This is a pretty low-energy month for Emma. She’s feeling sick a lot and having dental work done, she and Tell have been in Grants Pass for a year and are not sure what they’re going to do next, and she’s spending a lot of her time sewing for her sister Gertie and other family members.
Wed 1. Today is WFMS. We took a pot luck dinner. Had Mrs. Steer talk to our society. I was sick all day & had to come home before the meeting was out.
Thu 2. We went up to Ishams this PM. Have not felt at all well & had a regular upsetting time this evening. Such gas pains, sick at my stomach etc.
Fri 3. Do not feel very well this morning but have eaten a little breakfast. Spent a terrific afternoon of pain but felt better & finally slept. Ruth is not well today either. She and Bob went to Medford with Rev. Coan this PM. It was a useless trip.
Sat 4. Have felt much better today. Am weak, but have had no gas pains for which I am thankful. Bob & Ruth are getting ready to sing & play at the Woman’s club this PM. Gertie came down to see me after choir practice last night.
Sun 5. SS, church, class meeting, church at night.
Mon 6. Did not do so much today as I did not feel extra. Went to a farewell for a Mrs. Wilson at Mrs. Isham’s today. It was a taffy pull. Easter practice at night.
I found this sweet video of a family taffy pull.
Tue 7. Ruth & Dad & I washed up at Gerties today. I staid until after dinner & Dad came after me. We walked over to the Free M. church & heard Peter.
Wed 8. Spent the day sewing for Gertie. In the evening we all went to choir practice. Dad worked on the house (John’s)
Thu 9. Spent the day sewing for Gertie. Staid for supper also. Went to Easter service at night at the Christian church. Rev. (Church of God) preached. Dad worked on the house.
Fri 10. Went to Gerties to sew again today. Cut out her jacket this morning. Went to the M.E. church to hear the drama “The Half of my Goods” it was very fine.
This three-act play by Ralph P. Claggett is the story of Zacchaeus the toll collector, and his conversion to become a follower of Jesus. Here is a synopsis.
Sat 11. Finished Gertie’s suit after 2 PM today. Am glad it is done. Went to choir practice at night.
Sun 12. Easter!! Heard Easter music from 4 AM on. Cantata at 6:45. Church, SS, Vesper service at Pres & church at Nazarene at night. Had Mary Graff & her father for Easter breakfast.
In many Christian church traditions, Easter celebrations of the resurrection take the form of an early morning vigil or a sunrise service.
Mon 13. A most beautiful morning. Dad & Bob went after a load of wood. They played tennis with the Graffs this morning.
Tue 14. Dad went up to John’s to lay floor today and I went up awhile too. We went out to see a farm today but it was not available when we got there. Mrs. Van Ness stopped to tell us all about it.
Wed 15. Dad worked at Gerties today. I went up to sew. I am making over a dress of Katharine’s for me. Did not go to choir practice as we went out to see a mountain ranch & got home late.
Thu 16. Dad went up to work at John’s this AM. I went to the dentists and had three teeth out. Am to go back next Monday. We went up to Isham’s to get some cherries & pears which she wanted to give us. She gave me 19 pint & 2 qt jars (Mason). I crocheted a couple large doilies & one small one for her. She seemed pleased with them.
Mason jars have been used for canning since the 1850s.
Fri 17. Bob & Ruth went up to Gertie’s to wash. I also went up to sew on Dad’s trousers. Dad & I staid for dinner. I went home about 4 PM. Dad is attending court. In the evening we went to the school house to see the play Our Country Cousin in which Margaret Schieferstein played the leading part.
My best guess is that this was a production of The Country Cousin, a 4-act play written by Booth Tarkington and Julian Street that contrasts the values of city and country life. It has a strong female lead role. Margaret was Emma’s niece, the daughter of her sister Gertie. At this time she would have been about 18 or 19. The play was made into a silent movie in 1919, with Elaine Hammerstein in the title role.
Sat 18. Today we have ironed, baked, made apple-butter etc etc. I took another lesson from Bob today. We got word that Donald was married April 11. Also got a letter from John telling of his safe return home & giving his itinerary.
Donald Grooters was Robert’s brother, who was a Methodist minister. He was living in Denver, which will prove to be important in the next phase of Robert and Ruth’s life. He married Bernice Sheldon. Here’s the marriage certificate.
Sun 19. We walked to SS. Stayed for church. Scout day! No service in our church but a Union service at the Christian church.
Mon 20. A letter from Katharine, one from Mrs. Daggett, one from Bertha Johnson & one to Bob & Ruth from Donald. I had four more teeth pulled this morning—I sure feel punk. We drove out to see Wemette’s who are here for a few days. We found they were in town, so drove to Pollocks to see them. Bob & Ruth have gone with a bunch of SS boys for a picnic. Dad is planning to go to Salem tomorrow.
Tue 21. I went to the dentist this AM to have my teeth looked after again. We took Dad to the train. He went to Roseberg to meet Berne. Will ride around with him this week. I took Mrs. Isham’s lunch cloth to her today. Have not felt very well today. Went out to Vernon Kilgore’s to apply for an office girl’s job but did not get it as he said he wanted someone who could write short-hand. I do want to get some work.
In the 1940 census, Berne is listed as a salesman for a lumber company. It sounds like Tell is going on the road with him for a little while.
Wed 22. I went up to the dentists this AM. Also to Aunt Gertie’s. They can not move till the plumbing is in. I wrote Miss Carmelson. It was mailed this AM. Got a card from Dad from Roseberg. Have helped Ruth with some sewing today. Tonight we went to choir practice and a Ladies’ Aid Social at the church. Bob sang. Tomorrow there is to be a kitchen shower for Gertie at the church.
Thu 23. We went to a “house-warming shower” for Gertie today. She was surely surprised. She received a great many lovely gifts. In the evening the Willings were here for their lessons.
Fri 24. I did some sewing this AM. Went to a WCTU Medal contest as a judge this PM. Am feeling pretty blue tonight.
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union hosted public speaking contests for women and children. Contestant chose stories, poems, or other orations from a variety of sources, with the winners receiving elaborate medals. “As community events that often drew hundreds of spectators, the WCTU not only used contests to encourage women to speak in public; they also used them to teach audiences to take female speakers seriously.”
Sat 25. Ruth and I sewed awhile this AM. Have Nola Skorakis old Singer sewing machine here. Am going to help Margaret a bit next week. Dad got home today on the bus. Guess he is not feeling very well.
Sun 26. Do not feel at all well today. Am too blue to be company for anyone. Went to SS and church this AM. Wanted to go to Gerties but it was 5 PM about before anyone was ready to take me. I did not care to be there for supper.
Mon 27. We drove up to Gerties this AM to do some sewing but she did not have Margaret’s dress ready.
Tue 28. I went to a Peace meeting this PM at the church, and we all went to a greeter meeting in the evening. Ruth waited on the table at the Pres. Church this evening.
Wed 29. Bob, Ruth & I went to Gerties. Bob & Ruth did the washing. I did some hand work on Margaret’s dress. Dad has not been feeling well. Ruth, Bob & I went to choir practice this evening. Gertie brought some of Margaret’s sewing to me to do.
Thu 30. Today is Robert’s 22nd birthday & we have been busy with a birthday dinner which we had this evening. We had a nice time—lovely dinner. Swiss steak, potatoes and gravy, carrots, tomatoes (fresh in salad), birthday cake & custard. Rev. & Mrs. Willings took their lessons this evening.
To brighten up the month, here’s a little teaser for a special project I’ve been working on. One of the things treasured by many members of our family is a cookbook put together (and hand-calligraphed!) by Emma’s daughter Katharine, my great-aunt (aka “Auntie K”). She compiled a bunch of favorite family recipes—dedicated to Emma—around 1990, and made copies for the family. Although most of the recipes are not old ones, some of them have been handed down from Emma’s time. Here’s one K calls Alpine Steak, which is probably very close to what they had for Robert’s birthday dinner. [Although I learned that the name “Swiss steak” has nothing to do with Alpine dining but refers to the technique of “swissing” (tenderizing) the steak, the recipe is definitely for a Swiss steak!] You’ll see more about this cookbook in future weeks and months.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for May 1936.