1916-1918 Unique Delaware County, NY Manuscript Auto Shop Ledger and Personal Diary of a Young Colchester Man Who Would Become an Elected Official in Laurens

On offer is a fascinating piece of Delaware County, New York history held in one ledger book. The book contains the unique combination of a 1916 ledger kept by the staff of an auto mechanic garage in Colchester, New York and the 1917-1918 personal diary of a young Colchester man, who may have worked at the shop for a time. 

The book was used as a mechanic shop ledger between January 24 and July 30, 1916. We believe the shop may have been owned by H.M. Barnhart. The ledger contains a ton of names from Delaware County along with notes on the services each person purchased from the shop, the cost of gas, oil, labour, car parts, rides to and from their destinations, and more. A large note at the bottom of the page following entries from June 29 reads: “Gorse [Gray] left today June 29, 1916 for Cleveland Ohio”. There are then another 1.5 pages of mechanic shop ledger entries, ending July 30, 1916. 

The book then jumps to Sept 13, 1917, and, in Gorse Gray’s hand, is written: “Bought car 13 day of Sept 1917”. The ledger book then continues as Gray’s detailed daily diary until December 31, 1918. 

Gorse Simmons Gray (1892-1964) born in Downsville, Delaware County, New York to Charles and Mary (Woodard) Gray. Theirs was a farming family, and along with his siblings, Gorse was actively involved in farming operations. He married Anna Boyd (1900-1980) on Christmas Day, 1918. Together they had six children, five of whom lived to adulthood. Gorse became a machinist and woodworker. He was also elected to Laurens, New York town office on the Republican ticket as collector, town clerk and highway superintendent. 

A mystery of this ledger book is how it came into Gorse Gray’s possession. While the Gray family are listed as frequent customers at the shop, particularly the patriarch Charles Gray and his farmhand Edwin J. Foote, our diarist, Gorse was still working in his family farming business in 1916 and did not become a mechanic until after he was married in 1918, so it is unclear how he ended up with the business’ ledger to use as his personal diary. Since he ultimately became a mechanic he may have been apprenticing at the shop in 1916. 

Gray’s diary provides insight into life in Delaware County in the early 20th century. In the course of his daily life and tasks, Gray discusses Walton, Delhi, Shavertown, Union Grove, Ilion, Clapton, Pepacton, Hobart, and other nearby towns. He is working on his family farm and discusses the minutiae of that lifestyle, as well as discussing the comings and goings of his siblings and other locals. He is dating Anna Boyd (1800-1880). Anna was a teacher who would later become a columnist for the Oneonta Star. As a whole, this book is an absolute goldmine of information on the citizens and lifestyle in Delaware County. Some excerpts give the flavour of both the ledger and Gray’s diary:

“Geo Hoyt - 5 gallon gas 1.30, 1 Gal T. Oil .50….Archie Campbell - Bushings 0.55….Ed. Smith 5 Gal Gas Paid 1.30…Gray and Foote 2 Gas Gal. .52…Chas Warren Vulcanising .30…C.E. Gray 1 Gal. Gas 0.26…” [April 24-26, 1916].

“Took Mama Lydia Edna to Kingston used about 10 gal gas 2.80” [Oct 18, 1917]. 

“Very warm, boiled sap all day and did not run much. Lee and I went down town I called on Anna a while she is much better. I went up to barber shop till Lee came played pool we got stuck coming home had to get a horse to pull us out was 12 when we got in” [March 21, 1918]. 

“Nice day. Sap did not run much.I drilled all day. Took off some. Dad and Mother went to town. I got a letter from Anna going to assist tonight. We heard that the Kaiser has been captured” [March 25, 1918]. 

“Washed car AM. WEnt down and got Anna. We went up back of School house for walk. She stayed to supper. Went down to go to Church but was late so we went for a walk. Lee went down to Church. We came home after. Lee came from Church” [April 7, 1918].

“Worked at Jim Rutherford car most of day. Lee and I went down town. I saw Anna. Lee took Dr. Holmes up to Pepacton” [Sept 1, 1918]. 

“Worked at corn & Thresh[ing]. Went down and got Anna. Les Edna and Papa went up to a Liberty Loan. I wrote Sam a letter” [Oct 11, 1918].

“Stayed all night at Boyds, got up about 8. Commenced to get read about 10 the wedding was about noon we had a good dinner we left for Laurens…and arrived here about 8PM They were just read to have supper Edna had a Xmas tree” [Dec 25, 1918]

The account book is a ledger-style volume measuring approximately 11.25x5.25 inches. The covers are intact but show signs of wear. The binding is stitched and taped and is in good condition as are the pages. The handwriting is legible. Overall Fair.