Monday, April 4, 2016

1889 Letter from Augusta E. Storer at Wells, Maine, to Emma Cory at Westport, Massachusetts


1889 letter from Augusta E. Storer at Wells, Maine, to her friend Miss Emma Cory at Westport Point, Massachusetts.  See a transcription at the end of this post.


Augusta E. Storer was born about November 1861, the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Storer of Wells, Maine.  Augusta graduated from Maine Central Institute and attended Salem Normal School at Salem, Massachusetts.  She had teaching positions in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  Perhaps she met Emma, while teaching in Massachusetts or Rhode Island.

By 1895 Augusta was teaching at the state reform school at Portland, Maine.


Emma B. Cory was born in 1849, daughter of Alexander Hamilton Cory and Mary Ann (Prince) Cory.  The Cory family was an influential one in Westport.  The New Bedford Whaling Museum holds an archive of Cory family papers dating from 1762 to 1929, starting with the papers of Captain Isaac Cory (1746-1830).
The archive papers indicate that Emma was educated at Wheaton Female Seminary, now Wheaton College, at Norton, Massachusetts, and that she later worked as a milliner and in various firms.

By 1900, Emma was living with her brother Joseph at Providence, Rhode Island.  The occupation fields are blurred, so I'm not sure if Emma was working at that time.  Emma died in 1927, according to information on the Cory archive.


Other people mentioned in the letter:
  • Carrie
  • Casilda
  • Addie [possibly Emma's lifelong friend Addie Buffington Churchill of Fall River, Massachusetts, whose correspondence with Emma is contained in the Cory archive noted above]
  • Annie Boyce
  • Lucinda Ransom
  • Bertha [Emma's sister Bertha B. Cory, who by 1889 was married to William E. Kugler]
If you have information on Augusta E. Storer or Emma B. Cory or any of the other people mentioned in this letter, please leave a comment or contact me directly.


Transcription

Wells, Maine
Feb. 4, 1889

My Dear Friend:
Thinking you would like to hear from me, also remembering the promise I made you the morning I came from Westport.  I will now write you a few words this evening.

Please do not think for a moment that the reason I have not written to you before is because I have forgotten you for I have thought of you and Carrie many times but have been quite busy since I came home so have neglected to write.
I had a very pleasant visit in New Bedford and on returning home found all of my friends well and much pleased to see me.  This is the nicest winger that I ever knew in this part of New England and it is just beautiful sleighing.
Suppose there has been some snow in Westport this winter, has there not?
Friday, Feb 8, 1889
Well, my dear friend, I will now try to finish your letter that I commenced several days ago.
Received a letter from Casilda a short time ago saying that her father was at home and it must be pleasant for her and her mother to have him at home with them,  if only for a short time.
Would like to see you and your friends and hope that you all are well and enjoying a pleasant winter.
Is Carrie at home now and are you having a Reading Circle and entertainment in the Village this winter?
Have recd. two letters from Addie but have not answered her last yet.  Am not teaching this winter and I enjoy the change and rest and am assisting Mother about her housework.
My Sister is practicing on the Piano so you will please excuse this poor writing.  Are Annie Boyce and Lucinda Ransom at home this winter.  Suppose you see your sister Bertha occasionally, do you not?  Please remember me to her and I should be much pleased to receive a letter from her.
With love and kind regards to you and all inquiring friends, I will now bid you "Good bye".  Please write as soon as convenient.
A. E. Storer
Wells Branch
Maine

2 comments:

  1. I have some letters to her from her nieces. Most are in storage but I have a couple in my possession I can email you some scans if you’d like.

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    Replies
    1. That would be great, thanks! Email address under Inquiries in the right margin near top.

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