July 6
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 6, 1997
Up at 6:30. Went to work at 7:00. Got off early at 11:00. Slept. Chilled with Em, Jill, Steven, Bryan, Mom, Kathy. Went to Goodberries. Talked to Courtney. Zach and Sol came over for a while. Nice. Ate dinner. Watched T.V. and “Crocodile Dundee.” Talked to Dad and Renée/Ashley.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
July 6, 1996
Boring until Allman Brothers concert with Dad. They played Ramblin’ Man, Whipping Post, Wastin’ Time… Excellent. Fireworks, too!
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 6, 1960
Was about to iron when Ole and Amy stopped in on way to Bob’s. Then Mele and Mira came on their way to town. Had a good visit. Later Mrs. B. came for coffee. Ironed some and the cord blew so had to use the old one much heavier. Had made brownies so K.J. could have them. Out to cabin and left from there to pick K.J. up. She and I stayed up to watch Jack Paar, a dilly!
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 6, 1944
It rained in the morn and smelled like Oliphant. Stayed cloudy all day. Busy in afternoon. Read Guadalcanal Diary. Clure called in afternoon and I went up to Dress Shoppe at 5 and looked at some new winter coats a man from New York had brought. They ordered a green Chesterfield for me. Washed hair before supper. Played piano in evening and walked up to corner about 9:30. Lovely night. Hazy moon. Trees feathery. Mum and I walked up later. Pop went to Legion meeting.
Marcy S., age 17, Ontario
July 6, 1941
Lovely morning. Up fairly early. About 8:30. After breakfast Mary and I went for water. On way back Donald Dawkes was at his parents’ -- up from Toronto for weekend -- and he asked Mary and I if we’d like to go for a boat ride. He said we might take a swim, also. So we hurriedly dressed with suit under shorts. Mr. Dawkes went, too. They have a row boat with an outboard motor. Went out channel and past Whitefish. Out in open lake. Lovely calm day and quite warm. Passed a number of boats. Donald let me sit back by him and steer with the joy stick. Lots of fun but rather befuddling since it works just opposite from a car. Went out to a little island by name of Scotch Bonnet and landed. Not far from Main Station. Got out and walked all way around it. Fun. Then started back. Mary steered. Found a lot of fisherman’s weights on island and also remains of a big net. Between Smokehouse and Shamrock he stopped the boat and Donald, Mary, and I went for a swim. It was lovely. Over near Smokehouse water was quite deep. Donal Duck (my private name for him) and I helped Mary to swim and also float. She is improving but can’t propel herself yet. When we got back in the boat we discovered that our dark glasses, which we had left in the bottom, were cracked -- mine worse than Mary’s. Such a shame -- they were so nice.
When we got back we had dinner. Then sat out on the porch. Mary and Mother went in to snooze but I sat in the hammock and read magazine stories. Got cloudy. Lovely. I then played ball with myself. Donald Duck left about 6:00. After supper we sat out on the porch. Mr. and Mrs. Dawkes came to call. We walked down to the boat with Mr. Dawkes to get the floats. Mary and Irene MacKenzie took us out the channel in their canoe. Had fun passing motor boats. Two boat rides in one day. Came back and to bed. Fun today. Hope D.D. comes every weekend. Mr. Dawkes says we may use his boat whenever we want to.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
July 6, 1888
We finished the hoeing in the south field this forenoon. It threatened to rain about all day. I put out some celery plants this afternoon. Picked enough cherries for some pies. They are not very thick this year. Kate and I went to Edwin Ball’s to an Ice-cream and strawberry festival this evening. I had all the ice cream I wanted for once. It was good. A large crowd was present.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 6, 1887
I went over to Neill’s this morning and took my cultivator over for Fred to use and got a thousand shingles, which I had bargained with him for. They had ice cream, and I had a dish there and bought some home too. Multched [sic] the currant bushes. I have been working at the eaves-trough, off and on, all day. Kate took Mrs. Neill up to the cemetary [sic] this afternoon, and also got the mail and did some trading. I went down into my cistern and patched up the holes the hard rains had caused. I think it will soon be all right. Jessie came and picked a few strawberries tonight. Built a smudge to drive off the pesky gnats.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
July 6, 1871
While I am not living on my claim, it is beeing improved all the time. The dugout will soon be finished, and for Philips sake I will be glad to get away from the river. The people here think I am a bunch of contentment, because I dont get homesick, and fuss. If I do not feel well or am blue, I dont tell every Tom, Dick, or Harry, that is all, except that I possess a big bump of adaptability. When brother is not well, I try to be cheerful and hopeful, although I could say, and with truth, “I am not merry, but would feign disguise The thing I am, by seeming otherwise.”
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
July 6, 1863
Mail brought no news. I received a letter from Eugenia. They were all very well. I made Henderson’s pants today as he is needing them very badly & cut the others out. I blistered my finger as the scissors were very dull. Atheline weaving. Tena helping or rather attending to her. Matt has her cloth started. Willie nearly well of the rattling. The baby’s neck seems to be healing slowly.
*(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 6, 1862
I had headache all night. Breakfast late this morning. Mrs. Common & her son Jimmie came yesterday evening, just as I was starting. We took Pinck & Zona to the burying. There is preaching at the Academy today. Mr. Henry & Zona have gone, also Willie. Mrs. Common & I are here. I am writing in the front piazza on the round table. We are going to have beans & irish potatoes for dinner & chicken. Cherries are good, ripe now. They will soon return from church & I have nothing more to write. Willie’s bowels are loose & he is very cross. The others are well. Ham & Mary Rollins came home with Mr. Henry for dinner. They staid till late in the evening.
*(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 6, 1667
Up, and to St. James’s, and there attended the Duke of York, and was there by himself told how angry he was, and did declare to my Lord Anglesey, about his late complaining of things of the Navy to the King in Council, and not to him; and I perceive he is mightily concerned at it, and resolved to reform things therein. Thence with W. Coventry walked in the Park together a good while, he mighty kind to me. And hear many pretty stories of my Lord Chancellor’s being heretofore made sport of by Peter Talbot the priest, in his story of the death of Cardinall Bleau;1 by Lord Cottington, in his ‘Dolor de las Tyipas’;2 and Tom Killigrew, in his being bred in Ram Ally, and now bound prentice to Lord Cottington, going to Spain with 1000l., and two suits of clothes. Thence home to dinner, and thence to Mr. Cooper’s, and there met my wife and W. Hewer and Deb.; and there my wife first sat for her picture: but he is a most admirable workman, and good company. Here comes Harris, and first told us how Betterton is come again upon the stage: whereupon my wife and company to the [Duke’s] house to see “Henry the Fifth;” while I to attend the Duke of York at the Committee of the Navy, at the Council, where some high dispute between him and W. Coventry about settling pensions upon all Flag-Officers, while unemployed: W. Coventry against it, and, I think, with reason. Thence I to the playhouse, and saw a piece of the play, and glad to see Betterton; and so with wife and Deb. to Spring-garden, and eat a lobster, and so home in the evening and to bed. Great doings at Paris, I hear, with their triumphs for their late conquests! The Duchesse of Richmond sworn last week of the queen’s Bedchamber, and the King minding little else but what he used to do — about his women.
*(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.)