75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - October 24, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

October 24, 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 24:

Pete was going to Carroll but didn't. Mom & I went. Took Billy to Dr. Have to put him on the bottle. Mom got a lot of things. Home at 6:30. Had pancakes for supper. Dad & Bussy drove our car out here. Did dishes & folks left early.

My comments:

"Have to put him on the bottle." Interesting comment. What did baby milk bottles look like in 1939?

This one is said to be from the 1960s… What do you think? Do you have an early photo of bottle with nipple??

NOTE: In the
Coon Rapids Enterprise - Thursday, October 23, 2014, Page 5:

75 Years Ago
October 13, 1939


Under the direction of Rev. W.F. Clayburg, pastor of the Methodist church at Carroll, funeral services for William E. Smith, of the Star community were conducted at Coder’s funeral home Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Smith died Sunday at the age of 70. Pallbearers were Bernice McLaughlin, Boise McLaughlin, Leo Moylan, Conrad
Lawrence, Ed Williams and Roscoe Bowman. Out of town relatives attending the funeral were Mrs. Lena Brown of Scranton, Mr. and Mrs. Grant Ballard of Waterloo,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bartlett of Perry.
William Emmanuel Smith, son of Michael and Nellie Smith, was born at Moline, IL, May 22, 1869, and died at his country home north of Coon Rapids on October 8, 1939 at age of 70 years, 4 months, 16 days. When he was a small boy, he moved with his
parents to Grand Mound, Iowa.
At the age of 12 years he moved to Carroll county and made his home in this vicinity until the time of his death. On May 11, 1904 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Ellen Preston Ballard, and to this union were born nine children.
Mrs. Smith and two sons preceded him in death. He leaves to mourn his passing, Willard, Irene, LeVene (Mrs. Verle Thomas), Pauline (Mrs. Merle Bower), Leverne,
Maxine (Mrs. Orrin Hilgenberg), Bethene, one step-son, Grant Ballard, two sisters, Mrs. Lenn Brown of Scranton, Mrs. Elsie Grapes of Boone, NE; two brothers, Joseph
Smith of St. Edwards, NE, and Robert Smith of Bakersfield, CA; and one half sister, Mrs. Mary Mohr of Grand Mound, besides a host of friends and acquaintances.




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 - September 14, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

September 14, 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 14:

Real hot & windy again. Took Pete to work on 80. Washed my things out. Pop here awhile. Took Pete a lunch at noon & ate there with him. Cleaned up & went to club in pm. at Mary McLaulins's.(sic) Keen time & lunch. In to town awhile & then over to Aunt Gertrudes & visited until 7:00. Virginia C. came when I got home. She stayed until 8:30. Bathed & went to bed.

My comments:

What?? Do you suppose Pete is still working over on the 80? Or, did he get home and do the chores, while she was at Gertrudes? Where was Billy all this time? Did he go to club, in to town, over to Gertrudes, and back home, as well? Suppose so… Virginia C. there at 7:00 ???

Sharing a "miscellaneous" clipping, today. Came on it looking for something else.
Dad worked so hard, from day one… this shows some of how it paid off!! ;-)

[Click to see enlarged image]

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 7, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 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 Monday, August 7:

Cloudy all day. Lite men put the brace on the yard pole. Did the separator. Made an apple pie. Pete picked the canner & a pail full of tomatoes & then went in to town after some groceries. Ate dinner, read paper, canned 15 quarts tomatoes & fixed some preserves. Pete scythed some weeds. Pop here awhile at evening. Fed Billy, got supper. Pete wiped dishes for me. He shaved & I wrote in books. To bed.

My comments:

Lots of tomatoes canned…

I like the sounds of the apple pie... that first piece was REAL good...  ;-) With ice cream...  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

August 4, 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 4:

Didn't get up until 8:15. Pop here awhile. Ate, bathed Billy, did dishes, sep, ate dinner & went in home & washed. Pete threshed our rye & then threshed for Fat. Bussy lots better today.
Lil, Del, Roberta, Dennis, Jennie, Bernie, Iva stopped in home in p.m.
Folks came out after milk & cream at nite. Had french toast for supper. Took baths & went to bed.

My comments:

Nice that Buzzy was getting to feel better, for sure.

Dennis would have been about 9 months old. Roberta near 5. Here she is at 2. Just too cute to pass by...

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 13, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

July 13, 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, July 13:

Up in pretty good time. Had Polly come down to see rash on baby. Took him to Carroll to Dr. Polly, Pop & I. Got new shoes. Didn't get home until 6:30. Ate at Carroll Cafe. Pete milked & then we ate. Glenn, Ruth, Bobby & Carolyn came & stayed until 10:00. Took baths & went to bed.

My comments:

Assume the rash was taken care of… shopping… ate at Cafe…

Not mentioned, of course, is that Nancy was there, as well, about 3 weeks or so from making her first appearance. When we say we grew up together, we were not kidding! ;-)

Here are the three Bolger kids, a couple of years later…

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - June 29, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

June 29, 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 29:

Up in pretty good time. Took Pete over to plow beans & then went in town & got Buss & Mom. Did usual work. Slept an hour in pm & then went down in garden awhile. Over after Pete. Pop stopped awhile over on 80. Home & chores & ate supper. Doing dishes when Polly, Irene, Betty came with papers for me to sign. Bathed shaved after folks left & went to bed.

My comments:

Have to wonder what the papers were…

Cake left over from the day before, YUM!

White coconut layer cake:

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!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - May 22, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

May 22, 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, May 22:

Birthday note: Pop

Cloudy. Did usual work. Mom did the washing. Read and embroidered in p.m. In town at 4:00. Got the washing. Up home & curled Polly's & Betty's hair. Pete brought horses up and we left at 6::00. Home and chored. Ate cheese sandwiches late. To bed.

My comments:

Wonder if he will get "the horses" again…

Still love grilled chees sandwiches… had them a couple of days ago… I get to make them, now! One of my better meals that I prepare… with chips, out of bag, as well!! ;-)

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 25, 1939

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - April 25, 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 25:

 Out & worked in the garden. In morning planted radishes, lettuce, beets, carrots. Betty & Polly & Pop here awhile in the evening. Planted beans & peas I had soaked. Did chores, ate & went to bed. Dan Weaver here and looked at sow with 9 pigs.

My comments:

Will her beans look like these?

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Mar 2, 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 2:

Betty called & wanted us to come up. Ate early and then Pop & Pete went to Carroll. Curled Betty's & Polly's hair and embroidered, talked, & listened to the radio. Home and in to town. Got some dress material. Up home just a minute. Ate. Rather late with chores. Took baths and went to bed.

My comment: I've been very curious about their bath tub. Did it look like this, or what???  

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - Feb 3, 1939

 

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Feb 3, 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 Friday,  Feb 3:

Up at 8:30. Did dishes, separator, scrubbed the kitchen floor. Ate an early dinner and Pete went up after Pop and went in to sale. Listened to radio, played piano and read. Pete home at 5:30. Creamed egg on toast for supper. Pete milked and shaved and we went in to Final Co. Tourney. Coon beat Glidden 16-17. Some game. Home at 11:30.

My comment:  All I can think about is the Creamed egg on toast - love it! ;-)

 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Feb 2, 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 Thursday,  Feb 2:

Birthday note: Grant Ballard [39 - born in 1900]

Pete up at 7:30. Me at 8:30. Did separator & scrubbed. Ate dinner at 12:00. Did dishes. LVene came down & took us up  home. Pete & Pop took the Chevy to town. Polly, Betty, LVene & I came down here. Waved Betty's & LVene's hair. FInished the bench. Folks left at 4:30. Had potato soup for supper. Did dishes & made out the books. Took baths and then played 2 games of rummey. (sic) [Should be rummy!] Of course, Pete beat. Went to bed early.

My comment:  Dad didn't know about letting the "little woman" win! ;-)

Potato soup - I think Mom's would have looked like this... great for a cold evening! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - Jan 21, 1939

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

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


Here is the daily entry for Saturday, Jan 21:

Up late. I made an angel food cake in morning. Ate early. Cleaned up and went to Helen Jones Bogg shower at  Mrs. Wallingford's. Mom & I went. Sat with Valeria. Down town a minute. Pop and Pete were at the bank on business. We took Pop home. Betty sent us some pop corn balls and Pop gave us 4 oranges. Ate and then Pete milked. To bed early.

My comments: Pop and Pete at the bank, again. Sounds like progress. And, got more oranges.

Ah, an ANGEL FOOD CAKE! YUM! ;-) It was a very good day...  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Jan 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 Friday, Jan 20:

Up before 8:00. Did separator. Up home at 9:30. Up there for dinner. LVene there too but she had had dinner. Pete and Pop took 2 loads of pigs to Glidden. We 4 girls all washed our hair in pm & I waved them. In to town at 3:30. I sat on the street while Pete got a hair cut. Home and chores real early. Got to the Guthrie games before they started for a change. Boys lost 21-23 and the girl won. Down home talking until 11:00.

My comments: Overall, a very interesting, and somewhat unusual, day! ;-)

Pigs to market day ALWAYS an important day. Disposable income! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

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

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

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


Here is the daily entry for Wednesday, Jan 18:

Birthday noted: Mrs. Lee Brutsche

I didn't get up until 9:00. Ate breakfast, did the separator and started patching Pete's old jacket. Got dinner. Ate, did dishes, Pete went up home. He & Pop & Toots went in to the bank & talked to Dad all afternoon. About getting things settled & us getting something of our own. I finished putting buttons on Pete's old jacket and then played the piano and read awhile. Out doing my chores. Pete came about 5:30. Had French Toast for supper & then Pete milked while I did the dishes. Pete shaved and we both took baths. To bed at 10:00.

My comments: Very substantive entry. I can just feel the tension in her as she wrote this. I'd love to be able to hear that afternoon discussion. All afternoon. Wow!

Pete's mother actually owned the Homeplace farm; gift from her grandfather Miller (a long story).
With her early, unexpected death, the ownership interests included all the children, under intestate laws. Now that "the children" were all grown, it was time for some of them to "get something out" of their interest.

Eventually, some siblings bought out the interests of others. Mom and Dad wanted to have money to put a down payment on their own place. They did that, in a couple of years. Safe to assume that moving in this direction was a part of these discussions.

Notice how Mom did "busy work," and talked about it, while she waited to hear how the discussions had gone, during that long afternoon, at home, alone.

French Toast: Yum! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

75 Years Ago Today - Eileen's Diary - Dec 23, 1938

75 Years Ago Today

Eileen's Diary

Dec 23, 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 Friday, Dec 23:

[Tom Wolfe birthday noted]

Pete up home in morning. After dinner Pete & Pop & I went in to town. Lil & baby at the folks. Packages came from Sears & Monky Ward (sic).
Pete took Pop up home. Late with chores. Just stayed home at nite.

My comments: Good time to share a photo of Pop - Pete's Dad. There weren't that many. This was taken about this time (1938). He'd have been 69.

Families are Forever!  ;-)