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, September 9, 2012

Labor Day

On Friday, September 3, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Rain-Cold. Paid Gravitt 81 cents for meat. Dr. Davis called to see baby. Wrote a prescription and drove me to Johnson and Johnson in automobile. I came home on car. Clarence and Mrs. Spillman came over home and stayed until 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday, September 4, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Rain-Damp. Indexed correspondence. Norman is better today. I wrote Jake a letter. Rain at night. I went up the street and stopped in at Roanoke Music Co. Bought candy and came home. 

On Sunday, September 5, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Pretty Day. Went up town to office and bought a Philadelphia Press. Shaved and went up home in afternoon. Ate supper and came home on car. 

On Monday, September 6, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Pretty Hot. Labor Day. Shaved and took bath. Went up town to "Comet" in afternoon. Ruth Edwards at our house. Also "Lou" Goodman, Mrs. Raines, Mrs. Hurst. Mary, baby, and I went to Mountain Park. Fireworks. Met. Mrs. Edwards. Home at 10:30.

On Tuesday, September 7, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Pleasant Day. Wrote up estimates. Messrs. Curtis and Shumway called at office. Also, Mr. Bottomley and Son. Stayed at home at night. Jake taken to C&O hospital with fever. 

On Wednesday, September 8, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot Day. Loam called me up on phone. Mr. Schick fell out of his chair. Went up home and ate supper.Got list of books for Christine. Skin rode me home in car of Mundy, W.P.

On Thursday, September 9, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot Day. Norman is seven months old today. Effie phoned. Jake taken to C&O hospital. I got haircut, Teeny's books and went up home in p.m. Came to office. Wrote and wired C&O Hospital. Took bath and called Effie on long distance. Borrowed Harry Raines' traveling bag.

Wow, sorry to hear that Jake, one of Bonnie's brothers, is in the hospital.  Sounds like maybe Bonnie is preparing to go there.  The "Comet" was a theater that doesn't get mentioned much.  I thought it was funny that Bonnie stopped in at the music store, didn't buy any music, and then went and bought candy and went home.  We had a good Sunday here in 2012.  Mom joined Springwood Baptist.        

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Paid Off

On Sunday, August 29, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cool-Pleasant. Shaved and met Nettie Fisher in afternoon. All went up home. Mary and I stayed for supper and came home at 10:30 p.m. Loam was at Mamma's. Cloudy and lonesome day.

On Monday August 30, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cloudy-Cool. Mr. Schick met Tracy and went to Mullens, W.Va. on county road matters between Pineville and Mullens. Mr. Raitt absent from office. Ate supper at Mrs. Raines. Went to the stable with Harry. Wrote to my dear friend, Louis Haislip, Stockton, Cal.

On Tuesday, August 31, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Rain and damp. Work dull in the office. Mr. Raitt paid for candy. Wrote up payroll chargings and J and Co. Bills. Met Papa. Paid off. Shaved. 

On Wednesday, September 1, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Fine weather. Mary is 20 years of age today. Capt. Rowan came in off vacation. Mr. Schick returned. Paid some bills. Deposited $1.00 in Bank to Norman's credit. Mailed Dr. Davis cheque for $1.50. Ate dinner at Mrs. Raines'. Had vanilla ice cream. Went up home for supper. Gave Mamma $2.00.

On Thursday, September 2, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool Weather. Papa started in today to work for N.B.W. Ry. Co. at West End yard. Bought box candy last night. Came home from Mamma's on car and talked to Dr. Allen J. Black. Mrs. Brown and children came home from Norfolk, Va. Shaved at night. Rain at night.

I think it's funny that Bonnie mentions all these people in his posts and then says it was a lonesome day. Pretty neat to see that yesterday was Mary's birthday.  That's my great-grandmother.  She was 20 in 1915, which means she was born in 1895 and would be 117 if alive today!  The money was really flowing on September 1 and I guess that is because Bonnie was paid or "paid off" as he puts it, the day before. The had ice cream and even bought candy.  Here in 2012, it is Labor Day weekend.  We went to see a movie last night and are going back down to Mom's tonight to look at beach houses to rent via the computer.  Church attendance was a little down today.  The weather is hot, muggy with some rain and storms.