Bennett Luther Dean
Personal Journal, 1918

February 1918

Friday February 1     Bitter, Bitter cold, down to 5° below and scarcly got up to zero all the forenoon. I got fearfully cold and one of my feet I thought would freeze. I stomped and ran and did every thing but it would not warm up untill I got into a house and got warm. I was so in hopes February would bring warmer weather. Since about the first of Dec. the thermometer has kept pretty well acquainted with zero. January was simply fierce day after day it was bitter cold the only thing to do was to pile on all the clothes you could then my hands and face would just hurt. Ant the coal situation is most acute and in thousands of cases perfectly desperate. I have been very lucky in getting coal but it is all poor quality soft coal at $10 a ton.

Saturday February 2     Bitter cold, from 2° below up to zero in the forenoon but it came up rapidly in the afternoon to 23°. The weather man said a thaw was due Sunday. I wish and hope he is right because I am tired of the long spell of cold weather and this is ground hog day and he saw his shadow all day long so I suppose that means six weeks more cold weather . I of course do not believe in such stuff but I guess I would rather he would not see his shadow.

Sunday February 3     Warmer, thermometer about 20°. We got up about 8, the house was rather cold we have some mighty poor coal and any other year I would not buy such coal but now we have [to] beg the coal men to sell us even such coal as that. Howard, Laurence & Louise went to Sunday School. Bennett has a hard cold and begged off. Anna is having a fearful time with sore feet she must have chilled them on the cold floor of the kitchen. There is no wall foundation under that part of the house so the floors are cold. In the afternoon Louise, Laurence and I went up to Uncle Geos to call on him. It is his birthday but he had a house full of his wifes relatives so we came home and Anna and June went over to call on the Harts.

Monday February 4     Bitter cold again, coldest 7° below at 8 (A.M). oclock. Our coldest hours are along 6-7-8 oclock and up to 12 noon had not got above zero. It is just terrible and it causes so much suffering with coal so scarce some cannot get any at all how they manage to keep from freezing I do not see. I went to Talbots coal yard today to see if I could get any coal, I am nearly out and they said they could not get me any now but they thought by Wednesday they would have some so that is the way people have to do [it], you just have to beg a coal dealer and pay a big price. Soft coal is about $9 a ton, hard coal $10.50 and you have to take anything they have from worthless slack to hard coal. The children have all gone to bed. Our upstairs is just like the north pole we undress in the bath room which is very comfortable at night but in the morning it is usually rather chilly. Anna is asleep in her chair and the radiators are sissing just fine. Our last ton of coal we got is not very good quality and when we get so fine a fire as we have tonight it seems a treat. Outside the thermometer is just about zero. It has been just a little above and down to &° below and there is no comfort to be had when it [is] as cold as that. There is about 10 inches of snow on the ground and has been since that terrible storm we had on the 12 of January. Automobiles get stuck or stalled time after time, they dont seem to go very well through this snow. There [is] just a track through the street, if they get outside the tracks they most always get stalled.

Tuesday February 5     16° below but not so bad a day as the 12 of Jan. when it was 16° below and the wind blowing like a h huricane and the snow drifting and flying, one could not stand that long at a time. Today it was bright and still but a fearful cold day at [that]. We do not see such cold days that very often in this country.

Wednesday February 6-Thursday February 7     [No entry]

Friday February 8     Anna and a part of the kids got ready to go to the picture show over on 14th but it began to rain and it just poured so they gave up going. The weather man says the back bone of winter is broken. I hope so but Feb. is yet to get gone and we usually get some fearfully cold weather in February.

Saturday February 9     Rained last night just poured and today it was so slipper one could hardly navigate and I fell down once or twice. I went to a meeting of the Carriers, they installed officers and had a hot dog lunch and two or 3 entertainers.

Sunday February 10     Beautiful day, warm and bright. The children went to Sunday School. Belle Hardenberg and Roy and his wife and kid and Elmer came and made us a call in their Auto but Autos find hard going on the slippery streets.

Monday February 11     A beautiful day over head bright and warm the thermometer up about 40° but there is lots of ice and snow on the ground to get rid of it make slippery walking and fierce traveling in the streets.

Tuesday February 12     Lincolns birthday but no holiday. Rain all day, a miserable drizzle rain and it makes the streets almost impassable there was so much snow and ice in the streets that it will take some time to get it off. The thermometer up about 40°, not very cold and the streets running rivers. I cut Laurences hair this evening.

Wednesday February 13     And today it was beautiful again, thermometer up near 40° and the sun shinning bright and warm. Every day counts on spring now of course there is lots of ice in the streets and sidewalks, it is running rivers and it will soon be gone. The schools are closed all this week and part of last week on account of coal shortage and the children all home. Anna, Bennett & Laurence and I went to the picture show over on 14th near McGraw, it was called the Whip and was pretty good and the Theater was crowded. Howard stayed with Louise & June.

Thursday February 14     Another warm pleasant day. If the snow and ice were all gone it would be like spring, it was up nearly to 50° above today. But this evening there was a sudden wind and a clap of thunder and for a few minutes it blew and rained fiercely. The children are all in bed and Anna is taking a bath [it] is so warm. The coal man brought us a ton of coal today and we were all out and he came just in time. He brought Virginia nut, we are having all kinds this winter.

Friday February 15     Well our warm spell turned up cold this morning, the thermometer was about 20° above, a regular March day windy, snowy and blustery. June has had a fearful cold and she was so miserable that we almost sent for the Doctor and she has had some kind of a sore around a corner of her mouth that spread clear down on her chin and nothing that we knew that seemed to help it any. Finally Anna tried boracic acid in the powder form and that seemed to stop it, always something doing in a large family.

Saturday February 16     Cold and snow and blow, the thermometer said 12 to 16°, did not warm up much. And it snowed quite a covering in the evening. I went with Howard after supper down town to Birds and he bought a pair of long pants for every day wear $3.50. We looked in the windows for a while but it was too cold to stay long so we bought a pound of salted Pea Nuts and caught a Trumbull Car for home. This is Ednas birthday.

Sunday February 17     A little warmer and bright about 16° above and up to 24°. The children went to Sunday School. Elmer Hardenberg came up to get Howard, Bennett & Laurence and give them a ride in his auto. Sidney Turner and Edward Hulburt was with him, they went to Highland Park to get Donald Burns but he was not at home. And Frank Weir who lives next door is a Canadian soldier now and he came in to show us his uniform and equipment. It is now 10:30 P.M. and the kids are all in bed, Anna and I are still holding the fort. We do not heat the upstairs except the bath room and we dread the getting to bed when it is so cold.

Monday February 18     The thermometer is back to where it has been so much about 12°, but it warmed up so it by the afternoon it was quite warm.

Tuesday February 19     When I awoke this morning I heard the rain coming down in torrents and I hated to get up and get out into it. But by the time I had to go to work it was not so bad and although I carried an umbrella all day it did not rain enough so I never had it up. But this evening it is pouring again. There is still considerable snow and ice on the streets and walks it is going pretty fast today.

Wednesday February 20     Last night it was warm and raining floods, the streets were rivers and this morning the thermometer had taken a drop to about 7° above and it was [a] bitter cold day. Mr. & Mrs. Will Ambler of Northville called this evening.

Thursday February 21     Two below, a fine bright day but so cold there was no comfort. My how everybody speaks of the long hard winter and I am so tired [of] shivering that I can hardly wait for spring. And with the shortage of coal and sugar and the trouble of getting coal 1 ton at a time if you are so fortunate as to get any at all, which lots of people have to go with out for several days before they can get it and sugar the same way only a pound at a time and the stores do not have any at all. Ann, Bennett, Laurence and I went to a picture show over on 14.

Friday February 22     Geo. Washingtons birthday and we worked in the forenoon but not in the afternoon. The weather was not so bad today about 20° above but a cold wind made it disagreeable. Anna went to call on the Harts this evening. Myrtie Blair Bently, Aunt Cornelias daughter of Chicago died quite suddenly last Saturday. Aunt Cornelia is in Chicago for the funeral. Very sad for Aunt Cornelia Blair, she was her only child. The clock just struck 10 P.M., Anna is trying to read but goes to sleep over it. Howard is reading a storie but he ought to be in bed, he went to a show tonight to pay himself back for staying at home last night with Louise & June while we went. The rest of the kids are all in bed. So I must fix the furnace and go to bed. The weather is quite mild tonight between 20 & 30° above.

Saturday February 23     This has been one grand and glorious day, warm enough to work without gloves on or ear flaps, bright and fine. Temperature up nearly to 50°. This evening Anna took Laurence to see Dr. Northrop over on 14th about 2 or more months ago he hurt his shin and it would not heal up and another sore came near it and neither one would heal up and just a day or so ago his toes on one foot "not the sore" one began to swell and pain him so we thought we better see a Dr. and then too he has bearful head aches and sick to his stomach about once a week. So Anna consulted the Dr. on all his ailments. The Dr. thought the sores on his leg was serious and he cauterized the wounds and said he wanted to see them again. The swelled toes he thought he must of frosted them and he said to paint them with Iodine and his head aches he thought might be his eyes and he said we ought to have his eyes examined. So much for so much, he charged $1.50 and the prescription another $1.00.

Sunday February 24     Warm beautiful day. Anna & Howard went to Northville to see Grandma Clarkson. Bennett & Louise went to Sunday School. Laurence, June and I stayed at home. Laurence did not want to go to Sunday School because his toes hurt.

Monday February 25     Warm but rained all the afternoon and for a while about 5 oclock we had a terrific down pour. And now at 9 P.M. it is blowing, raining and seems to be getting colder.

Tuesday February 26     Cold morning but a clear fine day and got warmer. Home to dinner for the first time this winter. I came on the car, my bicycle has been standing in the basement at the office all winter and the spokes are so lose that I couldnt ride it. I went to Talbots Coal Co. but they did not have what I wanted.

Wednesday February 27     Beautiful warm day, between 30 and 40° today. I went to Harrison, cor. 14th & Merrick, and I got a tone of hard coal with out any begging or that is I ordered it and they said they would send it tomorrow. I guess the coal situation is getting better all though a good many yards have not hot any at all. The stores and business places are allowed to run full hours now. There are things like extravagant electric light signs and displays. I found a tiny pocket book with a quarter and two dimes, the new series kind.

Thursday February 28     The last day of February. Rain, snow, slush, fearful hard walking, not very cold. We had 1 ton hard coal put in today.

April 1918

Monday April 1 - Saturday April 6      [No entry]

Sunday April 7     Fine day, warm and pleasant. Not much doing, the children except Howard went to Sunday School. Anna went over to the Harts with the girls and she went with Inez to Church.

Monday April 8     Turning cold today. Anna washed and nearly froze her fingers off hanging out the clothes.

Tuesday April 9     Whew but it was cold today, I nearly froze . The thermometer was about 20° but there was a beastly wind that just went right through you. A boy by the name of Smith lives up the street and is one of the children playmates died yesterday. Anna took the kids up to see him this afternoon. He was sick only a few days and he was so bad they took him to the hospital and he died there. He had meningitis. And another man next door the nephew of Mrs. Swanson died a few days ago and his funeral was this afternoon.

Wednesday April 10     My it is still so cold and windy one just about freezes, it is down about 20° above. Anna went to the picture show this afternoon so she could take Aunt Dill, she wanted to see the picture because Inez was in them. The pictures were taken of the school and teachers. Anna took June and Laurence & Louise walked while Anna and Aunt Dill took the Car. And there was an awful crowd and they had to stand in line so long and Anna had to hold June up so long that she came home pretty well done up.

Thursday April 11     Nasty, disagreeable day. This morning the ground was covered with wet slushy snow and a misty rain made it very disagreeable walking. Anna is nearly sick from her picture show yesterday. Bennett brought a boy scout suit home tonight to try on, he was to buy it from a boy scout but he did not want it any more and Bennett was to have it for $2.75 but when he put it on his hands and wrists stuck out of the sleeves a mile. And the hat would just set on the peak of his head. And he was so disappointed he wanted it so bad so he could join the boy scouts that he began to cry, we were all laughing at him but we had him cheered up in a little while. And after supper he and Roy Kiefer went to a picture show. Bennett said if he could'nt have the boy scout suit he would go to a show anyway. Louise went over to Aunt Dills to take some borrowed magazines after supper. She stayed so late we were worried it was about dark and when she did come there was a girl chasing her. There always some thing to keep the pot boiling. I cut Laurences hair and Howard went out with the rest of this class to see some gardens. He is all farm and cadets at the school. He expects to go on a farm for the summer beginning the first of May. He belongs to the Cadets back to the farm movement.

Friday April 12 - Sunday April 14     [No entry]

Monday April 15     Beautiful day. But I do not [feel] very well today and at supper I was taken with a chill and I soaked my feet in Mustard Hot water and went to bed shivering.

Tuesday April 16 - Friday April 19     [No entry]

Saturday April 20     Rather chilly. I have been sick all the week since Monday. Today I dressed and went down town to help [Howard] collect a few things he wanted to get to take with him when he goes on a farm to work as a boys working reserve.

Sunday April 21     Raining early this morning. Anna went over to the Harts to offer assistance to them as Uncle Henry is very sick and about helpless. I am getting well so slowly that I am discouraged. I have a cough that racks me all to pieces and I cough up phlem all the while.

Monday April 22     I thought I would go to work today and I did get up and get ready but it was raining a cold miserable rain so I decided I would wait another day. I am using my vacation and I wont have only 6 or 7 days left. And then the sun came out and it proved to be a fine day. So I went to Plymouth to see Mother and I took June with me, we had a good visit and came home.

Tuesday April 23     Fair day. I went back to work today and got through the day and came home pretty tired at night. My if a body was only permitted to rest even when they were sick but they human being never stops if he can help it the wheel must be kept moving.

Wednesday April 24     [No entry]

Thursday April 25     Anna offered at a meeting at the Goldberg school to take a block of houses and call on each one and urge and explain the object of getting the women to register so today she is doing that right around here. And June went tagging after going to each door with her Mother and June at last thought it great fun but Anna got pretty tired and nervous, most people were nice but once in a while one would be mean and snappy.

Friday April 26 - Saturday April 27     [No entry]

Sunday April 28     Rain, not very cold, the thermometer up to 60° Bennett did not go to Sunday School. Laurence and Louise went after Laurence had made a fuss. Howard has not been for two or 3 Sundays, he says he does not have any teacher and what is the use but I guess if it was a picture show he would not say anything about not having this or that thing. 3 Trumbull Presbyterian people called on us to get us to give some thing, I think it was to raise the debt on the new church house. Tine McKay was one of them but we did not give anything there is so much to subscribe for that we are kept so poor that we do not see how we [could have] kept the expenses up. We have purchased 3 bonds, one One hundred and two $50.00. The children buy thrift stamps and every day almost the school just about orders the children to buy something or do some stunt or other.

Monday April 29     Rain, hard shower about noon. Anna went down town to get a dress and nurse apron for her mother. Then she went over to the Goldberg school and registered, it was expected that every woman in the U.S. would register.

Tuesday April 30     Cold, damp miserable day. And our coal is all gone and we were hoping we would not have to buy any more this season. I managed to get a little fire in the evening by sifting ashes and using paper and a few sticks. The coal dealers are nearly as bad as last winter, they will not sell only 1 ton to a customer but will not sell enough to fill the bin for next winter.

May 1918

Wednesday May 1     Bright but cold, the thermometer down below 40° and it seems pretty chilly. Anna attended the funeral of Bell Johnson this afternoon. It was held at the house of Mr. Curtis, 81 Atkinson. Aunt Cornelia and sister was with her. Edna was up this evening.

Thursday May 2     Fair day. Anna went over to the Harts this evening and Laurence went along as protection.

Friday May 3     Beautiful day the sun felt like real summer. Anna went to call on the Frys and took Howard along for company. And she paid them $30.00 for 3 shares of stock in his auto printing and register company, and got hers and my certificates for stock also. We have each 250 shares and the 3 shares are for the boys if they pay for them.

Saturday May 4     Fair day but chilly. Took the storm doors & the front doors down. And now this is bed time and we take our baths one by one and it always takes untill 11 oclock or later to get all around.

Sunday May 5     Well it came out so hot that all of us put on our summer underwear. The thermometer got up to 90° on our back porch. And nobody came this fine day.

Monday May 6     Hot

Tuesday May 7     Hot

Wednesday May 8     Hot. I went to Talbots to see about coal next winter. I ordered 10 ton and they said they would deliver 7 ton. I had to fill out asking a lot of questions and they are supposed to deliver over 2/3 of the order. I ordered stove size hard coal.

Thursday May 9     Not so warm, quite a chilly wind.

Friday May 10     Still cooler, about 60° above. June quite sick, her face is red and hot and she sticks to the couch.

Saturday May 11     Chilly, wearing my winter coat but I still wear my summer underwear. Fearful rain and wind storm last night. June much better. I am trying to make a little garden but the space is so small and grown up so much to grass that I do not make much head way.

Sunday May 12     "Mothers Day". It has rained nearly every minute all day, a cold damp miserable horrid day. Louise was the only one to brave the weather, she went to Sunday School. Not a boy went we tried to shame them but they would not shame. This being "Mothers day", Anna and Bennett had it all arranged to get up early and go to Northville and spend the day with Grandmother Clarkson but it was such weather that they gave it up. And we were all home all day. This afternoon we cracked nuts that we have had for a long time and they made fudge and put the nut meats into it. And it was fine but the house has been uncomfortable and cold. We have not a shovel full of coal to our name. We have some ordered but it has not come yet.

Monday May 13 - Sunday May 19     [No entry]

Monday May 20     Every spring Howard has some kind of cold and if it came in August we would think it was Hay fever but it comes about the 1st of May and this year it is fierce. He sneezes and sneezes and his eyes are watery and he feels bum. And he was so bad this spring that we are alarmed and concluded we better take him to a Doctor. So we took him to Dr. Northrop that we go to occasionally. He examined him and said he better go to a specialist and wanted him to go to Dr. Mercer in the David Whitney Bldg. So the next day Anna took him down there and he thought his trouble was dandelion. He told Howard to come the next day and bring a bunch of dandelions and a little of the falley and such flowers as were in blossom. And Howard took them down and the Dr. ground each kind in the mortar and injected each one seperate in his arm. He had 4 injections in his arm. And the dandelion juice made his arm swell but none of the other 3 had any effect on his arm so the conclusion was that it was the dandelion was the cause. And the Dr. said that he would make a serum and that injected into his arm would he thought cure the trouble so Howard is to go down.

Tuesday May 21 - Friday May 24     [No entry]

Saturday May 25     Fearful hot, up to 86°, but a nice breeze blowing made it a little better. We are working pretty hard these days in the Post Office. There is a scarcity of men, most all quit that does not go to war and the Post Office is trying to get women to take the job. We have 3 or 4 at our "Branch N.E." but they come and go, they cannot do the work it is too hard for them to climb steps and carry loads and so the situation grows worse. Young men will not come in the service because they can earn more money out side. The war changes things, they pay high wages in order to get men to work in the munitions plants. And it makes it hard for old men in the service. We have to help out where a man or a woman that is missing and besides that we have to sell thrift stamps and that adds greatly to our time. Kids go around and get orders for stamps and send the order into the Mail and the Carrier has to collect and deliver the orders for stamps. I think the Post Office job is going on the bum. When I got the job it was quite a respectible position and compared with even skilled mechanics and some proffesions did not pay as well as the Carrier job. And then we received more than the City Firemen and Policemen but now in these war times $1200 a year hardly makes ends meet.

Sunday May 26     Rain last night but warm today. Up around 80° today. Anna & Bennett managed to get ready this morning and made a start for Northville and Howard, Laurence, Louise, June and I are holding forth here at home. Howard made some fudge this afternoon but it did not turn very good, I guess it was not cooked enough and he could not find any flavoring extracts and so the taste was not as good as it might have been. Laurence & Louise went to Sunday School. Howard will not go anymore, he thinks he is too large to go to Sunday School. His excuse is that he does not have any teacher and has nothing but to sit around if he goes. A boy at 16 years knows more than he ever will again.

Monday May 27     Rain. Hot 86°. Howard went to Dr. Mercer and had an injection in his arm. Anna swept upstairs and cleaned one room. Got in so late I did not come home for dinner.

Tuesday May 28     Cool and cloudy. I am trying to spade up a small part of the back yard for a garden but I make but small headway.

Wednesday May 29     Cool but big rain showers.

Thursday May 30     Decoration day, and of course it rained in heavy showers. I did not have to work all day. I got up about 8:30 and was the first one up except Bennett but every body got up for breakfast except Howard, he came down when it was all over. He likes to lay a bed and unless he has lessons to get and is called to get up and get them he usually lays untill the last dog is hung. And Anna and I we managed to get the paper on the ceiling of the dinning room but in spite of the fact we used Hot water and a window brush and a putty knife we sure had a job to get it off. There was at least 3 layers of paper on the wall. It took us untill 1 oclock and every body was crying for dinner but we stuck to it untill it was off and had dinner after. I suppose there was big doings down town but I did not go down. Howard went with Roy Kiefer in their auto. Col. Teddy Roosevelt was here all day making speeches.

Friday May 31     Rain but hot. Howard came home today from school all worked up and excited because he was to go with the boys working reserve in to the country to work on a sugar beet farm. We hate to have him go anyway and to go so far. He goes to St. Louis, Mich., out west of Saginaw about 150 miles. But there was 30 or 40 boys to go from the Northwestern High School and he could not see anything any other way. We wanted him to wait a while to see what the Doctor could do with his sneezing nose. The Dr. has made two serum treatments and the second treatment seemed to take effect but no Howard made all the excuses he could think of. He is just crazy he thinks he is going to have a big time. He thinks it will all be fun. He is to go tomorrow to be at the Flint and Marquette at 9:15 and they would be put aboard with the rest. The beet Co. pays their train fare out there but they have to make a deposit of his coming home fare. Howard and Anna went up on Lathrop to see a Mr. Burgess about the details of the going.

June 1918

Saturday June 1     Fair day, hot but a good breeze. And this is the day the Howard goes to St. Louis, Mich. with the boys working reserve to work on a sugar beet farm. About 40 boys from the Northwestern High School are to go. We did not have time to get him a good ready but he would not listen to waiting a day or he could have waited untill Monday, any way, more were to go then but no he was going with the first ones. He was so excited he could not sleep last night or eat any breakfast. And he only had 3 or 4 sandwiches to last him untill he arrived at St. Louis. Anna said he left the house about 9 A.M. and when he was gone she collapsed and had to take to the couch for an hour or two. I suppose he expects to have a big time with so many boys. They go there and work for the sugar beet Co. and are paid according to the amount of work they do. They are furnished board at cost and I suppose they live in a tent or big building for bunks and a place to live. Anna and I feel as tho one or our kids has left the parent nest if he stays all summer as he expects to he will hardly be the boy he was before and it makes us feel sad and anxious. I do hope he will stand the test and do the work and not play all the time.

Sunday June 2     Beautiful day. And this is Junes Birthday. She has looked forward to the time she would be "5 old", as she says. And she has been a happy girl all day. She got quite a lot of presents. When she came to the breakfast table she found her plate loaded, two boxes candy, box peanuts, ribbons, belt, gum, hershey and a new summer hat. Miss Weir our next door neighbor thinks June is about right and they gave her a box of candy. And supper time they asked June and Louise to come over and that meant a dish of ice cream. Frank Wier is a soldier and is now in England and he sent June a card from there. Every thing was fine all day long Anna and the kids sat in the back yard all the afternoon. Inez Hart and her sister in law Clara Hart called. They have 4 boys from a two year old up to 8 or 9. And later in the evening Inez and her Mother called and brought June a beautiful boquet but June had gone to bed. Everything fine but Howard, we wonder if he got to his destination. We are afraid that when he gets over his excitement he would collapse too and be sick. I hope we will get a card tomorrow.

Monday June 3     A most beautiful day, just right, cool and delightful. And no word from Howard. We thought we might hear today, at least a card saying that he got there. He was so excited and nerve strung we were afraid that he would collapse when the reaction came.

Tuesday June 4     We got a card from Howard today just saying that he arrived there but he did not give his address, name or anything so we do not know how to address a letter to him. Anna cleaned the bath room.

Wednesday June 5     Anna is trying to get a dress made for Louise so she can take part in the childrens day exercises at the Church. And it is hard to find time to do it, with all the other things that have to be done she never can get time to sew.

Thursday June 6     Big showers today but warm. We expect a letter or some news from Howard but he does not write. I suppose we are getting a taste of the thoghtlessness of children when they go away and Mothers & Fathers waiting for a letter but I suppose if he was not we would probably hear.

Friday June 7     Beautiful day. Mrs. Burns was here and visited all the afternoon. And still no letter from Howard. Mr. Moehlman, Howards teacher, called to see what had become of Howard. He did not know that Howard was with the boys working reserve. He said Howard should have reported to him before going away but Howard did not do that. I found a dandy fountain pen today on Atkinson.

Saturday June 8     Beautiful day. And still no letter from Howard. The moon eclipsed the sun this evening. We had a fair view of it. It was not a total eclipse here but as Bennett said somebody had bit a chunk out of the sun.

Sunday June 9     Threatened all day and rained in the evening. Anna, Bennett, Laurence, Louise, June and I walked down to the Hardenbergs and made a call and coming home we got caught in a shower but we did not get very wet. The children got their feet wet their shoes were so thin soles that they wet through.

Monday June 10     Cooler and rain. Well we got a card from Howard at last. He was all right and had been sent to some other place to do some work with 7 other boys. He was at St. Louise, Mich. and went a short distance to Breckenridge. It was a great relief to hear he was all right and he said he was with a boy that lives near here and we knew he was a nice boy and was glad of that.

Tuesday June 11     Fine day. I do not have to go to work for a week, I have 5 days vacation coming to me and I am going to take the 5 days the rest of this week. I cannot do much but lay around because we are so short of money that I cannot afford to go anywhere. We got a letter from Howard today and it was a fine letter. He is at St. Louis, Mich. on a beet farm and he slept in a barn one night but had a bunk in a bunk house. It is hard work he was irritated by being thrown in a pond.

Wednesday June 12     Fine weather we are having now. I wrote a letter to Howard today.

Thursday June 13     Fine day. Cleaned the basement out today and it was some job.

Friday June 14     Beautiful day. I took the electric car today and went to Monroe, Mich.. I never had been out of the City down that way so I thought I would take the trip seeing that I am on my vacation. Monroe is quite a City and I rode out to the Pier on a Car that runs down there and back. I was down there once years ago it must [be] 30 years or more that I was there. I could recognize some places but I could not anything how but the City was then but I enjoyed the trip and was glad I went. The fare was 98¢ round trip, they go down there in about 2 hours.

Saturday June 15     Beautiful day. Today I went to the Belle Island, Bennett, Laurence and I went. We took the car to the bridge and a wagon to the aquarium and we walked around saw the animals watched the bathers and came home by a small steamer to the bridge and the car home. Belle Island is certainly a beautiful place and the wonder is that we do not go oftener but of course if is a hard job to get the children ready put up a lunch and go.

Sunday June 16     Beautiful day but awfully hot. And today I went to Northville and Plymouth to my Mother at Plymouth, Ernie and two kids were there and I had a nice visit although Mother did not look as well as usually. I took Louise with me and we stopped at Northville to see Grandma Clarkson. We was there over one care one hour. She has a fine garden with long straight rows and clean from weeds. We got home about 9 oclock and I suppose my vacation is over and I will have to go to work.

Monday June 17     Beautiful day and cooler than yesterday. I went back to work this morning and I just about made one trip. There was so much mail and as it always [if] after you have been away a few days the subs get things all balled up. A couple of lady subs carried my route, each took half and I guess they did as well as men subs. There was about the usual number of mistakes and number of undelivered mail laying around my case. Anna did a big washing and is tired out and fast asleep in her chair. The kids are all in bed long ago. The clock says it is half past 10 so I guess we better get to bed. Cool breezes are blowing through the house and it feels like rain. The country needs rain it is dusty and dry.

Tuesday June 18 -Saturday June 22     [No entry]

Sunday June 23     Beautiful day, bright & cool. And this has been quite an eventful day. We got up in good time and Ernie my brother drove in with his Ford auto and stayed to dinner and untill evening. It takes him about 1 1/2 hours to auto in from near South Lyon where he lives on a farm. He had his family with him of course. This afternoon Bennett and Roy Kiefer went down town to see the British war tank, it was sent over to this country to enthuse the people to the need of money, food, etc. There was some old buildings in front of the new M.C. R.R. Depot to be torn down anyway and the boys said the tank walked or pushed itself right through the houses. Laurence thought he didnt want to go with Bennett so to appease him I took him to Clark Park then Mrs. Burns and Donald called and Inez Hart called.

Monday June 24 - Wednesday June 26     [No entry]

Thursday June 27     Grandma Clarkson came in late this evening to go to Bob Loo tomorrow with the crowd.

Friday June 28     Beautiful day, cool breezes. Everybody went to Bob Loo today, two Wiers, Grandma Clarkson came in from Northville to go and Anna, Bennett, Laurence, Louise & June went down on the morning boat and came back on the early, that gave them about 2 hours on the Island and home early enough for the boys to carry papers. They had just a grand time and the ride home up the river was perfectly beautiful, the boat was not crowded coming back made just delightful. The kids could run all over the boat and have a fine time. Mrs. Burns was to go but for some reason did not show up. We mailed a letter and package to Howard this morning, the package contained fudge and cookies. And then we got a card from Howard he said he could not get his clothes washed clean and he could not send them home because he had no money.

Saturday June 29     Fair day but cloudy and threatening. Bennett and Louise are sick today, I suppose they eat too much truck in the way of candy cracker Jack, Ice cream cones, etc.

Sunday June 30     Not a very nice day, it is dark gloomy, rain and a cool breeze. The country needs the rain badly and I hope they got the rain also that we had. Grandma Clarkson is here yet and Bennett says he is going back with her in spite of the fact that he is sick. They are now getting ready to go, it is about 5 P.M.

July 1918

Monday July 1     The first day of July and cold enough for a late fall day. The thermometer was down to 54°. Cloudy, dismal day.

Tuesday July 2 - Wednesday July 3     [No entry]

Thursday July 4     Fine day, warm and bright. No work today. The day has been more quiet than usual but still fire crackers have been cracking all day. The children had a very pretty parade this morning. Mrs. Perry that lives up the street has for several Fourths got up a parade with the children. This year it was more elaborate than any before. The children were all costumed in red, white & blue and stars. Most of them represented something, Uncle Sam, Red Cross, stretcher bearers, etc. Laurence, Louise and June were in it. Louise & June were dressed in the red, white & blue and stars and parasol to match. And Laurence marched at the head of the prosession and carried a flag. He was heap fine man. We were at home all day and nobody came. We had ice cream for supper. Bennett is at Northville yet and Howard is camping near Evart, Mich. He is still working for the St. Louis Beet Co. but his last card said they were going to Big Lake to camp for 2 weeks.

Friday July 5     Fair day. Nothing to do but work. Lots of mail and heavy papers. Anna cleaned closets and worked hard and furious to get rid of moths. Got a letter from Bennett at Northville, he writes a very nice letter, interesting and funny.

Saturday July 6     Fine day. The coal men put in the rest of my coal today so I have 8 tons of soft coal in my bin. I paid $8 a ton and 50¢ for putting it in the bin and if they have to get in the bin and shovel it back they charge you 50¢ an hour for that. I would rather have hard coal but that is very scarce and the papers urge all who possibly can use soft coal to so so. I have a steam furnace and can burn most any kind of coal.

Sunday July 7     Fine day but rather cool. Anna and June took the trip today to Northville & Plymouth. Laurence, Louise and I stayed home and it was a long lonesome day. Laurence went for a long walk with the twins out Linwood. The cars are running out that way now. The Trumbull Cars marked through go out Linwood to the Joy Road. Laurence came home with a headache and after he had drank a cup of milk went to bed. Anna and June came while we were getting supper. At 10:30 the children are all in bed except Howard who is in St. Louis, Mich. on a beet farm and maybe he is crawling into a bunk bed and Bennett is in Northville and I feel sure he is in bed too because Bennett likes his bed pretty well and always goes to bed early.

Monday July 8     Beautiful day. Mail so heavy I did not go home for dinner but bought a lunch at the office.

Tuesday July 9     Fair day, cooler. I am putting in some overtime every day now. After supper Anna and the 3 kids Laurence, Louise & June went over on 14th to pay gas and electric bills. Then they went and called on the Harts they have a phonograph and so they heard that.

Wednesday July 10     Cloudy, some rain and cool. Miss Weir next door invited [us] to take supper with them and go to the theater in the Eve. It was Miss Weirs birthday, 25 years old, so she took that way of celebrating. As her intended is in France she would not like to have very much doings. Anna had a fine time and saw a very comical play at the Garrick Theater called "Nothing But the Truth". I and the children eat our supper with out mama and all went to bed before she got home. We got a card from Howard saying he was coming home next Saturday or Sunday.

Thursday July 11     Cool, real chilly this evening it rained some today but is so cool that people remark about it. And just now Anna and the two girls have gone up to bed. Mama to put them to bed. Laurence is trying to pick out Old Black Joe on the piano. It is so chilly the house is shut up and it is uncomfortable.

Friday July 12 - Saturday July 13     [No entry]

Sunday July 14     Beautiful day, rather warm. Howard came home today from working with the boys working reserves in the beet fields in and about St. Louis, Mich. I guess the boys had a fine time but did not make much more than their board but the board was good I guess. He has been gone just 6 weeks and they came home because there was nothing more to do untill the harvest a couple of months from now. He and 15 or 20 boys started home saturday night and got to Saginaw too late for the last interurban car for Detroit and what to do they did not know. They did not have enough money to pay for lodging. A policeman came along and after questioning them he took them all to the police station and gave them a place to sleep. They got up early this morning and took the early car for Detroit. He got home about 11 oclock dirty tired and hungry. He had a bundle and a suit case full of dirty clothes. He had washed his clothes but once since he had been gone. He was as brown as a berry and he spent today eating, sleeping and telling his experiences. He had a worked hard but did not make much. There was a good deal of lost time. Rain, etc. kept them back but he said he was glad he went because of the good time with the bunch of kids. I guess they did not go expecting to make money. It was for patriotic reasons to help save the crops of beets for Uncle Sam to win the war. They were on a sort of Military basis and had their leaders and instructors, etc.

Monday July 15     Fine day. Howard and Laurence went down town and paid the water tax. Bennett is still at Northville but we must get him home, he has been out there 3 weeks and he must be a care for his Grand Mother.

Tuesday July 16     Threatening rain and did a little but not much.

Wednesday July 17     Fair and warm. Howard got up courage enough to go down to the Main Post Office and apply for a position as a substitute Letter Carrier during vacation. He was a year under age to get into the P.O. but the Post Office is so hard up for help that Mr. Kellog the assistant Post Master gave him a job because too that his Father was an employee of the Post Office too. I was glad because he is so timid that I did not think he would do it. He had to fill out an application blank and put up 50¢ for bonds.

Thursday July 18     Fair and warm. Well Howard went with me to the Post Office this morning and I introduced him to Mr. Washer our Supt. and he assigned him to 225 to go and pick up as much information as he could of the route as 225 wanted to start his vacation tomorrow. Howard receives 40¢ an hour as all substitutes do. We are at the North End Sta. cor. of Cass and Milwaukee. Howard is almost too young to do the heavy work and heavy loads but it seems as tho he must get something to do to help out on expenses. Everything that we need has advanced in price that we are hardly making ends meet. Of course wages are high too. A boy can get form $15 to $25.00 a week and a man of course can get more but unless he has a trade he does not get so very much than a boy. A mechanic gets from $5 to $10.00 a day.

Friday July 19     Fair and warm. The boss took Howard off of 225 and put him with 93, he said he was favoring Howard as 93 was a better route. And 93 is an old Carrier but he fixed up the mail and let Howard take the mail out and deliver it. Howard got it delivered all right and the afternoon trip I helped him put up his mail and he made that all right. I was surprised he could do so well because he has no training at all. It will be hard for him to manage bundles and letters but if he can keep at it for 4 or 5 days then it will become easier for him.

Saturday July 20     Fair and warm. Well with what I can help Howard besides doing my own work he got through the day very well. I can help him set up his mail ready for delivery and I can help him mark mixes, not ads, etc. Howards feet are sore and his shoulder gets sore and achey carrying the sack of heavy letters, magazines, papers, etc. There is always so much truck as we call it, meaning magazines, paper, small packages and lots of letter mail but Howard says he likes the outside work best.

Sunday July 21     Hot today. Laurence & Louise went to Sunday School but other wise we did not get away from the house. The most of us lay down on the floor this afternoon and took a long nap and we expected Bennett to come home friday but he has not come yet. Anna wrote him to come Friday but I guess he did not get the letter for some reason or other. And we worry this evening because we thought he would be sure to come today. It is 10:45 now so I do not think he will come tonight. Laurence & Louise went to the car several times to see if he would not come but they were always disappointed and now all the kids are in bed.

Monday July 22     Bennett came home today and he said he did not want to come home at all. He likes to be out there and he goes a good deal with the Amblers. They have an ice cream business and they deliver it all around the country to the small dealers with an auto truck and that is what Bennett likes to ride on the truck. And he said he drove a Ford runabout all day.

Tuesday July 23     The Burns, Mrs. & Donald, came over this evening and they and all of our family went to the Ferry Park at the Northwestern School to hear the famous and wonderful band leader and band Sousa but there was such a crowd we could neither hear or see so we did not stay long but elbowed through the crowd and came home. But the sight of the people and the hundreds of autos parked around in a solid circle and then coming home along the Boulevard the autos and their lights in a brilliant prosession it was a sight worth seeing.

Wednesday July 24 - Wednesday July 31     [No entry]

August 1918

Thursday August 1 - Friday August 2     [No entry]

Saturday August 3     Howard got his first pay for working for the Post Office as a Temporary Substitue, meaning just for the summer. He worked for 13 days and got a check for $41.10 or 40¢ an hour. He was so tickled he could hardly be glad enough. And of course he wanted to go down town and proceed to spend it. So his Mama went with him and they went to a theater and saw Lady Bonstill in a funny farce. Then they visited Saunders and ordered a Banana split and thought it would be 15¢ and it was 25¢ each. And he tried to get a pair of tennis shoes but the store was closed so he had to give them up and bought a pound of peanut crisp and came home. Everybody was in bed except me and I was asleep on the couch so I had a little treat on the candy.

Sunday August 4     Hot, that is no name for it. And there was not much stirring around this day. I guess Louise went to Sunday School and she went late at that. Howard was sick all day to pay for the fun he had last night. Aunt Dill came over just as we were eating our late dinner so as soon as Anna was through she had to talk to her through her tube for deaf people and she is so deaf that it is hard to make her hear even thru the tube. And I had to wash the dishes, the children are absolutely no good to help wash dishes so I did them alone and take it all around it was a rather unsatisfactory day.

Monday August 5     Hot, oh my nobody knows how hot it is but the thermometer says up near the 100° mark in the shade. Howard did not feel well all day but kept at work. The vacation he is carrying for Mr. Barney is up tonight so I suppose he will have to learn somebody elses route. In working vacations that way you just begin to learn a route and become familiar with it then you have to give that one up and go on to another and struggle through that. We could not come home for dinner because of the load of mail. And after work Howard and I went down town and to Spalding and Howard bought a pair of tennis shoes $3.50 and we came home and it was so hot that we nearly melted.

Tuesday August 6     Whew but it is hot, the papers say this is a record breaker, unofficial was as high as 113° but the official mark was 100°. But mercy we suffered today. There was a hot wind that actually burned ones face and skin. I have read about Kansas hot winds that curl everything up and burn the crops so they wither up and die, well the wind we had today must have [been] like them. It felt just as tho it blew off of a fire, just a hot breath. Howards man did not come back from his vacation I guess it was too hot for him so Howard carried it again today. Louise and June went barefooted and to night the kids faces looked like boiled lobsters. Bennett went to Belle Isle today and went in bathing, a couple of the neighbor boys went with him.

Wednesday August 7     Hot, fearful Hot. up around the 100° mark but not quite so bad as yesterday. The breeze was not so burning hot.

Thursday August 8     A little relief from yesterday and the day before. Fine and dandy day and too we got a shower we needed so badly. Mrs. Burns called.

Friday August 9     Fine day, cool and delightful. Howard and Anna went to the theater again tonight, they have the habit I guess.

Saturday August 10     Fine day but got pretty hot by night. Howard is still working 93 the regular man does not show up he is 4 or 5 days over his vacation time. But Howard does not care, he has got so he knows it pretty [well] and of course it would be easier for him if he could have the route as long as he works in the Post Office.

Sunday August 11     Another Hot day untill about 5 P.M. we had a heavy wind and rain storm it did quite a lot of damages in some parts of the City. And this has been a day of days for us. The boys have been teasing me to go to the Island to bathe but we did not get up very early and it was so hot to get ready to get over there. It takes about 1:15 to go and too the same to come back so I told them to go with out me but after they had gone I got ready and went too. I got there and donned a bathing suite and went in, it was about 11:30 then and there was such a crowd that I could not find the kids but I finally found Bennett & Laurence out one side of the crowd trying to swim. Eight one could swim under the water as long as they could hold their breath. We had a jolly good bath for nearly an hour and Howard came along just as we were coming out. He had been out to the 7 foot raft as they call it and you have to be able to swim to get out there. Then we walked across the bridge and got a car home. We had dinner then Anna took Louise to Grandma Clarksons to stay a week. After Anna was gone I took a nap and I was awakened by the McLeods coming and then it blew u p a fearful wind and rain storm. Mr. McLeod h ad been sick so he could not get away untill it stopped. Howard had to take a Sunday collection from the street mail boxes and should be at the first box at 6 P.M. and his collection was away east of Oakland the first box was at the corner of St. Aubin and Clay, then work back to Woodward and then go back and get as many more. And I was intending to go with him to help him find the boxes, he was never over there and I either but I could not leave the McLeods and I kept him until after six untill it had nearly stopped. So I let Bennett go with him they went on bicycles and got back here before 9 oclock and from here I went with him down town to the Main P.O. to dump his collection and ring the clock and report to the head clerk and a few seemingly foolish things then we came home. Anna did not get back untill 9 oclock. The McLeods went as soon as it stopped raining and everything came out all right.

Monday August 12 -Saturday August 17     [No entry]

Sunday August 18     Well this Sunday on the 9 oclock car I went to Northville to take June out to stay her week with Grandma Clarkson. Louis had been there a week and she was to stay another week to be with June. June got a letter from Louise and Grandma inviting June to come and June was so tickled to get a letter sent to her herself and inviting her to come and nothing would do but do as the letter said and go to Grandmas and stay a week. Well we got to Grandmas and ate dinner and then Louise, June and I went to Plymouth on the car to see Grandma Dean and Clarence and Edna were there in their auto and they took us with [them] out to Meinharts, they went to get butter and eggs. Then they came back to Plymouth and from there they took [us] to Northville. Then I left Louise & June at Grandmas and came back home with them in the auto.

Monday August 19 -Thursday August 23     [No entry]

Friday August 23     Anna went to Northville today and took Laurence with her and Bennett got the meals and did first rate altho Anna had got things ready so it was easy to get them.

Saturday August 24     Anna came home and brought the children home so we have our full quota again. June behaved fine and did not cry once and only once said she wanted her Mama but when Anna did come she said she never saw a child so tickled in her life as June was to see Mama, she hugged and kissed and acted like a puppy dog tickled to see its master.

Sunday August 25     Rather warm. Howard had to take the same collection he did before, 2 weeks ago. Bennett went with him on their bicycles and Howard went alone down to the Main P.O. to dump and clear. Anna, Laurence, Louise, June and I went out to Burns late in the afternoon. We staid to supper, heard the phonograph and came home about 10. Belle and Sam came just as we were getting ready to go to Burns so we had a visit with them and went to Burns after.

Monday August 26     Fine day, not so warm. Threatened rain nearly all day and I guess it did sprinkle a few drops. The election mail was so heavy I did not get home to dinner. Howard got though so he could get home for a late dinner and brought me a lunch when he came back.

Tuesday August 27     Beautiful day, cool and delightful. Primary Election today but I did not vote. I dont like to vote. What do I know about the candidates, I do not know whether they are good or bad. Anna and children, the girls I mean have gone over to Aunt Dills. Howard bought a vacuumtire at the store on Milwaukee near the Post Office, $3.75.

Wednesday August 28 - Thursday August 29     [No entry]

Friday August 30     I went down town at noon and made the last payment on my New England Life insurance. Howard went to work not feeling [well] and only worked 2 hours and came home sick and he was in bed all the rest of the day, stomach trouble.

Saturday August 31     Cooler and threatening rain nearly all day. Howard did not work today, he was not well. And he does not expect to work any more as school begins next Tuesday and he is thinking of going to the State Fair Monday, "Labor Day".

October 1918

Tuesday October 1 - Saturday October 5     [No entry]

Sunday October 6     Cloudy, cold and some rain in the morning. Anna & Howard went to Northville in the afternoon and brought home a suitcase full of vegetables. I built a fire and it just felt good and when Anna & Howard came home about 9 oclock it felt good to them. Aunt Dill came over to see Anna and was disappointed, I can not talk to her very well she is so deaf and to talk with her you have to talk through a rubber tube.

Monday October 7 - Saturday October 12     [No entry]

Sunday October 13     Beautiful day, beautiful fall weather and colors, the trees are perfectly beautiful. Howard and I made the trip to Northville and Plymouth and had a little visit with both Grandmothers. Edna was out to Mothers at Plymouth.

Monday October 14     Beautiful day, I guess Oct. is making up a little for September. We have had a week of as beautiful weather as one could ask for. Laurence is sick today. Bennett was so sick he was out of school for 3 days. The whole country is having a epidemic of what they call Spanish Influenza, it is a severe case of the old La Grippe that Gripped the country a number of years ago. I do not know whether that is what Bennett and Laurence had or not. Some people blame the Germans for spreading it through the country especially among the soldiers who are having a serious time, a number have died.

Tuesday October 15 - Friday October 18     [No entry]

Saturday October 19     Beautiful day but because June was sick I built a fire for her sake. Howard worked at the Post Office and put in 10 hours and that means $4.00. When I was a boy I could hardly earn that much in a week. And Bennett got a job just for today, Roy Kiefer has an Auntie that works at the Sprague Publishing Co. who print the American Boy magazine and they wanted boys to work on circulars and so Bennett and Roy went and worked today. They put in 8 hours but do not know how much they will be paid. Ernies wife and their hired boy came today in their Ford auto and brought us 15 bushels of potatoes so we have that much between us and starvation.

Sunday October 20     Rained a warm rain last night and early this morning and Bennett had to peddle his papers in the rain, and he was through and sitting on the back porch waiting for somebody to get up out of bed and let him [in]. But the day turned out a warm beautiful day. Laurence is still out of school with his sickness, he is around but has a cough. And June has been sick for two or three days, she complains of her stomach hurting. She was quite sick today but along toward eve. Anna got a dose of castor oil and she went to bed feeling better. The Spanish influenza is still spreading and is quite severe. Today all churches were ordered closed and all theaters and public halls, dances, etc. were closed. Bennett, Laurence and June may have had it but it seemed more like a billious attack. It comes like a cold and you sneeze and cough and have a dreadful weary feeling and the Doctors say the only thing to do is to go to bed and stay there for 3 or 4 days and not to try to cure it with drugs.

Monday October 21 - Thursday October 31     [No entry]