Diary: Caleb E. Iddings, 1899

Ther. 40° Cloudy & Rain. Wind. S.E. Tues. Jan. 24^th 1899

Cloudy early this morning and commenced raining soon after breakfast and continued until about 5.o'clock afternoon when it cleared off whilst it was still raining, making a beautiful double rain bow, in the northern sky. Edwd & I both went in next door in afternoon It rained very hard part of the time this afternoon. There is to be a rail road meeting to night at Allan Farquhhar's I hope it may amount ot mor than those which have been held in the past. It is disgraceful that we have not had a rail road long ago.

Ther. 28° Clear. Wind. N.W. Wed. Jan. 25, 1899

It seemed to clear off last evening about sun set, but clouded over again & rained & blew hard until towards midnight when it again cleared off but continued to blow from N.W. all night, and has been beautifully clear all day. Afternoon D Walked down to Ashton & back. Before lunch I went to Fairall's & to the P.O. and to the mill. Towards evening I went to the store again. After supper Willie & Fanny came and spent the evening with us. Lizzie Scott was here to see Dora this afternoon.

Ther. 30° Clear. Wind. S.E. Thurs. Jan. 26^th 1899.

Clear with quite strong S.E. wind all day. Afternoon I went to the store & P.O. Edwd walked over to "Mt. Airy" & down to Sherwood school house. I went in next door for the paper. It has been quite a pleasant day not withstanding the wind ground was frozen early this morning but softened before noon. There is some talk again of an electric rail road from Washington but I fear it will end again in talk so long as the promoters expect to get any money out of the people in the neighborhood to help build it. They now offer to build the road if the land owners along the line will subscribe ten thousand dollars between Sandy Spring & Washington, which seems a small amount in building a rail road, or to influence it's being built.

Ther. 28° Clear. Wind N.W. Fri. Jan. 27, 1899

Wind blew hard all last night changing to N.W. before morning and has been blowing all day today. Afternoon I went to the store & to Fairall's Office. Mrs Easton was in for a time this afternoon. Willie came and took supper with us. after which Edwd went with him to "Fairfield" to help him work at getting his green house ready to commence planting seeds in it. Walter Brooke was there and put in the pipes attached to his boiler for heating the green house.

Ther 18° Cloudy. Wind. Sat. Jan, 28^th, 1899.

Cloudy & threatning snow, all day. Charley telephoned from Laurel that he would be here by the afternoon stage, & I telephoned to Willie & Edwd at Brighton. I went to the store & P.O. After noon Tom Stabler called and sat for a while after Charley arrived. Willie, Edwd Fanny & the baby came before supper to spend the night with us. After supper we had some music, the sons performing in concert. It seemed quite like old times for us all to be together again. Charley's wife & children were the only absentees.

Ther. 16° Clear & Cloudy Wind. Sun. Jan. 29, 1899

My dear wife's birthday, and we had all of our children around us, and have every reason to be thankful that they are all "good children", not withstanding they are all grown up men & women, and have always been full of love & kindness for us & for each other. We had one of our Christmas turkeys for dinner. Susannah Addison was here whilst we were at dinner, for advice & medicine. Willie & Edwd, took Charley to "Kensington" in the surry driving both horses. They left here at 3-20. p.m. and were back again at ten minutes before seven o'clk. Willie concluded to remain here all night, he & Edwd put the horses away in the stable.

Ther. 17° Clear & Cloudy. Wind. S.E. Mon. Jan. 30, 1899

Clear & frosty until afternoon, when it became cloudy. J.C. Williams son "Harvey" called whilst we were at breakfast, and paid his little bill. Willie, Fanny & baby went to "Fairfield" after breakfast. I went to store & P.O. Afternoon I went to Ashton & back riding down with "Minnie" and Walter I. Minnie got me to examine her infant's neck, on account of an enlarged cervical gland. Mrs Robison called to see Dora. Edwd went over to "Mt Airy" to tune piano & remained to tea & to attend a meeting of the "Choral Society". Afternoon I went up to the village to see Tom Stabler he having telephoned for me from there.

Ther. 23° Snow. Wind. N.E. Tues. Jan 31^st, 1899.

It commenced snowing before sun rise this morning, and was about an inch & a half deep after breakfast: it continued cloudy & "spitting" snow all day without increasing in depth until about dark, when it commenced snowing again in earnest. I went to Hurliban's for some bread. Afternoon Willie came & left us about ¼ of a ton of coal, having been to Laurel for coal for his green house boiler. Edwd & I put it away in the cellar, it came just in time, as our supply would not have lasted more than two or three days longer. Mrs. Robison was in afternoon to get some reading matter. This is a real winter night out of doors.

Ther. 6° Clear. Wind. N.W. Wed. Feb 1^st, 1899

It cleared off (with a blow form N.W.) about midnight last. and is clear & cold this morning. "Harry" Wetherald called whilst we were at breakfast to see Edward about a "geometry book". Several sleigs passed during the day, the sleighing being fairly good. I went to the store & P.O. after lunch. Recd letter from F: Tyson Edward went down to "Sherwood" School in afternoon. It was so cold and the traveling so bad (underfoot) that I did not go out more than was necessary. I am thankful that we replenished our stock of coal yesterday: it came just in time, before this cold snap

Ther. 12° Cloudy. Wind N.E. Thurs. Feb 2d, 1899.

Still cold & threatning more snow or rain. The sleighing is good if used before the sun shines on the roads. I went to the store & P.O. and called at Mrs Robison's. Bought a new file & sharpened the wood saw; It continued cloudy & threatning all day. I went to the store & P.O. & to the mill. Very few persons seemed to be stirring about today. I suppose the cold disagreeable weather keeps them within doors, except, those whoes business is urgent. Which (in these "grippe" times) is the best thing they can do.