Author: Editorial Team

A Really Big Computer

August 7, 2012 by Editorial Team

On Monday, August 7, 1944, the IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator, designed and built by Howard Aiken with funding from IBM, was dedicated at Harvard University, where it was called the Mark I. Used by the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships for gunnery and ballistic calculations, it was an electro-mechanical computer 51 feet long, 8 feet high, and 2 feet deep, using 500 miles of wire with three million connections.

The Mark I read its instructions from a punched paper tape and executed the current instruction and then read in the next one. A loop was accomplished by joining the end of the paper tape containing the program back to the beginning of the tape (literally creating a loop). One of the first programmers of the Mark I was Grace Hopper. I once had the pleasure of hearing her speak at a computer conference.

Jack And Margie’s Vacation

August 6, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Osceola on Wednesday, August 6, 1969, Dale wrote, “Helen and I stayed all night at Jack and Margie’s, they are in the Black Hills.” They stayed nights at Jack and Margie’s farm for a week. Below: shelling corn on that farm a month later.

Family Reunion Picnic

August 5, 2012 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.” Below: Dale’s mother Jettie at her piano in 1951. The photos on top of the piano are of her children Marie, Dale, and Lloyd.

Dale Plays Pool

August 4, 2012 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, below, was Charles Monroe Gardner, the younger brother of Dale’s father Williams Gardner.

Keith Flips Burgers

August 3, 2012 by Editorial Team

In St. Paul on Sunday, August 3, 1941, Helen’s teenage nephew Keith Schaffer, visiting from Osceola, got a job at a hamburger shop at Fourth and Roberts Streets for $13 per week. Dale, Helen, and Stanley ate there frequently while Keith worked there – he went home to Osceola at the end of August.

A Hot Day In Twin Cities

August 2, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Sunday, August 2, 1964, it was HOT, high of 103°. Dale and Helen stayed in the house all day by their dining room window air conditioner.

Stan The Usher

August 1, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 1, 1956, Dale wrote, “Dalene went to a show with Marianne. Stan’s first night working at Heights Theatre as usher.” After my summer job working at Crown Iron Works days, I worked evenings taking tickets, selling popcorn and candy, and acting as bouncer. Got to see lots of movies free. That’s the theater below.

Smiths Have An Anniversary

July 31, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Monday, July 31, 1950, neighbors Jim and Martha Smith (who lived three doors up East Seventh Street) dropped in at night with their fifteen-year anniversary cake to have a quiet celebration. Dale and Helen made coffee.

Exploring Weed Park

July 30, 2012 by Editorial Team

On Wednesday, July 30, 1952, Dale took the afternoon off to drive his sister Marie and her daughter Susan, vacationing in Muscatine from Osceola, to Weed Park. Below: the pond at Weed Park.

Jettie Visits Muscatine

July 29, 2012 by Editorial Team

On Tuesday, July 29, 1952, Dale’s mother Jettie, his sister Marie, and her daughter Susan arrived in Muscatine from Osceola about 5:30 p.m. He wrote, “Bought some ice cream at Wintermute’s.”

Mowing The Old Way

July 28, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Saturday, July 28, 1951, Stanley mowed neighbors’ yards with a reel mower for 25¢ per yard for spending money.

Great Breakfast!

July 27, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Sunday, July 27, 1952, Dale wrote, “I got breakfast of bacon and eggs. Dalene and I went to a show in the afternoon. Stan went swimming. Had roast beef dinner. Hot and humid today.”

Dale Rents Another Apartment

July 26, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Washington, DC, on Monday, July 26, 1937, Dale took the day off and he, Helen, and Stanley went apartment hunting. They rented one at 1220 N St. N.W. He wrote, “On the go all day. Helen, Stanley, and I, we work good together.” Dale would be able to walk to work from there in about 20 minutes. We moved there to apartment 206 on July 31. Below: location of the apartment.

Democratic Convention

July 25, 2012 by Editorial Team

After work in Muscatine on Friday, July 25, 1952, Dale picked me up at the Weed Park swimming pool. Dalene and I went to a movie at night, while Dale and Helen watched the Democratic convention on television. Here is Adlai Stevenson:

Aquatennial Days

July 24, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 24, 1957, Dale wrote, “Dalene went to work with me in the afternoon. We went to NW Bank building and bought three tickets to the Aqua Queen coronation on Friday night. Stan went on a date at night. Dalene went with Sharon to watch the Aquatennial Parade.” Below: Aquatennial Parade postcard.

The Oklahoman

July 23, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 23, 1957, Dale wrote, “Beautiful day. Dry and not too hot. Dalene and I mowed the lawn before supper. I took Stan to the show ‘The Oklahoman’ at night.”

Everyone Wore Glasses

July 22, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Wednesday, July 22, 1953, Dale and Dalene went to a 3-D movie at night.

Gene And Lela Come To Town

July 21, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Washington, DC, on Tuesday, July 21, 1936, Dale wrote, “Gene and Lela and Nancy and two girls arrived at 8:30 p.m.” Gene Yates was married to Lela Schaffer, Helen’s sister, and Nancy was their daughter. During the next week, Helen and Dale showed Gene and Lela around the area, including National Airport, Hains Point, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and Annapolis.

Before Betty Furness

July 20, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Washington, DC, on Tuesday, July 20, 1937, Dale and Helen took delivery of their new Leonard refrigerator. He wrote, “Sure is nice.”

We Lose A Stick Shift

July 19, 2012 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Sunday, July 19, 1953, Dale wrote, “Took the family for a ride in our ‘new’ car. Stanley took the car to learn how to drive it.” The old Mercury we had been driving had a stick shift, and I had never used an automatic transmission – which the ‘new’ 1941 Oldsmobile, below, had.