Diary of Alfred E. Potter February, 1941

01.  Saturday: Gave Joe and Anna Weisheipl a treat by taking them to the Hammond - All Stars Basketball game. Neither one had witnessed a basketball game before. It was a walkaway for the All Stars 60-36, although Hammond was the first team to beat them this year.

02.  Sunday: Had to get up early for six oclock mass. Sold candles at St. Vincents before 7³⁰ Mass. Joe Baier and Ed Fretchel were on the job as usual. Donald takes Ed Weisheipl’s place as clerk at the store and he does very well. Thres - Aunt Mary visit Grandma Baier and Anna Drexler this afternoon after church. Grandma Baier is moved back upstairs to her room. Thres goes to St. Vincents cash Bingo tonite and wins nothing. I work until 11.30 P.M.

03.  Monday: Christian Mothers Society St. Vincents have a “Guest night” meeting.  About 170 attend and “Ma Potter” – “The President” is well satisfied.  Edward Krueger “pioneer automobile dealer” in fact the oldest in Oshkosh passed away this afternoon at Mercy Hospital.  He had been ill for some time.  Born in Germany April 16 – 1868.

04.  Tuesday: Jos P. Stür, Secretary and General Manager of Peoples Brewery Co.  Was found dead in bed this morning.  He was in our store yesterday afternoon to have a prescription refilled.  He was born in Chicago July 14 – 1880.  Visited Grandma Baier this morning.  She is better satisfied in her own bed upstairs.  Picked up Ed Weisheipl this noon.  He tries a half day of work.  The last day he worked at the store was Jan 26^th.

05.  Wednesday: Ed Weisheipl is back on the job.  He is feeling much improved.

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07.  Friday: Up early this morning 4.45.  Donald serves 5.30 Mass for Father Duerr.  Joe Stür is laid to rest.  Services at St. Vincents at 10 oclock.  Com: Joe Stür

08.  Saturday: Thres and South go to the All Star – Chicago Bruins game.  The Allstars win 45-31.  It was a slow draggy game in the last half.  It is a beautiful night out.  Karl Samer and Marie Verwiel make a hurried trip to Milwaukee to be married.

09.  Sunday: To six Oclock mass this morning.  Took Mary Ann and Dolores Kinateder to Sacred Heart for services.  They have their breakfast at Aunt Anna Weisheipl’s.  Took Donald – Frank Hein –Lawrence Kinateder to St. Mary’s for services.  The Holy Name and also Boy Scouts received communion there.

10.  Monday: Another lovely day.  Douglas Hunt from Wautoma drops in at the store this afternoon.  Harry Ferry United Drug Salesman is also here today.

11.  Tuesday: Donald’s Birthday, he is 13 today.  He did not get as many presents as usual, but he did get practical gifts.  Visited Grandma Baier she is still in bed, but thinks she will try to get up for a little while today.

12.  Wednesday: Teddy Gittings (Chicago) is five years old today.

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15.  Saturday: Took Thres to the All Star – Firestone Game tonight.  The All Stars suffer their first defeat on their home gym 49-43.  Rose Weisheipl and her friend Anne Falle have a bad place to witness the game from the top row on the stage and its plenty hot up there.  They are pretty well wilted and tired when the game is over.

16.  Sunday: To six oclock mass.  Leona Drexler is 31 years of age today.  Her mother has a little party in her honor.  The Harry Kujawas –The Starr’s are here from Berlin.  She receives some nice presents among them up Bulava Wrist Watch from a fellow by the name of Roman?  (Don’t know his last name (It is Polish).  He must be working fast, as she does not know him so very long as yet.  We have a light blizzard.  I forgot to mention that we had supper at Anna Drexler’s.  Thres goes to St. Vincents Bingo and I work until 12 midnight figuring inventory.

17.  Monday: Marion Weisheipl is home laid up with a bad cold.

18. Tuesday: Donald takes part in the first aquacade in Oshkosh, which is held in the new swimming pool of the South Side Junior Hi School. And its a cold night, when he comes home it is 10° below zero.

19.  Wednesday: Marion Weisheipl is back on the job after a two day layoff with a cold, but now with Joe Sr. is down with a cold.  It is about 12° below zero this morning and the Weisheipl auto is froze up, and will not start.  Cook and Brown deliver two tons of coal for our house today.  I’d just learned that it was 13° below zero this morning – officially.

20.  Thursday: Grandma Baier is 92 years of age today, but she must spend the day in bed. Dropped in to see her and wish her a happy birthday. Roma Bauman made up a nice German poem in her honor. Temperature is still below zero this morning, about 5°. Anna Weisheipl is surprised by the ladies of Sacred Heart Kitchen Workers this afternoon. About 50 are present, says she, but a recount produced only 17. Well, 17 can make plenty of noise.

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22.  Saturday: Attended “All Star” Detroit Basketball Game.  It was very exciting and for a time it looked as tho Detroit would win.  “Zadawski” Detroit’s tall center made 21 points but was taken out of the game during the 3d quarter for having 5 fouls.  Putnam really won the game for us in the last quarter shooting baskets.  Final Score 59-57.

23.  Sunday: To six oclock mass then to work.  Took the family to Strand Theatre this afternoon.  “Western Union” in Technicolor is on, starring Robert Young –Virginia Gilmore –Randolph Scott –Dean Jagger.  “Blondie goes Latin” is the comic.

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27.  Thursday: Thres goes to Eagles Bingo and wins nothing, but she says the chicken at Harold Bouchelle’s is very good.

28.  Friday: Meeting tonight at the South Side Store as to disposition of Paint Store. Frances Lamb is with us.  Dropped in to see Grandma Baier, find her about the same, her eyesight is very good.  Former King Alfonso of Spain passed away at a hotel at Rome Italy this morning – age 54.  Sam Fleming passed away this morning at 2.35 at Mercy Hospital.  He has been train dispatcher from the South Side Northwestern depot for a good many years.