Fordney Family Diaries, 1904-1927
Object ID: MG0539
2 boxes 8 folders .75 cubic ft.
Repository: LancasterHistory (Organization)
Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 11
Description: This collection contains the diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney and her daughter, Alice Potter Fordney. Ida and Alice’s diary entries are similar in content. They always begin with a description of the weather and may include social and church events; clothing and market purchases; household activities and problems; and visits with family and friends. Ida often records her feelings and reactions about family members and events.
Creators: Fordney, Ida Mary Cox; Fordney, Alice Potter.
Conditions for Access: No restrictions.
System of Arrangement: Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney; Diaries of Alice Potter Fordney
Conditions Governing Reproductions: Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
Language: English
Source of Acquisition: Gift of Sarah McIlvaine Muench.
Related Materials: Sarah McIlvaine Muench Family Papers, MS 44 at Archives and Special Collections, Shadek‐Fackenthal Library, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA. http://library.fandm.edu/archives/mscoll/muench.pdf
Administrative/Biographical History: Family members who are prominent in Ida’s diaries
Ida’s mother: Sarah Michael Cox (Mama), 1824-1915, wife of Friend C. Cox, deceased
Ida’s husband: Thomas Potter Fordney (Tom), 1840-1933
Ida’s brother-in law: William Jenkins Fordney (Uncle Will), 1846-1926
Ida’s children and grandchildren:
Ellen Julia Fordney (Nellie), 1875-1963, married William Buell Franklin (Billy). Children: Sarah Steinman Franklin, 1897-?, Sidney Josephine Franklin, 1899-?, William Buell Franklin, Jr. ?-?. Residence: Ardmore, PA.
Thomas Potter Fordney, Jr. (Tom), 1879-1906, never married. Residence: Lancaster, PA.
Mary Reynolds Fordney (Mary), 1881-?, married Clarence Malone (Clarence). Divorced. Children: Mary (Young Mary) 1905-?, Clarence (Clarence, Jr.) 1908-? Residence: Shamokin, PA and then New York, New York.
Sara Cox Fordney (Sara), 1884-1920, married George Duffield McIlvaine, 1867-1918. Children: Sarah Ellmaker McIlvaine (Little Sarah or Sarah McIlvaine), 1909-?, Alice Fordney McIlvaine (Young Alice or Alice McIlvaine), 1910-?, John Benjamin McIlvaine (Benny), 1916-? (The above children became the responsibility of their mother’s sister, Nellie, when their mother died.) Residence: Lancaster, PA.
Alice Potter Fordney (Alice), 1887-1973, never married. Residence: Lancaster, PA.
William Bush Fordney (Bush), 1890-1948, never married. Residence: Lancaster, PA.
Wanamaker Diary Description
The diaries used by Ida and her daughter, Alice, were sold by the Wanamaker Department Store in Philadelphia. Prior to and after the diary entries, there are many advertisements for Philadelphia businesses and information relating to the city. There are also numerous other facts considered of interest to the reader. A few topics taken from several of the diaries are as follows: Trolley Rides from Philadelphia, floor plans of Philadelphia theatres, Foreign Consuls in Philadelphia, Colors for Complexion, Postage within the United States, recipes, and The Definition of an Anthem. Throughout the diary entries there are advertisements for Wannamaker merchandise.
Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney, 1904-1927, inc.
Each diary entry begins with a description of the weather and often includes Ida’s reaction to it. Other entries include social events; performances, including movies; clothing and market purchases with description and price included; household activities and problems; church events; golf matches; dancing school; transportation; and local and out-of-town visits with family and friends. Personal reactions to family events are included throughout the diary and indicate Ida’s feelings toward various family members.
Below the date of each diary is a brief description of the most significant events which are included in the diary.
Following the list of selected diary entries is a list of surnames found in each diary. The number after the name reflects how many additional times the name was mentioned. There has been no effort to guess surnames when only the given name is mentioned.
Box 1
Folder 1 Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney, 1904-1905
1904
The Yeates School and students from the Yeates School are mentioned frequently.
January 28 Ida went to Shamokin to visit Mary and stayed until February 11
February 9 Ice gorge at Safe Harbor was terrible; it moved today and swept nearly the whole village away
May 3 Opening day for the Roof Garden
May 5 Sara went to Philadelphia on her way to Nellie’s (in Ardmore), she stayed until the 20th
June 21 It is Alice’s 17th birthday
June 25 Mary went to Shamokin
August 4 Mama is in Smyrna , Delaware, has been away for 5 weeks
August 8 Nellie is here with Mama and the children
August 15 Nellie returns to Ardmore…Bush goes with her, his first ride on the cars(he stayed until the 29th
September 28 Bush commenced school, he is in the second form
October 14 Mama’s birthday…she is 80 years old
October 22 Bush and I went to the big Republican Parade
November 6 Tom Jr. is 27 years old today
November 17 Ida is 50 years old today
December 1 Ida was in to Grandma’s today( also on the 3rd and the 6th)
December 10 Mama is home from Shamokin
December 29 Nellie came (from Ardmore)
There is a list of Christmas presents in the back of the diary
Surnames mentioned in the 1904 diary:
Baer; Bare; Bausman; Beck 2; Blackwood 2; Brinton; Burkenbird; Bush; Clay 2; Coates; Colder 2; Coots; Coyle 5; Diller; Dogherty; Donaldson; Eckman 2; Emenbrent; Eshleman 7; Evans 30; Fager; Franklin 10; Frazer; Furlow; Galt 2; Gardiner 2; Gerhart 4; German; Gilt; Groff 2; Grubb; Haldeman; Hanghman 3; Hauser; Heintish; Herr 1; Higbe; Holcomb 7; Hoover; Hopkins 2; Jacobs; Kamun; Kempf; Kepler; Kolbach; Lane; LeFevre; Locher 2; Lockhead 3; Long; Malone 7; Mame 2; Martin; McDevitt; McGovern 11; McGrann 7; Merrick 6; Michael; Montgomery; Mullen; Musselman; Musser 2; Nevin; Newbold 6; Newhauser 1; Nulty; Pearsal 2; Potter; Radley 2; Ream 1; Reinochl 9; Rose 5; Scott 3; Shaeffer 1; Shively 3; Shroder 1; Smith 2; Stahr 1; Stauffer 1; Steinman 3; Steinmez; Taylor; Thomson; Trural; Vermond; “Wang”; Waterman 1; Welchane; Wickersham 1; Wiley; Windt; Yundt; Zahm
Box 1, Folder 1
1905
Yeates School and students are mentioned often. Ida is very worried about Tom, Jr.
January 21 Locher’s Bank is closed – failed
January 24 Mary’s daughter was born at midnight last night
January 30 They have not opened the lane yet – I miss not having the mail come – we get it at the toll gate – Bush and Tom went to town in the sleigh
February 1 Tom [Jr.] went to Reading with Valentines – the man bought the whole lot – gave him twelve dollars
February 13 Tom [Jr.] sold a lot of Valentines at Reams, Eicholtzs, Fondersmiths and Barrs
February 17 The Grand Duke -Sarajevo – was assassinated today
February 23 Will Fordney was out today
March 7 Tom, Jr. went to Atlantic City by way of Reading – he was sick for a long time
March 22 Yeates is closed – scarlet fever has broken out
April 3 Mama came out for the first time since last fall
April 6 Alice left for Ardmore today
April 22 Mary and the baby came – we were delighted (stayed until the 28th)
May 4 Sara’s 21st birthday
May 16 Circus Day
May 23 Sold some old feather beds
June 9 Ida went to Ardmore (stayed until the 9th)
June 12 Alice went to Shamokin
June 21 Alice is 21 years old today
June 29 Those 2 poor murderers (O’Brien and Furman) are going to be hanged today
July 1 Will Fordney came out – he sleeps in his room in the tenant house
July 5 Nellie and Buell arrived from Point Pleasant (Sarah and Sidney had come on June 30th) Billie is staying in town
July 12 Billy went home – Nellie and “Papa” had a terrible rumpus at the table
July 19 Nellie and the children went home
July 28 Mary and the baby went to Ardmore
August 3 Ida went to Atlantic City (stayed until the 8th)
August 5 “Tom (Jr.) wanted to be good to me….but he was drinking”
August 9 Clarence Malone came
August 17 Mary’s birthday – 24 years old
August 19 The threshers were here – Ida had to give them dinner
August 23 “Tom(Jr.) is home from Atlantic City in a sad condition”
September 6 Mary and the baby left for Shamokin
September 27 Bush commenced school – we boiled apple butter
October 13 Tom (Jr.) has a fine job lettering billboards for Peoples’ Theatre
October 18 Tom (Jr.) went to Shamokin this morning (he returned on the 20th)
October 26 Tom (Jr.) went back to Shamokin
November 6 Tom (Jr.) is 28 years old today
November 15 Sara came back from Ardmore today
November 17 “My birthday -51- getting old” she lists presents
November 25 “Tom (Jr.) did not turn up yet – went away last Wednesday – I am nearly crazy”
November 27 “Had a letter from Tom (Jr.) from Philadelphia – that ends his theatre job – oh what a disgrace he is to me”
December 20 “Thank goodness Tom (Jr.) came home this evening – he looks badly”
December 23 “Mr. Mozart took Tom (Jr.) back again – if only he does right”
There are no diaries for 1906 and 1907. Dairies for 1908, 1909 and 1910 are in the Sarah McIlvaine Muench Family Papers at Franklin and Marshall College Archives.
Surnames mentioned in the 1905 diary:
Appel; Bare; Bates 4; Brinton 2; Brown; Calder 2; Clark; Cochrane 7; Cole; Coyle 1; Cummings; DeMuth; Denny; Devlin; Diller 1; Dodge; Dull; Eckhart; Eshleman 8; Evans 41; Fitzsimmons 1; Franklin 13; Galt 2; Gardiner 1; Gerhart 8; Gilgor; Halcomb 2; Hale; Hambright; Harris; Haughman 2; Haverstick; Heinitsh 1; Herman; Herr; Hildabrand; Holahan; Hoover; Hopkins; Hostetter; Hubley 1; Kamm; Keiffer; Keller 3; Kempf 3; Kinard; Kincaid; Krumbine; Landis; Lippencott; Lockhead 3; Lorcher; Lowell 2; Malone 19; Martin; Maurer 1; McCormick; McGovern 10; McGrann 9; Michael; Montgomery 3; Mullin 1; Musser 10; Newbold; Norton; Oblinger; Patterson; Pell 1; Potter 1; Radley 2; Ream 3; Reinoehl 7; Rengier 1; Reynolds; Rice 5; Scott; Shaeffer; Shenk; Shroeder 2; Shubert; Snyder; Souders 1; South; Stahr; Steigerwalt; Talbot; Taylor; Thompson; Trafford; Vanderwith; Vermond; Weber; Weidler; Wiley 2; Yundt
Box 1, Folder 2 Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney 1911-1912
1911
Alice’s dancing class is mentioned often in this diary. Bush spends time stripping tobacco. Many of the entries relate to Sara’s illness and family and friends response to it. Problems with domestic help are part of the situation.
January 23 Will Fordney is giving a lecture at the YWCA
January 31 Nellie is going to Pinehurst for two weeks
February 6 Will Fordney has taken a room in town
February 23 Sara is very ill – her side is paralyzed – the baby must be weaned – trained nurses are there
March 19 Alice shows Sara the waists she made for Frances Montgomery ( several entries mention Alice sewing)
April 15 Nellie and the children are spending Easter at the Franklins
April 17 Mary and the children came (they stayed until May 1 )
May 4 Sara’s 27th birthday
May 15 Mrs. Hager brought Sara out to visit in her automobile (she does this often as Sara improves)
June 19 Mary and the children came (they stayed until July 1 )
June 20 Nellie came (and stayed two days)
July 31 Alice went to Shamokin (she stayed until August 22nd)
August 2 Sara started treatment at the hospital
August 17 Mary’s birthday – 30 years old
August 28 Nellie and the children came from Bays Head (they stayed until September 8th)
September 21 Mary and the children came – they went to visit Nellie in Ardmore on the 27th
October 9 Mary and Alice went to a party at Charlie Demuth’s studio
October 13 the opening of the 5¢ Store
October 14 Mama’s 87th birthday – Mary and Little Mary went home
October 21 Alice and Celeste opened their dancing school
November 7 Clarence Malone was defeated for coroner
November 14 News from Nellie – Billy was promoted and the family will go to Chicago
November 30 Billy went to Chicago
December 3 Nellie and the children went home
December 9 Will Fordney here – Celeste paid Alice
Surnames mentioned in the 1911 diary:
Altes; Baker; Bare; Barr 2; Bidlack 4; Birney 5; Bohr; Boler; Boozer; Breneman Bitner 1; Brimmer; Brinton 1; Brown; Budding 6; Burrows; Calder 1; Cochran 7; Demuth; Diller; Dodge; Dunlap; Eberman; Eby; Eshleman 2; Evans 54; Fohl; Foultz; Franklin 20; Fritchie; German; Groff; Hager 18; Herr; Hess; Hopkins; Howell 1; Hubbard; Hubly; Jenkins; Kahler 2; Keller 2; Kepler; Kinard 1; Land; LeFevre 1; Locher 9; Long; Lowell; Malone 4; Matson; McConnell; McGovern 2; McVey; Miller 2; Montgomery 22; Morris; Musser 1; Nauman; O’Reilly; Perry; Raub; Raum 1; Ream 2; Reingier; Reinochl; Reynolds 4; Roland 4; Rose; Saul; Scarboro; Schroeder 2; Shirk; Shively 3; Skiles 4; Slaymaker; Smart 6; Smith 1; Sprecher 1; Stauffer; Stein; Steinman 1; Styer; Talbot; Taylor; Thiel; Thompson 3; Trout; Truit; Twombly 3; Ulman; Vermand; Wahl 1; Werne 1; Wickersham 1; Williamson 1; Wolf; Young 3; Youngman 5
Box 1, Folder 2
1912
Ida is having problems with her hearing. Alice is involved with her dancing school. Bush starts a business venture which doesn’t seem to be going well. Will Fordney is mentioned several times in relation to his moving from place to place.
January 30 Opening of the Colonial Theatre
March 26 Alice went to one of Charlie Demuth’s parties
April 10 First time Mama went to Sara’s since last fall
April 15 Sinking of the Titanic
April 30 Nellie moved to Chicago
June 2 The circus came to town
June 21 Nellie went to Cape May for the summer
September 22 Ida comments on not attending church because of hearing problems
September 23 Bush’s birthday
September 30 Charlie Demuth is leaving for Europe for a year
October 14 Grandma’s 88th birthday
October 19 Alice and Celeste Stauffer gave their first dancing class -” Mrs. Will Apple is giving lessons in opposition”
November 6 Woodrow Wilson is elected president
November 17 Ida is 58 years old – her birthday gifts are listed
November 22 Ida is surprised that Alice is dining at the Club with a group that includes Jews
November 26 Bush took his first business trip to Reading to sell sausage (later he goes to Harrisburg and Washington)
December 4 Bush to town to sell lard – but didn’t succeed very well – “he doesn’t like the business and I don’t blame him”
A list of Christmas gifts is included on page 434.
Surnames mentioned in the 1912 diary:
Appell 2; Attlee; Baker 2; Barlow 1; Barr 1; Bidlack 1; Birney 12; Boyd; Brazier; Brimmer; Brinton; Brown; Budding 4; Bunting; Burne; Burrows; Bursk; Cameron; Campbell 1; Carpenter; Cochrane 5; Cooper; Coyle; Cristy 1; Demuth 6; Detwiler 2; Diller 1; Dodge 3; Eshleman 1; Evans 60; Foltz; Franklin 24; Frantz; Gerhart; Good; Gordon; Greiner; Hager 4; Harris; Hassler; Haverstick; Heitshu; Herr; Hertzler; Hess; Hitchborn 2; Hopkins; Houseman; Hover; Howell 5; Hurford; Jenkins; Kelly; Lant 3; Lee; Lemoyne; Levin; Locher 13; Long 1; Malone 7; McCormick; McGovern; McGrann 21; McIlvaine 1; McVey 3; Montgomery 11; Musser 2; O’Reilly; Oblinger; Peacock; Pearsoll; Ream 5; Reinochl; Rengier; Reynolds 4; Roberts; Robertson; Rogers; Rohrer 2; Roland; Rose 15; Schroeder 13; Shively 2; Sides 1; Smart; Stackhouse; Stauffer; Steinman; Story; Thompson 15; Twombly 2; Ulman; Waterman; Watson; Werner; Wickersham; Williamson; Witmer; Zook
Box 1, Folder 3 Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney 1913-1914
1913
There is a lot of illness in the family this year. Walking and the use of trolley cars are and have been the most frequent types of transportation, travel by automobile and train are noted specifically and a taxi is mentioned for the first time. Mr. Fisher’s name is also mentioned for the first time.
February 6 Ida writes “Bush is so miserable he almost sets me crazy- sits around and won’t go to the doctor – I will never forget this winter – he worries me so – I think he has consumption – God forbid”
February 8 Tom and Ida go to town to sign a deed for some land they are selling
February 20 Ida went to Shamokin by train and stayed until the 27th
March 18 The King of Greece was killed
March 22 Sarah McIlvaine’s 4th birthday
May 3 Snyder’s house is on fire
May 4 Sara’s 29th birthday
May 6 Bush is farming 8 acres for Sam Brubaker
May 16 Buffalo Bill show is in town – a tornado tore down the tent
May 20 Circus is in town
June 5 The new Masonic Home is dedicated
June 10 Sara’s 5th wedding anniversary
June 16 Sara is tired and depressed – not well
June 17 Ethel Kauffman is going to Japan for 3 years
July 16 Mary and the children came by train (they stayed until August 9 )
August 16 Mary’s 32nd birthday
September 16 Grand opening of the stores – it was a gala night
September 18 Ida was disappointed not to see Grandma Cox at Sara’s
September 20 Ida went to Shamokin to visit Mary (she stayed until the 27th)
September 30 Opening day of the Fair
October 8 Nellie came for the day
October 14 Mama’s birthday 89 years old
October 20 The ice man stopped coming
October 24 Taxi mentioned for the first time
October 25 Bush went to get ice – water is too warm to drink
November 12 Town was crowded – Teachers” Institute
November 16 Mr. Bidlack was “up in arms” about Mr. Twombly’s sermon “Sweat Shops in Lancaster”
November 17 Ida’s 59th birthday – her presents are listed
November 21 Invitation to the Steinman Reception was recalled because Mary Malone was dying
December 20 Opening of the new Country Club
December 14 Billy Franklin (Nellie’s husband ) was in town and told Alice he had resigned his job
December 24 Will Fordney came from New York after 11 weeks- he is staying at the hotel
Surnames mentioned in the 1913 dairy:
Appell 5; Bare; Bidlack 2; Birney 3; Boyd 5; Brennan; Brimmer 3; Brinton; Brown 1; Brubaker; Budding; Calder 2; Carpenter; Carruthers; Cochran 5; Costello 1; Coyle; Crawford; Cristy; Cummings; Derr1; Detweiler; Diller; Dodge; Eshleman; Evans 49; Fisher 7; Franklin 19; Fritchey; Gantz; Groff; Hager; Hartman; Haverstick; Heimenz; Herr 2; Hertzler; Hill 1; Hitchborn 2; Howell 2; Hubly; Keiper; Kendig 4; Land; Landis; Lane; LeFevre 1; Locher 6; Malone 2; Maxwell 2; McCormick; McGovern; McGrann 25; McNaught; McVey; Montgomery 11; Mullen; Musselman; Musser 1; Nauman; Norton; Potter; Raub; Raun; Ream 3; Reinochl 1; Rengier 1; Reynolds 3; Rohrer 2; Roland; Rose 2; Schneider; Sener; Shively 5; Shroeder 8; Shulter; Smith 3; Snyder 1; Sprecher; Steinman 4; Thomson 2; Topper; Twombly; Ullman; von Oseko; Watt; Werner 1; Zimmerman
Box 1, Folder 3
1914
Will Fordney is mentioned many times as he moves from place to place. Bush begins ailing in March and stays home until October. Alice and Mr. Fisher go to many social events together. Then in September Wallace Fisher leaves town and Ida hopes he never comes back.
January 5 Ida starts her diary
January 16 Will Fordney is anxious to move out
January 19 Will Fordney comes back to the tenant house
January 23 Will Fordney has taken a house in Lititz – the tenant house is too cold
February 5 Alice has a dancing class – she makes $5.00 a night
February 20 Alice taught Miss Musselman’s dancing class in the evening
February 24 Alice went to give a private dancing lesson
March 12 Alice and Clarence Malone left for Shamokin on the train
March 22 Sarah McIlvaine is 5 years old
March 26 Bush is spreading manure on the old golf links – Ida will miss watching them playing golf
March 30 Summer school commenced
April 2 Alice is home from Shamokin
April 7 Will Fordney came for the summer – he was in New York for a week
April 11 Mary and the children came – they stayed until June 4th
May 26 Bush’s tobacco was delivered – he only got $24.00 for it
May 28 Ida went to Nellie’s (she stayed until June 4th)
June 1 Ida was in Philadelphia for the day
June 23 Sidney and Buell go to camp for the summer
July 2 Alice went to Shamokin (she returned on the 9th)
July 4 Nellie is in town for a week
July 16 Nellie and Sarah Franklin are at Cape May
August 8 Mary and the children came
August 19 Nothing in the papers these days but the war in Europe
August 22 Clarence is 6 years old today
August 23 Dr. Herr says Bush has auto intoxication
August 31 County schools opened
September 2 Mary went home
September 6 Nellie came
September 8 Nellie brought Sara, Little Sara and Mamma to visit in a taxi cab
September 11 Will Fordney is going to New York – too lonely in the tenant house
September 23 Bush’s 24th birthday
September 24 Wallace Fisher left town – Ida hopes he never comes back
September 27 A lot of people are looking at the Farmlyn lots
September 29 Sarah and Sidney start boarding school at St. Mary’s on the Hudson
September 30 Little Alice (daughter of Sara and George McIlvaine) is 4 years old
October 1 Bush went to the fair – first time out since he got sick
October 14 Mamma’s 90th birthday
October 20 Bush went to the club the first time since he was sick
October 30 Alice had a dancing class at Miss Musselman’s – only 5 were there
November 8 Sara and Little Sara came out to congratulate Papa Fordney on his 74th birthday
November 17 Ida’s 60th birthday – she lists presents
November 26 Will Fordney came to visit from New York
November 29 Will Fordney here all day – he has a room at the Stockyards
December 1 Opening of the Brunswick Hotel
December 5 Will Fordney went to his room at Haughton’s on Vine Street and Alice went to Ardmore for 3 days
December 13 Will Fordney says he is going to Florida after Christmas
Ida lists her Christmas presents.
There is no diary written in 1915. However, opposite the entries for December 27-29 in this diary, Ida writes:
March 10, 1915 Mamma fell and broke her hip – went to the hospital, was dazed and distressed – Dr. Atlee had a cast put on it and said he had little hope for her recovery
March 11 Mamma weak – Mr. Twombly came to the hospital to pray for her and she responded
March 18 Mamma died today at the General Hospital – she was born on October 14, 1824
Surnames mentioned in the 1914 diary:
Baker 1; Beall; Bidlack; Brimmer 2; Brinton; Brown; Brubaker 2; Calder 1; Cochran; Cooper; Coyle; Detwiler; Diller 1; Eshleman 1; Evans 33; Farmer 3; Fisher 37; Foltz 1; Franklin 11; Fritchie 3; Gardner; Geise 1; Gerner; Gillispie; Groff; Grubb 4; Hager; Harns 2; Heimentz 3; Hess; Hill; Hoover; Houchin; Howell 1; Hurford; Kauffman 1; Keiffer; Keller; LeFevre 3; Lewis 1; Locher 1; Loring; Malone 3; McCauley; McDevitt Muth; McGrann 5; McNaught; Montgomery 23; Musselman 1; Nauman; North 2; Norton 4; Raum; Ream 2; Reilly 2; Reinochl; Reist; Rengier 1; Reynolds 4; Rhodes; Rider; Roland; Rose; Schneider 3; Schroeder 1; Sener 2; Slaymaker; Smith 1; Steinman; Steinmetz 1; Stine; Talbot; Thomson 4; Twombly 4; Waterman
Box 1, Folder 4 Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney 1916, 1921
1916
A successful business venture is begun by Nellie which involves Ida and Alice knitting sweaters. Ida includes a list of sweaters knit by her in pages which precede the diary entries
January 7 Mary and the children came today (they stayed until the 12th)
January 15 Bush never goes away or takes any exercise
January 18 Will Fordney got back from New York
February 15 George McIlvaine was very sick again last night
February 29 Ida has been knitting sweaters using yarn sent by Nellie and returning them to Nellie She writes “too many orders now. I’m afraid I can’t do them fast enough”
March 24 Alice helped Celeste tonight – Buell was here – he is a beautiful dancer
April 13 Will Fordney is going to New York
April 29 Sara’s baby born was born this evening
May 5 Sara’s baby is to be called John Benjamin
May 15 Nellie writes that she has 30 people knitting for her now and 90 orders – everyone thinks she is wonderful
May 21 Billy Franklin (Nellie’s husband) came – Nellie’s business is flourishing – 40 people knitting for her and she is making $1,000.00 a month
June 15 Nellie and the children are at York Harbor, Maine for the summer
June 22 Mary and the children came today
August 15 Town is quarantined on account of infantile paralysis
August 17 Will Fordney here – tired of Rossmere
August 26 Mr. Gors our baker for 40 years is going out of business
September 5 Schools cannot open until the 29th because of infantile paralysis
September 16 Went to the new Hamilton Theater which opened this week – it was lovely
October 15 Nellie surprised us with a visit
October 26 Nellie has opened a sweater shop in Philadelphia -121 S. 17th street
November 3 Mary and Little Clarence came today
November 7 Election day – “I never saw anything like the crowd” writes Ida
November 14 Will Fordney came from New York
November 27 Ida went to Shamokin (she stayed until December 4th)
December 11 Mary came today
December 31 Ida writes that she will not keep a diary any more
Ida lists Christmas presents on page 381.
Surnames mentioned in the 1916 diary:
Appel; Attlee; Barr; Bidlack; Birney 1; Blackwood; Brimmer; Brown; Brubaker1; Bullocks; Burrows; Calder 1; Church; Dunn; Ebusman; Ermantrout; Espanshade; Evans 37; Fisher 1; Foltz 1; Franklin 4; Gall 1; Geahart 2; Gerner; Gilgore; Grissell; Grosh; Hager; Harns; Hartman 1; Hatch 2; Hatfield; Heimentz 1; Hertzler; Hess; Hill 3; Hostetter; Howell; Kauffman 2; Keller; Kepler; Kulp; Lane 1; LeFevre; Liphart 1; Lorcher 3; Malone 4; Maxwell; McCrea; McGrann; McHaffy 2; McNaught; Miller; Montgomery 1; Murphy; Nauman; Norton 1; Raub; Ream 7; Reilly; Reinochl; Rengier; Reynolds 7; Sauder; Schneider 2; Sener 2; Shissler; Slaymaker; Small; Sproul; Stauffer 2; Steinman; Steinmetz 1; Stine; Thomson 25; Twombly 3; Waterman; Weaver; Webb; West; Williamson; Yeats; Zimmerman
Box 1, Folder 4
1921
This is the first diary written since 1916. Alice is selling sweaters in Lancaster and Ida is still knitting for Nellie. Will Fordney is moving from place to place. Sara Fordney McIlvaine died the previous year.
January 1 Alice left on the train for Ardmore (she returned on the 4th)
January 4 Sarah is engaged to Dudley Riggs
January 13 Alice has her (sweater) sale at the Brunswick – she sold over &600.00 worth
January 18 Alice had a dancing class at Miss Mussleman’s
January 25 For the first time in ages I have no knitting from the sweater shop
January 26 I went to the movies this afternoon – the first time in Lancaster since Sara died
February 3 One year today since Sara died
February 4 Surprised when Mary walked in (she stayed until the 5th)
March 22 Nellie wrote telling of Sarah’s many presents
April 23 Alice and Ida went to Sarah’s wedding by train
May 8 Nellie, Buell, and Benny came
May 12 Ida was married 46 year ago today
May 20 Ida writes about the luxury of having a complete bathroom
May 30 Will Fordney is over at the tenant house
May 31 Ida cleans her room and will sleep over there for the first time this summer
June 15 Ida had a bad fall and hurt her hand
June 20 Nellie came and stayed over night
June 21 Will Fordney can’t stay in the tenant house because it is full of rats – he will go into town
July 3 Will Fordney doesn’t like it on Orange Street
July 9 Nellie goes to York Harbor, Maine
July 13 Mary and Clarence, Jr. came and stayed until August 2
July 18 Will Fordney is tired of life in town
August 2 Caruso the great tenor is dead
August 18 Alice got $75.00 on account from her legacy of $1,000.00 from Alice Potter
August 28 Will Fordney can hardly wait until he goes back to Atlantic City
September 19 Alice has so many orders for scarves and sweaters she is nearly crazy
September 23 Bush is 31 years old
October 20 Will Fordney is back from Atlantic City
November 7 There was a big Musser parade today
November 8 Tom was 81 years old today and walked to the stockyards to vote
November 11 Armistice Day – a big parade in town
November 17 Ida’s 67th birthday – she describes her presents
November 18 Will Fordney is 77 years old today
December 1 Will Fordney has moved again
December 3 Ida get a check from Billy (for her knitting)
December 18 Billy, Buell and Benny came – Nellie sent a big basket of fruit
December 22 At last Ida got a sweater to knit but she is afraid it is too hard
December 23 Alice got the balance from Alice Potter’s bequest
December 31 Ida went to Ardmore to visit Nellie
Surnames mentioned in the 1921 diary:
Atlee 1; Brown 3; Bare; Bausweat; Bowman; Barthol; Calder 8; Carter; Cochran 2; Coyle; Corsell; Drew; Duffy; Devlin 1; Evans 12; Espenshade 4; Eby 1; Eshleman 2; Ellmaker 2; Eisman; Franklin 7; Fisher; Gardiner 3; Gable; Gerhart; Gerwer 1; Hill; Hart; Harris 1; Hartman; Hertzler; Heimentz 1; Hopkins; Hoffman; Haverstick 4; Howell; Kohr 1; Kingsolver; Kepler 1; Keiffer; Locher; Long 1; Lefever 9; Landis; LeFevre 1; Mussleman; Musser 2; Malone 2; Martin Muhlenberg; McGrann 1; Miller; Maxwell 1; Maurer; Norton 3; North; Osgard; Potter 1; Plasterer 2; Ritter; Riggs; Roland; Reynolds 2; Rush; Reist; Scully; Stauffer 2; Spencer; Slaymaker 1; Shissler; Schneider 3; Stoudt; Steinment; Sprecher; Sides; Talbot; Twombly 3; Tatnall; Taylor; Wickersham; Wahl; Youngman; Sprouty 15 (This appears to be a nickname – it also appeared in several late 1916 entries. It probably refers to Leon Sprout.)
Box 1, Folder 5 Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney 1923-1924
1923
Ida did not write a diary in 1922. Sprouty is mentioned frequently. Nellie travels abroad. Mary gets a divorce. Will Fordney continues to move about.
January 2 Nellie sails for Europe on the Berenganian (no more entries until 20th)
January 20 Alice came home from Philadelphia and brought me this diary
February 19 The Berenganian arrived in New York in bad condition from frightful storms – Ida wonders how Nellie liked that
February 20 Ida writes “I feel so depressed these days – I am so lonely and being deaf no pleasure to go anywhere – I miss Sara more and more she was my only companion”
February 21 Tom and Arthur went for coal – we got a small amount at Heidelbaugh’s – people are having a terrible time to get coal
March 23 Mary got her divorce – Nellie wants to sell her home and Ida is astonished
March 29 Mary, young Mary and Clarence Jr. came this afternoon
April 8 Nellie and Billy stopped off at Mrs. Franklin’s they had a division of Mrs. Franklin’s jewelry, silver and china
April 9 Will Fordney arrived
April 12 Will Fordney went to Atlantic City to get his things
April 23 Will Fordney complaining about his boarding house
May 3 My money came from Nellie at last – thank goodness – a check for $29.00
May 17 Will Fordney was out
June 3 Nellie arrived with Sidney, Mary and Mary Malone
June 21 Sells Circus is in town
August 1 President Harding is very ill in California
August 3 Ida was sad to learn of the death of President Harding
August 5 Calvin Coolidge is now president
August 7 Nellie is going to New York – she will start a motor trip to Canada tomorrow
August 27 Rossmere School opened today
September 4 Alice went to Ardmore for a few days – Nellie is in New York The papers are filled with new about the terrible earthquake in Japan
September 6 Alice came home from Ardmore in Sprouty’s car
September 11 Alice got a lot of sweaters from the shop
September 17 Mary and Clarence left this morning – Mary for Notre Dame, Philadelphia and Clarence for New York on his way to Exeter Academy
October 6 Sousa’s Band was at the Gun Club today
October 13 Alice had a telephone put in today – “I wish I could hear” writes Ida
November 3 There was a big Republican Parade this evening
November 8 Tom is 83 years old today
November 17 Ida’s 69th birthday (lists presents)
December 1 Alice had her dancing class this evening – the older class was very unruly – she can’t keep order
December 25 Ida lists Christmas presents on pages 172-173
Surnames mentioned in the 1923 dairy:
Appell 1; Armstrong; Aumon; Bausman 1; Belther; Bergman; Bidlack; Bolton 1; Breneman 18; Broadhead; Brown 8; Brubaker; Byrns; Calder 13; Carter; Childs; Cochran; Cooper; Crane; Crawford; Cummings; Davidson; Dunn 1; Eberman; Eby 2; Eshleman 6; Espenshade; Evans 9; Farmer; Foltz 1; Fraim; Franklin (Riggs); Fritchy; Gable; Gantz; Gerwer; Gilgore; Groff; Grosh 1; Grubb; Hall; Heimenz 2; Hertzler; Hill; Hollinger 1; Hopkins; Howell 2; Kauffman 1; Keller 1; Kephart; Kepner 3; Kinard; Kohr; Landis; Landis 1; Lant; LeFevre; Leiphart 4; Lipp; Locher 2; Lowell; Lutz; Malone 7; Martin; Martzell; Plasterer 2; Maurer; Maxwell; McCarter; McFalls 1; McGrann 1; Metzger; Montgomery; Musser 2; Myers 1; Peifer; Reist; Reynolds 5; Riggs; Robertson; Robinson; Roland 1; Schneider 2; Scully 3; Sener; Shand; Slaymaker 1; Sprecher; Sprouty 26 ( may be Leon Sprout); Stauffer; Stauffer 1; Steinman; Stigman; Stockton 1; Straub; Tatnall; Thompson 1; Twombly 1; Von Grison; Wade 1; Whal 1; Wilson; Workman; Young; Youngman
Box 1, Folder 5
1924
Sprouty and Will Fordney are mentioned frequently. Bush and Tom are both ailing. Mary is living in New York with young Mary.
January 7 Clarence left for New York – Will Fordney showed up
January 11 Alice had a sale at the Brunswick
January 13 Tom showed me an article about a property sold in Sansom Street, he is one of the heirs
January 30 Nellie went to Palm Beach and Alice had her sale in Reading
February 3 President Wilson died today
February 16 Bush went to town with Tom (who couldn’t go alone) about the sale of a lot
February 20 Alice went to New York
March 22 Sarah McIlvaine is 15 today
April 22 Nellie and Sidney came
April 22 Will Fordney is going to Atlantic City
May 9 Ida went to New York to visit Mary
May 22 Ringling Brothers Circus is in town
May 25 Ida writes” Bush depresses me so I don’t care whether I live or die”
June 12 Ida writes “Bush adds to the gloom with his awful sickness – Tom sits in a chair all day and all evening – his age and failing eyesight excuse him”
June 17 Sarah and Alice McIlvaine came (they stayed until Saturday)
June 22 Clarence (Jr.) will spend the summer here
July 10 A terrible accident this afternoon, Clarence saw an airplane fall in Espenhade’s field
July 17 Will Fordney was out – likes his room at Hotel Lancaster
July 26 An airplane fell again today
August 15 Mary and Clarence go to Shamokin to visit their father
August 21 Will Fordney was out
August 22 Bush is kept busy pulling corn – can’t supply all orders they want so much at the Brunswick
August 29 The Prince of Wales arrived in New York
September 5 Sarah, Alice and Benny came
September 10 Nellie sailed today for France on the Paris
September 14 Sidney arrived with her 2 babies
September 24 Will Fordney out – he was mad, said “I’ll see you in ten years”
October 5 Ida went to church for the first time since early spring, complains of hearing loss
October 6 Bush cutting corn – complains worse than ever “I wonder if this cloud will ever lift from his brain” writes Ida
October 7 Will Fordney is ready for Atlantic City
October 23 Nellie is going from Paris to Italy for four weeks
November 1 Big Republican Parade in town tonight
November 14 Ida went to New York
November 19 Ida went to Brentano’s bookstore to see young Mary who has a job she likes there
November 21 Bush is worse than ever, sulky and morose
December 3 Bush stayed in bed – oh how he worries his father and me
December 25 Ida lists presents on page 159
December 29 John Gantz’s barn and tobacco shed burned down
Surnames mentioned in the 1924 diary:
Appel 3; Attlee; Baker 1; Barrymore; Baumgartner; Bausman; Blatchford; Breneman 15; Brown 3; Calder 24; Carroll; Cochran; Cummings; Darlington; Dietz; Dunn; Eberman; Eshleman; Espenshade; Evans 14; Fondersmith; Fulton; Gallivan; Gantz 1; Hanford; Gerver; Good; Goortman; Groff 2; Hartman; Haverstick; Hayes; Heimentz 1; Holdy; Holohan; Howell 1; Kauffman 2; Kepner 1; Kingsolver; Kolbach; Lefevre; Leibhart 3; Locher 5; Long; Malone 14; McFalls Musser 1; McGrann 1; McMurdy; Michel; Montgomery; Mullins 1; Myers; Nauman 1; Norton; Oliphant; Reilley (Bucher) 1; Reinochl 2; Reist 1; Reynolds 6; Rhodes; Robinson; Roland; Schroeder 1; Scully 1; Shively; Slaymaker 1; Sprecher 1; Sprouty 52 (may be Leon Sprout); Stauffer 1; Styer; Swarr 2; Talbot; Tompkins; Trisser; Twombly; Von Grison; Wade; Wahl 2; Walker; Waterman; Wickersham; Witmer 1; Yundt
Box 1, Folder 6 Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney 1925-1926
1925
Alice has a new business relating to rugs and antiques. Sprouty is in financial trouble.
January 5 Nellie is at Palm Beach opening a shop
January 8 Tom got his money from the Grimbers’ estate
January 9 Bush is much better – Ida hopes it lasts
January 25 Will Fordney was out – wants to move
January 31 Such a time we have of getting coal this winter
February 19 Will Fordney moves today
March 4 Ida complains of being so lonely
March 5 Nellie is coming home Saturday – her shop is a success
March 10 Alice had a scene in town with Uncle Will (Fordney)
March 16 Alice had a high school girls dancing class. Mr. Miesse got portraits from Ida to make copies for his book on Eichholtz
March 30 Poor Tom sits around all day and evening – it must be terrible not to be able to read- it is bad enough to be deaf
April 2 Tom sold a lot of his chickens
April 9 Bush is finished stripping tobacco. Looked for my check from Nellie but nothing
April 12 Easter – Mary telephoned from New York that she could not come-Ida lists Easter gifts
April 23 Tom sold a lot to someone
April 26 Nellie, Sidney and little Francis (Sidney’s son) came
April 28 Benny is 7 years old
May 12 Ida went to New York to visit Mary (returned on the 19th)
May 31 Alice home moping all day – Ida will be glad when she breaks up with Sprouty
June 23 Alice went to Nellie’s for 2 days
July 1 Will Fordney moved again
July 8 Ethel and Lee Kauffman arrived from Japan
July 27 Bryan the great politician was found dead in bed
July 28 Nellie came and gave Ida a check for $100.00
July 30 Clarence wrote telling about the wonderful party they gave him in Havana
August 4 Bush sold his first corn to the Brunswick today
August 10 Alice took her first driving lesson in her car
August 19 Mrs. Brinton was here about a knitted suit
August 23 Sprouty came – he has a boy from the New York slums
August 25 Alice and Katie went out to the rug place
September 3 We were shocked to hear the big Shenandoah was wrecked and 14 men were killed
September 12 Ida went to Ardmore for 2 days Nellie and Billy not there – visited Sidney and Buell – went to Philadelphia
September 18 Clarence (Jr.) went to Shamokin, then will return and go to Exeter
September 23 a postcard from Nellie in Italy
October 6 Ida went with Alice to Manheim and Mastersonville about rugs -Ida had to wait 2 hours
October 7 Ida suffers with pain in her legs
October 8 Sprouty is in trouble with the banks
October 11 Sprouty is in great trouble- has to sell his fine car
October 15 Alice went to Gap in her car for a rug
October 18 Sprouty was out – came in the street car
October 12 Alice was out in her car about rugs – the telephone rings all day about it- she had an advertisement in the paper
November 11 Sprouty is not with Graybill any more – is in business for himself
November 16 Ida went to New York
November 22 Ida visited the girls at St. John the Baptist School – then had dinner at the Alabama Club where colored girls danced with bare legs and little clothing – Ida was ashamed to look at them
December 9 Ida can’t believe Christmas is so near – she never gets to town to shop
December 10 Will Fordney came -has Elizabethtown Home in mind
November 11 Ida did a lot of Christmas shopping
December 15 Alice went to the country for rugs
December 23 Alice went to New Holland for stools
December 25 Ida lists presents on back of page 385
Surnames mentioned is the 1925 diary:
Appel 1; Atlee; Bare; Bausman; Bidlack 1; Blochford; Breneman 13; Brinton; Brown 1; Bullock 1; Calder 15; Colpett; Devlin 10; Dodge; Eby; Eichelberger; Erhart; Eshleman 5; Evans 9; Franklin 4; Gerver 2; Girvin 2; Grubb; Hall; Haverstick; Hays 6; Heimenz 2; Herbank; Herman; Herr; Hess; Hollinger; Hopkins; Hopkins; Hostetter; Howell; Kauffman 1; Keller; Kelly; Kemph 1; Kepner 1; Kremer; Lefever; Leiphart 1; Locher 10; Malone 6; Martin; McGrann 4; McMundy; Meisse; Musser; Myers; Nevin; Norton 1; Plasterer 5; Reist; Reynolds 2; Robinson 2; Ruhl; Schroder 3; Sener 1; Shively; Simpson; Singleton; Slaymaker; Sprouty 54 (may be Leon Sprout); Stauffer 5; Stein 1; Steinman 1; Steinmetz; Von Geison; Wahl; Watt; Weaver
Box 1, Folder 6
1926
Alice continues her rug and antique business and gets orders from New York. Ida gets a hearing device and a radio. She begins some home renovation. Getting coal continues to be a problem.
January 5 Alice and Mary Malone went to the country for rugs and then to the new Capital Theatre
January 11 Ida wishes they could get decent coal – no end in sight for the coal strike
January 29 Nellie went to Palm Beach
February 1 Postmaster Whitson found short in his accounts at the post office
February 3 Mary Ellen Hager died in Bermuda where she had a Tea Room
February 24 Ida took 2 checks to the bank for Alice -they were from John Howe
February 25 Got a ton of the soft coal -Ida dreads using it
March 3 Got a ton of anthracite coal for $11.25
March 4 Celeste Stauffer came with Mrs. Frank Eshleman and 2 women from Sterling, Illinois about rugs – they bought a lot
March 9 Sprouty’s birthday
March 15 Nellie talked over the phone to Alice – Is very anxious for her to get knitters in Lancaster- Alice is too busy with hooked rugs
March 18 Nellie’s chauffer wrecked Buell’s car and is in jail
March 24 Alice went to the country – she is worried about rugs – John Howe says they are not selling as well now
March 30 Ida writes “I have given up on Buell’s wedding as I am not “sufficiently urged. I will never forget the slight”
April 10 Mary called from New York – a big order for nursery rugs from Franklin – Simon
April 30 Tom is very ill
May 6 Nellie called to ask for her father – she must postpone her visit because of business in Bar Harbor
May 7 Tom has improved
May 11 Will Fordney out, Ida writes “he bores me to death”
May 14 There was a big fire in town tonight – Watt and Shand very much damaged by smoke and water – Dixon’s barn next door burned down
May 15 the circus was in town
May 25 Alice had a busy day with Mrs. Allen from Nellie’s shop
May 26 Alice and Celeste went to a sale at Lebanon – Alice sold rugs at a good price
May 27 Mr. Jack Steinman was out this morning for quilts
May 31 The Sesquicentennial opened in Philadelphia
June 10 Ida is waiting for a check from Billy – it worries her to have to write for it
June 12 Alice and Mrs. Steinman went to a sale for patchwork quilts
June 14 Ida went to Nellie’s at Ardmore – saw Buell and his wife
June 16 Ida and Nellie went to New York – Ida got a “Little Gem” earphone
June 28 Clarence graduated from Exeter
June 29 Buell and his wife Eleanor came and brought a radio
July 17 Alice went to Manheim – the rug business is dull-John Howe can’t sell many Ida writes “I don’t know what she’ll do if she fails”
August 9 The Brunswick sent out for 25 dozen ears of corn
August 12 Bush took 12 dozen ears of corn to the Elks
September 26 Nellie came for the girandoles which Ida decided to sell – her heart went with them – she wishes Mama knew – she got $1,000.00 – a good price
September 27 Clarence starts Princeton
September 28 I will cost $550.00 to fix up the house – Ida will use some of the girandoles money
October 21 Mrs. From Yeates came with some men and took pictures of rugs and antiques
November 7 Nellie came in honor of Tom’s birthday – Will Fordney was nasty to her
November 9 Ida is tired of painters and paperhangers – she wants to be alone
November 16 Ida went to New York (she stayed 4 days)
November 22 Ida writes “Billy Franklin hasn’t sent my November 1st check-I wrote twice”
November 24 Alice and Ida went to the movie “The Big Parade” Ida writes “it made me think of what Bush went through in the war”December 9 Poor Uncle Will (Fordney) is in a bad way they will take him to Elizabethtown
December 22 Uncle Will died
December 25 Nellie sent Ida a lovely fur coat – other presents listed page 269
December 27 Alice, Bush and Ida go to Uncle Will’s funeral – Tom is not able to go
Surnames listed in the 1926 diary:
Appel; Armstrong; Atlee; Baird; Bergman; Birney; Breneman 1; Brown 1; Brubaker; Calder 13; Carter; Clark 1; Deitz; Devlin 16; Duffy; Eiserman; Eshleman 7; Evans 13; Fagley 1; Farmer; Fraly; Frazer; Gantz; Gerver; Girvin 9; Goodman; Green; Gregg; Grey; Groff 2; Hartman; Haverstick; Heimenz 7; Hess; Hopkins; Hostetter 1; Houser; Howell; Jenkins; Keiper Kauffman 2; Keller 1; Lorcher; Lorenz 1; Malone 12; McGrann 1; McLaughlin; McMurdy; Moyer; Moyer; Patterson; Plasterer 8; Raezer; Reist; Reynolds 5; Riddle; Riggs 1; Robertson; Robinson; Schneider 1; Seiple; Shaeffer; Shirk; Snavely; Souders; Sprouty 27 (may be Leon Sprout); Stauffer 7; Steinman 2; Steinmetz; Twombly 4; Wahl 3; Wetherwill; Wickersham; Witson; Zimmerman
Box 2
Folder 7 Diaries of Ida Mary Cox Fordney 1927
1927
Bush is ailing most of the year. Tom falls and breaks his hip and is hospitalized from August to December. Alice’s rug, antiques and knitting businesses continue. This is the last known diary written by Ida.
January 1 Nellie and Elizabeth Steinman sail for Paris
January 6 Ida writes “I suffer the isolation of the deaf but if only I am spared my eyesight I am content”
January 8 Bush is ailing
January 17 A woman from New York came to see Alice about her rugs
January 17 Governor Fisher was inaugurated in Harrisburg
January 19 A man from New Jersey and a man from Hager’s came to see Alice about rugs
January 25 The McCowan Brothers failed so Sprouty is out of a job
February 13 Sprouty came for the first time in 4 weeks and Ida wishes he would stay away
February 18 Redman Cunningham told Ida her girandoles were worth more than $1,000.00
March 19 Ida knows bush is not sick but must be possessed of an evil spirit
April 9 Alice and Celeste went to a sale – Ida thinks they are “cranks” about it
April 24 Nellie gave Ida a $50.00 bill
April 28 Ida would put Bush in a sanitarium if she had the money
May 18 Ida went to New York to visit Mary
May 20 There was a big meeting of steel men in New York
May 22 Everyone is excited about Lindberg
May 24 Ida had trouble changing trains on the way home
June 8 Alice had a 2 day sale of children’s clothes in York and didn’t sell anything
June 13 Alice sold 2 knitted suits for $65.00 each
June 18 Alice and Sprouty drove to New York…there was a Flying Circus at a field on the Oregon Pike
July 9 Quite a number of people looking at knitted suits
July 26 Bush is better but he never goes away – Nellie is in Bar harbor
August 16 Tom had a fall
August 18 Tom was taken to the hospital by ambulance- found to have a broken hip – he must stay in the hospital
August 21 Nellie came and ordered private nurses for Tom
September 1 Tom likes flowers in his room – Bush visits him
September 30 Bush won’t go to see his father
October 6 A number of people came to look at Alice’s suits
October 12 Alberta Evans came with people from New York to look at suits
November 5 Bush shot his first rabbit today
November 6 Tom (Jr.) would be 50 years old today
November 8 Tom was 87 years old
November 20 Nellie, Sidney and her little boy came – Nellie has a new Packard “the loveliest one” Ida has ever seen
November 21 Ida worries about taking care of Tom when he comes home
December 5 Doctor Farmer wanted to send Tom home – he was furious – wanted to stay in the hospital
December 8 Tom came home with a nurse – he is helpless
December 9 A nurse will come 3 times a week to give Tom general care
December 14 Nellie sent Ida a check for $100.00
December 23 Ida hurt her knee while town shopping
Ida lists Christmas presents on page 361.
Surnames mentioned in the 1927 diary:
Appel 2; Armstrong; Atlee; Baker 4; Bare; Bauman 1; Blickenderfer; Brinton 1; Brown 1; Brubaker 3; Calder 10; Cavanaugh 8; Champney; Child 2; Clark; Cleaver; Darlington; Davidson; Decker; Devlin 2; Dodge 2; Duffy; Eshleman 3; Espenshade; Evans 19; Farmer 3; Franklin 2; Freeman 2; Gerver 2; Girvin; Goddell; Grammar; Green; Gunzenhauser 1; Hager; Harding; Hartman 1; Hassler; Haverstick; Hays; Heimenz; Herford; Hess; Hollinger; Hostetter; Howell 1; Jenkins; Kamm; Kauffman 2; Kirkofer 1; LeFevre; Leiphart 1; Long; Lorcher 3; Lorenz; Malone 9; Mauer; Maxwell 1; McGrann 4; Mettfett; Miller; Moss; Moyer 1; Musser 2; North; Norton 1; Oliphant; Percy; Plasterer 10; Rann; Reilly; Reist; Reynolds 2; Rhodes; Rhul; Roberts 1; Rohrer; Roland; Schneider; Schroeder 1; Scully 5; Seiple 1; Sener 2; Sides 1; Slaymaker 1; Smith; Snyder; Sprouty 52 (may be Leon Sprout); Stauffer 2; Steinman 1; Taylor; Trener; Twombly 3; Von Gieson; Wahl; Watt; Weaver; Witmer 2
Box 2
Diaries of Alice Potter Fordney, 1914 and 1924
Each diary entry begins with a description of the weather. Other entries include social events, performances including movies, household activities, church events, golf matches, dancing school, country club events, transportation and local and out-of-town visits from and to family and friends.
Below the date of each diary is a brief description of the most significant events which are included in the diary.
Following the list of selected diary entries is a list of surnames found in each diary. The number after the name reflects how many additional times the name was mentioned. There has been no effort to guess surnames when only the given name is mentioned.
Box 2, Folder 8 Diaries of Alice Potter Fordney 1914 and 1924
1914
Grandma is ill during the year and Alice often visits her. Mama is mentioned about a dozen times and Bush only once. When Alice goes anywhere by automobile she mentions it. Cousin Mary is noted frequently and Mary visits her often. Alice often dines out with friends and goes dancing, to the movies and the country club and most diary entries are about these activities. After dating Wallace Fisher for months he leaves town.
January 5 Mary and the family left
January 8 Helped Carmelita with a dancing class at the Breneman Building
January 15 Went to dancing class tonight
January 31 Alice was sewing a blue silk waist all afternoon
February 20 Had Carmelita’s dancing class at the Mussleman’s room – made $2.50
February 24 Went to Welchen’s to give them a dancing lesson
March 1 Alice went to Grandma’s for dinner
March 12 Alice went to Shamokin (she stayed until April 2)
April 4 Went to see Grandma
April 11 Mary and the children came
May 1 Went to the club for a golf and tennis meeting
May 4 Was home sewing a black waist for Mrs. Wright
May 7 Played golf at the club – was awfully tired
May 9 Made a flower bed
May 19 Grandma is sick – played tennis at the club
June 3 Alice is busy keeping house because Ida is in Ardmore
June 8 Went to see Grandma – she is unstable
June14 Went to Morristown (she stayed until the 17th)
June 17 Went to New York with Mrs. White
June 21 Wallace sent Alice beautiful American Beauty roses for her 27th birthday
July 2 Went to Shamokin on the train (she stayed until the 9th)
July 13 Grandma had a weak spell – Alice went to see her
July 22 Janet took me to Philadelphia in the automobile
August 8 Mary and the children arrived and stayed until September 2nd
August 24 Alice gave Miss Reilly a dancing lesson (also on the 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th and 31st)
September 4 Alice called Wallace and had a fight with him
September 5 Alice has the blues – she sent Wallace (Fisher) a note telling him she never wanted to see him again
September 22 Wallace came to see Alice in the trolley car and told her he was leaving town soon
September 24 Wallace left for the West
December 5 Alice went to Ardmore for 2 days
December 7 Alice came home in a snowstorm – Went to a second dance with Mr. Houslim – Wallace was there and they danced 2 dances
December 12 Alice had a letter from Wallace from Bloomsburg
December 24 Went to the community Christmas Tree with Mama
December 25 Nellie and the children were here
December 30 Mary and the children came
Surnames mentioned in the 1914 diary:
Allen; Birney; Brimmer; Briton 1; Brunner; Budding; Campbell; Eshleman 1; Evans 1; Fisher 20; Foltz 1; Franklin; Fritchy 9; Gillespie; Gliss; Grubb 4; Hager; Harvey; Heimenz 5; Hensel; Herr; Houscomb; Houslim; Keifer 1; Lesley; Longborough; Lorcher; McCormick; McGrann 3; Rehn (Ream) 4; Reist; Rhodes 1; Reilly 6; Schroeder 1; Sener; Sevens; Shanley; Smith 5; Souder 4; Steinman 1; Stuart; Talbot; Thompson 3; Truxal; Welchen; White 4; Wickersham; Wright
Box 2, Folder 8
1924
Alice is involved with her knitting and rug businesses and dancing classes. Sprouty (probably Leon Sprout) seems to be her main companion.
January 1 Clarence, Jr. came today – he is stripping tobacco with Bush
January 2 Went to Alma Sprecher’s to give her a dancing lesson
January 7 Clarence left for New York – Alice called Nellie about a sale she was having
January 8 Alice was going to knit a chaise lounge cover for Mrs. Goodman who ordered 2 knitted suits for her little boy
January 11 Alice unpacked things for the sale at the Brunswick
January 12 Not as many people at the sale as expected but sold about $500.00 worth
January 19 Alice was pleased with the younger children in her dancing class
January 20 Nellie, Sidney, Benny and Francis came for dinner
January 25 Alice and Mama went to Sam Evans funeral
January 30 Alice sold only 2 suits in Reading – most people were out of town
February 1 Five people came to look at suits – two of them bought one suit each
February 13 Wallace Fisher called Alice and she didn’t know his voice
February 20 Alice went to New York by train (she stayed until the 28th)
March 28 Bush and Alice are busy cleaning the garret and painting
April 2 Alice was painting furniture in the garret
April 5 Alice had a masquerade party at the Iris Club for her dancing class and was pleased that so many parents came to look on
June 20 Sprouty took Alice, Sarah and Alice McIlvaine to Gettysburg
June 21 Alice’s birthday
June 30 Sprouty took Alice for rugs
July 10 An airplane crashed in Esbenshade’s field and four men were killed
July 11 Sprouty took Alice for rugs, she bought 5 at one place and 2 at another place
July 12 Alice went shopping and bought 3 summer dresses
July 12th is the final entry in this dairy.
Surnames mentioned in the 1924 diary:
Bausman; Botticher; Calder 7; Evans 2l Geiter; Hartman; Lorcher; Musser; Reinochl; Shreve; Sprecher; Sprouty (probably Leon Sprout); Steinman 1; Talbot; Wannamaker; Weed; Welker 28