Ida Burnell's 1893 Diary
Thurs. Mar. 2, 1893
Left Eureka at 5 A.M. The moon was full and did not have to travel in the dark at all. Parts of the road were very rough, and the driver put his horses through. The snow had drifted and was deep in some places on Kneeland. In one place on Yager Ridge it had drifted so deep the driver had to find a road of his own to get by. The wind blew a hurricane on the Ridge. Had dinner at Frame's. She would accept nothing for it. Drove through Robert's, Hurlbutt's, Torey's, Porter's, Olmstead's and many other ranges. The scenery in some places is grand. Arrived at the Bridge about 6. It is a small place situated in a very pretty place on the Van Duzen.
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* The trip from Eureka to Bridgeville took 13 hours. Today it takes about an hour, and the route is somewhat different, following the Van Duzen river instead of going by way of Kneeland to the east. Back then, the passengers spent the night at Bridgeville and went on to Blocksburg the next day.
Fri. Mar. 3, 1893
 Breakfasted at 8. Intended to start immediately but Barnum idled around until 9-30. Sent a spring wagon and driver so I was able to bring my trunk with me. Road is rather rough in places but driver was careful. Passed Peter Knacke's where Dora Newman will board. The school house is a long way this side and she will have a long tiresome walk. It showered once or twice and the wind was terribly cold. Arrived about 3. Mrs. McLain gave us a lunch and then, as I was chilly, wrapped me up and heated all the soreness out of me. Had a hot brick at night and a good comfortable bed.
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* Mrs. McLain was the proprietor of the Overland Hotel, where Ida lived. Frequently teachers would board with a family.
Sat. Mar. 4, 1893
 Rained some. Mr. Orth's wife and 4 children are stopping here. Will have 2 in school. Polly brought me a beautiful bunch of violets this morning. Blocksburg seems to be a beautiful little place. The view is lovely. It is high up on a sort of slope and you can see hills and dales as far as the eye can reach. Went over to the school house in P.M. It is filthy. There are no books for the teacher's desk and can't tell a thing about the program and they are not classified at all. Fred Hanson came in awhile in the evening. Inaugruration Day.
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Mon. Mar. 6, 1893
 Beautiful day. 22 Pupils. Mrs. Harkey called. Mrs. Mac found a soft shelled egg with a handle 3 or 4 inches long. Birthday-20-
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Thurs. Mar 9, 1893
Frosty. Snowed, rained and blew. School. Headache, homesick. Wrote to Bess, Clara C., Ettie A. and Anita D. Raining this evening.
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* The Overland Hotel where Ida was staying was about a quarter of a mile from the school house. There was no running water, no electricity, no telephones, no indoor plumbing. Fireplaces or wood stoves were the only source of heat. The hotel was a two-story building with a kitchen, dining room, parlor, living quarters, and seven or eight rooms upstairs. It was located in the center of town.
Sat. Mar. 11, 1893
 Snow about a ft deep but melting. Snowing during the day. Washed hdkfs. Josie and I went for a walk in the snow out to Hanson's shearing pens. Made snow cream. Fred Hanson tried to wash our faces but only washed Josie's. Ran into Helmke's store with him after us. Made candy in the evening. Finished and mailed letter to Daisy.
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Mon. Mar 13, 1893
Everything frozen solid this A.M. Two new pupils. Made snow cream in the evening. Letter from Edna B. The Alder Point Bridge suffered about $100 worth of damage in the last storm.
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Wed. Mar 15, 1893
Stormy. School. Wrote to Lewis and Leila Y. No letter from home. Am to pay $20 a month by calendar month with privilege of doing my washing. Soap etc. furnished.
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Sat. Mar. 18, 1893
Rather pleasant. Mrs. Mac got a horse of Steppe and put him in the cart to take Walter and Louie up to the fruit farm. They got to Murphy's gate and the horse began to back, finally jumped sidewise turning the cart completely over and they all under it and the horse lying on Mrs. Mac's feet and legs. She patted the horse and kept him quiet while the children crawled out between the spokes. She then dragged herself out in some way and walked up to Orths and back to Murphys. They brought her home on horseback. She seems to be badly bruised. Children unhurt.
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Sun. Mar 19, 1893
Pleasant. Mrs. Mac unable to be up or hardly move herself. Complains of her shoulder, side and hips. Her legs are black and blue and dreadfully swollen. Put hot water on her shoulder last night and it dosen't seem so bad. Am afraid she may be hurt internally as she complains of water gurgling in her side when she moves. Mrs. Kneeland, Mrs. Curless, Mrs. Hope, Pryer, O'Conner were here in P.M. Wrote to Mother and Belle.
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Sun. Mar 26, 1893
70 Beautiful. Took a bath. Stayed home expecting Senteneys but they did not come. Went for a ramble through the cemetery and over the hills. Fred Hanson hitched up the horse and cart and we drove over to the ranch. Millie is just as of old and seemed glad to see us. Josie came nearly falling out of the cart once. Left here at 7 and got back at nine. Delightful. Letter from Bessie. Wrote to Bessie, Edith and Daisy. Lord Fauntleroy presented me with a boquet.
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Fri. Mar. 31, 1893
Pleasant. School. One month gone. An average of 18.9 for month. Letter from Edna. Took bath. Poison oak has broken out all over my legs in great lumps like hen's
eggs.
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