Three Thanksgivings in the 1930s

The picture shows Ruth wearing the black fox stole John gave her for their 1st wedding anniversary in June, 1930 and her July 5th birthday.  She was 24.  Maybe this was taken in the yard at 4705 Byron St., Chicago where they owned and lived in a 3-flat.

Nov., 27, 1930 - Thanksgiving - "Thanksgiving Day.  Cold! Folks came for dinner.  Chicken good - pie no good.  Played cards, had cold chicken in evening & cookies.  John peevish again.  Read in bed until 9:30."

Nov. 26, 1931 - Thanksgiving - "Smitty saw Baby first time.  John did part of my ironing while I washed Baby clothes.  We walked over to folks for dinner at 12:30.  We had leg-o-lamb & everything to go with Thanksgiving dinner.  Played Bridge & Hearts.  Home 8:15."

Nov. 24, 1932 - Thanksgiving  - "THaNksgiviNg.  After work was done here, we went to folks'.  Kennie slept on porch while we enjoyed Thanksgiving chicken (I paid for).  John's brief case stolen last nite.  Played cards.  (John out from 2:30-7:00.)"

Interesting to see that they had chicken twice and lamb once in those years.  The Depression had started in October, 1929, so money was tighter and tighter with so many losing jobs or getting large cuts in pay.  That explains the lack of turkey, duck, goose on the table.  I remember having turkey and duck for Thanksgiving at Grandma & Grandpa Meredith's at age 5 or 6.

Smitty was best friend to Jimmie, Ruth's younger brother, in grade school and high school.  It seemed that the relationship began to fray when they were in their late 20s.  I think that Smitty married where Jimmie did not.  Jimmie isn't mentioned, but he would have been at the 3 Thanksgivings at 19, 20 and 21 years old.

Kennie (later called "Kenny") was born on Sept. 6, 1931, so only 2 1/2 months old in Nov., 1931. Ruth and John were still coping with being parents as well as having little money.   They walked to the Meredith's on Iowa St. that year.  By then they had sold the 3-flat and had moved to a flat at 5841 W. Superior St.  It was only a few blocks from the Merediths.

Maybe Ruth was feeling festive when she wrote the unusual lettering on "Thanksgiving" in the 1932 quote from her diary.  By then they were probably feeling more at ease with 1-year-old Kennie.  Ruth doesn't say anything else about the brief case.  Perhaps that's where John went when he was "out" - looking for the brief case.

The day after Thanksgiving in 1932 Ruth and her mother,  Lottie Meredith, cut each other's hair and Lottie washed Ruth's hair.  Before the Depression when Ruth was working for Montgomery Ward, she and her mother both had their short hair cut by a barber.

First-born Baby Kenny Arrives Early!

 Ruth and John Kellogg greeted their first baby in September, 1931 when Ruth was 25 and John 32.  The first photo shows Uncle Jimmie Meredith (20) holding Ken on the front porch.  They're  at the Meredith's two-flat at 5458 W. Iowa St., Chicago in January, 1932. You can see the baby buggy behind them.

The second photo is also on the front porch. Taken in March, 1932, it shows Grandparents Jim (51) & Lottie ((45) Meredith with Kenny this time.   Both pictures are in Pieces of a Life, as is the first quote from Ruth's diary.

Sunday, Sept. 6, 1931 - BABY'S BIRTHDAY    
"(Am catching up in these records.)
Pains started 7:15 AM.  Doc Anderson came 9:10 & took us to hospital.  Baby boy born 12:00 noon - Central time.  
Weight 7# 5.5 oz."


Monday, Sept. 7, 1931 
"What a relief; it's all over & 3 days ahead.  Labor Day!  Folks here in afternoon.  John in morning and night.  Stitches bother me. Named baby Kenneth Alan & mailed announcements."

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 1931
"Doc was in & said baby's fine.  Mama and Jim up this afternoon.  Jim saw his nephew for the first time.  John here when Mable & Edith popped in for a while & brought dress and slip.  Irene came just at 8:00 & saw baby at nursery before."

Ruth mentions some visiting girlfriends, Irene, Mable and Edith.  The baby wasn't due until Sept. 9, which is why Ruth says he was "3 days ahead."  I never did know where the name "Kenneth" came from.  No one in the family has it, so perhaps they just heard or saw it in print and liked it.  Odd that it's Scottish in origin and so is Kellogg, though neither of my parents knew that.  (Both knew that their families had some roots in England, but were unaware of the Scottish.)