Author: Editorial Team

Dale Visits Gilham Gardner

January 14, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Osceola briefly on Sunday, January 14, 1951, Dale wrote, “Mother and I went to see Uncle Gilham in the morning. Went to the cemetery, too, to see Dad’s grave. Marie was at Mother’s for dinner. Rode home with Bob Shoup in the afternoon.” That was the same co-worker who drove Dale from Muscatine to Osceola the previous day. Above: Dale’s uncle Gilham, older brother of Williams. Helen’s uncle James Schaffer died this day in Osceola, but Dale and Helen didn’t find out until January 16.

Dale Visits Jettie

January 13, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, January 13, 1951, Dale rode from Muscatine to Osceola with a co-worker, who dropped him off at Jettie’s farmhouse. Dale wrote, “Mother and I went to town in the afternoon and stayed till 11 p.m. Watched TV at Marie’s.” Marie was Dale’s sister. Dale’s mother, Jettie, liked to play her piano, above.

Visiting Susan Stiverson

January 12, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Friday, January 12, 1934, Dale’s diary said it snowed all day, and was almost a blizzard by night. Ressia and Gerald Schaffer (Helen’s brother) took Dale and Helen from their farm to Osceola to see Grandma Lewis (Susan Stiverson), Helen’s maternal grandmother. Grandma Lewis, above, died two days later.

Dale And Helen Move To Maryland

January 11, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Monday, January 11, 1937, Dale and Helen moved to 8 Moore Avenue, Hyattsville, Maryland. He wrote, “We have three rooms. Took all day to move and straighten up.” They shared the place with friends Jim and Corrine (last name unknown). In case you missed my December 23 diary blog, their location is above.

Dale Returns To Muscatine

January 10, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Tuesday, January 10, 1950, Dale wrote that he spent the morning in Osceola, visited his brother Lloyd, had lunch with his sister Marie, then took the train from Osceola to Burlington and the bus to Muscatine, arriving home at 7:30 p.m. Lloyd, Marie, and Dale are above, several years earlier.

Dale Visits Osceola

January 9, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Monday, January 9, 1950, Dale worked half of the morning and then rode from Muscatine to Osceola with his sister Marie Kimmel and her daughter Susan (above, several years earlier), who had been visiting. When they arrived in Osceola, Dale wrote, “Went out to the folks and stayed all night. Nice day and nice trip.”

Dale Gets A Farm Loan

January 8, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Osceola on Wednesday, January 8, 1936, Dale wrote that he and Helen obtained a loan from the Resettlement Administration, a Depression-era federal agency that made small loans to farmers and helped struggling families relocate. A receipt dated February 29 in Dale’s diary showed a $100 payment on his loan.

Dale Buys Livestock

January 7, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Osceola on Monday, January 7, 1935, Dale’s diary said he went to a farm sale and bought a horse for $63.00 and a cow for $25.50. That $88.50 would be $1,500 today.

Supreme Court Overturns AAA

January 6, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Washington, DC, on Monday, January 6, 1936, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Agricultural Adjustment Act unconstitutional. The intent of the AAA (created in 1933) was to restore the purchasing power of American farmers, eroded by falling prices, by paying them to cut production. The cost of this program was raised by taxes on companies that bought farm products to make food and clothing. The court ruled that this practice infringed on states’ rights, violating the Tenth Amendment. Below: Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the Act in 1933.

Gene And Lela Go Hunting

January 5, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Osceola on Friday, January 5, 1934, Dale’s diary says Lela and Gene Yates, George Schaffer, Gerald and Ressia Schaffer were at Dale and Helen’s for dinner. They went hunting – Lela got 2 rabbits, Gene got 2 rabbits. (Lela was Helen’s sister, Gene was Dale’s cousin, George was Helen’s father, and Gerald was Helen’s brother.)

Two High School Friends

January 4, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Friday, January 4, 1952, Dale wrote, “Stanley went to Sunny’s and Mickey’s at night.” Sunny and Mickey were my high school classmates Ellison Kuhn and Mike Collier. Here are their senior pictures in our yearbook:

Cousin Roswell Visits

January 3, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Thursday, January 3, 1952, Dale’s cousin Roswell Gardner visited at night and had oyster stew with the family, and watched television. Here is Roswell several years later:

Jack Paar Show

January 2, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, January 2, 1958, Dale wrote, “Cold today, 9° above and 2° below. Zero at 11 p.m. Watched Tonight show with Jack Paar.” Here is one of my favorite performing groups on the Jack Parr Show, from 1965:

Quiet New Year

January 1, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Wednesday, January 1, 1941, Dale wrote, “Holiday. Very quiet at home. Working at Alcohol Tax Unit, 706 New Post Office Building, St, Paul, Minn. Living at 1756 Edgerton Street, St. Paul.” Here is where home was:

Dashing Through The Snow

December 31, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Sunday, December 31, 1950, Dale, Stanley, and Dalene went sledding. Helen’s brother Harley, his wife Dot and son Keith arrived from Osceola to spend the evening with them. Dale wrote, “Had fried chicken and watched TV all evening.”

Happy New Year!

Dale And Jettie Go To Stillwell

December 30, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Tuesday, December 30, 1952, Dale wrote, “Mother and I drove to Stillwell for dinner and visit with Pearl Wood and her husband George Parrick. Nice day. Home by 6:30 p.m. Turkey pie for supper and TV all evening.” Stillwell, Illinois, was about 100 miles south of Muscatine (below). I don’t know who Pearl Wood and George Parrick were, but likely friends or relatives of Jettie’s.

Sleigh Ride Gone Awry

December 29, 2012 by Editorial Team

From Jettie’s diary: On Sunday, December 29, 1918, Williams hitched the team, Bob and Bet, up to the sled to go to Miller’s for dinner. Williams tied one horse to a hayrack. When he came to the house to get ready, Bet turned Bob and the sled around, upset the hayrack and broke it and broke the tongue of the sled, and broke the bridle all to pieces.

Lions Beat Browns

December 28, 2012 by Editorial Team

On Sunday, December 28, 1952, leaving Osceola with Dalene after the weekend, Dale wrote, “Brought Mother home to Muscatine with us. Took 3½ hours. Bright day. Helen had meat loaf dinner. Watched Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns on TV. Good programs on TV.” That was the 1952 NFL Championship game, with the great Otto Graham quarterbacking the Browns – but they lost, 17 to 7.

Holiday Football Game

December 27, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Osceola from Muscatine for the weekend on Saturday, December 27, 1952, Dale wrote, “Dalene and I drove out to Louie’s for dinner. I drove his Dodge. Watched football in the afternoon on Marie’s TV. Had supper there. Went to George and Wilma’s after supper.” Louie was Helen’s brother, Marie was Dale’s sister, and Wilma was Helen’s sister. If that football game was the Blue-Gray Football Classic, Gray won 28 to 7. If it was the East-West Shrine game, East won 21 to 20.

Surprise Visit To Osceola

December 26, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Osceola on Friday, December 26, 1952, Dale wrote, “Holiday. Dalene and I drove from Muscatine to Osceola. The Mercury stopped in Oskaloosa. Wired up wrong. Had to be towed to a Ford garage. Cost $5.74 to fix. Mother was surprised to see us. To Lloyd’s at night for ice cream.” Lloyd was Dale’s brother.