The blog posts below are taken from my grandmother's diaries. Althea Green Smith Crook was lovingly referred to as Nanny to her immediate family ~ thus her diaries are called Nanny's Diaries.

Nanny wrote in her diaries when she remembered to - mostly in the evening. There will be some years in which she didn't keep diaries and there will also be some days/weeks in her yearly diaries in which she skipped or forgot to write in them. For the most part, these are her words - written as she wrote them. There will be typos, forgotten punctuation, and other grammatical errors - but I am rewriting these as my Nanny originally wrote them.

As with all old handwriting, there are some entries that I can't quite make out - and these entries will be followed with a (?) to signify that this may or may not be correct or I can't figure out what she is trying to write.

Thank you Nanny for leaving us 50 years worth of memories! We miss you!

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

December 30, 1973 END OF YEAR


Sunday, December 30, 1973 Bill 65 today

A nice day, on the cold and windy side. I done up regular work. Washed, washed windows. I ironed. Carmen came up this p.m. She and I made fudge. Betty, Walt, Kim and Zak called and remembered Bill on his birthday. Cigarette carton, peanuts, a drink (bottle) and cards. Esther and Dorothea also sent cards. Dorothea and Dave five dollars. Billie got his car license. No snow as yet.



Monday, December 31, 1973

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We had a lot of snow and cold weather this past winter. A very mean miserable wet spring. Jean sick and entered Northern Cumberland Memorial Hospital March 11. She began losing ground at that time. She went to Hicks Nursing Home in Fryeburg. Her mind was bad. She went to Gordon’s, back to NCM then to Mercy Hospital in Portland. Had a brain tumor operation. She did not gain her mentality back. She came back to NCM and there she died on May 9. It was a terrible shock to Bill and hard for Stanley. Bill was mentioned in her well. She left him a nice woodlot across from her home. Stan hasn’t been very well this past year.

Jeff Smith - Graduation photo

In July George and Betty came from Scotland. We had a very nice visit. We had cookouts, ate out, took them to Telstar and around to many interesting places right handy. We had a very nice Hot summer.

Betty and Walt built a nice new barn this summer, also bought two nice horses and also pony in early spring. Ebony, Bingo and Lucky. The pony was sold. Betty, Walt, Dorothea, Dave, Billie all entertained Betty and George at times. It was a nice summer. Jeff out to his father’s. Jeff started Westbrook High School this fall. Carmen has lost weight and looks nice.

Jeff - Freshman at Westbrook High School

Bill worked at Walt’s all summer and this fall worked there also. Then he worked at Camp Encore in Sweden. Billie had a long sick spell this early spring. Dorothea lame all this year. Dave changed jobs.

This fall we have come up with a government crisis, gas and oil and electricity shortage. Also the prisoner of war guys got home this past year as the war ended in Vietnam. Also a terrible government scandal, Watergate. As of the end of the year the investigation are still going on.

We have had a very nice mild fall. No snow, quite a lot of rain as of this date December 30. No snow.

Lloyd in hospital this fall for vein operations. Very serious. Delores in hospital, blood condition. She is very emotionally upset too. All had a nice Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also this fall we had a very nice visit from Norma Gay and her family. First time we ever saw Regina and Jim. It was the first time Norma has been here since she was married.






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