WORLD WAR II ERA - 1946

JANUARY 1946

1 W=F TU New Year's Day
Cut off bottom part of Sun Parlor door to clear rug. Fixed N's desk, fixed iron.
2 W=F W cold! Loaned my copy of "Initiations, Human and Solar" to J L Scott this AM.
3 W=F TH XX
WEEA [Western Electric Engineers' Association] went on strike at 11:00am today. I had to go thru picket line tonite. Sent in signed request form to Mr. Campbell to have my records transferred from Chicago Clearing House Agency to Newark Agency of The Mutual Life Insurance Co., of NY. Heard President Truman's speech to nation. Also listened to a masterly analysis of same by Mr. Black of The NY Society for Ethical Culture.
4 W=C F XX
I came in to plant this AM with Charles Searles on train. We & many others were not able to enter plant due to the efficient picket lines. We came back home thru J. C. Sorted out old bills.
5 W=C SAT
Bob recd certificate of eligibility a few days ago and today wrote Nichols Junior College & sent application for the 2 year course starting Feb 3, 1946. Got new horn button for car from Twin Boro people today to replace worn one. This is our 28th wedding anniversary. I gave N candy & money.
6 W=C SU 66deg at 3PM Very mild all day. Oiled wash. mach. motor & tightened belt. N is 51 years of age.
7 W=R MON 
Started washing kitchen walls & ceiling with Wiggs cleaner. Called Mrs. Geo. Hanson. Geo. H. called me about his visit to plant today. Says it is better picketed now than Friday. He has applied for unemployment pay last Friday.
8 W=F TU XXX
Registered for state unemployment benefits. Met Mr. Fey there. Bob received a telegram in answer to his Sunday letter from Nichols Jr. College advising of his acceptance as a student starting Feb. 3. Recd check from W E Co. for pay up to 1/4/46 & including it. Overtime is not included. Recd let from Aunt J[ennie]. Marge's husband is in Germany, Eleanor's husband in Japan and Donald is now a Capt. of a Co. in India (Calcutta- 73rd Ord. Depot Co.) Am reading "Letters on Occult Meditation".
9 W=R W 
Finished cleaning kitchen walls. Melvin Dahlin & Paul Naef called on phone. Naef stated co. would pay us during strike provided we were willing to work at plants or places accessible to us. Paul called twice. The last time to make an appointment for tomorrow at 1:00PM at Winfield Scott Hotel. Tom Fraley also called me yesterday.
10 W=F TH
Had our first meeting today as a department group. We met at W S Hotel & then spent afternoon at Paul's house on Berwyn St., Union. Called T Fraley.
11 W=C FR
Met at P. N.'s house again at 1:00PM. Left at 5:00PM. Phone tieup thru nation seems to be nearly complete. [Remember all this time they have been developing long distance technology.] Mrs. Ben Skinner (formerly of Berwyn) and her daughter and Nina Obgertel were afternoon visitors. Put up new shades in kitchen.
12 W=C SA
82nd Division paraded in NYC.[see newsreel footage of the parade complete with narration and music] Strikes are paralyzing the country. Bot trunk for Bob's use at Jr. College.
13 W=F SU
Bob took folks out for ride in our car. He came in at 2:30 this AM from being out with Connie Loesser. [Remember this is a male Connie. He dies as a not very old man, before Grandma died, I noted in her diary.]
14 W=F MON XX
Started working at #9 William Street in NYC in temporary HQ on 3rd floor. Mr. Bransford has 3rd & 4th floors. I went to Paul's house first with other boys. Spent afternoon with J D Tibo of B.T.L. [This building must have been partially empty, the link is to the history of the address & its buildings.]
15 W=C TU
Bob went to St. unempl. office & cancelled my request for help which I made one week ago. Left on 8:02 & got to 9S. William St. at 10 to 9. Arrived at Elmora at 5:49 PM. Bob & I saw G. I. Joe picture at Ritz. It is based on Ernie Pyle's book.
16 W=F W 14deg
Attended convocation at NY Minor Lodge of AMORC. Met Gibbons & Zellif at 9 S. William St. today.
17 W=C TH
About 200 supervisors entered WE Kearny plant & came out again with material & records etc. W. E. Co. obtained a temporary injunction against mass picketing yesterday. Made out list of Alice A. Bailey's books for Mrs. Johnson
18 W=C F
I and 3 others of our Dept. entered the plant after 1:00PM without opposition from the pickets. N & I spent evening with Mr. & Mrs Whitom.
19 W=F 9deg SA
Crossed picket line at Kearny this AM. Took home some more work etc. Bob to Lake Mohawk with Jeanne Klump.
20 W=C SU Have a slight cold developing. Did some Co. work.
21 W=S MON
My cold is much relieved. Took more co. records home due to possibility of strike locking out management employees.
22 W=F TU Cold!
Passed picket line again this AM. We will be working at Kearny until Friday. Called Paul at his home after supper. He is on Jury Duty & could not be excused. Took work home to check. Had conference in M T Thompson's office this AM re: strike situation.
23 W=F W
Another conf in Mr. T T's office. Talked with Paul again from W E Co. He called me. Recd letter from Aunt H[ilda] who has had flu. She had her ear lanced and is temporarily deaf in one ear. Met Wilbur Hanson today for 1st time since his home-coming Sunday. He gave me a lift from station in family car. Recd 1 ton pea coal & 1 3/4 tons K coke.
24 W=F TH
P Naef stopped in after Jury Duty at about 4:00PM. Went over to NYC, 9 S. William St., and brot back several items.
25 W=F FR
Called JLS on phone about my book. He read it & gave it to Pat.(Init., Human & Solar) Injunction hearing again postponed to Weds.
26 W=C SA
Bob & I did errands. We both went to Hurley's and had our watches repaired. Worked on Co. work. Bob went out with Jeanne Klump.
27 W=F SU Mended breadbox. Worked on "Assembly Breakdown Charts".
28 W=C M
Went to Paul N's house after supper to discuss training schedule with him. Also discussed other matters. Recd new 12 edition of Machinist's handbook from Joe P. Huber.
29 W=F TU
Missed my train this AM & was late 1/2 hr. Called PN after supper but he was not home his wife said. She had taken her mother to a hospital today. Bob used car to visit a friend in Linden.
30 W=R W
Paul N called at 6:50 this AM and again just after supper, to discuss our work. Learned that hearing on co. injunction against WEEA was closed today and another 10 or 13 days are necessary for the judge to make or render his decision. Heard the co. has offered Engineers Council 15% + merit raises or 15% retroactive to 11/1 and no merit raises plus a new contract. Council had a meeting last night to discuss new terms. A union meeting is now set for 2/7 in order to vote on the proposition.
31 W=R TH
Paul & I & Joe Huber & H J Staple went out to plant of Manhattan Rubber Mfg. Co. in Passaic on Van Houten Avenue this noon. Mr. Knox of that Co. & Mr. Stiles of Stiles Rubber Co. took 8 of us out to dinner at the Upper Montclair Country Club. We transacted a rubber deal there on Mr. Stiles' order from Fed. Electric of Chicago for rubber gaskets.

FEBRUARY 1946

1 W=F FR Bob went to party. We are all set to go to Dudley, MA tomorrow morning to take Bob to Nichols Jr. College.
2 W=F SA
Bob & I left for Nichols Jr. College at 9am. Arrived there about 4:00pm. Bob & I met Col. Conrad & he invited us to supper there and let me sleep with Bob. It was beastly cold and I did appreciate this hospitality. Mileage 198. Starting mileage this AM was 32334.
3 W=F SU Very cold
Ice and snow up around Dudley, MA & in CT also. Had breakfast with Bob at 9am & it was good and plentiful. Left after 10am. Got home at 5:45 pm. Mileage was 197. For trip it was 397. (32731)
4 W=F M 13deg Took work home.
5 W=C TU
Strike still on at WE Co, and strikes are universal all over the US and elsewhere too.[Click here for actual movie footage of WE Co. picketers. It's at the very beginning, so watch quick, then it goes on to a Western Union scene, but the picket lines would be representative of those at WEKearny.] UNO has suggested that it select an area in Westchester County & in CT (Stamford) for its home (permanent) site. UNO meeting in London is having its chief difficulties in enmity & distrust between Russia & Britain Took work home.
6 W=R W
Recd letter and ballot and contract from Sug's Soc.-Sp. Prod. Meeting is tomorrow. Recd Jury Service card to fill out for possible future service on Petit Jury. Recd calendar from Stiles Rubber Co. Sent a calendar to Bob.
7 W=F TH
Attended Engineers Council meeting at Continental Auditorium, Broad St., Newark. Voted to accept contract offered by Co. for 15% increase in salary. Sent order to Economy HQ-New Process Co., Warren, PA on 2/8/46 for 1 duck feather & down pillow for N. Wrote Reader's Digest Assoc. Inc. to cancel my subscription to "Reader's Digest".
8 W=F Fri Recd letter from Bob & from Sally. N & I saw movies at Roselle Park Theater.
9 W=R SA
Went shopping for N & took Dad to barber. Went to Public Market in Port Elizabeth. Got soap chips for N at Gramp's Hdwe Store. Delivered my house fire ins. policy to Mr. Finch to send to Prudential Ins. Co. of A.
10 W=C SU Mrs. Putnam called & had supper with us. I drove her back.
11 W=F MON
Mrs. Putnam will be back to work again due to my suggesting that she ask Mr. H. F. Allison about it. He said that she should report to Center St., Newark Warehouse
12 W=F TU Lincoln's Birthday
Was advised by Paul Naef this aft. that I have been given a "merit" raise of $20 per month retroactive to 12/1/45. About 60% of members of our dept. received "merit" raises. The 15% general increase takes effect on 1/28/46.
13 W=R W
Still carrying lunch everyday as WEEA is still on strike. A permanent injunction has been granted W E Co. at Kearny to refrain the WEEA from mass picketing. Had conf today in Pease's office in regard to inspection phases of the work both by Navy and final insp. Met new Navy Inspector, Mr. Norman Burnette. Wrote to Bob.
14 W=C & R TH
Kearny was again mass picketed this AM and I could not even get off the RR property. So GSH & I called Paul Naef and went to 9 S. William St. again. Called PN twice without success. Finally got him at William St. He got into plant with several of our people and is arranging to take things out in cars. Recd 9 sheet letter from Jennie. Dad had another spell of fainting.
15 W=C & S F Cold
Went direct to 9 S William St. where we all met and from there we went to 120 Broadway & then to Holley Hotel on Washington Square. Left at 2:45 for Harmony Book Shop where I purchased copy of HPB's Secret Doctrine. Strike blockade still complete at WE Co. Kearny plant.
16 W=F SA N & I went to Public Market at Elizabethport. Recd letters from Sally & Bob.
17 W=F SU N wrote Bob asking him to come next weekend. Took ride in PM.
18 W=F M
Went over to 9 S William St. again today. Recd letters from Jennie & Ralph. Recd Income Tax statement from W E Co.
19 W=S TU
Wrote birthday cards to Jennie (50th birthday) and Marjorie Vander Weel (Abrams).
20 W=F W
Went to Mfgr's Trust Co. bank at 149 Broadway & cashed Co. check there this AM. Went to AMORC convention (Forum meeting). Met Charles Searles on Broadway by accident. I was window gazing as he went by. Also met Pat. His wife came back home yesterday from another trip to Hospital. Recd letter from Bob, he is coming home Thurs. (tomorrow) by car with one of the students from Princeton.
21 W=F TH Bob arrived at 7:45 pm by auto of a friend.
22 W=C F 32deg Washington's Birthday Did not go to work.
23 W=F SA
Went to U C Trust Co. bank this AM. Wrote letters to Jennie, Dad & Ralph & Jo. Bob took Jeanne Klump to party.
24 W=S & C SU Bob left w/ 2 boys in car for Nichols at 5:00pm.
25 W=F M Cold!
Mr. McCool went in and out of WE Co. Kearny plant early this AM and had a very tough time of it.
26 W=C TU
Melvin Dahlin & I visited Chinatown after dinner today. Signed req for 2 year sub to "Cosmopolitan" magazine for N at $5.50.
27 W=R W
Attended AMORC convocation at NYC Minor Lodge. Recd letter from Jo. Visited site of Old Federal Building w/ Dahln in NYC.
28 W=F TH
Melvin Dahlin & I visited the Stock Exchange. [Sounds to me like they were getting paid to do a lot of NYC sight-seeing on those afternoons while locked out of their offices at Kearny!]