Sat 1. Today is the first day that pheasant can be killed. Dad & Gerald went hunting. We had a rabbit for dinner, & have two pheasants for tomorrow. Tell & Ruth drove after John & Alice. They will stay all night with us.
Here are some pheasant recipes I found.
Sun 2. John and Alice are here. Tell, Daisey & I went to SS. Ruth came with Uncle John and Aunt Alice to church. Betty, Peggy, and Gerald also stayed for church. We had a nice dinner. Tell & John drove to the cemetery and in the PM we took them home. Boyd Knowles was home a few hours today. Called here.
Mon 3. Today is a lovely wash day. It is so warm and nice. In the PM Tell & I drove to Hampton, Dows, and Iowa Falls. We stopped a few minutes at Mrs. Mossman’s in Iowa Falls. Brought Mrs. Baker’s dress home. Have phoned the preachers club presidents etc. to meet here tomorrow evening.
Tue 4. It is another lovely day. Guess this is Indian Summer. Went to Cedar Falls with Daddy today. Enjoyed an hour at the library. Had the Social Service meeting at our home in the evening—they will get behind the $50.00 we are asked to raise.
The Cedar Falls Carnegie-Dayton Free Library opened in 1903, funded by a $15,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie. It was demolished in 2004.
Wed 5. Today I have done the mending and been at the shop and posted books. Minna called in the evening. Miss Justice borrowed my davenport to use on the stage for play. No prayer meeting tonite.
At this time, the word “davenport” was used as a synonym for “sofa.” Here’s a picture of a 1930s-vintage sofa.
Thu 6. Sent my books back by Glen & Rolke this AM. Have read Bitter Heritage by Pedler and Backwater by Stribling. Did not care for In the Evening of My Life by Clemensen. He is an old philosopher.
Last month’s entry includes a mention of Bitter Heritage.
T.S. Stribling was a very popular writer in the 1920s and ‘30s. In 1933 his novel The Store, based in the post-reconstruction South, won the Pulitzer Prize.
Fri 7. Did not call Ruth this AM as she was so tired last night. She did not go to school this AM nor the PM as all the Jr. class was dismissed this PM. The play The Thirteenth Chair is to be given tonight. Mrs. Rowley called today. Gerald has ruined the Essex beyond fixing. It is a shame—that old car has cost us $1000 this year and we can’t afford it. About $16.3k in today’s money.
Here’s a synopsis of the play:
”Helen O'Neill is engaged to wealthy Will Crosby. At a party in the Crosby home, an eccentric Irish medium has been invited to hold a seance. The woman is Helen's mother and she persuades Helen not to tell the group in order to spare Helen embarrassment. In the course of the seance, while all doors and windows to the room are locked, a man is killed. The police are unable to locate either murderer or weapon. Suspicion falls on Helen and her mother is worried. Many surprising developments ensue before the real criminal is unmasked by the clever medium.”
Ruth played the medium. It sounds like fun!
Sat 8. Ruth did splendidly in her class play both last night and tonight. She was the making of it if you ask me. She is getting quite a thrill out of school this year. They will clear about 80.00 on the two nights.
I found a school memory book that belonged to Ruth. Here’s a collage of images related to her Junior year, including this play. She was class president, too!
Sun 9. We went to church & SS today. Rev. McDonald preached both morning and evening. In the afternoon it was so warm—we drove to Eldora to see John and Alice. Miss Rice and Miss Justice went with us. We brought Miss Justice home with us but Miss R came home with her folks after church.
Mon 10. Today was beautiful. We did a big washing and got most of the fish out of the pool. I stayed at the shop this PM while Daddy went to Eldora. Went to the club at Agnes Liebensteins.
I found this photo in Ruth’s school memory book. I think this must be Emma’s fish pond.
Tue 11. Dad went with us to Iowa Falls this PM. It was Armistice day. Everything was closed—could not get into the Library. We called on Lester Hansen at the hospital. He has just been operated for appendicitis. I talked to Miss Stoddard about TB Seal Sale. Went to Rad. on a collecting trip with Gerald.
Here’s a history of Christmas Seals, which were non-postage stamps sold to raise money for tuberculosis prevention and support of sanatoriums. They are still sold today by the American Lung Association.
Wed 12. Bob Marshman’s birthday. I spent the day in Des Moines. Went down with GG Marshman and Bob, Lillian Zempke & a Zubell girl. Went to attend the funeral of Mrs. Manner’s mother at the Dunn funeral home. Had a real thrilly scare when I thought Gord had gone home and left me. I was a half hour late at my appointment. Got home about 6 PM. Saw Elizabeth Manner and Alice Askens. Alice said to come to Denver & pitch our tent on their lot on top of Lookout Mt. for a summer vacation. Finished “Country People” by Ruth Suckow last night.
Dunn’s Funeral Home was founded in 1913 and moved to this location on Grand Avenue in 1926. It is still in operation.
Thu 13. Am a bit tired from my trip yesterday. Minna was down here in the evening—came to talk over school affairs. We got a letter from Linnie inviting us to her house for Thanksgiving. I’d love to go.
Emma’s sister Linnie (Muilenberg) was living in South Dakota at this time.
Fri 14. This has been a warm cloudy day. Rain and snow have been predicted. Daddy & I went to Eldora this PM to see John’s. Found Alice washing her car. We took her to an auxiliary meeting. Stopped at the farm for a chicken. Daddy got home in time to attend a school board meeting at four. Tonite he is meeting Saul to make an LHC contract. Basketball game is on at schoolhouse. Note on bottom: AN Reece note due. Paul Rohlson’s note due.
Sat 15. I worked on the little dress for Margaret all morning. Went to town for some rubber. Did not get it done.
Sun 16. We had Gerald and his family here for dinner today. After a nap the children were pretty much full of pep. Miriam & I went to the church to practice a demonstration. Miss Berry was here awhile. Did not go to church at night.
Mon 17. Worked all day at Miriam’s on her coat. It is made out of an old one of Gladys’. She sent for a new collar. It was a job. I went to the PTA meeting this evening. There were just a few there. Allowed the money for the Social Service Work.
The collar Miriam sent for was likely fur. This site has great information on styles from various eras. Here’s a picture of 1930s-era fur-collar coats.
Tue 18. Spent the morning sewing at Miriam’s and the afternoon at the Falls. Ruth and I went up on the bus. I had a CoTB meeting at the Hotel and Ruth’s Recital afterwards. We were surprised when a box of pink roses came for Ruth from Katharine. They were beautiful. She wore two and the rest were in a basket on a table in the front of the church.
Pink roses!
Wed 19. I should have washed this AM. It looked cloudy at first but is nice now. On Bottom: RK Rodgers note due today.
Thu 20. It is just a week until Thanksgiving. Have washed today. Had our missionary meeting at Lotties this evening. We had a nice time. Think Lottie will make a fine president.
Fri 21. Today Daisey & I did the ironing. I also did some mending & went to Rowleys to quilt. Ruth had gone with a load to Owasa to a Basketball game. Have just written Linnie that we can not come for Thanksgiving.
Here’s a picture of the Owasa consolidated school from the 1930s.
The school is now closed and there is not much left of the town, which had a population of 34 in the 2020 census.
Sat 22. Spent the day sewing. Made a dress for Daisey. Do not know that she will wear it. She did not take it upstairs nor put it on. On Bottom: Alfred Manetton’s note due.
Sun 23. We went to church & SS today. Gerald and the family were here a little while—also Ruth Bogardus—Florence Hitt—Minna Reece came awhile in the evening and we made a list of the homes to send seals to. I wrote to Katharine today. Wrote a bit of a poem today about “Keeping the Children.”
I have a folder of poems and other pieces that Emma wrote. I can’t find this one, but here’s a tidbit called “Katharine’s Big Blue Eyes”:
There are eyes that snap with fury,
There are eyes that smile with glee,
Eyes there are of many colors—
Eyes that always wink at me,
But the eyes that hold the secrets—
Big blue eyes where beauty lies,
Eyes so true with sunlight sparkling,
Are my Katharine’s Big Blue Eyes.
By “HER MOTHER”
Mon 24. Woke up to a find snow on the ground. It is windy and quite cold. Am planning to sew awhile.
Tue 25. Ruth & I went to the Falls this PM. Went with Mr. Neely and came home on the bus. The bus was a full half hour late. Ruth took her lesson. It was very stormy—a regular blizzard when we came home.
Wed 26. Have not done very much today—sewed a little. Am making Jerry a new suit out of old material. We are invited to Geralds for dinner tomorrow. It is still windy and cold. Heard of Eunice Andrews accident. She is in hospital.
Thu 27. Thanksgiving Day. It is bright and sunny but crisp and cold. We ate our Thanksgiving dinner at Gerald’s. It was a good one. We called on Alberys who were here from Indianola to eat dinner at Shades. Saw Susie, Tillie & Mary & Earl. Margaret & Betty came home with us and stayed till milking time. Vic came over to sing awhile in the evening.
Fri 28. I have a cold. Had a rabbit for dinner which Gerald got yesterday PM. It was good. Ruth is typing a note book. I am going to a Steward Board meeting at two.
Sat 29. Ruth spent the most of the day working on her Sketch Book note book. I went to a meeting at Minna’s in the PM (T.B.)
Sun 30. We went to church & SS in AM, and church in the evening. About 16 there at night. Spent a quiet day at home. Gerald went over to Clyde’s and brought home a quarter of beef (nearly). Ruth went to a program at the Zion church in the evening. I wrote to Katharine.
I’ll close out with a fun side note!
After last week’s post, I got a note from my mom (Emma’s granddaughter). “In reading Emma's journals today, I perked up when she said she lost her gloves. I remember when I was young, we wore gloves to church and any other dress-up occasion. I still have some white ones from years ago. And I think white was the proper thing to wear. I'm trying to remember if gloves were still "required" at the time of my shower and wedding in 1958. Probably so. —Hugs, Mom”
Here’s a 1930s-era ad for gloves:
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for December 1930.