June 7 - 9, 1915

Grandpa's classmate Ruby Hill is the one facing the camera

Mon. June 7, 1915

Went up to school early and collected money for hist. picnic at end of 2nd lunch period, busy arranging for Hist. picnic, talked with Ruby Hill all 7th period. Got my cards (1 doz) Went down town and met Mother and took letter from Aunt Ethel over to Pa. She is going to trade her house for that bungalow in Los A. 

Grandpa's classmate Edna Petznick

Home and got ready for Senior Banquet in eve. Met Edna Petznick on the car and took her over, we were early and walked down to the Lake of The Isles and around, back and sat at table with Grace Taylor, Ruby Hill, Clara List, Mable Badger, "etc." Good eats and good time. Home about 11 or so.

Grandpa's classmate Clara List is the one in profile. Mable Badger did not have a class picture

Grandpa's class mate Grace Taylor

Tues. June 8, 1915

Grandpa's classmate Rosalind Bank

Dull, cloudy and cold. little fire in furnace.

To school 1st lunch per. Final arrang. for Hist. picnic. Fixed up eats "etc." About 22 went - to Mendota and thru Sibley House then had big fire and eats - buns, weinies, cookies, coffee, "etc." I got off with Rosalind Bank at Ms. Sundean's house then walked down to 24th and Bryant with Rosalind. Home about 9:30 - to bed. It cleared up a little and got a little warmer.

Grandpa started a new diary on this day. These are the notes on the first page.

Wed. June 9, 1915

Good day, I went to school late. Got rid of some extra Hist. picnic money. Saw Ruby Hill and we talked awhile. Home and monkeyed around. Read "etc" and to bed.

June 4 - 6, 1915

Wildwood Amusement Park where grandpa had his Senior picnic

Fri. June 4, 1915

Alternate sun and cloudy, warm

Went to school reg. time and ordered eats for our Hist. picnic. Left for our Senior picnic about 77 or 8. Filled up the car so it was as good as chartered. To Wildwood, had eats and a good time. Lots of fun on car going and coming. Got home about 7:30 or 8. Sleepy - went to bed 8:30.

Author note: For more than three decades, men, women, and children could catch a streetcar in St. Paul, pay ten to fifteen cents, and ride to White Bear Lake from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Traveling at speeds greater than sixty miles per hour, they arrived at Wildwood about forty-five minutes after they left the city. After exiting the streetcar, guests took steps down from the depot, went through a tunnel, and emerged at the entrance to Wildwood Amusement Park.

Once there, visitors found a roller coaster, fun house, Katzenjammer Castle (a children's play house), penny arcade, shooting gallery, and other carnival games. Also on the amusement park grounds was a beach with large bathhouses where park goers could rent bathing suits. From there, they could swim in the lake or, if they were more adventurous, take a toboggan slide that deposited swimmers out into the lake. Also available for small fees were fishing boats, fishing gear, motor boat rides around the lake, and, occasionally, hot air balloon rides. Nearby were picnic grounds and concession stands where visitors could purchase refreshments. Companies from the Twin Cities often held employee picnics out at Wildwood.

Sat. June 5, 1915

Warm - rain in aft.

I sawed out boards for sewer nearly all day. Helped Hovelman fix up his car late in aft. and evening. In, read, and to bed.



Sun. June 6, 1915

Nice day

Went down to Hennepin Ave Methodist-Episcopal church and heard Baccalaureate sermon by Dr. Gillies on "Religion as an Investment." It was fine. Home, read, "etc", little ride on bike and to bed.

Methodist Episcopal Church 

June 1 - 3, 1915

Tues. June 1, 1915

Fine and  warm

Rode my bike, came home, painted in the porch, studied in eve and to bed.

Bernard Coyne The Tallest Man in the World in 1915

Wed. June 2, 1915

Fine and  warm

Rode my bike. Got to school at 8am and took State test in solid geometry - thru alright I guess. Rode bike downtown and had my new pants altered a little - rode around saw the tallest man in the world on Hennepin Ave. - about twice as tall as I am. He is acting at The Palace this week. Rode around and home, cut part of the lawn, rode down to lake, read, lessons and to bed.

Fri. June 3, 1915

Fine and  warm

Last day of school - had history and trig tests, got a "double" in State Geometry test, was busy as the deuce attending and arranging for our History picnic next Tuesday. Had class meeting and Gordon Bates and Mr Jordan gave their farewell speeches. Mr. Jordan pointed out his theory of life - to make your home and family happy first and then the spirit of outside work will come to you. The Hesperian came out lunch period. By my picture they stuck "Never idle a moment, but thrifty and thoughtful of others" To master Trig is Harold's life's work. I spent all 7th per. and an hour or so after getting signatures in the back of my annual. Brought my books home (on my bike) and rode down again and got guns and sword left from practice for the play. Talked with Walt in eve read annual and to bed.,

May 29 -31, 1915

Sat. May 29, 1915

Dull and threatening

Painted lower part of porch - varnished gunwhales of my canoe "etc." In eve copied data out of Country Gentleman.

Sun. May 30, 1915

Sunny and fine - warm

Memorial Day. Had 2 in my class. Stayed to church and then home. In the aft. Mr. Hovelman told me that I could take his car all aft. and he even insisted that I take a dollar to buy some gasoline with. I took Mother down to Lake St. and then out Lyndale to Savage - She enjoyed in immensely. Came back and then took Pa put there too. Taught him to drive and he would steer one way when he meant to turn another.Had several narrow escapes, but he finally got it pretty good. Home and read "etc." Heard strains of music so I hopped on my bike and rode over to the pavilion where the working boys band was playing. Crowds "etc" just like in the Summer season. Home and to bed.

The Christian

Mon. May 31, 1915

Fine, excellent sunny and warm

Holiday for Memorial celebration. Tightened up Hovelman's car a little in the A.M. Worked on the garage all day. Pa painted on the house. In the eve we 3 went down to the Calhoun Theatre and saw "The Christian." Home and to bed.

Germany's reply to our note of protest about the attacking of the Gunlight, Cushing, Faluba, and the sinking of The Lusitania has been received. She says that the commanders of the American boats acted mysteriously "etc" but that they were fixed upon by mistake. She says also the The Lusitania had concealed guns and Canadian troops on board and that the explosion of the ammunition which she should not have carried as a passenger ship caused her quick sinking. Germany evade the main issue and is trying to open up long diplomatic discussions. Pres. Wilson is now preparing a stern reply.
We are going to take a hand in Mexico I guess, because the people are starving and there seems to be no sign of peace as yet. We sent a message to them demanding peace "etc."

Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata who were fighting for control in May 1915 during the Mexican Revolution 

May 26 - 28, 1915

1915 Studebaker ad

Wed, May 26, 1915

Sunny and Fine

Rode my bike. Put some aluminium paint on my canoe in the afternoon. Took quite a drive with Hovelman in the eve. Drove halfway myself. Got letter from Aunt Ethel and pictures of bungalow she is trying to get on a trade - also pictures of Grandpa's new Studebaker. She said she has a beau now and was taking her out. - Read, pasted picture in my album and to bed

Thurs, May 27, 1915

Windy, but sunny - cool

Rode my bike - went down and tried on my new suit to see if it needed further altering. Home and read - made index for my photograph album in eve and to bed.






Fri. May 28, 1915

Rain

I appointed Bob Elliot and Alice Rockford in my committee of which I was elected chairman Wed.  We have to arrange for a picnic to Mendota for our History class. Home and read. Went up to church for Bible lecture - Home and to bed.

May 23 - 25, 1915

The new Pickford film Grandpa and his Mother go to see.

Sun. May 23, 1915

Fine and warm

Had 3 in my class, but Mr. Greenlaw was sick so I took his too. Did not stay to church because Mother was sick and nervous. Home - stay with Mother nearly all afternoon. Walked down to lake and walked up with Leone. - Home, read, lessons, to bed.

Mon. May 24, 1915

Fine and warm - regular Summer

Rode my bike - Auditorium celebration over our Twin City track victory last Saturday at Northfield.
Went up to church in eve - Cliff talked - to bed.

Tues. May 25, 1915

Rainy and cold all day

HOme and took my new suit down with Mother to have it fitted better. We went to The Lyric and saw Mary Pickford in "Fachon The Crickett" - Home - read and to bed.

Italy has entered the war now for the selfish notion of grabbing some land from Austria-Hungary.

Here's a clip from FACHON THE CRICKET.

May 19 -22, 1915

Wed. May 19, 1915

Quite a bit warmer 

Rode down with Hovelman -felt good - got haircut, Home and told and watched Hovelman grease up his car all aft. Played two games of checkers with Cliff in eve and won 1. Lessons and to bed.

Thurs. May 20, 1915

Bad cold and rainy - wore my overcoat

Home and then Mother and I went down to The Strand - saw a real train wreck in the pictures - Home - lessons and to bed.

Sat. May 21, 1915

Rainy and bad -  overcoat again

Mother came down to hear 800 pupils sing The Messiah - I took tickets. - Then I went down to The Grand. - Home and up to lecture on Bible. - Home and to bed.

Fri. May 22, 1915

Warmer and sunny most of the day

Painted my canoe. Cleared out the eves and worked on the garage - to bed.

Author Note: Not sure if this is the train wreck my grandfather saw at The Strand, but here is one from a 1913 film.

May 16 - 18, 1915

Sun. May 16, 1915

Dull and pretty cold.

Was men's Sunday out here and Mr. Blair preached on "What Is Success." Taught Sunday School class and came home. Got lessons in eve and to bed.

Mon May 17, 1915

Cold and sunny in A.M.

Got up with a sore throat and headache - threw up - had too much cake with pie plant [rhubarb] sauce on top the night before - went to bed - threw up twice again - in bed all day. Turned dull and in eve. blew hard North West wind - Snowed.

Tues. May 18, 1915

Sunny but cold. Snow still on ground and melting slowly.

Feel pretty good. To school 3 per. Home early - took bike ride by the lake. A little warmer in aft. and sunny. Lessons and to bed.

May 13 -15, 1915

May 1915 political cartoon

Thurs. May 13, 1915

Cooler, but fine.

Rode down on my bike. Home after 6 per. and painted 2 windows "etc" cut lawn a little. Went up to the church to hear lectures on the bible that Mr. Blair is giving us (teachers). Home and to bed.

Pres. Wilson  today sent a note to Germany asking for redress for wrong to us and no more in the future and that we will have to take measures to force our terms if they are not accepted.

Author Note: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, backed by State Department second-in-command Robert Lansing, made his position on the Lusitania sinking clear to the Government of Germany in three notes issued on 13 May, 9 June, and 21 May 1915.

In the first Wilson note, signed by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, Wilson affirmed the right of United States nationals to travel on merchant ships of their choosing, urging Germany to abandon unrestricted submarine warfare against commercial ships of any nation.  Notably, Wilson did not warn to the American people against traveling on belligerent ships for their own safety. For more info

Fri.  May 14, 1915

Rained hard this A.M. , but was nice and sunny in P.M. Home Monkeyed around. Went with Mother to Hennepin County S.S. Association May Festival at auditorium - 500 ladies voices and MacPhail on violin "etc."

Sat.  May 15, 1915

Dull in A.M. rained all P.M.

I monkeyed around, got chicken date from Country Gentleman. Dug a lot of old relics from the attic. The 2 old diaries that follow. Was looking for something to show the droisieres of the old testament and found it too. Hovelman came home early and one of his cylinders was  missing so I took out the plug, adjusted the vibrators "etc" and got it working better

May 11, 1915 Birthday

Add caption

Tues. May 11, 1915

18 years OLD

Mother gave me a shirt, nice bow ties and 5 beans. Pres. Wilson in a speech in Philadelphia yesterday said that there is such a thing as being too proud to fight and too right to have to fight. War is wrong and destructive and we should think of humanity as a whole and not in groups. He has the right idea alright. If some other man were Pres. we would have been at war long ago.

Rode down on my bike. Got cards yesterday and got 4 +s. Rode downtown and bought some paint for my canoe - Home and put up bench in garage. Lesson and to bed. Was ideal day - but pretty hot. Everything is green and fresh and beautiful.

Note: On 10 May 1915, US President Woodrow Wilson gave what is known as the “Too Proud to Fight Speech” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. What is not commonly mentioned is that this speech was given at a citizen naturalization ceremony, and is properly titled, “Americanism and the Foreign Born.” The most famous passage in the speech is as follows:

The example of America must be a special example. The example of America must be the example not merely of peace because it will not fight, but of peace because peace is the healing and elevating influence of the world and strife is not. There is such a thing as a man being so right it does not need to convince others by force that it is right.

The speech itself does not mention the Lusitania sinking directly, but rather only makes an oblique reference. Still, given the political tensions at the time, everyone who heard or read the speech knew that President Wilson was indeed referring to the Lusitania disaster and the question of whether the United States would go to war over the sinking.  For the entire speech

Wed. May 12, 1915

Ideal, sunny and warm - Hot

Went to town in aft with Mother and got a suit for graduating at The Standard- $15. We rode out to Lake and Nic. [Nicolette] in a Ford Jitney and took only a second, it seemed. 7 on board. There are a great many Jitneys now. I walked over to school and got my bike and rode it home. Helped show Hovelman where to oil and grease his car "etc." Mother and Pa to meeting. I rode down to Lake - lessons and to bed.

May 9 -10, 1915

Jitneys were early ride-share taxis. Basically, grandpa's Uber didn't show up. 100+ years ago things were not that different.

Sun. May 9, 1915

Fine and very warm and sunny. Wore my light grey suit.

It was Mother's Day and Mr. Blair preached a fine sermon on the subject. Had 3 in my class. Home and went for a ride with Hovelman. He passed a car to the left and got in a bad scrape, but we got out all right, also got confused on a corner and took a short cut across the curb and sidewalk, but otherwise we had a nice ride. Home, very sleepy to bed 9.

Mon. May 10, 1915

Very fine - real Summer

I rode down with Mr. Hov. by way of Ant Ethel's and took picture's of her house for her. Waited an hour for a Jitney in afternoon and then got sore and walked downtown, left film, bot 2 collars and home. Lessons and to bed.