Sept 21, 1914

Grandpa's West High School yearbook pic. Could the bio be more dead on?

Fine Day. Up at 6:50. Went to school without keys - could get no books etc..Copied essay before school, 1st per and in Eng. recitation. Got 100 in Eng test and 60 in Hist-(not my fault) 100 in Alg. Had a chance to ride home in Jay Packard auto with Ruth, Bernice etc.. But had to leave early and help out --- Quist. Worked there 2:30 -6:30

1914 Packard

Played 500 with Pa. Took swim in bath tub and retired on the springs.

French, Eng., and Germans still at a standstill. Been fighting this 1 battle for 10 days.

Author Notes:

I was able to find a digital page for Grandpa's 1915 West High year book. I only saw one Bernice but there are 3 Ruth's in the senior class.

Who knew they used "slam" in 1914?

Sept 20, 1914

Fine Day. Sat around and read paper. Had to write that --- --- essay in evening. To bed at eleven

Author Note

The dashes are in the diary and I assume are in place of an expletive.

Sept. 19th, 1914

Worked at the Quists. Earned $2.25. Pa and I played 300 all eve till about 11pm. Fine mild day.

Notes

I spent a good deal of time trying to find out what 300 is, as grandpa mentions playing it quite often over the years. The only thing I can find is a version of Gin Rummy where you play to 300 points.

Sept 18, 1914

Margaret Fuller School built 1896 demolished 1974

Another hot day. Had an Eng. test. Have to write a 1000 word essay for Mon. Sat around and rode bike a little in aft. Mother and Pa gone canoeing this eve.German and French still at a stand still and fighting hard.

Fact About Myself
put on long pants at 15
Age 17
Height 5'7"
Weight 117
Weighed 122 in Cal last Winter
Graduated from Margaret Fuller School at 13
Went to Vancouver that Winter. Came back in Summer of 1908.
Went to Cal. 1st time in Winter 1910- age 13. Stayed 3 months. Went 2nd time in Aug 1913. Stayed 11 months. Went to school there Drove auto.

Sept. 17, 1914

Sunny and fairly warm. Turned out to be quite hot. Had history test. Mother's birthday. Went down town and bought her a large picture of roses and box of candy. Went for a paddle in my canoe with me, and myself.

Sept. 16 1914

Have settled down to the grind. Forgot to mention that I have been to several parties and 2 dances - play a little tennis. Get lessons? and hit the feathers. Went to Bean Club last evening. Good club, good feed and good time. Played tennis this aft. Has been chilly but quite warm today. 

Forgot to mention the war! Started about 1st or 2nd week of August.Germans aimed to make a quick trip to Paris. Halted a no. of days by a stubborn defense of Liege. Finally got within 10 miles of Paris fortification a few days ago, but Eng. and France after drawing them thus far, suddenly turned offensive and drove them back 55 miles.Germans now making a stand. Russians have pushed back and defeated Austrians, but find more resistance from Germans. Pres. Wilson has today ordered our troops to leave Vera Cruz.

Have been going to Knox Church. Doc Cool has Vamoosed.

NOTES

I think The Bean Club could be a school organization something like student government.

Loving all the slang in this entry!

I believe the part of WWI he is describing is the Battle of The Marne.

Wiki desription- The Battle of the Marne (French: Première bataille de la Marne; also known as the Miracle of the Marne) was a First World War battle fought from 5–12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army under Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. The battle was the culmination of the German advance into France and pursuit of the Allied armies which followed the Battle of the Frontiers in August, which had reached the eastern outskirts of Paris. The counterattack of six French field armies and theBritish Expeditionary Force ("BEF") along the Marne River forced the German Imperial Army to abandon its push on Paris and retreat north-west, leading to the "Race to the Sea". The Battle of the Marne was a victory for the Allies and set the stage for four years of trench warfare on the Western Front.

Aug 31, 1914

Flinch was a card game

School starts. Came down 2 or 3 days ago and got credits fixed. Could graduate in January by taking 5 subjects but will take 4 and wait till June. Enrolled in English Lit II, Advanced Algebra, R. History, and Machine. Met Miss Crogan 3rd or 4th day of school.Quite a surprise. Ruth, Bernice , and Lucile were playing tennis, started to rain, came in and played Flinch. Rained like blazes. Cliff and I have been playing tennis quite a bit. Last Friday Cliff and I took canoe over to Calhoun - ate luncheon Cedar. Got home about 5pm. Good time and coat (unclear about this word) of tan.

Aug 1914

Started Working Saturdays for Quist about mid of month. Fixed up a single grass tennis court on So. lot and am enjoying it a great deal  very much.

NOTES

I looked up Quist and it looks to be a popular last name at the time. I couldn't find any store associated with it.

I would love to know why grandpa thought he should strike out "a great deal" for "very much" Must have been cooler???

July 19 1914

Lake Harriet 1914

Arrived from California about 1st. Stayed with Aunt Ethel and Floyd 3 or 4 days and then we all moved over home. I bought a canoe and Floyd and I fished and paddled.

15th Ethel and Floyd left for California Great Northern. Soon after the 1st I went and surprised Ruth. Was offered $15 per week by Skogmo. Did not accept. Working around house; fixing step bank painting,cutting lawn, and fixing boulevard "etc". 

Hot weather.

NOTES

I have tried doing some research to find out about Skogmo. It looks like it may have been an early automotive venture by two guys named Gamble and Skogmo, who would go on to have a sucessful department store in the 1920's.

Where the diaries begin

Hal was born in 1897 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, near Lake Harriet at 4912 Emerson Ave. S, 55419  it is near the South East corner of Lake Harriet. The house still stand today, follow the link to see it. During Hal's junior year in high school he and his mother came out to live with her father on his ranch in Anaheim. They returned to Minnesota for his senior year, and then, after his graduation they moved to California in July 1915.

His diaries begin during their return to Minnesota for his senior year.