Friday, April 1, 1921

Fair, cool, clear, windy, clearing. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Read paper. To College 7:45 -11 A.M. Dinner. Sorted eggs for storage 1-6 P.M. Supper. Cleaned up. To social at Y for all young peoples church organizations. Escorted Miss Swart home. TO BED 12 P.M.

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Okay, her name is Swart, not Swarts. I did find a Mildred Swart, who was living with her parents at 116 Victory Ave in Schenectady in 1920. She was a music teacher, so perhaps she knew Ruth and that is how she and Stanford met. By 1930, she was still living with her parents and her grandmother, and a lodger or two. In 1940, she is still single, still living in the same place, only now her mother is widowed, her grandmother is gone, but Willard Carr, their lodger since 1910, is still there. Mildred is still a music teacher in 1940, giving lessons at home. She never married. One can imagine her teaching music for many years, maybe even until her death at 101. Having been born in 1899, Mildred's life spanned three centuries!

Here is a little description of her that was in the Schenectady High School yearbook for 1919, the year she graduated (in January, apparently):

Miss Damon was the H.S. Orchestra director.

I also found some information about Mildred's heritage, which goes way back in the Schenectady and Glenville area, apparently. Perhaps the Clossons knew the Swarts there, too. And Stanford might have known Mildred from high school as well.  This section was taken from the Hudson-Mohawk Genealogy Website of the Schenectady Public Library. It seems Mildred was an only child.

Thursday, March 31, 1921

Overcast in A.M. Heavy showers at night. Arose 7 A.M. To College 7:45-11 A.M. Odd jobs. Dinner. Studied. Fooled around. Down street. Supper. To fraternity meeting. To College library. To Post Office. To bed 11 P.M. No snow. Roads like summer etc.

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Wednesday, March 30, 1921

Marvelous, bright, cool, clear day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Talked etc. To city with Mr. Reynolds. Home. Read paper etc. Marcus here to dinner. Candled and sorted eggs for storage. Studied. Supper. Ruth to Ed & Leila's for rest. Home in evening. To bed 9 P.M.

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I wonder why Ruth needed a rest? And why she had to go to someone's house to do it? Hmmm . . .

I don't know who Marcus is. Perhaps he's mentioned him before? Too lazy to look it up.

Tuesday, March 29, 1921

Beautiful, bright, cold, clear, windy day. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Mother, father, Ruth & I out to buy eggs. Started 8:45 A.M. via Duanesburg, Esperance, Sloanesville, Central Bridge (DINNER), Scoharie, Middleburg, Breakabeen etc, Berne, Gallupville etc. 89 miles. Stopped at Parkers Corners. Stayed overnight. TO BED 12 P.M.

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That was quite a trip through the small towns of eastern New York. Below is a Google Maps' rendering of the route. Google wouldn't let me put one more destination on the list, so you'll have to imagine how they got to Parkers Corners. Interestingly, Google clocks the trip at 88.5 miles.

Egg-Buying Trip

Monday, March 28, 1921

Beautiful in A.M. Cloudy & showers in P.M. Arose 8 A.M. Breakfast. Fooled around. H.H. & I cleaned out barn. Dinner. Helped mother & father etc. Read. Supper. Home in evening. Played games etc. Took bath. Cold at night. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for health, friends, opportunities etc.

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Sunday, March 27, 1921

Fair, bright, very warm day. Arose 6:15 A.M. Dressed. To Church to early Easter service with Mildred Swarts 7:30-8:15 A.M. Breakfast. To Church service. Full house. To S.S. Marion & Mark to dinner. To Uncle John's to call. To E.L. 132 out. To Church with M.S. Talked. To bed 11 P.M.

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I wasn't able to find out anything about Mildred Swarts. But I see that Marion & Mark are seeing quite a lot of Hanford and Ruth.

Saturday, March 26, 1921

Overcast, wet, cool, rainy day. Arose 9 A.M. Breakfast. Played piano etc. Wrote in diary. Delivered eggs. Dinner. Cleaned up. Over to Church. To Proctors with Russell & Lew Larkin. Home 6:15 P.M. Supper. Played euchre. Sorted papers. Cleaned room. To bed 11 P.M.

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Stanford doesn't say what they watched at Proctors theater, but it was still a vaudeville theater at this time, so . . . 

Friday, March 25, 1921

Rainy in A.M. Cleared and bright in P.M. Arose 9 A.M. Fooled around. Breakfast. Took bath, shaved, washed hair etc. Dinner. Sent out E.L. cards for contest. Out on errands on bicycle. Cleaned up. Ruth, Hanford, Tom, Marion and I to Parkers Corners to Easter Supper. Rode to Altamont. Down to Reynolds house. Food around. To bed 1:15 P.M. [A.M.]

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Thursday, March 24, 1921

Overcast damp day with some rain. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. Home. To noon meeting at church 12:15-12:45 M. Dinner. Read paper. Played piano. Talked etc. Took nap. Supper. To Kappa Sigma Pi initiation at Church. Eats. Bowled. To bed 12:15 P.M.

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Wednesday, March 23, 1921

Most wonderful, bright, warm day. Arose 6:30 A.M. Studied, breakfast. To College 8 A.M. - 12:15 M. Dinner. Took walk with H.H. 3-6 P.M. End of Campbell Ave line, out over hills, hit river road above pumping station. Supper. To Derry-Englehart debate on Smith-Towner bill. TO BED 11 P.M.

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Here is a picture of the Pumping Station as it appeared in 1923:

The Smith-Towner bill, which was to take effect 1 April 1920, would have created the Department of Education that authorized many actions, such as compulsory education and the training of teachers. It was landmark legislation, but failed to pass, ultimately. I think it's interesting I have never heard of it. If you are interested in reading the bill, here is a website that has a facsimile of it: Smith-Towner.

Tuesday, March 22, 1921

Fair, clear, cool, dry, bright day. Arose 6:45 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M. - 12:15 M. Dinner. Studied. Played piano. Rested. Down town. Bowled at Morse. Home. Supper. Talked. Wrote letter, studied etc. To Post Office. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for friends, health.

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It's interesting that every time Stanford writes a letter, he goes right to the Post Office to send it. I wonder if he walked or took the car?

Here is a post card from 1921 showing the Schenectady Post Office, where Stanford spent so much time.

Monday, March 21, 1921

Hot, damp, muggy day. 70 degrees in A.M. Arose 7:15 A.M. Studied. Breakfast etc. To College 8 A.M. - 12:30 M. Dinner. Helped father. Took sleep. Supper. To Basketball smoker at Delta Phi house. Fine time. Home. STUDIED. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for all blessings.

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Sunday, March 20, 1921

Wet, rainy, dark, humid day. Arose 8:15 A.M. Breakfast. Took bath etc. Down to see Wilbur Hayes. To S.S. Dinner. Wrote in diary etc. Took nap. Out walking with Russell. To E.L. social hour and meeting 152 out. Took D.S.R. home. TO BED 2 A.M.

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In case you've forgotten, Wilbur Hayes featured prominently in earlier Stanford diary entries. Here is one that describes the friend: Wilbur Hayes.

I see Dorothea is still in the picture. But her days are numbered, as she eventually marries someone else.

Saturday, March 19, 1921

Overcast, cool, breezy day. Rain at night. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. To College 9-11 A.M. Nap. Hair cut. Odd jobs in P.M. Greased Hudson car etc. Supper. Cleaned up. To E.L. Social at Alplans at Alferetta Clutes home. Eleven went. Good time. To bed 1:45 P.M. [A.M.?]

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Alfaretta (variously spelled) Clute is apparently a single woman of about 26 or 27 at this time, living in Newburgh with her parents. But they had lived in Glenville previous to this time, so perhaps that is how the Clossons knew them.  In the Closson Genealogy, the writer makes mention of a Clute family who were very early settlers to the Providence area and he goes on to say that there were two Clutes, Jacob and Gershom, who lived at the time of the genealogy's writing (1950) in Providence, NY. And since one of Alfaretta's brothers is named Jacob, these may be the people mentioned in the Genealogy and by Stanford in his diary entry.

Here is a picture of Alfaretta Clute, taken from a family tree on ancestry.com.

According to that website, she eventually married a man by the name of Fisher, but unfortunately only lived to be 40 years old.

Friday, March 18, 1921

Beautiful, bright, cool, breezy day. Arose 6:45 A.M. Studied, Breakfast. To college 8 A.M. - 12:30 M. Dinner. Took short nap. To rhetoric. Talked at Phi Nu Theta rooms. Home. Sent out post cards. Studied etc. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful for health, friends.

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Thursday, March 17, 1921

Beautiful, bright in A.M. Cloudy in P.M. Some rain at night. Arose 6 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M. - 12;15 M. Dinner. Studied. Helped father. Took nap. Supper. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. Bowled with Church League 152-162-155. To bed 11:30 P.M.

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I wonder if people were celebrating St. Patrick's Day by this time. According to Wikipedia, it had been celebrated in the U.S. since the late 18th century. I guess Stanford wasn't tuned in to Irish celebrations. There was a St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City that day, but Stanford doesn't mention it. 

Wednesday, March 16, 1921

Beautiful, bright, clear, cool, breezy. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Read paper. Arose to campus 8 A.M. - 12:30 M. Dinner. To College to get measured for cap & gown. Bowled at *. Mother, father, Ruth and I to Uncle Johns with Hudson. Supper. Wrote letter to S.E.S. To P.O. Studied. Talked. To bed 10:15 P.M.

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I'm not sure who S.E.S. is--perhaps Stella Sanborn?

Tuesday, March 15, 1921

Overcast, mild, damp, humid day. Arose 6:10 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8-11 A.M. Took walk in country. Dinner. Conference with family. Wrote letter. Up stairs to study. Helped father. Supper. To College to Lecture. To bed 10:10 P.M.

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I wonder what the conference was about? Perhaps his future? Hmmmm . . . 

Monday, March 14, 1921

Fair, mild, damp, day. Snow gone. Arose 7 A.M. Breakfast. Helped father off. To College 8 A.M. - 12:30 M. Dinner. Down town. Bowled. Home. Wrote in diary, letter to Nellie etc. Supper. To Ichabod Spencer Lecture. Home. Studied. To bed 10 P.M.

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Stanford mentioned the Ichabod Spencer lecture in his 1920 diary on this day: Ichabod.

Sunday, March 13, 1921

Fair, bright, cool, day. Arose 9 A.M. Fooled around. To Church & S.S. Uncle Charlie here to dinner. Out with father on every member canvass. Out walking with Russell Norris. To E.L. Talked etc. To Standard for lunch. Home. To bed 10 P.M. Thankful for health, friends, etc.

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I hadn't heard of "every member canvass," so I looked it up and found this definition on the Episcopal Church website:

A parochial stewardship campaign that invites every member of the parish to make a pledge for the upcoming year. The campaign may urge the parishioners to offer their time, talent, and treasure. Members of the parish pledge to give a certain amount of money to the church. The campaign may encourage parishioners to tithe as an expression of Christian generosity and commitment. Parishioners may also pledge to participate in specific forms of Christian service and ministry. The campaign emphasizes the importance of inviting each member to make a pledge to the parish. Members of the stewardship or every member canvass committee may seek to contact all parish members by home visits or telephone. All members of the parish are urged to participate in stewardship as an expression of Christian generosity. See Stewardship.

Saturday, March 12, 1921

Bright in A.M. Cloudy in P.M. Rain at nite. Arose 7 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. ToCollege 8-11 A.M. Drew oil off car etc. Dinner. In P.M. H.H. & I to Troy to Russell Sage College to visit Sanborns. Ruth & Tom along. Home. To (8 P.M.) Union (19) - Alumni (28) B.B. Game with D.S.R. Down to CHURCH. Up to MISS BENEDICT'S home. Took D.S.R. to KINGSBURY'S. To bed 3 A.M.

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Ah, the couples are coalescing! Ruth & Tom, Hanford and Miss Benedict. I guess Dorothea is not yet a thing of the past, since she's keeping him out to 3 A.M.!

Friday, March 11, 1921

Wonderful warm, bright spring like day. Arose 7:15 A.M. Breakfast. Arose. To College hill 8 A.M. - 12:15 M. Fooled around. To third floor to study and sleep. Supper. Home in evening. Studied etc. To bed 11 P.M. All snow gone. Ground drying up.

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Thursday, March 10, 1921

Beautiful, bright, clear, cool, breezy day. Arose 6:45 A.M. Breakfast. Studied. To College 8 A.M. - 12:15. Dinner. Played piano. Wrote in diary etc. To Public and College Libraries. Down town. Bowled etc. 195 & down. Supper. Took Bath. To Phi Nu Theta meeting. To Lincoln School with Ruth to dancing. GOT ALONG FAIR. TO BED 12:15 P.M.

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Well, I guess Stanford is using his dancing lessons, though I believe they were intended for bigger affairs. Hard to say at this point.

Here's a picture of Lincoln School as it appears today. It looks like it probably is the same building although it may have been added to since 1908, when it first opened. No doubt it was much grander back in 1921.

Wednesday, March 9, 1921

Cloudy, warm, humid, damp day. Arose 7:25 A.M. Toilet. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M. - 12:15 M. Dinner. Rain in P.M. Took short nap. Studied. Supper. Studied etc. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for health, friends, education, opportunities.

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Tuesday, March 8, 1921

Very mild, wet, overcast nasty day. Arose 6:30 A.M. Studied. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M.-12:15 M. Wrote letters. To P.O.  Helped father. Odd jobs. Got Hudson car from garage. Supper. Studied. Fred Lincks called in evening. To bed 10 P.M.

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I finally found Fred Lincks on record. He was a student at the Summer School for Christian Workers in 1921, held at the Auburn Theological Seminary in Auburn, NY. He is listed as G. Fred Lincks there, and shows as being from Schenectady. Ruth is also listed as being a student at Auburn that summer. The Auburn Theological Seminary still exists, and in fact seems to be going strong, affiliated since 1818 with the Presbyterian Church. Here is their website: Auburn.

There are later records of G. Fred Lincks, who was an engineer for General Electric in 1940, living in Pittsfield, MA. It certainly seems likely that this Fred is Stanford's Fred, since in 1921, Fred may have been working at the GE plant in Schenectady and then later moved to Pittsfield where he is listed in the census records.  In 1930 he was living at the YMCA there and working for GE as an electrical engineer, but by 1940 he had a wife and a 1 year old daughter. Looking through Newspapers.com, I can see from the many stories about him in the Pittsfield newspaper that Fred had a long career with GE in Pittsfield, where he lived the rest of his life, dying there in 1994 at the age of 93. His wife, Beatrice, who was 14 years younger than he, died in 2011 at 95.

I found one other little story about G. Fred Lincks. The Pittsfield YMCA gives an award in memory of Fred, the Fred G. Lincks Award. Here is a little bit of information about the most recent recipient of it which also tells why Fred was worthy of remembering.

Monday, March 7, 1921

Overcast, damp, mild, nasty day. Arose 7:30 A.M. Breakfast. To College 8 A.M.-12:30 M. Dinner. Down town. Bowled at Morse. Got watch, toothpaste etc. Talked home. To Lodge. Supper. Wrote letter to D.S.R. Studied. To P.O. Wrote in diary. To bed 11 P.M. Thankful for education, all opportunities.

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I guess Stanford is still friendly with Dorothea.