Meta's Log Book		Rafting on the Mississippi River Chicago to New Orleans, June-July 1964 A Mother's Log
Home Preparations On the way Arrival Daily Log Where are they now		Norm’s mother, Meta Wegener Hellmers, kept a log book of her own as her son Norm and the other rafters made their way downriver to New Orleans. She recycled an old appointment book, making notes for each day of the trip. (Sample pages of her entries can be found here.) The postcards Norm sent home were stapled into the book the day they arrived. In the log below, they are linked to the appropriate page.
Day 1, June 10 (Wednesday)		Norm, Ron & Les left Hinsdale, Ill. area today on raft trip.
Day 2, June 11 (Thursday)		---------
Day 3, June 12 (Friday)		Ron called home for $50. Had motor trouble at Morris, Ill. Traveled just 30 miles but all is well. Spent night at camping site at Morris.
Day 4, June 13 (Saturday)		Begin again this a.m. from Morris. Heard news on WDSU radio that 3 Illinois students want to sell their raft to get money to go home. Immediately we thought of our kids, but Dad checked out source of information and it turned out to be “raft riders” from Illinois who were in N. O.
Day 5, June 14 (Sunday)		Today this article appeared in T. P. [Times-Picayune] paper. No news from “our gang” today.
Day 6, June 15 (Monday)		Card in mail today from Norm.
Day 7, June 16 (Tuesday)		No news today from the raft riders.
Day 8, June 17 (Wednesday)		No news today.
Day 9, June 18 (Thursday)		Card from Norm today. Arrived in Peoria Tues., June 16.
Day 10, June 19 (Friday)		No news today.
Day 11, June 20 (Saturday)		[Received postcard.]
Day 12, June 21 (Sunday)		Had phone call from Norm tonight about 10 bells. They arrived in St. Louis Saturday 6/20/64 and hope to leave on Monday. They are now traveling in the mighty Mississippi. All is well!
Day 13, June 22 (Monday)		No news today. Crew was to leave St. Louis this afternoon. Dad wired $50.00 to St. Louis.
Day 14, June 23 (Tuesday)		No news today.
Day 15, June 24 (Wednesday)		[Received postcard.]
Day 16, June 25 (Thursday)		No news. Saw movies tonight. They are great! (Norm’s first roll.)
Day 17, June 26 (Friday)		No news from boys. Ev [Evelyn Wismar, Ronnie’s Mama] gave me pictures from the Mahlers—also clipping from Hinsdale paper.
Day 18, June 27 (Saturday)		Ron called home this afternoon and said all is well! The crew is now in Caruthersville, Missouri, and they hope to get to Memphis on Monday or Tuesday. Norm will call when they get to Memphis. [The editor of the Caruthersville Journal, J. Thomas Markey, sent a letter to all of the parents. The letter Meta received is here.]
Day 19, June 28 (Sunday)		No news today.
Day 20, June 29 (Monday)		We really hit the jackpot—4 cards [here, here, here, here] from Norm and a phone call from Memphis at about 4:45 p.m. All is well—the crew seems to be in good spirits and Norm sounded quite optimistic. They hope to arrive Saturday the 11th of July if all continues to progress as it is at present.
Day 21, June 30 (Tuesday)		Card came from Norm today from Memphis. All is well!
Day 22, July 1 (Wednesday)		No news today. Had phone call from Mr. Riemer. Was wondering if Mike joined the crew because he left school and couldn’t be located! Had no news to that effect from Norm. 2nd roll of film arrived today!
Day 23, July 2 (Thursday)		No news today.
Day 24, July 3 (Friday)		Card from Norm from Rosedale, Miss today. Believe it or not but Mike joined the crew at Helena, Ark. All is well! Eileen received birthday card from Norm today.
Day 25, July 4 (Saturday)		No news from raft riders today.
Day 26, July 5 (Sunday)		What a pleasant day we had today. Left home at 6 bells [6 a.m.] in search of the “Raft Riders” in Vicksburg, Miss. We had the surprise of our lives when at about 3:30 p.m. they came into view on the mighty Mississippi. They came into a canal at Vicksburg and tied up at the side of [the steamboat Sprague]. They looked great and we were thrilled to see them. Article came today from the Caruthersville Journal.
Day 27, July 6 (Monday)		Card came from Norm today from Vicksburg, Miss. They hope to be home sometime Sunday in the early p.m.
Day 28, July 7 (Tuesday)		No news today from boys.
Day 29, July 8 (Wednesday)		No news today. Small article appeared in States-Item paper this afternoon about boys’ arrival.
Day 30, July 9 (Thursday)		News article in Picayune paper this morning. Norm called from Baton Rouge tonight. All is well! Boys hope to arrive on Sunday in the early p.m.
Day 31, July 10 (Friday)		No news today.
Day 32, July 11 (Saturday)		Mike called his Dad and said that time of arrival would be between 3 & 3:30 p.m. All is well! Two cards [here, here] from Norm today.
Day 33, July 12 (Sunday)		The big day today! Norm called from Luling about 12:35. Said they would be in at 3 or 3:30 or thereabouts. All is well! We thank God for their safe arrival!
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