Emma #74: November 1933
Major dust storm, church politics, washing powder, woodwork, and Emma's letter of gratitude
As I pulled this installment together, I realized that it is not very colorful. Lots of black and white and brown. Times are hard. And yet, as you'll see from the letter at the end, there is light in the darkness, and there is a rainbow of stories yet to be told.
Wed 1. Tell went to the farm today. I sewed. He was too tired to go to prayer meeting so we stayed home.
Thu 2. We put up the curtains in dining room today. I have sewed almost all afternoon. Mrs. Wardle asked me to sew for her tomorrow.
Fri 3. Tell has gone to the farm. I plan to go to Wardles. Made a dress over for Mrs. Wardle today. She was pleased. She showed me a letter from Bakers saying they would not furnish them milk & another saying she, Katie Vernon & Mrs Pierce resigned from Steward Board.
Reverend L. E. Wardle was the minister at the Methodist Episcopal church, but there was some sort of controversy that had apparently split the congregation. It may have been part of a larger Protestant controversy over fundamentalist vs modernist viewpoints.
Sat 4. The Rev. Wardle was here today. It seems the resigners have written Clegg about resigning and have trumped up charges against Mr. Wardle for their reason. Mr. W. asked us to write Clegg. We went to the program at the school house at night.
Sun 5. I went to Mrs. Mohlers & Robertsons in the afternoon. DeLoss took us over to see the creamery which was being repainted. He gave me a sample can of washing powder. He & Geo came down after church to have some candy.
Although washing powder had been around since 1907, In 1933 Procter & Gamble introduced Dreft, the first synthetic detergent.
Mon 6. It looked cloudy this AM but it has cleared & my washing is about dry. Dad has gone to the farm.
Tue 7. Had to go to Eldora to be on jury. I went with Howard Robertson. Was excused right away as the fellow pled guilty. Stayed until after supper. Got $8.80.
Wed 8. Stayed at home & ironed. Mrs. Mohler came up and we had our prayer together. I went to Leibensteins at night to prayer meeting. Ten were present.
Thu 9. I spent the day at the farm. Picked corn in both the morning & afternoon. Called at the school house right after dinner as it was Visitor’s Day.
Fri 10. Ruth came home today with Walthals. They went to New Sharon. She brought a white kitty with her. Betty came in with Dad. They finished picking corn today.
Sat 11. Armistice Day 15 years ago! Betty is here. Ruth is at home. We then went to the school house to the play—The Ghost Parade.
The Ghost Parade was a three-act comedy/farce written by American screenwriter and playwright Katharyn Kavanaugh. According to one article I found, the play “has to do with a haunted hotel inherited by a granddaughter from New York, and is full of mysterious and thrilling events, including the search for the coveted hidden treasure, presumably buried on the premises, and the parade of ghosts on a storm night, all for the purpose of discouraging the young owner and her friend who has accompanied her from the city.” Here’s an announcement I found from a different production of this play.
Sun 12. When we came out of church a heavy dust storm was on. It has kept up all day. Mrs. Swallum came down and brought a playlet for missionary society. Betty helped take them (the parts) around. Gerald & Miriam & little Jerry were here for a minute.
This is the first of 5 major dust storms that occurred between November 1933 and May 1934. This interesting American Meteorological Society article about these storms says that on Nov 12-13, 1933, dust was reported from from Nebraska to Georgia and New York. Here’s the report from Des Moines, Iowa:
Mon 13. Have spent the morning cleaning up after the dust storm of yesterday. It was terrible but not so bad here as in many places, the storm being quite general. Mr. & Mrs. Walthal got here a little after 10 AM for Ruth. I went to visit school this PM with Mrs. Wardle & Mrs. Robertson. Was in Miss Berry’s, Houser’s, Noble’s & Hamgher’s rooms. Will write Missionary programs tonight.
Tue 14. Spent the day sewing at least the morning. Tell has been sharpening tools. We got the letter ready for Dr. Clegg which Mr. Wardle asked us to write in his behalf. I went down to Wardles, Robertsons & Mohlers.
Wed 15. We got a letter from Katharine this morning. The oil was up to 30.95. We are so happy over it. I guess I’m for Roosevelt. Ha! Ha! Daddy is going to the farm. Mrs. Peterson of Ft. Dodge died at Rochester today.
In about 1917, members of the Boylan family purchased an oil lease in Oklahoma. Tell and Emma had a share in this, and received royalties from oil production, which were not enough to save their business, farm, and home, but were a lifeline through this difficult period. The Roosevelt comment likely refers to controversial provisions under the National Recovery act that proposed price floors for oil. It’s hard to find sources that present a politically neutral description of these policies, but this article has a fairly detailed description.
Thu 16. We had a good missionary meeting at Mrs. Wardles’ this evening. Used the playlet The Measure of Our Thanks.
This was a short missionary play that is described as “depicting the fervent thankfulness of whose to whom we have sent the gospel of life in other lands.” I found an article listing the cast of characters as: Mrs. Rhodes, The Spirit of Thanksgiving, A Japanese Woman, A Blind Chinese Woman, An African Woman, A Filipino Woman, A Puerto Rican Woman, and A Woman from Montana.
Fri 17. I went to Iowa Falls this AM on the bus. Ruth & Mrs. Walthal met me—I started a dress for Mrs. W. It is lovely material. Ora Reep went home today.
Sat 18. Worked on the dress until about 1 PM. Came home on the afternoon bus. Went over town in the PM. Mrs. Hoff spent the evening with us. Dad has finished my rug frame. I am so anxious to be using it.
Sun 19. I taught my class. Had only one and so took Mrs. Huffs as she is SS Supt again. We got Gerald’s car & went to Ft. Dodge to Mrs. Peterson’s funeral. Called on Mrs. Smith. Stayed for dinner and came home via Iowa Falls. Ruth, Bob & Donald came with us.
Mon 20. A lovely warm day. I washed & toted in 10 wheelbarrows of wood. Dad went to the farm to work. Did most of ironing tonight as I expect to go to my Unit meeting this week, starting tomorrow evening.
Tue 21. It is windy this AM. We got the family letter today. Have finished my ironing. Dad is binding Mother Boylans old testament with walnut from their old table. Very fitting. I went to Alden in the evening.
Tell loved working in wood. I have some walnut candlesticks he made, and also a couple of boxes. Here’s one—I think it’s walnut—made to hold sewing pins. It’s about 4”x7”.
Wed 22. We held a Unit meeting in Ft. Dodge at Mrs. Smiths home. Eighteen were there. I stayed at Petersons with Stella Grooters.
Thu 23. I went with Stella to see Mr. Francis’ garden, then to see some quilts a man makes. She took me to Mrs. Smiths & we are in Sac City at a meeting. Have a fine meeting. We will go to Lohrville tomorrow. We stayed at Mrs. Amicks all night. Went with Mrs. Landsberg & Mrs. Anderson to supper.
Fri 24. Called on Mrs. Redman before we left Sac. We have come to Lohrville. I will have charge of the meeting. We had 50 at our Unit meeting here—Mrs. Smith, Johnson, Winkleman, Miss Cane and I ate dinner at Mrs. Richards. Mrs. J & I stayed at Mrs. Winklemans all night. We had a lovely visit. In the morning we drove to Manson.
Sat 25. The morning was delightful—sunny and bright. Had a good time at Manson. We got through with our meeting and started home between 3 PM and 4. Stopped in Ft. Dodge for lunch. Got home about 6 PM—that is, Mrs. J did. Ora took me to the Falls. I got out of there at 8:40. Dad met me at the bus. We visited until 10:30. I was so tired.
Sun 26. We went to SS. Taught our classes. Stayed for church. Mrs. Swallum and Lucile Zugmeier called this PM. “Uncle Pete,” Robert & Ruth came down awhile. We made some candy & had cookies & milk. I must write some letters. Dad has finished the Bible—Mother Boylan’s old one which he bound in the walnut from her old table.
This walnut-bound Bible now belongs to my mother (Emma’s granddaughter). Here is a picture of the front, back, and interior cover paper.
Mon 27. Went with Dad out to Gerry’s. I ripped up a coat of Ruth’s and am making it for Betty. Swallums were down in the evening.
Tue 28. I have been sewing today. Did a little cleaning. Spent an hour at Mrs. Mohlers waiting to hear from Nannie Daggett. They are not coming.
Wed 29. Gerald & Dad have gone to Eldora to see about the farm loan. I have been cleaning up.
Thu 30. Thanksgiving day. We had Gerald & his family for dinner. Dad, Ruth & I went to the Zion church. Heard Rev. Pfalzgraff preach. It was a good sermon.
Until 1939, Thanksgiving was the last Thursday in November (instead of the fourth Thursday).
A Letter of Gratitude
This letter from Emma seems to me an extraordinary reflection on gratitude in dark times. It’s written to “My Beloved Susanah Jane,” and signed MOTHER. I have no idea who this might be. Susannah was Tell’s mother’s name and Jane was Emma’s mother’s middle name, but I can’t find anyone in the family tree named Susanah Jane, let alone one who would think of Emma as Mother. Emma did have a child who died right after birth, but I believe she was named Mary Margaret.
My Beloved Susanah Jane,
Thanksgiving Day! And am I thankful? I suppose the average person in my shoes would think I was bug-house to even think I had anything to be thankful for but when I take time to think I find I have more things than I can count.
First—a contented happy husband who is making me a walnut candelabra. I am so glad that the financial crash has not overwhelmed us. We are finding many things to do that we like to do and I am wondering if this crash has not turned many a man loose from a despised job and given him freedom to do some things he has wanted to do for years and never had the time.
Second—I am thankful for my children and my children’s children. It seemed like old times to be making a little coat out of a big one. I finished one for Betty today. It is made out of an old one of Ruth’s.
Third—I am thankful for suffering which my oldest child has brought. It has worked for me a soul-crushing process which has been the means of making me more sympathetic and less critical.
Fourth—I am more than thankful for my two capable daughters in whom I live my youth again. I am as proud of their achievements as though they were my own. May I not be too proud.
Fifth—How thankful I am for my friends. I am sure they value my friendship too tho’ they rate me too high. I would not disappoint them.
Sixth—How glad I am that I can laugh! Things are not half as tragic as they sometimes seem to be. I’m glad, too, that I can cry. I wonder why it is the affairs of life can stir our souls so deeply but who wants to be made of stone.
Seven—I’m thankful for a companionship with The Almighty One. I’m glad I believe the Bible when it says the very hairs of our heads are all numbered.
There—I have enumerated seven reasons for thanksgiving and have only just begun.
Dad just proposed that we go on a bender drinking tomato juice. I opened a quart today and it is all gone. It sure is good. I think we will have to can several more hundred quarts next year.
Yours for a thankful Thanksgiving,
MOTHER
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for December 1933.