| Age 61: Acting as matron at Andover Town Infirmary. Difficulty with metatarsals; needed bandages and extra arch support. Still suffering scalp exzema. Mr. Duvall, a patient at the infirmary, continues having toilet training problems: [5 July] "Mr. D. messed up the dining room in pm and daubs of it all over his toilet. Why he doesn't pass out is beyond me." [30 December] "Selectmen came and looked over place. Found Duval in a puddle in bed as R. was shaving him." [31 December] "Had a good time but it was spoiled New Year's by having Mr. Duval mess on floor." Mary losing her patience with other patients as well. Colleague Bea and her daugther Dottie resigned from infirmary. | 1948 |
| Age 62: Acting as matron at Andover Town Infirmary. Mr. Duvall died. Mary suffering periodic headaches so terrible that she couldn't get out of bed. Diagnosed as having hypertension and arthritis in neck. Also periodic bouts with laryngitis. Took courses in Personality and Personal Appearance from library. Visited friends in Florida and on the way home visited son Ernest John Edmands and daughter-in-law Marguerite Phyllis "Peggy" Bailey Edmands, in Norfolk, VA. Granddaughter Ernestine "Tina" J. Edmands, daughter of son Ernest John and daughter-in-law Peggy, born (as part of the Boom Generation) in Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia. Aunt Fanny (Frances Cummerford Findley), widow of Uncle Richard Findley, died on March 12 in New Haven, CT, at the age of 89. Mary visited her just before she died: "Went down to see Aunt Fannie on Feb 24 and stayed only a few minutes. Her funds are all gone. Is in ward at Grace Hospital. Nothing but skin and bone. Knew me but hurts to talk. Suffers terribly." Randall M. Kinville, son of niece Dorothy May "Dot" Edmands Kinville, 29 (daughter of brother-in-law Nelson Wilfred Edmands and late sister-in-law Alice E. Blaney Edmands) and her husband, Ronald George Kinville, born. | 1949 |
| Age 63: Acting as matron at Andover Town Infirmary, wages $18.90 per week. Difficulties with new inmate, Tim McCarthy, over room and board: [6 December] "McCarthy paid me $15 very unwillingly." Documenting Stickney ancestors. Diagnosed as having arthritis in spine. Required more extensive arch support. Frequent headaches. Friend George Carter, 74, demented, hospitalized with uremic poisoning, died of cerebral hemorrhage; Nellie Carter, also 74, repeatedly falling, moved into infirmary. Daughter-in-law Mary Anna Hawes Edmands Ashbrook, 33, and her new husband, Harry Lee Ashbrook, 38, along with grandchildren Mary Christine "Chris" Edmands, 12, and Allan Christie Edmands II, 8, visited Andover from the West Coast. Mary's mother, Anna Martha Franz Hawes, 72, came too. Brother-in-law Nelson Wilfred Edmands died in Wakefield, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at the age of 74 years 9 months and 8 days; he was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Saugus, Essex County, Massachusetts. Grandniece Minerva "Babe" Russell, 22, married Paul Sprogis. | 1950 |
| Age 64: Acting as matron at Andover Town Infirmary. Continued trouble with inmate Tim McCarthy: [15 January] "McCarthy paid his board and argued about the date on his receipt. I flew up and told him to get another place to live if this didn't suit him." [5 February] "Old McCarthy walked right into bedroom looking for me. I told him he might have knocked. Old fool." [2 April] "McCarthy acting up-- in Sydney's room looking for a paper. R[oland] balled him out and had a bad pain afterwards. Told him to get another place by next week." [4 April] "McCarthy up and wanted to see me. Said he couldn't get a room. Denied everything I said he did. Had his cap on and Jean came in and told him to take it off. Got me all worked up." [5 April] "Got letter from selectmen saying to get rid of McCarthy." Suffering neuralgia. Left arm continuously sore; needed "baking" treatments for it. Joined University of LIfe, a Christian study group. Took 2-month trip out west: Laramie, WY, with granddaughter Anna Jane "Janna" Edmands, 6, and Janna's foster mother Margery Jane "Janie" Doyle Hawes, 36; Centralia, WA, with daughter-in-law Mary Anna Hawes Edmands Ashbrook, 34, her husband, Harry Lee Ashbrook, 39, granddaughter Mary Christine "Chris" Edmands, 13, grandson Allan Christie Edmands II, 9, and Mary's mother, Anna Martha Franz Hawes, 73; Vallejo, CA, with nephew Milton A. Edmands, 31, and his wife, Ruth; Los Angeles, CA, with friend Bea Sullivan; and Grand Canyon, AZ. Ruth A. Kinville, daughter of niece Dorothy May "Dot" Edmands Kinville, 31 (daughter of late brother-in-law Nelson Wilfred Edmands and late sister-in-law Alice E. Blaney Edmands) and her husband, Ronald George Kinville, born. Brother-in-law Arthur Seymour Edmands died of cardiac decompensation, gangreus ileum, in Saugus, Essex County, Massachusetts, at the age of 89. | 1951 |
| Age 65: Stopped acting as matron at Andover Town Infirmary, but not before receiving good appraisal: [6 January] "R[oland] said T. Eaton and Napier said I had been best matron they had had for getting in bills on time, but R exaggerates sometimes." [5 March] "Letter from Selectmen accepting my resignation with regret. Ha-ha-- that's a laugh. Well I've tried to do what was right here so far as I was able." Continued to live at Infirmary, working for part of room and board; looking for apartment. Began receiving Social Security payments: $49.60 a month (raised after a few months to $55.80). Began receiving Veterans Administration "mother's pension" on deceased son Allan for $60 a month. Became leader of local King's Daughters group. Still receiving "baking" treatments for continuously sore left arm; wore a copper bracelet, sometimes used oil of wintergreen and once was prescribed an X-ray treatment. (Diagnosed as bursitis (or possibly arthritis). Also had oral surgery after "eye tooth" broke off. Visited friend Paul Higgins, 59, a widower, in Dexter, ME, and met his friends Mildred Brown and Addie Downing. Voted mostly for Republicans: [11 July] "Listened to T.V. and saw Eisenhower and Nixon make their acceptance speeches for pres. and vp nominations. The vp looks like Harry Ashbrook." [23 September] "Listened to end of Nixon's speech [the Checkers speech] about the $18000 fund the dirty democrats say he shouldn't have had-- also to a commentator who also is a d.d." [5 November, the morning after the election] "Eisenhower and Nixon in for pres. and vp. Herter in for governor of Mass. Lodge defeated by Kennedy [for Senate], the only clean contest in the election." Granddaughter Gwendolyn Jean "Wendy" Edmands, daughter of son Ernest John Edmands and daughter-in-law Marguerite Phyllis "Peggy" Bailey Edmands, born (as part of the Boom Generation) in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Spent several days before Christmas with John and Peggy and family (had a miserable time) and then Christmas itself with niece Eleanor Ramsdell Tucker and her husband Edwin Tucker and their children Gordon, Susan, Byron, and Karen. Roger A. Kinville, son of niece Dorothy May "Dot" Edmands Kinville, 32 (daughter of late brother-in-law Nelson Wilfred Edmands and late sister-in-law Alice E. Blaney Edmands) and her husband, Ronald George Kinville, born. | 1952 |
| Age 66: Moved to 32 High Street in Andover, renting an apartment from Gordon and Greta Coutts for $50 a month. Control of the heat was with the tenants in the downstairs apartment, though. Still helping out at Andover Town Infirmary. Former brother-in-law H. A. "Harry" Ramsdell, widower of late sister, Susie Catherine Findley Ramsdell, moved into Infirmary for a short time, and was incontinent. [30 June] "Old Ramsdell messed- he's like Mr. Duval only worse I think because he's supposed to have his senses." Proofreading DAR material. Acted as recording secretary of Priscilla Abbott local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Attended state DAR convention with daughter, Ethel Jean Edmands Weeks. Very active in local DAR chapter, organizing programs and proofreading published materials. Continued as leader of local King's Daughters group. Got dentures. Frequently afflicted with the "blind staggers." Nephew Nathaniel Melvin "Nat" Edmands, 37, son of late brother-in-law Nelson Wilfred Edmands and late sister-in-law Alice E. Blaney Edmands, left his wife, Edie (Edith Victoria Dunham Edmands), for another woman--abandoning his son, Nathaniel Melvin "Lanie" Edmands, Jr., 6. | 1953 |
| Age 67: Continuously ill; doctor diagnosed the problem as catarrh. Resigned as leader of local King's Daughters group. Fretted that Bessie O'Connor became the regent of the local DAR chapter. Very active locally with Thrift Shop, DAR, Kings Daughters, other groups, and friends. Investigating both the Bean and Stickney ancestors. Again visited widower Paul Higgins, 61, and his friends Mildred Brown and Addie Downing in Dexter, ME; second big New England hurricane of season struck during visit. Hospitalized at Lawrence General Hospital, diagnosed with diabetes, shingles, with nonfunctioning gall bladder. Began taking insulin. Very ill, needed to move back to Infirmary at 88 Carmel Road, Andover (subletting her High St. apartment to Mary Moore). Friend Ethel Howell, 66, visited from Florida. Veterans Administration "mother's pension" increased $15 to $75 a month. Second long hospital stay, for ruptured gall bladder removal; got pneumonia and needed oxygen tent to sleep at night. Grandnephew John "Jack" B. Russell, 27, married and moved to St. Albans, L.I., NY. | 1954 |
| Age 68: Long recuperation from gall bladder operation. Adjusted to need to take insulin for diabetes. Suffering high blood pressure and occipital neuralgia. Moved back to 32 High Street, Andover (actually living both there and at 88 Carmel Road). Social Security raised to from $55.80/month to $60.80/month. Very active locally with Thrift Shop, DAR, Kings Daughters, other groups, and friends. Roland M. Kinville, son of niece Dorothy May "Dot" Edmands Kinville, 35 (daughter of late brother-in-law Nelson Wilfred Edmands and late sister-in-law Alice E. Blaney Edmands) and her husband, Ronald George Kinville, born. John T. Hatch, 29, son of late niece Elizabeth C. Edmands Hatch (daughter of brother-in-law Arthur Seymour Edmands and sister-in-law Edith G. Mansfield Edmands) and her husband Lester Hatch, accidentally killed in 30-foot fall while washing outside windows of the apartment he shared with his brother Anthony, 35, in Saugus, Essex County, Massachuesetts. Former brother-in-law Harry A. Ramsdell died in New Bedford, MA, at the age of 87 years 9 months 20 days. Former Andover Press colleague Ruth Saunders died of acute cancer in Lawrence, MA, at the age of 52. Hospitalized once again with stomach ulcer; had tumor on elbow removed. | 1955 |
| Age 69: Suffered from diabetes. Moved out of 32 High Street and into 88 Carmel Road. Traveled by train across the continent: Visited daughter-in-law Mary Anna Hawes Edmands Ashbrook, 39, and her husband, Harry Lee Ashbrook, 44, and granddaughter Mary Christine "Chris" Edmands, 18, just graduated from high school, and grandson Allan Christie Edmands II, 14, just graduated from grade school, in Centralia, Lewis County, Washington. Very active locally with Thrift Shop, DAR, Kings Daughters, other groups, and friends. Brother-in-law Edward Wesley Edmands died in Wakefield, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, at the age of 91 years 4 months and 26 days. Grandnephew (Edwin) Byron Tucker, 21, married (Marilyn) Joy Rein in Crawford, AL. Grandniece Joyce Anne O'Donnell, 23, married Elmer Joseph Arsenault in Peekskill, NY. Grandniece JoAn Phelps Russell, 29, married John Walter Stewart, Jr., in New Bedford, MA. | 1956 |
| Age 70: With Andover Town Infirmary (88 Carmel Road) closing, moved into house at 32 Maple Avenue that daughter Ethel Jean Edmands Weeks, 48, and son-in-law Roland C. Weeks, 58, purchased with her help. Vacationed with niece Eleanor Ramsdell Tucker in South Dartmouth, MA. Also vacationed in Boothbay, ME, and Jackson, NH. Very active locally with Thrift Shop, DAR, Kings Daughters, other groups, and friends. Suffered from diabetes. Ralph E. Kinville, son of niece Dorothy May "Dot" Edmands Kinville, 37 (daughter of late brother-in-law Nelson Wilfred Edmands and late sister-in-law Alice E. Blaney Edmands) and her husband, Ronald George Kinville, born. | 1957 |
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