1951 Handwritten Diary Rogue River Southern Oregon Delivers Liquor Secret Code X

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1951 Handwritten Diary Rogue River Southern Oregon Delivers Liquor Secret Code X:
$89.99

WELCOMETO SALLY’S DIARIES:

I had to relist this as the buyer never paid.

There’salways something interesting and new when it comes to vintagehandwritten diaries. Our author (and I’m not sure of his name)lives in Southern Oregon between Grants Pass and Medford. I think thetown he lives in is Rogue River which lies between Grants Pass andMedford. The reason I believe this is because he talks about severalplaces they go and eat and drink and they were in the town of RogueRiver in the 1950’s but further research needs to be done ofcourse.

Theyear of this diary is 1951, he’s 30 years old and also deliversliquor, as a business of course. In fact he takes a trip to SanFrancisco in the fall to pickup a load of liquor and bring it backhome and also a trip to Portland Oregon to deliver some beer. I thinkhe delivers to the various taverns in the area too. He also drinks alot of liquor and is dating a woman by the name of Jackie whodesperately wants to get married. When he’s not dating her thereare several other women he sees. He also loves to camp, fish and hikein the mountains (which I might add are all over this area ofOregon). Other towns and places mentioned are Eureka, Crescent City,Foster Creek Forest Camp, Prospect, Chemult, Diamond Lake, Ashland,and so many more. So for anyone living in or having an interest inSouthern Oregon, nearly 70 years ago, this is a great diary.

Nowthere is one very curious thing concerning this diary. At the top ofthe pages right next to the date he sometimes puts an “x” andsometimes that “x” is circled and sometimes he writes a double“xx”. I’m not saying I know this for sure but sometimes thismeans he’s had sex, at least with other diaries I’ve read in thepast that was the case. Just an interesting thing to note but don’ttake my word on that one. On those days that I quote below, I’llwrite an “x” by the date if he does.

Hedoesn’t write every day as there are 77 days that don’t have anentry which still leaves 288 days of handwritten entries. Here are afew examples…….

1951

“January1st, XX

Gotup late at Jackie’s. Came home, ate, worked on cars and listened toBowl games. Went to Jackie’s, ate, listened to Rose Bowl. Playedcards and came home. Thus starts another years.”

“February3rd,

Wentto Prospect today. (Prospect is a small Oregon town on the way toCrater Lake). It rained all day. Jackie had party this evening.She and I, Carl, and Marg, Dock. We drank 2 cs. Of beer and 1 ½ gal.Of wine. Most every one got drunk. I stayed all night. Mom and!!br0ken!! Went to K. Falls for Claude’s opening.”

“February16th,

Wehad a party at Jackie’s for Dock tonight. I taped one of the kegsand we drank about 6 gallons. Millie, Carl, and Dock had a big fightafter I came home.”

“February27th,

Wassupposed to take Jean out this evening, but Jackie fouled up thedeal. Found out about Bumpsy Beck. Jean went to show so took Jackieout to Red Barn and ate.”

“March7th, X

Wentdown and picked Jackie up after work. Went to see show. Went tolounge after show. Told her I was taking Jean out tomorrow night.Made her very unhappy.”

March15th & 16th,

CalledJackie up tonight and she wasn’t home so knew she was out withsomeone…..Wasn’t going to take Jackie out tonight but had to takebeer by her house. She was there so talked me into going out. Quither job at hotel and went to work at Adrian’s. We went out withVirtues, Red Barn, Y Club and Kim’s.”

“April15th,

Gotup at 7 A.M. Ate breakfast. Lou, Hal, and I left for Eureka at 3 A.M.Went down and looked at the boats. Got back to Crescent City about 4P.M. Ate and started home. Buela came with us. Got home at 8 P.M.Jackie wasn’t home so walked over to Virtues and back. She got homeabout 9:30 P.M.”

“May4th,

Jackieand I went to Rogue River Lodge to take Monty some beer. Didn’tstay long. Came back and I came home and went to bed.”

“May18th,X (with a circle around it)

Margcame down this evening. I went down to buy my convertible and it wasgone. Went down to lounge, out to Red Barn, and to Kim’s. Gotlooped. Stayed at Jackie’s all night.”

“May22nd,

Jackiecame out with me to eat. I worked on pick up. Went down to her houseto take a bath. Bob Buckles called me. Beath left him.”

“June8th& 9th,X

Jackieand I got together with the Virtues and we went out on a bender.Drank dry martini\'s Went down to Homestead Tavern at Rogue River.Stayed all night at Jackie’s….Got up late, took Jackie to work.Had car serviced and finally got home about 1:30 or 2:00 P.M. Pop washome. Maulsby’s were getting ready to go to Baker. I went to townand got together with Dorthy Virtue and we bought food and got readyto go camping. We all finally got ready and took off about 8 P.M.Stopped at Rogue River Lodge for drinks. Got up to Foster CreekForest Camp about 11 P.M. where we stayed all night.”

“June10th,

Igot up at 5 A.M. Built fire. Bob and I went fishing. Caught severalsmall ones. Enough for breakfast. Ate, fished some more. Drove up toDiamond Lake and over to Chemult to see Carl and Millie. Stayed alittle while and came back over to Natural Bridge Forest Camp andate. Got home about 8 P.M.”

“June14th,

Stayedhome this evening. Herman came over to look at kitchen. Mrs. Wilson,some people down the street killed her husband.”

“June22nd, X

Jackieand I went to Grants Pass to see Joe Chitwoods Stunk Drivers. Wasgood show. Stopped at Rogue View Inn for one drink Got home late. Popcame down today.”

“July14th,

Workedall day on hot water heater. Jackie and I was going to Grants Pass tosee Midget Races. Maulsbys, Fred Bolling, Madelyn and all came out soI bought steaks and we broiled them over fire place. Claude, Mamiecame about midnight.”

“August9th,

TodayI was 30 years old. Mom had a party for me. Bob and Beath, Hazel andSmitty, Dot Rusty, Jackie, Mrs. Tice, Herman Mitchel and family, momand I. Ate out in back yard. Jackie got me a sleeping bag for apresent.”

“September2nd, X

Gotin Klamath about 4:30 A.M. went to bed, slept till 8:00 A.M. Gotready and drove clear up to Lake Creek by Diamond Lake. They hadpoisoned all the fish so we didn’t catch any. Went back toClaude’s. Ate and went to bed.”

“September15th, X

Gotup at 5:30 A.M. and Bob Buckles and I went fishing on Applegate. Hada flat tire and ruined tire and wheel. Jackie and I had dinner at herplace. Was going to bed early, but Al Barrow came down and we had togo out with him. Went to Lounge, Y Club, and Kim’s. He stayed at myhouse.”

“September25th,X (with a circle around it)

TheTavern Owners Convention started today. Jim Packingham, the NewBohemian salesman went to Ashland with me. Jackie and I went to thehotel for drink. Hauled piano out to Berg’s for Woody Morse. Ate,and brought Bill Randish to town with us.”

“October19th,

Jackieand I went down to Grants Pass to see the game. Took some wine andbeer to Fiddler’s Green and Rogue View Inn. Grants Pass beat us 47to 0. Had tail light trouble. Was midnight before I got out of there.Stopped at Y Club and Kim’s.”

“October25th & 26th XX

Jackieand I left for Frisco about 8:30 A.M. today. Stopped and saw ShastaDam. Ate lunch at Project City. Got in Frisco about 7:00 P.M. Stayedat Manx Hotel. Went to top of Mark Finocheos, ate at Fisherman’sWharf…...Got up and went to see about seaman\'s papers. Got ticketsfor pro game. Then we went to see the Rainier Brewery. Went out toFisherman’s Wharf again. Then went to the show. Paid $1.10 to seeAmerican in Paris. No good.”

“October31st, X

LeftCrescent City early, stopped at Gold Beach, Bandon. Took Ferry acrossCoquille River and went across 7 Devil’s up to Coos Bay. Sure arough trip. Came in at Empire. Went out to some parks on the point.Drover over to North Bed and Marshfield. Finally got a motel betweenthe two towns. Ate and went to bed.”

“November11th,

Wasdown at Jackie’s most of the day helping her pack. She left on aplane for Anchorage Alaska at 6:15 P.M. today.”

“November27th,

Leftfor Portland at 3:00 A.M. today. Rained most of the way up. Arrivedat 3:30 P.M. Unloaded beer and was through at 5:00 P.M. took a busover to Vancouver to see Tilton’s. We went to club at VancouverBarracks and to Castle Club. Saw Ella Mae Morris. Had good time.Stayed all night.”

“December31st,

NewYears Eve. Last day of year. Bought jug, got some rum for family.Stayed home. Wrote letter to Jackie. Went down and mailed it. Stoppedat Madelyn’s for drink, was there at midnight.”

Thediary does look like it has a bit of water damage as there are stainson the cover and on the inside front and back cover. It’s a tinybit warped too. Binding and pages look good though. It measures about3 1/2” x 6”.