Diaries 1914-1936, Arthur Sidwell
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Arthur Sidwell’s 1914 – 1936 Diaries Introduction These are the first twenty of Arthur’s pocket diaries. There’s a long gap between them and the ones for 1948 – 1960 and this is already a long document so I’ll type the later diaries into a separate document. The entries are very brief but they give a good sense of his personality and what his life was like. They’re also a good source of dates, which I’ve used to update “The Sidwell Family” document. I made a summary at the start of each year to highlight noteworthy things and questions. I’ll make an overall summary of Arthur and Ethel’s life in the next version but this just has a copy of the note for each year with no editing. Notes: The names of people and places are often difficult to read and I’m sure I got some wrong. [addition by me] Many of the entries include the note “(extra)”, which means he wrote more about that day in a journal that has not survived. “61” is 61 Napier Street, Nelson, where Ethel’s family lived [1905 postcard to Ethel] “67” is the number of the house where John Henry & Sarah Jane Whalley lived in Nelson. Version 1.0 – Mar 3rd, 2005 Page 1 Arthur Sidwell’s 1914 – 1936 Diaries Summary of Arthur’s Life 1914 Arthur’s 23rd birthday was in 1914. He was working days in the cotton mills and evenings at the Palace, a live entertainment venue. He rarely mentions the mill but it’s evident he worked at the Palace so he could see the shows not just for extra money. Arthur attended evening classes for many years, the first of which was by Mr. Pope who is first mentioned Apr 16. That was a writing class (expression of thought, not handwriting). On Dec 15 he was writing a recitation, “Arsenal at Springfield” that he performed at the C.H.A [Cooperative Holidays Association] annual event on the 19th. In Akron he took classes in French and accountancy. Where was Whalley living at this time? Leonard told me he barely knew Whalley when he went to live with Whalley and Edith after they married. 1915 Fred and Jennie were married on Mar 27. Arthur set sail for America on Sep 2, landed in Boston on the 12th, left for Akron on the 16th, arrived late on Fri the 17th and applied for work at Goodich on Mon 20th. Tom and Flora Varley, Harry Varley and Archie Wood were already in Akron, Ohio. Tom and Flora moved to the Boston area and Harry moved to Port Washington, Long Island in mid- November. Arthur visited them both several times in later years. Is the Frank mentioned on Aug 29 John Henry’s brother? Was Harriette his sister? Was Milton Blackburn mentioned Sep 1 brother of Leonard’s mother Florrie? 1916 This one is missing. 1917 Arthur was renting a room at 371 Rhodes Avenue, Akron, Ohio from Mrs. J. Deis (sp?). When Fred & Ada Singleton came over from Nelson, Arthur found them rooms just up the street at 386 Rhodes Avenue. Ada was one of the sisters of Florrie Blackburn, who was Whalley’s first wife and Leonard’s mother. Arthur goes to a Theospohy class on Jan 6 so he must have meet the Read’s the previous year. He joined the Theosophical Society Jun 1st. On Sep 5th he was elected to give a talk on prayer at the next meeting. On Nov 21st he acted as President for the first time. On Dec 19th he acted as Secretary and served in that capacity for several years. Version 1.0 – Mar 3rd, 2005 Page 2 Arthur Sidwell’s 1914 – 1936 Diaries Fred Singleton’s letter arrives Mr 26 saying he decided to come to Akron. He arrived Apr 26th. Ada joined him on May 31st. Who is Cousin Alice mentioned Jan 30? 1918 Freddy Singleton was born to Fred and Ada on Mar 27th. On May 13th Arthur had a draft examination. I don’t know why but he was not in fact drafted. On May 27th Arthur typed his marriage proposal to Ethel and mailed it the next day. Ethel arrived in Akron on Dec 21st two days after Arthur was stricken with the flu. They were married on Jan 11th. Germany surrendered on Oct 13th and Rennie’s letter about going to France arrived the following day. Rennie was in France before Nov 14th because Arthur wrote to him there that day. How long was Rennie in France? 1919 Arthur and Ethel were married on Jan 11th. Ethel’s first singing engagement was on Jan 29th and she sang frequently after that. She earned her first fee on Mar 7th. Ethel was not favorably impressed by her first Theosophy Society meeting on Jan 23rd, was disappointed by the lack of interest in good music shown by Arthur’s friends on Feb 7th and was homesick on Feb 13th and again on Jul 9th, the day they learned Ada Singleton was going back to Nelson to visit. Arthur and Ethel were both feeling blue on May 9th and 10th and Arthur says the 10th was the “worst night I ever spent”. Ethel was “still rather antagonistic to the Theosphical Society” on Jun 26th. After living in rooms they bought a piano and rented into their first house on Nov 1st. On Nov 13th they arranged a “roomer” whose payments would help them pay the rent. On Mar 24th 1920 Ethel went to the Theosophical Society meeting on her own while Arthur was home studying his accountancy couse. On Jul 9th Ada Singleton decided to go back to Nelson for a visit, to show young Freddy to her friends and relatives no doubt. She left for England on Aug 24th. Madge – was “Mrs Ferris lecture on dress” on Feb 18th the bad experience you told me Ethel had? Is the Harry Blackburn who comes on Dec 13th a relative of Leonard’s mother Florrie and her sister Ada? Version 1.0 – Mar 3rd, 2005 Page 3 Arthur Sidwell’s 1914 – 1936 Diaries 1920 Fred & Jennie Sidwell’s only child, Thelma, was born in January. On Mar 1st Arthur and Ethel get their third roomer. I wonder if it was stressful having three lodgers. In June Rennie wrote to Arthur about coming to Akron. On July 21, Ada Singleton returns from her trip to Nelson. She left on August 24th, eleven months earlier. On Jul 25th Arthur writes that “Ada realizes she's not ALL IT” – which I guess means she was behaving as if the world revolved round her? The first deduction from Arthur’s paycheck to buy Goodrich stock was on Jul 31st. He doesn’t mention it again – I hope he didn’t have to much invested in it at the time of the Wall Street Crash. Oct 19 Arthur & Ethel Sidwell’s only child Richard (“Dicky”) was born. 1921 Starting on Jul 8th there are no entries for a month and when they restart on Aug 6th Ethel is in England. They had been out to Sawyerwood bathing with “the Nelsonians” on Sat Jul 2nd and met “lots of English folks” there on Jul 4th so perhaps that brought Ethel’s persistent homesickness to a head. The entries after Arthur resumes the diary are much the same as usual except that on Sun Aug 21st he is “VERY blue”. The Sep 6th entry is, ‘E's "confession" letter wanting to come back. ... Turbulent thoughts.’ He never says why Ethel left. Richard thought it was simply homesickness. On Sep 19 two letters arrive - Ethel is; ‘Ready for return when I can get away from work.’ The Oct 14 entry includes; ‘Good letter from E. Says will be citizens.’ On Nov 8th Arthur sets off for England and lands at Liverpool on Nov 20th where he’s met by Rennie & Jim. Arthur, Ethel & Dick start back for Akron on Jan 11th, 1922. It seems Rennie was living in Barnoldswick at this time, a weaving town on the border of Lancs and Yorkshire – the entry for Nov 30th is, “Start early for Barnoldswick. Arrive in time for dinner. Go in mill with Rennie. Home 3-o'clock. Stay in playing cards. Nice time. Stay overnight. Walk back.” It’s possible this was Rennie Leeper, though? Who lived at “55” (see Nov 20 and others)? Ethel’s mother? Was brother Rennie living in Barnoldswick? 1922 On Feb 8th Ada Singleton “leaves for Ohio & Salt Lake”. Leonard wrote that her sister Mathilda lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, so presumably she was already there at this time. On Aug 1st Fred goes to Salt Lake. On Sep 8th Arthur “writes to Singletons”. Arthur and Ethel had spent a lot of time with Fred and Ada and there’s no further mention of them so I assume they didn’t return to Ohio. Version 1.0 – Mar 3rd, 2005 Page 4 Arthur Sidwell’s 1914 – 1936 Diaries On Jun 6th Whalley’s letter arrives “proposing Australia via Akron”. I imagine Edith’s family was already in Australia by this time and Edith wanted to be near them. Whalley arrives in Akron on Oct 8th, Ethel & Leonard a week later. Whalley started work at Goodrich on Oct 11th. Why didn’t Whalley, Edith and Leonard go on to Australia? Who was the Chas who is first mentioned May 1st and who came to Richard’s 2nd birthday party on Oct 21st? Leonard went for a ride with him on Dec 2nd.