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 3, 2008

May 1937

Saturday, May 1, 1937

[blank]

Sunday, May 2, 1937

Waffel – watched Frank play baseball & Mothers for dinner – Ride with Folks up river – Supper & Home.

Monday, May 3, 1937

Out to Mom’s with washing – quite tired when Frank came so ate out – later Back again so Frank could shoot Bee Bees.

Tuesday, May 4, 1937

Ironed – not so much this week But curtains take long enough.

Thursday/Wednesday, May 5, 1937

Got days mixed – Thurs – wasted day – already to get “cold spot” but discount wouldn’t go through so Have to wait out – Home after supper.

Wednesday/Thursday, May 6, 1937

If I ever get this place really cleaned I think I’ll hire the next house cleaning – Did dining & Small Bedroom today – F – Ball – over to his folks.

Friday, May 7, 1937

Cleaned generally – Fixed up back Porch – Went to the store 3 times today & Made a nice apple Pie – Ride evening.

Saturday, May 8, 1937

Beautiful day – decided to go to Cleveland at last minute. Evening with Toots & Howard. Fritz & Delores – Bum time.

Sunday, May 9, 1937

Mother’s Day – In cleveland – sent Mom corsage – at Bee’s for Breakfast & lunch – Visited Fritz & Delores new apt. drove home in good time. Bed Early.

Monday, May 10, 1937

Went to town. Bought rug and cook book & got Book “Gone with the wind”. Chicken & Joe Healy for supper.



Tuesday, May 11, 1937

Got new refrederator today. made it out to Mothers By 11:30. Guile met at Art Museaum - Swell lunch good talk – home in time to make supper.

[I assume “Guile” must mean “Guild”]

Wednesday, May 12, 1937

Reading all day & night too – never saw such a book – Frank gone evening – took ride – saw Dot – Jim in hospital.

Thursday, May 13, 1937

Reading “Gone with the wind every minute – Swiss steak – 4th visit to see Dr. weight 135 ¼ - Show Rivoli – Edward G. Robinson

Friday, May 14, 1937

Felt rotton for awhile & then went to town – Had end curl Perm. 2.00 [$26 in today's money] – Hospital even. to see Jim.

Saturday, May 15, 1937

Dot here all night tomato juice & eggs – afternoon bought groceries lunch and out home washed car – Show Paramount – Interns Don’t take Money

[Interns Can’t Take Money was the first “Dr. Kildare” movie. It starred Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea]

Sunday, May 16, 1937

Rained off & on most of day. Dot here for dinner & Louis Levine – Swell dinner – To hospital to see Jim – walked to town – Supper & back to see Jim – Dot here all night

Monday, May 17, 1937

Early start on washing – there for supper while F played gulf - feeling bad – came home 8:00 and went streight to bed – F did dish

Tuesday, May 18, 1937

Always iron on Tues but didn’t get much done – Had to buy groceries – out of everything – Sewed awhile - & bed – F out

Wednesday, May 19, 1937

Frank out all night playing pool – Worried me silly but forgave him – around run – Bought a Gone with the wind dress – Got Bedroom Rug

Thursday, May 20, 1937

Finished ironing today & sewed buttons on right & left. Show Valentine “a star is born” In color & liked it very much – Met friends of Franks & brought home for beer.

[A Star is Born stars Janet Gaynor and Fredric March]

Friday, May 21, 1937 – day of engagement

So ashamed of house last night that I dug in & realy cleaned even stair steps – Rained evening stopped in to see Jim – Ride

Saturday, May 22, 1937

Scrubed Bathroom & Kitchen - Rained – different system at Buckeye & F worried about it – stayed home & ride evening – Folks over – lunch

Sunday, May 23, 1937

Nice leisurely day – F played gulf – walked 3 holes & came back – nice chicken dinner at Edison – Rested afternoon – light lunch – wrote Sara – over to folks Ride

Monday, May 24, 1937

Out to Mothers with wash – fixed dresses & did most of the ironing – ther for supper – Base Ball game

Tuesday, May 25, 1937

So tired and hot that in spite of wonting to go downtown & having the money stayed home & ironed – Ride evening – Baseball evening – Manny & Virg along

Wednesday, May 26, 1937

Went along with Frank – Bought new outfit coat – dress - Hat shoes purse & also helped F get some clothes – Home all evening

Thursday, May 27, 1937

Surprised by Mary Jane calling me up – went over to see her – lunch & she over here for evening – took a ride – car fender banged today

Friday, May 28, 1937

Cleaned house and fussed – Had to have spagetti for supper because both of us broke – Spent all our money on clothes – Show “Woman chases Man” Valentine

[Woman Chases Man is a romantic comedy starring Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea]

Saturday, May 29, 1937

Bought groceries and had to get everything fixed for company got Manny & Virg. – announced their marriage Jan 17 & stayed all night – Up until 3:30

Sunday, May 30, 1937 – Memorial Day

Manny & Virg here all night – Taking Sun Baths – Toots Howard, Fritz & Delores here for dinner – Baked Ham – Went to Irish Hills & Cascades – awful tired – 3 girls in one bed – Hot

[The Irish Hills and Cascade Falls are camping and tourist destinations in southern Michigan]

Monday, May 31, 1937

Bacon & Eggs Breakfast – While preparing lunch Frank took them golfing – Home afternoon drinking Beer – Good supper – left about 8 ’Oclock – stoped over to Moms. They were to Niagara falls – Had a nice time.

MEMORANDUM

Starting on fourth month of pregnancy – time certainly goes by fast – Have gained 4 pounds already – still sick every morning

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