Diary of Alfred E. Potter December, 1939

01.  Friday: First Friday.  We have rain most of the day.  William Kiser Veteran Printer passed away this afternoon at Mercy Hospital.  Born April 25 – 1868 at Fond du Lac.

02.  Saturday: Joseph Jungen is married to Eva Kosmer this morning at St. Mary’s Church.  Anna Weisheipl SP birthday, she is 5____.  She takes is out for a treat at the Oshkosh Theatre.

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04.  Monday: Christian Mothers Society St. Vincent’s have their Christmas Party tonite.

05.  Tuesday: Thres plays cards at Cater’s tonite.

06.  Wednesday: Visited Joe and Eva Jungen.  This is the first time I meet the new bride.  Attended “South Side Business Mens meeting” at Koplitz Hall.  Irv Stilp Chairman of Motorcycle Police shows Safety Movies –Also pictures of accidents in Winnebago County.  Dr. Geo.  Steele is with him.  Will Siewert has a birthday.  He is 53, so he and I have a little celebration of our own.

07.  Thursday: Matt Weisheipl is here painting the pipes in our basement.  We enjoyed a venison dinner today.  Matt ties in for a big feed, but he does not know he is eating venison.  Thres goes to Eagle’s Keno tonite but wins nothing as usual.

08.  Friday: Attended meeting of Executive Committee Red Cross.  Voted appropriations to sponsor course in Home Hygiene and Care of the Sick, also to sponsor Garment Production Program.  Mrs. Mace and Rev. Oberleiter attend our meeting.  Attended 7 o'clock Mass this morning.  Took Anna Drexler, Ottilia Mugerauer, Mary (Aunt Mary) Drexler and Thres to Alexian Brothers Hospital to see Uncle John Drexler.  He is sleeping and we had no chance to talk to him.

09.  Saturday: Another beautiful day, Temperature is 50°.  December has treated us to some remarkable weather so far.  In Milwaukee the temperature is 56°, the highest on record for this date.  Sixty years ago 55° was registered.

10.  Sunday: Six oclock Mass as usual and then to work.  Attended the Rendition “The Messiah” at the Recreational Hall by the “Oshkosh Community Chorus” in the afternoon.  After work in the evening visited at Ed Fretchel Home.  Joe and Mary Stadler –Joe and Anna Weisheipl are there.  We play 6 Hand Sheephead.

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12.  Tuesday: Brother Alexius called me this morning, saying Uncle John Drexler is quite ill in growing weaker.  We had a move back to his house, I phoned Father Michael at Kaukauna, Clara at Allis Chalmers and picked up Caroline and Betty from work.  Father Sholten administered extreme unction.  Notified Lena Baier –Sick Aunty Anna Drexler –Mrs. Jos. Blechinger – Thres and myself – Anna Weisheipl –Ottilia Drexler stayed overnight at Uncle Johns, I arrived home at 7 oclock, but Thres stayed on.

13.  Wednesday: John (Drexler, Theresa's brother) is still hanging on, he's losing ground fast.  Doctor Hogen states he may live another 24 hours.  At 10:30 P.M. he takes a turn for the worse and passes away in peaceful sleep at 10:40 P.M. R.I.P.

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16.  Saturday: Another beautiful day, temperature is 43° above zero.  Our Christmas Rush begins today.

17.  Sunday: Are we ever busy today.  Parcels are coming in heavy all day.

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20.  Wednesday: We have about reached our peak on parcel post.  There has been a steady line up the last four evenings from the front of the store to the parcel post window.

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24.  Sunday: This is another busy Sunday.  Took in about 525.  The folks open their presents.  Donald (son) is somewhat of a sad boy tonite.  He didn't get as many presents as he expected.  He sits in the corner very depressed.  Thres attends midnight Mass at St. John's. 

25.  Monday: Attended 7³⁰ Mass.  Worked all day making out orders, only 28 of them.  Thres and the family go visiting, to Uncle John’s family, Ottilia Drexlers, had supper at the Weisheipls.  After work I find we have company, Harry Agnes Johnnie Mary Kujawa, Anna – Leona Drexler Ernie Clark – Joe and Anna Weisheipl.  Donald (son) is very happy today.  He gets a new bicycle - a casting set - a scout knife and a harmonica.

26.  Tuesday: Ann and Rose Baier are here with Raymond, Jimmie, Joan and Billy.  Aunt Lena and Grandma Baier are also here for their Christmas visit.  They spend the afternoon with us.  Grandma is very impressed with the bathroom upstairs.

27.  Wednesday: More company tonight.  Harold and Eva Mueller, Ed and Thres Fretchel are with us until 2 A.M.  Mary Ann visits at Bill Mauritz and Raymond Ostertag homes

28.  Thursday: Mary Ann visits with Marion – Joan and Corrinne Drexler today.

29.  Friday: We’re still having nice weather.  Temperatures are well up in the twenties, with no snow.

30.  Saturday: Dropped in at the Hugo Reif home on Hubbard Street.  The weather makes it decided change, we are heading for winter now, temperature is 4° below zero at 6:00 oclock this evening.

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