1907 and 1942 ORIGINAL UNIQUE ARCHIVE OF TWO [2] MANUSCRIPT DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY AN 18 YEAR OLD BOY AND THE 53 YEAR OLD MAN HE BECAME

On offer is an unusual pair [2] of manuscript diaries, remarkable for the fact that they literally 'bookend' the life of Gordon E. Hayes of Watertown and Barnes Corners New York. The diaries are from two very different times in Gordon's life. The first being 1907 when Gordon when he was just 18 years old and the second being 1942, when he is 53. The first diary has a handwritten entry for every day of the year and the later diary has a full entry until May 24th and at this time Gordon is very sick. The early diary is so amusing and a typical diary of an 18 year old boy. Here are some snippets: 1907 "January 5th, Real cloudy but did not storm today. Did chores. Papa read today. Coon Getman came today about 4 and is here tonight." "February 1st, Cloudy and warmer. I went back to Uncle Wills and Clint and I came home today. I bought a gun, loading set and belt and rooster, $1.00." "March 3rd, Cold partly cloudy. Papa and I went to put board on out house and start fire at school house. We went to Aunt Helen's too and cleaned her stove pipes." "March 24th, Cloudy and rains. I came home this morning from Aunt Helen's. Big fire some where last night towards Barnes Corners." "April 15th, Changeable. Cold most all the time. We boilt and catched up with sap. Had 3 pails tonight. A white owl set up here on the fence. I chased him over to Clarence Potters." "April 26th, Stormed and rained and snow. Just done chores. Mr. Murtin came. Wanted one of us to go to Watertown with our milk wagon but did not have safe box. He has got to go and have operation." "June 22nd, Pleasant. Lora, I, mama and papa all went to the picnic. 3 or 4 schools went in together. Lora and I went in the load. Clarence Todd and family came." "July 4th, Pleasant celebration. Was great Elks and Canadian soldiers were all here. The Kingston and Ganoctway (?) boys here in La Cross game. Fireworks fine." "August 22nd, Pleasant. Papa and I drew hay. Fred Bostwick, Elma and mother here to supper. Bryan Allen died today. Heart trouble." "August 29th, Pleasant. Papa and I went to the fair and Lora went with Stones. Had a dandy time. A man looped the loop on a wheel." "September 16th, Pleasant. Uncle Charley here. He's sick yet. Aunt Lene went to Montague to see if someone would do their chores. We finished grain in upper meadow." "November 27th, Cold and about inch snow. Papa, mama and Aunt Helen and all went to school today to hear the speaking. It was fine. Cady and Harry Stone and I slid down hill." "December 21st, Pleasant. I drew manure. F. Bostwick borrowed our light bobbs. Lora, Harry, Cady, Vivian and all went to Barnes Corners tonight. Papa, mama to Murtins. Good time." 1942 "January 2nd, Lionel went to work. Lois went with him and came home. Frank Thayer came tonight. Lionel took his car and Lois took Frank and Marjorie to Black River to see doctor. I at home. I done dishes. I got grip. Lionel got me a box of Hills Cold Tablets." "January 8th, Cold tonight. Snow blowing. Lionel phoned in, can not get home. Frank called Marjorie on phone. Marjorie and I alone. Lloyd O'Dell here in the evening. We got State Police and Death Valley days on radio. Good. Lots of headaches." "January 14th, Windy and stormy. Lionel got up early. I got up 20 to 2 but he did not go till six or after. Lois went out with him. They had to walk to Elton Green's. I had a slight hemorrhage this afternoon. Felt awful for awhile but feel better tonight. Some weak." "March 5th, Warmer. Snow packed. Lionel stayed out. A card party to night to South Rut Grange. Frank came tonight. I walked to Simmon's on snowshoes. Got a pound of coffee and coca. Got papers. Got Bert Green's. I took them up." "March 25th & 26th, Pleasant. Lionel and I went in our woods this forenoon. Sawed sugar wood in afternoon. Took team in. Lionel drew some wood to Arch and gathered what sap. Did not run good tonight. Got a phone call from Watertown, Marjorie is bad. Lionel and Lois went. Marjorie in hospital. I went to Jay Merrill's and got milk....Sap run good. I boilt. Lionel gathered sap. We syruped down. Had a good batch today. Marjorie was operated on in Sister's Hospital about one. We went down to see her. Did not see her, she is real bad." "March 31st, Frank Thayer came up with his car, took his batry put in Lionel's car. Lionel, Lois, Thelma and Frank and I went to see Marjorie to Watertown. She was in pain. I got me a bottle of dope." "April 1st, Lionel came in with team then and drew up wood to Arch. We syruped down tonight. I boilt till after nine, had wax tonight. 8 years tonight Mildred passed away in Lowville Hospital." "April 24th, Lionel and I gathered the buckets. I washed all in afternoon. 243 tonight. Jay, Thelma, Merrill, Lionel, Lois and Lewey Fuller and I went to Watertown Hospital. Saw Marjorie a little while. She is real bad. Frank did not want us to go in to see her so we won't disobey his Lordship." "May 18th, Lionel, Lois, Thelma, Merrill and I went to Lowville. Lionel took me to doctors. He sent me to hospital. He tapped my spine and took blood, just red tape. Hospital $4.50. I feel worse." "May 23rd & 24th (His last two entries) Lionel had Lora come over. I got worse. She gave me hot lard turpentine. Lionel fussed with me. Lora stayed with Lois. Lionel took me to Dr. Douglass. Got some thing new. Helps but not good. Frank Thayer and Marjorie came tonight. Stayed all night. Lionel, Lois, Thelma and them went to Watertown tonight. I bad.....Frank and Marjorie went away. Came back. Left tonight. Jay Merrill's folks over for dinner. I real bad, no bowl movement. I took 6 tablespoons of castor oil. Lora gave with grape juice tonight. Lionel had Dr. Douglass up. First no relief, oil gave me great pain. I got some relief." He does make mention of many of the people he is in contact with: Addie Cory, Harry Stone, Murton, Clinton Young, Lamont Overton, William Burk, Jell Lamphor, Lloyd Waterman, Fred Woodward, Holloway, C. Greenly, Mabel and Etheline Baker, Elma Bostwick, Clinton and Lula Young, Bert Parker, G. Dryer, Herman Woodworth, Ethel Green, Dora Hart, Conrad Getman, Frank Thayer, Pickard, Lew Curtis, L. O'Dell, C. B. Hubbard and more. The 1907 diary is a black pocket type diary that measures about3" x 5 ¾" and the 1942 diary measures about 3 ½" x 6". Both are in fair to good condition.; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, WATERTOWN, BARNES CORNERS, NEW YORK STATE, UPSTATE NEW YORK, MEN'S STUDIES, GENDER STUDIES, MEN'S STUDIES, GENDER STUDIES, PRE WORLD WAR I, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, DIARY, JOURNAL, LOG, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, DIARIES, JOURNALS, LOGS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY,antiquité, contrat, vélin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, manuscrito, papel.