Mon 1. I went with Ruth to Iowa Falls today. We went to see Mr. Styles the real estate man about a farm. He thinks he can get a loan for us. Mr. Thompson was here. Said our loan had not been cancelled. After we got home we went to Eldora to see Johns & attend the church celebration.
This sounds like things are not working out at the farm, and they are looking for alternatives.
Tue 2. Ruth & I went to Iowa Falls to wash. We got a new roller for the wringer. I got another permanent in the afternoon. We went to a movie “The Cats Paw” before we came home. It was fine.
Here’s a short video demonstrating a washer with a roller wringer.
The Cat’s Paw is a 1934 comedy starting Harold Lloyd as a young man raised by missionaries in China who comes to the US to seek a wife and gets caught up in political machinations. Here’s a link to the trailer, and one to the full movie.
Wed 3. We have been so busy today. Robert came home with us last night. He went home this AM. He has to work at Pennys. I went in to Wardles this evening with Ruth and Dad. Took our supper in. We all ate at Hilkers. Wardles are storing their goods till they find a place to live. He is going to do evangelistic work. Katharine sent me $5.00 today.
Thu 4. The folks, Dad and Ruth took me to Iowa Falls this AM where I met Mrs. Johnson and we rode to Waterloo with Billy—from thence we went by Inter urban to Cedar Rapids to attend the Branch meeting. We were there from the beginning. Were taken to Mrs. Micheners who is a sister of Mrs. Carney of West Branch—Pres. Hoover’s teacher.
The Interurban was an electric railway that linked towns in Iowa and carried passengers and freight. This vintage postcard’s caption says it’s a Interurban car that outraced an airplane in 1930.
Fri 5. Another lovely day. The leaves are red & gold & brown. We attended Branch meeting all day. Have heard Bishop Meade and many missionaries today. We are only a little over two blocks from the church.
Fall colors in Northern Iowa peak at about this time, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Sat 6. Mrs. Johnson and I shopped a bit this AM. We got quite a thrill when she passed a ten dollar gold certificate. They asked for her name and address. We bought a few things. I got a new hat. We had a lovely ride over the city in the afternoon. I never saw so many beautiful homes.
Ten-dollar gold certificates were issued in 1928, and are no longer legal tender, but are collectible. $10 in 1934 was a little over $200 in today’s money.
Sun 7. We attended SS and church at St. Pauls ME church. Tell surprised me. He & John went to Garnavillo yesterday and came here to Cedar Rapids to meet us today. We all ate dinner down town. Stopped at Vinton to see Uncle George & got home about 6 PM.
Uncle George Jameson was the brother of Emma’s mother, Adella Jane Jameson Troutman.
Mon 8. Another lovely day. Dad & Gerald are cutting and shocking corn. Ruth & Bob took Mrs. Johnson home and Bob staid all night. He went to Marshalltown today. He is to sing there tomorrow. I have been canning apples today & doing a few odds and ends. Mrs. Baker asked me to go to Gowrie tomorrow for Ladies Aid but I felt I should not go.
Shocking corn is the process of tying a number of stalks of corn into a bundle. Here’s a description of how it was done. Hard work!
Tue 9. Mrs. Mohler came out to help me pick geese today. I now have about 5 lbs of live goose feathers. I picked a few feathers off of Mrs. Rogers geese. We took Mrs. M. home and called on the preacher. She is Miss Ada Mae Nash. I do not know how we will like a woman.
Although women were able to serve as local elders, deacons and preachers, they were not granted full clergy rights in the Methodist (formerly Methodist Episcopal) church until 1956.
Wed 10. Dad and I picked up potatoes today. We have nearly all the early potatoes dug and part of the late ones. In the evening I picked up ground cherries.
Thu 11. I went to Iowa Falls with Ruth. Did the washing and ironing at Grooters. Then Robert, Ruth and I went nutting. We got about 5 bushels of walnuts—we brought half of them home. Robert came home with us. He staid all night. We found Dad in bed, almost sick from shocking corn.
These were probably black walnuts, which are widespread in Iowa, rather than English walnuts, which are the ones we tend to find in stores today. Here’s a guide to harvesting black walnuts.
Fri 12. Another lovely day! We have had over a week of bright sunny weather. Robert went home this morning.
Sat 13. Dad finished shocking the corn today. He is surely tired out.
Sun 14. We went to church & SS this morning and then took Miss Nash and Miss Ramswell to Ackley for the evening. Robert went along & came home with us to stay all nite.
Mon 15. I went with Ruth to Iowa Falls today. Drove up to see Mrs. Johnson. Went for a picnic dinner with Robert & Ruth. Then Robert, Mrs. Grooters, Mrs. _____ and I went nutting.
Tue 16. Today Dad, Ruth & I went to New Providence, Eldora & Hubbard. We do not think there is any chance of getting the loan—or at least enough to cover what we need. So we must do something else.
As you’ll see from next month’s entry, this means that they have run out of options for keeping the farm.
Wed 17. I was sick all day with summer or intestinal flu. Did not get anything done. Ruth practiced & Dad kept busy.
The summer flu is typically some form of gastroenteritis (intestinal flu) rather than influenza. Although it can be viral, it is also sometimes caused by bacteria from improperly prepared/stored food. With as much canning as they did, it wouldn’t surprise me if they occasionally had food poisoning. Here’s an interesting 1935 American Journal of Public Health article on home canning and public health.
Thu 18. Ruth took me in to the WFMS this evening. We had a nice meeting tho’ not many there. Ruth had been at the Falls and made arrangements to stay at Thalmans. Dad went to Eldora to see Dean Pusen. We made our kraut today. 6 gallons. Cost us 1.50 for 100 lbs. Did not use 8 of the heads.
Fri 19. Robert hiked down today in the rain. We all went to Robertson to hear the 68th anniversary of Robertson church. Mable & Robert sang. The rest was punk. We did not get home until midnight. We bought a few crabapples & hickory nuts to bring home.
Emma used the term “punk” to describe something that was inferior or poor.
Sat 20. Ruth & I took the three kiddies to Iowa Falls with us today. We took some sorghum to Mabel and went to see Mrs. Thalman. Ruth plans to work for her room there.
Sun 21. We went to SS. Then to Eldora. Ate dinner with John & Alice. Then to Conrad to Grandpa Daggett’s funeral. Back to John’s for supper & home.
There was a Simon Elijah Daggett who died in Conrad, Iowa on Oct. 19, 1934, but I wasn’t able to see an immediate connection to Emma or Tell’s family.
Mon 22. Dad began picking corn today. It is too warm to pick corn. Ruth went to Iowa Falls today. Brought Robert home with her.
Tue 23. Spent the day working but accomplished little. Gerald at dinner with us as Miriam was away at a sale. I baked her doughnuts for her.
I had fun researching recipes for baked doughnuts. Here’s a cake recipe (it calls for a special donut pan) and a yeast one (including a Nutella-stuffed option!)
Wed 24. It looked like rain this AM but it has turned out to be a clear day. Dad is picking corn. I looked over ground cherries. Have over 7 qt. Sleanter has been sawing wood. Got his share today. The big half! Gerry is plowing. Ruth is studying. Got a nice letter from Katharine today.
Thu 25. I went with Ruth to Iowa Falls today to wash. I got the washing & ironing done. Ruth is trying to find a place to board. Robert came home with us.
Fri 26. Robert & Ruth drove the car to Eagle Grove & to Ft. Dodge today. We had a fine Unit meeting—about 60 there. We came home in the evening. Robert stopped in Iowa Falls.
Sat 27. I am planning to go to Cedar Rapids with Robert. Will go to see Mrs. Wardle. Ruth went to Iowa Falls with the Robertsons. Mrs. R brought me my crocheted rug. It is very pretty.
Here’s a 1930s-era crocheted rug.
Sun 28. Katharine’s birthday. She is 29—I wish I could be with her today! We went to church & SS and then took Ruth to Iowa Falls so she could go to Waterloo with Thalmans. She wants to go to Hubbard tonite. I did not get to go to C. Rapids.
Mon 29. We went to the school program this evening. Jerry, Margaret & Betty were all on program several times. They had eats to sell afterwards. We drove our car & took the folks. Dad did not go.
School programs included recitations, songs, and other entertainment. Here’s a program from about this time to give you an idea of what they were like.
Tue 30. We kept busy today. We all went to Hubbard in the evening to the Halloween party. Had a lot of fun. Got home about 11 PM.
According to this site, popular Halloween costumes in the 1930s were inspired by vintage horror films (Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, and The Mummy) as well as gangsters (Bonnie & Clyde), Hollywood movie stars, and cartoons (Betty Boop and Popeye’s Olive Oyl).
Wed 31. We picked corn today. Robert started to help today. We did not go to town this evening.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for November 1934.