OUR HONEYMOON TRIP
GILBERT AND EDITH DISTAD
November 9, 1929 to December 16, 1929
By Edith Hull Distad
November 9, 1929
A trip to Minnesota for our honeymoon
We were married at the Presbyterian Ministers home in Lewistown, at 11:15 Saturday November 9, 1929 by Rev. Everett Cox. Ray and Mildred had a dinner with us. At 20 minutes to 1 o clock we left Lewistown. We had slippery muddy roads nearly all the way to Grass Range and they were awful slippery off and on all the way to Roundup. Once we got stuck, near Devil's Basin and had to put on the chains. We only met 3 cars till we got near Roundup. Got into Roundup at 15 minutes to 5. We stayed overnight at a hotel there, Schrunys. It rained all night and all day
Sunday November 10th.
Different ones there told us that either road to Miles City was impassable, so we decided to wait till Monday to see if it cleared up any. We went to a picture show Sunday night and it was the funniest thing we ever saw.
Monday morning November 11th.
The rain made the roads so much worse that we decided we couldn't get through to Miles City, so we drove back to Lewistown and stayed overnight at the Standard rooms there. Went to show. Met Snowball Hughes at Grass Range. Left Roundup at 9:30 got to Grass Range at 12 o'clock, had dinner, left Grass Range at 1 o'clock got to Lewistown at 2:30. That night everything froze up hard, so we thought if we got to the river bottom before it thawed, that we could make it to Miles City to the Yellowstone Trail. We left Lewistown at 8:30. Got 4 gallons of gas and oil. Got to Grass Range at 9:30 and left there at 9:35. The roads had dried a lot and were still froze hard so we traveled right along. It stayed cold all day. We got to Roundup at 11:15. Stopped there and got 2 1/2 gallons of gas and some oil and left there at 11:45 for Miles City. Drove into Melstone at 1:20 - got two gallons of gas and some oranges and started on again. We had a flat tire when we ran on to some twisted up telephone wire. We put on the spare and when we got to Ingomar, Gib bought a new inner tube. We changed tires again and went on to Forsyth, arriving there at 10 minutes to 5 o clock. We got 4 gallons of gas and some oil and went on again to Miles City arriving there at 15 minutes to 7 o clock. We had supper and then drove all over trying to find Prouty place, but it was too dark to see, so we went to a hotel.
The next morning Tuesday the November 12th, we had breakfast and then found Proutys place all right in day light. They wanted us to stay over night, so we did. Had a nice visit. Gib washed the car and helped Mrs. Prouty. That night, Virgil, Kenneth, Anna, Gib and I went riding.
Wednesday November. 14th. We left Miles City at 15 minutes to 9, stopped at Terry for 3 gallons of gas and oil. Stopped at Glendive for dinner, got 2 gallons gas and oil. Got more gas and oil at Beach. 2 1/2 gallons gas and some more oil at Dickinson, N. D. Got 3 gallons gas and oil and some candy at Glenullen, went through Mandan, N. D. to Bismark, arriving there at 15 minutes to 9. We drove 296 miles this day. We stayed in a hotel there.
Had breakfast the next morning, November 15th and left there at 8:30. Stopped at McKensie for 3 gallons of gas and oil and got to Jamestown at 12 o clock. We had dinner here, got 6 gallons of gas and oil, and some apples. Left there at 10 minutes to 1. Got to Moorehead, Minnesota at 4:15, got 7 gallons of gas and oil stopped at Fergus Falls for gas and oil and had supper. Decided to go on to the next town. We left at 7:30 and got to Alexandria at 9. We stayed at a Hotel that night.
November 16th
The next morning we had breakfast and left there at 10 minutes after 8. Got to Sauk Center at 9. Got some gas and oil and candy. Stopped at Becker and next Farmington for gas and oil and drove through Owatamma and Dodge Center and got to Hayfield and found Gib's folks place about 6 o'clock Saturday evening. They sure were surprised as they didn't know we were coming. We walked down to see Mae too.
Sunday November 17th
Gib and I went down and visited on the porch with Mae and saw Richard and Douglas through the window. They were quarantined for scarlet fever and we couldn't go in. In the evening we went to the Lutheran Church with the folks and met lots of the relatives. Then we went home with Oscar's wife Ella and Louvaine and had a nice visit.
Monday November 18th.
Gib took the car down to Mae's to wash the mud off. I washed some clothes. Gib got an old phonograph out and tried to get it to run. We looked at pictures. Maurice Distad came up in the evening and we all went to a show except mother. I got a letter from Mama this morning and one from Edith Spring and I wrote to Margaret, Aunt Anna and Uncle Henry. Gib wrote to Ray. I shortened the cuffs on Gib's trousers.
Tuesday November 19th
This morning after breakfast I did my ironing and washed my hair. Lavane came up after school and after supper Gib and I took her to a show on her way home.
Wednesday November 20th
It snowed nearly all day and was awful cold. I wrote a letter to Myrtle and one to Anna. Then I curled my hair. Dad and Gib went down town. I talked to mother and played the Victorola. Gib and I went to the show, but it was the same one we saw last night, so we came back and read a story.
Thursday November 21st.
The sun is shining today, but it is colder than it was yesterday. Gib has gone down town this morning. We all went down to Mrs. Bill Bauman's for supper. She had a very good supper. Her son and wife's little boy came down too. About 10 o clock Gib and I went down town to a dance and stayed till about 1:30.
Friday November 22nd
We didn't get up till nearly 10 o clock today. It's another cold day and the wind is blowing hard. Dad and Gib went down town. Gib bought a little wool sweater.
Saturday November 23rd
It's not so cold today, but is snowing again. We didn't do much of anything all day. Arnold came home about 1 o clock in the morning. Ma and Pa went down to a Loutifish supper at the church and Gib and I got our supper here. Got a letter from Uncle Ray.
Sunday November 24th
It's a trifle warmer again this morning, but there are snow flurries all the time. About 11 o clock we all went down to Ella's for dinner. Had a fine dinner and also had a bunch for supper and then went to the church to hear a musical concert given by the Austin Choir. There were 37 men and women in it. They sang without music.
Monday, November 25th
It is quite nice today. Gib took the car down to the garage to get a heater put in and new rings too. Wrote to Mama and Mildred. I got a letter and picture from Mama today. We went to a show tonight.
Tuesday November 26th
We all went to Rochester today, in Mae's car. We had dinner, looked around town, went up to the clinic. Went to a picture show. I got a present for Kay. We got home about 4. Had supper, then I wrote some cards to the kids and got Katherines present ready to send. Sent a card to Aunt Edith, Edith Spring, Ray Distad and Helen B.
Wednesday, November 27th
It is snowing hard again, but isn't cold. Gib went down to see if the car was done yet and brought back a letter from Anne and our curtains from Montgomery Wards. It has quit snowing now and the sun is out. The wind blew and drifted snow all afternoon. Arnold came home after we had gone to bed.
Thursday November 28th
It is still cloudy and snowing a little. We had a good Thanksgiving by ourselves today. We didn't do anything or go any place because it got so terribly cold in the afternoon.
Friday November 29th
Today is clear and bright but so awful cold that we can hardly stand to go out doors. I did a washing this morning and Gib helped me. We were done before dinner. After dinner I helped mother do the dishes and got some things ready to iron. Ironed after dinner. Gib went down town to see about the car. Louvaine and Gladys came over for a few minutes. Mae and the boys came over in the afternoon and stayed all night because the doctor was fumigating their house. Gib and I went down to see "Uncle Toms Cabin". Got home after 10.
Saturday November 30th
Today is clear and bright and quite a bit warmer. Mae has gone home to hang the clothes and bedding out on the line. Gib has gone down to get the car, so we can go out to visit one of his cousins this afternoon. The boys went home to get their sled. We went out about 1 o clock to Lorna's for supper. We took Mrs Bauman along. Had a fine supper and enjoyed our visit. It was snowing when we started home. When we got home Harry Boe was here and he and Mae, Gib and I went to Austin to see Al Jolson in "The singing Fool". It snowed so hard sometimes that we could barely see the road, but we had a good time. Got home about 1 o clock. Arnold came home too.
December 1929
Sunday December 1st.
It is still snowing this morning. We all, (but Mae and the boys) went out to John Distad's for dinner. There we met Aunt Julia and Uncle John, Clarence, Clifford, Walter, Nora, Ruth and Marguerite. They are all very nice. It snowed hard and turned into a blizzard for a while. When it cleared up a little we went home.
Monday, December 2nd
It is clear again but not very cold. Arnold left this morning. Mae marcelled my hair in the morning. After dinner Pa and Gib, Mae and I went to Austin. When we got home we went to Thor Distad's for supper. The sun set red tonight. We went to bed after 11 o clock.
Tuesday, December 3rd
Today is cloudy. Mae went to work this morning. I washed my hair and Mae tried to give me a finger wave, but it wouldn't stay in. About 1 o clock Gib and I went to Austin. Gib got a shave and I got my hair cut and waved. Then we had our pictures taken. We got supper in town and got home about 20 minutes after 7
Wednesday December 4th.
It is nicer today. Gib put the new mats in the car this morning. I washed his shirts, then we packed the phonograph records. After dinner Gib and I went to Austin to see our pictures. We got home at 5 o clock and had halibut for supper. Then about 6:15, Harry Boe came up and took Mae and us to a show at Rochester. We got home about 20 after 1.
Thursday, December 5th
It is just lovely out this morning. One of the Watkins boys came up after our car to put a heater in it. Pa and Gib have gone down town. Mae has gone to work and the boys are out playing. Gib brought the car home today. We went to Mae's place for supper. Aunt Ida and Uncle Oscar was there too.
Friday, December 6th
It is cloudy today and a little colder. This morning, Pa, Gib and I went to Mantorville. Pa had some business to attend to at the court house. We looked around some after he got through. Saw the church where Gib went when he was a kid. Saw the houses where they used to live and where Mae and Arnold were born and where Julia died. We got home around 12. Had dinner and then Gib and I went to Austin to get our pictures. Had to wait till 5:25 for them. Got home about 10 minutes after 6. It got awful dark and stormy looking the in the evening and misted a little. Mae and Douglas came over to get Richard. He had gone to sleep here. We had planned to leave in the morning but it looks too stormy now.
Saturday, December 7th
It is cloudy but not cold this morning. Gib put the storm windows on the upstairs. I got some of our pictures ready to mail. After dinner I went down to Mae's. We played the piano and sang for awhile. We went to the Post Office where I mailed the photo's, then up to the school house and back through town. We met Gib at the Post Office on the way home. He took Mae and Richie home. Then we went out to his old home place and drove around, then back and around town and home. Arnold came home about 7:30. After supper Gib and I went down to Mae's for some Chow Mein. It was very good. Harry Boe was there too. We all helped get the lunch ready and after we had eaten we all washed the dishes. Got home after 12 o clock. It looked awfully stormy.
Sunday December 8th
It has cleared again, but is quite cold. After dinner we cleaned the back of the car out and got most of our things packed. Then Mae and the boys came up and we took some pictures. After that Gib, Mae and I went down to Ella's say good-bye to her and the girls. She gave us a lunch before we left. In the evening we all went to church.
STARTING HOME
Monday December 9th
We got up at 5 o clock, had breakfast about 6 o clock, but it looked so snowy that we thought we would wait till the sun came out to see if it was going to clear up. It stayed dark and cloudy all day and snowed a trifle. After dinner Arnold left, and Gib took Pa up to Austin in our car. They got back at 10 minutes to 3. About 4 o clock they both went down town. Gib went to fill the car with gas so we can start in the morning if it isn't storming. We went to bed a little after 9.
Tuesday, December 10th
We got up at 5 o clock, had breakfast about 6:30 and we are ready to go now. We left a 7 o clock, stopped to tell Mae good-bye and stopped a minute at the Post Office to see Harry. It was dark and cloudy all day and we hadn't gone far before the mist started freezing on the windshield and Gib had to stop and scrape it off enough so he could see, every 3 or 4 miles. It was so hard to see that we got on the wrong road and had to go back to Farmington on Number 10 again. It was 12:30 when we got in to Minneapolis, We didn't have any trouble getting through, but is was 10 after 2 when we got through the town. We got to Elk River at 3:15 and had a lunch there. Left at 3:25. It stopped misting and the fog lifted some so we made better time. We stopped at St. Cloud at 4:30 for gas and oil. Got gas at Alexandria at 7 and drove into Fergus Falls at 9:20. It is quite a nice place. Our hotel was next door to the garage so it made it handy. Hotel was $1.50, garage .75. Drove 321 miles today .
Wednesday December 11th
We left Fergus Falls at 10 minutes to 8 o clock. The garage man had run our car outside for about 20 minutes before we got it and when we got about 3 miles out, the radiator froze up. So we had to thaw it out, then drive to a farm house near, for water. We got to Moorehead at 15 to 10, got some gas and then stopped at Fargo, N. D. and got a map of North Dakota and some bananas. We got to Valley City about 15 to 12. Got some gas and oil and had dinner. It was 20 minutes to 1 when we left there. Near Jamestown we ran into some mist again. We had been scraping it off the glass when a car drove by and stopped ahead of us. A man got out and came over to us and said that he had been using alcohol on his and it had worked pretty good. So he cleaned ours then said he was going to Bismark too and that he would tag along to help again if we needed him. We got along fine for several miles and then had to stop again. He came back and wiped it off again for us. After that the mist cleared up, so he went on ahead. The roads were just wonderful most of the way. There had been a big snow storm through there the day and night before. Some places were drifted quite a bit. But most places the snow plows had been through ahead of us, so we got along fine. When we got to Tappen we stopped for gas and it had started to mist again, so Gib got some alcohol for the windshield, but it didn't help very much. We got out of the mist again and made good time then. It had been cold all day, but when we got to Bismark about 6 o clock, it seemed lots warmer. We went on to Mandan which was 5 miles had supper and went to a hotel.
Thursday December 12th
We left Mandan at 7:15. It was lots nicer this morning. It was quite foggy for a while, but about 11 o clock the sun came out and it warmed up. We stopped at Hebron for gas and oil. After leaving there, we saw a great big mangy coyote sitting along side of the road. We got to Medora at 20 minutes to 12 o clock. Got some gas and oil and some cookies and went on again. It was 166 miles to Beach, N. D. There we changed time 1 hour. Got to Wibaux, MT at 5 minutes to 12 o clock. Had dinner, got some gas and oil and left at 12:30. That was 179 miles from Mandan. Got gas and oil at Terry, Mt. From Terry to Miles City we had quite a bad road. It was drifted in places and we had to detour some. But, we didn't have any trouble and got to Miles City about 5 o clock. We found Prouty's place and stayed with them that night. Mr. Prouty was out at Zero. Mrs. Prouty called him up on the telephone and he came home, got there about 10:30. We were so glad to see him. We sat up a down and talked till after 12 o'clock. Anna and Virgil went to some C. E. meeting and didn't get home until we had gone to bed.
Friday, December 13th
After the kids had all gone to school, Mr. Prouty took Gib down town. Gib had the car greased. I helped Mrs Prouty and took care of little Freddie. I had a fine visit with her, but didn't get to talk to Anna at all. Mr. Prouty left at noon. Had to go back to Zero for a meeting. Mrs. Mickelson and her son Perry, came to see Kenneth. He had been sick for several days. Gib and I rested some in the afternoon and went to bed soon after supper. Mrs. Mickelson stayed all night too.
Saturday, December 14th
We left Prouty's this morning at 8:20. Got some gas and oil. When we had gone 14 miles we came to the buffalo pasture and there were six big fellows right near the fence, so we took some pictures of them. We stopped at Forsyth for gas. Near Ahles we saw a big rail road dam when we were going across the hills. We got to Melstone at 10 minutes to 2. Got gas and oil and reached Roundup at 20 minutes to 4. We only traveled 168 miles today, but the roads were covered with snow from 2 to 10 inches deep and in some places it had started to thaw so it made it awful slow traveling. We saw where lots of cars had been in the ditches and Gib had a time keeping our car out. We had a fine supper at the Vienne Cafe. Got a room at the Schrunys Hotel and at 7 o clock we went to a show at the American Theater. We saw Tom Mix and his horse. I wrote a letter to Mae and we went to bed about 9:30.
Sunday December 15th
We had breakfast and left Roundup at 10 minutes after 9 o clock. The snow kept getting deeper the farther we came and the track wasn't broke so good, so it made slow traveling. We got stuck going up a hill, where the snow was melting and had to put on the mud chains. We didn't have any trouble after that and got to Grass Range at 12 o clock, just 50 miles from Roundup. The road to Lewistown was broke better and the snow plow had been out several miles. We got to Lewistown at 20 minutes after 1 o clock. It is 84 miles from Roundup to Lewistown. We only stopped there long enough to eat dinner and get some gas, then started home. It had melted so much that the water was standing every where and the snow was nearly gone on the roads. Before we got to Hilger it had started to freeze and the roads were getting slicker all the time. By the time we had reached Fergus the road was just a sheet of ice, and we could hardly drive at all. All of a sudden our car shot across the road and into the ditch. It was so deep in the snow that we couldn't get it out. While we were working around it a man came along in an old Ford, but it couldn't pull our car out. Then Romanstead and Louie Mitten came in a big car and pulled ours right out. Our car wasn't hurt a bit and we came on to the folks place in Roy, and stayed all night in Roy, at Pratts.
Mondays December 16th
It snowed Sunday night and Monday. The snow got so deep that a car can't travel very far. We stayed with the folks till the 21st. Gib borrowed Less's saddle horse and rode out home and came back the 23rd (Monday) with a team and sled. We left the next morning, the day before Christmas and drove out home.
EXPENSE ACCOUNT
Lewistown November 9, 1929
4 gallons gas and oil 2.60
Roundup November 9
supper .70
hotel 4.00
oil 2 gallon gas and garage 1.60
supper .50
breakfast .45
supper .80
doctor bill 3. 00
November 11th Grass Range
dinner 1.00
Lewistown
Supper 1.00
November 12th, Lewistown
breakfast .60
hotel and garage 4.50
4 gallon gas 1.30
oil .15
Roundup
2 1/2 gallon gas 2.15
apples .05
Melstone
2 gallon gas .62
oranges .30
Ingomar
Inner tube 2.40
Forsyth
4 gallon gas and oil 1.85
Miles City
supper 1.05
hotel 3.50
November 13th Miles City
breakfast .60
garage .50
spent the day at P. H. Proutys
November 14th
Terry
3 gallons gas and oil 1.28
Glendive
2 gallons gas .59
oil .35
dinner 1.10
Beach, ND
2 gallons gas and oil 1.19
Dickinson, ND
2 1/2 gallons gas and oil .95
Glenullen
3 gallons gas and oil .87
candy .25
Bismark
Hotel 2.50
garage and lights 1.35
breakfast .55
November 15th Friday
McKensie
3 gallon gas and oil .94
Jamestown, ND
dinner .35
apples .30
6 gallon gas and oil 2.00
Moorehead
7 gallon gas and oil 1.75
Fergus Falls
2 gallon gas and oil .60
supper 1.00
Alexandria
Hotel 2.00
garage .50
breakfast .70
November 16th Saturday
Sauk Center
4 gallons gas and oil 1.18
candy .10
Becker
3 gallons gas and oil .85
Farmington
4 gallons gas and oil 1.20
Hayfield
Total four days driving
Gas and Oil 18.73
meals 5.95
candy, apples, oranges 1.00
Hotel bills 9.00
garage 2.00
inner tube 2.40
light bulbs .85
total 39.93
used 54 gallons of gas
EXPENSE AT HAYFIELD
For new rings and heater for car and work
22.00
Photographs 7.00
Door curtains 4.35
floor mats and pad 2.13
total 35.45
December 10th
Return trip to Montana
Hayfield
4 gallons gas .90
Owatanna
2 1/2 gallons gas and oil 1.02
Faribault
bananas .30
Farmington
3 gallons gas .63
Minneapolis
cleared windshield .25
Elk River
Lunch .50
St. Cloud
4 gallons gas and oil 1.53
Alexandria
4 gallons gas 1.01
Fergus Falls 321 miles
December 11th Fergus Falls
supper .95
Hotel 1.50
garage .75
breakfast .80
Moorehead
3 gallons gas and Oil 1.08
Fargo
Bananas .30
map of North Dakota .25
Tappen
5 gallons gas 1.35
alcohol .15
Mandan 270 miles
garage .75
supper 1.00
hotel 2.00
breakfast .80
2 gallons gas and oil 1.74
Hebron
2 1/2 gallons gas and oil 1.00
Medora
6 1/2 gallons gas and oil 1.70
cookies .25
Beach (Change time)
Wibaux 179 miles from Mandan
Wibaux at 5 minutes to 12
dinner .50
1 gallon gas .30
Terry
3 gallons .89
Miles City 5 o clock
5 gallons gas and oil 2.18
greasing car 1.50
fruit 1.20
Forsyth
3 gallons gas .98
Ahles (railroad dam)
Melstone 10 to 12 o clock
3 gallons gas .90 and oil 1.25
Roundup 168 miles 20 minutes to 4 o clock
supper 1.15
garage 2.00
breakfast .90
show 1.00
3 1/2 gallons gas 1.10
Lewistown 1:20 83 miles from Roundup
dinner .80
5 gallons gas 1.43
Roy 4:30
Total from Hayfield to Roy
Gas and oil 20.09
meals 7.40
garage 2.00
hotel 5.50
fruit and cookies .85
greasing car 1.50
alcohol .15
North Dakota map .25
cleaning windshield .25
show Roundup 1.00
Total 36.99
fruit at Proutys 1.20
Used 60 gallons of gas
Traveled over 2400 miles
Journal Copyright 1999-2008 by Betty Distad-all rights reserved.
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