Diary of Alfred E. Potter August, 1949

01.   Monday: Made arrangements with Mary Harriman at the Athearn for a six oclock dinner at the hotel next Saturday.

02.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon John Bongert – Ray Perkins –Ed Ledvina and myself make up a table.  Cy Bouchelle projects a picture on glass for us.  Al Stillwell provided the Film.  Met Charles Felker at the Athearn this noon.  He is still in Milwaukee.  He and Sam Taub used to team up years ago selling New York Life Insurance.

03.  Wednesday: Spend the morning at the architects trying to pick a suitable color for our new front at the store.  This afternoon tried to iron out several difficulties in regard to or fixtures with Vic Fink and Harold Wahlgren.  This noon I took Emma Siewert to the cottage and this afternoon Joe and Annie Weisheipl.  Thres Fretschl could not come along.  According to Annie Weisheipl to Emma Siewert and Thres she is pretty well fed up with having Aunt Mary with her.  Sorry to hear this and hope to have Aunt Mary with us shortly and take better than ever care of her.

04.  Thursday: Ordered beer (Peoples) for the wedding this morning. This afternoon get a set of silverware for Donald and Arlene, Mother gets a string of pearls for our anniversary. Stopped at Hilda's. Mary Ann tried on her gown, stopped at Joe Staudenraus Studio made appointments for church and dinner pictures also to Bud Hrnaks for description of flowers and bouquets. This evening to Poklasny funeral home to view the remains of Louis Hollaus.

2 M.O. Louis Hollaus

05.  Friday: To 7⁰⁰ Oclock Exposition Mass St. Vincents.  Father Bouche After breakfast to Poklasny’s.  Pallbearer for Louis Hollaus with Al Hetzel – Tony Pable – Matt Marheine –John Drexel Bill Steckbauer.  After lunch to Daily Northwestern, delivered notes on wedding to Rosalind Hartzke, then to Krumrich’s for Silverware, to Oshkosh Drug N Book, surprized to find Elizabeth Samuels working there.  Bought presents donated by Art H. Mueller T. and S.  Ordered 10 Cases Soft Drinks from Raasch – checked with Bill Ziegenhagen about Hall and Hrnaks about greens.

06. Saturday: Donald is married to Arlene Felker this morning at nine by Father Alphonse Wagner. Breakfast at Felkers at 11³⁰ A.M. Staudenraus at 1³⁰ for pictures. Then to Athearn to arrange the tables. Dinner at 6 P.M. Club Room. Joe Staudenraus took more pictures then back to the V.F.W. Hall. Dancing until 1 A.M. Lewis Stridde orchestra. Home by 1³⁰ A.M. the newlyweds left about 11³⁰ on their honeymoon.

07.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass and then to work.  Back to the cottage this afternoon and I take a long rest.  Aunt Mary will be with us from now on.  She will not be going back to the Weisheipls.

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09.  Tuesday: South Side Business Men have their annual corn roast and picnic at Nelson’s.  We do not attend.  Took Emma Siewert to the cottage for the evening.

10.  Wednesday: Had a card from Arlene and Donald today. They are enjoying their honeymoon.

11.  Thursday: Bill Mauritz and Dick Kempinger are back at the cottage to complete their work on the back room.  Ed Radke is also back.  Sister Aquilina at St. Mary’s Hospital called this morning.  She is being transferred to

12.  Friday: [T] Contacted Matt Mertz about moving our prescription department.  Harold Wahlgren is in with the revised plans for fixtures.  Gene Mitchell is in town.  He OKs our new front, also quotes price on 24 and 18 inch letters.  Mr. Zeman –Kieckhaefer Co. Milwaukee is here to explain (Dumb Waiter) for the new store.  Our gas heater at the house goes bad.  Mueller Bros. installs a new 30 gallon tank this afternoon.  Card from Joe and Annie.  To St. Marys Hospital to say goodbye to Sister Aquilina.

13.  Saturday: Mother had a call from Donald this morning.  The kids blew in last night at 12³⁰ and very tired.

14.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass.  Monsignor Bastian.  Holy Name Sunday.  Ray Ostertag called about painting at the cottage.  Took him out and brought out his family this afternoon for dinner.  He completed the job on the cottage about 6³⁰.  Evening spent playing cards.  Jimmie is getting to be quite a card shark.  Donald is back on the job today.  Dick Bennett formerly with Bauer and Black now in St. Louis dropped in to say hello. 

Com.  Deceased members Holy Name.

15.  Monday: To 7 Oclock Mass.  Donald serves.  Took Aunt Mary with us.  We are moving our prescription department to my house back of the store, and it is quite a job indeed.  Matt Mertz crew is doing the carpenter work. 

Com.  Aunt Lena Baier

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18.  Thursday: Mary and comes to town with me to stay at Manda Drexlers for the day.  This puts me on the job early, had 25 minutes for lunch at Wirtz’s, stayed until 8¹⁵ this evening.  This means 11 ½ hours of work for me today.

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21.  Sunday: To 6 Oclock Mass St. Vincents Father Wagner.  Learn from our bulletin                Herb Stryker has another increase in the family its a girl Ellen Louise

22.  Monday: Ma Potter is washing today, and I forgot also ironing.  This afternoon we drive to Appleton to Kiwanis District Convention at Hotel Conway.  Had a nice banquet and entertainment at the Elks Club.  Not many Oshkosh Kiwanians there.  Louis Budenz former editor of the “Communist Daily Worker” is a principle speaker at Lawrence College Memorial Hall.

23.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon. We entertain the Oshkosh Giants baseball club. My guest is Rudy Yandoli pitcher and outfielder. Rudy hales from Brooklyn graduate of St. Johns Hi School (Catholic). Dave Garcia, manager of the team, says Rudy of the only “dago” on his team.  Had a busy day at the store. Supper at Ed Wirtz's.

24.  Wednesday: Clemens Holzbauer -820 – 5th has an increase in the family.  Its a boy Stephen Paul.

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26.  Friday: Bill Mauritz almost has two days vacation.  His partner has gone on an auto trip north.  Bill is busy at the cottage sanding the knotty pine woodwork preparatory to staining it.

27.  Saturday: Fred Ristow is at the cottage to begin work on the back room.

28.  Sunday: Joe Baier – Bill Mauritz and Ray Ostertag Families relax at the cottage.  It is their annual outing there.

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30.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Ray Novotny, Postmaster is our speaker.  He gives us some facts and figures on the operation of our local post office.  Our table Rev. Ken Strong – Lee Conroy –Simon Horwitz and self.  This evening the boys shellac the back room at the cottage.

31.  Wednesday: [T] This is Oshkosh Day at the Winnebago County Fair.  It is cold and wet.  I work this afternoon.  This evening I help Fred – Ray and Bill sanding down the shellac, preparatory to varnishing.