July 3
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
July 3, 1997
Got up and watched Rosie and 90210. Mom picked me up at 11:30. Came home. Watched TV and played solitaire. Mom took me to work at 1:00. Stayed till close. Mom picked me up. Came home and showered. Eddie picked me up. Went to grocery store and Blockbuster. Watched “Romeo and Juliet” and had pizza. “Friends,” “Seinfeld.” Came home and talked to Ashley and Karen. Chose outfit for tomorrow.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
July 3, 1996
Took Lucy on walk. Watched Rosie O’Donnell and ate. Played some basketball and cleaned up around the house. Me and Courtney went to “Mission Impossible.” It was good again. Went to Dad’s and had Pie Works for dinner. Had 7:30 softball practice. Fun. Watched “Tommy Boy” with Bryan.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
July 3, 1960
Woke up early and got up as we had oodles of work to do. Geo came out and brot a Sun. paper. Had breakfast and really started in to work and stayed at it all day, Loie until sunset. Most satisfieing [sic] when things look so nice later. She vacuumed the whole place I did other things. Aired every thing loose in the house as well as washed sheets and cases.
Marcy S., age 20, Tennessee
July 3, 1944
Hot but quite breezy. To work at 8:30. Mr. H. still nervous - said it was rheumatism caused by cold - but better. He left for court a few minutes after I got there. I finished the work he left and then wrote the Stevens, Mary Lou, Joan, and Betty Postel. A few people came in. Home at 12 for a luscious dinner. Mr. H. was back at 1. I had a few trust deeds to type. A number of people came in. About 4 a woman whose daughter-in-law (good-for-nothing from what I could gather) had taken her son’s baby and left him. She was all worried and proceeded to pour out all of her troubles, past, present, and future to me while Mr. H. was in conference with some men. She was so nervous she couldn’t sit or stand still. If her daughter-in-law is as bad as she says, she ought to be strung up!! The very scum of the earth. Finally she was ushered in to see Mr. H. and wanted him to do everything right then. He let me go at 5 and said I’d gotten the bad end of the deal! Went to Norris Creamery for cream. On home. Getting cloudy and there was thunder in the distance. Stopped by Walkers’ and talked to Alice Ann and Rhoda. A.A. ran out to see me and she looked so sweet! I went over to Reeds’ to get the platter left there from the picnic but it had been spirited away. The Reeds are packing - they’re leaving soon. At home there were 2 packages for me. One was a lovely set of panties and bra from Aunt Edith and Florie for graduation. And a bottle of perfume from Mary Lamm for my birthday!! Took a bath. Thought sure it was going to storm. I was keeping my fingers crossed but just before supper Earl called to say he’d be up about 7:15. We ate supper and Mum was in a good mood. Dishes and dressed. Pop was home, too. At the appointed time Earl appeared and talked to Mum a few minutes. We departed soon. It was cloudy and threatening-looking. He told me about his week-end in Chicago. We went to the drug store first for limeades. Mary Arnold and some other girls came in - before Red Cross, I guess. Then we went over to the Princess and got seats way over on the side. The theater was awfully crowded. Saw “Sahara” with Humphrey Bogart. It was very good. Good program. In one short the audience was to join in with the singing of some war songs. It was fun. Out about 10. Walked home. Very unromantic! A hazy moon was to be seen. The storm had passed around. Mum was putting the milk bottles out. She wished Earl luck and then Earl and I bade each other a very casual good-night. Whew! that’s over! I’ve done my patriotic duty! To bed late. Guess I have to work tomorrow. Mum and Pop think it’s a crime. George and another boy were out in our back yard with a flashlight. I stuck my head out and said, “Aha, prowlers!” They explained that they were looking for a rocket!!
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
July 3, 1888
I hoed out the garden this morning so that it is all clean now. Things are doing nicely there. We drew hay this forenoon and this afternoon, getting all we had out, and making half of the field done. Pa sold his wool to Mr. Jedle this morning getting $20 per pound. It has been a fine hay day, being warm, but breezy enough so one could work with comfort. I received a letter from Mr. Harvey tonight, and he writes that things are booming a little up there. A newspaper man is starting in there.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
July 3, 1887
Had a tearing time with Morrow’s hens this forenoon. I am thinking it will in time spoil our neighborly feelings, as I can’t stand it to have then destroy my garden. Kate went to church and I took care of the baby. It rained very hard while they were in church, but cleared for them to come home. It has rained hard by spells all the day. I got along with the baby firstrate. Fred Neill came over a while this afternoon, we picked some strawberries and I gave him 4 quarts. Kate is sick with headache tonight. I feel very sleepy. Wrote a letter to ma today.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
July 3, 1871
I had expected to spend the 4th at home. Saw Jake to day, and he says there is to be a picnic down at the old Indian Encampment, and all the neighboorhood is invited. Mr. Smith is coming for me ct.
Baked in a. m. Good bread, How Philip enjoys it. Called at Roses this p.m. Mr. R gave me a snake rattle with 10 buttons, It must have been a big snake. Mosquitos so bad I must stop.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 25, North Carolina
July 3, 1862
Finished Willie one skirt before dinner & picked some cherries after dinner, after reading the papers Mr. Henry brought from Asheville. I got a letter from Lena. They are all well. Old Mrs. Hancock is dead. Mr. Henry gathered a good many cherries this evening. The first paper of the South Carolinian came today.
*(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 34, London
July 3, 1667
Betimes to the office, my head full of this business. Then by coach to the Commissioners of Accounts at Brooke House, the first time I was ever there, and there Sir W. Turner in the chair; and present, Lord Halifax, Thoms[on], Gregory, Dunster, and Osborne. I long with them, and see them hot set on this matter; but I did give them proper and safe answers. Halifax, I perceive, was industrious on my side, in behalf of his uncle Coventry, it being the business of Sir W. Warren. Vexed only at their denial of a copy of what I set my hand to, and swore. Here till almost two o’clock, and then home to dinner, and set down presently what I had done and said this day, and so abroad by water to Eagle Court in the Strand, and there to an alehouse: met Mr. Pierce, the Surgeon, and Dr. Clerke, Waldron, Turberville, my physician for the eyes, and Lowre, to dissect several eyes of sheep and oxen, with great pleasure, and to my great information. But strange that this Turberville should be so great a man, and yet, to this day, had seen no eyes dissected, or but once, but desired this Dr. Lowre to give him the opportunity to see him dissect some. Thence to Unthanke’s, to my wife, and carried her home, and there walked in the garden, and so to supper and 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.)