Month: July 2013

Duck Be Gone

July 31, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 31, 1956, Dale wrote, “Dalene and I drove home from Mother’s, from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Rain and cool driving. Gave our duck to Dr. St. Cyr on Twin Lakes.” Above: Twin Lakes area in Fridley, Minnesota (just north of Columbia Heights, where we lived).

Visiting Jettie In Town

July 30, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Monday, July 30, 1956, still vacationing in Osceola, Dale wrote, “At Mother’s, Dalene and I. Fixed Mother’s front porch step banisters on her house in Osceola. Went to the cemetery. Temperature in the low 80s and a good breeze. Fried chicken for supper.” Above: Jettie’s home in Osceola.

Making Rounds In Osceola

July 29, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Sunday, July 29, 1956, vacationing from Minneapolis in Osceola, Dale wrote, “At Mother’s. Dalene and I went to Margie’s and Louie’s in the morning. To Wilma’s in the afternoon. Earl and Rouine there too. Fried chicken for dinner. Took a ride down through Woodburn after supper. Took a walk out in Clarence’s field.” Louie was one of Helen’s brothers and Margie his daughter, Wilma was Helen’s sister, Earl was another of Helen’s brothers, and Clarence was Jettie’s second husband. Above: cousins Nancy Gardner (left; Dale’s niece) and Dalene in Osceola.

Swimming At Weed Park

July 28, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Monday, July 28, 1952, Dale wrote, “To store after work, and to Weed Park to pick up the kids. Cooler today and it sprinkled. To bed early to sleep while it’s cool.” Above: the Weed Park pool where Dalene and I went, replaced in 2004 by the Aquatic Center.

Elks Chanters

July 27, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, July 27, 1957, Dale wrote, “Picked Emricks up at the Curtis Hotel in Stan’s car and brought them home for a visit. Went to Southdale in the afternoon to hear the Muscatine Elks Chanters. Stan took Myrna Criswell. Dalene went to a show at night.” Emricks were friends from Muscatine.

Riding Water Bikes

July 26, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, July 26, 1956, Dale wrote, “Went to St. Paul capital and museum, disappointment. Went to Como Park. Dalene and Nancy Gardner took a ride on a water bicycle. I went to a show ‘Scarlet Week’ at night. Pretty good.” Nancy was a daughter of Dale’s brother Lloyd. Above: Como Park water bikes.

Riding The Rocket

July 25, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Friday, July 25, 1941, Dale drove from St. Paul to Osceola with Stanley, to deliver their car to Marvin Schaffer (Helen’s nephew). We had supper at Wilma (Helen’s sister) and George Casey’s farm, and spent the night at Williams and Jettie’s farm. Helen stayed home in St. Paul with another nephew, Keith Schaffer, who was visiting from Osceola. The next day, we rode the Rock Island Rocket back to St. Paul.

At Elk Lake

July 24, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Friday, July 24, 1959, Dale took the afternoon off work and wrote, “High 80° and clear and beautiful. Helen and I drove to the Elk Lake cabin to pick up Dalene and girl friends to bring home. Mowed the back yard.” Above is an Elk Lake cabin.

Take My Duck – Please

July 23, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Monday, July 23, 1956, Dale wrote, “Took the duck to Como Park Zoo but didn’t leave it. Brought it home.” This is the duck I found a month earlier as a duckling.

Lake Calhoun Boat Races

July 22, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Sunday, July 22, 1956, Dale wrote, “Took the girls to Lake Calhoun to see boat races, etc. Took Linda Durst to the 5 o’clock train for Muscatine. Drove some golf balls at big T after supper. Nice day. Nancy Gardner here.” Linda was a friend of Dalene, Nancy a cousin (a daughter of Dale’s brother Lloyd).

Adlai To Face Ike

July 21, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Monday, July 21, 1952, after work in Muscatine, Dale picked Stanley and Dalene up at the Weed Park swimming pool. After supper, he took Dalene to a movie, then watched the Democratic convention on television at night.

Lordy, Lordy, Helen’s Forty

July 20, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Friday, July 20, 1951, Helen had her 40th birthday.

Golfing After Dark

July 19, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, July 19, 1956, Dale wrote that he took Dalene and her friends Marianne and Linda out to the golf driving range “Big T” about 9 p.m.

New Used ’41 Olds

July 18, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Saturday, July 18, 1953, Dale wrote, “Traded at Henderson’s for a 1941 Oldsmobile ‘66’ Hydramatic 2 door. Good car, 33,120 miles. Put new seat covers on it and took a ride.” Above: Helen sitting in the 1941 Olds.

Ready For Work

July 17, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Washington, DC, on Friday, July 17, 1936, Dale wrote, “Helen came down and saw where I work and met the fellows.” Above: Dale dressed for work in front of their apartment at 1229 Massachusetts Avenue.

1957 Chevy

July 16, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 16, 1957, Dale wrote, “On vacation. Stan got his new Chevrolet 210, 2 door, 2 tone hard-top today. Beautiful car, ivory and Coronado yellow, V-8 with Power Glide. Helen, Dalene, and I went to St. Paul to the credit union. Shirley came down after supper and brought us malted milks. Dalene went to a show.” Shirley rented the upstairs apartment. I wish now I had kept that ’57 Chevy! What a great collector’s item.

Greetings From Mexico

July 15, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Tuesday, July 15, 1952, Dale and Helen received a postcard from his sister Marie, on vacation in Mexico.

Sittin’ In The Park

July 14, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, July 14, 1951, finishing their vacation in Osceola, Dale wrote, “Sat in the park in the afternoon. Went to Dot and Harley Schaffer’s for supper. Went uptown at night. Took Dalene to Ruth and Louie’s farm to stay all night.” Harley and Louie were Helen’s brothers. We all drove home to Muscatine the next day. Above are people sitting near the bandstand in the Osceola town park in 1951.

Soap Box Race

July 13, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Friday, July 13, 1951, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “Watched soap box races in town.” He, Helen, Stanley, and Dalene went to Bert and Minnie Chandler’s for supper, and Dale went for a walk in the timber there. Minnie was Helen’s aunt.

Riding In A 1949 Buick

July 12, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Sunday, July 12, 1953, Dale wrote, “44 years old today. Took the family for a ride in a 1949 Buick. Rested all day. Watched TV at night.” Happy birthday, Dad. He was always hankering after a different car.