1896-1909. 13 FULL DETROIT DIARIES. Theatre, Belle Isle, Fires, Firemen, Depression, Love, etc.

A very fine group of 13 very full diaries belonging to Louisa M. Manson, later Hunter. Born October 30, 1883, her father appears to have owned a store in Detroit which was quite successful. They have a maid, purchase fur, go to the theatre, balls, Belle Isle, travel regularly, etc. Young Louisa is a stink though; she seems to suffer from anxiety and depression even in her earliest diary, i.e. 14 years old. She holds out hope that marrying Billy, who will go on to become a Detroit Fire Fighter, will make her happy. It doesn't. 

Incredible Detroit and greater Michigan content with entries for essentially every day of every year. Plus, a fascinating insight into late 19th and early 20th century expectations of life, love, etc., 

We tried to focus the below notices on specific local information in looking through the 1897 so you would have an idea of local references, and on more personal, self-reflective insights in the 1905. The 1904 is just a quick list after 5 minutes of peeking at that one. There is far more than listed below!

Includes 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909.

Here are just a few examples of the subjects covered, a few excerpts, etc,. We have not even cracked the others . . . just fascinating. 

1897 [15 Years Old]. Entries involving the Detroit Seminary, Mrs. Turnbull, Aggie Cronin, a New Servant Girl, Coldest Day in Michigan in 22 Years, Isabel Day, Gladys and Louise Wyman, Hearing Frederick Booth-Tucker of the Salvation Army at the Detroit Opera House, Maude Goodell [Goodale at times], Public Transportation, Measured for a Corset, Buying Fur, Mrs. Beverage, Train to Clio, Riding in a Sleigh, Travel to Mio, Train to Oscoda, Flint, Making Candy, Riding Bicycles; Making a Bicycle Skirt; Wabash Avenue, Streetcars, School Sold by Miss Pope & Cutcheon; Going to Hear the Salvation Army; Pressing Flowers, Storm on the Way to Belle Isle, Methodist Episcopal Church, "Log Cabin Park," Doing Fireworks on Fourth of July, Windsor, "The Boys" Pop Up Repeatedly . . . Romantic Context, Fair at Port Huron, Grosse Point, Eclipse of the Sun, Tandem Bicycle, Hancock Avenue, Circus Parade on Grand River Avenue, Durand and Perry, Meetings of the Epworth League, Jefferson Avenue, New Detroit Seminary Location on Jeff Avenue, Fire at the Detroit Opera House, Millinery Shop, Watched "My Friend from India" at the Theatre, Butterfly Collection, etc. 

1904 [22 Years Old]. Dog shows, Temple Theatre, Belle Isle, Ben Hur in Detroit, the Light Guard Armory, Seeing Frank Daniels in Office Boy at the Theatre, Mansfield and Ida Conquest in Ivan the Terrible at the Theatre, Port Huron, Shanandoah at the Lyceum Theatre, Star Island House, Canoeing, Bois Blanc with Billy, Visiting Buffalo, Niagara Falls, etc. Steamer Tashmoo, Gorge Railroad, the Maid of the Mist [Niagara Falls], 

1905 [23 Years Old]. Inscribed, "Louise M. Hunter [nee Manson]. 494 Putnam Ave. Detroit, Mich. 1904. From 'Billy.'" They then move to 874 Trumbull Avenue. Married May 4th. Mr. Harris from Grand Rapids, Frightful Snow Storms, Box Seats at the Theatre, Ice Skating at the Wayne Ice Rink; Feeling Glum and Cross with Billy; "Started out to go and see Billy. Gee whiz I was nearly snowed under before I got there. He managed to be real nice and polite for once. It was a mighty big change to his usual grouchiness." Attending the Shipmaster's Ball with Billy; "Feeling so lonely all day long. I don't know what is going to become of me if I keep on getting these blue spells." Sick with "The Grip," [sometimes The Grippe] i.e. influenza, "Billy actually called up to inquire how I was, at last. He is certainly the most disgusting boy I ever met; does not seem to think there is such a thing as politeness in the world." "I do not feel anxious to have Billy come over any more, because he tries to be as mean as he can to me. Guess he is trying to get rid of me. I am sorry we are so placed that I simply must stay with him." "I was sure when I went to bed that I would never feel anything but blue again." "Feeling desperately nervous and ill-at-ease." Billy and I went down to the theatre in the aftern-noon and enjoyed that greatly. After the play we had a disagreeable time & in fact we didn't enjoy ourselves again. We ate candy and quarreled until he left." Made candy in the afternoon, ". . . the girl from next came over; she stayed so long and made me so dreadfully nervous that I simply almost went crazy." Woodward Avenue, Downtown to have her Face Fixed Up, Oyster Stew, Went to the Matinee to see Ben Hur, "Billy called up at noon and again at night. he is so busy making arrangements for our wedding. I simply feel all wrong about getting married in such a hurry, still there is not any use in waiting any longer." "I can see plainly that I am mighty nervous over our affair. Now that it is time for us to get married I begin to feel different about it." "I am so in hopes that it will be nice to morrow because if nothing happens I am going to be married." "Billy came at 2.30. We had everything arranged for our wedding. At seven P.M. May and we drove away and by 7.30 Billy and I were married. Honeymoon in Mount Clements, Mrs. Walsh Came - We hadn't seen her since she came home from Cuba, Temple Theatre, house hunting, "Mrs. Harding was going to have a deaf and dumb girl here and I simply cannot endure any such a person around," "Billy is certainly the most peculiar man I could have married. He treats me as if I were some person with no claim on him whatever." "I was too blue to even get up in the morning. Of course, I was ill and was simply almost crazy with my nerves. Those deaf and dumb people being here simply makes me crazy. I was almost out of my head." "I actually believe that I am more discontented and blue than I ever was before. I evidently do not love my husband as greatly as I thought, because I am sure I would feel quite differently if I did. I do hope we aren't going to be unable to live together. It seems as though something is very much wrong somewhere." "A great many Easter hats were out, but we sat in the house and did not join in with our new hats." "Came home and found some more wretched deaf and dumb people here." "My medicine came and I began to take the nasty dope. It almost put me on the bad." 

Diaries range from fair with spines absent and badly shaken, to good +. 

Also includes several cabinet cards of a young Louisa, one of Billy, and a tin type of her cousin or aunt, Mary Ann Woodward, i.e. Mrs. J. G. Woodward.