Diary of Alfred E. Potter May, 1947

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02.  To 7 Oclock Mass at St. Vincents with mother and Mary Ann.  Donald washes the walls of his room today.

Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

03.  Saturday: Donald washes the upstairs bathroom walls and also the hallway.  He sure keeps busy these days.  I took mother and Mary Ann to the Strand tonite “The Locket” features Laraine Day – Brian Aherne – Robert Mitchum –Gene Raymond.  “Child of Divorce” Sharyn Moffett – Regis Toomey

04.  Sunday: Thres and Donald are out early this morning to 6 Oclock Mass.  Mary Ann and myself attend 7³⁰ Hi Mass then to work.  Had an awful time trying to take a nap this afternoon.  A phone call to the store for an emergency prescription, took Mary Ann to the Strand, another phone call – tried again but my nap was short.  Evan McDonald and his fiancée Miss Ludwig are here to consult me about renting the Lyman home.  They had quite a long stay.  I worked again this evening.  Donald – Ed and Robert Fretschl are at the cottage to do some work.

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06.  Tuesday: Had a visit with Sister Aquiline at St. Mary’s Hospital, she is interested in items to send to Germany to her relatives.

07.  Wednesday: Boy Scout Commissioners are to have dinner at the Hotel Whiting – Berlin, but at the last moment we find we can not be accommodated there and switch to the “White House Inn ” at Butte des Morts.  I’ts just as well only 4 couples were there Dan and Mrs. Schreiber – Sid Larson and Mrs. (the former Mrs. Tom Oehler) Mr. Mrs. Karl Bocker (Waupaca) and Thres and myself.  Had a fine dinner, steaks – lobster – and lobster tail.

08.  Thursday: Karl Kiekhafer is trying to cook up some more insurance for me. Took Thres out to look at the Lyman home. Art and Margaret Mueller spend the day in Milwaukee. Art sees Dr. Foerster and also Dr. Lee. Dr. Lee practiced in Oshkosh some years back. The "Telephone Strike" ended this morning. It was on for 31 days. Temperature is 30° this morning.

09.  Friday: Underwent a physical examination by Dr. Will Wagner this afternoon.  According to the results I’m in pretty good shape. Blood pressure Puls

Clipping found in 1947 diary. It is believed to be from the May 10,1947 Oshkosh Daily Northwestern.

10.  Saturday: Had a session with Mary and Harry Butt and Phil Lyman this morning.  Took Joe and Anna Weisheipl to see the “Jolson Story” at the Strand.

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13.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, Boyd Jordan talks to us about Kiwanis objective number one.  Our table Abe Kagan – Carl Knobla – Franklin Faker –Ben Cornelius and yours truly.  Out to the Lyman residence twice, once for the plumbers –and for Ev McDonald.  Mary and Harry Butt leave for home this afternoon.

14.  Wednesday: Mailed another package to the Rothbauers at Parsberg Bavaria, German Am. Zone.  This afternoon took Thres and Donald to Lyman home to help clean out the house.  Ev McDonald and his mother come over, and pick out some of the items he is interested in.  This evening is spent at the Weisheipls.  Took Thres Fretschl and Aunt Lena along.  Back home at 1 A.M.

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16.  Friday: Did some cleaning up at Lyman manage to Get Ed Hielsberg to come up and quote a price for painting the rooms.  Had Ed Fretschl along.  Phil Lyman moves some of the canned goods and other items.

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18.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass Father Wagner celebrant, then to work.  This afternoon took Mary Ann along to visit Harry Lyman, he is now at the County Home.  Also had a short visit with Mr. Mrs. Arneman Julius Beutler and his wife work there.  Mr. Lyman is doing quite well, but is lonesome.  Took a ride to Riverside Cemetery, checked up on our graves.  Stopped at Ray Ostertags.  Ray Jr. and Billie Mauritz make their solemn Communion today.  Ann Ostertag has her uppers out.  This evening Louis and Mary Mauritz are over from 7⁰⁰ to 12⁰⁰.

Com.  Thanksgiving M.P.H.

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20.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis Club luncheon.

21.  Wednesday: Spent a rather busy day. Contacted Ed Binder about filling in Pancratius Drexler lot, and arrange for perpetual care for Theo Drexler - Stanislaus Jarosch, and Panc Drexler lots. Ed also consented to become my chairman of advanced gifts for the Notre Dame Sisters Memorial. This afternoon took clothes to Harry Lyman at County Home, he is happy to have them, would like an auto ride. Contacted Phil Lyman at studio and got the key for the Lyman home. Contacted Joe Kubasta and he consented to become my chairman of publicity. Also stopped at Joe Hansetter's. He lets me take 2 Volumes of the “History of the Sisters of Notre Dame in North America.” Tonite drove to Appleton to attend baseball game and what a game. We almost won several times but lost eventually 11-9. Appleton used 4 pitchers. Bruver pitched for Oshkosh. In the eighth he hit 3 Appleton players, 5 Runs came in.

22.  Thursday: Mrs. McDonald in to see me about moving Lyman furniture into garage.  Had Donald and Ed Fretschl help me.  She also bought an upholstered chair from me.  Larry Gerdes is in for a Nyal order today.  Tonite we have an initial meeting of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus.  Greg Sitter presides and I am Comptroller pro tem.  Frank Drexler 1210 – 9th is a papa.  Its a girl – 8 ½ pounds.

23.  Friday: Ken Siperski is in for Rexall order.  Francis Lamb drops in for a conference, about United Wholesale Druggist Stock and to find 60 cents error to balance April account.

24.  Saturday: Workers at the Oshkosh Overall Company walk out at 4⁵⁰ yesterday afternoon.  Wages are not the cause of the strike.  Took mother and honey to the Oshkosh tonite to see “The Sea of Grass” starring Spencer Tracy, Kathryn Hepburn –Robert Walker – and Melvyn Douglas.  “Criminal Court” with Tom Conway – and Martha O’Driscoll is also very good.  While we are lunching about 11¹⁵ fire alarm sounds, looks to be near, so at 12 midnight we find ourselves going to the fire, it is Fosters lumber shed and it is a real fire.

25.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents.  Father Ott says the Mass, then to work.  Elsie Meixner is on duty today.  The Foster fire is still going strong.  I spend the evening working, while the folks attend the Graduation Class Play at St. Vincents.  “Holiday Hill” is the feature play.  Took Annie Heip and Aunt Lena home after the play.  Anna Sipple (Mrs. Anton) passed away at Mercy last evening at 7 Oclock.  Sister to Thres Fretschl –Alvina Putzer –Katie Duex – Emma Heppler – Herman and Jussy (Frank) Drexler.  Born 9-26 -1885. 

Com.  Honor Holy Ghost.

26.  Monday [T] Ed Sonnenbergs daughter Patricia is married this morning at St. Patricks Church by Rev. Jos. Ahearn to J. Joseph Werner pharmacist at Madison, Miss Sonnenberg also is a pharmacist, used to work at one time in Oshkosh for Eddie Fiedler – Oshkosh Drug N Book.  Attended “Rosary” for Anna Sipple at Sitters this evening, and then back to work.  Foster fire is officially and completely extinguished about 8³⁰ tonight almost 45 hours after it began.

27.  Tuesday: Took Aunt Mary to view the remains of Anna Sipple this afternoon.  Had Phil Lymans things moved to his home and studio from the Lyman residence.  Thres – Mary Ann attend the “Judy Stillman” Dance Recital at St. Peter’s Auditorium tonite.  It is a great success but also a lot of work for Florence.  I had a night to call at 3 A.M. (Wednesday).  The back door of our south side store is found open by Officer.

28.  Wednesday: The painters finish the job at the Lyman home.  The weather is wet and cold, at times heavy flakes mingle snow and rain, and it is close to freezing temperature most of the day, and this is the 28^th of May, or is it?

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30.  Friday: Donald is working for Lyle Runke today.  A rather cool morning ends with pleasant weather this afternoon.  I worked this morning.  Took Aunt Mary and Mary Ann to Riverside and Sacred Heart Cemeteries this afternoon.  A United Airlines DC4 plane trying to take off from La Guardia Field failed to gain altitude, crashed and burned, 39 of the 48 on board are dead.  Took in the Strand Theatre “Suddenly its Spring” Paulette Goddard – Fred Mac Murray Macdonald Carey and Arleen Wheelan.  “Bulldog Drummond at Bay” Ron Randell – Anita Louise.

31.  Saturday: Leona Luft was married to Raymond Fiedler yesterday afternoon at her home 162 – 7th Ave. by the Rev. T.J. Mittelstaed.  Leona has been working at our west side store.  We will miss her.