Diary

Stitches Removed

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Sunday, March 11, 1951, Dale wrote, “Took Stanley to Dr. Swayze for removal of tumor operation stitches.  Went to Bushery’s for dinner.  Snow all day & very slick.  Watched TV at home at night.”  I remember how much my incision itched and removal of the stitches actually felt good.
Diary

Popular Science

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Saturday, March 10, 1951, Dale wrote, “I slept until 11 A.M.!  Went to the library & store.  Had 2 meals today.  Watched TV all afternoon & evening.  Good programs.  Stanley subscribed to Popular Science.”  Above: the March 1951 cover of Popular Science.
Diary

Big Punchers

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, March 9, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Sent hospital & doctor bills to Business Mens Assurance in Minneapolis today.  Bought milk at Pure Dairy.  12° above this morning.  Watched Layne KO Satterfield on TV at home.”  Both heavyweights, Rex Layne (right above) won by a TKO over Bob Satterfield (left above).
Diary

Dale Drives To Clarence

by Editorial Team
On Thursday, March 8, 1951, Dale and Dalene drove from Muscatine to Clarence, Iowa, taking a co-worker to pick up his new Chevrolet.  Dale and Dalene visited with Olive Olsgaard and her girls a little while, then drove back to Muscatine.  Helen and Dale had been close friends of Orris and Olive Olsgaard in the late 1930s in Washington, DC.
Diary

Floored!

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, March 7, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Bought a new 7-way floor lamp at Penney’s for $5.  Bargain.  Letter from Mother.  Jim & Martha here at night till midnight watching TV.”  Jim and Martha Smith lived a couple houses up the street from us.
Diary

Got Milk?

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Tuesday, March 6, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Temp in P.M. was 66°.  Beautiful day.  Eubanks had my car washed.  Paid Modern Dairy $2.52.  Got milk at Pure Dairy.  Jim & Martha Smith here at night to watch TV.”  The Smiths were neighbors.
Diary

Dalene Writes A Letter

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Monday, March 5, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Lofgren still sick?  Dalene wrote a letter to Ruth.  Took Stanley & Dalene downtown in the evening.  Warm, 50°.  TV at night, at home.”  Helen’s brother Louie Schaffer’s wife was Ruth.
Diary

Sunday Dinner

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Sunday, March 4, 1951, Dale wrote, “Took Stanley to Dr. Swayze to dress his operation.  Took a ride in the country, looked at 2 houses owned by Roy Tooman.  Benson got back to town.  Had chicken dinner at 4:30.  TV at night.”
Diary

Happy Anniversary!

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Saturday, March 3, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 12:30.  Lofgren sick so King worked 3 to 11.  Helen & I were married 19 years ago tonight.  Ruth called to inquire about Stan.”  Helen’s brother Louie Schaffer was married to Ruth Cherington.
Diary

Rainy Day

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, March 2, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Wing at the plant all day.  Rain most all day.  Stanley still home healing.  Stayed home at night & watched TV.  Card from Mother.”
Diary

Get Well Soon

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Thursday, March 1, 1951, Dale wrote, “Brought Stanley home from hospital at noon.  I worked in the afternoon.  Wing is at the plant on a visit.  Went to the store on my way home.  Nice day, 40°.  TV good tonight.  Sent Mother a letter.” 
​I had minor surgery the day before.
Diary

Under The Knife

by Editorial Team
On Wednesday, February 28, 1951, I had surgery at Muscatine’s Hershey Hospital to have a tumor removed from my chest.  The tumor was the size of a checker, but we found out later that it was not malignant.  That was a relief.
Diary

No More 3-Peet

by Editorial Team
On Tuesday, February 27, 1951, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, limiting a president to two terms of office, was ratified.
Diary

TV Not So Good

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Monday, February 26, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8:30 to 5.  Talked to Radke about another Gauger & also wrote him a report.  Jim & Martha Smith came down at night to watch TV.  Not a very good night on TV.”  The Smiths lived a couple houses up the street; Dalene and I used to play with their children Janet and Jimmy.
Diary

Keith Schaffer Visits

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Sunday, February 25, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late, had breakfast at 10 A.M.  Kids went to a show in the afternoon.  Helen & I washed.  I took a nap in the afternoon.  Keith Schaffer here for supper & stayed all night.  TV at night.  Good.  60° today but damp.”  Keith (above) was the son of Helen’s brother Harley Schaffer.
Diary

I Win!

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Saturday, February 24, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late.  Helen, Dalene & I went downtown to the library & to see a household goods sale out by Weed Park.  I went to the sale later.  Stan was in a play at the high school, won 6th prize.  TV at night at home.”
Diary

Vintage TV

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, February 23, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Took Stanley to Dr. Swayze; has tumor on chest.  To have it cut out next Wednesday.  Bought milk & groceries after work.  TV at night.  Ed Weis bought a Sears TV.”
Diary

Happy Birthday, George!

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Thursday, February 22, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Holiday pay.  Kids didn’t go to school.  Stan went to a show in the afternoon.  We had fried chicken for supper.  Watched TV at night.”  Happy birthday, George Washington!.
Diary

Fixin’ To Move

by Editorial Team
On Wednesday, February 21, 1951, Dale drove his mother Jettie from Muscatine to the Burlington train station for her return trip to Osceola.  She was ready to move to her house in town (above) from her farm house four miles east of Osceola on U.S. Highway 34, where her husband, Williams Gardner, had died a little over two months earlier.
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