Sailing on a schooner, time for Gerald to go, and a road trip to Iowa
Jun 25, 2026
In Memoriam
On June 15, 2026, my mother Bobbie, Emma’s granddaughter—who was 8 years old at the time these entries were written—passed away quietly at home in the loving company of family. She loved reading these journal posts and sharing memories of people and places from her early years.
August
Fri 1. This was a most delightful day—so cool & pleasant. We took the children to the Zoo—Dad, Bob, Ruth, Katharine, Tell & I went. We left about 9:45 and got home about 2:30. Bob bought Ruth a gift of an automatic toaster for her wedding anniversary. We tried it out & drank K’s vegetable juice tonight.
Sat 2. This is the day we sailed on the “Black Duck.” Bob went after Gerald at 11:00 A.M. We got started 1:10 P.M. Drove to Chesapeake bay where the Forbes had their boat anchored on the Sassafras River. I had baked cookies in the morning & Mrs. Forbes served cocoa-cola etc. Then we sailed around a little finally landing in the mud. We ate supper on the boat. It was 8 P.M. before we got started for home. It was after 10:40 when we got home. We had a swim before we went sailing. It was a quiet time but interesting because it was our first time in a yacht. There were 8 of us—4 in Bob’s family, Gerald & K, Dad & I.
The Black Duck was a 65-foot schooner owned by the Forbes family. It was lots of fun to dig into its history, and I found a story Emma wrote for one of her class assignments. I put together a special feature with pictures and more—you can read it here.
Sun 3. Since it is Gerald’s birthday I am having a birthday dinner downstairs for him. I gave him a “life time nylon tie.” It cost me 1.29, though it is advertised for 1.50. I hope it proves satisfactory.
This was Gerald’s 46th birthday. Here’s an ad for the 1.50 lifetime tie, and some 1947 tie designs.
Mon 4. Dad went back to work after a two-week vacation. He is pretty tired tonight. Bob & Ruth went in to teach today. This is their last teaching in town till Sept. We talked to Mrs. Forbes about their crew. Decided to have Velma D. meet the Geck boy from Swarthmore. He seemed very nice.
Thu 7. Today was Ruth & Bob’s wedding anniversary. They have been married 12 years. They took the children and went for a drive taking a picnic dinner. They may stay all night—sleeping in the car. Katharine & I washed, ironed, cleaned the house, cut two dresses out. Took the two cherry chairs we caned down to Ruth’s hall. Called it her wedding anniversary gift.
Sat 9. The most exciting thing that happened today proved to be a 40.00 wedding fee Ruth got. She never had received more than 15.00 & the last one proved to be “free”—or no pay. Of course she was delighted. Katharine & I sewed all P.M. We went for a long ride in the car. Stopped at a stand and bought peaches, tomatoes and muskmelons.
Mon 11. This has been a nice birthday. Ruth had us all down for supper. She gave me a white nightgown. I got a birthday greeting & a pair of hose from Linnie.
Fri 15. Hot! Hot! Hot! The high point of the day came when Mrs. Holmes invited us to swim in the pool. Katharine & I went to Media this A.M. We bought a “canner” for me to boil clothes in. We have been sewing on my birthday dress. It is going to be real pretty.
The same type of galvanized vessel used for water bath canning was also used for boiling clothes on the stove to sanitize and whiten them.
Sat 16. Bought a new egg beater today. Mine went bad. Have washed and cleaned the house today. Went to town this afternoon & got weighed—161 ¼ today. Gerald did not get home after work today. It is now after nine. He should have come at 1:40 P.M.
Mon 18. Another cool day but very welcome. We have been ironing and sewing. I finished my new birthday dress. We have decided to go to Iowa. We will drive to Buffalo to get Bob & Ruth. Then we will drive to Niagara Falls, stop at Marie’s in Lansing, Mich, stop at Alice’s in Eldora, see Lou who is visiting in Iowa, see the Grooters & Linnie. It will be a nice trip if we do not have to hurry too much. It looks quite exciting. Katharine plans to go with us. Gerald came home with some skin trouble. Had been to the doctors for infection.
Wed 20. Gerald has “Scabbies” which is another name for the “Seven Year Itch.” I called the doctor (Dr. Rank). He said it was contagious but should clear right up with the treatment he gave.
Scabies is a contagious mite infestation that causes an itchy rash. Although the term “seven year itch” came to refer to human relationships after the 1952 play, it was originally a folk name for this condition. It is still a public health problem. The standard treatment at the time would probably have been a sulfur ointment or benzyl benzoate.
Fri 22. Today we have been married 47 years. Ruth had us down for dinner this evening. It was also a farewell dinner for Gerald. We were so sad over him. He gave a check to the Media Shop for 40.00, buying a radio & fan & getting 7.00 in cash. He had been drinking and did not know what he had done. After a family council it seemed best for him to go somewhere else & he wanted to go to Minneapolis. So Bob got on the phone & ordered a reservation on a bus for Sat. noon. Katherine is putting up the money. We will pay it later. It seems the best solution.
Oh, dear. Emma tried so hard to keep Gerald on the straight and narrow.
Sat 23. We have been very busy getting ready to go to Iowa. Gerald left today about 1:45 from Broad Street by bus to go to Minneapolis. He seems to be determined to go straight—wants to see Dr. Clark.
Here’s a picture of the route they took from Media to Iowa if you want to follow along!
Mon 25. Katharine, Bobbie, David & I got started about 6. We had a lovely drive and got to Billy Lohr’s about 3 P.M. The children were good and seemed to be recovering from their colds. Had a wonderful chicken supper, a nice visit, a good rest and though the kids got a bit restless we had a fine time.
William Lohr was a son of Tell’s sister Maloa. He and his family lived in Candor, NY, a little south of Ithaca.
Tue 26. We got up fairly early as we planned to start by 8 A.M. Lillian fixed a nice lunch. The day was cloudy, cool with rain at times. It was so much pleasanter than yesterday. We stopped to see Watkins Glen—but did not go up the steps very far because it had rained & the steps were muddy and slippery. We drove almost to Buffalo but could find no cabin so drove back a few miles. We are in a two bed cabin at the Swiss farm. It has a shower and we are all ready for bed at 6:30. The children have been very restless and we are pretty tired.
Wed 27. We got up early—the kids waked up & there was no staying in bed. We ate a roll & drank some milk. Got to the dock about 8 A.M. but found we were on Daylight Saving time—two hours till Ruth & Bob’s boat arrived. We were soon in the car on our way to Niagara Falls. We had a picnic dinner. The Falls impressed you with its beauty and power. We went to see the whirlpool.
Niagara Falls is a set of three waterfalls—American and Bridal Veil Falls are in the US, while Horseshoe Falls spans the border between New York and Ontario.
Thu 28. We drove up on the Canadian side, saw the rapids and then the Falls. Words are not able to describe its beauty. We staid for some time. We stopped near Sarnia. We slept in a 2 room cabin—4.25 for six of us—not modern. Had breakfast and drove to Marie Lohr. Marie is stooped with pain. She had her two girls there & her husband and Betty’s husband. They wanted Bob to sing which he did. We left after 12 P.M. Drove out a little way & ate dinner at a wayside table. Then on & on till about 8:30. We are in a comfortable double cabin about 8 miles from Joliet. We are planning on getting up early to get to Ft. Dodge tomorrow.
Here’s a view of Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side. Sarnia, Ontario, about 190 miles west of Niagara Falls, is the largest city on Lake Huron. Marie Lohr Mitchell was a daughter of Tell’s sister Maloa. She and her family lived in Lansing, MI.
Fri 29. Today was a large day. Drove to Eldora. Stopped for an hour or so at Alice’s. Drove on to a farm near Industrial School where Lou was visiting. Got into Ft. Dodge about 3:30. A bus was leaving in an hour. We took it & it roamed all over the country. We reached Orange City at 10:38 P.M. Linnie & Gerrit were there to meet us. We were pretty tired out after a 20 hour day. We were glad to see Linnie. Got to bed about 11 P.M. Gerrit & Linnie staid at Jen’s. The ride in the bus was hard on me.
It had been about 7 years since Emma and Tell left Iowa and moved to Pennsylvania, so it must have been good for her to visit family and friends. This was quite an extended network—Alice and Lou were the widows of two of Tell’s brothers. Linnie was Emma’s sister. She and Gerrit lived in VA, and his sister Jen lived in Orange City.
Sat 30. We have visited & visited. We called Le Mars to learn about the train. Find we can get one about 7:26 P.M. so Linnie & Gerrit will take us to Le Mars. We will get to Ft. Dodge by 10:20 P.M.
I had fun with this one. In 1947, the Illinois Central railroad had a passenger train called the Hawkeye that ran an overnight route between Sioux City and Chicago, passing eastbound through Le Mars and Fort Dodge each evening.
Sun 31. We got up & all went to church at 9:30. It is not so hot a day, for a breeze is blowing. Heard Rev. Woodward preach. He is a good preacher. We all went to Jen’s and had lunch, then drove out to Cora’s for awhile. Came home and visited. Katharine called Ruth to tell her when we’d come. I’d like to see Bess and a few people at Hubbard.
Ruth and Bob and the kids stayed in Ft. Dodge with Bob’s family. Emma and K were heading off to visit them and see some friends in their old home town of Hubbard.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for September 1947.
