Building A Steeple For The Bell
by George Holcomb • Transcribed by Betty McClave • Edited by Alex Brooks
Wednesday, April 21, 1847: Today I borrowed 39 dollars in silver and eleven in bank bills of Eliza Wylie. I borrowed 40 dollars in silver and ten in bank bills of Jane Wylie and gave them my notes at six per cent and on demand and today I walked to Pittsfield and paid Frederick J. Wylie one hundred dollars, and he endorsed the same on a three hundred dollar note and he likewise endorsed six dollars towards the interest, the six dollars he had collected for me where I had trusted and sold potatoes, and I called to C. E. Hughes and took two set 13 papers each of the Philanthropist to dispose of where I could.
Wednesday, April 28: This afternoon I took my horse team and fetched half a ton barn hay from Judah Rowley’s that I had bargained at seven dol per ton. Today I handed Erastus Rowley 13 numbers of the Pittsfield Philanthropist that he and Wm. Rowley talked of taking, but he did not pay for them.
Thursday: We as the school district or a part of the district worked at a bee hewing and framing a steeple to hang the bell but Mr. Alonzo Rodgers works on his subscription. Today the factory man at Lebanon Springs by the name of (blank) came and had 79 pounds pulled wool at 25 cts per and paid 20 dollars and agreed to take the remainder of my pulled wool at the same price and agreed to take my fleece wool or sheared wool at 37 cts and agreed to pay when he took the wool away, but he told me I might sell the sheared wool if I had a chance.
Friday: Today I worked with others at a bee at the school house and lecture room framing a steeple for the bell.
Monday May 10: This morning I took my single wagon and went to Adams Mill and left a grist of rye one half bushel and the same of corn to be ground for bread, and two bushel of corn to be ground for horse feed, and I went in pursuit to hire a boy but I could not find any. I took breakfast to John Wylie’s. Today I sold a pig to a stranger from Lanesborough for one dollar and fifty cents and today Mr. Lias Dike’s hired man came and took the second calf and paid the five dollars that said Dike had bargained. Today Johnson Brown agreed to send a boy to work on trial.
Tuesday: Today Chester Brown began to work for me on trial by the month. Towards night I sent Chester to mill after the grists.