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.

July 27, 2008

December 1938

Thursday, December 1, 1938

Baby at Mothers down town took permanent and had hair set Phil Pappard out with Frank – Staid evening played checkers & he won

Friday, December 2, 1938

Frank wouldn’t go to work until ?? So ?? – learned to crochet so started edge – Frank took us along so we left Baby at Sherman’s to eat

Saturday, December 3, 1938

Putting edge on afghan and then it will be done – It looks very pretty – Ride with Frank – Betty over evening – Christmas shopping & show

Sunday, December 4, 1938

Skipped dinner today – Made star salad and cup cakes – Folks here afternoon & evening – played Chinese Checkers – trying to knit & crochet

[Star Salad:
1 pk (3 oz) Raspberry Jello
1 pk (3 oz) Orange Jello
¼ ts Cinnamon
2 c Boiling water
1 c Cranberry cocktail juice
1 c Cranberry Orange sauce; (Ocean Spray)
1 cn (11 oz) mandarin orange sections; drained
Dissolve gelatin and cinnamon in boiling water. Add cranberry juice cocktail and sauce. Chill until thickened. Add orange sections and pour into 5 cup star mold. Chill at least 4 hours. Unmold.]

Monday, December 5, 1938

Washed huge wash – Baby good – weighs 21 ¼ pounds wrote to Toots, Sara & Sam – Frank stayed down town so I didn’t eat any supper & listening to Radio

Tuesday, December 6, 1938

Frank insisted I go along with him on run – left baby with Cealias – supper home got corn popper and had corn

Wednesday, December 7, 1938

Did ironing and evening worked on Christmas cards – Mother & dad here – had stove moved – Frank out evening – 2:30 before in

Thursday, December 8, 1938

Worked all day drawing Christ cards – Baby so cross 2nd tooth in but its slanted also – Even – painted

Friday, December 9, 1938

Baby with Mother – had treatment and showed girls cards – Met Mrs Brown for lunch & Show – Janet Gaynor The Young in Heart

[The Young in Heart is a comedy starring Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Paulette Goddard]



Saturday, December 10, 1938

Cleaned house afternoon still at it but ready by 7:30 – Betty here – Bought some Blocks for Norma – Midnight Show – Bani Brille [?] – Regine & Charlie

Sunday, December 11, 1938

Worked on Block print – Ride afternoon listened to Coughlin – Baby drank milk from cup – Frank and I tried to print but no good

Monday, December 12, 1938

Washed – roast for supper – Worked until late on cards but they arnt any good – Frank out pretty late

Tuesday, December 13, 1938

Ironed – took Baby for ride to Lanes – made cranberries – Jean stopped over – ironed evening again and wrapped gifts until 2:30

Wednesday, December 14, 1938

Went to Christmas Party at Strickmatters – Baby as cute as a little doll – only one Puddel – Mended some clothes and came home early – gift from Mrs. Medford – Hot Pads

Thursday, December 15, 1938

Cleaned Walked down to Lanes and also got hanging for Luella – Evening Frank played Basket ball I wrapped packages & read book on Bible

Friday, December 16, 1938

Down town – Saw Dot – got several more gifts – Blanket for Shermans – Permanent at Ohio Beauty Shop – Supper at Edison – Frank gone evening to Fremont Basketb.



Saturday, December 17, 1938

Finally ready to go to Cleveland – arrived there at 6. Baby good – Toots & Howard took us to Ruby Burlesque – Solomons for corn Beef Sandwich & Bowery dance

Sunday, December 18, 1938

Dinner at Toots – Beverly is such a fat Baby – Stopped back to Luella’s and then Harolds – Home at 6 – Stopped over to Moms but not home so hurried home

Monday, December 19, 1938

Washed and cleaned up house – pretty tired and acky all day – Liver & onions for supper – Frank home for change – Norma acting & looking like a doll

Tuesday, December 20, 1938

[shorthand] did ironing but had such a terrible head ake – left Baby with Cealia we ate at Bud & Lukes – Frank home evening – He is sort of crankey

Wednesday, December 21, 1938

Walked to Lanes – Baby has a bad cold but it can’t be helped – We owe so much money I’m squirmey – Ride out to Mothers – got Billy then went skating

Thursday, December 22, 1938

Billy here I had so much to do I was crazy – Bought a sewing machine and now I must use it – Frank out till 4 A.M. – we made an angel for under Xmas tree

Friday, December 23, 1938

Bill went with Frank – I lofted most of day – Hamburg for supper – Stopped over to Cealias – Rose & Ceal gave us some gifts muff purse for me – tie & green dress for Norma & Frank

Saturday, December 24, 1938

Made cranberries & Chicken – Store afternoon – Folks over here even. Mother & Dad gave us twin lamps Bedroom Rug – Me dress cookey cuters – Frank – pajamas – Darwin theromater & flower rack – game book – cigarettes – Bill – Head for vase

Sunday, December 25, 1938 – Christmas

Norma got Bicycle Bathrobe & Bedspread from gramma – Bill Top – gramma Sherman & aunt Locket – Darwin Horn Ball - I had chicken dinner – Ride to see Christmas lights evening

Monday, December 26, 1938

Still Holiday – after lunch – Went over to see Dave & Bee – then Manny & Virg then Cealia – Dave stayed with Baby we went to see Basket ball game at University – TU won – Sandwiches at NathIn

Tuesday, December 27, 1938

Washed – terrible cold 10 above – did some ironing & mending – evening Frank froze clear through & went to bed early had to lanch his toe

Wednesday, December 28, 1938

Finished ironing – went with Frank to deliver hits very icy evening finished a lot of odds & ends – Frank always bothering me

Thursday, December 29, 1938

Got hysterical – Frank makes me crazy – the way he talks about bills – Baby with Mother – had hair waved & got some baby clothes – Stopped at Elmer & Vivian

Friday, December 30, 1938

Cleaned house – Walked to Lanes for Baby food – terribly icy – last of Chicken for supper – Frank went to TU basked ball game with Manny

Saturday, December 31, 1938

Took Baby out to Mothers for night – Stopped at Mannys & Virg for ½ hr – Over to Elmers for while at Kin Wa Lows till 4 A.M. together had a lovely time very sober

MEMORANDUM – 1938

Income 3328.00 [$42,836 today]. Saved 500.00 this year [$6,435 today]

Permanents
June 23 – 38
Dec. 16 – 38

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