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.

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.