Bennett Luther Dean |
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January 1920January My diary has been allowed to drag along untill this is actually the 4 of April, Easter on Sunday at that and it is a bad day snowing nearly all day and blowing and cold too. January has been quite an eventful month especially for Howard. He graduated this [month] and it has kept him busy with examinations, entertainments and getting ready for the vacation. He got all dolled up with a new suit and new overcoat and other things that must be had, he spent fully $100 but he earned the money himself working for the Post Office at 60¢ an hour. His suit cost about $40.00 and overcoat about the same. Everything now adays is so high cost that it is discouraging. He graduated at the Northwestern high school. Howard, Bennett & Laurence and I went to a show, I guess you would call it a playette, at the Northwestern High School and it was very nice. They all had thier pictures taken and it made a very large [photograph] and to be framed and a single picture besides. But the presenting of the diplomas [was] at the Central High School. And he intends to go there to the Junior High for 2 years if he can earn enough money to carry him through. He and a friend, Knox, intend to go for the course of Junior High or the same as the first two years of college. The evening of Thursday January 29 the presenting of the diplomas at the High School, Grandma Clarkson here and Anna and her Mother. Bennett went and I stayed at home and took care of the other kids. June was quite sick and so some body had to stay with her. January has been a long cold [month]. We have had no Jan. thaw, the ground has been covered the whole month. The last day of the month was the coldest of the season, 6° below. It was quite warm on Friday but it grew colder and Saturday it went to 6° below.
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February 1920 Sunday February 1 Quite mild. Beautiful day. Bennett and I went to Plymouth to see my Mother. She is very weak and not very strong. Edna was there and we brought home a quilt that Mother wanted us to have for a Christmas present. She pieced it and she who used to be Katie Fisk quilted it and it was a very [fine] and pretty quilt. Donald Burns and mother called while we were gone. Monday February 2 Beautiful day and a regular Jan. thaw and the snow began to melt and the water began to run and the curbs looked like rivers and if the Ground Hog came out today there will surely be 6 weeks more of winter. Howard started for Central Junior High today and intends to take a 2 year course of Junior High, it is the same as two years at college but he said there was nothing much to do so he went to the Regent Theater. Tuesday February 3 Pay day, my pay was $74.30 for half a month. Beautiful day about 30°. Howard went to school and then to a show at the Temple. Wednesday February 4 Cloudy and colder. Bennett is learning to Typewritting at the school and seems to take quite an interest in it. I hope he keeps it up, it might mean a position some day. Howard & Bennett chased the fire engine over on Avery and came home wet to the skin. They got into the path of the hose or a hose busted, I dont know which. Thursday February 5 Beautiful day, cold, crisp & bright. Howard got a little start on Junior High today and is studying tonight. His taking a course in spanish. Bennett brought home a paper printed all over with typewriter stuff. Friday February 6 Beautiful day. Howard, Bennett & Laurence went to a picture show over on 14th. Saturday February 7 Fine day, not very cold, about 30°. Sunday February 8 Nice day. Mrs. Burns and Donald [called]. Howard has a wireless and Donald wanted to try his home made affair but it didnt work as well as Howards bought wireless. Monday February 9 Wet snow almost gone, sloppy almost rain. Howards friend, David Knox, here all the evening trying to get Howards wireless to hear his signals on his own. The boughten ones seem to work best. Anna nearly killed herself doing a big washing. Tuesday February 10 - Thursday February 12 [No entry] Friday February 13 Beautiful day, warm and pleasant. Howard went to the Regent and also went with Bennett & Laurence to the 14th show, they go every Friday night to a serial play. Saturday February 14 Warm and sloppy, got cold at night. Howard worked in the Post Office at 60¢ an hour. Bennett went down town alone today, some of the wireless junk came today that he ordered last fall. Sunday February 15 Bitter cold, down to 3 above. Big storms east, I hope they will not get this far. Bennett, Laurence & Louise went to Sunday school. Monday February 16 Fearful cold, down to zero. Frank Wier took Louise & June to the show over on 14th. He treats the kids around once in a while. Edna Dean Mason has a birthday today, she must be 46. Howard and David Knox went down town today after school they bought some wireless truck. Tuesday February 17 - Friday February 27 [No entry] Saturday February 28 Fearful day to work it snowed all the forenoon and there is about 4 inches of new snow. There has been snow on the ground for 2 months I guess, it has been a hard long winter. There has been but few days that felt at all like warm air. Howard worked today at the P.O. Anna took Louise & June to the Regent to see Polly Ann. Sunday February 29 Bright beautiful day and lots of snow on the ground, the walks piled high on both sides make them look like soldiers trenches. We got up about 8 up to 11 just as we came stragling along just as we wanted to get up. We had [_olston?] and pancakes for breakfast. Bennett, Laurence & June went to Sunday school. June has quite a barky cough. Just now Louise & June are playing with a rubber balloon, Laurence is trying to get a watch apart. Anna is getting dinner and Howard is listening in on the wireless and Bennett is reading the times, 1:30 P.M. |
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March 1920 March Like every March the weather has been some bad, some good, but on the whole it has been cold and some heavy snow. The Amblers came from Northville in their auto and brought things of Grandma's. One thing was the old melodeon. I guess it is to be Annas because the rest of the family are all in California. My Mother & Howard have a birthday the same day, the 23rd of march. Mother is 83 and Howard is 18 and I have a birthday the 28 of march (52). Louise and I went to Plymouth to call on Mother the Sunday before her birthday. Edna & Clarence were there in their auto and Louis & I rode home with them. Bennett got a job at the Krogers grocery store. He is to work after 4 P.M. 2 hours and all day Saturday up on Holden. So he sold part of his paper route and some Laurence kept. He is to have $6.00 a week. |
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April 1920 Thursday April 1 - Saturday April 3 [No entry] Sunday April 4 (Howard [has] worked in the P.O. the past week on account of the Easter vacation) Easter Sunday and what a Easter day, just like a fierce March day. It blew and snowed all day and by night the ground was covered with 6 or 8 inches of snow. And I guess those people that had a new hat ready to wear for Easter had to put [them] back into the band box. Anna, June, Louise & Laurence went to Church but they had no new ..... to wear so I guess they were glad. Laurence joined the church today, he has been going to that Church for a long time and they wanted him to join and he wanted to because his playmates all go to that church. It is the West Grand Boulevard M. E. Church at the corner of 12th street. WE are all Presbyterians so he is the only strange sheep in the flock but I guess it dont make any difference which church you join. Robbers got into this Church this P.M. and got away with about 1400 dollars. Monday April 5 Looks like winter with the ground all covered with snow. And today we vote at the Primary election. I went and voted after work at the Goldberg School. The main question was to bond the City for $15,000,000 to build street car lines. It was a fight between [the street car owners and the City]. The City won, the City had to have 60% to win and received 63% votes. So I suppose we will have something doing in the street car question. The City and the Street car owners have fought for years to get better service, new cars, new lines and the company would do nothing except where the nickels were plenty. And at last the City has a chance to do something itself. Tuesday April 6 - Friday April 9 [No entry] Saturday April 10 Anna took Louise & June over on Holden and bought June a new pair of shoes. I got all ready to go to the Carriers meeting then it was so late I did not go. Sunday April 11 Cold and not very pleasent. I took June & Louise for a walk in the P.M. over on 14th. Monday April 12 Another snow storm in April, it snowed all the forenoon and about 3 inches fell. This is great weather for April. And I had a fearfull heavy mail today. I had 159 lbs of mail to deliver and it took me 8 hours and 54 minutes to make on trip and I didnt do anymore. WE are weighing the mail this week that maybe one reason for the mail being so heavy. Frank Weir took Louise & June to the picture show over on 14th. Had to order another ton of coal, it is not very easy to get coal the strikes all over the country makes it hard to get coal from the mines. Tuesday April 13 Cold yet and some snow in dirty piles around. Wednesday April 14 Beautiful day, bright and pleasant but still cold. Anna and Grandma went over on Woodward to get a hat for Anna and coming home on the Belt Line car some clever pickpocket took Grandmas purse out of her outside pocket of her coat. And she never missed it untill she got home. She could remember a man pushing her along into the car at Woodward but of course she never thought of her pocket book. Whew but she was mad. She never believed any pickpocket could get her pocket book from her but she found out that they were pretty slick. She lost the pocket book and about 5 dollars. Thursday April 15 Well we had rain today and it [is] raining now, 11 P.M. Anna had to stay up and iron everybody has gone to bed except Anna and I. She is reading just now and we must get to bed. Friday April 16 [No entry] Saturday April 17 [No entry] Sunday April 18 Chilly and real cold. The whole gang went out to the Burns. Howard and Laurence rode over on thier bicycles but Laurence had one of his headaches come on so Bennett rode his bicycle and Donald brought Laurence & Louise home in his auto. He cannot take but 1 or 2 in his auto because it has only [one] seat. We had a good visit and music from the phonograph and ice cream and cake. Grandma Clarkson was with us. They live at the cornier of Buena Vista and Hamilton Blvd. Donald is going to business for himself in a week or two so he is going to have this shoe repair outfit get out and Donald will then have the store in front instead of where it is now, the front parlor of the house. He is going to have electric supplies besides do out side jobs. And I think he is going to get rich, everything is all built up around there and valuable and he understands the business pretty well I think. Monday April 19 - Saturday April 24 [No entry] Sunday April 25 Burns called. Inez Hart and Clara Hart called to make arrangements for a surprise on her birthday. Monday April 26 [No entry] Tuesday April 27 Uncle Henry Hart got knocked down by a automobile on 14th & McGraw. He was unconscious for a while but came to in a drug store. He was badly bruised but thought nothing serious was done. The man did not stop to see what damage he had done. Automobiles are so thick that one is affraid to step into the street. Wednesday April 28 [No entry] Thursday April 29 Anna & Grandma Clarkson went to Aunt Dill Harts birthday party. They did not want children. We certainly had some good things dished up to us. There was quite a gathering there, so many I do not want [to] name them. Aunt Dill was really surprised and did not know a thing about it. Aunt Dill is 78 years old and is quite spry but very deaf. Friday April 30 [No entry] |
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May 1920 Saturday April 1 [No entry] Sunday May 2 Fine but chilly. Anna and her Mother went to Northville and Plymouth to see my Mother, she was not very well and had had a severe sick spell during the week but was glad to see them as no one else had called. She looked terrible thin and was very weak. And it does not seem as tho she could last very much longer. Burns called. Monday May 3 Fine bright and beautiful. Anna and her Mother called on the Hardenburgs. Mrs. Ball, Mars. Joslin. Tuesday May 4 Howard & Grandma went down town and Grandma bought her ticket to California. She has a pass for most of the trip that David Clarkson got, he works for the railroad and can get passes most anywhere. Mr. Kiefer called to get me to sign a petition to have our alley paved. I signed the petition and I cannot really afford [it] but I thought I must for neighborhood sake. Wednesday May 5 Beautiful day. Howard saw his first professional ball game, Frank Wier took him and paid his fare just for company sake. The Detroits played the St. Louis and got beat 12 to 4. Grandma Clarkson went to Northville this afternoon. Thursday May 6 Grand day. Friday May 7 Grandma came back from Northville, she went out there to get her trunk checked for California. She intends to start Sat. evening. Everything is done to have things ready to start. Anna and her Mother called on Mrs. Ball and Mrs. Ball took Anna to the Strand Theater at the corner of 14th & Grand River. Mrs. Joslin took Mother C. to the Madison theater and then to the Depot for something. The Harts called and Mrs. Burns and Donald. Mrs. Joslin, the Frys, Thelma that stays with the Harts. Saturday May 8 Fine day. Howard worked at the N.E. Post Office. Bennett worked at his job in the Kregor Store but he got down to the Depot at about 9:30 and joined the crowd to see Grandma Clarkson off for California. We were all there, Anna, Howard, Bennett, Laurence, Louise, June and myself. The Harts were there, Thelma was there and we gave her a great send off for California. And the last we saw of her she disappeared down the incline to the train where you cannot go without showing a ticket for somewhere. Inez Hart got to the train by telling the gate keeper that her brother was an engineer on the M.C. road. Sunday May 9 Beautiful day, really warm like the good old time. Everybody seems so tired all day, I suppose it is the strenuous week on account of Grandma going to California and she started last night at about 10 P.M. I took a walk in the afternoon and went down to Whitehead, a man I have known for years but he was not at home. So I went to the Hardenburgs and had a short visit with them. Monday May 10 Fine warm day, tried a little to rain but only a few drops came down. I had a big mail and I am about all in tonight. The mail is just fierce and it seems to keep coming. I dont know where it comes from but every day it seems [to] pile up, heavy magazines, papers, circulars. Anna went down town today and paid the Gas and Elec. lights and then went to see B. E. Taylor to see what our business lot is worth out Grand River in the Strathmore sub. It is a nice lot facing on to Grand River and on a corner, I guess it is on the corner of Woodslee & Grand River lot number 144. And he told Anna it was worth probably worth about $3,500. We could sell it and we do need the money to fix up this place and pay up what we owe on it yet but we think the lot will increase in value. It cost us 6 years ago $800.70 cash. Everybody has gone to bed and Howard and I are writing on the dining table so I guess I will be the next. Tuesday May 11 [No entry] Wednesday May 12 [No entry] Thursday May 13 [No entry] Friday May 14 Minnie Hopkin, she who used to be Minnie Brand, that we have known for 25 or more years ago and married Will Hopkin died today in the hospital. They took her to the hospital for tuburcular trouble wednesday. But she was much worse than they thought and she only lived two days. Saturday May 15 [No entry] Sunday May 16 Minnie Hopkin died last Friday and Anna and I went down to the house to offer our respects and sympathy. And this is the 3rd time we have went there for the same purpose within 10 years, Geo. Hopkin, Will Hopkin and now Minnie Hopkin. Will Hopkins wife are gone. Monday May 17 Anna went to Minnie Hopkins funeral at the house, 482 Hancock West. Tuesday May 18 [No entry] Wednesday May 19 [No entry] Thursday May 20 [No entry] Friday May 21 [No entry] Saturday May 22 Louise went over near Clark Park and danced at some kind of a May festival today with her school mates. We did not think it was just wise for her to go so far from home but she went and got back safely so I guess it was not so serious. Sunday May 23 Beautiful day except a shower that freshened things up a little. Bennett, Laurence and I went to Plymouth to call on Grandma Dean. We go after dinner and get back about 8 P.M. Grandma Dean is getting weaker and weaker so it seems that she can [not] live many months. Monday May 24 Beautiful day. I worked this afternoon in my shirt waist. Anna & Howard went down to Birds and bought Howard a new suite at a sale and what do you think they brought me when they came home. I have wanted a good watch always but never thought I could afford it but they saw an ad in the paper that Kerns was selling $30.00 Elgin watches for $18.75, 17 jewels and 20 year guaruntee cases. And so they bought one with tip money that I have been saving. Anna brought the watch done up in a package that looked like a candy bag and I thought they had brought me a small bag of my favorite candy, "pea nut candy". All that I have had for years was several Ingersol watches of rather doubtful time keeping value. Howard & Bennett went to a picture show in the evening. Tuesday May 25 Beautiful day, nice and warm. Wednesday May 26 We are having some real summer weather now, warm and beautiful. Frank Weir next door has got into the habit of coming over into our back yard and playing ball with Howard. Our back yard is rather bare of grass and they do not help the matter any. The McDonalds next door are moving into a flat right back of us on 12th. They have got to get out where they are now, the land lord ordered them out. He made all kinds of excuses but I guess he just wanted them out because he did not like them. And they are going back and forth carrying such things they can carry. Bennett got a letter from Grandma Clarkson today. Thursday May 27 Fine day just like the good old summer time. June was sick today and did not go to school in the forenoon and in the afternoon went but came back too sick to stay untill school was over. This evening Anna is trying to write a letter to Grandma Clarkson but the kids never will let anybody do anything that they want to. Laurence, Louise and June have gone to bed. Howard is sitting in the big Morris chair reading with his skull cap on and Bennett is getting his lessons and I am writing this. Friday May 28 [No entry] Saturday May 29 [No entry] Sunday May 30 [No entry] Monday May 31 Beautiful day except a shower and this is Decoration Day and a holiday in the Post Office. Howard and Bennett and 3 other Central High School boys went on a long hike. They took the car to Pontiac and from [there] walked the R.R. untill they branched off to Orion Lake. They got home in the evening on the car from Orion, sun burned and tired out and hungry although they carried a lunch. And because Laurence could not go with them on account of his papers, so I went with [him] to Belle Island and for the crowds we could hardly get to the boat. They charge 20¢ both ways now, they used to charge 10¢. June fell down the back steps and cut her lip. Laurence and I cut down an old bed that has been in the barn for years and fixed up Howards bed that has been broken for a long time and Howard slept on the floor for a long time. |
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June 1920 Tuesday June 1 [No entry] Wednesday June 2 And this is Junes birthday and she is 7 great big years old. Of course she got up early before I went to work as happy as she could be to be so old and anxious to get spanked and to see what she got for birthday presents. Louise and June appeared down stairs about 6:30 so they could see if I had any present before I went to work. She got from Papa a pair [of] patent leather slippers and Mama gave her a new hat. Bennett gave a big box of chocolates, Howard a hair ribbon, Laurence hair ribbon too, Louise box handkerchief. Mrs. Wier next door [gave her] a birthday cake with a 25¢ piece in it. Frank Wier gave her a dollar bill. Thursday June 3 This is the aniversary of our moving into this house, 11 years. Friday June 4 Louise went to Belle Island today to some school field day doings. She ran a race and came in second which was doing well for so many taking part. But she came home so sun burned that we were alarmed she looked so fearful red and burned we came near sending for a Doctor but Anna daubed on lots of cold cream and made it look better. She was the worst burned kid I ever saw. Saturday June 5 [No entry] Sunday June 6 [No entry] Monday June 7 [No entry] Tuesday June 8 [No entry] Wednesday June 9 Uncle Herbert Clarkson from Chicago blew in today. Thursday June 10 Uncle Herbert and Anna went to Northville today. Uncle Herbert went back home on the Elec. Car and Anna came home with Eve. Friday June 11 Howard went to Bob Lo with the Det. Junior College. He has finished a 6 month term and he got so burned that he was pretty well done up. Saturday June 12 Howard was too done up from yesterday that he could not go to work at the P.O. he usually works Saturdays and holidays. Sunday June 13 Laurence quite sick today. Monday June 14 Laurence too sick to go to school today and this week is the final week for school. Louise was recommended and came home glad and happy. Tuesday June 15 Laurence was so sick yesterday that he was fearful he might not be recommended but he was not gone very long before he came back with a happy smile on his face and he was recommended too. My vacation begins today. Wednesday June 16 My how it rained in the night and this morning. An umbrella mender came along and he fixed 3 umbrellas for us and one for the neighbor. Bennett and Laurence put up a lunch and went to Belle Island. They have not returned yet. This is the 2nd day of my vacation and [I] suppose the time will fly from now until the 1st of July. Thursday June 17 Third day of my vacation. I went to the P.O. and got my money it amounted overtime included $71.61. Laurence went to school to get his certificate and he had to have shoes, cap and tie and he does not save enough peddling papers to buy his own clothes like Howard and Bennett did and we had to buy them ourselves. His shoes were at a sale over on Holden and cost $10.20, cap $2.50 and tie 59¢. He spends his money as fast as he gets [it] and it dont seem to make any difference how much we scold and try to reason with him it will go. Friday June 18 Bennett has been working for Kragors store up on Holden but so many boys got to work over at Burroughs and so Bennett wants to get a job over there too. Krogers he had long hours especially saturdays and at Burroughs he gets the same salary, $15.00 a week, 8 hours and 1/2 day off saturdays so he quit Krogers and applied for a job there but he had to get working papers so today he went to the school and got his certificate. Saturday June 19 Cool day. Howard, Bennett and I went to Sugar Island on Bennetts Sunday school excursion. Bennett did a couple of stunts he put the shot and broad jump. I carried lunch box all day and took the early boat home, the boys stayed untill the last boat. Sunday June 20 [No entry] Monday June 21 Cool and rain. Bennett went down town to get his working papers but something was wrong and he had to take them back to Burroughs and get them properly signed and take them down town again. Bennett and I went to the Regent in the afternoon matinee. Tuesday June 22 Cool fine day. I went with Bennett downtown to get his working [papers]. First we went to the Board of Health corner of Clinton street on St. Antoine street and they sent us to a building around on Mullet st. Here he was examined physically and we had to go from there to 35 Grand River east and from there he [went] to the Burroughs and got his job. I stayed down town for a while looking in the windows but got home for dinner. In the afternoon I went out to Strathmoor on Grand River and looked at our lot on the corner of Grand River and Woodlee Blvd. Laurence and another boy rode their bicycles out 12 and we thought the boy was lost he was gone so long, but he brought a quart box of wild strawberries and we bought another quart off the peddler and had a dandy short cake. Wednesday June 23 Fine cool day. I did not go anywhere today but tinkered around all day. Thursday June 24 [No entry] Friday June 25 Fine day, rather hot but not uncomfortable. I went to Plymouth to call on Mother. Saturday June 26 Bennett has his Saturday afternoon off where he works so Bennett and I went to the Temple theater this afternoon. Sunday June 27 My vacation is going fast and I did not go anywhere today .I thought I would [go] to Plymouth again today to see Ernie who said they were coming down to see Mother but I did not get started. The children except Howard go to sunday school. Monday June 28 Fearful hot today. And I took today to go out to Waterford where my brother keeps the Waterford Hotel. I went to Pontiac on the suburban car and then took the bus that runs from Pontiac to Clarkston and to the Waterford Hotel about 12 oclock and had dinner. Geo. took me in his automobile to Clarkston, I never was there before but it is like all the rest of the Hotels, villages whose chief attraction is the water, lakes that are on the shores. And we rowed a little ways on the lakes and rivers that his Hotel is situated. Then after supper George Jr. and his mother brought me back to the City, they have a home at both places and it dont make any difference which end they are at. Tuesday June 29 Fearful hot day. And I am not doing anything today but resting. Anna and I went up to call on the Burns. Donald is fitting up a electric supply store on the corner of Hamilton and Buena Vista West. He and his Mother own the property and he has quite a stock of all kinds of electric supplies, then he goes out doing job work. He has in his stock electric washers, cleaners, fans, sewing machines run by electricity. We have had one of his electric washers for 2 or 3 months and we just paid him the first payment tonight. I had another inquirey about our lot in Schoolcraft and Grand River. We want to sell it so we can have money to fix up our place where we live at 309 Hecla. We think the lot is worth about $3,500 but I guess we have got to come down on if we sell it now times are more quiet than in the spring. Wednesday June 30 Well this is the last day of my vacation and so far I have not done very much. I enjoy sitting on our back porch, it is fine and cool out there now when it is shady it is nice as any summer resort and more comfortable at that.
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July 1920 Thursday July 1 Fine day. But oh how hard it is to go back to work, the loads of mail especially magazines papers galore. Friday July 2 Fine day. We sold our School Craft lot to day. Mr. Mattendale came and offered us $2800, that was $100 a foot. We wanted more but he would not give more so we finally took the $2800.00 and we signed agreements and he paid $25.00 down. He is acting agent for some man we do not know who. Saturday July 3 Fine weather. Howard went with Roy Keifer some where to camp over Sunday & Monday. He worked at the Post Office all day, there was a fierce lot of mail and he nearly ran his head off to be ready to catch the 7 P.M. car. He had a suit case loaded with eats mostly canned goods and blankets and other junk. He is just crazy to go camping and swimming and all out door sports. He is teasing us now we have sold our lot to buy a summer resort anyway we must buy a automobile which if I bought any it would have to [be] a "fliver" that means a Ford. Sunday July 4 Cool and fine 4th but we do not celebrate until tomorrow and that means two days holiday in the Post Office. It is so cool today we wonder how Howard is enjoying himself at the camping place they went to last night to stay until Monday night. Monday July 5 Beautiful day. Today is the day they celebrate for the 4th and it is about as quiet a 4th as I ever saw. A circus is in town and I took Louise and June and went to Ferry field to see the parade down Grand River but we got there too late to see the parade but we knew they would come back by the Ferry field so we waited but it was along about 2 hours. We got so tired waiting that we had started fro home when we heard the music of the parade and we saw the whole parade it did not amount to much. We got back home about 1 P.M. Howard got home all right about 10 oclock. There was a few fireworks shot off this evening. The children all had a few. Louise and June had mostly sparklers and a fire pot or some thing like that. Bennett and Laurence had a few bigger ones. Inez Hart came over in the afternoon and they just about made a dress complete for Anna. Anna is so desperately in need of anything to wear that they made the dress. [Entry added later] We did not hear of this piece of news untill about the middle of september, then it got to Anna some way, I do not know how. Howard went to Orchard Lake with Roy Keifer and a few of Roys friends to stay from Saturday evening to Sunday & Monday over the 4th. They all took lunch and had a good [time] except Monday when Howard tried to swim from the shore to the Island and he had become tired out swimming and playing and several of the party with Howard swam across. Howard hot nearly to the Island when his strength gave out suddendy and he had to call for help. Roy Keifer and Mr. Cornell was near and went to his assistance and got him to the Island and he was unconsious for a few minutes. Roy Keifer brought him out of his unconsiousness state but he came home that night and said nothing so we did not know a thing about it. We did notice that he was not near so enthusiastic over swimming and Etc. And the worst of it all he went to work the next day and he was so sun burned and it hurt and he complained about that and said nothing about his narrow escape from drowning. And we were so stunned we hardly could believe it. Tuesday July 6 Anna went down town today to get an [abstract?] of our lot we are selling and went to B. E. Taylor where we bought the lot. We do not know who is buying the lot we only know the salesman that is doing the negotiating. But B. E. Taylor told her to go [to the] Union Trust but she did not quite understand so she came home to get a new start and it rained so she could not do anything anyway. Wednesday July 7 Anna went down to the Union Trust Co. today to get the abstract of our lot and they told her it would be 3 weeks before she could get it. She went out Grand River to see Mr. Martindale the salesman and from there went down town. Thursday July 8 Anna washed. And it rained in torrents, I never saw it come [down] so heavy, about 4 P.M. I was working delivering Mail but I stopped on a porch untill it let up. Friday July 9 [No entry] Saturday July 10 Bennett went to Tashmoo on the Burroughs picnic today. He gets full pay for Saturday but he has to buy his ticket for Tashmoo. Bennett has some soft job at Burroughs, he goes to work at 8:30 and gets home about 5. Of course he has to work while he is there but it is clean work, keeping time cards. Sunday July 11 Rained nearly all the afternoon, dismal day. Not a soul came. Bennett & Laurence went to Church. Louise quite sick, on the couch all day. I guess she did not eat a thing all day. Anna made fudge this afternoon. Monday July 12 - Saturday July 31 [No entry]
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August 1920 Sunday August 1 - Thursday August 19 [No entry] Friday August 20 Fearful hot sticky weather. And this is the day that the pension law becomes apperative to pension old Carriers that are [65] years old. About 10 Carriers were pensioned off here in Detroit. I will have to wait for 13 years longer before I can be pensioned off but it means a whole [lot] to some who are just able to keep going and the pension will help them out. Some are well able to work even at the age of 65 years old. And I guess there [are] others that want to keep on working. Saturday August 21 Oh but this has been a fearful hot day and I could hardly stand the sticky and sweaty. And the first thing when I got through working was to get into the bath tub and have a good bath but by bed time it was blowing up a cool and chilly. Bennett, Laurence, Louise, June and I went to the picture show over ot the Palace on 14th. Some way I do not take very kindly to the picture show but the children tease me to go and once in a while I go just to keep in good with the children. Anna I guess goes more than I do. Sunday August 22 Cool, even real chilly, I believe a fire would feel good. We all got up late about 9 oclock. Had breakfast and then began the usual Sunday "what shall we do today, no auto, no summer resort to go to." Bennett went to Church and I guess he was the only one to go. He goes with Roy Keifer a great deal. Sam Hardenberg and Belle called this afternoon, he has his vacation and only had 2 or 3 days. Were are trying to decide what to do because I could have my vacation if I could decide on what we could do and if it was not for the children we would not try to go to a lake cottage for a week or so. We have no money that we could afford to spend on a vacation but the children are going to be fearfully abused if we do not go some. Sam and Belle went to Cavinaw Lake near Chelsea, Mich. Roy has a cottage there and has been thier since July 1, 1920. Monday August 23 Actually cold in the house today but it was fine out in the sun working. Anna did a big washing we have the electric washer and that makes it easier and better. This evening everybody is shivering around. Bennett has got a quilt and skul cap. Howard has gone to bed to keep warm and the girls have gone now too. Bennett, Laurence & Mama are reading. Laurence never read very much before but lately he has got started on the Motor Boys and reads all he can fine time to. Tuesday August 24 - Tuesday August 31 [No entry] |
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September 1920 Wednesday September 1 [No entry] Thursday September 2 [No entry] Friday September 3 Fine day, a little bit chilly. I went to the Post Office to get my money. Anna, Louise, June and I went to the matinee of the new picture and vaudiville theater just opened up. It is called the LaSalle over on the 14th near the Boulevard. Mr. Martindale the man that we are selling a lot to [called] and said [if] we both would come over to his bank tomorrow on Grand River they would close the deal. Saturday September 4 One grand and beautiful day, sun warm and bright, delightful. And this is the 25th anniversary of our wedding day. We had invited Edna and Clarence and Ernies family but they could not come on account of farm work that could not be left, and so we telephoned and told them they could come some time. And this is the way we celebrated. We have been selling a lot but were being held up on account of the title and other things that they wanted just so and so it has been since last July some time until today Anna and I went out to his office which is the Northwestern Saving Bank. And the papers were finally satisfactory and we signed off our right and title to lot 144 Schoolcraft sub. no. 2. We had owned it just 6 years almost to the day and it made us lonesome and sorry because it is on a corner and facing Grand River and we were proud to own so nice a piece of property. The ones we sold to are going to put a bank on the lot so that will be nice and makes us feel better. Anna is nearly sick today and does not feel like doing anything to celebrate our anniversary. I gave her a new wedding ring, the old one is too large or too small I do not know which. And the children each one gave her things. And in the afternoon Edna and Clarence came with thier auto and took Bennett & Laurence up to their cottage on Silver Lake near South Lyon and I rode as far as Northville and then I took the car to Plymouth to see me Mother and found her very feeble and having a bad spell. She was up and down from chair to bed and could hardly get back and forth. I missed a car and I was until nearly midnight getting home. I was going to say about our lot 144 that we bought the lot for $990.00 but paid $872.00, 12% for cash, and now after owning the lot for 6 years we sold it for $100.00 a foot, 28 feet for $2800.00. That shows how real estate has advanced here in Detroit but just now things are very quiet and I think we did pretty well. I wish I could invest the money they gave us as well as that. We got very penny cash. Sunday September 5 Well of all the dark gloomy and dismal days, rain and rain all day long. And this day is Annas birthday and it is not much like yesterday. I gave a nice box of candy but she is too sick to eat any of it. She has just had to lie down most of the day. June gave her a kettle scrapper. Louise gave her some crochet work to put on a towel. Louise is a wonder to do crochet work and she does it so nice and straight and well done. I guess Bennett gave a pair [of] silk stockings. What Howard gave I do not know. Bennett and Laurence are at Ednas cottage at Silver Lake, I wonder if [it] has been as rainy and gloomy there as here. They intended to get our whole family out there this week but I should hate to be there if the weather is as miserable as here. Monday September 6 Labor Day. Fine day. Anna spent the day getting ready to go out to Ednas cottage tomorrow. And she is sick at that. Howard & Clarence Swanson went to the Fair today and just got back, 10 P.M. Tuesday September 7 Well this is the day Clarence was to come about 5 P.M. and take us to Silver Lake in his automobile. Laurence & Bennett are already there. I am on my vacation is the reason I can go too. Well about 5 P.M. Clarence with his auto and the rest of the family, except Laurence & Bennett who are out there now, [arrived]. And so we filled up the auto with suit cases, bundles and finally ourselves piled in on top of things the best we could. And so we all started for the country. We went out Grand River to the 7 Mile road, my what a beautiful ride. Rolled over the 7 Mile road to Northville and from Northville up the State road to South Lyon and on through the State road we went untill we reached the high bluffs of the Lake. The road would have ran over the bluffs had they not turned at the Lake and so we reached the Lake without misshap and a beautiful ride it was. We made the trip in about 2 hours and it is about 40 miles in distance.
Wednesday September 8 [No entry] Thursday September 9 [No entry] Friday September 10 [No entry] Saturday September 11 [No entry] Sunday September 12 And untill Sunday night when Clarence brought us all back home Sunday evening. Sunday Ernie my brother and his family came to dinner. We certainly had a fine time, the cottage sets down at the waters edge and the high bluff is close behind the cottage. And there is stairs from the top to bottom. One day Laurence, Bennett, Louise, June and myself (Howard did not go) walked around the lake and came near getting lost. That is we had to ask somebody where to go. We went to "Peaches" (a mans name) to beg some eggs, etc. to eat and one day Howard, Bennett & Laurence walked to South Lyon for supplies. They were to meet Clarence to bring them back but he did not come so they walked back untill somebody gave them a lift and so we all did have a fine time. Monday September 13 - Thursday September 30 [No entry] |
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October 1920 Friday October 1 - Sunday October 31 [No entry] |
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November 1920 Monday November 1 - Sunday November 28 [No entry]
Monday November 29 This is Louise birthday and [she] is 11 years old. And of course is a big girl now, 56 inches tall. Tuesday November 30 [No entry] |
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December 1920 Wednesday December 1 - Wednesday December 22 [No entry] Thursday December 23 And this Laurence birthday and he is 14 years old, my it seems impossible how he is getting to be such a big boy and for this birthday presents he got a sweater, box of candy. His birth is so near Christmas that he does not get so much. Laurence is a different boy than the rest of the children, different looking and different than the others in disposition. He wants to fool and bother the others and is funny always cutting up. And he has a bad habit that he does not save his money. He still peddles papers but does not have any money left at the weeks end. Howard and Bennett saved their money when they was peddling papers and bought all of their clothes and still found some to put in the bank. We have to buy his shoes and clothes and sometimes money enough to go to a show, all the boys go very often to the shows. Friday December 24 We are having the finest kind of weather, I hope we will have [good] weather for tomorrow and I guess the prospects are good. But the work is killing me, I guess I am feeling my old age. We work outside as long [as] we can see and then work inside as long as we can stand it then go home only to get up early and go back and do it all over again. Howard is working today, school kept up untill yesterday so he will not be able to earn as much. The boss assigned Howard to me so I had him all the time to help he knows my case quite well and how I work so that helped me a whole lot. Saturday December 25 Not a bad day, not stormy or bad. Not a bit of snow on the ground and the day was very mild. I got up about 4 oclock so the house would be warm for the kids and soon they came shouting merry christmas and what a time they had. Howard and myself watched them while we ate our breakfast and then we had [to] start for work. It seems tuff to go away such scenes as that and go to a Post Office crowded with mail, letter, papers, magazines, and packages galore and a fearful day of work. I guess we worked just about 8 hours when we are supposed to have a 1/2 holiday. And I am so tired I can hardly slide my hind foot forward. And Howard looks tired and quiet. Of course everybody got presents and but they were nearly all usefull and more clothes than anything else. Sunday December 26 Well the weather turned to snow and a heavy snow and we had to go [to] the Post Office and work form 10.00 to 12.00 and I did not [want] to go to work, I needed the day for rest but xmas is nothing but work in the Post Office. We see happy home with every member of the home and we are just killing ourselves. Anna, Louise went over to see the Fred Fry family to get him to figure up how much we still owed on the house and lot where we live. We want to pay Mr. Morgan and finish the thing up and Fred Fry knows about such things. Mrs. Burns and Donald came while Anna was away but [she] got back in time to see them. And it snowed so long and furious that his auto was as white as snow Monday December 27 - Friday December 31 [No entry]
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