From Mom’s Diary… 1949 - In the fall - Kinnick family

From Mom’s Diary… 1949

In the fall - Kinnick family

Back row: Paul, Eileen, Colleen, Leo, Buzz, Delbert

Next row: Dennis, Bill, Dorothy, Ida Marie, Lillian

Next row: Jim, Kathleen holding Karla, Kelton, Karen

Tom in car, Marcia in scooter

Based on age of kids, this photo of the Kinnick family is in the fall - place unknown. There are lots of gaps in Mom’s 1949 diary entries, so did not find any matching entries, but wanted to get the photo it.

Also, as the school year began, there are mentions that Inez Shirbroun was our teacher. Jim had started Kindergarten and I was in 5th grade.

As the fall moved on, Grandpa and Grandma Kinnick moved down to “the farm.” I’m fairly certain this was the farm between Coon and Bayard where Buzz and Colleen now live. Grandma Dorothy had had her 61st birthday. (Appears Buzz and Colleen moved down there, from Harvey place, after the first of the year.)

My comments:

This appeared to also be the year that Dad built the granary up on hill south of the house, up the hill from the Cattle Shed.

Jim and I were taking piano lessons in town every Saturday afternoon. One day said that I was driving tractor for Don Shultz.


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1949 - June 9 to 11 - Tommy walked; Bill cultivated

From Mom’s Diary… 1949 - June 9 to 11

Tommy walked; Bill cultivated

Not ours, but looked like this!

Thursday, June 9:

Tommy took first steps alone out doors from Dad to me. …

Friday, June 10:

… Bill ran Buzz’s cultivator alone on fall plowing. I kept driving out in car to watch. …

Saturday, June 11:

Tommy walked across kitchen floor. …
Bill cultivated with M with Buzz & Pete ate. He’s really growing up. …

My comments:

I would be ten years old in a couple of weeks, on July 1. What fun to read!

Note: On birthday, got "a bike horn & light, & film developer & printer." How about that? ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1949 - May 14 and 19 - Tom’s Birthday and School Picnic

From Mom’s Diary… 1949 - May 14 and 19

Tom’s Birthday and School Picnic

 

Spring at Willow #3 school

(I'm at right end of back row...)

Saturday, May 14: (1st birthday Tom, 12 teeth)

Cleaned the whole house. Made angel food for Tommy. Got 2 chickens from Elsie. Scrubbed kitchen, porch, bath room. Washed, set my hair. Men planting at Buzz. Got all except 6 A. beans. I took boys to Roy Rogers “Grand Canyon Trail.” Silver Mine. Pretty good. Got groceries & came home.

Thursday, May 19:

… Went to school picnic at Noon. …

My comments:

First mention of going to a Roy Rogers movie with “the boys.”

Assume the photo was from the picnic day. Works well here, in any event! ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1947 - Summers - Bikes

From Mom’s Diary… 1947 - Summers - Bikes

 

Wilson, Pat Thomas, Jim, Bill

This is out of order, but I wanted to get it recorded here.


My comments:

Note not only the kids, most important, but also the background.
As I’ve said before, looking at photos from years past, the backgrounds become very important.
Note that the driveway goes straight back, around the garage. At some point, the drive began to turn to the right on this side of the garage.
Note especially the pickup and the car!! The Barn and Garage. The white wood fence?!??
The house with old porch and chimney…
What fun! ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1949 - Apr 17 - The “dork” for “hork” incident!

From Mom’s Diary… 1949 - Apr 17 
The “dork” for “hork” incident!

This was one of my more “memorable” events from my younger years - have told the story for years.
Truly fascinating to see it in Mom’s words, in her diary, just as I’ve told the story. Wow! What fun!

Sunday, April 17:

To church on time. Had Tom baptized. Got along O.K. Dad had to hold him of course. To Leo’s to dinner. Ham & yams in basement. Stayed for lunch. Karen played horn & piano. Home & straightened up & went to bed.

Kelton said Jimmy says “dork” for “hork.” (fork)


My comments:

This was Easter, I’m sure, with Tom being baptized. The “in basement” notation was significant because they (Leo’s) had remodeled their lower level with a second kitchen, including a breakfast nook, as I recall. The formal dining room was still on the ‘main’ floor.

I also remember this as the day Leo noted that he got a ‘diamond stickpin’ for Easter which he was wearing in his tie. Seemed to denote success in his bank clerk life.

But the big ‘take-away’ was young nearly 4 year Kelton saying that 5 year old Jimmy was saying the word for ‘fork’ wrong, saying it wrong as well, himself.

Ah, the memories… ;-)



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1948 - Dec 14 - Mom was 30

From Mom’s Diary… 1948

Dec 14 - Mom was 30

 

This was our 1948 Christmas Card photo

Sunday, December 14:

30 years old today. Buss came & bro’t blue silk nitie. Really pretty. He & Pete went to Barr’s to finish picking. Worked on aprons, got a lot of birthday cards in mail. $1 from folks, hair brush, holder from Ida. Sidewalk & roads real slippery. Had fresh liver from Buss’ for supper. Did dishes, got boys to bed.

 
My comments:

Just chose her birthday as a marker to use the Photo. They bought ‘a big Console Bendix at Furn. Store’ on Dec 21. Said ‘Bill sat by it all night.’ Radio/phonograph combination. They had been to Leo’s the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so had been looking to get one for us, since! ;-)
Also a note that this was the year Dad got a ‘jig saw’ for Christmas and made the stand (welded) himself… I do remember the arrival of the jig saw, for sure… We had a great life!! ;-)
Mom made and gifted many aprons over the years... ;-)



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1948 - July 23 - Bill drove tractor

From Mom’s Diary… 1948

July 23 - Bill drove tractor

 

I believe the Avery tractor we had looked something like this… shared with Buzz and Grandpa Kinnick a lot.

Friday, July 23:

Got up early and washed. Colleen drove Avery over  & Buzz the M. Started combing here. … Kids married a month. … Bill ran tractor on oats wagon & he & Dad went in to ball game at night. …


My comments:

First mention of me driving the tractor as farm work. Neat. Nine years old.
Also, first mention of going to Coon Rapids to watch baseball games… did that a lot…



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1948 - June 23/July 1 - Wedding and Birthday

From Mom’s Diary… 1948

June 23/July 1 - Wedding and Birthday

Waiting outside the old Methodist Church in Coon Rapids for Buzz and Colleen to emerge.
Her Dad, Wes Davis, is tall gentleman in the middle, holding his hat. Do you recognize others?

Buzz and Colleen’s wedding dominated the ‘news’ in the diary for many days, before and after.
Here is the "Wedding Day”

Wednesday, June 23:

Really busy getting clothes ready. Folks & Buzz came to bathe & dress here. Ate early, bathed, took Tommy to Norma & Jimmy. Bill in Bible S. To rehearsal in church at 3:00. Leo’s bro’t us home at 5:00 & got Bill, Jim, Pete & went to Bride’s Dinner at Library at 5:30. Really nice. Bridal party, close relatives & friends. Cute rolling pin favors. Changed to Colleen’s pink formal at Winona’s. Helped unwrap gifts at church till nearly ate. Jo, Colleen’s roommate & I. Wedding was perfectly beautiful by candlelights. Sammy sang Lord’s Prayer as the knelt. At reception I cut cake & Winona handed the plates. Big crowd. Nice time. Frances, Roger, John, Pearl & Barbara there. Changed at WInona’s again. To Norma’s at 11:00.

Didn’t seem to find a 9th Birthday photo… but,

Thursday, July 1:

…I made Billy an angel food, did sep & milkers. Worked on school books, Bill building model airplane. Baby good. … School board at night.


My comments:

First notation of “School board at night” on my birthday… one change, from my memory, it was because Mom was Secretary to the board, not that Dad was on the board, at this time.

Have a few other photos from wedding reception… cannot put my fingers on them, at the moment!!



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1948 - May 14/30 - Tommy made 5

From Mom’s Diary… 1948

May 14/30 - Tommy made 5

Tommy was born on May 14…that made 5 of us in the family, now. This photo may from a little later in the year, but it fits my needs, here, how. ;-)

Sunday, March 30:

Baby awake several times in night. Fixed breakfast, fried 3 chickens, made a jello salad, gal. ice cream. Pete took Billy to S.S. & then went in town and got ice. Leo’s & folks came for dinner. Baby was fine all day & all evening. Men looked at Carricks, Irv Brown & Jeklles farms in P. M. Leo, Ida, Kelton in town a minutes. Fixed deviled eggs & another freezer ice cream for supper. Mom & Ida did dishes & I played piano & they sang. At 9:30 all listened to Horace Heidt 1/4 finals. Really good. They left & Buss came on way home from Iowa City. To bed 11:00.


My comments:

Buzz had taken Colleen back to Iowa City on Saturday…



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1948 - March 14 - Smith gathering

From Mom’s Diary… 1948

March 14 - Smith gathering

David, Jim, Judy, John, Bill

Sunday, March 14:

Really nice day. Get up at 6:30 & put chicken on. Made rolls, scalloped corn, fresh veg. salad, apple salad, mashed potatoes, ice cream, angel food cake. Pete & Billy went to church & then in & got Betty. She bro’t her record player. Irene had to work income tax. Toots, Mary, Margaret, LVene, Verle, David, John, Orrin, Max, Gary, Judy. Boys played cards. Kids really had a time. Judy, Gary, Betty stayed for supper. Then we took them home. Pete had to walk up lane with Gary & Judy. We didn’t have on chains. Home to bed at 10:00. Listened to Horace Heidt on way home.


My comments:

Hope and assume this photo matches with this story. Photo may have been on a hotter day, but all the actors are the same… When photos are not dated, you just do the best you can!! ;-)

March 17 was Mom and Dad's 10th Wedding Anniversary! ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1948 - March 5 - Buzz and Tom Spoke

From Mom’s Diary… 1948

March 5 - Buzz and Tom Spoke

Buzz and High School Friend Tom Rees in Army in Japan
Both graduated from Coon Rapids High School

Friday, March 5:

Did up work. Fixed pork roast. Mom & Buzz came for dinner. Stayed with Jimmy & Buzzy & I went to Workers Conference at Rhoda Wilson’s. He & Tom gave talk on Japan. Showed pictures. Rhoda’s house nice. Didn’t get home till 5:00. Mom didn’t feel any too good. Ate, listened to girls B.B. games at night. Karma, Wilton Junction beat Hartley-Slater.


My comments:

The next day, they listened to Girl’s B.B. State finals - Kamrar won by a big score, she said; adding, “Van Lagen set scoring record.”

Very muddy spring. On March 10, an event I have remembered vividly (I thought it was Easter to church, but this makes more sense, for the memories): “Pete took Billy to school on tractor.” I remember standing on the draw bar, holding onto the seat where dad set… Age is about right, as well!!

Mom was quite pregnant with Tom by this time. She never mentions it, except for ‘tired’ and ‘rested’ kinds of references… and quite a few days entries missing in the diary!! ;-)

One other thing on Mom: Along the way, she was elected/appointed Secretary to the School Board for Willow Township, it appears. Had meetings, took checks to bank, etc., from time to time. I had not remembered her in that role. Nice to learn about it! ;-)

P.S. Just realized I failed to post this clipping of Buzz arriving back from his military service. Good clip, fascinating experiences...

Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1948 - February 8 - Buzz and Diamond

From Mom’s Diary… 1948

February 8 - Buzz and Diamond

 

Colleen and Buzz the Spring of 1948

Sunday, February 8:

Billy went to church. Leo’s came & he went after Bill. Had creamed chicken, noodles, ice cream for dinner. Pinned drapes up in P.M. Buzz & Colleen stopped on way to Perry to meet train. Took Leo’s car. Plymouth froze up last night really cold. Some diamond Bussy gave her. He got back early. Played cards after supper & then they left.


My comments:

Buzzy had been discharged from the Army in Seattle on January 7, the news article says.

Colleen was going back to Iowa City to school, I assume. They got married in June of 1948.



Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1947 - Sept 30 - A day at random

From Mom’s Diary… 1947

Sept 30 - A day at random

Been watching for a day that said… Nice day… Jim played outside… lots of days missing… never happened, so chose this one, to go with photo of Jim, Car, and House

Tuesday, September 30:

Did up usual work. Made 2 apple pies. Had beefsteak. Don W. here for dinner. Cutting fodder. Listened to Yanks beat Dodgers in Series. Did dishes. Did my ironing. Mom & Dad here.
Toots & Mary’s baby girl born at 1:30 A.M. Margaret Ann. …


My comments:

Got in Margaret Ann birth and world series info… a good day! ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)