The Pearl River County Historical Society Museum recently came into possession of a diary written by Eva E. Greenwood in 1897. The diary was written in a 177 page record book as shown in the photo below.
Eva E. Greenwood was born 12 August 1870 near Pointe Coupee, Louisiana and died June 1967 in Picayune, Mississippi, age 96. Her father was Alfred Johnston Greenwood, who immigrated to the United States from the West Indies and became a naturalized citizen. Her mother was Camilla Stevens, maybe from Yazoo City, Mississippi. She had an older brother, Alfred Lionel Greenwood, born in 1868. According to early 1900s census records, Eva's mother gave birth to six children, only two of which apparently reached adulthood.
Eva Greenwood was a school teacher in the area of Louisiana known as 'White Castle' for many years. In addition to writing in her journal she was also a prolific reader. The inside back cover lists 45 books she read in 1898. A note at the bottom of the page gives the total books read as 90. A family story indicates she became almost totally blind in her later years.
Research has not turned up any information about when Eva moved to Picayune, Mississippi or exactly where she lived. Her brother's son, Alfred Lionel Greenwood, Jr. was apparently caring for her in Picayune. The records indicate that he passed away in Picayune in 1973. Since her nephew was a 'sugar chemist' there is some speculation the he may have moved to Picayune with his Aunt Eva to work for Crosby Chemical Company. To date, no evidence has been found to confirm or deny this speculation.
As the diary is transcribed, excerpts will be posted on this blog, so check back from time to time.
February 7, 1897 -- Sunday
I’ve
been so long without a book that I couldn’t keep up my record and now it’s too
late to go back and gather up the threads. In my last book I said I’d write
here an account of our moving, but it’s so hard to open old wounds and go over
painful scenes. The leaving that old house where the happiest days of my life
were passed was the most painful event of my varied life. My heart seemed torn
asunder, and I felt I was leaving life, youth, and happiness forever behind me.
The last day I was at the house alone, for Mama came over here in the morning,
and I was miserable enough. But I had one ray of sunshine – Dodd and Jack Booth
came to tell me goodbye, and stayed with me nearly an hour. They hated to go
then and leave me alone, but had to go to their work. As they went out, I saw
Dodd’s eyes rest on the little gate, where we’ve spent so many happy hours, and
I know his thoughts and mine were the same. In the evening when the last things
were out of the house, I went to tell everyone goodbye, and then started off
alone for this place and a new and strange life. As I turned the key in the
door of that dear old house, I felt as if I was locking happiness behind me –
shutting myself out into a cold and desolate world.
Life here is a dreary monotony, a dull and
uneventful existence. There is nothing to do, and the bread dependence is hard
to eat. Were it not for Mama I would not stay; for while Leo is a s good as he
can be, Daisy is nearly always cross and grum, and makes us feel miserable. But
Mama is never well, and she is all I have left, so I cannot leave her. Ah!
Well, perhaps God will have mercy on the fatherless.
I always clean up our room myself, so the
servants will have nothing to do for us, and I took all the lamps in charge. So
I am not perfectly idle.
We have an upstairs room, and our own things
in it, so it is the only part of the house that seems like home, and in it I
spend all my time.
I’ve been over home (that neighborhood will
always be home to me) twice, to see the Smith’s. The first time I spent
the evening. Anais came home on the 29th (Fri.) and I went over Sat.
and stayed ‘til Tues. evening. It was so good to be there and to have my Pard
back again. They were all so good to me, and seem to love me so. I would have
stayed longer but was worried about Mama. The children being around me, and
Charlie especially was devoted to me. Pard has gotten stout but does not look
well. I did not get to see D—alone, for some of the others were with me always,
but he was mighty nice to me. Mr. Judice as there Sunday.
After they brought me back, I was lonelier
than ever for a few days. La. was to have come over yesterday, but bad weather
prevented. I am longing to see some of them again. When grinding was over,
Seaton came to see us, before he returned home. He still writes, and sent me
his picture Thurs. It is a splendid one. Miss Julia and Lila were her today.
What
is there to write about? One day is so like another, that when I’ve written one
I’ve written all. Every morning I get up with the determination to conquer my
feelings – to be cheerful & hide my discontent, all day it is a hard fight,
and every night finds me beaten. Oh! I dare not think; for when I do, I
feel as if my very heart will burst. Will I ever know real happiness again? My
heart answers “Never.”
I had a letter from Pard today. She is
spending the week in town, as she begins teaching Monday. She says she nearly
went crazy Sunday, at the thought that I was not there for her to go see. How
many Sundays, and other days too, have I felt the same!
February 11, 1897 -- Thursday
Have been dreadfully homesick today; but
tonight had a romp with Ivey, and it made me feel better. Leo went to the City
today, to see Kracke on business. Somehow I hated to see him go and it has
seemed lonely since, without him. Mama has been right sick with a headache. It
has been raining all the week, & there is no getting out. I’m pining for a
walk. Leo weighed me yesterday & I weighed 93 pounds.
(to be continued)
