Diary of Alfred E. Potter January, 1937

01.  Friday: We begin the New Year by attending 6 O’clock Mass.  Met Joe Baier after mass he is not then home yet, will he finally landed home at 10.30 A.M.  During the afternoon we all made visits at the Baier Family –John Drexler family – Ottillie Drexler family – and Joe Weisheipl family.  I worked morning and evening.  This is an ideal New Years day.  Weather is perfect.

02.  Saturday: Harvey Plashko quits work with us today.  He is going back into the plumbing business.

03.  Sunday: six Oclock Mass this morning, then to work.  Worked most of the day and in the evening.  During the afternoon Joe Drexler – Celia – Marion – Joan and Corrinne are over for a visit.  It is a pleasant day.

04.  Monday: Harvey Plashko goes to work for Kurt Zentner.  Joe Petrik delivers.  Phil La Follette is sworn in for the third time in as Governor of Wisconsin.

05.  Tuesday: Weather stays warm, roads are very icy.

06.  Wednesday: Roads are still very bad.  Joe Weisheipl takes a slide down the Winchester Hill.  We visited at Weisheipl’s tonite took along the Fretchel’s.  Thres lost 13 games of Sheephead, not one win, I won 3 – Mrs. Fretchel 5 – Joe Heip 2 –Rose Heip 1 – Anna Heip 2.  Party broke up at 1.30 A.M.

07.  Thursday: We slide and we slide, there’s plenty of ice on the roads.  I did some visiting at Mercy Hospital this afternoon.  Father Joe Ahearn is still there, I presented with the first issue of “The Cowl.” An article by George Schuster about “Father Corlinian” is of interest to both of us.  Albert Holzbauer is being built up for an operation.  Anton Sippl is not going to be confined much longer.  Herman Nachtman is taking treatments for diabetes.

08.  Friday: I keep deliver[ing] most of the day, even made a trip to Mrs. Hayden at Doemel's Point. Roads are very slippery, it rains and freezes on the windshield.  Lower temperatures tonight.  Louis Gutsmiedl passed away yesterday afternoon at 1:30 at his home 1025 4th St.  Born in Germany Dec. 14 1871.  He was a tailor and worked for my father about 1903.  Dad (Stanislaus Jarosch, adoptive father) had a tailor shop at 16 Otter Street at the time.

09.  Saturday: Art thermometers registers 11° below at 8.30 A.M.  We have a new delivery boy to take Harvey Plashko’s place, Kenneth Farr is his name.

10.  Sunday: Jack Reigh and his son Homer are seriously injured in an auto accident on highway 45.  They were being given a lift by Harold Kelly, salesman for Romy Hammes Co.  Ford dealers.  Jed his son had been to church and had engine trouble, taking a part of the garage to have it taken care of.  Mrs. Julia Kossel widow of Henry Kossel passed away this morning at her sons 369 Otter St..  Born in Brookfield March 28 – 1862.

11.  Monday: An old friend drops in at the store today to see me, Mary Samar.  I did not know her name, since she married.  Jack Reigh passed away shortly after midnight last night.  Born at St. Cloud September 8 – 1880.

12.  Tuesday: Ed Binder is out at the Security Bank today.  He has been associated with the bank many years.

13.  Wednesday: We visited at Ed Fretchel’s with the Weisheipl’s.  Spent a pleasant evening, but the roads out are very icy and driving is bad.  Jack Reigh is laid to rest.

14.  Thursday: Clearing the premises at the Kennedy – Clark site for a new “Winnebago County Courthouse.” Jerry Shea chairman of the building committee turns the first shovel full of dirt, at 9.30 this morning.  Dr. Quincy Danforth lost his son Quincy 18 years of age, last night, from complications caused by influenza.

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17.  Sunday: Attend 6 Oclock Mass then to work.  Had Rose Weisheipl over for dinner.  Back to work until 2.30 P.M. made deliveries after that.  Visited Anna Drexler also Mr. and Mrs. Paulick.  Mrs. Paulick is in bed.

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20.  Wednesday: President Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated today for a second term as president.  This is the first time the new president is inaugurated in January.  He has been inaugurated the 4th of March.  Joe Petrik serves notice tonite that he will begin working in a foundry tomorrow.  Mrs. Theresa Tauber, cousin to Mrs. Potter passes away suddenly this evening.  Born in Austria Dec. 12-1866.  She was the cook at our wedding and also on our 25th wedding anniversary.

21.  Thursday: Our sheephead club meets at Joe Hemmer’s.  It’s a mighty cold night.  Joe has some good wine, chili and herring and I won the dollar.  Albert Holzbauer is operated today for gallstones, but the surgeons find he has a large ulcer on his stomach, part of his intestines is also cut away.

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23.  Saturday: Attended funeral of Theresa Tauber this morning.  Father Bastian gave a lovely eulogy in her honor.

24.  Sunday: Six oclock mass as usual, then to work for the rest of the day until 8.30 P.M.  The Heips come over.  Played 6 games of sheephead, I won 5 of them.  Joe Baier has a Sunday out for a change.  I think he’ll now have every other Sunday.  Leon Geiger is put on a Sunday shift.

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30.  Saturday: A very wet Saturday rain all day.  Red Cross Meeting this afternoon, lasted 2 hours, had Karl Schloesser Jay Putney and Mr. Norton at the meeting.  Visited Albert Holzbauer at Mercy Hospital, he is doing quite well.  Visited Anna Drexler and the Paulicks. Mrs. Paulick is still in bed.

31.  Sunday: Attended 7³⁰ Hi Mass for a change.