Jan. 15, 1915

Jan. 15, 1915

My grandfather had such a hard time with that hockey stick I thought we should have a look at them.

Dull and warm, but quite a few degrees below freezing.

I went to English class for the last time today. Did not shed any parting tears. Went downtown and bought a new hockey stick. Went skating and played hockey for awhile. Met Glen and he later skated with Bernice so I skated with Ruth. we skated for about 1/2 hour and then the Tegal Kid took us ice boating. Went back to warming house and Glen and I skated across.Bernice and Ruth came over and I monkeyed around with them for awhile and then walked home with them.

In the eve. Pa, Mother, and I played 500. I had all the luck - had the joker every time and a lot to back it up. Pa got brave once and to bed, I no trumps and 2 tricks. I got 7 and 8 every time (unclear word) 1 or 2. To Bed

Jan. 13 - 14, 1915

Jan. 13, 1915

Warm and sunny - melting

Auditorium today and heard Casey Jones spiel about the 1915 Hesperian. I subscribed today - 60 cents. Yesterday the president of Dartmouth college spoke to us and he talked very well.

 Rode down and walked over with Katherine today. Walked downtown - bought a toothbrush - came home found out Quist wanted me so went up at 4:30. Read paper "etc" in eve and to bed.

Mother and Pa to meeting tonight. They went to Bainbridge last night and saw a very good play.

Jan. 14, 1915



Sunny, but a little cool.

Came home - went skating. Played hockey till about 5pm. Smashed my ... stick. Home, read, and to bed early.

About yesterday there was a terrible earthquake in Italy about 20,000 killed.

Author note from Wiki: The 1915 Avezzano earthquake occurred on 13 January in central Italy at 07:52:42 local time. The shock had a moment magnitude of 6.7 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme). The epicenter was located in the town of Avezzano (which was destroyed) in the Province of L'Aquila. Around 30,000 direct fatalities and $60 million in damage resulted from the earthquake.

Jan. 12, 1915

Jan. 12, 1915

Scene from 1914 Julius Caesar

Very hard S.E. wind, but warm.

During 1 per. I went over to Central and looked around. I asked Katherine to go there and see JULIUS CAESAR (film) this evening. She said she could this A.M.

Home and down to the lake ice boating with Dewey. Some wind and some speed. Our side beam was nearly 10 feet in the air once, but we didn't go over. Played hockey a little.

Came back 5 pm home - got ready - called Katherine G. and then Walt and I went to the Y club. Heard a fine talk on Copying and following after others "etc". Called up Katherine G. again to see for sure whether she could go. She said yes. Went up and got her and we had pleasant eve.

Home 11 or a little later (11:30). Pa and Ma went off someplace tonight and are not home yet - 12 PX. I am going to retirah (he spelled it funny like that) - Good night

Here's the 1914 film Julius Caesar

Jan. 11,1915

Jan. 11, 1915

Glen Glasby enlisted in the Navy in1917. He died of ascending paralysis caused by poison in the system as result of the Flu.

Sunny and warm - melting a little. Took my skates down and got them sharpened - Home - met Glen Glasby at Lyn & Lake (Shopping district) and we saw CLiff in the car. Fat and Cliff in 1 seat Glen and I in the one behind and Stew sittin g in our laps. That the way we went home. We four went skating and had good hockey game in aft. Tired and to bed early.

Jan. 8 - 10, 1915

Jan. 8, 1915

THE BIRTH OF A NATION was the top grossing film of 1915

Mild but freezing.

Went skating with Stew in the afternoon - played hockey. Walt and I went to the Jan. senior entertainment in the eve. It was motion pictures with singing by the U. of M. quartet. Home at 10PM.

Jan. 10 , 1915

Very mild but cloudy.

Up and took bawth (he put that w in)
Mother ans I went to lyn. church.Pa to C.S. Ma and Pa quite friendly for a change. They went over to Eddey's and Guilford's this afternoon. I stayed and did lessons. I walked down to Knight's ( this may be the Knight's Templar Masonic Temple) about 6:30 - 7. Met Stew and we walked home. Did more lessons and to bed.

Jan. 4 -5, 1915

Jan. 4, 1915

Minneapolis 6th street in 1915

Bright and melting quite a bit. Strong South wind.

Back to school. Came home, got my skates and went skating. Skate across and found a kid with my hockey stick someone stole on new years day. Played hockey at the rinks over there. Came back and us kids monkeyed around.

Home - sup - very sleepy so skipped lessons and to bed.

Jan. 5, 1915

It is very warm and has been raining all day. Snow is nearly all melted. Only a few days ago it was 22 below zero.

I have had eye - headache all day. Went downtown after the 6 per. and ordered my pictures - bought 2 pair sox and came home. Lay around all afternoon and to bed early.

Jan. 2 - 3, 1915

Jan. 2, 1915

Worked all day. Quite mild - about 8 below in early AM

I have worked 5 days this vacation and made $11.00 . I forgot I got proofs of my grad pictures Thursday and 3 of them are pretty good. Have not decided on one yet. To bed 12 MX.

NOTE: $11 in 1914 is worth about $260 in 2020

Jan. 3, 1915

Fine mild day. Got up late and read all day.

Mother and I went up to little Episcopal church on 46th st. at 5 pm and heard Dr. Johnson speak - He was fine. He said that our lives had to have 3 dimensions length, width, and height or depth. Length was our purpose and our aim. Our width was the extent of good, our feeling and helpfulness to those around us and our height was our reverence and our depth our humility. He illustrated his talk very concretely so that it stays with a person.

We then called on Bushnell's and they were glad to see us. Came home and I read and went to bed 9:45

Jan. 1, 1915

Jan. 1, 1915

One of my grandfather's photos of iceboating

FRIDAY NEW YEARS DAY
I got up late. It was quite windy so I made a sail and took it down to the lake to sail on skates. I found that there was a terrible hard west wind down there and the N. and S. path was all blown over so I went ice boating with Willard and Dewey. It was great. We sure did hit the high spots.

I came home and we had dinner. I went back and walked over to the warming house - put on my skates and monkeyed around back and forth with Frank Hutchinson, but the main rink and 48 st. In the later part of the afternoon Lawrence Freeman came down and we went across and skated with Bernice and Ruth who were over there. We came home about 6. I came up with them and stopped Randall's while Bernice changed (Words unclear could be " two swaps"). They wanted to skate again in the eve. So I volunteered to take them down. Called for Bernice 7:45 and we called for Ruth - went down - skated across and skated around all evening until about 9:30 or 10.

Came home and to bed. In the afternoon someone swiped my hockey stick, but some kids saw the one who took it and I will get it back. I hope.

Temp was mild except for the west wind.

Dec. 31, 1914

Dec. 31, 1914

Mother was sick last night and I did not get much repose on the mattress. I got up late and called up Quist to see if I had to work. He said yes, so I got dressed - got a little breakfast and went up at 8:30. Home at 7pm. Mother was up all day, but retired before supper time. Pa and I got sup.
Moderate temp - little above zero I suppose.

Author Note: Doesn't sound like much of a New Years Eve, but he doesn't complain so maybe they weren't big on that then...

Dec. 30, 1914

Dec. 30, 1914

Harold Crane High School Graduating photo 1914

Medium temperature. Got up late.

About noon I went down to Rembrants' Studio and had my graduating pictures taken. I then bought a film and a shirt. Came home about 4pm.

About 6 I pressed my pants and changed my shirt to go to Gertrude Nielsen's party. On my way there I met Bernice - which was lucky because Gertrude lives with Darr's and I never would have gone there, but Bernice cleared up the mystery all right.

We had a fine time - Fred Fish, Freeman, Poley, Burgh, "etc" were there. We had to make our own refreshments and I had to help make a cream whip - "fun." After the eats we played games "etc" and departed at 12 P.X. I took Bernice home.

The Darr's family home and garden. This house still stands the address is now 5025.

Dec. 28 -29, 2014

Dec. 28, 2014

Quite warm and grey fine day for skating. I went down in the afternoon and had a fine time with a couple of little kids "etc..."

I got an invite from Gertrude Nielsen for Wednesday eve. I am not sure who she is, but I will risk it.

Pa, Mother and I played 500 in eve and I won. Pa and I also played a few games of H.L.J.G

The Loeb Arcade was a brand new shopping mall in 1914. Some claim in was the first indoor mall.

Dec. 29, 2014

Colder and hard west wind.

Mother and I went downtown about 11. I got my shoes tapped and a haircut and a crystal for my watch. (Word unclear) then went down into the arcade cafeteria and got some soup and pie and then we got 2 boxes of candy to send to Aunt May and Aunt Ethel.

I came home and went skating. Met R.R. and nother girl down there - froze my hands putting on skates and then we skated across against the wind to the warming house. Came back soom. Home. Monkeyed around. To bed

Click here for more on the Loeb Arcade

Dec. 27, 1914

Dec. 27, 1914



Nice bright day only about 2 or 3 below. Got up late read paper etc... Pa went to church. Mother and I went to the vesper service at Plymouth Cong. Church. Came home sat around in fireplace - read and to bed.

In the AM I found an old alarm clock in the attic - brought it down - took it apart - oiled it up and made it run.

I forgot we got 2 Christmas boxes from out West [from his grandfather and family] Saturday. Aunt May sent me a fine tie and I got a leather cover photo album from Floyd [cousin]. Mother got a fine leather pillow with "I Love You, Cal" on it and a box of stationary from May and a house cap and another pillow from Ethel [Aunt]. On Xmas day we also received a sack of walnuts from Clint [cousin].

Dec. 24 -25, 1914

Dec. 24, 1914

About 12 below in the AM. Worked all day. Busy in the morning, fair in the afternoon. Home about 7 was bright and sunny all day.

I am looking after Mrs Treat's furnace and house till Monday. Went down to the drugstore and bought a card for Kathryn Graves. Came home trimmed up our small xmas tree.

My grandfather couldn't have known about this, but on Christmas 1914 a group of German and British soldiers had a temporary truce to celebrate together; singing and sharing cigarettes and having this photo taken.

Dec. 25, 1914

A beautiful bright Xmas day. Only 17 below in the early AM about 6 below all day.

Mother gave me a hockey cap and stick, a box of candy, and a stick pin and a tie clasp. I got up late, monkeyed around and we had dinner - Turkey etc... and apple pie a-la-mode.

Late in the afternoon I went skating on Harriet for an hour or so. Monkeyed around in eve - looked after Mrs. Treats furnace etc...

This Xmas was distinguished by a very free giving spirit, especially to the poor in this city and also by the war in Europe.


Authors note: You can read more about the Christmas 1914 Truce Here.

Dec. 22, 1914

Dec. 22, 1914

THE BLUE BIRD opened on Broadway in 1910

Stew and I went skating. Mother and I went to The Bainbridge and saw THE BLUE BIRD. It was fine. I bought presents for mother and we came home.

You can see the same image is used to advertise at center

Authors note: THE BLUE BIRD was made into a silent film in 1910 and 1918 and more famously Shirley Temple was in a 1940 film version. I believe in 1914 my grandfather is seeing a live touring production.

Dec. 18 - 20, 1914

Dec. 18, 1914

Street view of Minneapolis, MN in 1910

Warmer - but still cold

Short [school] periods. Out at 12 for 2 weeks vacation. Went downtown and met Mother, looked around a little and came home. I went skating - Skated with R.A. and then played prisoner base all afternoon till I blistered my heel. Went over to Cliffs and we played "carems" etc... all eve.

Carem board. It's played with sticks a bit like pool.

Dec. 20, 1914

Cold and clear - snowed hard in afternoon and is still coming down. Will be some sleighing tomorrow.

Chas. Greenlaw wanted me to teach his class and I did. Had nine kids about 10-12 yrs. Taught in the birth of Christ. Sat around and read

Dec 17th, 1914

Dec 17th, 1914

Cold and clear.

Had algebra test. As my average was above 90% for the 1st three months I do not have to write out any more for the last month as long as I keep above 75 on the tests. My luck has kept me above so far and I have not hardly looked at my books in 2 weeks.

I came home in Aft. and went skating on Harriet. It was fine. Only little patches of snow on the lake. We played prisoners base all afternoon.

Dec. 16, 1914

Dec. 16, 1914

View from top of Toboggan run at Harriet Lake. 

Cold - below zero. Quite a bit

I went downtown with Stew to see about how out petition about the warming house came out. We - after some hesitation "etc..." went in to the parks  board meeting and sat around for an hour or two listening to them gas. Then we vamoosed and went to (word unclear) office and learned that they had already referred it to committee. Later we learn that as there were 3000 already they could not go to anymore expense.

Came home and late to bed

Author note: The photos of Lake Harriet do seem to show a small warming house or maybe it is some other kind of storage. I like to think the boys got their warming house at some point.

Dec. 14, 1914

Skates that came from my grandparents basement

Dec. 14, 1914

About 14 below zero. Only a little seattend (?) snow on the ground. Harriet frozen about 4-5", I guess.

I went downtown and got $1.50 from Pa. Bought skate shoes $2.00 and skates $2.25. They are dandy. Came home and fixed them on.

Read paper and to bed.

Photo: The skates pictured were rescued from my grandparents basement by my sister when they moved in the 1980s. It is highly likely these are the skates my grandfather is describing buying in this entry. $5 in 1914 is about $125 today and if you know my family you are not surprised he held on to these even after moving to California.

Dec. 9 -11, 1914

Lake Harriet Toboggan Slide Run 1914

Dec. 9th, 1914

Cold and snowing slightly. Harriet Not Frozen yet. Walt, Stew, Fred, H. and I monkeyed around in afternoon, walking down to lake. I went with mother to meeting. Pa came home with us.

Dec. 11th, 1914

Cold. Lake all frozen. Walked home with Kathryn Graves. Home later Stew and I went down to the lake.

Dec. 7, 1914

December 7th, 1914

Donaldson's Department Store 1920

Rode down with Kathryn Graves went to Donaldson's and saw moving pictures in sub-way. Came home and went out for awhile with Stew with a petition for a warming house.

Note from Wiki: Like other early twentieth-century department stores, Donaldson’s was not merely a shop that sold household goods and quality clothing. Rather, it was a public center that hosted civic and cultural affairs. It provided a venue for fashion shows, art collections, special exhibits, Christmas programs, and lectures.

Warming House: From my research this look like a small hut to warm yourself at outdoor skating rinks. Sounds like they were trying to get one for their local skating lake.