Diary of Alfred E. Potter September, 1948

01.   Wednesday: We attend the Winnebago County Fair this afternoon.  Gov. Oscar Rennebohm is here for short visit.  Donald attends this evening gets in about 1³⁰ A.M.

02.  Thursday: We get news that Father Leo Ott is appointed Superintendent and Chaplain of the Oneida Boarding School – Oneida Wis.

03.  Friday: [T] To 7 Oclock Mass, Father Wagner Mass Main Altar Mons. Bastian St. Marys Father Ott distrib. Holy Commun.  Austin Walker, Rexall “Good Will Ambassador” is here tonight to address our store personnel at the Athearn.  I had dinner with him and Al Leonard – Ken Siperski.  After the meeting lunch and refreshments were served.  Donald home at 1⁴⁵ A.M. 

Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

04.  Saturday: To the Northwestern Depot at 11 A.M. to pick up Sister Linus (Elsie Fretschl).  She is here for a visit with her folks until Thursday.  This afternoon Bill Mauritz Ray Ostertag and myself go to the cottage for some fishing.  They really bite but too many small ones managed to get 10 good sized perch.  Home at 10.30.  Donald in sometime after 12.  Joan Mauritz is Mary Ann’s guest at home.

05.  Sunday: Hi Mass is again in order at St. Vincents.  Father Leo Ott has a short farewell sermon.  This is his last Sunday here.  Worked this morning.  Joe Baier is on the firing line.  Donald and Billy Mauritz fished this afternoon.  They do better than we did yesterday.  This evening we attend a farewell party for Father Ott.  Joe Hemmer is M. C. and does a swell job.  Monsignor Bastian looks much improved.  George Eigner and Mrs. are here for a visit. 

Com.  Father Leo Ott.

06.  Monday: Thres – Mary Ann and myself to 7 Oclock St. Vincents Requiem Mary Grill.  Worked all morning.  Art Mueller holds down the fort.  Thres – Mary Ann and myself to the cottage to pick apples.  Had several good showers of rain this morning.  Stopped at Ed Fretschl’s this A.M.  Carl and Marion Larson are not here yet. This evening seems dull at home, got Thres to play Cribbage and that was too bad.  She lost 3 strait games, the first by 51 points. 

Com Matt Baier

07.  Tuesday: [T] Schools opened again this morning.  We have a surprise visitor.  Sister Linus is here with her parents Ed and Thres Fretschl.  She is quite impressed with our home.  To Kiwanis luncheon, our table Boyd Jordan – Charles Behnke – Sid Dorfman and myself.  Mary Ann is at the WCOF meeting, Thres at the Ladies Auxiliary South Side Business Men, and I’m busy working.  Put in 10 hours.  Joe and Annie Heip bring Aunt Mary home to us this afternoon, and she is happy to be back.

08.  Wednesday: Back for more punishment today.  Business is good.  Put in 9 ½ hours today.

09.  Thursday: Sister Linus’ visit comes to an end.  She is to be back in Milwaukee at 8 oclock this evening.  I stopped this noon to say goodbye.  Carl and Marion Larson are there with their son David.  Worked 9 hours today.  Viewed the remains of Leo Nigl at Poklasny’s this afternoon. 

2 M.O. Leo Nigl

10.  

11.   Saturday: Turns out to be a rather warm day.  Took Ray Ostertag to the cottage this afternoon.  We pick about a bushel of grapes.  This is to be used to make jelly for Ray’s family.  Civic Theatre is back with Vaudeville.  We see a fine program “Rene and Rita” Color Dance on roller skates” “Harold Plummer” Contortionist Fred Jordan, Magic, and Prof. Chas. Cheer from Olson & Johnson.  “Dear Ruth” features William Holden Joan Caulfield – Billy de Wolfe –Ed Arnold – Mona Freeman a swell picture.

12.  Sunday: To St. Vincents 7³⁰ Mass.  Monsignor Bastian offers.  Our new assistant Father Loehr is on the job.  Worked 5 hours today.  Art Hazen to be gone about 2 weeks.  Howard Christianson has tough luck at the store two (2) bad errors to his credit.  Art Mueller is burned up.  Thres plays cards at Sacred Heart recreation tonight.  No prize.  Temperature 93° today. 

Com.  Deceased Members Holy Name

13.  Monday: [T] Attended Kiwanis Directors meeting at the Athearn.  Ernie Drushke is in town.  I took him to all the drug stores in town.  We are campaigning for Governor Rennebohm.  Our reception is most cordial.  It was a pleasure to meet the local boys.  Bill Christl Frank Jenson –Windy Ihda Marge Haverty –Eddie Fiedler – Ray Lewis –Jake Embs –Syl Stack – Floyd Swan –Met some of our former lady clerks, Elizabeth Samuel at Muiers – Elsie Meixner at Walgreen’s.

14.  Tuesday [T] To Kiwanis luncheon.  District Governor John Nugent from Waupun is our speaker.  Our table Earl Clemens – John Markel –Judge Lucksinger –O Sandeen and myself.  Carl Schmidt born 1883 and Al Kuebler Sept. 16 – 1893 Chicago are the birthday boys.

15.  Wednesday: Took Aunt Mary out to Ann and Rose Baiers this morning for a days visit.  Had a surprise visitor at the store “Linda Dreger” from Los Angeles.  She came by plane.  Emma Siewert is here this afternoon.  Took the family and Emma out to Hi K (Otto Christiansen) Zion for dinner.  Some of the Badger Lumber boys are having a little party here also.  After the meal took the folks to George Stadlers for a visit.

16.  Thursday: Had another surprise visitor this morning.  George Beilfus is in town.  He used to be with Sargents Prescription Store in Chicago.  George is 72 and looking fine.  Temperature is up to 93° today.

17.  Friday: [T] The temperature is 90° summer is still with us.

18.  Saturday: Weather nice but muggy.  View the remains of Julius Radtke at Marquardts.  Edwin – his two sisters and his mother were there.  This afternoon Governor and Mrs. Rennebohm are here for short visit near the city hall.  I had quite a chat with Mrs. Oscar was introduced to our Police and Fire Departments and members of the City’s various departments.  Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Civic Theatre tonite.

19.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass Rev.  Alphonse Wagner.  A Mary Knoll Missionary spoke to us.  Worked 3 ½ hours.  After dinner took Thres – Mary Ann – Joan Mauritz – Bill Mauritz –Doris Heisler to the cottage.  The girls enjoy a swim –Bill and I fished.  Thres had to work cleaning up the mess in our refrigerator.  The gas unit sprung a leak and the sulfur dioxide created quite a bit of damage.

20.  Monday: Tony Paulick and Jr. are here to line our chimney with Vitriolite Piping to prevent damage from gas heat.  Mr. Williams with the Public Service is at the cottage to look over the refrigerator.  It is a new unit we’ll be needing.  Harry Ferry is in town.  The Parker representative is here to see about our account.  This evening out to Hugh Talbott home 54 W. Custer to fit a truss.  Nice people to visit with.  He is a professor at State Teachers College.  After work and Annie Heip – Thres Fretschl are here.  Joe Heip comes in at 10 Oclock.  We played cards until 130 then refreshments.  They leave it 2¹⁵ A.M.  Joe is his vacation this week.  Donald Gerth and Richard Koch begin work at South Store.

21.  Tuesday: [T] Almost to Kiwanis luncheon, it rained so hard, I could’nt find a place to park within several blocks of the hotel.  Karl Bechler is in town.  Bought plenty Hudnut Permanent Waves and Refills.  Ken Sipersky is also here.  This evening took Thres with me to St. Marys Home, to see Sister Superior.  She showed us two new vestments I donated for a poor priest in Bavaria.  This is also primary election day.  Had quite a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Ed Gerth at our store just when our Donald brings in Arlene and Diane Felker.

22.  Wednesday: Joe and Annie Weisheipl take over our cottage today for few days.

23.  Thursday: [T] Emma Siewert is with us this afternoon.  This evening we take a drive to the cottage to visit Joe and Annie.  We find them playing 500 Rummie in the back room without a fire.  Had Thres start a nice fire in it was cozy, then the fun began and lasted till 3 A.M.  Joan Mauritz is 16 today, should I say sweet sixteen.

24.  Friday: Thres and Emma stay with the Heips today.  Donald and myself eat at Norkofski’s.

25.  Saturday: Art Hazen is back on the job for weekends.  This evening took Thres – Mary Ann – Joan Mauritz to the Civic Theatre.  Red Skelton and Marilyn Maxwell star in “The Show Off” also good stage attractions and then Chicken at Emil Lemke’s.

26.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Mass Monsignor Bastian Father Loehr preaches his first Sermon today.  Worked part of the morning, also visited Riverviewside Cemetery.  Flowers are still looking very nice, especially on my fathers and mothers graves.  Took a drive to Ripon this afternoon.  Mary Ann is at Joan Mauritz for dinner.  Com. Hon. Sacred Heart and Mother of Perpetual Help. [Note: “view” is not crossed out in original entry but “side” was written above it.]

27.  Monday: Eddie Lange is in today with Bob Kniss.  Eddie is Bob’s boss.  He is looking exceptionally well

28.  Tuesday: Bill Stumpf is in town.  Took him to Kiwanis luncheon.  Thres gets a permanent.  She is letting her hair gray out.  Price only 12 dollars.  I don’t feel very well today, but manage to put in 9 hours of work.  Our neighbor August Jackish cuts down his big spruce tree in front of the house.

29.  Wednesday: Had luncheon with Clark Hastings and Ralph Sperry.  Clark tells of his wonderful trip to Canada.  Quebec – Montreal – also eastern U. S. especially New York – Boston.  Todays Northwestern carries a page of information about Oregon St. Merchants, also our Postal Station.  Our postage stamp sales in 1947 were 28 604.68.  Recorded transactions as Money Orders – Registered letters – insured mail – postal notes 36 846.  Parcels mailed out 41 275.  Worked 10 ½ hours today.

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