Saturday, November 15, 2014

Diary of Alfred E. Potter August, 1947

01.  Friday: Records indicate that today is the coolest Aug. 1st in 20 years, low 47° high 71°.
02.  Saturday: Took Ed Fretchel and Donald to the cottage to do some fishing.  We had no luck whatever, tried Sunset Point –Terrells Island all I got was wet feet trying to get out of the boat.  Worked 58 hours this week.
03.  Sunday: To 730 Mass then to work. This afternoon out to visit Mr. Lyman. Had Thres and Mary Ann along. Met Mrs. John R. Bauer at the County Home. Thres meets Mr. and Mrs. Arneman. Took a drive to Fond du Lac to see what is left of Hill Brothers. Visited Ed Worm, back home at 630. shortly after arriving home, Donald called with the sad news that our dear Aunt Lena had suddenly passed away this afternoon in a chair up in her upstairs room at the Baier home. This is indeed a great shock to all of us.
Com.  Camillo Micko
04.  Monday: More about Aunt Lena.  She was to 9 Oclock Mass yesterday, immediately after the noon meal, Emma Baier took her to the cemetery and she visited the graves of most of the relatives also my father and mother Mr. Fretschl’s (Grandpas) and others.  Arrived home about two, and up to her room for a nap.  Joe and family took a drive back about four called her for supper about five, find she had passed away in her chair.  Dr. Ray Wagner thought her to have been dead about 2 hours.  Monsignor Bastian anointed her.
Com.  Aunt Lena
05.  Tuesday: To 7 Oclock Mass with Thres and Mary Ann, we also attended yesterday morning.  Temperature official today is 98°. 
Com.  Aunt Lena
06.  Wednesday: Our dear Aunt Lena is laid to rest this morning. Father Michael Drexler came down from Antigo to be in the Sanctuary. Monsignor Bastian conducts the services. Pallbearers Joe and Cork Weisheipl, Matt - Joe and Frank Drexler - Donald Potter. We go back to the cottage this afternoon. Joe and Annie Heip - Thres Fretschl - Emma Siewert and Mary Ann, Mother and myself. Lawrence Kinateder dropped in tonite with his lady friend.
Com.  Aunt Lena
07.  
08.  Friday: This is our wedding anniversary, yes we are married 36 years.  No celebration.
09.  Saturday: Took a drive all by myself to the cemetery to visit Aunt Lena.  New grass is already growing on her grave.
10.   Sunday: To 730 Mass with St. Vincents Holy Name, then to work.  Took a drive with Mary Ann and mother south of town, then back and out to the cemetery to visit Aunt Lena’s grave.
Com.  Holy Name Members.
11.  Monday: Donald begins his vacation.  He and Sonny Polchinski take a drive north.  To Kiwanis directors luncheon this noon.  A lively discussion about when or when not do we get credit for attending Kiwanis luncheons.  Must we be present or will a phone call or a postcard mailed to the secretary suffice to credit our attendance.
12.  Tuesday: Took Sister Ildephonse from St. Vincents to St. Mary’s – Menasha, this morning.  Sister Edgar – Theophylla are along for the ride.  Stopped at St. Patricks, Neenah on the way back.  Took the folks back to the cottage this afternoon.  To Kiwanis luncheon, cold cuts is the menu.  Jim Bruins – Joe Kitz – Dr. Pfefferkorn – Joe Rodler – Bill Kemnitz and myself and almost forgot Bob Kriz our reporter, complete our table.  Harold Watson, speaker.
13.  Wednesday: Marion Weisheipl is 27 years of age today.
14.  Thursday: The Robert
15.  Friday: To 700 Oclock Mass St. Vincents. 
Com.  Aunt Lena.
16.  Saturday: Bill Mauritz phoned about going fishing this afternoon.  Well we did but caught no fish, but we did catch a leak in the boat.  Bill put in some caulking for temporary repair.  The “Brands” have another party and its a good sized one.  Looked to me like “Shriners” and their families.  I treated Bob with home made rye bread, he treated with beer.
17.  Sunday: To 730 Mass then to work.  This afternoon took a drive to Appleton to visit Norm Brown, but nobody home.  Met Henry Durler at Neenah.  Took Aunt Mary to the cemetery, this evening.  Could not cool off driving today.  The winds are hot.  Temperature is 97°.
Com.  Matt Baier
18.  Monday: Temperature is again 97°.  Kiwanis and Rotary enjoy a joint picnic at the State Hospital park.  We did not attend.
19.  Tuesday: Dr. Norman Kleinschmit is after my teeth again. No fillings this time, only cleaning and two short treatments, only 7 dollars. Missed Kiwanis round table. My Plymouth is acting up.
20.  Wednesday: Took a drive this afternoon with Donald.  Stopped at Voights Drug Store Appleton to intervue Wayne Perham then on to Pulaski, find they have a large Franciscan Monastery there, then to see more stopped at Al Wurtzel’s Drug Store.  Find Joseph Urbanek works there, did not interview him.  Back home at 615, after supper up to the cottage, the Heips –and Thres Fretschl are there and the folks are busy playing cards.  They lasted until 2 A.M. to bed by 230 and I’m very tired
21.  Thursday: Took Anne Ostertag –Rose Mauritz with their families out to the cottage for a days outing.  They are glad to get away for a time.  Donald brings them back this evening, drops the boys up at the ballgame.  Larry Gerdes is in town, for Nyal Company.  View the remains of Phil Laffey at Fiss & Bills.  He looks quite natural among a profusion of flowers.
22.  Friday: This is Joe Weisheipl Jr’s birthday.  I think he is 40.  Sister Mary Joselia passed away this morning at the Mother House of the Sisters of Notre Dame.  She was known to us as Ann Nigl, daughter of Jos. and Mary Nigl.  Sister to Rose Miller – Elsie Kirsch – Mary Nigl – Jos. M. Nigl.  Born March 28 – 1897.  Taught Music at St. Vincents.
23.  Saturday: Took Mary Ann – Dolores Kinateder –Judy Redmond to the cemetery.  Visited quite a number of graves.  Grass is growing nicely on Aunt Lena’s grave.  This evening took Mary Ann to the Strand.  “Cross My Heart” stars Betty Hutton and Sonny Tufts.  “Abie’s Irish Rose” is a good co feature with Michael Chekhov and introducing Joanne Dru and Richard Norris.
24.  Sunday: To 730 Mass.  No Sermon on account of the heat.  Then to work.  The hot spell 98° is broken this afternoon with a severe wind storm.  Mrs. Jackish visits with us for about 1 ½ hours on our lawn.  Temperature drops about 20 degrees.  Spent the evening at home.
25.  Monday: Ed Fretschl takes his vacation this week.  Donald is janitor.  Steve Dushenski, electrical superintendent at the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation passed away yesterday afternoon at 425 at Mercy Hospital.  Born Dec. 19 – 1889.  Married to Ella Togatz April 16 – 1917.
26.  Tuesday: Bobby Rosjek is 6 years of age today.  Norm Brown is in town today, so is Merle Giddings.  Worked 13 ½ hours today.  Home at 1130 P.M.  Ed Weisheipl is ready to move again, this time back to Florence’s step – father’s home at 311 Algoma Blvd.  He has been renting at 4 Franklin Ave.
27.  Wednesday: This is “Oshkosh Day” at the fair.  I worked 6 hours, took Mother and Mary Ann to the fair for the evening.  It’s a lovely day and the crowd must number about 31 thousand people.  Harry and Agnes stop here about 7 Oclock on their way to the fair.  Aunt Mary has another one of her accidents.  This one is worse than the previous ones.  Thres is kept busy all morning cleaning up.  Gail Jackish has a birthday, she is 8 years of age.
28.  Thursday: Stopped at Teachers College to see Mr. McMahon the Registrar, had him phone me as he is not in.  Worked 11 ½ hours today.
29.  Friday: Long distance call from Chicago about trip to California Sept. 15th.  Out to view the remains of Mr. Stadtmueller at his farm home.  Mrs. Stadtmueller can not get around, suffered a stroke some time back.  Ed Weisheipl is a proud father today.  I’ts a boy.  Weight 7 pounds
30.  Saturday: This has been a busy week in spite of “Fair Week.” Put in 66 hours this week.
31.  Sunday: To 730 Mass St. Vincents, then to work.  Stopped at the John Drexler home and find the Dembowiaks in town.  Out to the cottage this afternoon with Anna Weisheipl and Emma Siewert.  This evening we have more company.  Father Michael Drexler comes out with Frank and Betty (his wife) Stan Dembowiak and Clara (his wife) Caroline and Betty Drexler.  My liquor gets an awful jolt.  Father Michael is in very good humor.  The boys learn me how to play poker.  It cost them about six dollars to do so.  Party climaxed for the special lunch a la Potter and folks leave us at 140 A.M.


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