Diary of Alfred E. Potter September, 1941

01.  Monday: Bob Brand put his 5 horsepower motor on my boat and we went fishing.  This is the first time in 10 years we went fishing together.  Caught quite a string, with many small ones.

02.  Tuesday: [5M] School begins today, Donald begins 8^th Grade – Mary Ann 5^th.  We hear the Weisheipls are stranded in Cornell.  Heavy rains have flooded the highways.  Naomi Mueller is back this noon from her vacation gone 9 ½ days.  Thres takes Rose and Teddy Gittings to the Northwestern Depot this afternoon, they leave for their home in Chicago.

03.  Wednesday: [7M] I spend my afternoon off working at the store.  Intended to go away tonite are rain began to come down at about 7 Oclock.

04.  Thursday: [5M] We learn that Joe and Ann Weisheipl come home from Cornell at 3 oclock this morning.  They called Leo Girens and he drove up to pick them up.  Joe had to leave his car.

05.  Friday: [7M] Anna and Leona Drexler leave for Milwaukee this afternoon.

06.  Saturday: [3½M] This is Leon Geiger’s last day at the north store.  Robert Heideman is also leaving, he has won a scholarship which carries a 250 dollar a year prize, for 4 years.  President Roosevelt is spending the weekend at his home Hyde Park. 

07.  Sunday: [4M] Attend 7³⁰ Hi Mass at St. Vincents, then to work.

08.  Monday: [3M] My Plymouth goes out selling liquor today.  Joe Weisheipl Sr. is using it, and it rains most of the day and also this evening.  Christian Mothers meeting at St. Vincents tonite.

09.  Tuesday: [5M RHXDK] Another day of rain and Aunt Mary does the washing and has to hang it up to dry in the cellar.  Rain is nothing new these days.  Leona Drexler is back from Milwaukee this morning.  She stays at our house, and Mary Ann likes that because Leona is her bed partner.

10.  Wednesday: [RHXDK] Drive to Milwaukee with Thres and Thres Polier.  Took in Yahr Lange’s Fall Opening.  Don Bludau waited on us.  Had a fine luncheon there, met Ernie Hyak, had a visit with Ed Lange (Lilly Rep.).  In the afternoon shopped at the, Cosmetic Show at the Plankinton Hotel.  Met Walter Anderson – Johnny Gallagher –John and Bob Patterson –Karl Bechler –George Haverty – Hutch Schmidt.  From there to McClurg’s.  A. Grace is still on the job.  Then to the Church Mart, Mr. Paradowski waited on me, to Howdin Distilled Products, then out to Karl and Margaret Radomskys.  Margarets mother is there, had some fine pig shanks for dinner, won a $3⁰⁰ jackpot, then for home arrived at 11³⁰ PM Perfect Day

11.  Thursday: [7M RNXDK] Visited Grandma Baier this morning.  She had a fall yesterday and is confined to her bed today.

12.  Friday: [5M] Rose Weisheipl is indisposed today in fact so much so that she had to stay home from work this afternoon.

13.  Saturday: [3½M] Took Leona Drexler to Berlin this afternoon, and the family too.  Had a nice visit at Harry Kujawa’s, back at 11 P.M.

14.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass at St. Johns.  Theire Bazaar begins today.  They start out with a big dinner about 1225 people are served.  Mrs. Anna Ostertag is the cateress.  Thres wins 2²⁵ Donald 65¢ but most of it is spent again.  Edward Wachtveitl wins 25 dollars.  National Convention of American Legion begins at Milwaukee today, altho quite a number of Legionaires came in yesterday.

15. Monday: [8½M] My Plymouth is back this morning in very good order.  Joe Weisheipl took good care of it made only 222 miles.

16.  [5M RHXDK]

17.  

18.  [4½M]

19.  Friday: Norman Brown takes Clark Basset of Sturgeon Bay and myself to Chicago.  We picked up Clark’s Daughter Mary at Evanston on the way down.  Had lunch on the north side of town.  Registered at the Palmer House, Monroe and Wabash Ave.  Over to Fuller Morrison to do some holiday buying, had dinner at Fish and Chips on Randolph, then we took in the play “my Sister Eileen.” Then to the Eitel Restaurant and back to the Hotel.

20.  Saturday: Breakfast at the Coffee Shop (Palmer House) then to Benzingers. Norm Brown has to attend a Salemans Meeting.  I was all by myself the morning and part of the afternoon.  Had lunch at "Fish and Chips" and them took in Marshall Fields - story by story - floor by floor from basement to the ninth floor.  It was plenty interesting.  Started for home around 3 Oclock, dropped Mary Bassett off at Evanston.  Stopped for a bite to eat at Menominee Falls back home at 8³⁰.  Forgot to mention that I took in the "Institute of Art" this morning.

21.  Sunday: [2M] Attended 7³⁰ Mass at St. Johns then to work.  Another nice day.  Last day of St. John’s Bazaar.  St. Vincents have the Keeno Bingo Party but a very slim crowd.  I worked 10 hours today.  Ed Weisheipl comes to work in a Buick 1939 Model.

22.  Monday: [3M RNXDK] John Voss and Rose Elmer were married 25 years ago last Saturday Sept 20^th at Waukegan.

23.  [4½M RHXDK]

24.  Wednesday: A business trip to Milwaukee with Thres and Bill and Emma Siewert.  Stopped at Yahr Lange Inc.  – McClurg’s gave Mr. A.C. Grace a nice order, had a fine meal at Fritz Gust, then over to Mutual Drug Company while Thres and Emm did some shopping.  Gave John Lange an order.  Then out to Geo Kueblers on North Third.  Met Geo and Martha taking a walk, had a few beers at the “Big Stein” then out to Karl and Margaret Radomskys.  Anna Drexler is still there.  After an hour’s visit we drive over to Bill’s Sister’s Tavern on Wells Street, then for home at 8 P.M.  In Oshkosh at 9³⁰.  Ended at John Siebold’s tavern for frog-legs.

25.  [4½M RHXDK]

26.  Friday: [7M RNXDK] Anna Drexler comes home tonight and we lose a border, Leona.  She has been with us nearly three weeks.  Dr. Norman Kleinschmidt check over my teeth this morning, but found nothing wrong.

27. Saturday: [5M RDXDK] Visited Grandma Baier this morning.  She is not so well today.  Father Bastian administered Extreme Unction.  Worked until 4³⁰ P.M. then drove to the cottage.  It is much warmer today.  Had some late visitors tonite.  Leona Drexler and Roman came over at 11³⁰ P.M. and staid until 2 A.M. Sunday.

28.  Sunday: Today marks an event in Donald's life.  He is confirmed at St. Vincent's Church by Bishop Paul Peter Rhode.  Edward Weisheipl is his sponsor.  We all have dinner at the Weisheipls.  Edward had intended to take Donald to the Packers - Chicago Bears Football game and by the way the Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Bears 25-17.  He took into the Oshkosh Theatre in the evening.  After work I went back to the Heips for few games of sheephead.  I haven’t played since the Eighth of August at the cottage.  I sang with St. Vincents Choir this afternoon, and that was quite a treat.

29.  Monday: [8½M RHXDK] Thres plays cards at Baranowski’s and by the way today is Mrs. Baranowski’s birthday.  She is 66.  A holy mass at St. Vincents today for Camilla Micko.  Mercury slid down to 32° during the evening, a frost of white covering rooftops.

30.  Tuesday: [5M RHXDK] Leo Jungen comes over tonite to get his check, 521.  Donald Bludau is in town, his little son Joe is with him.  Rose Weisheipl and Naomi Mueller go out stepping tonite, but not very high.  The State convention of the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association opens today at Milwaukee.  I visited with Grandma Baier this morning, she is very weak, has not taken nourishment for 5 days.  Donald up at 4³⁰ to serve at Sunnyview for Father Bastian.