December 1901

On the national front, the last quarter of 1901 celebrates American innovation and forward progress under the leadership of Teddy Roosevelt, who delivers the First Annual Message to Congress on December 3, 1901. Also in this December, the Postmaster General allowed postcards to be labeled as such, rather than as a “private mailing card.” Years later, on March 1, 1907, the back of a picture post card would be “officially” allowed to include information in addition to the delivery address — handwritten notes to the addressee.

In northwest Ohio that year, the weather turned brutally cold around the 15th of December. The “Ohio Mega Cold Front” of December 1901 is widely documented as a cold snap of record-breaking proportions. Mayme’s father, at 53 years old, was severely affected by the weather – Mayme has a few entries regarding his rheumatism and how it affected him.

In other Ohio news this year, Cleveland architect John Eisenmann designed the Ohio “burgee” flag in 1901, and it first flew at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. At that event, it flew above the Ohio Building, which Eisenmann also designed. His design of the Ohio flag was adopted in 1902 and is still used today.

Middleburg High School life continues to be the center of Mayme’s social scene – she rarely missed a day of school. She and her friends find humor in the classic algebraic word problems (“a man starts from Q to P…” and “a coconut in my algebra“). In a year’s worth of entries, never once does Mayme complain about the challenges of math. She seems to handle all of her coursework with ease.

The MHS 1901 school play, which is a fundraiser for their treasury, is Louva, the Pauper (published in 1878), a five-act American drama written by Thomas Stewart Denison. Described as an inspiring “rags-to-riches” story, the plot centers on an orphan named Louva who is adopted by a wealthy family in the American South and must learn to navigate high society while staying true to her origins. It’s a full-length play with a cast of nine male and four female actors and takes approximately two hours to perform.

George Curl’s position as her frequent escort home remains solid and she continues to write monthly letters to the mysterious “Jim”.

The entries for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day do not disappoint. Mayme provides a charming glimpse of confections, mincemeat pie, musical events and gift giving with her friends and loved ones.

Editor’s note: Volume II – Mayme’s 1902 Diary — will begin installments in January 2026.

1. I went to Sunday School, then went to Sharp’s for dinner. Alphas were there, and Mr. and Mrs. Emerson. Went to Sunday School in the afternoon – it is “Ohio Day.” We got apples, came home, then went back to Endeavor at night and took part in the Protracted Meeting, which commenced by a prayer meeting. Came home with George Curl.
2. At school, rainy. Went to practice up in the Odd Fellows Hall, it was a good time. Came home with George Curl.
3. At school, it was rather dry outside. Took Lean’s yeast to her coconut in my algebra. I went after the mail at night but no one was in the Post Office but me.
4. At school. Harry Rea left school. I went to practice at night and came home with George Curl.
5. At school. At night, I went up to see my velvet – it was spoilt [poor care]. Went down after Anna and we went to Church. Came home all alone.
6. At school, I went up and picked out my hat – it was blue velvet. The school room filled with smoke. Teacher was pretty cranky. Livia Curl, Fanny Inskeep and Grandma McWade came by school to visit. Anna and Hazel came after me and we went down to Inskeep’s after a skirt for Hazel. Mama and Papa went to Eyler’s and I went to practice at night. We dressed in our costumes. Came home with George Curl.
7. I washed dishes and dusted, then Mamma and I went up to get our hats. We girls went up to where they were fixing the Odd Fellows Hall. I got my glasses straightened. Field and Lewis Carpenter were here for supper. I went to practice at night and came home with George Curl.
8. Rainy. I went to Sunday School and Church and then to Endeavor in the afternoon. I wore my new blue hat for the first time. Anna came home with me for supper and we went to Endeavor at night. I came home all by myself, George was held by the Freemans and Auckmans. I don’t know why, just because it was rainy. Forest Wintrode [son of Wintrode, Phebe J., 28 Sep 1844-23 Nov 1895] took Anna home for the first time.
9. At school, it rained all day. I went to practice; Hazel and Fern met me at the gate – Oran was not there. Came home with George Curl.
10. At school – there was snow on the ground today. I took my dinner and the teacher gave me a scolding. I told on Arthur Inskeep. I didn’t go anywhere at night; I wrote a letter to Jim. Mamma made new towels.
11. At school. I tried on my old rose waist. I got a tablet, envelopes, and pencils. I talked for a minute to Clarence Heath, then went to practice at night. Mrs. Kurtz and Mrs. Marquis were there. I came home with George Curl.
12. At school. Anna went to Bellefontaine after her wrap. Nell, Tell, Jesse and Pauline all missed school in the afternoon. Ota went out to Hazel Painters to stay all night. I did not get anywhere at night. I wrote to Ada Smith and got an invitation to spend the 19th at Mrs. Carpenter’s. Editor’s note: See entry for the 19th.
13. At school. It’s awfully windy outside. Practiced at night. Harry Ford was not there but the band was there. There was a lottery uptown. I came home with George Curl.
14. I worked in the afternoon and made myself an old rose collar. I went up to the hall for our last practice. Everybody got mad so I came home and got my supper. After I went back and there were no girls there so I went down to Anna’s. She and George Heath had just started. We went down to the hall and dressed for our play, “Louva the Pauper.” We took in $19.45. Anna and I had valises but did not carry them. Came home with George Curl.
15. Went to Sunday School. Anna’s little finger is pretty badly swelled. Went to Disciple for church – I nearly had a fit when George and Forest came in! I went to Sunday School in the afternoon and then down to Anna’s for supper and then up to church at night. Today was the coldest day we’ve had. I came home with George Curl.
16. At school. Another awful cold day – I had a chance to go skating. We butchered and then I went uptown twice at night. Alpha Broderick started school. I got a new pair of overshoes. I went back after the mail and tried to pay for the Dispatch but did not.
17. At school. The awful cold is making Pa’s rheumatism worse. The teacher was rather cross today. I went up to Mrs. Jane Marquis’s and took her sunbonnet home. I went after the mail and waited in front, in the chair.
18. At school. We nearly froze to death until recess. The boys are all lame from skating. I went up to Frank Pettit’s to get him to try our lard. I got in some wood. At night, mamma and I went after the mail and got a lamp. I saw Anna for a few minutes.
19. At school, the stove smoked awful bad. We had an examination on “Never to Part.” We all sat by ourselves. Mr. and Mrs. Field Carpenter celebrated their 25th anniversary but we could not go because Papa had rheumatism. I went up after the mail but it had not come yet. I went to Anna’s – Austin Heath was there (“a man starts from Q to P” – this seems to be a math problem the students found funny). We all went back after the mail; I brought Watt home with me to take a lamp out to Carpenter’s. Pretty cold.
20. At school. Someone was pretty cross! Fred Shellenbarger visited the school. We gave Mr. Kurtz a a shaving set with a bottle of perfume for Christmas. I went to Anna’s in the evening. Mrs. Jim Teets, Hazel and Em were there. I went up after the mail – Hearth and Home came today.
21. Worked hard all morning. I took my shoes up to Loveland’s to get them fixed. I tried to get sassafras – they sent to Lewisburg for it. Mamma churned butter and shelled corn. I went uptown and got some ribbon to send for Christmas. I sent Jim and Bertie cuff buttons and a brooch. The elocutionist was here but I did not go. Oll Marquis and his wife Jane and Jane’s cousin, Fay Pool were here. Can’t fool us any longer. I went up after the mail and came home with George Curl.
22. Went to Sunday School, Church, then the post office with Ota to mail a letter. Field and Nett Carpenter, Watt, Nell, and Tell were here for dinner. Bertha and Anna came up so we all went to Sunday School. Anna came home with us for supper. I went to Endeavor – “Jake” got rather warm. I came home with George Curl. It was just a little bit windy.
23. I washed dishes, shelled corn, and mamma washed. Pa went to East Liberty. I swept and went after the mail and got Indian linen. Anna came up and we went down after the mail. Started up one street and saw George Curl across the street – it was rather funny. Turned the corner and saw a fellow courting his “best girl.” We started down another street and a man passed us. I said “Hello there” and he said “Good Morning.” We thought we had made enough breaks so I went home alone.
24. Shelled corn and helped put out the washing. I went after the mail and got sugar, mince meat and lamp wicks. It’s Christmas Eve. I went down to Anna’s and we went to the cantata “Christmas with the Pixies.” It was very good. I helped pass presents – George Curl got a nice album for me. Charley Tallman’s farm is inhabited. I came home with George and found two hatpins and two bottles of perfume, a handkerchief and some candy when I got there. Anna went home from the Christmas tree alone – Forest disappeared. I went to bed at half past ten.
25. Christmas Day. I went up after the mail and found a letter from Cecil! Anna came up in the afternoon and Grandpa McWade treated Anna at night and myself in the afternoon. We went after the mail at night. A hypnotist gave a show in the hall. I came home all alone.
26. Washed dishes, shelled corn, worked on my white ruffle for my cushion. Charley Curl was here selling soap. Pa went uptown for the first time in quite a while. I went after the mail at night all by myself – I did not see any girls.
27. I went to Bellefontaine and got my golf cape, two waists, a pompadour comb and I tried to get my picture taken but did not. I got a bed spread. Went down to Anna’s at night. Some of the large girls were there for supper. Austin came and we went after the mail. The Dispatch was not in the box so I had to find it. Anna brought me partway home.
28. I ironed, dusted, and went uptown after dinner. I met Jesse – she came up home with me. We went down to Anna’s and practiced once more for our play, “Louva the Pauper.” We waited on Hazel. Port Burke came down. I came home with George Curl.
29. I went to Sunday School, then Disciple for Church. Georgia and Myrtle Stokes joined church today. I went to Sunday School in the afternoon. Ota, Anna, Hazel and myself took a ride in Losey’s rig. Went to to Anna’s for supper. Met Miss Margaret Spencer. George Heath went by; we talked to him out to the gate. I went to Endeavor – Sylvia West led – “New Year’s Resolutions” I came home with George Curl and wore my golf cape for the first time.
30. I went to school – the teacher left and George Curl taught. Lewis Teets visited. I found out we could not go to Raymond, Ohio. The new library books arrived. I read, studied at night and went after the mail. I stopped for Hazel and then came home and read.
31. At school again. It was rather smokey and the teacher was pretty cranky. Miss Piersal visited the school; I brought home a new book, “By the Waters of Sicily.” I went down to Anna’s in the evening and waited for the mail. Mr. Curl told me our new couch had come. I came home all alone. I woke at Midnight and heard the bell ringing in the new year – 1902.

This now ends my diary for the year of 1901. Written by Mayme G. Wilbur, Middleburg, Logan County, Ohio. Ages 15-16

• Oct. 3, 1901 – at Bellefontaine Fair. George Curl.
• Oct. 31, 1901 – Party at Aspinwall’s
• Nov. 9, 1901 – Pauline Davis’s party
• Dec. 14, 1901 – “Louva the Pauper”

About the author: Mary “Mayme” Wilbur was born on October 9, 1885, in Union County, Ohio. Her father, Zachary T. Wilber, was 37 and mother, Adelaide Allen, was 38. Mayme was their second child; their firstborn, a son, passed in infancy. Mayme married Chester O. Teets on February 24, 1918 and the two lived their days in Middleburg and Zane Township, Ohio. She died in 1954, in Middleburg at the age of 69. Chester passed the following year, at the age of 67.