Month: June 2016

In Osceola For The Fourth

On Saturday, June 30, Dale and family drove from Muscatine to Osceola.  Dale wrote, “Got to Mother’s at 5 p.m.  Went uptown at night.  Kids went to a show at night.”  Above: Dalene (with long hair) and Dale (with cigar) in 1951.

Osceola, Here We Come

In Muscatine on Friday, June 29, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Radke here all day.  Settled the government office deal.  Arth’s mother-in-law died.  Got 3 more books for Stanley.  Helen all packed for 3 weeks vacation.”  They were ready to go to Osceola (where I was visiting my grandmother) for the Fourth of July.

Cohn’s

In Muscatine on Thursday, June 28, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Cool & rainy.  I picked Dalene & friends up at Cohn’s news agency after the show they went to.  Went to store.  Stayed home in evening & watched TV.”  I was a part-time stock boy at Cohn’s News Agency while in high school.  They had a lunch counter as well as selling books, magazines, newspapers, etc.

Stormy Night

In Muscatine on Wednesday, June 27, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Rainy & sunny.  Unloaded a tank truck.  Letter from Mother & Stanley.  Electrical storm at night.  Dalene went to a show with Mrs. Hazen.  She came home early; I went after her.”  Mrs. Hazen lived next door to us; I was visiting my grandmother in Osceola.

Eureka!

In Muscatine on Tuesday, June 26, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  No shipments today.  Bought new Eureka tank type cleaner, $1 down & $5 per month, total $49.95 at Stein’s.”  That would cost over $455 in today’s dollars.

Old Friends

In Muscatine on Monday, June 25, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Took Arth to work & back today.  Olsgaard dropped in a little while.  Rain in evening.  Watched TV at night.”  Dale and Helen were friends with the Olsgaards when they all lived in Washington, DC.

Grand Dinner

In Muscatine on Sunday, June 24, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up & got my own breakfast.  Relined the Mercury brakes, took 5 hours.  Had a grand dinner at 6 P.M.  Fried chicken & all the trimmings.”

A Quiet Day

In Muscatine on Saturday, June 23, 1951, Dale wrote, “Mowed the yard & patched the car muffler.  Helen bought a new pair of shoes.  Went to the store.”

More Rain

In Muscatine on Friday, June 22, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Hayes left today, been here since May 15th.  Lela called Helen to see if Stanley could go to Osceola, Helen called Marie & it’s OK.  Rainy today.  Baumgardner made me a muffler patch.  TV at night.”  I was visiting Gene and Lela (Helen’s sister) Yates; Marie (Dale’s sister) kept an eye on the health of my grandmother Jettie, who I would visit.

Rainy Day

In Muscatine on Thursday, June 21, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Talked to St. Paul twice and a Gauger at Lawrenceburg once.  Cavanaugh is transferred to Omaha next Monday.  Rain all day & cool.  TV at night.”

Joe Louis Wins

In Muscatine on Wednesday, June 20, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Pay day.  Paid grocery bill $45 for 2 weeks.  Cool day.  Helen washed, a big one.  Interference on TV at night.  Saw Louis-Savold bout on TV.  Knockout by Louis.”  Above, left to right: Joe Louis, Lee Savold.

Cleaning Woodwork

In Muscatine on Tuesday, June 19, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Arth is back to work.  Hayes still here.  Hot & sultry.  Sent Stanley’s clothes to him at Perry.  Helen cleaned the woodwork in the hall.  Cooled off in evening.”

Where Is Perry?

In Muscatine on Monday, June 18, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Got to fix my right rear wheel, it drags.  Talked to Radke about redistillation.  Kopp painted our hall today.  Rain in evening.  Got Stanley’s clothes ready to send to Perry, Iowa.”  Lela (Helen’s sister) and Gene Yates lived in Perry at the time, and I was visiting there.  Perry is 39 miles northwest of Des Moines.

Stan Visits Yates’s

On Sunday, June 17, 1951, Dale and his family drove from Muscatine to Gerald Shaffer’s home in Latimer, Iowa, stopping at the Amana Colonies for lunch, arriving at Gerald’s at 2:00.  Dale wrote, “Genes there too.  Stanley went home with Bobby.  Helen, Dalene and I got home at 10 p.m.”  Above: Muscatine to Latimer.  Gerald was Helen’s brother.  Lela (Helen’s sister) and Gene Yates, their daughter Nancy and son Bob lived in Perry, Iowa, at the time.  Five days later, Gene and Lela drove me to Osceola, where I stayed with my grandmother Jettie until Dale, Helen, and Dalene arrived about a week later.

Early Father’s Day

In Muscatine on Saturday, June 16, 1951, Dale wrote, “Non-work day.  Slept late & then took family downtown.  Bright sunny day.  Got some Father’s Day gifts.  Washed living room walls.  Watched TV in afternoon & night.”

Weekly Report

In Muscatine on Friday, June 15, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Wrote a 4 page weekly report.  Showers.  Hayes still at plant.  Cool in evening.  Watched TV at night.”

Slim Down

In Muscatine on Thursday, June 14, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Put in application for 1st 3 weeks in July – annual leave.  Busherys here a few minutes in the evening.  Beautiful day.  Watched TV at night.  Started diet supper.”

What Is IRBW?

In Muscatine on Wednesday, June 13, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Used new IRBW scale for the 1st time.  Helen has a stitch in her shoulders.  Nice bright day.  Hayes still here.  TV at night.  Boxing, etc.”  ‘IRBW’ stood for Internal Revenue Bonded Warehouse.

Wards Catalog

In Muscatine on Tuesday, June 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Hayes still making annual inspection.  Stopped at Wards for a catalog.  Wrote Mom a letter.  Cool in evening.  To bed late.”  Above: a 1951 Montgomery Ward catalog.

Phone Calls

In Muscatine on Monday, June 11, 1951, Dale wrote, “Non-work day.  Hayes called from plant.  I called Cavanaugh – he forgot to wake up.  Had a kindling fire in the furnace.  TV at night.”  Remember when telephones looked like this?
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