Dr. Caleb Edward Iddings Diaries

[Left upper portion of page] [?OPS/ihh] yre xf [Right side of page] C.E. Iddings M.D. Sandy Spring Montgomery, Co Md

Sandy Spring Md. Baltimore

24 N.W. It was clear this morning & continued so all day with quite strong N.W. wind Clarence Gilpin sent us a 1/2 cord of oak wood on a sled drawne by two horses. Before dinner and[] they 1/2 cord in the afternoone. He came himself with the [] load [couldnt?] paid him for the wood (250). I went to the store towards evening Albric Brookes son called to see Edward who has not [?] from cornfield. The sleighing is better than i have endure it to be in this future for many years past the [brush?] being first [] under it ice snow deeper [then] packed than for a long time. Every one seems to be enjoying it to the fall of [Trent?]

o. Clear N.W. Wind This has been an extremely cold day. Our thermonitor hangs in a str-ened situation various other place in the nei ghborhood it registered from 8 to 13 degrees below zero. Willio brought Edward home y took me to Ashton back be for returning to Fairfield he left his sleigh here took mine his being out of order considerably. Afternoon Edward went to Sherwood readjusted the electric bells for Mrs. Thorne. Tonight promises to be ay [uterly?] cold one. I am thankful we have plenty of fuel for the present. I'm riding from Ashton this morn ing facing the wind my ears and nose were nearly frozen.

[?] below 0 Clear N.W. Wind Our thermometer was [?] degrees below zero this morning but at Brooke Grove it was 21 below zero from 12 to to 18 18 in various other places. It certainly was was coldest day we have had for years past wood has not melted anywhere at anytime during the entire day. None of us went farther than next door but kept indoors and kept up the fires. Dora had a bed in the living room last night and kept up the coal fore all night to keep the horses pla from freezing. Fewer persons were out sleighing to day it being too cold for pleasure. We heard of the sudden death of Hood Mathews. He has been sufferer from [?] & kid ney trouble but seemed much better of late

7 ⁰ below 0 Clear & Cloudy N.W. & N.E. Wind Still very cold weather this tem perature being the same this morning as yesterday at the same hour. I went to the store P.D. and left the club book at the toll house for Walace Bond to take to Ashton as he returned from dinner. After noon Edward & I brought the wood in & piled it up in the kitchen porch as it looked as if we might have more snow and (some at bedtime to night it is snowing in good [eas?] west again. The thermometer is 9 [degrees] abover zero at 8 o clk p.m. It was sad to hear of the death of Hope Mathews she seemed much better when we heard las. We miss Willie and family tonight but it was too cold to bring the buggy out and W. is obliged to go [watch?] his green house fire such weather as this

6⁰ Snow N.W. Wind It snowed at intervals all of last night and all day today and is still snowing tonight at bedtime the snow is now about two feet deep on a level which is deeper than any had for many years. Few [persons bussed here?] to meeting or elsewhere. The Brightened market wagon passed this afternoon on its way home from Washington with fewer horses. {Clarence?] Gilpin sent two powerful horses to meet it and together with the two mules it was all they could do to get along through the snow. A colored funeral passed here burying Annie Hill [( [John?] Hill's daughter) there were very few attended it in consequence of the weather & snow. I went in next door for the papers towards evening. I sincerely wish our son Charley had my fur lined over coat for such weather as this

[?] The GReat Blizzard N.W. Wind

We have heard of the next western & North Western Blizzards but we know now from H what it means. It has been snowing more or less for serveral days past but last night it commenced blowing a heavy gale from N.W. accompanied by [feirce?] snow and has continued with increasing violence all day to day the snow haveing drifted to an [?] unpreceidented in this country the weather being extremely cold together with the depth of the snow has paral ized every body & every this so far as out of doors efforts are concerned the mail got as far as Burtonsville this morning & there it is still the in coming mail from Ravenel did not [slant?] out. I went in next door through drifts over three feet deep in the lowest place I could find. Not a vehicle passed today since the sludge [sleighs?] started early this morning. The weather guage ? a depth of 31 inches of snow before sunset. It is still snowing & blowing to night at bed time but I hope not qiute as violently.

8 [degrees} Clear N.W. & S.W. Winds

The storm continues until near morning, when it cleared off but the wind continues vlosing until near noon today. The snow is so deep that it was impossible to get out of door until paths of trench es were dug even to get around the horses. This afternoon they commenced diging a passage way along the turnpike and got from Sandy Spring P.O. as far as out front gate the backed on either side being shoulder high in many places. between here & Henderson's the drifts are eight or nine feet deep on the turnpike which must be dug through tomorrow before any mail can be taken or received. The telephones have been a great blessing & messages have been passing constantly all day beween the neighbors and from Ro?ville, Lau rel, Gatherburg & all telling the same tale of snow blockage. Edward & I dug lanes around the house & some of them more than 3 feet deep. It certain ly will be a snow long to be remem bered. The thermomitor went up from 8 [degrees] this morning to 30, at 3 oclk p.m but [] falling again since sun set the wind has changed to S.W. since noon.

3 [degrees] Clear & Cloudy Variable Wind

Clear & cold this morning. The turnpike [?] put alot of horses on the road digging a "cut" through the snow from Sandy Spring to Ashton, & another "gang" to Olney & one to Edmon & beyond, they went as far Edwrd Beattens by Noon and to "Alf" Bells by sun set. The average depth of the cut is about 6 feet. Edwd & I dug a passage out from our big gate to the cut along the turnpike that is higher than out heads where it intersects the main cut. We made it quite wide enought to admit sleighs going in or out. Henderson's cut passed along from the mill to Sandy Spring & back & towards evening a sleigh with milk cans and J Moore in his sleigh with a colored driver also passed the latter went as far as the mill but how far the other went I do not know. I went up to see [J.J.?] Henderson, who is quite sick with grippe. Wallace Bond? walked to AShton & back home first of his being there since saturday he called here as he returned & left some medicine I ordered by "phone". John Bell (stag? driver) borrowed my saddle intending to take the mail on horseback tomorrow if he can get it through even in that way. Willie telephones that they were well, and he had been shoveling more all day with a "gang" that got as far as half way down "Walnut Hill". After supper Edwrd went in next door to spend the evening playing whist or chess Thermometor 24 this evening at bed time quite a change since morning.

15 [degrees] Cloudy N.E. Wind

Cloudy again this morning & looks like more snow just as they are getting the roads so that sleighs are beginning to pass over them several ahve passed this morning before 9 oclk. It commen ced raining sleeting about noon & con tinued until bedtime. I went up to Hender sons again before lunch time, he seems decidedly better. Some of the "Manor" [Stubler?] boys went to Laurel yester day afternoon and brought the mail. Everything is covered with ice, the trees & horses being sheathed in a coating of ice. I am afraid the Trees will be badly broken if the wind should continue blowing hard. We had a serious time getting the front window shutters closed this even? both up stairs & down. Mifs Mark Fowler came in this afternoon for a call. It would be sad for the young folks if we should have no sleighing after all the snow that has fallen but if ti clears off cold it would still make good sleighing for some time. Wrote to [Fredh Lyon?] after supper.

32 [degrees] Clear & Cloudy Wind

The snow was slightly frozen this morning early, but soon began to melt & continues all day. It stopped raining last night before midnight and partly cleared of before morning. There was consider able sleighing past here all day, and in spite of the thaw the sleighs did not cut through to the ground the ground being frozen under the snow. If it should turn cold afain there would be plenty of sleighing for some time to come I added another sheet to letter to T. Tyson & mailed it. Willie rose over on horseback& spent an hour with us but hurried back fearing the "Howlings" river would rise so rapidly from the melting snow that he could not cross. I went in next door to perscribe for "Phil" who is quite poorly with "grippe". Mr Johnson Williams of Olney died quite suddenly early yesterday morning.

32 [degrees] Cloudy & Rain S.E. & N.E. Wind

The snow & slush was slightly fro zen again early this morning bu soon softened and by noon (or a little later) it was raining again & has contined up to bed time tonight. I went up to Henderson's house & to the mill for flour and corn meal. I also went in next door & telephoned to Walace Boud at Ashton for some coffee which he brought up & left us he went to dinner. Afternoon "Old John" was here for advice & medicine having "taken cold" working in the snow drifts. Quite a num ber of sleighs were out today in spite of the slush. Hender sons four horses wagon took load of flour to Laurel Frank Robinson went with it.

32° Clear & Cloudy S.E. Ther. Sunday Feb. 19th Wind

The snow & slush was frozen early this morning again, but softened before ten o clock. Edward & I went to meeting, there were very few persons there. Mr J. C. Williams was buried today at St Johns chur quite a number of the friends attended the funeral. Afternoon I went up to Henderson's. Willie came on horseback & took supper with us going back to "Fairfeild" about dusk.

32° Clear S.E. Ther. MON. FEB. 20,^th 1899. Wind

Frozen again this morning & quite a number of sleighs passed here today. I walked to Ashton & back: the sleighing is quite good to Ashton except opposite to [Chas Porter's place where the ground is bare. Afternoon I went up to the store & P.O. Mrs Robison came in this afternoon. The walking is [unefected?] & "slushy" except where the ground is bare, & then it is muddy.

30th [?] Quite cold this morning. I went to the mill and to [Henderson's?] for papers. --- [?] came from Ashton to get me to translate a prescription of Dr Muncaster's which was a puzzle indeed But I made it out at last. Sally Ellicott called to see [Dork?] and Alice Peirce, Willie came before supper to take Alice home, and after supper he rode the bicycle back and Edward drove Alice home intending to ride the bicycle back tomorrow morning.

Another beautiful day over head. But, rather cool. Edward came home from Fairfield On the [bicycle] before dinner. Towards evening I went to the P.O. and after supper to [?] office. He went to Rockville this morning with Frank Snowden and returned with him this afternoon. Snowden having been released from further duty and Furyman

Cloudy, [and?] we had a shower about [house?], but not enough to "lay the dust. Towards evening it cleared off. I have felt very good for nothing all day. I went to the store and P.O. before dinner and [?] after supper. Edward H.A Dura did some work in the garden and cleaning up around the house. After I had been in bed some hours, I got up and put out pines that Easton's folks had left "[?] cleaning up" around thein house, sub-[?] the [?] were out; but the [?] got [?] after night and started them again. A few buckets of water from the watering pot [?] [?] [?]