February 24, 1912

Flo's Diary:

10:30 sunshine headache - sweep. Fox comes and says get ready for dog team ride. Go with Mr. Olsen. Fine ride out to Tanana and back by wireless. Get supper. Heacocks. not any better. Harold comes about 9:30 - chocolate.

This map from 1906 shows where the wireless lines ran around the Fairbanks area.

February 23, 1912

Flo's Diary

Cloudy. feel pretty good - Latin student - Fence. home and found Harold here. nap on couch. supper. Heacocks. Mr Thrift brings Mr. Tallman up. Mgr of Fisher Mine. Very nice. Play crib beat him 3xs. Chocolat and bed 10:30. 0°

February 22, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Our day to lay a bed - till 12 o'clock. clean house some - H.C.G comes for ans - "go to ball" Down to Olsen's to stitch scarf. Get mail - home supper and ready for ball. Marcella and Joe - Nell and Lysle.

February 21, 1912

Flo's Diary

Cloudy - wind and snow. Have Latin pupil. Home about 5 - over to Heacocks. Harold comes also Thrift and Brown. HCG asks me to go to ball - dog team riding. Decide tomorrow so to bed.

February 20, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Cloudy and 20° above. Rush from school to fence but French lesson so walk - Raine - home at 6 get supper - over to Heacock's Mrs H. sick. Drury and Litsey Brown come. Go to show and ice cream at Red Cross. Talk and bed at 11.

So Raine - Flo finds him interesting....does she run into him on her walk?

February 19, 1912

Flo's Diary:

School - cloudy-wrm. Mt. Litsey comes to take us to Mrs. Whiteley's but Kelly and Raine come. Raine is gov't man and very interesting. Inspire them to poetry.

February 18, 1912

Flo's Diary:

A beautiful warm, sunny day. Breakfast with Mr. Thrift's - home and on couch - ill. Harold comes and I go dog team riding - great. Saw pussy willows - people without coats and mittens - walking. Marcella goes for short ride. H.G. for supper. Bed early while others to go show.

February 17, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Awaken by Nell getting up to go to work. Up at 9. Get breakfast but no stir from M. She sleeps till 11 - eat and begin work. Drink coffee with M. In midst of scrubbing when H.G. arrives to take M out dog riding. Ironed - go downtown. H.G. comes in evening. Nell goes to father's no. I lay crib with him. They go to show. Bed early

February 16, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Cloudy - Busy Day. Refuse Miss Gilmer's invite out to dinner – home at noon and start dinner- get bath water rush home from school and start fire. Fence - go to M.E. church for cafeteria dinner - very good. Rush home for bath. Get ready for A.B. dance. Marcella comes home and bathes. Rush back to church for ice cream with Adams. Rush home and Harold and Litsey come. Rush to dance so as to be there at 9. Splendid times. Harold and I come home at 12:30. Stay up till M. Arrives so as to talk things over.

My goodness...there was lots of rushing around on this day. Just think about how life has changed in 100 years - and how much easier it is to draw a hot water bath!

February 15, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Cloudy - rather cold. Go to Nordale's to C.E. party. Have nice time with high school youngsters. Bed as 12.

February 14, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Valentine's galore. Candy. Snowing 15 ° above. Over to Heacock's. She sick. Give up having Kelly come. Lysle and Dee come. But we have kimona party. Bed early.

February 13, 1912

Flo's Diary
Cloudy. Fencing – walk Litsey gives M and I a splendid trade–who? Green comes. Finish M's throw. Bed early – tired.

Gosh, this is all very mysterious!

February 12, 1912

Flo's Diary

School again – oh dear. Lincoln's birthday and no holiday! M. and I walk downtown while Lysle drys dishes for me. Met Fox – gave him bum steer. Pussy willows out 1st bunch I've seen in Alaska. Bed early.

February 11, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Awakened by Mrs. Heacock at 10:30 but sleep till 12:30. Up and take bath. Harold comes scramble to get in clothes. Eat breakfast. Do work while Marcella and Green walk. Write letters and mail them. Marcella and I go to C.E. and church. Hear talk by A.R. Heilig. A long lonesome day - no walk or nothing. Boys gone a week. Splendid weather for them.

A.R. Heilig, is probably Albert R. Heilig, an attorney who worked in private practice as well as with Judge Wickersham as Clerk of the Court. He was also a UAF Board of Regent (1917-1921).

Wickersham and Heilig Families in Dawson image

Judge Heilig's Garden image (not sure when he became a judge!)

February 10, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Sat so not up till 9:30 clean house wash my head and Lysle comes. Eat lunch and Green comes. Get back to A. B. dance for next Friday night. Everett Ingram and Lenard Heacock take Marcella and I out for a ride behind 7 dogs. A glorious day and ride. Marcella–Green and I go to Ester to dance in double ender. Nell, Dee and Brown go in another one. Great time and novel dance. Many Fairbanks people there is stage. Dog houses. Met several people–miners invited out by Pattersons – Home by 5 am. 10° below.

February 9, 1912

Flo's Diary:A beautiful sunrise and splendid view of Mts. and Mt Mckinley. Where are the boys? Have missed them. Fenced. Went down town – got supper – wrote letters.

February 8, 1912

Flo's Diary:10° above - beautiful day. Develop pictures. Marcella Drury and I go to picture show. Drury wants to be father-in-law so he can make love to us.

February 7, 1912

Flo's Diary:
A most beautiful sunrise. Golden 10° above. Nell stayed all night at Ollsen's we come home an get dinner and wash dishes. Nell gets dinner. Splendid - rabbit - all alone.

February 6, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Alarm at 7 but lay until 7:30 and then hurry to school. Much better. Get Dinner and print more pictures. Drury comes and and asks us to go to the pictures show. Knock at door. Marcela opens and Fox stands there. Look of disgust on face. He asks me to go to Masonic ball. Refuse. Otherwise engaged. Green comes so Drury and I go to picture show. Boys to at 11. Beautiful day.

February 5, 1912

Flo's DiaryUp at 7 - oh dear - sleepy. go to school. Room changed. 34 kiddies - splendid - tired. Supper make meatloaf. School work - print pictures great. tired. Bed at 9:15.

February 4, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Up at 9 AM. Go to Church with Lewis. Write Letters. change my dress and go to dinner with Lewis and rest of crowd at Arcade. Grouse and toast - while others go to show - Lewis and I sit in chair and talk. Bid he and Ralph goodbye as they start on Mt. McKinley trip next day. Bed at 11 - school next day.

February 3, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Up about 11 am. Breakfast. Ralph comes while I am sweeping. Talk with Mr. Adams over the gate. Lysle comes and calls off Esther dance. Take a bath – Lewis comes mild weather - sunshine. Beat Ralph 2 games of crib. Marcella and Green go for walk – so do Brown and Nell. Lewis and I. grand night out Tanana way Hot chocolate at Red cross Home and 2 in a chair.

February 2, 1912

Flo's Diary:Up real early. Go shopping. Marcella goes sleigh riding and I miss it as I meet school board at school house at 2 p.m. They decide to give me an assistance, Mrs. Sea. Mr. Druery–Green–Gox come. Nell stays all night with Dee. I walk with Fox Harold goes home early why? candy – 2 boxes. Sunny.

February 1, 1912

Flo's Diary:Walk with Mrs. Ollsen and Mr. Fox over to Heacocks. Down town shopping. Mr. Green, Mr, Drury, Mr. Morrow and Bob came up for evening. Flashlights, ice cream at "Red Cross" x x x Chinook wind melting snow. Bed at 11:30 - last the bet. x. x. & o.

This doesn't really have anything to do with this post, but I thought this chart of winter temperatures taken from the Fairbanks Red Cross Drugstore was interesting.

January 31, 1912

Flos' Diary:
Mrs Heacock over early and start our fire. Marcella and I eat lentils. Go to Heacock's to Ladies Aid. Fruit salad. Go to High School play.

January 30, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Mr. Fox and Lewis call. We go to Condit's for evening. splendid time. Our dresses comes. Beautiful - gloves and stockings to match.

January 29, 1912

Flo's Diary:

A beautiful bright sunny day. Get 3 registered packages xmas presents. weith 122 1/4 lbs. Mar - 129 lbs. Mr. R for supper - I get it - solitaire. Marce. & I walk at 10:30 to Tanana way.

What could they have possibly gotten that weighted so much? I'm really anxious to see if we find out or not.

January 28, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Up and go to church with Ralph and Marcella. Hot chocolate after church. Fox invites us to breakfast. Nell mushes with Dee. Marcella and I start dinner when Fox comes to ask us out to dinner - slow. Green comes and I walk with him. Lewis comes. He and Green stay fox dinner. Marcella and I to to C.E. and church and boys was the dishes. Chairs spoons & pie. Alarm at 12.

Heidi's Diary:

In Fairbanks. Up at 6 a.m. Clean and straighten up. -10°. Car has frost on it. Took about 8 minutes to drive from Ester to work. Clear sky brings out the stars. Got IM from Mr Olson. "How do I get the camera to zoom on my iPhone." Decided to skype with him so he could see the process which wasn't working for him. Had visit with Miss Huizenga, Mrs Runnion, Mrs Parkerson and Mrs. Clendenin lots of laughing. Reading Cold: Adventures in a the World's Frozen Places. Bed at midnight

January 27, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Girls didn't fill well so no cleaning but what I do. Green comes. Nell & I take a walk. Clear-moonlight night. Pie from Heacock.

January 26, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Up at 12. Get our warrants - go calling on 6 people. Ans phone. Mrs. D. to late - go to show with Harold.

I'm starting to see some competition here amongst the men in Fairbanks!

January 25, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Tired, up at 12 noon. Lay around all day. Girls go for walk in evening. I put on bath robe and lie on couch reading. Lysle comes and he reads to me then Ralph comes. I put on shoes and coat and go to show with them. Meet girls and they go too. M. R. and I go for hot chocolate. Litsey & Morrow & Fox drink with us. Crackers. Home.

I assume that before she went to the show she changed from her bathrobe!

January 24, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Feel Better - help to clean house. Walk 3 miles with Lewis. Mrs. Fairburn calls. Mr. Drury comes and I take him to Leap Year Ball. HAve a great time engaging dances. Joe Morrow paints and fixes like woman - goes with Marcella. Men come with flowers, etc.

January 23, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Still feel bum. Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Hess come. Mr. Thrift here for dinner. Harold comes to see about Leap Year Ball. tease him. Hear from Mr. Drury whom I'm to take to the ball. Marcella and I take flash lights. Brown comes - has to be sent home.

I'm guessing that the Leap Year ball must be like a "Sadie Hawkins Dance" from my generation where the girl asks the guy. One of these days I'm going to have to do a flow chart of the men in Aunt Flo's life. I'm getting mixed up on who is whom!

January 22, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Up at 12 - Mr. T comes. 10 o'clock breakfast. ill - cold - recline on couch. Mrs. Meachum, Mrs. Carothers, Mrs. Condit and Mrs Gates call. The Leap Year joke increases. Who's the lucky chaps Marcella and I are to take?

I can hardly wait to find out what the leap year joke is!

January 21, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Feel stiff and sore but go to Mrs. Simson's for all day. Splendid dinner. help get it. Play piano-untill 10 o'clock then they bring me home. Found Nell and Brown home. colds - and Green here. Bed at 12 - Leap Year joke.

January 20, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Go for long much over on hill toward Fox with Lewis. 10° below. Saw Mt. McKinley and panorama of Mts. Great. Beautiful colors in sky. Back by initial hill. Marcella has dinner ready hungry yes—bath and bed early. Green comes-but I stay in bed. Nell goes to Esther.

Traveling by dog sled - this photo is captioned: The Pioneer Style of Traveling, Winter 1911. It was taken from my Great Uncle Gus's collection.

January 19, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Made my white serge dickey and embroidered anchor on it. At Heacocks. girls walk go to arcade to dinner with Mr. Lewis – have grouse. Good. Candy - home and find Brown- talk and read till alarm goes off. Have to send B. away.

Grouse/Ptarmign photo from Great Uncle Gus' collection:

January 18, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Mr. Lewis and I walked went to wireless station out on railroad. Mr. T. here for dinner - rabbit. Nell gets it. Ralph comes and we go to Acklins – nice time. Met Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Retire at 2 a.m.

Unrelated photo:

Rabbits must have been a mainstay of many Pioneer menus! This is titled "Belle Stevens returning from her trapline." from the UAF Archives.

January 17, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Up and pile wood before breakfast pancakes. Fix my pink dress - sew at Heacocks. 10° above. Lysle came and staid till an unearthly hour. Wrote odes to salad and Johnny-cake. Pictures on bear rug – bottles.

January 16, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Up at 12 Nell gets breakfast of sourdough hotcakes. I wash dishes, scrub tables, clean up in general–even mop the floor. While cracking nuts, Lewis comes–helps and asks me out to dinner for Friday night. Fox phoned me to go skating declined. Drury and Morrow come to help with "johnny cake" and Morrow salad–good. Flashlights bear rug. picture show wash dishes and talk till 12. Great time-tired.

Original Johnny Cake came about in the South before the Civil War.

These cakes were made from white cornmeal and had no eggs, sugar, or syrup! They were fried on a hot cast iron pan in bacon drippings. The true Johnny cake recipe is nothing more than

White Corn Meal
salt
boiling water
bacon drippings

A more modern recipe:

1 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup white sugar

1 1/3 cups cake flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Grease thoroughly an 8 inch square cake pan.

Combine cornmeal and milk. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir together the egg and milk.

Cream shortening, and blend in sugar.

Stir flour mixture and egg mixture alternately into creamed mixture alternately.

Blend in cornmeal mixture.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve hot, with maple syrup.

January 15, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Finished my tea jacket at Heacocks. Ralph come and I take a walk with him. Kelly comes. Marcella and I make candy and mayonnaise and wash dishes. We kill time. Have pillow fight and poety. set clock 1:18 ahead. Bed as 12–

January 14, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Went to Church. Marcella and I bake and get dinner – Lewis invites us out but too late. Drury and Marrow call–write. Nell goes to picture show with Brown. Lewis and Fox appear on scene. Play "500" Fox and Marcella disagree so Lewis walks with M. and I entertain Fox. Ate pie got even – chocolate when Nell and B. come. Oh-dear the times we have.

January 13, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Up at 10. Brown and wood saw come. Breakfast. Cut out tea jacket sew while Lysle reads. Lewis comes and and we walk out toward Fox –40° below. Met Ralph brought him home with us. Met Mrs. Clark at door. Just leaving. Went over to Heacock's to sew. Came home and got dinner. Mr. Thrift stays 1st time for a long time. Had been sick. Harold comes.

January 12, 1912

Go calling —30°below. Take fencing lesson. Mr. Green comes but goes but Mr. Brown – Marrow and Sheldon come. Nell and Bob popcorn. Lysle and I read Rubaiyat – Marcella and Joe walk. All in. Hot chocolate corn and kisses.

I must say, Great Aunt Flo, take it easy on the men!

The Rubaiyat probably refers to Rubiayat of Omar Khayyam, but apparently it might also be reference to a type of poetry from Persia. Read it here.

January 11, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Awaken by Mrs. Heacock coming over to start our fires at 10:30. Rather tired. Marcella and Ralph walk. Nell–Lewis and I start–but Nell finds it to cold so stops at her father's. Lewis and I continue. Come back and read "Chinytown Ballads." Go to bed early. 45° below.

Chinatown Ballads, by Wallace Irvin, 1906

Available here as a free download

Interesting reading - as I read the first poem, I found myself taking on a rap cadence–very weird!

January 10, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Still cold –28° to 30°. J.B.M. dance. Come for our cushions. Harold-Marcella-Barker and I go together. Great time – very informal. Moonlight dances. flash lights and search light danes. confetti battle. Danced to 4 a.m. Was at Heacocks. blankets and soups.

January 9, 1912

Flo's Diary:

Quite cold but put on my fur and and walk 10 miles with Lewis out Valdez trail. Came back and took fencing lesson -fun. Bot my pink gingham dress and blue stuff for tea jacket. Harold comes. Bed early night gown parade.