Diary of Alfred E. Potter January, 1945

01.  Monday: [N] The New Year is ushered in with subzero weather – 4 below this morning.  To St. Vincents 7³⁰ Mass then to work.  Laurence Churchills mother passed away at 8 Oclock this morning.  Visited Joe Baier family this afternoon, so the new baby – baptized (Mary June) today.  Sponsors: Fred and Marie Bloechl.  Visited Mrs. John Drexler also the Dembowiaks are here, also with their new baby.  Played some poker with Father Mike –Stan – Eddie Weisheipl –Joe Kloiber – Matt Drexler – Matt is 36 today.  Back to work for the evening.  Gave Betty Drexler of fast ride to the C & N.W. Depot.               Com.  World Peace

02.  Tuesday: 13° below zero this morning.  We almost had a fire at the South Store this morning when Ed Fretschl comes to work at 4⁴⁵ the store is full of smoke.  He calls the fire department – they find the furnace had backfired but no damage done.  We were lucky.  Took Norm Brown to Kiwanis luncheon.  Harry Bruegger’s first time as president.  Mary Ann is visiting with Joan Mauritz for the day.

03.  Wednesday: Visited Thres Fretschl for short time tonite.  She must stay indoors for some time to come Doctor’s orders.  Thres – Aunt Lena Baier and myself visit with Joe and Annie Weisheipl tonite.  Couldn’t get our car started when we were ready to take Joe to work.  Art Mueller pushed us around about 10 minutes before the car started.

04.  Thursday: [N] Thres spend the day in bed.  Is not feeling any too well.

05.  Friday: [N T] Thres spend some of the day in bed.  To St. Johns Church with Donald and Mary and at 7 Oclock.             Com.  Donald – Mary Ann – Thres

06.  

07.  Sunday: [N] To 7³⁰ Hi Mass at St. Vincents then to work.  Visited Will Siewert, he is now at his home, but must go to the hospital every day for treatment.                     Com.  George Hupfer

08.  

09.  Tuesday: [N] 15° below zero this morning.

10.  

11.  

12.  [N]

13.  

14.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass of St. Vincents with Holy Name Society.  More snow today and it looks real wintery out.  Took a fall tonight while taking mail into the post office.  Landed on the front bumper of our Plymouth with my right arm.  Not seriously hurt, but my arm is skinned in places.

15.  Monday: View the remains of police officer Frank Lichtfuss at Marquarts.  He is being laid to rest this afternoon.  We have the annual meeting of Mueller Potter Drug at the South Store tonite at 10 Oclock.  FW Mueller reelected President, Fred J. Baumgartner, Vice Pres. A.E. Potter Secy – Treas.

16.  Tuesday: Temperature drops to zero during the night.  I have picked for myself a cold and not a very pleasant one.  Took a rest part of this afternoon.  This evening took Thres and Mary Ann to the Oshkosh to see “Thirty Seconds over Tokyo” with Spencer Tracy –Van Johnson –Robert Walker and Phyllis Thaxter.  “Girl Rush” with Frances Langford –Vera Vogue – Wally Brown – Alan Carney is extremely comical.

17.  Wednesday: My cold is still bad this morning, but am on the job at 8.40 A.M.  We visit at Ed Fretchl’s tonite, that is Thres does and Joe and Annie Weisheipl.  I get there after ten oclock.  Took Joe to work at 11.30.

18.  

19.  Friday: Took grandpa Fretschl to St. Vincents this morning.  He went to confession and Holy Communion.                Com.  Grace of a “Happy Hour of Death”

20.  Saturday: President Roosevelt takes the oath for a fourth term as President of the United States in a simple ceremony which lasts only about 15 to 20 minutes, on the rear porch of the White House.

21.  Sunday: [T] To St. Johns 730 Mass.  Father Roger Miller is celebrant.  Then to work.  Rested this afternoon.  Visited Bill and Emma Siewert tonite.  Took Lena Baier along.  Bill was very happy.  This was the first time he played sheephead since he was injured.  Leo Shuberts father George is very ill.                     Com.  Stanislaus Jarosch

22.  Monday: [T] New Semester begins at the schools.  Donald passed altho his standings are not so good.  Wrote a letter to Leo G. Jungen tonite and sent him some tobacco, sent him a pipe last week, I hope he gets it.  Wrote to Margaret Radomsky and the folks in Milwaukee.  George Shubert passed away about 4 Oclock this morning.  Father to Leo, 1312 Iowa Street.  Born in Two Rivers July 21-1867.

23.  Tuesday: Henry Siewert is taken to Mercy Hospital this afternoon from his shop.  A little after 9 Oclock Emma Siewert called up and informed us that Henry passed away about 9⁰⁰.  This is quite a shock to his family and many friends.  I clean up our basement at home tonight.  Getting ready for Mary Ann’s party.  Had F. William Mueller as luncheon guest at Kiwanis today.  J.A. Breese puts on a song program with some barber shop harmony.  Our table: Judge Sam Lucksinger – Dave Collin –Dr. Noordhoff – F.W. Mueller –Ed Durler and myself.

24.  Wednesday: We have much company tonight.  Mary Ann has her hayride party and the folks spend the evening here after they get back.

25.  

26. [T]

27.  Saturday: Bill Mauritz has a birthday, he is 41.  Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Oshkosh to see “The Princess and the Pirate” featuring Virginia Mayo and Bob Hope – Victor Mc Laglen and Charlie Chan in “The Jade Mask.” Cork Weisheipl blows into town this noon.

28.  Sunday: to 7³⁰ Mass St. Johns, then to work.  Thres and self attended funeral services at Peace Lutheran Church for Henry Siewert.  This evening we play cards at Joe Baiers.  Aunt Lena has a birthday.  She is 68.  Thres and Ed Fretschl and Annie Weisheipl are there

29.  Monday: Norman and Sybelle Brown are in town this morning for the funeral of John S. Olk.  John had been employed at Schroeders Drug on Washington Street

30.  Tuesday:  [2M N T] Took Ralph Sperry along to Kiwanis luncheon today.  Our table Frank Labudde, Gene Vogel, Archie Gifford, John Bangert, Howard Godshall, Ralph Sperry and myself.  This evening took Rose Weisheipl and Naomi Mueller to the post office for a conference about the new type of money orders to be issued February first in denominations from one cent to ten dollars.  Harry Wussow showed the ladies thru the post office after the meeting.  Stopped at Court Tavern on the way home and treated Rose and Naomi.  Temperature is 5° below this morning.

31.  Wednesday: Annie Weisheipl and Cork spend the evening with us.  George looks 100°.  Our Mary Ann stays up until the folks leave for home and that is out of the ordinary for her.  Party breaks up at 1¹⁵ A.M. Thursday.  Received a letter from Donald Jungen.  He is now at Kesslers Field Miss.  He does not like it.  He states that during days they sweat, nights they freeze.  His address Pvt.  Donald Jungen 16192898 Sqd Z, Class 249, 3 04 A.A.F.B.N.  Kesslers Field Miss.