Jean B. Heath Kraemer (part 9)

IV Historical Events

1. What do you remember most about World War II?

                A. Well, Aunt Sarah stayed with us because Uncle Willis got drafted and sent to China. We used to get V-Mail from him. When they declared war, there was a big assembly in school and we listened to it on the radio. After that, we got to go home. I was very glad because I had strep throat. Oh, it was just awful. We didn't have the medications like today. I spent two weeks in bed. The teachers all thought I was terribly upset about the war. When they announced that the war was over, there was a big hoopla downtown. Everybody screaming, yelling. People were ripping up mattresses and pillows and throwing the stuffing out hotel windows.

"Wartime - in the Women's Land Army detasseling corn in southern Minnesota" - Jean, 1st from left

Jean B. Heath Kraemer (part 8)

III

1. What was your school like?

                A. The first school I attended was a portable school. It had two rooms and a coal stove in each room. I attended kindergarten and half of first grade there. I went to Lakeside for the rest of first grade. Oh, it was a horrid place. It was a big, old brick building. I had a cranky teacher. I didn't like arithmetic, so I didn't do it. That’s where I got into trouble with Billy Tibbetts and the policeman. I went to Congdon Park up through sixth grade. It was still in operation when I went back to Duluth. After that was East Jr. High for seventh, eighth and ninth grades. It was three blocks from home. I attended Central High, which was right downtown, so I rode the trolley there. After that, I went to Iowa State – Ames – for four years. I got a B.S. in Home Economics and Home Management. Originally, I was in journalism and it got to the point where I couldn't fit some classes in. The journalism teacher just said “Substitute this for that” and so on. Well, I went to the home economics teacher – Women’s Journalism was under the home economics department – and she said no. The two of them had a huge row, yelling at each other. I had reached the point where I didn't care, I just wanted to get out, so I took the home economics major. The next year, though, Women’s Journalism was placed under the journalism department. After I went back home, I went to business college.

"High School - all dressed up in those days. House in Congdon Park" - Jean

"Bunch of us at Reed's Hunting Camp. We called ourselves "The Lumberjacks." - Jean

(Jean  - 1st from left)

"and finally - graduation!" - Jean

(Jean - 3rd from left)

"Graduation Picture 1945" - Jean

Jean B. Heath Kraemer (part 7)

2. What were some other holidays that you celebrated?

                St. Patrick’s Day. That was a great holiday to celebrate because there were lots of Irish. We celebrated May Day. We used to make the little baskets and leave them on neighbor’s porches. For the Fourth of July, there was a big picnic in Lester Park. It had a merry-go-round and kind of like a carnival in the center. There were lots of fireworks. Once, sky rockets lit the neighbor’s house on fire. Another time, I turned after lighting a firecracker and poked Cathy [a neighbor girl] in the eye with a hot punk. The doctor had to come out – they came out in those days –with his black bag and I got an awful lecture. Of course, the whole thing had been an accident. The parade in the morning started things off. I remember seeing Civil War veterans in the parade. Now, obviously, they weren't walking, but they rode in the wagon and waved. The World War I veterans had to march, of course. There weren't many floats, just lots of soldiers and artillery and the like.

Jean B. Heath Kraemer (part 6)

II. Holidays

1. How did your family celebrate Thanksgiving? Christmas? Easter?

                A. Let’s see. For Thanksgiving, we would sometimes drive down to Iowa. Aunt Clemmie always came over. There were always people over. There was a big dinner with turkey, sweet potatoes, all of the usual stuff. Afterwards, everybody took a nap, then there would be card- playing and games later that night. Christmas had less decorations than now. There were two poinsettias and three little wreaths that Mother hung on the window shades and that was it. There was a Christmas tree in the corner. On Christmas Eve we’d open the presents and hang the stockings on the fireplace for Santa. I always got an orange and peppermint candy [in the stocking]. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Willis often came over. One Christmas, I got an Erector set. It was the Ferris Wheel. My father and Uncle Willis built it and then a windmill and were building something else when my mother said “Enough! It’s Jeans.” Sometimes everybody would go tobogganing on the golf course. Santa didn't come after I was eight. My mother said matter-of-factly that Santa wasn't real. Of course, I had known by then, having come across a cupboard filled with my old slippers – Every year I would leave my old slippers out and lo and behold there would be a new pair in the morning. Easter – well, there was the bunny. I usually got a stuffed animal of some sort and candy. There was the new spring outfit. I remember, in high school, I got a blue wool, two piece suit with a coat and a hat that had a veil. It was very fashionable. Invariably, the weather was awful. The celebration started on Wednesday. Many of my friends would come to school with crosses on their heads from mass. There was no school on Good Friday. The whole town shut down from one ‘til three in the afternoon. Ideally, people went to church during that time.

Large Weasel - I don't seem to have any pictures that represent Mom's holiday memories. Anybody else have any they would like to share?

Jean B. Heath Kraemer (part 5)

7. Were you happy? Why?

                A. Yes. Well, I was the only child [of an only child], so a big fuss was made over me. I always felt very secure, loved. I was never hungry or cold. Father had a good job.

8. What is your favorite childhood experience? Why?

                A. I always liked taking trips to Iowa, visiting my Grandparents.

"Grandma Heath visiting us in Lakeside" - Jean

"Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Heath in Iowa. (Woodward)" - Jean

"Front of the house in Lakeside - Mother and Marie Frederickson, my godmother" - Jean

"The house in Congdon Park" - Jean

Jean B. Heath Kraemer (part 4)

5. What were some slang expressions you used growing up?

                A. Uh, hunky-dory, gee-whiz, oh, my gosh. We called cars “tin Lizzies.”

6. What was your favorite entertainment?

                A. Going swimming in the lake. There was a movie matinee Saturdays at two. We watched cartoons, westerns, newsreels. If you were older, you got the feature. Otherwise, you just sat and ate your popcorn and were quite happy. It cost fifteen cents. I saw a lot of dancing films – Fred Astaire and Ginger, the Marx Bros. In the middle there would be a give-away. For a set of dishes or something. It lasted the whole afternoon.

"With friends Catherine and Peggy Solberg" - Jean

"Me with Midgie" - Jean

"Wisted kids and me again. I was the youngest - practically one of the family!" - Jean

Jean B. Heath Kraemer (part 3)

4. What were some of your playtime activities as a child?

                A. We played kick-the-can, hope-to-see-the-ghost-tonight, baseball in the alleys. There was a park two blocks from home where we played more baseball. We climbed the bluffs, followed the river, Monopoly and card games. There was no T.V. There was radio, but it didn't take up your time the way T.V. does. In the summer there was a lemonade stand.  A man came along and said, “You don’t have an NRA sign”.  And we said “So?” So, we got shut down. Mother wasn't happy. We were just kids for heaven’s sake. In the winter, we’d build snow tunnels and forts, go ice skating and skiing. We did a lot of stuff outside. Once the neighbor was listening to a prize fight – one with Jack Dempsey – and all of the men were gathered around. All of us kids sat outside – it was on the window sill – and listened.

"Sandbox" - Jean

"Davey Wisted and I on the turning poles my Dad built" - Jean

"Heading for the skating rink with Edna - she worked for mother and babysat me" - Jean