Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Diary of Alfred E. Potter August, 1945

01.  Wednesday: Took Rose and Teddy Gittings to Berlin tonite. They also stay at the Kujawas. The Baum & Catlin Department Store changes hands. Dave Collin sells the business to Harry Hirschberg who had been operating a department store at Whitewater. 
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03.  Friday: [T] Margaret Radomski arrives in town, spends the afternoon at our house with Aunt Mary.  Takes 5 Oclock Bus to Berlin.
04.  Saturday: Took Thres – Mary Ann – Aunt Lena to Berlin this afternoon.  Had a nice visit with the folks.  Back home at 11.15 P.M, and it did’nt rain.  Herman Jansen has a birthday.  He is 54.
05.  Sunday: To 730 Mass St. Vincents, then to work, checked sundries from Mutual and Yahr Lange all morning and evening.  Dolores Kinateder has a birthday.  She is 15.  Mary Ann has a present for her.  Rose Weisheipl is on duty at the South Store today.  Mrs. Frank (Salzieder) Salzer passed away tonite at her home 1003 – 11th St..  Born in Austria June 28 -1872 married to Frank Jan. 7 – 1895.                      Com.  John Fenzl
06.  Monday: Major Richard I. Bong 24, America’s ace of aces was killed this afternoon in the crash of a jet propelled air plane.  He was testing P80 jet planes for the army since June 27th near the Lockheed air terminal at Burbank California.  He had downed 40 Japanese planes in the Pacific War Theatre.  A new type of bomb is loosed upon the Japs by the U.S.  It is an atomic bomb, the most terrible destructive force in history.  It weighs about 400 pounds and has more power than 20 000 tons of TNT.  Hiroshima is the target and the city is practically destroyed.
07.  Tuesday: Got in early to Herman Jansen’s for a haircut, in fact I was his first customer this morning.  To Kiwanis luncheon, Art Messerschmidt entertains us today, with his magic.  Our table Ed Durler – Bud Menzel – Dave Johnson.
08.  Wednesday: Thres and I are married 34 years, but there is no special celebration.  Bill and Emma Siewert come to the cottage this afternoon.  Bill and I did some fishing and by the way this is the first time this year that I was in our boat and that a record since we have the cottage.  The Kujawas – Rose and Teddy Gittings com tonite.  The Siewerts and the Gittings stay overnite.  Norbert Mueller has quite a party at his place.  Ed Galmbacher and his orchestra? play.  Ed says, you can’t beat fun.  Lawrence Kinateder is 17 today.  Russia declares war on Japan.  Its almost too late.
09.  Thursday: The South Side Business Men and ladies have a corn roast at Nelson’s farm near our cottage on the sand pit road.  The attendance is very good and a fine program presented.  Margaret Clark retired public school teacher, passed away at 730 Wednesday evening.  Born in Nekimi Oct. 4 – 1866.  She was a familiar figure in Oshkosh, having taught at Franklin – Read and Jefferson schools.  She was also a very devout Catholic.  Assisted Father Bastian by teaching catechism to children at Sunnyview San.  The Siewerts spend another night with us at the cottage.
10.  Friday: [TEG] Took Bill and Emm to town this morning, then to work for few hours.  Then back to the cottage, to bring and Rose and Teddy and take them to the C. & N.W. depot.  They leave at 1102 A.M. for Chicago.  According to news reports over the radio that Japs are ready to surrender.  Negotiations will begin at once.  Robert Fretschl is home on a furlough.  Just completed his boot training.  He surprised the folks last night.  My Plymouth hits the 60 000 mile mark today night at the north store, when I made the usual Friday night collection.
11.  Saturday: Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Strand.  “The Valley of Decision stars Greer Garson – Gregory Peck –Donald Crisp –Lionel Barrymore – Preston Foster –Marcia Hunt.  “Blonde from Brooklyn features Robert Stanton – Lynn Merrick.
12.  Sunday: [TEG] To 730 Mass at St. Vincents with Holy Name Society.  Then to work.  Naomi Mueller is on duty today.  We spend the afternoon at the Berry Foundation (Fahrneys).  Kiwanians were to spend the afternoon and evening, with a picnic lunch, not many were there.  Stopped to visit F.W. Mueller and family, they were gone to a picnic.  Drove to our cottage about 530.                  Com.  Mary T. Clark
13.  Monday: Pauline (Bonnie) Schuster is operated this morning.  Appendix removed, also a cyst on each ovary.  George Koplitz is 65 today.
14.  Tuesday: President Harry Truman announces at 6 P.M. that the Japanese government has accepted the terms laid down at the Potsdam conference for her surrender.  The news spreads like wildfire that the war is over.  Whistles blow – St. Vincents Bells rang for an hour and a half, special church services held tonight which ends with the Te Deum.  The town is gone wild, bade 8 Oclock view could not move on Main street, such a crowd.  Leo Hart’s new “Club 41” opens tonite with the gay party.  Louis Stridde’s Orchestra plays.  They sure picked the right night for a “Grand Opening.”
15.  Wednesday: To 700 Oclock Mass St. Vincents.  President Truman has declared today and tomorrow a legal holiday.  I work until 1230 at the West store.  No help until 945, Jane Mueller comes in, and about 1030 Cleo comes.  Thres is at Kalbus cottage for a ladies outing.  Bill Siewert comes to the cottage with me this afternoon.  Bob Zemke is Donalds guest for today and tomorrow.  Mrs. Rudolph Nigl 728 – 15th has a slight stroke sometime during the night.               Com.  Thanksgiving.
16.  Thursday: Donald and Bob get up just in time for dinner, and brought a good appetite with them.  But Aunt Mary run short on dumplings.  Bill – Emma –and Mayme Siewert to stay with us over night.  I brought them to town this morning.  George Weisheipl has a birthday.  He is 36.
17.  Friday: Funny things happen this morning.  I wrote a letter to Don Jungen.  This noon I receive one from him.  To Dr. Wm Wagners to find whats wrong with my stomach.  He advises G.I. and Gall Bladder tests.
18.  Saturday: [TEG] Its a real summers day.  Bill Mauritz – Ray Ostertag and myself do a little fishing at the cottage.  Caught quite a variety of fish – Perch – Sheephead – Cat - - Red Horse.  Donald is out with Robert Fretchel.  They turn and at 2.30 A.M. They had mother worrying.  Ellen Spellman is married to Joseph H. Schroeder, Pres. of the Dauber Machine Co.  He came here from Ripon and belongs to our Kiwanis Club.  Ellen is a former sweetheart of Corky Weisheipl.
19.  Sunday: To 730 Mass at St. Johns, then to work.  Charlotte Arendt and Marilyn Janke are on duty today.  To Mercy Hospital this afternoon for instructions about stomach test tomorrow.  Visited Pauline (Bonnie) Schuster and Mrs. Rudolph Nigl.  They are doing nicely.  To the cottage after supper.  No eats or drink for me after 10 Oclock.
20.  Monday: [4 M–R] To Mercy Hospital at 8 A.M. for G.I. Series X Rays tests.  First one at 930 A.M.  Second at 2 P.M.  Breakfast for me at 330 P.M. and am I hungry.  Met Sister Josita at the hospital.  She is a sister to Dr. Joe Kronzer.  She also took stomach tests.  She is teaching at Peoria.
21.  Tuesday: Back this morning for more X Rays.  Took Alois –Esther Mugerauer and daughters Judy – Marlene and Nancy also Aunt Lena to the cottage after supper.  Donald Jungen drops in to see me.  He is overstaying his furlough.  This evening Joe – Annie – Edward – Corky Weisheipl also come out to the cottage.  We really have a houseful, fourteen to house overnight.  The party lasted until 330 A.M.
22.  Wednesday: Jack Faust is 40 today.  Joe Weisheipl Jr. is 38.  He is still overseas, the folks think he’s in Guam.  Ed and Cork Weisheipl leave us this evening.  They are invited to Marge Haverty’s.  It is quite cool today, temperature is 52° this morning.  Our card party breaks up at midnight, and we are very tired.
23.  Thursday: Joe and Annie Weisheipl return home this evening after a two days stay at the cottage.  Frank Mathe (firemen) and his little daughter are at the cottage today to help Al and family catch some fish.  They had very good luck.  Many nice perch, enough for them and us for Friday.  To Mercy Hospital this afternoon for instructions to take “Gall Bladder” tests.  One ounce of castor oil is the beginner today.
24.  Friday: [T] Al Mugerauer is taking the bedrooms at the cottage today.
25.  Saturday: At Mercy Hospital about 715 ready for more tests.  Meet Mr. and Mrs. _____ Clute.  Mrs.is also there for gall bladder tests.  I get thru at 10 o’clock.  Miss Celia Mahrs, Kimberly takes the X Ray pictures.  Took Aunt Lena – Marianne – Thres – to the Strand tonite.  “Junior Miss” features Peggy Ann Garner and “Beautiful Cheat” stars Bonita Granville and Noah Beery Jr.  Both pictures are riot of laughs.
26.  Sunday: To 730 St. Vincents.  Father Vincent Putzer has the service. Then to work.  Fred Baumgartner comes over with a chip on his shoulder and gives me the key to the “North Store.” After talking things over he takes the key back.
27.  Monday: I’m back at the hospital this morning.  I’m treated to a Barium Enema and it is not pleasant, in fact Dr. Beatty was pretty rough this morning.  This evening Joe Baier – Art Mueller –Fred Baumgartner –Norbert Mueller and myself meet at Norberts to discuss relief hours for Fred and Norbert.
28.  Tuesday: [T] Winnebago County Fair opens today.  To Kiwanis luncheon.  Had Justin Addington and Ralph Sperry for my guests.  Bob Boardman is the speaker.
29.  Wednesday: “Oshkosh Day” at the County Fair is a huge success.  The weather is just swell.  Took Aunt Lena – Mary Ann – Thres.  Ernie Youngs Review on the stage is very good.  We staid from 200 to 1000 P.M.
30.  Thursday: Dr. Wm Wagner informs me that all my tests showed negative which would mean I’m in better shape than I thought.
31.  Friday: Dr. Norman Kleinschmidt gives my teeth a going over, ½ hour – 3 dollars –ouch!  Tried to see Dr. Wm Wagner tonite.  Missed him by five minutes.

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