Joseph Staeheli’s Ledger 1916 to 1950
From 1916 until 1950 Joseph Staeheli kept a ledger in which he recorded significant events in his life along with financial records. The typed copy I worked from had been created from Joseph’s handwritten notes. Where (?) or ______ appear in the typed copy, I presume the hand written notes were illegible.
Presented here are selected events from his life without the financial records.
1916 – 1918
1916: Our combined resources, Real and Personal net $2000.00
Jan. 1, 1917 Lived at 3104 E. Indiana. 5 room home of E.L. Hamersmith.
March 10 Moved to our own house. 2215 Belt which we have purchased from A.L. Stemer
Plains, Montana
April 5 Resigned from position of Interchange Clerk with Northern Pacific Railway under
Agent H.W. Minning
April 6 Started work with Washington Water Power as a clerk and collect @50.00 per month
June 19 Richard born
July 1 Raise in salary to 60.00/mo.
Aug. 11 Resigned position with WWP Co.
Aug. 13 Started with Great Northern Ry. as a Local Rate Clerk @87.50/mo.
Aug. 1 Paid $100.00 off home and 17.50 interest
January 1918 Living at 2215 belt, Spokane, Wash.
Home value 1,500.00
Lot Palisade Park 500.00
Worked for W.H. Fortier A.A.
GN Ry as revising clerk @87.50 per month in June
Got 98.70 – back pay to June
Aug. 30 Was transferred to Chief bill clerk in freight Office salary 105.70 and with
an additional raise due to the war, 118.00
January 1, 1919 to January 1, 1920
Living at 02211 Belt, Spokane, Wash.
House number changed at request of Water Dept. inventory
House value 1,500.00
Lot Pallisade Park add. 500.00
Worked all through the year as Chief Bill Clerk, GN Ry Frt Office at salary $118.00/month
No improvements made during the year.
Paid mortgage off on house of 400.00
Made trip to New York with wife and boy which, including loss of salary, $305 – transportation free
During year 1919 made considerable extra money repairing fountain pens, keeping books, etc. which made up largely for the expense to New York
1920
House on 2027 W. Mansfield
Secured loan from Paul Staeheli on note, 55 days due June 1 400.00
June 28
From Albert Senn @ 7% 1 year payable semi-annually 200.00
Worked as Chief bill clerk at G.N. Ry. Spokane Freight Office whole year
1921
Worked as Chief Bill Clerk Spokane GN Freight office up to Sept. 1, 1921.
Transferred to GN City Office as Rate Clerk at salary 140.00 per month.
During year made some money selling Nursury (sic) stock for Yakima Valley Nursury, Toppenish, Wash.
1922
Worked as rate clerk Great Northern City Office, transferred back to old job as Chief Bill Clerk, Spokane Freight June 19-23
Lucille born 12th of November
Hedwig got telegram that her father died Dec. 15th. Letter on Christmas day explaining fully his death – died of heart failure.
1923
During year worked as chief bill clerk Great Northern Freight Office salary 4.94 per day. Also sold nursury stock and from that earned about $200.00
On Febr. Baby Lucille had bronchitis. Dec 24th George ran arm into electric wringer.
Richard had measles. Uncle John Wolfrm died Jan. 16th of rupture of hernia.
1924
In Spring 1024 visited Tony Nold and Familie at Seattle
In May visited them again on my vacation, stopping at Wenatchee, Yakima, Toppenish, Pasco.
Made visit to W. Sohler, Davenport
Richard spent his vacation with Uncle W. Schleer at Davenport. While there he enjoyed
feeding calf, getting cows from pasture, riding pony and he owned one calf while he was there.
Minnie Conrad, Hedwig’s girl chum died from Tuberculosis at Edgecliff Sanitarium.
Gottleib Reinbold’s 2 girls died by drowning in the Columbia.
Sister Teresa (Mrs. Frank Jaeger, Smithtown, Tasmania) wrote that their sawmill burned down with loss of 13,000.00
Robert Staeheli, agent for Hazelwood Creamery, Addy, WA has a most successful year earning between 200 & 300/month
Mother (Mrs. Jacob Krueger) has enjoyed good health and both get along very well.
Dad working for City at 4.50 per day.
Sister Rose working at Northern Pacific City Office obtained dinner from her husband who never worked since he married her but lives the life of a retired gentleman.
1925
In Spring 1925 got into trouble with Ry account my success as Division Chairman for the Union and Ry
interested in sending their choice to the Convention. Tried to get me out of service by adding more
work, taking away my help, and making work as disagreeable as possible. Asked for 30 days leave of
absence and was refused so bid off the job onto job at Hillyard handicapped there I was forced off the
job then not having an open position asked for leave which Company could not help granting under the
circumstances. This enabled me to go to Convention in Kansas City from where I went to New York
joined by Hedwig, Richard, George and Lucille at Chicago. New York visited Hedwig’s Mother and
relatives. Bought my first radio in New York. Returning got position by bid in Spokane Freight
Warehouse as Office Clerk but got all the dirty deal possible from the officers of the Company finally
called for investigation for an error which I asked these fellows how to handle and they refused
supervision. At investigation told them they were unfair and refused to answer asking for someone
more fair to take the investigation. Was dismissed for refusing answer, Nov. 24th. Started selling shoes
and received some employment with Northern Pacific Railway. Health of familie good during year my
worn out condition being relieved during my visit East.
Earned quite a bit of side money selling nursery stock during summer and so broke even
in expense for the year in spite of our visit to New York.
No material change among relatives Charlie, Paul, Rose still on same job. Dad Krueger underwent
operation in Spring. He and Mother now on Mother’s place in Coeur D Alene (Gibbs)
1926
Worked part time for N.P.Ry. practically a few days every month. February with Lincoln Trust Co. and
American Bond Corporation selling Savings Bonds. April 1st entered insurance with Bankers Life Des
Moines who sent me to Uniontown where I sold new policies, later their agent over the territory. I
made complaint to the Company and I was not allowed to return and I resigned insurance. Took up
Nursery stock and bonds again and sold some bonds near British Columbia (Trail) came across line and
experienced the worst condition of roads and travel. Two weeks in July I was relief Traffic Manager for
Sperry Mill. Then again Nursery stock. During December I took up insurance again with another
company The Bankers Reserved Life and went to Uniontown where I run across (?) K Schemensy (?) of
Schmenswe (?) Thrill, Inc. who wanted a bookkeeper so got position which I started Dec. 26th.
[Uniontown is located between Pullman and Clarkston on highway 195].
1927
During all of this year I worked for Sch______ Thrill Inc. at a salary of 150.00/month boarding at
Dahman’s until March 5th when we moved into the Heitsman (?) house which we rented for 18.00/month.
This was somewhat a quiet year. We made frequent visits to Spokane to see our relatives and friends and all our trips were without accidents. Our only accident was in October when Richard fell on the sidewalk and injured his eye.
Mother Schleer from New York was a visitor with us for about six weeks. We made many trips to Lewiston, Ida. and Moscow, Ida. One trip to Winchester, Ida where we had a good time swimming. George and Richard swam across the lake supported by an inner tube.
Uncle George died about Dec. 18th. He was the best friend of our familie. We went to the funeral to Spokane and Egypt where he was buried. [Egypt is a pioneer cemetery in Lincoln County]
In Sept. I had a weeks vacation and went alone with my Ford to Addy, Davenport, Fruitland, Wash. where I visited Mr. Schleer.
Here in Uniontown the boys are having lots of fun and are going to the Catholic School.
My firm burned out Dec. 11th. Fire started by defective wiring about 2 a.m. I kept my job keeping books at Colton and later in the office of Kerr Gifford.
J.M. Warner boarded with us through the year.
1928 (Uniontown, WA)
During this year I worked for Shimemme (?) Thrill as bookkeeper at a salary of 150.00 per month. While we had no building [on] account of the old building burnt I kept the books at Primmses (?) office. In March we moved into a temporary office building and conducted this business while the new building was under construction. About Nov. 20th we moved into the new building.
In the Spring Gottich Foehr died at Davenport and we went to the funeral to Egypt where he was buried. We made several trips to Spokane. Brother Charlie got separated from Madeline. It was too bad because it was just due to jealousy. Madeline keeps Thomas the boy.
Paul bought a new home. Dad Krueger living in Spokane. Mother is bothered with tired feet.
We had no sickness but in Sept. I fell off a tree while fixing a swing and nearly broke my ripps (?). Richard was Altar boy through this year and intends to be a priest. George sold magazines and made a little earnings. Lucille entered St. Boniface School in the fall. Aunt Lena visited us for a week and strained her foot.
We moved from the Heitstaman house to the Oyler house Feb. 23rd. I organized the Commercial Club of Uniontown and acted as Secretary throughout the year. During vacation in October went to Davenport, Daisy and Addy.
1929
During 1929 I worked as Bookeeper for Schnemne (?) Thrill on a salary of $150.00 per month. I made a little extra money selling Insurance and in the fall some extra money selling bonds of the Universal Mortgage Corporation made about $400.00 extra money.
We took several trips to Spokane without mishap. The year was rather quiet one. I did not act as Secretary of the Commercial Club and the club went practically out of existance. Rented two acres of ground and put them in potatoes but did not even regain the seed. Poor ground and dry weather.
Mrs. and Louie ______ visited us during the summer also Adolph Trauffer an old friend of whom we had not heard for almost 2 years. We enjoyed Christmas at home in a rather quiet. Trauffer gave Lucille the phonograph and she also got a little toy phonograph and she played both to beat the band. I don’t expect to be with Schwamn (?) Thrill the coming year counting strong connections with the Universal Mortgage Corporation. Rose (Sister) got her auto damaged in the Spring and got into another bad collision around Christmas when she was sent to the hospital where she is recovering. Bob (brother) is doing real well at Addy and the other brothers get along well.
Richard is getting to be quite a student in school and also is making good headway with the piano. Through the whole year he has been delivering the Chronicle.
George is very active and sold Better Homes & Gardens and earned a nice folding card table.
Lucille is a little slow in school. She had to take the first grade over again the system of learning in first reader is not a very good one.
Hedwig made some money renting out a room and for a while in the fall boarded two teachers who left end of November.
I took a weeks vacation in the Spring and one in the fall both times to Spokane.
January, February and March were the coldest ever known. For six weeks the temperature was below freezing at times as low as 30 degrees below.
1930
This year was full of life and excitement. I started with my trip to Portland on the 9th day of January with expenses paid by Universal mortgage Corporation. At Portland, I also visited Mrs. Marty who is the first lady I met in crossing from Switzerland. Upon return I resigned my position with Schnem (?) Thrill to sell bonds but agreed to keep their books on my own time for 50.00/mo. I sold only $5,000 Insurance but ab $30,000 bonds.
May 24th we took the Midway Hotel for 40.00 /mo and did a good business until Nov. 1 when we gave it up because Mrs. Woods the owner wanted to raise our rent. We were sorry we moved and gave up the Thrill house on the hill. George had an accident in July by falling off a horse, was unconscious, but recovered. Glenn staeheli came for a visit and got run over by Sprengler’s Bakery Wagon when he rode the boys’ bicycle. He was badly bruised. A claim for the bicycle has not been settled. Sprenglers claiming protection by insurance and the Insurance Company is not any good. The claim is too small to sue them.
1931
This was not a good year for us financially and the country as a whole is in bad shape. Unemployment everywhere and only women employed. I am still holding the job with Schmenne (?) Thrill at Uniontown on a part time basis balancing the books for 50.00/mo but business with them lagged so much I am only getting 30.00/mo making two trips monthly. This job won’t last much longer. I made some money selling bonds. Insurance and nursery stock all earned around $1100.00
June 20th we bought the Norwood Apts at 324 W. 2nd Ave. and moved June 22nd to Spokane. Business in the apartment was not so bad but it is impossible to make a living and pay off 25.00/mo and pay off the house it is empty since Nov. 1st.
June 20 we bought the Norwood apartments for $800.00. 225.00 down and $25/mo. We improved it by adding better furniture and disposing of junk. When we bought it earned gross of $129.00/month. At this time the earning is over 200.00 gross with rent reduced from 60.00/mo to 50.00/mo. We figure the value now @1,100.00
We enjoyed good health except for scarlet fever in January, only Richard had a light attack, and we were quarenteed for two weeks.
This is the worst year of the depression history has known with banks full of money and warehouses full of goods but people starving and out of work.
Banks do not lend money out and tend to foreclose on mortgages so that people with their earnings cut off and no chance for new loans are forced to leave their homes and farm. The outlook is so bad for us too to lose our own home. No use to live in it without work. In the apartment we have at least a small income.
1932
This was a hard year for us and for most of the people. Banks and Loan Companies kept closing up on delinquints who could not pay because of no work and money collected was not loaned out so the city was gradually drained from its cash. People are in a panic. The County is taking property after property for taxes. 7,200 families are being taken care of by the county and 940 single men are housed at county expense at the East Trent billet formally called Hotel ge dink but it is in the old Shade Brewery idle since 1914 when the State went dry. In November the peoples had the first opportunity to vote on the prohibition question again and voted 2 to 1 all over the state.
I got only a few days work in the Spring making garden. The house on Mansfield was rented again in March for 22.50 per month and rented steadily by Mr. Wasson. We managed to keep up the payments on the apartment and now only owe $200.00
On August 12th I was offered the Ashton Hotel at 307 Sprague Ave and bought it for 500.00. It needed a lot of improvements and so far has made no money for me but it is now in good condition. The family was in good health through the year. Richard got a Chronicle route in February and has made about $15.00/month. George helps him.
This year being the hardest year in the history of the United States, I will write some more. Our starvation is not like in foreign countries. We have an abundance of crop and eats and manufactured goods but all cash is hoarded up and people have nothing to buy it with. The county spent 100,000 dollars for relief of unemployed and destitute and there will be no more money available after 6 weeks. Plans are now made to use script for exchange it is a piece of paper and a number of merchants agree to accept it as a trade and everyone handling it puts on the back a 5% stamp so after 20 people have handled it the stamp attached provide the full amount to redeem it in cash.
I did not explain where the $500.00 came from to purchase the Ashton Hotel. It was borrowed from Julia Wilson, my sister, whose house had burned down at Metaline Falls. I thought I could pay her back in three months and gave her a note accordingly but she demanded her money within 6 weeks having spent the balance of 900.00 in that time. I gave her $5.00 per week but at the end of the 3 month period she brought suit the first day and the matter is now in court as I just cannot get that money together now.
In October when we all went to visit my Mother in Coeur d’Alene I got into a fight with brother Charlie because I could not contribute to Mother’s taxes and broke friendship with him. In the fight, I hit him harder than he hit me but I hurt my shoulder and it is not well yet.
The Norwood apartments kept us pretty well going and Hedwig has had her hands full of work all the time while I have only the little bookkeeping job at Uniontown one trip and made 22.50 of course it is better than nothing.
Our financial condition is so upset that it is hard to tell and work it out. We have about $127.00 in the Spokane Savings and Loan association who takes money in but we can not get any out. In the same manner George’s Bank is tied up and we can’t get a penny.
Thousands of people lost their savings through bank closings.
We are all hopeful that the new elected President will find a way to relieve the situation which is caused principally by President Hoover creating chain banks and forcing all money out of the country.
Had the States taken notice of the situation soon enough and had a law forbidding banks and Loan Associations to reduce their loans in any district this depression would never had occurred.
I do not yet know how the suit will go end with Julia but money is so scarce that even some judges do not allow a creditor to break up a home. Julia made the threat that she would have me and my family on the streets and with me still owning property in the amount of $5,000.00 it seems strange that she would try to do it and only the court can prevent it and so nothing happened so far and we will see if something will happen.
November 3, 1935
We have been so upset with trouble to make a living and trying to protect what we have that I did not write but now we are more settled again. It was an awful fight in the courts to keep Julia from getting everything we had but she lost out trying to take the hotel first as the hotel began to make me a living. Twice we could have gotten a loan from the Government but her lawyer said the bank blocked it. However last January we succeeded to get a $1000.00 loan on the home on Mansfield and retire the $400.00 balance and get $600.00 for Julia which with previous payments paid her off. She fought also this loan through her lawyer Gleason but I forced it through and got the judgement cancelled. “Was that a relief.” This summer we also paid the Norwood Apartments off in full. The familie moved into the Ashton Hotel in June 1934 and we operated the Norwood from there.
Referring to the fight I had with brother Charlie at Coeur d’Alene I later found out that he and Rose (sister) had secretly secured from Mother deed to the property and they wanted to keep me from Mother so she could not tell me about it. It caused Mother to lose her mind about it and she died in April 1933. I was never able to talk to Mother about it but the Lord carried out Mother’s testament and will.
Rose had the deed to the property it was disclosed after Mothers [death] and Dad Krueger, her husband was cheated out of it. Dad Krueger lived a poor man’s life after Mother [death] when there should have been enough for him to live on the income of the Coeur d’Alene property and of his own in Spokane. Rose took also possession of everything moveable in the house the old man not even a keepsake.
Dad died suddenly on December 11, 1934 and again Rose removed everything and hid it. She was good to Mother while she lived but made herself well paid. Last January Rose died from swallowing a bottle of Lysol and without leaving a will so her property and the stolen property came up for distribution to the rest of the brothers and sisters. Charlie became administrater. Up to this time no settlement has been made. The personal belongings were distributed however through Dad’s testament I became administrater of his two houses with Mortgages and debts and furniture amounting to over $1,900.00 while the property was valued at $1,800.00 and real estate men would not attempt to sell it for more than $1,400.00. I arranged with the creditors for patience and with good handling will succeed to pay old debts. Both houses are now rented. The big house for $16.00 per month and the other I furnished up and rent now for $10.00
Now I will tell something about this hotel. The business improved gradually and steadily and while in the first year the average monthly gross income was $250.00. It has been from $450.00 to $500 per month. We are now making a satisfactory living but do not mingle much with the brothers and sisters. They tried too hard to force us to the streets when if they showed good will we would all be better off now. Sister Walda was the only real friend at all times. Hedwig was a good wife to me during my troubles. When I was about played out she would handle the troubles and when she played out I was able again so it was both of us that worked to come out on top.
The children have been very good and I was proud of the boys. Richard joined the National Guard at 16. He is now 18 and is already about to be promoted to Corporal. He lost one year in high school but is doing nicely now in his last year at Gonzaga High. I enjoy many happy hours yodelling with him playing the piano.
George is also a fine boy. He is small for his age but is growing fast now. He is a real help in the hotel and often takes full charge when his mother and I want to go out. He takes care of the business like a man and everybody likes him. He made high honors in the eighth grade Sacred Heart. High School and is one of the first in his first year in Gonzaga high.
Lucille is a big girl for her age. She has not done so well in school and has lost one year. This fall she transferred to the Lady of the Lourdes school and is doing much better now.
We sold the Norwood apartments on Oct. 23 for $1000.00. It was a good proposition and we almost feel that we should not have sold it but it was lots of work for Hedwig when there is plenty of work at the hotel.
I am still keeping the books for Thrill’s Hardware and Implement at Uniontown. I go down once a month for 3 or 4 days. It is quite a relief because in the hotel business I am more or less on duty 24 hours a day.
I might mention the fact that this depression is about over. The hotel is now worth about $3,500.00. We have a nice class of trade and enjoy it better than any job I ever had.
Dec. 25, 1936
This is Christmas and we have had a nice Christmas party last night for all the guests. We served Tom & Jerry. Sang our Christmas Songs and all the yodels we knew. Richard on the piano, George, Trauffer and myself doing the singing. I learned to sing again and expect many a happy moment yodeling while Richard plays the piano. Last summer I joined the Orion (?) Singing Society and have been to practice every Wednesday night and after the practice to the Dutch Mill where about 15 of us sing the German songs. Hedwig and I went to Tacoma last summer with the singers and we had a fine time. We also visited Walda and Tony at Seattle.
Richard finished school in June and went with the National Guard to the coats and extended his vacation in September. Since then he has worked for the Barrett Mfg. Co. and is happy having a good job. He bought himself a car and drives to and from work. He takes us all out once in a while and so we do not need a car for our own use.
George is doing fine in high school. He is now in his second year and at the finish of the first year he was second best out of 80 students. We figure to send him through college and it ishis ambition to practice law. He grew a lot this year and is no more the little schrimp. He weighs 128 pounds now. When I was his age I only weighed 91 pounds. George is still the handy relief man when Hedwig and I want to go out together. He has a lot of boy friends and he brings them here once in a while and always they are a hungry bunch and find everything we have in the kitchen. Well, he is a good boy anyway and we are proud of him. George spent his vacation on the Coast and carried out his well laid plans where he went.
Lucille is a big slender girl now and is doing well in the sixth grade. She brings home good report cards and is improving on her piano lessons. We have a little trouble getting her to help Hedwig in the kitchen. She likes much better to go to a show. Hedwig, of course, has plenty of work but the maid does most of the rooms, however there is always other work besides and so she is often tired out. Handy it is that restaurants are close and we eat out quite a lot.
Business has been getting better and the income from the hotel runs well over $500.00 per month so we have no worry over money, only we have to be a little careful. We have been replacing some things right along and so the Hotel is worth over $500.00 now. Some of the increase is due to the better times. The people that patronize our hotel are mostly quiet people and so there is seldom a disturbance. We have the house nearly full all the time. Gottfried Romang and Hannah (my sister) visited the other day but went to Seattle to visit Walda and Fanny (my sister) before the return to Athens, Wisc.
The year 1936 was a good year for us and we can thank God for the enjoyable year. About the only worry we have was the presidential election but Rooseveldt won out with a big majority and so business is on the upgrade. I tried to sell Insurance but found not enough time to sell as the hotel took plenty of my attention. I still go down to Uniontown however where Emil Thrill is slow getting over the depression. Unless unforeseen things should happen we are looking forward to a happy year of 1937.
January 1, 1938
We had a very happy Christmas and exchanged more presents than we ever did before but due to the fact that the children are all big practically no toys were under the tree but more useful things and instead of 25 cent presents they run into dollars. The year 1937 has gone. It was a happy year. All was well. Hedwig and I went to Portland to the Schweiger Saengerfest. About 200 singers and yodelers gathered and a wonderful time we did have. Mrs. Marty took us in charge at arrival from the train and gave us her home, time and car during the 3 days.
It is not to be forgotten that when the familie came from Switzerland in 1899 to Ridgeway, Wisc we stayed at her house and then we sang our songs and Mrs. Marty entertained us so well. Later I worked for them at the Hands Cheese Factory and I was a 15 year old Swiss boy, learned to sing her songs, and she learned mine. Now the 3 days was a happy reunion with Mrs. Marty and the Saengerfest will be ever remembered as the happy days of the year 1937. On the return we went via Seattle and visited Walda and Tony. Nothing much exciting happened during the year. Business improved right along and we had nothing to worry about.
Now however I started more to sing. As a member of the Dutch Mill German Singers Hedwig and I were invited to the dinner and picnics of the Coeur d’Alene Hotel and Dutch Mill and we enjoyed it very much. About October I tried to arrange a Swiss Yodel Club and it resulted into a duet with my friend Emil Merkle. We have done a lot of practicing and are now under the guidance of Professor Herbst. What the outcome is we just guess but whatever it is it will be enjoyable I think and perhaps also profitable. I sure have learned to sing by notes and am proud having made so much musical progress.
Lucille is now invited to join the Arion Singing Society and I think it will do the girl good. She is coming along nicely with the piano but she gives me some concern about making herself useful around the home. Also her school reports are not so bad.
George is still papa’s pride although Hedwig says he takes after Ma but we don’t fight over it. George is one of the best scholars and comes home with the fine reports. He belongs to a rifle club, is Yell Master, is reporter on the school newspaper and belongs to the National Guard and some other things. We do not try to take up too much of his time. We are pleased to see him progress and we want to put him through College and study law.
Richard is also a boy and is now Clerk at the New Madison Hotel. Has been there about nine months since he left Barretts. He makes a fine chap to run a hotel and is surprisingly settled for his young age.
Hedwig has been doing more work than all the familie cooking, washing, ironing, shopping, looking after the maid and the things that are otherwise overlooked. What she likes well is when the house is full and enough money comes in so as to put a few dollars in savings.
We are about to buy a home at 1918 W. Seventh Ave. occupied by four families and bringing in $99.00 rent per month. The price is $5000.00 with $2,000 down. Should everything go as now we should have the house paid for in four years and then we would have enough income to retire. Outside of colds there was no sickness in the families and so we have no doctor bills. The family is getting along in nice harmony and we look forward to a happy year.
Jan. 21, 1940
Time to write some more news. I neglected to write due to the fact that soon after writing Jan. 1938 some kind of sickness crawled up on me. Any exertion, swinging a stick of wood or walking with someone I felt pain in my back between the shoulders and also under the heart. I soon got worse and I finally resorted to a stick and then crutches. Doctors gave me pills for heart trouble and for the liver but the relief was only temporary. I was resigned to die at any time and got down so low I did not cat=re to do anything nor cared no more for what happened but 3 months ago I went to a Doctor who excammioned patience for trouble with a _______ _______. He seemed to discover my trouble and prescribed drugless treatments with Dr. Armstrong. I have now taken treatments for two months and am feeling much better but not yet over it. It seems that I injured my back in Uniontown several years ago and hurt my spine which eventually caused all the troubles. Anyway I can see life again and I am glad.
Despite my sickness Hedwig and I and Lucille went to California with the German Singers to the Saengerfest and the World’s fair. It was a fine trip for us. We also visited Bertha Schenk in Los Angeles and she showed us all over the country there. Surprisingly it was to see the oil wells. One town after another like the trees in the woods. Onkle Carl, Bertha’s husband, thot each tower represented an investment of $24,000 dollars. The climate did not appeal to us. We like Spokane better. After 15 days we were back and satisfied that Spokane is a nice place to live.
Richard and George took care of the hotel and everything went well.
In general 1939 and also 1938 were not as good years as 1937 business dropped somewhat and now we must be glad to take in $400 per month from the hotel. The apartment house at 1918 W. 7th Ave. which we bought is going nicely. Richard got married in 1938 and lives in Apt. A. He also looks after the building. His wife Patricia is a nice housekeeper and the get along on a salary of $70.00 per month. Richard is still at the Hotel New Madison but may anytime get a job as Clerk at the Northern Pacific Freight Office where I used to work.
George is now student at Gonzaga College and seems to do well. Since business is not so flushing he works at odds & ends and makes all his expenses except room and board which he gets at home. Altogether I believe his earnings at the National Guard – New Madison Hotel and school amount to about $300 per year.
We bought a Dodge car last May and George makes more use of it than we but it comes in handy because we have to go places and get out once in a while and we need to go back and forth to the houses. Lucille is now going to high school at Mary Cliff and is getting along well. She is a big girl now but does not interest herself in helping Hedwig as she should. We spent over $300.00 for piano lessons for her but she does not take enough interest in music. Otherwise she could have been much assisting to Emil Merkle and I in yodeling.
Today Emil and I were on the radio for the first time and think we did well. Instead of piano we had accompanyment from Mr. Wolfgang Ehlman with his zither. It goes well with yodeling. Don’t know if we ever will make money with it but we get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Jan. 16, 1941
Here goes where I left off Jan. 21st, 1940. Emil Merkle, myself and Wolfgang Ehlman were on the radio 2 months but without pay. We sang and yodeled and I got the latest yodels from Switzerland and learned them.
1940 was not a good year for our hotel. Earnings dropped to even below $400.00 and due to some rents we lost on the houses we had just a normal year. I have not been any too well but got along doing my own hotel work but have no pep as I used to have. This year business so far has been better averaging nearly $500.00 per month.
June 13 – 1943
I did not write much in June 1941 got interrupted and I did not pick up the writing. I may state that Mr. Myer and his wife from New York visited us and they were quite enhanced for the West. George made a trip to New York and return hitchhiking both ways and so has seen a lot of the country. He finished his second year in college and joined the Navy which gave him training in flying war planes. The training started in Sand Point airfield on the coast, then in Pasco – Pensacola, Fla – Miami, Fla and now he is near San Francisco. George is an Ensign now and makes good with Onkel Sam. The war is on. We got into it by first [sympathizing] in Brittans favor which was followed with collecting bundles of clothes and food for Brittan – then with old guns, revolvers & rifles – later with merchant ships so we just drifted into the war the same as in 1914. What had gone on between Secretary Hull and the Japanese was not made known to the public but on Dec. 7-1941, Japan declared war on us and Germany and Italy followed about 2 days later and the war is on. It almost seems as if we were still a colony of England because we could do no more if we were her colony. I hope some day we will have patriotic Americans that serve our country better by protecting us from getting into war.
It was my hope to see George finish his college but this hope is waning even if he comes out alive in this war because this month the 26th he will marry Anna Shehan(?) of Tacoma. I saw the girl only once and at that time there were 4 other girls here so I could not remember her well but of course I will be getting acquainted with her soon. The couple has my best wishes.
Lucille has now graduated from High School and will work for the government starting Monday so now Hedwig and I see our children grown ups. Richard had a son born in February and so I became to be a grandfather and Hedwig a grandmother. Richard is doing fine and is a lot of help to me in looking after the apartment house. He has promoted himself rapid this year from the job at Standard Lumber Co. to the aluminum Plant as clerk and now in similar work at the Galena Airport. He is now working for Onkle Sam so now all of our children are working for Onkle Sam.
We have been and are doing fine with the hotel and also keep the houses rented so last year our income has grown and this year much more. We have now paid off the mortgage on the Mansfield house and also the apartment house. The only trouble is that the long hours and the work makes us both tired and looking for some rest. Hedwig was in Portland for 3 days and in Tacoma to see Ann and her family a couple of days and will be over there for Georges wedding on the 26th. I would like to go with her if we can arrange. It may be that Pat & Richard can arrange to go to the wedding for a few days. Their little son is doing just fine. My sister Maria died last December 11th she fell on the sidewalk.
Jan. 4, 1944
Will drop a few lines as I have neglected my writing. Not too much news to write of home and everything is going well. Richard has been included into the army but has been placed back to the same job at Galena. The only difference is that he is in uniform. Lucille has been working there too but left early in the Fall to go to Kinman University (business college) taking typewriting and shorthand. She will be through in a couple of weeks and will be looking for a job. She still lives at home with us although she is already 22 years old.
Richards boy is doing fine and Pat and Rich are sure proud of him and all three were with us for Christmas and so were George, Ann & daughter Terry. George returned from the war in the Pacific and is now stationed in Seattle but flew to different airports in the Northwest as directing the teaching of the stationery instructors in tricks of the latest actions.
George had an accident near Arlington, Oregon when the hood of the plane got loose and flew into his face. He had the presence of mind to fly back to Arlington where he was taken care of and then returned to Seattle where he got further treatment. 51 stitches had been taken in his face but upon arrival here with his family it appears that he will not have many scars.
Hedwig is still the busy Hotellady but gets very tired from the long hours of attention. In fact we would like to sell but we are making good money and so we do not push the selling. I figure the price as $7,700.00 as everything has gone up so has the furniture and earnings. August 5th we bought another apartment house at 1415 W 8th Ave. for $12,999.00 with an income of $220.00 per month. There is a balance due of $5283.00 and we can work this off plenty fast so when rents go down by that time we should have it clear.
As for myself I got a rupture and first tried to get it cured by a Dr. Thorpe who for $220.00 garunteed me a cure. After a few treatments I came to the conclusion the Dr. was not interested in a cure and so I arranged to go to the hospital Oct. 16th and submit to an operation by Dr. Hoyth. This seems to have been successful only I must not lift heavy things for a long time yet. I sure feel relieved however and can look forward to many years of life yet.
Hedwig and I had both a couple of trips to the coast where we visited Walda in Seattle and the Kneeshaws in Tacoma. Mrs. ______ Kneeshaw is the mother of George’s wife Ann living at 715 N. J Street.
While I am writing I think of the nice Christmas we had and hope that next Christmas will be another happy one. Now that both boys are married and have children we have been promoted to grandpa and grandma. Soon the little ones will be able to stuff the pipe for me.
This war has made living more expensive now in fact more than double but everybody who wants to work can get a job. A low pay is about $8.00 per day but some skilled labor paid from $12.00 to $20.00 per day. When I was 20 I made cordwood for $1 per cord. They now pay $4.00 per cord for making cordwood. But hotel rooms are only about 25% higher due to the O.P.A. In this city we increase the earning however by having everyday full house.
In February Aunt Minnie died and left us nothing. We helped her much and took care of her needs when with the rationing of food she did not know how to shop. She left everything to Louis Reinbold. I am glad we don’t need it and are in a position to retire at any time and have plenty to live on.
Last month we enjoyed the visit of Mary Schreppels from New York. She had no[t] been back for 34 years.
Nov. 11, 1946
Time to write again and this time there is much news. In January Richard was transferred to Sacramento, California to the same work for the Army. It cost him much to move down there working operating an international bookkeeping machine and getting only a soldier’s pay of $66.00 per month. Besides he was kept worried about being shipped overseas to enter into battle. He just got away from it by a scratch.
May 15, 1945, George’s wife had a boy called Patrick and April 28 Richard’s wife got a boy Gregory. So Hedwig and I drifted well into the grandpa and grandma to 4 children.
Hotel business has continued to full house and we made good money but worked like slaves. You could just not get reliable help and the O.P.A. gave us a lot of trouble about overcharging or undercharging on my rooms or violating th[eir] rules and regulations which were made by inexperienced dumbells with thousands of laws in fact so much if you kept reading all of it you couldn’t do any work. We more and more came to the conclusion to sell the hotel and on Dec. 5, 1945 we sold to Hedwig’s brother Wm Schleer for $6,500.00. Now we were loose. First thing was a trip to Sacramento to spend two weeks with Richard and his family the by the end of the year to hurry home, and get straightened out in our duplex 1918 W 7th as George and his familie were scheduled to arrive by plane from the east coast foe a visit with us. We reached Spokane about 12 hours ahead of George. So got ready to welcome the family about the 29th of December. So it was a few days of pleasant time. George had to leave then as his furlough was short. Ann and her children stayed with us Ann taking Apt. B while we live as yet in Apt. A. We enjoyed Ann & children very much, especially Terry got to be a smart little girl and she would come over and I played with her.
Umpha (?) which she much enjoyed and me too as well as Hedwig and Ann. Patrick was too little yet. We bought much new furniture for our apartment and Ann bought new furniture for her apartment. This was in the year 1946. I forgot to mention that in October 1945 we sold the Mansfield home for $4,000.00. Under existing prices we sold it cheap but we did well with the house. Bought it in 1920, lived in it for 7 years, rented it out 1927 to 1945 and during that time spent about $1200 for improvement which of course was offset by depreciation during 25 years we owned it.
Last spring Richard returned from Sacramento with honorable discharge and started the Peerless Sanitary Supply Co. at 1601 W 5th Ave. I had no vacancy for him so he moved into a barrack in Victory Heights. I helped Richard a lot getting the store going and it was not a bad proposition but the bad handicap we could not get enough goods to buy to supply the demand. End of June Richard got a job as Secretary and Bookkeeper for a large firm with $250.00 per month to start. It was quite a decision to make but he took the job. At this writing he is about to get a promotion with the company. Richard bought a house from the company he works for $6,000.00 and he and family are sure happy and we are happy with them.
Lucille got a job in Seattle with the FHA but quit and got a job as machine bookkeeper about 8 months ago. She got a raise last month. We made frequent trips back and forth.
Last August Hedwig and I went to the Swiss Saengerfest in Seattle and had a wonderful time over 700 yodelers and singers were together. While we are retired I have helped Richard. Then took up selling life insurance with the National Life Co. and made about $500.00. A lot of time is taken up looking after our apartment home at 1415 W. 8th Ave. which proved to be a good investment. Last August we purchased another apartment house at 1717 W. Pacific for $8,200.00 and a nice income from it. It was a good thing we made these deals as it enables us to live comfortably and still get ahead. Who knows that times may change and if so we must be able to stand the brunt. Not to worry now. I sold the home at 1224 E 11th for $5,200.00 as the OPA held me to rent too low and I saw no change coming. Got $20 per month for the 6 room modern house where at present the rent should be $45.00 per month. Hedwig spent much of her time with the woman’s democratic club but that is over with. The elections went in favor of the Republicans in an unexpected landslide and we can soon see the abolishment of the OPA who held us in trouble so long and I look able to adjust the rents where they are too low in comparison to operating costs.
George moved his family to Norfolk, VA last June where they rented a 5 room furnished house for $100 per month. I had the use of his car for nearly a year. When he moved he took his car along so we have no car now but I expect to have one by next Spring. For the winter I don’t care so much but having a car most of the time I miss it.
The trip to Uniontown I gave up in March 1946. I was with that company 20 years.
July 22, 1948
Hedwig and I are living in comfort in our duplex and our income is from rent and escrows from 11th Ave. property $40.00 Mansfield property $25.00 and $150.00 per month from the hotel 1415W 8th now clears 225.00 rent 1918 W 7th Duplex 107.25 1717 W. Pacific approx 180.00. The OPA is still in effect but relaxed a little. It is however the curse of the times and instead of helping housing conditions it achieved the opposite. By keeping rents down homes are torn down by the hundreds to avoid losing the property altogether so that sooner or later there will be a crash and the homes will be left to the government who is not paying taxes on property it owns in the state.
Our democrative system has not functioned very well. Now two years after f-day the war is not called off and we are now about to have another war with Russia over the properties and homes of germans and german investments. These acts destroy the possibility of ever getting paid for our loans to Europe and what the case landlease. I hope that my boys, Richard and George need not live in these countries. We win such wars but only [lose] our happiness in our own land. Our diplomats are not the kind of live and Let live. They want wars and more wars. This makes enemies for many generations.
The familie are in good health. Hedwig is returning tomorrow from a week in Seattle and Tacoma while Lucille and I keep house. Lucille is out of work at present but has had steady work since she left Seattle about a year ago.
Richard has quit the Western Co. to go into contracting and selling business with a young architect. He is doing well.
George is now stationed in Monterey, Cal. A week ago he came home flying a Navy plane. He has bought a new home at Monterey and him and family are happy. I have not taken on a job since I left the hotel but now feel I had enough of retirement and think of entering real estate that will leave me quite free as I please. It gets monotonous to stick around the house all day and so also for Hedwig.
July 16 – 1950
Well: ________ two years past since my last writing and I seem to have not much to write being that our circumstances are about the same except we are getting older. I passed 66 years on March 2nd and Hedwig will soon be 59 years old. We are both in fair health but a rupture I had about 6 years ago requires me to be careful. The operation for hernia was not successful and I have to figure to again undergoing another operation when it is convenient in the meantime I carry a rupture band.
Richard is doing fine in the building and house selling business. He now has 3 children – Dickey, Gregory and Joan. They live in one of the new houses.
George has 4 children now – Terry, Pat, Joe and baby.
Rich is a busy man and I am glad we need to ask for no financial help but I am sure they would help me if need be so that is a comfortable feeling. It is different with Lucille she has now been idle for over two years and is dependant on Hedwig and me for support.
And now the war broke out between North and South Korea and while the United Nations were established for sake of peace they actually achieved the opposite and it looks like war has not stopped and now it looks like United States will win but at terrible cost of lives and suffering. These diplomats figure across the table and they don’t know enough of the situation to talk sense. They split up Germany, it was a big mistake. The German army could have licked the Russians single handed but we destroyed the factories and while the germans could be used for our side they without arms can not stop the Russians, and so the peace makers make it tuff for the peace. Many of these wars could be avoided if when these diplomats word no better language than the slandering words. After all all countries strive for peace.
Look at the United States. All her growth in terrytorie was without war except 2 southern states and also over 50 states joined the U.S. without war. It was a prosperous system worked out and voted on by the inhabitons and the arms of the states all belong to the government and not to the different states.
Signed – Joseph Staeheli
1918 W 7th