1956 Diary

Transcribed by Rita Decker

Previous month - February

THURSDAY MARCH 1, 1956 Went to mass-pop got a ticket parking too close to a fireplug. Wrote letters to Gene & Bro. John. Pop worked outside some today dragged roads etc. Pauline & Gerald here a while in the P.M. Pop & I went to Holy Hour in the eve, also to Confession. Marilyn here a while in eve-saw Gene picture on T.V.

FRIDAY MARCH 2, 1956 Went to mass got card written to Aunt Anna letters to Pat. Lillian went shopping and left the children here. They left in time so that dad & I got to the Stations in the P.M., no company in eve. Len didn't get home in time to go to the Stations.

SATURDAY MARCH 3, 1956 Went to mass, baked cookies this forenoon and wrote to Gene. Pop went down town. Iowa beat Illinois this P.M. (game over T.V.) 9 to 7 Louise, Carl & Charles got home from Florida. Moe home for supper. We went over to Carl's to see what they brought back from Florida.

SUNDAY MARCH 4, 1956 Len & Marilyn went to 6:00 mass. Pop & I & Moe to 7:30. Then Nicholas's came about 11:00, Nick & Jimmy went to mass. They were here for dinner also Marilyn was out. In the P.M. Louise came over for a while, also Wilma's came up. Moe & I & dad went to Stations. Came back and went with Nicks for a ride to see the Dam & to see Bob & Margaret's trailer. They were not home.

MONDAY MARCH 5, 1956 Went to mass, wrote letter to Pat & card to Wilma. Then did my washing, Louise hung some of them out for me Got mostly all day and dampened down for ironing. Iowa beat Indiana and won Big 10 Championship.

TUESDAY MARCH 6, 1956 Went to mass. Wrote to Gene, sent card to Marge Brugman-sent for seed for pop & Paul. Sent money for cards and watch medals-did all my ironing. Pop to see Casper's again, then went to Cedar Rapids. Lyles here in the eve-Louise brought over the Florida stuff to show them.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 1956 Went to mass sort of bad weather today. Dad & I went to Novena in the P.M. & then stopped at the Hospital to see Marge Brugman & the new baby.

THURSDAY MARCH 8,1956 Went to mass, wrote to Bro. John, Aunt Minnie, & Gene. Sent card to Myrtle & sent Len's insurance, worked around in the P.M.

FRIDAY MARCH 9, 1956 Went to mass. Gerald & Pauline came today & left the baby while they went shopping & were here for dinner. Lillian & children also here for dinner & she went shopping too. We went to the Stations in the eve. I baked cookies today.

SATURDAY MARCH 10, 1956 Went to mass, a busy day. I made Florida lemon pies for the company, Nick's & Moe. Then Gertrude & Nick went early as Marilyn was baptized and they were her sponsors. I made a good big supper for all and in Marilyn's honor. Moe, Gertrude &Nick-Len & Marilyn all went to see St. Mary's win the District Tournament.

SUNDAY MARCH 11,1956 Louise & I went to mass with Lillian at St. Wenceslaus and stayed all day for the Day of Recollection got out about 3:45 p.m. Moe went home early after supper no company.

MONDAY MARCH 12,1956 Went to mass. Sort of cold today-only 10 above zero. Wrote to Pat, card to Wilma, letter to Sister Margaretta. In the p.m. we went to Ed's & to Ann's.

TUESDAY MARCH 13, 1956 Went to mass. Did the washing was awful tired in the afternoon. Pop hung the clothes out for me. Wilma, Clarence & Anne came here for a little while.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 14, 1956 Went to mass. Went to town bought spring coat. Then went to Dr., Blood Pressure 188/95 weight 194 ½. Went to Novena in the p.m. The basketball team left for Des Moines a little after 3:00 p.m.

THURSDAY MARCH 15,1956 Went to mass. Made filling for pies for dinner. Wrote to Gene & Minnie. Ed, Mary & Rosemary were here for dinner. St. Mary's Ramblers played basketball in the State Tournament and won over Hull 70-65. I did my ironing in p.m.

FRIDAY MARCH 16,1956 Went to mass, wrote to Pat, Bro. John & a card to Wilma. Kept Linda & Johnnie-Lillian came early so we all got to the Stations. St. Mary's played at 7:30 and won over Emmetsburg Catholic 72-50 so they play in the finals.

SATURDAY MARCH 17,1956 Went to mass, did my work cleaning floors etc. Wrote to different places, paying for Easter cards, Statue and Crucifix. Leonard got to go to the State Finals Marilyn was off duty. They took Monsignor Meinbury, Mildred Klein, & Carol D. along St. Mary's won the class B. State finals beating Tracy 69-54. They are the Class B Champions. They brought Monsignor home then got in the parade at Coralville. There's one sadness a senior girl Mary Jane Shannon got killed in an auto accident by Des Moines.

SUNDAY MARCH 18, 1956 Went to mass at 7:30 a rather snowy day. Heard the sad news about Mary Jane Shannon's death. Leonard called to say he got back safely, but stayed over at Marilyn's house the rest of the night. Carl's, pop & I & Moe went to Paul's for dinner and then left in time to go to Stations. Moe went home early.

MONDAY MARCH 19, 1956 Went to Mass, did my washing Louise came over and started to plan out how to get paint off the room and the man came out from paint store.

TUESDAY MARCH 20, 1956 Went to mass. Louise & pop and Lillian got started at scrapping paint. Then Louise called Gerald & Libb & Lyle to come and help. Which they did and pop rented a machine that helped a lot.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 1956 Went to mass Lillian came again and she & Louise finished the Walls and put the sealer on to get it already to paint. Bessie came & stayed for dinner and supper. We went to church in the eve.

THURSDAY MARCH 22, 1956 Went to mass. Libb & Lyle came early and painted until the walls were done & 1 coat on the woodwork, helping Louise. They got through in time to get the school children. I did my ironing was pretty tired.

FRIDAY MARCH 23, 1956 Went to mass. Louise was the only one that helped today she finished painting the woodwork & put the sealer on the floor. Then we went to the Stations. Ben's brought Bennie to the hospital he has fareunvnias. Pop went to hospital in eve to see him.

SATURDAY MARCH 24, 1956 Went to mass, took Helen & Loretta home. Then as we got about home I got terribly dizzy and then sick at the stomach & vomited all day until 6:30 p.m. The Dr. was out twice-all I could have was pop to drink. Wilma & Louise was here to take care of me & Marilyn came out for a while too. Blood Pressure 180.

SUNDAY MARCH 25, 1956 Pop & Moe went to 7:30 mass-Louise came over a while-Libb came up and stayed all day & got my breakfast & their dinner-Wilma's & Ben's came in the p.m. Bennie getting better. The men got their own supper-Louise got mine-I feel some better.

MONDAY MARCH 26, 1956 Pop went to mass. Louise got my breakfast. Pop got my dinner he went down town in a.m. to see Benny in p.m. children here after school and helped out also Louise.

TUESDAY MARCH 27, 1956 Pop went to mass-Louise came over & got my breakfast. Lillian and children here today she did the washing and ironing and got the dinner-Libb here a while in the morning. Sat up a while after supper.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 1956 Pop went to mass. Joann came early with the children. Went to see Bennie in a.m. then early after dinner took Mike & Ken to Hospital. Mike's ear all right, has to take Ken tomorrow at 8:00a.m. Pop went with Paul & Lillian to church.

THURSDAY MARCH 29, 1956 Holy Thursday no mass this morning. Joann & children came about 7:15 a.m. Louise came over and got my breakfast I dressed later in the day & stayed up the rest of the day. Joann went to see Benny in p.m.

FRIDAY MARCH 30, 1956 Good Friday. Pop went down for his Holy Hour 7:00-8:00 I got up and dressed & got his breakfast got along pretty good today. Libb's family came in the evening. SATURDAY MARCH 31, 1956 Holy Saturday. Pop & I went down to town this a.m. I stayed in the car-then we went to Confession. I got along pretty good. Louise came over and cleaned up the house this p.m. Moe went to midnight mass at St. Mary's Leonard & Marilyn went to chapel after the Hospital.

Next Month - April