Campbell Ave. Fire

On Friday, July 16, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Very Hot Day. Ethel Brown went after my camera at Bergendahl's. Rain came up in afternoon. Wrote to Effie. Mary and I took the baby down to Mrs. Raines' and drank iced tea and ate watermelon. Talked to Mrs. Mabry.

On Saturday, July 17, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Hot Day. Wrote to John Hancock about coming over on week's vacation in September. Rained in afternoon. Took a bath and shaved. Mary and I went up street to the "American" Theater. Mrs. Raines kept Norman.

On Sunday, July 18, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Hot! Werner Schalz died. Arose at 8:30. Took baby to Mrs. Raines. Went to church. Ate Dinner at Mrs. Raines'. Went up to see Loam and Mamma. Ate supper at Mamma's. Mary and I took baby to Elmwood Park. Harry rolled baby out to 10th Ave. S.W.

On Monday, July 19, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Awfully Hot. Met Bill Fisher. Walked to work with me. Rained P.M. Watched fire on Campbell Ave. at noon. Very hot at night. Took bath and shaved. Retired at 10:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, July 20, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cloudy-Warm. Werner Schalz buried today in "Fairview". Sin started driving a car for Stuart McGhee. Mr. Raitt stayed at home in p.m.

On Wednesday, July 21, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Raining. Mary, her mother, and the baby went to visit Mrs. Austin. I went to Buchanan to meet Effie and Pearl and kids. Saw Joe Seymour and boys. Skin took the folks to Loam's in automobile. Mary and I went to Loam's and Mamma's at night. 

On Thursday, July 22, 1915 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cool. Wrote letter to Lena and sent her package. Got cake of Castile soap from Mrs. Raines. Pearl, Teeny and Lady came down home. Mrs. Raines up at night. Shaved. Dark, cool, night. 

Seems like several things struck me as I wrote this today, let me see if I can remember them.  First, the weather.  Here in 2012, we have all this talk of "global warming" and yet the weather that Bonnie describes in 1915 seems to be really similar to what we have today, even thought Bonnie does not provide a lot of specifics.  Also, Werner Scahlz died in 1915 and was buried in Fairview cemetery.  I wonder if I could find his grave there in 2012?  That would be kind of neat. Bonnie watched another fire in downtown Roanoke on Monday, July 19, 1915 and last night here in 2012 there was a big fire on 10th St. in Roanoke. Smoke and flames could be seen for miles from the General Truck Body building. 2 firefighters were injured but not seriously.  And then, on Wednesday, July 21, 1915 Bonnie writes about going to Buchanan, which is where in 2012 I currently pastor a church.  So many connections to history, it's really neat.
       

Loyalty Church

On Friday, November 25, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Sunny-Mild. Arose at 7:00. Made a fire. Dumped ashes. Left home at 7:55. Busy all day. Walked at noon. Came home on car at 6:00 p.m. Norman went to Scout meeting. I read until 11 o'clock. My eyes and head hurt. Got to bed about 11:30, tired and "all in".

On Saturday, November 26, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Sunny-Mild. Worked until 3 p.m. Arose at 6:45. Made a fire. Dumped ashes. Left home at 7:55. Very busy all a.m. Took letters of WPW. Wrote until 3 p.m. Annah Lee and Baby Jane came to office. We looked at shoes. Ate 4:00. Norman, Mary, and I put glass in side window. Worked on it from 4 to 9:30 p.m. To bed 11:00.

On Sunday, November 27, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Sunny-Mild. "Loyalty"-Church. Arose at 8:45. Baby Jane got up at 7:30 and made fire and dumped ashes. I shaved. Didn't go to church. The children went. Annah Lee's burnt finger pained so much she came home. Mary phoned Dr. Ruck. I took her to his office and he put gauze on her finger. We then went to church and came home 5:00 p.m.

I am very thankful that I did not have to go back to work on Friday after Thanksgiving like Bonnie did and then have to work on Saturday too!  Then Bonnie came home and apparently struggled with putting the glass in the window...it took 5 and 1/2 hours! I guess I can see why he didn't go to church, but I am very confused by Sunday's entry.  Bonnie has this header of "Loyalty" church at the top of the entry. I have no idea what that means.  Maybe it was some emphasis they were having at church.  I hope it wasn't an attendance emphasis.  We also have not been told how Annah Lee burned her finger, but it must have been pretty bad.  Then, they apparently went back to church that afternoon??  Again, maybe there was some sort of special program.  We had another good day at church.  Really good crowds recently.  We also got our Christmas tree put up and decorated this afternoon and got the stocking hung.  We decided not to put decorations outside today due to the wind and heavy rain that is in the forecast. 

Rocky Mount Fire

On Wednesday, January 12, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cold-Sunny. Fire tragedy at Rocky Mount, Va. Arose at 6:00. Made a fire. Dumped ashes. Left home 7:45. Went downtown at noon. Destructive fire at Rocky Mount killed one girl and other seriously injured by jumping. I wrote to Mama and Blaine about Jane's condition. Mary read "Amarilla" tons after supper. On Thursday, January 13, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cloudy-Cold. Arose at 6:00. Made a fire. Stoked furnace. Dumped ashes. Shaved. Left home at 7:50. Annah Lee and Norman are off from school (Test exemptions). Mary and Loam went to Jake's in p.m. Bought Annah Lee and Baby Jane pair of shoes. I made fires at 6 p.m. Norman and I read until 10:30. Tired. Of Course, I am very interested in what happened in Rocky Mount with the fire. I may have to do some research on that. On Wednesday's entry, Bonnie's handwrititng got hard to read at the end. So, I am guessing on the "tons after supper" and then there was something that looked like shorthand that I could not read either. Caleb and Rachel can't be exempt from mid-term exams, but they are taking those right now and do get home early from school, plus they were out for a couple of days due to snow in the mountains. Do you reckon, Annah Lee and Baby Jane had to share a pair of shoes? I bet so. I am off from work tomorrow but will be preparing to go to the National Fire Academy for a week for a class. I am not sure how posting will go next week, but I will take Bonnie's diary along and I will have a laptop computer from work along, so I will do what I can. We are also celebrating my birthday tomorrow night since, I will be in Maryland on the 17th. I have been very busy at work recently.