Field Notes. Elaine Marie (Volk) Selensky. Interviewer: Cassie Ptacek. Typed by: Kendra Thompson. Born at Drake, ND. With a midwife.

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1 Interviewer: Cassie Ptacek Typed by: Kendra Thompson Born at Drake, ND With a midwife May 30, 1940 Stifling hot Moved to a farm north of Karlsruhe Started chores when she was 5 Very nice barn house - no extra 2 pairs of shoes - barefoot in the summer Good life on the prairies Good growing Grandparents Katherine Lemer (Mom's mom) - spent a lot of time with her Pete and Rose - uncle and aunt still at home Grandpa played cards at night Solitaire, whist Lived about 15 minutes Veronica (Father's mom) died when he was 16 Father's dad Stayed a widower All very Catholic Father's parents - 8 kids Father Mother's family - 8 kids Lost one to crib death

2 Theresa Keller, Elaine's godmother Sister to Mom Pete and Rose Dad's sister Theresa Lived within 10 miles Had some double cousins Cousins at Grandma's Girls upstairs Boys basement Kids ate second Dad's dad was an orphan Came over as a farmhand from Odessa - eventually found his sister over here Mother's parents were from the same area, kind of Said that they landed in NY then came on the train - everyone was hungry, couldn't speak English - Grandpa bought bread and milk and shared with the entire car Grandma kept turkeys Herded them out to the field To eat grasshoppers Tornado - didn't touch the town - holy water - tore down the barn Father Worked at the CC Camps Only courted Mom a few months Bought his own farm Carpenter Born near Karlsruhe Very staunch, wanted obedience

3 Don't remember being hugged Died in 2003, was 93 years old Mother Always helped with outside chores A lot of baking Born by Drake, at home Sewed all clothes Used flour sacks to make clothes Twice or 3 times, came to Rugby to get shopping done Once a month to Karlsruhe 9 kids - 6 brothers and 3 sisters Dad was strictest parent, in charge of discipline Fibber McGee & Molly and the news - had to be very quiet She was 15 when they got electricity Used gas lamp and kerosene lamp Kept butter and milk in well to keep Cured meat in salt brine and garlic Smoked meat Butchered in the fall Rendered the lard would take 2 days - seldom beef Always had chicken soup on Sunday Went to town on Saturday nights Malt Just the main things in stores Entertainment

4 Go to the fair Boxes of Cracker Jacks 6 big candy bars for $.25 Had rides Basket ride at fairs Sometimes movies Town kids were bullies School kids Walked 2 1/2 miles to school 8 grades in one room Mostly male teachers Spoke German when started Parents spoke English so kids wouldn't know what was going on Grandma would stay during births James, Elaine, Bernice, Harold, Robert, Ralph, Linda, Allan, and Adrian Never told that they were pregnant 8th grade - never realized she was going to have a baby Close to brother Allan Older brother was the troublemaker School bus on a stone boat Older, went to a private school Graduated high school Worked as a waitress, a store clerk, a daycare (25 years), worked at DQ, Haaland Home (cooking), then the hospital, did a lot of seamstress work, and catering Cheese buttons, Borscht, noodles, and watermelon Kuchen, date filled cookies, bread

5 "Flour bin" upstairs in Grandma's house "Nectar" - lemonade Always desert with noon lunch Canned lots of fruit Skinned peaches and canned them Sauerkraut - shredded cabbage Pack in a crock with salt Let it ferment Pickled cucs, watermelon, green beans Mom always had big gardens Stored in dug out cellars Kept potatoes Fruit room in the basement Grandma's house was huge Upstairs - 4 rooms Main floor - big living area 2 bedrooms Didn't go in living room or bedrooms during the day Basement was big and open Nuts, candy, pop, and beer for Christmas Men and women were segregated in a house Only got one doll when she was little and her brother dropped it and broke it Kris Kringle brought fruit and candy Belzinickel - in chains, bring bad things No Christmas trees Slept in one bed with 3 girls

6 All boys had one room Midnight Mass Celebrated with Mother's side Easter nest with crocuses Mom and Dad dyed eggs Nests on the floor in the kitchen Didn't really celebrate Thanksgiving 4th of July - got firecrackers Made own Valentines for school Just didn't do Halloween Some pranks Christmas party at school End of year picnic - everyone brought food Dad was kind of musical German measles Neighbor boy died Brought home, but she didn't go No dances until she was 18 Babysat Baked a lot when mom would leave Churned butter Made cheese - take curds from sour milk, add soda, etc. Made porridge Took syrup bread to school in winter, took potato or soup Fruit was expensive Her dad made beer

7 Kids couldn't help celebrate names day - social events Dance all night long Angel food cake for birthdays Made ice cream in the winter time Parents liked to go a lot, didn't entertain Milk cows, fed calves, separate milk and cream, fed pigs, gather eggs, and fed chickens Dishes, supper, serving Laundry - washed drapes, etc. Caught hair in the wringer Grandma made soap - lard, tallow, lye, scented it - got everything really clean Saturdays were bath days Polished shoes Sunday, curled hair and wore hats and scarves Always went as a family to church Winter in a sleigh - 7 1/2 miles Summer - 2 weeks of school 2nd grade - Communion 5th grade - Confirmation Celebrated at home Had to wear white and veils Very strict - had to know stuff Never went to bed without praying the rosary Sermons were in German Healthcare Only once at a doctor Something with honey for coughs

8 One family car Sang in choir in high school Played basketball Couldn't play Heart murmur Stayed at a Parochial school Worked for room and board Boys helped with farm chores Girls helped inside Hated washing the separator Took French All girls stayed in one dorm Older helped younger No boyfriends/girlfriends allowed Discipline - getting sent home Enjoyed school Nuns and priests - strict but good Mass every day at school Parents on weekends Realizing that others had more was hard sometimes Happiest memory - when new babies came home and baptisms Brother's baptism Scared of beaver dams 19 1/2 when started dating Started dating Edward Only had $25/week

9 Had to pay rent, food So no movies Couldn't afford public dances So went in late and it was free Lady they stayed with waited up for them Married at 10:00 am Noon meal Dance - 1:30-5:00 pm Supper Dance - 8:00 pm-2:00 am Old-time dance Hand scalloped potatoes Wedding cake "Hooch" (Red Eye) Dollar dance, money to help pay cooks, etc.