A House Abuzz

January 27, 1934  It is Saturday.  I took care of my beloved.  Mary and the boys did Saturday’s work.  C. Dalkes were here this morning.  Mrs. Dalke took care of the baby.  In the afternoon Mother and sisters came over, also Mrs. John H. Reimer.

Cornelius’ emotions made another rare appearance in the diary in the day after their seventh child was born as he mentions caring for his beloved wife, Margaret.  Women were expected to stay in bed for a week or more after giving birth to rest and to regain their strength.  It would have been a very busy time in the family.  Cornelius was busy helping his wife Margaret.  The three boys, Jake, Corney, and John, had to help Mary with cleaning and baking.  Mrs. Dalke was busy taking care of baby Anna.  And of course, relatives came over to see the new baby – Margaret’s mother Katharina (Barkman) Reimer, Margaret’s sisters, and sister-in-law.  It would have been a houseful of joy and excitement.

Blessed with a Baby Daughter!

January 26, 1934  At 5:20 a.m. we were blessed with a baby daughter.  Dr. Botkin and Mrs. C. Dalke assisted.

On this day, the Siemens household was blessed with joyous news – a baby girl was born.  While Cornelius mostly reports the facts, the time of birth and the names of the doctor and midwife; he does note that they were “blessed,” a word that for him was extraordinary, but certainly in character because Cornelius loved children and believed they were a blessing from God.

The baby was named Anna Margaret – Anna in honor of her aunt Anna (Reimer) Dalke, who helped with the birth, and Margaret for her mother.  Although “baby” is mentioned a number of times in the diary, the name “Anna” is not mentioned until August 29.

For millennia, women had given birth at home, usually assisted only by a midwife.  Only wealthy city-dwellers could afford to have a doctor for the delivery, and he always came to the home.  But for most births, a midwife came.  Midwives were usually self-taught women in the community who assisted at many births, and the journals that some of them kept are great sources of genealogical information.  But in the late 19^th century, this started to change - it became more common for a trained and licensed doctor to be present.  By the 1930s, most children were born with a doctor present, although still at home.  So Dr. Botkin came from the town for Meade to be in charge of the delivery and Anna Dalke only assisted as the midwife.  Only after World War II, when most towns built hospitals and most families had cars to drive to the hospital, did it become common to go to the hospital for a birth.

Saturday's Work

January 23, 1937  13° cold [3° F.] with south wind.  Mama and Mary did Saturday’s work.  In the afternoon Mama and I went to Meade.

The Siemens lived by a weekly routine.  Sunday they went to worship service, visited, and rested.  Monday was laundry day.  Tuesday they ironed and put the wash away.  And Saturday was the preparation day for Sunday.  In his diary Cornelius frequently notes that the women “did Saturday’s work.” 

What was Saturday’s work?  First, the house was cleaned so that it would be ready for Sunday and for another week.  Everything had to be dusted, the floors were mopped or washed, and the bed linens changed.  Then there was baking and cooking that had to be done.  His wife Margaret and their daughter Mary always baked tweeback on Saturday, enough to last the whole week, and loaves of white and rye bread.  And often they would bake cake and cookies.  Tweeback (the Low German word) or zwieback (the High German word) are a traditional Low German Mennonite yeast roll consisting of a larger bottom and a smaller top and rich in lard or butter.  And they get food ready for Sunday dinner because they always expected company.  They would cook a huge pot of potatoes with peeling - for Saturday supper they would eat them with gravy and then on Sunday for dinner they would shred them and fry them.  Also they would soak beans and cook a big pot of pluma or rosina moos.  (Moos is a cold Mennonite fruit soup made made with plums, raisins, cherries, other fruit, and even sorrel.)  As the family finished its week of work and gathered for Saturday supper, everything would be sparkling clean, and the smell of fresh baking would fill the house.  And the Siemens family was ready for a Sunday of worship, fellowship, and rest.