Oct. 26, 1924
     Day spent in trip to Persia, thence to Gowanda by way of Cattaraugus Creek valley.  The train from Dayton to Persia– green and yellow woodwork with rich red plush seats – feelings of “olden” days – of the first railroad – or indeed this is an old timer – a one track road with a “dinky” engine The trip ends abruptly at a crossroad – which wasPersia! Some two or three miles north of here was a schoolhouse with the name “Persia” on it, having a bell tower in the Persian dome manner as if to justify the name.
     Down tracks at first – hunters and dogs in swamp – occasional baying of hounds and gunshots.  Stop in little woods to sketch a few trees.  Down tracks to find opening to Cattaraugus valley; found none so retrace steps and enter little hollow which ends steeply in larger area. This one had a wonderful cold and clear stream running over a bed of solid rocks.  I follow it until it suddenly ended in a flat open meadow.
     The day is warm, dry and dusty- heavy haze in the air- I make a small sketch after which, I eat my lunch on a big rock by the creek – sun on the rapids in brilliant white silver reflections.
     Follow creek to a little used road which led up over the hill;   about a mile up I took the road northwards that led to the Persia schoolhouse.  I had to walk briskly as I was afraid of missing my train.  About a mile from Gowanda a machine went by and stopped a few yds. beyond me.  As I came past, a machine came from the other direction and the first one started up.  When they got to me they stopped and one yelled “Where yuh goin?” “Gowanda.” “Ride?’ When I went around, a bleary-eyed bewhiskered man opened the door – he looked like a tramp.