Sunday, Feb. 8, 1931

Henry & family & Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were all here for dinner today.  Uncle Fred & the kids also had lunch here this morning.  We all went over to see Uncle Fred’s property this afternoon.  Then, Henry & Leona & Aunt Mary went up to church to confession because tomorrow is 13 hour Adoration.  George Wagner is butchering today.  Steve Rennecker is the butcher.  Tonight is a dance at Papenberg’s, but we can’t go on account of church tomorrow.  Uncle Fred, Aunt Mary, Oscar Birkner, Hy. Ronederberg, Jerome Cortner, Clarence Rettinghouse, Ray Armbruster were all down at Evansville last night at a dance & Chicken Supper by Ronenbergs relation, Marie Davis birthday.  Papa got oil changed in the Chev., yesterday at Barthels Garage cost $1.10 12305 miles.  Philip Freund was here this evening.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1931

Papa went out to the cemetery this morning, because they are going to start to plow it over today.  But we don’t want it done to our lots.  Rosalia fried down sausage this morn.  There wasn’t anybody at the cemetery today.  Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary came up & then we went over to clean their place.  They were here for dinner.  We were just washing dinner dishes when all at once, we heard there was fire at Mrs. Deukers house.  So we all ran down there & fire was a blazing, the house burned to the ground & the shed & barn would of went too if they hadn’t called the Smithton Fire Apartment [Department].  The water was to scared or’s they could have saved the house.  They saved all the furniture down stairs, their clothing was all up stairs, that they couldn’t save.  Mrs. Ruhl just about went wild about it.  They stored all their stuff in Kammler’s Hall for the evening.  They were here this afternoon & looked at Aunt Mary & Uncle Fred’s place, it suited them allright but the rent was to high.  They went down to Barthel’s house, but the chimneys were condemned, so they couldn’t get in there.  Deukers was going to call Harold out & then talk it over with them.  Tonight they went to Walter Parrot in Red Bud.  Olivia Gregson & baby was here this afternoon while Lester helped to move the furniture.  This evening Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary, Henry & Leona & kids were all here.  The kids stayed at home with Papa, & the rest of us went to the dance down at Wiegand’s House.  Herzog gave it.  Bill Freund & Creses took Rosalia & Bertille along there.  It was a crowd there from all over.  They said there was about 500 people at the fire today.  Bill & Philip Freund was there too.  They were working at Ganleys.

Sunday, February 1, 1931

Henry & family & Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were all here for dinner today.  Elmer Kammler came here this afternoon & paid Uncle Fred’s his $10.00 rent for the first & last time.  Phillip Freund was here for supper, then we all went to the show in the new school hall.  Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary, Henry & family came all up to see it.  It sure was good.  Adm. was 10 & 25¢ and 25% of what they took in went for the hall.  They also sold candy 10¢ & in some boxes you get a coupon & on there you could win perfume, pillows, razor & many different articles.  Aunt Mary got a waste basket.  It was all over about 9:30.  They are going to be at Smithton on Feb. 5 there they will also give a dance.

Sunday, Jan. 18, 1931

Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary, Henry & family were all here for dinner today.  This afternoon, Philip & Bill Freund came, they were here for supper.  Uncle Fred & Papa went to Waterloo to see Archie Wiehle.  Then Papa went up to see Fr. Grootens.  This evening he went up to Eichenseer’s store.

Thursday, January 1, 1931

We all went to church this morn.  Leona was here by herself this morn. because Henry & the kids have an awful cold.  Uncle Fred, Aunt Mary, Uncle Adam & Emil were all here for dinner & supper today.  Uncle Joe was here a little while this morning he brought a radio receiver here for Uncle Fred.  This evening, Leo Wittenauer, Philip, & Wm. & Creses Freund were all here & we had a six handed game of pinochle & Oh! the fun.  Bertille, Philip, Leo were partners & won every game, we played 3 games, they all left about 12 o’clock.  Fr. Grootens had a sermon this morn. – on the Hecker Bank closed.  There are people working study [?] all the time.

Friday, Dec. 26, 1930

This morning we all went to church.  The Eichenseer’s kids were all here this morning.  Harold, Cyril, Clarence, Lucinda.  Them boys all got pocket knifes for Christmas from Santa Claus.  Today Bill Freund was here for dinner, he brought Rosalia & Bertille each a scarf for a Christmas present.  Rosalia got the mail this morning.  I seen in the papers that Al Geodelle of Waterloo have a little girl.  Mr. McCarthy teacher of the Hecker Public School had a Christmas Program & also Santa Claus was there, he received many beautiful present, powder, perfume, shaving outfit from the school children, & he presented them each with a bag of candy.  School is closed now till Monday, Jan. 5 1931.  The author Mr. Harris, of the piece “After the Ball” passed away at the age of 65, I seen in the paper.

Thursday, Dec. 18, 1930

Looks like snow this morning.  It started snowing & kept up all day.  Henry & Leona went to Belleville this morning & left the kids here.  They were back again for dinner.  We baked delicious cookies this morning.  Harold & Virgil Eichenseer were here this evening and brought us a letter for an invitation for a play in St. Augustine’s Hall next Tues. afternoon given by the school children, admission fee says 11¢ in this letter.  We got a Christmas card today from Creses Freund.

Sunday, Dec. 14, 1930

Henry & family were all here for dinner today.  This evening Bill Freund was here for supper.  We played 6 games pinochle, Papa & I were partners & Rosalia & Bill.  We won 5 games out of 6.  Not so bad eh!  Uncle Fred & Aunt Mary were here a little while this morning before church.

Friday, January 10, 1930

It is awful icy.  Fr. Goottens and Frank walked through our wheat field going East.  Leroy Kuhns came here to get some sand. He was going to drive in and got stuck in our lane.  The Bruns brothers, Lester, Henry, Eugene, lifted him out.  Papa, Rosalia, Bertille, went out to Henry’s this morning but when we got to the hills we turned around & went back, we couldn’t get through.

George Freund’s barn burned down, Sat. Jan. 4.  Five loads of hay, 2 load of bundle oats & some wheat & machinery [were lost].  The fire was put out by some neighbors.