Month: January 2016

Sick Fridge

In Muscatine on Wednesday, January 31, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Still below zero, -3°.  Loaded first 2 trucks with spirits.  I stayed until 5:15.  Refrigerator is on the bum.  TV at night.  Boxing, etc.”  The vintage refrigerator above has its cooling coils on top; we once had one like this.

It Was ‘Majestic’

In Muscatine on Tuesday, January 30, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  10° below zero today.  Picked Jack & Lofgren up on way to work.  Fred King bought TV set, ‘Majestic.’  Watched TV at night.”  Above: a 1951 Majestic television set.

Cars Won’t Start

In Muscatine on Monday, January 29, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 12 & took 4 hours off.  14° below this morning.  I pushed Chasteen & Fisher to get their cars started.  WOC-TV flickers & flashes on our set tonight.”

Cold Again

In Muscatine on Sunday, January 28, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late.  Stan & Helen went to Sunday school & church.  I stayed in the house all day.  2° below zero at bedtime.  Good programs on TV today & night.”

Dentist Visit

In Muscatine on Saturday, January 27, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late & took Dalene to dentist.  Didn’t need anything done, also Stanley & Helen.  Took kids to a show in the afternoon.  Stanley went to a show with Carl Strauss at night.  Watched TV at night.”

TV Sales Booming

In Muscatine on Friday, January 26, 1951, Dale wrote, “Ed and Gwen Weir came over at night to watch TV.”  Many of Helen and Dale’s friends and co-workers bought their first television sets this year.  Above: 1951 advertisement for a Motorola TV.

Watching TV

In Muscatine on Thursday, January 25, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Fisher filled drums of spirits; King loaded tank cars of spirits; Lofgren filled trucks with alcohol.  Zero degree weather.  Watched our TV at night.”

Catching Cold

In Muscatine on Wednesday, January 24, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Took Palmer to work.  He stayed all day.  Not too busy today.  Gib McQurn called in the evening to say hello; old friend from the 1930s.  I’m taking a cold.”

TV After Midnight

In Muscatine on Tuesday, January 23, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Palmer came today for a visit to the plant.  Warm, 35° in morning & colder tonight.  Watched TV at night.”  Palmer was a supervisor from St. Paul.  Oldtimers remember when television stations would broadcast a ‘test pattern’ at night.

Good TV Night

In Muscatine on Monday, January 22, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Very quiet day at plant.  Warmer but penetrating wind.  Went to store at night.  Watched TV at night, very good.”

Cold Again

In Muscatine on Sunday, January 21, 1951, Dale wrote, “2° below zero at Mother’s this morning.  Drove home to Muscatine by 4 P.M.  Watched TV all evening.  Pretty good.  10° above tonight.”

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.

Paid Some Bills

In Muscatine on Thursday, January 18, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Paid $10 to Dr. Swayze, $10 to Mother, $5 to Grimm Drug Store, $13 for car license, $25 on car insurance, $20 on coal bill.  Changed oil in car.  Stanley in a play at Baptist church.  To bed at 10.”

More January Thaw

In Muscatine on Wednesday, January 17, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Still & cooker down today.  I put seals on in distillery.  Paid grocery bill & $2.69 for radiator hose at M&S.  Watched boxing on TV at night.  Warm today, 50°.”

Sad News

In Muscatine on Tuesday, January 16, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Letter from Mother today; Helen’s Uncle Jim Schaffer’s funeral today.  Watched TV at night.”  James Wilbur Schaffer was a brother of Helen’s father George Franklin Schaffer.

Dale Visits Gilham Gardner

In Osceola briefly on Sunday, January 14, 1951, Dale wrote, “Mother and I went to see Uncle Gilham in the morning.  Went to the cemetery, too, to see Dad’s grave.  Marie was at Mother’s for dinner.  Rode home with Bob Shoup in the afternoon.”  That was the same co-worker who drove Dale from Muscatine to Osceola the previous day.  Above: Dale’s uncle Gilham, older brother of Williams.  Helen’s uncle James Schaffer died this day in Osceola, but Dale and Helen didn’t find out until January 16.

Dale Visits Jettie

On Saturday, January 13, 1951, Dale rode from Muscatine to Osceola with a co-worker, who dropped him off at Jettie’s farmhouse.  Dale wrote, “Mother and I went to town in the afternoon and stayed till 11 p.m.  Watched TV at Marie’s.”  Dale’s sister Marie lived in town.  Dale’s mother, Jettie, liked to play her piano, above.

Ezzard Wins By TKO

In Muscatine on Friday, January 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Took Helen to library & store after work.  Watched Charles TKO Oma in 10 rounds on TV at night.  Warmer, 40°.”  Ezzard Charles (right) beat Lee Oma (left) by a technical knockout.
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