Friday, Jan. 20, 1939

Leo & Rose [Rosalia] Wedding Ann.; but to muddy roads, can’t get there. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came, he took some wheat to Waterloo, she helped quilt. Pap went to Farmers’ meeting at Kammlers. Henry came on business. Boys got sore eyes, pink eye they call it, school is closed for couple days, most all the children have it. Closed today.

Sunday, Aug. 8, 1937

Went to early mass. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stayed awhile, brought a watermelon along that they bought at Red Bud store; had real watermelon lunch, couldn’t eat half of it 28 lbs. it weighed. Ralph Wiegand stopped in & brought Rose Wedding present at tea kettle aluminum. Steve Rennecker came here awhile then went up to pinic [sic]. The Ladies Aid have there pinic [sic] today at Maniers Park; dance this eve. chicken supper. Uncle Fred & A. Mary, Leo & Rose came we ate watermelons then went to pinic [sic]; much larger crowd; quilt went to Ad. Rittmeyer’s girl, bed spread Hy Armstutz & pillow slip, I don’t know; It was awful cloudy, hot, thundering, but it didn’t rain very much, light shower this eve late.

Friday, April 2, 1937

The soap got nice. Bert finished cleaning upstairs, all but washing curtains yet. Pap took dinner along went out in woods with wagon. Sewed some more lettuce, radish & tomatoe [sic] seed, the garden is rather wet. Some guys here from Valmeyer looking for old iron. Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came, he bought ½ bu. timothy seed 10¢ lb. Mertz has a new electric refrigator [sic] in store, its a dandy. Wheat $1.40. Mrs. Caroline Deueker sold some ground to Geo. Erle seen in paper. also Dr. Pautler bought Kropp land & Chas. Lenhardt place that was sold public auction last Sat. brought $4,986 – 100 acres by Geo. Biffar. Leo & Rose & Mr. Orlet came this evening, also Henry & family. Mertz gave Leo a dripolator for wedding present, its nice; 8 cup size.

Saturday, Feb. 6, 1937

Baked & cleaned. Pap went up town to the barber. We drove as far as Barthels Garage, & went along with Leo & Rose to Belleville, got there pictures 13 in all one big one free, & painted also. Sure beautiful day, warm. Read papers & listened to radio.

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1937

Ground hog seen his shadow, 6 weeks bad weather. Leo & Rose came, we went along to Belleville, pap went to dentist, they had dinner with us, took the wash stand along that was upstairs. Pap & Bert went to Waterloo this afternoon, got egg mash, paid Quernheim for Rose furniture, Bedroom Set, Spring & Mattress, kitchen cabinet, all $120.75. Beautiful day, little cold. Pap & Bert went over to Geo. Wagners, helped quilt a Sun flower quilt, had lunch. Pap & Steve, Ed. Kerober, Geo. Wagner played pinochle & solo; ladies quilted.

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.

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.

Thursday, Jan. 21, 1937

Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary stayed here all nite had breakfast here, we went to bed at 3 ‘o clock this morning dance lasted till 1:30, also had keg beer, box cigars, lemonade etc.; Pap & Rose & Bert went to Orlets. Querheims brought in the furniture, Eichenseers the stove, all had dinner there, Isd. is still there, the old folks live in Smithton now. We have so much of everything left, cake, pie; sure bad today ice – Aunt May send her a $5.00 wedding present. Val Adams & Gusta were out for the dance; just everybody was there. Hy & family & Lizzie Boll, came to see the presents & helped to wrap them, Leo & Rose & Isd. came to, this eve. they got stuck first in the lane, road; We cleaned up on wedding cake, sent a piece to Uncle Adam, Fr. Stern & Orlet & his housekeeper Ann & Aunt Mary, drank beer, even had to throw about 1 gal. of it away yet. Is. brought the paper along, the write up was in the New Democrat.

Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1937

Leo Orlet & Rose wedding day; had Lizzie Boll & Aunt Mary & Leona helped cook; married at St. Mary’s at 9 o’clock, Isd. & Bert best; lot of people at church, we had breakfast at Fr. Orlets; & took pictures at Ruine, & put news in News Democrat; had Fr. out for dinner & all brothers & sisters, god mothers & fathers; Jos. Keller all for dinner & supper about 40 persons; took pictures here in afternoon. Dance at Paulter tonite musci [sic] by Skaers, etc. & what a crowd, & presents, got 3 sets of dishes 2 knives & forks, blankets, quilts, tea kettle & every so many more; Rained this morning & cloudy all day; foggy. We had Alois Roth’s car, & he took Leo, chaeuffer [sic] for Mr. & Mrs. Orlet & Mr. & Mrs. Roth.