The journal from 1888 deals with business, family relationships and the social life of an industry magnate's son.
HOLYOKE -- Follow along as William Cobbett Skinner keeps a journal in 1888 about working for his father at Skinner and Sons Manufacturing.
Wistariahurst Museum is posting weekly entries online of the journal kept by a son of one of Holyoke's founding families.
“The journal entries will unfold like a mystery. It is all new material to us. We’ve never had the time to transcribe this journal and we thought we would share the discoveries as they happen along in the year,” city historian Penni Martorell said.
Skinner journal entries are available at wistariahurst.org/experience-history/wcs-journal/
The journal includes business dealings, family relationships and social life, she said.
The Skinner family gave Wistariahurst -- its name refers to the wistaria vines planted when the house was built -- to the city in 1959 for cultural and educational purposes.
Originally the home of prominent silk manufacturer William Skinner and his family, the home is considered by devotees of history and detail to be an example of elegance and fine architecture since it was built in 1874.
The museum is open for house tours on Saturday, Sunday and Monday from noon to 4 p.m.