Esquino Club - Wednesday February, 11 1925

Warm today
Bert went to Esquino Club1 dinner at Miller
brot a rubber rose home also a water bottle

Oneil's - Victrola2 acc't $10.00

Oneil's - Sweeper3 Acc't $6.20

Oneil's4 - Reg acc't $10.00

Polsky's5- Reg Acc't $15.00

Dinah for Dues $2.00

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1. The tranaslation for Esquino is Eskimo. Rubber Rose would be a plastic rose by todays terminology, which must have been a great amusement since rubber or celluloids were used sparingly in the 1920s.

2. Victrola - The Victor Talking Machine Company was founded by Eldridge Johnson in 1901, The term Victrola thus applies ONLY to internal horn phonographs made by the Victor Talking Machine Company, and is not a generic term for all old phonographs. In November, 1925, Victor introduced the "Orthophonic" Victrola, which could be what the family had purchased.

3. Sweeper, or vacuum cleaner

4. O'Neil's was a regional department store chain based in Akron Ohio. Founded in 1877, the store grew to several locations throughout northeastern Ohio. In 1989, the chain was merged with May Company Ohio.

5. Polsky's Founded in 1885 and also based in Akron Ohio, the Polsky reputation for fashion leadership goes back to 1890 when this store pioneered in the distribution of ready-made apparel.

1925 Victor Orthophonic

Pattern + Valentines - Tuesday February, 10 1925

Warm but a trifle cooler than yesterday.

Harriet went to town + Reva.

Gas $9.48
Light $5.85

Goods for H's dress
3 yds @ $1.39 - $4.17
Thread $.10
Pattern
Valentines1

Rec'd from B. $75.00
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1. Beginning in Europe in the 17th century, lovers would exchange small tokens of affection for Valentines Day. By the mid 18th century it was common for people of all classes to exchange handwritten greetings to friends and lovers, and by the end of the century commercial Valentine notes were being mass produced.

1920s Valentine Card

Honor Bead - Monday February 9, 1925

Still very warm, but trying very hard to rain. Showers.
Cleaned cellar today, washed stockings.1

Went with Bill this P.M. to Ravenna.2

Ret'd at 6:00, Reva was getting dinner. Wanted to earn an honor bead.3 Girls also washed dishes.

Bill went to P. School. Ret'd 12:10.

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1. With the shorted length dresses of the 1920s, stocking became more fashionable, often being designed to match the color of the dress or adorned with patterns.
2. Ravenna Ohio. - approximately 15 miles from the Akron Ohio area.
3. Honor Beads are given out in the Camp Fire Girls program, similar to earning badges in Girl Scouts.

1920's era Camp Fire Girls

Flat Tire - Sunday February 8, 1925

Still very warm, sun trying to shine, very little fire1 and doors open.

Baked a ham overnight.2

Bill set clocks ahead 1 hour + got us all up early.3

Had dinner and went for a ride, flat tire.4 Stopped at Ast's and had it fixed, went to Thomas' + B. bought 3 dozen eggs @ $.50.

Came back + went to Nixon + saw Gloria Swanson in "Her Love Story",5 very good. Back home at 8:30 and read, had lunch6 + to bed.

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Wow - eventful day!
1. Many homes in the 1920s did not have a central heating system - even those in urban areas. Most homes were heated with room furnaces or kitchen fires - as it sounds like our writer has in their home.

2. I recently found a cookbook dated 1897 titled "Mothers Cook Book" and I have been using this for some reference material - my first "go to" cookbook is always "Joy of Cooking" however this was not published until 1931, so I had to find something older. According to this book, to bake a ham you must:
"Cover your ham with cold water and simmer gently to loosen skin so that it can be pulled off" (remember this ham was probably not from the butcher!) "Then pour over it a teacup of vinegar, one teacup of hot water, in which dissolve a teaspoonful of English mustard, bake slowly. Then cover the ham to a depth of one inch with coarse brown sugar and do not baste until it has formed a thick crust. Let it remain until it becomes a rich golden brown." YUM sounds wonderful - I may have to try this neck time, of course my ham already being skinned first though.

3. What? Was this a mistake or his version of daylight savings time? Daylight Savings began in WWI and was formally adopted in the US in 1918 - however there was no federal law until 1966 so state and communities chose whether to abide by it or not.
4. A flat tire doesn't sound like it dampened the afternoon - Ast's must have been a local handyman or repair shop.

5. "Her Love Story" a romantic drama was released in 1924 and starred Gloria Swanson as Princess Marie. Below is a review of the film from the New York Times on October 7, 1924 (click the link to read the full review)

Her Love Story (1924)

October 7, 1924

By MORDAUNT HALL.

Published: October 7, 1924

Having satisfied her different whims by appearing as an apache, a society woman and a shopgirl, the versatile Gloria Swanson blossoms out this week at the Rivoli as the fun-fledged but much-troubled Princess Marie of Vlatavia in a film called "Her Love Story." It was translated to the screen from Mary Robert Rinehart's novel. "Her Majesty the Queen," a narrative on the Graustark order, which, as told in the shadow form, is a most fantastic affair.

Doors Open - Saturday February 7, 1925

Very warm + sun still shining, very little fire + doors open.
The earth still wags.

Bill came home early.
Baked Bread + Kuchen.1

B., D., H., R., + M. played 5 handed 500.
Bill won 1 game, D.-1, R-1, H-0 + m-3. Played until 12:10 P.M.

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1. In researching a 1920's era recipe for the Kuchen that was probably made in this area of Ohio, I came across an interesting website about food timelines and regional food differences. I thought this would be interesting since our writer makes Kuchen frequently so she may be descended from those German and Amish in the area:

Ohio's early culinary heritage

"Ohio was settled by veterans of the Revolutionary War who were given land grants...The pioneers in Ohio experienced many of the same lifestyles as their forefathers when they settled the East Coast. Cooking was done in iron pots in the open hearth. Food was raised of hunted. The pioneer women baked once a week in the hearth oven. Cookies and bread were baked first, followed by cakes and pies...Almost every farm home had a bean separator, since beans were a major ingredient in the farm diet. This hand-made machine, which threshed...beans, could be operated by dog power...Other items of the early Ohio kitchens were sausage stuffers and a lard press...Many settlers brought their native customs and cuisines to Ohio. The transplanted New Englanders brought with them their recipes for baked beans and salt pork and molasses. Dumplings makde with sour milk, chicken potpie...Some of these early settlers used bread stuffings for pork and beef, mainly to stretch a meal...The Germans brought their love for sausages, sauerkraut, and hearty meat and potato meals. Czech immigrants brougth one of their favorite dishes--fish boiled with spices andserved with a black sauce of prunes, raisins, and almonds... No fruit was more imporant to pioneer life than the apple...John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, left a trail of apple orchards throughout Ohio...Many of the first permanent settlers of Ohio were Germans from Pennsylvania...Cincinnati was established after the War of 1812 and became an elegant metropolis. Oysters were the luxury food...In the mid-nineteenth century Cincinnati was the world's greatest pork-packing center, turning hogs from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky into hams and sausages."
---Taste of the States, Hilde Gabriel Lee [Howell Press:Charlottesville VA] 1992 (p. 159-161)

The World is Going to End - Friday February 6, 1925

Very warm today + sunshine.

This is the day the world is going to end, but it won't.1

Reva stayed at Gidding's for dinner.
+ went to see "Peter Pan".2

Bill, D., H., + M. played 500.

Mrs Gidding's bro't3 Reva home + stayed a short time.

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1. What?? When I searched this date online I could not find any prophecy or prediction for Feb 6 specifically; however, I did find this from "Watchtower" magazine. Watchtower magazine predicted: "The year 1925 is a date definitely and clearly marked in the Scriptures, even more clearly than that of 1914; but it would be presumptuous on the part of any faithful follower of the Lord to assume just what the Lord is going to do during that year." Is this some sort of published prediction, or is this a personal feeling about something going on in her life?

2. "Peter Pan" released in 1924 starring Betty Bronson as Peter Pan.
3.I'm always amused when she used bro't instead of brought.

1924 "Peter Pan" advertisment and promotional photo

Nellie + Jim - Thursday February 5, 1925

Very warm today + sunshine.

Nellie + Jim here to dinner.1

Jim + I wont 5 games of 500 to Bill + Nellie's 4.

Bill + I took them home.



Borrowed $2.00 from Bill.2

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1. I found a mention of a Mrs. Nellie G***** on Ancestry.com...So Jim could be B.'s brother. This makes sense because in an earlier entry she mentions that Jim took B's mother home. Can't find any mention of a James or Jim G****** however. Sorry but I am still keeping the last name private.
2. Maybe if he gave he the money he promised she wouldn't need to borrow from her husband!