Month: March 2016

TV Wrestling

In Muscatine on Saturday, March 31, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Fixed kitchen chair after supper.  Letter from Lela.  Watched wrestling on TV at night.  To bed after 11 P.M.”  Lela was one of Helen’s sisters.

Snow Flurries

In Muscatine on Friday, March 30, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Colder today, 40°.  Snow flurries.  Took food out to Arms after work, his mother-in-law died yesterday afternoon.  Smiths here at night for TV.”  Delbert Arms was a co-worker; Smiths were neighbors.

Ho-Hum

In Muscatine on Thursday, March 29, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Dull day.  I got my own breakfast & left family in bed.  TV at night.”

Helen Gets Shot

In Muscatine on Wednesday, March 28, 1951, Dale wrote, “Pay day.  $146.25.  Took Helen for a shot & also got groceries.  Found a short in light wiring, didn’t get it fixed.  Rain today & warm.  Smiths here at night for TV.”  That take-home pay would be $1,362 in 2016 dollars.  Dale got paid every two weeks, so his annual income after withholding and other deductions would be the equivalent of about $35,400 today.

Dim Headlights

In Muscatine on Tuesday, March 27, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Warm today, 50°.  Car lights won’t work very good.  TV at night at home.”

Home Again

In Muscatine on Monday, March 26, 1951, Dale wrote, “Fixed Mother’s clock shelf, mail box, dresser mirror & stair door & hung hall curtain.  Drove home to Muscatine from Osceola in the afternoon.  Took Helen to the library.  TV at night.”  Mom was a voracious reader.

Osceola Visit

In Osceola on Sunday, March 25, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up at 8 A.M.  I went to church with Mother & Carol.  Dinner at Mother’s.  Waxed & polished dining & living room floors.  Mother & I stayed home in the evening, reading old papers.”  Carol was the oldest of Jettie’s granddaughters, the daughter of Dale’s brother Lloyd.  That’s her at right above, a couple years earlier, with me and Dalene on Williams and Jettie’s farm.

Quick Trip

On Saturday, March 24, 1951, Dale drove from Muscatine to his mother Jettie’s new home in town in Osceola, to be with her for the weekend.  They went to Marie’s house (Dale’s sister) that night to watch television, and they went to church the next day.  Above: Jettie at her piano in 1951.

Wrestling On TV

In Muscatine on Friday, March 23, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Rain, snow, & sleet today.  No school today.  Took family to library & store in evening.  Smiths here at night to watch TV.  Boxing & wrestling & etc.”  The Smith family lived several houses up the street from us.

Radio Days

In Muscatine on Thursday, March 22, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8:30 to 5.  I cap sealed on 3rd floor all day.  Warm, 50°.  Letter from Mother.  Martha Smith gave Helen a home permanent.  Stan on KWPC radio today.  Dalene home sick all day.”

Watching TV

In Muscatine on Wednesday, March 21, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8:30 to 5.  Took Stanley to school in the morning.  Watched TV at Bushery’s in forenoon a little while.  Smiths here in the evening to watch TV.  Boxing, etc.  26° above at 11 P.M.”

Brrrr

In Muscatine on Tuesday, March 20, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8:30 to 5.  Cashed a check for $30.25 from Business Mens Assurance.  Watched TV at 2 P.M. for a few minutes.  Cold today.  10° above in morning.  Watched TV at night.”

Melmac?

In Muscatine on Monday, March 19, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8:30 to 5.  1° above zero this morning.  Sent for dishes from Helzberg’s in Des Moines.  Wrote letter to Mother.  Business Mens Assurance paid me $100 for Dr. Swayze, $10 for Carlson, $30.25 on hospital bill.”

1951 TV Set

In Muscatine on Sunday, March 18, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late & had breakfast at 11 A.M.  Had dinner at 4 P.M.  Went to Weis’s at night to see their new Sears TV.  Home at 8:30 & to Neitzel’s drug store for a few minutes.  20° at 9 P.M.”

Good News!

In Muscatine on Saturday, March 17, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Took Stanley to the doctor at night for final checkup on chest operation.  Iowa City says tumor wasn’t malignant.  Rain, thunder & lightning in the evening.  TV at night.”

Read A Book!

In Muscatine on Friday, March 16, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  10° above this morning.  Warmed up during the day.  Took Stanley downtown after work.  Took family to the library after supper.  Helen is feeling good again.”  Above: the library.

Money In, Money Out

In Muscatine on Thursday, March 15, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  My salary check $146.25 & holiday check $14.00 came.  Paid coal bill $37, groceries $40.  Took Stanley to the plant in the afternoon a little while.  TV at night.  Letter from Marie.”  Marie was Dale’s sister.  That $146.25 would be $1,361.65 in 2016 dollars.

No Paycheck

In Muscatine on Wednesday, March 14, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Everybody got paid but me.  Dalene & Stanley both stayed home from school.  Snow melting.  Watched TV at night including boxing.”

Deep Snow

In Muscatine on Tuesday, March 13, 1951, after snowing for 24 hours, there were 17 inches of snow on the ground by 8 a.m.  Dale wrote, “Hard to get around.”

Missed Junior High Classes

In Muscatine on Monday, March 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “Non-work day for me.  Traded with King this week.  13 inches of snow & still snowing.  Helen & I washed clothes this morning.  Stanley back in school again.  Smiths came down at night for TV.”  I must have missed two weeks of eighth grade classes (at Muscatine Junior High, above) due to minor surgery.
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