1950

January

1. Temp 56. Went to SS and over to see Aunt Bess – Dad, Sis and I. Got back home at 1:10. She is very sick. 5:00 – went up to Frazier’s awhile. Raining some.

2. A fine day. Warm. Raining some.

3. Raining but warm. Went to gymnasium to see high school beat Matoaka. A big score.

4. A fine day. Temperature reached 68. Sun bright. Wind high tho. Went home and shelled corn and flushed out the drain pipe. Dad’s birthday – 77 years old.

5. Temp 56. Cloudy – looks like bad weather.

6. A very nice day. Snowed just a little early this morning.

7. A nice day – rather cold tho.

8. Temp 14 this morning. Went to SS and church. Carl Bailey took over as Superintendent of Sunday School for one year. Stayed home all afternoon. Went to church at 7:30 to hear Dr. Stewart on stewardship. Around 40 present.

9. Temp 18 this morning. Cloudy but cleared up and was a nice day. 5:00 - Raining as I went home. Got 6 eggs today.

10. Temp 48 this morning. Going to McComas today. 2:30- Raining as we came home. Went to gym to see Athens High beat Tazewell Va High.

11. Temp 26. Cold but clear. 12:30- Went home. Sewed some - fixed sheets.

12. Temp 32. Raining – no snow. Raining most of the day. Temp 32 at bedtime.

13. Temp 32. Clear. Sun out. Warmer a lot.

14. Blank

15. Blank

16. A fine day.

17. Cloudy, raining. Went to McComas.

18. Raining all day.

19. Raining, cloudy, foggy and cold. May snow.

20. Temp 12 above. Cleared up during the night. Benny Thompson had a wreck with his 1949 Pontiac last night. Parker Alvis, Junior Neely, Max Alvis, & Bill Hazelwood in it with him. Just leaving Princeton on sharp curve at Dr. Clemons home on Beckley Road. Junior Neely died at 3:00 this afternoon. Parker Alvis is bad – broken wrist and skull fracture. All of the rest are out of the hospital. Car- total wreck. Tazewell beat High School.

21. Temp 22 this morning. Cleared up during the day. A fine day. Went up to Neely’s after supper – Dad and I.

22. Raining today- temp 40. Went to SS & church. Home and ate dinner and went over to church for the funeral of Junior Neeley. Church packed. Military funeral. Went to cemetery. Went to church at 7:30 to hear Dr. Stewart.

23. Temp 40. Raining most of the day. J “Ceif” Lilly funeral and burial at Flat Top at 2:00 today. Dr. Lilly and Mrs. Vermillion went.

24. Temp 50- Cloudy. Going to McComas today. High School won by 7 points over Pineville. They were really playing ball.

25. Spring like weather. Went to Princeton – took 8 dozen eggs – got 30 cents a dozen. Home and put out my washing. Temp at 2:30 – 71. Summer weather. Clyde Lilly came & looked at our cow. Temp in Bluefield 75 at 2:30. Went to Uncle Doc’s awhile. Home and ironed.

26. A fine day again. Temp up to 70 again. Clear and hot. Did not go to McComas. Raining at 8:30.

27. Temp 34 this morning. Raining.

28. A fine day.

29. Temp 52. A nice day. Wind high. Went to SS and church, home, and ate dinner. We & Aunt Emma went to Henry Hearn’s funeral at Pisgah Church at 3:00. I went to church at 7:30 – end of stewardship meetings. Just pouring rain when we came out of church.

30. Temp 50 at 6 AM. Raining, rained all day.

31. Raining today. Went to McComas. Raining. High water.

February

1. Still raining. All day. Mrs. Jim Vermillion died this morning. Went to Princeton. Water all over bottom in Princeton. Went to gym to see Athens High beat Matewan 78 to 76. Oh, what a game. Jack Martin sick, not able to play. Toney high man.

2. Raining today. Groundhog Day. Water high everywhere. Sun out – may have six more weeks of bad weather. A school closed because of high water. Princeton flooded and Spanishburg Road blocked in several places.

3. Raining but clearing up. Temp. 27. Dr. Vermillion gone all day. Mrs. Jim Vermillion’s funeral and burial today.

4. Temp 16 this morning. John L Lewis is to answer President Truman by noon today to put miners back to work for 5 days a week.

5. Temperature 16. Sun out. Nice day. Went to SS & church. 3 baptized – Fred David Rogers, Libby Beckett, & Robert Scott. After dinner, Dad and I fixed leak in my room roof. Tried to fix up my telephone line - been out 10 days. President Truman invoked the Taft-Hartley law on Lewis and miners at noon.

6. Raining today. All mines are out. No coal being dug in the USA. Mullens beat Athens High tonight. Jack Martin made 28 points before he fouled out.

7. Raining today. Went to McComas. Worked hard all day.

8. Cloudy and cold. Temp 27. Washed clothes. Dried. Washed my hair. After supper, I ironed. Cold – temp 34. Raining at 9:00 tonight. Got to bed at 9:30.

9. Raining this morning. Temp 38.

10. A fine day.

11. Nice weather. Temp in the 50’s.

12. Cloudy but warm. Went to SS & church. Aunt Emma called for me to come up and get her big red rooster and put it with our hens so we can have some baby chicks. Raining late this afternoon.

13. Rained some. Cleared up later. Warm & nice. Miners refused to obey Lewis’s command to return to work. All out. No contract- No Work is the slogan. Government has moved with an injunction against Lewis & his union. President has invoked the Taft-Hartley Law. Still they won’t go back to work.

14. Temp 50 and falling. Raining. Wind high. Going to McComas. Miners still out.

15. Clear. Sun out and warm. Raining hard at 11:00. At 12:00, went home and cleaned and waxed kitchen floor. Snowing, some sleeting. Temp down to 32.

16. Temp 22 this morning. Snowed just a little all morning. No contract with miners yet. 9 days of no coal in Nation. Still blowing a little snow.

17. Temp 18. Cold. Snowing- ground white. 10 days of no coal – no contract yet. No miners working.

18. Temp 18. Cold. Snowing most of the day. Just a little.

19. Temp 26. Snowing this morning. Went to SS & church, home and stayed there. Sis came out at 3:15 and stayed till 4:15.

20. Temp 16. Cold and sun out. Miners turned down John Lewis second order to go back to work

21. Temp 15. Went to McComas. Miners not working. Left at 3:00. Came by Princeton and stopped and looked at Scott’s home – just finishing up. Went to gym to see high school lick Beaver - $1.00 to get in.

22. Temp 27. Cloudy all day. Dr. Vermillion gone to Huntington. 12:00- went home, washed, and hung clothes out to dry. Went to raining. Brought them to porch. Then put up lines and hung them in house. All got dry. Cleared off around 5:00 – nice. Ironed everything by 8:00. Tired. Raining at bedtime.

23. Temp 20. Snowing- wind high. So many are sick – colds and flu. Hinkle has 135 out of school. 206 sick in school.

24. Temp 24. Cold and clear early. Dr. Vermillion left for Beckley to take Margaret for exam and x-rays of himself. Snowing just like March. Dr. Higgins had his leg taken off up at the knee – very bad.

25. Cold this morning. Went to snowing at 4:00 and just poured until bedtime. Williamson beat Athens High School at gym. Dad & I did not go.

26. Temp 10 above this morning and still snowing a little. Went to SS & home to keep the house warm and stayed there. Jesse sick – had doctor at 8:30. Temp 103+ - cold - no pneumonia yet. Geo Beckett very bad. Dr. Vermillion sent him to hospital – hemorrhages.

27. Temp 6 above zero. Cold as all get out. Dr. Higgins died at 3:30 this morning and Mrs. Higgins collapsed and she is in the hospital. Not able to do anything about funeral arrangements. Alfie Keagles and her sister are taking over. Geo Beckett died in the hospital.

28. Temp 26. We went by Princeton to see Dr. Higgins at undertaker and on to McComas. Saw pickets in front of a store above Lake Shawnee as we went over (This store unfair to organized labor). Raining as we came home at 3:00. No work over there much – only emergencies. Saw truck putting out food at Pinnacle Garage - 75 or more in line to get it. Went over to Beckett’s after supper and down to see Jesse – better.

March

1. Temp 28. Snowed some during the night. Clearing up some now. Mrs. Higgins did go to funeral of Mr. Higgins in Winston-Salem NC. Dean Kirby and Stewart took her today. We went to Mr. Beckett’s funeral at 2:00. A large crowd there. Princeton High played Athens High at gym tonight. 63 Athens – 58 Princeton. Belcher and Buck sat on the bench- did not play them any. Snowing while we were at game. Wind high.

2. Temp 7 above. Snowing quite a bit during the night. Jesse and Lodema both sick. Neta and I went down at 9:45, stayed a while and back at 12:45 to see about them. Cold all day. Snowed around 11:00. Will be our coldest night of the winter. Wind high all day. Dr. Vermillion went down to Jesse’s to see Mitzi - temp 103 ½ under the arm. Flu- very sick.

3. Temp 4 above. Boy, it is cold. Daddy feeling bad- chest cold. All of Jesse’s are sick. Flu is raging all over the town and country. Nearly a settlement on coal strike. News at 10:00. Went to bed at 10:15. Athens High beat Spanishburg – 50 some points – in tournament tonight.

4. Temp 13. Cold and still some snow in place. Dad doing very good today. Coal miners may go back to work on Monday – not sure yet. Dad some better. At 9:30, bulletin came in – strike is over.

5. Temp 18. Clear, nice & warm. Dad some better. At 5:30, contract is signed by coal operators and John L Lewis giving miners .70 a day increase and .10 more on welfare fund.

6. Temp 32. A nice day. Miners back to work today.

7. Sleeting at 7:15 and again at 9:00. Just poured as we started to McComas. We waited a while and then left. Coach Patton died in Morgantown from auto wreck on Feb 14th. Concord Training High beat Kingston at Beckley in tournament. Princeton beat Bluefield at Athens in tournament.

8. Cloudy, windy and raining. I went to Princeton for feed for chickens & groceries. Dr. and Mrs. Lilly left for Beckley for dental meeting. Waxed living room floor. Went to snowing at 3:00. Wind high and didn’t stop until bedtime. “Concord” High beat Mark Twain at Beckley tournament. Toney- 29 points. QD, Ennis and kids came over at 6:45 and stayed until 8:15.

9. Temp 10. Wind blew all night & snowed. Had to walk to work. Carl Bailey came down to get his car going and got stuck up at that turn where he started up Caldwell Hill. Wind so high I nearly froze. Coach Patton will be buried in Princeton.

10. Temp 13. Clear – sun out. Good.

11. Very nice day.

12. Raining. Temp 50. Went to SS & home. Stayed there all day and evening. Raining.

13. Temp 50. Raining most of the day.

14. Temp 18 and cold. Went to McComas.

15. Temp 18. Warmed up a lot. Sun bright all day. Temp went up to 54 in the afternoon. At 12:00, I went home and put out my washing. Hartman and Eskew came & fixed my porch light to switch in from inside hall and put in a double wall socket for Dad’s radio. Cleaned up their mess. Ironed some clothes and gave out.

16. Temp 34 when we got up at 6:55Snowed and just poured until this writing at 12:00. Snowed and melted all day. Mr. Hinkle gave me two tournament tickets at our gym. Athens High won 66-53 over Green Bank at Charleston in tournament in Charleston. Temp 22 at bedtime.

17. Temp 22 at 6:30. Snowing fine snow- about 3 inches - covered the ground. We are to go to McComas today. Changed from Thursday to Friday. Joe’s high school boys won again today in tournament in Charleston. Princeton played Mullens at 7 – Mullens won. Big Creek vs. Welch at 8:30 – Big Creek won. Dad and I have tickets, thanks to Mr. Hinkle.

18. Cold. Snowed during the night and slick. Concord Training School basketball team won the Class B tournament in Charleston – 61-57 over Kermit. Town is real happy. Big Creek won over Mullens in an overtime period – 1 point.

19. Temp 18. Real chilly. Went to SS and church= 148 in SS. Church full for 11:00 services. Dad and I moved our oats out of our shed and stacked them so our new calf can be in the shed. Worn out, both of us. Got done at 5:30.

20. Temp 26. Raining, freezing, and sleeting most of the morning.

21. Cold this morning. Went to McComas. Plenty of snow in the mountains.

22. Raining. Temp 34. Went down to Smitty and got permanent in my hair. Dad’s cold worse – some temperature. Snowing and raining at the same time. Temp 26. Scott’s family came to spend 2 or more weeks at Dr’s while he is moving.

23. Temp 22. Snowing- ground white. Snowed a little all day. Wind high. Joe Vachon left at 5:00 AM for Morgantown with his boys. Free donations sent them. Went over to see if Dad was okay. Got in coal for him and got in eggs. Big Creek lost in tournament in Morgantown.

24. Temp 34. Very nice day. Went to McComas. I really had a sore throat today but Doc fixed it up. Gave me penicillin tablets. I also am giving them to Dad.

25. Temp 30. A fine day. Wind cold. Basketball finals in Morgantown were Wheeling and Elkins. Wheeling won by 3 points.

26. A fine day. Wind chilly. Went to SS and home. Had a new heifer calf when we got back. After dinner, Jesse and Lodema and Mitzi came over a while. We went out to Mae Dove’s to get a setting of eggs. Went up to cemetery and stopped by Aunt Emma’s a while and home. Doc and Lula had been there. Set hen.

27. Raining some. Wind high all day. Heard Belcher and Stewart girl were married last September. Wind nearly blew everything away at home. Dad was scared, I believe. He was so nervous. Just poured rain around 6:30 til 11:00. Leaked in my room- loosened roof, I guess.

28. A very nice day – some wind tho. Went to McComas. Came by Woodlawn & got me 13 chicks to put with my hen that only hatched 4 out of 14. Others could not get out. Wanted 15 – paid for 15. Got home and only had 13- cheated me. Raining at 9:30.

29. Temp 36. Raining at 8:00. Snowing and just poured. Big flakes till 10:00. Dr. Lilly gone to Charleston to Dental and Medical School meeting- he is on the committee. Went home at noon and washed. Daddy sick – also cow, Dad thought. I called for Dr. Hambrick and put Dad to bed. Dr. Hambrick came and said the cow was okay and gave her a dose of glucose and salts. Snowing and blowing. Colder a lot. I ironed everything.

30. Temp 19 this morning. Snowing some. Wind cold. Took Dr. Vermillion over to see Dad and he is okay – just nervous and weak. Blood pressure a little high.

31. Cool. Snowed a little. Plenty of snow going to McComas & coming back. Alice Lee & Garnet came over. Alice Lee wants milk but cow is still sick.

April

1. Raining- spit snow – just a little today. Dad still sick. Sleeted some in afternoon around 3:30.

2. Temp 50 – very nice day – wind strong. Went to SS and right home. Dad not feeling good. Got pink medicine and tablets for Dad. 165 at SS. Church packed. Preacher came over a little while. Cow feels real bad – calf fine. Quincy, Neta and Sis came out a while after supper.

3. Temp 52. Windy – cloudy some – very nice day.

4. Temp 50. A fine day. Wind high. Cow much better. Leora Coburn Bailey license was in the paper today – marrying a Cohen from Cool Ridge. I went up to High School to hear Dr. Baker on dental health for 40 minutes. He was good. Wind high. At 7:30, I went to the high school to hear Dr. Baker again – 20 parents there. Just pouring rain while there.

5. Temp 30. Colder – a lot. Wind like ice. Mrs. Jane Barrett called for me to come up awhile to see her and I went. She seemed to enjoy my visit. Went to Princeton Easter shopping. Came in at 2:00. Baked a cake and pie for Easter. Snowing and the sun is still shining. Just pouring the snow at times.

6. Temp 22. Snowing during the night and still pouring at times this morning. Snowed some all day- Melted tho.

7. Temp 29. Went to McComas. Plenty of snow as we went along and came back.

8. Temp 30. A very nice day. Wind cold tho. Mr. French’s girl’s husband died last night. Took Dr. V 4 qts. milk starting today.

9. Temp 34. Cool but sun out. A fine day for Easter. Went to SS and church. Virgil Bailey sang for church. QDS came over before SS. After dinner, we went up to Uncle Doc’s and went down to Quincy’s a while. Took Mitzi her Easter bunny and did she have a time.

10. Temp 39. Raining early. Dr. Lilly, Dr. Vermillion, Fred Cooper, And “Kelton” Eskew went to Bluefield to see Boston Braves and Cincinnati Reds play baseball. A fine afternoon. I went to Methodist church to Mr. Pollard’s funeral = Sam French’s brother-in-law.

11. Very nice day, Went to McComas. Sowed lettuce bed, Temp falling fast.

12. Temp 30 and cloudy. Looks like snow. Cleared up by noon. Went home. Washed clothes – dried good. Wind cold tho. Census taker came. Temp dropping – 39 at 8:00. Census taker came back at 6:00 – didn’t complete form. Ironed all of my clothes tonight. Raining around 8:00.

13. Temp 21 at 6 AM. Snowed during the night and still at it this morning. Real snowstorm around 11:00 – just poured for a while. Still snowing – temp 28.

14. Temp 15. Cold and just pouring the snow at 6 AM and on to this writing. All day, snowing at times.

15. Temp 18. Cloudy. Snowed a little during the morning. Dr. Lilly left at noon for Bluefield – Republican meeting. Came back at 4:20.

16. Temp 25. Clear and cold early. Went to SS and church. Ed Wirtz came over in afternoon. Airplane nearly wrecked in our field – scared me to death nearly. Quincy, Neta, Jesse, Lodema and Mitzi came out at 5:15 for a little while. My hen is hatching tonight.

17. Temp 28. Frost. Clear and warming up a lot during the day. My hen hatched 9 nice chicks out of 13.

18. A fine day. Rained a little. Went to McComas. Clyde White came out for 1 ½ dozen eggs to set. Stayed until nearly 10:00.

19. Temp 50. Went to Princeton. Got myself a new work dress and two pairs of shoes. Got home at 3:00. Went to the hospital to see Fred Ball.

20. Temp 38. Cool and some cloudy, “Clownie” Conner died suddenly in field plowing and was found by a boy yesterday. Scott Rogers went to him, put him in truck and took him to undertaker without calling the sheriff or anything. Snowing some at 3:00. Snowing hard at 8:00.

21. Temp 30. Ground white with snow. Snowing at 8:00.

22. Temp 28. Frost. A fine day. Wind cold tho. Carl Bauguess died at 1:00 today in Princeton. Sick- TB. Took yellow flowers up to cemetery. Kay went with us and Sis, Ennis and Fern came. Divided flowers with Ennis for her baby’s grave.

23. Temp 50. A fine day. Went to SS- 177 present. Church full for 11:00 service. Stayed home – moved our baby chicks out in pen next to house and at 3:00, it was raining some. At 4:15, Neta called and Sis was sick. We went out and at 4:30, called Dr. V. Temp 102. Came home and went back at 7:00. Temp 102 ½.

24. Temp 52. A nice warm day. Cow has a lump on her neck. Dad found it this morning. Went over to Princeton to see Dr. Hambrick. He was not in. Left word for him to come in the morning.

25. Dr. Hambrick came and lanced the cow’s neck. Infected where he put the needle three weeks ago. Planted beans today.

26. A fine day. Went home and put out washing, scrubbed porches. Got supper. Mowed all of the yard and came in and ironed till 10:00. Fell off my feet and went to bed. Dead tired and worn out. Finished planting my potatoes today.

27. A fine day. Planted corn today.

28. Went to McComas. Raining some. Went to Mount Jackson to church at 7:45.

29. A fine day. Real spring. Went to college to see baseball game. Concord won – 10 to 11. Played AB.

30. A fine morning. Went to SS and home – 159 present. Raining around 1:30. Laid down and slept awhile and up. Went out to Quincy’s awhile and home. Got supper. Went over to Mount Jackson to church. A large crowd there. Raining when we came out of church.

May

1. Temperature 54. Raining hard Early. Warm. Cleared up around 11:00. Quincy got sick tonight.

2. Raining today. Called Dr. V for Quincy at 6:30 AM. Temp 103. Dr. Vermillion went back to see Quincy at 4:00. Temp 104. Just poured rain around 8:30 to 11:00. Went out to see Quincy after supper. Really sick – flu.

3. A fine day. Parker Alvis made two screen doors for me and put them in today. Went home at noon and after Parker hung the doors. I painted the back one before it rains on it. Got up on the roof of house to see if I could find the leak in roof of my room. At 4:30 went out to see Quincy a while. Sis and I went to see her pupil who was hit by a car in the hospital – Shirley White.

4. A fine day. Boy, hot. 4:30. Went out to see Quincy awhile. I set hen tonight.

5. A fine day.

6. Cloudy, may rain but didn’t. Dad and I went to see football game. Concord won over Glenville 12 to 7. Came over town and stopped at Blaine Jennings to see television till 10:30. Very good.

7. Temp 56. Cloudy most of the day. Went to SS & church. Stayed home all afternoon. Went up to QD’s and down to Quincy’s. Quincy was not at home so we went up to Uncle Doc’s awhile. Got earache today.

8. A fine morning. Temp 42. Chilly early. Stockholders meeting of Bank of Athens. I cleaned windows. Dr. Vermillion giving me some penicillin tablets for my ear and sore throat – painted it.

9. Raining some today. Went to McComas Clinic at Dr.’s office. I cleaned & waxed floors and was it a job. At 4:00, Dr. Lilly brought Walter Wade, a colored boy, home to wash windows and work for Mrs. Lilly.

10. A fine morning. Railroad strike – 4 railroads. Went home and washed at noon. Showered but I got my clothes dry. So tired. Left home at 6:30 – came over town to keep from ironing. Felt too bad work anymore today. Dr. Lilly went to Welch tonight.

11. A very nice day. Cloudy most of the day. Mark Martin died yesterday in Pinecrest. At 3:00, I mowed front lawn. After supper, I finished ironing. Raining some tonight.

12. Cloudy. Looks like rain. Foggy early. Temp 56.

13. A very nice day. 7:00, I went to cemetery and took flowers. Mother’s Day tomorrow.

14. Temp 56. Went to SS and church. Raining some early. Dr. Lilly left for Huntington to Dental meeting. Went to cemetery and got my baskets and down to Quincy’s awhile. Raining, just pouring.

15. Raining. Mae Dobbins came to clean and wax floors in office. Took all day. Finished at 3:00. Tired. Dad sold our cow for $170 to Gene Keatley. Best cow that we ever had but I cannot do the work it took to see after the milk. Raining today. Ole Martin was buried today. Came over town after supper.

16. A very nice day. Sun warm. Still cleaning office all day. Hestor Meador died this morning – one of my old teachers at Liberty school on farm. Came over town a while.

17. A fine day. Cleaned again today. At noon, Dad & I went & got cabbage, peppers and tomato plants and put them out. This afternoon, worked corn, beans and potatoes. Mowed lawn and worked so hard. Rested on porch after supper. Warm. Dr. Lilly came home from Huntington.

18. Cooler some today. Hestor Meador buried today.

19. Temp 47. Clear and cold. Dr. Lilly left this morning for Charleston by Hinton train going to dental medical school meeting for state. Elizabeth Shumate Crockett died suddenly in Princeton – Dr. Shumate’s daughter. Churned – made 4 lbs. butter. Only one more churning today before cow is gone.

20. Temp 40. Chilly. Clear tho. Came over town after supper.

21. Chilly. Temp 42. Went to SS. No church. High School Commencement Sermon. After dinner, went with Frazier’s and Ethel Burch Martin went down to Bluestone Dam to boat races. A large crowd there.

22. Temp 43. Cloudy. Our cow leaves today and I am sorry to see her go. Boone Martin traded for her and calf with Gene Keatley.

23. Raining some. Went to McComas. Churned my last time – 7 lbs of butter in freezer.

24. Raining early. Just poured and thundered & lightning at 3 AM. Clearing up some by noon. Went home and washed – everything got dry. We went to Uncle Tip’s cemetery & mowed lots and then up and mowed Mother’s. Ironed most all before bedtime.

25. A fine day. Rained some tho. Quinzetta and Sampson Dillon, the preacher, were married today. Didn’t set too well with the family.

26. Rained today – hailed too. Went to McComas. Came over town to get Blaine to fix radio – went bad last night.

27. Clear and nice today – raining in late afternoon. Came over town after supper.

28. Went to SS at 9:30 – 145 present. Contest tied between Men and Women classes. Went out to Quincy’s after dinner. Sis and preacher came at 2:00. We left and came home. Quincy, Neta, Jesse, Lodema and Mitzi came out at 6:00 – stayed a long time. Sis mad at us for the cool reception to preacher.

29. Raining today. We decorated graves after supper tonight. Raining.

30. Raining today. Milk all gone. Mrs. Jennings letting us have 1 quart a day – sweet milk. Went up to cemetery. Got baskets. Cemetery decorated so nice.

31. Raining yet today. Just poured for a while.

June

1. Sun out and clear for once in many a day. No rain today.

2. A fine day. Went to McComas. No rain today. Dad and I worked in garden. We met Phyllis and Libby in Bluefield at 4:30. Sprinkled rain late tonight.

3. Raining hard this morning.

4. Raining this morning. Went to SS and church. After dinner we went over to Jesse’s and they were not home. On down to college – saw Oakvale and Athens boys play softball awhile and home. Mr. and Mrs. Wells came out awhile after supper. Quinzetta and preacher came over today.

5. Temp 40. A fine day. No rain. We staked and tied our tomatoes after supper.

6. Temp 46. A clear and cold morning. This evening we worked out corn and plowed other things.

7. A fine day. Warmest day yet. Dr. Lilly in Charleston to Dental/Medical School meeting. At noon, went home and washed and scrubbed porch, mowed lawn, got supper, sprayed tomatoes and ironed before going to bed.

8. A fine day. Hot.

9. A fine day. Dr. Lilly left for Morgantown for Bill Caldwell’s wedding. Quinzetta and preacher came out to Quincy’s and to stay, I expect.

10. Cloudy. Called meeting of Athens Telephone Company Stockholders to pay 25 cents extra to redo the lines – it passed. Raining today. Quincy real sick- heart condition.

11. Nice day. Went to SS and church. Went over to Jesse’s – they were not at home. Went for a ride and looked John Bailey’s farm over and stopped at Aunt Emma’s awhile. Got tomato plants and set them out.

12. A fine day. Preacher helping at store – surprised at it.

13. A fine day. Showered just a little. We did not go to McComas. Dr. Lilly left office and went to Bluefield.

14. A fine day. Cool. Dr. Lilly left for Ann Arbor, Michigan to Mary Ann’s graduation Saturday. I went home at noon. I painted screen door and did several other things. I took Dr. Vermillion 8 fryers –weighing 28 ½ lbs. Went out and saw Bo and Margaret’s house. Mrs. Jennings gave me 17 tomato plants and we put them out.

15. Hot today. Finished cleaning and waxing insurance floor.

16. A fine day. Went to Princeton a few minutes. Stopped to see Mrs. Caldwell awhile. All are gone from town but her. Walked out to see Quincy a little while after supper.

17. A fine. Hot day. At noon, went home, dressed and went to Betty Jean Perry’s wedding at church and on to reception at Perry house with Dr. and Mrs. Vermillion, Margaret, and Ora Peters. It was nice.

18. Temp 54 – chilly. Went to SS & church – 136 at SS. Cloyd Armbrister preached. Nice crowd there. After dinner, we went out to see Quincy. Aunt Emma went with us. Stopped at Uncle Doc’s and on up to the cemetery and home. After supper, we walked up on Broadway. Visited a few minutes with Carl Bailey and his wife and on out to see how Mrs. Caldwell is.

19. Stormed and rained during night & raining off and on all morning til noon. Dr. Lillys came in last night from Ann Arbor Michigan. Mary Ann is through school.

20. Rained again today. Dad & I went out to see Quincy awhile. Somebody came while we were gone and turned over all porch chairs.

21. Rained today – just poured at 11:30. Dr. Lilly and Carl Bailey went to Dunns to SS convention. I went home and washed. Raining hard - most of the clothes in house. Quinzetta is going to buy house from Jesse.

22. Rained most of the day – just poured at times. Still raining in the evening. Called to see how Quincy was but there was no answer.

23. Very nice day. Cloudy but didn’t rain any. Temp 84- hot night – first night to be hot.

24. Hot today and sun out and clear.

25. A fine day. Went to SS and church. Stayed home all afternoon and night. Laid on porch from 1:15 to 5:10. Never moved. Rained some.

26. Rained today.

27. Sprinkled a little on us going to McComas. Truman ordered all out “aid” for Korea. War is on again. At 11:00AM today, Alonzo Butler, Mrs. Caldwell’s brother fell and broke his hip. Worked out our garden good – everything.

28. A fine day. Not too hot at noon. Went home and washed up my blankets. Sprayed garden and dusted everything. Also picked berries and mowed yard – a full afternoon.

29. Up at 4:45- rain – to bring in my blankets that I left out - were not dry. In the afternoon, Dr. Lilly went with Mrs. Caldwell to see her brother on Lick Creek.

30. Temp 50. Cool = all day clear. Went to McComas.

July

1. Temp 48- cold all day. Clear – no rain in sight. At 1:00 PM, fire alarm. Basham’s house on fire. Basement door burned up - no other damage.

2. Cool & clear. Dad went to SS. I stayed home – not feeling so good. Fred Ball came over at 1:00 to look at hog. Stayed home all afternoon and night.

3. Temp 56. Cool and clear.

4. A fine day. Cloudy. I put out my washing early this morning. Came over and got my milk. Went back home. Stayed at home all day – raining in afternoon – a good shower. We staked our tomatoes just before the rain came. After supper, we came over town, up to the cemetery, stopped at Uncle Doc’s and loafed at Jennings a while. Stopped at Aunt Emma’s.

5. Temp 48. Chilly and cold. Going to McComas today.

6. Raining today. At noon, raining – just poured. Went out to Walls to a tea announcing wedding of Janis and Tom Bone. Came over town. Brought Mrs. Vermillion 5 qts. berries.

7. Rained today – just poured several times. Sprayed tomatoes after supper.

8. A fine day.

9. Went to SS and home. After dinner, Dad and I took Aunt Emma and Frazier to the Princeton Airport to air show. Oh, what traffic. I never saw anything like it. Saw Lizzie up there.

10. A nice day – warmer a lot. Dad and I went out and got strawberry plants from Aunt Emma and put out a nice patch. Fred Ball came out to see grass – will be here in the morning.

11. Warm & cloudy. War bad in Korea this morning. Going to McComas today. Fred Ball came and cut our hay down today.

12. Rained some today. Mr. George Caldwell, Will Caldwell’s brother in Mullens, died in Mullens. Went home at noon and waxed the floor. Dr. Vermillion brought over a bag of apples. Dr. Lilly put 2 bags of apples in car. I canned 9 quarts. Finished at 6:00 – tired too - believe me.

13. Raining today. Dr. Lilly took Mrs. Caldwell to Mullens to see Mr. Geo Caldwell who will be buried tomorrow.

14. Rained again today. Went to McComas.

15. Rained today – Just poured at 11:00. Went to Princeton, got groceries for dinner tomorrow.

16. Raining hard this morning. I took Dad to SS. I came home to get dinner for the Shepherd family – 7 of them – here at 10:30. We all had a nice day. Went over to Aunt Emma’s awhile – up to cemetery first.

17. A very nice day. Rained some tho. John Bailey came and raked our hay in rows. Finished at 7:50.

18. Cloudy all day. Our grass was down 1 week before we could get it up. Men came and baled our hay. We got 70 bales. No rain, only a sprinkle. Boy came out and put our hay in the barn after supper.

19. Hot. Rained some before 7:00. At noon, I went home and put out my washing. Beckie Jennings Via came out and picked dewberries. Dad and I helped her. After supper, we plowed our corn and cabbage and hoed them. Then I ironed most of clothes.

20. A very nice day. Dr. Lilly went to Beckley to dental meeting. Left at 9:30. Boy here doing wiring for Dr. E. Vermillion and put down linoleum on floor. Just poured around 2:00. Finished my ironing tonight.

21. Raining today. We went to McComas. Dr. Elbert Vermillion moved his office up from Welch today in back room. I sprayed my tomatoes tonight.

22. Raining some today. Came over town after supper, up to cemetery and stopped to see Bud Shumate’s tomatoes and also Dr. Lilly’s.

23. Cool this morning. Went to SS and home. Rained some in the afternoon. Went up to Uncle Doc’s awhile after supper.

24. Temp 62. Rained some during the night. Cloudy all day. I got 1 bushel apples from Dr. Lilly and put up 8 half-gallon cans and 1 pint. Finished at 12:40 midnight. Tired.

25. Rained today. Took Dr. Vermillion the last of my fryers – 4 – tonight. Loafed at Mrs. Jennings a while.

26. Just poured the rain. I have 1 ripe tomato today and cucumbers for supper last night.

27. Rained hard today. Alma Keagles has a 2 lb. 12 oz. baby girl. Had to operate on her.

28. Raining early today. Alma’s baby died today.

29. Temp 56. Foggy and cold. Dr. Lilly not in office today. N.J. White from Philadelphia is here on a short visit with the Lilly family. Alma’s baby to be buried today.

30. A fine day. Went to SS and home. Stayed home all afternoon. Nice & warm. After supper, went up to Fred Rogers and loafed in his back yard.

31. Raining today.

August

1. Went to McComas. Raining today.

2. Raining today. At noon, went home and washed and put up 9 qts. apple sauce. Raining- had to bring in clothes and put up lines and dry in house. Ironed a lot of clothes. Dead tired when I got to bed at 10:00.

3. A fine day. Chilly but nice. Had fun at the office. Dr. E. Vermillion thought he had our insurance office for his waiting room – an uproar all day. Dr. Scott had his call back to duty in the Navy. Put up 3 qts. apple sauce.

4. Temp 46. Chilly really. My tomatoes are ripening very nice now – plenty of cucumbers. Went to church – party for Mrs. Higgins. Several there. She got so many nice presents.

5. A fine day. Chilly tho.

6. Went to SS and home. Mrs. Higgins taught her last lesson this morning in Women’s Class – 27 present. Wells came down at 4:00 for a visit. Then we went up and looked at their freezer – 25 ft. We went up to cemetery later.

7. A fine day. Doc Jennings went over and mowed down our pasture land and meadow that Fred Ball didn’t mow.

8. Raining some today. We went out to Wells fishing in his pond. Dad got one and I got one.

9. A fine day. Raining- just poured at noon as I started to Bluefield shopping for wedding presents for Mary Ann Lilly, Mary Alice Klingensmith, and Janis Walls Bone. Got home at 4:00 and went to work on apples. Canned 12 quarts before going to bed at 10:00.

10. A fine day. Some clouds but nice. Dr. Vermillion cancelled homecoming at Elgood for Sunday because of polio – 2 cases in Princeton – 5 in Mercer County – 130 in Wytheville, Virginia.

11. A fine day.

12. A fine day. Went to Princeton today for groceries.

13. A fine day. Dad went to SS. I did not – got dinner for Rass and Aunt Pearl. They did not come. Was I mad! Mr. Wells came down and invited us to go to Camp Lightfoot at 2:30. I went – Dad did not. First time to see new Bluestone Bridge and dam. Virgil’s camp was really nice. Went up to cemetery and stopped at Uncle Doc’s awhile.

14. A very nice day.

15. Went to McComas. Raining today.

16. Rained. Just poured during the night. Went home at noon. Washed and canned 101/2 gallons and 1 qt and 1 pt of applesauce. Dead tired at bedtime.

17. Foggy and cold this morning. Dr. Lilly not working today.

18. A fine day. Rained a little. Dr. Lilly not working today. Everybody at his house is getting ready for the Mary Ann and Gene Hobart wedding.

19. A cloudy day and cool. Went home and dressed at 2:30. Ready for the wedding at 4:00 in Baptist church. A large crowd there and at the reception. Also I had charge of the gift room assisted by Virgie Dickens. Got home at 6:30.

20. Cold all day. At 9:30 Uncle Ras and Aunt Pearl came for the day. Dad went up to SS and home. We took Aunt Pearl home at 3:30. After 4:00 we went over to John Wirtz’s awhile.

21. A fine day. Cool tho.

22. A fine day. Went to McComas. Phyllis and Ken & Libby left for Iowa this morning. Dr. Lilly had a terrible headache this morning and we worked so hard all day. Donald Pettrey’s boy on the Springs Road has polio. Also another one - a girl of Dewey Higginbotham in Princeton – 2 in his family have polio.

23. A fine day. At 12:30 went home and put up 11 qts applesauce this afternoon. Dr. Lilly got a new Buick this afternoon – real surprise to everybody. Came over town and up to Uncle Doc’s a while. Took Alice Lee some small tomatoes. Stopped by Jennings to see television.

24. A fine day. Dr. Lilly sick all day – headache – upset stomach and swimming head. Dr. Vermillion went down to see him. At 4:00, went home and Dad peeled apples – enough for 6 qts. I put them up and came over to Jennings to see television.

25. A fine day. Dick and I went to McComas and on to Bluefield to get papers on old Buick fixed for Dr. He was not able to go to McComas – back by 11:45. Went to Dr’s new car – rides fine.

26. Rained some today. Went to Mary Alice Klingensmith’s wedding at M church and to reception at 3:00. Came over town. Stopped in tent church and stayed until 10:30. They were still going strong.

27. A fine day. Went to SS and church/ Jason Shumate got a telegram that “Elmer” Lee Shumate was killed in Korea August 17th. After supper, we came over to Jason’s and stopped at the tent meeting. Over at 9:40. Nice and warm.

28. A fine day. Rained some today. Dr Lilly went back to work. Becky Jennings gave me two nice letters.

29. A fine morning. Canned 3 ½ gal jars of applesauce. About 130 quarts up to now. Went to tent meeting.

30. Rained some today. Mary Ann and Gene left for Morgantown this morning where Mary Ann will teach music and Gene will go to school. Went home at noon, washed and ironed before supper. Went to tent meeting. Got home at 10:00.

31. Cloudy. Showered some. Mack Bowling’s boy is missing in action in Korea today – paper.

September

1. Went to McComas today.

2. A fine day.

3. Cold today. Went to SS & church.

4. Raining today. Canned 7 quarts tomatoes and 7 qts tomato juice. My vacation this week. Cleaned my room – tired. Went to tent meeting. Got a call from Beckley. Lottie saying that Aunt Bess had died at 8:50. The call came in at 11:15.

5. A fine day – cold tho. Came over town this morning – my birthday. Got to cards and $10 in money for my birthday present and 1 handkerchief. Cleaned kitchen and dining room floors and waxed them. Tired.

6. Temp 46. A fine day. Chilly tho. Dad and I went to Beckley to Rose Funeral Home to Aunt Bessie’s funeral and to cemetery at Flat Top to burial. Tired when we got home.

7. Temp 40. A cloudy day all day. I washed 3 quilts and 1 blanket today. Picked beans to dry and picked apples up from the back yard.

8. Temp 48. Cold today. Da & I went to Princeton. Got me a new washer _ Maytag. Cleaned and waxed Dad’s room. I went out to Aunt Emma’s awhile after supper. Stopped for finish up of tent meeting.

9. A very nice day. Did not come to town. Dad did not come to town until after supper.

10. A fine day. Warmer a lot. Went to SS & church. After dinner we went over to see Aunt Pearl and Uncle Ras awhile. Came over town and to tent meeting – last night.

11. Warmer. Temp 60. Came back to work today after a week vacation.

12. Went to McComas.

13. Raining some. Home at noon. Washed today on new machine. It is fine. Ironed tonight.

14. Very nice day.

15. Went to McComas.

16. A fine day. Cold this morning. Dr. Lilly in Charleston today for dental meeting. I cleaned and waxed his room with a new liquid wax.

17. Went to SS and on to Ed Shrader’s to a picnic. Nice crowd there. Dr. Roy, Lula and Margaret came in afternoon. Hot over there. Home at 4:45/

18. A fine day. Cool.

19. Went to McComas. Raining just a little.

20. Rained just a little early today. Went home and Dad and I took trash that I could not get town truck to take off. Dr Vermillion and Roy “Strount” from Welch came over to see lots at the top of the hill. He wants 2 acres of level part of Broadway. Raining late this evening. Dick left for school tonight.

21. Temp 60. Raining this morning.

22. Cloudy and cool all day. Rained some. Went to McComas.

23. Cold this morning. Went to Uncle Doc’s for 1 gallon of b. milk.

24. Temp 40. Cold all day. Went to SS and home. Went out to Speedway to Fred Phillips hunting for some pullets. Stopped at Fred Ball’s and found what I wanted- 15 laying pullets- $1.25 apiece. We went to Princeton to tent meeting- Eddie Martin- 2700 people there. Nearly froze. Went to garden at 11:00 and got tomatoes – will freeze tonight. Temp 36.

25. Temp 30. A big frost this morning. Fog up-may not hurt anything. Dr Vermillion left for Beckley yesterday for a checkup – stomach hurting him again.

26. Rained some. At 4:30 went to Fred Ball’s and got 10 pullets. Nice ones - $1.25 each. Cold tonight.

27. Cloudy and smoky all day. At noon, went home and washed and then Dad and I went to Princeton checking on Red Ash coal - $12.75 a ton. Got groceries and chicken feed and oyster shells and home. After supper I ironed and mopped the kitchen and waited for Joe Lewis and Ezra “Chiles” fight at 10:00. Ezra won over Lewis for World Championship.

28. Warm today. Nice fall day.

29. Cloudy, rained a little. Sold cider mill- $25.00- to Mr. “Church”

30. A fine day. Got an awful cold.

October

1. A fine day. Cloudy most all day. Went to SS and home. Went out to see Lizzie and Watson after dinner.

2. A fine day. Chilly tho.

3. Went to McComas.

4. Cloudy most of the day. Went home and we cleaned the chicken house – old one. Fixed floor and put straw in it. Pulled weeds in strawberries. Worked hard all afternoon. Went out to Fred Ball’s. Took back chicken crate and they came with us to hear Payton preach in tent. Cold as all get out.

5. A nice day. Cold tho.

6. Went to McComas. Rained a little. Mrs. Lilly went to Princeton to look after twins while Scott and Beth flew to Dayton for the weekend.

7. A fine day. Got an awful cold yet.

8. Went to SS. A fine day. Home and got dinner and went to bed. Temp 100 3/5 all day. Dr Vermillion left for Huntington – Grand Lodge. Went to bed early.

9. A fine day. Dr Lilly sick. Came to office awhile this morning and home. Did not come back til 3:30 and was I glad. Temp 99 3/5. I did clean and wax Dr V floor and cleaned his desk and tried to rest in the afternoon but too many in.

10. A fine day. Went to McComas. Woods real pretty. We were both sick today. Dr Lilly’s headache is getting real bad.

11. A fine morning. Dr Lilly and Mrs. Lilly gone to Bluefield. Dr Lilly is seeing Dr Gage about his headache. Dr Vermillion is not back yet from Huntington. Went home at noon and washed. Felt too bad to iron.

12. A fine day. Dr Vermillion came back yesterday afternoon from Huntington – so hoarse cannot talk. I feel so bad that I can hardly go – weak and still have a cold.

13. Went to McComas. A fine day.

14. Another fine fall day. Really warm.

15. A fine day. Temp 60. Near 80 during the day. Went to SS and church. Men’s Bible class had church services. Was real good. Last Sunday for Ray Eskew before he leaves Thursday for the Army. Fixed back porch and chicken house with Vibroflex paper. Went up to Uncle Doc’s awhile after supper for milk.

16. Temp 46. Nice day again today. Real fall weather. 2:00 – message came Lloyd Oxley to Dr Vermillion to go tell Piney Bird that Claude fell and killed himself at Page Coal Company today. Myself and Fred Cooper went with him over to Bird’s to take the message. We stopped and got John out of college and took him with us – was sad. Lloyd stopped and told us how it happened before we went over to see Piney.

17. Temp 40. A fine day.

18. A fine day. Wind high. At noon, home dressed and went to Princeton for chicken feed and groceries. Back to Methodist Church to Claude Bird’s funeral and burial. Masons had charge. QD in this one. Large crowd there. Home and did some work.

19. A cloudy day. Rained just a little. At 6:35, news of Princeton said Albert White died in the hospital this afternoon. We did not know that he was sick.

20. Raining just a little this morning. Dr Lilly and Mrs Lilly left for Morgantown to spend the weekend with Mary Ann and Jean. Junior Thompson is to be our new policeman I just heard. “Noble” only kept it a few weeks and quit.

21. A fine day. Bob Martin died this morning at 4:30. Homecoming Day at Concord. A large crowd – 3000- there. Dad and I walked down. 30 Potomac State vs. Concord 0. Sorry game. We went up to Bob Martin’s after supper.

22. A fine day. Went to SS. I stayed for church. Sam Barrett died at 10:30 this morning suddenly. After dinner, Ennis and kids came over. Then Uncle Hade and MaryLee came driving in. They left at 5:40. Boy did they enjoy themselves. After supper we went up to Bob Martin’s.

23. Raining early and most of the day. Just a drizzle. Bob Martin buried today. I did not go to Bob’s funeral. We worked. I went up to Barrett’s after supper awhile. Foggy.

24. Foggy this morning and a drizzle of rain. Going to McComas. Rev Hensley is here to preach Sam Barrett’s funeral.

25. Cloudy and cooler.

26. A fine day.

27. A fine day. Went to McComas.

28. A fine day.

29. Temp 26 and snowing a little at 6:30 this morning - a fine day. Went to SS and church. Went up to Uncle Doc’s and on up to Wes Martin’s. Ennis and kids and Alice Lee went along.

30. Fine weather.

31. Went to McComas. Dressed up for Halloween. I got 2 prizes. No one knew me if Quincy had not told on me.

November

1. A fine day. Chilly some early. At noon, Dad and I left and went to Bluefield to see Uncle Tip.

2. A fine day.

3. Went to McComas.

4. Raining and colder during the day. Snowing at 7:15 tonight. Temp 29.

5. Temp 26. Snowing at 6:30. Went to SS and church to hear Dr. Picket preach. Full house. Mr and Mrs Wells came down awhile around 3:40. Cold tonight.

6. Warmed up during the night. A fine day.

7. Election Day. We did not go to McComas today. Town full of people all day.

8. Temp 60. Cloudy – looks like rain. Gertrude Dobbins Higginbotham 12 year old girl died at 5:30 this morning. Election over and Democrats elected in Mercer County. At noon, I went home and washed. Dr Vermillion left at 3:30 to Bluefield. Got supper early and telephone rang. Mrs. V wanting to know where Dr L was. Mrs. WJ Lilly fell up at Ora Peter’s and Ora called for me to go up and help her. We took Mrs. Lilly to hospital. Bad cut on her leg and lots of skinned and bruised places.

9. A fine day- wind rather high. Went down to Earl Higginbotham’s awhile. Did not go to funeral. Colder. Raining at 5:30.

10. Temp 33. Cloudy – looks like rain. Going to McComas today. Came through Princeton, stopped and saw Mrs. Vira Lilly in hospital.

11. A fine day. Raining some during the day. Cold tonight.

12. Temp 14. Cold as everything. Went to SS & home. Fern and Kay went home with us for dinner. Had a big time. Took them home and stopped at Fred Rogers. Gave him a mess of turnips. On up to Uncle Doc’s for b milk and home and stayed there.

13. Temp 18. Cold & clear. Took Dr. Vermillion a bushel of turnips after supper and went to show “My Friend Irma Goes West”. Dad liked it.

14. Temp 20. Big frost. Going to McComas.

15. A cloudy morning. Sprinkled rain as I went home at noon. Dad & I put up a screen door for winter and fixed window in the hall, cleaned out fireplace and fixed doors so they would close in Dad’s room.

16. Cloudy all day. At noon, went to Princeton for laying mash and groceries. WH Ellison died from a heart attack at 1:05 before Dr. Vermillion got there. I saw him in town Wednesday evening. Cloudy, raining a little at 9:30.

17. Temp 34 at 8:00. Dr. Vermillion going to Charleston – Shriner’s meeting. We go to McComas. It looks like snow. Raining a little at 7:00. Snowing a little at dark.

18. Warmer some. A very nice day.

19. Raining. Went to SS and up to Uncle Doc’s for dinner at 1:00. Dad, Alice Lee and I went to show “Fancy Pants”- very good. Home, raining and stayed in. Temp 42. Raining.

20. Temp 52. Raining. Wind high during the night. Raining still at noon. Snowing tonight.

21. Temp 16. Snow blowing hard. 2 inches of snow on road – so slick. We did not go to McComas – too bad.

22. Cloudy all day. At noon, went home and washed, hung clothes but had to bring them in. They dried and I ironed everything.

23. A fine day. Clear and high winds. Thanksgiving. I washed two quilts and they dried nicely. Dad shot a rabbit down at the rail pile and it backfired and skinned his upper lip and nose. Came in bleeding bad and scared me pink. Cleaned Dad’s room, waxed floor and put away porch furniture. At 4:15, Fred and Mrs. Rogers came over to see us. Left at 15 til 6. I washed my hair after supper. Temp 36 at bedtime.

24. Temp 40. Cloudy, 36 at 7:45- temp falling fast. MacArthur says that the war is nearly over. Our boys will be home by Christmas. Going to McComas today. Left McComas at 12:45. Snowing ever since we got here. Roads slick down to Montcalm. Could not come by Matoaka so when we got to Bluefield, no snow from there on in. When we got in at 2:00, it went to snowing and boy, did it.

25. 2 below zero. Snowing and blowing all day. Drifting. Worse day I ever went out on Broadway.

26. 4 below zero. We could not get out for SS today. Fred Rogers called saying that he would give Dad a rain check. We could not even walk out. Boy, wind high all around. Snowed all day.

27. 6 above zero. I made it to work this morning. Took me 45 minutes with high boots on and snow pants. Sick- kidney disturbance. Dr. gave me 2 sulf. Tablets and they are working on my knees and ankles.

28. 10 above. I came over and got some medicine. Dr. Vermillion took me to top of hill and I went to bed. Oh, so sick. Dad killed a rabbit with a stick this morning. Temp 102 and am I sick. Slept in Dad’s room. Afraid to go to my bed – so cold there.

29. Temp 16. Still too sick to come to work. In bed all day. Still snowing all over USA. The storm left out nobody.

30. Temp 20 this morning. I came to work today. Weather bad.

December

1. A very nice day but we did not go to McComas.

2. Melting today. Warm wind.

3. Walked to SS and then home. Stopped to Jimmy at Frazier’s awhile. Snow going away fast.

4. Temp 26. Snowing a lot- freezing. Got my car out today. Took in feed and flour. Had to do a lot of shoveling up Caldwell Alley. Fred Coburn drove it out for me. Slick at 5:00 as I went home. Temp 20.

5. Temp 26. We left for McComas at 9:30. Went to Princeton and thru to Bluefield. Slipped some. Snowing a lot in the evening.

6. Cloudy and cool. Temp 32. Mr. Hinkle came in and gave Dad and me a ticket to all of the high school games. Were we tickled! Went to Princeton and got chicken feed, flour and groceries. Plenty to do for a few weeks. Washed and put clothes out. High wind. They all dried except Dad’s underwear and pants. Ironed everything. Wind high. Temp 30 at bedtime.

7. Temp 39. Raining and continued on til this writing at 12:30. Wind high. Cleared up at 1:30. No more rain. Temp dropping. Went to gym at 7:00 to basketball game. Mercer vs. Jr. Jr. won. Shady Spring vs. High School. We won. Temp 20 when we came out.

8. Temp 17. Still clear and sun out early. Going to McComas. High water turned us back at bridge this side of Roland sisters. Came back to Bethel church. Went thru Princeton and slick places in road where water ran across road and froze. Dr. Lilly was whipped when we got there at 10:30.

9. Cloudy all day.

10. Temp 28. Snowing this morning. Went to SS and I stayed for church. Church bought chimes for $1072.00. Some were against it. Snowed all day without ceasing. Fine snow still at it at bedtime. Temp 20.

11. Temp 16. Still snowing – about 4 inches of snow- and road covered with ice.

12. Temp 15 above. We did not go to McComas. Roads too slick. Snowing a little all day.

13. Temp 25. Warmer some. Cloudy all day. I caught the 12:00 bus and went to Princeton shopping. Snowing a little in the afternoon. Came home on the 2:30 bus. Baked an apple sauce cake tonight.

14. Cloudy most of the day. Temp 16 this morning. Warmed up and melted a little today. Temp 28 at bedtime.

15. Temp 25 and cloudy. Looks like snow this morning. We are going to McComas today – maybe. Snowing at 8:15 AM. Aunt Ida Powell died at 10:00 this morning. We left at 3:00 from McComas. Just pouring snow and wind high. Roads slick to Matoaka.

16. A very nice day. Cold tho.

17. Temp 30. Cloudy and cool. Went to SS and up to Phil Thompson’s in Princeton to see Aunt Ida Powell before they bury her today. Saw Maggie Lafon – first time since we left the farm. Home. Snowing at 11:30 AM and on all afternoon. Temp dropping fast all day and night.

18. Temp 7 above. Snowing a little all day. Stayed around 20 above all day. Temp at 9:00, 14 above. Cold. No wind.

19. Temp 10 above/ Just pouring snow at 6:30 AM. Just started when we got up and soon quit. Guess that we will go to McComas – Did not go to McComas but did very little work.

20. Temp 14. Snowing hard at 6:00 AM but quit soon after 8:00. I went to Princeton at noon. No snow on the road. Got plenty of feed for chickens and finished shopping. Went up to see Molly MaCauley. She is so sick – cancer- and who did I find there looking after Mollie – None other than Preacher Dillon’s first wife. She told me all. They had been married thirty years and their daughter is 24 years old. Home at 2:30. Baked a lemon pie for Xmas. Washed my hair also.

21. Temp 14. Cloudy. No patients today. Just loafing. In the evening, temp up to 24.

22. Temp 28. Cloudy. Looks like something will happen today for sure.

23. Very nice day. Dr. Lilly hurt his back shoveling snow.

24. Temp 18. Cold and clear. Went to SS. Had our SS treat? 150 present or more. Just didn’t have enough to go around.

25. Cold. Temp 20. Clear all day. Wind. I got $65 in presents. I took Aunt Emma and Frazier up to Verena’s on the Princeton Road. Home and got dinner. Dr. L. and Dick came over at 11:30. At 2:00, QD’s family came and stayed till 4:00. At 5:15, we went up to Wells’ and on up to Doc’s a few minutes and down to see QD’s Christmas tree and home at 7:15.

26. Cold 26. No work on books. Just loafed in office. Harry Parker and Brent went out to see us – thought that I would be home. QD came and got our old hen. Temp dropping fast tonight. Snowing late tonight.

27. 5 above zero. Clear this morning. Went home and washed clothes. Froze stiff by the time I got them out on line. All dried and I ironed everything by 9:30. 9 eggs.

28. Temp 8. Clear and cold today. Dr. Lilly’s back still bothering him. Cloudy at bedtime. Looks like snow. 14 eggs.

29. Temp 25.about 3-4 inches of snow. Started raining and freezing at 11:00 last night – slick this morning. We may not go to McComas today – don’t know yet. Dr. Lilly and the Bibbees went to Beckley last night to the Mann’s girl’s wedding and did not get home until 3:00 this morning. We did not go to McComas. 14 eggs.

30. Temp 17. Cloudy all day. Did not melt too much. Chimes are in and installed. Rang them at 12:00 noon today.

31. Temp 26. Went to SS and home. Snowing a little as we went home and stayed there. December was a bad winter month. Temp at bedtime 20 and getting colder. 17 eggs today.