Beautiful hot day. Up 9 A.M. Played tennis with H.H., Finch, and SLIM. Dinner. Played piano. Took mother and Ruth down street. Out to John Myers in evening. Uncle Charles went. To bed 11 P.M.
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Well, I'm not sure who SLIM is, but I did finally track down Finch, who is Merlin Finch, according to a later diary entry. He is probably the Merlin Jacob Finch (recorded as Marlin G. Finch in the 1920 census) who in 1920 (and 1910) lived with his parents and siblings at 414 Mumford Street in Schenectady, about a mile from Stanford's house. He was 20 years old and was an Apprentice Patternmaker at General Electric.
A few years later Merlin married, went to college at Rutgers University where he obtained a B.S. degree, then taught high school in West Orange, NJ. He had at least two children, George and M. Ruth, and died in Sharonville, OH in 1989. That may have been where his children lived, because in 1969 he was living in Arizona, but he died in a care facility in Ohio. I tried to determine where he is buried, since we live fairly close to Sharonville, but I have had no luck so far. Interestingly, Merlin applied for the Sons of the American Revolution and was accepted in 1970.
I didn't know Stanford played the piano. I wonder if he ever played for his wife and children?
At the moment, I don't know who Uncle Charles is, but perhaps later . . .
Friday, May 30, 1919
Bright hot beautiful day. Out on trip. Started 8:30. Back 5:30 P.M. In 3 states. N.Y., Mass. & Vt. Fine time. Took picnic dinner. Drove 124.6 miles. Talked on back porch. Took walk. To bed 10:30.
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I was intrigued with Stanford's day trip to three states, so I decided to try to plot his route. Apparently the total trip was 124.6 miles. Using Google maps, I was able to measure a 124-ish-mile round trip from Schenectady that would take Stanford to Vermont and Massachusetts. Here's the route I came up with:
As you can see, the three states meet near Williamstown, MA (at C). He may have taken a different route, of course, but he apparently went by himself and took his time, stopping for a picnic lunch on the way. Sounds like fun, especially back then when there were fewer vehicles on the road!
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I was intrigued with Stanford's day trip to three states, so I decided to try to plot his route. Apparently the total trip was 124.6 miles. Using Google maps, I was able to measure a 124-ish-mile round trip from Schenectady that would take Stanford to Vermont and Massachusetts. Here's the route I came up with:
As you can see, the three states meet near Williamstown, MA (at C). He may have taken a different route, of course, but he apparently went by himself and took his time, stopping for a picnic lunch on the way. Sounds like fun, especially back then when there were fewer vehicles on the road!
Thursday, May 29, 1919
Cool windy day. Played. To River to play tennis with H.H. and Jones. Ruth came home on 8:10 A.M. train. To Country place and Scotia cemetery. To Library. To bed 11 P.M.
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The Scotia cemetery referred to by Stanford is no doubt Park Cemetery, where several Clossons and other relatives are buried. Below is one of the gravestones they probably went to visit, of Stillman's parents, Charles Closson and Catherine Cramer:
Stanford says his sister, Ruth Closson, returned home by train, but though there's no mention of where she had been, it was likely she was returning from Potsdam, where she studied music education at the Normal School there. Soon after, she began using her education to teach music in the Schenectady public schools.
Potsdam Normal School is now State University of New York at Potsdam. It has a well known music school, Crane School of Music, which was named after Julia Crane, who was the first teacher hired in the Music Department there in 1884. According to SUNY Potsdam's website, Ms. Crane "founded the first normal training course for public school music teachers in the United States." Read about the history of the school here: SUNY-P.
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The Scotia cemetery referred to by Stanford is no doubt Park Cemetery, where several Clossons and other relatives are buried. Below is one of the gravestones they probably went to visit, of Stillman's parents, Charles Closson and Catherine Cramer:
Stanford says his sister, Ruth Closson, returned home by train, but though there's no mention of where she had been, it was likely she was returning from Potsdam, where she studied music education at the Normal School there. Soon after, she began using her education to teach music in the Schenectady public schools.
Potsdam Normal School is now State University of New York at Potsdam. It has a well known music school, Crane School of Music, which was named after Julia Crane, who was the first teacher hired in the Music Department there in 1884. According to SUNY Potsdam's website, Ms. Crane "founded the first normal training course for public school music teachers in the United States." Read about the history of the school here: SUNY-P.
Wednesday, May 28, 1919
Bright mild day. To College 9-2:30. French exam 1:30 P.M. Candled eggs. Greased Ford etc. Supper. To library. To armory. Home 9:45. To bed 11:15.
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Interesting that Stanford notes only some of the exams he takes. So far he's mentioned Latin and French. I wonder what caused those subjects to stand out in his mind? Maybe languages are difficult for him. Since he doesn't mention what other courses he's taking, we can only speculate.
Stanford notes that he greased the Ford, a job that required applying grease to the underside of the car at various points, as many of you probably know. (John tells me they are called grease zerks.) Here is a picture of one area needing grease on a Model T (the only Ford available in 1919):
And here is a picture of my grandfather's Model T in 1918:
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Interesting that Stanford notes only some of the exams he takes. So far he's mentioned Latin and French. I wonder what caused those subjects to stand out in his mind? Maybe languages are difficult for him. Since he doesn't mention what other courses he's taking, we can only speculate.
Stanford notes that he greased the Ford, a job that required applying grease to the underside of the car at various points, as many of you probably know. (John tells me they are called grease zerks.) Here is a picture of one area needing grease on a Model T (the only Ford available in 1919):
And here is a picture of my grandfather's Model T in 1918:
Tuesday, May 27, 1919
Bright mild day. To College 9 to 2:30 P.M. Studied. To church to help Roberts bring up tables. Floyd Smith here to get French help. To Epworth League banquet. Mr. Robinson elected President. To Palace with Finch, Norris and H.H. To bed 11:15 P.M.
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According to Images of America: Schenectady, the Palace was another theater in Schenectady, but I can't find any other information about it.
Still waiting to find out who Finch and Norris are. Maybe later . . .
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According to Images of America: Schenectady, the Palace was another theater in Schenectady, but I can't find any other information about it.
Still waiting to find out who Finch and Norris are. Maybe later . . .
Monday, May 26, 1919
Bright cool windy day. To college 9 to 2:30 P.M. Played tennis with H.H. & Leslie Jones. Bowled at Star. To Proctor's with H.H. Punk show. Delta Epsilon class meeting here. To bed 12 P.M.
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I was curious as to what Stanford may have meant by punk in this context, so I checked with online dictionaries as well as searching the NY Times archives. Apparently the word meant inferior or very poor, as it was used to describe a poor pitching performance in 1907, and the state of New Jersey after it refused to vote for women's suffrage in 1913. So it's safe to say whatever show Stanford saw at Proctor's was pretty bad.
What a full day! College classes, tennis, bowling, vaudeville show, and meeting!
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I was curious as to what Stanford may have meant by punk in this context, so I checked with online dictionaries as well as searching the NY Times archives. Apparently the word meant inferior or very poor, as it was used to describe a poor pitching performance in 1907, and the state of New Jersey after it refused to vote for women's suffrage in 1913. So it's safe to say whatever show Stanford saw at Proctor's was pretty bad.
What a full day! College classes, tennis, bowling, vaudeville show, and meeting!
Sunday, May 25, 1919
Rain at morning and night. Overcast during day. Arose at 10 A.M. To church late and S.S. Y.M.C.A. day. Prepared E.L [Epworth League] topic. Led meeting at night. To Hayes' room at night with E.L. Young. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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Interesting--I wonder what Stanford's topic was?
Interesting--I wonder what Stanford's topic was?
Saturday, May 24, 1919
Cloudy in A.M. Rain in P.M. To college 9 A.M. to 12 M. To track meet in P.M. On hike with K.S.P. Finch, Norris, Thorpe, Merris, H.H. and I went. Rained most all the way. Fine time. Wet feet. Home 11 P.M. To bed 11:30. Thankful for friends.
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Stanford is a busy man--he spends his morning at college, then attends a track meet, followed by a hike with his friends. And though it rained "most all the way," he still declares it a "Fine time"! What a lovely person he was!
I'm no closer to knowing who Finch and Norris are yet. Thorpe, Merris and H.H. were identified in earlier posts.
I am now, however, much more informed than I was about the organization known as K.S.P., or Kappa Sigma Pi, which, I learned, stands for the Knights of St. Paul. It is a non-denominational Christian organization that strives to help adolescent boys stay on the straight and narrow path while living a normal boy's life fraught with temptation. I got my information from a 1911 book I found on the Library of Congress website: The Boy Problem Solved: A Study of the Boy and the Revised Manual of the Kappa Sigma Pi or the Modern Knights of St. Paul, International and Interdenominational Boys' Brotherhood for Churches and Other Religious Organizations. (Those were the days of long titles.)
The author, David H. Jemison, the founder of the organization, lived in Cincinnati. He states in the book that he founded KSP to help the boys in his city avoid the pitfalls of boyhood, particularly the lure of joining a gang and getting involved in gambling and other immoral and possibly criminal activities.
It's actually quite an interesting book. Jemison's observations of boys and their behavior are still rather accurate today. Here is an excerpt:
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Stanford is a busy man--he spends his morning at college, then attends a track meet, followed by a hike with his friends. And though it rained "most all the way," he still declares it a "Fine time"! What a lovely person he was!
I'm no closer to knowing who Finch and Norris are yet. Thorpe, Merris and H.H. were identified in earlier posts.
I am now, however, much more informed than I was about the organization known as K.S.P., or Kappa Sigma Pi, which, I learned, stands for the Knights of St. Paul. It is a non-denominational Christian organization that strives to help adolescent boys stay on the straight and narrow path while living a normal boy's life fraught with temptation. I got my information from a 1911 book I found on the Library of Congress website: The Boy Problem Solved: A Study of the Boy and the Revised Manual of the Kappa Sigma Pi or the Modern Knights of St. Paul, International and Interdenominational Boys' Brotherhood for Churches and Other Religious Organizations. (Those were the days of long titles.)
The author, David H. Jemison, the founder of the organization, lived in Cincinnati. He states in the book that he founded KSP to help the boys in his city avoid the pitfalls of boyhood, particularly the lure of joining a gang and getting involved in gambling and other immoral and possibly criminal activities.
It's actually quite an interesting book. Jemison's observations of boys and their behavior are still rather accurate today. Here is an excerpt:
Adolescence begins with the physical change in the boy in the approaching puberty and ends in fully developed manhood. Begins somewhere between eleven and fifteen and ends at twenty to twenty-two years of age. The brain stops growing and the large arteries increase one-third, the temperature rises slightly, the reproductive organs have functioned, the voice changes, deepening and, sometimes, with an uncontrollable jump to falsetto, he outgrows instead of wears out his clothes, wants to sleep late in the morning, becomes emotional and reticent.
Rag-time songs and slang words have a peculiar charm to him, is apt to have his first and several love cases, and demands constant entertainment. At this critical age in the boy's life, when he needs the closest fellowship and guidance of parents and teachers, he gets the least. Mother forgets to caress her boy as she did. He is so awkward, queer, and noisy, his muddy feet soils the parlor carpet, he turns the house upside down and teases the girls into tears, so it is a relief when he is out at play or in bed asleep. (1-2)The Reverend Mr. Jemison died in 1959 in Cincinnati and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery. (Some of you may remember our visit to the cemetery a year or so ago.) Rev. Jemison was the pastor of the Union Methodist Episcopal Church of Cincinnati and he was apparently a good one. He is highly praised in a news article printed in the Western Christian Advocate, August 11, 1915.
Friday, May 23, 1919
Cloudy and wet. Rained hard at night. To college 10 to 2:30. Played tennis with H.H. and Leslie Jones. Floyd Smith here in evening. To Armory for drill. Military exam after. To bed 11 P.M.
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Another day of drill, this time with an exam. ROTC cadets still take tests on the military subjects they're learning. Today, Union College doesn't have its own ROTC department; their cadets have to train with another school, either Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute or Siena College.
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Another day of drill, this time with an exam. ROTC cadets still take tests on the military subjects they're learning. Today, Union College doesn't have its own ROTC department; their cadets have to train with another school, either Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute or Siena College.
Thursday, May 22, 1919
Rain in morning and during day. To college 9 to 12 M. Latin Exam. To Uncle John's with Hudson. His 70th birthday. Most of relatives there. Fine time. Picnic dinner inside. Bowled at star. To bed 10 P.M.
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Stanford takes the Latin exam for which he had studied the night before--no mention of how difficult it was.
After some digging, John and I were able to determine that Uncle John is John Henry Closson, Stanford's great uncle, the youngest of Thomas and Sabrina's ten children. He died in 1922. I'll write more about him in later posts. Below is a newspaper account of the party, with lots of interesting detail about who attended. It was common practice in those days to report on residents' social occasions.
Uncle John apparently lived far enough from the Clossons to warrant using one of their cars to get there. I don't know what year the Closson's Hudson was, but here is a picture of a 1919 Hudson Super Six.
A pretty snazzy car, wouldn't you say? This picture comes from the website Old Cars Weekly.
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Stanford takes the Latin exam for which he had studied the night before--no mention of how difficult it was.
After some digging, John and I were able to determine that Uncle John is John Henry Closson, Stanford's great uncle, the youngest of Thomas and Sabrina's ten children. He died in 1922. I'll write more about him in later posts. Below is a newspaper account of the party, with lots of interesting detail about who attended. It was common practice in those days to report on residents' social occasions.
Uncle John apparently lived far enough from the Clossons to warrant using one of their cars to get there. I don't know what year the Closson's Hudson was, but here is a picture of a 1919 Hudson Super Six.
A pretty snazzy car, wouldn't you say? This picture comes from the website Old Cars Weekly.
Wednesday, May 21, 1919
Overcast all day with rain at night. To college 10-2:30. Studied and played in P.M. Bowled little at star with H.H. before drill. Studied for Latin exam. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for education, health & friends.
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Again, Stanford refers to his ROTC obligations (drill), and to the fact that he is studying Latin, possibly a required course for college students at this time. Otherwise a fairly routine day for our Stanford.
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Again, Stanford refers to his ROTC obligations (drill), and to the fact that he is studying Latin, possibly a required course for college students at this time. Otherwise a fairly routine day for our Stanford.
Tuesday, May 20, 1919
Warm bright day. To College 9 to 12 M. To geological field trip to Hoffman's etc. Bowled at Y. Veritas class meeting at Guy Thorpe's house. To Floyd Smith's home. To bed 11:45 P.M.
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Floyd Smith is probably Floyd A. Smith, a young man who was a college student in 1919, living at 44 Parkwood Blvd with his parents, Charles and Eva. According to the 1920 census, Floyd's father was a wholesale grocery merchant. Floyd was still a college student in 1925, according to the NY state census; by then his father was a realtor. Floyd and his parents lived about a mile from Stanford's house, as far as I can tell, since the house numbers for Parkwood Boulevard seem to have completely changed. At any rate, he seems to be the same man who was Stanford's friend.
I have not been able to determine so far what Veritas means in this context, although it means "truth" in Latin.
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Floyd Smith is probably Floyd A. Smith, a young man who was a college student in 1919, living at 44 Parkwood Blvd with his parents, Charles and Eva. According to the 1920 census, Floyd's father was a wholesale grocery merchant. Floyd was still a college student in 1925, according to the NY state census; by then his father was a realtor. Floyd and his parents lived about a mile from Stanford's house, as far as I can tell, since the house numbers for Parkwood Boulevard seem to have completely changed. At any rate, he seems to be the same man who was Stanford's friend.
I have not been able to determine so far what Veritas means in this context, although it means "truth" in Latin.
Monday, May 19, 1919
Beautiful Bright day. To college 9 to 2:30 P.M. Studied. To Country with Father. Planted flowers and vegetables. Home 9 P.M. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for parents.
In the Closson Genealogy, The Josiah Closson Family of New England, the compiler William G. Closson has this to say about Stillman's relationship to the family farm in Glenville, NY:
[Stillman] continued the farm and General Store a while, selling the surplus butter and eggs taken from the farmers in trade in Schenectady. With the increase in business he moved to Schenectady about 1900 where he especialized [sic] in wholesale butter and egg business.I'm guessing that when Stanford refers to going to the country with his father, Stillman, he means the family farm. The flowers and vegetables must have been planted on that land, perhaps in a garden.
Sunday, May 18, 1919
Fair. Cloudy and bright at intervals. To Church and S.S. Played & read in P.M. To Epworth League. To First Baptist Church. Good sermon on SMOKING. Home. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for friends.
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I would guess that Stanford was against smoking in the same way he was against drinking. The habit was apparently becoming a concern by 1919, especially after World War I. According to one website,
A quote from General John J. Pershing makes it crystal clear:
1918: War Department buys the entire output of Bull Durham tobacco. Bull Durham advertises, "When our boys light up, the Huns will light out."
Never mind that "lighting up" might give away their position and invite enemy bombardment! [Source: Tobacco.org]
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I would guess that Stanford was against smoking in the same way he was against drinking. The habit was apparently becoming a concern by 1919, especially after World War I. According to one website,
by the 1900s cigarette smoking was a national issue. Concerned citizens formed anti-smoking groups, women were arrested for smoking in public, and government officials attempted to pass anti-smoking legislation. 15 states had a ban on cigarette sales in 1909, and it looked like the anti-smoking forces were winning.Capitalizing on that addiction, cigarette ads portrayed happy service members lighting up. Here's one ad from 1919:
In the 1910s, the tide began to turn the other way. Anti-smoking groups were ridiculed and anti-smoking laws were repealed. The introduction of the first book matches in 1912 made smoking easier than ever. The first modern, nationally-advertised brands went on sale during this decade....Camels, Chesterfields and Lucky Strikes.Then came World War I. Cigarettes were handed out to the soldiers as part of their rations, and anyone who opposed this practice was labeled a traitor. A whole generation of young men came back from the war addicted to cigarettes.
A quote from General John J. Pershing makes it crystal clear:You ask me what we need to win this war. I answer tobacco as much as bullets. Tobacco is as indispensable as the daily ration; we must have thousands of tons without delay.And in order to make sure the men in uniform had those "rations,"
1918: War Department buys the entire output of Bull Durham tobacco. Bull Durham advertises, "When our boys light up, the Huns will light out."
Never mind that "lighting up" might give away their position and invite enemy bombardment! [Source: Tobacco.org]
Saturday, May 17, 1919
Cloudy cool. Rainy in morning. Moving up day scraps 6:45-7: A.M. Chapel exercises at 9. Sorted eggs. To Sch'dy Co. S.S. Conv. Supper. To Proctors with H.H., Norris & Finch. Bowled at star. To bed 12:30 A.M.
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Moving up day is a long tradition at Union as well as other colleges that refers to the ceremonies at the end of the school year in which each college class moves up to the next class--Freshman to Sophomore, e.g. The seniors are moving up to graduation, of course, and they are given special treatment at these ceremonies. Below is a news article I found in the NY Times that explains the event as it occurred at Union College in 1912:
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Moving up day is a long tradition at Union as well as other colleges that refers to the ceremonies at the end of the school year in which each college class moves up to the next class--Freshman to Sophomore, e.g. The seniors are moving up to graduation, of course, and they are given special treatment at these ceremonies. Below is a news article I found in the NY Times that explains the event as it occurred at Union College in 1912:
Proctor's is the name of a theatre in Schenectady built in 1912 by Frederick Freeman Proctor, a vaudeville empresario. Here is a bit of information about the man and his theatre from the Images of America: Schenectady, p. 120:
I'm not sure yet who Finch and Norris are, but I will research them at a later date, as I'm sure they'll reappear in the record.
F.F. Proctor left the world of performing to build quality theaters for vaudeville. His first theater in Schenectady was built in 1912 off the Erie Canal. His new palace of vaudeville opened on Christmas Day of 1926.So it looks like Stanford went to see vaudeville shows from time to time. Later the theater became a movie theater. Learn more about the man from this Wikipedia article: Proctor. I think it's interesting that he was born in Dexter, Maine, where many of my family have lived over the years.
I'm not sure yet who Finch and Norris are, but I will research them at a later date, as I'm sure they'll reappear in the record.
Friday, May 16, 1919
Beautiful bright day. To college 8:30 to 12. Inter-class track meet at 1 P.M. Tie between 1921-1922. Union-Rutgers B.B. game 4 P.M. Score 7-2. Out to see aeroplane etc. To bed 10 P.M. Rain at night.
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I wonder who won the Union-Rutgers game? If the score corresponds with the order of the names, then Union won. I haven't been able to verify that, but I did find out that in 1919, Paul Robeson, the famous actor and singer, was a catcher on the Rutgers team, and in fact while he was a student there from 1915 to 1919, Robeson played for Rutgers in three sports: baseball, football and track. He lettered in baseball, according to the Rutgers website, in 1916, 1918, and 1919. That would mean that he probably played in the game against Union on May 16th. Here is a picture of Robeson in his uniform and some information about a game against Princeton on June 10, 1919:
I also found a little piece in the Rutgers Alumni Monthly, published in February 1922, under the graduation year 1911; it mentions the periodic baseball games with Union college:
"Doc" Van Dyck is up in Schenectady with the General Electric Company as accountant on tax reports. He claims to have "so far succeeded in earning a living and supporting my numerous offspring." Rugen '10 has a responsible position with the same concern. He goes on to say: "We have an opportunity to see Rutgers baseball and tennis teams in action against Union now and then, but we wish Garry would send the basketball or football team up here."I'm not sure what Stanford means by "Out to see aeroplane etc." Perhaps there was an airplane that flew in and was available to go and look at. It's interesting that he is using the former spelling of the word, aeroplane, indicating it was still something of a novelty. I wasn't able to find anything specific about the aeroplane he was going to see, but I did see that GE was moving into the field of aircraft turbosuperchargers during WWI. Maybe this airplane had something to do with that.
Thursday, May 15, 1919
Bright, warm. To college 8:00 to 12 M. Played tennis with H.H. in P.M. Studied. Sorted eggs. To K.S.P. meeting at church. Walked around town with Guy Thorpe, Lewis Larkin & H.H. To bed 12 P.M. Thankful.
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K.S.P. is Stanford's abbreviation for Kappa Sigma Pi, a fraternity, apparently, although I haven't been able to find out anything about it as yet. Stay tuned . . .
Guy Thorpe is probably a fellow by the name of William Guy Thorpe, who in 1919 lived with his parents at either 1614 Albany Street (from 1918 WWI Draft Registration) or 23 Ulster Street (1920 census). He was married some time between 1918 and 1920, but continued to live with his parents. He was about Stanford's age, and Ulster St. was about 1.4 miles from Park Place, where Stanford lived. Guy was a switchboard tester at GE in 1918; in 1920 he's listed as an electrical engineer.
Lewis Larkin may be Lewis Barber Larkin, the son of David Larkin who in 1870 lived in Glenville, NY with his parents. In 1920 a Lewis Larkin lived at 25 Foster Avenue (about a mile from Sanford) and was an employee at GE. His father was at this time an employee of Union College. Lewis is frequently mentioned in Stanford's diary.
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K.S.P. is Stanford's abbreviation for Kappa Sigma Pi, a fraternity, apparently, although I haven't been able to find out anything about it as yet. Stay tuned . . .
Guy Thorpe is probably a fellow by the name of William Guy Thorpe, who in 1919 lived with his parents at either 1614 Albany Street (from 1918 WWI Draft Registration) or 23 Ulster Street (1920 census). He was married some time between 1918 and 1920, but continued to live with his parents. He was about Stanford's age, and Ulster St. was about 1.4 miles from Park Place, where Stanford lived. Guy was a switchboard tester at GE in 1918; in 1920 he's listed as an electrical engineer.
Lewis Larkin may be Lewis Barber Larkin, the son of David Larkin who in 1870 lived in Glenville, NY with his parents. In 1920 a Lewis Larkin lived at 25 Foster Avenue (about a mile from Sanford) and was an employee at GE. His father was at this time an employee of Union College. Lewis is frequently mentioned in Stanford's diary.
Wednesday, May 14, 1919
Very mild bright beautiful day. To College 8:30 to 2:30 P.M. Bowled at Star Alleys. To College. Studied in P.M. Took Mother to church etc. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful.
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A fairly typical day for our Stanford, with the exception of church attendance with his mother. I guess there was a Wednesday night prayer meeting or Bible study that day. His father couldn't attend for some reason, apparently.
Diaries are interesting documents. It's hard to say who the intended audience is. Since Stanford kept the habit all his life, he must have thought at some point that his diaries would be read by other people. But when he first started, he was probably writing to his future self, trying to recall particular days or activities. I wonder what he would have written had he enough room to write his thoughts about his day. But this Date Book format doesn't allow for much musing. The brevity of Stanford's journal reminds me of another famous diary--the one kept by Martha Ballard, a midwife living in late 18th to early 19th century Maine. Here is an excerpt from her journal, the entry for May 14, 1809:
The similarity is striking, I think, and makes me think that this is a particular sub-genre of journal writing. In fact, Martha's shorthand calls to mind our modern genre of tweeting!
Martha Ballard's journal began in 1785 and ended at her death in 1812. The above excerpt came from an online source: Do History. There's a lot of fascinating information about Martha Ballard and her time there. I recommend the site as well as the book and movie that came out of the diary (both are mentioned on the site.)
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A fairly typical day for our Stanford, with the exception of church attendance with his mother. I guess there was a Wednesday night prayer meeting or Bible study that day. His father couldn't attend for some reason, apparently.
Diaries are interesting documents. It's hard to say who the intended audience is. Since Stanford kept the habit all his life, he must have thought at some point that his diaries would be read by other people. But when he first started, he was probably writing to his future self, trying to recall particular days or activities. I wonder what he would have written had he enough room to write his thoughts about his day. But this Date Book format doesn't allow for much musing. The brevity of Stanford's journal reminds me of another famous diary--the one kept by Martha Ballard, a midwife living in late 18th to early 19th century Maine. Here is an excerpt from her journal, the entry for May 14, 1809:
| Cloudy part of ye day, raind Some. mr Ballard to meeting. Revd mr Stone discoarst fm Romans 1st C 28th vers. Hannahs Ballard & Getchel Calld here. Epm & Wm Sleep here. | at home. Rhoda left here after dinner. |
The similarity is striking, I think, and makes me think that this is a particular sub-genre of journal writing. In fact, Martha's shorthand calls to mind our modern genre of tweeting!
Martha Ballard's journal began in 1785 and ended at her death in 1812. The above excerpt came from an online source: Do History. There's a lot of fascinating information about Martha Ballard and her time there. I recommend the site as well as the book and movie that came out of the diary (both are mentioned on the site.)
Tuesday, May 13, 1919
Bright Warm day. To college 8:30 to 2:30 P.M. Played tennis with H.H. and Leslie Jones. Campus meeting at 7:30 P.M. Everly spoke on submarine warfare. To bed 10:30 P.M.
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I'm assuming the campus meeting was a college-wide assembly for the purpose of listening to a talk by a Mr. or Ms. Everly (no doubt the former) on the topic of submarine warfare. I wasn't able to determine who Everly was; I can only believe he was a (male) faculty member. The speech was probably intended to be historical, as at this point in the war, submarine warfare was finished, according to the lengthy Wikipedia article, "U-Boat Campaign (World War I)."
I wonder how many college students of today would attend a lecture on that subject?
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I'm assuming the campus meeting was a college-wide assembly for the purpose of listening to a talk by a Mr. or Ms. Everly (no doubt the former) on the topic of submarine warfare. I wasn't able to determine who Everly was; I can only believe he was a (male) faculty member. The speech was probably intended to be historical, as at this point in the war, submarine warfare was finished, according to the lengthy Wikipedia article, "U-Boat Campaign (World War I)."
I wonder how many college students of today would attend a lecture on that subject?
Monday, May 12, 1919
Rained slowly all day. To College 9 to 2:30 P.M. Bowled at Star Alleys. Home. Studied at night. Mother and Father to Y for supper. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for health, education etc.
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Not much to say about this entry, except that I found it curious that people went to the Y for supper. But considering that people went to the YMCA for bowling, it stands to reason they might go there for meals as well. Trying to determine if this was unusual, I ran across a news item in the February 15, 1919 Cambridge Tribune, a Cambridge, Massachusetts newspaper, announcing the intentions of the YMCA to invite returned servicemen to dinner to try to interest them in joining the organization. Below is a copy of the piece, available on the Cambridge Public Library website:
The YMCA was certainly much more of a community gathering place in 1919 than it is today!
(I know the guests must have been grateful not to have to sit through long after-dinner speeches!)
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Not much to say about this entry, except that I found it curious that people went to the Y for supper. But considering that people went to the YMCA for bowling, it stands to reason they might go there for meals as well. Trying to determine if this was unusual, I ran across a news item in the February 15, 1919 Cambridge Tribune, a Cambridge, Massachusetts newspaper, announcing the intentions of the YMCA to invite returned servicemen to dinner to try to interest them in joining the organization. Below is a copy of the piece, available on the Cambridge Public Library website:
(I know the guests must have been grateful not to have to sit through long after-dinner speeches!)
Sunday, May 11, 1919
MOTHER'S DAY. Rainy off and on all day. To church and S.S. (Sunday School). Took nap in P.M. To Epworth League and Church. To Haye's Room for call. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for good Mother.
**********
What did people do to honor mothers in 1919? Stanford doesn't say specifically what his family did, but perhaps attending church was one way.
Since World War I was still going on at this time, some soldiers who were far away from home wrote to their mothers to wish them a Happy Mother's Day. Here is the text of one poem incorporated into a flyer that the American YMCA gave to soldiers at the front on May 11, 1919:
A copy of the flyer can be seen here: Mother's Day 1919, Brest, France. It was sent by a Paul B. to his mother.
Sanford apparently paid a call that day to a friend named Hayes. With a little digging in the diary I found that Hayes was Wilber Hayes, a friend Stanford spent a good deal of time with. Wilber was a lab assistant at General Electric in 1920, and he lived at 104 Jay Street, which was the address for the Gleason Building, apparently a rooming house. The Gleason Building was named for William Joseph Gleason, a prominent Schenectady resident. He was a real estate developer who also built the Gleason Bachelor Apartment Building. The Gleason Building still stands; here is a picture of it:
You can also see it on Google maps. It was about 0.4 miles from Stanford's home at 110 Park Place. I got the information about the building from the website: Schenectady History.
When I discovered the first name of Hayes, I also discovered the first name of the friend mentioned in the May 9th post, Mr. Young. He is Everette L. (not S., as I first thought) Young. In 1920 he was an instrument clerk at General Electric, and boarded at 9 Hegeman Street, about 2.5 miles from Stanford. His 1917 WWI Draft Registration card stated that he was born in 1894 in Rexford, NY and that he had a physical disability that exempted him from the draft.
Stanford certainly had a lot of friends!
**********
What did people do to honor mothers in 1919? Stanford doesn't say specifically what his family did, but perhaps attending church was one way.
Since World War I was still going on at this time, some soldiers who were far away from home wrote to their mothers to wish them a Happy Mother's Day. Here is the text of one poem incorporated into a flyer that the American YMCA gave to soldiers at the front on May 11, 1919:
Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky;
Hundreds of shells on the shore together;
Hundreds of birds that go singing by;
Hundreds of bees in the sunny weather.
Hundreds of shells on the shore together;
Hundreds of birds that go singing by;
Hundreds of bees in the sunny weather.
Hundreds of dew-drops to greet the dawn;
Hundreds of lambs in the purple clover;
Hundreds of butterflies out on the lawn;
But only one Mother the wide world over.
Hundreds of lambs in the purple clover;
Hundreds of butterflies out on the lawn;
But only one Mother the wide world over.
A copy of the flyer can be seen here: Mother's Day 1919, Brest, France. It was sent by a Paul B. to his mother.
Sanford apparently paid a call that day to a friend named Hayes. With a little digging in the diary I found that Hayes was Wilber Hayes, a friend Stanford spent a good deal of time with. Wilber was a lab assistant at General Electric in 1920, and he lived at 104 Jay Street, which was the address for the Gleason Building, apparently a rooming house. The Gleason Building was named for William Joseph Gleason, a prominent Schenectady resident. He was a real estate developer who also built the Gleason Bachelor Apartment Building. The Gleason Building still stands; here is a picture of it:
You can also see it on Google maps. It was about 0.4 miles from Stanford's home at 110 Park Place. I got the information about the building from the website: Schenectady History.
When I discovered the first name of Hayes, I also discovered the first name of the friend mentioned in the May 9th post, Mr. Young. He is Everette L. (not S., as I first thought) Young. In 1920 he was an instrument clerk at General Electric, and boarded at 9 Hegeman Street, about 2.5 miles from Stanford. His 1917 WWI Draft Registration card stated that he was born in 1894 in Rexford, NY and that he had a physical disability that exempted him from the draft.
Stanford certainly had a lot of friends!
Saturday, May 10, 1919
Cloudy and rainy all day. To college 8:30 to 10 A.M. Around House. Sorted eggs in P.M. Down Street. Bought shoes etc. Supper. Played games until 9:15 P.M. To bed 10 P.M. THANKFUL.
**********
I see that Stanford had classes on Saturday as I did in 1968 (and a few years after that, too, I think). This is not true anymore and it seems strange that it was true as late as the sixties, but it was how schools fit in all the classes, I guess. During the Baby Boomer college years, they probably needed the space because so many people were going to college. I wonder what the reason was in Stanford's era. . .
It's too bad Stanford didn't mention what games he played; I assume he played them with his family. Perhaps they were board games or card games. One board game popular in the 1910s, according to one book, was Milton Bradley's The Checkered Game of Life, a precursor, it seems, to Monopoly. Another was the Merchant Marine game, about shipping (oddly).
Nearly every day, Stanford ends by saying he was thankful, sometimes for specific blessings. It's kind of his sign-off, you might say.
**********
I see that Stanford had classes on Saturday as I did in 1968 (and a few years after that, too, I think). This is not true anymore and it seems strange that it was true as late as the sixties, but it was how schools fit in all the classes, I guess. During the Baby Boomer college years, they probably needed the space because so many people were going to college. I wonder what the reason was in Stanford's era. . .
It's too bad Stanford didn't mention what games he played; I assume he played them with his family. Perhaps they were board games or card games. One board game popular in the 1910s, according to one book, was Milton Bradley's The Checkered Game of Life, a precursor, it seems, to Monopoly. Another was the Merchant Marine game, about shipping (oddly).
Nearly every day, Stanford ends by saying he was thankful, sometimes for specific blessings. It's kind of his sign-off, you might say.
Friday, May 9, 1919
Cloudy and rainy all day. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Studied. Down town. Bowled at Y. To Mission Study Class from 7:8 P.M. Drilled at armory for drill 8:9:30 P.M. Bowled at Star with H.H. Walked around town with H.H. and E.S. Young. To bed 12:30.
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The Mission Study Class Stanford refers to was probably similar to the one conducted by other churches of Schenectady. Here is a news item from the Second Dutch Reformed Church that appeared in the January 11, 1919 Schenectady Gazette: "The Mission study class, under the direction of the pastor, will hold its first session Tuesday night. The study will be on Africa."
Stanford doesn't tell us the topic of his Mission Study Class, but it might have been something as close to home as Schenectady. One article I ran across described how, starting in 1904, Protestant demoninations of "Electric City" viewed their Italian immigrants as needing rescue from the Roman Catholic faith and set about establishing a mission to convert them, apparently with some success. Here is the article: Protestant Evangelism.
When Stanford refers to going to the armory for drill, he is no doubt referring to ROTC drill, which was mandatory for the first two years of college for all male students who were physically fit. This requirement was a result of the National Defense Act of 1916, which set up Reserve Officer Training Corps at colleges around the country. Here is a picture of the armory where Stanford drilled:
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The Mission Study Class Stanford refers to was probably similar to the one conducted by other churches of Schenectady. Here is a news item from the Second Dutch Reformed Church that appeared in the January 11, 1919 Schenectady Gazette: "The Mission study class, under the direction of the pastor, will hold its first session Tuesday night. The study will be on Africa."
Stanford doesn't tell us the topic of his Mission Study Class, but it might have been something as close to home as Schenectady. One article I ran across described how, starting in 1904, Protestant demoninations of "Electric City" viewed their Italian immigrants as needing rescue from the Roman Catholic faith and set about establishing a mission to convert them, apparently with some success. Here is the article: Protestant Evangelism.
When Stanford refers to going to the armory for drill, he is no doubt referring to ROTC drill, which was mandatory for the first two years of college for all male students who were physically fit. This requirement was a result of the National Defense Act of 1916, which set up Reserve Officer Training Corps at colleges around the country. Here is a picture of the armory where Stanford drilled:
It comes from the book, Schenectady: Images of America, by Susan C. Rosenthal.
I haven't had much luck tracking down E.S. Young. In fact, I can't even find an E. Young living in Schenectady at that time. I'll have to wait, I guess, until Stanford tells us what the man's (or woman's) first name was.
One curious little item: in this entry, Stanford uses a colon in place of a hyphen to indicate to. For instance, he writes 8:9:30 instead of 8-9:30. I left it because I thought it was interesting.
Thursday, May 8, 1919
Very beautiful mild day. To college 8:30 to 12. Played tennis with H.H., Leslie Jones, and Stanley Joseph. Studied. To Uncle Henry's to take dahlias. Studied. To bed 10 P.M.
**********
Well, my speculation of yesterday on the connection with Levi (AKA Levy) Moss was somewhat off. Once I started looking in the Closson genealogy for the Myers connection, I stumbled across the Moss connection. Levi Moss was actually the husband of Ella Maria Jones, who was one of Evan and Phoebe Helen Closson Jones' children. (Evan Jones was unfortunately killed during the Civil War in 1864, in Andersonville Prison, after fathering six children.) Another of their children was Sedany Elizabeth (AKA Elizabeth) Jones, who married Charles Myers and was living with Thomas Closson, her grandfather, in 1880.
So, Levi Moss's wife Ella is Stillman's first cousin. But I don't think Stanford's tennis partner Leslie Jones is related to Evan Jones, because Evan was from Wales, apparently, at least according to the military record of his death.
I have not been able to determine who Uncle Henry is so far. I have a candidate, though: Henry Smith Gilbert, who was the husband of another one of Stillman's cousins, Helen Weaver, daughter of Hannah Closson, sister of Charles. He may have been called Uncle Henry by Stanford in the way that the cousins of one's parents are thought of as Aunt or Uncle by the children. For example, I had an Aunt Eva who was actually my grandfather's cousin, not his sister or even his aunt. I always called her "Aunt," because that's what my mother called her, even though she was my mother's (and my) cousin. Stanford's Uncle Henry might be that sort of uncle.
Or perhaps it was someone else entirely. If any readers know, do tell!
**********
Well, my speculation of yesterday on the connection with Levi (AKA Levy) Moss was somewhat off. Once I started looking in the Closson genealogy for the Myers connection, I stumbled across the Moss connection. Levi Moss was actually the husband of Ella Maria Jones, who was one of Evan and Phoebe Helen Closson Jones' children. (Evan Jones was unfortunately killed during the Civil War in 1864, in Andersonville Prison, after fathering six children.) Another of their children was Sedany Elizabeth (AKA Elizabeth) Jones, who married Charles Myers and was living with Thomas Closson, her grandfather, in 1880.
So, Levi Moss's wife Ella is Stillman's first cousin. But I don't think Stanford's tennis partner Leslie Jones is related to Evan Jones, because Evan was from Wales, apparently, at least according to the military record of his death.
I have not been able to determine who Uncle Henry is so far. I have a candidate, though: Henry Smith Gilbert, who was the husband of another one of Stillman's cousins, Helen Weaver, daughter of Hannah Closson, sister of Charles. He may have been called Uncle Henry by Stanford in the way that the cousins of one's parents are thought of as Aunt or Uncle by the children. For example, I had an Aunt Eva who was actually my grandfather's cousin, not his sister or even his aunt. I always called her "Aunt," because that's what my mother called her, even though she was my mother's (and my) cousin. Stanford's Uncle Henry might be that sort of uncle.
Or perhaps it was someone else entirely. If any readers know, do tell!
Wednesday, May 7, 1919
Rain in A.M. Dried up in P.M. To college 8:00 to 2:30. Down town. Bowled at Star. Stayed home in evening. Studied. Father to Albany with Levy Moss. To bed 11:30 P.M. Thankful.
**********
Stanford spends a lot of time bowling in 1919. He must've been a very good bowler, as much as he practiced!
Trying to track down Levy Moss, who was evidently a friend of Stillman's, I found a man by that name who lived at 47 Vley Road with his wife Ella and their daughter Julia, her husband Severine Edmunds, and their daughter Hilda. He was a carpenter, born around 1858. Probably he is the same Levy (AKA Levi) who lived in Glenville in 1870 with his father, who was a farmer there. In 1880 he had his own farm in Glenville, where Thomas and Charles Closson were also farming at the time, and Stillman was still living with his father and mother. Mr. Moss's farm was not near the Clossons, judging by the distance between their listings on the census for that year. Now, why Stillman was going to Albany with Levy Moss, I have no idea!
Curiously, as I was looking at the listing for Thomas and Sabrina Closson in 1880, I saw that living with them was an Elizabeth Myers and her son, John, who was three years old at the time. Elizabeth was listed as the granddaughter of Thomas, and John as his great-grandson. And they did indeed live next door to Mr. Bub, mentioned in a previous post. This John is only three in 1880 and could not be the John I was speculating was the John Myers of the journal, since that John was born in 1864 or so. I'm pretty certain the older John Myers is the right one, since his wife's name fits. Is he related to the Myers who is Thomas's great-grandson? If so, the connection with the Clossons I was guessing at in the earlier post is obviously closer than friendship!
**********
Stanford spends a lot of time bowling in 1919. He must've been a very good bowler, as much as he practiced!
Trying to track down Levy Moss, who was evidently a friend of Stillman's, I found a man by that name who lived at 47 Vley Road with his wife Ella and their daughter Julia, her husband Severine Edmunds, and their daughter Hilda. He was a carpenter, born around 1858. Probably he is the same Levy (AKA Levi) who lived in Glenville in 1870 with his father, who was a farmer there. In 1880 he had his own farm in Glenville, where Thomas and Charles Closson were also farming at the time, and Stillman was still living with his father and mother. Mr. Moss's farm was not near the Clossons, judging by the distance between their listings on the census for that year. Now, why Stillman was going to Albany with Levy Moss, I have no idea!
Curiously, as I was looking at the listing for Thomas and Sabrina Closson in 1880, I saw that living with them was an Elizabeth Myers and her son, John, who was three years old at the time. Elizabeth was listed as the granddaughter of Thomas, and John as his great-grandson. And they did indeed live next door to Mr. Bub, mentioned in a previous post. This John is only three in 1880 and could not be the John I was speculating was the John Myers of the journal, since that John was born in 1864 or so. I'm pretty certain the older John Myers is the right one, since his wife's name fits. Is he related to the Myers who is Thomas's great-grandson? If so, the connection with the Clossons I was guessing at in the earlier post is obviously closer than friendship!
Tuesday, May 6, 1919
Mild. Bright. To College 8:30 to 2:30. Played tennis with H. H. [his brother, Hanford Hillman], Leslie Jones, and Stanley Joseph. To College to Baseball game. Score: Union 0 - Colgate 5. Home. Sorted eggs. Studied. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful.
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Leslie Jones and Stanley Joseph were from what I could determine, classmates of Stanford. Leslie was probably Leslie Webber Jones, born March 4, 1900 in Schenectady. He lived at 109 Front Street in 1919, which was close to the river in a house that is apparently still standing. In the 1920 census he is listed as a student at Union College. Leslie went on to become an academic in later life, teaching Classics at City College of New York in the 30s. He was still teaching in New York in 1940. He ended up in Berkeley, California, where he died in 1981. I was unable to determine if he taught at UC there. He is buried in Meriden, Connecticut with his wife, Rachel.
I think Leslie's Rachel is probably Rachel Foster Rand, who was an artist and had her own studio. She was from Connecticut and had gone to Yale, studying Art. In 1925 she won a prize for First Year Painting.
In 1920 there is a Rachel Rand living in New Haven with her family. Her father is a physician and they live at 246 Church Street, which was probably a very nice neighborhood in 1920. Her mother is shown as being born in Louisiana, and since that is where in 1930 Mrs. Rachel Jones says her mother was born, we can assume she is the same Rachel. She died in California in 1993.
Stanley Joseph is probably the young man who lived in Schenectady at 133 Park Avenue with his parents and older sister Edith, according to the 1920 census. Born in 1901, Stanley would have been 18 in 1919. His father was a clothing merchant. In the census, he is listed as being a student, and since he's of college age, one can assume he's a college student, probably at Union College. By 1930, he's still living with his parents, but by then he is a furniture merchant, having followed his father into the merchant trade.
It should be noted that Stanford, in addition to being a full time college student with an active social life, is also helping his father with his butter and egg business whenever possible. In the journals, he frequently mentions doing chores associated with that business (such as sorting eggs) at night and on weekends. He was a good son.
**********
Leslie Jones and Stanley Joseph were from what I could determine, classmates of Stanford. Leslie was probably Leslie Webber Jones, born March 4, 1900 in Schenectady. He lived at 109 Front Street in 1919, which was close to the river in a house that is apparently still standing. In the 1920 census he is listed as a student at Union College. Leslie went on to become an academic in later life, teaching Classics at City College of New York in the 30s. He was still teaching in New York in 1940. He ended up in Berkeley, California, where he died in 1981. I was unable to determine if he taught at UC there. He is buried in Meriden, Connecticut with his wife, Rachel.
I think Leslie's Rachel is probably Rachel Foster Rand, who was an artist and had her own studio. She was from Connecticut and had gone to Yale, studying Art. In 1925 she won a prize for First Year Painting.
In 1920 there is a Rachel Rand living in New Haven with her family. Her father is a physician and they live at 246 Church Street, which was probably a very nice neighborhood in 1920. Her mother is shown as being born in Louisiana, and since that is where in 1930 Mrs. Rachel Jones says her mother was born, we can assume she is the same Rachel. She died in California in 1993.
Stanley Joseph is probably the young man who lived in Schenectady at 133 Park Avenue with his parents and older sister Edith, according to the 1920 census. Born in 1901, Stanley would have been 18 in 1919. His father was a clothing merchant. In the census, he is listed as being a student, and since he's of college age, one can assume he's a college student, probably at Union College. By 1930, he's still living with his parents, but by then he is a furniture merchant, having followed his father into the merchant trade.
It should be noted that Stanford, in addition to being a full time college student with an active social life, is also helping his father with his butter and egg business whenever possible. In the journals, he frequently mentions doing chores associated with that business (such as sorting eggs) at night and on weekends. He was a good son.
Monday, May 5, 1919
Beautiful bright day. To College 9-2:30. Father, Mother and I out to John Myers with Ford. To Church to Sunday School Board supper. Took walk with Merris. Bowled at Star. To bed 12:30 A.M.
**********
According to the 1915 New York census and 1920 Federal census, a John E. Myers lived in Schenectady with his wife Anna (AKA Hannah) and their daughter, Esther, at #1 McClellan Street. He was 56 at the time. This may be the John Myers who appears frequently in the diaries (along with his wife Anna). Mr. Myers owned property about three miles from the Clossons (according to City records). He worked as a moulder at General Electric's Schnectady Works; his daughter was a stenographer there. She was also a Notary Public. In 1889 John E. Myers from Schenectady witnessed a last will and testament of John Bub from Glenville, NY, a farmer who lived near Thomas Closson in 1880 (according to the 1880 Agricultural Schedule of the census). That may be a connection Myers had to the Clossons. Mr. Myers may also have been a member of the Methodist Church where the Clossons worshipped.
A moulder at General Electric was responsible for fabricating iron castings used in making the metal products the company produced. Here is a picture taken from The Shop Apprenticeship System for Boys, published by GE in 1917 as a guide for prospective apprenctices, showing an apprentice and the iron casting he helped make:
Merris, also referred to in the journal many times as Mr. Merris (sometimes in combination with his wife, Mrs. Merris), may be Carl E. Merris, a well known electrical engineer who also worked for GE in those days. In 1919 he was 30 years old. Like the Clossons, Carl Merris lived near Union College (according to the 1920 census) at 620 Rugby Road (an address that no longer exists). From a write-up about him that appeared in Who's Who in Engineering, published in 1922, we learn that he was a Methodist. That may have been his connection to the Clossons.
What Stanford calls the Star is one of the three bowling alleys in Schenectady. The other two were Morse Bowling Alley and the YMCA. Stanford frequented all three and mentions them often in his journal. Here is a link to a notice that appeared in the April 4, 1919 Schenectady Gazette, detailing news about bowling leagues: Bowling Tonight. Look for it at the top of the second column. It gives you a sense, I think, of how much bowling was enjoyed back then.
**********
According to the 1915 New York census and 1920 Federal census, a John E. Myers lived in Schenectady with his wife Anna (AKA Hannah) and their daughter, Esther, at #1 McClellan Street. He was 56 at the time. This may be the John Myers who appears frequently in the diaries (along with his wife Anna). Mr. Myers owned property about three miles from the Clossons (according to City records). He worked as a moulder at General Electric's Schnectady Works; his daughter was a stenographer there. She was also a Notary Public. In 1889 John E. Myers from Schenectady witnessed a last will and testament of John Bub from Glenville, NY, a farmer who lived near Thomas Closson in 1880 (according to the 1880 Agricultural Schedule of the census). That may be a connection Myers had to the Clossons. Mr. Myers may also have been a member of the Methodist Church where the Clossons worshipped.
A moulder at General Electric was responsible for fabricating iron castings used in making the metal products the company produced. Here is a picture taken from The Shop Apprenticeship System for Boys, published by GE in 1917 as a guide for prospective apprenctices, showing an apprentice and the iron casting he helped make:
Merris, also referred to in the journal many times as Mr. Merris (sometimes in combination with his wife, Mrs. Merris), may be Carl E. Merris, a well known electrical engineer who also worked for GE in those days. In 1919 he was 30 years old. Like the Clossons, Carl Merris lived near Union College (according to the 1920 census) at 620 Rugby Road (an address that no longer exists). From a write-up about him that appeared in Who's Who in Engineering, published in 1922, we learn that he was a Methodist. That may have been his connection to the Clossons.
What Stanford calls the Star is one of the three bowling alleys in Schenectady. The other two were Morse Bowling Alley and the YMCA. Stanford frequented all three and mentions them often in his journal. Here is a link to a notice that appeared in the April 4, 1919 Schenectady Gazette, detailing news about bowling leagues: Bowling Tonight. Look for it at the top of the second column. It gives you a sense, I think, of how much bowling was enjoyed back then.
Sunday, May 4, 1919
Very warm, bright day. 82 degrees in shade. Thundershowers in evening. To church and S.S. [Sunday School]. To Glenville Center to church in P.M. Read. To Epworth League. To bed 9:30. Thankful for health.
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In May of 1919, Stanford Closson was a student at Union College in Schenectady, NY.
The Epworth League was a Methodist youth association that still exists today. This Wikipedia article talks about it briefly: Epworth League. But you can also read about the organization on their website. Here is the link: Epworth League.
The Methodist Church congregation in Glenville Center, NY is still there, but no doubt in a different location. Here is a web page with a few details: Centre Glenville UMC.
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In May of 1919, Stanford Closson was a student at Union College in Schenectady, NY.
The Epworth League was a Methodist youth association that still exists today. This Wikipedia article talks about it briefly: Epworth League. But you can also read about the organization on their website. Here is the link: Epworth League.
The Methodist Church congregation in Glenville Center, NY is still there, but no doubt in a different location. Here is a web page with a few details: Centre Glenville UMC.
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