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.

August 1, 2008

February, 1939

Wednesday, February 1, 1939

Cleaned house baked cake made dessert and took bath – Singer class cut out part of my dress – Raining terrible snow & raining can’t get out

Thursday, February 2, 1939

Figured up budget and will have to spend less – Sending electric sissors back – Frank not home until late – worked on sewing



Friday, February 3, 1939

Frank so cross resents my reading book – down town had bath and hair set bought some yarn to start 2nd afghan

Saturday, February 4, 1939

Still reading Book “and tell time – didn’t do much else – Rode around Frankie’s run – Betty here – Saw show trade Winds & Dramatic School – Baby cried

[Trade Winds is a comedy starring Fredric March, Joan Bennett, Ralph Bellamy and Ann Sothern. Dramatic School is a drama starring Luise Rainer, Paulette Goddard and Lana Turner]

Dramatic School:


Trade Winds:


Sunday, February 5, 1939

Out to Mothers all day – kids Frank & Dad went skating – Howard & Neva there for supper – made 11 blocks for my afghan hope to finish

Monday, February 6, 1939

Washed finished book & made an apron out of old skirt – Frank not home for supper but home early – He always wants to play games

Tuesday, February 7, 1939

Did ironing and walked to point – Snow hard to push buggy in – cube steak sandwiches – ripped rug apart & took bath

Wednesday, February 8, 1939

Moved furniture all around & cleaned – fixed nails and gave Norma bath – Sewing class – got everything cut out – Stopped at lanes for Soda

Thursday, February 9, 1939

Mother and Dad here for supper – afternoon went to slip cover demonstration – had steak & ice cream & cake – Frank out rest of evening – playing cards 2 AM

Friday, February 10, 1939

Sewed – Furnace went out – walked to Lanes with Baby but so cold came right back – Frank went to YM – Brought Dave home had Hot Choc

Saturday, February 11, 1939

[shorthand] felt so miserable all day didn’t do anything – Betty here evening so we went out with Many & Virginia – Jessie James Show – Kin Wa Low’s & Purple Cow

[Jesse James is a western starring Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda and Randolph Scott]

[…the great bandleader, Paul Spor is inviting girls to hear his band at the fabulous Kin Wa Low's Restaurant and Nite Club.]



Sunday, February 12, 1939 – Lincoln’s Birthday

Got up & dressed early Went to store before lunch – home rest of day – played chess & amused Frankie

Monday, February 13, 1939

Washed through early so cleaned up house – I wish I had more time to play with Norma – Walked down to the point – tired

Tuesday, February 14, 1939 – St. Valentine’s Day

Ironing done early so took Baby out – Bacon & Tomatoe for supper – Frank gave me 3 pairs hose Fannie Farmer candy – clock – gave him green shirt

Wednesday, February 15, 1939

Made a chocolate cake & Jello – cleaned house – Sewing class – Phil Riman – Benny Svinetski [?] – Played chinese checkers & served lunch

Thursday, February 16, 1939

Cleaned & figured up Budget – Norma cross – Have so much to do I feel honary – Bills all coming due

Friday, February 17, 1939

Down town most of day – Bath paid Bills and got pinking shears & several materials – tired & scrapping with Frank

Saturday, February 18, 1939

Bill here – did Shopping morning – Baked beans for supper – went to chinks for 10 PM sup with Manny & Virg – they came home for night

Sunday, February 19, 1939

My own fault Manny & Virg here all day leg of lamb for dinner played bridge all evening – took them home about 10 – tired & discusted

Monday, February 20, 1939

Took all day to get laundry ready – Washed night after supper – didn’t mind Frank helped with dishes – Made 1 block – tired out

Tuesday, February 21, 1939

Baby took 2 naps today so I managed to get the ironing done – Frank not home until Midnight made about 12 Tan Blocks

Wednesday, February 22, 1939

Head ake in the morning – Walked to lanes while Baby slept – had liver & Brussel Sprouts – Sewing class – Worked whole evening on neck

Thursday, February 23, 1939

Cleaned house cleaned Bedroom window – Mae Riman stopped in Baby very sweet – tonight have her hair curled – Frank gone with Manny to YMCA – Sewing

Friday, February 24, 1939

Decided rather late to go with Frank – took Baby out to mothers & had hair set – Supper in Maumee at Cosy Corner tea Room



Saturday, February 25, 1939

Made a lemon pie – Invited Regine & Charlie over but they couldn’t come so we ate popcorn & beer by ourselves – Sewed some on afghan

Sunday, February 26, 1939

Felt ambitious – got Shermans over for chicken dinner – listened to Pederwski on Radio – Very snowy – tried to learn some bridge

[Ignacy Jan Paderewski (November 6, 1860 – June 29, 1941) was a Polish pianist, composer, diplomat and politician, the third Prime Minister of Poland.]



Monday, February 27, 1939

Betty sick with the flu so have to stay home tonight – Did wash afternoon while Baby naping (Tues) left Baby with Mother saw Blackstone

Tuesday, February 28, 1939

Ironed afternoon but didn’t finish because I feel so rotten (Mon) Frank gone evening – went to bed early but baby up twice

MEMORANDUM

Norma is cute but she bothers me – eats messy doesn’t get any more teeth and wakes up so many times a night

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