Thu Dec 1 1904 At Station
7:00 AM 29 + 6 –1, + 26° East Wind & Very light, Cloudy
9:00 6 – 1 + 28° “ “ , Clearing
Chet just started for a row to my place with Government Reports and to get fresh and salt meat, vegetables etc.
He took the Alice R. and the sails to be used if wind should be favorable. Look out for the Daisy.
10:00 32° wind shifting to South, light, still clearing.
11:00 29 - 6 – 1 + 33° Wind nearly west and big snow squall in York State.
Sudden rise of wind would make it hard for Chet if it holds.
12:00 6 + 32° Wind West nearly fresh. Snow Squalls obscure nearly everything in all directions. Dinner ready and looking for Chet.
1:00 Wind W. Much easier the water hardly breaking. No sign of Chet from the tower in the last 15 minutes.
29 – 6 + 33° Heavy squalls continue all around.
1:30 Chet came with supplies.
3:00 29 – 6 + 33°, west wind weak, fresh. Dinner just all cleaned off and fresh meat taken care of. Now to look over the mail.
8:00 29 – 7 + 31° Wind West light, starlight, some clouds.
Cooking beans this evening. Our supplies that Chet brought consisted of a big squash, a number of nice yellow turnips, a couple of hog cheeks, and 10 spare rib of fresh pork from Henry’s.
Mailed letter to M.M.C. Feeling pretty well to day.
Worms in horses. Give one drachm of sulphate of iron in feed every night for a week: then give one pint of raw linseed oil which will rid the horses of the worms.
10:00 29 – 7 + 30° West wind weak, light and cloudy.
11:00 29 – 8 + 30° “ “ “
Fri Dec 2 1904
7:00 AM 30 + 22° Fresh N.W., Cloudy, Squally
8:30 30 + 21°, Fresh “ , Clearing, Squally
10:30 30 – 1 + 19° , Fresh, Very Clear West, S. Squalls East
6:00 PM 30 – 2 – 11 + 17°, North Fresh
Has been north fresh for all PM.
Cleaned talking machine and got dinner, roast pork, turnips, and squash. Chet washed and put on four storm windows.
9:30 30 – 3 + 17° Wind North, moderate
A beautiful starlight evening, and the barometer promises a fine day tomorrow.
12:00 30 – 3 + 16° light northerly wind, cloudy
Solving puzzles in good housekeeping, Chet building light house.
Sat Dec 3 1904 At station
8:00 AM 30 – 2 + 16°, Wind N. Light, Cloudy everywhere, Storm along western shore
Ice between West Point and Benlaw.
9:25 Wind north east, light, looks like a snowstorm
Chet just left with mail, very cloudy.
12:00 30 – 2 + 18° Wind north, very light
Snowstorm obscures everything except Benlaw, Sunset, and West Point. Enough snow on walk to track a rabbit. Work all done up and now waiting for the mail.
1:00 Wind north east very light, snow obscuring everything
Chet just came with mail. Letter from M.M.C. No news ashore.
30 – 2- 3 + 17°
2:30 30 – 2 + 18° Wind east very light, still snowing quite hard but looking much lighter in the west.
Chet has taken the Alice R. ashore to leave there then will return in the scoop, which is to be kept here, along the big boat until the season closes.
No “World” came to day: only two copies of the “News” and the “Essex Record”.
5:30 Chet returned via sunset after an unsuccessful hunt for ducks. Beautiful sunset looked like red snow falling.
6:00 30 – 2 + 17°, Wind east and very light and very cloudy
Supper out of the way, now we can read the news.
12:00 Weather conditions the same.
Having one of my colic spells since dinner.
Sun. Dec. 4 1904
8:00 AM 30 -1 + 18° Wind W. Light, Steam commencing to rise.
Sun shining rather feebly.
I slept well last night, and feeling fairly well this morning after my sickness of last evening.
Noon 30 - 20° Wind E. Light. Clouded all over.
3:30 29 + 85 + 20° Wind N.E. Light, Snowing for last 20 min.
Two boats and several persons have shown up in the last hour around the Point Benlaw and the Pass.
6:30 Wind shifting to westerly but light, starlight
8:00 Wind West and rising quite fast
29-9 + 24° Starlight
8:30 Wind easy again, still westwardly.
9:30 29-9 + 22° Chet has gone to bed.
10:00 29 – 9 + 24° Wind shifted to S. Mod, starlight but getting cloudy.
Mid. 29-8 + 22° Wind S.
Mon. Dec. 5 1904
10:00 A.M 29-6-4 + 25° Wind S. very fresh. Steam + Light snow.
Didn’t get up very early.
Noon. 29-6- x 28 Wind S. Very fresh. Cloudy looking very stormy.
Chet down cellar chopping wood and I am just commencing work on my windmill.
6:00 29-5 + 29° Wind and weather remain the same.
Mid. 29+5 + 31° Wind S. but going down very sensibly.
Tue. Dec. 6 1904
3:00 AM 29-5-1 + 31° Wind shifted to N.W. Gale
Very cloudy and looks stormy.
9:00 29-7 + 17° Wind N.W. Fresh, Sunshine, Quite clear and pleasant. The first time in several days.
Noon 29-7 +19° Wind N.W Light, sun shining pleasantly: hardly a cloud to be seen and everything indicates at this time a very fine day. Chet has built a bin for the wood and has cut up and put into it nearly all the flood wood in the cellar. I have been working on a wind mill but guess I will be obliged to give it up as a bad job.
1:15 29-6 +18° Wind N.E Light, Very pleasant
3:00 Wind shifted to E. very light,
4:00 29-6 + 19° Wind E. very light, Beautiful sunset
6:00 Wind shifted to S.
9:20 29-5 + 24 Wind S. very fresh. Starlight
This evening Chet has been working on his light house and
I have been reading to him, until my throat feels a little uneasy.
Mid 29-4 + 28° Wind S. still very fresh nary a gale.
Writing to Sister Mary.
Very cloudy. No stars to be seen anywhere. Looks stormy.
Wed. Dec. 7 1904
9:00 AM 29-2 + 30° Gale South. Every indication of rain
No land visible west of here or very little east.
10:00 Breakfast done up, and Chet getting the scoop into the kitchen for repair and alterations.
Sky was very red last evening for a long time, an indication I suppose of this coming of the gale now in progress.
11:00 29-1 + 31° Gale continues, Breaking away and looking lighter in the west, though snow was flying quite lively here a little while ago.
11:15 29-1 + 32° Sun shining pleasantly.
11:50 29-1 + 32v Sun out of sight. Stormy again.
3:20 29 +33° Sudden shift of wind from S. Gale to West fresh and rising with very heavy snow squall.
3:40 Snow squall has passed.
6:00 29-1 + 28° Wind N. West very fresh. Starlight.
A fire away past north of point Benlaw.
7:15 The fire is a big one. Seems as if we could almost see the blaze.
9:00 29-2 + 24° Wind N.W. Fresh. Stars clear and bright.
The fire has been out of sight for nearly an hour.
Chet is writing letters, and of course I can’t talk to him and he don’t want to talk so it is a very quiet evening.
He finished the scoop. Set seat + row locks back toward the stern about 6 inches and took out the centerboard box.
I roasted about 3 lbs. of my spare rib, and for supper had some of it with potatoes, mashed turnips, dressing and brown gravy. It was very nice.
Mid. 29-2 + 20° Wind W. very light and apparently still going down. Clear + Starlight.
[Page 142 missing from Journal]
Fri, Dec 9, 1904 (Continued)
2:00 PM 14° Wind N.W Nearly a Gale, Few Clouds, Some steam, Sun shining very pleasantly.
6:00 12°. Wind NW. Fresh, Clear and Starlight
Mid. 6° The Coldest noted here this season, Trouble with sitting room fire, wind N.W. Moderate Starlight
Northern Lights about 10 o’clock.
Sat. Dec 10. 1904.
7:00 AM 2°. The coldest yet, Wind N.E. Very Light, very Cloudy all over.
Fire in good condition.
10:00 6°. Wind N.E. Very Light and Lots of Steam. No Sun since 8.00
Noon 8°. “ “ “ “ “ “ “
4:00 8°. “ “ “ “ “ “ “
Time to light up and Chet not in sight. I think he will not come to-night. Have looked for him since noon. But I am all right here. Feeling well and everything taken care of. I hope that he and his folks are all well.
7:00 6° Wind N.W. fresh, Starlight and Steam.
9:00 8° “ “ Light “ “ “
Commenced letter to Ed and Ellen.
11:00 8°. Wind is a N.W. very light and falling. Starlight and Steam.
Mallett Bay I think is frozen over by the look from tower at 4 pm.
Sun. Dec 11. 1904.
6:00 AM 6°. Wind W mod. Lots of steam. A very cold night and I feel chilly this mng. Fires both in good condition.
9:00 7°. Wind N.W. Light and Lots of Steam. A few Clouds but Sun shining very pleasantly. Getting ready for breakfast.
10:00 8°. Wind N. Westerly and dying away. Steam everywhere. Sun has hard work to look through clouds formed from it.
Work all done up. Now I can read, write and watch for Chet.
Noon 3°. Coldest yet. Wind N.E Fresh. Sun bright. Steam very thick.
3:00 4°. Wind N.E Very Light. Lots of Steam. Heavy Clouds S and W but cleared North-eastwardly.
3:30 Have given up all hope of seeing Chet to-day: But if he and his folks are all right I don’t care. Everything is all right here.
Made a loaf of Graham Bread and it is all right. (aver)
Wind E. very Light and Clouded all over.
8:00 “. South. Mod. Cloudy and Dark as a black cat. Growing Warmer.
Mid. Nothing to be seen of Juniper or even Burlington electric.
Wind S. can see only City lights. Wind Mod. Very dark.
Finished “In the Clouds” a Story in N.A. Review.
My throat feels all out of sorts. Making some Ginger Tea.
Mon. Dec 12-1904
12:30 AM Wind S. Light. Snowing. Very dark and cloudy.
6:30. “ Northerly. “ “ “ “
10:00 Snowing lightly since morning and I guess all night but now Sun seems to be coming out and we may have a pleasant part of the day; only for steam which rises continually.
Noon. Am afraid Chet or his folks are sick that he doesn’t show up.
Wind Northerly. Clearing somewhat on East side of Lake but still a little snow and much steam obscure everything West and South.
Farnum, I guess is watering Porter’s stock at west farm, two dogs running races on the ice near there.
I can’t seem to do much only to watch for Chet.
12:30 Chet has just come to the Point.
7:00 Wind N.W. Light. Good Moon, but so much Steam can’t see it.
Chet got here through a lot of floating ice in over half an hour with a live duck in a paper box, captured on So. Beach.
He had shot 2 ducks when he went home last Thursday night. Baby was sick with worms, while he was there.
I had begun to feel quite anxious, and was very glad when he came.
Mid. Wind Northerly. Very dark and Steamy.
Snow fell about 3 to 4 P.M.
Chet says that Temperature on shore ranges from 10 to 12 degrees colder than here. I am satisfied that I am in a pretty comfortable place here. But I hope that my things in my cellar over home will not freeze while I am here. Well, 19 more days in this year, and probably about 3 weeks longer to stay here and then I will have a chance to chop wood and freeze my fingers and toes, as often as I desire.
Tuesday December 12, 1904
Noon. 6° Wind. N. Fresh. Steam all AM. So thick impossible to see over ten rods at any time which makes it seem a little lonesome.
Had a great time with the duck, Chet caught yesterday, it seems uninjured, and runs all around. He put it in a tub of water down cellar where it seems to be quick at home. It is a young one I think but don’t know just what species.
Wind NE light good moon, but lots of steam.
Steam has been very dense all day until about sunset.
Wed. Dec. 14-1904
1:30 AM No wind. Very Cloudy, but electric and juniper visible. Floating ice passed here from northward an hour or two ago.
9:35 16° Wind N.W. Light, cloudy all over. Except in York State sunshine.
Chet just left with mail.
Noon 14° Wind N.E. Light cloudy and looks stormy all round except to westward on mountains.
Mid. 10° Wind just shifted to So. Very light, and lots of thin ice floating past and breaking on the rocks. Lake almost calm this evening and at 10 o’clock we could see that ice had formed from Benlaw more than half way over here.
If wind should not blows for three or four days, I think the lake would be frozen with out doubt.
Northern Lights show up very brightly now.
When Chet came with mail he had another duck that he found alongside the R.R. just alive. It died soon after he got home with it. He mixed up his arsenical soup and is going to try setting one or both of them up.
Thu. Dec 15-1904
6:30 AM 6° Wind E Light.
10:00 11° Wind S.E. “ , Large fields of thin ice floating past.
Steam to westward, lots of it.
Sun shining very pleasantly. A lovely A.M. so far.
Chet commencing on his first attempt to “set up” a duck.
11:30 Wind suddenly shifted to S. and light.
Snowing quite hard for just now.
7:00 19° Wind S.E Mod. Hay Moon, Cloudy. Few Stars. Very little steam around here. Fairly pleasant P.M. Chet finished setting up one duck. Pretty fair job I think for this first one. Somehow I have felt rather uneasy all day and couldn’t get myself to do anything or enjoy reading.
11:00 16° Wind N.W. Light. Quite Cloudy + some steam.
Fri. Dec. 16-1904
3:30 A.M. 13° Wind N.W. Light. Dark. Steamy.
Laid down on lounge at Mid for a few minutes and went to sleep until just now. Going to bed.
9:00 13° Wind N.Light. Lots of Steam. Sun just breaking through at intervals.
Chet just left for shore.
Noon 10° Wind N.E. Steam. Sunshine. Pleasant.
Few fellows just walked behind Benlaw. Not known: They had a small dog, that looked black.
12:15 Chet at the Point. Has started in boat for Benlaw. Met the two, who passed along with dog towards the shore on the ice.
12:30 The two have passed down the R.R. through the cut.
Chet is at Watkins Cottage.
“ just launched scoop + starting for Station.
8:00 13° Wind N.E. Very light. Good moon; very pleasant.
Chet got here at 1. P.M. with mail
Letter here from Sister Mary, enclosing one from Lydia (Mrs. Clark) saying Mrs. Parsons had just died suddenly of Acute congestion of lungs, and that my old friend Bert Percy is quite badly off with Brights Disease.
Mrs. Butmen, another of friend had died of cancer of the liver.
Chet set up a hell diver to-day, his second attempt and it was a fair job. He punched a hole in his boat going a shore, running against a sharp point of ice.
1030 10° Wind N.E. Very Light; Ice has formed nearly all the way between here + Benlaw since sunset. It is not solid, but floating southward and cracking on the rocks.
Mid. Conditions unchanged.
Have written letter to Mrs. H. B. Clark
Sat. Dec. 17 – 1904
9:00 AM 17° Wind S. E. Light. Lots of steam, and a few flakes of snow flying. Chet has just started again for shore with mail.
Sent letters to Mrs. Clark, Chiott, inspector, and Chet’s wife.
10:40 19° Wind shifted to S. light. Much lighter + seems to be clearing + South, still light but slowly rising. Steam disappearing. Wind S. still light. No sun yet.
Just now Chet I think coming to Pt. from R.R.
Onions + potatoes warming and corn gems baking to have dinner hot when he gets here.
Don’t see him, guess he must be looking for cedar for a ladder.
A sail off for Brothers for Burlington.
12:45 Chet is at Pt. with timber, getting ready to come over.
Chet has just launched boat + timber and started for station.
7:00 Wind. East. Light.
9:45 Wind N. hazy and dark. Light wind. Good moon, no stars
Mon. Dec. 19 – 1904
10:30 - 28° AM Wind S. Gale. Storm conditions prevail.
Yesterday was a very pleasant day. Wind variable, shifting in the course of the day to all points.
Chet set up his third duck and made a pretty fair job.
I roasted the last of Henry’s fresh rib, made dressing etc, and we had a grand old dinner. As Chet said, it was a puzzle to tell what to eat first.
This morning Chet is making a rocking-horse for baby. I am not feeling very ambitious, somehow but must soon get into gear and make a few pies.
Noon 30° Gale from S. continues. Looking more stormy.
Reading since breakfast. Must now go to work.
3:00 Gale continues. Cleaning somewhat in the west.
Pies from of them done and are all night.
Rocking horse fast approaching competition. Looks good.
7:00 33° Gale continues but seems a little easier.
The warmest since 1 pm Dec 7.
Mid. Wind easier. Good moon but quite cloudy.
Think it must be a fairly pleasant evening on place.
Gave been writing to Chet and his wife.
Sudden shift of wind to west, fresh and rising to a gale.
Tues. Dec. 20. 1904, Mrs. Hardy died.
9:00 AM 29-4-11 + 23° Wind N.W. Seemingly going down since height and sky clear.
9:40 Chet started for shore. Wind has subsided it is now very light indications now seem to appear a fine day.
9:58 Chet landed and has now started away for the mail.
10:30 20° Wind shifted to East. Light. Clouds obscure the sun.
Noon 21° Wind N.E. light. Clouds all over. Looks stormy. Chet just leaving Point for Station.
4:00 18° Wind north light. Looks as if it had been snowing all round.
Air feel damp and I think it will be staring tomorrow.
Chiott writes that he put out his beacons on breakwater Sunday morning to stay out unless he receives orders to relight them. We have seen no light at Juniper since Saturday night and think therefore that are lighting up for this season is finished.
Since 2 p.m. we have taken in the ladder and fenders and have been cleaning blinds, sweeping to and putting things to rights as fast as we can, prepartory to going ashore. We intend to be ready to go tomorrow pm. If we get the orders.
7:00 16° Fires both low. Must get a hot supper and warm up.
Snowing lightly.
Mid. 15° Still snowing a little. Steam and clouds obscure the moon.
Mrs. Hardy after illness in bed for week died last night.
Wed. Dec. 21, 1904
6:00 12° Wind N. Mod. Steam.
8:15 7° “ “ “ Steam, sun very pleasant, few clouds.
Chet finishing Rocking Horse for baby putting on the manes and tails and now mopping floors.
Noon 12° Wind N. Fresh, Lots of Steam, Sun Bright, Few Clouds.
Would be very pleasant if it wasn’t for steam and wind
1:15 Chet started from So. Corner in scoop for Main Land and now I must hustle and get ready to go ashore.
3:30 5° Wind Shift to NE. Very few clouds. Lots of Steam. Pleasant.
5:00 3° Wind East, very light. Full moon an hour high. Few clouds. Red sunset. Have been picking up things and packing fruit and vegetables so as to be ready to leave here at short notice if Chet comes for me to-morrow.
7:00 3º Wind still continues very light. Hazy. Few stars. Can see lights at City but none at Juniper. Not as much steam as in P.M. Lot of thin ice floating to westward.
11:00 9º Wind E. Light. A big lot of steam has suddenly obscured everything, and nothing over ten rods distant can be seen. Wind seems to be rising a little.
11:15 10º Wind Shifted to S.E. and Rising + Heavy steam.
Mid. 13º Wind South. Rising to Fresh. Steam nearly gone.
Thu. Dec 22, 1904 Came ashore today
9:00 AM 20º Wind Shifted to N.E. and snowing very hard. Wind light. Just up. Fires both in good condition
11:00 Wind about East. Very Light. Seems to be clearing, and if Chet was only here now or anytime since 10 o’clock we would have the best chance in the world to get away.
I have hated all along to make the change, but now that we are all ready for it. I shall feel anxious all the time until it is made.
Can’t help keeping my eye on the Point most of the time for it Chet found orders awaiting him yesterday or receives them to-day, to close the Station he will be here to do it just as soon as he possibly can.
Noon 19º Chet just came.
1:30 All ready to leave.
9:00 On shore again and at home.
We were out as ready as I anticipated fore we did not leave Station until 2:45 pm. We reached shore without difficulty as there was only a very light East wind in N.E.
We had quite a time getting my goods landed. I fell down three times but didn’t break anything. The horse was weak and played out, for I guess he had a hard time this summer and fall and has had mighty little to eat.
We left the Station looking clean + slick from top to bottom. We gave Farman’s folk near half a bushel of apples on our way home, and when we got here myself and beggars took off about 300 the more so that made it some easier for her at any rate.
I felt sorry for Chet + the horse, for the road was long and hard, and he was expecting to have to water all the cattle after he got there.
I built a fire, and warmed up a little and went over to Henry’s a little while. Found them all well and glad to see me.
Alma is much worse and they think she is near the end of her journey.
Mrs. Hardy died and was buried this week. Funeral yesterday I believe.
Friday Dec. 23, 1904
A kind of a nasty damp disagreeable day. Rain + Sleet but not heavy, the A.M. + not much better P.M. Nothing looking like the Sun has been seen.
I chopped a few white britches + pine down in the woods and stuffed a few rags in some of the cracks around the windows. Got a pail of water, and dipped ice 3 inches thick out of my well.
Inspected my cellar, and found everything in fine condition. Not a trace of frost could be seen anywhere except in the stairway, and that could do no possible harm. Put up the Mail Box this A.M. and saw Howard a minute. Went over to Henrys about 3:30, took supper + visited. Had a glass of bang up cider, and for supper a lovely Blackberry Cake. Uncle Reube has a cold.
Sat. Dec. 24, 1904
Chopped a little more wood.
Called on Alma. She looks very bad, and as if she could not stay much longer.
Frank so full he couldn’t see nor talk straight.
Ed Liberty + Henry were there.
Staying at home this evening.
Sun Dec. 25, 1904
The coldest yet. At home all day keeping fire. Putting thermometer in the oven to thaw it out and of course burst the bulb.
Uncle Reube called an hour this P.M.
Went down to Pete Coles this evening. They gave me some supper, and nuts + candy, and I read a Christmas story “Christmas trees at Junaluska” and we visited and I had a very pleasant evening.
Mon, Dec 26-1904
Quite comfortable to-day. Chopped quite a lot for me. A.M. + P.M. Went over to Henry’s this evening. Pretty dark and looks stormy. Hope it will be as good today all this week so I can chop a good lot. At Henry’s this evening. Pancakes for supper.
Tues, Dec 27-1904
Rain + sleet all a.m. and steady rain all p.m. shelled some beans and made a pan full of doughnuts. At home this evening.
Too stormy to get out.
Wed Dec 28
Raining hard early in morning. But changed to snow from N.E. all AM. Clearing PM. Few stars out this evening. Wind S.W. and feels + looks like more storm of some kind.
Went over to Henry’s shop. About noon and made a wood-saw frame out of parts of three old ones.
Alma passed away peacefully at about 7:30 A.M. I went over. Aunt Em, Elmo. Henry + Johnny Morrison were there. Frank so d-d drunk he didn’t know any thing. A cussed shame disgrace.
Dinner at Henry’s. Clara made four grain loaves of bread for Bert.
Went down to Pete Coles this evening. Took supper had a good visit. Went over + called on Amos Bean + wife. Had a very pleasant visit. Brought 2 doz. perch, 16 cents.
If Chet comes down to-morrow, will give some to him if he would like them.
Shelled a small lot of beans. Wrote for an almanac. But lost Howard and failed to mail my letter.
Thur, Dec 29, 1904
Chopped wood until noon.
Chet came + left wife + baby at Morrison’s.
While he went to the pt. I got dinner. He came back + ate with me. I received letter from Lydia G.
Bert is much letter for a time.
Mrs. Button came to Hines this A.M. with Porter. I rode over with Chet to see him when he went home. Frank is full as, usually. Some snow this AM.
Fri Dec 30-1904
Set up the wood cut yesterday + chopped a little more until 11 A.M. then got dinner and fixed for Alma’s funeral at 2 p.m. She was laid out beautifully, and everything looked tasteful and orderly. Many friends and acquaintances were there. The discourse was not lengthy but was impressive, and satisfying.
Frank was full and disgusting. Otherwise every thing passed off in good shape.
A very comfortable day.
At home reading this evening.
Sat. Dec 31-1904 for the last time.
Another comfortable day. Haven’t done anything.
Went over to Henry’s this AM to visit with Mrs. Button. Took dinner at Frank’s invitation and stayed with him until 2 PM when Chet came and took his mother to Colchester to stay with him Monday when she expects to return to Randolph. Chet is looking almost sick from a bad cold.
Mrs. Button is looking very well, only she has recently had her teeth all extracted.
Frank was all right and acted like a gentleman. I wish he might continue to do so.
This evening went down to P. Cole’s but as they were gone to Cote’s to a dance I called on Fred Farmer. He was away until 10 when he came in.
We had some lunce [sic] and then visited. Passed a very pleasant evening.
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