Jessie’s journal: April 15-21, 1959

Here is another posting from my grandmother Jessie Lehmer’s 1959 journal. Jessie kept her journal for at least 29 years. You can find the first post in this series here.

Jessie (age 57) is still recovering from a hospital stay for a sore back and has yet to return to her job at Kilpatrick’s Department store in Omaha. Her husband Harry (age 60, who she refers to as Daddy), a boilermaker’s helper at Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, was busy building an enclosed front porch for their home in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Other people mentioned this week include Harry and Jessie’s daughter, Agnes Grosvenor (37), who lives across the street with her husband, Jack Grosvenor (40) and their three children – Judy (17), Linda (16) and Jackie (3). Also mentioned are Miss Harriman (a supervisor at Kilpatrick’s) and Dr. Lowry and Dr. Martini (two of Jessie’s doctors).

April 15, 1959 (Wednesday)
    “8:15 p.m. We just got home from Hinky Dinky. I wanted to walk, have felt better today. Hope I continue to do so. I seen Dr. Martini in the store. He never got my call, was surprised. Wants me to see Dr. Lowry about my arthritis. I am not. Daddy put down a few floor boards after supper. I know he is awful tired. … Still no mail from insurance companies. Wish they would settle up. Almost one month now.”

April 16, 1959 (Thursday)
    “8 p.m. We just got home from Omaha. I took a form over to the store to be filled out for Mutual Insurance Co. Cogley Clinic didn’t send it to the store. Travelers won’t pay since the store is liable. I didn’t want to wait any longer, thot this would be the quickest. I asked Miss Harriman if they took care of wages, she said they just adjust it, according to what, I don’t know. Went over to Metropolitan, bought some calcium and vitamin D, going to try them – both of us. I baked a coconut cream pie for supper. That is about the extent of my work, outside of cleaning bedroom.”

April 17, 1959 (Friday)
    “I had a call from New Amsterdam Insurance Co. An adjuster is coming to see me tomorrow or Monday morning. Wish it would be tomorrow. I know they try to trick you.”

April 18, 1959 (Saturday)
    “Wanted to get a juniper for front of porch, Mays didn’t have but one – $4.95, catalog says $2 each. That is a fake. We went out to Chase Nursery open house. Theirs were the same price. We thot that too high.”

April 20, 1959 (Monday)
    “The insurance adjuster came this morning, asked questions. What I was doing, how it happened, what time of day, how it felt, etc.  All I did was tell the truth. I didn’t sign anything, wasn’t asked to. He explained the difference between Iowa & Nebraska laws, but said they will take care of my bills, also 2/3 of weekly pay. Will get a check up to know, one a week thereafter. Agnes took me to the doctor. Was glad, so cold I don’t feel like walking. Dr. Martini said come back next week, gave me more pills. If it don’t get better, will x-ray.”

April 21, 1959 (Tuesday)
    “Cogley Clinic called me this a.m., said I would have to make another appointment as Dr. Martini’s wife died last nite (suddenly).”

Author Larry Lehmer's book about Dick Clark and American Bandstand --  Bandstandland: How Dancing Teenagers Took Over America and Dick Clark Took Over Rock & Roll --is available from Sunbury Press. His book about the last tour of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens -- The Day the Music Died: The Last Tour of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens -- is available at Amazon.