Diary of Alfred E. Potter June, 1940

01.  Saturday: June treats us with some hot weather, it is 87° in the shade today.

02.  Sunday: Holy Name Rally at Manitowoc.  It rained most of this morning.  The afternoon is nice and hot.  Bill Siewert is removed to his home from Mercy Hospital.  Visited Al Samer this evening.  He is getting weaker.  Can not eat anything, but a little milk.  He still talks about the times he could eat good sized helpings of Potato Salad – Dumplings – and Sour Soup.  He does not realize his condition.  And Mothers picnic at South Park.  Thres and Anna Heip – Thres Fretchel played Bingo at Eagles.  No results. Barbara Ann Mauritz baptized today.

03.  Monday: Another hot day, 88° in the shade. Druggist of the 6th Congressional District meet at the Hotel Raulf tonite. A dinner precedes our meeting. Some ladies are in attendance. Wilbur Lalis is our chairman.

04.  Tuesday: Ladies Auxiliary South Side Business Men entertain the “Male Species” at R.W. Morgans beautiful home.

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06.  Thursday: Karl Radomsky comes up from Milwaukee to pick up Anna and Leona Drexler and take them back with him.  Grandma Baier is over to visit Joseph Mathe 11^th & Ohio, he is her age, but is confined to bed and getting very weak.

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08.  Saturday: Joe Weisheipl Sr. goes to Indianapolis to attend National Convention of Musicians.  Thres – Annie Heip and myself attended Oshkosh Theatre tonite.  Saw 2 good pictures, “Florian” which by the way is a horse, starring Robert Young and Helen Gilbert and “The House across the Bay” which is Alcatraz Federal Prison” starring George Raft and Joan Bennett.  Also played Bingo.  I won a dollar and two theatre passes.

09.  Sunday: Attended nine oclock mass this morning.  Dropped in to see Edgar Ostertag this afternoon.  He is not doing well and will be removed to Mercy Hospital later this afternoon.  Dr. Haines is attending him.  Mr. Joseph Mathe, father to Mrs. Al Beck 11^th & Ohio passed away this morning at the age of 90 years.

10.  Monday: Italy thru Premier Mussolini declares war on France and Great Britain today.

11.  Tuesday: Rose and Teddy Gittings are here for short visit.  Carl Radomsky brings them up from Milwaukee.  They arrived there Saturday.

12.  Wednesday: Visited a short time with Sister Virginia at Mercy Hospital, also Edgar Ostertag, he is not doing well, also Henry Beck, he is to go home today.  Visited Grandma Baier tonite.  She is lonesome, because Lena is out to Will Mauritz’s taking care of Rose and doing the housework.

13.  Thursday: I visited at Bill Mauritz this afternoon.  Had to see the new baby girl, also at Anna Weisheipls to see how a little Tommy is getting along.  Also at Albert Holzbauer’s on Wall Street about a note.  Signed note for Louis Mauritz today (270 Dollars).  Temperature is at 55° tonite.  Thres and Anna Weisheipl (Heip for short) played bingo at Eagles.  Ann gets 1⁷⁰.

14.  Friday: Donald goes to the Camp-o-ree at Menominee Park this afternoon. Flag Day Celebration at Elks Club House marks the end of two weeks of special honor to the American Flag. Frank Keefe is principal speaker, when he donates a large flag which was flown on the U.S. Capitol at Washington.

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16.  Sunday: Father Vincent Joseph Putzer son of Mr. Wenzel and Alvina Putzer reads his first mass at St. Vincent’s Church.  He was ordained June 11^th at the “Shrine of the Immaculate Conception” Washington D.C.

17.  Monday: Ed Fretchel (our janitor at the store) is laid up today.  Maybe the Putzer celebration got the best of him.  Well, he was able to be down at Putzer’s this afternoon and help them celebrate the day after the doings.

18.  Tuesday: I’d took Sisters Romana – Isador – Genevieve and Valeria to Madison.  Had a nice visit with Sister Ambrosia, she is looking well.  Met Mr. and Mrs. Berry of Gary Indiana.  They know Sister Laurice (Binder).

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20.  Thursday: Emma (Mrs. Joe Baier) has a birthday, she is 25 years of age today.  I took Grandma a Baier and Lena out to the cottage this afternoon for a visit.  Grandma appreciated the ride very much.  Wenzel and Alvina (Drexler) Putzer are married 35 years today.

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22.  Saturday: Rain most of the day today.  Thres can not start our Chrysler at the Cottage and Bob Brand pushes her to Ray Robbins Station (West Algoma).  A cloud burst this evening floods many basements in town.

23.  Sunday: More rain.  Attended 9 Oclock Mass.  In the evening staid home.  In the afternoon view the remains of Mrs. Mary Miller at Poklasny.  Had a nice visit with Earl Murphy.  He is at Green Bay Vice President Naus Dress Shop for Ladies.

24.  Monday: And it is still raining this morning.  Mrs. Mary Miller is laid to rest.  Thres and Mary Attend funeral services.

25.  Tuesday: Took Sister Alvina and Father Vincent Putzer, Mrs. Alvina Putzer to Prairie du Chien.  Sister Alvina must go to Summer School for seven weeks.  Met Sister Lauda Kirsch –Sister Melfrieda from Marshfield, she knows Sister Virginia at the hospital (Mercy).  Brought Sisters Romana –Genevieve –Valeria to Madison.  Attended Devotion to “Mother of Perpetual Help” at St. James Church.  This is the first time I attended such a service.  Back home at 10¹⁰ P.M. and I am very tired, drove 375 miles.

26.  Wednesday: Visited Al Samer, he is in pretty bad shape, altho he does not realize it.  He still thinks he can be made into a new man.  Viewed the remains of Edgar Ostertag, he looks very natural.

27.  Thursday: View the remains of Mrs. Theresa Robl 1030 – 5th St..  In the evening took Anna – Leona Drexler – Aunt Mary –Donald and Mary Ann to Berlin to Harry Kujawas.  Met Eddie Kraling “clothier” Ed Betchka – Rob Lannin – and Mr. Kufahl Tavern keeper.  Got home at 2 A.M.  Thres attends surprise party at Clara Miller’s.  She is to be married to Otto Lemke.  Matt Sitter passed away suddenly tonight at 6¹⁵.  Edgar Ostertag is laid to rest.  Joe Baier and Joe Hemmer are pallbearers.  I had Eddie Weisheipl over for dinner.

28.  Friday: Eddie Weisheipl and Roger Allmers had a narrow escape from injury last night when the car in which they were riding and driven by Eldor Stuebs was hit by a “Red Granite” Car driven by Robert Donnan.  Stuebs made a left turn to enter “Melrose” on the Omro Road.  Donnan was coming from the west, Stuebs thought he had time enough to make the turn, but found himself almost directly in the path of the other machine, the Stuebs car was hit at the right rear and the Donnan car swerved diagonally into the ditch, four people injured and the car demolished.

29.  Saturday: Roger Allmers and Eil    Hetue are married by Rev. Koch.  Lucille Hallut and Cyril Gollnick are married by Rev. Stange at the Radtke home across from our place.  We got home at 2 A.M. from Rogers Wedding.

30.  Sunday: To 7 Oclock Mass at St. John’s this morning.  Worked all morning –rested this afternoon – back to work at 6 Oclock for the evening.  View the remains of Matt Sitter after work.