Bright windy day. Took Nellie to Hardins Crossing. Father, Mother, Ruth, H.H. and I went huckleberrying on ridge road. Picked about 12 qts. Sorted berries. Played tennis. Read etc. To bed early. Thankful for good parents.
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I'm not sure why Nellie went to Hardins Crossing, but it was a crossroads in their town somewhere. She apparently got out of huckleberrying, though . . .
Monday, July 28, 1919
Cloudy with some rain at intervals during day. Picked berries. Chopped wood back of garage. Read. Played piano etc. Took nap in P.M. Father, H.H. and Nell to city. Played checkers. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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Stanford's wood chopping and other "choring," as he put it, were highly recommended at the time for maintaining moral and physical health, at least according to the American Social Hygiene Association, the U.S. Public Health Service and the YMCA, who in 1919 collaborated to produce a series of posters to help young men stay on the right path. Here is a copy of one of them, taken from the Social Welfare History Project website:
As you can see, Stanford was well on his way to moral and physical health; he was doing all of these "home exercises" regularly.
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Stanford's wood chopping and other "choring," as he put it, were highly recommended at the time for maintaining moral and physical health, at least according to the American Social Hygiene Association, the U.S. Public Health Service and the YMCA, who in 1919 collaborated to produce a series of posters to help young men stay on the right path. Here is a copy of one of them, taken from the Social Welfare History Project website:
As you can see, Stanford was well on his way to moral and physical health; he was doing all of these "home exercises" regularly.
Sunday, July 27, 1919
Rainy in A.M. Cleared in P.M. Up 9 A.M. Breakfast. Read. Took nap. Dinner. Played etc. To Forest Park to Y.M.C.A. service. Home. Sat around. Read. Talked. Played etc. To bed 10 P.M.
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What can I say? A nice, lazy Sunday.
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What can I say? A nice, lazy Sunday.
Saturday, July 26, 1919
Overcast. Up 9 A.M. Ruth & Nellie to city. Cleaned up. Picked red and purple berries. Uncle John and Aunt Gertie here. Rained quite a bit. Sweet corn for dinner. Took Uncle John home and got Nellie. To Ice cream social. Called on Cornells. To city after Ruth.
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Uncle John and Aunt Gertie had their pictures taken on Uncle John's birthday, back on May 22, 1919. (See my blog post on that day.) Here is a copy of it:
I think Gertie looks like a nice woman. Don't you?
The Cornells are Frank & Gertie and possibly Earl Cornell, their son. They all lived on Sacandaga Road. (See July 8th post for details that have been added.)
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Uncle John and Aunt Gertie had their pictures taken on Uncle John's birthday, back on May 22, 1919. (See my blog post on that day.) Here is a copy of it:
I think Gertie looks like a nice woman. Don't you?
The Cornells are Frank & Gertie and possibly Earl Cornell, their son. They all lived on Sacandaga Road. (See July 8th post for details that have been added.)
Friday, July 25, 1919
Beautiful bright mild day. To city with father. To Dr. T. S. Cooney dentist and down street. Out with father and chored around. Home 5 P.M. Played tennis, checkers etc. To bed 11 bells.
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Dr. T. S. Cooney was a pretty well-known dentist at the time Stanford went to him (or perhaps it was his father who did so). I found him listed in the Dental Society of the State of New York as an active member in 1918. His office was at 521 State Street in Schenectady. Another publication listed him as a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Dental School in 1907. He was mentioned in the Penn Dental Journal as a member of the Edward C. Kirk Society (a dental student club, apparently) in fall of 1906.
According to the 1920 census, Dr. Thomas S. Cooney lived with his wife and daughter at 1438 State Street. He was 35 years old at the time. Now the area looks a little seedy, but back then it was probably a rather nice neighborhood. In the below street view, Google identifies it with an "A." It's a realty office now.
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Dr. T. S. Cooney was a pretty well-known dentist at the time Stanford went to him (or perhaps it was his father who did so). I found him listed in the Dental Society of the State of New York as an active member in 1918. His office was at 521 State Street in Schenectady. Another publication listed him as a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Dental School in 1907. He was mentioned in the Penn Dental Journal as a member of the Edward C. Kirk Society (a dental student club, apparently) in fall of 1906.
According to the 1920 census, Dr. Thomas S. Cooney lived with his wife and daughter at 1438 State Street. He was 35 years old at the time. Now the area looks a little seedy, but back then it was probably a rather nice neighborhood. In the below street view, Google identifies it with an "A." It's a realty office now.
Thursday, July 24, 1919
Mild day. Somewhat overcast. Chored around. Left for country 10:30 A.M. Marked tennis court. Picked berries. Played tennis. Picked 5 qts huckleberries on ridge road. Took supper along. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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I wonder where Stanford found all those huckleberries on Ridge Road? They would've had to have been on unowned land, I should think.
Below is a map showing where Closson Road (where the farm was) and Ridge Road cross.
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I wonder where Stanford found all those huckleberries on Ridge Road? They would've had to have been on unowned land, I should think.
Below is a map showing where Closson Road (where the farm was) and Ridge Road cross.
Wednesday, July 23, 1919
In city. Beautiful bright mild day. Up 8 A.M. Candled 20 cases eggs. To dentist's etc. Out to Schemerhorn field to see Lucas and Bjorkland in airplanes ascended and descended several times. Out on bicycle. Home 9:30. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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I looked up Schermerhorn field, and found an interesting blog entry (from the Grems-Doolittle Library Collection Blog) that talked about that summer in Schenectady when the pilot and his plane wowed the crowds.
Below is an excerpt from that blog plus a picture of the plane piloted by Philip Lucas. I highlighted the passage that refers to the event Stanford mentions in his journal.
Mr. Bjorklund was a pilot also and he had his own gimmick: delivering the mail by air. Below is an article that appeared in the July 26, 1919 edition of The Fourth Estate, a weekly newspaper for publishers, about Bjorklund and Lucas' activities that summer.
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I looked up Schermerhorn field, and found an interesting blog entry (from the Grems-Doolittle Library Collection Blog) that talked about that summer in Schenectady when the pilot and his plane wowed the crowds.
Below is an excerpt from that blog plus a picture of the plane piloted by Philip Lucas. I highlighted the passage that refers to the event Stanford mentions in his journal.
[Eastholm Aviation Field] was first used in early August 1919 and was established for the Aerial Activities Corporation, a business chartered in July 1919, which located its primary office in Schenectady. Lt. Philip D. Lucas, a World War I veteran and a pilot, gave exhibitions and carried passengers under the auspices of the company. After picking up his Curtiss plane from Mineola, New York, Lucas began the season in late July flying from "the Schermerhorn field on the river road." A week later, a newspaper article announced the construction of the airfield near Balltown Road and Consaul Road on land owned by the Eastholm Realty Company. On August 11, 1919, the city's common council passed an ordinance authorizing an expenditure of $50 yearly to lease the airfield. General Electric offered to equip the field with lighting without cost to the city.
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| Lt. Philip Dearborn Lucas' Curtiss Airplane at Eastholm Field |
Mr. Bjorklund was a pilot also and he had his own gimmick: delivering the mail by air. Below is an article that appeared in the July 26, 1919 edition of The Fourth Estate, a weekly newspaper for publishers, about Bjorklund and Lucas' activities that summer.
SCHENECTADY PAPER SENT BY AIRPLANE. The Schenectady Union-Star enjoys the distinction of being the first newspaper in the capitol district to deliver its papers by airplane, due to the courtesy of Filip Bjorklund. At 4.10 o'clock on Saturday after noon, July 19, an airplane piloted by Mr. Bjorklund passed over the heart of Schenectady bearing copies of the 4 o'clock edition of the Union-Star. At 4.15 o'clock bundles of papers tied with red, white and blue stream ers and labelled "Union-Star aerial post" were dropped at Burnt Hills, a few miles north of Schenectady. At 4.19 o'clock the plane reached Ballston Lake, a few miles further on, where the remainder of the papers were dropped. A large crowd turned out and pieces of the streamers were doled out to the eager souvenir hunters. The papers were rushed from the Union-Star to the Schermerhorn flying field by automobile, where a Union- Star representative was waiting to supervise the trip.I learned a bit more about Lt. Philip Dearborn Lucas, aviator, from Ancestry.com. He was born in 1889 in New York. In 1920 he lived in Schenectady at a rooming house and gave his occupation as engineer for G.E. He applied for a passport to go to Chile in September 1920 to "look after certain engineering interests" for the Bethlehem, Chile Iron Mines Company, based in Pennsylvania. He took several other trips abroad, probably on business. So it looks like he didn't continue as an aviator after that one summer.
Tuesday, July 22, 1919
Rained in morning and evening. Picked berries. Red, yellow, purple etc. Sold 29 qts. To city in afternoon. Up to see Mr. Merris. Sat on front porch. Chewed the rag. To bed 11 P.M.
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Wonder what the "red, yellow, purple" berries were . . . And where did they sell them?
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Wonder what the "red, yellow, purple" berries were . . . And where did they sell them?
Monday, July 21, 1919
Rained most all day. Up 6:30 A.M. Chored and fooled around all day. Played piano, read, talked etc. Took nap in P.M. Played checkers etc. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful for health.
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Sounds like a restful day! Henri Matisse depicted such domestic pursuits in his painting of 1924 entitled Pianist and Checker Players. Below is a copy of it, taken from the website www.henri-matisse.net :
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Sounds like a restful day! Henri Matisse depicted such domestic pursuits in his painting of 1924 entitled Pianist and Checker Players. Below is a copy of it, taken from the website www.henri-matisse.net :
Sunday, July 20, 1919
Mild with intermittent sun and cloudiness. Up 7:30 A.M. Read and slept in A.M. To Church & S.S. at Glenville Center. Took ride. Over Ridge road etc. Called at Tom and Ida Plummers. Read and talked and sang. To bed 10 P.M. No rain.
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Tom and Ida Plummer may be the couple who live on the Sacandaga Road in Glenville, according to the 1910 and 1930 federal census and the 1925 New York census. Thomas is a laborer and Ida is a housewife. They have a daughter Madeline, who in 1919 is about 14, I believe, and her parents are around 45. They also have Ida's sister living with them. By 1940, Madeline is the head of household, working as a servant in a private home.
However, there is another couple named Tom and Ida Plummer, and they live in Charlton, which is about 5 miles from the Closson farm in Glenville. These people are older, 66 and 40, respectively, and they have nine children, ages 2.5 to 29 (although the oldest might be the son of a different wife). Which Plummers did Stanford call on? The fact that he took Ridge Road doesn't help; that road goes away from both Sacandaga and Charlton. It's a mystery, therefore, at the moment.
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Tom and Ida Plummer may be the couple who live on the Sacandaga Road in Glenville, according to the 1910 and 1930 federal census and the 1925 New York census. Thomas is a laborer and Ida is a housewife. They have a daughter Madeline, who in 1919 is about 14, I believe, and her parents are around 45. They also have Ida's sister living with them. By 1940, Madeline is the head of household, working as a servant in a private home.
However, there is another couple named Tom and Ida Plummer, and they live in Charlton, which is about 5 miles from the Closson farm in Glenville. These people are older, 66 and 40, respectively, and they have nine children, ages 2.5 to 29 (although the oldest might be the son of a different wife). Which Plummers did Stanford call on? The fact that he took Ridge Road doesn't help; that road goes away from both Sacandaga and Charlton. It's a mystery, therefore, at the moment.
Saturday, July 19, 1919
Warm day. Cloudy at intervals. Read etc. Picked berries. To city in P.M. To F.M.E.S.S. [First Methodist Episcopal Sunday School] picnic at Baker Ave. Fine time. Home 8:30 P.M. Played checkers. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.
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I'm not sure why the church picnic would be at Baker Avenue, because the church itself was on State Street, but perhaps on Baker there was a venue for the picnic.
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I'm not sure why the church picnic would be at Baker Avenue, because the church itself was on State Street, but perhaps on Baker there was a venue for the picnic.
Friday, July 18, 1919
Up 6 A.M. To city with Father. Took Mr. & Mrs. Baird back. Out on business. Candled eggs. Out to see John Myers, Rebecca Hallenbeck then ate lunch on road. Beautiful hot day. To bungalow 10 P.M.
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I'm not sure who Rebecca Hallenbeck was, but there was a 27 year old who lived in Albany in 1920. That she lived in the vicinity is the only reason to suspect her of being our Rebecca.
I don't know what Stanford means by bungalow. Could he be referring to the farm?
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I'm not sure who Rebecca Hallenbeck was, but there was a 27 year old who lived in Albany in 1920. That she lived in the vicinity is the only reason to suspect her of being our Rebecca.
I don't know what Stanford means by bungalow. Could he be referring to the farm?
Thursday, July 17, 1919
Beautiful bright day. Very clear. Mr. & Mrs. Baird here. Picked berries. Played tennis in A.M. & P.M. Out for ride in P.M. Had picnic at Ballston Lake. Stopped at Uncle John's house. Home 9 P.M. Played games etc. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.
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Mr. & Mrs. Baird may be Archibald and Sarah Baird, who lived at 224 Third Street in Scotia in 1920. The Bairds were from Scotland; Archibald worked as a toolmaker for General Electric. Another possibility is James and Elizabeth Baird who lived in Schenectady at 177 Furman Street. And then there is a different James and Elizabeth Baird who lived at 322 Avenue B in Schenectady. The Bairds mentioned by Stanford are probably one of those three couples, but no way to know without first names.
Jason has suggested that one of the games the Clossons may have played was dominoes. Stanford's father Stillman loved dominoes; they often played the game during Jason's visits to his Closson grandparents when he was a child.
Here is a pipe tobacco ad from a 1919 Saturday Evening Post depicting gentlemen playing dominoes:
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Mr. & Mrs. Baird may be Archibald and Sarah Baird, who lived at 224 Third Street in Scotia in 1920. The Bairds were from Scotland; Archibald worked as a toolmaker for General Electric. Another possibility is James and Elizabeth Baird who lived in Schenectady at 177 Furman Street. And then there is a different James and Elizabeth Baird who lived at 322 Avenue B in Schenectady. The Bairds mentioned by Stanford are probably one of those three couples, but no way to know without first names.
Jason has suggested that one of the games the Clossons may have played was dominoes. Stanford's father Stillman loved dominoes; they often played the game during Jason's visits to his Closson grandparents when he was a child.
Here is a pipe tobacco ad from a 1919 Saturday Evening Post depicting gentlemen playing dominoes:
Wednesday, July 16, 1919
Fair day. Roads muddy. Took Wagner back. To city 7 A.M. To U.S. Gov. Warehouses at So. Sch'dy to look for job. None. Home to dinner. Picked currents and raspberries. Changed tires etc. To bed 10:30.
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Rotterdam, where the U.S. Gov. Warehouses (U.S. Army Reserve Depot) were located, is definitely south of Schenectady. Here is the map:
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Rotterdam, where the U.S. Gov. Warehouses (U.S. Army Reserve Depot) were located, is definitely south of Schenectady. Here is the map:
Tuesday, July 15, 1919
Nine in A.M. Rained quite hard in P.M. Picked berries. Marked out tennis court and played with H.H., Ruth and C.W.W. Changed tire. Sat around, ate popcorn, etc. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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Sounds like a productive day! I'm assuming Stanford marked out the tennis court that he had worked on the previous Saturday. I wonder how they made the popcorn Stanford ate. Did they cook it over a fire or on the stove?
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Sounds like a productive day! I'm assuming Stanford marked out the tennis court that he had worked on the previous Saturday. I wonder how they made the popcorn Stanford ate. Did they cook it over a fire or on the stove?
Monday, July 14, 1919
Beautiful bright day. Up 6:30 A.M. To city. Candled eggs. To Warehouse in P.M. on bicycle to look for job. Charles Wagner came home with us. Marcus, Jesse, Rose and Frank here to call. C.W., H.H. and I to Weaver store on foot. To bed 11 P.M.
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The Warehouse where Stanford went to look for a job is the Army Reserve Depot, built 1918-1919, finished in February of 1919. It was apparently located in Rotterdam. Below is some information about it, taken from a U.S. government publication, Real Estate: Survey of Real Estate Owned or Controlled by War Department, Hearings Before a Special Subcommittee of the Committee on Military Affairs: House of Representatives, published in 1921.
A historical site, The New York State Military Museum, provides more information about what happened to the Depot in later years:
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The Warehouse where Stanford went to look for a job is the Army Reserve Depot, built 1918-1919, finished in February of 1919. It was apparently located in Rotterdam. Below is some information about it, taken from a U.S. government publication, Real Estate: Survey of Real Estate Owned or Controlled by War Department, Hearings Before a Special Subcommittee of the Committee on Military Affairs: House of Representatives, published in 1921.
The depot was constructed in 1918 and served the Army during the later months of WW1. After the war it was used as a supply depot for 55 Civilian Conservation Corps Camps. In 1941 the depot was expanded and renamed Service Forces Depot. Mostly the depot shipped motor vehicles to the Port of New York. At its peak it employed 4000 people. Late in WW2 it was renamed again to General Depot. From January 1948 to March 1949 it was a processing station for war dead. In the post war years it was again renamed Army Depot. Expanded again during the Korean War. The depot continued operations for a number of years after Korea and then was closed.
Sunday, July 13, 1919
Beautiful hot day. To city to Church and S.S. Took Mildred and Ray Schlensker. Home 1:30 P.M. Took a nap. To Church in P.M. at Birchton. Home 10 P.M. Thankful for health, friends etc.
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I'm not sure who Mildred and Ray Schlensker are, but I did find a Mildred Schlensker who lived in Schenectady in 1918 with a Florence Schlensker. She may be the Mildred Stanford refers to, but I could not find Ray (or Roy, possibly).
According to Map Quest, Birchton is a town about 16 miles north of Glenville, taking Sacandaga Road. I'm guessing he drove there, but I'm not sure if anyone went with him. And it's not clear why he would go to church there.
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I'm not sure who Mildred and Ray Schlensker are, but I did find a Mildred Schlensker who lived in Schenectady in 1918 with a Florence Schlensker. She may be the Mildred Stanford refers to, but I could not find Ray (or Roy, possibly).
According to Map Quest, Birchton is a town about 16 miles north of Glenville, taking Sacandaga Road. I'm guessing he drove there, but I'm not sure if anyone went with him. And it's not clear why he would go to church there.
Saturday, July 12, 1919
Overcast. No rain. Cleared up at night. Worked on tennis court. Picked berries and currents [sic]. Cleaned up roadside etc. To ice cream social at Center. Walked to Curtie's Store.
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Well, I was surprised to hear of tennis courts at the country place. Also, I'm not sure what this Curtie's Store was, but maybe someone reading this knows?
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Well, I was surprised to hear of tennis courts at the country place. Also, I'm not sure what this Curtie's Store was, but maybe someone reading this knows?
Friday, July 11, 1919
Beautiful fair mild day. Up 7:30 A.M. Helped Father load up etc. Candled eggs. Chored around. Packed up and moved to country place at 5:30 P.M. Place and garden are fine. Got settled. To bed 10:00 P.M.
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Interesting--I guess they move to the country in the summer. Probably cooler there, and closer to the work that needed to be done, I suppose.
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Interesting--I guess they move to the country in the summer. Probably cooler there, and closer to the work that needed to be done, I suppose.
Thursday, July 10, 1919
Rainy and cloudy all day. Chopped wood and cleaned cellar. Chored around. Delivered eggs etc. Candled eggs in P.M. and evening. Cleaned up and took bath. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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A good day to do chores!
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A good day to do chores!
Wednesday, July 9, 1919
Up 8 A.M. Bright cool day. Windy at night. Chatted and chored around in A.M. To Rexford Park at night with Everett Young, Charles Wagner and H.H. To bed 11:30 P.M.
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I've seen the word chore used as a verb often in Stanford's journal, but it was a new form of the word to me. I looked it up on line to see when it might have been commonly used in that way, but the only definition I could find for the verb to chore was in the Webster's dictionary of 1913, publicly available on the internet at this address: 1913 Webster's Dictionary.
It no longer appears in dictionaries as a verb, although I'm not sure when it fell out of use.
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I've seen the word chore used as a verb often in Stanford's journal, but it was a new form of the word to me. I looked it up on line to see when it might have been commonly used in that way, but the only definition I could find for the verb to chore was in the Webster's dictionary of 1913, publicly available on the internet at this address: 1913 Webster's Dictionary.
It no longer appears in dictionaries as a verb, although I'm not sure when it fell out of use.
Tuesday, July 8, 1919
Beautiful cool ideal day. Down town, chored around. To country place in P.M. to clean up. Took supper at Swaggertown. Came home by way of Glenville Center. Stopped at Gertie Cornell's. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for health and education.
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Swaggertown was another of those hamlets in the Glenville area, like High Mills, that no longer existed by 1919, but must have been known to the inhabitants of Glenville, even if only as an area of Glenville. The Glenville book mentions it as having been centered on the corner of Spring and Swaggertown Roads, east of Closson Road.
Gertie Cornell is no doubt one of the Cornells who were related to Stanford by way of his father's mother, Catherine Cramer, whose mother was a Cornell. There is a Gertie Cornell living with her husband Frank and her son Earl on Sacandaga Road in Glenville in 1920. She is 65 years old, her husband is 70 and her son is 33 years old.
From what I can determine, Frank(lin) C. Cornell was the child of John Cornell and Sarah Crosby, who lived down the street from Thomas and Sabrina Closson in 1850. John Cornell was the youngest brother of Susan Cornell, who married Fred Cramer. Their daughter Catherine married Charles Closson, son of Thomas and Sabrina.
third cousins---------Stanford Closson
second cousins------Stillman Closson
Frank (Gertie) Cornell-------first cousins----------Catherine Cramer (Charles Closson)
John Cornell -----------------siblings----------------Susan Cornell (Fred Cramer)
So that makes Gertie and Frank the cousins of Stillman and also Stanford, of course.
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Swaggertown was another of those hamlets in the Glenville area, like High Mills, that no longer existed by 1919, but must have been known to the inhabitants of Glenville, even if only as an area of Glenville. The Glenville book mentions it as having been centered on the corner of Spring and Swaggertown Roads, east of Closson Road.
Gertie Cornell is no doubt one of the Cornells who were related to Stanford by way of his father's mother, Catherine Cramer, whose mother was a Cornell. There is a Gertie Cornell living with her husband Frank and her son Earl on Sacandaga Road in Glenville in 1920. She is 65 years old, her husband is 70 and her son is 33 years old.
From what I can determine, Frank(lin) C. Cornell was the child of John Cornell and Sarah Crosby, who lived down the street from Thomas and Sabrina Closson in 1850. John Cornell was the youngest brother of Susan Cornell, who married Fred Cramer. Their daughter Catherine married Charles Closson, son of Thomas and Sabrina.
third cousins---------Stanford Closson
second cousins------Stillman Closson
Frank (Gertie) Cornell-------first cousins----------Catherine Cramer (Charles Closson)
John Cornell -----------------siblings----------------Susan Cornell (Fred Cramer)
So that makes Gertie and Frank the cousins of Stillman and also Stanford, of course.
Monday, July 7, 1919
Beautiful bright mild day. Up 2:15 A.M. Took 3:25 A.M. train from Columbus, O. Arrived in Sch'dy 10:57 P.M. 4 hrs. in Buffalo. Fine trip. To bed 12:30 A.M. Thankful for friends and opportunities.
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Because of his departure on 7 July, one of the special days of the Exposition that Stanford missed was "Motion Picture Day."
Below is a description of that day and a photo of D.W. Griffith and company, excerpted from The Asbury Journal article previously cited.
I tried to locate the Griffith film about the Centenary mentioned in this article, but was unable to find it in any of the lists or databases of his films. I think it's interesting that the Centenary Celebration changed the ME policy on film viewing, helped in large part by such prominent filmmakers as Griffith.
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Because of his departure on 7 July, one of the special days of the Exposition that Stanford missed was "Motion Picture Day."
Below is a description of that day and a photo of D.W. Griffith and company, excerpted from The Asbury Journal article previously cited.
I tried to locate the Griffith film about the Centenary mentioned in this article, but was unable to find it in any of the lists or databases of his films. I think it's interesting that the Centenary Celebration changed the ME policy on film viewing, helped in large part by such prominent filmmakers as Griffith.
Sunday, July 6, 1919
Cloudy. Up 8:30 A.M. Cleared up with intermittent sunshine and cloudiness. To 3 services A.M., P.M. and night. Life service day. Challenge put up strong. Signed life service card. To bed 10:30 P.M. central time.
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I was able to find a picture of Stanford that was taken at the Exposition, but by whom I don't know.
I ran across a newspaper report on the Exposition that talks specifically about the challenge Stanford refers to. Below is a clipping from the article entitled, "The Centenary Celebration of American Methodist Missions," part of a series about the event written by Rev. W.L. Halberstadt of Centenary Church. It appeared in The Southeast Missourian of Cape Girardeau, MO, on July 31, 1919.
See the highlighted paragraph for an explanation of what Stanford calls "life service day." He must have been one of the 376 young men and women under 30 mentioned by Rev. Halberstadt who "came forward in consecration of life to the Master's work."
Though the Reverend is quick to point out that the "hearts of the visitors were not set on levity alone," there was plenty of levity to be found, apparently. Ohio History Central Website has this summary of some of the fun on offer:
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I was able to find a picture of Stanford that was taken at the Exposition, but by whom I don't know.
I ran across a newspaper report on the Exposition that talks specifically about the challenge Stanford refers to. Below is a clipping from the article entitled, "The Centenary Celebration of American Methodist Missions," part of a series about the event written by Rev. W.L. Halberstadt of Centenary Church. It appeared in The Southeast Missourian of Cape Girardeau, MO, on July 31, 1919.
Though the Reverend is quick to point out that the "hearts of the visitors were not set on levity alone," there was plenty of levity to be found, apparently. Ohio History Central Website has this summary of some of the fun on offer:
"The exposition consisted of a number of popular entertainments, including a Ferris wheel, lemonade and Coca-Cola stands, and a ten-story motion picture screen. Built by local Columbus carpenters contracted by the Methodist Episcopal Church, the enormous screen showcased recent Hollywood and New York silent films, as well as amateur missionary pictures and thousands of glass lantern slides."
Saturday, July 5, 1919
Overcast. Very hot in A.M. Thunder showers in P.M. Cleared up at night. Up early. To grounds to get Pageant tickets. Wrote letters etc. To Sec. Daniels speech. Saw Pageant "The Wayfarer" at 3 and 8 P.M. Wonderful. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thankful.
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The pageant Stanford saw was very well received. Here is another descriptive passage from The Asbury Journal 68/1:125-129:
The above photo is one of 26 glass lantern slide plates of the Exposition on display last year at the Asbury Theological Seminary's library.
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The pageant Stanford saw was very well received. Here is another descriptive passage from The Asbury Journal 68/1:125-129:
One stunning success of the Methodist World’s Fair was a pageant called The Wayfarer written by a Seattle minister, James E. Crowther. This pageant required 1,500 actors, 1,000 chorus members, and 75 musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and included well-known actors from Broadway and the silent film industry. The stage was built in the New York Metropolitan Opera House and shipped in ten railroad cars to Columbus. The pageant covered the history of Christian missions from the early days of the Church through the Reformation, John Wesley, and included a patriotic conclusion with Presidents of the United States. The Wayfarer was so successful it later played for six weeks at Madison Square Gardens.Below is one of the pictures included in the journal article, "From the Archives: The Methodist World's Fair of 1919":
Friday, July 4, 1919
Very hot beautiful day. Up 10 A.M. Cleaned up etc. To exposition grounds until 10:30 P.M. Visited buildings etc. Great display at night of fireworks, pictures, and music. Fine. To bed 11:45 P.M.
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This event was obviously a very big deal for Methodists. Below is some more information about it.
Below is a picture of the grounds taken from a postcard sent during the event:
This image is taken from the Columbus Metropolitan Library's website called Columbus Memory.
Over one million visitors are estimated to have attended to hear speakers such as World War I war heroes General John J. Pershing and Alvin York, and well-known politicians such as William Jennings Bryan, former President William Taft, and Alice Paul, a national advocate for women’s right to vote. In addition, there was a Ferris wheel, live animals, a Wild West show, and fireworks to entertain the visitors. Over 500 “native” Christian converts were brought from 37 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, along with parts of their homes and villages and their material culture. Eight international pavilions exhibited a recreated Hindu temple, a miniature desert, along with elephants, camels, and water buffalo, leading one writer at the time to say this was an “opportunity for enjoying what was the best in a circus, a county fair, a picnic, grand opera, drama and the Church--all at one time.”The above description is taken from a recent issue of The Asbury Journal, a publication of the Asbury Theological Seminary, a Wesleyan seminary located in Wilmore, KY, outside of Lexington.
Below is a picture of the grounds taken from a postcard sent during the event:
This image is taken from the Columbus Metropolitan Library's website called Columbus Memory.
Thursday, July 3, 1919
Beautiful bright very hot day. Arrived in Cleveland 4:45 A.M. and in Columbus 7:50 Central time. Stayed at Mrs. Barr's 388 14th Ave. Registered etc. On grounds all day. Great Exposition. Lots of people. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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The Exposition Stanford is attending is the Centenary Exhibition of American Methodist Missions. Here is an excerpt from a summary on the Ohio History Central website:
It's low resolution, so a little hard to see, but there are representatives from the countries where the missionaries were based--China, India and Africa. They seem to be towing a globe upon which is written "Bringing the World to Columbus, June 28 - July 7, 1919." Interesting . . .
As for Mrs. Barr's place at 388 14th Ave, I've found a group of Barrs at that address in the 1919 Columbus City Directory. One of them is May, who is a widow and a clerk at the Vital Statistics office for the state. She must be the Mrs. Barr to whom Stanford refers. There is also Mabel, a stenographer, and M. Robert, a bookkeeper, her children, no doubt. The 1920 census also gives similar information, but by then M. Robert has left, and there is a daughter Roberta, who is 11. Mrs. Barr may be someone the Clossons knew, or she may simply be someone who had an extra room to rent for the Exposition.
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The Exposition Stanford is attending is the Centenary Exhibition of American Methodist Missions. Here is an excerpt from a summary on the Ohio History Central website:
The Centenary Celebration of American Methodist Missions was a Protestant missionary exposition held in Columbus, Ohio at the State Fairgrounds, in June and July 1919. Over one million people visited the three-week fair as representatives from the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church -- South, and the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church transformed fairground buildings into international pavilions. The buildings represented the work and progress of missionaries from countries such as China, India and Africa. The eight large pavilions included hundreds of cultural artifacts and featured live exhibits of Christian converts, reconstructed homes of distant lands, the latest advances in technology for the local church, and a midway complete with a row of Methodist restaurants.Below is a poster used to advertise the event:
It's low resolution, so a little hard to see, but there are representatives from the countries where the missionaries were based--China, India and Africa. They seem to be towing a globe upon which is written "Bringing the World to Columbus, June 28 - July 7, 1919." Interesting . . .
As for Mrs. Barr's place at 388 14th Ave, I've found a group of Barrs at that address in the 1919 Columbus City Directory. One of them is May, who is a widow and a clerk at the Vital Statistics office for the state. She must be the Mrs. Barr to whom Stanford refers. There is also Mabel, a stenographer, and M. Robert, a bookkeeper, her children, no doubt. The 1920 census also gives similar information, but by then M. Robert has left, and there is a daughter Roberta, who is 11. Mrs. Barr may be someone the Clossons knew, or she may simply be someone who had an extra room to rent for the Exposition.
Wednesday, July 2, 1919
Beautiful bright hot day. Started for Columbus at 7:51. In Buffalo 5:10 P.M. Went to see Niagara Falls. Walked around Buffalo etc. Fine trip. Took 12 o'clock train for Cleveland O. Thankful for health, friends and opportunities. To bed on train.
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Stanford was heading for Columbus for the Columbus Methodist Centenary (more on that in subsequent posts). Since there's no mention of other people, it's possible he went alone. In 1919, there were plenty of railroad lines to take a person anywhere he wanted to go. Below is a 1918 map depicting the route (highlighted) Stanford took to get to Columbus from Schenectady on the New York Central Railroad. I've highlighted in pink the major cities mentioned by Stanford (Schenectady is near Albany, but the letters are too small and faint to be read).
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Stanford was heading for Columbus for the Columbus Methodist Centenary (more on that in subsequent posts). Since there's no mention of other people, it's possible he went alone. In 1919, there were plenty of railroad lines to take a person anywhere he wanted to go. Below is a 1918 map depicting the route (highlighted) Stanford took to get to Columbus from Schenectady on the New York Central Railroad. I've highlighted in pink the major cities mentioned by Stanford (Schenectady is near Albany, but the letters are too small and faint to be read).
Tuesday, July 1, 1919
Beautiful bright hot day. Helped monkey around Ford. Played tennis. Down town and on errands in P.M. To country place to look around. Light refreshments. To bed 11:30 P.M.
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A busy day for Stanford.
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A busy day for Stanford.
Monday, June 30, 1919
Up 8:00 A.M. Beautiful bright hot day. Chored around and played tennis in A.M. Cleaned the carbon out of Ford etc. Went down town. Everybody drunk. To bed 12 P.M.
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More car maintenance for Stanford. I'm very curious about his statement that "everybody" was "drunk" down town. I wonder why? Was this an early 4th of July celebration? Is that the usual state of affairs for Schenectady on a Monday night? One can only speculate.
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More car maintenance for Stanford. I'm very curious about his statement that "everybody" was "drunk" down town. I wonder why? Was this an early 4th of July celebration? Is that the usual state of affairs for Schenectady on a Monday night? One can only speculate.
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