Diary of Alfred E. Potter February, 1933

01.  Wednesday:

02.  Thursday: Candlemas Day, had to get up early this morning to sell candles at the church and picked up a cold.

03.  Friday: Still figuring inventory. Attended the annual meeting of the Boy Scout officers at the Methodist Church building. Had a nice supper and a speech by Gunnar Berg. After the meet attended Oshkosh Theatre to see Kate Smith in “Hello Everybody.” She is 23 and weighs about 215 pounds but she makes a good actress. Art Mueller’s Birthday today, he is 31 years of age, and is fine physically.

04.  Saturday: Winter is back, it is 4º below zero this morning and my cold is going good. Joe Baier is having trouble with his car. Towed him home at noon and again at night. She just wouldn’t start.

05.  Sunday: Up at 9:15 this morning. 14º below zero that is quite a change. The temperature rises during the day. Visited Louis and Mary Mauritz in the evening. Played 500 Rummy but I didn’t win. Louis is too good at this game.

06.  Monday: Information is received here today that Charles Dunkel Veteran Oshkosh Boatman died last Thursday at Miami Florida. He used to run the “Arnim” on small excursions up the river for years. He also took as camping up river years ago before autos were generally used. We camped at the Fox River Hunting and Fishing Club” and also the “Gemuthlichkeit” Cottage in those days.

07.  Tuesday: Begins with a blizzard, so I don’t take my car to go to Milwaukee but take the train. When we get there we find the town snowed under and it’s hard to get a taxi. Attended meeting of the Druggist Service Bureau in the afternoon and their banquet at the Elks Club in the evening. Well Eddie Worm is very well organized takes the street car to the Schroeder after the banquet and the fellows stick until 3 A.M. at my room. Fred Stanhilber is appointed administrator this morning of his father’s estate. A. T. Henning and Henry Barber, former trustees resigned and the First Trust Company appointed. Over 400000 dollars are involved.

08.  Wednesday: Up at 9 A.M. this morning and it’s about 12º below in Milwaukee. Phoned the Northwestern just in time to get the 10:15 train for home. It turns out to be a nice day. Arrived home about 1:15 P.M. Alois Graf 216 Knapp died this morning at St. Agnes Hospital Fond du Lac Born June 28, 1866 in Austria. Mrs. Theresa Berg, mother of Mrs. Leona Miller passed away suddenly yesterday morning at 7:30 Born in Bavaria March 8 - 1871

09.  Thursday: Brrr! It’s cold this morning 27º below zero at 7 A.M. according to Buckstaff’s Observatory. This sure knocks the stuffins out of business. Fred C. Horn 75 passed away yesterday afternoon Born March 15 – 1857 He was a brother to Henry and Otto Horn and to Mrs. Frank
A. Labudde.

10.  Friday:

11.  Saturday:

12.  Sunday: Up a little later than usual. Broke the choke on my car and walked to church. Then to work. Took Anan Drexler to see her mother in the afternoon. Anna had a bad spell but got over it in a short time. Took a drive out to Heip’s had supper there, worked about 1 ½ hours then over to the Oshkosh Theatre Will Rogers, Janet Gaynor in “State Fair” are good. Bert Gough passed away this morning at his neighbors Henry J Gaab 63 Ceape St. Bert suffered a heart attack after inhaling smoke from a minor fire in the rear of his soft drink parlor at 61 Ceape St. Born in La Crosse Dec 10^th 1867.

13.  Monday: Not much excitement today, A drive in the afternoon it snows but not very much. President Hoover gives his farewell address tonite at the Lincoln Day Dinner at the National Republican Club at the Waldorf-Astoria.

14.  Tuesday: Joe Hemmer, Joe Baier, and myself make our first official visit to Bill Mauritz. He had company Earl Zentner, Ann Mauritz were there. Well - we played some sheephead and made a big hole in Bill’s Wine Keg. Home at 2:30 A.M.

15.  Wednesday: Cork Weisheipl is in town. Took his folks along to the Opera House to see Eddie Cantor in the “Kid from Spain.” People stood in line way out on the street. Paid for 2 more tickets than I should have but didn’t get any money back. Visited at Heip’s after the show, met Lewis Stidola. Frank Kimball was there also. While there, radio news came in that a man tried to shoot President-elect Roosevelt in Miami shortly after a speech. Roosevelt was not hurt but Mayor Cermak of Chicago was shot, a lady by the name of Gill was badly wounded, also a child was hurt. 25000people were at the gathering in Miami.

16.  Thursday: Burglars are visiting our neighborhood. They dropped in to Art Redman’s last night on 15^th & Iowa, took 2 watches, a vacuum cleaner, two rings and 10 or 12 dollars in cash. Fred King 50, vice president of Kings Modern Soft Laundry passed away yesterday afternoon at Mercy Hospital. Jim Doughert (Security Bank) lost his mother last night. She was born July 21 – 1868 in Iowa.

17.  Friday: the weather is moderating. Had a letter from Leo Kern today. It contained the sad news that Mrs. Frances Halpin, his aunt who visited us last summer passed away February 2^nd R.I.P. had a letter from P.O. Inspector W. B. Francisco Wilmington Delaware in regard to Mr. Bill Benjamin Shumsky alias Morris B. Shuman who called on me June 1930. Cork Weisheipl is out dinner guest, his father came over later in the evening, also Joe Jr. and Virginia Muttart. Took Sister Ermenfrieda to depot. She has completed her course in nursing and goes to Milwaukee Mother House.

18.  Saturday: Cork Weisheipl is heading back to Chicago. Dropped in to see Joe Jungen this afternoon. He is not very well, suffering with a complication of ailments. In the evening to ok Anna Drexler down to see her mother, but mother was asleep when she got there. We staid about an hour. Yocko Harnitz alias Frank Sanders alias Thomas Sweeney former Oshkosh Fighter and Boxer goes to Waupun for 14-25 years. Convicted in Racine. Mr. and Mrs. William Hackbarth 645 11^th had a close call yesterday morning from asphyxiation Gas seeped thru the basement walls, due to a break underground outside. Born in San Francisco Jim Corbett former Boxer 66 dies in N.Y.

19.  Sunday: To 7:30 Mass Sang with the male choir, haven’t been with them in a month or more. It turns out to be somewhat unpleasant, rather slushy and wet.  Worked all day and took Anna Heip to see the “Sign of the Cross” in the evening at the Oshkosh. It is a masterpiece of a picture by Cecil de Mille. Mrs. Agnes Ininn Monahan 85 passed away Friday afternoon. Lived here 50 years. Her husband Hugh Monahan was bridge tender at the Light Street Bridge about 25 years ago. They lived in the brick house across from our 10^th & Oregon St. Store. The old homestead was replaced by a Wadham’s Gasoline Station.

20.  Monday:  Father Kandy dropped in today. The House of Representatives passes the Blaine Bill to repeal the 18^th Amendment by a vote of 289 -121. It now goes to the states for ratification. Visited Len Michels tonite, incidentally he paid me an old accountant. Edward W. Weisbrod was killed accidentally yesterday afternoon by escaping carbon monoxide from his car while he was painting the engine. Born Dec 3 -1866. Art De Smidt’s dad – Jacobus De Smidt passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital yesterday afternoon. Dr. Meusel’s wife is a daughter. He was born in Holland Sheboygan January 9-1850.

21.  Tuesday:

22.  Wednesday:

23.  Thursday: In to see Joe Jungers this morning. He asked too many questions. Wants to know how long he will live with the ailment he has.  Mother has a bad cold.  Wm. And Pete Welch’s mother passed away tonite. Born in Beaver Dam Mar. 17 – 1866.

24.  Friday: Attended the John Kellerman funeral this morning. It’s a beautiful day out. Afternoon Red Cross Meeting. We elected officers today Ed Marheine Chairman Mrs. Rose Sherman Vice chairman Earl Fuller Secy-Treasurer Ira Parker Sr. resigned and Mrs. Olga Heider elected to his place. In the evening Margaret and Agnes are here. I understand they made good use of our bath tub. Played some 500 Rummy I won 600 Mrs. 460 Marg. 330 Agnes 305. Visited Ted Fisher awhile in the evening.

25.  Saturday:

26.  Sunday: Worked most of the day.  Attended 9:00 A.M. Mass.  In the evening attended Saint Vincent’s Young Folks Play “Attorney for the Defense.” Louis Yack is the Attorney.  Margaret Nuernberg is his sweetheart.  It’s a very good play.  George Stadler entertains with Guitar and Accordion.  Heip’s Orchestra is also there.  Joe Hemmer collected himself a package somewhere, and it was a dandy.  It was not big, but very powerful.  The Heips were over after the play.  Father Nuernberg is here to witness the play.

27.  Monday: A fairy busy day.  Mrs. Potter celebrates her birthday with her sheephead club as guests.  Rather belated, her birthday was last November.  Took the show bunch to Sunnyview San. to entertain with “Attorney for the Defense.” After we came back I visited Joel Heip for a time, then over to Anna Drexler’s for a while.  Her mother is doing better.

28.  Tuesday: Shrove Tuesday.  Ed Worm, Syl Bludau, Al Hardt come to Oshkosh for a visit.  Have them over to the house for a while.  Rob. Webster (former drayman) passed away this noon at Mike’s home 414 15^th Street.  Born in Nekimi Sept. 26-1854. Father Bastian is over this morning to see mother.

29.  (Leap Year)