Diary

Detasseling Corn

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In Muscatine on Tuesday, July 13, 1954, I borrowed Dad’s car to drive my partners – and high school friends – Mike Collier, Don Mullen, and Bill Mullen to our part-time summer job detasseling corn.  (Producing hybrid seed corn required removing the pollen-producing top part of the plant, the tassel, so the corn can’t pollinate itself.  Instead, pollen from another variety of corn pollinated the detasseled corn, resulting in corn that had the genetic characteristics of both varieties.)  We usually followed that by going swimming at the Weed Park pool.
Diary

Remember Portable TVs?

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In Minneapolis on Thursday, July 11, 1957, Dale wrote, “On vacation.  Painted the kitchen floor and a cabinet in the apartment.  Painted on house trim under the eaves etc.  High 97°.  Pretty warm.  Miller TV picked our TV up for repair.  Borrowed a 10 inch portable until it’s fixed.”
Diary

I Like Mamie, Too

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In Muscatine on Thursday, July 10, 1952, Roswell and Tressa visited part of the evening, while Dale and Helen watched more of the Republican convention.  Above: Mamie Eisenhower was the first spouse to appear on the podium with her husband.
Diary

I Like Ike

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In Muscatine on Wednesday, July 9, 1952, Dale’s cousin Roswell Gardner and his wife Tressa were there at night to visit.  They watched the Republican convention on television all evening.  Above, left to right: Richard Nixon, Dwight Eisenhower, and California Governor Earl Warren.
Diary

Uptown Saturday Night

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Vacationing 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

Get A Horse?

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In Minneapolis on Saturday, July 7, 1956, Dale wrote, “Took Stan and Sue Timm to Excelsior Park to get his car fixed, cost him $49.50.  Stan and Sue went to Cinerama at night.”  Sue was visiting from Muscatine, and my 1949 Ford (like the one above) had broken down at the amusement park the previous day.
Diary

Visiting Relatives

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On vacation from Minneapolis in Osceola on Sunday, July 6, 1958, Dale wrote, “Drove to Lloyd’s pasture where he was cutting thistles in the morning.  Out to Wilma’s for dinner, girls went swimming.  George and I watched a ball game.  Out to Louie’s for supper and pitched horseshoes.  Drove Louie’s new Plymouth and Marvin’s Chrysler.  Nice day, warm.  Home to Mother’s and a TV movie.”  Lloyd was Dale’s brother, Helen’s sister Wilma was married to George Casey, Louie was Helen’s brother, married to Ruth, and Marvin their son.  Look at the fins on the 1958 Plymouth, above.
Diary

Fun Rides

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Vacationing in Osceola from Muscatine with his family on July 5, 1951, Dale wrote, “Went to Ruth and Louie’s farm after lunch and put two new shock absorbers in front.  Had supper there.  Cool.  Kids rode merry-go-round and Ferris wheel once each.  Brought Mother home from Marie’s store.”  Ruth was married to Helen’s brother Louie.  The carnival rides were still at the town square.
Diary

At The Naval Academy

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In Washington, DC, on Sunday, July 4, 1937, Dale, Helen, Stan, Jettie (visiting) and Helen’s nephew Max Schaffer (visiting) took their lunch and drove to Annapolis.  Dale wrote, “Went through the Naval Academy.  Back home by dark and had ice cream.  Too much traffic.”
Diary

Marie’s North Side Grocery

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After work in Muscatine on Thursday, July 3, 1952, Dale drove the family to Osceola by 10 p.m.  He wrote, “Cool but car overheated.  Mother was working in Marie’s store, so was Carol.”  Marie (Dale’s sister) and Ralph Kimmel’s new store is on the left above, adjacent to their old store.  They had the best ice cream in town.  Carol was the oldest daughter of Dale’s brother Lloyd.
Diary

Ready For Osceola Fourth

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On Tuesday, July 2, 1957, Dale wrote, “On vacation.  Helen, Dalene, and I drove to Osceola.  Strong head wind, otherwise a good day.  Stopped at George and Wilma Casey’s and at Ralph and Marie’s.  Dalene and I mowed most of Clarence’s yard after supper.”  George Casey was married to Helen’s sister Wilma; Ralph Kimmel was married to Dale’s sister Marie.  Clarence Liggitt had a farm east of Osceola and was married to Dale’s mother Jettie.
Diary

Sunday Steaks

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In Minneapolis on Sunday, July 1, 1956, Dale wrote, “Sue Timm came on the train from Muscatine to visit for two weeks.  Stan met her at the station at 8 a.m.  We all went to Arth’s in the afternoon for a steak fry.  Palmers were there too.  Nice time.  Stan and Sue went downtown to a show at night.”  Arth and Palmer were Dad’s co-workers.  I was happy to see Sue.
Diary

Lloyd Schaffer Family Arrives

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On Friday, June 30, 1950, 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

Moving To New Jersey

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In Minneapolis on Saturday, June 29, 1968, Dale wrote, “Stan and Judy packed all morning.  Left for New Jersey at 2 p.m.  Beautiful day, high 81°.  Shopping at Spartan’s and Target.  Bought a wedding present for Mac and Wilma.”  Helen’s sister Wilma would marry Charles ‘Mac’ McFarland July 3.  Judy and I had rented a house at 145 North Euclid Avenue in Westfield, New Jersey (above).  It was a good location, backing up to a park and walking distance to downtown where I could take a train or bus into Manhattan.  I had started working as a consultant at The Diebold Group, 430 Park Avenue, in New York City.
Diary

Company Coming!

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On Tuesday, June 28, 1960, Stan, Judy, Jeff, and Dalene arrived at Dale and Helen’s Minneapolis house from Santa Monica (where Dalene had vacationed ten days).  A major benefit for Stan working at System Development Corporation was employees who took their month’s vacation all at one time got a “sabbatical” bonus of 5% of their annual salary.  The company logo, above, was a hyperbolic paraboloid, nicknamed the “flying diaper.”
Diary

How To End Car Payments

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In Minneapolis on Friday, June 27, 1958, Dale wrote, “High 80°, fine day.  Bought Stan’s Chevy (15,000 miles on Chevy).  Took Helen to the library and store.  Left the Dodge at the Shell station for a check-up.  Dalene went to a show with Sharon.”  Dad and I swapped cars – my 1957 Chevy for his 1948 Dodge – and I had no more car payments.  Sharon was a friend of Dalene’s.
Diary

A Stormy Day

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In Osceola on Thursday, June 26, 1969, Dale wrote, “Over 1 inch of rain and high winds and thunder and lightning today.  Helen and I started to Des Moines but turned back.”
Diary

Carnival

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After work in Muscatine on Tuesday, June 24, 1952, Dale took Dalene and me to see a carnival at the river front, and to Weed Park.
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