Fred W. Grant diary, 1905
1 volume
The diarist kept short nearly daily notes on his work, such as lumbering and hauling/transportation, drawing ice, tapping maple trees, building an arch atop a hill for boiling sap, boiling sap, washing and oiling harnesses, grubbing manure, turning hay, picking stone, drawing gravel, fixing bridges, laying a barn cellar, shingling, turning out livestock (sheep and cows), planting, threshing, harvesting, mowing oats, hoeing potatoes, digging potatoes, husking corn, and filling a silo. He noted in many cases that he helped others with farmwork--often the Lamberts. Some days he wrote only "loafed" or "tinkered." On several occasions he "Carried Mildred to school" (June 12, December 11, and December 18).
Fred Grant attended "telephone meetings," staked out lines, hung wire, straightened lines, installed telephones in homes and businesses, and wired switches. Some entries give details about equipment and hardware. On April 22, he obtained batteries from Couch & Seely, and on September 12, when he put in a phone for Ben Every, he itemized a bill for wire, a knob, in wire, arrestor, and labor. The same day he fixed a phone for F. Rich--it had "brocken wire in arm." Although the diary is not clear, he appears to have worked for or interacted with the N.E. Telephone Company and the L.P. Telephone Company.
Grant attended church regularly, donated to the Sunday School and educational society, and paid subscription costs for a minister, although the area apparently struggled to secure and maintain one. Rev. Small left and was replaced by someone from Seminary; a string of others followed, including a Mr. Pierceson of the Tract Society. He marked February 5th with "Christ Crucified."
On November 14, the Fred W. Grant made preparations for his wedding and the next day "Attended my own wedding." Newlyweds Fred and Viola Grant stayed the night at the Fiske House in Whitefield, and then honeymooned by cars and stage to Rumford (visiting the falls and paper mill), Manchester and Derry, and then back home. He indicated various transportation and purchase expenditures.
Throughout the volume are records of expenditures, such as a $5 loan to his father (which was later repaid), a dress for Mildred, wheel work by Lamphier, the cleaning of a bicycle lamp by Claflin, shoes, a ring, ice cream, candy, haircuts, and dental care. On October 19, he wrote "Chased cows on Lyme hill got all but one which was wild." That month he purchased a Jersey cow; just before Christmas he butchered the cow, set up a Christmas tree, and made purchases of presents.