In her 1900 diary, Clara Petrat reveals many common incidents involving candy and ice cream, sending letters, cleaning & sweeping, sewing her handkerchief, going to club, violent storms striking and burning buildings, and going to Waldameer and ‘four miles creek’, and a fight between her Papa and Mama.
Since she was a German immigrant, she is going to school to learn English composition.
…july 14……… Sun. I got up at 8 o’clock dress
went to Sunday School come
home and read Vicar Wakefield in
the afternoon I wrote and read.
In the evening we had 20c worth
candy.
July 15. I got up and felt very hot
And could not eat anything. I then
Went and slept all morning. Afternoon
Wrote a letter to May. And read in
the evening. Vivian Wakefield had ice cream
in evening
July 16 had a headache and slept
In the afternoon I help Mrs. Nicosero
July 17 I read all morning and finished
Vicar Wakefield I was very nayary all day
In the afternoon I brought my letter to May away
It was the grocery picnic Minnie, Emma went
in afternoon and stay still 10. Willie went to Vic…y
in afternoon. Willie and Otto went to grocery picnic
in the evening at 4 miles creek. I had to stay at home
July 18 I did not do anything it was so hot.
Albert was here in evening. At about 9:20 the
Wind turn and it was cold. It blow very
hard. I brought my letter to Mabels away
July 19 it was cold.
I wash myself and clean my room. In the
Afternoon I dressed myself twice. The client
Was suppose to met to my place. May I anna
intend to go to Waldameer but Emma G, could not
- It was a beautiful evening. There was two
tramp who were crowd our street loking and
standing every where. We had to close all our
window. We had lemon-nade at 10 o’clock.
I could not sleep at first on account of tramps.
July 20 It was very warm.
I close the hall and laid around the rest of day
until 5:30 Got up and swept the side walk.
I got up at 8:15. In the evening went to butcher
with momma.
July 21 Mr. Reiker came on a surprise in the
morning when I was to Sunday school
but he did not stay long. In the afternoon Emma
I & Emma j with to Waldameer. I had a little fight with
Ma. Mama with Albert to Buffalo. They came
Home at 1:00 the next morning. They were all
grim in the afternoon except ma and myself.
In the evening we had 50 cents worth of ice-
Cream and well water.
At about 11 o’clock it began to thunder and
lightning. It was terrible hot during the day.
It look like warm during the day once in a
while and the warm. It was 86 on the porch.
…had to get up and close our windows
… from 11 to 7 in the morning.
…and lightning all night very hard,
….very little. At about 4 o’ clock in the morning
..again so hard. I do not think there was a
Person that did not get up. Emma want to go
down stair but I lay in bed and did not
mind it very much. Minnie got up and
light the lamp. Ma came up and wan Otto
to go down stair but he did not.
It strick in 6 or 7 places. It burnd house till
there was nothing left except the wall. At 7 o’clock
it gave me hard knock and skill a horse. That
was the last. At 7 o’clock when you look away
and see the big black cloud.
Many people was so afraid they did not know
what to do. We have had never such a
thunder and lightning. It lightning continusly.
You did not hear a person outside.
It lasted for about ½ hr. stricking in places one
after another. But I was not afraid only a little
but not must to amount to anything.
Walli said he got afraid a little.
July 22 Mon.
I coming … clean the yard.
In the afternoon I began my handkerchief …
…. …. outside. Emma reading her
cotton fitting outside. Momma outside
sewing. In air was fresh but warm.
July 28 She did not do her little washing and
she act so funny and mad. She said she did
not felt good. Emma want her to go to Waldameer
because it was so nice. She would not go and
Emma got mad and took me along. We went
at 2 and came home at 6. There was a concert there.
We sat on the same place all afternoon. I saw quit
a few I knew.
In the evening Anna B. came and calling
for me to go to the poor family on 18 st.
We stay there awhile and I took Anna home.
Emma and Minnie was angry.
Emma bought some candy and got good
with every one. Minnie went to …mm.
I got home about 7 o’clock.
July 24. Wed. I did not do anything in the morning.
Emma was serving and Minnie that they were
…Emma went down street. At dinner Emma
and I got some well water. In the afternoon
……..went sewing. Emma up
stair. I was sewing my handkerchief.
In the evening they went to teacher meeting.
William came … Mon and …felt mad.
July 25. Thurs. I got up and felt terribly sick. I had
sick stomach all day long. I was most ill
day long down and it was so cold outside.
The Barber picnic came pass here. In the afternoon
and evening I sew a lot on my handkerchief.
Anna B. came for about 2 minute.
Albert K. was over. Mom and I took a little
walk to see the car on Myrtle Str. Where
was a street piano playing a long time.
around our place. It then began to rain.
July 26 Friday In the morning early it began
to thunder and lightning all the
were open…I thought a little….
July 27 Friday I stand up very early to see
Grace when she came pass. In the afternoon
it was cold. I went to May S. Bessie and Elsie
and told them where the club was. The Club met
to my place The one who were present were
Anna, Elsie We took a walk and went
to Elsie. I had four apples that day to Elsie,
Sat. July 27 I clean my room and slept in morning.
The paper mill burn we could see it from our
house. Emma and Otto went
Emma Minnie and mama was very crow
to each other. In the evening they were all right
Mr. Hartleb died that day.
There was a fire on 16th Myrtle. But you couldn’t
See anything, about 6:30. We all ran to it eccept
Mama. Papa went along and came back about
11:30 and had a fight with mama.
I hear them and went down stair but they
not see me. They began to scold so that I came
up and woke Emma and Minnie. We were
all very afraid. Minnie and Emma want
go down but I would not let them because
I knew it would be worst. I went up and
down the stairs. Minnie went and light
the lamp. At 12 o’clock when the clock struck
they stop. But I stay up until 2:30
in the morning setting in the stair
And then lay in bed listening until about
3 o’clock. I got up Sunday at 7 o’clock.