Emma #122: August 1937
Family photos, muskmelon, church caretaker, and a memoir letter from Ruth
Here’s a picture of Emma, Tell, Ruth, and Robert that I believe was taken around this time.
Sun 1. We decided to go home today after dinner. We stopped in Hubbard for a few minutes. Got some popcorn of Mrs. Engleking, saw Vic Knowles, the Strothers, Swallums for a short visit. We had a blow out & ran out of gas on the way home. Had a nice shower in the evening. Ruth had the Waters here for brunch.
Car travel was definitely a lot more effort at this time…if I had a flat tire and ran out of gas in one trip, I’d be a lot more bothered than she seems to be!
Mon 2. It looked rainy but we washed any way and the sun has come out to dry them. Rev. Johnsons stopped for a few minutes on their way to West Bend to see the Grotto. His mother was with them.
Emma and family visited this grotto, a series of man-made caves depicting the life of Jesus, in August 1929.
Tue 3. Ironing done! Louise Green came to help Ruth sew this PM. She gave me a booklet “The Lord’s Prayer” by Glenn Clark which I think I will prize. This evening Ruth & Bob, Dad & I went out to Vic Gordons for the evening. We took ice & they made ice cream. It was fine. Bob sang several songs. Today Gerald is 36 years old!! I meant to write to him but it did not get done. Found six turkey eggs hatched—1 still to hatch.
This took me on a fascinating journey. I learned about Glenn Clark, a professor and Christian mystic, who had the dream of groups of people getting together for an extended time away from busy lives to come into balance spiritually, mentally, and physically—becoming “Athletes of the Spirit.” The Camps Farthest Out organization, inspired by his work, continues to host interdenominational prayer centers and retreats worldwide. The booklet Emma received (PDF linked here) is a series of talks on prayer from the Camps Farthest Out, with the opening piece being a very thoughtful reflection on the words and meaning of the Lord’s Prayer.
Wed 4. Churned! Sold some cottage cheese & apples. Have been working on my black dress today. Katharine is sewing the belt which is the last thing to do to it. The family letter came today. Dad is still cutting out suckers in the corn. Bob, Ruth and I swept the basement out today. Hope to get a dollar. Bob is working on his operas. Louise helped Ruth today.
In preparation for starting his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, Bob has been given several specific operatic roles to learn. See Ruth’s letter below for a peek into his musical world.
Thu 5. Ruth & I made apple butter today. Katharine finished her dresses. Bob & Ruth gave Louise a lesson. We had some field corn to eat today. Dad is thinking of taking the janitor work at the church. $15 per month for 8 mos., $10 for four months. Got a nice long letter from Betty today.
Fri 6. We all—Bob & Ruth, Katharine, Tell & I went to Miss Malen’s today. We ate dinner with her & had a nice visit. Bob & Ruth had choir practice at night.
Sat 7. Today Robert & Ruth have been married two years. Rev. & Mrs. Walker gave them $2. We gave them a couple pretty bath towels. We killed a chicken & Ruth baked a cake. They drove up to Twin Lakes in the PM & took their supper. The old hen deserted the three little turkeys today. She had laid an egg in the grass. The seventh turkey egg hatched today but I found two of the little turkeys dead. It is raining this evening.
Here’s the post about Ruth and Bob’s wedding in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Sun 8. We went to SS & church today. I taught Dad’s class. He told Rev. Walker we would do the janitor work. A meeting will be held tomorrow night. In the PM Grooters came up for the program in the park. The choir & band took part. Robert led the choir & sang a solo. Grooters were here for supper. We made some ice cream. 13th c.
Emma’s been counting the number of chickens they’ve eaten from their flock on the farm.
Mon 9. Washday! Glad it is done again. This PM we drove to Rockwell City to a sale. Bought an old kitchen cabinet for a quarter. Got some linoleum. Spent $2. Katharine did not care to buy the walnut chest of drawers. Ruth found Jeff dead today. Everything has seemed to go wrong today.
I’m assuming Jeff must be a pet, not a person, or Emma probably would have given it more than a passing mention.
Tue 10. The ironing is done. Dad is working on the trailer. Bob is practicing. Ruth is packing. Katharine is sewing. Hot as blazes! Had our first muskmelon yesterday. Sold some cottage cheese. Dad has fixed up the cabinet so it will be much more convenient in the kitchen. We will put linoleum in the bathroom.
I found this PBS video from the Iowa Ingredient series that focuses on the canteloupe, a variety of muskmelon. Some tasty recipes!
Wed 11. We celebrated my birthday today by canning corn. Got up real early to pick it before the rain. We had a fine rain for which we are thankful. Had a chicken (14), ice cream & a birthday cake which Ruth baked. I got a green mixing bowl, two hot plate mats for the table & a lovely black & white bath towel. Also go three towel racks for the bathroom. Am pretty tired tonite. Heard today that we can be the “custodians” of the church. Katharine sent Betty a dollar by me.
Thu 12. Today is Betty’s birthday. She is 14 today. Born in ’23, the year Katharine finished High School. I canned some Duchess apples today. Mr. Grooters got some Whitney apples to sell for me today. He was here for supper. Got a letter from Gerald today. He says he can have a job in a “body factory” at $25 per week.
Fri 13. Today, I canned apple pickles and Ruth made apple butter. Louise helped Ruth sew. Katharine and I went down town. Katharine bought me a new corset, Ruth a lovely blue & white double boiler, a new water pail etc. Dad has been fixing up the linoleum for me. Rev. Walker brought the contract for the caretaker. We are going to give it a try out. Got a letter from Mr. Johnson today about the meeting at Rockwell City “SB”.
This list of caretaker duties was written on the last page of her journal.
Sat 14. We thought we had nothing to do today but found a little corn so bought 50¢ worth more and canned a boiler full. Dad and Bob swept the church today.
Sun 15. We went to church & SS this AM. I taught Dad’s class. Did not go to church but broke the Sabbath by catching chickens. 15.
Mon 16. We got nine chickens in our hatch today. Put “Little Rowley” with them. He is leading his step mother a merry chase. We washed—a big one! Grooters & Stella for supper. He brought a sack of feed to pay for apples. Katharine washed the bottles ready to can tomatoes. Mrs. Waters called.
Tue 17. Ironing! All done once more. Ruth got a permanent today. She & I went to the WFMS at Mrs. Brassfield’s in the evening.
Wed 18. We have had a wonderful rain today. Ruth & I went to the Ladies’ Aid today.
Thu 19. Today was Lake City’s big day. Dad went to the town but I did not care to go till evening. We canned apples & tomato juice today. Also bound a blanket & tied a comforter. Dad made a deal with Mr. Pisht for some alfalfa hay.
It looks like the big day was the Johnson County 4-H Club Show, capped off with a horse show and exhibition at the stadium.
Fri 20. Today Ruth, Robert, Mrs. Brassfield and her two daughters Irene and Betty went to Rockwell City to the SB Group meeting. We had a nice time. Robert sang. Ruth played for him and gave a talk. Miss Florence Masters talked and we dressed up in costumes and had our pictures taken. Enjoyed seeing Mrs. Johnson. Mr. Grooters & Helen came for supper. They had taken Howard over to the Boy’s Camp. Dad bought two second hand tires this evening. We may go to Harlan tomorrow.
Sat 21. We bought two tires & tubes for 12.50. Drove to Harlen via Glidden. Saw Mrs. Johnson. She gave me a big cucumber. Took a picture of the tree with a plow grown through it. Went to Harlen. Saw some chests of drawers but the folks (Morris) were gone so we could not buy any. Came home via Denison. Called on John & Florence. John is not at all well. Came home via Carroll. Stopped awhile to shop. Got Ruth two gowns & Dad one. Bought 50¢ peaches. Canned 11 pts out of them with some for tomorrow.
Oh, my goodness, look what I found in the files! Tell and Emma on the left, Katharine, Ruth, and Robert on the right. And here’s a story about the Plow in the Oak.
Sun 22. Today is our 37th wedding anniversary. We had a chicken—16—for dinner. Were going to have ice cream but I sent about 8 lbs of cottage cheese to the Sevalis(?) Boy’s Camp with Bob & Ruth. Also sent a basket of apples. Katharine went to church this AM the only time this summer. We went down to close the church after League.
Mon 23. This has been a full day. It has been cool enough to have a fire in the cook stove so we baked cookies while the wash water heated. After the washing was done we went to town & bought some cucumbers. Made 17 pints of olive oil pickles. Ruth & Bob & Katharine were invited down to Louise Green’s for supper. I got a letter from W.J. Elliott today saying the children should come right there. It may be they can get another student loan. Dad worked on the grass at the church this AM.
Tue 24. 17-18 [chickens!] We got a card from Nannie D. saying they would spend the day with us tomorrow so they could see the girls but we telephoned them to come today which they did. We had a nice visit with them. Bob sang for them—Ruth also. Katharine sent her baggage today. A busy day! We cleaned the house, did the ironing, packed the trailer, and did many other things. The folks left about 10:30 going via Ft. Dodge. Ruth & Bob went as far as Ft. D. so they could go with Grooters to their family reunion. I sent a dish of cottage cheese with Ruth. Katharine & I did up the dishes.
Wed 25. This is the day Katharine leaves. We took her to Carroll for a morning train. It was late. We got home about 12:30. After dinner & a rest we picked some beans to can tomorrow. Robert & Ruth got home from the Grooters picnic about 10:30.
Thu 26. We canned 9 qts of succotash & 4 pints of corn today. Got ready for Stella for dinner but she did not come till late in the PM. Mrs. Brassfield & I plan to organize the SB tomorrow at her house. 20 girls are to be asked. I will do my share after supper. Bob & Ruth are invited to Brassfields for supper. I wrote Katharine & Linnie.
Fri 27. Today at Mrs. Brassfield’s we organized a SB society. 17 girls signed up. Dad had to take the cow again today to be bred. Bob worked on his car. I am pretty tired tonight. We plan to wash tomorrow.
Standard Bearers was the young women’s group in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Sat 28. This has been a busy day. We did the washing so Ruth & Robert could go to Rockwell City tomorrow to stay till the first. Dad has worked on the trailer and changed my closet. Mr. Grooters took the borrowed bed home. Robert has been working on his car.
Sun 29. Bob and Ruth left about 7 PM for Rockwell City to be at the cabin for a few days. Ruth had to play for a lady from Chicago this AM who sings beautifully. Gets 1200 per year for two solos per Sunday. Ruth did beautifully. This PM they practiced an hour on Robert’s program. Louise & Hilma Green brought their mother and Mrs. Couchman to hear him. We came home & ate ice cream which we had made after dinner. Had our 19th chicken today.
While most choir members are volunteers, some churches pay professionals as soloists or section leaders to strengthen the quality of the vocal music.
Mon 30. It has been pretty quiet around here today. We expected a Special Del from Linnie telling us to meet her at Cherokee but she isn’t coming now. Dad worked at the church & I wrote letters. Wrote to JJ Lohr, WG Elliott, Katharine, & the Troutman family letter.
Tue 31. After an early dinner we drove to the cottage at Twin Lakes to see Bob & Ruth. Ruth & I went swimming!! Saw some of the Rockwell City SB girls having a picnic. We drove home, got supper, picked some elderberries & went to bed.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for September 1937.
Special Feature: A Letter from Ruth
This is another of the “memoir letters” Ruth wrote in later life—this one to the music teachers from the Iowa Falls Conservatory where she and Robert studied early in their training.
August 1937 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Thalman:
I know you are interested to know how things are progressing with us. In April we drove to Iowa, where I stayed with my folks in Lake City, and Bob hitch hiked to Philadelphia for the audition at Curtis. Actually, we drove as far as Eldora, and my Aunt Alice bought Bob a ticket as far as Cedar Rapids—$1.40. You can imagine how eager we were to know what the outcome would be. He was to sing on April 28, and on the morning of the 29th, I got a telegram that said “Accepted at Curtis.” What Joy! He hiked back, of course, and arrived here on May 3rd. We drove back to Denver, and decided not to stay there for the spring. We packed up all of our household goods on our little Model T Ford. (When we left Oregon we had cut the back off the touring car and made it into a truck.) We have moved into a little building here on the farm—really a former chicken house. I have been playing for church and Bob has been singing and conducting the choir. We have sung for several funerals. Believe me the three and four dollar fees are very welcome. Bob has been working for an ice company, delivering to farmers in the area. He has to work long hours and gets very tired. But when he is home, we spend the time at the piano. Curtis has sent him some Opera scores to learn: the Father in Hansel and Gretel, Scarpia in Tosca, Wotan in Valkyrie.
Scarpia is the bad guy in Puccini’s opera Tosca. Here is a fascinating video with Royal Opera House baritone Gerald Finley who talks about his process for learning and singing this role.
We have been doing a little teaching, too. There is a girl in the church who is a beautiful seamstress. She is able to make over clothes with nice design. She will help me get clothes ready for the fall in Philadelphia, in exchange for voice lessons with Bob. My folks have rented this 24½ acre farm. They need quite a lot of help getting the house liveable. Bob has done some fixing up—wiring, etc. and Katharine and I have helped with the curtains. We are happy to spend the summer here in Lake City with them—before we head for the east—unknown as it is. We will start driving about September 1st. We will make several stops, the last one with my sister in Cleveland, Ohio. My Aunt Alice will loan us some money to make the trip. Bob bought a little old Chevrolet, which we have named Philly. He has worked on it so it will run pretty well. We paid $35.00 for it. We have made the Model T into a trailer, and we will fill it with a lot of canned things, bottled tomato juice, and other vegetables. A man that my mother and Uncle Otis Moore knew has some position in the Methodist Church National Office. They have offered to let us come there at first, until we can find somewhere to live. We have certainly been helped all along the way by wonderfully kind people. We will always be grateful to you both for giving us such a wonderful start. We appreciate your willingness to give us all those lessons to be paid later. Surely your faith in us will be justified. A musical career together is such an exciting prospect. We will, of course, keep in touch, for I know you will be interested to know how your investment turns out!
Sincerely, Ruth