Thursday, Dec. 21, 1939

Shortest day. Winter begins. Went to Waterloo. Bert [Bertille] got permanent at Colonial Beauty Shop $3.00. Pap bought new radio from Bersche, gave $3.00 for our old radio, trade in on push button zenith stub $15.00. We got Christmas cards from Mr & Mrs Geo. Shecan [?] Emil Schilling & Josie Keller. Awful cold to be 20 tonite. Bill [Klein] came got Bert went to Belleville to Lincoln Theatre to see Jones Family in “Busy to Work,” giving a Ford V8 away.

Saturday, Dec. 9, 1939

Henry brought load corn. We went out this afternoon helped him with his hog; Bert [Bertille] baked pies & chicken for tomorrow, they are coming up here to see us. Carlisle Morrison of Waterloo 52 & Wihelmina Zeneiss a nurse of Springfield, 53, who was a Co. nurse here in 1930 were married recently. Stolze of Belleville 73 yr. old man that married 27 yr old girl of St. Louis, she has left for 2nd time.

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1939

Leo’s birthday. Went to Belleville with meat etc. eggs 30 [cents]. Mertz paying 20 [cents] here. They had supper here. Uncle Fred went to Waterloo & A. [Aunt] Mary stayed here this morn; beautiful weather these days.

Saturday, Dec. 2, 1939

Went to Red Bud then to Waterloo this afternoon shopping & church. Its to be awful cold tonite; radio says 30; quite a change again. Bill [Klein] & Louis stopped this morn. were out at Schillings, Ben has ordered a new Chev.

Friday, Nov. 24, 1939

Leo & family came making plans for building shed had dinner & supper here. Leo & pap went to Smithton. Leo bought new V8 Truck $500 & his old car, brought it along home. Henry brought load corn. Bert [Bertille] baked cookied. Mrs. Roland Nobbe – Mildred Wild died & was buried this week at Waterloo she had been sick for some time married just a year & Walter Nobbe fell on leaves on sidewalk at his home & fractured some bones, is confined to his home.

Thursday, Nov. 23, 1939

Thanksgiving Day. Leo & family came had dinner & supper here, he plowed potatoe ground. Rose [Rosalia] & Bert [Bertille] went to Red Bud to Wedding mass of Marcella Gregson & Leslie Heyl; very pretty wedding, bride had long train white Satin dress with short veil & her attendants 2 sisters, one in rust & green with veils & wreath to match dresses; Walter gave her away & best man were Robert Heyl & Cletus Gregson; during the ceremony a terrible earthquake, roared just shook the church, people all went out, for a few mins, some places it was awful bad. Jerome Cortner house Chimney was cracked & did damage several other places; some plaster fell in Red Bud church, Gregson & Heyl had wedding dance at Log Cabin & Jerome Schilling & Elizabeth Shields had there wedding dance at Pautlers. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary came here, then they went to Waterloo to dance, there is also one at Brezzy Hill tonite. Bill [Klein] came this eve. The Thanksgiving & Turkey dinner was a big run out of Turkey had to served pork sausage, had fed 600 at 2′ o clock – turkey was all; had awful crowd.

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 1939

Leo & Rose [Rosalia] came & Bert [Bertille] went to Belleville with things eggs 32 [cents]; they left Marita here went home did there work & came back for supper. Bill [Klein] came this eve, played cards. Leo is going to trade his Ford for truck ford V8 from Bill soon. Uncle Fred & A. [Aunt] Mary stopped in going to euchre at Waterloo. Bert [Bertille] gave her 25 [cents] to play for her; also one at Broad Hollow Grange.

Saturday, Nov. 18, 1939

Uncle Fred’s 64 & Uncle Joe’s birthday. Rained last nite. Pap took load wheat to Waterloo got 81 [cents]. The Kunkel place was sold on Public Auction at Court House this morn. at 10 o clock by Morrison. Uncle Pete Reheis got it $1500. rather had to take it, he had the mortgage. Bill [Klein] came took Bert [Bertille] & pap along out to Henrys this eve.

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1939

Washed, ironed, cleaned basement, & things from butchering. Pap hauled 2 loads wheat to Waterloo – got top – 84 [cents], good wheat, it was starting to get hot; so he hauled Bill stopped, he was at Frank Birkners was fixing pump. Mrs. Mertz was around enrolling people for Red Cross, gave her a donation of $1.00 for that purpose. Went out to Uncle Freds celebrating his birthday, Orlet family & Bill were all there for chicken supper, played cards had cake & wine; had enjoyable evening.

Friday, Nov. 10, 1939

Raining nearly all morn. Leo & family came this afternoon, he went to New Athens to dentist, she stayed here, we made pillows. Seen in Waterloo paper Ed McDermott of Washington have baby boy Charles Luke born Oct. 31 at Washington Providence Hospital. Bill & Bert [Bertille] went to see Bill’s mother & Booby. Fr. Joe Orlet & his dad were here this eve. on business.