Author: Editorial Team

Diary

More Family Visits

by Editorial Team
On Saturday, August 18, 1951, Ruth and Louie Schaffer (Helen’s brother) and Gene and Lela Yates (Helen’s sister) arrived in Muscatine for a visit.  The next day, Dale gave Louie and Gene a tour of the alcohol plant before they left to return to Osceola.  Some years later – above left: Louie and Ruth, above right: Lela and Gene.
Diary

Before Super Bowls

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, August 17, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 2:30.  Nice day.  I got a haircut, first since July 2nd.  Insurance man here to OK refrigerator repair.  Watched All Star football game at night on TV.”  In that pre-season football game the National Football League champion Cleveland Browns defeated the College All-Stars 33 to 0.
Diary

Bills, Bills

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Thursday, August 16, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  I loaded 3 tank cars.  Cool day.  Paid Montgomery Ward bill $19, groceries $37, Helzberg $2, telephone bill $2.34.  Wilma called at 9:30 P.M.  Helen still down with itch.  TV at night.  To bed at 10 P.M.”  Wilma was a sister of Helen’s.
Diary

Roswell Visits Again

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 15, 1951, there was a heavy thunderstorm at 3:00 in the morning with a lot of lightning.  Dale wrote, “Rained 1 inch in 15 minutes.  Electric surge burned out our refrigerator.  Mother came on the 7:40 bus.  Roswell and Tressa were here.”  Dale’s cousin Roswell Gardner was married to Tressa Woods.  Their 1929 wedding picture is above.
Diary

Rainy Day

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Tuesday, August 14, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Helen worse with itch.  Called Dr. Miller at night but he wouldn’t do anything.  Rain today.  Called Mother & she’s coming over tomorrow.”
Diary

Early Morning

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Monday, August 13, 1951, Dale wrote, “Bushery called me at 5 A.M. & I went to work.  Home at 8 for breakfast.  Took Helen to Dr. Miller for examination, couldn’t find anything wrong.  TV at night.”  I think her ‘nervous itch’ was due to anxiety about moving.
Diary

Sunday Dinner

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Sunday, August 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up at 10.  Kids went to a show in the afternoon.  Had fried chicken dinner.  I worked on the refrigerator most all day, fixed it.  Helen miserable with nervous itch.  To bed at 10 P.M.”
Diary

Under The Hood

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Saturday, August 11, 1951, Dale wrote, “Non-work day.  Roswell left at 9 A.M.  Worked most all day on the car.  Looked at Meerdink’s apartment.  Frank Galbraith here at night a few minutes.”
Diary

Company For Supper

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, August 10, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  New office is nice.  Roswell here for supper & all night.  Looked at house in the country & showed Roswell the alcohol plant.  TV at night & to bed at midnight.”  Roswell, above, was Dale’s cousin, the son of Charley Gardner and Meda Robins.
Diary

Office Move

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Thursday, August 9, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Moved government office today, me into Staab’s old office + M&T on 3rd floor.  Called Howard Scott about a house in the country.  TV at night.”
Diary

Still House Hunting

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 8, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Quiet day.  Talked to F. Hoopes about house in country.  Answered an ad in Muscatine Journal regarding house to rent.  TV at night & to bed at 11 P.M.”
Diary

More House Hunting

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Tuesday, August 7, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Quiet day.  Loaded 2 tank cars.  Talked to Harley Orr about renting his house on Mulberry Avenue.  Went to store for groceries.  TV at night.”  They filled tank cars like the one above with alcohol.
Diary

Office Conference

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Monday, August 6, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Hayes came down on government office change – approved.  Hayes here all day.  Looked at Hooper country home in evening.  Too small.  TV at night.”  Mr. Hayes ‘came down’ from St. Paul.  Our rent goes up next month, so Dale is looking for another house to rent.
Diary

Family Reunion Picnic

by Editorial Team
On Sunday, August 5, 1951, the annual Gardner-Williams picnic was at Osceola’s East Lake Park.  Dad and I were in Osceola and he wrote, “Stan and I took Mother.  Helen and Dalene stayed home.  Drove back to Muscatine in the afternoon.  Lots of traffic.”  Above: Dale’s mother Jettie at her piano in 1951.  The photos on top of the piano are of her children Marie, Dale, and Lloyd.
Diary

Dale Plays Pool

by Editorial Team
On Saturday, August 4, 1951, Dale and Stan drove from Muscatine to Osceola.  Dale wrote, “Nice cool day.  Played pool with Uncle Charlie, won 2 out of 3.  Went uptown at night and saw everyone, almost.  To Mother’s and to bed at 11.”  Uncle Charlie, above, was Charles Monroe Gardner, the younger brother of Dale’s father Williams Gardner.  Saturday night was the night to go uptown and visit friends.
Diary

Drug Store Bill

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, August 3, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Decided not to buy shock absorbers, too high.  Paid Grimm’s $5.  Busted fan belt, cost $2.70.  Got ironing, took family to library.  TV at night.”
Diary

Something New

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Thursday, August 2, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Bought new hot water bottle.  Paid polio insurance for 2 years.  Paid lights & sanitation.  Stan & I worked a puzzle (counted stars) & mailed it to Stein’s.  TV at night.”
Diary

Paying Bills

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, August 1, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Letter from Mother.  Paid FPEA $22.15.  Paid 2 weeks groceries $42.  Lofgren sick.  Helen doesn’t feel good.  Had light supper.  Watched TV at night.”  I have no idea what FPEA was.
Diary

Restful Evening

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Tuesday, July 31, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Cooler & clear.  Fisher & Arms worked on cards today.  Took family to library after supper.  TV at night.”
Diary

You Have Mail

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Monday, July 30, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  I went back & steamed out #11 tank & cap sealed.  Letter from Lela.  Paid M&S $4.23.  Shower about 10 P.M.  Watched TV late show.”  Lela was Helen’s sister.
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