Month: August 2015

The More The Merrier

In Muscatine on Thursday, August 31, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  3 tank cars in.  Dawson came at 4:30.  We went to show at night, ‘The More the Merrier.’  Very good.  Warmer today & showers.  Paid the grocery bill.  To bed at 11 P.M.”

Under The Hood

In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 30, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Pay day.  Took car to M & S.  Had the battery charged, new points & distributor adjustment, and new plugs.  $14.70.  To the library at night.  Stayed home at night at radio.”

Radio Night

In Muscatine on Tuesday, August 29, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Wing called regarding Gaugers.  We get 3 more: Bushery, Dawson, & Owens.  Letter from Stan & Mother.  Rain in the evening.  Listened to the radio at night.”

Remember Fuller Brush?

In Muscatine on Monday, August 28, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Used new scale tank in cistern room for 1st time.  Dalene came down to the plant for the afternoon while Helen went to a brush party.  Went to Bosch’s at night to see TV.”

Sunday Night Radio

In Muscatine on Sunday, August 27, 1950, Dale wrote, “Got up at 8 & read the paper.  Went to sleep on the back porch till 10 A.M.  To a show in the afternoon.  Showers.  Cooler.  Listened to the radio at night & read regulation 4.”

Motorcycle Accident

In Muscatine on Saturday, August 26, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Hot today.  Went downtown after supper but couldn’t find a place to park.  Saw a motorcycle accident at 6th & Mulberry.  Rain at bedtime.  To bed at 11:30.”

Sleeping In

In Muscatine on Friday, August 25, 1950, Dale wrote, “Non-work day.  Slept till 10 A.M.  Went for a ride & to the store.  Dalene & I went to a show in the afternoon.  Called Stanley at night.  Listened to the radio & went to bed.”

Funky Car Radio

In Muscatine on Thursday, August 24, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Hot today.  Merle still at plant on inspection.  Called Stanley after supper.  Helen, Dalene & I went to a show at night.  Got our car radio, it don’t work very good.”

Tall Corn

In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 23, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Bosch took my car radio to Blake.  Merle here for Inspection to change to IAP Sept 1st.  Letter from Stanley.  I went to a ball game at night & sat with Lofgrens.  Hot today.  Good for corn.”  (IAP: Industrial Alcohol Plant.)

New Chevy

In Muscatine on Tuesday, August 22, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Another fine, cool day.  Got a card from Stanley.  Marie & Ralph got a new Chevy last Saturday.  I went to playoff ball game at night.”  Above: a 1950 Chevrolet.

Light That Furnace

In Muscatine on Monday, August 21, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Fine day & cool.  52° this morning, had to build a fire in the furnace.  Paid telephone bill.  Wrote Stan a card.  Rain at night.  Went to the library.”  He had to shovel coal, since our furnace burned coal, like the one above.

Good Sunday Dinner

In Muscatine on Sunday, August 20, 1950, Dale wrote, “56° here this morning.  Put new shades up in hall & front room.  Dalene, Mary Ann & I went to a show in the afternoon.  Fried chicken for dinner.  Wrote a letter to Stanley.”  Mary Ann was a friend.  I was still at my grandparents’ farm near Osceola.

More Movies

In Muscatine on Saturday, August 19, 1950, Dale wrote, “Up at 8 A.M.  Greased the car.  Went downtown & paid Grimm’s Drugs $5 and Dr. Swayze $5.  Dalene & I went to a show in the afternoon.  Bought 5 window blinds.  Cool again.”

Bringing In Clothes

In Muscatine on Friday, August 18, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Cool today.  Wrote a card to Stanley.  I got the clothes in from clothes line after supper.  I went to a baseball game.  Cool.”  I was at my grandparents’ farm near Osceola.

Foot Comfort

In Muscatine on Thursday, August 17, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Hot today.  Got some larger pads for my shoes.  Helen, Dalene, & I went to a show at night.  Cool at night.”  The movie theaters were air-conditioned, but our house wasn’t.

One More Car Payment!

In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 16, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Pay day.  Paid Louie $50.  Only $50 more & the car is ours.  Ate lunch at home.  Paid grocery bill $27.89.  Paid $4.40 hospital bill.  Mowed the yard.”  The car was a 1939 Mercury he painted red like the one above.

Watching Martin & Lewis

In Muscatine on Tuesday, August 15, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Took Helen to library at night.  Used buffer on car.  Went to Benson’s at night to watch television.  Home at 10:30 & to bed.”  One of our favorites was the team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

Don’t Inhale

In Muscatine on Monday, August 14, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  I got sick from smoking a cigar after lunch.  Wrote a card to Stanley.  Polished the car after work.  I went to a show at night.  Helen gave Ring a bath.”  Ring was our dog.

Travelin’ Day

In Muscatine on Sunday, August 13, 1950, Dale wrote, “Left Stanley at folks.  Stopped at Marie’s a little while.  Saw George Casey.  Drove home to Muscatine by 2 P.M.  Had chicken dinner.  Alva & Teresa here in the afternoon.  I washed the car.”  Marie was his sister; George Casey was married to Helen’s sister Wilma.

Final Farm Visit

On Saturday, August 12, 1950, Dale wrote, “Stan, Dalene and I left Muscatine at 3 p.m. for Osceola, got there at 6:45.  Rain part of way.  Called Helen.  Visited with folks at night.”  Dad and Dalene drove back to Muscatine the next day, but I stayed at my grandparents’ farm for the next three weeks for the last time – my grandfather Williams McBain Gardner died on December 16.  Above: Grandpa and I give fresh milk to some barn cats that summer.
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