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 privilege and blessing to be able to share what I’ve learned in the last 36 years. And with all that said……
Up for auction today is a handwritten Centennial Diary from 1876 that original belonged to German immigrant, Charles L. Jaster of Cleveland Ohio. At the time the diary was written, Charles is just 25 years old, married to Sophia Abrecht who just gave birth to their little baby girl on February 17th, 1876. Charles works in a bank along with his brother John and it looks like their father was the founder of the Old State Banking and Trust Company. On November 3rd, they move to a new bank building in the square next to the Court House and I found out that it was the Society for Savings Building which is the photo you see above next to his entry. Please note that the photo is just one I copied off the web but it was actually taken the same year this diary was written, 1876.
Charles was born March 30th, 1850 in Germany to the parents of John L. Jaster Sr. and Caroline (New-Jahn) Jaster. By what I found out on the genealogy sites, the family came to America in the 1850’s. He married Sophia in either 1874 of 1875 and then baby Lucy was born 1876. Charles passed away in 1918 and Sophia in 1932.
As far as the entries, Charles was not only a banker but a singer! He sung with a group called Gesang Verein, a German singing society and there are a lot of entries about that.
He was faithful keeping his diary for every day up until the end of April and then they get sporadic. There’s a total of 166 handwritten pages of entries out of the 365 represented and then also 13 in the back of expenses and miscellaneous entries.
It’s a beautiful diary too, as the leather cover forms a “wallet” that surrounds the pages. I also love that his brother John Jaster Jr. gave him the diary on Christmas Day, 1875.
The entries show what life was like while living in the great city of Cleveland Ohio in the 1870’s for a German immigrant, and here’s an example of that…...
1876
“January 1st, Last night went to the Gesang Verein with wife to see the Operetta of Dr. Sagebein. I played the part of Famulus (which means assistant or servant in Latin). We stayed till after twelve. All the steam whistles in city began to blow at 12 o’clock last night and Artillery fired cannons on the square also bon fires illumination of houses to welcome the Centennial year. I got up about 8 this morning and after breakfast, went to the office and wrote up some books, till half past twelve then went home after having stopped at Schlegel’s. Mrs. Helwig was at the ball also. This afternoon Sophie and I went to see her parents on Wilson Ave. and wished them a happy New Year took supper there. Johnny, Father, Mother and Marie and Josephine also came. We went away about nine o’clock. The weather was very warm. I wore my light walking coat.”
“February 17th, A little daughter was presented to us today at 12 o’clock noon precisely. I got up about six o’clock this morning and after making fires in both stoves, I went to Mrs. Abrecht and told her to come to my house, then I stopped at Dr. Rabe’s office, cor. Wilson Ave. and Woodland then came back and went to Mrs. Gaberdiel but she was ill, so she could not come then I went home till Mother (Abrecht) and Dr. came then I went to Mrs. Horner on Sibley St. and told her to come. My mother came this noon about one to see why I absented myself from the office this forenoon – she found out.”
“March 3rd, I did not attend the rehearsal of the Gesang Verein last evening in consequence of the restlessness of the baby although she afterwards slept moderately well. Mr. Rice representing the Detroit Safe Company was at the Bank today in reference to supplying the firm with a patent Greenleaf and Sargent Chronometer lock. Sophie was up all day and cooked dinner as Mrs. Bert does not stay anymore.”
“March 11th, This morning I got up at half past six o’clock and after polishing the kitchen stove a little, made breakfast and got down to the office at 5 minutes to nine o’clock. There is an exhibition on the square, a clumsily looking frame house in the north east part of the square and inside of the house is a painting representing the battle of Lockout Mountain which was fought during the war between the north and south where General Joe Hooker was the Hero. The object of the show is to raise funding to build a monument to the fellows dead at that battle. I called at L. Schiller’s saloon on Ontario St. to collect 40 cents more to pay his note of $46.70 as he had only left with the bank $46.30 this morning.”
“April 4th, Sophie and the baby went out on Wilson Avenue yesterday to see grandma Abrecht. Yesterday was election day for the city trustees and police commissioners. Today was Mr. C. P. Born’s funeral. He died last Thursday of Apoplexy and he was buried so late because his daughter Mrs. Powers of Mississippi could not arrive sooner than yesterday. I did not go to the office today as I expected to, being at the funeral but did not get enough singers together so I stayed home after receiving his remains.”
“May 11th, I found 50 cents error in statement yesterday which leaves 1 cent out. I am copying some specifications and contracts for Mr. H. Wick for his building in rear of Park Bldg. on Public Square. Alfred H. W. and Dudley went fishing this afternoon. This morning before I went to the office I took our little Lucy out in her carriage riding for about half an hour. The Grand Lodge I.O.O.F. of Ohio are in session in city this week. Lang received a letter from Mr. Moeller New York our new director. Called on H. Brocker this morning and he accepted the two dfts. (drafts) which I had on him from Hersch C. & co. N.Y.”
“June 2nd, It was very hot today we had a shower also but it did not cool the atmosphere very much. Last night there was “damen probe” in the Gesang verein hall and I hear there was a large and enthusiastic number of ladies there that propose to sing in the society.” (I learned that a “damen probe”translates from German as a women's sample or trial product.)
“June 7th, Today we hired a servant girl for our house. Yesterday and today we also had a Bohemian woman for scrubbing the floors &c the white washing is all completed. The weather is very warm. Took the baby out riding this evening and went to Loeb’s grocery and got 1 graham bread 4, 2 lb. Sugar 22, 1 qt. strawberries 15.”
“July 9th, Went up to Putin Bay (Put-in-Bay) on the steamer Pearl with family. The Abrecht family also went.”
“July 29th, Harry got home from his Michigan trip this morning. There was a fire on Superior St. over Yates clothing store this evening.”
“August 5th, Last night about eleven o’clock I got sick with Cholera Morbus and Mr. Lloyd our neighbor went to Dr. Sackrider and he came and gave me medicine which checked the diarrhea but this morning I vomited again and I felt so weak that I did not go to work. Sohpie got Dr. Cyriax for me this evening.”
“September 12th, I went out to Lucy Abrecht’s today and she gave me a letter for Sophie form Mrs. Abrecht who is still in Europe. Mr. Koebler brought the letter along, also a doll and bird for little Lucy.”
“November 3rd, We moved into our new bank on the square No. 41, next to the Court House.”
Much more than I’ve quoted here. The diary is really in good shape other than the cover being very worn on the outside but the inside of it looks good as does the pages and binding. The diary measures about 3” x 6”.