Sat 1. We worked awhile on the old shed, fixing up the linoleum. We went in to town this PM & sent Robert an application blank for a position here in the schools. Hope he gets the job. We went to the last Jr. Conf. today. Dad was put on as Steward & I on music com.
Sun 2. We went to church & SS. Taught our classes, Betty came home with us. I wrote Katharine & Jerry a card. Wrote Ruth Sat. We did not go to church at night. Betty is staying all night.
Mon 3. We went to town today. Dad expected to take the exam for a driver’s license but there were so many there we did not wait. I washed at Gerties. Am planning to enter a rose in the flower display tomorrow.
Driver’s licenses became mandatory in Oregon in 1920, with examinations first required in 1931. Here’s an interesting history of the driver’s license. This video is from Great Britain, where mandatory testing began in 1935. Few cars had turn signals or brake lights, so there were lots of hand signals!
Tue 4. Dad went to town to take the exam for a driver’s license. He took four hours. His eyes are bad. He is green-blind. He almost lost out. I ironed & cleaned out the rear house. In the evening we went to the church to a League party. Came home about 9 PM.
There are various forms of color blindness, with those involving the red-green spectrum being the most common. Red-green color blindness is often inherited, and affects about 1 in 12 males of European descent (it is much less common in females.
Wed 5. We got a letter written on Monday that Ruth will come on the train this week. She will come via Omaha & Portland. May be here tomorrow night. Maybe not till Friday. I went to the WFMS today at the church. Talked a while. Mrs. Wemett’s daughter is in Mrs. Wolover’s SS class in Washington DC. Is the new president of the Wesleyan Service Guild there. Mrs. Isham gave me a lovely rose today at WFMS. I said my rose poem.
Here’s a 1940s map of train lines. It looks like Ruth would have gone from Iowa Falls to Omaha, and then westward to Portland via Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho.
Thu 6. I found the pen this AM in the big chair. We are so glad to have it. We look for Ruth tomorrow evening. We will be so glad to see her. She will have a long trip. Got a letter from K today. She starts for Nyack, NY on the 18th. Have not heard from Jerry for three weeks. I wrote an advertising jingle to send to Clarks today.
The fountain pen has been lost since May. The entries shifted back from pencil to ink!
Fri 7. We went to town today to get Ruth’s telegram but a letter came via airmail saying she would probably start Sat. Gertie had a chance to pick berries at Fifield. I helped & got a lot to can. Gertie got both dinner & supper for me. Came home & looked the berries over. Mr. Rerich came over in the evening and helped me. Have been having some poisoning on my face.
In addition to making strawberry jam, strawberries can be canned whole. This involves using sugar to release the juice, and then canning in a water bath.
Sat 8. A lovely day. Cool & pleasant. I have my strawberries all taken care of—about 16 qts. Used 98¢ worth of sugar—10 lb. We got a letter from Miriam. The have lost nearly all their chickens.
Sun 9. We went to SS & church. Childrens Day! We did not get to teach. Gertie gave us some rabbit. We got dinner, wrote letters etc. Gertie & John came out at night.
Mon 10. Ruth came this evening from Iowa. Elizabeth & Betty came a little earlier on the bus. We made two trips into town. Had a fine chicken supper. John and Gertie came out & brought the children & spent the evening. Ollie celebrated by having a calf.
Tue 11. We took the Elizabeths in today to take the bus. We had a nice time. This afternoon we went to see Mr. Winslow about a job for Robert. I believe he is going to get it. Our chickens got to eating each other today. We had to doctor them for eating each other!!!
A little over a year ago, Emma and Tell had just moved out to the farm in Eldora and she wrote about cannibal chickens there as well.
Wed 12. It is fun to visit with Ruth. We are writing to Katharine this morning. We went to town to get feed & medicine for the chickens. They make us so blue at times. Guess they will come alright.
Thu 13. We went to town to wash today. I did not feel so very well. Got some more chicken feed today. Did not feel so very well today. Had my dinner served in bed. Fun!! It has been so cold today. Ruth has been planning her wedding today.
Although there have certainly been a lot of clues, this is the first actual mention of Ruth’s wedding in these journals. It looks like Ruth and Robert are planning to stay in Oregon after their marriage, as they are looking at job opportunities for Robert.
Fri 14. A lovely sunny day! A meadow lark is singing. I have been putting ashes on the Honeydew melons. Hope they are ready for the wedding. Guess they might be! Got a letter from Linnie today, also one from Chris. John & Gertie, Betty, Margaret, Louise & Joan came out this evening. We gave them a lot of dresses. They brought us some peas.
Honeydews and other melons apparently benefit from the potassium provided by wood ash. Here’s a Western meadow lark.
Sat 15. We went to town twice today—once in the morning and once at night. The first time since we have been here to shop at night. The road is so good and the town is so well lighted that the trip is easy.
Sun 16. We went in to SS & church. Ruth’s first Sunday. She went in Miss Ruth Pratt’s Class. Punk! Betty came out with us. We made waffles for dinner. Had strawberries. Did not go to church at night. Johns came out and brought ice cream.
Mon 17. We got our cream check today. Went to town & took Betty home. Decided to sell our cockerels if possible this week—if not will keep them till they weigh two lbs. Got a bunch of letters—one from Katharine. We separated the cocks & pullets this evening.
Here’s some guidance on how to tell young male and female chickens apart, just in case you ever need to know.
Tue 18. This is a lovely morning. I made a “For sale” sign for the kicky cow & the young roosters. Sold 2 cockerels before the sign was made. Hope we can sell them out soon. Also sold 2 doz in town—will take them in tomorrow night. Ruth & I called on Mr. & Mrs. Babs. Went to town where I got a salmon spinner & came home via Smiths. We will pick strawberries tomorrow if OK.
Here are Field and Stream’s top picks for salmon spinners (fishing lures).
Wed 19. Ruth and I went to town to pick strawberries today. We got home and canned them. Then we got things ready to go to a picnic tomorrow. Dad & Ruth went to choir practice. I stayed at home & worked. Margaret Schieferstein came out with them.
Thu 20. Mr. & Mrs. Babs, Dad & I went fishing today. Caught 0. Sold some chickens today. Will be glad if I can sell all the cockerels. We went to such a lovely place near Robertson bridge today. We got a nice letter & a picture from Katharine.
Robertson Bridge spans the Rogue River near Grants Pass.
Fri 21. Ruth & I went in to town today. Picked peas & brought them home to can. Had 8 pints. Dad went to bed early. Mr. & Mrs. Babbs came over & brought us a big carp. He caught five. They were here until time to take the peas off. Mr. Williams gave me a cup of youngberries today.
Sat 22. Dad said this morning “Let us be happy today” & it has proved to be one of the saddest & hardest days in our lives. Dad can’t see any future to the Rainbow Ranch—I think we will stay here till the six months rent is used up & then ??? Hope Dad can go to Conf. next week.
Awww…when they rented the property in April, Emma was all excited but Tell wasn’t sure. Looks like before too long they may be moving again.
Sun 23. Today we have all been at home all day. Dad has not felt well & neither have we. Mr. & Mrs. Isham called this afternoon & John & Gertie & family came out this evening. They brought some ice cream & cake.
Mon 24. It is a lovely morning. Am going into town this morning to wash. Am getting Dad’s things ready to go tomorrow. He is going with Dr. Wemetts to Salem. John & Gertie came out to spend the evening. I finished my collar. Hope I can sell it.
Tue 25. We got up this morning & Dad did not get to milk the kicky cow so I did. I am going to let Babs milk the cow till Dad gets back. Ruth took Dad in and brought Margaret out to stay with us. I have been pretty busy. Think I may sell my young roosters. We could not get the car started today.
Wed 26. Margaret is here. We wrote to John about the car. Hope he comes out tonight. We keep busy all the time with the cows & chickens. The woman did not come back to buy the chickens.
Thu 27. John & Gertie came out this PM. John pulled Ruth & the car!! into town. Got it fixed & Ruth drove back. Brought out the feed necessary. Margaret went home. We went over to Babs Thursday evening to see how the cow was coming. She had her teat pinched & it was sore.
Fri 28. We bought a crate of black caps Wed evening for 75¢ & canned them. I picked a few berries today. We went to town & Louise came out with us. Attended a sale awhile today. I bought a dime worth of tools.
Blackcaps are a species of raspberry native to Oregon.
Sat 29. We cleaned out the little pullet place today. They are doing so nicely. It turned so cold so I put up some curtains. We borrowed a bed of the Italians today. He did not want chickens for it but will lend us the bed if we do not want to buy it.
Sun 30. Dad & Uncle Berne are coming home today. Gertie & the children came out for dinner—John & Johnnie, Berne & Tell got here for supper. We had a good chicken for supper. Berne stayed all night. John brought out three quarts of ice cream.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for July 1935.