How does one transpose a sixty-plus year old, strong heartfelt feeling into words on a computer screen? Answer, you begin! Beginnings are tremendous events and this one was the most important in my life in 1945 and every year since. We met face to face in the kitchen doorway of Lynn Fuhrer Lodge located northwest of Iowa state College golf course, Ames, Iowa.
The occasion was a joint YMCA-YWCA reception for graduating seniors, held on a Wednesday nite at the lodge. The list of invitees had been prepared by myself, current president of the ISU-YMCA and the YWCA president.
The meeting was awkward at first; then I said,"I feel like I've known you from the past, as one of the blond Koster sisters from Gladbrook, IA showing black angus cattle at the Marshall County Fair." She responded, "Yes, I am one of them and I know you are president of the YMCA and responsible for this reception, I've enjoyed the evening, thank you." We both opened the doorway for others to pass and each went home our own way. On the way back to Alumni Hall Residence Hall I told a friend, Fred Blythe that I had met a girl that I would ask for a date if she wasn't graduating the next week. Since I had not dated anyone since 1942, that was quite a bold statement.
A lesson learned; never speak your thoughts to a good friend, unless you mean them.
That Saturday about 6pm, I returned to the "Y", tired and dirty from a long day working in the Agricultural Engineering experimental laboratory. Fred Blythe sat in my room with phone in hand, waiting for me to arrive and call that girl I had met at the YM-YW reception to go out on a steak fry. He had purchased all the ingredenets necessary for a picnic and his date was going to be ready at 6:30.
None of my feeble excuses were accepted so after several rings, with my heart racing between hopefulness and excitement a feeble feminine voice answered, "Welch Hall". Is Eleanor Koster there, I asked?" "This is she speaking", was the reply. Gulp,"This is Gene Smith; we met briefly after the YM-YW reception this week." "Yes, I remember." Well, please excuse the short notice but I just arrived home from working all day and Fred Blythe has arranged for a picnic steak fry and insists that I invite you to attend." A long pause followed, "Well, I've had a busy day too, but I suppose I could be ready in half an hour." "Thank You, I'll pick you up"!
A lesson learned; never speak your thoughts to a good friend, unless you mean them.
That Saturday about 6pm, I returned to the "Y", tired and dirty from a long day working in the Agricultural Engineering experimental laboratory. Fred Blythe sat in my room with phone in hand, waiting for me to arrive and call that girl I had met at the YM-YW reception to go out on a steak fry. He had purchased all the ingredenets necessary for a picnic and his date was going to be ready at 6:30.
None of my feeble excuses were accepted so after several rings, with my heart racing between hopefulness and excitement a feeble feminine voice answered, "Welch Hall". Is Eleanor Koster there, I asked?" "This is she speaking", was the reply. Gulp,"This is Gene Smith; we met briefly after the YM-YW reception this week." "Yes, I remember." Well, please excuse the short notice but I just arrived home from working all day and Fred Blythe has arranged for a picnic steak fry and insists that I invite you to attend." A long pause followed, "Well, I've had a busy day too, but I suppose I could be ready in half an hour." "Thank You, I'll pick you up"!
Neither of us can remember the name of Fred's date but we do remember that the steaks were tough and prepared in the unused basement kitchen of Alumni Hall building but as the story unfolds you will learn that it mattered not, as we found no lack of common ground and acquaintances as we visited about each others lives to date. We walked back to Welch Hall by way of Lincoln Way and stopped for a 10 cent green river drink with two straws. Both admitted need of rest and expressed thanks for the opportunity to become acquainted even thouth it was five days before Eleanor's graduation and my having two years left at ISC. We parted that first date not realizing that sonething magnetic had happened within each of us.
Eleanor's story leading up to this first date needs to be told here. She had maintained a nearly straight 4-point all college grade average and had experienced the last final exam that Saturday. Experimental Cookery was as dreaded by an Institution Management major as Theoretical and Applied Mechanics was by an Agricultureal Engineering student. She had literally knocked herself out and returned to Welch Hall with a sick headache and went directly to bed announcing to her roommates not to be disturbed for the supper meal. The reason for unanswered rings to my call was that all other residents on that floor has gone to supper and the only phone was in the hallway, which Eleanor had dragged herself out of bed to answer. Shock set in among the girls returning from dining with a specially prepared tray of food for Eleanor, to find her hurriedly dressing for a date with an unknown fellow. Perhaps she was more sick than anyone thought!
Graduation was in Great Hall of the Memorial Union the next Wednesday night. I had a carefully selected a 'congratulations to the graduate card' in my pocket but did not get close enough to hand it to her but did see her with her parents who had come to take her home, so decided mailing the card would be a proper contact before beginning her new job in the east.
Gene's brother Max was discharged in July from four years of service in the army and
planned to come to Ames for a week-end visit. That was the same week-end that Eleanor had accepted my invitation to return to the campus one last time before traveling by train to Cleveland, OH. Arrangements were made for her to stay at the Memorial Union where she had purchased a life membership offered at a bargin price upon graduation. She traveled by bus from Marshalltown. I had become acquainted with C.D.(Charlie)Hutchcroft from Medioplis, IA at the Presbyterian Church and the four of us spent time getting acquainted and trying to keep cool on a very hot humid July day.
Our first kiss happened that Sunday evening in Ray Cunningham's 1937 Ford parked west of the Union along Lake Laverne while listening to the frogs singing. I delivered Eleanor to the bus depot in downtown Ames early the next morning, not knowing if we would ever meet again, but hoping; yes!
School started in late August with an unusual flurry of activity because of my being YMCA president and acting secretary in charge because of Ray Cunningham's temporary assignment with the USO. Also, I had been persuaded to seek the office of Student Body President as an Independent candidate against the Greek system's candidate. Since I was not an experienced letter writer, I decided to try and communicate my life and views by way of articles gleaned from the Daily Student as well as letters. Eleanor seemed to appreciate both and surprisingly each mailing was promptly answered. Time moved quickly for both of us; the election was won and soon we ere planning how to spend a few hours together to meet each others' families during Eleanor's one week vacation return to Iowa prior to Christmas. During the Thanksgiving vacation I created matched lamps on the Clemons High School shop lathe from walnut wood grown on the" Smith 80" where Max & I grew up. This Christmas gift was much appreciated and still graces the headboard of our bed and both are used every evening when retiring.
Eleanor arrived via train in Marshalltown to a snowy Iowa. I found a ride home and borrowed the folks '35 Chevy to travel 30 miles to Gladbrook for Eleanor to return to Clemons for a first meeting with Mom & Dad. Returned Eleanor that evening in a blizzard and at the insistance of Eleanor's folks the car was parked 1/4 mile west of their farm home and I stayed over night. Evidentally we both passed the scrutiny of our parents because we each began 1946 feeling comfortable with our new found friendship. Letters continued to flow, reaching the one per day frequency, not because of any commitment of "going steady" but because of a feeling to end each day with a sharing visit via the pen.
Spring came and as the old adage states, "Thoughts turned to love." A secret tapping into two I.S.U. honoraries, Motor Board for women of which Eleanor was a member and Cardinal Key for men. Eleanor returned for this event because of sister Ethel's selection and as a bonus was able to witness my entrance into Cardinal Key. The event was celebrated with a lunch at Packer's tea room by both families. Ada and sister Velma Packer, both ISU graduates operated this private facility and had grown up within 2 miles of our home and attended Liberty Consolidated school with Max & me. This fifth, though brief meeting seemed to cement the bond of love between us and plans were made for my train trip to visit Cleveland in July. Eleanor lived with a retired dentist & wife, Dr. & Mrs. Doyle in Lakewood and commutted daily to downtown Cleveland via commuter bus about 35 minutes each way. I arrived there on the 25th of July(my
Dad's birthday) and surprised Eleanor with a proposal of marriage, sealed with a sparkling diamond placed on her third finger, left hand. I had taken the risk and Eleanor accepted. We agreed that marriage would have to wait until I had completed ISU and had a steady job. This sixth week-end together erased all doubt for each of us, but that we were saving ourselves for marriage and a life together as husband & wife.
Eleanor's vacation in 1946 brought her back to Iowa during State Fair time and we spent a day together there each renewing memories and finding more common bonds and acquaintances. The next and seventh meeting was my trip to Cleveland and a New Year's Eve celebration at the Cleveland Cabin Club with Sarah Montgomery, an associate at Stouffers and her friend Verne. We saw the new year of 1947 in and began planning for a wedding in Gladbrook, IA sometime in September. Eleanor, being the efficient planner had already started filling her hope chest with regular purchases of sterling silver, Lyric by Gorham and Arcadia pottery from California. A new portable Singer was ready to help create dresses for the bride, sister Ethel and Sarah as attendents.
The daily letters kept flowing with Eleanor's words of encouragement to study hard to assure August graduation and seek satisfying employment in a field I would enjoy. She had experienced some difficult times in the food service profession, what with war time uncertainities and was ready for a change. Offers came from Carnation Milk Co. as training for a plant manager, Wear-Ever Aluminum Co. as sales trainer and YMCA of the Rockies as camp manager, with Eleanor as camp dietitian. The final decision was made to join Ray Hagie, dba Hagie Hybrids at Clarion, IA as seed corn production manager and the prospects of becoming involved with production of high clearance spraying and detasseling machines, patterned after the one I had helped build and field test in the Ag. Engineering Laboratory.
Graduation was August 17th and beginning employment was August 20th with one week off after our wedding on September 20th. Eleanor also worked until one week before our wedding date. We arranged a mid-week meeting(our eighth) with borrowed cars, half way between Clemons & Gladbrook to review the final plans that had been arranged via mail.
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