1
10
213
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/e29cd1955c93826981250a5a64e07adf.pdf
6f7a31a4653bdf1a2cb6c73f4a1eaf3f
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Paper
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Summary of Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters "cast of characters", timeline, and Taft family tree
Subject
The topic of the resource
High level overview
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft was a lady farmer in the early 1900’s on Old Mission Peninsula. She owned a 40-acre plot in Section 9, S.W. ¼ of N.E. ¼, T29N-R10W. She was actively involved in farming from 1911 until the mid-1940’s. Because Carolyn’s primary job was as a teacher in Illinois, she hired farm hands to run the farm in her absence during the Fall and Winter months. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Mary Morgan
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Local History Collections, Peninsula Community Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2023
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Christoper Mericle
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
Peninsula Community Library records
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Asa Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Ellis Wunsch
Essie Kitchen
Grace Stutsman
Harry Zang
Hazel Gilmore
Joseph Kitchen
Max Gilmore
Mericle
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/e9844bbd2650c9d7626c31d3c22e4a8f.jpg
33e2bc5367635b6768206a28311c286d
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/a146c48d2bda5219559c215c54ae37ab.jpg
a02de8c2a9262eefd8f9f5d391bdcfc9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Photo
Physical Dimensions
The actual physical size of the original image.
3" x 5"
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Photos of Essie Kitchen and Roger and Leona Kitchen
Subject
The topic of the resource
Images are from the Peninsula Community Library records collection. Collection which is part of the holdings of the Peninsula Community Library. .
Description
An account of the resource
Photo of Essie Kitchen, who was the wife of Joseph Kitchen and author of numerous letters in the Carolyn Gay Taft collection. Photo of her son Roger Kitchen, and his wife Leona. Roger was mentioned in many of Essie's letters to Carolyn Gay Taft.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Mary Morgan
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Local History Collections, Peninsula Community Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2023
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Anonymous donor
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
Peninsula Community Library records
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Essie Kitchen
Leona Kitchen
Roger Kitchen
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/beb4f22696c6ce8fb2c7143b48357538.pdf
0921bdfdc6c2923f4b00fb3ac51616b8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Finding Aids, 2011-
Subject
The topic of the resource
Archives--finding aids.
Grand Traverse County (Mich.)
Description
An account of the resource
This collection contains the finding aids that describe the physical archival holdings of the member and branch libraries of Traverse Area District Library.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Barritt, Amy, 1984-
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Various collections referenced.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2011-
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Kingsley Branch Library, Kingsley (Mich.)
Peninsula Community Library, Old Mission (Mich.)
Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Contents in this collection are protected by copyright law, but Traverse Area District Library permits these items to be reproduced, displayed or transmitted at the discretion of the user. Staff would appreciate being informed on how these resources are used.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Various. Search for collections in catalog at catalog.tadl.org.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
Peninsula Community Library, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Finding Aid of Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Records, 2023
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finding aid of the Peninsula Community Library records collection. Collection is part of the holdings of the Peninsula Community Library.
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft was a lady farmer in the early 1900’s on Old Mission Peninsula. She owned a 40-acre plot in Section 9, S.W. ¼ of N.E. ¼, T29N-R10W. She was actively involved in farming from 1911 until the mid-1940’s. Because Carolyn’s primary job was as a teacher in Illinois, she hired farm hands to run the farm in her absence during the Fall and Winter months. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives and provide a record of both agricultural and social history. There are approximately 382 letters.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Morgan, Mary
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Local History Collections, Peninsula Community Library, Traverse City (Mich.)
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2023
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Christopher Mericle and family - Descendants of Carolyn Gay Taft
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
Peninsula Community Library records
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LCH010pcl-findingaid.pdf
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
PDF Text
Text capture metadata for PDF documents
Text
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LIBRARY
2893 Island View Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Creator: Carolyn Gay Taft, Ralph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Hazel Gilmore
Title: Carolyn Gay Taft Farm records
Inclusive dates: 1911-1942
Bulk dates: 1913-1939
Extent: 3 linear feet
Call number: LHC 010 Pcl
Language: Material is in English.
Acquisition: Christopher Mericle
Accruals: Periodic additions to the collection are expected.
Access: The collection is open without restriction.
Photographs: Box 3
A-V Material: None.
Digital Material: https://localhistory.tadl.org/collections/show/41 (scanned letters/envelopes and text translation of the cursive content)*
Copyright: Copyright is held by the Peninsula Community Library.
Processed By: Mary Morgan, 2023
Abstract
The records of Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter collection, donated by Christopher Mericle, includes check stubs and account books detailing the costs associated with running a farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s, as well as letters written to Carolyn Gay Taft by her farm hands or their wives, recounting agricultural and social events of that time. Series include: Account Books, Check Stubs, and Farm Letters.
History
Carolyn Gay Taft was a lady farmer in the early 1900’s on Old Mission Peninsula. She owned a 40-acre plot in Section 9, S.W. ¼ of N.E. ¼, T29N-R10W. A promissory note indicates that the purchase was made from Harry Zang, on April 18, 1911, in the amount of $900.
Carolyn was born in 1873 in Swanzey, New Hampshire, to Zina and Ella (Gay) Taft. She had three sisters: Grace Emily, Annie Elzina and May Ella. Carolyn Gay (also known as Carrie) attended Boston College from 1897-1899. She, and her sister Grace, taught at the Illinois State School for the Deaf (ISD) in Jacksonville. Grace, the only sister to marry, was the spouse of Asa Stutsman, whom she met at the ISD (he was the Boy’s Supervisor).
Summer cottages, in what has since become known as the Illini Orchards on Old Mission Peninsula, were occupied by vacationers connected with the school. Their affiliation with the Peninsula predates the turn of the 20th century. Edward Cleary, a deaf member of the ISD staff, built a log cabin here in 1898/9 and Asa spent several summers there. When the old “Montague Place” a cherry farm, became available, he purchased it in 1909. Asa and Grace called this place “Sagacre Orchards”.
Carolyn’s sisterly attachment to Grace led her to purchase a small cherry farm as close as possible to the Stutsman farm. She was actively involved in farming from 1911 until the mid-1940’s. Because Carolyn’s primary job was as a teacher at the ISD, hired farm hands ran the farm in her absence during the Fall and Winter months. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Ralph Kitchen (1913-1915)
Joseph Kitchen and Essie Kitchen, children Roger and Hazel (1920/21, 1924 – June, 1931)
Max Gilmore and Hazel Gilmore, child Ronald (Sept, 1931 – 1939)
There are approximately 382 letters.
The Mericle Family, who donated Carolyn’s letters, are descendants of Grace and Asa. Their mother, Rebecca, was the daughter of Grace and Asa. Rebecca was married to Dale Mericle. Their children were Carolyn Gay, Lucy Ann, and Christopher Dale. Christopher donated the letters to Peninsula Community Library in 2021, on behalf of the Mericle family.
Scope and Content Note
Artifacts from running the Taft farm include letters from the hired farm hands (or their spouses), checkbook stubs and account books detailing the costs of wages, animals, seeds, farm implements, house maintenance, etc., as well as crop prices. The letters especially provide a wealth of information, not only on weather conditions, crops, and animals, but also on family life, illnesses, and neighborhood happenings at the turn of the century. Series include: Account Books, Check Stubs, and Farm Letters.
Container No. Description
Account Books [series]:
Box 1 Folder 1: Farm account book (Day book) and various receipts, 1911-1916
Box 1 Folder 2: Farm account pages and various receipts, 1919-1923
Box 1 Folder 3: Farm account book and various receipts, 1924-1942
Box 1 Folder 4: Farm account book and various receipts, 1933-1941
Box 1 Folder 5: Farm account book and various receipts, 1937-1940
Box 1 Folder 6: Summaries – includes a copy of mimeographed pages from Robert Vogel, who utilized the letters in the process of writing his dissertation about the history of the settlement on Old Mission Peninsula from a geographical lens. Reference LHC-009). Also (incomplete) summaries from the various transcriptionists (see the chart at the end of this document) who transcribed the letters from cursive to text.
Check Stubs [series]:
Box 2
Various bundles of check stubs, 1925-1938 (includes some invoices)
Farm Letters [series]:
(note – all folders contain sleeved original letters and envelopes and scanned copies captured in report binders)
Box 3
Folder 1: One page overview and an abbreviated family tree written by Christopher Mericle, 7/19/2021. Twelve Generations – a 24 page written narrative of Carolyn Gay Taft’s relatives spanning 350 years (written by Rebecca Mericle?). Picture of Mrs. Essie Kitchen, picture of Roger and Leona Kitchen (both 1942). Picture of Taft Farm House 2023 and photo of the PCL volunteers who transcribed the letters from cursive-to-text. Various photos of Carolyn Gay Taft, in her later years, and relatives, and photos of the farm circa 1940’s.
Folder 2: 1911 promissory note to purchase the farm, a snapshot of the 1908 plat map indicating the location of the CGT farm (from Christopher Mericle, 7/17/2021). Letter from the Illinois School for the Deaf to Carolyn Taft advising her of when to report for duty, dated 8/26/1920. Canceled check to Traverse City State Bank, 8/18/1924.
Folder 3: March 12, 1913 – letter from A.G. Fairbanks & Sons, Artesian Well Boring
Folder 4: March, Jun- Nov, 1914 (3/26, 6/2, 9/23, 9/30, 10/8, 10/13, 10/26, 11/27)
Folder 5: Feb- March, 1915 (2/1, 2/15, 2/19 (2x), 3/2, 3/11, 3/22)
Folder 6: April-June, 1915 (4/6, 4/14, 4/23, 4/27, 4/29, 5/05, 5/14, 5/21, 6/1, 6/5)
Folder 7: 1917 (one letter detailing job offer to Joseph Kitchen, no date)
Folder 8: Apr, Sept-Dec, 1920 (4/20, 9/20, 9/28, 10/17, 10/24, 10/26, 11/1, 11/8,
11/17, 11/28, 12/9, 12/14, 12/28)
Folder 9: Jan-Mar, 1921 (1/9, 1/20, 1/27, 2/4, 2/14, 2/21, 3/4, 3/16)
Folder 10: Jan-Sept, 1924 (1/17, 4/9, 4/16, 4/27, 4/29, 5/10, 5/21, 5/29, 6/4, 9/2)
Folder 11: Oct-Dec, 1924 (10/5, 10/19, 10/23, 10/31, 11/9, 11/17, 12/1, 12/15, 12/22)
Folder 12: Jan-Sept, 1925 (1/15, 1/29, 2/17, 2/24, 3/1, 3/5, 3/15, 6/29, 9/13,
9/20, 9/27)
Folder 13: Oct-Dec, 1925 (10/4, 10/18, 10/20, 11/3, 11/16, 11/23, 12/5, 12/9,
12/28)
Box 4
Folder 1: Jan-Jun, 1926 (1/18, 2/2, 2/22, 2/26, 3/1, 3/15, 3/30, 4/10, 4/20, 5/4, 5/10, 5/16, 5/29, 6/25, 6/30)
Folder 2: Sept-Dec, 1926 (9/3, 9/15, 9/29, 10/12, 11/1, 11/11, 11/22, 11/28, 12/1, 12/15, 12/30)
Folder 3: Jan-May, 1927 (1/14, 2/7, 2/20, 3/7, 3/15, 3/23, 4/4, 4/14, 4/25, 5/1, 5/17, 5/27)
Folder 4: Jun-Dec, 1927 (6/1, 6/5, 6/12, 6/29, 9/11, 9/25, 10/9, 10/23, 11/6,
11/12, 12/3, 12/18)
Folder 5: Jan-Apr, 1928 (1/1, 1/12, 1/29, 2/8, 2/19, 3/4, 3/11, 3/23, 4/4, 4/22,
4/24)
Folder 6: May-Dec, 1928 (5/10, 5/21, 5/29, 6/7, 6/11, 6/20, 6/26, 9/5, 9/15, 9/27, 10/12, 10/31, 11/19, 12/14, 12/31)
Folder 7: Jan-May, 1929 (1/19, 2/13, 3/10, 3/22, 4/3, 4/4, 4/16, 4/28, 5/8, 5/14, 5/22)
Folder 8: Jun-Dec, 1929 (6/3, 6/9, 6/16, 8/20, 8/21, 9/8, 9/16, 9/18, 9/24, 10/15, 11/29, 12/6, 12/30)
Box 5
Folder 1: Jan-Dec, 1930 (1/7,1/23, 2/9, 2/23, 3/11, 3/23, 4/6, 4/18, 4/28, 5/9, 5/21, 5/26, 5/29, 6/3, 6/5, 6/10, 9/19, 9/23, 10/17, 10/24, 11/5, 11/30, 12/21 12/23)
Folder 2: Jan-Apr, 1931 (1/18, 2/4, 2/10, 2/16, 2/18, 2/26, 3/2, 3/11, 3/25, 4/2, 4/6, 4/13, 4/14, 4/18, 4/26, 4/29)
Folder 3: May-Dec, 1931 (5/2, 5/4, 5/10, 5/15, 5/19, 5/26, 5/27, 6/1, 9/23, 9/30, 10/8, 10/20, 10,22, 10/26, 11/9, 12/1, 12/13, 12/15)
Folder 4: Jan-Apr, 1932 (1/9, 2/2, 2/4, 3/4, 3/23, 4/4, 4/6, 4/11, 4/17, 4/23)
Folder 5: May-Dec, 1932 (5/3, 5/4, 5/16, 5/23, 9/14, 10/4, 10/11, 10/24, 10/31, 10/31 (postmark 11/2) 11/7, 11/28, 12/8, 12/20, 12/30)
Folder 6: Jan-July, 1933 (1/23, 2/10, 2/14, 2/27, 3/8, 3/21, 3/24, 4/12, 5/8, 5/20, 5/27, 7/2, 7/9, 7/24)
Folder 7: Sept-Dec, 1933 (9/20, 9/26, 9/28, 10/6, 10/23, 11/7, 11/24, 12/6, 12/9, 12/20, 12/26)
Box 6
Folder 1: Jan-Dec, 1934 (1/6, 1/12, 1/29, 2/7, 2/19, 2/20, 3/6, 3/19, 4/10, 4/19, 4/25, 8/4, 8/6, 9/29, 10/18, 10/26, 11/9, 12/4)
Folder 2: Jan-Dec, 1935 (1/2, 1/12, 1/19, 2/8, 2/25, 4/23, 5/2, 5/25, 6/5, 6/14, 9/18, 10/14, 10/19, 10/31, 11/15)
Folder 3: Jan-Dec, 1936 (1/3, 1/17, 2/13, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/18, 3/31, 4/9, 4/29, 5/12, 5/27, 9/26, 10/21, 11/9, 11/30, 12/22)
Folder 4: Jan-Dec, 1937 (1/11, 2/10, 2/23, 3/15, 4/8, 4/14, 4/20, 5/3, 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 9/23, 10/26, 11/8, 11/30, 12/17)
Folder 5: Jan-Dec, 1938 (1/31, 2/21, 3/3, 3/16, 4/3, 4/9, 4/25, 5/6, 5/21, 9/4, 9/16, 9/29, 10/18, 11/17, 11/30, 12/7, 12/31)
Folder 6: Jan-May, 1939 (1/17, 2/14, 2/25, 3/13, 3/25, 4/13, 4/27, 5/29)
*Transcription of the cursive letters was done in the Winter of 2023 by a group of volunteers per the chart below. The transcriptions and can be found with each individual letter at the URL: https://localhistory.tadl.org/collections/show/41
Asa A. Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Cherry Farming
Essie Kitchen
Farming
Grace Taft Stutsman
Hazel Gilmore
Joseph Kitchen
Max Gilmore
Old Mission (Michigan)
Ralph Kitchen
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/fbcfaa8cabecfe83fbee3237f8aef775.pdf
088e41f8cf28630e537c331d565d7f4c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PCL Local History Room
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1931-09-30
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - September 30, 1931
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Relation
A related resource
None
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Language
A language of the resource
English
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>Old Mission, Michigan
Sept. 30th 1931
</p><p>My dear Miss. Taft: -
</p><p>You will begin to think I've forgotten you but I certainly have not. Thanks many times for the stockings hope to find time some day to start a rug. But have been very busy every day with a lot of good things in the garden that needed attention right away. have most of my cans full. and nearly two bushels of beans all threshed. It was lots of hard work because I did it by hand. Its nice to be prepared for winter.
</p><p>We have had some dreadful electric storms since you left the roads have been in the worst condition I've ever seen them. the road crews are still trying to clean the sand out where it was carried into the road bed. other places was washed out so badly that we have lots more land in our apple orchards now. They say the Wunsch farm was left in bad shape. some places they can't get thru' with a tractor.
</p><p>JOseph has been very busy trying to get things in shape for winter got our corn all cut now and ready to husk.
</p><p>The Peoples Saving Bank + First National bank are going to combine in order to keep going a person can't get their money out to use so its going to make every thing much worse than it has been. We were called to a Bank meeting they had on Monday evening in Traverse City. Maybe every thing will come out all right. If we don't lose our savings.
</p><p>Some time in the near future we intend to see Mr. Lardie and find out what they are going to do for Mi. Cherry Grower. But suppose they will be dumb as usual. Roy Hooper is selling cherries for M.C. Growers and they hope to be able to get four cents for the grower. If we get .03 cents we will be lucky this year.
</p><p>I hardly know how to write you a letter now since we aren't working for you as I usually had farm news. Its hard for me to get used to this place.
</p><p>Mrs. Lardie had Ladies aid at her house today so I went. We had a very nice time. The lunch was very good but some how she got kerosine in the sugar so our first cup of coffee was spoiled.
</p><p>My thumb is so sore I can hardly hold the pen to write so please excuse the hen tracks.
</p><p>I am very sorry Alberta didn't get over to see me before she left. I waited all day and hoped to be up before you left.
</p><p>Am very tired so must go to bed now so as to be ready for [xxxxx] tomorrow as there is lots more to do.
</p><p>Thanks again for the package
</p><p>With love Essie
</p><p>P.S. Its been so hot here we nearly perished couldn't sleep nights am grateful for cooler weather. Have thought of you every day I miss your letters so much it was a habbit of 14 years so its hard to get over it.
</p>
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Agriculture
Apple Orchard
Asa A. Stutsman
Asa Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Cherry Orchard
Essie Kitchen
Farm
Farming
Grace Stutsman
Hazel Kitchen
Joe Kitchen
Joseph Kitchen
Old Mission Peninsula
Roger Kitchen
Taft Farm
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/83bfe7a3bc43969c71a336dea020c7c1.pdf
950035d594d20356dee82feeb9a26ea4
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PCL Local History Room
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1931-09-23
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - September 23, 1931
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Relation
A related resource
None
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Language
A language of the resource
English
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>Old Mission
Sept. 1931
</p><p>Dear Miss Taft
</p><p>We were glad to hear that you arrived ok.
</p><p>But a very long journey alone.
</p><p>The last load of apple are just going and will send you the return soon. $.20 per hundred. and that all there going to pay for later fall apple to.
</p><p>Max has all the corn cut and is digging out around the barn.
</p><p>We have had two terrible storm one Sunday and other Wednesday. and the road is nearly impassable it is washed so.
</p><p>Max said he guessed he have to tell Archie Helfrich there was a cross road down here.
</p><p>Ronald is begging me to take him. Walk two + three steps alone.
</p><p>They are having school fair to-nite at ogdensburg school. I had to donate for the fish pond.
</p><p>You went away just a day too early
</p><p>The next morning Max came in with a whole arm full of those big white puff balls. Got them out in the old pasture.
</p><p>My cucumber vines are still bearing good yet.
</p><p>I just done up 14 quarts of dill pickles
</p><p>And I got 8 more pints of beans. Will close for this time
</p><p>Sincerely
Max + Family
</p><p>P.S. As I have your letter finished and went outside Max said the grader was on the road fixing it So will have a good road again.
</p><p>The lantern cost $1.25 and the buckets $.20 a piece [?} and will get tickets on apples as soon as we go to town (over) and send them to you. We are having terrible electric storm.
</p><p>You will have to excuse this letter as I run out of writing paper and it is some what mixed up.
</p><p>Gene Russell has seven ton of hay. 7' to sell at $15.00 per ton which he want to sell very bad before he goes to Florida the first of october. And he says you can leave it in barn and get it went ever you want it.
</p>
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</div>
Agriculture
Apple Orchard
Asa A. Stutsman
Asa Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Cherry Orchard
Essie Kitchen
Farm
Farming
Grace Stutsman
Hazel Kitchen
Joe Kitchen
Joseph Kitchen
Old Mission Peninsula
Roger Kitchen
Taft Farm
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/298b232eec3bcf3bee0be6213b52b508.pdf
d183e83599abe5587c3402c5f9217d8a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PCL Local History Room
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1931-06-01
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - June 1, 1931
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Relation
A related resource
None
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Language
A language of the resource
English
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>June 1st 1931
</p><p>Dear Miss. Taft:
</p><p>Well here it is the first day of June I wrote most of this letter May 27th Joseph forgot to mail it Thurs + Fri. when I discovered it there was no opportunity as there was no mail left here Sat. + Sun. so here I am yet. Will try again this morning.
</p><p>There was another light frost down in the swamp but not a freeze. Jos. first planted the garden yesterday Sun as it would only freeze as it did a year ago. The ground is full of cut worms so doubt if we get much garden I always have to plant at least twice. It would pay to plant later than now only it makes every thing so late. I'm having some radishes planted for you some of the long white kind they require very little care perhaps I will have some to spare if yours don't come on. I want to buy some tomato plants if I can find some will remember you.
</p><p>Mr. Allen has been off from this job for nearly two weeks and hasn't showed up yet to try and finish up of course the screen he ordered may not have come yet. But even so he knows we need water the worst kind of a way. So if he hangs off another week Jos. will tell him to finish up when you come here yourself. It put Joe + Roger way behind with their work and why should he care. We want to keep things up nice so you won't think we have been on vacation. The sweet cherries are to be sprayed this morning they are very good. Sours are not out far enough to tell yet but look all right as far as I can see now. Sours + apples will need spraying the last of this week or first of next. The hay fields are growing only where there were patches burned out of last years seeding. Joseph thought he could get on with out any more hay but since we had a sick cow + have had to feed her he will need a few more bales to Spring out on. If Mr. Willobees dust had of been better hay we would have had enough. The sweet clover is growing nice out north of the house. Its time for corn to come up hope it doesn't freeze off.
</p><p>Will look about fence wire if I go in town today the men haven't time to take me and I can't drive so will go in with my neighbors. We can bring it in our cars if it isn't too large a bundle if so will have Tom haul it. I suppose it will be quite heavy too.
</p><p>I must hurry + send this out to mail.
</p><p>With love Essie K.
</p><p>P.S. Please don't judge me by hand writing as I seldom have time to do any thing but scribble.
</p>
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</div>
Agriculture
Apple Orchard
Asa A. Stutsman
Asa Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Cherry Orchard
Essie Kitchen
Farm
Farming
Grace Stutsman
Hazel Kitchen
Joe Kitchen
Joseph Kitchen
Old Mission Peninsula
Roger Kitchen
Taft Farm
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/546627e8ed99157c9f0886a6e3564aee.pdf
15ef3c77ed07f2d560cd36e27847ae48
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PCL Local History Room
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1931-05-27
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - May 27, 1931
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Relation
A related resource
None
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Language
A language of the resource
English
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>May 27th 1931
</p><p>Dear Miss. Taft:
</p><p>The cow is better but nearly lost her. I called Mr. Tompkins early in the morning to find out what to do. We gave her 1# salts 2 table spoons ginger and two of soda. I watched her very closely at at noon she changed + got much worse so tried to talk to Dr. Scott + he was out of town so called Mr. Tompkins again and had him come over. The minute he saw the cow he said she had milk fever and was very sick. I never saw a cow so sick before atho' I was raised on a farm and always loved cows and horses. He took a car pump and a quill from the roosters tail + pumped her udder full of air in Two hours she was on her feet. But isn't quite all right yet. The pasture is so poor we will have to put one cow up at our place + stake this one out. I sat on my little rocking chair part of the afternoon and held the chain so she could mow the front lawn for me and not get tangled up in the trees. She is such a pet. Mr. T. said she took cold and that helped to bring this on he says it happens quite often to cows. But this is my first experience + hope it is the last one. Mr. T. charged $3.00 for the afternoon and another trip + I feel he did just as well as Dr. Scott + not nearly so expensive. I have always call the T. people for advice in order to save Dr. bills but this was once the worst nearly happened. If it had of been an hour later she couldn't have been saved. I didn't pay him.
</p><p>Jos. has the corn planted and only about 6 old stumps are left on your new corn field I think it looks very well. I hope you think so too. Cherries look fairly well. Have had a beautiful day the first real Summer day so far. petals are falling now so will soon have an idea of what we will have altho' they say we won't get a price this year.
</p><p>Mr. Spruet was her inquiring if we had any new tools I said no he visited quite a little while and drove on.
</p><p>Mr. Allen hasn't returned to finish his job yet. Mr. Spruet says he knows a lot about wells and is good.
</p><p>You will think I'm silly writing so often but know you are wondering how every thing is coming. All is going well again but water. I tried to pack some things today but haven't the heart to do it but must. I hate to think of leaving its so beautiful here now with green grass + leaves and thousands of pretty blossoms.
</p><p>Will mail accounts in this letter so you can see where you stand. Your letter just came Mr. Allen isn't here now we feel very much disgusted with the way things have gone on the well. He ate 28 meals here @ .25 per meal. I won't charge any more than that
</p><p>Much love Essie K.
</p>
<pre> .70 for bits for horses @ .35 cents each
.15 axel grease
7.00 for 28 meals @ .25 each
</pre>
<p>________
</p>
<pre>7.85 expenses
5.52 no more credit on hand
</pre>
<p>________
$2.33 you owe me
</p><p>You can do as you wish about Mr. A board he says he gets his board where ever he works so doesn't have to pay it. I don't like to pay him for labor until he gets thru but suppose will have to pay as long as you sent it. Please excuse pencil can't find pen
</p>
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</div>
Agriculture
Apple Orchard
Asa A. Stutsman
Asa Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Cherry Orchard
Essie Kitchen
Farm
Farming
Grace Stutsman
Hazel Kitchen
Joe Kitchen
Joseph Kitchen
Old Mission Peninsula
Roger Kitchen
Taft Farm
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/a1ec237b2eb967e9e8cbc9b8fd97bd66.pdf
938693fff155253b0d7bf2d5e3647e95
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PCL Local History Room
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1931-05-26
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - May 26, 1931
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Relation
A related resource
None
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Language
A language of the resource
English
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>May 26th 1931
</p><p>Dear Miss. Taft: -
</p><p>Just a few lines this morning to let you know how every thing is coming along here. Miss. Taft I have always felt as tho' you were a big sister or mother to me as I have never had any of my own people to depnd upon like some have. And remember you are always welcome to come and even stay at our home any time you care to. I'm so glad you are going to live down there this Summer. Would you like to have us stay with you until you return from Canada. I want to try and make our plans its hard for me to get every thing done as I'm not feeling at all well. My old trouble returns as soon as I'm on my feet a lot. I wish I could sleep late just one morning without a bushel of work waiting Its 10 minutes of six now and breakfast is over.
</p><p>Those Wheats that wrote you are some of Ernests friends and beware of them they are trying hard to get some one here like that Many truck loads leave our neighbors farm in the Fall and they don't like us to see it. I'll be so glad to get Hazel away from those girls they are not nice to have about. Mrs. Wheat runs to dances + is very rough and coarse. There is a family of Fosters too that would like to get in but please don't try such as you would only be sorry would be all right while you was about. We will be glad to do all we can to help you just ask as we know quite a little about the working class about here.
</p><p>Have had lots of rain and several frosts it has hurt some low cherries Hope yours are all right they look pretty good so far. Hay fields look quite well. Especially the old meadow.
</p><p>JOs. had Mr. Allen leave the well and send for a 5 ft. screen + see if we couldn't draw pipe up farther + set the screen because as it is no telling what it would cost to go on We bought 2# dynamite from Helfrich so far and now he got onto a large rock so will have to wait as he has to have this screen come from Chicago or G. Rapids. This has been a big worry to us as its hard to know what the other fellow wants when you are so far apart.
</p><p>The Kauer cow is sick this morning It may be a cold Roger will drive down to Old Mission + get salts + linseed [old?] so we can doctor her up if she isn't better by night we may have to get a doctor. Lardies have had a sick cow too.
</p><p>I wish I could like Mrs. Lardie but I can't much as I try she says such nastly little things all the time always trying to pick us and sneaking so many of the neighbors are turning her cold. Well I must hurry so Roger can mail this and get cow medicine
</p><p>Tom Richard paid $2.20 freight on the tank and charged $1.00 for hauling so you owe him $3.20 I didn't pay this bill. Thought perhaps you would rather pay by check.
</p><p>Much love Essie K
</p><p>Jos. won't leave your things down there yet we brought them here some one stole onions + pie plant + was about our building so moved things up stairs here so all is safe.
</p>
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Agriculture
Apple Orchard
Asa A. Stutsman
Asa Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Cherry Orchard
Essie Kitchen
Farm
Farming
Grace Stutsman
Hazel Kitchen
Joe Kitchen
Joseph Kitchen
Old Mission Peninsula
Roger Kitchen
Taft Farm
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/8c07240fd51b6f387620d52fc4a63825.pdf
740445e3441a501c276e0a8319267790
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PCL Local History Room
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1931-05-19
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - May 19, 1931
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Relation
A related resource
None
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Language
A language of the resource
English
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>Old Mission, Mich.
May 19th 1931
</p><p>Dear Miss. Taft:
</p><p>The weather has been beautiful so far. Had our first thunder storm last night has rained for 24 hours straight nice + easy. We were in need of it again. The swamp hasn't enough water for our little frogs to sing as they usually do. The oats and seeding are coming very nice Your new meadow has some light spots in it but the older one is looking good. prospects for hay looks well so far.
</p><p>The sweets cherry petals are falling while sours are in full bloom but had several nice days before the rain so they oughts set well. How I wish you could see your orchard it looks like a large field of snow from a distance its so full of bloom. Apples are just coming out now.
</p><p>I too feel as you do about help its hard to find a man you can trust while away. All I can say is that I'm sorry Joseph has to leave you if there was some way he could manage he would have stuck by another year or two. Its a big responsibility caring for other peoples interests and Jos. has more than tried altho' some times its pretty hard for both of us. For instance this well we don't know what to do. Mr. Allen says he feels like giving it up he is in some kind of soil that fills the pipe faster than he can pump it out. before it was hard pan + rock. He is over 75 feet and been working two weeks this last stretch. He charges $1.00 an hour for most well work, I don't know what to do. He thinks by putting a 3 inch pipe + a thin 2 in inside it would be quicker work but the expense is so much mor. Jos. said no to keep on trying. Either one or the other of the men has helped him every day up until the past 3 days now the farm work must be caught up again. As the corn must be planted soon and your garden in also cherry orchards need the most tender care of all if we expect them to do for us. You have to plan on your income the same as we do. The [spray] water tank is here and Jos. is trying to fill it rain water as that will nearly do the next Spraying. What will we do let him go on regardless of expense or stop until you come? We are getting most awful tired of the way that well is going if Joe understood it he would do it him self.
</p><p>I'm trying to write to you but instead my eyes wander out of the front yard that is green like velvet. It seems so good after the bare trees.
</p><p>There isn't enough wire to fence the pasture as you wished so will need more. Your grain seed came today.
</p><p>I called central about the telegram + it was charged from T.C. to O.M. haven't received this bill so far.
</p><p>Asa Curtiss the man who has wored for Dave Murray for a no of years was crushed beneath a large stone he was trying to sink. Died this A.M. Mr. Murray thought so much of him it seems a pity while so many worthless bums live on.
</p><p>Well I must go to bed as I'm nearly tired out tonight.
</p><p>Hope to see you in a few weeks.
</p><p>With love Essie K
</p>
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</div>
Agriculture
Apple Orchard
Asa A. Stutsman
Asa Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Cherry Orchard
Essie Kitchen
Farm
Farming
Grace Stutsman
Hazel Kitchen
Joe Kitchen
Joseph Kitchen
Old Mission Peninsula
Roger Kitchen
Taft Farm
-
https://localhistory.tadl.org/files/original/234ee24fbf2f3d126cf17a51e457c840.pdf
a2dddd2ed1d78bae28b9311f10935732
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a
small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the
early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the
Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois
State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run
the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their
families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written
reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the
farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both
agricultural and social history.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1911-1915, 1917, 1920-1921, 1924-1939
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact
the Peninsula Community Library for permission to
reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Relation
A related resource
None
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Physical Location
Physical location of item itself.
PCL Local History Room
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1931-05-15
Title
A name given to the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - May 15, 1931
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Mary T Morgan
Description
An account of the resource
Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Peninsula Community Library
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LHC 010
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Subject
The topic of the resource
Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.
Relation
A related resource
None
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Document
Language
A language of the resource
English
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.
Scripto
Transcription
A written representation of a document.
<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>May 15th 1931
</p><p>Dear Miss Taft:
</p><p>Just a line to let you know all is well so far. Cherries are very beautiful sprayed sours pink on them yesterday.
</p><p>The well man is still working on your well no water yet and the drilling is nearly like stone can't make any head way. Jos. + Roger simply can't help him any longer as the farm needs both men from now on everything comes in a heap. Your seeding is coming up very nice.
</p><p>Must hurry as they are waiting I'm so sorry you couldn't be here for the well job to see for your self. I'm only charging 25 [cents] - meal to be as easy on you as I can. Its hard for me to have extra to cook with for all my work.
</p><p>With love Essie.
</p>
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Agriculture
Apple Orchard
Asa A. Stutsman
Asa Stutsman
Carolyn Gay Taft
Cherry Orchard
Essie Kitchen
Farm
Farming
Grace Stutsman
Hazel Kitchen
Joe Kitchen
Joseph Kitchen
Old Mission Peninsula
Roger Kitchen
Taft Farm