My Dad, Fred

Mae and Fred's oldest son, Frederick Clinton, was born August 13, 1932 in Immanuel Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska. At that time, the Shinrock were living in Omaha with Fred's mother, Maud Asdell. My dad Fred was given the family name. "Several generations had Frederick as a name," Mae wrote.

Growing up, Fred was always good at sports. "I'll never forget the time he came home after running a sled runner into his leg," remembers Mae. When he was 4 1/2, Fred had pneumonia so bad that they almost lost him.

Mae was proudest when Freddy graduated from the University of Omaha.

What did it Cost?

Grandma remembers when a good salary was $125 per month.

• an ice cream cone cost 5 cents


• a pound of sugar cost 5 cents


• a candy bar cost 5 cents


• a movie cost 10 cents


• a newspaper cost 3 cents


• a bus ride cost 3 cents


• a pair of shoes cost $2.00


• a dress cost $5.00 ("I guess, mine were home-made.")


• a house cost $2,500

Wedding Bells

When Mae and Fred got married, she was 21 years old and he was 23. "We married September 12, 1929 in Topeka, Kansas. The ceremony was in the pastor's study at a Congregational Church. Iris and Elmer Holm were our attendants."

After they were married, Mae and Fred lived in Omaha, Nebraska, mostly, although they also lived a short time in Falls City, NE, and a short time in Atchison, KS. Fred worked for Missouri Pacific Railroad for two year, and then was "bumped." He worked for the Y.M.C.A. as athletic secretary after that. Mae worked at Fleischmann's Yeast until she had their first child, Janice, in 1930. "I was in the hospital on our first anniversary," she wrote.

After High School

It's another snow day- the second one in two weeks. I'm glad for the time off, since I've been ill. Sure makes for a long school year, though. Think I'll spend the time with another blog post:

When Mae was sick, her parents used to make her take bitter medicine. "I had hives and had to eat sulphur and molasses (ugh) as a tonic. Perhaps this experience made her want to become a nurse when she grew up. She graduated from high school at 17, however, and the age to become a nurse was 18. "I started working and the money looked pretty good- $65 a month to start at a pickling plant in the office."

One of the first things Mae remembers buying on her own was a pair of shoes, but the most exciting present she ever received was a white gold wristwatch with her initials (MVC) on back. "It was beautiful. It was for my High School graduation, and I still have it."

Boys, Boys, Boys

Mae's first date was with a neighbor boy. "We went to a church social," she wrote. Later, she liked to dance to Lawrence Welk at a downtown Omaha ballroom.

Then one Saturday night, Mae went to a party at her friend Iris Shinrock's house, and she met a polite, handsome man, Iris's brother, Fred. Mae thought he was a good dancer, and "I think I fell in love on our third meeting," she wrote. "For dates, we would go to the show, go swimming and on picnics, rode in his mother's car. Not much dining out in those days."

Brother and Sisters

Mae had five brothers, but Harris, the oldest, left home at 18 when Mae was born, so when he came home for Christmas, she thought he was a strange man. She had three other brothers at home, though, so when her dad was away and her mom was working, they "kept me in tow."

Mae's sister, Elsie, would give her spending money, since Elsie worked. One of the most memorable trips Mae took was the eight-hour drive on Highway 30 to Genoa, NE in Florence's Ford touring car. "We packed lunch to eat on the way. It was quite a deal!"

"My Favorites"

Here is what Mae wrote about her favorite things:
My favorite toy as a child was my doll "Margurite." I still have her, with a wig made out of my mother's hair.
My favorite movie was as a child, we went to a Saturday matinee and saw the "Perils of Pauline" serial- I forget the star.
My favorite song was my dad's composition, "There'll Come a Time," and it still is.
My favorite dessert was home-made ice cream.
My favorite outfit was my sister Elsie's rust colred satin dress that she let me wear.
My favorite book was "Black Beauty."