Fri 1. Katharine sent me this new diary. We spent the day alone. Dad has been taking care of the fires for Rev. Johnson. It has been so warm it has not been a bad job. I spent three hours ironing. My New Year’s resolution: To read the Bible through this year after the plan in S.S. Times. Heard Bob & Ruth over at Leonard’s after waiting an hour. Thought they might be on as early as last week. Listened awhile to the foot ball game in Rosebowl—Cal—between Pittsberg Panthers and the Washington (State).
The Rose Bowl has been played since 1916. Until 1946, it pitted a team from the Pacific Coast Conference—not necessarily the champion—against an eastern team. In this game, the Pittsburgh Panthers beat the Washington Huskies 21-0.
Sat 2. The ground was covered with snow this AM and a man-sized blizzard developed before night. Daddy went up to fix Rev. Johnson’s fires & found he got home last night. He drove to Corydon to attend a funeral today. I finished Alice’s hooked chair cushion today. It is lined and ready to send. Sent Mrs. Johnson a mince pie. Mended & mended! Did some sewing on Miss Malen’s curtains. Helped Aleen West with her E.L. [Epworth League] lesson.
Sun 3. We went to SS & church. I taught a class (Mrs. Johnsons & Mrs. Goldings). Nobody in my class was there. It has been a very cold Sunday after a blizzard. Have written Miriam & Luther. Got a letter from Alice & one from Chris today. Read my Bible portion! Thought we would hear from Ruth today about her coat. Hope to get a lot accomplished this week.
I was interested to find that there are many different approaches to reading the Bible in a year. Here’s one option if you’re interested in taking on the challenge!
Mon 4. We got letters from Gerald, Miriam, Katharine, Alice today. Katharine sent us $15. How glad I’ll be if the time ever comes when we can make our own way. Dad went to Carroll with Rev. J this A.M. & got my glasses. I broke them yesterday before I went to church. Dad helped me put the pattern for a rug on the burlap. I also worked on my crocheted hose rug. We did not get a letter from Ruth so Dad wrote her. I am afraid she does not like her coat.
It takes a lot of pantyhose to make a rug! Here is some information about turning stockings into yarn, and a video on crocheting a rag rug.
Tue 5. Glidden. It has been cold here today. Dad has given the bathroom its first coat of paint. Suppose Alice has the chair seat I hooked for her. Wrote her today about staying with Phe. Also sent a poem to S.S. Times.
Wed 6. It is very cold here. We wish sometimes we were in Oregon. So cold we did not go to prayer meeting. Got the Grants Pass paper today—a review of the year.
Thu 7. Another cold day. We had a little snow. We hate to go upstairs to bed it is so cold up there. Last night I cut tan rags for the rug but did not like them so am cutting grey ones tonight. Dad helped me. He is putting the black lines in the rug. Still painting on bathroom. Have been mending, ironing & working on the rug today. Hope Gerald is warm tonight & Miriam & the kiddies too.
Here are the temperatures in nearby Iowa City for these dates in 1937.
Fri 8. It has been very cold today. Dad had a lot of snow to shovel. There was no school on account of the snow & storm. We got a nice letter from Gerald—and I wrote him one & Dad sent him some papers. We were disappointed at not hearing Bob & Ruth tonight. Do not understand why. Dad has been hooking on a rug & I have made some warm bloomers out of my old bathing suits. Time to go up to bed. It is so cold in our cold bedroom.
Here’s a 1937-era pattern for ladies’ bloomers. A lot of swimwear at this time was made out of wool; much better for warm bloomers than today’s fabrics!
Sat 9. Another day has gone! Dad & I have managed to keep busy. Did not hear from Ruth about the broadcast. Got a nice letter from Katharine. Says the two girls in her household are having flu. Hope she doesn’t get it. It has been cold today. 15 in. of snow here yesterday. I wrote Katharine this evening.
Sun 10. Dad & I walked to SS. It was pretty cold. Leonards did not go. Staid for church. We got letters from Ruth, Linnie and Miriam today. Ruth says they were changed to 5 P.M. M.S.T. to do their broadcasting so we missed them. I got ready to lead League, and we staid for church—a busy day! Dad & I wrote some letters. Ruth says there are 20,000 cases of flu in Denver. They got a student loan of $100.00.
Mon 11. Have done a washing by hand. Night gowns, undies, towels, etc. I am tired. We wrote letters to Linnie, Ruth & Katharine. Did not sleep so very well last night. Am having so much pain in my hip. Have had a rest & now Dad is taking his. Rather a drab, uneventful day. Most important thing to write about, Dad says, is the way our “flu” hangs on. Weather has moderated quite a bit.
Tue 12. Today is Luther’s birthday. It has warmed up considerably today. Not much excitement here. I did the ironing, washed & ironed the curtains in the dining room and made the headings narrower. Finished fixing a blouse and worked an hour on the rug. We had fried oysters for supper. Have a thin dime to go on. But we have plenty for several days. Do not hear from Alice about going to Phe’s. We got a nice long letter from Gerald today. Dad fixed the curtain & painted a little.
In the January 1930 post, we learned that fresh oysters were a winter tradition in the midwest. Here’s a newspaper recipe for fried oysters from the period.
Wed 13. Last evening Rev. & Mrs. Johnson, Betty & Frances, Mr. & Mrs. Roberts & Mrs. Lindsay were here. Last ones left about 11 PM. We were very much surprised. It has been warmer today. Dad & I went to the parsonage to a S.S. board meeting and bible study. My leg pained so—we came home sooner than the rest.
Thu 14. We are waiting on our check. Have got down to our last dime. No mail today except a card from Daisey. I washed & ironed the kitchen curtains today. Opened a pint of chicken this evening for supper. It was all necks. Made some fudge after supper. Read “The Exile” by Pearl Buck yesterday & today. It is very interesting. Story about her mother.
Pearl Buck, the daughter of American missionaries to China, is best known for her fiction set in that country; this book is a non-fiction biography/memoir of her mother, Caroline Stulting Sydenstricker. Published in 1936, the book is “deeply critical of her father and the mission work in China for their treatment of women.”
Fri 15. We were happy to get the $30.00 today. We owe for coal & lights. Got a nice letter, too. I went to Mrs. McLaughlin’s to WMS today. There must have been 25 there. Saw her lovely hooked rugs. They make mine look cheap. Mrs. M said they were coming down to play Monopoly tomorrow evening. We went over to Leonards but did not hear Bob & Ruth. Do not understand why. Hope they are neither one sick. We got a letter from Linnie & one from Miss Malen today. Sent Gerald some papers & $1.00.
Sat 16. Have not felt so very well today but am better this evening. Got a letter from Ruth saying Bob was to sing with an orchestra Friday nite. We have made candy & popped corn getting ready for the McLaughlins to come. I have been hooking rugs. The Mc’s came. We played Monopoly until 10:30. It was not so interesting. They brought their game table etc. Were glad to have them so friendly.
Sun 17. I had a chance to ride to church today with Leonards. My leg hurts me a lot. I wish it would get better. Miss Hamilton gave me a program for WCTU. I find I am on it three times. I like Miss Hamilton. Must order my S.S. Times. We got a nice letter from Gerald. He thinks he will be out Feb. 8. I went to League—Dad led a class meeting at 7:30 PM. 21 there. It is pretty cold.
This made me laugh! I think Emma very much enjoyed her service work and public speaking; the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was a long-time interest.
Mon 18. 6° below zero when Dad went after the mail. We did not get a thing. Wish my leg would quit aching. Did not do much today but work awhile on the hooked rug. Felt too punk to go to SB meeting.
Tue 19. We got a package from Katharine today. It contains some work for me & I am glad to do it. Got a lovely letter from Ruth telling about a wonderful sermon she heard on “The Coat of Jesus.” Got a letter from Gerald saying he is a trusty. Gets a kick out of washing dishes. Wrote to Ruth & Jerry today.
A trusty is an inmate granted privileges as a trustworthy person. On December 28, Emma mentioned that Gerald was being sentenced after a trial. I’m not sure what his specific offense was. In the past he’s had issues with writing bad checks and drunk driving.
Wed 20. We started to sleep in the dining room last night. It is so much warmer. Am mending Katharine’s afghan today. Also have started a pair of panties. No mail.
Thu 21. Worked on the afghan again this AM. Went to the W.C.T.U. meeting at Miss Hamilton’s this P.M. Rev. Johnson came after me. We were asked to a waffle supper at Johnson’s. Such a time! The waffles burnt & stuck & we were late eating. Had a SS board meeting afterwards & walked home in the cold. My leg still hurts terribly at times. Do not sleep well. Sent a pair of panties on Thursday. Do not think she will like them.
Apparently I’m not the only one who wondered about a waffle dinner…here’s a cartoon from 1937. After a little searching I learned that these dinners typically involved waffles with a savory topping—often creamed chicken.
Fri 22. Worked practically all day on the afghan. Got it done. Made 16 or 18 new centres. Got a letter from K. telling us about the supervisor’s job at Mont Lawn yesterday & we applied. Hope we can get it. Heard Bob & Ruth over at Leonards at 6:15. Started a quilt block for the W.F.M.S. tonight.
Sat 23. Finished the quilt block this AM. It is a crazy patchwork one. Wrote to Alice & John. Spent a better night last night. The flood in the East is terrible. The Ohio river has risen & made thousands of people homeless. I went up to “Mays” & had my hair marcelled, then to the library & then called on Mrs. Roberts & her daughter who has a new baby & on Mrs. West. Was pretty tired when I got home.
Here is a section of a 1930s-40s crazy quilt showing several blocks stitched together.
Sun 24. It snowed a bit this A.M. but soon stopped & the sun shone. Dad & I went to S.S. & church. I had to teach Mr. McLaughlin’s class. Did not feel at all well. Do not think I will go out tonight. I started Edna Ferber’s book “Dawn O’hara” today. Got it & “Buttered Side Down” from the library yesterday. Arlene West & Pauline Autrey were here. Arlene brought us some candy. We gave Pauline a pair of galoshes.
Mon 25. I worked on the rug today. We got no mail. Have been wearing some borrowed arch-supports which Mrs. Johnson sent down. This sickness & no work gets me.
Tue 26. Spent a miserable night. Was in so much pain & so nervous—& no money for an examination. Got a card from Miriam today. Poor child, how I wish I could help her. The flood conditions in Cincinnati are terrible—no lights nor radio. Very little water to drink. Other cities along the Ohio river are in terrible shape. Flood, fire, disease, danger—it is terrible. Got some medicated corn plasters from Dr. Lindsay.
The Ohio River flood of 1937 was devastating. It left one million people homeless and 385 dead, with damage from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Ill.
Wed 27. Just finished reading “We Must March” by Honore Willsie Morrow—a story of early Oregon. It is a very interestingly written book. Had a letter from Ruth this AM & a card from Agness Leibenstein. See by the paper that O’brien, a former Morningside president is appointed Sect. of State in Mrs. Alex Miller’s place. She died in Des Moines with pneumonia. We went to the library & the parsonage in the evening. It was lovely out.
Ola Babcock Miller was the first woman to serve as Secretary of State for Iowa. Her greatest passion and longest-lasting legacy was the establishment of the State Highway Patrol.
Thu 28. Spent a terrific night! Did not sleep until about 3 A.M. A letter from Katharine says Betty is with her (Berne’s Betty!). We are so hoping to get the Mont Lawn job. We need it so bad. Rev. J’s mother is in a third story room in a hotel in Louisville. Flood waters are up to second story. No heat nor lights.
Fri 29. Just heard Bob & Ruth over KOA. It is a comfort to hear them. Got a letter from Alice & one from Berne. Glad Betty is with Katharine. Wrote a second letter to Mont Lawn or rather to the Business office in NY. Do hope we get it! Mrs. Leonard called this morning. Said I was elected president of the S.S. classes. We made out the list of committees. Have felt better today.
Sat 30. More snow today or rather last night! A card from Nannie Daggett saying she wanted to send us the Northwestern Christian Advocate. I wrote her telling her we would be glad. A letter from Berne—they are glad Betty is with Katharine. Letter from Linnie! She writes about the terrible flood. I have worked on my rug today. It will take a couple days more at least.
Sun 31. A letter saying the supervisor at Mont Lawn was elected before our application was received came this A.M., also one from Agnes saying we could have the Hubbard M.E. Song books. We went to church & SS but my leg aches because of being out in the cold. Kept my New Year’s resolution all through January.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for February 1937.