Thursday, February 10, 1927
Word came this morning that Uncle John died last night, suddenly without a minute’s warning. He felt the same as usual, worked, came home to his new house he had been in only two weeks, went to bed and died!
(Uncle John was John Jordan, Grandma Campbell's brother. I assume he lived in or around Gibson City, Illinois where they had a farm.)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Wednesday, February 9, 1927
Wednesday, February 9, 1927
Washed curtains, etc. Just got done as Mama came over bringing a dress for me to help her finish up to wear to OES tonight. We only got it done – pressed, etc. at five & she went home.
(OES is Order of the Eastern Star. I don't know if Grandma was ever a member.)
Washed curtains, etc. Just got done as Mama came over bringing a dress for me to help her finish up to wear to OES tonight. We only got it done – pressed, etc. at five & she went home.
(OES is Order of the Eastern Star. I don't know if Grandma was ever a member.)
Friday, February 08, 2008
Tuesday, February 8, 1927
Tuesday, February 8, 1927
Spring – slightly cloudy & cooler
(Yes, that's all Grandma wrote on this particular day. It won't be springlike today in 2008!)
Spring – slightly cloudy & cooler
(Yes, that's all Grandma wrote on this particular day. It won't be springlike today in 2008!)
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Monday, February 7, 1927
Monday, February 7, 1927
Warm - springlike
Ironed all day when I wasn’t out chasing Marjorie. I put her on the porch to play and she decided to see the world, so I put on my coat, let her go where she wanted to and went with her. She wore herself out walking, called on Mrs. Complin and then took a long nap.
(According to Aunt Marjorie, Mrs. Complin lived across the street.
There can indeed be some nice days in February.)
Warm - springlike
Ironed all day when I wasn’t out chasing Marjorie. I put her on the porch to play and she decided to see the world, so I put on my coat, let her go where she wanted to and went with her. She wore herself out walking, called on Mrs. Complin and then took a long nap.
(According to Aunt Marjorie, Mrs. Complin lived across the street.
There can indeed be some nice days in February.)
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Sunday, February 6, 1927
Sunday, February 6, 1927
Warm
Albert’s birthday. Guy, Ella and their two boys took dinner with us. The boys had a big time. Guy was not feeling well – looks awfully bad and I believed is so worried he can’t stand it long.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I wonder what Uncle Guy was so worried about? He did have heart problems when he was caught having an affair with Vangie, but I'm sure that was after Eleanor was born (1929). He had angina until he died at about age 85.)
Warm
Albert’s birthday. Guy, Ella and their two boys took dinner with us. The boys had a big time. Guy was not feeling well – looks awfully bad and I believed is so worried he can’t stand it long.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I wonder what Uncle Guy was so worried about? He did have heart problems when he was caught having an affair with Vangie, but I'm sure that was after Eleanor was born (1929). He had angina until he died at about age 85.)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Saturday, February 5, 1927
Saturday, February 5, 1927
Still have cold enough that I’ve not much “pep”. Ironed what I had to have to keep us clean over Sunday and that is about all.
Still have cold enough that I’ve not much “pep”. Ironed what I had to have to keep us clean over Sunday and that is about all.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Friday, February 4, 1927
Friday, February 4, 1927
The service man came and reversed the new motor, that was all it needed. Left at 11 o’clock when I began to wash.
(I guess Gilbert wasn't "mechanically minded"? I would guess the motor didn't come with great instructions.)
The service man came and reversed the new motor, that was all it needed. Left at 11 o’clock when I began to wash.
(I guess Gilbert wasn't "mechanically minded"? I would guess the motor didn't come with great instructions.)
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Thursday, February 3, 1927
Thursday, February 3, 1927
Gilbert forgot to call the service man, so I didn’t get to wash. Mama came over, and I felt just too lazy to work anyway. Marjorie is a darling these days, so short to be walking. Mama curled her hair over her finger real cute.
(It was Thursday, and Grandma usually washed clothes on Mondays. She must have been getting pretty far behind on the laundry.)
Gilbert forgot to call the service man, so I didn’t get to wash. Mama came over, and I felt just too lazy to work anyway. Marjorie is a darling these days, so short to be walking. Mama curled her hair over her finger real cute.
(It was Thursday, and Grandma usually washed clothes on Mondays. She must have been getting pretty far behind on the laundry.)
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Wednesday, February 2, 1927
Wednesday, February 2, 1927
Gilbert thought he had washing machine just about fixed as he had bought a new motor, but somehow it won’t go so we have to send for a service man after all.
Gilbert thought he had washing machine just about fixed as he had bought a new motor, but somehow it won’t go so we have to send for a service man after all.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Tuesday, February 1, 1927
Tuesday, February 1, 1927
Cool, windy
Jessie and Clarence stopped for a little visit as they happened to be in the city – bringing Roy’s babies back to their mother after having them over a year at their house.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Jessie and Clarence Plough lived in Tipton, I think, and Jessie was an old friend of Mother's. They never had children and I have no idea who Roy was. Clarence abandoned Jessie and ran away with a friend's wife. I seem to remember their affiar was discovered when they had an auto wrreck. I think I also kind of remember the "other woman's" husband commited suicide. Anyway, Mother told me to always be careful who I chose as a friend. She probably got acquainted with Jessie when visiting her brother in Tipton. I believe Jessie was original Jessie Cunningham."
Oh my, tha'ts quite a story!
Cool, windy
Jessie and Clarence stopped for a little visit as they happened to be in the city – bringing Roy’s babies back to their mother after having them over a year at their house.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Jessie and Clarence Plough lived in Tipton, I think, and Jessie was an old friend of Mother's. They never had children and I have no idea who Roy was. Clarence abandoned Jessie and ran away with a friend's wife. I seem to remember their affiar was discovered when they had an auto wrreck. I think I also kind of remember the "other woman's" husband commited suicide. Anyway, Mother told me to always be careful who I chose as a friend. She probably got acquainted with Jessie when visiting her brother in Tipton. I believe Jessie was original Jessie Cunningham."
Oh my, tha'ts quite a story!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 31, 1927
Monday, January 31, 1927
Can’t seem to get rid of my cold or Marjorie’s or Ned’s either. Our furnace bowl has a crack in it and smoke comes up when we open the door to put coke in. I think that helps keep our respiratory tubes irritated.
(I still think there was something wrong with their furnace and they had a lot of fumes in the house, which is one Grandma seemed to have headaches and feel "bum" so often.)
Can’t seem to get rid of my cold or Marjorie’s or Ned’s either. Our furnace bowl has a crack in it and smoke comes up when we open the door to put coke in. I think that helps keep our respiratory tubes irritated.
(I still think there was something wrong with their furnace and they had a lot of fumes in the house, which is one Grandma seemed to have headaches and feel "bum" so often.)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Sunday, January 30, 1927
Sunday, January 30, 1927
The ice just about gone. I believe Guys could have come in if they had wanted to. But I guess Ella is pretty nervous when there is any danger of skidding.
("Guys" is how she refers to her brother Guy (actually Geoge Guy Campbell) and his family. Sounds like they were going to come for a vist and didn't make it. I'm sure Grandma was disappointed, given how depressed she seemed to be.)
The ice just about gone. I believe Guys could have come in if they had wanted to. But I guess Ella is pretty nervous when there is any danger of skidding.
("Guys" is how she refers to her brother Guy (actually Geoge Guy Campbell) and his family. Sounds like they were going to come for a vist and didn't make it. I'm sure Grandma was disappointed, given how depressed she seemed to be.)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Saturday, January 29, 1927
Saturday, January 29, 1927
Fair & Melting
If I could just get out a little I would feel better, but I don’t have a decent coat and hat this winter and see little chance of getting any soon although there are sales now, but I won’t run Gilbert in debt again.
(Entries like this make me wonder...)
Fair & Melting
If I could just get out a little I would feel better, but I don’t have a decent coat and hat this winter and see little chance of getting any soon although there are sales now, but I won’t run Gilbert in debt again.
(Entries like this make me wonder...)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Friday, January 28, 1927
Friday, January 28, 1927
Ice – Fair
I suppose it is my cold that makes me feel so blue and depressed these days. My thoughts are too gloomy to set down, I don’t want to remember them.
(Sounds to me like Grandma might have had what we call today Seasonal Affective Disorder, or worse.)
Ice – Fair
I suppose it is my cold that makes me feel so blue and depressed these days. My thoughts are too gloomy to set down, I don’t want to remember them.
(Sounds to me like Grandma might have had what we call today Seasonal Affective Disorder, or worse.)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Thursday, January 27, 1927
Thursday, January 27, 1927
Fair
Felt awfully bum with a cold. Ironed all day. Blew out the last fuse we had last night and all had to go to bed by candle light early. Those things frighten Albert so, he is so nervous he almost acts insane sometimes.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I remember being very frightened when the fuse would blow out. Must have been the age."
I wonder how Albert did act when that happened.)
Fair
Felt awfully bum with a cold. Ironed all day. Blew out the last fuse we had last night and all had to go to bed by candle light early. Those things frighten Albert so, he is so nervous he almost acts insane sometimes.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I remember being very frightened when the fuse would blow out. Must have been the age."
I wonder how Albert did act when that happened.)
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Wednesday, January 26, 1927
Wednesday, January 26, 1927
Taking cold today – felt miserable. Cleaned bathroom and floors. Everything outside a glare of ice, no one out except those that have to be who wear ice creepers on their shoes.
(I'd like to see these "ice creepers" that they wore on their shoes. And I wonder if they put salts on the sidewalks and roads to melt the snow like we do today?)
Taking cold today – felt miserable. Cleaned bathroom and floors. Everything outside a glare of ice, no one out except those that have to be who wear ice creepers on their shoes.
(I'd like to see these "ice creepers" that they wore on their shoes. And I wonder if they put salts on the sidewalks and roads to melt the snow like we do today?)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Tuesday, January 25, 1927
Tuesday, January 25, 1927
Colder
Still icy though it is worn off some in streets by the skid chains. Made another cute dress for Marjorie out of some more scraps left from Christmas apron I made.
(We certainly don't use skid chains on tires any more!)
Colder
Still icy though it is worn off some in streets by the skid chains. Made another cute dress for Marjorie out of some more scraps left from Christmas apron I made.
(We certainly don't use skid chains on tires any more!)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Monday, January 24, 1927
Monday, January 24, 1927
Ice continues. Fair
Gilbert wore his ice creepers and got along very well. I made a pretty little dress for Marjorie – out of scraps. I have to take all my pleasure in fixing her up cute as that costs practically nothing now. It takes so little to make her a little dress.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mother always had scraps of lace, etc. and made very pretty dresses for me and Eleanor. But after she had to go work when Eleanor was about ten, she didn't have as much time to sew."
I think Grandma enjoyed sewing and creating, and she certainly didn't let any fabric go to waste.)
Ice continues. Fair
Gilbert wore his ice creepers and got along very well. I made a pretty little dress for Marjorie – out of scraps. I have to take all my pleasure in fixing her up cute as that costs practically nothing now. It takes so little to make her a little dress.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mother always had scraps of lace, etc. and made very pretty dresses for me and Eleanor. But after she had to go work when Eleanor was about ten, she didn't have as much time to sew."
I think Grandma enjoyed sewing and creating, and she certainly didn't let any fabric go to waste.)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Sunday, January 23, 1927
Sunday, January 23, 1927
Rain and ice
Ice everywhere – a good excuse not to go to Sunday School in my tacky old hat. Dale and Dick went. Had a good long day here with the family and so slick no one ventured out that didn’t have to go. Found kitchen drain pipe had a hole in it.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Women always wore hats those days. I always wore hats, too, I believe, until the early 1960's. Mother was shocked when I went to Uncle Guy's funeral without wearing a hat, but saw that some of the other woment weren't wearing hats, either."
Grandma worked as a milliner, a hat maker, before she got married, so she seemed to be particularly fond of good, stylish hats, though it appears she couldn't afford them most of the time.)
Rain and ice
Ice everywhere – a good excuse not to go to Sunday School in my tacky old hat. Dale and Dick went. Had a good long day here with the family and so slick no one ventured out that didn’t have to go. Found kitchen drain pipe had a hole in it.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Women always wore hats those days. I always wore hats, too, I believe, until the early 1960's. Mother was shocked when I went to Uncle Guy's funeral without wearing a hat, but saw that some of the other woment weren't wearing hats, either."
Grandma worked as a milliner, a hat maker, before she got married, so she seemed to be particularly fond of good, stylish hats, though it appears she couldn't afford them most of the time.)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Saturday, January 22, 1927
Saturday, January 22, 1927
Marjorie so fussy these days but no wonder, three jaw teeth coming through and a belated upper third front tooth which should have been here months ago.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I was always late in getting teeth and late in losing them when I was in school. Permanent teeth would come in and baby teeth were still firmly in place. This was why I had braces on my teeth. And my four brothers and sister had perfect teeth - it wasn't fair!)
Marjorie so fussy these days but no wonder, three jaw teeth coming through and a belated upper third front tooth which should have been here months ago.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I was always late in getting teeth and late in losing them when I was in school. Permanent teeth would come in and baby teeth were still firmly in place. This was why I had braces on my teeth. And my four brothers and sister had perfect teeth - it wasn't fair!)
Monday, January 21, 2008
Friday, January 21, 1927
Friday, January 21, 1927
The laundry didn’t come back till after supper last night so I had to iron today. Had to clean the windows first as Ned had smeared a solution of chalk and water over them to “clean” – was too tired to move by supper time, although Gilbert urged me to go to a comedy with the boys. I went to bed instead.
(I think there were times that Gilbert worried because Grandma seemed to be spend so much time at home, washing clothes, darning, sewing, cooking, cleaning and generally taking care of everyone.)
The laundry didn’t come back till after supper last night so I had to iron today. Had to clean the windows first as Ned had smeared a solution of chalk and water over them to “clean” – was too tired to move by supper time, although Gilbert urged me to go to a comedy with the boys. I went to bed instead.
(I think there were times that Gilbert worried because Grandma seemed to be spend so much time at home, washing clothes, darning, sewing, cooking, cleaning and generally taking care of everyone.)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Thursday, January 20, 1927
Thursday, January 20, 1927
Cloudy
My poor teething baby cried so much last night and this morning. I felt all day as if something tragic inside of me would burst any minute. I must keep myself together for the sake of the children, but it is hard.
Cloudy
My poor teething baby cried so much last night and this morning. I felt all day as if something tragic inside of me would burst any minute. I must keep myself together for the sake of the children, but it is hard.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Wednesday, January 19, 1927
Wednesday, January 19, 1927
Rain
A couple of invitations over the phone today, one for Sunday School class tomorrow and missionary next Tuesday but I know I shan’t go unless a miracle happens for a I feel so shabby and I’d rather stay home if I can’t go feeling on equal footing with the others.
(Money was tight and I assume there was no money for store-bought clothes. It seems that Grandma made nearly all the clothes they wore. Grandma seemed to be a 'home-body' and wrote in her family history that she was very shy as a child.)
Rain
A couple of invitations over the phone today, one for Sunday School class tomorrow and missionary next Tuesday but I know I shan’t go unless a miracle happens for a I feel so shabby and I’d rather stay home if I can’t go feeling on equal footing with the others.
(Money was tight and I assume there was no money for store-bought clothes. It seems that Grandma made nearly all the clothes they wore. Grandma seemed to be a 'home-body' and wrote in her family history that she was very shy as a child.)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Tuesday, January 18, 1927
Tuesday, January 18, 1927
Warmer and slushy
Cleaned out all of the darning that had stacked up since Marjorie was born. The first time, I believe I’ve had everything darned up. A peaceful quiet day. I wonder how long it will last?
(That's over a year's worth of darning she caught up on.)
Warmer and slushy
Cleaned out all of the darning that had stacked up since Marjorie was born. The first time, I believe I’ve had everything darned up. A peaceful quiet day. I wonder how long it will last?
(That's over a year's worth of darning she caught up on.)
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Monday, January 17, 1927
Monday, January 17, 1927
The plumber fixed our pipes this AM and Gilbert went to work at noon. I put in the afternoon making my new Christmas table cloth. Everything OK again except the kitchen drain and the washing machine.
(It seems not everything could be fixed at once! I wonder why Grandma was working on a Christmas table cloth in January?)
The plumber fixed our pipes this AM and Gilbert went to work at noon. I put in the afternoon making my new Christmas table cloth. Everything OK again except the kitchen drain and the washing machine.
(It seems not everything could be fixed at once! I wonder why Grandma was working on a Christmas table cloth in January?)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Sunday, January 16, 1927
Sunday, January 16, 1927
Warming up
I was almost sick from my cold walk with Dick Friday night and felt as if I couldn’t get my work done soon enough to take a hot bath and crawl in bed when “Bang” our water coil burst, putting the fire out and Gilbert put in hours building a new fire, and no water.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I think the water coil was keeping our water warm in the wintertime. When there was no fire in the furnace we had to light the heater to have a hot bath."
I believe they had quite a modern home compared to my other grandparents... I think my Dad told stories of heating water on a wood stove for bathing.)
Warming up
I was almost sick from my cold walk with Dick Friday night and felt as if I couldn’t get my work done soon enough to take a hot bath and crawl in bed when “Bang” our water coil burst, putting the fire out and Gilbert put in hours building a new fire, and no water.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I think the water coil was keeping our water warm in the wintertime. When there was no fire in the furnace we had to light the heater to have a hot bath."
I believe they had quite a modern home compared to my other grandparents... I think my Dad told stories of heating water on a wood stove for bathing.)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Saturday, January 15, 1927
Saturday, January 15, 1927
Cold and clear
Never got the frost off of the windows all day although it did get warmer in the afternoon. The double on the corner caught fire from burning rags around water pipes to thaw them. Dick took his own route today and Gilbert sat up over the register. I went down to the office for a new batch of medicine.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "We never had storm windows until I was probably half grown. The windows were frequently frosted over in winter. There were often three or four of us standing over the one big register in the bathroom, and the large one (about a yard square) between the living room and the dining room. The warm air went up the stairway and warmed the upstairs hall. In winter we kept the upstairs bedroom doors closed except Saturday when we changed the beds and cleaned the rooms. How I loved springtime!)
"Down to the office" meant a trip to Grandma's father's office.
Cold and clear
Never got the frost off of the windows all day although it did get warmer in the afternoon. The double on the corner caught fire from burning rags around water pipes to thaw them. Dick took his own route today and Gilbert sat up over the register. I went down to the office for a new batch of medicine.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "We never had storm windows until I was probably half grown. The windows were frequently frosted over in winter. There were often three or four of us standing over the one big register in the bathroom, and the large one (about a yard square) between the living room and the dining room. The warm air went up the stairway and warmed the upstairs hall. In winter we kept the upstairs bedroom doors closed except Saturday when we changed the beds and cleaned the rooms. How I loved springtime!)
"Down to the office" meant a trip to Grandma's father's office.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Friday, January 14, 1927
Friday, January 14, 1927
Cold wave
Both Dale and Gilbert in bed today. The rest of us had trouble keeping warm. Dick carried Dale’s route and Albert, Dick’s. They nearly froze and Dick had a chance to get home without carrying the last 6, so I had to go back with him and help carry them. Such a time, we’ll never forget.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, " Let's see, I was almost a year and a half, so Albert was almost seven years old. And he carried Dick's route! I suspect the younger boys tagged after the older ones and probably new the routes already.")
Cold wave
Both Dale and Gilbert in bed today. The rest of us had trouble keeping warm. Dick carried Dale’s route and Albert, Dick’s. They nearly froze and Dick had a chance to get home without carrying the last 6, so I had to go back with him and help carry them. Such a time, we’ll never forget.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, " Let's see, I was almost a year and a half, so Albert was almost seven years old. And he carried Dick's route! I suspect the younger boys tagged after the older ones and probably new the routes already.")
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Thursday, January 13, 1927
Thursday, January 13, 1927
Snow and rain
Had my ironing on hand. Mama was here for lunch. Just after she left, Dale came home from school sick and Gilbert came, too. Both had fever and had sore throats. So wet and slushy out.
(More sickness!)
Snow and rain
Had my ironing on hand. Mama was here for lunch. Just after she left, Dale came home from school sick and Gilbert came, too. Both had fever and had sore throats. So wet and slushy out.
(More sickness!)
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Wednesday, January 12, 1927
Wednesday, January 12, 1927
Fair
P.T.A. met but I did not go. Marjorie acted this AM as if she had headache, so I have kept up the medicine all day and by eve she seemed better. Ned better. I’m pretty good again. Gilbert put stuff in the drain pipe to clean it that nearly gassed him and he had a chill after he went to bed and took cold.
(Seems like the start of one of those spells when they all got sick one after the other.)
Fair
P.T.A. met but I did not go. Marjorie acted this AM as if she had headache, so I have kept up the medicine all day and by eve she seemed better. Ned better. I’m pretty good again. Gilbert put stuff in the drain pipe to clean it that nearly gassed him and he had a chill after he went to bed and took cold.
(Seems like the start of one of those spells when they all got sick one after the other.)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Tuesday, January 11, 1927
Tuesday, January 11, 1927
Cloudy
A little better than yesterday but still the baby is cross and perhaps a little feverish. I washed the things I couldn’t send to the laundry which took as long as the weekly wash by machine. Then I made cookies.
(I guess Grandma had some clothes she had to hand wash. In past diary entries, she noted that when she sent the laundry out, it was to the "wet wash". They charged by the pound and then brought the clothes back wet, so Grandma still had to hang them up to dry. In the winter, I assume she hung the clothes inside to dry out.)
Cloudy
A little better than yesterday but still the baby is cross and perhaps a little feverish. I washed the things I couldn’t send to the laundry which took as long as the weekly wash by machine. Then I made cookies.
(I guess Grandma had some clothes she had to hand wash. In past diary entries, she noted that when she sent the laundry out, it was to the "wet wash". They charged by the pound and then brought the clothes back wet, so Grandma still had to hang them up to dry. In the winter, I assume she hung the clothes inside to dry out.)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Monday, January 10, 1927
Monday, January 10, 1927
Sure enough Marjorie was sick – feverish last night and dull eyed today – cross. Ned – cross but not feverish. I’m sick with tonsillitis – feverish – so we all lay down all afternoon and I sent my clothes to the laundry.
(I suspect they didn't get sick from the 'too warm' house in Crawfordsvile, but by being on the interurban with others who were sick. Just a guess...)
Sure enough Marjorie was sick – feverish last night and dull eyed today – cross. Ned – cross but not feverish. I’m sick with tonsillitis – feverish – so we all lay down all afternoon and I sent my clothes to the laundry.
(I suspect they didn't get sick from the 'too warm' house in Crawfordsvile, but by being on the interurban with others who were sick. Just a guess...)
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Saturday, January 9, 1927
Sunday, January 9, 1927
Snow
We got up early to get to Crawfordsville before Sunday School time, but we missed the seven on account of the bus being late. It was real cold outside besides the snow and entirely too hot in the cars and in their house. So, I’m afraid we took cold. Nell and her twins all seem fine.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Missing the 'seven' must have meant the 7:00 AM interurban. Did they intend to go to Sunday School in Crawfordsville? The interurban ran on a track like trains but had just one car. The back of the car had an enclosed toilet. When I went to school I learned that Indianapolis was the crossroads of the nation for interurbans, which ran from one city to another.")
Snow
We got up early to get to Crawfordsville before Sunday School time, but we missed the seven on account of the bus being late. It was real cold outside besides the snow and entirely too hot in the cars and in their house. So, I’m afraid we took cold. Nell and her twins all seem fine.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Missing the 'seven' must have meant the 7:00 AM interurban. Did they intend to go to Sunday School in Crawfordsville? The interurban ran on a track like trains but had just one car. The back of the car had an enclosed toilet. When I went to school I learned that Indianapolis was the crossroads of the nation for interurbans, which ran from one city to another.")
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Saturday, January 8, 1927
Saturday, January 8, 1927
About sick myself. Had a furious headache on the top of my head. Felt like the top might blow off. Dale went down town and got me some medicine that helped. Ned had no fever.
(I still wonder why Grandma seemed to get so many headaches. Poor ventilation in the house so they were breathing fumes from the coke burning furnace? Migraines? Stress?)
About sick myself. Had a furious headache on the top of my head. Felt like the top might blow off. Dale went down town and got me some medicine that helped. Ned had no fever.
(I still wonder why Grandma seemed to get so many headaches. Poor ventilation in the house so they were breathing fumes from the coke burning furnace? Migraines? Stress?)
Monday, January 07, 2008
Friday, January 7, 1927
Friday, January 7, 1927
Fair
Ned some better but a little feverish yet. Don’t know for sure whether we will get to go to Crawfordsville Sunday or not, but am getting clothes etc. ready anyway. Had headache.
(It must have taken some time to get everyone ready for a day long visit, to start two days head to get the clothes ready. Of course, 'back then', people had far fewer clothes in their closets than we do now.)
Fair
Ned some better but a little feverish yet. Don’t know for sure whether we will get to go to Crawfordsville Sunday or not, but am getting clothes etc. ready anyway. Had headache.
(It must have taken some time to get everyone ready for a day long visit, to start two days head to get the clothes ready. Of course, 'back then', people had far fewer clothes in their closets than we do now.)
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Thursday, January 6, 1927
Thursday, January 6, 1927
Fair
Ned not much better so Papa came out in the evening to see him, brought some medicine for those glands. We don’t want another siege of glandular fever.
(For those who might be new to these diaries, Grandma's father, "Papa", was a physician. His specialty was "women's diseases" but he also was the doctor for all of his family. In 1925, Grandma wrote often about the glandular fever that Albert had for what seemed like months.)
Fair
Ned not much better so Papa came out in the evening to see him, brought some medicine for those glands. We don’t want another siege of glandular fever.
(For those who might be new to these diaries, Grandma's father, "Papa", was a physician. His specialty was "women's diseases" but he also was the doctor for all of his family. In 1925, Grandma wrote often about the glandular fever that Albert had for what seemed like months.)
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Wednesday, January 5, 1927
Wednesday, January 5, 1927
Fair
Ned sick and feverish all day and Marjorie, the live wire making life miserable for him, teasing him whatever he did. His glands are swollen, hope it is not worse than a cold.
Fair
Ned sick and feverish all day and Marjorie, the live wire making life miserable for him, teasing him whatever he did. His glands are swollen, hope it is not worse than a cold.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Tuesday, January 4, 1927
Tuesday, January 4, 1927
Fair and warm
I might have known a storm would break after yesterday. Everything went wrong including a motor blown out on the washing machine and Ned getting up from his nap feverish.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I wonder why she didn't do the laundry on Monday?" I thought the same thing. It seems like from her diary entries, she always washed clothes on Monday. Maybe she took yesterday "off" because the older boys went back to school.)
Fair and warm
I might have known a storm would break after yesterday. Everything went wrong including a motor blown out on the washing machine and Ned getting up from his nap feverish.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I wonder why she didn't do the laundry on Monday?" I thought the same thing. It seems like from her diary entries, she always washed clothes on Monday. Maybe she took yesterday "off" because the older boys went back to school.)
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Monday, January 3, 1927
Monday, January 3, 1927
Fair
Such a peaceful, heavenly calm today with all the noisy boys busy at school. I certainly enjoyed the day and did a lot of mending as the day seemed so long. Quiet reigned, the babies playing happily. I saw The Quarterback in the evening.
(Do you suppose Grandma sent the boys to the movies twice over the weekend so she could have some peace and quiet at home?
I could not find out much about the movie she saw, The Quarterback, other than it was made in 1926 and is about college football. Seems like an odd movie for her to pick out, maybe Gilbert picked it and they went together, just to get out.)
Fair
Such a peaceful, heavenly calm today with all the noisy boys busy at school. I certainly enjoyed the day and did a lot of mending as the day seemed so long. Quiet reigned, the babies playing happily. I saw The Quarterback in the evening.
(Do you suppose Grandma sent the boys to the movies twice over the weekend so she could have some peace and quiet at home?
I could not find out much about the movie she saw, The Quarterback, other than it was made in 1926 and is about college football. Seems like an odd movie for her to pick out, maybe Gilbert picked it and they went together, just to get out.)
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Sunday, January 2, 1927
Sunday, January 2, 1927
We all went to Sunday School. After dinner the boys went to the show and then Dick and I went to C.E. and church. The old Christian Endeavor killed itself by dividing into three branches.
(Going to the show (movies) seems to have been a popular past time for the boys. Christian Endeavor was the youth program at the church.)
We all went to Sunday School. After dinner the boys went to the show and then Dick and I went to C.E. and church. The old Christian Endeavor killed itself by dividing into three branches.
(Going to the show (movies) seems to have been a popular past time for the boys. Christian Endeavor was the youth program at the church.)
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Saturday, January 1, 1927
Saturday, January 1, 1927
Worked all day, did just a little bit of everything, a good beginning for the new year. Gilbert went to the show with the boys after a late dinner and the babies and I went to bed at 6:30. I felt so bum.
(81 years later, this is how I like to start the new year, by working around the house, getting everything ready for a new beginning. However, I would never go to bed that early!)
Worked all day, did just a little bit of everything, a good beginning for the new year. Gilbert went to the show with the boys after a late dinner and the babies and I went to bed at 6:30. I felt so bum.
(81 years later, this is how I like to start the new year, by working around the house, getting everything ready for a new beginning. However, I would never go to bed that early!)
Friday, December 28, 2007
New Diary Entries for 1927
I've been looking through Grandma's 1927 diary and appears she took advantage of the new year to renew her commitment to writing something every day. So, there will be new diary entries beginning January 1st!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Christmas Candy
Making Christmas candy was a big part of the holiday celebrations for the Grandma.
Here is Grandma's father's cinnamon candy recipe, provided by Aunt Marjorie. We still use it today.
Grandpa Campbell's Cinnamon Roll
2 cups sugar (granulated)
2 Tablespoons flour (slightly rounded)
1 cup milk
1 lump butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pie pan with 1/4" +/- cinnamon spread in the bottom)
Have everything ready before you start. Have a clean marble slab or countertop greased with butter, and have a small lump of butter ready to grease your hands when ready to knead candy. Have 2" - 3" cold water in the sink, and have a lump of butter (Mother used to say "size of a walnut") and vanilla standing by the sink. I use a 3 or 4 quart dull pan (shiny stainless steel would scorch the milk).
Mix sugar and flour, mashing flour lumps into sugar with spoon so all is smooth, then add milk. Start cooking while stirring till sugar pretty well dissolved, but never stir once simmering commences. When gently boiling, cover for a few minutes. On my stove, I cook halfway between medium and medium-low to soft ball stage (234 degrees on my thermometer).
Immediately move pan to cold water in sink and add butter. Let it cool a few minutes and add vanilla, then beat (slowly will do it) till it becomes dull & no longer shiny. Turn it onto a greased counter, rub butter on your hands, and knead until you can form rolls (about the size of a roll of quarters) and roll each formed roll in the cinnamon. When firm, store in a tin until needed, then cut into little slices.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas. The next post will be Grandma's diary entry for January 1, 1927.
Here is Grandma's father's cinnamon candy recipe, provided by Aunt Marjorie. We still use it today.
Grandpa Campbell's Cinnamon Roll
2 cups sugar (granulated)
2 Tablespoons flour (slightly rounded)
1 cup milk
1 lump butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pie pan with 1/4" +/- cinnamon spread in the bottom)
Have everything ready before you start. Have a clean marble slab or countertop greased with butter, and have a small lump of butter ready to grease your hands when ready to knead candy. Have 2" - 3" cold water in the sink, and have a lump of butter (Mother used to say "size of a walnut") and vanilla standing by the sink. I use a 3 or 4 quart dull pan (shiny stainless steel would scorch the milk).
Mix sugar and flour, mashing flour lumps into sugar with spoon so all is smooth, then add milk. Start cooking while stirring till sugar pretty well dissolved, but never stir once simmering commences. When gently boiling, cover for a few minutes. On my stove, I cook halfway between medium and medium-low to soft ball stage (234 degrees on my thermometer).
Immediately move pan to cold water in sink and add butter. Let it cool a few minutes and add vanilla, then beat (slowly will do it) till it becomes dull & no longer shiny. Turn it onto a greased counter, rub butter on your hands, and knead until you can form rolls (about the size of a roll of quarters) and roll each formed roll in the cinnamon. When firm, store in a tin until needed, then cut into little slices.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas. The next post will be Grandma's diary entry for January 1, 1927.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Saturday, December 18, 1926
This would be Grandma's birthday.
She had a ring with the birthstone for December in it, which she gave to my youngest sister, her only granddaughter who also had a birthday in December. And, if she hasn't already, we would expect my sister to give that ring to one particular niece some day, the only girl in the next generation with a December birthday.
She had a ring with the birthstone for December in it, which she gave to my youngest sister, her only granddaughter who also had a birthday in December. And, if she hasn't already, we would expect my sister to give that ring to one particular niece some day, the only girl in the next generation with a December birthday.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Friday, December 17, 1926
Grandma had no more diary entries until she started her new "book of remembrance" for 1927.
At the end of her 1926 diary, she included these names and addresses, some friends long forgotten, others (the Jordan's) were her uncles, brothers of her mother.
Mrs. CC Cunningham
26 Fowler Ave
West Lafayette, Ind
H. L. Barnhart
2615 Mills Ave.
Indianapolis
Flora M. Hipp
222 Central Ave.
Andrew Jordan
208 S. Seventh Ave.
Maywood, Ill
James Jordan
221 N. Wood St.
Gibson City, Ill
John Jordan
716 N. Market St.
Bloomington, Ill
J. J. Morgan
4841 N. Capitol Ave.
Tomorrow, December 18th, is Grandma's birthday. Born in 1892, she would be 115 years old if she were alive today. Remember, the oldest person in the world lives in a nursing home not far from Indianapolis, and she was born in April 1893.
New posts of the diary will start on January 1. In the meantime, check back as I will post some of Grandma's candy recipes. Candy making was always a big part of her holiday preparations.
At the end of her 1926 diary, she included these names and addresses, some friends long forgotten, others (the Jordan's) were her uncles, brothers of her mother.
Mrs. CC Cunningham
26 Fowler Ave
West Lafayette, Ind
H. L. Barnhart
2615 Mills Ave.
Indianapolis
Flora M. Hipp
222 Central Ave.
Andrew Jordan
208 S. Seventh Ave.
Maywood, Ill
James Jordan
221 N. Wood St.
Gibson City, Ill
John Jordan
716 N. Market St.
Bloomington, Ill
J. J. Morgan
4841 N. Capitol Ave.
Tomorrow, December 18th, is Grandma's birthday. Born in 1892, she would be 115 years old if she were alive today. Remember, the oldest person in the world lives in a nursing home not far from Indianapolis, and she was born in April 1893.
New posts of the diary will start on January 1. In the meantime, check back as I will post some of Grandma's candy recipes. Candy making was always a big part of her holiday preparations.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Friday, December 10, 1926
No diary entry today! I guess Grandma was too busy making candy, getting ready for Christmas. She made candy every year for Christmas, as she had quite the sweet tooth.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Thursday, December 9, 1926
Thursday, December 9, 1926
Rainy
Mama came over early to let me go down town. Papa took me out to lunch which I enjoyed very much. I shopped and got everything from furniture (doll) to fire engines and was so laden down I hardly got on the bus. However, I made it and felt after I got home and inventoried that I hadn’t got much after all. I’m afraid my little gifts will seem cheap to the others, they are the best I can afford.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mother seemed to give us gifts we liked. Except... when I was 12 or 13 she refused to get me the Max Factor make-up I saw in the drugstores, which I was very sure would make me beautiful!"
Is anyone really satisfied with the gifts they get others?)
Rainy
Mama came over early to let me go down town. Papa took me out to lunch which I enjoyed very much. I shopped and got everything from furniture (doll) to fire engines and was so laden down I hardly got on the bus. However, I made it and felt after I got home and inventoried that I hadn’t got much after all. I’m afraid my little gifts will seem cheap to the others, they are the best I can afford.
(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mother seemed to give us gifts we liked. Except... when I was 12 or 13 she refused to get me the Max Factor make-up I saw in the drugstores, which I was very sure would make me beautiful!"
Is anyone really satisfied with the gifts they get others?)
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Wednesday, December 8, 1926
Wednesday, December 8, 1926
Warmer
Ironed and mended and put the clothes away. I answered the door when sweaty from ironing, stood there a minute in the draft and felt myself taking cold began to sneeze right away so began doctoring up but felt awfully bum by supper time. Went to bed early instead of sewing as I wanted to.
Warmer
Ironed and mended and put the clothes away. I answered the door when sweaty from ironing, stood there a minute in the draft and felt myself taking cold began to sneeze right away so began doctoring up but felt awfully bum by supper time. Went to bed early instead of sewing as I wanted to.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Tuesday, December 7, 1926
Tuesday, December 7, 1926
Cold and rain or sleet
A glare of ice everywhere. Gilbert started out but couldn’t walk except on the grass and as there was no grass down town where he would have to transfer he came back and called a taxi. The $1.15 was cheaper than a broken leg. All had melted by noon. I washed. Dick and Albert busy writing “po yems”. Albert is interested because Dick is of course. But I think Dick writes some pretty clever rhymes for a kid but I realize I may be prejudiced.
(A glare of ice could be our weather forecast for this same day in 2007. Gilbert had one leg shorter than the other so I would imagine that it was worse for him to walk on snowy or icy sidewalks than for others.
And what mother doesn't think her kids are clever and talented? I doubt any of those "po yems" were kept, but they'd be interesting to read.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Dick and Albert always liked "po yems". I still have a little book called "A Child's Garden of Verses" that I believe Dick & Albert gave me for Christmas when I was probably about eight. Several years later they gave me a big book of James Whitcomb Riley's "Complete Book of Poems". I gave that to my youngest granddaughter. I also remember that Dick was clever at drawing cartoons and caricatures."
Cold and rain or sleet
A glare of ice everywhere. Gilbert started out but couldn’t walk except on the grass and as there was no grass down town where he would have to transfer he came back and called a taxi. The $1.15 was cheaper than a broken leg. All had melted by noon. I washed. Dick and Albert busy writing “po yems”. Albert is interested because Dick is of course. But I think Dick writes some pretty clever rhymes for a kid but I realize I may be prejudiced.
(A glare of ice could be our weather forecast for this same day in 2007. Gilbert had one leg shorter than the other so I would imagine that it was worse for him to walk on snowy or icy sidewalks than for others.
And what mother doesn't think her kids are clever and talented? I doubt any of those "po yems" were kept, but they'd be interesting to read.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Dick and Albert always liked "po yems". I still have a little book called "A Child's Garden of Verses" that I believe Dick & Albert gave me for Christmas when I was probably about eight. Several years later they gave me a big book of James Whitcomb Riley's "Complete Book of Poems". I gave that to my youngest granddaughter. I also remember that Dick was clever at drawing cartoons and caricatures."
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Sunday, December 5, 1926
No diary entry today. I assume it was a typical Sunday... church, Sunday school, visiting Grandma's parents... maybe see a movie. I am still surprised that movie theaters were open on Sundays in the 1920's. Must have been about the only thing open!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Saturday, December 4, 1926
Saturday, December 4, 1926
Found of the floor of living and dining room while cleaning house. Not mussed up as much as sometimes.
1 airplane
1 doll chair
1 base ball
1 doll bed
1 market basket
1 tin cup
Pad for kitchen
Felix
1 piece toast
1 can rubber
1 tin cart and horse
1 revolver
1 cake box
Gilbert’s slippers
Ned’s hat
1 news bag
1 can opener
1 bather belt
Dale’s good pants
Albert’s good pants
Dale's news bag
1 box lid
1 box (garage)
1 iron truck
1 piece broken airplane
1 crayon
1 pencil
1 toy racer
2 rag dolls
1 tin box
1 leather whip
1 skate key
Doll's shoe
1 empty box
1 tin man
1 pair scissors
1 pencil
1 “blown up” Jack
2 rubber bands
3 paper clips
1 wheel
1 safety pin
11 Lincoln logs
6 blocks
1 doll dress
2 handerkerchiefs
1 button
1 clothes hanger
Lots of paper for Dick just got through eating a bunch of butterscotch and chocolates with tin foil on them. I don’t know how it happened that there were no gloves in the pile or marbles.
(I guess it was hard to keep the room nice and neat with four boys and a baby girl!)
Found of the floor of living and dining room while cleaning house. Not mussed up as much as sometimes.
1 airplane
1 doll chair
1 base ball
1 doll bed
1 market basket
1 tin cup
Pad for kitchen
Felix
1 piece toast
1 can rubber
1 tin cart and horse
1 revolver
1 cake box
Gilbert’s slippers
Ned’s hat
1 news bag
1 can opener
1 bather belt
Dale’s good pants
Albert’s good pants
Dale's news bag
1 box lid
1 box (garage)
1 iron truck
1 piece broken airplane
1 crayon
1 pencil
1 toy racer
2 rag dolls
1 tin box
1 leather whip
1 skate key
Doll's shoe
1 empty box
1 tin man
1 pair scissors
1 pencil
1 “blown up” Jack
2 rubber bands
3 paper clips
1 wheel
1 safety pin
11 Lincoln logs
6 blocks
1 doll dress
2 handerkerchiefs
1 button
1 clothes hanger
Lots of paper for Dick just got through eating a bunch of butterscotch and chocolates with tin foil on them. I don’t know how it happened that there were no gloves in the pile or marbles.
(I guess it was hard to keep the room nice and neat with four boys and a baby girl!)
Friday, November 30, 2007
Tuesday, November 30, 1926
No diary entry today. In fact, the next diary entry, and therefore the next post here, will be December 4th!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, November 29, 1926
Sorry, there was no diary entry for today.
Being a Monday, Grandma would have been washing clothes. And I would guess in the winter there were more clothes to wash than in the summer time.
Being a Monday, Grandma would have been washing clothes. And I would guess in the winter there were more clothes to wash than in the summer time.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sunday, November 28, 1926
Sunday, November 28, 1926
Fair
Dick and Albert have been writing to Nell while Dale was outdoors playing football. I’ll have to write to Nell and tell her not to pay any attention to the Christmas lists as so many of the things have been supplied. Dick has his shopping done and all his things wrapped. He could hardly wait to get home from Sunday school. I went and took Ned but Gilbert and Marjorie stayed home. A Mrs. Boaz from Antioch church called but I’m sure she didn’t get much encouragement. She lives close to Central!!
(I assume the "Central" Grandma referred to was their church, Central Christian Church. Just like today, it seems like people who wanted you go to their church in the 1920's showed up at the door on a Sunday morning to invite you, assuming that if you were home, you didn't go to any church.)
Fair
Dick and Albert have been writing to Nell while Dale was outdoors playing football. I’ll have to write to Nell and tell her not to pay any attention to the Christmas lists as so many of the things have been supplied. Dick has his shopping done and all his things wrapped. He could hardly wait to get home from Sunday school. I went and took Ned but Gilbert and Marjorie stayed home. A Mrs. Boaz from Antioch church called but I’m sure she didn’t get much encouragement. She lives close to Central!!
(I assume the "Central" Grandma referred to was their church, Central Christian Church. Just like today, it seems like people who wanted you go to their church in the 1920's showed up at the door on a Sunday morning to invite you, assuming that if you were home, you didn't go to any church.)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 27, 1926
Saturday, November 27, 1926
Cold
The man came to fix the window. Dick and I went down town and completed his shopping at the ten cent store. Then we met Dale who stayed with Marjorie till Daddy came. And we got them all caps. Dale got a pair of high top shoes and a sheep skin coat or rather leatherette lined with sheep skin. He is awfully proud of them both and oiled his shoes twice during the evening. I met Florence Chister and had quite a chat with her. She has three boys. Got a letter from Nell inviting us for Christmas.
(Such early gift buying and planning for Christmas surprises me!)
Cold
The man came to fix the window. Dick and I went down town and completed his shopping at the ten cent store. Then we met Dale who stayed with Marjorie till Daddy came. And we got them all caps. Dale got a pair of high top shoes and a sheep skin coat or rather leatherette lined with sheep skin. He is awfully proud of them both and oiled his shoes twice during the evening. I met Florence Chister and had quite a chat with her. She has three boys. Got a letter from Nell inviting us for Christmas.
(Such early gift buying and planning for Christmas surprises me!)
Monday, November 26, 2007
Friday, November 26, 1926
Friday, November 26, 1926
Rainy
Made Albert and Ned each a pair of pants and Dale a waist and Albert one out of an old shirt of Harry’s. Albert and Dale went bright and early to do their Christmas shopping
(Two pairs of pants, two shirts (that what a 'waist' is) in one day! That's amazing.
I'm also surprised that the boys shopped so early for Christmas. I thought that was a more recent (last several decades) phenomenon, of people shopping so early. I thought in the 1920's they wouldn't think about Christmas shopping until well into December.)
Rainy
Made Albert and Ned each a pair of pants and Dale a waist and Albert one out of an old shirt of Harry’s. Albert and Dale went bright and early to do their Christmas shopping
(Two pairs of pants, two shirts (that what a 'waist' is) in one day! That's amazing.
I'm also surprised that the boys shopped so early for Christmas. I thought that was a more recent (last several decades) phenomenon, of people shopping so early. I thought in the 1920's they wouldn't think about Christmas shopping until well into December.)
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thursday, November 25, 1926
Thursday, November 25, 1926
Rainy and cold
Had a pretty good Thanksgiving Day. The boys had to go after their papers at one but had to wait till 2:20 in the cold. The folks came here for dinner which I had at four o’clock. We had chicken, etc. and plum pudding!
(I wonder what the "etc." was. We've never had plum pudding on Thanksgiving, but I do remember that growing up Grandma always brought potato rolls for Thanksgiving. We rotated between our house (Eleanor's), Marjorie's and Ned's each year, and always had turkey.)
Rainy and cold
Had a pretty good Thanksgiving Day. The boys had to go after their papers at one but had to wait till 2:20 in the cold. The folks came here for dinner which I had at four o’clock. We had chicken, etc. and plum pudding!
(I wonder what the "etc." was. We've never had plum pudding on Thanksgiving, but I do remember that growing up Grandma always brought potato rolls for Thanksgiving. We rotated between our house (Eleanor's), Marjorie's and Ned's each year, and always had turkey.)
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Wednesday, November 24, 1926
Wednesday, November 24, 1926
Gilbert got home a little early and Dale and I went to the Piggly Wiggly and got supplies which I have been wanting for a long time. I feel this week that I will have a little money free from now on but of course not so for when I got home, Gilbert went to the library and while I was bathing the babies, Dale, and Dick got to romping. Dick picked up a rubber horse shoe and threw it at Dale who threw it back at him. Dick dodged and it went through the blind and the big front window, so there’s that to pay for. It’s getting colder, too.
(I had never heard of grocery stores called the "Piggly Wiggly" until I saw the moving "Driving Miss Daisy". I didn't know there were ever Piggly Wiggly stores in Indianapolis.)
Gilbert got home a little early and Dale and I went to the Piggly Wiggly and got supplies which I have been wanting for a long time. I feel this week that I will have a little money free from now on but of course not so for when I got home, Gilbert went to the library and while I was bathing the babies, Dale, and Dick got to romping. Dick picked up a rubber horse shoe and threw it at Dale who threw it back at him. Dick dodged and it went through the blind and the big front window, so there’s that to pay for. It’s getting colder, too.
(I had never heard of grocery stores called the "Piggly Wiggly" until I saw the moving "Driving Miss Daisy". I didn't know there were ever Piggly Wiggly stores in Indianapolis.)
Friday, November 23, 2007
Tuesday, November 23, 1926
Tuesday, November 23, 1926
Ironed all day. It was a big job for my starch stuck something awful.
(I have never used starch in my life to iron anything. What a difference there is in the clothes I wear, and how to care for them, compared to what Grandma wore in the 1920's and how she had to care for them.)
Ironed all day. It was a big job for my starch stuck something awful.
(I have never used starch in my life to iron anything. What a difference there is in the clothes I wear, and how to care for them, compared to what Grandma wore in the 1920's and how she had to care for them.)
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Monday, November 22, 1926
Monday, November 22, 1926
Fair
Had a good wash day for the first time for a long time. The clothes looked nice and white and smelled so clean! But I had no linet so used Argo starch and it got all lumpy for the colored clothes. Got Dale and Dick ready for a party at the church this evening. They took their own sandwiches and so had their supper. Dale went from Brightwood after he finished carrying his papers and Dick came home and went and had to take Robert Collins.
(Grandma finally got back to updating her diary after not updating it since November 5th.)
Fair
Had a good wash day for the first time for a long time. The clothes looked nice and white and smelled so clean! But I had no linet so used Argo starch and it got all lumpy for the colored clothes. Got Dale and Dick ready for a party at the church this evening. They took their own sandwiches and so had their supper. Dale went from Brightwood after he finished carrying his papers and Dick came home and went and had to take Robert Collins.
(Grandma finally got back to updating her diary after not updating it since November 5th.)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Wednesday, November 17, 1926
Grandma writes again in her diary on November 22nd.
I'm going to take a break from posting until then. Please come back on the 22nd for the next diary entry!
If you feel so inclined, you can delurk and leave a comment!
I'm going to take a break from posting until then. Please come back on the 22nd for the next diary entry!
If you feel so inclined, you can delurk and leave a comment!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Tuesday, November 16, 1926
No diary entry today. Grandma took several days off from writing in her diary in Novembe 1926.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Monday, November 15, 1926
No diary entry today. Aunt Marjorie wrote:
"My brothers always called Mother "mama". When I was young (probably in school by then) my playmate next door, Joann Fries, told me her mother said that calling my mother 'mama' was babyish. That embarrassed me very much, and I started consciously calling my mother 'Mother'.
It was difficult for a while but I became able to easily call mother 'Mother', always. Eleanor started using 'Mother', too. Mother never made any comment. I suspect she knew what was going on. I think one of her powers was in not telling everything she knew. The boys called her 'mama' the rest of her or their lives."
(I don't recall what my mom (Eleanor) called Grandma, but I know my Dad always called her 'Mother Smith'.)
"My brothers always called Mother "mama". When I was young (probably in school by then) my playmate next door, Joann Fries, told me her mother said that calling my mother 'mama' was babyish. That embarrassed me very much, and I started consciously calling my mother 'Mother'.
It was difficult for a while but I became able to easily call mother 'Mother', always. Eleanor started using 'Mother', too. Mother never made any comment. I suspect she knew what was going on. I think one of her powers was in not telling everything she knew. The boys called her 'mama' the rest of her or their lives."
(I don't recall what my mom (Eleanor) called Grandma, but I know my Dad always called her 'Mother Smith'.)
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Sunday, November 14, 1926
No diary entry today.
Being a Sunday, some or all of them would have gone to church at Central Christian Church in Indianapolis. It was approximately 2.5 miles away, so they would ride a bus, catch a ride with a neighbor or maybe walk. After church, they might go to Grandma's parents for a Sunday dinner, especially if one of her brothers was visiting.
In some diary entries, Grandma wrote about some of them going to see a movie on Sunday afternoons. I was a little surprised that movie theaters were open on Sundays in the 1920's. I assumed everything would be closed.
Being a Sunday, some or all of them would have gone to church at Central Christian Church in Indianapolis. It was approximately 2.5 miles away, so they would ride a bus, catch a ride with a neighbor or maybe walk. After church, they might go to Grandma's parents for a Sunday dinner, especially if one of her brothers was visiting.
In some diary entries, Grandma wrote about some of them going to see a movie on Sunday afternoons. I was a little surprised that movie theaters were open on Sundays in the 1920's. I assumed everything would be closed.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Saturday, November 13, 1926
No diary entry today.
Looking back over the various Saturdays in 1925 and 1926, and what Grandma wrote, I was surprised to find out that her husband, Gilbert, often worked on Saturdays. He worked in Accounting at the local gas company.
Looking back over the various Saturdays in 1925 and 1926, and what Grandma wrote, I was surprised to find out that her husband, Gilbert, often worked on Saturdays. He worked in Accounting at the local gas company.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Friday, November 12, 1926
No diary entry today. We continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories.
"When Daddy had to retire from work, Dale said he would leave college, but family friends and our family doctor urged him to stay in school. Jobs simply were very scarce those days and being at home he would just be another mouth to feed. Every summer, Dale worked at Swartz & Love, later Swartz & Warren, an ice cream shop at 10th and Rural St. in Indianapolis. Two months after Dale's graduation from Lake Forest, Daddy died, August 18, 1937
"When Daddy had to retire from work, Dale said he would leave college, but family friends and our family doctor urged him to stay in school. Jobs simply were very scarce those days and being at home he would just be another mouth to feed. Every summer, Dale worked at Swartz & Love, later Swartz & Warren, an ice cream shop at 10th and Rural St. in Indianapolis. Two months after Dale's graduation from Lake Forest, Daddy died, August 18, 1937
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Thursday, November 11, 1296
No diary entry today, we continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories of Dale.
"Dale was active in the alumni affairs (of Lake Forest College) through out his life. Being very interested in Hollywood stars when I was a kid, I remember Dale telling me Richard Widmark was a class or two ahead of him at Lake Forest."
(I will admit that I had to look up Richard Widmark, as I did not know who he was.)
"Dale was active in the alumni affairs (of Lake Forest College) through out his life. Being very interested in Hollywood stars when I was a kid, I remember Dale telling me Richard Widmark was a class or two ahead of him at Lake Forest."
(I will admit that I had to look up Richard Widmark, as I did not know who he was.)
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Wednesday, November 10, 1926
No diary entry today, we continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories.
"Dale also got a job as assistant gardener in a at least one of the nearby estates in Lake Forest. He was assistant to a Swedish gardener who taught Dale a lot about raising plants, which Dale loved doing and did the rest of his life. He also learned that the Swedish people ate six small meals a day."
"Dale also got a job as assistant gardener in a at least one of the nearby estates in Lake Forest. He was assistant to a Swedish gardener who taught Dale a lot about raising plants, which Dale loved doing and did the rest of his life. He also learned that the Swedish people ate six small meals a day."
Friday, November 09, 2007
Tuesday, November 9, 1926
No diary entry today. We continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories, this time about Dale.
"Dale had a scholarship to Lake Forest College in a suburb of Chicago. He worked as a waiter in the school cafeteria."
"Dale had a scholarship to Lake Forest College in a suburb of Chicago. He worked as a waiter in the school cafeteria."
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Monday, November 8, 1926
No diary entry today. We continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories of Albert.
"At night, Albert was living in their (the Dulles's) elegant home. Albert wrote Mother that John Foster Dulles had important guests at dinner every evening where they "dressed" for dinner. I should have asked if Avery loaned Albert clothes to wear, or did he eat dinner in the kitchen?"
(Remember that Albert was very poor while attending Harvard. He would not have had the money to buy a suit or other clothes suitable for wearing where they "dressed" for dinner. I wonder how he felt about the whole experience?)
"At night, Albert was living in their (the Dulles's) elegant home. Albert wrote Mother that John Foster Dulles had important guests at dinner every evening where they "dressed" for dinner. I should have asked if Avery loaned Albert clothes to wear, or did he eat dinner in the kitchen?"
(Remember that Albert was very poor while attending Harvard. He would not have had the money to buy a suit or other clothes suitable for wearing where they "dressed" for dinner. I wonder how he felt about the whole experience?)
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Sunday, November 7, 1926
No diary entry today.
We continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories of Albert.
While staying with Avery Dulles in New York, "Albert became a volunteer at "Friendship House" in Harlem, which at that time was being run be a former Russian baronness, Catherine de Hueck Doherty. She taught Albert how to knit, and he later taught Mother how to knit European style. At Friendship House, they distributed clothes, maybe food, to poor people."
We continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories of Albert.
While staying with Avery Dulles in New York, "Albert became a volunteer at "Friendship House" in Harlem, which at that time was being run be a former Russian baronness, Catherine de Hueck Doherty. She taught Albert how to knit, and he later taught Mother how to knit European style. At Friendship House, they distributed clothes, maybe food, to poor people."
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Saturday, November 6, 1926
No diary entry today. Regarding Albert's time at Harvard, Aunt Marjorie wrote, "When the camp where Albert worked closed for the summer, Albert was a guest of Avery Dulles and his parents in New York."
Avery Dulles was a classmate of Albert and went on to also become a Jesuit priest and is now Cardinal Avery Dulles.
Avery Dulles was a classmate of Albert and went on to also become a Jesuit priest and is now Cardinal Avery Dulles.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Friday, November 5, 1926
Friday, November 5, 1926
Warmer – fair
(Not much of a diary entry today. In fact, Grandma doesn't write in her diary again until November 22nd, so we'll continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories of her brothers and childhood, starting tomorrow.)
Warmer – fair
(Not much of a diary entry today. In fact, Grandma doesn't write in her diary again until November 22nd, so we'll continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories of her brothers and childhood, starting tomorrow.)
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Thursday, November 4, 1926
Thursday, November 4, 1926
Cold, cloudy
Expected to all go to the church for supper but Dick was still weak and sore from a severe attack of indigestion he has last night. He was not able to go to school so, as it was so cold, we thought best to leave him at home. So left Marjorie with him till Gilbert could get home to them, and I went with the three other boys. Had a fine time at Grace Morgan’s table. Ned cried when left with the children so I took him to prayer meeting with me and he was too wiggly so I spent the rest of the time with Albert’s bunch making clay articles.
(Dick was 8 at this time, when Grandma left Marjorie with him for a short time. According to Aunt Majorie, Grace Morgan was "Aunt Grace" to them.)
Cold, cloudy
Expected to all go to the church for supper but Dick was still weak and sore from a severe attack of indigestion he has last night. He was not able to go to school so, as it was so cold, we thought best to leave him at home. So left Marjorie with him till Gilbert could get home to them, and I went with the three other boys. Had a fine time at Grace Morgan’s table. Ned cried when left with the children so I took him to prayer meeting with me and he was too wiggly so I spent the rest of the time with Albert’s bunch making clay articles.
(Dick was 8 at this time, when Grandma left Marjorie with him for a short time. According to Aunt Majorie, Grace Morgan was "Aunt Grace" to them.)
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Wednesday, November 3, 1926
No diary entry today. A year ago on this day, Grandma went to the polls to vote. I noted then that women did not get the right to vote until 1920. It amazing to think that what we take for granted, voting, was something that my Grandma couldn't do until she was 28 years old.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Tuesday, November 2, 1926
No diary entry today. Someone commented wanting to know how the children were at this time. Dale was 10 years old, Dick 8, Albert 6, Ned 3 and Marjorie 1.
Grandma was almost 34 years old and Gilbert was 37.
Grandma was almost 34 years old and Gilbert was 37.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Monday, November 1, 1926
Grandma did not have a diary entry for this day. I suppose this was a typical Monday, which means she spent most of the day in the basement doing the laundry.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 31, 1926
No diary entry for today, but we know they did dress up for Halloween each year. I've posted a picture on the companion photo blog of Dale and others in Halloween costumes.
Happy Halloween. Don't let the goblins git cha!
Happy Halloween. Don't let the goblins git cha!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Saturday, October 30, 1926
Saturday, October 30, 1926
Colder and rainy
Went down to the bank for Gilbert and ran into Mama. We got awfully cold waiting for the bus and thought of Dale without his “heavies” today. He outgrew his good ones he got last spring so we went to Ayres and got him 3 suits and shirt on Mama’s charge account. Came home and found he had been out collecting all morning and was wet and cold so had him bathe and crawl into his new clothes but afraid he has taken a heavy cold anyway.
(It's curious to me how Grandma ran into her mother at the bank, which I assume was downtown, since that's where the Ayres store was. Indianapolis was surely a big enough city even in the 1920's that it would be unusual to run into someone like that.)
Colder and rainy
Went down to the bank for Gilbert and ran into Mama. We got awfully cold waiting for the bus and thought of Dale without his “heavies” today. He outgrew his good ones he got last spring so we went to Ayres and got him 3 suits and shirt on Mama’s charge account. Came home and found he had been out collecting all morning and was wet and cold so had him bathe and crawl into his new clothes but afraid he has taken a heavy cold anyway.
(It's curious to me how Grandma ran into her mother at the bank, which I assume was downtown, since that's where the Ayres store was. Indianapolis was surely a big enough city even in the 1920's that it would be unusual to run into someone like that.)
Monday, October 29, 2007
Friday, October 29, 1926
Friday, October 29, 1926
Well I guess I won’t have to wean Marjorie after all so gave her some more dinner today. She got real sick. Wouldn’t eat, bowels tied up and she has not cracked a smile since Tuesday. On consulting my calendar I see it is just exactly the wrong time in the moon. Almost believe there is something in it as I believe she would just pine away if I held out any longer.
(The wrong time of the moon for weaning a baby? I've heard of planting by the moon, but not this.)
Well I guess I won’t have to wean Marjorie after all so gave her some more dinner today. She got real sick. Wouldn’t eat, bowels tied up and she has not cracked a smile since Tuesday. On consulting my calendar I see it is just exactly the wrong time in the moon. Almost believe there is something in it as I believe she would just pine away if I held out any longer.
(The wrong time of the moon for weaning a baby? I've heard of planting by the moon, but not this.)
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Thursday, October 28, 1926
Report cards out today.
Dale Dick Albert
Reading A A- B
Composition B A
Grammar C A
Spelling A+ A B
Writing S S S
Arithmetic A B+
Geography A A
Art S S S
Music S S S
Phys Education S S S
Woodworking B+
Obedience S S S
Industry S S S
Respect for property S S S
Physical Record
Height in inches 54 50½ 46½
Normal weight 71 60 49½
Actual weight 66½ 55½ 49
The “S” means satisfactory. I’m proud of my boys. The other kids of the neighborhood get such miserable marks.
(Sorry I couldn't get those grades to spread out and be in columns under each name. Suffice it to say, the marks are all pretty good. It's not surprising that all were successful as adults, and Dick and Albert went on to get PhD's in philosophy (Dick) and theology (Albert)).
Dale Dick Albert
Reading A A- B
Composition B A
Grammar C A
Spelling A+ A B
Writing S S S
Arithmetic A B+
Geography A A
Art S S S
Music S S S
Phys Education S S S
Woodworking B+
Obedience S S S
Industry S S S
Respect for property S S S
Physical Record
Height in inches 54 50½ 46½
Normal weight 71 60 49½
Actual weight 66½ 55½ 49
The “S” means satisfactory. I’m proud of my boys. The other kids of the neighborhood get such miserable marks.
(Sorry I couldn't get those grades to spread out and be in columns under each name. Suffice it to say, the marks are all pretty good. It's not surprising that all were successful as adults, and Dick and Albert went on to get PhD's in philosophy (Dick) and theology (Albert)).
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Wednesday, October 27, 1926
Wednesday, October 27, 1926
Having an awful time with Marjorie. She refuses to eat at the table. Nurse her once in the middle of the night to get a little rest myself.
Having an awful time with Marjorie. She refuses to eat at the table. Nurse her once in the middle of the night to get a little rest myself.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tuesday, October 26, 1926
Tuesday, October 26, 1926
Marjorie seemed to sicken on the breast milk this AM so decided to cut it out pronto. Consequently, I spent the bigger part of the day with a crying baby. Was going to go to the Missionary society, taking Mama as this is guest day but Marjorie was so cross I decided it would be better not to go. It really is not much pleasure going a place like that and taking two babies. No one can keep them but Mama but if there is anyone going she always wants to go too! So I stay at home.
Marjorie seemed to sicken on the breast milk this AM so decided to cut it out pronto. Consequently, I spent the bigger part of the day with a crying baby. Was going to go to the Missionary society, taking Mama as this is guest day but Marjorie was so cross I decided it would be better not to go. It really is not much pleasure going a place like that and taking two babies. No one can keep them but Mama but if there is anyone going she always wants to go too! So I stay at home.
(It seems that most of the time, Grandma stayed home with kids, and didn't go very many places, with them or without them.)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Monday, October 25, 1926
Monday, October 25, 1926
Winter
I washed and the clothes stuck and froze on the line. Went and got my hair cut. Then went with Collins to a party at Pegg’s for this section of the church. Had a very nice time.
(Finally, Grandma started writing in her diary again. I wonder what happened all those other days that she didn't write in her diary?
We always wonder every year when we'll have a killing frost. It would seem that it was on this day or before in 1926).
Winter
I washed and the clothes stuck and froze on the line. Went and got my hair cut. Then went with Collins to a party at Pegg’s for this section of the church. Had a very nice time.
(Finally, Grandma started writing in her diary again. I wonder what happened all those other days that she didn't write in her diary?
We always wonder every year when we'll have a killing frost. It would seem that it was on this day or before in 1926).
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sunday, October 24, 1926
No diary entry today. Aunt Marjorie wrote,
"The summer before Albert's senior year (at Harvard) he didn't have money to come home so he got a job in a camp in the mountains as a curator or something. He slept in a cabin where the snakes were in cages. One snake escaped and a couple of weeks later Albert found it in the rafters where it had shed its skin."
Eleanor comment about the same thing a few days ago.
I would not have slept very well that summer!
"The summer before Albert's senior year (at Harvard) he didn't have money to come home so he got a job in a camp in the mountains as a curator or something. He slept in a cabin where the snakes were in cages. One snake escaped and a couple of weeks later Albert found it in the rafters where it had shed its skin."
Eleanor comment about the same thing a few days ago.
I would not have slept very well that summer!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Saturday, October 23, 1926
No diary entry today. We continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories.
"Albert was trying to decide whether to marry his girlfriend, Marjorie, or become a priest. He asked Marjorie, and she apparently turned him down, so he became a priest. Later she wrote to Albert that if he would ask her again she would say "yes". They must have stayed in touch because I remember hearing later that she eventually married someone else."
Albert obviously never asked her again.
"Albert was trying to decide whether to marry his girlfriend, Marjorie, or become a priest. He asked Marjorie, and she apparently turned him down, so he became a priest. Later she wrote to Albert that if he would ask her again she would say "yes". They must have stayed in touch because I remember hearing later that she eventually married someone else."
Albert obviously never asked her again.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 22, 1926
No diary entry today. We continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories of Albert.
"I don't remember Mother talking about the actual graduation ceremony (when Albert graduated from Harvard) but I remember she said she met Albert's girlfriend and her parents in Cambridge. Her name was Marjorie Sears. Her parents took Mother and Albert to their vacation cottage on the ocean. Mother talked at length about how soothing it was to walk barefoot in the sand."
Apparently Albert's girlfriend was not as poor as he was.
Grandma often wrote complaining how her feet hurt all the time, caused by a combination of bad feet and poor fitting shoes, we think. It would feel nice to walk through the sand on a beach if you were always used to walking around in ill-fitting shoes.
"I don't remember Mother talking about the actual graduation ceremony (when Albert graduated from Harvard) but I remember she said she met Albert's girlfriend and her parents in Cambridge. Her name was Marjorie Sears. Her parents took Mother and Albert to their vacation cottage on the ocean. Mother talked at length about how soothing it was to walk barefoot in the sand."
Apparently Albert's girlfriend was not as poor as he was.
Grandma often wrote complaining how her feet hurt all the time, caused by a combination of bad feet and poor fitting shoes, we think. It would feel nice to walk through the sand on a beach if you were always used to walking around in ill-fitting shoes.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Thursday, October 21, 1926
No diary entry today.
Aunt Marjorie provides more memories...
"For his graduation from Harvard, Albert wore a suit. Where did he get it? When he came home one Christmas one year he was wearing a loud striped pair of trousers. He said they were his only pants and he had purchased them in a dime store. Grandmother Campbell gave Albert new trousers for Christmas."
We can only imagine how poor Albert was, at a school generally attended by fairly affluent students.
Aunt Marjorie provides more memories...
"For his graduation from Harvard, Albert wore a suit. Where did he get it? When he came home one Christmas one year he was wearing a loud striped pair of trousers. He said they were his only pants and he had purchased them in a dime store. Grandmother Campbell gave Albert new trousers for Christmas."
We can only imagine how poor Albert was, at a school generally attended by fairly affluent students.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Wednesday, October 20, 1926
Still no diary entry.
But Aunt Marjorie has written some more memories about her brother Albert.
"I wish I had asked more questions when I was young. When Albert graduated from Harvard University, Mother went to Cambridge for the graduation. My father was dead and we were very poor. I wonder where she got the money to go? Probably Dale , and maybe Dick, got the money together for her. Or maybe Grandmother Campbell? I guess we'll never know!!"
Aunt Marjorie commented once before that Grandma never shared information about her financial situation with Marjorie or Eleanor.
But Aunt Marjorie has written some more memories about her brother Albert.
"I wish I had asked more questions when I was young. When Albert graduated from Harvard University, Mother went to Cambridge for the graduation. My father was dead and we were very poor. I wonder where she got the money to go? Probably Dale , and maybe Dick, got the money together for her. Or maybe Grandmother Campbell? I guess we'll never know!!"
Aunt Marjorie commented once before that Grandma never shared information about her financial situation with Marjorie or Eleanor.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Tuesday, October 19, 1926
No diary entry today.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "When Dale was young, he was an Eagle Scout. Dick and Albert apparently weren't interested in such a structured program. Ned enjoyed scouting but wasn't as serious as Dale was. I remember the aroma Ned always had - his clothes and blankets - when he got home after a week at camp. The scent of the campfire smoke was very pleasant and not like any other scent I have ever smelled since."
In our current family, my nephew Ty is an Eagle scout. He is the only one in the extended family that I know of. As my sister said, anyone can be an Boy Scout, but very few make it all the way to Eagle Scout.
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "When Dale was young, he was an Eagle Scout. Dick and Albert apparently weren't interested in such a structured program. Ned enjoyed scouting but wasn't as serious as Dale was. I remember the aroma Ned always had - his clothes and blankets - when he got home after a week at camp. The scent of the campfire smoke was very pleasant and not like any other scent I have ever smelled since."
In our current family, my nephew Ty is an Eagle scout. He is the only one in the extended family that I know of. As my sister said, anyone can be an Boy Scout, but very few make it all the way to Eagle Scout.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Monday, October 18, 1926
No diary entry for today.
Continuing Aunt Marjorie's memories of Grandma working...
"Mother worked there (Tech High School) in the attendance office for 20 plus years, starting, if I remember correctly, at $15.00 a week, until she was 72 years old. For some years, only teachers were qualified to have pensions, and finally rules were changed so other workers connected with schools could, I suppose, buy into the pension program. Mother had to stay long enough to qualify for a pension, thus she was 72 years old, when she retired."
I didn't know that Grandma worked for that long!
Continuing Aunt Marjorie's memories of Grandma working...
"Mother worked there (Tech High School) in the attendance office for 20 plus years, starting, if I remember correctly, at $15.00 a week, until she was 72 years old. For some years, only teachers were qualified to have pensions, and finally rules were changed so other workers connected with schools could, I suppose, buy into the pension program. Mother had to stay long enough to qualify for a pension, thus she was 72 years old, when she retired."
I didn't know that Grandma worked for that long!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Sunday, October 17, 1926
No diary entry today. We continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories from the 1930's.
Regarding Grandma's job as an assistant to the head of the state P.T.A. ...
"Eventually the job required a college degree, so Mother started job hunting. She decided her greatest interest was education, so she went to the Superintendent of the Indianapolis Public Schools, DeWitt Morgan. His daughter had graduated in Dale's class at Lake Forest in 1937, where Dale was top in their class. Mr. Morgan and his wife had invited Mother to accompany them to Chicago for the graduation. Having gotten acquainted before, Mr. Morgan hired Mother to work at Tech High School where Mr. Morgan had originally been the principal."
So it appears Grandma started to work at Tech in 1937, two years after Gilbert died from Parkinson's disease.
Regarding Grandma's job as an assistant to the head of the state P.T.A. ...
"Eventually the job required a college degree, so Mother started job hunting. She decided her greatest interest was education, so she went to the Superintendent of the Indianapolis Public Schools, DeWitt Morgan. His daughter had graduated in Dale's class at Lake Forest in 1937, where Dale was top in their class. Mr. Morgan and his wife had invited Mother to accompany them to Chicago for the graduation. Having gotten acquainted before, Mr. Morgan hired Mother to work at Tech High School where Mr. Morgan had originally been the principal."
So it appears Grandma started to work at Tech in 1937, two years after Gilbert died from Parkinson's disease.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Saturday, October 16, 1926
No diary entry today. We'll continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories from the 1930's...
"One lady whose house Mother went to didn't buy the book but started questioning Mother and realized she was fairly well educated and spoke well and immediately hired her to work in her office as her assistant. Mrs. Davee ran the state P.T.A. office in downtown Indianapolis. Mother earned $10.00 per week and worked there several years."
Using this web site, a wage of $10.00/week in 1935 would be the equivalent of about $396/week today. But don't quote me on that!
"One lady whose house Mother went to didn't buy the book but started questioning Mother and realized she was fairly well educated and spoke well and immediately hired her to work in her office as her assistant. Mrs. Davee ran the state P.T.A. office in downtown Indianapolis. Mother earned $10.00 per week and worked there several years."
Using this web site, a wage of $10.00/week in 1935 would be the equivalent of about $396/week today. But don't quote me on that!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Friday, October 15, 1926
No diary entry today, so we'll continue with Aunt Marjorie's memories of the 1930's.
Regarding Grandma selling irons... "they (the irons) were so heavy, she switched to selling a book called "Volume Library" door to door. That made her feet hurt so badly!"
I assume Grandma sold the irons door to door, too. Times have sure changed. Does anyone try to sell anything (other than religion) door to door?
Regarding Grandma selling irons... "they (the irons) were so heavy, she switched to selling a book called "Volume Library" door to door. That made her feet hurt so badly!"
I assume Grandma sold the irons door to door, too. Times have sure changed. Does anyone try to sell anything (other than religion) door to door?
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Thursday, October 14, 1926
No diary entry today.
I'll continue with some of Aunt Marjorie's memories of the 1930's, when Grandma had to get a job because her husband Gilbert could not work due to Parkinson's disease.
"The first job Mother got was selling irons (to iron clothes)".
I did not know that! I always assumed she went right to work in the office at Tech High School. However, Grandma did seem to spend quite a bit of time ironing her own family's clothes, so maybe she thought it was a product that she knew a lot about and thus it would be easy to sell them.
I'll continue with some of Aunt Marjorie's memories of the 1930's, when Grandma had to get a job because her husband Gilbert could not work due to Parkinson's disease.
"The first job Mother got was selling irons (to iron clothes)".
I did not know that! I always assumed she went right to work in the office at Tech High School. However, Grandma did seem to spend quite a bit of time ironing her own family's clothes, so maybe she thought it was a product that she knew a lot about and thus it would be easy to sell them.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Wednesday, October 13, 1926
No diary entry today.
Aunt Marjorie wrote some more notes about what happens a bit later, in the 1930's...
"When it became apparent that Daddy (Gilbert) couldn't work much longer, Mother went to Tech night school and learned shorthand and typing. I hated the nights Mother wasn't home!"
Gilbert had Parkinson's disease, which eventually forced him to have to leave his job. In the 1930's, there was no long-term disability, social security, or other financial safety nets so Grandma had to face getting a job. I wonder why Grandma didn't consider going back into the hat making business, since she worked as a milliner before she got married?
Aunt Marjorie wrote some more notes about what happens a bit later, in the 1930's...
"When it became apparent that Daddy (Gilbert) couldn't work much longer, Mother went to Tech night school and learned shorthand and typing. I hated the nights Mother wasn't home!"
Gilbert had Parkinson's disease, which eventually forced him to have to leave his job. In the 1930's, there was no long-term disability, social security, or other financial safety nets so Grandma had to face getting a job. I wonder why Grandma didn't consider going back into the hat making business, since she worked as a milliner before she got married?
Friday, October 12, 2007
Tuesday, October 12, 1926
No diary entry today. More memories from Aunt Marjorie...
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "When Albert was teaching, he was friendly with some of his students. He wrote to Mother about a married couple of students who were worried about their child who hadn't started to talk. Mother wrote back and asked if they talked to their baby. He wrote back later saying that when he suggested to them that they should chat with the baby, then the child quickly started talking."
(Albert was a college professor and taught theology.)
Aunt Marjorie wrote, "When Albert was teaching, he was friendly with some of his students. He wrote to Mother about a married couple of students who were worried about their child who hadn't started to talk. Mother wrote back and asked if they talked to their baby. He wrote back later saying that when he suggested to them that they should chat with the baby, then the child quickly started talking."
(Albert was a college professor and taught theology.)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Monday, October 11, 1926
No diary entry today, but some more memories from Aunt Marjorie...
"Mother wasn't a chatterbox, but she always chatted with us kids, especially at dinnertime. The family always sat down together in the dining room at dinnertime, which I guess not every family does these days. She had a lot of funny things to tell us about work during the day (she worked at Tech High School for 20 years), or about the sermon at church, or letters our older brothers sent while they were away in college."
More later about why Grandma ended up working in the school office at Tech High School for 20 years....
"Mother wasn't a chatterbox, but she always chatted with us kids, especially at dinnertime. The family always sat down together in the dining room at dinnertime, which I guess not every family does these days. She had a lot of funny things to tell us about work during the day (she worked at Tech High School for 20 years), or about the sermon at church, or letters our older brothers sent while they were away in college."
More later about why Grandma ended up working in the school office at Tech High School for 20 years....
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Sunday, October 10, 1926
No diary entry today.
Aunt Marjorie send a note with some more memories of growing up. She wrote, "I remember getting up very early one morning when Mother was eating breakfast and reading the paper. She sent me back to bed saying, "It's the only time all day I have time for myself!"
Morning... the calm before the storm in a house with four young boys and a baby girl.
Aunt Marjorie send a note with some more memories of growing up. She wrote, "I remember getting up very early one morning when Mother was eating breakfast and reading the paper. She sent me back to bed saying, "It's the only time all day I have time for myself!"
Morning... the calm before the storm in a house with four young boys and a baby girl.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Saturday, October 9, 1926
No diary entry today. I do have some more information on Anna Mock and Helen Lewis Mockford, compliments of a "random act of geneaology". Thanks, Annie!
Anna and Helen are the two friends that Grandma wrote about on Thursday, October 7.
"...Anna Mock's birthdate is probably Oct 13, 1889... Anna would have been just a couple of years older than Ruth, and Helen Lewis Mockford's marriage record says she was born March 19, 1893, a few months younger than Ruth. "
It is fun to speculate how they met. Anna had been married for 12 years by this time, so perhaps the last time they were together was around the time Anna got married to her husband, Ray.
According to the 1920 census records, Helen was a "single piano teacher", so perhaps she and Grandma had music and piano playing in common. Helen married her husband in 1920. In addition to her son, James, who was around Marjorie's age, she also had another son, Robert, born around 1928, making him a year or so older than Grandma's daugher Eleanor.
So how did these three become friends, who after not seeing one another for twelve years, got together to spend an afternoon catching up?
Anna and Helen are the two friends that Grandma wrote about on Thursday, October 7.
"...Anna Mock's birthdate is probably Oct 13, 1889... Anna would have been just a couple of years older than Ruth, and Helen Lewis Mockford's marriage record says she was born March 19, 1893, a few months younger than Ruth. "
It is fun to speculate how they met. Anna had been married for 12 years by this time, so perhaps the last time they were together was around the time Anna got married to her husband, Ray.
According to the 1920 census records, Helen was a "single piano teacher", so perhaps she and Grandma had music and piano playing in common. Helen married her husband in 1920. In addition to her son, James, who was around Marjorie's age, she also had another son, Robert, born around 1928, making him a year or so older than Grandma's daugher Eleanor.
So how did these three become friends, who after not seeing one another for twelve years, got together to spend an afternoon catching up?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
