Sat 1. It is so cold and windy this AM. Mrs. Baker came down in the PM to have me help her make some Sunshine bags. I had some material—I also typed the verses to put in them.
Sun 2. Four Sundays without church. I do not see how people get along the year around without it. Ruth went to SS in Eldora. Vic K came over to sing awhile in the evening. Dr. Livengood died about 11 AM today.
In February the church meetings were stopped because of an epidemic of smallpox and other contagious diseases.
Mon 3. Geralds will move today back to the Bocke house west of JB’s. I will have them for dinner. Did a big washing today. Had the folks for supper too.
Tue 4. Canned ½ of ¼ of beef today. Got 29 lbs front quarter canned—40 pints of meat & made 7 qts of soup. Daddy went to a bank meeting at night. Ruth went to Iowa Falls.
The history of home canning is fascinating! Here’s a collection of historical guides. I love the opening cautionary note: “Do not assume the content of any of these historical canning guides reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. In fact, assume the opposite.”
Wed 5. I did the ironing this AM. Got dinner & was planning to sing at Dr. Livengood’s funeral—when I had a bilious attack. Spent several hours in bed.
Thu 6. Spent the day getting ready for the Annual Club banquet. It met here this evening. There were eleven besides ourselves. We had a lovely dinner and such a good time.
Fri 7. Did not do a great deal in the forenoon. Went to Mrs. Baker’s in the PM. Had a prayer meeting. It was WFMS Day of Prayer, so called a meeting for my home in the evening. There were four came.
Sat 8. Ruth has been sick again. She has so much headache—we took her to Iowa Falls today to see Paglison. She doesn’t need glasses he says but is probably overworking. Tullie surely should have charge of a bunch of convicts.
Sun 9. Had services today. It seemed good to get back to church & SS again. Had a new boy in my class. Graves is his name—lives in the country. We went to Eldora for dinner. Took over part. Went to the dedication in the PM. Heard Rev. Bergstahler of Mt. Vernon preach (Pres of Cornell College).
Mon 10. Washday!! Thought at first I wouldn’t wash but have it started. It is a lovely day.
Tue 11. Got my ironing done and went to Ladies’ Aid at Rev. Rowleys. Mrs. Baker helped her entertain. We picked out paper for the parsonage. Ruth went up to Mrs. Bocke’s—had her Glee Club dress cut out.
Wed 12. Did a little sewing this AM, then Mrs. Johnson drove down. She brought Betty. We worked on the convention program till after 4. We plan to go to Ft. Dodge next Wed. In the evening we went to the Sub. Dist contest at Iowa Falls—where Ruth spoke “Peter & the Angels” and won “First”.
Thu 13. Spent the morning on WFMS work. We met at Mrs. Huff’s in the afternoon. Then we went to Eldora as guests of John & Alice at a Turkey dinner at the church— $1.00 per plate. It was lovely—color scheme was yellow and white.
Fri 14. Am finishing Ruth’s Glee Club dress this AM. Slept this PM. Louis Reep was here awhile in the evening.
Sat 15. Spent the forenoon at the shop. Took a nap in the PM. Daddy went to Marshalltown to a Basketball game in the evening. Cudahy team from Sioux City with Sigourny team. Ruth spent the day in Nevada.
The Cudahy Packers, a team in the local basketball league, were sponsored by the Cudahy Packing House, a large meat-packing company in Sioux City.
Nevada (pronounced nə-VAY-də) is a town about 30 miles south of Hubbard, near Ames.
Sun 16. After church we took a ride to Eldora. Took John & Alice to Berlin to an old but beautifully kept cemetery. Louis Reep called in the PM.
Mon 17. The day is windy, cloudy & much colder than yesterday. Washing is done. Ironing is done. Went to Eldora with Gerald and had a “permanent” in the evening—Took 3 hrs. Cost 10.00.
This is about $164 in today’s money.
Tue 18. Went to Eldora then on the “Slip” to Alden. Stayed all night with Mrs. Johnson. Want to go to Ft. Dodge tomorrow. Finished reading All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.
From a history of Iowa Falls: “The Chicago, Iowa and Dakota Railway (locally known as the Slippery Elm) was a short track that connected Alden, Iowa Falls and Eldora. For many years there were two trains a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.”
The English translation of All Quiet on the Western Front, a German novel of World War I, was published in 1929
Wed 19. A com. to plan District Missionary program met at YWCA in Ft. Dodge—Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Winkleman, and Rev. Dale from Lohrville, Mrs. McDade & Mrs. Lewis from Ft. Dodge, & Mrs. Johnson & I were there. Mrs. Robison & Betty went to Ft. D. Bought me a velvet dress—also a house dress. Tell & Gerald came to Alden after me. A beautiful day.
Thu 20. It is much colder today. Worked at the shop in AM a while.
Fri 21. Cleaned up the house this forenoon. Took a nap in PM. We went to the operetta at night—Jerry of Jericho Road. It was quite good. Ruth Bocke was here for supper.
Apparently this operetta was quite popular in the high school drama repertoire at this time…a quick search found a whole bunch of performances in Iowa in 1930.
Sat 22. Spent two hours on the yard then Ruth & I went to Eldora for dinner. Ruth practiced for Friday night. She will speak at the New P. at Sub-Dist contest. Nora is to go to Carthage, MO, to be interviewed for a job Monday. W.S Hornung got his leg broken today.
Sun 23. A quiet Sunday. Church, SS, Reading, a nap, a call from Miss Reece, church at night & bed. Finished Ramona—Helen Hunt Jackson.
Ramona, published in 1884, is a novel set in Southern California after the Mexican-American war, about the life and hardships of a Scottish-Native American orphan girl. It is still in print, and is the basis for an outdoor pageant that has been running since 1923 in California.
Mon 24. Worked a little at the shop today.
Tue 25. It is another bad day. The two SS classes practiced their songs this evening. Went to Iowa Falls to call on Mr. Hornung and Mrs. Hines. Mr. H got his leg broken & Mrs. Hines had an operation.
Wed 26. I am keeping the kiddies. They are sure a busy bunch. Jerry slept a long while this PM.
Thu 27. Kept the three children while Miriam & Gerald went to Waterloo yesterday. It is windy and cold this week. Am washing today. I have a bad cold.
Fri 28. Went to a Founders day meeting at Alden and made a talk. In the evening we went to New Providence to the Pre Dis Contest. Ruth took second place.
Sat 29. Gerald reports a new baby calf this morning. Mr. Chisken has been trimming the grapes.
Sun 30. Went to church & SS this AM—to Eldora in PM & to church at night. The young people had charge of the service at night. We took Miss Reece to Eldora.
Mon 31. Have not done very much today. Went to the shop in the PM while Dad went to N.P. to see Norman. Voted for Mayor & Councilmen today.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for April 1930.