Unlucky On Thursday

HOUVENAGLE, BRUCE, NORRIS

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 3/7/2009 at 17:26:43

Grinnell (IA) Herald; July 17, 1923

UNLUCKY ON THURSDAY
Three Rinehart Employees Have Accidents Happen In Their Families.

TWO WERE SCALDED; GIRL STEPPED ON RAKE

Victims Were Given Prompt Medical Attention -- Are Making Good Recoveries.

Although it was one day short of Friday, the thirteenth, Thursday was an unlucky day for employees of the Rinehart Motor Co. as three of them had accidents happen in their families.

Mrs. Roy Houvenagle scalded her left foot quite severly Thursday morning. She was pouring water from a kettle of beets which she had been cooking when the lid came loose allowing the boiling water to fall on her foot. The whole instep was badly scalded and the injury was very painful. A physician was called and the scald dressed. Mrs. Houvenagle has been unable to be at her duties in the office of the Maplehurst creamery but will probably be out tomorrow. It will be some time before she can wear her shoe.

Mabel Bruce, 8-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Bruce, was the victim of the second accident. While playing in a neighbor's yard Thursday evening the little girl stepped on the teeth of a rake which was lying in the grass. The rusty teeth penetrated the foot, appearing at the instep. The wound was dressed by a physician and the little girl is getting along nicely.

Kenneth Norris, 11-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Norris, was the third to meet with an accident when he was scalded with hot coffee about five o'clock Thursday evening. The baby's mother had lifted a pot of hot coffee from the oil stove and as she turned to enter the dining room, the handle of the coffee pot broke and the contents were dashed on the child's legs. The left leg was scalded the worst but there were a few burns on the right one. The child suffered considerable pain until the scalds were treated by a physician but is making a good recovery.

Mr. Houvenagle and Mr. Bruce are salesmen for the Rinehart Motor Co. and Mr. Norris is one of their valued mechanics.

NOTE: Kenneth Norris, in the above article, is my father. --Marilyn Norris Holmes