Mary's Memoirs

Sam and Louie (Mary's brother)

September 1 – 7, 1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

It’s Labor Day weekend!  A lot of people from out of town to visit The Hood Canal.  Mary leaves out a lot of details this week.  Where were Sam and Rudy going on their trip?  I almost left out the part about the kittens.  That made me sad.  Mary has some kind of bug all week and mentions her ill health. Enjoy! ch

Thursday September 1, 1932

Sam left for Tacoma at six so I slept until seven thirty and found out my clock was 20 minutes slow.  Then I sure had to hurry.  Don delivered groceries to McCoy’s.  A dark day but the sun is trying to come out.  Did not feel good at all so I rested most of the afternoon.  Sam came home about 2.30 so took feed up to Pope’s.  Went to birthday party at Sundstrom’s.  It was a big one.  They had five tables of pinochle and one of 500.  All had a good time.  Home late and oh I was so tired.  I could hardly sleep.

Friday September 2, 1932

Today I cleaned up the house real good and the rest rooms and bedrooms.  In the afternoon I practiced two hours on the piano.  A fine sunshiny day but not terribly busy.  Put lots of stock on the shelves so they look real good.  The puppy is getting fat and looks so cute.  Gordon killed two of the kittens today and Sam will take one to his mother so there will be just one left.  Picked a bouquet of flowers for Mrs. Jack Grant who is at the Bremerton Hospital.  To bed at 9.30 as I was tired.  Read all my stories first though.

Saturday September 3, 1932

This morning got up at 7.30 and cleaned up house and worked in store.  Was busy all morning.  The weather is fine and lots of cars are coming out.  Sherman Davis’s are down at Clarence’s place for the weekend.  Mamie and Clarence Davis were here about supper time.  Mamie looks fine.  Went to the dance at Victor but didn’t have such a good time as I was so tired.  There was a good crowd and quite a few I know were there.  Erma and Wanda Orr and Swede Aspata went with us.  Gordon took the two Hodge girls.  To bed at two o’clock.

Sunday September 4, 1932

Got up at ten and dressed.  Henry and Lorice came about ten thirty so I invited them to dinner.  Felt tired all day.  We were fairly busy all day.  Cleaned up the store real good so it looks fine.  Buster and a friend of his who looks a lot like Geo Ames was out and stayed to dinner.  I made cream cake and it was real good.  Edwin J. Brown of Seattle was out here electioneering with his notable piano on a truck.  Schmidt the music teacher from Shelton was here too at the same time.  My, but he is getting grey.

Monday September 5, 1932

Today a bright, hot day with lots of cars out.  A good, fine Labor Day and good swimming.  We were up to go to Anacortes but couldn’t get anyone to take Doris’s place so postponed the trip until later in September.  Dorothy, Kelly, Buster and Karl came out. Hansen’s, Louie and Arley and I went down to Wright’s Point and had a good swim and a wiener roast.  My, the water was grand!  This evening I came home at six and worked until 8.30 then cleaned up all post office work and to bed early.  A good day.

Tuesday September 6, 1932

Today I made a big white cake for dinner tonight.  Roasted some beef for sandwiches for Sam and Rudy’s trip and made 16 sandwiches.  They are good too.  Sundstroms, Irene and Ransome were up to dinner and we had lots of fun.  Had a nice lamb roast, salad, corn on the cob and oh it was great.  Sam and Rudy got all packed up for their trip.  The gang went home early and I sent out all the checks so went to bed early.

Wednesday September 7, 1932

Today Sam got up at four o’clock and got Rudy and caught the 6.15 ferry so I got up at 20 to seven and practiced awhile before eight o’clock.  We were busy all morning and checked slips and caught up on a lot of work.  A bright sunny day.  Henry and Louie were here and ate dinner after going swimming.  They said the water was fine.  McCormick’s slashing fire is surely burning up by the Blue Hills.  A terrible blaze.  Read awhile and went to bed as my cold is certainly getting me down.  Cash sales 51.00 today.

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I loved the part about the politician coming out campaigning with his piano on the back of a truck.  Was that a hoot or what?  Sounds like McCormick’s were clearing land back in 1932.  16 sandwiches!  No wonder Sam put on weight.  Sounded to me that Mary was on another one of her cleaning obsessions.  Was that woman a clean freak or is it just me?  Thank you for reading this week’s diary. ch

Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

Mary's graduation picture.

August 25-31, 1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

Don buys a 1926 Willys Knight Sedan for the Ranch job.  Delivering feed, buying piano sheet music, lots of movies, going to the dance, a finger wave, fresh flowers in all the vases, waffles, home made ice cream, spaghetti feed, swimming, writing an 8 page letter to Elizabeth……This week’s diary makes me tired just reading it.  You go Mary!  Enjoy! ch

Thursday August 25, 1932

This morning Don came to work at 11.30 in the 1926 Willeys Knight Sedan he bought for the Ranch job.  It is a Dandy.  I took my lesson from Mrs. Buldoc and got a new piece “The Village Blacksmith.”  A hard piece to play I think.  Sam got home at 2 o’clock and delivered feed up to Alexander’s.  Then Don went down on the trip to the State Park.  This evening Alice and Oscar Michelson, Flora Robins, Sam and I went to see “What Price Hollywood” with Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman and Neil Hamilton.  It surely was great.  I enjoyed it so much.

Friday August 26, 1932

Got up early and practiced an hour before eight o’clock.  I cleaned up the house and made two big chocolate cakes.  We were very busy today in the store.  Cash sales were $108.88.  Had steak for supper. It was surely good and Mae Hansen got a nice apologetic letter from Elizabeth.   Funny.  Vera and Cole came over at 2 o’clock.  Didn’t make much fishing.  To the dance and my, the music was punk but we had a good time anyway.  The Allyn Orchestra plays from now on and I’m glad of it.

Saturday August 27, 1932

Today Erma Orr put a finger wave in my hair.  I put fresh flowers in all the vases.  Also, cleaned up all post office work.  A dark morning so far.  Had a long letter from Leonard yesterday.  It certainly is interesting.  He writes volumes.  Practiced almost two hours on the piano today.  Then Sam came and suggested he get the Buick fixed so caught the 12:15 boat to Seattle.  Were fairly busy in the afternoon.  Read all evening and went to bed at 9.30 as I was real tired.  Slept with Flora and she took all the covers.

Sunday August 28, 1932

Today we had waffles for breakfast and they were real good.  Took us nearly an hour to get through breakfast.  Hugh Landes and Mr. and Mrs. Stokes of Seattle were out today going on the loop trip.  Stokes made ice cream in Seattle.  Drove up to Tiger Lake and the bunch went swimming.  The water was warm as soup.  We had a big spaghetti feed after we came home and it certainly was good.  Sam closed up at eight and Cole and Vera went soon after.  We were tired so went to bed early.

Monday August 29, 1932

Sam went to Tacoma at 7.00 so I opened up the place.  Cleaned everything up good and practiced two hours on the piano.  A bright, sunshiny, day but terribly quiet in the store.  Cleaned my white coat and shoes for tomorrow.  Erma Orr and I go to Seattle on 8.00 boat.  Rec’d a long letter from Elizabeth and sent her the silverware, knives and forks, DeMille pattern.  A beautiful set too.  This evening Gladys and Flora made taffy and I practiced for an hour on the piano.  Took a bath and went to bed early as tomorrow I go to town.

Tuesday August 30, 1932

Got up at six and got breakfast and caught the 8 o’clock boat to Seattle.  Left Flora at the dock.  Erma got a permanent at eleven thirty so I went to see Barbara Stanwyck in “Shopworn.”  It was good.  Also saw “Blondie” featuring Marion Davis, Billie Dove and Bob Montgomery.  It was best of all.  Believe it or not our eyes were tired when we got home.  I bought some incense, 2 scrap books, one is a beauty, some salt shakers etc.  Had a fine time.  Erma is a good companion.

Wednesday August 31, 1932

Cleaned house and practiced an hour on the piano.  Made one cake and it fell so I had to make another.  Mrs. Curl is having a fine birthday at Sundstrom’s with  Mrs. Miller, Mrs. McKevry,  Mrs. Culbertson and  I’m suppose to make the birthday cake.  A dark day but fairly busy at that.  So far this afternoon I cleaned up post office work so I don’t have to do that tonight.  Finished and sealed an eight page letter to Elizabeth White.  We put out all the statements and Sam cleaned up all book work so we are all cleaned up on this month’s business.  To bed at eleven o’clock.  Tired.

MEMO:  August is gone and I believe it was the coldest August for about 30 years.  We surely had a lot of rain and not many tourists.  Have had quite a lot of fun this month and its certainly gone fast.  Spent a good many hours practicing on the piano.  Some day I hope to be able to play.  Erma was over and played those pieces I bought Tuesday.  We enjoy her playing.  I gave her all my old magazines.  I kept all clippings first for my scrap book.

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I had a cabin in Snohomish County up past Verlot, Washington for 17 years and when I moved out there I bought a 1959 Willys Jeep Pick-up. Yep.  It was green.  It had not been licensed for the road until just before I bought it.  It had been bought new and worked on a farm in eastern Washington its whole life.  The fellow who owned it eventually passed away and left it to his grandson that lived in Seattle.  It had a Chevy straight 6 that had been installed, a dash board from an old Studebaker and snazzy bucket seats. Willy had a broom sticking out of the bed on one side and a shovel on the other.  That old Willys got me out of more jams.  That broom and shovel came in mighty handy at times. 

Thank you for reading this week’s diary. ch

Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

Mary and her dogs

August 18-24,1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

We can tell by reading Mary’s diary that the school district is getting ready for the new school year.  They had picked a janitor and assigned the high school bus route.  A long time ago Dorothy Harper shared with me that the high school students were bused to Bremerton.  I have not heard of the 1000 Ranch.  Does anybody know the place Mary is referring?  We got a party, a road trip and lots more going on this week.  Enjoy! ch

Thursday August 18, 1932

Sam went to Seattle early and got some work done on the car.  Don went to Bremerton after lumber and produce and I took my music lesson.  Had my lesson fairly good this time.  Don went down on the trip to sell produce and Gordon and I were certainly busy while he was gone.  In the evening the school directors gave C.A. Schoner the janitor job.  Newkirk hauls the kids to high school and the 1000 Ranch run is not let out yet.  Went to bed at nine and read all my stories.  It sure felt good to rest.

Friday August 19, 1932

Today a quiet day.  Cleaned up rest rooms and Flora and I washed all the windows and glass in the store.  Gordon defrosted the meat case.  Sam came home from Seattle at eleven and had the car all polished and fixed up.  My, but it looks good.  Rec’d a letter from Elizabeth.  She wants me to visit her some time.  Wrote her a long letter back.  Went down to Ruddy’s and Alma’s and made up a party to go to Sunrise Park.  Talking until 9 and home to bed as there is lots to do tomorrow.  Saturday again.

Saturday August 20, 1932

Practiced 3 hours on the piano this morning.  Will do more if I get a chance.  Have a dandy new piece to work on.  Rex our puppy was run over today at seven this morning.  I sure felt bad as he was getting so cute.  A smart dog too.  Dark, drizzly day.  Ruddy couldn’t find any fryers so we will have roast beef tomorrow.  Will make fine sandwiches.  Rec’d a fine letter from Mother.  Said Katie’s husband went prospecting in the mountains.  To bed early, after reading my stories.

Sunday August 21, 1932

Got up at five thirty and got dressed and ready for our trip to Sunrise Park.  It was raining so hard outside we were sure Sundstroms wouldn’t come.  But they did.  We ate a fine breakfast in Enumclaw.  Arrived at Sunrise at twelve.  It was so foggy we couldn’t see the top of the mountain.  Mrs. Sundstrom and I hiked about three miles while the men listened to a Ellensburg band play.  It rained real hard so we drove down to White River Camp to eat lunch.  Visited Sam’s Mother in Seattle.  She made us a Tom and Jerry.  Home late.

Monday August 22, 1932

Got up at seven twenty and got breakfast.  Sam left for Tacoma and got home at 4.30, then delivered some feed to Ryan.  Practiced three hours on the piano.  Some of my pieces are surely difficult.  A dark day and very quiet.  Not much doing.  Irene and Ransome ate dinner here.  Flora and I made taffy.  I pasted pictures in my album.  Lots of fun.  To bed early as were all tired. 

Tuesday August 23, 1932

Washed all my jars that were soaking in the back.  Practiced 3 hours on the piano.  Washed the pup.  She was so full of fleas she was nearly crazy.  We are going to call her “Dixie.”  A nice sunshiny day.  I picked a lot of flowers for Rudolph’s party. Hope it will be a good one.  Mamie and Millie Davis, Nat Jockemeny, Hamiltons, Johnie and Miss Schelo, Sundstroms and ourselves were at the party.  We certainly had a wonderful time.  I laughed until my sides ached.  Ruddy was funnier then he ever was.  To bed late.

Wednesday August 24, 1932

There was not so much doing today although it was nice and warm.  Practiced two hours today and wrote down all those registered to vote and sent the list to Shelton.  Got my washing back today and it surely looks good.  My, I couldn’t do any better myself.  Was up to the house today and saw Sandy.  My but he is getting to be a big dog.  Real pretty.  Tonight I finished pasting pictures in my album.  Now it’s done.

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As I am typing this I am facing leaving the house in a couple of hours to have my 12 year old German Shepherd put down.  It is almost uncanny how things are so similar to Mary’s and my life 78 years later.  When I first started researching about Mary and Sam I remember an individual sharing that Theler’s liked to hunt and loved dogs.  There are a couple of home movies of Mary with her dogs and the dogs playing on the beach.  If they are not on the web site for you to view I will put on soon. She does not talk about it much but either Sam or a friend must have given her a puppy to help ease the pain of her loss of Rex getting run over.  On the last day of this week she shares visiting another dog named Sandy.  Mary is always upbeat in her writings but her words are revealing that she was saddened this week.  Thank you for reading this week’s diary. ch

Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

Mary Picking something

August 13 – 17, 1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

Mary is mortified that some one would take monies out of the hat at the dance.  For the past year and half we have read that Mary and her mother often are out in the garden working.  After reading the list of all the flowers she grew then sold in the store I was flabbergasted.  Can you imagine how beautiful her garden must have been?  Mary using the word “queerest” as an adjective describing August of that year sure reminded me of this year’s August.  Rex and Pal get a dip.  Enjoy! ch

Saturday August 13, 1932

Opened up and worked in store 2 hours before I started on my housework.  We surely had a dirty house to clean up.  Flora came home with Gordon and helped me clean house.  Cleaned up all old post office work so know just where I stand.  Mrs. R. Cusky and her niece were here.  I gave them a big bunch of flowers.  Have flowers all over the store today.  Went to dance at the gym.  Had a great time!  Quite a good crowd too.  Elmer Beard passed the hat around and some woman deliberately took $15.00 out of it.  That’s the lowest trick I ever heard of!  To bed at 2.15.

Sunday August 14, 1932

This day turned out warm and nice.  Cleaned up house and store real good.  Put fresh flowers in all the cases.  I have at this time zinnias, salspeglossis, giant and African marigolds, dahlias, gladiolas, golden glow, foxglove, poppies, sweet William, baby’s breath, hydrangea, morning glories, pansies, petunia, snapdragon, roses, cosmos, calliopsis, sweet peas, hollyhock, Japanese rose, lavender, clematis, bachelor button, lemon lily, candy tuff, nasturtiums and 3 kinds I don’t know the names of.  Sundstroms came up and we all went over to Hamilton’s.  Sat and talked awhile then went to Bremerton to eat noodles.  Saw Ed and Leder Michelsons in the noodle cafe also.  Home at eleven.

Monday August 15, 1932

Sam went to Tacoma early and I opened up the store.  Cleaned everything up O.K. Practiced 45 minutes on the piano.  A very, very quiet day.  I had Don dip Rex and Alice Pope’s dog Pal in sheep dip to kill the fleas and believe me it killed them.  Rained terrible hard this morning but sun was out real bright by 1.30 and hot now.  The queerest August I ever saw.  This evening I find the covers for my recipe book and post card album.  Pasted cut outs from colored envelope flap.  My, but it makes a gay cover.  To bed at 10.30.  I was kinda tired.

Tuesday August 16, 1932

This morning I got up at six o’clock and practiced an hour and half before 8 o’clock.  Practiced most of the day it seems.  Have put in five hours so far.  Sent money off in money orders.  Also sorted out my fruit.  It was some job.  The rats got in my cupboard and ate a lot of jam and jelly.  Wilma Moffitt was in today with the baby.  It is real cute.  Tonight fixed up my recipe book.  It looks fine.  Practiced another hour.  To bed at ten.

Wednesday August 17, 1932

Today I cleaned house good and fixed up the album of our trip to give Maybelle.  Flora fixed up sales slips.  Gordon cleaned basement good and I cleaned out all jars of fruit that was spoiled.  Gordon hauled garbage away.  Sam worked on books most of the day.  Then at four thirty took a fellow to Brownsville.  Martha Blair and her two children are out visiting Blair’s now.  Blair has a new Chrysler sedan.  A beauty.  Practiced 3 hours on piano.  Tonight we went for a ride down towards Tahuya.  Had a nice time.  Took Irene and Ransom along.

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I have a post card album that my mother made probably during the late 1930s or early 1940s.  Every where she went she would buy a post card and then tape it into the album.  It was a way of remembering each unique trip.  I get a kick out of the eclectic selection of post cards that my mother would choose.  She would always pick a few of the funny kind.  Remember the cowboy riding a geoduck from Long Beach, Wa.?  One of her favorites were postcards of a black and white photo taken by a man named J. Boyd Ellis.  Typically it was signed “Ellis” with a white pen in the lower right hand corner of the postcard and it was numbered.  These postcards sold for a penny and many of them are worth quite a bit of money today.  Have you checked you attics lately for vintage postcards?  Thank you for reading this week’s diary. ch

Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

Mary with her Aunt Mary

August 4 – 6, 1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

This part of Mary’s diary was transcribed in 1989 and 1990 by Gertrude Linnenbrugge.  She makes a note in her typing that August 7-12, 1932 are missing pages torn out of Mary Theler’s diary.  Though short, we still get a glimpse of what Belfair, Wa. was like 78 years ago.  Enjoy! ch

Thursday August 4, 1932

Today Wanda and I went up to Buldoc’s to take our music lesson.  Mrs. Buldoc was pleased at the way we played our duets together.  A very hot day but blessed with a cool wind.  Don went down the Canal with vegetables.  I practiced over an hour on the piano.  Not very busy in the store today.  Too hot out.  This evening we went to Irene and Ranson’s to dinner.  It was wonderful.  Fried chicken, new spuds, carrots, peas, gravy, cocoanut pie, salad and punch.  How we ate!

Friday  August 5, 1932

This was another hot day.  Cleaned up rest rooms, bed rooms and house real good so on Saturday I don’t have so much to do.  Took me all morning to get done.  Sam went to Seattle on the 8.15 boat.  Hamiltons were out on the Canal.  They were on their way to Hama Hama River.  Maybelle wants me to camp with her next week at Hansville.  Maybe I will go too.  It would be fun.  Put in nearly two hours practicing on the piano.  Takes lots of time to be perfect.  To bed early as I was sleepy.

Saturday August 6, 1932

Today was a sure scorcher.  Awfully hot and no breeze.  Practiced over an hour on the piano today and was busy all day in the store.  Sam got home at 12 o’clock.  He brought Mamie home from the hospital today.  Bet she was glad to get home.

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In spite of this being a short week we do learn it was hot, Mary still performs her cleaning frenzies, practices the piano and Mary and Sam have a wonderful dinner at Irene and Ranson’s 78 years ago.  Fried Chicken!  Who doesn’t like that on a summer evening?  And cocoanut pie!!  Ironically I was at a friend’s last night and for desert we had brownies from the Union store/deli and Olympic Mountain’s cocoanut ice cream.  Now I have to say that I was not real excited about hearing we were going to have cocoanut ice cream but I am telling you it was fabulous!  It went perfectly with the warm brownie.  Try it, you’ll love it!  Thanks for reading this week’s diary. ch

Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

Doug and Elizabeth White courtesy of Leslie Henderson

July 28 – August 3, 1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

For many months readers thought Elizabeth was Mary’s daughter but Mary and Sam never had any children.  Elizabeth moved to San Diego with her new husband Doug White and this is a picture of them sent to me by Leslie Henderson of Texas.  Now we know what Elizabeth looked like.  Elizabeth and Doug look very happy in this picture.  Mary shows concern that Elizabeth might get lonely so she mails her a letter.  Enjoy! ch 

Thursday July 28, 1932

Today I got up early and practiced on the piano.  Then Sam went to Tacoma and got home at two o’clock.  I took my music lesson from Mrs. Buldoc and was home by eleven ten.  Busy in the afternoon so didn’t get dishes done until late.  Cleaned house and put in fresh flowers.  A dark day inclined to rain.  Flora went home today.  I gave her my blue polka dot pongee dress.  Looks good on her.  We went to the show and it was a bumb.  I was very sleepy so slept on the way home.  To bed late.

Friday July 29, 1932

I canned 42 quarts of raspberries.  Also practiced and hour on the piano and cleaned house good.  Was very busy in the store today.  Sam went to Seattle on the 3.45 boat.  Had lamb chops for supper.  They were good.  The bank in Charleston was robbed of seven thousand dollars today.  Zinnias are blooming also salspiglossis.  Beautiful.  Practiced a little and then waited on some Allyn ladies.  Then to bed early as tomorrow night is the dance.

Saturday July 30, 1932

Today Erma came over at 8.15 and put a fingerwave in my hair.  It surely looks nice.  Not a very hot day so not so many were out.  Although we were fairly budy at the store.  Received a long letter from Elizabeth today.  She is all settled and very happy.  I wrote her and sent two pictures today.  Wore my orange dress to the dance and surely received a lot of compliments on it.  I had a dandy time and so did everyone else.  To bed late.  A large crowd.

Sunday July 31, 1932

Sam and I started from here at 9.30 and went to Tacoma.  Ate breakfast there then drove to Sunrise camp.  My, it was beautiful.  We certainly enjoyed it.  We bought a picture of the mountain.  Then we went on to Yakima where we ate lunch.  I drove nearly all the way.  The road was grand.  The peach trees are loaded with peaches this year and the apples are plentiful.  We drove as far as Ketchiles Lodge where we stayed all night.  My but it was a nice place.  We were so tired and sleepy we decided to stay all night.  Sam was tired and so was I.  We surely had a nice trip.  I’d like to take someone else on that trip.  It would be fun as you pass through so many places.  Each place is so different.  The roads are in wonderful shape.  In ten years I can see a great difference in the roads.  I hope Elizabeth gets my letter soon so she won’t be too lonesome.  Well another month is on us and it’s so cold and it rained all night up here.

Monday August 1, 1932

This morning we shut off alarm at five and slept until 6.15AM  My, how good I slept.  We ate a doughnut and coffee and then drove to Seattle.  A lovely trip.  Sam went down on Western Ave. and got his produce and meat.  We ate before we caught the ferry.  Home at 11.45.  Quite a busy afternoon.  Don helped make out statements.  In the evening I rode down to Moffitts with Gordon, Erma and Mrs. Orr.  We stayed until nearly ten then home again.  Wanda came over to stay all night with me.  We went to bed early.

Tuesday August 2, 1932

Today Wanda and I practiced 2½ hours on our duets.  We do one of them very well.  A fine, sunny day but not very busy in the store.  Sam back from Seattle with feed and lumber on the truck.  He and Don are delivering now.  Irene and Ranson have asked us down to dinner Thursday night.  This evening Sam and I went to bed early.  I spent another hour at the piano so that makes me four hours today.  Read all my stories too so I’m ready to go to bed.

Wednesday August 3, 1932

Today was terribly hot.  In the morning I cleaned up post office work and practiced about an hour.  After dinner I felt so bad I had to lie down on the davenport and rest.  Felt better later so went out and worked in the store.  In the evening I went over to Orr’s to practice duet but Fred Retzen and Raymond Uptegraff was there so we let it go.  Sam came over for me to go down to Don and Alice’s to eat crab.  We helped clean them up.  Oscar Michelsons were there too.  Had a nice evening.

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Several years ago I used to like going to eastern Washington to buy fruit along the side of the road at fruit and vegetable stands.  Now we have our little fruit and vegetable stand in Belfair where a lot of the produce comes from eastern Washington.  It is a nice convenience but I miss making and experiencing the journey.  Never know.  I might be making a trip to eastern Washington soon.

Thank you for reading this week’s diary. ch

Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

Mary in 1939. Courtesy of Leslie Henderson in Texas

July 21 – 27, 1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

I looked up Jean Harlow online at Wikipedia.com.  This week Mary and Sam go to see her in a movie and Mary comments, “What a woman.”  I learned that Jean Harlow died in 1937 at the age of 26 of kidney failure.  For some one so young and had lived 80 years ago, she left a mark.  There has been many a song with Jean Harlow’s name included in the lyrics.  I find the 1930s an interesting time.  The world was dealing with hardships just as we are today.  The Great Depression, the creation of the CCC public work relief, the Dust Bowl, bank robbers like Bonnie and Clyde, Lindberg’s baby kidnapped are only a tip of the iceberg of the stories from the 1930s.  It is interesting to me to read the everyday doings of Mary and often get some insight of this era way before I was born.  Mary and Sam’s store had a record breaking day of bringing in $140.00.  That was a lot of money in 1932 in the small town of Belfair, Wa.  Hope you enjoy this week’s diary. ch

Thursday July 21, 1932

Today was a scorcher.  Practiced over an hour on my lesson.  Worked out in the store a lot.  Seems as though I don’t accomplish much though.  In the afternoon Sam came home and took the furniture to Rudolph’s.  They bought a dining room set and a davenport.  Fred and Flora Robins were in today.  Bathed the pup.  He enjoyed it.  This evening Flora, Sam and I went to the show.  Flora went to the Tower.  We saw Jean Harlow in “Red Headed Woman.”  A very good play but what a woman!

Friday July 22, 1932

Today I put in quite a bit of time practicing the piano.  Also I ironed 2 silk shirts for Henry and cleaned up my gardens so it looks real nice.  My, how hot it was outside.  I nearly cooked.  Miss McSosley was out and she looks just the same as ever.  We spent an hour talking over old times.  She just graduated from the University of Washington.  Took the Art course.  Busy in the store today.  Over ninety dollars in cash sales.  Going to bed early tonight so as to get a good nights rest for Saturday.  Sam went to Seattle as usual.

Saturday  July 23, 1932

This day was hot and sticky.  Sam saw some terrible nude pictures of Mrs. A. A. Gregg sitting in the bath tub.  The biggest cash day we ever had $140.00.  Don sold a lot of vegetables too.  My, we sure worked hard this afternoon.  Nearly forty people in the store at once.  I never saw such a mob.  We sure were rushed.  Flora, Sam, Don, Alice and myself went to Victor to the dance.  Alice and Owen Michelson, Roy Roessels, Baldwins, Orrs and others from Belfair were there.  We certainly had a good time.  Saw Evelyn Bray.  My, but she looks so old for 24 years!

Sunday July 24, 1932

Got up at 8.30 and made breakfast for all of us.  Sam, Flora and I drove over to Vera’s and took her and Carl and also Little Ruby Green to Point Defiance Park.  We saw all the flowers and listened to a band concert.  It was so restful sitting on the green grass.  We ate dinner and then drove to Seattle.  Visited Mamie at the hospital.  She looks a lot better.  Saw Mrs. Davis and Mark.  Took the Harper ferry and took the company home.  My, how sleepy I was.  Couldn’t keep my eyes open.

Monday July 25, 1932

Today I got up late and worked hard all day.  Wanda and I practiced on our duet for 45 minutes.  Gordon cleaned up the ice box and I cleaned the wood racks.  It was a big job.  Cleaned out rest rooms and bed rooms also our house here.  It seems Monday it nothing but a clean up day lately.  Pulled heads off of old pansies.  My, that’s a big job.  Sent some things to Mama, Grandma and Grandpa by Mrs. Johnson.  They are going away for a week to Holly.  To bed early as all were tired.  A good day.

Tuesday July 26, 1932

Gordon went to Bremerton and I practiced on the piano some.  A busy day.  Sam went to Seattle and brought back some more lumber and feed.  My, it was a big load.  In the afternoon Don went down on the trip to the Canal.  Sold quite a bit of stuff.  In the evening we went to Sundstroms and went swimming.  Flora sure enjoyed herself.  Saw Sundstrom’s new furniture.  My, but it’s pretty.  Home at ten o’clock.  Sleepy.

Wednesday July 27, 1932

Today I washed all the windows and glass in the store and house.  It was a big job but it certainly looks great now.  At 12.25 I rode down to the Stork Shower on Mrs. Vernon Gregg.  There was a nice crowd there and we certainly had lots of fun looking at the gifts.  Mrs. Jack Grant, Mrs. A. A. Gregg, Nadine Cooper and I went swimming.  My, it was grand.  At the party were the Mrs. Selberg, Cooper, Huntington, Blair Adams, Gregg’s Alice and Gladys Michelson, Doris Brown, Mrs. Geo. Roessel and myself.  In the evening I went over to Wanda’s and practiced on the duet.  Home late.

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I am transcribing from a transcribe that was hand typed 20 years ago and I apologize if there are names not spelled correctly. Last week I received a wonderful email from Leslie Henderson who lives in Texas.  The picture I am sharing is one she sent of Mary in 1939.  May and Lionel Housen are her grandparents.  More parts to the story.  Thank you for reading this week’s diary. ch

 Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

July 14-20, 1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

Seems odd to me Mary is picking blackberries in July.  I always remember picking them in August.  I was out to a picnic at friend’s yesterday.  They have blackberries bushes and I could only see the little blossoms.  No berries.  Does this seem odd to anyone else?  Hope you enjoy this week’s diary. ch

Thursday July 14, 1932

Practiced an hour on my lesson.  Got breakfast for Elizabeth and she left with Art Robins and Flora for her Grandmother’s.  She goes South Monday.  Gee!  I hate to see her go.  In the morning Sam and Inky dug clams so I was home.  Made 2 swell cherry pies.  Then in the afternoon we picked berries up by the Maine.  Wanda Orr went with us.  We had lots of fun.  Saw three deer.  In the evening the men went to a Liberty Party Meeting and I practiced another hour.  To bed at ten.  Real tired.

Friday July 15, 1932

Today I got up early and practiced an hour an half then checked slips and made 35 glasses of blackcap and blackberry jam.  My but it was good.  Raining hard out so of course it’s very quiet in the store.  In the afternoon I practiced another half hour on the piano.  In the evening we went to Bremerton to the show.  Saw “Sky Riders.”  It was good.  We surely enjoyed it.  We were supposed to see “Grant Hotel.”  Had a bad pass Peterson gave us but he wasn’t there so we went to the other show.

Saturday July 16, 1932

Cleaned up everything good.  Elaine cleaned the house.  Quite busy in the store today.  We were all busy most of the time.  Sold out of meat so Sam had to go to Bremerton to get more.  Pulled all the ferns out of my flower beds.  Vera helped me.  In the evening we went down to the bay and had a bon fire.  We had a nice time.  It was too windy to swim so we roasted hot dogs and marshmellows.

Sunday July 17, 1932

Sam opened up at 7:30 A.M. and then Gordon came on at 11 A.M.  Don at 9 A.M.  We left for Dickinson’s Staircase Resort at 11:20 and my, what a narrow road.  Had turn outs to pass on.  We ate our lunch and some shrimp we bought at Hoodsport.  My, the shrimp were good.  We hiked up to the Blackberry Patch and picked quite a few berries.  I saw four enormous snakes.  Started home at four thirty.  Everyone was tired so we went to bed fairly early.  Had a good time.

Monday July 18, 1932

This day Sam was gone all day.  Took Inky, Elaine and Don’s wife to Seattle early.  We were quite busy.  Vera and I made 28 jelly glasses of genuine blackberry jam.  Cleaned house and store up.  Awfully dirty after Sunday.  Washed, ironed and cleaned white dress and shoes.  Clothes all mended.  O.K.  In the evening we went over to Orr’s and practiced a duet, sang songs and had a good time.  To bed early very late but happy.

Tuesday July 19, 1932

Today was a dark day.  It tried to rain all day.  Sam got back from town at 10:30 so then I went up to Buldoc’s to take a music lesson.  Then got lunch and practiced awhile.  Vera and I picked a 5 lb. pail full of blackberries in less than an hour up near Kindred’s old camp.  She took them home with her.  Stopped at Hamilton’s and had a jolly time.  We sat around and talked until late.  Then took Vera home and back to Belfair.  Practiced my piece for a half hour.

Wednesday July 20, 1932

Today a bright day.  Don was off so Sam and Gordon loaded H.C. Grants furniture at the old store.  Cleaned everything up good and made some good soup.  Pansies doing splendid.  Practiced some of my new piece “Pearly Dewdrop.”  In the afternoon it was quiet but in the evening real busy.  Wasn’t much to do in the evening so I went to bed and read until late.  My, time goes so fast I don’t know where it goes.  Seems I always miss doing something.

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I was working in my yard last Saturday and I had to pull out a bunch of ferns too.  It has been so wet for so long and they grew in places like never before.  Elizabeth will be moving to Calfornia and eventually in Mary’s diary, Mary and Louie take a road trip and go south.  Mary spends quite awhile with Elizabeth and her husband in San Diego and Louie tries to find work and meets his future wife, Gracie.  I thought Mary was such a “country” gal that nothing ruffled her feathers but I don’t think she likes snakes.  Come on now.  We do not have enormous snakes in western Washington.  The name “Inky” is starting to make me laugh.  I once met a kid in Kansas City when I was a kid and we called him “Sputty.”  It was short for Sputnik.  You guessed it.  He was born October 4, 1957.  That’s the date the first man made object was launched to orbit the earth by the Soviet Union and started the Space Race.  I was named after my father if you had not guessed.  My brother’s middle name is Delano.  He was born in April 1945 right after President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed away.  People name their children for the most unique reasons.

Thank you for reading this week’s diary. ch

Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

Mary and her mom at Butchart Gardens

July 7 – 13, 1932

Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

I have a home movie clip of Mary and now I believe her mother walking through Butchart Gardens.  This picture is a frame from that home movie.  I can see a strong resemblance between the two women.  We are not that far from Victoria but rarely do I hear anyone telling of going up there.  All one has to do that lives on the peninsula is drive up to Port Angeles and catch the Black Ball Ferry.  It has been awhile since I have taken that trip so I think I will definitely put that on my bucket list.  How about you?

Enjoy! ch

Thursday July 7, 1932

This morning Sam’s mother, Mama and I caught the 8:30 boat at Colman dock for Victoria.  A band played on the boat and it was a lovely trip.  We ate lunch on the boat, rode out to Butchart Sunken Gardens and all around the city.  A 2½ hour drive.  It was grand.  We bummed around the city for 2 hours and had a wonderful time.  On the way home it was awfully rough.  We certainly enjoyed our trip-every bit of it.  To bed at 11:45.

Friday July 8, 1932

My mother and I got up at 7:30 and went down town.  We bought quite a few things.  A red corduroy skirt, 2 blouses, 1 pair of bloomers, 2 brassieres, 2 slips and lingerie claps.  Got a new permanent wave put in my hair.  It certainly looks great.  We saw Warner Baxter and Marion Nixon in “Amateur Daddy.”  It was real good.  Ate dinner down town.  Then we went to Sam’s mothers again.  Same came about 15 minutes after we got there.  He went out to Earl’s to sleep.

Saturday July 9, 1932

This morning my mother and I got up at 7:30 and Sam came at 20 to 9 so we caught the Harper Ferry and boy weren’t we busy after we got home.  Anyway, my mother made 8 quarts of jam and I got all my work done.  Was quite busy in the store today.  Cleaned up house just at 7:30 so tomorrow I won’t have much to do.  I planted some rose slips.  Hope they grow.  Wanda, Sam and I went to Victor to the dance.  We had a fine time too.  Only missed one dance.  A good crowd.

Sunday July 10, 1932

Got up at eight and made beds, got breakfast and cleaned house.  We worked in the store until 12:30.  Then we went to Vera’s.  I drove over.  My, how it rained, nearly all day.  Ruby, Earl, Florence Green and Vera were there.  We had a great time.  The kids fought all day long.  The survival of the fittest.  We stayed till about eight then went over to Danes and Millie’s.  Nat and another couple were there.  Davis’s were out on the Canal.  We passed them on our way home.  My but I am tired tonight.  Got 6 hours of sleep in all.

Monday July 11, 1932

Today I cleaned up all old work in post office and in the store.  Also cleaned up the house and rest rooms and a number of things.  Sent my puzzle into the PI.  I hope some one we know wins.  Alice and Mrs. Eaton sent some in also.  A nice clear day of sunshine after the big rain.  Received a card from Elizabeth.  Sam went to Seattle early to get some work done on the Buick.  Wanda Orr came over and we practiced until a late hour.

Tuesday July 12, 1932

Today I cleaned all the glass cases.  They surely look good.  Took my music lesson.  Did fairly well.  Got a bunch of stuff to work on.  Elaine and Inky Nelson came home with Sam and Elizabeth came back with Gordon, so we have a house full.  I practiced an hour in the afternoon.  In the evening we all went over to Art Robins and saw his garden.  My but it is a dandy.  Saw the most beautiful rag rugs made from rayon made by Mrs. Dodd, Sarah’s mother.  Wanda and I practiced over an hour this morning on our duet.

Wednesday July 13, 1932

Today I practiced an hour and half on the piano before eight o’clock.  A dark day out.  Sam and Inky went to Tacoma for feed and groceries.  Didn’t get much done today.  Elizabeth made a dandy chocolate cake, which we enjoyed.  In the evening we all rode down towards Union as Elizabeth wanted a last look at the Canal.  We planned on a beach fire but it was so windy we discarded the idea.  To bed late.

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When I share some of my childhood memories they are typically from the 1950s era.

I can remember my mother squeezing in chores like canning or making jams just out of the blue amongst her daily routine.  Thinking back, she had the fruit and they had to be made into something or they would go bad.  Waste was minimal. If we didn’t eat it, it went to the pigs and we called it slop.  Money was rarely spent on trivial things.  Going to a soda fountain and buying a Coca-Cola or a Dr. Pepper was a treat and they came in  

glass bottles with a long neck rather then a aluminum can.  One had to carry a church key to open up pop bottles.   Later on when aluminum cans became more convenient we didn’t have a pull tab to open it.  We had the little flat metal can opener that hooked onto the side of the can and you would bend it down to punch triangular holes which were strategically placed opposite each other. Glassed bottle drinks had a deposit you would pay when purchasing the drink and when you return the bottles you got your money back.  As kids we would go searching on the side of the road for pop bottles to earn money and many trips to the movie house were paid with that money. Thank you for reading this week’s diary. ch

Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.

Mary and brother Louie

June 30 – July 6, 1932

 Mary’s Memoirs

Weekly excerpts from Mary Theler’s diary from 1932

By Clydene Hostetler

Last week I helped my friend Sharon Byerly move from her room she had for two years while finishing her degree at Evergreen.  It will be nice to have her back at home.  We stopped at a little fruit and vegetable stand in Olympia.  Bought my first cherries of the season.  They were good. When I was a kid we had neighbors that had the biggest cherry tree I think I have ever seen in my life.  I was always the recipient of a big grocery bag of cherries to take home each year.  My mother and I sat on our front porch one summer evening and ate cherries galore.  She went into the house for something and for some reason I took a cherry and split it open.  Inside was a little white worm.  How could this be?  The cherry had no blemish on it.  So I split another and another and each time I would find a little white worm nestled inside.  Upon my mother’s return and she took her place in her chair she immediately reached for a handful of cherries.  I had to tell her what I had discovered.  She started to split them open too and also found that each and everyone were a habitat for the little white worms.  To our horror we realized we had both eaten a lot of cherries and of course with them, the little white worms.  We stopped eating cherries, of course.  We laughed for many years to that story and my mom would say we added to our diet a little extra protein.  We never got sick but still, who wants to know they hate a zillion of those little white worms?  Hope you enjoy this week’s diary. ch

 Thursday June 30, 1932

This day Mrs. Davis and I picked enough wild blackberries for 4 pies.  We went up underneath the big trestle at Stimson’s for them.  We made 4 pies and ate lunch.  Then in the afternoon I cleaned up all the post office work, checked slips, got out statements and Sam caught up on all book work.  It was nine before we finally got done and boy how tired I was!  Glad June is over.  A slow month.

Memo:  Not such a busy month as far as the store was concerned.  Nice weather and quite a bit of fun.  Elizabeth Robin’s marriage to Douglas White the biggest surprise of all.  She goes to San Diego on July 15^th so we won’t see much of her from now on.  Quite a bit of work around here on the roads.  I hope it continues.  My mother and Fred Robins not married yet.  He has no job.  Bickles’s Dairy and Hyde’s Dairy have a hard time both selling enough milk to make ends meet especially Bickles.  They hate Hydes like poison.  My pup doing fine.  He eats like a pig.  He stays around good even when not tied.  The deer has the most wonderful set of horns ever.  Everyone stops to admire him.  My flowers are doing well.  Have lovely roses this year.

Friday July 1, 1932

Sam got up early and went to Tacoma so I practiced 1½  hours on piano before eight o’clock.  All morning was busy.  Cleaned cases and the boys put stock on the shelves.  Mrs. Connelly came up and was so drunk she dropped a ripe melon on the floor.  A big squash.  Sam went to Seattle at 2.30 and so we were alone all day nearly.  We were fairly busy.  Louie, Mama, Wanda and I went swimming at Davis Lot and then Wanda came home with us.  A good swim.

Saturday July 2, 1932

My, how I have been going today.  Wanda and I got up at six and practiced for an hour and half before eight o’clock.  Then all morning I was busy cleaning.  My mother went to town with Gordon who got back at ten 15 and Sam arrived a few minutes later.  Trying hard to rain outside.  Leo Michielson brought a pup for Billy Atthoxons.  Sent off post office report today.  Went to Union City to the dance and had a great time.  Rained awfully hard all night.

Sunday July 3, 1932

Today Sam brought John, Annie, Jack and Louise out at noon.  We had a lovely lunch  and at four o’clock we rode to Cushman Dam.  We bought some shrimp at Hoodsport and they surely were good.  Then we went to the dance at Union again.  Quite a good crowd was there.  Don, Alice, Gordon and Wanda came down and we had lots of fun.  Saw Doris Williams and the Lee girl there.  My, but I was sleepy when I got home.  Out of fireworks.  A bright windy day.

Monday July 4, 1932

Rose late and got through breakfast at 10:30.  Louie, Annie and I went to Bremerton to get ice cream for Glen Harris picnic.  We visited up at my Dad’s and picked cherries and went down to Blairs and stayed awhile.  Came home to find Vera, Carl, Ruby Earl and Aunt Vera here so we all had dinner together.  My Dad and brothers and Don Gordon and Alice ate here too.  A big gang but we surely had a good time.  Sam took John, Annie and Alice home so I rode down to Union to see the poorest fireworks I ever saw with Housens and Elizabeth.

Tuesday July 5, 1932

Today Sam came home from Seattle at ten thirty.  My mother visited Mrs. Blair and Gordon went to Bremerton.  A warm sunny day, like it should have been July 4^th.  Cleaned up all old work and house which was very dirty.  Wanda and I practiced 1½  hours on a duet at her place today.  This evening we all went to bed early as were all tired.  Hope the weather is fine tomorrow.

Wednesday July 6, 1932

Today we were as busy as could be.  We took in quite a bit.  My mother and I decided to go to Victoria to see the gardens so we got all ready and rode to town with the bread man.  The road was recently oiled and it was awfully sticky.  We could hardly get in at Sam’s mothers.  She had gone to sleep with the radio on so couldn’t hear us knock.  She made a regular dinner for us after we got there.

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Sam’s mother lived in Seattle.  So this was the first leg of Mary’s trip to Victoria.  Next week Mary, her mother and Sam’s mom make a day trip to Victoria.  I live in Twanoh Falls and every so many years the county will oil and gravel Twanoh Falls Drive.  It is always a mess and a little hard on our vehicles.  Guess it is cheaper then putting a layer of asphalt on top.  Thank for you reading this week’s diary. ch

 Clydene Hostetler is a professor at Olympic College, longtime Belfair resident, local historian, media archivist and documentary film maker of “Hidden in Plain Sight.”  She has been researching Mary Theler’s life for the past 7 years.  She may be emailed through the site www.marysmemoirs.com.  She encourages you to participate in the web site’s blog sharing your comments and stories.