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 8, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 8, 1939 

William Emanuel Smith

(1869-1939)

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, October 8:

Polly & Merle woke us up at 3:30. Pop died of a heart attack. Didn't suffer. Was in town last nite. Pete, Billy & I went rite up there. Stayed for breakfast. Came home, chores, cleaned up, folks came & stayed with Billy & we went up there for dinner. Home & fed Billy. Pete chores, folks stayed with Billy at nite & we went in to funeral home to see Pop. He surely did look nice. Up home again & they fixed obituary etc. Charley & Bertha were there. Home at 10:00 & folks left.

My comments:

Quite a shock to everyone. So sad to see. But, we all go sometime. Getting closer every day!

Pop!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - October 5, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 5, 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 5:

Pete over at Ed W's shelling corn. He came home feeling terrible. I cleaned the house a little.
Merle came to see the lights.
Made fudge. Took it to the choir practice at nite. Pete didn't feel a bit good. Ate, came  home late.

My comments:

Always hate to see Dad ill…

Ed Williams' place, shelling corn.

Made fudge lately??

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 15, 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 15:

Real hot & windy again. in town & washed in morning/ Brought Pete home from the 80 for dinner. Ate, folded clothes, looked at catalogs. Cloudy at nite but it all cleared off. Ate, bathed & went to bed. Listened to Galento beat Nova.
Gave Merle check for $65.00.

My comments:

Electric wiring paid well, even then! ;-)

Galento beat Nova:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Nova
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Galento

From Galento article:
"The Nova fight is reputed to be one of the dirtiest and bloodiest fights ever fought. Nova was knocked down five times. Both fighters kneed, gouged, hit below the belt, and on at least two knockdowns, Galento "fell" with his 230 lb (104 kg) on Nova, knees first. Galento finally knocked Nova out in the 14th round.The Nova fight is reputed to be one of the dirtiest and bloodiest fights ever fought. Nova was knocked down five times. Both fighters kneed, gouged, hit below the belt, and on at least two knockdowns, Galento "fell" with his 230 lb (104 kg) on Nova, knees first. Galento finally knocked Nova out in the 14th round."

From Nova article:
"Nova was injured badly in a fight with Tony Galento and was treated in hospital, almost losing an eye."

From YouTube: http://youtu.be/QghwSqAlKSQ

Now, imagine listening to the fight on the radio - have you done it? I have! Comments welcomed! ;-)
Hear is what it sounded like: http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=487071
[Click on the first image...]

Note: A three day hiatus follows this post - back on the 19th. ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 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 Sunday, September 10:

I didn't get up until 9:15. Bathed & fed Billy. Mom, Dad & Bussy came out. Had beefsteak. Mom made a chocolate cake. Ate, doing dishes when Polly, Merle, Betty, Irene came down. Irene fitted my skirts again. Looked at fixture pictures. They stayed until 5:00. Ate some muskmelon. Chored. Fed Billy. Had pancakes for supper. Folks left at 9:00.

My comments:

Billy fed well, again, today. ;-)

Beefsteak for dinner.

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 7, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 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 Thursday, September 7:

Up at 5:30. Fed Billy & went back to bed. Up at 7:00. Did separator. Merle & Pete wiring again. In to town till 10:30. Got 100# of sugar & sack of floor. Really going up. Home, fed Billy, ate dinner. Did dishes. Canned 4 pts. tomato preserves & 3 pts.  apple butter. Gave Billy bath, fed him, ate supper. Took baths.

Big letters, under: 102 degrees

My comments:

Another very hot day. I cannot today imagine being without air conditioning. As I write this, it is about 95, and I did not enjoy my walk to the trash/recycling, about a block away… But, I'm spoiled, for sure!! If I didn't know any better, I guess I could handle it.  …  Just make a special note in the diary!! ;-)

Too modern, but you get the idea… electricity was coming…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 11, 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, August 11:

Birthday notes: Toots

Up in pretty good time. Linemen putting wire from road to house pole. Pop & Merle bro't horse collars. Canned 6 quarts tomatoes in morning. Picked beans for dinner. Pete mowing buffalo burrs in pasture. Ate, did dishes & went in town. Ironed awhile. Down town tailing about a gift for folks. Talked to Joe Howe. Home at 6:00. Chored, ate, & end to bed.

My comments:

Electricity is getting closer…

Needed horse collars to use the team...

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_collar




Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - August 5, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 5, 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 5:

Birthday note: Rita Ballard

Up late. Pete took threshing machine back up home in morning & I went to Carroll to the Dr.
Everything is OK. Shopped for Merle. Talked to Mr. Clayburg.
I got a new brassiere & dress. Home at 6:00. Chored, ate, cleaned up & went in to town.
Folks kept Billy. Parked in front of Barber's. Had a malted milk at the Ice Cream Shoppe.
Home at 11:00.

My comments:

Have you seen your Doctor on a Saturday, lately???? ;-)

Great that everything was OK. Looks like a "normal" Saturday night!

Photo of Polly and Merle Bower, and their girls, Joyce on left, Joan in center, plus Judi Hilgenberg on right... this is about 5-6 years later, of course.

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 - May 21, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

May 21, 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, May 21:

Pete up at 6:30. Did chores. Went to SS & church. Over to LVene's for dinner. Grant, Rita, Pop, Irene, Polly, Merle, Betty, LVene, Verle.
Pop is 70 yrs. old tomorrow.
Talked until 5:00. Home, chores, took washing in. Sat on porch & talked until after 10:00. Home to bed.

My comments:

A full family birthday dinner for Pop. Neat! [Oops! Max, Orrin & Gary not there...]

The never imagined it then, of course, but that was to be the last birthday for him. He died on October 8, 1939. This photo was about a year earlier….

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

April 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 Tuesday, April 11:

 Pete didn't get up very early. Really is cold out. Pete sawed a pile of wood in morning.
I did up usual work. Pete disced (sic) after dinner. Merle brought Betty down for the afternoon. I curled her hair. Cleaned out cabinet drawers. Pete chores, ate potato soup, shaved, bathed, & went to bed.

My comments:

Potato soup sounds good for a cold day in April.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Mar 23, 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, Mar 23:

 Pete up at 6:00. Did usual work. Pete had to fix a flat. Merle here after a chain. Took Pete up home. Washed, set my hair, scrubbed, went in to town to dinner. Slept for 2 hrs. after dinner. Out to Maude's and got 5 dozen eggs to set. Up after Pete. Home at 6:00. Listened to radio and went to bed early.

My comment:

Assume the 5 dozen eggs were fertilized eggs… What do you think?

Did they look like this?  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Feb 20, 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.
Now we are beginning 1939 - the year I was born, on July 1 - Bring it on! ;-)


Here is the daily entry for Monday,  Feb 20:

Up at 8:10. Mom called at 8:30 and said she had the washing all done. Had fried chicken for dinner. Made B.P. Biscuits, too. Pete up  home just before Noon. Ate and then read the paper. Did up my work while Pete went down to creek and chopped wood. To town at 4:00. Got freezer & the washing & Verle's socks. Pete milked while I made a gallon of ice cream. Cleaned up. Up to LVene's & Verle's to his surprise party. Max, Orrin, Polly, Merle, Betty, Howard there. Played cards and ate. Home at 2:30.

My comment: Verle's 28th birthday. Quite a busy day. They got him socks for a present and made a gallon of homemade ice cream to take along. Neat! I love when there is detail!! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Feb 1, 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.
Now we are beginning 1939 - the year I was born, on July 1 - Bring it on! ;-)


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday,  Feb 1:

Up real late. I made a 2 egg cake. Had pancakes for dinner. Cleaned the house a little bit. Pete cutting down trees along the creek. Chored and ate real early. Up and got LVene, Verle, Polly, Merle, Betty. Over the Max & Orrin's but they weren't home. Over to  Max & Orrins's. [She probably meant LVene and Verle's or Polly and Merle's!!]
Ate pop corn & played rummy until 12:00. Just got in Verle's yard and the car broke down. They bro't us home. LVene gave us a loaf of bread. Home & to bed at 1:30. Really cold and windy.

My comment:  Assume Dad was cutting trees for wood to keep the house warm!

A difficult evening, for sure. Dad has just worked on the car. Young couple with a serious problem, it appears. Very frustrating, for sure.

A 2 egg cake is also known as a pound cake:

 

YUM!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 11, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 11, 1938

 

This entry is a post on this blog from the diary of nineteen year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date.

From March 1 thru April 29, I posted every day, to cover the marriage and the early married life of Pete and Eileen (Kinnick) Smith, but decided to 'take a breather.'  Resuming with Dec 1, 1938...


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, Dec 11:

Up kinda late. Chored & got ready to go to LVenes for dinner. Max, Orrin, Merle, Polly, Arnold, Julia, Lvene, Verle, Don, Norma there. Chicken & biscuits were really good. Bavarian cream. Home at 4:00.  Mom & Bussy here to supper. Dad took Cantata to Carroll. [that last sentence underlined] Buzz & Pete & I to Shirley Temple in "Little Miss Broadway."

My comments: An interesting six couple dinner. Life-long neighborhood friends, for sure, as well as some siblings. Neat!

Fascinated she spelled Bussy in one sentence and Buzz in the next! Is a change coming??

In the Shirley Temple movie, among other familiar names, Jimmy Durante played Jimmy Clayton, a bandleader…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Aug 29, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Aug 29, 1938

This entry is an irregular post on this blog from the diary of nineteen year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date.

From March 1 thru April 29, I posted every day, to cover the marriage and the early married life of Pete and Eileen (Kinnick) Smith, but decided to 'take a breather.'  Posts will be added, from time to time, as items of particular interest appear.


Here is the daily entry for Sunday, Aug 28:

Pete up at 8:30. Me up at 10:00. Ate breakfast late. Pop & Merle came while I was out in the toilet sitting reading the paper with the door open. Picked cucumbers & tomatoes & ate dinner. Was just going to town when Red Brannan came. "There's no one with endurance like the man who sells insurance."

My comments: Hard to notice the "insurance man" quote after the… "with the door open" quote. Right? ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - April 3, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - April 3, 1938

 

 This entry is the daily post on this blog from the diary of nineteen year old Eileen KINNICK, 75 Years Ago this date.

Starting March 1, a weekly comment on these daily entries appear on the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories blog. Those weekly entries, on that blog, on each Friday of the week, will continue, with links to some of these daily entries.

 

Here is the daily entry for Sunday, April 3:

 Up at 9:00. Real late with work. Just doing separator when Pauline & Merle & LVene & Irene came. Went over to Norma's with them. No one home. Folks here to dinner. Dad to Ger's in pm. Cleaned up the yard. Got supper, chores early, did dishes, separator, took baths & went to bed.

My comments: I can just see LVene and Irene riding with Pauline and Merle… Mom would have squeezed in the back seat. No one Home! Assume they took her back…

Here is photo of Pauline and Merle about 15 years later, with their two daughters, Joan and Joyce.

Families are Forever!  ;-)