Some highlights of Clara Petrat’s diary for July 28 -August 15 include:
Transportation: At 18th and State Street, the ‘car’ ran off the street and they tried to get it back by ‘back and forth’. They walked everywhere from 313 West 17th Street to 26 & Chestnut, 21st Street, 17 & Myrtle, 6th & Raspberry. Clara’s first train ride was to Buffalo to see the falls.
Social: Papa and Mama ‘mad at each other’, Mother’s ‘old ladys’ friends, ball game, club at Clara’s friends’ home, papa’s lodge, drunk girl.
Storms: Fierce wind and thunderstorms scared Clara because lightening would strike many places and start fires.
Sunday 28 Papa and Otto papered the sitting
bed-room. Minnie did not go to Sunday School,
Ma and papa were very mad at each other.
I was afraid something might happen all
day long. Minnie and Emma went to Emmy
Papa went away. Willie ball game
Otto to lake.
Ma told me all … they were scolding about
In the evening Minnie and Emma had …
Papa come home about 8 o’clock and sat on the
porch upstair until bed time. I ……
and talk to him so he would not be so mad
here. The wind began to blow so hard I thought
we would have a terrible storm but the
thunderstorm pass away but it rain a little.
Mon July 29 I got up at 6 o’clock and lay down
all day until about 4 o’clock. I … … and
had sick stomach – all day I did not know
what to do. We had a very hard rain wind
and thunder and lightning. It struck in two
place. The fire engine all came pass here.
May S. came at 4 o’clock and stay until 5:15.
When she was here it raining hard and
wind blow thunder and lightning. Papa set
up on porch. That drunk girl was here.
Tues, July 10 Fletcher cat want to get in the cellar
and catch so all night and wouldn’t go away
until papa got up at 5:30 and went after it
scold with mama again Minnie was
crying and papa was all most
I could not do anything all day and mama
felt very bad about it They did not talk to
each other that night but the next morning
the cat was in our cellar and papa went
after it and told her than about the cat
Wed July 31 We all got ready to go to the
…… ……. Sunday School
We went at about 12:45
I was with my mother all the time but she had
old ladys sitting beside her. I was very mad. Annie
did not want me to go away with any girl. But
……………… I knew…………………………….
……in the evening. About 6 o’clock we went
To the beach and was surprise to see how the
sky look. It was black and red.
Sun …away the day….about 6:20 the people
down by the lake could see more like smoke a
little way from Waldameer. There was a
whirlwind 4 miles from Waldameer. They g..
had a little ….in Waldameer. At about 2 o’clock
they had it in he south and it got very
cold there. We got home a little before ten.
On 18 and State the car ran off the street.
and they try to get it on by going vack and forth
by no almost nomec that we had to get off
and walk. I saw Carlyle Edland all alone and he spoke very nice.
Thurs. 1 Aug. bed most all morning and make my handkerchief
receive a letter from Mary A. In the evening
they fit he sink. And ma and papa was
all right. Willie came up. Emma and I
took a little walk it was very cool. W. Em M and
I were sitting in the dinning room talking and
had some root-beer Mrs. Somol was
standing outside listening. And we went out
to see who it was. She move Otto bicycle
a little that make noise. Alberta
Friday 2 Aug It was pretty warm. I clean
my room and the hall downstair and up and
then dress myself and Anna Leach come over
and stay till 3 o’clock. I gave her one of my
picture. The cars did not run in the afternoon
and evening they went on the strike.
Willie was up at 3 o’clock. I went upstair dress
Myself and went down street with Emma Doll
Mischler was over but I was not home to try on
her dress. Went home about 4:30 I fry a piece of
and swept the porch and work on my
handkerchief. Ancherline ask me if I would not
give her my picture. Grace came and ask
me where club met. I went to club to Elsie and
eat 4 apples and … to May S. I got home at 9:45.
Elsie came along. Minnie and I start a long
time talking with Amelia Bark.
Ma and papa were all right.
Sat 3 Aug. I took my bath in the morning and
slept. It was quite cool. In the and work
on my handkerchief. In the evening I
went to the butcher with ma. We saw papa and
when ma look at him he did not look at her.
because he did not see her. And when papa
looked at ma, Mama did not look at him.
That made papa mad.
Sun. 4 Aug. It was quite cool and I went
to Sunday School with my white dress.
I was cool. I did not feel good at all.
Ma and papa were cross with each other again.
In the afternoon papa went to lodge.
Willie and Otto to ball game. Willie M. came
Over and stay till 4 o’clock. They then went to
Emma G. Emma P. had her white dress on and
The lady on the other side was also looking at her
In the evening she went with Emma G. and also
to church on the east side. And came home at 10:15 with
Jack Weber. Willie in the evening was sleeping
In the front room and papa setting. Ma and i
were outside. Papa went to bed before any of
the rest.
Mon. Aug 5 I slept almost all day and in the
evening work on my handkerchief. Papa went
to lodge. Emma and Minnie took a walk.
And then came home and had some Watermellon.
I did not feel good. I had it again. It was cool.
Tues. Aug 6. Ma and papa were mad yet.
In the morning I went to market with mama.
And in the afternoon I wrote this. it was cool
and it is raining now and it rain all evening
and afternoon. I read Silas Marner I count my
stamps and receive a letter from Maybell Decker
Wed. Aug. 7 It was a very nice cool day.
I did not receive and went any place.
Willie came up in the evening and we
talk about going to Buffalo.
Thurs. Aug. 8 I got up so early because
I heard it thunder far away and I
and I knew we would have a very hard one.
It was certainly a very hard one. It struck
In three and 4 different places. It lasted
From 8 until about 11.
It would strike some places and rain
and then stop and have the hot sun
come out for a while. It keep it up
for 3 hrs. Willie was up in the morning
and it gave one hard koot and Willie
ran out and went but he was caught in
the rain. The day before was very cool but
that evening the wind blow very hard from
the south. The paper said it was the
worse electric storm we had for years.
In the afternoon and evening it was very
nice. Albert came. The first time I
heard the new street -piano play in front
of our place. We gave him some money.
Ma and E went down and got a tulip soap- picture
Friday Aug. 9 I got up and clean my
room, hall and my windows. I eat my
dinner got dress and went with mama
to Mrs. Karman on 3 and Cherry. we then took
a walk down by the lake. I go home at 4:30
and rest myself. Minnie and Emma made
supper. In he evening May A and her
cousin came and call for me. It was
the first time I saw her for 5 or 6 weeks.
She kiss me. We then went to club to May
Suttel. We sat there awhile. We took a
Walk until 26 and Chestnut. We stand
there and talk a long while. We put many
pins on the tracks. It was quiet cool that
night until we got on 21 street there
was such a hot wind that none of us
knew where it came from. I got a little
afraid. The wind then began to blew and
blew all night very hard from the south.
I met my sister on 17 and Myrtle they came
From teacher meeting. I stood there awhile
With them. We got home at 10 o’clock.
Sat. Aug. 10. I got up and it was raining
last out side on porch and made my velvet
belt with mama borctel. In the afternoon
we all sat outside and I was then
thinking of going to Buffalo. In the evening
we were talking about it and Otto got the
ticket. I went up street about 10 and fit
my things and got to bed about 10:45
Emma and papa stay downstair a long while.
Emma came up about 11:30 and wake me
And papa stay up till Willie came.
Willie sleep up here that night he came
in my room also. It must have been about
12 o’clock before I went to sleep.
Aug. 11 Sun. Minnie came and woke me
about 4:15 and I got up. Willie and papa
in a little while also got up. Otto did not
get wake until about 4:20 when I woke
him. We left the house about 5:30 and
had to want until 6 o’clock. He came
home about 1:15. It was the first time
I ever was on the train. We went to falls
Pam and Buffalo.
Aug. 12 Mon I got up about 7:00 and
did not anything all day. Minnie
and Emma had a girl from Warren
We went to bed about 9:45.
Aug. 13 Tues. I did not do anything except
slept all morning. The street piano was
around our place. In the afternoon
Minnie and I went on 6 and Raspberry
to Mrs. Hart. She was not the home.
Emma and Emma J went at 6 o’clock
in the morning to Buffalo and BanAmerica
and to see the falls. They are coming
home Wed. night. In the evening we
went to he park ad sat there awhile
It was very cool. Emma brought me a picture from … Park.
Aug 14. Wed. I did not do anything but
slept. Willie came up in the evening
and we all talk about Buffalo . Emma
came home at 8 o’clock from Buffalo
and Minnie went to Sunday-school
Aug 15 Thrus. Wed. and Thurs. (night to) we had
a very hard thunder-storm and very
heavy rain. We light the lamp