Emma #24: September 1929
Katharine heads off to teach, a scandal at the school board, and ground cherries
Sun 1. We had Gerald & his family over for dinner today. Also had Will and his friends Mr. & Mrs. Sven Nessa of Story City. We had a chicken dinner.
Mon 2. School started for Ruth today. Ruth has a summer cold. We drove after a book at Barnharts. Mrs. Swallum went along. I gave two qts of freestone peaches & one beans for the Benedict Home. Mr. S. took 64 down.
The Benedict Home was founded in 1882 by the WCTU as a reformatory home for former prostitutes and unwed mothers. It later became a retirement home for WCTU members and shelter for recovering addicts.
Tue 3. Aid met today but I was not extra well so did not go. Katharine went to a SS class picnic. Sewed. Have everything about ready for her to go. Nora came home from KC via Hubbard. Stayed all night here.
Wed 4. Raining today. Gerald took Nora home this AM. Katharine finished packing & Gerald, Daddy, Ruth & I took her to the train at Iowa Falls. How we hated to see her go!
Katharine is heading off to her new teaching job in Shaker Heights!
Thu 5. Did a big washing today. Went to the Study Club at Byam’s in the evening. Did the second chapter in the study of Socialology. Will came over with Daddy to help me.
I’m guessing she meant “sociology.”
Fri 6. Will helped me get vegetables ready to can. Have canned beets, carrots, parsnips, etc. Have 27½ qts today. We got a card from Katharine from Chicago, later a telegram from Cleveland. Everything OK.
Sat 7. Today we had a little special supper for Daddy. Pork chops & watermelon. Gave him a billfold. Went to WCTU meeting this PM. School board found Swallum short about 3800.
Happy 58th birthday to Tell!
Tell was on the school board; one of his colleagues was charged with failing to deposit tuition money into the school accounts. The Swallums have been mentioned in the journal frequently, so I think they were close friends of the family. In fact, I found another newspaper story mentioning that a different Swallum and a cousin of Tell’s had been in the drugstore business together.
Sun 8. Ate dinner at the church. Went to Eldora in PM. It is rainy.
Mon 9. Went to Eldora to a Social Service meeting. John & Alice came over to stay all night. John speaks at the Mason Lodge.
Tue 10. Took John & Alice home. Brought Will over. He is helping me. Went to Lottie’s in the evening.
Wed 11. A busy day! Will is helping me type a lot of letters. Am planning a Columbus Shower to send Mrs. Shroyer to the Executive meeting.
Thu 12. Will has canned 15 qts of tomatoes for me. I have finished Ruth’s velvet dress. She wore it to Union. She & I took Uncle Will to Eldora, then we went to the WCTU convention where she read her essay and got her 5.00 prize.
Although the WCTU is primarily associated with anti-alcohol efforts, they were involved in a wide range of social reform movements, including women’s suffrage and anti-tobacco campaigns. I was interested to learn that during this time, they sponsored a number of essay contests to encourage school children to become informed about such issues. In 1929, I found one contest on the theme of “How would cigarette smoking affect my chances for success as an athlete?”
Fri 13. Miriam had the WFMS today. Had a very nice meeting. Elected officers today. Have been having a bad cold.
Sat 14. We cleaned up our house today & did a big washing. Am going to clean house next week. Went down for a Marcel this evening.
Sun 15. Mrs. Rowley had gone to Whiting so I had to teach her class. We went to Eldora via the farm. They were working in today front of the house. It will be fine to have a paved road right in front of the house.
Mon 16. A beautiful day! A letter from Katharine! Did a big ironing. Washed the curtains for the upstairs Saturday.
Tue 17. Cleaned upstairs today. Found time to go to the farm with Daddy. It takes lots of work to build a highway. Took Ruth to Iowa Falls for her lesson. Went to a SS Board meeting at the parsonage. We had a heavy frost—killed my tomatoes & most of my flowers.
Wed 18. Cleaned my two rooms downstairs today. It was sunny in the PM, tho cool in the shade.
Thu 19. It is cold & rainy today. Have been sending out a bunch of missionary letters— partly for the Columbus Shower.
Fri 20. We had a Steward Board meeting today.
Sat 21. Spent today taking the folks—Will, Daisy, & Manora—to get grapes. We also got some bittersweet. Awfully tired after taking them home.
Sun 22. Drove out to see how the new road is progressing by the farm. John, Alice & Nora came over.
Mon 23. Went to Eldora for a permanent. Made my hair so yellow. Hope it will come out.
Tue 24. Tell & I were invited to Eldora Rotary club to meet Mr. TJ Robinson of Hampton—wife & daughter. Had a lovely time. Ruth went with Wendell & Shlupuck to Iowa Falls.
Wed 25. Am trying to finish up a puzzle solution for a Miriam to send in to Liberty Magazine.
Liberty: A Weekly for Everybody was a very popular general-interest magazine from 1924 until 1950.
Thu 26. Went with Tell to Cedar Falls today. Saw Naomi Stubb & her baby in Dike. Stopped in Eldora both coming & going.
Fri 27. Took Mrs. Walker and the three Ruths to a football game at McCallsburg. Adolph Neise got badly hurt. Friday is cleaning day!
Sat 28. Did the Sat cleaning. Read awhile about Flood & Wilson’s travels. Andrew is bringing me the papers.
Sun 29. Tell, Ruth & I spent today in Eagle Grove at M.E. Conf. It was cool. Heard Bishop Nicholson preach in AM. Saw Rev. Rowley ordained Elder. He was taken in to Conf.
Mon 30. It is a lovely washday. I am always glad when mine is done. Picked up some ground cherries and had a Com meeting in the evening.
Ground cherry (aka cape gooseberry) has a papery husk and a sweetish flavor.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals! See you next week for October 1929.