Here’s a valentine sent in February, 1929 from the family to Katharine, who was at college in Chicago.
Fri 1. The big thing today is the High School operetta at which Ruth played. She did nicely.
Sat 2. Mrs. Baker & I entertained a few friends for Mrs. Manners this PM. Then she was here for supper & Helen came down and they stayed till 10 PM.
Sun 3. We went to church & SS this AM. Mrs. Walker & I called on Mrs. Horning in the afternoon. Went to church at night. Daddy is taking his turn at janitor work this month. Used the picture “The Light of the World” in SS.
I was interested to learn that Sunday school began in the 18th century in England to provide general education to working children; the first one in the US was in Rhode Island textile mills. As public schools became more widespread, Sunday school became much more focused on religious education.
Here’s a picture of a 1920s-vintage hand-cranked 16mm movie projector—I’m guessing they used something like this to show the film.
Mon 4. I washed this forenoon. Went down town in the PM. A nice warm day tho’ not much sunshine.
Tue 5. Worked on my quilt in AM. Got a nice letter from Katharine. Went to Ladies Aid at Rev Rowley’s in PM. Had a fine SS Board meeting in the evening. I am to be Sup. For two mo. till April 1. We decided to put in the Cross & Crown system.
I'm pretty sure this refers to pins used to recognize Sunday school attendance.
Wed 6. Am planning to go to Alden today. Such an eventful day. A ride on the bus! a water wave! a lovely dinner at Johnsons! a funeral! a peak in at the Furry sale! a prayer meeting—an auto ride—a call at the Iowa Falls Hospital on Mr. Grauner—a glimpse of a tiny babe left motherless Sunday AM (Mrs. Isendorf of Dows) a visit with Helen Grauner & home again!
Thu 7. We had a fine WFMS meeting at Mrs. Beck’s today. Was glad to stay home in the evening. Ruth went to Sub Dist contest.
Fri 8. Daddy had his tractor Demonstration today. Mrs. Bogardus helped me serve buns, coffee, weiners with mustard, pickles or onion. I was surely tired when I got home. We used 3 lbs. of butter, about 350 buns, nearly 3 lbs of coffee, 2 qts cream & 2 qts of milk.
Sat 9. Have been so tired today that the work has gone slow. Cleaned up the house. Ruth went to Iowa Falls for her lesson. We got a nice letter from Katharine. Very cold. John said 25° below at Iowa Falls & Boone.
Sun 10. We went to church & SS this AM. In the PM, Daddy, Gerald & Miriam brought me to Eldora. I stayed all night. Heard Rev. Hargitt roast the Drama League of KC for sponsoring the play The Amazing Interlude. He gave the story of the play.
“The Amazing Interlude,” a WWI romance novel, was written in 1918 by novelist Mary Roberts Rinehart. Here’s an entertaining synopsis of the plot—you can probably figure out some of what the Reverend was objecting to. (Hint #1: the heroine is a Methodist Episcopal and a member of the Ladies’ Aid Society.)
Mon 11. Had my hair marcelled at Mrs. Surrey’s today. Went to the courtroom as a juror at 10 AM. Am back at 1:30. It is now nearly two and nothing doing. Heard of Jim Blair’s death today. Excused from jury till next Monday.
Marcelled hair—waves created with hot curl tongs—was fashionable in the 1920s.
Tue 12. I have managed to keep busy today. We had the annual cemetery meeting at the bank in the evening. I was re-elected president.
Wed 13. I washed this AM. Went to Jim Blair’s funeral in PM. Afterward I went up to Mrs. Baker’s for a while.
Thu 14. Valentine’s Day! Margaret is here this AM. Betty came over for dinner. I sent them home about two. They did not “arrive” till five. Had stopped at Seiferts to play. It surely gave us a scare.
Here’s the envelope from the valentine pictured at the top of this post. Notice the 2-cent postage, and the lack of zip codes & standard state abbreviations, which were introduced in 1963.
Fri 15. Mrs. Walker & I went to the school house to see the pictures put on explaining how pictures are taken by telephone. It was interesting & instructive. Vena Hornung came down in the PM. We ordered some gladiolus. Gerald’s sixth wedding anniversary. Warmer today. I hemmed a little.
Wirephotos were introduced in the 1920s. Here’s a vintage video of how this worked.
Sat 16. Straitened up the house today. Planned to have Gerald & family over for dinner tomorrow. We all went down town in the evening. Seems warmer.
Sun 17. Went to church & SS this AM. Had Gerald & his family over for dinner. Stout Fella walks all over. He is sure a sweet one. Snowed again in PM. We did not go out at night.
Mon 18. Am ready to go to Eldora. Will ride with Gus Schnomeier. Stayed all night with Alice. Did not get on a jury. Was one of sixteen who were to report as jurors in AM.
Tue 19. Was one of the four who were released today. Daddy came over & we “listened in” on the case till about three PM. Got a nice letter from Katharine this AM.
The Hardin County Courthouse, built in 1892.
Wed 20. Jury service. Stayed all night at John’s.
Thu 21. Stayed in Courtroom all day but was not needed. Came home with Gus Schnomeier.
Fri 22. So cold today. Have washed & cleaned the basement. Am tired tonight.
Sat 23. Mr. Muhleman ate dinner with us today. He came down to preach Mr. Henry Granner’s funeral. Katharine went to Danville Thurs. night.
Sun 24. We went to church & SS this AM. Had Geralds over for dinner. After dinner Daddy, Ruth, & Ruth Bogardus drove to Eldora for the PM. We went to church in the evening. Paul Stevens came home with us & stayed all night. It looks stormy this evening.
Mon 25. We are having a heavy snow. Paul got a taxi from Eldora to come get him this AM. Daddy called him an hour too early. I got up then & got him some breakfast. The roads will be bad to Eldora. I have to be there at 10:30. Margie Lou was married a year ago today. Was excused for the term of court this PM.
Here’s a 1929 Ford Model A Taxi.
Tue 26. Had my hair marcelled twice yesterday. Had used common bluing & the heat turned it yellow. Finished some sewing & went to SS Board meeting at night.
This week’s rabbit hole! “Blue rinses” became popular among older women about this time to make gray or yellow hair look silvery-white. I’m guessing she used laundry bluing rather than a hair-specific version and it caused a problem.
Wed 27. Hove been sewing some today. Tell & I went to Eldora today. Have been reading “The Amazing Interlude” by Eugene O’Neil today. It is “rotten”.
I believe she got the name confused with the Mary Roberts Rinehart play mentioned above, and is actually referring to “Strange Interlude” by Eugene O’Neill, a play in nine acts that opened on Broadway in 1928 and won a Pulitzer prize for drama. It was extremely controversial in the 1920s and was banned in some cities for themes of pre-marital intimacies, pregnancy, and subsequent abortion.
Thu 28. Went to the WCTU meeting at Mr. Bogardus’ today. It was quite interesting. Daddy is running for school director.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals! See you next week for March 1929.