As the month opens, Emma and Tell have rented another house in Grants Pass after leaving the Rainbow Ranch on the Redwood Highway. Bob and Ruth have moved to a place called Tahoma Lodge not far away. This is a pretty quiet month—lots of cutting wood and preparing for Christmas. But there are a few buried treasures among these entries.
Sun 1. Dad stayed home waiting for the Stewarts but they did not come. Bob, Ruth, Art Dial & I went to church & SS. Bob & Ruth were here for dinner. Bob brought Pop Coan’s car home so they could go back to the EL Ball. Are here tonight. We all went to church.
The family has jumped right into church activities here—EL is the Epworth League, the young people’s association within the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mon 2. Ruth & I began this month by going to Medford—Christmas shopping. We went about 8:30 & came home about 5 PM. We had a nice day. I was very tired.
Medford is about 30 miles east of Grants Pass. Here’s a picture from about this time period.
Tue 3. We went to Ruth’s this AM, Dad to cut wood and I to help make our salad for WFMS tomorrow. We went up into the woods for some “Christmas greens.” Ruth came home with us & she & I went to Rogue River to take the eggs.
Wed 4. Dad went to Ruths & she came over here to wash. We washed nearly all day. We had a big one. I got pretty tired. Ruth went home & I went along. Dad & I then went to Rogue River & got some “Olio” & frankfurters. We have had supper and are sitting by the fire.
Here’s a 1935 Armour ad for frankfurters and bacon, featuring Ginger Rogers.
I was interested to learn that between 1886 and 1951, there were restrictions on the sale of oleomargarine (what we would now call margarine) imposed due to lobbying from the dairy industry. There were special tax stamps, with a higher tax for oleomargarine that had coloring added to make it look like butter, and people actually went to prison for violating the Oleomargarine Act.
Thu 5. Dad went to Ruths to cut wood. I did not go. Have kept busy at home.
Fri 6. Today Ruth & I went in to the Iowa club. It was a Christmas party. We went after Gertie but did not stay for eats. It was rainy & dark when we went home. I got a little bean pot (covered brown dish). Gertie got my gift. Ruth—a doily.
Sat 7. We had another busy day. Dad worked at Ruths. I did some baking in the morning. Dad set up the Christmas tree. I ironed, also decorated it. How I wish all the children could be home for Christmas. We all went in to choir practice at night.
Sun 8. We went after Bob & Ruth & went to SS and church. Were invited to Ishams for dinner. Came home—wrote some letters. Bob & Ruth came with us. Went back to church at night. It has been a lovely warm day. Dad was asked to be SS Supt. for next year.
Emma has already taken on a leadership role in the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, and now Tell is taking on a Sunday School role. And they just got to Grants Pass in April!
Mon 9. We will take eggs to town this AM & then go to Ruths. Got $3.65 for our eggs. We are going to send Katharine, Gerald & the Grooters a box of Christmas gifts. We went in to the SS Board meeting. Dad was elected SS Supt.
In today’s dollars this would be about $75.
Tue 10. Today Dad went over after Ruth and we made candy. We made several kinds. In the evening we went to town to hear the men’s concert—conducted by Barlow. Bob sang. Some one told him he stole the show.
Wed 11. We planned to go to Ruth but it was raining so hard Dad could not work. We will go early tonight. Sewed & read some. Went to Ruths for supper. Took some eggs & cake etc. Practiced at the church until after nine. Gertie got her piano yesterday.
Thu 12. We hope the check comes today as we need it badly. It did not come but a notice from the Star did—so we wrote to Katharine asking for a loan. Dad went to Ruths to work. She came home with him & took to car back to go to town. We felt too tired to go in. Mrs. Parsons called.
In earlier entries we learned that Emma and Tell are receiving royalties from an oil lease in Oklahoma. This has proven to be an important lifeline for them. Nevertheless, they are still struggling. I am sure it was painful for them to have to write to their oldest daughter Katharine, teaching school in Cleveland, for a loan.
Fri 13. Ruth came over to spend the day. We did some mending. She is going to a party at Winslows tonight. The little White girl & Louise came out with Bob on the bus. Bob & Ruth brought them over & staid for supper. We got another letter from K. saying she had sent a box by express.
Louise was Emma’s niece, daughter of her sister Gertie who also lived in Grants Pass. Louise would have been 11 years old in 1935.
Sat 14. Louise & Rosa Lou staid last night & today & tonight. Bob & Ruth were here for dinner & supper also & will stay tonight. We get our oil check today and will pay our rent & electric bills. We are so glad to have this. Bob went to town in Elmer. Too cold for Ruth. We are sending K. and Gerald a box.
Brrrrrrr! Here are the high and low temperatures in nearby Medford on this day in 1935.
Sun 15. We went to SS & church today. Took Rosa Lou & Louise in to SS this AM. Bob & Ruth were here for all day. We wrapped the packages up today. Went in to church at night.
Mon 16. Dad went to Ruths to cut wood. I have washed & am pretty tired. Ruth came over for dinner. Bob came with a load of wood & they were here for supper. We went to Rogue River & mailed our packages. Cost us 2.84 to send by mail.
Tue 17. I went with Dad over to Ruths and we went to town to get the package from Katharine, pay the Star, get a piece for the pump & call on Gertie. Came home & stopped at Ruths for Dad.
Wed 18. Dad went to Ruths for wood. Brought her home for dinner. We went to Rogue River for wheat. Then I went over there with Dad for awhile. Came home & staid as we did not have money to spend for gas. Did not go to choir practice.
Thu 19. Dad has gone after wood again. Ruth came home with him and staid till Bob came over. We took them home as Bob walked over. Overtook a man who needed gas. Give him a lift to the station & back. We put 5 gal. in the car.
Fri 20. We are feeling pretty hopeless over the hens as the eggs have gone down to 21¢. Hens are not doing much either. We were at home all day except a trip to Rogue River for chicken feed.
Sat 21. Have been at home all day. Bob & Ruth came over for supper and to stay all night. We have been writing some Christmas cards.
Sun 22. We all went in to SS & church this AM. We came home for dinner & Bob & Ruth have gone in to the 4 PM concert. They will stay till after the practice tonight. I am sitting in front of the fireplace. Later…a car accident brought several guests in to sit an hour or so. Mr. & Mrs. AH Anderson from San Francisco, Miss Anderson from Berkeley a Librarian at college, Mr. Moussat? The men both worked for NRA.
This led down a few interesting trails. I learned that the University of California at Berkeley was one of the leaders in library education, having established a graduate school of librarianship in 1926. An extensive series of oral histories documents this period, and I found several references to Katherine E. Anderson, who taught book selection. NRA was the National Recovery Administration, part of the New Deal programs implemented in 1933 to help get the US out of the Depression. Ruled unconstitutional in 1935, the NRA was abolished on Jan. 1, 1936, just 10 days after Emma wrote this entry.
Mon 23. Today Ruth is twenty-two years old. We went to Medford. Got some birthday gifts & got home for a late dinner. We went to town to the Christmas pageant.
Tue 24. Bob worked on the car. Ruth & I went to town. We asked Gertie & John to come out for dinner but they did not want to come. We opened the gifts this evening—as usual Dad forgot to give me anything. Am so sorry about Coan asking Bob about Dad’s smoking. Guess somebody saw him smoking cigarettes. Gertie gave me a hooked rug.
Wed 25. Christmas Day. Bob & Ruth were here all day. Had a pork roast, Candle salad, mince pie etc. etc. The young folks from Grants Pass were here about seven AM to sing Christmas carols. We have had a quiet day. Gertie & family did not come out. I got several gifts—bed room slippers, slip, pictures of Katharine, Ruth, & Bob. A handkerchief, calendar, booklet, hooked rug and candy. A warm day here.
Oh, my goodness. I remember Mom making “candlestick salad” at home…apparently it was introduced in about 1916, and by the late 1920s it was referred to as a Christmas tradition. It even appeared in a Betty Crocker kids’ cookbook in 1957.
But as you can see, there is a certain suggestive element to this dish. If you want a good laugh, check out this blog: “Candle Salad: A Retro Recipe to Make You Blush.” And I laughed so hard I cried when I watched this video:
Thu 26. The day after Christmas. Ruth & I washed in the afternoon. We played dominoes in the evening. An uneventful day.
Fri 27. I was not able to go town today. My eye hurt me so I went to bed. We are cleaning up a bit. Dad & Bob went to town. We sent in some milk. Helen & Dusty got more than their share.
Sat 28. I was not at all well today. Ruth went to town to take charge of my class party & also to see Coans about the $35 job Sconce offered them. It looks pretty good to them. Were at home all evening.
Sun 29. We all went in to SS & church this AM. Robert met the music com. & they thought he could not afford to pass up the Baptist job. But I think he will. We went in to the Presbyterian Vesper service this PM. Were at Gerties a few minutes & came home.
Mon 30. Dad took Robert over home & will build a fire for Ruth. He plans to cut wood.
Tue 31. The last day of the year.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for January 1936.