TOBIN'S

Betty told a funny story about being bilingual that I did not catch on tape.  As I remember it she said that her family was visiting the Kriblehobys in Fort Dodge.  They lived in the vicinity of 7th Avenue and 3rd Street, the neighborhood above the pork-packing plant that later became the Hormel packing plant that closed in the early 1980s.  Prior to being Hormel’s, the packing plant was known as Tobin’s.  Mr. Kriblehoby worked at Tobin’s down the hill from his house.  One day the Jondles and Kriblehobys were talking about the importance of speaking more than one language, knowing languages would get you places in the world.  Mr. Kriblehoby said, “Ya, I know two languages and that gets me to Tobin’s and back.”

Helen Jondle lived in America for 68 years, but never learned to speak English.  When Betty was a girl she would have to translate for her mother when she went shopping. In those days the stores were much less self-service than they are today.  Merchandise was often behind a counter and you had to ask a clerk to see it.

As you will learn in future posts, the language divide affected the family.

Above is a postcard view of the Tobin Packing Plant that was located in Fort Dodge on the east side of the Des Moines River.