Friday, Dec. 23, 1938

Still cloudy. We got Christmas cards from Fr. Orlet, Josie Keller, Irene Helfrich, Gusta Dudenhoeffer. Shelled popcorn, cleaned etc. Christmas Program at Blackburn School this afternoon, couldn’t go to much mud & Hecker School has there to nite. Everybody welcome.

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1938

Washed, ironed. pap hauled load gravel. Went to Orlets this afternoon, got grapes for wine & juice. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were here. H. Wittenauer was here on business. Mr. Rudy Helfrich 25 & Otillia Rheinhardt 25 were married at Paderborn this morn. by Fr. Weskamp, attendants were Emil Helfrich & Virginia Helfrich, Oppertunia Rheinhardt & Wm. Helfrich boy of Belleville, dance at Kammlers, nice crowd had cake. Schoenborn’s Orch. Beautiful day.

Monday, June 27, 1938

Bert [Bertille] went to Leo’s with truck, he hauled coal Bert helped wash; they & Bert all went out to Henry’s, combining again 126 bus. afternoon. Chas. Helfrich came got oats. Emil & Steve Rennecker came over awhile.

Sunday, April 24, 1938

Went to Smithton to 7 o’clock mass; to see Ed. Heap; went to Leo’s & Rose [Rosalia] from there, had dinner there. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came there this afternoon, & Henry & family at night. We went to Con. Myerscough at Ruma, this afternoon; stopped in at Bill Vogts. Hecker baseball club have a dance at Pautler tonite; musci [sic] by Keims Trio. Ben Schilling is in with them. had pretty fair crowd cleared $40.00. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came this eve. & Geo. Wagner awhile. Tony Helfrich wrecked his car last nite by Floraville, nearly got in the pond; smashed up.

Saturday, March 19, 1938

Pap went to see Chas. Helfrich. We went to Smithton this afternoon, sale, & to church. Bert took eggs up 15 [cents] . A kid Schmitling on the Gambach farm, & Oliver Birkner, had a scrap this evening, he knocked Oliver out, unconsious [sic]; for awhile. Dr. Eckert came happened between, Wagners & Watchels; quite an excitement for awhile. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came up awhile this eve. Pap went to Orlets inquire.

Friday, March 18, 1938

Today it is 13 yrs. of Myursboro [sic – Murphysboro] cyclone. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came pap went along into Waterloo to Mrs. Rose Kanstein’s funeral, her husband divorced was here too. Bert [Bertille] went up to church, we didn’t go to cemetery. Fr. Aydt made nice sermon, but he had to rush it a little cause he wanted to go to Belleville St. Mary Parish, his good friend Roesch was being buried, from tornado. Fr. Joe had 2 funerals this morn. 1 at 8:45 & Roesch Solmen [sic] High mass at 10:45, he was owner of Roesch Enamel plant, which was also destroyed. The pallbearers for Rose were Hy & Emil, Ben Schilling, Levi & Willie Ganley, Simon Havey; large funeral, 1 from Frank Dudenhoefers boys was here from Okla. [Oklahoma]. Mehrmann got 12 doz. eggs. 15 [cents]. Chas Helfrich got 5 bu. potatoes this afternoon. Ralph Wiegand came last nite got his what Leo brought here for hime $1. bu. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came here & Bert [Bertille] went to lent devotion. There is Literary at School House tonite, movie by Dr. Wagner, signing N. Reheis. Bert’s [Bertille] gray suit 16. came today from New York; fits fine, looks good.

Friday, March 11, 1938

Bert [Bertille] started cleaning house, 1 room upstairs. We sprayed trees this morn. Walter Wittenauer was here on business. Pap went to see Chas. Helfrich. Joe Griffin had twins born dead at Belleville hospital last nite.

Wednesday, March 9, 1938

Raining again. Pap went to barber; Joe Freund & guy here looked at pigs, to high price they said. Chas. Wagner was here, quilting for fire co. – put in 2 quilts this morn; 1 a marked of & the other fan quilt. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came here & Bert [Bertille] went to fire house, quilting this afternoon. Emil was over awhile. Chas. Helfrich got oats & potatoes today. Started in to dig basement at Lauts; only 2 carpenters & Karl Boll & Geo. Parker with team; its a contract job; Emil don’t even get chance to work there; suppose to be $1400 house including furnace.

Friday, Feb. 25, 1938

Went out to Henrys got load oats, also corn. A fellow here wanted something to eat. Chas. Helfrich got 20 bu. oats 40 [cents] paid $5 today. At 3:30 fire alarm was sound, fire at Harry Kammlers saloon house, chimney, starting in side; not so much damage done. Bert [Bertille] paid electric bill – 18 hrs. $1.39. this mon. Colder this eve. 28 [degrees]

Thursday, Feb. 24, 1938

Snowing this morn. Bert [Bertille] washed, ironed a few pieces. Pap went to Smithton to see Ed. Heap, but he wasn’t at home, had gone to sale at New Athens. The St. Michael’s Dramatic Club of Paderborn are giving a play tonite there, the name is “Always in Trouble.” players are Bill Klein, Louis & John Schoenborn, Sly. Neff, Ed. Kabureck; Bud. Karban, Irene & Esther Helfrich, Opp. Rheinhardt, & Clara; Viola Kabureck, Cecila Watchel. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary took Bert [Bertille] along to play, boy what a crowd, over 300 tickets sold; dance after play music by Schoenborn, Schilling, Boeker, between acts, & also 4 selections on guitar by Oliver Skaer.