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Nora Gowdy Diaries - 1898
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February
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Notes
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February 1 weather bright temperature
zero |
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Worked all day at the factory. Took
my dinner. Visited with Miss North at noon. |
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February 2 thermometer zero minus
six degrees |
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Mama at Mrs. Foote's most of the day.
Jack got dinner and tea. I slept in Mama's bed [room]. |
Mama is Susan Pelham Gowdy. |
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February 3rd weather cold temperature
zero |
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Mama came home about ten o'clock last
and -- -- baby as Mrs. Foote's. Worked all day as usual -- to go to
the Keystone dance and got as far as Holmes Street came back and Charles
spent the evening here and we had ran time. We discussed, swept out
it was better than the ants. [Very messy page over writing] |
Her father, LeGrand Gowdy died four years before
this diary, in 1894.
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February 4th weather cold temperature
minus four |
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'a rose in thorn' |
Another lover's quarrel? |
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Went to work. Banks asked to come over
Saturday. He also has asked ... and Miss North. Walked home with Mr.
Morris to and from dinner. Had a nice time with Lena at night. Walked
home with Miss Hopkins at night. |
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February 5th weather mild and
bright |
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Today finishes up one week without break.
Work well. This evening the people on Anna had visited came and we had
a nice time. ... and Charles went home together. We're going to see
Faust next Monday night. Mr. Fift did not come. |
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February 6 weather warm and bright |
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Had breakfast at 930 A.M.. Did not go
to church. Did up the work. Mrs. Barnhart came after Mama as Mrs. What
was having some trouble. Mama went over there. After she came back I
went, stopped at Mrs. Emerson's and Mrs. Waters. A just a year today
since Mrs. W. sprained her ankle. Went asleep after dinner and slept
until 7 o'clock when A.G. came. He been here but a short time when Mort
came. Ila is still sick but better. Anna went with the L.O.F(?) M. to
Mrs. Wells farm. Mort took our washing for her to do. Took B. of F.
[bicarbonate of ?] It is helping me very much. Wrote to Levi Barbour. |
A.G., Albert Grant Gowdy, is
Nora's second oldest brother |
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February 8 weather rainy |
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[At the top of the page] a letter from
Banks yesterday. |
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Did not go work today work yesterday
all day and went to see Faust
in the evening and proved too much for my nerves. Had a fainting
fit after[wards] Idah and Jack had to go and get Dr. Gamble. Did not
feel much like writing. He and Charles walked over me to carry me to
Mama's and Harry went for the doctor. Harry carried me into Mama's room
where I finished the night.
Today have been so weak and slept all day. Mrs. Jagger and Minnie called
but I did not see them. Mama went to Mrs. Foote's to dress the baby.
Mrs. F. is getting along nicely. Rained. Rain has fallen since about
5 P.M. Charles was intending to come down but did not. A donation was
appointed for Mr. Collin tonight at George Parker's (??). |
Faust was put on at Tibbit's Opera House. |
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February 9 weather dull and rain |
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Went to work this morning but found
it so hard that I did not go back after dinner. Mama went up to Anna's
to stay with Ila while A. went to a sewing circle. More was here are
a moment this A.M. also at the factory. Mama did not back to 6 o'clock.
I'm telling slept all the P.M. to find o'clock. Got up into supper.
Mama did up the work, had the dinner dishes as well to do. Jack did
not come home directly from the store. Charles did not come, as I suppose
the rain was too much for him. I wrote him letter. |
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February 10 with their warm and
bright |
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Slept some and worked on my Afghan in
the forenoon. With over to Mrs. Waters and Mrs. Legar's. Mr. Van land
called after Mama went uptown. After she came Mrs. Diamond called, she
stayed till most supper time. Look for Charles tonight but he did not
come. Dr. Gamble says the some medicine and I feel better tonight. B.
of T.? Have given up going into the factory again. To hard work. This
has been a very bright warm day almost like summer. |
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February 11th weather dull and
warm |
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Mama was too sick to wash the dishes
and laid down and slept. Tried to do the boys room but was tired out.
Mama got better and she to the dinner and did up the work. I to laid
down most of the P.M.. Mrs. Wilbur called the P.M.. I did not see her
as I was laying in the Parlor and did not get up. Jack and Minnie to
see, Marie Jansen, in the Nancy Hawks. A surprise [surprise party] on
Daisy Allen tonight but I was not invited. Wrote a letter to Pearl.
It does not so to been at all so may not send it. Went into Mrs. Legar's
on errand for Mama. Retired at 945. |
Doing up the work seems to mean general housekeeping,
sweeping floors, picking the newspaper etc. |
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February 12th dull and warm |
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Letter from Ida. Orlando shot himself
last week. |
Ida Gowdy Cornell is Nora's sister. |
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Made molasses cookies in the A.M. went
to all papers for sugar. ... Mrs. Trimmersons' . Mama in Mrs. Waters
went to the farmers Institute. I went into Mrs. Legars' in the P.M..
She's not very well. Went to factory at 6, got my pay ($2.00)
saw Mr. Tappan he says I can back to work when I get well again.
Walked home with Mr. Morris and went to Lena Springs ate dinner with
her, was very tired when I got home. Chas came home with Mama from the
Institute, said he would be down in the evening, but did not come. Went
to the Lincoln Club I expect. Jack went a little walk at came home a
waste talked till midnight. Mr. Morris' birthday - 27 years. |
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February 13 bright and cold |
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Mama in Jack went to church. I did up
the work and started a letter to Katie. Arthur Van Akin came home with
Wilcox to dinner. After dinner the three went to the Presbyterian Church
to C.E. Rally. Enjoyed very much. Anna, Mort , Ila and A.G. or home.
I went to church in the evening, but did not stay to sermon. Came home
and finished in letter to Katie. Dictated a letter to Wilcox's mother
for him. The first he has written since he left home. |
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February 14 mild some snow |
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When up town in the A.M.. Went to the
Courier office. Dr. Gamble's and to A.G.'s store. Mr. Bloam, an agent.
He was not there, he's taking the vacations. Stopped at Ella's on my
way home. She is well. Came home at 11 ... Took some of the 'trimmings'
to Grace Legar. Mended jacks coat, sewed buttons under Wilcox's coat
and mended Mama's dress shirt.
... for the Courier. Wrote to Howard Harris and sent papers. Sent a
Valentine to Banks. Jack came home early we visited till nearly 10 o'clock.
Ila was scalded today but not badly. Sent her some ribbon, and Anna
a sash. |
"She is well." usually
is used to describe pregnancy. |
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Tuesday February 15 |
USS Maine sinks in Havana harbor, cause unknown. Hearst newspapers,
using the 'Yellow Kid', call for war with Spain. This kind of journalism
will become known as 'Yellow Journalism' |
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Weather like summer thermometer 63 |
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this pp. Marion S. |
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Several -- -- day Mrs. Troopers came
P.M. and we had a good visit. Waited for Jack till 8:45 and he did not
come home so I went to bed. Mama sewed with me all day. |
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February 16 weather bright |
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Mrs. Barnhart went home today she came
in to say goodbye. Ella Cooley called in the afternoon. Slept most of
the P.M.. Sewed a anyway a little while. Waited for Jack to 845
just gave up when he came. Mama went to the market. I was at home all
alone. Mama stopped at Mrs. Burton's on her way home. |
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February 17 weather clear bright
warm |
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Sewed rags in the A.M. went to Minnie's.
Mrs. Foote's and Mrs. Richards and P.M.. Mama went to Foote's in P.M.
and stayed till evening when she Jack and many went to the Opera House
to see "Shore Arms". I got supper. Wilcox went to prayer meeting.
Charles came in the evening and we had at extra good time. |
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February 18 weather dull and
rainy |
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Went to Mrs. G.. with Mama got some
jobs to paint. Some racks. Mama went and dressed the baby. I went into
Mrs. Legar's to hem her skirt for it was not ready. Washed the dinner
dishes. Mrs. Knapp called. Jack brought news of Belle Cornell's death
. On the Mrs. L.'s skirt in the P.M.. Went to Mrs. Jagger's for the
hemline? Delivery? Town (bead trimming?). Waited for Jack to 850 and
he did not come so I went to bed. |
Belle Cornell may be Ida Gowdy Cornell's
mother-in-law |
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February 19 weather rain |
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Sewed in the morning and cleaned Mama's
closet. In the afternoon made my rug over and fixed my blue shirtwaist.
Went to the factory and called upon Mrs. Morris but she was not home.
Then went to Mrs. Springs. Mrs. Smith and Ernie were there. Then went
to Mrs. Barnhart's and Mrs. Wilder's to Mort's to supper. Ila is getting
wealth from. Took a bouquet from Mrs. Knapp for her. At a good time
went downtown in the evening. Charles came home with me that did not
stay as it rained so hard he went right home. Jack cannot get home to
lay. It went to that 1030. Later sat up till 12 reading did not get
to bed as I intended. |
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February 20 rain and snow |
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Mama and Mrs. Knapp went to Mrs. Cornell's
funeral. Mr. Morris called P.M. had a splendid visit. A. G. was home
a few moments. Jack and Wilcox both went away early in the P.M.. I took
a nap. Mama at home at about 5 o'clock. Went to bed at 830. |
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February 21 cold stormy
snow |
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February 22nd Mild some snow |
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Mama still in A.G.'s Ella very sick.
Later Mama came home at 130 P.M.. A girl at A.G.'s. Then went uptown
at 530 P.M. and stopped and saw the young baby 10 pounds Mrs. Later
and Mrs. Waters both called in the P.M.. Went to W.C.T.N. Social at
M. E. church with Mae and Meta? Went to the armory, in late. Charles
came home with, we had a visit. The fire bell rang before he left. Jack
had just got home from the opera and ran to the firing. Charles went
home at 1210. |
A.G. and Ella's first
child, Elsie Lenora Gowdy is born.
Women's Christian Temperance Union
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February 23rd
warm snow |
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Went uptown any A.M.. Saw Lena at studio,
gave her Benzine. Got home at noon. Mama went also. Saw Miss Slocum.
She said Ella Burton was sick. After dinner went over to Mrs. Legar
to take some samples of what I had got.
Came home washed the dishes and the went to Miss Burton's. Staid with
her in the P.M. She is quite sick. Went uptown and got Azshis for her.
Jack .......... at the Normandy.
Called in Dr. Gambles. Mrs. -- was in. Jack was late. |
Benzine was used as a cleaning agent. |
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February 24th colder,
snow |
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Not very well today. Mama did some of
the washing. I got dinner and helped do up the work. Slept the rest
today. Read a little as Zena brought the L. W.. Mrs. Simmons was here
in the P.M.. He heard from Ella Burton she is about the same. A. G.
came in the evening to bring an announcement of the baby's birth and
her picture. Wilcox went to church. Mama cracked some nuts. Jack came
home early and went to bed. Had fire in the Parlor and Mama with me
and read while I writing. |
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February 25th cold
minus 20 |
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Sewed on dressing sacque for Mama. In
P.M. went over to Mrs. Legar's and took her measures for dress I am
going to make for her tomorrow. Mrs. Waters came in and brought the
L. H. J. I'm went some. In evening sat in Parlor and hands of practiced
mind is longtime and laid down and slept. Jack comes home too late.
Mama bought some wood in the first load became today. Retired at 1020. |
Ladies Home Journal |
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February 26 clear and bright |
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A.G. came for Mama this A.M. and Ella
was worse. She went and I did the house work. Made graham bread and
cake. Went over to Mrs. Knapp's to see Al Legar's twin babies. Went
to see Mrs. Foote's baby also. Mrs. Legar was in this evening. Wilcox
when up town. Charles came to get a good time. He stayed till after
one clock. I swore off late hours. He is coming tomorrow to dinner.
Mama still at A.G.'s. |
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February 27 bright and mild |
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Did not go to church. Mama still at
A. G.'s. Jack cannot come home to dinner. So great he is sick. Mr. Morris
called in the P.M.. I went to the Epworth league with him than we came
home and spent spending evening here. Very pleasant time. Did my dinner
work after 9 P.M.. Age it was here also Mort and Ila. The justice we
were starting church Ila is coming to stay with me Tuesday while Anna
entertained at the L.Q.T.M. Hall. Have worked more than I like to a
Sunday and very tired. |
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February 28 bright and warm |
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Baked bread. And in p.m. slept till
supper time. Got awash by dinner dishes and got supper. Jack came home
early and moment bed for 9 o'clock. Mama with Ella yet. I went over
to Mrs. Putz this A.M. for big so not used. A.G. was here after some
mutton tallow and the bowl. |
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