January 4, 1945 (Thursday)

A NASTY COLD DAY

A nasty cold day.

Temperatures hovering

below zero.

Washed. Had a big one.

Hung clothes in attic.

Roads are all

impassable until

opened up by County.

---

The new year is off to a rough start weather wise. Edna has remarked on the snow and blizzard like conditions every day of the New Year so far.

In her journal just the day before this one she wrote, "Paul went to with Bob all day. They were plowing out blocked roads all day."

Bob is her son and Paul, Bob's son, is her grandchild. Bob works for the Kent County Road Commission and Paul (just 17) has recently graduated from high school.

Paul and his brother Dick (my dad) would both eventually follow in their father's footsteps, working for the Road Commission from an early age until their retirement. Bob's son Dan would also work several years for the Kent County Road Commission. And, I would spend five summers between my high school and college graduations working for the KCRC as well.

But long before all of us held jobs with the Kent County Road and Park Commission, Henry (Edna's husband) served as a Commissioner for Kent County. In her journals, Edna often makes note of Henry attending to commissioner-related business. Henry and his fellow commissioners were responsible for much of the early development of roadways in Kent County. In addition, Henry is credited as the founder of the Parks system in Kent County. Johsnon Park

January 3, 1945 (Wednesday)

79th CONGRESS OPENS. MORE DEMOCRATS THAN EVER.

No L.A.S. meeting to-day on account of storm.

The sick cow died this morning.

Another cold and stormy day. Roads are badly blocked and storming and blowing all day. Henry went to G.R. to county convention. School buses couldn't make their trips to-day. Paul went with Bob all day. They were plowing out blocked roads all day. A bad storm but stopped blowing to-night.

The 79th congress opened today. More Democrats than ever due to the Dem victory.

I did my last make ironing this P.M. -- Jack, Lucille and Mary here this evening. Had apples and candy.

---

Edna Alice (Weitz) Johnson was interested in politics and history.

In her journal on Election Day in 1936 she wrote "The biggest vote ever in the U.S. — Reports over radio to-night all give Roosevelt the lead. It makes me sick all over, desperately afraid that the Rep. candidate Landon will not win."

In her 1899 journal, when she was still in her teens, she made note of the Dewey Day celebration in Grand Rapids commemorating the one year anniversary of Admiral Dewey's victory in Manila during the Spanish American War.

On May 1, 1899, when Edna wrote this journal entry she was living away from home in Grand Rapids where she was attending the Grand Rapids Public Schools Teacher's progam. She would receive her teaching certificate a few days later, on May 13. After earring her certificate, Edna would eventually get a teaching post at the McVean school in Alto, Michigan. The McVean school still stands today but is now an apartment building. It is situated next door to the home where I grew up.

On this day in 1945, Edna makes note of the assembly of the 79th Congress. I assume that nearly ten years after her 1936 Election Day entry that she is still not a fan of FDR. She has lived during the Spanish American War, WWI and is currently in the midst of WWII. She doesn't know that President Roosevelt will be dead in a few short months and that WWII is nearing an end.

Edna earned her teaching certificate, got married, and gave birth to five of her six children before women had the right to vote.

Politics and history are important to Edna. So, on this day, at the age of sixty-five (having only been able to vote since the age of 39), she makes a small note in her journal about the assembly of the 79th Congress.

January 2, 1945 (Tuesday)

A REGULAR BLIZZARD

Very stormy, snowing and blowing all day - a regular blizzard. Had to call the veterinary again this morning as the sick cow bloating again.

Alice and Stanley, Shirley + Roger and Mr. Meek left this morning at 9 o'clock for Detroit.

Henry went to Grand Rapids to Road Comm[ission] meeting.

Getting eats ready to take to L.A.S. dinner to-morrow. I am taking Marie Porritt's place as one of the hostesses as she is in the hospital.

Hank and I went to Lucille's a little while this eve. Roads are filling up with snow.

---

It seems as if the weather on January 2 was worse than that on New Year's Day. So perhaps my remarks about everyone not being afraid to journey out in bad weather on January 1 were not warranted. But on this day Edna says it is a "regular blizzard" and the "roads are filling up with snow." That does not deter the Johnson family from traveling. Henry drives to Grand Rapids. Alice and Stanley head back to Detroit. Even Edna herself (and Hank) take a drive (albeit a short one) to Lucille's.

Edna was a very active member of the Ladies Aid Society (L.A.S.) in Bowne Center. Her home with he husband Henry was located across the street from the church and the nearby Aid Hall.

Somewhere in the the late 1800s / early 1900s Ladies Aid Society (L.A.S) were formed in the Methodist Church to provide social, spiritual, and financial support. Specific information about the history of the LAS at Bowne Center's Methodist Church exists but not online. It requires me to make a long overdue trip to Bowne Townships Historical Museum. I plan to do that soon and will update this post with the details I find.