Frederick Thomas Lailey, the son of William H. Lailey came from Winona to farm in Grantham Township (now St. Catharines) in 1899. He remained on his Grantham farm until 1926, when he moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake to continue his agricultural pursuits. Lailey started keeping a diary in 1899 and his writings provide wonderful insight into daily life on a St. Catharines farm in the early 20th century – and the wide variety of jobs Frederick had to complete! Our summer snapshots series looks back on this date in Lailey’s life in 1899, 1900 and 1901.
As far as possible, the diary has been reproduced just as it was written, complete with Lailey’s spelling, punctuation, shorthand notations and what may now appear to be outdated language.
Friday August 25, 1899
“My birthday. Tomatoes shipped baskets and picked 19 crates for factory. Music at Power’s after tea.”
Saturday August 25, 1900
“Birthday – 28 years old – picked H. Rivers peaches – K. went to town – mowed weeds – Gerald Kelson came in eve – Madge, Gerald and I went for a swim at night.”
Sunday August 25, 1901
“My birthday – 29. Home in a.m. Tea with Huds[?] and Bush.”