The journals started in October 1927, so this is the beginning of Year 3 of Emma’s entries. I hope you’re enjoying reading these weekly installments—I enjoy digging into each one and finding a little extra bit of history to share. Here’s a little bonus for you: a poem Emma wrote that was among her papers.
The Scratches on the Back of the Seat There's a plain little church On a plain little street In a plain little town, I know. It is dear to my heart Of my life, it's a part For I loved it long years ago. Once again in that town I wandered adown To the plain little church in the street I sat in the pew As I once used to do And hungered my playmates to meet. For scratched on the back Of the seat just ahead Were the marks of their wiggling feet. 'Twas not meant so, I know But each in the row Helped to make that defacement complete. The Anthem was sung And the sermon was preached But the past had a grip on my mind. Had the lessons there taught Made an impress so deep As the marks that our shoes left behind? Oh, long live the church In the plain little street! I leave with reverence the place. For memories so precious Cut deep in the heart Will eternity never efface. — Emma E. Boylan
Fri 1. Daddy took me to Webster City today to a Dues Paying luncheon. I talked on “The Highest Service”. I hope this message will never be lost. Came home via Alden. Saw Mrs. J a minute—a little “grace note“ in life’s music. Ruth has gone to a party and Daddy to Eldora.
Sat 2. Gerald brought me a pheasant today.
Here’s a place where you can order your own pheasant, and a recipe that sounds delicious!
Sun 3. We took our pheasant & a half to Eldora today—took cream & milk. We all ate together at John’s—Will, Nora & Daisy. We were eight in number. Went to church both morning and evening also to S.S.
Mon 4. Had the washing done by nine PM. Stayed at the shop until 2 while Daddy went to Des Moines. Cut and almost made Ruth a smock.
Here’s an image from a Simplicity 1930’s smock pattern.
Tue 5. Went to the office in the AM while Daddy went to Eldora. Went to the church basement to Ladies’ Aid in the PM. Ruth wore her new smock—I finished it this forenoon.
I wrote about the Ladies’ Aid in the February 1928 post (including a song by the Monkees!)
Wed 6. Have been cleaning up the house today.
Thu 7. Went to the church to quilt this PM. Invited Mr. & Mrs. W.J. Thompson for dinner tomorrow.
Fri 8. Spent the morning getting the house in order & dinner ready. Enjoyed the Thompsons—especially Mattie. She has been Conf. treas. 10 yrs. Stayed with Gerald’s kiddies at night.
Sat 9. Got a phone call from Mrs. Wilson that she would be here Monday PM.
Sun 10. Invited the two Reep boys for dinner. Rowleys couldn’t come. I had to play for the evening service.
Mon 11. Washed in AM. Mrs. Wilson came in the PM. Armistice Day.
Tue 12. Gerald & Miriam, Mrs. Walker & I went to Dows to a Unit meeting today. Had a nice time. Snowed quite hard while we were coming home.
The Unit meetings mentioned here and in the following entries were for the Womens Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was one of Emma’s major interests. It sounds like she and Mrs. Wilson had quite a series of these meetings going on!
Wed 13. Had a group of women in the PM and a group of girls in the evening to hear Mrs. Wilson. We plan to go to Sac City tomorrow.
Thu 14. Gerald took Mrs. Wilson & me to Alden. We started from there about eight, drove to Sac City. A lovely drive. Fine Unit meeting at Mrs. McConnel-Luhring home. Called on Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Orin. He is the Art teacher. We stayed at Mrs. Redman’s and Mrs. Will Irvin’s.
Fri 15. Drove to Lohrville today—a wonderful Unit meeting in Mrs. Winkleman’s home. Her daughter is in China. A lovely woman.
It’s amazing what you can find in a search!
Sat 16. Unit meeting at Webster City today—Had a fine meeting. Got home in evening. Mrs. Wilson with me. Came from Iowa Falls on the bus.
Sun 17. Mrs. Wilson took the TO (tithe offering) today. Got $61.01. She is surely an entertaining woman. Daddy told her it seemed as tho’ she had been with us 100 years.
Mon 18. Did my washing today—also finished draining the pool. Took a lot more fish out. Gave Dorothy 4, Margaret 3, Mrs. Wohler 4—and will probably give some more away.
Tues 19. Went to Mrs. Bakers to the WFMS meeting today. It is turning so cold.
Wed 20. Have been sewing some today. Am reading The Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich.
I’ve written about Bess Streeter Aldrich before; this book, published in 1928, is widely acclaimed as an accurate account of 1870s pioneer life in Nebraska and is still in print.
Thu 21. It is so cold today. Have been fixing me a clipping file.
Fri 22. Called on Mrs. Fuller & Mrs. Walker today. It has turned so cold.
Sat 23. Ruth & I cleaned up the house today. Daddy took us to Eldora about 3:30. We got Ruth’s hair finger-waved. Took Wills some cream, butter, pineapple & sour milk.
Sun 24. We went to Eldora after church. Ate dinner at Wills. Mary Ashe Lone was there. Rev Quirin of Sioux City preached in the AM.
Mon 25. I washed today—also cleaned the storm windows. Took care of Miriam’s children for a couple hours.
Tue 26. Did the ironing this AM. Was so tired afterward. Went to bed for a couple hours. Covered my strawberries & Radiance Roses. Went to Iowa Falls to Ruth’s recital. She was so sick in the PM but she did splendidly. Saw Mrs Johnson.
Radiance roses were hybridized in 1908 and are still available today.
Wed 27. Getting ready for Thanksgiving. Cleaned a chicken & a duck today. Miriam will make a cake and the ice cream for tomorrow.
Thu 28. Gerald went after Will, Daisey & Nora. It is getting colder. Had a fine dinner. Gerald, Miriam, Ruth & Daddy went to Football game. It was here—with Radcliffe—a tie. We went to a horrid movie in Eldora at night after taking the folks home.
The Grand Theatre opened in Eldora in 1913 and is still showing movies today. I have no idea what they saw, but here’s a list of movies that came out in 1929.
Fri 29. A cold day. Went to a Steward Board meeting in the PM.
Sat 30. Have had a nice quiet day at home reading and crocheting. Went down town with Ruth in the PM. Sent for some stuff for Christmas.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for December 1929.