Radio Script #852

Little Talks on Common Things
May 10, 1970

Today I want to tell you about the diary kept by a Kennebec County youth almost a hundred years ago. The man was George Frank Simpson, who lived in East Winthrop and began the diary in October, 1872. Inside the book is a record of its purpose: “The property of George Frank Simpson, bought in Augusta at the bookstore of Horace North on October 7, 1872.”

The very next day Simpson recorded the first entry: “Today is my birthday. I am nineteen years old. It seems but yesterday since I was a small boy in frocks, and today I stand six feet. Happy, fleeting days of childhood! At the beginning of this new year of my life, I commence this journal, with the intention of keeping it for the next year as a record of my daily life.”

Then Simpson says that he rode into Winthrop Village and got a hair cut, and was delighted to receive an invitation to join the village band, and he got an E-flat alto horn as his instrument.

The next day Simpson recorded that he had been at work in the shop pegging boots. That deserves an explanation and we get it from reference to the History of Winthrop. That book tells us that about 1840, three Parlin brothers formed a partnership and started a shoe factory in Winthrop. When young Simpson worked there the owner was W.H. Packard. who had taken over the plant in 1865. The history informs us that in its best years that Winthrop shop produced more boots and shoes than any other shoe factory in Maine. A few days after that entry, Simpson proudly recorded that he had earned a dollar for his day’s work in the shoe shop.

That fall Simpson became interested in a singing school to be conducted in the East Winthrop schoolhouse. Tickets cost $2.00 for 20 lessons.

Oct. 17 – “Father gave me $10 to get clothes for winter. At James Leigh’s store in August,a I got two sets of red flannel underwear for $4, cloth for a pair of pants for $2 a yard, paying $6 for three yards. That took all of the $10.”

In 1970, when we are having a stir in Maine about sugar beets, it is interesting to note Simpson’s statement that Ed Elliott had just dug 51 bushels of beets on his farm. In 1872 what did one do with 51 bushels of beets?

I wonder what was the Canadian horse disease of the 1870’s. Simpson wrote: “The Canadian horse disease has reached Winthrop. Several horses here are sick.”

I also would like to know what is meant by blackballing boots. “Helped Jesse blackball two dozen boots.”

Another of Simpson’s items brings up old memories. “The girls and I went digging spruce gum this afternoon.” It is more than 60 years since I took from a tree any spruce gum. Probably some of my listeners have done better.

Simpson showed some interest in politics. Nov. 5 – “Presidential election today. Will decide whether U.S. Grant and Henry Wilson or Horace Greeley and B. Gratz Brown shall be the people’s choice.” Naturally, a few days later, he recorded Grant’s re-election.

Meanwhile Simpson was making slow progress with his horn, but he thought enough of the instrument to protect it. Nov. 8 – “Bought a yard of dark blue flannel to make a bag for my horn.”

Of course every man banked his house for the winter in the 1870’s. But what do you suppose the Simpsons used for banking? Nov. 9 – “Father and I banked the house today. We got three loads of tan from Perkins’ tannery.”

The great Boston fire was news that stirred folks as far away as Winthrop, Maine in the fall of 1872. We should not be surprised at Simpson’s diary entry. Nov. 11 – “News of a great fire in Boston. The most elegant business structures in the city are consumed. Such streets as High, Milk, Pearl and Franklin are devastated. Washington Street between Summer and Milk is in ruins. The fire covered a hundred acres, and the loss is in millions. With the exception of the Chicago fire, such a blaze has not been known in American history.”

Cold weather came early that year, for on Nov. 19 Simpson borrowed a pair of skates and went skating on the meadow. He says the band meeting that evening lasted so late that he did not get home until midnight.

One social event of that autumn was a serenade party. “Went with others to serenade Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Lyons, Jr. I took Bertha Fuller in a two-horse team, a right smart rig. We called at Mr. Hill’s to wait for some Manchester people. In the party there were eight from Manchester Center, ten from East Winthrop, and 12 from North Manchester. We arrived at Lyons’ about nine and stayed until midnight.”

We would today consider it most unusual to find a 19 year old boy attending grade school, but that was just what George Simpson did. Dec. 2 – “Commenced attending school today, the first day of the winter term. The school is taught by Mr. Ring. I have Thomas Jackson for a seat mate. Hattie Parlin came to school this afternoon. She, Thomas and I are all that are left of last winter’s older scholars.”

We learn from the History of Winthrop that the schoolhouse Simpson attended had been built in 1865. At that time the East Winthrop section was thickly settled with six to twelve children in each family. The historian says: “It is often questioned whether the present system of graded schools produces wiser or better men and women than the old, ungraded district schools. We do know that from those old schools came many persons who appreciated the best in English literature, could reason logically, and led successful lives. Yet nobody wants to go back to those old days.”

The history continues: “The little red schoolhouse was something more than a knowledge box, a place for teaching the three R’s. It was a community house where families gathered for singing schools, Sunday schools. lyceums and parties.”

About two months after its organization, Simpson’s band got a chance to show its worth. Dec. 3 – “Our band serenaded seven gentlemen this evening. The band got $24 and a treat of cider and cigars for the evening’s work.”

Just before Christmas Simpson decided to add writing school to his singing school activity, and he gives evidence that not all was sober study at such a school. Dec. 24 – “Attended writing school this evening. Some mischievous boys had hung a bell underneath the schoolhouse, so that it could be rung by a string coming up through the floor. The master tried in vain to discover the source of the disturbance.”

Christmas was a cold day in 1872, 17 below zero at seven in the morning. Simpson attended a Christmas tree party in the schoolhouse. Accidents happened in the old days just as they do now. Jan. 2, 1873 – “Hope upset a bottle of blacking in the cellar on the pork barrel. I had to pour out the brine and repack the pork, wash the cellar stairs and the kitchen floor.”

Jan. 11 – “I worked putting together an old clock this afternoon. I gave my horn to Charlie Pike and took the one John Jackson has had. I now play second alto in the band.”

Simpson was taking advantage of the new library at East Winthrop. He read in rapid succession Jane Eyre, Woman in White and Old Town Folks. In fact he liked reading so much that, on Jan. 13 he wrote in the diary: “Attended school today, but read Woman in White instead of studying.”

On Jan. 29 Simpson’s band held what was called a levee. He tells us that he rode up to the village with two other fellows and got his hair combed at a barber shop, having his head well doused with bay rum. The levee consisted of vocal and instrumental selections, a drama called “The Last Loaf”, and a farce “A Little More Cider”. Refreshments consisted of oysters, ice cream and cake. The evening closed with the raffling of a barrel of flour. A committee of four was chosen to take the flour to the winner’s home, accompanied by the band.

Washington’s birthday saw a big storm, making the roads impassable for several days. In one week, thus snowbound, Simpson read Waverly, East Lynne and John Halifax Gentleman.

One day in April Simpson shopped again in Augusta. Here is his list of purchases: “Belt for mother 50¢; velveteen coat collar 30¢; two pounds of coffee 64¢; lamp chimney 15¢; hat for myself $2.00. Ground the coffee at Aunt Lizzie’s this afternoon.”

July 3 – “There is a camp of Indian basketmakers at the foot of Woodcock Hill. I stopped there to inquire about my horn, which I lost out of the wagon coming back from concert at the village yesterday. Found the Indians had picked it up early this morning. I gave them a dollar for its return.”

In 1873 the manufacture of oil cloth, that was to make Winthrop famous, had already begun. July 6 – “Went over to Baileyville and went through the oil cloth factory.” Then Simpson went into the village, got a shave, and had his side whiskers trimmed.

Excursions by boat were common in the 1870’s. On the Fourth of July in 1873 Simpson recorded: “Went on excursion with Winthrop Cornet Band and their ladies to Mouse Island near Boothbay Harbor. We left Hallowell on the Clarion at 6:30 a.m., arriving at Mouse Island about 11. Went bathing before dinner, which we had at the Stone Hotel. About twenty of us then went to Squirrel Island in a sailboat. Started for home about 4 and arrived at Hallowell at 9:30. We Winthrop fellows and our ladies had free passage and a free chowder.”

On July 25 Simpson not only got a hair cut and shave; he also had his whiskers colored.

That fall Simpson decided to try teaching school. He had already been giving music lessons and had learned to play the organ, but this was his first experience before a group of scholars in a district school. It was the tough winter term, when older pupils attended, and Simpson was somewhat apprehensive.

Nov. 29 – “Father drove me to Manchester and I was examined for my certificate. The examination was in writing, elocution, geography, arithmetic and history. I did very well. Father then took me to my boarding place, the home of George Fifield, the school agent.”

Nov. 30 – “Commenced my school today. 14 boys and 12 girls. I have five classes in reading, two in spelling, three in geography, two in grammar, and three in arithmetic. I got through my first day very well.” Simpson seems to have had no difficulty with his school, and he enthusiastically took part in a debate at the Winthrop Forum on the question, “Shall the legislature establish free high schools in Maine?”

There is nothing of any great concern in that diary, but it does show us a bit about what Maine rural and village life was like for a young man a hundred years ago.

Year: 1970