1916 Diary of a Young Charlottetown, PEI Woman Who is Working, Supporting the Troops and Caring for Her Family After the Loss of Her Mother, Before She Enlists in the Voluntary Aid Detachment

On offer is the diary of a 24-year-old Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI) woman who was the niece of the notable Dr. Cyrus MacMillan (1877-1953), and future wife of a prominent electrical engineer with whom she would eventually settle in Nova Scotia. 

The author of this diary is Isabelle (Belle) MacMillan (later Medforth) (1892-1986). Belle was the oldest daughter born to parents John Duncan MacMillan (1863-1938) and Alice Annie Fraser MacMillan (1868-1915) of Woods Island, PEI. Her six siblings were older brother, Hector Clarence, and little sisters Alice Annie, Ina, Juana “Jean”, Miriam Euphemia, and Edna Grace. Belle’s mother’s younger brother, John Daniel Cyrus MacMillan (1877-1953), was a prominent Canadian professor, author and politician [See BIO NOTES at end of listing]. Belle served in the Canadian Forces in the Voluntary Aid Detachment during the final year of WWI. Following the war, On June 2, 1920, Belle married George Taylor Medforth (1888-1963) in Charlottetown, PEI [See BIO NOTES at end of listing]. Belle and George lived in Amherst and Halifax, Nova Scotia. They had no children. 

Belle kept this diary for the year of 1916. Belle and her future husband, George, were dating while he was serving in England. Belle’s mother had died the February before. Belle was picking up a lot of slack at home, assisting her siblings and father. It seems she was employed by the Charlottetown Light and Power Company, as she has written “CL&P Company” under her name in the diary, and has journaled about her work in an office setting. 

Belle is making the most of her time on the homefront, enjoying the arts and cultural scene in Prince Edward Island, attending events at Heartz Music Hall, the Prince Edward Theatre, and Prince St. School, as well as activities at the local school and outdoor landmarks. She travels in the region, visiting Bedeque, PEI and Sydney, NS. She is highly observant of the men from Atlantic Canada who are serving in the war, and comments on their visits and events regularly. Some excerpts give the sense of Belle’s writing.

“Had a dreadfully busy day as H.W. is still ill and I’m alone at my tasks. Mr. [Simon Peter] Atkins died today leaving 8 children - oldest 10 and a baby 2 weeks old. Ina baked for them and went down today. Literary society tonight. Grandma’s after” [Jan 10].

“Morell Rink Opening (Ray there)...Came to office tonight to type Annual Report of K.P. for Mr. M Nair. Geo Binns back too and helped me until my Scrap Book for G.M. Letters from Ben, Gerorge. Box chocolate from Mr. M Nair” [Jan 12, 1916]. 

“Christina…and I were at Prince Edward helping Boys Scouts behind the screen at the Candy Sale. Made $50.00. [Prime?] Johnson there. Got some lovely Belgium lace from Geo.” [Feb 8].

“Cpl. White was in the office today and spent an hour telling me some of the many interesting sights seen at Cyprus and St. Julien. He is very interesting. Christina and I went to the Pictures. Bought some magazines for Dad - Reading all the time” [Feb 24].

“Jean and I went to the Kozey Korner tonight as I had promised her a treat when school closed. Marion and I are going tomorrow night. Mr. Taylor down today for hours. Very tired and headache as he was inoculated today” [June 26].

“Jim came home from Halifax tonight and brought the news of Cyrus’ marriage [he married Margaret Brower on Aug 15, 1916] - Such a simple one too. They were married in Dr. Campbell’s Vestry and had their wedding breakfast at a lunch canteen in the Station. Something new for Margaret” [Aug 19].

“...Oh I’ve had such a funny experience tonight. I was in all alone when some of the coloured men from the Royal Navy Boat (here loading hay for its trench) came to the door and asked me to play something for them (oh no!)” [Aug 20].

This diary is a phenomenal piece of Atlantic Canadian history. Importantly, during the extensive research for this listing, we discovered that the PEI genealogical records are somewhat difficult to piece together, so this diary is even more meaningful in putting together the history of the MacMillan family, as well as other local history. Belle mentions so many PEI and NS names and locations and milestones. 

This diary measures 4.75x3.0 inches. Belle writes regularly, missing days intermittently from January through June. She then skips June 29-August 9 altogether, and resumes her mostly consistent entries on August 10. She takes another pause from Nov 1-Dec 29, and comes back for the last couple days of the year. The page that has entries from Oct 24-29 has been ripped out of the book (an edge remains). Belle has recorded names and addresses at the back of her diary. The covers are in good condition. The spine has been broken at the back cover although the signatures remain attached. The pages are in good condition. The handwriting is tight but legible. Overall Fair. 

BIO NOTES: 

Belle’s uncle, Dr. Cyrus MacMillan, was born to parents Hector Currie MacMillan (1833-1905) and Isabella Fraser (1838-1919). He taught at McGill University and eventually became Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He served in WWI, where he commanded the 6th Canadian Siege Battery  during the Passchendaele operations. He briefly served as the appointed Minister of Fisheries in the Canadian government under William Lyon Mackenzie King and later represented Queen’s County, PEI in the House of Commons. He was a published author and his book, Canadian Wonder Tales was presented to Queen Elizabeth II after his death. 

George Taylor Medforth was born in Burton, Lidsea, England to parents Bland and Selina Taylor Medforth. He was trained as an Electrical Engineer at the Hull Technical School in England and immigrated to Canada to work for the Canadian Electric Company. He served for Canada in the Royal Engineers Regiment in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), stationed in France and England. Following the war, he became Chief Engineer at the Canadian Electric Company and president of the Association of Professional Engineers in Nova Scotia. He served in multiple positions for the Amherst Board of Trade in Nova Scotia. He died in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was buried in Charlottetown, PEI.