Thelma and Lowell's Diary: June 2, 1943

Lowell takes up the pen as they ride the train north; rains cause Midwest flooding

For the next month, the writer of the diary is Lowell, who begins as they board a train at Union Station at 8:15 a.m., settle in a “good, air-conditioned car,” and pull out of the station at 8:50. They passed through Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee, where they saw the flooding that had caused such havoc in May. They ate ham and egg sandwiches, cookies and candy — probably something Thelma, the thrifty houswife, had brought from home — and went to sleep at 10:15. They paid 20 cents to rent pillows.

Heavy rainfall in the spring of 1943 caused four major rivers in the Midwest and many smaller ones to overflow their banks. Paid subscribers can read about this natural disaster and the emergency response. I would be grateful if you would try a month-by-month subscription to fully immerse yourself in Thelma and Lowell’s time — no pun intended! It only costs $5 for a month and you can cancel after that if you don’t feel you are getting your money’s worth. Thanks for reading!