Two Family Diaries on a Connecticut Farm: March, 1915

Frank Seger’s Diary for March, 1915

Monday, Mar. 1, 1915 14 Above. Clear & cold all day. Marchy as hell all day. I took the milk. Boys got to load of wood down at the old Barn then took out munare 1 load. Drew some wood in the afternoon. I took load of wood up to School House then put on a load on wagon so as to be ready morn[?}

Lucy Seger’s Diary for March, 1915

Mar. 1, 1915 Clear and cold all day. The wind blew quite hard all day. Charles Reubenwolf came down and chopped wood. He didn’t stay to supper. Mother and I washed and got through about two o’clock. I set a hen today on twelve eggs. Heman and Lewis drew wood this afternoon. Mr. Richards was down after milk tonight. Lewis and Charles are playing checkers.

Tuesday, Mar. 2, 1915 20 Above. Clear & cool windy, marchy all day. Rubin came down & choped. Lewis went up and helped him saw some trees. Heman took the milk. I went to foot of hill with Load of wood then Heman took it to Edwards. took down 4 load I brought up Some Bran & Barleys. Dan the horse had the colic but come out all wright.

Mar. 2, 1915 Clear and cold all day. The wind blew very hard. I did the house work same as usual. Heman took the milk and draw four loads of wood for Mr. Edwards in afternoon. I went up and visit school. Evelyn and Dick wasn’t there. Nellie Beadle came down after milk. Heman went down to meet Roscoe. Papa went up to barn a little before eight and found Dan sick and he was very sick. But got all right again after a while. I rec’d my pictures I sent to B’pt.

Wed. Mar. 3, 1915 14 Above. Clear & cold growing most awful cold toward night. Heman took the milk then I took Load of wood down the hill. Took 4 Loads to Edwards. Lewis cleaned out the Barn & done up chores. I skimmed [?] to cans milk Heman went down to Simes. Clarence come over to see Lucy.

Mar. 3, 1915 Clear and cold wind blew very hard all day. Heman took the milk. I did the work same as usual. Clarence came over in the evening and I enjoyed the evening very much. Heman drove Dan down and met Roscoe. He staid down to foot of Mt. When he came home he had a letter for me.

Thur. Mar. 4, 1915 8 Above. Clear & cold as Hell and Damnation. Began to warm up after noon. Heman took the milk. Lewis dug load of dirt down in the little meadow for box stall was 8 inches of frost. Cleaned out barn to load of munare up to Comestocks. Boys cut some stalks. I went up and helped Rubin Wolf saw down trees.

Mar. 4, 1915 Clear and cold all day. The wind blew very hard. I did work same as usual. Nellie Beadle came down this morning with the children. She went up North to get her teeth filled and she left the children for us to take care of. She came down on the milk train. I went up to Richard’s in afternoon. They took four chances on the organ raffle. Heman went down to foot of Mt. and rode back with Roscoe. I stopped to Mrs. Shoves when I came home.

Friday, March 5, 1915 12 Above. Cloudy acks like rain. I took the milk. Came back went down on road chopped ice & put on Salt. Heman helped Reubin Wolf saw down trees. Lewis drew to load of wood then cleaned out the Barn before noon. Took munare up to Comestocks after noon. Children went to ________.

March 5, 1915 Clear and mild all day. I made a cake in the morning. In the afternoon I swept and dusted upstairs. Mother up to Mrs. Smith’s in afternoon. In evening I went down to Darlings to a surprise party. Heman went down to train to meet Laura and one of her school chums. There wasn’t very many there; myself, brothers and Clarence J. was all. I talked with Sarah on the telephone.

Saturday, March 6, 1915. 24 Above. Cloudy & looked like rain. I took the milk. Heman & Lewis went after Hay with both teams. Broke one pole out of wagon then I got pole of ____ John Chase put it in & have got three Load all of it left one load at the foot of the mountain. Rubin was down Chopping. I paid $21.00 for twelve days work.

March 6, 1915 Cloudy all day. Papa took the milk with Peter. Heman and Lewis went after hay down to bend of the river. Lewis drove one team and Heman the other. They didn’t get home till after one. Lewis broke the pole out of his wagon and Uncle John Chase fixed it. They went down in afternoon and got another one home and left one load at foot of Mt. Nellie Beadle came down and left her children for us to take care of while she went up North to get her teeth filled. I cleaned up down here. I put a cake together.

Sunday, March 7, 191526 Above. Cloudy in the morning clearing some at noon. Some snow fell last night but it all went off through the day. I took the milk the little [?]?Heman took Laura & Eunice to Pig Tail. Mother & Lewis, Nellie went to Pig Tale Drove Charlie. Heman went to see his girl, Jim came over to see his.

March 7, 1915 Cleared away toward noon and the sun shone the rest of day. The wind blew. I did the dishes and Mother swept out. Heman started for church but Laura and Eunice wasn’t ready but they got ready. It was late so they went down to Charlie Page’s and was down there to dinner. After we had our dinner, Lewis, Mother and Nellie went down to Aunt Mary’s. Staid to supper. Clarence came over about three o’clock. Staid over in the evening. Mother didn’t come home till nine o’clock. Mr. Richards was down after milk.

Monday, March 8, 1915 24 Above. Clear & cool all day. Marchy. I took the milk Boys brought up the load of hay that stayed at the foot of hill & helped unload hay then Built a pig trough put Old Sow in box Stall then took load of munare up to Comestocks. Last load Boys went after some Bran. Heman went down after Roscoe.

March 8, 1915 Clear and cold all day. The wind blew. I got up quarter past five and got breakfast. I eat my breakfast. I got ready and went over to Jennings to go to New Milford with Sarah. When I got over there Mrs. Jennings was going down to the barn after milk. Sarah was getting ready. They hadn’t had breakfast. Sarah and I drove to South Kent and put the horse in Page’s barn. Sarah got two teeth filled. I got me a pair of $3.00 corsets and stockings. We came back on the noon train. I staid over there till evening. Clarence came over with me. I brought over a basket of apples. I got a picture frame for C.

Tuesday, March 9, 1915 16 Above. Clear & windy Cold all day. Heman took the milk then drew some wood. Lewis cut some little wood cleaned out the barn I drew to load of wood out to the road in fore noon & to in the afternoon for Edwards. Heman went down town in the Evening. Jim came along barefoot & ect.

March 9, 1915 Clear and cold today. The wind blew all day. Mother and I washed today. Mr. Shove was down after something he sent by Heman to get and he forgot it. Nellie Beadle and children was down after milk. Heman went to Kent after Salts for the horses. Mr. Richards was down after milk. I was sick today. I didn’t feel very much like washing but I did wash and felt better after a while.

Wednesday, Mar. 10, 1915 20 Above. Clear & cool Marchy, all day. Heman took the Milk. Came Back drew Some wood down & I drew 3 load of munare up to Hollan place in the forenoon, ground up machine Knives. Boys cut some stalks. Cleaned out old Sow bed put in some new then she had pigs in the evening. I sat up to 1200.

March 10, 1915 Clear and cold. The wind blew all day. Heman took the milk. I didn’t feel very good so I didn’t do very much today. I ironed a little and Mother did the other ironing. Hjalmar Erickison came over to go to the Woodman with Papa but he couldn’t go. He had to stay home and see to old pig. She had eleven pigs but only seven alive. So Hjalmar went back to East Kent. Clarence came over in the evening. He didn’t stay very late because I didn’t feel very good.

Thurs, March 11, 1915 22 Above. Clear & cool all day March keeps comming every day right str____ Along . I took the milk . Boys shelled some corn mixed up some oats with it for horse feed. heman took it down to Waldron’s in the afternoon. I Drew out to load of wood at road for Edwards.

Mar. 11, 1915 Clear and cold, the wind blew all day. Papa went with the milk. I didn’t feel very good so I didn’t get up till quarter past ten. Mrs. Shove was down before I was up. Nellie B. and children were down after milk. I didn’t do anything all day. I went to bed early.

Friday, March 12, 1915 16 Above Cold & windy wind blew like the devil all day. Heman took the milk. Drew out Some wood & cut some slabs. I took one load of munare up to Hollan place in the fore noon. Drew out to Load of wood for Edwards to the road. Mother went up to Shoves in the eve.

March 12, 1915 Clear and cold all day. The wind blew hard all day. I got up early and got breakfast. Heman went with the milk. I cleaned the rooms upstairs and dusted. Mother went up to Ms. Shoves and Mrs. Smith’s. Heman and Laura has gone over to Jennings tonight. I have felt very good today so I can work.

Saturday, March 13, 1915 20 Above. More like live not much wind. Boys Drew out wood with both teams in the fore noon. I took the milk, came back took load of munare up to Hollan place in the fore noon & one in the afternoon then got three load of wood at the old barn & etc.

Mar. 13, 1915 Clear and mild and the wind blew all day. Papa took the milk. Heman and Lewis drawed wood. I did the house work. Mother baked all morning. I got the dining room cleaned before dinner. Nellie B. and children was down after milk at noon. I cleaned up the kitchen after dinner. I cleaned up the children’s room downstairs before dinner. I was tired when I got through and went to bed.

Sunday, March 14, 1915 26 Above. Clear & Cool all day. I took the little milk. Lewis fed cows at old Hollan place & Roscoe & heman went down Street. Lucy & Jim J went to Margall [?] in afternoon. Heman went a sparking down the line. I went over to W Jennings in the Eve. bought Calf.

Mar. 14, 1915 Clear and cool. The wind blew all day. We didn’t get up very early this morning. Papa took the little milk. Heman and Roscoe went away in morning. Clarence came over in afternoon and we drove over to Vesta Erickson’s. We had a good visit with her. She gave us some grape juice and some cake. I got back home a little before seven. Clarence came in and staid a little while. Mr. and Mrs. Shove were here. Uncle Clinton was here also.

Monday, March 15, 1915 15 Above. Clear & very nice. I went to New Milford in the morning. Heman took the milk then the Boys took to Loads of munare up to Hollan Place. Cut some stalks etc. I cut some Hickry wood for Mrs. Slosson. heman & Kew went down to the village in the evening after Roscoe.

Mar. 15, 1915 Clear and cool. Thje wind blew all day. Heman took the milk with Dan. Papa went to New Milford and drove Charlie to Kent and Roscoe went down with him. He came back on noon train. Mother and I washed today. Jnet didn’t go to school because she was sick. Lewis and Heman went to Kent after Roscoe tonight. Nellie got a doll from Bessie tonight.

Tuesday, March 16, 1915 18 Above. Clear & cool all day Heman took the Dwight came up & we Cut some ash wood for Mrs. Stosson in the fore noon & Drew in to the house Dwight cut little wood in the afternoon. Boys got lag of hay at the old barn for the Horrses I went over to Walt Jennings after calf.

Mar. 16, 1915 Clear and cool. The wind blew all day. I did the housework same as usual. Mother did the ironing. I did mine in the afternoon. Nellie B. and children down after milk. Heman took the milk.

Wednesday, March 17, 1915 14 Above. Clear & cool all day. Heman took the milk Came back took load of munare up to Hollan Place fore dinner. Dwight came up and finished up the little wood went over to W. Jennings got engine sawed up some wood had to stop and set saw & file it good shape for the morning.

Mar. 17, 1915 Clear and cool. The wind blew all day. I got up early and got ready to go up to Falls Village to Grange. Then we rode from there to So. Canaan to Grange Hall. There wasn’t enough teams there to meet us so some of us had to walk. I walked for one and Ester Soule for another. We had a lovely dinner. We had a ride back. They had lectures in our own church because the hall wasn’t large enough. They went over and got J’s engine and got set up. They didn’t saw very much.

[At this point Frank comes down with a case of “the grippe”. No entries until March 31.

Mar. 18, 1915 Clear and cool all day. The wind blew. Heman took the milk. Clarence came over in the morning and sawed wood all day. The belt came off and tore into Papa. Laced it up again and it went all right after that. When Clarence went home I went over to the wire fence with him. I was up watching them saw wood in the afternoon. Lewis and I went over to Jennings in the evening and they were surprised to see me. I had a very good visit. We got home twenty minutes of eleven.