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, August 10
Father left about nine, driving home Clayton and Mr. Cooper’s livery. Made a salad dressing, washed. Russell helped us change the couch to the porch and the cot to the front room.
Jack [a dog] enjoys one resting place as well as another. Clara’s Smith friend came over and went to call on her. Della and I went in bathing while Edna [her sister] got the dinner. I did up the dishes and she cleaned out the boat. Russell and Edna went across [Lake Ontario’s Henderson Harbor] and I went to sleep on the porch.
They brot back some Hershey’s, which we sat on the lawn and ate. Della and I went on the water and gossiped until supper was ready. Russell sent down my work and thimble in the pail. We all went across at 8 and afterwards sat on the dock. The night was beautiful.
Tuesday, August 11
Lazed around on the front porch most of the morning. Della and Russell played croquet and Tiddlewinks with us. A crowd of six Belleville girls came into the Stillman cottage. I cooked the dinner, Russell helping. We played Canfield in between times. Read after dinner and went in bathing with Clara and [Della crossed out]. Russell, Della and I got supper over at Dunmores. Clayton and Mr. Cooper came over and we all went out on water. Heard fine singing at Tyler’s. The moon rose red and cast a reddish reflection on the water.
Wednesday, August 12
Got breakfast and did up the dishes so that Edna could help with the dishes of the night before. Della and I took Edna over to Cedarwood and then went across. Edna and I had a slight disagreement, but I suppose it came out all right. Her sense of duty is more unselfish than mine.
Clara and Della invited us over for beans at noon as Russell went fishing. Sewed and read in the afternoon. After Russell came we played ball and Puss in the Corner. Storm of rain kept us on the porch. Made fudge and omelet. Washed the dishes and the girls played Canfield and we ??? played “Tiddlewinks” until late.
Thursday, August 13
Rained all day until along toward night. Made a chocolate cake — Mrs. Bersie’s receipt, and it was a complete failure. Went in bathing with the Flatters in the rain. The [Jefferson County] Journal came and a letter from Dora [her sister in California], saying their coming was still indefinite.
In the afternoon the Dunmores came over. We sewed and played cards. Russell and I tied up Della and consequently she refused to help us get supper. Russell and I went across in a separate boat and took along Della’s pop-corn. Saw Clayton and Mr. Cooper. Watched the moon come up on the Dunmore porch.
Friday, August 14
I cooked breakfast. Edna went over to help with the supper dishes of the night before and I swept downstairs. Went over to call on the Belleville girls and later went with Edna in the Waite motor boat along the shore of the Islands and over to Rice’s. Went in bathing. The girls brot us over some chicken foie [?] for our dinner.
We went over to call on Mrs. Webster, not finding her home the first time, but on returning. Russell, Della and I went out in the boat while Clayton, Clara and Edna got supper. Played games afterwards and tried to arouse the Belleville girls. Slept with Clara and Edna with Della. Postcard from Cassie Wells.
Saturday, August 15
Russell cooked most of the breakfast and Della and I washed and wiped the dishes. After making the beds, I came home and read the Newcomer. Later I went sailing with Russell as it was a fair Northeaster. Della, Edna, Russell and I went in bathing. Edna and I decided too much intimacy was not a good thing.
After dinner we walked around the bluff to Cedarwood. It was very pretty. Jack went with us. Clayton and Sarah went with us down the fly where we got quantities of water-lilies. Father came in the boat just as we started for home. Clayton came over in the evening.
Sunday, August 16
Made corn muffins for breakfast and afterwards a caramel pudding. Clara came over to write letters and then Clayton came for dinner. Mr. Cooper went up to Adams to-day as Mrs. Cooper is not well. After dinner we, with the Dunmores, tramped over to the Boyne cottage in the fly.
Clara invited us over for a Golden Buck and we took Clayton’s melon which he brot to us. We left rather early in order that we might pack up to leave to-morrow, as Edna and I are going up to edit the paper.
Top photo, Mabel Allen; bottom photo, Puss in the Corner.
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