Monday, September 29, 1919

Beautiful bright day. Very foggy in A.M. To College 7:45 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Down town. Bowled at star alleys. To Classical Club meeting in Prof. Fobe's room. Light refreshments. To [bed?] 11 P.M.

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This is the first time I've heard of the Classical Club (perhaps there were some entries about it early in the year). I have not been able to find information about the club itself, but I did find an article published on September 7, 1921 in the Schenectady Gazette that told of several new instructors hired at Union College that fall, one of whom was James M. Cline, a 1920 graduate of Union College and a 4-year member of the Classical Club, so it's likely that Stanford knew him. Mr. Cline was hired to teach English to Freshman and Sophomore students.

Professor Fobes was a little easier to track down. Dr. Francis Howard Fobes was professor of classics at Union College up until 1920, when he was hired at Amherst College, where he taught for the rest of his long career. Since he was from Massachusetts, it makes sense that he would go back there. He was a well known classical scholar, author of two books--one on Aristotle and one on Theophrastus.

He was born August 31, 1881 at Somersville, MA to Edwin F. Fobes of Massachusetts and Jessie Burnell of Ohio. His father's work was "manufacturing confections" according to the 1900 census. Turns out that's rather an understatement, since Edwin Fobes was to become the President of New England Confectionery Company, otherwise known as NECCO. In fact, he was one of the founders of NECCO which merged three candy companies in 1902, one of which was Fobes, Hayward & Co, started by his father, Daniel Fobes (Hayward was Daniel's wife's maiden name). Moreover, Daniel Fobes has the distinction of being credited with the invention of the flavor mocha.

Professor Francis Fobes never married. He lived with his parents for a time, then by WWII had moved into the dormitory on Amherst Campus. (He lived on campus at Union College, too, which explains why the students met in his room for Classical Club.) He taught from 1920 to 1948 at Amherst, then was emeritus until his death in 1957.  There is no picture of him that I can find, but I was able to locate pictures of his grandparents on The American Antiquarian website. Here they are in daguerreotype:


Daniel Fobes, Candy Maker and Purported Inventor of Mocha



Lucretia Fobes, wife of Daniel, grandmother of Francis Fobes, Stanford's teacher

Sunday, September 28, 1919

A most elegant & mild day. To Church & S.S. Over to see Wagner after S.S. Home. Up to Uncle John's after Ruth & Nellie. To Epworth League. H.H. & Merlin Finch lead. To Albany St. church with Doris Smith. To bed 11 o'clock.

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I wonder if Stanford met Merlin Finch at Epworth League. Since they didn't go to college together, it is likely they met through the church.

Saturday, September 27, 1919

Beautiful bright mild day. To College. 7:45 to 12 M. Chored around. Took stuff for corn roast to Edison Club. To corn roast at Day's point Alplans. Fair time. Walked home by way of Scotia. To Van Curler with H.H. & Merlin Finch. To bed 11:15 P.M.

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The Edison Club was (and is) a country club outside of Albany in Rexford, NY.  They have a website: Edison Club. It looks like a pretty fancy place. I wonder why Stanford was taking "stuff for corn roast" there?

I'm not sure what is meant by Day's point Alplans. I couldn't find any reference to it. Stanford may be misspelling Alplans--should it be Alplands?

Van Curler was perhaps a town or village near Schenectady; Van Curler is the man credited with founding Schenectady, so it is likely.

Merlin Finch reappears at last in the diary. I'm glad to see he and Stanford are still friends.  Below is a picture of Merlin when he was young, shared with me by his grand-niece, Janet.


Merlin J. Finch, 1900-1989

Friday, September 26, 1919

Beautiful bright mild day. To college 7:45 to 9; 11-12; 1:35 to 2:30 P.M. etc. Played tennis with H.H. Got trimmed 13-11. Took bath. Candled eggs. Studied etc. To bed 10 P.M.

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I hadn't heard the term "trimmed" used in that way before, although I must say it makes sense.  I found its being used in Stanford's day, though, in a short story by Ring Lardner published in 1914. It was told in letters from a baseball player (a "busher") to his friend. Here is an excerpt:

So you see Al I am going to pitch on the nineteenth. I hope you guys can be up there and I will show you something. I know I can beat them Tigers and I will have to do it even if they are Violet's team.

I notice that New York and Boston got trimmed to-day so I suppose they wish Comiskey would ask for waivers on me. No chance Al.

Ring Lardner, some of you may know, was a sports writer in the early part of the 20th century, closely associated with Chicago (though he was born in Niles, Michigan). He was said to have been very disappointed by the Black Sox scandal of 1919 (October of 1919, in fact, just days from when this entry was made). 

Thursday, September 25, 1919

Fair day with wind & some rain in P.M. To college 7:45 to 12 M. To country in P.M. Dug potatoes & gathered produce. Candled eggs. Downtown. Bowled at star, 136-141-144. To bed 10:45 P.M.

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Sounds like Stanford was a pretty good bowler. Not bad for laying off for a few months.

Wednesday, September 24, 1919

Beautiful bright mild day with shower in P.M. To college 7:45 to 12 M. Played tennis in P.M. at Central park with H.H., Ruth & Doris Smith. At Freshman reception at Hanna Hall in evening. Dipped ice cream etc. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for health, friends etc.

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Apparently, Hanna Hall was built during President Richmond's tenure, according to the Union College website:

Charles Alexander Richmond 1909-1928
As president, Richmond paid immediate attention to improving the appearance of the campus by building an alumni association. Richmond paid particular attention to the landscaping of the college and had seven new additions constructed during his tenure (Campus Center, Payne Gate, Alumni Gymnasium, Hanna Hall, Butterfield Hall, Memorial Chapel and Bailey Hall).

There is no longer a Hanna Hall at Union College. From what I have read, Hanna Hall was a part of Washburn Hall, which was built in 1883 and demolished in 1963. Here is an early picture of it:

 

Tuesday, September 23, 1919

Cloudy, overcast mild day. Up 6:45 A.M. To college until 12 M. Official class scraps in P.M. Sophs won salt-tomato scrap and cane rush. Frosh won idol scrap. Bowled at star alleys. E.L. meeting at night. Home with D. Smith. To bed 11:45 P.M.

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Class scraps were contests between classes that were common at colleges during this era.  I'm not exactly sure what a salt-tomato scrap is or even a cane rush.  And I'm completely baffled by the term idol scrap.  One can only speculate!

Below is a picture of a more traditional contest: a tug-of-war scrap at Whitman College in 1919. I took it from the Whitman Digital Collections website.

Class Scrap Tug-of-War, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA  - 1919

Monday, September 22, 1919

Rainy day. To College. Chapel 8:30 A.M. Welcome to students etc. Attended bible & chemistry classes. Down town. Bowled at Star. Home. Candled eggs. Operated Vacuum Cleaner. Took mother to Aunt Martha Clowe's party. To bed 10:30 P.M.

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Aunt Martha Clowe, I was able to discover, was the wife of Garrett Wilson Clowe, John I. Clowe's brother. And John I. Clowe, as many of you know, was Frances Augusta Clowe Closson's father.  Therefore, Martha was Fanny's aunt and Stanford's great aunt. Martha was born Martha Alida Conde on September 21, 1840.  So the party Stanford and his mother went to was undoubtedly to celebrate Martha's 79th birthday.

Stanford's mention of a  vacuum cleaner's being used in the household is interesting. When he says he operated it, it sounds odd.  We don't employ that term anymore to describe using a vacuum cleaner.  We say we vacuumed, or that we ran the vacuum. That he capitalizes the words is also interesting.

Here is 1919 ad for a vacuum cleaner, taken from amazon.com where someone is selling their copy.  As you can see, the words Vacuum Cleaner are capitalized here because they are part of the brand name.

I guess Stanford wasn't worried about doing women's work.

Sunday, September 21, 1919

Fair bright windy day. Up 9 A.M. To College to take students to church. To Church and S.S. Walked home with Doris Smith. Read a little. Out to John Myers. Agnes there. To Epworth League. Fine meeting. Walked around town with Ed Gemlich & Leland Goddard. To bed 10 P.M.

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I was unable to locate a Doris Smith in Schenectady, but I did find a Dorothy Smith of about the right age.  In 1920 she was a stenographer at GE and was 19 years old. Was she the Doris Smith whom Stanford seems to be dating?  Could be. We'll have to wait for further clues.

Ed Gemlich may be Edward Gemlich, a 16-year-old boy who lived in Schenectady with his parents.  Leland Goddard is also a 16 year old living in Schenectady in 1920. Could they have been friends of Stanford? Perhaps. They might be members of the Epworth League.

Saturday, September 20, 1919

Fair warm day. Took condition exam in 3rd term English 9 A.M. To Ella Glindmyer's wedding. Good feed, fine time. To city. To Center Glenville to ice cream social and entertainment by Adult Bible class. To bed 12:30 P.M.

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Ella Glindmyer, who is mentioned in other diary entries, was a stenographer.  She worked in Schenectady up until 1919, according to the city directory and the New York Census of 1915.  She was born in 1894 and so was 25 when she married. Too bad Stanford doesn't tell her husband's name.  As it is, I haven't been able to trace her after she stops being Miss Glindmyer, although her parents, Henry and Sophia, both from Germany, still lived in Glenville as did her brother Edward, who farmed there in later years.  In 1940, he lived down the street from the Schlenskers. 

Friday, September 19, 1919

Overcast but no rain. Up 7:15 A.M. To college to register. To library. Studied etc. Took condition exam in 2nd term English at 7: P.M. Home. To bed 10:45 P.M. Thankful for education.

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I haven't been able to find out exactly what a condition exam was in 1919, but it seems to have been some sort of exam to either test out of or place into a course you were scheduled to take that term.  I found some contemporaneous examples in newspapers where the term was used, suggesting that it was meant to test how well you knew a subject.

Thursday, September 18, 1919

Beautiful day. Breakfast 7:45 A.M. Morning and afternoon session. A most profitable and enjoyable time all the way thru. In P.M. to Mount McGregor. Stopped at Metropolitan Life Insurance farm. Pleasant time. Took 8 P.M. car from Saratoga. Thank God for the conference.

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Wednesday, September 17, 1919

Elegant day. Took bath, got hair cut. To George Carpenter's home to attend Union College Christian Association Conference to lay plans for coming year. 1 mile north of Saratoga. Afternoon & evening session. To bed 12:30.

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Tuesday, September 16, 1919

Beautiful bright rather mild day. Up 5:15 A.M. Shovelled gravel in Woodruff's pit on Saratoga road. Moved to city bag and baggage 7:30 P.M. H.H. and I road [sic] wheels back. Chored around. To bed 10 P.M.

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Monday, September 15, 1919

Cool rainy day. To work on road. Slow rain most of day. Worked half day 7-12. Took nap in P.M. Read studied etc. Fooled around at various things. Thankful for health, education, food, friends, etc. etc.

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Sunday, September 14, 1919

Fair windy day. Ruth home from Clara's with car 9 A.M. To Galway Methodist Church in A.M. Ate dinner along creek outside of Amsterdam. To city after Otto Reidburg who delivered lecture at Charlton and stayed all night.

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Saturday, September 13, 1919

Beautiful bright mild ideal day. Shovelled gravel in Woodruff's pit 35 loads. Ruth's gang from city out. Played tennis. 4 couples. Had corn roast. Sat around in evening. Read, played etc.

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Friday, September 12, 1919

Rained all night. Very wet and cool. Father, H.H. and Nellie to city. No work on road. Mother, Ruth and I to Uncle John's after chicken, pumpkins etc. Ruth and I washed Hudson Car. Read, studied etc. To bed 9:30 P.M. Thankful for all blessings.

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Thursday, September 11, 1919

Very wet and nasty. Up 5:30 A.M. Got ready to work on road but too wet. Chored around. Studied etc. Mother, Ruth & I to city with Hudson in P.M. Registered for condition exams at college. Candled eggs.

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Wednesday, September 10, 1919

Overcast day with little sunshine. Rain towards evening and in the night. Worked on the road in Henry Weise's pit. 4 teams, 32 loads. 7 A.M. to 5 P.M. Read etc. To bed 9 P.M. Mary Carlton and Mr. & Mrs. Hanna called in evening.

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Tuesday, September 9, 1919

Overcast day but no rain. Too wet to work on road. Did odd jobs around the place. Cousin Jeff Ford here to dinner and supper from Chicago. A very pleasant man. Played tennis. Took ride in P.M. to Uncle John's, Charlton, Burnt Hills.

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Monday, September 8, 1919

Beautiful bright day but extremely hot. Worked on road. Shovelled gravel in Woodruff's pit on Saratoga road. Read, played etc. Turned suddenly cold at night. To bed 9:30 P.M.

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Sunday, September 7, 1919

Very fine day but exceedingly hot. To Ballston center to church in A.M. Took Uncle John with us. Read. Took nap. Uncle John, Aunt Gertie and the Bradts called. Took ride & called on Carrie Cornell in P.M.

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Saturday, September 6, 1919

Very beautiful but hot day. Father and H.H. to city. Chored around home all day. Cut wood, fixed fences, rolled tennis court etc. To ice cream social and entertainment at Center Glenville hall by "Up to date" S.S. Class. To bed 12 P.M.

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Friday, September 5, 1919

Beautiful bright day. Up 5:20 A.M. Quite cold in morning 40 degrees above zero. Shovelled gravel in Woodruff's pit. Roy did not go. Went to work with ford. Played tennis etc. To bed 9 P.M.

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Thursday, September 4, 1919

Beautiful day. To city with Father. Candled 15 cases of eggs. Dinner at Faber's. Home 4 P.M. Played tennis etc. H.H. and I to city with Ford to E.L. [Epworth League] cabinet meeting. 10 present. To bed 11 P.M.

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Ann Closson has this to say about candling eggs:

Stillman was a butter and egg wholesale merchant. He invested his earnings wisely in the stock market and became somewhat wealthy. He bought eggs in bulk from area farmers especially when the prices were lowest. He also bought butter from the farmers. The eggs were candled to insure they were NOT fertile. He also sorted them by size for sale to the grocery stores. These eggs were sold to customers for use in everyday cooking and baking. He also sold them to bakeries and restaurants. Stillman kept the cases of eggs and butter in cold storage. Your Dad remembers the eggs and butter being stored in an ice house with ice cut from a lake. Somewhere we have an invoice of his egg and butter business.

To candle an egg, you shined a bright, focused light through the egg to see if the egg has any faults or cracks and if it's fertile. At first a candle was used to do this. I believe Stillman used an electric light bulb. Any strong, focused beam of light from a flashlight shone through a piece of cardboard with only a small penlight sized hole cut out would work. A non-fertilized egg will have only the center yolk, which will not be fully opaque, but look more like a grey ball, moving around inside. There will be no veins. Best to candle at night with all other lights off. It will be much easier to see small differences.  

Ann found the picture below on the website HenCam: A Chicken-Keeping Life

This print appeared in The Lady’s Friend, published in 1865.

Wednesday, September 3, 1919

Rainy day. Up 8:30 A.M. Helped Father fix kitchen floor. Hanford after Ida Plummer and family who came to dinner. Gave us two chickens. Nellie and Anna MacDonald up on bus. Helped clean out well etc. To bed 9:30 P.M.

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Ida Plummer is probably the Ida M. Plummer, nee Cath, who was married to Thomas Plummer. They had a daughter, Madeline, born in 1905. They may have all visited the Clossons, perhaps bringing her parents, Selenia and William Cath, who may have still been alive in 1919. They lived in Glenville; Thomas Plummer was a farm laborer.

Haven't been able to pin down the MacDonald girls as yet.

Tuesday, September 2, 1919

Cloudy day. Rained hard from 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. Worked on road. Shovelled gravel in Henry Weise's pit from 7:30 to 10:30 A.M. Took nap. Read etc. To bed 9:15 P.M.

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Well, there is a Henry Weise living in Glenville in 1920, and he owns a farm on Charlton Road, so he is likely the owner of the pit that Stanford works in. He doesn't say that the Weise pit is on Charlton Road, but in earlier entries he mentions a pit on Charlton Road, different, it seems, from the one owned by Woodruff on Saratoga Road.

In 1920, Henry Weise lives between Charles Weise and William Weise, and all three men are in their early forties or late thirties with parents born in Germany. The 1880 census shows Henry and his brothers living with Henry and Bertha Weise (Wise) and four older siblings in Glenville. Both Henry and Bertha are from Germany, so these are obviously Henry Jr's parents. Henry Sr. owns a farm in 1880 which his children probably inherit later.

Monday, September 1, 1919

Overcast day. Some rain at night. Uncle Charlie & Mr. and Mrs. Ford called. To Thompson's lake and Indian Ladder. Took Uncle John Myers and Anna along. 56 miles. Had cooked dinner. To bed 9:15 P.M.

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Interesting that Stanford had put Uncle John Myers, then crossed it out, perhaps recognizing that John Myers was really a cousin rather than an uncle.  Still not sure about Uncle Charlie.

Thompson's Lake is located about 18 miles southwest of Albany.

Indian Ladder is an ancient trail found at Thatcher Park in Voorheesville; here is what one website had to say about it:

It was built by the Schoharie Indians along the Helderberg Escarpment as a trading route. In order to scale the particularly steep cliffs on the trail, they built an actual ladder.

Sunday, August 31, 1919

Cloudy day but no rain. Took bath. To Methodist Church in Burnt Hills in Morning. Called on Uncle John. Took nap. To Amsterdam. Took Uncle Henry and Grace along. Called on friends. Attended 2nd Presbyterian Church. To bed 11 P.M.

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Uncle Henry appears again, with Grace, presumably his spouse. He is obviously not the same as Uncle John whose spouse is Gertie. Still no clues as to who this Uncle could be.

Saturday, August 30, 1919

Cloudy day with rain in afternoon and evening. Worked on road. Shovelled gravel in Woodruff's pit on Charlton Road. Roy, Ray, H.H. and I ate quart of ice cream. Read etc. To bed 8:45 P.M.

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After a day of shoveling gravel the most ice cream he could eat was a quarter of a quart (1/2 cup)? Hmmm . . . I may have to adjust my estimate of where the ice cream addiction came from . . .

Friday, August 29, 1919

Beautiful bright mild day. Shovelled gravel with Roy Schlensker in Woodruff's pit on Saratoga road. Ray Schlensker drove team. Read papers etc. Played piano. Clara went home. To bed 9:15 P.M. Thankful for health and friends.

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What is the purpose of this endless gravel shoveling? Will we ever know?