Alice Mabel Allen (1886-1976) grew up in the village of Adams in Jefferson County. In 1908, while attending Syracuse University, Mabel, as she was known, kept a diary which New York Almanack is publishing each week.
Monday, July 13
Father and Edna [her sister] left for Adams about noon. We — mother and I — took up the matting in the hall and mother washed. Put up banners and sewed on Edna’s bathing suit. After lunch we made the acquaintance of little Laura Howard who lives here the year around.
We rowed across [Lake Ontario’s Henderson Harbor] to get a box for a dressing table. After supper the Waites took us out for a ride in their launch down by Biris. We greased the rollers in the boat house making it easier to pull in the boat. Rain storm & thunder & lightning.
Tuesday, July 14
Went over across with the Waites and then for a ride by the islands and across White’s bay. Letter from Rollin [a suitor]. Before dinner mother talked to me about grandmother Kilby.
Went in bathing with Franklin at 3. Sewed on suit and read Kim. After lunch went out with mother along shore. The Waites stopped on their way back from Shears. Two strange men walked up the hill past the cottage, so mother and I went down to Mrs. Waite’s to sleep.
Wednesday, July 15
Mother roused me early from her slumbers and we came home and got breakfast. Put down the matting in the new room upstairs. Looked for the people all day but they did not come, so I won a treat from mother (this last happened Thursday). Mrs. McKee came to call just as we were having dinner, so mother asked her in. After supper we greased the rollers and then went out on the water, close to the shore.
Thursday, July 16
Put down the matting in the hall. Franklin brot me letters from Edna, post card from Mary Wick and “bodkin” from Fuzzie. The Waites and Ripleys all came to-day and it seemed like old times to have the latter appear.
Went in bathing off the Waite dock with Franklin. Did not go out on water at all, altho it was a glorious day. We wished to be here when the people came.
Friday, July 17
Rained hard all day. Father and Edna came about noon and I went down to help father put out the horse. He is very lame with crick in his back. Dinner was ready when we came back. I fixed the dressing table upstairs and one of the curtains.
Alice brot up the paper. Went down with father to the barn. Got supper to-night and tried some corn gems which were not much of a success. Mother and Edna did up the work and I read the Journal [her father’s weekly newspaper]. Later we played the Word game Edna winning. Postcard from Ethel Blickmann.
Saturday, July 18
Rained most of the morning. Edna made graham cakes for breakfast and I went after the milk. Changed the mattress on the bed upstairs. Sewed some on my bathing suit. Edna and I went down to feed Jenna. Mother made a cherry pie.
Put on a clean waist — the first in days — after dinner. Started the The Spoilers which is a waste of time to read. Edna and I went down to see Nell and Alice. After supper Edna and I put the boat out and pulley rope broke as Edna was putting on rudder. Wind came up and and we went down to see the water. Edna stopped over. Letter from Dora [her sister in California].
Sunday, July 19
Pleasant part of the day, After breakfast I went down to the retreat and wrote to Mrs. Wisler. Father put up the new hammock. Read the Princess Virginia. In the A.M. Edna and I sailed across with Rob and Mr. Waite. Talked with Capt. Howard. The Bickfords from Roberts Corners came to spend a week in the Stillman cottage.
Father and mother left for home shortly after 5. Mrs. E.J. Waite came up to see us and then we went up to hear the Shears’ phonograph. Edna made fudge.
Photos, from above: boys swimming in Lake Ontario’s Henderson Harbor; and Mabel Allen.
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