Diary of Alfred E. Potter March, 1946

01.  Friday: [N-EL-ED2M1] To church St. Vincents 7 A.M.  March is ushered in with rain.  Charles Warren (Cenol) is in town.  He tells me some news about Harold Prideaux.              Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

02.  Saturday: [T] Francis Lamb is over this morning to work on our income tax.  These are busy days for me, much book work and much merchandise to be checked in.

03.  Sunday: To St. Vincents 7³⁰ Hi Mass.  Father Malachy offers the Mass.  After a nap this afternoon took Aunt Lena – Annie Heip, Thres – Mary Ann to the Strand.  “Hold that Blonde” stars Eddie Bracken and Veronica Lake.  “A Guy could Change” features Alan Lane and Jane Frazee.  “Magic on a Dick” shows how Mr. Martin a druggist discovered the fore runner of the friction match made of Gum Arabic – Potash and Sugar.  After the show picked up Thres Fretschl and played cards at our place until nearly 1³⁰ AM.                   Com.  Stanislaus Jarosch

04.  Monday: Thres attends Christian Mothers Guest Night at St. Vincents.  Mary Ann and I go to the Mode.  “A Tree grows in Brooklyn” features Dorothy McGuire – Joan Blondell – James Dunn – Peggy Ann Garner –Ted Donaldson.  The poorest family I ever saw in pictures.  “Honeymoon Ahead” stars Alan Jones.  Myrtle Loewen wife of Henry Loewen passed away Saturday night at her home 57 Mount Vernon.  She was the former Myrtle Adams, her dad John Adams, our neighbor when we lived on Ohio Street.

05.  Tuesday: [N2 T] To Kiwanis luncheon.  Ed Precour is the speaker.  Lee Conroy and myself our table partners.  William T. Stillman president of Stillman Hardware passed away yesterday morning in his sleep about 6³⁰.  Born in Oshkosh March 15 – 1877.  Married August 1905 to Grace Mead at Moravia N. Y. who died July 1 – 1929.  Married again Sept. 8 – 1931 Gana Bethke.  Mead Stillman a son survives, also 2 grandchildren Mary and William Stillman.

06.  Wednesday: Ash Wednesday is ushered in with rain, in fact it rained all night.  Thres does some shopping this afternoon.  Attended services at St. Vincents tonite.  Aunt Mary goes to St. Johns.  Joe Hemmer tells us that Pete (his brother) is a papa.  Its an 8 pound boy.  He lives at Madison Indiana.  Donald drives to Ripon tonite.

07.  Thursday: This is Mary Ann’s birthday.  She is sweet sixteen.  Aunt Lena is over for the birthday dinner.  Aunt Annie Heip and Thres Fretschl are over in the evening.  Sheephead is played as usual, I take 85¢ away from the ladies.  Took them home at 12.30, find a car parked near our driveway with the engine running, at 1⁴⁵ it was still there with the engine running.  I called 102 and one this squad car came the got away in a hurry.  Dolores Lefky clerk at our north store is 28 today.  Art Mueller’s little girl Kathryn is ___ today.  Norman Brown leaves for his first trip to New York.

08.  Friday: [N-R2M] Snow fell last night and continues all day turning into a heavy blizzard.  I got stuck Marion & Jackson Drive, after an hour got the car started, crawled home, got stuck again in our driveway.  Had to do a lot of shoveling to get into our garage.  Mary (Mrs. Otto) Stoegbauer is operated for gallstones and also has her gall bladder removed at Mercy.  Dr. Lynch performed the operation.

09.  Saturday: [J2] Ray Novotny (Our Postmaster) is operated for appendicitis today at Mercy Hospital.  Dr. Geo. Lynch operated.  Herman Wachholz passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon at 3 oclock at his home R #2, Nekimi.  I knew Herman for many years, his brother Bill passed away suddenly several years ago.  Herman was born in Van Dyne May 24 – 1889.

10.  Sunday: To St. Vincents with Holy Name men.  Donald serves.  Then to work.  Took Aunt Lena – Annie Heip – Thres Fretschl – Thres and Mary Ann to the Oshkosh this evening.  A technicolor “The Bandit of Sherwood Forest” stars Cornel Wilde – Anita Louise – Jill Esmond – Edgar Buchanan.  “One Way to Love” is a very good comic starring Chester Morris.” Hugh Herbert is of course one of the funsters.  Thres has rheumatism tonite right leg and knee.

11.  Monday: [T] Attended Joe Stadtmuellers opening of his new “Farm Home Store” on Jackson Street.  The opening was sponsored by the South Side Business Mens Club.  Bill and Emma Siewert were with us.  Also viewed the remains of Herman Wachholz at the Konrad funeral home.

12.  Tuesday: Harry Ferry and Larry Gerdes are in town.  To Kiwanis luncheon and it was an unusually nice one, fine food.  I did’nt think much of the program.

13.  Wednesday: This is Anna Drexler’s (Sick Aunti’s) birthday.  Took Aunt Lena – Thres Fretschl – Thres – Marianne to see “The Bells of St. Marys” at the Oshkosh.  Bing Crosby is Father O’Malley – Ingrid Bergman is Sister Benedict.  They do an excellent job.  Mrs. Ed Zinth (Frances Hagene) passed away last evening 6³⁰ at her home 317 Bowen.  Born Dec. 30 – 1878 married Ed May 6 – 1903.  Ed passed away Jan. 18 -1926.

14.  Thursday: [T] Are dense fog covers the city this morning.  Visited Ray Novotny and Mrs. Otto Stoegbauer at Mercy Hospital this afternoon.  Rain in Room 126 –Mary Stoeg. in Room 237.  Took Mrs. Frank Haidlinger Sr. from the hospital.  She’s been working there since last November.  Frances Lamb is in to get our income tax checks.  Mary (Mrs. John) Pable 1014 – 11^th passed away this morning at Mercy Hospital.  Born in Germany Feb. 6 – 1872 came to U.S. at age of 12.  Mother to Billy Pable, sister to Lena Franz –Mrs. Percy Rice.

15.  Friday: [E2M] Deadline for Income Tax returns.  Donald drives to Menasha with 8th grade boys St. Vincents, to play St. Patricks.  Our boys lose.  Mother and I play 5 games of cribbage waiting for his return.  Mama wins two and I win 3 games.  Gratian Schneider, 231 Gunther Ave. passed away yesterday morning 10.35 at his home.  Born Austria Nov. 27 – 1880.  Survived by wife – 5 sons – 3 daughters.  He was quite a funster years ago.

16.  Saturday: This is Les Zimmers last day in business at 926 Oregon St..  It was run under the name “Les Food Shop.”

17.  Sunday: To St. Vincents 730 High Mass.  Father Malachy is celebrant.  Then to work.  Donald stops in the store after serving 10.30 Mass.  He takes Elsie Meixner home from work.  This afternoon he is on for another eat her so with the Symphony Orchestra.  This evening took Aunt Mary and Thres to Poklasny’s to view the remains of Mrs. Mary (John) Pable.  Rosary is offered by Father Bastian.  I took Monsignor Bastian home after the prayers.  Took Thres to St. Johns card party.                       M.O.  Mary Pable

18.  Monday: Thres Fretschl had an accident at 6⁴⁵ this morning.  Thinking she was pouring coffee into the coffee can, she poured some floor gloss containing lacquer into it, the fumes ignited her left hand burned severely, her right hand not quite so bad, her hair singed, her nightgown burned, but no body burns.  She was lucky.  Could had been very serious.  Thres and I play three games of sheephead, I mean cribbage tonite.  I win all three.

Donald, my father with his violin

19.  Tuesday: Mrs. Minnie (F.W.) Mueller suffered what may be a cerebral hemorrhage this morning at her home. She is removed to Mercy Hospital this afternoon. To Kiwanis luncheon. Jess Pierce substituted for our regular speaker. Ed Ledvina has a birthday today, he is ___. I supply him with 2 pints "Old Forester." This evening took Thres, Mary Ann, Aunt Lena, Annie Heip to Oshkosh Civic Symphony Concert. Donald plays violin with the orchestra. This morning I had a cardiogram made at Mercy Hospital by Doctor A.G. Koehler. Drs. Geo. V Lynch and Will Wagner dropped in and told the doctor to give me the works. My blood pressure is 110/70. Will have to wait a few days for the cardiogram to be developed.

20.  Wednesday: [T N] Ray Trovinger and Norm Brown are in this morning.  Attended church service at St. Johns this evening, and then visited with the Ed Fretschls.  Thres is much improved.  She will be able to use her right hand soon.  Herman Drexler and Mrs. are also there.  I lose 3 games cribbage tonite.

21.  Thursday: Mrs. Mueller shows a little improvement today.

22.  Friday: Today marks a sad day for me. Attended church service with Thres at St. Vincents, stopped at the store about 8 oclock, Joe Baier tells me that Mr. Mueller called up saying he had a heart attack and wished for a doctor. I immediately went to the house, found him sitting in a chair. Asked him about the doctor. He said,”I havent seen him.” I called to hurry the doctor. While I was on the phone Mr. Mueller collapsed. When Dr. Bitter came, he breathed for a few moments and passed away at 8¹⁰. I have been associated with him for 37 years, and during that time he always treated me like a dad.

23.  Saturday: To Konrad funeral home with the children Art – Harold – Norbert – Loretta. Gil Labudde from the Northwestern Daily is there.  The folks pick out a solid oak coffin.  I also stopped to see Walter Patri about some legal advise.

24.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ St. Vincents Donald – Mary Ann – Thres – Myself.  Then to work.  This afternoon I took a nap.  Thres plays cards at St. Vincents, wins a prize, brings Aunt Lena and Annie Heip for supper.  I work until 8³⁰ and then we have some sheephead.  Took the ladies home at 12.45

25.  Monday: Flowers arrive for F.W., he is at the Konrad funeral home, he looks younger and life like.  Many of his friends pay their last respects.  I met the folks I had not seen in 20 or more years.  Edward M. Schneider 1636 Oregon St., is found dead in bed this morning by his son Edward W. of Los Angeles who is home on leave.  He was born Sept. 17 – 1881 in town Nekimi, son of Henry P. and Bertha Schneider.  Married to Harriet Sebauer Oct. 12 – 1906.  Secy. of Schmidt Milling Co. for the last 26 years.

26.  Tuesday: Our stores close at noon in memory of Mr. Mueller. It turns out a lovely day. The funeral is very largely attended. The remains are laid to rest in a beautiful plot in the newer section of Riverside Cemetery. Pallbearers: Harold, Art, Norbert, Fred Baumgartner, Joe Baier, and myself. After the funeral we stop at the Mueller home for a get together with the relatives. Home at 6 P.M. To Perpetual Help and Stations at St. Vincents tonite. Aunt Lena comes home with us.

27.  Wednesday: Thres and I to Mercy Hospital tonite to see Mrs. Mueller.  The nurse informs us, she has slept all day and not awakened at any time.  Stopped to see Lizzie Hannes who has been there about a month, also Mrs. Eisfeldt who was operated last Saturday.  Stopped to view the remains of Edward Schneider at Konrad’s.  Met Edward who found his dad.  Also stopped to see the Fretschls.  Thres’ hands are much improved.  Four Heidl sisters are there also.  Home at 10¹⁵.  Donald plays cribbage with us, he wins two games I win one.

28.  Thursday: Tonite we visit Matt and Amanda Drexler. We get a glimpse of the twin boys they adopted. Their names John and Joseph. Matt is very generous with the Schenley Reserve.

29.  [T]

30.  Saturday: Visited Mrs. Mueller this afternoon.  She knew me but could not talk.  Loretta is with her.  Also dropped in to see Mrs. Eisfeldt.  She expects to go home next week.  Then out to the “Boy Scouts Merit Badge Show” at the county garage.  Its a bigger and better show them last year.  Took Aunt Lena – Annie Heip – Thres – Mary Ann to the Strand “Spars and Tars” stars Alfred Drake – Janet Blair – Sid Caesar – Mark Platt – Jeff Donnell.  “Notorious Lone Wolf” is a good detective picture.  After the show to Pete Kings for

31.  Sunday: To Foresters Easter Communion at St. Johns, then to work.  Donald drives to St. Nazianz with Bob Zemke, to see the “Passion Play.” The Kujawas are over from Berlin at 4³⁰.  They attended Boy Scout Badge Show.  Had supper with us.  I had to get back to work.  After 8¹⁵ I pick up Aunt Lena and Annie Heip and bring them home for a game of Shofskopf.  The Kujawas leave at 9 P.M.  Take the ladies home at 12⁴⁵.              Com.  Stanislaus Jarosch