In Muscatine on Sunday, July 29, 1951, Dale wrote, “Slept till 1 P.M. after reading the Sunday paper. Not too hot today. Very quiet too. Ate very little, weigh 192. TV at night.”
Day Of Rest
Mowing The Old Way
In Muscatine on Saturday, July 28, 1951, Dale wrote that Stanley earned spending money by mowing neighbors’ yards with a reel mower for 25¢ per yard.
Alcohol From Wheat
In Muscatine on Friday, July 27, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Hot & bright today. Eubanks says we may use wheat. Cooled off before bedtime. Dalene better. TV at night. To bed at 11 P.M.” Alcohol produced from wheat has many industrial uses and is in widely consumed spirits, such as vodka and whiskey.
Office Remodel
In Muscatine on Thursday, July 26, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Hot & bright today. Painting started in new government office. Stopped after work to visit with Busherys. Went to store on way home.”
Got Shot
In Muscatine on Wednesday, July 25, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. I was the Mill & Tower man today. Hot, good corn weather. Doctor here to see Dalene again, put her on sulfa, gave Stan a shot. Helen put drapes in hall.” Mill & Tower (‘M&T’) refers to the distillation part of the alcohol plant.
July Weather
In Muscatine on Tuesday, July 24, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Hot today. Dalene is feeling pretty good now. I got Helen some medicine at Grimm’s on the way home. Helen washed. TV at night.”
Time Flies
In Muscatine on Monday, July 23, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. 1st day back after 3 weeks leave. Nice day. Rainy in forenoon. Dalene is feeling pretty good. Watched TV at night. To bed at 11:30 P.M.”
Doctor House Call
In Muscatine on Sunday, July 22, 1951, Dale wrote, “Slept till 10:30. Rain in the night. Had Dr. Swayze here for Dalene’s throat again. He looked in my eyes & ears. Stan went to a show in the afternoon. TV at night.”
New Old PJs
In Muscatine on Saturday, July 21, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late. Real humid & hot. Dalene is better. Didn’t do much today. Stanley & I went to a used clothing shop, bought Dalene pajamas. Thunder showers. To bed at 11:30 P.M.”
Lordy, Lordy, Helen’s Forty
In Muscatine on Friday, July 20, 1951, Helen celebrated her 40th birthday.
Magnafilter
In Muscatine on Thursday, July 19, 1951, Dale wrote, “8 hours annual leave. Slept late this morning. Cashed my check. Helped Helen change beds around. Cut mattress off for Dalene’s bed. Went to store. Had fried chicken supper. Had Magnafilter demonstrated. TV at night. To bed late.” Magnafilter was a TV add-on to make the picture appear larger.
K.O.
In Muscatine on Wednesday, July 18, 1951, Dale wrote, “8 hours annual leave. Helen put new drapes in living room. Stan slept till 10 A.M. Cleaned rocking chair. Kids went to a show at night. TV at night. Joe Walcott knocked out Ezzard Charles in 7th round.”
Cool Sleeping Porch
In Muscatine on Tuesday, July 17, 1951, Dale wrote, “8 hours annual leave. Helen & I washed. I went to the store. Bright & hot today. Family to library at night. Slept on back porch tonight, 1st time this summer.” We had no air conditioning, but our house had a big screened-in porch good for evening breezes.
Remember Western Auto?
In Muscatine on Monday, July 16, 1951, Dale wrote, “8 hours annual leave. Washed the kitchen walls and fixed back screen door. Landlord (Kopp) raised our rent $10 to $60 1st of Sept. I went to the store. Paid $2 on 4 new shock absorbers at Western Auto store.”
Home At Last
In Muscatine on Sunday, July 15, 1951, Dale wrote, “Drove home to Muscatine from Osceola. No trouble, got here at 3:30 P.M. Nice day. Kids & I mowed & raked the yard. Been gone 2 weeks. Watched TV at night & rested.”
Sittin’ In The Park
On Saturday, July 14, 1951, finishing their vacation in Osceola, Dale wrote, “Sat in the park in the afternoon. Went to Dot and Harley Schaffer’s for supper. Went uptown at night. Took Dalene to Ruth and Louie’s farm to stay all night.” Harley and Louie were Helen’s brothers. We all drove home to Muscatine the next day. Above are people sitting near the bandstand in the Osceola town square park in 1951.
Soap Box Race
On Friday, July 13, 1951, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “Watched soap box races in town.” Dale, Helen, Stanley, and Dalene went to Bert and Minnie Chandler’s for supper, and Dale went for a walk in the timber there. Minnie was Helen’s aunt.
New Muffler
Vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family on Thursday, July 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “I’m 42 years old today. Got some nice presents. Fixed Mother’s basement steps in the morning & painted storm windows in the afternoon. Bought a new muffler for the car. Marie showed her pictures.” Marie was his sister.
Cranking Out Ice Cream
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.
Weenie Roast
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!