Diary of Alfred E. Potter March, 1941

01.  Saturday: Harold Mueller takes over the Mueller Potter Paint and Wallpaper Company.

02.  Sunday: Attended 7³⁰ Hi Mass at St. Vincents and then to work.  And what did I do this afternoon?  I slept like a log until 4.45 and then back for more work.

03.  Monday: Sam Fleming is laid to rest this afternoon.  Rose and Edward both have a cold but are on the job.  Rose Weisheipl has dinner with us today.  Karl and Margaret Radomsky drop in on us tonite.  They came in by train, the roads are too bad for driving.  Joe Weisheipl Sr. gets back on the job this morning, after being laid up about a week and a half by a bad cold.

04.  Tuesday: President Roosevelt is at the helm of our country 8 years today.  Visited Grandma Baier today.  She would like to get out of bed.  May try this afternoon.  Karl and Margaret loan our Chrysler today to visit Harry and Agnes Kujawa at Berlin.  We attend the South Side Business Men’s Ladies Auxiliary card party tonite.  Bill Siewert wins the table prize.  Theresa Fretchel is down with a cold. 

05.  Wednesday: A lovely day.  Rose Weisheipl's cold is breaking somewhat.  She tells me she took five straight shots last night and that should help some.  Edwards cold is hanging tough and he talks very hoarse.

06.  Thursday: Witnessed a very good basketball game tonight the “All Stars” playoff with the Firestone Team.  It is an overtime game the “All Stars” winning 47 to 41.  Lefty Edwards and Bob Carpenter are playing their best Leroy 18 points – Bob 14 points.  Ed Weisheipl’s cold is so bad, he could not take in the game, and that hurts.  The Heip Sr’s and Thres and myself dropped in the George Buchanan tavern after the game.  It is my first visit there since George took it over.

07.  Friday: Dropped in to see Grandma Baier, she is about the same altho she seems to be growing weaker.  Our Mary Ann has a birthday, she is eleven.  Dolores – Lawrence Kinateder and Frank Hein are over.  She takes them all to the movie in the evening.  Dr. Ray Wagner is called to Fretchel’s.  Theresa’s cold is quite bad, seems to have much pain in her ears and head.          Com.  Father Wm Mortell

08.  Saturday: Rose Weisheipl tells me she slept little last night, her cough bothered her much.

09.  Sunday: To six oclock Mass, then to work.          Com.  Stanislaus Jarosch

10.  Monday: Joe Kollross passed away this afternoon at 130 at the Veterans Hospital – Wood Wis.  He was there since Dec 26th 1940.  Born in Oshkosh Feb 27 – 1888.  The Oshkosh “All Stars” beat the Sheboygan “Red Skins” 53 to 38 at Sheboygan tonight in the Shaughnessy Playoff for the Crown in the National Basketball League.  Had a visit with Father Bastian tonite.  We also looked up Anna Weisheipls birth records.  We find she was born Dec. 2 – 1882 which made her 58 years of age last birthday.

11.  Tuesday: The Sheboygan Redskins are here tonite for return game with the Oshkosh “All Stars.” Game ends 44-37 favor “All Stars.” After the game the Heips visit with us until 1 A.M.

12.  Wednesday: According to fairly accurate information Dr. M.C. Haines did $22 000 business (gross) and collected $19 000.  This is indeed an excellent showing, if true.

13.  Thursday: Have nice semi annual appointment with Dr. Norman Kleinschmidt, the dentist.

14.  Friday: Joe Kollross is laid to rest this morning.  Services at St. Vincent’s.  Took a drive to Fond du Lac this afternoon with Mr. Mueller.  Looked over and bought some Easter and Summer Merchandise from Ray Grace.  He is displaying the Mc Clurg Line at Armory E.  Dropped in to see the new Wilbur Lolis drug store.  It is beautiful, represents and expenditure of about $50 000.  Dropped in to say hello to Ed and Fred Worm.  Dr. William Wagner has a birthday.  According to Dr. Ray his brother he was born March 14 – 1893

15.  

16.  Sunday: To St. Johns 8 Oclock Mass with Mary Ann. A heavy blizzard begins about 7³⁰ wind is at high velocity. Temperature drops considerably in fact it is near zero at 9³⁰ P.M. with a high wind still blowing. The storm came out of the Dakotas where an 85 mile gale and 17° below zero weather brings death to many. North Dakota registers 38 deaths, Minnesota 28, New York 4, Wisconsin 3, Ohio 2, Michigan 2, Pennsylvania 1. One man died while going from his house to his barn. It seems the strong wind and heavy dust and snow suffocated people.

17.  Monday: Father Michael Drexler dropped in at the store tonite for a visit.  He tells me he is very busy.  I am a busy chauffeur today.  Temperature is 5° below at 7³⁰ when I take the Children to school, then to the Post Office with a $2700 report, phoned the Heips from there, Joe Sr. says “I’m froze up,” so I hurried there to take Marion and Rose to work.  Marion must be there at 8²⁰ A.M. sharp.  In the afternoon to Rose Mauritz, Joan and Billy home to 1428 – 6th St. and Mrs. Mauritz (Bills Mother) to her home from there.  At 9:30 PM Naomi Miller to her home 222 Ceape and 10:00 PM Ed Weisheipl and Roger Allmers to their homes on 6th and Reed Streets.

18.  Tuesday: Visited Grandma Baier this morning, she sat up a bit, but is very very weak.

19.  Wednesday: Charles Ress, Peanut Vender and Shoe Shiner at Herman Jansen Barber Shop is 51 years of age today.

20.  

21.  Friday: Special Meeting Stockholders Mueller Potter.  Fred Baumgartner is elected a new director to take the place vacated by Harold Mueller.

22.  

23.  Sunday: To 8 Oclock Mass at St. Johns Foresters Court 510 and Juniors receive Communion in a body Donald is with us.  Father Courtney has a sick call after mass, find later that he was called to Robert Lutz 1270 Knapp to administer last Sacraments.  Thres attends Sacred Heart Bingo, wins a Broom.          Com.  St. Joseph’s Honor.  Happy Hour of death.

24.  Monday: Executive Committee Red Cross Meets today at Court House.  Rev. Hiram Mansfield has a birthday, he is 66 but looks to be about 55.

25.  Tuesday: Visited Grandma Baier, she is sitting up but is still very weak.

26.  Wednesday: Attended “All Star” “Harlem Globe Trotters” basketball game. The “All Stars” lose 41-38. The Darkies are sure a team of fast players. Donald got the autograph of all the “Globe Trotters.” We wound up at Harold Bouchelle's.

27.  

28.  Friday: The Weisheipls lose the pet “Tom Cat” I gave to them last year.  He died of poisoning.  They all miss him very much.  Had Armin Knoop out to the West Store to make plans for a new structure to be built on the present site.

29.  Saturday: This is Norbert Mueller’s Birthday, he is 42 and incidentally it is the anniversary of the Chas Otto Store fire in 1914 which also caused much damage at our store.  Attended Boy Scout Indoor Rally at Recreational Hall tonight.  Berlin for Rather Green Lake County Waushara – Winnebago Waupaca counties are represented.  Had Joe and Annie Heip with us.  After the rally they were with us at home until 12.45 A.M.

30.  Sunday: To six Oclock Mass.  K C Easter Communion at St. Vincents but I did not get there.  Opened the store at 8 A M which is unusual for me.  Art Mueller is back on the job after being laid up with a bad throat for 2 ½ days.  The weather is lovely, temperature is at 52°.

31.  Monday: Strikers are writing at the Allis – Chalmers Plant this afternoon.  They are driven back by a heavy armored police car and tear bombs passed out by Sheriff Jos. Shinners and officers of the police department and deputies.