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Journals Written by Marian Stoddard Coleman

Transcribed by her granddaughter, Cynthia North Donatelli

Marian Stoddard Coleman and her husband lived in Bingham and raised their children there. My grandfather's name was Harold A. Coleman, my grandmother was Marian S. Coleman. They lived in the house to the right of the library on Main Street. The diary contains some fascinating insight to life in Bingham during the 19teens and 1920s. My mother, Lucille Coleman (Bingham High School Class of '29), had a life-long love for Bingham and for this reason, I'm trying to preserve as many pictures and stories from her as I can find.

Small Grey Notebook

Lucille Coleman - born October 14, 1911 at 10:15 P.M. Sunday. Laughed aloud at 2 mos.

Jan 23, 1912
Lucille went into short clothes this day. Age 2 months, one week.

May 17, 1912
Baby's first tooth came thru today. Lower front tooth.

June 14, 1912
Baby's second lower front tooth came thru today.

July 5, 1912
Baby creeps now. High time I should think. Nearly nine months.

July 17, 1912
Her first upper front tooth came thru today.

July 21, 1912
Such a surprise! Found another new tooth has come thru today. Not the mate to the front one cut the 17th, but the tooth beside it. I call it the upper right side tooth. Four teeth and the other front one is beginning to show white. She has been dreadfully fussy and restless the last four nights and no wonder. Three teeth to attend to all at once is quite a responsibility.
Lucile has the name of being the handsomest baby in town.

July 17, 1912
Baby discovered today that she can be lying down and then pull herself into sitting position. Tonight when I put her to bed I left the door into the kitchen open a few minutes. I looked in and lo, she was sitting up as proud as punch with her blanket in her lap, chattering away so big. When I laughed she turned to see me and of course plopped over.

July 21, 1912
Harold, Willis Vining and Arlie Whitney went to Carry Pond at 12 o'clock this morning.
Last evening I went for a drive with Mrs. Washburn and Jessie in Mrs. W's auto. Very nice.
Roy Savage went home t'other day and told his wife that Anna (their baby) wasn't near as good looking as Lucile. She said she told him every baby couldn't have handsome dark eyes.
Expect that there will be another baby Coleman along in February. Tough, but inevitable. About as tough on Lucile as on anyone.

Wed, July 24, 1912
Mama stayed here tonight while Harold and I went to the tent to see the pictures. Two of them were taken at Preble and Robinson's lumber camps. The first one was a love story. About half of that was taken in New York. Only the out door scenes were taken up there. The second one was instructive showing the workings of the camp. Squee.

July 30, 1912
Lucille will shake a bye-bye now along with her other accomplishments. I wonder if every little thing the next one does will seem so wonderful and delightful to me. I fear I shan't have much time to appreciate it, with the two so near together.

Tues. Aug 6, 1912
Lucile's fifth tooth came thru today. The other upper front one, on the left side. I guess the other upper side one. Four teeth in one month and not sick. How is that? I guess she will rest awhile now.

Mon. Aug. 26, 1912
No rest yet. Lucile's seventh tooth is thru. How fortunate for me that she is cutting them easy.

Fri. Sept 13, 1912
Baby stood up today for the first time. She got up onto her feet four different times and would stand until I would make her sit down. Little sweet thing.

Tues. Oct 15, 1912
Lucile is one year old today and hasn't even had a sick hour. I call that remarkable. Every day she has been just as good as good could be. To be sure she had one cold but it didn't make her sick. She can walk quite a bit by holding onto something and say 'Bur' for burn and 'gir' for girl. Of course she says 'Da-da' and 'Ma-ma' but I am sure she doesn't know the meaning of either one.

Thurs. Nov 21, 1912
Lucile's eighth tooth came thru today. She has added 'pri' for pretty and 'no' and 'go' for gone. Doesn't walk alone yet.

Thurs. Dec 5, 1912
Lucile walked alone today. Several times. Went as much as ten feet once. Am so glad for only ten days more and she will be 14 months old.

Sun. Jan 5, 1913
I am going to try to write oftener this year. We have no snow but everything is covered with ice. River is very high. Over the road in places.
Mama & Papa gave us a mission chair to match our rocker Xmas. Harold gave me a 'Wear-Ever' Aluminum Double Boiler at my request. He thot that a funny present but I enjoy it greatly. His mother sent us a check for six dollars. And, of course we had a number of small things. Milk pitcher, Cracker jar, cheese plate, nightgown case, nut bowl, collar and cull box, hanks, fancy apron, etc.
Lucile had 10 dollars, Teddy bear, doll, linen book, 2 sets of blocks, rubber ball, rattle, pig bank, pr. white mittens & pr. white drawers, leggings, & a china cat.
Think that is all.
Of course by this time Lucile trots everywhere and she can go up a flight of stairs in a short time. She can climb into the Morris chair just as easy and she is getting real good about using her chair, also tells me when she wants a drink of water by either going over to the sink or pointing at it and going 's-s-s-s-s-s'.
The Teddy bear she had Xmas is a 'Bar-Bar' that literally translated means 'Bark-bark'. He did have a bark in him but that went quickly. She despised him anyway until his bark was gone. He was worse than the hot water bottle in her crib and that is about the worst thing to her way of thinking, but now that he talks no more he is fine.
Grandpa Coleman sent her a ten-dollar bill for Xmas. That makes thirty-three dollars that she has had given her since she was born.
She had her first sick spell the week before Xmas. Feverish and couldn't keep anything on her stomach. Lasted a day and a half. She was the best little patient one ever had. Perfectly contented to lay still in her crib, sometimes dozing and sometimes awake. But I couldn't leave her long for it was the first time she had ever been sick and I wanted to hold her all I possible could and I did. I guess it was her teeth for the gums are swollen for four of her double ones. Four at once would upset most anyone I fancy.

Mon. Jan 13, 1913. Cold
Today Lucile has been getting on to her feet unaided by furniture or walls. She thinks it grand and so do I.
Two weeks from today I go to Lewiston again. If only I could take Lucile. I cry every time I think of how long I may be away from her. But it is the best thing to do, so I must.

Wed. Jan 15, 1913
Lucile is a little Irish rascal. I espied her preening and primping in front of the bookcase this noon. The glass doors against the dark bindings are as good as a looking glass. And there she stood with my white muffler around her neck, looking at her reflection, turning first one side and then the other, to observe the effect evidently, and arranging and re-arranging that muffler. It was too cunning for anything. I could hardly keep from shrieking, but I managed.
Then just a few minutes later I got her sweater, etc., to put on as Harold was to take her over and weigh her, she being 15 months old today. She was sitting in his lap and he had been trying so hard to get her to 'love Da-da' or to 'Kiss-Da-da'. But no, she wouldn't do any such thing. Indeed not! But when we began to put on her leggings and she was standing up in his lap so that I could tie them, she kissed him and hugged him with a regular bear hug, patted his cheeks, and laid her face against his, all unsolicited. ÒI do love you so Da-da when you take me out'.

Jan 24, 1913
Lucile's first double tooth appeared today. Three more swollen up.

Mon Jan 27, 1913
Lucile took her first railroad trip today since she came from Lewiston at 2 weeks of age. Such a dear as she was. When the train first started she was almost inclined to cry, but she cuddled up close to Da-da and in a short time she was talking to everyone and having the time of her life. She just enjoyed every minute.
Dr. Emmons examined her throat and said that she had adenoids alright, but should not advise an operation before next fall, where she is so young. So she will go home tomorrow.
Miss Metcalf, doctors and nurses think she is a prize. Miss MÑ says she is about the best-developed child, physically and mentally she has ever seen and Miss M- is no spring chicken, either in her business or in years. I am going to stay with Lucile at the hospital tonight, we have a room at the wing.

Tues. Jan. 28,1913
Letter from Harold said that she was just as good going home as she was coming. He was a bit nervous about going with her alone. But she talked to everyone, one old gentleman in particular and he took her over into his seat and she had one glorious time with his watch chain.

Sun. Feb. 2, 1913
Came down to Lewiston last Monday. Harold and Lucile came too. Lucile has adenoids but they didn't want to operate on her so young. Wait until next fall. Lucile was a darling all the time. She was here one night and she and I staid in a private room at the wing. They moved a little white bed into the room, and Lucile went to bed without a murmur.
Tuesday afternoon they went home and I felt like two cents with a hold punched in it.
I dread being sick but I shall be awfully glad when I am for that means going home just so much sooner. But there is no use getting desperate over it.
Have been down street every day since, sometimes twice, until today and I have felt too sleepy and lazy to move. But tonight when Mrs. Raymond goes up to see her little girl I am going with her to see Miss Judkins who was nurse on the ward when I was here before.
Can't seem to sleep extra well nights and today is the first time I have slept in the daytime.

Mon. Feb. 3, 1913
Have been under the weather all day. Nothing particular as far as I can see, but I certainly feel bum. Have been lying down the greater part of the day. Ate an apple for dinner. Went downtown tho this afternoon. Guess it must be distemper for every other one here complains of the same thing.

Thurs. Feb. 6, 1913
Recovered. Tuesday night Mrs. Lunt, Mrs. Marble, Mrs. Paige and yours truly went up to Mrs. Cole's, a dressmaker. Afterwards we went into George ÑÑÑÑ and had an ice cream. It was simply delicious!
Yesterday afternoon I attended my first bargain counter sale. Very few bargains offered and I didn't get a thing except tired. Came back and took a long nap.
This morning I went up to Mrs. Marble's on an errand for Mrs. Lunt.
I got along for a good many years without either Harold or Lucile. Why should I miss them so now? It just seems as if I just must take the next train home regardless of anything. But I try and hang onto my senses and not think of how I want to be with them again but of how I am getting rested and having a vacation.

Wed., Feb. 12, 1913.
Still waiting. Harold came down as a surprise Saturday, went back Monday afternoon. Goodness, didn't I hate to see him go. Stanley (brother) was on the train and got off to see me but I had gone. It didn't seem to me as if I could possibly stand and watch that train go out without me.
Bought a bust of a girl today. Foolish extravagance. No place to put it. Unnecessary anyway. But something about it at the time reminded me of Lucile, the little sweetness.

Fri. Mar. 28, 1913
Two months make quite a difference. Her other three double teeth came thru while I was gone, I should say about the last of Feb. Now her four canines are swollen and show white, the right upper one showing white at the point.
She lost her bottle entirely the day she was seventeen months old and evidently didn't care a hang for any except the one she was used to having at 10 PM, but after 2 nights had gone by without its appearing, she said nothing more.
Twice she has put words together. One 'Good crac-crac' for good cracker and 'bur bea' for burn baby. She has quite a vocabulary now of single words-mostly of one syllable, except 'dir-y' for dirty. Also, she can say baby but seldom does, preferring 'Be'.

Sat. April 12, 1913
Lucile's right upper canine is just pricked thru.

April 13, 1913
Phyllis began to make those contented 'shs' at 6 weeks. Now she is beginning to talk to herself quite a bit when she is awake. The poor child has an immense appetite and I have been sticking to my formulas and she had been hungry all this week, and only gained one ounce. Now I am going to use my own judgment and see what happens. I can't any more than kill the child.

April 18, 1913
Phyllis laughed out loud. A little later than Lucile but she hasn't had the attention Lucile received at that time.
Her face is very round and fat and it makes her look larger than Lucile at that time whereas a matter of fact she is several ounces lighter.
A better baby it would be hard to find. Many a night she doesn't wake up at all and never more than once. And day times she is as good as gold. Not that she ever cries, for she does and a fierce temper she has. When she is in a rage she actually squeals and her face will be as red as a boiled lobster. Pick her up and she will break off in the middle of a squeal, straighten out her face and begin to goo with such rapidity as to make one gasp for breath.

May 15, 1913
Lucile's left upper canine is thru. If only she can finish teething before dog days begin.

May 21, 1913
Phyllis sleeps thru the whole night every night. And lately she hasn't wakened until six for her breakfast, whereas it used to be between 4:30 and five. She certainly is an awfully good baby and a healthy one, too.

May 24, 1913
Lucille: Dandelion blossoms are 'dandy-fowers-in-the-garss'
Gave Phyllis and Lucile their baths together in the tub. Both think it great. Tease for baths. Phyllis will say 'baff' and if I don't then I get one of her funny scowls or else a squeal.

June 5, 1913
Lucile's lower right canine pricked thru. Other very near the top. One more tooth and then I hope she will rest thru the hot weather.
I am thinking seriously of putting her into drawers. How's that for not quite 20 months of age?

Wed. June 11, 1913
Lucile's other canine is thru. How glad I am. Sixteen teeth and they all came as easy. Not a bit of trouble.
This morning I put drawers onto her. Looks awfully cute.

July 10, 1913
Phyllis worked herself over onto her stomach this afternoon while lying on the floor.
She thinks her toes are A-1 playthings.

June 17, 1913
Altho Phyllis has never been in really long clothes, today I put her officially into short dresses. The change actually consisted of short cotton petticoats on waists and cotton stockings. A few of her dresses will have to be tucked up a bit.

Mon. July 21, 1913
She talks quite a bit now. It seems as if she says a new word every day. We went to the barber not long ago and had our hair cut Dutch. Just as good as a kitten full of cream. Yesterday the four of us went for a drive. Lucile wanted to drive and drive alone, not just hold onto the loose ends of the reins tho she consented to do so.

Thurs. July 23, 1913
Phyllis has another molar thru some time ago. She walked alone a bit today. Pleased her much.

Aug 5, 1913
Phyllis has a tooth. Lower one of course. A month and a half sooner than Lucile.

Aug 6, 1913
Phyllis has two teeth. The other lower front one. Pretty well for a five months baby. And her gums for her two upper teeth are swollen.

Aug 12, 1913
Phyllis: Altho she isn't quite six months old, she notices our facial contortions and laughs at them. Let me wrinkle my nose at her and she always shrieks with glee. Stoddards can make up awful faces I know, but five months seems rather young to realize it.

Aug 16, 1913
Lucile talks a lot now. She can make me understand almost everything. Her latest is 'What's that?' and she says it at least 100 times a day. She calls Mrs. Goss' dog 'Briar' very plain. Everyone understands that. Grandmother Andrews' cat is 'Bown' (Brown). 'Lady' is 'Lyde-Lydle'. The rest are just 'harse', 'Car-t' (cat), and 'Do' (dog) and 'kow' (cow).

Sept 10, 1913
Phyllis's right upper side tooth is thru.

Sept 17, 1913
Phyllis: Her left upper side tooth is thru.

Sept 29, 1913
Phyllis: Upper left tooth thru. Front one. Sixth one nearly here.

Oct 1, 1913
Lucile's adenoids removed Friday, September 26 at Somerset Hospital, Skowhegan. Dr. J. E. Wadsworth.

Oct 6, 1913
Phyllis: Upper right tooth just thru. The sixth tooth in all. In two months. Going some, eh?

Oct 15, 1913
Phyllis is two pounds lighter than Lucille at the same age. She seems healthy, too. Yet she is always ravenously hungry 15-30 minutes before time. Can't see any signs of indigestion so I guess I will put her on eleventh month tho she is just entering on her month. (Medical advice was very strict as to when children should be put on solid food) I hope I am not wrong.

Mar 5, 1914
Lucile's last two molars are through.
Phyllis: Left lower side tooth thru. Had to give her a new nipple. Wouldn't take it. Held out from 10:30 the 3rd until this noon. Had just three bottles of milk in that time of 6 oz. each and one cup of Saxony Wheat food.

March 6, 1914
Stood Phyllis on her feet in the standing stool today. She can stand all O.K. without any support except her arms hooked over the top round. Used her hands. Thinks it is great fun but can't seem to get up alone.

Sat. April 11, 1914
Phyllis went up to Mama's Sun. March 22 and stayed until last Mon. afternoon the 6th, because of the arrival of baby brother. While there she cut the other lower side tooth and the gums for her first four molars are swollen. Also, she added quite a few accomplishments. She can get up and down in her standing stool at will and walk around in it a little. She can sing a wee bit and she has the most deliciously funny scowl when things don't please her. I would give a great deal to be able to get a good picture of her. If she still has the trick when warm weather comes I am going to try, for it is too funny for anything. Also she is just a trifle bowlegged, but her pretty soft curls make up for it. But I am starting to massage them straight.

June 28, 1914
Phyllis: One molar thru. The other three coming and her two eye and two stomach teeth, also. If that isn't rushing things, what is? She doesn't walk, yet, but Harold has screened in our half of the back piazza and she plays out there when weather permits. Walks by holding onto things and can get onto her feet without any aid whatever. Rather bow-legged.

June 28, 1914
Dad gave me a ten spot to buy something for the kids with and for one thing I bought a sulky. Lucile and Phyllis can both get in at one time and they are just crazy over it. L-is rather selfish with Phyllis in regards to toys, but she likes to have her ride with her (but NOT without her) and she always wants P- to have some of the same thing as she may be eating.
She dearly loves to ride in a 'mobile' as calls them.

June 30, 1914
Let L- have a chew of gum today. When I gave it to her I told her to give it to me when she didn't want it anymore. After a while she came and handed it to me saying 'Don't want, Make my teeth tired.'
Yesterday when I was ironing she found one of the slim sticks that steady my ironing table behind the door. She brought it out and held it up asking, 'Who broke ining boar?' I answered that I did in an absent minded off-hand way and she repeated the question several times, each time I saying 'O, I did' - carelessly. Evidently she didn't like my lack of attention for suddenly she gave me a slap with it across my west end and said in a determined manner, 'SER ME! (answer me) WHO BROKE INING BOAR?'

July 1, 1914
This noon I opened a pimple beneath Harold's chin with a needle and squeezed it. L- was sitting on the arm of his chair and after it was done she patted his face with one little hand and said reassuringly, 'It's a'right now,Da. Don' ky (Cry)'. Then she took his face between her two palms and kissed him. Her tiny face is so expressive of every emotion.

July 10, 1914
O you child! Tonight before bathing them, I rubbed some vaseline into L & P's heads to loosen the dirt, and left the tube lying on the window sill of their room, telling L not to touch it. Well, I forgot all about it, put them to bed and went out to hang out a washing. Knew they were having a pretty good time up there but that is not at all unusual. When I came in Lucile wanted me to come up, informed me that her hands were dirty. Up I went still unsuspecting. The scamp had squeezed out all the vaseline and applied - rather plastered - it on her hair, hands and feet, the footboard of her bed and in Phyllis' hair and all over her body, she having on nothing but diapers, the night being hot. Of all the messes!

Sun. July 26, 1914
Phyllis: Third molar thru. One canine nearly thru. Takes quite a few wobbly steps alone now.

Thurs Aug 6, 1914
Phyllis: Two upper canines thru. She trots everywhere now. Steps high wide & lively. Says quite a few words & is real good about using her chair. 'Ma, Da, See, what's that down there', and' See that down there, Bye-Bye, Hello, Roll (bread), bottle, No, Marian, Brown', and quite a few others we think she says, but are not sure.

Aug 10, 1914
Sat. night Harold brought Lucille a flower from his Grandma's garden. She was abed. Harold went in and said low, 'Lucille, are you asleep?' 'M'm-n' came the reply. Again - 'Lucille, are you asleep?' 'M-m-n, DON'T wake me up.'

Sat. Sept, 5, 1914.
Phyllis: Both lower canines thru. Today as I was pinning up her diapers I put one pin in my mouth for a minute. She looked at me and scowling ferociously, said 'Mouf! Mouf!' (Mouth, Mouth) I tell her not to put things in her mouth so she returned the compliment.
Tonight she was crying on the piazza and Lucile went out there and I heard L- say, 'Stop! Go to bed!' When Lucile is naughty and cries I tell her to stop or I will put her to bed. I have got to toe the mark now, their ears and eyes are so keen.

Sept 20, 1914
Phyllis did something that displeased Lucile the other day and Lucile said in a disgusted tone, 'Oo get my goat!'

Jan 19, 1915
'T'other noon I put L & P on the couch while we were eating dinner, as they ate before Harold came home, and they raised cain. Harold scolded and threatened them with spankings and he might as well have piped at the North Wind. Finally he went in and spanked, evidently not very hard for Phyllis looked up at him with twinkling eyes and a grin, waved her hand at him and said 'Bye-bye, Da!'

January 23, 1915
When I purchased this book I intended to copy all I have in the small notebook, but my courage has failed me. Perhaps when the children are older and I have more time - will that ever come?
Phyllis looks soft and easy but let me tell her not to do a thing or to do it and her brows come down in a frown her blue eyes flash and she will snap out, 'NO!' Spankings seem to be no good except to relieve my feelings, which is NOT what we are SUPPOSED to spank for, but which I strongly suspect is the REAL reason for two thirds of the spanking administered.
Today has been very quiet. Nothing to report. They have done nothing extra bad, good or cunning, truly a remarkable day.

Tues., Jan 16, 1915
Last evening when I was getting supper, Lucille was sweeping out the Dining room with the small child's broom. In my passing between the kitchen and dining room I got in her way several times. At last the little tyke mimicked me perfectly, 'Get right out of the way! Go into the front room.' MY words every day when I am washing or sweeping. But the tones! Nervous, hurried and impatient

Wed., Jan 27, 1915
Tonight after supper Harold went into the living room to smoke and read. Phyllis trotted after him and a moment after came out to the kitchen where I was sitting and leaning against me said, 'Moke! Moke!' (smoke), pounding my knee with her fist with every word. I looked down, 'Do you want to smoke?' 'N-n-n', was the reply and off she trudged for Harold's pipe and was put out because she could not have it.
Boy and Phyllis weigh just the same now, 23 1/2 lbs. I wish he would learn to walk, he is so heavy to lift now as he is a dead weight. He has a great time nights when I am undressing him, playing with his reflection in the window.

Monday, Feb.1, 1915
Last evening Boy tried to get up on to his feet. He saw a hole in the wall and evidently wanted to investigate. Twice he pulled up onto his knees, but he could get no farther. Today he has been trying to get up, but with no better success.
Tonight Phyllis found a piece of an old garter and came and stood in front of Harold and me, holding it up for our inspection and saying over and over, 'Stos Stos', which meant stockings, stockings. I nodded my head and went out into the kitchen and had hardly got there when I heard Harold give a great roar of laughter. Of course I wanted to know what had happened so hurried back. When he had somewhat recovered he told me that Phyllis kept on saying 'Stos' for a while, then turned to go out, but had hardly done so when she wheeled like a flash, lifted one hand and wagged her fore finger at him exclaiming triumphantly, 'Gar! Gar!' (garter) as much as to say, 'There! That is the word I wanted to say!' Lucille rushed in on the scene and asked Phyllis to 'Do it again, Bee.' But she turned her back and said in a quiet voice, but infinitely disgusted in tone, 'No-o!'

Saturday, Feb. 6, 1915
Boy cut two teeth without my knowing a thing about it. One must have been through a week or more by the size. That makes six and the two upper ones to match are coming, one being nearly through. He likes to watch the trains when they come down here mornings. He waves his arms and goes 'Sho-o-oo! Sho-o-o!', but whether he is mocking the engine or not I cannot say. I am rather inclined to think so for he mocks me whenever I cough, sneeze, or make any odd noise.
Phyllis can pick out quite a few objects in pictures. Yesterday she had an old Ladies Home Journal looking at and she found a Mellens Food Ad with a big baby. She pointed to it and said, 'Boz' (boy) and then at Boy and said 'Boz' again. Found a horse, a chair and some spoons.
This afternoon Harold got home early - they close 4:30 Saturdays - and went out on the hill on his skis. Soon came back and Lucile was out on the piazza playing and wanted to try them, so he spent quite a bit of time letting her use them and she did very well. Harold told me that she told him, 'I no good on 'oos skis, Da. I have 'ittle 'kis so I no fall down all time.'

Tues., Feb. 16, 1915
A few weeks ago we took Lucile to the moving pictures, which she thought grand. This afternoon as she was lying on the couch and I was seated by the window darning, suddenly she began, 'I don' want stay home all-a-time mama. I 'ant go see some pi-us (pictures)Ó. I didn't understand what she was talking about and asked her where the pictures were. 'Up street. In a house. 'Mobile come, bear come, mouse come' And she began to wax enthusiastic and went on to describe all she could remember having seen. So I promised her that she should go again soon. At the table tonight I told Harold and as there were some tonight he has taken her. When she found out that she was going there wasn't a thing but what she would do, and do immediately. And she hugged Da and told him, 'I like 'oo, Da', until he informed her she was a chip right off the Blarney Stone.

Thurs., Feb, 25, 1915
Baby has another tooth thru, the seventh and the eighth one is nearly here. He has smashed two of his bottles this week by throwing them. Today he got a surprise. He was sitting on a small chair, pushing the high chair back and forth. All at once he lifted on it and consequently it tipped over. I thought sure he was in for a hard whack on top of the head, but he unknowingly averted that by hanging onto the chair for dear life. It swung over sideways and came down just in front and side of him. He held on hard enough so that it didn't fall with a crash. But then from the minute of his birth he has been awfully strong in his arms and hands.

March 3, 1915
Boy's eighth tooth is through. I think that Phyllis is commencing to cut her last four molars. The gums seem swollen.
Boy spends a great part of his waking hours on his knees in his standing stool. He can get up that far easily and even move about a bit.

March 24, 1915
Boy celebrated his first birthday by having a bad cold. Yesterday he had quite a fever and I was just about ready to have a doctor when it began to leave him. Today he has felt fairly well although his appetite is very poor.
Lucile has been in more trouble today than any day in her life. First she tipped over a bottle of Marcia's milk. Then she knocked the plate off a dish of soup Marcia had on the back piazza. Then there were a dozen small things. And this afternoon she and Roy were throwing rocks right at the house and windows. And I made her come in when I discovered her sitting on the edge of our garden paddling her feet in a puddle of snow water. Of course her feet were wet well.

April 5, 1915
Boy discovered today how to really creep. He has been crawling on his stomach or the whole front of him. And he can almost get onto his feet. Says 'Bye' and waves his hand, so feel he is beginning to make a start. My children are away behind most youngsters of their age, although Lucile is not now if she only talked plainer.

Wed., April 7, 1915
Whenever I go to telephone I always tell the children to be quiet and usually say 'S-sh! S-sh!' two or three times. Just now I went to the phone but didn't say anything for Lucile is up to her Grandmother A's and Phyllis was quiet. Baby was sitting in his high chair and when I rang central and gave my number he turned around and looked at me a few seconds then went, s-sh! s-sh!
A little later - he just got up onto his feet in his stool. How pleased he was with his performance. Rather wobbly.

Sat, April 10, 1915
The little shaver can creep about altogether too fast for my comfort. Before he could creep I was willing to put him on the floor afternoons to rest him, but now I must have everything all through the house picked up.
Harold went out after supper and made a bonfire of some rubbish and just as he was going up town he said to me, 'Keep your eye on that fire, will you?' Lucile was standing at the window watching it and when a few minutes later I asked her to come and be undressed she said, 'No, mama, I must keep my eye on it.'

Wed., April 15, 1915
All three children have bad colds. Lucile is sick enough so that if she were older she would spend her time on the couch. They all cough a great deal at night. Baby has dozed nearly all day. And their appetites have gone completely.

July 8, 1915
Nearly three months. Lucile and Phyllis play out of doors every good day and get as dirty as pigs. Phyllis's bowlegs are very nearly straight. She toes in a bit. Lucile can say about everything, of course, but she does not talk plain and mixes her sentences up wonderfully. Phyllis talks much plainer and is stringing words together. Bruce walks a bit by holding on and says 'Da' and 'bye', knows his own clothes and can generally make his wants known by pointing and crying 'Ugh!', grunting would express it better I guess. He has nine teeth and is cutting seven more. Phyllis has twenty. The latest arrival, not yet named, is just beginning little noises and faint smiles. But he knows enough to cry to be held.

July 19, 1915
The newest arrival is able to smile now and also goo and ah a little more, in that he notices what I do and smiles at me.
Bruce has his first four molars thru and his canines are swollen. He says 'n-n' for yes and either shakes his head or says 'no'. Also 'u'-i-di' for Up-a-did-ee' that I most always say to him when I take him out of his baby pen.
Harold's mother and Harry think that he is the most husky, strapping baby the have seen. He is a bouncer. Harold has put up a rope swing on the back piazza and he dearly loves to have someone take him in their lap and swing.

Sept. 22, 1915
Bruce is eighteen months old today and has just begun to walk. As he learned to get up in the middle of the floor before he took a step alone, he doesn't creep hardly any. When he wants to get anywhere with the least possible loss of time he does.
Lucile and Phyllis have a small table to eat from and two small chairs. About a week ago I had hot biscuits for supper and I made them a plateful of wee ones. I gave Lucile her small knife, some butter, her biscuits and let her do the honors. Harold and I were eating and not paying much attention when I heard Phyllis say, 'More bis pease' and Lucile replied, 'Can't oo see I'm buttin (buttering) some for oo Bee?' A little later Phyllis asked again for some and Lucile said, 'Bite they Bee, bit they and soo (chew) they ots. I no have time to eat me sel'.

February 23, 1916
Entries are few and far between, but better than none at all, I suppose.
Lucile is over four and is becoming quite a help around the house and children. She wipes the knives, forks, and spoons and puts them away, helps me set the table and helps me make the beds. She and Phyllis dust for me when I am busy as often happens. Of course, they do not dust everything but how much better than not having any dusting done. She also goes down cellar for me to carry cans to the barrel and brings up Cedric's bottle. And other things she does.
Phyllis is now three and talks a great deal of course. If mama or Dad come down she will chatter like a magpie. Of course she has been there for days at a time and feels that they belong to her. She is not well and while she is perfectly dear when alone, Lucile and Bruce keep her fussing a great deal when all are together.
Bruce is a boy. Need I say more? He is crazy for Harold's pipe. I have to keep it in the desk so he can't get it. This week Harold brought him a little tiny pipe, imitation of a French Briar with Amber color mouthpiece and curved stem. He thinks a great deal of it, but I am sorry to say it decidedly lacks flavor. He still prefers Da-das pipe.
Cedric, the youngest, is nearly ten months. He has three teeth, can sit alone, and roll over to perfection. In fact rolling is his present method of locomotion, and it serves its purpose well. He can go the length of a room in a very short time. He is very blond. Fat as a butterball, small framed.
Today Bruce climbed up to the dining table and very liberally peppered the sugar in the sugar bowl. There isn't a thing, from cellar to garret that he can't and won't get into. I was up stairs this morning and the young scamp was too. He was in the bathroom and I left him a moment to get something in one of the other rooms. Suddenly I heard a scared screech from him and the sound of rushing water. Naturally I betook myself to the bathroom in a hurry and nearly collided with Master Bruce coming out at the same speed. He had turned on a faucet in the tub full speed ahead and then got panicky. No damage however to anyone or anything.
T'other day Harold took an animal book and told Bruce the noises the different ones made. He would try and imitate everyone. The donkey was the one he liked the best, and he could 'Ee-haw' pretty well. Cedric makes a noise when he is happy that is a very good imitation.

Journal by Marion S. Coleman ... 1920

Bingham Maine July 28, 1920
Harold took my Journal and stuck it in the safe, so that I will have to work the combination every time I want to jot something down. My ideas all fly the coop while I am jiggling and juggling with the numbers on the dial, and so in order to save time and at the same time get in some much needed typewriter practice, I reckon I will try to tap the keys for a short time each day or so. Paul and Maggie have somebody calling on them to-night and I get the benefit of all the tee-hees there are, altho I can not hear what they are saying without deliberately listening in. Perhaps I couldn't then for the trees are whispering and swishing tonight, reminding me of the little waves when the tide is out, whispering up over the sands and pebbles.
Bingham has a real honest-to-goodness cop. A chap that was on the Boston Police Force for twelve years, having to resign on account of a bad eye. Whether that is any ones story but his own I couldn't say. At any rate Coleman's Bridget was talking with him this morning when she was sweeping the walk, and she says that in her opinion he came from South Boston. His 'I'll tell yez Lady' is what she convicted him on, and one or two other mannerisms that are all together too vague and entirely feminine reasons to exactly define. He's a good traffic cop just the same and it is a great relief to see the cars travelling pretty much on the right hand side of the road, and at a gait that doesn't make you expect to see some car trying to climb a tree or pole, and corpses strewn along the right-of-way. One car did try to knock one of our maple trees over this summer in trying to avoid a collision with another car. Luckily no one was on the sidewalk there at the time. My kiddies love to get out there on the sidewalk under the maple trees, with their hand-car or cart and play.
Been having company for the past month. Harold's father and his Grandmother. Grandmother Andrews went yesterday and Phyllis went with her for a little visit. Lucille and I will go when the Maine General Hospital sends for us. Then both L & P are to have their tonsils and adenoids removed. Next in order come Bruce and myself. Cedric I haven't had examined yet.
Finished my Chautauqua Nursing Course and have received my diploma and have sent for my pin. There are so many things that I want to do and learn before I leave this planet, that without the slightest doubt I shall have to arrange for an interview with Father Time and see if we can't come to some sort of an agreement whereby I can borrow about twenty five or thirty good husky years. That seems to be the only possible way for me, and then I suppose I would waste about twenty of them and then hurry and grumble like mad. That is the way I do my housework and I understand perfectly how very inefficient and wasteful it is, yet every day it is just the same. Funny isn't we?
Stanley came home on a two weeks vacation trip a week ago last Sunday. Came on his Harley-Davidson motor bike. Left Boston at 3:30 by our time, 4:30 by Boston time, and reached here at 1:30 P.M. just in time for dinner. Every time I think of it I also think of Harold's ancestors coming from Gloucester, Mass. to Pleasant Ridge and Concord by Ox-cart! Think of the pictures that the contrast brings up! That ought to work up into a good prologue for a movie scenario.

Bingham, Me, July 12, 1920
Phyllis is having a great time in Portland, altho I guess she is just a bit homesick. Has been to the beach and went in bathing and should think from her letter that she liked it pretty well. Wrote Lucille that she went into the water clear up to her waist a lot of times and that the water went over her.
Canned 29 baskets of strawberries on last Saturday. You can imagine and imagine correctly that I didn't do much mopping. Then yesterday we all went for a ride to Solon and back with Dad, and before that Harold took the Co's truck - I should have said the Co's Reo Speed Wagon - and took the children and went over to Jackson Pond to see if the Elderflowers had blossomed. I am sure that I haven't the slightest notion of what interest those things are to him, but perhaps he will explain if I continue to be too dense. Ahem! (S-s-s-s! Hist! We are beginning to get dry around here). He had only just gotten back from there and went up to the garage to put the car back when he ran into Dr. Hopkins and Lieut. Williams of Washington D.C., who with his wife is visiting at the Hopkin's, and they wanted him to go over to Pleasant Ridge with them. He did. When they came back they all came in and sampled some liquid Elderflowers. Not long after that we all went to ride as before stated, came back and Lucille and I went to Lakewood with them to hear the Madison Boy's Band. It was certainly fine for such little tots, a lot of them looking no older than Lucille.


Friday Oct 1, 1920
Another good intention gone to smash. I was going to write on this machine every night some of the day's doings of the Coleman family, and have made just two entries in three months. Fine!
To connect up the last entry with the present will be quite a stunt, however here goes.
Phyllis visited in Portland all through July, then on August 2nd Lucille and I went down. The day before we went was quite a lively one. It was Saturday and a few days before I had written to Harold's mother asking her to see what the prices and the chances were at some of the other Hospitals, as I had given up hopes of the M.G. sending for us before school opened. So in the morning she telegraphed to Harold that she could get the girls into King's for price of the surgeon, but she didn't say what the price was. So Harold called me up on the phone and told me of the telegram and we decided that he had better call her up on the phone and find more about it before we made any decision. He tried but couldn't get her so sent a telegram. Then before she received the telegram, she called him up on the phone. Shortly after that the M.G. called her and said to bring the little girl in Monday morning. That meant more telephoning. Next we discovered there was no Saturday night train from here to Portland and the Sunday night train was just Pullman and no reservations to be had for love or money - the latter more important. So Dad took us to Skowhegan and we took the 4:10 out of there getting into Portland at eight o'clock by Standard time, nine by Day-light saving time. Phyllis and Da's mama were at the station to meet us and as Phyllis didn't know we were coming she was some surprised and chattered like a phonograph.
The next day we went in town in the afternoon and Bessie, Phyllis and myself went up to the Hospital. Da's Mama took Lucille over to Willard Beach, where Bessie is living thru the summer and fall. By the time we had reached the Hospital an accident case had taken the bed that they intended Phyllis to have so they put her on Ward E in a room by herself. The poor child certainly did despise the place, so it was hard for me to leave her, altho of course I never let on to her anything of the kind. Bessie and I went down town and bought her a couple of games to amuse her with, then we went over to her house. I took a stroll on the beach then went back to the hospital and stayed with Phyllis until she had gone to sleep, which was something like 9:30. The next morning I got there before when went up to the operating room. She was scared, so scared that she trembled, but she didn't whimper except when they gave her the hypo. Everything went fine, she had a very sore throat of course and ran just enough temperature so that she had to stay an extra day which was hard where she hated the place so. But Thursday morning when I reached there she was all smiles. 'The Doctor says I can go home to-day,' she sang as I came thru the doorway. A little girl had come in with a broken arm, but there was one vacant bed in that room - three beds in all- so I made arrangements to have my tonsil out the same day Lucille did. So Thursday afternoon after I had taken Phyllis out to Woodfords, I packed our grip and L and I entered. Friday morning we went up to the operating room, Lucille going first. They had quite a vaudeville performance with me, ether doesn't last long with me and I was conscious altho there was no bodily feeling almost as soon as they were through operating. And HOW I did talk and joke with the nurses. I kept up a running stream of talk all the way down the corridors to my bed and for a few minutes after I was in bed until my brain had cleared enough so that I could stop myself. I can remember the most of it. They were short of nurses so as soon as we were out from the ether they had no one stay with us, but left us each a cup of ice water. Lucille was bound to gulp hers and consequently was nauseated but this old bird was with one small swallow at a time at first, so that by night

Sunday, May 7, 1922
Dear Lillian:-
Here are my very best wishes for your happiness, sent tardily it is true, but you will find that I never do things in a social way as I should. It seems so easy for some folks, but hard for me.
Harold and I agree that Stanley was lucky, or level-headed (depending on one's viewpoint as to whether a person has any choice where love is concerned) in picking out the girl he has. Of course - our opinions aren't worth a whoop really, but we have them.
Hope we shall see you this summer.
With love,
Marian

Journal by Marion S. Coleman ... 1927

Like all, or most all American families with not too much money, we have a car, a small one to be sure, just a little red touring car that we get heaps of fun with, just as much as if we had a Cadillac, and as we live at the jumping off place, (Bingham, Maine), we also get a lot of necessary travel in it.

We also have a trailer camp, home made, of which more later. When I tell that there are four nearly grown children, plus one fat lady German Shepherd dog, AND the loaded trailer that our little red bus carries cheerfully, you know that the little car has a stout engine. Last year we made a 1600 mile camping trip and our only troubles were a puncture in one of the trailer tires, and a bit of trouble with one valve of the car's engine.
Right now as I am writing, we are in that perfectly terrible last minute rush that always occurs before starting on one of our trips. Each time we make out lists, adding and subtracting from them, make piles of clothing and equipment in all the chairs, yet at the end it is the same hectic performance. For instance, the boys went swimming yesterday and their bathing suits are on the line. As there is only one bathing suit per boy it is obvious they are the ones that will have to be packed although according to the list they were packed several days ago!
Someone is yelling to know where their rubbers went to, so I must stop scribbling and dive in again.
Eventually the hurly-burly came to an end and everything was packed in, including ourselves and Fraulein the dog. We left the key with Mrs. Hastings so she could look after the put and away we went.
Downey's Circus was setting up their Big Top out on the Baseball field and it was something of a disappointment to the boys to be leaving. But they made only one or two wistful remarks. They had been to the 101 Ranch at Waterville a short time before so probably felt better than they would have but for that. We drove around 'the square' so as to get just a peek, then headed north for Quebec.
The weather was rather threatening and after a few miles we had a bit of a shower. After we crossed the mountain ridge and the 'Lines' we ran into clearing weather. The Custom house has been moved from Jackman to about five miles nearer the boundary. It is now beside the Little Church of England in the Wilderness. It would seem as if there must have been quite a settlement there at sometime earlier or the church wouldn't have been built in such an isolated spot. It is now very lonesome looking indeed in its place on the hill.
The custom officials at Armstrong gave us our papers without even looking us over. We must look exceedingly simple or have that 'poor but honest look' stamped indelibly on our features. Last year the officials passed us very casually when others were getting a thorough going over.
That made one party mad and one man made some sarcastic remark that I didn't catch.
We had no contraband so we didn't get away with anything.
We didn't intend to go through to Quebec the first day so we began to look for camping places by the time we reached St. George. By the way, St. Come seems to be recovering from her disastrous fire of last year nicely. Many scars still remain, however. Desirable camping were not to be seen until we were so near to Quebec that it didn't seem worth the bother of making and breaking camp.
Crossing the immense plain outside Levis was rather monotonous this year. We were tired, there was nothing new to see, and the afternoon sun was uncomfortably warm. Last year it was a new thing and the heat and weariness were not occupying the major portion of our thoughts. I imagine the plains of the west must be tiresome, unless their immensity intrigues one enough to hold the interest in spite of everything.
We came down the terrible hill in Levis to the Ferry. It is really funny to watch the expressions on the different drivers' faces as they negotiate that steep and twisting incline. There was a big Cadillac ahead of us and he stopped when he saw the hill and motioned for us to go by. I couldn't tell from his expression if it was the hill that fazed him or the idea of having our caravan behind him!
It was just as thrilling to drive down to the ferry and look across the St. Lawrence to Quebec this year as it was last year when I saw it for the first time. The Chateau with the late afternoon sun behind it, the gray cliff and quaint Lower Town made a picture that I won't soon forget.
The campground seems just the same. This year we have set up our trailer by the cellar hole and chimney which is all that remains of some habitant's home, whether villa or farm I haven't found out.
We are very tired.

Sunday
Harold and the boys went for a walk and I lay down in the back seat of the car and slept.
We have met a Clark party from Milo, Me. Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Clark and Miss Kingsbury. Miss K has been teaching in Honolulu. She remarked that she hadn't seen any real winter for five years, but didn't say whether all five years were spent in Honolulu. She did tell about teaching somewhere up in the hills of the island. This was while we were all gathered around the inevitable evening campfire. There seems to be something special about the evenings around the campfire, a spirit of companionship with people you have never met before and may never see again after leaving the campground.
This afternoon we thought we would hunt up a lake to camp beside, but it began to look like rain so instead we drove down to the city. The girls and I went window shopping on St. Joseph street. We found that the prices of woolens and furs are quite a bit lower than in the States. Guess I had better plan to do some shopping here next year.
After we had tired of looking in the windows of the shops we drove down to the Post Office to see 'Le Chien D'Or' over the doorway. After our visit here last year, Laura Kiney loaned me the English translation of the historical novel, 'The Golden Dog'. This made the city even more interesting and gave us several places to visit that are mentioned in the book. Kirby is the name but whether the original writer or the one who translated it I know not.
We continued on along the battery and down by Boswell's Brewery where some of the walls of the Intendant's palace may be seen incorporated in the walls of the Brewery. Just stones to be sure but now we know where Monsieur Bigot lived.
It began to rain so we returned by way of some of the older streets with their houses flush with the sidewalk, doors also and little gates leading to their back yards tho I suppose they called them 'Gardens'.

Monday morning.
We had a terrific rain last evening lasting well into the night. It seemed to hang over the St. Charles valley. Many wet campers I am thinking.
A very interesting person came in last night. He lives now in New York, but his home place is Germantown, Penna. There is another man with him, but we have not talked with him as yet. This man evidently has camped with his wife all over the U.S.A. and he lived in France twelve years. He claims to be an Architect and Theatre organist who works when the need arises. Lucky Stiff! Apparently the need doesn't arise too often. His words tumble out in torrents - well chosen words too - and he gesticulates like a native born Frenchman. That is something for a Pennsylvania Dutchman! After Dinner
Have been down town to the Tourist Information Bureau and for a little shopping. Harold bought a bottle of Sherry thinking I would like it, but Ugh! Guess I am not cut out for the convivial life!
We drove through some more of the quaint streets and stopped at the postoffice for some of the Commemorative stamps that Canada has issued for this the 'Diamond Jubilee Year.'
Our Germantown acquaintances have moved across the road where there is better drainage. We have moved our awning to the back of the trailer to keep the sum off my cupboards and also to give us more privacy. The awning makes our out-door living and dining room.

Tuesday
Yesterday, after dinner we went down to visit the Parliament Building. When we reached there we noticed a large crowd across the street and naturally we gravitated over to investigate. We found that it was an exhibition Tennis match. Some English girl players, who with their manager had landed here the day before, are giving exhibitions at various placed before playing in some Cup Tournament. The courts are right under the old city walls, which once could have been described as 'Juste outside ye city wall close bye ye St. Jean gate'. The greater part of the audience was standing or sitting on the grass that grows on top of the wall - making a fine gallery. My knowledge of tennis is very elementary so the fine points of the game was lost on me, but I did enjoy watching their ability to return most difficult shots. Probably a tennis player would be horrified or amused at my choice of words but perhaps the idea is there.
After watching the players for a bit, we went up to the Parliament building, parked our car outside the Police Provinciale and entered by a side doorway. There was a corridor off to our left with large oil paintings of various men to the Assemble - full length portraits. Each portrait had a small plate with names and dates but the light was so poor it was difficult to read them. This corridor led us out into the main entrance hall. The wood-work is of black walnut, with heavy emblamatic carvings, the rose of England, maple leaf of Canada, the thistle of Scotland appear everywhere together with the Fleur-de-Lis of France. Panels in the wainscotting around the lower hall on each side of the staircase and around the upper hall are carved and filled in with gold the coats-of-arms of the members of the first Assembly and Upper House. Some had no coats-of-arms apparently as their shields were bare, just their names carved above. At the head of the upper landing the coat-of-arms of George III is on one side and that of William Pitt on the other. At the top of the first landing is an alcove, the walls and ceiling are of heavy stained glass in an elaborate design. On one side is the Seal of Canada. In this alcove at present is a large bust of Wilfred Laurier, sculptured for Senator Wilson. In a few days it will go to Ottawa. This alcove leads into the huge banquet hall and kitchens.
The Lower House is done in green and gold and the Upper House in red and gold. They both have a dais, or throne, at the end opposite the entrance, a gallery for invited guests and a special gallery for the Press. Elaborate carvings are on the doors, desks and other woodwork - all black walnut - and everywhere symbolical carvings of the three countries, Canada, England and France.
Our guide was an exceedingly interesting man who spoke English exceptionally well although he apologized for it.
Cars come into the campground late at night and leave, bag and baggage, early the next morning. What do they know of Quebec? Places to get drinks and send home a post card with a Canadian stamp? We feel that we would have to come here many times in order to know the place as we would like to know it. Rushing leaves me with only confused blurred impressions.
A party from Maryland came in yesterday with a homemade trailer outfit. It is nice but I like ours better. Nothing like rooting for the home team! The husband works for the government in D.C. and has 20 days vacation. Why aren't WE working for the government?
The Clark party have gone. Miss K. told us of teaching the grammar school in a little fishing village - where she didn't say, but the point of the story was that there were two religious sects in the tiny place, Hard Shell Baptists and Latter Day Saints. That was something special we all agreed.
If the fog clears away we are going to try to find the ruins of Beau Manoir today.
Angelique DePeans house is not open to the public, but we have been by it many times and gazed at the outside.
I stepped into the oldest house in Quebec, now occupied by a Hwian King Co., dealers in Chinese objects. Here Montcalm was brought after he was wounded. It is difficult to realize that he and other historical characters or those far off days one walked these same streets, or rods, and looked at the same walls. The girls in the house said that nothing had been changed but the two windows on the side. there had been doors there. The first thing I noticed was that the ceiling was of good height.

Wednesday
Yesterday afternoon we struck out for Lac St. Charles. When we reached Charlesbourg we inquired for Chateau Bigot. We had found that Beau Manoir is known here as Chateau Bigot. About half a dozen people gathered around our car talking French at a speed that only a Frenchman can reach, which was a bit too much for H., altho ordinarily he can get along very well in French. But, talking with one person is one thing but trying to understand half a dozen talking at once is something else. However, we found out enough, or rather H. did, for I only caught one or two words, so that we started along the right road. Just as we were about to give up we saw two young men walking along the road and they were talking English! They told us we were on the right road and hopping on the runningboard they went with us. The property is now owned by the Catholic Church. Nothing is left of the Chateau but a tiny cellar hole, a heap of stones and a tangle of vines and lilac bushes. Judging by the cellar hole the Chateau I am afraid wouldn't measure up to our ideas of the country place of a man in the high office that Bigot held. But Ñ on second thoughts the only wanted a place for their wines and perhaps food. No furnaces then, many of our earlier houses weren't excavated under the whole house.
We went out to Lac St. Charles and back to the city by another road that almost touched Indian Lorette. If we had studied our map before starting out we could have taken that in too.
This morning I have washed a few clothes, and the male members are gadding. After an early dinner we plan to go to Lac. St. Joseph to see if we can find a place there to spend a few days.
Our early dinner didn't materialize after all. Along about 10:30 Harold and the boys returned with a young stranger in uniform who proved to be a young Englishman from the S.S. Empress of Scotland. We had a delightful visit and then drove him back and took a wee peek at his ship. H. and the boys had been over her from stem to stern, that is when they met this chap. But the girls and I didn't quite feel like going thru a luxury ship in our rough camping clothes. Foolish I know. As we were leaving one of the sailors near the gangplank called our 'Cheerio!'

Thursday
Yesterday afternoon we went thru Scu-le-Cap Street, the narrowest street in North America it is claimed. It couldn't be much narrower and still be dignified by the name of street, it is nothing much more that a boardwalk. There are houses on both sides of the little street snuggled under the grim rock comprising that part of Cape Diamond. The street is of planking. Laundry was strung out over the street and youngsters chased us begging, 'une centime'. There was barely room in some places for our car but we inched through. I spied some stamps in one of the dingy shop windows in Bassville, or Lower Town as we call it. H. and the boys went over to see about them but came back empty handed. They said they were neither in good condition nor well centered, were high priced and the crabbed old xxx in charge denied having any more.
After leaving Lower Town we went up onto Dufferin Terrace to watch The Empress of Scotland go out. I got into conversation with a couple in late middle life in regard to Police dogs in general. Fraulein has always given me someone to chat with on Dufferin Terrace. After that a hale and ruddy old gentleman of 73 summers talked with me. He was very interesting and gave me quite an autobiography of himself and quite a bit of history of Quebec shipping. Amongst other things he said that if a ship is wrecked and put back into service again she is given a new name. And he spouted Gaelic at me which of course I couldn't understand at all, at all begorra! A little Newsboy came by selling papers and I took my courage in both hands and asked for a French paper in my very best French which is very ? indeed. But I got my paper!
This morning I packed some sandwiches and we went to Lac St. Joseph for a picnic lunch and a swim. We splurged and purchased some Pate-de-fois-Gras and some Russian Caviar. The Pate was wonderful, the Caviar we haven't tried yet.
There is a nice little bathing beach at Lac St. Joseph and a number of cottages belonging to English speaking people. It seems like an English colony or should I say 'Canadian-English'?
We came back to the city by another route that brought us thru the deserted Army camp at Val Cartier. I think it was the greatest sight I have yet seen because so different. An immense plain, I can't say how many miles across because I didn't check the speedometer. It is apparently an old glacial lake bottom. The mountains rim it around and at both of the two ends that we saw, are immense sand dunes covered with a thick moss. The whole plain is covered with this moss and a few young birches, miles of this moss covered soil. Is that what in the Arctic they call tundra?

Saturday morning
Yesterday was a just-around-the-town day. We had intended going to St. Anne's but the weather was threatening. From the park on the Plains of Abraham and round about we could see that another liner had arrived. Down to the Docks we drove. It was The Empress of France - just in - and the passengers were coming off the ship. One woman I noticed in particular, tall, sandy complexioned and out-of-doors face if you know what I mean. She was wearing a jersey dress and one of those long brushed-wood sweaters, decidedly un-stylish looking and I thought perhaps an immigrant woman. Oh I wove all sorts of stories about who and what she might be! In my head that is! She carried a bundle in her hand tied up in a piece of cloth. More of her later!
Beyond the Empress of France lay a Russian freighter moored to the dock. We walked down alongside interested as we had read in the paper that it is the first Soviet ship into this port. Harold and the boys went aboard, but I took one look at the ladder I had to climb and decided I wasn't that interested. The girls and I went back to the car and watched the passengers still disembarking from the Empress. The males returned in a very short time. The ship is after horses for Germany. H. said that one of the officers was showing them around and talked excellent English with no accent. H. asked him if he was Russian and the fellow replied that he was German and had spent many years in the States. Went back in 1905 and married a German girl. The war broke out and he says now he can't get back very well. 'Besides', he added, 'everyone hates us Germans now. And we common people didn't make the war either.' Of course H. told him the war had been over long enough for feelings to change. I imagine he has a family now and likely of generous proportions, with little money to get them over here even if they could get in under the quota.
Next we went over to another dock and boarded the French Cruiser Ville d'Ys and what a contrast to our smart naval vessel! Rust on ironwork, dull brass and even green corrosion and general untidiness. Even our little rum chasers are better kept. And they have not just come in from a long sea voyage, they are on an official visit - were at Montreal for some time before coming here. It is quite evident they are just plain slack. No smartness of carriage, no snappiness of men or officers.
Next on the program was Dufferin Terrace for the band concert. H. And Phyllis went shopping as her knickers had given out. While I waited for them, which was after the concert, the woman I had noticed coming off the Empress that morning came up onto the Terrace and stopped a few feet away. I noticed her eyeing Fraulein, the way you will notice things without looking at them you know, and when I glanced up at her she asked me if 'she was clever', meaning Fraulein. That was the beginning of a bit of conversation, naturally. She said that she had been away from her dogs seven days and didn't know how to do without them. It came out in the course of our little talk that she raises Pekingnese and Bedlington terriers. She is going to Ottawa to lecture at the World Poultry Convention on rabbits. 'Still animals you see', she said with a twinkle. In the war there were 13 of her family in it and only three came back! Herself and two others. She lay under the ruins of a hospital for 36 hours. She has stopped over here to go to St. Ann's. Evidently she is a devout Catholic and is staying at the Convent. It must be lovely to have so much faith.
That evening I saw in the paper that she has an 'honourable' before her name! So much for appearances!

Thursday
It has been several days I see since I have had the writing fever. The days began to get monotonous. I guess that I am not as much cut out for the leisurely trips as I thought. Perhaps it is just too sudden a change.
Sunday was rainy -oodles of it. Monday we decided to move up under the big tree where there was some grass and better drainage. We did and let ourselves in for trouble. There were five men in two tents and two cars camped across the drive from the big tree. Sunday they were quiet, only, as we found out later, because the Liquor Agency was closed! Monday morning they went downtown and came back right after we had moved up under the big tree. They immediately tanked up and got thoroughly stinko. We went for a drive out on the Montreal road and back by the other road, driving up to the Quebec bridge on the way back. They were still at it when we reached camp. One was the most repulsive looking creature! The others were evidently still sober enough to keep out of sight or else out cold.
We decided to pull out the next morning and did Ñ driving to Lenoxville where there is a nice little camp ground. We spent just the one night there and came down to the Dolly Copp Camp out of Gorham, N. H. On the way down we saw three herons in the river. The first one was so large I thought it was a man standing on the logs in the Androscoggin. The river was filled with pulp logs.
We ate lunch in Dixville Notch and had a half-tame red squirrel eat with us. He evidently eats with every picnic party who stops there for he came down out of the tree as soon as we had stopped and seemed to expect us to share. He must be a successful beggar for his coat was very sleek and shiny and he was very plump.
Dolly Copp Camp has grown since we were here three or four years ago. Both sides of the stream (Peabody River) are well populated, a new registry place has been built at the bridge, a large sign is outside the entrance and better refuse pits mad.
We plan to go home tomorrow and I am ready to go today if someone would just say the word. I am ready for civilized living again.

Journal by Marion S. Coleman ... 1929 'California ... or bust'
Journal of trip from Bingham to Berkeley, CA by Coleman family, 1929

Sun Jun 9, 1929
The great adventure has begun! At last we are on our way to California - land of our dreams. May they all come true! The past week was quite a strenuous one. The workmen came and began working in the upstairs rooms and as fast as I would clear out a room, they would take possessions and begin whitening the ceiling and tearing off the paper. A gorgeous mess they made believe it or not. Mr. Baker told me not to clean and after I saw what a mess they made, I decided to take him at his word and consequently I left a dirty kitchen. Tuesday evening they gave H & I a farewell dinner at Dick Hall's camps at Emden Lake. Bena came up Sunday and said she and Fred wanted us to go somewhere with them and have a feed. She said she had planned to have us down to the house but as she was going to be working as Town Clerk that week she couldn't do it. Also that she would leave it to Fred to pick out the place as he went around more and consequently knew the places better. Harold was rather suspicious but I rather poo-pooed him. However, when we arrived at the Lake there was a goodly number of Binghamites there to greet us. We had a delicious dinner and afterwards played bridge until after twelve. The camps were very nice and the evening fine. Wednesday eve Lucille's classmates gave her a party and gave her a lovely mesh bag. Phyllis's class gave her a pretty white gold ring set with an electric ruby. Saturday morning quite a number came to see us off, consequently it was nearly 9:30 Daylight Time before we left. Some were rather tearful which made it rather hard. A big lump was in my throat as we crossed the Kennebec Bridge probably for the last time, yet I am glad to go. Dury sputtered once in awhile. I believe there is a wandering bit of dirt or part of a screw lodged in one of the spark plugs and I'll bet there is still something else. However, we came along fine and found the house and the people. This morning is fine and dandy. H. is doing a little wiring. They have been in town and bought supplies. I have phoned Lottie Taylor and they are coming over late this afternoon.

Boston, Mass...Monday, June 10, 1929
The second days journey is over, Sunday afternoon we all went over to the Cape Cottage Hotel to dinner. Most of us had a shore dinner that was truly delicious. I thing I am keeping well within the bounds of conservatism when I say I; think the steamed and fried clams were the best I have ever eaten. In the evening Lottie & Norris Taylor, Methyl & a Miss Perkins came over for awhile. They said they had been 'tout Freeport way' to see a sand dune that was burying a farm. The top of some cherry trees just show above the sand. It is not on the shore but inland and the dune apparently was formed by a glacier. This morning we packed and left. Harold felt bad to leave his Grandmother, I could see that. And why not? Probably he will never see her again. Coming along Beacon Street in Boston we heard a funny hoarse horn blat two or three times back of us, but as we were surrounded by cars of all sorts and ages, we gave it little thought. Cars went by us, beside and behind, however a few seconds later a rather antique Ford Two-door sedan clattered by and the driver growled out something about 'you aren't driving in Maine, now!' He had a perfect scream of a face anyway and with it all snarled up like a caricature it was just two much. We all burst into gales of laughter. After we had caught our breath we dubbed him the Goldfish from the shape of his face. There is only one other party here on the Boston Campground. It is early for the Camping Fraternity to be out. Many schools haven't closed yet. This other party is from West Palm Beach, Florida. Harold has taken the boys for a ride on the El. A cool night with quite a breeze blowing across this hilltop at Washington Hghts. Three airplanes flew over here this afternoon, in formation. Then later they stunted, looping the loop, rolling, fake falls and ever'thin'.

IdleDell Mass.... Wednesday June 12, 1929
Haven't had much time to write, we have been so busy with farewells. We went over to Mother's to luncheon Tuesday and then all hands (including Mother & Dot) went over to Needham, to Stanley's for the afternoon, dinner and evening, then all streamed back to the campground where last farewells were said. This morning we packed and left at about 9:30 Daylight Time and our first stop was in Worcester at Derbe Powers'. She insisted on our staying to lunch and we lunched sumptuously on Egg & Spinach & lettuce salad, cold boiled ham, cottage cheese, jelly, piccalili, bread & butter, peaches, wafers & punch. Dury is getting old. H took her to the service station and had a new valve put in the Vacuum tank and the speedometer fixed. But she sputters & balks just the same at the most inauspicious moments. Another garageman blew out her tubes and for quite a while we thought she was cured, but soon she had the worst attack of all. Something happens once in awhile to choke off her nourishment and without gas she cannot run. Poor thing! She hauls a terrific load anyway. I am trying to cut down on everything. Each time we make camp I try to discard something. Nothing yet of any great weight, but perhaps all told they will eventually help. An old extra pair of knickers of mine that I thot I would keep for an emergency. May the emergency never come! A nearly worn out pair of shoes of Cedric's, etc, etc.

Thurs. June 13th..... Richfields Springs NY
We left IdleDell which I believe is in the town of Cummington, Mass. at a bit after 9:30 this morning. We overslept. I left behind for the people who run the wayside stand my egg eater and mixing spoon. Cooking of fancy things is not in this camping schedule, and I wonder why I brought the things. Dury protested on some of the hills, but considering the length of them I am not surprised, altho they were mostly concrete roads. Bought some bananas, milk and cinnamon buns for luncheon which we ate some distance this side of Pittsfield, across the line in N.Y.somewhere. This is a fine campground, but rather near the street. Harold & Bruce went to the Sulphur Springs after supper and brought home a quart of the water. It smells exactly like a stale egg that has been boiled about a week previous to being opened. I took one swallow and have been belching brimstone ever since. No baths for me except as a last resort.

Friday June 14 .... Lake Canandaigua, N.Y.
Another beautiful day. We ran into one smart shower of a very short duration. The scenery thru the Catskills, Adirondacks or whatever it was, is beautiful. I think it is ahead of Maine. And the roads are mostly concrete thru widths. Today we are in the Finger Lakes region. We planned to camp on Lake Seneca but the camp ground was in a marsh, and on inquiring, heard there was no water, watchman or anything, so as the day was still comparatively young, we kept on a rollin' until we came to Canandaigua. We are camped in an orchard behind a roadside stand. A delightful breeze blew from the lake before sunset taking away the heat. There is a small amusement place with a merry-go-round, bathing beach, etc. H. has been to C for Flit and says it is about as large as Skowhegan. I am going bird hunting. I thought I saw an Orchard Oriole.

Sunday June 16, 1929 .... Niagara Falls, Canada
I find it as hard to keep up my writing when on the trail as when at home. We left Canandaguia, N.Y. fairly early as they are on Standard Time and we had our watches on Daylight Time. But we lost considerable time getting thru the city of Rochester. I detest going thru cities when camping. Then we stopped in Lockport quite awhile. Bot a cot for Cecric as we think it lighter than the spring. Also the boys can use their cots until e are permanently located. When we reached Niagara Falls, N.Y. we found an Elks Convention on Big Parade an' everthin'. The A.A.A. said the best auto camp was on the Canadian side so thru customs we came and after considerable chasing around we finally located the right one, Falls View Camp. We look out on the Horseshoe Falls and rapids. To cap it all it was their annual celebration. This year it was the Golden jubilee of Lights. The colored lights were thrown on the Falls from the big flood lights on this side. Also, a big display of fireworks. Thousands of cars lined the banks and any place they could see. I think there must have been 600 cars on this campground alone. They must turn out well for anything here, for it was nothing very unusual, not to my mind. And they said it would take a car two hours to get back across the bridge! Today I washed. We remained in camp most of the day, except for a drive thru Victoria Park which was beautifully cool due to the spray from the Falls. Watched the little steamer battle her way up stream nearly to the foot of the American Falls. I suppose it is perfectly safe, but I much preferred being where I was. The wind is off the river tonight so that the roar of the falls is louder than last night. Think we may have rain tomorrow.

Windsor, Ont .... Tues June 18, 1929
We got in early. Only 2:30 E.S.T. A very hot day. Yesterday morning we broke camp at Niagara Falls, Ont and went to London, Ont. At Niagara, aeroplanes were circling over the falls most of the time. On the way to London, we crossed the Welland Ship Canal, the new one that isn't finished and the one they are using. There is also an old one, which as far as I know, we didn't cross and I don't know whether it is used or not. It was our good luck to get to the canal in time to see one freighter come out of the lock and go thru the bridge and to watch them put another freighter, going up, into the lock and fill it. Northern N.Y. and Ontario (I suppose the land around the lakes) have big fruit farms. Acres & acres, thousands of them...cherry, peach, apple, grape, etc. All the trees are carefully pruned & sprayed, and the ground beneath carefully cultivated, Crops are raised between the rows of trees in many instances, especially in the young orchards. The campground at London is out of the city proper. About 3 mi. In a grove. A lovely place, with splendid drinking water, a rare article so far. Plenty of hot & cold water, shower baths, & laundry tubs. We got away early this morning. Today we saw our first oil well. Funny things at the Bothwell Oil Field, been producing over 60 yrs. We had quite a chat with a man there who was obliging enough to explain at length. Said that at first they dug the wells and timbered up the sides. The wells are hitched up together, those belonging to one man or concern and are pumped from one station. They pump very slowly, produce only a barrel or so apiece in 24 hours. The campground here is nothing to shriek over. The tracks where the freights are made up are just back of us (fun for the boys: the 'hump' is right here) and the water is hardly drinkable. Apparently we have camped too near a red winged blackbird's nest. He has been perched on a pole near us ever since we came, alternately scolding & singing. There is a bird here which I haven't seen to my knowledge, but he sounds exactly like a boy whistling to his dog. Our friend at the oil wells says they are a new bird to him. Never saw them until this year. That they are a dark bird, not quite as large as a robin.

Near Clear Lake, Iowa .... Mon June 24, 1929
Quite a gap to fill. After Windsor, we crossed the river into the U.S.A. again at Detroit. Came thru easily. At Detroit we went to an Electric Service station to get a new ignition cup for "Dury" and who should be the foreman there but a young Durgin from the Forks. It was lucky for us, because he put us ahead of other cars. that night we camped at Mishawaka, and the R.R. & the electric went by the grove. But there was no "hump", so we were all O.K. Bogle's Auto Camp. A nice place. The next day we hit Chicago. The campground is on a bluff outside the city in the Forest Preserve. A good place except it lacks shade. We remained 2 nites and I caught up on laundry and H. took the children to Field Museum. Left Chicago Sat morning and made Galena, Ill that night. Galena, Ill is an old old town. Quaint. One of the homes of U.S.Grant. We drove around by it but the house had been closed for the night. A fine brick house. The river used to be navigable and Galena was a busy thriving city with parking houses and a big river trade. But Chicago got ahead of them after the Civil War and Galena trade fell off: the old packing house man (Ryn) died & his children were spenders, not earners, so the river was allowed to fill in and the quays fell into decay. Today the river is a small stream in a big sandy bed. Galena is built in tiers on the sandstone hillsides and back of many of the houses are caves built into the limestone or sandstone (I know not which cliff). After Galena, Ill our next stopping place was Waterloo, Iowa. We crossed the Mississippi into Dubuque, IA from East Dubuque, Ill. It was Sunday morning and hardly any traffic. Some diff from the east! We plan to lay over Sundays but our campground at Galena, while nice & clean, had no showers or laundry facilities, so we decided to push on and lay over later. Waterloo camp is in the City Park and they had had a wind of cyclonic velocity two weeks before and it had split, and uprooted & torn branches from many of their trees. This debris hadn't been cleared away and there was a break in the water main & we had to use a pump (very common in this country) so we pushed on again, this morning. Today we tried to find a campground at the other end of the lake where there is good bathing but one campground was overrun with chickens of all kinds & mixtures and the other had a small flock of sheep pastured on it! We were rather discouraged but at this upperend of the lake we found this little spot, by a roadside inn. We have no facilities but lights, toilet, a table and a pump, but we are in a pleasant, quiet spot. Good fishing, but we have no license. They have boats & fishing tackle & bait to rent here. We found several interesting stones here. One pretty agate, I think it is. Gulls are plentiful here, but they are smaller and darker than the ones we have on the N. Eng. coast.

Spencer, Iowa .... Wed. June 26, 1929
We are laying over a day to rest & clean up. It has showered some which hinders my laundering facilities. But I have hopes of it clearing soon. It hasn't the appearance of much rain. This town has about 5000 inhabitants, is very much up-to-date with chain stores, Vitaphone theater and traffic lights. Great many Swedes. It is on the Little Sioux River, a stream about the width of the Austin Stream, but much deeper. the streams dig deep channels thru this gumbo instead of spreading out. But I daresay it is some stream in the spring. Phyllis found a flint arrow head at Clear Lake, the morning we left. The man at the campground said that ClearLake used to be a favorite camping spot for the Indians because of the water and the fishing. The water is clear, a rarity hereabouts. We took the tail feathers out of a hen pheasant yesterday. She was strolling very deliberately across the road and H. swerved to the left to avoid her. She walked right in front of the car, he swung to the right again and cleared all but her tail feathers. They were left in the road and she flew off into the fields. After wards, we saw several pair. The male is handsome of course. We also have seen what we think must be a prairie dog or perhaps a ground squirrel. Can tell later when we have our National Geographic again. A nice little campground with small out door fire places scattered thru the park. Clean and level, with young trees big enough to give some shade.

Mitchell, S.D. .... June 29, 1929
A splendid camp. There is a community House with Gas plates and sink, reading room, toilets, H&C showers, laundry tubs, ironing board & iron with a gas plate to heat it on. Everything is clean. 3 cars with the houses built on them in here last night. Mourning Doves are common through this country. Pheasants are quite often seen and yesterday we saw our first Jack rabbit, a dead one in the road. Night before last we camped at Sioux Falls. I didn't particularly care for the campground but the city I liked very much. Went to the park after supper & listened to a band concert. A pretty park with the band shell in the center of a small natural amphitheater. Going back to the camp after the concert we saw a car with Maine plates & a young man and a woman on it eating ice cream cones. We shouted "Hello, Maine!" They answered & then I saw them look at our rear plate. When we reached the entrance to the camp, we had to stop and lo!, they pulled up beside us! They had chased us out to the camp for we were the first Maine car they had seen for 2 months. Came from Auburn out to Sioux Falls because the woman's husband was in poor health. The young man was their son.

Rapid City, S.D. .... July 2, 1929
Leaving Mitchell we found the country soon changed. That is as soon as we passed the Missouri river which we crossed at Chamberlain. We came out on high bluffs overlooking the 'big Muddy', well named she is too. As soon as we crossed we found ourselves in a treeless country. Of course, trees grew along the Missouri on the west side, but we soon left the banks & climbed up the bluffs and then - lo! Not a tree, not even a bush large enough to hide a Jack rabbit. Our gaze could 'sweep' the horizon. A vast rolling country, with ranches replacing farms and a tiny cluster of tiny houses huddled together like lost sheep under the blazing sun being the towns. So bare & desolate they look, for water is scarce. They haul their drinking water in on the RR in some of these towns. I am afraid I haven't any pioneer spirit. We reached Kadoka that night, going farther than we intended, because the barren campgrounds fully exposed to the sun looked so unattractive, we preferred to keep on going. Part of the country was beautiful just the same. We would top a rise and the world was spread out before us practically all in grazing land with more vivid parts (the fields were immense that were cultivated) being the flax, alfalfa, corn, wheat, etc. Kadoka is a young town. Just settling down from the wild days of her youth when she had 7 saloons. (Townsends) from Minneapolis, born in Maine, she in Wisconsin. We saw branded cattle, Indians, cactus, and cowboys in their everyday clothes, and set our watches back another hour. Leaving Kadoka we came thru the Badlands of South Dakota. A wonderful, wonderful sight! There we encountered our first sheepherder and his dog. A very pleasant, well spoken man who has lost his left arm just below the elbow. We were watching our first prairie dogs at the time. His camp is a covered wagon. We reached Rapid City that night and how lovely to be up in the hills once again! A stream from the hills runs by the camp and we are in a grove of Cottonwoods. They are messy things just now with their cottony pods opening up and sending out their parachutes of cotton with its tiny seed. We rode up into the hills yesterday. The trees are all Norway Pine and this isn't the underbrush we have in Maine. Looking onto the hills the grass is seen growing between the trees, giving it a park-like appearance to the very top. The mountain parks are lovely grassy places uncluttered by brush. We saw the Am. Magpie, a handsome chap. Forded our first stream...a brook runs across one of the roads leading to the City and they didn't bother to bridge it. So away thru it we go, western fashion. Today we go to Spearfish. There is plenty here to see but we haven't the time. Afternoon made Spearfish before dinner. A wonderful campground. Laundry, Hot & cold water, free gas plates, showers 25 cents, a store and a running stream. Came through Whitewood and we had to climb a hill a mile long that rose us 1000 feet into the air & then down again. Lucille & Bruce are slightly under the weather. Guess the minerals in the water has been too much for them. A lot of people are made sick by it. We bought spring water at Kadoka, but we have spring water here. May have to rest here. A big affair drove into the grounds this noon shortly after we came. A big house built over an International truck chassis, like a big bus, with an observation platform, luggage rack on top. They have a big sedan also and 2 chauffeurs and a monkey. The big house-bus is named Miss Omaha (Pullman style) and the plates are Nebraska. We have seen 2 different cactus that are pretty. One is small with round fat spiney leaves and the most delicate pale yellow blossoms with petals as diaphanous as a butterfly's wing. The blossom comes out on the edge of the fat leaf and is slightly cup-shaped like a half opened single rose. The other cactus has great long needle-like leaves growing out in a clump, one blossom stalk rearing 2 ft above the leaves with very pale creamy white lanterns hung on the stalks thicker than I have drawn them. There must be 70 cars or more here today, and still coming.

Sheridan, Wyo. .... July 7, 1929
There were 200 cars in the Spearfish camp that night and 300 the next night. The water also got me, but we were able to go to Belle Fouriche the 4th. A man in Spearfish called it the Black Hills Holdup and we are of the same opinion after seeing it. A dollar apiece admission to the grounds and then 75 cents for the bleachers and $1 for the grandstand. We used our car, but all the rodeo was played to the grandstand which could never accommodate even half the crowd anyway. The announcer would tell that so-and-so was coming out of chute #3 on a wild steer and lo! and behold out would come a rider on a Hereford heifer! There was some wonderful riding, of course, and some of horses really were wild, but some would stop bucking the instant they heard the pistol shot (the signal that the rider had remained on the required length of time)! It was so funny, it tickled the crowd & the announcer informed us they were high school horses! An Indian young man did some great riding. The next morning we left Spearfish and started for Gillette, but a thunder shower came up and the road was Gumbo and we had some time, and camped in a man's door yard. While there, Bruce found a part of an Indian Spearhead & a partly finished one as well as a place in the bank where by digging in one little spot they found chips and black earth and two or three blackened stones, evidently where some brave camped and made some heads. The next morning was clear & we packed up and moved on to Sheridan. We had a wonderful view of the BigHorn mountains. Early this morning it began to rain and it has rained! So here at Sheridan we have been all day and cold & rain it has been. It looks clearing tonight & I hope the rain has stopped. If we had gravel roads we would be all right, but Gumbo roads mean hang up when it rains. A car came over the mountain pass today & had several inches of snow on it when it reached here. Imagine! We are 3800 ft up here.

Yellowstone Park .... July 12, 1929
It stopped raining that nite, so the next morning we ventured forth for Billings, Mont. And by the way, the pass over the Big Horn mountains leading from Sheridan was blocked with snow that morning! At Ranchester we lost our gravel road and struck wet and slippery gumbo, necessitating chains for about 15 miles. Then more gravel then rough gumbo, but dry and gravel of sorts to Billings. We stopped at Harding, Mont. for some things, a typical cow town. Cowboy ponies standing around, Indians & Mexicans, a present day frontier town. Went thru some very desolate ranch country. Sage brush, cactus and adobi mud being all there was to see most of the time with an occasional colony of ground squirrels or prairie dogs or a bunch of cattle or horses to liven an otherwise dull tiresome ride. A few miles out of Billings, however the contour of a ridge was interesting. A strata of rock on a high ridge with the slopes of erosion below it and apparently springs coming out of under the rock strata making the long slope green with grass. Two herds of cattle and one of horses dotting the far foreground made a picture. Irrigation is the rule thru that country. Billings is a nice little city with a splendid campground. A large kitchen with free gas plate (natural gas) and one end equipped with tables & benches for eating. Nice showers & toilets & clean ground, one of the best, yes, the best we have stopped at. We remained two nights and made the acquaintance of a real cowboy and his wife. We took to them both. H. bought the boys a lariat rope in Hardin and Spaulding (the Cowboys' name) fixed the loop for them and showed them how to throw the different throws. He is rather a quiet, slow of speech, (says "plumb" and "he sure was" a great deal). A cowboy of the stories, with white teeth, smoothe deeply tanned skin, deep lashed level cool eyes, high heel boots, wide brimmed hat, but dungarees without chaps, of course. It really was quite exciting to meet up with one like him, and not an ignorant, loud-mouthed imitation. They were looking for a job around B and were even half of a mind to take up a homestead. Leaving Billings we traveled over devilish roads to Livingston. It rained and we had to put on chains again, altho the mud wasn't as absolutely unmanageable as the others. We struggled thru however and camped at Livingston one night. A fair campground. Yesterday, we entered the Park at Gardiner and made camp at 1 o'clock at Mammoth Hot Springs. The ground is just dirt, no grass, a strong wind was blowing across the camp ground and wow! but the dirt got into everything ... our food, our clothes, hair, eyes, lungs! Miserable? Well, I guess we managed to eat a lunch, after a fashion, then went to see the numerous hot springs & formations. Glad I saw them of course, yet to me they are not so much. Wouldn't swap a stick of taffy for another glimpse of them. A mule deer doe came out for our benefit at the place called the Devil's kitchen - a hole underground - probably an old spring. She drank water out of a dish that Cedric held. Back at camp the ground squirrels were very numerous. One, who lives under a store, was tame enough to eat peanuts from C's hand. We saw the bears that night at their 'salad bowl', and fancied we could hear them prowling around the camp in the night - but only fancy, I guess. We visited the museum at the Springs, small but interesting. The next morning we packed and came to Lake -- Fishing Bridge. A nice camp among the pines on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Lacks shower, bathes & laundry facilities, but is lovely. Bears are very numerous & tame, wandering around the campground at all hours of the day & night. Black, brown, and mixed, large & small. We have seen mud volcanoes, frying pan springs, The Dragon Mouth, boiling hot springs, The Dragons Mouth, boiling hot springs & cool oasis, and the gorgeous canyon & falls of the Yellowstone which are the best thing I have seen here. It is impossible to describe it.

Sunday July 14, 1929
A thundery day, and we have just had a smart hailstorm, with hailstones nearly as large as moth balls! Went for a swim this morning. My first on the trip. The bear have been very much in evidence today. They tip over the garbage cans, pry off the covers, then sit in front of it and fish in with their fore paws. They look for all the world like pictures of small boys stealing jam. They roll their eyes comically at the crowd that gathers to take their pictures and watch them. If people crowd too close they get up, bestow all & sundry a dirty look of disgust & lumber off. They toe in & are bow legged. Funny fellows.

Sat. July 20, 1929
A week slipped by unnoticed. We had one gorgeous day fishing to our hearts content. Hired a boat for the day and it happened to be a good biting day. We fished for awhile by trolling with a spoon, but that proved too easy so at the last we used flies. The first time I ever 'cast' a fly and I soon had a strike and a lively one, too. I had to 'play' it quite a bit. When at last I got it up to the boat 'it' proved to be 2 two-pound trout - one on each fly! I called it a day as I had no real right to those two, having caught my five before. But as Phyllis & Cedric didn't fish it made it theoretically O.K. And as that was the only day I fished in the days I was there, to catch anything I felt all right. Made the acquaintance of a man & his son. Ralph Norris & Ralph, Jr. They were very nice. Jr. plays the tenor banjo & father the guitar so we had a jamboree around the campfire Wed night. I noticed quite an audience back in the shadows. Thursday we had another heavy shower but no hail. Friday we left and came out by West Yellowstone. Camped at Idaho Falls last night. We are at Burley, Idaho tonight. Getting tired of camping. Ready to settle down. Called for mail at Pocotello, Idaho. Letter from Mrs. Goodrich & Mrs. Hastings. Lucille heard from Seward & the girls. Still working on our old place. Mrs. G. Says a can of red paint they were painting the kitchen chimney with came down leaving a red trail over roof and gutters. This is all irrigated country. Where there is no irrigation, it is desert.

Flick Orchards, Ore ... Wed July 24, 1929
From Burley we went to Boise, Idaho. Found a nice camp so remained over Monday to wash clothes. Set tubs with plenty of hot water from the hot springs. Air mail field was nearby. Also, a wonderful Natatorium or swimming pool, warmed by water from the hot springs. A large building with showers, baths, steam rooms. The pool is a hundred & then some feet long and the water is wonderfully clear. A stone grotto is at the further end with diving platforms at various heights up to 45 ft with water up to 16 ft depth. Tuesday morn we left intending to stop at Baker, Ore, but the campground was not especially attractive, it was early, so after eating lunch & resting a while, we continued on to the Pine Cone camp - west of La Grande. Another swimming pool - outdoor one this time, but not heated, gave the children a short swim while I prepared supper. It was too late for H & I, however. This camp is in the mountains with a small mountain stream and pine trees making it quite homelike to us. Between Boise & Baker we saw quite a number of Pelican in the Snake River. The hills here look as if they were covered with tan upholstery plush. The grass is brown and with the gullies made by erosion (diff than the east) and no trees, it makes them look very soft and plushy. I feel that I could punch them and shake them up as I would a pillow. A rugged drive today along the Columbia River, altho H. says the most scenic part comes tomorrow. Surprising how many campers are migrating to pastures new. The wind is blowing hard tonight. There is a row of Lombardy Poplars and the wind howling thru them makes talking quite a feat - unless talking to oneself. There is one of these children's push merry go round things here and some people from N.Y. have been giving their fat hound dog a ride on it. He will stand on the rod all alone for about two turns, then 'nothing-more-now-thank-you', he seems to say as he hops off.

Portland Ore ... July 25, 1929
Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon with only one flat tire! How's that? We picked up a nail in Yellowstone Park right by the Devils' Slide, of all appropriate places, which accounts very neatly for our 'flat'. It seems wonderful to reach a fruit belt! Small oranges, 5 doz for 25 cts. Cherries 2 lbs for a quarter! Great big luscious ones! Royal Annes & Bings. Grapefruit 55 cts a doz! Of course, the cost of living averages up somewhere - and it always does of course. We parked in front of a filling station in P. to ask the way to the campground. Two small boys about 12 yrs old were passing. One exclaimed "Maine!" And came over asking "What part of Maine are you from?" I grinned back and answered with a question. "I bet you are from Maine yourself, are you not?" "Yes." So we found out he was from Bangor and has been out here about a year and a half, likes it, but misses the snow at times. Said we were the first Maine car he had seen. We came over a wonderful drive today. More loops and curves than I ever saw in one road before. Thru four tunnels, one patterned after a Swiss tunnel, with windows cut thru. Saw Horsetail Falls, Multonah Falls, and other smaller ones. This side (? ? ? )

1929 ... Berkeley, Calif
The Graf Zeppelin just passed over San Fransisco. At least 40 planes circles around her reminding us of a swarm of hornets around an eagle. The Graf has just come from Tokyo on an around the world tour. She was wonderful, floating so majestically in the sky, now in shadow and then again flashing in the sunset rays, with the myriad of little planes buzzing around so importantly.

* Tues. Nov 5, 1929
Nine planes, flying in a V, like geese, just past (sic) over the house traveling approximately N.E. Probably it is the squadron from Los Angeles that is out on tour.
We have been terribly homesick and declare we will go East as soon as school closes next spring. But now that it is Nov. and beautiful weather here and cold snowy weather back home, Harold and I feel a bit more content. However, I still prefer the East for many things that more than balance the advantage of California in the matter of climate.

* Monday Nov 11, 1929
A most gorgeous day. Out in the sun it is hot.
No school for the children today or for us tonight. But Harold had to work.
Today is the big Army - Navy football game up at the Stadium. We are getting it via Radio. A very close, enthusiastic game.
Harold and I are going to Evening High School. Harold is taking short story writing while I am more prosaic and am taking typing, filing, and General Office Practice, also Show Card Writing. I am trying to learn to use my right hand as I get in my own way when doing lettering with my left.

* Tues. Dec 24, 1929
A very heavy fog this morning, also yesterday. It doesn't seem at all like Xmas time, for we have had some good rain and the new green grass is springing up every where, carpeting the bare brown sun baked earth in a new garment. The songbirds have arrived, also, from the snowy country I suppose, so that it seems more like April or May to us. But the flowers are still without fragrance and tho the air smells cleaner since the rain, there is no delightful peppy tang to it, and tho living with in sight of the waters of the Pacific Ocean we never smell the salt laden air as we can right in the heart of the city of Portland, Maine when a 'sea turn' comes.

* Thurs. Dec 26, 1929
We had the very nicest Xmas present, Harold is to have his old job back with the Shank mill. They are about decided to locate in Savannah, Ga. and as some of the machine men won't be going, I imagine they will need him. So we will hit the trail again if all goes well, as soon as school closes, which is about the 23rd of May. We will be glad to live east of the Mississippi River, even if the place is as 'hot as the hinges of Hell', as H. expresses it.
Lucille has been working at J.F.Hinks Dept Store during this month but she thot that today would be the last day. Took some pictures of ourselves and the bungalow yesterday to send back.

* Sun. Dec 29, 1929
Almost the last of '29. A lovely day. Had the windows open for more than an hour during the middle of the day.
Lucille still working. Guess she could stay on permanently, but she told Mrs. Nelson she wanted to go back to school after the New Year. Mrs. N. told her she could give her work some Saturdays and after she finished her course, if she didn't find a position right away, to come and see her and she would see what she could give her. So it looks as if L. was 'sitting pretty', as they say, for the rest of our time here. If P. & I could get something as good it would be just fine.
Had to go to the Police Station again the other night to see if I could identify the fellow I had trouble with, but only saw one, who certainly wasn't 'it'. Quite a group of us were there. Looked like a club meeting. The Police know me so well now, I'll have to walk the 'straight and narrow' for sure while here.
Walking down Acton St. from Dwight Way the other noon I discovered smoke coming out of the ventilating window in the peak of the roof. Rushing around to the back I saw smoke pouring out from around the kitchen windows and could hear the flames crackling in glee inside. All windows closed & locked & curtains drawn. Went next door & they phoned the fire Dept. They had gone away & left an electric iron 'on'. Some expensive ironing she did that morning. Two Love Birds lost their lives.

* Jan 1, 1930
The New Year was ushered in with much noise, confetti, serpentine, considerable booze, and what have you, here in the East Bay. L. and H. went over to Oakland and mingled with the street crowds for awhile. Home about 1:30 this morn. Said the confetti etc. was inches deep in the streets and gutters like drifted leaves. A glorious day. Transplanted some badly root bound iris this morning. Probably it isn't the right time to do it, but the ground is moist and soft and I may not be here when the right time does come. Besides such a lovely morning I felt in the mood for it.

* Jan 11, 1930 .. Sat
It has been very cold this month, with heavy frosts nearly every morning. Yesterday morning the faucet in the back yard was frozen and my geraniums quite badly nipped. The ends are killed. Ice has formed quite thick on puddles and any dishes of water left out. I call it a very cold place. Only three really nice warm days since we came, the last of July! Sunny California indeed. To advertise a whole great big state because of a small southern portion. Why not boost Boston's climate because St. Petersburg, Fla has a mild winter climate? 'T would be as sensible. Harold has been having such a time getting our Auto plates! First he was told he must have a bill of sale sworn to before a Notary. He got it and went back on New Years day. It was a holiday, but if he had been a Californian it could be done they said. Back again only to be told he must have his headlights tested & O.K'd.! Can you beat that for dumbness on their part? Today he went back with the O.K. and a short while ago called me up for the No. of the Non-Resident permit we received when entering the state! If we had had no phone it would have meant another trip! Perhaps they will think up something else even now. And that is just a sample of what we have been up against ever since we came here. We can't get out any too soon to suit me, and if I ever learn to be an author, California will hear from me and no mistake!

Journal by Marion S. Coleman ... 1931-35

20 Oakland Ave
Brockton, Mass
Dec. 16, 1931
Nearly Christmas again and nothing done. In this year of depression guess there isn't as much of a Christmasy feeling as other years. Perhaps we will go back and find the true Spirit of Christmas and give up the ostentation and mockery. I could get a great thrill out of the right kind of Christmas.
Lucille is working in an Insurance and real Estate office.. 'Hunts' The younger Hunts' wife did work there until last June. Now they have a young son. Whether she will be back in or not of course we don't know.
Several weeks ago we splurged and bought a mahogany Gov. Winthrop full size desk. Probably we were reckless but at least we have a piece of furniture to be proud of. Harold turned a mahogany lamp base to go with it, so our living room looks better, though it is shrieking for a large rug, curtains and a big chair or two to say nothing of another lamp and ad infinitum.
Still going to night school and getting a lot of enjoyment out of it. Doing charcoal drawing now. Best of all, I can see that I am improving.

Sat. Eve. Dec. 26, 1931
Well, our first Christmas in Massachusetts has gone by. Now I think we should feel more at home.
Mother, Dorothy and Wendell were out last evening. The day was so very warm it was hard to think of it as Christmas. Ground not frozen, not a bit of frost or snow, in fact Christmas Eve we had to let our furnace fire go out as it made the house so uncomfortably warm!
Usual number of presents I think. Electric popper (corn), also combination sandwich toaster and waffle iron, Torridaire hot pad, I guess it would be called, beads, atomizer, accordion household file, stationary, rubber overshoes.
Saw in the home paper where the snowplow had been thru to the boundary (Maine) so there is some snow in some places along the Kennebec.

Friday Jan 1, 1932
Cloudy. Looks like a storm.
Spent yesterday in Newton Center with Mother and Dot. Talked our heads off. Wendell brought me home in the evening.
Not a speck of snow. But youngsters are running around in heavy skiing costumes such as they effect now.
We didn't watch the old year out yet, we slept until 10 o'clock this forenoon and it was nearly 11 am before the children crawled out.
Cedric is at the movies this afternoon. Lucille riding with the Baldwin's and Bruce & Harold are at the YMCA. Phyllis and I are keeping the homefires burning.

Sun Jan 3, 1932
We had a heavy rain all day yesterday. Sometime in the night it changed to snow and when we awoke this morning the world was white. Not more than three inches and perhaps not that. The children in this neighborhood had a 'grand and glorious' time with their sleds until the snow melted from the roads and drives.
Wrote a letter to Bina.
Bruce and Cedric went to Sunday School, but the rest of us have stuck like bark to a tree to the house all day.

Thurs. Jan 14, 1932
That last snow vanished and last Sunday we had another storm, more this time. I really thought perhaps it would stay awhile, but it has gone like the other. Not only that, but it is so warm we had to let the furnace fire go out again, yesterday! It is 68 in the living room this morning! I love it, I wish this as cold as we should expect.

Tues. Jan 19, 1932
A bit cloudy
Our warm weather lasted three days, then it grew a bit cooler, but water out of doors didn't freeze over until last night. So you can how 'unusual' the weather has been.
Letter from MacDougal, also one for Harold from Arlie. Mac's was for us all.
Vowed I never would bother to make window curtains or drapes again, but I am doing so nevertheless. It seems to be the only thing to do when one's pocketbook is slim, unless one is satisfied with the same thing that every other low salaried person hangs up. Found a 'bargain'. Only 12 1/2 cents a yard and washes. Regularly 25 c material at least, possibly .35.

Sun. Mar 6, 1932
No matter how many resolutions I make to write everyday, if only one line, I fail every time.
Charles. Lindbergh's baby was kidnapped last Tuesday evening (I think) from its bed and so far it hasn't been found. Everyone, naturally, is at boiling heat, and the Sino-Jap war has dropped out of our minds and talk 'like nobody's business' as one writer put it. I think there is work for the K.K.K. and they had better revive it. Not so sure now but the Lynch Law of the south is a darned good thing!
Harold very busy wiring the new factory at Whitman. Even works Sundays which we don't really appreciate, but nowadays, if a person just has work the other little things do not matter.
Evening High closes this week, as a measure of economy, instead of two weeks later.

Sunday, March 27, 1932
Easter Sunday. Warm, that is about 60 degrees F. Had a call from Cousin Robert the other day. I was coming across Pleasant St., heard a horn honk to or three quick staccato honks, but didn't think it referred to me, except that the man at the wheel of the parked car was impatient for me to get across so he could start. I thought 'Wait a minute you ninny, I'll be across before you can possible start! But I gained the sidewalk and started up Oakland Ave and some more quick honks. 'Oh well, his wife is taking too long saying goodbye. He's trying to hustle her up. It wasn't me at all' Just about that time, the car swung up beside me and a voice called in an amused tone, 'So you don't know your own relatives?' It was Robert and after words I thought that he did well to recognize me. It must be two or three years since he saw me. Well he came into the house and we gabbed. He promised to bring Aunt Emma over soon.