Diary of Alfred E. Potter October, 1948

01.  Friday: [T] To 7 Oclock Mass with Thres – Mary Ann.  After breakfast we drive to Milwaukee.  Donald does the chauffeuring.  Stopped it Mutual Drug – Otto Schmidt takes care of our order.  Took the folks to Maders for (not a luncheon but a big dinner) then to McClurgs and the Church Mart.  Left for home at 5 Oclock stopped at Theresa for refreshments.  Home at 8⁰⁰.  Stopped at the store for about an hour.  Emma Siewert is housekeeper while we are gone.  Her sister Clara Lemke is here this afternoon. 

Com.  Donald – Mary Ann.

02.  Saturday: Oregon Street Improvement is formally dedicated tonite.  Congressman Frank Keefe – Mayor Siewert –Rudy Haveman – Herb Nolte are speakers.  Two Orchestras –Square Dance –Art Messerschmidt “The Great Arturo” amuse the folks.  The Taverns along the street to a splendid business.  About 10 000 people attend the doings.  I put in eleven hours of work at the store.

03.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass, Father Wagner, Mixed Choir sings.  To work 3 ½ hours. This afternoon to Berlin with the family. Donald is sponsor (Confirmation) for Johnnie  Kujawa - Harry's sister Leona for Mary.  Bishop O'Connor of the New Diocese "Madison" confers the Sacrament.  It was an edifying service and a very interesting one.  A special dinner served by Agnes at 6 oclock.  Leona’s two children Jimmy and Judy prove to be very lively youngsters.  Johnny and Mary have adopted a snowshoe bunny. 

Com.

04.  Monday: Norman Brown stops at our house he’s on his way to Drug Convention and Y. L. Open House.  Frank Thews birthday he is 59.  Thres wins second prize money at the Ladies Auxiliary Card Club.

05.  Tuesday: [TEG] To Kiwanis luncheon, we practise for the Song fest at Fond du Lac.  Our table Al Dunham – Lee Conroy –Ed Ledvina and myself.  Thres is at the Auxiliary Meeting tonight, at Security Bank Club Rooms.  I get out my social security – income tax quarterly reports also the state report this evening.

06.  Wednesday: Thres and Mary Ann attend the Civic Music Concert by Phillip Kinsman –Bass Baritone.  Jacob Hanneman is the pianist.  Worked 9 hours today.  Boston Braves and Cleveland Indians play the first game of the World Series Baseball at Boston.  The Braves win 1 to 0.  Bob Feller losing pitcher allowed only 2 hits.

07.  Thursday: The Indians even the series today winning 4 to 1.  Emma Siewert is here today to help Thres make a dress for Mary Ann.  Took the folks to the Musical Comedy “Now and Then” at the Oshkosh put on by the Oshkosh Junior Chamber of Commerce.  About 150 young folks take part and its a huge success.

08.  Friday: Louis Mauritz is operated on by Dr. Cummings.  A tumor like growth is removed from his bladder.

09.  Saturday: Took Mary Mauritz to the hospital and stayed for the visit 2 to 4 P.M.  Also dropped in to see Conrad Shoblaski, he has been there for 15 weeks.

10.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass with Holy Name.  Monsignor Bastian celebrant.  Worked 3 hours.  This evening we attend the Civic Theatre.  After vaudeville The picture “I wonder whose kissing her now” in technicolor.  Rose Weisheipl complete 37 years of life today. 

Com.  Deceased Members Holy Name.

11.  Monday: Over to see Boyd Jordan at the New American Bank, then to Jimmies for one of my twice a year shoe shines, then to Kiwanis Directors meeting and also practise for tonite.  Back at work at 1⁴⁵.  Drive to Fond du Lac this evening to the Kiwanis Song fest sponsored by Waupun Club at the Retlaw Hotel.  The meal was not very good for 3 dollars per plate.  The Beaver Dam club won the Gifford Cup.  We are home at 11 P.M.

12.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  R. J. Barton formerly with the U.N. Secretariat spoke on problems associated with acclimating foreign employes with American customs and living.  Pete Beck –Henry Kuettner – Bill Kastner and myself share table.  Tonight we attended K.C. Banquet at American Legion.  Judge Gleason Green Bay is the speaker.  Bill Schaefer M.C. Joe Hemmer Program Chairman.  I feel quite bad so we leave for home at 10 Oclock.

13.  Wednesday: Ray Trovinger is in today.  Herb Kraft Sharp and Dohme is here for a short visit.  This evening we visit at Ed Fretschls celebrating his birthday (his birthday was Sept. 12th).  His namesake is today.  Party lasts until 1³⁰ A.M.

14.  Thursday: [T] Thres plays cards and Emma Siewert.  Took Mary Mauritz and Mrs. Florek to see Louis.  He is somewhat better today.  Yesterday he was not so good.  Dropped in to see Joe Reischl he was operated yesterday for double hernia.  Ken Siperski is in today.

15.  Friday: Our Rexall Concentration ends tonite.  Duck hunting season opens today.

16.  Saturday: The weather is turning colder today.  Worked 8 hours today.  Took Emma Siewert –Thres –Mary Ann to see the “Red Mill” presented by the “A Capella Choir” of the Oshkosh Hi School.  It is a “Comic Opera” by Victor Herbert and very well presented Outstanding: Mary Kontra – Pat Hurlbutt – Joyce Koch –Suzanne Duex –Jack Steinhilber – Dan Brandt –James Koch – Dwain Vanderhoof –Ron Dawson.  After the Opera to Emil Lemke for chicken and fish.  Louis Mauritz is home from the hospital this afternoon.

17.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass Father Loehr.  Worked 3 ½ hours.  Home this afternoon.  This evening took a walk with Thres to visit Louis Mauritz’s Matt – Carrie and John Bauer are there and also Wenzel and Alvina Putzer.  Home at 10³⁰ I did’nt mind the walk.  Joe Hemmer drops in at the store and shows me a novel way to collect stamps.  Ed Weisheipl – Ed Fretschl  and Donald spend the day at the cottage.  They tried fishing and nearly froze, but they enjoyed a nice fire and a case of beer at the cottage.

18.  Monday: [T] Mike Ostertag and Walter are here again to paint our living room – dining room – kitchen and upper hallway.  Thres plays cards with Auxiliary at Mame Siewerts, and wins 2 nd prize, the enormous sum of 40 cents.  An auto accident on Hiway 44 south west of Pickett resulted in the death of two local young men Fred Wolf 1109 – 11th – Jack Tollard 171 Ceape St. Tom Larson seriously injured.  Fred born Dec. 22 -1927 Jack Nov. 11 – 1930.

19.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Arthur Morton sales manager of Hickey Freeman Company maker of fine mens clothes is our speaker.  His talk is about living a young life at all ages.  When we are at work we should have a thorough knowledge about our work, we should love it and be enthusiastic about it.  Our table Ray Baxandall –Ozzie Witte –Dr. Graber –F.W. Vanderpool – myself.  Viewed the remains of Fred Wolf at Poklasny’s this aft.  Thres – Mary Ann played cards at St. Vincents tonite. 

M.O. Fred Wolf.

20.  

21.  Thursday: Took a drive to Appleton all by myself this morning.  Stopped at Valley Boarding.  Max Eli is still on the job.  His son Bill writes up for me a tentative order for basketball Shirts and Pants for the C.Y.O. and S.V. School 9th grade boys

22.  Friday: Gene Hugger is here to do some plastering in our dining room.  Forty hours begins at Sacred Heart.

23.  [T]

24.  Sunday: Today is Aunt Mary’s birthday.  She is 75 and feeling fine.  This evening Annie Heip – Thres Fretschl  Emma Siewert are here to help her celebrate.  They are here until 1¹⁵ A.M. 

Com.  Aunt Mary

25.  

26.  Tuesday: [T] To Kiwanis luncheon.  Our table Elwym Nelson –Simon Horwitz –Dr. Pfefferkorn and myself.  Eric Baller and W^m Kemnitz are the birthday boys.  The Ostertags are working on my den upstairs.  Barbers have again raise their prices.  I have to pay Shave 75¢ Here Cut 85¢ Total 1⁶⁰.

27.   Wednesday: Find myself doing work I had not expected to do for a long time to come.  Put on most of the storm windows and didn't feel any strain of overwork.  Emma Siewert helps Thres wash the storms and I wash the outside of the windows.  Wenz Putzer’s birthday is today.  He is ___ years old.  Ralph Sperry comes over to the house to find us all torn up.  The T and O Bowling Alleys open tonite.  They are across from our south store.  Thres and Emma played Bingo at Elsie Zentner’s tonite.  The Heips are being entertained at Club 41 tonite by their family, in honor of their coming wedding anniversary.

28.  Thursday: Herman Jansen returned 10¢ to me, overcharge from Tuesday.  My shave should have been 65¢ instead of 75¢.  Thank you Herman!

29.  Friday: We get rid of the painters today, and are we glad!  Been torn up long enough around here.

30.  Saturday: Forty Hours begins at St. Vincents.

31.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents Hi Mass by Father Alph. Wagner.  Worked from 9-1230.  A beautiful day, temperature about 65°.  This afternoon to Konrad Funeral Home to view the remains of Grandpa Siewert.  Mame – Emma –were there, with the Mayor – Grandma – Emma –Hattie – Leona.  Took in the Civic Theatre.  “The Perils of Pauline” features Betty Hutton – John Lundt in technicolor.  The stage performance is exceptionally good.  The acrobat twins star.  This evening to 40 hour and Holy Name celebration of “Christ, the King.  To bed 10.30. 

Com.  Thres