Author: Trella Hemmerly Haldeman Romine

Thursday, September 10, 2009
77° mostly sunny [Popcorn Festival]
Up at 8:15 – stripped my bed – load of laundry – fed birds – checked in with David & Kathi by email – picture of Kathi & Bob – both thinner. – bfst.
Royce & Jim arrived at 9:15 – Jim took down shower curtain & liner to lounder – reworked stone wall by mail box to take out the bulge [sic] – PLanted 5 peony plants roots – only 2 had ‘pink eyes’ – 3 look dead. He mowed across road & trimmed dead wood from white lilacs. Tey left at 1:30 – Royce $50 – Jim $40 – I mowed upper lawn and along lower drive. Rested from 3:15 to 3:45. Baked ham loaf.
Jed, Rae & Miette arrived at 5:45 instead of 5:00 as planned so most streets closed by time we got to Marioon at 6:15. Jed parked at Hemmerly’s b hard to find a spont & I thought they misunderstood & were walked to HH from there so I drive there. Had to park of High Street by Y – long walk to front steps. Betty white got me a chair – sat on top step. JR & L arrived walking ( I pulled away just as they headed to my car.
Boring parade – my last one – Bought raffle ticket for all family & Jed choose ‘art’. I left at 7:45 & J.R. L took me to car & then headed to Main & Center for ‘Festival’

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Both David H and Dave D emailed they would like to attend Harding dinner with me on Nov 2 (Invited by Warren III) I think I don’t want to go.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Rainy 72° partly sunny
Finished “Harding Affair” at about 12:30 & then couldn’t go to sleep until about 4:00.
Up at 9:30 – Tired all day – Did load of laundry & one of dishes. Email from Jim Robinalt with review of Harding Affair from Cleveland Plain Dealer – same article reviewed Katy Sibley’s book “Florence Harding”. Email from Warren Harding III inviting me to Harding Dinner on Nov 2 & Columbus Club! I declined.
To HH at 4 for Nominating Committee meeting with trustee nominee Pat Smith Klehm [ Kz-illegible] (Howie’s daughter) & Matt Robbins – So young-! But receptive – Gale led them a tour of building – (I was too tired). No money to pay electric bill ($450 profit from T-shirts at Sar in Park – Gave them each an office copy of “basics”.
Shopped at Aldi’s – Too tired to cook supper -.
Gale called David & he called me. Will email me tomorrow.

Monday, September 7, 2009
Woke to thunder – Rained most of the morning.
Found 2005 letter from Bob Ferrell pertinent Robenalt book. SPent most of the day reading the Harding Affair – Carrie and Isabelle as spies for Germany – investigations in Marion & mention of names I know. Asa Queen – PM Campbell, Wysall.
He (JR) had found the link (that I suspected) between IOsabelle & Nan Britton & used it top discredit ‘The President’s Daughter’ – Glad he compared dates in President’s Daughter to Harding’s calendar!
As further proof that NB fabricated.
Picture on front page of Echoes (OHS Newsletter by story on death of Bill Laidlaw0 of him and me. Jim Strider names interim director. Did he choose it!

Sunday, September 6, 2009
Sunny 92 °
Humidity 32%
Winter wren in dogwood tree! 3rd life sighting.
No emails from David all week. Report (preliminary) on Robenalt book – send email invitation to Haldeman’s for Sunday Sept 20.
Spent most of afternoon on JR’s book – Can’t get the connection to [illegible] – suspected German spy before WWI!
Watered pots on deck & ramp.
Scrambled eggs & toast for supper. I don’t have much appetite.
Pg 330 of Harding Affair debunks Nan Britton at Plattsburgh, NY.

Saturday, September 5, 2009
Picked up mail before heading to Heritage hall and it included package from Clenland – Jim Robenalt’s “The Harding Affair” so I took it with me.
Man in parking lot from Kent, Ohio said front door was locked so I unlocked it. Ruth on duty and she “only tends the register”. So I stayed with her until Mary Malone – docent arrived about 2:00. Then to Resource Center where Lisa Carlisle was on duty. No visitors except Mary Malone looking for Sawyer Sanitorium info. Showed her the drawer full & recruited her to catalog it!
I copied the Nan Britton photo page from 1914 Quiver. “She thinks not what she says”!!
Also researched City directories from 1910-1924 & found Phillips at 413 S. Main & Britten at 434 S. Prospect in 19__
Completely exhausted so didn’t go to Saturday in Park (Lincoln) – shopped for produce at Meijer & home by 5:30. Had to rest before I cold heat up supper.
In bed at 8:30 – will be reading “The Harding Affair”

Friday, September 4, 2009
D Jones 9544
51-81° Sunny
Mail had gone when I would have put letter & “reports to Bob Gerrell in the box so I brought the envelope bak in the house intending to drive to Caledonia later today top mail it.
While waiting for computer to re-boot (email down) I picked up Bob’s “The Strange Deaths of of President Harding” to see what he had to say about the Phillip’s letters – Felt foolish that I had used Frances Russell’s rambling account for my article instead of going to “Strange Death”. Bob laid it out chronologically & lucidly – easy to follow.
So I wrote him another letter praising his professionalism & berating my stupidity. Sent a copy to David hoping he’d tell me what the questions & answers were on Mondy.
Corn on cob (microwave) pork chops, tomato for supper.
Rick Steves had excellent coverage of present day Iran & found “common” people like Americans contrary to propaganda. PBS program.

Thursday, September 3, 2009
81°
Up at 8:15 so I could listen to Scott Spears “Exchange Club” at 8:45 – Even more finance that I thought it was as we taped it.
An exchange of emails with Jim Robenalt answering my question I gave him on a note at his talk “Do you know if a connection between Nan Britton & Isabelle Phillips (I found it several ars ago. Back yards on S. Main & S. Prospect abutted.) He had found it also – He asked what Isabell’s motive might be in sharing the letters (if she did). I think a desire to show off! Told him books sold out before we got back to sales table so my “review” wold have to wait – He asked for my address to send me an autographed copy!
Wrote up the notes I took and also a “review” of his presentation. But then lost my email connection so couldn’t send to David.
Wrote an answer to Bob Ferrell’s letter of yesterday to “keep him posted.”
Don Keil stopped by with a sack of tomatoes – noise chat about Huber Association gift of photos – Told him I can’t be at Annual Meeting Sept 20.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Trella
Bede Agner
Mike Mackay
Dick Schwaderer
Becky Yanitell
Prepared info for Nominating Committee members needed to choose candidates.
Two seats for trustees available.
Met a 4 in Resource Center. Mike Mackay (& brown dog) so helpful. Made most of the phone calls necessary. Saw Jan Augenstein in hall before meeting & she will accept nomination for president again. Also other offices & Carol Robinson & possibilities – Angel Corb etta, Dave Clayborn, Scott Spears (Gale vetoed), Becky Yanitell.

I refused corresponding secretary to make room for Valena Mackay so she would be on exec. Committee.
Settle on Pam Smith (Crosa?) – daughter of Howie Smith of Wilson Bohanon. And Matthew robbibns (age 30). Will mee with them at 4:00 next tues before Exec. meeting at 5:00 for some orientation1
Picked up Actonel prescription – Only 1 pill each month now but stronger, $38.
David has mislaid his reading glasses – couldn’t find them here.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009
September 1, 2009
48° AM
Called Mary Merchant since we didn’t properly say goodbye last night. Got lost in the crowd of 300. Invited her & Kaye to Terradise & they were here from about 11:15 to 12:45. Gave them the golf cart tour – Maary loved the peacefulness along the river. Asked about the wedding held here – Kathi’s reception when she married Don Decker & her first marriagte to Bob Sands. Also told he of Margaret Ann Romine’s son Darin’s wedding there. She hadn’t heard of Marcella Haldeman’s death. Tricia married Mary Merchant Gruber’s cousin. Got into Kathi’s problems with Bob Sands family – Steve tragedy – sitll in nbursing home in Conn. after 30 years.
Call from John Jarvis of Marion Star on the 230 Blaine Ave Apt building that is being razed after a recent fire – Found it was a hospital for only about 2 yrs.
Mowed upper lawns & down to river 5:00 to 5:45. Leftovers from last night for supper.
Front page Star story on Robenalt’s lecture. Focused on Carrie Phillips “spy” connection before WWI