Friday, December 31, 1920


Fair mild damp winter day. Arose 10 A.M. Helped father etc. Breakfast. Did odd jobs. Dinner. Repaired tire chains. Took short nap. Unloaded 70 cases eggs. Delivered eggs. Candled eggs. Lay down with intention of going to Watch night service but slept from 8:30 P.M. to 9 A.M. Ruth to E.C. dance with Lambert.

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Watch Night originated with the Methodist church. According to Wikipedia,
The founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley, originated watch night services in 1740, sometimes calling them Covenant Renewal Services.[2][3] The services provided Methodist Christians with a godly alternative to times of drunken revelry, such as Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.[2] Today, a Methodist watch night service includes singing, spontaneous prayers and testimonials, as well as scripture readings; the liturgy for this service is found in The United Methodist Book of Worship.[1][4]
I am not sure who Lambert was or why Ruth would be going to a dance with him, but there was a David Lambert, a 30-year-old single realtor, who lived in Schenectady at the time. But where was Mark? Hmmm.
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This marks the end of Datebook 1920. It's been an enjoyable year of tracking the adventures of Stanford Stillman Closson of Schenectady, NY. I'll be continuing his diary in my next blog, Datebook 1921, the year Stanford graduates from college. What will he do this year? Will he continue his friendship with Merlin Finch and his romance with Dorothea Reynolds? To find out, stay tuned!

Thursday, December 30, 1920

Fair mild bright damp day. Arose 9:45 A.M. Chored around. Beat rugs etc. Dinner. Greased Ford. Down town with H.H. Bought clothing. Bowled. To Marion B's with D.S.R., Ruth, H.H. & Mark Sawyer. Little party. Fine time. Walked home. To bed 2:30 A.M.

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Ah, I guess this is Stanford's New Year's Eve Party. The only couple who don't carry on into the future is Stanford and Dorothea. I wonder why? We may never know.

Wednesday, December 29, 1920

PARKERS CORNERS: - mild, overcast. Arose 7:45 A.M. Breakfast - sausage etc. Played piano. Wiped dishes. Back to city 11 A.M. Home. Read letters, paper etc. Took nap. Candled eggs with H.H. Bowled 1 game at Morse. To Barcli with D.S.R. Enjoyable evening. To 215 P.B. To bed 1 A.M.

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Well, it looks like Stanford stayed overnight at Dorothea's house. Interesting! Are they getting serious at this point? I wondered what happened to the two of them later?

Stanford went to the Kingsbury's house again. No other information about that.

Tuesday, December 28, 1920

Beautiful bright windy clear day. Arose 8:30 A.M. Cleaned up and dressed. Read. Around town with D.S.R. and Lizz in Dodge Limousine and thence to Parkers Corners. Dinner. Exercise shoving straw around. To Guilderland Center with D.S.R. and Mr. Stalker hunting up kittle. Read and Visited. Supper. Qualifications for attendance, Old Maid, Widow or Bachelor. Mrs. Houck, Mr. & Miss Houck, Mr. Witherwax. Played games in evening. Took people home. Talked. Read, etc. TO BED 1 A.M.

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Guilderland Center is a town about 9 miles southwest of Schenectady. Not sure what Stanford means by "kittle" here. Anyone have a guess?

I guess Stanford was making a joke about the guests they had for supper that evening. Witherwax is probably Harry Witherwax, who in 1920 was a widower of 48 living in Guilderland. Mr. and Miss Houck are probably Hattie and Frank Houck, aged 38 and 40, respectively, single siblings living in Guilderland. Not sure, but Mrs. Houck could be Anna Houck, a widow living in Albany. It's not clear how Stanford knows these folks, but since Stanford is at the Reynolds', perhaps the guests are their friends. 

Monday, December 27, 1920

Overcast cool day. About 5 or 6 inches snow. First of any account for the year. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. Cleaned walk. Over to Church to help John Roberts take platform down etc. Dinner. Candled eggs. Played games. Took bath etc. To bed 9:30 P.M.

**********
I'm assuming the platform had something to do with Christmas? The only John Roberts I could find in Schenectady was a butcher, married to Laura, and at the time he had 8 children. By 1930 he had 10 kids. He may be the one Stanford spoke of twice in his diary.

Sunday, December 26, 1920

Beautiful, bright, cool. No snow on ground. Arose 9:45 A.M. Fooled around. Cleaned up. Took bath. To S.S. Merlin & I to Reynolds to CHICKEN dinner. Fooled around in P.M. In to E.L. and Church. Sunday School exercises. Good. Saw Reynolds off. Lunch at home. To BED 11:15 P.M.

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I wonder where Reynolds went?

Saturday, December 25, 1920


Beautiful, bright cool ideal Christmas day. Arose 3:30 A.M. To 215 P.B. Out with D.S. R. in Kingsbury's Kar to sing Carols with E.L. 26 in 4 cars. To Church for breakfast. Home. Distribution of gifts around tree. Fooled around. Bowled at Morse with H.H. Home. To Party at Gertrude Anthony's house with D.S.R. 16 present. Good time. To bed 2:30 A.M.

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I have at last identified the Kingsburys, mentioned a few times in Stanford's diary this year, thanks to his clue about where they live: 215 P.B.[Parkwood Boulevard]. They are Whalen and Agnes Kingsbury, and they have two sons, Charles and Fred, and an Irish servant, Martha McCabe. In 1920 Mr. Kingsbury worked at a Warehouse, perhaps the one Stanford worked at the previous summer.

I think Stanford's pictures of what he did that day (note the M.T. for mistletoe) are cute!

Friday, December 24, 1920

Fair cool dusty breezy winter day. Arose 8 A.M. Candled eggs. Helped father etc. Dinner. Got hair cut. Down street etc. Home in evening. Read. Cleaned up room. Did up presents etc. Took bath. To bed 9:30 P.M. Thankful for health, friends etc.

**********

Thursday, December 23, 1920

Mild wet nasty day. Intermittent sunshine and cloudiness. Arose 9:10 A.M. Breakfast. Read paper etc. Dinner. Candled eggs. Supper. To Scotia at night to see Edison Drafting School beat Scotia H.S. Basket Ball. Bowled at Kinums with M.J.F. [Merlin J. Finch] To bed 11:30 PM.

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The Edison Drafting School was a vocational school in Schenectady, started by General Electric, of course. Here is some information about it from a 1907 issue of American Machinist.




Below is an article from a January 1920 Schenectady newspaper detailing a basketball game between Edison Drafting School and Milne High in Albany:


Notice that one of the players on the Edison team is Finch. That may be Stanford's interest in going to the game--Merlin Finch was on the team. Note, too, that the team represents all the G.E. apprentices (not just the drafting apprentices), one of whom is Finch, at that time a patternmaker's apprentice.

In this game against Milne, Finch, the team's center, scored 8 points in their win.

Wednesday, December 22, 1920

Rain at night. Very Slippery. Overcast cool day. Little snow. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied. Breakfast etc. To College 9 A.M. to 12:20 M. Dinner. Wrote in diary etc. Down street with H.H. Bowled at Morse 179-123-196. Did Christmas shopping. Home. Supper. Sent out cards, did up packages etc. Down to P.O. Watched bowling at Morse. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********

Tuesday, December 21, 1920

Wonderful bright cool clear day. Arose 7 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M. - 12:20 M. Dinner. Took nap. To Library to study. Supper. Down town. Family & Goewey to Uncle Henry's 92nd Birthday party. Good crowd. Fine time. To bed 1 A.M.

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Goewey is Hobart Goewey, one of Stanford's classmates. He has made several appearances in Stanford's diary. I have acquired a photo that went along with a short "bio" of him published in the 1921 Garnet Yearbook.


He does indeed become a minister, like his friend Stanford. In 1940, he is shown as being married to Ethel and having a 10 year old child, Elizabeth; he is a minister for the First Methodist Church of Newton, MA. I wonder if Ethel is the one whose picture he kept under his pillow?

By 1951 he has moved back to the Albany area, living in Providence, NY and serving as the Pastor for the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. According to a family tree, he died in 1965.

Monday, December 20, 1920

Overcast cool autumn day. No snow on ground. Arose 8 A.M. Helped father. To College 9-12:30 M. Dinner. Uncle Charlie, Maude and baby present. Wrote in diary etc. Took short nap. Wrote letter. Down to P.O. etc. Maude & baby here overnight. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
I was looking at my post on Maude Love, and she was 41 in 1920. The baby was born when she was about 39 or 40, therefore. I wonder why she is never visiting the Clossons with her husband? 

Sunday, December 19, 1920

E.L. CONTEST 1st NIGHT SARATOGA 44/45 = 97%  SCH'DY 67/66 = 101%

Beautiful bright cool clear fall day. Arose 9:45 A.M. Breakfast. Toilet. To Church & S.S. Good turnout. Drove Ruth, Sawyer, H.H. Marion & I to Reynolds' home. Fine time. Lunch. To E.L. 67 out. To Church and fireside social. Good music. Popcorn & apples. To Dr. Frick & Father & Mother home. Out to Parkers Corners. To bed 1:15 A.M.

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As you may recall, Dr. Frick is their new pastor.

Interesting that now Sawyer and Marion are regulars in the Closson social outings.

Saturday, December 18, 1920

Overcast cool day. Some snow flurries. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast etc. To College. Up to Chapel. Dinner. Down town with Ruth. Out after greens to trim porch. Cleaned up. To Union-Columbia B.B. game. Score 22-27 with D.S.R. To bed 1 A.M.

**********

Friday, December 17, 1920

Overcast mild damp hazy day. Arose 8 A.M. Read paper. Breakfast. Helped father. To College 9-11 A.M. Home. Played piano. Up to Chapel. Dinner. Studied. Downstreet. Bowled at Morse. Bought gifts. Supper. Candled eggs. Took bath. To bed 11 P.M.

**********

Thursday, December 16, 1920

Overcast mild day. Some flurries of snow. Arose 6:40 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. Home. Finished letter to Nellie. To P.O. Candled eggs. Studied. Down town with Ruth. To Phi Nu Theta fraternity meeting. Mr. Hopkins of Sigma Nu and Dean Garis present. Talked refreshments etc. To bed 11:45.

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Dean Garis is Charles Frederick Fleming Garis, who was the Dean of Students from 1919 and Professor of Mathematics from 1908.

Professor Garis was born in Pennsylvania in 1881. He graduated from Lafayette University  with a Bachelor's degree in 1903 and Master's in 1906. Union was the only college he taught at. He lived in Schenectady in 1920 with his wife Rose and daughter Drusilla. He was tall and slender with blue eyes and brown hair, according to his WWI draft registration.

His father was Cornelius Garis, who was an inventor. I saw three patents that he was awarded for small devices such as a button that didn't need to be sewn because it had a double shank that could be pierced through fabric and then folded back on the other side to make it stay in place.

Wednesday, December 15, 1920

Beautiful bright clear mild day. Arose 7 A.M. Studied. Breakfast etc. To College 9-11 A.M. Home. Wrote in diary. Read paper etc. Up to Chapel. Dinner. Unloaded eggs. Wrote letter. Down town with H.H. Supper. Wrote letter to Nellie. Studied. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********

Tuesday, December 14, 1920

Beautiful rainbow at 4 P.M. Very wet mild day. Hard rain all day. River high. No snow on ground. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast etc. To College 8-11 A.M. Home. Read paper etc. Helped father. Up to Chapel. Dinner. Took nap. Candled eggs. Studied. Bowled before and after watching basketball at Y. E.M.E.S.S. 24  E.B.S.S. 4. To bed 11:30 P.M.

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What did Stanford read in the newspaper that day? Here is a possibility, part of page 2 of the Schenectady Gazette for December 14, 1920:

Monday, December 13, 1920

Overcast mild damp muggy day. Arose 8:10 A.M. Read paper. Breakfast. Helped father. To College 9 A.M.-12:50 M. Dinner. Chored around house. Read, Studied etc. Up to College. To public library. Supper. To Miles theatre to see "Hamlet" by Walter Hampden Co. Fine. Bowled 1 game with H.H. "219." TO BED 12 P.M. Thankful for health.

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Walter Hampden was a very popular, well known and talented stage and screen actor of the early 20th century. Here is a link to his biography on IMDb: Walter Hampden.


At left is a publicity photo of Walter Hampden around 1913.


Below is an ad for the production Stanford went to see. It appeared in the Amsterdam newspaper:



Sunday, December 12, 1920

Beautiful bright cool clear day. Arose 9:30 a.M. Breakfast. Played piano etc. Cleaned up room. Took bath. Out walking from 1:15 to 2 P.M. Dinner. Dodo here to dinner. Out walking with Ruth & D.S.R. Read. To E.L. and Church & Social hour. To bed 10:15 P.M.

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Saturday, December 11, 1920

Cool bright damp clear autumn day. Arose 6:45 A.M. Made toilet. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. Home. Shaved etc. Up to chapel. Family + Uncle John & Aunt Gertie up to Ed Clossons for dinner. Fine eats. Good time. To Union-State College game. Score 27-23. Watched dancing. Read at Lodge. To bed 11:45 P.M.

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To make one's toilet at the time meant to dress or groom oneself (in case anyone out there was wondering).

Friday, December 10, 1920

Overcast mild. Some rain in P.M. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. To College 9 A.M. - 12:15 M. Dinner. Read. To rhetoric 2:30:3:30 P.M. Got hair cut. Home. Wrote in diary etc. Lunch. Family + Marian Benedict and Mark Sawyer to Burnt Hills Baptist supper and fair. I bowled with Church League 2 games 153-164. Lost 3 games. Home with Dillingham in S.S. Studied. Talked with folks. To bed 11:15 P.M.

**********
So we have Marian Benedict and Mark Sawyer pretty regularly now. Interesting!

Thursday, December 9, 1920

Beautiful bright cool clear day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M. - 12:15 M. Dinner. Wrote in diary. Played piano etc. Candled eggs with S.T.C. Over to Church to help girls. Supper. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. Visited, talked, studied etc. To bed 10:30 P.M.

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Wednesday, December 8, 1920

Most beautiful bright cool sunny day. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast etc. To College 9 A.M.  to 12:15 M. Dinner etc. Mother, H.H. and I via Ford to Park Site. Closed up things for winter. Home. To Library. Supper. Studied. Wrote letters etc. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful.

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Tuesday, December 7, 1920

SAMUEL CORNELL D K.Y. HERE: TO ESPERANCE.
Beautiful bright cool clear fall day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. To College 8 A.M. to 12:15 M. Home. Dinner. Read paper etc. Candled eggs. Up to college. Downtown. Bowled. Supper. Over to Church to E.L. business meeting. Good time. Bowled at Morse. Home. Wrote in diary. Fixed up accounts. To bed 1 A.M.

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Monday, December 6, 1920

Arose on sleeper at Albany 5:45 A.M. To Sch'dy on 6:20 A.M. trolley. Breakfast home. Talked etc. To College 9 A.M. to 12:30 M. Read paper. Carried wood down cellar. Took nap. Supper. Bowled at Morse. Home. Studied etc. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful for all things.

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Sunday, December 5, 1920

WONDERFUL CONFERENCE

Overcast. Some rain. Arose 7:45 A.M. Routine. Breakfast 8:15. Sang around piano in Blue room. Morning session in Presbyterian Church of Aurora. Wilbert Smith spoke. Communion service also. Dinner at 12:30 M. Afternoon session 2-5 P.M. Macedonian call by Miss Ling of China, Cornell man for Japan, Josiah Das of Union for India. Call answered by Wilbert Smith. Open question box. Delegation meeting. Supper evening session 7-8:30 P.M. Resolutions, new officers etc. Testimonies. Dr. Eckerson closed. Special train to Auburn. To Syracuse. Sleeper to Albany with State College and Skidmore. Meeting on train. To BED 12:30.

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The three entries describing the Conference were quite long and had to be written in a very small hand in order to fit into the small space of the datebook's daily block. Stanford seemed to want to tell as much of the details of the trip as he could manage to fit. He must have really enjoyed the conference.

Saturday, December 4, 1920

Overcast cool day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Dressed. Delegation Meeting . Breakfast 8:15 A.M. All meals in College dining Hall. Fine service and good eats. 250 delegates and same students. Walked around. To morning session 9-11 A.M. Open discussion conducted by Tom Blasedale on college work and methods. Dr. Dorman spoke on Hospital work in Beirut Syria. Fine. Took walk etc. Conference picture at 12 BELLS. Dinner at 12:30 M. Delegation meeting 1:15. Afternoon session 2-3 P.M. Mr. Burton St. John spoke on types of Missionary service. Good. Recreation. Took walks with fellows. Shoe shine. Play "Suppressed Desires." Banquet 6:30 P.M. College banners on wall. Great yells and songs. Wells girls snake dance. Toasts. Evening session. Miss Hoxie spoke. Delegation Meeting. To bed 11:30 P.M.

**********
Since I'd never heard of a snake dance, I looked it up and found it was a spirit raising dance that must have involved students snaking around the gymnasium dancing and no doubt singing cheers.

I didn't know that Beirut was ever part of Syria, but it was, at least for a time, according to the Wikipedia article on the city that included this passage:
In 1888, Beirut was made capital of a vilayet (governorate) in Syria,[43] including the sanjaks (prefectures) Latakia, Tripoli, Beirut, Acre and Bekaa.[44] By this time, Beirut had grown into a cosmopolitan city and had close links with Europe and the United States. It also became a centre of missionary activity that spawned educational institutions, such as the American University of Beirut. Provided with water from a British company and gas from a French one, silk exports to Europe came to dominate the local economy. After French engineers established a modern harbor in 1894 and a rail link across Lebanon to Damascus and Aleppo in 1907, much of the trade was carried by French ships to Marseille. French influence in the area soon exceeded that of any other European power. The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica reported a population consisting of 36,000 Muslims, 77,000 Christians, 2,500 Jews, 400 Druze and 4,100 foreigners. At the start of the 20th century, Salim Ali Salam was one of the most prominent figures in Beirut, holding numerous public positions including deputy from Beirut to the Ottoman parliament and President of the Municipality of Beirut. Given his modern way of life, the emergence of Salim Ali Salam as a public figure constituted a transformation in terms of the social development of the city.

Friday, December 3, 1920

YELLS  SONGS  H.H. H. SKIDMORE ON TRAIN WITH US.

Overcast cool. Arose 7:30 A.M. To College 9-11 A.M. Uncle Charlie here to dinner. Jeff Ford left. Left 12:47 M. with Union delegation for Wells College at Aurora, N.Y. at Cayuga Lake to attend Student Volunteer Convention. 24 from Union to Auburn by trolley. Lunch. To Aurora by tram. Find reception. Escorted by Wells student. Registered. Arrived 7:45 P.M. To evening session Lecture and slides by Mr. Lewis, Methodist Board. Talk by Dr. Eckerson of China on World Conditions. Ate at Grays. Stayed at Glen Park Hall Room 11 Junior Dormitory. Alta Randles room, a friend of Ruth's. Fooled around. To bed 12:30 P.M. Lights off at 12 P.M.

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Well, here is the Student Volunteer Convention again. The last one was in February, so they must have it more than once a year.

I'm guessing the young men were singing their Union College yells and songs on the train to pass the time as they journeyed to their conference.

The 1921 Union College Yearbook records the yells and songs of their class. Below are two pages from that publication containing samples.



Thursday, December 2, 1920

Fair cool windy autumn day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast. Read paper. To College 8 A.M.to 12:15 M. Dinner. Helped S.T. clean out eaves. Read, studied, played etc. Supper. Home in evening. Getting Packed up for Wells. Took bath. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.

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Wednesday, December 1, 1920

Rainy wet cool dark day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied etc. To college 9 A.M. to 12:15 M. Dinner. Visited with Jeff. Studied. Unloaded and candled eggs. Supper. Studied. Wrote letter to D.S.R. Talked, played piano etc. Ate ice cream. Took mail down to P.O. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for health, friends, education. etc.

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Dorothea is still in the picture, it seems. Still can't find Jeff Ford. Maybe I'll get more clues later.

Tuesday, November 30, 1920

Fair mild dry day. Some sunshine. Arose 7:20 A.M. Breakfast etc. To College 8 A.M. to 12:15 M. Chapel at noon. Dinner. Wrote in diary etc. Took nap. Studied. To Silliman Hall to supper of Student Volunteer delegates. Visited etc. To bed 9:45 P.M.

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The Student Volunteers were a group of missionaries. See my blog post of February 12, 1920 for more information about them.

Silliman Hall was built in 1900 to house the campus YMCA chapter. Here is more information about it on Union College's website: Silliman Hall. Note from the description that it also was the building where the Philomathean and Adelphic Societies were housed. Both were groups Stanford was affiliated with.

Monday, November 29, 1920

Jeff Ford came. Fair mild clear autumn day. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast. To College 9 A.M. to 12:30 M. Johnny March bolted psychology. Read, Played etc. Dinner. Helped Father. Took nap. Down town. Bowled at Morse. Supper. To Barcli Theater with Russell. Good. To bed 11 P.M.

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There were many theaters in Schenectady at the time, apparently. Barcli's was one of them. Here is a snip from the Schenectady Gazette for December 15, 1920 showing all the theaters and their movies or plays:


Sunday, November 28, 1920

Overcast cool windy dark fall day. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Took bath, shaved etc. To S.S.  Ruth, Marion, Tom, H.H. and I to Saratoga in S.S. on E.L. business. Fine ride. To Epworth League meeting 70 present. To Church Pageant "Pilgrim and the Book." Fine. Auditorium packed. Out to Reynolds. Gang out to Corners after me. Fine time. To bed 11:15 P.M.

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Saturday, November 27, 1920

Overcast mild damp autumn day. Arose 8:30 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. Read paper etc. Candled eggs with H.H. Dinner. Took nap. Candled eggs. Bowled at Morse with Merlin. To church to concert. Criterion Male Quartette [sic]. To bed 12 P.M.

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The Criterion Male Quartet (known also as the Criterion Quartet) was a popular singing group of the early 20th century. They made numerous records and frequently toured the country.

Here is a picture of them on what looks like a flyer from after 1926. I copied it from the University of Iowa Library collection:

Click on this website to read a biography of the group: Criterion Male Quartet.

To hear some of their recordings, go to the really cool Library of Congress site, National Jukebox, or to YouTube.

Friday, November 26, 1920

Fair bright cool damp autumn day. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. Talked. Read paper. Candled eggs. Dinner. Played piano. Wrote in diary. Candled eggs again. Supper. Home in evening. Read etc. To bed 8:30 P.M. Thankful for health, friends, education etc.

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Thursday, November 25, 1920

Overcast, mild, damp, fall day. Arose 6 A.M. To E.L. sunrise service 7:04 A.M. at Trinity Church. 200 present. Trinity 62; First M.E. 34 etc. Uncle John, Aunt Gertie, Ed and Leila here to Turkey dinner. Ate 3 pounds. Fine time. Bowled with Merlin, Russell & H.H. at Morse. Lunch. To Church to E.L. social. D.S.R. there with Ralph Shummer. Bowled with Merlin 170-179-191. To bed 1:30 A.M.

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Well, now. I wonder why Stanford mentioned Dorothea's presence at the church social with Ralph Shummer . . .  I didn't find any information about him, so can't say. Maybe he was a friend of the family? Anyway, it sounds like Stanford had a nice Thanksgiving. Incidentally, last year he went to the church social with Doris Smith.

A reminder of who Ed and Leila are: see my blog post on 2 August 1919. 

Wednesday, November 24, 1920

Cook, wet, misty, overcast day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. Helped father. To college 9-12 M. Home. Dinner. Candled eggs. Took nap etc. Unloaded eggs. Read. Supper. Home in evening. Read. Wrote in diary etc. Shaved. Took bath. To bed 11 P.M.

**********

Tuesday, November 23, 1920


Very wet nasty day. Heavy rain and snow all day. Arose 6:45 A.M. Studied etc. To College 7:45 A.M. to 12 M. Home. Dinner. Candled eggs etc. Merlin, Russell & Lew Larkin here to supper. Over to Church to watch pageant. To Proctors with H.H. & Finch. Talked. To bed 12:30 P.M.

**********
Stanford doesn't describe any celebration for his 20th birthday, but hints at it with the drawings at the top of the entry and the mention of his friends coming to his house for supper. Perhaps that's when they gave him the birthday cake and the gifts depicted above (silk tie, 50 bucks, and $ from DSR).

Monday, November 22, 1920

Overcast mild day. Some rain. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. Studied. To College 9 A.M. to 12:30 M. Dinner. Candled eggs etc. Down town. Bowled at Morse with H.H. To Library. To College gym to football smoker. Fine time. Yells, speeches, eats, music, entertainment etc. To bed 11 P.M.

**********

Sunday, November 21, 1920

Cloudy, dark, damp, misty day. Some snow. Very slippery. Arose 8:30 A.M. Breakfast etc. To Kingsburys after D.S.R. To Church & S.S. Dinner. Girls here from Saratoga over night with Ruth. Walked out to Reynolds with Merlin Finch. Nice visit. Walked & road [sic] back. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********

Saturday, November 20, 1920

Overcast. Mild in A.M. Cool in P.M. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied. Helped father etc. To College 9-11:15 A.M. Worked on auto. Dinner. Out after Dorothea. To Phi Nu Theta house party 2-12 P.M. Union-Hamilton football game. Score 7-3. Dinner at Hotel Mohawk. To plays. Out riding etc. To bed 3 A.M.

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I'm confused. How did Stanford do all the things he mentions above in the amount of time he had?

Friday, November 19, 1920

Overcast cool autumn day. Up 7 A.M. To College 7:45 to 12 M. Dinner. Home in P.M. Wrote in diary, read paper, played piano etc. Candled eggs etc. In Evening to Scotia to bowl with Church league 122-160-163. Lost 2 games to First Baptist. Took bath etc. To bed 12 P.M.

**********

Thursday, November 18, 1920

Fair cool damp autumn weather. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. To Library. Home. Dinner. Studied. Down town. To College to watch team practise [sic]. Bowled at Morse. Supper. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. Talked. To bed 11 P.M.

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Here is how the football team looked in 1919. Some of these fellows were still there, perhaps, when Stanford watched them practice a year later.
Union College Football Team, 1919. Taken from the 1921 yearbook, the Garnet, 

Wednesday, November 17, 1920

Wet, nasty, slushy day. Rain off and on all day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. To College 8-11:45 A.M. Dinner. Uncle John and Aunt Gertie here. Candled eggs. Down street. Bought shoes, hat, rubbers etc. Lights off etc. To bed 9:30 P.M.

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I'm not sure what "lights off" means here, other than that Stanford made sure to turn the lights off before bed. Or perhaps he meant the lights were off down town. Hard to say.

Tuesday, November 16, 1920

Cloudy cold autumn day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. Home. Wrote in diary etc. Studied. Helped father etc. Candled eggs. Supper. Father up after Uncle John and Aunt Gertie in afternoon. Bowled. To Church to joint meeting of Kappa Epsilon Pi and Theta Beta Pi. Bowled. Talked with Merlin. To bed 12 P.M.

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I'm glad to see Stanford and Merlin are still friends.

Monday, November 15, 1920

Overcast cool fall day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast etc. Took papers to Kirchenbaum. To College 9-11 A.M. Home. To Chapel 12-12:45 M. Dinner. Eggs in 39 cases. Helped candle. Down town. Studied etc. To bed 8:30 P.M. Thankful.

**********
I wasn't sure who Kirchenbaum might be, so after ruling out fellow students and professors, I looked him up in the census. There was a Lester Kirchenbaum who was a junk dealer in 1930 in Schenectady, but in 1920, I found the entire family living in Schenectady. The father was a junk dealer and the son, Lishka at that time, was also a junk dealer with his father. They were all born in Russia and had been citizens since 1902. It makes sense that Stanford would be bringing papers--probably newspapers--to either the father or the son and perhaps getting money back for them.

An interesting side note: in 1945, Lester was accused of overcharging paper mills for waste paper he sold them. This was against the rules of the OPA, or the Office of Price Administration, which governed rationing and price controls during WWII. Here is the article about it that appeared in the January 6, 1945 Schenectady Gazette.


Sunday, November 14, 1920

Very nice cool clear autumn day. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Made toilet. To Church & S.S. Good Congregation. Dinner. Ruth, Mark Sawyer, Dodo & I out riding. To Swaggertown etc. Lunch. To E.L. 66 present. To Church. Armistice Day service. To Parker's Corners. Fine time. To bed 12 P.M.

**********
So, Mr. Sawyer appears on the scene at last. I wonder how long he lived in Schenectady? He is shown in the January, 1920 census as living in California and not having a job. He must have still been in school at that time, and then acquired his job with General Electric later that year. He and Ruth married two years later and moved to California where he worked for Pacific Telegraph & Telephone.

This is also the first time I've heard Stanford refer to Dorothy as "Dodo." Interesting . . . 

Saturday, November 13, 1920

Beautiful bright cool clear day. Some flakes of snow. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Out on errands. Dinner. Cleaned up. To Football game. Union 20-Hobart 7. Out to collect papers with Ford for Epworth League Christmas fund. Down town. Bowled at Morse. To Church to Entertainment. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
Wow! A win for Union! Woo-hoo! However, judging from the scores the Union football team racked up in 1919 (see below), Hobart's the only team they can beat.


Friday, November 12, 1920

Wonderful bright cold day. Few flakes of snow. Arose 7 A.M. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. To Library. Dinner. Down town in P.M. Chored around. Studied etc. Out in evening. Watched Church League bowl etc. Bowled at Morse. To be 12 P.M.

**********

Thursday, November 11, 1920

ARMISTICE DAY. Beautiful bright cold clear fall day. Arose 6:30 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 7:45 A.M. - 12-10 M. Home. Mother in Troy to W.F.M.S. meeting. Wrote letter. Candled eggs. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. In evening out with Ruth. 15,000 in big parade. Hourdes [sic] of people. To bed 11:30 P.M.

**********
The WFMS is the Women's Foreign Missionary Society, an organization founded in the Methodist Church. Here is some information about it from the United Methodist Women website:
In 1869, Mrs. William Butler and Mrs. Edwin Parker, wives of missionaries to India, were home on furlough. They spoke to a group of women in Boston. Only six women were present because of an intense storm. Mrs. Butler told about the desperate spiritual and physical needs of women in India. A male doctor could not treat women. Schooling for girls was almost non-existent. Single, trained and dedicated women were needed for medical and educational work. 
The six women who were present called another meeting of women, wrote a constitution, and organized the Methodist Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS). By November 1869, the newly formed organization raised funds and sent Isabella Thoburn, an educator, and Dr. Clara Swain, a doctor, to India.
The parade Stanford refers to is of course the Armistice Day parade, which is now known as Veterans' Day. This was the second anniversary of the signing of the armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 that ended World War I.

Here is a picture, taken from the Schenectady book, of the original celebration in 1918:

Wednesday, November 10, 1920

Cold windy clear autumn day. Arose 7 A.M. Made toilet. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Home. Read paper etc. Dinner. To College 1 P.M. Classical Club Picture. Studied. Out to call on Uncle John. Much better. Supper. To Library. To Marion Benedict's home to E.L. Cabinet meeting. Eats. Home. Talked. To bed 12:30 P.M.

**********
Here is the Classical Club as they appeared the previous year. Stanford is in this picture--top row, third from the right.

Tuesday, November 9, 1920

Overcast cool rainy day. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. To College 8 A.M. to 12 M. Dinner. To College 1 P.M. Adelphic Society Picture. Home. Candled eggs. Cleaned up. Bowled at Morse with H.H., Russ & Merlin. To Church to reception to Dr. & Mrs. Frick. Bowled again. To bed 12:45 P.M.

**********
The Adelphic Society was a debating club. Stanford speaks of its debates from time to time in this diary. Here is a picture of them that appeared in the 1921 Yearbook, The Garnet:

I don't think Stanford is in this picture, but it could be because it was taken the year before.

Monday, November 8, 1920

Fair mild clear autumn day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied. Helped father etc. To college 9-11 A.M. Home. To Chapel 12-12:40 M. Dinner. Down town. Home. Read & studied. Supper. Talked. Home in evening. Studied etc. To bed 9:30 P.M.

**********

Sunday, November 7, 1920

Overcast autumn day. Rain in P.M. Arose 8:45 A.M. To Church & S.S. Dinner. To Swaggertown to Mr. Glindmyer's funeral. Large crowd out. Walked to Hardins. Home. Wiped dishes etc. To Epworth League. Good turn out. To Church with Doris Smith. Last of Evangelistic meetings. Home. Talked. To bed 10:30 P.X.

**********
Mr. Glindmyer is undoubtedly Henry Glindmyer, who was a friend of the family (along with his daughters) and who had a dairy farm in Glenville. He died in 1920, so that matches with Stanford's report. Perhaps Stillman bought cream or butter from Mr. Glindmyer and that is how they knew each other.

Saturday, November 6, 1920

Beautiful bright cool autumn day. Arose 5:30A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Down town on errands. Cousin Grace Cornell here to stay over Sunday. Cut wood. Greased car etc. To Church at nite with D.S.R. Hanford with Marion. "Gloria Trumpeters." Out to Parkers C. To bed 12:45 P.M.

**********
Aha! At last, Hanford and Marion together!

The Gloria Trumpeters were a musical group of four women trumpeters. They were formed and led by Edna White, made records and toured with a vaudeville company in the 1920s. One of their records featured "Love's Old Sweet Song."

Here is a picture of them:
And here is a photo of them in action:


Friday, November 5, 1920

Wonderful bright mild autumn day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. To College 8-11 A.M. Home. Read, carried wood, pitched horseshoes etc. Dinner. Read book. Candled eggs. Took bath. To College, Church and Star Alleys. Walked. To bed 10:30 P.M.

********** 

Thursday, November 4, 1920


Marvelous bright mild clear day. Arose 5:30 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M. to 12 M. Dinner. Studied. Helped H.H. candle eggs. Supper. Cleaned and dressed up. To College to Phi Nu Theta meeting. Down to church. Walked around town. Home. To bed 9:30 P.M. Thankful for education & opportunities.

**********
Stanford's drawing seems to indicate he paid some attention to the election news, but I'm not sure what might have been crossed out or what J.H.U. means. Or maybe Stanford meant to make a kind of garlanded entryway for the G.O.P.? Hard to say.

Wednesday, November 3, 1920

Cool breezy overcast autumn day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. To College 7:45 A.M. - 12 M. Dinner. Wrote letter to Nellie. Took nap. To library. To Church to meeting. 700 present. Wrote letter to D.S.R. Studied. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for health, friends etc.

**********
That's a big meeting!

Tuesday, November 2, 1920

ELECTION. Cool cloudy day. Rain in P.M. & evening. Arose 8 A.M. Vacation. Read paper. Helped father. Sawed up wood. Pitched horseshoes etc. On hike in P.M. with bunch from church. Fine time. Home. Cleaned up. Over to church. Riverside nite. Bowled ate etc. To bed 11:45 P.M.

**********
Interesting that Stanford doesn't discuss who was running for President that year (Warren Harding) or that women were given the right to vote for the first time. 

Monday, November 1, 1920

Cool & Cloudy. Some rain in A.M. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied. Breakfast etc. To college 9-12:30 M. Home. Candled eggs. Played piano, wrote in diary, read etc. Down town on errands. Studied. Bowled at Morse with Merlin. To Church to Evangelistic meeting. Walked around with H.H. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.

**********

Sunday, October 31, 1920

Fair mild overcast autumn day. Arose 8 A.M. Took bath etc. To Baker Ave after Grosveners. To Church and S.S. Guest day. Good turn out. Dinner. To Church to prepare topic with Ed. Gemlich. "Cultivating High Ideals" 77 present. Out with D.S.R. Walked in. To bed 11:30 P.M.

**********
I guess the Clossons are helping out the Grosvenors following the death of Mrs. Grosvenor. 

Saturday, October 30, 1920



Fair cool clear fall day. 1 or 2 flakes of snow in A.M. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Got hair cut, shaved etc. Candled eggs. To Union-R.I. football game 7-7. Down town. Bowled etc. Supper. Odd jobs. Out for walk. Bowled again. To bed 11 P.M.

**********
This was the day the time changed at midnight, at least according to the drawings Stanford made. This was still a new thing, according to what I've read. See my post in October of 1919 for more information: DST.

It seems there were more ties in college sports in those days. People didn't mind so much then, I guess.

Friday, October 29, 1920

Overcast cool windy autumn day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M. to 12-10 M. Home. Dinner. Wrote letter. Down town. To College Library. Supper. Out for walk. To Evangelistic meeting at church. Watched Church League bowl. Talked with Merlin & Ruth. To bed 12 P.M.

**********

Thursday, October 28, 1920

Fair mild autumn day. Damp under foot. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To college 7:45 to 11 A.M. Dinner. Took nap. Pitched horseshoes. Down town on errands. Bowled at [drawing of star] 161-169. Mother & Father to Johnstown to Mrs. Grosvenor's funeral. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. To Church. Talked. To bed 11 P.M.

**********
Mrs. Grosvenor was Delana Cramer Grosvenor. She was born 4 November 1836 and died 27 October 1920. She was Catherine Cramer's younger sister. She married Nelson Grosvenor in 1859 and they had 8 children, all of whom outlived their parents. By the time she died, Delana was a widow living with her daughter, Lucy Grosvenor Pease, in Schenectady. She was buried in Johnstown with her husband, and later, one of her daughters.

She would have been Stanford's Great Aunt Delana, yet he doesn't call her Aunt Delana. Curious . . .

Wednesday, October 27, 1920

Overcast cool windy autumn day. Arose 7 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. Played piano etc. Wrote in diary. Dinner. Helped father candle eggs. John Myers called. Out to see Uncle John. Better. Studied at nite. To bed 9:30 P.M.

**********

Tuesday, October 26, 1920

Rain in A.M. Cleared in P.M. Cool. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. To College 7:45 to 11:45 A.M. Dinner. Played piano, wrote in diary. Balanced up accounts etc. Studied. Helped father candle eggs. Supper. Cleaned up. Walked around town. To E.L. Evangelistic meeting at our church. Prayer subject. Studied. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********

Monday, October 25, 1920

Overcast clear cool autumn day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Studied. To college 9 to 11 A.M. Home. Read paper etc. To Chapel 12-12:45 M. Took nap in P.M. Down town. Supper. To College Library. To Evangelistic meeting at church. Studied. To bed 10:45.

**********

Sunday, October 24, 1920

Wonderful bright mild clear day. Up 9 A.M. Took bath. To Church & S.S. Dinner. Bests here for dinner & P.M. from California. Out walking in P.M. with H.H. & Merlin. Called on Jefferson etc. Lunch. To E.L. 60 present. Out to P.C. Walked home. To bed 10:15 P.M.

**********

Saturday, October 23, 1920

Perfect clear cool bright autumn day. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Over to church to help clean up. Candled eggs. Family + Merlin Finch & Marion Benedict for ride. To Uncle John's. Some better. To Glenville Corners. Lunch at Wolf Hollow. Fine time. Home 7:20 P.M. Candled eggs. Talked etc. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
Hmmm. Marion still not dating Hanford . . .

Here is some information about Wolf Hollow, taken from the Fulton NY Gen Web site. It comes from a book published in 1920 called The Old Mohawk Turnpike Book:
Wolf Hollow - Road to Saratoga.
Leaving the Mohawk Turnpike west of Hoffmans station, a road leads up Touareuna hill through Wolf Hollow, in which runs the Chaughtanoonda. This is the famous Mohawk-Mohican battleground referred to and is worth a visit for its wild picturesqueness. At the first sharp bend in the hollow, is "Johnny's Spring," a good picnicking spot. Unsuccessful attempts at coal mining were made here, the shaft opening being called the "Coal Mine."

Thirty species of ferns and some uncommon orchids are here found. Wolf Hollow marks a tremendous earthquake of past geological ages, the rock displacement here evidenced being called the "Hoffmans Ferry Fault." This geological disturbance outrivaled any earthquake of history, the rock crust to the east having dropped 1,000 feet.

A cave in the northern cliff is called "the Bear's Den."

The Wolf Hollow road forms a short cut to Saratoga (24 m.) for the eastbound motorist, via Glenville, West Charlton, Scotch Street, thence on the State road through Ballston to Saratoga. 
Kinquariones and Wolf Hollow would make a fine State park site, being accessible and available to the thousands of motorists on the Old Mohawk Turnpike.
Perhaps they had a picnic lunch!

Friday, October 22, 1920

Marvelous bright warm windy day. Arose 7 A.M. To College 7:45 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. Dinner. Studied, read etc. Downtown after refreshments etc. To Church to trim. Out after leaves. Cleaned up. To E.L. Autumn social. 85 out. Walked around with Merlin J. Finch. To bed 1:30 A.M.

**********
He doesn't say how he liked the social, but it was apparently well attended.

Thursday, October 21, 1920

Beautiful bright warm clear day. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Home. Dinner. Studied. Helped unload eggs. After corn stalks. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. Helped trim church for social. Talked. To bed 11:30 P.M.

**********
Looks like they're going to have a harvest-themed social at the church. Sounds nice!

Wednesday, October 20, 1920

Beautiful bright warm fall day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. To College Library. Dinner. Chored around. Took nap. Pitched horseshoes. Read Concordy etc. Supper. To College Library. Wrote letter to D.S.R. Studied. To P.O. Talked. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful!!!!!!!!!

**********

Tuesday, October 19, 1920

Overcast in A.M. Bright in P.M. Mild. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. To college 7:45 A.M. to 12 M. Dinner. Helped S.T.C. candle eggs. Studied. Played piano, read. Down street. Bowled. Took mother to church. Studied. To bed 8:30 P.M. Thankful.

**********

Monday, October 18, 1920

Overcast mild damp day. Arose 7:45 A.M. Studied. To Post Office. To College 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Wrote in diary etc. Down town on errands. Bowled at Morse A.A. 135-169-185. Studied. Candled eggs. Talked with Merlin Etc. To bed 9:15 P.M.

**********

Sunday, October 17, 1920

Wonderful bright warm day. Arose 9 A.M. To Church and S.S. Dinner. Out riding. Up to see Uncle John; not feeling very well. Over to Country Place after pumpkins etc. To Epworth League. 57 present. To Church. E.L. sat in body and sang. At Thalmans. To P. Corners. Ruth & Merlin out after me. To bed 12:30 P.M.

**********
I don't know who Thalmans are.

Saturday, October 16, 1920

Foggy in A.M. Bright in P.M. Rain at night. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Delivered eggs. Cleaned up etc. Uncle Charlie here to dinner. Fine. John & Anna called in P.M. To Amsterdam E.L. district convention. Took D.S.R. home. To bed 11:30 P.M.

**********

Friday, October 15, 1920

Beautiful bright mild day. Some rain at night. Arose 7 A.M. To College 8 to 11 A.M. Odds and ends. Chored around. Took nap. Helped father sort potatoes. To Scotia to visit Uncle Charlie. Bowled with church League 163-192-179. To bed 11 P.M.

**********

Thursday, October 14, 1920

Beautiful bright warm fall day. Arose 5;45 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Home. Fooled around. Took walk with H.H. to Scotia etc. Bowled at star. To Phi Nu Theta meeting 7-8 P.M. To Epworth League 8-10:30 P.M. Business meeting. Talked. Retired 11:15 P.M. Thankful for health, friends, education etc.

**********
In researching Phi Nu Theta, I was only able to find an organization that was supposedly confined to Wesleyan University in Connecticut (non-national), but this does seem to be the same organization, now called Eclectic Society. Perhaps it is affiliated with the Methodist Church?

Here is the "About" page from the organization's website:

Wednesday, October 13, 1920


Beautiful bright cool clear day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast etc. To College 7:45 to 12:30 A.M. Senior picture in Jacksons garden. Took nap. Down street on errands. To college library in evening to read. Talked etc. To bed 10:30 P.M.


**********

Stanford's Senior Picture
He is in the top row, 8th from the left

Tuesday, October 12, 1920

COLUMBUS DAY
Cloudy in A.M. Cleared in P.M. Foggy in evening.  Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. Breakfast etc. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Student body picture at noon. Candled eggs with S.T.C. Telephoned etc. Down street. D.S.R., Ruth, Merlin & I in S.S. to Park Site, supper etc. To Parkers Corners. To bed 12 P.M.

**********
Here are some facts about Columbus Day that I found on the CNN.com website:

1892 - President Benjamin Harrison issues a proclamation establishing a celebration of Columbus Day on the 400th anniversary of Columbus' landing.
April 7, 1907 - Colorado becomes the first state to declare Columbus Day a legal holiday.
1920 - Columbus Day begins being celebrated annually.

Monday, October 11, 1920

Beautiful bright cool clear day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast etc. Studied. To college 9 to 12:30 A.M. Fooled around. Took ride on H.H.'s wheel to aqueduct etc. Down street after suits (2 prs pants) $32.75. Supper. To College library to read in eve. Took walk. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful.

**********
In today's dollars, Stanford's suits would cost him $403.82. Not too bad for suits with two pairs of pants. And his were custom made!

The Aqueduct was a part of the Erie Canal. Here is some information about it that comes from The Schenectady County Historic Treasures Map:

Sunday, October 10, 1920

Fair clear windy cool day. Arose 8:30 A.M. Changed tire. Breakfast. To Church & S.S. H.H. to Center Glenville. Dinner. M.J.F. and H.H. and I walked to Reynolds. E.L. social and meeting. 73 PRESENT. Rode Around. To Parkers Corners. Nice visit. Walked home. To bed 1:30 A.M.

**********

Saturday, October 9, 1920

Wonderful bright warm clear day. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied etc. To college 7:45 to 11 A.M. Got haircut. Took bath, shaved, shined shoes etc. To Union-Williams football game with D.S.R. Score 0-35. Rode around town. Out in evening with M.J.F. & Russ. To bed 12:30 P.X.

**********
I guess the Union football team is still bad. Ah, well . . . 

Friday, October 8, 1920

Humdinger bright mild clear day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. To college 7:45 to 11 A.M. Wrote in diary. Talked. Dinner. Studied etc. To Country Place in S.S. Picked apples etc. Called on Uncle John Some better. Home. Supper. Bowled with Church League 130-151-178. Lost 2 games to [indecipherable name]. Talked. To bed 10 P.M.

**********
Wonder what kind of apples they grew? 

Thursday, October 7, 1920

Wonderful bright clear cool day. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied french. Breakfast. To College 8-11:30 A.M. Dinner etc. H.H & I candled eggs. Shaved. Visited with Jean Daggett. Out to supper a la chicken at Glenville Corners. D.S.R. & Marion Benedict along. Fine. Took D.S.R. home etc. To bed 12:15 P.M.

**********
I'm waiting to see when Hanford will start paying more attention to Marion.

Wednesday, October 6, 1920

Alternating cloudy and bright. Cool. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Home. Down street to try on suit. Wrote in diary etc. Bowled at Morse 155-147-145. Read at Library. Supper. Studied. E.L. Cabinet meeting. Walked home with M. Swort. To bed 12:30 P.M. In Eve Mr. Halstead along with load.

**********
I guess there was no such thing as ready-to-wear clothing back then. A person had to have a suit made. Stanford earlier bought the one he refers to here, I believe, since he speaks of being measured. (See September 23 post.)

Don't know who M. Swort could be, or even if the person is a woman or a man. And I'm not sure what sort of load Stanford is referring to here, either, although there is a John D. Halstead who is in the 1920 Schenectady census who was a construction supervisor for the NY Telephone Co. Maybe he is delivering construction materials? More mysteries . . .

Tuesday, October 5, 1920

Overcast day with few scuds of rain. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Wrote in diary etc. Father and I to country. Dug potatoes 1/4 rotten, pulled beans etc. Home 7:30 P.M. Supper. Wrote letter. Studied etc. H.H. to Trinity Church to E.L. Sub district meeting. To Post Office. To bed 10:30 P.X.

**********
It's odd that Stanford so rarely mentions his mother, as if her presence were a given. I suppose the daughters spent time with their mother and the sons spent time with their father, as was the custom at the time.

Monday, October 4, 1920

Beautiful in A.M. Some rain 3 P.M. & on. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. To college 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. Student meeting. Dinner. To College library to read. Home. Wrote in diary. Studied etc. To College Library again in evening. Talked with family. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
Well, I guess Stanford is spending more time studying this year. I suppose that's good considering he is a senior.

Sunday, October 3, 1920

H.H. to S - - - [indecipherable] Street with load from college. Wonderful mild bright day. Arose 8:30 A.M. Out after dioxogen, pumped up tires etc. To Church & S.S. Dr. FRICK's first Sunday. Very favorably impressed. Out to Reynolds for dinner and P.M. Mrs. Kingsbury's 32nd birthday. Fine time. Good eats. To E.L. 45 present. Rode around. To church. To bed 10:30 P.M.

**********
The new pastor, Dr. Frick, is Philip I. Frick. In the October 7, 1920 edition of the Christian Advocate, there is a news item announcing his arrival there:

Dioxogen, it seems, was a popular antiseptic in 1920, similar to peroxide. Here is an ad that appeared in a 1917 edition of the Boy Scout magazine, Boys Life:


Saturday, October 2, 1920

Fair cool autumn day. Arose 5:45 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To college 7:45 to 11 A.M. Home. Filled grease cups on Hudson. Shaved etc. E.L. corn roast in P.M. out beyond end of Campbell Ave car line. Around with D.S.R. after provisions etc. Fine time. Wet under foot. Good eats. Back to town. Out to Parkers Corners with D.S.R. Short visit. Walked back. Traded. To bed 10:15 P.M.

**********
Apparently, there was an electric railroad car that went along Campbell Avenue, and that is what Stanford must have meant by the end of the Campbell Avenue car line.

Friday, October 1, 1920

Fair cool autumn day. Cleared. Arose 7 A.M. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Home. Read paper and letter from D.S.R. Dinner. Wrote in diary. Candled eggs 2:15 to &:15 P.M. Studied french etc. Took bath. H.H. to college. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful.

**********
I'm not sure why Stanford and Dorothea are writing letters. Is she away for some reason? Curious.

Thursday, September 30, 1920

Very wet. Rain more or less all day. River and creeks high. Arose 5:45 a.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 7:45 to 12 M. Wrote letter to Nellie. Read paper. Played piano etc. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. To P.O. Ice Cream Ruth's treat. To bed 10 P.M.

**********

Wednesday, September 29, 1920

Beautiful bright very hot day. Arose 7 A.M. To College 7:45 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Dinner. To College. Talked at rooms with bunch. Read at College Library. Home. Supper etc. Down street. Bowled at Morse 182-143. To College Library. Read. Home. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful for health.

**********
I see his bowling scores have not suffered for his time away from it.

Tuesday, September 28, 1920

Overcast cool day. Rain at noon. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 7:45 to 11 A.M. Home. Wrote in diary etc. Dinner. Took nap. Studied. To School after Ruth. 5 of us to Uncle Johns for visit and supper. Fine time. To Library. To bed 10:30 P.X.

**********
I think "School" is the school where Ruth works as an art teacher.

Monday, September 27, 1920

RAIN DURING NIGHT. Beautiful bright warm day. Arose 7:45 A.M. Breakfast etc. To College 9-1:15 P.M. Student meeting. H.H. & [I] candled eggs. Talked. Played piano etc. Ruth, H.H. Merlin & I played tennis at Riverside park. Supper. Studied etc. To bed 10 P.M.

**********

Sunday, September 26, 1920

Perfect bright hot day. Arose 8:30 A.M. Made toilet. To Church. Met Mr. Bussy. To S.S. Rally Day. Good exercises. With Bussy till 8 bells. Dinner. Talked etc. Cabinet meeting here. Refreshments. B and I to meet D.S.R. Around park etc. To E.L. Good meeting. Out to Reynolds. Fine visit. Walked & rode home. To bed 1:30 P.X.

**********
Not sure who Bussy is. I think he meant he went to bed at 1:30 A.M.

Saturday, September 25, 1920

Reoux elected president. Marvelous bright day but hot. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. To college 7:45 to 11 A.M. Got haircut. To class meeting. To bath, shaved etc. To Football game. Union 0 - Middlebury 6. Down town bowled etc. To bed 10:30 P.M. Thankful.

**********
Reoux was Harry A. Reoux, a fellow senior who went on to greater glory as a lawyer and later a state representative. He served in many leadership positions all his life, including Senior Class President at Union. He attended law school at Albany and ended up with his obituary in the New York Times, which was pretty prestigious. Unfortunately, he only lived to be 67. Here is the obituary as it appeared in the Times:


Friday, September 24, 1920

Marvelous bright warm day. Arose 7 A.M. To Chapel. Home to breakfast. To college 9-11 A.M. Home. Read paper etc. To Rhetoric at 2:30 P.M. Home. Candled eggs. To Uncle Johns for visit. To Phi Nu Theta Rush party. To bed 11:30 P.M.

**********
Back to school at last!

Thursday, September 23, 1920

Marvelous bright hot clear day. Arose 6:45 A.M. To College 7:45 A.M. to 12:30 M. Senior class meeting. Reoux Pres; Leslie Jones Vice; Goewey historian etc. Mother, Father, H.H. and I to Altamont Fair. Crowds of people and multitude of machines. Fine time. Bought suits. E.W. Mills, measured etc. To ΦΝθ meeting. Candled eggs. To bed 11 bells.

**********
The Altamont Fair is an Albany-Schenectady (and now Greene) joint counties fair held each year in September. I couldn't find any pictures, though.

Wednesday, September 22, 1920

Most beautiful bright warm day. Arose 7 A.M. to college 8:30 to 11 A.M. Home. Dinner etc. Played tennis with H.H. at Riverside 7-5: 7-5. To College Library to read. Down town to have watch fixed. To Public Library. Wrote letter D.S.R. To bed 10:30 P.X.

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At last, back to college! Stanford must have missed Hanford over the summer.

Tuesday, September 21, 1920

Overcast in A.M. Cleared in P.M. Arose 7 A.M. Made toilet. To college 7:45 to 11 A.M. Talked with Charles Dotter at Library. Took nap. To College to see annual scraps. Around town on errands. To Palace with Merlin & Russ. Bowled at Morse etc. To bed 11 P.M.

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Ah, it's time for the annual "scraps" again! Remember last year's? If not, see my post, September 23, 1919.

Charles Albert Dotter was listed as Russell Norris's brother in the 1915 New York census. He was born June 13, 1898 in Pennsylvania. By 1918 he was married to Helena Hogan, and working at the Glenville Rail Yards for D&H Railroad doing car repair, according to his WWI draft registration. By 1920 he had a son, Ernest, and by 1930 he had four children. He was still living in Glenville in 1940, working as a car inspector for the D&H Railroad. Looks like he died in 1959 in Santa Barbara, where his son, Ernest, also lived until he died in 1991.

D&H Railway is the Delaware and Hudson Railway.  There's a lengthy article about its history in Wikipedia, if anyone is interested in reading about it: D&H RR. It's now owned by Canadian Pacific. 

Monday, September 20, 1920

Beautiful, bright cool day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Met D.S.R. at waiting room. Delivered milk, got grain bags etc. To Parkers Corners in dodge. Helped Mr. Reynolds thrash wheat. Fine time. Good eats etc. Home 8:30 P.M. via dodge. [picture of eye] chauffeur. Out with H.H. in evening. Bowled at Morse. To bed 11 P.M.

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Sunday, September 19, 1920

Cool, bright, windy, clear day. Arose 9 A.M. Cleaned up and dressed. To Church & S.S. Russell here to dinner. Out walking in P.M. To E.L. meeting. H.H. and Goddard led. Ruth, Merlin & I with D.S.R. to Parkers C. Fine time. Father called for us. To bed 11 P.M.

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I wonder if Parkers Corners was actually a corner where people went to "park"? And was Merlin dating Ruth? I seem to remember his granddaughter mentioning a Ruth whom he dated but didn't marry. Maybe . . . 

Saturday, September 18, 1920

Overcast warm clear day. Arose 8 A.M. Helped father load up and Hanford unpack. Studied chemistry etc. Exam 2 P.M. Humdinger. To Country place to let H.H. look around. Goewey along. Called on Grace. To social & entertainment at hall. Fine time. To bed 12 BELLS.

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Friday, September 17, 1920

Fair clear bright day but windy. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father. Studied chemistry. Played piano. Read paper etc. Wrote letters. Hanford upon day boat from Asbury Park. Home 8 P.M. H.H. looking fine. Just the same in weight. Talked etc. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for protection.

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I'm guessing it would take more than a day to go from Asbury Park to Schenectady by boat, so it's possible Hanford traveled by train to Albany, then took a boat from there by way of the Erie Canal. The picture Stanford drew looks like what could be a steamboat but it's not clear what the dark object on the right is supposed to be.

I guess Hanford's weight was an issue? Maybe he had trouble keeping weight on. That's the second reference Stanford made to it since Hanford left for the summer.

Here is a map of the Erie Canal route as it looked in 1920:

And a postcard of the canal and General Electric right beside it.


Thursday, September 16, 1920


Fair in A.M. Rain at Mid-day. Bright in P.M. again. Cool and windy at night. Arose 7:30 A.M. Father and I to country by way of Scotia. Dug 5 bbls of potatoes etc. Home. S.T. and I candled 13 cases eggs. Wrote in diary. To bed 10:30 P.M.

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I guess Stanford dug potatoes in the rain, judging by the little drawing he made depicting that activity.

Wednesday, September 15, 1920

Fair cool overcast autumn day. Arose 8 A.M. Helped father write letter to S.E.S. Studied chemistry, played piano. Talked with family etc. Out walking with eel and rat. To P.O. etc. To bed 10 P.M. Nellie OK at Mankato.

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Apparently, Nellie has arrived at Mankato, MN where she will be working.

I'm not sure who S.E.S. is.  Also, what does Stanford mean by "eel and rat"? Are they funny names for his friends? Hmmmm . . .

Tuesday, September 14, 1920

Most beautiful bright cool day. Arose 4 A.M. Took walk to City Market, Klondike, Central Park etc. Home 6:45 A.M. Read paper. Ran vacuum cleaner. Studied chemistry. Wrote letter. Wrote on typewriter. Candled eggs. Took bath, wrote in diary etc. To bed 9:30 P.M. Thankful for food.

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The place in his walk Stanford refers to as Klondike is actually the Klondike Stairs, built in 1904 to accommodate GE workers walking to work from the Pleasant Hill section of Schenectady. Here is a picture of the stairs from an old postcard:
Later, when people complained that the weather made the stairs hard to navigate, the city built the Klondike Ramp (see below, with map), but eventually the ramp fell into disrepair, was used less and less and was finally torn down. There is a website where the whole interesting story is told: Grems-Doolittle Library Collection.


I didn't know Stanford used the typewriter. I wonder what he wrote on it--a letter, perhaps? He might have had an Underwood, or one like it. The Underwood was the model typewriter of its era. Here is a picture of one, taken from a Xavier University website: