Diary of Alfred E. Potter July, 1940

01.  Monday: Matt Sitter laid to rest this morning.  Father Raul had much praise for his spirit of charity turn life.

02.  Tuesday: Clara Miller and Otto Lemke are married at 6 Oclock this morning at St. Vincents.  Thres had to get up early to see the ceremony performed.

03.  Wednesday: Farewell party for Father Sylvester Stern at St. Vincents Hall.  Trask is a present for the “Christian Mothers Society.  Took the Fretchel’s to the cottage today.  Mary Ann takes Dolores Kinateder along.  Joe and Anna Weisheipl come over at 9⁰⁰ P.M. for a game of sheephead.  Party breaks up at 1³⁰ A.M.

04.  Thursday: A lovely day, there are no fireworks allowed in the city of Oshkosh this fourth, the first time since the Fourth has been celebrated here. Bob Brand and Harry Janko got a lovely mess of perch this morning. Bob and Ed Fretchel tried early this morning; they only got one pickerel. Ed Fretchel Jr. and Miss Ilk are out with us for dinner. Had a fine display of Fireworks in the evening for nearly 2 hours. Then more sheephead with the ladies, got to bed at 2.30 A.M. These night sessions are getting me. Joe and Anna Weisheipl take a trip to Cornell, Wis. to visit Joe's brother Frank Weisheipl.

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07.  Sunday: Six Oclock Mass this morning and then to work. St. Vincents Picnic at South Park. The weather is very nice until 6 Oclock when a bad shower dispersed most of the crowd. Mueller Potter Employees and Elmer Salzieders delivery boys have an outing at Mr. Muellers cottage on Fahrneys Estate. I drove out for a few hours stay in the afternoon. Joe and Annie Heip return from Cornell tonite. A Reception was tendered to Rev. Charles Lange Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in honor of his 40th anniversary in the ministry.

08.  Monday: Mrs. Theresa Koss 827-12^th passed away this morning at 4 Oclock.  Mother to Lawrence Koss who used to deliver for us.

09.  Tuesday: Father Sylvester Stern dropped in to say goodbye.

10.  Wednesday: Turns out to be a hot day with little breeze.  Four years ago today temperature was 99° with low temperature at night 86°.

11.  Thursday: We have more rain.  Mrs. Alvina Putzer entertains her working committee for Father Putzers Banquet, at our cottage.

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13.  Saturday: Joe Baier has a stiff neck today, evidently a cold.

14.  Sunday: To seven oclock Mass at St. Johns and then to work. Took Donald to Boy Scout Camp at Twin Lakes this afternoon. Drove thru Wautoma  on the way back stopped at Hunts Drug Store. Doug is on the job and glad to see us. Ed Fretchel is repairing our dock at the cottage. Thres is at St. Vincents “Bingo” tonite. Leona Drexler had me take her to Northwestern Depot to meet the 11 Oclock train. Her mother Anna was to come back from Milwaukee, but she was not on the train. We then stopped the Fritz Weisheipls for two 24 oz. Beers and a highball.

15.  Monday: Mueller Potter Sunshine Club have a Roller Skating Party at the rink on Murdock Street. They all skated but me. Dr. Weinzierl - Mylda Berndt - Dr. and  Mrs. Zentner - Karl and Margaret Hauser (Wautoma) - Pommeraning - Miss Guhl - Margaret.

16.  Tuesday: W.P.A. is building a new sidewalk around our South Side Store.

17.  Wednesday: The Democratic Party is making history at their National Convention in Chicago. Tonite President Franklin D. Roosevelt is drafted and unanimously nominated to serve a third term as President of the U.S.A. thereby setting a precedent. No President has ever accepted a third term in honor of our first President George Washington who refused to serve a third term. Took a drive to Twin Lakes this afternoon to visit Donald. He likes camping very much. He is doing W.P.A. Road Work with the road crew when we arrived. Joe and Ann Weisheipl were with us. Stopped at Mrs. Herricks “Omro” for our evening meal.

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19.  Friday: I think summer 1940 really begins today, temperature is 97° in the shade.  Did not work much this evening, or this afternoon.  Took a swim this afternoon, Thres has company, Mary Bloechl Miller, Clara Miller Lemke –Emma Miller Siewert –Mary Walter Schneider and Anna Drexler Weisheipl.  Bill Siewert came out in the evening, he and Emma staid overnite.

20.  Saturday: Drove to Twin Lakes to bring back Donald and Jerry Binder. Donald has seven awards. He is glad to get home. Rob Brand has a lot of company at the cottage today, about 25 people. Temperature is up to 89° today.

21.  Sunday: Day to the cottage over night, and was going to rush to town this morning, and I find we have a flat tire.  Took the little car, and change tires this afternoon in the hot sun.  Al Samer passed away Early this morning, Born in Bavaria Dec  9 – 1881.  He was mail carrier for 33 years.  Back to the cottage this afternoon.  Took Alice Wolf along to beat Mary Ann’s guest this week.

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23.  Tuesday: Income Tax in England is now 42 ½% and is deducted from the people’s wages.

24.  Wednesday: We have company at the cottage, Bob and Emma Genal - Joe and Annie Heip. The beer was not very cold, but we got away with it. We also tried our luck at harmonizing and got along pretty good. Party broke up at nearly 2 A.M. Temperature was 95°today.

25.  Thursday: Temperature is again 95° today.  Low reading during the night was 78°.

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27.  Saturday: Brought the family in early tonite from the cottage.  Anna – Leona Drexler – and Maggie Meisinger Reetz are over to the house tonite.  It turns out to be quite a jolly visit.  Maggie expects to go back to California in a day or two.

28.  Sunday: Ohio Street Merchants have their Annual Picnic.  Attended 7 Oclock Mass at St. Johns.  Took Ed – Thres and Robert Fretchel along to the cottage.  The Heips come in the evening.  Party breaks up at 1¹⁵ A.M.  Its a lovely night to be out.  Robert Fretchel stays as Donald’s guest for the week.

29.  Monday: Matt Weisheipl begins working at Buckstaffs.  This will be his first at age of eight he keeps it.  He is now 26 years old.  Took Marion and Joan Drexler to the cottage tonite to be Mary Ann’s guests for this week.  The Mueller Potter employees have another roller skating party tonite.  I did not attend.

30.  Tuesday: Rose Weisheipl tells me, she is doing pretty good on roller skates.  Ed T. Cole Veteran Real Estate Man passed away at 4¹⁵ this afternoon at his home to 61 Franklin Ave.  Born in Janesville Sept 23 – 1866.  He was a longtime friend of Mueller – Potter.

31.  Wednesday: More company at the cottage.  Tony and Mrs. DeLorm Joe and Celia Drexler spend part of the afternoon and evening with us.  The boys wanted to fish but the lake was too rough.  Played sheephead, I won 95 cents, thats unusual.  Party broke up at midnight.