19th century Putnam — ‘Hard Tines’ social

Putnam socialites dressed down for the “Hard Times” social which the Ladies’ Missionary Society held at the home of John Graham.

Perhaps the intention was not mockery, but to call attention, in a whimsical way, to the needs of those who were impoverished one year into a multi-year depression that began with the bank crisis of 1893.

“There was a fine for good clothes, so many of them came in curious and fantastic rags,” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 18, 1894.

Grace Reynolds, for example, wore a sun bonnet, black cassimere waist trimmed with curtain lace, and a brownish white calico skirt — her “feet shod with two worn travelers.”

Calico skirts were the predominant fashion of the evening for ladies.

“Among the gentlemen, J.R. Lidgerwood, C.H. McLaughlin, G.W. Meicklejohn and John Hutchinson were worthy of mention as among the ‘dressed up.’”

Times were not too hard to celebrate Independence Day.

“A picnic at Gull Bay was the order of the day Fourth of July,” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on July 6, 1894.

In other 19th century Putnam news collected from historic newspapers of the region:

• “Lorenzo Hale is erecting a new residence. … Mr. David Cummings is improving the interior of his residence,” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on April 27, 1894.

“Lorenzo Hale has moved into his new house. W.H. Peterson has moved into the house recently occupied by Lorenzo’s Hale’s family,” the Putnam correspondent reported on July 13, 1894.

• “John Graham is agent for a cream separator and is using it at his farm, and reports very favorably as to results,” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 4, 1894.
• “R.S. Lillie is about to sell his farm to parties from Crown Point, price $2,500 (the equivalent of $89.473 in 2023 dollars),” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 4, 1894. “This ought to be a good bargain for the purchaser, as Mr. Lillie kept his buildings and fences in thorough repair. We are glad to see some of the empty homes occupied.”
• “Hon. A.G. Meiklejohn, who owns the largest orchard in town, recently added about 100 trees to the number,” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on May 4, 1894.
• “Editor Hurd of the Times, Cobleskill, wife and child were guests of the Gull Bay House a few days last week,” the Putnam correspondent reported in The Granville Sentinel on July 27, 1894. “Mr. Hurd is quite a sportsman. Among other things, he shot a large rattlesnake during his stay on the banks of Lake George.”

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