As this month opens, Emma and Tell are staying in Glidden, IA, at the home of Nell Malen, an evangelist and long-time friend.
Sat 1. Dad has been working on the house today. He gets pretty tired. Betty feels better today. Florence called up this PM. Guess they feel a bit lonesome for Betty and would like to have her back. I wrote Mr. Meade today that we would not be in Aitkin. We sent a birthday card to Gerald yesterday.
Sun 2. Glidden. Dad & I went to SS & church. Dad taught the men’s class & I the boy’s class today. We went to the Pres. church in the evening.
Mon 3. We got ready for Miss Malen & met her at 7:15 PM. Dad & Mr. Davenport are painting the house. It is a buff color trimmed in white. Today is Gerald’s birthday. We sent him a birthday card & a dollar bill.
Tue 4. The big event today was a telegram from Katharine saying she would be in Carroll tomorrow at 8 AM. We are washing the first time with our new second-hand washing machine.
Wed 5. We drove to Carroll this AM to meet Katharine. Got some meat & things for dinner. We waited for the train. It was 30 minutes late. Kept busy cooking, ironing & visiting after we got home. It has been so cool & nice.
The train depot where Katharine would have arrived in Carroll, IA was built by the Chicago and Northwestern Railway in 1896. Passenger service ended in 1959; it now houses the local Chamber of Commerce and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Thu 6. Another lovely morning. We have a lot to do today—ironing etc.
Fri 7. Miss Malen, Katharine, Betty & I went to Carroll shopping today. Katharine bought me a suit & three lovely dresses—and goods for another. She is so good to me. I am so happy to have these lovely things. Today is Ruth’s wedding anniversary. We are so anxious to see her. We did a big washing again today.
Here’s the post about Ruth and Bob’s wedding in Grants Pass, OR.
Sat 8. We got a letter from Linnie saying she & Gerrit will be down tomorrow. We had planned to start for Denver today but will wait till next week. Have kept busy cleaning, cooking, sewing etc.
Sun 9. I taught a boy’s class & Dad the men’s class in Glidden this AM. Gerrit & Linnie came in their new Ford to see us this AM.
Here’s a 1936 Ford sedan, which would have cost about $580 when it was new.
Mon 10. Gerrit & Linnie left early this AM to go home. We got away at 9:40. Drove to Lexington Nebr. 314 miles. We had two cottages at Lexington @75¢ apiece. We stopped a little while in Denison where Florence had a job lined up for us. Katharine is doing almost all the driving. Weighed 166½ today.
Tue 11. We left camp at Lexington Nebr. About 6 AM this morning. Drove to Denver. Got here about 5 PM. It was pretty hot. Dad was pretty sick when we got here. His stomach is off. Guess the heat is too much for him. Ruth & Bob were not here when we arrived tho’ Ruth had a lovely cake baked for me.
Happy 57th birthday, Emma!
Wed 12. We had a nice rest last night. Dad is better but still not well. I am going to sew some today. This is Betty’s birthday. We went down town yesterday and got caught in a bad rain and hail storm. It was a terrible storm. The hail was several inches thick. Robert carried Katharine, me, and Ruth into the house through the storm. It was terrible. We helped Mrs. Wasser in the evening with a dinner. Then Robert and Ruth sang for us. It was lovely.
Thu 13. Denver. Dad & Betty went to the museum today. Katharine, Ruth & I went to town to buy Ruth some clothes. Katharine bought her a dress, shoes, a hat, dishes etc. Her hat is so lovely on her. Katharine also got Bob & Ruth some music and they have been singing for us. We have been thinking of going home via Carthage and Mexico.
Tell’s siblings Nora, Daisey, and Will were living in Carthage, MO. Gerald and Miriam were living in Mexico, MO.
Fri 14. Katharine, Ruth, Robert, Betty, Dad & I went on a long auto ride today. We drove 280 miles. Saw the Red Rock formation, Grand Lake, Gorge Lake, Glacial Lake. Drove for 20 miles on the Skyline drive. We started about 7:50 & got home 10 PM. We were terribly tired but thrilled to the ears with the sights we had seen.
Based on the mileage and the sights she mentions, it looks like they did a big loop west up into Rocky Mountain National Park and then back down to Denver.
Although there is a 2.6-mile narrow ridgetop road near Cañon City, Colorado called Skyline Drive, I’m pretty sure that she is describing the much longer Trail Ridge Road that runs between Grand Lake and Estes Park. It’s the highest continuous paved road in the US, and crosses the Continental Divide at 12,183 feet. Here’s a fun time-lapse video of the road.
Sat 15. Today we have washed and ironed. We went down town & bought some canned goods. Took Betty to the Municipal pool & Ruth to see about a music student. Robert has been working on his lawn and selling roofs.
Sun 16. Denver. We all went to Rev. Wasser’s church where Robert & Ruth go. Heard Robert sing. Had Bernice & Donald over for dinner. We are packing to leave for Carthage tomorrow. Hope it is cool.
Mon 17. We started from Denver this AM about 7 o’clock. It was a lovely drive. We drove to see the Garden of the Gods just outside of Colorado Springs. We saw the balanced rock near Manitou. Ate our lunch beside the road. Also saw Pike’s Peak but did not climb it. Stopped in Holly, Colo & saw Mrs. Ruth Seright Smeltzer. She has written a book of poems & is to be in the “Who’s Who” in Colorado. Drove as far as Syracuse, Kansas—310 miles—& are in a lovely double cabin. We are so thankful for the cool breeze.
More beauty! The Garden of the Gods is a public park located near Colorado Springs.
Tue 18. We left Syracuse, Kansas about 5.55 AM. Had a lovely double cabin. $2.50. Drove 352 miles. Stopped to see Mrs. Mabel Fox at Wellington, Kansas. Drove to Arkansas City where we staid all night. Had to go five miles to find a cabin.
Wed 19. We got to Carthage about 2 PM. Found Nora pretty tired out. Just finished her WPA Summer school work. We ate our lunch & visited. Was tired enough to go to bed early. It is so hot.
Thu 20. Uncle Chris came over for a short visit. Margaret & Sasha brought him over. Spent the day visiting & drinking cool drinks. A pretty hot Missouri day. Margaret & Sasha went right back but we at least got to see them. She has a lovely car.
Fri 21. Got started for home about 5 AM. It will be a hot day. We arrived in Glidden about 4 PM. We had a nice trip. It was cool & nice as it clouded up in the afternoon. We drove 395 miles today.
A long road trip home—about 1100 miles—from Denver to Glidden via Carthage, MO. They don’t mention any visit with Gerald and his family in Mexico, MO.
Sat 22. Today was our wedding anniversary. 36 years of married life. We washed a big washing today. Then Katharine and I went to Carroll and did some shopping. We had a nice chicken supper tonight then went to hear Sam Polovona preach. He is quite a preacher. We got two letters from Alice asking us to come there to be with John while she is away.
I found this notice in the Carroll, Iowa newspaper from August 1936.
Sun 23. We went to church in Glidden. Katharine, Dad, Betty & I drove to Eldora. Left Betty in Hubbard. Found Lou here when we got here.
Mon 24. Alice decided not to go to Cedar Rapids till tomorrow. Lou spent most of the day with us. Dinner here, Katharine & I sewed. It was a hot day.
Tue 25. Alice & Mrs. Williams drove to Cedar Rapids today. Dad, Katharine & I are staying with John while she is away. Dad drove to Iowa Falls to get some of our walnut.
Wed 26. Dad drove to Hubbard today to see some of his old cronies & out to Maxwell to look at a farm. No good! Katharine & I sewed. Katharine had a permanent at “Margaret’s Beauty Shoppe.” It looks very pretty.
Thu 27. After cleaning upstairs and washing etc. Katharine and I went to Hubbard to see Mrs. Wardle who was visiting there. Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Wardle, Mrs. Mohler & I had a nice visit. Heard that Bakers had rented their farm and were going to California. We are having a nice rain tonight. I wrote a little jingle to send with Katherine’s gift.
Slip a slip on the pillow For the Sandman never waits His bag is full of dream gifts for our baby Thomas Yates.
Sat 28. Katharine & I went to Marshalltown this morning and staid till about four. We stopped at Daggetts when we got home but they were not at home. We left a note. We found Aunt Alice had got home from Cedar Rapids.
Sun 29. Katharine and I went down town this evening but did not find her a hat. We spent the morning down town also. Got the material for Katharine’s kimona. We are invited to Hubbard & also to Conrad tomorrow.
Mon 30. Dad, Katharine and I went to Hubbard to church, to Mrs. Mohlers for dinner. Saw Garnette & her baby. Had a lovely dinner. After dinner we drove to Conrad & spent the evening. Had a nice visit with the Daggetts & Stubbs. Came home about ten PM.
Tue 31. Katharine helped paste the leaves in the new hymnals. It was a relief to John and Alice to have it done. I did the washing. Am pretty tired. I suppose Gerald is free again today if not yesterday. We are planning to go to Traer tomorrow to see Minna. It is so nice & cool today. Katharine took me to see a movie—Edna Ferber’s “Show Boat.”
Show Boat is a 1936 film based on a musical adaptation of Edna Ferber’s 1926 novel (which you can read here). The film had to have special permission to allow a scene of interracial marriage, which was a banned film subject. Here is Paul Robeson singing Ol’ Man River in the movie.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for September 1936.