In Muscatine on Tuesday, February 20, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. 35° today. Bushery & I cap sealed on 4th floor all forenoon. Watched TV at night.”
Was Milton Berle On Tuesday?
Nearly New
In Muscatine on Monday, February 19, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 7 to 3:30. The still was down all day. Foggy in the morning, clear in the afternoon. Bought Helen a new nightgown & housecoat, Dalene a dress, at used clothing shop. TV at night.”
Jettie Takes A Train
On Sunday, February 18, 1951, Dale’s mother Jettie called to ask to be picked up at the Burlington train station, coming from Osceola. Dale and Helen did so and brought her to Muscatine for a few days to visit.
Got Milk?
In Muscatine on Saturday, February 17, 1951, Dale wrote, “Warm; 45°. Thawing all day. Kids went to a show in the afternoon. Bought 11 quarts skim milk, 93¢ at Pure Milk Dairy. Helped Helen wash. TV at night.”
Skating Away
In Muscatine on Friday, February 16, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Helen called Mother to see if she wanted to come over. Not yet. Took Helen to library after work. 36° today. Stanley went skating at night. TV all evening.”
Keep Watching Port City
In Muscatine on Thursday, February 15, 1951, Dale wrote, “Stan talked on radio station KWPC about Junior High.” I’m sure I could see a light at the end of my eighth grade tunnel.
Vintage Tablecloth
In Muscatine on Wednesday, February 14, 1951, Dale wrote, “Bought Valentines for Helen, Stan, and Dalene. Put them under tablecloth at supper. Sugar Ray Robinson beat Jake LaMotta on TV at night.” Do you remember oilcloth (above)? That’s what we used as our tablecloth.
Worse Weather
In Muscatine on Tuesday, February 13, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Colder again today. Light blizzard, windy. Streets very slick with ice. Bought 11 quarts skim milk & 1 quart homogenized. TV at night. To bed at 11 P.M.”
Nasty Weather
In Muscatine on Monday, February 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Fisher locked the keys in the scale house. Rain in the afternoon & sleet at night. Watched TV at night. Wrote Mother a card.”
Good Supper
In Muscatine on Sunday, February 11, 1951, Dale wrote, “Warm day. 55° at 5 P.M. What a relief. Kids went to a show in the afternoon. Had fried chicken for supper. Watched TV at night. Good picture, good programs.”
Way Before Cable
In Muscatine on Saturday, February 10, 1951, Dale wrote, “Slept to 9:30 A.M. I helped Bushery move his TV antenna to his new house. Watched Yale beat Army in the afternoon on TV. Took family to Bushery’s in the evening & went to the store. Bought 2 gallons of skim milk.”
B-r-r-r!
In Muscatine on Friday, February 9, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 9 to 5:30. 7° below this morning. 16° above at 11 P.M. Gave Kantz back his basketball tickets. TV at night. Letter from Mother.”
A Need To Read
In Muscatine on Thursday, February 8, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. Cold today, 6° above at 10:30 P.M. Helen got her hair cut. Took Helen to library at night. Kings got a TV.” Above: the old Muscatine library.
TV Adjustment
In Muscatine on Wednesday, February 7, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Bushery rented a house last night. Bought 2 gallons skim milk at Pure Milk Dairy. Longhurst came at 6:30 & worked on TV. It needed adjusting. Cold tonight; 4°.” Above: a 1950s television repair shop.
Where Milk Comes From
In Muscatine on Tuesday, February 6, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. 35° at noon, 7° above, windy at 8 P.M. Bought 3 quarts skim milk at Pure Milk for 25¢. Pretty good, too. Busherys here in evening. They rented a house in South End.” My grandfather, Williams Gardner, used to squirt milk to barn cats like this woman is doing.
Watched TV
In Muscatine on Monday, February 5, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30. Warmed up to 30°. Willey & I argued over receiving tank loss. Called Montgomery Ward again about TV tube. Watched TV at night. Very good.”
M-m-m-m Good!
In Muscatine on Sunday, February 4, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late & loafed all day except helped Helen wash clothes. Had roast beef dinner. Watched TV all afternoon & evening. To bed at 10:15. Temp 35°.”
Fridge Wakes Up
In Muscatine on Saturday, February 3, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 12:30 to 4:30 so Lofgren & Owens could take off annual leave. Called Montgomery Ward about TV & refrigerator. Turned refrigerator on at night & it runs OK. Warmer today; 35°. Letter from Mother.”
Neither Rain Nor Snow?
In Muscatine on Friday, February 2, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. 15° above zero. No mail today. TV at night.”
Car Won’t Start
In Muscatine on Thursday, February 1, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30. 13° below zero & cold all day. Tried to push-start Lofgren’s car at noon. Lofgren & King on leave in the afternoon. Paid $19 to Montgomery Ward. TV at night.”