Emma #120: June 1937
Chauffeur's license, canning fruit, counting chickens, and Katharine gets a raise!
As we start this month, Emma and Tell have settled into their rental farm property in Lake City, IA and are getting on with farm life. Ruth and Bob are there and preparing to go to Philadelphia, where Bob will be a student at the Curtis Institute of Music. Katharine is teaching in Cleveland and getting ready to come home for the summer.
Tue 1. We have surely spent a busy day today. We had Mr. Summerfield for dinner. We finished the first cultivating today. Robert started on his ice job. Worked all day & went to Omaha to be gone all night. We washed today—it rained on the clothes & they are still on the line. Got a nice letter from Katharine.
Wed 2. Robert got home after we got up. He spent the AM in bed. In the evening we had Rev. & Mrs. Johnson & Betty here for dinner. We asked Miss Malen but she felt she could not come. Had Florence Gray also. Had a chicken dinner with strawberry short cake. Got the consent of Miss Malen to have Helen attend the Scranton Institute.
Thu 3. We canned our pineapple today—8 pints. Robert & Dad went to Rockwell City where Bob got his chauffeur’s license. This afternoon Bob drove Elmer to Glidden to meet Dick Moore who is hiking from Mount Vernon. They are singing now.
Robert probably had to get the chauffeur’s license because he was driving an ice delivery truck. According to this site, the license came with a badge that was worn on one’s hat or coat while driving. Here’s a picture of a 1937 Iowa badge. Elmer was the name of Bob and Ruth’s Ford Model T that had been converted to a truck.
Fri 4. This has been a busy day. Did nothing much but cook & eat. Dick Moore is here. We had Helen come here & Ruth & I started to take her to Smith. Bob & Dick came along & went with us. Mr. Grooters & Howard were here for supper. Howard & I played dominoes. Ruth & Bob & Dick went to choir practice.
Sat 5. Dad bought a new pair of shoes. “Elmer” turned a somersault with Bob & Dick Moore. Bob went to Lake View to give a concert. They will go up Monday. Ruth practiced on the organ today. I gave Mrs. Smith some cabbage plants (from Glidden). We bought some gifts for Stella today.
Here’s a 1937 ad for men’s shoes.
Sun 6. We all went to SS & church this AM. Dad, Ruth & I each taught SS classes. Robert led the choir. After church we drove to Ft. Dodge to attend Stella’s birthday dinner. There were 16 there. Had a fine chicken dinner. Met Albert Grooters & family from Algona. Came home & went to bed as we had no church.
Mon 7. Ruth & Bob, Dad & I drove to Lake View Monday where Bob sang before the Bus. Woman’s club. Got $3.10. Found a broken spring on the car. It will cost several dollars to get it fixed.
Tue 8. We did the washing this morning. It is always a hard morning. Ruth & Bob went on a picnic with the Walters. It was really too cold to go. It is time it warmed up a little.
Wed 9. Ruth & I did the ironing today. Had two irons so it went fast. In the PM we three went to the Ladies Aid where Robert & Ruth put on a program. They each got a dollar. I sold 62¢ worth of cheese today. Dad bought $2 worth of alfalfa hay today.
Thu 10. It has been a little warmer today. Got a letter from Katharine saying she got a $375 raise. Hurray!! Bought some hens from Mr. Gregg today. One wants to set so I am getting some turkey eggs tomorrow to put under her. Bob & Ruth sang at the Community Supper tonight. Earned $3. I started to cane a chair today.
According to this report, school salary cuts during the Depression meant that teacher pay in 1935 was down to 1925 levels (and Katharine’s pay was delayed for several months a few years back); these reductions were reversed between 1935 and 1939. Since K was a financial lifeline for Emma and Tell, I am sure they were thrilled both for her and for them to hear of this raise!
Fri 11. Wrote a number of Missionary letters today. In the evening we drove to Glidden to attend the Choir concert where Bob sang three times. We were all pretty tired when we got home. Dad has finished the porch (painting). It looks so nice.
I found this account of the concert. Quite a program! It looks like one of the songs Robert sang was Song to the Evening Star, from Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser.
Sat 12. Bob got me seven turkey eggs yesterday which I set under a hen this AM. Got the hen from Mr. Gregg. Sold 41¢ cottage cheese this AM & got potatoes for it. Got some English Cornish eggs today from Blairs and set them.
The Cornish Chicken is a breed developed in England, known for large breasts and tender and flavorful meat. Good eats!
Sun 13. We all went to SS and church today. I taught Hilma Green’s class. Dad & Ruth both taught. This was Ruth’s first Sunday at the pipe organ. I called on Mrs. Green in the afternoon & Dad & I went to the Bible School (Vacation) program at the Christian Church in the evening.
Mon 14. I churned this AM & then we washed. It has been a lovely day. We ate dinner & supper on the screened porch which Dad has finished painting. Three geese hatched from my six eggs. Cat found some baby kittens today. We set a second hen on English Cornish eggs this evening.
I have a feeling the cat didn’t just “find” the kittens!
Tue 15. We did the ironing today.
Wed 16. Have cleaned up the closet today—clearing out a space for K’s clothes.
Thu 17. We got a telegram from Katharine this PM from Clinton saying to meet her at Carroll at 8:35. We drove via Glidden. Stopped at Rev. Johnson’s & at Miss Malen’s a few minutes. We were so glad to see Katharine. Drove home via Auburn. We slept on the porch for the first time.
Here’s the route they would have taken—about 44 miles total.
Fri 18. We killed our first two young chickens today. They were surely fine. Bob went on his ice route this AM. His father stopped in a few minutes this noon. Bob & Ruth went to choir practice. They were asked to sing at a funeral Sunday. Florence’s friend went home tonight.
Sat 19. Katharine & I ripped up a dress of hers which can be made over for me. Am I glad! We paid the first $50 on our rent today. Katharine gave Florence a check for it.
Sun 20. We had a chicken for dinner today. That makes three we have eaten. It is so hot today—the hottest day we have had. Katharine got the dinner as she did not go to church. Dad, Ruth & I each taught classes. Bob has to sing at a funeral.
Emma appears to be keeping a running total of the chickens they have eaten.
Mon 21. I sent my Dist. Reports today. Wrote Mrs. Shroyer to be released from the work. We did a big washing today and I am tired tonight. Florence went to Glidden with Mr. Wetter tonight. Ernest said we had the best corn he had seen anywhere & that we could have the place next year. Got the family letter today minus Luther’s.
Stability! After all the wandering they did over the previous few years, it probably felt great to know they had at least another year here.
Tue 22. Ironing day! Always glad to have the washing and ironing done.
Wed 23. We tried to keep cool today. It has been so very hot. Today Mary Margaret would have been 21 yrs old.
Mary Margaret was Emma’s fourth child, who died at birth.
Thu 24. Robert had a long day—hauling gravel & ice. His father came this evening & was here for supper. We picked & canned 7 pts of goose berries & 8½ qts of cherries. We are all pretty tired. Fourth chicken!
Here’s a well-written and detailed article on canning these delectable summer fruits.
Fri 25. We have been so tired after picking cherries yesterday. Finished putting them up today. Made a little jam. Have 14½ qts altogether. We made a pair of feather pillows for Katharine today. Got the family letter today. Luther has a job in Indianapolis.
Sat 26. We cleaned up the house today. Bob bought a bushel of mulberries which we canned after supper—23 qts!! They are very nice. I went down town with Ruth this afternoon. Was exhausted when I got home but got rested.
Sun 27. Not much like Sunday AM. I had to churn—& clean up the kitchen a bit after last nights canning. Then the cow got restless so Bob and Dad got the truck and took her to the country to be bred. This will bring her calf the last of March. Calendar says Apr. 5. We—Ruth & I are going to SS. Dad & Bob will not get there. Fifth chicken.
I learned that cows come into heat about every 18-24 days (here’s an article on how to tell…). And although it’s a complete tangent, I couldn’t resist sharing this Marty Robbins song, Restless Cattle.
Mon 28. Wash day! I am not feeling so very well so the girls are doing most of it. Helen Grooters came this AM from teaching Bible School. She went to her aunt’s for dinner. Then Grandma Weston & she spent the afternoon here. Then Mr. Grooters came after Helen & they were here for supper. It has been a hard day.
Helen was a younger sister of Robert’s. At this time she would have been about 18.
Tue 29. Have felt better today. The girls did the ironing. The corn is laid by!!! A busy day! We did some sewing today. Bob bought a car today to go to Philadelphia in! The Greens called this evening.
I learned today that “laying by” means to leave a crop to mature after its final hoeing. According to this site, “When a farmer has the crop ‘laid by,’ the labors of plowing, planting, and cultivating are over, and he can sit back until the crop is ripe.” I’m not sure exactly when this picture was taken, but it shows Tell, Emma, Katharine (I think) and another worker in the corn field and might well have been from this year.
Wed 30. Have felt a little more like working today. We sewed on Katharine’s dress. Picked gooseberries & peas. Had a chicken for our evening dinner. 6th chicken! Ruth is starting a music class. Put her ad in the paper this week.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for July 1937.