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, March 25, 2012

Circumcision

On Friday, March 19, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Pretty and Keen air. Stayed at home in a.m. Worked in afternoon. Skin promised to come by the office after me in John Mason's car but failed so to do.

On Saturday, March 20, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cloudy. Brought Harry Talley home with me. Talked to Bill Fisher. Mary and I went to town for first time since baby was born. Mrs. Raines kept Norman.

On Sunday, March 21, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Clear and Cold. Arose at 12 a.m. Shaved and went up home. Hester Long was there, gave me a book to read. Mailed a letter to Aunt Osie for Mamma.

On Monday, March 22, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Snow and rain. Wrote up payrolls. Dr. Burks came in to see the baby. Skin came down and drove me up home and over southwest in car.

On Tuesday, March 23, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cloudy-damp. Baby is 6 weeks old today. Shaved. R.W. Early was in the office. Talked to Russell West. Messrs. Wm. D. Ord and Wm. N. Cummins were in the office all day. Wrote Blaine a letter.

On Wednesday, March 24, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cold and Cloudy. Skin came by home after me at 8 o'clock a.m. in the car. Took pictures of the baby and had same developed. Read March "Ladies Home Journal".

On Thursday, March 25, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Fine Day. Messrs. Valz and Nugent were in the office. Mr. Schick left for trip over line. Dr. Burk circumcized the baby. Mrs. Brown held him. Mary, Mrs. Raines, Mrs. Privett and I were present. Rode up street with the doctor.  Harry and and Mrs. Raines came up at night to see the baby.  Shaved.

I think on Sunday when Bonnie wrote that he got up at 12 a.m. he meant he got up at noon.  I am so glad that he and Mary got to go to town for an evening!  I still think its funny that he reads Ladies Home Journal, but impressive that that LHJ has been around for that long!  Wow, big doings for the circumcision....that's just all I'll say about that. Here in 2012, Big storms in the area yesterday.  Good Sunday morning so far.  I got up early and was able to have devotions, drink coffee and eat oatmeal before going to church, plus write this blog! 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Jack Rabbit Car

On Friday, March 12, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Windy and Sunshine. Baby cried most all day with colic. I ate dinner with Mrs. Raines. Shaved at night. Took picture to have framed. Baby's bed came in from Larkin Co. Mrs. Raines and I put it up. 

On Saturday, March 13, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Pretty Day. Got hair-cut, went to doctor's office and went up home for supper. Indexed and filed correspondence. Went to Dr. Huff's office about the baby.  Saw a man with arm shot. Went to "Bijou" saw "Mountain Rat". Bought funny paper.  

On Sunday, March 14, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Beautiful day. Arose 9 a.m. Shaved. Made a fire. Took a bath. Went down to Mrs. Raines' with Mary and the baby. Took 2 pictures of the baby. Ate dinner. Went to see Mrs. Magann. Went up home. Stayed at home on Sunday night.

On Monday, March 15, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Clear weather. S.G. McNulty died at Hot Springs, Ark. Nothing much "doing" today.

On Tuesday, March 16, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Rain and damp. Shaved. Dr. Saunders came down and operated on Norman. Mrs. Magann came up.

On Wednesday, March 17, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cold and Windy. St. Patrick's Day. Skin took me driving in Mason's "Jack Rabbit" automobile. Gave Skin my trousers to black suit. Dr. Saunders called 2nd time to see the baby.

On Thursday, March 18, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Pretty weather. Mr. Waugh came to the office. Wrote description of right of way. Indexed and filed. Mary ate dinner at her mother's. Feeling badly. Went up home to Mamma's for supper. Packing up to move. Mr. Schick went out on the line. Shaved. 

Ok, so I looked up the "Mountain Rat" movie that Bonnie mentioned that was playing at the Bijou theater.  It was released in May 1914 and it was 40 minutes long and was a black and white, silent movie starring Henry Walthall and Dorothy Gish and Irene Hunt. I also thought it was neat that the Elmores went visiting on Sunday afternoon and took pictures of the baby.  Speaking of the baby, Dr. Saunders performed some type of operation on the baby and after having done that is the first time that Bonnie refers to him as Norman.  I also look up S.G. McNulty but didn't find anything of note. I would love to know what a "jack rabbit" car was and what it looked like!  I wonder who is moving?  Bonnie, Mary and Norman? Or Bonnie's mamma?
      

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Coal Seller Died

On Wednesday, March 10, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Windy and Sunny. Mr. Schick came in. Donated 50 cents toward buying present for Jimmy Sisler. Took a bath. Mr. Jim Pitzer, coal seller, died. Buried at Salem, Va.

On Thursday, March 11, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Wind and Sunshine. Stayed at home in morning. Mrs. Raines came up. Ordered coal from Sam Thompson. Mr. Schick went out on tour of inspection. High wind and very dark night. 

I suppose Pitzer the coal seller died on Wednesday and so Bonnie ordered coal from Sam Thompson on Thursday.  Life goes on.  Today was time change Sunday and has just been a so-so day here in 2012. Average crowd at church today.  Lazy afternoon and have to get up early tomorrow morning to be on TV. 

Friday, March 9, 2012

1915 Fire Companies

On Friday, March 5, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Snowing. Mr. Raitt stayed home on account of "conjunctivitis" of his eyes. W.J. Jenks Genl. Supt. from Bluefield was in office. Mr. Raitt left for Cincinnati.  Shaved.

On Saturday, March 6, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Sunny. Went up to Mamma's at supper time. Bills and estimates came in. Went to Bijou Theater with John Hamler. Met Howard, Everett, Effie Bradley, and a Miss Ruble. Went to dance hall. Walked home with Everett.

On Sunday, March 7, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Rain and Snow. Went up street to meet Bill Fisher. Took a long walk. Very cold outside. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and Mr. and Mrs. Raines came up and stayed until 9:00 p.m. Mrs. Brown came in. Shaved. Ruth Edwards returned home.

On Monday, March 8, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Clear and Cold. Feeling very badly. Mr. Schick went out on the line to North Fork. Lodge night. Stayed at home. Mrs. Raines came up and stayed until 9 p.m. Talked to Bill Beamer on street.

On Tuesday, March 9, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  High wind and clear. Wrote up estimates and extra bills. Took Papa home with me to dinner. Watched fire cos. make a run near Holiday St. Baby is one month old today. Mrs. Raines and Harry came up.  Harry gave the baby a $5.00 gold piece as a present. Shaved.

Ok, so I was typing this up this morning, just so I wouldn't have so much to do this weekend.  I wasn't really going to post it online yet.  But then today's entry from 1915 got me.  Bonnie mentions watching the fire companies make a run near Holiday St.  I thought that was pretty cool since I currently work for Roanoke County Fire and Rescue!  That would have been neat to see in 1915.  Horse drawn fire apparatus I am guessing.  Also, Harry gave Norman a $5 gold piece, that too is neat!  Though we are still calling Norman "the baby". 

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Happy Anniversary!

On Saturday, February 27, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cold and Windy. Arose at 7:55 a.m. Didn't got to work in forenoon. Paid Mgr. checks. Mrs. Raines up. Paid the grocery bill. 

On Sunday, February 28, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Pretty weather. Arose 9:30 a.m. Took bath. Shaved. Loam, Austin, Jess, Teeny, Papa, Clarence and Ethel Wade and Mrs. Young came up. 

End of month note February 1915:  Feeling very badly latter part of this month. Ruth Edwards finished staying with Mary. 

On Monday, March 1, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Bright Day. Mr. Schick went out on line. Paid up bills. Howard Fisher came to the office and down home at night. Mrs. Raines up. Talked to Everett on way home.  
On Tuesday, March 2, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Pretty Day. Baby three weeks old today. Bought first item of groceries from the Thompson store. Ate dinner with Mamma. Talked to Lawrence Sullivan up home. He ate dinner with us. Shaved at 9:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 3, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Bright Sunshine. Mrs. Muire came over to examine Mary's breast. Went to drug store after bottle of Listerine. Walked home with "Jimmy" Eades. Met and talked to Emmett St. Clair. 

On Thursday, March 4, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Bright and Sunny. Today is our first Marriage Anniversary. Wrote up request for an authority for War Creek Spur. Mrs. Muire over. Brought Candy home. Mrs. Raines and Mrs. Harry up. Went to Dentists and "American" Theater with Elmer Brown. Home 9:30 p.m.

So, here recently in 20212 I am doing good it seems to write here on the blog about once a week.  I went to a doctor at UVA this past Thursday, March 1, 2012 and got some really good news about future heart surgery.  It appears I can put that off for awhile!  Happy Anniversary to Bonnie and Mary!  Bonnie did bring home candy but then went to the theater with another friend.  I still wonder if they have named the baby yet? Maybe they have but it is still easier to refer to him as "the baby".