On Tuesday, October 31, 1950, Dale wrote, “Went to Osceola to see Dad. He is having heart trouble.” Dale took several more trips between Muscatine and Osceola that fall; his father died December 16. Below: The last picture I have from 1950 of Williams and Jettie Gardner, my grandparents, taken at their farm.
Some Good Movies
Goodbye To Muscatine
In Muscatine on Saturday, October 29, 1955, Dale wrote, “My last day of duty at Grain Processing Corporation, Muscatine, Iowa.” He had been transferred to the St. Paul office of the Alcohol Tax Unit, Internal Revenue Service. Below: the plant and barges on the Mississippi seen from Muscatine’s riverside walk.
Eat At Maid-Rite
A College Play
Going To Wildcat Den
Watching TV Football
Need A Job
Driving Ms. Helen
On vacation from Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 23, 1956, Dale, Helen, and Dalene left the Gene and Lela Yates home (Helen’s sister) in Estherville at 9 a.m. and drove to Osceola by 2:30. He wrote, “Nice day, nice drive. Stayed all night at Mother’s. Went over to Lloyd’s awhile.” Lloyd was Dale’s brother. It’s about 214 miles from Estherville to Osceola:
Going To Estherville
The Queen Of England
In Minneapolis on Monday, October 21, 1957, Dale wrote, “Watched the Queen of England on TV at night, from a Ball in New York.”
Dale And Dalene Go Bowling
Pie And Coffee
Away from Muscatine on temporary duty at the Omaha alcohol plant, Dale drove to Osceola after work on Friday, October 19, 1951, for the weekend. He wrote, “Lloyd, Marie, Susan, Mother and I had pie and coffee after a football game.” Lloyd was Dale’s brother, Marie was Dale’s sister, and Susan was Marie’s daughter.
High School Football Homecoming
A Walk In The Timber
Visiting in Osceola from Muscatine on Monday, October 17, 1955, Dale wrote, “We made ourselves at home at Mother’s. Dalene and I took a walk in Grand-Dad’s timber on the old Short place. First time I had been in that timber for 36 years. Enjoyed it very much.” That timber had belonged to John Clark Short, Jettie’s father, and must have resembled this:
From Osceola To Omaha
Moving Day In Washington
My Room Gets A Heater
Grade School Open House
Stan Cramps, Helen Faints
In Muscatine on Sunday, October 12, 1952, Dale wrote, “Stanley’s legs cramped last night and Helen fainted at the same time.” My legs cramped from long hours on a step ladder at backroom bookshelves at Cohn’s news agency, but they got better over the next week or so. I don’t know why Mom fainted.