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.



Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Lewis Gale Hospital

On Sunday, August 22, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Pretty Day. Arose at 8 a.m. Shaved. Went to Mrs. Raines. Went up home in p.m. Ate supper. Came home on car. Sid. Raines gave Norman 25 cents for his bank. Grover Mercer drowned.

On Monday, August 23, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool and Pleasant. Elmer and W.M. Brown and I went down street to the "American" and "Bijou" at night. Mrs. Raines stayed with Mary. I talked to Mr. Hancock about Skin. Pretty Moon-light night.

On Tuesday, August 24, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool-Nice. Papa, Jess and Christine came down home and stayed for supper. I shaved and Mary and I went to Lewis Gale Hospital to see Myrtle English. Retired at 12. Mr. Schick left.

On Wednesday, August 25, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool-Nice. Received a letter from E.J. Rowan at Norfolk, VA. Mary, Norman, and Mrs. Raines spent the day with Mrs. Abshire. Mr. Raitt brought Elton down. I ate lunch at the office and went to see "The Right of Way" at "American". Ate supper at Mrs. Raines.

On Thursday, August 26, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Pleasant Weather. Filed mail. Read "The Yoke". Went to station for tripod. Took Lutie Steffey and Mary Randelman home to supper with me. They left at 9:30 p.m. Pretty moonlight night.

On Friday, August 27, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Gloomy-Rain. Mr. W.P. Wiltsee came in office and borrowed my umbrella. Shaved at night. Mr. Brown and Elmer left at midnight for Norfolk, VA.

On Saturday, August 28, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Rain. Got a card from Captain Rowan. Stayed at home in the afternoon and Mrs. Raines came up awhile at night.

I am a little off schedule on posting, but we are caught up to corresponding dates.  I hope to get back on schedule this weekend. Not much doing in Bonnie's world of 1915 it doesn't sound like.  There was nice weather for the most part and lots of visiting and going to the movies.  I will say that this was the first mention, I believe, of Lewis Gale hospital out of all the years I have blogged about.  That seems unusual, but neat to know that they were around in 1915! Things have gotten busier here in 2012 with school back in session and Caleb playing soccer and now also he is refereeing soccer too.  Tonight are his first 2 games as a referee. Hope it goes well!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Candy Afternoon

On Friday, August 13, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Hot. Bound up statements for Capt. Rowan. Harry Raines came home from New York. Went down to Mrs. Raines' at night. Mrs Raines was at Mrs. Coleman's on account of her mother's death. Shaved.

On Saturday, August 14, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot Day. Mr. Schick came in off line. Mary and I went to the "American" Theater at night saw The "Goddess". Got ice cream cones.

On Sunday, August 15, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot. Went up to Mama's and spent the day. Ben brought Myrtle English to hospital. Shaved. Lena's baby was born today. 

On Monday, August 16, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot. Filed mail. Big thunder shower in p.m. Met Papa on Jefferson St. Went down to Mrs. Raines' at night. Capt. Rowan left today on his vacation to Norfolk, VA and Boston, Mass.

On Tuesday, August 17, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot Day. Paper reported hanging of Frank at Milledgeville, Ga. Got registered letter and $20.00 from Blaine for Mamma. Went up home with the money and stayed for supper. Mr. Schick left on train #3. Came home at 10:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, August 18, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool Day. Shaved and got to work at 8:55. Ate dinner at Mrs. Raines. Paid telephone bill for Mrs. Brown. Read part of "Lucille". Mr. Raitt and I ate candy all the afternoon.

On Thursday, August 19, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cool and nice. Correspondence - dull. Read part of "The Yoke" Got hair-cut. Mary and I ate supper at Aunt Duck's Mrs. Nichols played the piano for us. Took Norman to be examined by Dr. Davis. Mr. Raitt saw him for the first time. 

On Friday, August 20, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Rain-cool. Shaved. Arose at 7:00 a.m. Answered telephone call from Mr. B.F. Bell. Went to J & J for lime water and ointment for Norman's neck. Mr. Raitt took his two boys and went fishing. Met Blanche Hurst today at Mrs. Raines. Mrs Austin was down. Rain. 

On Saturday, August 21, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cool nice. Mr. Chas. Spillman from Washington D.C. was in to call on us. Posted up records of Employees. Mrs. Brown, Ethel, and Morris went to Norfolk, Va. I went up town at night alone. Met Mama, Papa and Teeny.  Bill Fisher and I went to Elmwood Park. Got candy. 

Okay, a little late posting this week due to the fact that we took one last family mini-vacation this weekend.  We went to Washington D.C. and I actually thought about Bonnie on several occasions.  First of all, we took a train from Lynchburg, VA to Washington D.C.  It was a lot of fun.  Bonnie of course worked for the railroad and took trains all the time to go places.  And, he wrote this year about a trip to Washington D.C. that he and his family took.  Also, while visiting the American History museum in Washington we saw a street car from the 1900's and immediately thought of Bonnie and talked about him being on one of those. We really wished we had a lot more time to spend in the American History museum.  We had a great day on Sunday of our trip as we spent time in that museum and went to a DC United soccer game that was very exciting.  On Monday we spent the morning visiting monuments and memorials.  It was fun but a lot of walking.  We used the subway a lot while we were there. So, lots of rail travel for us this past weekend.       

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Electric Lights Installed

On Friday, August 6, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool. Filed and Indexed. Mrs. Raines ate dinner with us today. She and Mary went up town. Mary brought Norman to the office and Met Capt. E.J. Rowan. We got ice cream and ate supper at Mrs. Raines. Went home at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, August 7, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cool, pleasant day. Arose at 7:00 a.m. and shaved before breakfast. Took bath and went up street. Mary and I went to "American" theater at night. Gave Skin 15 cents to get collars out of laundry.

On Sunday, August 8, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot. Arose at 8:30. Went up street for two papers for Mrs. Raines. Ate lunch at Mrs. Raines. Rained in pm. I went home and ate supper. Loam was there. Came home on street car and talked to John and Maggie Smith.

On Monday, August 9, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Hot-Rain. Norman is 6 months of age today. Papa and Teeny ate supper at our house. Papa talked to Mrs. Booze and Mrs. Raines about painting kitchen and fence. Shaved.

On Tuesday, August 10, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot. Walked to work with Bernard Harrington. Mailed $10.00 to Harry Raines in New York. Talked to Dr. Abbott on street while on way to P.O. Mrs. Raines took lunch with us.  Ate ice cream at Mrs. Brown's!

On Wednesday, August 11, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cool Day. Electric lights were installed in Mrs. Raines' home. Big Rain. Stayed at home at night and shaved. Retired at 9:30 p.m. Raining. 

On Thursday, August 12, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Hot. Mr. Schick went to Berivend, W.Va. on tour of inspection. Ate "Okre" at Mrs. Raines at noon today. Stopped in at MaGann's. Went to concert in Elmwood Park at night. Talked to Edgar Troxie at went to J&J for Barley. 

I suppose the biggest thing this week is the installation of electric lights in Mrs. Raines' house.  We take electricity for granted so much these days that I didn't even think about the homes in 1915 maybe using candles and oil lamps, etc. Wow.  Of course, Bonnie does talk a lot in other years about building a fire to heat the home and for cooking.  I also chuckled at how Bonnie spelled Okra, I think it was new to him. But he sure did enjoy the ice cream at Mrs. Brown's. I have no idea where that town in West Virginia is, we had a little trouble reading Bonnie's handwriting.  Happy 6 months to Norman!  Here in 2012, we had a great day today at Springwood Baptist.  9 people, all from one family joined the church today and 3 of those by baptism!  13 youth and about 5 or 6 adults from the church went to Kings Dominion yesterday.  We will be going to visit Longwood University on Tuesday with Rachel and going to Washington DC this coming weekend on a train to sight see and watch soccer.  Bonnie would get a kick out of knowing we were going there and on a train!      

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Canning Preserves

On Friday, July 30, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot Day. Chas. Becker electrocuted in New York. Mr. Raitt went fishing. I filed and indexed mail. Pearl and Christine spent the afternoon down home. Teeny got a (?) in her waiste. Went home with Pearl and Christine.

On Saturday, July 31, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Awfully Hot. Went uptown in afternoon and got haircut. Took a bath and shaved. Met Emmett St. Clair on way home. Stayed at home at night. Paid off. 

On Sunday, August 1, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Hot. Papa, Effie and Pearl went down to Everett's. Mary and I ate supper at Mrs. Raines'. Very hot at night. Stayed at home all day

On Monday, August 2, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot Rain. Paid up part of bills. Rain in p.m. Busy day. Nothing much doing today. Mary and I went up home at night.

On Tuesday, August 3, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Hot Rain. Went down street and got cigarettes for Mr. Schick. Paid Bills. Shaved before going to work. Mrs. Raines ate dinner with us. Fine rain. Went up street at night. Talked to Skin.

On Wednesday, August 4, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cooler. Mary, Norman and Mrs. Raines spent day with LaBree's. I ate lunch at office and went to "American". Had certificate of Norman's birth recorded. Went up home at night and took shirts for Papa. Great deal of sheet lightning. Effie went home. 

On Thursday, August 5, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Very Hot. Mr. Schick went out on line. Mrs Raines and Bessie Edwards ate lunch with us. Mary and Mrs. Raines canning preserves. Mr. Raitt and Ed Gregory went on fishing trip to Craig Healing Springs. Mrs. Raines, Mary, Norman, and I went to Mountain Park at night. 


Whew. I had a hard time understanding everything that Bonnie was writing this time.  I could not make out what Teeny got in her waiste and I also did not understand the "Busy Day" and "Nothing much doing" comments in the same day. I also did not get the "Paid off" part. Oh, well I guess that is just going to happen.  I do watch with interest the weather from 1915.  Seems like it may have been just as hot in 1915 as it is in 2012.  Here in 2012, starting to storm some this afternoon. May be time for a safety nap!