A Walk in the Park

On Sunday, January 30, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Warm-Clear. Read "English Literature". Carter Thompson and I walked to Crystal Spring and Mountain Park. Stopped at Steffey's. Bought Cigars and went to Elmwood Park. Carter Thompson and I together with Woolridge went out to Steffey's and stayed until 10:30 p.m. I retired at 11:30. Woolridge paid carfare. This particular Sunday sounds as though it was a "guy's day out", walking around town, smoking cigars in the park, and visiting friends. I know from some other posts that the Steffeys were family friends but I wonder if maybe they owned some kind of business as well? Is that where they bought the cigars? It certainly is not clear and warm here in 2010. Cold and snowy. about 8 inches now and still falling. Looks like no church tomorrow, but I have been called in to work again. This time to help dig out a fire scene from last night. Our office is short one fire marshal and I don't mind helping out. In fact, I will likely make some good over time. Read today from Exodus 10-12; Pharaoh is still hardening his heart and now wanting to compromise, bot Moses is not willing to negotiate. Jesus died to set us free, totally free, from sin and we should not negotiate or compromise with what can hold us in bondage either. Exodus 10:3 says that Pharaoh refused to humble himself and in Matthew 20:1-28 it talks about "the last will be first and the first will be last" and how if you want to be great, you must be a servant and a slave. Jesus set the example for us in this. Proverbs 6 also talked about being busy and not being lazy. I have that covered and God blesses that I believe. I can't really grumble too much about having to work tomorrow.

Peanuts

I got some catchin' up to do. I have had a busy couple of evenings. On Thursday, January 27, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Warm-Rain. Wrote Mr. Spangler a letter. Mr. Schick returned to office. Loam, Mamma, and Teeney down home today for dinner. Mamma got a letter from Papa and Lena about moving to Bedford. Talked to Bo/Cy. Met Carter Thompson and went to see "The Raven". Jake came home. On Friday January 28, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Sultry-Warm. Wrote deed for E. P. Gregory - 50 cents. Mrs. Raines and Aunt Annah Smith went to church of the Brethren to hear lecture of Dr. McQuaig. Sent letters to H.D. & H. and Hatfields. Mary and Gertie Seyour, Maude & Jack Bowdel and Mrs. Raines came up home at night and stayed until 9 o'clock. On Saturday, January 29, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Rain & Cooler. Beat them all to office. Went to Bank for Mr. Schick at 9 o'clock. Mr. Schick went down. Shaved and took a bath after dinner. Went up home at 5 o'clock p.m. Met Jake. Came home at 10 p.m. Brought bag of peanuts. Retired at 11:30. Bath & Shave. I thought about skipping a few days of Bonnie's diary to get caught up, but there were some things for each day on which I wanted to comment. Let's start with 27th. Again, remember that most of the time I have more questions than answers as I am trying to piece things together. So, if any family member reading this has any help for me please feel free to share. The big event on the 27th was that Loam, who I think is some sort of relative because they are always mentioned with the others, Mamma, and Tenney, who is Bonnie's sister Christine, came for dinner and to apparently share a letter from Papa and Lena. I have no idea who Lena is, but she has been mentioned several times and where is Papa? Wherever he is, he is planning on moving to Bedford. I am still wondering if maybe Mamma and Papa aren't together any more? Notice in the pictures on this blog that they aren't together, but then again neither are the Raines. I wish I could figure some of this out. I also have no idea who or what is Bo/cy. "The Raven" was released in November of 1915 and was a biography of Edgar Allen Poe and was described as being peculiar by one reviewer. Jake is Bonnie's brother, unsure where he had been. On the 28th, I learn that Bonnie must have done some writing of some deeds for other people and charged them a little bit to do it. Interesting that the ladies went to a lecture at the Brethren church. I don't know who Dr. McQuaig was. I searched a little but could not come up with anything. A large group of friends got together at the Elmore's for some Friday night fellowship. On the 29th, I am really confused by how Grandaddy put some things together. I am unsure where Mr. Schick went down to, or if Mr. Schick went down to shave a take a bath after dinner, but then why would Bonnie record that? Bonnie does not say what he and Jake did when they met and came home at 10 p.m. but they did bring home a bag of peanuts. Maybe that's where I get it. I love peanuts in most any way, except for boiled peanuts, and I could possibly learn to love those too. Bring me home a bag of peanuts and I don't care where you have been! I wonder if the circus was in town? The Shriner's circus is going on now in 2010 in Roanoke and has long been a tradition, but I don't know if it has been that long. Calling for snow here tonight, possibly 8-10 inches. I hope we get it and if we do, I will have plenty of time to write more about faith matters tomorrow and Sunday. Goodnight!

Skin needs a job

On Wednesday, January 26, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Sultry-Raining. Mr. Raitt late today. Capt. Rowan absent. Wrote agreement with Crozet C & C Co. Skin and I talked to Mr. Spangler at 5:30 in regard to employment. I shaved at night and took a bath. Very warm weather at night. Mrs. Raines came up home. I know where Crozet is. I used to live there. So, Skin is a friend of Bonnie's. Is he in the mafia? I didn't know the mob was in Roanoke in 1916. Apparently Bonnie is helping him find a job. Not a lot else to say about what Bonnie wrote. Read today the story of Moses and the burning bush. God reveals Himself to Moses, talks to him, tells him His name, all very personal stuff. It's all about a relationship. Today's New Testament reading was from Matthew 17:10-27 and it talks about faith, what even just a little bit of faith will do. Our generation is one I am afraid that is of little faith. Psalm 22 talked about hands and feet being pierced and casting lots for clothing. Is this a prophecy of Jesus?

Back to the Parlor

On Tuesday, January 25, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Damp-Cloudy. Mr. Moher came down for Progress Profile of Ptq. Belt Line. Capt. Rowan away. Norman's large photograph came today. Mr. Raines came up at night and played with Norman 7:30. I went back in the parlor to sleep. Dull day at the office. Very hot at night. Feeling tired and sleepy. Retired 10:00. I bet it was kind of cool to get that large photograph of Uncle Norman. I wonder if that is still around somewhere? So much for Bonnie sleeping in his own room, one night and then right back to the parlor. I think Annah Lee may still be making a lot of noise. Except for the mention of a visitor in the office today that is about it. Caleb has been sick here. As Bonnie would say he "vomited freely" the other night. He is still not feeling well. Busy day at the office for me. Lots of pub ed events coming up. Calling for snow again this weekend. Today I read from Matthew 16:13-17:9 and Wow! How quick Peter goes from "On this rock I will build my church" to "Get thee behind me Satan". I do that sometimes. I think I am really close to God and then mess up royally. I guess I am glad to know that Peter did that too. Especially glad for God's forgiveness. I think it goes to show that there is spiritual battle going on and just when we get close to God is when Satan most attacks us. Peter didn't get HOW Jesus was to be Messiah and I am sure that in our limited knowledge there are things that God is doing that we don't understand either. I am sure of it. We too set our minds on the things of man.

Tie up that Car!

On Monday, January 24, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Warm Day. Capt. Rowan sick in bed with injured knee; fell over automobile rope on Sunday night. Miss Rowan phoned to me to come over. Went to see Capt. Took him letter. Introduced to Dr. Kirk. Mr. Schick left for Frankfort, KY. I shaved at night and slept in own room. Annah Lee is 2 weeks old today. So, one of Bonnie's bosses hurt his knee. What is an automobile rope? Did they have to tie them up like horses? This entry also still shows that things are still a little awry after the birth of my grandmother, Annah Lee. Bonnie has been sleeping in another room but tonight slept in his own room again. For any new readers, I notice we may have some based on the map on the blog and from a comment that I got that was not published, Bonnie is a man. Today it seems like an odd man's name, but it was his name. He is my great-grandfather and he was secretary for Norfolk-Western Railroad. We read his diary entry for each day from 1916, make a few comments and then talk a little bit about life in 2010 and matters of the Christian faith from the Bible. Today from Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God." and today in church we sang "Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love, Our God is an awesome God!"

Lecture

On Sunday January 23, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Warm. Arose at 9 a.m. Went to church at 11 o'clock a.m. Company came in. Went to lecture by Hobson and Dr. Stearns at the Roanoke Theater at 2:30 p.m. Dr. Burks phoned. Went up home at 4:30 and ate supper. Came by Raines' to see Norman and read at 9 o'clock. Retired at 9:30 p.m. Sounds like another good Sunday afternoon. Bonnie made it to church and went to an afternoon lecture. Dr. Burks called to check on Mary I suppose. Apparently Norman is still staying at the Raines while the Elmores adjust to having Annah Lee at home. Mrs. Raines must have won that argument way back there the other day. Busy Saturday here. Caleb had a basketball game this morning and they won 37-14. Caleb scored 2 point. Rachel has an audition at the Attic this afternoon and I have to work at the Guns and Hoses Hockey game tonight. Beth sill not feeling well.

On Saturday, January 22, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Very warm-rain. Payrolls etc. came in the office. Went to St. Charles Hospital to take specimen of urine. Came back by Fishers at 4:30 stayed there until 6:30. Came home and shaved and took a bath. Stayed in and retired at 11:30 p.m. OK, for the life of me I can't figure out the St. Charles hospital thing. This is at least the third time it is mentioned and I have looked on the Internet and I am just not aware of a St. Charles Hospital in Roanoke. I don't know. And the rest of Bonnie's day is pretty unremarkable. Still reading about Joseph in Genesis. Spiritual hind sight is always so amazing. God is amazing. Joseph tells his brothers that what they meant as evil, God had used it for good and to keep the family alive in that drought. Joseph didn't know that's what was going on the whole time he was a slave and in prison. For all he knew, he could have been in prison the rest of his life. But he didn't lose heart and he didn't give up his faith. He still trusted God and God was in control. God worked together all things for good. So, when we think God has forgotten us, He hasn't and He still has a plan for your life.