In Osceola on Saturday, February 3, 1934, George and Wilma Casey took Dale and Helen to a dance in the evening. Dale’s diary recorded “Spent 25¢.” Wilma was Helen’s sister. Above: Dale and Helen all dressed up a few years later.
Goin’ Dancin’
Spring Ahead Early
In Washington, DC, on Monday, February 2, 1942, President Roosevelt instituted year-round Daylight Savings Time, which stayed in effect for the rest of World War II.
On TDY
After leaving Muscatine on Sunday, February 1, 1953, Dale wrote, “Drove to St. Paul. Helen got my breakfast and kissed me goodbye. Some snow on the way. Got a room on Dayton Avenue. Called Helen at 6 p.m. I love her very much.” He was homesick already. On the map above, I-35 and I-94 did not yet exist.
The First Social Security Check
In Ludlow, Vermont, on Wednesday, January 31, 1940, Ida May Fuller (above) became the first American citizen to receive a Social Security check. Between the years 1937 and 1939, she contributed $24.75. Her check was for $22.54. By the time she died in 1975, she had collected $22,888.92 in Social Security monthly benefits.
Dale Chases A Horse
In Osceola on Tuesday, January 30, 1934, Helen and Dale rode horseback to Dale’s cousin Orville Gardner’s at night. The horses got loose and Dale rode all over the farm to find one.
Dale Renovates The Kitchen
In Minneapolis on Sunday, January 29, 1956, Dale wrote, “I put Congowall on the kitchen wall. Looks very good. Took me most all day. 5° above zero at 8 a.m., 6° above at 10 p.m.” Above: a vintage ad for Congowall.
Winter Carnival Parade
In Minneapolis on Saturday, January 28, 1956, Dale wrote, “Dalene and I watched the St. Paul Winter Carnival Parade on the capital grounds in St. Paul. Pretty chilly.”
Muscatine Beats Ottumwa
On Friday, January 27, 1950, Dale’s diary recorded that the Muscatine High School basketball team beat Ottumwa 45 to 31.
TV Sales Boom
In Muscatine on Friday, January 26, 1951, Dale wrote, “Ed and Gwen Weir came over at night to watch TV.” Many of Helen and Dale’s friends and co-workers bought their first television sets this year. Above: 1951 advertisement for a Motorola TV.
Iowa Beats Minnesota
In Minneapolis on Saturday, January 25, 1958, Dale wrote, “Light snow. Watched Iowa beat Minnesota 73-71 on TV.”
Muscatine Beats Mt. Pleasant
On Tuesday, January 24, 1950, Dale wrote that the Muscatine High School basketball team beat Mt. Pleasant. He did not record the score, very unusual for him.
Doc Makes A House Call
In Muscatine on Wednesday, January 23, 1952, Dale wrote, “Stan home from school with a cold. Dr. Swayze gave both a shot.” He doesn’t say who the other person was, but the point is that doctors made house calls then.
Learning To Play Canasta
On Sunday, January 22, 1950, responding to an invitation from Orris and Olive Olsgaard (old friends from Washington, DC), Dale and Helen and children drove from Muscatine to Clarence, Iowa, for dinner with the Olsgaards. Dale wrote, “Learned to play Canasta, played all afternoon.”
Really Cold
In Minneapolis on Saturday, January 21, 1956, Dale wrote, “16° below zero. Dalene and I went to the grocery store. Too cold for anything else.”
George And Wilma Buy Hens
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In Osceola on Monday, January 20, 1936, Dale’s diary says that George and Wilma Casey (Helen’s sister) bought 46 Leghorns and 14 Heavies. White Leghorns lay large white eggs practically every day. Heavy breeds have thicker bodies and denser feathers, better suited to cold climates and more likely to continue laying eggs through the winter. The White is above left, and the Heavy is above right.
Pinsetter Stan
In Muscatine on Tuesday, January 19, 1954, Dale’s diary says I got a job setting pins at the bowling alley. This was prior to automatic pinsetters; I sat at the back of the “pit,” manually put balls in return chutes and hand-racked the pins. It could be dangerous, since a pin would occasionally fly past your head. Above is a video that shows a manual pinsetter (there’s an opening ad that’s pretty interesting, but you can skip it).
Dale Sees ‘Bus Stop’
In Minneapolis on Friday, January 18, 1957, Dale wrote, “Had new plugs and points put on Stan’s 1949 Ford, also repaired master brake cylinder, at Shell station. Cost $16. Went to ‘Bus Stop’ at night.” Conveniently, the Shell station was directly across the street from the house. I drove back to Muscatine Junior College the next day.
Dale’s Best Movie Ever
In Osceola on Wednesday night, January 17, 1935, Dale went to a movie, The Age of Innocence. He wrote in his diary, “Best I ever hope to see.”
Grandma Lewis’s Funeral
On Tuesday, January 16, 1934, Dale and Helen rode to Osceola with Ressia and Gerald Schaffer (Helen’s brother) to Grandma Lewis’ funeral. Gene and Lela Yates (Helen’s sister) took them back to their farm north of Ottawa, above.
Destination Moon
In Muscatine on Monday, January 15, 1951, Dale’s diary recorded that Dalene and I went to the movie, Destination Moon.