Diary of Alfred E. Potter September, 1943

01.  Wednesday: We attend the County Fair, Oshkosh Day turns out to be a lovely day.  Took Aunt Lena Baier with us.  The races are very good and the acts are excellent.  Had supper at the 10^th St. M. E. tent.  Met Harry – Agnes – Johnny – Mary Kujawa after supper, also Rose –Marion Weisheipl.  I got myself a job holding Johnny and Mary on the fence, to give them a good view of the evening acts.  Stopped at Pete King’s for lunch, on the way home.  Beat Thres two games of cribbage and by the way, Thres seems to have lost all her luck in cribbage.  She has won only two of the last 15 games.

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03.  Friday: To 7 Oclock Mass at St. (Johns) Vincents.  Mary Ann and Katherine Mueller are indisposed today, probably too much fresh fruit, for too much mixture.                       Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

04.  Saturday: Took Ed Fretchel to the cottage this afternoon.  Did some fishing, lost a good anchor, caught seven good size perch and sunfish and plenty small ones.

05.  Sunday: To St. Johns 7³⁰ with Mary Ann. Thres has been trying to buy butter, tried 3 places, no luck, one grocer informs her there is no butter available in the city. Took Thres Fretchel and Annie Heip along to the cottage. It's a lovely day. While the ladies played cards, I varnished our boat. Well from 8⁴⁵, the ladies engaged me at cards and it lasted until 2.45 A.M. and then a lunch. I get to rest at 3⁴⁵ A.M.

06.  Monday: Wake up about 5³⁰ with a severe storm breaking. Much lightning and thunder. Thres Fretchel and Annie are very much scared. I got up at 10.15 to find the ladies at breakfast. The Kearns Utah military band is on for a half hour concert over the radio. The broadcast comes in very good. Cork “George” Weisheipl plays with this band. I cut grass and do some cleaning up. Gregory Ilk and his mother Mary come out about 2 Oclock with Ed Fretchel. We then had our dinner. More cards while I take a nap until 5¹⁵. I get into the game until 8¹⁵ then we pack up and go home. Ed Fretchel stays at the cottage.

07.  Tuesday: The weather is much cooler today.  Tony Pable is taken to Sunnyview Sanatorium today.  He has been ailing for some time.

08.  Wednesday: Out in Europe things are happening.  Italy has surrendered to the Aloys.  Armistice is the active as of today 10 A.M. and the surrender is unconditional.  Out to the cottage this afternoon, to bring some eats to add Fretchel.  He is thoroughly disgusted and instead of eats, he wants to go home, and home I take him.  Took Mary Ann to Time theatre tonite.  “Louisiana Purchase” with Bob Hope –Vera Zarina –Victor Moore.  “Cairo” with Robert Young and Jeanette MacDonald.  I saw both of these before, they were worth seeing again

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12.  Sunday: To 730 Mass at St. Johns and then wrote orders until 1 P.M.  Took Donald back to St. Nazianz this afternoon.  Quite a number of students are back.  Father Dennis (Dean) tells us that 170 students are registered.  They have had to make a study hall and dormitory out of the museum.  Normal capacity at the seminary is 150.  On the way back stopped at Millers in Chilton for a plate of eats.  Also stopped at Dana Worm’s Fond du Lac, home at 9 P.M.  Then over to Fretchel’s to help Ed celebrate his birthday.  He is a 58.  Joe and Annie Heip are there.  Home at 1³⁰ A.M.  Won 75 cents.

13.  Monday: The Kujawas from Berlin bring back Romy and Lonie, they will be leaving sometime tonight for home at Milwaukee.  Harry Lyman has a birthday.  I think he is 74, but he surely does not look it.  He would easily pass for 60.

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18.  Saturday: “Tommy” the pet of our house for many years is becoming very feeble.  He is so weak we must help them up stairways and into the bath tub to take his drink of water.  His weight has gone from 15 pounds to barely 3 pounds.  Thres –Mary Ann and self attend the Oshkosh “Dixie” in Technicolor features Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.  “Alaska Highway” features Richard Arlen –Jean Parker.

19.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass at St. Johns then to work until 1¹⁵ P.M.  Had company this evening Ed and Thres Fretchel and Joe and Annie Weisheipl.  Played 5 hand sheephead as usual.  Took Joe to work at 11.45 P.M. the rest of the folks stayed until 1 A.M.

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21.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis Luncheon with Dave Collin.  Our table Max Korn – Abe Kagan –Dave Collin –Frank Fraker.  Movies of the African campaign after lunch.  Meeting of Finance Committee Chamber of Commerce at 3 P.M.  Present: Ray Kivell – Erwin Spoo – Gerald L. Estrange – Jim Cudlip and myself.

22.  Wednesday: “Tommy” has his last meager breakfast and drink in the bath tub this morning, he purred away almost to the last.  His gentleness and understanding will never be forgotten by us.  He was loved by our neighbors, and would even go into their homes and enjoyed a friendly visit and a bit of lunch over to him.

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26.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass “St. Johns” then to work from 8³⁰ to 1¹⁵ P.M.  Carl Radomsky drops in on his way to Milwaukee from Berlin for his hunting with Harry.  He has some car trouble on the way.  Herb Mugerauer is home on furlough.  He and Joe and Matt Drexler dropped in for short visit this afternoon.  Took Annie Weisheipl – Thres – Mary Ann two Oshkosh tonite.  “Hit the Ice” features Bud Abbott –Lou Costello –Ginny Simons – Johnny Long orchestra.  It was our roar from beginning to end.  “Someone to Remember” is a lovely picture story.

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28.  Tuesday: [T] Left for Chicago with Thres at 11.25 A.M. on business, arrived in Chicago at 3³⁰ took until 4⁰⁰ oclock to find the Palmer House.  We find a nice double room with two bathrooms reserved for us, on the 23d floor.  Had dinner at Palmer House Café 3⁵⁸ then Blackstone Theatre “Goodnight Ladies” with Skeets Gallagher and Stewart Irwin 7⁸⁰ Landers for a few beers .60 then to our room 1 Ginger Ale to our room only 1¹¹, very reasonable “ouch.”

29.  Wednesday: Breakfast at Lander’s, then to Merchandise Mart to see the War Labor Board “Stabilization Unit for Wages.  Thres did some shopping.  After Lunch drove out to United Drug Company, bought quite a number of critical items from Henry Apida.  Thres visited with Al Bouchelle and Fred Wimber.  Drove back to the Palmer had supper then to the Oriental Theatre “Honeymoon Lodge ” is on.  Shep Fields and Orchestra put on quite a show.  After the show a sandwich and beer at the “Wonder Bar” completes the day.

30.  Thursday: Had quite a wait for my car from the garage, but make the United Wholesalers meeting by a few minutes. Messrs. Griffing – Sammons – and Richards are here from Boston.  Had lunch at the Central Manufacturing District Club.  Thres did some shopping mall on I was gone, in fact she almost got lost.  I got back late in the afternoon.  In the evening we attended Woods Theater featuring Robert Donat as “Young Mr. Pitt.” Almost forgot to mention that we had a wonderful dinner at “Pelligrins.” Phil Lyman is 37 today.