Emma #43: April 1931
Spring flowers, Ruth performs, churning butter, and some family letter excerpts
Wed 1. We did more painting today. Drove up to Eldora today to see John and Alice. They got home from Texas last night. Bob drove their car. We had Easter practice at night. Ruth is practicing every night in a play—The Much Married Man.
Emma has the title wrong here—see below for more information on the play.
Thu 2. We drove to Iowa Falls again today. Took Miriam and the kiddies. She got them some hats.
Fri 3. We all went to Des Moines today except Dad. Visited the House, Senate & Museum. Did a bit of shopping. We were all tired when we got home. Am trying out my new rug needle this evening.
The State Capitol in Des Moines was built in the 1880s and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sat 4. Linnie and Bob started home this AM. Ruth and I have tried to clean up the house. Neither one of us feels very well. Getting ready for John and Alice and for Aid next Tuesday.
Sun 5. We went to church & SS this AM. Vic, Lois, Dorothy Nymeier, Vera Whitney and Bernadine joined the church this AM. Gerald went after John & Alice. They were here by dinner time. In the evening we gave our Cantata. Not a very big crowd there. John and Alice will stay till tomorrow. It is a most beautiful Easter day.
Mon 6. Another beautiful day has dawned. Alice and John stayed until after dinner then I drove them home. I was so tired afterwards. We churned after supper—got a little over 3¼ lbs butter. Also made my dessert for Ladies’ Aid tomorrow.
Although I have a mental image of an old dasher churn, it’s likely that they used something like this, which is a typical butter churn of the era. Here’s an article on various types of churns.
Tue 7. Today is Margaret’s birthday. She was 6 years old today. Miriam made a basket of popcorn balls and candy for a treat for the school kiddies. I have hustled like everything to get ready for Aid. There were twenty here besides the children. In the evening we went to the school house to hear the Better Homes Play” A Poor Married Man, which Ruth was in. Talbe has entered his Glee Club and chorus’ at the Newton Duet Contest. Ruth is to play & sing.
This play is a comedy/farce in three acts. You can find the whole script here.
Wed 8. Today is Wednesday. It is a gorgeous day—warm and sunny. I did a big washing. Was so glad to get it done. I left it & went to the morning prayer circle at Robertsons.
Thu 9. It is cold and rainy this morning. I have a big ironing on hand.
Have finished my ironing. Am getting ready to go to Newton in the morning.
Fri 10. Tell & I took Miss Burrows & Ruth to Newton where Ruth entered the Duet Music Contest. She did not get anything. In the PM I sewed on my chiffon dress.
Sat 11. Ruth spent the day in Newton at the Contest. I have been busy all day. Went to a Steward Board meeting at night.
Sun 12. We went to Sunday School—Ruth & I stayed for church. Daddy was sick. Spent most of the day in bed. I did not spurn the bed in the PM either. Ruth led the League.
The Epworth League was the young people’s group within the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mon 13. It is a lovely day. My Hepatica is in bloom. It is so pretty this year. Am draining my pool. It is time to put my lilies in. We planted potatoes today.
Springtime! Here’s some hepatica.
Tue 14. Wash day. Washed my bedroom curtains. Went to the office to work after dinner. Worked at the shop awhile this PM.
Wed 15. Attended the prayer meeting this AM. Did my ironing & churning today. Have managed to keep busy.
Thu 16. Went to WFMS at Miriam’s this evening. Miss Berry led the lesson. Am trying to finish a braided rug.
Fri 17. Have cleaned a bedroom today. Also planted garden. Am pretty tired. Mrs. Mohler called and asked me to go to Des Moines tomorrow. We plan to start about seven or seven-thirty. Just got a phone call they will start about nine. That is better.
Sat 18. I went with Mrs. Mohler and Lester & Garnet out to Des Moines. We went by way of Story City. Garnet was applying for the third grade there. We did not leave Story until nearly one o’clock. We were caught in a fearful rain storm coming home. It thundered & lightened very hard. Minna came down in the evening. Ruth was to be in the play but no one but a couple kids came.
Sun 19. Went to church and SS today. Afterward we took Helen Riggle with us & went to Alden and Eldora. Was glad to see Mrs. Johnson. She gave me some plants—a bleeding heart, some sublota phlox, and another plant.
Subulata phlox—aka creeping phlox—is a perennial ground cover.
Mon 20. I did the washing today but have not hung it out as it has rained too much. Ruth went to Iowa Falls for her lesson. It was still rainy at night.
Tue 21. Still rainy and snowy today although the snow melted quite fast. We drove to Eldora this PM. Mrs. Paine gave me some glad bulbs. I gave some to Alice. Will try to keep them labeled. Dr. Brubaker & Bunte went along.
Wed 22. Did not go to the prayer meeting this AM as I have had so much to do but guess I’d have been as far along if I had gone. Daddy, Gerald & Miriam went to Marshalltown. I kept the kiddies all night. Mrs. Mohler is not a bit well.
Thu 23. Have sewn a bit—made Ruth’s operetta costume this week. Also finally finished my georgette dress. They took Mrs. Mohler to Ellsworth Hospital last night. A Red-Cross meeting is on this PM. I hope it warms up so I can clean house. I churned today.
Fri 24. Have been doing a little cleaning. Went to the operetta with Daddy in the evening. It was rather good. Miss Burrows doesn’t know much about leading one. Ruth is a Dutch girl. It is called Tulip Time.
Tulip Time is an operetta in 2 acts, published in 1927.
Sat 25. Early this AM Mrs. Johnson drove down. We had a nice morning. Spent the time looking at some gardens. She left at noon. Would not stay for dinner. Brought material for nut cups for banquet. We will make 150 of them. I went to the operetta again at night. I had finished cleaning my room after dinner.
Sun 26. I wanted to go to the woods today but it was too cold. Have written to Katharine. Am going to call on Mrs. Bogardus and take her a drink of buttermilk and a bouquet of violet plants.
Mon 27. Did my washing today, also part of the ironing, and posted books. Went to Eldora in the PM. Mrs. Walker went along. I got some new sheets and some new shoes. Got a white rose bush from Paines, also got a geranium for Mrs. Mohler which was from the SS. I took it over in the evening.
Tue 28. Kept Gerald’s children today while they went to Waterloo. Had my hair marcelled for the banquet this evening. Went to the school board dinner in Crossley. Boekes & Boylans TE were at one table—Sherms, Talbes & Tarists at the other. I helped make flowers for Jr Sr banquet afterwards.
Menu
Fruit iced
Beef
Mashed Potatoes
Carrots
Pickles
Cofffee
Gelatine salad on lettuce
Angelfood Cake & Strawberry dessert
Wed 29. Finished my ironing this AM. Went to the prayer meeting & called on Mrs. Mohler. Got some little dahlia plants—Eunice Andrews sent the seed from Washington. Brubaker bought me some Spotted lily bulbs. Mrs. Mohler, Lottie & Katie came down to help me make some nut cups for the Alden banquet.
Dahlias!
Thu 30. Worked out doors all day. Fixed a rock garden and planted some lily bulbs. Fixed my water lily tubs for the pool etc.
Memoranda
Another month has gone. Four on the new year.
Bonus: Family Letters
April 11, 1931, from Tell’s brother Berne to another brother, Christian—an excerpt:
[Related to bank closures] Twenty-five years ago the poorest tenant farmer could go to the bank and get $100 or more. He had the collateral in the way of live stock and over the whole country this represented a big borrowing power. Now his horses are not worthy for a loan...Tell, on demand could not pay the bank what he is owing them and there are thousands in the same shape. ...We used to think that we were robbing the people when we charged 24 percent interest. Really that was not bad for the conditions at that time. Taxes were not very high. ...I do not see much immediate change for the better. Farm products are down--poultry, eggs, etc. and I do not look to see them reach a high point again. Generally I think things will be beaten down pretty low, wages included. Think you will see men glad to work for $2.00 per day like they did before the war. ...I have a little register that sells to filling stations, but they way they are cutting prices it is pretty hard to induce a fellow to buy. Selling gas here 13 1/2 to 15 1/2. Would like to see it go to 20 cents and stay there steady. It would be much better for me. Could afford to pay the extra price.
April 19, 1931, from Tell’s brother-in-law J.J. Lohr to the family—an excerpt:
Dear Ones All:-- This is a cloudy cool day...I suppose a few words about our Lila Jean will not be amiss at this time- well, she weighed 12 lbs. 14 1/2 ounces last Thursday, so you see she is still growing, both in weight and also in sweetness...if you want to know how sweet she is, you will have to come and see her for yourself. My hens are still doing their duty--got 154 eggs last week compared to 124 the week before- have cut the price to 17c per dozen while cash buyers are paying 12 to 15c per dozen; heavy hens are now 14c per pound and as those are the ones that usually get sick or ailing, I think I shall sell 5 or 6 to make more room for the others... Most lovingly thine, Papa, Grandpa, J.J. Lohr
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for May 1931.