About

This blog is mainly taken from my Great Grandfather's diary. In 2012 we are in the year 1915, after completing 1916 in 2010 and 1927 in 2011. 1915 is the year that my Great Uncle Norman was born. 1927 is the year that my Great Uncle Roger, was born. 1916 was the year that my grandmother, Annah Lee was born.

My Great-Grandfather's name was Bonnie Elmore and he worked as a clerk or secretary for the old Norfolk & Western Railroad, based in Roanoke, VA. Mary is his wife. Norman is their first born son. The Raines are Mary's parents. Skin is Bonnie's brother along with Jake.

Bonnie's work associates and friends are also mentioned quite a bit. Bonnie does a great job of blending everyday life in 1915 with the mention of some world and USA history as well. I do know from a quick glance ahead that 1915 is going to be quite different as Bonnie did not write quite as much.

After Bonnie's diary entry, I will occasionally make comments, maybe tell a little about life in 2012, possibly some current events, and some musing about the Christian faith.



Sunday, November 22, 2009

Wilson wins

Going ahead and posting tomorrow's post a little early, as Mom is having a heart test tomorrow and I will be with her all day. On Thursday, November 23, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Rain -Foggy. Arose at 7:30. Got to work 8:50. Wrote Descriptions on Lewis Creek Branch. Mr. Schick left for Philadelphia to attend an Alumni dinner. Mr. Hughes sent congratulations to President Wilson on his re-election. I bought a jar of cold (satin) cream. First Application. Mrs. Wingfield was buried today. Rained all day. We all laughed at jokes in book. I am guessing the Lewis Creek Branch has something to do with the railroad and Mr. Schick is one of Bonnie's bosses as he is mentioned quite often in the diary. Here again we have mention of some big world events at the time. I think Grand-daddy is referring to the Mr. Hughes who lost the election to President Wilson, or else it was a Mr. Hughes at the railroad. The election of 1916 is the one where it was VERY close and the newspapers had given the election to Hughes, only to find out in the morning that Wilson had won. If you were to read in Bonnie's diary earlier, you would also read that Bonnie thought Mr. Hughes had won the election too. As a side note, President Woodrow Wilson's birthplace is in Staunton, VA, only about an hour north of Roanoke. And Staunton, is also the home of my mother. I am a little stumped by the cold cream, unsure what that was for. I also don't know who Mrs. Wingfield was or what jokes were laughed at in what book. Random thoughts that will keep me in line with the title of this blog: Family: my interest in my genealogy has led me to discover that my father's line of Clingenpeel's and my mother's line of Meyerhoeffers were both descendant of Hessian soldiers, German soldiers who fought in the American Revolution on the side of the British. I know, wrong side, but apparently they both liked it here, deserted the Hessian army and stayed here in the grand ole USA to raise families. Families which, later in 1967 came together as a Clingenpeel and a Meyerhoeffer and got married. This has produced a great interest on my part in the American Revolution and I have been doing some reading on that history and may write about that at some point. Faith: Great crowd at church today. God is at work in Springwood Baptist Church and I am excited to see where this goes. Springwood sure seems to be a place where people with some very real problems come and meet Jesus and then it is our hope that if we are obedient to God's plan that they will leave from Springwood and spread God's love. Today, there were some new faces, brought by people who have recently met Jesus. That's good stuff. Also, there has been lots of discussion at work recently on matters of faith that I have been able to contribute to and God has made me aware of several others who may be spiritually searching. Fire Safety: The holiday season is upon us and unfortunately it is also prime time for house fires. Please...if you are cooking this week... pay attention and don't leave cooking unattended on the stove! Cooking is the number one cause of house fires in America!

No comments:

Post a Comment