Two Noras: August 2, 1914 and August 2, 2021

Nora Bauer: Sunday, August 2, 1914 

Florence Z? was at our house for dinner. I went down to the station with her. She left at 4:00 o'clock. Joe Rech went back with. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, August 2, 2021

Worked at Second Helpings today - we rescued 4-H veggies from the State Fair. Even though I've thoroughly ignored my garden, I harvested a tomato today.  

I spent way too many hours today trying to figure out who Florence Z and Joe Rech are. I've searched the newspaper archives for a mention of Joe Rech and a Florence together. I've searched for every combination of the letters that I think are in her last name. 

I can't find a mention in the papers at all of Joe in 1914, although there was a blurb in 1916 that he was visiting from Dayton, Ohio. I wonder if that's where he was in 1914? Maybe Grandma Nora will give us some more clues soon. 

This image is from the Indiana Historical Society digital collection - Pennsylvania Railroad Depot, Logansport, 1914. 

The State Fair is testing out an odd schedule this year. Open over four weekends, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

One of the things I'm most proud of starting at Second Helpings is the tradition of the 4-H vegetable entries being donated after being on display the first weekend of the Indiana State Fair. 

The first few years one of the Indiana Extension Agents and I just did it. No one at the Fair was willing to sign off on it, but they seemed happy that it was happening. After the second year we made some cute signage that explained where the veggies went - it was much better than seeing them wither on the paper plates and hear snide remarks from fairgoers about how that wrinkled thing could win a ribbon. 

Here are the 4-H'rs that helped gather and load our van. I really love that behind the van is the door that Dad and Jake Richason used to sneak out for their after-hours shenanigans circa 1956. 

Sorting the veggies at Second Helpings. 

Huge cabbage! 

While the 4-H'rs were diligently growing that beautiful produce,  I totally ignored my garden for the last month. I've done some half-ass watering, but that's it. I was thrilled to spy a ripe tomato when I pulled in the driveway this evening. 

I'm sure that I spent more time setting up the self-timed photo than I did actually growing the tomato.