In Muscatine on Tuesday, November 27, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Mr. Wing says Arth goes to Omaha & Mead comes here December 1st. Very quiet day. Good supper, fried oysters. Helen is better now. Good TV programs.”
Oyster Supper
Left-Handed Washer?
In Muscatine on Monday, November 26, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Found the trouble in left front wheel; spindle washer lost. Went to store from work. TV after supper. To bed at 10 P.M.”
PM TV
In Muscatine on Sunday, November 25, 1951, Dale wrote, “Rain most all day. Went to Dr. Swayze for diet for Helen, & to the store. Margaret Sinnott here in evening to visit. TV all afternoon & evening.” Margaret had been a neighbor.
Doc Made House Call
In Muscatine on Saturday, November 24, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Delbert Arms came in early – still & cooker shut down by 2 P.M. Kids went to a show in the afternoon. Watched TV in afternoon & evening. Helen sick at night & Dr. Swayze here at 11 P.M. to see her.”
Christmas Parade
In Muscatine on Friday, November 23, 1951, Dale wrote, “Non-work day. Up late. Cold today. Stanley was in the Christmas parade in the afternoon. Turkey again today. $3.65 at Grimm’s for prescription. TV at night. Getting colder at night.”
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 22, 1951, was Thanksgiving. In Muscatine, Dale wrote, “Had turkey for dinner, first one in ten years.”
One Buck Drug!
In Muscatine on Wednesday, November 21, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. To the library before supper. Stan went to a show with Ellison Kuhn. Pay day $159.75 net. Grocery bill 2 weeks $55. Largest ever. $1 worth prescription at Neitzel’s drug store.” Teenage boys eat a lot.
Ready For Thanksgiving
In Muscatine on Tuesday, November 20, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Bought a 10-pound turkey for $7.61 at Weis Grocery. Roswell here in the evening & watched TV. Helen feels better. To bed at 11 P.M.” Roswell was Dale’s cousin.
Tank Cars Of Alcohol
In Muscatine on Monday, November 19, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Loaded 2 tank cars today, otherwise very quiet. Paid $1.08 for medicine at Grimm’s drug store. Cold today, 20° above at bedtime – 10 P.M.”
Madrigal Group
In Muscatine on Sunday, November 18, 1951, Dale wrote, “Stayed in bed till noon. Stanley to high school in the afternoon to sing. Kids both went to a show. Baked chicken for dinner. TV at night – good programs. To bed at 10 P.M.” I was in a Madrigal group (above) in my freshman year of high school. Madrigal vocal music originated in the Renaissance and early Baroque eras and was usually performed without instruments.
Clothes Shopping
In Muscatine on Saturday, November 17, 1951, Dale wrote, “To Batterson’s department store & bought $65 worth of clothes for Stan & Dalene. Watched football on TV in the afternoon. Kids went to a show. 20° above at 5 P.M. TV at night. Gave old davenport to Walkers.” That $65 would be $605 in 2016 – a lot of clothes.
Sing A Song
In Muscatine on Friday, November 16, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Prescription $3 for Helen. Busherys here at night to watch boxing. Getting colder. Stanley sang at the Baptist church at night.”
Paying Bills
In Muscatine on Thursday, November 15, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Paid $45.75 to Dr. Swayze, $10 to Nomland, $20.50 to Dr. Miller, $13.10 to Grimm’s Drugs. Took family to library before supper. Some people moved in next door at 507 E. 7th Street.” That’s where we lived until two months ago.
TV Boxing
In Muscatine on Wednesday, November 14, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Received retroactive pay check for period 7-8-51 to 10-17-51 for $95.62. Worked on questionnaire at plant. Bright day. TV at night – boxing, etc.” That paycheck must have been for holiday and overtime work, and would be $890 in 2016 dollars.
A Quiet Day
In Muscatine on Tuesday, November 13, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Over 2 inches rain today. I took Dalene & friends to school. Pretty quiet day today. Olsgaard dropped in for a visit. TV at night & to bed early.” Dale knew Olsgaard from their years together in Washington, D.C.
Toast ‘Em
In Muscatine on Monday, November 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “Holiday. Helen & I worked on questionnaire for work all day, almost. Lofgren called, Arth won’t be in until Wednesday. Warm day. Kids had marshmallow toast at Smith’s at night.” The Smiths lived several houses up the street from us.
On The Blink
In Muscatine on Sunday, November 11, 1951, Dale wrote, “In the house all day. Dalene went to Sunday school, Stan to church. Chicken dinner. Football on TV in afternoon. TV at night. Had to have gas company man out at 11 P.M. to fix thermostat on furnace. Wouldn’t turn burner on.”
Car-Top Couch
On Saturday, November 10, 1951, Dale wrote that he and Stanley tied a couch bought from Helen’s brother Louie Schaffer to the top of the car in Osceola and drove back to Muscatine, in time to watch afternoon college football on TV. On that same day, customer-dialed long-distance telephone service began without operator assistance. Something we all take for granted now.
Lamoni Beats Osceola
Taking a day off work in Muscatine on Friday, November 9, 1951, Dad and I drove to Osceola. He wrote, “Drove by Lloyd’s at 1 p.m. Took Marie to high school football game at Lamoni. They beat Osceola 33-12.” Lloyd and Marie were Dale’s siblings. We spent the night at my Grandma Jettie’s house.
Ready To Transport
In Muscatine on Thursday, November 8, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Got a questionnaire from the Bureau. Told Arth about transfer to Omaha. Home for lunch. Bought $2 gas. Borrowed Jack Owens’ car top carrier. TV at night. To bed 11 P.M.”