Monday, Sept. 19, 1938

Bert [Bertille] washed ironed. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary were up all day, he worked across street, had beef soup dinner they brought here, had dinner & supper. Celestine Neff was here selling chances on bedspread, donations to go for recovering aisle for centennial mass, which will be in Nov. 11. Pap went to meeting at Kammler’s hall; about the farm plans again. Mrs. Bill Gallagher died this morn. is at Kochs parlor, she was ill for about week; will be buried Wed. morn at Red Bud. Leo & family & Henry & family were here this eve. Radio say frost tonite..

Friday, Aug. 12, 1938

Pap hauled 2 loads gravel with team. Gus Frisch stopped in, he put some coal hat in drive way; took chance Red Bud prize. Leo & family came brought truck back. Emil was over awhile.

Saturday, July 17, 1937

Hy. Armstutz brought sack feed for pigs this morn. Pierre Laut was here selling chances for a quilt, pillow slip & scarf, to be raffled on there church pinic [sic] on Aug. 8. Cloudy & cool; some are threshing Joe Watchel is out at Frank Birkners, going to finish there. Wm. Myerscough of New Athens died will be buried Mon. Morning. papa’s first coummioun [sic – communion] partner, they used to live near Hecker. Keims have a free dance at Floraville tonite, musci [sic] by the girls. The Country Club has its annual carnvial [sic], beginning Fri. nite ending Sun. nite, Pappy Cheshire KMOX radio stars are to intertain [sic] for an hr. tonite & tomorrow; free for all & all for fun. Bert [Bertille] went along to Floraville to a dance with Geo. Wagner’s, large crowd. Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came, from here went out to Henry’s.

Thursday, June 10, 1937

Rain again last nite & morn; pap is fixing pig shed. Mr. & Mrs. Al. Cleveland stopped brought saw here, went picking cherries. Uncle Fred & A. Mary went to Belleville this morn. There is School pinic [sic] there, foundry men aren’t working. but it is posponed [sic] on account of the weather. Lucinda E. was here, selling chances for quilt to be raffled on 15, when they have open air lawn & card party at School grounds. We got card from Rev. Moorman of Dupo, stating who won, Mr. Harold Bunch, 1112 N. Ninth St. E. St. Louis Ill. check for $700.00 & Miss Joy Levin Dupo Ill, check for $300.00, pretty nice for the ones that received them.

Thursday, June 4, 1936

We clipped old hens wings. Aunt Mary shoes from Chicago Mail Or. & were to small had to send them back today. We had beef soup dinner. We ate 3 springs already, sure good, we got 111 old hens. There is Church pinic [sic] at Dupo today, were we got chances to win a V8 Ford; but I guess we won’t win anyway. Mr. Geo. Homringhausen gets buried this afternoon. Rose & Bert went to the funeral, down to Red Bud only to Dashner’s, he looks natural awful large funeral, Pall Bearers were, 4 fellows of Waterloo, J. Schmidt, L. Zimmer, Metzer, Friederich, Schuette & guy of Red Bud; Rev. Brink had the services at the undertaker parlor, & also at Round Prairie Church & Cemetery; he was 55 yrs. old, had a copper coffin & vault. This evening there was some fellows ran around our hours, one was H. Davis of Belleville, he should of brought a boy along, that he picked up on the road, & kid got away from him, Elmer Kammler came here, he had the kids shoes, what he dropped, in alalfa [sic] field.

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1935

We washed, ironed. Ruma has Catholic Church pinic [sic] today. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came & we all left about 5 o’clock went to the pinic [sic], nice crowd in evening, Prairie Du Rocher band. We stopped at Red Bud, bought fruit jars 2 doz; Aunt Mary sold Ja Earle book chances $1.00 for the Hecker Church pinic; on Aug. 28 Fr. Witte wouldn’t take none.

Sunday, Aug. 19, 1934

Went to Red Bud. Mr. George Gregson is being buried this afternoon from the home of his daughter Mrs. Hy. Benedick to Catholic Church & cemetery. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary stayed awhile; went home. We all went up to Firemen’s Pinic [sic] at Manier’s, this afternoon, but not very much doing, no people there, free drawing in afternoon, music by Ellirs band; tonite by Moonlighters Adm. 25¢ got lot of fish, we had 2 sandwiches, we have chances on 2 quilts, 10 gals. gas, crushed rock, cold package $2 each; laying mash, etc. 10 chances in all for 10¢. We all went out to Cleveland’s this evening to a party, watermelon, cake, lemonade, beer, nice crowd, musci [sic] by Miss Miles Goedell’s, & Norman Heyl. Miss Martha Schilling & Joe Neary were published first time at Waterloo today.

Saturday, Aug. 5, 1933

Henry & Floyd came up to see about getting to church tomorrow, they are going to christen the baby tomorrow afternoon at 2 oclock by Eschmann at Waterloo. Chas. Jung bought 4 dozen roasting ears corn for 50¢ wheat is 80¢ at Red Bud; eggs 10¢. Henry Metze & son of Smithon [sic] where here this afternoon on business. Pierre Laut & Roy Neff was selling chances, in a quilt for 10¢, for the pinic [sic] on Aug. 20 at Maniers Park. There is quite a few sales today, Mrs. Sensel estate is being sold at Waterloo today.

Monday, July 24, 1933

We were all out Aunt Marys for lunch and dinner they hitched the young mare up from there we went up to Henry and got the boar. Bertille stayed out there, and we had sometime coming home. Red Bud Laydies [sic] were hear [sic] solicting [sic] for the pinic [sic].

[editor’s note: Believe this entry is written by Rosalia]

Sunday, July 23, 1933

We went to Red Bud, the Catholic will have pinic [sic] & chicken supper, Aug. 8. Hecker ball team played Douglas last Sun. here & won 7 to 5, & today are playing up at Belleville, & lost 24 to 2. Mrs. Cleveland’s is celebrating her birthday today, her mother came along back with here from Centralia. Ruth Braun was here selling chances for the pinic here in Hecker on Aug. 12; we took one. Mr. & Mrs. Rennecker came over awhile, till they got company. Katie came. It sure rained nice here; some places they can thresh like by Pour’s.