Loading Tank Trucks

In Muscatine on Friday, February 15, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Took Stan to Dr. Swayze & Dr. Emerson for cold & ear ache.  Loaded 9 trucks.  Stayed until 5:15 writing weekly report.  Some snow and thawing.  To bed at 10 P.M.”

Hey!  It’s Valentine’s Day

In Muscatine on Thursday, February 14, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Paid $22 on top coat & gloves, $10 to Bushery, $40 groceries, $19 Montgomery Wards.  Snow most all day & slippery too.  Stan has sore throat.  Letter from Mother.”

Dale’s Alma Mater

In Osceola overnight on Wednesday, February 13, 1952, Dale wrote, “Took Mother to the cemetery.  Went to Osceola High School and looked around.  Seems small.”  He had graduated from there (above) 25 years earlier.  He drove back to Muscatine that evening.

Osceola Beats Indianola

On Tuesday, February 12, 1952, Dale left work in Muscatine an hour early to drive to Indianola to see an Osceola basketball game.  He wrote, “Osceola won 48 to 47 in a thriller  I drove on to Osceola to Mother’s to stay all night.”

Two-Buck Rx

In Muscatine on Monday, February 11, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Nice bright day.  Bushery & Jimmy visited the plant.  Home at 4:30 by way of Grimm’s Drugs for $2 prescription.  TV at night.”  Imagine!  A prescription for $2.  ($18 in 2017 dollars.)

Wildcat Den State Park

In Muscatine on Sunday, February 10, 1952, Dale wrote, “Took family to Wild Cat Den State Park for awhile.  Bright warm day in 50s.  Stan sick, doctor shot him.”  Makes me sound like a horse with a broken leg.  The park was 12 miles from our house.

Windy Day

In Muscatine on Friday, February 8, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Busy day.  Olsgaard dropped in a few minutes.  Cold today & windy.  TV at night & to bed late.”

Fun Bus Trips

In Muscatine on Thursday, February 7, 1952, Dale wrote, “Stanley went with Muscatine High School chorus to Washington, Iowa, to sing.”   That was the Tri-Festival Chorus, with schools from Muscatine, Iowa; Galesburg, Illinois; and Washington, Iowa.  The bus trips were fun – cheerleaders above on one of our buses in 1952.

Blue Tie

In Muscatine on Wednesday, February 6, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Meek still here at plant.  28° above today, 20° last night.  Bought Stanley a blue tie at Wards after work.  Good night on TV.  To bed at 11 P.M.”

Watching TV

In Muscatine on Tuesday, February 5, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Meek at plant for visit, for 2 or 3 days.  Johnson called Helen to talk about school.  Roswell here at night for TV.  To bed after 11 P.M.”  Roswell Gardner was Dale’s cousin.

Word Processing

In Muscatine on Monday, February 4, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Worked most all day on warehouse monthly summary for January.  Filled 8 tank trucks.  Mr. Lease here in the afternoon to visit Helen regarding furnace filters.  Mike Collier & Ellison Kuhn here at night to see Stan.”

Sunday Dinner

 In Muscatine on Sunday, February 3, 1952, Dale wrote, “Up at 9 A.M.  Had baked chicken for dinner.  Dalene went to a show with Judy Fisher.  Stan went to practice Madrigal singing.  Changed oil in the car.  TV at night.  40° today & damp & foggy.”

Paying Bills

In Muscatine on Saturday, February 2, 1952, Dale wrote, “Cashed 3 bonds.  Paid Dr. Swayze $10, Grimm Drug $9, $27 gas bill, $6.72 lights.  Got a haircut.  Dalene & I went to Mead’s after magazines & candy.  TV at night; Army beat Colgate in basketball.”

Another Shot

In Muscatine on Friday, February 1, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Filled 9 trucks.  Fisher took 2 hours annual leave; daughter graduating.  Took Helen to Dr. Miller for a shot.  We went to Mead’s at night for a visit.  To bed late.”

Pure Foods Called

In Muscatine on Thursday, January 31, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Fiscat of Pure Foods called from Minneapolis & so did Wing regarding ‘corn grits.’  Filled 6 trucks.  Letter from Lela.  Warm today, 50°.  TV at night.  To bed at 9 P.M.”  Lela was a sister of Helen’s.

Ice Cream In January

In Muscatine on Wednesday, January 30, 1952, high school friend Mike Collier and I walked to Neitzel’s drug store on Mulberry Avenue near Fourth Street for ice cream sodas after supper.

B-r-r-r-r

In Muscatine on Tuesday, January 29, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  2° below zero this morning.  Loaded 6 tank trucks & 4 tank cars today.  Stopped at dime store for toothpaste.  5° above at 10:30 P.M.  To bed at 11 P.M.”

Snow Flurries

In Muscatine on Monday, January 28, 1952, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Filled 3 trucks today.  Cold all day & snow flurries.  Wrote letter to Mother.  Lavonne here to return pillow; Judy Fisher here to play with Dalene; Mike Collier here for Stan.  Margaret Sinnott here at night.”

Nice Sunday

In Muscatine on Sunday, January 27, 1952, Dale wrote, “Up at 9:30 & breakfast with Helen.  Washed clothes.  Bob Shoup here for short visit.  Mike here to visit Stan.  Mary Ellen here to play with Dalene.  Clear & bright & cold, 26°.”
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