the neighbor’s perspective
As I said in my last post, Mike H. brought over Bess’s diary from 1935 to 1940, some of which mentions the Wilsons. I was too optimistic in thinking I could get through the 5 years in one day, but I’ll reprint below what Bess wrote that relates to the Wilsons from January to the end of March, 1935 to 1940.
Back in those days, a “five-year diary” meant that each day had its own page, and what you’d do would be to write on, for example, Feb. 6 each year. It’s not chronological, in other words. Bess’s diary is of this sort, and I also have to empathize with Mike (as he’s noted several times on his blog) that Bess’s handwriting isn’t always clear.
Here’s what I found related to Mrs. Wilson from the first quarter (January through March) of 1935 to 1940:
Jan. 7, 1936 – 20 degrees – Mrs. Eric Wilson called in P.M.
March 30, 1936 – 32 degrees – Mon. Mrs Wilson called in p.m.
Jan. 5, 1937 – 20 degrees — Tues. Knit a lot. Read and napped wrote 3 letters. Mrs. Wilson here a while in p.m. Radio till 9:30. Walked up for mail at noon. Strikes still on.
Feb. 18, 1939 – 32 degrees — Fri. — Walked to Iowa 4 – Northwestern 32 met and rode home with the Wilsons. [This must refer to Eric Sr. and Eric Jr.]
March 4, 1939 – 32 degrees – Fri. A glaze of ice – rain and sleet all day . cleaned 3 aquariums – read- crocheted – napped. Wrote 5 letters. Phoned Mrs. Sensor to come up but she had promised to go to Wilsons. [Mrs. Sensor is Lois's mother. Lois, of course, was dead by now.]
March 11, 1939 – 55 degrees – Fri. Mrs. Sensor here for tea – I to Schramms for dinner and xxxxxx 10, 10.
Jan. 20, 1940 – 45 degrees – Fri. Mrs. Sensor here for tea in p.m.
Feb. 13, 1940 – 52 degrees – Mon. Iowa Minn gym meet 4-5:45. Eric W. brought me home. Minn. won. Valentine from Helen.
As Eric (Mr. Wilson, as I usually refer to him) was the UI sports information director, it makes perfect sense that he would be at all athletic events. He was, of course, an Olympic athlete in track in his own right. He has his own Wikipedia.org entry.
My primary response to reading Bess’s diary, though, is how wonderful it would be if life could be so simple. What I mean is, she notes things like “baked a sponge cake; started reading Novel X; bed at 7:30 p.m.”
Bess was a widow raising a daughter, Helen. Bess’s husband died in 1919 or thereabouts; her life can’t have been easy. But in retrospect, it looks really good……
