Diary of Alfred E. Potter July, 1948

01.   

02.  Friday: To 7⁰⁰ Oclock Exposition Mass at St. Vincents.  Father Alphonse Wagner is celebrant.  Had a busy day at the store and accomplished much.  Worked 11 ½ hours today. 

Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

03.  Saturday: Joe and Celia Drexler celebrate their silver wedding today.  Hi Mass at Sacred Heart.  Father David Bunkleman officiating.  We attended the Mass and then I’m on the job until 5 P.M. we then are back at the Drexlers for the evening, met Jerry Shea, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Bob Heckner, Menasha, Art Hedtke Judge Dan McDonald.  Bill Mauritz is out for good time.  We are home at 1¹⁵ A.M. Sunday.  Temperature is up to 93° today.

04.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass then to work.  Busy with the orders.  This afternoon are back to work for an hour and ½.  Also took in the parade on Main St. It’s a splendid parade, well planned.  Worked 5 hours today. About 5³⁰ we pick up Annie Heips – Emma Siewert – Clara Lemke –take them to the cottage.  Donald brings Don Gerth and Mary Ann after work.  Cards are in order I win 75 Cents from the ladies. 

05.  Monday: [T] Trying out the new motor on our boat.  Bobbie Brand gives us a ride in their new Thompson runabout with 22 horse power motor.  Its another hot day, temperature is up to 95°.  Cork Weisheipl and Matt pick up Annie this afternoon.  I discovered a large Ants nest in one of our cork life preservers, and thats the end of the ants.  They are a large black species!  We leave for home at 8 P.M. and stop near Menominee Park to see the Fireworks Display sponsored by the City of Oshkosh.

06.  Thursday: Thres is busy washing and baking today.  Two big loaves of rye bread.

07.  Wednesday: Mother is at the Ladies Auxiliary picnic today, at Wrasse’s.  Back about 8 Oclock and then out to the cottage.  Donald is there with Don Gerth and we find we have company.  Harry and Agnes from Berlin with Johnny and Mary.  The Heips are there too and Annie is busy entertaining while we are gone.

08.  Thursday: Joe – Celia - Matt - Amanda Drexler are out today with the twins Johnny and Joey, and Judy. Bob Brand takes them out in his boat. The children get a big kick out of the fish, in fact they did not know if they should eat them raw or fried. This evening Joe and Elizabeth Stoegbauer, Tony and Nora Serwas are out to do a little gambling, Ace of Spades - high and Deuce of Diamonds.

09.  Friday: This is another hot day.  The folks at the cottage are having a great time.  Joe Drexler however busies himself with repairing our lawn chairs.  Annie Heips is complaining of a stiff leg.  When we get out tonite we find the Drexler’s have left for town.

10.  Saturday: We are back in the city today, more hot weather.

11.  Sunday: To St. Vincents with Holy Name Society.  Worked this morning, completed orders, and drove to the cottage and had our noon J meal there.  Between 25 and 30 young men and Father Leo Ott spend the afternoon with us.  They played horse shoe –a seven inning game of baseball, I umpired, (whew) thats what some of the players thought some went swimming, others boating.  After a wiener roast they left for home about 7 Oclock.

12.  Monday: On our way to town bought raspberries at Rasmussens, also stopped at Fiss and Bills to view the remains of Mrs. Marie Grill.  Her little son was with her in the casket.  Thres is busy washing and finds our Bendix is out of order, and has to do most of the washing by hand.  We hear Annie Heips is in bed with game leg.  Donald takes Aunt Mary out to do her ironing.  Rose and Marion Weisheipl are taking their vacation this week.  I worked 8 hours.  The painters did not come to work today. 

M.O. (2) Marie Grill

13.  Tuesday: Took in my first Kiwanis luncheon in about six months.  Well I got a big hand and I’m glad to be back with the boys.  Took Ken Siperski along as a guest.  Art Messerschmidt entertains with magic.

14.  Wednesday: Frank Koplitz passed away suddenly this noon in the garden of his home 515 – 14th.  Born February 17 – 1871.  Frank showed no signs of illness.  Had waved goodbye to his niece Celia only a few minutes before he passed away.  I took this afternoon and evening off, the first this summer.

15.  

16.  Friday: Brought the folks in this evening from the cottage and over to Fiss and Bills to the wake of Frank Koplitz. 

M.O. (2) Frank Koplitz

17.  Saturday: Frank Koplitz laid to rest at Riverside.  Her’s is resting diagonally across from Thres’ Dad – Mother – Brother Frank.  I attended funeral service and also to cemetery.  Met Frank Sullivan of the Triangle Manufacturing Company.  Frank was a pallbearer.  I am told Franc Koplitz was pallbearer for Tom Mulva last Monday.  Worked 6 ½ hours.  This evening took Thres and Mary Ann for ride to Cemetery (Riverside) then to Winneconne – Omro – Berlin (nobody home at Kujawa’s) stopped at Tad’s for 2 helpings of perch.  Started smoking tonite after 4 months.

18.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Mass Father Ott Celebrant.  Father Wagner is back from his vacation and delivers the Sermon (not a short one).  Monsignor Bastian offers the Holy Sacrifice on St. Mary’s Altar.  Worked 3 ½ hours getting out orders.  Art Hazen takes them to the P.O.  We have a new delivery service at the store today.  Frank Kruse takes over.  This afternoon to Fiss and Bills to the rosary offering for Rose Thompson.  Harvey is very composed, and accepts his cross courageously.  Had Thres Fretschl with us for drive through Bay View – Rockaway Beach. 

M.O. (2) Rose Thompson.

19.  Monday: Mike Ostertag (our painter) is back after leaving us for a week for another job.  Rose Thompson is laid to rest.  Thres attends the funeral service with the Christian Mothers Society.

20.  Tuesday: Frank Keefe is the speaker at our Kiwanis luncheon today.  Frank Labudde is a birthday boy.  Arrived July 24 – 1872.  My guests: Harvey Lohst Appleton – Bernard Derr, Green Bay – Bob Fisher Fond du Lac

21.  Wednesday: Took Donald – Mary Ann and Ralph Sperry out to lunch at the Athearn.  It was almost a dinner.

22.  Thursday: [T] Had dinner with Governor Rennebohm tonight at the Athearn.  Judge Henry Hughes is here with him from Madison, met some Neenah – Menasha Republicans Norton Williams – Supreme President E.R.A. – Ray Fink Attorney –Ozzie Cook –  Herman Weber –Mike ____ Menasha Woodenware.

23.  Friday: Brought Mary Ann to school at 8³⁰. This is her last day, also Donald's at summer school. Picked up some peas to be prepared for our freezer at Otto Christianson Hi K Zion. Had Thres, Mary Ann, and Emma with me. Had a very nice Pike and Scallop dinner while we were there. Mary Ann and self visited Ray and Ann Ostertag tonite. The baby is growing fast, and when we get home the peas are all ready for the freezer.

24.  [T]

25.  Sunday: To 7³⁰  Mass.  Father Leo Ott reads the Mass.  The Monsignor is at the Side St. Mary’s Altar.  Father Ott spoke on Extreme Unction.  Worked 4 ½ hours getting out orders.  Ohio Street and Vicinity Merchants have Children’s picnic at South Park.

26.  Monday: Norman Brown is in today, not much business for him, in fact or business is not too good of late.  Bob Kniss “Lilly” is still on vacation.  We are back of the cottage tonight.  Mary Ann has two house guests Joan Mauritz and Doris Heisler and mother has as usual Emma Siewert.  Jerry L.Estrange resigned as vice president of the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Co.  His resignation is accepted.  He will serve in the same capacity with the Capital Life Insurance Co. of Denver Colorado.

27.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, Ralph Becker entertained us with the class of his pupils.  They did very well.  Viewed the remains of Dave Johnson this morning and attended the funeral service this afternoon at the Presbyterian Church.  Rev. James Daum officiated.

28.  Wednesday: Annie Heips Bingo Club is at the cottage today.  I took the afternoon out.  Joe Heip is out this afternoon, we did a little fishing, nothing doing, so Donald takes us for ride on Lake Butte des Morts.  I’ts a lovely day to be out on the water.  The ladies leave by 9³⁰ and we are ready for cards.  The Heips stayed over nite, and I almost forgot Aunt Mary also stayed.

29.  Thursday: I took the Ray Ostertag – and Bill Mauritz families out the cottage this morning.  Mrs. Harry Wiese (formerly Sophie Bork) passed away at her home 831-12th yesterday afternoon.  Born Sept. 8 – 1879.

30.  [T]

31.  Saturday: Donald Jungens is in this morning.  He needs 500 dollars to buy a car.  Mrs. Harvey Wiese is laid to rest.  Services at St. John’s Church.