On Tuesday, October 21, 1952, Burl Schaffer (Helen’s nephew) and his wife Opal were in Muscatine for lunch in their new Ford, similar to above. Dale took Helen for a ride after work and wrote, “Nice day.”
New Ford
Omaha TDY
In Osceola on Saturday, October 20, 1951, for the weekend (on temporary duty from Muscatine at the Omaha plant), Dale wrote, “Louie and Ruth have a new living room set. Mother, Marie, Susan, and I went to Lloyd’s for dinner. Called Helen on the phone. Watched football on Marie’s TV in the afternoon.” Louie was Helen’s brother; Marie was Dale’s sister (Susan her daughter), and Lloyd was Dale’s brother. Omaha is 135 miles west of Osceola.
MuJuCo
In Minneapolis on Friday, October 19, 1956, Dale wrote, “Wrote a letter to Mother. Helen worked 1 to 5 and 6 to 8:30 at the shoe store. Dalene went to a football game at night. Letter from Stan in Muscatine.” I had moved back to Muscatine for my sophomore year at Muscatine Junior College, above. It later became Muscatine Community College on a new campus.
Indian Summer
In Minneapolis on Sunday, October 18, 1959, Dale wrote, “Beautiful Indian Summer day. High 58°. I put the rest of the storm windows on, except two. Washed the car. Put another coat of sealer paint on the basement storeroom wall and floor. Dalene and I took a ride in late afternoon.”
Pep Rally
In Minneapolis on Friday, October 17, 1958, Dale wrote, “High 68°, nice day. I bought glass cloth for Dusty’s house under the back porch, also some straw. Stan went to the U for a pep rally. Dalene went to a football game and to a slumber party afterwards. We watched a late movie.” Dusty was our cat.
Homecoming Royalty
In Minneapolis on Thursday, October 16, 1958, Dale wrote, “High 65°. Took Dalene to the high school at night to see the homecoming queen and king crowned, then went back to pick her up at 9. Stan went out on a date.”
Muscatine – Des Moines – Osceola
Away from Muscatine on Wednesday, October 15, 1952, Dale wrote, “Drove to Collector’s office in Des Moines for reorganization conference. To Osceola at night at Mother’s all night. Visited Louie and Ruth, then Marie at her store.” He drove back to Muscatine the next day. Helen’s brother Louie Schaffer was married to Ruth Cherington; Marie was Dale’s sister. Marie’s new store (above left) next to her old store.
Visiting Family
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On vacation from Minneapolis with Helen on Monday, October 14, 1963, Dale wrote, “At Osceola. High 87°, too hot. Went to Lacona with George Casey in the morning. Went to see Aunt Minnie, to Ralph and Marie’s, to Don and Opal’s after supper.” George Casey (above left) was married to Helen’s sister Wilma, Helen’s aunt Minnie Schaffer was married to Bert Chandler, Ralph Kimmel was married to Dale’s sister Marie, and Helen’s nephew Don Schaffer (above right) was married to Opal Horton. Whew! And Lacona is about 28 miles northeast of Osceola.
New Traffic Lights
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 13, 1959, Dale wrote that the traffic lights at the intersection of 37th Avenue, Central Avenue (Highway 65), and Reservoir Boulevard were turned on for the first time. The pushpin above is at 3727 Reservoir Boulevard, where Dale and Helen lived.
Dalene Sees Stars
In Minneapolis on Friday, October 12, 1956, Dale took Dalene to Macalester College in St. Paul at night to look at the moon and Mars through the college telescope. Above: NASA created this composite picture of Earth and Mars to show their relative sizes.
Knoxville Trounced Osceola
On vacation with Helen from Minneapolis on Friday, October 11, 1963, Dale wrote, “At Muscatine, visited the alcohol plant and took pictures. Drove to Osceola by 4 p.m. Temperature in high 70s. Marie, Lloyd, Mary, and I drove to Knoxville at night to a football game. Osceola got beat 28-0.” Marie was his sister, Lloyd his brother, and Mary was Lloyd’s daughter. Knoxville is about 50 miles northeast of Osceola.
Aunt Meda’s Funeral
In Minneapolis on Thursday, October 10, 1957, Dale wrote, “I can’t seem to get over this cold. I’ve had it over a month and I’m getting tired of it. Aunt Meda’s funeral was today in Osceola. Braves won the World Series from Yanks.” Ida Almeda Robins was the wife of Dale’s uncle Charlie Gardner. Above: their 1907 wedding picture.
Lloyd’s ’57 Ford
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 9, 1962, Dale wrote, “High 70° and clear. To the library and out to a drive-in for supper. Letter from Mother, Lloyd has a 1957 Ford.” It must have looked like the photo.
Going To Night School
In Minneapolis on Tuesday, October 8, 1957, Dale wrote that I had an evening calculus class at the University of Minnesota.
Football On TV
In Minneapolis on Sunday, October 7, 1956, Dale wrote, “Beautiful fall day. Took Helen and Dinny to Peck’s timber. Watched some football on television in the afternoon.”
I Didn’t Join
In Minneapolis on Monday, October 6, 1958, Dale wrote, “High 81°. Beautiful day. Helen washed. Dalene cut her leg on Reservoir Blvd., had a shot at the doctor office. Stan went to his fraternity house in the evening, he is disgusted with their procedure.”
Another Boyfriend
In Minneapolis on Thursday, October 5, 1961, Dale wrote, “High 80° downtown, and beautiful. Took Helen for a treatment at Dr. Wilke after work. John Laufers dropped in at 8 p.m. to see Dalene.” That’s John, above.
Ouch!
In Minneapolis on Friday, October 4, 1957, Dale wrote, “Got my third polio shot. Took Helen to the downtown library after supper. Dalene went to a football game.”
Nifty ’55 Olds
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, October 3, 1956, Dale wrote, “Nice day. Burl and Opal were here in the afternoon and stayed all night. They have a 1955 Oldsmobile. I drove it all over. Nice car.” Burl Schaffer was Helen’s nephew; Opal was his wife.
Dalene In San Francisco
In Minneapolis on Wednesday, October 2, 1963, Dale wrote, “High 72 and windy. Letter from Dalene, she is in San Francisco this week. Lela called, they will be here Sunday night.” Lela was Helen’s sister, married to Gene Yates.