1926 April 1st Thursday
Cloudy morn and bright but cold East wind until eve warmer and cloudy. Ed Penny went to Tom’s and no work so went home. Will got a load of hay and in p.m. he and I went to the store and Ed, Rena, Leo, Edward, Charlotte, Abe Elshire, Mr. Lattimore, the two Couser young men were there. Mr. Lattimore came home with us and he and Will seined the fish-hole and got over 60 fish. Fred Menz brought Louise back in time to go to school as they got as far as Carter and all buildings north of Hotel burned down, so they stayed and fought fire all night. Louise to school and sewed on her dress in eve. Fred went to store and brought our things from home.
Note from Lisa: Chuck Lucas recognized the name of Ed Penny and forwarded the following photos. If anyone has information about the unidentified men in the second photograph, please leave a comment or drop me a line.
Ken Lucas, Shirley (Shag) Lucas, and Ed Penny, Jan. 28, 1927, Hastings, NE
Ranch hands on a ranch near Mission (probably Howard Lamoureaux ranch, north of Valentine in Todd County). From left to right: Unknown, Shirley Lucas, Ken Lucas, Ed Penney (?), Unknown
1936 April 1st Wednesday
Cloudy, cold, the sun only peeped through clouds before noon, some snow from N.E. fell. I got meals, played solitaire, slept in p.m. for the men went to a meeting of Sioux Association at Whiting Store, Hidden Timber. In the forenoon they gave stock hay for got a load on Old Lodge and loaded a load of Alfalfa to feed tomorrow and gave Henry Arcoren’s cattle some alfalfa as they went to Old Lodge for they had a load on rack to give this morning.
1946 April 1st Monday
Bright, hot day, wind was in west most of day and very Strong, it blew my hat off at Clinic in Valentine but Will got it. I was so sick last night, started to feel bad when we got back from White River as I gathered cobs and fed chicks but went to Abbotts thinking it would help but when I got out of car on return I got oozy in head. Will helped me to house. We ate Raisin Bran Flakes and retired. Will waited on me for awhile, he went to sleep and I lay awake until 3:15 a.m. last time I looked at the clock, just dozed off for an hour or so but at 5:15 a.m. awake again. Couldn’t get breakfast so Will got his own and chored. Van Epps came and they gave cattle load of hay. I got ready. We went to Valentine but cafe so crowded, on to Woodlake, had dinner at Stockman’s Cafe, on to Johnston, on to Ainsworth which is 46 miles from Valentine. Arabia first place to load cattle from Valentine, is just a Ranch Home now, school-house and Stock yards. We took Bachman’s Harness to Art at his mother’s home at Ainsworth and got Van Epps. No Osteopath there, back to Valentine Clinic. Saw Dr. Degan and he advised a no salt diet. Ate supper and home via Abbotts. He will disc in Strid wheat tomorrow. Van Epps put chicks in boxes for the night and disced on his place today.
1956 April 1st Sunday
Easter. Was bright, nice. Janis’s went to O’Kreek at 9 a.m. to Catholic Services. Saw so many folks, Furreys, Mrs. Fronek, Sullys, Garrys, News, Phillips, etc. This p.m. Lew Wright, wife, 3 girls, 1 small son, Mrs. Alec Wright, Grandma, Della & Jean Marie stayed for Supper. Very stayed home this a.m. Wm Leo and Billie Francis Abbott came this p.m. and had a lunch with Will and visited. Mrs. is at Winner, S.D., has been since last 2 or more weeks. Will and I alone this eve but Janis’s stayed home.
Lisa, I start reading and just can’t stop. So interesting. We struggled with the wind the last two days crossing Indiana, and then here I read that the wind was so strong it blew her hat off. Some things never change. Good to know.
That part about the wind taking her hat struck me, too. Such good writing–not just how it was windy, but it was so windy that… 🙂 Good point about the reminders of how life doesn’t really change in some ways.