Volume 10

Containers:

Box 1, Folder 4

Scope and content:

February 15, 1879: Rev. Grachen preaching.

February 17, 1879: "A Grand Supper gave by the Band of Bridgewater. Cornet Band to night."

February 20, 1879: "Charles Furry's wife had twins to night."

February 28, 1879: "Mr. McClouds House burnt up about 11 o'clock to night."

March 1, 1879: "A fine Revival going on in Harrisonburg. About 76 conversions up to this date."

March 5, 1879: "Our Annual Conference goes in session at Salem, Roanoke County."

March 6, 1879: "Commenced work again on the African church in rear of our church. George White bought 5 hogs of Mrs. Ward for $20."

March 8, 1879: Four day conference. [likely M. E. Church]

March 12, 1879: Eight day conference adjourned. Brother Kinzer returns to our Sircuit [sic] and Rev Holcomb [Homan?] moved to Jesse Frys house in our town.

March 14, 1879: "Negro Exhibition at old Town Hall tonight."

March 19, 1879: "Dr. Brown moved his drug store to Armstrongs store room and also the printing press upstairs in Browns Store. Samuel Miller upset his buggy and broke the top off it."

March 22, 1879: "Lute Swartz killed a Sandhill Crane this morning." [sketch of crane]

March 30, 1879: "Quarterly meeting going on at Crawford."

April 13, 1879: "Preaching by Kummingham [R. S Cunningham] at M. E. Church."

April 14, 1879: Henry Smals got sick on his way to Richmond Odd Fellows Conference.

April 29, 1879: "A. Hollins brought a load of agricultural implements to the Old Town Hall."

May 10, 1879: "Quarterly meeting with the colored people today. Presiding elder present."

May 29, 1879: "Peter Miller's stable burnt down. Supposed to have caught from the engine of Mr. Sheetz."

June 9, 1879: "This is Memorial Day at Staunton to decorate the soldiers graves. A good many persons gone from Bridgewater." [June 6-at Winchester-Memorial of the Dead-estimates 25,000 present]

Thursday, June 12, 1879: "This is the day the Lawn Festival commences in church yard at M. E. Church. No festival on account of rain." [sketch]

June 23, 1879: "Willie Bradburn got his arms in the carding machine, tore off the flesh of half the arm." [Smals always drew a sketch of injured arms and legs] "about 2500 black bass put in the dam above the woolen factory."

June 27, 1879: "A great many cherries in our town to day at from 11 to 20 cents per gallon. Mr. Mefall got his buggy and harness broken near Allemongs by hoisting an umbrella, horse got frightened."

July 4, 1879: "Day of Celebration in Harrisonburg, about 15,000 people present, 6 bands and 6 military companies, a powerful turnout. 98 degrees for 3 hours and one hour 100 degrees, awful dust. It was supposed that $10,000 dollars was left in Harrisonburg today."

July 13, 1879: Rev. Rosbrown [?] preached.

July 21, 1879: "J.H. Smals at court, made 2 indictments on assault and battery, the other a rape on a small Negro child."

August 15, 1879: "Rev. Boothe, Colored preacher, in United Brethren Church tonight."

August 25, 1879: "Oliver L. Rhodes made me a present of a fine hat this shape." [sketch of the hat].

August 31, 1879: "Also dedication by the colored people of their church in our town. Realized $72. Their presiding elder present. Had good order."

September 1, 1879: Rev. Cunningham had gone to District Conference at "Wainsborough." [Waynesboro].

September 4, 1879: "The first issue of the Bridgewater Journal out."

September 5, 1879: First issue of the Bridgewater Journal published. [sketch]

September 6, 1879: Dr. Brown had gone to Rawley Springs to bottle water.

September 14, 1879: Rev Kemper preached in PM.

September 22, 1879: "This is Mansipation [sic] Day for the Negroes." [Writes this in big letters and draws four black heads.]

October 2, 1879: "A blind black man sung in the African church this evening."

October 13, 1879: "Cars ran off the track and smashed 11 cars all to pieces, hurt a good many." [Smals does not tell where this happened].

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