As this month opens, Emma and Tell are staying at Fern Valley Ranch in Joplin, MO with Tell’s brother Chris, who is looking after the property while his daughter and son-in-law are traveling. It’s quite a contrast from Depression-era Iowa. Here’s her account of this visit from an additional notebook I found:
There are first times for everything. This is the first time I ever lived in a house with a good supply of whiskey on hand. But it is here in a supply cupboard—and I can have all I want. Chris is a good provider. Any thing I want to eat or cook with I can have. Today he brought home apples, bananas, and cranberries, also a sack of cornmeal. He thought some mush would taste good so we had mush and milk (mostly cream with bananas to top it off with) for supper. For dinner we had a thick steak with potatoes and gravy. I made a salad of lettuce, carrots, cabbage and celery. It was good. For dessert I put the remains of some fruit salad on a cookie and topped it off with whipped cream. It is fun to whip the cream. I put the cream in a bowl, place it under the beater, turn a little button and whiz! Off it goes. The cream is whipped stiff in a jiffy! We are surely living in a machine age. I finish this process by placing a bowl of hot water under the beater, and whiz, bang— the beater is washed ready for another job. I am sure I shall be quite spoiled when I have to leave all these lovely electric appliances, but it is fun to have them to use now and I shall always have them to remember. What a wonderful servant electricity can be! Of course all is not perfect! This cold spell has demanded that all the pipes in the house be drained and that has been unhandy but Daddy Tell and Uncle Chris have carried water and we have been OK. When the new furnace is installed this will be a pleasanter place to live. I never hung my clothes in a cedar closet before. I have never lived long where there was a fire place to watch. I have never been so far away from all my children. I have never lived these days. They are for the most part delightful, full of surprises and pleasantries.
Fri 1. Today we went with Frank Compton to see a marble quarry about a mile from here. It was very interesting. There is one at Carthage. We had oysters for dinner. Tell & Chris went to town.
Sat 2. Today is Ground-Hog day. The sun came out thus predicting six weeks more of winter. Tell made the form for a bird bath today. Chris & I cleaned up the house. Tell & Chris went to town this morning—brought a letter from Ruth. Tonight Chris and I have been playing dominoes. We plan to go to Carthage tomorrow if the weather is good.
Sun 3. Dad, Uncle Chris and I went to Carthage today. Dad & I went to church. We had a lovely dinner. Met Miss Gill and Mrs. Davidson whom Tell went after so they could spend the afternoon. We drove home via Webb City. Mr. & Mrs. Walker called. They asked us to teach their Sunday School classes and to have dinner with them next Sunday. Have just written to Katharine, Ruth & Gerald. Sent in the contest answers to Pepsodent, Boot, & Sterling (new name—Dentistace).
Mon 4. A letter from Miriam and one from Louisa. Miriam says Dave is mad because they sold some fodder and came after his cattle. Louisa says she will go to Oregon if Chris will. An invitation has come to me to visit Miss Sharp, day after tomorrow—to stay all night. I am rather anxious about it. I do not have suitable apparel. Ha! Ha!
Helen Sharp was the aunt of Buster Sharp, Tell & Emma’s nephew-in-law. As far as I can gather, she was in her 50s, unmarried, and lived in town.
Tue 5. Chris & Tell went to town twice today. I went for a walk in the woods this afternoon—nearly got lost. Did not come in to the house like I expected to. Played dominoes with Chris. He calls me the Champion of Fern Valley Ranch.
Wed 6. Chris said he would wash the dishes, so I let him and got ready to go to Helen Sharps. I got in to Joplin—Chris & Tell went home. I stayed all day with Helen. We went downtown and for a walk and had supper and worked a crossword puzzle. No mail. Byrd left Little America Tuesday at 3 PM.
Little America II, the outpost for Byrd’s second Antarctic expedition, included a postal office, set up to provide commemorative stamps and cancellations.
Thu 7. Stayed with Helen Sharp last night. Chris came up after me. Tell & I drove to Carthage before dinner. After dinner we went down town to a tailor shop and ordered Tell a suit. He does need it so badly. In the evening Margaret Manora read us two plays she wrote—Wiggle-Waggle and Moon Beams They are very good. We got a letter from Katharine today. Helen S. gave me two linen handkerchiefs.
Here’s Emma’s account of her visit with Helen Sharp:
On Wed. morning Chris offered to do the dishes while I got ready to go to Helen Sharp’s. In response to her invitation I am to spend the day and night with her. Having met her but once I have a sinky feeling around the heart wondering if two people who have been raised so differently can find enough in common for a day and a night together. But I just decided it was the thing to go—to be myself & I have found the promise true—“never to be put to confusion”. We talked about Buster and Margaret, worked crossword puzzles, and read the daily papers. At noon we stepped on the elevator—went to the fifth floor to the dining room for lunch. The room was large with a number of small tables here & there but with a few people eating. A taste of this life is enough for me. I’d rather cook my simple meal, have grace said over it and eat it in the privacy of home. After dinner we walked down town—I “mooned” around the stores, bought a pair of hose, spent 18¢ for 18 yds of lace and covered carding which I will probably never use. Sleep came in a few minutes after I retired—slept as restful as any where else. The morning brought breakfast & before I realized it the time for leaving had come.Margaret Manora Boylan was one of Tell’s unmarried sisters who lived in Carthage. She was a music/drama teacher and apparently a playwright as well. I have some of her files, and hope to look through to see if either of these plays is there!
Fri 8. It is still cloudy this morning. Rained yesterday. I am going to bake some pies this morning. Baked two pies and some cookies.
Sat 9. Tell and I came back from Carthage today. Tell got a new hat in Carthage. It looked so stormy that I did not stop for a wave but got one in Joplin. We came on out to Chris’. I got dinner. Churned. Got supper & did the dishes. Talked to Helen Sharp. The girl who waved my hair was so kind to me today.
Sun 10. A beautiful sunny day! Tell & I went to church & SS in Joplin. We both taught SS classes. One woman said my teaching was the best she ever heard. They were all lovely to me. Tell’s class asked him back. We ate dinner at the Walker home—the name W.H. Walker 1906 Sergeant. Joplin, MO. Met Miss Davidson who has been a missionary in Egypt 5 years. We had a lovely time.
In the additional journal, Emma says:
“…such a dinner! Tomato cocktail! Roast chicken, potato, dressing, gravy, peas, jelly, pickles, coffee, hot rolls, ice cream and cake. And was it good! Personally conducted? I’ll say we are. From the start several weeks ago it seems as tho’ the way opens up for us.”
Mon 11. Today I have been sewing a little. Tell has been working on the bird bath. We all went in the truck to the top of the hill for rocks. A letter from Ruth today says she did not get the $5 bill we sent.
Tue 12. Tell & I drove to Carthage today to have his suit fitted. I hope he gets a good fit on it. We had a good dinner then took Will & Daisey for a ride. It was a lovely sunny day. I wrote a letter to Helen Sharp asking her out for dinner on Feb 14th. Heard over the Radio that the Macon went down near Monterey this evening.
In April 1933, we heard about the crash of the USS Akron, the USS Macon’s sister ship. The Macon was the “Last Great Airship.” It crashed off the California coast 2 years after its launch. All but 2 of its crew survived.
Wed 13. Chris & Tell went to town this AM. Got a letter from Ruth & Bob, Katharine, & Vic Knowles. Ruth enclosed a letter from Miriam saying they would have a sale the 18th and were coming down here. I hope not. Tell is working on the bird bath. It froze last night and the rocks fell off. Helen Sharp phoned she couldn’t come.
Thu 14. Tell found some nicer stones for the bird bath and is working on it. Harold Williams (Sam) forgot his lunch so we had him eat dinner with us. Chris, Tell & I went to town this PM. I cut out & nearly finished the dress DeLoss gave me for Christmas. Chris & I played dominoes in the evening. Chris beat me. A card from John says Gerald is having a sale next Tuesday.
Fri 15. Today has been nice. I have sewed nearly all day. Finished my dress & fixed up some others. We gave up going to Carthage this afternoon and were glad because the Walkers phoned they would be out from Joplin. Later Mr. & Mrs. Walker, Mr. & Mrs. Kaufman, Miss Davidson & Miss Todd came out to spend the evening at Fern Valley Ranch.
Sat 16. We left FV Ranch this AM. Went to Joplin for the mail. I bought a corset on sale. Also bought a slip. We went to Carthage. Ate dinner. Went to town in the PM and got Tell’s new suit. We read awhile in the evening. Tell plans to go to Joplin to teach the mens class at Byers ME church. I milked the goat tonite.
There are two Methodist churches on Byers Avenue in Joplin. I believe this is likely the one they attended.
Sun 17. We got up and drove to Joplin for SS & church. Tell taught the men’s class. Mrs. Walker asked us for dinner but we had told Chris we would be home so we did not stay. We have had dinner & are trying to get Caughlin.
Mon 18. It has been a lovely day here. I hope it was nice for Gerald’s sale. and that it went well. We went to Joplin today. Had the car greased. I got another corset. Dad almost finished the bird bath today. Chris likes it. We plan to go to Carthage on Wed. We are listening to Richard Crooks & 18 voices—Metropolitan Opera Singer.
Emma and Tell had their auction sale in November—now, three months later, their son Gerald and his family are doing the same.
Richard Crooks was a tenor and a leading singer at the Metropolitan Opera. He hosted “The Voice of Firestone” radio broadcasts on Monday evenings. Here’s the radio program from this week…you can find his show (in very small print) on Page 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Tue 19. Chris & Tell went to town in this AM. Brought me a letter from Alice, Tell finished the bird bath today. We went to see the stone castle on top of a big stone bluff at Redding’s Mill south of Joplin. It is modeled after a castle on the Rhine in Germany. It is lovely. We climbed up to it with Frank Compton who built it.
Here’s more detail from Emma’s other notebook:
It is a wonderful sight. From a distance it looks impregnable but one can get to it by climbing a cement stairway built against the natural rock or when the gate is open by an auto road. It is modeled after a castle on the Rhine in Germany. The lot is surrounded by a rock fence and is terrain both by natural formation and built up walls. It has beautiful rock formations at the front and sides but the space behind the building is level and grassy. Oak trees grow here and there on spaces all surrounded by rock. One wonders where the nourishment for such large trees is found. There are lovely pools which needed but a little addition to make them complete, and they are built so the water empties from one to another—on different planes. There are beautiful shrubs planted here and there where any chance for growth exists. The terraced garden has beautiful plantings. One has to climb steps everywhere to get to the house, but from the round turret one can see far away. It is surely a gorgeous sight—a castle built high upon the rock—the natural boulders make the foundation. It is a beautiful summer home.Here’s a video of the exterior, and a link to an old listing with pictures of the interior.
Wed 20. We went to Carthage today to get our things. We left a lot of things to be sent later. Chris went along. We had a nice dinner. Enjoyed the goats frolic. Had my hair waved and some cut off. Got home safely.
Thu 21. Have spent the day getting ready to go to Wewoka tomorrow. We have our car all loaded. We are taking our form and the stones for it. We have written four letters to Gerald but have not heard from him. We are anxious to know his plans. Chris hates to see us go. I went up to the hilltops to see the flat rocks they are getting.
Fri 22. Washington’s Birthday. We left Fern Valley Ranch at 6:30. Got to Tulsa. And had to have a new drive shaft put in the car. Cost us 32.10. We came on down to Wewoka. Got here about 7. Had a nice supper with Lou & Elaine. Dad wrote to Ruth & John.
Ouch! That’s over $650 in today’s money.
Lou and Elaine are Chris’s wife and daughter, at home in Wewoka while Chris is out in Joplin watching over the ranch.
Sat 23. I started to crochet a little pair of shoes for Mrs. Walthal. It takes quite a while to do them. They are cute. We did not hear from Gerald. Sent Ruth the corn-hog check. We are pretty well stranded.
Sun 24. Tell and I went to SS and church this AM. Lou came to church. Tell went after her. We were introduced to the SS & Daddy was asked to pray. I wrote Mrs. Johnson today. I must write some other letters tomorrow. Got word from Chris. Think we can start to Oregon about Mar. 15th. No word from Gerald.
Mon 25. I have finished the little shoes for Mrs. Walthal. They are real sweet. Lou took me to see the movie “The Little Corporal” tonight. It was a cute picture. Shirley Temple & Lionel Barrymore played the star parts. We got a card from Uncle John saying Gerald was to leave Friday PM for Mexico, MO, & that their sale amounted to $600. I hope they invest it wisely.
“The Little Colonel” was the first of four films pairing Temple with Bill Robinson, tap dancer and actor, and the highest paid African-American entertainer in the US during the first half of the 20th century. It includes a famous scene of the two dancing on the staircase—the first interracial dance pairing in Hollywood history, and so controversial that it was cut out when the film was released in Southern states.
Tue 26. We sat around home today. Tell went to the Oil field with Milo Reed. He saw a new town only seven months old.
Wed 27. Today has been nicer than yesterday. Tell ran the cement for the block under the bird bath today. We took Elaine to Holdenville tonight to take the train for Dallas. She has been a busy girl. She gave me a straw hat which I like. I wrote the girls today.
Thu 28. This is the last day of the month. Lou & I washed and it was so nice. I hung them all outside. Mrs. Milo Reed called for a few minutes. I read “The Bishop’s Wife” by Robert Nathan. It is no good I’d say. We went down town this AM to get a can of Crisco so I can send in the outside cover in a contest & name a Crisco Pie. I made one this AM. We got a nice letter from Ruth & cards from John & others.
Here’s a recipe for a Crisco pie crust. The Bishop’s Wife (two-sentence synopsis: A bishop prays for help to build a cathedral. An angel arrives to provide spiritual support though the process, becoming very close to the bishop's wife in the process) was made into a 1947 film starring Cary Grant and a 1996 film called “The Preacher’s Wife” starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Courtney Vance.
Curiosity Trail: Scout Camp in Joplin
In Emma’s previous entry, she described a hike to a scout camp near Fern Valley Ranch in Joplin. I searched online, found a Frank Childress Scout Reservation in that area, and sent off an inquiry to the caretaker. I got a really nice note from her, and had a follow-up conversation with a guy whose wife has done a lot of historical research about the area. It turns out that the old camp was replaced by this one in the early 1960s. Along the way I found a story about Girl Scouts using the old camp property starting in 1925, some images of the old camp, and learned that it was called NIH-KA-GA-HAH, which is said to mean “maker of men” in an unspecified Native American dialect.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for March 1935.