June 27
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
June 27, 1997
Mom came to get me at 8:30. Went to Caribou. At work by 9:00. Best day yet. Meri was there. Renée and Malia came to see me. Off at 3:00. Em took me home from Jasper’s. Home by 3:45. Showered. Watched story. Packed. Dad, Wayne and Karen picked me up. Went to Bull’s game. Fun. Came to Courtney’s. Spent night. Good day.
Laura M., age 14, North Carolina
June 27, 1996
Went bowling with Dad, Katie, Becca. I didn’t do very good. Oh well. Came home and made cup cake things with Katie. Ate bean burritos. Went to pool for an hour. Watched television.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
June 27, 1960
A pretty day. No wash day for me. Have gotten several cards thru mail. Mrs. Gould today. She’s quite a joke.
Marcy S., age 19, Tennessee
June 27, 1944
Pan’s 17th birthday. To work at 8:30. Another very hot day. Mr. Harris had left a note saying he was at Wartburg again. The telephone rang about every 10 minutes - long distance from Memphis once and two other long distance. I took note of all the calls and the few people who came in. One was a Fred (?) Johnson, a very nice man who had backed Pop for a legion post although he didn’t know him. We had quite a conversation. About 10 Mr. H. returned and I thought at first he was sober again. I gave him the list but he didn’t call anyone. He went out again and while he was gone a lady came with some papers and a tale of a check that hadn’t been endorsed. When Mr. H. returned I gave them to him and explained the case. He was to call her. He didn’t know what was going on so I didn’t try to explain further. He said he had a bad cold and was trying to keep away from people - I don’t know who he was trying to fool. Me, I suppose, but I’m not that dumb. Just before noon another lady came in and Mr. H. was asleep at his desk so I took the papers and the message. Then he woke up and a young man who has been in before, came and they talked a few minutes. He saw the condition Mr. H. was in, though, and so came out to talk to me. Mr. H. promptly went back to sleep. The man was having divorce troubles. He asked me how long I thought Mr. H. would be that way and I couldn’t tell him. I felt like crying - it’s tragic. He was very nice. Wanted to know if there was another lawyer in town and I told him about Mr. Pearmans. We walked down stairs together and he told me his legal troubles and commented on Mr. H.’s condition. I felt at the bottom of the well as I walked home. Mum cheered me up with a humorous account of what happened this morn. Seems she found one of our little black friends (a roach, to be crude) in the kitchen silver drawer. She thought, “Aha, I’ll show him!” So she took the drawer over to the stone and tipped the bug-end toward the fire, holding the silver back. Well, the bug wasn’t going to be a sucker - before Mum knew what was happening, it jumped to the other end of the drawer and so startled Mum that she let go of the silver and lost 8 pieces in the fire!! With some difficulty she retrieved them and all ended happily. I nearly choked laughing! Back at 1. Mr. Harris was in the same position I’d left him, sound asleep. The telephone rang a few times but he didn’t answer it. I read Sergeant York by Sam Cowan and got so tired of sitting! He finally roused and went into the back room. A lady from the mayor’s office came to get an important paper and she had to find it for herself. I told her Mr. H. wasn’t quite on the beam today and she said she knew ’cause she’d been up twice. About 3 he left without a word and didn’t return. I stuck it out till 5 and then left. Went by Norris Creamery for some cream and on home. Mr. Pridemore was still painting away. I took a bath and then practiced a bit. Kay called and asked me to go to the Y.W.C.A. meeting with her tonight - Jimmie and Pan had just gotten home. Then I ironed a skirt and Mum and I had supper. It was so hot. Pop went out this morn on fires and we don’t know when he’ll be back - Oakdale is practically burning up. Then Mary Arnold called and asked me to go to the Y. meeting, too. Seems her date had been cancelled! We made arrangements. After supper I did the dishes and dressed. Mum went out on the porch and the next thing I knew she was over at George’s (Mrs. Clure left at noon today for a church conference at Maryville). He had made some gunpowder and was trying to make it go off. I walked over half dressed to see the fire works but he only succeeded in getting a bright glare, no noise. Mum invited him over for a picnic supper Thursday night - my birthday. I went home and finished dressing. Set out about 7:40 and stopped by George’s. Arthur Burton was there - for a minute - George put some sulfur on the porch and A.B. ran for dear life up to Winston’s. Then George lit a match to it and I ran! Just then a young man came out of George’s and commented on the gunpowder formula. I was talking to A.B. Just as I was starting on the man caught up with me and we walked along together. He asked if I were going to the show and I told him about the Y. He introduced himself - can’t remember his name! - and I did the same. Passed Mother Lane watering her yard and I spoke. There were clouds around the sunset but I didn’t dare hope. By Tarwater’s we met Alice Ann and nurse Lucille out walking - A.A. was on the verge of tears - her mother had gone away and left her. We followed them down the hill and at the alley I crossed over. Looked around and found I’d left my companion tying his shoe in front of the Warriners’ garage apt. He apparently knows Mrs. W. ’cause they exchanged a few words of greeting. He caught up again and we walked on. He ventured to ask if I was the one whom he heard singing and I replied, “You flatter me.” He said when I half-tried I did pretty well but he was of the opinion that I didn’t always try! He works at the Employment Office downtown - in connection with the project. He was going downtown for supper. [In upper margin: “Ever so often I could feel him giving me the once-over.”] We passed the Masseys’ and found out that K. Was down at the Youngs’. We parted there and he said, “I’m glad I met you, Pattie, and I’ll see you again.” I thanked him and greeted Mr. Young on the porch. Pan and K. were in the living room - and little John Rainwater, too. I welcomed Pan home and told K. about Mary. I went back up to the Claiborne house and Mary was ready. We walked back down to the Youngs and Kimmie ran out. We nearly knocked each other down. She was too tired to go to the meeting tonight. I wished Kimmie a belated happy birthday and Pan a “contemporary” one. K. joined us and we 3 walked by and picked up Marguerite Miller. On down to the City Hall and up to the 3rd floor. K. was trying to make “Elmo” a bird by folding a sheet of paper - she was having an awful time of it! Miss Walker, the leader, was there and also Nancy Wallace, June Smalley and Ella. The room was hot. June, Nancy and Mary left to go after another girl - they never came back for some reason. We talked awhile and then we 4 girls played shuffle board. Ella and I won!! Miss W. thought we’d better have the meeting then so we sat down and discussed the furniture problem, the curtain and lamp problem, and plans for an opening party in 2 weeks. We looked out once to find it was raining! I nearly gave 3 cheers! We left about 9:30. Bobby Melvin was waiting for Ella. It was just barely sprinkling but the streets were wet - and hot! There was a nice breeze. We parted from Ella and walked up to Marguerite’s corner. She and K. are going to play tennis tomorrow ’cause they have the afternoon off. K. said they’d play some Saturday, too, when I could play. K. and I walked up to Marsh’s corner and talked about Stephens - she’s going there next year. On home about 10. Found Mum listening to radio. Pop not home. It’s so hot in Chicago that most of the convention will have gone home by tomorrow night! One delegate died of the heat! To bed about 10:30. About 11 George went on on the porch and had another session with the gunpowder. He and the man were yelling back and forth. I felt wonderful again! [In upper margin: “Just before supper George was out in the driveway chopping wood with a vigor. I asked him what had driven him to such ends - disappointed in love? and he said no. He was trying hard to conceal his laughter. It was funny!…There was a light in Mr. H.’s office tonight. I felt like crying.”]
Aloys F., age 16, County Cork, Ireland
June 27, 1926
Went to 8 Mass, and then intended to work all the morning, but after I had finished my piano and violin, Mám said I should rest to-day, and I only polished my racket and shoes and ironed my trousers for to-day’s tennis. Páp went to the choir men’s excursion in some place near Kinsale this morning. Mám wasn’t invited this time, though Miss O’Brien and all of us went to Glengariff last year. I didn’t go to-day because I feel the men feel strained when I am with them. – The war is still raging in China between the war lords. A battle was fought yesterday in which 10.000 were hounded. – The coal crisis and miners’ business is still on and on Friday there was a violent scene in the House of Commons about the introduction of Soviet money into England. In France the franc has gone quite crash. A new cabinet of 5 under Mr. Caillaux has taken office to raise the finances. It is Mr. Briand’s work. – Went to Betty. Ronnie Collins and Arthur were already there. We had some great tennis. I was hopeless at it to-day. Went riding the donkey, and once when I was riding him, I got off, and he kicked me in the thigh. It wasn’t too bad, though. Arthur and I had great singles after.
*(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 27, 1888
I worked all the forenoon putting poison on the potato vines. It has been decidedly cool all day. This afternoon it began to mist, and tonight it is raining. I picked strawberries enough for the meals. Went after Lizzie Burnham this evening, she is going to do some sewing. I am very deaf in my right ear now. We had small onions for supper, and our breaths are quite strong.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Henry S., age 25, Michigan
June 27, 1887
I worked at digging around Grape vines the best share of the day. I found more vines than I expected to. I had a good many pickers in the strawberry patch this forenoon. Nearly 2 bushels have been picked today. Jimmie has acted so that I have not had him hitched up at all today. I went up town tonight and took the washing to Mrs. Bradford. Got the Leader and a letter from A.S. Barnes & Co. It has been quite a warm today.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
June 27, 1871
The Rose girls were here yesterday, and I exerted my self to entertain them. They wanted to go to Lanes— but it was too far. Then they teased to go and see Jake. Found him writing letters. Foiund him writing letters. All these young men came here last fall as did the Roses . They helped build the Rose house—a two story one— and stayed there while locating their claims, and building another house or two.
Mr. Rose told me many funny things that happened last Fall and Winter, and some more provoking than funny. “When the house was roofed, they all slept in it but your brother, he slept by a hay pile. I had gone up to W and bought a load of corn. Every day that pile of com grew less, and I thought your brother was feeding it to his pony at night. Well after a time all that slept in the house were lousy. Then we knew why he preferred to sleep out, and he was the only one who was not lousy. I found out too—where the corn was going, and that party soon left these parts.”
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
June 27, 1863
Finished Atheline’s dress soon after dinner & reeled some. We had a very hard rain this evening & heavy thunder. Betsey got the cloth started. Tena dyed the felling today copperas. The chain is maple dye (purple). Old Bill Knight came home this evening, brought a little note from Mr. Henry. He will be at home in a few days. He is well. Got 11 sheep & paid 300$ for them, a high price I think. A. B. Jones went to Asheville today, got no news. Harrie received a letter from Eugenia this evening. She got home safe.
*(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 27, 1862
Mail brought no news. I expected a letter from Sister Jane or Dora & Matt but was sadly disappointed. They have not written since they went over there. It has rained nearly all day. A very good season & badly needed. The negroes have set out a good many cabbage plants. Our cabbage are large enough to prune, some of them. I finished Willie’s skirt today & made him an apron. I finished the apron after supper. I cut him out two after 4 o’clock this evening. Jim Parker, Mr. Henry, Mont Stradley & others robbed a bee gum tonight. Part of the honey very nice. Stradley stays here tonight.
*(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 27, 1667
Wakened this morning, about three o’clock, by Mr. Griffin with a letter from Sir W. Coventry to W. Pen, which W. Pen sent me to see, that the Dutch are come up to the Nore again, and he knows not whether further or no, and would have, therefore, several things done: ships sunk, and I know not what — which Sir W. Pen (who it seems is very ill this night, or would be thought so) hath directed Griffin to carry to the Trinity House; so he went away with the letter, and I tried and with much ado did get a little sleep more, and so up about six o’clock, full of thought what to do with the little money I have left and my plate, wishing with all my heart that that was all secured. So to the office, where much business all the morning, and the more by my brethren being all out of the way; Sir W. Pen this night taken so ill cannot stir; [Sir] W. Batten ill at Walthamstow; Sir J. Minnes the like at Chatham, and my Lord Bruncker there also upon business. Horrible trouble with the backwardness of the merchants to let us have their ships, and seamen’s running away, and not to be got or kept without money. It is worth turning to our letters this day to Sir W. Coventry about these matters. At noon to dinner, having a haunch of venison boiled; and all my clerks at dinner with me; and mightily taken with Mr. Gibson’s discourse of the faults of this war in its management compared [with] that in the last war, which I will get him to put into writing. Thence, after dinner, to the office again, and there I saw the proclamations come out this day for the Parliament to meet the 25th of next month; for which God be praised! and another to invite seamen to bring in their complaints, of their being ill-used in the getting their tickets and money, there being a Committee of the Council appointed to receive their complaints.
*(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.)