L. A. Miller Diary of 1931
(Excerpted by Fred Lindley)
January 4: … Water has become a serious item here and U.S., generally. This town (Darrtown) is the drier, so far as water is concerned, then it ever has been, in its entire history of 125 years. Water carrying and hauling has become general. We have plenty, so far in our two wells, but both are very low.
January 7: … Stock Company met this p.m. A good attendance. Officers elected for the coming year-same ones. … K of P Lodge met this 8 PM. Good attendance. I have had a busy day.
January 13: … I have been busy all day, with chores. Switchboard work and worked some on K of P annual report. We are in now down to 16 paying members with a hall worth $4000 to build, but would not bring much now, if offered for sale. The old two-story skating rink hall burned to ground 10 AM. [FL1] Fire Department of Oxford and buckets saved some adjoining property. The family that occupies the upstairs were all absent. Cause and origin of fire unknown. Stove probably was cause.
January 15: … A meeting of a temporary character met at school building to arrange, if possible, with Oxford's fire department to answer calls of future fires. A general meeting has been called for Tuesday p.m. 8 o'clock, to come to a definite organization and adopt a plan satisfactory to all people with homes in the Oxford district, as well as those with personal property to protect. Object; to secure Oxford Ohio's fire department on call at a definite cost.
January 20: … A meeting to get fire protection Oxford Ohio fire department this p.m. Paul Flannigan, Oxford Fire Chief, gave us an explanation of our proper requirements. I was put on committee to write a constitution.
January 21: … I have been busy getting off K of P annual report; in between other duties trying to get up a constitution and bylaws for “Darrtown Fire Protection Association.”
January 23: … Mr. Dietrich called a few minutes does p.m. He is getting signatures and collecting $1 each from those who wish to join the Fire Protection Association and make a permanent organization by adopting a constitution and bylaws.
January 26: … Congress has become more active: they have begun to realize the US is in one hell of a financial and starting condition. Between 20 and 30 million people in distress, due to finance and drought.
January 27: … The meeting to complete the fire association was postponed, due to a teachers' meeting at the same hour at the school building. The committee has finished the constitution and bylaws and are ready to report.
January 31: Seems as though conditions are such that we get that little slow and but little rain. Many are hauling water for stock and house use. My wells are both low; but, good water – if it only hangs out.
February 3: … The K of P trustees met this p.m. at my office and we settled our debts.
February 4: I attended lodge this p.m. A fair turnout. We are getting some revenue now, from our hall. Two dances each week [FL2] : $10 minus $2 equals $8 clear.
February 7: The Stock Company have a good meet today and an excellent oyster dinner. The Sheriff, Mr. Shoemaker, and Deputy were present. We had a good body of men.
February 8: I took a walk up to David Pierce's property and saw Mr. Grothaus on the way. Then, to the barbershop. Then, home to work on reports to tax commission and PUC. … A very good rain fell during the evening and was still raining at 12 midnight when I retired.
February 11: … I finished all reports and Mr. Kirk Mee, our Justice of Peace, came down and we swore to them and he placed his jurat [FL3] as Justice of the peace at the proper places, etc. I'm now ready to mail them out.
February 15: … Arnold and two men were out on Seven Mile / East Road – and set 20 poles today. I paid a common laborer three dollars and a lineman four dollars. I attended the exchange, until grandson Bill came at 11 AM and he stayed at the board and did the switching, while I went to barbershop for shave. Bill took a 4 ½ mile walk this p.m.… over to where the men were working, east of Taylor [Road] schoolhouse.
February 17: … Banks are still being robbed and also failing.
February 18: … Union Gas and Electric people are moving poles over today on East Road. A big expense for a road with but little travel.
February 19: I cut my garden fence, so the electric people could move a pole.
February 20: … Electric boys finish setting line over. An expensive job and a dangerous one. I have been at the switch most of the day. Been reading C.A. Stevens' book to Eva to keep her mind off her neuritis affliction. “Molly's Baby” is a wonderful true story of life, as we find all about us.
February 22: … David Pierce and nephew and Margaret Phillips called for a short time this a.m.
March 4: Attended Lodge. Meeting of the lodge trustees. Fair attendance. After lodge, I stopped in the hall, downstairs, and watched young, and some old, folk dance.
March 9: … Many roads blocked with snowdrifts and mails were late and many accidents and delays of mail trucks and school buses.
March 20: March 20: … Arnold is working afternoons on East lines moving them for road widening.
March 21: … Arnold and Guy Dynes [FL4] worked on the east line this p.m. I paid [Guy] Dynes $15 dollars for 10 ½ days.
March 25: … Guy Dynes and I went over to Marshall Farm and took out the phone.
March 26: … I got Guy Dynes to put a composition roof on this p.m. – the henhouse, as it needed one badly on the west side for the last year. Arnold helped him finish it. A very good job I shall give it a coat of asbestos tar paint, soon.
April 8: … Boys have been working on the lines from Taylor school house north.
April 12: … I met Lida Phenis, this a.m., of Cincinnati Ohio – who formerly lived here in Darrtown, Ohio.
April 16: … Arnold has been working on the line east, with the small amount of help. Sometimes one and sometimes two helpers.
April 26: … An auto took out a pole at Davis Corner and had to run into a ditch to do it. This caused me a trip and expenses. I hurt my back helping get the auto out. I forgot to get the number of the auto or find name of owner. A cost of $10, at least, in pole and labor – dead loss.
May 6: … The men are working on east line and will soon be ready to string wire.
May 11: … The boys are around this p.m. on the lines. They did not work this a.m. I paid Jack Snavely [FL5] up to Saturday night, May 9, 1931, in full of all accounts: $28.50. I paid Thomas Shears $12 dollars up to Saturday May 9.
May 21: … The folks have commenced house cleaning. Now is the time for men folks to go fishing, after they [have] done the heavy work of carrying out the heating stoves etc.
May 27: A warm day. I attended the past chancellors' meet at Somerville Ohio this p.m. A good attendance. The K of P's, like all orders, has lost heavily in membership, since 1917-18. Churches also.
June 10: … The boys are busy on the lines and are gathering near home each day; rebuilding six miles east. About one half of wire up. Putting up all new wire.
June 11: I had ought to have attended my class meeting today at the Central Normal University, Danville, Indiana. But, conditions at home prevented me doing so.
June 20: … Dr. J. Hutzelman came 7:30 AM with 120 pounds of liquid honey and 12 pounds of combs. Paid him for last account $13. Had sold out completely.
June 28: … No biz in the honey line to amount to anything much. Those that have money are holding on to it for “Dear Life” as the old saying goes.
FOR MUCH OF THE 1931 SUMMER, MR. MILLER WROTE ABOUT THE EXTREME HEAT.
FROM JUNE 21 THROUGH AUGUST 9, (a period of 50 consecutive days) MR. MILLER REPORTED DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 88 AND 100 DEGREES.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE 50 DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE ABOVE 90 DEGREES; SEVERAL ABOVE 95 DEGREES; AND A FEW AT 99-100 DEGREES.
July 1: Heat of an excessive amount over the Mississippi Valley and central West. Crops have been burned to nothing in parts of Montana and North Dakota. … sensible men are working by moonlight an a.m. and p.m. daylight – and laying off during the middle of the day.
July 2: … [News] papers report over 1500 deaths of human beings in the overheated areas and the end is not yet - of the super heat. … Horses and mules by the thousands have succumbed, by dumb Masters. Sensible men are working at night.
July 4: … And the old neighbor boy, George Bowman, a fine man and a hard worker, had died of cancer at Flockton, Ohio [FL6] , I heard, and was buried here in the Darrtown cemetery this p.m.
July 12: No biz of honey to amount to much anymore-due to hard times and unemployment.
July 21: Another scorcher. Biz not getting any better. In fact, a large percent of farmers are due to lose their farms.
July 22: Still holding a high-heat record, day and night. Sleep without any covers and still uncomfortable. Harvesting and threshing going on. Must be done, regardless of heat.
July 25: Dr. Hugh Gadd, wife and daughter, also J. Phillips Wilson called this p.m. Mr. Frank Glardon resting in his bed; overcome by heat last week. His throat seems to be paralyzed. He cannot swallow any food.
July 28: Crops are being hurt. Corn and alfalfa especially. Too hot to be out. Mr. Frank Glardon is not expected to recover from his sun stroke. Very low this p.m.
July 29: … Mr. Frank Glardon passed out of this life 9 AM. Webb undertaker. Services Friday 2 PM. A hard-working, old gentleman.
August 3: … I went to Hamilton Ohio this a.m. with Fred Grothaus. Got shoes for Eva and myself, also pants' galluses [FL7] and two nightshirts. A cap for Bill.
August 8: Hot all day and all night; gardens are no good in the section. Corn is damaged beyond repair…
August 14: A hailstorm cut a destructive path north of us two miles - from Oxford to near Middletown. It's path of destruction has to be seen to understand what it will do to vegetation of all kinds.
August 15: Many people are visiting the hailstorm's path.
August 25: Arnold and Jack Snavely are busy finishing up six miles of new line; east to Eaton Road. [FL8] The cost I have not has yet had time to figure up.
August 26: A Mr. Schaeffer of Seven Mile, Ohio has mysteriously disappeared. Went to Oxford Ohio, on business, August 25. Auto found this a.m. near Butler County Fairgrounds. Friends and family are searching.
August 28: Mr. Schaeffer of Seven Mile was found this a.m.. Dead. Cut to pieces by the Chicago Express passenger train of the Pennsylvania Railroad, near crossing south of Seven Mile, Ohio, his home. The whole tragedy is still wrapped in mystery. Foul play, robbery, and murder seem to be best guess, so far.
August 30: this is William Moulton Miller's birthday. My only grandson. Born August 30, 1970.
September 9: … the boys are on the Jericho West Road. 28 poles to move, on account of roadwork…
September 13: … Will put another man on the Jericho job tomorrow. Guy Dynes to get a job finished by Wednesday, September 14, as the contractor wants to begin grading.
September 16: … Boys are up to Jericho today; did not get done. Workmen threw a large oak over lines, at Taylor [Road] school house this PM and put subscribers out and damaged lines.
September 28: The Butler County fair opens this week.
October 4: … Men were working on Tallawanda [FL9] bridge all day. Ready for traffic tomorrow sometime.
October 5: … Our bridge over the Talawanda has broken twice last week – with two very narrow escapes. They have repaired it this time more thoroughly and opened it for traffic again. A 15 ton bridge 48 years ago (iron truss) -made for horse-loads up to the 4 tons.
October 6: … Mrs. Ward, a good neighbor, canned a bushel [pears] for us. Also, pear butter. She has also made us a dozen bottles of tomato ketchup.
October 7: … KOP Lodge met this p.m. Only a few attended. It looks like a final abandonment. … we, at one time, had 90 members. We now have only 16. … K of P homes for children and old people will have to be abandoned, if we keep receding …
October 9: … A new gasoline station [FL10] has been erected and will soon be running full blast by J. Francis and Company.
October 11: … Sold some honey today and am holding an order of 30 pounds for this week's delivery – a Mr. Corder of Cincinnati Ohio who owns the Kumler farm northeast of Oxford. One of the crack farms in the Talawanda valley.
October 16: … this is my 69th birthday. … Born October 16, 1862, near West Chester Ohio. The Civil War just gotten in full swing.
October 27: … Banks here and there are closing doors, due to frozen assets.
October 28: … Travel is not as heavy on the Hamilton Richmond Pike, since the bridge over the Talawanda broke through twice – some time ago. Big trucks are not loading so heavy. The past chancellors of Butler County [K of P lodge] met here this p.m. Bonhomie Lodge number 578 K of P entertained them. A good meeting. Brother Davis of America Rolling Mill [FL11] gave a fine talk on making sheet steel and how it is not made automatically and how the first sheet metal was hammered out, before rolls were used.
November 1: … Truck after truck loaded with hogs, sheep, calves, and etc. move to Cincinnati, Ohio Sunday evenings for Monday morning market.
November 3: … A big turnaround of the women voters in this Milford Township, Butler County Ohio. … my son, Ernest L. Miller, was presiding judge.
November 6: … Banks are closing here and there, over 1400 have closed and last 12 months, according to Cincinnati Post.
November 18: Travel on 224 [FL12] from Cincinnati to Richmond Indiana is again on the increase. …
December 3: … K of P lodge met this p.m. A good attendance for the size of membership - 16.
December 5: … Called on Squire Mee to swear to a US treasury report.
December 7: Luther Beiser [FL13] called and paid his telephone bill rent $19 paid to January 1, 1932.
December 8: … Auto accident north of Darrtown. Students coming from Oxford got run into by a man who said he must've gone to sleep at the wheel. One boy badly hurt.
December 10: … Chicken thieves broke into Clem Pfaff's hennery and stole 35 to 40 pullets late this p.m. or sometime after midnight.
December 12: … we attended the annual banquet of the K of P past chancellors, Butler County Association, at Oxford, Ohio this 7:30 PM.
December 22: … I called on Joe Dietrich a short spell this PM. A Christmas show, as entertainment this p.m., at school house. … Mr. Ed Gillespie [FL14] stopped and paid telephone rent, April 1, 1931 to January 1, 1932 = one year and the nine months, amount … $36.10.
December 23: … The folks went to Oxford, Ohio to get a large Seattle salmon. Sent by the Moulton family from Seattle, Washington. Iced, a fine one. 30 pounds, at least.
December 25: … We had a family dinner of roasted salmon - a 40-pound fish from the William Moulton … family … to Miller's and Wilkies. It was the best and tastiest fish of the several they have sent us. Enough for 20 people.
December 26: … The congress is vacationing as usual and nothing drastic will be done very soon to relieve the great distress that comes from 8000 bank failures and heavy losses to depositors. Over 2000 banks have closed doors this year of 1931.
December 27: At home all day, working in the office. Getting books in shape for the usual annual reports to the numerous taxing commissions, etc. Not the auto travel as usual. Many have no jobs, no money to feed an auto.
December 30: We have had a good amount of rain and no snow so far in this southwest Ohio up to date. A rather remarkable fact. I am full certain no record like [that] since I began keeping a diary January 1, 1883.
December 31: … From reliable reports, the year 1931 closes with a money panic in full possession of the world and the US - paying Europe World War debts. The year has also closed wet in the US, so far as the 18th constitutional amendment is concerned. Road widening has put a heavy [toll/price?] on telephone companies moving lines, that often means rebuilding [at?] heavy costs.
[FL1]The front of the skating rink hall is shown in a “Darrtown Parade -circa 1900” photograph that appears at: http://www.darrtown.com/community.html [FL2]Dances were introduced as fund raisers for the K of P lodge. These preceded the “50-50” dances that were held at the Darrtown K of P Hall, in the 1950s. “50-50” meant that half the dances were square dances and half were round dances.
[FL3]“Jurat” defined as a “statement on an affidavit of when, where, and before whom it was sworn.”
[FL4]During the middle of the 20th century, the Guy Dynes home was located in the northwest corner of South Street (Scott Road) and Cherry Street.
[FL5]During the middle of the 20th century, Jack Snavely lived in the house located in the northwest corner of South street (Darrtown Road) and Main Street (Rt. 177).
[FL6]A Google search revealed Flockton, Ohio to be located in Fairfield township, Butler Co., Ohio. – specifically, near the old railroad right of way where it intersects with Seward Road.
[FL7]Galluses…another word for suspenders; used to hold up men's pants.
[FL8]Confirms that the Darrtown Telephone Company served customers who lived on Taylor School Road, as far east as Eaton Road.
[FL9]As mentioned previously, Mr. Miller refers to the Four Mile Creek, as being the Talawanda creek.
[FL10]See more information about the Francis Filling Station at: http://www.darrtown.com/organizations/businesses-1.html [FL11]Throughout Butler County, Ohio, during the 20th century, the phrase “rolling mill” was used in reference to the Middletown, Ohio steel mill. Also called Armco and, currently (2018), AK Steel.
[FL12]Question: Might this be a reference to the bus service that ran through Darrtown, between Hamilton, Ohio and Richmond, Indiana? See more about the bus service at:
[FL13]Luther Beiser farmed on the northside of Taylor School Road, just east of where Huston Road intersects with Taylor School Road.
[FL14]The Gillespie farm was (and still is, in 2018) located on the east side of Huston Road, just before Huston Road descends north toward Collinsville, Ohio.
