Wet mild muggy rainy day. To college 7:45 to 2:00 P.M. Down town on errands. Bowled at [drawing of a star]. Over to church fooled around. Lots of people on street at night. Out to Dorothea Reynolds house. Fooled around. Dot Gallup & Finch along. To bed 2 A.M. Union-Columbia football game score 0-0.
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Well, a tie is better than a loss, I guess. I wonder if Stanford attended the game?
Thursday, October 30, 1919
Cool wet damp muggy day. To college 9 to 12 M. Fooled around in P.M. Candled eggs, played piano etc. Over to social at church at night. Down after Wilber Hayes. Fine time. Hallowe'en decorations. Home with Doris Smith. To bed 12:30 P.M.
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On the internet, I found a page from the Ladies Home Journal, October 1919 issue that shows various ways of decorating your house for Halloween festivities. Perhaps Stanford's house was festooned with some version of these:
My favorite is the cat's face in the fireplace!
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On the internet, I found a page from the Ladies Home Journal, October 1919 issue that shows various ways of decorating your house for Halloween festivities. Perhaps Stanford's house was festooned with some version of these:
My favorite is the cat's face in the fireplace!
Wednesday, October 29, 1919
Most wonderful autumn day. To College 7:45 to 12 M. Fooled around. Played tennis with Doris Smith in P.M. Won 6-2, 6-4. Helped trim for social. Drilled at armory. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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Once again we seem to have a triumphant declaration of beating Doris at tennis. I guess he didn't believe in letting the girl win!
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Once again we seem to have a triumphant declaration of beating Doris at tennis. I guess he didn't believe in letting the girl win!
Tuesday, October 28, 1919
Fair autumn day. To college 9 to 12 M. Some rain in A.M. Trimmed H.H. on debate on Immigration question. Up to Uncle John's in P.M. Very windy. Bowled with church league at nite 186-152-172. To bed 11 P.M.
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Hmmm . . . I guess there was more than one debate. It must have been a class exercise of some sort. I would love to have read what Stanford had to say on immigration.
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Hmmm . . . I guess there was more than one debate. It must have been a class exercise of some sort. I would love to have read what Stanford had to say on immigration.
Monday, October 27, 1919
Fair fall day. Some rain during day. To College 8 to 3 P.M. Fooled around. Studied. Bowled at star. Worked on debate. Up to Library and Delta Phi house. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for health, home, etc. / etc. /
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Alpha Delta Phi is the chapter of Delta Phi that was founded at Union College. Here is a picture of the fraternity's house as it appeared around 1913 (taken from the Union College website):
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Alpha Delta Phi is the chapter of Delta Phi that was founded at Union College. Here is a picture of the fraternity's house as it appeared around 1913 (taken from the Union College website):
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| Alpha Delta Phi, circa 1913 |
Sunday, October 26, 1919
Rainy day. Down after Hayes. To Church and S.S. [Sunday School]. Merlin Finch here in P.M. Chewed the rag. Down to Hayes room. To Epworth League. Walked around with Dot Gallup, H.H. and Ruth. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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Chewed the rag is an expression people don't hear much anymore. I used to hear chew the fat quite often when I was young, but not often now. I looked on the internet for a theory of the expression's origin, but was unable to come up with anything conclusive. One person said he'd heard it refers to soldiers talking while chewing pieces of cloth to be used for wadding in their rifles, but someone else doubted a person could talk very well with cloth wads in his mouth. One website speculated that it meant whatever you were talking about was trivial, in the way that fat or a rag is non-nutritious food (or not food at all).
In any case, I think it's remarkable how little slang Stanford uses in his diary. Most of the entries could easily be mistaken for contemporary writing. Only when we hear a word or phrase like chored around or punk do we remember that it's been almost 100 years since Stanford wrote these daily narratives.
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Chewed the rag is an expression people don't hear much anymore. I used to hear chew the fat quite often when I was young, but not often now. I looked on the internet for a theory of the expression's origin, but was unable to come up with anything conclusive. One person said he'd heard it refers to soldiers talking while chewing pieces of cloth to be used for wadding in their rifles, but someone else doubted a person could talk very well with cloth wads in his mouth. One website speculated that it meant whatever you were talking about was trivial, in the way that fat or a rag is non-nutritious food (or not food at all).
In any case, I think it's remarkable how little slang Stanford uses in his diary. Most of the entries could easily be mistaken for contemporary writing. Only when we hear a word or phrase like chored around or punk do we remember that it's been almost 100 years since Stanford wrote these daily narratives.
Saturday, October 25, 1919
Beautiful bright ideal fall day with some rain at night. To college 8 to 12 M. To public library in P.M. to work on debate etc. Down town. Bowled at Y etc. To bed 10 P.M. old time.
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With the phrase "10 P.M. old time," Stanford refers to the last night of Daylight Savings Time before returning to Standard Time on the last Sunday of October. In March of 1918, Daylight Savings Time began officially for the first time in the United States (Stanford marks it on Sunday, 30 March 1919 with the statement "Set clocks ahead"), but was repealed in 1919. Here is an excerpt from an article on the subject that appears on the WebExhibits website:
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With the phrase "10 P.M. old time," Stanford refers to the last night of Daylight Savings Time before returning to Standard Time on the last Sunday of October. In March of 1918, Daylight Savings Time began officially for the first time in the United States (Stanford marks it on Sunday, 30 March 1919 with the statement "Set clocks ahead"), but was repealed in 1919. Here is an excerpt from an article on the subject that appears on the WebExhibits website:
Daylight Saving Time was observed for seven months in 1918 and 1919. After the War ended, the law proved so unpopular (mostly because people rose earlier and went to bed earlier than people do today) that it was repealed in 1919 with a Congressional override of President Wilson's veto. Daylight Saving Time became a local option, and was continued in a few states, such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and in some cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago.
Friday, October 24, 1919
Overcast mild fall day. To college 7:45 to 12 M. 1:30 to 2:30 P.M. Candled eggs etc. To Glenville Corners at night to Chicken Supper. Dorothy Gallup along. Fine time. Rode around town out to Rotterdam etc. To bed 11:45 P.M.
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There was a Dorothy Gallup who lived at 12 Altamont Avenue in Rotterdam with her parents, Percy and Chastella and her brother Elbert. In 1920 Dorothy was 18 years old and working for a Garage as a Stenographer. She didn't finish high school (according to the 1940 census). Her father was a Hot Foreman for a Blacksmith. The foreman, according to The Blacksmith's Journal, a book published in 1920, was in charge of a forging operation in a factory.
In 1910, Dorothy's family lived in Glenville, where her father was a foreman at the Locomotive Works. She had a brother William at that time, but in 1920, there is no William. He would have been about 11 by then. In 1900, the Gallups had been married two years and had already lost one child. It would be sad if they then lost William later on.
In 1924, Dorothy married Earl Havens in Bennington, VT where she was living at the time. I don't know why she was living in Vermont, but by 1925 she and her husband were back in Schenectady, and by 1930 they had two daughters and were living in Niksayuna. Her husband was a car salesman. Maybe that's where she met Earl--he sold cars at the Garage where she worked. She was still living in the same place in 1940. Her husband died in 1950, but she lived to 1984, still residing in Schenectady.
I wonder if her daughters would like to know she was mentioned in Stanford's diary?
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There was a Dorothy Gallup who lived at 12 Altamont Avenue in Rotterdam with her parents, Percy and Chastella and her brother Elbert. In 1920 Dorothy was 18 years old and working for a Garage as a Stenographer. She didn't finish high school (according to the 1940 census). Her father was a Hot Foreman for a Blacksmith. The foreman, according to The Blacksmith's Journal, a book published in 1920, was in charge of a forging operation in a factory.
In 1910, Dorothy's family lived in Glenville, where her father was a foreman at the Locomotive Works. She had a brother William at that time, but in 1920, there is no William. He would have been about 11 by then. In 1900, the Gallups had been married two years and had already lost one child. It would be sad if they then lost William later on.
In 1924, Dorothy married Earl Havens in Bennington, VT where she was living at the time. I don't know why she was living in Vermont, but by 1925 she and her husband were back in Schenectady, and by 1930 they had two daughters and were living in Niksayuna. Her husband was a car salesman. Maybe that's where she met Earl--he sold cars at the Garage where she worked. She was still living in the same place in 1940. Her husband died in 1950, but she lived to 1984, still residing in Schenectady.
I wonder if her daughters would like to know she was mentioned in Stanford's diary?
Thursday, October 23, 1919
Fair mild autumn day. To college 8 to 12 M. Up to Delta Phi house to work on debate with Harry Reonce. Candled eggs. Chored around etc. Out walking to Scotia etc. with Wilber Hayes & H.H. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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I still don't know who this Harry Reonce or Reond is. Ah well, Stanford had a debate with him, anyway.
I learned from Wikipedia that the early Latin societies, as they were first known, engaged in debate as one of their literary exercises. Apparently the fraternities that grew out of those societies, one of them Delta Phi (founded in November 1827), continued that tradition. It's not clear if Stanford is a member of this fraternity or not.
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I still don't know who this Harry Reonce or Reond is. Ah well, Stanford had a debate with him, anyway.
I learned from Wikipedia that the early Latin societies, as they were first known, engaged in debate as one of their literary exercises. Apparently the fraternities that grew out of those societies, one of them Delta Phi (founded in November 1827), continued that tradition. It's not clear if Stanford is a member of this fraternity or not.
Wednesday, October 22, 1919
Cloudy mild fall day. To college. To college 7:45 to 9 and 11 to 12 A.M. Fooled around. Up to U.C.C.A. Read etc. Home. To Glenville Center to last of Evangelistic services. Mr. Ramsey along with his car. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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I haven't been able to discover what UCCA stands for. It's probably Stanford's abbreviation for something, but nothing comes to mind.
I don't know who Mr. Ramsey is, but they take him with them to church sometimes, apparently. I've found a George Ramsey who lives in Schenectady in 1920 on Nott Street with his wife and two children. He's from Scotland and works as a machinist for the Locomotive Works. I don't know if he's the right Ramsey, but he does live less than a half mile from the Glindmyers, also friends of the Clossons.
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I haven't been able to discover what UCCA stands for. It's probably Stanford's abbreviation for something, but nothing comes to mind.
I don't know who Mr. Ramsey is, but they take him with them to church sometimes, apparently. I've found a George Ramsey who lives in Schenectady in 1920 on Nott Street with his wife and two children. He's from Scotland and works as a machinist for the Locomotive Works. I don't know if he's the right Ramsey, but he does live less than a half mile from the Glindmyers, also friends of the Clossons.
Tuesday, October 21, 1919
Cloudy cool fall day with some rain at night. To college 7:45 to 12M. Played & studied. To public library to work on debate. Candled eggs. Bowled with Church League at night 162-157-147. Up to Delta Phi house in P.M. to see Harry Reond.
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Delta Phi was one of the first fraternities in the country and at Union College, which is considered to be the "mother of fraternities." This was to be the site of the debate Stanford was apparently involved in; I doubt that Stanford was a member of the fraternity. There is some interesting information about the group at the following website: Delta Phi Fraternity.
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Delta Phi was one of the first fraternities in the country and at Union College, which is considered to be the "mother of fraternities." This was to be the site of the debate Stanford was apparently involved in; I doubt that Stanford was a member of the fraternity. There is some interesting information about the group at the following website: Delta Phi Fraternity.
Monday, October 20, 1919
Fair fall day but cool. To college 8-9; 11-12; 1:1:30 to 4 P.M. Down town on errands etc. Candled eggs. Studied, played etc. To bed 9 P.M. Thankful for health, strength, education, opportunities etc.
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Stanford must have been tired to go to bed so early!
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Stanford must have been tired to go to bed so early!
Sunday, October 19, 1919
Fair fall day. Some cloudy. To church and Sunday School with Wilber Hayes. Out walking in P.M. with Norris, Hayes, Finch and H.H. Home for lunch. To Epworth League. Fine meeting. Good attendance. To Baptist Church with Doris Smith. To bed 11:30 P.M.
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Looked again for Norris, but without a first name, I'm not having much luck identifying him.
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Looked again for Norris, but without a first name, I'm not having much luck identifying him.
Saturday, October 18, 1919
Beautiful bright ideal fall day. To college 9 to 11 A.M. Chored around. To Albany to Epworth League district convention with auto. Merlin Finch, Dorothea Reynolds, Hanford Closson, Dorothy Gallup, Me and Doris Smith, Ruth, Wilber Hayes went. Out to Buekendaal, Rotterdam etc. Good conference. To bed 12 bells. Thankful.
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Beukendaal, NY is a hamlet within the Schenectady area. It's northwest of Schenectady, on the way to Glenville on Sacandaga Road. Left is a map that shows the Volunteer Fire Department for Beukendaal; the village center was at the spot marked with an "A" on the map.
Beukendaal was the site of a famous battle in 1748 between the settlers and the French and Indians. It is considered to be the only battle of King George's War, according to an interesting article detailing the event at the Schenectady History website, Schenectady Digital History Archive.
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Beukendaal was the site of a famous battle in 1748 between the settlers and the French and Indians. It is considered to be the only battle of King George's War, according to an interesting article detailing the event at the Schenectady History website, Schenectady Digital History Archive.
Friday, October 17, 1919
Beautiful bright fall day. To college 8 to 12 M. Home. Greased and cleaned up auto. Chored around. Studied etc. Bowled with Church League at night. 176-136-166. Hayes along with us. To bed 11 P.M.
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The Church League included bowling teams from local churches. Below is a Schenectady newspaper ad reporting the line up for Friday, April 4, 1919. I wonder which team Stanford bowled with?
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The Church League included bowling teams from local churches. Below is a Schenectady newspaper ad reporting the line up for Friday, April 4, 1919. I wonder which team Stanford bowled with?
Thursday, October 16, 1919
Overcast with rain at intervals during day. To College 8 to 12 M. Studied. To College library. Down town. Bowled at Morse. Home. Candled eggs. Chored around. Took bath etc. To bed 10 P.M.
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Here is picture of the Nott Memorial, Union College, which was apparently also used as the library for a time. This image is taken from a 1919 postcard that is for sale on amazon.com:
Here is another image of what the photographer calls "Library Lane," from a postcard sent in 1911. This postcard is taken from the Union College website as part of the Schaffer Library postcard collection:
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Here is picture of the Nott Memorial, Union College, which was apparently also used as the library for a time. This image is taken from a 1919 postcard that is for sale on amazon.com:
Here is another image of what the photographer calls "Library Lane," from a postcard sent in 1911. This postcard is taken from the Union College website as part of the Schaffer Library postcard collection:
Wednesday, October 15, 1919
Cloudy mild day. Cleared up like summer in P.M. To college 7:45 to 12M, studied. Played tennis with Doris Smith at Central park. Score 6-2; 6-4; 8-6. Down town. Drilled at armory 8 to 9:30 P.M. Down and bowled at Morse Alley's. Folks to Glenville Center.
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Hmmm . . . I wonder why he feels the need to tell the score of his tennis match with Doris? He's never reported the score of any other tennis matches, except for the one time he said he "got trimmed" by his brother in a match between them on 26 September.
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Hmmm . . . I wonder why he feels the need to tell the score of his tennis match with Doris? He's never reported the score of any other tennis matches, except for the one time he said he "got trimmed" by his brother in a match between them on 26 September.
Tuesday, October 14, 1919
Cloudy overcast day. Some rain at night. To college 7:45 to 12 M. Candled eggs. Down town after stuff for Classical Club. Studied. To College. To Church to Veritas Class meeting. Walked around. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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I haven't been able to determine exactly what the Veritas Class was about, but it is definitely a religious gathering, apparently to learn about or discuss religious topics.
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I haven't been able to determine exactly what the Veritas Class was about, but it is definitely a religious gathering, apparently to learn about or discuss religious topics.
Monday, October 13, 1919
Beautiful bright and cool autumn day. To college 8 to 4 P.M. Candled eggs. Columbus day. Ruth, Merlin Finch, H.H., Mildred Sauter, Doris Smith & I to country place to supper etc. Road [sic] around. To bed 11 P.M.
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There was a Mildred G. Sauter living in Schenectady in 1915 with her parents, Phillip and Louise, and brother Harry and his wife Daisy at 774 State Street. The two-story, two-family building is still standing, but is in a pretty rundown looking neighborhood now. Mildred's father was from Germany; he was a machinist for GE and his son was an architect. By 1920 her brother and his wife have moved out but Mildred is still living at home, working as a stenographer for a bank.
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There was a Mildred G. Sauter living in Schenectady in 1915 with her parents, Phillip and Louise, and brother Harry and his wife Daisy at 774 State Street. The two-story, two-family building is still standing, but is in a pretty rundown looking neighborhood now. Mildred's father was from Germany; he was a machinist for GE and his son was an architect. By 1920 her brother and his wife have moved out but Mildred is still living at home, working as a stenographer for a bank.
Sunday, October 12, 1919
Fair autumn day. To church and S.S. Finch, Hayes & I out riding with Dorothea Reynolds in P.M. To Hayes room. Home. To Epworth League. To Center Glenville church 8 P.M. Father, I, Mother, Ruth, H.H., Doris Smith, and Charles Wagner. Fine time. Cool. To bed 11 P.M.
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A Dorothea Reynolds lived in Glenville in 1920 with her parents, Charles and Lena, and younger sister Elizabeth. She was born in 1902 so was 17 at the time of this outing. Her mother was a public school teacher and her father was a chemist in a laboratory, according to the 1920 census. In 1924 she married Kirkwood Personius and had three children by 1940. Her husband was an electrical engineer with the NYSE&G Corporation in 1942.
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A Dorothea Reynolds lived in Glenville in 1920 with her parents, Charles and Lena, and younger sister Elizabeth. She was born in 1902 so was 17 at the time of this outing. Her mother was a public school teacher and her father was a chemist in a laboratory, according to the 1920 census. In 1924 she married Kirkwood Personius and had three children by 1940. Her husband was an electrical engineer with the NYSE&G Corporation in 1942.
Saturday, October 11, 1919
Overcast cool day. Up 7:15 A.M. To chapel and 10 o'clock class. Got hair cut etc. Candled eggs. Fooled around. To Union Amherst football game score 0-9. To movies at F.M.E. church. Bowled at Morse alleys. To bed 12:15 A.M.
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Union College played Amherst College 27 times between 1894 and 1959. The meeting in 1919 ended with a score of 12-0 (Amherst the winner), according to the records I discovered on the Amherst website, Amherst College Football Series. Here is the complete list of the games played:
I wonder if Stanford left the game early, not staying to see Amherst get three more points. Since Union was at zero, it's very possible.
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Union College played Amherst College 27 times between 1894 and 1959. The meeting in 1919 ended with a score of 12-0 (Amherst the winner), according to the records I discovered on the Amherst website, Amherst College Football Series. Here is the complete list of the games played:
Friday, October 10, 1919
Most elegant very mild marvelous summers day. To college 7:45 to 12 M. Home. Candled eggs. To country place after produce with H.H., father and mother. Bowled with F.M.E. [First Methodist Episcopal] Church team 134-103-104. To bed 11 P.M.
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Summer in October? Must have been quite warm.
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Summer in October? Must have been quite warm.
Thursday, October 9, 1919
Beautiful bright day. To College 7:45 to 12 M. Two tests. Down town on errands etc. Bowled at star. Candled eggs. To Library at college in evening to study. Home. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful for all benefits.
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So, studying at last, eh, Stanford?
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So, studying at last, eh, Stanford?
Wednesday, October 8, 1919
Beautiful bright cool day. 22 degrees above zero in A.M. To college 7:45 to 9 and 11 to 12 A.M. Downtown in P.M. Bowed at star alleys. Candled eggs etc. To armory to drill 8 to 9:30 P.M. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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Well, Stanford's getting back into his old routine.
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Well, Stanford's getting back into his old routine.
Tuesday, October 7, 1919
Beautiful bight cool ideal fall day. To College 7:45 to 12 noon. To Amsterdam to Aunt Alma Cramer's funeral in P.M. Chored around. To K.S.P. meeting at nite. To Van Curler opera house with Doris Smith to Howe's moving pictures. To bed 11:30 P.M.
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Aunt Alma Cramer was Alma T. Cramer, Catherine Cramer's younger sister and therefore Stillman's aunt and Stanford's great aunt. She was born in 1829 and lived her whole life in the Amsterdam area. According to the Amsterdam Directory, she was a dressmaker and in 1919 she lived at 416 Division Street in Amsterdam, about 20 miles northwest from Schenectady. She never married, apparently. She's buried in Christian Church Cemetery in Charleston Four Corners, NY. There wasn't much more information than that on her.
The Van Curler Opera House was in Schenectady. Here is a postcard picture of it:
I'd never heard of Howe's moving pictures, so I looked it up and discovered that Edison had a rival in the early days of cinema, Mr. Lyman H. Howe from Wilkes-Barre, PA, whose specialty was showing "high class" motion pictures. Appropriately, his venues were also high class. Below is an excerpt from a newspaper article about Mr. Howe, featured in the online newspaper, The Citizens' Voice, from Wilkes-Barre:
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Aunt Alma Cramer was Alma T. Cramer, Catherine Cramer's younger sister and therefore Stillman's aunt and Stanford's great aunt. She was born in 1829 and lived her whole life in the Amsterdam area. According to the Amsterdam Directory, she was a dressmaker and in 1919 she lived at 416 Division Street in Amsterdam, about 20 miles northwest from Schenectady. She never married, apparently. She's buried in Christian Church Cemetery in Charleston Four Corners, NY. There wasn't much more information than that on her.
The Van Curler Opera House was in Schenectady. Here is a postcard picture of it:
In 1890, Howe discovered a new mechanical marvel to bring to the masses - the Edison phonograph. For the next six years, he toured eastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York offering recorded musical concerts and speeches at any venue where he could get a booking.
Billing himself as "Professor," Howe emphasized the moral and educational qualities of his presentations. His "high class" imprimatur distinguished him from other traveling acts like P.T. Barnum's circus, and appealed to the wide range of social and economic groups, all of whom felt better about themselves after an evening in his company.
The advent of motion pictures in the mid-1890s presented a natural segue for Howe's "high class" formula. Unable to secure a license from Thomas Edison to use his Kinetoscope, a single-reel film projector, Howe built his own two-reel projector (Animotiscope) and spliced Edison's films together to offer a longer, uninterrupted show and used a phonograph to add sound. By doing so, he was the first to use these mediums in tandem commercially. Audiences flocked to the shows which were conducted at a range of venues, including church halls, community centers, legitimate theaters and opera houses throughout the region. His "high class" programming featured primitive newsreels, local scenes and travelogues.I wonder what "high class" movie Stanford and Doris saw?
Monday, October 6, 1919
Cloudy day with rain. Cleared up in P.M. To college 7:45 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Candled eggs etc. Supper. Studied in evening from 7 to 10 P.M. To bed 10:30 P.M. Uncle John to dinner. Chapel meeting at noon. Thankful for all blessings.
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It's not clear from Stanford's entry hear what sort of meeting was held in the Chapel that Monday, but the Chapel [aka Geological Hall] was one of the only buildings with a hall capacious enough to accommodate large groups and so was used to hold meetings other than religious services. Below is a bit of information (taken from the Union website) about the Old Chapel, as it has been called since the new chapel building was constructed in 1925.
The part of the Union College website from which this information is taken is called Mrs. Perkins' Union College, a project of the Union College library that is centered on the writings and other materials of Ann Perkins, the wife of college professor Maurice Perkins who lived at the campus from 1864 until her death in 1922 at age 87. Mrs. Perkins was known for her garden, planted behind her campus home, and for her extensive involvement in the life of the college, to include giving lectures on literature and other subjects. Click on the link above (the website's name) to see more about this fascinating project.
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It's not clear from Stanford's entry hear what sort of meeting was held in the Chapel that Monday, but the Chapel [aka Geological Hall] was one of the only buildings with a hall capacious enough to accommodate large groups and so was used to hold meetings other than religious services. Below is a bit of information (taken from the Union website) about the Old Chapel, as it has been called since the new chapel building was constructed in 1925.
Constructed between 1855 and 1856, Geological Hall was designed in keeping with Ramée’s general plans for the Union campus and originally contained the College chapel, natural history museum, and library, as well as the College Treasurer’s office. Entered from South Lane, the interior was designed by Eliphalet Nott and Jonathan Pearson (College Treasurer and librarian) in consultation with architect William L. Woollett. The chapel was the site of mandatory morning services, previously held in South Colonnade, and for many years was the only space large enough on campus for student body meetings. It was thus at the heart of campus life.Here is a picture of the building as it appeared in the early 1900s:
Sunday, October 5, 1919
Overcast mild day. Some rain at night. To Church & S.S. Rally day exercises. To Center Glenville Church to service. Wilbur Hayes & Mr. Ramsey along. To E.L. To Van Curler to hear Father Kelly with D.W.S.
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I think I've tracked down Doris W. Smith. She was a 15 year old girl in 1919, living with her parents in Schenectady. She was born in 1904 in Massachusetts. Her father, James, was born in England, her mother, Clara, in New York to English parents. In 1920 James was working as a janitor in the public schools. Doris had two older sisters; one, Ella, was a stenographer and the other, Amelia, was a mechanical engineer. Both worked for the Locomotive Works in Schenectady. Doris is still in school, of course, in 1920, being only 16.
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I think I've tracked down Doris W. Smith. She was a 15 year old girl in 1919, living with her parents in Schenectady. She was born in 1904 in Massachusetts. Her father, James, was born in England, her mother, Clara, in New York to English parents. In 1920 James was working as a janitor in the public schools. Doris had two older sisters; one, Ella, was a stenographer and the other, Amelia, was a mechanical engineer. Both worked for the Locomotive Works in Schenectady. Doris is still in school, of course, in 1920, being only 16.
Saturday, October 4, 1919
Beautiful bright day. To college 7:45 to 11 A.M. Chored around. Father, H.H. & I to country place. Dug potatoes, pulled beans, etc. Registered for drill at night. Bowled at Y. To bed 10 P.M.
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I'm assuming that drill means ROTC exercises. Here is a picture of Hanford and Stanford in their ROTC uniforms. I'm not sure what year the photo was taken:
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I'm assuming that drill means ROTC exercises. Here is a picture of Hanford and Stanford in their ROTC uniforms. I'm not sure what year the photo was taken:
Friday, October 3, 1919
Fair day. To college off and on from 11:45 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Down town. Bowled at star alleys. Home. Candled eggs. Supper. Studied etc. To Church to E. L. Mission Study Class. Home with D.W. Smith. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thankful for health etc.
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Thursday, October 2, 1919
Overcast. Rain all A.M. Cleared up in P.M. Father, Mother, Nellie, H.H., Uncle John and Aunt Gertie to Utica with Hudson Car to see Jasper Hedden. To college. Took nap in P.M. To K.S.P. meeting at Church. To Proctors. To bed 11:15 P.M.
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Jasper Hedden lived with the Clossons (Stillman and Family, including father Charles) in June of 1900 as an employee (farm laborer), according to the 1900 federal census record. But he was actually Stillman's cousin, the son of Fanny, Charles Closson's sister. Fanny had two children, Jasper and Robert. There is no further information about either of them in the Closson genealogy. Fanny herself died young in 1892 at the age of 49 and her husband died later that year. So poor Jasper had been orphaned at age 14.
Jasper was born December 7, 1878, so he was 21 at the time of the 1900 census. In the 1910 census he is listed as living in Charlton, NY with his Aunt and Uncle (brother and sister) Hooper and Georgiana Hedden. New York's 1915 census shows him still living there. But by 1920, he is living in the Utica State Hospital in Utica, NY, where Stillman and company went to see him, no doubt. This was a hospital for the insane, but the definition of insane may have been a bit fluid back in those days, perhaps including "inebriates," as they called them, and elderly people suffering from dementia. It's hard to say what Jasper Hedden's illness was, but he probably died at the hospital, since I can find no further record of him after 1920.
The Utica State Hospital was a huge structure. Here are two pictures:
Utica State Hospital was opened in 1843. It was famous for being the place where the Utica Crib was invented. The "crib" became quite popular as a device for confining inmates; versions of it were used in various institutions around the country throughout the 19th century. Here's a picture of the device, taken from the Western Illinois Museum website:
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Jasper Hedden lived with the Clossons (Stillman and Family, including father Charles) in June of 1900 as an employee (farm laborer), according to the 1900 federal census record. But he was actually Stillman's cousin, the son of Fanny, Charles Closson's sister. Fanny had two children, Jasper and Robert. There is no further information about either of them in the Closson genealogy. Fanny herself died young in 1892 at the age of 49 and her husband died later that year. So poor Jasper had been orphaned at age 14.
Jasper was born December 7, 1878, so he was 21 at the time of the 1900 census. In the 1910 census he is listed as living in Charlton, NY with his Aunt and Uncle (brother and sister) Hooper and Georgiana Hedden. New York's 1915 census shows him still living there. But by 1920, he is living in the Utica State Hospital in Utica, NY, where Stillman and company went to see him, no doubt. This was a hospital for the insane, but the definition of insane may have been a bit fluid back in those days, perhaps including "inebriates," as they called them, and elderly people suffering from dementia. It's hard to say what Jasper Hedden's illness was, but he probably died at the hospital, since I can find no further record of him after 1920.
The Utica State Hospital was a huge structure. Here are two pictures:
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| Utica State Hospital |
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| Postcard sent in 1912 depicting Utica State Hospital |
Wednesday, October 1, 1919
Beautiful bright and mild. To college 7:45 A.M. to 12 M. Played tennis with H.H. at Riverside Park. Home. Filled grease cups on Hudson Car etc. Studied etc. To bed 10 P.M.
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Riverside Park is part of what is known as the Old Stockade District of Schenectady. Here is what one website has to say about its part in history:
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Riverside Park is part of what is known as the Old Stockade District of Schenectady. Here is what one website has to say about its part in history:
Riverside Park — Historically, this area along the Mohawk River was the beginning of navigation on the Mohawk River. Soldiers, settlers and traders headed west from the port that once thrived here. Boat builders made river bateaux and warehouses lined the riverbank filled with grain, salt, potash, furs and other goods that were loaded and unloaded from these boats. Ferrys moved back and forth across the river.Here's the park as it looks today, sporting its fall colors as it might have the day Stanford & H.H. played tennis there:
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| Riverside Park, Schenctady - Taken from the website Trek Earth |
Tuesday, September 30, 1919
Fair bright mild day. To college 7:45 to 12 M. Candled eggs all afternoon 25 cases. Cooler at night. Studied, read, played etc. To bed 9:30 P.M. Thankful for health, food, friends, education, good parents etc.
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Stanford must have been very good at candling eggs. I wonder how many eggs were in a case?
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Stanford must have been very good at candling eggs. I wonder how many eggs were in a case?
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