WCS May 13 – 14, 1888

May 13, 1888,  Sunday
Showering all day – Father & I went to church in the A.M. and at three (3) o’clock to Joe’s for dinner – I went to ride in the P.M. took Charlie Ruilette and we went over to see the new house Charlie Mackintosh is building – it is very fine – Cy Frink came over in the evening and we all talked as usual – The grounds are looking splendidly – Mother’s tulips are in full bloom – 

May 14, 1888,  Monday
Rained all day – Went to the mill – Returned to N.Y. at 6:15 and am at the Murray Hill as usual –  Came down with John Mackintosh – Father has had hanging shelves put in the lower part of the shop to put the dyed silk on – we have not room enough – The whole mill has been almost stopped by the Colored [serps] – Don Sheehan has been dyeing recently as can’t wind them – 

WCS May 15 – 16, 1888

May 15, 1888,  Tuesday
Rainy all day – Recd. telegram from Mother that she should not go to Auburn as she had intended so I concluded to go to Lakewood and surprise them so went down at 4:30 – Found them all looking & feeling finely – The weather has been so bad Kitten has only had time to take one view with her with her camera  it is the interior view of her room and judging from the plate should say it was fine – 32 years ago today Father & Mother were married – 

May 16, 1888,  Wednesday
Returned at 10:45 – Rainy – Came down with the doctor who said Kitten was doing splendidly and would soon be o.k. – Father writes it is so cold in Holyoke he is wearing his winter overcoat – 14 years ago today the Mill River disaster took place –  Attended the Silk Assciation dinner at Delmonico’s tonight but considered it a failure – Joe sent down my dress suit but by mistake sent his pants so I had to borrow a pair at Ledwells

WCS May 17 – 18, 1888

May 17, 1888,  Thursday
Beautiful day – Recd. letter from Joe today saying Libbie had a boy – The little stranger came to town yesterday – Mother came here today and is xpecting to go out to Auburn tomorrow to pay the young gentleman a visit – Business is rather dull today but as it has been splendid so far this year I suppose we must expect dull day once in a while – 

May 18, 1888,  Friday
Cloudy – Mother left on the 10:30 train for Auburn and as she went through without changing cars have no doubt she went through all right – I left for Lakewood at 4:30 to spend Sunday and bring the girls back on Monday – found Belle & Kittie nicely.   Slept nearly all the way down on the cars – Sue Merrick is here and her sisters are visiting her Old Vivanti and his son (the one from Yokahama) came in today to bid me farewell as the father is going out to Yokahama with his son to live.

WCS May 19, 1888

May 19, 1888,  Saturday
Beautiful day – We all went out with Kittie to take’ photos” and then in the after-noon after she had developed them we got a carriage and drove out to Cathedral Ave. – which she took – They have met a Mr.  Washburn here who has helped them very much about developing – Recd. telegram rom Mother saying she arrived at Auburn all right and found Libbie all right and the baby a success – Met the doctor, he says Kitten’s lungs are perfectly well but great care must be used for two years as she will be subject to colds on the lungs – 

WCS May 6, 1888

May 6, 1888,  Sunday
Beautiful day – We all went  out on the River Queen for an hour tour to church where we heard the minister preach his farewell sermon after being 41 years in the ministry – I went sound asleep twice – In the P.M. we invited Miss Mackintosh and all went to ride in the pines for a couple of hours – Called on Dr. Stone to inquire how the Kitten was getting on he said much better than he expected one lung is nearly healed & the other much better he said he expects she will come out all right in time but the apex of each lung will be very sensitive for a long time.

May 7, 1888, Monday
Beautiful day – Returned for Lakewood at 10:45 – Kitten, Belle, & I bowled. Kitten made 100 – I have promised to buy the Queen a camera – as it is now quite the thing to be an amateur photographer – Am stopping by the Murray Hill as usual – We all feel greatly easing about the Queen, she is so much improved – 

WCS May 7 – 8, 1888

May 8, 1888, Tuesday
Beautiful day – Nothing new – Met  Lewis Merrick here at the hotel.  he told me I ought to get married so when I get old I could have somebody to cut my toe-nails – I wonder if that is what Lewis’ new wife does.  G. B. intended to have G. B. Jr. pay raised to $9.00 per week which I did – Recd. letter fron Father in which he said he hoped this week would make a big advance in renovating the house – Bought a camera etc. for Kittie price $22.50 but I got 15% off – hope it will be a success.

May 9, 1888,  Wednesday
Cloudy day – Nothing new – Smith of the C & J came in and I made him Father’s offering – 3.50  for the 53 bales  5 girls that is too fine – he will not do better than  3.70  which I submitted Father – I think we will return rhe silk – Sold about $6750  today here in N.Y. Business has been excellent so far this year – Recd.  $1  from Kitten to buy hankerchiefs for Joe for a birthday present – she is certainly the best little girl in the world – 

WCS May 9 – 10, 1888

May 10, 1888,  Thursday
Awfully clear day – Recd. letter from Father he was going to buy 100 or 200 shares of C. B. & Q  @  1.05  or 100 per share if he could – stock now sells @ 1.45   it has recently broken from 1.30 more of receiving dividend – Recd. letter from Kitten that Mother had hoped to leave Lakewood the last of next week if Kitten continues to improve – she received a letter from Nina which said she had been sick with Tonsilitis but was now much better – Charlie Clark was in today – Father telephoned to the C. & J. that he returned the 50 bales of silk.

May 11, 1888,  Friday
Miserable weather – Rained all day – Recd. letter from Father saying he had shipped the 53 bales to the C. & J. – Father wants me to go to Lakewood for Sunday but this P.M. I recd. a letter from Mother saying I perhaps better go home – she said she had the home feeling very bad and wanted to leave for home the last of next week – Business still continues very good – Milo M. Belding was arrested yesterday for assaulting (pounding) his servant girl  – 

WCS May 11 – 12, 1888

May 12, 1888,  Saturday
Recd. telegram from Mother that I had better go home so I did so at 4:30. Went up in the train with Louie Levingard.  found Father alone in the piazza – House is in very much the same condition as when I was home before but I can see there has been some improvement – I think Father was extra glad to see somebody as he says it is getting awfully monotonous all alone at home – Rained here all day – 

WCS April 29 – 30, 1888

April 29, 1888,  Sunday
Beautiful day – Father & I went to church and sat in the center isle [sic] seat &
Joe & Mattie in the side – We took dinner at Joe’s and after it Father went on to Dan Newton’s – The
Newton’s have recently bought 500 shares of Holyoke Water Power stock @ 2.35 to 2.50 and Father
wanted to find out about it – Joe & I went to ride in the P.M. Cy Frink came over in the evening – 

April 30, 1888,  Monday
Beautiful day – Father went to Northampton to see Aunt Ruth as he intended going to Lakewood and wishes to tell Mother how Aunt R. was – found her in about the same condition. Father found he would not be able to go to Lakewood tonight as being the oldest (in service) of the directors of the Northampton Bank he & Owen Edwards are to represent the bank at Deacon Hubbard’s funeral tomorrow. Deacon Hubbard was a director of the bank.  The water in the river is very high  10 ft. 1 in. in the dam – there is no driving to either Northampton or Springfield on the River road.

WCS May 1 – 2, 1888

May 1, 1888,  Tuesday
This is Belle’s Birthday or rather yesterday was,  I am a day late,  she’s 22 years old.
Disagreeable day – Father attended Deacon Hubbard’s funeral and when Joe & I met him at the depot he said it was the most impressive one he ever saw – The Smith College girls walked to the grave – Father left for Lakewood at 5:40 – The Tuesday Club met at Joe’s tonight so as they were to have light refreshments
afterwards I went down and had a very nice time – then were about 21 present – 
Wm. Henry Hubbard called at the mill today he is in to attend his uncle Geo’s
funeral.

May 2, 1888,  Wednesday
Beautiful day – Spent last night in the house alone but did not have my dreams
disturbed – Wm. Hubbard came to the city and spent the night with me – in
the evening he went to call on some of his retainers and I called at Joe’s &
afterward at Emma Bates – 
Recd. a letter from Mother yesterday saying Kittie seems to be improving every day – 
I am wearing a suit of clothing I bought of  Underhill, Slate, & Connell and it fits
worse than any I ever had.  I shall never have another made there price $70 – 

WCS MAy 3 – 4, 1888

May 3, 1888,  Thursday
Beautiful day – Wm. Hubbard left at 9:45 for Auburn – I recd. a telegram from
Father saying he would be home tonight and for me to return to N.Y. so I returned at 6:15 – Took Mattie out to ride this P.M.  first time – Jennie goes nicely nowadays – 
Wm. Hubbard said his uncle left all his property to his wife – in trust – at her
death he (Wm. H.) & his brother Charles each get $1000 – Old folks home in
Northampton $2000 – Dickinson Hospital  $5000 – and the residents of the state estimated at $150,000 to Smith College.

May 4, 1888,  Friday
Cloudy – Went to the store found everything O.K.   W. C. Wyckoff secretary of the
Silk Association died yesterday – Father told the people in the store Kittie was much
better.  I am very glad – she is so cute – she will soon be O.K.  again – I expect to
go to Lakewood Saturday – 
Had my hair cut – 

WCS May 5, 1888

May 5, 1888,  Saturday
Beautiful day – Went up to Wm. Arnold and exchanged Kitties shoes which were too small – got 5-1/2-B.  Went to Underhill, Slate & Connell and had them look at the suit they made me which fits wretchedly – Went to Lakewood at 4:30 found Mother, Belle & Kittie fixed up in an elegant suit of rooms recently occupied by Count Mickenzi. Kitten was at the Station to meet me she is looking splendidly, greatly improved and the doctor says one of her lungs is really well & the other greatly improved and he now thinks she will be perfecty well in time.  Miss Mackintosh (Etta at Deck)  still here – 

WCS April 22, 1888

April 22, 1888,  Sunday
Beautiful day – Mother, Kitten, & I went to the Presbyterian church and in the P.M. we all took  Etta Mackintosh who is here & went to ride in the pines – I went in to see Kitten treated today – it is by inhaling something that looks like steam which is forced into the mouth by compressed air – Kittie does it beautifully – She certainly has good lungs for she can fill her lungs with air and then send it out making an o sound for 36 seconds – she did it today.   Mother has discovered she has sort of a catarh and has her throat sprayed each day – Kittie is taking phosphates – also cod liver oil,  milk, etc. – Mother & I both agree that if the doctor had not said Kittie had a lung difficulty we should say she was better than when she came as she does not cough as much.

April 23, 1888,  Monday
Rainy day – After breakfast I went to see the doctor but he had nothing new to say – says  he can’t give an opinion until next week Thursday when it will be just two (2) weeks from the time he examined Kittie and he will then examine her again – I came away at 10:45 and arrived in N.Y. at about 1 o’clock – There is a girl at Lakewook who the doctor says must die who went to school up to last February and only came to Lakewood for a change of air not because they thought anything was the matter with her – her name is Tilly Kimbel and comes from Boston – she is 15 years old – Smith of the C & J went to Holyoke to try to settle a difference in some bad silk.

WCS April 23 -24, 1888

April 24, 1888,  Tuesday
Beautiful day – Recd. letter from Father saying I had better go to Chicago as he did not want me to go home and sleep in the house it is so damp – but I wrote him if he could stand it as he has  I think I can – Business is very good this month – Hope the beautiful Kittie is getting along splendidly – the more I think of her case the more convinced I am that Dr. Stone has made a mistake and that Kitten has nothing but a bad cold – Little G. B. was in today and said Emma was going to be married tomorrow evening.

April 25, 1888,  Wednesday
Beautiful day – Recd. letter from Belle saying she was going from Boston to a party in Fall River today and tomorrow should start for Lakewood – Recd. letter from Mother asking me to go to Wm. Arnold, 44 W. 23rd St. and buy Kitten a pair of heavy sole Morocco Springs   4-1/2 B  as the ones she is wearing now are too thin. Recd. letter from Father saying he was glad all the family was away from home as it was like being out of doors – I hope he won’t catch cold there all alone – 
Emma Skinner was married – 
Mrs. Draper (Doctor) died last Monday – she was traveling for her health & died of heart disease at Omaha,  Neb.

WCS April 25 – 26, 1888

April 26, 1888,  Thursday
Beautiful day – Bought the shoes for Kittie – Father writes to me to go to Lakewood for Sunday – Recd. letter from Libbie which I forwarded to Mother – she sent an acc. cut from an Auburn paper, of Peter Hayden’s death – Belle arrived from Providence at 7 o’clock – had “biggest” time of her life last night at the Harris party – Had trouble in getting her a room at the Murray Hill as they were full – so I gave her mine and I went up on the 6th story – in the evening we went to see the exhibition of paintings at the National Academy of Design.

April 27, 1888,  Friday
Beautiful day – Belle left at 1 o’clock for Lakewood – Recd. a nice letter from Kittie saying the doctor says she is improving – hope so  she’s so cute – Recd. letter from Father saying he is going to Springfield to blow up Harding – so I conclude he has not yet been up to fix up the house – Smith of the C. & J. Trading Co. told me today that Lester Warren failed today.  I am afraid this is the beginning of failure in the silk trade – 

WCS April 27 – 28,1888

April 28, 1888,  Saturday
Expected to go to Lakewood today but recd. a telegram from Mother telling me to go home as there was no room at Lakewood so I went home at 4:30 found Father alone in the dining room – the plastering is now dry – glass has been put in the outside door (front) instead of having the panels wood – Met Lester J. Warren at the Murray Hill – he denies he has failed – says he has formed a partnership with Jos. N. Leonard – Mother in her telegram said Kittie was nicely – Father told me Deacon G. W. Hubbard (Wm. Henry’s uncle) died today.

WCS April 15 – 16, 1888

April 15, 1888,  Sunday
Beautiful day – All went to church and Mother & I took a ride in the P.M. Kittie’s Sabbath school scholars think so much of her they walk up to meet her – how popular she is with everybody – Well she aught to be for she is the best girl that ever lived –  Father says he is going to shut up the house during the repairs and Belle is going to Boston and Mother and Kittie to Lakewood, N.J. as Kittie still has her dreadful cold – Father will either live at the Holyoke House or at Joe’s – 

April 16, 1888,  Monday
Beautiful day – Returned at 7:15  Murray Hill Hotel as usual – Stopped by the mill with Father to see how the black cotton is quilling found it still burned so I guess the hands had to go home – Father is very much discouraged  or rather  says he cannot understand this cotton question as it has been running splendidly for (5) five minutes and now has broken out worse than ever before –  Went down to Motts today and ordered a porcelain lined bathtub and water closet for the bathroom on the bed-room floor of the house –  Wrote Dan Sheehan to find out what the twisters in Paterson use to twist on the warper with – 

WCS April 17 – 18, 1888

April 17, 1888,  Tuesday
Beautiful day – Walked both ways to & from the store – Mother & Kittie arrived in this city at 11:40 on their way to Lakewood, N.J. – I put them on the cars -   We all crossed the city in a transfer coach -   Kittie still has an awful cold – Smith, Baker & Co. called today and tried to explain the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank affair – Emperor Frederick of Germany who only ascended the throne last month is reported to be dying – Roscoe Conkling is reported in tonights papers as sinking rapidly – 

Emperor Frederick of Germany

April 18, 1888,  Wednesday
Cold disagreeable day – Recd. letter from Mother that she & Kittie were comfortably located at the Laurel
House  Lakewood – Smith of the C. & J. Trading Co. was in and I told him he must exchange or do something with the 50 bales of 3.90  (5 Girls) silk we bought of them as it is too fine –  Roscoe Conkling died at 1:10 this morning aged about 60 years – Minnie Cooke,  Belle’s friend was married tonight in Brooklyn.  I was invited but did not go as not knowing anybody I thought it would be fruitless–  Dr. Agnewone of Roscoe Conklings physicians died today about 2:45 of peritonitis.

WCS Laurel House Lakewood NJ

WCS April 19 – 20, 1888

April 19, 1888,  Thursday
Cloudy all day – In Father’s letter from the mill today he enclosed a clipping from the Republican saying Small pox had broken out at the Laurel House, Lakewood  and the guests were leaving – and later in the day I recd. a telegram from Belle asking if there was any truth in the report and I replied – no – Father telegraphed Mother yesterday asking her how do you like the hotel and its guests and Mother replied “Everything all right but rooms.   Have concluded there is not truth in report” – I asked one of the clerks here tonight and he said there could be no truth in it – said two families left here for the Laurel today – W.A. Newall’s sister was married in Brooklyn tonight as he wished me to go to the reception but I did not go – Gave the protested note of Awasa Lyon to Putney today – 

April 20, 1888,  Friday
Rained all day – Yesterday Frank Richardson offered us 25 bales of [Kawishida]to arrive @  $4.00  90 days  and today I read a telegram from Father saying we would take it – The newspapers (Republican) so Father writes  in its issue of yesterday said there was no truth in the report of Small pox at Lakewood. Recd. letter from Mother today in which she said Kittie’s cold was no better and she was going to consult a doctor about her – Vivanti was in the store yesterday  he looks dreadfully since his son’s death – his other son is now with him here from Yokahama and is going to take him back with him.  Business has been excellent this far this month – Mr. Richardson went to Holyoke to see Father – Why I do not know – time will tell – 

WCS April 21, 1888

April 21, 1888,  Saturday
Beautiful day – Went down to Lakewood at 4:30 and arrived there at about 6:30.  Kittie was not at the depot to meet me as promised which I thought strange but in exiting the hotel I found both Mother & Kittie  both of whom looked fine – Mother had engaged a room for me so I had no difficulty in getting in. During the evening Mother told me about Kittie -  The doctor (Stone) who examined her says that each of her lungs are just a little affected at the apex  one in front & the other in back.  he calls it incipient consumption and says had it been allowed to run two (2)  minutes longer it would have been a hopeless case – as it is he thinks with about 6 mos. or a year’s careful watching she will be perfectly well again – and she will surely get the attention as Mother is devoting herself to her.

WCS April 8, 1888

April 8, 1888, Sunday
Beautiful day – All went to church in the morning and all but Father in the eveining. Walked up to the service with Lizzie Pearsons who said Fannie was sick. Congratulated Lizzie P on her [??]

April 9, 1888, Monday
Beautiful day – Went to ride with Mother the going was pretty good but muddy in spots. Understood Mrs Seymour had another boy last week making the 7th.

WCS April 9 – 10,1888

April 10, 1888,  Tuesday
Very rainy & sunny day – Father went to Hartford as witness on the Grant process of reeling silk  – 
was there all day – he telephoned from there and it was put as if he were telephoning further business – Harding of the Springfield Wood-working Co. was up to see about the wood work that is going to be put in the house  – he brought some designs with him – 

April 11, 1888,  Wednesday
Rainy – Went out to ride with Mother,  poor going – Perseus Conkling is expected to die every hour from an abcess in his ear which is supposed to have reached his brain – this abcess is the result of the experiences he went through in his walk up town during the blizzard.

WCS April 11 – 12,1888

April 12, 1888,  Thursday
Beautiful day but [sluring].   Father & Mother went to Boston to see about fixing up the house.  The pump in the engine got stuck when Doring tried to start at one o’clock and would not work,  so when I came down at nine I found six or eight trying to help things along but Steve finally stopped it.  We then had lots of trouble the past 10 days with the filling (black) – it runs very irregular one looks good then several poor etc.   Father says he is at loss to know what is the matter – 

April 13, 1888,  Friday
Beautiful day – Father & Mother returned from Boston at 7:30.  Joe told Jim Dixon the old watchman yesterday that the new man would come in again today – he was mad but finally concluded to watch and had left the keys with Steve this A.M.     Mattie (Joe’s wife) went home to Danbury to see her Mother who has broken one of her ribs – she expects to return home tomorrow – We played cards tonight.

WCS April 13 – 14,1888

April 14, 1888,  Saturday
Cold rainy day – Mother went to Northampton to see Aunt Ruth – found her miserable,  had a very poor day – Mother says she has failed very much since she last saw her – she is giving away a great many articles – sent Belle by Mother a diamond pin with a large opal in the center  – Sent Kittie a silver card receiver – and is going to give each of us something to remember her by – it is very sad but perhaps it is the best way to do to give away these articles – then she knows they go just where she wishes them to – she gave Mother Copeland a diamond ring – 

WCS April 1 – 2, 1888

April 1, 1888,  Sunday
Easter Sunday.  We all went to church.   Beautiful day and beautiful service – there was a childrens service in the evening -   Belle came home from church today full of news regarding the row in the choir between Mama Shumway and Alice [Corbin].  Joe had some extra exercises at his mission school – Belle went and played the violin – Joe gave each scholar & teacher a rose – they say it passed off splendidly. Kittie has a class in the mission school – she gave her scholars very sweet Easter Eggs.  She is the best & most popular teacher in the school.

April 2, 1888,  Monday
Returned to N.Y. at 7:15 and am at the Murray Hill as usual.
Beautful day – They expect to begin work in the house fixing up the parlor – sitting room & bed-rm tomorrow – have decided not to alter the house at all but to fix the  rooms – Belle had Miss Shumway up for supper and in the evening Joe & Mattie came up and Mother, Belle, “Shum”, Joe & Mattie, & I played 6 handed Euchre – “Shum” says Fannie Pearsons has enlargement of the liver – She has been ailing for some time – Father went to Northampton to a bank meeting,  went to see Aunt Ruth & says he was surprised to see how well she looked.

WCS April 3 – 4, 1888

April 3, 1888,  Tuesday
Returned to N.Y. – Murray Hill as usual -   Beautiful day – Took a package around to the Meridien Hotel which Aunt Ruth sent to Mrs. John Shaw – Went to see the exhibit of paintings at the National Ac. of Design  thought them splendid – Met several parties here this week from our part of the country – Went down to see about exhibit of American paintings at the National Academy – thought them splendid – 

Click here to view the Complete Catalogue of the Spring 1888 Exhibition, National Academy of Design.

Fanny Davenport

April 4, 1888,  Wednesday
Beautiful day – Went down to [Brown Bros. & Co. and bought some exchanges in London so as to pay a bill of dye stuffs  bought of Burke, Simpson, & Spiller – "Crab" Bartlett called at the store and insisted in my going to the 5th Ave. Hotel to dine with him – so I finally did & I took him to the theater to see Fannie Davenport in La Tosca at the new Broadway theater.

April 5, 1888,  ThursdayDid not receive any letter from the mill today  – Rained all day today – Recd. a letter from the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Co. to send down the ware-house receipt and insurance policy in the last 15 bales –  

WCS April 5 – 6, 1888

I went down and saw them telling them the silk was probably used up  etc.  but said that if they were afraid, we would pay them all we owe them Saturday,  so tonight I have written to Father for a check for $23, 470 and will pay them up and close the acc.  Sat.

April 6, 1888,  FridayBeautiful day – Nothing new – Went down to see Putney the lawyer & save him the case of collecting the note of Awasa Lyon which we hold,  he did not give much encouragement.

WCS April 7, 1888

April 7, 1888,  Saturday
Beautiful day – Came home at 4:30 – Found the lower part of the house all torn up as Father is fixing it all up – has cut folding doors into the hall and has turned the stairs – so Father & Mother are now sleeping upstairs – Father told me Lester Warren was expected to fail as he had a note of Kyles go to protest today.

March 25, 1888

March 25, 1888,  Sunday
Beautiful day – We all went to church – It is very fair sleighing – We have learned today that Holyoke’s population was increased by two that we know of, last night, for Herbert Frink is now the happy (I hope) father of twins, a boy & girl.

March 26, 1888,  Monday
Very Stormy –  Rain, hail & sleet.  Mother & Kittie went to Boston in the 11:45 train to stay until Thursday – Saw the new watchman – like his looks very much.  Some of the lots of silk we have been expecting have arrived.  [Giddusus]  ‘Helmet’  cheap at 3.92   6 mos.   is splendid  but the China & Jap. @ 3.90   6 mos.  is mixed badly  white  yellow in the same skein – 

March 26 – 27, 1888

From the New Amsterdam Gazette March – April 1888

March 27, 1888,  Tuesday
Disagreeable day – Returned to N.Y. at 7:15 as usual.  Rained down all the way back.  Attended to sale of the Mott-Kearney collection of paintings  as Father told me to buy him De Haas – “Passing Sandy Hook by Moonlight”  it was a little painting 23 x 32 and they ran it up to $525 so I did not buy it as I thought the price too high for the size & artist – “Two Musicians” by J. G. Braun a very little painting brought $450 -

March 28 – 29, 1888

March 28, 1888,  Wednesday
Very disagreeable day – It has rained steadily for three (3) days – I fear Mother & Kittie who are in Boston may have had a poor time on acc. of the weather.  Attended the conclusion of the sale of paintings tonight but did not buy anything – 

March 29, 1888,  Thursday
Still raining in the A.M. but stopped about noon.  Recd. letter from Father today that Steve Gifford – the millwright at the mill – had his arm injured yesterday while oiling some shopfitting and that Jack Drummond came near being killed while putting on the belt on the old extractor in the dyehouse – It was very fortunate they were not more serious – Business still continues good – I collected a bill of $270 from Richardson today for the Yonkers -   it was pretty hard work – 

March 20 – 31, 1888

March 30, 1888,  Friday
Beautiful day – Nothing important happened – I’ve had a splendid trade – stopped in, coming up town at Jolly for Mother’s laces which I left some time ago to be repaired – the woman said they were very fine ones – she had them in the window when I called for them.

March 31, 1888,  Saturday
Went home at at 4:30.  Went up in car with Moses Newton –  Found everything all right in Holyoke as usual-  It is rumored that L.L. Brown has held his interest (1/3) in the Whiting Paper Co. for $450,000 – Brown has been in financial difficulties for some time – Sales today about $7400 – 

March 18 – 19, 1888

March 18, 1888,  Sunday
Went to church twice – we all went in the morning and all but Father in the evening.  Joe & Mattie were up to dinner as usual –    Jim the watchman cut out this P.M.  he had had a chill & would not be able to watch – Father says he thinks he must have been celebrating St. Pat yesterday too much – He (Father) had Downing the fireman go in at 3 o’clock and get up the fires.

March 19, 1888,  Monday
Went to N.Y. at 7:15 and am at the Murray Hill as usual – We came through a great many big drifts coming down but the track was much freer of snow than  I had supposed – Broadway is comparatively  free of snow but the side sts. are awful – I went down to Pier 25 and made a row about their not delivering us the last case which has been in their possession for a month – so they told me we could have it and I am going to send [horses?] Went down to Ortegies to see some paintings that are to be sold at auction next week.

March 20 – 21, 1888

March 20, 1888,  Tuesday
Rainy all day -  Belle & Miss [Braton] returned from Phila.  Belle went home & Miss [Breyton] to Brooklyn.
Recd. word from Father that the Town Bus.  has informed him there was no danger in wiring the old mill – was glad to learn it – The last case was recd. today – contents were all right – It was shipped from Holyoke  Feb. 21st  –  Had my first strawberries this year tonight.

“Uncle George” George B. Skinner

March 21, 1888,  Wednesday
Warm rain all day – Snow is rapidly disappearing – Met quite a number of people I know here this week and have been sitting around talking this evening.  Uncle George  was down yesterday first time in 10 dys – he and all his family have been sick with sore throats – he looked slim.

March 22, 1888,  Thursday
Beautiful day – Nothing new, strange or interesting has happened – Business here in N.Y. is only fair due probably to the [devastation] brought about by the storm of last week.

March 22 – 23, 1888

March 23, 1888,  Friday
Beautiful day – Bought 77 pcs of [2700 ]  [Meurilleux] of [E. Oclberium] Co. @ 1.50  3 of 570  for  Aug. 1st also bought 3 bales of Japan Filature of the China & Jap. Trading Co. for the Yonkers at 3.55   6 mos. open acc. 
G.B.S. was down today – looked much better than when last down – Have met a great many Holyoke people here this week.

March 24, 1888

March 24, 1888,  Saturday
Beautiful day – went home at 4:30.  Went up all the way with Dr. Reed (the physician) – Father hired a new watchman to take Jim Dixon’s place who is sick – Kittie’s average in the examinations just put as 87 which entitles her to finish [diaries]  and entered into the High School without further examinations.

WCS March 11, 1888

March 11, 1888,  Sunday
Beautiful day – We all went to church – Father & I wore Spring overcoats – Father wore one last Sunday – Joe & Mattie have each had a little touch of Rheumatism – 

March 12 – 13, 1888

Main Street, Springfield, March 12, 1888, courtesy Wood Museum of Springfield History

March 12, 1888,  Monday
Cloudy  in morning  & began to storm so badly I gave up returning to N.Y. as I had intended – 
Father let the mill out at 5 o’clock as it is snowing dreadfully – Father & I had a dreadful time getting up from Davis Stable when we left the house – I never have seen Father so exhausted – the wind is blowing a tremendous gale – never have seen anything like it – 
Sleighs are abandoned here in the streets and all business is suspended here this evening.

March 13, 1888,  Tuesday
Storm still continues with unabated fury until nine when it held up a little and people began getting around in their piazzas – The mills did not run,  no trains have arrived in or left Holyoke since yesterday morn – None of us have been off the lot and have been shoveling with a group of men Father hired – Joe managed to crawl to the mill in the [forenoon] & P.M. and telephoned everything was O.K. All telegraph lines from N.Y. are down and but few of the local wires working – It is awful. We sent a message to the store by telephone which the W.U. Tel. Co. took “subject to delay”.

Click here to read the Front Page of the New York Times 3-13-1888.

March 14 – 15, 1888

March 14, 1888,  Wednesday
Mill commenced running today again -   Read the Springfield  Republican later in the P.M. and learned the storm has been particularly severe in this locality and N.Y. as far as they are able to learn – 
all rail roads are blocked and no trains whether B & A or NY-MA-VT RR have left Springfield or have come in yet – The first train came to Holyoke from Springfield at 3 o’clock.  The Transcript was published today but contained no news – We have not yet read any reply to our telegram to the store sent yesterday – 

March 15, 1888,  Thursday
Beautiful day – Still no news from N.Y. either by telegraph, telephone, or U.S. mail – A telephone line to Boston is working over which Fred. sent an order – Called on Fannie Pearsons tonight remained about one hour – What meager reports regarding the storm we receive show that it has been very severe especially in N.Y. city.
Mother went up to see Aunt Ruth found her about the same – very weak – Mrs. Copeland has told Aunt Ruth of Michael’s death.

March 16 – 17, 1888

March 16, 1888,  Friday
Beautiful day -  At last we have recd. a telegram from N.Y. store saying they are all right but that business is at a stand still  – I’m anxious to return – [Trebby] who married Clara Prentiss left home at 7:15 and did not arrive in N.Y.  until this A.M. and then went by boat from N.Y. – he spent 3 days in N.Y. snowed in – 
Attended Harvard’s 16th Organ Recital with “Eunnie”.  We did not rave over the organ not being educated up - at least I am not.  2 of us both liked Mrs. Beutley of Albany’s singing.

March 17, 1888,  Saturday
Beautiful day – Recd. letter from N.Y. store – Business has been awful dull but they have been open every day – Helped shovel a path on the Cabot St. side of the house today- Snow is getting very heavy – Recd. two letters from Libbie – she says not very much snow has fallen in Auburn.