Memories, Stories, Songs, Pictures And Poems About People, Places, And Events Around Hubbard Hill, In The Catskill Mountains, In The Town Of Gilboa, In The County Of Schoharie and The State Of New York.
Sunday, 30 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold, zero to 10 below, as far as our thermometer would go. Partly cloudy. Our car wouldn't start and David took the girls and I to church with his car. We picked up Donna Brown. Sandy was here for dinner and afternoon and Linda M was here in afternoon and evening. Very cold and windy. None of us went to bed until 1 am. It was such a terrible windy and cold night. I didn't undress and Clifton didn't come to bed until 5 am. I was up at seven, and the water was frozen in the kitchen but that was all. Comment: Sounds like a tough night on the hill. And on that day..."Blowin' in the Wind", the famous folk song by Bob Dylan, was performed for the first time, as part of a BBC television play called Madhouse On Castle Street.....
Saturday, 29 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cloudy, started to snow in afternoon, 20's all day, evening 30+, turned very cold and windy by morning. I did a lot of ironing and took down Christmas tree and decorations. The girls, Clifton and I went to the rally with LaVerne's Dodge at night. Rev. Whitman and family from Carlisle were at church. Gerald and Doug finished the car but it still knocked bad. Received boxes of candy from Marilyn. Comment: We replaced the bearings on the crankshaft and I used a real fine emory cloth to try to smooth out the crankshaft but took too much off. About 8 hours of work down the drain.....and in December the world was agog when Andy Warhol introduced one of his most famous paintings.....thirty two Campbell Soup Cans of various flavors..Reflecting on his career, Warhol claimed that the Campbell’s Soup Can was his favorite work and that, "I should have just done the Campbell’s Soups and kept on doing them ... because everybody only does one painting anyway."
Friday, 28 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cloudy, windy, colder. Gerald and Doug took Gerald's car apart. David went to Dr's in afternoon and had the cast taken off his hand. Clifton, the girls and I went to Stamford and I did my shopping. We went to Grandpa's and Louise's in the evening. Comment: David is recovering from getting his hand smashed in a charcoal press at the Timberland plant. My car repair will not end well.....and the Top Forty for the next week was: I remember many of these songs....
Thursday, 27December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Bright, sunny day, zero to 28. The men cut two loads of wood. Gerald and David worked on Gerald's car. I did a big wash, hung all white clothes outside. Girls and I went to prayer meeting at night. Comment: We worked on the 1955 Olds 98 black and white convertible in the dairy barn, trying to fix the "knock" in the engine...Dad bought the car of about $100 bucks and I was driving it that summer and winter.....here it is in the summer with brother David at the wheel....you can see the Hubbard Hill fire tower in the rear....
Wednesday, 26 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Partly cloudy, windy, 30's. Clifton butchered a beef for Mr. Bohlen. David went to Stamford after medicine for cows. Boys cleaned out the barn. Doctored cows in pm. I wrote to Marilyn. Comment: I don't think I was in on the butchering this time. I do remember a time when I helped Dad at Bohlen's and I was the executioner of a large yearling heifer. I shot her between the eyes with a .22 rifle from about two feet. She dropped like a stone. Amazing to me that I did that without a qualm at the time and now I hesitate to kill a fly.....there is more about butchering pigs and cows in blog entry. Gerry Hubbard's SongPoemStories: Kill It, Cook It, Eat It....Pistols And Pigs:
Tuesday, 25 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Sunny day, 30's. We went to Mother's for Christmas and Clifton, the girls and I went down to LaVerne's at night to see their new living room suite. Clea Chichester died. Comment: Henry Chichester died three days prior...
Monday, 24 December 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Twenty, partly cloudy. I cleaned house in am and got things ready for supper. LaVerne, Roberta, and Sandy came for Christmas. Clifton fixed the starter on tractor. Gerald and David went to Oneonta shopping for Mary Ann. Comment: Hmmm..don't remember what I bought...'course it was 58 years ago....and on that day:
Sunday, 23 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Little light snow. Girls and I went to church and Sunday School. Sandy, LaVerne and Roberta were here in pm. Wayne, David, Sandy, Clifton, the girls and I went to Chapel Church at night to program. Comment: Christmas in upon them...and...For the first time, a song by a British band reached #1 on the American singles chart. More than a year before The Beatles began music's "British Invasion", the instrumental song "Telstar" became a hit for The Tornados
Saturday, 22 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Snow, about four inches, windy, 20's. Boys all home. Clifton and I went to Will Briggs funeral in afternoon at West Conesville church. Buzzy Scutt called at night, he was home on two week furlough. Gas Tax (Federal) came. Went to church to program at night. Not many there. Henry Chichester died. Comment: Buzzy was a good friend of Brother Doug and lived on our school bus route. He became a Vietnam war hero with many medals and recommendations for heroism. Here are some links to his awards:
Friday, 21 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cloudy and east wind, minus 3 to 18 above. I washed and hung pulley line full, they dried. Cleaned up house, worked on girls skirts in pm. Kids home at noon, girls practiced at church in afternoon. Doug went with Roberta with mail. Gerald went to Gloversville from school and his car broke in Schoharie. Roberta picked him up about midnight. David and Sandy came in evening. Kids went caroling. Clifton and I went to Pa's and Louise's at night but no one at home. Comment: Wow, have no recollection of my car breaking down. It must have been on the way home from Gloversville...drunk again??..and on the cover of Time that day, Vince Lombardi, who conceived of "Lombardi Time"...on time means fifteen minutes early..and I still drive my family nuts adhering to this concept....and from Forbes: “5 minutes early is on time. On time is late. Late is unacceptable.” ...http://www.forbes.com/sites/brentbeshore/2015/08/02/5-minutes-early-is-on-time-on-time-is-late-late-is-unacceptable/
Thursday, 20 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold again, 3 to 12 in am to zero in pm, clear, 10 below in evening. Doug, David, Clifton and I went to Oneonta and bought sewing machine and Melmac. LaVerne and Roberta came in the evening for a few minutes. Girls and I went to prayer meeting at church and helped with the decorations. Comment: Ten below now seems just so damned cold and it seems hard to believe that we worked outside in those and colder temperatures...cutting wood, shoveling and spreading manure, trying to get tractors, trucks and cars to start...memories unique to those raised on farms. I guess it did us good but it sure didn't seem so at the time....the sewing/laundry room before cleaning.....used to be my bedroom also.....
Wednesday, 19 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Partly cloudy, 20-40 degrees, warm. I did sewing-----Clifton and the boys went to Cobleskill in am and brought back the new stove, (Siegler) and set it up in afternoon. Will Briggs died. Bob Joslyn was here to see David about his insurance. Comment: I think Will Briggs was my Aunt Ella's father....here is the stove with books piled on top in preparation for cleaning the house after my Mother's move to California....
Tuesday, 18 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Partly cloudy, 20's and 30's. Clifton and I went to Cobleskill in am. I finished Christmas shopping. Comment: And the news reel of the day was:
Monday, 17 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold, snowy, light...I did a big wash in am, cleaned up the house in pm. The Peterson girls came home with Carol and Sue. Clifton and the boys went to Oneonta and got David's Fury. Doug went with Roberta with the mail. Comment: And another week begins and just for perspective, this is what was happening on that day in Atlantic City Playboy Club....$4.25 for a 16 oz. steak and $5 for the Playboy Strip....
Sunday, 16 December 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Partly cloudy, 30's. Girls and I went to church and Sunday School. Had practice in the afternoon, took our lunch. LaVerne and Roberta here for dinner and Sandy (Finch) also. Clifton, the girls, and I went to Chapel Church and night for practice. Comment: The practice is for the Christmas show at the church, the girls will be singing...the Movie Lawerence Of Arabia was released on this day in 1962. Two hundred and six minutes long without a female voice in it.....
Saturday, 15 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold. Clifton and the boys cut wood. Took Olds back in pm. Gerald came home in afternoon and went back. Comment: I guess that's why I don't remember that car.....and from Martin Luther King to the President on that day.....
Friday, 14 December 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold, windy, snow squalls, in pm zero to ten degrees. I sent Ell Mae and Ina Belle packages and wrote Christmas cards in am. Fixed Carol's band uniform and ironed in pm and got ready to go down to the school concert at night. Clifton and boys went to Hensonville and brought back 1959 Olds. Comment: Don't remember the car....us kids in forty's, From left, me on the ground, David John on Mom's lap, Douglas Maynard, Marilyn sitting on Dad's lap-.
Thursday, 13 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold, partly cloudy, zero to ten degrees. I washed in am, cleaned the house. Went to Missionary Meeting at Evelyn Bailey's in pm, had prayer meeting here at night. Clifton went to sale at Cobleskill. Took a cow and bought four calves. Myron Mabie died. Comment: Don't know Myron Mabie.....Dad getting deeper in the cattle business.....here is the Evelyn Bailey family in 1956...Evelyn is on crutches....My Dad always wanted me to date Joyce Bailey...I never did.....
Wednesday, 12 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold, zero to ten degrees. Clifton and I went to Cobleskill and to Oneonta Christmas shopping. Comment: Probably gone most of the day....Our President and First Lady on that day...and he had only 347 days to live.......
Tuesday, 11 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Five to fifteen degrees, sunny in am, pm partly cloudy. Clifton and I went to Cobleskill in afternoon. Clifton stopped at sale and I came on home. David went to Drs. Comment: David must be going back to the doctor's because of his smashed hand a few days ago......pretty aunts....Margaret Winifred, Ina Bell, sisters of my Dad, Clifton...The Elmer Hubbard Homestead....probably the forties....
Monday, 10 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Ten to 18 degrees, cloudy, cold with little snow. Had a wood (cutting) bee at church. We got dinner at the parsonage, there all day. Wayne stayed home. Bad snow storms in western part of the state. Comment: Betcha haven't hear the term "wood bee" lately.....the parsonage...
Sunday, 9 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Partly cloudy, mile. Went to church and Sunday School. Mr & Mrs Mayo and famil and Sandy Finch were here in afternoon. Comment: Sandy was David's girlfriend at the time, I think.....and on this day:
THE SUPREMES RELEASED ‘MEET THE SUPREMES’ ON DEC. 9, 1962....
Saturday, 8 December 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold, cloudy, very little snow. I washed again and baked The men cut wood and worked on the truck. Comment: A morning in the Schoharie Valley: From Visions Of The Schoharie Valley Facebook Page..
Friday, 7 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cold, windy, snow squalls, 22 degrees. I washed in am. Clifton and the boys cut a load of wood. Gerald came home at night. Comment: And twenty one years before: At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II. I was three years, three months old..... Interesting to think that the country that initiated the attack is now one of our closed allies....
Thursday, 6 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Rained hard all day, strong east winds, 40 degrees. Sue was home with ear ache. Clifton and the boys went to Cobleskill to sale in pm, bought rope and canvas for the truck. Grandpa and Louise were over in afternoon. I fixed myself a skirt. Girls and I went to prayer meeting at Louvilla's at night. Had a letter from Marilyn. Had a migraine headache at night. Comment: I don't remember the truck....Grandpa Elmer and Louise.....
Wednesday, 5 December 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Cloudy, rainy, 40 degrees. I ironed nearly all day. Clifton and I went to PTA. Mrs. Mayo, Louvilla, Reggie, and Betty Jean went with us. Comment: Mrs. Mayo was the pastor's wife, the rest were part of the Raymond Kingsley family.....Raymond Kingsley is on the left, Louvilla is on the right, can't remember the middle person's name. This was taken in the Flat Creek Baptist Church parsonage in the late '70s.
Tuesday, 4 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Lovely day, warm, 50's, cloudy in pm. Clifton and I went to Cobleskill in afternoon. I went with Doug to Dr. Lyons in am, he had a dreadful cold, was sick all day. Clifton went to hospital after David at noon. Comment: Lot's of traveling, to Cobleskill, to Middleburgh, then to Stamford....pretty much running all day.....and here is where all this stuff happened....the homestead is just in from of the H in Hubbard Road....
Monday, 3 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Still beautiful weather. Very few thin clouds over a week after this perfect weather. Indian Summer. I washed in am. The kids had only a half day of school. Clifton and Doug got the truck inspected. Marilyn wrote to us. Comment: "Marilyn wrote to us" was in Carol's or Sue's handwriting...guess they must have read her diaries......And in other news....Mercury astronauts chosen.....
Sunday, 2 December, 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Beautiful, fair, warm day, 60's. Went to church and Sunday School. Gerald and Mary Ann here for dinner. We all went to hospital to see David in afternoon. Sandy came and took Doug and Wayne over. Comment: Fifth beautiful day in a row in December...quite an anomaly....here is brother David John in better days in the seventies about to go blueberrying on the Hill.....from left, John Hubbard, Chris Hubbard, David John, Marilyn Ann and LaVerne...
Saturday, 1 December 1962, The Frances Hubbard Diaries Another beautiful day, same as all week, 60's. I washed in am. Was getting ready to take Sue to music lesson when LaVerne called and said David was in Stamford Hospital with smashed fingers. We went over with LaVerne and Roberta in pm, came back and had supper with them and went back to see David at night. Clifton, Doug, and Wayne bought a 3/4 ton truck from Robert Fancher. Comment: David got his hand caught in a press that made charcoal "Brix", compressed charcoal in waxed, egg-carton like container that you could light easily with a match. He was working at Timberland Charcoal. He was caught in the press quite a while...brother LaVerne had to re-wire the press control box to reverse it so David could get his hand out...ouch.....it was kinda like this picture, but worse.
You're always young in your mind it is said, No matter the face in the mirror, That you see with surprise then say to yourself, "What is that old man doing here?"
