Emma #66: March 1933
Lots of church, music with Ruth and Robert, jigsaw puzzles, cardinal, and a gambler-turned-evangelist
Wed 1. The young people led the prayer meeting at Olmsteads. Afterwards they came here and folded and addressed the invitations for the “Noah’s Ark Social.” They stayed until 12 o’clock. Went to Tabers in the PM & then called on Delthams & Shultzs!
Thu 2. I went to the prayer meeting (World’s Day of Prayer) at Rev Bocks. The Salem people invited us. Mrs. Bock led the meeting. He has resigned. Mrs. Taber & I called on Mrs. Swallum afterwards. Dad is helping cut wood at the church.
The World Day of Prayer is an international women’s prayer initiative started in 1887 and held each year on the first Friday of March. There is a theme for each year, and women from one or more countries prepare an order of worship for each year’s program. The 1933 theme was Follow Thou Me, with the service written by a committee in the Republic of China.
Fri 3. Ruth came home on the night bus. She wants us to go up for the Vesper service on Sunday.
Vespers is a worship service held in the afternoon or evening.
Sat 4. Spent most of the day washing & ironing and fixing up Ruth’s clothes. Ora & Louie were here in the evening. Mrs. Hoff was also here a few minutes in the evening—Mr. & Mrs. Swallum were here & Dorothy Nymeier took her lesson.
Sun 5. We all went to church & SS. We had Minna Reece & Adelaide Ports for dinner. Minnie is talking about running for Co. Supt. We had our Bible class and then Ora took us to Iowa Falls for the Vesper service. Afterwards we went to church.
Mon 6. Washed out a few things.
Tue 7. We had the Noah’s Ark social this evening. Had a good time. Got in $22.
Wed 8. Went to Robertsons to the prayer meeting in the PM and to the parsonage at night. Ora stopped for us. Heard that Mr. Harper is sick. Ona prayed such a sweet prayer tonight.
Thu 9. Have worked all PM on Katharine’s Kimona. It looks real pretty. I will be glad to get it done.
Fri 10. Have cleaned up the house today as Ruth & Robert will spend the week end here. Robert hiked & Ruth came on the bus. Heard from Alice today. Said my contribution to the family letter was cheery. She also said she got the two lots—I hope she makes something on them. Guess it was yesterday she phoned.
Sat 11. Robert is singing. Ruth is playing for him. We all had our hairs waved by Lulu Fredrickson. Louie & Orie Reep were here awhile in the evening.
I think this is the first mention in the journal of Robert and Ruth singing/playing together, which they continued to do for many years.
Sun 12. SS, Church, Bible Study with 10 young people. A trip to Iowa Falls with a flat tire coming home. Church at night finished a full day. Only $7.11 from Oil.
Mon 13. Dad & I had Gerry take us to Eldora. We stayed for dinner & came home to vote. In the PM Robert hiked down for Ruth’s clothes but they were not ready. I went to prayermeeting at Mohlers. Heard that our candidates, Boeke & Walker, won on the school board.
Tue 14. It has been a cold windy wash day. Dad has been cleaning up the garden and lawn. We had prayer meeting in the evening. Orie & Louie staid awhile to sing.
Wed 15. Have ironed some. I went to Swallums to the afternoon prayer meeting. Mrs. S & I called on Mrs. Meeker this PM and I called a few minutes on Mrs. Walker. In the evening Dad & I went to the prayer meeting at the parsonage.
Thu 16. I finished the ironing and mending. Mrs. Swallum & Mrs. Robertson called this afternoon. In the evening we went to Hoffs to prayer meeting. We had churned in the PM and took them some butter milk.
Fri 17. While I was washing dishes this morning I got a card from Bertha saying she could go to Webster. So I did up the work & went to Iowa Falls where Dr. J met me. Ate dinner with Mrs. J, went to Webster City. Met at Dr. Lewis’—had a nice meeting. Got a pair of shoes. Came back to Alden, went with them to a church dinner & to a garden shop, then home to a jigsaw puzzle & bed.
Here are some shoe fashions from 1933.
This fascinating history of jigsaw puzzles describes how and why they became so popular in the 1920s and ‘30s. Early puzzles were made of wood; in the 1900s die-cut cardboard puzzles began to be marketed for children. During the Depression, several companies produced adult-level cardboard puzzles—they were used for marketing premiums and wildly popular weekly puzzles were sold on newsstands beginning in September, 1932. Here’s a box from a weekly puzzle, and a promotional puzzle of Tom Mix, used by Rexall Drugs to promote their new toothpaste.
Sat 18. Stayed all night at Dr. Johnsons. They brought me to Iowa Falls. Found the bus wasn’t running so came with Thalmans who were bringing Ruth. She had broadcast two pieces from Waterloo last night. Did up the Sat work. Attended Mrs. Crane’s funeral. Called on Lottie & kept busy till bed time. Ruth went to a young people’s prayer meeting. There were 15 there.
The Thalmans ran the Iowa Falls Conservatory where Ruth and Robert were studying. I’m guessing the broadcast was on WHO, an AM radio station that was founded in 1928 and is still on the air today. Future president Ronald Reagan was a sportscaster on this station from 1932 to 1937.
Sun 19. Spring has taken cold. The ground is covered with snow. A cardinal was whistling a mournful song in the tree this AM about 7. Time to get ready for church.
It was fun to read this, as I often hear cardinals when I step outside for my morning walk. Here’s what Emma and I both heard…90 years apart!
Mon 20. A cold, snowy, stormy day. I did not wash. Twenty five people came from Iowa Falls to hold the meeting at the church tonight.
Tue 21. We had a prayermeeting here this morning. The evangelist begins meetings tonight. He is Eugene Palmer, a converted prize fighter. Does tricks for the kids. Says he will swallow a butcher knife.
Apparently he was also a former gambler!
Wed 22. Had prayer meeting at Mrs. Heins today. She was glad to have it as she had been having trouble with Talbe over what the Crossley girl told about her Dad & Miss Speak. I washed this afternoon. The day is warmer.
Thu 23. Prayer meeting at Leibensteins this AM. Did the ironing before I went. Called on Mrs. Robertson. Went to church at night.
Fri 24. We went to Mrs. Van Patters for prayer meeting this AM. Had a party for its young people at the school house after church.
Sat 25. The evening service took the form of an entertainment for the kids. Ora went after Ruth. They got here in time for church.
Sun 26. We had a nice crowd at the church this AM. Had a good sermon. I had a nice SS class. It seems good to have Ruth home. Gerry was in awhile today.
Mon 27. It seems good to have Ruth at home. She and some of the other girls—Ona Robertson & Louise Buchan—are practicing after the meeting. The young people had a prayer meeting.
Tue 28. We had our 10 AM prayer meeting at Mrs. Olmsteads. I washed this AM both before & after prayer meeting. Went to church at night. Ruth is playing.
Wed 29. As I was getting ready for prayer meeting Minna Reese came for me to go with her to Iowa Falls & Alden. She is out in earnest after the Co. Supt’s job. Had a lovely PM with Mrs. J & home in time for meeting. Stella and Helen Grooters came after Ruth. Stayed for church.
Thu 30. Ruth went home with Stella last night so she could practice today. She is going to broadcast again Friday nite. Robert is to take Mrs. Peterson to Rochester today. Dad & I went to Mrs. Spellers for prayermeeting this AM. It is warm today after the rain yesterday.
Fri 31. We went to church this evening and then went to Wardles to hear Ruth & Norma Hadley play the two pianos over radio from Waterloo. It was very nice.
This brings back memories of Grandmaruth & Papa’s (Ruth & Robert) living room when I was growing up—there were two pianos there, and Ruth loved to play piano duos. For your listening pleasure, here’s a lovely Mozart sonata for two pianos.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for April 1933.