On Saturday, November 10, 1951, Dale wrote that he and Stanley tied a couch bought from Helen’s brother Louie Schaffer to the top of the car in Osceola and drove back to Muscatine, in time to watch afternoon college football on TV.
Car Top Couch
University Of Iowa Won!
In Minneapolis on Saturday, November 9, 1957, Dale wrote, “Watched college football on TV. Iowa 44, Minnesota 20, at Iowa City. Dalene went downtown with Bonnie and Diana.” They were friends of hers.
Driving Upriver
In Muscatine on Saturday, November 8, 1952, Dale wrote, “Took Margaret Sinnott to Moline in the afternoon, Helen and Dalene went along. Stan worked all day.” Mrs. Sinnott was a neighbor at 503 East Seventh Street; I was a stockboy at Otto’s Market.
Dale’s New Posting
Monday, November 7, 1955, was Dale’s first day on his new assignment as government agent at Ed Phillips and Sons bottling plant. A search finds “Minneapolis-based Phillips Distilling Company, founded in 1912 as Ed Phillips & Sons, inventor of the first Schnapps products in the United States, is an innovator in vodkas and flavored whiskeys. UV Vodka, Phillips Union Whiskey and SourPuss are among the more than 70 labels produced by the company.” Dale was stationed at their bottling plant at 2345 Kennedy Street NE, just off Stinson Boulevard (above).
Back To Muscatine
After staying in Osceola for an overnight vacation on Thursday, November 6, 1952, Dale wrote, “Dalene and I visited Louie’s and Lloyd’s in the morning. Had chicken dinner at Mother’s. Home in Muscatine at 5:20 p.m. Stopped at Sears in Oskaloosa and bought Dalene shoes.” Louie (wife Ruth) was Helen’s brother, and Lloyd (wife Clarice) was Dale’s brother.
Driving To Osceola
In Muscatine on Wednesday, November 5, 1952, Dale took the day off of work and wrote that night, “Dalene and I drove to Osceola from 4:15 to 7:25 to a football game. Stayed all night at Mother’s.”
TVs Had Rabbit Ears
In Minneapolis on Sunday, November 4, 1956, Dale wrote, “Put the rest of the storm windows on. Cleaned the basement fruit room out for Dusty. Watched football on TV in the afternoon. Dalene and Marianne went bowling.” Dusty was our cat; Marianne was a friend.
Grocery Shopping
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, November 3, 1959, Dale wrote, “High 50° and clear. Four years ago today we arrived in Minneapolis for this job. Went to the store with Dalene.”
Minnesota Beat Indiana
In Minneapolis on Saturday, November 2, 1957, Dale wrote, “Rain all day. High 49°. Watched college football on TV, Iowa and Michigan U. tied 21 to 21. Minnesota beat Indiana 34-0. Helen and I went to the grocery store. Watched TV all evening.”
Weather Proof?
In Minneapolis on Saturday, November 1, 1958, Dale wrote, “I went to Coast to Coast for glass cloth for the front porch. Helen, Stan and I put 75 feet of green glass cloth on the front porch, took us five hours. High 63°.” Above: I’m standing in front of that porch we insulated.
Goodbye To Muscatine
In Muscatine on Monday, October 31, 1955, Dale wrote, “Told the boys goodbye at GPC. Fishers and Meads took us to Ina Mae’s for supper and to Fisher’s afterwards. Had a nice time.” Dale was transferred to the St. Paul office and he and Helen were moving to the Twin Cities. ‘GPC’ was Grain Processing Corporation; Fisher and Mead were co-workers.
Basement Room Rented
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 30, 1962, Dale wrote, “High 54°. Helen rented the basement room to Duane Kurth, a railroad man. Neighbor Marie Miller borrowed our step ladder. Kurth moved into the basement room.” It wasn’t as nice as the one pictured.
Basement Fix-Up
In Minneapolis on Sunday, October 29, 1961, Dale wrote, “Cemented some holes in the basement walls to stop water leaking in. Painted a cabinet for the basement room. Painted the shower room and toilet room in the basement.”
Sad Day In Osceola
In Osceola on Monday, October 28, 1963, for his brother Lloyd’s funeral, Dale wrote, “Annual leave. Brought Helen to town from Lloyd’s. Helped haul corn in forenoon. Stan Saddoris and I winterized both of Lloyd’s tractors and put a new fuel line on one. High about 60°. Saw Lloyd at Webster’s funeral home in the evening. Out to George and Wilma’s a little while.” Lloyd, above, on a better day. Stan Saddoris was married to Lloyd’s daughter Nancy. Wilma was Helen’s sister, married to George Casey.
Out For Supper
In Minneapolis on Friday, October 27, 1961, Dale wrote, “Helen and I went to the Candlelight Café for supper. Dalene went to a show downtown. Nice day.”
Bunking With Boys
Friday, October 26, 1956, on vacation from Minneapolis, Dale, Helen, and Dalene drove from Osceola to Muscatine. They stopped by the alcohol plant for a visit, and talked to all the Gaugers at the plant. Dale wrote, “Talked to Rod Mead on the phone. Went to Stan’s apartment to stay all night. Saw Sue Timm, etc. Nice day.” They drove back to Minneapolis the next day. How they spent the night at our tiny apartment (at pushpin above) is beyond me – with two other boys, I shared a living room, one bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom at 217½ Iowa Avenue (second floor) while attending Muscatine Junior College.
Dinner With Ruth And Louie
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Thursday, October 25, 1956, on vacation from Minneapolis and staying at Jettie’s house in Osceola, Dale wrote that he, Helen, and Dalene went to Ruth and Louie Schaffer’s for dinner and to Jack and Margie Nish’s for a visit, then back to Jettie’s for supper and the evening. Louie (above, with Ruth) was Helen’s brother and Margie was Louie’s daughter, married to Jack Nish.
B&H Supper
On Thursday, October 24, 1957, Dale was on vacation in Minneapolis and wrote, “Annual leave. Dalene and I drove Stan’s Chevy to Osceola from 9:30 to 5:30. Lunch in Albert Lea. Rain part of the way. Mother and Clarence took us to supper at B&H and to Marie’s.” Jettie had married Clarence Liggitt. Marie was Dale’s sister. Be sure to look up the humorous description of the B&H Café in Osceola Restaurants under the Extras tab; it was just south of the train tracks, east of Main Street.
Daddy Needs New Shoes
On Thursday, October 23, 1958, Dale took the day off work in Minneapolis and wrote, “Helen, Dalene and I up early and drove to Muscatine by 2:45 p.m. Visited at the alcohol plant. Bought new shoes for me and Helen in Muscatine. Drove to Osceola and Mother’s by 11 p.m. Stopped for supper in Washington, Iowa.”
Gene And Lela Fly In
On Tuesday, October 22, 1963, Dale took the day off work and picked up Gene and Lela Yates (Helen’s sister) at the Minneapolis airport, on their way back from their vacation in Italy. Above: They stayed overnight, and went back to the airport the next day to fly home.