Mary's Memoirs

Monday, May 15, 1950

Today started with Tom K. waking Sam up to go to Port Gamble. Then Joe Buldoc called. Seems the state lost a paper which shows his first 10 years of work, so he came and signed that. Then Sam ate and he and Tom went off in a cloud of dust. So, I cleaned house good, and Skenes came just as I was half done. They stayed just half an hour. So, I ironed and now everything is done. Very cloudy this a.m. but warm now at 2:30. Put away all my gifts and it was quite a task. Then I found I'd not mailed Mayme Harmony's invitation to lunch Friday, so I called her, and she said OK. I was certainly relieved. Went to Philathea where they had their first initiation, and everyone was quite nervous but did very well anyway. Had a nice chat with Edith Michael. Took her home. Very cold out again. To bed at 11.

Tuesday, May 16, 1950

Arose early and ate. Picked up Eunice Duffield at 10:30 to go to a Ways and Means meeting at the Temple of Social Club officers. At 12:30 we ate lunch and new officers were installed. Eldora Jacobson made the best macaroni salad I ever ate. Lydia Jobs spoke on "Mothers." Very good. Downtown and bought some dress material. To Gorst and had my hair combed. Ate at Duffield's and as usual ate too much. We attended Eastern Star Night given by No. 206 and on our way saw the start of the terrible fire that ruined Loos store and Minders Meats. Everyone we knew was at the program and the highlight was the men dressed as women conducting a "Star" meeting. Leonard Michels was a perfect matron and we laughed till we were weak. They served strawberry shortcakes, and we had a lot of fun. I had to speak impromptu over the mike. Quite an evening. Home late.

Wednesday, May 17, 1950

Today I slept late as I was so tired. Then cleaned house and cabin good. Got dinner lined up. Went to the store and Sam returned from Seattle. Says he rented the house, so he didn't have to clean it up. Was he glad. He brought pipe for our system. Erma Haynes came out and we went over her part. She needs practice. She is all thumbs, but she will do OK. We ate dinner without Sam as Eddie F. and Bob Ellis were here and prevailed upon him to go over to their place to eat steak. They cooked it out on the barbecue. Holding umbrellas to keep off the rain. Erma and I went up to Belfair's first initiation. There was a good crowd. We had a good time. To bed early.

Thursday, May 18, 1950

Today I slept late. Then cleaned house and worked on my committee. Sam was making breakfast when I got home so we ate as I was starved! Worked on my scrapbook and have a good start on my installation. Alma Nelson called up and said she had a wonderful time on her trip. We had quite a chat. Sam worked on the water system today. Tom helped him lay the pipe, so it is all done. Home early and to bed.

Friday, May 19, 1950

To Seattle on the 8:25 boat and we saw Bernice Howell so Alice Pope, Ruth Small and I all went uptown together. To the 10:30 meeting and we did not start until 11. We talked about addendum mostly and adjourned before 12. Then we all met our associate matrons and took them to lunch downstairs. The tables were beautiful with lilacs, pansies, lily of the valley and rhododendrons. The luncheon was very good, and we enjoyed music and a song from a member of one of the chapters. Later went downtown and shopped. Then home on 3:30 boat. At home filled the house with lilacs and caught up on my book work. To bed early.

Saturday, May 20, 1950

Today I slept late and then went to the store. Made a few calls. To Gorst and had my hair combed out. Home and cleaned up and the Miles Howells came just as I was about ready. They got their oysters, some plants and lilacs to take home. To the store where I met Erma Haynes and Eunice de Long at 2:30. We had a nice drive to Toledo. Found no place there to eat so drove to Castle Rock where we had a lovely chicken dinner. Back to Toledo and found out they were on standard time so we were an hour early. It was 10 to 10 before the meeting started by our time. The reception was very nice and all the Grand family was there. The best addendum was the Hill Billy Band from Pe Ell. They were not only clever but good musicians. How we laughed! The decoration on the stage was an Indian teepee and trees. To bed at 4 a.m.

Sunday, May 21, 1950

Could not sleep after 10 so I got up. Ate and about 1:30 drove into Bremerton. Saw Maime Gould and we called on Allene Nelson at the hospital and she was in good spirits. Home and rested. Very windy all day but the sun was bright. Pasted some cards in my scrapbook. The lilacs and azaleas are most lovely. I wish Blanche could see them. Had a letter from Nellie Sherman. She is state president of National Association of Postmasters so she will have a busy year. Eunice De Long came out, so we went over her work and she had dinner with us. Lots of fun too. Sam made dinner.

■ 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]