July 5
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 5, 1997
Left Ashley’s at 7:45. Worked til 12:00. Good. Came home and showered. Napped after lunch. Got up and watched TV. We ate huge dinner. (Steven, Bryan, Mom, Kathy.) We went on walk at Jordan Lake. Me and Steven watched “Romeo and Juliet.”
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
July 5, 1996
Me and Shannon went on a walk. Took a nap. Me, her, Bryan, and Kathy went to see “Phenomenon.” Excellent. Shannon came to Dad’s with me. Went to O’Charley’s for dinner. Played basketball at Marie’s. Me and Shannon watched “Braveheart.” Went to bed.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 5, 1960
Lo up early and to work. Didn’t start ironing as I had hair appt. for perm. at 11:00. GB picked me up as Lo was too busy. He brot vacuum home. Lo picked me up at 2:00. She had been home to lunch and did some shopping. Cooked for eve. then sat to rest. I was really tired. Out to cabin but back early. Lo picked Carrie up. Mrs. B came here so all went to Edna’s to Service class. Didn’t go to sleep till all hours that nite or A.M.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 5, 1944
Too cool in the morn. Cloudy and looked like rain. I took a note around to Mrs. Winslow before work. I dusted my desk as usual and was shaking the duster out the window when I dropped it. Some passers-by thought it was funny! I didn’t have a bit of work to do all morn — wrote Jane. Mr. H. is poring over the water works contract. And the afternoon was just as idle. Mrs. H. and his daughter by his first marriage came in and I was introduced to Mrs. Potter. She’s very pretty and sweet. Then Mr. H. went to Kingston. I wrote A. Edith and Florrie and finished Rilla of Ingleside. Afterwards I walked around the office and thought about life and death and the spirit that raises men to great heights. Mr. H. returned about 4:30 and let me go. Still cloudy but no rain. Went to library and got Guadalcanal Diary, Life of Louisa May Alcott and a book on plans for a lasting peace. Met Pop and drove him with him. Dinner was practically ready. I took a bath. Had luscious dinner. Then I practiced a bit and played for Pop to sing. Dishes and ironed a skirt. About 7:45 I walked down to the Red Cross rooms. Everyone was there and had been since 7:30 — and here K. told me they didn’t start till 8. Mrs. Massey said she just told me that so she could get a head start! Mary and Mrs. Farmer were there. They were making large ones, two together. Mrs. F. was alone so I worked with her. Mildred Norris came and made 11. Mrs. F. and I rolled 60 while K. and Mary led with 80 — but they did get a head start! Made 482 in all. About 9:30 we packed up and left. Horace was waiting with the car. Mary’s throat was worse last night so she didn’t go to work today. They drove K. and her her mother home and then me. Had fun kidding. To bed about 11 — cool night. I think I have a silly school-girl crush on Ashley and here I’ve had 2 years of college! Shameful!
Marcy S., age 17, Ontario
July 5, 1941
Nice day. Fixed room after breakfast. Went for swim. Had fun. Dinner. At night we walked out on the dock. Met Marjorie and Janet. They were out in a canoe. We envied them. Came back and there were Vera King, her married sister Marian, and a Mrs. Brown, her cousin. Her cute little spaniel Rusty had to have a lot of attention. Fun visiting. No church tomorrow, due to lack of ministers. Vera offered us the use of her canoe. Said we could take it tomorrow if we wanted to. It was the one Marjorie and Janet had. Such luck! We were very profuse in our thanks. To bed.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
July 5, 1888
We had quite a rain in the night, and so could not go into the hay this morning. Pa and uncle Robert went to Dexter this forenoon with their wool. I picked some currants for ma to make jelly of. Willie and I stirred out some of the hay before noon, and we began drawing right after dinner. There are 3 loads left in the field tonight. It has been hot in the sun today, but a good breeze made it endurable. Una don’t seem to feel very well for some reason.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 5, 1887
We did not get up very early this morning. Dr. Mack came and got Jimmie and the Buckboard, to go out and see a patient this forenoon. I rebuilt the buggy shed and made it stronger. Hoed some in the garden. This afternoon I took Jimmie and the Acme and cultivated among the peach trees, the squash and melon vines and the front yard. Found that Morrow’s hens had eaten all our currants, they do us lots of mischief. I wish I could make him shed them up. Went over to Fred’s this morning and helped him grind scythes, and borrowed an old one of his to use in cutting grass for Jimmie sometimes. It has been quite a pleasant day. I am feeling pretty tired tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
July 5, 1871
Washed this a. m. to the garden this p. m. From here it is quite a walk, over a mile. From the garden it is not far to where my dug out is to be. I wish it was finished, for I think Philip would be better if we were farther from the river.
A little way from here and toward the garden, are sand hills. Sometimes I walk a crost them, and sometimes around them. The higest is 15 or 20 feet high, and hollowed out like a saucer. The wind blows the sand that way. There are fine yuccas growing near there, with bloom stalks higher than I am. The other way from here— toward the North house— is Philip’s corn and mellon field.
A Mr. Philips was here for supper. He and a Mr. Cramer have claims up the river—and live in a dugout.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
July 5, 1863
Cloudy this morning & began to rain about 1 o’clock. Rained a good shower & then stopped but began again about 3 & now near 4. Looks as if it would be a wet evening. Old Mr. Reynolds preached Tom Parker’s funeral at the Academy today. I did not go as Willie is not well. Mr. Henry & Kilgore’s overseer went. Zona went with Atheline. Jinnie got dinner, had apple dumplings among other things for dinner. Matt has her thread seamed but not through the harness yet. The baby’s neck is some better today though it still looks red. Atheline has the baby. Mr. Henry is asleep in side room. I have just been reading to him till he went to sleep. Harrie is upstairs asleep & Kilgore’s overseer is in front piazza reading an old paper. Willie is not well today, was sick vomiting last night. His bowels are loose today. Matt is sitting here in my room with me. I am writing on my lap. I hear Zona playing in the rain, trying to catch water in a bucket in front piazza. I had the cloth shrunk yesterday. I will go to work on it tomorrow if nothing happens. I do hope Mr. Henry may not have to go in the militia. Oh! how I wish this unholy war would stop. Grant us peace Oh! Ruler of the Universe.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
July 5, 1862
Mr. Henry went to Asheville this morning. The battle still raging. The 1st July loss great on both sides. Mr. Henry came home for dinner & old Mr. Boyd also. Mr. Henry & I went to the burrial. A great many people. He was burried with Military honors. They fired about one dozen times twice. It was sundown before they burried him & dark before we got home as then we had moonlight. I do really sympathise with his poor wife. Oh! may she never need a friend. Jones was very kind to his wife & a fond father. He came home two weeks ago tomorrow, buoyant in hope & now he lays beneath the clod.
*(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 34, London
July 5, 1667
(Lord’s day). About four in the morning took four pills of Dr. Turberville’s prescribing, for my eyes, and they wrought pretty well most of the morning, and I did get my wife to spend the morning reading of Wilkins’s Reall Character. At noon comes W. Hewer and Pelling, and young Michell and his wife, and dined with us, and most of the afternoon talking; and then at night my wife to read again, and to supper and to bed.
*(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.)