Diary of Alfred E. Potter January, 1944

01.  Saturday: Well I begin the New Year as usual by getting up about 10 A.M.  Attended 11.45 Mass St. Johns and it is surely well attended.  Visited at Joe Baiers this afternoon.  Worked until 7⁴⁵ then out to Joe Heips and for the rest of the evening.  Party broke up at 1³⁰ A.M.  Lawrence Kinateder stays with Donald overnight.

02.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Johns, then to work until 1⁰⁰ P.M.  Visited Tony Pable at Sunnyview this afternoon.  This evening to the Mode Theatre with Thres and Mary Ann.  “My Friend Flicka” features Roddy McDowall – Preston Foster – Rita Johnson, and Henry Aldrich gets

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04.  Tuesday: It is very foggy out this morning, but clears after 9 Oclock.  Donald and the boys are taken back to St. Nazianz this afternoon by Mr. Stadtmueller.

05.  Wednesday: Snow at last, this is really the first snow this winter.  Christmas and New Year passed without it.

06.  Thursday: Cork Weisheipl blew in from Kearns Utah last night about 11 Oclock.  Rather cold this morning about zero.

07.  Friday: Leonard Fretchel is home on furlough.  He came in last night.

08.  Saturday: [T] Art and Norbert Mueller leaves for Charles City Iowa to take part in a short Poultry and Veterinary Course given by Salsbury Laboratories.  They will be gone several days.  Tonite we visit at Ed Fretchels.  The Heips and Lena Baier are there also.  I take Joe to work at 11.45 P.M.

09.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass at St. Johns and to work from 9 A.M. to 1⁰⁰ P.M.  Took Aunt Lena Baier – Thres and Mary Ann to Strand this afternoon.  “Lassie Come Home” is the picture in Technicolor starring Roddy McDowall – Donald Crisp.               Com.  Happy Hour Death      Health for Thres.

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12.  Wednesday: Visited at Joe Weisheipl’s tonite.  The folks are having a small party in honor of “Cork.” Aunt Lena Baier – Thres Fretchel – Thres, myself and Mary Ann and Ellen Spellman comprise the guests.  The Weisheipl car balked when Cork and Ed took Ellen home about 1³⁰ AM.  I was called out to the rescue.

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15.  Saturday: Attended our first basket ball game tonite.  The “All Stars” lose two “Fort Wayne” 47-42.  It is a very good game.  Lefty Edwards is in charge of the All Stars.  Mary Ann takes Dolores K to the game.

16.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass at St. Johns, then to work.  Art Mueller is back on the job.

17.  Monday: [N] Had annual meeting of Mueller – Potter Drug Co. at F.W. Mueller home tonite after work.  Our report showed a business increase of 38 748.47 over 1942.  Officers elected FW Mueller Pres. Fred J. Baumgartner Vice Pres. A.E. Potter Secretary – Treasurer.

18.  Tuesday: Weather is mild about 40° above, snow is practically all gone.  Had a letter from Donald today, he is in bed with the flu.  About 85 students are down, 1/2 of those enrolled.  A half pig is delivered to our house today.  That should help the meat shortage for a time.  Dr. Norman Kleinschmit gave my teeth a going over this morning.

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22.  Saturday: Annie Heip takes Thres to hear the “Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra” under the direction of Fabien Sevitzky.  They proclaim it a wonderful concert.  Mary Ann and I attended the Strand Theatre.  “His Butlers Sister” stars Deanna Durbin –Franchot Tone – Pat O’brien and Akien Tamiroff.

23.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass at St. Johns then to work.  Visited Tony Pable this afternoon at Sunnyview.  A beautiful day, temperature about 40° and not a cloud in the sky.  Dropped in to see John Stevens well out to Sunnyview.  Had a surprise visit tonite Louie and Mary Mauritz come over to spend the evening.  Little “Dixie” their dog and our “Boots” also meet.

24.  Monday: Eddie Weisheipl has a day off, well its his birthday and he is 26 years old, and no doubt some celebrating is in order, if he did not already celebrate last night.

25.  Tuesday: Temperatures up to 58° today and that is unusual.

26.  Wednesday: Eddie Weisheipl stays home from work today.  He has a sore throat and swollen glands.  Joe Baier and myself start inventory today.  We complete the basement.  Temperature is again up to 58° and even the old-timers can not recall two days in succession as warm as this in January.

27.  Thursday: Charlotte Arendt is also laid up today, and Eddie is still out.  Joe and I complete Prescription department today.  Bill Mauritz has a birthday.  He is 40 and is looking good.

28.  Friday: Aunt Lena Baier is 67 years of age today.  Rose Mauritz entertains for her this afternoon.  Thres – Mo

29.  Saturday: Ruth Marheine is at Mercy Hospital.  She was injured last night about 8⁵⁰ at the Soo Crossing on Church Street when her car was struck by a South Bound Soo freight train.  Down to work tonite for some inventory.

30.  Sunday: To 730 Mass at St. Johns then to work.  Completed drug orders tonite are got home just as company arrives.  Joe – Emma Baier – Bill – Rose Mauritz – Ray –Ann Ostertag.  Bill has been wanting to visit us for some time.  Years ago he was a weekly visitor here.  We spent an enjoyable evening, and to top things Ray Ostertag’s birthday is today.  He is 37.  Party breaks up at 1⁴⁵ A.M.

31.  Monday: For their examination reveals that Ruth Marheine is quite seriously injured, and that a blood transfusion was given her yesterday.  She suffered internal injuries including a kidney injury, cuts about the face and a punctured right knee.