In St. Paul on Sunday, August 31, 1941, Dale, Helen, Stanley, and Mary Ann Marshall (a neighbor girl) went to the Minnesota State Fair. Dale watched the auto races while the others went through the exhibits and the Midway.
At The State Fair
A World War II Reunion
Dale’s New Shoes
Dick Powell And Ruby Keeler
Dale Writes A Letter
A Virginia Mayo Movie
Dale Goes To The State Fair
In Minneapolis on Sunday, August 24, 1958, Dale wrote, “I drove the Dodge to the State Fair at 8 a.m. to get a place to park. Walked around, saw machinery hill, saw horse-power thresher in action. Rest of the family came in the afternoon. I went to the races. Had dinner and supper at fairgrounds. Helen walked through livestock buildings in the afternoon. Pretty cool day, high was only 66°.” Below: the AgStar arena at the Minnesota state fair.
At The Races
We Rent Next Door
In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 22, 1951, Dale and Helen rented the house at 505 East Seventh Street, which was next door to the house we lived in at 507 East Seventh Street. They did this to avoid a rent increase. Below: Dalene and Helen in front of 505 East Seventh Street a year or two later. This house had a nice screened-in front porch, as you can see.
Remember TV Rabbit Ears?
A Friday Night Movie
A Ride Around Lake Calhoun
A Visit To Como Park Zoo
In Minneapolis on Sunday, August 18, 1957, Dale wrote, “Drove Jacks to Como Park and Zoo in the afternoon. Supper here and an evening of TV and visiting.” Jack and Margie Nish (Helen’s niece) and their girls Ann and Cathy left the next morning to return to Osceola. Below: a popular ride at Como Park Zoo.
Shopping At Southdale
In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 17, 1957, Dale wrote, “Downtown with Jack and Margie in the afternoon and to Southdale. Cool in the evening. Stayed up till 1:30 visiting with Jack and Margie.” Margie Schaffer, Helen’s niece, was married to Jack Nish; they were visiting from Osceola. Southdale Center, in Edina, was the nation’s first enclosed regional shopping center. It opened in 1956, is anchored by Macy’s, Herberger’s, JCPenney, and Marshalls, and has more than 120 specialty stores, a 16-screen movie theater, and a top restaurant lineup. Below: the center’s Garden Court about 1960.
Sunday Night TV
A River Cruise
Another Picnic
Supper At The Airport
Stan’s Last Farm Visit
On Saturday, August 12, 1950, Dale wrote, “Stan, Dalene and I left Muscatine at 3 p.m. for Osceola, got there at 6:45. Rain part of way. Called Helen. Visited with folks at night.” Dad and Dalene drove back to Muscatine the next day, but I stayed at my grandparents’ farm for the next three weeks for the last time – my grandfather Williams Gardner died on December 16. Below: Grandpa and I give milk to some barn cats that summer.