Saturday, May 3, 1919

Very beautiful mild day. To College 8:30 to 12. To Country with Father and H.H. Planted corn, potatoes, peas, etc. Home. Chored around in P.M. John and Anna here. Aeroplanes performed over city all P.M. in connection with Liberty Loan. Took bath. To bed.

**********
Here is some information I found on the internet about Liberty Loans:

Details of the Loans
The Liberty Bonds and Victory Notes were issued under authority of the Acts of Congress approved April 24 1917, Sept. 24 1917, April 4 1918, July 9 1918, Sept. 24 1918 and March 3 1919, and pursuant to official Treasury Department circulars. 

These loans were made to help finance the war effort. Here is more information about how the government sold the idea to the public:

Campaigns of education were inaugurated making widely known the causes of the war, the object sought by victory, and the necessity of financing the Allies and supporting the military arm of the Government. To the thoroughness of the educational campaign may be attributed much of the success of the issues. It convinced everyone that each man, woman and child must " do his bit." It made an army of workers with an individual responsibility. No device to assemble crowds was ignored, and there was no assembly without its speakers. Bands, processions, parades, balloon ascensions, flights of aeroplanes dropping leaflets, steeple climbers, altars of liberty, " Nation Days " for aliens and citizens of foreign birth, and, later, captured tanks, cannon and submarines, pyramids of German helmets - all were used. Walls were covered with special cartoons; magazines and newspapers contained full pages of advertising.

**********
This is the end of my transcription of Stanford's 1919 Journal.  If you have come to this blog in the middle, please go to the May 4, 1919 post to continue with Stanford's account of his life in the year 1919.

The 1920 Blog continues here: Datebook 1920.  See you there!!

Friday, May 2, 1919

Bright day. To college 8:30-2:30. Down town. Bowled at Morse, ducks and big pins. To Mission Study Class 7:8 P.M. To Armory for drill. To Charge of Company for ten minutes.

**********
I guess Stanford got to be in charge of his ROTC company for a brief spell. He doesn't mention how it went, but he was probably successful, considering the leadership skills he showed later in his life.

Thursday, May 1, 1919

Bright and fair in morning. Turned to rain in afternoon. To college 8:30 to 12. Father and Uncle John to country to make garden. Home in P.M. K.S.P. meeting at Y.M.C.A. Initiation of Merlin Finch. Bowled at Star. To bed 12 P.M.

**********
So here we are at the beginning of Stanford's friendship with Merlin Finch.  We are almost back to the beginning of the diary, as well.

Wednesday, April 30, 1919

Beautiful mild bright summer's day. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. Rolled my first duck pins. 5 games. Average 86. First ball a strike. Home in evening. Wrote letter to Wagner. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
You don't hear about duckpin bowling much anymore, but I think it was popular in earlier times. My father was a fan. Here is the link to a Wikipedia article on the subject: Ducks.

Tuesday, April 29, 1919

Cool fair day. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Studied in P.M. Played tennis in yard. To college to Allison-Foote debate. Philomatheans won. W.? Swart won $50 prize.

**********
Here is some information about the Allison-Foote Debate, taken from the Union College Bulletin: Special War-Time Catalogue, 1918-1919. Vol. XII, No. 1, November 1918:

Allison-Foote Prizes. Mr. George F. Allison, of New York city,
and the late Wallace T. Foote, of Port Henry, N. Y., founded a
prize for the encouragement of debate in the literary societies.
The prize consists of $100 in cash, and is awarded as the result of
a public competition between representatives of the Adelphic and
Philomathean Literary Societies. Fifty dollars is awarded to the
society presenting the strongest argument. The remaining $50 is
awarded to the debater who makes the best single speech, regard-
less of his society relations. Contestants must have engaged in at
least ten debates in their respective societies during the college
year immediately preceding. All further details are left to the
determination of a committee, consisting of the president, the
dean of the college, and the professor of Rhetoric.

I was unable to locate any information on Mr. Swart, who apparently presented the best single speech. 

Monday, April 28, 1919

Clouds and rainy. To College 9-2:30. Down town. Bowled at Morse. Supper. To Merris's home for K.S.P. Committee meeting. Hayes and Smith there. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
Not sure who Smith is--it's probably a man because women are always referred to by their given names.

Sunday, April 27, 1919

Very beautiful mild day. To Church and Sunday School. Took walk with Hayes and H.H. in P.M. on Gray and Albany Roads. To Epworth League. Good meeting. Quartette [sic] sang. Talked. To bed 9:45 P.M. Thankful.

**********
I looked up Gray and Albany Roads on the map, but found only Gray and Albany Streets, and they are pretty far apart. So, I'm not sure where Stanford and pals walked.

Saturday, April 26, 1919

Cold with little snow at intervals during day. To college 8:30 to 12. Studied. Down town. Bowled at star. To Hayes room for call. Home. Studied in evening. To bed 10:15 P.M.

**********

Friday, April 25, 1919

Cold. Temperature 18 degrees. Few flakes of snow during day. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. Played pool at Y. Bowled at Star. To mission study at college 7:8 P.M. To drill at Armory. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
Looks like Stanford is back into his old routine, having recovered from his illness.

Thursday, April 24, 1919

Cloudy and rainy at intervals all day. To college 8:30 to 12. Studied in P.M. Received letter from C.W. Wagner. Down to call on Hayes in evening. Not home. To Morse alleys. Watched bowl and pool. To bed 9:30 P.M.

**********
I wonder what Charles Wagner had to say in his letter? I guess we'll never know.

Wednesday, April 23, 1919

Very beautiful and mild. Ruth left on 9:51 train. Played tennis at Central Park. Studied. Helped wash auto in P.M. Home in Evening. To bed 9 P.M.

**********
I guess Ruth went back to college? He must have been tired--an early bed time!

Tuesday, April 22, 1919

Very beautiful day. To country place in morning and cleaned up. To Troy in P.M. Father bought 2 cars of eggs. Florence Lavery rode along. To Guy Thorpes home in evening to class meeting. To bed 11:30 P.M.

**********
Florence Lavery is mentioned in detail in the August 9th post.  

Monday, April 21, 1919

Very bright mild. day. Up 8 A.M. Home in A.M. Down town in P.M. Bowled at Star. Sorted eggs. Chored and read in evening. Hanford and Ruth to Proctors. Grace went home in A. M. Thankful for prohibition.

**********
Grace Cornell must certainly be a relative, a cousin, perhaps as a descendant of Richard Cornell, Susan's father. Susan was Catherine Cramer's mother and therefore Stillman's grandmother.

Sunday, April 20, 1919

Bright in morning. Cloudy rest of day. To Easter service at 7:30 A.M. To Church & Sunday School. Easter exercises at noon. Out riding P.M. Grace Cornell here. To Epworth League and Church Service. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********

Saturday, April 19, 1919

Bright. Mild. Helped around house in A.M. Down town in P.M. Grace Cornell here for Easter. Father, Ruth , H.H. & I to Y to bowl. Father's first game 141. Very mild. To bed 11:30 PM. Wagner left 3:25 for Butler.

**********
Wow! Stillman could bowl too!

Friday, April 18, 1919

To Armory for drill. Overcast. Some rain in P.M. Around house in A.M. To Uncle John's in P.M. Cleared up at night. H.H., Ruth & I down to Y to bowl. Nellie watched. John Myers here in P.M. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.

**********
I guess he's back to his old routine now. Thank goodness!

Thursday, April 17, 1919

Overcast. Some rain in P.M. To college 8:30 to 12 M. Ruth came home 11:59 P.M. Home in P.M. Birthday party for Ruth at Supper. To Merris to farewell supper for C. Wagner. To bed 11:30.

**********

Wednesday, April 16, 1919

Cloudy. Overcast. Some rain at noon. To college 10 to 2:30. Feel quite well. Took nap in P.M. Studied. To bed 9:30. Thankful for centenary, etc.

**********
Ah, back to classes!

Tuesday, April 15, 1919

Bright. Mild. Sunny. Up and dressed in A.M. Took walk before dinner. To Public Library. Took walk in P.M. and evening also. Studied. To bed 9:30 P.M. Thankful for health, education, parents etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

**********
I guess "etc" is Stanford's equivalent of "yadda-yadda" (to borrow from Seinfeld). Sounds like Stanford is feeling better.

Monday, April 14, 1919

Bright but cool. Sun shone all day. Some windy. Around house in A.M. Dressed at noon. Took walk in afternoon and also evening. Took nap in P.M. At home in evening. To bed 10 P.M.

**********
I guess he's alone in the house, convalescing.

Sunday, April 13, 1919

Cloudy. Mild. A little rain. Father, Mother, Hanford and Scott Allen family to Saratoga to conference. Dressed in P.M. Walked on Back Porch. Thankful for friends.

**********

Saturday, April 12, 1919

Cloudy. Cool. Sat up in A.M. Up all day until 10 P.M. Cloudy. A little stronger. Mother went to Saratoga to conference on 1 P.M. car. Wilber Hayes called and stayed a while in Evening. Thankful for education.

**********
I wonder what conference Mother went to?

Friday, April 11, 1919

Mild. Wet. Snow all gone. Cloudy. Sat up most all of morning. Feel stronger. Took nap in P.M. Up until 9:30 P.M. Hayes called in evening. Rained hard all evening.

**********
Well, Stanford's recovering at last. I hope he's been doing his homework so he won't get too far behind!

Thursday, April 10, 1919

Cloudy. Mild. Rain in A.M. Genuine April showers. Sat up and ate dinner. Feel better. To bed 2 P.M. Hayes called on me. Wagner here in evening. He is going to Butler Penn. Rained hard.

**********
So, I guess that's what happened to Charles W. Wagner and where he was coming from when later on Stanford says he came home: Butler, Pennsylvania. I wonder what took him there? He ended up in Schenectady where he lived most of his life as a firefighter with a wife and a daughter.

Wednesday, April 9, 1919

Bright and mild. In evening a little shower. In bed most all day. Sat up for few minutes in morning, afternoon and evening.  Wilber Hayes called on me in evening. Thankful for centenary.

**********
Wilber was a good friend. I wonder if Stanford kept up with him after he left Schenectady? In 1930, Wilbur was married with a daughter; he and his family were living with his parents, according to the census, and he was a tester for the phone company. After that, it's hard to locate him. But I'd like to think Stanford and Wilbur wrote after they went their separate ways.

Tuesday, April 8, 1919

Beautiful. Mild. Springlike. Sun shone all day. In bed most all day. Sat up a few minutes. H.H. to Albany ten P.M. on Geologic trip. Thankful.

**********
I guess Stanford is recuperating. I wonder what the "Geologic" trip consisted of?

Monday, April 7, 1919

Mild. Bright. Clouded and had pour down at noon. Dr. Kathan here in A.M. Temperature 99 1/2. In bed all day. Thankful for friends.

**********
I wonder what Dr. Kathan did when he visited? Perhaps he just checked on Stanford's progress.

Sunday, April 6, 1919

Mild. Cloudy. Sun shone little. In bed all day. Sick of staying in bed. Eat very little. Hayes called in evening. Dr. Kathan here in A.M. Feel about the same. Snow all off of ground. Thankful.

**********

Saturday, April 5, 1919

Cloudy. Mild. Wet. In bed all day. Did not eat anything. Feel rather dull. Dr. Kathan here in morning. Temperature 102. Snow about all melted.

**********
Poor Stanford! I wonder what was wrong with him?

Friday, April 4, 1919

Cloudy. Mild. Snow melting fast. Did not feel well. Stayed home from college. Dr. Kathan here in evening. Temperature 104. Went to bed and took sweat.

**********
Uh-oh. Another illness. Wasn't it nice when doctors visited you at home? Imagine all the money that was saved on health care in those days! No trips to the emergency room or disposable surgery kits ratcheting up the expenses.

Dr. Kathan was probably Dayton L. Kathan, who lived on Union Street in Schenectady in 1920. He was a graduate of Albany Medical College and in 1919 was 63. Dayton had a brother Sherman who was also a physician, born in 1864 and therefore 55 at the time Stanford was treated. But Sherman lived in Conklinsville, 42 miles from Schenectady, so was probably not the doctor who attended Stanford.

Sherman Kathan was kind of interesting. He apparently lived for a while in the Minnesota territory. He's listed in the census as living in Aitkin, MN (29 miles East of Brainerd) in 1895 with his wife, Carrie, who was seven years younger than him. They'd only been married a year then. He was already a doctor, having graduated from Albany Medical College in 1891. They must not have liked it there because by 1900 they were living in New York City.

He died in 1929 in an automobile accident. His wife, however, died in 1921 at only 49 years old. They had no children.

Thursday, April 3, 1919

Bright mild day. Thawed. Some wet. To College 8:30 to 12. Studied. Helped mother clean our room. Down town. Bowled at Morse. Changed tire on ford. To KSII meeting at church. Walked around. Retired 10 P.M. Thank God for all worldly things.

**********

Wednesday, April 2, 1919

Cloudy in A.M. Cleared up in P.M. To college 8:30 to 12. Vacation in P.M. Return of soldiers. Big parade. Lots of people out. Bowled at Morse 239-137. Studied and read. To bed 10:15. Thankful for parents.

**********

Tuesday, April 1, 1919

Windy. Cold. To college 8:30 to 3:30. Let lower flat 108 Park Place. To Library. Supper. To April fool social at church. Miss Proper's eighteenth birthday. Fine time. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful for health.

**********
Not sure who Miss Proper is, but she must have been a friend. If I learn her first name, I can perhaps find out.

Monday, March 31, 1919

A little snow. Cool. To college 9 to 2:30 P.M. To Silliman Hall to do some work for Goewey [?]. Bowled at Star alleys. Studied. Played Piano. Quite a little snow on ground. To bed 10:15. Thankful for Education and Comforts.

**********
It was a little hard to make out the name of the person Stanford said he was doing "some work for," but I tried Goewey and found a Union student by the name of Hobart F. Goewey, who in 1920 was a senior at Union College from Chazy, NY. He later became Reverend Hobart F. Goewey. He may be the Goewey Stanford refers to. I wonder what kind of "work" Stanford was doing?

Sunday, March 30, 1919

SET CLOCKS AHEAD. Cold. Windy. Wet. To Church and S.S. Took Centenary pledges. Dinner. Uncle Charlie hear [sic]. To County House to meeting. E.L had charge. 5 couples to Lillian Weber's home. To Epworth League and Church Service. To bed 9:15.

**********
Ah, the good old days when Daylight Savings Time came at the end of March instead of at the beginning!

Lillian Weber was probably Miss Lillian Pearl Weber, a girl about Stanford's age who lived in Schenectady with her mother and a boarder at 936 Albany Street. Lillian was a dictaphone operator for GE. She later married and died in Florida in 1986.

Her mother, Lotta, shows as married in 1920, but a family tree shows him as dying in 1918, so I don't know what the real story is on that.

I wonder who Lillian was dating at the time? Stanford mentions 5 couples, so probably Lillian was half of one of those couples.

Here is a picture of Lillian when she was a bit older:

 I got this from a family tree on ancestry.com. I think she had a nice face.

Saturday, March 29, 1919

Cold. Windy. Cloudy. To college 8:30 to 12 M. Everything white with snow. Took nap in P.M. Studied. Delivered eggs. To Church. Down town. Bowled at Y. Home. To bed 11 P.M. Thank God for Centenary, health, parents, power of prayer.

**********

Friday, March 28, 1919

Snowed hard. Wind blew hard all day. Big drifts. Biggest snow storm of season. 1 foot. To college 8:30 to 2 P.M. Changed tire on Ford. Down town. Played pool at Y. Bowled at [star]. To Mission Study Class at College. To Armory for drill. Home. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
I wonder what drill was like back then? Another full day for our Stanford!

See the December 4th post to read about Frank Taberski, expert pool player and the city's first world champion.

Also note: one foot of snow did not stop college classes from going on as scheduled.

Thursday, March 27, 1919

Cloudy and windy. Rained very hard at night. To college 8:30-12 M. Around house and studied. Took bath. To Dr. Stearns for treatment. To Grace M.E. Church to E.L. district convention. Poured. To bed 11:45 P.M.

**********
What was he being treated for?? Very mysterious! See January 3 post for information about Dr. Stearns.

Wednesday, March 26, 1919

WE BOLTED CHASE. Very mild. Rather cloudy. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Studied and read. Supper. To college to lecture in Evening. Subject "Christianity and World Democracy." Fine. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for prayer and food.

**********
Not sure what "we bolted chase" means, but it was apparently something he avoided.

Interesting that the topic of "Christianity and World Democracy" is still being discussed. I wonder what was the content of this lecture?

Tuesday, March 25, 1919

Very warm and pleasant. To college 8:30 to 3:30. Took field trip in P.M. for geology. Up to country place and Uncle Henry's. Roads like summer. No snow on ground. To Veritas class meeting Mr. Merris' home. To bed 12 P.M. Thank God for health and parents.

**********

Monday, March 24, 1919

Bright, Warm. Summerlike. To college 9-2:30. Studied. John & Anna here. Down town. Bowled at Star. Supper. Studied. To morse alleys to watch bowling. To bed 11-45. Thank God for centenary, prayer etc.

**********

Sunday, March 23, 1919

Bright. Mild. To Church and S.S. Miss Carelton spoke in A.M. Nellie's classmate at Folts. Took walk with Wagner and Young. To church for Lunch. To Epworth League. Talked. To bed 8:45. Thankful for Centenary & health.

**********
Folts is the Folts Mission Institute, a place where people studied missionary work. It was in Herkimer, NY. Nellie was apparently enrolled there at the time. The Institute no longer exists, but here is some information about it, taken from the website, Folts Homes, which is what the institute eventually became.

Folts Homes History

In 1867, John A. and Catherine Folts began construction of the mansion at North Washington and State Streets in Herkimer, New York.  Mr. Folts was a carpenter/contractor who also operated a sawmill on another site in partnership with Aaron Snell.  In 1871 John Folts died, leaving the property to his wife and their only son, George Philo Folts.  After Catherine Folts died in 1880, George P. Folts and his wife, Elizabeth, lived in the house until 1893.  Mr. and Mrs. Folts transferred ownership of the property to the Northern New York Conference of the Methodist Church.  The property “was to be used for the advancement of Christian education of male and female young people who, through a lack of personal funds, were unable to further their education.”  The Folts Mission Institute was incorporated November 17, 1892, presented to the Women’s Foreign Ministry Society September 13, 1893, and dedicated November 21, 1893.  The first class was graduated from the Folts Mission Institute in 1895.

In 1911, George P. Folts died at the age of 75.  In 1914, the Folts Mission Institute fell under the jurisdiction of the Women’s Missionary Society of the Methodist Church.  Due to declining enrollment brought on by competition from other education institutions, the Mission Institute closed in 1927.   

Incidentally, 1919 was a momentous year for China. That was the year of the May Fourth Movement, which sparked the beginning of Chinese nationalism. No doubt missionaries had trouble continuing to operate in China during that time. Here is an excerpt from a Wikipedia article about those events.

The May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially allowing Japan to receive territories in Shandong which had been surrendered by Germany after the Siege of Tsingtao. These demonstrations sparked national protests and marked the upsurge of Chinese nationalism, a shift towards political mobilization and away from cultural activities, and a move towards a populist base rather than intellectual elites. Many political and social leaders of the next decades emerged at this time.

The term "May Fourth Movement" in a broader sense often refers to the period during 1915-1921 more often called the New Culture Movement.

Saturday, March 22, 1919

Cool. Rather cloudy. To college 8:30 to 12. Miss Carlton a [and?] Chinese woman here. Studied. Out riding around town. To College at 8 P.M. Two plays given by Dramatic Club. Good. Down & bowled at star. To bed 12:30. Thank God for being a methodist.

**********
I was not able to determine who Miss Carlton was or if she was the Chinese woman referred to in the entry or a woman who was with a Chinese woman.

Friday, March 21, 1919

Bright and warm. To college 8:00 to 2:30. Studied. Took bath. To College to Mission Study Class. To armory for drill. Down town. Bowled at Star. To bed 11:45 P.M. Thank God for Methodism.

**********

Thursday, March 20, 1919

Very mild, bright and spring-like. To College 8:30 to 12. Took walk with C.W. Wagner & H.H. toward Rotterdam. Studied. To Merris's house to E. L. Cabinet meeting. To bed 11:15. Thank God for health.

**********

Wednesday, March 19, 1919

Cloudy. Mild. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. Played pool at Y. Studied. At college President Richmond played harp and sang ballads. Feel fine. Studied. To bed 10:30. Thank God for Centenary, Methodist and prayer.

**********
See June 8, 1919 blog for more information about balladeer President Richmond.

First mention, I think, of Stanford's playing pool.

Tuesday, March 18, 1919

Rain in A.M. Cleaned up & bright in P.M. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. Bowled at [star]. Studied. To Classical Club at College. Dr. Chase spoke. Father at Minute Men's banquet. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful for a comforting heavenly father.

**********
I was curious about the "Minute Men" so I researched it a little and found this bit of a newspaper article that appeared in the Cambridge Tribune, March 1, 1919.

Apparently this was a part of the Centenary that was taking place all that year, culminating in the Conference in Columbus, later in 1919. See the blogs in July for more details.

Monday, March 17, 1919

St. Patricks Day. Mild. Bright. Wet. To college 9 to 2 P.M. Beginning 3rd term. Marks: FRENCH 1st GEOLOGY 2nd; Latin 3rd. Greek 3rd. English N.S. Bowled at Morse & Star. 9-10 P.M. meeting of College Y.M.C.A. members. Pie and ice cream. To bed 12 P.M.

**********
Here is a painting entitled St. Patrick's Day 1919, by Frederick Childe Hassam, an American Impressionist painter. One of his paintings hangs in the Oval Office. He lived in the New York area. You can see that Stanford's description of "wet" is accurate. Also, in Illinois there was a record amount of rainfall that day, according to historical weather reports. The painting can be seen on several websites.

Sunday, March 16, 1919

Mild. Snow and rain. Slushy. Very nasty. To church & S.S. Read all afternoon. Father to St. Lukes Church, Albany to speak on centenary. Mr. Rouse pastor. To E.L. H.H. led. Walked around. Home 8:30. To bed 9:30. Thank God for association, education, health & parents.

**********
He never thanks God for his siblings. That doesn't seem fair . . .

Saturday, March 15, 1919

Bright. Mild. Around house on most of day. Took mother down street. Down town in evening with Larkin & H.H. Bowled at Y. To bed 11:20. Thank God for health, parents and prohibition.

**********

Friday, March 14, 1919

Bright but rather cool. Home and chored around in A.M. Greek exam 2 to 5 P.M. To Dr. Stearns for treatment. To armory for drill. To bed 11 P.M. Thank God for health, parents, education, and prohibition.

**********
Mysterious treatments again!

Thursday, March 13, 1919

Very cloudy. Mild. Nellie started for N.Y. with city car. In A.M. studied. Uncle John to dinner. 2 to 5 P.M. Geology exam. Down town. Bowled. Home in evening. Studied. To bed 9:30. Thank God for food, clothing, shelter, parents and education. TURNED MUCH COLDER.

**********
I think Union College is on the quarter system, which would explain his having to take all these exams.

Wednesday, March 12, 1919

Bright. Mild. No exams. Chored all day. Shipped 80 egg cases. In P.M. to Uncle John's. All feel fine. Scarcely any snow on ground. In ev'ng to Star alleys. Thank God for prohibition, centenary and friends.

**********

Tuesday, March 11, 1919

Beautiful and mild. Home & Studied in A.M. From 2 to 5 P.M. English exam. On Hamlet. Down town on errands. Home. In evening to church. Joint social of Kappa Sigma Pi & [?]Beta Pi. After, took walk with Merris & H.H. Thankful.

**********

Monday, March 10, 1919

Bright. Mild. Chored and studied in A.M. From 2 to 5 P.M. Latin examination. Hard. Down and bowled at star. In evening at Morse alley to watch city league bowl. Walked around town with Larkin & H.H. Thankful. To bed 11 P.M.

**********

Sunday, March 9, 1919

Cloudy. Rained hard most all day. To Church & S.S. Father as minute man gave centenary speech. Read in P.M. To Epworth League. Dean Ripton leader. To Hayes room until 9:30. To bed 10 P.M. Thank God for prohibition.

**********

Dean Ripton was the much beloved Benjamin H. Ripton who taught a Bible Class at the Methodist Church. Here is an excerpt from the newspaper article that came out in the June 25, 1921 edition of the Schenectady Gazette, the entirety of which can be viewed at this site: Ripton Retires.

Saturday, March 8, 1919

Very Bright. Warm. To college 9-10. Out with father. Beat rugs. Walked to Thomas Corners with H.H. & Charles Wagner. Delightful. Read. To Church in Evening. Down town. Bowled at Y and star with Larkin, Young, & Chamberlain. To bed 12:30.

**********

Friday, March 7, 1919

Mild. Cloudy. To college 9-2:30. Studied. Down town on errands. To Star alleys to watch F.M.E. bowl. To carnival at armory. Helen Osborne did high diving. To bed 12 P.M. Thank God for health & food.

**********
Helen Osborne was apparently well known as a high diver. Shortly after their run in Schenectady, the performers put on a show in New York City as the "Congress of Daredevils," as it was called. Below is a poster that was published March 22, 1919 in The Billboard. Notice it says that the group is "Now Playing the Big State Armories."

Thursday, March 6, 1919

Cold. Bright. To college 9-12. To library in P.M. to study. John Myers here. In evening to K.S.P. meeting. Bowled at star. To bed 11:45. Thank God for fellowship.

**********

Wednesday, March 5, 1919

Very warm. Cloudy. To College 8:30 to 2:30 P.M. Down town. Bowled at [star]. Home. Studied. Supper. To Public Library. Home. Studied. To bed 10:30. Thank God for friends & food. Rain in Evening & some snow.

**********

Tuesday, March 4, 1919

Bright. Mild. To College 9 to 4 P.M. Very muddy when not on solid foundation. Received Red + [Cross] Chain letter anonymous. Down town in evening. Bowled at Y. Around town. Home. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thank God for health, strength & education.

**********
Interesting reference to Red Cross Chain Letter, which was something people were doing back in Stanford's time. It was a solicitation for donations, apparently, but it was not a practice sanctioned by the Red Cross. Here is a piece that appeared in a Red Cross Bulletin published in 1917:

What makes this a particularly interesting bit of trivia is that people are still doing this kind of thing, except now on the internet. One website (hoax-slayer.com) that debunks this kind of scam talks about a recent solicitation of this type:

This email message claims that 11 year old Jasmin lost her father in the September 11 2001 World Trade Center attack and has a mother who is in desperate need of expensive surgery. The message claims that the Red Cross will donate 10 cents to help Jasmin and her mother every time the email is forwarded to others. 

However, the information in the message is untrue. The message is a heartless hoax designed solely to fool recipients into forwarding it. Neither the Red Cross, nor any other organization is ever likely to participate in an absurd fund-raising scheme based on how many times a particular email is forwarded.

This hoax is particularly heinous and reprehensible because it attempts to capitalize on the tragedy of 9/ll. The original email has spawned other versions that differ in names and details. But all claim that the American Red Cross will donate money for each forwarded email. The Red Cross has denied any such arrangement and previously published the following statement on its website: 

The American Red Cross is aware that false e-mail hoaxes purportedly involving or benefiting the Red Cross are circulating, particularly in the form of "chain letter" e-mails. Typically, the authors of such e-mails claim to be victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and promise that the American Red Cross will make a financial contribution on the recipient's behalf each time the e-mail is forwarded. These e-mails are fraudulent. The American Red Cross does not use, authorize or condone such chain letter e-mails for fundraising or for any other purpose. The American Red Cross works very hard to stop such fraudulent activity.  

Monday, March 3, 1919

Bright. Mild. To College 9-2:30 P.M. Down town. Bowled at Star. High Score 199. Home. Supper. To High School to Military lecture. Home. Retired 10 P.M. Thank God for health.

**********
Stanford's getting better and better at bowling!

Sunday, March 2, 1919

Bright mild day like April. To church and S.S. In P.M. took ride with Hudson. Father stayed home. C.W.W & L.B.L. went. To Epworth League at 6:15 P.M. Retired 9 P.M. Thankful for day of rest.

**********

Saturday, March 1, 1919

Cool. Cloudy. To college 8:30 to 12 M. Home in P.M. To Church in P.M. Down town in evening. Bowled at Y with Wagner and Larkin. To bed 11 P.M. Thank God for privilege of prayer, opportunities, an education, friends etc.

**********

Friday, February 28. 1919

Warm. Bright. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. At armory. Bowled at Morse & Star. To Professor Taylor's at 8 P.M. Meeting of S.V. delegates. To Bed 11 P.M. Rain at Night. Thank God for friends.

**********

Thursday, February 27, 1919

Cool. Bright. To college 8:30 to 12. Hung around house. To Pancake Supper at Pilgrim Cong. Church. Talked at church with Larkin & Norris. Bowled at Star. To bed 1 A.M. Thankful for privilege of prayer.

**********

Wednesday, February 26, 1919

Colder. Flat redecorated and cleaned. Patsy Micco did work. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Bowled at star. To College at 7 to inter-class B.B. and geology lecture at 8:15. Home. To bed 10 P.M. Thank God for health, parents, opportunities and friends.

**********
There is a Patsy Micco listed in the Schenectady Directory who lived on Edison Street and was an employee at GE. He is probably the guy!

Tuesday, February 25, 1919

Mild. Some rain and snow. To College 8:30 to 4:00 P.M. Uncle John and John Myers here. Bowled at Star. To Dr. Stearns for treatment. Studied. To bed 10 P.M. Union-Colgate B.B. Score 32-19. UNION LOST. Thank God for education.

**********
I sure wonder about all this treatment Stanford is getting!

Monday, February 24, 1919

UNION TRIMMED SYRACUSE B.B. SCORE 21-18.

Mild. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. Bowled at Star 200-187 etc. Doing up odds and ends. Studied. To bed 10 P.M. A Wonderful Student Volunteer Conference Feb 21-22-23. Thankful.

**********

Sunday, February 23, 1919

Wet. Stayed with C.N. Gilbert 668 Hudson Ave. fine place and Family. In A.M. to Madison Ave. Presby and P.M. Emmanuel Baptist. Very inspirational conference. 40 students went from Union. Thank God for opportunities.

**********
I was able to find C.N. Gilbert in Albany. His name was Charles N. Gilbert, and he was the president and treasurer of his clothing manufacturing company. He must have been one of those who volunteered his house to lodge the attendees of the conference.

Saturday, February 22, 1919

Very wet. At morning session Williams and Nielson spoke. Short P.M. service. Recreation Period. To Auto Show in State Armory. Fine. Banquet. Evening session. Fine. To dancing at Albany High School. To bed 12:30. Thankful for prayer, parents and worldly comforts.

**********
Even with all that prayerful work and play there was time for an auto show!

Friday, February 21, 1919

Cool. A little snow. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Took 3 o'clock car to Albany to Student Volunteer Conference at State College. 25 or 30 colleges represented. Reception 5:30 at evening session. Ralph Harlow spoke on War Posters. Returned on 10 P.M. o'clock car.

**********
Samuel Ralph Harlow was a prominent religious leader associated with the Student Volunteer Movement. Here is a biographical summary written by the editor of his papers, Lester G. Sullivan Jr.:

After the conference Stanford mentions, S. Ralph Harlow wrote a kind letter to the student newspaper, State College News. It was published March 6, 1919:

Thursday, February 20, 1919

DOLLAR DAY. Bright. Mild. To college 8:30 to 12 M. Uncle John & Aunt Gertie here to dinner. Downtown in P.M. Bought hat. Bowled at Y and star. Studied and chored about in evening. Preparation for S.V. [Student Volunteers] conferences. Retired 11 P.M. Thankful for food.

**********
I can only guess (based on newspapers of the period) that Dollar Days were special days when a store would offer substantial discounts to shoppers. I suppose that's what Stanford was excited about since he ended up buying a hat that day.

I wonder what kind of hat Stanford bought? Maybe it was one like the one this gent is wearing in a 1919 ad for men's clothing:

Wednesday, February 19, 1919

Bright. Cold. Windy. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Feel fine. Down town. Bowled at [star drawing] 152-181-182. Home. Supper. Studied. Student V conference meeting. Thank God for peace, prohibition and opportunities.

**********
Now our Stanford is back in fine form!

Tuesday, February 18, 1919

Bright. Mild. Walked for hour before dinner. Studied. Out for haircut after dinner. Studied. To K.S.P. to supper at church. To Y and bowled 1 game. Bath. To bed 9:30. Thankful. Frosh banquet pulled off peacably [sic] at Hotel Mohawk.

**********
Stanford is still pretty weak, it seems. He only bowled one game!

The Hotel Mohawk was a rather big hotel in Schenectady at the time. Here is a picture of it from two different angles and two different times:

Monday, February 17, 1919

Bright but rather cold. Home in A.M. & studied little. Feel quite well. Walked to library in P.M. Played muggins. Read. Went to bed 10 P.M. Hanford & Nellie to Van Curler to see Daddy Long-Legs.

**********
Muggins is a version of dominoes. Here is a description I took from Wikipedia:

Muggins (also known as All Fives, Five Up, or Doer Di) is a domino game played with any of the commonly available sets. The object of the game is for each player to rid their hand of dominoes, and additionally to score points by playing a domino (or bone) that makes the total number of pips on all endpoints of the board equal to a multiple of five.

Daddy Long-Legs started out as a novel by Jean Webster, published in 1912; in 1914 she adapted the novel into a play. It may be the play that Hanford and Nellie went to see in February of 1919, since the movie was not released, according to Turner Classic Movies, until May of that year.  The movie starred Mary Pickford. Here is a synopsis taken from the Turner Classic Movies website:

Brief Synopsis

The poverty and mean-spirited atmosphere of an orphanage do little to suppress the youthful prankishness and compassion of Judy Abbott, an orphan found in an ash can. When she becomes a teenager, an anonymous new trustee pays for her to go to college on the condition she never meet him. Seeing only his tall shadow, Judy deems him "Daddy-Long-Legs" and soon begins to write him long letters telling him about her life. During the next year, Princeton freshman Jimmie McBride and Jarvis Pendleton, the wealthy uncle of one of Judy's classmates, become attentive to Judy and jealous of each other. Judy rejects Jimmie because he is too young and although she loves Jarvis, she fears revealing her orphanage background, so she tells him that their age difference is too great. Despite her humble beginnings, after graduating from college, Judy becomes a successful writer and begins sending money to her Daddy-Long-Legs to repay his kindness. Although she never has received a response from her benefactor, she determines to visit him after he fails to answer her most recent letter only to find that Daddy-Long-Legs is Jarvis. Having been seriously ill, he had not seen her letter until that morning, but his joyful embrace calms her immediate confusion.

You can see the movie on YouTube at this address: Daddy Long-Legs.

Sunday, February 16, 1919

Mild. Windy. Very bright. In bed till 10 A.M. Up and had breakfast. Father & H.H. to Church. In house all day. Hayes, Larkin, C.W. Wagner & Everett Young & Mr. & Mrs. Merris & family here to call. Thank God for friends.

**********
Stanford's still recuperating and so his friends are rallying round. How nice!

Saturday, February 15, 1919

Mild. Wet. Rainy. Genuine Spring weather. In bed till 10 A.M. Mother took plugs out. Feel better but weak. Mr. Merris called up in P.M. Thankful for a dry nation. Williams-Union B.B. Score 15-39.

**********
As far as I can tell, Williams is Williams College of Massachusetts. I couldn't find any information about their meeting in 1919, however.

Friday, February 14, 1919

Mild. Snow, Rain and sleet intermittently all day. Very sloppy. Feel better but nose plugged up. Received plant and valentines from N.M.C. Plugs in nose all night. Thank God for good Father and Mother.

**********
N.M.C. is probably Stanford's sister, Nellie May Closson. So there is some recognition of Valentine's Day. Here's an example of a 1919 Valentine's Day post card; it's for sale on E-Bay:

Thursday, February 13, 1919

Cloudy Early. Bright. Father let lower flat 108 P.P. In bed until 10 A.M. Had violent nose bleeds. Could hardly stop them. Sat up in A.M. John & Anna Myers here to dinner. Thankful for education.

**********
Stanford's symptoms were classic. Here is a description of some of the effects of the Great Influenza of 1918, taken from an article on the Stanford University website:

Patients with the influenza disease of the epidemic were generally characterized by common complaints associated with the flu. They had body aches, muscle and joint pain, headache, a sore throat and a unproductive cough with occasionally harsh breathing (JAMA, 1/25/1919). The most common sign of infection was the fever, which ranged from 100 to 104 F and lasted for a few days. The onset of the epidemic influenza was peculiarly sudden, as people were struck down with dizziness, weakness and pain while on duty or in the street (BMJ, 7/13/1918). After the disease was established the mucous membranes became reddened with sneezing. In some cases there was a hemorrhage of the mucous membranes of the nose and bloody noses were commonly seen. Vomiting occurred on occasion, and also sometimes diarrhea but more commonly there was constipation (JAMA, 10/3/1918).

108 Park Place is the house next door to Stanford's; they apparently owned that one, since they are letting the downstairs flat.  Not six months later, however, they are letting the flat again (see July 30th post).  Maybe that was common, though--people on the move.

Wednesday, February 12, 1919

Bright. Cool. Felt rather dull. Stayed in bed all day. Dr. here again at night. Temperature down to 99 3/4. Took sweat. H.H. at Silliman Hall to Student Volunteer Banquet. Thankful for life.

**********
See Date Book 1920, February 12 post for information about Student Volunteers. 

Tuesday, February 11, 1919

Bright but cold. 10 degrees above zero. Did not go to college but feel better. Slept off & on most all day. Dr. Kathan here in evening. Had a temperature of 102 1/2. Gave me a whole lot of pills. Retired & took sweat.

**********
Dr. Kathan was D.L. Kathan, who graduated from Albany Medical College in 1886 and had a practice in Schenectady.

Monday, February 10, 1919

Bright. Cool. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Do not feel well. Have sore throat, head-ache, chills etc. Slept in P.M. H.H. out in P.M. Doped up and Retired 8 P.M. Thank God for all worldly pleasures and comforts.

**********
Stanford's symptoms are the beginnings of a serious bout of influenza, which affected a great many citizens of Schenectady and other cities around the world in 1918 and 1919.  Over 400 people died in Schenectady alone.  Here is a chart that plotted the deaths at the time:

 

Sunday, February 9, 1919

Bright. Mild. Turned colder at night with little snow. To Trinity M.E. in A.M. to hear Bishop Warne from India. To S.S. at F.M.E. Nap in P.M. To Epworth League. To bed 9:15.

**********
Bishop Warne was Frank W. Warne, a Methodist missionary Bishop of India, elected in 1900. There seems to have been great interest in India during this time. For the Indians, however, 1919 would prove to be a bad year. Here is an account of the Massacre at Amritsar which in part sparked the revolt led by Ghandi:

Saturday, February 8, 1919

Cool. To College 8:30 to 12 A.M. Delivered sewing machines from church used by Red +. Studied in P.M. B.B. game at night. Syracuse vs. Union. Union lost. Score 12-8. Good game. To Church. Bowled at Morse & [star drawing]. To bed 12 P.M. A little snow FLURRY.

**********
Good grief!! Imagine a basketball game in which the winning team only scored 12 points! How could that possibly be called good??!

Friday, February 7, 1919

Bright but cool. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Downtown. Bowled at star alleys. Supper. To Get-together at Union 7-9 P.M. to revive pre war time spirit. Studied. To bed 11 P.M. Thank God for opportunities.

**********
Interesting idea--to "revive pre war time spirit." I wonder who and what that involved?

Thursday, February 6, 1919

Fair. Rather mild. To college from 8:30 to 12. In P.M. Candled eggs. Studied and went downstreet. K.S.P. in Evening. Bowled at Y with C.W. [Charles Wagner] & L.B.L. [Lewis Larkin] Retired 10:30.

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What a busy guy!

Wednesday, February 5, 1919

Cloudy and rather cold. Cleared up in afternoon. Bright. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Studied. To Armory to see about drill for students. Payed [sic] tuition for second term at College. Supper. Candled 6 cases eggs. Studied. No snow on ground. To bed.

**********
I wonder if this was the first time Stanford signed up for ROTC drill?

Tuesday, February 4, 1919

Cloudy. To College 8:30 to 4:30. Studied. A little rain at night. In Evening to Classical Club. Prof. Bennett spoke. Down town. Bowled at Morse & star. To bed 11:30. Thankful.

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Professor Bennett was John I. Bennett. He taught Greek at Union College. Unfortunately, he died the following year summer (1920).

 

Monday, February 3, 1919

Bright. Mild. Ideal Spring day. Streets bare. No snow. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Bowled at star (184). To Library. Supper. Studied. To bed 10 P.M. Thank God for all good.

**********
Did Punxsutawney Phil miss his prediction? Is winter almost over? We'll see.

Sunday, February 2, 1919

Ground Hog day. Sun shone bright all day. Cold. Bright & Windy. To Church & S.S. In P.M. walked with H.H. and Lewis Larkin. To Epworth League. Home. To bed 9:30. Thank God for peace, a dry nation, parents, food, clothing, shelter etc. Scarcely any snow on ground.

**********
Groundhog Day is apparently a very old holiday, also known as Candlemas. This website gives some of its history: Groundhog Day.

Saturday, February 1, 1919

Cold. Windy. To College 8:30 to 12. Delivered eggs. Took a nap. Studied. To Church. Down town with H.H., Charles Wagner, Everett Young & Lewis Larkin. Bowled at Y. Retired 11 P.M.

**********
What did they do down town?

Friday, January 31, 1919

Colder. Slight snow flurry in A.M. Bright. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. Bowled at Y. To Dr. Stearns for treatment. To armory. Moving pictures. To bed 11:15.

**********
I'm still wondering what the "treatment" was for . . . ?

Thursday, January 30, 1919

Mild. Bright. To college 8:30 to 12. In P.M. to Uncle Henry's with Hudson. Took Uncle Charlie and Aunt Mag. Road bare. Not much snow on ground. In Evening to K.S.P. meeting and later to Proctors. To bed 11:30.

**********
Still not sure who Uncle Charles is, but perhaps later I will.

Wednesday, January 29, 1919

N.Y.S. votes bone dry. Mild. To college 8:30-2:30. Down town. Bowled at star. Supper. Studied. Candled eggs. To bed 10:15. Not much snow on ground. Thankful for food.

**********
The ratification of the prohibition amendment continues.

Tuesday, January 28, 1919

Mild. Cloudy. To College 8:30-3. To John Myers with Hudson in P.M. Very springlike. Practically no snow on ground. To Silliman Hall to Bible Class. Down town. To bed 10:30.

**********
I wonder who went with him to John Myers' house?

Monday, January 27, 1919

Cloudy. Mild. Few flakes of snow. To college 8:30 to 2:30. Down town. Bowled at Y. Supper. Studied. Candled eggs. Studied. John Myers here in P.M. Hanford at E.L. Cabinet meeting at Mr. Merris's home. To bed 10:30.

**********
I guess Hanford was an Epworth League Cabinet member! I wonder what that entailed?

Sunday, January 26, 1919

Cloudy. Rather cold. To Church & S.S. Nap in P.M. Read. To Epworth League at 6:15. C.W. Wagner to lead. Did not show up. Walked around town with Floyde Smith and Ellis Auer. To bed 11 P.M.

**********
Shame on Wagner! 

Saturday, January 25, 1919

Bright. Cool. To College 8:30-12. Candled eggs. Studied. To Church. Down town. Bowled at Y. Walked around town. Home. To bed 11:30 P.M. Union N.Y.U. BB at N.Y. UNION LOST. SCORE 31-24.

**********
What were the Union basketball players doing for an hour that they only scored 24 points? I can't imagine what watching basketball was like back then. Games must have been slowwww. But people seemed to enjoy them anyway. Curious.

Friday, January 24, 1919

Extremely windy and rather cold. To College 8:30-2:30. To Church. Annual K.S. P. pancake supper. Fine. To Armory for drill. To bed 11:20. Thank God for all temporal blessings.

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Pancake supper - sounds good!

Thursday, January 23, 1919

Very mild. Rained. Nasty. To College 8:30-12. Studied. Eggs from Electric Candled Eggs. Beth. K.S.P. meeting. To Dr. Stearns. Bowled. To Hayes Room. To bed 12:30.

**********
This entry is related to the earlier one about "eggs from Elec. Ex" probably. They sent out their eggs and got them back candled? Possibly. Less work for Stanford that way. I wonder why he was seeing Dr. Stearns? Interesting . . .

Wednesday, January 22, 1919

Very mild. Cloudy. Thawed. Very nasty. April weather. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Downtown. Bowled at Y. 159-84-175. Home. Studied. Candled eggs. Wrote to Ruth. Retired 10:45. Thankful.

**********
I'd like to see those letters he wrote to Ruth. I wonder if they still exist somewhere?

Tuesday, January 21, 1919

Very mild. Cloudy. Thawed. Most of snow gone. Street bare. Seems like Spring. To college 8:30 to 3:30. Eggs from Elec. Ex. To Bible class at College 7-8 P.M. Studied. To bed at 10 P.M. Thankful for National Prohibition.

**********
What a difference in weather between 1919 and 1920!

I'm not sure what Elec. Ex. refers to. Any ideas out there?

Monday, January 20, 1919

Very mild, bright, beautiful. Unusual springlike weather. To college 8:30-2:30. Out with father. Brought Hudson Car home from Burtiss Garage. Overhauled. Bill $106.32. Bowled at [drawing of star]. Studied. To bed 10:15.

**********
The Hudson was taken to the garage on 8 January, which means it took them 12 days to overhaul it. We expect faster service these days (though we don't always get it)! The cost of repair, $106.32, would be $1,479.46 today (obtained from Dollar Times website). I guess that's not too bad for an overhaul, depending on what they did.

A.R. Burtiss, the garage proprietor, and his brother were Civil War veterans. Below is a little piece about them taken from the blog, Don Rittner - Historian at Large. It is part of an essay Mr. Rittner published about Lincoln's connection to the NY capitol region.

On a lighter side, Schenectadians A.R. Burtiss, brother C.W. Burtiss, and Martin Sitts formed part of Battery K, First NY light artillery at Falmouth VA on June 1, 1863. 

One day the troops were being reviewed and the Battery K fired a salute.  Lincoln’s horse was not an army horse and reared and plunged. While Lincoln stayed on his horse, his high hat went flying and his aides had to go running for it.  During 61 and 63 their camp was just east of the Capitol building where the bread for the army was baked in the basement of the Capitol and transported to the soldiers.  They often saw Lincoln among the bread line.

Sunday, January 19, 1919

Very mild and thawing. Much colder towards night. To Church and Sunday School. Walk in P.M. To Epworth League. Walk around town with C.W. Wagner. To bed 10:30.

**********
Normal peaceful Sunday for Stanford.

Saturday, January 18, 1919

Exceedingly mild. Bright. Thawed. To College 8:30-12. Candled eggs. Supper. To Troy 6:30 to R.P.I. B.B. game. Union Won. Score 28 to 19. Fine time. Home 12:10 A.M. To Bed 12:30 A.M. Thank God for a Dry. Nation.

**********
Imagine watching a college basketball game today in which the winning team scored only 28 points! But at least Union won against their rivals.

Here's how the RPI basketball team looked in 1922:

The above picture is taken from the RPI website, RPI History Revealed.

Friday, January 17, 1919

Extremely mild. Bright. Beautiful. Thawed. To College 8:30-2:30. Haircut. Studied. Bath. To Dr. Stearns. To old Court House for military lecture. To bed 10:15 P.M.

**********
Below is a picture of the old Court House, built in 1833. The new courthouse was built in 1913, and is still in use.

Thursday, January 16, 1919

Exceedingly mild. Beautiful. Bright. Thawed fast. To College 8:30 to 12:00. Studied. Bowled at Star [drawing of star]. Supper. To library. Nation goes dry 36th state ratifies. Prohibition goes into effect 1-16-20. Thankful.

**********
So, the nation wasn't dry quite yet. It's interesting that Stanford fails to mention the law going into effect the following year.

Wednesday, January 15, 1919

5 states ratify const. amend making total of 35 out of 36 necessary. Very mild. Thawed. To College from 8:30 - 2:30. Read. Supper. Studied in Evening. John Myers here in afternoon with wagon. Poor sleighing. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thank Good for all Worldly comforts.

**********
Does John Myers and his wagon have something to do with sleighing opportunities? Not clear.

Tuesday, January 14, 1919

Very mild. Thawed. To College from 8:30 to 4:30. To Bible class at Silliman Hall from 7-8. Home. Studied. To bed 10:15. Thankful for parents.

**********
Silliman Hall is still in existence at Union College. Here is some information about it:

Silliman Hall was built in 1900 to house the College’s YMCA and other student organizations, such as the Philomathean Society and the Adelphic Society. It was a gift from Horace Brinsmade Silliman (Union Class of 1846), who believed that “a pronounced Christian character and life is not alien from hearty good fellowship.” Silliman Hall was the first multi-purpose College building to be constructed on campus since Washburn Hall in 1883, and represented the start of President Raymond’s revitalization of the College. It was designed by Albert W. Fuller, the architect of the Alpha Delta Phi House in 1898, and later the College’s General Engineering Building. The hall provided student meeting rooms, a trophy room, and an apartment for the student president of the YMCA. In 1904, Silliman provided another $10,000 dollars for its maintenance. 

And here's a picture of the building from a postcard sent in 1907. It comes from the Schaeffer Library collection at Union College.

Silliman Hall, Union College - 1907

Monday, January 13, 1919

- 3 degrees. To College 9-2:30. Student meeting at noon. Down street. Bowled at Star Alleys. Supper. Studied. Weather moderated greatly. Have cold in head. To bed at 9:30.  [added] 5 states ratify amendment for prohibition. Total 30.

**********
The 18th amendment, otherwise known as Prohibition, is in the process of being ratified at this time.  Here is a copy of the amendment, taken from a Wikipedia article:

Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all the territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

Ratification by 36 states was required for the amendment to be ratified.  Here is a list of the states and when they voted to ratify:

The following states ratified the amendment:

Mississippi (January 7, 1918)
Virginia (January 11, 1918)
Kentucky (January 14, 1918)
North Dakota (January 25, 1918)
South Carolina (January 29, 1918)
Maryland (February 13, 1918)
Montana (February 19, 1918)
Texas (March 4, 1918)
Delaware (March 18, 1918)
South Dakota (March 20, 1918)
Massachusetts (April 2, 1918)
Arizona (May 24, 1918)
Georgia (June 26, 1918)
Louisiana (August 3, 1918)
Florida (November 27, 1918)
Michigan (January 2, 1919)
Ohio (January 7, 1919)
Oklahoma (January 7, 1919)
Idaho (January 8, 1919)
Maine (January 8, 1919)
West Virginia (January 9, 1919)
California (January 13, 1919)
Tennessee (January 13, 1919)
Washington (January 13, 1919)
Arkansas (January 14, 1919)
Illinois (January 14, 1919)
Indiana (January 14, 1919)
Kansas (January 14, 1919)
Alabama (January 15, 1919)
Colorado (January 15, 1919)
Iowa (January 15, 1919)
New Hampshire (January 15, 1919)
Oregon (January 15, 1919)
North Carolina (January 16, 1919)
Utah (January 16, 1919)
Nebraska (January 16, 1919)
Missouri (January 16, 1919)
Wyoming (January 16, 1919)
Minnesota (January 17, 1919)
Wisconsin (January 17, 1919)
New Mexico (January 20, 1919)
Nevada (January 21, 1919)
New York (January 29, 1919)
Vermont (January 29, 1919)
Pennsylvania (February 25, 1919)
New Jersey (March 9, 1922)

The following states rejected the amendment:
Connecticut
Rhode Island

Sunday, January 12, 1919

- 4 degrees. To Church & S.S. Dinner. Read. Nap in P.M. To Epworth League. Marian Benedict leader. To First Baptist Church to hear Bert Williams with Charles Wagner and Wilber Hayes. SUBJECT: What a man saw and felt in Hell. To Hayes' room. To Bed 12 P.M.

**********
Marian Benedict, future wife of Hanford Closson, lived in Schenectady with her parents, Joseph Benedict and Alice Miller. Her father was a machinist with GE. She marries Hanford in 1924. I wonder if they were dating yet at this point?

Saturday, January 11, 1919

Cold. Windy. No classes. Professors ill. Wrote letter to Ruth. Candled eggs. New R.F. fender on Ford. Down St. on errands. Bowled at Y 138-171. Colgate-Union B.B. game. Score 19-18. Won. Very close. To bed 11 P.M.

**********
All his professors were ill? Suspicious. So Union did occasionally win a game. Good for them!

Friday, January 10, 1919

4 below zero. Windy. To College 8:30-2:30. Bowled in Afternoon at X 138-140-172-174. Candled eggs. To Dr. Stearns for treatment. To Armory for drill. To bed 10:30. JOHN MYERS HERE IN P.M.

**********
In those days, people went to college even when the temperature is below zero! More unexplained treatment from Dr. Stearns. Hmmmm . . .

Thursday, January 9, 1919

Very mild. Cloudy. To college from 8:30 to 12. Father and H.H. took nap in P.M. Unload eggs. Studied. Help thaw out gutter. K.S.P. meeting at 7:30. Initiation of Guy Thorpe and Karl Messmer. To bed 7:30.

**********
Well, I wrote about Guy Thorpe in May 15's blog post.  As for Karl Messmer, I did find a Charles K. Messmer, who was a student at Union College in 1920. He lived with his parents at 119 Front Street, and his father was a cabinetmaker for a factory. His parents were both from Switzerland. He is probably the right fellow, since in the 1915 New York census, he is listed as Carl Messmer.

Wednesday, January 8, 1919

Mild. To college until 2:30. Afternoon studied. Evening to Hotel Hough to see O.S. Chamberlain. Got tossing blanket for K.S.P. Bowled at Y (178). Home. 11:15. Thankful. Father took Hudson Car to Burtiss for repair.

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Hotel Hough was a hotel in Schenectady. Below is a postcard from circa 1917 showing both Hotel Hough and Hotel Vendome.  Hotel Hough is on the right--you can see its vertical sign.

The garage Stanford calls "Burtiss" was A.R. Burtiss Motor Company, which sold and repaired cars. It was located at 148-152 Jay Street in Schenectady.

Tuesday, January 7, 1919

4 above zero. Bright. To College from 8:30 to 3:30. Played Euchre. To library in Evening. Jessie Cramer called. Thankful for heat.

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Euchre is a very old game, dating back to at least the 16th century. Below is a 1919 ad for Bicycle cards--complete with rules for games such as Euchre--that were made in Cincinnati by the U.S. Playing Card Company. Alas! So many things were made here years ago!

Ad from 1919 for sale on Amazon.com

Maybe Stanford used Bicycle cards in his game . . .

Monday, January 6, 1919

Bright. Cold. To College. Down street in afternoon. Bowled at Y. Studied in evening. Uncle John to dinner. Ex President Roosevelt died at 4 A.M. G.E. returns from strike. Thank God for friends.

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This was a red-letter day for a couple of reasons!

The New York Times covered the story of the President's death, stating that he died of a pulmonary embolism, brought on in part by an infection he acquired years before in Brazil. The strike at G.E. was one of many over the years at the plant, but this particular one started in December 1918 and was in solidarity with Erie workers. Here is an excerpt from an article in the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, recently published to inform members of the history of bargaining with General Electric:

EARLY UNION STRUGGLES
Prior to World War I, some GE workers
within plants such as Lynn, MA, Schenectady,
NY, and Erie, PA had been organized into various AFL craft
unions—machinists, electricians, carpenters, molders,
patternmakers, etc. In Schenectady, for example, there existed
some 36 craft unions, each completely separate from
the others, trying to negotiate for their particular craft across
a facility of over 20,000 workers. 

With the end of the war came a working class upsurge in
many industries, including steel, meat packing, and electrical
manufacturing. There were strikes at a number of key GE
plants. In December 1918 workers in Erie began a strike that
lasted nearly a month. Thousands of GE workers in
Schenectady, Ft. Wayne, IN, and Pittsfield, MA struck in solidarity
with Erie. This was partly in response to GE’s attempt
to set up company unions to displace the existing craft unions.
One of the Erie strikers’ demands was “Recognition of all
unions through their regular elected committees in discussing
and settling of all grievances.” In other words, they wanted
real unions chosen by the workers, not phony ones controlled
by GE.

Sunday, January 5, 1919

Beautiful, bright and mild. To church & S.S. Committee meeting at Merris's At Wagner's home 319 Dakota St. To Epworth League and Church. Thankful for food, clothing & shelter.

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Charles Wagner was still living with his parents at 319 Dakota Street in 1920. His father, William, was a traveling salesman for an electric company and his mother, Grace, did theatrical work, according to the census. I wonder what kind of theatrical work she did? William's parents were born in Germany. I wonder if he was related to the composer Richard Wagner?

More information about Charles Wagner can be found by searching the blog for his name.

Saturday, January 4, 1919

Bright. To College in Morning. Afternoon. Candled eggs. Evening down street on errand. Bowled at Y with Ellis Auer and Charles Wagner.

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Ellis Fred Auer (AKA Fred Ellis) was born 26 October 1895 to Fred and Fannie Auer. In 1919 he lived at 22 Close Street with his parents and worked as a bank teller at the Union National Bank in Schenectady. By 1928 he was a manager at that bank. Apparently he never married and died in January of 1951. His WWI Draft registration card shows him to be tall with a medium build, blue eyes and light hair.

Friday, January 3, 1919

First snow storm of the season. About six inches. Shovel walk. Attended College. Thankful for all things. To Doctor Stearns for treatment. At Armory. Dr. Richmond spoke.

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It's not clear what Stanford is being treated for, but maybe that will be elaborated upon later.

After some digging, I was able to track down this Doctor Stearns. He was Maus Wellington Stearns, born 30 Jan 1871 in Randolph, VT to Joseph Wellington Stearns, a minister, and Mary Jane Hull of Schenectady. Dr. Stearns wan an osteopath who practiced in Schenectady all his life.

His son, Maus Jr., also became a physician, specializing in colorectal surgery and oncology. He died in Pacific Grove, CA, in 2009 after a long and success filled life. Here's his obituary if you're interested: Maus Stearns Jr.

Here's a picture of the father, Maus Sr., Stanford's doctor:

Dr. Maus Wellington Stearns Sr (1871-1946)

Thursday, January 2, 1919

Started in second half of work at Union College. Mild. Bright. Many boys back. Thankful for health and all things.

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Well, this is a pretty short entry. He'll warm up to the task soon, though. 

Wednesday, January 1, 1919

Home from party held at Kathleen Rae's home end of Crane St line. Rain. Very slippery. At Uncle John's for dinner. Fine time. Bowled. Mild. No snow on ground.

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A new name appears here--Kathleen Rae--but I can't find any records on her. Perhaps if I get more information I can track her down.

It's interesting to me that these first entries in Stanford's diary are rather spare compared to his later accounts. And in 1920, he really starts writing a lot!