Ida Burnell's 1893 Diary
Introduction
Ida Miranda Burnell was a school teacher in Blocksburg in 1893. She kept a diary while she was there. Many years later it was stored away and forgotten in the attic of a house in Eureka where she lived with her mother. The house was eventually sold and remarkably the diary was found by the new owner, who just happened to be an old schoolmate of Ida's niece. She remembered the name and returned the diaries to the family. Ida's diary is now in the possession of her niece, Elvie Thomas, who gave us a copy to publish here.
 Ida was the youngest of 10 children born to Joel and Nancy Jane (Stringfield) Burnell. Her father was a minister, a farmer and also Humboldt County's first district attorney. Ida was born March 6, 1873, at the family home in Hydesville. The house is still there, located at the bottom of the hill on Highway 36 west of town. It was moved, however, across the road from its original location. The terminus to the railroad was on the family property. It was a short line running to Eureka and was used frequently by the family. Ida grew up there, but the family moved to Eureka shortly before her father died.
In the early morning hours of March 2, 1893, Ida Miranda Burnell prepared to board the stage in Eureka bound for Blocksburg and her first teaching job. She had spent the previous two months waiting to see how she had done on her exams and to hear if she would be hired as a teacher. She passed the time visiting friends, writing letters, sewing, shopping, and gardening. She visited other schools and went to the dentist and doctor. Frequently, she visited the cemetery where her father was buried. Some days she slept in until 11 AM. The days were alternately rainy, foggy, and pleasant.
Her niece described Ida as a tall, husky, nice-looking woman. "She had a great sense of humor and the heartiest laugh you ever heard in your life. It just made you laugh to listen to her."
What follows are excerpts from the diary. Let Ida take you back to the Blocksburg of more than a hundred years ago.
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