Mary Rogers Cabot Book of Dates 1893

Book of Dates (continued)

1893 Grayrock Place Stamford
          Jan 12 GCH [Grace Cabot Holbrook] op.
1893 May 1-13 World's Columbia Expo.
          Caroline Keyes - GCH [Grace Cabot Holbrook], Eliz. L. Cabot & MRC [Mary Rogers Cabot]
1893 Oct GWH [Grace Ware Holbrook] born
          MRC's den - 

© 2013, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Ancestral Chart 3

This chart continues from Grace Ware Holbrook Ancestral Chart 1. This chart begins with Sarah Knowlton b. 2 May 1767. Surnames on this chart include: Goodhue, Holland, Howe, Knowlton, Park, Pitts, and Watson. Note at the top of the page indicates she copied this information from E.M.H.A. or Emerline Mason (Holbrook) Armstrong who was Grace Ware's aunt.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 17

 [This is the last entry in the journal]

July 13th [1918] On Monday July 8th camp opened. the first girls to arrive were those from South Vernon and Guilford who were met in Brattleboro & brought here by Cook & Brown. Last year's girls are: Helen Hughes, Gladys Brown, Hattie Johnson, Gertrude Johnson, Irene Fairman and Julia Fairman; and the new girls are Grace Johnson, Winnifred Mead & Virgie Goodnow. They were here for lunch, and in the afternoon settled down in their tents. Elizabeth gathered them together to start stoves while peas were being shelled.
     Other girls who arrived in the afternoon were Mildred Taft, Dora Clark & Bernice Dodge from West Dummerston; and Clara Fisher, Florence Merrill, Hazel Fox from West Brattleboro; and Marion Laughton from Dummerston.
     The old girls were delighted with the camp site and by supper time many said they knew camp was going to be even better fun than last years. the atmosphere was quite cheerful and the songs about the camp fire went very well - in spite of the cool evening. the beds were all pinned in by Sarah to insure no air spaces after getting into bed for the night.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 16

June 12th [1918] Heavy rain & thunderstorm through the morning & afternoon. Wrote letters, walked with the Dabneys & Miss Lubovitsky.


June 13th [1918] Cold & overcast in the morning, when all but Miss Lubovitsky, Miss Kehl & I went off to Cornish [?] for the day. I saw Miss Wellman, & we all did errands in the village till lunch time.
     We napped, wrote letters, typewrote & played the piano in the afternoon. Later, it cleared off finely, & the afterglow was beautiful - At twilight a bright new moon shone through the clouds over the tree tops over our hill.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 15

June 11th [1918] - clear
     Michael left for New York and Mrs. Delano, Miss Kehl & I saw him off at the station. After the errands were done, we went across the river to get mountain laurel, and found quantities, although much had already been picked.
     In a beautiful grove, I found maiden hair fern in great clumps, and gathered a small amount of it.
     Mrs. Delano was absorbed in the Boston American headlines, while Miss Kehl & I joined forces on the laurel hunt.
     The others motored, & I wrote letters etc.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 14

June 10th 1918 Overcast & cold.
     In the morning I met Miss Eddy to talk over prospects of camp.
     We had a picnic lunch at Upper Dutton Farm, & it was great fun getting it ready in spite of excitements not being prepared for it. The planked [?] shad was fine, & all enjoyed the lunch. the Misses Dabney & Miss Lubovitsky walked up the hill, & later Miss Kehl, Michael & I walked home. We went to call on Mrs Miles who was out, & then saw Aunt Molly, as Michael wished to say goodbye to her.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 13

June 9th - Sunday [1918]
      We climbed Skyrocket in the morning - Miss Lubovitsky, Michael, Cabot & I, and found quantities of strawberries on the hill. We discussed growing things in general and enjoyed ourselves very much. 
      Michael received from Miss Follett a letter on democracy which stirred everyone, especially him, by the general attitude with which it was received as much as anything else. We played tennis a little, after Cabot had departed & the letter was read aloud to all by mother, leaving them to discuss matters by themselves.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 12

June 8th [1918]
      Yesterday it rained hard, & later in the day it cleared & grew colder. We remained here through the day doing various bits of housework.
     Today Miss Lubovitsky & I drove with Edwards to Brattleboro & stayed to lunch with Aunt Molly. Mr Moffitt met me & we went over the lists for camp candidates.
     Mother & Michael arrived later, with the Dabneys & Cabot in time for afternoon tea. Michael handed He was most excited over his Boston visit & with all that happened there - The Barrys dined with them, also Sarah Bradley & Miss West. Then Michael went to see Gerard's pictures, shopped with Cook, had tea with the Bradleys etc. We played tennis before dinner for a short time - and danced for the benefit of with several spectators about. presented me a huge box of candy with remarks that it was "so very small".

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Ancestral Chart 2

This chart continues from Grace Ware Holbrook Ancestral Chart 1. This chart begins with John Holbrook b. July 10, 1761. Surnames on this chart include: Holbrook, Turner, Hunt, Lane, Hersey, Bradford, Rogers, Richards, Pabodie.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Ancestral Chart 1

Here is an ancestral chart that was filled out by my grandmother, Grace Ware Holbrook. Lots of information here that I need to document and source. These old charts are some of my favorite genealogy notes that were handed down by my grandmother. Surnames on this chart include: Holbrook, Goodhue, Knowlton, Edwards, Nourse, Mason, Parker, Ware, Cabot, Rogers, Sabin, Mayes, Brooks, Forman, Tufts, Wyckoff

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Amanuensis Monday - Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 11

June 6th [1918]
     Mother & Michael went early in the car on their way to Boston for two or three days stay. They planned to stop at Camp Devens to see Cabot on the way down. Later, I took the car down to the repair shop - as the shaft & bearing were broken. At the Episcopal Parish House there was a meeting of Public Health workers of the County, to discuss the possibilities of cooperating & organizing with the Red Cross, for a larger field of work & workers. Miss Mary Gardner spoke then & also in the afternoon - in an appeal for the public health work. Miss van Patten & Miss Wakefield gave outlines of their work among others, & all was well & clearly expressed.
     I met Mr. Moffit to talk over plans for camp etc - & made beginnings at least toward a settlement of ideas.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 10

June 5th [1918]
     Miss Lubovitsky, Michael & I went to the village for various errands - while I was at Mrs Cavanaugh for a shampoo, Miss Lubovitsky & Michael were at Hanrahans [?] looking at dresses, etc.We reached home just in time for lunch - Michael drove for the second time and did very well, and Miss Lubovitsky said nothing to distract attention, inspite of its being a trial lesson.
      Miss Lubovitsky's dresses were tried on in the afternoon, with remarks from all as to their suitability. Later, Michael and I played tennis for a short time before going to meet Mr. Barrows and Mr. Merrill. On the way down, while Michael drove the car, the thrust bearing of the gears broke and we had to leave the car at Mosher's Garage, & join the others in their car to go up the West River. Michael talked of Russian customs, court occasions, friends, home and many other things, while we sat in the back of the car. Mr. Merrill's farm was beyond Staubbach Falls - past isolated farms and gateways - in fact at the end of the roadway. The country is very wild and beautiful about there and quite fascinating. The time passed rapidly & as the farm is about nine miles from Brattleboro, it took some much longer than I supposed it would. We had at 9.30 dinner, and the others had only just finished as they waited a long time for us.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - Post 9

June 4th [1918]
     The Maydells left at seven o'clock for New York, and all but Miss Lubovistky arose to breakfast with them and to see them off at the station.
     Later in the morning Miss Kehl, Michael and I went to the village in the Franklin to do errands and call on Aunt Molly. Michael drove the car for the first time on the way home, and poor Miss Kehl did not enjoy the strain of watching the process.
     Michael & I went to walk, by Robbins Farm to the Black Mountain Road and back through Dummerston. We talked of many things - of Russia, America, traveling, families and friends. At the end we were more congenial - having more in common than before.
     In the afternoon and evening it rained a little, and grew very cool at night.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal - Post 8

[Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry]
June 3rd Brattleboro
     A wonderful June day, deliciously cool and most enjoyable. After breakfast was over Mr. Gerebsoff & I prepared to play tennis in an impromptu fashion. Impromptu because of the court not being in condition, and the net, rackets  & balls all of a secondary nature. We played three sets, all of them 6 - 1 games sets. By that time it was almost already the lunch hour. Mr. Grinnell & a Mrs. Davis from Jaffrey lunched with us - also Aunt Molly drove up with her horse.
     Miss Kehl, Mr. Gerebsoff & I acted as waitresses & waiter for the others and all went most expeditiously. It was amusing - as we wore caps & aprons, and Mr. Gerebsoff wore the Turkish cap. Afterward Baron Maydell waited on us in a truly dignified fashion, without so much as a smile, like as a butler would. 
     Cook arrived in the afternoon from Boston, having left Cabot and Way Sung at their respective domiciles. We went to drive in the touring car to see Dutton Farm, and went on through the Black Mountain Road to Dummerston and Putney.
     We all walked a little in the evening & then Mr. Gerebsoff & I danced. We tried the Maxixe & tango, and Russian dances - for a short time - to the disappointing Edison records which skipped back & repeated continuously.
     Mr. Gerebsoff talked of Russia and of his family and showed me his mother's picture, & we discussed various subjects.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Haskell Journal Entry - Post 7

[Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - note: I have changed the title of this series of posts from Green Mountain Camp to Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry because, the entries are no longer just about the Green Mountain Camp]

February 4th. New York.
     After breaking up camp amidst very hot weather we all returned to our homes for a rest from the past two weeks' activities. At the end of the week, Elsa Coolidge came to stay for a few days - Cabot & Wistar spent the weekend in close company, & Wistar remained through the week.
     We visited with the Bradleys, motored to West Dover over the hills toward Wilmington & all underwent massage treatment.
     Wistar drove us in the Franklin to Squam Lake to visit the Coolidges. The car was loaded as usual after being out only a short time on the Putney Road snap went an iron brace under the back axle! We went on nevertheless & without other mishap reached the Lake in very good season. The Coolidge camp is most interesting - being very simple & even rough, but most comfortable & attractive. The family were cordial & always active - & one could not help but join into it all. It was a wonderful visit - one to be remembered always for its many associations.
     The trip home was all that could be wished for & the Bradleys & I had discussions on many subjects all the way.
     At the end of the August after long expectations - father arrived from Russia & remained a week before going on to other affairs. The trunks were filled with beautiful things - among them, rugs, 3 samovars, Swedish knives & silver, embroideries, etc.
     Mrs. Delano, Margaret Goodhue & Wai Tsu departed at this time, so as Cabot had already joined the Plattsburgh Training Camp, our household dwindled for a time.
     Wai Tsu returned however from the Chinese Conference at Providence, bringing Dr. Kwank to whom she announced her engagement! He appeared as a dignified young person with fine charming manners, & very agreeable & interested in everything. He is very slight - good looking - & aristocratic in his bearing.
     At this time it was decided to have a festival of Four Nations at Naulahka - the principal countries & many others being represented in costume - Russia, China, Mexico & Turkestan - American Indians, Serbia, Portugal, Japan, Greece, & Old Fashioned American Costumes.
     Miss Lesley remained with us after the c___ roast for the South Pond Camp girls - & taught a number of us dances to perform on the croquet lawn during an interval of the Fete. The girls who came to take part in the dances were the Eldredge twins, Sally Osborne, Polly Cabot & Joe Smith's daughter who joined the rest of us - the Bradleys, Alice Finlay & I.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Green Mountain Camp - Post 6

[Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry regarding Green Mountain Camp]

[January 3, 1918 - Boston, Mass continued]
     That night we arrived at camp rather late - that is, after eight and the five or six girls with me helped with the express cart & its load bound for camp. The darkness was great, and we had one lantern between us to light our way over boulders and through mud holes. The load was extremely heavy, and difficult, as the handle was not at all stable. Two or three of us finally pulled off our shoes & stockings, to make it more comfortable walking through the puddles! Finally the cart was left in the road for the next party to deal with. 
     Arrived at camp all were hungry as bears - for it was after nine then & we commenced a fire. Suddenly we bethought ourselves of the possibility of another party without a light. Back we trudged, but were home again as soon as possible to partake of delicious scrambled eggs & bread & butter.
     Other motor trips & picnics included: Sunset Lake (North Pond) on a Sunday afternoon to avoid general homesickness, when families visited a favored few; a supper party at the Bradley's house, where a last first aid class was given, & final examination taken of each girl by Dr. Burnett.
     On cool evenings we enjoyed sitting about a camp fire, telling stories & playing games - such as drop the handkerchief, Roman Soldiers, etc. One warm evening, a large number played base ball with Mr. Moffit as the [illegible] sport.
     One evening a big thunderstorm kept most of us inside - and then games kept the girls occupied. At frequent intervals, and nearly every day a storm came up at some time. Practically every trip was interrupted by a sudden shower.
     On our last evening, after the Bradley's party, the night was warm & very clear with a beautiful new moon shining over the water. We sat together in the full enjoyment of the scene & sang songs. Every girl felt the spell of the evening, and must have had a realization of our intimacy and all that it meant in the camp life. Some particularly had found companionship undreamed of & a phase of broader vision on life than heretofore had touched them.
     It was with great preparation and bustle that camp broke up the next morning and at the same time with a sensibility of true friendship between us all.

Green Mountain Camp - Health Talk

[end of journal entry for 1917 camp season]

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Green Mountain Camp - Post 5

[Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry regarding Green Mountain Camp]

[January 3, 1918 - Boston, Mass continued]
     Dinner came at 12:30, and then a rest hour a burdensome ruling to many, especially if there were not letters to be written. However it was a relief all around; and at the first, when the morning exercises, girl scout drill (given by Sarah Bradley) milk duty swimming etc were new to all they were truly in need of rest for a change from the general excitements. The novelty of course wore off, and first aid classes in hot weather did not tend to contrast sufficiently the dulness [sic] of lecturing and quite hour! 
     Sometimes the rest hour was shortened or early enough to allow for an auto trip or walk when we carried suppers with us. Our first excursion proved a lesson in that it was lacking in excitement other than mosquitoes and midges galore. The whole picnic hardly occupied over an hour, for we went and returned from the short wood walk, eating our supper frugally all around.
     Our most enjoyable expeditions were by motor, & there was general excitement in the air to where we were going & what might happen. One of the most successful afternoon trips was to Brattleboro when all were given a treat by Miss Lesley to ice-cream, and afterward drove to Naulahka to see mother. The children went about the garden etc, and two or three of us played the piano. "Granny" recited the poem she made up about the camp & one about "Granny's teapot". It happened that she went about with Miss Lesley to look at everything and in remarking the regularity of the garden from the outdoor sleeping porch, stated: "It might have been laid out with a yard stick."
     We went on after this in spite of thunderstorms & auto troubles (in Mr. Moffitt's Ford) to the heights of the McVeagh Farm with Margaret Goodhue, added to our party, escorting us.

Green Mountain Camp Girls at Naulahka Terrace

[to be continued...]

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Green Mountain Camp - Post 4

[Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry regarding Green Mountain Camp]

[January 3, 1918 - Boston, Mass continued]
     A short service was held with reading and singing etc; then the daily duties began. Those who were appointed to be milk girls, went with an escort to the entrance of the road and returned bringing the large can of milk in the cart. This proved to be an arduous duty, as the wood road was very rough with stones and boulders and mud holes scattered along the way quite frequently. It generally took an hour's time, and the girls took turns pushing and pulling the express cart. this cart underwent several misfortunes, and all the expense of a little down-hill coast I attempted one day when I was outward bound for supplies! While the girls were on milk duty, two others pumped our daily supply of water by the force pump, into our barrels at the kitchen. This, in the hotest [sic] weather also proved to be an arduous duty; although it may have been just those occupations etc which kept us fairly contented on the whole.
     Hot weather we certainly had - and everything was affected by the high temperature - even the pond - so there was no escaping it. On the hotest [sic] days of all - & luckily for them Miss Lesley and Miss Sutherland were safely away - we had our canning demonstrations given by the state college county worker. It went off marvellously [sic] well, considering the hot situation of our fly where the lecture was given, and the out-door brick stove on which the cooking was done.
     Every morning about eleven o'clock came the daily swim on our little beach - and away rushed the girls with the greatest of glee from any classes or employment which might be on foot to get as long a swim as possible before dinner. If by any chance the regular time was changed, the girls would surely ask when they could get it later on.  On the last day, the swim had to be before breakfast - for they had seen us go off each morning early to take a dip, but had not had the experience themselves.

Green Mountain Camp - Swimming

to be continued...

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Green Mountain Camp - Post 1

In 1917 my grandmother, Grace Ware Holbrook along with Mrs. Sarah Bradley Gamble decided to start a camp for rural girls - Green Mountain Camp in Dummerston, Vermont. The first session in July 1917 was held in Marlboro, Vermont at South Pond and twelve girls enrolled for two weeks. In 1919 the camp moved to its present location on the West River (Loomis, Alice Crosby and Manix, Frances Walker, Editors, Dummerston, An 'Equivalent Lands' Town 1753 - 1986, p. 49, printed and binding by BookCrafters, Chelsea, Michigan. 1990).

My grandmother left a diary that describes starting the camp and the first few years. Her first entry is dated January 3, 1918. I will transcribe her entry in a series of posts.

January 3, 1918 - Boston, Mass.
     Last summer in July our camp was so successfull [sic] that I must tell about it from the beginning. In the spring the Bradleys came in to see us to tell of their plan of a camp for farmer's daughters in the neighborhood of Brattleboro. It was a feasible plan enough, provided there was a leader; Miss Olive Lesley, a Girl Scout leader advised us and offered to help in organizing forces with the result that she came to the camp itself as an adviser.
     We discussed the project in Brattleboro with the school supervisor, and decided upon the district south and southwest of the town as being the best ground to cover. The girls recommended by the supervisor of the towns of Vernon, Guilford, Green River, Grove, West Halifax, and Marlboro were candidates this time, and in the event of a successful camp, a larger group might gather for another year.
      First we visited the schools and talked with the teachers and the girls suggested - who were of uniform age - twelve to sixteen years. All were enthusiastic, and it remained only to convince the mothers and fathers of the plan in all its phases; and in time we visited all every the homes finding all the girls eager [to] join us.
     At South Pond on Ames Hill we collaborated with the Boy Scouts in fitting out the camp, and repairing the cottage, barn, and kitchen. The situation was ideal, that is - we were far from the inquisitive crowds, by being on Ames Hill - about eight miles from Brattleboro, and over a mile from the main road. This entrance road is rough, and apt to be very muddy as we found to our surprize [sic], even in midsummer. The woods are rather dense, of about thirty years growth and of great variety and interest. On approaching the pond along the road, the growth changes to grey birches with here and there beautiful white paper birches and evergreen trees.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell