Meet Mira!

This young woman is Mira Yoder and, for the last few months, she’s been working on a transcription project here at Rocktown History. Her work involves typing out the entries found in a diary/business ledger kept by Mr. D.M. Huffman between 1873 and 1881. Huffman, a retired merchant at the time, recorded many of the happenings in Harrisonburg like weddings, traveling shows, and the daily weather. 

“The most interesting aspect of recording Huffman’s diary entries is that, over time, you can begin to see what types of things were interesting to him and put together what his personality or temperament might have been. He wrote a lot about the weather—especially when it was bitter or dreary—and about court cases. He seemed to follow what was happening in the courts closely,” says Mira. 

Transcribing a 150-year-old ledger may seem like a tedious task to many, but for Mira, it’s been an ideal project. She is a recent college graduate, has had an interest in history for most of her life, and plans to pursue a master’s degree in library science and archival studies. “I’ve often said that working in a museum would be my dream job,” Mira adds. Which is why she has found the opportunity to volunteer at Rocktown History so fulfilling. “It’s been quite surprising to see how much is available here—from the books, archives, and exhibits, everything is so well done.”

When asked what makes D.M. Huffman’s diary notes relevant to look at now, Mira had this to say: “Learning about a person—how they thought about things, what they liked and disliked—allows you to identify with them on a personal level no matter how long ago they lived. That makes history feel so much more relatable.”

Plus, as a resident of Harrisonburg for a mere nine years, Mira’s volunteer experience has helped her connect to her new hometown in ways she hadn’t yet—giving her a sense of community through the history she’s learning along the way. 

“I feel even more at home here because of Rocktown History,” Mira adds, “Now when I see a particular street or park, I know who it was named after and why. That’s fun.” 

D.M. Huffman ledger, Christmas notes, December 1873 (unedited transcription)

Happy Holidays! December, 2024