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Ramona's Ramblings

Grandma’s Diary

Posted 12/27/22

My grandmother, Lina Dreher, was sixteen when she kept this diary. Additional names mentioned are those of her brothers and sisters except for Daisy who was a family friend.

  Dec 16th

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Ramona's Ramblings

Grandma’s Diary

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My grandmother, Lina Dreher, was sixteen when she kept this diary. Additional names mentioned are those of her brothers and sisters except for Daisy who was a family friend.

 Dec 16th

Went collecting today [monies due from bakery customers who bought on credit] and started out late so I naturally got back late. I went with Mary to carry an order [delivery] and I got home about quarter or half past seven. We don’t know what to buy Mary for Christmas. We haven’t bought a single thing for either her or Joe or Pa.

Dec 17th

Tillie bought a music holder for herself. Paid $2 for it. 

Dec18th

Just finished a story by the name of ‘Forsaken Inn’, a lovely story for anyone who likes mysteries.

Dec 19th

Oh dear! So much work, that is, so much fresh stuff [from the lower level bakery ovens] coming up and no room [in the cases] to put them in.

My diary is almost full and I haven’t another one, yet. I wish I’d get one for Christmas. [She never does, therefore, these are her last entries].

Dec 20th

I might go to Newark tomorrow to buy a few more things if I have enough time and am not too tired. Oh joy! My early week is soon over and yet I like it better than the late week. [She’s referring to the hours she keeps at the bakery, which could range anywhere from 4am to midnight.]

Dec 21th

Hattie and I went to Daisy’s and we had a fine time. A chambermaid from the Isolation was there, too. She said the tuberculosis patients are dying rapidly.

Dec 24th

Had to tend the store [bakery] until 11:15 PM.

Dec 25th

Christmas once more! Got a fine pincushion from Hattie, paints and a paint book from Tillie and a hand mirror from Freddie. Have to tend store all day today.

All the Newark Evening News newsboys each got a thick red sweater and a 2 ½ lb. box of candy from the company.

Dec 27th

We’re pretty busy today. Tillie and I each got a pound box of Sparrow’s chocolates from our candy salesman. [My grandmother would eventually marry one of them.]

Dec 28th

I’m going to Newark to buy some things next week. Pa gave us $25 all together so we bought a spring and a mattress for Tillie’s bed and we’re each going to get a pair of kid gloves. And I guess I’ll have to get a hat. 

Dec 30th

Made myself a hat. The shape cost me 39 cents and the silk cost 79 cents. The whole hat came to $1.18 and it’s a dandy!

Dec 31st

I guess I will have to say goodbye to you, old book. I do not know when I will read your pages again, or if I don’t, who will. There are many things in this book I would like to tear out or cross out, but everybody has his or her faults, so I will leave them in. 

[Lina read her own diary again in 1929 while in bed with tuberculosis, the very disease that claimed her older sister Emily. Obviously, Lina survived and became my grandmother.

 Originally, I had only intended to publish one month of this journal. However, many people encouraged me to dedicate part of my column to the entire diary, and so I did. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did sharing it. Happy Holidays!]

RAMONA JAN is the Founder and Director of Yarnslingers, a storytelling group that tells tales both fantastic and true. She is also the roving historian for Callicoon, NY and is often seen giving tours around town. You can email her at callicoonwalkingtours@gmail.com.

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