February 3, 1934: Dust storm was terrible at times

1934, February 3, Saturday

A real strong N.W. wind, dusty, sun shone bright and was 36 above at daylight and continued warm but the dust-storm was terrible at times and we couldn’t see the sun towards eve. Will and Fritz chored and cleared the barn. Ben Clausen came with his team of horses and they all went to store in car, got mail and candy. Maggie cleaned the house, swept and mopped, got meals and baked cookies. Fritz counted cattle in p.m. and when Ben went home, they came in house until chore time in eve. We played rummy in eve. I sewed a little on rug and cut out strips & read mail.

September 15, 1923 and 1933

September 15, 1923

A bright day but South wind blew so strong and dusty and warmer. Everett Ward who stayed here while we were away plowed forenoon & Will & I & Mrs. Chas. Ward & Helen put pigs in hog house and in p.m. Everett went home and on to Spencer with us. Nellie’s Birthday and Dave’s a week ago. Ernest Palmer selling out and going back to Virginia next week.

September 15, 1933, Friday

Misty, very cold, cloudy, in p.m. a little brighter, sun shone awhile but towards eve clouded and dust-storms and sprinkle of rain. I staid in my room and went to table for dinner and supper, was so cold in a.m. I had to wrap. I looked at catalogs trying to find something warm for a little money but no decide, also played solitaire. Maggie ironed clothes, mended some, sewed on her red skirt, got meals and waited on me. Narvin to pasture and hauled hay in p.m. and drove out some horses. He has sore eyes from dust yesterday taking horses to Witten. Noble Moore brought saddle-horses back as he got in from Witten in the night. His eyes are swollen nearly shut from dust, same as Narve’s. Narvin said that Curtie Elshire got back from Winner to-day but no Wm here yet. Ben Clausen brought back wrench and rope and was all up-set on account of high price of twine he had Will order at Whiting Store some time ago. Curtie Elshire came looking for pigs late p.m. and Bud Whiting driving cattle in a.m.

January 6, 1933: An awful dust storm covered sun

1923 Jan. 6th Saturday.

A bright day but p.m. a little hazy and south wind cold. Elmer Nelson came with corn and staid for dinner and then he went with us up town and on return went home. I am feeling better as my headache quit and Will feels quite well. He had haul[ed] alfalfa and took care [of] stock besides trip to town.

Jan. 6, 1923

Jan. 6, 1923

1933 Jan. 6th Friday.

Sun shone except an awful dust storm from N.W. was so thick covered sun at mid-day and dust quit moving late p.m. but N.W. wind still blew until eve. Will & Roy got in 2 loads oats hay and too windy, so quit and Will took cattle to field and herd[ed] them until 2 p.m., came in to dinner. Wm did his chores and started to pick cobs in hog-lot but Pat Van Epps and Erban Brown came also Kenneth Whiting so Ken & Pat got gas at store then they all got Truck out of river for Mr. Lattimore went with Brown last night and they came here late, paid Will for hogs, started to cross river, broke in so walked home. Brown fixed our car. Kenneth went home after wind quit some in p.m. Wm got cobs again late p.m. Roy took his calves to John Carr’s after no haul-hay. I got meals, baked bread & cinnamon rolls.

[Lisa’s note: While the official first major “black blizzard” of the Great Plains would not hit until November of 1933, the month of January 1933 is often cited as the beginning of the dirt storms that would eventually lead to the Dust Bowl.]

Jan. 6, 1933

Jan. 6, 1933

1943 Wed. Jan. 6th

Frosty, sleety morning, cloudy most of day and at times spitted snow but sun shone late p.m. Elsie and I got meals. I got up 6:20 a.m. so laid down after breakfast and again in p.m. I have a sore throat so treated it to keep from getting worse. Will still has a cold but managed to go in V8 Car to help get in cattle as Wm Abbott came on Tony our Black saddle horse and Wm Van Epps on Pop-Eye, they got cattle in from Wisenburger Pasture, cut the calves, 10 old cows and Abbotts away herd. Abbott took his home. Elsie finished ironing and mopped the kitchen-floor.

Jan. 6, 1943

Jan. 6, 1943

1953 Jan. 6th Tuesday.

Some Clouds and not so nice but Dan and Betty took Calvin to Clinic [in] Valentine to have him get [a] shot and dope to put in Red swollen eyes (Pink Eye). They saw Glen Coles at Valentine and came back at dark. Men gave cattle hay First. Usual Pastime and meals for me.

Jan. 6, 1953

Jan. 6, 1953