942} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Dick and
I cleared the stove and then worked on
Mrs. Howe's rug farm and we put it up
in the front yard.
03\27\{1942} (Friday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and Dick
Pierpont came in the afternoon and we
finished the rack for Mrs. Howe to hang
her rugs on.
Evelyn Howe went to Brattleboro to
day.
03\28\1942 (Saturday)
This morning at breakfast time Miss
Gladding came down in a hurry and
great excitement and said that hot water
was flooding them out. I went up and
found water showering over everything
from a busted pipe back of the stove. I went
to the cellar and shut it off. It had put
the fire out and filled the stove with water
and everything was wet.
I called Mr. Blanchard the plumber and
then went to the center and did some
business and came home. Soon Mr. Blanchard
came and put in a new piece of pipe and
cleaned out the stove.
This evening Mr. Ziolkowski and wife and
Mrs. Comstalk of West Hartford called and
we had a good visit.
03\29\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Mr. Madden preached.
His subject was "The Cross With Its
Clashing Contradictions."
Mrs. Howe left this morning at 10 for
Boston to get her daughter.
This afternoon I went to Pearly Wilson's
on the Summit Road to get Mrs. Wilson
to do some lettering.
03\30\1942 (Monday)
{Margin note: 12th snow, about 3" fell}
I sharpened tools to day. The ground was
covered with snow this morning about
three inches deep.
Mrs. Howe came in about eleven last
night and had her daughter Therma with
her.
03\31\{1942} (Tuesday)
Mrs. Howe and her daughter left this
morning for Brattleboro. Mrs. Howe
wished to stay till Saturday or Sunday.
I went to Mrs. Wilson's in Prospect and
got some pictures and then took them up
to Mrs. Terrell's in Wolcott to get the names
of the Wolcott Firemen to put on them, in
the afternoon sharpened tools.
04\01\{1942} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon etc. In
the afternoon Joseph Diorio and I went to
the farm and Dick helped. We cut brush
by the side of the Norris Road.
04\02\{1942} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools in the forenoon and
Dick Pierpont and I drew brush wood down
from the hill at the farm with my
truck in the afternoon.
04\03\1942 (Friday)
I worked about home and in the wheel-
house this forenoon. In the afternoon
Mrs. Ziolkowski and wife of West Hartford
came and brought seven pretty girls and
a young man to see my museum and
to practice drumming.
04\04\{1942} (Saturday)
I got up at seven and got my own
breakfast and did up the dishes.
Then I worked in the wheelhouse the
greater part of the day. Mr. and Mrs.
Heaton and Ronny called. They came
from New York last night and staid
at her mother's in Cheshire last night
as her mother is sick.
Dick and his girl called this afternoon.
They say that they are planning to
be married next week Saturday.
04\05\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Matthew Madden preached.
His subject was "Easter, A Philosophy of
Living." Its Easter Sunday and the
Church was well filled.
04\06\{1942} (Monday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. At the farm in
the afternoon. Wrote a letter to Dennie J. Lahoy.
04\07\1942 (Tuesday)
I was about home and went to Wolcott this
forenoon. In the afternoon I was at the
farm with Dick Pierpont.
04\08\{1942} (Wednesday)
I went to the City Hall and paid my water
bill this morning. Then came home and
sharpened tools. In the afternoon I worked in
the wheel house and then went at tools.
Yesterday was warm. To day has been
cooler.
04\09\{1942} (Thursday)
This morning I went to Mrs. Wilson's in
Prospect with some pictures but she was
not at home. I came home and sharpened
tools. Dick Pierpont came this afternoon
and we drew out the shanks on a lot of
tools for Mr. Ziolkowski.
It has snowed nearly all the afternoon
but there is no snow on the ground.
I went again to Mrs. Wilson's after work
and left a lot of pictures for her to make
letters on.
04\10\{1942} (Friday)
{Margin note: 13th snow, 3" fell}
{2nd margin note: 14th snow, 1 1/2" fell}
This morning the ground was covered
with snow. I have worked in the blacksmith
shop off and on all day.
It has snowed and rained all day.
Had letter that Willard Clyde Miller
and Helen Matilda Trowhill are to be married
April 25th at Kingsway, Lambton United Church.
04\11\1942 (Saturday)
The weather this forenoon was damp and some
rain. This afternoon George Hall, Margaret
and Ruth Brundage called and I got ready
and we went to Trinity Episcopal Church
at 4 o'clock and saw Dick Miller and
Phyllis Mia Wilkins married by the Rev. Mr.
Anderson. It was an imposing ceremony
and the church was well filled with relatives
and friends.
04\12\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Fairbanks of the Bunker
Hill Church preached. Mrs. Ziolkowski
and Mrs.. Constalk and Mr. {? ?} of West
Hartford called this afternoon and they
took some iron wood to make drum
sticks of. After they had gone, I went
to Wolcott to visit Mr. John R. S. Todd
but found that he had passed away
just before I reached there.
He was aged 96 years.
04\13\{1942} (Monday)
I sharpened tools in the forenoon and Dick
and I spaded up the garden and planted lettuce
and radishes.
04\14\1942 (Tuesday)
Worked about home and sharpened
tools in the forenoon. Will and Iva
Gillette called for me after dinner
and we went out to John Todd's
funeral. Rev. Mr. Todd of Worcester
attended the service assisted by
Mr. Madden. There were many in
attendance at the house.
I came home, then went to Cheshire
and got grain and a bag of fertilizer
and stopped at Mr. Wilson's in Prospect
and got my pictures. Then came to
Fred Berger's and had a visit. Then
home and got some thing to eat as
Mrs. Howe went to Hartford to day.
Mansfield Gillette and Mr. Judd
called for me and we went to East
Farms and attended a meeting of
the Mattatuck Drum Band where
we did a lot of drumming.
Mr. Ziolkowski from West Hartford
was there with about a dozen young
ladies who are learning to drum
and fife.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferris Turkenton of
Morris called at noon and left some
oranges that they brought from
Florida last Saturday.
04\15\{1942} (Wednesday)
The weather has been nice and warm
to day. I have made two 36 point tools
and two 25 point tools and made over
two more. This afternoon I went to
Mr. Robert Tyler's ladder shop on the
Meriden Road to have a lot of oak lumber
cut up but they were away from the
shop. So I came home and got ready to
plant peas but it rained and I had
to put it off but before dark, I got some
in. Then trimmed rose bushes etc.
04\16\{1942} (Thursday)
This morning I went to Robert Tyler's ladder
shop on the Meriden Road and had a lot of
oak lumber sawed and plained and rabbited.
Took Ruth two dozen eggs.
This afternoon I made tools of a special type
for a New Haven man, and sharpened a lot
for Mr. Ziolkowski and Tony.
04\17\{1942} (Friday)
This forenoon I sharpened tools and planted
peas in the home garden. In the after-
noon I went to the farm and planted
four rows of peas, two was Dwarf
Telephone and two of Champion of England.
This evening Mrs. Howe and I went
to Pearly Wilson's on the Summit
Road and we started laying out for
the foundations of a garage.
04\18\{1942} (Saturday)
I sharpened some special tools and worked
in the garden this forenoon. Then planted
peas, radishes and lettuce at the farm
in the afternoon.
04\19\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Matthew G. Madden officiated.
His subject was "The Problem of Rationing
On Personality."
The Church was well filled.
This afternoon I visited Charles DeBissop
on East Mountain. He has sold his place
on the main road where the ponds are
to a Mr. Qingley and is going to move
over on the Peach Orchard Road.
04\20\{1942} (Monday)
This morning I went to the Conn Registration
Office on Watertown Ave and
had my driver's license renewed by
paying 3.00. Then I went to see about
my tax on Levenworth Street and
at the assessor's office and I got the
list of the Estate of David G. Porter,
17 1/2 West side of Meriden Road,
$9900, Waterbury Trust Co, Truster.
- Estate of Timothy Porter now
by N. T. Porter Est. Thomas and S. N.
Porter. This evening went to Pearly
Wilson's and set profiles for garage.
04\21\1942 (Tuesday)
Repaired a wheelbarrow for the Calvary
Cemetery. This afternoon picked and
packed five bushels of potatoes.
Yesterday Mr. Howland gave me
a lot of record.
One hundred and sixty men left Waterbury
by train for Hartford to enter the United
States Service this morning. This is the
largest number that ever left at one time
for the War.
04\22\{1942} (Wednesday)
This morning I took five bushels of potatoes
to Mr. Schoffer's store. Then went to the farm
and put posts around the garden there.
This afternoon I worked as fast as I could
sharpening tools.
This evening I went to Pearly Wilson's
on the Summit Road in Prospect and
finished setting up profiles for their stone
garage.
This morning 100 men left Waterbury
for the war, making 260 that have left
in two days and I only knew one that
has gone.
I remember seeing 100 men march
down Bank Street for the Civil war in
1862, Co C 14 Rgt. A few days later about
half of them were killed or wounded at the
Battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.
04\23\1942 (Thursday)
This morning Mrs. Howe and I took
my pick up and drove to Pearly
Wilson's on the Summit Road in Prospect
and there met Mrs. Wilson who whit
their nice De Soto car drove us to
Storrs. We stopped at the Notch-in-the-
Rocks and got two dollars worth of gas.
Then we went through Cheshire to South
Meriden then through Meriden and
East Meriden and Middletown across
the high bridge to Portland and on
through East Hampton and Marlboro
and on through Hebron, then on
through Columbia to Willimantic
then turned north on Jackson Street
and up to Storrs College then to Mansfield
Four Corners to Ruth's.
After a time we went to curiosity
shop about two miles east and saw
many things. Then we came back
to Ruth's and had a fine dinner after
which we went down to the College and
drove about the grounds and went
into the library and {saw} a fine painting of
Prof Henry Garrigus. Then we went back
to the four corners and left Ruth and
started for Hartford through Coventry,
Bolton Notch, Manchester Green, Manchester,
East Hartford and across the stone
bridge into Hartford then out Farmington
Ave. to West Hartford where we
turned south and saw the statue of
Noah Webster and Mr. Ziolkowski and a
party of girls working on it.
I got out and went over. They were
just getting through work. As I had a
lot of tools for him, he told me to
follow him home. This we did and there
had a nice visit. Then we came through
Farmington, Southington, a part of Cheshire
to Prospect where I took my truck
and Mrs. Howe and I came home, getting
here at dark.
04\24\{1942} (Friday)
I sharpened tools all day. This evening
Franklin Browne went to West Hartford
and gave drumming and fife lessons
to a class of boys and girls at Mr.
Ziolkowski's house.
04\25\{1942} (Saturday)
I worked about home planting etc. In the
afternoon went to the farm and put in onion
seeds. This evening Will and Louise Service
called.
To day Willard Miller is getting married to
Helen Matilda Trowhill in Toronto. Fritsa,
Dick and wife and Ronald have gone and
Bobbie expected to fly from Camp Davis in
Va where he was to graduate as Second
Lieutenant yesterday.
04\26\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
His subject was "God and the Giant
Agony of the World."
It was a nice day but the church
was not half filled.
This afternoon I went up to Wolcott
and saw Arthur Harrison. Then went
over to Spindle Hill and saw Margaret
and the Krafts and the little new
baby. This makes six great grand-
children that I have.
04\27\{1942} (Monday)
Sharpened picks etc. this forenoon. Went to
Cheshire and got a bag of oats and spaded
the garden etc. Loaded the truck with
things to take to Kent tomorrow.
04\29\{1942} (Wednesday)
Yesterday morning Mrs. Howe and I
started for Kenter at 8.30. We went through
Waterville and across Reynold's bridge
and up the West Branch Road past the
Waterbury Reservoirs to East Morris
where we stopped and visited with her
step daughter Mrs. Raymond Atherton.
Then on through Morris and Romford
and Waramaug and East Kent to
Kent where we had dinner and then
I went with Frank down to the dump
lot where Frank with the Farm All tractor
hitched onto two plows and plowed
a large piece before four o'clock. I rode on
the machine, the furrows were eleven hundred
feet long. After that he hitched onto
a double disc harrow and went over a
piece that he had plowed before at the
rate of ten miles per hour and it certainly
did mellow it up. We had it done
at six and then went home and had
supper with the whole family except Dwight
who stays over to the school.
In the morning I went out to the barn
and found seven men and boys milking,
Frank and Albert and five student
boys who had volunteered. The milking
was started before five and finished
soon after six.
After breakfast about ten boys came.
Frank set three to planting in the garden
and three helped clean out the stables
and four got into the truck which
was loaded with seed potatoes and bags
of fertilizer and we went down to the
dump lot and soon Albert came with
a pair of horses and the potatoes planting
machine and some more boys
came so six of us were cutting and two
were riding on the machine and we
started planting the piece that we
harrowed the day before. It took a bushel
of seed and a bag of fertilizer for
each row. We planted till noon and
then the boys returned to school and
after dinner Mrs. Howe and I left for
home.
We went north to Cornwall Bridge
then to Goshen where I stopped and visited
with Cousin Mrs. Lyman Ovaitt [Oviatt]. Then
we came down through Torrington and
up through Harwington then down
through Terryville and on through a
portion of Bristol and up the Wolcott
Mountain through the east part of
Wolcott and home at four thirty.
This evening Robert Miller called.
He came from Canada where he
attended his brother Willard's wedding
last Saturday. He is on his way to
Camp Davis N. C. where he graduated
last Friday, Second Lieutenant. Then
he is to enter the service at Puerto
Rico where Roger Brundage is.
04\30\{1942} (Thursday)
I worked plowing at the farm with a hand
plow and mowed with the lawn mower
and did other odd jobs.
This evening Wm Service took me to
West Hartford where I gave drumming
lessons to a class of girls at Mr. Ziolkowski's
home.
05\01\1942 (Friday)
This morning I went to the center and
paid my electric light and telephone bills.
Bobbie Miller called. He has started for
Camp Davis, N.C. and expects to be sent to
Puerto Rico soon.
Mr. Squires called and took me up to
Wolcott to the Old Wait Hotchkiss place
and the Albin Alcott place and on Bucks
Hill where in the cemetery we found the
grave of Ara Warner.
05\02\{1942} (Saturday)
I got the ground plowed with a hand plow
for potatoes and planted one row about 100 ft
long.
05\03\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His
subject was "Is Christian Faith A Foolish
Dream?" The Congregation was small.
This afternoon I went to Woodtick and
visited Mr. Berkeley L. Frisbie.
05\04\{1942} (Monday)
I planted potatoes at the farm, mowed the
lawn, hoed in the garden etc. In the
afternoon I went to East Farms school
and got a permit to buy sugar. I had
Mrs. Howe's application but they would not
honor it. So I had to come and get her.
05\05\1942 (Tuesday)
To day I planted potatoes in the shed
lot on the farm.
To night I attended a meeting of
the Mattatuck Drum Band at
East Farms.
05\06\{1942} (Wednesday)
I finished planting potatoes soon
after dinner but I was taken sick
to my stomach and it was hard
for me to get around and it was
night before I got the tools put up
and went home. I will here state
that when I went out, I traveled
on the Meriden Road and down Norris
Street where I stopped and threw the
stones out of the cut where the boys
had rolled them down the bank. There
was a cart load of them and it took
some time.
This evening I took Miss Gladding
out to the East Farms School to get
her sugar ration book. They are going
to begin selling sugar again tomorrow.
Mr. Christian told me that there {are}
over 1500 people in the district and
up to last night, only 350 had applied
for permits.
Last night the Mattatuck Band
gave a very improper farewell party
for the benefit of three of its members
who are to leave for the Government
Service on the 16th. They are Robert
Wakelee Fifer, James Bhelen Drummer
and Ernest Robinson Bass Drummer.
05\07\1942 (Thursday)
I sharpened tools but did not do as
much as I usually do as I was weak
this forenoon. In the afternoon I felt
better and did more. This evening
I went to West Hartford and gave
drumming lessons to a party of
young ladies. They are the smartest
set that I ever instructed. They are
earning money by cutting the grass
on lawns for people. They said tonight
that they had 38 lawns to cut. They
bought a power lawn mower for $90.00 and
have it paid for and are now earning
money for uniforms and drums.
05\08\{1942} (Friday)
I sharpened tools to day and did errands.
Ray and Ruth called this {day} about 5 o'clock and
got a dozen eggs.
05\09\{1942} (Saturday)
This morning I went to Bristol and had my
pick up fixed, the wiper and dash light.
Worked on picture frames in the afternoon.
05\10\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
His subject was "The Queen In the Kingdom
of Love."
This afternoon I went to Wolcott and
went up in the lookout station on
the roof of the Town Hall.
05\11\1942 (Monday)
Joe Du Bois and I set out a lot of onion
sets this forenoon and went to Cheshire
and got some feed. I sharpened tools
and we went to East Farms and got
a lot of rhubarb.
Have spent some time getting ready
for the parade in Hartford tomorrow.
05\12\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning at 7.15 Mr. Ziolkowski came
from West Hartford and took me and
Ernest Scherie up to Hartford to the
Putnam Phalanx Headquarters where
we were placed on a float which was
rigged with a loud announcer and we
joined a liberty parade said to be the
largest ever in Hartford. There was
a boy with us and we were all dressed
to represent the Spirit of 76. The announcer
stated at intervals that Maj.
Charles Miller of Waterbury, 85 years
old, the oldest drummer in the U.S.
was on the float to drum and help
raise Liberty Bonds. He has been
drumming in military circles for
the past 65 years and will now drum
here.
05\13\1942 (Wednesday)
This morning I mowed the back yard and
did other odd jobs.
In the afternoon I went to East Farms
Schoolhouse and got a gas ration card
so I can get gas for my truck and for
the gas engine in the wheel house.
Joe Du Bois helped a little this forenoon.
Tony's boy cut the grass in the front
yard, in the afternoon.
This evening I took Miss Gladding
out to the East Farms Schoolhouse and
she got a gas rationing card.
05\14\{1942} (Thursday)
I sharpened tools and planted the garden to
day and did other odd jobs about home
and drove up to the store and got some
groceries.
05\15\{1942} (Friday)
I planted in the garden and worked on
Tony's stone truck all day.
05\16\1942 (Saturday)
This morning the Mattatuck Drum
Band went to the City Hall and escorted
84 recruits to the Railroad Station
at 7 o'clock where they took the train
for the War. Among them was James
Phalen, a drummer. Robert Wakeslee
and Ernest Robinson were also drafted
but they were given a few days to
straiten up their business. Wakelee is a
fifer and Robinson, a bass drummer.
Yesterday morning a contingent
of 78 men left. They were escorted
to the station by the High School
Band.
Yesterday at three in the afternoon,
my granddaughter Jene Northrop
and Byron Flemming were married
at the Mill Plain Union Church by
Rev. Mr. Madden.
It was a pretty wedding and the
church was well filled. Later a reception
was held at Wolcott Center at the
home of her mother Mrs. George Hall.
It was out of doors under the nice
blossomed trees on the fine grounds.
There were many in attendance
and all enjoyed it. Ray and Ruth
Miller took Mrs. Howe and me up in
their car.
Frank brought from Kent the
rock maple boards for Mr. Ziolkowski
to make the drums of.
05\17\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His
subject was "Proscript To Despair." This
was on the programme. But the sermon was
preached by Rev. Sidney G. Menk, assistant
pastor of the South Federated Church.
He took his text from the Bible.
This afternoon I went to Wolcott and
visited Arthur Harrison. Then went up
to Margaret's where I had supper.
05\18\{1942} (Monday)
I worked on Torby's truck and tempered
bush hammer blades. Then I planted
in the garden and spaded some of
it.
05\19\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning I planted in the home garden
with Joe Du Bois to help.
Worked in the garden at the farm this after-
noon.
05\20\{1942} (Wednesday)
To day I made picture frames and planted
at the farm and went to Prospect and
bought a dozen little chickens of Treat
Hotchkiss.
05\21\{1942} (Thursday)
We went to Treat Hotchkiss's and Joe Du Bois
bought five little chicks. I sharpened tools etc.
05\22\{1942} (Friday)
I sharpened tools etc. Yesterday Mr.
Ziolkowski and wife came from West
Hartford and he took home the tools
and machinery for making drums.
Mr. and Mrs. Du Bois called this evening.
05\23\{1942} (Saturday)
I made tools etc. and did other odd
jobs about home and got ready
and got my truck ready to go to
West Hartford to night.
05\24\{1942} (Sunday)
I staid last night at the home of Korczak
Ziolkowski in West Hartford where I gave
lessons in drumming to class of young
men and young ladies.
I got up at the first break of day but
before I got out of the house, Mr. Ziolkowski
was up and urged me to stay to breakfast.
I broke away from him and reached home
about 6.30. I had a good breakfast that
Mrs. Howe provided and at 10.30 went
to service at the Mill Plain Union Church.
Rev. Mr. Madden preached. His subject was
"The Little Man in This Business of Democracy."
He lectured long and loud and it seemed
to me that there was about as much sense in
what he said as there was in the subject
he selected. I could make nothing out
of either.
At noon Mr. Theodore Kirtz
called me up and wished to take me
to Clintonville to the home of Mr. Alex
Smith. We had a nice visit. Mr. Smith
has an old drum that his ancestor used
in the War of Independence in 1776 which
he wishes me to drum on every time I go
there. I think I am the only one that has
played on it for years. It is 20 inches in
diameter and very heavy but with big
sticks I can make it jingle.
Mr. Kirtz took photographs of many of
Mr. Smith's drums.
05\25\{1942} (Monday)
To day I got the little chicks in their
coop out of doors and hoed in the garden.
In the afternoon Joe Dirurio came and we
went to the farm and we planted a row
of potatoes on the south and est side of
Fort Dunlop and planted in the garden
and then cut out a lot of pea brush.
Joe caught a little rabbit in his hands.
05\26\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the bank and
drew $100.00. Then went to City Hall and
paid my tax $100.53. Then paid my telephone
bill, $4.90. Then paid my electric light bill
$3.29. In the afternoon, sharpened tools and
went to Wolcott and exchanged garden
seed with George Hall.
05\27\1942 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon and
did some planting at the farm and
started hoeing my potatoes.
05\28\1942 (Thursday)
I sharpened a lot of marble tools for Mr.
Ziolkowski and a lot of granite points
for Mr. Ciarlo this forenoon. In the
afternoon I went to the farm and hoed
potatoes.
Dan Hanlon took my car to the inspection
line and had it inspected.
He furnished a new mat for the car.
05\29\{1942} (Friday)
I hoed potatoes, a very hot day.
05\30\{1942} (Saturday)
I stayed last night in West Hartford
where I went the night before to give
drumming lessons at the house of
Mr. Ziolkowski. Came home early this
morning and did odd jobs about
home all day.
05\31\{1942} (Sunday)
To day I attended service at the Town
Hall in Wolcott. It was a Memorial
Decoration Day service, all of the
uniformed organizations were there
including the Mattatuck Drum
Band, the Firemen and their
Coronet Band, the newly organized
North Company turned out for the
first time.
At the service in the hall, the
school children were present and
sang patriotic songs.
A list of the young men who
have left the town and are now
in the service was read by Mrs.
Charles Tyrrell. There were 39 in
all and several more are to go this
month.
Judge Ells of Litchfield made
the principal address.
After the service in the Hall, the
bands and different organizations
marched to the Cemetery and
placed flowers on the graves of
war veterans and on the graves of
former members of the Drum Band.
After the exercises, the Mattatuck
Drum Band was invited to a dinner
by Margaret.
06\01\1942 (Monday)
I made a set of snares for Mr. Ziolkowski's
drum. At the farm I planted muskmellons
and mowed out the drive way.
06\02\1942 (Tuesday)
Sharpened tools this forenoon and planted
corn and mowed the roadside at the
farm this afternoon.
06\03\{1942} (Wednesday)
Sharpened tools this forenoon and worked
at the farm in the afternoon, cutting
grass by the road side and worked
in the garden.
06\04\{1942} (Thursday)
Sharpened tools and worked at odd jobs.
06\05\{1942} (Friday)
Sharpened tools all day.
Vincent cut the grass in the front yard.
06\06\{1942} (Saturday)
Sharpened tools all day and did
other odd jobs. Went to West Hartford and
staid last night.
06\07\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
His subject was "The Little Man in This
Business of Democracy."
The attendance was small.
This afternoon I went to Watertown to
see Mr. Fox but he was not at home.
06\08\1942 (Monday)
I did odd jobs and wrote letter this
forenoon. Hoed potatoes at the farm
this afternoon.
Mr. Benjamin Howland died at the
home of his niece in South Britain
yesterday. He was aged 94 years.
I worked with him searching records
over 50 years ago.
06\09\{1942} (Tuesday)
I hoed potatoes this forenoon and in
the afternoon met Wm M Gillette at the
corner of West Main and Meadow Sts.
and went to the funeral of Benjamin
Franklin Howland. It was held in
the Hall Memorial Chapel at Riverside
Cemetery. He was buried in the north
part of the grounds.
06\10\{1942} (Wednesday)
I hoed potatoes all the forenoon. In the
afternoon Vincent Codiano helped and
we finished.
06\11\{1942} (Thursday)
This day has been hot. I sharpened tools
for Mr. Clark, Mr. Ziolkowski and Anthony
Ciarlo. Went to West Cheshire and got
some seed and feed, then Vincent and I
got up the hay by the road. Then Vincent
mowed my lawn and I worked in the garden.
06\13\1942 (Saturday)
I sharpened tools this morning etc.
Yesterday I sharpened tools all day.
It was very hot. In the evening
I went to West Hartford and gave
drumming lessons to a class of
young ladies and young men.
I staid over night, got up at 5.30
and drove home 23 miles, reached
here at 6.45.
Mrs. Howe left this morning for
Brattleboro at 8 o'clock.
I have been doing odd jobs, fixing
up a glue melting rig and putting
picture frames together.
06\14\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Madden officiated.
His subject was most a most outlandish one:
"The Man Who Swallowed Himself." His
sermon or lecture about equaled his
subject.
I spent the afternoon at Margaret's
in Wolcott.
Will and John Garrigus have commenced
to make the house over.
06\15\{1942} (Monday)
I did odd jobs about home.
06\16\1942 (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Went
to the farm and planted sunflower
seed and went to Cheshire and got
a bag of laying mash.
06\17\{1942} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools and hoed at the
farm and did other odd jobs about
the house besides getting my own
meals.
06\18\{1942} (Thursday)
I did odd jobs and sharpened tools, cut
the grass by the wheel house and had
the truck fixed at East Farms and hoed
the corn there.
06\19\{1942} (Friday)
Worked about home all day.
06\20\{1942} (Saturday)
I went to West Hartford and took Jean
Flemming. We staid over night and left
there at 6 this morning. We reach her
home at 6.35 and I got home at 6.55.
I worked about home. A boy helped me and
we took a small load of hay to the farm.
Weather has been hot.
Got a letter from Dick. He is at Camp Gordon,
Georgia.
06\21\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden officiated.
The Pierpont Family Association held its
18th Reunion in the Mill Plain Church
and about 20 attended the service.
Mr. Madden spoke to them and held
silent prayer for Irving who died
the 18th of last August.
Later a lunch and business meeting
was held in the Gymnasium. The
newly elected officers were Harold
Pierpont of Waterbury President and
Mrs. George Hall Secretary.
There were about 58 members present.
I went out to Wolcott to Margaret's
for supper. They are making the house
over.
06\22\{1942} (Monday)
I bronzed the thum{??} handles on the screw
of ten drum snare tighteners and partly
opened the waste pipe and did other
odd jobs and the house work.
06\23\{1942} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this A.M. Went to Cheshire
and got a bag of oats, then went to Mt.
Carmel to Mr. Frederick Pierpont's and
got a drum. Mrs. Pierpont loaned me
a history of Litchfield.
06\24\1942 (Wednesday)
Sharpened tools most of the day.
06\25\{1942} (Thursday)
This morning I went to the bank and
did some business, then went to Attorney
Phalan's office and met Wm Gillette and
had our rent blanks made out. Then
took them to the Levenworth Building
and left them, then went to the Post Office
and got a 5.00 Government stamp for my
auto truck, then paid telephone and light
bills, came home and did odd jobs till
supper time. Am going to West Hartford
this evening.
06\26\{1942} (Friday)
I staid at the house of Mr. Ziolkowski last
night after giving a drumming lesson to
seven men and girls. I worked in the
garden and went to the farm and hoed
potatoes etc. in the afternoon.
06\27\{1942} (Saturday)
I mowed and ground scythes this forenoon.
After dinner Mr. Dry called. He was the
minister who built the stone Mill Plain Church.
Is now located in Nebraska.
After he went, I went to the farm and put
poison on my potatoes and hoed some till
night.
06\28\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. The subject that he preached
was "Man Has Never Been The Same Since
God Died." The attendance partly filled
the Church. The Rev. Mr. Madden
sat with me.
Have staid home all afternoon.
Margaret and George Hall called.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Pearly
Wilson called.
06\29\{1942} (Monday)
This morning I ground axes etc. for Pearly
Wilson. Then went to the farm and
hoed potatoes. This noon Mrs. Wilson
called and got the ground axes etc.
Then she followed my out to the farm
in her car and looked at my garden
and potatoes.
06\30\{1942} (Tuesday)
I mowed in the lot near the wheel house
this morning. Attorney Charles Lyma
called this forenoon to see me about the
last D.G. porter estate. This afternoon I
hoed potatoes at the farm. M. E. Pierpont
called to see about cutting the grass.
07\01\1942 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the farm and
finished digging up the rows of potatoes
which took till noon. Then I came home
and had a fine dinner that Mrs. Howe
prepared. I worked in the wheel house
all the afternoon repairing and sharpening
two lawn mowers for Mrs. Rossa.
It has been very hot and rained this
evening.
{Note: Thursday.}
07\03\{1942} (Friday)
I went to West Hartford last night and
gave drumming lessons to a class of
young people and staid over night.
Left there about six and got home
before seven. Yesterday I sharpened tools
and did other odd jobs. To day I went
to Wolcott and got Warner and he cut
my grass and we got a load of hay
out to the farm and did other odd jobs
and I carried him back to Wolcott this
evening.
07\04\{1942} (Saturday)
This is Independence Day. This morning
I went to Wolcott Center and got Wilfred
and Elaine Warner, Elliot Bronson and
Charles Kraft and brought them here
and we decorated the west and south
sides of the house with red, white and
blue bunting{?} and flags etc. We got
the large extension table out under
the grape arbor on the est side of the
house and soon the crowd assembled
in the street and on the yard. Mr. and
Mrs. Ziolkowski and a load of young
people came from West Hartford and
Margaret and George Hall and the
Krafts, Wolcott and the Great Parade
came down the Frost Road and went
down the hill to Hamilton Park.
There were all the officers of the East
End Community Club, State soldiers,
Firemen, Floats and other organizations
and about seventy drum bands. It took
about one and one half hours for it to
pass. By this time, Mrs. Howe, Margaret
and others had a fine picnic dinner
ready and we sat down.
At this time an accident happened.
The young Wolcott people were in my
museum{??} and Charles Kraft pulled one
of the electric plugs out and gt up on
one of the show cases to put it in and
broke through the glass, cutting his
arm and knee quite badly. There was
a nurse here who did it up and they
took him home.
We then took down the flags etc. and
by dark all had gone. The day
was properly observed at this place
and all had a good time, only the
one that got hurt.
07\05\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden officiated. His
subject was "The Idea of God Within The
Soul of Man."
In the evening Ruth and Jack Brundage
called. They had been to Danbury and
was on their way home. They expected to
stay with Margaret at Wolcott over night.
07\06\{1942} (Monday)
I sharpened tools all the day. The weather
was very hot. I sweat my clothes through.
I went to the East End Hardware Co and
bought a new white enameled tea kettle.
This evening it thundered and lightninged
and rained hard.
07\07\{1942} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools all day.
07\08\{1942} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. After dinner
I went to Cheshire and got a bag of scratch
feed. Then I came to the farm and Mort
Pierpont's man was there mowing. He
mowed the lot on the hill in one hour
with a pair of good horse and a John
Deer mowing machine. Then he mowed the
orchard in another hour and mowed the
upper part of the barn lot.
07\09\1942 (Thursday)
I went to Wolcott Center this morning
after breakfast. When I first got up at
the six, I took my scythe and went down in
the lower part of the lot and went to
mowing and mowed clear to the brook.
I had nothing on my feet except a low
pair of slippers with rubbers over them.
I had mowed about all I intended to
when I felt a sting on my foot and
found that I was standing in a large
nest of yellow jacket hornets and they
covered the part of my feet that were
bare and went up my trouser legs
and stung me many times on both
feet and legs. I had quite a time getting
them out of my pants legs and I have
not had cold feet of legs since.
At Wolcott I could not get the Warner
boys to mow my lawn as Ralph was
mowing Dr. Barber's lawn with a power
mower and Wilfred was helping his
Father up at the filling station so I
went over and got Elliott Bronson. He
came and helped me get a load of hay
out to the farm and we hoed a few
rows of potatoes. Mr. Pierpont's man
came and raked up the hay.
The weather has been cool and clear.
07\10\{1942} (Friday)
I mowed a piece in the lower end of my
lot before breakfast. After a time Ralph
and Wilfred Warner came and Ralph
mowed the lawn and Wilfred and I
trimmed up the paths and painted Mrs.
Howe's rug rack and took a load of
hay out to the farm and repaired the
fence about the garden, and did other
odd jobs. I carried him home
about eleven o'clock. George Hall and
Margaret came and brought an
electric oven that they had bought
for $29.95 of the Domestic Appliance
Corporation No 149, Grand Street,
Waterbury.
07\11\{1942} (Saturday)
I sharpened tools to day as it rained
all the morning. I mowed a small piece
in the lower end of the lot near the wheel-
house and worked in the garden etc.
Mr. and Mrs. Pearly Wilson called this
evening and got their lawn mower that
I sharpened.
07\12\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden preached.
A fair attendance. Church started at
10 o'clock instead of 10.45 as it has previously.
This afternoon I went to Watertown and
visited Mr. Louvane Fox.
The weather has been fine.
07\13\{1942} (Monday)
This morning I finished mowing in
my home lot. This afternoon I went
to the Colonial Trust and had my
24 Mill Plain Union Church coupons
cashed, $48.00. Then I paid my water
rent bill at the City Hall and paid
my water rent bill 8.25, then to the
Telephone Building and paid my
telephone bill $4.24. Then to the
Connecticut Light and Power Co on
Levenworth Street and paid my electric light
bill $4.24. Then to Sears and Roebuck
and bought two files for 68 cts, then
home and did several odd jobs.
The weather has been very hot.
07\14\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the Mattatuck
Historical Building and got my blank
for service gasoline ration. I filled in the
following: Name of registered owner -
Charles S. Miller
2271 East Main St.
Waterbury Conn. July 15, 1942
Brief description of industry, business or
occupation in which vehicle is used -
To carry tools, goods etc from home
to farm and bring produce etc. from
farm to market and do other business
and errands connected with the same.
No State Year Make Body Capacity
129247 Conn. 1931 Ford Pickup 1000 lbs.
Type of Operation - Farming and business
Mileage For - 400
Necessary Mileage Per Month For 4 Month Period - 700
Explanation of difference if any between
two preceding columns:
Have not used truck much the past 30 days.
Average miles per gal - 20/ Gallons to be purchased at gasoline station - 35
Signed, Charles S. Miller
2271 East Main St. Waterbury
07\15\1942 (Wednesday)
This morning I went to the Mattatuck
Historical Rooms and turned in my
gas application and took out another
for my gas engine.
My bust stands on a pedestal over-
looking all this war time gas business.
I came home and did odd jobs till noon
then went to the farm and cleaned the
weeds from the garden.
07\16\{1942} (Thursday)
I did odd jobs about home and at the
farm. This evening I attended a
meeting of the East Farms Cemetery
Association at which I resigned as
president. At the election of Officers,
Harold Pierpont was elected President,
Morton E. Pierpont First Vice President,
Ralph Pierpont 2nd Vice President,
Howard Neal Secretary and M. E.
Pierpont Treasurer. Mr. Pierpont
reported that there was over $400.00
in the treasury.
07\18\{1942} (Saturday)
Yesterday I went to Wolcott and
got Ralph Warner to come and mow
my lawn and we got a load of
hay and took it to the farm
and salted down a bushel of string
beans. In the evening I drove to
West Hartford and gave drumming
lessons to a class of young men and
ladies. I laid there all night and
left at 5.30 this morning and drove
home in the rain.
To day I did odd jobs about home and in
the afternoon went to the farm and
killed a woodchuck that I caught in a
trap at the upper end of the garden
and puled weeds out of the garden.
Mr. Ziolkowski and a load of girls came
and brought some raw hide to make
snares of.
07\19\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Matthew G. Madden, minister.
His subject that he talked about was
"Dead End Street." The attendance was
small. I lay on the bed most of the
afternoon but after four, Miss Gladding
and I went up to Margaret's in Wolcott.
07\20\{1942} (Monday)
After breakfast, I drove up to Wolcott Center
and got young Elliott Bronson and brought
him down. We went to Cheshire and got
a bag of oats. Then we pulled weeds in
the garden at the farm. After dinner I
went to the Mattatuck Historical Rooms
at 1.45 to get my War Gas Rationing Book
but had to wait in the hot sun till about
2.30 before the doors opened. Then had to
stand in line with more that 100 in
front of me for a long time till finally
my turn came and I got my book.
Then I came home and young Bronson
and I went to the farm and I paid
him and took him home to Wolcott.
07\21\{1942} (Tuesday)
This forenoon I made a pair of snares etc.
In the afternoon, went to the farm and
pulled weeds. Could not buy any gas
about here as the dealers are all out of it.
07\22\1942 (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools to day.
This evening I went to the Mattatuck
Historical Rooms and got my War
Time Non-Highway Gasoline Ration
Book for the engine in the Wheel-
house.
07\24\{1942} (Friday)
Yesterday I went to Wolcott and got
young Stillman Bronson and we cleaned
the garden at East Farms and set out
cabbage plants. At evening I took him
home, then I drove to West Hartford
and gave drumming lessons to a
class at Mr. Ziolkowski's house on
Sedgewick Road and I staid there
at night, getting up at 5.30 and got
home before seven to day. I went
to the farm and pulled the weeds
out of the corn and watered and
cultivated the cabbages etc.
07\25\{1942} (Saturday)
Hot day. I worked in the garden at
the farm all day.
07\26\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Madden officiated. His
subject was "Alone On The Mountain."
This afternoon I called on Pearly Wilson
in Prospect.
07\27\1942 (Monday)
Hot day. I planted turnips and spinach seed
in the garden at the farm and dug some
potatoes and picked a few apples.
Joe helped me this forenoon.
07\28\{1942} (Tuesday)
Another hot day. I worked at the farm
in the garden and did odd jobs about
home.
07\29\{1942} (Wednesday)
I mowed at the farm and worked in the
garden.
07\31\{1942} (Friday)
Yesterday I worked in the garden at the
farm. I caught a woodchuck in a trap. This
makes three that I caught and a rabbit in
the past three weeks. The State is putting
in a large drain pipe in front of my lot
and the lots east of mine. It is down
in the ground about six feet.
In the evening I went to Mr. Ziolkowski's
in West Hartford and gave drumming
lessons. Came home this morning.
To day I have done jobs about home.
This afternoon, Mr. Ziolkowski came in
the rain and got my cement mixer and
cement tools. He had his wife and three
young ladies to help load it.
The New York and New Haven Rail
Road are taking up the rails on to
Old Waterbury and Meriden Rail
Road from Mr. Kitchka's in East
Farms west to Harpers Ferry.
08\01\1942 (Saturday)
I did odd jobs about home and made
raw hide snares. This evening Louise
called and got two rugs that Mrs.
Howe made and some vegetables etc.
08\02\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Matthew G. Madden officiated.
His subject was "If I Had But One Sermon To
Preach." This is his last Sunday in Mill
Plain as he is going to the Congregational
Church in Branford next September.
To day's paper stated that my grandson,
Lieut Kenneth Pierpont Brundage was
married to Margaret M. Kearney of Worcester,
Mass., an army nurse, July 18th in the Post
Chapel at Camp Wheeler at Macon Georgia,
Rev. B. P. DeCrane Chaplain officiating.
This afternoon the Miller family in this
vicinity met at Margaret's on her invitation
to meet Dorothy Miller who is visiting
there from Milwaukee.
08\03\{1942} (Monday)
I made a pair of good rawhide snares and
mowed about the spring at the farm.
The State is putting in an under drain
in front of my place at the farm. They dig
a trench about 6" deep with a gasoline clam
steel digger and have to drill and blast
out rocks. In front of the water trough,
they struck a bed rock that came up to
within 2 ft of the surface. In the trench
they put in 10" iron pipe that is corrugated
like a screw, with holes drilled in
the top half. The pipe is in lengths about
40' long and coated inside and out with
asphalt. Then they fill the trench with
1/2" crushed stone.
08\04\{1942} (Tuesday)
I mowed at the farm on the east and
south side of the barn lot.
08\05\{1942} (Wednesday)
I mowed at the farm and did odd jobs
about home.
08\06\{1942} (Thursday)
To day I mowed at the farm, finished the
lower part of the barn meadow.
I took a pair of hinges out for Harold
Pierpont to put on the East Farms Cemetery
gate.
08\08\1942 (Saturday)
Yesterday I did odd jobs about home and
raked up the hay at the farm and heaped
it up. In the morning I drove to Mr. Ziolkowski's
house in West Hartford. He took me to the
center of the town and showed the concrete
walk he is putting around the
statue of Noah Webster which he has
about completed.
Then we went back to his house and
I gave drumming lessons to six girls
and one man.
I staid there through the night, got up
at 5.30 and drove home.
To day I have sharpened tools most
of the day.
08\09\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Gertrude Coe preached.
Her subject was "Wait Ye Upon The Lord."
It rained hard and the attendance was
small.
Theodore Kirtz called this evening.
Later Fritsa and Olga called.
08\10\{1942} (Monday)
Rained severe thunder shower. I set
out about 50 cabbage plants at the farm
and mowed some. Then worked on
drums. Raymond and Ruth Atherton
of Morris called this afternoon.
08\11\1942 (Tuesday)
This morning after doing several jobs
about home, I went to the farm and mowed
quite a piece of grass. In the afternoon,
hoed the garden, sat in the shade some
of the time as it was very hot.
The state men have the drain pipe
in the ground down nearly six feet, in
front of my land and are working
in front of Fred Wilson's where it is
solid rock from the top down. They
have a good air compressor and with
the air drills put the holes down in about
five minutes, four feet deep. They blast 7
or 8 holes at a time with dynamite.
08\12\{1942} (Wednesday)
I got in two loads of hay. Peter and Billie
Pierpont helped to tread it down.
08\14\{1942} (Friday)
Yesterday I worked most of the day
making snares for drums. In the evening
I drove 23 miles in the rain to West
Hartford and gave lessons to six young
ladies and two men. Staid at the house
of Mr. Ziolkowski and left at 5.30 this
morning and drove home. I went to
Margaret's in Wolcott and got Dorothy
and she is here now.
Night before last, M. E. Pierpont was taken
with a heart attack on the train from
Providence to Boston and is in a
Boston Hospital. Yesterday morning,
Jessie, Bessie, Ralph and Laurence Pierpont
left at four and went Boston
to see him.
To day I have spent about home and
made three nine points for Anthony
and hardened them very hard temper.
08\15\{1942} (Saturday)
This morning I went to Wolcott and got
Dorothy Miller who was at Margaret's
and brought her here. Then I went to
Cheshire and got a bag of chicken feed.
Then, as it rained, I made snares in the
wheel house.
08\16\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Cochard, formerly
of the Prospect Church, preached. The attendance
was small. Dorothy Miller went
with me.
08\18\{1942} (Tuesday)
Yesterday morning, Dorothy and I
went to Kent. We left at 9 A.M. and
in my little Ford truck and traveled
through Waterbury Center and through
Watertown Center and through Gurnsey
Town and through Bethlehem Center,
then on to the north west where we
got lost and enquired and came to lake
side in Morris. Then west and down the new
Washington Road, turned west and out north
of Washington Depot, then up the Bee Brook
Road and to the south end of Lake Waramaug
and up the west side and up to East Kent
and then west to Kent 42.3 miles. We found
the folks all well and busy. After dinner
Frank and Dwight and another young
fellow went out back of the barn and
they cut up some cotton wood trees that
had been blown down by the brook. They
were about 9.0' tall.
While the milking was being done, Frank and
I went down the river where he picked about
four bushels of sweet corn and brought it up
to the school. We had a fine supper an I slept
on a single cot bed in the play room. In the
morning after the chores, Frank picked
two bushels of tomatoes, three of cabbage, a lot of
other beets, carrots etc. and took them down
to the school, after which Dwight and two
boys hoed in the garden. Frank and I
got out a heavy elm plank and some
pieces and I loaded them on the truck.
We weeded in the garden a spell and
then had dinner.
After which I went and got five gallons
of gasoline for 1.06, then came back and
loaded up and started. Dorothy wanted
me to keep on State roads as she was not
feeling too well and did not want to be
shook up, so we came through East
Kent and Warren Center and on past
Mr. Tom Pond through Bantam and
turned south past the lake and over
the hills through Morris Center and
East Morris and down past the Waterbury
Reservoirs and across Reynold Bridge
to Waterville where we turned est and
came past Lakewood to Mill Plain and
home, having traveled 41.8 miles.
08\19\1942 (Wednesday)
I made a set of snares and did odd jobs
and hoed the garden and did nothing
some of the time, only sit and sweat, as it
was very hot.
To day's paper stated that the English
and Americans had landed in France
and were engaged in a fierce battle
with the Germans.
08\21\{1942} (Friday)
Yesterday I sharpened tools and made
snares and dug potatoes at the farm
and in the evening went to Mr. Ziolkowski's
house in West Hartford and gave drumming
lessons to the class there and came
home this morning reaching here at 7 A.M.
08\22\{1942} (Saturday)
Mowed grass and did other jobs about home.
Ralph Bull of Kent called.
08\24\1942 (Monday)
I sharpened tools to day. Dorothy returned
from Westbrook last night. Mr. {? ?}
of Ocean Grove N.J. called to day to talk
about historical matters.
The weather has been nice.
I received a letter from Dick. His address
now is Company B-13 2nd Engineer
School Regiment, Fort Belvoir, Va.
Also one from Fritsa which enclosed
a letter from Bobbie. But it does not tell
where he is. He has been changed to "D"
Battery and his address is
Battery D, 66th C.A. (AA) A.F.O. 851.
08\26\{1942} (Wednesday)
Yesterday I sharpened tools in the forenoon
and made drum snares. In the afternoon
Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski and a party of
seven young ladies and men came from
West Hartford and brought back my
concrete mixer and tools that they used
to put the circular walk around the
Noah Webster statue in West Hartford.
After putting them in the cellar, we all
went up to Margaret's and had an out
of door picnic on the ground near the
swimming pool on their grounds. Then
we went up to their picnic place and
practiced drumming and fifing
till eight o'clock. Then we drove to
the Mattatuck Hall at East Farms
and joined the Mattatuck Band in
a rehearsal and we did not get away
till midnight.
To day I sharpened tools, made
snares and did other odd jobs about
home. This morning I took Dorothy
down to the Rail Road station and she
started for Milwaukee. Is to stop in New
York and again in Chicago and expects
to reach home this evening.
08\27\{1942} (Thursday)
Trimmed up the front walk and did
other jobs and wrote an article for the
Republican. At the farm this afternoon
I cleaned the weeds and stones out of
the cabbages and piled up some hay.
08\28\{1942} (Friday)
This morning I went to the Bank and
deposited 50. Then to the telephone office
on Grand St. and paid my telephone bill, 4.51
then to Conn Light and Power Co on
Levenworth St. and paid my light bill
5.84 then home and did odd jobs and to
the farm and hoed and fertilized the garden
and picked apples etc.
08\29\{1942} (Saturday)
I sharpened tools and worked at snares
this forenoon. After dinner, went to the farm
and cleaned the weeds from the garden.
08\30\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Girtrude Coe of
Wolcott preached. I could scarcely hear
anything that she said. Her voice was
so light. Mrs. Howe went to an
Advent Camp Meeting at Plainville.
This afternoon I went up to Ruth
Todd's to see an old account book. She
had company from New York.
I wrote a letter this evening to
R.H. MILLER COMPANY B-13 2ND ENGINEER
SCHOOL REGIMENT FORT BELVOIR VA.
08\31\{1942} (Monday)
I sharpened tools and did other jobs
about home. This afternoon I went to
East Farms and cut the weeds by the
side of the road.
Bessie and Jessie Pierpont went to Boston
to see Mort who has had a bad turn.
Wrote a letter to Elsie Miller.
88 men from Watertown left the Waterbury R. Station
this morning.
09\01\{1942} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. At the farm
I gathered a lot of hay and put by the garden.
This evening I attended a meeting of the
Mattatuck Drum Band at East Farms.
97 men left Waterbury this morning for
the War. They were escorted to the station by
Scoville's new Drum Corps and Scoville's Color Guard
of young ladies.
09\02\1942 (Wednesday)
This morning I got up at 5.30 and put
on my old Continental Uniform. Mrs.
Howe helped me and at 6.30 took my
pickup truck and drove to the Rail Road
station and waited there till I saw a
parade approaching down Grand St headed
by twenty young ladies in uniform
bearing colors, then seven members and
Major Mansfield Gillette, back of them
came nearly 200 drafts. I joined the
band and we marched into the Depot
which was crowded, there thousands of
people who saw them board the train.
We played a piece or two in the station
then took our stand on the platform at
the head of the rain of ten cars and
played as the train pulled out.
This is the third and largest contingent
that has left this week.
I came home and had breakfast with
Mrs. Howe and her sister and sister's step
daughter, then weeded the garden and
did other jobs. This evening Mr. and
Mrs. William Service went with me to the
farm and we picked three bushels of
Baldwin apples which I gave them.
09\04\{1942} (Friday)
Yesterday I dug potatoes and did many
odd little jobs. In the evening I carried
Billie Howe who has enlisted in the
Navy to West Hartford to get his clothes
and other things. I gave drumming
lessons to Mr. Ziolkowski's house and
staid over night. Left at six this morning
and came home. After breakfast I
sharpened tools. After dinner Mr.
Ziolkowski telephoned that the drum heads
had come. I took my truck and went
to his house and we put on four heads
and got things ready. Then I came
home. This evening Cliff Heaton, Fritsa
and Ronald called, having just come
from New York and going to Cheshire
to stay with her folks.
Billie Howe left this noon for Hartford to
enter the service.
09\05\{1942} (Saturday)
This forenoon I went {to} Cheshire and got a
bag of scratchfeed. Did odd jobs and made
tools the rest of the day.
09\06\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mrs. Girtrude Coe of Wolcott
officiated. I heard nothing that she said.
About forty in attendance.
This afternoon I went to Ruth Rodd's and
looked over an old account book of Moses
Todd who kept a store at Wolcott Center in
1799.
09\07\1942 (Monday)
This morning I drove to West Hartford
to the home of Korczak Ziolkowski where
we finished four drums that he has
made. They are 16" across the head and
stand about 16" high and are the lightest
and best drums I ever saw. They have
fine transparent heads and snares made
of transparent rawhide, with wood snare
tighteners which he made.
After we were through, we went to West
Hartford Center and viewed the statue
of Noah Webster which they have just
finished. It is a wonderful piece of work
and is put there to last through the
coming ages.
I then came home through Farmington,
then to Bristol and to Wolcott where I
stopped to see Byron and Jean but they
had gone to the shore so I came on home,
23.7 miles.
09\08\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning I did little jobs about home.
At 11 o'clock Attorney Charles M. Lyman
with his stenographer of New Haven came.
Soon Mr. and Mrs. Korczak Ziolkowski of West
Hartford came, then Michael F. Healey
who had just been sworn in Corporation
Council for the City of Waterbury and
another lawyer came. Then they
telephoned to Hartford for the States
Attorney to come but he was engaged
elsewhere. I was then sworn by the
Justice of the peace and they took my
deposition, regarding the late Professor
David G. Porter who died in 1905. While
it was being type-written, Mr. and
Mrs. Korczak Ziolkowski and I drove over
and looked at Abrigador Hill whom
Mrs. Comstock is heir to.
Mr. Lyman and the Ziolkowskis went to
the Hall{??} for their dinner.
This evening was visiting evening
for the Mattatuck Drum Band to visit
the Plainville Corps and Mr. Theodore
Kirtz called and I went with him to
Plainville and we had a good visit and
drummed after which we had refresh-
ments. I reached home at midnight.
Amen.
09\09\{1942} (Wednesday)
I have been all day repairing the gates to
the chicken yard, and it has rained all day.
09\11\{1942} (Friday)
Yesterday I sharpened tools and did odd
jobs. In the evening I drove to Mr. Korczak
Ziolkowski's in West Hartford where we
turned up four new drums and we practiced
on them, and practiced marching
the first time. I got up at 6.30 this morning
and drove home before breakfast,
then I went to the store and got a lot of
provisions and Mrs. Howe made ready
for the dinner at the farm tomorrow
when the drummers and fifers are doming
from West Hartford to pick apples.
I went to the farm and made a fireplace
and got things ready. Took out a lot
of baskets, bags etc.
09\12\1942 (Saturday)
To day it rained in the morning. I
telephoned to Korczak Ziolkowski not to
come and pick up apples. Then I sharpened
some large four points. Mr. Howe came
and said Korczak had just telephoned from
West Hartford that they were just
leaving. About eleven they got here,
he and five girls and one young man.
Mrs. Ziolkowski did not come as they
went to Boston and adopted a day and
one half old baby yesterday and she
had to stay home and take care of it.
We went into the shed and practiced
till noon when Mrs. Howe had a fine
dinner to which we did justice. Then
we drummed some more and as the
grass had dried, we went to the farm
and picked apples, about seventy
bushels in all.
I had them load about 4 or 5 bushels
in their car. Then we went to the
Mattatuck Hall and played for an
hour. Then they left for home and I
came home.
09\13\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Kermit Green preached.
His subject was "The Way of Life."
The attendance was not large.
This afternoon I attended a clam bake
at Pierpont's Grove at East Farms.
There was about 100 present, among them
President Major Mahoney and one
other from the Putnam Phalanx and
Korczak Ziolkowski and Mrs. Comstock
and five or six others from West Hartford.
From there I went to Margaret's and saw
their house that Will Garrigus is repairing.
He's doing a good job.
The weather has been nice and clear.
09\14\{1942} (Monday)
This morning at 9 o'clock I went to the
Rent Commissioner's Office at the corner
of Grand and Bank Sts and had the
price of the garage added to Mr. Stephen
Gladding's rent, making it $27.00 per
month instead of $25.00. This took till
near noon. In the afternoon I dug
potatoes at the farm and did other
work.
09\15\{1942} (Tuesday)
This morning I went to the sugar
rationing board and after spending
nearly the whole forenoon, got a ration
of thirty one pounds for canning.
Dug potatoes and did other jobs
in the afternoon.
09\16\{1942} (Wednesday)
I pulled weeds and dug potatoes all day.
09\17\1942 (Thursday)
I dug potatoes this forenoon and picked
grapes at the farm. The weather has
been extremely hot, so much so I could
hardly work. Mansfield Gillette called
me and said that some of the Mattatuck
boys were to attend a lecture at the Mattatuck
Historical Hall in full uniform.
The subject was "The Present War." I with
the others attended.
09\19\{1942} (Saturday)
Yesterday I dug a few potatoes and did
other odd jobs. I loaded seven baskets
of apples in my car and my new
drum and went to West Hartford
where I found Mr. Ziolkowski suffering
from an injured knee. Soon the Doctor
came and found that the skin on the
bone had been broken and it would take
a month to get well.
He then with others put on their
drums and we then practiced drumming
till after ten o'clock when they
who lived elsewhere left for their homes
and I was shown to my room where I slept
in an old elegant four post bed with a nice
white cover on the top with white ball fringe.
I got up at 6.30 this morning and found
Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski all ready up.
I started for home, stopping at Farmington
at a cider mill where they only made
up their own apples. They charged four cts
per gallon for making after which the
Government takes two cents and the person that
has the cider has to pay the Government
two cents for every gallon made.
This forenoon Frank came from Kent
and brought some maple plank and an
old white horse to the farm.
Frank staid for dinner and then left
for Kent.
This afternoon Mable Gladding and I
went to the farm and picked over a bushel
of grapes.
09\20\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Daniels of Hartford preached.
After dinner I went to the farm and fed
Julia, the old white horse. Then I went
up to Ruth Todd's and looked up accounts
in Moses Todd's account book of 1799.
Then I drove down to Matthews Street
and visited with Walter Morse till after
dark.
09\21\1942 (Monday)
I dug some potatoes and went to West
Cheshire and got a bag of oats. Then
engaged Michael Salvatore of West
Cheshire to make my cider at 4 cts
per gallon. Then came to the farm and
dug more potatoes. It is slow work as
the big weeds have to be pulled.
09\22\1942 (Tuesday)
Eight two years ago to day Mary, my
wife, was born. Four years ago the 15th
of this month, she died.
To day I got out my Cider barrels and
emptied the old cider in the vinegar
barrel and washed out the others. One
50 gallon cask, one 30, one 10, one 5 and
one 1 gal.
This afternoon I pulled weeds and dug
two bushels of potatoes.
09\23\{1942} (Wednesday)
This morning I took fourteen bushels of
apple from the farm to the Cider Mill of
Michael Salvatore at the Notch-In-the-Rocks
at West Cheshire. Then I came home and
got the barrels ready and took them and
nine bushels more out. Then I came back
and made a new felt-rubber packing for
Anthony's new air compressor. Then went
to the farm and pulled weeds and corn
and fed and took care of the house etc.
09\24\1942 (Thursday)
I was at the most of the day pulling weeds
and digging potatoes.
This wind this noon blew down a big
branch of a maple tree that stands on Mr.
Saint Lewis's lot west of my barn so it
is across my drive way.
09\26\1942 (Saturday)
Yesterday I dug potatoes till noon, then I
went to the Cider Mill at West Cheshire
and got 75 gallons of cider and brought
it home. Had dinner and in the afternoon,
put it in the cellar. Went down to the
Barber's and had hair cut and shave.
Then got the pickup ready and loaded
on maple plank and drum and a one
gallon barrel of cider. Had supper and
started for West Hartford. All went well
till I got to Plainville where they are
building about 100 new houses. Then I
had a blow out which delayed me half an
hour and it was dark when I reached
Mr. Ziolkowski's house. But soon the
boys and girls came and we rehearsed till
near eleven o'clock when they went and
Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski took me up stairs
and showed me a wonderful crib he
had made for their new adopted baby.
I then retired, was up at 6.30, came
home and dug potatoes, got the cider
in and did other jobs to day. Am tired
and sleepy.
09\27\1942 (Sunday)
This day I am 84 years old. The weather
is wet and rainy. I am here living
alone in the house that I built in 1892
at the corner of the Frost Road and
East Main Street with Mrs. Howe keeping
house for me. She is a good house keeper
from Brattleboro Vt.
I was married in the Old Mill Plain
Chapel to Miss Mary Ann Pierpont by
Rev. MiCone of Trinity Church on
Nov 22, 1883 and went to live in Mary's
home at East Farms where Clyde was
born. He is now passed on, leaving a
family of Fritsa his wife, Dick, Willard,
Bobby, Ronald, had two daughters that
died. Dick, Willard and Bobbie are now
in the U.S. Army. Fritsa had married
Professor Clifton Heaton and is now
living in New York.
My second, Irving, was born at East
Farms. He too passed on in Milwaukee, a
year ago last August leaving a wife,
Dorothy and children Enid, David,
Barbara and John. My third child was
Margaret, born at East Farms Feb. 24,
1889 at 9.30 Sunday eve. She married Clifford
W. Northrop and had children Marion,
Elizabeth, Jean and Nita. Clifford died
and she married George Hall of West
Hartford and Wolcott.
My fourth child was Ruth, born
at East Farms, Feb 31, 1891 at six A.M. She
married Augustus J. Brundage of Storrs
and has children Roger, Kenneth, Granville
and Margaret.
My fifth child is Frank Pierpont.
He was born at Oak Corner, January 10th,
1893 at about 4 A.M. He married Elsie
Garrigus of Storrs and has children
Mary Ann, Berth Patterson, Dwight Somers,
Jessie, Louis and June.
My sixth child is Raymond Henry.
He was born at Oak Corner Aug 15, 1895
at about 2.30 P.M. He married Ruth Henion.
They have no children.
At the present time, figure my living
children, their wives and their children
and wives and their children, they will
all total over fifty I think.
This day I have had a great surprise.
In the afternoon, as I was sitting here
reading, I heard drums. It was raining
hard. I went out and in the barn shed
found the Noah Webster Fife and Drum
Corps in full uniform playing. On my
birth day they wore their new uniforms
for the first time. They had come all
the way from West Hartford in the
rain.
Later they presented me with a fine gold
fountain pen, and we had refreshments
and an enjoyable visit.
Raymond and Ruth called and left
a large box full of useful presents.
This afternoon Ruth Brundage of
Storrs with Roger's new wife and also
Kenneth's new wife. Roger is Capt of a
Flying Corps in the Panama Zone and
Kenneth is Lieutenant in Infantry at
Camp Wheeler in Georgia.
09\28\1942 (Monday)
I pulled weeds and dug potatoes most of
the time to day and got my old harnesses
out and did some repair work on them.
09\29\{1942} (Tuesday)
Dug potatoes and did other odd jobs.
This morning there was a heavy
frost, ice froze quarter of an inch
thick on a pail.
09\30\{1942} (Wednesday)
I finished digging potatoes this noon.
Picked them and did odd jobs.
10\01\{1942} (Thursday)
I painted the inside of the body of my
truck this morning. Visited Morton
Pierpont. This afternoon Laurence Pierpont
gave me a black cat this afternoon.
Dick Miller received commission, Lieutenant,
at Belvoir Va. yesterday.
10\03\1942 (Saturday)
Yesterday I gathered sun flowers and
did other jobs. In the evening I went to
West Hartford. Came home this morning
and repaired harnesses. At the farm, I did
odd jobs etc.
10\04\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Church. Rev. Mr. Mickey of Yale preached.
In the afternoon I called on Ruth Todd
but did not see her old account book. I
then went to Wolcott Center and saw
Margaret and the improvements on their
house.
Yesterday a large number of recruits
left Waterbury for the war. Friday morning
about 225 left and Thursday another
large number left. The paper states that
between four and five thousand have left
altogether.
10\05\{1942} (Monday)
I did odd jobs about home and husked
corn at the farm and brought in a load of
apples and potatoes.
Billie Howe came this evening from the
Naval Training Station at New Port for a
week furlow.
10\06\1942 (Tuesday)
This forenoon I shucked out about a bushel
of sun flower seed and did not get
through till about three in the afternoon.
I then went to the Pierpont Dairy and
paid my milk bill. Then came to
the farm and did work there and
brought in three baskets of apples and
gave them to Tony.
10\07\{1942} (Wednesday)
I did several jobs about home, filed the wood
saw and sawed wood. In the after-
noon I went up the Todd Road, then to
the farm and hitched up the horse and
drew up brush and corn stalks etc.
10\08\{1942} (Thursday)
Made over a pair of cart shafts and
repaired the lock on Mr. Gladding's
door. Then went to Wolcott to Mr. Peterson's
and got a black cat and put it in
the cellar where the rats have ate
many of the potatoes and apples.
10\10\{1942} (Saturday)
Yesterday I got the walk form the stairs
to the street partly ready for concrete
and then did several other jobs and
got ready and went to Mr. Ziolkowski's
in West Hartford where the Noah
Webster Drum Corps were getting ready
to take part in the dedicating of the
Noah Webster Statue next week. Friday
I staid over night and came home this
morning. To day I completed getting
the forms in for the walk and made
it ready for the concrete.
10\11\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Morris Anderson of Louisiana
preached. The attendance was small.
Mrs. Howe's son had dinner with us. His
Hartford girl was with him. He leaves
to night to go to Providence and from
there into the Navy.
In the afternoon I went to see Ruth Todd's
old account book but there was so much
going on that I failed to.
10\12\{1942} (Monday)
This morning I telephoned Chatfield &
Chatfield to bring out 30 cubic feet of
mixed concrete. They sent it out and I
have made the walk from the steps to
the Frost Road and as some was left
over, I put in a base step at the east
door. It was hard work as I had to do
it all alone.
10\13\1942 (Tuesday)
Filed saws this forenoon for Mr. Edward
Bronson and finished the concrete walk.
This afternoon I went to the farm and
rigged up the tackles to haul down the
big branch of the maple tree that the
wind blew down and got the horse and
hitched him on the fall rope but it
did not come down till Red Saint Lewis
went up and chopped it loose. Then by
pulling several time we got it down.
I saw Mrs. Sarah Pierpont about mending
my sweater.
10\14\{1942} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. I saw Mr.
Gibson at Hitchcock's Lake about the
history of the Wolcott Fire Department.
Then I came and saw Mort Pierpont.
10\15\{1942} (Thursday)
I sharpened four points this forenoon. Went to
the farm and dug potatoes and trimmed
out part of the big maple branch.
Wrote of the history of the Wolcott Fire
Department this evening.
10\17\{1942} (Saturday)
Yesterday I did odd jobs about home.
In the afternoon I went to West Hartford
and with the Noah Webster Drum and
Fife Corps attended the Dedication
of the Noah Webster Statue at West Hartford
Town Hall. After the exercises we went
to Mr. Korczak Ziolkowski's at 216 Sedgewick
Road where a grand collation{??} was served.
I spent the night there and came home this
morning, stopping at Mr. Gibson's at
Hitchcock's Lake to find out about the
Dedication of the Fire House tomorrow.
10\18\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Maurice Anderson of Yale preached.
In the afternoon I attended the Dedication
of the Fire House at Hitchcock's Lake.
Then I went to Margaret's at Wolcott
Center to see about the door knocker.
10\19\{1942} (Monday)
To day I worked about home and went
to Cheshire and got a bag of oats and a
bag of scratch feed. Stopped at the farm
and trimmed out some wood.
I made a report to the United States
Office of Defense Transportation regarding
my commercial truck.
10\20\{1942} (Tuesday)
Worked all day grading and firing and seeding
the ground by the new concrete walk from the
house to the Frost Road.
10\21\1942 (Wednesday)
I have spent the entire day making over
a saw frame for the Calvary Cemetery.
As we pass by in front of nearly every
house there are piles of scrap iron to be
collected and used in war defense.
10\22\{1942} (Thursday)
Worked all day on saw frame and
painted it.
10\23\{1942} (Friday)
This morning I went to the bank and
drew 110.00 then went to City Hall
and paid the last half of my year's tax,
100.53. Then I came home and got
my truck ready to go to West Hartford.
Started at 2.30. At East Farms I got
five galls of gas. Then went to the Notch-
in-the-Rocks and got a gallon barrel filled
with sweet cider, then drove up Peck
Lane and on to West Hartford 26 miles.
Had a rehearsal and I left there at 6.00
and came home.
10\24\{1942} (Saturday)
Mrs. Howe left this morning for
Perth Amboy to be gone till next Tuesday.
I sharpened tools and got my
own meals. Went to the farm and
trimmed out some wood and tied old
Jude out. Brought home a small load.
10\25\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Maurice Anderson of Yale preached.
The day has been fine. I staid home
all the afternoon and cooked a good supper
of fried chicken.
10\26\{1942} (Monday)
I kept Bachelors Hall to day and
worked sharpening tools.
Damp in forenoon. Rained in afternoon.
10\27\{1942} (Tuesday)
Cool day. I sharpened tools in the forenoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski called this afternoon.
I went to the farm and got gas in the P. M.
Had my truck looked over.
Mrs. Howe came back this morning.
10\29\{1942} (Thursday)
Yesterday I went to Kent. Saw Hon Ralph Bull
about the Presentation Service that is to be
held Nov 22. Found Frank very busy with
only two men helping him. In the afternoon
he got the tractor and woodsaw out and
saw a lot of wood. I climbed up the
mountain and viewed numeral rock after which
I saw Ralph Bull again and visited the
Community House. I slept on a lounge
very nicely. In the morning Frank
did the chores, then took a light truck
and we went down through Scaticook where
the Indians live and on to the York
State Road the down to Wingdale where
there was an immense limestone
quarry which has been abandoned of late
years, but now the government is
operating it to make magnesia. They
are getting the rock out here and are
building a great plant four miles
away where they intend to extract the
magnesia. They have hundreds of
men working on the construction, are
paying joiners 12.00 per day and cannot
get enough. We drove through Waysaac{??}
and home. I had dinner, then I left
and came home, then went to the
farm and took the sticks out for
the barn sills.
10\29\{1942} (Friday)
I left this morning for West Hartford
where I as to drum with the Noah
Webster Drum Corps at 9.00 A.M. to
the leaving of over 100 young men
who are entering the service.
They came out of the Town Hall and
formed in line and we played a
number of pieces. They were the nicest
looking set of young men that I ever
saw leaving, some very young
and fresh nice looking from the farms
in the adjoining towns and in some cases
were surrounded by father, mother and sisters.
There were many sad and tearful partings
as the line moved slowly and they loaded
into the large buses.
I came home and after a little rest and
dinner, went to sharpening tools. But
the thoughts of the sad partings I saw
this morning have been with me all
the afternoon.
This makes the third large contingent
I have drummed for while leaving for this
war. I drummed when the men left for
the Spanish American War and many
times when the troops left the Worlds
War twenty five years ago.
10\31\{1942} (Saturday)
I got vegetables into the cellar and sharpened
tools this morning and took two cabbages
and four large carrots up to Louise then took
1/2 bushel of potatoes up to Ruth then went
to the farm and got a load of cabbage.
11\01\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Maurice Anderson preached.
This afternoon I and Mrs. Howe went
to sister Iva Gillette's on Bunker Hill
where she had invited the whole Somers
family in honor of Williard Miller who has
joined the armed forces in Canada.
11\02\1942 (Monday)
Cold this morning. I sharpened tools.
In the afternoon I went to the farm and
got a large load of cabbages.
11\03\{1942} (Tuesday)
I have been in the cellar all day sorting
apples and potatoes. I put in fourteen
bushels of apples, but now I have only
two and one half bushels. The rats have
destroyed the greater part of the rest. They
bite into them and they they rot.
Of the potatoes, I have twelve bushels.
Many of them are rat eaten but they
did not rot so much. I have a cat now
and keeps the rats out. But I am having
lots of trouble. Mrs. Howe does not like
cats and lets them run away. I have to
keep them shut in the barn when I am
working and can have them in the
cellar only when I am here and I have
to take entire care of them.
I went to the Chase School and voted for
Raymond Baldwin for Governor of Connecticut
and other Republicans.
11\04\{1942} (Wednesday)
This forenoon I prepared and put over
100 cabbages in the cellar. Went to the
farm and got another load of cabbage.
The Republican ticket was elected yesterday.
11\05\1942 (Thursday)
To day was very cold. This morning ice on pails
of water was half an inch thick and the
ground was frozen an inch very hard. I dug
a trench and buried nearly 100 cabbage heads.
We cannot buy anymore coffee at present.
11\06\{1942} (Friday)
I went to the farm and cut wood and took
up the fence around the garden and did other
jobs. Had the head lights fixed on the truck.
At three I started for West Hartford and got
there at four and had a Drum Corps rehearsal.
Came back, it was very dark and hard to
see when meeting the bright lights of other
cars.
11\07\{1942} (Saturday)
To day I sharpened tools and went to the
farm and fed old Jude etc.
11\08\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Maurice Anderson preached
his first sermon as regular minister.
In the afternoon I went out on the Todd
Road.
11\09\{1942} (Monday)
Sharpened tools. At the farm took care of the
horse and spread old hay on the garden etc.
11\10\1942 (Tuesday)
Did odd jobs about home and sharpened
tools. Went to the farm and cut some
wood. Rained to night.
11\11\{1942} (Wednesday)
I sharpened tools and did odd jobs about
home. Took my truck down to Dan Hanlon's
to have it repaired. Saw Mr. Beers about
printing this evening.
11\12\{1942} (Thursday)
Sharpened tools etc. Got my truck from
Hannons and went to the farm and
spread manure on the garden etc.
Telephoned Kent and West Hartford this
morning.
11\14\{1942} (Saturday)
Yesterday I sharpened tools etc. In the
afternoon went to West Hartford and at
the home of Mr. Ziolkowski practiced playing
the drums and fifes with the class. I staid
all night and started home at day light.
This morning was very cold. At nine
I went up to Mr. Beers and saw him about
printing programs and songs for the
Kent celebration.
I sharpened tools and did many other
odd jobs at the farm. I sawed off some sticks
from the big limb.
11\15\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Mr. Anderson preached.
In the afternoon I went to the farm, then
on and up the Todd Road.
Very cold to day.
11\16\{1942} (Monday)
I went to Kent to day to see Ralph Bull.
After I got home went to the farm and
did the chores etc.
11\17\{1942} (Tuesday)
Worked the greater part of the day putting
a sill under the stable shed at the farm.
Went to Cheshire and got a bag of scratch
feed.
11\18\{1942} (Wednesday)
To day I took my car to Dan Hanlon's to
have the back wheel repaired so it will go
around.
This evening I went up to Louise to get
her to help me make out my gas ration
book for my truck. While there, a blackout
signal sounded and I quickly started for
home. A Warden stopped me but soon let
me proceed home. The blackout lasted about
1/2 hour.
11\19\1942 (Thursday)
Sharpened tools. Pulled turnips at the
farm. Saw Mort Pierpont and gave him
his book and got mine.
Went to Wolcott and Margaret typed my
papers.
11\21\{1942} (Saturday)
Yesterday morning I sharpened
tools and got my car ready and
at two started for West Hartford
where we had a drumming rehearsal
and I staid there all night. Came
home this forenoon and did odd
jobs. In the afternoon went to the
farm and put the horse in the
barn lot and dug a little pond for
water.
11\23\{1942} (Monday)
Yesterday was the fifty seventh anniversary
of my marriage.
I started for Kent in my truck alone
at eleven. Got there before one and
waited in my truck by Bulls Store
and soon the West Hartford came
and we went to the Community
House where we had a lunch and
at two a Testimonial Meeting
began.
It consisted of the Noah Webster
Drum Corps forming near the
entrance and when Major Gillette,
Frank P. Miller came, they played
"The Campbells Are Coming". Then the
band followed them into the hall, I
beating time and the Corps following
in single file and they took their
places on the stage. Soon the exercises
opened and the following program was
carried out:
Master of Ceremonies - R.P. Titus
Invocation - Rev. E.S. Foensmeter
Address of Welcome - W.E. Templeton
Singing America - Assembly
Led by the Cobble Hill Choristerrs
Presentation - Ralph W. Bull
Music - General Greens March
The Noah Webster Fife & Drum Corps
Listen to Major Charles S. Miller
Presentation - Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski
Singing - The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Led by the Cobble Hill Choristers
Firemen - F. Maurice Child
Selection - The Cobble Hill Choristers
Led by Miss Annie Chopin
Mrs. Albert Jack Accompanist
Masons - Frank H. Peet
Maurice Bruce's Address - The Noah Webster Fife & Drum Corps
First Congregational Church - Henry F. Mashier
Grange - Raymond H. Rockfeller, Master
Music - Yankee Doodle, Noah Webster Fife & Drum Corps
Kent School - Rev. W. S. Cholmere
Town - Theodore P. Wooding, First Selectman
Music - Bird Polka, Noah Webster Fife & Drum Corps
A Word of Appreciation - Mrs. Korczak Ziolkowski
Response - Frank P. Miller
Singing the Star-Spangled Banner - Assembly
Led by the Cobble Hill Choristers
Benediction - Rev. W.S. Cholmere
Everything went off smooth and
excellent. The attendance was not as
large as we wished.
After it was over about forty repaired
to the Kent Inn where we were served
with a nice supper.
The small number present was on
account of not being able to get gas.
I stayed over night at Franks and
left there this forenoon. Got home at
dinner time. This afternoon I went
to the farm and did several jobs.
Governor Baldwin was there and made
a short address.
11\24\{1942} (Tuesday)
I has rained all day. I sharpened many
tools and hardened a set of Bush Hammer
blades, went out to the farm and fed the
horse and shut him in the stable.
11\25\{1942} (Wednesday)
I repaired the stove in the wheel house and
filed saws and did other odd jobs. Mrs. Howe's
two daughters came from Brattleboro and brought
a new baby. It rained hard all day.
11\26\1942 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day. The Somers family
gathered at the Hotel Elton and had an
excellent dinner. There were about thirty
eight present.
11\27\{1942} (Friday)
Cool day. This morning I went to the
freight station to see about a combination
door that I bought of Sears & Roebuck but it
has not come and they paid me back the
58 cts freight that I had paid. Then I went
and paid my telephone bill and my light
bill. This afternoon I went to Cheshire and
bought three squares of shingles for the roof
over the east rooms. Paid 21.30. Then I came
to the farm and hitched up old Jude into
the cart and drove up on the hill and back
again. That was the first time that I put
a harness on him.
11\28\1942 (Saturday)
Cool day. I sharpened tools this morning.
Then I worked in the wheelhouse making
an extension for my 16 ft ladder, as I want
it 18 ft long for a staging to shingle the
roof. Then I went to the farm and hitched
up old Jude and rode up the hill in the
cart and then sawed some wood etc.
Had my car filled with gas.
11\29\1942 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Mr. Anderson preached.
Had dinner with Robert Somers at his
new house on Bunker Hill and staid
there till evening when he brought
me home.
Mrs. Howe's daughter left this noon
for Brattleboro. Her son Billie called
as he left his ship at Philadelphia on
a 48 hour furlow.
11\30\{1942} (Monday)
This forenoon I did odd jobs about home
and in the afternoon went to the Mattatuck
Historic Rooms and got my truck gas ration
book.
12\01\{1942} (Tuesday)
Yesterday afternoon I went to West Hartford
to the house of Sculptor Ziolkowski where I met
the members of the Noah Webster Drum and
Fife Corps. Then we went in three autos to
New Britain where we played for a meeting
of the Price Ceiling Commission that the
Government has sent out to limit the
prices on groceries. They have appointed
a large committee to go to the stores
and get the prices charged and report
to the Government.
12\02\1942 (Wednesday)
Cold windy day. I worked in the wheel
house making bolts etc. Went to Cheshire
in the afternoon and got a bag of oats.
At the farm made a drinking hole for the
horse to drink from.
12\03\{1942} (Thursday)
Cold and windy. I sharpened tools and
did blacksmith work to day. At the farm
shut the hose{??} in the stable and cut a little
wood etc.
12\04\{1942} (Friday)
Cold day. I sharpened picks and done
other blacksmith work. Went to the farm
and worked there this afternoon.
Had a letter from Fritsa. She stated
that Bobbie Miller has been promoted to
First Lieutenant in Brazil.
12\05\{1942} (Saturday)
I sharpened tools and did other work. At
the farm I took care of old Jude and cut
some wood.
It has been very cold to day. Snowed
a few flakes.
12\07\1942 (Monday)
Yesterday I attended service at the Mill
Plain Union Church. Rev. Anderson preached.
I came home and got into my 76 rig and
started for West Hartford stopping on
the Todd Road a few minutes. At West
Hartford I joined the Noah Webster
Fife and Drum Corps at the home of
Korczak Ziolkowski and at the proper
time we loaded into three large autos
and drove to a large hall in Hartford
where the Polish people to the number of
nearly three thousand had a great
patriotic rally. The opening act was
greatly applauded. Then we had to change
our rigs to our regular Continental
uniform but o the crowd of young ladies in
the dressing room.
We were so crowded that I had to push
the girls to the right and left to get room
to change my pants and I couldn't
keep them from treading into my suit
case and on my toes and they were
having their trials getting their costumes
arranged so as to go on the stage.
Finally we got out and joined the
rest on the floor and soon were called
to the stage where we played several
selections.
Then we left the hall but in the
entry way I saw more money than I
ever saw before. There was a table there
and an old Polander was laying down
six hundred dollars to pay for a 600 dollar
War Bond. He could not talk so any could
understand him. He had a son in the
service.
The place was crowded with Polanders
buying War Bonds. A man and a woman
was counting the money and a man
was writing the Bonds. They filled a
tin box full. The box was about 14' x 18" x
12" high. Then they stacked the bunches
of money on the table to the height of 18
inches. They had two girls to keep the
money from falling off.
After the cars were found we loaded in
and went to the home of Mr. Ziolkowski
where we had a lunch and they held a
business meeting, after which we retired.
This morning I ate breakfast there
then after a time I drove home, stopped
on the Todd Road and got home in
tome for dinner. This afternoon I
made a staging partly and then went
to the farm and cut wood etc.
12\08\{1942} (Tuesday)
Joe came this morning and we finished
some ladder brackets. Then we sharpened
tools. In the afternoon we went to the farm
and sawed up some wood and while Joe
rode the old horse, I cut up brush wood.
12\09\1942 (Wednesday)
{Margin note: First snow, 1 1/2 inches}
I sharpened tools this forenoon, got gas
and at the farm took care of the horse
and got in a lot of leaves while it was
snowing. It began snowing at noon and
stopped about 5 P.M., about 1 1/2" fell.
12\10\{1942} (Thursday)
I sharpened a lot of four points and made
a lot of new four points.
Had my truck repaired and did the
work at the farm.
12\11\{1942} (Friday)
Cool damp day. I worked at the farm for the
most part cutting up brush wood etc.
Brought a load of wood home.
12\12\{1942} (Saturday)
At the farm this forenoon I cut up brushwood
and hauled out brush with the horse.
This afternoon Ray came and we put up
a ladder staging at the north east corner
of the house.
12\13\{1942} (Sunday)
Was sick all night with a bad cough.
This morning snow lay on the ground
1" thick but soon to began snowing
and by night it was 11" deep.
I staid in the house all day till near
dark when I went to the farm and cared
for the horse.
12\14\1942 (Monday)
Cold day, staid in the house most of the
time, only when I shoveled paths and
did the chores.
12\15\{1942} (Tuesday)
I am not feeling any to good so I stayed
in the house most of the time, only when
I did the chores and went up the Todd
Road to see the snow.
Saw Ralph Pierpont and paid him
the milk bill.
12\16\{1942} (Wednesday)
{Margin note: 2nd snow, about 2" fell}
Cold day. Warm in the morning but
grew cold all day. I worked in the cellar
and connected up the electric oven and
got ready to turn the file handles.
It snowed during the night about
two inches deep.
12\17\{1942} (Thursday)
{Margin note: 10ø below}
I was in the cellar turning file handles
the greater part of the time.
12\18\{1942} (Friday)
Cold day. I did odd jobs about home.
Went to the farm, found the horse down,
could not get her up.
12\19\1942 (Saturday)
Thermometer 7ø below zero this morning and
cold all day.
When I went to the farm I found old Jude
dead in the stable.
I have not done much work to day,
only tending fires and keeping warm.
There only are a few cars on the road
on account of the short war gas rationed and
the cold.
12\20\{1942} (Sunday)
12ø below zero this morning. I staid in
the house till about three, then went
to East Farms, the thermometer being
3 below, then I went up on the Todd Road
where I staid till 7 P.M. When I got home
it was 12 below. I built up the fires and
got the house warm, but it was growing
colder all the time.
12\21\{1942} (Monday)
22 below this morning and cold all day.
I have been in the house most of the
time reading.
The street is nearly deserted of cars
but the busses are crowded with passengers.
12\22\{1942} (Tuesday)
12 below this morning, but it has grown
warm and is now 32 above. Have been
in the house most of the time.
12\23\1942 (Wednesday)
Mrs. Howe left this morning at 6.30 for
her old home in Brattleboro Vt.
After she had gone I did up the dishes
then went to the farm and marked out
a grave for the dead horse a little north of
the barn and dug it down about four feet
and struck a big stone. I then went up
to the Todd home and had Ruth help me
to cut out the Mill Plain Bond Certificates
so I could get my pay on them.
12\24\{1942} (Thursday)
This morning after breakfast I went to
the Colonial Trust Co. and got my certificates
cashed. Then I paid my water bill,
my light bill my telephone bill and
went to the bank and deposited a check
for $104.00. Came home, had dinner and
went to the farm and dug in the grove.
Had to break up big stones to get them
out. While I was there Fritsa and Ronny
called. They had just come by train from
New York.
12\25\{1942} (Friday)
Christmas Day. I received many presents.
I worked hard to get my breakfast and
get the dishes done and get ready to go
to Margaret's at 11.30. Up there we had
a fine dinner and there were 15 that
sat down at the table. In the afternoon
they had a Christmas Tree and many presents.
12\26\1942 (Saturday)
After breakfast i went to the farm and
rigged up my chain blocks{???} and hitched
onto the hind legs of the dead horse
in the stable and dragged him to the
door. Then I had to drag him crossways
to get his hind feet through the three
foot door and then pull straight but
she was so heavy that I could not pull
her over the door sill, so I strung up
the chain with another pulley and after
a lot of pulling, got her out and to the
side of the grave, but I could not pry
her in. I then drew her four feet together
and hitched on a rope and rigged my
1/2 ton hoist to a rock and rolled her over
and into the grave but she lay about
a foot away from the west end of the
grave and I could not move her which
was necessary as her head was not in.
I finally doubled it over and it was
growing freezing could. I had to work
lively to get her covered up before dark.
12\27\{1942} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Maurice Anderson
preached. After, I came home and had
lunch and then went out the Todd
Road and didn't go home till 11.30.
12\28\1942 (Monday)
I did odd jobs about home to day. Mrs.
Howe came from Vermont this morning.
It rained all day and was very slippery.
12\29\{1942} (Tuesday)
I had a time figuring out Tony's water
bill. It took most of the forenoon.
After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski
came from West Hartford and brought
five of the fifers and drummers and
we had a nice visit. Then we went out
to the Drum Room in the barn where
we had a good practice.
The weather was wet and the ground
slippery.
12\30\{1942} (Wednesday)
Rained and froze all day. The ice did a lot
of damage to light and telephone wires
in Wolcott and Prospect but here we did
not notice it. Out about Hitchcock's Lake
many houses were without water, heat or
light as they used electricity to pump the
water from their Artesian Wells and for
cooking and to keep warm and for
lights, but as the ice broke the wires
down, they were without current.
12\31\1942 (Thursday)
This has been a fair clear day, not too
cold. I have made a long light pair of
tongs to take the clinkers out of the
furnace when the clog the grate so it does not
work.
They say that there is scarcely a tele-
phone in the town of Wolcott that will
work on account of the great ice storm yes-
terday that broke the wires down and at
many of the new places at Hitchcock's
Lake, the people are without water, light,
heat, cooking, baking, time and other
conveniences that are furnished by the
electric line that are down and broken.
About here we had no trouble.
01\01\1943 (Friday)----
{Margin note: 3rd snow, about 2 1/2" fell}
New Years Day. I sharpened tools and
tempered bush hammer blades this
forenoon. It began snowing about 10 o'clock
and stopped about 5. This afternoon I
carried 1/2 bin of potatoes to Oscar Todd.
The ice has broken many of the trees
in that neighborhood and put all the
electric equipment out of business.
01\02\1943 (Saturday)
Cold day. I sharpened tools most of
the time to day.
01\03\1943 (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Maurice J. Anderson Pastor.
His sermon was "Cooperation."
This afternoon I took some pictures out the
Todd Road.
The weather has been cloudy most of
the time.
01\04\{1943} (Monday)
{Margin note: 4th snow, 1 1/2" fell}
Cold day. I cleaned the snow off the
paths and did but little work beside.
01\05\{1943} (Tuesday)
I sharpened tools this forenoon. Then staid
in the house and read the rest of the day.
Very cold, 14 above at noon and below
that the rest of the day.
01\06\{1943} (Wednesday)
Cold day, have been in the house most
of the time. I turned out a few file handles
in the cellar and tempered a set of Bush
Hammer blades.
01\07\{1943} (Thursday)
Tow below this morning. 20 above at noon.
Sharpened tools this forenoon. went to Cheshire
and got two bags of feed and to Wolcott in
the afternoon.
01\08\1943 (Friday)
Cold day. I worked in the blacksmith shop
most of the time.
Had a letter from Dick from Fort
Belvoir, Va.
01\09\{1943} (Saturday)
Cold day. I went to Judd & Puffer's and
got the insurance on my house renewed.
Then I went to Sears and Roebuck and
saw the manager about a storm door I
ordered last Oct. and paid them six
dollars and ten cents for it but it has
got lost. They ordered another door.
01\10\{1943} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain
Union Church. Rev. Anderson preached.
This afternoon I went to the farm and
got a pair of tackle blocks and rope. Then
I went up the Todd Road. It was very
cold weather.
01\11\{1943} (Monday)
I made wedges nearly all day for
Dick to use down to Fort Belvoir to
wedge axes on the handles.
The weather has been cold.
01\12\{1943} (Tuesday)
I made a lot of steel key wedges for Dick
and packed them with the wooden wedges an
sent them by mail.
01\13\1943 (Wednesday)
Cold day. Wrote a letter to Dick at
Camp Belvoir, Virginia telling the
news and that I had sent the wedges.
I have had my tires inspected to day
and sharpened a lot of Bush Hammer
blades and tools etc.
01\14\{1943} (Thursday)
Cold day, 2 below this morning, 20 above
at noon. Worked in the blacksmith shop
this forenoon. Took 1/2 bu of potatoes to Ruth
Miller this afternoon and 1/2 bu to Ruth Todd.
01\15\{1943} (Friday)
{Margin note: 5th snow, 1 1/2" fell}
Snowed this morning, I worked in the
blacksmith shop and sharpened two
saws. The new minister Mr. Anderson
called this afternoon.
01\16\{1943} (Saturday)
{Margin note: 6th snow, 1" fell}
Snow and wet all day. I sharpened a
lot of tools etc. in the blacksmith shop.
01\17\{1943} (Sunday)
I attended service at the Mill Plain Union
Church. Rev. Maurice J. Anderson Pastor.
"What Do I Get Out of It?" was his subject.
Wet and slippery to day. This afternoon I went
out the Todd Road.
01\18\{1943} (Monday)
To day it sleeted and all is ice and
slippery. I have worked in the blacksmith
shop making tools etc.
01\19\{1943} (Tuesday)
Bad ice storm all day, slippery and
hard walking. This afternoon I up
and saw Mr. Clark about Litchfield.
01\20\{1943} (Wednesday)
To day has been very cold and the
ground covered with ice. I have been
doing odd jobs in the Wheelhouse and
cellar. Had a long letter from Margaret
and Ruth.
01\21\{1943} (Thursday)
Cold day, 2 above this morning, 10 above
at noon. Worked in the Wheelhouse and
fixed Todd's chair in the afternoon.
got list of Burpees seed to day, came
to 3.80.
01\22\{1943} (Friday)
C{?} day, 4ø below this morning and 10 above
at noon. I worked in the Wheelhouse
on picture frames most of the time.
01\23\1943 (Saturday)
Cold day. 3 below this morning. 20 above at
noon. I worked in the wheel house this
forenoon and read and did errands in the
afternoon.
01\24\{1943} (Sunday)
This morning was very icy. Last night
the state police stopped the running of all
trucks, busses and cars on account of the
ice. This afternoon it had thawed
some. I went out the Meriden Road.
01\25\{1943} (Monday)
Foggy all day, much of the snow and ice
melted. I worked in the wheel house most
of the time.
01\26\{1943} (Tuesday)
{Margin note: 7th snow, 1" fell.}
I worked in the wheelhouse to day on
picture frames etc.
01\27\{1943} (Wednesday)
{Margin note: 8th snow, 2 1/2" fell}
Cold day, about 2 1/2" snow fell early this
morning. This forenoon I went and
paid my light and telephone bills.
Last night I received by mail some
Brazil coins that Bobbie sent.
We know nothing of what he is doing
in South America.
01\28\1943 (Thursday)
{Margin note: 9th snow, about 11" has fallen}
Snowed hard all day and now sleet.
I have done some odd jobs, made two
slitting tools for Anthony, have not
been feeling very lively.
The snow plows are now running
very fast and have the roads about
here cleared of snow but sleet is
falling and they are getting slippery.
01\29\{1943} (Friday)
I have spent this day shoveling
snow and repairing the snow plow
for the Calvary Cemetery.
01\30\{1943} (Saturday)
{Margin note: 10th snow, 1" fell}
{2nd Margin note: 11th snow, 1" fell}
I shoveled snow much of the time
and got my truck out and got 5 gls of gas
at Hanlons. This afternoon Dick called
having just came from Fort Belvoir, Va.
He was in full uniform and expects to be
sent to Oregon soon after his return
next Wednesday.
Snow is causing much trouble and
delay.
01\31\{1943} (Sunday)
{Margin note: 12th snow, 3" fell}
Cold snow hard day. I staid in
all the forenoon. In the afternoon I drove
up through Woodtick and down the Todd
Road, stopping and having supper at Oscar
and Ruth Todd's.
02\01\1943 (Monday)
I shoveled snow and dug out my long
path on the Frost Road. This afternoon
we repaired the caterpillar snow plow for
the Cemetery. Cold day.
02\02\{1943} (Tuesday)
I have not felt very lively to day. Sharpened
some small drills and made an iron bracket
for Mrs. Howe's table. Repaired the boiler and
did other odd jobs.
02\03\{1943} (Wednesday)
Cold day. Worked in the blacksmith shop
sharpening tools etc.
This afternoon the Citizens Coal Co sent
three tons of screened soft coal at 8.55 per
ton = 25.65.
02\04\{1943} (Thursday)
Rain and wet and fog. Snow and ice
softened some. I worked sharpening tools
and drove to the store and got groceries etc.
02\05\{1943} (Friday)
Went and thawed all day. Repaired a lot
of chains and made hooks.
Streets are very slippery.
02\06\1943 (Saturday)
Wet and very slippery to day. I worked in
the wheel house making a shelf bracket
for Mrs. Howe's rug table.
02\07\{1943} (Sunday)
Cold day, very icy. Staid in all the fore-
noon. Went out the Meriden Road and
up the Todd Rd. Found plenty of ice.
02\08\{1943} (Monday)
Very cold day. I stayed in the house
and wrote about Litchfield Hills etc.
02\09\{1943} (Tuesday)
To day has not been so cold, thawed a
little. This afternoon I went to Cheshire
and got two bags of chicken feed.
Stopped and saw Ralph Pierpont and paid
milk bill.
02\10\{1943} (Wednesday)
Cloudy all day. I sharpened tools all
day.
02\11\{1943} (Thursday)
Cloudy and cold. In the afternoon I went
out to Woodtick and down the Todd Road
and got an axe to be repaired from Oscar
Todd etc. Wrote Lewis S. Mills, E. Hartford
and Dorothy Miller, Milwaukee.
02\12\1943 (Friday)
Cold day. Lots of ice and slippery walking.
I have been in most of the time.
Ruth Brundage came about 10 o'clock and
staid till two. When Margaret and George
came from Wolcott and took her home with
them for a short visit, then she will take
a bus and go home.
02\13\{1943} (Saturday)
{Margin note: 13 snow, 15" fell}
Began snowing this morning and is still
snowing. I have been in the house all day
except when I went to the cobblers and got a pair of
shoes that he had soled. Then I went and
got some groceries.
02\14\{1943} (Sunday)
Cold day. I spent all day shoveling out paths
and doing the chores. At night I was chilled
through.
02\15\{1943} (Monday)
This is the cold day I ever knew. The
thermometer registered 22ø below zero this
morning, 10ø below at noon, 8ø below at night
and the wind has blown hard and bitter
cold much of the time.
I could hardly breathe when out.
Once I saw the thermometer 24 below in the
morning but it was up at zero at noon.
02\16\1943 (Tuesday)
This was the coldest morning I ever
knew in Waterbury. My thermometer
was 36ø below zero at 7.30. 24ø below was
the coldest I knew before.
Some thermometers went 38 and 40ø
below.
I was up at time all night keeping
the furnace fire going hot so the
house could not get cold.
Many of the young folks froze their
ears and noses while waiting for the
busses and dozens of cars and busses
froze while being operated and all looked
like steam cars as the gas exhaust
condensed to steam which trailed out
far in back.
02\17\{1943} (Wednesday)
{Margin note: 14th snow, 3/4" fell}
Thermometer 6ø above zero this morning,
14ø above at noon, 22ø above at night.
I dug the snow away from the blacksmith
shop door and worked there much of the
time. Inside the shop everything was
covered with a thick coating of frost
1/4" thick on the metal chimney and
window panes.
This is the first time I ever knew my
hardening solution to freeze.
02\18\1943 (Thursday)
Six above zero this morning. 20ø above at
noon, 16ø above at night.
This morning I cleaned out the chimney
and furnace and riddled a lot of ashes.
I got my truck out this afternoon and
went down and had my hair cut and
got two lengths of furnace pipe and then
got a lot of groceries.
The snow has settled some, so it is only
8" deep.
The people of Wolcott and Prospect cannon
obtain any fuel oil to burn and some
of them are suffering very much and have
to go to bed to keep warm. those who have
cars come down here to Urban's Oil Station
and they can drew five gallons. I counted
sixteen cars at one time with people who had
five gallon cans that they had filled.
02\19\{1943} (Friday)
8ø above this morning, 34ø at noon and 36 tonight.
My furnace smoke pipe rusted out and
almost broke away from the chimney. I
made parts of the pipe of tin and wired
them on and hope they will last till I can
get elbows and make a new pipe.
The shortage of fuel oil continues. Mable
Gladding with a hand sled and two 2
gallon cans that I furnished went over
to the gas station and got the cans filled.
02\20\1943 (Saturday)
20ø above this morning. 36ø at noon and
50ø above to night.
Has thawed much to day.
02\21\{1943} (Sunday)
Warm day, 50 above most of the day.
I took a basket of potatoes out the Todd
Road and brought them back again.
02\22\{1943} (Monday)
Washington's Birthday. Schools and banks
closed. Most of the factories worked.
Thawed most of the day.
02\23\{1943} (Tuesday)
Thermometer at 50ø much of the time to day.
This morning I went to the Registration
Office at the Watertown Ave. and got my
truck license paid, $10.20.
This evening Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski
and Mrs. Comstock with Attorney
Lyman of New Haven called. They had
just come from Court where a trial is
being heard regarding the will and
estate of David Porter who died I think
in 1905.
02\24\1943 (Wednesday)
Thawed all day. Mr. and Mrs. Ziolkowski
called this morning and left their little
baby for Mrs. Howe to take care of while
they attended court.
This afternoon I went up to Margaret's
in Wolcott and looked up the owners of
the place where they now live.
02\25\{1943} (Thursday)
The weather has been cool, little thaw.
I killed and dressed a rooster this forenoon
and went to the store and did several errands.
This afternoon I went and had Ruth Todd
make out my income tax report. It was
a difficult job.
02\26\{1943} (Friday)
Cold day, no thaw. I repaired my car,
rather truck and did a few odd jobs and
sat in the house the most of the time as
it hurts me to breathe when I go out in the
cold. It has troubled me since the cold
morning when it nearly smothered me.
02\27\{1943} (Saturday)
{Margin note: 15th snow, 1" fell}
Cold to day. Sharpened tools this forenoon.
Visited Ruth and Ray this afternoon.
A train load of Litchfield boys left the
Waterbury station this morning for the War.
02\28\1943 (Sunday)
Cool day. This afternoon I went out the
Todd Road and had a good supper etc.
03\01\{1943} (Monday)
Cool day. Am not feeling very well. I have
sharpened tools much of the time.
03\02\{1943} (Tuesday)
Cold day. This morning I went to
the Bank and deposited 38.56 and had
checks cashed for 50.00. Then I went to
the income tax office at #15 Levenworth
Street to pay a quarter part of my income
tax which was 19.47. But they would
not take money, only post office orders
so I had to walk over to the post office
and pay an extra .13 and get a P.O.
Order. Then I with hundreds of others
came back and paid it.
Then I went to the Connecticut Light
and Power Office and paid my bill, 5.64.
Then I walked down Grand Street
to the telephone building and there paid
my bill, 4.40. Then went to Sears and
Roebuck and paid 6.10 for a combination
door which I ordered the first of
last October and which went astray.
Came home and had dinner and have
been in the house most of the afternoon.
03\03\1943 (Wednesday)
{Margin note: 16 snow, 4" fell}
Snowed all day, about four inches fell.
This evening the weather has came off
and did several odd jobs in the cellar.
It is hard to keep the furnace fire going
good as the coal is not very good. But
I am lucky to have it, as many have
a hard time getting any, owing to the
War Rationing Board and those who use
oil can get only small quantities. It is
hard these cold times.
03\04\{1943} (Thursday)
Zero this morning, 14 above at noon. 10 at night.
I have staid in most of the day.
This afternoon I started to see Margaret
but could get no gas. At Woodtick it
was running low so I turned down the
Todd Road and after some delay reached
home in time for supper.
03\05\{1943} (Friday)
Cool. I sharpened tools some of the time
and stayed in the house and kept warm.
03\06\{1943} (Saturday)
{Margin note: 17 snow, 4" fell}
Snow on the ground this morning and
about eight it began snowing about 5.
4" had fell and it turned to rain which
continued hard till about ten.
03\07\1943 (Sunday)
Cold day with much ice. I stayed in
all the forenoon. In the afternoon I went
out the Meriden Road and turned up the
Todd Road but did not go far as there
was much ice up there so after a little
I came home.
03\08\{1943} (Monday)
This morning it was hard for me to
breathe so I had Louise call Dr. Barber.
He came after dinner and said my
heart was affected and the cold clogged
its action and for me to stay in till
the weather is warmer and he ordered
some pills and tablets of Kunkle which
he brought up and I have been taking
so now I feel better.
Korczak Ziolkowski called this evening
to tell me about the business of the
Putnam Phalanx and their illegal
election of officers held Feb 22.
03\09\{1943} (Tuesday)
This has been a very cold day. At noon
16ø above and at night 20.
I have been in the house all the time
except the time it took to feed the chickens
and get 13 eggs.
03\10\1943 (Wednesday)
This morning it was cold but at noon
40 above and later 50. The snow and ice
melted so the ground is partly bare.
I got two bags of chicken feed of the
Spenser Grain Co, one bag scratch feed
2.90, one bag oats 2.30. This is the most I ever
paid.
03\11\{1943} (Thursday)
Warm and foggy to day.
Last night I did not feel or sleep very
well and I was sick to my stomach so
this morning I had Louise Service called
Dr. Walter Barber. He came after dinner
and prescribed some pills for me to take
at night and in the morning.
They will last some time as there is 22 of them.
03\12\{1943} (Friday)
This forenoon I worked in the blacksmith
shop sharpening four points for finishing
granite. This afternoon I went up to Wolcott
Center and visited Margaret Hall.
03\13\{1943} (Saturday)
This morning Margaret and George
Hall called. They had been to the store
to trade. Could not get any meat to day.
They left about nine o'clock and it began
snowing and has snowed ever since.
{C.S.M. died on 14 March 1943.}
INDEX
OF NAMES (uncorredted, partial,
before file was complete), by Todd A. Kraft
Unindexed as of July 2002 are: 1876-1879, 1890, 5/13/1892-8/10/1892, 1898 parallel records, 11/28/1898-10/05/1899, 7/08/1900-4/21/1902, 6/05/1902-5/21/1904, 7/16/1906-12/31/1906, 3/27/1914-7/29/1928, 5/27/1929-9/09/1929, 1936 supplement, 1/01/1937-5/28/1937, 1/01/1941-12/14/1941.
"The Democrat", 807
20th Regt C. W., 55
23 Regt. C. V., 400
A. O. Smith Co., 401
A. O. Smith Co. in Milwaukee, 414
A. O. Smith Corporation, 414
Abel, Agness, 420
Able, H. J., 42
Able, Hiram, 46,57,59
Able, Hiram J., 43
Able, Mrs. Hiram, 64
Able, Olive, 71
Adams, F. L., 17
Alaska, gold found in, 57
Alcott, Gaylord, 42
Alcott, Morris B.,
42,86,88,98,104,116,127,130,133,139,142,148,151,153,169,299
Alexander, George, 21,22,43,50,64
Allen, Frank, 54
Aluminum Brass and Bronze Co, 38
American Brass Co., 390,412
American Sheet Metal Works, 743
Archer, M., 54
Armstrong Rubber Co., 404
Ashton, Hattie, 161
Athunson, George, 50
Atkinson, Mr., 61
Atkinson, Wm, 54
Atkinson, Wm., 42
Atlantic & Pacific Store, 776
attending school 1864, 27
Aunt Edna of Hartford, 525
Austin, Hattie (remarried Homer Twichell), 62
Austin, William, 62
Austin, William E., 161
Austin, Wm, 39
Auto Industry, 401
Back, Mrs. William (nee Elsie French), 238
Bacon, George, 781
Bacon, John W., 46
Baldwin, 819
Baldwin, Governor, 815
bank holiday of 1933, 527
Barber, Dr., 797
Barker, Robert (publisher of 1610 Bible), 240
Barker, Walter, 812
Barnes, Aca, 52
Barnum, V. E., 46
Barr, John, 573,807,809,818,823
Barre, John, 805
Bartlett, William, 596
Bates, Hiram W., 42
Bawley, Mr. (steam sawmill), 52
Beardsley, Edwin W., 596
Beckwith, Alice, 161
Beckwith, Elnor, 55
Beckwith, Lewis, 64,87
Beecher, Sophia, 235
Benedict, George E., 73
Benham, 7
Benham, Carrie, 815
Benham, E. A., 6
Benham, George, 63
Benham, George M., 43
Benhan, George, 28
Berger, Fred, 573,810
Bergeron, Robert, 564
Berlin Iron Bridge Company, 9
Bird, Arthur, 806
Bird, Mrs. of Rag Hollow, 824
Bissell, Sarah, 53
blacksmith shop, built by CSM in 1887., 389
Blakeslee, Burr, 61
Blakeslee, Ralph, 65,86,167,171
Blanchett, Joseph, 240
blasting rocks, 572
Blewitt, Mr., 570
Bloamfield, Alexander (Bloomfield), 8
Boutillier, A. L., 41
Boynton, Theodore, 402
Bradley, L. J., 41
Bradley, Luther, 20,21,57,74
Brainard, Fred, 69
Brass Mill, 412
Brauson, J. H., 47
Brewster, William, 237
Bronson, Amanda (aunt 92 birthday), 55
Bronson, Aunt Amanda, 92
Bronson, Jane Elizabeth Pierpont, 27
Bronson, Sidney, 409
Bronson, Sidney Phelps, 22
Bronson, Susan, 79
Brookfield, 806
Brown, Charlie, 54
Brown, Judge George, 564
Brundage, Jack, 568,805,810
Brundage, Kenneth, 777
Brundage, Peggy, 777
Brundage, Pierce, 777
Brundage, Roger, 777
Brundage, Ruth, 27,777,793
Brundage, S. J., 777
Bryan, J. J., 28
Bryan, L. P., 7
Bryan, M., 8
Bryan, Mrs., 116
Bulger, Thomas, 50
Burgess, Allen, 239,420,817
Burnett, Edith, 75
Burnhart, Amelia, 64
Burns, Michael, 22
Byam, J. J., 53
Byrd, Arthur, 570
Byrd, Mildred, 571
Byrnes, William, 51
Byrnes, Wm., 47
Byron, John, 44
C. W. A., 567
Cammeyer, A. J., 41
canal, built by F. W. Goldsmith in 1851., 387
Canklin, Dwight, 47
Cards, playing whist., 63
Carter, Henry, 13
Carter, Miss, 810
Cass, 26
Cass, Charles, 118,409
Cass, George, 47
Cass, Hery, 47
Cass, Nellie, 90
Caw, 50
Cawell, Judge, 48
cemetery, Brockett, 564
cemetery, Calvary, 564
census of 1940, 789
Chamberlain, Abrian (Govenor of Connecticut), 235
Chandy, A. E., 5
Chapman, Horatio, 87
Chapman, Mr., 80
Chatfield, William, 106,108,112
Cheshire, 805
Chipman, Lidia, 20
Christmas, 826
Christmas Day (1904), 185
Christmas Day (1938), 743
cigarettes, 822
City Ice Co., 28
Civil War Veterans, 789
Civil War, memories of, 822
Civil War, soldier list, 785
Clark, Artisan S., 50
Clark, Gould, 572
Clark, Halsey, 575
Clark, Laverne, 576
Clark, Wm., 21
Cleveland, Isaac, 793
Cleveland, Johnson decendents of, 793
Clintonville, 805
Clock that Timothy E. Miller traded two hogs for in 1790,
566
Clows, Randolph B., 10
coal, used for heating, 565
Coe, Arden H., 60
Coe, Gertrude, 585
Coe, Israel (died 97), 36
Coe, John, 235
Coe, L. E., 49
Coe, S. H., 50
Colloty, M., 46
Congregational Church in Litchfield, 549
Conklin, Wm, 47
Connecticut Light & Power Company, 818
Connecticut Light and Power Company, 805,812
Connellwell Club, 409
Connor, Nellie (Mary Miller's sister), 63
Cook, Elias, 6
Cook, Governor, 55
Cooley, Henry, 403
Cornelius, Emma, 61
Courtship of Miles Standish, The, 50
Cousin Lillie, 109
Cowdell, George, 562,815
Cowdell, Nellie, 816,823
cows, milking, 574
croup (illness), 27
Crutches, Mr., 53
Cuba, 50
Cummings, Alice, 809,810,815
Curtis, Clarisa, 801
Curtis, Clarissa, 100
Curtis, Clarissa (cousin), 67
Curtis, Melville, 100,172,801
Curtis, Robert, 801
Cushing, William, 416
Danbury Road, 806
Davenport, Clarance, 117
death of Frisbie Frank, 613
Delaney, John, 13
Dethuns, H., 7
Dillinger, John, 574
Dixon, John, 415
Donovan, Michael, 7
Doolittle, 26
Doolittle, Alexander, 237
Doolittle, Judson, 239
Doolittle, Mrs. (burial of), 55
Down, David, 61
Downs, George, 127
Drew, Harold (Studying Law at Yale), 238
Durkee, William, 18
Durkee, Wm H., 28
early settlers of Newtown, Conn, 791
East Cemetery in Litchfield, 406
Edwards, Elton, 784
Edwards, George, 11,38,98
Edwards, Hattie, 103
Edwards, Mrs. Elton, 575
Egan, Francis, 575
Egan, James, 403
Egan, James J., 56
Egan, Jimmie, 572
Egglestone, T.B., 27
Eldridge, Mr., 54
Elliot, Mr., 239
Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee, 416
Emmout, L. L., 56
Ensworth, L. L., 28
establishing prices of farm products, 50
Eusworth, L. L., 14,20
Evening American, publishing of Iva Miller's article
01/11/1898, 59
Everitt, Dea E. B., 235
F. H. Woodruff & Sons of Milford, 787
Fabar, Mrs. William (see Scott, Hattie), 750
Faber, Adam, 70
Fabor, Adam, 62
Fairchild, G. W., 49
Fairchild, O. L., 42
Fairchild, Oscar, 10
Fairchild, Oscar L., 13,19,21,23
Falls Village High, 819
Farclough, C. S., 27
Fardon, Mr., 18
Farrell, Miles, 9
Ferrell, Benjamin, 28
Ferrells, Charlie, 797
Fields, John W., 41
Fitzgerald, Mr., 42
Fleming, Byron, 822
Fleming, Peewee, 803
Flemming, Byron, 814,816
Flemming, Thomas J., 579
Ford, 815
Forsberg , Enid, 777
Forsberg, Malcolm, 777,825
Forsberg, Peter, 777
Forsberg, Peter Lee Malcolm, 825
Fourclaigh, Benjamin, 7
Fourclaugh, Thomas, 50
Frampkin, Fred, 43
Frank and Gussy, 43
Franklin, Edgar C., 596
Freeman, Sarah, 41
French Hill, 52
French, Bertha, 79,90,240
French, Cara, 71
French, Cara (25th b'day), 233
French, Clara, 71,79,90,97,102,118,240
French, Elsie, 71,238
French, John, 46,47,59,77,78,90,120
French, Mrs., 50
Frisbie
Aunt, 683
Berkeley L.,
263,282,394,423,425,429,431,432,445,450,530,534,538,552,566,607,613,622,626,698,717,750,784,790,791,833,834,838,843
Burt, 65,119,202,442,457,475,492,505,571,650
Charles, 429,464
Charles G., 428
David, 119,135,150,185
E. L., 59
E. L. Sr., 59
Eunice, 556
Ferress, 566
Frank, 61,119,299,319,327,613
Genealogy, 276
John, 80,833,834
Judah, 59,430,433
Lauren, 58
Mae Belle, 432,450,465
Martin, 274,295
May, 428
Mildred, 566
Miles Mac Bells (Mae Belle?), 464
Reuben, 430,464
Richard, 146
Sheldon, 429
Frost, Caris, 11
Frost, Charles, 53,59
Frost, Harris, 24
Frost, L. H., 52
Frost, Ruben, 52
Frost, Warren, 8
Gallagher, John, 54,74
Garrigan, Bessy, 25
Garrigues, Annie, 113
Garrigues, Lewis, 53,54
Garrigus Family Reunion, 808
Garrigus, Leland, 783
Gaylord, Mr., 824
Geake, H.M., 14
General Motors, 815
Gillette
Gillette, Charles, 24
Gillette, Charles S., 27
Gillette, Malachi, 53,109,110,111 (married to
Lillie/Lillian)
Gillette, Mansfield, 785,817,820,833 (son of William)
Gillette, Marion, 111,755,768 (daughter of Malachi, married
Samuel Oviatt)
Gillette, Mr & Mrs (Samuel & Louisa Stannard; 55 yr
aniv), 47
Gillette, Sam, 53
Gillette, Samuel, 110
Gillette, William (Will, Wm), 48,49,823, etc.(married Iva
Miller)
Goldsmith Chatfield, 401
Goldsmith Chatfield Co., 401
Goldsmith, Christine, 119
Goldsmith, Ellen (aunt), 119
Goldsmith, F. W., 387
Goldsmith, Fred, 119
Goldsmith, Mary, 59,70,119
Goldsmith, Mary (cousin), teaching school on East Mountain,
66
Goldsmith, Uncle, 119
Goldsmith, William, 119
Goldsmith, William (uncle), 119
Goldsmith?, Ben, 119
Graham, Lillie, 416
Graham, Lillie (cousin), 416
Grange, 54
grange, 24,28
Grange Fair, 55
Grange Hall, 58,59
Grange, Mad River, 53
Great National Conscript Bill, 809
Grilley, William, 8,9
Griswold, Amanda, 114
Haggett, B. T., 42
Haggett, B.F., 41
Haggett, Mr., 61
Hall & Upson, 28
Hall's in West Hartford, The, 827
Hall, C. W., 22
Hall, George, 47,777,825,826
Hall, Margaret, 777,809,810,820,823,827 (=Margaret Miller
Northrop)
Hall, Margaret and George, 807
Hall, Margaret M. N. (birth of), 20
Hall, Miss Anna, 51
Hall, Mrs Nelson (burial of), 54
Hall, Mrs. Nelson (died this day), 54
Hall, Nelson, 47
Hall, Ramson, 27
Hall, Robert, 64
Hallister, Mr., 55
Hamilton, Mr. (of N.H.), 48
Harris, Elizabeth, 417
Harris, H. N., 418
Harris, Mr. (in Litchfield), 241
Harrison, Benjamin, 17
Harrison, George, 7
Hatch, John M., 46
Hattersley, Mrs. (Irving's wife's sister), 804
Hawds and Barnard Son & Company, 43
Haynes, J. B., 41
Hayton, Dr. B. A., 804
Haywood, Sadie, 79
Heaton, Arthur, 60
Heaton, Clifford, 825,827
Heaton, Clifton (Yale 1907), 230
Heaton, Fritsa, 804,827
Heaton, H. C., 777
Heaton, Lyndell (marriage of), 812
Heaton, Thomas, 69
Higgins, Fred, 29
Hill, Fannie, 99
Hine, George, 59,70
Hine, Sarah, 42
History of Connecticut, 823
History of New England, writing his biography in, 812
History of Woodbury, 62
Hitchcock Lake, 804,807
Hitchcock, Edson, 26,29,55,57
Hitchcock, Elmer, 65
Hitchcock, Elwen, 239
Hitchcock, Fannie, 71,79
Hitchcock, G.B., 21
Hitchcock, Louis B., 390
Hitchcock, Mr. (place where he dug for gold), 242
Hitchcock, Mrs. George, 67
Hitchcock, Shelton, 63
Hitchcocks Lake, 802
Hitler, Adolph, 827
Holland, L. W., 42
Holmes & Parsons Bank, 115
Holmes Boogh and Harden, 38
Holmes Booth & Hayden, 26,27
Holmes, Ed, 8,17
Hoover, President, 403
Hotchkiss, 7,8
Hotchkiss Co., 408
Hotchkiss Place, 807
Hotchkiss Saw Mill, 746
Hotchkiss, Charles, 47,70
Hotchkiss, Charlie, 61
Hotchkiss, Elizer, 42
Hotchkiss, Gilbert, 115
Hotchkiss, Jason, 800
Hotchkiss, Mabel, 576
Hotchkiss, Nellie, 783
Hotchkiss, Orson, 583
Hotchkiss, Robert, 185,238
Hotchkiss, Treat, 798
houses, moving, 573
Hubbell, H. C., 26
Hull, Arthur, 812
Hurlbert, Lena, 71
Hurley, 819
Hustin, Wm. E., 10
Income, yearly, 26
International Silver Co., 388,735
International Silver Company, 776
Ives, Card, 49
Ives, Cha's, 42
Ives, Charles, 27
J. P. Howell & Company, 41
Jackson
Carl, 790,791,833
Daniel, 791
Jackson, Daniel, 485
Jackson, Emma L., 573
Jackson, Emma L. (cousin of CSM), 562
Jacoby, Hazel Pierpont, 803
Jashlin, Nellie, 416
Jenner, Effel, 120
Jenner, Louise, 120
Jenner, Mary, 34
Jenner, Mary Miller, 120
Jenner, Roland, 120,685
Jeralds(?), Edgar (death of), 568
John Price Printing Co., 407
Johnson, Ed, 17,25
Jones, 51
Jones, Arthur (death of), 564
Jones, Mrs., 563
Judd, Frank, 9
Judd, Mr., 70
Keens, T. H., 49
Kellogg, Mr., 54
Kent Preparatory, 819
Kent School, The, 405
Ketchem, Rev., 240
Kilbaurn, Truman, 54
Kilbourn, Harold, 70
Kilbourn, Harry, 62,65,69
Kilbourn, Hattie, 61
Kilbourn, Truman, 74
Kimball, Chester, 238
Kimball, Chester (Lafayette 1907), 230
Kimball, Wm., 52
Kingsbury, Fred, 28
Kinsbury, Frederick J., 230
Kraft, Charles, 777
Kraft, Howard, 777
Kraft, Marian, 777,800
Kraft, Robert, 777
Lackhart, Frank, 65
Ladies Union, 60
Lake, H. W., 62
Lakes, H. W., 13
Larchild, O.G., 9
Lerrell, Rishy (Merrill?), 58
Lewis House, 576
Lewis, Lyman, 103
Lewis, Rev John, 404
Lewis, Rev John of St. John's Church, 404
Library, Bronson, 573
Lillian, Thomas, 44
Lillie?, 54
Lines, H. Wales, 240
Litchfield (East), Connecticut, 18
Litchfield Station, 241
Litchfield, Connecticut,
53,55,111,126,154,155,224,241,282,340,364
Little Women, 69
Lyman, (Arthur), 51
Lyman, Hattie L., 50
Lyman, Mary, 97
Lynch, Judge, 823
Lyons, Eddie, 20
Mahan, Mr., 50
Mailthrop, M., 7
Makepeace, Attorney, 241
Malachi?, 54
Manhattan Brass Company, 38
Manteille, John, 41
Marham, 52
Marian?, 54
marriage
Hitchcock, Edson to Beckwith, Elnor, 55
Marrow, Dolly, 61,71
Marsh, Lydia, 41
Mass, George, 21
Mass, Julus, 55
Mattatuck Drum Band, 817
Mattatuck Hall, 805
Maulthrop, T. C., 41
McCracken, Mr., 47
McCreery, James, 41
McKinley, 55
McKinley, President, 74
McManus, Edward, 59
Meanick, Anna Pierpont, 811
Melbourne, Mr., 21
Melbourne, Thomas, 26,47,52
Merrill, Harry L., 68
Merrill, Trishie, 58
Merriman, Arthur, 38,70
Merrindus, Arthur, 61
Milbourn, Thomas, 57
Miler, Raymond, 807
Miles, Bessie, 66
Milford, 46
Mill Plain Chapel, 62
Mill Plain School, 56
Mill Plain school house, 44
Miller
(death of), 384
Amy, 48
Barbara, 777,825
Bertha, 777,825
Cara Somers, 24,25,26,51,62,63,64,65,68,77,104,120,787,788,789
Charles Somers (self), 7,16,74
Charles Somers (weight in 1898), 60
Charlotte Amy (CSM's sister = Cara), 51
Clyde (CSM's son), 10,17,24,47,60
Clyde (Lafayette 1907), 230
Clyde house on Belvedere Blvd., 412
David, 777
David C., 825
David P., 825
Dick (see also Richard), 777
Dorothy, 807
Dwight, 59,777,825
Dwight's baby beef, 810
Elias S., 5
Elsie, 777
Esther, 777
Father (birthday 61), 30 (see Heman Oviatt Miller)
Frank, 27,60
Frank (working at Benedict & Burnham), 60
Frank H. (CSM's brother), 826
Frank P. (CSM's son), 777
Frank Pierpont (birth of), 41
Fred, 6,11,21,53,813
Fred D. (CSM's brother), 41
Fred Dwight, 785
Fred's trial, 50
George, 24,27
Grandfather (home in Litchfield), 241 (see Timothy E.
Miller)
Henson, 42
Heman Oviatt (CSM's father) 30 (birthday)
Irving (CSM's son), 27,47,60,403
Irving C., 777,825
Irving home in Milwaukee, 413
Iva (CSM's sister), 51,64,120 (married William Gillette)
Jessie, 778,826
John, 777,825
June, 778,826
L. D., 50
Lattie, 48,49
Lois, 778,826
Margaret (CSM's daughter), 60,64,118 (= Margaret Northrop
Hall)
Margaret (birth of), 27
Mary, 17,777,825
Mary (CSM's sister), 806,821
Mary (wife), 810
Mary (wife) birthday, 811
Mary Pierpont (wife), 51
Paul, 789
Raymond (CSM's son), 60,826
Raymond H., 778
Richard, 827
Richard H., 777,825
Robert, 777,805
Robert P., 776,825
Ronald, 777
Ronald F., 825
Ruth (CSM's daughter), 60,778,814,817 (= Ruth Brundage)
Timothy E., 51,643
Timothy E. (Great Grandfather of CSM), 567
Timothy E. (Grandfather of CSM; Litchfield Address), 241,567
Willard, 777
Willard C., 825
William, 13,14,16
Miller & Peck, 115,118
Miller and Trickland, 8
Miller girls, 817
Millerton N.Y, 53
Millerton NY, 564
Minor, Cha's, 47
Minors, Robert, 20
Moad, Parter L., 27
Monroe, C. H., 42
Monroe, Charles, 16,127
Monroe, S., 16
Monroe, Spenser, 11,20
Montgomery, Mr., 570
Morgan, Dick, 65
Morris, William Jr., 41
Morris, Wm. Jr., 41
Moshier, Charles, 74
Moulthrop, Newell, 400
Munger, Joseph, 40
Munger, Mr., 55
Munson, Alfred, 25,26
Munson, Anne, 33
Munson, Annie, 74,131
Munson, Earl, 113
Munson, Henry, 22
Munson, Lucretia, 237
Munson, Mr., 27
Munson, Mrs. Theodore, 32,113
Munson, Old Mrs. Samuel, 84
Munson, Roy, 88
Munson, S. L., 9,42
Munson, Sam, 34
Munson, Seneca, 32
Munson, Seneka L., 237
Munson, Sid, 26
Munson, Theodore, 237,403
Munson, Theodore D., 42
Munson, Theodore E., 78,140,159,160
Munson, W. L., 42
Munson, William, 152,237
Munson, William F., 31
Neal, Howard Spencer,
148,149,150,162,392,393,398,399,400,401,402,404,406,407,411,427,431,437,438,445,449,472,480,489,491,503,505,533,536,537,547,556,570,571,572,578,598,601,621,623,624,636,724,759,764,767,824,850
Neil, Howard, 68
Nelson, Mr., 417
Nettleton, George, 24,25
Nettleton, Mrs., 20
New England History, The publishing of, 826
New Haven, 51
New Haven County Pomona Grange, 788,789
New Haven Water Co., 405
Nichols, Emma, 28
Norman, William, 65,69
Northrop, Alfred, 34
Northrop, Alfred (marriage of), 812
Northrop, Dexter, 47,61,73,74
Northrop, Gene (Jean), 777 (= Jean Fleming)
Northrop, Homer, 707
Northrop, John, 10
Northrop, Marian, 400 (= Marian Kraft)
Northrop, Milan, 64,79,116
Northrop, Milan?, 19
Northrop, Otis, 76
Northrope, Milan, 5
Norton, H. A.,
Norton, John, 579
Notch-in-the Rocks, 827
Nothrop, Miss, 55
O'Hara, Dr. (town health official, 45
O.H. Smith Company of Philadelphia, 809
orders for war goods, 816
Ovaitt (Oviatt), Lewis, 570
Ovaitt (Oviatt), Lyman, 790
Ovaitt (Oviatt), Marion G., 564
Oyster River, Connecticut, 17
parade, World's War veterans, 811
Parter, D. G., 42
Parter, James, 9,42
Parter, James (see Porter, James?), 4
Parter, Jas, 20
Parters, James, 46
Parters, Jim, 43
Patchen, Theodore, 73
Payne, Harman, 22
Payne, Miles, 570
Payne, Mr., 13
Payne, Thomas, 572
Peary (Lectures on Arctic Exploration), 240
peas, planting, 571
Peck, B. A., 49
Peck, Dennis, 5
Peck, Silas, 815
Peck, William, 66
Peck. Den, 21
Pengrey, G. H., 42
Pepy's Diary (Tucker?) (1652-1722), 61
Perkett, Fred, 51
Perkins, 51
Peter Gilkey, the Revolutionary Counterfeiter, 789
Phalen, J. T., 41
Phalen, James, 785
Phalen, Mr. (of Long and Phalen), 75
Phillips, Charles, 98,119
Phillips, Col., 71
Phillips, Jennie, 94
Phillips, Jennie Goldsmith, 119
Phillips, Mrs., 77
Pickett, Alice, 65,101,109,405,406
Pickett, Julia, 745
picture, getting the names?, 572
Pierpoint, Richard, 805
Pierpont
A.R., 21
Annie E. Merrill, 51,73
Annie E. Merrill), 73
Arthur Beecher, 50,51,53
Arthur
Joseph,47,76,77,86,105,106,107,108,113,118,122,133,153,159,160,190,193,220,223,227,234,239,253,271,273,279,286,288,292,309,318,333,353,378,775
Austin, 25
Austin Beecher,
6,8,27,28,29,33,53,64,76,105,107,143,166,223,224,244,275,276,277,292,300,301,306,307,315,339
Bessie, 806
Charles, 24,27,29
Edith, 79
Harold, 786,823
Harriet, 404
Harriet (died 03/12/1929), 404
Hattie, 16,64
John, 47
Laurence, 806
Little, 62
Lois, 784
Lucy A. Welton, 53
Mary (?), 54
Mary (mother's home as child), 801
Mary Ann Warner (death of), 368
Mortimer, 808
Morton
Elbert,79,105,114,191,197,207,227,229,366,367,426,439,503,525,537,543,562,576,577,578,606,641,679,688,691,694,698,705,792,808,809,813,818,833,849,858,859,862
Mother 24
Mrs. Harold, 798
Ralph, 808,823
Richard, 805,816,817,827
Robert's service uniform, 827
Sarah, 805,808,814
Spencer Alonzo, 56
Sylvia, 812
W.L., 39
William Seabury (birth of), 684
Wilson
Levinus,4,5,16,24,26,30,37,38,59,62,73,76,79,90,91,107,137,139,145,152,158,159,170,174,184,191,196,220,264,265,266,270,273,285,291,299,300,310,345,348,359,363,369,370,376,377,378
Pierpont family reunion, 685
Pierpont house burned to the ground. (1906), 220
Pinney, Mr., 43
Plainville Drum Corps, 805
Platt, Senator Orville, 240
Pond, Henry, 102
Pond, Mark, 46
Porter, Daniel G., 69
Porter, David, 62
Porter, Fannie, 64
Porter, James, 6,61,78
Porter, Mrs. James, 238
Porter, Mrs. James (see Beecher, Sophia), 235
Porter, Nellie, 64
Pratt, Wm, 38
Pratt, Wm., 38
Prichard, David, 6
Pritchard's ice house, 54
Pritchard, Edward S., 238
Pritchard, George, 237
Pritchard, Ned, 54,61
Pritchard, William, 7
Pritchard, Wm., 47
Prospect CT (historical concerns), 569
Purdy of East Mountain, 805
Purdy, William, 9,25
Purdy, Wm., 42
radio, Jack Brundage, 568
rats, 571
Reed, Godfrey, 240
Reed, Jame, 22
Reid, Marice [sic], 117
Reid, Morris, 79,98
Reid, Mrs. Andrew, 78
Renfro, Mrs. (letter concerning Somers genealogy), 566
Reuter, Philip, 782
Reutter, Effel, 786,789
Reutter, Wm., 41
Revolutionary War times, 794
Revolutionary War, drum used in, 805
Rice, Howard J., 236
Rice, Mr., 20
Richardson, Miss, 51
rifle, Remington 22, 570
Robinson, Earnest, 65
Rogers
Eli, 276
Henry, 276
Rogers, J. B., 41
Rogers, John, 755
Rogers, Mrs. W. S., 68
Rogers, Sallie, 68
Roosevelt, 819
Roosevelt and the National Debt, 814
Rouns, Almira (cousin), 366
Rundel, G. M., 46
Rundel, S. H., 46
Sackett, Lydia, 59
Saint Lewis, 805
Saunders, Joseph, 51
saw mill, steam driven, 563
Schofield, Frederick B., 596
Scott, Edward, 390
Scott, Edward M., 5,47,774
Scott, Hattie, 750
Scott, Merritt, 57,61
Scott, Robin, 79
Scott, Walter, 10
Scovill, 18
Scoville, Allie, 688
Sears and Roebuck, 401
Sedgewick, General, 110
Sedgwick, John, 110
Sermon, "The Birth of Christ on, 826
Service, William, 806
Shannan, William, 6
Shannon, David, 42
Shannon, Adella M., 403
Sill, Father (founder of the Kent School), 562
Simmons, Vincent, 827
Simons, Bessie, 61
Simons, Bettie, 777,827
Simons, Vincent, 777
Slatten, William, 7
small pox, 826
Smith, Addison, 817
Smith, Alex, 805,807
Smith, Charles E., 73
Smith, H.D., 22
Smith, J. K., 400
Soandland, 7
Somers Brass Company, 808
Somers Family Gravesite in Riverside Cemetery, 384,788
Somers family reunion, 119,822
Somers Geneology, book of, 63
Somers, Almira Frisbie, 42
Somers, Augusta (mother, married Heman Oviatt Miller)
Somers, David, 119,80
Somers, Dwight, 120,808
Somers, Dwight (uncle), 119
Somers, Ellen, 776
Somers, Emogene (aunt), 119
Somers, Etta, 119
Somers, Fannie (?), 119
Somers, George, 72,119
Somers, Grey, 808
Somers, J. H., 12
Somers, Joseph, 808
Somers, Josie, 119,802
Somers, Lewis, 400,736,808
Somers, Lewis (cousin of CSM), 568
Somers, Lizzie, 119,802
Somers, May, 119,802
Somers, Myra, 119
Somers, Myrah, 802
Somers, William, 7
Somers, William (uncle of CSM), 564
Sommer, Uncle Joe, 116
Sommers, Almira (Frisbie, Grandmother), 822
Sommers, David (Grandfather), 822
Sommers, Joseph, 119
South Kent School, 813
Southington Mountain, 806
Spender, Ida, 71
Spenser, Willard, 6
Spenser, William, 7
Squairs, Dan, 47
Squires, David T., 42
St. Joseph's Cemetary, 407
Stanley, Chester, 416
Stanley, Jesse, 416
Stanley, Roger, 416
Stannard, Horrace (Horace), 109 {"cousin")
Stannard, Obed, 109 ("cousin"}
steer, plowing with, 572
Storrs College, 50
Strong, Wm., 42
Surprenant, Perre, 20
Sutton, James, 13
Talmage, Burnis (Burnice?), 242
Talmage, Harry, 570
Tateren, May, 51
taxation, 8
telephone, 28
Terrell, Arthur, 39
Thackerie, John, 22
Thanksgiving Day (1931), 484
The History of Connecticut, Barber 1838, 824
Thomen, Samuel, 564
Thompson, Mr., 48
Thornbury, Mrs., 66
Todd, Ed, 24
Todd, Edward, 68,77
Todd, Edwin A., 56
Todd, John R. S., 786
Todd, John R.S., 54
Todd, Mrs., 51
trolley, 565
Tucker, Harris, 61,62
Tucker, Major, 61
Tucker, Mr., 62
Tufts, C. H., 41
Tuttle Genealogy, 573
Tuttle, Charles, 572
Tuttle, Charles S.,
7,32,50,395,396,405,406,407,408,410,745,796,797,822,827
Tuttle, Charles S. (burning house), 796
Tuttle, Mark, 825
Twichell, Homer, 62
Twitchell, Mrs. Homer, 161
Tyler, Miss Bessie, 51
Tyler, Morris, 403
Tyler, Mr of Bucks Hill, 47
Uncle Joe, 54
Uncle Tom's Cabin, 63
Upson, Bennett, 97
Upson, Donald, 416
Upson, Dorothy, 416
Upson, Edgar, 403,410
Upson, Frank, 416
Upson, Fred, 63
Upson, Levelette, 114
Upson, Mrs. Levelette, 113
Upson, Willis, 416
Uspon, Flossy, 113
USS Maine (sinking of), 71
Valaski, Miss, 823
Valentine, H. E., 51
W.P.A., 802
wages, .25/hr, 54
Wakelee, Rose, 785
Wakellee, James, 29
Walker (nee Pritchard), 239
Walker, John, 807,809
Wallace, Ed, 21
Wallace, Edgar, 21
Wallace, Edgar (funeral 01/15/1933), 563
Wallingford Metal Company (annual stockholders meeting), 206
Walters, Merritt, 823
Walters, Selectman, 821
war goods, 793
war goods, sale to England, 809
Ward, C. Art, 42
Ward, Dr. C. Art, 60,65
Ward, William, 235
Warden, Mr., 60
Warden, Robert, 57,64
Warden, Robert K., 74
Warner property, division of, 30
Warner, Elisabeth, 65
Warner, Erastus, 567
Warner, Hobert, 28
Warner, James, 8
Warner, Justice, 56
Warner, Mark L., 41,42,53,57,65,74,77,80,91,92
water, city, 578
Waterbury Brass Co, 37
Waterbury Brass Company, 807
Waterbury Machine Co., 27
Waterbury Metal Co., 408
Waterbury Rolling Mills Co. (annual stockholders meeting),
564
Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. (annual stockholder's meeting),
231,241
Waterbury Rolling Mills Inc. (annual stockholders meeting),
219,400,523,746
Webster, May[o|e]r, 43
Webster, Mr. (lawyer for Fred?), 48
Wedge, B.S., 27
Wedge, Hubert, 238
Wedge, Stephen, 29
Wedges Pond on Plank Road, 565
Welton, Amy, 58
Welton, Charles, 698
Welton, Charles (33rd Birthday), 28
Welton, Ed, 43
Welton, Fred, 25,31,32,33,38
Welton, Hobert W., 35,45
Welton, Robert, 13
West Brass Mill, 29
West Haven, Connecticut, 17
wheel houses, 565
Wheeler, Marvin, 578
White, William, 74
Wilcox, Lt. Governor, 570
Wilkensbach, Charles, 823
Wilkie, John, 819
Wilkinsback, Charles, 685
Wilkinsback, Sonny, 684
Willkie, Wendell L., Presidential campaign, 814
Wilson, Pearly, 796,805
Wiltars, Robert, 10
wind mill, 568
Wirtman, Miss, 51
Wolcott Drum Band, 400
Wolcott Fire Department, 805,807
Wolcott, Charles, 685
women's dress, 804
womens dress, a critique of, 822
Wood, Fred, 65
Wood, Mr., 23
Woodruf, Rollin (Governor of Connecticut), 236
Woods, Parter S., 27
Woolworth, Miss, 802
World's Fair of 1940, 815
Worlds Fair of 1940, 807
Wright, E. E., 7,25,29
Wright, Mr., 18,42
WWII, news of, 812
WWII, The effects of, 820,821
WWII, the effects of the war. London, 810
Yarclaigh, Charles, 7
Yates, Frederick E., 596