Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Oct. 5, 1914

1914 hand crank sewing machine this one is the King Tut special

Oct. 5th

A little cloudy fairly warm. To & from with Jay.

Got cards. + in Lit, Hist. & machine and ++ in Alg.

Came home and monkeyed around with sewing machine trying so to figure out how to work it. Finally got it alright.

Cliff stopped in almost 5:30 and we played a set of tennis 6-4

Lessons & re-tired






Saturday, January 24, 2015

Oct 4, 1914

These are the trolley cars Grandpa talks about.

All went to 2nd church. Very windy day. Was Peace Sunday - church was packed. Had to sit near platform.

They are putting in a new car line on 11th St.

Walt came over in aft. and we walked (unclear word) and over
 to Penn - to lake for a little canoe ride and home. He invited me to a 500 party next Saturday.(unclear word) know which girl to invite.

Wrote Eng. Comp. in eve and to bed.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Oct 2 and 3, 1914

Oct 2

Fine Day. To and from with Jay
Got an invite to go to a dance at H. Hewett's. Had to wash a shirt myself - Mother away.
Played 3 sets of tennis with Cliff.
Went to dance with Stew, R, A, and Erma. Kind of state entertainment. Took R, A, and Erma home. In bed at 12.

Oct 3

Worked - Windy Day
Got $2.25 and 50 cents for Tues aft.
Took bath and to bed.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Sept 30 and Oct 1, 1914


Sept 30th
Rode down with Jay, R, B, F, Cup and rode home also. Fine Day. Sat around lessons and to bed.

Oct 1st
Fine and Mild. Rode to and from with Jay.Got 95 in month's Alg test.
Mother and I took a canoe ride this aft.
Lessons and the dreamland (written with a nice long flourish off the end of the d)


Sunday, January 11, 2015

Sept 29, 1914



Went to the bean club. Had good (Illegible word) and speech from U. professor on the "The Laws of Habit". In discussion we learned the (Illegible word) to be charged in the Y Club and we are going to have pins. Are also going to give a reception for Freshman soon. Came home with (Illegible word) Creighton,and L. Freeman and Deinhard Brothers..(Illegible word). I am back from 2:30 to 5 at store. Fine day.

Notes: Sorry for all the  (Illegible word) spots this was a particularly faint entry and very difficult to read. Below is the description of the Y Club from grandpa's yearbook.  I believe Y Club and Bean club are used interchangeably

 The Y Club
AT the opening of the " b e a n " season the " Y " officers and members real-
ized that they would have a big job to keep up the record made by the
"West Club of last year. Nevertheless all who have been connected with,
or have known the work of the Club realize that its influence has been
felt throughout the school.
"We wish to thank Mr. Jordan and our two faculty advisors, Mr. Parsons and
Mr. Jones for the interest they have taken in our work and the help they have
given us. Although we have fallen down in membership, the conduct and qual-
ity of the "West fellows has gained the respect of the other High Schools.
Last fall at the beginning of the semester we started campaigns against pro-
fanity, smoking, and cribbing. We have had many interesting and instructive
speeches by prominent business men, preachers, and politicians, including Gov-
ernor Hammond.
The Club at present is pushing the movement for a Students' Executive
Board. The Club believes if this scheme is given a good trial it will give West
a chance to show the other schools a thing or two in the way of partial self-gov-
ernment. We all hope that through an Executive Board we shall bring the
students and faculty into a closer and friendlier relationship, and put the spirit
of "West W i n s " into the heart and soul of every student.

Sept. 28, 1914

Fine and quiet day. Learned that I got 80 in my 1000 word essay. Rode home with Jay, Cup, Fred, "Fat", and Dewey. Jay is going to charge 5 cents for both ways after this and call for me in the morning.

Minneapolis Journal Sunday Magazine from June 1914

Went down to the lake in the Aft. Lay in the canoe and drifted while reading Sunday Magazine. Came home, raked a few leaves from front yard, had sup, lessons, and to bed.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Sept. 27, 1914

Minnehaha Falls postcard with Longfellow poem that brought it some fame

Up pretty early for Sunday. Fine warm day. We all went to Knox church. This was Doc Cool's farewell to Lynnwood Cong. Came home and had fine dinner Veal, potatoes, watermelon, pumpkin pie, etc.


Soldier's Home still in operation

Took car to Minnehaha - did not get off at transfer point but stayed on till we got to the river. Had a fine walk down the river to Soldier home and then to Minnehaha Falls. Beautiful creek full of water. Took car for home about 6pm. Had sup - did lessons and to bed.

Minnehaha Falls photo from 1910

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Sept. 25 & 26, 1914

Canoeing was a hot trend in the early teen years in Minneapolis
Sept 25, 1914
Fine and Cool. Rode home with Jay, R,B, L etc..
Mother and I for a canoe ride in Aft.Water nice and smooth. Trees turning brown. Very fine.
Pa beat 3 out of 5 games of H.L.J & S. To bed.

Sept 26, 1914
Fine day.
Worked got $2.25 for Sat. & .80 for 4 hours last Monday.
Came home & went to bed.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Sept. 24, 1914

Windom Cassius Crane Hal's Pa


Fine Day. To school. Rode home with Jay, Ber., etc..
Ran down to the lake, paddled around in stiff breeze a while.
Came in. Ran home. Did alg. Ate sup.
Played High Low Jack & game with Pa all eve. Beat 3 out of 5 games.
To bed.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Sept. 23, 1914

Both torpedoed & sunk in North Sea off by SM U-9 Kaiserliche Marine (capt. pictured)on Sept 22
Fine and cool day. Changed to my blue suit and vest from grey one.
Rode home with Jay, Ruth, Bernice, Cup"etes"
Cut lawn in Aft, lessons and help Stew with physics in eve.
Allies pushing back and turn Ger. right wing. Reported about 1800-1600 lost in yesterday's naval battle.

Have just figured out my average for all my high school work so far and find it to be about 89.

Notes- Here is a description of the WWI battle referred to, written by the German Lieutenant Weddigen, pictured above.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Sept. 22, 1914

SMS Cap Trafalgar and HMSCarmania sunk Sept 14, 1914

Fine day- cooler. 80 in Alg. test. Rode home from school with Ruth, Bernice, Lucile, nother girl, Fred H in Jay's Packard machine.
Played tennis with Cliff in aft. 6-4 6-2 6-2 7-5
Had ticket for Bean Club but did not start in time so did not go.
Lessons and to the mattress in eve.
German submarines have sunk 3 British warships recently. Helps to make up for German losses. Allies are pushing German right wing back. -About Oriles.

Monday, December 29, 2014

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.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

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.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

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.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

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???


Sunday, December 14, 2014

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.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

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.