Ruth Job-Hunts in 1930 During the Depression

Ruth is shown in 1929.  Life changed dramatically between that photo and the summer of 1930.  By then Ruth had lost her job at Ward's during a severe cut-back that would only deepen as time went on and customers disappeared, fearful of running out of money for food and rent.

September 2, 1930 - "Arrived at Underwood Employment 9:05.  In line until 10:15.  Inter-viewed in Law Office at Ward's (Mr. Jayne)."   

September 3, 1930 - "Very, very exhausted, but managed to place application with Chicago Motor Club this afternoon (thru Mrs. Foote)."

September 5, 1930 - "Spent from 10:15 to 3:15 waiting downtown until could have interview at Chicago Motor Club.  Wasn't very favorable."

September 15, 1930 - "Have hopes of securing Royal B.P. position."  (I don't know what that is.)

September 16, 1930 - "No work yet.  The Royal B.P. hired a 35 yr. old woman!  My luck should change now after 3 failures.  Here's hoping."  (Ruth was only 24 with 4 years of work experience.  She must have viewed the 35-yr-old as ancient.)

September 17, 1930 - "I'm disgusted with job hunting...John thinks he can get me back to work at Ward's."  (Ward's sank deeper and deeper into debt as its customers left.  Not only did Ruth get no job, but John was to lose his position as well. Kenny was born a year later.)

The Steady Hand of the Jim Meredith Falters

The picture was taken in 1939 at Lake Geneva where the Merediths planned to retire...It reminded Jim of southwest Michigan where he grew up.  Diane (age 3), Grandpa Jim, Grandma Lottie and Ken (age 7) are on a bench near the lake.  Lottie is posing with Ken's bow and arrow, which is why Ken is downcast.

Grandpa Jim Meredith had a steady hand on the family, calm, kind and focused with a strong work ethic that sometimes had him at Western Electric 7 days a week. (That happened when the apartment above them was not rented or when someone skipped out without paying them the rent.)

In the summer of 1940, Jim's health faltered, a harbinger of what would come a later.  He was 59.  

These entries come from a tiny diary that I thought was a date or address book  I did not read it until after Pieces of a Life was published.

Thursday, Aug. 1-2, 1940   "Doctor told Papa he has an infected leg...Papa sits in chair with hot towels on leg."

Monday, Aug. 5, 1940   "Papa came home from Doctor's  and went to bed with case of pleurisy.  Very painful."  Two days later, Ruth said, "No relief for Papa yet."

Thursday, Aug. 8, 1940   "Had Doctor over for Papa today.  He bound him up some more and helped a lot."  The following day Papa was up for a few hours, so on the road to recovery."

The medical picture sketched in these lines seems murky.  Was the leg really infected?  How?  Was the pleurisy related to the leg infection?  Ruth skipped many days in the little 1940 diary, so the questions about her father's illness remain a mystery  Also, on Aug. 16 she, Ken and Diane (me) went to Ann Arbor by train to visit John's mother, Esther Wood, and his stepfather, Guy Wood Sr.  Others they saw were Guy Wood Jr., John's stepbrother, as well as Sara Jane Wood and her new husband, Ellis Tobey.  They were married a few weeks earlier.   John drove to Ann Arbor to join Ruth and the kids on Aug. 21.  


 

"My Horse Won - Gallant Fox!"

Ruth Kellogg, pictured in flapper garb, was not a gambler.  Neither was husband John, unless he was buying a business, a factory building or apartments to rent.  He always believed he could swing whatever it was by hard work.  He and Ruth had been married almost a year - June 1, 1929 - and were weathering the Great Depression..

However, 85 years ago Ruth did bet on the Kentucky Derby at work, which was the offices of retailer Montgomery Ward..  I wonder if it was her first bet ever.

Saturday, May 17, 1930
"Sixteen of office secretaries, (me too), bet a quarter a piece on Kentucky Derby horses ($4.00).  My horse won - Gallant Fox.  It's hard to believe.  Monday I'll get the money."

When I skimmed through this on the first reading, I thought she had bet $4.00!  Then I realized that it would have been a huge amount of money in 1930 with everyone losing jobs and cutting spending.  The 25 cents Ruth did bet made a lot more sense.

As kids in the 1940s, my brother and I had a horse race board game with a spinner that pointed to a number, determining  how many spaces your horse could travel on your turn.  There were 6 or 8 horses, all Kentucky Derby winners.  One of them was none other than Gallant Fox.

Ruth's First Granddaughter is Born in 1966

Lynn is in her crib at 4 months old in Mt. Prospect IL at the right.  In the picture below, she is just 4 days old, with new mom Diane in the living room of our apartment in NYC (Riverdale).  It was May 16, 1966, a sunny, cold day for late Spring and we had just driven home from Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan.

Ruth's diary on May 12 says, "No word yet (3 PM) from N.Y.  Am taking pills to ward off a cold and not doing much - just pot roasting beef for supper and knitting & watching TV.
     Dan phoned about 10:20 PM.  Diane had a little girl, about 6 lbs - name Lynn Meredith.  All O.K.  She went in at 9 AM.  Up at 2 AM and birth about 9:45 PM (Central time).  I phoned Beth & Ken the news."

The following day Beth (brother Ken's wife) sent flowers from both families.  On the 16th Ruth flew in to help with the cooking, washing, baby care until May 25 when she flew home again.  During the time Ruth  was with us, Dan flew into Chicago Fri night through Sun night and bought a house in Mt. Prospect.  We had made a list of what we wanted and he followed it.  The house was 3 or 4 blocks east of the 4-year-old Randhurst mall.

"I'm Kind of Worried..."

This picture of Grandma Esther Webb Kellogg Wood (John's mother), Kenny Kellogg and Ruth Meredith Kellogg was taken in Ann Arbor within a few months of the time the entry was made in her diary.

September 21, 1935 - Saturday
"I'm kind of worried, as I just heard an extra paper about Austin Maniac beating another woman today - that's about the 4th this month. First is in serious condition in hospital.

Baked a sponge cake& made lime Jell-O veg. salad for tomorrow.  Bought rolled veal roast.

John home early enough to eat good meal & I got dishes done before time to go to show.  Saw 'Orchids to You' - John Boles & Jean Muir."

Ruth probably meant to say that she read or heard about an extra edition of the newspaper concerning the "Austin Maniac."   Ruth's preparations for the following day were for her father's birthday.  Jim Meredith was turning 55 on Monday, Sept. 23.  Lottie, Jimmie and Jim went upstairs for the celebration.  At that point, the three Kelloggs were living in the flat above the Merediths.  John had bought the Sealtex business the year before and was still working very long hours, at least 6 days a week.  Because Ruth was back in a familiar neighborhood with her parents and brother, she was happy in spite of John's being gone so much.

Ruth's 3rd Granddaughter, Katherine, Born in 1970

 The top picture shows Diane and baby Katherine in Aug., 1970 at age 4 months.  We were sitting in the family room in the Mt. Prospect house.

The second picture shows a very smiley Kate at 8 months in Dec., 1970 playing with an old Playschool toy.  She was born at 6 lbs., 9 oz. on April 22, but the first time Ruth saw Kate was in Lutheran General Hospital on April 25.  Ruth had flown in earlier in April to help with Lynn and Cindy.  Lynn was 3 years, 11 months and Cindy was 2 years, 9 months.  At 63 the little ones and house were a lot for Ruth to handle, even for a short time.  Dan was going to work and also fitting in friends and other activities whenever possible.


Sat., April 25, 1970
"I saw baby Katherine Diane in hospital nursery this afternoon with eyes wide open and putting on a show for Diane & me.  Diane hadn't seen her eyes open before.  She is a cutey - very much doll-like.  Diane looks good too  Was in a pink perma-prest duo gown & robe - short.

Felt more rested today with Dan here.  I got his suit from cleaners and left one there - also bought a list of groceries he made out, at Jewel near Lutheran General Hospital.  Dan went to see Diane tonight and I put girls to bed.  He got fried chicken out for supper.  I warmed up steak and beans.

Diane had first story acceptance - $10 - in Baby Talk."

I'm not sure what the story was about!

A Big Family Birthday Party for Ruth's Granddaughter Cindy - 1968

The photo shows Cynthia Jo Pellettiere with her mom, Diane, in  Cindy's bedroom in their first house in Mt. Prospect IL. Cindy (probably 18 months) is wearing a green jumper made by Grandma Ruth Kellogg.

Floridians Ruth and John were visiting us to enjoy and help with Cindy's first birthday party (July 13). Ruth's diary entry is not in Pieces of a Life, nor is the picture.

Sunday, July 14, 1968
"A hot day.  I fixed deviled eggs while Diane arranged the buffet table this A.M.  Lynn wouldn't nap so had to be amused somewhat while Cindy slept.  I phoned Mom & arranged to get them at 3 P.M.  

It was bedlam here after Vi's Schnauzer dog arrived on the scene.  Then, even though they put the dog downstairs behind gate, Lynn hung on Dan & Diane, so it was very hard for them to handle food end of the party.  The crying was bad & D & D very nervous.  We couldn't do anything to relieve them.  All the P. family was here and we had 4 tables in yard.  I took (finished) one roll of movies with some help from Marie & John's daughter, Debbie.  Vi & I did up dishes before they had to leave for another party about 8."

My recollection is a little different.  I was walking in and out of the kitchen with food, drinks often - and on one trip, saw that Cindy was crawling on the grass under the tables, chasing the dog, Hughie.  Before I could get to her, Hughie had finally had enough - turned around and snapped at Cindy - but did not bite.  Everyone saw it and that's when Hughie was "jailed" behind the gate.

The "Mom" that Ruth refers to is her mother, Lottie Meredith, age 81.  Ruth picked up brother Jim (age 57) and her mother, who had moved to Mt. Prospect, living there briefly before moving on to Florida near the Kelloggs. Lynn was 2 years and 2 months old.  The house didn't have air conditioning, so was very uncomfortable in that hot summer.  We did have it put in later that year.