Minnie's Day: A 1941 Diary

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KirtlandHill		#281	[-]
Posts: 3039 (07/30/09 10:29 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Well said, Steve. Farmers of an earlier era might have had to be expert wheelwrights and carpenters and horsemen, but by the 20th century a mechanic's skills probably came in handier than just about anything else. Saturday, August 16 Pres. Roosevelt & P.M. Churchill attend services on the liner, "Prince of Wales," last Sunday. Germans are making a furious attack in Ukraine. Minnie continues to recount news from the Roosevelt-Churchill conference in this midsummer diary entry... Half a world away from the vessel where the British and Americans are scratching out an alliance, the Nazis are fighting desperately to make some headway in the U.S.S.R. Bethany
KirtlandHill		#282	[-]
Posts: 3040 (08/06/09 08:10 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Sunday, August 17 Leonard's 13th birthday was announced on the radio. The family went to Martin's cottage. Elaine stayed for a few days. Cool all last week. Leonard Conklin will be entering the eighth grade this fall. Announcing local birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and other social news must have been quite customary back in the days when radio stations were locally owned. You don't hear that kind of thing very often... It sounds like William and Doris took the kids to her brother's summer place, where Elaine will enjoy a brief vacation of her own. Martin and Edith Hasner's eldest son joined the Army five months ago. Bethany
KirtlandHill		#283	[-]
Posts: 3041 (08/07/09 09:19 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Monday, August 18 Rev. Swartout, Alex. Bay Ref., "Sacrifice." Glenn started out looking for work but didn't find anything he wanted. Charlie Hasner is visiting our boys. Edward L. Swartout, Jr., minister of the Reformed Church in Alexandria Bay from 1939 to 1943 delivered the radio sermon that Minnie listed to this day... While the defense build-up of 1940 and 1941 brought the Depression to an end in many areas, there must have been innumerable pockets of rural America where it still held strong, including Hounsfield. Paying jobs were few and far between and Cousin Glenn is feeling the pinch... Charles Frederick "Charlie" Hasner was a nephew of Doris Conklin's, the 10-year-old son of her brother, Martin. Bethany
KirtlandHill		#284	[-]
Posts: 3042 (08/09/09 05:12 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Tuesday, August 19 Dr. Foote passed away Sun, also Sheridan Clark of Chaumont. Wm. helps Marvin Keene [sic] thresh tomorrow. Cool weather continues. Minnie must have had some callers today - with all this news of area deaths... The local economy is still based in good part on a kind of communal give and take when it comes to work that requires a great team of men - like threshing or harvesting. Bethany
Derwenz		#285	[-]
Plays bridge on Wednesdays with Mike & Ruth Sloan Posts: 1743 (08/09/09 05:27 PM) Administrator & Host, Tammy Lauren Forum Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	"The local economy is still based in good part on a kind of communal give and take when it comes to work that requires a great team of men - like threshing or harvesting." Sounds like a local co-op of sorts. Kind of reminds me of the Amish and Mennonites when we lived in Lancaster County, PA.; everyone works for the greater good of the community by lending a helping hand to his neighbor, when needed. I have no doubt that many farming communities operated in this way, back in earlier generations - something that's missing in today's world. Steve Last Edited By: Derwenz 08/09/09 05:29 PM. Edited 1 times.
KirtlandHill		#286	[-]
Posts: 3043 (08/12/09 09:01 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	It surprises me a bit, Steve, to read about this kind of thing still happening in 1941. I would have expected it in a Amish or Mennonite community, but it's neat to realize that this kind of neighborhood give-and-take was still going among more "modern" folks in rural America. Wednesday, August 20 Martin came after Charles and took Rolla back with him. Elaine stayed down there. Heard G. McFarland, Trinity organist, devotionals, fine. Doris' brother, Martin Hasner, came by today to pick up his 10-year-old son, Charlie, whose been visiting the Conklins since Monday. Charlie and Roland must be great pals, as Roland is going to spend a few days with the Hasners. Elaine's been at the Hasner place herself since Sunday. The farmhouse must've seemed very quiet this Wednesday evening... Today's radio devotional was a musical interlude. Bethany
KirtlandHill		#287	[-]
Posts: 3044 (08/15/09 11:11 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Thursday, August 21 Cheese work, Net 1.80. Our check (tops) $52.81 - 7 days. Wm. and Leonard are milking alone. Heard Rev. Killinton (?) (U), Henderson, Being useful. good. Minnie turns her own hand toward usefulness in completing the weekly bookkeeping for Patrons Cheese Factory. Mentioning the amount netted to the Conklins was unusual, so $52.81 must have been a unusually large check for seven days' milk... Roland is visiting Uncle Martin's family, so Leonard was the lone helper to his dad at chore time today... Bethany
KirtlandHill		#288	[-]
Posts: 3045 (08/16/09 11:02 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Friday, August 22 Elaine got brooches for Celia and Beryl - birthdays, Aug. 21. Glenn went away yesterday morning. Germans trying to reach Leningrad. Rain, night. Elaine must have come home from Uncle Martin's - along with some birthday gifts for two of the women in the neighborhood, Celia Evans and Beryl Buckminster. She must have stopped in Watertown to do some shopping on her grandmother's behalf... Cousin Glenn has left the farm again, presumably for a job elsewhere... The capture of Leningrad was one of Hitler's three major goals upon invading the Soviet Union in June 1941: "Leningrad first, Donetsk Basin second, Moscow third" was the order he gave on August 6. Bethany Last Edited By: KirtlandHill 08/16/09 11:06 PM. Edited 1 times.
KirtlandHill		#289	[-]
Posts: 3046 (08/18/09 10:31 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Saturday, August 23 Rolla came home, Elaine stayed at Martin's cottage for another week. Geo. Schweitzer here, home on furlough. Whoops! I was wrong about Minnie's last entry. Roland's home, but Minnie must have gotten a letter or postcard from Elaine with news about the brooches. Elaine's still enjoying a bit of a break in routine. And just in time, too... She's going to begin her senior year in high school shortly... George Schweitzer is home on a break in routine from Army life. He must have stopped by the Conklin place today to pay a call. Bethany
KirtlandHill		#290	[-]
Posts: 3047 (08/20/09 08:53 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Sunday, August 24 Wm. and family (except Elaine) and myself went to Bertha Shaw's over the International Bridge. Fine trip. Elaine is at Martin's cottage. The Conklins must have made their Sunday excursion across what's known today as the Thousand Islands Bridge. Stretching from Orleans, New York to Ivy Lea, Ontario, the bridge was constructed in 1937 - just four years before this diary entry! A rare getaway for Minnie. I'm glad she enjoyed herself. Bethany
Derwenz		#291	[-]
Plays bridge on Wednesdays with Mike & Ruth Sloan Posts: 1755 (08/20/09 09:56 AM) Administrator & Host, Tammy Lauren Forum Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	*"The Conklins must have made their Sunday excursion across what's known today as the Thousand Islands Bridge."* I get the feeling that the Thousand Islands Bridge (or, International Bridge, as it was then known) was one of those popular local landmarks of the day. It's good to know that this local landmark still stands today, as one of those monuments from The Swingin' Years! *"A rare getaway for Minnie. I'm glad she enjoyed herself."* Indeed; judging from Minnie's diary entries, I get the feeling she doesn't get out much. Her "cheese work," accounting responsibilities, family affairs and illness have kept her homebound. It must indeed, have been a rare treat to get away from the dairy for a Sunday outing. I know how I feel when traveling with my friend, Pete, up to Ft. Tejon for a day of living history with old friends after weeks on end of looking at the four walls! By the way, Beth, I'm glad you're back to posting Minnie's diary entries again on a fairly regular basis. Though I may not post a comment on every one, I do read them. Minnie's diary is like a hand reaching out to us from the Homefront era. Steve Last Edited By: Derwenz 08/20/09 10:03 AM. Edited 3 times.
KirtlandHill		#292	[-]
Posts: 3048 (08/21/09 08:55 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Thanks, Steve! It is a privilege to read these missives from the past --- even with the knowledge of what was coming in December. Minnie's "golden years" were certainly little like the "ideal" retirement is pictured today. No second home in Florida or Arizona, no cruises, no senior center, no water aerobics - and yet there was a large network of neighbors and friends calling on a regular basis with family close at hand. Minnie seems much more integrated in some ways in the life of her community than many homebound seniors do today. Monday, August 25 Harry Schweitzer took George and Priv. Burnham back to C. Devans. Had to draw water from Bob Witt's for the stock this A.M. Rain today. George Schweitzer's brief furlough is over. He must have brought a friend along who was also enjoyed a leave. George has been stationed at Fort Devens in eastern Massachusetts for at least three months now... Minnie mentioned last week that they were experiencing "cool" weather. August 1941 must have been a dry month, too. Bethany
Derwenz		#293	[-]
Plays bridge on Wednesdays with Mike & Ruth Sloan Posts: 1758 (08/21/09 11:08 PM) Administrator & Host, Tammy Lauren Forum Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	*"Thanks, Steve! It is a privilege to read these missives from the past"* In this, you and I are birds of a feather; I'm always awed by reading the writings of those who lived during watershed events in our nation's history - whether it's the journal of a covered wagon emigrant on the Oregon Trail in 1846, a letter from a Union soldier to his wife before he was mortally wounded at Antietam, or Minnie's diary. These things are the past and its denizens reaching out to us across the yawning chasms of time. By the way, I can't wait to read Minnie's thoughts in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor! *"Minnie's "golden years" were certainly little like the "ideal" retirement is pictured today."* Oh, so true! People back then, had such a different idea of retirement in those days. My grandparents' retirement was much like Minnie's. When Grandpa retired from the Los Angeles DWP with his pension, he bought a nice little house in Ojai (pronounced oh-high), then a quiet almost rural community much like a small town of the 1940s. The house was on a quiet tree-lined street, where everyone knew each other and were ready to lend a helping hand, if you asked for it. I still remember their address, to this day: 808 Shady Lane. Margaret and I have the same vision of retirement: No "retirement community" with a "senior center," etc., etc. Just a nice little town in a quiet neighborhood with a Missouri Synod Lutheran church as our "senior center." Oh, yeah - and an annual Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and 4th of July celebration for which I can dawn my Civil War uniform. Well, I guess, I strayed here a bit. But, what you said about Minnie's retirement ideal, sounded a ringing chord! *"Harry Schweitzer took George and Priv. Burnham back to C. Devans."* I'll bet Geo. Schweitzer felt like his furlough flew by; kinda like having a three-day weekend. Suddenly, it's Tuesday Morning and you're back at your desk at work! I wonder if George had a staff position at Camp Devans and, if he held any kind of rank. I also wonder if he was shipped overseas to fight when war broke out with Japan and Germany in 1941. Steve P.S. Beth, there must be a glitch with the board. It may be one of those Yuku issues. Anyway, I'm having trouble posting pics lately, from Photobucket, to my postings. Was wondering if you could help.
KirtlandHill		#294	[-]
Posts: 3049 (08/23/09 03:57 PM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Steve, 808 Shady Lane --- perfect address! It sounds like a lovely place to spend a productive retirement. George Schweitzer enlisted in the Army infantry on January 14 and became a private. Prior to Pearl Harbor, the combined basic/advanced infantry training period lasted 12 weeks, so I'm not sure if it's standard - maybe he advanced one class in rank at the end of his training period. This marks his third trip home since joining the Army seven months ago. (He's lucky to be stationed relatively close to home...) Oh, yes, and I'll check our settings. See if I can figure out what's going on with images. Tuesday, August 26 Pleasant. Wm. and the boys drew wood. Doris getting school clothes ready. Brownville be a Central school - some opposition. Elaine and the boys are headed back to school a week from today. While Doris - now two months pregnant - is busily "getting school clothes ready," William's hard at work stockpiling wood for winter fuel. I bet Roland just inherited some new hand-me-downs! Minnie's reference to the Brownville school system probably means that some smaller neighborhood schools were going to close in order that the town educate all its children in a single building. Probably an efficient move, but, unless the town also started busing the children in, it would have meant that many parents needed to drive their children to a more distant schoolhouse on a daily basis. Bethany
KirtlandHill		#295	[-]
Posts: 3050 (08/24/09 08:15 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Wednesday, August 27 Elaine wrote that she expects to stay at the cottage until Mon. Wm. and the boys went to an auction, Cummings farm. It sounds like Elaine is planning to enjoy her summer vacation right up until the last minute. She's going to stay at Uncle Martin's summer place through Labor Day... I wonder if William purchased anything at the Cummings auction.... Bethany
KirtlandHill		#296	[-]
Posts: 3051 (08/25/09 09:28 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Thursday, August 28 Cheese work. p. 22-3/4, net 1.91. Temperature below 60º Heard Rev. Barker (C), Antwerp, "Building the Upper Room of Life." Lowest temp, 41º. Minnie's bookkeeping has been dispatched for the week... It sounds like a super cool day - and night - in Hounsfield, New York... Minnie's faithful record for the radio devotionals she heard everyday make me wonder about the production of these programs. Did the ministers delivering the devotionals visit the studios of the radio station in Watertown? Bethany
KirtlandHill		#297	[-]
Posts: 3052 (08/26/09 08:53 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Friday, August 29 Wm, Leonard and Rolly helped thresh at Aunt Beryl's this P.M. Shirley went to help Aunt B.- Harry S. has a busy job for B'ville Central School. Beryl and Lew Buckminster, Doris' sister and brother-in-law, are doing their threshing today. The Buckminsters helped the Conklins when they did their own threshing two weeks ago, and now the favor is being returned... Minnie's reference to her youngest granddaughter may be a bit tongue in cheek. I'm not sure how much help a four year old would be in Mrs. Buckminster's kitchen at threshing time!... Harry Schweitzer, age 23, has a new job at the new school. He seems to have been a jack of all trades, occasionally helping William with one job or another on the farm. We know he has a driver's license. Maybe he's driving the school bus... Bethany
KirtlandHill		#298	[-]
Posts: 3053 (08/27/09 08:30 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Saturday, August 30 Martin brought our dear Elaine home this morning. Put in 50 gal. of kerosene, $4.50. Shirley is glad to see Elaine and follows her. Shirley's not the only one happy to have Elaine at home again! Minnie's eldest granddaughter - age 16 - has returned to the Conklin farm just in time to begin her senior year in high school on Tuesday... And now it's time to begin preparing the farm for the winter. Minnie's getting things started by laying in a supply of kerosene. Bethany
KirtlandHill		#299	[-]
Posts: 3054 (08/30/09 08:38 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Sunday, August 31 Our church isn't finished. Doris, Elaine and Shirley went to see Aunt Amy Daniels. I went to Anna's - Wilfred & Bessie at Rochester. Minnie mentioned three weeks ago that there were no services at Brownville Methodist. There must be some major renovation taking place - a new roof or something... I'm not sure whether the term "aunt" is honorary or not, but an Amy Daniels once owned a 170-acre milk farm in Brownville with her husband, Thuman. She broke her hip a couple months ago. It sounds as if Doris dropped Minnie off at Grandma Gladwyn's while continuing on to visit Aunt Amy with the girls. Minnie's stepsister and stepbrother-in-law, Bessie and Wilfred Chapman, are away from home, so Anna Gladwyn must have glad to have some company. Bethany Last Edited By: KirtlandHill 08/30/09 08:42 AM. Edited 2 times.
KirtlandHill		#300	[-]
Posts: 3055 (08/31/09 08:10 AM) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite	Monday, September 1 Thunderstorm and heavy rain last night, Labor Day. Elaine and Shirley went to Grandma Gladwyn's. Wrote to Gladys C., Henrietta G. & George S. Minnie's granddaughters are spending this final day of the summer vacation in Brownville visiting their step-great-grandmother, Anna Gladwyn... Minnie spent the holiday catching up on her correspondence, dispatching letters to Gladys Campbell - an old friend now living in Farmington, Connecticut, Henrietta Gladwyn - a distant cousin living in Los Angeles, California, and George Schweitzer - now stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Bethany

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Minnie's Day: A 1941 Diary

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