Diary Blog – Page 55 – Heartland Diary

Family Weekend

March 11, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, March 11, 1967, Dale wrote, “Gene and Lela came about 4:45 p.m. We all went to the Crystal Sweden House for supper with Max and Norma, and Francis, then to their apartment for a visit.” Max Schaffer (married to Norma Stoen) and his sister Francis were Helen’s nephew and niece. Above: Gene and Lela (Helen’s sister) left late the next morning.

Grand Old Airplanes

March 10, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Thursday, March 10, 1960, I flew from Los Angeles to Minneapolis on a graceful Lockheed Constellation (above left), visited Dale and Helen two hours, then flew to New York on a double-decker Boeing Stratocruiser (above right) for two weeks on business. Both planes were propeller-driven, among the last of their kinds – commercial jet service had begun.

War And Peace

March 9, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, March 9, 1968, Dale wrote, “Painted the buffet and small chest of drawers 1st coat for antiquing in the morning. Supper at Sweden House and home all evening. Watched movie, ‘War and Peace,’ 3½ hours at night.”

Shady-Rest Motel

March 8, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Friday, March 8, 1957, Dale took the day off work in Minneapolis and wrote, “Dalene back in school. She and I started for Osceola at 3 p.m. Got to Owatonna at 6 p.m. Too icy on the highways to proceed. Stayed at Shady-Rest Motel all night. Beautiful place, twin beds. Called Mother from a restaurant. Dalene worked on homework and I read a book.” They were on their way to join Helen in Osceola, there for Wilma’s surgery.

Long Distance Calls

March 7, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, March 7, 1957, Dale took the day off work and wrote, “Stayed home with Dalene, she doesn’t feel good. Helen is in Osceola. She called me at 4 p.m. I called her at 10 p.m.” Helen was in Osceola for her sister Wilma’s surgery. People paid extra for ‘long distance’ phone calls back then.

Brigadoon

March 6, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Monday, March 6, 1967, Dale wrote, “Helen’s stainless steel silverware came from Fingerhut. She likes it. Stan, Judy, and Ginny were here in the evening to watch Brigadoon.”

Dalene Has A Fever

March 5, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 5, 1957, Dale wrote, “Helen called Lela. Margie called Helen. Wilma to be operated on this Thursday. Watched a late movie. Dalene has a high fever.” Lela and Wilma were Helen’s sisters, Margie was Helen’s niece.

Goodbye Ringer

March 4, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Friday, March 4, 1955, I took our dog, Ringer, to the vet to be put to sleep. Dale wrote, “He was too sick to suffer any longer.” That was one of the hardest things I have ever done; I held him while he died. Above: Ringer with me in 1953.

Happy Twentieth!

March 3, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Monday, March 3, 1952, Dale and Helen celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary.

Southdale Shopping

March 2, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, March 2, 1957, Dale wrote, “Cold weather. Dalene and I visited Southdale shopping center today. Developed another roll of film, no good. Lela called, Wilma is sick. Helen called George.” Lela and Wilma were Helen’s sisters. George was Wilma’s husband. Above: Southdale court.

Mailed A Tax Return

March 1, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, March 1, 1958, Dale wrote, “Mailed our federal income tax return. Watched basketball on TV in the afternoon. Helen and Dalene baked some pastry and Dinny took it to the YWCA downtown.”

DNA Structure

February 28, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, February 28, 1953, scientists James D. Watson and Francis H. C. Crick announced they had discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.

No More Hand-Cranking

February 27, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Monday, February 27, 1911, inventor Charles F. Kettering demonstrated his electric automobile starter in Detroit by starting a Cadillac’s motor with just the press of a switch, instead of hand-cranking (as in the above photo).

Britain’s A-Bomb

February 26, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Tuesday, February 26, 1952, Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that Britain had developed its own atomic bomb.

Minnesota Beats Iowa

February 25, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Monday, February 25, 1957, Dale wrote that he went to see the University of Minnesota beat the University of Iowa 102-81 in basketball.

Stan Tutors

February 24, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, February 24, 1959, Dale wrote, “Annual leave, stayed home to get the busted water pipe fixed. Helen and I worked all morning cleaning the basement. Pretty tired tonight. Stan went to his math tutoring job, Dalene went to Junior Achievement. High 40°, perfect day weather-wise.”

Income Tax Form Mailed

February 23, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Saturday, February 23, 1957, Dale wrote, “Bought Dalene a dress pattern and some goods to make a dress. Letter from Mother. Sent Federal income tax return in, will get a small refund.”

To Pearl’s Funeral

February 22, 2014 by Editorial Team

On Saturday, February 22, 1958, on his way to Pearl Yates’ funeral, Dale wrote, “I drove Stan’s Chevy from Minneapolis to Estherville and picked up Lela, and drove on to Milo, then to Osceola. Nice day, high at Osceola 40°.” Helen’s sister Lela was married to Pearl’s son Gene, and the funeral would be in Milo, Iowa, at the marker in the map.

Putting On Chains

February 21, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Minneapolis on Thursday, February 21, 1957, Dale wrote, “5 inches of new snow and colder. Put tire chains on after work. Took Dalene to a basketball game. Talked to Stan in Muscatine, on the phone, regarding income tax and tuition.” Some of you will remember tire chains for snow, like those above.

Feeling Poorly

February 20, 2014 by Editorial Team

In Muscatine on Friday, February 20, 1953, Dale wrote, “Dr. Miller came in the morning. He says to stay in bed, on my back. It was 16° at 10 p.m. and a blizzard is on the way. Bad in northwest Iowa.”