Emma #65: February 1933
Rabbit on the road, custard, frozen pipes, selling milk and butter, and splitting wood
Wed 1. Have churned & made DC this AM. Also am sending in some slogans for a contest. “Don’t miss the thrill of Conoco Gas” & “The gas that gleefully & gracefully grabs the grade.” Name: U-Auto-Gas. Called on Mrs. Harold U—(?) after our prayer meeting at Robertsons today.
Emma loved entering contests. The Conoco Oil Company was one of the premier fuel companies in this era, courting the traveling public with well-equipped service stations and travel assistance, including “Touraides,” which were customized spiral-bound trip maps highlighting direct and scenic routes, with information about tourist attractions, lodging, and Conoco stations. Here are pictures of an old station and a Touraide—very much like what I remember of the AAA TripTiks (which one can apparently still get!)
Thu 2. Have been so bothered with a pain under my right shoulder. Went to bed this PM. Mrs. Wardle & Mrs. Spiller called this PM. Ora Reep called up to know if we wanted to go to Iowa Falls to the all day meeting tomorrow. I hope to be well enough.
Fri 3. Rev. & Mrs. Wardle, Ora Reep & I went to Iowa Falls today. Dad did not want to go. We had a wonderful time. In the PM we—Ora, Robert & Ruth & I went to Alden to see the Johnsons. Bertha was not at home. I was sorry. Took them some butter, dutch cheese & cream. I got some medicine.
Sat 4. We ran over a rabbit last night (just its head) & Ora went back & got it for me. I have felt like working today & have done a good bit—washing & ironing for Ruth etc. Been working on K’s Kimona. Ruth gave two lessons today.
Oh, my goodness! I guess when times are tough you take your meat wherever you find it. I found this 1930 USDA pamphlet of rabbit recipes…
Sun 5. We went to SS & church this AM. Had our Bible study class today. Seven were here. We plan to go up to hear Rev. Harper tonight. Took Lottie & Ora—Ruth Dad & I in Ora’s car—some load.
Mon 6. Have been working on Katharine’s Kimona. Lottie brought me a song book and asked me to play for Ladies’ Aid tomorrow. It is very cold.
Tue 7. A real cold, blizzardy day. There will be no Aid. Mended Dad’s overalls. I have a bad cold. Dad has had a time thawing out the bathroom pipes.
Wed 8. It is 20 below. We are having a hard time to keep warm. Did not go to prayer meeting as I was not well enough. Ora came in and we studied some here.
Feb 8 & 9, 1933, were the two coldest days of the year in Iowa.
Thu 9. Winter is sure here today. Lost my fern. Pipes are frozen. We are trying to keep warm. Have been working on the apron Katharine sent at Christmas time. Have K’s Krazy Kimona ready to line.
Fri 10. It is warmer today but reports say it will be very cold tonight. We have churned over 2 1/8 lbs butter. Sold 6 ball of D. Cheese & now we are making ice cream. It is so cold I have decided to stay at home tonight. Central State Co got our Electric stove today. My eye is all blood shot. Ruth is to come home tonight.
In last month’s entry, Emma and Tell had to replace the electric stove with a wood cook stove.
Sat 11. It is cold today. Ora took a group of young people to Iowa Falls. Ruth will stay to give room for someone tomorrow. We have washed and ironed Ruth’s clothes. Rev. Wardle was here a long time this PM. He wants to go tomorrow. My eye is still pretty sore. Sold 95¢ worth of butter to Agnes. Have paid them all up. Mr. & Mrs. Swallum spent the evening with us.
Sun 12. After attending church & SS this AM we brought Ora home for dinner. We took Rev. & Mrs. Wardle & Ona to Iowa Falls for the afternoon and evening meeting. We—Ona, Dad & I went to Grooters for supper & Ora to his uncles, & Wardles to the Grauner girls. Had a great day. I am so glad I felt well enough.
In transcribing the journals, “Ora” and “Ona” look very much alike, and they are both names that are unusual to me and show up frequently in Emma’s diary. Ora Reep was a young man who was born in about 1910. His family and the Boylan family were close, and he went on to become a Methodist Episcopal minister. Ona Robertson was a young woman who was a friend of Ruth’s.
Mon 13. It has been cold and stormy today. Have not felt like doing very much. Have my eye trouble yet.
Tue 14. Valentine’s Day. Ruth sent Dad & me each one and we got a nice letter from Katharine containing $10.00. We were surely glad to get it. Paid the second $5 on my stove to Mrs. Derkman.
Wed 15. I went to prayer meeting. Dad did not go as he had been in the country working at wood and was so tired.
Between the cold weather and the wood cook stove, they needed a lot of wood!
Thu 16. Tonight the WFMS met at Mrs. Walkers. Not many there but we had a good time. Vic was over while I was away. Jerry spent the day with me. We churned and baked bread. Ora was in awhile in the PM.
Fri 17. Today has been a busy one. I worked so hard to finish the ironing. My eye has been bothering me so long. It seems to be getting a little better. Went to Robertsons to a prayer meeting in the PM. Began to sell milk to Mrs. Shaner tonight.
In January the cow had a calf and started giving milk, so they have more of it available for churning and selling.
Sat 18. The day has been so full. We churned again today. Got nearly 1¾ of butter. Robert brought Ruth home last night. She is going to give Lulu Fredrickson music lessons. Gerald brought the three kiddies in to stay all night.
Sun 19. Ruth let Ora drive her to Iowa Falls. We had a busy day—SS, church, B. Study & church at night. The children went home after dinner. Pete took them with him.
Mon 20. Washed a few things by hand and then made a quilt block for Helen Bogardus’ quilt. Louie ate dinner with me—Ha! Ha!
Louie Reep was Ora’s brother.
Tue 21. A lovely day! Jerry is here & Dad in the country cutting wood. We had custard for dinner. When Jerry touched it with his spoon, he said “The custard is nervous.” Louie Reep ate supper with us & stayed all night.
Custard is a pudding made of milk, eggs, and sugar—here’s a basic recipe. And Emma loved capturing funny sayings from her kids and grandkids.
Wed 22. It is a warm windy day. Louie Reep was here for breakfast. Went out to Lennie Hornungs. Will work a few days for him. I have churned, and made ice cream. Am waiting for the Circle meeting. Read a lovely letter from Grandma Buchan. Sent the Boylan Robin away yesterday.
I don’t recognize this surname, and couldn’t find anyone in the family tree who might fit.
Thu 23. It has been a lovely warm day. I went down to Robertsons to take Billy a book—and to the store with DC. I am also paying Hoffs with butter. Dad is in the country. I made up a bit of a jingle for a Noah’s Ark Social. Took it to Wardles in the evening.
Based on the Biblical story, I imagine that a Noah’s Ark social involved people arriving two by two, and perhaps wearing animal-themed costumes.
Fri 24. Ruth & Robert will be here today—probably. Robert will stay till morning.
Sat 25. Robert went home this AM. Dad went to the farm for a load of wood. Ruth had her work pretty well done so spent the PM with Ona.
Sun 26. Gerald brought John and Alice over for dinner today. Ora Reep was also here. As Gerald had a bad tire Ora took John & Alice home. We all went to the Baptist church, where there was a farewell missionary service for Pearl Doud—an address was given by Miss Doering—It was very fine.
Mon 27. We had a beautiful wash day today. I hung things out & they got dry. Dad has been splitting wood.
Tue 28. It is the last day of the month, and it is lovely and warm.
Special Feature: A Treasure in the Pages
Tucked into the pages of this year’s journal was this newspaper clipping from Emma and Tell’s marriage, which took place on Aug. 22, 1900, in Dows, IA.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for March 1933.