In Minneapolis on Wednesday, April 30, 1958, Dale wrote, “Very windy today. High 63°. Looked at trailers after supper. Nice.” The RV bug bit him again. Above is a 1958 ad.
Looking At Travel Trailers
Singing At The U
In Minneapolis on Sunday, April 29, 1956, Dale wrote, “We went to a University chorus recital at Northrop Auditorium. Stan sang in the chorus.” That’s the auditorium above. I was a freshman at the University of Minnesota.
Another Flood
In Muscatine on Saturday, April 28, 1951, Dale wrote that the Mississippi River was holding at 20.9 feet. The next day, a levee broke on the Illinois side of the river.
Going To Dairy Queen
In Minneapolis on Saturday, April 27, 1957, Dale wrote, “Took storm windows off the upstairs and put screens on. Helen and I went downtown early to look at carpets. No sale. Stan and Sue Timm went back to Muscatine on the 5 o’clock train. Helen, Dalene, Bonita, and I walked up to the Dairy Queen after supper.” Sue Timm was my girlfriend; Bonita was Dalene’s friend.
The Old Homestead
Visiting in Osceola from St. Paul on Sunday, April 26, 1942, Dale wrote, “Gene and Lela came up. We rode out to George and Wilma’s and to Louie and Ruth’s with them. George and Wilma came out to the folks and borrowed our camera.” Lela Yates and Wilma Casey were Helen’s sisters, and Louie Schaffer was her brother. That’s the farm home of Williams and Jettie above, in 1942.
First Place!
In Muscatine on Saturday, April 25, 1953, Dale wrote, “Dalene went to a party and luncheon. Stan went to Iowa City to a music contest in the afternoon. His group won a 1st place.” My yearbook for 1953 says I was in a Madrigal Group with Phyllis Van Zandt, Janice Faulkner, Marilyn Furnas, Ann Wigim, Joyce Ogilvie, Phyllis Duggan, Larry Misel, Kay Woodward, Doug Coder, Ken Hopkins, and Bill Buster. Our accompanist was Sharon Mittman. A ‘madrigal’ is a vocal music composition of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Our group wasn’t as large as the one above.
Stan Goes To Fun Night
Still on sick leave on Friday, April 24, 1953, Dale wrote, “Helen, Dalene, and I drove from Osceola to Muscatine in the rain. Got a letter of assignment back to Muscatine. Stan went to Fun Night.” I must have stayed home in Muscatine while Dad tried his new Post of Duty that week. Fun Night was a teen dance at the YWCA.
From Omaha To Osceola
On sick leave on Thursday, April 23, 1953, Dale and Helen drove from Omaha to Osceola. They picked Dalene up at the farm of Wilma (Helen’s sister) and George Casey and spent the night at Jettie’s house. That’s Helen sitting in the car, above.
Dale’s First Year
In Washington, DC, on Thursday, April 22, 1937, Dale wrote, “One year in Civil Service.”
Mississippi Flooding
In Muscatine on Monday, April 21, 1952, Dale wrote that the Mississippi River was at 19.3 feet, and there was flooding downtown at the riverfront. The next day, the river was at 19.6 feet.
A Talking Mule
In Muscatine on Thursday, April 20, 1950, Dale took Stanley and Dalene to the movie, “Francis the Talking Mule.”
All The Schaffers
In Osceola on Sunday, April 19, 1942, Dale, Helen, and Stanley went to a Schaffer dinner hosted by Helen’s brother Pearl and his wife Cedar. Dale wrote, “Fine day, fine eats, etc. All the Schaffer brothers and sisters were there except Lloyd.” From about ten years earlier above – Back row: Pearl, Earl, Lloyd, Gerald, Harley, Louis. Middle row: Wilma, Helen, Lela. Front row: Alice and George Schaffer.
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
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On Saturday, April 18, 1942, the Doolittle Raid was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands (specifically Honshu) during World War II. The raid was planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle, USAAF, from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. The 1944 movie “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” is based on the Doolittle Raid. Above: B-25s on the USS Hornet en route to Japan; a B-25 taking off from the Hornet for the raid.
Daffy Duck Appears
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On Saturday, April 17, 1937, the animated cartoon character Daffy Duck made his debut in the Warner Bros. cartoon “Porky’s Duck Hunt,” directed by Tex Avery and animated by Bob Clampett. Above left: that first appearance. Above right: his more modern look.
The Latest Dirt
In Minneapolis on Monday, April 16, 1956, Dale wrote, “Merle and Beulah Osterquist were here for supper and to visit. Learned about Muscatine Plant personnel.” I think that means he caught up on the latest gossip. Merle had been a co-worker in Muscatine.
1958 Emmy Awards
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, April 15, 1958, Dale wrote, “High 70°. I went to bed when I came home from work with a head cold. Stan went to school at the U at night. To bed at 11 p.m. after watching the Emmy awards on TV.” Best comedy series was The Phil Silvers Show.
Flooding Rivers
On Saturday, April 14, 1951, Dale’s mother Jettie, his sister Marie and her daughter Susan, and his brother Lloyd’s daughter Carol arrived in Muscatine in the afternoon to stay all night. Dale took them for a ride around town in Marie’s car the next day, and to see the Cedar River. The diary doesn’t say the Cedar River was flooding, but why else would they go? The Mississippi was rising, as seen above several years earlier when Wilma (Helen’s sister), George and Larry Casey were visiting.
Helen Bakes Beans
In Minneapolis on Monday, April 13, 1959, Dale wrote, “High 60° and nice but too dry. Took TV to a shop and left it for repair. Helen and I washed after supper. Dalene studied and Stan went out. Helen baked beans, delicious!”
Playing In The Barn
Visiting from Muscatine in Osceola with his family on Saturday, April 12, 1952, Dale wrote, “Family all at Mother’s. Visited Louie and Ruth; China; Margie and Jack’s for dinner. Kids played in the barn. Had supper at Mother’s, 14 people there.” Louie was one of Helen’s brothers, China was Helen’s brother Pearl, and Margie was Louie and Ruth’s daughter. I have no picture of Jack and Margie’s barn, but it was similar to the one above.
Buchenwald
On Wednesday, April 11, 1945, LIFE photographer Margaret Bourke-White was with U.S. General George Patton’s troops when they liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp. Forty-three thousand people had been murdered there. Patton was so outraged he ordered his men to march German civilians through the camp so they could see with their own eyes what their nation had wrought.