This month started off slowly. So much canning! But in the end it got so full I had to split it into two posts.
Fri 1. Jerry found the first pullet egg today. I hope they all begin to lay soon. This has been a hot day. We cleaned the house and sewed this afternoon. Ruth is making Bobbie a white dress like hers and I am fixing over my black one. Mr. Grooters was here for supper. He says he thinks I will get a prize from Murphy’s. The Greens wanted to hear Robert sing so we went to the church awhile & came out here for ice cream & cookies.
Sat 2. We canned some corn, cabbage and onions today. It was not so hot a day. Late in the afternoon Bob & Ruth, Bobbie & I drove to Denison. Got my money returned from Water’s store for the curtains (Carrol). Paid Florence 5.00. My rug cost 12.95 & tax, 26¢ = 13.21. I still owe $8.21. We got a late supper & went to bed.
Sun 3. Bob, Bobbie, & Ruth drove to Ft. Dodge this morning. We hated to see them go. Dad, Jerry & I went to SS and to the Christian church. Brought Mrs. Mighel home with us for dinner. Had chicken, potato, corn etc. For dessert we had Black raspberries & cookies. It is now about 4:30 PM. She has just gone home. Dad took her. Have been counting the SS money. Dad found Mrs. Mighel’s gloves & coin purse on the running board of the car when he got home so he took it to her (suppose he had not found it!)
Mon 4. No sugar. We had our pullets wormed & deloused today. Had 17 culled out— part roosters, and after we got the big washing done Dad & I cleaned them and put them in the jars & took them to the creamery to cool. Bess was in and wanted me to bring them out to her place tomorrow & use her pressure cooker. Have 13 qts & 12 pints to cook. Had some for supper. Cost us $5.06 to have the chickens fixed up.
Since her diabetes diagnosis, Emma was regularly checking her blood sugar with a urine test and recording results in her journal.
Tue 5. We had a nice rain this AM. Dad took me & my chicken out to Bess’ to can it in a pressure cooker. We got part of it done before noon & part afterwards. Dad came out for dinner. Bess brought us in—Jerry, Betty & me. She went to call on Mrs. Hutchinson, whose husband died last night. I did not go. Found Ruth & Bobbie here. Got a letter from Katharine & a card from Ruth today. They plan to stop in Decatur, Ill. Am pretty tired tonight. Worked on a dress for Bess all afternoon.
Wed 6. Dad, Jerry and I went to Bess’ after corn this AM. We borrowed Lois Carmean’s pressure cooker. Had some corn of my own so we canned 21 qts for Ruth. It was a big job and we all got pretty tired. Ruth ironed awhile & I sewed on Jerry’s shirts. Bess was in after the cooker. Ruth drove down town with it & her. We are hoping to get a good big prize from Murphy’s. Robert called up & wanted Ruth to come up to R.C. but she will not go till morning.
This entry from “She Made an Apple Roll,” the cookbook Katharine put together in Emma’s honor, illustrates how the tradition of preserving corn has been handed down in the family. Every summer at the family cabin in Pennsylvania, Ruth would buy tens of dozens of ears of corn and process and freeze them. We would take bags and bags of it home, and it was always a treat to have some “Pennsylvania corn.”
Thu 7. Today was Ruth & Bob’s 6th wedding anniversary. Bob came from Ft. D. to Twin Lakes & Ruth went from here taking a picnic dinner—a chicken, salad, etc. They spent the day there & then went to Ft. D for a meeting being held there this week by Rev. Street, a missionary from Africa. I went out to help Bess can corn. Dad & Jerry took care of Bobbie. After I got home I finished the two shirts for Jerry, finished the ironing, put the house to rights, got supper, washed dishes, & bathed Bobbie. Have had a bath myself & am ready for bed. It is a lovely moonlight night but plenty warm. Bob called this evening from R.C. on way to Ft. D. They plan to leave Sunday PM & stay all night in Eldora. Stop in Decatur and Chicago.
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Fri 8. We baked three batches of cookies this AM. Sent 100 of them with Jerry to the camp at Scranton. He was so happy to get to go. Dad & Bob took him and they went on to West Side to a Horse Show. Did not get home till after five. It has been a hot day. We picked a few beans & did little. Bob & Ruth went to Ft. Dodge to the meeting and I kept Bobbie. Have cleaned up the house a little, scrubbing the kitchen floors & washing some windows. It has cooled off a little.
Grandson Jerry was visiting from Missouri, where his parents had recently divorced; I imagine that going to church camp for a while was a nice break for him. According to this site, the Westside Horse Show began in 1926. It is still held annually in August, and has moved to the Iowa State Fair location.
Sat 9. Dad & Bob & Bobbie drove up to Twin Lakes to see if Mrs. Street would come down tomorrow morning and evening, and found she would come. Ruth & I drove out to Bess’ to get some corn to can succotash. We got enough to can 7 qts of corn for Bess besides. Got Mrs. Carmean’s canner. We canned in the PM. Ed & Bess Williams stopped in awhile in the evening. Brought Ruth a pail of lard. Bob got a telegram that the vacancy had been filled in Decatur so they will wait till Monday to start. We went to town after groceries at night. I was pretty tired. Bess treated us to ice cream.
After his graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music, Bob was on the job market and had hoped to interview for this position in Decatur, IL.
Sun 10. Bob went after Mrs. Street this AM & she talked to the SS and taught my class. Bob sang at church. We took a picnic dinner up to Stella’s cottage. Mr. & Mrs. G, Stella & Eddie were there. We came home early & brought Bobbie. I have worked till after 5 & can’t get Bobbie to sleep. Have given up. It is hot today & windy. I don’t understand why Florence does not pay her milk bill nor why Gerald does not write.
Gerrit and Kitty Grooters were Bob’s parents, and Estella was his younger sister. I believe Eddie was the son of his sister Helen, who would have been about 18 months old. Here’s a picture of Gerrit, Kitty, and Stella from the 1940s.
Mon 11. Bob & Ruth are starting for Media today. Dad surprised me by saying he thought I should go so I am getting ready to go along. We left home after dinner. Stopped in Ft. Dodge for supper. said “Good bye” to Stella at the hospital & drove to Eldora. Spent the night with John’s. Had a nice breakfast. John wanted to know how long I would stay & how I’d get back. Wrote Dad a card.
In a separate document, probably written as part of a memoir project, Emma recounts this trip. Here’s how it starts:
On my sixty-second birthday, Aug. 11, 1941, a most interesting and unusual thing took place. Without my planning—but not without my consent—it was decreed that I was to go with Bob & Ruth & Bobbie back to Media. Almost before I realized what was happening my bag was packed and I was in the car headed for the East. We drove to Ft. Dodge and stopped at Robert’s home for supper. It made me feel quite selfish when Mrs. Grooters wondered if ever she would get to take so long an auto ride—and this was my third visit—only one was by train. There was a moment of indecision at Eldora and I thought perhaps I should not go on. John asked me how I was going to get home and how long I was going to stay. I little realized that this was the last visit with him and that my coming home would be to attend the last sad rites at his burial.
Tue 12. Today is Betty’s birthday! We left Eldora about 8:20 AM. Came through Grundy Centre, Waterloo, Dubuque, Mt. Carrol where the Frances Shimer School is located. Got to Chicago about supper time. Ate our lunch by Lake Michigan. We ate dinner in Dubuque. Drove to Eagle Point Park which is 2 or 3 miles north of the highway & so high one can look down on the Mississippi. Decided to look up C.E. Lutton this evening. Bob called him & found him at his office. He dressed at a filling station. He drove to a parking place across from the Lyon Healy building where Mr. L is located. I kept Bobbie while they were away. We drove to the YW hotel planning to stay there but since it cost 4.25 we decided to drive on. We all slept some and did not feel so bad.
Here’s the approximate route they took from Lake City to Chicago—about 435 miles. Eagle Point Park was established in 1908, and is considered one of the most beautiful in the midwest with its views of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin along with the Mississippi River. C.E. Lutton managed the music department of the Clark Teachers’ Agency, a teacher recruiting and placement company.
Wed 13. We ate breakfast at different times. Bob got his at Napoleon, Ohio & Ruth & Bobbie & I at Bowling Green. Had my insulin by the side of the road. We drove to Lorain, Ohio & ate our dinner by the banks of Lake Erie. Phoned to see if Katharine were home but no one answered so we drove away & all took a nap when Bobbie did. We drove in to Cleveland but did not find Kat home. She had written her neighbor that she would not be home until tomorrow. So Bob with the neighbor’s help got the back door open. We went in and got our supper and went to bed. We put a notice on the door announcing we were here so Katharine would not be shocked.
Lakeview Park in Lorain, Ohio is known for its Rose Garden and views of the Lorain Lighthouse. A beautiful place to stop for dinner (aka lunch).
Thu 14. Katharine arrived before we had had breakfast. We have spent a quiet day visiting and chasing Bobbie. Bobbie has found everything so interesting and has managed to get hold of a lot of things she shouldn’t have. Katharine brought me a door stop from a marble quarry in Vermont. Bob wanted to start home tonight but we thought we’d rather wait until morning. We have our lunch ready & I have taken a bath. Did not hear from Dad about the prize today.
Katharine was returning from summer school at the Bread Loaf school in Vermont.
Fri 15. We were wakened early by a thunder storm. Started from Katharine’s for Media about 6:30. Took road #40 to Salem. We plan to take the Super highway. We had a nice breakfast at Katharines. Bobbie has had hers in the car. Bob & Ruth are trying to find a road to avoid going through Pittsburg & didn’t find it & so came through Pittsburg OK. Just had a tire go bad at Midway station which leaves us without a spare. Sent Alice a small plaque for a birthday gift. Wrote a card to Dad & to Grooters. It has rained almost all the time—all the way to Pittsburg & part of the time on the Dream Highway. Has stopped now. We ate dinner in the car in a parking lot while it rained. Ate supper in the car by the side of the road. Got home about 10:15—tired out.
From Emma’s memoir document, a little more about the drive:
The night driving was hard because of so many places having Fall Festivals. We met cars by dozens. A long stream of glaring light. Some places the highway has been roped off & we had to make short turn detours. Roads in the east are seldom straight and one has to be especially gifted with a sense of direction to keep straight with the world. It’s a good thing we do not depend upon our feelings but upon our knowledge and good sense in earthly travel as well as in our leisurely trek.
Sat 16. Felt pretty tired this morning. Bob called up Moores about the New Hampshire trip & planned to go to Elizabeth, NJ tomorrow & on to New Kingston, NH on Monday. Ruth & I have washed & ironed. It is some job to get ready. I bought a pair of 23¢ cotton hose. Got a letter from Dad and also one he enclosed from Gerald & a card from Katharine. Got the letter from Alison asking them to come. Wrote Dad a long letter. Started one to Katharine.
The Moores were long-time friends of Ruth, Bob, and family. They will show up regularly in future volumes of Emma’s journals! Here’s what she had to say about Rev. Otis Moore in her memoir document: “He seems to live in the presence of God—always—and talks to Him as easy and naturally as tho’ He were there in visible presence.” This article is from about 1948.
Sun 17. Alice’s birthday—82 years old. Ruth & I & Bobby staid at home this morning and got ready to go to Elizabeth NJ to stay all night with the Moores. Bob went to church. We finished up the work & got started about 20 til 3. The traffic was pretty heavy, but we got to Moores for supper. We packed the car—Alison and Aunt Mable will go with us in the car. Otis & Alice will go via train to East Kingston, NH to spend a few days at a cottage on the lake there. After supper we sat around the piano & sang hymns, some without the piano. Rev. Moore said we’d do that every day. Before we left he led in prayer—very simple & beautiful especially asking that Robert’s place be found for next year. We boiled the syringe & put it into the insulin ready for morning. I wrote Dad and Katharine.
The “Alice” Emma was referring to was the wife of Tell’s brother John Boylan—they lived in Eldora. Here’s a picture of Alice and John, with another of Tell’s siblings, Kate.
In the 1940s, syringes were made of glass, with metal needles, and were reused multiple times. To prevent infection, they had to be sterilized before each use, typically by boiling in water for 10-15 minutes.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for more of August 1941, but first, a little something extra.
Bennett’s book recommends a number of works that can be used to dig more deeply into various subjects. Most of them are in the public domain and available to read online. Here are items included in Emma’s “I want to read” list, with links.
