January 2, 3, 4 1913

Thursday, January 2, 1913

Aunt Minnie and I saw Beverly of Greystark Had to move our seats. Why? 

Friday, January 3, 1913

Received a card from Irene today. Had a little snow. Sported my green bow for the first time. 

Saturday, January 4, 1913

Snowed almost all day to-day is about 4" deep, colder tonight. 

Aunt Minnie Nora's paternal aunt and they spend a fair amount of time together. Here's a blurb about the play, Beverly of Graustark (Greystark). 

The author of the play, George Barr McCutcheon, grew up just 50 miles from Logansport. George was only 47 when this play was staged....I wonder if he was part of planning of the production?

I'm not sure who Irene is....another mystery to unwind. And I would love to see Grandma Nora in her green bow! 

I wonder if Nora ventured out on the snowy Saturday? Hopefully she was all cozy in their home. 

Speaking of venturing out, I haven't left the house (except to walk across the front yard yesterday and today in my pajamas to visit Aaron) for the last five days. I can't imagine battling the flu in 1913 - at 64 years old it very may have been the death of me. 

Who's who in Grandma Nora's 1913 world

Anna, Nora, Mamie

I'll keep adding to this as stuff pops up. 

At the beginning of 1913: 

Eleanor - Nora - Bauer was 18 years old. 

    - she was living at home with her parents and sisters, 525 Helm Street, Logansport, Indiana
    - working for Barnes Construction as the bookkeeper. 

Parents: 
Felix Benedict Bauer (1862-1945), owner and proprietor of a tavern
Barbara Rosfeld (1863-1934)

Siblings: 
William Francis Bauer (1888-1971)
Mamie E. Bauer (1890-1984)
Anna M. Bauer (1891-1956)
* Nora - (1894-1951)
Gertrude Bauer (1898-1992) twin
Herman Bauer (1989-1986) twin

Paternal aunts and uncles: 

1. 1855: Maria, lived two months. 
2. 1856: Twin A stillborn
3. 1856 Twin stillborn 
4. 1856: John Jacob (the Uncle John of this post)
5. 1859: Valentine
6. 1860: Elizabeth
7. 1862: Felix - twin (Nora's papa)
8. 1862 Suzannah - twin (I think it's funny that their parents gave the twins their first names)
9. 1864: Anna
10. 1865: Lana (who I suspect is really named Helena...therefore Aunt Lena!) 
11. 1867: Frank
12: 1868: Joseph - twin
13. 1868: Mary - twin (I giggled at Joseph and Mary as twin names)
14. 1869: Nicholas
15. 1872: Bernard - twin (died at birth)
16. 1872: Philomena - twin
? 1872: Minnie (born nine months after the twins, but I suspect IS one of the twins, Philomena) 
17. 1874: Francis - twin (died at birth)
18. 1874: Adam - twin (died at birth)
19. 1876: Clara 

Wednesday, January 1, 1913

Grandma Nora was 18 years old at the start of 1913. 

Her papa, Felix Bauer, owned a liquor store in Logansport, Indiana, and I assume that the Gordon's diary came from his business. The book is full of London information - postal hours, holidays, and weights and measures. 

I've never gotten the impression that Nora was much of a drinker and I certainly don't aspire to be considered a big drinker either, but I do feel like I should mention that Gordon's is my favorite gin. I prefer dry to floral. 

I'm not a fan of fruity drinks or cocktails that mask the booze - it helps keep me honest in my alcohol consumption. 

Wednesday, January 1, 1913

Was to Matinee dance. Paul and Chris had supper with us and we took in the ****ring picture shows. Had a grand time. 

It took me a long time to decipher the word "matinee." And I'm so glad I did - at first I assumed that Nora was talking about a dance the night before....and that turned out to be a swastika dance - that included a grand march, according to the newspaper account. 

Hooray for matinee! I couldn't figure out the word before picture shows...I'm realizing that my eyes are five years older than when I started this project and Grandma's penmanship was younger. 

Paul is Nora's beau (and future husband). I couldn't figure out who Chris was five years ago - hopefully this year will reveal a new clue. 

I'm thrilled to know that Grandma started 1913 off in such a lovely day. 

My day has been far less exciting - I'm recovering from the flu (day five) and have spent more of the day in bed. Great for this project. Not so great for anything else....

Hello - it's me again.....

In 2021 I transcribed my paternal grandmother, Nora's 1914 journal and described my day in the same amount of words. 

It turned out to be a great year to have tackled the project. My dad, Nora's youngest child, died in June. I was able to read some of Nora's journal entries to Dad and it helped me feel closer to him and his mama. 

I tried to replicate the project in 2023 and 2025 in fits and starts. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to write daily, describe my day in the same word count, and keep up with the research....and work, and try to keep the house in half-way decent shape, and be a good friend, neighbor, sibling, daughter, and partner. 

Quite frankly I was half-assing it and feeling guilty on top of it all. 

I do miss delving into Grandma Nora's life and would like to transcribe her journals so I'm lifting some of the pressure. My goal for 2026 is to start at the earliest of the journals, 1913 - one that bubbled up after I transcribed what I thought was the earliest one when I started the project five years ago. 

My plan is to transcribe the year - maybe in chunks, maybe daily....and not worry about documenting my day - I'm not that interesting anyway. 

Grandma Nora's journals kick-started a love of diving into family ancestry and turned into a great writing exercise. 

I can't wait to see where this goes....thanks for tuning in. 

Nora

Two Noras: January 8, 1919 and January 8, 2025

Nora Bauer: Wednesday, January 8, 1919

Mrs. Wilson was operated on this morning and got through alright. We had the club over this evening and I finished Anna's sweater and tried it on. Frank Warmes died Monday night in the bathtub. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Another work day full of meetings. Everyone seems to be back from their vacations. I had an Indianapolis City Market board meeting this afternoon and toured the catacombs under the Market. Went grocery shopping after. Cold!

I wonder who Mrs. Wilson was and what surgery she needed? 

Nora and Mamie were in the same social club, the Gigglers. 

Poor Frank Warmes....it sounds like the water heater asphyxiated  him - yikes! 

I've been on the Indianapolis City Market board of directors for years. 20 years ago I worked at CATH coffeehouse that aslo had a stand in the Market. 

Two Noras: January 7, 1919 and January 7, 2025

Nora Bauer: Tuesday, January 7, 1919

Warm again today. Was real windy though and quite a snow storm this noon for about an hour. Mrs. Spitz called up this afternoon but I was busy and did not get to talk to her. Bertha & Loretta were over tonight and I worked on Anna's sweater. Had a letter from Will. 

Nora Spitznogle: Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Back to work today. The roads aren't great, I got in at 6:30 AM to make sure Second Helpings had weathered the storm. I chipped away at ice by the doors. We hosted the Indianapolis chapter of the American Culinary Federation this evening.  

I'm guessing that Grandma Nora was at work at Barnes Construction since she couldn't get to the phone. Mrs. Spitz was Paul's mother, Elizabeth (Bessie) Kramer Spitznogle. 

I love the thought of the cousins crocheting together. 

I assume Will is her brother William who was also in the service. 

I had a long day - left for work at 6:00 AM and got home at 9:00 PM, but it was all good stuff. My arms are a little sore from all of the shoveling at work and my house - it's good for me! 

Two Noras: January 6, 1919 and January 6, 2025

Nora Bauer: Monday, January 6, 1919

Warmer today and snowed quite a little this morning. Polly died this afternoon about 4:30 and it sure made me feel bad when I heard it. She was sick about a week. Started with the Flu and went into pneumonia. Ex President Roosevelt died the morning about 4:15. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, January 6, 2025

Today is the one year anniversary of Mom's death. Aaron and I left at 6:30 AM to drive downtown to Second Helpings to deliver meals. It was actually fun and I was happy that Aaron drove the work van. I napped when we got home. It snowed 10 inches in the last 24 hours. 

What a heavy day for Grandma Nora. I'm sure that she saw parallels between Polly and herself. They were both the same age, Catholic, and had soldier sweeties. 

Here is Polly's death notice. And how sad that her husband was in France at the time. I think there is a Minneman connection with the Spitznogle family. I couldn't find it after a quick search. 

The President Roosevelt that Nora mentioned was Theodore, our 26th president. Women weren't allowed to vote until 1920...I wonder if she even followed politics. Although I'm sure she was following the war closely. 

Last year Indianapolis only registered just a little over 13 inches of snow. Today's snow total is nine inches. Aaron and I left my house (about 6 miles from Second Helpings) at 6:00 AM. The drive was slow and the windows kept icing over, but we got there just fine. Many of the partner agencies that receive meals from us were closed, but two crews of us delivered meals to 12 residential and emergency shelter partners. It was a little scary plowing through the streets but fun too. And people were happy to see us! 

Since we were out and about we drive around the neighborhood. We were excited to see that KFC was open. We ordered a bucket of chicken with mashed potatoes and ate sitting on Aarons sofa. 

I headed home (next door) after lunch and took a long nap. I spent over an hour shoveling my walk and the neighbor's and part of my driveway. 

It was a lovely day of feeling like I accomplished something.