Mon 1. The new month is here. We went to town today and I got a butter customer—Mrs. Anderson ordered two pounds. We went to see Mr. Garrett. He will let us have what time we need on our bill. John’s brother & his family & J’s mother came to Gertie’s while we were there. Berne came back to stay all nite. Dad built me a coop for my broilers today.
Tell and Emma have several relatives in the area. Tell’s brother Berne and his family live in Salem, OR, and Emma’s sister Gertie, her husband John, and their family live nearby in Grants Pass.
Tue 2. We got Berne off about seven AM. Had pancakes again. Ruth made cookies—Daddy made a table for the sewing machine & I have not done much. We sold some broilers.
Broilers are chickens raised specifically for meat and can be ready to eat as early as 6-7 weeks of age. They are specially fed for quick weight gain.
Wed 3. Dad & I went to town this AM. Ruth stayed home to sell broilers. I got some butter customers.
Thu 4. We drove in to GP to see the parade. There was one at least a mile long. The flags are strung the length of Main St.—5 across & 32 strings of them. It looks lovely. The Fraternal Order of Eagles is holding its State Convention here. We went to Gerties for dinner. Home & back to see a Venetian Night Carnival. It did not materialize.
Here’s a story about the FOE State Convention. Sounds like quite the event! The description of the Venetian Nights water carnival is enticing…I had to look around a bit to find out why it didn’t materialize. Apparently there was enough wind to keep the floats from drifting downstream, and they were planning to try again on Saturday.
Fri 5. Today we picked and canned youngberries. Got them for 40¢ a crate. They are lovely. Bought a crate of red raspberries from Mrs. Babbs.
Sat 6. Have been busy with the canning. We got our electric stove fixed today. Dad took Ruth & me in to help serve a dinner to the FOE convention. We served 600 people.
Sun 7. We all went in to church & SS this AM. Rev Haman of the Pres. Church preached—Rev. Bancroft preached in the evening. Fed two young men today.
Mon 8. A busy day so far! Robert was at Grand Island, Nebr. Sat. night. Got $3.00 for singing at a theatre. I went in to Gerties to wash. The folks came in for supper (Tell & Ruth). John cut our hair. Dad has finished his wheelbarrow.
I found a story about Robert singing in Nebraska! Apparently he was the special attraction of an amateur performance competition at the Capitol Theater.
Tell enjoyed woodworking. Here’s an antique wooden wheelbarrow that may be something like the one he made.
Tue 9. It is 3 AM. I can not sleep. Have been thinking how subtly sin steals away happiness. So few years to live on earth yet! Perhaps some day money spent so foolishly can buy me a wedding ring. But what is the use of having an emblem of unending love if there is not enough love to make a sacrifice for………
Yikes! Emma sounds quite distressed. I think I know what’s on her mind…you’ll have to wait until next month’s installment, though.
Wed 10. We went to town this AM to take in some butter & chickens to sell. Sold all I took in. It has been warm today. We are looking for Bob out any time.
Thu 11. Bob did not come.
Fri 12. We went into the Iowa Club. Found Bob here when we got home. Went into choir practice at night.
Sat 13. Bob, Ruth & I went in to town. I took in some butter. Robert went to see Winslow about the job. The prospects are good. Ruth & Bob went to town to plan about the EL League Institute at Little River.
Marion Winslow was the superintendent of schools for Grants Pass. The Epworth League Institute was a week-long conference of young people in the Methodist Episcopal Church that included classes, Bible study, and leisure activities.
Sun 14. We went in to church & SS today. Heard Palmer had applied for the job Bob wants. John & Gertie & Johnnie, & Joan & Libbie with the White children came out to make ice cream today. We made two gallons.
Mon 15. We went into town again today. Bob got his driver’s license. I helped them get ready to go meet Rev. & Mrs. Coan to EL Institute. Sold some chickens.
Tue 16. Will sell the rest of my chickens to the Del Rogue hotel today at 25¢ each. Went up to Gerties & staid to help can beans. Sold a basket for 78¢ & bought a crate of apricots. Time for bed.
According to this document, the Hotel Del Rogue was built in 1911 as the Seward Hotel, and remodeled/renamed in 1927 as the Del Rogue. It was apparently demolished in 1965. Here’s a postcard from the period picturing the hotel.
Wed 17. We took 85 chickens into the Del Rogue but he only took 60 & we had to deliver them out 4½ miles. Had a hard day. Went to the WFMS today—a picnic at the park. Gertie went & after coming home we picked raspberries. Bob was elected today for the music job in Grants Pass. Suppose he & Ruth will soon be married.
It sounds like they were waiting for Bob to get a job before having the wedding. Based on some other family documents, it looks like the job was a combination of teaching/conducting music, overseeing study hall, and driving a school bus.
Thu 18. Canned apricots & raspberries. Went to town & looked at a dog and went to prayer meeting. Had some ice cream. A lovely day. Did not get the dog.
Fri 19. We went to town this AM to pick beans. Got $1.00 for them & bought two crates of apricots. Canned them & did up the work & slept. Thought we would hear from Ruth today.
Here’s a tutorial on canning apricots, in case you happen to have a couple of crates of them around.
Sat 20. I went in to Fifields to pick raspberries this AM. Brought them home and made some jam. It was lovely. We went to see the dog again but did not get it yet. We may not get it at all but I think we will. I did the cleaning before going to bed.
And a recipe for raspberry jam. Yum!
Sun 21. We went to church & SS today, then this PM we called on the Italians. Went to Gerties & thought Ruth & Bob would come there. We staid until 6. Found them here when we got home. It has rained quite hard here this evening.
Mon 22. Bob & Ruth went to town with some cottage cheese. I lost one customer—couldn’t suit her. Sold two chickens today but the old car keeps us strapped. Got a card from Bertha Johnson. She says she is coming out here next year.
Tue 23. Bob worked on the car today. We manage to keep busy. I fixed Dad’s trousers.
Wed 24. Bob, Ruth & I went in to Gerties to wash. Had a big one. I was pretty tired. We all went in to the band concert in the evening. Gertie & I picked some raspberries at Fifields.
Thu 25. We canned 29 qts of beans today in at Gertie’s. Then Bob & Ruth went swimming. Dad stayed at home. We had a time bringing out the rabbits which John gave me. I got knocked down & bruised but am glad I got out alive.
Apparently travel is quite stressful for rabbits!
Fri 26. We went in to borrow some money today but did not get it. Went to choir practice tonight. Bob will sing I guess next Sunday. We picked out Ruth’s wedding dress today and also a silk suit for me. Today would have been Mother’s birthday.
Sat 27. We went to town to see the banker & the parade. The banker said he had been out here but could not find us. We asked him to come again which he did in the PM and he says we can have the money Monday. Bob & Ruth plan to be married on Aug. 7th. Think we will have the wedding at the church with a wedding lunch at the Del Rogue Hotel.
Today people often plan weddings 6-12 months ahead or longer. It looks like Ruth and Bob have picked a date that’s less than 2 weeks out. Perhaps they were waiting to get the money from the bank before finalizing their plans.
Sun 28. We all went to church this morning. Bob said “The Great Awakening” at church. It was very fine. We directed the choir. Ruth, Dad & I each taught a class. We brought Mrs. Manning out for a chicken dinner. Bob & Ruth have gone back to town and taken her home.
Mon 29. We (Ruth & Bob, Tell & I) went to town this AM. We got the wedding dress fitted and mine altered. We came home for dinner and the three of us went back & did different things in the afternoon. Think we will keep the wedding dinner at home. We borrowed $100 from the bank for 3 mo. Cost $5. Paid John back his $10. (It runs away like water.)
It sounds like they are borrowing the money for the wedding expenses. Fees of 20% for a 3-month term seem quite high!
Tue 30. We were in GP today. I did my washing. Felt better than yesterday. Got my clothes all dry. Ruth, Bob & Margaret took their lunch to the park.
Wed 31. Bob, Ruth & I went to Medford with Uncle Berne. Bob got a concert each place, one for the 9th & one the 11th. We had a nice time. Took our lunch and got a chicken dinner when we came home. Berne left after supper.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of Emma’s journals. See you next week for August 1935...and the wedding!