1958

There's a lapse in diary entries from 1947 until he starts a new book, which contains mid-1958-1968, with a few entries in 1969. Highly possible he kept a diary the missing years but the book/books were lost. During the missing years, Lester & Eva moved from Drackert St. in Hammond to Olcott Ave. in the Woodmar area of Hammond, then to Valparaiso where Lester had his own Studebaker dealership.

Wayne & Lester in front of Studebaker dealership in Valpo.

 Finally, they moved to their permanent home on Birch Lake near Vandalia, Michigan. The home was just starting to be built the end of the last diary year (1947). After they moved to Birch Lake, Lester continued to work, selling cars in Elkhart, Indiana for Vernon M. Ball dealership.

Here are some photos of their home on Birch Lake, which Lester designed. The builder said the bedrooms were too small, and Lester replied, "They don't need to be big. All you do is sleep there.".

Lester apparently bought the diary book mid-year, so 1958 starts in May.

May 1958

            1 – Planted all shrubs & plants from Michigan Bulb, 75 roses, & 42 other plants & shrubs. $5.96.

            3 – My Floor Day. Started raining this evening. Bought this Diary today.

            4 – Still raining. Total 1½ inches. Joined Elkhart Church. Went to Valpo for some things. Left Major at Kennells in Elkhart.

Caption: Old "Maje" stealing a drink from the horse trough.

            5 – Went to Kriders at Middlebury. Got magnolia, flowering crab, wisteria, clematis, flowering quince $9.65.

            6 – Planted trees this morning. Mr. Reed plowed garden today. Lank had heart attack. Worked tonight.

Caption on back:

Jamey: This is the car you should have. Has 4 cyl. BvS engine runs 5 miles per hour. Has dual headlights & a horn. It is a 3/8 scale model of DeSoto. I have taken all the kids pictures as a souvenir. Made of Fibre Glass. Holds two kids. Costs us $350, not $3.50.

                                  Grandpa

            7 – Planted 3 rows sweet corn.

            8 – Set out 8 daylilies.

            9 – Set out about 45 perennials – Kriders.

            10 – Kids came up today. My Saturday off. Paid for plowing, $15.00, Mr. Reed. Gaston paid $6.50.

            11 – Mothers Day. Went to Church. Ate dinner with kids. Lawrence put in faucet. Milly & Eldon came up in evening. Donna called at 8:30.

            12 – Worked tonight. Wrote letter to Russell & Lou.

            13 – Planted beans & more peas. Planted 2 rows musk melons, 1 row water melons ½ row cucumbers.

            15 – Worked tonight.

            16 – Planted acorn squash. Margaret K. called.

            17 – Kids came today. Diane absent. Planted seeds next to house. Rained ½ inch.

            18 – Went to church. James went along. Chas. & Minnie came up. Ate at our house. Put pier in. Chas. helped me set some steps. Cut grass.

            19 – Nancy to go to hospital today. Planted petunias, dahlias & ageratum, also all kinds of annuals in large bed, also about 40 glads.

            20 – Planted more dahlias & set begonias, etc.

            21 – Worked tonight. Milly & Eldon came out.

            22 – Planted 2^nd planting, 3 rows corn. Rained 3/8 inch.

            23 – Planted row hearts of gold.

            24 – Worked til 4 p.m. Got garden ready.

            25 – Stayed home. Planted carrots, beets, lima beans, peas, some Kentucky Wonder beans. Tilled corn. Temp 68 º.

            27 – My Floor Day.

            29 – Vern took us for ride in new boat.

            30 – Memorial Day. Went to Tola's for dinner. Milly & Eldon there also. Beautiful day, took Major. Rained in night 4 inches. Wayne's up. Set out 5 dozen tomatoes, 2 cabbages, 15 pepper plants. Rained this evening.

            31 – Home all day. Dean & Leana came at noon. Stayed all night. Went for first swim in lake a cool 68º. Set out 72 tomatoes, Rutgers, & 6 yellow. Rained another .6.

June 1958

            1 – Still raining mostly all day. About .4 inches making 1½ over all. Set out 5 new mums. Dean's here for dinner, left about 2:30.

            3 – Hester came up with Marge, Virgene & Nancy. I didn't get to see them. Sold my demo today. Over 5000 miles.

            4 – Man took car tonight. Took '57 Plymouth in trade.

            7 – Kids came up. Wayne had wagon tailgate fixed. Worked around place. Wayne launched his boat.

            8 – Major 8 months old, weighs 55 pounds. Planted 3 rows – 3^rd planting corn, 2 dozen cabbage, 1 dozen peppers, ½ row cucumbers, 1  dozen tomatoes. Cut grass & cultivated whole patch. Went swimming. Rained .7 inch in evening.

            9 – Rained 2 inches tonight – regular flood. Washed a lot of top soil. Went to Lodge with Mullins.

            10 – Picked up '58 DeSoto Sweep at Dowagiac. Am to drive it awhile, 3400 miles.

            14 – Worked all day. Kids came in p.m.

            15 – Home all day. Fathers Day.

            17 – Worked tonight. Balls came out to Lake for summer.

            18 – Went to Phil Smidts for Stolte party. 9 present. F.E. couldn't come back with me. Rained in night .7 inch. Wayne brought Nancy & kids back to stay.

            19 – Nancy & kids here for supper. Still cool. Coolest Spring I have known. Need fire most every night.

            20 – Wayne came up tonight. Planted more petunias.

            21 – Worked all day. Cut all grass & cultivated garden.

            22 – Wayne's left at 11 a.m. for home. Wayne had Board Meeting at church. Planted 3 rows corn – 4^th planting.

            23 – Diane's 15^th birthday.

            24 – Rained .4 inch, nice rain.

            25 – Rained .5 steady rain.

            26 – Milly & Eldon out tonight. Bright cool day.

            27 – Sunny & bright.

            28 – Worked til 2:15. Sold DeSoto. Going to be first really warm week end of year. Wayne's left today for California.

            29 – Was home for dinner. Marj. & Bob came in p.m. Later in evening we went to see Mary & Jack.

           

July 1958

            1 – Kids arrived in California on 4^th day. Met Donna's at Buck Lake.

L-R: Back: Janis, Linda, Carol, Diane, David.

Front: Laura, Mary, Tom, James

            2 – Rained tonight 1.3 inches.

            3 – Rained this evening .4 inch. Whitesells came to Wayne's cottage. Worked tonight.

            4 – Eldon, Milly, Vern & Mildred came up for the day. Nice day.

            5 – Did not work today. Fooled around all day. Got card from Wayne's.

            6 – Quiet Sunday. Beautiful week end.

            7 – Worked tonight. Mary & Jack came over.

            8 – Worked on picnic table.

            10 – Ate supper with Whitesells. Rained about .4 inch. Wayne's sewer stopped up.

            11 – Worked tonight. Milly & Eldon came up for week end.

            12 – Balls signed for Pontiac today. We cut lawn today with Eldon's help. Whitesells went home. Went swimming. Got letter from Nancy.

            13 – Went through some of garden with tractor. Picked 2 quarts red raspberries at Hillrings. Water Temp 77 º. Went swimming. Eldon's went home early. Had fried chicken for dinner.

            17 – Wayne's arrived in Hammond today.

            18 – Wayne's came up today after returning from California. They had nice trip. 6500 miles. Kids had a big time together.

            19 – Wayne working on his cess pool, all plugged up. Went to Mary & Jack's for pot luck. Mom's ivy a mess [poison ivy]. Got a Dr. prescription to help.

            20 – Ate dinner at Nancy's. They left for home in evening.

            24 – Got hair cut.

            25 – Light rain, about .3 inch.

            26 – Off this p.m. Gave Major bath in Lake. Water near 78. Kids didn't come up. Mom canned first pickles.

            27 – Went to Tola's for dinner. Devoy & Lulu there. Hadn't seen them in 2 years. Rained .2.

            28 – Heavy rain today at Lake about .7 inch. Light at Elkhart. Rained .2 early besides.

            29 – Rained twice today, total .7. Eva had hair set.

            31 – Raining again, ending the wettest month of year & perhaps a July new record. Worked tonight. Rain today .7". Slept with sheet & blanket, 60 º.

August 1958

            1 – Wayne's came this p.m. so he could work on sewer.

            2 – Wayne worked on sewer, got stymied on Y joint. All ate outdoors.

            3 – Harbert's here today, 1^st time this year. Nice day.

            4 – DeSoto gave Vern a big 30 anniversary party tonight, 65 present.

            5 – Finished Wayne's cesspool. Hottest days of year so far, in high 80's.

            6 – Rained .4 inch. Had our first corn & tomatoes from garden today. Real good. Paving road in front of house today. Warm.

            7 – Finished paving. Big deluge of rain 1.7", washed quite a bit.

            9 – Wayne came early afternoon. Bake's came for lunch. Ate together at night.

            10 – Dean's came for week at LaPalina. Ate dinner & supper with us. Nice week end. Bake's went back.

David Milne, Lucy Baker & Diane Milne in Lester's old aluminum boat.

Mary Milne, Barry DeCoudres and his dad, Dean DeCoudres sailing
Wayne's wooden Snipe, "Old Yeller."

            11 – Mabel came in from Flint. Dean met her at Cassopolis.

            12 – Worked tonight.

            13 – All ate at Nancy's. Grilled pork chops ahead of down pour, .8" rain.

            14 – Storm this morning, about .5" in.

            15 – Went with Balls to Yacht Club Dinner at Jones. Saw a bad accident at Birch Road corner. Wayne came up tonight.

            16 – Work til 4. Ate out together.

            17 – Ate out together (16 of us). Had good dinner. Everyone left for home in evening.

            18 – Ladies day at Rotary. Mom went to hospital for blood test with Genevieve.

            19 – Went to Plymouth with Vern to party for Max Ball. Smitty worked for me.

            20 – Milly & Eldon came for supper. Rained in p.m. & another at night. Warm, turning cooler.

            21 – Still raining. Cooled off.

            22 – Sold '55 Plymouth to Milly.

            23 – Wayne's came up in p.m. Collet's came for week end. Boys slept in tent.

            24 – Rained at 3 a.m. about .4 inch. Girls were rained out of tent, but boys stuck it out. We all ate together. Family stayed.

            25 – My day to work. Milly picked up her car. Brought Julie Ball out to Lake.

            26 – Kids here for supper.

            27 – Wayne came this evening to spend rest of week.

            30 – Nice week end. Warm.

            31 – Wayne broke his mast in race. Milly's & Mary's here for supper.

September 1958

            1 – Labor Day. Everyone leaving Lake for town. Beautiful week end.        

            9 – Our 43^rd Anniversary. Went to Chicago to see new Plymouth. Got home 1:30. Had big wind & rain.

            10 – Milly & Eldon took us out to eat, New Fireside Restaurant. Stayed all night.

            11 – We went to Hammond, stopped at Valpo on return. Saw Don Breitzk.

            12 – Centennial opened today [Elkhart, Indiana's Centennial].

            13 – Big Centennial Parade 3 hours long. Mary & Diane in Baton Contest. Won.

            14 – Nancy had all her relatives up today. Really nice. One of nicest days this year. Brought home trailer. Went swimming.

            15 – Raining this evening. Went to Three Rivers this a.m. for Loan.

            16 – Worked tonight.

            17 – More rain, 1 ½ inches.

            18 – Ate at Union & went to Pageant, Frontiers of Freedom. Worthwhile, but we were a bit cool, in 50's. Got 300 lbs. cannel coal $270.

            19 – Worked tonight.

            20 – Kids came up. David & Diane went to DePauw with MYF. Wayne's & us went to Centerville Fair.

            21 – Ate here. Had last of sweet corn. Wayne's left early & took boat home.

            22 – Received 11 year Perfect Attendance pin in Rotary. Nearly 600 meetings. Worked tonight.

            23 – Went to NACA at Phil Smidts. Received Life Membership card. Got home by 10:45.

            24 – Eva got hair curl. I worked for John. Parmalees stopped at Elkhart to see us. Got insurance coverage on home here, $49.20.

            27 – Left home at 7:30 for Hammond. Left Major at Elkhart. Arrived at Wayne's 10:30. Left for Elmhurst & Virginia Casper's wedding. George, Jean & Mabel there, also Marj. Baker. Had nice Family Reunion after wedding.

Photo has no date, but caption reads: "Milne Reunion at Virginia & Phil Byrket's. Aunt Mabel, Aunt Jean, Lester, Marge and Fred Rea among others. Charlie Baker."

I recognize Nora Baker in lower left corner and think Nancy Milne holding Laura to the right of Nora. The more I look at the picture, my mom looks younger & may be holding Diane, which would make the photo more 1945. FYI – Nora lived to be 102.

            28 – Stayed alnight at Wayne's. Went to First Church. Ate dinner at Wayne's. Visited Chas., Minnie & Marj. at Bake's. Beautiful warm day. Home at 6 p.m.

            29 – Sold DeSoto to Dr. Hull.

            30 – Worked tonight. Rained. Cold in night, some frosts around.

October 1958

            1 – Went to Ft. Wayne to see new '59 DeSoto. Six of us went. Linda 12 today. Braves won 4-3 with Spokes & Ford. Sold Plymouth.

            2 – Eva went to Tola's with Mary. Went to Mary's for supper. Milly & Eldon there too. Braves won 13-5 with Burdette & Turley.

            3 – No game today.

            4 – Worked all day. Warm, in 80's. Yanks won 4-0. Don Larson & Rush. Wayne's came.

            5 – Took in pier. Wayne's left 11:30 a.m. Planted 3 peonies. Braves won 3-0 Spahn & Ford. Donna called about 2, just to see how we were.

            6 – Yanks won 3-0 – Turley – Burdette.

            7 – Rained 1 inch today.

            8 – Major 1 year old. Weighs 65 lbs. Yanks won 4-3 Duren – Spohn.

            9 – Yanks took series winning last 3 games 604 Turley – Burdette. Warm weather all week.

            10 – Turning colder. Raw wind blowing. Sold Plymouth today – overlease.

            11 – Wayne's couldn't come up this week.

            12 – Picked up bushel of Spies [Northern Spy apples] & stayed home all day. Planted bulbs.

            13 – Went to Cassopolis about a loan.

            14 – Went to Cass about a loan.

            16 – Plymouth went on display. Had one wagon to show. Displayed 3 DeSotos with it. Good crowds & response.

            17 – All worked again. Good crowds. Great weather. Sold one Plymouth.

            18 – Kids came in p.m. Dave brought 2 boys.

            19 – Warm & sunny. Cool breeze at times. Planted 2 dozen tulips. Wayne's here, also Milly's. Really a lovely week end.

            20 – Worked tonight. Still nice.

            21 – Warm in 70's. Got razor cleaned at South Bend, $1.50.

            23 – Nancy came up with 2 loads of Girl Scouts. Slept in tents. Went to Valpo to get Abstracts. Beautiful day.

            24 – Nice day, getting colder. My day to work, also DeSoto show day. Had 3 cars. Sold Fury to Dills.

            25 – Delivered 1^st '59 DeSoto to Noisums. Wayne's came except Diane. Rained .3 inches.

            26 – Cloudy but warm. Wayne's closed cottage. Was here for dinner. We went to Milly's in evening.

            27 – Still nice weather.

            28 – Worked tonight. Sold DeSoto – Alexander.

            29 – Freezing temp. Was 35 here at 6 a.m. Colder in Elkhart.

           

November 1958

            1 – Worked today. Left for Valpo at 4 p.m., arrived 6 p.m. at Ravine Dr. Lights, heat & water on.  

Lester & Eva's home at 567 Ravine Dr. in Valparaiso, overlooking a golf course.

            2 – Started getting goods in shape to sell. Milly & Eldon stopped by.

            3 – Ran ad in Vidette [Valpo paper]. Attended Rotary. Led singing. Met old friends. Sale started. Sold $40.

            4 – Had a big day, sold nearly $400 in one day. Weather ideal.

            5 – 3^rd day of sale $163.00. Wayne & Nancy came out.

            6 – Last day of sale.

            7 – Wound up tonight with over $805 total sales. Got colder. Ad cost 26.40.

            8 – Loaded up pick-up truck load from Elkhart to take back to Lake. Raining. We had truck haul away junk. Left at 11 a.m., arrived home before 3, found goods here & unloaded.

            9 – Moved 3 sets of beds around & unloaded car. Clear & warm. Milly & Eldon came out.

            10 – Back to work.

            11 – Man measured house for tiling, estimated $325. Warm today 63º.

            12 – Clear & warm, but raining tonight.

            14 – Warmest Nov. 14 since 1871 – Temp. 71º. Worked tonight.

            15 – Rained most of night & day, about 2 inches. Warm 71º here, 72º at midnight in Chicago.

            16 – Still raining a little, but cleared. Took up all dahlias bulbs. Stored them at Johnsons. Furnace never came on all day. Wooleys here for supper. Eggleston came over.

            17 – Still warm, but turning cooler. We went to Three Rivers to close loan. Worked today.

            18 – Cooler. Rained about .3 inch.

            19 – Y & S started laying floor tile on whole house.

            20 – Finished laying tile $325.00. Stutsman bulldozed stable site, all p.m. Worked today.

            21 – Temp in 30's. First snow flakes. A crust froze on ground, first time.

            22 – Mom had hair set. Bought Hoe $11.00. Went to lunch with Milly & Eldon in Elkhart.

            23 – Milly & Eldon here for dinner. Had chicken. Fairly nice day.

            24 – Mr. S. finished bulldozing for stable. Settled with Earl for Ponies.

            25 – Rained most all day.

            26 – Took Eva to Milly's & Major to Kennells. We stayed all night at Mishawaka. Attempting to snow & colder.

            27 – Went to Wayne's with Milly's. Arrived 9 a.m. Had big turkey dinner. Left for home about 7, arrived before 10.

            28 – Nancy & children in a wreck on way to Elkhart [for baton contest Diane was in]. No one hurt. Only a miracle. Car in bad shape. First real snow about 2 inches. Tough making hill.

            29 – More snow in night. Near blizzard proportions. Didn't try to go to work. Temp. dropped to about 7 above at night.

            30 – About 7 above. Willys wouldn't start, so we didn't get to go to Tola's with Milly & Eldon. Stayed in all day. Hill all clear.

December 1958

            1 – Rode to Elkhart with Frank. Warmed up some. Worked today. Temp. up over 30.

            2 – Still thawing. Temp. near 40. Brought a DeSoto home to show Williams.

            3 – Mrs. Williams to look at a '54 DeSoto.

            4 – Snow about gone. Drove '55 DeSoto to show Mrs. Williams. She liked it.

            5 – Williams to take car. Rev. Nowells in to see '59 Dome. Want Mrs. William's '50 DeSoto four door.

            6 – About 3 inches of snow again. Sold 3 cars today: '59 DeSoto, '59 Plymouth & '50 DeSoto.

            7 – Anniversary Pearl Harbor. Still snowing. Backed out going to Tola's. Addressed 75 Christmas cards.

            8 – Still snowing. Temp. dropping.

            9 – 8 above here, 2 at Elkhart, 2 below at Goshen, -12º at Valpo. Coldest since last February. Over 6 feet in Oswego, New York.

            10 – Colder. Zero on our thermometer, below in Elkhart, Hammond & elsewhere. More snow.

            11 – 4 above at 2:30 a.m., 9 above at 6 a.m. & rising. Got over 20 today.

            12 – Eva's birthday. Still cold & some snow.

            13 – Couldn't start '54 DeSoto. Frank took me to work. Drove home a '53 DeSoto.

            14 – '53 DeSoto wouldn't start, so gave up going to Tola's. Didn’t' feel too good. Milly & Eldon came towards evening.

            15 – About 4 below, first record of below here. Went in with Bill Craig. Brought out batteries & started both cars.

            16 – Still cold & coldest December to date on record. 7 days below zero in Midwest.

            17 – Warming. Went over 34. Low in 20's.

            18 – Still warm, about 35 official.

            19 – Temp. in 40's.

            20 – Sold Hamm a DeSoto. Eldon in. Wants us in Sunday.

            21 – Went in to Mishawaka for dinner. Still warm.

            23 – Drove a Simca home tonight. May take it for demonstration.

            24 – Had Christmas party at Balls. Got $25.00 bond. Snowing hard this morning. Drove Simca to Hammond. Stayed at Wayne's.

            25 – Big day at Wayne's with grandchildren. Milly's, Harbert's & Doris Mary. Saw Chas. & Minnie at Bake's. Got home about 8:30.

            26 – Vern left for Boston, John for Mooresville. Still thawing.

            27 – Snowed again in night. Didn't feel good. Went to work & to Dr. Home early. Temp in 40's.

            28 – Home all day. Dr. P. B. Smith passed away with coronary at home Not ill.

            29 – Temp. about normal. Started on barn today. Got shell up.

            30 – Barn progressing. Snowing & cold.

            31 – New Years Eve. Stayed at home. Snowing heavy turning to rain in night. Didn't get roof on barn.