Category: Trella Diaries

Friday January 15 1943
Got busy on my windows this morning. Cleaned plants etc. Wally not home for lunch so worked right on through.
Marilee came over about 4:30. Mary was away sewing stars on church service flag. Have 55 now. She came about 5:45 & I asked them to stay for spaghetti supper. She did dishes while I bathed Kathy. Mother & daddy here for a while in evening. Typed glad order of over $100 for daddy.
Mary Johnston said she did things because she knew I expected her to & that there was practically nothing she did for the pure joy of doing it. – Oh me!

Thursday January 14 1943
Called Mary Johnston to see if she would keep Kathy while we went to Carl’s funeral. So took her over. Carl’s mother was there but she knows only that he died. We went to cemetery. Stopped at Big Bear on way home. Got oysters & stayed for supper at mother’s. Daddy fried them & were they good.
Home with Kathy while Wally went bowling.

Wednesday January 13 1943
Wally & I went up to funeral home tonight to see Carl. He looked grand. His sister Dorothy had talked to Mary & Mother & told them more of the circumstances. A fellow Carl worked with had come home with him in P.M. for a “drink”. He had gone to bed in Carl’s room & left his gun in his coat on a chair. (A guard where Carl worked.) Evidently Carl took the gun, wrapped himself in blankets & shot.
His friend Art Stayer who was to visit him next week was at the funeral home & and let me read the letter he had from Carl Monday morning. Nothing at all to indicate despondency and he left no note. Suicide??

Tuesday January 12 1943
Cerrelda called at noon saying that Carl had shot himself. The shot caught fire in the bedclothes & he was burned.
Mary hadn’t heard from him since he decided to come after writing for an invitation of the Fourth of July.
The paper gave despondency over being rejected by Draft.
Took Kathy to Mother’s while I went to Scout meeting.
Wally went to JC meeting but home early because so few there.

 

Monday January 11 1943
Got the washing down & dampened & partly ironed. Mother, daddy & Mary came over while I was bathing Kathy. About 8:30 Mr. LeMasters called saying that Carl Mackan had burned to death tonight.

Sunday January 10 1943
S.S. officers installed at church. My first installation as Jr. Dept. Supt. To Rhulman’s for dinner. Kathy acted swell until she got sleepy. Put her to bed in French’s care while we went to Mission School & church. To Mary & Bob’s for while after.

Saturday January 9 1943
Cleaned house in morning. Worked on budge for next year. Wally is making $165 per mo but about 15% is deducted before we see it. 1% for Social Security, 10% for war bonds, 5% for new Victory tax. While I washed in evening Wally cleaned basement.

Friday January 8 1943
Took the day off to sew. Made the pink print dress for Kathy that Mrs. Tuxson had sent her. Had Betty over in the evening to watch Kathy while Wally & I went to see Greer Garson in “Mrs. Miniver”.

Thursday January 7 1943
Took Kathy to Mother’s & went to Missionary meeting. Program seemed to go off ok. Stopped off at auction on Farming St. on way home. Waited for an hour for them to sell books. Had a bookcase of good ones. But they sold only “The Harvard Classics”. Bid me up to $5 on them. 18 volumes but 2 were alike & I knon’t know where the other 3 are!
Wally bowled. Ethel & Mrs. Corbin were teaching & Mrs. Corbin fell & hurt ankle so I watched kids while Howard went after them. Wally said the fort he built for the kids this afternoon didn’t help his bowling. Averaged 123.

Wednesday January 6 1943
After redding up, finished work on missionary program. After lunch swept & covered it with India print. Had sauer craut with neck bones & mashed potatoes. Mince pie for dessert. Mother & Mary came in while we were eating. Mother had picked up a bargain in a coat set for Kathy. Rose pink & soiled some but it was 7.95 set & she got it for $3.
Wally spends all his spare time in the basement with his new tools & workbench. Made me a shelf for bathroom. Coat rack for Kathy & repaired chairs. Bed at 11:30