On Friday, April 20, 1951, South Muscatine residents were advised to move out because of flooding possibility along the Mississippi. Above: the riverfront in 1951.
Old Man River Rising
MacArthur Speaks
In Muscatine on Thursday, April 19, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Frank Arth arrived for duty. Warm day. Card from Mother. TV at night. MacArthur spoke to Congress.” You can watch the black and white broadcast above.
Cemetery Lot
In Muscatine on Wednesday, April 18, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Warm today. Hemerson at plant all day. I came home after my glasses. To library & river front in the evening. Boxing on TV at night. Got deed for cemetery lot.” Above: their cemetery lot several decades later.
Warehouse Inspection
In Muscatine on Tuesday, April 17, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. River still coming up. Work started on paving highway 61, on Grandview Avenue. Eubanks called Mast regarding IRBW inspection. Cool morning but warmed up.” IRBW: Internal Revenue Bonded Warehouse.
Good TV
In Muscatine on Monday, April 16, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. No new Gaugers yet. Very cool today & the river is rising. Home by the store. Home all evening with family & TV. Good programs.” He was expecting new employees?
Cloudy Day
In Muscatine on Sunday, April 15, 1951, Dale wrote, “Mother and Marie went home at 1:30. Kids went to a show in the afternoon. Helen & I stayed home. Chilly today & cloudy. TV at night.” Above: Muscatine’s Front Street in 1951; the Mississippi is out of view to the left.
Flooding Rivers
On Saturday, April 14, 1951, Dale’s mother Jettie, his sister Marie and her daughter Susan, and his brother Lloyd’s daughter Carol arrived in Muscatine in the afternoon to stay all night. Dale took them for a ride around town in Marie’s car the next day, and to see the Cedar River. The diary doesn’t say the Cedar River was flooding, but why else would they go? The Mississippi was rising, as seen above several years earlier when Wilma (Helen’s sister), her husband George Casey and their son Larry were visiting.
Car $$ Repairs
In Muscatine on Friday, April 13, 1951, Dale wrote, “Brakes adjusted & bled, new fluid added, lights fixed, etc., $12.29 at M&S. Rainy & chilly. To store after work. Helen called Mother. TV at home at night.” Those car expenses would be $112 today.
Fix The Car
In Muscatine on Thursday, April 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Took car to M&S Garage to have lights fixed & brakes adjusted. Went to the store after work. TV at night at home.” Our car was a 1939 Mercury similar to the one above.
Truman Fires MacArthur
In Muscatine on Wednesday, April 11, 1951, Dale wrote, “President Truman fired General MacArthur.” U.S. President Harry S. Truman relieved General of the Army Douglas MacArthur of his commands for making public statements that contradicted the administration’s policies. MacArthur was a popular hero of World War II who was then the commander of United Nations forces fighting in the Korean War. Above: Truman and MacArthur six months earlier.
Medicine
In Muscatine on Tuesday, April 10, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Filled 80 drums alcohol plus other work. Wrote a letter to Mother. Got $4 pills at Grimm’s after work. TV at night at home. To bed at 11 P.M.”
Big Boss At Work
In Muscatine on Monday, April 9, 1951, Dale wrote, “Hemerson at the plant all day working on tank farm division. Didn’t get much done. I came home after my glasses. Warm today. To store after work. TV at night.”
Good Entertainment
In Muscatine on Sunday, April 8, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up at 9:30. Didn’t go out of the house all day. Sunshine, rain, hail, & warm. Kids went to a show in the afternoon. Watched TV all afternoon & evening.”
Looks Good, Hm?
In Muscatine on Saturday, April 7, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Brisk, damp wind. I came home early. Went to Pure Milk for milk. Dalene went to a show in the afternoon with Judy Fisher. We had fried chicken for supper. TV at night.” Judy Fisher lived nearby. We ate a lot of fried chicken.
Rainy Day
In Muscatine on Friday, April 6, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 7 to 3:30. Durkin & Hemerson here in forenoon from 9 to 10 for visit. Rainy all day. Took family to library & store after work. TV at night.”
Another Shop Project
In Muscatine on Thursday, April 5, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Letter from Mother. Got Stanley 2 boards from plant. Warm today. TV at night at home.”
Washing The Car
In Muscatine on Wednesday, April 4, 1951, Dale wrote “Worked 8 to 4:30. Filled 100 barrels today. Fine day, 50°. Washed the car in evening. Helen washed 1 wall in Stan’s room. TV at night.” Those 100 barrels were filled with alcohol.
Fill ‘Er Up!
In Muscatine on Tuesday, April 3, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Filled 6 trucks & 3 tank cars. Fixed my left fender in the afternoon in the maintenance shop. Warmer today, 50°. Kids played outdoors after school. Watched TV at night.”
Visit To A Barber
In Muscatine on Monday, April 2, 1951, Dale wrote, “Non-work day. Helen & I went downtown this morning. Took rent to Kopp’s. Put new seat covers on kitchen chairs. Got my hair cut. TV at night & to bed at 10 P.M.”
New Water Pump
In Muscatine on Sunday, April 1, 1951, Dale wrote, “To work at 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. Working on vapor line at top of alcohol column. I put a new water pump on my car at work. Helen & kids went to church. Had fried chicken dinner. TV at night.”