Busy, busy, busy

July 13, 1932 - Ray took me to Wayne this afternoon.  We visited with Aunt Mildred awhile.  Had my certificate registered and talked to Miss Sewell.  Mom went to Ladies Aid at Mrs. Wilson Miller's.  Ray took me to Hoskins and I got my contract all fixed.  Saw Arnold and talked to him.  I drove the Ford home.  Lena Brogren's birthday.
July 14, 1932 - Mom sewed today.  It was terribly warm today.   Annie and Ola were in here awhile this afternoon.  Mom and Ray went out to Hans Andersen's tonite and I went down to Florence Schellenberg's.
July 15, 1932 - Mom and I waxed the upstairs floors.  I washed out some clothes.  This noon Ray went out to Wm. Kant's to work.  Arnold came up tonite.  I drove his car 8 miles east of Winside and back again.  Birthdays - Mildred Walker, George Moore, Chris Brogren.

I wonder if I would get as much done if I had the summers off as Grandma does.  I thinking back, she seems to be doing or going or fixing or cleaning or something every day.  Of course, in making that assessment, I need to remember (if possible) was it was like to be 20 years old. 

Here is the Winside history for 1899:

     July 13, F. W. Sornberger had the distinction on Monday of making the first shipment of wool ever to go out of Winside.  It was the season's clip from 250 sheep, and weighing 1860 pounds.  It brought the nice sum of $262.00, which is an excellent price.  This was an average clip and ran about 7.5 pounds each which is also good considering most of the sheep were ewes.  The price figures about 14 cents a pound or about $1.05 per sheep.  Mr. Sornberger also has 225 lambs which will help to even things up a little.  He figures that not counting his feed, he has about broken even with the board in one year.
     September 3, the thunderstorm of Saturday night seemed to have everyone on edge.  One bolt of lightning struck the chimney of the G. H. Glaser saloon, partly demolishing it and shaking up the few occupants inside.  Another bolt struck the house of Fred Thies a half mile north of town.  Mr. Thies was upstairs at the time and received a shock passing down his body, then over to an old trunk, then to the wall, going down inside to the foundation, and tearing out a hole in the wall about two feet square where it left the building.  The lightning melted the coins in his pocket into a mass.  Mr. Thies is recovering from the shock and considers himself very lucky.

I would concur -- very lucky indeed.

It has been a while since I used this photograph of Grandma Anna, Uncle Ray and Grandma.  I think it appropriate since all were involved in the events above.

Happy blog anniversary to me! And to you!

I just looked at my little five-year diary (much like some of Grandma's diaries, now that I think of it) and noticed that on this date in 2012, I started this blog.  I have managed 644 posts in those 1,096 days, which works out to one every 1.7018633 days.  Not bad, considering I was very dedicated in the beginning and rarely missed a day but have lapsed in to somewhat large lapses lately.

With this data in mind, perhaps I will be better going forward.

Big bunch of people I don't know and that's okay

July 10, 1932 - I was reading in bed this a.m. when Arnold came.  He surprised me.  Went to S.S. and church with him and then to a picnic dinner for Ezra J.  The Walker kids, Dorothy, Gilbert & Hazel Jochens, the Maas' and Harry, Alice and Lorene's cousin were there.  Went to King's in p.m.  Evie, Lydia, Mike, Bud, Arnold and I went boating.  Bud got his trousers wet because he tipped the boat too much.  To League this evening.
July 11, 1932 - Picked beans this morning.  Went down town this afternoon.  Mom came home tonite.  We picked the peas.
July 12, 1932 - We canned 12 quarts of beans and 6 pints of peas.  Cleaned the basement this afternoon.  Mom went to R.N.A. meeting tonite.  I walked out to Ola's and had Ray take me to Hoskins to see about my contract.  I'm supposed to come tomorrow nite to get it.

It seems Grandma is having a busy and fun summer so far.  I can't see her boating in my mind, but obviously she did.  I want to say she went for a boat ride at Gavins Point Dam when Tom had a boat, but I'm not going to put money on that bet.

Nancy has been asking when Grandpa is going to show up as a serious suitor in Grandma's diaries.  I have peeked ahead a bit, and although I found one mention of "the Iversens" in 1932, in skipping ahead to the end of the year (mainly scanning the weekends), I can't find anything of note.  Hopefully Grandpa will make an appearance in 1933.  But, who knows?

We haven't seen the butt photos for a while, so here they are.

Rebekah Lodge

July 7, 1932 - Got up at six o'clock and started getting ready to wash.  Grussfather turned the machine for me.  All the clothes on the line by 11:00.  Slept this p.m. and also sprinkled the clothes for ironing tomorrow.  Ralph Ruschman's birthday.
July 8, 1932 - Was up to see Alma L. a few minutes this a.m.  Ironed, baked 2 cakes, and fixed a stocking for Alma.  Went to Rebekah Lodge tonite with Alma.  They had joint installation with the I.O.O.F.  I have an office, I'm L.S.V.G.
July 9, 1932 - Slept late this morning and didn't get all my work done, so had to finish it this aftenoon.  And it was so hot!!  Got 2 library books tonite.  Ray and I went to Carroll.  No one there we knew, so we went to Hoskins.  There were so few at Hoskins that the orchestra had left.  So we came home.

I remember the Rebekah Lodge being mentioned every now and again, but I am pretty sure it was not going on in Winside when I was young, or I would have heard much more about it and possibly have been a member.  The organization is still in existence and I plucked the following from their webpage:

"The Rebekah’s are a Fraternal Order, as well as a Service Organization. Our members must be 16-18 years or older, believe in a Supreme Being, Creator and Preserver of the Universe, and be faithful to their Country. Rebekah’s exhibit the true principles of Odd Fellowship which are Friendship, Love, and Truth and in this day and age are extended to rendering service to our communities- SERVICE IS OUR GOAL.

Becoming a Rebekah offers many opportunities to:

• understand the principles of Friendship, Love, and Truth
• be involved in leadership training applicable to everyday life.
• have a more purposeful life.
• develop enduring friendships far and wide.
• become an active participant in your community.
• broaden your mind.
• help children, the elderly, and the less fortunate.
• develop an inner satisfaction that money cannot buy.
• have a warm friendly welcome in strange cities and distant lands.
• have companionship at a time of loneliness.
• enlarge your circle of friends.
• use your talents to help others.
• have fun.

Become a Rebekah and change your life!

REBEKAH CREED

I AM A REBEKAH: I believe in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, and the Sisterhood of woman.  I believe in the watch-words of our Order - Friendship, Love and Truth.
Friendship - is like a golden chain that ties our hearts together. Love - is one of our most precious gifts, the more you give, the more you receive. Truth - is the standard by which we value people. It is the foundation of our society.  I believe that my main concern should be my God, my family and my friends. Then I should reach out to my community and the World, for in God's eyes we are all brothers and sisters.  I AM A REBEKAH!"

I also found a site wherein the author stated the creation of the Rebekah Lodge said more about men at the time than women, in that the Lodge gave the womenfolk something to belong to and kept them from being out on the town during the men's lodge night, it allowed the men to keep an eye on the women, and kept the women out of the men's lodge.  If that was the case, at least the Lodge morphed into something more important than those three things.  And now, women are allowed in the IOOF.  So there.

I tried two different photos to add concerning the Lodge, but neither will load for me.  So, instead here's a photo of Grandpa with a beard.  As I recall the beard may have been for Old Settlers' or the Nebraska centennial. 

Picking peas

July 4, 1932 - Out to Annie's this a.m.  Fixed stockings for her and baked my cake.  Went with Ray to the Farmer's Union picnic at Hillier's.  Saw Lewis and Florence Jenkins.  Home about 7 o'clock.  Then to picnic at Ezra Jochens with A.W.  The Hoskins League entertained the Madison League.
July 5, 1932 - I got up at 10:30 and Ray at 11 o'clock.  Ray and I picked the peas.  After dinner Ray went out to Ola's.  I was the Director for the R.N.A. Juveniles this p.m. at Roxie's in Mom's place.  Went to bed at 7 o'clock.
July 6, 1932 - Washed my silk undies.  Went out to Clara's this p.m. while Mom came in to town.  We had a rain and hail storm about 3 o'clock.  Quite a bit of hail, but it didn't do much damage here.  To League at Dorothy J. tonite with Arnold.

My guess is that Grandma and Uncle Ray were tired from staying out late with 4th of July festivities.  My evidence is that they slept late when there were peas to pick...in Nebraska, in July.  I would surely rather pick earlier than that.  Plus, Grandma went to bed that same night by 7 o'clock.  I would wager they had a fun and/or late 4th.  But picked late or no, it is hard to beat fresh peas from the garden.  I found it a relaxing way to pass the time, as opposed to a chore, to sit and visit and shell peas.  Good times.  Definitely better than picking the darned things.

I haven't added any history from the Winside book for a time now, so here is what we know about 1898:

     April 4, Ordinance No. 46 was passed, granting certain rights and privileges to the Nebraska Telephone Co., its successors and assigns, regulating the height and erection of poles and wires and protecting same in the village of Winside, Nebraska.
    July 5, estimate of expenses for the ensuing year, $920.00.  The saloon license was set at $725.00 and the levy at eight mills.
     November 7, the petition of J. R. Mundy and others for the purchase of 300 feet of fire hose was left to the chairman to check up on the price and report to the board at the meeting on November 14.
    November 14, the board voted to buy 300 feet of hose, costing $85.20.
    November 17, the Civic Societies in Winside are A. F. A. M., Einigkeit Lodge, Modern Woodman, Torvelsens Lodge and the Dunbar Castle Lodge.  Markets:  Hogs, $3.00; Cattle, $3.75 to $4.75; New Wheat, 16 cents; Oats 18 1/2 cents; Ear Corn, 20 cents; Butter, 10 cents; Eggs, 10 cents to 12 cents.

Good thing there was a saloon or two in town since the licensing fee for just one covered quite a bit of the yearly expenses.

Singing out of doors

July 1, 1932 - Cleaned the upstairs this morning.  Ralph came after me at noon.  Went out to see the baby.  Mom finished basting my dress together.  Arnold came here this evening and Sunday's absence is explained.
July 2, 1932 - Finished my dress today.  Went down town, got a library book and walked out to see Mom for a few minutes.  Rained this evening.  Ray came in and we read our books.  Saw George Moore at the library.  He's going to stay in Winside the rest of the summer.
July 3, 1932 - Ray helped R.R. pick cherries this a.m.  I went to S.S. and church.  Read this p.m.  To League tonite.  After League, Alma L. and I went to the show "Society Girl."  On way home found Geo. M., Marvin T., Arlington P., and Frank F. in front of Trautwein's singing old songs.  Talked and sang with them a while.

That's quite an impressive movie poster right there.  Somewhat art-y.

My high school friends did some spontaneous things in their day, but I never found them down town singing old songs.  Sounds like fun.