Tuesday May 28, 1918

Tues. Pleasant weather.

Sun eve Grace Gurney & Abbie Quackenbush called. Mon. eve Miss Goodrich & Donald came after school. I called on Mrs. Storm, Mrs. Young & Mrs. Smith. Heard from Mabelle tonight father helped me put out my plants. Had a card from Robert & finished his letter to send tomorrow.

Notes: See previous diary entry for scan of this page.

Letter: Josie Bumpus

My dear Friend,
First I must beg your pardon for not replying sooner to your good letters. I have thought of you so many times & have heard from you often through Maybelle.

These are such beautiful days. I am out a good deal looking over God's wonderful landscape. I do not like to stay indoors more than I can help. Our son has been down for a little visit. He left last night for Detroit. My heart ? home ? very very often. It is Natural of course. Mr. Bumpus is my comfort sake and I expect to make a trip to Ruttenville very soon. Have been here three months to day. You will not know the sanitarium when you come again. Dr. Strand and Maybelle have transformed it into a very different place with all new decorations & paint, varnish & c&c oil - looks fine and Maybelle graces the place as Matron beautifully. She lacks a good deal of being well but she is better. How thankful all her friends must be to have her in Dr. Strand's care as he possibly loved her as a daughter and she is a great help to him. She is real happy - she probably writes you of all her doings. Mr. Bumpus enjoys seeing the improvements going on - I think they expect some new patients soon - Mrs. Strand retired from Utica last January - been up ? you know. Faith cures I believe. Draw your own conclusions of the ? This is such a lovely morning wish you were here and we would walk the town over. I got a great deal of pleasure walking around this old town. Was down to Cooperstown a few days ago. I think it one of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen. The lakes. The hills & the old pine trees have a great charm for me. I suppose these are all busy days with you - teaching the young ? how to shoot. I went to teacher school once upon a time, years ago - I did not like it a little bit.

Maybelle's husband has been here quite a little of late, his work is somewhere in this locality. She hears good news from her kiddies. Do you I think Maybelle a fine character. She is always full of sunshine and never burdens anyone with all her suffering. I am so glad she has found such a friend in Dr. Strand and if anyone in all the world can cure her he certainly will.

Mr. Bumpus & ? Grille play dominoes as normal & must take a lot of comfort for they keep at the game at the old pace.

They will soon let up then laffe and walk out & sit in the shade of the old apple tree I suppose.

I hope your father & mother are all over neuritis. The name warm weather will do much for them I am sure.

When are you coming up again. I look forward to seeing you again &having a longer visit. "Daddy" often speaks of you - surely you have a warm place in all our hearts.

Do write me soon again and I won't wait so long again before replying. Shall report to Maybelle that I have written.

Hoping you are real well. ? these May days.

With love, I am sincerely yours,
Josie P Bumpus

Richfield Springs N.J.
May 17th, 1918

Notes: Sorry I am not able to completely transcribe this one. This woman had some... interesting... handwriting. If anyone can make out something I missed please let me know. (Or if you disagree with any of my transcriptions.)

Sunday May 26, 1918 (Part 4, Final)

After leaving the depot at 1 I went to Assembly Hall to untrim & staid til 3. Ruth Burnside came & came home with me & we visited til after 5. Then I thot I'd change my dress before supper & before I had my skirt on Molly came over & asked me if I wanted to go and see the fire, by that time flames were high above the trees. We hurried & by the time we reached Gilbert Street corner, the flames were so hot & high, we walked out that street & were very excited as we saw one after another house roof catch on fire. We saw 8 right along. I went to Anna Smith's & Molly came home. Helped Anna pack as every one around thot that whole section would have to go - but Oneanta arrived soon - & helped. As it neared night ot rained. The fire was awful & every one was helping to do everything possible. I went over to Aunt Almena's. They were ready to leave - but the wind veered towards the tract & took Bloxham's Feed & coal business instead. Bainbridge, Unadilla, Walton, Oneanta & Norwhich Fire Departments came. Anna & I walked over about 10 (we had supper at 9) & it was very spectacular to see the huge piles of lumber & coal on fire. Household good were piled or thrown everywhere & Mr. Sherwood's lawn resembled a a picture of Belgian Refugees paused for a rest. Every one between the tracks & the river & Novelty Work & Main Sts expected to be burned out. Many places caught from burning shingles.

Went to church today but there was none. Every one helping fire sufferers or working for Red Cross. Bessie & I walked over around devestated region; then I sat for a while on her porch watching the committee stopping autos for fees. Came home, had dinner & am sitting down to write for the first time in 10 days. Have had letters from Ida, Mrs. Bumpus, Helen Sprague, & "Pat" Lapp. May write some later. (Wrote to Louise P.) Sent special fire copies of Record to Don, Lottie, Mae, Berta & R.J.

Notes: According to the Oneanta Daily Star the fire mentioned here occurred on Saturday May 25, 1918, so Calla's entire entry that I have been transcribing for days now was all written on the Sunday following the fire.

According to the paper the fire started at the chimney of the Novelty Works, a plant making bathroom fixtures, and spread to another inductrial building close by which stored large quantities of lumber. It then spread to Bloxham's Feed Store where he had just received 3 train cars worth of coal. In all 35 buildings suffered some damage, 15 houses were totally consumed, 18 families were displaced, The storm that Calla mentions also caused damage as a lot of families had removed furniture to their lawns in an effort to save it and it was then drenched by the rain.

The paper estimates that the fire caused $300,000 dollars in total damages. The article makes a detailed account of whose houses were damaged, and how much they lost, as well as how much they expected to recover from insurance.

Ephemera: Library Conference

Back to the epic Diary post tomorrow, but I thought this note from Elizabeth Blackall should be posted here since Calla mentioned it in the section I transcribed yesterday.

Sunday May 26, 1918 (Part 3)

I took some more pictures of Blanche, & one of her mother. Saw Heman and Stanley Backus pass in a car with Mr. and Mrs. Backus. Blanche's deafness grows worse & Mr. Moffatt (?) totally I fear. After lamp light we looked at magazines awhile & then retired. Blanche was tired & restless & I was glad when 5 o'clock came. Had an early breakfast & took the auto stage for N.B. about 6 o'clock. Mrs. B. D. Phillips who teaches at South Edmeston was on the stage. She and her husband expect to go to Idaho July 1st. I arrived at the Depot at 7 & as I had nearly an hour to wait I posted a letter & called at Ballard's store where I saw Lewis Frink & Lew Smith.

I bot some cookies & cheese & Lewis sent some candy to mother. It did seem good to see him. On the train I saw Mrs. Lyons from Lathams & Rockwells Mills. Arrived at school before Chapel was over. I was so glad I went for one should not forget old friends while forming new ones - & there is no place that clings so lovingly in the memory as those associated with one's girlhood days.

This week has been one mad rush of school, Junior Ex, & work & the week seemed to end before it was fairly begun. Wed & Thurs Zora was down. One day Gladys McKeever Raithel called at school a minute to see me. Thurs. I went to Oneanta to a District Library Meeting. It was in charge of Miss Hall of Endicott Public Library. She was a very pleasing speaker. Other speakers were Miss Alden, Miss Chase, Mr. Hemstreet, Miss Scatchard, Mrs. Hoye, & Mrs. Blackall. I met Miss McDonald who is to have 6th grade here next year, also Library work. Bessie & I together with Misses Rawley & Smith from Edmeston, Miss Eels & Mrs. Bassett from Walton & Miss Cope, Oneanta had lunch at the "Pioneer." The afternoon Session was entirely a discussion of recent War Books & I got a terrible headache. After buying a pair of silk stockings I went to "The Oneanta" where I rested till dinner time. Got here a little late for the dress rehearsal of Junior Ex. By going to that I had to miss a very important Red Cross Drive meeting & a good speaker.

The Junior Ex was up to its usual standard - the Swings & swing songs were attractive, but the tiny swingers & the three occupants (Lucile Walling, Virginia Dunn & Godfrey) were more attractive. The operetta a fairy poppy play in which a pink parasol, a girl, a gardener & a hat were figured was pretty, especially the costuming & everyone thought the stage trimmed attractively. Miss Gurney from Earlville & Miss Sprague from Endicott were back to it. I saw Helen awhile next day & feel encouraged regarding going to Endicott to teach.

Sunday May 26, 1918 (Part 2, Interlude)

Back of a small pine whose branches reach the ground, and sitting in a velvety carpet of moss & short grass, with skirts carefully tucked around me lest they crush the violets which bloom everywhere - I must add some lines to my journal. It almost seems worldly to even think of journals in such a worshipful place. The stillness is broken only by the rippling musical babblings of the brook, and a far away bird call. The afternoon is perfect (My! heart stood still for a moment then as a huge crow came so near that it seemed like some large animal in the bushes!) I started from Mrs. Prosser's about 2, and after visiting with Jack, & taking his horses picture, I came down across the old farm. I sat on a log up in the pasture enjoying a concert by a big bob-o-link, he was sitting where mother used to like to hear them sing. In other respects the old place has changed. Barns and trees grown old & bent like old people. I had a long visit with Mrs. Bancroft, then came over here to drink in the beauty & poetry of the place. I'd like to fall asleep like Rip van Winkle - for it seems as though fairies must visit the place. It's drowsy too like "Sleepy Hollow" but I cannot sleep if I call at Beatty's this afternoon. I'm pressing some flowers for "keep sakes." I found the very same violets that greeted me 15 years ago I couldn't pick them - I could have stooped down to kiss them as one greets an old time friend.

Sunday May 26, 1918 (Part 1)

(Note: I'll be breaking this entry into at least 3 posts as it is nearly 12 pages long.) The out of doors called so loudly that I decided suddenly to go up to Pittsfield & I went at 9:20 a.m. Sat the 18th. Went up with Mr. Hoag on the auto truck & put the mail out I the boxes for him. Mrs. Prosser did not seem very surprised to see me as she said she expected to have me come back. Juan has the measles but I found him making a nice recovery. After eating a nice lunch of bread & fried ham, cake & canned raspberries I started out for a walk over the old farm land hills. I went across where Jack was dragging for Islan Fletcher the new owner of the Light farm I took their picture & then crossed the back of our old farm. (see third page) (Note: See tomorrow's entry) After about 3 hours spent reminiscing I returned to Prosser's. My brown shoes were wet & muddy my blue suit skirt was soiled & I was tired; but I changed to my pumps, purple silk skirt & yellow silk waist & was soon over to Beatty’s. Saw Anna & Blanche, & after a little visit A.G. came in for a while. Near supper time Blanche & I went for a little walk. We gathered violets & went to see the kittens down in Tommy’s barn. Then we called at Mrs. Wait’s & I saw Marjorie one of May Davis Faye’s girls. I Staid to Anna’s for supper- neither of us speaking of one who was often in our minds. I got back to Jack’s around 9 o’clock. We visited till near midnight & I slept in the bed with "Who's Afraid" on the wall at the foot. Had breakfast (codfish cream gravy, potato & griddle cakes) at 8 next morning; & after taking 2 pictures of Juan & one of the family, I started out for a visit among the old neighbors. I never saw so many beautiful purple violets. I stopped & picked a large bunch just beyond the old pine tree north of our house. I carried them to Jennie Gregory, whom I found at home. She has been very ill the past winter & has aged fast. Their dear old flower gardens looked lovely & Jennie gave me a bouquet of the English cowslips, a flower one rarely sees. Flossie and her husband from Oneanta stopped a moment while on their way to her home. After taking Jennie's picture I went on skipping down the path where for years I journeyed back and forth to school.

I stopped at Kenny Matteson's & found Mr. & Mrs. Matteson, Jennie & Will at home. Was glad to see Will as he was one of my first small school mates in that old District School. Jennie is a beautiful young girl & attending the Morris Training Class. I staid there for a long call & then went cross lots (as of old) down through the sugar bush to the old school - so surrounded by new trees that it looks like some old hidden ruin. I stopped awhile & the stillness of everything except birds & babbling brooks seemed so awesome & lovely that I hastened on up the hill to Moffatt's. Norris sat on the porch, Mr. & Mrs. Blanche were asleep & dinner long over, so I didn't have any dinner but did not miss it at all & at an early supper I made up for the lost meal. The ones asleep were soon awake & we had a good visit.

Notes: I'm not really sure why the blank areas were left on the pages. Maybe she intended to paste in some of the photos she mentions in the pages?

The only Prossers listed in Pittsfield are Jack Prosser and Ester Prosser.

Anna Beatty and her husband Alex Beatty had two daughters Anna Beatty and Blanche Beatty.