In Minneapolis on Sunday, February 8, 1959, Dale wrote, “Up at 8 and read the Sunday paper. Dalene went to see Van Cliburn at Northrop Auditorium with her chorus school friends. Some snow today.” Above: a sample of Van Cliburn playing the piano.
Fun Bus Trips
In Muscatine on Thursday, February 7, 1952, Dale wrote, “Stanley went with Muscatine High School chorus to Washington, Iowa, to sing.” That was the Tri-Festival Chorus, with schools from Muscatine, Iowa; Galesburg, Illinois; and Washington, Iowa. The bus trips were fun – cheerleaders above on one of our buses in 1952.
Sightseeing In St. Paul
In St. Paul on Thursday, February 6, 1941, Dale wrote that Williams, Jettie, and Marie arrived from Osceola to visit. Over the next three days, Helen and Dale showed them around town, taking in some ski jumping, Como Park, the zoo, and ice skating races. They left on Monday, February 10.
Too Cold For Comfort
In Minneapolis on Thursday, February 5, 1959, Dale wrote, “Cold and windy, 3° below at 6:30 a.m. 8° below at bedtime. Wrote Mother a letter. Too cold for comfort.”
Queen Of Hearts Dance
In Muscatine on Friday, February 4, 1955, Dale wrote, “Dalene and I went to a basketball game at night, Stan too. Stan then went on a date to Queen of Hearts dance at YWCA.”
Pains In Legs
In St. Paul on Tuesday, February 3, 1953, for his new Post of Duty, Dale woke up at 2:00 in the morning with pains in his legs. He left St. Paul an hour later for Muscatine, got home at lunch time, and went to bed after calling family physician Dr. Miller.
Cook And Waitress
On Sunday, February 2, 1936, Dale and Helen started their new jobs in Osceola (Dale was the cook and Helen the waitress) at the Puritan Café from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., seven days per week, for $7.00 per week, about $117.00 per week today. They got a raise about six weeks later, to $9.00 per week, $150.00 in today’s dollars.
Helen Gets A Job
On Monday, February 1, 1954, Helen got a job as PBX operator at the new Muscatine County hospital. A ‘PBX’ is a Private Branch eXchange, or switchboard.