Mary's Memoirs

This week 78 years ago, was very rainy. Kind of like it is now. Attended meetings and a little shopping in Seattle going on. Had to remove Queenie from the washroom. She was barking, wanting to get out. Other than that, not much was going on.

Sunday, Feb. 19, 1950

Arose late and got breakfast. Sam went up to the gun club as Bill Cady had sent work down by Emmett to be sure to come up to the shoot. I raked about 45 minutes on the lawn and then drove to Bremerton. The White Shrine had a practice at the Temple which was very good and then we went to Alma Nelson's where I helped a bit on the tea. Everyone came down to Alma's, had tea and coffee and then the officers put on their robes. Oh, they were gorgeous. The members can hardly wait to see how they look on the floor. We had such a good time! Everyone seemed so happy and oh such cakes! Some of us bought some to take home. We took in a silver offering of a little over $15. Home with Elma Olsen and then to Belfair. Raining a little out all day.

Monday, Feb. 20, 1950

Awoke fairly early. Sam washed clothes and I cleaned house. Then he raked some of the fallen limbs, etc., up from the places where we piled them. To Rose Moran's and had a nice visit. She gave me an old plate and a lovely platter. We had rib roast for dinner which was very good. Nichols gave it to us from the young beef he killed a week ago. Eunice DeLong came out and fitted me for a new girdle. I surely hope it will feel good on. To Philathea with Duffields and it was very nice. The addenda was of a main star lighted for Francis Kerr and (room darkened) each officer lit her star from that with words to accompany. We saw everyone we knew and there was plenty of time downstairs so we could visit. Al and Mary Woolridge rode as far as Charleston with me as their car was there getting the lights fixed. Home fairly early. Pampas grass in the baskets.

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1950

Today Sam went to Seattle, and I picked up Eunice Duffield and went to Social Club who honored past presidents. There was a nice lunch and each past president rec'd an Indian tray that Ethel Anderson had bought in Arizona. Then a Mrs. Chloe Sutton who is county treasurer at Port Orchard and president of Kitsap Historical Society spoke on the history of Kitsap County. It was very interesting, and we learned much about our county. Then took Eunice home and out to Gorst to get my hair done. Ate a grand dinner at Duffield's and then we all went to Port Orchard for official visit. There was a good crowd there and many from our chapter. Sundstroms from Belfair also. Saw Ruby too. The addendum by Starlite was around a huge cherry tree of madrona. It was covered with red cherries. The refreshments were open-faced sandwiches. Oh, so lovely to see and good to eat. The cloth on table was of rose-red organdy with ruffled sides. Candles in five colors were in the center. Very effective.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1950

Arose late to find it very clear and mild out. Cleaned house and Sam chopped limbs off the down trees and cleaned some up. I went to practice at the Temple and got there at 2 but it was 4:30 before I got away. Takes so long to get everyone organized. Jess, Herman and Guy Anderson sat up the tables. Quite a few cars on the road as it was such a nice day for a ride. Asked Eunice D. to purge the balcony so that is all set. In the evening, I worked on my scrapbook and studied for about an hour. Very wet out. To bed early as I was so tired. Too much is going on this week.

Thursday, Feb. 23, 1950

Arose late and as soon as breakfast was over got my mangling done. At noon went to Gorst and had my hair combed for tonight. Raining very hard. I wonder how much of a crowd we shall have out tonight in this weather. Rec'd letter from William Rasmussen too. To chapter at 6:20 and around 6:45 found one visitor already there. There was a full house at 8. Eunice D. purged the balcony. Everything went off very well and especially the initiation. Our Electra was especially good. Mr. and Mrs. Airey were there, and I was surely glad to see them, but sorry Alma Nelson could not be with us to enjoy talking to them. Florence Wand, Dolores Moore, Dorothy Cocker and Mrs. Priests were there also. Dolores and Florence may get to my installation. I hope so. There were 13 from Belfair and 4 from Union. The "Master Painter" song by the 4 Archers was the hit of the evening. Pallets of paper with pampas grass as brushes decorated the room. Ruby Grey made feather corsages for all honored guests. Very lovely. 12 proceed to Rainbow.

Friday, Feb. 24, 1950

Very windy out but at least it looks as if it stopped raining. Mildred Bush called. Said the reason she was absent was because her 16-year-old daughter had an operation for appendicitis. Sam had to get up to let Queenie out of the washroom. She was barking so he couldn't sleep. I had to put her in there last evening as she was barking at all the pails of oysters so hard I couldn't sleep. Such a dog! We drove to Seattle by way of Tacoma. I shopped for an hour. Got some hose, stickers for our favors and some ideas for line officers luncheon. We met Carl Ainsworth and his bride-to-be, Mrs. Lauth, at the warehouse and drove out to Carl Rhodes. They have one of those new glass houses with cement floors. Very lovely but we were chilly in it. They served a perfect turkey dinner with all the trimmings. We sat around most of the evening and listened to the television set. A noisy contraption that you can't talk down. Home on Harper Ferry. To bed at 2 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 25, 1950

We never ate breakfast till about 12:30. Rained very hard all night. Cleaned house good. To Mae Housen's and tried on my white dress for the hem. Then I called several people. Beth Livingston, I asked to be chaplain and George Morris Sentinel. I'll call them in a couple of days. Home and Sam helped me fix the table. I set everything for Sunday. Hope my flowers keep. After dinner I made 2 big apple pies and Jell-o for white shrine so most of my baking is done. It has rained all day and most likely will tomorrow. Cleaned up my desk and wrote to Blanche and Willma Rasmussen. To bed early. George Nichols sawed on the wood log today.

■ Clydene Hostetler was a longtime Belfair resident and historian. She now resides on a classic wooden boat on the Columbia River. She has been researching Mary Theler's life for the past 17 years. She can be emailed at [email protected].