Diary of Alfred E. Potter April, 1950

01.  Saturday: This is April fool’s day we are treated to a blanket of snow.  Spring has not arrived as yet.  2645 Mass with Knights of Columbus.  After breakfast took Thres to Chiropodist Smith, to have her corns trimmed.  This afternoon Thres and Mary Ann to see Aunt Mary.  Worked in the basement of the store all day.  Took Thres – Mary Ann to the Oshkosh “Red Light” stars George Raft – Virginia Mayo “Deputy Marshall” stars Jon Hall –Frances Langford, husband and Wife team in real life. 

Com.  Conversion of Russia

02.  Sunday: Up at 5²⁰ to six oclock Mass.  More snow this morning.  Father Alphonse Wagner offers Mass.  To work with Mary Ann at 8 Oclock.  Home for dinner at 12⁴⁵.  Back to work at 1³0 to 6³⁰.  Thres to visit Aunt Mary with Aunt Annie Heip.  This evening we attend Holy Hour St. Vincents sponsored by Holy Name Societies of Oshkosh.  Had a very good attendance. 

Com. John Andrashko

03.  Monday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass Father Bouche to work 8³⁰ Norman Brown – Bob Kniss are in.  Norman treated us to luncheon at the Town Grill.  Thres to card club at Angie Jensens.  Sadie Johnson wandered away from our home some time Saturday, and has been missing since.  I spoke to her only a few days ago at the store.  This evening meeting at the store, to devise means to cut down our indebtedness.  Emma Siewert is with us for evening and night. 

Com.  Rose Thompson

04.  Tuesday: To Mass as usual Father Bouche.  More snow this morning.  Took Rose Miller and Martha Stauber home after Mass.  Took Bob Fisher out to lunch at the Town Grill.  We almost had a Martini but its election day.  Bob is very much disappointed.  Visited Aunt Mary this afternoon, also Les Wolf –Mrs. OConnor.  Met Mrs. Lewis room partner with Aunt Mary.  To church this evening, Thres and Mary Ann to WCOF meeting.  I worked until 11 oclock.  Worked 11 hours today. 

Com.  Thresa Mertz

05.  Wednesday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass Father Bouche.  Mary Ann to eight oclock.  Another blanket of snow this morning.  Thres and Annie Heip to see Aunt Mary. 

Com.  Rud Kriz

06.  Thursday: No Mass at 7 Oclock.  To Communion only. 

Com.  Catherine Kriz

07.  Friday: Thres over to see Aunt Mary.

08.  Saturday: We are fairly busy at the store.  Norman Brown sent some beautiful Calla Lilies to Aunt Mary.  Thres – Mary Ann – myself visit her this afternoon.  I visited Mrs. OConnor and Mrs. Howe.  Mrs. Howe is 90 years of age.  Thres and Mary to see “Cinderella” at the Strand.  Busy with packages for the Sisters at the store.  Tommy and Jimmy Gross put sealer on our tile floor tonite.

Debbie Potter in her Baby Tenda

09.  Sunday: Easter Sunday we are greeted with another blanket of snow.  To 7³⁰ Mass Holy Name.  Then to work.  Learn that Tom and son Jimmy worked until 4⁴⁹ this morning on the floor.  Don – Arlene and Debby are here this afternoon.  Debby is doing fine in her new “Baby Tenda”.  Mary Ann and self visit Aunt Mary this afternoon.  Amanda Drexler also visited.  I dropped in to see Mrs. OConnor and Frank Labudde.  Work tonite – Mary Ann helps. 

Com.  Deceased Members Holy Name.

10.  Monday: [T] Took Norm Brown and John Bolger to luncheon to hear Congressman Frank Keefe.  Superintendent of Schools Perry Tipler and Ralph Buckstaff are at our table.

11.  Tuesday: A new desktop is being installed in my office.  Arthur Dreger measures for new glass tops.  The “Census” taker is at our house today.  To Kiwanis luncheon Leight Hough – Tommy Marquart – Chuck Clemens and myself at table.  Thres – Mary Ann and self visited Aunt Mary this afternoon.  I dropped in also to see Mrs. OConnor – find she has a new room partner Mrs. Earl Strange.  Also stopped to see Frank Labudde – Joe Kriz –Anna Nuernberg –Mrs. Howe.  Met Sister Cornelia.  Hadn’t seen her for quite some time.  This evening to Perpetual Help Devotion.  This is the last Tuesday to complete this Novena for us.

12.  Wednesday: To 7 Oclock Mass.  Father Bouche.  Sun is out bright – Snow during the night.  Temperature 23° at 7³⁰.

Com.  Thanksgiving – Honor 1 Perpetual 3 Mother of Help 2

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14.  Friday: Monsignor Bastian is in to see me this morning.  This is his first visit to our new store.  He rarely gets away for a walk.

15.  Saturday: Dolores Kinateder has her marriage blessed today by Father Dave Bunkleman.  We attend the Oshkosh to see Red Skelton in the “Yellow Cab Man” with Gloria De Haven and Walter Slezak, and “Apache Chief”

16.  Sunday: [T] To St. Mary’s Church 7³⁰ Mass with Knights of Columbus.  Had breakfast St. Marys Gym.  This afternoon 2nd and 3d degrees are conferred by the La Crosse Degree Team.  I had a nice visit with Father Loehr.  Bill Mauritz – Ray Ostertag –Andy Mauritz – Pete Beck – Vic Leininger – Ed Serwas – Otto Stoegbauer Sr., Champ Seibold are some new members.  I worked after the banquet, had a few more orders to get out.  Mamma is pretty frisky tonight.  I’m glad she’s feeling better.

17.  Monday: A lovely morning, we take a drive to Milwaukee.  Stopped to see Alex Paderowski at Broadway Church Goods House to order Mission Merchandise.  Had noon day meal at Mader’s then out to Waukesha to see Ruth Dickhoff and also saw a Mrs. Trakel and Charlie at Hugo Hoeveler’s Pharmacy.  Back to Milwaukee to see Romy and Lovi Czekalski then to the Radomski’s to see Karl’s family.  Margaret is still very bald is taking treatments and getting good results.  The doctor tells her it is a nerve condition.  I stopped over to see Jerry House at his drug store.  After an hour and a half with the Radomski’s we leave for home at 6⁴⁵.  We did not have a drink or meal there.  Carl was very busy.  Arrived home by 9³⁰ P.M.

18.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Ozz Witte – Bud Menzel –Louis Graber – Ken Smyth – and myself at table.  Weather is still balmy had some rain also.  Mother is busy baking rye bread (2 loaves) for Father Wagner’s painters party.  Attend Rosary for Mrs. Nuernberg.

19.  Wednesday: Thres and Annie Heip to see Aunt Mary.  Brought 3 bottles of beer for her.  Did not know as yet if it will agree with her.  She talks incoherently.  Thres and myself attend Athletic Banquet St. Vincents.  Ed & Rose Binder –Ed and Dess Wertz – Zip and Mrs. Schuster –Vic and Mrs. Pohojka and Elsie Wagner are there.  Mrs. Pohojka gets a Popup Toaster.  After the banquet Thres and myself attend the Appollo Singers Concert at the Strand.  John Carter, popular American Tenor is guest artist and a very gracious and generous one.

20.  Thursday: Joe Weisheipl Jr. and Marge Haverty are married 11 years ago today.  Attend funeral services for Anna Nuernberg.  Monsignor celebrant, Fathers Wagner –Bouche and Kandy assist.  Mary Ann visits Aunt Mary today.  Thres and Mary Ann attend shower for Dolores Kinateder, who is now Mrs. Moore.

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22.  Saturday: Mary Ann and self visit Aunt Mary – Mrs. OConnor.  Mrs. Ed Meelens is confined with a broken hip with Mrs. OConnor.  Aunt Mary tells me, she wishes to wait another week before going home.  Had a talk with Father Eckhart.  Met Mrs. Siewert, she tells me the Mayor Ernie Siewert is there for a checkup.  Took Uncle Joe Weisheipl and Annie to the Oshkosh to see Clifton Webb –Jean Crain in “Cheaper by the Dozen”.  Its a riot of fun.

23.  Sunday: To 6 Oclock Mass St. Vincents Father Bouche little children receive First Holy Communion today.  Archie Rumlow is seriously injured in an auto accident yesterday south of Fond du Lac, on highway 41.  This evening mother and self attended the concert by the “Oshkosh Civic Symphony.” It was the best concert I have heard by them, but the attendance was small, barely ½ the recreation hall. 

Com.  Anna Nuernberg

24.  Monday: This is a day of rain and cold.  Tonite we have Aunt Annie –Joe Uncle –Thres Fretschl over for cards.  I take them home at 2 A.M. (Tuesday).  Get news that Archie Rumlow passed away at St. Agnes Hospital Sunday.  Born July 27 – 1891.  His dad Herman operated the “Last Chance” tavern on Oregon St. Archie married Marthat Diestler in Waukegan Ill. Oct. 1918.

25.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Dr. Nordhoff – Sid Dorfman –Carl Knobla – Joe Drasal–Frank Fraker and self at table.  John Terpoorten Executive Coordinator of Location of Education spoke.  This afternoon Fred Hoaglin interviewed Aunt Mary in regard to old age pension.  She is pretty good today.  Dropped in on Mrs. OConnor and Mrs. Meelens.  Emma Siewert is with us this afternoon and stays overnite.  I worked until 11 P.M.  We paid our last respects to Archie Rumlow at Konrad’s.

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27.  Thursday: Ma is “Baby Sitter” this afternoon.  Don and Arlene are busy completing job at store.  Mary Ann visits Aunt Mary.  Took Mother and Mary Ann to the Oshkosh tonite to see “Mother Didn’t Tell Me” with Dorothy McGuire –W^m Lundigan.  Bill is a doctor.  “Down Memory Lane” is fine with Bing Crosby – W.C.  Fields –Ben Turpin – Gloria Swanson.

28.  Friday: Uncle Joe – Aunt Annie – and Thres visit Aunt Mary.

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30.  Sunday: Mission begins at St. Vincents conducted by Frs. Gerard Hesse and Arthur Cavanaugh. To 7³⁰ Mass, then to the basement of the church to get the folks lined up for the sale of religious articles.  Then to work at the store.  Its a rainy day today.  This afternoon Harry and Agnes Kujawa are here from Berlin.  We all visit Aunt Mary.  They have supper at our house and visit at the store.  Thres and Mary Ann to 7³⁰ evening service, after that they help sell religious articles.  This afternoon at the hospital on a visit, Mrs. Howe Mrs. OConnor –Mrs. Meelens –Leo Wolf.  Harry visited a patient from Berlin Mr. Archie Davis, who has a son Rodney.  This evening Father Wagner comes over after the service to visit at our house.  We hear of some of his unusual experiences – Dora Kleinschmit – Father Schmidt –Father Schaefer. 

Com. Success of our Mission.