Grandmother s Friends 1 Letter to Emma Jane Page 2 written by Ella Jeanette Bailey 3 East Hill Troy, Vt. 4 May 28 th 1868 My Dear Emma I positively have forgotten whether I owe you a letter or not. But no matter I will write all the same. I am teaching as without doubt you have heard ere this. My school comprises just 11 pupils, though there are in the school-room accommodations for 18. I do not board around I have one steady boarding place about as far from the school-house as from 68 Warren Court 5 to Aunt Charlotte Emerson s. 6 It makes it easy for me. It is about 6 miles from the village where mother 7 lives. But they come for me Saturday nights and as school keeps every other Saturday once in two weeks Ella, worn and weary mortal has a holiday. Jus so. It is lovely here tonight so very calm and quiet I feel rested to just look out. I wish Em you could be here, though you of course you cannot so I wont make myself miserable by desiring your presence when I know it is useless. What 1 Grandmother s Letters - Letters written to Emma Jane Page by family and friends 1864-1886. Most of the letters were written while Emma was working in Lowell from 1867-1876. Transcription prepared by Lawrence M. Sturtevant, Emma Jane Page s grandson. Copy donated by Lawrence M. Sturtevant to the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Original located in Special Collections, Miller Library, Colby College, Waterville, Maine. 2 Emma Jane Page b: 28 Oct 1848, Belgrade, ME d: 25 Feb 1921; parents; Charles Page and Emeline Morrill; roommate: Martha Mattie Weymouth; boarder: Mrs. Eliza F. Kittredge boardinghouse, 68 Warren Court; employed: tailoress, Mr. Leonard Worcester; married: Joseph Merrow b: 14 Sep 1840, Belgrade, ME d: 3 Mar 1923, Belgrade, ME. 3 Ella Jeannette Bailey b: 3 Sep 1849, Troy, VT; parents: Charles F. Bailey and Sarah Dean; employed: Middlesex Company woolen mill; married: Hardy Henry LaDue b: Jun 1842, Alburgh, VT d: abt 1912, Williston, ND; children: daughter Halley Ladue. It appears Ella Bailey Ladue died before 1890 and Hardy Henry LaDue moves to North Dakota and remarried Myrtle Robinson. 4 Northern Vermont near the Canadian border. 5 Eliza French Heald b: 1816 d: 1878; married George Kittredge after he died Eliza went to Lowell; boardinghouse keeper, 68 Warren Court. Boardinghouse, 68 Warren Court: In the 1870 Lowell Census, there are 37 people residing in this boardinghouse. In addition to boardinghouse keeper, Eliza Kittredge and her son William, there were 23 women and 12 men. It may seem surprising, but it was not at all unusual for women and men to live in the same boardinghouse. 6 Charlotte Head b: 1817; sister: Eliza F. Heald Kittredge; married: Warren Emerson; residence: Charlotte and Warren Emerson, boardinghouse keepers, 5 and 6 Hamilton Company cotton mill. 7 Mother - Sarah Dean b: 5 Sep 1824, MA d: 3 Jan 1902, Newport, VT; married Charles F. Bailey b: 1820, Jay, VT d: 1 May 1862, Ft. Monroe, Elizabeth City, VA [Civil War]; children: Floretta Adelia Bailey b: 1847, VT, Ella Jeannette Bailey b: 1849, VT, Charles Melvin Bailey b: 1852, VT, Emma Dean Bailey b: 1854, MA, Walter Franklin Bailey b: 1856, MA, Clara S. Bailey b: 1858, VT, Fred C. Bailey b: 1861.
are the styles this summer, tell me in your next what style of hats are most worn, and what you think I could send and get one for. I don t want the highest priced neither the cheapest. I had some thoughts of getting a bonnet but my hair alas I have no waterfall, so I must take up with a hat. My sister Floretta 8 is going to have a bonnet black lace and lemon colored ties but oh Em the hair the girl has got. It comes way down below her waist and so thick she don t pretend to use a common-sized comb. I think she and mother ought not to complain, but poor I, alas why was I permitted to make a fool of myself and allow that miserable barber to shave my head, poor weak-minded craythur that I was. Do you and Mattie 9 think of going to Maine 10 this summer. If you do come to Lowell in the Fall again of course for I shall be there. My health is improving Mother would tell you in all confidence it is the horrid sarsaparilla and Iron I take that works such wonders and brings the color into my ears and lips, but I say it is the good summer weather, and shall persist in saying so. You don t catch me attributing praise to that horrid stuff for Emma it is worse than 8 Sister - Floretta Adelia Bailey b: 1847, VT 9 Martha E. Mattie Weymouth b: 1849, Belgrade, ME d: 1931, Lowell; parents: Gorham F. Weymouth and Caroline Page; roommate: Emma Jane Page; boarder: Mrs. Eliza F. Kittredge boardinghouse, 68 Warren Court; married: George Oscar Evans French b: 1850, MA d: 1887, Lowell; children: Albert Weymouth French and George Oscar Evans French, Jr. 10 Belgrade, Maine. During the summer, there was not enough water in the Merrimack River to power all the textile machinery. At that time, many of the women who worked in Lowell s textile mills returned home for the summer.
poison. I d sooner drink Bed-bug poison positively I had. Ugh! If I was nt the most conscientious creature in the world I should not punish myself by taking the doses of it I now do three times a day when I am out of Mother s sight but I am something of a Martyr as it is. I hope you will have sympathy for me no one else seems too they all think I ought to. Horrid creatures their hearts are totally callous. I will overlook it in them on account of their ignorance. Am going to have my light dress, that new one Hattie Upton cut and made, ripped up, cut, gored and made into a short dress and have a sack of the same. I have got one new light print dress I enclose a piece and shall have a new white Garabaldi 11 and I have had a present since I got home of a Muslin dress that has got to be made up and a Muslin skirt to go with my white waist that is all I shall have new. My print is the neatest of all. I like it it fits splendidly and hangs well. I will tell you what I ve worn for these three weeks in school a black alpacca dress, gored aprons and a brown ladies cloth round about jacket. Next week I go more comfortably dressed. I leave off the thick high Polish boots that take my life (just about) and try the virtue in cloth boots and a cool easy print dress. But the weather has been dreary rainy and I actually have dispaired for the past week of ever beholding the sun. Floretta teaches this summer in Potton PQ (Province of Quebec) she is only three miles from home for No Troy village is just one mile from the Canada line. We meet every Saturday night and when our schools dont keep Saturday we then have our holiday together it makes it pleasant for us We commenced teaching the same day Monday May 11 th and my school closes Aug 3 rd July 31 st Friday oh shall I not rejoice. My oldest is a boy 14 the next are girls 13, and so on down. They are good scholars mind me that is so much in their favor is it not. There Em what a lot I ve written you and I fear your answer will not be half as long why dont you write longer letters. Tell Mattie I want very much to hear from her if she can find time to write. Where are Clara and Lou now. And too let me not forget to learn of Mary Hall and George her boy are they as 11 Garibaldi blouses, loose, simple shirts, were popular throughout the 1860s worn in place of a fitted bodice. The round jacket she wore for teaching in May was a style apparently derived from Civil War uniforms. Stylish skirts in the later 1860s were universally gored, cut to smoothly fit over hoops. The gores became more pronounced after 1867, as hoop frames abruptly narrowed and were drawn back to emphasize a bustle. Ella s search in May and June for a hoop not more than 2 yards around reflects her quest to keep up-to-date.
affectionate as ever I wonder if he is as easily moved as of yore. He must be tender hearted poor boy. Tell Sara Taylor 12 I got her letter all right will answer next week. When is Hattie Brown to be married? Oh Em, will you please ask Mattie Johnson 13 to find out Biddy Lynch s address and Let me know as soon as you can. She works in No. 3. or did when I left she and her two sisters Alice and Annie Lynch. Remember me to Mrs Kittredge 14 and all my friends. Where is Kate Murphy 15 the darling girl give my love to her. I suppose Mattie Johnson and Mary Allen are happy as ever together. Tell Mary to write and Mattie too she owes me a letter naughty girl. Don t you miss Georgie How is she now and Addie Willie Hallie and all. Your patience I know is severely tried so is mine by a musketur that is trying ring in my ears Con found them pesky varmints I have massacred two and will finish this in order to slay the third. I cant mail this till I go home saturday night. You write me a long letter for I get horrid lonesome but for now Friday after school Good Night Ella J. Bailey North Troy Vermont Well Emma I cannot fear to leave a space not written. I want you to appreciate the kind friend you have in me. Think Madame Page of the long letters I have written you. I want you to write me a long letter. I am going home tomorrow night they will be after me and shall I not rejoice. Where is Lizzie Bachelder now do you and Mattie room alone or are you with two others in a room. I don t blame you for being provoked at Hattie (your sister) for she must be bright to beburden herself so soon. 16 Did you write me she had gone with her husband to California. I have not the letter now so will ask you. How are all of Mattie Weymouths people. Write soon do to Ella J. Bailey Em find out how cheap you can get a Hoop skirt 2 yards or less around it just the smallest you can find. I have a good one 2 yards and a half around and I must and will have a smaller one I want a white one as small as two yards If they have 12 Mary and Sara Taylor, sisters; boarders: Mrs. Eliza F. Kittredge boardinghouse, 68 Warren Court. 13 Martha Mattie Johnson; boarder: Mrs. Eliza F. Kittredge boardinghouse, 68 Warren Court. 14 Eliza French Heald b: 1816 d: 1878; married George Kittredge after he died Eliza went to Lowell; boardinghouse keeper, 68 Warren Court. Boardinghouse, 68 Warren Court: In the 1870 Lowell Census, there are 37 people residing in this boardinghouse. In addition to boardinghouse keeper, Eliza Kittredge and her son William, there were 23 women and 12 men. It may seem surprising, but it was not at all unusual for women and men to live in the same boardinghouse. 15 Kate Murphy b: 1840, Ireland: Mrs. Eliza F. Kittredge boardinghouse, 68 Warren Court. 16 Harriet Hattie Milton Page b: 11 Jul 1847, ME d: 1910, ME; sister: Emma Jane Page; married: Avery Merrow b: 3 Jul 1843 d: 16 Dec 1926.
any smaller than 2 yds I want one. I don t want to pay over 1.25 or 1.50. I don t want a hoop skirt any longer than 2 yds any way and now do for my sake write as soon as you get this both of you You write right back. immediately about that Hoop skirt don t get it now but tell me the price and the smallest size & I ll send the money in my next. Perhaps I shall send for a hat there. Be sure write soon Write about how they gore the dresses now tell Mattie to for she always knows everything about the styles of cutting dresses etc. I think a good deal of her opinion also yours for I think Em & Mat or at least I hope you feel enough interest in me to tell me what would be for my interest. Now both of you write as soon as you can possibly find out the prices etc of the Hoop skirts. Remember I dont want an extra nice one. I caint afford it. So do as well for me as you can and I don t want one over two yds around Ella I shall mail this tonight when I get home. I hope my feller will come airly for me for I want to get home early I don t know whether [unclear] will come or my brother Charly 17 I want someone to come it is a shame for boys that have good teams not to come for me Ella Don t get on a fit of not writing now for I want to hear from you both so bad tell Mattie to write. What do you wear on your head this sumer tell me and what for your best suit. Now tell me all the news do I m dying to know I have heard the cotton mills were going to stop is it so. How I do want to see both of you old darling girls do you miss me any Em & Mat My mother says once in a while I wish I knew Emma & Mattie. I tell her I wish she did How do you do up your hair now. tell me There is a fine style of a fellow going from Troy to Boston Monday morning My health is better by a great deal than it has been. I am encouraged. Where is Russell Gleason 18 now is the fellow married I don t know. And Len Richardson 19 where is he. Do tell me all the news every thing I am going to Newport soon and have some pictures taken will send you a photograph if you gals want one. 17 Brother - Charles Melvin Bailey b: 1852, VTT 18 Russell Gleason B; ME; parents: George and Mary Gleason; boarder: Appleton Street; employed: Middle Street - cardmaker 19 Leonard Len Richardson
Don t for Lords sake let any one but Mattie see this now don t for I dont want only you & Mat to see this. Remember