1906 Handwritten Diary Carolyn Moore Plainfield NJ Patchogue L.I. Clifton Hotel

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1906 Handwritten Diary Carolyn Moore Plainfield NJ Patchogue L.I. Clifton Hotel:
$90.00

Well, after hours of reading and research I finally came up with some incredible information about the author of his diary. This is a 1906 handwritten diary and in the front it says Carolyne R. Moore. I found out that Carolyne lived in Plainfield New York but most of her time was spent on Long Island in the resort town of Patchogue, staying at a cottage and also at the Clifton Hotel. The photos that you see in the scans shows the Clifton Hotel in its prime and about the time she stayed there. I would have loved to have seen it in 1906 when Carolyne was there but the next best thing is being able to read all about her adventures while in Patchogue. The diary is full of handwritten entries not only about her time while on Long Island but of course also in her hometown of Plainfield and trips to New York City. In fact I was able to find on the web a New York newspaper called The Brooklyn Daily Eagle dated Sunday, June 24, 1906. The title reads, “NOTES OF THE SEASON AT LONG ISLAND WATERING PLACES” stating that Carolyn and her mother were spending the season at the Clifton.

In the diary she states that her father passed away on December 26th, 1900 and sure enough I was able to find his obituary and what I found out blew me away….

“NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE: Obituary: William H. Moore, of West Sixth-Street died today at his home in this city. He was 46 years of age, and was born near Rahway. Early in life he became interested in electricity, and for many years had been employed by Thomas A. Edison. He served two terms in the Plainfield Common Council. Mr. Moore leaves a wife and one daughter.”

If that isn’t enough I found out that Mr. Moore, our author’s father, played a huge part in the creation of the light bulb and I quote……

“A legend grew about how Edison came upon his new filament almost by accident. On a hot summer day in July 1880, Edison was cooling himself with a bamboo fan when he suddenly got an idea. He cut off a long piece of bamboo, carbonized it and found it to be an excellent filament material. The story is probably not true, because laboratory records show that the Menlo Park engineers already had been considering bamboo for a while. In any case, what is true, by the summer Edison was sure enough about the new material to send his associate William H. Moore on a trip to China and Japan in search of the best possible bamboo plant for their purpose…...” and in another historical publication it says this……“It was William Moore, a New Jersey man, who finally located the species of bamboo which had started the search. Leaving New York in the summer of 1880, bound for China and Japan, a locality especially noted for bamboo, he traveled over some 30,000 miles, pushing his way far into the remote country districts, meeting with no end of exciting experiences and collecting hundreds of specimens, himself roughly testing those which he thought might do before sending them on to his chief. At last, in Japan, a species was chanced upon which seemed most fitting, and when word came confirming its excellence, Moore at once made a contract with an old Japanese man to supply the fiber…..” and finally this…..

“History on the Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, Yawata, Kyoto. “Thomas Edison Connection. The shrine also has an interesting connection to the life and work of Thomas Edison, who used bamboo collected from the groves at the shrine by his assistant William H. Moore to make filaments for his first electric light bulb in 1880.”

So you can see just how important this diary is especially its provenance. I’m not quite sure the exact age of Caroline but since her father died when he was just 46 years old I’m assuming she’s just in her 20’s. I could easily quote every page because she’s a fascinating writer, but this is already quite long, so here are a few brief example entries……

1906

“January 1st, Windy and quite cold. Ma and I went up to Uncle C’s about noon. Aunt Ida has been staying there for several days. We had a very good dinner. Mr. and Mrs. William Sandford called and while there Townsend and his fiancé called. Only stayed a few minutes. The girl is pretty and was well dressed. Got talking about C. T. N. in the evening and had quite a scene. Mama bawled and I felt like a fool. Got plenty of advice from all sides. I ought to drop him, I suppose but it is hard. Souvenir of Horses Head (picture) from the ____”

“January 5th, H. A. stopped here in the A.M. I went over there at 3 and took my sewing. Then she walked down with me. After dinner I took a book down to the social hall and read or tried to till 9 when C. T. N. came. He purposely missed the 11:28 and we sat down there till 1. After coming upstairs we had quite a touching (yes literally) scene. I hate to give him up. Sat up till after 2 reading. Considerably stirred up, hard to explain why.”

“February 8th, H. and I out for a drive. Awfully frisky team. It was simply ripping. H. and I made a few calls in the P.M. but only found Miss Watson home. In the evening Agnes came and Mr. Carlin and Mr. Aril Smith of Camden. We spent the evening doing fool stunts, tricks with cards, etc. They left late. Smith is the cutest chap. Tall and fair. About 28, I guess. Very bright but carries a slight hop. Letters from Marion and Clara C.”

“March 31st, Clarence brought Puck Terry and Son’s _____down. I sent him for Marian too. We all went down town and carried on to beat the band. I went to the High School to a little play and dance with Jim. Marion and Henry de Brigard were with us most of the time. Had my card more than filled.”

“April 4th, Dandy warm day. Went to Miss Smacks’ and to H’s for lunch. Steve A. came in his Cadillac and took us for a long ride. He brought me back then went down town. Frank Martin stopped with a friend (Mr. Calvert) and chauffeur in a big Minton and took me for a spin. Told me about a man, Lu Thompson, he was sitting with on the train, who wanted to meet me….”

(She’s now in Patchogue. She talks about staying in the cottage but I think she also stays in the hotel itself and on many of the pages are room numbers; at least I think they are her room numbers)

“April 25th, Ma took the 10:05. She is going out to help Lil again. People came again. People named Dickinson (Jersey City). Came and engaged rooms. I worked on the cottage in my room. Aunt Ida helped me drag the cot from the hotel over to our house, the one in my room at the hotel. I sewed a little and read the new Home Journal. Very windy but warm in the sun.”

“May 20th, Cooler but very pleasant. A young couple, Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Wood (N. Y.) came for a week. We think they are bride and groom. I have not met them yet. Aunt Ida and I drove down to meet Miss McCane on the 8:16 but she did not come. I wrote a note to L. R. Brown.”

“June 9th, the Townsend’s and Mr. Quinn came over Sunday. Aunt and Uncle J. gave a dinner to several of the old “Marine Club”. There were about 50 people at the hotel, about 12 at the dinner. A terrific storm came up, blew the summer house over and created a good deal of havoc downtown.”

“June 17th, Nice day. Invited to go sailing with Stafford’s but ma and Lil wanted me to stay home and watch the dinner. J. and I took a short sail about 11:30 however. In the P.M. he wanted me to go driving but nix. We sat in the summer house at night. In the evening he played the piano to the ball room and we had a little rough house. He took the 7:25 Monday morning.”

“June 30th, M. and I took the 8:30. Her father and “Duke” Willey sat with us. M. and I felt the heat terribly. We had lunch at the Flatiron restaurant. Cleaned up at the Waldorf and wrote some notes. Saw Blanche Ring in “His Honor the Mayor.” Got here at 8. Found Jim at the hotel. Eva F. and Mrs. F. there and about 80 guests. Danced a little. Letters from Kay and Sprague. Postals from Laurie H., Lucille F.”

“July 14th, Perfect day. Ma and I drove with Marian to the depot. Got Mr. V. and drove to the Yacht Club where we took the “Glady’s Millet” and sailed about to watch the races. I had a Martini cocktail and a Sloe Gin Fizz. Ma was awfully upset about it. I spent a stupid evening, didn’t dance and really didn’t want to. Had one little spiel with Jess, that’s all. 170”

“August 5th, Beautiful day. 84 degree in the water. Nat R. and Harry Douglass took us for a dandy drive in N’s car. Stopped at Blue Point, Bayport, Sayville and then Pat. Yacht Club. (She abbreviates Patchogue by just putting Pat.) In the P.M. went to Water (?) Island in N’s launch. It was dandy. The boys went in the surf. Agnes came at 6:30 from Sag Harbor. Stayed for supper with us. Harry and we three sat and listened to the music all evening.”

“August 25th, Sailed on the “Edna” with the Moody’s. Miss Dodge and Mrs. Ross got drenched. Swell sail tho. Ma was called to Brown’s as Mr. B. is dying. She took the 2:47. The waiters gave a cake walk in the ballroom and that lasted till about 10:15. It was very good. I danced a couple of times with Jess. Jim is down. Postals from Moll (3)”

“August 27th, Rainy. H. H. left on 10:05. I read and sewed. Smoked parts of 2 cigarettes before going to bed. Just felt like it. Bad habit tho. Hope I don’t get it. Poor old Mr. Brown’s (Mame’s father) died this A.M. Aunt Ida came over to sleep here….230.”

“September 5th, Fine day. Quite cool. I built a fire in the stove and Jess came to lunch. Went to hotel for dinner and had quite a talk with Hardigan in the writing room. Afterwards Nell and Fowler and Jess came in. they wanted me to go for an all day sail tomorrow but I declined. Nell came over at noon to ask me to go this P.M. but I didn’t see it on those lamps. Hardigan made Jess awfully mad so we went to talk…..”

“October 14th, Arose late. At 2 Moll Lawrence, Kid and I started on a 35 mile drive over the 2nd mountain and stopped at Torrey’s, a picturesque place on Long Hill, to Chimney Rock Notch, beautiful view! And from thence through Bound Brook, home. Stopped in Bound Brook to see Fred Cornell but he wasn’t home. Mr. Greeley took ma, Kid and I for a short drive in the car after dinner. C. T. N. came about 9.We sat and talked till about 12 and then went outdoors. He stayed till two and took the 2:17 home.”

“November 26th, (She in Detroit). Moved in the “Madison”. Arose early. Came down here and they were moving my furniture in. I went home with Lucille to lunch and she came here for dinner. Pretty well settled by night. Only fair grub in the café. Letter from Carrie Mulford. Discovered some bugs walking around and don’t know the variety whether bed bugs or roaches.”

“December 12th, Hazel and I went down town in the afternoon, the first time she’s been out this A.M. We went to the Griswold. I had a Sloe Gin Fizz. Kit and I went to see Nat Goodwin in “When We Were Twenty One”. Great show! Her mother and a sister of Kit’s went but sat in the balcony. Letter from Puss. Sat up till 1:30 sewing. 365”

There is so much more than what I’ve quoted here. The diary is in fair condition as the cover is worn and also falling away from the binding. However the pages and binding look good. It measures about 2 ¼” x 3 ¼”.