Diary of Alfred E. Potter January, 1933

01.  Sunday: Happy New Year! And it surely is a lovely day. Mixed business and pleasure. Sang 7:30 Mass with Mixed Choir, then to work. In the afternoon took Anna Drexler out riding and also took the dog along. Took her to her mother’s Mrs. Meisinger, then out to Heips and also over to John Drexler. She had not been to Heips in 12 years. Had supper at Heips and staid until 1:30 A.M. Joe Baier and Hemmer were there.

02.  Monday: Some people are still celebrating New Year today, others did their washing. It’s another beautiful day about 40º in the shade. Visited Fretchels in the morning. Mrs. is feeling better, then to work for the rest of the day. Joe Baier is developing some kind of a cold. A. S, Schmedeman, Democrat, is sworn in as Governor of Wisconsin at noon today.

03.  Tuesday: Harold Mueller is back on the job. He was laid since December 22^nd. Jack Pickford, brother of Mary Pickford dies at the American Hospital in France. Just read in our daily paper that Dr. Adolph Roos passed away at Oak Park Dec. 23^rd. According to report he was stricken with illness the night before. Was born in Hamburg Germany March 6, 1858 and practiced medicine in Oshkosh many years, he left here in 1916. Sherman McPhail an old friend passed away at Taunton, Minn. Dec. 28^th. I saw him last about 2 months ago. He used to work at the Daily Northwestern. John Drexler and his family are over tonite and that is a surprise, even Anna came along. Mike is the guest of honor.

04.  Wednesday: Up at 6 o’clock this morning. Took Mike Drexler and Rabidean to the depot. They are off to Collegeville, Minn. After their Christmas vacation.  Met Hope Kleinschmit at the depot. She is going back to Minneapolis.

05. Thursday: Syl Bludau is in this morning, he’s been laid up two weeks with the flu. Margaret and Agnew Drexler are over with their sweethearts this evening. They are very happy and spend a pleasant evening. Calvin Coolidge, 30^th President of the U.S.A. died suddenly today at his home, “The Beeches” in Northampton, Mass. Death was wholly unexpected. Mrs. Coolidge was away on a shopping tour at the time.

06. Friday: had a call from Oscar Rennebohm, Madison to be at Milwaukee this afternoon. Mr. Mueller and myself drove down at noon. Stopped at Druggist Service and Yahr Lange and then attended the meeting of the executive heads of the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association at “The Aberdeen.” Back home at 8:45 P.M. When I arrived home the Fretchels were here Ed, Thres, and the children.

07.  Saturday: Henry F. Narcotte President and W. Scott Carroll Controller, Harold D. Bennett Vice President, Charles D. Packer Jr, Treasurer and Attorney Leslie A. Needham General Counsel of H. O. Stone & Co. defunct real estate and mortgage concern were each given 20 years in Leavenworth Penitentiary and fined $15000 by Federal Judge Charles E. Woodward. The cost of the prosecution of these men was about 57000 dollars.

08.  Sunday: Sang 7:30 Mass as usual then to work the rest of the day. In the evening took Joe Weisheipl along to Holy Name Get to gether. It was a nice meeting. “Henry Huse” spoke, also played cards and lunch was served. After the meet took Joe Hemmer along with us and played 60 hands of 5 handed sheephead. Party ended at 1:30 A.M. Catherine Kloiber 24, 1047 10^th passed away today at Mercy Hospital. Born Feb 28, 1908. R. A. Spink 438 Jackson Drive is 89 today. He was a former City Treasurer.

09.  Monday: Oscar Knobloch’s little boy Robert aged 11 is missing since last Monday morning 8:30 when he left his home to go skating and has not been seen or heard of since. Syl Bludau in again this morning, he was laid up again after calling on us last Thursday.

10.  Tuesday: Temperature up to 50º today. This is very unusual for this time of year. Ira Hall 72, President of the Sun Ray Mfg. Co. was found dead this noon in his office by Ted Fisher in whose building the Sun Ray Company is located. He was father-in-law to Arthur W. Dunham. Mrs. Mary Penzenstadler, 47, passed away this afternoon at home 1318 19^th St. at 2:30. He husband Julius met an accidental death about 2 years ago. She was born Feb 11, 1885.

11.  Wednesday: It is a springlike day today temperature rose to 40º.

12.  Thursday: What a change from yesterday 2º below zero this morning. Father John N. Schiltz, pastor Emeritus at St. Sebastian’s Milwaukee passed away this mounting. He was born in Belgium Wisc. Dec. 14, 1872 and was ordained June 21, 1896. He was assistant here at St. Vincent’s in 1897 and was here on a visit at the conventions of Cath. Services in 1902. While here during the convention he staid at Drexler’s 12^th and Michigan Streets. He was pastor at the following: Mt. Horeb 1901 – Dane- 1902 – Lodi- 1907- St. Mary’s So. Milw. 1910 – St. Sebastian’s 9-15-1920.

13. Friday: A blizzard turns in to a regular snow storm, but it makes things look natural. In the evening meeting of Auditing Committee of St. Vincent’s at Father Bastian’s. Well we staid until 9:45, after taking John Tauber and Matt Baier home, stopped at Ann Drexler’s and the girls.

14.  Saturday: Councilman Jim Stevle Frank Haidlinger John Rasmussen were in this afternoon to get an ad or ads for the “Free Press.” Federal men made a big hail on Jackson and New York Ave. last night. Seventeen hundred gallons of alcohol, one new truck and trailer, another truck and an escort auto. Men held are Adolph Seibold, Oshkosh and Sam Weiner New London and Earl Blink New London. It was an unlucky Friday the 13^th for them.  Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wrobel 1151 10^th celebrate their golden anniversary today.

15.  Sunday: A beautiful day. Sang 7:30 Mass then work balance of the morning. Took a ride to Fond du Lac after dinner with Joe and Anna Heip. Stopped at Fred Worm’s Store, then back to Oshkosh, attended the movie, A Screen Dramatization of Eugene O’Neill’s Prize Play “Strange interlude” with Norma Shearer and Clarke Gabel taking the stellar roles. It was a very good picture and a story true to life. Laurel and Hardy made us laugh in “Scram.” In the evening played 68 hands of sheephead, broke up at 12:30 A.M.

16.  Monday: We had our annual meeting tonite. All the Mueller-Potter officers are re-elected. After the meeting a lunch at Frank Norkofski’s was in order.

17.  Tuesday: Ann Drexler has a bad spell of sickness this evening.  Had Joe Hemmer at the house tonite. He has a bad cold. Gave him a little medicine to take care of it.

18.  Wednesday: Earl Fuller and Mrs. are called to Marion, Wisc. by the death of Mrs. Fuller’s sister Mrs. H. A. Powell formerly “Eleanor Tomashko.” Years ago she was an invalid. Mrs. Powell passed away at Milwaukee last Monday evening. She really lived at Hunting, Wisc.

19.  Thursday:

20.  Friday: Turns out to be a nice day. Took Sisters Ambrosia, Viatora, Romano to Menasha this afternoon.

21.  Saturday:

22.  Sunday: Woke up with a terrible headache this morning. Attended 10:30 Mass and then to work after dinner. Took a capsule and got rid of the headache. In the evening the ladies went to St. John’s Keeno party and I staid home with mother. The ladies did not bring home any prizes and it rained plenty today too.

23.  Monday: Drove over to see Geo. Weber on Boyd Street this morning. Then over to see James Coe and had a nice visit with him.

24.  Tuesday: The Paine Thrift bank is not open for business this morning. It is closed by the Wisconsin Banking Commission. This is the first bank to be closed in Oshkosh due to the depression. Visited John Kellerman this evening. Poor fellow is looking very bad.

25.  Wednesday: This is a “Red Letter Day’ for Oshkosh. The City National Bank did not open this morning and that started a run on all the other Oshkosh Banks. The people just crowded into them all day and drew their savings. It was terrible. It looks however that the Security Bank The First National and the New American will weather the storm. Visited Anna Drexler this morning, their dog is sick. Had a meeting with Mr. Mueller about closing the West Side Store. In the evening attended “Court of Honor for Boy Scouts at St. Vincent’s and presented some badges. Had a nice letter from Mike Drexler today.

26.  Thursday: Roy Semour Sims died last night at St. Agnes Hospital Fond du Lad. Born Feb 19 – 1874 at Little Rapids, Wisc. He was a chiropracter and had his offices over the Security Bank. His brother sells us Fishing Tackle. The Peoples Bank of Omro closed its doors today and a week holiday is declares at Winneconne by Merritt White, Village President.

27.  Friday: Made a visit at Bill Mauritz today. This is the first time I saw his new home. He was surprised to see me, thinking I had come on account of his birthday and I was surprised to learn it was his birthday. He is 29 years of age today.

28.  Saturday: Lyman O. Rumery, 66 passed away yesterday afternoon at his home 93 Jefferson Avenue. Married to Maude Campbell in 1911. A son Milton also survives, besides a brother and 5 sisters. Mrs. Charles Wakeman is a sister. Mrs. Rumery was almost totally blind, and used to sell us advertising. A. H. Schmidt city comptroller reports that the city of Oshkosh spent 273501.20 for poor relief in 1932.

29.  Sunday: A nice day. Got up with a headache this morning, this is getting to be a habit on Sunday mornings. Attended 10:30 Mass took Joe Mottl along. He thot it wouldn’t do any harm.

30.  Monday: Cora Larget begins working at the Werbke Drug Store this morning. Charles Gillen 78, passed away this morning at 917 19^th Street. He was a former police officer. Born Dec. 24 – 1854 at Houlton Maine.

31.  Tuesday