1954

January

1. A fine day. Came uptown and up to see Aunt Chris and down to Neta’s & Quinzetta’s for dinner - the whole family was there. Sarah Reed died at 2:15 today. Home and watched the West Va. Football game against Georgia Tech. W. Va. got beat by a big score in the sugar bowl. Came in good.

2. A fine day. Rather cool tho. Harrys came after supper and left at 9:30. Raining a little.

3. A fine day. We went to SS & church & home. Ate dinner and went to Elgood to Sarah Reed’s funeral & burial. Church full. Saw so many people. Didn’t go to church - stayed home.

4. Temp 22. Sun out. Very nice day. Jasper McManaway was buried today at 2:00. Died from injuries of an auto wreck. At 7:00, all of the family came -10 in all - to surprise Dad on his 80th birthday. I served refreshments - ice cream, cake & coffee. All had a big time.

5. Cloudy. Rained some. Went uptown for milk and home. Didn’t do much today. At 1:00, laid down and slept till 3:30. Snowing some. Harry’s 5 came at 6:30 and left at 9:00.

6. Temp 25. 1 inch of snow on ground and roads slick. Still snowing just a little.

7. A very nice day. 

8. Cold. I washed early this morning. Dad & I went to Princeton to get 2 tons of coal from Pioneer lump coal, no soot in it. Went up and saw Beckie and Meredith’s new home and Beckie came home with us. Ironed up everything. Blaine came and fixed a loose wire on TV. Much better. Went to gym to see Athens Hi beat Matewan Hi. A real good game. Saw fight when we got home.

9. A bad day. Raining. Nobody came tonight.

10. Raining. We went to SS & church. After dinner we went up to see Aunt Emma a while & over to see Rufus and Ethel. They were gone. Went home and stayed there.

11. Temp 19. Snowed during the night. Froze and ice on everything. I got out ok. Snowed some all day. Cooler a lot. Rev. Burnside has bought Gregg farm across on Missionary Ridge Street from us. Real cold.

12. Temp 6 above. Snowing and wind high. Came over town for milk and home to clean house. Temp did not get above 15 all day. Harry’s 5 came at 6:50 and left at 9:30. Temp 5 above. 13 eggs.

13. Temp 0 - cold. Cloudy. Wind laid. I got out with car. Temp 20 all day. At 3:30, still really cold. At 4:30, Harrys came.

14. Temp is 18. Started snowing early and continued all day. Slick. Our worse day. Pioneer Coal brought us 2 tons of white oak coal today. At 2:30, snowing really hard. Really a bad day. Nobody came. About 3 inches of snow at 6:00. Temp started raising and rained ice all over everything.

15. Raining Temp near 40. Slick, oh was it slick. I stuck up on Caldwell hill but got a new start and came out ok. Left car on hill for basketball game tonight. Rained all day. Mrs. Woodrum fell at Clay’s and broke her leg 4 in. above the knee. Also Mrs. Clay fell and fractured her wrist. Mr. Clay fell & hurt his side. Mr. Woodrum started to fall and grabbed the porch column and checked his fall. 3 went to hospital. Williamson High beat Athens Hi - 4 points in a real hard game - 500 present to see it. A thriller. Joe’s first to loose so far of 7. Kay, Fern & Mitzi went with us to game.

16. Raining -33. Rained all night. Still raining at noon. Nobody came tonight.

17. A very nice day. Temp 15. Went to SS & church. Snowed a lot today.

18. A very nice day. At 3:30, went up to Lloyd’s awhile. Harrys came. Moon in eclipse and we could see it good.

19. A cloudy day. I washed and it turned out to be a nice day. Came over town for milk and home. I ironed everything. This evening went up to Lloyd’s after supper. A nice evening.

20. A fine day. Nice and warm. Raining. Raining hard this evening. Cooler a lot. Went to gym to Athens beat Bluefield Beavers by 20 points.

21. Colder a lot. Snowed all day. Freezing. Ethel took Rufus to hospital today - heart condition. This evening, Harrys came up.

22. A slick day. We came over town for milk and mail & home. Nobody came.

23. Warmed. Still snow in places. Harrys came late. Left at 10:00.

24. Cold. Went to SS & church and home. Ate dinner and went to Princeton to see Rufus and up to Ches Steele’s awhile and home. Saw Aunt Chris as we went over. Missed church.

25. Cloudy. Temp 38. Misting rain a little. This evening we went up to Lloyd’s awhile.

26. A very bad day. Wind high. Temp went up to 68. We sat on porch awhile. I cleaned & waxed Dad’s room. Sally & Lloyd came for a while. Left at 8:30.

27. A fine day. Temp still high. Harrys came down for fight at 10:00. Joe’s Hi got beat at Northfork.

28. Cloudy. Snowed some. Harrys came this evening.

29. Cloudy. Dad & I went to Princeton for chicken feed & groceries. Beckie came home with us. We went to see Rufus awhile and home. Nobody came.

30. Temp 20. A very nice day. Joe’s High got beat at Big Creek - 10 points. Harry & Eula came and left at 9:00.

31. Cold Temp 19. Went to SS & church. Home and stayed there the rest of the day. Jim Easley died today. Wind so cold all day.

February

1. Temp 22. Wind really cold again today. At 1:00, Bill Shepherd came up in office to see us awhile. They are fine. Sam Holroyd came to see us in office. Also came back to game tonight. Joe’s Hi beat Hinton Hi. Not so many there.

2. Clear & very nice. Wind high. Groundhog Day. I washed and came over town for milk. Asked men to keep trucks and cars off of our land around Finkleman’s house. They paid no attention. Later in day I saw them go out over us with trucks 5 times. Sun out - bright. I ironed nearly all my clothes. Got ready and went to cemetery to Jim Easley’s burial. Wind so high. Dr. Lilly had an operation chair seat & back covered today - red - so nice. Went over to see Rufus. He came home from hospital today. Eula & Max were sitting on porch waiting for us at 6:45. Left at 9:30.

3. Temp 30. Snowing at 6:00AM. Just poured for a while. Athens beat Tazewell Va. High.

4. Temp 22. Clear when we got up at 6:00. Cloudy solid by 7:00 AM. At 8:30, pouring the snow and continued to pour most of the day. Still snowing at 3:30. Harry came and left at 9:30.

5. Temp 17. Snowing yet most all day. I walked over town for milk & mail & home. Washed my hair. Melting and snowing yet.

6. Temp 20. Snowing yet today. I came to work in car - got out ok. Brown Scott had a brain hemorrhage yesterday. Real bad. Harrys came at 7:15 and left at 9:30.

7. Snowing a little early this morning. Temp 10. Went to SS & church. Home and ate dinner. Went up to see Aunt Chris and down to see Rufus awhile. Home. After supper Jesse came over awhile. I gave him one of Dad’s good pictures – latest one made.

8. Temp 8. Really cold. No wind. Cloudy at noon. Harrys came this evening.

9. Cold today.

10. Cold. Temp 14. Jesses came and stayed till after the fight. Also Harrys were here.

11. A fine day

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18. A fine day. Neta called early telling us that “Ould” Steele died yesterday at 5:00 PM. Dropped dead. Ike Pettrey died today in hospital. Garnet Gautier was hit by a car at 5:30 just below the crossroads. She is in hospital. Car ruined. Several boys hurt in car that hit her. We went to gym to see Joe Hi beat Greenbrier College. A fine game.

19. Went to Bluefield with QD & Ennis. Went to see Jack Parker and Mrs. Woodrum at Bluefield Sanitarium. Shopped and got me 3 $1.00 blouses & caught bus back to Princeton. Visited with Dr. John Shumate & Garnet Gautier at Memorial Hospital and got groceries and home. Harry took Dad & me up to Chester Steele’s at 6:30 and home at 10:10. A large crowd there.

20. Raining today. I worked till noon and went home and dressed and went to Elgood to Mrs. Ches Steele’s funeral & burial. Just pouring the rain at Elgood. Harrys came up at 6:00. We went to ballgame - Big Creek vs. Athens Hi. We won. When went to Princeton to see Ike Pettrey at Clyde Pettrey’s home. Home at 11:00.

21. A fine day. Went to SS & home. Got dinner and went to Graham Chapel to Ike Pettrey’s funeral. Up to Uncle Doc’s and home. Stayed there. Dead tired.

22. A fine day. Went to gym to see Athens High beat Princeton High by 13 points. A large crowd there - 1500.

23. A fine day. I cleaned house. 

24. Raining just a little. Harry’s came tonight for fight.

25. A nice day. Nobody came.

26. Cloudy. Rained just a little. Came over for milk. Harrys came and stayed until after fight at 10:00. In bed at 11:00.

27. A very nice day. We went to Princeton to see Athens Hi beat Bramwell 25 points. We got free tickets - it was tournament. Home at 9:45.

28. Went to SS & church. Elsie Holdren called at 8:00 saying that Aunt Chris fell last night at 9:30. Took her to hospital in ambulance - left hip broken. We went up Bill’s and told them about her and on to hospital to see Aunt Chris and Dr. John. Just pouring the rain. Temp 48 at bedtime.

March

1. Up early - 6 Inches of snow and still snowing. I had to walk to work. Boy, March came in bad. Harrys came. Walked in tonight at 7:00 - only slippers and snow drifted bad.

2. Raining early today. Wind high. Came over town. Walked for milk & home and stayed there. Nobody came tonight.

3. Snowing today. Flurries all day. Wind high. Tournament tonight. Joe’s High was beat at Mullens by Baileysville High 7 points. Harry & Eula came - walked in. Max & Jimmy & wife went to Mullens to see game. Got back home at 1:00 in morning.

4. Cold. 10 above. Still walking out. Harry’s came at 7:00 tonight.

5. 10 above. Went to Princeton to see Aunt Chris & rode bus. Also Dr. John Shumate-- - he is only so-so.

6. Cold. Brought my car out this morning - first time since Sunday. Alley full of snow drifts. Harrys came this evening.

7. A very nice day. Went to SS & church. Home and ate dinner. Went up to see Aunt Chris & Ann was in the operation room for appendicitis. Saw Dr. Shumate and also Lois Neal. Home and went down to Quinzetta’s a while & home. Tired.

8. News: Deacon’s meeting at parsonage at 6:30 and preacher was so upset he could not preach. Dismissed the crowd - said he was crushed. The tractor broke our water line fixing Finkleman’s driveway with “cobalt”. Water poured for hours. Several comments on church during the day. Harrys came at 9:30. I could not sleep good - 1:15 - last look at clock.

9. A fine day. I was up early & washed and came over for milk and home. Sprinkled clothes and ate dinner. Ironed 3 weeks wash. A beautiful day. Went up to Uncle Doc’s to find out how the sick are doing.

10. A fined ay. Snow yet where it drifted. At 7:00, Harry’s came. I went at 7:20 to church meeting - a full house. Anderson money was taken out of hands of 3 trustees - Fred Rogers, Dr. Lilly & Dr. Vermillion and put in the hands of 1 party. A real storm and then the preacher resigned of which was fine. The church split wide open.

11. A fine morning. Sprinkling rain at 6:00 AM but cleared up and is a nice day. Fred Rogers fixed my resignation for me for Sunday School Sunday morning. Harrys came tonight.

12. A very nice day. Still snow on ground. At 1:00, laid down and slept awhile. Nobody came.

13. Cold and Cloudy. Rained. Hailed. Snowed. Thunder. Lightning. All at the same time. Real bad morning. Finkleman tried to put his car in garage and got really stuck. Harrys came late and left at 10:30.

14. A very nice day. Cold tho. Went to SS. Supt. T.A. Beckett wouldn’t read my resignation and I had to do it myself and I did it. I am now out of everything as an undesirable office holder in SS. Stayed for church. After dinner we went up to see QD. Sick with cold and up to see Uncle Doc’s. Alice Lee was laying on the bed and did not get up. Home and stayed there.

15. A very nice day. Cold tho. Harry’s came tonight

16. Cold. Temp 16. Came over town and down to see Claire Bibbee a little while. Home and cleaned and waxed floors in kitchen.

17. A fine day. 

18. A very nice day. Harrys came tonight.

19. Raining and cloudy. Harrys came for fight.

20. Very nice day. Nobody came today or tonight.

21. Went to SS & church. Robert James preached. Very nice crowd there. Home. Raining. Stayed home rest of day.

22. A beautiful day - sun out - nice. Harrys came and left at 9:30.

23. Raining today. Cloudy. I did not wash. Came over for milk. Dad & I went up to Garnet’s to see Aunt Chris. She was discharged from hospital yesterday and Alice Lee called ambulance to get her and bring her to Garnet’s. Alice Lee went up to hospital to see if they could take her back. Went back up to Garnet’s and took my rubber sheet to put under Aunt Chris. Alice was there also Elsie. She went over to Funk’s and called the boys to come and get Aunt Chris. She came back at 3:20 as the ambulance came so she is on her way back to the hospital.

24. A fine day. Clear & sunny. Wind high. 73 when we went home from work. Harrys came for fight.

25. Cloudy some. A storm coming up and we had lightning & thunder & it poured the rain until nearly 10:00. Nobody came.

26. Cloudy early. I washed, came over town for milk, home and ironed up everything. Ate supper and went down to garden to see about my flowers – jonquils - and back to wash my hair. Harry came for dirt to put out tomato seeds. Then Ethel & Rufus came and stayed until after the fight at 10:00. Left at 11:00. Very nice day sun warm.

27. Cloudy. Temp 36. Dr. Vermillion went to Mullens to lodge meeting.

28. A nice day. Went to SS & church & home. Ate dinner and went up to Princeton to see Aunt Christie. Uncle Hade and MaryLee came at 2:50 to see her. She was really sick at mind today and tied in a wheelchair. Home at 4:30 and stayed there. Harrys came. Jesse and Lodema came for a few minutes.

29. Cold today. Rained some. Harrys came.

30. A mean day. Raining.

31. Thundering and a mean day. Harrys came for fight also Rufus and Ethel.

April

1. Clear today. Harrys came tonight. Harry paid Dad’s bet on coming. I won.

2. Rufus and Ethel were here and Harry’s came for the big fight. Bobo Olson won over Kid “Gavellian” - 15 rounds.

3. A fine day, No one came tonight. 

4. A cold day. Went to SS & church. Ate dinner and went over to Quinzetta’s a while and up to see how Aunt Chris was. Home and then we went over to Jessie’s. He is sick-flu - temp yesterday 103. Better today.

5. A fine day. I cleaned up all of the limbs off of yard and burnt them. Nobody came.

6. Clear and nice this morning. I washed early and came over town for milk. Home and washed my hair & got dinner and then ironed. At 2:15, we went up to Uncle Doc’s and on down to college to see WVa Tech play Concord baseball. Raining a lot. Had to stop the game on account of rain - about 15 minutes. Concord won in the last of 10th inning. 6 to 7. Raining hard late at 6:00. Thundering a lot also. Nobody came.

7. A little cloudy. Raining some early this morning. Temp 80. Drs. both went to Bluefield to see a baseball game. Two teams passing through and stopped for 1 game. Hot this afternoon. Harrys came and left after the fight. Church meeting tonight. They voted to reject the preacher’s resignation. All for him but 5 or 6. A hot meeting - I got home at 9:30. None of the trustees were there.

8. A very nice day. Warm. Nobody came.

9. Temp 26. A big frost this morning. Cane over town for milk, home, cleaned & waxed Dad’s room. Ate dinner and worked on raspberries - pruning and taking out all of the dead canes. Alfred Alvis came and got a truck load of hay. After supper we came over town for mail and went up to cemetery and stopped at the store for a while and home. Chilly. Harry’s 5 came. Left as soon as fight was over.

10. Temp 40 and cool. Cloudy most of the day. Nothing going on. Harrys missed.

11. A very nice day. Went to SS & church. Home and went down to Harry’s a few minutes to see how bad Ronnie Alvis was hurt in fight and jumping off of Carl Butler’s truck. Stopped at pumphouse to see a baptizing and home.

12. A fine day. Brought Aunt Chris home today. Harrys came.

13. I washed and went to Princeton. Alice Lee went with me. Back by noon. I got 20 cabbage plants. In afternoon, I ironed up everything. After supper I went up to see Aunt Chris a while. The girl that Alice Lee had left - didn’t come back.

14. A fine day. Doc Jennings plowed our garden and we planted our potatoes. I went home at 4:00. Dr. Vermillion went to 2 ballgames at Concord. Harrys came after supper.

15. A fine day. This evening, I planted onions and peas. Harrys came.

16. A very nice day. I came over town and helped Dr. Lilly take impressions for Andrew Easley. Dad & I went to Princeton and stopped to see Aunt Chris as we went. This afternoon, raining just poured - really rained. After supper, Harry’s came.

17. Temp 30. Snowing. Snow so pretty this morning. Did not lay on. Harrys came at 7:00PM. 

18. Went to SS – A beautiful day. Easter. Did not stay for church. We went to Harry and Eula’s for dinner. Came home at 3:30. Stopped at Aunt Chris’s a while and home. Went to Jesse’s to give Mitzi her Easter present. Went to QD’s and they were gone. Back later and gave the kids their Easter. Home and worn out.

19. A fine day. Nice & hot. This afternoon Dad cleaned, oiled and greased the mowers. Mowed the lawn. Harrys came.

20. Temp went to 80. We worked in garden all day. Planted 3 rows of corn, 2 rows of beans, 1 row of peas, 1 row of beets, and 1 row of onions. Covered potatoes with straw & leaves. And we were worn to a frazzle. Set out 25 cabbage plants. Boy, what a day. Went up to Lloyd’s and helped Sally set out 2 rows of onions. Nobody came.

21. Warm. Clear sky. Hot again today. Just like summer. Lilacs blooming, red buds and apple trees. Everything is so pretty. Harrys came after supper.

22. Fine weather. Harry’s came.

23. A fine day. Washed and ironed. Harry’s came.

24. Went to ballgame at college. Concord won.

25. A fine day. Went to SS & home. Dressed and went out to Watson White’s to his birthday dinner. Came home at 3:30. Stopped at Quinzetta’s a while and home. Mrs. Zimmerman resigned her teaching of the women’s class. She told me that Virginia also had. Harrys came.

26. A fine day. Harrys came.

27. Worked in garden. Put out strawberry plants - 2 rows. Made cucumber hills. Ready to plant on May 1. We went up to see Aunt Chris after supper.

28. Harrys came,

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30. Carried pine needles & covered up my strawberry plants and worked around all morning. In afternoon, we went to college to see ballgame. Harrys came.

May

1. Colder a lot. Henry Dunn tried to sell Will Williams farm today. Dad went down for a while. Sun hot. Went to ball game. Harrys came at 8:15.

2. A very nice day. Went to SS for the opening exercise. Dr. Vermillion told SS to send someone for birthday money that we have saved over a period of 20 years. Also resigned as Sec/Treas. Of the Men’s Bible Class. Also read Fred Rogers resignation and left. My last time at SS & church. Dad & I went up to Uncle Doc’s to sit with Aunt Chris so Alice Lee could lay down & sleep some. Gussie stopped a few minutes.

3. Raining a lot today. Harrys came.

4. Temp 34. Up and washed early. Came over for milk and home. Ironed all but starched things. Wind high and cold. Went to college to baseball game but we left at 4:30. Home and went to the garden and covered up everything - even corn and potatoes with leaves. Will freeze tonight.

5. Temp 30. Ice plenty. Frost a lot. Cold also. Everybody’s potatoes were ruined by frost & freeze. Those not covered up. Ours are okay. We covered everything and are we glad. I went to church meeting at 8:25. 25 present - a dull meeting. Virginia White read Dr. Lilly’s resignation as a deacon to become effective tonight.

6. Temp 38 at 6AM. Clear and sun out. Warming up a lot. Dr. Vermillion & Mrs. Vermillion, Fred & Pearl went to see Dr. Elbert’s wife in Tennessee today. She is very sick.

7. Cold today. Came over town for milk and paper and home. Sally & baby came down. Left at 11:15... Rained most of day. I baked a cake & cleaned cupboard good. Dad slept. Harrys came.

8. Cold this morning also. At 8:00 PM Dad & I went up to see Aunt Christie. Alice Lee by herself. I brought Dad home and went back and stayed till 11:45 and home. It was raining when I got home.

9. Cold and cloudy. We did not go to SS & church. Mother’s Day. Dad & I took flowers up to cemetery. Back and got paper & milk and home. Brought us over a banty with 11 chicks. Hailed, rained and snowed at 10:30 and again at 1:30 - Same thing again at 4:30. Cold. I covered up corn and potatoes again. Harrys came at 5:30 and left at 9:00.

10. Ice. Temp 30. Cold again today. Boy, it pinches. Harrys came at 7:00.

11. Cold. Rained a little. I went to Princeton and took Dad’s watch to get it fixed so he can wind it. Home by 11:30. Ate dinner and I cleaned pantry. Doc Calfee came and left at 3:00. After supper, Neta & Sis came over & stayed s long time. Then we went up to Aunt Chris. Home at 10:00. She is bad.

12. Cold yet today. Clear now and it looks a lot like rain at times. Harrys came for fight.

13. Cold. Sun out a little. Temp up to 60. First time in 10 days. Or more. Still got everything covered in garden. Fred Coburn brought us a load of coal $60.00 - we were out. Temp 40. Harrys came for Groucho & This Is Your Life. I won 25 cents from Dad. Raining when he left.

14. Temp 40 - just pouring the rain from 3:30 AM on. Dad & I went to Princeton to get his watch & home. Still raining. I cleaned & waxed kitchen floor. Dad slept. Just poured rain all day - never stopped. At 8:20 Harrys came for fight at 9:00.

15. Temp 40. Cloudy all day. Misted rain some. Dedication today of the Mercer County Airport. It was ruined because of so much rain. Strong Southern died yesterday morning. May Day Program today at 3 PM. I went up to see Aunt Emma a while and on up to see Aunt Chris a while.

16. A fine day. Came over town for milk & paper & home. Don’t go to SS & church anymore. We ate dinner early and got Florence Grimm and went to Elgood at 12:30 to funeral of Strong Southern. Big crowd there. So many people that I haven’t seen in years. Home, ate supper. Harrys came and then Jesses came. All gone by 10:00. Tired. Jesse said Neta was sick. We uncovered our potatoes, corn and tomatoes this morning. QD came over early this morning.

17. Very nice day. Warm. Don White’s wife died last night. Dr. Vermillion went down to see Neta early this morning. Pretty sick he says. I went down at noon to see Neta. Harrys came at 8:20. We went over to see Neta. She is real sick. Cold & flu. Raining tonight.

18. Raining this morning and all day. Came over for milk and up to see Aunt Chris a while and home. I cleaned extra bedroom today. Don White’s wife, Willie, was buried today. We did not know it – so did not go. Nobody came tonight.

19. Clear early but cloudy later in day. Harry’s came.

20. Cold today. Rained.

21. I was up at 5:30. Got breakfast, washed. Went to Princeton and back at noon. Ate dinner and sprinkled clothes. Went out to Tip’s cemetery and cleaned it off. Came home and ironed until 5:00. Ate supper and finished ironing. At 7:40 we went up to see Aunt Chris. Connie Blankenship died this morning. Harrys came while we were gone.

22. Another big frost. Ruined my potatoes and corn. Nobody came.

23. Sunday-Up early and took flowers up to Mama’s grave. got paper & milk & home. . Ate dinner at 11 and left for Connie Blankenship’s to funeral and burial. Home at 5:00. A large crowd there. Harrys came at 6:45 & later Neta, Sis & Dillon came - All left by 9:00.

24. Warmer a lot. Gas men (2) came to see me about another line today. Harrys came – Went out to Lloyd’s a while in regard to Gas Co. 

25. Warmer a lot. In the garden at 7:70. Hoed corn and planted 3 rows. Plowed and worked cabbage & beans. Put litter on everything. Finished all at 4:40. Dr. and Mrs. Lilly left at 10:30 today on a 10 day vacation-points to include Doc’s, Mary Ann’s, Fred Lilly’s of Portsmouth, Ohio and other points. Went up to store, down to QD’s and over to Jesse’s after supper for pepper plants (4). Harrys came for Truth or Consequences.

26. A very nice day. Cleaned and waxed waiting room floor & Dr. Lilly’s office room. Washed pictures and swept down walls. Tired. Gas men surveyed our new gas line to Princeton. Raining this afternoon - a real storm. Dr. Vermillion left at 3:00 for a college alumni meeting & banquet tonight. Just pouring the rain. Harrys came for fight. Met Lloyd & Sally at big gate and looked over gas survey.

27. Cloudy. Between here and Hinton a real cloud burst. Washed out building, 2 loaded trucks for Frank Lane blocked highway beyond Pipestem – slides in 6 places. Beckley Road blocked - 3 creeks overflowed - just ruined things. Rained again today. Dr. Vermillion went to college commencement exercises this morning at 9:30. Harry’s came this evening.

28. A very nice day. Came over town for milk and up to see Aunt Christie. Home and mowed the lawn. Went to Maxine Wiley’s shower at Harry’s at 7:30. She got so many nice things.

29. A very nice day. John Oxley & “Caushy” Scott were married today. Rained some in late evening. Also Viola Patrick and Mason Wiley’s boy.

30. Sunday. A fine day. Decorated graves and went home and ate dinner. Harrys came at 12:45 for us to go with him to the big milk parlor he helped build over in Bluefield beyond Bluefield. Got back home at 3:30. At 5:30 we went to Uncle Doc’s and on up to the cemetery and it was really pretty. Home at 7:30. Neta and Sis were up there.

31. A fine day. I cleaned & waxed hall & slips and lab & dusted & cleaned all pictures. Hot. Temp 86. At 2:30 - Ethel & Rufus came for a little while. Nobody came tonight.

June

1. Clear early. We covered corn & beans & cabbage and laid them by. Sally came down with Joyce & Betty Alice. Left at 10 to 12. We ate dinner and I came and got milk. Home and cleaned out kitchen flue and we had a big rain - 2 of them. Nobody came.

2. Cloudy this morning. Dr. Lilly back and working today. Harrys came tonight for fight.

3. Clear & warm. Mowed lawn at garage after supper. Harrys came.

4. Cloudy & cool. Dad & I worked in garden. Planted half runners & pole beans. Plowed rest of garden & got everything under control. Ate dinner and went to Princeton. Got Dad a coat - just an everyday coat. Home and stopped to see Aunt Chris & Casey had come in this morning. Home and put out tomatoes in paper cups we got at Paul Broyles. Harrys came at 7:15 - left after the fight. Raining just a little.

5. Temp 44 at 6AM. Cloudy & cool - really cold. Wind high. At 2:30, Fred Cooper, Dr. Klingensmith, Dr. Lilly, & Dr. Vermillion left for bank meeting in Charleston. Casey came home.

6. Sunday A fine day. Came over town for milk & paper & took Aunt Chris some roses. After dinner we went over to Jesse’s and up and stayed a while with Aunt Chris and home. After supper we went over to Neta’s and home at 8:30.

7. A very nice day. Hot. Rained a few sprinkles at 4:00. Harrys came for Name That Tune.

8. Temp went to 80. Up early and washed and sprayed everything in garden and dusted rest. Got milk at 12:30 and home. Mowed the lawn - most of it. Ironed - finished at 4:30. Got supper. Mowed rest of lawn down to garden and on outside. Set out 16 tomato plants and, believe me, I was tired. No one came, thank heavens. Hot 72 at bedtime.

9. Hot and humid. Early this morning. Harrys came this evening.

10. A very nice day. Harrys came.

11. Dad & I went to Princeton. Got fertilizer for garden. Worked in garden a while. Harrys came.

12. A very nice day. Hot. Harrys came late. 

13. Sunday. Came over town for milk & paper & went up to see Aunt Chris a few minutes and home. Spent the afternoon home as a real storm & wind came up. QD’s all came with ½ big watermelon and we ate it. And then they had to leave - left windows open at house. Lawrence Anderson’s home hit by lightning & burned at Pettrey. Visited Aunt Emma’s a while after supper.

14. A fine day. Hot. We drove down to QD’s after supper and they had company. We went on down and saw Mae Dove a while. We saw a car drive in over home. Harrys came late.

15. A hot morning. Dad & I went to Princeton and Dad had a deed made turning the farm over to ma because of gas line. He didn’t want to go to court. We worked in garden till 3:00. After supper we mowed yard until dark. No one came.

16. A hot day. Gas man was in to see me this morning. Message came this morning that Mrs. Elbert Vermillion died in hospital in Tennessee. Raining a nice shower. Harry’s came. Raining.

17. Cloudy. Showered some today. Folks (Note: Vermillions) came in at 1 PM today. This evening Dad & I went sown to Dr. Elbert’s a while and then home. 

18. Chilly today. A very nice day. We worked in garden. Came over town for milk and home. Jimmy Wiley has a new baby girl. Rained some. We went down to Dr. Elbert’s to funeral of Mrs. “Inda” Vermillion at 2:00. A big crowd there. Cloudy & nice. Harrys came for fight.

19. A fine day. Athens Telephone Stockholders had a meeting at 10:00 today & voted to sell out to Bluefield Telephone Company. All but 1 voted to sell & 26 absent. Hot.

20. Sunday. A fine day. Came over for paper & milk. Put out porch furniture. Hense Wiley, Rufus & son-in-law & 2 kids came over a while after 12:30. At 4:00 Neta, Sis, & Samps, QD’s 4, And Dr. and Mrs. Lilly & Harry’s 3 came. All gone by 9:30. I served ice cream, cake & drinks to 9. Tired.

21. Hot today. Finished road - Putting top on Hinton Road up to bank building today. Nobody came tonight. Got more sweet potato plants from Dr. Lilly & put out sawdust in bottom of row. Planted last of sweet corn - 3 rows.

22. A fine day. Hot. Washed and came over town for milk and home. Picked 5 quarts of raspberries. Took raspberries down to Dr. Vermillion. Sprayed my tomatoes & potatoes. Stopped by QD’s as we came home.

23. Hot. Harrys came for fight tonight.

24. Hot today. No rain. Mowed the lawn. Nobody came.

25. Hot today. Picked 11 quarts raspberries for Dr. Vermillion & Fred Cooper. 86 on front porch. Laid down and rested till 4:00. Too hot to work. Nobody came.

26. Hot. Really hot. After supper we went up to see Aunt Chris a While. At 9:00 PM Neta, Sis & Samps came for wrestling at 11:15.

27. Sunday Hot early this morning. Came over for milk. Picked 7 quarts of raspberries for Beckie and brought them over. Aunt Emma called for us to come over & eat birthday dinner with her and we did. A good dinner. Nice and cool all day. After 11 AM a good breeze. Home at 3:30 & at 4:00 Neta’s came & at 5, Harrys came. Left at 6:00. We got out and picked raspberries - 7 quarts - and came out for a ride and over to Jesse’s and got a rooster from him.

28. Temp 56 early. Chilly all day and a good breeze. No sign of rain. Sold Beckie 13 quarts raspberries. Harrys came tonight.

29. A chilly morning. Temp 48 early. Picked 10 quarts raspberries this morning. 4 quarts - Pearl Cooper and 6 quarts - Mrs. V. Came & got my milk. Washed and at 1:10 Dr. Vermillion called and said a man wanted to talk to me - Gas Man. He came over and we went over the entire farm from gas house to county road. He left at 3:10. Lloyd called and said that the gas man said that we had settled. I cleaned my bedroom - springs and all on bed. At 8:00 Houston Via and wife came over to see how I had settled with gas man. He had lied to him.

30. Cool. Temp 52. No rain in sight. Gas man back - big man wouldn’t see me. Gas man came back at 2:00 and offered me $100.00 damage to stay on me all of the way through. So I got mad and told him to go and see Lloyd and he did. Went up to Lloyd’s a few minutes after supper. Lloyd gave in and asked $350.00 to put gas through his lot. Harrys came - gave them 6 quarts of raspberries.

July

1. Hot. Temp 80 Early. Cloudy some.

2. Hot. Went to Princeton for mash and groceries. Hot in evening - 89.

3. Rained some in afternoon. Uncle Ras Wiley told me that Bernard Steele died yesterday in Veteran’s Hospital on operating table having a lung removed. Rained a good shower at 7:15. We went up to see Aunt Chris.

4. Sunday Cool early. A good breeze. Came over and got paper and home. Rest of family went on a picnic down below Hinton but Dad didn’t want to go so we stayed home. At 1:30 we went over to Fred Ball’s a while and on to Princeton with them to undertaker. Saw Bernard and home. Sis & Neta & Dillon came later. Harrys came. And later Jessie came. All gone at 10:30.

5. Cool today. Came over town for milk and not working today. No one in office. Went down and sold Wendy Dove my lot by Mae Dove’s home. Got out and picked 7 quarts raspberries - 4 quarts for Miss Hunter and 3 quarts for Dr. Vermillion - and took them to them and home. Ate supper and dressed. Harry’s came and we went to Fred Ball’s and from there we all went up to undertakers and stayed with Bernard a while.

6. Cool early this morning. We got ready and left at 10:00 and went to Elgood for funeral for Bernard Steele at 11:00. Not many there. Home for dinner and went to Princeton and got J H Gadd to write a deed for me to give to Windy Dove. Home at 3:30. Watered cucumbers & staked our pole beans. Harrys came and also the gas man to see me again. Cool tonight.

7. Cool this morning. Good breeze all day. Clarence Dove came up and gave me a check for the lot & I gave him the deed. Raining. Harry’s came & Jesses for fight.

8. Raining a very nice rain. Nobody came. We went up to see Aunt Chris a while.

9. Cloudy early. Came & got milk and home. Covered up my last 3 rows of corn and sweet potatoes. Finished up my garden. Everything covered now. Harry brought ½ watermelon and we ate it. Harrys came and we waxed Maxine’s car and went over to Quinzetta’s a while. Windy, Myrtle, and Mae came while we were there.

10. A fine day. Cool & nice. After supper we went up to aunt Emma’s a while. Mr. Frazier is back from hospital - looks “peckid”

11. Sunday A fine cool day. Came over for paper & milk. Home, got dinner, and at 2:00 we drove over to Fred Ball’s a while and home at 5:00. Ate supper and went to garden. Got 2 cabbage heads - one for Fred Rogers and 1 for Mrs. Vermillion and took them to them. Loafed with Jesses at store until church was over. 50 present.

12. Cool and a nice breeze today. Bluefield furniture brought in a load of furniture for Baptist parsonage this morning. Dr. Vermillion gone to jail. Went over to Jessie’s a while after supper. He sprayed his brush and weeds & killed part of his garden.

13. Hot. Up early. Washed and came and got milk. Home and ironed. Finished at 2:00. Watched ball game - American League vs National League - a big ballgame. Hot 87. Dry. Watered my cucumbers. Harrys came at 8:15. Left at 10:00. Hot.

14. Hot 90. Hot, Really hot. Harrys came for fight.

15. Hot Nobody came.

16. Very nice day. I went to Princeton for groceries. Nobody came. Neta & Sis came over for Old John but Dad was laying on him & she wouldn’t take him.

17. Rained some today. Harry & Eula came by and brought Jimmy’s baby while they went to a show.

18. Sunday Cool all day. Good wind blowing. Came over town for milk & home & stayed there rest of day. At 4:30 Harrys came. At 6:30 Dee Burch & Gloria came. Left at 8:00 We went out for dinner. Stopped and visited Ora Peters a while. Home at 9:30. Thunder. Lightning. Raining.

19. Raining at 5:00 AM this morning and on till 10:00. A good rain. Byrnside resigned at church yesterday morning so we hear. 4 new trustees appointed: Tom Beckett, Levi Scott, DC Pettrey, & HA Wells. We went over to Jesse’s to see how his sick cow is. Harrys came and left at 9:15.

20. A fine morning. Got my beets and put them on to cook. Came over town for milk and down to Dr. Lilly’s a while and home. Pickled my beets - 6 quarts & 1 pint. Went to garden and dusted silks on corn with DDT & pulled my onions. Got cabbage for Dr. Vermillion & Alice Lee & cucumbers and took them to them. Rained a nice shower. Home and got supper. We walked to Lloyd Oxley’s to see their garden and home. A storm came up - never saw such lightning for over an hour. It was a sight. Just poured rain most of night.

21. Cloudy. Showered a little today. Richwood had a cloudburst Monday. Washed out everything. A man - Mr. Godfrey - was killed by lightning yesterday at 3:15 in Matoaka. He was standing in the doorway when lightning hit him. Bad storms all around. Garden good right now. Harrys came for fight. Just pouring rain all night.

22. Cool & cloudy. Mowed yard after supper. Harrys left for Ohio to Bernard Coburn’s for the weekend.

23. Cool & clear & windy. Came over town for milk & mail and home. Cleaned dining room & waxed floor. Also in kitchen - cleaned windows and washed & ironed door curtain & dusted. Went to garden after supper & picked beans, cabbage, and cucumbers. Took Fred Rogers & Ora Peters a mess & got a poke of apples at Ora’s. Nobody came.

24. Cool & sun out. Nice day. We went out to see Dee’s folks a while at Aunt Emma’s. Quinzetta came at 8:30. We got back from Frazier’s at 9:20.

25. Sunday A very nice day. Came over for milk & paper and went down to Quinzetta’s and they were gone. Home and got dinner & Dad & I watched for a groundhog to come to garden for cabbage. Sis came again and left. After supper we went over there for a while and home.

26. A cool morning. I cleaned & waxed all 3 of Dr. Lilly’s floors. Dr. Lilly left yesterday for White Sulphur Springs for State Dental Meeting. Nobody came.

27. A very nice day. Washed. Came over town for milk. Home and ironed up everything. Harrys came.

28. Very nice day. Cool. I waxed Dr. Vermillion’s floors this morning. Dr. Lilly back. He-Men’s Party at Mercer Healing Springs. Drs. both went. Harrys came for fight. Went down to Hinkle’s and paid him for his stove that I bought from him - a Hotpoint Electric Range.

29. Hot - Hinkle’s left town - moved to his home. Resigned his school in Bluefield where they sent him from Principal of Concord Training. Jesse & Dillon came over. & left. Fred Rogers 3 came and left at 8:30. Wilson Woodall and another gas man came at 8:45 - left at 9:30 to be back in the morning.

30. A fine day. Hot. Temp 80. Up early. Jesse & Dillon are putting in a commode for us today. Gas men back early. I came over & talked with Drs. I signed up with them on a new survey down driveway & 6 feet from Lloyd’s and our line fence and then on through with other line. Sis was over - two trips. Sally Oxley called at 5:00 to see if Dad was okay. The gas men had been here. After supper we went up to Lloyd’s and Harry came. Samps, Neta and Sis - 3 cars - as we sat in Lloyd’s back yard so we had to go home.

31. Hot. Really hot. Phyllis & Libby came in yesterday morning. All finished on putting in commode. Hot really sticky hot. Harrys came late. 

August

1. Sunday A hot morning with a nice breeze. Came over town for milk & paper & home. Ate dinner. At 2:00 we went up to see Aunt Chris. OJ Byrnside Jr. & Pat Oxley were married at church. It rained at 3:15 and we went home. At 6:00 Neta, Sis & Samps came. Jesse came at 7:15. They ran cable in my attic for my Hotpoint electric range. All left at 8:30. Raining. (Note: Pat and OJ’s wedding was the first wedding that I attended. I was 9 years old. Remember it well!)

2. A very nice day. Dr. Lilly came to office too weak to work today. Went home at 10:30. Called AE Power to come in the morning and run third line for stove. Harrys came at 6:30 and left at 9:30.

3. Cool & nice. Groundhog ate three cabbage heads last night. I pickled 5 quarts and 4 pints cucumbers early this morning. Went to Princeton and home at 12:15. Went down to Dr. Lilly’s and got my stove. AE Power man was there running the line at 1:45 and had my stove hooked up and going. Primary election today. I baked a cake at 3:00 on new stove. Did OK. I have a real nice stove I think. At 5:20, raining & went to hailing and just poured for about 10 minutes - big ones - almost ruined our garden.

4. Cloudy early & cold. A big tree over power line at 7:15 up at Fred Cheatwood’s place and broke power line. We had no juice from then until 11:00 am. Lightning hit this tree about 3 weeks ago on Clarke’s place and was really ruined. Wind caused it to fall. Harrys came for fight.

5. Cool & windy. Estil Oxley died in hospital at 2:00 today. A foreman was brought to our office - shot in leg - we sent him to hospital. At 2:15, Mr. Loggins brought his girl to office door in truck. She was dead - struck by lightning over at Andrew White’s. I called Seaver to come and get her. Went to raining soon thereafter and just poured. Never saw it rain so hard. Washed our road down to the house awful. We fixed apples to can in the morning.

6. Up early and canned 13 quarts of apples. Came over town at 11:30 for milk and Mrs. Jennings told me that Estil Oxley was dead. Had an operation for goiter on Tuesday or Wednesday one. I baked custard & an apple pie this afternoon. Sis and Samps came over and left at 5. I brought Dad over for a haircut and went down to Dr. Lilly’s a while. Home and Harrys came.

7. Cool. Temp 50. At noon, Dad and I went over to Estil Oxley’s a while. Didn’t go to the funeral.

8. Sunday A fine day. Up early. Left at 11:15 for Elgood Homecoming. Uncle Hade and MaryLee came. Harrys & I took them and all eat together - also Aunt Pearl & Jessie’s girl. Back home at 4:30. Ethel & Rufus came later. Uncle Hade & MaryLee came and then Harrys came. Boy, what a day.

9. Rained some. Samps and Jesse came this evening and worked till 9:30. Neta & Sis was here too.

10. Up early. Sampson & Jesse came and finished sealing in toilet. Ready for paint.

11. A fine & cool day. Fred Rogers & Mrs. Rogers came for vegetables & plants. Harrys came for fight.

12. Temp 46. Cold this morning. This evening Dad and I fixed apples to can - also cucumbers.

13. Temp 40. Up early. Washed. Came and got milk and can rubbers and tops. Home and canned 10 quarts of apples and 25 quarts and 4 pints of cucumber pickles. Got done at 3:30 - tired. Byrnside’s farewell supper at church this evening. After supper we took Mrs. V. some corn & tomatoes. Stopped back by Dr. Lilly’s and looked his garden over. Mrs. Holmes died at 6:00 at Lacy Alvis’. We went down there and stayed until undertaker came and got her - several came while we were there.

14. A very nice day. Not too hot. Home early and baked a cake and a custard pie for Edna Alvis. Harry’s came and left at 9:00.

15. Sunday. Up early and ready to go over to Lacy Alvis’s to take things. At 10:00 we went to Chippy Ferguson’s for dinner, Lizzie and Bill, Luther and Lottie & Margaret were there. At 6:30, went to Fred Rogers. Byrnside’s last sermon was tonight.

16. Hot this morning. Dry.

17. Toilet all fixed now.

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21. Dry.

22. No News

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24. Blank

25. Harry’s came this evening.

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28. Blank

29. Sunday Came over town for milk & paper & home.

30. Blank

31. Washed today. Canned apples - also cucumber pickles. Tired.

September

1. This evening, Harrys came.

2. A very nice day. Princeton to Beckley - turnpike opened. I went up to crossroads - Mrs. Khale went with me - to see the parade of cars go by at 2:35.

3. Canned apple sauce today. Alley apples. Harrys came.

4. A fine day. Mrs. Vermillion gave me a pair of earrings for my birthday - so pretty. I stayed with Mrs. Caldwell for Dr. Lilly to go to Lyllian’s. Harrys came and left me a set of glasses for my birthday.

5. Sunday A fine day. Came over town for milk & paper & home. My birthday. Boy, but I am getting old. Hot 88. Had to put in our window fan. I slept on Dad’s bed till 5:00. Harrys came & Neta came around 7:00. Jesses came at 12:15.

6. A hot day. I didn’t work. Labor Day. Came over for milk. Home and cleaned house all day. Temp 90 on front porch - really hot.

7. I washed my blankets and came over town for milk and home. Put up 13 pints damson preserves on electric stove. Temp 88 today - hot. Picked Dr. Vermillion some damsons and took them to him.

8. A very nice day. Not too hot. Harrys came this evening.

9. A very nice day. Hot - Lodema had her new baby girl today by operation. Nobody came.

10. Cloudy. Ennis & I went up to see Lodema a while this morning. Raining some - not too much. Lodema named the baby Mimi Jo. Byrnside’s moved out of town to Williamson today. 2 moving vans came for him. Harrys came at 8:30 for fight.

11. Cool & cloudy today. Lodema so sick all day - very bad. Harrys came this evening.

12. Sunday A fine day - not too hot. Jesse & Mitzi ate dinner with us and then all went up to see Aunt Chris a while and home.

13. A fine day. No rain. Harrys came this evening.

14. Up early and washed. Scrubbed front porch really good. Ironed most of my clothes before dinner. Sprinkled the rest. Went to Princeton to see Lodema and back at 3:30. Ironed most of the clothes. Harrys came.

15. A nice day. Harrys came and we got apples in the alley.

16. A fine day. Still no rain. Harrys came for damsons. Fred Rogers came for corn, tomatoes and apples.

17. A fine day. Washed my counterpanes and cleaned back porch, which was needed so badly. Hot - 84. Dad dug 2 more rows of potatoes - not too good. We picked corn off of stalks today - 3 rows. Big fight tonight - Ezra Charles & Marciano. Marciano won in 8th round. Harrys came at 8:00.

18. A fine day. No rain yet. Both Drs. gone all afternoon.

19. Sunday. A fine day. Hot. Came and got milk & paper & home. Went over to Jesse’s a while to see Lodema and baby.

20. Dry.

21. A fine day. 7:00 - Gas man in and cut our fence before we knew it and didn’t brace it as they were supposed to do.

22. A fine day. Called Reasor not to do any more on our farm until he bought the big boss to see me. Harrys came tonight.

23. A fine day. Mr. Reasor came with boss and said that they did not know anything about my contract. 

24. A fine day. Men moved in and went to work on gas line. Picked my pears this morning. I had to show them – the gas men - where the survey went on our land from driveway down by our line fence between Lloyd & ours. They didn’t know where it went. Harrys came for fight.

25. A fined ay. Gas men dug ditch down our driveway & laid pipe today & covered up line. Harrys came this evening.

26. Sunday A fine day. Cloudy some. Came & got milk & paper. Went down to Quinzetta’s a while after we had been up to cemetery to see stone that Neta had put up. At 1:00, Harrys came and we went to Beckley on turnpike and back. Real nice. Went to Walkers for hamburgers and a drink & home. After supper we went over to Jessie’s a while. Left at 9:00. At 6:30, Neta and Sis came over for flower bulbs.

27. A fine day. Still hot & dry. Harrys came this evening.

28. Up early and washed. Went to Princeton for groceries and back home at 12:15. Watched men weld pipeline down in pines all afternoon. Got cortisone at Hickman’s. I ironed everything after supper.

29. A fine day. Still no rain. Harrys came and we watched the fight at 10:00.

30. No rain. Gas co. finished and moved out of our field today. Luther White stopped and invited us to his home for dinner on Sunday. Mrs. Catherine Daugherty died Wednesday. Also, GW Campbell, Jr., Geo’s boy. Nobody came. Went up to see Aunt Chris a while. Tonight.

October

1. Showered some today. I painted back porch where we had repaired it & wood box for kitchen. Washed my hair and a lot of other things. Made a quart of pear preserves. We drove up to cemetery & down Missionary Ridge after supper. Harrys were here when we came back. We watched fight at 10:00. Suit in court against Jimmy Wiley - his wife suing for divorce.

2. Showered a little today. Hot - 80. Dr. Vermillion left for Beckley at 2:30. Dr. Lilly not here long in afternoon.

3. Sunday A fine day. Temp 80. Cane over and got milk & paper. Jesse & Mitzi came and brought us a squirrel. We left at 11:15 to Elgood to Luther’s and Lottie’s for dinner. Bill & Lizzie were there. Also Ray & May Cheatwood & Mrs. Cheatwood and Dorse & Maxine & husband for dinner - a big dinner & a good time. Home at 5:25. Went over to QD’s a while. We saw a car go in home so we had to go home. Harrys were there. Maxine’s birthday. I gave her a cream & sugar set.

4. A fine day. Hot - temp in 80’s. No frost yet and no rain much. General Telephone Co. has gone to work on telephone cable. No more Athens Telephone Company. Harrys came and left at 9:30.

5. Temp 80. A fine day. Finished painting back porch where we repaired. Got ready and went to Princeton to see Dr. Scott & Richard about the lump in my mouth. Dr. Scott says to have Dr. Todd do it or go to Charlottesville to have it cut out. Home. At 1:00 I painted wood box in kitchen and puttied windows all but one and raked up apples in back yard. After supper we drove up to see gas line through Ball farm & Fred Cheatwood’s. Talked to Fred & Tennys a few minutes. Home and Neta, Samps and Sis came and left at &:50. Tired. Went to bed at 9:15. No itching since I got medicine at Hickman’s last Tuesday.

6. Cloudy, sprinkling some - just a little off and on today. Dr. Vermillion called Dr. Gatherum to remove lump on my cheek. He will do it Friday at 3:00 at Bluefield Sanitarium. Dad called that the truck was putting stone on our road from gate down to end of gas ditch where they had put gas line in. I went out there and they didn’t do much of a job on it. Harrys came up for a while but didn’t stay for the fight.

7. Cool all day. Jessie offered to take me to Bluefield. Cold. Neta & Sis came over for a while wanting me to let someone go with me tomorrow to the hospital to have lump taken off. Sis wanted to miss school to take me. I will go alone. Cold.

8. Cold. Temp 30. A frost & ice this morning. Up and came over for milk. Home and got ready to go to Bluefield Sanitarium for Dr. Bob Gatherum to remove lump on my left cheek inside of my mouth. I shopped till 2:30 and went up to hospital at 3:00. Nurse called for me and at 3:20 I was ready to start home. Sis and Sampson came out at 5:00. Jessie came at 6:30. Harrys stayed for fight. Tired and sick.

9. Warmer a lot today. Went home and Mack Melvin was there. I got supper and then Dad & I took him to Harry’s for a card party. We came right back and went down to Sis’s a while and home at 10:00.

10. Sunday Dr. Vermillion left at 7:30 for Clarksburg for a Grand Lodge meeting. I baked a custard pie. Came over and got milk & paper. Home and packed lunch. And dressed. Sis & Neta & Sampson came and we went to Beckley on turnpike and to Grandview State Park and ate dinner. We came back on the old road and home at 5:00. We went up to see Aunt Chris a while. Home at 8:00.

11. A beautiful day - so warm and nice. At 3pm, Dr. Bob Gatherum called for Dr. Vermillion but he was gone & operator asked for Dr. Lilly. He was gone also and then he asked for me & Dr. Gatherum was on the other line. He said that I have nothing to worry about - no cancer. Dr. Lilly had gone to Princeton to the laboratory. I washed windows in the office. Harrys came.

12. A fine day. I washed early. Came over town for milk and home. Gas men working on putting fences back together today. Put vibroflex over back porch. Ready for winter now. Temp 84. Ironed everything. Dry. After supper we took 2 kittens over towards Jesse’s and turned them loose. Visited Lodema & kids a while. Jesse gone. Came in and left with Bill Coburn.

13. A fine day. Oh so nice. Oran Shumate shot himself in Charleston last night so we hear. No details as yet. Temp up in 80’s Jaw is okay. Dr. Vermillion came in from Clarksburg and is down in his back - can hardly walk. Dr. Lilly gone all afternoon to Princeton or Bluefield. I cleaned and waxed floors. Harrys came and left at 10:00. No fight tonight.

14. Hot again today. Dr. Vermillion came to office – could hardly make it. He left at noon and did not come back. Orlan Shumate is to be buried in Charleston so paper says. No news as yet as to what happened. Dad dug rest of sweet potatoes - 2 bushel in all. Hurricane Hazel hit North & South Carolina tonight. Nobody came.

15. Raining and just poured all day. Hurricane Hazel really did damage from Myrtle Beach through Virginia, Maryland, Washington and maybe Pennsylvania. 107 dead. Millions of dollars in damage. Champ Clark got struck up at our gate helping Liz Bolin get her horses out of Lloyd Oxley’s field. Fred Rogers & wife and Dr. & Mrs. Lilly left to see Ann Rogers in Ohio. Dr. & Mrs. Lilly visited Ann and Gene. Harrys came. Jim and Maxine went back together after 6 weeks of separation.

16. Cloudy & cold. Temp 34. No ice. Cold all day. Nobody came.

17. Sunday Cool this morning. I came over for milk & paper & home. We found a banty nest near corn crib with 10 eggs in it. After dinner we went to see Aunt Pearl & Uncle Rass & up to Jesse’s a while. Home by 4:30. Went up to see Aunt Chris at 5:00. Home at 6:00. Ate supper and Harrys came and brought Jim’s baby with them.

18. Very nice day. Windy & cloudy. I helped Neta in store during noon hour. Neta, Sis and Samps came at 7:00. Later Jesse’s came and brought the new baby to see me for the first time. All left at 8:45. Cold tonight.

19. A big white frost. Temp 28. Lots of ice. I went to Princeton for roofing for woodshed and storm window for toilet room. Home at 11:45. Gas man had been here to see me. We fixed up Irish Potatoes and put them in the basement. I picked up apples and straightened up outside. Ready for winter. Gas man came back and we looked over gas line fences & down at creek - a mess and have not enough gravel on road. Harrys came and brought Jim’s baby again. Left at 8:30. Cold. Temp 42.

20. Cold. Temp 26. Ice and a white frost again this morning. Clear and sun out. Nice and cool at noon. Dr. Pickett is to be here for a church meeting tonight. I think that I will go. Dr. Pickett came to office at 4:20. I left at 5:15 and he was still here talking to Dr. Vermillion. Harrys came for fight. I went to church meeting - 48 present. Didn’t accomplish much. No one would talk. They did “tuoind” rotating of trustees but did not do anything else to help matters. Carl Bailey was the only one to make a talk on hurt feelings.

21. Cold. Ice and a frost. Somebody broke into Doc Jennings drug store. Went through the basement window. Stole a lot of money in nickels, dimes, quarters and ½ dollars - around $100. And boxes and boxes of shotgun shells. Got state police - no clues as yet. Nobody came tonight.

22. Cold again today. Came over for milk and home. Fitted storm window - too small. Tore off roof of wood shed and got ready to put on new roofing. Got some of it laid - not all. Harrys came at 9:30. Worn out - Dad & I completely. Sore muscles in my legs from working on roof.

23. Cold but a nice day. Dr. Lilly left at 12:00 on bus going to Bluefield to see WVU & VMI. WVU won. Homecoming Day at Concord - football game played in Princeton at 7:30. Concord won. Nobody came.

24. Sunday. A fine day - so warm & still no wind. Came over early for milk & paper and home. Dad & I put rest of paper on woodshed roof. Did a good job I think. It won’t leak now. Done at 2:15. We went over to Jesse’s a while and down to his cattle pen he is building. Home and went up to see Aunt Chris a while and home at 5:30. Nobody came.

25. Cool this morning but a nice day. Indian Summer so they say. Nobody came.

26. A fine day. Rained a little. I washed & ironed my clothes. Cleaned up outside work. Someone called me and said to go to Ethel’s. Roof was dead. We did. Ethel found him in bathroom - been dead 3 hours or more. I brought Dad home and went back and stayed until Verena’s came. Got home at 10:30.

27. Colder. Raining today. I went over to Ethel’s home at 9:30.

28. Clear & cool. Went home at noon, dressed and went to Ethel’s & to funeral at Baptist Church at 3:00. Rev. Lynch did service. Tired - Harrys came.

29. Rained today. We worked some. Snowing late. Harry’s came.

30. A bad day. Slick early - snow on roads. Athens Telephone building sold at public auction. Jesse bid it in for $4750.00. Raining, snowing some.

31. Sunday  Very nice today. Went up to see Aunt Chris & down to Ethel’s a while and home. She is in a mess - no child and no will.

November

1. A very nice day. Colder some.

2. Up early. Raining some. Came over town and voted. Home at 11:30. It went to snowing and was a bad day on. I cleaned and waxed Dad’s room. Harrys came and left at 8:30 - Cold, slick and snowing.

3. Temp 16. Really cold and slick. Nobody came.

4. Still cold. Snowed a little. Temp 16. Nobody came.

5. A cold day. 20. I went to Princeton at 1:00 for laying mash. Bought 12 pullets-$1.50 - Ralph Pennington. Raining some. May snow. Cloudy all day. Cleaned out chicken house good. Harrys came and stayed for fight. Maxine was with them.

6. A fine day but cold. Still snow in places. Went over to Neta’s a while at 8:00. Home at 10:45. Cold.

7. Sunday.  Up and went to Elgood to church at 11:00 and to Ray Cheatwood’s for dinner. 16 there - a big day. Home at 5:00. Went up to see Aunt Chris and she were so bad. Called Dr. Vermillion and he thought she would slip away by 4am. I stayed all night - several did.

8. I got home at 5:45 from Uncle Doc’s and Aunt Chris is still alive. Temp 26 - a big frost. Dad and I went up to Aunt Chris’s after supper. She is so bad. Sam was there. No one else.

9. Up early. Put out my wash and got ready. Came over for milk and went up to see how Aunt Chris was. It was 11:45 and went in her room and she was laying there dead. Alice Lee had just found her dead and she went to top house. Didn’t come down until after the undertaker came for her. I went home and came back also Dad and stayed till 3:30. Went home and took up some leaves. Ate supper and I went back up. Took Alice Lee and Garnet to have tooth pulled. I got home at 8:20. Dead tired.

10. A fine day. Worked till noon. Called MaryLee and she said that they would come tonight. Left the office at noon - didn’t work. Went up to Alice Lee’s & home. Then I took Garnet up to Princeton to fix Aunt Chris’s hair. She looked so good. I came home. Family all went back to funeral home at 6:00 and stayed until 8:30. Uncle Hade and MaryLee came at 7:00. They came home with Dad and me for the night. Got to bed at 11:00. Dead tired.

11. Up early. Nice day. MaryLee and I came over and got Roy Beckett to wash our cars. MaryLee got her hair fixed. We went home and I got dinner and we all went up to Uncle Doc’s at 12:30. Left at 1:30 for Elgood for funeral & burial of Aunt Chris. Dad & I went in Uncle Hade’s car. Uncle Hade and MaryLee left at 6:00. We were tired. Harrys came.

12. Raining some today. We heard that Martha Oxley Ferguson died yesterday. Harrys came for fight.

13. Very nice day. Went to Princeton with Harry to visit Maxine and Ruth and home at 9:15.

14. Sunday. A fine day. Came over for milk & paper and Dad & I went over to Lee Oxley’s where they had brought Martha. Home and ate dinner. Went back to Oxley’s at 1pm and to Mount Jackson to funeral. Big crowd there. We went up to Uncle Doc’s a while and home. Nobody came. Dr. Vermillion went back to church today. First time since the ruckus.

15. A very nice day. Nobody came.

16. A cloudy day. Rained some. I took Alice Lee at 10:00 to Princeton to probate Aunt Chris’s will. She left everything to Uncle Doc until his death then all real estate to Alice Lee & personal property divided between Alice Lee and Sam. $5.00 each to 5 grandchildren. Home at 11:30. After dinner, we raked & cleaned back yard. Harry and Eula came.

17. A very nice day. Warm. Went up to Uncle Doc’s a while at 7:30. Home and watched fight at 10:00. A good one.

18. Cloudy some. Nobody came.

19. Cloudy some. Came for milk. Home and cleaned pantry & other parts of the house. Harry’s whole family came - baby & all - for fight. A good one.

20. A nice day. Dr. Vermillion left at noon going to Beckley. Tomorrow going to Cleveland hospital by plane - his first. After supper we went over to Ethel’s awhile and then down to Neta’s home at 10:45. Cold and cloudy. 

21.  Sunday. Temp 32. Rained a little. Came over for milk & paper. Home. After dinner we went up to Uncle Doc’s a while. Home and stayed there. Temp 32 at bedtime.

22. Temp 32. Rained just a little. We heard that Ray Cheatwood was very bad - took him to hospital in Princeton. Also Kanode is real sick. Dr. Lilly left at noon and I wrote ins. policies. Harry, Eula, Maxine, Jim & baby came over a while. Left at 8:30.

23. Temp 32. Cloudy. Up early washed and dressed. Took Alice Lee & all went to Princeton. Home at 12:00. Brought in some clothes and started ironing. Finished ironing at 6:30. Snowed a little today. Nobody came.

24. Some snow on the ground. Raining when I got up. Snowed off and on all day - A real March day. Have the office all by myself today or rather this afternoon.

25. A very nice day. We ate dinner with Alice Lee and Garnet’s family - also Florence. A big dinner. Came home at 3:30.

26. A very nice day. Harrys came in evening.

27. A very nice day.

28. Sunday. Cloudy. We ate dinner with Garnet & Wilson also Alice Lee’s folks. Turkey dinner and a good one. Raining hard when we came home.

29. Colder a lot. Harrys came this evening.

30. Up early and I went to Bluefield shopping. Clear & cold. Done all of my shopping for Xmas. We had a birthday dinner over at Sis’s - surprised Neta - her day. Whole family was there at 6:30 - a big dinner.

December

1. Cold. Harrys came for fight.

2. Blank

3. Raining. Dad & I went to Princeton for feed. Snowed some. Harrys came for fight.

4. Snowing today.

5. Sunday. Raining and cold today. Came over for milk and paper. Raining this evening and turning to snow.

6. A bad day. Snowed. Could not get car out this morning. Harry’s came in and out.

7. 2 above zero. Too bad to wash. Snowing - really cold. 2 below zero at Dr. V.

8. Still bad. 2 above zero. Still can’t get car out. Aunt Laura Bauguess died. Harrys did not come. We missed ballgame at gym. Athens Hi won over Northfork.

9. Still can’t get car out. Snowing.

10. Got car out this morning ok. Snowed and rained most of the day. Laura Bauguess was buried at Elgood this afternoon. Too bad for us to go. Bill and Lizzie were to take us. Harry’s came for fight. We went to ballgame first. Athens won over Matoaka.

11. Took Ray Cheatwood back to hospital - took him to Bluefield this time.

12.  Sunday Cold and raining early. We came over for paper & up to see Uncle Doc and home and stayed there. Wrapped Xmas presents.

13. Snowed today. Harrys came this evening also Jesse’s family.

14. Raining most all day. I went to Princeton shopping - finished everything. I baked a cake today.

15. Cold. Snowing most of all day off and on. Dad has a bad cold. Really snowing hard. Harry’s 5 came for fight. Championship - Bobo won.

16. Snowed some today. Nobody came.

17. Raining & bad all day. I washed and dried clothes indoors and ironed everything. Snowed some too. Wind high. Went to gym to see high school beat Tazewell. Bad rain. We watched fight after we got home. Heavyweights - Baker & Wallace.

18. Snowed a little all day. Ray Eskew came for our old Santa suit to use at church tomorrow. Just poured around 4:00. Nobody came.

19.  Sunday Snowing just a little. I came and got mail & milk & went up to Alice Lee’s a few minutes and home and stayed there too. Believe me, snowing all day.

20. About 4-5 inches of snow and still snowing. I walked out - didn’t even try my car. Sun shining at 8:45 AM and it is pouring down snow. Beautiful to see. Snowed off and on all day. Dr. Vermillion brought me to end of Broadway. Cold. Nobody came.

21. Cold & snowing. Temp 8 this morning. Snowing as I walked over for my milk. Baked 2 custard pies & an applesauce cake today. Sis and Sampson came in at 4:00. No trouble getting out. Harrys came at 6:30 and left at 9:00. No trouble getting out. Snow tires on their cars - mine don’t have.

22. Temp 14. Cold. Snowing again today. Walked out again today. Tried car but could not get up Caldwell Hill. Sun shone some today. Harrys and Jimmies came for fight. Temp 18.

23. Temp 22. Clear. Came out without any trouble this morning with car. No snow today. South wind came up warm and melted all of the snow here in town. So warm after 4 weeks of real bad weather.

24. Up early. I went to Princeton & home. I cleaned house and worked around at a lot of things. Went up to store after supper a while & home. Dr. Lilly & Dick came over while I was gone. Harry’s came for fight - no fight - after waiting for it.

25. A fine morning. Neta’s 3 came and got us up at 6:45 this morning - celebrating Xmas to make the rounds this morning, We dressed and came up to QD’s awhile and over to Jesse’s and stopped at Wells’ and on over to Neta’s for dinner and to open our Xmas packages. We drew names. Samps got mine, I got QD’s, Dad got Sis’s. Home and stopped at Aunt Emma’s a few minutes to see Dee - they were gone. Home and stayed there.

26.  Sunday A fine day. Came over for milk and paper. Up to QD’s and took him to Princeton and up to Uncle Doc’s. Home and at 2:00 Bill and Lizzie S. came and left at 4:30. Harrys came at 4:00. Jessie came but turned left and didn’t come in so Harrys left at 5:00. Nobody came tonight. Warm Temp 40.

27. Temp 25. Frosty and a big fog. Cleared away and sun out all day. Dr. Lilly didn’t work today. Kids some of them here – Lillyan and Ann. I went down to Dr. Lilly’s at noon for a few minutes to see the kids.

28. Cloudy & cool. Dr. Lilly down in his back. Jean took him to his doctor in Princeton for adjustments.

29. A very nice day. Cloudy. Cleaned and waxed the office floors. Telephone men here putting in new wire and cable. To Jesse’s a few minutes at 6:00. Nobody came.

30. Very nice day. Cool, rained some. Telephone men put us in cable on Broadway today. Jean and Ann left for home. Dr. Lilly went back to Dr. In Princeton. Mr. Hinkle in town - came up to see us a few minutes. Harry’s whole family came and left at 9:30.

31. Cloudy. Temp 18. I washed early. A little sun off and on during the day. Came over and got milk and home. I ironed everything but Dad’s pants. Jessie, Lodema and Mitzi came for a few minutes.