June 21
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
June 21, 1997
Up at 7:30 so we could go to “Stack Em High” for breakfast. Katie and Renita left for Charlotte. Rest of us walked to Jockey’s Ridge sand dune. Got on ferry for Ocracoke. Went to beach with everyone and Kenny, Druscie, Tom, Lillie for 3 hours. Ate dinner and smores.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
June 21, 1996
We all went to Courtney’s pool. Came home and showered. Talked to Brittany, left a message for Pat, talked to Sean. :) Me and Mom drove to Tarboro. Had dinner with Mema, Pop, Kathy, Steven, and Bryan. Drove home and went to bed. Tired.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
June 21, 1960
Cooked meat after breakfast and did many things as I was due for my hair at 10:30. Lo took me down and picked me up shortly after 12:00. Ironed this P.M. A fuse blew so waited for Mishler so very late eating and getting back. Then I had more lite trouble.
Marcy S., age 19, Tennessee
June 21, 1944
Official beginning of summer. Still cool. Mr. Pearman came in and spent most of the morn in conference with Mr. H. Mr. H. thinks they can win the Edington case. Just as I was leaving at noon Mr. H. said he’d be away after lunch but Mr. P. wanted to dictate to me. Mr. H. went on to say that he had the best secretary in town — with a few rough spots that could be smoothed off! Pop met him on the street this morn and he raved to him about me, too. Well, I hope he never gets disillusioned! After lunch I read Conceived in Liberty by Howard Fast. Very depressing book. Mr. Pearman came in and was very quiet over a stack of books for quite awhile. Then he called me in and fired away — and I do mean fired! I had to run to catch up and then couldn’t decipher some of my notes to save me. He departed and I dove into the books he’d used and managed thus to transcribe my notes. Mr. H. returned and noticed that Mr. P. had really given me some work. Mother and the other ladies were busy in the Red Cross rooms next door. I thought I’d never get through typing all those cases — Mr. H. said to finish tomorrow. I left at 5 and Mum came to the door. She and Mrs. Davis were just leaving Red Cross. In my most cheerful voice I bade good bye to Mr. Harris! Mum went around to see Mrs. Scott but I had to go to P.O. so went the other way. Met Mr. McCarter by Tarwater’s. He thought I’d grown up. Wanted me to go out with him Sunday and surprise the family — I promised to go some other Sunday. Stopped by Mother Lane’s for some magazines. Beat Mum home. Clure brought over some potato salad. Took bath. Pop gone till Friday night. Mum and I had supper. I called Mary Stines but couldn’t get her. About 6:45 I went down to Red Cross. No one there. I walked up and down hall awhile and then went outside and walked the streets. Met Mr. H. Decided they didn’t meet till 7:30. Went back up and found one of the doors unlocked so went in and waited. About 7:30 Mrs. Bardill, Miss Ivy Hill and her mother came. Later Mrs. Massey. We all got busy. Worked and talked. I made 120 by 9 and then stopped and helped Mrs. Massey tie and pack them. Left about 9:30. Mrs. Massey and I left Mrs. Bardill at the P.O. Stopped by Massey’s and got Kay. First time I’d seen her. We discussed our jobs — she’s working at the bank. They walked to Quinn’s with me. Mum was wondering where I’d been — it was 10 o’clock. She and Katherine Rockwell had been out calling on some Episcopalians at a trailer camp. To bed. Beautiful night and somewhat warmer. Terribly dry.
Marcy S., age 19, Tennessee
June 21, 1941
First day of summer. Ah! Worked in morning. Then washed hair. Daddy came for dinner. He brought a letter from one of Mrs. Stevens’s boy’s in the army in the Canal Zone. Also one from Mrs. Glass in England, with a clipping enclosed describing the funeral of Miss Betty Glass, her daughter. Isn’t that awful, dear Diary? She died in April of a heart attack. Mrs. Glass is broken-hearted; she said that my letter arrived four days after the burial. I didn’t cry but I felt very badly.
We lingered long at the table and discussed many things, one of which was the fact that Jack Wendell had said last summer that he didn’t owe his country anything. Huh! I’d like to tell Sir Jack a thing or two. Daddy says Prof was that way, too, and that they had gotten the horrid idea at school. Somebody ought to be hung! All of our relatives up there are isolationists.
I washed the dishes with vinegar, imagining all the stinging, reproachable things I could say to Jack and Prof. I felt better then and sat out on the porch and finished my purse. Then I called Mary and we decided to invite Ruth to go tomorrow. So I called her, but she wasn’t sure whether they were going away tomorrow or not. Said she’d call later. I then read “Jo’s Boys.” Sweet. Rufus called to say she could go tomorrow (!) and she invited me to go to the show with her tonight while her parents went out to play bridge. Mom and Dad consented and I was so hap-hap-happy!
Studied Sunday School lesson and helped Mother. After supper I fixed my curlers under a turban as best I could and at about 7:30 got down to Ruth’s. We listened to part of the Hit Parade and reached the Princess at 10 till 8:00 just when the show was starting. The clock showed it wouldn’t be out till 11:00. Ruth bought some popcorn and since the theater was crowded, we stood up at the back. It was fun. Saw a thrilling serial -- Chapter Two. Then Gene Autry in “Melody Range.” It was good. We finally got a seat. At 9:30 the second feature started. Kay Francis in “Play Girl.”
At about ten after 10:00 I went outside to call Mother and tell her what time we would be out, but there was Daddy sitting in the car, waiting for us. Arguing and pleading did no good so I returned to the theater and told Ruth the bad news but she didn’t mind especially. Daddy left her off at the Quinns’ where a bridge game was in progress. Mother didn’t fuss a bit when I got home. I was in a very good mood.
While I was preparing for bed, we heard on the radio that Germany had declared war on Russia! What next?
To bed tired but happily expectant for tomorrow. The last thing I heard was Daddy saying he thought it would rain tomorrow.
Aloys F., age 16, County Cork, Ireland
June 21, 1926
Went to 8 Mass in honour of the feast of St. Aloysius. I have determined to reform my prayers and duties in general, and to make St. Aloysius my patron. Will go to 8 Mass every morning of the hols. That will be about 60 Masses to the good. – Worked quite well at school. Saw the Irish papers, which are far easier than last year. They are mainly based on ‘Slíghe an Eolais’ [Paths of Knowledge], and as I am making a summary of the latter, and am studying it well, I could do nearly all the paper. We have no Irish now as Dickie is superintending at Skibbereen, but I am working myself at it. – I go at the garden every day for a few minutes after dinner – it is improving. Saw in the paper that the Persian government has entrusted excavations in Persia to a German archaeologist! Germans reach everywhere by reason of their extraordinary learning and scholastic achievements. One would imagine the Persians would have somebody capable of doing such a big work in their own country. Sent for message for Páp to Barracks. Col. Duffy, conductor of No. 2 Army Band, looks a typical Englishman. He is a good man, and the band is getting on splendidly.
*(Original Archive Copyright © Estate of Aloys Fleischmann. The Fleischmann Diaries Online Archive by Róisín O’Brien is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Used with permission.)
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
June 21, 1888
I finished the set in book-keeping which I have been working on for a few weeks past. I looked over the circulars of the Buffalo Business University, and am quite impressed with the outlook of the school. I hardly know what to make up my mind to in regard to a school to attend. I hoed out the small fruits this afternoon; it was hot, 90 degrees in the shade. Mr. Butler was here at supper; we had strawberries. It rained quite hard this evening, and will do lots of good. Pa took 3 steers to market today.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
June 21, 1887
There was a heavy lightning and thunder storm in the night last night. I built a shed for my buckboard (if I ever get it) this forenoon and grubbed out some bushes so I can drive around the sheds. Hitched Jimmie to the cultivator this afternoon and cultivated the line patch up by the woods and the garden and corn among the plum trees. Was just going to draw wood when Fred Neill came to plow for buckwheat, and I got him to turn over the rest of the ground in the plum orchard. I had to help around the trees and also grubed [sic] some. Fred and Jessie were here to supper. It sprinkled some tonight. Feel pretty tired.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
June 21, 1863
Cloudy & dull all day, a little rain. We had our first chicken this morning for breakfast. They are small yet. We had mutton last week, very nice lamb. Willie is getting better of his wheezing. The baby’s neck is very sore. It is running, also behind his ears. He does not fret much. He is a dear good baby. The others are all very well. Linsey moved his hands to Mrs. Fanning’s for her to cook for them last Monday. I am glad of it. They will sleep in the old store house as Cagle moved back home last Monday. It seems a long time since Mr. Henry left & it is not a week yet. I hope he may get back this week but I fear he will not. Harrie is upstairs. Zona & Willie in here with me. Pinck off at play. Aunt Tena has the baby as Atheline went to Asheville yesterday evening. Mrs. Rutherford left last Thursday morning. I paid her three dollars for coming down & making soap. I ought to write to Lou this evening but I am so troubled about the militia call I can’t compose myself enough for anything. I hope he will not have to go but I greatly fear he will. My life will be a blank without him. He is so dear, so dear to me. I did not write to Lou. Aunt Tena attended to the baby part of the evening. He is fretful. I think his neck hurts him as it is very raw.
*(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
June 21, 1862
Mr. Henry went to Asheville today after the mill spindle. Did not get it but got three bunches of thread. No. 7 for negroe’s dresses. He went fishing in the afternoon. There are some jack fish below the dam & he has tried several times to catch one but has not succeeded yet. We have small fish frequently. I cleaned the yards with Hanes’ help & had the headache very badly at night. Cool all this week.
*(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
June 21, 1667
Up and by water to White Hall, there to discourse with [Sir] G. Carteret and Mr. Fenn about office business. I found them all aground, and no money to do anything with. Thence homewards, calling at my Tailor’s to bespeak some coloured clothes, and thence to Hercules Pillars, all alone, and there spent 6d. on myself, and so home and busy all the morning. At noon to dinner, home, where my wife shows me a letter from her father, who is going over sea, and this afternoon would take his leave of her. I sent him by her three Jacobuses in gold, having real pity for him and her. So I to my office, and there all the afternoon. This day comes news from Harwich that the Dutch fleete are all in sight, near 100 sail great and small, they think, coming towards them; where, they think, they shall be able to oppose them; but do cry out of the falling back of the seamen, few standing by them, and those with much faintness. The like they write from Portsmouth, and their letters this post are worth reading. Sir H. Cholmly come to me this day, and tells me the Court is as mad as ever; and that the night the Dutch burned our ships the King did sup with my Lady Castlemayne, at the Duchess of Monmouth’s, and there were all mad in hunting of a poor moth. All the Court afraid of a Parliament; but he thinks nothing can save us but the King’s giving up all to a Parliament. Busy at the office all the afternoon, and did much business to my great content. In the evening sent for home, and there I find my Lady Pen and Mrs. Lowther, and Mrs. Turner and my wife eating some victuals, and there I sat and laughed with them a little, and so to the office again, and in the evening walked with my wife in the garden, and did give Sir W. Pen at his lodgings (being just come from Deptford from attending the dispatch of the fire-ships there) an account of what passed the other day at Council touching Commissioner Pett, and so home 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.)