Sunday, July 24, 1927

Sunday, July 24, 1927
Warm

I’ve taken a bad cold like Dick’s. Ned, too. Don’t feel a bit good, so hoarse at times I can scarcely talk. Gilbert took Dale and Dick to see Robin Hood at the Colonial.

(Aunt Marjories noted that the Colonial was probably a movie theater.)

Saturday, July 23, 1927

Saturday, July 23, 1927

My oven has gone bad on me – smokes so I didn’t try to bake any but got a watermelon for tomorrow. Papa will be here. Mama will come from Illinois tomorrow I guess.

Friday, July 22, 1927

Friday, July 22, 1927
Hot

The little lady got badly spoiled visiting last week. Too much attention and I had too much time to hold her. Now she wants to sleep with us too and cries every night when we go to bed.

Thursday, July 21, 1927

Thursday, July 21, 1927
Hot

Seems like I don’t get much done these days. Guess it is because nothing is pushing. Can’t get along very fast on Nell’s dress because every time I sit down to sew Marjorie wants on my lap.

Wednesday, July 20, 1927

Wednesday, July 20, 1927
Fair, hot

Ironed all morning and finished. The boys went over early and cut the grass for Papa and when they came home I went to town to get some goods to trim Nell’s dress.

Tuesday, July 19, 1927

Tuesday, July 19, 1927
Fair

Washed and ironed a lot of things. Making a dress for Nell at odd times. She had bought the goods several years ago and never got it made up so Bess gave it to me to make and surprise Nell.

Monday, July 18, 1927

Monday, July 18, 1927
Fair

Straightened up my things and got ready to wash tomorrow. Went to store and got in a supply of groceries, etc. It’s good to be back. Everything O.K. here and everybody happy.

Sunday, July 17, 1927

Sunday, July 17, 1927
Fair

Marjorie is tired of visiting and is awfully cross. Gilbert and I went to Sunday school and took the boys. They don’t know how to make a stranger feel at home in that church. Nell’s in for dinner then came home and was glad to get here. Better trip than expected though.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "They probably went to a church in Crawfordsville and left me with Grandpa and Aunt Bess, then went back to Indianapolis by evening.)

Saturday, July 16, 1927

Saturday, July 16, 1927
Partly cloudy

Came to town last night. Spent the AM in the bathroom. We were all so dusty and sweaty! The water felt so good on my chiggers! This PM went to park with Paul and Nina who took our suppers.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "They probably hadn't had a real bath all week. Those days people living in the country lived in houses with six rooms and a path. I remember taking a bath in a laundry tub in the kitchen and helping pour the bath water in the yard.)

Friday, July 15, 1927

Friday, July 15, 1927
Fair

Another good rain last night but clear today. I washed some and hung Nell’s things out to dry. The folks area all crazy about Marjorie – think she is about 3 years old in development. Boys and Bob played all day.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "I probably developed more quickly because of the competition with older siblings. Bob was Bob Wray, Uncle Mike's stepson from a previous marriage (his first wife died). Bob was a little older than Dale. Mike and Nell raised him. The twins were extremely shy, more so even than I was.")

Thursday, July 14, 1927

Thursday, July 14, 1927
Partly cloudy

Nell tried to wash but it showered enough that didn’t get things dry. The twins are picking up now. The first of the week they were not feeling well and were too quiet, but now laugh and play – seem like year olds instead of 18 months.

Wednesday, July 13, 1927

Wednesday, July 13, 1927
Hot – rain

Went berrying again in the morning and found bushes about to dry up. After dinner a hard rain came up and drowned three little pigs for Mike. The sow had laid in the dry creek bed to have them and then it rained!

Tuesday, July 12, 1927

Tuesday, July 12, 1927
Hot

Good breeze here. The air is so much better hear than in the city! Wish I lived in the country! Nell has things about as unhandy as possible but for my part, I help but do not tire like at home.

(Sounds like Grandma is enjoying her trip to Crawfordsville and the country. Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Apparently Uncle Mike and Aunt Nell had a farm near Crawfordsville. They always rented farm property, never owned, and moved from time to time.)

Monday, July 11, 1927

Monday, July 11, 1927
Fair

Came home with Nell’s last night. Had such a sick headache and didn’t know how the morning would find me. Went to the woods, then on the hunt for raspberries but found few. Some one else go them yesterday.



(Grandma is in Crawfordsville, Nell is her sister-in-law)

Sunday, July 10, 1927

Sunday, July 10, 1927
Fair

Dale took Albert and Ned to Sunday school. Cleaned up house and left for C’ville on 11 car. Dick stayed to carry packages, says he feels better than he did. Says he had a headache Friday when Papa examined him but didn’t say anything then about it.

(C'ville is Crawfordsville, where Gilbert was from.)

Saturday, July 9, 1927

Saturday, July 9, 1927
Hot

Took Ned to town to get a few things needed to go on. Finished up the hood, bathed, all packed suitcase, etc. All ready to go by 12 midnight. Bradbury called and presented bill of $30 altogether!!! for fence and clothes line.

(Apparently $30 was much more than Grandma expected to pay for the fence and clothes line repairs.)

Friday, July 8, 1927

Friday, July 8, 1927
Hot

Dick and Dale entertained at the Colonial – the World War all Newsboys. Then they went to Papa’s office where Dick was examined – has been having a cough for some time. Papa found he ran temperature of 100. Doesn’t complain any – sign of TB. It must not be!

Thursday, July 7, 1927

Thursday, July 7, 1927
Hot – fair

Have a lot of mending, etc. to do before we go. Started a pretty organdy hood for my daughter. Such a pretty little daughter must have pretty clothes!

Wednesday, July 6, 1927

Wednesday, July 6, 1927
Hot, breeze

I ironed and got along well so was through by noon. Mrs. Collins came over and I finished a dress I cut out and made Monday. All plans made to go to Crawfordsville for a week or less.

Tuesday, July 5, 1927

Tuesday, July 5, 1927
Warmer and fair

I washed while the boys cleaned up the mess in the front yard. They did a good job, but too much fussing about it. Each was afraid he was doing more than his share of the work. Pretty cross bunch and Dick coughs all the time.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "The day after the big day was not nearly as much fun to pick up the litter from the fireworks, which could be dangerous if a lawn mower flipped a sparkler, for instance, into somebody. (Besides the unsightly look of a mowed lawn with tiny chopped pieces of red and white pieces of fireworks.) I was 13, just before I started high school (1938) when Indiana outlawed fireworks for public use."

Today, it seems once again, anything goes when it comes to fireworks!)

Monday, July 4, 1927

Monday, July 4, 1927
Cool

The boys’ big day, however they had to put on sweaters till the sun got warm and this evening, too. Papa and Mama came out to supper and we had to wrap up to watch the fireworks. Had to plenty to last from 5:45 AM to 9:30 PM.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "The boys had a lot of fireworks, as men at the Citizen Gas Co., including Daddy combined their purchases of fireworks and bought them at wholesale prices. The boys saved their news route earnings for several weeks.)

Sunday, July 3, 1927

Sunday, July 3, 1927
Cooler

Went to Sunday school. However, Dick had the earache and a bad cold and Gilbert stayed home with Marjorie. I stayed to church, came home, got dinner, put the 2 little ones to bed and went to see Mama who came back from the funeral instead of staying a while as expected.

(The funeral was for Mama's brother, Jim.

Aunt Marjorie wrote, "When I was young, Mother would start the meat and leave it cooking slowly and peel the potatoes (always potatoes) and have vegetables (green beans or peas or carrots cooked with meat) and when she got home from church, dinner was almost ready - especially if one of us came home right after Sunday school and started the potatoes cooking.)

Saturday, July 2, 1927

Saturday, July 2, 1927
Hot

That ice cream seems to fix Marjorie, but she still looks awfully bad. I got everything done, two cakes baked and went down town to get things needed if we should get to go on our vacation to C’ville the 10th.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "When I was young, ice cream was much better than now-a-days 'commericial' ice cream." I bet it was, made with cream and real eggs!)

Friday, July 1, 1927

Friday, July 1, 1927
Hot, breeze

Papa said to take Marjorie’s band off and dress her as cool as possible so I cut out and made two sleeveless voile dresses, turned her out bare footed and she did seem better. Cried in the PM a lot and Papa got her some ice cream. She ate a lot of that.

(I wonder what the band is that Granda mentioned?)

Thursday, June 30, 1927

Thursday, June 30, 1927
Hotter

Poor Marjorie not so feverish but miserable. Cried all afternoon. Afraid something hurts her that we don’t know about. Papa out twice today to see her.

Wednesday, June 29, 1927

Wednesday, June 29, 1927
Fair and hot

Marjorie real sick, fever. Papa afraid of pneumonia. Aunt Mat and all left this AM. Mama went to Bur’s to go with him this evening but Papa did not go on account of Marjorie – Did I ever entertain a thought of getting to go? Of course not.

Tuesday, June 28, 1927

Tuesday, June 28, 1927
Fair

Finished ironing what I would need soon but too tired and done up to do a lot. Marjorie cross and has an awful cold. We all went to pay our last respects to Uncle Jim after supper and Andrew brought us back.

Monday, June 27, 1927

Monday, June 27, 1927
Fair & warmer

Got up early, washed, scrubbed and ironed what I could for I have hopes of getting to the funeral with Guys whenever it is. Just ready for bed and Papa called, Uncle Jim passed away at 8:40 PM.

Sunday, June 26, 1927

Sunday, June 26, 1927
Fair – cool

Nora came at 4. I helped Mama seed cherries, got breakfast over, came home, dressed my babies, got their breakfast, sent 4 boys to Sunday school, put dinner on. Took Marjorie back with me, got there at 10:30. Helped with dinner, dishes, etc. Guys and Burs there, doctor said Uncle J. wouldn’t live till evening, but he did.

Saturday, June 25, 1927

Saturday, June 25, 1927
Showers

Marjorie real feverish, however I got my work done, but was pretty tired, too. At nine this PM Mama called me to come and stay all night. Aunt Mat had lost hope and broken down. But Uncle Jim still breathed - that’s all.

Friday, June 24, 1927

Friday, June 24, 1927
Fair

The day of the Sunday school class picnic. I didn’t know whether to go or not, but the folks said I could do nothing. Guy took Andrew’s children, I went out and stayed till two then came home and made sandwiches and went but Marjorie didn’t seem to feel well.

Thursday, June 23, 1927

Thursday, June 23, 1927
Partly cloudy and cooler

Andrew brought his two boys and Theta over for me to take care of, but Beulah was needed there. I got along fine with them all. I never saw such good children. Wish mine had as good manners. Uncle Jim conscious part of the time but very weak.

Wednesday, June 22, 1927

Wednesday, June 22, 1927
Fair, warm

Hung clothes out then called Mama to make arrangements. Uncle Jim came too and had his third stroke of paralysis last night at 3. Still alive but unconscious. Beulah and the kids came over here.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Beulah was Andrew's wife and Uncle Jim must have been his father, grandmother's brother. Andrew was Mother's favortie cousin, of her 31 cousins.)

Tuesday, June 21, 1927

Tuesday, June 21, 1927
Rain

Got up early and washed but couldn’t dry the clothes. Nina and Mrs. Schiffman spent the day with us. Had a good time. Paul came out for supper and we had a jolly evening. Andrew called up, they just got to Mama’s, see us tomorrow.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote that Andrew was Grandma's cousin, Andrew Jordan. I don't know who Nina and Mrs. Schiffman were.)

Monday, June 20, 1927

Monday, June 20, 1927
Fair

Cleaned windows, etc. that I should have done the last of the week. My mouth still so sore. Have to use balm to sleep at night – just throbs.

(I wonder what was in that balm?)

Sunday, June 19, 1927

Sunday, June 19, 1927

Went to Sunday school and church but my mouth hurt so! Got dinner over and Gilbert took the boys swimming and I took the hot water bottle to bed and read all afternoon.

(I wonder what Grandma did with Marjorie?)

Saturday, June 18, 1927

Saturday, June 18, 1927

My how sore my gums are. Pains clear to the top of my head! And to think they never hurt when the teeth were in.

Friday, June 17, 1927

Friday, June 17, 1927

Went down and had my two infected teeth pulled. Then I came home and finished (almost) my dress. The dentist gave me some capsules to keep from feeling so much pain. They helped. Lindbergh passed over here in his plane on his way home to St. Louis.

(I wonder what those capsules contained in 1927 to ease the pain of an infected tooth/extraction?

And how exciting to see Charles Lindbergh's plane! Aunt Marjorie wrote that Lindbergh was big news when she was little, especially when his baby was kidnapped.)

Thursday, June 16, 1927

Thursday, June 16, 1927
Fair warmer

Stelhorns entertained the Sunday School class and I went with the little three. Had an awfully nice time in their beautiful yard. The day was ideal. Fair but not too hot. Lots of nice ladies there and I felt very much at home and “one of the bunch”.

(I get the impression from reading these diaries that Grandma was shy (she said so in her family history) and didn't feel comfortable in groups.)

Wednesday, June 15, 1927

Wednesday, June 15, 1927
Cool and fair

Dale says its hot in the sun, but I didn’t get in the sun as I ironed. The thermometer in the dining room read 66. Canned a few cherries. They seem to be an awful lot of work. Only got 4 qts. this week.

Tuesday, June 14, 1927

Tuesday, June 14, 1927
Cool and cloudy

Seeded cherries till about nine when it didn’t seem to be going to rain so I decided to wash and get it done. Of course I was slow getting done and it took so long to clean up the house after I had finished. Heard Mable was married Sunday eve.

(Mabel was divorced from Grandma's brother Harry. She remarried a man named Carl Lout)

Monday, June 13, 1927

Monday, June 13, 1927
Cold

Went to the dentist’s and had a tooth pulled and one filled. Then came home and built a fire. The boys tore up jack and the house was a sight by night. Too cold and damp to play outdoors except for a little cherry picking.

Sunday, June 12, 1927

Sunday, June 12, 1927
Cool

Rained last night and cooled us off till this evening I had to put a blanket around my shoulders as I sat and read. Went to Sunday School and church this AM. Children’s Day. Then I had not finished the dishes yet when Guys and boys drove in and took me to the folks. G & the five boys went to Broad Ripple.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "By this time, Uncle Guy's two daughters were nearly grown so probably had other fish to fry. Probably took his two sons, Bob & Don and the three older Smith boys. Don was a year older than Ned. Broad Ripple park in those days contained the 2nd largest swimming pool in the U.S., if I remember correctly. It was a wonderful pool with covered bleachers where spectators could comfortably watch the swimmers. The pool has been gone for many years now.)

Saturday, June 11, 1927

Saturday, June 11, 1927
Hot

Got the new door glass in at last. I hope it lasts. Gilbert got busy on the screens and got most of them in, but the flies beat him a couple of days. Also got a new garbage bucket. I cleaned the pantry this AM.

(The pantry was a small room off the kitchen which seemed to be built out of half of the back porch. I am pretty sure it had a window that looked out on to the backyard, and shelves, but otherwise, I don't remember too much about it.)

Friday, June 10, 1927

Friday, June 10, 1927
Hot

Thought I had a date with the dentist but he had made a mistake so I can’t see him till Monday. Got my flowers and set them out. My beds are all filled now if they live. Had to go to town for a lawn mower wheel and I nearly melted.

Thursday, June 9, 1927

Thursday, June 9, 1927
Hot but breezy

Mama came over again and we went to get some flowers but the lady wasn’t home. Jones and Mrs. Schiffman came out in the evening and we had a good time. I finally got the boys’ beds painted.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, "Mother & Grandmother must have walked a block south in the alley where Mrs. Moore had a little nursery in her yard at 11th St. & Temple. I loved going there but now days zoning laws probably wouldn't allow it. The Joneses were probably Nina and Paul Jones. I remember Mrs. Schiffman went to our church but I am puzzled how she and Jones were connected.")

Wednesday, June 8, 1927

Wednesday, June 8, 1927
Fair –warm

Ironed. Mama came over. Dale threw his baseball through the front door glass this AM so there is another expense. Will we never get ahead!

(This isn't the first time Grandma wrote about this door glass being broken. Aunt Marjorie wrote that it got broken a lot. When we used to visit Grandma, she still had a glass front door, with sheer drapes on it, that she would peer through when we arrived and rang the doorbell.)

Tuesday, June 7, 1927

Tuesday, June 7, 1927
Fair and warm

Washed, but was too tired to iron any. Wish I had more pep. Marjorie seems to have taken the last I had. She sure has plenty. Trying to talk now. Tries everything she hears the boys say but you would never know unless you heard the boys.

Monday, June 6, 1927

Monday, June 6, 1927
Cloudy & cool

Built another fire. Cut out my new rayon sports dress and might have completed if Garvers’ had not moved in, so much new pretty furniture. Ha ha. Anna and Ray and B.J. called a few minutes in the evening.

(Sounds like Grandma spent the day watching the neigbhors move in!)

Sunday, June 5, 1927

Sunday, June 5, 1927
Fair

Gilbert went to the plant and worked all day. I went to Sunday School and church and we went to Mama’s for dinner and supper, Gilbert coming out in the evening and bringing us home. The boys nearly drove Grandma crazy – Never again!

(I didn't think anyone worked on Sundays in the 1920's. I always thought they were more serious about keeping Sunday as a day of rest.)

Saturday, June 4, 1927

Saturday, June 4, 1927
Fair & warm

Dick had the toothache last night so I took him down town to get him shoes and we went around to have Grandpa look at his mouth. He had him have the tooth pulled (which was abscessed) and Dick cried all over town so I sent him home and shopped alone.

(I wonder when Novacaine was available? I can only imagine what it would have been like to be a kid in the 1920's and have an infected tooth pulled. I think I would have been drying all over town, too!)

Friday, June 3, 1927

Friday, June 3, 1927
Fair – rain

The weather is hard to chronicle in a few words this year, for it seems to rain some time every day even if the days are generally fair. There are an unusual number of storms over the U.S. Mississippi still raging.

(This sounds like something we would have said in the last few years. We just can't seem to figure out the weather, even 81 years ago!)

THursday, June 2, 1927

Thursday, June 2, 1927
Cloudy and cool

Finished ironing and mended and darned all the rest of the day – such a lot of it to do. Planned to paint the boys’ beds but every day I could do it, it is rainy so they wouldn’t dry and I have to put it off. I built another fire.

(I'm surprised it was cool enough in June that they needed to fire up the coke furnace. Was the house that poorly insulated? I suppose it probably was.)

Wednesday, June 1, 1927

Wednesday, June 1, 1927
Fair

Mama came and sewed on buttons, etc. while I ironed. Had so much to do that I didn’t get it all done. Haven’t ironed everything up for three weeks and I want to get it done this time. Millers moved! Joy!

(Grandma wrote several times about how she didn't like the Miller family next door.)

Tuesday, May 31, 1927

Tuesday, May 31, 1927
Fair

Washed, scrubbed, etc. Cleaned up the house. The boys have brought a lot of sand from the creek for Ned and Marjorie and they track it into the house so fast but it is a good thing to keep them busy and at home.

(I wonder how 'clean' that sand from the creek was, knowing the state of the sewer system in Indianapolis and how even today there is overflow into creeks after big storms.)

Monday, May 30, 1927

Monday, May 30, 1927
Cloudy

The big race day. They had a bad accident this AM, the worst for years. I went to see Mama’s flowers this PM, took the three littlest ones. Dale and Dick sold their first race extras. Dale sold 26, Dick five. He is too timid to be a good salesman and Dale is too business like to fail.

(Must have been Memorial Day because that was always the traditional day to run the Indianapolis 500.)

Sunday, May 29, 1927

Sunday, May 29, 1927
Fair

All went to Sunday school and Albert stayed to church with me. Spent the afternoon lying down reading. Felt awfully blue all the good things – except children – seem to pass me by and nobody cares.

(I've published all the diary entries without edits, but nearly edited this one. I'm sure we can't begin to imagine the hard work and long days Grandma spent caring for five children and a husband. Laundry and ironing seemed to be going on constantly. They didn't have closets full of clothes, so I'd guess the clothes they did have were worn several times between washings, and wore out quickly. That explains all the darning and sewing she did, of everything... stockings, underwear, pants, shirts. With four active boys, I'm sure the darning was non-stop.

They didn't eat out either, except for Thursday suppers at the church and maybe an occasional Sunday dinner at Grandma's parent's house. So every day, food had to be prepared. Certainly, they were not destitute but neither did they seem to have a lot of extra money, so she probably had to budget and carefully plan her purchases.

My oldest cousin once commented how intelligent Grandma was and that it was a shame she didn't finish college. I'm sure there were things she wanted to do, but couldn't and didn't even let herself dream of doing because it took all her energies and time to keep the household running.

We have the advantage of looking back and seeing what happens, of knowing that in ten years time, Grandma would be a widow with six children. We can also look back and see that all her children were successful in their own way. Three of four sons served in the military in WWII and came back to tell of it, all four boys earned advanced degrees and were successful, Dale as a businessman, Dick, Albert, and Ned as college professors. That her her two daughters would marry and have their own children.

But in 1927, clearly, it was a difficult time.)

Saturday, May 28, 1927

Saturday, May 28, 1927
Warmer

Same old Sat. work. Took Albert and Ned to the 10 cent store and get them some canvas shoes. Albert’s for .69 and Ned’s for .59. My! The Smiths are classy dressers!

(Prices for "canvas shoes" have gone up a bit since 1927. You couldn't even buy one shoelace for less than a dollar today!)

Friday, May 27, 1927

Friday, May 27, 1927
Cold

I ironed all morning with the kids bundled up, so it didn’t get warmer but threatened more rain so I built another fire for fear Ned would be sick.

(It wasn't easy to keep a house warm in the spring, whenever they wanted heat, they had to fire up the coke furnace in the basement.)

Thursday, May 26, 1927

Thursday, May 26, 1927
Fair

I washed and I ironed the suits the boys were to wear at the May day doing at 5 this PM. Then went to the school and Gilbert came late, but in time to see part of the others. Ned better but complains of his eyes.

Wednesday, May 25, 1927

Wednesday, May 25, 1927

Did some mending, made Marjorie’s doll a new outfit. Ned not feeling well yet but I guess it is nothing more serious than a head cold.

Tuesday, May 24, 1927

Tuesday, May 24, 1927

Gilbert stayed home – his stomach was off. I planned to go to the missionary meeting at Ruth and Curtis’ but Ned flared up with a fever so I had to stay with him. A storm came up that would have drenched me if I had gone.

Monday, May 23, 1927

Monday, May 23, 1927
Rain

Ironed last week’s wash as much as I could, was too tired to finish. We took quite a walk yesterday through the storm district and I am still pretty tired. About 2 o’clock a wind storm came again that broke trees, etc. A tornado at Warsaw and we got it, too.

Sunday, May 22, 1927

Sunday, May 22, 1927
Fair and warm

The storm district was open to the public today so after dinner I put Ned and Marjorie to sleep and Gilbert and I left the three older boys washing dishes and we went down to see the Ben Evans who fared better than their neighbors and viewed the ruins.

Saturday, May 21, 1927

Saturday, May 21, 1927

Mama told me if I could get her irons from town she would bring them down as I have to iron a few things to wear tomorrow. So I made the trip and just as I got home, the electricity was turned on and I didn’t need them at all. Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean.

(I guess great-grandmother's irons were the kind you heat up on a stove and then use. It would be hard to iron that way!)

Friday, May 20, 1927

Friday, May 20, 1927

Was hampered in my work by no electricity. They are working as fast as they can but all wires are down and it’s a big job. Gilbert and I took supper with his class at the church and had Lola keep the kids. Had a good program.

(Two days is a long time, today, to go without electricity, but probably wasn't as bad for Grandma, with fewer electric appliances that she relies on.)

Thursday, May 19, 1927

Thursday, May 19, 1927

We got a Star to see if wires are down as our lights are still off and found that it was really a tornado last night, houses demolished as near as New York and Rural. An awful lot of damage, most on the east side. I went to Sunday School meeting on bus and passed through part of it.

(It sounds like even though Dale and Dick delivered newspapers (the Indianapolis News, an afternoon paper no longer published), they didn't generally buy any.)

Wednesday, May 18, 1927

Wednesday, May 18, 1927

Terrible storm a little after 7 this evening. I never heard such a roar before – not a clap of thunder but continuous thunder and lightening and wind roaring and rain! I thought it must be a tornado and expected our house or roof to go. Lights went out.

(What must it have been like to go through a storm like that without the benefit of tornado sirens and weather rader updates on TV.)

Tuesday, May 17, 1927

Tuesday, May 17, 1927
Fair

Cleaning house. Got done all but hanging the curtain in the living room. Mama came out and watched me. Marjorie doesn’t like the new fence a bit, it made her so mad when she found the gate was shut.

Monday, May 16, 1927

Monday, May 16, 1927

Put in most of the day straightening two closets upstairs. Found everything imaginable except live stock in the boys’ closet. Bradbury put up a back fence to keep Marjorie in.

Sunday, May 15, 1927

Sunday, May 15, 1927

Went to Sunday School. Marjorie and Ned stayed in the nursery fine and I enjoyed being in Mrs. Smith’s class again. She spoke about how sweet we all looked Thursday eve and I told her how it wore me out. She said she had been there, too.

Saturday, May 14, 1927

Saturday, May 14, 1927

Still tired from Thursday’s trip to the church and my long “rassle” with Marjorie who wouldn’t stay put. I wish I had half her pep and that she always has as much as she has now.

Friday, May 13, 1927

Friday, May 13, 1927

Friday the 13th has no special bug a boo for me but all days are more or less Jonah’s for me so I hate to write down the heavy hearted thoughts to remember in later years. I want to forget those.

(What is this reference to "Jonah's"?)

Thursday, May 12, 1927

Thursday, May 12, 1927
Cool & partly cloudy

Went to Missionary at the church where I read a paper for Mrs. Kilby who led. Mama went to take care of the babies and stayed out with Marjorie the whole time. I stayed for supper and the boys and Gilbert came. Paul and Nina were there with Mrs. Schiffman.

Wednesday, May 11, 1927

Wednesday, May 11, 1927
Cold drizzle

Tried to build a fire but had no luck. Ironed and thought I could keep warm but my feet froze. Mama came over and froze, too. The thermometer stood at 58 in the dining room. Gilbert got a fire after he came home.

Monday, May 9, 1927

Monday, May 9, 1927

My headache yesterday left me weak. Felt like the dickens but the boys got up with an unusual amount of pep and played all over the house. Albert and Dick guards for a princess (Marjorie who was about to be kidnapped by two bandits, Dale and Ned. Such a clatter!) I was glad when school time came.

(School must have started later in the morning, or the boys got up quite early!)

Sunday, May 8, 1927

Sunday, May 8, 1927
Fair and cool

Mother’s day. The boys took Ned to Sunday School as I didn’t have pep enough to get ready early besides a little shower kept Marjorie home but didn’t last. I went to church and then after dinner we all went to Mama’s but I had a headache.

Thursday, May 5, 1927

Thursday, May 5, 1927

All went to the church for supper and had a nice time. They had a treat for the Junior C.E. so we all went there to hear “the bird man”. Elliott Libbett makes a funny noise like different birds.

Tuesday, May 3, 1927

Tuesday, May 3, 1927
Cloudy

My baby is too cute for words. Right pretty, too. Chubby – bright eyed. Full of fun. Just the little doll I’ve always wanted to dress up and her little coat and hood is awfully pretty on her.

Monday, May 2, 1927

Monday, May 2, 1927
Fair and warm

Report card day. All the boys got A’s and A+’s. Dale got a B in wood working which was lowest and only B in the crowd. Dick came up in all his marks, got 2 A+’s, the rest all A. Albert got A+ in spelling. Let the fire go out again.

Sunday, May 1, 1927

Sunday, May 1, 1927
Fair and warm

A lovely day. All went to Sunday School and I stayed at church while the rest all walked up town. Ned and Marjorie stayed alone while I went to class, without crying. Ned and I went to Mama’s in PM while Gilbert worked and the boys went to the show.

Saturday, April 30, 1927

Saturday, April 30, 1927
Fair and warm

Put in a big day working. Did everything possible, washed, ironed, sewed, cleaned, and went down town and took Dick’s crutches back, etc. Finally got the door glass in and the new clothes lines.

Friday, April 29, 1927

Friday, April 29, 1927
Rain and cool, built fire again.

Took Bradbury at his word and washed but it rained so I couldn’t have hung them out if he had fixed the line. He said he would bring a rope line for me to use while he fixed mine. Was just about sick & laid down when I wasn’t washing, headache.

Thursday, April 28, 1927

Thursday, April 28, 1927
Fair

Yesterday Dick went without his crutches to school for first time. I put in the day sewing this day and got ready to got to C.E. with the boys. Dick’s first for so long! D & A carried Dale’s route while he played ball and were so late getting in I was worried nearly sick and we were late for C.E.

Wednesday, April 27, 1927

Wednesday, April 27, 1927

Fair and warm outdoors, but I put a sweater on in the house as I sat and sewed all day. Made Gilbert a new shirt and did up some of my old mending. Marjorie and Ned played out. They stay around pretty good in our yard and Millers’ and are as rosy as can be. Sleep all PM.

Tuesday, April 26, 1927

Tuesday, April 26, 1927
Fair and warmer

Bradbury didn’t show up and I couldn’t call him and the front door banged shut and broke the glass to powder. Wanted to go to Missionary meeting so taped a sheet over it and went. A Mrs. Brad told us of her trip to Egypt. Left the two babies with Mama.

(Grandma always had a glass front door, as far as I know, with a white sheer curtain over it. I bet that was a mess when the glass in that door broke. Today, no one would go off and leave with just a sheet taped up where the door was in that neighborhood. Unforunately it is in one of the highest crime areas of Indianapolis. "The old neighborhood just ain't what it used to be!")

Monday, April 25, 1927

Monday, April 25, 1927
Slightly warmer

Phil Miller broke down my clothes line pole so Bradbury came to fix it, but left to order three posts and didn’t come back. His phone is disconnected so couldn’t call him. Dale had to go after him in first place. Have a lot of work for him to do.

(Bradbury must have been the local handyman. Aunt Marjorie wrote that she heard a lot about the Miller's next door, but doesn't remember them. They must have moved away when she was fairly young. Grandma wrote about them a few other times in her diary, she didn't seem to care for them as playmates for her kids.)

Sunday, April 24, 1927

Sunday, April 24, 1927
Fair – cool

Too discouraged to try to go to Sunday School. Got my work done up and we took dinner at Mama’s. I realize my only hope of having anything beyond the bare necessities, lies in my children and by the time they could help me they will to want to buy for some other woman.

(Though Mom says that Grandma never shared much about her financial situation later in life, we believe that her sons did help provide for her later in life.)

Saturday, April 23, 1927

Saturday, April 23, 1927
Cold, cloudy

The worst flood in history in the Mississippi valley. Gilbert & I walked over and took a look at that house on the outside. Would sure love to have it, but Gilbert can think of so many objections that I have lost all hope.

(Grandma stayed in the house on Rural St. until around 1971-72, when she moved to a nursing home.)

Friday, April 22, 1927

Friday, April 22, 1927
Fair, colder, snow

Gilbert went to Whitsville to his Uncle Henry Smith’s funeral. Got in about 7:30. Regular winter weather this PM although it was fair, a high gale this AM made it cold, then cloudy & snow.

(Snow in April in Indianapolis is never a good thing!)

Thursday, April 21, 1927

Thursday, April 21, 1927
Rain, cold

Spent most of the AM building a fire and talking on phone. Mrs. Collins telling me about a nice big house she thinks we could trade for. My Sunday School class had a tea that I intended to attend, but couldn’t get any one to stay with the babies and too bad to take them out.

(I can't imagine having to build a fire in the furnace whenever you wanted heat from it.)

Wednesday, April 20, 1927

Wednesday, April 20, 1927
Rain & cold

Ironed all day till 6:30 but got done! Marjorie only offered to go down street once. She played most of the time in Miller’s backyard and ours, with Ned, Phillip and Billy Miller. Don’t like her company but can’t help it.

(That's a lot of ironing. Grandma has written before that she didn't like the Miller kids next door. Too rough a crowd for her children?

Today in the nearby town of Shelbyville, Edna Parker, the world's oldest person turns 115. She was born on April 20, 1893, making her just five months younger than Grandma. We read Grandma's diaries and think how long ago that was. It is amazing that someone near her own age is still living not too far from here!)

Tuesday, April 19, 1927

Tuesday, April 19, 1927
Fair, hot

Washed all the clothes I found in the attic besides what we dirtied last week, a whopper but worst is to come tomorrow. Tied Marjorie in the back yard to keep her in. It nearly broke her heart.

(Aunt Marjorie wrote, " I remember when Mother tied a length of clothesline aournd Eleanor's waist with the other end tied to the clothesline after a man had to stop his car to get Eleanor out of 12th St.)

Monday, April 18, 1927

Monday, April 18, 1927
Rain, warm

Cleaned out the clothes boxes in the attic and found lots of last summer’s clothes wearable. Had to take Dale’s glasses down to get a new lens.

Sunday, April 17, 1927

Sunday, April 17, 1927
Fair, warm

Easter. Gilbert, Dale and Dick on crutches went to the 6 o’clock sunrise prayer meeting. I took the three others to Sunday School. Stayed to church with Mama while the little ones stayed in the nursery for the first time O.K.

Saturday, April 16, 1927

Saturday, April 16, 1927
Rain

Spent all day working on the coat and hood and getting the boys’ pants, sweaters, etc. washed, pressed, etc. for tomorrow. Dick and Dale colored Easter eggs in evening. Dick so happy for Papa called up and told him he could begin to walk.

(Sounds like tomorrow will be Easter in 1927!)

Friday, April 15, 1927

Friday, April 15, 1927

Put in another big day on the coat. My there is lots of work to it! Nearly put my eyes out and had a sick headache by supper. Took Marjorie to the barber shop. Got my new waterless cooker.

(Waterless cooker? I found this information:

"In the 1920s, West Bend introduced its famous "Waterless Cooker", a large pot with inset pans designed to cook an entire meal over one burner. The lid of the cooker was fitted with clamps that prevented the escape of steam during cooking, enabling meals to be cooked without the addition of water. Advertising for the cooker illustrated the convenience, healthfulness and economy of waterless cooking. The new product was marketed coast-to-coast and worldwide. The waterless cooker evolved into cookware sets which adapted the cooking method to sauce pans, skillets, and roasters."

Grandma must have thought she had some very modern cookware for the time!)

Thursday, April 14, 1927

Thursday, April 14, 1927

Ironed all I had to have, stopped at noon and mended, etc. Dale and I went to the communion service at the church, where Dale was in the Junior choir.

Wednesday, April 13, 1927

Wednesday, April 13, 1927

Didn’t try to iron, but sewed Marjorie’s little coat and hood. It is going to be so pretty. Marjorie is learning to stay on the premises if Ned is here to play with her. However, I have to keep my eye on her.

(Where would Ned go? He was only around 3 or so. Marjorie around 18 - 19 months.)

Tuesday, April 12, 1927

Tuesday, April 12, 1927
Fair, warm.

Washed and ran after Marjorie and ironed a little and was sick by supper time. I seemed to feel my womb fall down with great pain. So lay several hours with my feet over the end of the bed and massaged with ligament. So discouraged.