Helen's Diary

This is a transcription of some diaries I bought at an antique store near Toledo, Ohio. When the diary starts in January 1937, Helen is a young wife and soon to become a new mother. If you wish to read it, it's best to start with the first post - January 1937 (my oldest post) - and then follow along with her everyday life.

January 11, 2008

July 1937

Thursday, July 1, 1937

Finished the ironing and made hair appointment. Dinner alone Frank playing golf – Show – Saw Dr. – Home & got birthday pres.

Friday, July 2, 1937 – Birthday

Age 21 – Made coffee with my new present also got new waffel iron – Met Frank at 5:30. dinner at Zimmerman’s – Show – Valentine – “Captains Couragous” Excellent

[Captains Courageous stars Spencer Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew and Lionel Barrymore]

Saturday, July 3, 1937

A long day – Race number – Frank home about 6:30 – Hamburg – rested Bath and ride – Had some cocktails at Glass Bar

Sunday, July 4, 1937 – Independence Day

Out early to Moms – Spilt coffee all over Bills lap – Swell chicken dinner – Gang of relation there then all over to my place.

Monday, July 5, 1937

Luella & Bill here all night – waffels for breakfast – Mother’s rest of day – Evening to Walbridge Park Fireworks terrible.

Tuesday, July 6, 1937

Grampa here all night – left on 9:30 car – Supper home – all in from fourth celebration – Bed early

Wednesday, July 7, 1937

Washing out to Moms – didn’t mind heat so bad in basement – stayed for supper & out to Toledo Beech evening.

Thursday, July 8, 1937

Went around with Frank – so terribly hot – feel sick – Supper at Williams – Show – Rivilli – Ride – No sleep

Friday, July 9, 1937

Summer really is here – home all day but suffering – cleaned house – ate home – ride evening – after show

Saturday, July 10, 1937 – Bees’ Baby Born – 7 lb boy

Ironed all morning. Picked up Manny & Virg & went to Russels Point – stayed all night – ate a lot of popcorn & etc.

Sunday, July 11, 1937

At Indian lake Russels Point – swell time – Bathing – Hot – Dinner at Edison and show – Granada – couldn’t sleep

Monday, July 12, 1937

My back is terribly Sunburned – selpt alone – still hot – sewed on table cloth all afternoon – Veal chops for dinner – Frank gone even.

Tuesday, July 13, 1937

Down town all day – got some new shoes and misc. – saw Clara – Supper at Williams – Home – Washed out some things & Bed

Wednesday, July 14, 1937

Hot – out to Mothers for day and supper – drove out to see Darwin [her brother] at Camp – Rained to hard to go in – Had custard

Thursday, July 15, 1937

Mud everywhere – Roof is fixed though – Had Roast lamp/b [she wrote the “b” over the “p”] good meal But went to show – Palace – Dr. Bull & Parole Racket

[Dr. Bull is a Will Rogers movie from 1933, Parole Racket is a crime drama starring Paul Kelly]

Friday, July 16, 1937

Very hot today – Read most of day – Met Frank down town ate at Williams – Show at Valentine – 3 Marx Brothers – Swell

[The film was most likely “A Day at the Races]

Saturday, July 17, 1937

Sleep late – Franky home for dinner – out to Holdens afternoon while F. & Earl played golf – to Boy Scout Reservation – Watermelon at Moms

Sunday, July 18, 1937

Sleep late – went to store waffel for breakfast – Beautiful day – cool – Dinner home – Ceal & Guilbert here – Ride custard – Bed early

Monday, July 19, 1937

Ironed clothes from laundry – terrible warm – Pork steak for dinner – Ride evening – cooled off slightly

Tuesday, July 20, 1937

Cleaned house – Nice beef roast for supper – Louie Walk here for supper – Show – Oh Dr. & Parole Racket at Palace - Hot

[Oh Doctor is a comedy starring Edward Everett Horton and Eve Arden]

Wednesday, July 21, 1937

Walked to store today – would like to make some Jelly – liver & onions tonight – Show – Palace – “Old Soak & That Man’s here

[The Good Old Soak stars Una Merkel; That Man’s Here Again stars Hugh Herbert and Mary Maguire]

Thursday, July 22, 1937

Hot again – went with Frank around run – Paid bills – ate Williams – stopped over to Elmer’s & Vivians – Took Kids to Toledo Beach

Friday, July 23, 1937

At last made black rasberry Jelly – What a mess got 10 glasses – Went to see Dr. Been feeling fine – Hot dogs & Beer

Saturday, July 24, 1937

Sleep late – Made lunch Davie & Darwin [her brother] here – Bill [her other brother] came & went to Gem Beach – stormed & cold but we went in anyhow – corn beef sandwiches

Sunday, July 25, 1937

Rained all day – Frank gone til 6:30 – washed misc. Dinner home – Show Bob Burns Martha Ray Mountain Music – Fair – got all Mud

[Mountain Music is a comedy]

Monday, July 26, 1937

Washed some slacks & Bedroom curtains – Oh my back – Frank played golf & so I cleaned house – Home 9:00 – Bed

Tuesday, July 27, 1937

Ironed all day – Spagetti for supper besides leftovers – Went to Otawa & watched baseball – Show – Princess – I hate to go to shows all the time

Wednesday, July 28, 1937

Sick all night because of Peanuts – ironed 4 curtains though & felt fine all day – Met Frank – ate Bud & Lukes – Show – Palace – sewed rest of even.

Thursday, July 29, 1937

Finished curtains – Pork chops for dinner – Frank too me out to Moms while he went down town – Ride with folks – Ice cream with F

Friday, July 30, 1937

Hot miserable day – loafed Read & sewed – Frank not home for dinner so ate alone – Having car window fixed

Saturday, July 31, 1937

Went down town to met Frank – Hot bought groceries – Bought some shirts and underwear for F & waited 2 ½ hrs for him – Show with Manny & Virg “Wee Willie Winkey”

[Wee Willie Winkie stars Shirley Temple and Victor McLaglen]

MEMORANDUM

Baby gifts Received

Ganches [Manny & Virginia] – White Romper suit, 2 Shirts & 2 robes
Kurtens – Blue Baby Shoes
Elmer & Vivian – Pink romber
Alice Wadsworth – Blue romber
Eva Leitsch – Cologn – robe
Aunt Kate – one dollar
Harold & Elsie – robe & tools
Lester Agnes – Pink Satin romber & green play suit
Mrs. Halter – Blue Sweater & booties & robe
Aunt Amelia & Uncle John – Peach romber
Aunt Luella – Bottel warmer
Mrs. Walpole – cereal bowl & cup
Aunt Ann – Blue romber suit
Max & Clara – Blue Toiddey Seat – Pink quilt
Ike & Sara Somia – 1849 Roger Silver set
Sam & Sara – Yellow Knitted suit & cap
Toots – Blue knit sweater suit
Mrs. Schudel – Picture
Alpha Omega – Water Bag
Mrs. Collins – Spoon

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