The 1890 Diary of Abba Owen

Newest chapter in an ongoing serialization of the 1888 diary of Abba Owen, daughter of Ypsilanti mineral water baron Tubal Cain Owen and Anna (Stowe Foote) Owen. The Owens lived in a now-vanished house near the current day Roosevelt School building on EMU, where Tubal also had his magical and very profitable well.

Saturday Feb. 1st: It has been colder to-day. Thermometer at 4 below freezing. Mama and I spent the morning at Grandma's, she is not feeling well to-day. Eber has driven to A.A. to-night to hear Geo [blank space] lecture on {Convict?] life in Siberia.

Sunday Feb. 2nd: This is candlemas day. The bear did not see his shadow therefore we will have no more cold weather. Eber and I went to church this morning. Eber got home from A.A. about half past twelve, said the lecture was splendid and liked [it].

Monday Feb. 3rd: It has been cloudy all day and is raining this evening. Eber went to A.A. this morning. Suderer came this evening. Mama went down to Mrs. Hemphill's to attend a rehearsal of the District School which is going to be given in about two weeks. I spent the afternoon with Grandma.

Tuesday Feb. 4th: To-day has been as warm as a spring day. Thermometer up to 62'. Nora Babbitt came over to practice a song and I play the obbligato solo on the violin. Mama and I went to the Sappho Club this afternoon. We expected Uncle John and Will Owen on the 11:30 train tonight but they did not come.

Wensday Feb. 5: The thermometer has gone down to 2 below freezing. Papa went to Detroit this morning and Uncle Owen came home with him at 4 and stayed until 9:30 in the evening. Mama and I went over to Mr. Edison's wife's funeral this afternoon, there was a prayer at the house and then they went to the church and as there was no one to stay with the baby while they were gone mama and I stayed and took care of it. I went with mama to the meeting of the District School at Mrs. Pease's.

Thursday Feb. 6: It has been a pleasant day. Mama and Grandma went to the society at the Rectory this afternoon. Eber came home on the 5:30 train from A. Arbor.

Friday Feb. 7: It began to snow this morning and snowed hard all day, there is about 4 in. of snow. TOnight it grew warm and rained a little. I went over to the Normal to practice with Nora Babbitt and Georgie Chesher this morning. Mama went to Mrs. Watling's this evening to the "District Skule."

Saturday Feb. 8: The thermometer is 12 below freezing, there are a great many sleighs out. Rick and Eber went sleigh riding this morning with Dave and Robert and Eber took me for a sleigh ride this afternoon the first I have had this winter.

And Abba sleighs away till next Tuesday!