Sun 1. This was Conference Sunday. Tell and I taught our classes and then went to the Baptist church. We enjoyed the communion service very much. Bess came in to go to Mr. Rucker’s funeral with us. It was a very large one. She staid ‘till Bud came for her (about 5 P.M.) We decided not to go to church tonight. Mrs. Brassfield has decided to drive her car to Mason City. Think Hilma and I will go with her to Branch meeting.
Mon 2. 2:45 P.M., and I am ready to take Katharine’s quilt off the frame. It has been a long job but I am glad it is done. I started it on Mar. 7th—almost seven months. But of course I haven’t worked at it all the time. It has been laid aside for weeks at a time.
Tue 3. We looked for some money from Katharine but as it did not come we sold 18 roosters for $11.65 so I could have money to go to Branch Meeting at Mason City tomorrow. I have been basting the binding on Katharine’s quilt. Plan to start on Ruth’s right away. It has been a warm day. Owen has not showed up yet. Bess was in—came just as I was started down town to have my hair fixed. Got me a new night gown, hose & panties.
Wed 4. Am waiting for Mrs. Brassfield and Hilma to come after me to go to Mason City. It is cooler & somewhat cloudy. Well we came and I have spent one whole day at the convention. Tho’ I am very tired I was glad to be here and to see so many old friends—Mrs. Flemming, Shroyer, Johnsons, Shaeffer, Watts, Belle, Turner, Fowler, etc. etc.
Mason City is about 135 miles from Lake City. It is known for its many Prairie School style architecture buildings, including the Park Inn Hotel (below) and City National Bank Building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It was also the birthplace of Meredith Willson—his hit Broadway musical The Music Man was inspired by his childhood there.
Thu 5. It is almost time for Hilma & Thelma to be here. They were together. My hostess is Mrs. G— G— [omitting address and phone #]. I slept alone last night as no one came tho the place was assigned. Heard the pres. of Morningside College speak last night. He is a brother of Bishop McGee. Left my glasses at Thelma’s so I am writing without them. Have had a wonderful day. We got pretty tired. Were in services all day long but they were very fine. I have been appointed to write up the meeting for the Advocates. Quite an honor I say! Heard Katharine Buerge & Bishop McGee tonight, also Mrs. Peterson who sang so beautifully. She made me think of Miss Malen. It is late and I must go to bed.
Morningside College (now University), in Sioux City Iowa, was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1894.
Fri 6. This was business day at the Br. Meeting. Officers were elected and the meeting was not as interesting as usual. Mrs. Johnson, Fowler, Brassfield, Hilma, Turner and Winters ate together in a tea room. We came home to rest about 4 P.M. & it is time now to get ready for a banquet at Hotel Hanford. The banquet was very nice—the theme was centered in a Rainbow. I told Mrs. Wright I’d send her my rainbow poem.
More interesting architecture! The Hotel Hanford, built in the Beaux Arts style in 1921-22, has since been turned into a senior living home called The Manor.
Sat 7. Thelma, Hilma, and Emma—We started home from Mason City about 7 A.M. I ate my breakfast in a coffee shop in Clear Lake. We came home via Algona. Had a flat tire. Called on Mrs. D.P. Smith in Ft. Dodge. Ate dinner there. Stopped a few minutes at Mrs. Engels. She said the electric waterer was a “Jamesway”. Got home about 2. Found Dad asleep. Owen had not come. Read the girls letters & cards from John J & John T. Cleaned up the house a bit. Bess came in & staid till 10 P.M.
James was an agricultural equipment company known for the slogan “the James Way. Here’s a whole 1918 catalog and book on the company. And I had no idea what an electric waterer might be until I found this ad:
Sun 8. It has been cloudy and rainy today. We went to SS but the smell of turpentine made me sick so I left church. Have written a report of the Des Moines Branch meeting for the N. Western & Central Advocates. I hope it will be satisfactory. Have written some letters tonight.
Mon 9. It was raining and cloudy today. We did not wash. I cleaned up the house— scrubbing etc. Went to the Monday Club at Miss Hacketts this P.M. Stopped to buy the lining and cotton for Ruth’s quilt. Marked it in part this evening. We started selling Brassfields the milk today. Think we can sell about 4 gal. a day.
Tue 10. It is bright and sunny this A.M. Owen has not come yet. Dad decided to sell the calves since we started selling milk to Brassfields. They will take all we can spare except Sat. night and Sun A.M. I went down to settle with her today. We owe them $20.63 besides the trucking. We got a check for $40.80 for them. They were a little over 4 mos. old. I will send in my report the N.W. Cr. Advocate tomorrow. I have it ready to type. Must write to my Mason City hostess too. Finished marking Ruth’s quilt and put it in the frames today. Have started the quilting. Bess was in and brought me some meat for a meat loaf.
Wed 11. Did a little quilting this A.M. & went to Aid this P.M. We got a letter from Katharine containing $5.00. We also got a letter from John Lohr. Sent Gerald a dollar— do not understand why we do not hear from him. Bess came in & we went to the drawing. A Mrs. Vance got it. Bess stayed till nearly 10 P.M.
Thu 12. It is not going to take so long to do Ruth’s quilt since it is all straight quilting. After quilting awhile I went out and picked up about 5 bu. of nuts. They have to be hulled yet. We got a letter from Ruth today. She is having a lot of trouble with Betty.
Emma’s granddaughter Betty, age 16, was staying with Ruth and Bob in Philadelphia. With her parents divorcing and her father just out of prison, I am sure she was having a tough time of it.
Fri 13. Bess came in early and wanted me to go home with her, so since I had my work done up I went. Took my quilt along & a couple old corsets to put zippers on. Bess stitched the quilt but I had it basted so the binding is too narrow and I will have to take it out. We attended a committee meeting at the Light Co. office and Bess came home with me and staid till 10 P.M. We found Owen here. Washed the dishes & read awhile. I am pretty tired.
I found this video on sewing a zipper into a corset…for a little extra excitement, the example is from a burlesque dancer (the video doesn’t include a demonstration, but the corset is quite decorative!). The sewing process, I imagine is the same.
Sat 14. 6:30 A.M. and breakfast is over. We had our first heavy frost last night. Dad & Owen picked our load of corn & shelled a lot & had it cracked for the pigs & chickens. Dad’s feet hurt him so he went to the doctor. I have baked pies, got meals, dishes, quilted, studied the SS lesson etc. Owen & Dad went down town.
Sun 15. This has been a nice day. We had church in the basement since the upstairs is not finished. We ate a pot-luck dinner at the church after the service. I took a big chicken. Got home about 2 P.M. Have written both girls.
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Mon 16. This was wash day. We were glad for a nice day. Dad & Owen picked corn. After scrubbing etc I quilted awhile.
Tue 17. Ironing—all done. Dug about 2/3 bu sweet potatoes. Dad took a treatment for his feet. Bess brought me some honey. I went down to Brassfields in the evening to help plan the Standard Bearers’ program for Sunday night. Found Mrs. Mighells card. I was out gathering eggs.
Wed 18. Am listening to the Music Hour from Ames. Florence is going away this A.M. Her niece, Myrtle’s daughter, is dying with cancer. Linnie wrote of Lucile’s marriage last Sat. to an old! man—54 yrs old. Have been quilting today. Besse came in this evening and we went to the drawing but I got “nuttings.”
Lucille was the widow of Linnie’s brother Luther, who died in March 1938. Luther was a printer, and her second husband, Edward Engebretsen, was too, so perhaps he was a family friend. It looks like he was about 15 years older, a bachelor, and a WWI veteran. He was apparently a good stepfather, as Luther and Lucille’s son Robert was living with them in the next few censuses and Robert went into the printing business as well (along with serving as a Marine in WWII.)
Thu 19. This has been like a summer day. Warm and sunny. I put the walnuts through the cornsheller and took off their husks. They are so nice and large. John wrote that they will leave for Mo. tomorrow. Dad & Owen are picking about 60 bu of corn per day. I am almost ¼ done with Ruth’s quilt. It keeps me busy cooking. We got several tons of baled hay. It is to be $10.00 per ton.
Fri 20. It has been a nice day. Homecoming day at the school. Mrs. Brassfield asked me to go to see the parade, which I did. She came and got me & brought me home. It was interesting. The parade must have been two blocks long—it was led by the Fire truck with Squires driving. A decorated white horse, six or eight floats, the two school buses and of course the band at the head. Bess came about noon. I was so tired we lay down awhile. I quilted. Got the quilt about ¼ done. It is going fast. Went with Dad to pay Jones & get the buttermilk this A.M. No letters today. John & Alice were to start for Mo. today via Iowa Falls, then a stop in Kansas City and on to Carthage. Am listening to a book by Alice Hegan Rice “Ernie”.
Alice Hegan Rice was a Kentucky-born novelist best known for her novel “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch” (1901). “Our Ernie” was published in 1939: One review summarizes it thusly: "The Bossels are a happy-go-lucky family somewhat in the cabbage patch tradition. Ernie is the youngest, and best-loved member, whose adventures after he quits school to go to work form the central theme of a pleasant, homely story."
Sat 21. I have felt miserable today. My mouth is sore & my eyes hurt & I am tired out. Bess was in this evening and Thelma this P.M. Have not got to quilt any. Had my hair washed & set today.
Sun 22. We went to SS and church this A.M. Taught our class. Heard Rev. Davies preach a good sermon. The afternoon went fast. The SB gave a nice program tonight. We hope to get most of the corn out this week. Haven’t heard from Ruth this week. Hope Betty is not giving her any more trouble. Got 13 eggs today. They are selling for 21¢—I get 19¢ in trade.
Mon 23. Counted 572 seeds in 1 pie pumpkin. Baked some pumpkin pies this A.M. The men did not get in for dinner till after 12:30. I got the work done up and took Mrs. Till with me to Monday Club. There were 18 there. Have only got to quilt a few stitches today. Tomorrow we are to have our WFMS supper and get the chicken & potatoes ready here in the A.M.
Here’s the pumpkin pie recipe from Katharine’s cookbook that was a tribute to Emma.
Tue 24. Besse was in all day. We got the chicken and potatoes ready for the Missionary meeting this evening. We were disappointed when so few came to the meeting. I gave a report of the convention and a short Stewardship talk. It was ten P.M. when I got home. Was very tired.
Wed 25. It is now Wed night. Have not been able to quilt any today. It takes a lot of time to cook & this P.M. I went to Ladies’ Aid. I paid for my lemon and vanilla and my lunch. Forgot my 5¢ a week. Owen & Dad are still picking corn. I imagine it will take another week yet.
This year’s corn-picking started about a week earlier than in 1938, when their regular helper Owen didn’t arrive until Oct. 21.
Thu 26. I baked a big batch of cookies this morning, also a pumpkin pie. Listened to a story from Ames. Did up the work. Got dinner and quilted awhile. Got a letter from Ruth & one from Katharine. Poor Ruth is having such a time with Betty. Am afraid Betty will have to be sent home. This evening it was misting so we gathered the chickens in to their houses.
Fri 27. Little by little the diary is written. Time passes by so quickly. It will soon be winter. It has been chilly today. We caught a few roosters that were left and sold them. I washed. Am pretty tired tonight tho’ I had a rest. We did not get any letters today. I wrote several but they did not get mailed. It will take several days next week to finish the corn.
Sat 28. Today is Katharine’s birthday. I wish I had sent her something. I have thought of her so much. I ironed this A.M.—did the mending etc. Cooked and washed dishes! Quilted some in the P.M. Was about to go to bed when Bess came. My mouth is sore. She did not get the goods I sent for to cover my quilt.
This is the beginning of some ongoing issues for Emma…more to come in the November entries.
Sun 29. Got up this morning but felt so badly I went back to bed. Slept till 12:15. Got dinner & slept again till Tell came in, about 2 I suppose. My face is swollen from my rough plate I guess. I must go to a dentist soon.
Mon 30. I went to see Dr. Loeck today. He says I am to leave my plate out for a few days, wash my mouth with hot salt water and put cold packs on the outside & rest a good deal. Says it looks bad to him. He said sometimes diabetic sores come in the mouth. Thinks this is not all from the plate. I came home & did as he said. Mr. Grooters was here awhile. Mrs. G is in the hospital. She is to be operated tomorrow. Dad & Owen still have several days of cornpicking yet. I have been taking cod liver oil for awhile.
Tue 31. This is the last day of Oct. Have spent most of the P.M. in bed. My teeth have hurt me so I had to take them out. I am to go back to the dentist tomorrow. He scared me about the sores in my mouth. I quilted a few minutes this P.M. Still picking corn. Heard “Jello Vanilla Pudding” “Butterscotch Pudding.” Henry Aldrich. Heard the Tums program. They gave away $100. Would have been 1900 if party phoned had been at home. Over WAO.
The Aldrich Family radio program was a popular teenage sitcom sponsored by Jello, with “Henry” (voiced by Ezra Stone) as the lead voice-breaking teen. I found the script for the Halloween episode that Emma heard in a “Best of Radio in 1939 and 1940” volume (starting on page 203), complete with the Jello Butterscotch Pudding and Vanilla Pudding commercials. You can find recordings of quite a few episodes here.
