A Day At Gibraltar!

Some one has asked: "How do you spend your time on the Island? are you not lonesome? What can you possibly find to do over there for six long weeks of Sept & Octo."

An account of one day, very similar to the other days, will answer these questions & show that this is indeed an "Island of the blessed" Hiawatha could not & did not dream of a happier spot, but thank God we have a building not made with hands eternal in the Heaven!.

First, then we have a whole Island to ourselves at Gibraltar, regular Robinson Crusoes style of life, our dogs, cats, cow chickens turkeys squirrels etc, our Ice House, barn, boat houses & Dock & all kinds of boats from the tiny skiff for the youngest up to the two masted Yacht & including Canoes & life boats.

We have hook & line dypseys trolling lines & hooks, poles etc all in order. We have guns and ammunition.

We have games of all kinds. Billiards Bagatelle, Backgammon, Dominoes (muggins) & some use cards. We have music from the Piano, orchestrion & organ. We have a cozy library filled with standard books. We have an open fire in the sitting room & stoves in the rooms & Gas & water works in fact every thing that can be thought of to add to our comfort & happiness...

...Our amusements are then entered upon, some of the Ladies & girls play croquet, others take their knitting & sit on the rocks under the trees whilst on(e) of their number reads from some interesting book. Others sing & play or read in the Library. The boys take to their boats & rowing & the Gentlemen go a fishing & hunting sometimes to the surrounding Islands bringing home supplies of birds rabbits quails & always enough fine blackbass to keep the table well supplied. Sometimes a visit is paid to the opposite Islands & vineyards & orchards are invaded & all are well filled with delicious Peaches & Grapes- besides in the Hall at Gibraltar you will always find baskets of many varieties of Grapes & Peaches accessible to all. There are swings for the childn & bathing places where the majority of those here enjoy their baths in the open Lake. Boat races, & fishing races for prizes are often inaugurated- & Pic nics & excursions to other Islands- some of these lasting two or three days- three or four of the Party are skilful Photographers as will be seen by an examination of the photos in this book* & this is a source of constant interest & employment to such as engage in photography.

*In the later years of the Cooke Journals and the Gibraltar Records, photographs were pasted into the journal along with the hand written journal entries.

In the evening our letters & papers arrive & sometime is spent in reading & answering our Correspondence.

On Sundays we go to the little church on Put in Bay Morning & Evening in boats. We refrain of course from all secular work & amusements, but the day passes delightfully & rapidly- we read & rest take naps & walks on our own Island & the day is gone all too rapidly.

The atmosphere of Gibraltar is at least 5 to 10 degrees cooler in summer than it is on the Island opposite & we always have a breeze on our porches & in the hall. It has proved to be a remarkably healthy spot, & thus far no serious illness has been experienced by any who have resided here permanently or temporarily for 25 years past.

Our days here are indeed days of pleasantness & all our paths are peace.

May God long spare us to enjoy Gibraltar & to make it the means of good, & of rational & healthful rest to the dear ones who come here- At this date I have 2 daughters & 2 daughters in law, two Sons & two sons in Law & 15 Grandchildren- 6 boys & 9 Girls & a beautiful happy group they are- besides these visitors & myself we have Miss Bronaugh, Dr. Appleton Mr Fuller & others from the East & frequent visits from fr'ds & relatives in Sandusky & elsewhere.