Additional entries from the Diary of Lois Bookout made during 1911 when she was about 13 years old. These excerpts are from April 16 to June 6. This Diary appears to be the only one that has survived since Lois recorded her daily life and observations and has been preserved by her great niece Brenda Drake Kiser, who has shared them with the museum. Thank you, Brenda, for sharing Lois’s Diary and other items with us.
Lois writes:
April 16. “EASTER” Sunday. The first thing I done this morning I done my “jobs” and I started to getting ready to go to Sunday School and I was (?) ready and Beatrice and my-self went down to Bertha’s to get mamma or papa one so we could go to Sunday School as we couldn’t leave Waymond and Huborn by theirselves….After dinner Fred S. and (?) Lewis came up home and asked me to come down to Mrs. Lewis’. They said Jessie was down there…they went on after Lucille and Stella….there was a crowd of boys down at Mr. Lewis’….we played….dare, cross questions and crooked answers…. we sure did have lots of fun….
April 17. I had lots of fun at school today….
April 26. Wednesday. “MEMORIAL DAY”. I got up early this morning and got ready and got home just as they started to eating break-fast but I eat up at Della’s before I started. We sure have had a time at school to-day as we have all been worrying Mr. Bradley to give us holiday but he wouldn’t do it. The students at the A and M got the whole day off and Mr. Bradley wouldn’t even give us half a day. Went to town after school….I got a card from cousin Maude Bookout from Texas.
April 29. Saturday. I sewed some this morning corset cover…..by Mrs. Knights pattern….I washed my hair….I went and stayed at the store so Waymond could go to a ball game over at Coopers….
May 1 – “MAY DAY”. Monday. I didn’t go to school today. We meant to go to Atlanta, but it rained and we didn’t get to go so I thought I would stay at home and fix my clothes so we could go the first pretty day. Josie came by for me and it was raining so Dovey, Beatrice and my-self all got our heads as wet as water. The saying is “Wet your head the first rain in May and you want be sick any that year” if there is any sign in that I am sure I want be sick any this year.
May 2. Tuesday. Dovey and I went to Atlanta today. Mrs. Smith and Mr. Warren Florence went down on the same train we did. Mr. Florence carried our valises from the train up to the corner of Mitchell St. I think it was mighty nice in him to do that for us.
May 3. Wednesday. IN “ATLANTA” having a good time.
May 4. Thursday. Dovey and I came home this time on #15, I had a right nice time while I was in Atlanta, but I didn’t get to stay long enough and we had so much trading to do that we didn’t have time to visit any. We went to the Theatre and enjoyed it so much. Dovey and I went to the Theatre this morning and it was the funniest thing I ever heard of we got so tickled I didn’t know what to do we heard the men be-hind us say “Those girls sure are tickled”. Dovey and I had our pictures made while we were in ”Palanta”….
May 24. PICNIC TO-DAY. Wednesday. We stood examinations in History this morning and when we all finished, he let us come home, we got home about 10:30. There was a picnic up here to-day it was from the Southern Shops. They came on a special train, there were 10 coaches loaded with people….they had dancing and waltzing and all other kinds of hugging….we all took “ice cream combs”….
May 25. LAST DAY OF SHOOL. Thursday. We stood examinations in Grammar this morning and in Geography this afternoon. School was out this eve. I was glad and sorry both. I think I have learned more this year than I ever have learned and I am sorry that Mr. Bradley want be with us next year.
May 27. …..heard of wedding of Elouise Florene and Clifford….married out at Mr. Bookout’s last night….Annie Mae Marchman got married last Wednesday, she ran away and married Mr. E. I. Boyd….
June 4. Sunday. I went to Sunday School and to preaching this morning. Jessie and Ethel Leake came to see me this after-noon we went to the spring and Ethel took supper with me and went to church. I sure did get sleepy in church to-night. I couldn’t see the preacher and if I can’t get where I can see the preacher I don’t enjoy the sermon as well….
June 5. Monday. Beatrice and I stayed in the store to-day as papa and Waymond went to Atlanta, we didn’t have very much trade but was bottling wagons came and the oil wagon came and the town was full of drummers (salesmen) we had some fun out of the drummers we carried our embroidery work but we didn’t work very much…. We have two new boarders to-night one of their names was Mr. Williams but don’t know the others name. Papa brought us all some parasols from Atlanta…..
June 6. Tuesday. Dovey and I went to town this morning and Dovey got Inez two new dresses, one was a brown and the other was a blue ginghams. I helped her to make the dresses to-day and I worked on my corset cover some….I have found out our other boarders name it is Craig, they sell lightning rods….I went to town real late this eve to get mamma some baking powders and when I started back Mr. Williams started on be-hind me and I like to have walked my-self to death to keep a-head of him but I was determined not to walk up the street with him….
….Will I have finished this book so I will have to get me another book.
This last statement/entry in her diary indicates there may have been other ‘books’.
The A and M referred to is now John McEachern School High School.
Many excursion trains came to Powder Springs in those early years late 1890’s and early 1900’s. At that time Powder Springs was considered a resort, because of the ‘springs’. The springs had minerals that where considered ‘medicinal’ and had been used from Indian times.
Some of the people Lois mentions are family members others are those who lived and worked in the Powder Springs community.