November 23, 2017 Thanksgiving

As this Bicentennial year closes in on December and the end of the project, it seemed right that one day should be recorded in 2017. In addition, that day should also encompass all the years. What better day than Thanksgiving!

Unlike other holidays the actual date floats from year to year. After a few years of moving between “last Thursday in November” to “third Thursday” (1939-40), in 1942 Congress set the date as the fourth Thursday in November. It was a compromise between the last week and those wanting a longer shopping period.

As we reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving, and enjoy being with family and friends, herewith a few of the gleanings from Dewitt’s Diaries over the years for Thanksgiving Day.

Thursday, November 30, 1922 [the last Thursday of the month]

Edna, Leland and I went down to Mother’s today. Had a big dinner.

Myron and Maggie and Aunt Frank and the children were there too.

Lem came home from Rochester Wednesday. He has about 5 more weeks in the RBI. (Rochester Business Institute)

Thursday, November 22, 1945 Thanksgiving Day

A nice day for Thanksgiving Day. Edna had a 16-pound turkey.

Edna’s folks were over, Mother was up. Lem and Pete were here and family.

It really was something to celebrate to have Leland home after three years.

Thursday, November 23, 1950 Thanksgiving Day

We started for Lem’s in Rochester at 8:15 and arrived at 10:05.

Had a good dinner. Watched football on Lem’s new television set.

Sun was out some. Also a few snowflakes. Ground was white near home when we got here at 6:30.

Dewitt’s Diary, Thursday, November 23, 1972 [Tampa, Florida]

Temperature 48, partly cloudy, cool north wind.

Howard took mom and I out to the Tampa airport. This is the most modern airport and busiest in the US. Saw several planes come in and land just while we were there this morning.

Had turkey for dinner, a good dinner. I took a walk after dinner.

Sun tried to come out but hardly any sun all day. Cloudy tonight, temperature 54.

Talked with Leland tonight. Everything cool up there. Temperature 30 today and about 2 inches of snow on the ground at home.

August 13, 1899 Happy Birthday Dewitt

Dewitt was born on the family farm on Bassette Road, Sunday, August 13, 1899. In the years from 1919 to 1982 he recorded the events of the day for 63 years.

Today, something a little different to recognize the passage of time, and possibly give all of us something to think about.

August 13, 1919
Interlaken Historical Society Collection: Dewitt Bassette Diaries

Wednesday, August 13, 1919 (twenty years old)

Finished thrashing wheat today. 680 bushels on 22 acres.

Went over to see my sweetheart tonight.

Our first spring wheat we ever raised gave 30 bushels per acre.

August 13, 1929

Interlaken Historical Society Collection: Dewitt Bassette Diaries

Tuesday, August 13, 1929

I celebrated my birthday by going fishing this afternoon. Caught my third nice black bass.

Dr. Hill was down there fishing.

Forrest raked up some of the alfalfa.

I shot a hawk at 110 paces with the 22 spc.

August 13, 1939

Interlaken Historical Society Collection: Dewitt Bassette Diaries

 Sunday, August 13, 1939

I am 40 today. Hot and dry again. The rain is all gone and the garden wilts ever [y] day.

Lawns and pasture are green and that helps.

F. Ritchie and I went fishing but not much luck.

August 13, 1949
Interlaken Historical Society Collection: Dewitt Bassette Diaries

 Saturday, August 13, 1949

Cloudy and cooler Temperature 68.

I am 50 today. The rain we got should help my beans, potatoes & corn.

We are plowing oats stubble for wheat. The rain went down to the bottom of the furrow.

Mother is very low today. Edna is going down to Mother’s tonight.

[August 15, 1949 Dewitt records the passing of Mary Catherine Peterson Bassette, age 85.]

August 13, 1959
Interlaken Historical Society Collection: Dewitt Bassette Diaries

Thursday, August 13, 1959

Temperature 77, cloudy, very hot this m[orning].

I am 60 today. Talked with Catherine on the telephone from Tamps, Fla at 6 o’clock. They are predicting showers.

Leland is raking up some straw. I took a tire down to be repaired. Temperaure 90, cloudy and north wind at noon.

Drove down to the lake after dinner and got a load of gravel.

Mrs. Wigner & Biri were over and brought me a couple boxes of candy for my birthday.

August 13, 1969
Interlaken Historical Society Collection: Dewitt Bassette Diaries

Wednesday, August 13, 1969

Temperature 65 Clear

We cleaned out the strawberry bed. Took out two thirds of the old plants and cut the old foliage from those plants we left. Cultivated them. Hope to have some berries from them again next year.

Parson started combining my oats this afternoon. Warm today, to 85.

Big parades for the Apollo crew today in N.Y.City, Chicago and Los Angeles. Big dinner them in California tonight.

August 13, 1979
Interlaken Historical Society Collection: Dewitt Bassette Diaries

Monday, August 13, 1979

Temperature 48. My birthday. Got some minnows and went to lake and fished to Sheldrake with B. Haviland. Caught some small fish but no bass.

A nice day on the lake.

How many of us can look back and recall the way we spent our birthday over the years? Might there be a story to be shared within your family as you recall your birthday over the years? Like Dewitt there were high points, and the memory each year of those no longer celebrating with us.

Dewitt’s Diary Friday, August 13, 1982

Another year older this morning. A shower by mid-afternoon. Very tricky weather and some rain this afternoon

August 13, 1982
Interlaken Historical Society Collection: Dewitt Bassette Diaries

[Dewitt died May 1, 1983]

[Dewitt C. Bassette Jr. was the third child of Dewitt C. [Sr.] and Mary Peterson Bassette, his older brother Myron was the author's grandfather. DC and Mary's first child, Harold died as an infant, see October 1, 1890.]

July 4, 1876 Bell Ringing at Covert Baptist Church

July 4, 1876 was one hundred years after the signing the of Declaration of Independence. It was a day for celebrating that centennial anniversary, and what better way than to install and ring a church bell.

An August 23, 1975 Geneva Times article, discussing the overall history of the Covert Baptist Church notes, the “bell [was] bought in 1876 for $500.” These funds were “raised through a special collection drive. An 1876 ledger shows individual donations from parishioners, some as high as $25. A nearby school contributed as well, with the school marm donating 50 cents. The names of her students follow hers in the book and beside each name the amount they gave.”

The church history notes that the bell was raised into place and rung for the first time on that July 4^th afternoon with “an estimated crowd of 1,000 assembled to hear it.”

To reach the bell one must climb a ladder fashioned on the inside of the steeple. The rope needed to ring the bell is over 85 feet long, descending from the top of the steeple to a room near the front doors.

Dewitt’s Diary Saturday, July 4, 1959

Temperature 60 clear. Pete flew down from Lockport and landed out behind the barn. He took me to Harris Hill in Elmira to glider meet. We got back home at 1 o'clock. Saw some of the gliders takeoff.

A nice Fourth of July and the nice day to take a plane ride. Between here and Elmira it is very dry.

Dewitt’s Diary Thursday, July 4, 1963

Temperature 54, clear and west wind. A big change from the past ten days when it was in the 90s every day.

We unloaded two loads of bales.

I mowed down the last of the clover up by the woods this afternoon.

Went down to the lake at 6 o’clock this evening. Caught two trout, 3 ½ pounds and 5 ½ pounds.

Many red flares burning along the lake at dark.

Clear and 64 tonight.

March 17, St. Patrick’s Day Election Law

On this date many people celebrate their Irish heritage even if they don’t have any Irish heritage.

Recognizing this, many years ago, the New York State Legislature incorporated a provision into the village election laws to prevent people from celebrating, or being encouraged to celebrate, and then go to the polls for the local election.

Two snips from the current village election law included in Sec. 15-104. General village election [Setting the election date]

Snip #1 The general village election shall be held on the third Tuesday in March…

Snip #2 In… any year in which the seventeenth day of March shall fall on such Tuesday, the board of trustees of such village shall provide, by resolution… that such election shall be held on the eighteenth day of March.

Just one more bit of trivia to add to your St. Patrick’s Day collection.

Wishing all a happy and safe Friday and St. Patrick’s Day, be ye Irish by birth or choice.

Dewitt’s Diary March 17, 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1940

Wednesday, March 17, 1937 Another day of blow. The roads are plugged except main roads. Walked to town. The roads sure are in bad shape for the amount of snow. About 7 inches.

Thursday, March 17, 1938 Made about a gallon and one-half of syrup for the first of the season. Rain and foggy all day.

Friday, March 17, 1939 Several inches of new snow. Working in the woods today.

Sunday, March 17, 1940 Clear and still. Snow not melting much. Went out skiing early this morning. Drove the car over to Edna’s folks today. We have got to have different weather if the snow ever goes. I measured the snow in the woods today. A good two feet deep where it has not blowed.