WELCOME TO SALLY’S DIARIES:
Before I get started describing this piece, I want to let you know that I have a podcast and two other websites if you are interested in knowing more about this wonderful world of diaries.
I’ve taken some diaries from my private collection and shared them on our podcast called “Diary Discoveries.” We’ve got 68 episodes out now and you can find it on all the usual podcast venues. So if you enjoy the compelling and adventurous stories from vintage diaries then please check it out.
I also have my main site titled, Sallys Diaries which tells a little bit more about me and my collection and a website that’s titled Sally’s Diaries Private Collection. On that site you’ll find full transcribed diaries, with photos and the history that surrounds them.
Plus, I was asked to do a TEDx talk in Vienna about this very thing, collecting diaries, and if you are interested in this sort of thing just put into the search engines “10,000 diaries” and you should come up with it. It was a privileged and blessing to be able to share what I’ve learned in the last 36 years. And with all that said……
First off the photos you see above showing the Earthquake are just ones I copied off the web to share here. As are the newspaper clipping of the family and the birth record. The diary of course is original.
This really is a very historical diary that contains 186 handwritten pages of content. When I say historical, there are two main reasons that really stick out to me; the first being the fact that it represents the years of the Great Depression. Many times when I read Great Depression era diaries, you don’t often get entries that talk about how difficult times were and what was going on with the government and banks during those years, not so with this diary. Our author, Sylvester Leese Shreves, talks a great deal about the great troubles the country is in.
When the diary begins, July 12th, 1932, Sylvester is living in Torrance California with his son and daughter-in-law. He’s 82 years old, divorced and really struggles with his heath and the fact that he feels like he is dying soon and living during the Great Depression, he seems very depressed….
“June 30th,1933….Seriously I believe that I must be close to “the end of the trail.” My dizziness and misery of my stomach and severe nervousness and simply no strength. The 82 ½ year old human machine must be worn out. I will soon “break camp” and go home…....”
Then there’s probably the most fascinating thing concerning his diary and that’s the fact that this was the year when a Magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit the Long Beach area, very near where Sylvester lives. As one web site puts it…..
“March 10th is chiseled in history as the date of the Great 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. In the early evening hours on March 10, 1933, the treacherous Newport-Inglewood fault ruptured, jolting the local citizenry just as the evening meals were being prepared. The Magnitude 6.4 earthquake caused extensive damage (approximately $50 million in 1933 dollars) throughout the City of Long Beach and surrounding communities. Sadly, the earthquake caused 120 fatalities. Within a few seconds, 120 schools in and around the Long Beach area were damaged, of which 70 were destroyed. Experts concluded that if children and their teachers were in school at the time of the earthquake, casualties would have been in the thousands.”
When you put the year 1933 into the google search engines, the main things that come up are the Depression and this devastating earthquake. And Sylvester writes all about it, in great detail, daily sometimes, and those aftershocks last more than a month after the “Hell-one” as he calls it.
“March 11th, 1933, (a day after the big quake)...The feeling caused by an Earthquake, I believe cannot be described. When Mother Earth is giving you such treatment, where shall we search for safety.”
Again, the diary begins July 12th, 1932 and ends 186 pages later on February 17th, 1936.
Sylvester was born on January 18th, 1851 in Indiana. His parents were John and Caroline (Kellison) Shreves. He had three siblings; Barbara Olive, Benjamin F. and Charles K. At one point in his diary he mentions his precious sister….
“December 13th,1933….Sister Barbara born Dec 13th, 1854. 79 today. Has her (crippled) life and the sad evening of it – in Marshalltown Iowa. Soldiers home and without a mind. Been worth the living? More thorns than roses? Search me. A sermon could be written on her life and (approaching) death. It seems – to me – there ought to be a heaven, but no one knows?….”
He married Rebecca Lednum in 1872 and they had three children. Rebecca died in 1903 and he married Norma Langdale in 1904. The 1930 census shows him divorced and living with his son in Torrance California. I believe Sylvester owns a lot of property because he’s always collecting rent, but I think the property is in Iowa. A little over half of the diary is written while in California and then he finally heads back to Iowa. The rest of the diary is written while at his home in the Midwest.
While in Torrance he’s pretty good at daily, if not weekly, entries but then his entries start skipping weeks sometimes months, while in Iowa. And even tho Sylvester thinks his body is giving out and that he’s going to die soon, he lives another 8 years after the end of this diary. Here are some of his entries, with many as I’ve stated above, being very historical…..
1932
“October 23rd, Ed, Ada and I drove 168 miles to the Coachella Valley, in the desert, to Mecca, the “date” producing part of the valley. It is a great sight. Went via Anaheim, Corona, Riverside, Arlington, Edom, Beaumont, Banning, Cabazon, Garnet, Indio, Coachella, Therman and Mecca. The end of our trip, 168 miles from Torrance. We called on Clifford Collety at the “Barnes” Ranch and Date farm near Mecca. Ice is manufactured there on the Ranch. We started at 9-30 A.M. and got home at 9-20 P.M. A beautiful day and not hot even in the desert. We bought 20# of fine cured dates for 10 cts per pound, extra fine…..”
“December 26th, On Mon, December 26th all (except me) drove to San Diego and visited Clyde and Mattie Davidson. I spent the day at Long Beach and home by P. E. car at 11 P.M. They got home about 8-30 P.M. Near Harbor City they struck a “dip” and it threw them into the top and in the mix up in somewhat Ada wrecked her back and they hurried home and got a doctor. He gave her a “Hypo” to ease the pain and this morning she is not able to be up and we are wondering how serious it may prove to be.”
1933
“January 10th, On Tues. Nite, rather Wed. morning we had a bad “Santana” - strong wind from East and fine dust to obscure the sun on Wed. No wind on Wed but the air is full of dust and inside of dwellings and stores is simple covered with a thick coat of fine dust. It’s awfully bad, but not cold.”
“March 5th, Ed, Ada and I all worked at the dwelling in A.M. and they drove up the beach after lunch hoping to meet Eleo and Helen taking in the dance. Gov. Rolph extends the “Bank Holiday” for Mon, Tues, and Wed the 6th, 7th and 8th. This depression is a terrible serious matter. It’s simply awful. No money, No cash business and when and how is it going to end? Search me. A summer day. 80 in shade.”
“March 9th & 10th, No banks open for business. No smoke in the air. Five minutes before six P.M. Friday March 10th, 1933 we had a severe earthquake which shot canned goods from the shelves to the floor by the hundreds. Destroyed much of Ed’s jellies. Everything put up in glass. This one hour after the quake and I’m shaking yet. We have had two trembles – slight – since the dangerous one – this 7 P.M. Still quaking lightly at 7-05 P.M. We may all take our next meal in – where? How have we “played the game,” anyhow, Southern California is preferable – to me – to any chance. Still another tremble at 7-25. Another at 7-40 P.M. Another tremble, more, severer than the rest of the little ones at 8-4 and three or four very slight ones around 8-40 and 8-45. Another at 9-10 P.M. (I was not bothered tho as I listened to Amos and Andy?). Another at 9-20. Ed and Ada kept busy running out and in. At 9-55 another tremble, light. To bed at 10-15. At 10-32 another. Got me out of bed. At 11 another. 12-57 another light one. I happened to be awake. 1-13 another very light. 3-05 another very light and short duration. I had slept. At 6-03 A.M. the 11th another, so very light many will not notice it. At 6-26 we had another that anybody and everybody will feel, but no damage…..(the quakes go on…) The awful loss of life and property is appalling. Cannot be described, especially at Long Beach. Here, no one even hurt but quite a good deal of damage done to buildings, many being condemned where damage cannot be seen. Many Glass fronts are ruined here and many brick buildings damaged…..” (The aftershocks, small quakes, are still going on all the way through to the end of them month!!)
“March 13th,…..One feels an almost constant tremble before and after these light quakes, not noticed, not felt unless you are sitting or lying perfectly still – a kind of quiver, as if the old earth was nervous. I am unable to give a description that “covers the ground” - I can’t do it. On Tues. March 14th, 1933, about 11-3 or 11-5 A.M. while I laid on a sanitary cot in my garage, I plainly felt another light tremor. Then that nervous vibration followed it for a time. Fine warm day. At 6-15 P.M. the 14th we have another quake and it seems stronger and more dangerous than the little ones we have felt for the last few days. And at about 9 or 9-15 P.M. we had another, Just a little more severe but no damage. We are sleeping at my house yet...”
“March 23rd,….The Earthquake has caused everyone to forget the Bank Holiday with its attending hardships and the unemployed. We are “Just coming to.”
“March 31st, About 2-56 - 4 min. of 3 A.M. for March 31st we felt another quake, a little more severe than the ones since the “Hell-one. But no damage. Slight vibrations are still felt but they grow lighter and less frequent, this the 3rd of April…….”
“On the 7th of April California went wet – I mean Beer was on sale – so far as the Federal Government is concerned – Many localities were delayed by needing local ordinances. Long Beach opened sale on the 13th.” (A little after this he says, “I am afraid it is the start of a financial finish” meaning not the sale of beer but the whole banking failure.)
“May 2nd, Find day. It rained again last nite, a fine rain, but sunny after 8 A.M. Sunny yes but a regular “Santana.” The wind simply howling – howling the air full of dust but the strange part is, the wind is from the West.”
“June 30th,….Seriously I believe that I must be close to “the end of the trail.” My dizziness and misery of my stomach and bowels and severe nervousness and simply no strength. The 82 ½ year old human machine must be worn out. I will soon “break camp” and go home…....”
“July 20th, I don’t know what is wrong with me. No pain. I can handle my legs only with a great effort – as I am so awfully nervous. Something is about to quit on me. My heart seems all right but I am also so dizzy and simply no strength. I feel as tho this old human machine was simply worn out and about to quit functioning. Well it has did me good service for more than 82 years and if I am nearing “the end of the trail” I’m ready. It occurs to me that it may be my brain. What is it?”
“August 31st and on Sat. Sept. 2nd, I went by P.E. to Glendale and Carrie drove there and took me to North Hollywood to their home and sun. 3rd she drove me to Hollywood, dropped me there and I came by P. E. to Long Beach – at Elks Club and at 8-30 P.M. left there for Torrance.”
“October 1st, At about 1-10 or 12 A.M. Mon. the 2nd we got quite a little quake. No damage here but it got us all up and gave us a scare. Another slight one at 9-30 A.M. the 2nd.”
“November 12th, Is also summer. No fogs these nites or mornings. At 2-30 P.M. it is real hot. I at home all day. Ed and Ada to Helen’s at 2 P.M. then to show. I’m lonesome.”
“November 14th, It is 52 at sunup. No breeze, clear and fine. Perfect. But I will certainly “take the ferry” one of these days soon. I am slipping, sinking. I write this that you may know that I expect – daily, hourly, to “break camp.” The quake on the 13th was felt much stronger in Long Beach.”
“November 30th, Thanksgiving. Ada got up a Real Banquet today. Ada, Ed and I and Helen, Cleo and John. Turkey with all the trimmings and then some. Fine day. Temp 45 & 60. Ocean 62. All to LA after dinner except I staid at home and I’m lonesome but I can get nothing from a “talking” show, they can. I don’t hear at all well.”
“December 13th,….Sister Barbara born Dec 13th, 1854. 79 today. Has her (crippled) life and the sad evening of it – in Marshalltown Iowa. Soldiers home and without a mind. Been worth the living? More thorns than roses? Search me. A sermon could be written on her life and (approaching) death. It seems – to me – there ought to be a heaven, but no one knows?….”
“December 31st, Still raining at 7-30 P.M. when I hit the hay. One hell of a rain just as 1933 was leaving. It not only flooded the streets but flooded the inside of the buildings. Ed and Adda got home just about Midnite, 12 o’clock – Just as the rain ceased. 1933 gave 1934 a copious bath for her starter but barring the free bath she turned over nothing that anybody would want. I’d like to know now the outcome of all this worldly trouble but doubt as to its being worth staying and living thru. Conditions look bad to me….We got but 3 inches but Glendale and much of the North country got 5 to 8 inches, specially Montrose where many lives were lost and a million dollars of property damage. It is simply awful. This added to the already bad conditions, is discouraging to say the least”
1934 (This year he does a lot of skipping of day, sometimes weeks when it comes to his entries)
“March 16th, The Government paid for all three of the Post Office lots, $7,100.00 as per the Herald Press Telegram of March 16, 1934. I left Torrance Calif. On March 20th, 2-39 P.M. for Iowa. Left Lost Angeles at 4-10 P.M. March 20th, 1934. Kan City Mo. At 8-30 P.M. 22nd, Kinsley, Newton, Florence, Emporia, Osage City, Topeka then Kansas City at 8-30 P.M. and left Kan. City at 11-30 P.M. 22nd, got to Des Moines at 6 A.M. Friday March 23rd, 1934. Found a fresh snow of about ½ to 1 in. only and at sundown the 24th, ½ of it is gone but it is chilly. I walked over town and found it necessary to cover my ears with my hands. But it’s sunny.”
“March 30th, At 2-30 it’s still snowing hard. I am at the house all day – alone – No use to say I’m lonesome…...”
“April 23rd, is about as mean a day as could be so far as wind and dust goes. While it is 55 above zero at noon it is chilly – no – sun – would be if the dust did not obscure it – Very strong NW wind…..” (He’s helping his children shingle the house.)
“June 13th, It has been cooler the last few days – since it rained a shower. But my strength is not improving any – on account of mental trouble, only, and not even for myself but for the mental trouble I am causing another and the worst thought is – there is no cause for it. I will never take another deal except purely within myself.”
“July 1st, Visited sister Barbara at Soldier’s Home at Marshalltown Iowa. Too sad for description…..This has been a spring and summer long to be remembered for their heat and lack of rain as well as the absence of everything related to prosperity.”
“October 14th,….I spent a part of the afternoon sitting alone in McRea Park on account of Ed’s cruel letter of the 2nd. If I have to go to hell after this life, I’m going to claim double assessment.”
From here on out for the year 1935 and part of 1936 he’s skipped quite a bit, only writing down memorable moments in his life such as trips he took to the surrounding towns in Iowa, at times- the extreme weather, working on the house, etc. I picked out a few of those entries….
“This July 29th, 1935. Des Moines Iowa. From 90 to 107 degrees for the last week. So hot of nites that we lie away awake perfectly nude and sweat till 12 to 2 A.M. and not a stir of air. Still hot – sultry. I weigh now 120 pounds – weighed 136 to 140 # when I left Calif. on March 20th, 1934 – I have no vitality – I’m all in.”
“December 2nd, 1935. I called on Mrs. Long in afternoon. 63 years ago today I was married to Rebecca A. Lednum in Fontanelle Iowa at about 8 P.M. by N. S. Taylor (an old family friend). I was 21 yrs 10 mo & 18 days old being born on Jan. 18th, 1851. Becky was born May 27th, 1852 so she was 20 yrs, 7 mo & 4 days old when married. All of this page is written on Dec. 6th, 1935 at Des Moines Iowa.”
1936
“January 23rd,…..This country should not have been stolen from the Indians. If I ever get out of it…..January 30th, It’s awful, too cold to leave the premises today. Oh I hope I will live to get out of Iowa.”
For the next 5 weeks a terrible blizzard sets in and the papers have said it’s the coldest it has ever been in that part of Iowa for 117 years. He’s pretty miserable too. On the last page of the diary he writes…
“I am so dizzy today, that I can navigate only with great difficulty.”
There is so much more than what I shared here.
The very last page of the diary is torn out and not accounted for and there’s one page in the front loose but it IS accounted for. The diary is in good shape, (other than the torn out page, and a scuff mark on the cover,) and measures about 3 1/2” x 6”.