In Minneapolis on Friday, January 31, 1958, Dale wrote, “Watched Jonathan Winters on TV and went to bed late.” Above: Jonathan improvising on TV.
Ice Cream In January
In Muscatine on Wednesday, January 30, 1952, high school friend Mike Collier and I walked to Neitzel’s drug store on Mulberry Avenue near Fourth Street for ice cream sodas after supper.
Evening Studies
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, January 29, 1958, Dale wrote, “Stan went to Tony’s to study in the evening.” Tony Lord (above left, with me) was a co-worker lab technician at General Mills Research.
Looking At Pictures
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, January 28, 1958, Dale wrote, “Just another day. Looked at pictures at night. Stan went to the U to evening class.”
Dale To Transfer?
Tuesday, January 27, 1953, was to be Dale’s last day of work at Grain Processing Corporation in Muscatine, since he had a new Post of Duty in St. Paul. He didn’t stay there this time. Above: a recent photo of the Muscatine grain processing plant, with a barge on the Mississippi River in the foreground.
Gas Heat
In Muscatine on Wednesday, January 26, 1955, Dale wrote, “5° below zero at 9:30 P.M. Nice and warm in here, gas heat.” With a gas furnace like the one above, he relished not having to shovel coal, as he had done for many years.
Slippery Driving
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, January 25, 1967, Dale wrote, “High 13°. Jim’s front wheel brakes froze in the driveway this morning, my car starter froze. Shell station started them. Took me 1½ hours to get home after work, slick street at highway 8 and Stinson Blvd. Worst I ever saw it. WINTER.” Jim rented the basement room. Conveniently, the Shell service station was across the street from the house.
Heights Basketball Game
In Minneapolis on Friday, January 24, 1958, Dale wrote that Dalene (a sophomore now) went to a Columbia Heights High School basketball game after supper. Those get more important each year you’re in high school.
Les Girls
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, January 23, 1958, Dale went to the show “Les Girls” at the Heights movie theater after supper.
Two-Car Garage
In Minneapolis on Sunday, January 22, 1956, Dale wrote, “11° below zero. Stan and I shoveled the driveway out for his car to go in the garage. Stan and Dalene went to a show in the afternoon.” The garage was a two-car garage, but only Dad’s side had been in use until I got my ’49 Ford, like the one above.
Helen Gets X-Rays
In Minneapolis on Monday, January 21, 1963, Dale wrote, “26° below at 5 a.m. and up to zero by 10 p.m. Some snow. Helen is to go to the hospital for X-rays as soon as there is room. Kidney trouble. Bought Helen new bedroom slippers and a night gown.” Helen went to Fairview Hospital the next day for tests.
Osceola Basketball Game
On Saturday, January 20, 1951, in Osceola for the weekend, Dale went to visit George and Wilma Casey (Helen’s sister) in the afternoon. He went to a basketball game that evening; the Osceola town team beat the Chariton town team 89 to 88 in overtime. He drove back to Muscatine the next day.
Supper At Jettie’s
On Friday, January 19, 1951, Dale worked in Muscatine until 2:00 in the afternoon, then drove to Osceola to Jettie’s house. He wrote, “Marie and Susan were there for supper, too.” Marie was his sister and Susan was Marie’s daughter. Above: Jettie at her piano in 1951.
Osceola Haircut
On Saturday, January 18, 1958, Dale wrote, “Stan and I left Minneapolis and drove to Osceola in his 1957 Chevy. Nice trip and good driving conditions. Stopped at Wilma and George Casey’s to watch them use their milking machine. Got a haircut at John Devore’s shop in Osceola. Took a ride in the afternoon to watch Lloyd and friends saw wood. At Marie’s in the evening.” Wilma was Helen’s sister, and Lloyd and Marie were Dale’s siblings.
Home From College
In Minneapolis on Thursday, January 17, 1957, Dale wrote, “Stan came home from college in Muscatine for a few days.” Too early for spring break. I must have run out of clean clothes.
We Go Bowling
In Muscatine on Saturday, January 16, 1954, Dale’s diary said that he and Mike, Dalene, and I went bowling. Mike was my friend Mike Collier. Dad bowled 201.
Get A Job
On Wednesday, January 15, 1936, Dale borrowed a farmer neighbor’s car and drove to Osceola to apply for a job with Nellie Race. The next day, she hired Helen and Dale to work nights at the Puritan Café – Helen as waitress and Dale as cook. Above: the restaurant was at the “Four Corners” in Osceola, at the intersection of U.S. highways 34 and 69.
The First ‘Today’ Show
NBC’s ‘Today’ show premiered on Monday, January 14, 1952, with Dave Garroway as the host. You can watch a few minutes of that trend-setting program in a special from 1986.
Bowlerama
In Minneapolis on Sunday, January 13, 1957, Dale wrote, “Low -8°, high -2°. COLD. Dalene went to watch Bowlerama and then to a show. Us old folks stayed home all day, in by the fire. Had fried chicken dinner.”
Amateur Hour
Near Osceola on Sunday, January 12, 1936, Dale and Helen went to their neighbor Peagues farm to listen to the Major Bowes Hour on the radio. This was the original amateur hour, ending with the death of Major Bowes in 1946. Two years later, it was revived on ABC radio and the Dumont television network, hosted in both media by Ted Mack, a talent scout and director of the series under Bowes.