Irwin Briggs often visited Garfield and Ella. Sometimes his family went with him. The Briggs Family Band: Irwin, Laura, Mildred, Mary, Myrtle, and Johnny with the trombone. Irwin’s homemade “cello” is in the right hand corner.
February 1936
Sunday, February 2, Ella went to Highland Lake with Clinton to see her aunt Jennie Hull. Jim went to see Mort and Jennie Austin.
Wednesday Ella wrote, “Clinton went to town. Bill was here in the evening. Blizzards out west.” Thursday Clinton drove his aunt Jennie Hull to spend the afternoon with his mom, Ella. Friday Clinton snow plowed for the County, widening the roads.
Sunday, February 16, Jim went to the Austin’s for dinner. Austin Smith stopped by with an old violin (he had gotten from Mr. MacIntyre) for Garfield to fix on Thursday.
Sunday, February 23, Dr. Gutfruend was called to check on Anna who was sick.
Friday, Mr. Briggs and the Austins were at the Leavenworth home. Mr. Briggs bought a cello for $11. Saturday was leap day. Mr. Briggs and his son John were at the Leavenworths all afternoon.
Arthur Austin ready for work at the Sullivan County Highway Department.
February 1935
Monday, February 4, was cloudy and colder in Eldred. Clinton cut ice blocks for Perry Foster.
Friday, February 8, Ella started a star bouquet quilt.
On Friday Arthur Austin received his assistant typist score of 86.53 on the June 1934 test he had taken at the New York Department of Civil Service in Albany.
Art worked for Emily Stevens at the Post Office. His next job, clerical in nature, would be for the Sullivan County Highway Department.
Monday, February 11, Ella started a feather fan quilt. The following Monday she made her daughter Anna a dress.
Herman Bosch and others cutting and harvesting ice blocks on Bosch Pond. Photo courtesy of the Bosch Family.
Harvesting ice on Bosch Pond. Photo courtesy of the Bosch Family. February 1932
“The Japanese and Chinese are fighting,” Ella wrote on February 1 and 6.
What little snow was on the ground was gone by the end of the first week of February.
Bill Meyers Jr. stopped by a few evenings the second week, perhaps to see Anna. Clara Leavenworth went to a bridal shower for Bill’s sister Dorothy.
On a clear, warm day, in mid-February, Jim played with Carl Dunlap. Garfield started porch screens and did a little work for John Love. Grant Sergeant stopped by for supper and the evening. He was joined by Bill Meyers.
Garfield made Ella a flower stand and started on a table. Clinton and Garfield worked at the Scouts cutting ice for four days.
At the end of the month, Clinton and Herm Bosch went fishing at Montgomery Lake. [Montgomery Lake was close to the Leavenworths. Bosch Pond was on east side of Eldred.]
February 1931
Sunday, February 1, was a busy day. Ella [Leavenworth] sold Lottie Meyers 1-1/2 quarts of milk. Kate Love was there in the afternoon and Garfield gave music lessons in the afternoon and evening.
Thursday Anna went to school, but not Jim as the schoolhouse was too cold.
A few days later, Clara went to work for Aunt Lizzie Wilson. Anna went to Beach Lake with the basketball team the day before Valentine’s Day.
Thursday evening, February 19, was a house full of company—Grant Sergeant, Billy Meyers, and the Wolff brothers.
Ella thought the last week of February felt like spring. She sent in an order for 100 chicks to arrive in May.
Though the weather was clear and felt like spring to Ella, Grant and Clara skied over at Alvah Sergeant’s. Clinton was working; Anna and Jim were in school. Bill Meyers Sr. helped Garfield with his Ford engine.
At the end of the month, Mr. Elijah Moore (a carpenter at the Boy Scout Camp) had dinner with the Leavenworths.
Dog walks past Sunshine Hall and Sunshine Hall Free Library. The old schoolhouse is in the distance.
Lillie Calkin, Bethel, to Mr. J.E. Austin, Hopewell Junction, New York February 14, 1926
Dear Dad,
We have had quite a spell of weather. I got to school both days of the big storm, but no one else did on Friday. Dorothy is going to school with me now. We both stay in Miss Story’s house over to Fosterdale from Monday to Friday. I could not drive from here the way the roads are now.
Our chickens are not doing very well, range from 130 to 177 a day. Only cleared about $65 in January. I think we crowded them too hard, too young.
I hope you will keep well. How is the sore hand? We have to leave early in the morning. We have had an ice storm today and the roads will be heavy tomorrow.
Don’t think I bought this paper. I detest pink writing paper, but I received two boxes for Xmas. With love, Lillie
Dot Calkin, Bethel, to Mr. J.E. Austin, Hopewell Junction, N.Y. February 20, 1926
Dear Grandpa,
Have you tried to run your car yet or haven’t you had a chance to? We can’t run ours. It’s all we can do to get down through the field with the horses. I go over to mother’s school now. We can’t get through anymore, so we stay over there.
How are your hens laying? Daddy says our hens are laying pretty good. He has got about 320 and he gets around 175 eggs every day.
I think I got 27 valentines this year. Thanks for the valentine you gave me. It is the nicest one I got. Daddy has got all of his wood out of the woods and some sawed up.
Love from all, Dorothy
Winter in Eldred. From left: Orchard Terrace, Congregational Church, Sunshine Hall , and Sunshine Hall Free Library. In the center of the photo, the old Eldred Schoolhouse. Von Ohlen’s was the dark building. Straub’s set behind Von Ohlen’s.
Bob Austin, Eldred, to Raymond Austin, Staten Island February 9, 1925
Raymond,
The snow up here is melting fast. In the morning it is frozen so we go sleigh riding. We both got sleighs for Christmas. We saw the total eclipse of the sun. We have our wood sawed. Mrs. Cox hurt her leg sleigh riding and she came to school with a cane.
I am sick and I can not go to school. I had to stay in bed all day Sunday. I felt dizzy when I stood up. I hope you are feeling well. I am feeling better.
I hope you can come up on Lincoln’s birthday. The rest of the family are feeling well. Arthur is as fat as ever. Your brother, Bob
James Eldred (J.E.) Austin wrote his daughter Lillie Calkin who was studying at New Paltz Normal School. A number of folks sold eggs as a source of income, including Lillie’s family (in Bethel, NY) and later Garfield and Ella Leavenworth, in Eldred.
J.E. Austin, Hopewell Jct., N.Y., to Lillie Calkin, New Paltz, N.Y. February 15, 1925
Dear Lillie,
Glad to hear you were all well. I see in the N.Y. paper the ice has gone out of the Hudson and Delaware Rivers. The rivers did quite a lot of damage in places on account of the ice damming up, but saw no account of any damage being done above the waters on the Delaware.
It’s about time your hens began to lay eggs. We took a crate of eggs to Poughkeepsie yesterday and only got 48 cents a dozen. The most we got for eggs was $1 per dozen. Our best month for the hens was December with $65 clear for about 187 hens. 100 of the hens about paid for their feed in December.
I have not heard from Mort since November. Hoping you are all well.
With love, Dad
Ruth Colville wrote to McKinley (Mac) Austin in April 1917. Ruth was from Barryville. Ruth wrote again in February of 1918. Ruth Colville wrote Mac Austin in February 1918. Ruth Colville, Barryville, N.Y., to McKinley Austin February 7, 1918
Dear friend McKinley,
Received your letter some time ago and really intended to answer it before, but was busy the last couple of days keeping warm (or trying to, ha ha).
Monday certainly was a terrible day. The wind blew about 50 miles per minute. You speak of mud. I don’t believe that I would know what mud looks like.
Aunt Norah [Norah Bradley Avery] said that there were several Sundays when there wasn’t anyone except the minister and Christine that ventured out to church.
Every cold day, I make a new vow that I will not stay here another winter, but I suppose that I will not have courage when it comes to the pinch, to get a job.
Belle Mills is teaching here now. Went to visit the school the other day with Anna and it surely was a circus. I never saw so many methods of “spit ball” throwing in my life, but well, I guess she is about as good as the average teacher.
Your friend, Ruth [Colville]
Anne Rassine, Astoria, Ore., to McKinley Austin
Anne Rassine, a Lone Scout Correspondent wrote Mac on February 8. Anne mentioned the S.S. Tuscania which had been torpedoed on February 5. Click to read Anne’s letter.
Lone Scout letter to McKinley Austin from Chicago, IL.
Lone Scout Letters
Girls from rural areas across the US saw Mac’s address in the Lone Scout magazine (often their brother’s) and wrote to him in January and February. They described their looks and daily lives in the cold winter of 1918.
Vera Allen, Cates, Ind., to McKinley Austin February 1, 1918
Dear Friend,
I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. You wanted to know how the weather was in Indiana. It is a little cold. It freezes one day and thaws the next. It has been 23 degrees below zero…One of my old schoolmates, who went and enlisted, is at your camp.
I expect you wonder where I found your address. I found it in the magazine, “Lone Scout.” One of your brothers had written a letter to the magazine telling them about you. He seemed to be very proud of you. He signed his name, C. Raymond Austin.
…Hoping to hear from you soon, Your friend, Vera M. Allen
Rachel Hidden, Boyd, Minn., to McKinley Austin February 3, 1918
Dear Friend Mortimer,
You said when you went to school you had double seats. We have just single seats and we can’t whisper, but we write notes instead. Our teacher is so sly as an old fox. Your friend, Rachel Hidden
Ottie Godsey, Peerless, Ind., to McKinley Austin February 4, 1918
Dear Mr. Austin,
I was very glad to get your letter this morning. But was sorry to hear that you had had the mumps. I had the mumps about three years ago…
You must be having nice weather if there isn’t any snow there. It is awful cold here. There is a large snow and about an inch of sleet on top of the snow. Answer soon, Ottie Godsey
Annie Herald, Equality, Ill., to McKinley Austin February 5, 1918
Dear Friend,
Will try and answer your most kind and welcome letter. You asked me to answer your letter soon…I like to study, and geography is my favorite study.
The weather is so bad I cannot get my picture taken and the first time the sun shines, I am going to have it taken. I had them taken a few months ago, but they were no good. The weather is still good for coasting and the snow is 30 inches deep with about 3 inches sleet and that froze over and can skate anywhere you want to. We have not seen the ground here for a month before Christmas. Your loving friend, Miss Annie Herald
Reindeer love the mountains
Rabbits love the hills
I love my soldier boys
God knows I always will.
Jennie Crawford, Swamp Mills, N.Y., to Lillie Austin, Bethel February 7, 1902
Dear Lillie,
Last Saturday night there were 30 of us skating up in Highland Lake. What a good time we had. I wished you were with us to enjoy it, too. I got home 25 minutes to 2.
Sunday night I went skating up to Swamp Mills. Monday afternoon I saw Mr. Perry and State inspector Symes. Perry said you were sure of your third grade.
Jennie J. Crawford
Jennie Crawford later married George Crandall. At some point they lived in the house James Eldred built in 1830, which is no longer there.
Jennie and Lillie Austin (Calkin) were lifetime close friends. Lillie was the great-granddaughter of James Eldred.
