On vacation Thursday, June 24, 1937, Dale wrote, “Got up early and left Osceola at 10 a.m. Mother with us. Drove to Peoria at 6 p.m. and stayed all night.” That was a 250-mile drive on their way home to Washington, DC.
From Osceola To Peoria
Columbia Heights Carnival
In Minneapolis on Sunday, June 23, 1957, Dale wrote, “I patched a hole in the roof around a vent pipe. Pretty high up there. Stan mowed the front yard. Dalene and friends went to the Columbia Heights carnival.”
G.I. Bill Of Rights
On Thursday, June 22, 1944, President Roosevelt signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 into law. It was commonly known as the G.I. Bill of Rights. (A later version was enacted after the Korean War.) Watch the video to see how it came to be.
Checking Out ISU
On vacation from Muscatine on Tuesday, June 21, 1955, Dale wrote, “At Gerald’s in the morning. Drove to Ames to question college. On to Wilma’s farm in the afternoon, then to Mother’s in Osceola.” We had just visited Helen’s brother Gerald and his family in Latimer; Wilma (Helen’s sister) lived a couple miles north of Osceola. I was considering Iowa State University in Ames.
From New Ulm To Latimer
On vacation from Muscatine on Monday, June 20, 1955, Dale wrote, “Left New Ulm and arrived at Gerald’s in Latimer in the afternoon. Hot driving. Gerald and Ressia have a very nice place to live. Lots of room, and quiet. Dalene, Stan, and Carole went swimming at a nearby lake.” Carole is my age, one of Gerald (Helen’s brother) and Ressia’s daughters. Above: New Ulm, Minnesota, to Latimer, Iowa.
A 1947 Dodge
In Muscatine on Friday, June 19, 1953, Dale wrote, “Temperature was up to 100° today. I looked at a 1947 Dodge of Mahraum’s. Dalene busted her beach ball.” He just bought that ball the day before. Mahraum’s was a service station in town. Above: a 1947 Dodge ad.
Dale Opens A Bank Account
In Muscatine on Wednesday, June 18, 1952, Dale wrote that he opened a checking account at Central State Bank for $75. Stanley went swimming with Mike Collier, a high school friend.
Stan Visits Yates’ Home
On Sunday, June 17, 1951, Dale and his family drove from Muscatine to Gerald Shaffer’s home in Latimer, Iowa, stopping at the Amana Colonies for lunch, arriving at Gerald’s at 2:00. Dale wrote, “Genes there too. Stanley went home with Bobby. Helen, Dalene and I got home at 10 p.m.” Above: Muscatine to Latimer. Gerald was Helen’s brother. Lela (Helen’s sister) and Gene Yates, daughter Nancy and son Bob lived in Perry, Iowa, at the time. Five days later, Gene and Lela drove me to Osceola, where I stayed with my grandmother Jettie until Dale, Helen, and Dalene arrived about a week later.
At Como Park
In Minneapolis on Sunday, June 16, 1957, Dale wrote, “Bought five used tires and four inner tubes for Stan’s car. Bought two new tires for the Dodge. Took Dalene and a girl friend to Como Park in the afternoon.” Above: Como Park Zoo Carousel.
Shooting A Cap Gun
In Muscatine on Sunday, June 15, 1952, Dale wrote, “Dalene and I drove to the bluff and she shot her cap gun at passing cars. Took the family for a ride in the evening.” That bluff was probably the one on U.S. Highway 22 east of town. The gun may have been like Gene Autry’s, above.
Badminton Set
In Minneapolis on Friday, June 14, 1957, Dale wrote, “I went to work early, had breakfast at café. Took a kitchen window to have glass put in. After work, I bought stakes and poles for Dalene’s badminton set.”
Ready To Travel
Vacationing in Osceola from Washington, DC, on Sunday, June 13, 1937, Dale and Helen attended a Schaffer family dinner at the home of Pearl and Cedar Schaffer. They spent the night at the farm of Louie and Ruth Schaffer. Pearl and Louie were Helen’s brothers. Above: Dale’s parents, Williams and Jettie, in front of Dale’s car loaded for its return trip to Washington. Jettie went with them for a visit.
Hot Day In Muscatine
In Muscatine on Thursday, June 12, 1952, Dale wrote, “Very hot today. Too hot to sleep at night. I slept on the front porch and Helen slept on the davenport until early morning. Must be 100° in the shade.” There was no home air conditioning (unless you were rich), which is probably why we went to so many movies – theaters were air conditioned.
Dale Has Pleurisy
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 11, 1958, Dale wrote, “High 65°. Beautiful day. I had pleurisy all day at work. Helen called the doctor at night, I’m not going to work tomorrow.”
Goin’ Fishin’
In Muscatine on Saturday, June 10, 1950, Dale took Stanley, Dalene, and neighbor boy Jimmy Smith fishing at Weed Park. Above: the park pond.
Doing Laundry
In Muscatine on Tuesday, June 9, 1953, Dale took the day off work to help Helen do laundry. I wonder if they used “Duz” (above).
Dale Scrapes Paint
In Minneapolis on Saturday, June 8, 1957, Dale wrote, “Scraped paint off house trim, and the upstairs windows. Stan and Bill Mullen mowed the lawn. Helen and I went downtown to the library but it was closed.” Bill Mullen was a friend from Muscatine.
Moving Again
In St. Paul on Sunday, June 7, 1942, Dale and Helen rented an apartment at 1163 Randolph Avenue, above. They moved there later in the month. Of course, I-35 in the map did not yet exist.
Leaving Eighth Grade
On Wednesday, June 6, 1951, Dale wrote that Stanley graduated from 8th grade (Junior High School) at a ceremony held in the Muscatine High School auditorium (above).
From Ames To Osceola
On Thursday, June 5, 1952, Dale wrote, “Drove from Ames to Osceola in the afternoon. Supper in Indianola. TV at Casey’s. Stayed all night at Mother’s. Hot today.” They had visited Gene and Lela Yates in Ames. Lela Yates and Wilma Casey were Helen’s sisters.