“Is it true you were born in the eighteen-hundreds?” Sophia yelled through the window.
“What of it?” Grandma answered, very distinctly. “What do you know about the eighteen-hundreds?”
“Nothing, and I’m not interested, either,” Sophia shouted and ran away.
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
I thought this was such a funny episode in the book I read last year. Grandma has a tendency to be private and defensive. Her prickly responses set off equally prickly ones from her granddaughter, who doesn’t like to be thought of as young and uninformed.
If you’re looking for a good book to escape the drudgery of this season, I highly recommend The Summer Book. The reason I picked that quote, though, is that the two visitors to the Dunning house in the below pictures were born right at the end of the eighteen-hundreds.
The woman in the white dress with the magnificent bow is Harriet Beyea Clark. She was born in 1894 to Samuel E. Clark and Lydia Carr. She’s posing here with a familiar cast of characters: Aunt Kate holding my grandma Marjorie, sister Clara squinting into the sun, and great-grandmother Eleanor deep in conversation with Ferris.
You’ll notice that pile of rocks and boards below the deck there. This is the period that the Dunnings rebuilt the house and I suspect this was part of the demolition .
Harriet’s beau, Frank Vincent Simpson, was also born in 1894, in Hurleyville (Sullivan County). He became a building contractor, located on 224 East Main Street in Middletown. I assume that he was involved somehow on the house renovation but I’m not sure they would have a 20-year-old heading the project!
Harriet and Frank married on New Year’s Eve 1914. He was drafted a few years later for WWI, some time between 1917 and 1918. On the draft registration his height (tall, medium or short) is listed as “short”. His build (slender, medium or stout) is listed as “slender”. “Brown” is noted down for hair color and “grey” for eye color (which is kind of amusing…grey?)
On May 21, 1917 I found that Frank was one of 15 men to be “honorable discharge[d]…from the organization, because of dependent families.” He returned to Middletown and was employed by Ed Pitcher of Goshen as a carpenter/house carpenter. As of the 1930 census, he and Harriet were raising three children in the Town of Walkill: Norma (11), John C. (9) and Lawrence (3).
Daughter Norma ended up marrying Allan Mitchell (an Otisville man) and went on to have three children as well (Pamela, Judy and Allan Jr.). Son John C. attended Northeastern college in September 1940. Son Lawrence showed up as 3 yrs. old on the 1930 census but I couldn’t turn up anything on him. Anyone know a Larry Simpson growing up?
I saved this picture for last because it’s so idyllic. Look at that countryside. Look at the affianced couple with their fancy pre-children clothing . Everyone looks like they had a good day. Remember all those older pictures where people didn’t even smile?
It’s been a difficult week in my personal 2021 world. Our local day care had to shut down my daughter’s pre-K class (again) due to a positive COVID case. My husband and I took turns playing Barbies and Zingo for 15 minutes every couple hours, and my older daughter tried to entertain her once school was over but…it was sad.
Whenever something like this happens my husband and I do try to count our blessings. None of us have gotten sick. We’ve still got our jobs. It’s similar to when it rains in New York and people say “could be worse, could be snow.” Thankfully, it seems like we’re turning a corner on both fronts (winter and COVID). Just have to be patient…
Hope everyone and their chickens are staying nice and toasty warm. Hugs to you all.
Well written as always.
Such great photos (as well as the commentary). Harriet was a real beauty. I also loved the quote from The Summer Book. I had forgotten it. It is so indicative of their personalities. Another excellent blog, Martha. I must get my love of writing from you!