1.13 Larry’s Diary, Feb-Mar 1947

1947 • Larry’s Diary (age 13)
Feb 1  Today I took both routes again for Mr. Mouron. I also went and looked at some bikes as I am hoping to buy one. Bought some more stamps for collection.
Feb 2  Today I went for a short walk. I also took a bath the day before yesterday and one today. Pat Ryan came up to my room and got 22 shells.
Feb 3  Today I made a 10 dollar payment on a 50 dollar new bicycle. I have gone riding a little bit at about seven o’clock

Feb 4  Stamp and book aids: Today I bought a “book” that had different things in it. One of these are index tabs which some I put in my stamps album. Other things were things I put in books.
Feb 5  Today I bought some more stamps. I got a cardboard globe at Livingstons shoe store. I also got some bubble gum (50 cents) at two cents a piece
Feb 6  Today I went to the scout meeting. Heard Standard School Broadcast and had rehearsing of Boy Scouts week State to the flag for tomorrow
Feb 7  Today a lady gave me a 50 cent tip on my morning paper route, and said, “You’re the best paper boy I ever had and I hope I don’t lose you.” I got my report card

Feb 8  Today I went to Redwood City to visit the Days. While I was there I bought some stamps. I also bought some books today
Feb 9  Today I went for a walk through Redwood City. Bob and Trula live in back of Verda and George. Grandma Chatfield was also visiting there.
Feb 10  Missed school because family didn’t get back from Redwood City (130 mile trip) until 2 P.M. I delivered morning papers in the afternoon
Feb 11  Today I bought a scouts shirt. I got my Tenderfoot badge. Had movies on scouting at the Memorial Hall.
Feb 12  Today they had a play at school. Bought my troop number (62). It rained much of the time today
Feb 13  Today I bought some valentines, went to Pat’s house. I’ve got boy to take over route #5 of the Union Democrat which I had to take yesterday.
Feb 14  Today got 29 valentines at school. Went to basketball game with Pat, we lost both games to Oakdale. End of Boy scout week.

Feb 15  Today I bought scout compass and boy scout whistle. Bundled up papers for boy scouts. Am beginning to learn Morse Code today
Feb 16  Today the dog which lived next door was killed by a car near Pat’s house. Told its owner about it. We buried him at the cemetery. Had dinner at Pat’s
Feb 17  Today I bought myself a pair of levis and a (tee shirt) sweater. Sorted stamps. Was one minute late for school. Bird talked 15 minutes.
Feb 18  Today I went over to Pat’s house and learned some of the Semaphore flag code for my Second Class in scouts
Feb 19  Today is Ash Wednesday so I put some ashes at church for one hour mass. Carleen got into my room again and took 15 packs of gum
Feb 20  Today I went to the scout meeting. Troop divided into three patrols. I am in Pat’s patrol. Bought some stamps
Feb 21  Today I went to the basketball game

Feb 22  Today I went to the Fireman’s dance as checkroom boy, I never got home until 4 a.m. Pat Conway and 15 sailors came to our house
Feb 23  Today I overslept and never woke up until 8 a.m. Took money from checking over to Pat’s house ($11.02). Sailors left
Feb 24  Today I counted my books and I have a sum of 147 books including pocketbooks. Got a piece of plyboard for my bed (too soft)
Feb 25  Today I cleaned and rearranged my room a small bit. Father bought a radio. As soon as I get enough money I can buy it from him
Feb 26  Today they had a picture on how they make books. Bought a stand to put radio on by my bed. Cleaned my room, got Current Events.
Feb 27  Today I finished collecting on the Union Democrat for about 6 places. I collected $30.20. Went to scout meeting. Bought some stamps (Chile)
Feb 28  Today I bought a chemistry outfit and did some experiments. Bought a new fountain pen and some red ink. Bought Flaming arrow patch.

Mar 1  I bought boy scout whistle cord and slide. Got radio into my room. Bought new kite and put it together Got a new lock for door.
Mar 2  My kite broke today while I was flying it in a strong wind. Played basketball at Don Hamilton’s house for about 2 hours
Mar 3  I got paid $5 for the month for afternoon paper route from the Union Democrat. Paid some money at Baer’s clothing store. I only owe $2.04 now. Got commission on collecting.
Mar 4  Bought two books today
Mar 5  Today the paper came out late at 5 0’clock. Did some new experiments with chemistry set, I got my Current Events also.
Mar 6  Today the class at school heard President Truman’s speech instead of the Standard School Broadcast. Went to scout meeting
Mar 7  I bought pair of heavy hiking shoes and borrowed a pack and a sleeping bag. Got picture of Music Federation of 1947

Mar 8  I missed the bus and could not go on camping trip with scouts. Took bath and cleaned my room. Did some working at Father’s store today
Mar 9  Wrecked scout knife trying to fix bad cord on radio and burned hole in blade from electricity. Went for a bike ride with Carleen. Beat Father and Carleen in Monopoly
Mar 10  Broke glass in my clock. Got calendar with pictures of the presidents of the United States. Took shoes over to be fixed.
Mar 11  Was ten minutes late for school at half hour lunch and Bird kept me one full hour after school along with 3 or 4 other boys
Mar 12  Mr. Sweeney came to the school and we had conservation week pictures. Took bath. Got three records and four films at garage
Mar 13  Had the scout meeting at the American Legion Hall instead of the Youth Center which is being painted, Pat treated me to a hamburger. Carleen’s birthday
Mar 14  The school’s higher classes had movies taken of them as they left. Got haircut and later bought some stamps. Carleen has visitor

Mar 15  Pat Conway and his aunt and 2 sailors visited overnight. Took bath. Carleen had birthday party
Mar 16  Gave Delbert R some records and films. Sailors left with Pat’s Aunt. Went to show and saw To Each His Own
Mar 17  Made some more experiments with chemistry set. Got a small rack to keep books and some other things in from the store.
Mar 18  Finished reading Secret Cargo. Went through 1940 Current Events at school. Two baby chicks died in the box today.
Mar 19  Had exhibit at school on Mexico. I exhibited Mexican coins and brought some stamps.
Mar 20  Went to scout meeting and discussed hike for Saturday. Exhibited stamps
Mar 21  Had a basketball game at school. Tuolumne won both games, but had the largest boys. Brought home Mexican exhibits

Mar 22  Went on scout hike to Phoenix Lake, was gone from 8:15 to 6:15, all day
Mar 23  Went for hike to Bald Mountain also along ditch, got new paper bags. Did some experiments and discovered sparklers
Mar 24  Tore my pants on the knee and skinned kneecaps. Have gotten 74 miniatures now and some gold and silver ones today
Mar 25  Did some experiments while making sparklers, found a way to burn metal with a match, also burned some sparklers today
Mar 26  Sorted some stamps. Debbie R. gave me some Italy stamps. Got most of Ford Garage torn down for highway. Got Current Events
Mar 27  Went to scout meeting. Girls holding party while we were having meeting. Went over to Donald Moore’s house.
Mar 28  Got maps of Sonora at Frye. Bought some stamps. Claudia had birthday party and got some storybook dolls

Mar 29  Went to confession at church. Mr. Mouron gave all his paperboys 60 cents for circus but I did not go because it was and is raining
Mar 30  Aunt Elizabeth phoned long distance to tell my parents that my grandfather had died this afternoon. I went to church to inform them.

Grandpa Matt Clemens

Mar 31  Gave Delbert some stamps and sorted out some. Received pay and paid $20 on bike.

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Dad’s nephew, Pat Conway, was often at the house. He was in the Navy, stationed at Treasure Island Naval Base in San Francisco. Most of Dad’s family still lived in Minnesota but some made the long trip out; his sister Elizabeth and her life-long friend Betty Rose came several times (they later lived in Florida and then California for a few years), and his younger sister, Sister Ann, a Franciscan nun who joined the convent at nineteen, came too.

Mom’s family visited more often as they lived closer. Her brother Roy and his sweetheart Jo, and her brother Gordon came on occasion. Her brother Charlie with his wife Velma came more often. Mom’s sisters’ families visited, Verda and George and their children, Junior and Bob who were George’s sons from his first marriage, along with Jim, Marceline, and Judy, (Jeff came along later). Mom’s sister Ina with Jim with their girls, Joanne and Shirley (Jimmy, the youngest, like me, was born later too), and Nella May with her four: Buster, Mary Ellen, Beverly, and Barbara. Company often stayed at the house.

to be continued…

© 2017. Catherine Sevenau.
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