Who now?

April 28, 1931 - We had another walk in Nature Study this morning. I ate at the café this noon with Tillie.  Aunt Mildred and Uncle Chris went to the Hard-Time dance tonite. Aunt Mary and Uncle Charlie went down a while, too.  Studied and read awhile and then went to bed.  I saw two Kentucky cardinals this morning.
April 29, 1931 - We had some vocal numbers in chapel this morning.  Ate at the café with Tillie.  Frances took me home as far as the court house.  I went in to see Miss Sewell about schools but she didn't give me a bit of encouragement.
April 30, 1931 - Helen Hanson gave me a lift home today.  I went up to the College tonite to the recital given by Miriam Bracken and Marie Carstensen. I enjoyed it a great deal.

I really, really need to sketch out a map.  But, this, I have.  Aunt Mary and Uncle Charlie, I discovered all by my lonesome, are Kiersten's daughter and her husband, Charles Reese or maybe Riese.  They are people I do not recall Grandma talking about, but perhaps Mom and Nancy do.

I do wish Miss Sewell had been encouraging.

That's all I have, but it's something at least after my somewhat long absence.  I will endeavor to do better.

The photo is Uncle Charlie and Aunt Mary with their daughter Pearl.  Even though Grandma calls them uncle and aunt, by my reckoning, Mary was a first cousin of William Andersen.

Hell's Angels

April 25, 1931 - Ray came this morning about 6:15.  None of us were up.  We surely worked hard today.  Got practically everything moved.  I took all my things home with me tonite.  The bottom in the back of Ray's car was full to the brim.  Ralph and I went to Hoskins to the dance tonite.  Paul Ross' played.  I had a good time.  Walter came home Tuesday and is going back tomorrow.
April 26, 1931 - I looked over and packed up my things this morning.  All of us went to Uncle Max's today.  Florence, Loretta, Edwin, Ray, Ralph and I went to see Martha this afternoon.  She had lots of company.  Florence, Edwin, Ralph and I went to the show at Wayne tonite.  It was "Hell's Angels", an awfully good picture but real sad.  Ralph wanted to go to a barn dance tonite but I wouldn't go because of Edwin.
April 27, 1931 - My first day to walk 14 blocks to school!  I was about winded.  And then Chinn took us on a 2 mile hike!  I went home for dinner at Aunt Mary's.  I went up to the hall this evening and went to the piano recital with Miriam Bracken.

Did I miss something or just forget?  Martha had surgery, so I have that.  But why not go to a barn dance because of Edwin? 

I read this synopsis of the movie, and I wholeheartedly agree with Grandma that it is sad:

     Roy (James Hall) and Monte Rutledge (Ben Lyon) are very different British brothers. Strait-laced Roy loves and idealizes the apparently demure Helen (Jean Harlow). Monte, on the other hand, is a womanizer. Their German friend and fellow Oxford student Karl (John Darrow) is aghast at the idea of having to fight England when World War I breaks out.

     Meanwhile, the oblivious Monte is caught in the arms of a woman by her German officer husband (Lucien Prival), who insists upon a duel the next day. Monte flees that night. When Roy is mistaken for his brother, he goes ahead with the duel and is shot in the arm.

     Karl is conscripted into the German Air Force, and the two British brothers enlist in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), Monte only to get a kiss from a girl at the recruiting station.

     When Roy finally introduces Monte to Helen, she invites Monte to her flat. Monte tries to rebuff her advances for his brother's sake, but gives in. The next morning, however, he is for once ashamed of himself.

     Meanwhile, Karl is an officer aboard a Zeppelin airship sent to bomb Trafalgar Square, London. As the bombardier-observer, he is lowered below the clouds in a spy basket. He deliberately guides the Zeppelin over water, where the bombs have no effect. Four RFC fighters are sent to intercept the Zeppelin. Roy pilots one, with Monte as his gunner. To gain altitude more quickly, the airship commander (Carl von Haartman) orders everything possible be jettisoned. When that is not enough, he decides to sacrifice Karl by cutting the cable that secures his pod. He then accepts the advice of another officer; the officer and other crewmen obediently leap to their deaths "for Kaiser and fatherland". German machine gunners shoot down three aircraft; Roy and Monte survive a crash landing. After his machine guns jam or run out of ammunition, the last British pilot aloft dives his fighter into the dirigible, sending it crashing in a blazing fireball. The brothers narrowly avoid the debris.

     Later, in France, Monte is branded a coward for shirking his duty when his replacement is shot down in his place. When a Staff Colonel asks for two volunteers for a suicide mission, Roy and Monte step up. They are to destroy a vital enemy munitions depot their squadron had tried to blow up for days. They will sneak in using a captured German bomber the next morning so that a British brigade will have a chance in their otherwise hopeless afternoon attack.

     That night, Roy discovers Helen in a nightclub with Captain Redfield. When he tries to take her home, she turns on him, revealing that she never loved him, that she was, in fact, not the young innocent he believed her to be. Devastated, Roy joins Monte for some carousing. Monte decides not to go on the mission and nearly persuades Roy to do the same, but in the end, Roy drags Monte back to the airfield.

     The raid on the German munitions dump is successful. However, they are spotted in the act by a flight of German fighters from the Flying Circus, led by Manfred von Richthofen. Monte defends the bomber with a machine gun until their squadron arrives, and a dogfight breaks out. Their buddy "Baldy" shoots down the one German who is still targeting the bomber, but then von Richthofen swoops in and shoots the brothers down. They are captured.

     They are given the option of talking or facing a firing squad by none other than Roy's old dueling opponent. Monte decides to save his life. Unable to change his brother's mind, Roy convinces Monte that he should speak with the German general alone. He offers to tell what he knows on condition that there is no witness to his treason. The general is persuaded to give him a pistol (with one bullet) to kill Monte. Roy fails to get Monte to do the right thing, and has no choice but to shoot his brother in the back. Afterward, Roy is executed. The British attack gets off to a successful start.

Gracious sakes!!!

All settled

April 22, 1931 - Came back to Wayne this morning.  Don Cunningham spoke to us in chapel this morning.  Aunt Mildred went down to Dennis' tonite to wash woodwork.  I went to Aunt Mary's and asked her about staying there.  She said it was all right.  I took some cutwork lessons from Mrs. Smith this afternoon.
April 23, 1931 - Mrs. Smith went to Carroll this afternoon.  Mrs. Yaryan and Wayne Evans came after her.  Mrs. Alvin Anderson left her little baby boy with Aunt Mildred while she did some shopping.  I got to see the twins.  They're about 2 1/2 years old and are the most adorable little girls.  The family went to a card party tonite.
April 24, 1931 - It seems funny without Mrs. Smith here.  The house looks funny, curtains and shades are down.  Aunt Mildred took looney over to Martichang's this afternoon.  I went with Aunt Mildred to wax floors in the new home this evening.

I swear it says "looney", lower case, so likely not a nickname for someone.  I thought maybe it was supposed to say 'honey', but I looked and looked and I still get looney.  Maybe it's a subliminal remark about myself.

Aunt Mary?  So Mrs. Smith was a boarder like Grandma and had to leave since Uncle Chris and Aunt Mildred moved?  I am learning that I don't know much about Grandma's college days, that's for sure.  Nice to know her living arrangements were settled rather quickly.

I do not recall when I last featured Bumps in a photo, but here he is in his little dog, one foot in the air glory.

Good thing it was a fun birthday

April 19, 1931 - I ironed my dresses this morning.  It rained this afternoon.  Marie and Clifford, R.K., Dora and George and Uncle Hans were here this afternoon and for supper.  Us kids went out to the farm after F.S.  Ola and Annie, Mr. and Mrs. Schellenberg and Dora and George were here this evening.  Mother was real glad when she found out I'd invited them all her for her birthday.  Us kids had planned to go up and see Bernice Ordway a little while this afternoon, but the rain stopped us.
April 20, 1931 - I came back on the train this morning and had to miss Nature Study.  Aunt Mildred told me they're moving the last of this week.  They're taking a 3-roomed apartment at John Dennis'.  I'll have to find another place to sleep, I guess it'll be with Aunt Mary Riese.
April 21, 1931 - Cold again today.  I went home on the train this evening to talk things over with Mom.  I talked to Loretta and Florence a real long time.  Ray was working on a thesis of some kind for Economics.  I got my Algebra and then went to bed.  Martha was operated on today and is getting along alright.  Hans fell off a mule and tore the ligaments loose in his arm.

Forgive my saying so, but telling a young student on Monday that she won't have a place to stay come Friday seems a bit, well, rude.  Maybe the new place just fell in their laps and they had to move quickly, but with limited information it seems wrong.  Obviously, Grandma recovered at some point; my guess is fairly quickly.

And then we have a report of some surgery and torn ligaments caused by a mule.  I hope I have something more uplifting to report in my next post.

Leo and Mamie

April 16, 1931 - The weather is just gorgeous today.  Aunt Mildred didn't have time to come home for supper.  Washed my hair this afternoon.  Ralph came about 7:30 and we went to the play at Louise Lautenbaugh's school.  It was real good.  Herman Bogins played his part real good.  Edwin and Florence came home with us.  Martha, Meta, Willie and Hans were there, too.  Edwin is going to take Ralph's care home and wash it.  It needs it!
April 17, 1931 - I did the Saturday work up today, so I wouldn't have to stay tomorrow.  Schellenberg's were in Wayne this afternoon.  Momma was with them and so I went home that way.  Ray and I went to Hoskins tonite to Mamie and Leo Jensen's chivari dance.  I didn't care much about going but I had a pretty good time anyway.  All the Carroll kids were there.  I saw Tommy Morris for the first time in ages.  He's still the same old Tommy.
April 18, 1931  - Cloudy.  I cleaned up the house today.  Went with Ray to Annie's this noon and had dinner there.  We got the spread at the post office and looked at it.  I sneaked it into the house and put it on her bed.  She was glad and surprised.  Martha, Edwin, Ralph, Florence and I went to Norfolk tonite to see Aunt Mary.  Alice and Raymond were there.  Aunt Mary's going home tomorrow.  We had fun down town before we went to the hospital.  Running away with the car, hunting bums, buying candy and salted peanuts and chasing bums.  Martha stayed all nite with me.

Seems there has been a bit of a dry spell with dances, so I am glad Grandma got to squeeze one in.  And it was Leo and Mamie's dance.  Oh, if I could have a photo of them in 1931.  I only knew them as cute little old people.  I didn't know them well, but I found them to be really special.

Since Grandma underlined the word "bums", I am hopeful that they weren't really hunting and chasing people, but something else entirely.  Unless someone else knows what that might have meant in 1931, I guess I'll never know.

I do not know who all is in the photo, and it may have been high school senior skip day, but I thought it was a neat photo.

Well, I'm confused

 

April 13, 1931 - Annie took me to see the board members of District 63.  Margaret Miller is very low.  Went to Grandma Petersen's funeral this afternoon.  There was a large crowd.  Uncle Nels, Andrew, his wife, and Jim Anderson, and Alvina Nelsen (Howard's mother) were here from Washington for the funeral.  Came back to Wayne with Uncle Chris.  Aunt Mildred is working at Jones Book Store during their closing out sale.  I went to bed early!
April 14, 1931 - We took a field trip in Nature Study.  I went up to Tillie's room for a little over an hour.  I talked to Jane a few minutes this afternoon in the Ad Building.  Dennis', McNutt's and Petersen's were up here this evening and played cards with Uncle Chris and Aunt Mildred.  I went to bed early.  Wrote letters tonite asking Uncle Hans', Aunt Emma's, Dora and Marie to come Sunday for Momma's birthday.
April 15, 1931 - Dr. Conn spoke in chapel this morning concerning his trip to California.  I went down town this afternoon and bought some things at Jones Book Store.  I went down to Aunt Mary's tonite.  Uncle Pete is going away tomorrow (goes to Winside, leaves there Friday for Hot Spring).  I got home at 12 o'clock. Aunt Mildred had to work tonite.  I sent the order for Mom's bedspread today.

Here is my confusion; who is Andrew, and should Jim Anderson be Jim Andersen, and who is Howard?  I am guessing they are all Andersen/Petersen people since it was Grandma (Kiersten) Petersen's funeral.  I found am Elsie Alvena "Alvina" Petersen that married and then divorced a Christensen who was Kiersten's daughter.  But she didn't have a Howard for a son, nor does it appear she married a Nelsen.  Nels Petersen was Kiersten's brother and he had a son named Andrew.  Oh, and Nels had a daughter Elvina that married a Nelsen.  Tada!  It pays to look before one types, but then I lose my train of thought.  Well, but I don't see that Alvina had a son named Howard.  I am back to confused.

And who are the Dennis's and the McNutts?  Who is Margaret Miller?

On a totally different note, I found out today that Hugo Boock's nickname was "Hook".  Makes sense -- H. Boock, say it fast, equals Hook.

Above is Kiersten's obit (sorry it is difficult to read, the scan was all I had) and a photo of her in her later years; perhaps as Grandma would have remembered her.  The littles in the photo are some of her grandchildren.

A sad time and a punk time

April 10, 1931 - Went home on the train this evening.  Florence S. met me at the depot.  We waited for my pictures but they didn't come.  Grandma Petersen died today.  Momma and Ray went to Norfolk with Dora and George.  Dora, Mom and Ray went to see Aunt Mary Kahler.  She's been at the Verges Sanitarium, she has heart trouble.  Ray got his graduation clothes.  I went to Ella and Herman Willers' chivari dance tonite with Leo Jordan.
April 11, 1931 - I slept late this morning.  Momma laid around all day, not feeling good.  Went down to Florence's this afternoon.  We got my pictures.  They were all good.  Went out to the farm with Florence this evening.  We went to Hoskins to the dance with Ed and Mr. Schellenberg.  Florence and I came home with Edwin and Ralph.  We went up to Martha's and saw her pictures.  I stayed with Florence at the farm tonite. We had a punk time at the dance.
April 12, 1931 - Ray came at 9 o'clock and took Florence and I to Annie and Ola's.  We had dinner, then Ralph and Edwin came and we went to Norfolk to see Aunt Mary.  Alice and Raymond went along.  Florence and I stayed in town at Schellenberg's while the boys did the chores at Ehlers'.  Went up to Uncle Hans'.  We had lunch and played cards.  We were real tired.  I stayed at Annie's tonite.  Got in the house just as the clock struck twelve.

I am not sure I have heard the term "punk time" before.  Perhaps I lead a sheltered life.

Let's see, the Grandma I know would not have said "not feeling good" nor "took Florence and I".

Was Schellenberg's an eatery?  I see that name popping up every now and then but haven't asked yet.  Also, I have heard of "chivari" dances -- my spellcheck doesn't like that word but does not have a replacement for it.  Does anyone know the correct spelling and what it means exactly?  (I am just full of questions lately.)

Regarding the Welsh Church mentioned in an earlier post -- I looked through the Wayne County history book (albeit somewhat quickly) and did not see such a church name.  Perhaps it was not the official name and I can find it if I read something other than the paragraph headings.  But, it is late and I have to take care of the critters so . . .

The photo, I am pretty sure, is Ola and Annie.  I am guessing a wedding photo.