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In Minneapolis on Friday, September 12, 1958, Dale wrote, “Another nice day, high 83°. Stan and Dalene went to a football game at night. Helen and I went to a show ‘No Time For Sergeants.’ Watched a late movie ‘Task Force.’ Letter from Mother.”
Defrost That Fridge
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, September 11, 1957, Dale wrote, “Another nice day. Had to have the defroster fixed on the Coldspot refrigerator. Card from Mother in South Dakota. Wrote a birthday card to Lloyd and an accident card to Marie. Stan went to church at night to practice for choir.” Dale’s brother Lloyd turned 50 in two days; Marie was their sister.
Up, Up In The Air
In Muscatine on Sunday, September 10, 1950, Dale wrote, “Took kids to the airport. They took a plane ride with a trailer salesman. Thrilled them both.”
Fixin’ To Move
In Muscatine on Sunday, September 9, 1951, Dale and Helen moved furniture and boxes from the house they rented at 507 East Seventh Street next door to the “new” house they rented at 505 East Seventh Street, and waxed the bedroom and bathroom floors.
Dalene’s Last Year At Jefferson
On Tuesday, September 8, 1953, I started my Junior year at Muscatine High School, and Dalene started her Sixth grade at Jefferson Elementary School (below).
High School Seniors
In Muscatine on Tuesday, September 7, 1954, I started my senior year of high school. Below are class officers Earlene Gaddis, Dick Ware, and me.
Jettie And Clarence Visit Us
In Minneapolis on Friday, September 6, 1957, Dale wrote, “Beautiful day, high 70°. I drove to Rossini’s in St. Paul for a retirement luncheon in honor of Rutenbeck. This is his last day, after 31 years. Nice experience. Mother and Clarence arrived for a visit. Took Stan to Grossman’s Chevrolet for the 3000 mile check-up on his Chevy.” Rutenbeck was a co-worker. Below: Jettie and her second husband Clarence several years later.
Take Me Out . . .
In Washington, DC, on Sunday, September 5, 1937, Helen’s nephew Max Schaffer was visiting Helen and Dale. Max and Dale went to a baseball game; the New York Yankees beat the Washington Senators, 10-5. Dale wrote, “Some thrill to me.” Below: the official 1937 team logos.
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Back To School
In Muscatine on Tuesday, September 4, 1951, Dale wrote that Stanley started ninth grade, his freshman year, at Muscatine High School, and Dalene began fourth grade at Jefferson Elementary School. Below: Muscatine High School in foreground, main entrance at the bottom and auditorium entrance at right. The back of Jefferson School is at the top.
Goodbye, Old Bike
In Muscatine on Thursday, September 3, 1953, Dale wrote, “Hot until 3 p.m. and then the hot spell broke. 94° at noon, 56° at 10 p.m. Wonderful relief and rain all evening. Sold Stan’s bike for $25.” My old bike resembled the one below.
Summer Vacation’s End
On Saturday, September 2, 1950 Dale took neighbor boy Jimmy Smith and drove from Muscatine to Osceola to pick Stanley up. Dale wrote, “Went in to town early and stayed all evening. Took George and Wilma home and had coffee and cake and ice cream.” Helen’s sister Wilma was married to George Casey. We drove back to Muscatine the next day.
Painting Storm Windows
In Minneapolis on Monday, September 1, 1958, Dale wrote, “Holiday. No duties. Bright and sunny most of the day, and windy. High 69°. I painted all the storm windows and the door to the upstairs apartment. Stan called from Muscatine, he’s staying until Thursday. Dalene went fishing with the Michelsons. Daylight savings time ends today, thank goodness.” The Michelsons were friends. In case you missed it last month, Dad loved to paint.
Dalene Breaks Her Arm
In Minneapolis on Friday, August 31, 1956, Dale wrote, “Dalene broke her right arm, the big bone, just above the wrist. Fell over a low fence at Winchester’s.” They were neighbors.
Renting Next Door
In Muscatine on Thursday, August 30, 1951, having rented the house next door at 505 East 7th Street, Dale and Helen pay their current landlord, Mrs. Kopp, rent for the next two weeks at their current house, 507 East 7th Street. They also pay their next landlord, Mr. Lease, rent for September 15-30 at the house next door. Below left: 505 East 7th Street. Below right: 507 East 7th Street.
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At Monkey Island
On Sunday, August 29, 1954, Dale and Dalene drove from Muscatine to Davenport’s Credit Island to ride horses, then went to Monkey Island (below).
He Had A Dream
In Washington, DC, on Wednesday, August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Below is an excerpt.
Gene And Lela Visit
In Minneapolis on Sunday, August 27, 1961, Dale wrote, “I went to the State Fair about 3 hours to look around. Rain off and on in the afternoon. Gene Yates called, on his way to New York on business by plane. High 58° and a good day to go to the Fair.” Gene was Dale’s cousin, married to Helen’s sister Lela. Below: Gene and Lela at Dale and Helen’s home.
Buy Land – They’re Not Making More
On Tuesday, August 26, 1919, Williams and Jettie Gardner bought a 100-acre farm near Osceola at $166.50 per acre. The following January, they rented their farm to Jim Inyard for $40 an acre for pasture & half the grain. In 2013, the value of an average acre of Iowa farmland was $8,690 per acre. That’s a 5,000% increase in almost a century, nearly 4 times the rate of inflation.
At The State Fair
In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 25, 1956, Dale wrote, “Helen, Dalene, and I went downtown shopping and then to the Minnesota State Fair all afternoon looking around. Stan worked. Nice day. High 80°.”
Dale Gets New Shoes
In Minneapolis on Saturday, August 24, 1957, Dale wrote, “Stan went to a lake. We went downtown shopping. Bought Dalene some clothes and me a new pair of health-spot shoes. Big price but my feet felt better the minute I put them on. Mowed the lawn.”
