August 17
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
August 17, 1997
Left Ashley’s at 7:30. Worked from 8-2. Chris came at 11:30 and again at 2:30. We kissed probably our last kiss. I told him we’d stop chillin’ once school started. He sounded hurt, but I think he understood. Came home. Showered. Talked on phone. Ate dinner. Nervous about Chris and tomorrow.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
August 17, 1960
Busy day, up a little late. Had hair appointment, so hurried to do cookies first. Home after 11:00. Lo came at 12:00 and went for her hair a day early. Folks called about 2:00 going to Madison and here late tonight. Mrs. B. called, having company (two women) wanted me to get rolls and cookies at the church sale. Later she called again. Heard from her sister a sister-in-law very sick in Hospital. Came home from church out to cabin and to Elgin. Geo. so restless. Last band concert had ice cream and cake at court house lawn.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
August 17, 1944
It poured a couple of times during the night. I had set the alarm for 6:30 but when it went off Mum said I’d practiced so much last night that she thought I should sleep. I was off again till 7. Not raining then but cloudy and damp. When I left for work it was all fresh and blue with high misty clouds but during the course of the morn it rained off and on. Fairly busy. About 11 it just poured but had fortunately stopped by the time I left at 12. Hot and muggy. Had just started dinner when George came over with a fish for my lunch!! I had half of it and it was yummy. I gave him $1 for the music, per agreement. About 12:45 it started to thunder and just poured in torrents. So I didn’t get off till after 1:00. Stopped by office and got mail. Letter from Jean McArthur and one for Mum from Helen Elliott at Rochester. Mr. H. was in conference. The rain had just about flooded the office in general. I opened the letter from Helen E. ’cause I knew it was about Rochester. She knows some of the faculty members and lives near the women’s campus and will find me a home where other girls live as soon as my application is received and accepted! Mr. H. was busy most of the afternoon. I had a few papers to do. It rained off and on but finally stopped. Didn’t clear, though. Mr. H. let me go about 4:15. I went over to the dentist’s to get my umbrella but he was closed. On up to Dr. Neergaard’s and had him fill out the paper for Rochester. He said no more thyroid — he thinks all this metabolism stuff is bunk. I walked down to Mary’s but nobody home so went up by Kimmie’s and sure enough there was Mary up in Kim’s room. I left some things there and went down to the P.O. and sent the Dr.’s paper special delivery. Back up to Kim’s to find them both sewing. We kidded and had fun. Mary was in a cut-up mood and took it out on me. Mrs. Young called out once to quiet it down. Then Mary got my diary (this one) and skimmed through it. She came upon one part about Ashley and we both let out a scream that brought a protest from Mrs. Young to the effect of what would the neighbors think. Mary said “Pat is in love!” but promised not to say more. Kim wanted in on it but I was firm. About 6:15 we pulled ourselves away. Mary and I walked up to Neergaard’s together. The Geaslands came by just then and drove me up to their house. I told Mrs. G. about Rochester. I got along fine with the conversation. It was clearing again! Mum and Pop were at supper. I persuaded Mum to go to the show — “Buffalo Bill.” So about 7 she and Pop left — Pop to a Legion meeting. I did the dishes and dressed. Was just preparing to leave when George appeared and wanted to know what was on the program for tonight. I refreshed his memory that Kim and I were going skating and he looked very distressed. He contends that if no one patronizes the abominable place, it will close down. He helped himself to gum and consented to go down with me. We set out and met Alice Ann in front of her house. She hailed me as we passed with the usual “Hi, Pattie Anne!” She wouldn’t talk after that, though — I guess George’s presence made her shy. And when I said bye her answering “bye” was barely audible. But the minute our backs were turned she called heartily enough, “Bye, Pattie Anne!” Bless her heart! Kimmie was upstairs getting dressed so George and I sat out in the porch swing and talked about books in general. About 8 Kim appeared and we talked a few more minutes. We’re all ready to go back to school. I feel so stale and rusty — mentally, that is. When I think of all those books I was going to read this summer!! George tried again to dissuade us from going skating but we would only promise not to if there was a crowd on the floor. Well, we got down there to discover that the place wasn’t even open. Frankly, I wasn’t sorry. So we walked back up to Kim’s via town, went in and played classical records and looked at magazines. Then we played some of Pan’s dance records and I tried to teach Kim the fundamental foxtrot step. Mrs. Young was in the kitchen canning peaches. George roared every time we fell over each other or got entangled! We were just going strong when Pan, Ann Ray and their escorts came a knocking at the door and Mum was out on the sidewalk suggesting that I come home. I didn’t want to leave but George was ready. It had been raining quite hard but was only sprinkling then. Kim loaned us an umbershoot and George and I shared it. Mum had missed Pop somehow at town. She liked the show. Bright flashes of heat lightning kept lighting up the sky and George had the willies every time. Met Pop with car up at Tarwaters’. Mum got in but George and I walked on. He said he was pretty sure he’d be going with us Sunday. I said we’d be delighted. Mum and Pop beat us by a second. We said ’night and I retired to bed.
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
August 17, 1887
We have been at the fence business again today. It rained some this forenoon so that we had to quit work and come to house. I cut Irvie’s hair and he cut mine, we had considerable sport over it. We went up town towards evening and got the mail and did some trading. Irvie got no blanks that he expected so he will have to wait a while before beginning active work. I received a letter from ma tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
August 17, 1871
A letter, two papers, and two pens came, glad for all. Did not need to lie down all day. It is 4 p. m. have just one hour to write. Brother is still poorly, has fever sometimes, and dont know what he says. My appetite is coming back. These are our dark days, but I am not homesick. I am glad to be with P – every once in a while I can do something for him.
Sometimes I think if I had not come, he would not have stayed in this ague infected place.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
August 17, 1862
Rather cool this morning. The man has not come yet to see the land. It is now dinner time. Mr. Henry is asleep in side room. We have roasting years for dinner & a good number of other things. The substitute man has come at last & we will soon have dinner. The children & I went up those peach trees on the hill to the right of the road. Hanes went along to get them off. Willie is not well this morning. Atheline has gone to Miller’s to see some of her relatives & Aunt Tena has Willie. Mr. Henry & Patton went to see the land of Parker’s. Mr. Henry did not get back till late so I did not go to walk this evening. A soldier stays here tonight. He came back with Mr. Henry. Willie’s bowels are very loose today.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 35, London
August 17, 1668
Up, and by water to White Hall, and so to St. James’s, and thence with Mr. Wren by appointment in his coach to Hampstead, to speak with the Atturney-general, whom we met in the fields, by his old route and house; and after a little talk about our business of Ackeworth, went and saw the Lord Wotton’s house and garden, which is wonderfull fine: too good for the house the gardens are, being, indeed, the most noble that ever I saw, and brave orange and lemon trees. Thence to Mr. Chichley’s by invitation, and there dined with Sir John, his father not coming home. And while at dinner comes by the French Embassador Colbert’s mules, the first I eversaw, with their sumpter-clothes mighty rich, and his coaches, he being to have his entry to-day: but his things, though rich, are not new; supposed to be the same his brother had the other day, at the treaty at Aix-la-Chapelle, in Flanders. Thence to the Duke of York’s house, and there saw “Cupid’s Revenge,” under the new name of “Love Despised,” that hath something very good in it, though I like not the whole body of it. This day the first time acted here. Thence home, and there with Mr. Hater and W. Hewer late, reading over all the principal officers’ instructions in order to my great work upon my hand, and so to bed, my eyes very ill.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)