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.

Wednesday, March 16, 1938

Radio keeps reporting the news of tornadoes terrible at West end Belleville, Union School, factory, many resenditals [sic – residential]. 9 being dead & 26 injured so far; 3 blocks area; not very far from Township high school; happened about 5 o’clock. Henry & Leona & Billy [Willis] came. Bert [Bertille] went along to Walter Gregsons & looks just terrible nothing left but the house, & not a whole lot of it, porches of [sic – off] etc; but no stock or any one injured, wood sticking 3 ft. in ground across the road from his house, done more damage by downs by Red Bud Vanburen’s, Gueberts; Henry & stayed for dinner. Pap went to Smithton bought 2 pigs from Ed. Heap. $10.00. Eggs 15 [cents] found 98 today. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came Bert [Bertille] went along to Waterloo this afternoon, to see Rosie Kaestenier (nee) Mueth she died Mon. eve. from cancer; leaves a boy 11, who stays with Mueth girls in St. Louis; she has divorce from her husband he has remarried again; she is 47, laid out nice, pink dress at Quernheims funeral parlor; till Fri. morn. then to Hecker church & cemetery. Phi & Ed. are just recovering from auto accident, getting along fairly well at present. Quernheims have a funeral tomorrow afternoon to. Jac Rahn, Hy Rahn’s father 85 yrs. old; he is from Valmeyer; has an awful lot of flowers. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came this eve; we had popcorn. Mrs. Orlet is very low.