1925 Slowly Winds Down

As you probably will notice I wrote this posting in the correct chronological order, rather than in the backward order that I have been using in most postings. Do you find it easier to read the entries this way or in the backward mode? I also wanted to give you a "heads-up that " Lillian's Diaries: Whispers From Galena's Past Vol.II covering 1920 through 1925 will be published by Valentine's Day, 2011. A perfect gift for your favorite genealogist or for yourself.

Sunday, November 22, 1925: Didn’t go to church this morning as our car isn’t in running condition and Len & Ruby didn’t get ready in time. Roads are grand. Dad, Ma, & I walked up to Aunt Annie’s this afternoon. Uncle Edd brought us down this evening. He wouldn’t let us walk. Quite cold today. Monday was cold. We washed today. It was beautiful and clear. Tuesday, Mother baked. Len took chickens to Scale Mound. Dad and I worked on car, opened it up and took out the front piston. The rings didn’t seem badly worn.

Wednesday, November 25: Len went to town this forenoon to get a new piston, then we worked all afternoon trying to get the burr loose that holds the connecting rod in place in the piston but couldn’t do anything so had to put in the old piston again. Got the top of engine put on again. A lovly warm day. Thursday, Len and Ruby went out to Wulff’s to Thanksgiving Day dinner, had her folks, his folks and Rev. Swalve’s family. Uncle Edd brought down Aunts Mag & Tillie this forenoon. Uncle Edd & Aunt Annie are going to be at Johnnie’s today. They came down after them again this eve, but didn’t stay as it was snowing. It has been cloudy all day. We had quite a good Thanksgiving dinner. Finished putting together our car this morning, tried to start it several times today. It started several times but would die again. Len started it this evening. Friday, was clear and cold. Didn’t snow much. We tried our car today, seemed to go quite well.

Saturday, November 28th : We all went to town this afternoon with two cars. Len brought home a new hog rack. Roads dandy weather cold. Sunday, It was snowy this morning. So we didn’t go to church, but lots of cars on the road this afternoon and evening. Monday was snowy this morning and cleared off tonight. Uncle Edd and the Aunts came down this eve. They received word today that Gus Winter died last night. We washed today.

Tuesday, December 1, 1925: We baked and did most of ironing. This eve we all went to Scales Mound to see Aunt Lizzie. Len went to his folks most of the time. Wednesday we had thought something of going to Dubuque but got up late, then Len & Ruby decided to go down to Uncle Ben’s. They did up what eve chores could be done and had some dinner. We started about twelve oclock and went the Ridge Road and thru Elizabeth. Had cement road from there to Woodbine. Vada & Lester were home alone. Uncle Ben went to Gus Winter’s funeral and Aunt Dora was at an Aid meeting. Lester went and got her. Heard the Auctioneer selling cattle and etz. at the Stock Show over Uncle Ben’s radio. After supper we came home by the new cement road to Galena. There is about 3 or 4 miles out of Galena that isn’t paved yet. Thursday was barbecue day at Galena today but we didn’t go as the roads got slippery and then it rained this afternoon. Cars went home early, some perhaps wishing they hadn’t gone. Tomorrow is pie day. Friday it rained all day, and quite hard tonight. Didn’t many people from out this way go to town for pie day.

Winter Socialization

Saturday, January 17, 1925: Raymond went up to Aunt Annie’s to go to town with Uncle Edd to go to Apple River yet on the noon train. Feel tough* today.

Friday was snowy in the forenoon. In the afternoon Raymond Dittmar came from Aunt Annie’s. He had come there Wed. We baked bread & coffee cake, two cakes and a batch drop cookies. Len, Ruby, Raymond & I went to the party at Bonhoff’s Wednesday eve. We walked over the hill. Had to put on leggings and wade thro. Quite a few were there when we got there and they kept on coming till about ten oclock. Over seventy were there and they dance & dance. So many came from Schapville way. I was rather disgusted with the whole affair. They jumped around like Indians. Of course, we had to sit or stand in a corner. Mrs. Heller, Agnes & Blanche & Mrs. Winsicker were there so we had a few to talk with. We started for home at one oclock in the morning.

Thursday, Len went to Raymond’s to help his father cut wood. He had gone to Scales Mounds first so Mother had went along up to Aunt Lizzie’s. Then she went to Mrs. Stauss’ to supper. That afternoon Ida and Loretta Fiedler came down to tell us there was going to be a party at Bonhoff’s tomorrow night. They talked as tho they (Fiedlers)were getting it up*. I had supposed it would be a dance.

Both Tuesday and Wednesday were clear and cold. Ruby made a apron. Mother ironed some. On Monday it was snowy and I sewed a little.

* What do you suppose "I feel tough" meant? I tried to research it, with no results.
* “Getting it up” means to organize or be the host of an event

Armistice Day ~ No, Veterans' Day!

Sun. November 14, 1926 was very cloudy and showery. We were at home all day. Yesterday it rained some in the morning and also rained that night. So we didn’t go to town Saturday. Friday we stayed home and baked bread, coffee cake, apple kuken and a cake. We also churned.

Thursday was Armistice Day*. Eight years ago the war ended. Dad, Ma & I went to town in the afternoon. That eve. we all went up to see the Aunts & Uncles. Wednesday was a nice clear day but cold. We ironed. Len & Ruby husked the standing corn. Dad helped too.

* From Military.com we learn, “Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans confuse this holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veterans Affairs. What's more, some Americans don't know why we commemorate our Veterans on Nov. 11th . It's imperative that all Americans know the history of Veterans Day so that we can honor our former service members properly.
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.
Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11th "