Mattie On The Homefront

Latest Episodes:

Under the Dryer at Hockenmeyer's Shoppe - [Jan 16, 1943] Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

Our first handwritten letter since September means that Mattie isn't at her trusty typewriter. Not one to waste a moment, she is writing to Ken while having her hair done at he beauty shop.

She tells him about the overwhelming stresses of Ladies' Aid, about new snaps she's sent his way, and how much better Ken's letters are than Bud's. We get to discover what used to be in the building that is now The Ax Man, the Curtis Hotel is Recommended, and that the tree in the back yard is even more special than we already knew it to be.

Plus - how are they going to get to the cabin this summer? January is the perfect time to wonder.

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Characters This Week:

Hanson's (neighborhood friends)
Gennrich's (Minneapolis friends)
Wes (eldest son)
Florence (daughter-in-law)
Applebaum (Wes & Flo's landlord)
Bud (step-son)
Rudy (step-daughter)
Diane (step-granddaughter)

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Links:

Photos of the Curtis Hotel
Review of Curtis Hotel, from I Recommend, by Roland L. Hill in 1948
Muggley's Recreation
Midway Gardens
1947 sit-in by Bayard Rustin

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Cover Photo: Steve's HS grad photo in front of the big spruce in the back yard

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

We Found Virginia - Mrs Michigan Has a Ring to It - [Jan 11, 1943] Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Only 36 hours after her previous letter, Mattie has news enough to write again to Ken. And yes, it's about Wes & Flo.

Plus, Mattie is listening to a lot of radio, and narrowly avoiding teenagers, but she cannot get out of her new obligation as it looks as though, despite her wishes, the world isn't ending.

But the biggest news isn't from Mattie - it's from us - because we found Virginia! The mysterious Virginia, of whom we have only 2 photographs and no last name, now has that last name and a bunch more photos. We followed the clues from the letters, and now we know a whole lot more.

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Characters This Week:

Wes (eldest son)
Florence (daughter-in-law)
Applebaum (Wes & Flo's landlord)
Mrs. Berkey (??)
Virginia (Ken's squeeze)
Georgine Hanson (neighbor/church friend)
Gram (mother)
Myrtle Yocum (acquaintance)
Susan (??)

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Cover Photo: Virginia's high school yearbook photo

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Wes and Florence's Sinful Lives - [Jan 9, 1943] Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

In our longest ever letter (but not episode!), we have a bombshell of a revelation about Mattie's son Wes, and his wife Florence. Mattie is way in her feelings, and leaning on her faith to get through.

Ken is NOT leaning on Edgar Guest's poems, so he's got plenty of energy left to be Mattie's sounding board about a homesick Bud, and the answer to who is the new president of the Ladies Aid.

Content Advisory: this episode contains discussion of domestic violence.

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Characters This Week:

Wes (eldest son)
Florence (daughter-in-law)
Mrs. Colona (Wes & Florence's neighbor)
Giertsen's (best friends)
Mrs. Nelson (volunteer friend)
Bud (stepson)
Mrs. Hance (friend)

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

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Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

My It Seems Strange To Be Writing 1943 - [Jan 3, 1943] Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

It's a whole new season, and a whole new year! 1943 is starting off with a Western Union telegram from Ken. Plus some poetry, radio specials, and our first of many, many cutouts from the newspaper.

A talkative Wes (who knew!??!?) is lonely in California, but Mattie doesn't have that problem, what with all the entertaining she's doing. Also entertaining is Herman Straka, a local boy making good with those funky tunes. Also making good is Mattie with her affection for Virginia. Did we learn more about Virginia while we were away? We did!

Plus, this week we get an update on world affairs, and local goings on.

This episode is dedicated to Bob Hoyt.

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Characters This Week:

Wes (son)
Florence (daughter-in-law)
Cousin Ella (cousin)
Margaret (cousin-once-removed)
Virginia (Ken's girl)
Elizabeth Rickard (neighbor kid)
Rudy (Matt's youngest)
Gennrich's (friends)
John and Helen Mickelsen (Matt's brother and sister-in-law)
Herman Straka (Ken's school chum)
Uncle Art (older brother)
Gram (mother)
Aunt Ella (older sister)
Chuck Giertsen (Ken's bestie)

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Cover Photo: "Sleighing they go–just like mother and dad. For these Macalester students, Herman Straka (left), and Charlotte Robertson, rationing is no hardship." - St. Paul Pioneer Press, Dec 27, 1942

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Proud of Her Tree, Missing Her Boys - Christmas - [Dec 27, 1942] Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

It's time for a magical Christmas! Family! Parties! Presents! Tom and Jerry's!

We are joined today by cousins Stefan and Jenna to hear all about the haul, including Ken's gift from the Army.

Mattie is proud of her tree, but frustrated with her daughter-in-law. She manages to snag a double waffle iron, which we know will turn her into Grandma Waffles, and she does some mangling (explanation included).

Carl, The Old Man, catches up with Ken in Canada, and Wes arrives in California.

Plus, a matrimonial update on the vertebrally injured neighbor, Elizabeth Rickard.

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Characters This Week:

Wes (son)
Florence (daughter-in-law)
Carl (ex-husband)
Gram (mother)
Uncle Herb (brother)
Gennrich's (friends)
Virginia (Ken's fiancée)
Rudy (step-daughter)
Joe (step-son)
Vivian (step-daughter)
Bud (step-son)
Elizabeth Rickard (neighbor)

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Betwixt and Between - Wes and the Weather - [Dec 21, 1942] Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

The weather is all over the place, making it tough to get around. But even so, it seems like everyone is traveling. Holiday trains are packed. And Wes leaves for California. With another family. In winter. Days before Christmas.

With the changes in temps, the ice and sleet and snow are alternating, making everything a challenge - including a nasty surprise for the neighbor bride-to-be.

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Characters This Week:

Wes (son)
Florence (daughter-in-law)
Georgine (friend)
Aunt Ella (older sister)
Gram (mother)
Virginia (Ken's fiancée)
Rudy (step-daughter)
Uncle Herb (younger brother)
Walter (youngest brother)
Cousin Ella (?)
Vivian (step-daughter)
Bud (step-son)
Elizabeth Rickard (neighbor)

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Cover photo: Christmas Cards by Ken

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

The Threat of German Bombs - [Dec 14, 1942] Jul 25, 2026

Show notes

Mattie's in a Christmas play. She's a shepherd! And that's just one of many things she has going on.

We are joined by Jesse Buetow, Hans' brother and Steve's son, as we hear Mattie turn her letters into her daily diary. She has car trouble, cold trouble, and mom trouble, but she gets it all handled. There's a visit from a cousin. And another cousin. In a dramatic turn, Wes announces, to Mattie's consternation, that he wants to leave for California, and Mattie sells her hat, literally off her head.

Plus, there's a huge air raid drill, and we discuss the rationality of Minnesotans being afraid of being bombed during the war.

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Characters This Week:

Gennrich's (Friends)
Margaret (?)
Margaret's mother (?)
Cousin Ella (niece)
Aunt Ella (older sister)
Gwen (niece)
George (nephew-in-law)
Paul Unke (nephew)
Wes (son)
Flo (daughter-in-law)
Bud (stepson)
Mrs. Hanson (church friend)
Virginia (step daughter-in-law)
Wally (step son-in-law)

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Cover photo: Mattie's cross

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

The Old People's Friend - Marie Christiana Mickelsen - [Dec 7, 1942] Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Grandma Mick has died. We knew it was coming, but it's still tough. Matt, who has a birthday, takes a day off of work during a busy time to grieve his mom, and Mattie helps with funeral arrangements, despite her own mother feeling left out and letting her know.

On top of all that, or maybe because of that, Mattie feels like her siblings aren't doing enough to help.

In good news, Chuck's letter finally made it to Ken. Also, we take some time to understand the finances of waging a war, and to learn about the manufacturing plant where Wes works.

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Characters This Week:

Grandma Mick - Marie (Matt's mom)
Gram - Julia (mom)
Aunt Ella (older sister)
Uncle Art (older brother)
John Mickelsen (Matt's older brother)
Gennrich's (friends)

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Cover photo:

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Two Moms - Marie and Julia - [Dec 1, 1942] Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

It was a difficult and beautiful weekend for Mattie - dominated by her mom, Julia, demanding attention, and Matt's mom, Marie, dying. Navigating both women, and her feelings, lets us into her inner world as a sandwich generation daughter and mom - worried, caregiving, and trying to be present with both the generations above and behind her.

Plus, Aldo Stenberg, Mattie's older sister's husband, is at it again. He's making trouble for his younger brother, and trying to figure out how to keep money away from his stepmother - neither of which sit well with Mattie.

And Bud is hanging out of airplanes. Literally.

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Characters This Week:

Gram (mom)
Grandma Mick (Matt's mom)
Aldo Stenberg (brother-in-law)
Alvin Stenberg (brother-in-law's younger brother)
Aunt Ella (older sister)
Aunt Ida (mom's sister)
Lobdell's (friends)
Uncle Berndt (Matt's uncle)
Aunt Martha (Matt's aunt)
Helen Langeland (sister-in-law)
John Mickelsen (Matt's older brother)
Bud (stepson)

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Cover photo: Julia Zibell (Mattie's mom)

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Brace Up, Gents - Thanksgiving - [Nov 28, 1942] Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

It's Thanksgiving!! It's dark! It's cold! It's lonely! And it's time to talk about food.

With a rousing poem, and recommendations from the time, we explore the culinary delights of the season. Lee's Broiler! The West Twins! It's a tour of the Twin Cities restaurant scene.

Mattie is feeling the absence of the Boys during the Holiday, but she's cooking a goose anyways. We get to learn about how Matt's job works as a railway postal clerk, and debate the difference between east and south (the cardinal directions) and which is which.

Plus, Monkey Wards!

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Characters This Week:

Bud (stepson)
Gram (mom)
Wes (son)
Flo (daughter-in-law)
Gennrich's (friends)

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Links:

Thanksgiving, 1942, by Christopher La Farge (The New Yorker)
I Recommend [good places to go, eat, play and shop] by Roland L. Hill
Menu from Lee's Broiler
The West Twins
Mail By Rail training video

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Website: moth.family

Get notified about new episodes

––––

Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

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