Diary of Alfred E. Potter February, 1949

01.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, Lee Conroy and self have a table all by ourselves.  Heard a fine talk by _____ on the inside workings of Russian Communism.  This evening took in the formal dinner dance by the 4th degree Knights of Columbus.  Thres gets a lot of favorable comment on her lovely gown.  Ed and Rose Binder take us in their car.  Had a very fine time, home at 2.45 A.M.  Cork and Joe Weisheipl spent quite a bit of time with us.  The “Grand View Hotel,” a famous landmark at Ripon burned to the ground early this morning, six persons are missing, and feared dead.

02.  Wednesday: Up at 9³⁰ A.M. to work at 10³⁰.  Still a bit tired.  This afternoon Thres and self view the remains of Al Beck at Poklasny’s.  This evening we attend the  Twentieth Century Follies at the Civic Theatre.  The players are well received, for their fine efforts.  Dr. Joe Kronzer is Henry 8th, Leo Kagan is good Al Embury M.C. Harry Nankervis M.C.  Florence Weisheipl with her Judy Stillman School of the dance puts on a fine act.

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04.  Friday: To Mass at 7 A.M. St. Vincents.  Monsignor offers the Mass. 

Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

05.  Saturday: [T] Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Mode, we see “The Voice of the Turtle” with Ronald Reagan – Eleanor Parker and “The Counterfeiters” with John Sutton –Doris Merrick.

06.  Sunday: [7] To 7³⁰ Mass Father Loehr celebrates a Hi Mass, has the sermon.  Father Wagner distributes Holy Communion – Blesses throats (St. Blaze), all over at 8²⁰ that is record time. 

Com.  Al Beck

07.  Monday: [10] Fred Jr. (Buzz) Baumgartner begins a course in Pharmacy at Madison.  Thres entertains the Ladies Auxiliary of the S.S. Business Mens Club that is the Card Club Mrs. Herb Nolte – Dess Wirtz

08.  Tuesday: [7] To Kiwanis luncheon.  Our table Tom Marquardt – Frank Schultz – Lee Conroy and self.  Arnold Murray Boy Scout Executive is our speaker.  Bob Bork and Ellis Bohlwahn our birthday speakers.  Bob is 45 – Ellis 35.  Emma Siewert is with us today.  Stays overnite.

09.  Wednesday: [8] Attended committee meeting 4th degree K.C. at Tony Serwas tonite. It's all about the proposed building of a Catholic Hi School in Oshkosh. A tract of land south of the baseball park on Sawyer Ave. is available thru Bill Rasmussen. Monsignor Bastian - Fathers Reul - Murphy - Bunkleman are present. Nora serves a delicious buffet lunch.  Toni serves the hi balls.

10.  Thursday: [8] Bishop Bona meets with the clergy this afternoon about the new Central High School.  Emma Siewert is here again to spend the afternoon and night with us.  Have a letter from Margaret Radomsky today.  They expect to be in Oshkosh next Sunday on their way to Berlin.

11.  Friday: [10] This is Donald's birthday; he is 21 and a full grown young man. Hope he stays a good boy and a good Catholic. Babe Sieber is 20 today. The new lights on Oregon Street are on for the first time tonite. Mayor Ernie Siewert turns the switch.  View the remains of Mrs. Hoppe at Marquardts.  She was the mother of Alvin Hoppe, and to Bonnie Callies.  Adolph Schneider passed away last night at Mercy.  Born Oct. 28 – 1883 Germany.  Married Hanna Obele June 19 – 1905.  Brother to John – Frank and Gratian.

12.  Saturday: [8] Am working on inventory figures.  Took Mary Ann to the Airport to see the Flying Boxcars which are to take snow plows built by the Oshkosh Four Wheel Drive to open snow covered hiways out west.  This evening Mother – myself –Mary Ann to the Mode.  “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” stars Humphrey Bogart

13.  Sunday: [4  T] To 7³⁰ Holy Name Mass, Monsignor Bastian.  No Sermon today.  Took some pictures of the airport this morning of the Flying Boxcars.  Had company this noon.  Margaret – Karl Radomski –Harry – Johnny Kujawa are here.  They are on their way to Berlin and to Weyauwega for a wedding.

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15.  Tuesday: [7] Tried to make Kiwanis luncheon, a switch engine at the Morgan crossing on Oregon St. held this up too long.  Thres had a few left overs for me.  Emm Siewert spends the afternoon and night with us.  Attended meeting of local committee for the American Heart Association.  Dr. A.S. Koehler is Chairman.  Present Dr. Ray Wagner – Mrs. Bitter – Mrs. Williams – Mrs. Ruppert Church and myself.  Mrs. Church is a sister to Olive Davenport.

16.  Wednesday: [T] Bonnie Callies is 56 today.  Herb Nolte is 58.

17.  Thursday: [10] Temperature 6° below zero this morning.  Almost attended Hi – holders party at Club 41 tonite, could’nt get Thres to go.  She is not feeling too good.  Emm Siewert is here again.

18.  Friday: A lovely day, temperature about 45°.  Took Art Mueller to Appleton this afternoon.  We visited at Marty Knauers (Belling) Drug Store.  Met Fred Schmitz there doing relief work.  Also dropped in at Marty Unmuth’s Store on Wisconsin Ave.  Marty has also made some improvements.

19.  Saturday: Took Thres and Mary Ann to Mode Theatre tonight.  “Killer McCoy” stars Mickey Rooney – Brian Donlevy – Ann Blyth –James Dunn.  “Merton of the Movies” stars Red Skelton.  Gene Mitchell, Planning Engineer for Rexall is in town looking over our plans and thinks them very good.  He sends in the fixture plans to Huck Mfg. Co. to submit a bid on the price of same.

20.  Sunday: [9] To 7³⁰ Hi Mass St. Vincents.  Father Wagner calls me about going to Milwaukee.  Took a nap this afternoon.  Worked tonite until 11.30 getting out orders.

21.  Monday: [T] To Milwaukee with Father Wagner at 8 A.M.  As we near West Bend run into snow and mist.  Stopped at Mr. Wozliewski (tailor) on 6th St. also to see Lonie Czekalsky, her baby Marylin is sure growing.  Then to McClurg’s, had luncheon at Blatz’s then to Broadway Church Goods.  Father Wagner gets the New Missal (Pustet).  Stopped at Mostov Photo, met Mr. Korwin, stopped at Werner Rillings Drugs Store on Burleigh, Werner and his wife did’nt recognize me, stopped at Ozzie Marquardts Drug Store.  He’s a brother to Fred in Berlin on our way home stopped at Al Shenar’s for dinner.  Mrs. Leinweber waited on us, she is a Robl.  Home at 8¹⁵ . I went to the store for an hour.

22.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Our table Dr. Pfefferkorn, Carl Knobla, Chas. Behnke – Harold Reynolds myself.  R. A.  Evans spoke on Washington and Lincoln.  View the remains of Mrs. Katherine Fisher at Fiss and Bills and George Schneider at Marquardts.  Attended K.C. Potluck Supper and Dress up Party at St. Mary’s Hall.  Ed Binder and Rose took us.  Joe Hemmer was M. C.  The Party was a huge success.  After the party to Club 41.  The boys Joe and Cork are happy to see us.  Home at 3.30 A.M.

23.  Wednesday: [3] Stayed in bed until 11 A.M. worked this afternoon.  Father Leo Ott stops in to say hello.  He is looking fine.  I stayed with Aunt Mary tonite while Thres and Mary Ann attend the Mode Theatre.  The Pictures “Body and Soul” with Joan Garfield – Lilli Palmer and “If I had my Way” with Bing Crosby –Gloria Jean.  Sybelle Brown called me by phone this afternoon to let me know that Norman had again won the trip to New York for selling the most Lilly goods in January.

24.  Thursday: [9] This is a rather soggy day and I feel just like the weather, not very good.  Very busy at the store checking in orders.  Pat Faust stopped in for short visit.  She is now with the Apostolate. Thres plays cards at St. Johns tonight, wins a prize a package Cake Flour.  Oscar Simonson is in today.  He’s the fellow who sends Thres Christmas presents from Owen Roberts Chicago.  He tells me _____ Roth formerly with Mutual Drug, died in Oscar’s office January 20th.

25.  Friday: Fred Griedl passed away this morning at his home R #4.  Born in Austria Nov. 27 – 1886.  Brother to Mrs. Albert Freitag – Mrs. Frank Drexler, Spokane Wash.  Thres – Mary Ann and self to Konrads tonight to view the remains of Henry Lange and also Mrs. Mary Tacke mother to Rev. Arthur Tacke.  Mrs. Tacke passed away Tuesday in Milwaukee.  Born March 15 – 1865 in Germany.

26.  Saturday: [TEG] Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Mode.  “This time for keeps” is a technicolor starring Esther Williams – Jimmy Durante –Johnny Johnston “Arthur takes Over” is very comical with Lois Collier – Richard Crane.

27.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents –Father Loehr.  Worked this morning and an hour this evening.  Attended card party at St. Josaphats tonight with Rose and Ed Binder.  I win 15 cents and a package of Dreft.  After the party Ed and Rose stop with us until 12 midnight.  Billy Mauritz is 15 today.  I viewed the remains of Alfred Griedl at Konrads and Rev. Ludwig Schneider at Mallery’s.

28.  Monday: [TEG] Busy trying to complete figures in inventory.