Lest We Forget---May 25, 26 and 27, 1913

Back to my grandfather's diary.  In review, my grandfather was Clement Elexis Dickson, born in 1888 in Williamstown, Glengarry County, Ontario.  Williamstown is a small area outside of Cornwall.  Sometime in the early 1900's he went to work for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad.  I never spoke to him about it; he died when I was 2 1/2 years old.  I never talked to my grandmother about it; I wasn't aware of the diary until years after she died in 1962.  I was probably in my early teens when I "discovered" it.  One of my aunts described it to me as just something that grandpa kept with him when he worked on the railroad.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the diary.  Thus, my motivation to get the story it tells out there. It's certainly not a "page turner"; it's not "War and Peace" or any other classic.  It's just my grandfather's thoughts...that's it!

My original intent was to post the entries one day at a time as the year 2013 went by.  Well, the only thing that "went by" was the time!  I've fallen WAY behind!  But, here I am , trying to make good on my original effort.

OK...back to it!

Lest We Forget Sunday, May 25, 1913

[He mistakenly entered Sunday's entry on Monday and had to enter Monday's entry on Sunday.  That's why the dates are crossed out]

Weather fine and warm
This is washing day but Dick had no washing.
[-?-] and I played shorse [sic] shoes with Richie and Bob in the morning
we beat out 6 to 7.
Rill and Raynold went away this morning
Rill coming back but R is gone for good

[caption id="attachment_1019" align="aligncenter" width="232"] Washing day but no washing to wash![/caption]

Monday, May 26, 1913

Weather is cold with rain
Worked on bridge all morning tightening nuts nearly al morning just killing time.
Came in at noon to have supper and played shorse shoes till bed time.
A little rain after supper
We worked at the bridge east of here this after This after a big game of horse shoes
a while [-?-] Bobie and Stefan and I won 4 to 3

[caption id="attachment_1112" align="aligncenter" width="223"] Killing time[/caption]

Tuesday, May 27, 1913

Weather cold and a little rain in the morning
worked on bridge west all morning
Killing time in afternoon
the pile driver came up and we drove five piles and worked 2 hrs over time the first over time this year for we worked till 9 ock
night was very short

[caption id="attachment_1113" align="aligncenter" width="240"] The pile driver arrives![/caption]