75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - October 31, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 31, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Tuesday, October 31:

Pete up early. Chored & we went up home. Pete helped pick & I helped cut up meat. Ate dinner, came home about 2:30. Max & LVene were there too. Pete bro't me home & then he went over on 80.

My comments:

They were still cutting up that pork they butchered a few days ago. Here are some chops, they cut, that they eat, tomorrow! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - October 19, 1939

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - October 19, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, October 19:

Really busy. Set up front room stove. Cleaned whole house. Make 2 cakes. Had ice cream with b.r. sauce. Don, Norma, Ruth, Glenn, Vic, Ger., Max, Betty, Gary, Verle, LVene, Arnold, Julia,  Merle, Polly, Margaret, Orel here. Sang. Stayed till 11:00.

My comments:

Quite a party. All very familiar persons. Could have just as well been ten or twenty years later!! ;-)

Cake and ice cream sounds pretty good, to me!!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - October 7, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 7, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, October 7:

Did up usual work. Pete fixing granary. Ate, listened to Iowa game & took a nap. Cold out. Cleaned up, ate, went in to town. LVene sat in car with us awhile. Looked at a washing machine. Billy with folks. Up home awhile & then went home.

My comments:

Dad must be feeling better. Need that granary…  ;-)

The Iowa Hawkeyes beat Indiana 32-29 that day, in "Iowa Stadium - Iowa City"
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1939_Iowa_Hawkeyes_football_team]

Suppose they looked at this 1939 Maytag??

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - September 27, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 27, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, September 27:

Nice out. Did up usual work. Ate, did dishes & then LVene came to have her hair cut & set. Ate & Pete took me in town & he went to look at cribs. Mom & Bill & I went to the fair. Had a keen time. A lot saw Billy. Home & chored & ate, bathed & went to Hal Stewart dance.

My comments:

I found this fun photo image of some girls at a county fair in 1939:

Note: Taking a 3 day hiatus, back on October 1.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - September 20, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 20, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, September 20:

Pete up home all day making hay. Max, LVene, Julia here in morning to get their hair fixed. Lillian & Dennis came after dinner & went to club with me a Pruiett's. Billy good. Home, chores. In town. Pete got a hair cut. Up to folks' awhile. Home late.

My comments:

"Billy good." Still makes me feel good to have my mother's approval!! ;-)

Dennis was about 21 months old, at this time. Here is a photo of him, just a little later, perhaps.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - September 8, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 8, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Friday, September 8:

Birthday note: LVene Thomas

Not nearly so hot. Did separator & went in to town & washed. Merle still wiring. Ate, got ready to go to Carroll.
Mom, Billy & I in folks' car. Had to wait quite awhile. Had to go to the park to feed Billy because of my dress.
Looking for shoes but didn't find any. Got some electric supplies.
Home at 7:00. Chored, ate supper & went to bed.

My comments:

Very interesting entry on several facets…  ;-)

LVene in 1974, 35 years later...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - September 2, 1939

 75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 2, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, September 2:

Pete up to Hufferd's shelling corn. Bussy fixing his airplane. I cleaned the house. LVene came & had her hair fixed just before noon & Polly came just after dinner. Waxed kitchen & dining room rugs. (sic) Pete home at 3:30 & finished plowing so. field. Chored, ate, bathed & went in town. Bussy to show. Took Billy down on street with us. Home at 12:00.

My comments:

Did the corn sheller look at all like this?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - August 19, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 19, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, August 19:
Real warm. Sultry. Pete mowing weeds. LVene, Betty, Polly down to get their hair set. Noon before they left. Had pancakes for dinner. Pete mowing weeds over on 80 in pm. He took the horses up home & I went up after him at 5:00. He wasn't ready so I went to Norma's a little while. Chored, ate, took baths & went in to town. Played the new piano rolls. Ate ice cream Mom made. Down town & did the shopping. Up home at (sic) ate muskmelon. Home at 12:00.

My comments:

Dad appears to have finally cut all the weeks. I'm fighting weeds, here, now, 75 years later… ;-)

How is your muskmelon coming?

 

 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - August 10, 1939

75 Years Ago Today 

Eileen's Diary

August 10, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, August 10:

Birthday notes: Edith L.

LVene & Julia came in the T. LVene had her hair set. I washed & set mine. Pete & I went up home. Polly gave Billy and enama. Ate dinner there. Pete bro't the team down here. I came home & got ready for club at Dora's. Rained hard. Played piano. Ice cream & cake. Home at 5:00. Chored. Ate supper. Leo, Ida, Karen & the folks here until 9:00. Bathed & went to bed.

My comments:

Another day filled with different activities, for sure.

This is a team from the Smith place, about this time. Likely these are the same ones! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - August 1, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 1, 1939

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Tuesday, August 1:

Birthday note: Mrs. Weaver

Up early. Took Pete up home. They finished threshing Vonnahme's flax & took the machine to Toot's but got rained out. LVene came to have her hair set. I went in & washed. Bussy had his tonsils out at Jewell's. I was there when he came home. Chored early. Ate, bathed, & went to bed. Rained.

My comments:

Poor Buzzy… but, it only hurt for a little while!! ;-)

Do you know what golden flax seeds look like???

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 27, 1939

75 Years Ago Today
Eileen's Diary
July 27, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, July 27:

Up early. Made 2 cakes. Took Pete up home. Threshed here.
LVene, Polly, Folks, Delma, Clyde, Ferne, Claire, Buzz here, too.
Had chicken & ice cream. Real hot & were we ever busy. Played & sang in pm.
Ida & Leo came awhile. We girls rode up home with Pete a minute. Home, chores, ate, Pete bathed, Leo & Ida came again & then Claire played again & we all sang 'till 10:00. To bed.

My comments:

Fed the threshers at their house… and had family company, as well!

Ferne, Claire and Buzz were the children of Clyde and Delma Luse.
Ferne was Mom's age, Claire a little older, Buzz was younger… "favorite" first cousins, it seemed.
They became semi-professional musicians in California a few years later.
They all loved to sing!

Here are Claire and Ferne, about this time, perhaps a couple of years later:

I think this was probably taken at their home near Sioux City, but I'm not certain.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 23, 1939

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 23, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, July 23:

Up at 6:15. Fed baby. Cleaned chicken & did the supper dishes while Pete chores. Ate, gave baby his bath, fed him, did the separator, got dinner. Had fried chicken. Fed baby, did dishes, folded the diapers & then Pete & I slept until 3:30. LVene, Margaret, Edith, Aunt 'Sadie', Wilson Dale & Patty came & stayed until after 4:00. Chored early.

My comments:

Well… back to being nameless 'baby' - she must have been really tired… ;-)

First mention of diapers, that I recall. Real world stuff! ;-)

Did she have pins like these, or, did they only come later??? ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 18, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 18, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Tuesday, July 18:

Up early. Pete over to Orrin's helping shell. Did work up early. Tried on all my last year's dresses & started to hem my green one. Got dinner, ate, Pete picked beans with I did the dishes. Snapped them. Aunt Kate, LVene, Margaret, Julia, Edith & Patty came. Brought baby a ring. Down in garden & picked a pail of tomatoes.
Pete chored. Pop, Merle, Toots here. Brought baby medicine from Carroll.
Ready to eat when the folks came. Ate, talked, folks left at 9:30. To bed.

My comments:

Another incredibly busy day, with visitors and work. Nice to see the men brought medicine for "baby!"

I believe "Aunt Kate" was Kate Preston, wife of Harry Preston - brother of Pop's wife, my grandmother Ella Preston Ballard Smith. First time I remember her being mentioned; she would have been 66 year old.

Shelling corn from crib to make room for new, later, and to sell, for money, to pay bills, and feed animals…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 16, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 16, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, July 16:

Didn't get up till late. Folks came out. Pete was up home all day working on tractor. Had fried chicken for dinner. Scrubbed & waxed kitchen floor. Edith, Helen, Lenore here till 6:30. Folks went down to Louise's. Ate supper. LVene, Verle, Arnold, Julia came & bro't ice cream & cherry pie. Don & Norma came. They all left early because it started to storm. Fed baby & went to bed.

My comments:

You can bring "ice cream & cherry pie" any time - or, just the cherry pie… I'll provide the ice cream!! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 14, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 14, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Friday, July 14:

Pete didn't get up until 7:00. Fed the baby. Bathed him. Did morning work. Washed my hair. Marget, Wilson Dale, Patty & LVene here awhile. Ila & I ate dinner alone. Rested. Dwight brought ice. Went in to wash. I went down to Leo & Ida's. Rasmuses came down there to see the baby. Up home & then went down town to do a little shopping. Home & got supper. Ila went to bed before Pete was through choring. Took baths & went to bed.

My comments:

Another full day. Not sure about that first list of visitors, but that is what she wrote… It is Margaret Thomas, with Wilson…oh, his full name is Wilson Dale Thomas… his sister, Patty. Margaret was LVene's sister-in-law… all neighbors, as well. Ok, figured that out! ;-)

Realizing I don't really know, for sure, where Leo and Ida lived at this time… seems to be on the south side of Coon Rapids, from Mom's expressed used to describe. NOTE: See News Articles, below!

Note that Ila Jean is staying at the farm house, with Pete, Eileen, and Billy… ;-)

This isn't actually Dwight delivering the ice, for the ice box they had (no refrigerator, because no electricity, yet), but it does show the block of ice like he would have brought!

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CrowleyRussellLeeIceman.jpg

NOTE: From the Coon Rapids Enterprise: July 10, 2014, p.5:

75 Years Ago
July 7, 1939

Leo Kinnick of Bradgate, recently purchased the Tallcorn Inn off A.F. Tatman and took possession
this week. Mr. Kinnick is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Kinnick and was raised in this community.
For the past few years he has been associated with his father-in-law, Ray Bell, on a farm near Bradgate.

My comment: This explains where they were living. Need to learn more about this!

“Ping” Herron, 15 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Herron, suffered severe head and chest
injuries Saturday when his team ran away with a hay rake he was operating, and he was dragged
underneath the machine. He was rushed to St. Anthony’s hospital at Carroll for treatment where he is expected to make a complete recovery.

My comment: This was mentioned one day in the hospital last week!

Coon Rapids and this part of the state really got soaked during the first week of July. Monday night
a deluge of about three inches fell here in a trifle over an hour and Tuesday night’s rain amounted to
approximately half that amount.
While the rain benefited crops it also did considerable damage in many places. Small grain was beaten down and corn blown over but the damage here was small as compared to bridges washed out in Audubon and Guthrie counties and elsewhere in the state.
The deluge gave the cinch bugs a decided setback. Corn is considerably advanced over normal for
this season of the year and much of it is beginning to shoot tassels.
Where it got sufficient rain in June the crop is excellent. Spots where the June rains missed don’t look
so good. The small grain harvest is well under way and shocks now dot many fields. The straw is
short but quality of the grain is reported as good. “It’s not so much the heat as it is the humidity,” everyone is saying and right now Iowa is experiencing an honest-to goodness hot spell.


My comments: Mom said it really stormed... Dad was late to the hospital one day, because of the storm... this was obviously it!! ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 10, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 10, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Monday, July 10:

Could hardly wait for Pete. Watched them bathe Billy. Sister Aletta dressed me. Up to Clayburg's & down town a minute in Irene's car. Home a little before 12:00. Ila here. She had dinner about ready. LVene, Carrie, Julia, Edith here awhile. Folks came out at nite. Loan Co. man caught Pete over on 80 & so we were late choring. Late to bed, too. Fed baby at 1:00.

My comments:

Ila Jean was apparently going to stay for a few days…

One page of Baby Book spoke about this day…

[Click for larger image]

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - July 4, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 4, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Tuesday, July 4:

Slept real good again last night. Nursed baby at 6:00. Had a fancy red, white & blue cookie for breakfast. Marjorie, my favorite, gave me my bath. Ate, fed Billy, rested awhile. Was feeding Billy at 3:00 when Don Herron & Glenn Betts came. Betty, LVene, Polly, Irene came. Stayed until the bell rang. Rested awhile, ate, fed Billy. Read a little bit. Pete & Dad came in good time. Mrs & Mr Lund came too. Really hot. Dad & Pete stayed to watch the baby nurse. I just couldn't sleep. It was so hot & my breasts hurt. Finally rained a little bit & cooled things off.

My comments:

Everyone wants to watch her feed the baby… amazing…  ;-)

Suppose her cookie looked like this? Happy 4th of July! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - June 15, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

June 15, 1939 

 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, June 15:

Did up usual work early. I was making noodles when Polly & LVene came. They got our mornings cream to make ice cream with. Folks came at 11:00. Dad & Buss went over on 80 after Pete. Had chicken & noodles. Did up usual work. I slept in p.m. Folks worked in garden. Made a gold cake. Ate supper. Mom did dishes. Bathed & shaved & went to S.S. part up home. Played Bingo. Had ice cream, cake, cookies. Home at 12:00.

My comments:

Sunday School party hosted by the Pop Smith family. Played Bingo! Good snacks!! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - June 11, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

June 11, 1939 

 

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, June 11:

Up at 7:00. Took Pete over on 80 to plow. In town & picked strawberries & peas. Up home a minute. Pete & I here alone to dinner. Pete plowed & finished field in pm. Didn't get home till 6:30. I made 5 glasses strawberry jam. Worked on d. room curtains. Ate supper & went in town & sat on the street. Talked to LVene & Verle & Ger & Everett a minutes. Home to bed at 11:00.

My comments:

I can see Dad wanted to get that field plowed… having gotten behind when he was hurt. No church, today… though, might have been Annual Conference, and not service???

Like to have some of that jam! Here are some strawberries just picked… you can make the jam! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - June 8, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

June 8, 1939

This entry is a post from the diary of my mother, twenty year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.


Here is the daily entry for Thursday, June 8:

Pop & Junior came down in morning. Jr. finished planting the beans and Pete harrowed them in. In town & picked strawberries & peas. Pop, Jr, & Pete her for dinner. Had creamed new potatoes & peas. LVene & Verle came & stayed till 2:00. Did dishes. Pete finished harrowing at 4:00 & we went out in garden & planted cucumbers & a few more spuds. Chored. Eating when LVene, Verle, Arnold, Julia came. Sat on floor in dark and talked. Elmer & Don came. All left at 11:00. Right to bed.

My comments:

Nice that Dad got help finishing planting. Don't imagine he was real anxious to be around that horse again, soon. Why did EVERYONE stop by? Had they heard he was hurt??

"…creamed new potatoes & peas" sure sounded good!!

Families are Forever!  ;-)