This morning about 12:30 or 1 o’clock every body was roused out for church bell ringing, rings over the lines of the fire at Phil Braun’s shed. It burned completely down to the ground, but saved the house & other buildings. Papa went up with a bucket, they had Smithon [sic] & New Athens fire department, got the water out of Stehefest’s pond & from the neighboring wells. It must of started by the truck, & horn kept blowing & roused Phil out, he went to the shed, broke the door in & the truck was all on flames, they couldn’t save much out of the shed, got the old Ford out & Lester Gregson’s truck. The oil barrels just shot up in the air, it looked terrible, the tin roof on & around the house saved it, & Lizzie Parkinson’s. Mrs. Rennecker came over here that while it took about 1½ to 2 hrs. It is still fire there today yet. We went to Belleville this afternoon. Steve Rennecker came over this evening. Rosalia went over to see Mrs. Hill’s flowers, she called up & said she should come over and look at them. It rained a few shower this evening. Henry was up & got some milk, he was here awhile. Josie Keller went past down to Ben Heyl’s.
Sunday, May 1, 1932
There where 4 girls & 7 boys made their Solemn Coummioun [sic – Communion] at Red Bud this morning. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary where here for dinner. They went out to Buehler’s this afternoon, Linus Birthday. Robert Launts had a farewell party this evening. We weren’t invited to come. Henry & Leona & Geodell’s family came up this evening, the boys stayed here & rest went over to New Athens to Val. Klube’s, his wife died this morn. but they didn’t get to see her anyway, she was at the unterdating [sic- undertaking] parlor yet. The funeral is Tuesday, Henry is pallbearer. Harry Kammler’s has a dance tonite. Peter Bros. outfit playing
Friday, August 28, 1931
Henry finished plowing with the tractor this afternoon up here, he had lunch then left for home & left the team & wagon here. Rosalia dyed her dress wine colored & washed the green one. Adolph Rittmeyer’s wife is awful bad sick, she has rhemutaism [sic] of the heart & diabetes, they also have a nurse there. Mrs. Ben Rausch is on the sick list. Hecker’s ball players had a lucky day last Sun, the first team played at New Athens scored 6 to 3. The Juniors played Smithon [sic] here & scored 10 to 9, Hecker winning both games. William Birkner is erecting a furnace in his dwelling. This week is State Fair at Springfield, quite a few from here attended. The Hecker Public School will open on Sept 1, Greg McCarthy teacher. The Misses Frances, Martha Schilling returned home Aug. 20 after an extended tour through the northwestern states. John Eschman of Waterloo passed away suddenly Wed morning Aug. 26 at 1 o’clock.
Sunday, August 16, 1931
Papa went to Smithon [sic] church this morn. We had dinner & lunch at Uncle Fred’s here today. Today is Robert Gregson’s first year birthday & is also Lena Mengs. The way we heard Edgar Voges & Elva Jatho are being married at Floraville 2 o clock this afternoon & a big dance to night. Gambach car was on fire & tires all 4 a hole cut in at 4 o’clock this morning. Mildred was at the Freeburg home-coming, & this morn. Mrs. smelled rags burning, they looked & found the front seat of the car burning & tires all flat, but they don’t know how it happened or who did it or anything. There was a car load of people here from New Athens they wanted to know where Ed Foster lives on the Hirst place we told them, there is a basket picnic there today. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary went to see Henry Birkner’s, little baby boy born Aug. 7, 12 lbs. they called it Glen Clem, Mrs. Louise Birkner & Clem Parker where sponsors. Christ Buehler’s called there little girl Iona Applonia, Oscar Birkner & wife where sponsors. There was people here from E. St. Louis & bought 5½ lbs. springs for 24¢. Rosalia & Bertille went to church this evening, not very many there.
Saturday, August 15, 1931
Papa went to Belleville church this morning. Emil came down a little while. About 10 o clock this morn.- we started out for a trip, all of us, & Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary, took our basket along. We drove to Red Bud, Ruma, Evansville, then to Mike Gross Peach orchard, & ordered 2 bus. 75¢ bu. they gave us some to take along, then we drove to New Palastine & went to Ed Hale sale, we didn’t stop long, then went to Walsh, from there to Baldwin, Preston, then to New Athens, Freeburg, where we took in the parade of 40 floats & 7 bands, sure was nice, then to Douglas, Smithon, [sic] Hecker, then had supper. We exactly covered 120 miles. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary went home. Meng got his horses this morn.
Tuesday, July 14, 1931
Papa went out in the woods this morning to get some poles. Today Slyvester [sic – Sylvester] Miller & Hilda Bertram are getting married. Leona went to church to see it. Her sister & brother where the attendants. We got the report this morning that Henry S. Braun died last night at 7 o clock & will be buried Thurs. morn. We heard he had heart failure & indigestion trouble & then again we heard, he went to get a drink of water by the well & fell over dead. Clarence Wittenauer was here, he wants 3½¢ to haul wheat from Pabst’s to our place & takes 3 to Red Bud & 4 to New Athens & 5 to Freeburg. So Papa got Eichenseer’s to haul it, they will do it for 3¢. Bertille was by Mrs. Rennecker about a half hr. this evening.
Saturday, July 4, 1931
Today the machines go, there is Homecoming at New Athens, & Circus at Belleville. Papa went down to see Ed. Pabst’s, this morning to see the crops there. He bought 12 tiling from the town for 60¢. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary where up this afternoon, we all had lunch there & this evening we sat on there porch, watching fireworks at New Athen’s & at George Wagner’s. We had music & singing. Joe Schilling finished threshing today & pulled out in the prariere [sic-prairie] are up by Paderborn. He threshed 2214 bus, with oats & wheat.
Monday, April 13, 1931
Papa went to Freeburg this morning to see about some wire, he brought some along home. He was at New Athens too. We washed, ironed, patched, baked bread & coffee cake today. This afternoon Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were here, he helped Papa fix fence, & Rosalia started her dress. Fredrick Fritsche was here & got 2 setting of egg for 15¢, store price. It started to rain this evening.
Wednesday, March 25, 1931
Bertille was at church this morning. Papa went out to help Uncle Joe sawed wood today on Henry place for dinner because he was sick. We cleaned the yards today. This evening Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came up us there went to church. Mrs. Koeller of New Athens died. Mrs. Maggie Groosheim is awful sick. We cooked a kettle of soap today.
Sunday, Nov. 23, 1930
Henry & family were here for dinner today. After dinner they went home & then they was to get company from New Athens, the Klube family. So Henry came up after some dishes and things from the store this afternoon. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came up this afternoon. This evening Frieda Keim of Waterloo is celebrating her birthday at Oak Grove. We were there.
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