Thursday June 1, 1899 Buttons Camp
9. P.M A hot day.
Staked out rest of orchard, dug holes + set out trees. Uncle Willard helped. Chet plowed. Broke plow-handle. Cap + Uncle Willard mended it.
I wheeled up flood-wood, + trimmed out the raspberry bushes in orchard while waiting for Johnny Sheehan to come after hens this A.M.
He came this P.M but hens were rinsed and I had to wait till Johnny ones come home from school. 46 pounds of hens.
Cap went to city P.M after load of manure but didn’t get it. Brought home a bbl of flour + half a dozen empty boxes. Sam Morrison + 2 sisters rode down + called a little whirl. Wind full like rain tonight, I think.
Friday June 2, 1899
8. P.M Another hot day, but a light breeze from N. made it comfortable at times after all. Uncle Willard + I finished setting out apple trees. He put the water right to them.
Cap and Chet plowed. Hines wouldn’t lend their plow.
Johnny Sheehan brought some meat, and gave Cap + I a taste of “Lake-water.”
“Whip-poor-will” Print.
Saturday June 5, 1899
9 P.M. Cooler a little, but pretty warm after all. Coon + Chet plowed and harrowed and I shoveled up a heap of manure on the lot and helped spread it. Then I took Possum and went up to Hines, after a plow-point. Afterward I picked up a lot of angleworms, to make ointment of and fish with. Planted 5 hills of Susanna squash and 6 hills of cucumbers. Also set out two cherry tress. One was a Yellow Spanish and the other I don’t remember.
Bertha and Myrtle went visiting this P.M up to Smalleys. Jhy and Cap went to Light House. Chet went to W. Point in scoop and put in sawdust in ice house and come back with his boat on the wagon. I went to out fishing after 6 o’clock and come in a little after 8, got 2 or 3 dozen I guess.
Sunday, June 4, 1899
A quite cool day. Chet went over to W. Pr. Fishing. Cass + I went fishing also, and got 8 or 9 doz. Vic + his brother were out.
Saw Sid’s new boat.
“Murphy” + party inside L.H + Grand Isle. Fried fish, boiled potatoes, hash + new biscuit for supper. Made a angle-worm ointment for Chet’s horse.
Monday, June 5- 1899 Button’s Camp
8.30 P.M A very hot day. Thunder showers around us. A very light sprinkle for about two minutes. Cap drew a load of hay to the city for Parker and has just got back 8.30 P.M.
He has been here all day., but he finished plowing on the flat before he went. He got a pair of new harnesses, some oil for painting, 100 lbs of meal for Johnny cakes + Chet wheel, and I don’t know what else.
Chet + I drew 4 loads of manure this A.M, + this P.M. I drew alone while he went to school, 2 loads, + spread them. He helped me put on the 3rd and spread it + then we had supper, +then he went down and harrowed till about 8 o’clock.
The horses were quite wet when he came up from the flat.
The girls + Cap got here just as I had on food – started to get breakfast. They had expected some of the Brownell people here this evening, but they failed to come.
I had another spell this P.M. after pitching on a load of manure in a hurry. Pain through chest + shoulders and arms ached and felt numb. I hitched on my horses, + then had to lie down on a bend under the bridge at the barn for half an hour. Before I felt able to climb on the load and drive down to the flat. But I worked a little more moderately through the heat of the day and had no return of the pain or other bad feelings.
Tuesday June 6, 1899,
9p.m. A hot old day, everything drying up.
Drew manure A.M shelled seed corn at noon and harrowed from 9 to 5 P.M.
My shoe hurt my foot as I went barefoot but the ground was so hard, sharp and dry that the bottoms of my foot gave out after a time I had to put my shoes of again. I must have harrowed 3 or 4 acres. I think.
Expected to have to go to the station again tonight for a time, I don’t know how long, but wind was to hard and boat was gone to Stave Island.
Cass and Burt are here, an hour or so.
Cleaned out the silo and the cemented lay pen and cleaned out the large pen but of course something hat to be let around unfinished.
Wednesday, June 7. 1899 At the lighthouse again
Came over this p.m. by boat from camp. Pulled a spoon all the way with my teeth and hooked nine perch, two of which I saved. After I got here I rigged a pole, and caught a dozen more and a rock bass, enough in all to make us a nice breakfast
This A.M., I partly cleaned out the cellar, I washed and trimmed all its apples; a dishpan full. And took 5 or six wheelbarrow loads full of turnips to the barn. I gave Hardy a few and he can sell some down to the city when he goes down tomorrow P.M. I told him to sell all he could as I thought Cap would be pleased to dispose of them. And he was.
9 pm. Sid Tatro barrowed the jackscrew and I let him take the wheelbarrow to take it home with. “Johnny the Butcher” came noon and as usual had a “half pint”. He says he will have some “Lager” for me next wed. I hope I will be there to get it.
I don’t like being over here at all. Confound it! Genie has quite a head cold, and coughs quite hard and often since he went to bed.
Francis has had a cold, but she is almost well again. There is a little pimple or something in my upper right eyelid, which at time causes one a great deal of uneasiness, and one of those times is now, and commenced last evening.
I wish I could suit-myself.
A letter from Mary informs me that Aunt Mary is quite hard up and not liable to live long, and that she don’t know where Bro. Charles is.
After I got here I swept the Northwest side of the house, and got about three million spiders mad and than made paint to put on it tomorrow if it don’t rain.
There was a good North breeze this A.M. but it went down at noon and I had a very nice time to come over. We had a little shower pass to the North of us, but it did us no good or harm.
Brought over the violin. The girls want me to take them
over to Hog-back tomorrow if the wind doesn’t blow. I think the air tonight
fells a little like rain.
10. PM. Looks like shower with lightning, wind shifted comes now from south.
Thursday, June 8, 1899
9 P.M Quite a comfortable day… Wind South in night but shifted to West in A.M. and has been fresh from that quarter ever since and is still blowing.
Swept off southwest side and most of the trimmings and two of the blinds. Have been busy every minute from 7 A.M. to 6 PM. And washed the dishes for Mrs. B. beside.
I think Lotti is looking quite lonely. Genie has an awful cold, but I guess he will come out all night.
A flock of ten strange birds, not as large as doves, brown and white beauties came around here this morning a few minutes. I got the gun and could have shot one or more very easily, but as the wind was pretty strong I concluded it would be more bother than they would be worth to get the boat down and pick them up.
Brought down the violin to play, but the string that held the tailpiece was broken, so had to defer playing until later.
The fish we caught last night made us a fine breakfast and we had some A
No. 1 corn beef hash for supper; the first I have tasted for a year I believe.
9:20 Wind west and rising. Red in West Starlight.
Friday June 9, 1899. at the Lighthouse
8:15 P.M. A cool and comfortable day to work. Cloudy most of the time and a west wind nearly all day and still blowing.
Finished every thing dark on the southwest side and put 2 new cords in Lower Hall window.
Painted the green part of the boat: seats bow and etc. I have worked every minute from 7:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. and then washed the supper dishes.
I have been troubled a great deal today with pain in my chest and shoulders and arms have ached and felt numb.
I am going to take a good dose of physic tonight and hope it may prove beneficial. Saw a female loon today, near enough to know it was a female. She was much lighter colored than her male companion who kept close alongside.
Killed a dozen bed bugs. last night. Hope I shall not be disturbed again tonight.
Saturday June 10. At Buttons Camp
9 P.M. Quite a cool day with fresh North wind. Painted at the lighthouse all day, and started for camp at 7 P.M. and got there about 8:20 and found them all gone, to the point I suppose, expecting to find me there.
I wish now that I had waited there for they would have been better pleased and I would not have had so long a row, at it would have saved Chet a mile and a half of rowing, for he will have to go over with them and bring a boat back from the point.
I took physic last night and twice today and I feel weak as cat.
I hope to get rid of the pains in my chest and arms, but I don’t know. I do know that I have felt almost sick abed for nearly or quite a while. I hope these pains do not indicate anything serious, but if I was fixed as I used to be once. I should consult a Dr. at once. I don’t think the continued and almost incessant numbness in my arms is to be looked on with indifference, but I am when I cannot help myself, as I suppose. I shall live and keep plugging away as well as I can till I die, and that will wind it all up.
I wish things were different.
Sunday
June 11,1890,
8:15 P.M. A comfortable day.
Cap, Chet and Cass went away this morning with to the point and island and put out two docks. Cass and Chet got home about 8 P.M.
Cass has gone up to Hines. He asked me to go with him but I didn’t feel able.
I have been sick all day; but went up and hoed one row of my potatoes, and went over to Hardys a little while. Saw the same 3-acre farm.
Mr. Duncan and Ruth called here half an hour this P.M Several teams and bicycles have passed him today.
Chet or Cass caught a 1 ½ pound pike and a few perch.
Cap went to the lighthouse today-tonight.
Monday June 12, 1899
9:15 pm A very comfortable day to work,
Fresh south wind all day.
Cap and girls came over from Lighthouse early.
Cass got up at 4:20 and cooked breakfast and dinner and went to work at Smalleys.
Cap and Chet made ready for squashes and melons A.M. Cap planted them P.M.
I have been sick all day but managed to hoe all but 25 or 20 hills of my potatoes, Cap went away somewhere this day and just came back with Cass.
Tuesday, June 13, 1899
9 P.M. Hot as hell all day. Raked out potatoes, Helped Cap draw 2 loads water for Edson. Cap went to city. Chet went to island and Lighthouse.
Put down floor in stable.
Bert came down a few minutes this eve, looking for eggs.
Wednesday June14, 1899.
8:20 P.M A hot day : but we had a fine 15 minutes shower about 11.30 A.M
Helped Chet clean up part of his bicycle. It was pretty day.
Cap cultivated Willards potatoes, part of them + I stabbed in some corn alongside
Napoleon Perault brought a couple of men over from Grand Isle, + was here to supper. The men went to the city
Perault said the body of Mr. Blake who was drowned May 3rd was discovered 18 days afterward. It was stuck in the mud bottom + would have been uncovered the next day with mud + dirt. If it had not been accidentally discovered just as it was.
Quite a little breeze from N, now but it is going down. + I suppose, I will have to go to the L.-H to-morrow
Johnny the butcher was here just at night he had some nice lager with him but two bottles among half a dozen people didn’t amount to anything more than a taste and hardly that.
Chet went out to try pike he hooked two, but lost both.
Finished cleaning out the cellar this A.M and it is done in good shape.
Thursday June 15,1899 At B-s Camp
A comfortable day, with a grand old shower in the P.M
Cap cultivated and Chet ran the weeder through my potatoes. They are cooking fine Chet + I drove down to the city and looked at the outside of the circus. + walked around the city an hour or two this evening made one or two acquaintances + has a good time generally. Got home at mid night.
Barrows tried to run by somebody but he didn’t go by.
Cap + I went to Henry Thayer + planted a little corn + run the weeder, but this shower stopped us.
Cap went to L.-H. to- night
Friday, June 16,1899
Mng. Wind blowing like H-L all day from NW. Cap couldn’t get home till a little after noon. Chet put cloth on over deck to his boat. I went up + finished Henry Thayer job,+ then run weeder over Uncle Willard corn + potatoes.
Looked very much like rain to-night Cap+ Chet expect to plow to-morrow at Jerry Coag’s + Bertha + Myrtle went to a party+ the girls are having this evening+ doing all they can get ready.
Saturday, June 17,1899
Cap+ Chet plowed + sowed Himgarran(?) all day at Jerry Coag's.
I ran the weeder with Possum till the harness broke. Then I mended it.
The girls went to Ruth Smalley's birthday party. + didn’t get home until after Chet + Cap came. I sawed a little wood and put paris green on my potatoes.
Sunday June 18,1899
Sick all day the result of fish chowder last night I guess.
Chet went to L-H this P.M + Cass went up street with Possum.
The boys did all the chores for me so I got along very well.
Monday June 19,1899 9.P.M
A fine day. Warm with a few
showers. Cap, Chet, Cass + I put fertilizer on all this big corn patch.
I painted Chet's boat. Cass +I hoed and weeded carrots beets radishes
cabbages + turnips + planted a bushed of potatoes for Cass.
Often times I have told my friend Chester Fr. Button that if I should from any cause be taken away by sickness or accidentally. I would give and bequeath to him as my best and nearest friend all my personal property that I have here with me. At Colchester Point VT. Consisting of books, fishing tackle, clothing pictures, rare coins, or other money if any and in fact every thing belonging to me accept a few private papers and accounts relating to business transactions in the town of Montague Mass.. Said papers and accounts are to be examined by him and forwarded to my sister Mrs. Mary E. Oakes No 6. Sackett Ave. Springfield, Mass. And all other articles are to be held forever by him for his own private and personal use without question. To use and dispose of as it may please him.
At his request I herein put my wish in writing in this my record book that he may have it for part of his claim in the event of my death.
In witness where of I have affixed my signature this 19th day of June. In the year of our Lord thousand –eight hundred and ninety-nine,
Albert M. Hunter
Tuesday June 20,1899
Comfortable pleasant but of P.M we had quite hailstorm with wind lighting and rain.
Cas went to city job me overalls.
Cap went up to Uncle Willard’s + got a load of ashes. I hoed onions + set at same P.M put window in cellar door P.M + hoed out a few raspberries.
Cow was late home to-night.
Bert Hines here this evening come in went strawberries for Chet.
Going to L-H to –morrow.
Wednesday, June, 21,1899 At the Lighthouse
Wind fresh W in mmg. Changed to N.W fresh.+ later had a heavy wind from N. which dropped a little toward night.
Chet + I came to W.P with Ned + there took Barrow’s boat. Elle could not tie the boat as there was too much wind so I held her off while Chet ate some breakfast + then took her + I came up the ladder. Found everything the same as usual. Lottie looks quite out of sorts. Genie is all right but this P.M Francie is sick.
Saw Barrows +Hi out fishing near W. Pt. this P.M.
I have painted the fence nearly all round the L.H. to-day
9.P.M. Thursday June 22,1899
A comfortable day. Light W. wind shifted to light S. at 6:30 P.M.
Filed and fitted rods to fence and painted outside of rigging boxes. Fished some and did nothing some. Oh! I drew one sash in sitting room.
Had 4 visitors, Dr. Cooke, Arthur Church, 14; Malcolm Chandler,12 + Howard Norton, 8(of Minneapolis, Minn.) and ____ of Newark, NJ.
They were away becalmed off Hogback I hailed them and the came. They had a Sharpie. The Laura C or G I can’t tell which!
The Doctor stayed on board to look after the boat + the 3 boys came up the ladder. I showed them around + they were much pleased. I sold them a loaf of bread, a few beans +a little Pickalilly for a quarter.
They went up about two weeks ago. I was here + saw them pass. They are company at Kibbes Point and were going to the city to stock up again I guess.
They expect to return to camp on Sat. and may call to see me.
Cass came up this mmg after the folks and left me here alone again. I hope they will have a pleasant day for the picnic to-morrow.
Very few birds of any kind to-day. Loons were crying at sunset
Wrote a letter to Mary last night- but forgot to send it ashore this mmg.
3 perch for dinner, and 4 for supper but left one of them for breakfast.
Killed 2 B.B this mmg. Expect to fight all night for any life or be eaten up.
Friday June 23,1899
8:40 PM Wind? Well I guess! It started in with a fresh breeze from the S. which by 9 A.M. developed into a gale of the tallest kind and by noon everything out side was wet.
About 6 P.M it dropped to a fresh breeze again and how suppose to be falling away.
It looks stormy all around and I an looking for a shift of wind to N.W.
Saturday June
24, 1899
4.18 A.M took
down light
Sun rose very
clear
Light west
wind.
7 A.M wind
shifting to South but light. No clouds but hazy. Flies by the millions.
3 P.M wind W
again light
4.20 P.M “
N. light
The sharpie
Laura G. Going North with half a dozen on board. Too far away to signal.
6.15 Wind E.
light
9.30 No wind
at all though it got around into the N. at last
About 11 A.M
The tug Geo A Harris of Ottawa went S. on west course drawing 8 barges. The
names of 7 of them were Levi Grannell: J. Burstall. Victor Herburt: R.O Meyer,
Calumet + P. Girard.
They met the “Nancy,” A 2 master going N. apparently unloaded (of
Essex) At 11:18 I heard a big blast somewhere. About 5:20 while painting the
cornice above the portico. I heard
a shot near at hand and hurrying down and running around, to W. Corner. I saw a
small launch with two or three on board swinging their hats at me, as the sun
was just over and beyond them. I could not see the name of the boat. Not a loon
or a gull have seen to-day. The wind has been as shifty that I didn’t hardly
know where to work for every change of wind meant a change of flies. However, I
put new cards in window over sink and drew the sash inside and out painted one
blind swift down flies + spiders +c. besides cleaning the tower getting my
meals. I am tired as a dog even if I can’t show much accomplished.
I am almost glad they didn’t come for me to go ashore. I am tired
enough to stay here.
I caught 3 perch and 3 rock-bass after I put up the light. Enough for a good breakfast anyway.
Sunday June 25 1899
4.20 A.M. took
down the light
Wind S. Light
7 A.M. “
“ “ + all clouded over.
No sun yet
8 AM Hi+ Mr.
Hough are out fishing near here to the south. Wind light.
I have cleaned 3 lights of glass.
6.20 P.M. Chet
came over about 11.20 with strawberries, milk +c. I was more than glad to see him for I expected to be alone
all day. I made some gems + strawberry shortcake, + everything was good
including the fish I caught last night.
I only got the
work done up at 11 A.M. I never realized what flies were before.
Later we let
the bbl of infernal compound down on the rocks before we came away
Monday June 26
1899
8.20 P.M in
our old room. Chet + I got here about 8.30 last night. Leaving Cap, Mrs. B,
Lottie, Francis + Genie at the L-H.
Cass had been after a minister at the city and taken him home again+ had
just returned after his second trip and was apparently not in the best humor for
some reason.
I slept first rate last night. Somehow
I don’t sleep well over at the L-H. I got up this mng with Chet at 4 A.M He
took Ned + went to W. point. After Cap. + I did the chores + split + sawed wood
as usual. Till they came back and breakfast was ready. After that Cap went to
Porter with M. machine but skidded logs all day instead of mowing. After supper
he mowed dooryard for Barstow's side of
road. Cass mowed weeds + painted boat + hoed some. He + I ground M. machines
knife.
I put the remainder of straw from Barstows. 216 lbs all told.
Chet and I
cultivated the big corn patch this A.M in P.M we cultivated peas + beans +c +
then he went down on Uncle Willards potatoes while I hoed the yellow eyed beans
and carrots beets +c till supper after 7 o’clock.
Bertha had
some fine new bread, but her short cake was rather solid. But with a goodly supply of strawberries we ate one of them;
, the other I guess will be laid on on the shelf until tomorrow. Chet has gone
to P.O. He carried a letter for me to Mary the first I here written him for
quick a long time. Every one else has gone to bed, except me + I guess I will
now.
Tuesday June
27 – 1899
Fair day
Chet + I ashed
Uncle Willard’s corn + he cultivated it. I ashed my potatoes + hoed out some
for Cap. Chet and I had damn sore fingers after putting on ashes.
Cap worked for
porter.
Wed June 28
– 1899
Rain and a
good one.
9 P.M
Set out
cabbage and beets, Cap and I.
Cap went to
L. H. this A.M + has not ret’d. Chet + I took a ride this eve. I called on
uncle Willard while Chet went down to Hines, Elma + Frank are both sick.
Uncle Willard
is putting a new piazza on his door this side of the house, + is going to put
another on the other side: when he gets this one done.
Thursday 29,
1899
Cass and I
went to L.H. Took over some carpets and fished on the way. He caught 2 pike + a
bass. I caught 3 perch.
The wind came up towards noon + he came home.
Cap worked logging for Porter + Chet was to get used to the mowing
machine by mowing the old orchard.
Friday June 30
1899 9 P.M
Finished painting at L.H got home about 8. Chet and Cass are both gone up to Hines’.
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