Being Danish

Sat., December 19, 1936 - Iny came home today.  Cleaned the house.  Irene, Helen, Bess, & Dorothea came over tonite for our slumber party!  Iny & Bess slept on the lounge.  Howard stayed over home.
Sun., December 20, 1936 - Up to Margaret's for dinner with the folks.  Had a grand dinner.  Tonite we & the Rews were over home and made candy.
Mon., December 21, 1936 - Made some candy.  One batch failed, but the other O.K.  Went to town tonite to lodge Xmas party.  Everybody brought candy or popcorn.  The lodge bought apples.

I can just see Grandpa's reaction to an upcoming slumber party at his house.  I wonder how quickly he beat feet out the door.  Haha.  First no birthday celebration, and now this.

I went to my first Danish Sisterhood of American function this weekend.  It was not a regular monthly meeting, but their annual district convention.  Which was very nice as there were people not in our local lodge there, meaning there were extra people to visit with.  I learned over supper (and it was news to most of us at the table) that back in the earlier days of Danish immigration, there were basically two groups -- Happy Danes and Holy Danes.  The Holy Danes were very strict due to religious beliefs.  The lady next to me at supper was probably in her 70's and she said she was not allowed to go to movies or dances, and there was not a deck of cards in their house until she was in high school when her mother apparently thought she was old enough to handle the temptations and evils attached to playing cards.  She said she played Solitaire, which I imagine was fairly safe.  From what I gathered, the Holy Danes were, for whatever reason, more likely to put aside their "Danishness" -- traditions and history, etc.

The Happy Danes liked to drink and dance and were eager to embrace and preserve their "Danishness".  Based on the above photo (Uncle Nels Petersen and Peter Iversen), and the thousands of hours spent playing cards in just my childhood, I am sure that we are descended from Happy Danes.  I think I will take the photo to the next meeting as my proof.

But back to Holy v. Happy Danes.  When the Danish Museum that eventually ended up in Elk Horn, Iowa was being contemplated, the nearby town of Kimballton thought they should have the museum because they were Happy Danes and were the ones already preserving their heritage.  However, someone gifted land in Elk Horn to the museum (in their will or otherwise, I didn't hear) and that clinched that.  There were hard feelings between the two towns (only about three miles away from each other = awkward) for quite awhile.

But, that is behind them now and the museum, genealogy center, and windmill are quite the big deal for the general area.

Poor Grandpa

Wed., December 16, 1936 - Howard kept pestering me all day as to whether they were going to have a party for him.  The kids didn't -- they're waiting until next week when Iny is home.
Thurs., December 17, 1936 - Helen, Raymond,  Howard & I went to Elmer's for his birthday.  Myrtle had gotten some tickets to a free show in Pilger, so we went -- "36 Hours to Kill".  A gangster picture -- not so much shooting.
Fri., December 18, 1936 - I baked 7 kinds of cookies today.  We took some into town tonite & Mom & I packed a box for Ray.

I can't tell really if Grandma was putting Grandpa off -- if the later party was a surprise -- or not.  Or if the poor man just thought there was not going to be a party for him at all.  Oh, to be a fly on the wall.

Here's the movie plot summary, courtesy of wikipedia.  I got a bit lost, but it seems like it might be enjoyable to watch:

Duke and Jeanie Benson, an outlaw couple hiding out under assumed names in a calm, suburban community, read a newspaper article about a sweepstakes winner who has not yet claimed his prize. Duke realizes that he has the winning ticket and will win $150,000 if he can cash it in without getting apprehended. Fed up with suburban life, Duke decides to board a train to Kansas City, where he bought the ticket, while Jeanie plans to fly there and get a "stooge" to cash in the ticket. At the train station, reporter Frank Evers boards the train and starts a conversation with Duke, who calls himself "Downey." At San Bernadino, Anne Marvis boards the train, followed by Doyle, a process server. Finding the door to Duke's room open, Anne hides in his bed, and when Duke sees Doyle enter in pursuit, he pulls a gun on Doyle, who says that he mistook Duke's "wife" for the woman he was after. Duke is attracted to Anne, as is Frank. When Jeanie gets on the train because her plane was grounded, she suspects that Duke and Anne are having an affair and pulls a gun on them; however, Duke calms her fears by introducing Frank as Anne's husband. Anne and Frank go along with the ruse. Sometime later, Frank accompanies the conductor to a room next to Duke's, where they listen through a surveillance device to Duke and Jeanie bicker about their plans to have the "boys" meet him in Kansas City. Frank, in reality a G-man, hopes to nab the whole gang and decides to hold off arresting Duke. After Jeanie gets off the train at Albuquerque to board a plane to Kansas City, Duke tries to flirt with Anne, but she rejects his advances. That night, Frank and Anne agree to be honest with each other, and Anne reveals that she is really a Los Angeles reporter and has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury concerning a political scandal which she had unearthed. She says that she felt it would be "healthier" to go out-of-state for awhile. When Frank continues to claim that he is a reporter for The Telegraph , Anne indignantly reveals that she works for the paper and knows that he does not. In Topeka, after Flash, a porter, inadvertently finds the listening device in Duke's room, Duke knocks out the conductor. Anne receives a wire that it is all right for her to return to Los Angeles and gets off the train. When Duke sees Frank pursuing him, he gets into Anne's cab. They go to Borden's Sanitarium, where Duke meets Jeanie, who is unhappy to see him with Anne. When Duke reads in a newspaper that another man has surfaced to claim the lottery prize, he sends his shyster lawyer Rickert to dispute the claim to the insurance company that handles the contest. While Rickert is away, Duke kisses Anne and asks her to leave with him after he collects the money. Anne agrees, but he locks her in her room anyway. Jeanie then unbolts the shutters of Anne's room to help her escape, and Anne hitches a ride on a truck, but the driver works for Duke's gang and brings her back to the sanitarium. Upon deducing that Jeanie let Anne out, Duke slugs Jeanie. Frank, impersonating an insurance agent, accompanies Rickert to the sanitarium. Duke shoots Frank as a carload of G-men arrive and then unlocks Anne's door to take her with him, but Jeanie shoots him and then cries over his body. The gang is captured, and Anne is pleased to see that Frank is only wounded. On the train to Los Angeles, Flash comments that Frank and Anne have not come out of their cabin in two days. They kiss and it is revealed that they have recently married.

What I want to know is what happened to the $150,000?

Poster credit:  By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48538771

Suddenly December

Sun., December 13, 1936 - Myrtle & I had the whole family here for [it stops there]
Mon., December 14, 1936 - We were at Elmer's all day.  Howard helped butcher a beef.  Went to Gladys Reichart's party tonite.  We exchanged gifts. I won chair prize.
Tues., December 15, 1936 - Howard took me to town to wash.  This evening Ola's & Mom came out.  We played Razzle-Dazzle.  Ola's bought 4 roosters from us.

Me and my spelling questions . . . I thought Reichart was Reichert.  But, I was just a kid when I had to even remotely worry about that.  And I mainly just went to class.  I didn't have to spell my teacher's name.

For no particular reason, here I am with Aunt Myrtle in front of the old porch I still miss.

Busy again

Sat., November 14, 1936 - Howard baling again.  I was pretty tired.  Cleaned up the house for tomorrow.  Howard went to town tonite but I stayed home.
Sun., November 15, 1936 - Still warm.  Annie, Ola, kids, & Mom were here for dinner.  Tonite Alma, John B., Raymond & we went to Elmer & Myrtle's for supper.  We played Hearts afterward.
Mon., November 16, 1936 - Howard baling again.  I worked on quilt pieces.

Wow, guests for lunch and then off somewhere else for supper.  Such a flurry of activity.  Grandpa probably deserved a rest from all that baling lately.

For some reason this got me to wondering -- Ola and Dorothea apparently did not go visiting much that Grandma mentions, well,to see Grandma at least.  Was it perhaps difficult for them to get out and about at this time?  Or, maybe they just preferred to stay home and let people come visit them.  I get that.

Baking and baling

Wed., November 11, 1936 - Howard baling for Dale Brugger.  Clear & warm all day.  I baked bread for the first time since I've been married -- and it was good!
Thur., November 12, 1936 - Howard baling for Leo Nelsen.  I sewed all day.  Elmer and Myrtle were here a few minutes this noon.
Fri., November 13, 1936 - Howard baling for Hoffman Bros.  I washed some clothes by hand -- some job!  We went to lodge tonite.

I still have not made a yeast bread with any success.  Tried maybe twice and neither worked out.  But, I'll try again after attempting to figure out what I have been doing wrong.

I did make aebleskiver this weekend.  The first pan of seven looked somewhat like sad, abandoned turtle shells, but I got better as I went.  John liked them quite a bit, so perhaps I'll make them on a regular basis -- after all, practice makes perfect.  That, and Youtube videos.  Photo from frugalityisfree.com.

And should that be Dale Bruegger?

The Bunch

Sun., November 8, 1936 - Jo & Mike over this p.m.  Mike helped Howard saw wood so Howard could bale this week.  Warm all day.  "The bunch" went up to Alma's tonite and surprised her for her birthday which was Friday.  We played Hearts.
Mon., November 9, 1936 - Howard & I were in town this a.m.  I went up home tonite while Howard went to lodge.  Mom helped me cut out 2 everyday dresses.
Tues., November 10, 1936 - Strong wind all day.  Howard cut down 4 trees.  We were over at Andrew Andersens tonite for quilting.  Iversens, L. Hansens, & Mrs. Jens Andersen were there.

Not sure exactly who "the bunch" is, but that's okay.

I did not know her well, but I always thought that Johanna was one of the sweetest people around.  And she made great cookies!

Cottonseed meal

Thurs., November 5, 1936 - Worked like the dickens.  Uncle Chris & Gerald were here for supper.  We had milk & dumplings, chicken, baked potatoes, string beans, vegetable salad, and graham cracker pie.  After supper we played Pinochle -- Uncle Chris & I against the others.

Fri., November 6, 1936 - Howard borrowed $25 at the bank.  He bought 9 bu. of oats & 2 sacks cottonseed meal which cost about $10.  We went to the party dance at Hoskins with Gerald -- Helen & Dorothea were among those giving it.

Sat., November 7, 1936 - Cold today and snowed some more.  Howard cutting wood again.  Too cold to go to town tonite.

I must admit I've never heard of cottonseed meal before.  I learned it can be used for animal feed or for fertilizer.  Grandma skipped several days, but even so, since Grandpa was buying oats, too, I am guessing the cottonseed meal was for feed.  But, he did have a garden going as well.  Maybe he used it for both. 

I think graham cracker pie sounds really good.  Seems like the name comes largely from the crust as the pie filling only has crumbs on the top -- at least based on my quick internet search.  And can be made with or without meringue.

Photo from:  thespruceeats.com

Another jump

Here we are in November already:

Mon., November 2, 1936 - Windy -- rained and snowed a little.  Still stormy this evening so the T.D.S. Club didn't come nor did Howard go to lodge.
Tues., November 3, 1936 - Cold today.  Howard cut wood.  The folks stopped and took us along to vote.  We went to Jensens tonite and got the 12 hens Jo promised us for a wedding present.
Wed., November 4, 1936 - Raymond helped Howard haul in corn fodder.  I went to town this p.m. -- got some groceries and was up to see Mom.  Grandpa Tangeman who died Monday was buried today.  Warm today.

That might be F.D.S. Club, I'm not sure.

I know Grandma used the term 'grandpa' rather liberally, but I must confess I do not have any idea who this gentleman is.  I did find he was Herman Tangeman, married to Maria, and buried in Otoe County.  Someone is going to have to help me out as to how he is connected to the family, relationship-wise or friendship-wise.

I am thinking 12 hens was probably a pretty nice gift.

Wouldn't you know?

Mon., September 21, 1936 - I went to town to wash this morning.  Howard came for the car this a.m. to see about getting a different corn binder as the one he's using is always breaking.  Went home after lodge with Howard.
Tues., September 22, 1936 - Ella Ruschmann is being married today.  Lilly & Edna Ruschmann are bridesmaids.  They went out there Sunday with Harry Kahlers.  Howard fixed fence today.
Wed., September 23, 1936 - Raymond & Howard still cutting corn.  They went after Clint Troutman's binder -- it didn't work so good -- so they're using the old one again.  I ironed all day.

That's my kind of luck right there -- something doesn't work, start using another something and it doesn't work, so you are back with the first non-working something.  Hopefully they were able to see the humor in that particular situation, either right away or afterwards.

I'm having trouble finding all the Ruschmanns mentioned.  I found an Edna who lived in Nebraska and married a Herbolsheimer and that name is familiar as to our family.  I see there's a Louise E. Ruschmann about Grandma's age, so maybe that's Louise Ella.  I also see some Ruschmanns in Terry Brogren's ancestry.com family tree.  I may be on to something.  Or not.  I bet Mom and Nancy can help me.

And having witnessed washing clothes the old-fashioned way and also "helped" with ironing, I can fully believe it took all day.  Actually, I did help some.  I sprinkled some clothes and got to iron Grandpa's handkerchiefs every now and then.  Fond memories.  I'm not sure what I think about an old ironing board being used for shelves.  I guess I'm okay with it.  Seems it would be better as a small table, though.  Or at least put something in the bare top part -- a framed photo or paint right on there.  Photo from etsy.com.

Slow down, already

Fri., September 18, 1936 - Raymond and Howard still cutting and fixing the binder each day. We went with Raymond and Helen to a party dance at Hoskins -- Gus Perskes and Ed Schellenbergs among those giving it.
Sat., September 19, 1936 - Howard, Raymond, and Dad ground fodder this a.m.  I went with Helen, her mother, Clara & kids & Jo to Wayne to 4-H Club fair and school exhibit.  Howard and I went to town tonite.
Sun., September 20, 1936 - Chris & Clara, Elmer & Myrtle, Mike, Peter, & the folks were here today.  The men made the silo bigger.  We were over to Lettmans awhile this evening.  Howard wanted to see Ed Heithold.

Seems everyone is quite busy, busy, busy.  Glad there was some down-time involved.

Interesting how Maggie is Helen's mother and not Grandma's mother-in-law or Mrs. Iversen or something like that.  Nothing to infer, but somewhat interesting.  To me, anyway.  Here's an undated photo with some of the many people mentioned in this post.  Who is that with their arms folded in the background?  For that matter, who is sitting next to Maggie/Little Grandma?

It just occurred to me

Tues., September 15, 1936 - Cloudy this morning.  We got home about 1:00 p.m.  Howard and Raymond cut corn this afternoon.  I slept most of the time.
Wed., September 16, 1936 - We had silo fillers this p.m.  They were here for supper.  Carl T., Raymond, and Holtgrew.  Dorothea R. stopped here and asked me to substitute for her tomorrow -- she's going to the funeral of her aunt at Tekamah.
Thurs., September 17, 1936  Got to school about 10:15.  Dorothea left right away.  Stopped and visited with Mrs. Florenz Nieman on my way home.

It just occurred to me that it is September and Grandma isn't talking about school, until this particular mention of substituting.  I guess I didn't realize she quit teaching right away after she got married.  Was this a requirement as late as 1936?  I know once upon a time teaching was a single woman's vocation only.  I figured (without giving it a lot of thought nor researching) that that wasn't the case in the 1930s.  Otherwise, I suppose it was Grandma's choice given she had lots of things to do to keep her household and garden and etc. etc. up and running.

Skipping around

Grandma took a little break, two of them really.  The last entry in my last post was August 30, and now we are to September 6.

Sun., September 6, 1936 - Howard went to Andrew Andersen's for a corn binder.  We had a very heavy rain late this afternoon.  Howard took me to town to church tonite -- Mission Festival.

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Sun., September 13, 1936 - John B. Jensen here for dinner.  He brought a little calf from Von Seggerns.  Raymond and Allen here awhile this p.m.  Tonite we took Annie's hens back to her.  Mom went along.

Mon., September 14, 1936 - Raymond and Howard cut corn this a.m.  This p.m. Mom, Howard and I went to Washington in the V-8 to Trina and Andrew's silver wedding.  Stopped in Fremont so I could get some slippers.  We stopped at Adolph's.  Mom stayed there while Howard and I went to Mildred's.  We stayed all night at Mildred's.

Trying to keep this straight in my own mind, but Andrew Andersen was Grandpa Bill's first cousin, with Andrew's father being Niels Andersen, brother to Bill's father Ole C. Andreasen.  It appears Trina (or maybe Trena) died in 1952 and Andrew in 1975, with both of them buried in Washington County.  I have in my Ancestry family tree that they had at least one child, a son Raymond born in 1914.  I do not know who Adolph nor Mildred might be.  Unless Mildred was the Mildred once married to Uncle Chris but not married to him in 1936.

Perhaps Mom and I need to go on another cemetery trip to visit the graves of what I believe are quite a few Andersens in Washington County.

And here's a corn binder with me throwing a complete dart as to whether it resembles what Grandpa might have used.