Friday, November 27, 1936

HENRY GOES ON RIGHT OF WAY BUSINESS

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Cold 20° — Snowed flurries.

Henry went to G.R. on Right

Away business.

Cleaned the kitchen to-day.

Hank went with Marvin

to stay all night.

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The roadway system across the United States looked much different in 1936 than it looks today.

I said this yesterday and it remains so today. I am very interested to know exactly what right of way business Henry was working on 1936. That is going to require more research than what I can do from the comfort of my home.

My dad, who is now 90, says that his grandfather (Henry) spent the better part of three decades purchasing right of ways for roadways and parks systems in Kent County. When he was about the age of ten, my dad remembers going with his grandfather on right of way business. On that particular trip, Henry was acquiring land that would allow for the construction of Cascade Road.

Thursday, November 26, 1936

THANKSGIVING DAY

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Thanksgiving Day. Nice Day.

Morse went to Saginaw

with Dick Baerd, Bill Clarke

to witness a football

games by Coach Finch's team.

Henry, Hank and I enjoyed our dinner all alone.

Had chicken biscuit gravy,

veg salad, pickles, jam, pumpkin

pie, cranberry cake.

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On Thanksgiving Day in 1936, Edna's family is mostly married and grown. There are only two other people at the dinner table with Edna ...Henry and Hank. Edna notes, "enjoyed our dinner all alone." There is a bit of sadness in Edna's words..

I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday of the year. I love to make a huge traditional dinner including turkey and stuffing. I don't really love turkey but it's a tradition and I love traditions.

This year, all across the United States, people are "enjoying their dinners all alone." It is 2020. It is the year of COVID-19. We are all celebrating Thanksgiving in smaller groups to help stop a global pandemic. I don't like small Thanksgivings but I want this pandemic to end. So, small it is. There will be other Thanksgivings. But the truth is, my kids are growing older. Soon, they may be spending Thanksgiving with new families.

This is where Edna found herself in1936 ...with grown children who had families of their own. It was not the type of Thanksgiving she loved. But she still made cranberry cake.

I have never had cranberry cake. I love new traditions. So, while I didn't have cranberry cake for Thanksgiving it will be on the menu for our Christmas dinner. I don't have Edna's recipe but I managed to find a cranberry cake recipe that looks delicious.

This year, I am thankful for Edna. I am thankful that she kept journals and recorded her history so that I could spend part of my Thanksgiving Day with her ...with family.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Wednesday, November 25, 1936

PRINCE LEAVES THE FARM

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Still very cold.

Did usual routine

of work.

Finished ironing this

evening.

Henry went to G.R. - Buying

right of way at Plainfield.

Killed a chicken for

Thanksgiving Dinner to-morrow.

Tankage truck came

after Prince this morn.

Rec'd check for $2.00 for him.

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It is the day before Thanksgiving. Edna gets ready by killing a single chicken. That's not enough to serve very many people.

I would like to write a bit about Henry purchasing the right-of-way at Plainfield but that requires a bit of time and research and it is Thanksgiving eve. I don't have any chickens to kill but my turkey is thawing and there is work to be done.

Also, Prince is gone and Edna has just $2 to show for it.