Diary of Alfred E. Potter February, 1940

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02.  Friday: Out early this morning, selling candles at St. Vincents Church.

03.  Saturday: A lovely day.  Mary Ann cleans oven for mother this morning.  After she gets thru she shows Aunt Mary and says, “See Auntie I'm not so dumb.”

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06.  Tuesday: Visited Grandma Baier, she is quite weak.

07.  Wednesday: A lovely day.  I understand it will be 122 years before Ash Wednesday will fall on February 7^th.

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10.  Saturday: Temperatures dipped to 6° below zero early this morning.

11.  Sunday: Donald's birthday today; he is 12 years old. Attended six oclock mass, then to work. In the afternoon we attended the Oshkosh Theatre. “Gone With the Wind” is shown in technicolor, starring Clark Gable as Rhett Butler, Leslie Howard, Olivia DeHavilland, and Vivian Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara. Margaret Mitchell is the author of the story. Joe and Anna Weisheipl are here for supper and spend the evening with us. Party breaks up at 1.45 AM. Elizabeth Drexler is brought home from Milwaukee.

12.  Monday: Looked over some of the things our Red Cross Chapter is sending to Finland. Mrs. Mace introduces Blanche Hay. We have many dresses childrens and adults also sweaters childrens and adults. Our ladies have done a fine job of knitting. Members of our garment production program are Chairman Mrs. Ruth Mace, Mrs. Lydia Pfeiffer, Mrs. Pauline Kleinschmidt, Mrs. Nora Serwas, Mrs. E.B. Williams, Mrs. Blanche Hays, (newly appointed). Mueller Potter Employees have meeting tonite at 10 PM at North Store. Mr. Todd is here trying to teach us how to sell ladies hose in a drugstore. Ed, Rose Weisheipl and myself end up at Pete King's

13.  Tuesday: Visited Betty Drexler, she is not so well today.  Also visited Grandma Baier.  She is doing fairly well, states she can not sleep nights.  Brought a gallon of Port Wine to her; let’s hope this will restore strength and rest to her.

14.  Wednesday: Thres and Aunt Mary visit Eliz. Drexler this afternoon.  She is somewhat better today.  Thres and myself attend South Side Business Mens Valentine party over Security Bank.  Bill and Emma Siewert are with us.

15.  Thursday: A warmer day temperature is at 36° today.  Visited Grandma Baier, to inquire how the Port Wine agrees with her.

16.  Friday: Leona Drexler has a birthday, she is 30 years of age.  Frank Hein is 11 years old today.  Grandma Baier walks to St. Vincents Church to attend mass and also walks back home.  This is her first walk outdoors for a long time.  Donald Bludau has a heart attack at Sheboygan.

17.  Saturday: Big scrap this morning, I should say this noon. Frank Hein and Donald have a healthy encounter in our back yard. Exact reason unknown. Donald draws first blood and that settles the fight.

18.  Sunday: Another beautiful day, temperature is around 40°.

19.  Monday: Had a lengthy meeting of the executive committee Red Cross, this afternoon. Mrs. Mace chairman of our garment production committee recommends the making of surgical dressings, our next step in production. We vote $225 for this work.

20.  Tuesday: Grandma Baier is 90 years old today.  She has many visitors and Thres – Mary – Anna Weisheipl – Thres Fretchel –Mrs. Johnson’s – Mrs. Frank Steckbauer, Anna Ostertag – Rose Mauritz –Mrs. Joe Baier and their children have an afternoon party.  I stopped in a while but the kids made so much noise I didn’t stay long.  Grandma is making the best of things, altho she is somewhat weak.  Visited Betty Drexler, she still looks quite pale.  Visited Anna Drexler for a while, she is doing pretty well, even saved enough money to pay her taxes.

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22.  Thursday: Stopped it Baiers to see how grandma got over her birthday celebration.  She is feeling pretty well.

23.  Friday: We are having a healthy snowstorm tonite.  Aunt Mary has an unusual appetite tonight especially for cheese – peanuts – beer – one, and what not.

24.  Saturday: Aunt Mary feels indisposed today.  She claims she slept too well.  I think the peanuts got the best of her.  Well at any rate she says she is not going to do it anymore.

25.  Sunday: Foresters Easter Communion at St. John’s.  Paid pew rent to Ed Baranowski – 24 dollars.  Temperature is about 10° below zero this morning.  Worked about 6 ½ hours today.  This is less than most Sundays.  Attended the Mode Theatre after work.  Pictures shown is “San Francisco.”

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28.  Wednesday: A cloud burst in the Sacramento Valley California.

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