Month: July 2016

Diary

Cranking Out Ice Cream

by Editorial Team
Vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family on Wednesday, July 11, 1951, Dale wrote, “Went to Clarice and Lloyd’s farm after supper for home made ice cream.  Kids played ‘I packed my grandmother’s trunk.’  Funny.”  Clarice was the wife of Dale’s brother Lloyd.  Here’s how that game is played: Each player starts off with the same sentence: “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put ___.”  The player completes the sentence with a word that begins with the letter A.  For instance, “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put an alligator.”  The next player repeats the previous sentence and must add a B word.  “I packed my grandmother’s trunk and in it I put an alligator and a banana.”  In turn, each player has to remember what the past players have said and add an item that starts with the next letter of the alphabet.
Diary

Weenie Roast

by Editorial Team
On Tuesday, July 10, 1951, still vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family, Dale wrote, “Went to George and Wilma Casey’s farm at night for a wiener roast.  We stayed with her till 1 a.m. while George and Larry went to a barn sale.”  Larry was Wilma (Helen’s sister) and George’s son.  George was a good banjo player!
Diary

Visiting Omaha’s Alcohol Plant

by Editorial Team
On Monday, July 9, 1951, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “Went to Omaha with Louie, Jack, and Biscuits Bailey.  Louie sold 20 head of steers at $425 each.  I went to the alcohol plant for two hours and visited.”  Louie was Helen’s brother and Jack was Louie’s son-in-law.  I don’t know who Biscuits Bailey was, but he had a great nickname.  Above is the Omaha Alcohol Plant four years earlier, to the immediate right of a long white building (part of the city power plant).
Diary

A Ride In The Country

by Editorial Team
Vacationing from Muscatine with his family in Osceola on Sunday, July 8, 1951, Dale wrote, “Cut a door into Mother’s bathroom, took all day & didn’t quite finish.  Took a ride in the evening.  Uncle Joes here at night.  Hard rain about 6 P.M.  Stopped at Lloyd’s a few minutes.”  Joe Garwood was married to Dale’s aunt Sarah Gardner; Lloyd was Dale’s brother.
Diary

Uptown Saturday Night

by Editorial Team
On Saturday, July 7, 1951, vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family, Dale and Helen went uptown at night and parked the car on the town square in keeping with tradition, to visit with friends and relatives.  That’s the east side of the square above, looking south.
Diary

Where Is Medora?

by Editorial Team
With his family in Osceola on vacation from Muscatine on Friday, July 6, 1951, Dale wrote, “Took Mother’s washer motor to Bill Herron & traded for another one.  Hunted for front spring & found one west of Medora.  To George’s for afternoon & supper.  Still cool.  To bed at 10:30.”  Medora is on Highway US 69 16 miles northeast of Osceola.  George Casey was married to Helen’s sister Wilma.
Diary

Fun Rides

by Editorial Team
Vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family on July 5, 1951, Dale wrote, “Went to Ruth and Louie’s farm after lunch and put two new shock absorbers in front.  Had supper there.  Cool.  Kids rode merry-go-round and Ferris wheel once each.  Brought Mother home from Marie’s store.”  Ruth was married to Helen’s brother Louie.  The carnival rides were still at the town square.  Dale’s sister Marie owned a small store where Jettie worked part-time.
Diary

Osceola Parade

by Editorial Team
On Wednesday, July 4, 1951, vacationing in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “Fourth of July in Osceola.  Cool, only got to 78° all day.  Saw the parade and everything.  Kids had a good time.  Home late.  Fire in the stove at Mother’s.”
Diary

On The Ferris Wheel

by Editorial Team
Vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family on Tuesday, July 3, 1951, Dale wrote, “Mother got a permanent.  Nice day. Rode on the Ferris wheel with the kids.  Visited with Aunt Sarah.”  That was Sarah Gardner Talbott, sister of Isaac Newton Gardner (Dale’s grandfather, known as ‘Newt’).
Diary

Getting A Haircut

by Editorial Team
On Monday, July 2, 1951, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “Took Mother to Lloyd’s.  Stan and I got haircuts at Devore’s.  Went to Ruth and Louie’s farm in the afternoon and stayed for supper.  Back to Mother’s at 9 p.m.”  Lloyd was Dale’s brother, Louie was Helen’s brother.  Barber John Devore was considered family since his daughter Beverly married Roswell Gardner’s son Raymond.
Diary

Chicken & Noodles

by Editorial Team
Vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola on Sunday, July 1, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late.  Mother went to Sunday school & church.  Chicken noodles for dinner.  Helen & I took a ride in the country in afternoon.  Kids went to a show.  Went to Lloyd’s in the evening.”
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