Diary of Alfred E. Potter May, 1946

01.  Wednesday: Peter Reifer (Carl's Dad) is 89 years old today. Joe Weisheipl also is a birthday child today; he is 62. Took Ed Fretschl to the cottage to spray the fruit trees. Ed Hielsberg begins painting Dr. Ray Wagners office rooms. Norm Brown and Ray Trovinger are in for drug orders today. Hair cuts are up to 75¢ in Oshkosh, a raise of 25¢.

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03.  Friday: To St. Vincents 7 Oclock, Father Alfred Schneider our new assistant distributes Holy Communion.                Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

04.  Saturday: [T] Aunt Lena is here this afternoon to help Thres.  This evening I take the ladies to the Strand.  “The Spiral Staircase” features Dorothy McGuire – George Brent –Ethel Barrymore –Kent Smith –Rhonda Fleming.  A very good picture.  Sing “Your Way Home” stars Jack Haley –Marcy McGuire – Glenn Vernon – Anne Jeffries.  The Republican State Convention is being held here beginning today and ending tomorrow.

05.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ High Mass St. Vincents, worked from 9³⁰ to 12⁴⁵.  This evening took Annie Weisheipl – Lena Baier – Thres – Mary Ann to the Oshkosh “Badmans Territory” features Randolph Scott – Ann Richards –Gabby Hayes, also “Mysterious Intruder” a whistler picture starring Richard Dix.  After the movie we played cards at home.  Annie Heip is unusually hilarious for a time, but tapers off almost to a whisper before she’s ready to go home.  Took the ladies home at 1 A.M. Com.  Andrew Case.

06.  Monday: Strikes are hitting Oshkosh 1100 walk out at the Wisconsin Axle Company, about 500 at the Diamond Match. Fosters are also out. Received a letter from Germany today. The Rothbauers are now in Parsberg (Oberpflaz) Deutschland Amerikanische Zone 13A. They are very much in need of food. The Republican Convention endorses Delbert Kenny, West Bend for Governor and Joe McCarthy, Circuit Judge Shawano for U.S. Senate. Governor Goodland no doubt will run and Ralph Immell also. Bob LaFollette will run again to succeed himself as U.S. Senator. Attended Troop 18 Committee meeting tonite.

07.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon - Bart Heiss and self are table partners. Thres, Donald, and Don DeBehnke out to the cottage to do some cleaning. Don takes the boat motor along. Due to the coal shortage account of strike, Chicago people are burning candles and using kerosene lanterns for light. Three weeks ago today, I quit smoking. Am feeling fair and haven't missed the weed too much. Attended Perpetual Help Devotion tonite. Thres is on committee at the South Side Business Mens Auxiliary.

08.  Wednesday: Donald and Bob Zemke cut grass at the cottage.  Took Mary Ann to Dr. Ray Wagner.  He finds she needs a dentist not a physician.  Took a drive after four this afternoon with Thres and Mary Ann.  Arrived in Kaukauna 5¹⁰, picked up some Kaukauna Club Cheese, visited Art Look’s drug store.  It is modern in every way.  Stopped at Tony’s Wonder Bar for food.  Met Art Mueller (T and S) –Emil Seifert (Marie Arno) Clarence Brusius –Ed Abell.  At Appleton visited Martin Knauer (Behlings Drug Store) met Mrs. Knauer.  Home at 10 P.M.  President Harry Truman is 62 today.

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10.  Friday: [E.W. 50M] Am busy paying bills today, we have quite an accumulation.  And today is also pay day.  Edward Weisheipl borrows my Plymouth to drive to Berlin.

11.  Saturday: Still paying bills, this afternoon check in drug orders and the evening is spent at the Oshkosh.  “Sentimental Journey” stars John Payne –Maureen O’Hara – William Bendix –“Johnny comes flying Home” features Richard Crane – Fay Marlowe.

12.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass with Holy Name Society.  Mothers are honored.  Father Schneider offers the Mass.  Then to work until 12.30.  Took a long nap this afternoon.  Spend the evening with Bill and Emma Siewert.  They have the inside of their home redecorated and it sure looks modern.  Spent a very enjoyable evening.  Home at 1³⁰ A.M.                     Com Kath. Holzbauer –Mother Drexler - Thres

13.  Monday: [T] Mary Ann is home with a cold.  The “Oshkosh Giants” baseball team played a 7 inning exhibition game tonight with “The Cobs” and won 15-0.

14.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis Club luncheon Clark Stockford of New York City is our speaker.  His subject “What are you worth and why” is very ably presented.  My table partner is Nash Small.  He is Rose Heidl’s husband.  Harry Ferry is in town today.  Mary Ann is still home.  I had a bad spell of choking this morning at 4³⁰.  Could get any air for quite a time, finally snapped out of it, felt rather tired most of the day.  Attended Perpetual Help Devotion tonite at St. Vincents Father Alfred Schneider leads the devotion.  Paul Jungen is in tonite.

15.  Wednesday: Mary and back to school this morning.  Took a ride to the cottage about 5 Oclock, took Donald – Jackie Neustifter – Bobbie and Joe Rozek along.  Its plenty cold out there, brought the rollers back to Matt Mertz’s for a new skid.  Tonite we play cards at St. John’s.  Our table partners Walter Pochojka – Aunt Lena.  Aunt Lena had all the Lac 55 points 50 hands.  Thres 40 –Walter 28 – I had 37.

16.  Thursday: Visited Mrs. Mueller at Mercy Hosp this morning, she wakes while I was there shows slight signs of recognition, at least she brightens for about 10 minutes then back to rest.  Had a pleasant surprise, Sister Aquiline is on the job in the office, tells me she was never gone, as she expected to be, but had good care on the third floor.  Tonite we visit the Fretschl’s met Karl Larson –Marion’s husband.  He is a swell fellow, lots of fun and a good entertainer.

17.  Friday: Attended the “Pop Concert” sponsored by “Oshkosh Parents School Music Association,” at the Recreational Building.  C.W. Bronson is “Master of Ceremonies.” The Kids put on quite a show.

18.  Saturday: Took Karl and Marion (Fretschl) Larson and David to Northwestern Depot.  They leave at 11.02 this morning.  Leave Chicago tonite by United Airlines expect to be in San Francisco Sunday 8 A.M.  The Nationwide Railroad strike is scheduled this afternoon at 4 Oclock.  The Oshkosh Giants open their season here officially by defeating Wisconsin Rapids 6-5.  Aunt Mary has another bad cold.  Attended Oshkosh Theatre tonite Thres – Mary Ann –Aunt Lena.  Bing Crosby –Bob Hope – Dorothy Lamour in “Road to Utopia” Carol Landis and William Sargan in “Behind Green Lights.”

19.  Sunday: To 730 Mass Saint Johns, then to work.  Donald and De Behnke clean Rx department at North Store, by orders from Fred Baumgartner.  Spent the afternoon and evening at home.  Thres attends a bridal shower (Saint Johns Recreation Hall) this afternoon for Cecelia Heinzl.  Aunt Mary could not go to church today.

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21.  Tuesday: Mrs. Mueller is very weak today.  Was over to see her this afternoon, looks like the end is near.

22.  Wednesday: [T] Mrs. Mueller passed away at 2³⁰ this morning, and thus ends another chapter in a life spent in its entirety for her loved ones.  She was born Dec. 13 – 1873.  This was a busy day for me.  Took Mary Ann – Carol – Virginia Binder –Betty Hill, Sister Elizabeth with Frank Kempinger –Claude Bouchelle also taking a number of Graduates to Milwaukee.  Stopped at the Mother House – and Elm Grove.  I stopped at McClurgs, took Frank – Claude and Mrs. to Fritz Gust’s for luncheon.  At Elm Grove met Sister Alexine and Sister Marcelia.  Picked up merchandise at Mutual Drug.  Home at 8⁰⁰ PM.  Sister Edgar is with us on way home.

23.  Thursday: Tonight is the night for the annual “steak fry” at Twin Lakes for Scout Executives and committee members.  I took Bob Weber –Frank Dichtl –Bill Bougie – Harold Thompson.  It rained all way going and coming home.  I was accused of having the biggest steak.  Well it was a goodsized one.  Robert Binder and Ruth Mertz are married this morning at 9 Oclock by Monsignor Aloys Bastian.

24.  Friday: Took Ed and Thres Fretschl to Konrads tonite to see Mrs. Mueller.

25.  Saturday: Mrs. Mueller is laid to rest this afternoon.  Art – Harold – Norbert Mueller – Fred Baumgartner –Joe Baier and myself are pallbearers.  Our stores close this noon for the rest of the day.  We attend dinner at Athearn Hotel given by the Mueller family.  After dinner we spend the evening at Fred and Loretta’s.  The Seelbacks from Chicago are with us, get home at 2 A.M.

26.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass Saint Vincents then to work.  Rather tired this afternoon, laid down for rest.  Took the Fretschls along to the Saint Vincents School entertainment this evening.  It is well presented.  Mary Ann is among the graduates.  Josephine Bastian is next to us in the hall, tells much about Theresa Neuman who suffers the Passion of Our Lord every Friday, has not eaten since 1926, lives only on Holy Communion.  Has the Stigmata like Saint Francis of Assissi.  Joe and Annie Weisheipl are over after the show, stay until 1³⁰.

27.  Monday: Am busy with Walter Patri getting paper signed to file application for admitting will of Mrs. Mueller in probate.

28.  Tuesday: Walter Patri and myself take inventory of the deposit box of Mr. and Mrs. Mueller.

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30.  Thursday: To 7 Oclock Mass at Saint Vincents.  Tis a lovely day.  Worked part of the morning.  This afternoon work at the Mueller home taking inventory of the contents.  About 4³⁰ drive to cottage.  Learn that Karl Radomski was in to say hello, while I was at Muellers.  When we get to the cottage – the Harry Kujawas with John and Mary are there.  Donald and Lawrence Kinateder had one section of dock out.  Tried fishing but no luck.  The Kujawas take for home at 10 P.M.                     Com.  Our Soldiers and Sailors lost in War II.

31.  Friday: Staid at cottage over night, temperature is down to 50°.  Can’t start my coupe, lucky to have Chrysler.  Harold Prideaux’s furniture arrives today.  Unloaded at the Mueller residence for the time being.