My first years… from Eileen's Diary - Highlights of March, 1940

My first years…  

from Eileen's Diary

Highlights of March, 1940

These are highlights from the diary of my mother, twenty-one year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.

 Was this the 'nursery chair' he 'finished?'

[Rather than posting each mundane entry, I've chosen items of interest to me, as I knew my family (or didn't). Also, significant events Mom noted, as seen by me, looking back. Comments at the end.]

Month of March highlights:

Fri, Mar 1 [Birthday note: Ruth Bolger] - (Pete) pulled the new John Deere Spreader home with Delbert’s tractor. Had swiss steak for dinner. … Pete finished his nursery chair and I read until 10:00.
Sat. Mar 2 - I got up and built the fires. Really icy out. Pete worked on the cupboard.
Mon. Mar 4 - Pete took Jno.Dr. & went up to Bolger’s after his binder. … He took the tractor up to Delbert’s & I went after him. … Ruth & Glenn came. Figured on ch. cupboard & played cards until 11:00.
Wed. Mar 6 - …took Pete & lumber up to the church. I came home, fixed chicken & noodles & went up there for dinner. Glenn’s, Verles, Beryl’s, Gurerney’s, Don’s, us were there. Spilt Billy’s milk & went up to Ruth’s after some more.
Thurs. Mar 13 [Birthday note: Ida Marie] - Planned on having Leo’s here for Ida’s birthday tonite, but it snowed too hard. … Roads all blocked again.
Sun. Mar 17 [2. anniversary] - Nice day. Went to church. In to folks for dinner. Leo, Ida, Paul there.
Been married 2 years. Mom gave us $1; Ida gave us stationary.
Wed. Mar 20 - Dad went with Charley T. to the hockey game in Omaha.
Thurs. Mar 21 [Birthday note: Leo Kinnick] - Up early. Left for Des Moines. Edith T., LVene & Betty went along. Ate dinner at Bolton & Hay. Coat at Robinson’s. Shoes at Berland’s & hat at Sibyl’s. Home at 5:45. Chored, ate & went to S.S. party at Brown’s. Played Rook. Mom and Buss stayed all night again.
Sun. Mar 24 [Easter - Billy was baptized] - Got ready and went to church. Quite a few were there. Jack B. sang - girls had an exercise. Didn’t have any class. Real cold day but we all wore our new coats.
Sun. Mar 31 - Leo & Ida moved to Lohrville.



My comments: Good peak into their life in the winter.
I remember seeing Grandpa Paul Kinnick had gone to hockey game in Omaha with Charley Thomas and a couple of others, in the Enterprise. Would never have guessed… but true! “Mom and Buzzy” always came and stayed with Pete and Eileen, when Paul out of town. Interesting.
Quite a shopping spree in Des Moines. P.S. She sent the coat back to Robinson’s in Des Moines, and got another at Ellerbrock’s in Carroll. Must have decided it was too expensive. ;-)
Jack Bowman sang on my baptism day! That was nice!! ;-)
This confirms when Leo and Ida moved to Lohrville!!




Families are Forever!  ;-)

My first years… from Eileen's Diary - Highlights of February, 1940

My first years…  

from Eileen's Diary

Highlights of February, 1940

These are highlights from the diary of my mother, twenty-one year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.

[Rather than posting each mundane entry, I've chosen items of interest to me, as I knew my family (or didn't). Also, significant events Mom noted, as seen by me, looking back. Comments at the end.]

Billy in snowsuit, Eileen, Pooch

Month of February highlights:

Sat. Feb 3 - Pete finished the play pen. …  Pete played piano…
Sun. Feb 4 - Listened to radio, wrote in books, & Pete played the piano.
Mon. Feb 5 - Pete cleaned out the chicken house. Chores, ate supper, read, Pete played piano & we went to bed.
Tues. Feb 6 - Got ready to go to Farm Bureau meeting at Mrs. Turners in town. LVene took Billy up to Smith’s. They kept him. Truman’s home is real nice.
Wed. Feb 8 - Snowing and blowing.
Mon, Feb 12 - Polly & Merle left for Calif.
Tues. Feb 13 - Betty showed me how to crochet.
Thurs. Feb 15 - Pete went up and helped Delbert & Lilian move.
Friday Feb 16 - Pete worked on sandpapering play pen, I worked on books.
Sat. Feb 17 - Snowing. … took Billy in to Mom’s & Pete & I went to Carroll. I practiced in F.B. Women’s Chorus.
Thurs. Feb 22 - I made a choc. cake. Took it to pot luck S.S. party at Glenn & Ruth’s. Played cards & games & sang. Home late. Hazel Bolger kept Billy.
Sun. Feb 25 - Folks came for supper & then they stayed with Billy while we went to Vic & Ger. farewell party. Levee, Verle, Julia, Arnold, Edith, Betty, Irene, Toots, Glenn, Ruth, Ruth, Harold, Brannan’s, Don, Norma, Berle, Gurtha, Beulah, Guerney.
Mon. Feb 26 - Pete worked on nursery chair.




My comments:
Dad seemed to tire of playing the piano, after a few days.
I had not realized that Polly & Merle left for California this early in 1940. Nice to see the record.
Delbert & Lillian Ford moved. Vic & Gertrude Ford “farewell party.” ??
Still working on play pen. “Nursery chair” I assume is the one I still have!! All wood. Neat!
Thurs Feb 22 - First time Hazel Bolger kept Billy, that I’m aware - many times, over those early years. Assume she probably had Bob, Carolyn and Nancy, as well!! ;-)



Families are Forever!  ;-)

My first years… from Eileen's Diary - Highlights of January, 1940

My first years…  from Eileen's Diary

Highlights of January, 1940

These are highlights from the diary of my mother, twenty-one year old Eileen KINNICK SMITH, 75 Years Ago. She kept a diary from 1932 as a freshman in high school until she left us, too early, in 1999.

[Rather than posting each mundane entry, I've chosen items of interest to me, as I knew my family (or didn't). Also, significant events Mom noted, as seen by me, looking back. Comments at the end.]

Month of January highlights (I was six months old on Jan. 1):

Wed. Jan 3 - Had w.c. shot for Billy. Got our corn money.
Sat. Jan 6 - Took folks a load of cobs & bro’t home a load of coal.

Wed. Jan 10 - Ate dinner at Carroll… Mom had her glasses changed. Billy had his last whooping cough shot.
Thurs. Jan 11 - Chored early & went to Ruth and Glenn’s for oyster supper. Moylan’s kept Billy.
Sat. Jan 13 - It really is snowing. Real deep. … Billy - 2 more teeth.
Sun. Jan 14 - Quit snowing but blowing terribly.
Tues. Jan 16 - Pete in to lumber yard. … Pete started play pen.
Wed. Jan 17 - Pete working on Billy’s play pen.
Thurs. Jan 18 - Really was cold. About 20 degrees below.
Sun. Jan 21 - Showed Pete a little about the piano…
Mon. Jan 22 - Pete worked on Billy’s play pen.
Tues. Jan 23 - Pete played piano awhile…
Thurs. Jan 25 - Pete took me & Billy to club at Mrs. Wheeler’. He slept all the time. …
… went to Gymer’s to S.S. party…Polly kept Billy.
Sat. Jan 27 - Pete went up home & helped butcher a beef. … Pete played the piano awhile…
Sun. Jan 28 - Pete played piano a little…
Mon. Jan 29 - Pete worked on Billy’s play pen.

My comments: Didn’t know Dad ever had interest in playing the piano…
Sure put a lot of effort into “Billy’s play pen”…
Interesting to note the people who cared for me when they ‘went out.’ More than I realized.
It was a really hard winter. Snowed in a lot, but rarely more than a day…


Families are Forever!  ;-)