Tuesday, May 31, 1927
Fair
Washed, scrubbed, etc. Cleaned up the house. The boys have brought a lot of sand from the creek for Ned and Marjorie and they track it into the house so fast but it is a good thing to keep them busy and at home.
(I wonder how 'clean' that sand from the creek was, knowing the state of the sewer system in Indianapolis and how even today there is overflow into creeks after big storms.)
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Monday, May 30, 1927
Monday, May 30, 1927
Cloudy
The big race day. They had a bad accident this AM, the worst for years. I went to see Mama’s flowers this PM, took the three littlest ones. Dale and Dick sold their first race extras. Dale sold 26, Dick five. He is too timid to be a good salesman and Dale is too business like to fail.
(Must have been Memorial Day because that was always the traditional day to run the Indianapolis 500.)
Cloudy
The big race day. They had a bad accident this AM, the worst for years. I went to see Mama’s flowers this PM, took the three littlest ones. Dale and Dick sold their first race extras. Dale sold 26, Dick five. He is too timid to be a good salesman and Dale is too business like to fail.
(Must have been Memorial Day because that was always the traditional day to run the Indianapolis 500.)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 29, 1927
Sunday, May 29, 1927
Fair
All went to Sunday school and Albert stayed to church with me. Spent the afternoon lying down reading. Felt awfully blue all the good things – except children – seem to pass me by and nobody cares.
(I've published all the diary entries without edits, but nearly edited this one. I'm sure we can't begin to imagine the hard work and long days Grandma spent caring for five children and a husband. Laundry and ironing seemed to be going on constantly. They didn't have closets full of clothes, so I'd guess the clothes they did have were worn several times between washings, and wore out quickly. That explains all the darning and sewing she did, of everything... stockings, underwear, pants, shirts. With four active boys, I'm sure the darning was non-stop.
They didn't eat out either, except for Thursday suppers at the church and maybe an occasional Sunday dinner at Grandma's parent's house. So every day, food had to be prepared. Certainly, they were not destitute but neither did they seem to have a lot of extra money, so she probably had to budget and carefully plan her purchases.
My oldest cousin once commented how intelligent Grandma was and that it was a shame she didn't finish college. I'm sure there were things she wanted to do, but couldn't and didn't even let herself dream of doing because it took all her energies and time to keep the household running.
We have the advantage of looking back and seeing what happens, of knowing that in ten years time, Grandma would be a widow with six children. We can also look back and see that all her children were successful in their own way. Three of four sons served in the military in WWII and came back to tell of it, all four boys earned advanced degrees and were successful, Dale as a businessman, Dick, Albert, and Ned as college professors. That her her two daughters would marry and have their own children.
But in 1927, clearly, it was a difficult time.)
Fair
All went to Sunday school and Albert stayed to church with me. Spent the afternoon lying down reading. Felt awfully blue all the good things – except children – seem to pass me by and nobody cares.
(I've published all the diary entries without edits, but nearly edited this one. I'm sure we can't begin to imagine the hard work and long days Grandma spent caring for five children and a husband. Laundry and ironing seemed to be going on constantly. They didn't have closets full of clothes, so I'd guess the clothes they did have were worn several times between washings, and wore out quickly. That explains all the darning and sewing she did, of everything... stockings, underwear, pants, shirts. With four active boys, I'm sure the darning was non-stop.
They didn't eat out either, except for Thursday suppers at the church and maybe an occasional Sunday dinner at Grandma's parent's house. So every day, food had to be prepared. Certainly, they were not destitute but neither did they seem to have a lot of extra money, so she probably had to budget and carefully plan her purchases.
My oldest cousin once commented how intelligent Grandma was and that it was a shame she didn't finish college. I'm sure there were things she wanted to do, but couldn't and didn't even let herself dream of doing because it took all her energies and time to keep the household running.
We have the advantage of looking back and seeing what happens, of knowing that in ten years time, Grandma would be a widow with six children. We can also look back and see that all her children were successful in their own way. Three of four sons served in the military in WWII and came back to tell of it, all four boys earned advanced degrees and were successful, Dale as a businessman, Dick, Albert, and Ned as college professors. That her her two daughters would marry and have their own children.
But in 1927, clearly, it was a difficult time.)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Saturday, May 28, 1927
Saturday, May 28, 1927
Warmer
Same old Sat. work. Took Albert and Ned to the 10 cent store and get them some canvas shoes. Albert’s for .69 and Ned’s for .59. My! The Smiths are classy dressers!
(Prices for "canvas shoes" have gone up a bit since 1927. You couldn't even buy one shoelace for less than a dollar today!)
Warmer
Same old Sat. work. Took Albert and Ned to the 10 cent store and get them some canvas shoes. Albert’s for .69 and Ned’s for .59. My! The Smiths are classy dressers!
(Prices for "canvas shoes" have gone up a bit since 1927. You couldn't even buy one shoelace for less than a dollar today!)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Friday, May 27, 1927
Friday, May 27, 1927
Cold
I ironed all morning with the kids bundled up, so it didn’t get warmer but threatened more rain so I built another fire for fear Ned would be sick.
(It wasn't easy to keep a house warm in the spring, whenever they wanted heat, they had to fire up the coke furnace in the basement.)
Cold
I ironed all morning with the kids bundled up, so it didn’t get warmer but threatened more rain so I built another fire for fear Ned would be sick.
(It wasn't easy to keep a house warm in the spring, whenever they wanted heat, they had to fire up the coke furnace in the basement.)
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, May 26, 1927
Thursday, May 26, 1927
Fair
I washed and I ironed the suits the boys were to wear at the May day doing at 5 this PM. Then went to the school and Gilbert came late, but in time to see part of the others. Ned better but complains of his eyes.
Fair
I washed and I ironed the suits the boys were to wear at the May day doing at 5 this PM. Then went to the school and Gilbert came late, but in time to see part of the others. Ned better but complains of his eyes.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Wednesday, May 25, 1927
Wednesday, May 25, 1927
Did some mending, made Marjorie’s doll a new outfit. Ned not feeling well yet but I guess it is nothing more serious than a head cold.
Did some mending, made Marjorie’s doll a new outfit. Ned not feeling well yet but I guess it is nothing more serious than a head cold.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Tuesday, May 24, 1927
Tuesday, May 24, 1927
Gilbert stayed home – his stomach was off. I planned to go to the missionary meeting at Ruth and Curtis’ but Ned flared up with a fever so I had to stay with him. A storm came up that would have drenched me if I had gone.
Gilbert stayed home – his stomach was off. I planned to go to the missionary meeting at Ruth and Curtis’ but Ned flared up with a fever so I had to stay with him. A storm came up that would have drenched me if I had gone.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 23, 1927
Monday, May 23, 1927
Rain
Ironed last week’s wash as much as I could, was too tired to finish. We took quite a walk yesterday through the storm district and I am still pretty tired. About 2 o’clock a wind storm came again that broke trees, etc. A tornado at Warsaw and we got it, too.
Rain
Ironed last week’s wash as much as I could, was too tired to finish. We took quite a walk yesterday through the storm district and I am still pretty tired. About 2 o’clock a wind storm came again that broke trees, etc. A tornado at Warsaw and we got it, too.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Sunday, May 22, 1927
Sunday, May 22, 1927
Fair and warm
The storm district was open to the public today so after dinner I put Ned and Marjorie to sleep and Gilbert and I left the three older boys washing dishes and we went down to see the Ben Evans who fared better than their neighbors and viewed the ruins.
Fair and warm
The storm district was open to the public today so after dinner I put Ned and Marjorie to sleep and Gilbert and I left the three older boys washing dishes and we went down to see the Ben Evans who fared better than their neighbors and viewed the ruins.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Saturday, May 21, 1927
Saturday, May 21, 1927
Mama told me if I could get her irons from town she would bring them down as I have to iron a few things to wear tomorrow. So I made the trip and just as I got home, the electricity was turned on and I didn’t need them at all. Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean.
(I guess great-grandmother's irons were the kind you heat up on a stove and then use. It would be hard to iron that way!)
Mama told me if I could get her irons from town she would bring them down as I have to iron a few things to wear tomorrow. So I made the trip and just as I got home, the electricity was turned on and I didn’t need them at all. Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean.
(I guess great-grandmother's irons were the kind you heat up on a stove and then use. It would be hard to iron that way!)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Friday, May 20, 1927
Friday, May 20, 1927
Was hampered in my work by no electricity. They are working as fast as they can but all wires are down and it’s a big job. Gilbert and I took supper with his class at the church and had Lola keep the kids. Had a good program.
(Two days is a long time, today, to go without electricity, but probably wasn't as bad for Grandma, with fewer electric appliances that she relies on.)
Was hampered in my work by no electricity. They are working as fast as they can but all wires are down and it’s a big job. Gilbert and I took supper with his class at the church and had Lola keep the kids. Had a good program.
(Two days is a long time, today, to go without electricity, but probably wasn't as bad for Grandma, with fewer electric appliances that she relies on.)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Thursday, May 19, 1927
Thursday, May 19, 1927
We got a Star to see if wires are down as our lights are still off and found that it was really a tornado last night, houses demolished as near as New York and Rural. An awful lot of damage, most on the east side. I went to Sunday School meeting on bus and passed through part of it.
(It sounds like even though Dale and Dick delivered newspapers (the Indianapolis News, an afternoon paper no longer published), they didn't generally buy any.)
We got a Star to see if wires are down as our lights are still off and found that it was really a tornado last night, houses demolished as near as New York and Rural. An awful lot of damage, most on the east side. I went to Sunday School meeting on bus and passed through part of it.
(It sounds like even though Dale and Dick delivered newspapers (the Indianapolis News, an afternoon paper no longer published), they didn't generally buy any.)
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Wednesday, May 18, 1927
Wednesday, May 18, 1927
Terrible storm a little after 7 this evening. I never heard such a roar before – not a clap of thunder but continuous thunder and lightening and wind roaring and rain! I thought it must be a tornado and expected our house or roof to go. Lights went out.
(What must it have been like to go through a storm like that without the benefit of tornado sirens and weather rader updates on TV.)
Terrible storm a little after 7 this evening. I never heard such a roar before – not a clap of thunder but continuous thunder and lightening and wind roaring and rain! I thought it must be a tornado and expected our house or roof to go. Lights went out.
(What must it have been like to go through a storm like that without the benefit of tornado sirens and weather rader updates on TV.)
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Tuesday, May 17, 1927
Tuesday, May 17, 1927
Fair
Cleaning house. Got done all but hanging the curtain in the living room. Mama came out and watched me. Marjorie doesn’t like the new fence a bit, it made her so mad when she found the gate was shut.
Fair
Cleaning house. Got done all but hanging the curtain in the living room. Mama came out and watched me. Marjorie doesn’t like the new fence a bit, it made her so mad when she found the gate was shut.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Monday, May 16, 1927
Monday, May 16, 1927
Put in most of the day straightening two closets upstairs. Found everything imaginable except live stock in the boys’ closet. Bradbury put up a back fence to keep Marjorie in.
Put in most of the day straightening two closets upstairs. Found everything imaginable except live stock in the boys’ closet. Bradbury put up a back fence to keep Marjorie in.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Sunday, May 15, 1927
Sunday, May 15, 1927
Went to Sunday School. Marjorie and Ned stayed in the nursery fine and I enjoyed being in Mrs. Smith’s class again. She spoke about how sweet we all looked Thursday eve and I told her how it wore me out. She said she had been there, too.
Went to Sunday School. Marjorie and Ned stayed in the nursery fine and I enjoyed being in Mrs. Smith’s class again. She spoke about how sweet we all looked Thursday eve and I told her how it wore me out. She said she had been there, too.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Saturday, May 14, 1927
Saturday, May 14, 1927
Still tired from Thursday’s trip to the church and my long “rassle” with Marjorie who wouldn’t stay put. I wish I had half her pep and that she always has as much as she has now.
Still tired from Thursday’s trip to the church and my long “rassle” with Marjorie who wouldn’t stay put. I wish I had half her pep and that she always has as much as she has now.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Friday, May 13, 1927
Friday, May 13, 1927
Friday the 13th has no special bug a boo for me but all days are more or less Jonah’s for me so I hate to write down the heavy hearted thoughts to remember in later years. I want to forget those.
(What is this reference to "Jonah's"?)
Friday the 13th has no special bug a boo for me but all days are more or less Jonah’s for me so I hate to write down the heavy hearted thoughts to remember in later years. I want to forget those.
(What is this reference to "Jonah's"?)
Monday, May 12, 2008
Thursday, May 12, 1927
Thursday, May 12, 1927
Cool & partly cloudy
Went to Missionary at the church where I read a paper for Mrs. Kilby who led. Mama went to take care of the babies and stayed out with Marjorie the whole time. I stayed for supper and the boys and Gilbert came. Paul and Nina were there with Mrs. Schiffman.
Cool & partly cloudy
Went to Missionary at the church where I read a paper for Mrs. Kilby who led. Mama went to take care of the babies and stayed out with Marjorie the whole time. I stayed for supper and the boys and Gilbert came. Paul and Nina were there with Mrs. Schiffman.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Wednesday, May 11, 1927
Wednesday, May 11, 1927
Cold drizzle
Tried to build a fire but had no luck. Ironed and thought I could keep warm but my feet froze. Mama came over and froze, too. The thermometer stood at 58 in the dining room. Gilbert got a fire after he came home.
Cold drizzle
Tried to build a fire but had no luck. Ironed and thought I could keep warm but my feet froze. Mama came over and froze, too. The thermometer stood at 58 in the dining room. Gilbert got a fire after he came home.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Monday, May 9, 1927
Monday, May 9, 1927
My headache yesterday left me weak. Felt like the dickens but the boys got up with an unusual amount of pep and played all over the house. Albert and Dick guards for a princess (Marjorie who was about to be kidnapped by two bandits, Dale and Ned. Such a clatter!) I was glad when school time came.
(School must have started later in the morning, or the boys got up quite early!)
My headache yesterday left me weak. Felt like the dickens but the boys got up with an unusual amount of pep and played all over the house. Albert and Dick guards for a princess (Marjorie who was about to be kidnapped by two bandits, Dale and Ned. Such a clatter!) I was glad when school time came.
(School must have started later in the morning, or the boys got up quite early!)
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Sunday, May 8, 1927
Sunday, May 8, 1927
Fair and cool
Mother’s day. The boys took Ned to Sunday School as I didn’t have pep enough to get ready early besides a little shower kept Marjorie home but didn’t last. I went to church and then after dinner we all went to Mama’s but I had a headache.
Fair and cool
Mother’s day. The boys took Ned to Sunday School as I didn’t have pep enough to get ready early besides a little shower kept Marjorie home but didn’t last. I went to church and then after dinner we all went to Mama’s but I had a headache.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Thursday, May 5, 1927
Thursday, May 5, 1927
All went to the church for supper and had a nice time. They had a treat for the Junior C.E. so we all went there to hear “the bird man”. Elliott Libbett makes a funny noise like different birds.
All went to the church for supper and had a nice time. They had a treat for the Junior C.E. so we all went there to hear “the bird man”. Elliott Libbett makes a funny noise like different birds.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Tuesday, May 3, 1927
Tuesday, May 3, 1927
Cloudy
My baby is too cute for words. Right pretty, too. Chubby – bright eyed. Full of fun. Just the little doll I’ve always wanted to dress up and her little coat and hood is awfully pretty on her.
Cloudy
My baby is too cute for words. Right pretty, too. Chubby – bright eyed. Full of fun. Just the little doll I’ve always wanted to dress up and her little coat and hood is awfully pretty on her.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Monday, May 2, 1927
Monday, May 2, 1927
Fair and warm
Report card day. All the boys got A’s and A+’s. Dale got a B in wood working which was lowest and only B in the crowd. Dick came up in all his marks, got 2 A+’s, the rest all A. Albert got A+ in spelling. Let the fire go out again.
Fair and warm
Report card day. All the boys got A’s and A+’s. Dale got a B in wood working which was lowest and only B in the crowd. Dick came up in all his marks, got 2 A+’s, the rest all A. Albert got A+ in spelling. Let the fire go out again.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Sunday, May 1, 1927
Sunday, May 1, 1927
Fair and warm
A lovely day. All went to Sunday School and I stayed at church while the rest all walked up town. Ned and Marjorie stayed alone while I went to class, without crying. Ned and I went to Mama’s in PM while Gilbert worked and the boys went to the show.
Fair and warm
A lovely day. All went to Sunday School and I stayed at church while the rest all walked up town. Ned and Marjorie stayed alone while I went to class, without crying. Ned and I went to Mama’s in PM while Gilbert worked and the boys went to the show.
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