Diary of Alfred E. Potter April, 1949

01.   Friday: Forgot all about First Friday today, and so did the rest of the folks at our house.  Clara Lemke is at Mercy Hospital with Pleurisy.  Quite an amount of fluid is taken from her.  Jack Faust is home after two months treatment at the hospital.  He is looking very well.

02.  Saturday: To 7⁰⁰ oclock Mass at St. John’s with Fourth Degree Knights.  View the remains of Elwyn Nelson at Fiss and Bills and attended the funeral service at the First Methodist Church this afternoon.  Saw “Joan of Arc” at the Strand tonight with Thres and Mary Ann.  Ingrid Bergman is starred with many actors. 

Com.  Conversion of Russia.

03.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass with Knights of Columbus St. Vincents Hi Mass Father Alphonse Wagner.  Staid for Breakfast at St. Vincents Gym.  About 200 Members present I did not stay for the speeches.  Called to the store this afternoon to fill 3 Rx’s for _____ Krause.  Dr. Bob Gerth is with him.  Worked this evening getting out orders.  This means 5 ½ hours of writing today.  Aunt Mary attend 11.45 Mass – St. Johns. 

Com.  Reparation of Sins Recommended by the Holy Father.

04.  Monday: South Side Business Mens Club and Ladies meet at Wirtz’s restaurant tonight.  Incidentally we also celebrate Rudy Haveman’s (Club President) birthday.  He gets many presents both comical and others.  Ma Potter gave him a fresh loaf of Home Made “Rye Bread” – I gave him a “Bundle of Little Nips.” We also played cards – the ladies Bingo.  Rudy will be 62 next Friday.

05.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Sid Mertz – Charles Behnke Sr. and myself make up a table.  This afternoon took Thres to vote.  Then to Boston Store Thres pays her monthly statement and gets a bed – sheet for Thres Fretschl who is 62 years old today.  Then to Fiss and Bills to view Mrs. Fred Stein.  Fred does not look well either.  Mrs. Frances Faust – Lucille Mertz –Tena Olp – and Mrs. George Stein – The Schwartz’s are there. 

2 M.O. Mrs. Fred Stein.

06.  Wednesday: Thres and self at Marquarts to view the remains of Hugo Schmidt.  Thres meets one of the ladies she used to work with at Buckstaff’s about 45 years ago.  She is Martha Schmidt.  Then to Ed Fretschl’s to celebrate Thres’ birthday.  Home at 1³⁰ AM.  The Heips are with us.  Joe is pretty lucky.  Thres loses 50¢.

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08.  Friday: [T] Thres to St. Vincents this morning with Altar Society.  Feast of the Seven Dolors of the Sorrowful Mother.  Mary Ann is home today, this is the first day of her Easter vacation.  This is Rudy Haveman’s birthday.  He is 62.

09.  Saturday: Ed and Dess Wirtz have a formal opening of the Oregon Sandwich Shop today and tomorrow. Thres, Mary Ann and myself visit with Bill Mauritz tonite. Rose is bothered considerably with rheumatism or it may be arthritis.

10.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass St. Vincents with Holy Name Society.  Palm’s are blessed.  Father Alphonse Wagner conducts the service.  Worked until 12³⁰ getting out orders.  Donald and Mary Ann attend six oclock Mass.  Donald serves.  This afternoon Thres – Mary Ann and self take a ride to the cottage.  The Brands are cleaning up their place.  Don and Don Gerth – Arlene and Diane are there also.  We ride some more and end up at John Lange’s Cottage at Lasley’s Point.  John is a good hoste. Mrs. W^m Mauritz (Rose Baier) is 47 today. 

Com.  Deceased Holy Name Members.

11.  Monday: Norman Brown brings the news that Captain Tecumseh Charles passed away a week ago at Chicago.  Years ago he was a prominent salesman for Perfecto Garcia Cigars.  He employed a negro chauffeur.  Attended Norms wedding years ago.  Norm had quite a time getting hotel accommodations for the chauffeur.

12.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, had Boy Scouts and Cubs as our guests.  My guest is Stephen Bell, George Savage has Eugene Jenson Lee Conroy has Tom Williams.  This comprizes our table.  Joe Drasal is back from Hot Springs.  He brings regards to me from A.C. Grace.  Was surprized to hear from him.  He was the first of McClurg’s salesman to put an all year salesroom in to Milwaukee and made good.  Today was indeed a beautiful day.  Temperature 75 I was all togged up in summer attire and it was comfy.

13.  Wednesday: Thres – Mary Ann and self took a ride to the cottage this afternoon to rake up leaves.  Thought we’d be thru in 2 hours but were only ¾ thru in 4 ½ hours.  It was very windy, and not as warm as yesterday.

14.  Thursday: Had Walter Patri made out my annual report in the Harry Lyman guardianship.  Walter tells me had a gall attack a week ago, is considerably better.  I was surprized to learn the Walter quit smoking last October.  He surely was an inveterate smoker, has’nt eaten candy and six years.  Presented report to Bill Niemuth, registrar, say hello to Judge McDonald, then out to visit Harry Lyman at the County Home.  He is looking good, asked for Hershey bars.

15.  Friday: [T] What a surprize for us this morning, a heavy coat of snow out and I have an appointment to have my Plymouth summerized.

16.  Saturday: Arlene Felker is baptized tonite by Father Alphonse Wagner.  This has been her wish for several years.  Thres – Mary Ann and mself to the Strand Theatre.  Two very good pictures “The Fighting O’Flynn” starring Doug Fairbanks Jr. –Helena Carter – Richard Greene – Patricia Medina.  “Lets Live a Little” very comical stars Heddy Lamarr –Robert Cummings –Anna Sten – Robert Shayne.

17.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass Donald and Arlene are with us. Arlene receives her "First Holy Communion." It's a happy occasion for our family. Arlene is our guest at breakfast and dinner. Our hearts are gay, but the weather is not. Rain and a little snow all day, temperatures between 31° and 35°. Had a call from Sister Aquilina at St. Mary's Home. She has not been too well of late.

Com.  Arlene - Donald

18.  Monday: Attended Fourth Degree meeting at Hotel Raulf this evening.  Father Alphonse Wagner was my chauffeur.  Fathers Murphy and Tebriatowski are there also.

19.  Tuesday: [T] Thres has a table at cards at St. Vincents tonite.  Lady Foresters sponsors the party.

20.  Wednesday: Joe and Marge Weisheipl are married 10 years ago today at St. Mary’s.  Sent them a comic card.  Mary Ann and myself attended the Spring Concert of the Apollo Male Singers tonight at the Oshkosh Theatre.  Mac Morgan baritone is guest artist and a very pleasant one.  One Cent Sale begins at North Store.

21.  Thursday: Father Leo Schiffler, Pastor at Holy Angels Milwaukee is in for a visit this afternoon.  Tonight after work Thres and self attend Hi Holders Party at Club 41.  Took Ed and Thres Fretschl with us.  Music by Joe Heip’s Orchestra –Geo. Stadler and his accordion Karl Fretschl – Harmonika.  It was really too crowded to have a good time.  The lunch was of the best.

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23.  Saturday: [T] Dick Schrader takes over Club 41.  Not sure if Joe Weisheipl’s Band will continue to play there.  Thres – Mary Ann and self to the Time Theatre tonight.  “Beyond Glory” stars Alan Ladd – Donna Reed.  Its a story about West Point.  A Comic feature is “Jinx Money” featuring Leo Gorcey –Huntz Hall and the Bowery Boys.

24.  Sunday: [T] Temperature is down to 31° this morning at 715.  Attended 730 Mass Father Dennis Bouche.  Then to work.  Ma has short cuts for us today and how we devour them.  This afternoon we attend the “Home Show” at the County Garage.  It is worth while.  Tommy Bartlett and Les Gear are here to put on their Radio Show “Welcome Travelers.  They are on a nation wide hook up.  

Com.  Caroline Baier

25.  Monday: Thres to Card Club this afternoon.  Rose Schneider entertained at her daughter-in laws on 15th Street, the former Joe Reichl residence Thres also gets her report card from Vees Haveman for the season.  She won a prize at 14 places out of a total of 17 and thats a record.  Tonite we attend the St. Vincents C.Y.O. Play “The More the Merrier.” It is exceptionally well rendered by the cast of young people.

26.  Tuesday: The Catholic Daughters sponsor a card party at St. Vincents tonight and have a full house.  Father Wagner – Ed Binder –Ed Wertz – Rudy Nigl and myself have a game of our own in a side room.

27.  Wednesday: [T] Took Alvina Putzer – Thres Fretschl – Lizzie Hannes – and Thres to Mrs. Stini’s 419 So. Park Ave. to practise songs for the Altar Society’s May Party.  Marianne Mueller is 15 today.

28.  Thursday: Emma Siewert is with us today.  Thres – Emm and Donald do some cleaning at the cottage.  This evening I take them to the Oshkosh to see “Little Women” in technicolor, stars June Allyson – Peter Lawford – Margaret O’brien –Elizabeth Taylor – Janet Leigh –Rossano Brazzi – Mary Astor.  Also Joe Palooka in “Winner Takes All.”

29.  Friday: Weather is moderating.  Fairly busy at the store.  Frank Wagner is over for more detail about sinking a 1000 gallon Oil tank for our new addition.  Jim Dougherty brings our bank statements about 11¹⁵ Ann has a good time staying until 12.30.  He likes ma’s baking.  I visited at Ray Ostertag’s and Bill Mauritz’s the early part of this evening.  Rose Mauritz is still bothered with arthritis.  Bill showed me their new 9 foot refrigerator from Sears Roebuck.

30.  Saturday: Took Aunt Mary to confession this morning.  She is fortunate in having Monsignor Bastian there.  Mary Kath Wagner is married to Robert Boynton Radford this evening at St. Peter’s Parsonage by her uncle Rev. James Wagner of Shelby Montana.