February 28
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
February 28, 1998
Up at 9:00 to shower. Sandra came at 10:30. Went 2 Wendy’s baby shower. Saw Rachel again & Katie. Came home & slept. Saw “Good Will Hunting” w/ cousins & Kathy. Ate. Went 2 Renée’s (Ashley, too). SNL.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
February 28, 1997
Good day at school. We didn’t have a teacher in BIO. Played in rain. :) Sean gave me a hug even though I was soaking wet! :) Dad picked me up. Did homework and Jane Fonda. It was really fun. Bryan came at 7:30. We all went to YanShan’s for dinner. Watched t.v. fell asleep on couch and woke up at 4:00 a.m.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
February 28, 1960
Up early, Lo to cabin to feed, back before 9:00 to pick Carrie up for Sunday school. She came after Sunday school as she was sure of a ride. Made a sponge cake, baked potato. We ate quite early. Took Carrie home at 2:30. Amy called. She and Del had been in to see Ole. Poor guy had come down with flu Thursday. Seemed real sick. Del will go in Wednesday again.
Marcy S., age 19, Missouri
February 28, 1944
Cold and rainy. Good voice lesson. Snowed in afternoon. Wet and slushy. Good piano lesson. Good practice. Betty came back from Board of Pub. with some interesting tid-bits about Leg. We got all up in the air. Betty didn’t go to dinner. No assigned tables anymore. Sat with Mary and Kath. Clara phoned after dinner. About 8 she came over and borrowed Betty’s activity ticket. We went to the auditorium and heard Carl Weinrich, famous organist, give a concert. What technique! Sat in balcony with one of Clara’s friends from University. She was so nice. Had fun. Out about 9:30. Had fun with Jane and Mary Jo. To bed in good time. Felt better tonight but still mightily confused.
Marcy S., age 16, Tennessee
February 28, 1941
Cold, snow flurries. Guess what, Diary! I won the poetry contest -- prize $1. Details later. I nearly fainted. I’m so much in love it’s pitiful. After school, Mother, Mrs. Marsh and I drove out to Mrs. Covert’s and she heard my pieces. I played them for to criticize. Old fingers wouldn’t do anything. Had rest of lesson when I got home -- Mrs. Marsh stayed and finished teaching me. At night, Daddy went to a Kiwanis stag dinner at Bowman’s, which didn’t turn out so well -- pretty disgusting. I read a beautiful story of Phoebe and her marriage and devotion to her Tom. Want to laugh and laugh and laugh.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
February 28, 1888
It was not as cold this morning as I thought it would be last night, being 2 degrees above 0. It has moderated a good deal. The wind blew strong from the south and drifted the snow considerable. Taught at the College this afternoon, I am beginning to count the weeks until it will close, some things about the school make me very tired.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
February 28, 1887
11 degrees below 0 this morning, the sun rose very clear and bright. I stayed indoors all the forenoon writing to Kate and doing some reading. Mr. Huntington was here talking to Fred about going in with him to make maple syrup. Fred went over to Mr. Barr’s this forenoon. Mrs. Barr is dead. Grace came back with him and is staying all night. It was 20 degrees above 0 at noon and clouded up and has been snowing all the afternoon. I went over to my house after dinner and put on my big boots took my arc and cut down a good sized maple tree and sawed up some wood, it kept storming but I hung to it until after 4 o’clock. I have been writing copies this evening and will write a little more to Kate.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
February 28, 1863
I have done but little at my tidy yesterday or today. Till Morris came just after dinner today, from preaching at Academy & Tom Morris called for her this evening. He had kin to muster on Licks Creek to get recruits. He has not heard of Pinck Allen yet. Cloudy. We have had a good deal of rain. It washed the garden considerably as it was broke up this week. The hands got the hen house moved down this evening after so long a time working at it. It looked very strange to see a house on a waggon & drawn by oxen.
*(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 28, 1862
Mail came. I got a letter from Mr. Henry which should have come two weeks ago. Nothing new. The little ones very well. Rather cold. I finished my sleeves but have to take up the waist a little. Atheline cleaning the yards. Willie fell out the back door twice this evening, bruised his head a little on both sides. Uncle Sam hanging up the beef.
*(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 28, 1668
Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing business, and after dinner with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, where we and the rest of us presented a great letter of the state of our want of money to his Royal Highness. I did also present a demand of mine for consideration for my travelling-charges of coach and boat-hire during the war, which, though his Royal Highness and the company did all like of, yet, contrary to my expectation, I find him so jealous now of doing any thing extraordinary, that he desired the gentlemen that they would consider it, and report their minds in it to him. This did unsettle my mind a great while, not expecting this stop: but, however, I shall do as well, I know, though it causes me a little stop. But that, that troubles me most is, that while we were thus together with the Duke of York, comes in Mr. Wren from the House, where, he tells us, another storm hath been all this day almost against the Officers of the Navy upon this complaint, — that though they have made good rules for payment of tickets, yet that they have not observed them themselves, which was driven so high as to have it urged that we should presently be put out of our places: and so they have at last ordered that we shall be heard at the bar of the House upon this business on Thursday next. This did mightily trouble me and us all; but me particularly, who am least able to bear these troubles, though I have the least cause to be concerned in it. Thence, therefore, to visit Sir H. Cholmly, who hath for some time been ill of a cold; and thence walked towards Westminster, and met Colonel Birch, who took me back to walk with him, and did give me an account of this day’s heat against the Navy Officers, and an account of his speech on our behalf, which was very good; and indeed we are much beholden to him, as I, after I parted with him, did find by my cozen Roger, whom I went to: and he and I to his lodgings. And there he did tell me the same over again; and how much Birch did stand up in our defence; and that he do see that there are many desirous to have us out of the Office; and the House is so furious and passionate, that he thinks nobody can be secure, let him deserve never so well. But now, he tells me, we shall have a fair hearing of the House, and he hopes justice of them: but, upon the whole, he do agree with me that I should hold my hand as to making any purchase of land, which I had formerly discoursed with him about, till we see a little further how matters go. He tells me that that made them so mad to-day first was, several letters in the House about the Fanatickes, in several places, coming in great bodies, and turning people out of the churches, and there preaching themselves, and pulling the surplice over the Parsons’ heads: this was confirmed from several places; which makes them stark mad, especially the hectors and bravadoes of the House, who shew all the zeal on this occasion. Having done with him, I home vexed in my mind, and so fit for no business, but sat talking with my wife and supped with her; and Nan Mercer come and sat all the evening with us, and much pretty discourse, which did a little ease me, and so to bed.
*(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.)