Month: August 2014

Minnesota State Fair

August 31, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Sunday, August 31, 1958, Dale wrote, “I went to the Fair at 7:30 a.m. and stayed until 5:30 p.m. Saw lots of exhibits and the auto races. Cool and cloudy, high only 57°. Had fried chicken for supper. Helen and Dalene stayed home all day. Stan is in Muscatine for the week-end.” Above: the arena at the state fair.

Iowa State Fair

August 30, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Saturday, August 30, 1952, Dale wrote, “Rode to Des Moines to the State Fair with Roswell Gardner. Spent the day at the Fair, races, etc. Rode home with Mr. and Mrs. Jim Chasteen, got home at midnight.” Roswell was Dale’s cousin and Jim Chasteen was a co-worker.

Sleeping Porch

August 29, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Friday, August 29, 1952, Dale’s cousin Roswell Gardner spent the night in Muscatine. It was hot, and he slept on the screened-in front porch (above, with Dalene and Helen in front).

Marie Was In Vermont

August 28, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Friday, August 28, 1964, Dale wrote, “High 78° and nice. Card from Ralph and Marie in Vermont. Roofers here today to put a new roof on the house.” They finished the new roof September 1, and Dale wrote, “Looks fine.” Dale’s sister Marie was married to Ralph Kimmel.

Going Out For Supper

August 27, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 27, 1966, Dale wrote, “High 90° but low humidity. Gene and Lela Yates came about 5:30 p.m. We all (Stans too) went to Sweden House for supper.” Helen’s sister Lela and husband Gene left late the next morning to go home to Estherville, Iowa.

Gene And Lela Visit

August 26, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 26, 1967, Dale wrote, “Helen and I went to Wards at Apache to look for some pillows, wound up buying a beautiful green davenport at Sears. Stan hauled it home in his station wagon. Bought some foam rubber for our other davenport and chair, too, at Graves Interiors. Gene and Lela came about 4:30 p.m.” Above: Helen’s sister Lela and her husband Gene Yates.

Minnesota State Fair

August 25, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Sunday, August 25, 1957, Dale wrote, “Dalene, Bonnie, Sharon, and I went to the Minnesota State Fair. Me to the auto races and the girls to the rest of it. Helen stayed home. Perfect day.” Bonne and Sharon were Dalene’s friends.

Marie Was In Mexico

August 24, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, August 24, 1961, Dale wrote, “Perfect day, high about 75°. Helen and Dinny went to the library in the evening. I watched sports on TV. Card from Marie from Mexico.” Marie was his sister.

I Like Ike

August 23, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, August 23, 1956, Dale wrote, “Beautiful day. High around 75°. Watched Ike and Nixon accept the Republican nomination on TV.” For you youngsters, that was Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard M. Nixon. ‘I Like Ike’ was a campaign slogan.

Still Under Construction

August 22, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, August 22, 1957, Dale wrote, “Got a gas pipe at work for Stan’s clothes closet rod in the new basement closet. Mixed some paint for Dalene to use tomorrow.”

Bamboo Shades

August 21, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, August 21, 1958, Dale wrote, “High 72°. Nice day. Bought some cord and fixed the bamboo curtains on the front porch. Bought a new chamois. Took Helen and Dalene downtown after supper to Dayton’s, S & L, and the library.”

Under Construction

August 20, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, August 20, 1957, Dale wrote, “Stan, Helen, and I built a clothes closet on to the basement room after work. Took until 11 p.m. Glad to get that job done. Made it out of plaster board and 2×4’s.” That’s the room I was living in, since the first floor had just two bedrooms – one for the folks, and one for Dalene.

Marie Visits Yosemite

August 19, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 19, 1961, Dale wrote, “Put 1 gallon of asphalt paint on the garage roof, no good. Tied the springs in the davenport. Card from Marie from Yosemite.” Marie was his sister.

Mmmmmm!

August 18, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on August 18, 1953, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4. No news yet about assignment. Bought meat on way home, ‘T’ bone steak for supper. TV at night & to bed early. Cool night.”

Helen Bakes A Cake

August 17, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Monday, August 17, 1953, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4. Nice day. Plant running right along. Helen wrote letter to Mother. Helen baked a cake. Stan to Mick’s in evening. Cool tonight & to bed early.” Mike ‘Mick’ Collier was a high school buddy.

Supper At Okoboji

August 16, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, August 16, 1958, Dale wrote, “We all drove from Minneapolis down to Lela and Gene’s at Estherville from 10 to 3. George and Wilma were there too. Bob and Rae there too. Went to a buffet supper at Lake Okoboji in the evening, then drove around the lake looking at lake homes. Nice day, nice time, nice visit.” Lela (married to Gene Yates) and Wilma (married to George Casey) were Helen’s sisters. Bob (married to Rae) was Gene and Lela’s son. Lake Okoboji is 20 miles west of Estherville, Iowa.

They Were All Relatives!

August 15, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Osceola, Jettie Gardner’s diary included a newspaper clipping reporting a “dinner was held on Friday, August 15, 1952, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Van Sant and Dick, Judy, and Lana of Los Angeles, Calif. at the country home of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Gardner. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Everett Saylor, Mary and Gene, Mrs. Eddy Saylor, Mabel Garwood, Mrs. Marie Kimmel and Susan, Mamie Trisler, Roy Diehl, Mrs. W. M. Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. Edris Owen, Martha and David, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Gardner, Kay, Phillip and David of Woodburn, Stanley Gardner of Muscatine, and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Gardner, Carol, Nancy, Marie and Mary.”

No Rent Control?

August 14, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 14, 1963, Dale wrote, “All time low of 47° overnight. High 74°. Supper at Murphy’s. Dalene called from L. A. at 11 p.m., to visit. She is moving into an apartment with three other girls.” Her apartment, at left, was upstairs at 2929 Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica.

Under A Mountain

August 13, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Friday, August 13, 1965, Dale wrote that Stan, Judy, and their three boys left Minnesota for a one-week vacation in Colorado Springs. They stayed with friends Tom and Lois Vandezande; Tom worked at Cheyenne Mountain (NORAD’s underground facility). Tom and Stan had shared an office at System Development Corporation a couple years earlier.

Dalene At Lake Johanna

August 12, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, August 12, 1958, Dale wrote, “A perfect day, low humidity and clear air. High about 80°. Picked the girls up at 6 p.m. at Lake Johanna. Mowed the back yard. Took Dinny to her club meeting.”