Month: August 2013

Dalene Breaks Her Arm

In Minneapolis on Friday, August 31, 1956, Dale wrote, “Dalene broke her right arm, the big bone, just above the wrist.  Fell over a low fence at Winchester’s.”   They were neighbors.
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Renting Next Door

In Muscatine on Thursday, August 30, 1951, having rented the house next door at 505 East 7th Street, Dale and Helen pay their current landlord, Mrs. Kopp, rent for the next two weeks at their current house, 507 East 7th Street.  They also pay their next landlord, Mr. Lease, rent for September 15-30 at the house next door.  Below left: 505 East 7th Street.  Below right: 507 East 7th Street.
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At Monkey Island

On Sunday, August 29, 1954, Dale and Dalene drove from Muscatine to Davenport’s Credit Island to ride horses, then went to Monkey Island (below).
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He Had A Dream

In Washington, DC, on Wednesday, August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial.  Below is an excerpt.

Gene And Lela Visit

In Minneapolis on Sunday, August 27, 1961, Dale wrote, “I went to the State Fair about 3 hours to look around.  Rain off and on in the afternoon.  Gene Yates called, on his way to New York on business by plane.  High 58° and a good day to go to the Fair.”  Gene was Dale’s cousin, married to Helen’s sister Lela.  Below: Gene and Lela at Dale and Helen’s home.
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Buy Land – They’re Not Making More

On Tuesday, August 26, 1919, Williams and Jettie Gardner bought a 100-acre farm near Osceola at $166.50 per acre.  The following January, they rented their farm to Jim Inyard for $40 an acre for pasture & half the grain.  In 2013, the value of an average acre of Iowa farmland was $8,690 per acre.  That’s a 5,000% increase in almost a century, nearly 4 times the rate of inflation.
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At The State Fair

In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 25, 1956, Dale wrote, “Helen, Dalene, and I went downtown shopping and then to the Minnesota State Fair all afternoon looking around.  Stan worked.  Nice day.  High 80°.”
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Dale Gets New Shoes

In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 24, 1957, Dale wrote, “Stan went to a lake.  We went downtown shopping.  Bought Dalene some clothes and me a new pair of health-spot shoes.  Big price but my feet felt better the minute I put them on.  Mowed the lawn.”
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Muscatine To Burlington

On Saturday, August 23, 1952, Dale and Dalene drove to the Burlington depot to meet Stanley arriving on a train from Osceola (visiting Jettie in Osceola since July 31) and drove back to Muscatine.
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Homesick In Clinton

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On Sunday, August 22, 1943, Helen and children visit Lela (Helen’s sister) and Gene Yates in Albia, Iowa – but Dale is working in Clinton, Iowa, and writes, “Home is not home without a family.”  We lived in Clinton for 10 months during World War II.

Late, Late Movie

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In Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 21, 1957, Dale wrote, “Another nice day.  Helen cashed my pay check at the bank.  I wrote Mother a card.  Put a floor in the new basement clothes closet.  Watched late, late movie.”

Revenuers In Action

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In Muscatine on Saturday, August 20, 1955, Sheriff Anson and Deputy Martin came to Dale and Helen’s house with a bottle of moonshine.  Dale called the Omaha office about it.  Five days later, Sheriff Anson, Deputy Martin, and Alcohol Tax Unit co-workers Mead, Owens, and Stanger seized a still with mash and whiskey from Herbert Hume at an auto salvage business south on highway 61.

Gaggle Of Gardner Girls

In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 19, 1953, Dale wrote, “Took six hours off work and went to a household goods sale on Mulberry.  Letter from Mother.  Carol Jane called from Davenport.”  My cousin Carol Jane arrived the next day on a bus for a brief visit.  Left to right above, many years later: Lloyd Gardner’s four daughters Marie, Mary, Carol, Nancy, plus my sister Dalene, with me behind.

More Family Visits

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On Saturday, August 18, 1951, Ruth and Louie Schaffer (Helen’s brother) and Lela (Helen’s sister) and Gene Yates arrived in Muscatine for a visit.  The next day, Dale gave Louie and Gene a tour of the alcohol plant before they left to return to Osceola.  Some years later – above left: Louie and Ruth, above right: Lela and Gene.

We Get A Parakeet

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On Sunday, August 17, 1958, Dale wrote, “We all went to a Flight Breakfast at the Estherville airport.  All we could eat.  Drove back to Minneapolis from 1:15 to 5 P.M.  Rested on porch awhile and watched TV.”  We had been visiting Lela (Helen’s sister) and Gene Yates and brought their parakeet, Skipper, with a cage and stand, home with us.

Jack And Margie Visit

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In Minneapolis on Friday, August 16, 1957, Dale wrote, “Had the right rear wheel fixed after work, new grease seal and brake cylinder.  Jack and Margie and family got here about 6:30 p.m.”  Margie was Helen’s niece, married to Jack Nish.  Above: Margie, daughter Cathy, Jack, daughter Ann in Osceola some years later.

Roswell Visits

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In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 15, 1951, there was a heavy thunderstorm at 3:00 in the morning with a lot of lightning.  Dale wrote, “Rained 1 inch in 15 minutes.  Electricity burned out our refrigerator.  Mother came on the 7:40 bus.  Roswell and Tressa were here.”  Roswell Gardner (above) was Dale’s cousin.

More Overnight Company

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In Minneapolis on Friday, August 14, 1959, Dale wrote, “High 72° and cloudy.  Rain last night.  I mowed the lawn after work.  George and Wilma Casey came from Osceola about 6:45 p.m.  Helen called Lela.  Tom Speece and I watched the Colts beat the All-Stars.”  Tom Speece rented the basement room.  Left to right above: Sisters Helen, Lela, and Wilma about 15 years later.

Looking At Typewriters

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In Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 13, 1958, Dale wrote, “Nice day, rain in the evening.  Stan took the Chevy today to go on a General Mills picnic.  I drove the Dodge.  Went downtown after work to look at typewriters.”  Above: a 1958 Underwood ad.

Overnight Company

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In Minneapolis on Monday, August 12, 1957, Dale wrote, “Took the Dodge to the Shell station after work to have the right rear brake fixed.  Lloyd and Chloe Schaffer, Wayne, Vivian, and Donovan Hansen drove in about 6:45 P.M.  Visited all evening.”  Lloyd Schaffer (above, much younger) was Helen’s brother, Vivian was Lloyd’s daughter, and Donovan was Vivian and Wayne Hansen’s son.  They stayed overnight and left the next morning.
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