Detective strikes Preacher

On Monday, November 28, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Warm-Mild. Arose at 6:45. Made a fire and dumped ashes. Left home at 7:45. Had lot of work today. Mary is not feeling well. I came home at 5:45. (walked). Read after supper. Mary had rolls from Mrs. Crowley. Quite warm. Helped Mary move furniture. Talked to Loam.

On Tuesday, November 29, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Fair-Cloudy. Arose at 6:45. Made a fire. Dumped ashes. Left home 7:55. Worked hard all day. Stayed in at noon. Walked home in evening. Got rolls at Mrs. Crowley's Norman attended scout meeting. I read until 10 o'clock. Got to bed about 11:00. Tired and sleepy.

On Wednesday, November 30, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Warm-"Summery". Arose at 6:20. Made a fire. Dumped ashes. Shaved. Left home at 7:55. Busy all day. Got my check cashed and paid bills. Mary feels very bad. I didn't attend supper at church. Richard Gee and Mr. Parsons came down home after supper. Brought bed pan. Baby Jane went to Wood's in car with Burch's pm. Warm tonight.

End of month note for November 1927:  Premier of Rumania (Britanis) died on 23rd. Mama is till very sick. Can't hear from Christine. We took supper with Loam on the 3rd. She had no fire in furnace, and it was awfully cold. We drank some wine. Got home about  10:50. Hurried to bed. Paid J.T. Bristow $23.10 to tear furnace down and make repairs. Norman has a severe case  of poison oak on his face, hands, arms, breast and behind his ears. Mr. Lucian H. Cocke, General Attorney for the N&W died on Monday night 14th instant. Mary is quite heavy and has difficulty in getting around. She has suffered a great deal.

On Thursday, December 1, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Cold-Sunny. Arose at 6:30. Made a fire. Dumped ashes. Left home 7:55. Sent order to Sears-Roebuck for baby blanket, etc. Sent Fleck a check for $5.00. Came home on car at 6 p.m. Read after supper. Put paper and wood in furnace. Real cold tonight. Mary took bath and shivered. She put up curtains. I shaved. Got to bed 11:00.

On Friday, December 2, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Rain-Cloudy-Chilly. Arose at 6:45. Made a fire. Dumped ashes. Left home at 7:55. Mary had a hard vomiting spell. I paid insurance at 1:45 p.m. Not so busy. My eyes hurt today. Raw, rainy, cold, "sloppy" night. Norman went to scout inspection at Auditorium at night. I went to Jackson Junior play with Annah Lee and Baby Jane. Home at 9:30.

On Saturday, December 3, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote:  Snow-Rainy. Arose at 6:20. Made a fire. Dumped ashes. Left home 7:45. Mr. Noel came in at 8:35. He felt bad; didn't dictate one letter. He went home at 12 noon. I got home at 1:45. Cut wood from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Wet and cloudy. Baby Jane carried wood into the basement. I took a bath at 5:15 p.m. Shaved 7:45.

On Sunday, December 4, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Sleet-Cold. (Snow). Arose at 8:30. Mary got up at 7:30 and made a fire. Baby Jane and Norman went to Sunday School. Annah Lee and I went to church. Good sermon. Fairly good attendance. Mr. Scott told about detective striking one of our preachers. Harry ate supper with us. I read in afternoon. The children rode sleds all afternoon. We got to bed 10:00.

On Monday, December 5, 1927 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Fair-Warmer. Arose at 6:25. Made a fire in stove and furnace. Shaved. I went to work on 8:15 car. Baby Jane also rode with me. She paid carder $3.69. I deposited $37.95 for Mary's P.T. Assn. Left the office at 5:40 p.m. Home on car. Read after supper. We went to bed about 10:30 p.m.

I know this has been a long single post because I had gotten behind last week as I did a bit of short traveling, but there is lots of good stuff to write about. Also, I have some extra time to write today as I am off from work to go and have my annual Chest/heart tests.  I brought Beth to work this morning and we traveled through SE Roanoke which also kind of inspired me to write some more today as I went right through the areas that Bonnie writes about and it my thoughts go back to what life must have been like in 1927 and what Roanoke looked like.  I thought that Bonnie's Nov. 28 entry was funny when he talked about Mary not feeling well and yet he helped her move furniture.  Mary is obviously great with child as they are ordering baby blankets and Bonnie speaks of her being heavy and having trouble getting around.  I am not sure though that he ever mentioned that she was expecting back earlier in the year.  Maybe that wasn't something to talk about?  Or maybe it got lost among making fires and dumping ashes? Mary is also "nesting" as we call it today, moving furniture, hanging curtains etc.  She is getting ready for that baby to come. It also struck me that life in 1927 was not all that different than 2011 with the pull and tug schedule of the children.  One has a scout meeting, two have a program at school, Mary doesn't feel well, etc.  Sounds a little like us with soccer games, church, work, and school. The weather was also interesting.  Bonnie had been writing about it being mild and summery and then all of a sudden it snowed, sleeted, and the children rode sleds.  It has been mild here in 2011 too so maybe there is still some hope for some winter weather soon. Bring it on!

Oh! I almost forgot.  What is up with detectives striking preachers?  I sure would like to know more about that story from December 4.  What did the preacher do?  Was it mistaken identity?  City detective or Railroad detective? That was a great Sunday post though.  I loved it. Snowy Sunday, good sermon, good attendance, great story, and family over for a meal! Ahhhhhh.........

The Joys of Home Ownership

On Tuesday, June 13, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Sunshine. Arose at 7:15. Mr. Smallwood fixing porch. V.P.I. Special (2) went to Blacksburg. Wrote descriptions. Men came and paper kitchen and dining room. Went by Mrs. R and shaved 6 p.m. Talked Sam Thompson. C.D.T. in. Re-copied reqsn. for typewriter desk. Mrs. Raines bled. Mary went along. Cut grass and raked yard after supper. There is so much about this entry that I just do not understand today without actually being inside Grand-daddy's head. His sentences today...well, his phrases today are so short and choppy and some just don't seem to go together. Some time I need to put a picture of the actual diary on here so readers can see it. The space is small and I get that, but today everything is very choppy and the pencil writing gets very light as it is written. I will try to intrepret maybe a little a bit, but I will probably raise as many questions as you already have. Something has been wrong with the porch though I don't know what. We have been reading about materials being delivered for that and so today, Mr. Smallwood (funny name for a carpenter) got started on that repair. The V.P.I. special is a train that runs to what is today called Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. This was a special run train that is apparently usually the #2 train. I don't know what the occassion was for today. Graduation at Tech maybe? While Mr. Smallwood fixes the porch there are also men wall papering the kitchen and dining room. Oh, the joys of home ownership. I am a little stumped as to why Bonnie seems to shave and bathe at other places so much, especially Mrs. Raines, his mother-in-law. Sam Thompson is a close friend of Bonnie's and C.D.T. is some sort of work colleague who was in the office today. I remember Bonnie writing a requisition for that typewriter desk before. Reckon somebody lost it? Or did it get denied at the time and so Bonnie is trying again. This last sentence is the one, I just don't get. I don't know why Mrs. R bled, and I don't know where she went that Mary went along. But, while they were gone, Bonnie mowed and raked the yard.

Decoration Day

On Tuesday, May 30, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Sunshine. "Decoration Day". Arose 8 a.m. Shaved. Aunt Annah's goods came to house. Papa came down. Ate lunch at Mrs. Raines. Went up street to get things for Mary. Met Papa, Everett, Skin, Mr. Thompson and Capt. Rowan. Col. Jno. S. Mosby died in Washington. Ate supper over home. Mrs. R came down. Dr. J.C. Burks called me on phone. On Wednesday, May 31, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cool-Pleasant. Arose 7:15 a.m. Got to work at 8:30. Wrote up 2 deeds (cys.) Mary began "treatment" today. Paid off. Talked to Howard Fisher, Carter Thompson, Jack Bowdell, Mr. Steffey. Worked until 5:30. Paid some bills. Got ice cream. Mary feeling "blue". Ate supper 7 p.m. Mrs. R. down. End of month note: This has been a beautiful month. A few severely hot days. We had one holiday, "Memorial Day" in May. I was ill for a week this month. Laid off at home 2 days. Two or three electrical storms. Interesting that Bonnie wrote about Memorial Day as "Decoration Day". If I have my stuff straight, Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day and was a day for remembering all those who have gone before us, not just our military and the custom was to go and decorate their graves, thus, Decoration Day. It was also apparently on May 30 and not the last Monday in May. Still apparently it was a day off for Bonnie and a time to get together with family and friends. I wonder what kind of treatment Mary was receiving? We have had some strong storms here in May 2010 as well. We had a great Memorial Day, as my family surprised me with an early Father's Day present and we traveled to Charlotte, NC after church on Sunday to go to the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. It was great and Caleb and I really enjoyed ourselves while the ladies shopped. Incidentally, I looked up Col. John S. Mosby and discovered that he was also known as the "Gray Ghost". Col. Mosby was a Confederate calvary batallion commander during the Civil War. His men, "Mosby's Raiders", were known for their lightning quick raids and their ability to elude their Union pursuers, by blending in with local farmers and towns people. Mosby was born in Powhatan, VA and graduated from Hampden-Sydney College. I love the history that is Bonnie's diary as well as the history that he notes IN the diary. Fitting that this note was on Memorial Day. Ironic that Col. Mosby died on Memorial Day.

Very Hot

On Thursday, May 25, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Warm-clear. Arose at 7:15. Got to work at 8:35. Mr. Schick in the office. Went by Mrs. Raines at 6 p.m. and shaved. Rolled Norman to Elmwood Park. Talked to Mr. Raines. Mr. Toombs has gall stones and cancer of intestines. Mrs. Raines went to Jeff. Hospital at 7 o'clock and came down home at 8:30. Thunderstorm between 8 and 9 o'clock. On Friday, May 26, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Warm Day. Arose at 7:20. Got to work at 8:35 a.m. Worked steadily all day. At eventide, cut grass in front and back yard. Mary and I rolled children up to Mrs. Raines and went to Elmwood Park. Mrs Hurst at Mrs. Raines. Mary and came home alone. Very hot night. Talked to Jeff. Steele. Retired at 10:30 p.m. On Saturday, May 27, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Very Hot. Arose at 7:20. Got to work at 8:35. (Warm day). Worked steadily. Mr. R.F. Boxley in. Mary and I finished screening porch. I shaved and all went up to Mrs. Raines after supper. I took a bath there. Very hot day, with thunder. Talked to Jones Gardner. Mrs. R came home with us at 9:15 and put Norman to bed.

St. Chas. Hospital

On Sunday, May 21, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Warm-Sunny. Arose 8:30 a.m. Went to office 10 o'clock. Took letter to Post Office. Walked to St. Chas. Hospital and back home. Tried to cut Norman's hair. Ruth Doyle died on 14th-City Paint. Went to Raines' in afternoon. Rolled Norman over to Elmwood Park and ate supper at Mrs. Raines. Came home at 8 o'clock and retired 10 p.m. On Monday, May 22, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cool-Raining. Arose 7:10 a.m. Read "Ladies Home Journal". Mrs. Raines came down home after dinner. Got candy and cigars. Copied agreement. Mary feeling ill. Went to hospital at 5:45 Dr. Burks wrote prescription at 7 o'clock. Came by J&J & met Jake. Mrs. Raines down home and stayed until 9:30 p.m. Mary feeling badly. I retired at 10:30. On Tuesday, May 23, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Raining. Arose at 7:20 a.m. Got to work 8:40. John Dillard came in the office. Work very dull. Wrote to Mrs. John Doyle. Shaved at noon. Work dull in p.m. Mrs. Raines came down after supper and stayed until 9:30. I called Dr. Burks up on phone and inquired about medicine. Rain all night. Read newspaper. Mailed letter to Jake. Retired 10:30. So Bonnie went to the office on Sunday? And the post office was open on Sunday? I am still stumped by this St. Chas. Hospital in Roanoke. I know it is not still around and I have not been able to find out anything else about it. I would love to know more like where it was. Elmwood park is still around and I know right where that is. Hope Mary is feeling better soon.

Pennington's Choice

Got some catchin' up to do. On Thursday, February 3, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Snow-Cold. Partial Eclipse of the Sun. Got to work at 8:50 a.m. Looked at sun thru eyeglass. Mary and I looked at house on Jamison Ave. in afternoon. I went to see Pace Bros. in eve. Mr. & Mrs. Raines came up at night and brought apples. Very cold. Carter Thompson came by the office at 5 p.m. On Friday, February 4, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cold-Clear. Work at 8:45 ahead of all. Mary and I went to inspect a house on 6th Ave. Got to work at 3:30 p.m. Mike Sexton in the office. Carter Thompson and I went to American Theater at night. Talked to Jake. Came home at 11:00 p.m. on car. Phoned Ms. Fielding. On Saturday, February 5, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cold-Frost. Mr. Schick got to office first. Correspondence very light. Rolled Norman out for first time in push-cart. Shaved in p.m. Mary and I went up to the "American" at night to see "Pennington's Choice" my second time. came home at 10:30 p.m. Wow, ok I missed some things the past couple of days. Snow in Roanoke February 1916 and lots of snow in Roanoke in 2010. At home from work today because of expected foot plus snowfall in Roanoke. Pretty cool about the eclipse too. I will be very interested to keep up with the progress of the Elmore's house search. I don't know who the Pace Bros. are. There is a Pace Bros. in Roanoke and they are an excavating company I think. Apparently Grand-daddy is having a race to see who can get in the office first each day. I am usually about the second one in for the Fire Marshal's office, Maybe fourth or fifth for all of Fire Administration. The house on 6th Ave. maybe sounds familiar. Any of my relative readers out there can comment about the house I would be thinking of. I think it was the last house they lived in before going to the nursing home. Grand-daddy still loves to go see movies. A reminder for new readers that Jake is Bonnie's brother. I don't know who Ms. Fielding is. Real Estate agent? Bonnie mentioned the new push cart for Norman the other day. I think today we would call it a stroller. I am tickled to see that Bonnie actually went to see a movie with his wife Mary!! She usually has to stay at home with the kids. Sounds like he even sucked it up and went to see a movie he had already seen because that is what she wanted to see. "Pennington's Choice" was released in November 1915 and starred Francis Bushman and Beverly Bayne who we talked about in an earlier blog post. There is a good synopsis of the plot of that movie at this website: http://www.allmovie.com/work/penningtons-choice-105851 Lots of good Bible reading here recently from Exodus and Matthew. I heard a prayer request today on Daily Audio Bible about Christians being persecuted in Egypt. These Christians were shot and killed as they came out of church. Please pray for God's protection for these brothers and sisters in Christ!

Cheese

Tuesday, November 21, 1916 in Roanoke, VA according to Bonnie Elmore (My great grandfather): Warm and clear; Arose at 7:30, made a fire, got to work at 8:30. Read "American" magazine. Also wrote a letter to Denny Lawlor. Got my haircut. Mrs. R and Aunt Annah and I went down the street at 8 p.m. to Democratic parade. Pretty bum affair, but a very large crowd on the street. I stopped by Joe Milan's and read awhile came home at 9:20, ate cheese. Mrs. R is Mrs. Raines and was Bonnie's mother in law. Aunt Annah is who my grandmother is named after and Annah Lee (my grandmother) was now about 11 months old. Joe Milan's is I think a news stand and tobacco shop that used to be in Roanoke. I like to eat cheese too. I am guessing there are many things that get handed down from generation to generation. So far today, I have been to church and prayer walked the church with the deacons, got gas in the car, started a load of laundry and now we are off to pick up Caleb from basketball practice and help my mother with some chores at her house. Gospel sing later tonight at church as a fund raiser for a church member who has cancer. Possibly more about that later.