April 2 thru April 3, 1894

I will not be transcribing each entry since most of Bert's diary is pretty clear. You can read the original more easily by clicking on the image above to view a larger version. I will be including this paragraph, or something similar in each entry so that new readers will know they can click the image to enlarge it for easier reading. Also, there will be some links to the right of the page with relevant information that may be of interest. If you follow Bert's diary regularly, you can skip this paragraph. My notes will include the basics of what Bert talks about each day, along with my own personal thoughts, research, information gleaned from past or future entries, etc. If you have information or suggestions that may help my research, please e-mail me.

Monday, April 2nd, 1894 --- Bert starts work for Russell M. Dye today for the third year. He works only 8 months of the year. This seems to have been a common practice. Farmers needed extra help, but only during the Spring, Summer, and Fall. My great grandfather Bart Olney worked on a similar arrangement in 1886. The main difference was that he was only 16 at the time, and all the money when to his father Henry. Bert Babcock makes $17.50 per month. I find it interesting that he only makes $1.50 more than 16 year old Bart made 8 years earlier. Bert is 27. While by today's standards $1.50 isn't much, it is 10% more than Bart made. We don't really know what other benefits were included, but Bert certainly got room and board, and probably laundry as well.

While Bert has been helping out some over the winter, real work seems to start in earnest with the advent of getting paid. They drew 13 loads of manure from the barnyard out to the fields for fertilizer, They also collected and drew away a load of stones, plus moved 10 big rocks out of the fields. (In post glacier upstate NY, every spring reveals a great many rocks and stones that have moved to the surface during the alternate freezing and thawing of the winter and spring.) And of course as always chores are part of the day. That probably would have included feeding the livestock, milking the cows, cleaning out stalls, collecting eggs, etc. All the stuff that just has to be done everyday no matter what the weather, or day of the week..... no holidays either!

I've probably mentioned this before, but Russel M. Dye is the brother of my great grandmother on my father's side of the family! Bert is the brother of my great grandfather on my mother's side. While this connection between the two sides of my family seems pretty cool, the Naples, Italy, Ingleside area of New York State was a pretty small community with not a lot of outside contact. The families in the area have shared friendships, church affiliation, marriage, and their economic life for many generations!

Tuesday, April 3, 1896 --- More chores of course, and 11 more loads of manure spread on the fields. Russel and his wife Zette (Rosetta) go to a "hen pie social" in the evening at B.D. Potter's place, and Bert stays home to "keep fire". "Pie Socials" are still somewhat common at rural churches. "Hen Pie Social" might refer to a gathering with sort of a chicken pot pie theme?