Tuesday, May 27th, 1935

Decorating Day

Everything I ever learned about Decorating Day, also known as Memorial Day, I learned from my grandma. Here, on the 30th, she notes that she couldn't go to the family graves or take any flowers.

Because I knew she always did this, especially decorating her own mother's grave after she left this world in 1952, I did the same while living in the Morrow County area in the 1990's. The cemetery was located at East Liberty near where her mother Lenora and Mrs. Chambers lived in Porter Township, Delaware County. This cemetery is the first cemetery I remember wandering about in as a child.

The circus is in town. She watched the animals from Gilbert's porch, which strongly suggest that Gilbert's lived on Fairground Street. Homes there face the Marion County fairgrounds across the street. The kids were up early due to the excitement of the big top. They didn't go, but she notes that Harry's do go to the big show on Thursday.

Mary records here blood pressure and reveals that her toe nail and roots must come out according to the doctor. Lloyd's brother Albert drove her over to the doc.

Monday, April 20th, 1935

Spring rains, mushroom hunting

Spring rains are reported these next few days. The item that she mentions that resonates the most with me is the line about Lloyd and Harry going mushroom hunting. This is because as a little boy I remember doing just that with my dad and grandpa Lloyd.

He was showing us one of his favorite places to hunt. These mushroom, actually morels, only appear for a few weeks each year, just about at this time. Growing up I learned that you don't tell others about where you find these delicacies. I remember the place as a seldom used farm lane through a wooded area. The lane itself was grassy.

Oddly enough, two friends provided Mary with canes to help her get about. Once the need was known, we see she had at least two friends rush to her aid.

Saturday, April 13, 1935

Adventure in the country

Preparations were made all day Saturday, and the kids had Mary yelling at them most of the day. First thing Sunday morning, Lloyd and Mary's family were driven down to her mother's place. Is it spring break? The kids are out of school and having a ball.

Is Matt Mattie (Benson) Weaver, Lloyd's sister? And who is Maxine, mentioned here for the first time.

Tuesday, March 12, 1935

"I walked... holding my crutches."

In this installment we have a little better view on Mary's ailment. Whatever has been troubling her, her toes or whatever, we now know that her condition was such that she was also using crutches to get around. She walked clear to Haynes, whoever they are, but the use of crutches.

Old Jerry is mentioned on the 12th. He was at grandma's, grandma being her grandmother Jennie Slane. But who is Jerry? Jennie is married to Frank Slane. On this same day, Clarence, his girl and Leada is mentioned. Leada is a misspelling of Clarence's sister's name, Leta. Mae has been frequently mentioned in this diary. Who exactly is she?

We learn that Mary knows a thing or two about sewing as she reports she has made a dress for her little girl, Dorothy.

An astute reader of this blog noted that on March 7th Mary noted Mrs. R's weight, and then a second number was also entered; 182. Also, on January 5th, following her entry for the day, the number 183 appears. It was observed that perhaps she was noting her weight. I think the observation has merit.

Note: If you would like to explore real record sources online and search out this or other families, check out this free access website: http://search.labs.familysearch.org/

Monday, January 7th, 1935

Marion Shovel

In 1935, Mary and Lloyd have two sons as well as D.J., their little girl. Mentioned for the first time in this diary is Paul Aden Benson, their 7 year-old. He was born August 3rd, 1927 in Galion, located in neighboring Crawford County.

Mary writes here on the 10th that Lloyd went to the Shovel. No doubt he was looking for work since he had been laid off just before Christmas. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Power_Shovel for more information on "The Shovel."