Monday, April 11, 1927

Monday, April 11, 1927

Cut out Marjorie’s little pink crepe coat and hood and found I would have to get some silk for lining and some hem stitching done & Marjorie shoes, so I took her and Ned down town & wore myself out carrying her for she got too sleepy to walk.

Sunday, April 10, 1927

Sunday, April 10, 1927

Went to Sunday School in the morning, taking Ned & Marjorie. I can never go to my class as Ned cries. Marjorie would stay alone, I’m sure. Went back to church in the evening. Took walk in park in PM and had to carry Marjorie back.

Saturday, April 9, 1927

Saturday, April 9, 1927

Got my motor back at last so cleaned things up good so as to start Monday and get to sewing.

Friday, April 8, 1927

Friday, April 8, 1927
Rain

I thought Dick ought to stay home on occasion of the rain but he cried so that Bess offered to take him and hold an umbrella over him. Then she went home.

(So much for Aunt Bess helping with the babies so Grandma could sew!)

Thursday, April 7, 1927

Thursday, April 7, 1927

Got some darning done and that’s about all. Bess, Albert, Dale, and myself took supper at the church and went to J.C.E.

Wednesday, April 6, 1927

Wednesday, April 6, 1927

Dick went to school. I had a big ironing to do and needed Bess to wash the dishes and look after Marjorie but of course she wasn’t here. Stayed all night with friends and didn’t get back till noon & Gilbert paid her way to help me.

Tuesday, April 5, 1927

Tuesday, April 5, 1927
Fair

Bess took Dick for a walk. Gilbert had to take my motor to the plant, but say they are so busy he doesn’t know when it will be back!!! I washed.

Monday, April 4, 1927

Monday, April 4, 1927
Fair – but chilly

Took Dick to barber shop. He got awfully tired. Sat down to sew intending to get lots done with Bess here and my motor went bad! And so much to do, too!

Sunday, April 3, 1927

Sunday, April 3, 1927

The folks are all torn up cleaning house and papering so I had them come for dinner. Bess came in the afternoon. Gilbert sent her money to come on as I have so much sewing to do and she can wash dishes and look after babies.

Saturday, April 2, 1927

Saturday, April 2, 1927

Marjorie is so cute these days. I know Bess will “fall in love with her”. “Ba pa poot” is what she says at every occasion, but no one knows what she means.

Friday, April 1, 1927

Friday, April 1, 1927

Dr. Haggard & Papa came and changed Dick’s cast. The old one was too loose. They bathed and massaged the leg and pronounced it in good condition.

Thursday, March 31, 1927

Thursday, March 31, 1927

Church night. Dale and I went after supper. I enjoy going but when I get home I find the boys asleep on the couch and the baby put to bed. Everybody cries at having to wake up and undress and it spoils my whole evening forever.

Wednesday, March 30, 1927

Wednesday, March 30, 1927

The house is a sight with the kids running in and out and Dick with his papers, etc. Mess and paper all over the floor.


(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Speaking of papers, I wonder if Dale and maybe Albert had been carrying Dick's paper route since he broke his leg.)

Tuesday, March 29, 1927

Tuesday, March 29, 1927

Dick has Albert to play with now and they had offices & play together writing newspapers. John Morgan sent Dick a while lot of little tablets, etc. and it sure keeps them busy.



(Later on in life, Dick, a philosophy professor at University of Louisville, and Albert, a theology professor at University of San Francisco, wrote one another letters that would probably have been quite interesting to read now. However, Mom said her grandmother threw them away when she came to live with them.)

Monday, March 28, 1927

Monday, March 28, 1927

Dick went out in back yard and watched the boys dig a cave. Spring vacation week they always become cave dwellers and carry in all the mud possible.



(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I remember a cave right against the old garage, that ran underneath the wall (no concrete floor just a dirt floor) as the kids went down from the outside and came up on the inside. Also, the neighborhood boys and Mary Wells climbed a ladder and played on top of the garage frequently. Bill Moon, later head of the Music Department at Tech (High School) once fell off our garage and broke his arm.")

Sunday, March 27, 1926

Sunday, March 27, 1927

Got Dick’s crutches. Dick was dressed for the first time and learning to walk on crutches. He is so happy.

Saturday, March 26, 1927

Saturday, March 26, 1927

Haggard came out but did not change the cast, ordered crutches, but no weight on leg yet.


(Aunt Marjorie noted that she has a picture of Dick with the crutches.)

Friday, March 25, 1927

Friday, March 25, 1927

The day of our class dinner when we entertain our husbands. Took most of the time finishing up my dress to wear. Lola and the Collins’ kids came over to stay with the boys.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I have heard about the program to entertain their husbands. Mother had told me of the stunned look on Daddy's face when it was announced that Mother would sing, "Passing On the Rye". Someone played the piano while Mother mouthed the words and gestured and Mrs. Ragsdale, a very good singer, hid behind the piano and sang."

Apparently, though Grandma could play the piano, she did not have much of a singing voice.)

Thursday, March 24, 1927

Thursday, March 24, 1927

Ironed till noon, then stopped and cleaned up the house as Dick’s teacher called and told me a committee from his class was going to call and present him with a box of candy. Of course he was delighted.

(I assume the "committee" was a group of other students from the class.)

Wednesday, March 23, 1927

Wednesday, March 23, 1927
Cool and cloudy

Washed and then cut out and almost made my silk dress. Still awfully tired. Dick’s teachers, Mrs. Kayser, Mrs. Aufderhreide, Miss Swope, and Mrs. Shelby all called on him. I made his birthday cake – angelfood.

(Mom tells a funny story about someone in the family always bringing the best tasting, lightest angel food cakes to family gatherings. She would never give out her recipe. It turned out that her neighbor was baking them for her! At least Grandma made her own cakes.

Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Dick's 9th birthday! Helen Aufderheide was also one of my teachers, probably the most dedicated teacher I ever had. I had her for the 3rd or 4th grade class, then had her again as our science teacher for 7th, 8th grade. She would take groups of us on the street car to the Butler University campus to spot birds in the woods and on a clear evening, she would meet groups of us to point out the stars and tell us their names and constellations. Her patient husband would accompany her. When we had problems learning something, she would arrive at school a half hour early for a week at a time to tudor us.)

Tuesday, March 22, 1927

Tuesday, March 22, 1927
Fair and warmer

Went to Mrs. Shullenberger’s with Mrs. Peggs in the machine to missionary meeting. Mrs. Collins and her kids were with Dick and he enjoyed having them so much and I had a delightful time.

(Grandma called cars, "machines". I wonder when she started calling them "cars"? Aunt Marjorie wrote that Mrs. Shullenberger was their pastor's wife.)

Monday, March 21, 1927

Monday, March 21, 1927
Cloudy and cool

Too tired to drag. A good thing Dick is no longer upstairs as I would have been in bed next I believe if I had to run up and down any more. My toe gives me fits besides. Pains so.

(Grandma broke her toe or stubbed it badly a few years before this, which caused a lot of pain later.)

Sunday, March 20, 1927

Sunday, March 20, 1927
Rain and cooler

We moved Dick downstairs and put him in a rocker today. He says he would like to sleep down there on the couch. Certainly would help me. Ella and Mama and boys spent the afternoon and Mac’s came in the evening.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "The couch was in the kitchen - right next to our only bathroom. No wonder it was a help to mother! Ella was Uncle Guy's wife and the boys were our cousins, Bob & Don Campbell).

Saturday, March 19, 1927

Saturday, March 19, 1927

Dale went down this AM and got his glasses. Grandpa Smith came to see Dick. Gilbert took Albert down to get a him a sweater and new shoes.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote that perhaps Dale was getting headaches because he needed glasses.

Grandpa Smith lived in Crawfordsville.)

Friday, March 18, 1927

Friday, March 18, 1927

Gilbert’s class banquet this evening so I found Lola Parsons could come and keep the kids so we went and enjoyed the supper and pictures but found a dull, old crowd. No wonder Gilbert doesn’t enjoy the class anymore.

(Grandma finally gets to go out for a change, and finds herself in a "dull, old crowd"!)

Thursday, March 17, 1927

Thursday, March 17, 1927
Fair and warm

I went with Dale to J.C.E. and enjoyed staying with the kiddies. They certainly have opportunities to develop that were never offered to my generation & I’m not so old, either. Dale had a bad headache. Mama came out.

(I suppose there was no aspirin or Tylenol (obviously) for Dale to take? Also, J.C.E. is Junior Christian Endeavor, a youth group at their church.)

Wednesday, March 16, 1927

Wednesday, March 16, 1927
Spring

The lessons in cartooning came and Dick is delighted with it. He did some very good drawings it seems to me. Albert set up a tune for some roller skates which Gilbert got for him. Made Dick wish he could get out.

Tuesday, March 15, 1927

Tuesday, March 15, 1927
Fair and warmer

Dick’s school nurse was here. She is so pleasant. She came as we were eating lunch and I hadn’t put my ironing board away yet out of Dick’s room, but I guess she understands.

(I wonder if the school nurse visited to confirm that Dick really had a broken leg and couldn't go to school?)

Monday, March 14, 1927

Monday, March 14, 1927
Cloudy and cold – report cards

Sat with Dick all day, sewing and put the clothes to soak while he napped. Then after Gilbert got home I washed, hung the colored clothes up in the bathroom and attic. Mama was out a little while.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I forgot, wet clothes were hung up in the bathroom, too! Any place we could dry clothes, hooks were fastened on the walls to stretch up a line!")

Sunday, March 13, 1927

Sunday, March 13, 1927
Fair and cold

Took the babies to Sunday School and Gilbert stayed with Dick. I hate to leave him but all think I ought to get out all I can & Dick isn’t suffering at all. Too nice to keep the babies in & I want Ned to get over his bashfulness. Anne and Ray Mock and Betty Jane were here and brought Dick a book.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mock's were Mother's old friends. Betty Jane was about Albert's age, I believe.")

Saturday, March 12, 1927

Saturday, March 12, 1927
Rain and cooler

My how the boys hate rainy Saturdays and I do too. They make me so much work. The boys won’t stay in! Papa came to see Dick, but I was down town after Gilbert got home. Got Dale and Ned each a cricket sweater and some goods for Marjorie and myself.

Friday, March 11, 1927

Friday, March 11, 1927
Fair and warm

Mr. Gordon, Dick’s news boss was here this morning while I was still ironing. He took quite an interest in Dick’s pictures and poems and promised to take Dick down to the news to see Kim Hubbard and Chas. Kuhn some Saturday morning when he gets well.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mr. Gordon must have been in charge of the kids who had paper routes. The news was the Indianapolis News, an afternoon dialy newspaper. Kim Hubbard was a daily (I think) contributor for a number of years. He was well known for his folksy poems. I don't know who Chas. Kuhn was.")

Thursday, March 10, 1927

Thursday, March 10, 1927
Fair

I got up early and washed before Gilbert left and have been ironing upstairs in Dick’s room in the mornings and sewing or darning of afternoons. This evening I was ready to go to C.E. with Dale and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Yockey brought us a flower for Dick. Mac was here while we were gone.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "C.E. was Christian Endeavor, a program for young people at the church. The Yockeys were long-time church members, and Mac was Paul McMullen, a close friend of Gilbert's.")

Wednesday, March 9, 1927

Wednesday, March 9, 1927
Fair.

This was the day of the party. Miss Parsons had said she would stay with Dick but I found out that Mrs. Peggs wanted her as she wanted to go so I stayed at home. After supper Mr. and Mrs. Peggs called and brought us some flowers from the party.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Miss Parsons must have been a member of our church, since knew both Mother & Mrs. Peggs. I wonder if Mother got her new dress made."

I would guess with Dick laid up with a broken leg and Ned sick with a fever, that Grandma didn't get much sewing done.)

Tuesday, March 8, 1927

Tuesday, March 8, 1927
Fair

Mrs. W.C. Smith loaned us her machine and chauffeur who took Dick to Dr. Funkhouser’s office to have an x-ray, picture showed it set OK. Robert Johnson came to visit him.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Robert Johnson lived in the big house across the streeet where Chester Smith and his brother's family later lived. Mrs. W.C. Smith was mother's Sunday school teacher from the time she was a teenager. She sent her car and chauffeur for us for Daddy's funeral, also.)

Monday, March 7, 1927

Monday, March 7, 1927
Rain

Dr. Haggard came out and opened up the cast so as to allow for the swelling and Dick was easier. So restless and painful last night. Dr. Shullenberger came and Miss Parsons. Ned woke up from his nap feverish. Hope he won’t be sick. I had a strenuous evening.

(There was no diary post yesterday. I'm sure Grandma had more than enough to do with Dick laid up with a broken leg. Sounds like some trying days.)

Saturday, March 5, 1927

Saturday, March 5, 1927
Showery

Got the children’s clothes ready for Sunday School this morning. Mrs. Kilby invited me to a party at her house next Wed. so I went down to get silk for a spring dress. Had been home only 1 ½ hours when Dick and Dale started to the show and Dick started to cross the street and stepped in front of a machine without a light and his leg broken. Called Papa who had Haggard and son set it. Of course, no sleep for me and no rest in sight. John and Grace and Mrs. Collins and kids called. Dick suffered on account of swelling.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Dr. Haggard was a good friend of Grandpa's. I was old that Dick was laid on the kitchen table to have his leg set."

That had to have hurt!)

Friday, March 4, 1927

Friday, March 4, 1927

Went down town for some thread that was on sale. Got Ned and Marjorie a hair cut at Ayres. Their first trip to the barber. Both were as still as mice, but I doubt if Ned would have been if she had not set the example.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I remember my oldest son's first haircut. He didn't move but cried as though his hair had nerves."

I assume Grandma had cut Ned's hair before, since he was around three years old in 1927.)

Thursday, March 3, 1927

Thursday, March 3, 1927
Fair

Dick got 50 cents from the Junior World Jr. for a poem and illustration. His first acceptance in the literary world. Not so bad for a boy not yet nine.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I'm not surprised Dick won something. I remember his clever cartoons."

Dick was a professor of philosophy at the University of Louisville, so probably had many papers published over time.)

Wednesday, March 2, 1927

Wednesday, March 2, 1927

Marjorie not a bit well today. Not very cross a that but her eyes are awfully dull. She is cutting some belated teeth that are coming awfully hard.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "My teeth were all slow to come through, I was the only one in the family to have teeth straightened. Mother didn't understand why I had crooked teeth. But one time at the Jordan reunion, I looked around and knew exactly why I had crooked teeth."

Hmmm... I guess all the Jordans had crooked teeth!)

Tuesday, March 1, 1927

Tuesday, March 1, 1927
Blustery – cold

The March lion for sure. Not an ideal wash day but I washed just the same. Then wrote a long letter to Aunt Sallie. The new typewriter works fine.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "If it was just cold and blustery the wash probably dried quickly (outside). If moist, the wash was probably hung in the attic, the upstairs hallway and over a broom and ceiling brush on the big register that divided the living room and dining room, held up by dining room chairs.")

Monday, February 28, 1927

Monday, February 28, 1927

I tried to get some pretty little dresses made for Marjorie but didn’t get them finished. Cut out two. Gilbert traded the old typewriter in on a better one that arrived this evening.

Sunday, February 27, 1927

Sunday, February 27, 1927
Fair – cold

Went with Albert to church at 4 PM where they organized a Mother’s club for the primary dept. Had an awfully nice time.

Saturday, February 26, 1927

Saturday, February 26, 1927

Did a big day’s work, cleaning. Made two cakes, then dressed and went down town and picked around at the new spring dress goods. Got Dale a pair of pants he paid for himself and the whole gang some stockings.

(I suppose "picked around" means she didn't actually buy any 'spring dress goods' to make herself a new dress.)

Friday, February 25, 1927

Friday, February 25, 1927
Rain, snow, cold wind

A big change in weather, getting up in a warm rain which didn’t remain so finally got real cold. The children seem pretty cross. I went to J.C.E. last night with the boys because Dick led. It was real nice.

(I think J.C.E. stood for Junior Christian Endeavor, a youth group at their church. Dick seems kind of young to lead the group, as he would be not quite nine years old, I think.)

Thursday, February 24, 1927

Thursday, February 24, 1927
Springlike

The missionary meeting was at Mrs. Kilby’s close to Mama’s so I took the babies to stay with Grandmother while I went. Came home on a crowded bus and Ned cried all the way because some lady held Marjorie.

(I can't imagine, unfortunately, that today anyone would allow "some lady" to hold their baby on a crowded bus.)

Wednesday, February 23, 1927

Wednesday, February 23, 1927
Fair and warm

Ironed as usual. Mama came over for a little while. I was fagged out when I got done

Tuesday, February 22, 1927

Tuesday, February 22, 1927
Fair and warmer

Hung all my clothes out this morning. A hard day on Ned who was not able to get out but had to watch the other boys through the window. They all enjoyed their holiday, playing in the mud. Oh, my house!

(Yes, back then Washington's birthday was observed on his birthday, not on the 3rd Monday of February.)

Monday, February 21, 1927

Monday, February 21, 1927
Warmed

Ned’s cold loosening up quite a bit. Marjorie has a lot of cold but it doesn’t seem to make her feel bad as she is as devilish as she can be, as big a dickens as I ever saw.

Sunday, February 20, 1927

Sunday, February 20, 1927
Snow

Ned was still feverish so he couldn’t go but he was better about it than I expected. I went out and brought him and Daddy and the baby their chicken, etc. They slept while I was gone so Gilbert had no trouble. Then he went to the show and Ned gave me no peace the rest of the day.

(Sounds like Grandma did get to go to her parent's house for Sunday dinner, after all. And Gilbert seems quite involved as a father in the 1920's.)

Saturday, February 19, 1927

Saturday, February 19, 1927
Cold

Such a sudden drop in temperature, we feel it keenly. Ned was so feverish last night and couldn’t breathe through his nose at all. Talked all day about going to Grandmother’s tomorrow and I’m afraid he can’t go. Papa came out and brought medicine.

Friday, February 18, 1927

Friday, February 18, 1927
Cold north wind

Took the two babies down town and got Marjorie and myself some shoes and me a new rose felt hat. Met Mama and she came home with us. Ned developed a fever and seemed real sick. Cold in the head, too.

(It seems that someone was always sick, though it is good to read that they went out for awhile instead of staying at home.)

Thursday, February 17, 1927

Thursday, February 17, 1927
Cloud & slightly cooler

I’m so unhappy these days and I don’t know why unless it is that I never can get done what I want to do. I suppose the class met today, but I don’t know where.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "She means her Sunday School class. I suspect fatigue was wearing her down.")

Wednesday, February 16, 1927

Wednesday, February 16, 1927
Fair and warm

Ironed and ran after Marjorie and got so tired I wanted to lie down and never get up. It is so warm – buds are swelling on the trees. Little hollyhocks and larkspur are up and this grass is getting green.

(That sounds very warm for February.)

Tuesday, February 15, 1927

Tuesday, February 15, 1927
Fair and warm

My what a time I had getting my washing done this morning, between running for Marjorie. It was too nice to keep her in and she wouldn’t stay home. Hung my clothes out for first time this year.

(It must have been better weather in 1927 than now!)

Monday, February 14, 1927

Monday, February 14, 1927
Partly cloudy

Mama and Papa just got back this AM as it froze up north yesterday and no Interurbans ran to come home on. They drove with Bur to his house, stayed all night and came down this AM. Mama seemed so depressed. She and Uncle Jim left. Rain on the casket, they looked at each other wondering which (one) next.

(According to Aunt Marjorie, Uncle Jim was next. Grandma Campbell lived another 20 years.)

Sunday, February 13, 1927

Sunday, February 13, 1927
Rain

Drizzled here all day – glad I didn’t go to Illinois although I had wanted to, but afraid I couldn’t get back home by night and wouldn’t take the babies with their colds. Mrs. Collins and kids came over and broke the monotony after the boys had gotten back from the show.

Saturday, February 12, 1927

Saturday, February 12, 1927
Fair but cold

I fell so depressed these days, as if something awful is about to happen. Uncle John’s death is awful enough, if I didn’t feel as if it were a beginning. Albert broke a looking glass yesterday which might mean something to the superstitious.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mother always claimed she was not superstitious. I do remember though when she asked me to sow some cucumber seeds in her garden when I was pregnant because 'seeds would grow when a pregnant woman sowed them'".

I've never heard that say before!)

Friday, February 11, 1927

Friday, February 11, 1927

Well after all, that is the best way to go except it is such a shock to those left behind. But it is fitting that jolly, good natured little “Uncle Shorty” should not get old and linger a burden on any one. He would hate that and in his new home no doubt he died happy. Mama went today.

Thursday, February 10, 1927

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.)

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.)

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!)

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.)

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.)

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.

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.)

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.)

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.

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!

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.)

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.)

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...)

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.)

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.)

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?)

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!)

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.)

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.)

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!)

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.)

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.

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.)

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.)

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?)

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.)

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.

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.")

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!)

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.)

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.)

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...)

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.")

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?)

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.)

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.)

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.

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.)

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.)

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.)

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!)