Photo © Ian Coristine/1000IslandsPhotoArt.com
 You are here:  Back Issues      Archive

May Dewey's Diary, Part IV October and November 1888


"Well the Pullmans have all left & we are here all alone in our glory. I love the place & I will be sorry to leave but glad for things are getting gay in the City again & I don’t want all of my friends to forget me." Written October 15, 1888, Alexandria Bay, NY

Part I, Part II and Part III

Thousand Islands Life is honored to present Kristen Pinkney's research Thousand Islands Summers - Manhattan Winters: May Dewey's Diary, beginning July 1888 and culminating in August 1889.

Part I can be found in the December 2008 issue.  Part 11 is published in the January 2009 issue and Part III in February 2009.  A description of how the diary was discovered and researched is explained in the Contributors in December 2008 article of Thousand Islands Life.

Kris' work goes beyond the text by providing hundreds of footnotes for readers to learn more about the life and times in the Thousand Islands.  There are more than forty footnotes distributed throughout the diary in Part II.  Simply move the cursor over the highlighted text and the footnote will appear.  Click "close" and the footnote will disappear.  Also note that clicking on an image will enlarge it.

No spelling, punctuation or editorial changes have been made to the diary.

Part IV, October 1888

Monday 1 Larchmont, NY I do think Mrs. Brush1 is so queer. Pansy invited Ed & Will up to spend Tuesday night. For Ed said he wanted to see us when we were there. Well she received the acceptance this morning & spoke of it & Mrs. Brush said “they can’t come I won’t have them in my house.” She had given her consent before. Well, Pansy, Ella & I all went down to Mrs. Morford. She always helps Pansy out of her difficulties. She said that she thought it very cranky of her mother. Pansy had to telegraph to them not to come as unforeseen circumstances had arisen, to prevent it. It put Pansy in a very awkward position. It was awfully rude for Mrs. Brush when we returned home we found a telegram from Mamma, telling us to meet her in the City & to return with her so that was sort of an excuse for Pansy. So we will have to leave here tomorrow morning.

Tuesday 2 New York City This morning I took a picture of their home also two on the docks after breakfast. Pansy, Ella & I took a walk to the rocks & sat down & had a delightful time although something Pansy told us made me feel miserable. One is that Herbert Dean drinks, Pansy told us that she tried to tell Herbert not to go with Jery Dimick. He doesn’t go as much as he did. It seems that Jery is leading him into the same things that he is in. I am so sorry to hear it. His family better (brothers & sisters) don’t treat him well so that it makes him very bitter, he is blamed for everything. Pansy said that she didn’t know but they would run away & get married if things kept on. Poor girl, I do feel so sorry for her. We bid Mrs. Morford good bye. I hope I will see her in the city. Pansy came to the City with us. I don’t know when I have felt so sorry to bid anyone good bye as I did her. Mrs. Brush says that they may spend the winter in Chicago & that will be beastly for Pansy hates the place so. I was so glad to see Mamma & Papa. We have been shopping nearly all the aft. Went in to see Fanny & all the Baldridges.

Wednesday 3 New York City I am nearly dead shop, shop all day long. We then went to see Flora for a few minutes. Saw Walter Gilson2 downtown & Arthur Taylor uptown. Flora came up this evening to see us & brought Mr. Vanbustkirk with her. He doesn’t amount to much. We leave for the Bay tonight at 11:30. Papa goes to Chicago3 tommorrow.

Thursday 4 Alexandria Bay, NY Here we are at Home again having such a great time. I hope Mamma will be thoroughly rested & that we will return to the City soon. Aunt Louise is still with us.

[No diary entries from Friday, October 5 through October 10]

Wednesday 10 Alexandria Bay, NY Aunt Louise left this morning. I don’t know when I shall see her again but I hope soon.

Sunday 14 Alexandria Bay, NY Today I am sitting before the fire in my room writing in this book. After so much rain it is at last pleasant. Mr.Pullman4 came up with a large party of gentlemen from Chicago but they expect to return Monday.

Monday 15 Alexandria Bay, NY Well the Pullmans have all left & we are here all alone in our glory. I love the place & I will be sorry to leave but glad for things are getting gay in the City again & I don’t want all of my friends to forget me. Speaking of friends reminds me of what Papa wrote to Ella about the Kelley boys & it seems that they drink pretty bad also Bob Trump & one day at the club one of the Kelleys while dining threw something & it hit Bob Trump & cut his head open ! They had been having a little too much5. I think that it is awful for first think how Mrs. Kelley must feel. It seems to me as if all & everyone I knew were bad.

Wednesday 17 Alexandria Bay, NY Ella & I have been out planting ferns in the back of the Island. They look so pretty in the crevices of the rocks. In the evenings we are all here alone. One reads and the rest are embroidering. It makes it so pleasant. Ella & I also sing with the banjo & guitar accompanyment.

Sunday 21 Alexandria Bay, NY Today I am sitting in my room by the cozy fire writing in this book. I have just written to Papa. He says that we will return to the City in a week. We have got an invitation from Lillie Bell6 to form a set of “Germans”. They meet every other Tuesday. I do hope that I can join.

Tuesday 23 Alexandria Bay, NY This morning or after luncheon we took the yacht “Claud S.”7 and went up by the Canadian Islands. Took the scow and went to gather ferns8. We got some beautiful moss. I do hope that it will live as we are fixing up the back part of the Island so that it looks beautiful. Papa is coming next Thursday, but Mr. & Mrs. Delanoy can’t come for which I am very sorry. I like Mrs. Delanoy so much she is such a funny little woman. We expect Mr. & Mrs. Reed up here with Papa.

Thursday 25 Alexandria Bay, NY Papa came this afternoon. We were all so glad to see him as it happened it was a lovely day & he thought we were about frozen out & it was such a surprise to him; it makes us all happy to see him so happy when he comes here. It is the loveliest home. We are going to build9 a kitchen out thru our ice house & billiard room & turn what is now the kitchen into a game room. It will be simply perfect then.

Sunday 28 Alexandria Bay, NY It is raining hard, but I don’t care for it is so lovely in the house before the open fireplace & we are all so happy. We leave Thursday for home or rather the City. I am glad yet sorry to go for we have had such a lovely summer & I hope we have made many lives happy but still one can never tell. All our friends seem to have had such a delightful time. I enjoyed Helen Reed’s stay more than any other of my friends. I do hope that she can come next summer for I do like her so much & more & more each time I see her.

Part IV, November 1888

Thursday 1 Alexandria Bay, NY Today we leave our Island home. It does look so lonesome, everything covered & put away. Mamma has enjoyed herself so much & I do hope it has done her good. She thinks that she has a cancer on her breast. It is very hard & swollen. She will have nothing done but only trusts God for the future. Perhaps she is right but I do wish that she would do something or at least find out what is the matter. She speaks as if she may never come back. But we can’t spare her she must not go. It would be cruel. We leave on the four o’clock boat & bid goodbye to our beautiful “Island Home.”

 

Friday 2 The Buckingham New York City We are stopping at the “Buckingham”10 for a time until we find where we want to stay for it is very expensive here. I went up to see Pansy but found her out. I will see her tomorrow or this afternoon. Yes, I saw her this aft. She was so glad to see us. She is a dear girl.

Saturday 3 The Buckingham New York City I saw Flora today she is looking very well but she does act so queer she puts a very funny expression on when she wants to & it sort of repells one. I don’t know what is the matter. She doesn’t act like the old Flora anymore. She is one of the girls who lives for Society & that alone.

Sunday 4 The Buckingham New York City Ella & I went to church11 this morning. Walter Clark walked home with us. He goes to Mexico12 on Thursday, poor little thing. I am afraid he will be lost. He is so small & a bundle of conceit although very amusing at times. Will Delanoy found us or rather me. I was walking beside Walter & Will skipped right back of me & spoke so I went right back with him & Ella went with Walter. Will has raised a beard & it is very becoming.

Tuesday 6 The Buckingham New York City This evening Ed & Will came. I was very glad to see them. They were very amusing. We are going up to visit Helen Reed at Kings Bridge13 tomorrow. I know that we will have a good time. Last Saturday evening we went up to see Mr. Reed, he had been thrown from his carriage & hurt but we found him with a sprained hand which was very painful.

Wednesday 7 Kings Bridge Well, here we are at Nellie's14. She came for us about two o’clock & we went together & found the two fellows Arthur Briggs15 & Clark Traphagen16 had met us at the train with a carriage to take us for a drive. It was lovely of them. Ella went with Mr. Traphagen in the cart & I with Mr. Briggs, Nellie & Miss Traphagen in the surrey. We called for her at the school. We then took a drive down to 135th Street when Mr. Briggs got some candy. We had a delightful time. The fellows are so nice. I guess that Arthur Briggs is very fond of Nellie from what she says & I don’t wonder. Mr. Reed came home this eve. He seemed very glad to see us. I never cared particularly for him. But at home he is lovely & Mr. Reed, his father, is so funny.

Thursday 8 Kings Bridge Today Mr. Traphagen came around on horse back. Only 3 girls went in the cart. He rode beside us. We also stopped for Mamie Bussing17, who had called in the morning. We had such a delightful time. Mr. Traphagen is so pleasant. He is quite tall with dark eyes & mustache. Both he & Mr. Briggs call each other by the same names which got us so confused when first met them. They are “Pete” “Peter” & “Eddie”. They are both such nice fellows. This afternoon Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Brurel & Helen left to go to a wedding but I had a book & so passed the time very pleasantly. Charley Reed brought a Mr. Bard who is their cousin & a girl also came. Mr. Traphagen & Arthur Briggs came around this evening so we had a very pleasant game of cards. The evening passed so pleasantly.

Friday 9 Kings Bridge This morning we three girls took the cart & went to take a box of candy to Miss Clark which was sent to her as a bet. We expected to get some but found her out & had to go away without any. We managed to get our ride in between the showers as it has been raining nearly all day. We went through the loveliest woods. One can imagine how beautiful it must look in summer.

Saturday 10 Kings Bridge We spent the morning in the house but although it was raining very hard in fact pouring but we wanted air so we went up to Miss Bussing’s. The fellows promised to come around but we couldn’t wait. So started up there & found a fellow there, a Mr. Trumingham he is an Englishman that doesn’t sound like the name though he is a very good looking fellow very tall, light hair, blue eyes, & a light mustache. After we had been there a short time who should drive up in the pouring rain but Arthur Briggs & Clark Traphagen. We had a game of cards & then started for home but it was pouring so they hitched their horse to the Bussings’ closed rig & we all went home & found that they had brought us 5 lbs. of marshmallows. It was lovely of them. We spent the rest of the afternoon in roasting marshmallows & having fun. Charley was very pleasant this evening. I wish that he would like me better. I like him so much better than I used to. I don’t blame him much since I treated him so rudely at a German last winter. I had him for a partner & talked to Ed who was on the other side all the time. I have always been heartily ashamed of myself.

Sunday 11 Kings Bridge It is the most heavenly day one couldn’t wish for a better one. Wallace Cone, a friend of Nellie’s came up. He is a homely fellow but very nice. I walked to church with Helen & Mr. Cone & Ella walked with Charley. A Mr. Jiles preached he is a young fellow, about 30 and very distinguished in looks. He gave us the most interesting sermon. His delivery is very fine. He is the only minister I have ever listened to that I did not want to have stop but I do wish that the sermon had been longer. I quite lost my heart on him coming home. I went with Charley. She wanted to go a different way home so I went. We had a delightful time over fields & through fences. This afternoon we went to Sunday School to hear them play Christmas carols. Charley plays the violin in S.S. We met as was agreed before hand. Both Mr. Traphagen & Arthur Briggs. We left early & took a long walk. I was with Mr. Cone he was very entertaining. We walked across the old aqueduck and first as we were getting over a stile who should pass in a swell turnout but Emerson Brooks18, an awfully swell fellow. He said “Aren’t you quite a ways out” I expect he thought we had walked out from the city. Ella had a delightful time with Mr. Traphagen. So did Nellie with Arthur Briggs. After we got home they all came in & we ate candy & had a jolly time. This evening we all went over to the Eames who have a lovely place here. They had a song service which was delightful. Mrs. Salter (sister of Mr. Briggs) sang beautifully. We had some delightful singing & met some lovely fellows. Charley took his violin, we walked both ways. I came back with Charley. It was the most georgous moonlight. I can’t describe it & as we were going by a little brook the moonlight touched it as it went babbling over the stones & that gave just the finishing touch.

Monday 12 Kings Bridge Nellie, Ella & I went down to the City this am to get our things for the calico party which comes off Thursday eve. We three are going as “Follies”. Helen is a red & white one. Ella, black & red & I have black & white. They are at least the shirt is all out in points & a bell on every point. We first went to Charley’s store19 & he went with us to get the bells as it was way down town. We got 3 gross. Coming back he tried to walk with me but I stuck to Helen. We then left him & went for our fabric & masks which we got at the depot. We met Ella who had Pansy with her. Helen asked P. to come to luncheon Friday. Well, we got home & had time to take our lunch & get ready when the fellows came around to drive us to Yonkers. Helen went in the dog cart (with tandrum) with Arthur Briggs & we went in the carriage with Mr. Traphagen & Mamie Bussing. We had a most delightful drive. Went all over Yonkers. Going we went by the Hudson through Riverdale. We got home after dark. We had some candy also. The fellows have never love to see us but what they bring candy. This evening we went up to work on our dresses & Charley came up soon after to tease us. He laid on the floor & hung around generally all the eve.

Tuesday 13 Kings Bridge We spent all the morning working on our dresses excepting a few moments when we went out in the cart. I went down town about 2 o’clock & came back about six. It was long after dark. Arthur Briggs came to dinner. He is so nice & then we started for the reading club but we took a short drive before we went for we couldn’t resist it was such a beautiful moonlight night. The club was held at Mr. Traphagen’s. I met Mr. Ives20 who called himself the “masher”21 he is anything but pleasant. Mr. Traphagen came home with us & brought some candy. The walk home was so lovely. The brook sang as merrily as ever & the moon was as lovely.

Wednesday 14 Kings Bridge We have been working so hard on our dresses & only stopped for a drive. We drove through Woodlawn Cemetary22. It is a lovely place. We also at least Nellie & I walked in the evening. Charley would have come in but we shut the door after Ella & I started & talked to him a short time. I like him so much better than I used to.

Thursday 15 Kings Bridge Our dresses fit splendidly. They couldn’t fit better. Mine looks so pretty black & white with all the bells. We drove around the Collidge grounds (Catholic collidge)23 It is a lovely place. Mr. Cone came up with Charley to go with us to the masquerade. They all wanted to see us. So after we got our hair powdered and all the patches on we came out. They all said they were so pretty and they were. We tried to find out what Charley was to wear but couldn’t. Well we made all the noise that we could wish for with our bells. I knew Charley the minute I saw his hands for I knew what they looked like. He went as a clown he had on a clown face with long flaxen curls around his head. There were some very pretty costumes there. The girls were all in one set of dances & what a noise we did make it was deafning. Mr Traphagen & Arthur Briggs dressed alike in black dominoes. After we unmasked we danced. I was with the Englishman Mr. Trimmingham a good deal. Also danced a good deal with him he is so nice much better than one would think on the first introduction. After supper we had a “German”. I sat with Mr. Traphagen. He doesn’t dance but we had a lovely time. Charley was a little put out with me I think for I got him in a chance figure & I didn’t look pleased evidently for he said “I won’t tire you Miss Dewey, by keeping you dancing.” So I went around the room & then sat down. It was mean but I couldn’t help it. I had a lovely time.

Friday 16 Kings Bridge Ella & I got down this morning to breakfast so saw both Mr. Reed, Mr. Cone & Charley start off. Mr. Cone is such a nice fellow. Nellie got down about 9 o’clock. We then took a walk on the piazza & Nellie told us that that Arthur Briggs had proposed to her last night when we were dancing the last dance but he has not enough to support a wife & then he is not in business. When he was a boy he ran away from school & has never been back so that his education is not the best. I am sorry for he is such a nice fellow. I feel awfully sorry for him I don’t think that Nellie loves him, though for she says that she doesn’t think that she does. About twelve o’clock we went down to meet Pansy for came up to lunch. We were having a nice time after lunch. The fellows were coming over & we were going for a drive when two little boys brought up a note saying that Mr. Reed had been taken very ill but not to come down so we down to the station to telephone & find out the all the particulars as Mrs. Reed was nearly wild, but then Pansy & I met Mr. Reed’s partner, Mr. Coolie, who said that Mr. Reed was dead24. It was awful. He dropped dead in the street. Pansy went home & I let the doctors take the carriage up so I got there after they broke the news. I went in to Helen & tried to comfort her. I did the best I could but it was awful to hear her always crying out “I am all alone, all alone”. Poor Mrs. Reed it was terrible to hear her she was just wailing all the time. Helen said after she got more calm “It is terrible to think of living on & on & on without Papa. I can’t do it, I can’t”. I hope that affliction will never come to me. When Charley came in he gave one sob & fell into the doctors arms. He then went to his mother & tried to comfort her. He was so noble trying to master his own emotions & comfort the rest. I never respected anyone as I do him or admired anyone so much. Mr. Reed’s body was brought up about 5 o’clock. Ella & I went home about half past six for we couldn’t do anything more. I did all I could to comfort them & then Amy25 was coming back & we had her room. I never felt so sad over anyone’s death as I did his. He went out so smiling & pleasant in the morning & then tonite he was brought home dead. It was awful. Nellie felt so bad because she hadn’t seen him this morning. Charley when he heard of his father’s death turned blue in the face they thought he was going to have a fit, poor fellow. How I pity them all. Messer Burnside called.

Saturday 17 The Buckingham New York City Ella & Mamma went up to the Reeds early this morning & I went downtown to get Ella Holmes for Mrs. Reed & sent her up to Kings Bridge. I do hope she can help them. This afternoon Ella & I went to see Pansy. She does feel so sorry for them all.

Sunday 18 The Buckingham New York City Ella & Mamma & I went up to see the Reeds this morning. Helen couldn’t see us for she had just received someone who brought back her father to her so that it completely used her up. I couldn’t speak to Charley some way but I shook hands with him & shook hands with me as if he understood what I wanted to say. I do hope that he did. I didn’t do anything all day for I am completely used up. I never realized how terrible death was until now.

Monday 19 The Buckingham New York City This morning Ella & I went down town & then started up to see Flora but I thought that probably she would offer to go up with & we didn’t want that so we got out of the car & came home only stopping in a few minutes to see Fannie McCall. The afternoon we all went up the funeral services. He is to be buried tommorrow, we found Arthur Briggs there with his carriage so we drove up to the house as he seemed anxious to have us. He went up with us also. He looked so sad & haggard for he had not heard Helen’s answer yet & so didn’t know whether she had accepted him or not & then it was a shock to him also. The service was beautiful. They sang “Thy will be done & Only a little while”. It was divine they sang it beautifully. After the service, I saw Nellie she came & leaned her head against the balastrade, a poor little lone figure all dressed in black. I did pity her so she held out her hand as I came up as if she wanted sympathy. We went in her room & talked a little while. I saw Charley he came up to speak to me but I could say nothing. I felt like pounding myself but it was of no use. Helen wanted me to look at her father so I did, he looked so natural but how lonely they all will feel as time goes on without their father. Papa sat up all night with Mr. Reed, he wanted to & they all seemed so pleased to have him. I am glad he did for it comforted them some I am sure. How I wish that I could lift some of their burden but I can’t that is the hardest part to see them mourn & you can’t do anything.

 

Tuesday 20 The Buckingham New York City Mamma went up to the burial & met Papa there. They said that they were very composed. Mrs. Reed was calm but they are afraid she will break down under the strain. Flora came up this afternoon & wants us to come down there to spend the night with her, so we are going. Some how I haven’t the least desire to go out this winter or do anything. Everything seems so sad just now.

 

Wednesday 21 The Buckingham New York City Ella was down town all the morning & I walked up from 23rd St. after leaving them. We went up to Flora’s about five o’clock. After dinner Mr. Will Pratt26 came in also Louis Brown. Mr Pratt is very young but quite amusing. He is a regular young society fellow. Louis Brown I was so glad to see again it brought back the good times we had last summer. He is a lovely fellow so sensible. The girls didn’t like it very well because he always looked at me while he was talking. I thought that it was a big joke. Flora always likes to have a man pay her all the attention. Mr. Brown left about 11 o’clock. We girls were all tired out but still he was very interesting.

Thursday 22 The Buckingham New York City After having a very pleasant time at Flora’s last night we all started downtown. Flora & I went to the Lyceum Theatre27 to get seats for Sat. matinee which we got. I hope that we will like the play. I went to the meeting of Mamma’s mission class28. It was quite interesting we are going to start a mission school on 59th St. & save. I hope that it will be a success.

Friday 23 The Buckingham New York City We received a letter from Nellie Reed last eve. She wanted the address of a dressmaker so Ella & I went up to Flora’s to get it & then started up there. Nellie is feeling very cheerful she says that she cannot realize that her father is dead it seems as if he would come at six o’clock. She will realize it soon, poor girl. We laughed & talked & tried to cheer her up. While we were there Mamie Bussing came in. She is a sweet girl. Charley went down on the same train as we did but he had a lawyer with him so he went in the smoker. He apologized for not seeing us through but it was all right as he had to talk business. He has to settle all of his father’s business & therefore is very busy. Ella & I walked down to see Miss Barber29, found her out.

 

Saturday 24 The Buckingham New York City This morning Ella & I went to see Pansy at the Windsor Hotel30 & from there we watched the coaches go up. Yale & Princeton have a football match today & the coaches are going up. They do look so pretty. I met Mamma downtown & bought a dress. It is yellow with silk mull over. I do hope that it will be pretty. I enjoyed the matinee so much. We went to see “Sweet Lavender” at the Lyceum. It is a very sweet play. We walked up & the coaches were all coming down. There were about 50. The Yale fellows were very jubilant & no wonder for Yale has won the championship for 1888. The noise they made was deafening. It reminds me of the time I went on a coach to see a game between Yale & Harvard. The game today was 10 to 0 in Yale’s favour31. It was splendid.

 

Sunday 25 The Buckingham New York City This morning it has been snowing. Ella & I walked to church but I didn’t enjoy the sermon very much. The minister was so nervous. After dinner Papa & Mamma, Ella & I went up to Kings Bridge to see the Reeds. It was snowing furiously when we got there. We had a very pleasant time. Nellie, Ella & I went talked in the hall. They all seem very reconciled. Nellie told us that the night of the masquerade Miss Sutter, who went with Mr. Ives dressed at his house which was a horrid thing for her to do. It is all out now & it must be horrid for her. Mr. Ives is horrid. He is going around “bragging” that he can come between Arthur Briggs & Helen & break there friendship but I don’t see how he can as long as Helen won’t let him in the house. He has done so many mean things & won’t stop. To put them down even to a friend who was visiting him he acted the same way.

Monday 26 The Buckingham New York City Ella & I went down to see Miss Barber to see what days she could come to us. After seeing her we went downtown & then home where we spent the rest of the day doing nothing. Only went to Pansy’s to see if we could catch her in as she had first been here but no she was out. We saw Mr. Andrews & his sister. We met them at Mr. Holland’s last summer.

Tuesday 27 The Buckingham New York City This morning we had the mission meeting here but there were very few, here still it was interesting one. This evening Jared Baldwin32 called, he received our cards yesterday. He made a quick response.

Wednesday 28 The Buckingham New York City This morning Pansy came. We went down town together, in fact spent the morning together. This afternoon Ella & I went to Brooklyn to Aunt Mary’s33 to have our dresses fitted. Ella’s is lovely it is on embroidered little daisies as a border & then daisies dotted all over. It is over blue silk, it is lovely. Mine is a yellow silk with white embroidered silk muslin over it is very pretty. I think that it would be very pretty to have little yellow birds catch up the drapery. It would certainly be nice. Mamma & Ella went to prayer meeting tonight but I didn’t feel like it. Mamma has just given me a large black linx collar. They are awfully swell. It has a handerchief folded in the neck & the long part fastens on one side below the waist. It is swell.

Thursday 29 The Buckingham New York City This afternoon Ella & I went down to the Five Point Mission34 to wait on the poor children . They gave them their Thanksgiving dinner. I just stuffed them. They seemed to enjoy it so much. Then this evening Mamma, Ella, & I (Papa didn’t go for he was not feeling well) went to Mrs. McCall’s to dinner & enjoyed it so much.

Friday 30 The Buckingham New York City Ella & I went up to Kings Bridge to see Helen this afternoon. She took us out in the cart. I guess she has refused Arthur Briggs35 but I am so glad that is has not broken their friendship. I just caught a glimpse of Charley’s back. Helen wanted to call him but I wouldn’t let her for I don’t think that he likes me very much. I wish that he did. O ! Miss Applegate has formed the German. I am very sorry for I have taken a dislike to her. I am sure I don’t know why.

Researched and compiled by Kristen Pinkney   Kristenpinkney@thousandislandslife.com

© Copyright Kristen Pinkney 2008, All Rights Reserved.

Watch for Part V in the April 2009 issue of Thousand Islands Life Magazine.

 


1

Mrs. Brush was Sarah Atwater, who married Joseph Beal Brush (b. Sept. 23, 1828, d. July 23, 1869) courtesy of Stuart Brush on Brush forum at www.genforum.com Pansy Brush was born in 1868 so she never knew her father.

2

Walter Gilson, lawyer, 48 Wall Street, residence at 1 East 39 Street. NYC Directory 1890. ww.ancestry.com

3

Chicago Voter Registration of 1888, shows that Edward W. Dewey registered to vote on October 9, 1888. www.ancestry.com

4

George M. Pullman, (1831-1897) married Hattie Amelia Sanger on June 13, 1867 in Chicago. They had four children: Florence, Harriet, George M. Jr. and Walter. www.rootsweb.com Pullman’s fortune from his Palace and Sleeping Car business was estimated at 12-30 million dollars at the time of his death. New York Times, October 20, 1897. page 4.

5

Incident which occurred in Chicago at a private men’s club.

6

Lillian Bell, daughter of Jared W. Bell of 248 Lexington Avenue. <www.ancestry.com

7

“Claud S” steam yacht for hire, operated by Captain S. Griffin. Haddock page 83.

8

Refer to two photographs, courtesty of Alan Ray II, former Friendly Island resident.

9

Utica Daily Press, December 16, 1890: “Contractors Butts and Barney have enclosed a large addition to the cottage of E.W. Dewey, on Dewey’s Island, the contract price of which is $8,000.”

10

Buckingham Hotel, located at Fifth Avenue and 50th Street and across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. (This would be where Saks Fifth Avenue is now.) It is described as having oak and mahogany throughout and many families travel a great distance to stay there for the winter. King. P. 209

11

Madison Avenue Methodist-Episcopal Church, corner of Madison Avenue and 60th Street was built in 1882 and has a large congregation, built out of brownstone in the Romanesque style. King p. 341.

12

Walter Clark’s brother was a famous American Impressionist, Alson Skinner Clark, who was influenced by family trips to Mexico in his painting.

13

Kingsbridge is a neighborhood in the Bronx.

14

The Reeds resided at Bailey Avenue, corner of Kingsbridge Road. www.ancestry.com

15

Arthur Briggs, son of Mary Briggs, a widow, resided at 28 High Bridge Road in the Bronx with his 4 siblings. www.ancestry.com

16

Clark B. Traphagen, son of Jno. Traphagen, age about 27, www.ancestry.com

17

Mary Bussing, daughter of Amanda Bussing, married Ralph Olmsted Ives on July 3, 1890. Charles Reed was an usher, Helen Reed was a bridesmaid. New York Times archive.

18

Emerson Brooks, son of Horace Brooks married Alice Kunkel in 1893. New York Times archive.

19

Charles Reed, agent, Grand Central Depot & merchant 228 Fulton, NYC Directory 1890. The drygoods firm of his father, John H. Reed, was Dale, Reed & Cooley located at 76 Worth Street-NY Times archive.

20

Ralph Olmsted Ives, who married Mamie Bussing, was the son of George R. Ives and Mary Phelps Olmsted. Mary’s father was Ralph Olmsted, a dry goods millionaire. Ralph Ives was in real estate at 45 Pine and his home with Mamie was at 117 West 58th St. www.ancestry.com

21

American slang, today we would use the expression “womanizer” or “skirt chaser”

22

Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, has 396 acres and is a fashionable resting place for New York City millionaires. King p. 473. May, Ella, Frances and Edward Dewey are buried here.

23

College of Mt. Saint Vincent, 6301 Riverdale Avenue, Riverdale, NY, was then known as the Academy of Mt. Saint Vincent, www.nationmaster.com/encylopedia

24

‘Stricken in the Street Sudden Death of John H. Reed, a Prominent Merchant.” New York Times November 17, 1888.

25

Amy is the Reed’s youngest child, was probably away at school. www.ancestry.com

26

William T. Pratt, Secretary at 40 Wall Street, NYC Directory 1890.

27

The Lyceum Theatre, located on the west side of Fourth Avenue between 23rd & 24th Streets. King p. 555.

28

Frances Dewey organized the Young People’s City Mission, the Minutes were purchased with May’s diary. The period of the Mission Minutes is from 1888 to 1899.

29

Miss Barber is May and Ella’s tutor.

30

Windsor Hotel, where Pansy Brush & her mother stayed, located at Fifth Avenue between 46th & 47th Street, burned on March 17th 1899 during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The crowds hampered the ability of the firefighters to control the blaze. 92 people perished in this famous hotel fire. NY Times archive

31

Yale’s 3rd consecutive championship, played at the Polo Grounds, attendance of 15,000. NY Times archive

32

Jared G. Baldwin Jr. was a lawyer at 20 Nassau St. His father was a doctor & their residence was at 8 East 41st Street. NYC Directory 1890, www.ancestry.com

33

Mary Pitcher Bloomfield, is a dressmaker, Lowville Journal & Republican archives.

34

The Five-Points Mission located at 63 Park Street, affiliated with the Ladies’ Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. King, p. 387.

35

Helen Lester Reed, never married and died on October 1, 1894 at Dansville, NY of heart failure at the Dansville Sanitarium. The funeral was private. NY Times archive.

Posted in: People
Please feel free to leave comments about this article using the form below. Comments are moderated and we do not accept comments that contain links. As per our privacy policy, your email address will not be shared and is inaccessible even to us. For general comments, please email the editor.

Comments

There are currently no comments, be the first to post one.