Emma #93: May 1935
Settling into Grants Pass with chickens, cow, irrigation, plants, and fishing...and a letter from Ruth
As we begin this month, Emma and Tell have rented a property in Grants Pass, Oregon, which they have named the Rainbow Ranch on the Redwood Highway. The Redwood Highway, US 199, was built in the 1920s—it runs along the Rogue River Valley as it comes into Grants Pass. Here are some links to historic sites and buildings in Josephine County/Grants Pass.
Wed 1. My first WFMS meeting in Grants Pass, at Mrs. Kestersons. Mr. Barrett spoke on Peace. Tell took me in. Afterward we drove to town to look at 35¢ pullets. No good! Then to E.C. Smith where we bought a cow and about 40 W. Leghorn pullets. I wrote Mrs. Johnson a long letter. Also wrote about Hoodoo paper to John Stumpfs Magic Hoodoo Co., Gretna La. Box 38.
In Hubbard, Emma was very active in the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal church. It sounds like she’s jumping right back in.
Thu 2. Went to Mrs. Smiths after the cow. I drove the car home. Tell led the cow. George & Pearl were here awhile. She said I might use the rayon material I had left for a bedspread. Mrs. Smith’s brother is coming out here June 10th from Ohio—80 miles from Cleveland. I will write Katharine. They brought our chickens over—cost us $20 for 40 White Leghorns.
According to this article, Leghorns are intelligent, active, noisy, and lay lots of eggs. You can buy them at Tractor Supply! Relatively speaking, they are cheaper today than they were in 1935.
Fri 3. We went to town today. I went to Mrs. Calhoun’s to a meeting of the “Iowa club.” Was asked to join which I did. Louise came out home with me. Rev. & Mrs. Wemett called in the evening.
Sat 4. Louise & I kept busy today with the cleaning, etc. We are having lots of fun gathering the eggs. Ironed in the evening. So warm we sat on the porch in the afternoon to sew. Ripped up the curtains ready to wash. Got a letter from Katharine. She thinks she will go to New York for the summer.
I wasn’t sure what to make of this, but I think the curtains were probably pleated, and may have had small weights in the hems, so needed to be partially disassembled for washing.
Sun 5. I taught a class of Freshman girls this AM. Stayed for church. John & Gertie, Margaret & Joan came out in the afternoon. We drove over to Dr. Wemetts place which is on Rogue river this PM. I wrote the children a letter. A lovely day tho’ a little warm at noon. Mrs. Linendoll gave me some flowers.
Mon 6. We got our first cream check today. It was 2.55—larger than we expected. We have 7 doz. eggs to sell. We went to town this AM. Got some chicken supplies and some wisteria from Mrs. Fifield. I cleaned out the chicken house, washed curtains, set out the plants, wrote Linnie & also answered a business letter (ad). We heard from Ruth. I want to plant some garden. Hope she sends the melon seeds.
Wisteria apparently thrives in Oregon!
Tue 7. We drove down to the Spaulding mill to look at a cow. We will go back this evening. They want $65 for her. Sold our first eggs today. Got $1.68. Went to town in PM. Berne surprised us. Got here for supper. Brought us 80 quart fruit jars. He went with us to see the cow. We offered to trade for 25.00. Berne stayed all night. John, Gertie, and Elizabeth came out. Went to the mill & came back for the evening.
Wed 8. Berne left this morning. It is a beautiful day. The cow-man was here to look at the little heifer. Tell is feeling better over our prospects. He has been working on the irrigation ditch.
Since 1917, Grants Pass has had an irrigation district that includes dams, pumps, turbines, and canals to provide reliable distribution of water resources to the area. Tell was working to bring water onto their land by building or clearing out a man-made ditch.
Thu 9. Tell is still irrigating. We have a can full of cream for tomorrow. Sent out my 5 letters today. We went to town after the electric brooder today. Got some strawberries for 10¢. Wrote Ruth & Bob a letter.
An electric brooder would have been some type of heating lamp or device designed to keep the chicken house warm.
Fri 10. We set up the electric brooder today. It is going to be fine. Tell irrigated today. He was told by the ditch walker that he did a fine job. We got another cow today. Traded the heifer & $25.00 for her. She gives 12 qts a day—20 ½ lbs. I planted some big peas today at the north side of the shed.
The ditch walker was a representative of the irrigation district who inspected and maintained ditches, keeping track of the water supply and ensuring that it was dispersed equitably.
Sat 11. Such a wonderful day! I got a Mother’s day greeting from each of the children today. Katharine sent me a lovely handkerchief. Then we went to town & I got a fishing license. I plan to go a-fishing on Monday with Mrs. Surface. We think we will get a $55.00 electric stove. It is cheaper than wood. I wrote John and Alice today. Hope they can come out. Tell has been irrigating today.
The state of Oregon has focused attention on fish and game programs for many years, including licenses, fish hatcheries, and other protection and propagation activities. Here’s an interesting history written in 1938. Among other things, I learned that the first fishing license law was passed here in 1909.
Sun 12. We had a wonderful day today. Went to SS & church in the morning & church at night. We heard four young men in a Quartette sing and speak.
Mon 13. We went to town today. I did the washing at Gerties. Tell bought an electric range—as good as new for $55. It takes so little current & it is so inexpensive that since we have put in an electric brooder we have decided to have one. It is lovely.
Tue 14. The electric stove was brought out and installed today. My kitchen is looking fine. We only had to pay $5.00 down. We will probably put a copper pipe in the stove so we will have warm water.
Wed 15. The chickens came this morning—nearly noon. They look nice. Tell went to town after the feed. We are both pretty tired today. Mrs. Rearick called today. She is my neighbor on the west. We got the family letter today.
Thu 16. The little chickens are doing fine today. I got up several times—or rather once. Went out before I went to bed. John & Gertie came out in the evening. I am planning to pick strawberries.
Fri 17. Had Bob Parkinson help me plow the garden. Find I will have a few youngberry bushes. Went to town this afternoon. We stopped at Roses. Chicks are doing fine. Not one dead yet. I bought some tomato, cabbage & pepper plants today. Bob helped me set them out this evening. Dawn, our good cow, does not feel very well today.
The youngberry is a hybrid of raspberry, blackberry, and dewberry.
Sat 18. Cow is better. A lovely morning. Did up my work. I worked in the garden awhile—we hope to raise a good one.
Sun 19. We went to church & SS. Tell taught the men’s class & I my class of girls. Took a sleep in the afternoon. Mr. & Mrs. Frazier & Mrs. Fifield, Mrs. Rook & her sister called in the afternoon. John and Gertie were out for supper. Have invited Grandma Lawrence out for tomorrow.
Mon 20. We got up early. Got the work done & drove down to see if I could get a job picking strawberries. I will report on Wed AM. We drove to town. Brought Grandma Lawrence out for the day. She enjoyed it. We took a sleep in the PM. We went in to a SS meeting & took her home. It has been a lovely day. We bought a crate of berries & they are so fine—big & sweet. Got letters from all the children today. Also Mrs. Johnson.
Tue 21. Well, Bob’s recital is over. Will be anxious to know what they will do. Am planning to go to pick strawberries tomorrow for 1¢ a cup. Planted corn & squash today. The Surfaces left today. Have watermelons to plant yet. Have put in tomatoes, cabbage, beans, Honey Dew Musk melons, & peppers. I hope to have some returns.
Ruth’s future husband Robert Grooters attended the Iowa Falls Conservatory of Music. This was his graduation recital.
Wed 22. Went to pick berries today. Worked from before seven until noon. Earned 75¢ which won’t make me rich very quick. Got terribly tired. Am going to try it again tomorrow. Paid our gas bill today. We haven’t one cent in the house. Sent a lb of butter & 1 doz eggs to make the payment. Figured today that we cannot make this pay out—unless prices advance.
Oregon’s climate is ideal for strawberries, but picking them is back-breaking seasonal work! Here’s a history of Oregon strawberries, and a 1935 image of strawberry pickers in Willow Flat, Oregon.
Thu 23. I drove down and picked another 6 crates of berries but as I did not care to pick on Sunday she said I’d better not come back. Thought I did not need the work any how. Was pretty tired. Earned 1.44 which we were glad to have as we were clear out.
Fri 24. We went to town today and paid $6.25 to have our license transferred. Dad has to go in June 3 to be examined for a driver’s license. Costs 1.00. John & Gertie came out in the evening to cut Dad’s hair. I fished from 5 till 8. Like Peter I caught nothing. Didn’t do any good to cast my line on the other side.
This is a reference to the Biblical passage in which Jesus calls Peter to be his disciple.
Sat 25. A lovely morning! We have kept busy today. Sold Ann a lb of butter. We went to town after chick mash. We worked out doors awhile.
Sun 26. We went to church and SS today. I invited my class out for Tuesday PM. Mr. & Mrs. Paul, the Italian neighbors called today. We missed our fountain pen tonight. A Jones boy & a Sharp boy were here. They brought me a bouquet of Irises. We stayed home from church. I wish we had gone.
The entries in the journal switch from ink to pencil at this point. The pen turns up again in June!
Mon 27. We went to town & washed today. Got a new clothesline so I hung most of my clothes out in the sunshine. I went down and got my lettuce plants in the evening. We sure miss our pen. It got lost yesterday.
Tue 28. Daddy says I entertained my class today. I sure got “stood up”. Only one came—Ethel Moore. I had Harold & Ann over for supper. Was terribly tired.
Wed 29. Have set out my plants today. We got the watermelon seed from Ruth. Am going to plant it now. The Fuller brush man was here today. He gave me a little brush. I have been having a serious time with piles.
At the end of this month’s entries is the letter Ruth sent with the watermelon seed. The Fuller brush company had door-to-door salesmen who became an iconic part of American history. Here’s an interesting story about it.
Thu 30. Decoration Day! Have been thinking about what a sad day this must have been for Alice. We spent the day quilting at home. John & Gertie, Betty and Joan came out in the evening & brought ice cream. It has been cloudy but a good day for my lettuce plants. No mail today. Tried making a reed basket.
Fri 31. The last day of the month! We are saving for the first stove payment. Have finished my ironing. Have felt some better today. Started making some baskets out of the reed that grows on the place here. Heard that Elizabeth & her daughter & friend are coming next Sat. to stay all night.
Here’s a little tutorial on weaving a reed basket.
Special Feature: A Letter from Ruth
Among the files I found a letter from Ruth postmarked on May 24. Here’s the envelope, and an excerpt. Check out the address!
Shall I come on the train? I’m clear out of money—I opened the dime bank (our savings) and have borrowed from that. Bob and I went to Hubbard last nite. We saw Mrs. Robertson and Mrs. Mohler, & went to a May Festival at the school. I will go down to Eldora sometime this week, get the trunk etc. Bob is going to help me get the stuff packed up. I wish I knew what to do with it all. The recital is all over, and also one on Wednesday nite. Please send me a little money. I love you. I want to come right away. Estella and Frank are no longer engaged—Spiritualism. I love you. Ruth Louise
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for June 1935.