Meet Glenn

In November I was given a very special gift, a diary written by Glenn Israel Dettweiler. A small 5 year diary, written from 1937 to 1941. Each page has 5 spaces, like a written paragraph in size, for the same date 5 years in a row. The cover is gone, and the pages are not secure, so I'm extra careful with this delightful little insight into Glenn's personal, professional, and social life. 

I suspect that the diary became available when his immediate family had passed. It was found in a lot of salvage items and the gift giver believed I might enjoy it. More so than he. 

My genealogy research has been pretty futile. I would love to see this stay in the Dettweiler family, which was very large and extended. From Fauquier County, specifically Midland, Virginia, they were land owners with a farm. 

Glenn married Lois, but at the time of this diary they weren't married but knew each other. There would be a daughter named Gail, but the birth year is a mystery, a dead-end on the internet. 

He was 1 of 9 or 10 children, born in 1915, so only 22 years old when the diary begins. Glenn was the second to the last in birth order, 4 girls and 6 boys, but I believe that one may have passed very young.

 Just about everyday I check in to see what Glenn was up to. From his entries I know that he lived in Washington D.C. and worked for the Gold Craft Company, canning Coca Cola. As of April 1940 he was single and received $1,218.44 in gross wages. He had chickens, 1 pig (or more), read a lot and went to the movies every week. 

He bought a Brownie camera on April 12th, 1939 for $1.98. New eyeglasses were $10. and six books cost $1.00. Glenn registered for the draft on October 16th, 1940, with snippets of war news beginning in September of 1939. Most days he read or wrote and received letters. The outside temperature, his weight, and hours worked, are listed just about every day. 

On December 31st for 5 years, this sums up his day:

temperature 38 to 41 degrees

worked 3 to 7.5 hours

had teeth cleaned and 1 pulled

cleaned out brooder house (house for young chickens)

drove his brothers car 3 miles (he always writes down home many miles any vehicle as driven, I'm pretty sure he didn't own one)

two of those years he took the train to Calverton

On January 1st he read the paper and a magazine (1939), drove another brother's car 12 miles (1939), went to the movies (1938) and sawed wood (1940).

I find the details of everyday life fascinating, it all seems so laid back or shall I say less hectic, but in truth, I wonder if he even owned a TV (they arrived in 1927), or had a phone. Hand written letters were the order of the time, so much was done by mail. 

I will continue to share Glenn's entries and maybe a family member will be found who would dearly love to have this valuable family heirloom.  

 

Comments

[Lynne Lanier]

Marvelous, Karen. Thank you for sharing this. Happy NewYear!

[Karen Rexrode]

Thank-you Lynn, It's always good to reflect on our past, in this case a person's distant past. I have loved reading his diary and how much things have changed in the past 80 years, so much! Happy New Year to you!

[Scott]

Fascinating! I understand your interest. A few years ago I came across a simple postcard from a young woman released from the military at the end of the 2nd World War. That led to exploring the neighborhood where she grew up Down East - coincidentally not far from Adair's. Doesn't your imagination just start spinning?

[Karen Rexrode]

So you can imagine 5 years of history, written with a fountain pen, 79 years ago. The movies that were playing, the cost of things, it does get the imagination spinning!

[Ken Bohling]

Karen, I was so excited when I saw my Uncle Glenn's diary. The car that Uncle Glenn borrowed was my father's, Rudolph's (RFD in diary). I was born in 1942 and only met my uncle a few times. Shortly after he married Lois in December 1942, they moved to Baltimore and cut all ties with the family. My father and Uncle Glenn were always close and all attempts from the family to connect were ignored. Thank you for trying to find family members and if you still have the diary, I would be interested in it. Again, thank you. Hazel Dettweiler Bohling

[Karen]

I am smiling large with your comment. Yes, the dairy is yours and we can figure out how to get it to you. My email is [email protected] so please connect with me.