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ALBERT WILSON CONDON : 1892 + 1893 ORIGINAL PAIR [2] OF MANUSCRIPT DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY A TOBACCO MERCHANT AND OWNER OF THE FIRST 5 AND DIME IN FREDERICK MARYLAND

12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. On offer are two [2] original 1892 and 1893 manuscript diaries and 90+ ephemeral pieces handwritten and once belonging to Albert Wilson Condon of Frederick Maryland [both diaries have his name engraved, written and/or stamped on them]. Albert [March 30th, 1874 - May 16th, 1940] owned the first 5 & Dime in old downtown Frederick and became sole owner of the Condon Tobacco Store. In the 1892 diary from January 1st to January 15th he has written poems and sayings. Then his trip to Washington D.C. falls in the month of September, which he writes about. But he also rewrites a summary of that trip on the first pages of the diary, January 16th through February 17th, (11 full pages). He talks of surprising his father at the Navy Yard. He tours the Treasury Department, Washington Monument, Arlington Cemetery, Lycern Museum, Medical Museum, Georgetown, a Panorama show of Gettysburg, the Capitol, and more. Then more poetry and sayings through to June 11th. Then there are 2 pages (or 8 days worth) that are blank and finally on June 20th his daily diary entries start and he writes full entries for every day after that. Albert also does a fair bit of traveling for the business to the towns surrounding Frederick and also to West Virginia. However the 1892 diary starts out with a trip to Washington D.C. and then in the 1893 diary he attends the Chicago World's Fair but only writes "At Fair." Those are the only days that don't have full entries in the 1893 diary and they are from October 8th to the 26th of October. Otherwise the 1893 diary has a full handwritten entry for every day of the year. Albert does a super job detailing the local and current events and his thoughts: Lizzie Borden (axe murder), Democratic Conventions, the hanging of 4 black men for the murder of a Dr. Hill, the Ford Theatre in Washington D.C. collapsing killing many, the suicide of a young woman in town, and so much more. It's interesting too that on November 25th, 1892 he writes "Stopped using tobacco" and yet he runs and owns a tobacco store. Here are some snippets: 1892 "June 21st, 22nd, 23rd, & 24th, The Democratic convention commenced in Chicago this morning and politics has been all the go today. Germen men start for the front but will get left……Today this town Frederick is all a stir as to who will be nominated on the Democratic ballot for President. Tyler Davis and Lay Magill are extremely excited. On this day the Democrats nominated their President who will not be elected. Mr. Cleveland was nominated this morning about 3 o'clock in the midst of an exciting mob during a severe thunder storm in which the lightening was extremely vivid….Was an exciting day in Frederick as it was the day after the nomination of Cleveland and a ratification meeting was held at City Hall. Mckaig, J. E. R. Wood, Lay Magell, and Fred _____ being the speakers." "June 30th, On this day I left for my first trip to Sharpsburg. Went by the way of Boonsboro. Took in the cemetery of Antietam and S. Mountain which is a beautiful site to look upon." "July 5th, I arrived in Frederick early in the morning of this day and left at half past five for my mountain trip. Did not find many of the merchants home. Stopped for the night at Foxville." "July 14th, Was cloudy nearly all day. Played centerfield in a game of ball between the East side clerks and a picked nine consisting of the Catholic Union, Fast Mail and Bentstown Bards. Result score 13, 14 favor Picked Nine." "August 8th & 9th, I started on a trip in W. Virginia. Went by way of Feagaville, Jefferson, Petersville, Knoxville, Weaverton and Sandyhook to Harpers Ferry. Staid there all night. Went over to Island Park to a picnic there was a circus there….Left Harpers Ferry at 11 o'clock and went by the way of Camp Hill, Bolivar and Halltown to Charlestown to Hotel Carter. Staid there over night and had a good time. Also had good sales in that town." "August 12th, Left Martinsburg and went by way of Shepherds Town. Crossed the river at that place into Maryland and got a negro to drive to Sharpsburg as I was very sick but felt better toward night. Had diarrhea and cramps together." "August 19th, I met Mr. Brink, a man who had crossed the Atlantic 8 times and had been all over the U.S. Left Germantown and came by the way of Boyds, Buck Lodge, Shidell, Camus, Hayatts Town and Urbana to Frederick. It was very dusty and I was feeling badly when I got home." "September 7th & 8th, Left the Carter house and started for Middleway. This was the night that the great fight between Sullivan and Corbett was to take place for the championship of the world. Awoke in the morning only to find the Sullivan man feeling quite sore as Corbett had come out victorious in the 21st round. I went as far as Martinsburg. Attended a play at the opera house." "September 17th & 18th, Went to Washington D.C. on the 6:05 train. Arrived in that place a little after 8 o'clock. Went straight to the navy Yard and found father there. Went through all the different shops there and down on the wharf…After breakfast father and I walked out in Arlington Cemetery and there saw Uncle Henry Condon's grave. He died in 1864. Also saw several other monuments and things of interest." "September 26th, Arrived in Frederick on the 6:45 getting here about 7. Was kept quite busy all day putting and shipping goods and quite sleepy today. Got out my accounts for Ridgeville and made preparations for an early start." "October 3rd & 4th, I started for W. Va. and got as far as Harpers Ferry until night. There I found Price from Washington and Conrad from Baltimore. Had quite a nice time in that place….Left H. Ferry about ten o'clock and went down to the river and from there to Charlestown. Saw the large Cleveland, Stevenson and Wilson. Charles Young took my whip in Charlestown." "October 11th, 12th & 14th, Tuesday the first day of the Grand Frederick fair. It was quite lively in town that day. Saw some people from Charlestown that I knew. It was a delightful day. Went to see the Wild West show at night….There was an unusual large crowd in town for the second day of the fair. I remained at the store all day. Saw a great many people who I knew. Everything passed off quietly with but one or two fights……This was the last day of the fair and it was largely attended and there was a great deal of fighting going on. Four broke out anew in Gambril's Mill at night. I went to see the Pearl of Savoy played by Stanton Redding." "October 20th, Left Tyler's and come by the way of Emmitsburg to Frederick. There was a large Democratic meeting in town that night and parade and fireworks were immense. Senator Thomas F. Bayard of N.Y. spoke to a large audience." "October 31st, I was so stiff and sore from riding on Sunday that I could scarcely navigate. I started on my W. Va. trip and reached Harpers Ferry by night. The mountains in the Linden County side of the river were all in fire." "November 1st, Y. Murphy drove me up in Bolivar Monday night to look at the fire. We had quite a nice time. I reached Charlestown Tuesday night. Had a fine time with E. C. Grubbs. Political affairs were ablaze in that town." "December 31st, The last day of the year. I remained in Frederick all day. Bought a pair of ice skates. It snowed late in the evening and at night. Mr. Rice come home from his West Virginia trip. Mr. Davis is celebrating the last day of 1892." 1893 "January 13th, I went to Burkittsville in the sleigh. It was a fine day and the sleighing was good. I had a very good time with Pfiefer girls. Four negros were hanged at Chestertown for the murder of Dr. Hill. I went to the hall at night. Fast mail." [The following information in an article about Frank Brown who was the Governor of Maryland from 1892-1896: "The second of these instances was Governor Brown's commutation of the sentences of four Negro youths who had been scheduled to hang for the murder of Dr. Hill of Chestertown. Feeling ran high against the accused men. Brown had to exercise great secrecy in his investigation, so that his intervention in the case might not result in further violence. Governor Brown not only visited the boys in person, but he also examined the evidence exhaustively. Then he sent a State oyster boat secretly at night to Chestertown to take the four prisoners aboard and bring them to Baltimore. Finally, he commuted their sentences. For a time residents of the Eastern Shore were bitter against the Governor for his interference and threatened to lynch the four Negroes. Better judgment, however, prevailed, and the four men responsible for the crime were later apprehended and hanged"] "February 7th, Was quite cool. I staid in town. Mr. Rice was down to Rockville. At night I went to select dance given by the Rose Bud club and danced with Miss Conner. It was the first time I ever danced." "March 8th, I started in my Mt. trip along with Mr. Smith. The roads were very bad and in some places the snow was drifted as high as the top of the wagon. I got as far as Foxville the first night. Had a fine time with the boys hustling dice, 27 cts." "March 20th, Was a fairly good day. I started in my W. Va trip and got as far as Harpers Ferry and then stopped for the night. There was a chicken fight there and a lot of fellows from Ferry and Martinsburg was there betting on the fight and gambling." "April 17th, I started in my West Virginia trip. It was a nice day. I went by the way of Petersville, Knoxville, Weaverton and Sandy Hook and arrived at H. Ferry about 2 o'clock. Stopped at the Conner Hotel, business was very good." "April 28th, Was a beautiful day. Fore Paws Circus was in town. The town was flooded with people from the country. I went to see the circus in the evening. Took May. Saw the American Revolution which was as fine as silk. There was lots of people in town from down around home." "May 12th, I stained the bath tub for Mrs. Pope. Went over it twice. Mr. Pope notified me that I could keep in the look ou

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