Sunday, August 15, 1926
Rain
Ned and I went to Sunday school between showers. The other boys had gone on before. Afterwards we walked up town and got Gilbert some medicine for his hay fever and window shopped. The boys looked in the drug stores, sporting goods windows and I looked at dresses as I have one to make over and I want to get pointers. After dinner it poured rain and we had a nice quiet day at home together. We really like these days the best. I put in most of the evening learning the touch system of type writing. I feel it will be quite a help in writing letters and lots of fun, too.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "When I was young, Mother would go window shopping to get "pointers" for making Eleanor and me dresses".
And can you imagine how Grandma enjoyed the typewriter, once she learned to use it, how it made letter writing easier? Fast forward 80 years and imagine a young mother learning how to use Outlook to send emails to her friends and family to make exchanging letters easier. Every generation learns something new.)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Saturday, August 14, 1926
Saturday, August 14, 1926
Showery
Sultry and sticky weather. Albert’s jaw all swelled up. A new molar trying to come through I guess. Marjorie stands the heat very well but she doesn’t want to take her bottle any more. Won’t take it if she knows it. Wants to nurse to sleep but does not get enough to satisfy her unless I slip a bottle in her mouth after she gets to sleep. The boys swiped the door off of the garage and took it to the creek for a raft. Then some big kids took it from them. We made them go down after supper and get it.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "The 'garage' was little more than an old barn - I believe it was much older than the house. I don't ever remember seeing a door there."
Perhaps they boys retrieved the door, but never put it back up? I don't even remember seeing the foundation of a garage or shed in the back yard when I visited Grandma as a kid.)
Showery
Sultry and sticky weather. Albert’s jaw all swelled up. A new molar trying to come through I guess. Marjorie stands the heat very well but she doesn’t want to take her bottle any more. Won’t take it if she knows it. Wants to nurse to sleep but does not get enough to satisfy her unless I slip a bottle in her mouth after she gets to sleep. The boys swiped the door off of the garage and took it to the creek for a raft. Then some big kids took it from them. We made them go down after supper and get it.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "The 'garage' was little more than an old barn - I believe it was much older than the house. I don't ever remember seeing a door there."
Perhaps they boys retrieved the door, but never put it back up? I don't even remember seeing the foundation of a garage or shed in the back yard when I visited Grandma as a kid.)
Monday, August 13, 2007
Friday, August 13, 1926
Friday, August 13, 1926
Sultry
Yesterday morning I slipped down town and left Marjorie with Dick and got me some shoes and some goods for Gilbert shirts and the boys some school waists. That means get busy sewing. Mama came over and brought her dress she is making over and I had to help her a little today. However I made a shirt for Gilbert , after about three o’clock. Sat up until midnight and made the button holes as he had to wear it to work tomorrow. Got so sleepy I could scarcely see and that made me slow.
(Grandma made most of the clothes they wore. I wonder why Gilbert had to wear his newly made shirt to work the next day?)
Sultry
Yesterday morning I slipped down town and left Marjorie with Dick and got me some shoes and some goods for Gilbert shirts and the boys some school waists. That means get busy sewing. Mama came over and brought her dress she is making over and I had to help her a little today. However I made a shirt for Gilbert , after about three o’clock. Sat up until midnight and made the button holes as he had to wear it to work tomorrow. Got so sleepy I could scarcely see and that made me slow.
(Grandma made most of the clothes they wore. I wonder why Gilbert had to wear his newly made shirt to work the next day?)
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Thursday, August 12, 1926
Thursday, August 12, 1926
Cooler
Last night there was a terrible electrical storm but it didn’t disturb us any. We went to sleep downstairs. Gilbert, Marjorie and I and I was awakened by the wind. I went up stairs and put down the windows just as the rain started. Took the baby upstairs and went right to sleep again and never heard the thunder. I am so thankful I can sleep like that. My nerves are not nearly so bad as they used to be. I believe I am in better shape now than I ever have been.
(A good storm does cool things down. There were two bedrooms upstairs, and a small bedroom downstairs. I wonder where everyone slept?)
Cooler
Last night there was a terrible electrical storm but it didn’t disturb us any. We went to sleep downstairs. Gilbert, Marjorie and I and I was awakened by the wind. I went up stairs and put down the windows just as the rain started. Took the baby upstairs and went right to sleep again and never heard the thunder. I am so thankful I can sleep like that. My nerves are not nearly so bad as they used to be. I believe I am in better shape now than I ever have been.
(A good storm does cool things down. There were two bedrooms upstairs, and a small bedroom downstairs. I wonder where everyone slept?)
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Wednesday, August 11, 1926
Wednesday, August 11, 1926
Hot
The two news boys went to the annual picnic at Broad Ripple today. Packed up the babies and went to Mama’s and roasted. Finished Ned a little suit for play. The babies went to sleep and I hated to wake them up, so I was pretty late getting home. Of course, Gilbert was unusually early so he beat me, but he is good natured about it and I got supper in a jiffy so we weren’t very late – no later than last night. Got a card form Mrs. Smith mailed at Florence Italy.
(The "news boys" were Dale and Dick who had the afternoon newspaper routes. They must have had a picnic for all of them each summer.
Mrs. Smith was Grandma's Sunday School teacher, who had no children, but apparently traveled.)
Hot
The two news boys went to the annual picnic at Broad Ripple today. Packed up the babies and went to Mama’s and roasted. Finished Ned a little suit for play. The babies went to sleep and I hated to wake them up, so I was pretty late getting home. Of course, Gilbert was unusually early so he beat me, but he is good natured about it and I got supper in a jiffy so we weren’t very late – no later than last night. Got a card form Mrs. Smith mailed at Florence Italy.
(The "news boys" were Dale and Dick who had the afternoon newspaper routes. They must have had a picnic for all of them each summer.
Mrs. Smith was Grandma's Sunday School teacher, who had no children, but apparently traveled.)
Friday, August 10, 2007
Tuesday, August 10, 1926
Tuesday, August 10, 1926
Hot, sultry
Ironed till about 2 then wrote a letter to Nell on the typewriter. Did a little mending but was too sleepy to do much. The boys scrapped over who got to write and I was so afraid they would do some harm. The “w” got to sticking but Gilbert soon fixed it. Gilbert was late and I waited supper on him. It was so hot in the kitchen then. Was so anxious for him to come so we could get out and cool off before bedtime.
(I think my mom might still have this typewriter? I might be the one that we played with when we were little.
And did you notice that in the 1920's they went outside to cool off when it was hot, and now we go inside to cool off in air conditioned homes. When it was really hot, I think everyone slept on the floor downstairs, as the upstairs rooms would be stifling hot, even with windows open. Downstairs they could open the front door and back door and get a breeze to blow through the house. Today the neighborhood where the house is is one of the worst in the city for crime and no one would leave their doors unlocked, let alone wide open, all night long.)
Hot, sultry
Ironed till about 2 then wrote a letter to Nell on the typewriter. Did a little mending but was too sleepy to do much. The boys scrapped over who got to write and I was so afraid they would do some harm. The “w” got to sticking but Gilbert soon fixed it. Gilbert was late and I waited supper on him. It was so hot in the kitchen then. Was so anxious for him to come so we could get out and cool off before bedtime.
(I think my mom might still have this typewriter? I might be the one that we played with when we were little.
And did you notice that in the 1920's they went outside to cool off when it was hot, and now we go inside to cool off in air conditioned homes. When it was really hot, I think everyone slept on the floor downstairs, as the upstairs rooms would be stifling hot, even with windows open. Downstairs they could open the front door and back door and get a breeze to blow through the house. Today the neighborhood where the house is is one of the worst in the city for crime and no one would leave their doors unlocked, let alone wide open, all night long.)
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Monday, August 9, 1926
Monday, August 9, 1926
Cloudy and cool
Washed and scrubbed and ironed some. Put Gilbert’s pants in the washer and then pressed them. They looked like new. I was afraid to try it but they were ruined anyway. He sweats till the dried salt covered the goods in spots and they were stiff. Gilbert had a typewriter sent out on approval – a used machine but it seems to write ok. I sat up till 1o’clock to write a letter to Uncle Jesse. Marjorie learned to say “Mom”. Gilbert started “doping” his hay fever as symptoms appeared.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I still can smell the scent of the smoke or mist or whatever Daddy used in their bedroom to ease his breathing in hayfever season. Ned inherited hayfever and Dick had allergies. Uncle Jesse was Grandpa Campbell's brother. Mother met him once when he visited when she was a child but never saw him again. He lived in Denver at that time. Mother and Uncle Jesse corresponded as long as he lived. She seemed to idolize him and wrote a lot about him in the family history."
Here's what Grandma wrote about Uncle Jesse in the family history:
"Jesse E. Campbell married Della Kelsey on October 30, 1881, and had one son Kelsey Burnett Campbell, who died in infancy in 1885. Della died February 2, 1885. For years Jesse worked as a telegrapher in, or near, Denver Colorado. It was during this time in 1904 or 1905 that he came here to visit us for several weeks, where we lived on Fifteenth Street. That visit from Uncle Jesse was one of the highlights of my childhood, for he took me to see "Sis Hopkins", my frist stage show, and bought me my first box of "store chocolates". He was lots of fun and I never forgot how much I enjoyed his visit, though I never saw him again. We kept up a correspondence for the rest of his life. Sometime after his visit here, he married Aunt Mattie. They lived in Colorado for awhile, then bought a small truck farm near Francitas, Texas where they lived the rest of their lives. They somtimes had a hard time financially but were always cheerful and well liked, and hoped that they would find oil on their place, as there was some hear there. Jesse spent his spare time writing poems which for years were published in The Palacios Beacon, the weekly paper of Matagorda County, under the headings of "Sass and Sentiment from Orchard Place" or "Crumbs from a Country Cupboard". They were a mixture of wit and homespun philosophy that must have made him noted in that part of the country. I still have a number of his poems in a scrapbook. He died on December 23, 1931."
Oddly enough, on the other side of my family, there was also an Uncle Jesse who wrote poems which might also be described as "a mixture of wit and homespun philosophy", I think.
Cloudy and cool
Washed and scrubbed and ironed some. Put Gilbert’s pants in the washer and then pressed them. They looked like new. I was afraid to try it but they were ruined anyway. He sweats till the dried salt covered the goods in spots and they were stiff. Gilbert had a typewriter sent out on approval – a used machine but it seems to write ok. I sat up till 1o’clock to write a letter to Uncle Jesse. Marjorie learned to say “Mom”. Gilbert started “doping” his hay fever as symptoms appeared.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I still can smell the scent of the smoke or mist or whatever Daddy used in their bedroom to ease his breathing in hayfever season. Ned inherited hayfever and Dick had allergies. Uncle Jesse was Grandpa Campbell's brother. Mother met him once when he visited when she was a child but never saw him again. He lived in Denver at that time. Mother and Uncle Jesse corresponded as long as he lived. She seemed to idolize him and wrote a lot about him in the family history."
Here's what Grandma wrote about Uncle Jesse in the family history:
"Jesse E. Campbell married Della Kelsey on October 30, 1881, and had one son Kelsey Burnett Campbell, who died in infancy in 1885. Della died February 2, 1885. For years Jesse worked as a telegrapher in, or near, Denver Colorado. It was during this time in 1904 or 1905 that he came here to visit us for several weeks, where we lived on Fifteenth Street. That visit from Uncle Jesse was one of the highlights of my childhood, for he took me to see "Sis Hopkins", my frist stage show, and bought me my first box of "store chocolates". He was lots of fun and I never forgot how much I enjoyed his visit, though I never saw him again. We kept up a correspondence for the rest of his life. Sometime after his visit here, he married Aunt Mattie. They lived in Colorado for awhile, then bought a small truck farm near Francitas, Texas where they lived the rest of their lives. They somtimes had a hard time financially but were always cheerful and well liked, and hoped that they would find oil on their place, as there was some hear there. Jesse spent his spare time writing poems which for years were published in The Palacios Beacon, the weekly paper of Matagorda County, under the headings of "Sass and Sentiment from Orchard Place" or "Crumbs from a Country Cupboard". They were a mixture of wit and homespun philosophy that must have made him noted in that part of the country. I still have a number of his poems in a scrapbook. He died on December 23, 1931."
Oddly enough, on the other side of my family, there was also an Uncle Jesse who wrote poems which might also be described as "a mixture of wit and homespun philosophy", I think.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Sunday, August 8, 1926
Sunday, August 8, 1926
Hot
Marjorie had her first tooth thru this morning when she woke up. It does not seem to bother her any and I would not have known it it she had not kept chewing her lower lip. Ned was still below par. The three boys went to Sunday school but I didn’t try to go as Ned was not able and is too much of a mama boy to leave when he feels bad. Gilbert had work to do and then went to the plant to do some typing. Took the boys along and the babies and I napped and read. Saw a dog –apparently mad - bit two others out in front.
(Oh my! A mad dog. I assume when she wrote that the dog bit two others, it was two other dogs and not two people. Rabies would definitely be fatal in the 1920's!)
Hot
Marjorie had her first tooth thru this morning when she woke up. It does not seem to bother her any and I would not have known it it she had not kept chewing her lower lip. Ned was still below par. The three boys went to Sunday school but I didn’t try to go as Ned was not able and is too much of a mama boy to leave when he feels bad. Gilbert had work to do and then went to the plant to do some typing. Took the boys along and the babies and I napped and read. Saw a dog –apparently mad - bit two others out in front.
(Oh my! A mad dog. I assume when she wrote that the dog bit two others, it was two other dogs and not two people. Rabies would definitely be fatal in the 1920's!)
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Saturday, August 7, 1926
Saturday, August 7, 1926
Cooler
Ned got to ailing – by Noon he had a high fever. I believe he is cutting some jaw teeth. Gilbert had promised to take the boys swimming this afternoon but it got too cool. They were very reasonable about it. They did their regular Saturday collecting, then scouted around in the park with Glen Kanouse of Pana, IL who is visiting on 13th St. Seems like a nice boy. Older than Dale but they are good friends and apparently well matched pair.
(Dale and Dick were collecting for their newpaper routes. They were fairly young businessmen but seemed to do well and still have time to play.
It has been awhile since Grandma wrote about anyone being sick. They seemed to do better in the summer time, probably because they were outdoors more and got fresh air. Though reading about the boys swimming in polluted creeks and streams makes me wonder how they didn't get sick more often.)
Cooler
Ned got to ailing – by Noon he had a high fever. I believe he is cutting some jaw teeth. Gilbert had promised to take the boys swimming this afternoon but it got too cool. They were very reasonable about it. They did their regular Saturday collecting, then scouted around in the park with Glen Kanouse of Pana, IL who is visiting on 13th St. Seems like a nice boy. Older than Dale but they are good friends and apparently well matched pair.
(Dale and Dick were collecting for their newpaper routes. They were fairly young businessmen but seemed to do well and still have time to play.
It has been awhile since Grandma wrote about anyone being sick. They seemed to do better in the summer time, probably because they were outdoors more and got fresh air. Though reading about the boys swimming in polluted creeks and streams makes me wonder how they didn't get sick more often.)
Monday, August 06, 2007
Friday, August 6, 1926
Friday, August 6, 1926
Hot – Thunderstorm
Too tired to wiggle. Loafed mostly all day – or rather sat and mended. Of course I washed dishes and did what house work I had to do and let the kids run. Harry Doyle was here most of the morning and what a noisy boy he is! Teases Ned and has him squealing most of the time. Then shouts “Keep still Ned, your Mom is trying to put the baby to sleep” does not realize he is the cause of all the noise. Not a bad boy though so much better than the Millers and Johnson boys. A thunderstorm came up while the boys were on their route, their first bad day but they didn’t care.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Harry Doyle was a very friendly, likable boy, Dale's age or slightyly older. He lived just two houses away. He didn't got to our school, he went to the Catholic schools."
I think the nearest Catholic school would have been St. Philip Neri.)
Hot – Thunderstorm
Too tired to wiggle. Loafed mostly all day – or rather sat and mended. Of course I washed dishes and did what house work I had to do and let the kids run. Harry Doyle was here most of the morning and what a noisy boy he is! Teases Ned and has him squealing most of the time. Then shouts “Keep still Ned, your Mom is trying to put the baby to sleep” does not realize he is the cause of all the noise. Not a bad boy though so much better than the Millers and Johnson boys. A thunderstorm came up while the boys were on their route, their first bad day but they didn’t care.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Harry Doyle was a very friendly, likable boy, Dale's age or slightyly older. He lived just two houses away. He didn't got to our school, he went to the Catholic schools."
I think the nearest Catholic school would have been St. Philip Neri.)
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Thursday, August 5, 1926
Thursday, August 5, 1926
Hot
Made 29 glasses of jelly and canned the rest of the juice. After the boys came home we ate a lunch, met Gilbert down town and went to Ravenswood to Mildred’s house and the boys went swimming. We had bad luck waiting for the bus so it was late when we got there. Ned fussed and wanted to go home – he was sleepy and likewise Marjorie but we had a very good time. The kids brought us to the car line and we made better time getting home. The boys take to water like ducks and can swim fairly well for youngsters.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote in her notes, "I don't recall a swimming pool in Ravenswood. I think there is a creek there, and I believe there is usually flooding in the Ravenswood area after a heavy rain.")
Hot
Made 29 glasses of jelly and canned the rest of the juice. After the boys came home we ate a lunch, met Gilbert down town and went to Ravenswood to Mildred’s house and the boys went swimming. We had bad luck waiting for the bus so it was late when we got there. Ned fussed and wanted to go home – he was sleepy and likewise Marjorie but we had a very good time. The kids brought us to the car line and we made better time getting home. The boys take to water like ducks and can swim fairly well for youngsters.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote in her notes, "I don't recall a swimming pool in Ravenswood. I think there is a creek there, and I believe there is usually flooding in the Ravenswood area after a heavy rain.")
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Wednesday, August 4, 1926
Wednesday, August 4, 1926
Hot
Tried to put up blackberries and wanted to make jelly too, but I didn’t get to that. Felt pretty bum and Mama came over for a little while right in the middle of the day to get me to cut out a dress for her. Felt heart sick to boot for in the morning, on coming downstairs after putting Marjorie to sleep I found Dick had cut the top off of my penny bank to get the money out. It had belonged to my brothers and then I had used it and all my babies had cut their teeth on it. I told Dick yesterday he could use it but to take care of it and he deliberately ruined it.
(I hope Grandma didn't mean her babies had "literally" cut their teeth on a penny bank. As Aunt Marjorie wrote that would not be all that clean. She also wondered if Dick wanted pennies for candy because he always had a sweet tooth.
Grandma had written in a diary entry sometime last year, on a day when the boys knocked over and broke a little bedside table lamp, that it was hard for her to keep anything nice for very long.)
Hot
Tried to put up blackberries and wanted to make jelly too, but I didn’t get to that. Felt pretty bum and Mama came over for a little while right in the middle of the day to get me to cut out a dress for her. Felt heart sick to boot for in the morning, on coming downstairs after putting Marjorie to sleep I found Dick had cut the top off of my penny bank to get the money out. It had belonged to my brothers and then I had used it and all my babies had cut their teeth on it. I told Dick yesterday he could use it but to take care of it and he deliberately ruined it.
(I hope Grandma didn't mean her babies had "literally" cut their teeth on a penny bank. As Aunt Marjorie wrote that would not be all that clean. She also wondered if Dick wanted pennies for candy because he always had a sweet tooth.
Grandma had written in a diary entry sometime last year, on a day when the boys knocked over and broke a little bedside table lamp, that it was hard for her to keep anything nice for very long.)
Friday, August 03, 2007
Tuesday, August 3, 1926
Tuesday, August 3, 1926
Hot
Ironed all day. All the decent clothes we had were dirty. I took an awful cold getting so wet yesterday and felt miserable all day but finally got done. Smith the vegetable man brought me 20 qts of blackberries.
(Aunt Marjorie said, "I'll bet Mother was one of Smith's best customers. Smith was a Swede with an accent and his wife sometimes rode along with him. I wonder what his real name was? I remember how happy I was when he came; good fresh fruit to eat!"
I'd guess Grandma made blackberry preserves or jams with most of those berries.)
Hot
Ironed all day. All the decent clothes we had were dirty. I took an awful cold getting so wet yesterday and felt miserable all day but finally got done. Smith the vegetable man brought me 20 qts of blackberries.
(Aunt Marjorie said, "I'll bet Mother was one of Smith's best customers. Smith was a Swede with an accent and his wife sometimes rode along with him. I wonder what his real name was? I remember how happy I was when he came; good fresh fruit to eat!"
I'd guess Grandma made blackberry preserves or jams with most of those berries.)
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Monday, August 2, 1926
Monday, August 2, 1926
Partly cloudy but warm.
Got my washing done, but seemed to get myself awful wet doing it. But it was hot and I didn’t change clothes. Did some ironing.
(Washing clothes was not the same as today. Marjorie provided more information on how they used the washing machine to wash clothes.
"Mother had a roller-type washing machine. She had 3 galvanized tubs to rinse the laundry. She could open the drain in the bottom of the washing machine, but the large rinse tubs had no drains. She used a bucket and dipped out the water to the floor (there was a drain in the basement floor) until there was only a little water in the large galvanized tub - then she could tip it over and let the rest of the water run out."
Washing clothes was a completely manual effort. Wash the clothes, rinse them several times, and run them through the rollers to get the water out of them. No wonder Grandma got wet doing the laundry, both from sweating and from the wash water.)
Partly cloudy but warm.
Got my washing done, but seemed to get myself awful wet doing it. But it was hot and I didn’t change clothes. Did some ironing.
(Washing clothes was not the same as today. Marjorie provided more information on how they used the washing machine to wash clothes.
"Mother had a roller-type washing machine. She had 3 galvanized tubs to rinse the laundry. She could open the drain in the bottom of the washing machine, but the large rinse tubs had no drains. She used a bucket and dipped out the water to the floor (there was a drain in the basement floor) until there was only a little water in the large galvanized tub - then she could tip it over and let the rest of the water run out."
Washing clothes was a completely manual effort. Wash the clothes, rinse them several times, and run them through the rollers to get the water out of them. No wonder Grandma got wet doing the laundry, both from sweating and from the wash water.)
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Sunday, August 1, 1926
Sunday, August 1, 1926
Cool and rainy
Was tired and didn’t try to go to Sunday school as it was showery and I didn’t want to risk getting the babies wet so we sent the 3 boys and we took our time and got ready and went on the bus to Mama’s. All 21 members of the family was there for dinner. We had a very enjoyable day. Mama had a hired woman to help and do the dishes so we had nothing to do but visit. Winifred sat on Harry’s lap and kissed him all the time. I’m afraid she will be her mother over again. Has the idea that she doesn’t ever want to work.
(Winifred's mother, Mabel, never wanted to work, it seems.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Winifred dropped out of high school to go to art school. Aunt Mabel showed me a picture Winifred had sketched of a nude woman. Onarga (another cousin) and a friend had a shop in downtown Indianapolis where they made clothes on order, where Winifred helped them when they were overwhelmed with work. She made her own clothes and clothes for her sons later on. When her boys were in school she worked a number of years in a library in Memphis, and from the birth of the twin boys she kept house for her sons and her father (Harry). I don't know what other jobs she may have had. So I don't think Winifred was lazy! She was affectionate. I remember how pleased Daddy looked one time when Winifred came to our house for dinner and she threw her arms around Daddy's neck and kissed him."
Previously, I wrote the following about Winifred:
Harry was Grandma's brother, Mable was his wife and Winifred was their daughter. I think later Harry ended up with Winifred, but I'm not sure how it all worked out that way. I know that Winifred joined the Army during WWII and married a solder, who was killed in the war. She was pregnant when she was given the news of her husband's death, and ended up in labor, giving birth to twin boys. She and her father, Harry, ended up raising the two boys.)
Cool and rainy
Was tired and didn’t try to go to Sunday school as it was showery and I didn’t want to risk getting the babies wet so we sent the 3 boys and we took our time and got ready and went on the bus to Mama’s. All 21 members of the family was there for dinner. We had a very enjoyable day. Mama had a hired woman to help and do the dishes so we had nothing to do but visit. Winifred sat on Harry’s lap and kissed him all the time. I’m afraid she will be her mother over again. Has the idea that she doesn’t ever want to work.
(Winifred's mother, Mabel, never wanted to work, it seems.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Winifred dropped out of high school to go to art school. Aunt Mabel showed me a picture Winifred had sketched of a nude woman. Onarga (another cousin) and a friend had a shop in downtown Indianapolis where they made clothes on order, where Winifred helped them when they were overwhelmed with work. She made her own clothes and clothes for her sons later on. When her boys were in school she worked a number of years in a library in Memphis, and from the birth of the twin boys she kept house for her sons and her father (Harry). I don't know what other jobs she may have had. So I don't think Winifred was lazy! She was affectionate. I remember how pleased Daddy looked one time when Winifred came to our house for dinner and she threw her arms around Daddy's neck and kissed him."
Previously, I wrote the following about Winifred:
Harry was Grandma's brother, Mable was his wife and Winifred was their daughter. I think later Harry ended up with Winifred, but I'm not sure how it all worked out that way. I know that Winifred joined the Army during WWII and married a solder, who was killed in the war. She was pregnant when she was given the news of her husband's death, and ended up in labor, giving birth to twin boys. She and her father, Harry, ended up raising the two boys.)
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 31, 1926
Saturday, July 31, 1926
Cool and rainy just a good day to loaf which we did good and proper except for sewing which is fun and restful for me. However I didn’t get done what I wanted to and had a little suit for Ned to finish after supper so he could wear it in the AM. Gilbert and the two boys went to the show and I did the dishes and had the three little ones to bathe when Collins came in. They didn’t stay a great while but enough to delay the bathing and putting Marjorie to bed at her sleepy time, so she stayed up till midnight and I didn’t get Ned’s suit done and retire till 2:30.
(Grandma, we now know, actually liked sewing.)
Cool and rainy just a good day to loaf which we did good and proper except for sewing which is fun and restful for me. However I didn’t get done what I wanted to and had a little suit for Ned to finish after supper so he could wear it in the AM. Gilbert and the two boys went to the show and I did the dishes and had the three little ones to bathe when Collins came in. They didn’t stay a great while but enough to delay the bathing and putting Marjorie to bed at her sleepy time, so she stayed up till midnight and I didn’t get Ned’s suit done and retire till 2:30.
(Grandma, we now know, actually liked sewing.)
Monday, July 30, 2007
Friday, July 30, 1926
Friday, July 30, 1926
Hot
I got an early start leaving the kiddies and house in Gilbert’s care and went down town. Got the boys some play clothes and did a lot of picking around at the pretty things. Got home at noon, got a little lunch, bathed the babes and by that time Harry, Winifred, and Mama came, spent the afternoon and Papa came out for supper. Harry is quiet – won’t say anything but josh around and tell about the south and how much money he is able to make down there. Is spoiling W. and no can say anything.
(What a rare treat for Grandma to have a morning to herself to shop a bit and "pick around at the pretty things" in the stores.)
Hot
I got an early start leaving the kiddies and house in Gilbert’s care and went down town. Got the boys some play clothes and did a lot of picking around at the pretty things. Got home at noon, got a little lunch, bathed the babes and by that time Harry, Winifred, and Mama came, spent the afternoon and Papa came out for supper. Harry is quiet – won’t say anything but josh around and tell about the south and how much money he is able to make down there. Is spoiling W. and no can say anything.
(What a rare treat for Grandma to have a morning to herself to shop a bit and "pick around at the pretty things" in the stores.)
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Thursday, July 29, 1926
Thursday, July 29, 1926
Pleasantly cool
Gilbert went to the plant at noon to get his pay. I put in most of the day mending. Mable called me twice to find out what I knew of Winifred’s whereabouts. She is in the habit of letting her know every move she makes and as Harry and she went to Brownsburg to see Guys with out telling her and she found out Winifred was gone all day – she didn’t know where except that Mama was not with her, she was frantic. I felt sorry for her but was not at liberty to tell her anything as Harry didn’t want her to know she was here. However she went out to Mama’s and found out.
(Clearly, Mable and Harry had separated at this point and based on the diary entry from July 12, Mable is staying with someone named Attilla. Aunt Marjorie wrote me several days ago and provided more information...
"Attilla was Aunt Mable's sister. After Aunt Mable married Carl Lout (Mable and Harry were divorced at some point) they bought a home next to Attilla's on University Avenue in Indianapolis. Carl's son was Howard who stayed in that house for years after Carl died. Howard and his wife (and a son) took care of Aunt Mable until she died at age, I believe, of 104 years. Carl had built a studio at the back of their lot for his accounting business. Howard redecorated that studio for Aunt Mable's use. We visited her there once, and I remember how cozy and attractive it was.
According to Mother's family history, Uncle Harry was born 09-23-1883, and married Mable Jones, who had been his high school sweetheart in Irvington, on the east side of Indianapolis. I presume Aunt Mable was born near 1883, so I calculate she died about 1987.
Winifred came to town for the funeral, and on a Sunday afternoon before the Monday funeral, Onarga (another cousin), Winifred, and I had a very pleasant 2 hour reunion at the mortuary. If I remember right, Winifred was killed in an auto accident near her home in Florida, near her sons' homes a few months later after her mother died. A couple of weeks later, Howard phoned me to tell me Winifred had died, and that another car had crossed the road and hit her. She was alone and died instantly.
I met Howard when visiting Winifred and Aunt Mable when I was an early teenager, and I calculate him to be at that time a late teenager, so he would be pretty old if living now. I can't find any Lout's in the phone book. I'm not sure if I spelled it right.
Why would anyone name a baby girl Attilla?"
That's a lot more than we knew before about Aunt Mable and Winifred and what happend to them!)
Pleasantly cool
Gilbert went to the plant at noon to get his pay. I put in most of the day mending. Mable called me twice to find out what I knew of Winifred’s whereabouts. She is in the habit of letting her know every move she makes and as Harry and she went to Brownsburg to see Guys with out telling her and she found out Winifred was gone all day – she didn’t know where except that Mama was not with her, she was frantic. I felt sorry for her but was not at liberty to tell her anything as Harry didn’t want her to know she was here. However she went out to Mama’s and found out.
(Clearly, Mable and Harry had separated at this point and based on the diary entry from July 12, Mable is staying with someone named Attilla. Aunt Marjorie wrote me several days ago and provided more information...
"Attilla was Aunt Mable's sister. After Aunt Mable married Carl Lout (Mable and Harry were divorced at some point) they bought a home next to Attilla's on University Avenue in Indianapolis. Carl's son was Howard who stayed in that house for years after Carl died. Howard and his wife (and a son) took care of Aunt Mable until she died at age, I believe, of 104 years. Carl had built a studio at the back of their lot for his accounting business. Howard redecorated that studio for Aunt Mable's use. We visited her there once, and I remember how cozy and attractive it was.
According to Mother's family history, Uncle Harry was born 09-23-1883, and married Mable Jones, who had been his high school sweetheart in Irvington, on the east side of Indianapolis. I presume Aunt Mable was born near 1883, so I calculate she died about 1987.
Winifred came to town for the funeral, and on a Sunday afternoon before the Monday funeral, Onarga (another cousin), Winifred, and I had a very pleasant 2 hour reunion at the mortuary. If I remember right, Winifred was killed in an auto accident near her home in Florida, near her sons' homes a few months later after her mother died. A couple of weeks later, Howard phoned me to tell me Winifred had died, and that another car had crossed the road and hit her. She was alone and died instantly.
I met Howard when visiting Winifred and Aunt Mable when I was an early teenager, and I calculate him to be at that time a late teenager, so he would be pretty old if living now. I can't find any Lout's in the phone book. I'm not sure if I spelled it right.
Why would anyone name a baby girl Attilla?"
That's a lot more than we knew before about Aunt Mable and Winifred and what happend to them!)
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Wednesday, July 28, 1926
Wednesday, July 28, 1926
Cool but Pleasant
Gilbert home on a vacation. Talked to Mama on phone early and heard enough of Papa’s trip I wanted to hear more from him so we decided to go over this PM for supper. Before we got there Harry stopped in so we had a visit with him and didn’t hear a great deal from Papa. Harry has been loafing and visiting Memphis and other places for two weeks now. Winifred was tickled to death to see him, but wanted to sit on his lap and kiss him all the time.
(Papa had been back to Fort Recovery, Ohio to go to the funeral of his friend "Doc Denney". I think at this point Harry and Mable had more or less separated and Winifred was staying with her mother, Mable, perhaps still at Ruth's parents' house.)
Cool but Pleasant
Gilbert home on a vacation. Talked to Mama on phone early and heard enough of Papa’s trip I wanted to hear more from him so we decided to go over this PM for supper. Before we got there Harry stopped in so we had a visit with him and didn’t hear a great deal from Papa. Harry has been loafing and visiting Memphis and other places for two weeks now. Winifred was tickled to death to see him, but wanted to sit on his lap and kiss him all the time.
(Papa had been back to Fort Recovery, Ohio to go to the funeral of his friend "Doc Denney". I think at this point Harry and Mable had more or less separated and Winifred was staying with her mother, Mable, perhaps still at Ruth's parents' house.)
Friday, July 27, 2007
Tuesday, July 27, 1926
Tuesday, July 27, 1926
Cloudy
A little rain this morning. I got up early to finish my ironing and had done most of it before the family got up. After breakfast the boys decided to clean out their “places” and so got all their things out on the floor to rid out and sort over and Marjorie did her first real crawling. She has been squirming around for some time but never covering any distance to amount to anything. She was such a “help” at sorting the things!
(I wonder if they donated what the wanted to get rid of?)
Cloudy
A little rain this morning. I got up early to finish my ironing and had done most of it before the family got up. After breakfast the boys decided to clean out their “places” and so got all their things out on the floor to rid out and sort over and Marjorie did her first real crawling. She has been squirming around for some time but never covering any distance to amount to anything. She was such a “help” at sorting the things!
(I wonder if they donated what the wanted to get rid of?)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Monday, July 26, 1926
Monday, July 26, 1926
Washed and did part of my ironing. Mama came out and brought a little red vase Ethel sent me and my quilt that just got back from the quilters. She had her hair water waved in Elwood and learned to do it a new way, she parts it on the side and does it low and it is real becoming. I think Ethel is trying to persuade her to box it but I hope she doesn’t, it is too pretty the way it is. I don’t lie to see white hair bobbed.
(It sounds like my great-grandmother (Mama) had a good visit in Elwood with her son Bur and his wife Ethel. What is a 'water wave'? I'm picturing her hair as wavy, but flat against her head, which is how I think of hair styles from the 1920's.
It's interesting that Grandma mentions getting a little red vase from Ethel. I have a little purple vase from Grandma, but no one knows how she came to have it. I would not mistake the one I have for red, so it is most likely not the same vase.
And I always thought Grandma did her own quilting. I wonder if she pieced her quilts together and then had someone else do the actually quilting?)
Washed and did part of my ironing. Mama came out and brought a little red vase Ethel sent me and my quilt that just got back from the quilters. She had her hair water waved in Elwood and learned to do it a new way, she parts it on the side and does it low and it is real becoming. I think Ethel is trying to persuade her to box it but I hope she doesn’t, it is too pretty the way it is. I don’t lie to see white hair bobbed.
(It sounds like my great-grandmother (Mama) had a good visit in Elwood with her son Bur and his wife Ethel. What is a 'water wave'? I'm picturing her hair as wavy, but flat against her head, which is how I think of hair styles from the 1920's.
It's interesting that Grandma mentions getting a little red vase from Ethel. I have a little purple vase from Grandma, but no one knows how she came to have it. I would not mistake the one I have for red, so it is most likely not the same vase.
And I always thought Grandma did her own quilting. I wonder if she pieced her quilts together and then had someone else do the actually quilting?)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Sunday, July 25, 1926
Sunday, July 25, 1926
Hot
We all went to Sunday school. Winifred came out to dinner as Papa was out of town and Mama hadn’t got in yet. She is awfully sweet but so shy and quiet I feel sorry for her. Marjorie took a long nap from the time we got home till after we got the dishes washed. She is a darling these days, and folks call her pretty, too. She is such a bright looking jolly baby, that she makes friends of everyone who sees her. A little bit shy, but a smile for everybody who doesn’t get too familiar.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote me a few days ago with more information on what happened to Winifred and her mother Mable. I'll post about it in a few days.)
Hot
We all went to Sunday school. Winifred came out to dinner as Papa was out of town and Mama hadn’t got in yet. She is awfully sweet but so shy and quiet I feel sorry for her. Marjorie took a long nap from the time we got home till after we got the dishes washed. She is a darling these days, and folks call her pretty, too. She is such a bright looking jolly baby, that she makes friends of everyone who sees her. A little bit shy, but a smile for everybody who doesn’t get too familiar.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote me a few days ago with more information on what happened to Winifred and her mother Mable. I'll post about it in a few days.)
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Saturday, July 24, 1926
Saturday, July 24, 1926
Hot
Papa got a letter by air mail that Doc Denny was dead and would be buried at Fort Recovery next Tuesday so he decided to go to the funeral. Mama is in Elwood so he called me up to get me to tell him to go I guess. Gilbert took the day off and sat around and read all day. Albert went with Dick on his news route.
(Air mail letters, that something we don't have today. I wonder when the last air mail letter was sent? According to this site, the post office eliminated domestic air mail in 1975 because at that point, all mail was sent by the fastest route. It must have been cause for excitement to get an air mail letter back in the 1920's, or maybe dread if they usually contained bad news.
Doc Denney refers to James Denney, who like Grandma's father, Rolla Campbell, was from Ft. Recovery, Ohio. They were room mates when they attended medical school in Cincinnati. At one time, Doc Denney corresponded with "Lizzie" Jordan, but then later suggested Rolla write to her and he would write to another girl, Emma Creary, who Rolla had been corresponding with. Once Rolla started to write to Lizzie, Doc Denney wanted to trade back, but it was too late, Rolla and Lizzie eventually got married, and the rest, as they say, is history.
"Mama" would have been visiting Grandma's brother Bur and his wife Ethel in Elwood. They had one son, Harry Wilbur, born in April 1916.)
Hot
Papa got a letter by air mail that Doc Denny was dead and would be buried at Fort Recovery next Tuesday so he decided to go to the funeral. Mama is in Elwood so he called me up to get me to tell him to go I guess. Gilbert took the day off and sat around and read all day. Albert went with Dick on his news route.
(Air mail letters, that something we don't have today. I wonder when the last air mail letter was sent? According to this site, the post office eliminated domestic air mail in 1975 because at that point, all mail was sent by the fastest route. It must have been cause for excitement to get an air mail letter back in the 1920's, or maybe dread if they usually contained bad news.
Doc Denney refers to James Denney, who like Grandma's father, Rolla Campbell, was from Ft. Recovery, Ohio. They were room mates when they attended medical school in Cincinnati. At one time, Doc Denney corresponded with "Lizzie" Jordan, but then later suggested Rolla write to her and he would write to another girl, Emma Creary, who Rolla had been corresponding with. Once Rolla started to write to Lizzie, Doc Denney wanted to trade back, but it was too late, Rolla and Lizzie eventually got married, and the rest, as they say, is history.
"Mama" would have been visiting Grandma's brother Bur and his wife Ethel in Elwood. They had one son, Harry Wilbur, born in April 1916.)
Monday, July 23, 2007
Friday, July 23, 1926
Friday, July 23, 1926
Hot
Gilbert worked this morning and spent the afternoon down town where he happened to run into lots of people he knows. Dale and Harry Doyle spent most of the day upstairs reading and playing games. I hardly knew they were in the house. Harry is a nice boy and I shall feel as if it were a good turn if we could get him interested in books. After supper he and Carroll Walls and our three all were here reading. Little Mary Welles is here quite a lot playing with Dick today usually its Albert and Ned.
(Sounds like the boys slowed down a bit mid-summer and are enjoying reading. It might have been too hot to do much else, other than sit and read.)
Hot
Gilbert worked this morning and spent the afternoon down town where he happened to run into lots of people he knows. Dale and Harry Doyle spent most of the day upstairs reading and playing games. I hardly knew they were in the house. Harry is a nice boy and I shall feel as if it were a good turn if we could get him interested in books. After supper he and Carroll Walls and our three all were here reading. Little Mary Welles is here quite a lot playing with Dick today usually its Albert and Ned.
(Sounds like the boys slowed down a bit mid-summer and are enjoying reading. It might have been too hot to do much else, other than sit and read.)
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Thursday, July 22, 1926
Thursday, July 22, 1926
Hot
Gilbert stayed home and nursed a pair of sunburned shoulders he got Tuesday. They look like they were cooked and they hurt so he could hardly sleep last night. He started to the office at noon but his shirt hurt him so he decided to make it a whole day off. He is not as anxious to swim as he was. Dale went to the library and Harry Doyle was very inquisitive about the trip, books, etc. It seems he knows nothing about going to the library. Marjorie got on to pushing her self backward in her Taylor Tot.
(I guess they didn't have sunscreen in the 1920's. And I guess not all kids went to the library or knew about it! Grandma read a lot and she wrote several times about the boys all reading.)
Hot
Gilbert stayed home and nursed a pair of sunburned shoulders he got Tuesday. They look like they were cooked and they hurt so he could hardly sleep last night. He started to the office at noon but his shirt hurt him so he decided to make it a whole day off. He is not as anxious to swim as he was. Dale went to the library and Harry Doyle was very inquisitive about the trip, books, etc. It seems he knows nothing about going to the library. Marjorie got on to pushing her self backward in her Taylor Tot.
(I guess they didn't have sunscreen in the 1920's. And I guess not all kids went to the library or knew about it! Grandma read a lot and she wrote several times about the boys all reading.)
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Wednesday, July 21, 1926
Wednesday, July 21, 1926
Hot
Anna and Betty Jane spent the day with me.
(I don't know who Anna and Betty Jane were, must have been some friends of Grandma's)
Hot
Anna and Betty Jane spent the day with me.
(I don't know who Anna and Betty Jane were, must have been some friends of Grandma's)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Tuesday, July 20, 1926
Tuesday, July 20, 1926
Hot
Georgia was to have come today but it is too hot for her. It is just as well for me as I had to iron. I didn’t get it touched although I hoped to get it all done yesterday. Marjorie was fretful, and I had uphill business to work at all. Gilbert took the day off and took the boys this morning to the 26th St. bathing beach. Got home in time to carry their papers. They report a fine time and plan to go again soon.
(Ironing continued to be a focus for Grandma. I am much more appreciative of the fabrics we have today, which don't need to be ironed, after reading Grandma's diary. I wore a cotton blouse today that never needs to be ironed, and just will not wrinkle. Grandma would not believe it.)
Hot
Georgia was to have come today but it is too hot for her. It is just as well for me as I had to iron. I didn’t get it touched although I hoped to get it all done yesterday. Marjorie was fretful, and I had uphill business to work at all. Gilbert took the day off and took the boys this morning to the 26th St. bathing beach. Got home in time to carry their papers. They report a fine time and plan to go again soon.
(Ironing continued to be a focus for Grandma. I am much more appreciative of the fabrics we have today, which don't need to be ironed, after reading Grandma's diary. I wore a cotton blouse today that never needs to be ironed, and just will not wrinkle. Grandma would not believe it.)
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Monday, July 19, 1926
Monday, July 19, 1926
Hot
Robert Collins came over to play with the boys but Dale and Dick hiked off to the creek regardless. Dick came back at noon and thought Dale was following soon but Dale didn’t come. I found that he was with Robert Miller and Robert Johnson so I began to worry when he didn’t appear at 3 to go for his papers. I visioned all sorts of mishaps with those two cowards along and in fact worried myself sick. Finished the day with a nervous head ache that lingered long after he blew in with a little fish about like my finger and he was sore because I wouldn’t clean and cook them for supper!
(Another day when Dale seemed to worry Grandma. I remember earlier in the summer she couldn't get him to do any chores for her. I hope he got his papers delivered!
Robert seemed to be a popular name in the early part of the 20th century.)
Hot
Robert Collins came over to play with the boys but Dale and Dick hiked off to the creek regardless. Dick came back at noon and thought Dale was following soon but Dale didn’t come. I found that he was with Robert Miller and Robert Johnson so I began to worry when he didn’t appear at 3 to go for his papers. I visioned all sorts of mishaps with those two cowards along and in fact worried myself sick. Finished the day with a nervous head ache that lingered long after he blew in with a little fish about like my finger and he was sore because I wouldn’t clean and cook them for supper!
(Another day when Dale seemed to worry Grandma. I remember earlier in the summer she couldn't get him to do any chores for her. I hope he got his papers delivered!
Robert seemed to be a popular name in the early part of the 20th century.)
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Sunday, July 18, 1926
Sunday, July 18, 1926
Hot
Went to Sunday school and Guy met us and took us to their house. The folks and Mildred’s folks) were out and we had a lovely fried chicken dinner. Sat on the porch till Mildred’s (folks) left and took Mama and Bob, Dick and Dale to Mama’s. Then we were going to follow when some old friends of Ella’s came. We enjoyed their visit and found out they have five just 2 squares from us and Dunums. Very pleasant people. Guy took us to the folks where we filled up on watermelon and learned Bess had called up and left some beans at the terminal station so Guy brought me and the babies home and Gilbert and Dick and Dale got the beans and went to a show.
(I'm not sure what she meant by "they have five just 2 squares from us and Dunums".
Sounds like a very nice day of visiting with family and taking it easy.)
Hot
Went to Sunday school and Guy met us and took us to their house. The folks and Mildred’s folks) were out and we had a lovely fried chicken dinner. Sat on the porch till Mildred’s (folks) left and took Mama and Bob, Dick and Dale to Mama’s. Then we were going to follow when some old friends of Ella’s came. We enjoyed their visit and found out they have five just 2 squares from us and Dunums. Very pleasant people. Guy took us to the folks where we filled up on watermelon and learned Bess had called up and left some beans at the terminal station so Guy brought me and the babies home and Gilbert and Dick and Dale got the beans and went to a show.
(I'm not sure what she meant by "they have five just 2 squares from us and Dunums".
Sounds like a very nice day of visiting with family and taking it easy.)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Saturday, July 17, 1926
Saturday, July 17, 1926
Hot
Worked all AM making jelly. Then cleaned my windows and the house. Sprinkled the lawn, cut some grass in the back, etc. The boys cut the front grass but the back is too long for them and Gilbert absolutely won’t try to cut it. Unless I do it, I’ll be ashamed of it all summer. Besides there are lots of weeds that are going to seed.
(I sure don't clean my windows as often as Grandma did, but I think even in the summer, there was a lot of soot in the air that caused them to get dirty more often in the 1920's.
It sounds like the backyard was almost a field if they had weeds going to seed.)
Hot
Worked all AM making jelly. Then cleaned my windows and the house. Sprinkled the lawn, cut some grass in the back, etc. The boys cut the front grass but the back is too long for them and Gilbert absolutely won’t try to cut it. Unless I do it, I’ll be ashamed of it all summer. Besides there are lots of weeds that are going to seed.
(I sure don't clean my windows as often as Grandma did, but I think even in the summer, there was a lot of soot in the air that caused them to get dirty more often in the 1920's.
It sounds like the backyard was almost a field if they had weeds going to seed.)
Monday, July 16, 2007
Friday, July 16.1926
Friday, July 16, 1926
Bought currants and started to make currant jelly and jam. Didn’t get as much done as I expected to.
(I don't believe I've ever had currant jam. I'll have to try that sometime.)
Bought currants and started to make currant jelly and jam. Didn’t get as much done as I expected to.
(I don't believe I've ever had currant jam. I'll have to try that sometime.)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Thursday, July 15, 1926
Thursday, July 15, 1926
Hot
Mama went out to Guy’s for a little visit. I put in a pretty good day sewing. The boys spent all their time except when they carried papers in their swimming hole. Poor little Ned was lost without them. “What can my do Mama”? he asked. Gilbert came home a little early with a Taylor Tot for Marjorie but she has no idea she could run it herself. The boys had a fight over which one was to pull her and could hardly wait their turn. She squealed when they stopped and has no idea it is made for her to run.
(Guy and his family lived in Brownsburg, I think, which is west and north of Indianapolis.
A Taylor Tot is a type of baby carriage that toddlers can push themselves in. I could not find a picture of one online from the 1920's, but did find this one from the 1940's)
Hot
Mama went out to Guy’s for a little visit. I put in a pretty good day sewing. The boys spent all their time except when they carried papers in their swimming hole. Poor little Ned was lost without them. “What can my do Mama”? he asked. Gilbert came home a little early with a Taylor Tot for Marjorie but she has no idea she could run it herself. The boys had a fight over which one was to pull her and could hardly wait their turn. She squealed when they stopped and has no idea it is made for her to run.
(Guy and his family lived in Brownsburg, I think, which is west and north of Indianapolis.
A Taylor Tot is a type of baby carriage that toddlers can push themselves in. I could not find a picture of one online from the 1920's, but did find this one from the 1940's)
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Wednesday, July 14, 1926
Wednesday, July 14, 1926
Cool
Sewed after I got the house straightened. But didn’t get much done except the mending and I was behind on that.
(It seems like there was also something to sew or mend. I wonder what women who couldn't sew in the 1920's did for mending and clothes?)
Cool
Sewed after I got the house straightened. But didn’t get much done except the mending and I was behind on that.
(It seems like there was also something to sew or mend. I wonder what women who couldn't sew in the 1920's did for mending and clothes?)
Friday, July 13, 2007
Tuesday, July 13, 1926
Tuesday, July 13, 1926
Cool and rainy
Miss Dunlea had a fire. I saw the smoke. It was bad in the morning but had cleared by noon and I took the little ones and went to Mama’s and left the two oldest boys to come after they had carried their papers. That way we got to see Papa. Had a good supper and enjoyed a little visit without the boys fussing about what to do.
(Miss Dunlea was the neighbor next door. I assume the fire was perhaps a brush fire and not a house fire!. You can read more about Miss Dunlea on this post.)
Cool and rainy
Miss Dunlea had a fire. I saw the smoke. It was bad in the morning but had cleared by noon and I took the little ones and went to Mama’s and left the two oldest boys to come after they had carried their papers. That way we got to see Papa. Had a good supper and enjoyed a little visit without the boys fussing about what to do.
(Miss Dunlea was the neighbor next door. I assume the fire was perhaps a brush fire and not a house fire!. You can read more about Miss Dunlea on this post.)
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Monday, July 12, 1926
Monday, July 12, 1926
Cool
Winifred arrived from Florida. Harry is out of a job so he had to send her back. Poor kiddy, she is so lost up here. Her mother is at Attilla’s where there isn’t room for Winifred and I know the poor child is just naturally timid, the reason she is so quiet. She never had a normal life. I wish I could take her in, but of course I haven’t a room for her. I washed and ironed everything today. Too tired for anything went to bed before dark – about 7:30 I guess.
(I do not know who Attilla was, or even if that is a first name or last name. Harry and his wife Mabel seemed to have trouble providing a stable home for their daughter Winifred. You can read more about Winifred on this post.)
Cool
Winifred arrived from Florida. Harry is out of a job so he had to send her back. Poor kiddy, she is so lost up here. Her mother is at Attilla’s where there isn’t room for Winifred and I know the poor child is just naturally timid, the reason she is so quiet. She never had a normal life. I wish I could take her in, but of course I haven’t a room for her. I washed and ironed everything today. Too tired for anything went to bed before dark – about 7:30 I guess.
(I do not know who Attilla was, or even if that is a first name or last name. Harry and his wife Mabel seemed to have trouble providing a stable home for their daughter Winifred. You can read more about Winifred on this post.)
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Sunday, July 11, 1926
Sunday, July 11, 1926
Cool
Took all the family to Sunday school and then after dinner I rested – had an awful headache for a couple hours in the middle of the day – while Gilbert took Dick and Dale for a bike. They went to Riverside, then walked south along the river to the 26th St. bathing beach and report it a fine place although too cool today to go in.
(I'm not sure if Gilbert would have ridden a bike, since his right leg was shorter than his left leg and there were times he had to use a cane to walk. Perhaps he walked along as the boys rode their bikes? I imagine after an afternoon out with the boys, Gilbert might have had some aches and pains from all the walking.)
Cool
Took all the family to Sunday school and then after dinner I rested – had an awful headache for a couple hours in the middle of the day – while Gilbert took Dick and Dale for a bike. They went to Riverside, then walked south along the river to the 26th St. bathing beach and report it a fine place although too cool today to go in.
(I'm not sure if Gilbert would have ridden a bike, since his right leg was shorter than his left leg and there were times he had to use a cane to walk. Perhaps he walked along as the boys rode their bikes? I imagine after an afternoon out with the boys, Gilbert might have had some aches and pains from all the walking.)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Saturday, July 10, 1926
Saturday, July 10, 1926
Cool
(Must have been a busy day if all Grandma put in her diary was "cool" for the type of weather. Aunt Marjorie sent me some more info on what they did for 4th of July fireworks.
"Eleanor and I usually stood on the front porch and tossed lady fingers to the ground (about one inch long). The boys used larger firecrackers. I only remember one time Dale shot a roman candle from the porch, stretching his arm out over the yard. Apparently he thought it wasn't a good idea. The rest of the family stayed on the porch while Dale shot roman candles, fountains, on the walk close to the street. I sort of remember Mother making Ned and me wait until 8:00 AM to start shooting off firecrackers. Mother also wouldn't let us run with our sparklers.
The only mishap we ever had was when Mary Wells dropped her punk (what they lit fireworks off of) in a box of Ned's firecrackers on the front porch. Firecrackers, fountains, roman candles, etc. were shooting all over the porch. All the kids in the neighborhood jumped off the porch rails to the ground except me. I remember crouching against the wall, terrified, when Dick pushed out the window screen and pulled me into the house. I was probably 3 or 4."
Marjorie also noted that Dick died on July 4th when he was 54 years old and that we had severe storms that day.
Cool
(Must have been a busy day if all Grandma put in her diary was "cool" for the type of weather. Aunt Marjorie sent me some more info on what they did for 4th of July fireworks.
"Eleanor and I usually stood on the front porch and tossed lady fingers to the ground (about one inch long). The boys used larger firecrackers. I only remember one time Dale shot a roman candle from the porch, stretching his arm out over the yard. Apparently he thought it wasn't a good idea. The rest of the family stayed on the porch while Dale shot roman candles, fountains, on the walk close to the street. I sort of remember Mother making Ned and me wait until 8:00 AM to start shooting off firecrackers. Mother also wouldn't let us run with our sparklers.
The only mishap we ever had was when Mary Wells dropped her punk (what they lit fireworks off of) in a box of Ned's firecrackers on the front porch. Firecrackers, fountains, roman candles, etc. were shooting all over the porch. All the kids in the neighborhood jumped off the porch rails to the ground except me. I remember crouching against the wall, terrified, when Dick pushed out the window screen and pulled me into the house. I was probably 3 or 4."
Marjorie also noted that Dick died on July 4th when he was 54 years old and that we had severe storms that day.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Friday, July 9, 1926
Friday, July 9, 1926
Rain
Went down town and got me a pair of white shoes, not much for looks but so comfortable. The two older boys are in and out all the time so I put Marjorie to sleep and left her in Albert’s care. Took Ned with me. Marjorie slept all the time I was gone. I bought some more berries of Smith and made jelly and Jam all afternoon in my new shoes and they didn’t hurt a bit.
(Albert was six and a half years old when Grandma left him in charge of the baby, Marjorie, who was around 9 months old at the time. I think it was much different in the 1920's or she would not have done that.)
Rain
Went down town and got me a pair of white shoes, not much for looks but so comfortable. The two older boys are in and out all the time so I put Marjorie to sleep and left her in Albert’s care. Took Ned with me. Marjorie slept all the time I was gone. I bought some more berries of Smith and made jelly and Jam all afternoon in my new shoes and they didn’t hurt a bit.
(Albert was six and a half years old when Grandma left him in charge of the baby, Marjorie, who was around 9 months old at the time. I think it was much different in the 1920's or she would not have done that.)
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Thursday, July 8, 1926
Thursday, July 8, 1926
Managed to get some sewing done by letting the house go. The boys all got together and made a dam down at the creek and had a swimming hole. They think they are great swimmers. Take their bathing suits and have a great time. I hardly saw them today.
(I'm still amazed at the amount of freedom the older boys had, to go to the park where the creek was and dam it up to great their own little swimming hole. I suspect the water was not all that clean, even though we think that there wasn't pollution "back then".)
Managed to get some sewing done by letting the house go. The boys all got together and made a dam down at the creek and had a swimming hole. They think they are great swimmers. Take their bathing suits and have a great time. I hardly saw them today.
(I'm still amazed at the amount of freedom the older boys had, to go to the park where the creek was and dam it up to great their own little swimming hole. I suspect the water was not all that clean, even though we think that there wasn't pollution "back then".)
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Wednesday, July 7, 1926
Wednesday, July 7, 1926
Got some raspberries and canned a few and made some jelly. With ironing, etc. I was pretty busy. Mama wants me to come over one day but I don’t see how I can. I just must go down town one day my shoes hurt my feet so I go around bare footed half the time.
(Grandma had a busy day. I wonder where she got the raspberries? I know she has written about "Smith the Vegetable Man" who went door to door selling vegetables, I think.)
Got some raspberries and canned a few and made some jelly. With ironing, etc. I was pretty busy. Mama wants me to come over one day but I don’t see how I can. I just must go down town one day my shoes hurt my feet so I go around bare footed half the time.
(Grandma had a busy day. I wonder where she got the raspberries? I know she has written about "Smith the Vegetable Man" who went door to door selling vegetables, I think.)
Friday, July 06, 2007
Tuesday, July 6, 1926
Tuesday, July 6, 1926
I washed and the boys cleaned the yard. They did a pretty good job of it too.
(I assume the boys had to clean up all the debris leftover from their fireworks from the day before.)
I washed and the boys cleaned the yard. They did a pretty good job of it too.
(I assume the boys had to clean up all the debris leftover from their fireworks from the day before.)
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Monday, July 5, 1926
Monday, July 5, 1926
Cloudy
The boys celebrated the 4th of July and for once they had plenty of fireworks. They shot them continually except when they carried papers and in the evening they gave some to the neighbor kids so as to get them all shot today. The baby laughed in glee at the sparklers but she and Ned both went to sleep long before we had shot them all.
Cloudy
The boys celebrated the 4th of July and for once they had plenty of fireworks. They shot them continually except when they carried papers and in the evening they gave some to the neighbor kids so as to get them all shot today. The baby laughed in glee at the sparklers but she and Ned both went to sleep long before we had shot them all.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Sunday, July 4, 1926
Sunday, July 4, 1926
Hot
The kids of the neighborhood fired all day but our boys never shot a cracker. They are pretty good that way. They went to the show when it opened at 2:30 and stayed till dark. Gilbert went down town to see one so the babies and I stayed home and rested. While they napped I lay and read. Mama and Papa went with Guys to Turkey Run.
(Apparently, the boys didn't shoot off their fireworks because it was Sunday. Sundays were different "back then". I don't usually read about Grandma doing laundry or ironing or anything like that on Sundays. They did sometimes go to a movie or swimming in the afternoon.
Turkey Run is a state park, and "Guys" refers to Grandma's brother Guy and his family.)
Hot
The kids of the neighborhood fired all day but our boys never shot a cracker. They are pretty good that way. They went to the show when it opened at 2:30 and stayed till dark. Gilbert went down town to see one so the babies and I stayed home and rested. While they napped I lay and read. Mama and Papa went with Guys to Turkey Run.
(Apparently, the boys didn't shoot off their fireworks because it was Sunday. Sundays were different "back then". I don't usually read about Grandma doing laundry or ironing or anything like that on Sundays. They did sometimes go to a movie or swimming in the afternoon.
Turkey Run is a state park, and "Guys" refers to Grandma's brother Guy and his family.)
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Saturday, July 3, 1926
Saturday, July 3, 1926
Hot
The boys bought another News route of 28 customers of a boy named Virgil Dove. Paid 10 cents a customer, but found there were really only 27 customers and the boy was behind and owed the news man about $1.25 more than he told Dale. But at that, the route was cheap and although Dale was disgusted that a boy should be so lax about paying for his papers he said “Well, I’ll bet when I get paid up once I’ll never fall behind like that.” And I’ll bet he won’t either. He takes the new route and leaves Dick the one of 18 customers.
(Sounds like Dale showed signs early on of having a talent for running a business.
I didn't realize newspaper routes were bought and sold like that. Today, around here, there are no young boys (or girls) delivering papers. It is all adults.)
Hot
The boys bought another News route of 28 customers of a boy named Virgil Dove. Paid 10 cents a customer, but found there were really only 27 customers and the boy was behind and owed the news man about $1.25 more than he told Dale. But at that, the route was cheap and although Dale was disgusted that a boy should be so lax about paying for his papers he said “Well, I’ll bet when I get paid up once I’ll never fall behind like that.” And I’ll bet he won’t either. He takes the new route and leaves Dick the one of 18 customers.
(Sounds like Dale showed signs early on of having a talent for running a business.
I didn't realize newspaper routes were bought and sold like that. Today, around here, there are no young boys (or girls) delivering papers. It is all adults.)
Monday, July 02, 2007
Friday, July 2, 1926
Friday, July 2, 1926
Hot
The truck from the plant brought the fire works out and such a bunch of boys as gathered on our porch to see them!
(Fireworks, the delight of every little boy, even in the 1920's. I wonder how safe they were? Mom talked about the boys shooting Roman Candles off the front porch, what else did they have?)
Hot
The truck from the plant brought the fire works out and such a bunch of boys as gathered on our porch to see them!
(Fireworks, the delight of every little boy, even in the 1920's. I wonder how safe they were? Mom talked about the boys shooting Roman Candles off the front porch, what else did they have?)
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Thursday, July 1, 1926
Thursday, July 1, 1926
Got a good early start and went to Mama’s. Papa had saved all the dishes since Tuesday as he has to do all the work out there and doesn’t like the job. Mama is doing fine doesn’t feel so bad except her hands are both crippled now, one with rheumatism and the other swollen from her fall.
(I don't know why, but I found it humorous that my great-grandfather (Papa) didn't like to wash dishes, so left them for Grandma to do.)
Got a good early start and went to Mama’s. Papa had saved all the dishes since Tuesday as he has to do all the work out there and doesn’t like the job. Mama is doing fine doesn’t feel so bad except her hands are both crippled now, one with rheumatism and the other swollen from her fall.
(I don't know why, but I found it humorous that my great-grandfather (Papa) didn't like to wash dishes, so left them for Grandma to do.)
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Wednesday, June 30, 1926
Wednesday, June 30, 1926
Hot
Got up early feeling fine. Canned a few red plums which we had got to eat but didn’t like and made 3 glasses of jelly. Cleaned up the house a little and made me a dress of lavender striped with black and white – sport style.
(More canning and on a hot day. It must have really been hot in that kitchen.
I am having a hard time visualizing what a "sport style" dress looked like in the 1920's. I also can't believe she made it in one day.)
Hot
Got up early feeling fine. Canned a few red plums which we had got to eat but didn’t like and made 3 glasses of jelly. Cleaned up the house a little and made me a dress of lavender striped with black and white – sport style.
(More canning and on a hot day. It must have really been hot in that kitchen.
I am having a hard time visualizing what a "sport style" dress looked like in the 1920's. I also can't believe she made it in one day.)
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tuesday, June 29, 1926
Tuesday, June 29, 1926
Hot
Mama had to have help and as I had my ironing on hand I sent Dale over. He seeded her cherries, combed her hair, went to the store for her and came back in time for his news route.
(Awhile back, Grandma wrote in her diary that she couldn't get Dale to stop playing and help with anything. Seems like he was a big help on this day.)
Hot
Mama had to have help and as I had my ironing on hand I sent Dale over. He seeded her cherries, combed her hair, went to the store for her and came back in time for his news route.
(Awhile back, Grandma wrote in her diary that she couldn't get Dale to stop playing and help with anything. Seems like he was a big help on this day.)
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Monday, June 28, 1926
Monday, June 28, 1926
Hot
Mama had a few cherries on her little trees which she picked this AM and afternoon started down town to get an electric treatment for her rheumatism, which still bothers her left hand and wrist, when she caught her heel on the step and fell injuring her right hand and bruising her shoulder and hip. She went on to town later and got her treatment which she needed worse than ever. Her wrist was sprained I guess. Swelled up a lot. I washed.
(I wonder what the electric treatments were like?)
Hot
Mama had a few cherries on her little trees which she picked this AM and afternoon started down town to get an electric treatment for her rheumatism, which still bothers her left hand and wrist, when she caught her heel on the step and fell injuring her right hand and bruising her shoulder and hip. She went on to town later and got her treatment which she needed worse than ever. Her wrist was sprained I guess. Swelled up a lot. I washed.
(I wonder what the electric treatments were like?)
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Sunday, June 27, 1926
Sunday, June 27, 1926
All went to Sunday school.
(I think that nearly every Sunday Grandma went to church and/or Sunday School, unless she was sick or one of the kids was sick. We always had a picture of her in our living room that was of her in her Sunday best, standing in the foyer of the church. I would guess she was in her sixties in that picture, and I recall she had on a hat and was wearing white gloves.)
All went to Sunday school.
(I think that nearly every Sunday Grandma went to church and/or Sunday School, unless she was sick or one of the kids was sick. We always had a picture of her in our living room that was of her in her Sunday best, standing in the foyer of the church. I would guess she was in her sixties in that picture, and I recall she had on a hat and was wearing white gloves.)
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Saturday, June 26, 1926
Grandma resumed writing in her diary on the 27th.
I think from reading past Saturday entries in her diaries, that Saturdays were particularly busy, getting everyone cleaned up for church and also straightening up the house in case they had any family or friends stop by on Sunday.
I think from reading past Saturday entries in her diaries, that Saturdays were particularly busy, getting everyone cleaned up for church and also straightening up the house in case they had any family or friends stop by on Sunday.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Friday, June 25, 1926
No diary entry again today. I checked Grandma's diary entry from a year ago and they were picking and seeding cherries. Dick was sick at the time, and Albert was still recovering from the "glandular fever" that he had for so long. I assume they were working on cherries again this year.
Someone commented asking what was my favorite memory of Grandma. I guess it would be going over there on Sunday afternoons and picking Lily of the Valley flowers or being upstairs discovering all kinds of old things hidden away. Sometimes we would get to play the old record player, an Edison, that you had to crank by hand. What I wish now is that Grandma would have still had a piano so we could have heard her play it. Until I read these diaries, I did not know she ever played the piano.
I also liked to go in her backyard with her and see the old "cigar tree", which I now know was a Catalpa tree, and the remnants of a little fish pond nearby.
Someone commented asking what was my favorite memory of Grandma. I guess it would be going over there on Sunday afternoons and picking Lily of the Valley flowers or being upstairs discovering all kinds of old things hidden away. Sometimes we would get to play the old record player, an Edison, that you had to crank by hand. What I wish now is that Grandma would have still had a piano so we could have heard her play it. Until I read these diaries, I did not know she ever played the piano.
I also liked to go in her backyard with her and see the old "cigar tree", which I now know was a Catalpa tree, and the remnants of a little fish pond nearby.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Thursday, June 24, 1926
No diary entry for this day. Aunt Marjorie has been sending me notes every few weeks with her comments on the diary so I can post those online, and my mom (Eleanor) comments frequently. In some of the notes Marjorie sent me, she wrote the following about their life:
"I loved clothes probably because I didn't have many. I supposed I was a typical whining kid who wanted 'things', and I remember wanting new shoes and told Mother that Joanne (a neighbor) had two pairs of shoes, and Mother said, "Joann has a father." End of discussion."
Gilbert, Ruth's husband and my grandfather, died in 1935, when Marjorie was almost 10 and Eleanor was almost 6. Following that, Grandma did go back to work, at Tech High School, but never made much money. The older boys helped financially as they could, I believe. Aunt Marjorie said that Grandma never discussed her finances with her or Mom.
Does it make a difference reading the diary to know that Grandma would be a widow in less than 10 years?
"I loved clothes probably because I didn't have many. I supposed I was a typical whining kid who wanted 'things', and I remember wanting new shoes and told Mother that Joanne (a neighbor) had two pairs of shoes, and Mother said, "Joann has a father." End of discussion."
Gilbert, Ruth's husband and my grandfather, died in 1935, when Marjorie was almost 10 and Eleanor was almost 6. Following that, Grandma did go back to work, at Tech High School, but never made much money. The older boys helped financially as they could, I believe. Aunt Marjorie said that Grandma never discussed her finances with her or Mom.
Does it make a difference reading the diary to know that Grandma would be a widow in less than 10 years?
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Wednesday, June 23, 1926
No diary entry again today. My guess is that during these days, she was too busy canning cherries to write in her diary. It seems like she often got overly tired or hot, and I would guess the kitchen was very hot with the stove going for canning. Plus, none of her other daily work like washing clothes, ironing (and ironing and ironing), cooking and caring for an infant, a toddler, and three young boys stopped just because the cherries were ripe.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Tuesday, June 22, 1926
I just realized that Grandma didn't write in her diary today, or for the next several days. This might be a good time for me to take a break for a few days or I can answer specific questions about Grandma that readers might have, perhaps clear up some confusion? Comment if you have any questions!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Monday, June 21, 1926
Monday, June 21, 1926
Washed and prepared to put up the cherries. The boys began picking them but our trees are so big they can not get so many that hang in the top and out far on the big limbs. Our ladder isn’t the right kind.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Why don't I see cherry trees in Indianapolis yards these days? Is it because mothers are working in offices and companies and don't have time to seed cherries? What a loss!"
My other grandmother also did a lot of canning, in quantities we can't even imagine today. But if she didn't can, they didn't have anything to eat in the winter! They usually canned 2,500 quarts of fruits and vegetables every year. I don't think Grandma Ruth canned quite that much at all. I guess that was the difference of living in the city versus the country).
Washed and prepared to put up the cherries. The boys began picking them but our trees are so big they can not get so many that hang in the top and out far on the big limbs. Our ladder isn’t the right kind.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Why don't I see cherry trees in Indianapolis yards these days? Is it because mothers are working in offices and companies and don't have time to seed cherries? What a loss!"
My other grandmother also did a lot of canning, in quantities we can't even imagine today. But if she didn't can, they didn't have anything to eat in the winter! They usually canned 2,500 quarts of fruits and vegetables every year. I don't think Grandma Ruth canned quite that much at all. I guess that was the difference of living in the city versus the country).
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Sunday, June 20, 1926
Sunday, June 20, 1926
Took Ned to Sunday school and stayed with him in the baby room to get him accustomed to going but he is painfully bashful. In the afternoon Gilbert took the three boys to Broad Ripple to swim and I would have taken the babies to the folks but our trees are hanging red with cherries so I had to stay home to guard them but only caught one thief, Frances Miller who tumbled off the fence trying to get them while they have two trees fuller in their own yard. But her own mother told me once that “corn tastes better gotten out of some farmers field” so what can expect?
(My, my, a thief in the neighborhood! Who could believe that such a thing would happen? I guess Grandma knew what she was doing when she decided to stay home to guard her cherry tree!
By the way, this is the 500th entry posted from Grandma's diaries. We are about half way through the three years that I have. I hope you are enjoying this glimpse into the past, of how one woman raised her family in the 1920's.)
Took Ned to Sunday school and stayed with him in the baby room to get him accustomed to going but he is painfully bashful. In the afternoon Gilbert took the three boys to Broad Ripple to swim and I would have taken the babies to the folks but our trees are hanging red with cherries so I had to stay home to guard them but only caught one thief, Frances Miller who tumbled off the fence trying to get them while they have two trees fuller in their own yard. But her own mother told me once that “corn tastes better gotten out of some farmers field” so what can expect?
(My, my, a thief in the neighborhood! Who could believe that such a thing would happen? I guess Grandma knew what she was doing when she decided to stay home to guard her cherry tree!
By the way, this is the 500th entry posted from Grandma's diaries. We are about half way through the three years that I have. I hope you are enjoying this glimpse into the past, of how one woman raised her family in the 1920's.)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Saturday, June 19, 1926
There is no diary entry for this day. Instead, I will share some information that Aunt Marjorie provided on the family's reaction to Albert converting to Catholicism and becoming a Jesuit priest. He was ordained on June 14, 1954.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I saw your blog last night and saw that one of your readers asked how Albert became a convert and what was the family reaction. Someone asked Albert what started his interest in Catholicism and he said that in high school he learned type writing and was practicing by copying the dictionary and his interest was piqued by the word "sacraments". (I believe that was the word he said.)
When he went to Harvard, with a full scholarship (they probably thought he would someday make a lot of money and bequeath his fortune to the school), he majored in science and math. He apparently told some of his fellow students that a certain professor was a communist. That professor heard this and was so angry Albert was banned from the science department. So Albert changed his major to theology.
Apparently sometime later that professor was actually convicted as being a communist. I can't verify this - I have no names or dates. Being in high school at the time I didn't pay that much attention to my brother's life.
In college Albert made many Catholic friends, men and women, in an association or club, probably many students. One of his friends was Avery Dulles (son of John Foster Dulles) who graduated top in his class. He became a Jesuit priest and became a Cardinal. He also was a convert - his parents were Presbyterians, I recall. Albert graduated 2nd in his class.
Upon graduation, Albert went to a novitiate program on a mountain side in Los Gatos, California. (Albert told me Los Gatos meant "city of cats".)
Mother was disappointed Albert didn't marry and have children but there were no hysterics or trauma about Albert's decision to become a Jesuit priest. The different relatives were interested, surprised, maybe amused by Albert's conversion, except Aunt Bess who had stories to tell about Catholics taking young people in hiding to keep them away from their families.
One of the times Dale visited Albert he wrote Mother that Albert had found his niche in life and was happy in his life, which made Mother happy."
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I saw your blog last night and saw that one of your readers asked how Albert became a convert and what was the family reaction. Someone asked Albert what started his interest in Catholicism and he said that in high school he learned type writing and was practicing by copying the dictionary and his interest was piqued by the word "sacraments". (I believe that was the word he said.)
When he went to Harvard, with a full scholarship (they probably thought he would someday make a lot of money and bequeath his fortune to the school), he majored in science and math. He apparently told some of his fellow students that a certain professor was a communist. That professor heard this and was so angry Albert was banned from the science department. So Albert changed his major to theology.
Apparently sometime later that professor was actually convicted as being a communist. I can't verify this - I have no names or dates. Being in high school at the time I didn't pay that much attention to my brother's life.
In college Albert made many Catholic friends, men and women, in an association or club, probably many students. One of his friends was Avery Dulles (son of John Foster Dulles) who graduated top in his class. He became a Jesuit priest and became a Cardinal. He also was a convert - his parents were Presbyterians, I recall. Albert graduated 2nd in his class.
Upon graduation, Albert went to a novitiate program on a mountain side in Los Gatos, California. (Albert told me Los Gatos meant "city of cats".)
Mother was disappointed Albert didn't marry and have children but there were no hysterics or trauma about Albert's decision to become a Jesuit priest. The different relatives were interested, surprised, maybe amused by Albert's conversion, except Aunt Bess who had stories to tell about Catholics taking young people in hiding to keep them away from their families.
One of the times Dale visited Albert he wrote Mother that Albert had found his niche in life and was happy in his life, which made Mother happy."
Monday, June 18, 2007
Friday, June 18, 1926
Friday, June 18, 1926
Still tired and my arms arched from holding Marjorie 6 hours Wednesday. Besides wearing my good shoes makes my foot hurt so badly. Pains run through that toe I hurt last winter till I can hardly stand it. The boys made a dam at the creek and think they really can swim. They are crazy to show Daddy.
(I think Grandma suffered with poor feet most of her life.
In her family history, Grandma wrote that Gilbert (Daddy) was a very good swimmer, in spite of having one leg shorter than the other. He swam well enough to once save another boy from drowning. Several times she mentions him taking the boys swimming; I think it was one sport he could participate in with them.)
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "The creek was two blocks away and runs thorugh Brookside Park and Spades Park, split by Rural Street over the bridge. When I was young, one of the Hildebrandt kids got typhoid fever by taking a drink out of that creek."
Yuck, seems like they had water pollution even back then. I suspect that raw sewage might have been dumped into those creeks. Still today in Indianapolis, if there are a lot of storms, the sewers can overflow into the creeks. They are working to correct that!)
Still tired and my arms arched from holding Marjorie 6 hours Wednesday. Besides wearing my good shoes makes my foot hurt so badly. Pains run through that toe I hurt last winter till I can hardly stand it. The boys made a dam at the creek and think they really can swim. They are crazy to show Daddy.
(I think Grandma suffered with poor feet most of her life.
In her family history, Grandma wrote that Gilbert (Daddy) was a very good swimmer, in spite of having one leg shorter than the other. He swam well enough to once save another boy from drowning. Several times she mentions him taking the boys swimming; I think it was one sport he could participate in with them.)
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "The creek was two blocks away and runs thorugh Brookside Park and Spades Park, split by Rural Street over the bridge. When I was young, one of the Hildebrandt kids got typhoid fever by taking a drink out of that creek."
Yuck, seems like they had water pollution even back then. I suspect that raw sewage might have been dumped into those creeks. Still today in Indianapolis, if there are a lot of storms, the sewers can overflow into the creeks. They are working to correct that!)
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Thursday, June 17, 1926
Thursday, June 17, 1926
Too tired to do much after yesterday’s stunt. Continued from yesterday anywa.
Then when things started up the Collins kids wanted to go on the sky rocket and that was one thing my boys thought was dangerous and didn’t want to go on so I told Mrs. C. to go on and take hers and my boys went somewhere else so from that time on till 3 when we left I sat on a bench and watched the coats and baskets, held the baby and hardly saw the others. When the time came I got my boys together and came home sore and tired. Good time! But never again. But I might have known. Mac’s dropped in while we were eating.
(I would guess that Grandma was not prepared for company when Mac's dropped. That would be one of Gilbert's best friends and his wife.
And why did they have coats with them in June?)
Too tired to do much after yesterday’s stunt. Continued from yesterday anywa.
Then when things started up the Collins kids wanted to go on the sky rocket and that was one thing my boys thought was dangerous and didn’t want to go on so I told Mrs. C. to go on and take hers and my boys went somewhere else so from that time on till 3 when we left I sat on a bench and watched the coats and baskets, held the baby and hardly saw the others. When the time came I got my boys together and came home sore and tired. Good time! But never again. But I might have known. Mac’s dropped in while we were eating.
(I would guess that Grandma was not prepared for company when Mac's dropped. That would be one of Gilbert's best friends and his wife.
And why did they have coats with them in June?)
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Wednesday, June 16, 1926
Wednesday, June 16, 1926
Cloudy
Well the East End Milk co. had a picnic at Riverside and the boys were all set to take their lunch and go alone when Mrs. Collins came over and urged me to go too. “Come lets go and take all the kids. I’ll help you with the babies and it will be fun” Well that way Albert would get to go so I consented and hustled to get ready. We got out there about 11 and the rest went on the caterpillar while I held Marjorie. But such a mob! They had to wait about an hour to get on. Then I started to go on something and they all stopped for lunch so we ate. (I don’t care for sandwiches) next page.
(What an adventerous day. Grandma continues the story tomorrow...)
Cloudy
Well the East End Milk co. had a picnic at Riverside and the boys were all set to take their lunch and go alone when Mrs. Collins came over and urged me to go too. “Come lets go and take all the kids. I’ll help you with the babies and it will be fun” Well that way Albert would get to go so I consented and hustled to get ready. We got out there about 11 and the rest went on the caterpillar while I held Marjorie. But such a mob! They had to wait about an hour to get on. Then I started to go on something and they all stopped for lunch so we ate. (I don’t care for sandwiches) next page.
(What an adventerous day. Grandma continues the story tomorrow...)
Friday, June 15, 2007
Tuesday, June 15, 1926
Tuesday, June 15, 1926
Oh the boys are so cross and noisy they nearly finish me. I feel as if it will be a miracle if I remain alive when school takes up. They have cut loose and are just running wild. I do hope they quiet down and get used to vacation. I am thankful for the news route as it gives them a job and they go at three promptly and give me a little breathing spell.
(I have a hard time imagining my uncles as these "wild little boys". I wonder how bad they really were, or if Grandma was just extra sensitive to their noisy ways.)
Oh the boys are so cross and noisy they nearly finish me. I feel as if it will be a miracle if I remain alive when school takes up. They have cut loose and are just running wild. I do hope they quiet down and get used to vacation. I am thankful for the news route as it gives them a job and they go at three promptly and give me a little breathing spell.
(I have a hard time imagining my uncles as these "wild little boys". I wonder how bad they really were, or if Grandma was just extra sensitive to their noisy ways.)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Monday, June 14, 1926
Monday, June 14, 1926
Hot
The boys were gone all morning with the Millers to the Pure Oil barns wherever they are. They got good and tired – got caught in a thunder storm and said they didn’t see why they wanted to go there anyway – there was nothing to see or do when they got there. So I hope they are cured of wanting to go with them. They are just dumb hicks and have no ideals at all. By the way they were to move but that has all fallen through so we still have to contend with.
(I can't imagine that today anyone would let their kids go off with neighbors like that, not knowing where exactly they were going. It sure was different in the 1920's! I do admire Grandma for letting the boys have experiences like this, doing something with neighbors she didn't really approve of, so they could learn for themselves and figure it out themselves. I assume she judged the neighbors harmless, or she wouldn't let the boys go off with them like that.)
Hot
The boys were gone all morning with the Millers to the Pure Oil barns wherever they are. They got good and tired – got caught in a thunder storm and said they didn’t see why they wanted to go there anyway – there was nothing to see or do when they got there. So I hope they are cured of wanting to go with them. They are just dumb hicks and have no ideals at all. By the way they were to move but that has all fallen through so we still have to contend with.
(I can't imagine that today anyone would let their kids go off with neighbors like that, not knowing where exactly they were going. It sure was different in the 1920's! I do admire Grandma for letting the boys have experiences like this, doing something with neighbors she didn't really approve of, so they could learn for themselves and figure it out themselves. I assume she judged the neighbors harmless, or she wouldn't let the boys go off with them like that.)
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Sunday, June 13, 1926
Sunday, June 13, 1926
Hot – rain cooler
Had a long quiet restful day at home and I needed it too. Had a headache. Nerves I guess and then from getting so hot yesterday too I guess. Dad was here till late in the afternoon. He took quite a shine to Marjorie. Says she is just about the best and happiest baby he has ever seen. It seems to me he makes over her more than he ever did one of the boys. But there is no denying, the fact that she is a darling. Big, fat and pretty.
(It's nice to have a day to rest every week, and with all the work Grandma did through each week, she deserved some time to rest.)
Hot – rain cooler
Had a long quiet restful day at home and I needed it too. Had a headache. Nerves I guess and then from getting so hot yesterday too I guess. Dad was here till late in the afternoon. He took quite a shine to Marjorie. Says she is just about the best and happiest baby he has ever seen. It seems to me he makes over her more than he ever did one of the boys. But there is no denying, the fact that she is a darling. Big, fat and pretty.
(It's nice to have a day to rest every week, and with all the work Grandma did through each week, she deserved some time to rest.)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Saturday, June 12, 1926
Saturday, June 12, 1926
Hot
Turned in and cleaned the bathroom and scrubbed the kitchen the first thing reaping a rich harvest . It’s a good thing I did for just before I got done the other rooms – in walked Dad. Luckily we had nothing planned for tomorrow only I did want to go to Sunday school as Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Philputt and several others from the church are leaving for Europe next Wednesday.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "A rich harvest? Must have meant the floor was pretty dirty!"
Dad is Gilbert's father, who lived in Crawfordsville.)
Hot
Turned in and cleaned the bathroom and scrubbed the kitchen the first thing reaping a rich harvest . It’s a good thing I did for just before I got done the other rooms – in walked Dad. Luckily we had nothing planned for tomorrow only I did want to go to Sunday school as Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Philputt and several others from the church are leaving for Europe next Wednesday.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "A rich harvest? Must have meant the floor was pretty dirty!"
Dad is Gilbert's father, who lived in Crawfordsville.)
Monday, June 11, 2007
Friday, June 11, 1926
Friday, June 11, 1926
Hot
School out. The boys all got splendid marks. Albert got A’s for the last six weeks which brought his average up to B which is good, especially for a beginner. The boys are so joyous over the prospect of school out that one would think they didn’t like school. Continued from yesterday. After she left I went to the Sunday school party at Mrs. Weilands, left the children with Mama and getting back found that the three youngest had slept all the time and I had to wait till they woke up before coming home The big boys read.
(I guess Grandma believed it "let sleeping babies lie" along with toddlers and little boys!)
Hot
School out. The boys all got splendid marks. Albert got A’s for the last six weeks which brought his average up to B which is good, especially for a beginner. The boys are so joyous over the prospect of school out that one would think they didn’t like school. Continued from yesterday. After she left I went to the Sunday school party at Mrs. Weilands, left the children with Mama and getting back found that the three youngest had slept all the time and I had to wait till they woke up before coming home The big boys read.
(I guess Grandma believed it "let sleeping babies lie" along with toddlers and little boys!)
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Thursday, June 10, 1926
Thursday, June 10, 1926
Hot
Went to Mama’s and the boys came out after school. Winifred left for Hollywood, Florida. Harry has rented a flat and has everything all ready and Mable tried to persuade her to put off going said she was cramping too much but Winifred said “No, I’m going today” very emphatically. It made me long to take a journey. I haven’t been on a train for twelve years except for four miles. Winifred looked awfully pretty when she left in a flannel ensemble for Florida!! I hope she learns to use better judgment when she gets way from Mable.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I always thought Winifred was very pretty (she was about 14 years older than me). My youngest daugher has Winifred's large brown eyes."
Harry seemed to like living in Florida, and that is where he eventually settled, helping Winifred, who was widowed when her husband died in World War II, raise her twin boys.)
Hot
Went to Mama’s and the boys came out after school. Winifred left for Hollywood, Florida. Harry has rented a flat and has everything all ready and Mable tried to persuade her to put off going said she was cramping too much but Winifred said “No, I’m going today” very emphatically. It made me long to take a journey. I haven’t been on a train for twelve years except for four miles. Winifred looked awfully pretty when she left in a flannel ensemble for Florida!! I hope she learns to use better judgment when she gets way from Mable.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I always thought Winifred was very pretty (she was about 14 years older than me). My youngest daugher has Winifred's large brown eyes."
Harry seemed to like living in Florida, and that is where he eventually settled, helping Winifred, who was widowed when her husband died in World War II, raise her twin boys.)
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Wednesday, June 9, 1926
Wednesday, June 9, 1926
Fair and warm
Tried to iron but didn’t get near done. Mama came over and then when I tried to connect my iron after I bathed Marjorie I “blowed a fuse” so had to wait till the boys came back from their news routes to get me another. Then it was too late to start in again.
(I suspect blown fuses were quite common in th 1920's.)
Fair and warm
Tried to iron but didn’t get near done. Mama came over and then when I tried to connect my iron after I bathed Marjorie I “blowed a fuse” so had to wait till the boys came back from their news routes to get me another. Then it was too late to start in again.
(I suspect blown fuses were quite common in th 1920's.)
Friday, June 08, 2007
Tuesday, June 8, 1926
Tuesday, June 8, 1926
Washed and that was about all - my pep was gone after I had done that. Put Marjorie’s first colored romper on her. A pretty light blue of Ned's. It made her look awfully sweet. She doesn’t crawl yet but reaches so far she scoots over some way. I have to watch her on the porch. I put her on a rug but she gets off of it and gets awfully dirty.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Ah ha! I did wear some of Ned's cast-off clothes! According to my memory, Mother wouldn't let me wear slacks or pants when girls started wearing slacks. She always said she had enough boys and wanted me to be a girl. She eventually succumbed to the pressure of style, however.)
Washed and that was about all - my pep was gone after I had done that. Put Marjorie’s first colored romper on her. A pretty light blue of Ned's. It made her look awfully sweet. She doesn’t crawl yet but reaches so far she scoots over some way. I have to watch her on the porch. I put her on a rug but she gets off of it and gets awfully dirty.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Ah ha! I did wear some of Ned's cast-off clothes! According to my memory, Mother wouldn't let me wear slacks or pants when girls started wearing slacks. She always said she had enough boys and wanted me to be a girl. She eventually succumbed to the pressure of style, however.)
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Monday, June 7, 1926
Monday, June 7, 1926
Fair and warmer
Still cleaning house. Dale and Dick carried their papers for the first time. But oh dear! Dale can hardly bear to take the time from his play. I guess it is just boy nature but Dale seems to get lazier every day. Has a fit if I want him to go to the store or do any little thing. He seems entirely good for nothing but what I have read makes me think that it is natural for boys to go through that stage, but just the same I hardly know how to handle him. The others aren’t quite so bad but resent doing all the errands.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I simply can't imagine Dale ever having been lazy. Apparently he outgrew the lazy stage and the rest of his life he was very busy in his business, community, church, and from what I always heard, maintaining his home and gardening. I worried about one of my boys who seemed to be lazy and quite a dreamer, but apparently he woke up one day and is now a busy, successful business man. I was concerned about my children many years ago and asked Albert how to raise children. He smiled and simply said "just put your arms around them and lift up".
Albert, as has been noted before, became a Jesuit priest and had no children of his own.)
Fair and warmer
Still cleaning house. Dale and Dick carried their papers for the first time. But oh dear! Dale can hardly bear to take the time from his play. I guess it is just boy nature but Dale seems to get lazier every day. Has a fit if I want him to go to the store or do any little thing. He seems entirely good for nothing but what I have read makes me think that it is natural for boys to go through that stage, but just the same I hardly know how to handle him. The others aren’t quite so bad but resent doing all the errands.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I simply can't imagine Dale ever having been lazy. Apparently he outgrew the lazy stage and the rest of his life he was very busy in his business, community, church, and from what I always heard, maintaining his home and gardening. I worried about one of my boys who seemed to be lazy and quite a dreamer, but apparently he woke up one day and is now a busy, successful business man. I was concerned about my children many years ago and asked Albert how to raise children. He smiled and simply said "just put your arms around them and lift up".
Albert, as has been noted before, became a Jesuit priest and had no children of his own.)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Sunday, June 6, 1926
Sunday, June 6, 1926
Rainy
Children’s day at Sunday school. Got them all ready but it rained so I didn’t think best to take them and risk their getting wet as Marjorie woke up hoarse this morning and I wouldn’t make her worse for anything. Then when it was too late it stopped raining and I was sorry I didn’t take them. However Gilbert stayed home and I went to church. Enjoyed the sermon but can’t get used to the fact that the minister is a stranger. He doesn’t know me at all although I have been introduced twice.
(They did not have a car, so had to rely on walking or buses or streetcars to go anywhere. Occasionally, a neighbor with a car, like Collins, would give them a ride. I'm sure it took a lot of effort to get everyone to church each week.)
Rainy
Children’s day at Sunday school. Got them all ready but it rained so I didn’t think best to take them and risk their getting wet as Marjorie woke up hoarse this morning and I wouldn’t make her worse for anything. Then when it was too late it stopped raining and I was sorry I didn’t take them. However Gilbert stayed home and I went to church. Enjoyed the sermon but can’t get used to the fact that the minister is a stranger. He doesn’t know me at all although I have been introduced twice.
(They did not have a car, so had to rely on walking or buses or streetcars to go anywhere. Occasionally, a neighbor with a car, like Collins, would give them a ride. I'm sure it took a lot of effort to get everyone to church each week.)
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Saturday, June 5, 1926
Saturday, June 5, 1926
Finished up the two main rooms downstairs, put up pictures, curtains, etc. Have to leave the little front room till next week. I’m sorry for I want to get done and sew. But the babies take so much attention I have to stop so often and wash my hands and change, feed, etc. Lots of trouble but oh my how worth it! They are such lovely babies pretty as pictures, a china blond doll of a boy and a jolly roly poly romp of a brown eyed baby girl. Dale bought his news route he has wanted so long of Robert Miller who is leaving the neighborhood. Dick got his magazine route.
(Grandma took a lot of pride in her home and the cleanliness of it, even though she didn't have a lot of money to spend on it. Sounds like the older boys are going into business with a paper route and a magazine route.)
Finished up the two main rooms downstairs, put up pictures, curtains, etc. Have to leave the little front room till next week. I’m sorry for I want to get done and sew. But the babies take so much attention I have to stop so often and wash my hands and change, feed, etc. Lots of trouble but oh my how worth it! They are such lovely babies pretty as pictures, a china blond doll of a boy and a jolly roly poly romp of a brown eyed baby girl. Dale bought his news route he has wanted so long of Robert Miller who is leaving the neighborhood. Dick got his magazine route.
(Grandma took a lot of pride in her home and the cleanliness of it, even though she didn't have a lot of money to spend on it. Sounds like the older boys are going into business with a paper route and a magazine route.)
Monday, June 04, 2007
Friday, June 4, 1926
Friday, June 4, 1926
Rainy
Cleaned house all day. Mama came over. She was too cold at home without a fire. She brought some beautiful flowers out of her yard. Got a letter from Nell. She says the babies have improved since she took my advice that Papa sent. I do hope the little darlings will thrive now. She says they hardly seem like the same babies. I think those same looking babies couldn’t survive the summer unless they pick up.
(I can't imagine being too cold in June. Remember earlier how Grandma visited Nell's twins and they were doing poorly? I guess her suggestions helped them out. Both are still living today.)
Rainy
Cleaned house all day. Mama came over. She was too cold at home without a fire. She brought some beautiful flowers out of her yard. Got a letter from Nell. She says the babies have improved since she took my advice that Papa sent. I do hope the little darlings will thrive now. She says they hardly seem like the same babies. I think those same looking babies couldn’t survive the summer unless they pick up.
(I can't imagine being too cold in June. Remember earlier how Grandma visited Nell's twins and they were doing poorly? I guess her suggestions helped them out. Both are still living today.)
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Thursday, June 3, 1926
Thursday, June 3, 1926
Cold
Built a fire again. Cleaned house all day.
(I can't imagine it getting so cold that they would have to put a fire in the coal furnace again.)
Cold
Built a fire again. Cleaned house all day.
(I can't imagine it getting so cold that they would have to put a fire in the coal furnace again.)
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Wednesday, June 2, 1926
Wednesday, June 2, 1926
Cool
Cleaned the sitting room paper and part of the wood work. A man happened along selling Magic rug cleaner for woodwork, etc. so I bought it and it certainly is good. I don’t believe I even got it clean before. Am sorry we can’t varnish it now as it needs it awfully bad.
(Does anyone just happen along anymore, looking to sell something? Not too often!)
Cool
Cleaned the sitting room paper and part of the wood work. A man happened along selling Magic rug cleaner for woodwork, etc. so I bought it and it certainly is good. I don’t believe I even got it clean before. Am sorry we can’t varnish it now as it needs it awfully bad.
(Does anyone just happen along anymore, looking to sell something? Not too often!)
Friday, June 01, 2007
Tuesday, June 1, 1926
Tuesday, June 1, 1926
Cooler
Washed and ironed what I would have to have before Sunday.
(Grandma seemed to be always washing clothes and ironing them.)
Cooler
Washed and ironed what I would have to have before Sunday.
(Grandma seemed to be always washing clothes and ironing them.)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Monday, May 31, 1926
Monday, May 31, 1926
Rain part of time
I got Gilbert to clean the paper in the stairway so I could finish the rest. Then I put my clothes to soak expecting to get a lot of work done this week. Then of course I had to make fudge, in the absence of cocoa I made it white with nuts and raisins in it. It was good, too.
(Grandma had a sweet tooth, I think.)
Rain part of time
I got Gilbert to clean the paper in the stairway so I could finish the rest. Then I put my clothes to soak expecting to get a lot of work done this week. Then of course I had to make fudge, in the absence of cocoa I made it white with nuts and raisins in it. It was good, too.
(Grandma had a sweet tooth, I think.)
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Sunday, May 30, 1926
Sunday, May 30, 1926
The boys went to Sunday school by themselves as usual and Gilbert and I started out together and I helped him on the College car with the babies then walked on to church. I waved at Mrs. Smith across the church and wanted to speak to her but when I got to her place she was gone. Then a lady asked me if I was a stranger, the new minister doesn’t know me at all and I felt like crying as I left the church although the sermon was fine. The boys read most of the time and behaved better than usual so we are enjoyed the day very well.
(I think Grandma knew the previous minister quite well, as he performed her wedding ceremony. But it is was a fairly large church, so it was probably difficult for the new minister to meet everyone. Here's a link with some more information on the history of the church they attended.)
The boys went to Sunday school by themselves as usual and Gilbert and I started out together and I helped him on the College car with the babies then walked on to church. I waved at Mrs. Smith across the church and wanted to speak to her but when I got to her place she was gone. Then a lady asked me if I was a stranger, the new minister doesn’t know me at all and I felt like crying as I left the church although the sermon was fine. The boys read most of the time and behaved better than usual so we are enjoyed the day very well.
(I think Grandma knew the previous minister quite well, as he performed her wedding ceremony. But it is was a fairly large church, so it was probably difficult for the new minister to meet everyone. Here's a link with some more information on the history of the church they attended.)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Saturday, May 29, 1926
Saturday, May 29, 1926
Was pretty tired today and didn’t get my room finished. I felt like I could never go anyplace it tires me so the next day that it takes away all pleasure.
(Grandma seems to have a good day followed by a bad day most of the time).
Was pretty tired today and didn’t get my room finished. I felt like I could never go anyplace it tires me so the next day that it takes away all pleasure.
(Grandma seems to have a good day followed by a bad day most of the time).
Monday, May 28, 2007
Friday, May 28, 1926
Friday, May 28, 1926
Hot
Wanted to get the boys' room cleaned but had to get clothes, etc. ready to go to the May festival of the school at Caleb Mills hall this evening. Each room was represented and they certainly presented a lovely program of song, dances and drills. Dale was in a flag drill but the other two boys' classes were represented by girls only. We took the babies and all went. Marjorie was a little noisy and hard to hold but she wasn’t bad and Ned did fine too till just at the last he got tired. We all enjoyed it very much.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "As I recall Caleb Mills Hall was at Shortridge High School. Apparently, School 54 did not have an auditorium yet.
Grandma graduated from Shortridge High School in 1910 and her graduation program indicates it took place in Caleb Mills Hall, too.
Another famous Shortridge graduate was the author Kurt Vonnegut. He wrote, "“It's my dream of America with great public schools. I thought we should be the envy of the world with our public schools. And I went to such a public school. So I knew that such a school was possible. Shortridge High School in Indianapolis produced not only me, but the head writer on the I LOVE LUCY show. And, my God, we had a daily paper, we had a debating team, had a fencing team. We had a chorus, a jazz band, a serious orchestra. And all this with a Great Depression going on. And I wanted everybody to have such a school.”
Senator Richard Lugar also graduated from Shortridge.
All of Grandma's children graduated from Arsenal Technical High School (If you click on that link, be aware it plays some music.))
Hot
Wanted to get the boys' room cleaned but had to get clothes, etc. ready to go to the May festival of the school at Caleb Mills hall this evening. Each room was represented and they certainly presented a lovely program of song, dances and drills. Dale was in a flag drill but the other two boys' classes were represented by girls only. We took the babies and all went. Marjorie was a little noisy and hard to hold but she wasn’t bad and Ned did fine too till just at the last he got tired. We all enjoyed it very much.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "As I recall Caleb Mills Hall was at Shortridge High School. Apparently, School 54 did not have an auditorium yet.
Grandma graduated from Shortridge High School in 1910 and her graduation program indicates it took place in Caleb Mills Hall, too.
Another famous Shortridge graduate was the author Kurt Vonnegut. He wrote, "“It's my dream of America with great public schools. I thought we should be the envy of the world with our public schools. And I went to such a public school. So I knew that such a school was possible. Shortridge High School in Indianapolis produced not only me, but the head writer on the I LOVE LUCY show. And, my God, we had a daily paper, we had a debating team, had a fencing team. We had a chorus, a jazz band, a serious orchestra. And all this with a Great Depression going on. And I wanted everybody to have such a school.”
Senator Richard Lugar also graduated from Shortridge.
All of Grandma's children graduated from Arsenal Technical High School (If you click on that link, be aware it plays some music.))
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thursday, May 27, 1926
Thursday, May 27, 1926
Cleaned the front room up stairs. Wall paper, etc., got it all done, even the curtains up.
(Spring cleaning continued!)
Cleaned the front room up stairs. Wall paper, etc., got it all done, even the curtains up.
(Spring cleaning continued!)
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Wednesday, May 26, 1926
Wednesday, May 26, 1926
Fair and warm
Cleaned the attics. Mama came over before I got through. She always thinks she has to help me in whatever I do and it is laughable only hard to get my work done. I guess she really means to help, but she really comes to tell me her latest troubles with Winifred and Mable, and she talks so much, she forgets what she came for and I can’t work half so fast with anyone talking to me.
(The house as I knew it had one long attic room, which was really a room under the eaves on one side of the house. It was a dark, dusty place that we were all afraid to go into because along one wall there was a long box about the size of a coffin. Who knew what was in there?!
There were two rooms under the eaves on the other side of the upstairs, which at one time might have been attic space, but these were made in to two small rooms at some point. In one of the rooms, there was a small table next to a cot and on it was the skeleton of long-dead scorpion brought back from somewhere by one of the boys, no doubt.
There are some jobs that go faster with two people, other jobs are best done alone. I guess Grandma preferred to work alone, especially if her Mama wasn't all that interested in getting the work done, anyway.)
Fair and warm
Cleaned the attics. Mama came over before I got through. She always thinks she has to help me in whatever I do and it is laughable only hard to get my work done. I guess she really means to help, but she really comes to tell me her latest troubles with Winifred and Mable, and she talks so much, she forgets what she came for and I can’t work half so fast with anyone talking to me.
(The house as I knew it had one long attic room, which was really a room under the eaves on one side of the house. It was a dark, dusty place that we were all afraid to go into because along one wall there was a long box about the size of a coffin. Who knew what was in there?!
There were two rooms under the eaves on the other side of the upstairs, which at one time might have been attic space, but these were made in to two small rooms at some point. In one of the rooms, there was a small table next to a cot and on it was the skeleton of long-dead scorpion brought back from somewhere by one of the boys, no doubt.
There are some jobs that go faster with two people, other jobs are best done alone. I guess Grandma preferred to work alone, especially if her Mama wasn't all that interested in getting the work done, anyway.)
Friday, May 25, 2007
Tuesday, May 25, 1926
Tuesday, May 25, 1926
Hot
Got all my ironing done and some left from last week, and all put away too. Have plenty of pep again I am so thankful.
(I want some of "Papa's Tonic", whatever it was!)
Hot
Got all my ironing done and some left from last week, and all put away too. Have plenty of pep again I am so thankful.
(I want some of "Papa's Tonic", whatever it was!)
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Monday, May 24, 1926
Monday, May 24, 1926
Hot
Washed and got done fairly early. I feel lots better than I did last week. The men came this afternoon to put on the new roof.
(Coincidently, I'll be getting a new roof one week from today, meaning 81years and 1 week after Grandma got a new roof, I'm getting a new roof. I plan to be home when they do it, at least in the beginning to make sure they use the right shingles. But after awhile, I think the pounding on the roof will be annoying, so I'll leave.
"Papa's Tonic" must have done the trick to make Grandma feel better!)
Hot
Washed and got done fairly early. I feel lots better than I did last week. The men came this afternoon to put on the new roof.
(Coincidently, I'll be getting a new roof one week from today, meaning 81years and 1 week after Grandma got a new roof, I'm getting a new roof. I plan to be home when they do it, at least in the beginning to make sure they use the right shingles. But after awhile, I think the pounding on the roof will be annoying, so I'll leave.
"Papa's Tonic" must have done the trick to make Grandma feel better!)
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Sunday, May 23, 1926
Sunday, May 23, 1926
Had Papa and Mama come for dinner.
(Grandma must have been feeling better, to have company for Sunday dinner).
Had Papa and Mama come for dinner.
(Grandma must have been feeling better, to have company for Sunday dinner).
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Saturday, May 22, 1926
Saturday, May 22, 1926
Felt a little better.
(The tonic that Grandma's papa sent over must have helped.)
Felt a little better.
(The tonic that Grandma's papa sent over must have helped.)
Monday, May 21, 2007
Friday, May 21, 1926
Friday, May 21, 1926
Hot
Mildred and Carl were here for supper.
(Mildred was Grandma's niece and Carl was Mildred's husband.)
Hot
Mildred and Carl were here for supper.
(Mildred was Grandma's niece and Carl was Mildred's husband.)
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Thursday, May 20, 1926
Thursday, May 20, 1926
The Sunday school entertained their mothers at Mrs. Chantilla White on N. Meridian St. so I got the babies ready. Met Mama at Penn. St. and went. Marjorie went to sleep going and slept all afternoon upstairs on a bed till time to put our wraps on. Everyone admired her then and I certainly am proud to “show her off”. She is such a pretty little baby – not little either – big for her age. But just so sweet and jolly and lovable.
(From reading the diaries, it appears as though most of Grandma's social life was related to her church acvtivities.)
The Sunday school entertained their mothers at Mrs. Chantilla White on N. Meridian St. so I got the babies ready. Met Mama at Penn. St. and went. Marjorie went to sleep going and slept all afternoon upstairs on a bed till time to put our wraps on. Everyone admired her then and I certainly am proud to “show her off”. She is such a pretty little baby – not little either – big for her age. But just so sweet and jolly and lovable.
(From reading the diaries, it appears as though most of Grandma's social life was related to her church acvtivities.)
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Wednesday, May 19, 1926
Wednesday, May 19, 1926
Felt like I was at the end of my string today. Had to lie down most of the time. Called Papa up and told him my troubles so he said he would send a tonic out. I haven’t an ache or a pain but feel as if every step would be my last.
(I wonder what was wrong with Grandma, and what was in the tonic her father sent to her?)
Felt like I was at the end of my string today. Had to lie down most of the time. Called Papa up and told him my troubles so he said he would send a tonic out. I haven’t an ache or a pain but feel as if every step would be my last.
(I wonder what was wrong with Grandma, and what was in the tonic her father sent to her?)
Friday, May 18, 2007
Tuesday, May 18, 1926
Tuesday, May 18, 1926
Fair and warm
I got up pep enough to wash and that’s about all.
(Seems Grandma was still wiped out from their day-trip to Crawfordsville.)
Fair and warm
I got up pep enough to wash and that’s about all.
(Seems Grandma was still wiped out from their day-trip to Crawfordsville.)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Monday, May 17, 1926
Monday, May 17, 1926
Dead tired. I talked to Papa about the twins and he told me to tell Nell to stop boiling their milk and to put lime water and essence of pancreatin in their feedings, so I wrote to her right away. Was too tired to do any work anyway. I do hope I can help do those babies some good. Bess says she won’t listen to anybody and seems to think they are ok although they can not hold their heads up at five months. But I suspect it is Bess she won’t listen to. She thinks she knows so much more than anyone else, and really knows the least, and is overbearing I don’t blame Nell for not heeding her.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "By the time the twins and I were running around and playing my recollection was that they were as husky and big as much as I was."
By the way, here's a picture of Bess from when she was younger.)
Dead tired. I talked to Papa about the twins and he told me to tell Nell to stop boiling their milk and to put lime water and essence of pancreatin in their feedings, so I wrote to her right away. Was too tired to do any work anyway. I do hope I can help do those babies some good. Bess says she won’t listen to anybody and seems to think they are ok although they can not hold their heads up at five months. But I suspect it is Bess she won’t listen to. She thinks she knows so much more than anyone else, and really knows the least, and is overbearing I don’t blame Nell for not heeding her.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "By the time the twins and I were running around and playing my recollection was that they were as husky and big as much as I was."
By the way, here's a picture of Bess from when she was younger.)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Sunday, May 16, 1926
Sunday, May 16, 1926
Fair and warm
Gilbert and I with the two babies got the seven o’ clock inter urban for Crawfordsville without any trouble or rush with the three biggest troublemakers gone. Nell and Mike came in to Dad’s for dinner and we took pictures of all the babies. Nell’s poor little twins are so weak and poor. They cry so pitifully and their eyes look so pitiful and their little faces drawn up and wrinkled like little old women. They remind me of Mother Smith the day before she died. Their hands like bird claws. I wish I knew something to do for them. Marjorie was so lively. She rompered all day in the pink of condition, made friends with everybody.
(I had to laugh about Grandma referring to Dale, Dick and Albert as "troublemakers". Marjorie wrote that "the boys must have had to walk about half a mile to Grandpa Smith's house. Grandpa must have met the boys where they got off the interurban", referring to their trip yesterday.
Nell is one of Gilbert's older sisters, and Mike is her husband. The twins were born on Christmas Day 1925, so were just a few months younger than Marjorie. Grandma wasn't too complimentary on how they looked, but I think was genuinely concerned for their health and well-being.)
Fair and warm
Gilbert and I with the two babies got the seven o’ clock inter urban for Crawfordsville without any trouble or rush with the three biggest troublemakers gone. Nell and Mike came in to Dad’s for dinner and we took pictures of all the babies. Nell’s poor little twins are so weak and poor. They cry so pitifully and their eyes look so pitiful and their little faces drawn up and wrinkled like little old women. They remind me of Mother Smith the day before she died. Their hands like bird claws. I wish I knew something to do for them. Marjorie was so lively. She rompered all day in the pink of condition, made friends with everybody.
(I had to laugh about Grandma referring to Dale, Dick and Albert as "troublemakers". Marjorie wrote that "the boys must have had to walk about half a mile to Grandpa Smith's house. Grandpa must have met the boys where they got off the interurban", referring to their trip yesterday.
Nell is one of Gilbert's older sisters, and Mike is her husband. The twins were born on Christmas Day 1925, so were just a few months younger than Marjorie. Grandma wasn't too complimentary on how they looked, but I think was genuinely concerned for their health and well-being.)
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Saturday, May 15, 1926
Saturday, May 15, 1926
Got the boys off to Crawfordsville, their first trip out of town alone.
(I think this is why Grandma didn't have time to post on the 14th. She was too busy getting her oldest three boys ready to go out of town, alone. I think they took a bus, the "interurban".)
Got the boys off to Crawfordsville, their first trip out of town alone.
(I think this is why Grandma didn't have time to post on the 14th. She was too busy getting her oldest three boys ready to go out of town, alone. I think they took a bus, the "interurban".)
Monday, May 14, 2007
Friday, May 14, 1926
No diary entry for today. Based on what is coming up for Grandma for the weekend, I can understand why she was too busy to write an entry on this day. Stay tuned to see what happens tomorrow.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Thursday, May 13, 1926
Thursday, May 13, 1926
Partly cloudy
(Another day when it seemd that Grandma had time to only record two words about the weather. We all have days like that at times!)
Partly cloudy
(Another day when it seemd that Grandma had time to only record two words about the weather. We all have days like that at times!)
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Wednesday, May 12, 1926
Wednesday, May 12, 1926
Fair and warmer
Mildred’s wedding day
(Mildred, born on March 13, 1904, was the daughter of Grandma's brother, Guy, and his first wife Ella. According to the family history that Grandma wrote, Mildred married Carl Nash and lived in Brownsburg, Indiana all of her married life. She had two children, Joyce Eileen, born June 1, 1929, and James Carl, born June 6, 1932.
It's interesting how the generations overlap. Mildred is my mom's cousin, but my mom (Eleanor) was not born until 1929, so she was more the age of Mildred's children.
Guy and Ella had another daughter, Onarga, and two sons, Robert and Donald. Guy divorced Ella in 1930, and married a woman named Vangie, who worked for him. Onarga (who went by Nan) was also working for her father at the time, but left after the divorce.)
Fair and warmer
Mildred’s wedding day
(Mildred, born on March 13, 1904, was the daughter of Grandma's brother, Guy, and his first wife Ella. According to the family history that Grandma wrote, Mildred married Carl Nash and lived in Brownsburg, Indiana all of her married life. She had two children, Joyce Eileen, born June 1, 1929, and James Carl, born June 6, 1932.
It's interesting how the generations overlap. Mildred is my mom's cousin, but my mom (Eleanor) was not born until 1929, so she was more the age of Mildred's children.
Guy and Ella had another daughter, Onarga, and two sons, Robert and Donald. Guy divorced Ella in 1930, and married a woman named Vangie, who worked for him. Onarga (who went by Nan) was also working for her father at the time, but left after the divorce.)
Friday, May 11, 2007
Tuesday, May 11, 1926
Tuesday, May 11, 1926
Fair and cool
("Fair and cool" is all Grandma wrote on this day.)
Fair and cool
("Fair and cool" is all Grandma wrote on this day.)
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Monday, May 10, 1926
Monday, May 10, 1926
Cool and rainy
Built another fire
(It must have been quite a bit of work to heat a house with a coal furnace. I assume that's the fire they built because they didn't have any fireplaces in the house. It must have gotten very cold for them to build another fire in the furnace.)
Cool and rainy
Built another fire
(It must have been quite a bit of work to heat a house with a coal furnace. I assume that's the fire they built because they didn't have any fireplaces in the house. It must have gotten very cold for them to build another fire in the furnace.)
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Sunday, May 9, 1926
Sunday, May 9, 1926
Hot – rain – cooler
Mother’s Day – took Marjorie to Sunday school for her first time and finally got the prize for having the youngest daughter there. When Albert, Dick were both little they were the youngest but they never gave the prize to boys, so they didn’t count. But now I have it at last. After Sunday school we went to the folks and I had to give my prize flowers to Mama as I was too poor to buy her anything. Guys came in and brought us home and I was so grateful as I was afraid Marjorie was too cool and would take more cold.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote that Grandma told her the flowers were sweet peas.)
Hot – rain – cooler
Mother’s Day – took Marjorie to Sunday school for her first time and finally got the prize for having the youngest daughter there. When Albert, Dick were both little they were the youngest but they never gave the prize to boys, so they didn’t count. But now I have it at last. After Sunday school we went to the folks and I had to give my prize flowers to Mama as I was too poor to buy her anything. Guys came in and brought us home and I was so grateful as I was afraid Marjorie was too cool and would take more cold.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote that Grandma told her the flowers were sweet peas.)
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Saturday, May 8, 1926
Saturday, May 8, 1926
Hot
The boys took their lunches and with four others of the neighborhood followed the creek up to where they call “Cherry Hole”. They left at 8:00 and were gone to 3:30. Had a big time - saw a snake, etc. These boys don’t appreciate their privileges or what a good time they are having. That’s all right. I want them to look back on their childhood as happy days. I don’t , only a few days – most of them were long, lonely days, and I guess the same is true of Gilbert. Of course I was uneasy about them but I shant let my fears spoil their fun.
(These boys were young by today's standards to be going off like that for a day. Dale, the oldest, was not quite ten, Dick was about eight, and Albert was six. But I guess it was different back then, it must have been.
Grandma wrote in her family history that her family moved around a lot when she was younger, and because she was shy, she didn't make friends quickly. So she spent a lot of time by herself or with her mother.
Gilbert suffered as a child from something they called "white fever" which affected his hip, so he was bedridden for several months and didn't start school until he was almost 8 years old. And then he had to use crutches or a cane because the illness, whatever it was, left him with one leg shorter than the other. I'm sure it was not easy to be different and older than your classmates, but Grandma wrote that he quickly caught up with schoolwork and I think eventually ended up at least going to school with kids his own age. He also had two older sisters that, according to Grandma's history, tried to tell him what to do all the time!)
Hot
The boys took their lunches and with four others of the neighborhood followed the creek up to where they call “Cherry Hole”. They left at 8:00 and were gone to 3:30. Had a big time - saw a snake, etc. These boys don’t appreciate their privileges or what a good time they are having. That’s all right. I want them to look back on their childhood as happy days. I don’t , only a few days – most of them were long, lonely days, and I guess the same is true of Gilbert. Of course I was uneasy about them but I shant let my fears spoil their fun.
(These boys were young by today's standards to be going off like that for a day. Dale, the oldest, was not quite ten, Dick was about eight, and Albert was six. But I guess it was different back then, it must have been.
Grandma wrote in her family history that her family moved around a lot when she was younger, and because she was shy, she didn't make friends quickly. So she spent a lot of time by herself or with her mother.
Gilbert suffered as a child from something they called "white fever" which affected his hip, so he was bedridden for several months and didn't start school until he was almost 8 years old. And then he had to use crutches or a cane because the illness, whatever it was, left him with one leg shorter than the other. I'm sure it was not easy to be different and older than your classmates, but Grandma wrote that he quickly caught up with schoolwork and I think eventually ended up at least going to school with kids his own age. He also had two older sisters that, according to Grandma's history, tried to tell him what to do all the time!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
