Diary

Uptown Saturday Night

by Editorial Team
Vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola on Saturday, July 8, 1950, with his family, Dale followed the Saturday evening tradition of parking on the town square (this time in front of Robinson’s Drug Store) to visit with anyone passing by.
Diary

Dale Paints Cars

by Editorial Team
Vacationing from Muscatine at Jettie and Williams Gardner’s farm near Osceola with his family on Friday, July 7, 1950, Dale wrote, “Painted our ’39 Mercury red and the folks ’35 Chevy black.  Took all day.  We went to Louie’s farm for supper.”  Louie was one of Helen’s brothers.  Above: a red ’39 Mercury.
Diary

Shop At Younkers

by Editorial Team
In Osceola on vacation from Muscatine on Thursday, July 6, 1950, Dale wrote, “Stanley & I drove to Des Moines after car paint.  We went to 10¢ stores & Younkers too.  Stopped at airport too.  Took Stan to Dr. Harkens in afternoon, he has throat infection.  Cleaned on car to paint tomorrow.”
Diary

Good Dinner

by Editorial Team
On Wednesday, July 5, 1950, vacationing from Muscatine in Osceola with his family, Dale wrote, “I plowed corn today.  Had fried chicken for dinner at folks.  Went to Don Schaffer’s for supper, pitched horseshoes.  Geralds were there too.”  Don Schaffer was Helen’s nephew (married to Opal Horton) and Gerald was Helen’s brother (married to Ressia Bishop).
Diary

Osceola Fourth

by Editorial Team
On Tuesday, July 4, 1950, vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family, Dale wrote, “Fourth of July in Osceola.  Saw parade in the morning and stayed on a blanket in the park all day.  Saw everybody, even saw Harley wrestle.  Home at 10:30.  Kids are really tired.”  Harley was one of Helen’s brothers.  Above: the bandstand in the park.
Diary

Ready For The Fourth

by Editorial Team
Vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family on Monday, July 3, 1950, Dale wrote, “Drove to town to get tire fixed.  Fixed Dad’s rake in the afternoon.  Went to Lloyd’s after Nancy.  Went to George’s after supper and saw Genes.  Shot our fireworks.”  They were staying at Williams and Jettie Gardner’s farm.  Lloyd was Dale’s brother and Nancy was Lloyd’s daughter.  George Casey was married to Wilma Schaffer, Helen’s sister.  ‘Genes’ were Gene Yates and his wife Lela Schaffer, Helen’s other sister.
Diary

Riding Old Dan

by Editorial Team
Vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine on Sunday, July 2, 1950, Dale, Helen, and Marie (Dale’s sister) took Stanley and Dalene to ride Marie’s horse, Old Dan.  Later, Dale and family drove to Opal and Don Schaffer’s home (Helen’s nephew) and played horseshoes, returning to Williams and Jettie’s farm for supper.
Diary

Dale Has A Flat Tire

by Editorial Team
On Saturday, July 1, 1950, Dale wrote that he drove Helen, Stanley, and Dalene from Muscatine to Osceola.  Near Indianola, they had a flat tire, so they arrived at Williams and Jettie’s farm late.
Diary

Lloyd Schaffer

by Editorial Team
On Friday, June 30, 1950, Dale wrote that Helen’s oldest brother Lloyd Schaffer (above as a young man) and his wife Chloe and daughter Marian arrived in Muscatine to spend the night.  Dale had the next two weeks off for vacation.
Diary

Cashing A Bond

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Thursday, June 29, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Cashed a bond $18.75.  Bought Helen a T-shirt for her new shorts.  Merle Osterquist here for supper.  Merle took me, Stan, & Dalene to a show.  Helen stayed home.”  Merle was a business acquaintance.
Diary

Beauty Contest

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, June 28, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Went shopping today.  I bought 2 pair trousers, Helen sun suit & blouse, Dalene socks etc., & Stanley also.  Took kids to bathing beauty contest at Weed Park at night.  Cool & beautiful evening.”
Diary

Another Bad Dog

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Tuesday, June 27, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Nice bright cool day.  I called B. Brubrisko at 3 A.M. to ask her to shut her dog up.  She did & Helen talked to her during the day.  Metropolitan insurance man here at supper time.  Filled out application for hospital & surgery insurance.”
Diary

Rail Strike

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Monday, June 26, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  No tank cars today, rail strike on.  Merle came back on annual inspection.  Went to show at night with Merle & brought him home for coffee afterwards.  Cool today.”  Above: Dale in his alcohol plant office.
Diary

Bad Dog

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Sunday, June 25, 1950, Dale wrote, “Fisher’s dog kept us awake from midnight to daylight.  Kids went to Sunday school.  Took Helen & Dalene to river front in the morning.  Rode to Weed Park in the afternoon & took a little ride at night.  Hot.”
Diary

1950 Studebaker

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Saturday, June 24, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 7 to 3 today.  I traded non-work days with King so he could go to Cedar Rapids.  Rain in forenoon.  Drove Olson’s new Studebaker.  Went to store & library in evening.  Helen is feeling better.”  Above is what was called Jet-Age Styling.
Diary

Workin’ On The Railroad

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Friday, June 23, 1950, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Loaded 6 tank cars today, expecting a rail strike.  Talked to Radke on phone.  Took radio out of car yesterday.  Wrote card to folks.  Stayed home at night.  Warm & humid.”  Those tank cars were filled with alcohol.
Diary

Bad Boy

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Thursday, June 22, 1950, Dale wrote, “Brought Helen home from hospital in the morning.  No gallstones by X-ray but some density in gall bladder.  Scolded Stanley for busting cement block garage door step.  I went to a ball game at night.  Good breeze.”
Diary

Hospital X-Rays

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, June 21, 1950, Dale wrote, “Took Helen to doctor for exam.  He said go to hospital for X-rays so I took her to Bellevue at 5:30 to stay all night.  Kids & I had a picnic supper in riverfront park & went to a show.”
Diary

Joe Louis Wins

by Editorial Team
In Muscatine on Wednesday, June 20, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30.  Pay day.  Paid grocery bill $45 for 2 weeks.  Cool day.  Helen washed, a big one.  Interference on TV at night.  Saw Louis-Savold bout on TV.  Knockout by Louis.”  Above, left to right: Joe Louis, Lee Savold.
Diary

11110100111

by Editorial Team
In Minneapolis on Friday, June 19, 1959, Dale wrote, “Stan got a job as digital computer trainee at System Development Corporation in Santa Monica, California.  He had a phone call from them to report there June 29th.  Mother, Helen, Dalene and I went to a Columbia Heights parade.”  That computer job turned out much better than drug store manager trainee, which I had just started.  Above: the control console of the first computer I learned to program, an IBM military computer used by the Air Force.  (The title of this blog is binary for 1959.)
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