March 13 -15, 1915

Sat. March 13, 1915

Example of a chicken house sold in 1915

Cloudy and warm

Worked all day. Started to draw plans for chicken house out West.

Sun. March 14, 1915

Dull and warm

Went to Sunday School and taught - home - Mother nervous and not very well. Read - lessons - and figured on chicken business out West.

Mon. March 15, 1915

Warm and fine.

Lesson in afternoon. Had big meeting at church in evening. It was for the men, too. About 8 men there and 15 boys. Cliff gave the men a good straight talk and they said it was the best that they had ever heard. They were enthusiastic over the idea of a better fellowship between fathers and the boys and we are going to have another meeting in 1 month. Had some ice cream and cookies and home about 11.

Mar. 11 - 12, 1915

Thurs. Mar. 11, 1915

The school play was Secret Service about a double agent set during the Civil War,

Sunny Warm Melting

Had Senior class meeting and we still in favor of constitution of student government. Went into auditorium for 6 &7 period and tried out or practiced with 4 or 5 girls for the play. Had tryouts after school I tried for "Wilfred" with a girl by name of Marion Shipley. I did the same part for Grace Taylor and also tried out for "Capt. Thorne" with another girl. - On stage 3 times. - Do not know the result yet. Home lessons. Mr. and Mrs. Glasley called in the eve.Sent a letter and picture to Lillian Crane.

Yearbook photos of grandpa's scene partners

Don't worry - war is still going on. Eng, is trying to face the Dardanelles and Capt. Constantinople. Are about 1/2 way there. Also to get outlet for Russ. grain and fleet. Eng. and Ger. got blockade on each other. Nothing startling in position of army. US having hard job of keeping neutral - trouble with ENG and now Ger. has sunk US ship. 1 battleship ordered to Vera Cruz to scare Mexicans so more. Will have to use more stringent measures with her.

Wiki Note: Dardanells is also known as the battle of Gallipoli a campaign of the First World War that took place on the Gallipoli peninsula (Gelibolu in modern Turkey), from 17 February 1915 to 9 January 1916. The Entente powers, Britain, France and Russia, sought to weaken the Ottoman Empire, one of the Central Powers, by taking control of the straits that provided a supply route to Russia. The Allies' attack on Ottoman forts at the entrance of the Dardanelles in February 1915 failed and was followed by an amphibious landing on the Gallipoli peninsula in April 1915 to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (Istanbul)

Fri. Mar. 12, 1915

Warm and sunny.

Another kid got the part of Wilfred. Miss Watt said I would be fine for another part, but did not say what it was. We had a track meet with central in their gym. Walked over - we beat 'em 56 - 48 and the only gym we have is the basement hallway. Home, read, "etc."

Mar. 10, 1915

Wed. Mar. 10, 1915



Sunny, warm.

Had Trig test. Decide to try out for Senior class play " Secret Service." I luckily ran into a girl to take the other part, so we can tryout together. Tryouts tomorrow.

Had a meeting of Public Affairs club and I was elected Sergeant at Arms - More monkeying than anything else. Also voted favorable on ? of student government in W.H.S [West High School].

Went to town and saw Salambria (pictures) at the Garrick.

Home - sup- lessons- bed

Author note: Grandpa mistakes the name of the film he saw, it is actually SALAMBO. There were two films based on the Flaubert novel SALAMMBO, SALAMBO and CABIRIA released in 1914 and I think he mixed the names. The one showing at The Garrick was SALAMBO. Below is a clip from the film.

Mar. 8 - 9, 1915

Mon. Mar. 8, 1915

Jack Johnson was heavyweight champion from 1908-1915

Warm and bright and fine. Melting a little.

Broke 2 drills on Pa's gas invention and had to go to town and get new ones. Walked over to Ford bldg. and around.

Came home and boxed with Stew some. He and Walt were boxing and broke 2 panes of glass in the garage. Tried to study (word unclear) some trig. Supper went up to church and boxed a little with Summers and a round with Cliff, who beat me up. Good sport. About 16 fellows there - most of them outsiders from the church. Home 10 PM to bed.

Tues. Mar. 9, 1915

Fine and warm. Lots of snow yet.

Brought Pa's invention home, boxed with Stew - ran into 2X2 in the garage and hurt my nose. It was already swollen and sore from Monday night. Stew, Walt, and I went down to the Y club and heard good talk by U. Prof. on Advantage of a U. Education and adv. of small college.

Home, lessons a little and to bed about 11 or later. Have been trying to get a letter written to Lillian Crane for the last 2 or 3 days, but am -- busy that I haven't got time to sleep.

Author note: My aunt (Hal's daughter) remembers Lillian Crane as being Merrill Crane's daughter. That's the brother my grandfather's father went to visit in Wisconsin a few entries back.

Mar. 4 - 7, 1915

Thurs. Mar. 4, 1915

Gray and little colder. Streets and sidewalks are solid ice from recent thaws. Slid down 49th and 50th with Fred H. and (name unclear) a little. Monkeyed around.

Fri. Mar. 5, 1915

Started to blow and snow about 10 p.m. last night. About a foot on ground this A.M. and still snowing. About 25 above.

Got hair cut - went up to church in eve to have a meeting (my class and Charley Greenlaw's together). Only 2 came on account of the weather, but we popped corn ate apples "etc."

Home and to bed. Stopped snowing to-night. Biggest snow of the year about 2 feet.

Sat. Mar. 6, 1915

Quite warm - about 32. snowed a little more.

Worked all day

Sun. Mar. 7, 1915

About 32 and bright in the afternoon.

Mother and I to Lyn Church. Pa to 2nd. Heard good sermon on "The Church." Had 4 boys in my class. New supt there and he is fine. Fred Lack is also taking the place of secretary  instead of Naomi Atwood who resigned.

Read - took some pictures in the house, got some lesson and to bed. Strung my fiddle up last night and played a tune or tried to. Have been monkeying with the piano more than my fiddle this winter.

Mar. 1 - 3, 1915

 Monday Mar. 1, 1915

Report card from yearbook

Warm and fine -melting

Got cards - I got ++ in History,  high + in Geom, + in Civics, and a + in Trig. Came home and went skating, but it was too soft.

Tuesday Mar. 2, 1915

Sunny and warm, but not melting

Came home and went skating played hockey with Stew. Went to the Sunday School teacher meeting at Wiley's. Our new subt. Mr Scheil's was there. Had good meeting.

Wednesday Mar. 3, 1915

This is from the yearbook and I assume is the Theatrical students

Dull, gray, and warm 32.

Senior play was read to us this afternoon. I think I will try out for it. Home and up to church in eve to club meeting. About 15 or 18 there. Had a little boxing and good discussion.Home and copied some chicken data from the country gentleman.

Feb. 26 - 28, 1915

Feb. 26, 1915

Yearbook Y club entry

Fine and Sunny

Had civics and history tests. Went down and had picture taken for the Hesperian [yearbook] with Y club. Stew and I came home and went skating. I got 7 out of 14 games of hockey. Had lots of phun.
Home and monkeyed around

Feb. 27, 1915

Fine exhilarating sunny day about 32. Worked

Feb.28, 1915

Fine bright and sunny, about 32. Mother and I to Lyn church and heard a good sermon on "Rebuilding the Holy City." Had 5 in my class.

Read paper and "Jucklins" by Opie Read

Pa to Science church in A.M.

Authors note: The Jucklins story is set in the backwoods of North Carolina. Teacher Bill Hawes lives with the Jucklins, a local farming family, including father Lim Jucklin, daughter Guinea and son Alf.

Feb. 23 - 25, 1915

Feb. 23, 1915

One of Grandpa's photos - maybe one of his friends

Quite cold - all slush frozen - snowy

I went to the "Regent" in afternoon and saw movies. Then to Y Club and heard good talk on " Christ as a friend." In the discussion a man explains the bible as not simply a goody goody book, but something of real value "etc." We are going to have a 10 week study course. Home and got lessons.

Feb. 24, 1915

Still cold and quite a bit of snow has fallen. Stayed for Public Affairs Club. We introduced and passed a county option bill and a 10 round boxing bill. Home, read, studied and to bed.

Feb. 25, 1915

Still cool, but sunny and fine. Melted a little in mid day.

Stew and I walked home and in afternoon we and Ruth A. and Walt went skating on Harriet. We found a large spot free from snow and played hockey. Lot of fun - took some pictures.

Home and studied

Feb. 21 - 22, 1915

Lyric Theatre - I believe this was live theatre

Feb. 21, 1915

Slushy and wet - Rainy and snowy.

Up studied my S.S. lesson and went up to church hear sermon on "The Value of Life." Taught my class - 4 present - 1 new scholar. Was elected as a delegate from our S.S.to the boys conference at Y.M.C.A. Fri and Sat, but I have to work all day Sat. so I had to refuse. In 2 weeks we are going to have a fine new superintendent from Iowa. We haven't one now at all.

Read all rest of day

Feb. 22, 1915

Interior Lyric Theatre

Washington's birthday

Warm and slushy turning colder to-night will freeze.

No school. Pa is not home yet from Madison, Wis. Read paper all morning. In Afternoon mother and I went to The Lyric. I also bought a pair of rubbers. I wrote a debate in the eve to give in Hist. tomorrow.

The World Expo. at Frisco opened last Saturday night. Pres. Wilson opened it by wireless from Washington.

San Francisco World Expo. 1915

Wikipedia notes: The Panama–Pacific International Exposition was a world's fair held in San Francisco, California, United States, from February 20 to December 4, 1915. Its stated purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery from the 1906 earthquake. The fair was constructed on a 636 acre (1 sq. mi., 2.6 km²) site along the northern shore, between the Presidio and Fort Mason, now known as the Marina District.

Feb. 20, 1915

Feb. 20, 1915

Grandpa had been wearing long pants, so I'm not sure why he needed short pants
for the party unless they were dressing up as kids.

Still on the verge of melting. Very slushy in some places - in fact most place.

Worked all day. I took violet to a kids party given by Miss Todd's class at the church. I had knickerbockers that I borrowed from Fred H. and a bow tie "etc". Cliff's class were the guests and we had a good time.

Pa left at 6 tonight for Madison, Wisconsin to visit his brother Merrill, whom he hasn't seen for 20 years or so. He just moved to Madison and Pa is going to surprise him.

Author note: Trying to find info. on Windom's brother Merrill. All I can find so far is he was born in 1862 (9 years older than Windom) and was likely the oldest sibling. Will keep looking and update if anything comes up.

Feb. 19, 1915

Feb. 19, 1915

Garrick Theatre in 1916 on right side

 Read my paper and was elected with Robert Elliot to support the affirmative in a regular debate on Tuesday next. I went down with the public affairs club and we had our pictures taken. Walt and I went to The Garrick then and saw some movies. Went up to the church in the eve with Cliff to club meeting. Late to bed. There were about 11 or 12 of us there.

Feb. 17 - 18, 1915

Feb. 17, 1915

 "Flock" of  WW I era airplanes

Fine and barely melting.

Worked a little on Pa's gas invention. Stayed for public affairs club and we had a short session. Decided to have our picture in The Hesperian [yearbook]. Home and Walt and I monkeyed around all afternoon. Read paper, got lessons, took bath, and to bed.

Still fighting in Europe. The Eastern armys are not progressing very much either way. In the West Germany is pushing Russia back. German warships have been cleared from the seas, but she has been very daring and has done considerable damage with her submarines. She also made a raid on the English coast, bombarding a few towns. Today I see a squad of 41 British and French flying machines has made a raid on German bases "etc". It must be great to see a flock of war aeroplanes like that sailing through the air.

Germany has declared a blockade on English ports which goes into effect tonight. On the other hand England has determined to put her whole fighting strength to work and blocked Germany and squelch them. She has only been using 1/3 of her resources so far.

Feb. 18, 1915

Warm and rather slushy.

Home and sat up until 11:30 writing a debate of on the right of the colonies to revolt.



Wikipedia description: For the first few months of the war, U-boat anticommerce actions observed the "prize rules" of the time, which governed the treatment of enemy civilian ships and their occupants. On 20 October 1914, SM U-17 sank the first merchant ship, the SS Glitra, off Norway.^[8] Surface commerce raiders were proving to be ineffective, and on 4 February 1915, the Kaiser assented to the declaration of a war zone in the waters around the British Isles. This was cited as a retaliation for British minefields and shipping blockades. Under the instructions given to U-boat captains, they could sink merchant ships, even potentially neutral ones, without warning.

In February 1915, a submarine U-6 (Lepsius) was rammed and both periscopes were destroyed off Beachy Head by the collier SS Thordis commanded by Captain John Bell RNR after firing a torpedo.^[9] On 7 May 1915, SM U-20 sank the liner RMS Lusitania. The sinking claimed 1,198 lives, 128 of them American civilians, and the attack of this unarmed civilian ship deeply shocked the Allies. According to the ship's manifest, Lusitania was carrying military cargo, though none of this information was relayed to the citizens of Britain and the United States who thought that the ship contained no ammunition or military weaponry whatsoever and it was an act of brutal murder. Munitions that it carried were thousands of crates full of ammunition for rifles, 3-inch artillery shells, and also various other standard ammunition used by infantry. The sinking of the Lusitania was widely used as propaganda against the German Empire and caused greater support for the war effort. A widespread reaction in the U.S was not seen until the attack on the ferry SS Sussex which carried many citizens of the United States of America.

Feb. 14 - 16, 1915

Hard to find early info on the YMCA in Minneapolis, but I did find this pin. 

Feb. 14, 1915

Snowed but it is still very slushy and wet. I had to do 2 or 3 blocks out of my way to get to church and then had to walk in the road. Got wet too. Heard good sermon on "Importance of Thoughts." Last Sunday the loose collection was the largest in the history of the church. Church is picking up fine. Had 4 in my class and got along fine. Taught on Jeremiah. Home, did lessons, read, "etc"

Feb. 15, 1915

Colder, slush is frozen.

Got my Trig. in afternoon. Played a little 500 with Stew and Ruth A. Went over and got Cliff for our club meeting. We went up, started a fire and talked. Selected subjects for future talks by the fellows. Stan was the only one there, others studying "etc"

Home, history lessons, to bed

Feb. 16, 1915

Fine and barely melting.

Monkeyed around in afternoon. Went to Y club and heard David R. Porter talk - very good.

Home, got lessons and to bed.

Authors note: David R. Porter was a major figure in the YMCA read more

Feb. 12 -13, 1915

Feb. 12, 1915

Sylvester Schaeffer was a famous Vaudevillian who did it all -juggler, magician, musician, acrobat and more

Lincoln's birthday - warm, but cloudy and not melting.

In the morning Stew and I walked down to the Lake of Isles and saw West [high school] beat North [high school] in Hockey to the tune of 3-1. We have the championship about scinched now. Not lost game. Home and went over to Stew and boxed about 6 rounds with him. He is nearly a foot taller than I and has a big advantage in reach. We were about even in the scrap. Then Walt, Stew, Ruth , and I play 500 and we beat.

Home and Pa and I went down to The Orpheum and saw Sylvester Shaffer from The "Roof Garden." He could do almost everything and was fine. Home and to bed.

Feb. 13, 1915

Rained last night and everything is all icy. Can't walk without breaking your neck. Started to rain in the m again before noon and kept it up all day. Water and Ice make journeying pretty hard.

Orpheum Theatre 1913

Feb. 7 - 10 1915

page from the yearbook

Feb. 7 1915

Fine and sunny day. Quite warm nearly melting.

Went to church and heard good sermon. Taught or tried to teach my class - 3 present. Home and read a story of a hike through Europe all rest of day.

Feb. 8 1915

Fine and sunny and warm.

Jim, Raney, and I left school early and walked over to central. I saw Mr. Glasley - looked over his shops and talked for a half hour we then monkeyed around the gym and took the car home. I did lessons and then at 7 P.X. Cliff called for me and we went to the church for a club meeting about 8. There- no eats this time. built a fire and sat around and talked. Cliff gave a good talk and enlightened us somewhat on some things. Then we talked some more had a little fun and came home. Did a little school work and to bed.

Feb. 9 1915

Fine and warm

Decided to take trigonometry so I get out at end of 5th period now. Went downtown in afternoon and bought trig books. Came home - studied - went down to Y club with Walt and Stew - home studied a little and to bed.

Feb. 10 1915

Up at 6:55 with my electric alarm which works fine. Sunny and very warm melting. Pa is inventing a gas heater and I worked on it a little in the shop at school today. Joined the public affairs club this afternoon. We have a miniature legislation and I took part in discussion several times today

Home - cards with Stew  Sup- Ma and Pa to meeting and me doing lessons

Feb. 3 - 6, 1915

Feb. 3, 1915

Quite warm, but windy. Came home at end of 4th period went skating with Stew. Walked across lake in about 1 ft. of snow. Hockey. We took car home. Pa and Mother to Science meeting. Did lessons and to bed.

Feb. 4, 1915

Very bad day. Warm and a wet snow is falling. Left school early and went to the Auto Show. It was good. Stayed there till about six. - Home and monkeyed around. Asked Ruth K go to the sleigh ride to be given by Cliff's class Saturday eve.

Feb. 5, 1915

Still bad weather. Came home - sat around and read.

Pa brought home some batteries and a bell and we fixed up an electric alarm clock connection with the clock down stairs. I have the bell and switch to shut it off in my room.

Feb. 6, 1915

Worked. Got off early and took Ruth to the sleigh ride. Pretty good time. It was a fine day and evening. I am gaining in weight now weigh 120 again.

Jan. 31 - Feb.2, 1915

Jan. 31, 1915

This is an Auto Show in Cleveland, OH in 1915. Looks like electric cars had a lot of spots!

Went to church by myself. Taught my Sunday school class about Hezekiah. Home and read all afternoon and eve. Snowed

Auto show is this week. I have a book that I am reading entitled " Starting In Life" which tells the good and bad points of different professions "etc." I am trying to decide what to be.


Feb. 1, 1915

Warmer, but very windy.

Cliff, Glen and I started to go skating, but there was no path across lake and windy so we gave it up. Cliff and I played games. He called for me and we went up to church for a Bean supper and club meeting with his class. We had a nice fire in the fireplace, good supper and then we gathered around in a semi-circle and Cliff gave a talk on making a man out of yourself "etc". It was fine and the boys were very much impressed. He does them a deal of good, alright. About 10 or 11 of us there. We played games "etc" afterwards and had good time. Sang and raced "etc". Home about 11 PM.

Feb. 2, 1915

Quite warm. Home early and read. A man tuned the piano. Went to the Y Club and heard Gov. Hammond give a speech. Home and to bed

Jan. 28 - 30, 1915

Jan. 28, 1915



Still very cold. I am only going to take the 3 subjects this term.

Cliff's Sunday school class was going to have a sleigh ride party to-night, but we put it off because of the cold.

I met mother downtown and we went to The Shubert and saw CHARLEY'S AUNT. Home - Monkeyed around

Author note: CHARLEY"S AUNT was a stage play from the 1890s. There was a silent short of it released in 1915 starring Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy) so I am not sure which they went to see. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find any film of the 1915 silent short. Here is more info on the play and many film versions.



Jan. 29, 1915

Went skating had good game of Hockey and home.

Cliff came over and we 4 played 500. Pa and I beat one game and Cliff and mother the other.


Jan. 30, 1915

Snowed. Worked all day

Jan. 25 -27, 1915

Jan. 25, 1915

Started new term in school. Short periods. Am taking Civics, Solid Geometry and US history. I was going to take architectural drawing, but there is no class so I can't. As it is I have the 5th, 6th, and 7th period vacant as well as the 3rd.

Came home - went downtown and got my eye examined. He said that I was far-sighted and thus my vision for distant was excellent, but close work would bother me. He said that an Occulist could probably fix them all-right with treatments. I do not know what to do at present.

Jan. 26, 1915

Pretty cold. I think I will take shorthand for a 4th subject.

Went skating and played hockey. Came home and went to Sunday school meeting at Mr. Wiley's with Cliff. Had good eats and we discussed things with the new pastor (Mr. Blair)

Jan. 27, 1915

Very cold. Was 20 below at noon. Went skating, but did not do much of it - too cold.

Stew and I scrapped all the way how- good naturedly. Read paper "etc"

Yesterday President Wilson talked by direct wire with some official of the Exposition of San Francisco. Regular service will begin soon between New York and San Francisco and also between here and S.F. Cost = $20 for 3 min. and $6.75 for each additional minute.


Author Note: The first transcontinental phone call took place January 25, 1915 I think that is what my grandfather is talking about in this last entry."Four different individuals participated in this historic event: Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone (in New York, NY), Thomas Watson, Bell’s former assistant (in San Francisco, CA), Theodore Vail, president of AT&T; (from Jekyll Island, GA), and President Woodrow Wilson (from Washington, DC). 

Bell was asked to repeat the first words ever spoken on a telephone. On the first phone call he said to his assistant, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want you.” This time Watson, now in San Francisco, responded, “It would take me a week now!” Also the $20 from 1915 would be about $500 today. Link to more info

Jan. 24, 1915

Jan. 24, 1915

1912 From left back row: Floyd Everitt, Windom Crane, Ethel Griggs Everitt
From Left front row: Truman Griggs and Florence Griggs Crane

Up 8:30. Pa to C.S. Church. Mother and I up to Lynn. and heard Dr. Blair. We were there on time for once and will always be after this. Large congregation. Fine sermon on the Prince of Promises. ("All things work together for good to them that love God") Chas. Greenlaw divided his class in two and I will take one half next Sunday.

Pa and I walked out to Richfield in the afternoon. Wrote a letter to True in eve.

Author note: I think my grandfather is talking about his maternal grandfather, Truman Griggs, when he mentions writing True.

Jan. 21 - 23, 1915

Jan. 21, 1915

Last day of school for the first term. No school tomorrow. Got my card - average of 80% in LIT II, 85 in machine, 89 in Roman History, 90 in Algebra III.

Came home and played hockey. Went with Walt to the graduation in eve at West [ High School].

Jan. 22, 1915

Up late. Worked around the house in the morning. Started to go skating and found my skates loose so had to tighten them up. Played hockey. Home.

Jan. 21, 1915

Worked. about 17 below in A.M. Set the alarm of the clock I fixed up for 6:15. Laid awake half the night waiting for it to go off. When it did I turned over and went to sleep and was late for work.

Jan. 19, 1915

Grandpa's house in Minneapolis which still stands today. 4912 Emerson Ave. 

Jan. 19, 1915



Same temperature

Katherine said is alright again. Went downtown in afternoon and got 75 cent hockey stick with 25 extra for my 50 cent one that I broke. I walked down to the new post office and then back to the library where I read then to Y club. The church is certainly fortunate to get such a good worker (Rev. W. Walter Blair). He will do wonders for it. Already I have heard several men who have not been attending church speak very enthusiastically and pledge their support. I am going every Sunday and I was offered a class to teach a Sunday School  which I think I will do.

Pa brought home the picture I took recently of the house, iceboat, skating, and art museum and they are the best I have ever snapped.

I think this and the photo above are some of the one grandpa mentions. I'm guessing this is one of his friends.

Jan. 18, 1915

Jan. 18, 1915

This was a popular fake Yiddish vaudville song and what I think grandpa means when he write Is Ka Bibble (AKA I Should Worry).

Quite cold. In fact very snappy, but clear.

Late for school so I did not go to my first per. (A room) went to mch. room instead and worked on my hammer. Katherine said she was mad because I didn't go home with her Friday "etc" "Is Ka Bibble."

I went downtown and got my grad pictures they are good ( 2 doz). Bought some tape and this ink. Home and Stew and I walked across the lake in the snow and went skating. I let him take my old hockey stick. He let another kid take it and he broke it. Mine was also broke to pieces in a mix - it was no good and I am going to try another for it.

Stew and I walked home by the 43rd path and sang all the way. Pa and I each beat 2 games of "High low" am going to take a bawth now and then I will retiah (he spelled both bath and retire like this. It must be his little joke)

Author note: Isch Ga-bibble has a long story the name was adapted by a comedian in the 30s who sang the song in his act and he may be the inspiration for Mad Magazine's Alfred E. Neuman "What, Me Worry."

The expression “ische ga bibble” is not Yiddish and contains no Yiddish words at all. However, there is a Yiddish expression, “nisht gefidlt,” meaning “it doesn’t matter to me,” from which the term “ish kabibble” may derive.

Hear the song here!