Month: November 2015

Sending Pictures

In Muscatine on Thursday, November 30, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Mailed a letter to the folks, with some pictures.  Loaded 4 tank trucks, 3 tank cars.  Watched our TV at night.  To bed by 10 P.M.”

Champ Joe Louis

In Muscatine on Wednesday, November 29, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Filled 200 barrels, 3 tank cars & 1 truck today.  Nice bright day.  Watched TV at night, Joe Louis beat Cesar Brion in 10 rounds.  To bed at 10:30.”

Milton Berle Show

In Muscatine on Tuesday, November 28, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Letter from Mother.  Sent to Younkers for hat for Helen.  Watched TV until 10:15 P.M. then to bed.  Stan had Bob Rath here to watch Milton Berle.”  Bob was a friend of mine.  Above: Milton Berle (also known as ‘Uncle Miltie’).

Filling Tank Trucks

In Muscatine on Monday, November 27, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  I loaded 2 tank trucks today.  Paid the gas bill.  Bought Helen a Christmas present.  Watched TV all evening.”

Watching New TV

[I just wanted to see if you’re paying attention.]  In Muscatine on Sunday, November 26, 1950, Dale wrote, “Washed clothes in forenoon.  Kids went to a show in the afternoon.  Watched our new TV set all afternoon & evening until 11 P.M.  Wrote a letter home & sent some pictures.”

Our First TV

In Muscatine on Saturday, November 25, 1950, Dale wrote that we got our first television set, installed in our living room.  Black and white, of course, from Montgomery Wards.  Dale and Helen watched it a lot for the next several years.

Roller Skating

In Muscatine on Friday, November 24, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Cold today, 2° below zero at 7 A.M. & 12° above at 11 P.M.  TV set didn’t come.  Kids went skating at night & I went to Bushery’s.  I took him to work at 11 P.M.”

Bird Day

In Muscatine on Thursday, November 23, 1950, Dale wrote, “Thanksgiving.  10° above today & windy.  Had baked capon for dinner.  Kids went to a show in the afternoon.  I fixed the front room, ready for TV set.  I went to bed early.”

Our Own TV?

In Muscatine on Wednesday, November 22, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Pay day.  Ordered a TV set from M. Wards for $225.  I got dinner & supper.  Helen has sinus, Dalene has stomach flu.  Stan went to skating rink [above].  I went to Bushery’s.”  That TV was the equivalent of $2,220 today!

Gone Skating

In Muscatine on Tuesday, November 21, 1950, Dale wrote “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Looked at Montgomery Wards television sets today.  Took ironing out.  Home at 5 P.M. & stayed home all evening.  Stanley went to skate.”

Treats!

In Muscatine on Monday, November 20, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Talked to St. Paul twice.  Cold today, 14° above this morning.  Bought a capon from Mrs. Archer for $3.20.  Bought Dalene a malted milk & Stanley a sundae.  Stayed home at night.”

Sunday Dinner

In Muscatine on Sunday, November 19, 1950, Dale wrote, “Up at 6:30 & developed 3 rolls of film.  Printed 90 pictures.  Greased the car.  Helen & I washed clothes.  Had fried chicken for dinner.  Called Mother & Lela.  Took kids to a show at night.”  Lela was a sister of Helen’s.

Shoe Shopping

In Muscatine on Saturday, November 18, 1950, Dale wrote, “Up & got breakfast.  Took the kids downtown for shoes.  Helen bought Stanley’s at M. Wards.  Stayed home in the afternoon.  To bed early.”

Home Again

In Muscatine on Friday, November 17, 1950, Dale wrote, “Up at 2 A.M. to sit with Dad.  Fixed covering on back door.  Drove to Muscatine by 12:15 P.M.  Glad to be home.  Stan went to skate at night, Dalene & I went to a show.  Home by 10 P.M.”

Odd Jobs

On Thursday, November 16, 1950, Dale wrote, “Up at 2 A.M. to sit with Dad.  I did the chores.  Went out to Louie’s but couldn’t find anyone except Ruth.  Fixed windmill railing, took rope off stacker, fixed fence around machinery.  Shaved Dad.”  Louie was Helen’s brother, married to Ruth.

Town House

On Wednesday, November 15, 1950, Dale wrote, “Still at folks.  Dad is better every day.  Turned cattle in corn field & fixed gate.  Washed Marie & my cars.  Lloyd & I put glass cloth on the back porch of folks’ house in town.  Warm, 70° & windy.”  Lloyd and Marie were Dale’s brother and sister.  Above: Williams and Jettie’s house at 322 South Park Street in Osceola, ready for their retirement from the farm.

Neighbors Pitch In

Visiting from Muscatine in Osceola on Tuesday, November 14, 1950, for his father’s heart condition, Dale wrote, “54 neighbors, 35 tractors, 26 wagons, 5 elevators, and 12 mechanical pickers picked Dad’s 3200 bushels of corn by noon.  Approximately 50 acres.  30 neighbor ladies served dinner in East Chapel church.  I took pictures.  Big day.”  Above: a wagon load of corn waiting to go to my Grandfather’s corn crib.

New Corn Crib

In Osceola for his father’s illness on Monday, November 13, 1950, Dale wrote, “Went to Woodburn to see Forster.  Bought $4.95 worth cigars & candy at restaurant.  Bought $2.50 cigars at drug store.  Forster furnished money.  Got a haircut at John Devore’s shop.  Made corn crib.”

Moo

In Osceola on Sunday, November 12, 1950, Dale wrote, “Got breakfast & did dishes at folks.  Brought cattle home from Forster’s pasture.  Wrote letters to St. Paul, & Helen.  Marie & Susan came at 10:15.  I stayed up till midnight.”  Mr. Forster owned the farm Williams and Jettie rented.  Susan was the daughter of Ralph Kimmel and Marie, Dale’s sister.

When Doctors Made House Calls

On Saturday, November 11, 1950, Dale wrote, “At Osceola all day at the folks.  I got breakfast & washed dishes.  Doctor here in forenoon, Dad resting.  I went to Wilma’s in the afternoon, to town to see the doctor for Mother at night.”  Wilma was Helen’s sister, married to George Casey.
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