Emma #37: October 1930
Lots of meetings, muddy roads, and John T. Boylan's 75th—and a letter from Will
Wed 1. Tell & I, John & Alice went to the cattle congress at Waterloo. Got home about 8:30. Ruth was at the school house practicing when we got home. We ate dinner in Cedar Falls, supper in Ackley.
Note on bottom: Ray Campbell’s note due today. Edgar VanPatter’s note due today.
Over 125,000 people attended Waterloo, IA’s twenty-first annual Dairy Cattle Congress, National Belgian Horse Show, American Poultry Congress, International Waterfowl Congress, and Industrial Exposition.
Thu 2. Met Mrs. Johnson at Iowa Falls. We came down to Burlington to the Branch meeting. Started about 10 AM. Got here at 5 PM. Came on a gasoline motor train. Attended the evening service. We are being entertained at Dr. Hustons. It is a lovely place.
Diesel-electric locomotives were just beginning to be used as an alternative to steam locomotives at this time. They entered mainstream service in the mid 1930s.
Fri 3. We were in meeting all day, even through the noon & evening hours. It is a splendid meeting but we are tired tonight. Heard Mrs. Kim from Korea. She is at Columbia getting her Master’s degree.
Emma was very active in the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, which was the focus of these meetings. Miss Helen Kim was the dean of Ewha College (now Ewha Womans University) in Seoul, the only women’s institution of higher learning in the country.
Sat 4. I purchased some gloves & a bag this AM—also bought a pendant for Ruth. Mrs. Johnson bought a string of beads for me. We went to the church. I met with the Goals Committee at noon & we took Mrs. Huston to supper at the Masonic Hall at night. Heard Dr. Bock in a wonderful speech.
The Masonic Temple in Burlington, Iowa,
Sun 5. We—Dr & Mrs. Huston, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Lucy & I—went to Mt. Pleasant to see the PEO memorial room, library, and home. We got back in time for church. Heard Dr. Bock & were taken to the Golf Club for dinner. Went to church in the PM—for children’s hour. Lost one pair of gloves & found my pocket book faded on my hands so am returning it.
The P.E.O. Sisterhood (Philanthropic Educational Organization) was founded in 1869 by seven students at Iowa Wesleyan College and continues to provide support and assistance to women pursuing higher education. Here’s the music classroom where it was founded—I believe this is the memorial room Emma mentions.
Mon 6. Came home from Burlington today. Mrs. Strother met me at Iowa Falls. Was so glad to get home.
Tue 7. It was rainy today. Went to Ladies’ Aid in the PM. Helped quilt awhile. Brought Daisey a lunch. Went over to John’s birthday party at the church. We had nearly 100 guests. Was 75 years old. Had the Aid serve a Turkey dinner.
Tell’s brother John Taylor Boylan was a former Hardin County sheriff and newspaper editor, and worked for the postal service. In this week’s “curiosity trail,” I discovered that he has been called the Father of the US Rural Free Delivery, establishing the first official rural delivery route from Clarksville, Iowa, in 1900 and going on to initiate more than 2,500 routes during his time of service. He went on to become a postal inspector, and retired at age 70.
Wed 8. Worked at the office awhile today. Daisey & I went to prayer meeting at night.
Thu 9. We did the washing today. It was a lovely wash day. I got up & went to Iowa Falls with Daddy in the AM & again with Ruth in the evening. I saw the sun come up & go down on the way. Note on bottom: Will Clivergeman note due. Clarence Rieks note due.
As I’ve mentioned previously, these entries apparently are records of people who owed money to Tell & Emma, probably in connection with Tell’s farm implement business. They become more frequent as the Great Depression looms.
Fri 10. Mrs. Walker and I are planning to go to Alden this PM. We went to WFMS—a Dues-Paying luncheon where I spoke. Came home—spoke again here. We had a number of new members. John & Ans drove over today. Mr. Shroyer died this AM.
Oh, my goodness! I found a newspaper story on this.
Sat 11. A beautiful day! Miss Bartlett came over on the early morning train. We had her for breakfast and dinner and then Lottie came after her. She is to go to Dows with us tomorrow. Daddy, Ruth & I drove over to Eldora in the PM then stopped at the farm and bought three chickens. On bottom: Wm. Butler note due.
Sun 12. We took our TO [tithe offering] this morning. Did not have a very big crowd nor much enthusiasm, but we did what we thought best. Daddy & I took a walk this PM & I have written to Katharine.
Mon 13. The first Unit meeting is over. Seven of us drove to Dows today to a WFMS meeting. I drove Mrs. Walker’s car. We went over a new muddy grade that made my arms ache. We had rather a hard time. Was glad to get home tonight. Mr. Shroyer was buried today. Found I had been addressing Katharine’s letters wrong. She said she had had no letter for 10 days.
According to this history of Iowa transportation, Iowa’s dirt roads had a national reputation for being terrible to drive on after it rained.
Tue 14. We—Daddy & I—drove to Alden this morning when I came to Ft. Dodge with Mrs. Johnson. We had a nice service at Riverside church. Miss Bartlett, Mrs. Johnson & I were entertained at Mrs. Smith’s. She has a most wonderful home. Saw a movie at Ft. Dodge in the evening.
Here’s an interesting history of the single-screen movie theaters in Fort Dodge, and here are the top movies from this week in 1930.
Wed 15. It is raining quite hard this morning. We have had a lovely rest, a fine breakfast, and good time. We plan to drive to Gilmore City today and come back here tonight. We had a hard trip back to Ft. Dodge on account of the rain.
Thu 16. The four Unit folks of us drove to Somers this AM. We had a good dinner at the church and a splendid meeting in the afternoon after which we drove to Early. A lovely supper at Miss Allens and a blessed prayer meeting at Rev. Whitneys ended a beautiful day. We were entertained at Mrs. Fuller’s in Early.
Fri 17. Our meeting at Early started this AM. After dinner I spoke. We had a nice dinner and started home about 2 PM. We got to Alden, and Gerald came after me. I was so glad to be home for I have not been very well.
Sat 18. Have been sewing a bit for Ruth today. In the PM I went to the AUW at Minna Reece’s. Met several people I have known. In the evening Gerald turned over in his car—broke the glass in the door. Again God was merciful—he might have been killed. Ruth & I went to Lottie’s to practice. Daddy went to a school board meeting.
Sun 19. We have had several days of real cold weather. Last Wed night it began. I found flowers and garden stuff all frozen. As Miss Glass had resigned to be married the board elected Miss Burroughs last night.
At this time, the “marriage bar” prevented married women from teaching school and holding other occupations in many areas. Here’s an interesting research article about the history of this practice, which was virtually abandoned by 1950.
Mon 20. A two-weeks washing. Am so glad to be at home and able to work. Worked at the shop in PM. Dora Moon & her neighbors Mr. & Mrs. Hudlestead & two children were here for supper.
Tue 21. Ironed awhile & worked at the shop. Went to Iowa Falls in the PM. Took Mrs. Baker. Got four books.
Wed 22. [Written in the form of a list.]
Dug carrots.
Canned 17 pts pumpkin.
Practiced chorus for club.
Read Rainbow Valley.
Slept awhile.
Wrote two letters.
Baked two pies.
Went to prayer meeting.
Waiting for Ruth—10:30.
Rainbow Valley (1919) is the seventh in the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Thu 23. We ate.
A short entry!
Fri 24. Cleaned the two front rooms today—washing & ironing the dining room curtains. I was so very tired afterwards.
Sat 25. Today Ruth & I went to the County Federation meeting at Alden. We went with Bess Boylan. Mrs. Gunther drove the car. We had a nice time… Sang in a chorus and was on the “Appreciation Committee.” Met a lot of women.
Sun 26. Today we were invited to Miss Roth’s to help celebrate John Sullivan’s birthday. It would have been lovely weather but the car is poor and it is a long way.
Mon 27. Wash day! and a beautiful one. It looked cloudy this AM but it is lovely this PM. I washed my hair and let it dry in the wind while I was washing the windows on the outside.
Tue 28. Today is Katharine’s birthday. Twenty five years old! I said Many Happy Returns of the day while I was dressing. I know she will know we are thinking of her. Gerald & Miriam and Daisey & I drove out to the Highway to see the cars go by. Today they are celebrating the opening of Highway #65.
Highways have been a recurring theme. In August 1929 I mentioned the route of the Jefferson Highway going through Hubbard, and in August 1930, there was more on Iowa highways.
Wed 29. Daddy & I went to Eldora this AM. Alice was just ready to start for Cedar Rapids with Ans. I paid for Ruth’s raincoat and ordered one for myself. No prayer meeting at night.
Thu 30. Worked at the shop this AM. Have been reading Bitter Heritage by Margaret Pedler.
Margaret Pedler was a British author of romantic fiction. This post with plot summary describes the book as a “hugely predictable melodrama”!
Fri 31. Have nearly finished an underslip today for my chiffon dress. Went to Mrs. Bakers this PM to write out the calendars. Lottie, Mrs. Van Patter, and I were there. We had such a nice afternoon. She served cake & fruit salad with whipped cream. Daddy is planning to go hunting in the morning. Mrs. Van Patter and I called on Mrs. Hilker as we came home.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals! See you next week for November 1930.
SPECIAL FEATURE
Sometime this month, Emma received a letter (on a carbon copy that is quite faint) from Will and Nora (Tell’s brother and sister, living in Carthage, MO). It’s dated Oct. 19, 1930. Here are some excerpts:
Dear Ones All:
It is a chilly Sunday morning. We had rather a hard frost Thursday night; another, Friday night, and cold again last night, but wind and cloud kept frost off for the most part. Our gas fires are going in living room, bath room, and in the kitchen where Margaret Manora is doing some fussy baking, if you know what that means.
Today at five o’clock Nora will go on invitation to our Scotch neighbor’s home to listen in on the broadcasting of O Fair Is My Italia, over WLBF, Kansas City, KANSAS. I will go to another home, to try to make certain one of us will get the reception. Then, too, a letter from Mrs. Ona Miller Briefer, received yesterday, she will broadcast two of my poems, and one of Nora’s.
Will and Nora were both composers and poets—”O Fair is My Italia” was one of Will’s compositions.
Well, I went to church with Nora—walked, but rode back on the street car. This is revival season…Evangelist W.C. Mulvaney’s father is eighty years old, and insists on always attending general conference. The son was uneasy about his taking these trips, but the father has been doing it for fifty years, and it did no good to remonstrate with him—”no more good than trying to keep a girl from bobbing her hair.” He talked with an old preacher about it, and the old preacher said, “Why do you want to keep him from it? There could be no better place for him to die than at a general conference.” There is no better time to go than while engaged in the duties of life—that is the way the Lord comes.
That was a long sweet letter we received from Daisey.
Wind still blows cool from northeast. I’ll have to go.
—WMB