This is a pretty miserable month for Emma. Dental work is laying her low. There are some good times with family, and the usual sewing, canning, and church activities, but I sure do hope she starts feeling better soon! To provide a bit of a bright spot in this week’s installment, I have added a memoir letter from Ruth, with an account of how things are going in Denver for her and Robert.
Wed 1. Dad, Katharine and I went to Traer today. We ate dinner with Minna & Albert Detje and then Dad & I drove to Vinton to visit Uncle George a little while. We saw Aunt Belle, Aunt Gertie, Elizabeth, Harry & Uncle George. We went back to Traer. Sewed a couple hours on a new plaid gingham for Katharine, & after a lovely supper we drove home. Found Betty at Aunt Alice’s when we got there.
Thu 2. Katharine & I sewed all morning finishing her gingham dress & her “hostess” dress. We went over to Charlie Norris to have him start us out on our stamp books. In the evening Katharine & Aunt Alice finished pasting the memorial leaves in the new hymnals.
Stamp collecting was quite popular in the 1930s. I didn’t find any stamp albums among the family artifacts, but there were quite a few loose stamps. Emma’s correspondence as part of her Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society work was probably the source of these stamped envelopes. It looks like they found their way to the new home in Glidden—look at the crossed-out addresses!
Fri 3. We got up quite early this AM. Katharine & Marion Thomas are starting back to Cleveland by auto and Betty, Dad & I came to Glidden. We stopped at Clyde Hough’s to get some plums & in Hubbard for some apples. We got here about 1:30 PM. We went to hear Sam Polovona preach in the evening. I wrote a letter to Ruth & a card to Miss Malen. Tell wrote a card to John & Alice. Met Betty’s teacher tonight.
After visiting for almost a month, Katharine is heading back to her teaching job in Shaker Heights, OH.
Sat 4. Betty and I put up about 18 qts of fruit—apple butter, plums, jelly, etc. Then we called on Mrs. Johnson at the school house. She will be Betty’s teacher. After that we went to the church to hear Sam Polovona’s afternoon sermon. Betty is hunting up her books for school. It begins next Monday. A letter from Gerald & one from Ruth gladdened our hearts today. Suppose Katharine is in Cleveland tonight.
At this time of year, processing fruit appears to be a constant activity. Here’s an article on canning plums.
Sun 5. Betty & I did some canning today—plums & a jar of peaches. Got word that the Mohlers could not come. Have had rain today. Went to hear Sam Polovona preach this evening.
Mon 6. Went to church & SS today. Dad taught the young married people’s class. We spent the afternoon writing letters. Went to church in the rain. It was the last service of the revival meetings.
Mon 7. Today Dad is 65 years old. He has been making a walnut belt buckle for Katharine. Took several naps and went to bed about 8 PM. We had ice cream for supper—apple pie for dinner. We staid at home all day. Betty started to school. New books cost $4.00 so far. They will cost any way $5.00 with books & pencil tablet etc. I am anxious to find some work for Dad & me.
Tell loved working in walnut. And I remember that my grandfather, Robert Grooters, did too. He would salvage it from older homes near where they lived in the Philadelphia area.
Tue 8. Today is washday. Dad & I did a big one. We heard about a 20 acre farm and went to see about it. Did not get to see the owner but think it has not been rented.
Wed 9. Got up and went to see Mrs. Breze. She had not rented her farm, but after we took her over to look at it with us another fellow drove up and offered her half the rent down. As we could not do it she turned us down and rented it to him. I finished the ironing and Dad & I canned two boxes of peaches. Cost us 2.00 & we got 21 qts out of them besides some for supper. Dad says I am to go to Beresford tomorrow to get my teeth fixed.
Emma’s nephew Harry was a dentist in Sioux Falls, and has been working on pulling teeth and making dentures for her.
Thu 10. Tell took me to Carroll to take a train for Sioux City. Train proved to be a Toonerville & how it shook me up. Got a bus from Sioux City for Beresford. Cost me 2.45 train fare & 1.10 from Soo City to Beresford. Linnie was surprised to see me. She had just finished a big ironing.
Derived from the “Toonerville Folks” cartoon, a “Toonerville” was a rickety or dilapidated trolley line or railway.
Fri 11. Linnie & I started for Sioux Falls at 10:30. I drove their car. Had no trouble. Harry took the impressions for my teeth tho’ he was pretty busy. We got home about 5:30. Found that the stove had exploded and Gerrit had had quite a fire while we were gone. Several good coats were destroyed. Think I will can some chicken while I am here. Got a nice letter from Tell today. Spent 20¢ for my dinner, 1.00 gas.
Oh, my goodness! I did learn that gas stove explosions are typically caused by a buildup of gas from a leak or from gas flowing without a pilot light to ignite it. Once there is a source of ignition, it can start an explosion.
Sat 12. We did not do much today. Linnie & I were tired after being in Soo Falls yesterday. Have been getting a letter from Tell every day.
Sun 13. Linnie & I went to SS today but not to church. Took a long ride south of Beresford to see where they are to make an artificial lake. Went on east and came home by Alcester. No letter today.
Mon 14. Beresford. Linnie, Gerrit & I have worked in the basement today getting ready for the men who were to come to fix the walls & ceilings after the fire. We repacked books & other boxes. The men did not show up & we are planning to go to Soo Falls tomorrow to have my teeth put in. Will have five pulled. So glad Gerald has work. He is driving a truck now. Hope to hear of a job from Luther.
Gerald and his family are living in Mexico, MO where he has recently gotten out of jail for forging a check. Betty, one of the children, has been staying with Emma and other relatives over the summer.
Tue 15. We got word from Harry that he was not ready for me yet, and to come on Wed. I went with Linnie to Mrs. John Carlson to make out the missionary calendar. Went to see Mrs. Hamerly’s rugs. Got our family letter here at Linnie’s today.
Wed 16. Today I had my last 5 upper teeth out. Harry had some time with the last tooth. It was dead and broke off several times. Harry had my upper teeth all ready to go in—an immediate denture. I felt a little bad but after a glass of milk and a rest drove back to Beresford. I went right to bed as my eyes hurt so bad. Got the family letter (Boylan) today.
Thu 17. Beresford. My face is still quite badly swelled & I look fierce but I think my teeth will come alright. Harry thought he would be down tonite, but phoned that he had two patients this evening and could not come. Also said he thought he would be down tomorrow night. I am having a pretty tough time but guess it is mostly grippe. The noise today nearly got me—pounding in the basement, the slamming doors, the cream cans, etc. I know it is my nerves.
Fri 18. Had a fairly good night last night after sleeping so much of the day yesterday. I helped a little with the peaches we bought in Soo Falls. They are a poor lot. I sent on the Boylan family letter yesterday. Have not written ours yet. Luther thinks he can get Tell a job. I hope so. Have been lying down most of the morning. I feel pretty punk. Harry came down this evening and took my plate out. Cleaned my mouth and filed the front of it so it fits better. My mouth is too swollen to put the lower plate in.
Sat 19. Beresford. Wrote Tell I could not come home at least until Monday. My mouth & cheeks etc. are badly swollen yet. Linnie does not feel at all well. Her stomach is bothering her. I made some curtains & did a little washing but it tires me out. Only weigh 164—or such a matter. Don’t suppose I can go home till Tuesday. Berne thinks he will strike oil and we’ll all be rich.
Sun 20. Took my teeth out in the night to wash my mouth and did it hurt to put them back. This is a lovely morning. My weight is 162½. Harry did not come down tonight.
I love the little face she drew in the “0” on this entry!
Mon 21. Beresford. Tell surprised us by driving in this afternoon. We are all going to Sioux Falls after supper. Well, we went to Sioux Falls this evening to see Harry. He says my teeth will all have to be made over. It is terribly disappointing. We stopped at Mildreds and had a nice lunch. I feel pretty tired.
Tue 22. Have felt pretty tired today. We have finished canning the plums and apples today. Think we will go to Glidden tomorrow. Am so disappointed about my teeth not being finished.
Wed 23. We started for Glidden about 10 AM today. Stopped for lunch in Sioux City. We stopped a few minutes in Denison & came on home. Got here in time to get supper. Betty had forwarded a letter from her Daddy to us. She seems to be doing pretty well in school.
Thu 24. We did not do a great deal today except to do a good sized washing. It was a lovely wash day & we were glad to get it done. Linnie, Dad & I did it.
Fri 25. Miss Malen went to Laurel this evening. Linnie & I have been canning—making some grape jam and plum butter. It looks rainy. We are glad to have a little fire.
Sat 26. We spent the morning baking, canning apples, etc. Betty did the ironing. It has rained all day. We went to Carroll in the PM & bought a few things—a blouse for my suit.
Here are some 1936-37 blouse styles, and a 1936 Woman’s Home Companion article about accessorizing suits with multiple blouses.
Sun 27. Linnie is not a bit well. Her stomach is bothering her. It has been cool today.
Mon 28. We got some cucumbers today—½ bu for 75¢. I am making some cucumber pickles. Have been thinking of going to Branch meeting at Ottumwa but have not decided as yet.
Tue 29. We got a letter from Gerald today. He & Miriam want Betty to come home and I guess we will send her. She has been in school for a month and hates to leave but I guess it is for the best for her to go home. She seems to want to go.
Now that Gerald is out of jail and working, they are probably in a better position to provide for their kids. Both Betty and Peggy had been staying with relatives this summer.
Wed 30. We decided to take Betty to Boone to go to Ottumwa with Mrs. Walker. She will go on the bus from Ottumwa to Mexico. We left Glidden about 3 PM & got back a little after 6 PM. She had a nice bunch of clothes to take home. Her folks wanted her to come home.
Ruth Memoir Letter
This was written as part of an Elderhostel project Ruth did on creating memoirs in the form of letters.
Dear Mother and Dad:
You will be pleased at the way things are working out for us here in Denver. Don and Bernie have been very kind to us. They live in a married students dorm, here near Iliff Seminary and the University of Denver. They have many friends, among them a lovely retired couple—a retired Methodist minister—Dr. and Mrs. Wasser. We have fixed up an apartment in their basement. We have scrounged around and have enough furniture to live.
Don is Robert’s brother and a seminary student. He and Bernie are recently married.
Bob auditioned, and got, the job of bass soloist at the downtown Methodist church “Trinity Church.” They have a big choir and a solo quartet. Mrs. Morton, the wife of one of the Iliff professors, is the organist-director. Of course I sing in the choir, too. He will be paid five dollars a week.
Trinity United Methodist is a historic Denver church built in 1888. Here’s some additional information on the history, architecture, organ, and stained glass windows in the church.
And also we will have a fifteen-minute radio program on station KOA, where he will sing most anything he chooses—folksongs, artsongs, and operatic arias, and I will play for him. Our theme song is the A Major Prelude of Chopin, which Bob whistles while I play—as if we were in our living room. It is real fun to do this.
KOA, an AM radio station, began broadcasting in Denver in 1924. The 1930s-mid 40s have been called the Golden Age of Radio; their show is typical of the type of live music programming that was broadcast. Here is the Chopin A Major Prelude.
We applied for an NYA scholarship program at the University and we will be having a Freshman girls chorus.
The National Youth Administration was a New Deal agency that focused on providing work and education for Americans between 16 and 25.
We have had some happy times here. We have driven to the mountains several times. On our first wedding anniversary, we drove to the famous Central City in our little Model T Ford. These rocky mountains are beautiful, and high. The song that we have sung many times—”The Hills of Home”—has taken on new meaning for us since we left Iowa.
We have also gone with Don and Bernie on trips, and picnics to the mountains. Once we were very late starting—taking a picnic for lunch—and of course with my weak, empty stomach, I got deathly sick at my stomach with the curvy roads, and finally upchucked when I got out of the car at Buffalo Bill’s grave. I’ll never forget him.
Don has found several jobs to help with his schooling. He and Bernie mimeograph church bulletins for a number of the small churches in the area. It is rather frantic and we have been able to help out some late Saturday nights. Sometimes the copy is late, and sometimes the machine gives trouble, so it is all hands to the pump until they are ready to be delivered, sometimes in the middle of the night.
He also turns on and off electric signs for the power company. He goes around at dusk to turn them on, and about one a.m. to turn them off. Often, we play Monopoly, a new game about buying and selling property in Atlantic City, New Jersey—while he waits to make the trip to downtown Denver to turn them off. Those two boys have really inherited the gaming fever from their Dad. I find I am rather cautious about mortgaging property in order to borrow money to build houses and hotels. But Bob is more adventurous, and usually he or Don wins. Sometimes I wonder if we will ever own any land.
Although Monopoly has an interesting history that stretches back to the early 1900s, the familiar Parker Brothers version of the game was published in 1935.
The most interesting course we are taking in the University is Anthropology. We are studying Indians of the Plains—and of the Northwest. I have never thought about primitive people before. One of the startling things to me was the practice of “setting” the color in fabrics they had dyed, by using the collected urine from the whole tribe!
A man who manages a downtown movie theater has given us some passes to the movies. One that I suppose we will never forget is Romeo and Juliet. Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard are the actors. It is such a beautiful and sad story.
We have attended some orchestra concerts, and we saw our first live opera—Lohengrin.
But Mr. Thalman has always hoped that Bob would go on to music school somewhere in the east, so I suppose we will be thinking about how to go about that, soon. It is rather scary to think about, but everyone feels he has a good voice and a promising career in music.
I am glad you have found the little acreage to rent there in Lake City. I do hope it will be more the kind of farming that Dad will like.
Spoiler alert: this doesn’t happen until sometime in 1937.
I get homesick for you, sometimes. But we will probably see you when we make plans to go east.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for October 1936.