Author: Nichelle Barra Page 10 of 12

Jan 18 1945

Thursday Jan 18 1945

Went to school. Gave my report in General Science. Gave a book report. Went to volleyball tonight. Went to the concert at 7:00 o’clock. Took tickets. Stood for an hour + a half. Jack, Dave, Jim, + George stood beside me all the time I was taking them. Tonkin, Hines, Cheese, + PeeWee went to MacTireys. Got a hamburger + a root beer. Tonkin walked home with me. Can’t write good. Sore finger.

Jan 19 1945

Friday Jan 19 1945

No school. Got up at 11:00. did dishes moped the floor. Stay home all afternoon while mom went to the hospily. Gene will be home in 6 days. Got a sunday with Bud. Went to the Temple and saw “Hollywood Canteen.” It was a wonderful show. 62 movie stars. Joan Leslie + Robert Hutton were the main characters. When mom got home we did the supper dishes. Going to read a love book + eat!

The Temple Theatre! I was hoping Grandma would talk about that one. It was built in 1927 and is still running in Saginaw. It did have a down period by the time I was around but I remember my grandmother(and everyone else who remember it) talking about the theatre as this amazing, grand place. I finally got a chance to see inside of it for a field trip when I was in high school (a group was trying to bring it back). We got to see some stage performances of some of Edgar Allen Poe’s work. I was amazed at the theatre and everything it had. It was hauntingly beautiful and you could tell it really needed work. It was revamped in 2002 (back to what it looked like in 1927 too!) and is now an amazing place for shows and weddings (with your name on the marquee!).  It’s been doing well since then and is getting Saginaw good publicity, which it needs.

For more information, see this page: Diary.

Tuesday Jan 16 1945 Went to school. Had an assembly. Had a test in English and math. Wrote 26.9 word a minute with 2 errors. Bought a new movie book. Did my science report. Went to the show with Frankie and saw “Blackmail” and “See Here Private Hargo.” With Bob Walker. Coming home from the show we started flirting with two boys. Until I found out one was Miki Sulvain. Boy did my face get red. 

Wednesday Jan 17 1945

Went to school. Did some typing for Miss Sturgthers. Went to the basketball game. We play against South. Juniors score was 37 to 14. Seners was 41 to 25. We lost to the games. Went to the hospital to see dad. He was supposed to have 3 blood transfusions. Ned maybe home by next week and Gene in two weeks. Betty’s going to leave tomorrow. 

My response:

I would love to know who Miki Sullivan was and why Grandma was so embarrassed. I have looked for an old North Junior High School yearbook (same middle school I went to!) but I haven’t found one that is for the 1945 school year. I’m still hopeful! I also find it interesting about her dad. With the blood transfusions I wonder what could have been wrong. I asked my dad if he knew what his grandpa’s health was like but my dad said he was fine up until the mid-1960’s when he passed. There is a family rumor about a brain tumor but his death certificate states he died of heart disease (which came on suddenly) so if he had cancer, I don’t know what kind. I want to get his health records, but the Michigan archives said I’d have to get permission, which I think means my dad would have to get them since none of my grandmother’s siblings are still around. I hope a grandson will do but I don’t know. I want to know what kind of cancer he had in the end.

Side note: Any of you genealogists going to the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference in Richmond in May? This will be my first and I’m a bit nervous!

Yesterday was the first day I didn’t blog since starting this! A work meeting kept me away in the afternoon but the weather really was scary so I stayed away from my computer and hunkered down with my family. 🙂

For more information on my grandmother’s diary, see the page dedicated to it.

Jan 12 1945

Friday Jan 12 1945

Went to school. Had a test in Aud + Science. At the noon hr we played basketball. We won 21 to 4. Got some more pictures of Van Johnson. Bought 2 movie books. Went to the drug store. Mom and I went to the hosipitly to see dad. Jack went to. Took a taxi home. Mr. + Mrs. Lunnig came over for awhile. Looked through some books for pictures of Van but couldn’t find any. Tonkin called me up and wanted me to get to the show but I couldn’t.

Jan 13 1945

Saturday Jan 13 1945

No school today. Cleaned the bedroom. Listen to the radio programs. Started fixing my scrapbook. Went over town got a white sweater, a plade one, a pair of slakes. Going to take the plade sweater back. Went out for supper. Had two hamburgers, a dish of french fries, and a multed. Got a movie book of Van Johnson today. Went to the hospility. Came home + put up my hair. Bob + Bob H. came after mom + I. Is he cute.

My Response:

Hm… I can just imagine my grandmother becoming quite giggly when Bob came over. I’m not sure who the other Bob is (maybe her younger brother?) though. Maybe she showed him the new outfit she bought. I also wonder what over town means. Downtown maybe? Probably. That is something I do desperately wish I could have seen! Saginaw’s downtown. Apparently it used to be quite a sight, especially during the holidays. The window displays would always be decorated (think A Christmas Story) and there was a lot of places to shop and visit while downtown. Now though, well go during the day if you’re going to go and you would want to make sure you know where your destination is. Not much of anything is actually open anymore. A couple things are starting to come back but mostly it’s government buildings (like the social security office) and fast food places. There still are some neat places but not like what it used to be. I wish I could have known what that was like.

And her dad is still in the hospital. She doesn’t seem overly concerned but I wonder what it was. I’m waiting on his death certificate too at the moment. I’m hoping it’ll come this week!