September 24, 1938 Saturday

S.U. Wrote a long letter to Bob in a.m. In p.m. I went with Doc to a farm to operate on a horse. Studied. In evening played rummy with Mant. Russell and Foster said that I needn’t sweep up again ‘til business picked up.

September 22, 1938 Thursday

Arose early to view the storm damage. It is terrible. The majority of Keene’s lovely giant elms are blown down—on to houses, into every street. Railroads are of course impassable. There is no electricity and water power is low. I know of 3 cars being completely demolished by trees falling on them. 2 others were stopped right in the center of the street with telephone poles falling on them. The bowling alley near us had its entire roof blown off and the brick building wrecked down to the first floor. A house above ours was split into by a tree, leaving it inner rooms exposed to the open air. (Of course there is no school and I spend my time looking and helping). Practically every house is hurt in some way and nearly all have at least one tree on them or in their yards. Barns and garages have either floated away or been blown down. To put it briefly, Keene is practically wrecked—although we know of no fatalities. We personally were very lucky. We only had our shingles blown off, a door blown off its hinges, a window blown out and a screen porch downstairs wrenched around. No trees struck our house. The places are being rebuilt as fast as possible. Yesterday, one couldn’t walk 25 feet without striking some impassable debris—trees, telephone poles or wires, ridge poles, roofing, etc. Now it is 50 feet.

September 21, 1938 Wednesday

S.U. It has been raining several days. The water is at flood levels. The whistle blew for no school for High School or Grammar today. Came home and read book report book all a.m. In p.m. went out with Ernie to look at the flood waters. Helped his big sister move her furniture out of danger and came home at 5—it was raining even then—very hard. Ram around to do some quick errands and at 6:00 p.m. Keene became the victim of a howling hurricane. Our house shook back and forth so that we all went downstairs until it was over—or rather lessened, for it kept up viciously all night.

September 20, 1938 Tuesday

S.U. W.T.S. Studied. Uncle Mant was up for supper and in the evening (9:15) I, in driving them home in rain and fog, jammed a fender of the car, three dollars worth (curses).

September 19, 1938 Monday

S.U. W.T.S. In p.m. Uncle Mant Thrasher came up. He is vacationing in Keene. Studied.

September 18, 1938 Sunday

Slept late. Went to Sunday School. Studied horn. In p.m. Keene City Band played at the fair. Horse show was this afternoon. We played several good selections. Studied in evening.

September 17, 1938 Saturday

S.U. K.H.S. band at 9:00 marched through the town and from there went out again to the fair. We played off and on until 11:30, then were dismissed. Arlene and I stayed down for dinner and afternoon program. Heard McKellyn Band in a real good concert. Saw motorcycle riding, etc. Home at 6:00.