The
Diary of Elizabeth Alice Ely 1854
The
Diary of Elizabeth Alice Ely 1854
Mon May 1 It has been a pleasant day. The freshet keeps rising, and the river is full of wood, timber,rail and such like. The steamboat depot at Middletown was brought down by the freshet this forenoon and stopped just below here. This afternoon a bridge belonging to Chester came down and was stopped. An ice house just above was torn down and there was a plenty of ice to cool down the freshet with. This is the longest freshet that was ever known by the oldest inhabitants here, unless the one of the year 1801.
Tue May 2 It has been a pleasant day. We washed. In the morning the freshet was still rising, about noon, it came to a stand, and in the afternoon it began to fall a little. The 'Hartford Republican" states the water had risen there29 1/2 ft. above low water mark, a fifth of the city is under water, 1500 persons at the least have been thrown out of employment, 3 or 4 drowned, the lots of property there and all along the river is very great, they have given the freshet the name of Nebraska flood, and state it to be the largest on record.
Wed May 3 Has been a cloudy day, rained some in the morning, and in the course of the previous night an ice house was carried away up to Chester. Caroline Miner landed here from the steamboat. Jane Harrison called here in the forenoon. The freshet continued to fall slowly.
Thur May 4 A cloudy day, rained the night before. Mrs.. Young called here, she took the steamboat to Middletown.
Fri May 5 It has been cloudy a part of the day, but very pleasant the rest until towards night when there was a shower and after it a rainbow. W'm Pitt Ely spent the day here and Oscar went home with him to spend the night.
Sat May 6 It has been a clear day, but the wind blew hard at the westward. Caroline Miner and Caroline Warner called here they took the boat to Middletown, Caroline M...... is going to school. We planted our flower-garden in the afternoon. The freshet is falling fast.
Mon May 8 A pleasant day. We washed.
Tue May 9 A pleasant day, in the forenoon I ironed. Mother cleaned house some. Towards night I called up to Mrs. Oren Binnings, Mrs. Frank LaPlace, Mrs. R LaPlace, and to Mrs. Jonathan LaPlace. Mrs.. Eliza LaPlace is visiting at Mrs.. Jonathan LaPlaces.
Wed May 10 It was calm and pleasant part of the day, and cloudy the rest with a little sprinkling of rain. The freshet has got pretty well down and there is (cr-s-ing) on the beach again. Miss Abby Phelps and her five children Mary Elizabeth & Caroline Matilda spent the day here. Caroline Warner landed from the steamboat and stopped and took dinner here. Towards night Mrs. Andrew called here. In the evening there was a thunder shower and it was showery through the night.
Thur May 11 A warm cloudy day. Mother and I commenced to piece a bed quilt. Mother rec'd a letter from Aunt E.
Fri May 12 It was foggy in the morning, in the middle of the day clear and warm, at night cloudy. We finished piecing the bed quilt. Marion Chapel called here in the morning, she went to Middletown in the Portland.
Sat May 13 It was cloudy in the morning the rest of the day warm and pleasant, Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Shaddick from Middletown called here. In the afternoon, I went over to Hamburgh to the stores, and called to Aunt Mary amd took tea. Mrs. Lyon and her five youngest children were there. Harriet LaPlace came home yesterday.
Mon May 15 It was foggy and cloudy in the morning but soon cleared off and was warm and pleasant the rest of the day.
Tue May 16 Was a pleasant day, sprinkled a little in the morning for a while. We cleaned kitchen.
Wed May 17 Was a cloudy day. Mother was sick with a headache.
Thur May 18 Was a cloudy unpleasant day, rained all day. The freshet is rising again. Mr. Hungerford called here.
Fri May 19 It was cloudy in the morning, but cleared off quite warm.
Sat May 20 It was foggy and cloudy in the morning but soon cleared off and was warm. This afternoon it clouded up again. Ellen & Ernest went to Hamburgh and spent the day. Ellen went to Aunt Emma's and Ernest to Aunt Mary Ann.
Sun May 21 In the morning it was foggy and cloudy, but along in the afternoon, cleared off warm and pleasant a while and then clouded up again.
Mon May 22 A pleasant day. In the morning Mother went to Essex in a boat with Mr. (Oliphalet) Brockway, and walked up towards (night). We washed before she went. Towards night I called over to Mr.. Damen's.
Tue May 23 Another pleasant day. In the forenoon I cleaned a bedroom, this afternoon sewed.
Wed May 24 A warm day. Mrs. Taylor & little boy and Caroline Miner came down from Middletown in the Cricket, they called here. Ellen LaPlace came home from school with (Is...) to spend the night. Marion Chapel called here.
Thur May 25 In the forenoon it was clear and pleasant, there was a thunder shower about 1 o'clock, and an eclipse of the sun at 4. Uncle Jacob & Aunt Emeline arrived here in the afternoon, they came from Boston the day before. They left their oldest child home and brought the other with them, his name is Louis Bradford he is 7 months old.
Sat May 27 It was pleasant most of the day. Mrs. Hungerford spent the day here.
Sun May 28 Was a warm day. In the afternoon, Uncle Jacob, Aunt Emeline & I went to meeting. Mr.. Chilendess preached. Toward night Mrs. Hungerford, Mrs. Matilda LaPlace, Harriet LaPlace and Emma W....... called here.
Mon May 29 A pleasant day. I commenced to work on a collar.
Tue May 30 Was an unpleasant day, rained in the afternoon. Uncle Jacob, Aunt E.......... went on board the Cricket for Hartford, and were going from there to Boston.
If you have questions or comments please send an e-mail message to Warner Lord (wplord@connix.com)