Part 1 of 2
There is a room in the Preservation Barn of the Salmon Brook Historical Society (SBHS) that might be well considered the “heart of Granby history.” Herein is found the curator’s desk; a long wooden worktable, domain of the archivist but shared with many; row upon row of file cabinets chock-a-block full of Granby history and research materials, and the copier and pencil sharpener. This space also serves as an art gallery for what many believe to be among the most prized acquisitions of the society: 18 paintings by Granby’s renowned artist, Aaron Draper Shattuck (1832-1928).
A less conspicuous item in the room is a small glass-topped table just inside the door. Beneath the lid of this table rests a diary written by William Shattuck, one of Aaron Shattuck’s six children. William Shattuck (1864–1946) was between 71 and 74 years old at the time he kept this diary that covers the dates of May 5, 1936, through October 13, 1939. It contains nearly 1,260 entries.
Shattuck records day-to-day occurrences in easily-read cursive and a conversational tone. He often uses abbreviations for names, such as “J” for Jessie or “Geo.” for George, and these have been left as is in the selections. Each day’s entry begins with the weather and the temperature at 12 noon: these facts are not included in favor of space. Limited editing of selections has been made for clarity. It is noted that the word “dinner” is what we now refer to as lunch; “supper” is the evening meal.
What does Shattuck write about?
A handful of topics take centerstage in Shattuck’s daily recordings. These include his wife, Jessie; workmen in the home and fields; observations of the natural world; events beyond the community of Granby; and visits from neighbors and friends who “drop by” the Shattuck home to exchange news and gossip.
William and Jessie Shattuck had five children. Of these, Alice (1901–2001) appears to be the most invested in her parents’ lives at the time the diary is written. She, along with her husband Walter and son Robert, drove from their home in New Britain to Granby as often as twice a week to help when Jessie was unwell.
Two sides of Jessie Alice Holcombe Shattuck(1879–1965)
Shattuck’s wife, Jessie, naturally figured largely in his narration. William frequently described her as “lying on the lounge” for the greater part of a day. Dr. Pendleton, a doctor practicing in Granby from 1921–1946, made periodic house visits to prescribe medications and “tonics” for Jessie.
Juxtaposed to the vision of a physically-challenged Jessie are Shattuck’s recounting of a very active woman who drove several times a week to Granby, Hartford and Windsor on various errands. Jessie’s varied behaviors are demonstrated in the following selections: three about her physical malaise, and four subsequent selections that follow Jessie as she drives about doing errands.
May 22, 1936-Friday
Jessie did up her housework a.m., made cake and pudding, and then went to Nate Holcombe’s to see how her mother was coming on. After she got home she had an attack of palpitation of the heart for some time. She spent the day on the lounge in our sitting room, except that she washed up the dinner dishes and got supper for she and myself. We did not call the doctor as J. had heart tablets and nerve tablets.
May 24, 1936, Sunday
Jessie got her breakfast, and then could not eat any. She lay on the lounge most of the rest of the day. She was so much worse than yesterday that I called Alice at New Britain. She, Walter and Robert reached here about 11 a.m. Alice got dinner, and most of the supper. J. washed the supper dishes but lay down at once on finishing. Alice will stay. Walter returned to N. Britain after supper. He has to work tonight. Jessie talked with Dr. E.R. Pendleton this a.m. by phone. He said he would send her a tonic.
December 23, 1936
Jessie not doing much. She spent most of the day on the lounge. Had Dr. P. after supper, as J. had a poor spell something like last night only worse. The Dr. said she had no organic trouble, and what she did have was “nerves.” He left medicine.
Jessie’s Travels
July 17, 1936
Jessie to Dr. Gill’s in Hartford in afternoon. Mrs. Fred H. Kendall went also. They drove our car. Jessie had her eyes examined for new glasses. She was told by the Dr. to keep and use the bifocals she got from him in 1931 (Mar.), which she has been using to read and for distance. She ordered a separate pair (tinted) to be used for reading only. She also bought a straw hat.
October 16, 1936
Jessie drove our car to Granby Street a.m., and handed in our taxable list of property to the town assessors who are on session at Granby Street library today. The assessors are Selden W. Hayes, Edward P. Rice, and Albert Sweeton.
December 20, 1936
Jessie drove our car to Granby Street in the a.m. She went to the post office for a money order and to Loomis Bros. Co. store. She also put two wreaths on our family lot in Granby cemetery and one on her father’s lot (same cemetery).
August 25, 1937
Jessie drove our car to Windsor Locks in the a.m. where it was tested. She also went to the Granby post office for postage stamps, to Loomis Bros. Co. for groceries, and to Dr. E.R. Pendleton’s office for medicine.
Next month
Further selections from the diary will recall repairmen who came to the home as well as farmers who toiled in the countryside. Shattuck’s observations of the beauty and wonder of natural phenomena will conclude a look into his life.