Sun 1. We went to church & SS—a combined service—out about 11:20. Ruth went to Iowa City with Talbe & several other girls to the State Academic contests. Daddy & I went over to see John & Alice. Took lunch with Will and Nora.
Mon 2. A big washing is done. Two Oriental poppies are out—also Iris, anchusa, lilies, roses, lady slippers, mock orange, orange & lemon lilies, yellow tulips still linger, etc. The yard & garden is pretty.
So many flowers! I could fill this whole page with pictures. Here are some Oriental poppies.
Tue 3. Worked out in the garden this forenoon. Went to Aid in the PM. Ironed after supper for an hour and a half then went to a Committee for Alumni banquet. Mrs. Walker and Mrs. Bogardus will serve the banquet.
Wed 4. Finished the ironing this AM then set out some plants—verbena, aster salvia, zinnia, and petunia. I was so tired. Ruth got home from Iowa City about 2 PM as I was going to a Steward board meeting. Bought a dozen pineapples.
Thu 5. I hemmed a dozen or more dish towels this AM & did some mending. It is so rainy today—a good thing for my plants. Tonight we are to have a Patch Party at the church—7 PM Pot Luck—when we’ll take off the patch from the apron and overhall.
Here’s an undated picture I found of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Hubbard. I am guessing they did some repairs and were removing a temporary patch, but am not sure.
Fri 6. I finished canning a dozen pineapple. Have 18 more qts besides 3 qts of juice. Mrs. Johnson asked me to go to a Flower Show at Des Moines with her tomorrow. We drove to Alden in the evening. Took Ruth to Iowa Falls for her lesson. Miss Adams gave me some Painted Daiseys, a blue bell and some columbine. Decided not to go to Des Moines as it will cost too much.
Sat 7. We did some sewing today.
Sun 8. SS & church run together in the morning. After service Tell took a long ride on the pony. Then we went to Eldora to see the folks. Gerald stopped at Clydes. Went to church at night.
Mon 9. Did a washing this AM. Also plowed the garden. Then after dinner we fixed over a dress for Ruth. She plans to go to Scranton on Saturday. We had Paul Stevens over in the evening to practice a cornet solo with Ruth for Alumni program.
Tue 10. Today is the SS Picnic out at Bloom’s. We had a nice time—about 60 were there. We got home early. It was a lovely day—tho it rained in the PM a little. Got my ironing done before I went.
A historical tidbit, speaking of picnics…1930 is the year Wonder Bread pre-sliced loaves hit the shelves in grocery stores throughout US and Great Britain. By 1933, 80% of bread sold in the US was pre-sliced and wrapped.
Wed 11. Have been busy sewing for Ruth—getting her ready to go to Scranton. She hates to go with Katharine coming so soon.
Thu 12. WFMS at Mrs. Pierce’s today. We had a small crowd for so many are busy with other things. Ruth is helping with the music for Alumni banquet. Daddy drove her to Iowa Falls for her lesson this PM. Took Betty and Peggy.
Fri 13. Finished some sewing. Did some washing & ironing for Ruth—also helped at the school house. The Alumna banquet was held at the gym. 116 plates were served. Mrs. Walker & Mrs. Bogardus served it. Ruth and Genevieve played.
Sat 14. We drove Ruth to Scranton today. How I did hate to leave her there but it seemed to be the right thing to do so we did it. She has had lots of good things in her life. I want her to have the very best.
It sounds like this was a summer camp gathering of some sort—perhaps a church youth conference similar to one they attended in July 1928.
Sun 15. We drove to Eldora in the PM to see Johns. Katharine got home today. We met her at Iowa Falls at 10:32 this morning. We were so glad to see her. The day brought its quota of grief for Gerald is away. Children’s Day program is on tonight—Betty & Margaret are in the program. Katharine brought us an Electric clock.
Here’s a 1930-vintage General Electric clock.
Mon 16. Today has been a sad day in our lives. I went with Gerald to Eldora. He was given 30 days in jail for drunkenness. It was pretty hard to see him taken. I went to John and Will awhile & then came home. Did the washing this PM & got some greens picked to can. Sometimes I feel like screaming but the pain does not go.
Tue 17. Today I have canned 15 pints of greens—made over 100 cookies to take to Scranton. Katharine, Garnet Mohler and I drove to see Ruth in the PM. Found Ruth asleep. She had given up our coming. She was pretty blue. We stayed all night.
Here’s some guidance on canning greens.
Wed 18. We drove home from Scranton this afternoon. Attended three classes this morning. Got home a little before supper. Daddy & I took Nora home after supper. Took Miriam with us. We went to see Gerald a little while.
Thu 19. We had Miriam and the children down for dinner today. We had peas—& potatoes—strawberries for eats.
Gerald’s wife and kids—Emma and Tell’s daugther-in-law and grandkids Betty and Margaret.
Fri 20. Katharine went to Eldora this AM to get her hair permanented. Miriam went with her. I kept the kiddies.
Sat 21. Katharine has gone to spend the day with Minna to help with a luncheon. It is hot today. We got a letter from Ruth today.
Sun 22. We went to SS in the AM. Drove out to see Ruth at Dayton. She was pretty blue. We took Miriam and the kiddies. Went to church at night.
I am guessing this is another summer school/camp…it’s about 40 miles or so from Scranton, so clearly a different place.
Mon 23. Spent most of the morning picking cherries. We picked and canned 18 pints. Miriam & the children were here for dinner. M. made two cherry pies. We drove over to see Gerald after supper.
This is the Hardin County Courthouse…the jail would have been either in this building or nearby in what is now a registered historic district.
Tue 24. This was a fine washday. We did a big one. In the PM I worked at the shop. Have been reading “Christ of Every Road” by Stanley Jones.
Wed 25. I got up early and ironed. It took several hours. Had planned to can peas but we went to Eldora in the PM and to prayer meeting at night. We had a hard rain with some wind last night.
Thu 26. We are planning to drive to see Ruth today. It is a lovely cool morning. Chas Nehring note due. Paid.
There are a number of notations like throughout Emma’s journal. Because Tell ran a farm implement business, I’m guessing they were loans he had made to customers and they kept track of when they were due.
Fri 27. I got up early this morning—picked enough peas to can 18 pints. Kept the children while Miriam went to a party & picnic. Also canned 6 qts of gooseberries. Made 10 pints. In the evening we took the children & drove over to see Gerald. A full day!!
Sat 28. Katharine finished up her two dresses today—one Aunt Rachel gave her and a smocked one she had started long ago. I managed to keep busy here & there till I was pretty tired. Cleaned three young chickens to take tomorrow.
Sun 29. We—Katharine and I—went to SS. Daddy & Miriam went to Eldora Sunday AM. Then we took a picnic dinner and went to Stratford to see Ruth. Came home rather late. Went to see Miriam. Ruth would not come home tho’ her hives bothered her a lot.
Mon 30. We did the washing & straightening up today. Went to a Steward Board meeting in the PM. Katharine slept all afternoon. Went to Eldora in the evening. We picked our first sweet peas and nasturtium—also had our first raspberries, new potatoes & new beets. Saw Gladys Lohr Lucas & her husband in Eldora.
Gladys was Tell’s niece, daughter of his sister Maloa (who died in 1928). She and her husband Samuel Lucas, a dentist, were living in North Dakota with her father, John Lohr. They were likely visiting the Boylan family in Eldora.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals! See you next week for July 1930.