Lou Chritton's Diary - July 1946

Al and Lou Chritton with
their grandson Jack Huscher
(circa 1935)

My great-grandmother, Dicey Louisa "Lou" (Hogue) Chritton, began keeping a diary on the first of January, 1946. The diary was a pocket "five year diary" with each page marked with five small slots to be filled in on the same date each year for five years. This is an excerpt from her diary.

During the first half of the year, Lou lived  with her son-in-law and daughter, Leamon and Ora "Mae" Moot, in Wichita. In late June she left to visit relatives near Concordia, Kansas, staying with her son, Lynn Chritton, and his wife Laura (Fuller) Chritton. Now she is leaving for a three week trip to southern Missouri to visit her children and grandchildren and will return to stay with Lynn and Laura.

Monday, July 1, 1946

I am leaving at 3:45 for Missouri. I am taking Nellie’s little girl down with us.

[It's not clear who is driving to Missouri with her -- perhaps Lynn and Laura and family, but this isn't stated. Also, Lou's daughter Nellie (Chritton) Fox had several daughters, so it's not clear which of them is "Nellie's little girl." Possibilities include Wilma (age 13), Thelma (age 12), and Carolyn (age 9).]

Tuesday, July 2, 1946

I got to Ruby’s at 10:30 o’clock. Ruby was in the berry patch. I went to Bill’s in the evening.

[Ruby (Chritton) Talley was Lou's 35-year-old daughter. She was married to Kenneth Talley.]

Wednesday, July 3, 1946

Margaret picked berries today. I stayed with the baby. She is a sweet little thing.

[Margaret (Vawter) Chritton is married to Lou's son, William "Bill" Chritton (age 43).]

Thursday, July 4, 1946

Bill’s and I went to Charley’s and had dinner and ice cream and cake. Yum, it was good!

[Charley is Lou's 30-year-old son, Charles Henry Chritton, who is my grandfather. He was married to Marie (Carver) Chritton. At this time they had three young sons, Clarence (6), Douglas (4), and Albert (1).]

Friday, July 5, 1946

Margaret has been washing today and we are canning b. berries this afternoon. It is pretty hot about now.

Saturday, July 6, 1946

We went to Bridges Store and I have canned 18 qts berries today. It is still hot.

Sunday, July 7, 1946

Oh gee. I am glad I was at Bill’s today and we had blackberry cobbler and fried chicken. Yum yum!

Monday, July 8, 1946

Margaret and I have been canning berries today. She did a washing also and had a big one.

Tuesday, July 9, 1946

We are still canning berries. We will soon be done as they are drying up fast. We need rain.

Wednesday, July 10, 1946

I came home with Charley, and Marie and I are canning berries. I am canning some for Nellie.

Thursday, July 11, 1946

Marie and I are still canning berries today. We have a jot job washing jars and filling them.

Friday, July 12, 1946

I was at Ethel’s today and went to see Mrs. Harpans (?) a little while. I went to see Mrs. Woods, too.

[Ethel (Chritton) Dunbar is Lou's 53-year-old daughter. She is married to Ray Dunbar]

Saturday, July 13, 1946

I am at Charley’s eating ice cream. My, is it good, and we are about froze up. Ha ha.

Sunday, July 14, 1946

I went to church and a baptizing. Edd Carver and another fellow were baptized. Were a large crowd.

Monday, July 15, 1946

I am at Ruby’s today and is it a scorcher of a day! And the mosquitoes are bad. They have me about ate up.

Tuesday, July 16, 1946

I am still at Ruby’s we set out in the shade to keep cool, but she has to iron today. A hot job for her.

Wednesday, July 17, 1946

I came to Bill’s today. Ethel’s and Charley’s came and we had ice cream. Say, boy, it was good!

Thursday, July 18, 1946

I am still at Bill’s and it is mighty hot. Bill, Earl, and William are working on his car.

Friday, July 19, 1946

I am at Bill’s. We are roasting. It is so hot! We have had roasting ears.

Saturday, July 20, 1946

I am at Charley’s. I am going to Ethel’s pretty quick. Then I am going to Kansas.

Sunday, July 21, 1946

I am at Ethel’s. We had a fine dinner. Charley’s and Bill’s were here. We had a good time.

Monday, July 22, 1946

I got home from Mo. today. I was about all in. It sure was hot and windy.

Tuesday, July 23, 1946

I am at Lynn’s today. I have been lying around. I sure am tired and weak.

Wednesday, July 24, 1946

I am still at Lynn’s. My, I am enjoying the roasting ears! He has plenty of them. Sure are fine.

Thursday, July 25, 1946

Laura and I went [to] town today and we went after the men and brought them home.

Friday, July 26, 1946

Laura and I have been washing today and we went to town this morning. We are going after Lynn now.

Saturday, July 27, 1946

We went to Laura Ricket’s today for dinner. Had a nice dinner and a good visit. Home again.

Sunday, July 28, 1946

We just did the housework and went after Lynn in the evening. It is too hot to do anything.

Monday, July 29, 1946

This is another hot day and we are not doing much, only trying to keep cool.

Tuesday, July 30, 1946

Laura took Lynn to work and had a flat tire. She had to call Lynn to fix it. Then we went after him later.

Wednesday, July 31, 1946

Laura washed today. I just layed around most of the day. Still is hot and dry.