Saturday, February 1, 1941

EDNA GOES DOWNTOWN AFTER 4 O'CLOCK

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This is Roger's 10th

birthday.

He came up early

this morning so I gave

him a spanking over

my knee. Gave him his

sweater for gift.

Alice and I went to

Hospital to see Jen. She

is improving a little

every day.

We went down town

after 4 o'clock.

I took the dress back that

I purchased at Wurzburgs

Thursday. Got my money

back $11.28. Didn't like the

material.

Had phone call from Henry

saying they were staying

at Fremont, Ohio all night.

Will be home tomorrow P.M.

---

If you have been following along, you have gotten to know Edna. If so, I hope you sensed the delight and love I imagined Edna felt upon taking Roger over her knee to give him a birthday spanking.

My father (Dick) and Roger, cousins, were born just six months apart. While Roger spent most of his youth growing up in Detroit, he would spend time on the farm in Bowne Center during the summer months. The house where my father grew up was adjacent to the family farm. He and Roger helped around the farm and, sometimes, got into mischief together. I recall reading a journal entry from another year in which Edna was not at all pleased with her grandsons. Left alone in the house for bit, they had made a terrible mess.

I love that Edna wrote that she and Alice went down town "after 4 o'clock." The fact that she noted that it was after four makes me believe there was something a bit adventurous about it. They were unaccompanied women. It would be getting dark soon. Traffic may be getting heavy. I am not sure why it was noteworthy but it was. It was and they still went downtown. Edna had business to take care of. She did not like the material of the dress she purchased earlier that week.

Henry has been in New York City on business and is headed home. He spent the evening in Fremont, Ohio before making the final leg of the trip back to Bowne Center.

When my daughter Maxine was in elementary school she was fascinated with Abraham Lincoln which led to an interest in all things presidential. By the time she was seven she could name all of the presidents in order. We took her to visit many historic sites related to American presidents. The place we visited most often was the home of Rutherford B. Hayes. Located in Fremont, Ohio, it was a short trip from our home in Milan, Michigan.

Several of Maxine's birthday cakes over the years had a presidential theme. One even featured President Hayes. It's true. I have the picture to prove it.

On January 2, 2010, Maxine wrote about one of her trips to the Hayes Home in Fremont in her blog Maxine Making History. It was a return trip for Maxine but a first time trip for her friend and fellow history lover Jacob.

In April of that same year, at the request of then eight year-old Maxine, we visited Fremont and the Rutherford B. Hayes home again.

It's been a few years now since we've made the trip but Max is coming home soon for midwinter break from Loyola University Chicago.

A day trip may be in order.

It will be a trip made more special knowing that my great grandfather once spent time in Fremont, Ohio as well.