Category: Diary

Sittin’ In The Park

July 14, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, July 14, 1951, finishing their vacation in Osceola, Dale wrote, “Sat in the park in the afternoon. Went to Dot and Harley Schaffer’s for supper. Went uptown at night. Took Dalene to Ruth and Louie’s farm to stay all night.” Harley and Louie were Helen’s brothers. We all drove home to Muscatine the next day. Above are people sitting near the bandstand in the Osceola town park in 1951.

Soap Box Race

July 13, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Friday, July 13, 1951, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “Watched soap box races in town.” He, Helen, Stanley, and Dalene went to Bert and Minnie Chandler’s for supper, and Dale went for a walk in the timber there. Minnie was Helen’s aunt.

Riding In A 1949 Buick

July 12, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Sunday, July 12, 1953, Dale wrote, “44 years old today. Took the family for a ride in a 1949 Buick. Rested all day. Watched TV at night.” Happy birthday, Dad. He was always hankering after a different car.

Surprise Visitors

July 11, 2013 by Editorial Team

In St. Paul on Friday, July 11, 1941, Dale and Helen went to a midnight show and when they got home, Ethel and Don Matheny (Elsie Gardner’s son, so Dale’s first cousin) were there from Eatonville, Washington. They stayed the night.

Weenie Roast

July 10, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Tuesday, July 10, 1951, still vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family, Dale wrote, “Went to George and Wilma Casey’s farm at night for a wiener roast. We stayed with her till 1 a.m. while George and Larry went to a barn sale.” Larry was Wilma (Helen’s sister) and George’s son.

Visiting Omaha’s Alcohol Plant

July 9, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Monday, July 9, 1951, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “Went to Omaha with Louie, Jack, and Biscuits Bailey. Louie sold 20 head of steers at $425 each. I went to the alcohol plant for two hours and visited.” Louie was Helen’s brother and Jack was Louie’s son-in-law. I don’t know who Biscuits Bailey was, but he had a great nickname. Above is the Omaha Alcohol Plant in 1947, to the immediate right of a long white building (part of the city power plant).

Boeing Stratoliner

July 8, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Monday, July 8, 1940, the first commercial flight using a pressurized cabin took place on a Boeing 307 Stratoliner, flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet from New York to Burbank, California. Pressurization is essential over 10,000 feet above sea level to protect crew and passengers from the risk of a number of physiological problems caused by the low outside air pressure above that altitude; it also serves to generally increase passenger comfort. For passenger comfort, cabin pressure is changed to match the destination altitude as the flight descends for landing. Above: one of only ten Boeing 307s manufactured – later, Boeing built the bigger and better Stratocruiser.

Uptown Saturday Night

July 7, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, July 7, 1951, vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family, Dale and Helen went uptown at night and parked the car on the square in keeping with tradition, to visit with friends and relatives. That’s the east side of the square above, looking south.

Looking At New Chevys

July 6, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, July 6, 1957, on vacation in Osceola from Minneapolis, Dale wrote, “Spent the day at George and Wilma’s. George and I drove to Humeston to look at new Chevys. Supper at Don and Opal’s. HOT today and humid. Cooled off in Mother’s yard. Ate too much today.” Wilma Casey was Helen’s sister and Don Schaffer was Helen’s nephew.

Good Dinner

July 5, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Wednesday, July 5, 1950, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “I plowed corn today. Had fried chicken for dinner at folks. Went to Don Schaffer’s for supper, pitched horseshoes. Geralds were there too.” Don Schaffer was Helen’s nephew and Gerald was her brother.

Ozzie And Harriet

July 4, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Washington, DC, on Saturday, July 4, 1936, Helen and Dale went to a show and saw Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard (above, before she married Ozzie). They watched fireworks at night at monument grounds.

Dale Rides A Ferris Wheel

July 3, 2013 by Editorial Team

Vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family on Tuesday, July 3, 1951, Dale wrote, “Mother got a permanent. Nice day. Rode on the Ferris wheel with the kids. Visited with Aunt Sarah.” That was Sarah Gardner Talbott, sister of Isaac Newton Gardner (Dale’s grandfather, known as ‘Newt’).

Getting A Haircut

July 2, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Monday, July 2, 1951, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “Took Mother to Lloyd’s. Stan and I got haircuts at Devore’s. Went to Ruth and Louie’s farm in the afternoon and stayed for supper. Back to Mother’s at 9 p.m.” Lloyd was Dale’s brother, Louie was Helen’s brother. Barber John Devore was considered family since his daughter Beverly married Roswell Gardner’s son Raymond.

Dale Has A Flat Tire

July 1, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, July 1, 1950, Dale wrote that he drove Helen, Stanley, and Dalene from Muscatine to Osceola. Near Indianola, they had a flat tire, so they arrived at Williams and Jettie’s farm late.

In Osceola For The Fourth

June 30, 2013 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, June 30, Dale and family drove from Muscatine to Osceola. Dale wrote, “Got to Mother’s at 5 p.m. Went uptown at night. Kids went to a show at night.” Above: Dalene (with long hair) and Dale (with cigar) in 1951.

Early Computer Days

June 29, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Monday, June 29, 1959, Dale wrote, “Cool, high 63°. Went to a store in St. Paul and bought Dalene some shoes. Stan’s first day on his Santa Monica job. He called at night to ask about his work history. Helen and I looked up in my old diaries for his record of jobs.” I needed that information for a security clearance questionnaire. Above: the control console of the IBM AN/FSQ-7, the first computer I learned to program. It filled a large room, employed vacuum tube technology, and was used by the Air Force SAGE system in the North American air defense program.

Ready For Vacation

June 28, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Friday, June 28, 1957, Dale wrote, “McCumber at the warehouse with me to take over next Monday for three weeks while I’m on vacation. Stan came home about 7 p.m. from Muscatine. Dalene, Sharon, and I went to a show.” McCumber was a co-worker. Sharon was Dalene’s friend.

1946 Dodge

June 27, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Saturday, June 27, 1953, Dale wrote, “Helen and Dalene and I looked at a 1946 Dodge. No deal. Wind and rainstorm at night. Lights went off for several hours. To bed late.”

Stan The Lab Tech

June 26, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 26, 1957, Dale wrote, “I mowed the back yard after work. Stanley got a fulltime job at General Mills, starting next Monday, as Radiation Physics Laboratory Technician. We are all pretty pleased about it. He went to Muscatine to see Sue Timm.” Above: General Mills Central Research Lab, built in the 1930s at 2010 Hennepin Avenue East, where I worked for the next two years.

We Adopt A Duck

June 25, 2013 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Monday, June 25, 1956, Dale wrote, “Stan brought a duck home, about one week old. He picked it up on Central Avenue on his way to work.” We kept it until it grew up.