February 16
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 16, 1998
(No school.) Yay! I’m home! We got up at 7:00 & cleaned up the whole place. Left at 10:00 ish. Stopped at Taco Bell on the way. The bus ride was very amusing, but the weather was awful. Home by 5:00. Visited w/ Mom. Showered. Ate a good breakfast dinner. Went 2 writing class. Made cupcakes 4 Courtney. She came at 10:00 & we watched movies, hemp, etc.
Laura M., age 14, Colorado
February 16, 1997
Up at 6:30. Went to Copper Mountain. It was AWESOME. After lunch, me, Karen, and Melanie Johnson went off on our own. Bot back at 5:30. Showered. Watched T.V. Ate dinner. Watched T.V. Talked to Mom. Miss Sean.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 16, 1960
Did ironing and washed pantry curtains, did window and wall surrounding. Got it up before noon. Lo and I up to Ole’s. Amy wasn’t coming home until late as she had big dinner for F.M. church people. Had gotten door curtains down and washed when Bess came so didn’t finish. She stayed until 5:30. Late getting to cabin, late eating, and late getting home. Lo to bed early, I to do dishes clean floor and iron curtains. Washed the two doors and got things in order.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 16, 1944
Cold and bright. Body building at 11. Some of the kids were so friendly. Felt good. Got Jane Eyre to read for Eng. Lit. but discovered it was 2nd volume instead of first. Good lunch. Mary and Betty went to fencing at 2. I practiced. Then went to library and back. Back to room and studied history till dinner. Betty and I yelled at each other. Mary Jo came in and we recited to her. Mary brought letter from Mum and Kimmie. Mary went out for a waffle supper – her adviser. She, Betty and I are assigned to Miss Orner’s table. Guess we’ll have to mind our manners! Betty and I met Peggy after dinner and talked her into going to lecture with us. Back to hall. Mary returned and talked me into going to see “Jr. Miss” at University. Peggy came and brought us some apples. She agreed to play and we all ganged up on Betty. Got there about 8. Sat in balcony. Play not over til 11. Good – awfully funny in spots but too much cussing. Some girls next to us smoked during play and made us so mad!! Saw Mr. Bottrell on way back embracing a lady – I’ve seen him out with Miss Erb and it made me furious! Betty got so tickled at my carryingson. Jane and Mary Jo came in a few minutes after we and asked us in for some soup. Betty and I heated it in the 2nd floor kitchenette and then we sat on the floor and supped soup in their room. To bed at 12.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 16, 1888
It grew warm last night and has been moderate day. It is starlight and moonlight tonight and looks beautiful out. Kate’s Calla Lilly is in bloom and the flower is very pretty and the most fragrant I ever saw. My right arm seems to feel bad today and my writing is bad in consequence. I got the mail tonight, and the pants I ordered of the Plymouth Rock Pant Co. came and I am well pleased with them. Una seems a good deal better.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 16, 1887
Wrote copies this morning and then I finished my letter to Kate. I took a shave this forenoon and wash my scalp too. The sun has been shining the most of the day and it is colder tonight. I went over after school and practiced the song with Mrs. Waters at the Hall. I got a letter from Kate and one from ma tonight. Kate sent me the poem that miss Osgood read at the Farmers Institute. Kate copied it from the Household of the Mich. Farmer. They write that the meetings are still kept up there. Fred was over town so I had a ride home with him. I have a kind of headache tonight so I am not working at the Bookkeeping or Penmanship.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Columbus T., age 31, North Carolina
February 16, 1874
Fine weather. Mild and bright. My resolution to change time of adjournment from 12 to 2 P.M. adopted by making it 3 P.M. Much hurry & confusion. Morings bill failed […] Tryed to get up from the table a bill appropriating money to Orphan Asylum and reminded the house that whilst they were free to appropriate extra to certain officers and employees this Orphan House should not be neglected — a laudable object but failed. $1.00 to colporteur towards present for Speaker. A Contribution was taken up, which resulted in seventy five dollar tea service formally presented by Jones of Caldwell and responded to Speaches on adjournment by presiding [In right margin] officers. Some weeping as well as hand shaking. [In left margin] To my room with many many sad thoughts and feelings. [Crosshatched] No wife of children to go home to. Alone. Tea at Prof. Kerr’s.
*(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 16, 1863
I did but little of anything today as I have not been well. Jinnie & Atheline scoured my room & dining room today. Cloudy & looks like rain. Alston’s negro came here today & got 53 lbs. lard. Mr. Henry up at the old hotel place. They are fixing up the old hen house to roll down here.
*(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 16, 1862
A still cold morning. The snow (though not much fell) is melting. I slept till very late this morning as breakfast is generally late on Sunday. N. Taylor was here this morning after tobacco. The children, Pinck & Zona, are throwing across the bed playing & they can’t get out. They must amuse themselves some way. They are very noisy in the house. I dread for a rainy day to come in the winter. Now they are rolling the large glass marble. I must stop for my feet are very cold. I began a story last night in the Courtiers of Charles III. The book belongs to Mary Moore but has been here some three years. Mrs. Fanning came up before dinner & the children & I went down with her. The roads are very bad, nothing but mud. Louise McKinnish is here tonight. Pinck is asleep & Atheline is getting Willie to sleep so I must stop & put Zona to bed. She has been combing my head since supper. She wants to go to sleep in my lap. Mr. Henry nurses her to sleep when he is here. It is still cloudy with a South East wind. Snow nearly all gone, only on the mountains. I want to write to Lou tonight & perhaps Sister Frank so I must stop. Louise McKinnish stays with me tonight. She is a great thing to talk about nothing. I wrote to Lou & Sister Frank. It has been a cold cloudy day, wind blowing from South.
*(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 16, 1668
Up betimes, and with Captain Cocke my coach to the Temple to his Counsel again about the prize goods in order to the drawing up of his answer to them, where little done but a confirmation that our best interest is for him to tell the whole truth, and so parted, and I home to the office, where all the morning, and at noon home to dinner, and after dinner all the afternoon and evening till midnight almost, and till I had tired my own backe, and my wife’s, and Deb.’s, in titleing of my books for the present year, and in setting them in order, which is now done to my very good satisfaction, though not altogether so completely as I think they were the last year, when my mind was more at leisure to mind it. So about midnight to bed, where my wife taking some physic overnight it wrought with her, and those coming upon her with great gripes, she was in mighty pain all night long, yet, God forgive me! I did find that I was most desirous to take my rest than to ease her, but there was nothing I could do to do her any good with.
*(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.)