From Mom’s Diary… 1946 - April 6 - Nice day

From Mom’s Diary… 1946

April 6 - Nice day

Saturday, April 6:

Nice day. Cleaning upstairs. Did sep then to Hazel Bow. to congrats Joan but she wasn’t there. She got a first on her song. Surely fine. Home & fixed dinner. Boys & I went to Carroll. Got Billy new shoes. Home & at folks at 6:00. Got pickup again. Buzz came over to get the car. Did up work. Fixed supper & went to bed.

My comments:

This was a cute photo of the two of us, I just came across… had to find a place for it. ;-)

Noted that at about this point in the diary, she started using 'Jim' and 'Bill' more... interesting...  ;-)

Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1946 - March - Girls BB State Championship

From Mom’s Diary… 1946

March - Girls BB State Championship

The Coon Rapids High School Girl’s Basketball Team, in March of 1946, won the State Championship. Mom and Dad went to most of the home games during the season.

Small town Iowa went crazy for their BB, as everyone knows. Here are some of the entries for the days of the State Tournament Games they were able to attend. I can ‘feel’ the anxiety in Mom as she recorded these entries. While in Des Moines, they visited relatives, briefly each day, before and after going to the “Field House” on the Drake University campus for the games. See my additional comments, below, as well.

Wednesday, March 13:

Nice day. Got Billy to school. Mildred stopped & said she’d like to go to Des M. with us. Washed & set my hair. Mom & Buss came at 11:00. Ate dinner. Mildred try school out early & we left at 3:45. Parked across from grocery store & Pete went in & got some lunch for us. Went to field house. Had a long wait. Coon beat Callender by a big score. Drove down town. Ate at Mal’s lunch. Fried chicken, shoe strings, salad. Pete got lunch at Perry. Home at 2:00


On Thursday, March 14, her entry started with: “Really tired.” Duh! ;-)

Friday, March 15:

Got up at 8:00 & got Billy off to school. Did up work. Mom & Bussy came for dinner. Did dishes & cleaned up. Mildred let school out at 2:30. Pete had Dan come & milk. Left at 3:00. Stopped at Francis’. Had orange juice. Mrs. Buenneke, Rippey, Ethel Brutsche there, too. Took them to field house. Saw New Prov. beat Guthrie Center & we beat Steamboat Rock. Really good games. Stopped at Perry & had lunch. Home at 2:00. When we got home folks said no more tickets available so we told Dad to call Roger 1st thing in the morning. To Pearl’s for lunch cake & cocoa.

Saturday, March 16:

Really rainy. Did up work. Pete went to town at ten to see Irene about tickets. Bussy & Mom sick. Mrs. Pevestorf came to watch the boys. Jack Bow. came to see if Joan could go too. In town to get Irene. Left at 1:30. Stopped at Frances & Rogers & got the hard to get tickets. Mildred, Kay, Boise there. Frances played for us. Over to Kates. Had cake & coffee then got Barbara & went to Field House. Saw Steamboat beat Guthrie & our girls beat New Providence. Gave Colleen Bussy’s letter. To Pearl’s for lunch. Barbara played for us. Home at 2:00.


My comments:

I’ve written about this a few times, before, of course. See, with links in it to other stories:
http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2011/10/sports-center-saturday-buzz-and-coleen.html

The March 10th, 2016, edition of the Coon Rapids Enterprise had a story for the 70th Anniversary, including this quote, among much more detail:

“…the Coon girls reached the state tournament, and then, as the Coon Rapids Enterprise reported, “they mowed ‘em down! One, two, three, four in order.” Callender, Yarmouth, Steamboat Rock, New Providence. It was a glorious finish to a wonderful season for Coach Jennings’ girls, 28 victories in a row with the concluding one giving them the state title. Colleen Davis was named first team all state
forward and Patsy Williams was a first team all state guard.”


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1945 - Late November - Made bathroom

From Mom’s Diary… 1945

Late November - Made bathroom

Old front porch before being enclosed for bathroom

Bathroom addition, where porch was, over rear tire... (unpainted yet)
[This photo taken on January 29, 1946... per diary... snowed real hard the next day!]

Saturday, November 24:

Nice day. Henry J. & 2 boys came & started work on bathroom. Are we ever glad. …

Thursday, November 29:

… Johnson’s finished about 3:00. …

Saturday, December 1:

… Pete laying block in basement. …


My comments:

These entries are to record several events of the time - that I’ve wondered when they actually occurred. Before I get to the bathroom… Grandpa and Grandma Kinnick and Buzzy apparently had moved out to the Harvey Place on the Glidden Road in about late August. No big announcement, but one reference to ‘Harvey’s’ and then it was ‘over to Mom’s’ rather ‘in to Mom’s… and other things.

What had been a front porch on the farmhouse, southwest corner, west of the kitchen, became the bathroom, and ‘front entrance hall’ (that we never used) by way of Henry Johnson and his boys at this time. Mister came a few days later to put in the bathtub, toilet, and other plumbing. At the same time, it appears, Dad was finishing the south half of the basement, putting in the cement block walls. Again, I have vague memories of this happening, but nothing to tie it to a date. I’m a bit surprised it was this early, but really enjoying seeing how quickly Dad was improving the farm and house, now that it was theirs. Earlier in the fall, they also had workers in installing ‘insulation’ that must have been very nice. The word ‘remodeling’ was used a time or two, but nothing more specific. It was an ongoing set of tasks, obviously. Outdoors, during this year, there was much reference to tiling. One day: “Billy helped Pete unload tile,” for example. Other references to ‘digging ditches’ and one to ‘the septic tank.’


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1945 - August 14 - V. J. Day

From Mom’s Diary… 1945

August 14 - V. J. Day

On Tuesday, May 8, Mom had written: “Got Billy ready for school but it was V. E. Day & he didn’t have to go.” She had underlined and circled ‘V. E. Day.’ But the day went on with no other mention.

Tuesday, August 14: [Curly circled… an important day!]

V. J Day finally came at 6:00 P.M. I was ironing when the news came from Truman. Seems to good to be true. Won’t this be a wonderful Christmas. I wonder what Paul N. is doing. Boys started threshing here using the buck. Canned 3 1/2 quarts br. & butter pickles in A. M. Got all my ironing done. Cooked some peaches for pies.

My comments:

The big news of the day was very important… but life went on, in its day by day activities.


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1945 - July 15 - Louise's

From Mom’s Diary… 1945

July 15 - Louise's

Sunday, July 15:

Kelton Kent Kinnick born at 3:00 A.M. Fried chickens, made potato salad, ice cream & took it to Louise’s. Bussy Luce went with us. Had a nice time. Took a lot of pictures. Home at 6:00. Chores, shelled peas, & cooked them. Went to bed early.

My comments:

Found the day this photo was taken. Darrell, Marie, and Annie, behind me, Judy in front, with Jimmy! ;-)

Kelton born this day, as well!! ;-) Son of Leo and Ida, of course.

Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1945 - July 1 - 6th Birthday

From Mom’s Diary… 1945

July 1 - 6th Birthday

Angel Food Cake at 6 Years Old with Dennis, at his house

Sunday, July 1: [Billy - 6 yrs.]

Nice day. Got up at 8:00. Cleaned the downstairs before Jimmy got up. Scrubbed kitchen & porch. Lil’s stopped after church, left present for Billy, asked up to bring our chicken over for dinner. Folks went too. Made ice cream in P.M. Had a nice time. Jimmy had a nice nap. Had Billy’s cake there. He & Dennis played with the trike, new tractor, caterpillar, etc. Home at 5:30. Did sep, etc. LVene, Irene came & left gifts. Miss Pev. left gift while we were gone. Cleaned upstairs. Folks came & we made more ice cream. Boys to bed. Pete discing with lights.


My comments:

Pretty typical birthday. I was a very lucky boy. What a life!! ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)

From Mom’s Diary… 1945 - A day in June

From Mom’s Diary… 1945 - A day in June

 

 

Jimmy, Billy, and Whitey

Monday, June 4:

Swell day so I washed. Had a lot of it. Went over my whole garden with plow in P.M. and planted onions. Billy & Jimmy & I went in town to use up blue stamps. Home at 7:00. Jimmy in store with me till Dad came. He didn’t want to stay with Mom but Billy did.
Clouded up and rained again.


My comments:

Picked a day, sort of at random, to share the photo I found. Also, this day mentioned the ‘blue stamps’ whatever they were…


Also, this is first appearance of "Whitey" the dog! ;-)


Families are Forever! ;-)