I love early diaries because they present a candid picture of life at the time when

they were written. This diary has no name identifying its author. From the place

references I am guessing it might have been in the Gilboa area.

It was written in an O-K Seal Theme Tablet. It is one of my favorites because it

covers the daily life of a woman on a farm there in the winter, but unlike some

diaries, it records her feelings (most diaries are just factually flat). You realize

these people are aware of world news as well as daily life.

It was of course not intended to be shared with the world, but I imagine it as a

short story or film because it portrays a picture worth sharing today. I am going to

share the entries for January. It is titled simply My Diary for 1936.

Wed. Jan 1. Geils, John and I were to Flossies & Harris. A beautiful day.

Came back and stopped at Golda’s, they were sawing ice.

Thurs. Jan 2. John went on the road I did chores, washed, another lovely day

starting to rain at night. Reggie Fowler broke his leg at Newells.

Friday, Jan 3. Johns home, it rained all day. John went with Floyd Nickerson

after hay. I went to Helens.

Saturday Jan 4. Lovely day just like spring. Helen and I went to Middleburg

got our money from Clarence, came back by way of Potter Hollow. Stopped at

Ethel Bates got home about 4 oclock had a hay ride through the woods

Sunday Jan 5. Just a perfect day Very icy rained last night. John walked to Elm-

ers. Geil, K.O. and Cecile was down after milk.

Monday Jan 6. Was busy all day with chores and housework. Gordon Reed was

here. They worked at ice at Ernolds. John was on the road. Quiet a nice day.

Snow in afternoon.

Tuesday Jan 7. Was busy and blue. John was on the road. Bessie and Jr.

Pickett was over to listen on the radio. Cloudy but not too cold.

December 26, 2020 www.porcupinesoup.com

Oak Hill & Vicinity By Mary Lou Nahas

My diary for 1936

The diary was written in ink on ruled paper and goes only

until April.

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Wednesday Jan 9. A lovely day. Everything

just the same. Gordon Reed was here. I

washed. A very long week. John’s birthday,

was 57 yrs Hope he had a happy one. I was

cross am sorry. We listened to the radio at

night and heard Roosevelts speech at the Jack-

son dinner. It cost $50 a plate.

Thursday Jan 9. Was a storm day sleet and

snow. John worked all day. Hubert and

Flossie was here, and Geil, Helen, Cecil & K

O was down and staid for supper. Everything

lovely today.

Friday Jan 10. Was a bad stormy day snow.

Was over to Bessies at night and Ernold

Bessie & Jr came home with me we played 42.

Helen went with Geil to a dance and left Ce-

cile here. John was sick all day with a cold.

Every thing just the same as usual.

Saturday, Jan 11. A very nice winter day. I

went to Jefferson with Helen & Geil. Went to

see Mr. Andrews about the Silo job. John is

still sick with his cold. Madalene Blakeslee

walked down. Was here while I was gone.

Stanley Brown brought 68 lbs. of beef up.

Heard that Blanche Hunter Borst died Jan2.

Everything same as usual.

Sunday Jan 12 John was sick with cold. Dr. Losee came to see Ella she was sick again with her side. Had the Dr come over to see John.

Helen & Cecile was down in afternoon heard that Reta Blakeslee was married. Quiet a nice day. I worked all day. Everything just the same

old story.

Jan 13 Monday. John was a bit better, went on road it stormed so men did not work in afternoon. I did chores and house work. At night

John and I cut up the beef we bought of Mrs. Brown getting it ready to can. Gordon was here a while. Listened to radio at night. Every thing

same old story.

Tuesday, Jan. 14 Lovely day, I washed . canned beef. Worked all day. Was over to see Ella, she was better. Everything the same old

story. Geil was here awhile.

Wednesday Jan 15. Stormy day. John quit work at 3 o’clock. I’ve got a cold. Same old story. I did chores housework. Eruield was here at

night.

Thursday Jan 16. Windy but quite nice. I went to Helens in afternoon Everything not too bad. I canned some more meat. Walked up (so

far) and she brought me back.

Friday, Jan 17. A nice day busy all day. Harry and Flossie was here to dinner also Helen & Cecil. John got through work at 2 oclock

Saturday Jan 18. Stormy day snow. John was home ever thing the same I made Mince Meat and did other work.

Sunday Jan 19. Still snowing. Alone all day only Geil and Cecile here after milk. Got my check from the Hotailing Est.

If the roads could not be cleared buses were stuck, people were stranded.

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Monday Jan 20. Ella sick again I staid all day with her. Lots of snow about two feet deep on level. No one could get off hill until night

After they went through with snow plow. Then Evelyn came down. Heard that snow was bad all over U.S.A. also heard that King Geo of

England died about 7 o’clock p.m. Everything same old story. John could not work.

Tuesday Jan 21. A very good day, but lot of snow. John could not work. Louie Kingsley here this morning. I got bootie yarn, made 2

pairs. Hubert was here at night. Donald and his girlfriend were along Geil was here in afternoon after milk. Sent Helen some yarn. I’m still

in a dream

Wednesday Jan 22: A lovely day but lots of snow. John went to Gilboa trying to get the men ready to work Thursday. The wind is blowing

some, talked with Louie, roads drifted so badly they cannot work tomorrow. Helen, Geil and Cecile down after milk. Will Johnson has pneu-

monia

Thursday Jan 23. John did not go to work the weather was terrible, now and wind blowing so hard you could hardly see to Merels. Merel

got his bus fast in snow. Harold Reed’s wife, Barbara Hess & Eva Proper staid over night at Inez Maces. Everett Fancher had to stay in Syra-

cuse.

Friday Jan 24. Still a bad day. No milk going today. Everett is still in Syracuse or some bad place. I crochet and wasted t ime. Merels bus

still at Inez Maces fast in snow bank. E Case, Lyb Blakslee came off the hill. Earle and Harold come to. Lorraine went home they came

down across. Very cold

Saturday, Jan 25. Weather has moderated, Edsal Francher left with milk about 3 oclock, Louie Kingsley and Harold Gordon was here in

a.m. John helped shovel Edsal thorough. In afternoon Ralph Bailey came and went as far as Broome Center, the plow had been up through

Merel with help of W.P.A.. Men shoveled out bus and got it back to Broome Center. I baked and scrubbed as usual. Had a letter from Mr.

Fowler., This storm is said to be the worse since 1888. I do not think Everett is home yet.

Sunday, Jan 26. Quite a nice day but cold. Everett got home 5:30 this morning. Helen Geil and children were here for dinner. Everything

same old way.

Monday Jan 27. A very cold day. John went with snow plow on the road. Cold not much better. I did chores. Plowed snow 10 and 12 feet

deep. Mr. T. Clarke was here laid of 7 men on the W.P.A. job where John is foreman. I worked all day. Same old thing just work.

Tuesday Jan 28. Bad cold day. John went to Gilboa came back fixed books. John and Louie went to Schoharie. Same old thing. I’m sick

of everything

Wednesday Jan 29: John went to open Chet Millers road with Eugene Hallock and W.P.A. boys. I did chores. Still very cold. Same as

Connect with Mary Lou at mlnahas@aol.com

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ever.

Thurs. Jan 30. A very nice day a little warmer but lots of snow. John went on road. He still has his cold guess he thinks I’m to blame the

way he talks. Shipped to N.Y. our first crate of eggs. Ivan Reed broke Everett’s truck. Helen & Geil was to Goldas. B. did not come

through.

Friday Jan 31: Cold and wind blows the thermometer stays zero and 10 below for nearly two weeks. John was on road came home cold

and cold no better. We worked on books a long time. Geil and Cecile was down after milk. Helen did my washing up to her house. Otis Hall

was here this morning the men opened Elmer’s road. Paid Everett for feed drawing. Everything same old way and why?