Broken Glass

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In Minneapolis on Saturday, May 10, 1958, Dale wrote, “High today was 88°.  Beautiful.  Stan and I put screens on the apartment.  Stan dropped one storm window and broke both glasses out of it.  Took Dalene and a friend to play tennis.  Stan went to a show at night.  Dalene babysat at night.”

Stan Has Two Left Feet

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In Minneapolis on Friday, May 9, 1958, Dale wrote, “Beautiful day, high 78°.  Took Helen to the library after supper, Dalene to her club meeting.  Stan went to Arthur Murray’s for a dance lesson.”  Arthur and Kathryn Murray, above, franchised dance studios around the country.

The Hampshire Arms Hotel

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In Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 8, 1956, Dale took the day off of work and wrote, “Painted in the upstairs apartment most all day.  Helen training at the switchboard from 3 to 6 at the Hampshire Arms Hotel.”

Some Assembly Required

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In Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 7, 1957, Dale wrote, “Put a wire mesh screen up so a basketball can’t fall in Helen’s flowers.  Put Shirley’s new dinette set together and brought ours to the basement.”  Shirley lived in the upstairs apartment; her 1950s set might have looked like the one above.

Storms Off, Screens On

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In Minneapolis on Sunday, May 6, 1956, Dale wrote, “Nice day.  Stan and I took the storm windows off the upstairs apartment and put screens on.  Marie Kimmel called just to visit in evening.”  Marie was his sister.

The Final Frontier

On Friday, May 5, 1961, Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., became the first American space traveler in a 15-minute suborbital flight aboard Freedom 7.  Recapture the excitement of the countdown – and flight – and hear commentary by the astronauts themselves in a moving tribute above.

Seth Thomas Clock

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On Wednesday, May 4, 1955, Dale went to a household sale in Muscatine and bought a Seth Thomas clock; he wrote, “Nice.  Gave it to Helen for Mother’s Day.”

Putting Up Awnings

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In Minneapolis on Saturday, May 2, 1959, Dale wrote, “Hottest May 2 on record, 91°.  Changed storm windows for screens and put the storms in the garage.  Put awnings on the kitchen and dining room windows.  Picked Dalene and Diane Schmitt up at the Hollywood theatre.  Dalene washed the Chevy.”  Diane was a friend.

Going To Dairy Queen

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In Minneapolis on Friday, May 1, 1959, Dale wrote, “91°, highest May 1 on record here.  Windy and dry all week.  Had lamb chops for supper.  Helen and I took the glass cloth off of Dusty’s house.  Put screens in both back doors.  Helen and I drove to Dairy Queen for ice cream.”  Dusty was our cat.

Window Air Conditioner

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In Minneapolis on Monday, April 30, 1962, Dale wrote, “High 60+.  Sprinkle, cleared in the afternoon.  Helen and I went shopping in the evening for air conditioners.”  They bought one on May 4, similar to above.

Second-Story Apartment

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In Minneapolis on Monday, April 29, 1957, Dale took the day off work and wrote, “Beautiful day, high 81°, low 50°.  Took Dalene to school.  Painted screens and took storm windows down on the first floor.  Helen helped me paint.  Shirley came in for coffee and to visit.”  Shirley Staebler rented the upstairs apartment (above: Helen and Jettie on the back stairs to the apartment).

Elks Chanters Sing

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In Muscatine on Tuesday, April 28, 1953, Dale wrote that I went to the high school at night for a performance of the Elks Chanters, a men’s singing group directed by Max Collins (above), who also directed the high school chorus.

Daylight Savings Time

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In Minneapolis on Sunday, April 27, 1958, Dale wrote, “Daylight savings time starts today.  High was 60°.  Dalene and I went over to Columbia Park to hit golf balls.  Had chicken dinner.  Oiled the electric clock, put a mirror on the back of Dalene’s closet door.”

Studying At The U

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In Minneapolis on Thursday, April 25, 1957, Dale wrote, “Leo took me for a ride in his ’54 Olds.  Pretty nice.  Stan and Sue Timm went to the University to study.”  I was a student at the University of Minnesota; Sue was visiting from Muscatine.  I don’t know who Leo was.

Teens At Home

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In Minneapolis on Wednesday, April 24, 1957, Dale wrote, “Nice day, light shower.  Helen and I went to a show together at night.  Stan, Sue Timm, and Dalene stayed home.”  I was dating Sue Timm from Muscatine.

Hank Aaron

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On Friday, April 23, 1954, Henry “Hank” Aaron, of the Milwaukee Braves, made the first of his record 755 major league home runs, this one against pitcher Vic Raschi of the St. Louis Cardinals.  The Braves won that game, 7 to 5.

15 Years And Whaddya Get?

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In Muscatine on Sunday, April 22, 1951, Dale noted fifteen years in the Civil Service.  The Mississippi River was over 20 feet and steadily rising, and Dale wrote, “Levee broke at Port Louise.  No danger to Muscatine yet.”

Omaha House-Hunting

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On Tuesday, April 21, 1953, Dale and Helen drove from Osceola to Omaha for a new Post of Duty and went house-hunting.  They spent the night at the home of Jim Chasteen, a prior co-worker, on Lafayette Avenue (above).
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