Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Free Image Tuesday

I want to share these two diaries I received just yesterday. They are simple pocket diaries, one from 1913 and one from 1914. They were filled out everyday either by Otto Pierson or Grace, his wife. I believe they were country folks, but there is no indication of where they lived. It must have been in the Northern US because the winter weather was sometimes 14 below. How do I know this? Because they recorded the weather everyday. Just a short entry. Sometimes it just says, " Awful hot" or "Awful cold".
Otto writes who visited that day or if he walked his little daughter Martha up to his Momma's house for supper, which he called "going up home". Grace records the eggs that were laid and sold. Every item they purchased was recorded and the amount they paid. He notes if the town doctor gave him a ride home in his automobile. There were church meetings, ice cream socials and picnics at Llyod's Grove.Otto loved his wife and was concerned if she was ill. He recorded the illnesses of her and Martha, the birth of his son William on May 18, 1913 and then again almost a year later William's death on March 24, 1914 from Cerebral Meningitis. After that entry he records every cemetery visit, which were usually made on Saturdays or Sundays after church. Grace didn't make anymore entries after William died.
I read them over and over and each time I pieced their lives together from those short entries. These two simple books transported me into Otto's and Grace's life for an afternoon. They are cherished treasures.


I thought if any of you are in a Halloween mood you could use this creepy little gal. I am sure she was a very sweet, cute girl, but older tintypes sometimes get this silvery look about the eyes.

I haven't been a very active blogger lately. I am hoping to get into an ETSY routine so I have more time here. Thank you for all of your sweet words and support.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey J,
You forgot to point out the creepier shadow of a face that overshadows the entire photo of the little girl. Goooosebumps!
C

Sharon Tomlinson said...

Love the diaries. Really takes you back into their world.

Flea Market Queen said...

I love the diaries! What a great thing to have...you must love reading about Otto and his family!
I would...I love that kind of stuff!
(And creepy girl has creepy eyes)
Thanks...

Lori said...

yikes!!!she is a little creepy!!!sorry little girl :) those diaries are such a treasure!!! wow!!!

FrostingsNSparkles said...

I always feel so lucky that we live in the day and age medically that we do today. Poor Grace probably never got over the loss :(

The little spooky girl is awesome!

Vintage Papers said...

oh Jamie these are all so cool.
love the diaries - you always have the BEST stuff!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful images! Thanks for sharing! *HUGS*

Lennea said...

The diaries are quite the find! I found a stack of old love letters from WWII. They were so fun to read. Thanks for sharing your stash of old photos!
Lennea Truesdell

Lisa Oceandreamer Swifka said...

Oh Jamie these are indeed true treasures....I loved reading what you showed so I can imagine reading the ENTIRE 2. I actually hope you'll share more pages. It's fascinating to see prices for things, get a sense of life for Otto and Grace.
Whenever I go to antique stores I love to read old postcards and letters, most time they want too much to purchase them so I stand and read. You're very lucky to have these!
I will take another look at that creepy photo...
XOXO

Erin Earls said...

How wonderful those are. I find old diaries the best kind of reading. They let you escape into someones thoughts for a while.
Love Erin~

jessielavon@yahoo.com said...

Hi darling,Just visting,love the old books and tintype,come see my june bug in August.xxoo

Tricia said...

jamie, ohhhh how i enjoyed reading about the diaries! thank you. what really sticks with me is how the mom didn't write again after her son's death.

hope all is well.
hugs,

Anonymous said...

I am obssessed with your shop!!! I want more and more and more!!! Oh, that little girl has creepy eyes. Poor dear heart!!! You are wonderful!!! xoxox

Anonymous said...

I love those diaries!!! I love to read the day to day life of folks back then...and to have it in their handwriting with even just the little things like weather noted....just priceless!

Artifax said...

Those diaries are wonderful! It does just take you back in time to share their world.

And congrats on the success of your etsy store! Yeah!! You have some really great items there!

Susan Tuttle said...

Hi Jamie,
What lovely finds!!! Guess what?--I am on a three day trip visiting my sister and hubbie who just had a new baby--I am in the lone star state...outside of Dallas in McKinney. I'm wondering if it is anywhere near you....gosh, so hot here compared to Maine...beautiful weather though. My hubbie and kiddos are fending for themselves--lol--it is so nice to have some alone/me time.

Hugs,
Susan

Joy for the Journey said...

What a story! Can't you just feel her heart break, though...
:(
Sarah

Ali said...

Hi Jamie
thanks for sharing this great diary! so sad ... and interesting. A presious insight into strangers' lives from long ago
Ali

Lelainia N. Lloyd said...

Those are absolutely PRECIOUS!! Lucky girl!

Anonymous said...

This old journal reminds me very much of ones that my husband's grandmother left behind. She was a month short of 102 years old when she passed away, leaving all sorts of interesting journals, of her days, and her crocheting. The entries were very short, but over time became an interesting portrait of her life.

Thank you again, for being so generous.

Lena

Elizabeth Golden said...

This would be the "Big Flu" that hit the whole United States 1914 to 1915. Children were dropping like flies along with healthy people in there twenties. Very interesting diary!

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