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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 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 Friday, September 1:

Didn't get up until 8:30. Bussy rode his bike out & woke us up. He & Pete plowing. I went in to wash and didn't get home until 4:00. Over to Hufferd's after Pete. Over to Orrin's & did their chores. Home & did ours, ate, read papers & went to bed. Bussy here all nite.

My comments:

Short night, in any case… Buzzy rode his bike out.

I think this is the same bike, in this picture, about 9-10 years later, that I'm riding.
Also in photo, Pat and Wilson Thomas, and my little brother, Jim. Note the pickup and barn in the background, among other things…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - August 17, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 17, 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 17:

Birthday note: Elizabeth

Up early. In town & had a big washing done by 10:00. Fed Billy. Took him down to the bank in the buggy cab. Mom sent ice cream home for our dinner. Loan Co. man here when I came. Ate, Pete fixing tongue. Cleaned the house. Chored. Got ready to go to the dance at Bayard. Hal Stewart. Folks kept Billy. Ed, Elmer, Orrin & Pete. Home at 2:00.
Had lunch with Penny & Valeria.

My comments:

Dad was always fixing something. That never changed! ;-)

They went dancing!! Nice group of guys she danced with.

Lunch with friends. Quite a day!

Not our baby buggy, but one like it, I suppose...

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 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 Thursday, July 20:

Didn't get up very early. Couldn't thresh. Pete up home after beans to take in to sell & then we went in town to dinner. Looked at washing machines. Had ice cream at new place. Mom kept Billy. Home & chores early. Toots operated on at Jefferson. Up home at nite. Helped Junior wipe dishes. Over to Max & Orrin's a minute to tell them about threshing. In town after ice & home at 9:30. Right to bed.

My comments:

"Mom kept Billy." - Wow… moving along! ;-)

"Looked at washing machines." Suppose they looked at one like this?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 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, July 11:

Up at 5:45. Ate, gave baby his bath. Had chicken dinner. Junior here. Baby fussy in pm so I called Polly. She said he had indigestion. She left about 6:00. Ate & then Pete chores. Max & Orrin & folks came. Pete bathed & then we went to bed. Really slept good. Baby fed at 3:00.

My comments:

Beginning to get back to normal, perhaps. Still have visitors, though.

Chicken dinner. Fried? Yum! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Mar 19, 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, Mar 19:

 Birthday note: Orrin H.

Up late. Did usual morning work. Ate dinner, did dishes, making 4 holes chicken setter.
Read "The Golden Hills." Don and Norma here just before Pete chored. Want us to come to. S.S. party Wednesday nite [This sentence underlined].
Chored, cleaned up, LVene & Verle came and we went over to Max & Orrin's. Played cards. Had Angel food, chic. cake, Bavarian Cream, sandwiches, coffee. Home at 1:30.

My comment: Good food! ;-)

Suppose they go to the Sunday School Party on Wednesday??

Found a good image of "4 holes chicken setter!"

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 Today - Eileen's Diary - Dec 21, 1938

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Dec 21, 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.'  Resumed with Dec 1, 1938...


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, Dec 21:

Up late. Pete ate dinner and then went up to Toots' again. I did up the work, scrubbed back room. Fed chicks, took cream in to town. Pete home at 4:30. Chored early. Bathing when Max & Orrin came. Went to A.I.B. & Galveston games in their new car. Galveston beat. Out home & played one game of chekkers (sic).

My comments: I hate interruptions during my bath - don't you? ;-)

"Fed chicks" - suppose they still look like these?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 12, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 12, 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 Monday, Dec 12:

 Pete got up early & we were in town by 9:30. Both of us did washing. I got dinner. Slept part of the afternoon. Got my ironing done. Home at 5:30. Chored. Just eating when Max & Orrin & Gary came. Used the new poacher Aunt Gertrude gave me. Really nice. Popped corn while Pete & Orrin went in to town & got some cards. Played bridge till 12:00.


[She had written "Dorothy Thomas" beside the date. That means it was her birthday - just two days before her own (Eileen's twentieth) - they were same age - Ruth (Thomas) Bolger's younger sister.]

My comments: Gotta have new cards to play bridge - apparently! ;-)

This photo is for a few weeks forward, but, on the right are Orrin, Max, Mom, Dad and Gary (being held by his grandfather Smith) at this point it time! Neat - and so young! ;-) Love it! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 7, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - Dec 7, 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 Wednesday, Dec 7: 

 Keen day out. Did up work early. Polly & Betty got their hair fixed and we decided to go to the Annual Harvest dinner. I took rolls & pickles. Had the keenest dinner. Home at 4:30. Changed clothes & did my chores. Went in to town and got a grab bag present. Bro't Bussy home with me while folks went to see Lil. Moved couch. Max, Orrin, Gary came and we played bridge 'til 12:30.

My comments: She had a full day. Assume the Annual Harvest dinner was at Star Church, just a little over a mile from the Smith farm. It was a tradition. First mention, that I recall.

Bussy - as she always spelled her younger brother's nickname in her diaries; others spelled it Buzzy!

Lil was her aunt, who just had the baby, Dennis, on Dec 1.

Dad's sister, Max, husband, Orrin Hilgenberg, and their young son, Gary, spent the evening.

Playing bridge - all evening!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - March 20, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - March 20, 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, March 20:

Up at 7:30. Did dishes & separator. Cleaned the house & porches. Wrenched my knee. Pauline, Merle & Betty here in morning. Lil's & Dell and and the folks here to dinner. LVene, Irene & Betty here in pm. Edith, Howard, Erna & Pressy, too. Folks stayed to supper. Pete brought the cows so I had the separator to do after supper. Late when I did it. Max & Orrin here until 10:30. Washed & went to bed. had an awful time getting the cows to the barn.

My comments: Most a town girl, now living on a farm with responsibilities. Working hard at it. Cows arrived… now she has 'her own' separator to clean twice a day!

Many guests on this busy Sunday!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - March 13, 1938

75 Years Ago - Eileen's Diary - March 13, 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, March 13:

Up at about 7:30. Did up the work & went down to our place. L'Vene, Irene & Pete & I. To Smith's to dinner. Toots there, too. Down to the farm again. Papered the separator room, gave kitchen woodwork a 2nd coat, painted the two bedroom floors once. Home quite late. LVene & I took bath in the front room. Had pop corn. Made out an order for curtains. While Pete took a bath. Bro't Irene to town at 9:30. Home early for once.

My comments: I detect a slight change taking place in their lives with this work on the house. I am fascinated with the high involvement, now, of his siblings. Very nice. Some facts as reminders:
Each are still single:
Toots, 31
Irene, 29
LVene, 27
Pete, 22
Their Dad still lives there.
Pauline and Max are both married.
Was Betty, age 18, there, or was she gone off to school… good question.

This photo is from the following Christmas time, but seems appropriate to include it here.

From left: Verle and LVene T., Irene, Pauline B., Toots, Betty, Merl B., Rita and Grant, Pop holding Gary H, Pete and Eileen, Max and Orrin H. In front of the Homeplace, Christmas 1938.


Families are Forever!  ;-)