Mon 1. Worked at the shop all morning. Katharine & I took Ruth to Iowa Falls for her lesson. T.E. went to the annual school board meeting. I went to a SS class party for Mr. & Mrs. Beck. Katharine & Miss Reece drove Uncle Will home. Then Ruth stayed with Miriam’s kiddies & Katharine stayed with Nathalie Marshman.
Tue 2. I washed this AM and picked some raspberries. Picked over 2 qts yesterday and about one today. Katharine & Daddy have gone to Cedar Falls. Ruth is going to keep Miriam’s children again and I am at the shop.
Wed 3. Went to New Providence to hear Mrs. Mann today. Took Mrs. Beck & Miss Parsons—Mrs. Swallum came home with us. Had a picnic dinner.
Thu 4. Went with Daddy to Grundy County. Started about 6 AM. Had a lovely ride. We picked about 3½ qts of raspberries this AM. Had a safe & sane Fourth. Stayed at home for dinner. I ought to pick beans tonight.
Safe and Sane Fourth was a movement started in 1910 to stop deaths and injuries from fireworks and other devices on the 4th of July.
Fri 5. Katharine is sewing. We cleaned up the house and then went to the shop, while Daddy went to Cedar Falls. In the evening the girls and I took Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Swallum to Radcliffe. It looked rainy but we got home safely.
Sat 6. Another busy day. This is the last night for Tilton & Guthrie. We will be glad to see them go. Have read two books this week—“The Indifference of Juliet” by Grace Richmond and “Dark Dawn” by Ostenso. Think I had read both before.
This week’s curiosity trail—I remembered a journal entry from May: “a show is to be on near us in a tent”—and put some pieces together to connect that with Tilton & Guthrie, a traveling tent show performing at that time.1
Indifference of Juliet was a classic romance novel published in 1905. Martha Ostenso was a Norwegian American novelist, and many of her stories, including The Dark Dawn, are based on Minnesotan farm life. Both books are now in the public domain.
Sun 7. We got the folks, Will & Nora today for dinner. Daisey would not come. Had chicken & noodles, raspberry pie etc. for dinner. Took a long ride through New Providence & Whitten back to Eldora. Went to the Indus. School Concert. Had a flat tire coming home.
Mon 8. We went to Eldora—Ruth, Katharine & I to take me to a Social Ser Com meeting. Then to Iowa Falls for Ruth’s lesson. Took Gerald’s car.
Tue 9. Went to the Ladies’ Aid at Lovengoods in the PM. Tell went to Cedar Falls. I spent the morning at the shop.
Wed 10. Will help us can beans today. We canned 25 qts of beans, 8 pints of peas and 4 pints of raspberries. Also did the washing.
Thu 11. Today we ironed & went to WFMS at Agnes Van Patters. Tell & I went to prayer meeting at night.
Fri 12. Daddy got up early. Started to Waterloo at 4 AM. I am at the shop. Picked the raspberries. Will came home with Daddy and mowed the lawn and cleaned out the garden. I got the socks nearly all darned this PM.
Darning socks is a process of using yarn to mend a hole by weaving it in a series of rows and columns. Here’s a how-to guide.
Sat 13. It has been rainy today. Picked some peas and raspberries. Katharine cut and fitted the dress she gave me for Mother’s Day. It is rainy.
Sun 14. It just poured all morning—especially at SS time. Gerald took us in his car. Daddy & I called on Mr. & Mrs. Andrews in the PM. Too wet to go out in the evening.
Mon 15. Dark & cloudy this AM. Have had so much rain the last few days. Katharine typed a two page family letter for me yesterday. Washed today.
Tue 16. We canned an oven full of peas, carrots, beets & onions today. Katharine is working on my dress.
Wed 17. We picked raspberries this AM. Had Becks for supper. They are moving to Ft. Dodge tomorrow. We went down to hear the orchestra after supper. Ruth Beck stayed all night.
Thu 18. I went to the shop today. Ruth & Katharine went with Lottie to Iowa Falls to the BA. Daddy went to Cedar Falls.
Fri 19. Daddy went to Cedar Falls again today. I went to the shop again. The girls sewed.
Sat 20. We cut out Katharine’s chiffon dress today. Went with Daddy to Eldora this PM. Picked about three qts of raspberries. Made two qts of them into jam.
Sun 21. We went to Alden today for SS & church. I gave the TO [tithe offering] address. Had a lovely dinner at Bertha Johnsons. Came home via the Baptist assembly. Had a nice visit with the Bonds. Was sick nearly all night. The ladies invited me to go to Shenandoah with them this week.
Shenandoah, Iowa was once called the seed & nursery center of the world. It is home to the Earl May Garden Center, whose founder started radio station KMA, which featured live music productions and launched many musicians, including the Everly Brothers2. It is also the birthplace of “Mother of 4-H” Jessie Field Shambaugh (1881-1971).
Mon 22. Did not do much this AM. Picked the raspberries. In the PM Katharine & Ruth went to Iowa Falls. I stayed at home and washed. Think I will go in the morning.
Tue 23. Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Button Bigelow, Miss Wagner & I started for Shenandoah this AM to visit Henry Field gardens, etc. We got as far as Clarinda. Stayed all night there. Visited the Insane asylum. There are beautiful grounds around it.
This was a psychiatric hospital built in 1884 under the Kirkbride Plan.
Wed 24. We visited Mrs. Shambaugh’s garden in Clarinda. Drove on to Shenandoah today. The Welsh garden was the most beautiful one I ever saw. Went to Omaha to stay all night—Saw a good show.
Thu 25. Drove home today via Denison. Saw John Sullivan. He is looking well. Ate dinner at Manning—supper at Ames and home for night. So glad to get back. Mrs. Button’s bag was found so Mary said.
Fri 26. Cleaned the house up today. Katharine sewed & so did I. Pajamas, dress and a made over dress are in progress.
Sat 27. SD Andrews dropped dead today. We have been sewing and reading some.
Sun 28. We went to Eldora for dinner. Took corn, jelly & a watermelon. John is not well.
Mon 29. We have the washing done. Have picked 2 qts of raspberries and corn & beans. Am tired but we are taking Ruth for her lesson. My arm is beginning to swell from a bee sting.
Tue 30. My arm is all swollen and painful today from a sting. Brubaker said to use Denver Mud. Got all hot and bothered yesterday when we had a tire to change. Spent the morning fixing flowers and attending SD Andrews funeral. Spent the PM in bed.
Denver Mud is a drawing salve, a topical ointment used to draw out inflammation.
Wed 31. Katharine is sewing. I got up early and nearly got the ironing done. Have cleaned up the house & had a rest. My first sound ripe tomato is ripe. Will is to have it. Last year I had them by July 1!
Home-grown tomatoes! A little Guy Clark for your listening pleasure.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for August 1929!
Obscure reference of the day: I actually found my first clue to this in a footnote to a book called Polkabilly: How the Goose Island Ramblers Redefined American Folk Music.
Here’s a fascinating story about the early history of radio and Shenandoah as a center of activity, and a book about the first 60 years of KMA.