Harriet Hinton diary
Identifier:
1275 
Object ID:
2016.6.7
Catalog:
Archives
Title:
Harriet Hinton diary
Type:
Publication, Book, Journal, Diary
Description:
Harriet Hinton diary 1943 forward
Very brief entries of no more than 3-4 lines. Often mentioning the weather, or endless chores of the
household. Not much glimpse of feelings or emotions. Amongst the items found with her diary is a
small paper with 6 “rules to live by”?
1. When asked for an opinion, find out what the asker prefers, and agree.
2. When asked questions about anybody, answer “I don't know”.
3. Don't bore people with your own plans and affairs. Keep quiet. Listen to them and agree.
4. Ask no favors of anyone unless absolutely necessary.
5. Don't borrow or lend, you'll lose a friend.
6. Never offer any information or suggestions.
Entertainment and interaction seemed to come from visits with neighbors or women's “club”
meetings, as well as frequent and regular visits to McKinley or Southwest Harbor to see
movies, often with Paul.
Harriet was a devoted mother, centering much of her life around Paul and his activities. She also spent
much time with and leaned on her parents. When she was not feeling well, her mother often filled in
for her at the post office. During the especially busy Christmas season when mail bags were very
heavy, both her mother and Paul would come in to the post office to help. During the summer season,
mail deliveries came twice daily, but the rest of the year, it was once a day, and then often hours late,
due to weather. The otherwise quiet winter weeks were marked by the arrival of the Sears and the
Montgomery Ward catalogs.
In September of 1943, there was a gas shortage. Harriet and Paul made trips to Ellsworth in hopes of
filling their gas tank.
The water supply for the family came from a cistern. During cold weather, when many months would
go by with no rain, the cistern would get low or dry up altogether. In February of 1944, Harriet wrote
that the cistern ran out and Paul and his grandfather carried water from the McDuffie's well. During
this month, Harriet mentions that Paul went roller skating in Trenton.
1944 brought an outbreak of Scarlet Fever to the community. In July, Harriet recorded that a blimp
came down in the water off Mount Desert. In December, she notes that there was talk about a boat
torpedoed at Mount Desert Rock, with many dead.
Very brief entries of no more than 3-4 lines. Often mentioning the weather, or endless chores of the
household. Not much glimpse of feelings or emotions. Amongst the items found with her diary is a
small paper with 6 “rules to live by”?
1. When asked for an opinion, find out what the asker prefers, and agree.
2. When asked questions about anybody, answer “I don't know”.
3. Don't bore people with your own plans and affairs. Keep quiet. Listen to them and agree.
4. Ask no favors of anyone unless absolutely necessary.
5. Don't borrow or lend, you'll lose a friend.
6. Never offer any information or suggestions.
Entertainment and interaction seemed to come from visits with neighbors or women's “club”
meetings, as well as frequent and regular visits to McKinley or Southwest Harbor to see
movies, often with Paul.
Harriet was a devoted mother, centering much of her life around Paul and his activities. She also spent
much time with and leaned on her parents. When she was not feeling well, her mother often filled in
for her at the post office. During the especially busy Christmas season when mail bags were very
heavy, both her mother and Paul would come in to the post office to help. During the summer season,
mail deliveries came twice daily, but the rest of the year, it was once a day, and then often hours late,
due to weather. The otherwise quiet winter weeks were marked by the arrival of the Sears and the
Montgomery Ward catalogs.
In September of 1943, there was a gas shortage. Harriet and Paul made trips to Ellsworth in hopes of
filling their gas tank.
The water supply for the family came from a cistern. During cold weather, when many months would
go by with no rain, the cistern would get low or dry up altogether. In February of 1944, Harriet wrote
that the cistern ran out and Paul and his grandfather carried water from the McDuffie's well. During
this month, Harriet mentions that Paul went roller skating in Trenton.
1944 brought an outbreak of Scarlet Fever to the community. In July, Harriet recorded that a blimp
came down in the water off Mount Desert. In December, she notes that there was talk about a boat
torpedoed at Mount Desert Rock, with many dead.
Date:
1/1/1943
PastPerfect:
Other Images
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Citation
“Harriet Hinton diary,” Tremont Historical Society, accessed April 26, 2024, https://ths.digitalarchive.us/items/show/576.Item 1275