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.

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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.