Tuesday, November 3, 1936

Election day-
Harry took us all down to vote in Ludlowville this forenoon-
and then went home to Half Acre to vote-
I raked leaves and put around the house for banking-
about half done this afternoon-
Rains this evening-
Rec'd such a happy, nice letter from Clara^-
*wrote letter to Iliff this eve-

Envelope showing Newburgh, NY postmark from Nov. 1, 1936

Page one of Clara's letter to Irene of Nov. 1st

Pages 2 and 3 of Clara's Nov. 1 letter to Irene

Page 3 asking Irene to take it easy

^Transcript of the above letter from Clara to Irene Dolton                                                                                          Nov. 1, 1936.
Dear Irene,
          It was, indeed, a real pleasure to talk things over with you. We understand each other now and that goes a long way toward the solving of any problem. And lets always try to talk things over no matter what! It is such a satisfaction! Ours was a real conference- I would have missed something had I gone to New York. My heart actually sang all the way back to Newburgh. Now you know how I feel toward you.
          I started to tell you something about the Income tax (mine, of course) and then there was an interruption. I have asked for a personal interview so you may have a caller. If the tax man comes just tell him that I am the head of the household, pay all the bills and supportMother and Auntie. Don't mention the pension and tell him I come home practically every week end to look after things. If I can save $50 or $60 per year it will help a lot.
          I got here at 5:55 P.M. It was pretty fair time when I got as far as Monticello I was pretty tired.
          Now take it easy, Irene, and try not to worry. A serene, happy, atmosphere is more blessed than a row of of spotless households.
          I've just had my supper. Must run down and post this now- and get to work.
          I've appreciated all you have done for me and mine and I assure you that you will be appreciated in the future.
          My best wishes and love, Clara.


*This is written up the left hand, inside margin of the diary entry.

Thursday, October 29, 1936

plesant & cool
full moon this eve-
I made ginger bread and put parafine on the jelly and put it away-
I dug the onions in the garden this afternoon and went to Mrs. Evans and got butter
Harry dug potatoes and Aunty picked them up this forenoon and he dug carots & beets this P.M and gor water from Evans'
He went to Half Acre 5 o'clock-
Rec'd letter & check $20.00 from Clara^-
paid to Nov. 4-
*Sent card to Iliff-

Envelope with Newburgh postmark Oct 27, 1936

First page of Clara's letter to Irene

Page 2 & 3 of Clara's October 1936 letter to Irene

Final page of the letter

^Clara's letter to Irene:
         P.S. I'm a great one, forgot to thank you for my pietuner. 
That was so nice of you to remember me.                                                  10/27/36
Dear Irene,
         I was glad to get your letter saying that you felt better. It must have been something we ate.
         I hate to wish time away but I'll certainly be glad when I can get home again.
         Auntie said you had a lovely cake for mother- and I do appreciate it so. Just don't know how we could manage without you. Did Mother like her flowers and was she awfully disappointed because I wasn't home? She may have forgotten that I usually did spend the day with her.
         I finally decided to go to Hudson. Anne Crawford was taken ill while I was there and had a doctor. It seemed to be a severe cold. Cousin Anne Meigs tells me she came within one of having pneumonia. There is an awful lot of it around. The more I think about it the more convinced I am that Mother should not go down to vote. It might be bad for both of them. Standing around waiting in the cold is not good for young people- and certainly not for old ones.
You have taken such good care of them Irene that I would hate to see them start off wrong this winter. If they can only be well and reasonably happy.
        I'll bet you miss your boy. How is he getting on?
        Had a letter from Harry- said he planned to dig your potatoes- no matter what we said.
        As soon as I mail this I'm taking off old ironsides (breaking in a new girdle)
        My little plant is full of green leaves. Sending a check for $20.00
                                              Lots of love
                                                                 Clara.

*This is written up the left hand, inside margin of the diary entry.

Wednesday, October 28, 1936

Cool & plesant
Sent letter to Clara
Rec'd letter from Iliff
Made fruit jello for desert
Combed Mothers hair and Harry took us to see the voting machine demonstrated^ and then went to Lansingville turned left at the little brick house and came out at Lake Ridge-
nice ride-
*Had plesant evening

1936 lever voting machine by Modern Mechanix^

^Women had only been voting for 16 years by this time. I'm glad the women in my family were taking their new found rights as full citizens seriously. < Image from the website Op Ed News. Read the full article on voting in the USA >

*This is written up the left hand, inside margin of the diary entry.

Friday, June 19, 1936

plesant all day
Mother would not let me take rugs out and sweep & dust up stairs so I mowed the whole lawn all four sides of the house-
Mother has been pretty good other wise-
She locked her room so I would not get in-
Charles stoped for grocery list this eve-

*June 19--
1844-- Texas annexed by the United States.                                                  
1915-- Iceland, with the consent of the Danish government, grants complete suffrage to women.


*Irene's diary, like many, has history facts on the bottom of the page. Since I am such a women's suffrage nerd, I thought I would share the facts for June 19. Actually, according to Kvennasogusafn Islands website, full suffrage wasn't granted in Iceland until 1920. The 1915 date refers to women over 40 years old.