Monday, August 31, 1936

rainy morning but clears away before noon-
Aunty shells the peas and I canned 4 pints and done the washing-
Clara & Mother went to town
Clara bought her a new dress.

Sunday, August 30, 1936

Cloudy & cool-
I roasted beef and made Banana cream pie and steamed acorn squash & swiss chard for dinner
Harry came this forenoon-
brought us a half bushel of peas-
He and I went for a ride over to see Iliff & Mildred-
Had a wonderfull time
Mother terribly upset this afternoon-
but better by bedtime-

Saturday, August 29, 1936

rained all night but plesant all day-
I mopped the kitchen and scrubbed the toilet and burned refuse from the wagon house this p.m.
Clara worked on Mothers chair cover
She has done a fine job-
Took my bath at bedtime-

Friday, August 28, 1936

plesant cool but rain all evening-
I made a lemon pie and canned 4 pints of Damson plum* preserves
Leroy Hall worked all day cutting wood and relaying the walk and cleaning out rubbish in the garage-
I made muffins for supper-
Mother has been very keyed up all day-
Mary Brong Miles and daughter & Mrs. Youngs called-

Damson plums are the small, dark purple ones^

^Image attribution: By Alois Lunzer (Brown Brothers Continental Nurseries Catalog 1909) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons


*Damson plums are a small European plum. The recipe below is from Ten Thousand Places blog...

Damson Plum Jam

1 quart damson plums, stemmed and washing, but still whole

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup water

Bring all ingredients to a boil, mashing the plums with a potato masher (my favorite jamming tool!).  

The  pits will mostly float to the top, but they are tiny and I found it difficult to scoop out while the jam is cooking, so: once the jam is mashed and cooking (it will seem very very juicy), pour it through a fine mesh sieve or, if you have it, a food mill, into a heat proof bowl.  With the sieve, you will have to use a spatula to press the pulp through the sieve, so some of the skins get into the jam too (they will continue to flavor the jam with their tartness).  Thrown out the remaining pulp/pit mixture, and return the jam to the pot.  If you want to be really really diligent, you can scoop out the individual pits and put the entire pulp back into the pot, but I got lazy after about ten minutes.  So long as you are using a nice flexible spatula with the sieve, you'll be able to press almost everything good out of the skins through the sieve.  A food-mill would just make it that much easier.

Boil till jelly state, continuing to stir and scrape the bottom of the pan.  You can tell this by several tests, but I usually eyeball it.  When you lift you spoon, if they jam comes off it in sheets, rather than individual drops or streams, then it is ready.  I tried to take a picture of this, but, failed.  The picture to your left is of  not-yet-jelly stage, badly out of focus.

Pour into hot sterilized jars, sealing them or covering with paraffin according to your preference.  This recipe makes about five 4oz. jars.  I successfully doubled the recipe to make to 11 4 oz jars.

Thursday, August 27, 1936

plesant all day
I mowed the lawn today and stayed alone with Mother-
Clara & Aunty went to Ithaca-
I sent a card to Iliff & Mildred and a note to Harry-
Everything has run smoothly and Mother was very good-

Wednesday, August 26, 1936

plesant & cool all day
Harry brought me back to the Howell home* and everyone welcomed me
Harry went back to Half Acre before supper-
I am missing my good times of the past two weeks-
Rec'd a card from Hannah today-
I called on Florence to say goodbye
She feels pretty lonesome without Mildred-
M- cleaned cupboard and cabinet today-


*Irene is now back with Mother & Aunty after a fortnight away.

Tuesday, August 25, 1936

plesant all day with a little shower this eve-
Christine done the ironing of my clothes and Harrys' _
I made an elderberry pie and a shell and Harry, Christine, & I went to Ithaca for afternoon-
Harry bought a tire-
Iliff, Mildred, Harry & I took Christine home to McGraw for supper and spent the eve-
The Fowler family & Harry Messenger gave us a concert-
wonderfull time
*Iliff and Mildred home to stay


*This statement is written up the inner left hand side of the diary entry.

Monday, August 24, 1936

plesant all day
Done the washing today
Christine made a chocolate cake fine-
Harry carried the water for me-
Harry, christine, and I went to Taughannock Falls^ and T'Burg,* & Mecklenburg back to Ithaca-
Iliff and Mildred came home-
reporting a fine time at Thousand Islands-

Map showing potential route for the trip stated above in 1936

^Taughannock Falls is a NY Sate Park named after the waterfall. It is located on the western side of Cayuga Lake. See above map.

*This is Irene's abbreviation for Trumansburg, NY. See above map.

Post card Iliff sent his mother while on honeymoon 1936

Contents of the post card Iliff sent Irene on Aug. 24, 1936

Dear Mother,
We have arrived to our first stopping place near Sacketts Harbor, 12 miles from Watertown.
Had a nice trip. Enjoyed every second of it.
        Love,
                  Iliff & Mildred-

Sunday, August 23, 1936

plesant all day
Bob came and done chores and Harry spent 2 hours at the Howell Home this forenoon and got his Montana pictures
Harry & Christine & I went to Auburn & Owasco Park this P.M.
Had a wonderfull time-
Then we took Delbert and went to hear Mr. Flaxington talk on his travels-
brought Florence home with us.
*wonderfull day

Diary page showing clipping about the band concert

*This statement was written vertically along the left hand margin of the diary entry as you can see in the image above.

Saturday, August 22, 1936

Iliffs' & Mildreds' wedding day-
plesant all day-
Rev. Flaxington performed the ceremony with Lewis Hyers as best man and Francis^ as bridesmaid-
Francis & Christine decorated the car-
Fourteen guests for dinner
Mildreds' dress was white and her going away attire was a suit
They left amid showers of rice for Thousand Islands-
Harry took Christine & I to a show this eve "Kelly the 2nd"*

Rev. Flaxington, Mildred Searles & Iliff Dolton's wedding day Aug. 22, 1936

Guest list for the wedding

Marriage announcement in the local paper

Irene's diary of the wedding & announcement pasted in

^"Francis" should be spelled Frances. Frances Sharpsteen was Mildred's younger sister. As Frances was already married & a mother, she would have been Mildred's Matron of Honor, not her bridesmaid.

*Kelly the Second was a movie starring Patricia Kelly & Cecil Callahan.

Friday, August 21, 1936

plesant all day
I made the brides cake and another for supper-
Harry and Iliff polished Mildreds car this forenoon and drawed water for Delbert and went to town-
Harry, Iliff, and I went to McGraw to get Christine-
I rec'd letter and check for $5.00 from Clara as a gift-

Front of postcard to Irene dated August 21, 1936

 c/o of Ella Howell. (Is this "Mother" or "Aunty"?)

Contents of postcard to Irene from Hannah

Dear Sister,                                                                         Aug 21
         I am at Florence's in Liberty having a good time, She drives her car so I have had a lot of nice rides.
Bob is at a boy scout camp for more than a week. He has a week more.
Florence is going to take me to Walton some day soon just for a day. We had our Eells reunion ^at Binghamton Park the 9th and I came home with Florence that day. So I've been here nearly two weeks. I will be home soon. Hope you dont go to see me while I am away ^but will come after I get back. love Hannah please write

Thursday, August 20, 1936

plesant & cool
Iliff took us for a walk over the farm this morning.
Corn is fine, gathered some ears for supper & the buckwheat good for this year-
We then went to McGraw and eat lunch with Bertha & Christine.
Harry got Mildred a box of candy in Cortland
We went to see Lewis & Ann Hyers this eve-
Iliff & Mildred got license at Ludlowville-

Map showing current route from Ludlowville to McGraw, NY

Wednesday, August 19, 1936

plesant & hot with thundershowers this eve-
I ironed some and mended sheets-
Iliff drilled holes in an iron for Alvord Baker and help start the team again for Delbert-
then went to town with Mildred this afternoon-
Harry went over to the Howell home* this afternoon and eve-
Alvord Baker and Bob Bailor called-


*This means that he went over to the house where Mother & Aunty live.

Tuesday, August 18, 1936

plesant and comfortable
Went to Auburn with Harry and Iliff-
Had dinner in Harrys favorite restaurant and called on Mattie & Ann and went down to the farm and went all over the place-
a wonderfull house and the barn-
and the woods-
Mildred came this eve to tell us Donald* was hurt by the road roller
They were going to see how bad-
Iliff helped Delbert^ to start his team this morning-



*I am fairly certain this is Donald Sharpsteen, Mildred's brother-in-law.

^Delbert is Mildred's father.

Monday, August 17, 1936

Foggy this morning-
I done a big washing today-
Harry pumped and carried the water-
Iliff and Harry finished drawing the oats before dinner and then went to town this afternoon-
Iliff got him a new suit and a pair of shoes-
Iliff rec'd a present of $10.00

Sunday, August 16, 1936

Sunday & plesant Hot 
Harry, Iliff, Mildred & I went to Binghamton-
Eat our lunch at the Maples between Owego & Endicott and called on Mary & Alice but thy went to Chipewa Bay so then went to Binghamton to Court St up Court to Fairviw and called on Hannah & Em Jacobs
Hannah gone to Liberty-
then went to Em's and stayed about 2 hrs. and came back by way of Cortland and called on Mary White
Cornelia died Mar 17-
*Wonderfull day-

Potential route for the journey Irene took in 1936

*This line is written vertically up the left hand side of the diary entry.

Saturday, August 15, 1936

Thunder shower 4- P.M.
Iliff and Harry drawed in 3 load of oats-
I baked huckleberry pie* & custard pie and made veal stew^ for dinner-
Iliff went to spend evening with Mildred so Harry and I called on Clara, Mother & Aunty this eve-
Had a very interesting time-

Veal Stew from the recipe below- saveur.com

*Huckleberry Pie recipe
^Veal Stew recipe

Friday, August 14, 1936

plesant all day Hot
I dusted off things and worked all forenoon and Harry and I went to town this afternoon and got our groceries and then went to Buttermilk Falls State Park* and went up the glen to Pinnacle Rock and across foot bridge and came back the other side-
Had a wonderfull time-
Iliff pressed hay for John Hill-
Geo. Rankin called this eve-

Pinnacle Rock postcard

*Buttermilk Fall State Park is part of the NY Stat Parks system. There are a few other waterfalls called "Buttermilk", this one is located on Buttermilk Creek in the Ithaca area at the tip of Cayuga Lake.

Thursday, August 13, 1936

plesant all day Hot
I made corn starch custard & chocolate bar cake and moppd Iliff's bedroom, dining room & kitchen-
Iliff threshed and pressed straw all day for Alvord Baker-
Harry split some more wood and went up to see them thresh after dinner-
Harry & I went to a show "The Devil meets a Lady."*
Iliff spent the eve with Mildred.

*I think Irene means the 1936 film starring Bette Davis, "Satan Met a Lady."

Wednesday, August 12, 1936

pleasant all day Hot
I roasted a ham and swept and tried to get some what cleaned out-
and had a nice visit with Harry between times-
He split up some wood for Iliff-
while Iliff helped Alvord Baker thresh and press straw-

Tuesday, August 11, 1936

Cool & plesant after rain
Harry, Clara & Mother arrived home 4-35 A.M. in the morning-
I got breakfast and Clara went to bed for forenoon
Harry laid on the couch-
They did not use their births on the train last night-
Clara took me to Ithaca with her to have a talk before I went home-
Iliff came for me after supper and Harry came too-
We went to show to see "Green Pastures"*

*Released on August 1, 1936 by Warner Brothers, "The Green Pastures" is a spiritual movie based on stories from the Old Testament, & features an all-black cast. The gospel choir is very good. See movie review at IMDb.

Monday, August 10, 1936

thunder shower all afternoon-
Finished the ironing this forenoon and swept and dusted Clara's room
and made up the beds all clean for their coming
Leroy Bower stopped on his way to town-
Aunty sent for roast of beef
Iliff came this afternoon a little while

Sunday, August 9, 1936

Sunday plesant & warm
Dusted all through and made cornstarch custard and got swiss chard greens for dinner-
Took my bath before I dressed this morning-
Gibb Malone came for Aunty about 4-30 and we had supper at Vera & Gibbs and then went to Freeville Camp Meeting* and heard Mr. Ceney from Illinois speak & give messages
very good sermon & messages too.

Description of a camp meeting in Freeville, NY in 1875*

*Camp meetings were frequent in Central & Western NY. Above is a excerpt of a camp meeting held at Freeville in 1857 (p.76) from Historical Sketch of the Village of Freeville by Albert B. Genung published in 1942.

Saturday, August 8, 1936

plesant all day
Charles came to get grocery list
Made molassas cookies
Lizzie Hughes came to suspend the day-
Done a part of the ironing and tacked scrim on one window in Aunty's south bedroom where Harry sleeps
Rec'd letters from Clara and Harry telling us they leave Libby 11 o'clock Saturday and arrive in Syracuse early Tuesday morning
*Jay and Elsie DeFano move to Ithaca today-


*This line is written vertically on the left hand side of the diary entry.

Friday, August 7, 1936

foggy this morning early plesant all day-
Done the washing this forenoon
Shot a rabbit  in the garden this morning and dressed it and cooked it for dinner-
Ella Miller and Leroy Lobdell came this afternoon and brought a quart of ice cream^ and ice cubes and tomatoes for supper-
I made a cake and baking pow-biscuits for supper and made a platter of cold rabbit fine time
*Iliff called this eve-

^The ability to buy ice cream in a variety of flavors to enjoy at home we owe to confectioner & inventor Augusts Jackson. Jackson was a chef at the White House during the Madison Administration. After her returned to Philadelphia he opened a candy shop & began experimenting with ice cream recipes, like chocolate & strawberry. Eventually he came up with an improved method for manufacturing ice cream & began selling it in tins for home consumption, becoming one of the richest African Americans in that city. <Above is singer/songwriter Ellis Paul's song about Augustus Jackson from his album "The Hero In You" recorded February 23, 2014 at KDHX St. Louis.>

*This line is written vertically up the left hand side of the diary entry.

Thursday, August 6, 1936

rained last night cooler today-
Washed more windows and washed off porch and furniture
Genie Hall came this afternoon and stayed to supper-
Vera and Gibb with Sadie Cockran came this evening-
They invited Aunty and I to go to Freeville Camp meeting* with them next Sunday eve-

Current Google map showing possible routes from Ludlowville to Freeville

*Freeville, NY in Tompkins County, only had one church, but held many camp meetings with tents & itinerant ministers coming to preach. Central & Western NY have a history of religious fervor, particularly in the early 19th century when the Second Great Awakening took hold, & lead to the regions nickname, the Burned Over District. This lead to the founding of Mormonism by Joseph Smith in Palmyra, & Spritualism with the Fox Sisters in Hydesville. There is an neat blog I found, if you are interested- Exploring the Burned Over District.

Wednesday, August 5, 1936

plesant all day
Washed windows out side and carried baskets and boxes over to little house in orchard for Aunty, for storage-
Have not felt very well all day-
Aunty made green applesauce and I stewed prunes-
We had our first ripe tomatoes from the garden for supper

Tomato from my fridge

Tuesday, August 4, 1936

plesant and hot
Ironed the curtains and washed windows and paint all day.
Made tapioca custard for dinner*-
very tired and nearly sick from heat and lack sleep last night as it was so hot all night-



*I love how if Irene writes about what she makes for dinner, it is generally just the dessert.

Monday, August 3, 1936

Hot day-
Monday plesant all day
Aunty and I both washed curtains
Aunty for north room upstairs and I washed the three in pantry and the two pair in kitchen-
I made oat flake pudding* for dinner from the left over cooked oat flake-
put in an egg, sugar, and milk with vanilla-
It needed raisins, dates, or prunes or something else to give flavor
Mr. Bergdoff did not press hay-

Visitor list from Irene's diary

*At first I thought Irene wrote pudding instead of cookies, but as I read further... how ingenious! I think dates would be a good choice, though I make my oatmeal cookies with cherries, so that would be my choice.

Sunday, August 2, 1936

Sunday plesant & warm-
Dusted through the living rooms this forenoon-
Florence & John Rubee came to see me this afternoon-
Leroy Lobdell and Ella Miller came for afternoon & evening-
Ed Emmons and Lena Hamilton called and Leroy Bower and Iliff came this evening-

Saturday, August 1, 1936

plesant and cool
Made a layer cake with the center layer chocolate this morning-
Aunty and I rec'd a letter from Clara in Montana-
They are having a wonderfull time-
Been sore and lame today for the weeks cleaning-
Aunty has been fine- but lonesome