Sunday, Jan. 31, 1937

We didn’t get to church, Chev. wouldn’t work. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were up, had dinner here, took up collection outside church this morn. here for flood sufferers. Was suppose to be all churches the way the Messenger read; wasn’t at Waterloo Henry said. Some fellows here from Wartburg bought sow & 5 pigs & $35.00. Henry & family came, we went along to Mr. & Mrs. Leo Orlets at Paderborn, played 6 hand pinochle, had lunch; they were just ready to come down here. Getting colder tonite.

Saturday, Jan. 30, 1937

We went butchering at Henry’s. Took Uncle Fred along from the church lane; to muddy for him to get out with car. Raining this afternoon & tonite; thunder & lightening.

Friday, Jan. 29, 1937

Bert cleaned, baked bread etc. Eggs only 19¢ now; Bert got the mail, not much news, Mr. & Mrs. Jake Schaefer of near Foster Pond have a baby boy, born at St. Mary’s Hospital last Thurs. nite; Mr. & Mrs. Ray Schmidt & son Linus [? – unclear] of Waterloo returned home from Red Bud’s Hospital Sat. were all 3 had pneumonia, boy was taken back there again still has throat ailments, paper says. Mrs. Joe Watchel gave me the wedding present for Rosalia, they couldn’t go to the wedding, Delmar was sick with grippe. She [Rosalia] got set silver ware from Uncle Ed, knives & forks, spoons, teaspoons, butter knives, sure beautiful set, sent by mail.

Thursday, Jan. 28, 1937

Bert baked cookies; patched. We got oats over. Sure a beautiful day, nice warm, snowing & ice melting away fast, & lots water & mud. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary stopped, he went to Waterloo she stayed at Henry’s, visited them for awhile; brought us 100 lbs. flour along $3.49. It is getting awful cloudy & hazy in sky all around. Tonite is the President Birthday Ball at Waterloo in 2 halls; like usal [sic – usual].

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 1937

Leo & Rose came, we all went to E. St. Louis to National House, but was no business, couldn’t make use of the $35. check anyway; went shopping awhile, stoped [sic] at Belleville on way home. Pretty nice day, not so cold. The Hecker Y.P.League having a euchre & dance tonite. Misci [sic] by Kattinger Vagabonds. Sparks May & Laber girl & another girl. There is also euchre & dance given at Paderborn church hall tonite. Alois Roth & Gertie came took Bert along to Paderborn, had a large crowd, we didn’t get no prize, had 5 points. Leo & Rose didn’t get none either. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came, went to the Y.P.L. euchre, they only played 8 games, they both had 5, got percolator, & meat platter; but the crowd wasn’t very large. It isn’t so cold tonite. Skaer Bro. played at Paderborn.

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1937

Ironed. Aunt Mary is 60 yrs. old today. They came this evening & we went along to Red Bud to euchre, Uncle Fred had 9 points got apron, pap 8 & Bert 7, but didn’t get no prize; Leroy Siefert got attendance prize, magazaine [sic] table; pillow slips that were raffled were won by Mrs. Otto Huch. There is to be 200 people from Cairo brought into Red Bud tonite, in Gym. left 400 at Chester, also took train load to St. Louis they say.

Monday, Jan. 25, 1937

Rose came down helped wash, brought theres along, had dinner here & Bert went along back, we all went in to Belleville this afternoon. Isd. stayed in by Fr. Orlets for the present till he finds a job. Beautiful day. A fellow here for something to eat. Sure terrible flood in Eastern states, everything under water; one place were just the church steeples can be seen, & sickness with it also, Cairo had 24 hrs. to move out this morn. & afternoon has 2 ft. level already, they want to dynamite the river there, all through Ohio, Kentucky, Tenn. all places, they take 600 [people] off every town they pass through in boats & place them in Churches, school houses etc. Gertie Cortner came, to see Bert awhile this evening she works by Monike.

Sunday, Jan. 24, 1937

Went to mass at Red Bud. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary stayed awhile, then went home. Leo, Rose & Isd. came for dinner, played cards this afternoon, Henry & family came, took pap & Bert along out to Uncle Fred’s, the rest to, went all for supper celebrating Aunt Mary’s birthday; played 6 hand pinochle. Raining & freezing all day long.

Saturday, Jan. 23, 1937

Pretty cold; about 8 degrees, heard on the radio it is 56 below in Wyoming & 52 in Colorado; coldest weather in 25 yrs. in Los Angeles, Cal; something unusual to have there. Pap went to town paid all bills, range $61.00 & lights $1.47 & other articles. Went to Probsts got prestone & oil put in Chev. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came took us along went to see Leo & Rose & Isidore. They got a glass baking set from Oscar Birkner’s family. Jac. Orlet & Dominic Roth was to see them last eve.

Friday, Jan. 22, 1937

Bert had house cleaning today, & what a dirt, scrubbed everything; upstairs & down. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came brought the paper along, picture was in it, it isn’t so bad, Isd. about the best; ain’t so very clear; also the picture of Tolan of New Athens & Edna Qurinin, were married here in Hecker, same day at 8 o’clock in morn. attendants, Oliver her brother, & Edith Klinkhardt, & Mr. & Mrs. Leucker of E. St. Louis, had breakfast at Restaurant in New Athens, then him & her left for St. Charles Ill; were he is assistant at School for Boy’s there. she also wore white dress & veil & Edith had taffeta & blue flowers & shoes. There picture didn’t take so very good either. Eggs. 19¢ today.