February 13
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 13, 1998
Normal day at school…but a bit frustrating. Em picked me up from school and read me her letter to Sandra. DAMN. She took me 2 Audrey’s & we went 2 the church (Forest Hills) where we loaded in2 vans & went to Boone. Stopped at Bojangles on the way. Got 2 “Homecoming Inn” at 10-ish. Had a quick (religious) session & tried 2 sleep. Loud girls! :(
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
February 13, 1997
Courtney’s birthday! Sean was nice. It started to sleet during 6th. Em picked me up. Took Courtney her presents and took Ashley home. Came home. Watched story and it was GOOD. Me and Em went to Eddie’s and had chicken enchiladas. GOOD. Played on computer. Had cinnamon buns. I leave for Colorado tomorrow… :(
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 13, 1960
Up early, Jim and G.B. came for milk to feed cats. Marian got up later to call M. Jolly. Doc came and took her to the train. Drive not shoveled yet. Lo had bake sale and busy. Jim and G.B. picked us up to go to cabin for Helen’s birthday. Marian came on 6:30. Too bad not to have gotten her to eat with us. Sat around till 10:00, Lo had Doc’s car so took her down, train late. Carrie had called going to Sunday school. A pretty plant came from Florida folks.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 13, 1944
Up at 10 and turned radio on - Mary’s. Betty got up and took bath. I arose at 11. We had slight fuss - she makes me so mad sometimes. To P.O. and got valentine from Helen, letter from Mum and Mary (12 pages!) and paper. Betty got letter from her mom in which she said Betty could go to school anywhere she wants next year, preferably in the west - so maybe our dream will materialize. Chapel at 12. Good sermon. Back for dinner at 1. Pretty good. Obvious that Mary is mad at Kath. After dinner Betty, Kath. and I went to the Missouri to see “Cross of Loraine.” Mary had to study. War picture but much better than ordinary ones! Kath. didn’t want to go back through town so we separated. Betty and I just can’t fathom the Mary-Kath. situation. Let-down after a show! Back about 4:30. Cleaned up room. Mary came at 5:30. Betty and I had another tiff! Mary and I went down to dairy for sundaes to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Mary bought paper - some soldiers asked for directions to U.S.O. Back to hall. I heard One Man’s Family - Cliff is so corny! Irene called him a woman. Then we went walking again, against rules. Went to Bing’s and had hamburgers! Lots of soldiers around when we came out. We had more fun! But we’re so corny we’ll never get a man! Back at 9:30. Surprise hall party at 10:30. Ice cream bars. Went up to Mary’s and cut up.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 13, 1941
Windy and coolish, cloudy, rained at night. Mary absent in morning. Had test in History. Had fun. Grace looked so pretty. No Latin because just Harold and I were there. Mary Louie sick with flu. Walked back to school at noon with Mrs. Cummins. Asked me to give reading at May banquet. There was Mary, standing in the hall when I arrived. So nice to see her. In 5th study hall we talked a lot. Doctor said she might have to stop work and even school if her nervous system didn’t improve. Helen and I nearly drowned going home in rain. I practiced till time to dress. Pop drove me to school about 7:00. Soon Mary came. She and Ernest had come by for me just after I had left. At 7:00, dinner was served. I sat between D. Swanson and G.L. -- Early across and Mary down a few seats. G.L. was so funny. Very good meal for 25 cents. During course of dinner, we had entertainment. I played for Elma and Viola to sing -- “Only Forever” and “Stairway to the Stars.” Anne B. played piano and I played “Bells of St. Mary’s” and “Beautiful Ohio.” Every time I got up, G.L. pulled my chair out for me. Earl gave some readings. Had to walk around table with him in a game. After dishes, we went in gym and played games till 9:30. Mr. Goddard there. Mary and I put sign on cake: “Poison. Do not eat.” Ernest gave us some gum. Mr. Farmer drove us home. Fun tonight. More than expected
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 13, 1888
Una was so much better last night than usual, so I got up quite early this morning and cooked the pancakes while Kate had some rest. Kate washed this forenoon and she got very tired over it. There was a great change in the weather this forenoon, it turned warm and the snow melted so fast where the wind could strike it that by noon the roads and paths were level with the surrounding snow. Mrs. Huntington called on Kate this afternoon. I went up town and got the mail tonight. It seems like a rain tonight.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 13, 1887
I got up at 4 o’clock this morning because I couldn’t sleep any longer. The thermometer was higher than last night, being but 8o below, and it ran up to about 21o about today which has been pleasant and sunny. Fred and I went tot church this forenoon. I stayed to Sunday school and then went over and took dinner at Mr. Waters. Fred and his wife were there, she is getting better, Mrs. Waters told me that the choir want her and me to sing a song together, one we sang together in Webster several years ago at a concert. This choir concert is to come off Friday evening. I brought the music home to practice. Have been writing to Kate this afternoon and tonight. I guess I will go to bed now.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 31, North Carolina
February 13, 1874
In the Senate H.B. to pay contractors on Marion and Asheville Turnpike 50 cents on the dollar was after discussion and opposition adopted […] Made an appointment with old Mr. Dickey to call on two of the lady teachers at the Deaf, Dumb & Blind Asylum, and have some nice music from the Blind. He wanted me to sing “Over there,” so I took [him] where he could hear it better rendered. Miss Bremley & Miss Shanks were the leading blind singers. Mr Gay and Mr. ______ sang bass. Saw also Miss Narcissa Dupree a blind teacher. Miss Ballinger and Mrs. Ayer two friends are teachers of the dumb. Mr Miller Senator from Cleaveland enjoying it hugely. Miss started for Durham. [In left margin] Horton called to go somewhere else, but let him go alone to see Miss A. Boylan.
*(Worthy of Record: The Civil War and Reconstruction Diaries of Columbus Lafayette Turner, Ed. Kenrick N. Simpson, courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
February 13, 1863
Mail brought no news. A. B. Jones brought the mail out yesterday. I finished the shirts by dinner & had them washed. Tena washing today. Cut some gowns for Willie & Zona of old stuff. Nearly made one for Willie. Several people here today for letters but none came this morning.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
February 13, 1862
Atheline finished a shirt today, began another. I’m still patching. I have been fixing Zona’s old drawers so she can wear them. Cloudy in the morning but cleared off before noon. Warm & bright. Sam & Guy finished cutting the hogs this morning. All are well. Jinnie has been ailing a little but up again.
*(Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family, Eds. Karen L. Clinard and Richard Russell, used with permission.)
Samuel P., age 35, London
February 13, 1668
Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and thence with my wife and Deb. to White Hall, setting, them at her tailor’s, and I to the Commissioners of the Treasury, where myself alone did argue the business of the East India Company against their whole Company on behalf of the King before the Lords Commissioners, and to very good effect, I think, and with reputation. That business being over, the Lords and I had other things to talk about, and among the rest, about our making more assignments on the Exchequer since they bid us hold, whereat they were extraordinary angry with us, which troubled me. a little, though I am not concerned in it at all. Waiting here some time without, I did meet with several people, among others Mr. Brisband, who tells me in discourse that Tom Killigrew hath a fee out of the Wardrobe for cap and bells,1 under the title of the King’s Foole or jester; and may with privilege revile or jeere any body, the greatest person, without offence, by the privilege of his place. Thence took up my wife, and home, and there busy late at the office writing letters, and so home to supper and to bed. The House was called over to-day. This morning Sir G. Carteret come to the Office to see and talk with me: and he assures me that to this day the King is the most kind man to my Lord Sandwich in the whole world; that he himself do not now mind any publick business, but suffers things to go on at Court as they will, he seeing all likely to come to ruin: that this morning the Duke of York sent to him to come to make up one of a Committee of the Council for Navy Affairs; where, when he come, he told the Duke of York that he was none of them: which shews how things are now-a-days ordered, that there should be a Committee for the Navy; and the Lord Admiral not know the persons of it! And that Sir G. Carteret and my Lord Anglesey should be left out of it, and men wholly improper put into it. I do hear of all hands that there is a great difference at this day between my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry, which I am sorry for.
*(The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., edited by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., London, George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden, Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co., 1893.)