Diary of Alfred E. Potter January, 1948

01.  Thursday: The New Year is with us and of course most of us are anxious to know what it will bring.  Let us hope that it will bring health and happiness to our family and relief to the folks in war torn Europe and Asia.  Worked about 2 hours this morning and attended 12 Oclock Mass with mother.  Visited at Joe Baiers this afternoon with our family and after that to the Strand to see “My Wild Irish Rose” starring Dennis Morgan, Arlene Dahl, Andrea King and Alan Hale.  Milwaukee ushers in the New Year with six inches of snow.

02.  Back on the job with plenty of work staring me in the face, but I feel that I can take it.  Agnes Steckbauer is in town, delivers to mother a nice "Spirella" with two covers for only 36 dollars. Kinda makes papa wince.

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04.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ High Mass St. Vincents.  Feast of the Holy Name.  Mary Ann to work with me, goes to 10³⁰ Mass and back to work.  She has no breakfast.  This afternoon took Thres and Mary Ann to Norm Brown’s at Neenah.  Sybelle is gone when we arrive.  Mrs. Hugh Strange and Miss Sherman are there.  Thres is back to old times, had to change diaper for little Tommy.  Norm surely has a lovely home, just the thing for his family.  Sybelle came home with the rest of the children, they had been at Butte des Morts Club tobogganing.  Thres even gets a kiss from Norm.  Thats what happens when you stand under the mistletoe.  I worked 5 hours today.

Com.  Theresa Sitzberger

05.  Monday: Attended Kiwanis Directors and Committee Chairman business luncheon.  It is my first attendance since November.  Am appointed Chairman of the Boys and Girls Committee.  Thres to Ladies Auxiliary card club this afternoon at Mrs. Laura Schein.

06.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Pete Beck informs me that my new Plymouth is on the way.  Had an interesting speaker today Merle Smith representative of the United States Savings and Loan Association.  He tells how the British overbid the American Market for lumber with the American Dollars we loan to them.  Attended Fourth Degree K C dinner meeting at the American Legion Club House.  Voted on quite a number of eligibles for 4th Degree.  Took Thres to visit the remains of Mrs. Stadtmueller at Fiss and Bills.

07.  Wednesday: Was pallbearer at the funeral of Mrs. Pauline Stadtmueller.

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09.  Friday: This is Agnes (Drexler) Kujawa’s birthday, I think she is 35, and more news her sister Margaret Radomski begets a little boy at 2 A.M. and that is news.  Esther (Mrs. Norbert) Mueller 44, was hurt this evening at 8³⁰ in an auto accident when her car, driven north on Ohio St. was hit by an auto driven west on 10th Street by Robert Schwebs 42 of Appleton Wis.  Esther suffered a torn ligament in her shoulder, but the passengers with her Ed Ganzer 50 and his wife 42 were both hospitalized.  Esther is home.

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11.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass with St. Vincents Holy Name.  Donald sings 7³⁰ serves 10³⁰.  We learn this morning that in emergency baptism when no water is to be had, you may use wine – beer – soda and re-baptize later when baptismal water is convenient, at least this is what Father Leo Ott tells us.  Work the balance of the morning, rested this afternoon and took Ed and Thres Fretschl to the Oshkosh this evening.  “Road to Rio” stars Bing Crosby – Bob Hope – Dorothy Lamour.  The folks get many laughs.  Think this is Ottilia Drexler birthday.  

Com.  Deceased Holy Name Men.

12.  Monday: Mailed a package to the Rothbauers in Germany, Clothes, Crisco and milk.  Had a letter from Agnes Kujawa at Berlin, she still has the itch.  Had a rather interesting experience this morning, watched the Photostat machine at the Courthouse turn out Photostatic copies of records such as birth, death, etc.  Notice Joe Baier's Plymouth has quite a nick in the left rear fender.

13.  Tuesday: Temperature is going down.  Willful call the com.  My office is too cold to work in so I call it quits after 8 Oclock.

14.  Wednesday: Temperature is 9° below this morning.  Learn that Joe Baier’s car would not start last night and had stayed out on 10th Street all night.  We visit at Ray and Ann Ostertag tonite with Joe and Emma Baier –Bill and Rose Mauritz.  Had quite a time getting our car started when we go home.  Took Joe and Emma and also and when I got into our garage about 1³⁰ I find myself about is near to a heart attack as I ever care to be.  Could not lie down for a time, managed to stay in bed after 3 A.M.

15.  Thursday: Well here I am laid up this morning, had breakfast about 10 A.M. and am still having trouble lying down, so I continue to sit up on our couch until Dr. Will Wagner gets here at 2 P.M.  He can not find anything radically wrong but books me for a cardiogram at Mercy tomorrow at 9 A.M. in the meantime I should rest.

16.  Friday: [T] At Mercy Hospital 9 A.M. for Cardiogram.  Dr. Koehler returned last evening from Board of Examiners meet for physician.  He tells me 8 members comprize the board.  I worked this afternoon for 5 hours at the store.  Company No.  4 of our Fire Dept. move into their new home 11th and Nebraska.  Cost $55 000 Gen Contract C.R. Meyer 39 887 Heating – Rob Gunz 5833 Plumbing –Mueller Bros. 3127.  Electrical – Badger 1822, Painting – Klinger 958.

17.  Saturday: Put in 4 hours at the store this afternoon.  This is our coldest day so far this season, the official temperature is down to 21° below zero.

18.  Sunday: Donald takes us to St. Vincents Hi Mass this morning.  This is also his Sunday to work at the store.  I am kept busy at home making out orders and also getting ready for annual meeting at the South Store tomorrow night.  Put in 8 hours of work today.  Donald took me around a bit this afternoon, we stopped at the cemetery, it looks pretty bleak out there.  The main roads are open.  Temperature is 20° below this morning. 

Com.  Health Improved.

19.  Monday: Had company this morning Norman Brown spends about an hour with us.  Josaphats Congregation celebrated their “Golden Jubilee” yesterday.  Bishop Stanislaus Bona celebrated the Solemn Hi Mass.

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21.  Wednesday: [T] Ralph Sperry spend about 2 hours with me this afternoon.  Donald checks in the drug orders and is getting to like it.  I worked only 1 ½ hours at the store.  This evening Joe and Annie Heip took us to the Fretschl’s for a game of cards.  Don stops in to take us home and we get here before midnight.

22.  Thursday: Have a letter from Ven Sister Virginia this morning.  She is still at St. John’s Hospital Tulsa Oklahoma.  Emma Siewert spends the afternoon and evening with us.

23.  Friday: Am quite busy today, put in time morning – afternoon – and evening, 8 hours in all.

24.  Saturday: Donald has a date with Dr. Ware.  He has an impact of molar removed and this turned out to be an operation instead of merely an extraction.  Joe Wiener passed away last night at Mercy Hospital after a diabetic coma.  Born Oct. 17 – 1893.  Brother to Simon – John and Frank.  I attended prayer for him tonite at Sitter’s.  Sitters funeral home is enlarged to double its original size.  Tried driving our Chrysler and seemed to get along pretty well.  Lorna Ruechel last day at store.  M.O. Joe Wiener.

25.  Sunday: [T] Donald is very uncomfortable and does not get out today.  Mother – Marianne and self attend 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents.  I tried to work at the store this morning but had to come home almost immediately and had quite a time getting here. After calming down I made out our orders for the week.  A Mission begins at St. Johns this morning, it is to continue for two weeks.  It is conducted by Rev. Gerald Hesse O.M. Cap.  Lyle Runke’s last day at the store. 

Com.  Joe Wiener.

26.  Monday: Well at last it happened, what do you think, we get our new Plymouth DeLuxe Club Coupe and I drive it.  Did'nt think I'd be strong enough to. Mama gets her hair do but not a permanent.  I made out several federal reports tonite at the store.  Richard Wolfgram begins working at our South Store.

27.  Tuesday: Official temperature is down to 12° below this morning.  Edward Wesiheipl buys my old Plymouth Coupe.  He pays $425. for it, I was allowed $162.25 on the trade in.  The mileage register shows 74 766.8 miles.  Profit for Pete Beck $262.75.  I was under the impression Eddie would get it for about 250 or 275.

28.  Wednesday: [T] Ralph Sperry spend two hours with me this afternoon.  Thres Fretschl has a flood at the House.  Karl left the faucet in the bathroom lavatory open and the bathroom and kitchen floor were flooded.  Mikey their cocker spaniel woke her from her nap.

29.  Thursday: Emma Siewert is here for the afternoon and evening.  Thres Frestchl is here this evening for cards.  I took them home at midnight.

30.  Friday: Wrote letter to Carl and Marg Radomski.  Mohandas Gandhi, noted Hindu political and spiritual leader is assassinated.  He nearly always obtain his goal by fasting.  He was always opposed to violence always urging his followers in campaigns to non violence.  He obtained freedom for India from the British about a year ago.  He considered his triumph of failure because India and her 400 000 000 people were divided into separate domains Hindu and Pakistan (Moslems).

31.  Saturday: Find myself appointed by Mayor Ernest Siewert to the "City Fuel Oil Committee."  Other members Nick Pitz, Charles Breon, Earl Goettman and Bill Thobaben.  We are to serve with the County Committee composed of the mayors of Neenah – Menasha - Omro and village presidents.