Diary of Alfred E. Potter February, 1950

01.  Wednesday: Paid last respects to John Waurjneski at Fiss and Bills.  Dr. Ray Wagner ran into a tree on Hay Street with his new Chrysler yesterday.  Damage about 700 dollars. 

2 M.O. “Happy John”

02.  Thursday: To St. Vincents 7³⁰ this morning to sell candles.  Sold 83 dollars worth.  Al Leonard and Ken Siperski are here this morning, had luncheon with them at the “Town Grill.” This afternoon out to Art Muellers new home in the country.  It is almost completed and is going to be very modern.  I tried a price professional bills today but got nowhere.  Mary Ann is at Mandy’s.  Eddie Weisheipl is over to our house tonite. He is buying his father in laws home, where he has been living, for $7500. Needs 2500 to swing the deal.  I agreed to help them out, if necessary.

03.  Friday: Thres – Mary Ann and me to 7 Oclock Mass St. Vincents.  Monsign. Bastian.  A lovely day, temperatures well into the twenties.  Art Muellers birthday today.  He is 48.

04.  Saturday: After a busy day took Thres and Mary Ann to the Strand to see “Adams Rib” It is a side splitter starring Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn.  A colored picture “Down the Nile” is gorgeous, mostly about Cairo, Egypt.

05.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass, St Vincents Thres is with Christian Mothers Society. Monsignor Bastian offers the Mass. Mary Ann works at the store today.  Donald and Arlene bring little Deborah over this afternoon, her first visit here. This evening to Sitters funeral home where K.C.s offer the rosary for Peter Reifer, our oldest member of the Holy Name. He would have completed 93 years May one. I had quite a visit with Merlin and Joe Reifer.

Com. Peter Reifer

2 M.O.

06.  Monday: [T] This is a busy day for Ma Potter.  Monday wash day – then bake a big loaf Rye Bread –then Norman Brown is here to have noon day meal with us –then Ladies Auxiliary Card Club at Lehnighs wins 30 cents and this evening Joe – Emma Baier, Ray – Ann Ostertag, Bill – Rose Mauritz are here to spend their so called Christmas visit.  Cards are in order, lunch at 1 A.M. and for home at 2 A.M.  We clean up until 2³⁰ A.M.

07.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis Luncheon J. Keleher Chief of Madison Bureau State Audit is our speaker.  Our table Dr. Chuck Behnke –Ed Schrank – Frank Thew – Ray Perkins and me.  My first day in my new office, my desk arrived yesterday morning.  Feels quite comfortable and homelike, and I work until 12 midnight.  Thres is at the Ladies Auxiliary Crazy Party tonight.  The ladies report it the most successful party they have had.  To bed at 2 A.M.

08.  Wednesday: Donald J Jungen pays my note executed July 31 – 1948.  Met Frank Norkofski at the bank today.  First time I’ve seen him out since his illness in December.  He tells me he sold his tavern and property.

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11.  Saturday: Donald birthday today.  He is 22, and a papa.  This married life is’nt all honey.  He was up most of the night.  The little one has milk breasts.  Today is a very nice day.

12.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents Holy Name, Monsignor Bastian.  I took over the Postal Department.

13.  Monday: [T] We are treated to a nice blizzard today, but business is good.  Well its the day before Valentine.  Why should’nt it be good.

14.  Tuesday: Missed Kiwanis luncheon today.  Busy and the new basement, getting pharmaceutical in order.  We are shoveling ourselves out of the snow today.  Tonite Thres – Mary Ann and myself all and Perpetual Help Devotion.  We all begin a Novena.  After work we have a meeting at the store Art Mueller – Joe Baier –Norbert Mueller – Fred Baumgartner and myself.  Decide on March 9th as the day of our opening at the store.

15.  Wednesday: Ray Trovinger, McKesson John Barnes, National Drug Sonny Peck, Abbott Labs Loyd Buehler, Parke Davis are all in this morning.  This afternoon more work in the basement.  Tonite the Fretschls Thres and Ed and Joe and Annie Weisheipl are with us for cards.  Corky is here at 1¹⁵ A.M. to pick up the folks.  They leave at 1⁴⁵ A.M. and I’m here at 2 A.M. to write this.

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17.  Friday: A very nice morning.  Took Thres and Mary Ann to Milwaukee.  Thres to Dr. Neuman to have her leg checked.  He thinks she is doing well.  Then to the Internal Revenue Dept.  Then to Carl Ratschs is for a very fine luncheon, then to McClurgs the rest of the afternoon.  Rene Kimmel has a chest congestion.  Leave for home at 5⁴⁰ P.M. home at 7³⁰ then back to work until 10³⁰ P.M.

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19.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents Monsignor Bastian.  Mary Ann also works at the store this morning.  Donald and Arlene are here for a visit with Debby.  She now weighs 8 # 8 ½ oz.  I’m back to work at 4³⁰ P.M.  Took an urgent delivery to Ruth Marheine at Shore Acres at 6¹⁵ P.M.  Out to Sacred Heart Church at 7 P.M. for city wide Holy Hour sponsored by Holy Name Society.  Then back to work until 10 P.M. 

Com.  Happy John Waurjneski

20.  Monday: Had a card from Sybelle Brown.  She is at Palm Beach with her mother.  Jean Powers is at Mercy Hospital, to be operated tomorrow.  Sy Propson is also to be operated for rupture.

21.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Bishop Northcott (Methodist) is our speaker and a good 12.  He pays quite a complement to his Roman Catholic Friends.  Tells quite a number of comic stories.  His speech is divided into 4 parts, “Please register –“Where do you live –“How old are you” – and “What is your major.” This evening Ed and Rose Binder take us to K.C. meeting.  Thres –Mary Ann and self to Perpetual Help Devotion at 7³⁰.  Les Borish and Joe Stadtmueller show pictures after the K.C. meeting.  Ed and Rose stop in at our house after the meet leave for home at 1¹⁰ A.M.

22.  Wednesday: Up at 6¹⁵ A.M. to Mass at 6⁴⁵.  Father Bousche blesses the ashes before mass.  Clark Hastings is in town.  Had luncheon with Clark and Sonny Peck at the Athearn.  This evening to church and then to work. 

Com. Self

23.  Thursday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass.  Father Bousche.  Ken Siperski is in early today.  Had luncheon with him at the Town Grill.  Mrs. Oliver showed us around upstairs.  Al Leonard is in about 6 P.M.  He had two Rexall meetings at Madison today.  Ours is scheduled for 10 P.M. at Town Grill.  Ken shown a picture – Al put on a quiz contest and I spoke on Stag –Cara Nome –Kautleek also charges and check endorsements.  After a delicious lunch we almost art for home at 12³⁰.  Had to get Fred Baumgartner started, his car froze up. 

Com.  Stanislaus Jarosch.

24.  Friday: Left over time this morning, at the store 10.15 A.M.  Find it was 10° below this morning.

25.  Saturday: Winter is giving us both barrels this morning, 15° below.  We attend 6⁴⁵ Mass Father Alphonse Wagner.  A very busy day for me at the store.  This evening we attend concert by the Fox Valley Symphonette at the Oshkosh State Teachers Little Theatre.  Sally Moore is guest artist.  Gerrie Vogt is conductor.  Joe Stoegbauer is 50 today.  His wife Elizabeth is Amanda Drexler’s sister. 

Com Kath Holzbauer

26.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass Monsignor Bastian, took Aunt Mary with us for Easter Duty.  Received our Annual Report this morning.  To “Way of the Cross” this afternoon.  See Joe and Emma Baier there also.  Took Thres and Mary Ann up town to the Oshkosh.  I’m back it work at 4²⁰ had many orders today.  This evening after 7 Oclock at home. 

Com. Caroline Baier

27.  Monday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass – Father Bouchee. 

Com.  Matt Baier

28.  Tuesday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass, Father Wagner.  Another busy day at the store.  To Kiwanis luncheon, F. Van Keuren –Dr. Chas. Clemans – Dr. Louis Graber and myself share table.  Tonite to Perpetual Help Devotion and Stations of the Cross, then to work for an hour.  Paid taxes today City Hall: for the store – for home – and 510 -10th St. at Security Bank for the Cottage and Point Comfort. 

Com.  Grandma Baier