Emma #133: July 1938
Lots of butter, a second-hand icebox, traveling carnival, and big news from Ruth
As this month begins, Emma is at Okoboji, the Methodist Episcopal Church summer camp near Spirit Lake, IA, and heading back home to the farm in Lake City where Bob and Ruth are back from Philadelphia for the summer.
Fri 1. The last day of camp. All the girls seem very happy over coming. We had Genevieve Mills the missionary for breakfast. It has been very interesting, instructive and entertaining. Saw Mrs. Richards, Mrs. Sheldon, Mrs. Ralston and others. I am glad the three “Quiet Hours” are over. They seemed pleased with them. We invited the life-guard, Miss Pickersgill, for supper. All the girls seemed very much touched tonight.
Sat 2. Elvis Brassfield came after his mother. They left about 6 A.M. & we—Betty, Irene, Elise Fern, Mable Leathers & I left at 10 till 7. We arrived home safely about 11 A.M. In the afternoon I picked over a half bushel of peas & we canned 2 qts & 3 pints with enough for tomorrow. I brought home more money than I took. Have been busy. Found Dad had been in Denison. Went Thurs & came back Friday. John Sullivan had had another stroke. Found letters from Katharine, Linnie, the Mexico folks & others when I got home.
Sun 3. We all went to church & SS today. Dad & I taught. Rev. Davies preached. We sang “Open My Eyes” for an anthem & Bob sang a solo. We rather looked for Aunt Linnie down but she did not come. In the evening we attended the Union service at the Pres. church. Helen Grooters came to church & came home with us—stayed all night. Ruth was not feeling well today.
This hymn was written by Clara Scott in 1895.
Mon 4. We celebrated the glorious Fourth today by going to Ft. Dodge. We took a chicken, salad & a gallon of ice cream all ready to freeze. Bob Boyd was there. He is preaching in Humbolt this summer. He plans to be married in August and will be near Bob & Ruth. We got home about six. Bob & Ruth gave three lessons. Dad & I drove down to Mrs. Brassfields & she & I went to call on Elsie Fern who had got hurt at camp.
Tue 5. This has been a hot day. We did a monstrous big washing. Mr. Tod is plowing corn for us today. Poor fellow! He is having a sorry time. His wife ran away with his brother. Their home is broken up. I churned 5¾ lbs of butter tonight. We do need a separator. We got a card & a letter from Katharine today. She is back in Cleveland after her Mexico trip. She did not say when she would be coming home. Besse was here this evening. I gave her some apples & ground cherry plants.
The earlier reference to the “Mexico folks” is about Gerald’s family in Mexico, MO. This refers to Katharine’s trip to the country of Mexico.
Wed 6. We did not finish the ironing today. Did a little sewing. There was such a big ironing. I did not go to Aid but went down with Robert and Ruth to close the church. Mrs. Williams was sick today. Went to the hospital. Sent 2 lbs of butter to Mrs. Brassfield today.
It’s amazing what you can find if you poke around online…here is a photo of Mr. and Mrs. Brassfield (Floyd and Thelma) and their son Elvis from 1937.
Thu 7. We finished the ironing today. Ruth is making a bed jacket out of an old evening dress. We went to call on Bess this PM—also went to Brassfields. I picked a basket of beans to can. Went to choir practice this evening. We plan to drive to Eldora Saturday & come home Sunday. Bought some cucumber seed & planted it today.
Fri 8. We canned 14 qts of beans today. About noon Florence Sullivan called up to say they were coming over. They got here about 2. We had a chicken for supper. They have a refrigerator we can have if we take them home, which we plan to do. Tell wrote John that we would postpone our trip to Eldora. Bob went to Glidden alone this evening.
Sat 9. Tell & I drove Bob’s car to Denison today. Took the trailer and got the refrigerator. It is a big one. Will hold 150 lbs of ice. Florence also gave me some jars and a butter bowl. We put the refrigerator in the back shed & got 100 lbs of ice this evening. I picked peas & cleaned a chicken. Bob worked on the car all afternoon.
Although electric refrigerators were common by this time, the description suggests that this was an older-style ice box cooler like the one shown below. A quick calculation of ice weight to volume suggests that the ice compartment would have been about 2.6 cubic feet in size.
Sun 10. This has been a very hot day. The corn is doing fine. Dad did not go to church this AM. Bob, Ruth & I went. Bob sang. In the afternoon we all went out to see Bess who has been sick. We took Mrs. Brassfield along. In the evening we went to Glidden. Bob sang several solos, & he & Ruth sang a couple duets. I am glad to get into bed.
Mon 11. We did not wash this AM as we planned. Tell took a trailer load of corn down to trade for oats. I picked some beans and corn today which we canned. I spent a couple hours with Bess at the hospital today just before she was operated for appendicitis. Poor child! She has a lot the matter with her. A letter from Katharine says she will be home next week. She plans to visit Thelma Mendell in Chicago. Bob & Ruth went to Carrol to take Rev. Walker to a train tonight. I churned this evening. It is fine to have ice to use.
Tue 12. This has been a very hot day. Miss Malen came home with Bob & Ruth last night to stay until tomorrow. We had a nice time today. Had a chicken this evening. Bob did not get home until seven. Got two hours overtime in. Bess Williams is very sick tonight. She had a leaky appendix and an abcess. I hope she may recover. Bob took us for a ride tonight. Dad did not want to go. We stopped to take Mrs. Mighel with us. It is very hot tonight. Looks for rain!
The Fair Labor Standards Act, which mandated “time-and-a-half” overtime pay for hours over 40 per week, had just been passed in June of this year.
Wed 13. Ruth, Miss Malen & I went shopping this forenoon. Then we called on Mrs. Bennet. After dinner we took Mrs. Brassfield with us to Glidden. We attended a Bible study class. Got 6 doz cans of asparagus—came home. We enjoyed having Nell with us. It has been cooler this evening. We drove down town to the Wed night drawing but got nothing. Bess is still very sick in the hospital. Hope I can sleep tonight.
Thu 14. This has been a lovely cool day. We did a big washing, baked cookies, washed the porch etc. Bess is reported better. Ed said she had not known them till last night. Was operated Monday. We got plenty done today. Dad finished the turkey fence & we put them in. Hope they stay. We exchanged cots with Bob & Ruth. Irene Brassfield is going to take voice lessons. I went to choir practice with Bob & Ruth tonite. Dad feels tired out.
Fri 15. It was cool and pleasant this morning but the afternoon was hot. We did a little canning. Did not iron but sprinkled the clothes. Got some apples ready to make butter. Picked peas and beans. A letter from Katharine said she would be here Monday AM. An electric fan arrived today. It is a very lovely one. Bob & Ruth went to Glidden. Florence got home today. We will be so glad to see Katharine. Ruth & I cut out pieces for a little quilt.
Here’s a demo of an electric fan from this time period. A basic 8” one-speed non-oscillating fan would have cost about $1.00 at this time.
Sat 16. We ironed & ironed & ironed. Finally finished. Bob did not get home till nearly four—had to work overtime. Irene Brassfield started voice lessons today to pay on ice. Ruth got a permanent this AM. She is happy over it. She & Robert plan to go to Ft. Dodge tomorrow. The pigs are doing so well. They should be ready by Nov 1st to turn off. Then the two sows, the corn crop, the turkeys, chickens, eggs and milk all will help. The prospect for corn, beans, melons & ground cherries is fine.
Emma kept this account of ice payments in the back of the journal.
Sun 17. Got home from Ft. Dodge about 9:30 PM. I am so very tired. A carnival outfit is setting up just west of us. A lot of gypsy fortune tellers etc. Am afraid they will steal us blind. Robert & Ruth gave a concert at Stella’s hospital (Catholic) in Ft. Dodge, then Ruth had an examination. Found the thing I suspected for some time to be true. It makes me see red. Can not sleep tonite. It is 11:30 PM. Katharine will be here in the morning!
I am not sure why learning that Ruth was pregnant upset Emma. Perhaps she was unhappy that Ruth had not told her, or she wanted Ruth to wait longer before starting a family.
Mon 18. Katharine got home this AM. Dad met her in Carrol. Ruth & I did not go along because of the punk looking show at our corner. We did up the work. After dinner I lay down to rest & Mrs. McCrary, Mrs. Reed, & Mrs. Krealer called. I called on Bess in the evening. Took the WFMS basket to Mrs. Brassfield, took some apples to Mrs. Green, & came home. It has been a very hot day.
A traveling carnival was different from a circus in that it focused on attractions (including games of chance, fortune-tellers/palm readers, sideshows, etc.), rides, and food vendors that lined the circular avenue called the midway. In 1937 there were about 300 carnivals touring the country. “In small town America of 1930s, it was simply second-nature to distrust the carnies. And yet, the lurid quality of the carnival, the danger of being swindled, appears to have been part of the attraction.”
Tue 19. It has been cool & pleasant this AM. We thought it might rain but so far only a little sprinkle. We picked peas & beans, cleaned a chicken and churned.
Wed 20. Today Ruth, Katharine & I went to Carroll. Katharine bought me a new dress, hat etc. We had such a nice time. The day was cool & pleasant. I went to a com. meeting at Mrs. Snows this evening for Monday club. Dad got 15.00 worth of fine alfalfa hay today.
Thu 21. It has been cool & pleasant most all day. We had a little shower which we needed very badly. Katharine cut out the green dress for me today. Ruth sewed. Dad has felt tired out & lay down most all day. Mr. Grooters & Howard dropt in for supper. Bob, Ruth & I went to choir practice. Bob was so tired tonight. I called on Bess this PM. We made some apple butter today.
Fri 22. A lovely cool morning. I have been sweeping & cleaning. Mr. & Mrs. Robertson, Anna Mae & Billy called for a few minutes this morning. Mrs. Brassfield brought her dress down to me to remodel. Ruth, Katharine & I went to see a matinee movie this PM called “The Birth of a Baby” for women only. It was very interesting. We did some shopping afterwards. Called on Bess.
This 1938 educational film featured scenes of actual childbirth, which led to censorship issues and complaints of indecency. This excerpt from the Motion Picture Herald describes the controversy surrounding the movie and Life magazine’s publication of 3 pages of photographs from it.
Sat 23. It was cool enough to have a fire this morning so we baked a big batch of cookies. We made an apple roll, churned butter, and did up the Sat. work. I finished Mrs. Brassfield’s dress. It looks very well on her. Rev. Walker is sick and asked us to call Miss Malen to preach which we did. She is to come tomorrow. Robert will take Rev. Walker’s car to go after her. We drove down to Brassfield’s this evening. They invited us in to eat ice cream. We then went out to Bennett’s to tell them Miss Malen would preach at our church tomorrow. This is the last night for the carnival—I will be glad when it is gone.
There is a whole story behind the apple roll, which I will share in a special edition of this series next week.
Sun 24. The carnival left this morning. Bob went down after Miss Malen this A.M. before SS. She preached for Rev. Walker who is sick. She spent the day with us. We had a chicken dinner. In the evening we went to the Union service where Rev. Couchman preached. Miss Malen went home with M. & Mrs. Wyatt of Carrol. The Couchmans & the Grooters planned a picnic for Tuesday.
Mon 25. Another cloudy wash day. After dinner Dad & Katharine drove to Eldora this PM. I sent the asparagus to Alice & the rug to Mrs. Daggitt. Bob did the milking & feeding the pigs.
Tue 26. We spent a busy morning—Ruth & I making apple butter, trying new music, washing wood work, etc. Bob churned for me. As it rained so hard last night Bob did not have to work this morning. We kept him busy here. We decided to have the Couchmans here for supper & they were glad to come. Dad & Katharine got home about 5 P.M. They had a nice time & report John looking much better. The Couchmans spent the evening with us and we had a fine time.
Wed 27. Linnie did not come today. Said she would drop me a card when she came. Katharine finished ironing & worked on her dress. Ruth worked on a baby quilt. I did not seem to accomplish much. Went with Dad to Brassfield & to Pitmans. Robert gave three lessons tonight. Dad tired himself out pulling weeds.
Here’s an example of a 1930s-era crib quilt.
Thu 28. This has been a delightful day. We put the sewing machine on the porch and have worked on several garments. Katharine finished her dress—”all but”—as mother used to say. I did some mending, helped a bit here & there. Ruth worked on her baby things. We made ice cream for supper. Ruth, Bob & I went to choir practice. Robert will quit work tomorrow evening. Dad slept & rested a lot today. He gets so tired. We will not have any service next Sunday except SS & ES.
Fri 29. I canned 6 pints of apples cold packed for pie today. Hope to can more later. Katharine finished (almost) my dress today. Found our first ripe tomato. We drove Bess home from the hospital today. Bob & Ruth drove to Glidden for choir practice tonite. It has been raining all evening. We sent Miss Malen the bottles and Mrs. Roberts the arch supports.
Sat 30. It rained, it poured and the deluge brought Aunt Linnie & Uncle Gerrit. We were glad to see them tho’ we were not very much ready. They came in a car Mother Muilenburg had given them. Katharine finished my new green dress.
Sun 31. No church at our church because Rev. Walker is sick. We went to the Baptist church in the morning where Miss Malen preached and to the Pres. church in the evening where she preached for Rev. Walker at the Union service. After church Bob took Rev. Walker’s car to take Miss Malen home. Ruth, Katharine, Linnie & I went along.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for a special “Apple Roll” edition.