Emma #84: September 1934
Life goes on...ice cream, sorghum, more minister drama, and some family pictures
Things are still pretty dark for Emma and Tell, and although I found a few interesting entries to explore in the September journal, I also used this as an opportunity to practice my “history detective” skills on several minor characters Emma mentioned, seeing what I could put together about their stories. At the end I’ve added a few farm photos I scanned from negatives in the family files. More of those to come!
Sat 1. Gerald & his family, the girls & I went to Iowa Falls in the afternoon. Dad stayed at home. The girls & I went to Hubbard after supper for groceries we forgot. Saw Miss Berry & her sister. Did not feel well at Iowa Falls but the ice cream cones fixed me.
In 1929 Iowa Falls, two Greek immigrants founded a popular candy kitchen, ice cream parlor, and cafe called the Princess. I wonder if this is where Emma went? According to this article, the Princess burned in Dec 1934, but was rebuilt very quickly (unusual in the midst of the Depression) in an Art Deco style. It’s still in business today, and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
And, in case you were wondering what flavors they might have had, here’s a 1931 Laurel and Hardy clip that will give you an idea. (Here’s the whole short film it’s from.) I also found an article saying that Rocky Road was the most popular ice cream flavor in the 1920s, and Rum Raisin in the 1930s, but I can guarantee that teetotalling Emma would not have had Rum Raisin!
Sun 2. We all went to SS & church this AM. John & Alice came over for a chicken dinner. They invited us for supper next Tuesday. We did not go to church at night as it looked rainy.
Mon 3. It was so cold last night. We had a blanket and wool comforter last night. School began for the kiddies today. The teacher is Ardell Redoyle. It rained all morning. I washed this PM. Glad it is done. Katharine is getting ready to go.
I got curious about the teacher, and found an Ardell Redohl in the 1930 Hardin County census. She was 18, living at home, and listed as a teacher in a rural school. She was married in 1936, and in the 1940 and 1950 census she is listed as the wife of a farmer, with a couple of kids. I found this biography, written by her family, on Iowa State University’s Plaza of Heroines. It says that she taught at the same school she had attended as a child. Favorite quote: “She said that a ruler nearby would always help keep the students' attention.” It also says that she kept a daily diary starting in 1930, so she and Emma were kindred spirits! She died in 2009 at the age of 98.
Tue 4. We did most of the ironing today. I sewed on things for Katharine. In the evening we were over at John’s for supper. Alice invited us on Sunday. We had a nice time.
Wed 5. We finished up the ironing & sewing for K. today and took her to Iowa Falls to take the train. We were invited down to Gerald’s for supper. Left Katharine at the hotel where Cal & Clara Boylan are working. He is the night man.
Cal Boylan was a cousin of Tell’s. He and his wife Clara were in their 60s, and he was retired from work as a merchant and a county auditor. Here’s a picture I found of them on their 50th wedding anniversary, which would have been a few years after this.
Thu 6. Ruth started driving to Iowa Falls today. She plans now to go up Monday & Thursday. Mr. Wardle called this morning and Helen Culver came out after a chicken which I had dressed for her. She stayed till almost noon. The big job now is the cane. I went over to “Lucy’s” after a little with Gerald & Miriam. No light would go but the one on the top.
Sorghum was grown on many Iowa farms in the 1930s. Some varieties are used for feed grain, while others are made into sweet syrup. Although it hasn’t been as popular as corn and other “mainstream” crops, it is attracting increased interest in recent years.
Fri 7. Today is Tell’s birthday. We are feeling pretty blue over the debts but we will do the best we can. Ruth baked a lovely birthday cake and made a pineapple mousse for dessert. He is 63 years old today. He is working hard stripping cane.
Here’s a 1934 newspaper recipe for pineapple mousse.
Sat 8. Ruth went to Nymeiers and Reiks to give her lessons today. Betty went along. Conditions here are pretty hard. I have had a hard day. Gerald helped shell corn today at Billy Hornungs. Ruth looked for Bob but he did not come. He is to sing at Marshalltown tomorrow.
Sun 9. We went to church & SS this AM. Then Mr. Wardle took us to Iowa Falls in the evening to hear the evangelist Burke & his wife, & a singer.
Mon 10. Ruth drove to Iowa Falls to take her lesson today. She plans to go up Mondays and Thursdays.
Tue 11. Bob came down today. Stayed all night & Ruth took him home this AM. He expected to come back to help shell but he had a job so he did not come. We had 12 men for dinner. We are getting our sorghum made. Have brought home 20 gallons so far.
Here’s a video on growing sorghum and making syrup.
Wed 12. Bob hiked down again this AM. Dad & I went to Hubbard to the last Quarterly Conf. Supt. Clegg said Rev. Wardle would not be back. Robert, Ruth & I went to Iowa Falls to church at night.
Reverend Wardle makes his first appearance in September 1931. Since then there seems to have been a constant drama over the preachers, with different factions supporting one or another of them. Now it looks like Wardle is out.
Thu 13. Today is Thursday. Ruth has gone to Iowa Falls. Mr. Grooters is after a load of cobs. Bob is helping with the hay. We went in to the WFMS but I got to feeling bad—was nervous etc.—so could not stay.
What are corn cobs used for? Animal feed, fuel, pot scrubbers, and more! And the husks and silks are useful as well.
Fri 14. Bob staid all night last night. He drove to Iowa Falls this AM for his lesson. I felt badly this morning but picked some beans, ground cherries & tomatoes today. Dad, Ruth & Bob have gone to Iowa Falls to take Bob & attend the meetings. I did not care to go.
Sat 15. We have finished Ruth’s brown suit today. It looks real well. I helped Dad strip cane today. He has 8 rows done. We got the Oil check today.
These small but regular royalty checks from a share in an Oklahoma oil lease that the Boylan family purchased in about 1920 were a lifeline for Emma and Tell.
Sun 16. Gerald took his family to Point Pleasant today. Mr. Wardle has one more Sunday after this.
Mon 17. Wash day! A beautiful day. Robert was here & carried the water. Dad worked on the cane. Ruth & Robert went to the Falls.
Tue 18. Robbie Van Patter measured up our corn Tuesday. We have to cut 4.7 acres. We got Mr. Last to cut it. Drove over this evening to get him. Gerald & Miriam were gone all day.
Wed 19. Still cutting cane. We went to Eldora for Miriam today, to sell a few chickens. Went to prayer meeting and SS Board meeting in the evening. Mrs. Wardle broke three bones in her foot yesterday.
Thu 20. I went with Ruth to the Falls today. We ate dinner with Mable today. Robert came home with me and then we went through the rain to Iowa Falls to hear Rev. Burke, the Evangelist at the Baptist church.
Fri 21. I am planning to go to Cedar Rapids today with Alice after Phe. It looks cloudy. Dad took me to Eldora and Alice & I drove down to see Phe. It rained almost all the way. She wasn’t looking for us. We had brake troubles. Got stalled on a street car line and got there safely.
Another “digging” project. Alice was the wife of Tell’s brother John, and the name Phe has been mentioned periodically in Emma’s journal. I figured out that Phe was Phebe Sites, a cousin of Alice’s who grew up in her household. She was a schoolteacher, and married in 1897, in her late 40s, a Presbyterian minister, George Earhart, who was widowed with several adult children. He died in 1924, and she lived alone in Cedar Rapids until her death in 1943 at age 94. Alice was listed as the informant on her death certificate.
Sat 22. Alice and I drove back to Eldora today. It took us 6 hours. We stopped a number of times. Dad came after me. I was dreadfully tired. They had put up the stove while I was gone. Rev. Wardle called me about 10 PM to bring my chickens and come in for dinner.
Sun 23. We went to church and SS today. Then to Wardles for dinner. Jane & Elinor were there. Came to get Mrs. Wardle as she had broken three bones in her foot and could not go to Conference. They left about 2 PM. Ruth & I did most of the dishes. We called to see Edith’s new boy. Mr. Wardle came out about 5 PM and took us to Iowa Falls to hear Rev. Burke again.
Mon 24. It is still warm today. Ruth is going to Iowa Falls—is taking stuff for a picnic. Bob came home with us after church. Mr. Wardle stopped for Tell & me. We enjoyed the service.
Tue 25. Rain again today! We let Bob take the car to go up for his lesson. He was back again after dinner. We invited Mr. Wardle for supper & we all went up with him to church. Gerald is working on a truck he bought.
Wed 26. Cold enough for a fire today. It has rained all morning.
Thu 27. Ruth went to the Falls today. Dad & I went to the first meeting of the SS Worker’s Conf. this evening. There were about six there.
Fri 28. Dad fixed the doors on the back bedroom. Robert came down for awhile in the PM. Started to hike home—gave up & started back here, then drove a car for a family clear to Des Moines. Geralds were late getting home. He broke down & had to have his truck fixed. The kids were here for supper.
Sat 29. I kept pretty busy today. Went with Ruth to see Fanny Reiks while she gave a lesson. I worked pretty hard. Had a bad time with gas pains.
Sun 30. We did not go to church today as I was not feeling well. Felt better towards evening and we went to Iowa Falls to church. Gerald and his family went to the Point Pleasant celebration. Left Jerry with us. I should have liked to be at Conference today as I was the elected delegate.
A Little Something Extra: Pictures from the Farm
Among the family files I found some undated negatives…some of them are clearly from later, but I think these were probably taken on the farm around this time.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for October 1934.