November 24
Laura M., age 15, North Carolina
November 24, 1997
Went home with Renée (Zach and Ashley). Mike, Sean, and Eddie K. stopped by. Mom came at 4:30. Was supposed 2 go to Eddie’s, but he had 2 stay after school. Did a shit load of homework and had soup for dinner.
Anna L., age 75, Illinois
November 24, 1960
Thanksgiving Day. Up early to get pumpkin pies baked and the bird in. Took more than 7 hours. Had a full long day which was good. Del, Helen and boys came in P.M. Had coffee cheese, crax cake ice cream. All glad to come and we glad to have them.
Marcy S., age 14, Tennessee
November 24, 1938
George McClure’s tenth birthday. I slept till 9:00. When I got up it was cloudy, cold and snowing. Ground was covered. Perfect day. I got up and went to t.b. and then sat in bed and read awhile. Soon George knocked at the door so I went. He wanted me to go over to his house this afternoon for a party but I told him why I couldn’t. His mother also wanted to borrow some pie plates but M. and D. weren’t up and I didn’t know where to find them. When George had gone Mother and Daddy woke up and got up. I read the paper and my book till about 11:00 when I ate my breakfast. Then I went in the living room and watched George (through the window) building a snow man in our front yard. He had one of his mother’s old straw hats and the wind kept blowing it away. Very funny. About 12:00 I got dressed in a flash and went outside to play with him. Very cold and still snowing. We got my sled and played in my back yard till George had to go in. I threw snow balls at the house awhile and then I, too, went in. We gave G. a year’s subscription to “American Boy,” a handkie, and a card. I took it over to him. Then I played the piano for 1 hr. and 15 mins. Daddy and I sang part of the time. Then about 1:30 I washed the dishes and then got ready to go. Stopped snowing so hard but an awfully cold wind. Finally got dressed and went over to Johnstone’s with the milk for the Foster’s but couldn’t make anyone hear (except Trinket) so I went over to Foster’s myself, by way of Hagameyer’s and got Betty and Bart to go with me. Saw the Foster’s baby. Very tiny. Then on to Mary’s. Nearly froze. I sat by their fire place and talked with Mary and her mother. About 20 till 3:00 Daddy and Mother came and Mary and I left. Mother sat in the back with Mary and I and Daddy in the front seat. Quite cold going over. Snowed a little. Got to Knoxville just as the game was over and got in a couple of traffic jams and had to take side streets. Big game between Kentucky and U.T. The latter won 46 to 0. Bad day to play. We parked the car and walked thru the crowds to one of the hotels to go to the restroom. Awfully crowded. My hat blew off on the street so I just carried it. Restroom crowded. Had to wait in line. Finally got out. Mother and Daddy were ahead of me and Mary and I got separated in the crowd. We were going out the side entrance when some man (who I didn’t know) put his arm around me and asked me how the game was and when I told him I didn’t go he asked why so I said I just didn’t and he said he was sorry. He scared me. I told Mary but not M. or D. We went then to the S. & W. Cafeteria. Not such a crowd as last time we were over. Had turkey dinner. Good. The Watherhouses and some other people from Harriman came in and sat at the table next to us. The waitresses were dressed as Puritans and everything was decorated for Thanksgiving. When we had finished we went down to the Tennessee Theater and bought tickets for “Submarine Patrol.” Mary and I sat together but not with M. and D. Beautiful theater. Picture good and funny. Players were Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly, Slim Sommerville and others. Also Popeye Cartoon and Newsreel. After it was over M., Mary and I went down to the restrooms. Also beautiful. Mary and I met Gertrude upstairs. She had been to the game. M., D. and Mary and I went across the street to a Drug Store and had some hot chocolate and cookies. Heard Kate Smith on the radio. Snowing again. Went back to car and drove home. Mary and I sat in the back and M. and D. in the front. Talked and sang. Had good time. Home around 10:00. Left Mary off. To bed. Very sleepy.
Henry S., age 26, Michigan
November 24, 1887
Today was Thanksgiving. We invited Fred and Jessie Neill over to dinner. We had a pretty good dinner, too, and at a small cost, about $.40 all told, as we reckoned it. It began snowing before noon and has stormed continually since. I got Mr. Morrows’ sleigh and drew a couple of cords of wood down, this afternoon, and then it stormed so badly I quit. I don’t expect that we will see much bare ground from now until next spring.
*(R. Henry Scadin Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville)
Abbie B., age 22, Kansas
November 24, 1871
Last night in the cabin. Up early. Breakfast of mush, molasses, sweet potato and coffee. I bid the cabin good bye, and went to the dug out to pack. Met Mr. Rose in a big waggon. He wanted me to go home with him, but I could not— I had to pack. I made a big fire, and went to work. So many things to pack I scarcely knew where to begin; what to take and what to leave—Dried buffalo meat, turkey fans, wolf and coyota pelts ct. I put on enough petticoats to make me look like a barrel, but it was so cold, I needed them.
Philip had said if I left any clothing I should “give it to the Igmires they have children.” There were many things I did not pack, and later he can give them away.
When done packing, I made a can of chocolate, and ate some ginger snaps. There I sat by the fire, and went over the days I had spent in the dugout. I never got to Roses after we left the cabin, The slow way of baking took so much time, then reading and writing—trying to make Philip comfortable, and having the ague so often filled up my days. Trying days when Philip was sick. Exciting days when brother H, and cousin Tim came, and we went on a buffalo hunt. Dreary days when it stormed. Light hearted days when I could go to the garden and plant, or bring up good fresh things to cook, and now a sad day of leaving. I dont want to leave brother here— he is not well, and has only half promised to go East for the winter.
Finaly I looked at the little home, the well, the garden and the surroundings, then started on my long walk to Lanes. The snow was melting, and my feet got wet. We were both invited for dinner, to help eat the turkey Philip had shot, and we were both late getting there.
*(kansasmemory.org, Kansas State Historical Society, copy and reuse restrictions apply)
Cornelia H., age 26, North Carolina
November 24, 1862
I woke very early this morning & had breakfast soon. Atheline & Fannie both unwell so Jinnie got dinner. Atheline helped me sew on the children’s flannel we made there today. Fannie began mixing wool this morning, black & white. Mail boy saw Mr. Henry. He says he will be at home tomorrow. Mail brought no news. Very cold today & clear.
*(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
November 24, 1667
(Lord’s day). In my chamber all the morning (having lain long in bed) till Mr. Shepley come to dine with me, and there being to return to Hinchinbroke speedily, I did give him as good account how matters go here as I could. After dinner, he being gone, I to the office, and there for want of other of my clerks, sent to Mr. Gibbs, whom I never used till now, for the writing over of my little pocket Contract-book; and there I laboured till nine at night with him, in drawing up the history of all that hath passed concerning tickets, in order to the laying the whole, and clearing myself and Office, before Sir R. Brookes; and in this I took great pains, and then sent him away, and proceeded, and had W. Hewer come to me, and he and I till past twelve at night in the Office, and he, which was a good service, did so inform me in the consequences of my writing this report, and that what I said would not hold water, in denying this Board to have ever ordered the discharging out of the service whole ships by ticket, that I did alter my whole counsel, and fall to arme myself with good reasons to justify the Office in so doing, which hath been but rare, and having done this, I went, with great quiet in my mind, home, though vexed that so honest a business should bring me so much trouble; but mightily was pleased to find myself put out of my former design; and so, after supper, 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.)