Diary of Alfred E. Potter January, 1949

01.  Saturday: Thres and myself usher in the new year feeling fine.  Mary Ann is feeling badly with an upset stomach.  Neither Aunt Mary for Mary Ann are able to attend church.  Thres and myself to 9⁰⁰ oclock Mass St. Vincents.  This afternoon Ann Ostertag with Carol and Judy are here.  They are at Anna Ostertags for the day.  This evening Matt – Amanda – Joey – Johnny – Caroline – Joe Celia Lucy Drexler are here.  The boys Johnny and Joey have more fun than the rest of us.  Took a few pictures hope they are good. 

Com.  Prayer and Thanksgiving

02.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents Monsignor Bastian.  To work for the morning.  Thres and Mary Ann to the Strand this aft.  Joe – Emma – Mary Jane Baier are here this afternoon for two hours.  I’m back to work this evening worked 6 ½ hours today.  Don brings in Dr. Robert Gerth about 11³⁰ P.M. to look the place over.  Stayed until 12³⁰. 

Com.  Most forsaken soul.

03.  Monday: [T] Worked at home on the vouchers this morning, paid bills this afternoon and worked on Salary report tonight.  The weather is bad for driving tonight, lots of ice and sleet.  Mary Ann gets a letter from Alice Rothbauer.  Thres plays cards at Karl Hagene’s (Marge’s) ladies auxiliary and wins first prize 60¢.

04.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Bob Marquart – Charles Clemans –Bill Kastner and self form a table.

05.  Wednesday: Ed Fretschl almost had a fall down the basement steps at the store.  He did suffer a strain to his back.  Milwaukee street car employees are off the job today, a strike having been called by union officers and Milwaukeeans are on the walk.  This evening Joe and Annie Heip and Thres Fretschl are with us for cards.  Ed is taking it easy at home.  Cork and Rose pick up the folks.  Cork likes the home made rye bread.  The folks leave at 2³⁰ A.M.

06.  Thursday: [T] Ed Fretschl  is on the job as usual.

07.  Friday: Working on W – 2 forms for our clerks.  Its another busy day at the store.  I got thru at 11 PM.  Took Ed Fretschl  to the chiropractor Bill Mueller for treatment.  He was unable to work today.  Attended 7 Oclock Mass at St. Vincents this morning.  Monsignor Bastian offers the Mass.  Official temperature this noon 39° not bad for this time of the year. 

Com.  Donald and Mary Ann

08.  Saturday: Another busy day.  Temperatures up to 44°.  This evening we visit at Matt and Amanda Drexlers with the Heips.  Joe – Celia – Caroline Drexler are there.  Played Rummy for pas time.  Mandy serves an elegant lunch.  Home at 12³⁰.

09.  Sunday: [T 6] To 7³⁰ Mass with Holy Name Monsignor Bastian.  Father Wagner explains the “Holy Name Pledge.” About 125 men present.  Com.  Dec. Members Holy Name.

10.  Monday: [R 2 M   11] Ed Fretschl is back on the job today.  Thres plays cards today at Leone Dodds and again she wins 60¢ first prize.  Busy sending out orders until eleven oclock tonite.

11.  Tuesday: [9 ½] To Kiwanis luncheon.  Our committee underprivileged children meet at table.  Dr. Ethan Pfefferkorn is chairman.  Los Angeles California gets a surprise package 6 inches of snow.

12.  Wednesday: [7] We have company this evening.  Joe – Emma Baier – Bill – Rose Mauritz – Ray –and Ostertag.  Bill attended Holy Name Officers meeting before coming here.  After an enjoyable evening the folks left for home at 2 AM.  Alvina Stadler (Mrs. George) is 75 today.

13.  Thursday: [T   8 ½] Another lovely day

14.  [8]

15.  Saturday: [8 ½] An old landmark is being torn down.  It is the Samer building 9th and Ohio Sts. (S.E. Corner).  Dad had a tailor shop there when I was a little boy.  Samer had the saloon on the corner, living quarters in the rear.  Temperature is up to 43° tonite with colder weather predicted.  Worked 58 ½ hours this week.  Boyd Jordan has a birthday.  I think he was born in 1900.

16.  Sunday: [7] To 7³⁰ Hi Mass Father Loehr.  Then to work.  Took a walk after work tonight about 1 ½ miles and I felt pretty fair, not too tired.  Arlene is over with Donald for 1 ½ hours tonite.

17.  Monday: [9] Lawrence Kinateder is here to spend the evening.  We can not keep him company as Thres has a meeting at Rose Binders and I'm working.  But after work we do get a big kick out of Aunt Mary.  Lawrence stays until 12³⁰ and after that Donald gets something off his chest, he wishes to buy an engagement ring for Arlene.

18.  Tuesday: [9 ½  T] Snowed most of the day today and tonite it turns into a blizzard.  To Kiwanis luncheon.  Our committee underprivileged children has their picture taken without me.  Darn it!  Took Ed Durlers new coat by mistake at the Athearn.  I suppose I’ll keep getting razzed for a long time.  Our club takes a tour thru the Hi School and Dale School.  Emma Siewert and her Sister Clara Lemke are here for the afternoon and evening.  They untrim the Christmas tree.  Clara’s Otto is out on a 3 or 4 day bender.

19.  Wednesday: [RW 2 M   10] Well it did’nt a storm too badly that it is much colder, about zero.  Colder during day about 4° below tonite.  Had our annual meeting at the South Side Store after work tonite.  Thru at 12 midnite.  Took Joe Baier home and then to Ed Fretschl s where Joe – Annie Heip and Thres are playing cards.  After a fine lunch head for home at 1³⁰ A.M.  Cork calls for his folks.  I viewed the remains of Herman Wegener at Konrads this afternoon.

20.  Thursday: [8] J.A. Breese has a birthday born 1892.  Official temperature is 11° below zero this A.M.

21.  [T  10 ½]

22.  Saturday: [6 ½] Sid Dorfman born Jan. 22 – 1912.  Took Thres to see the All Stars play Tri City Black-Hawks, All Stars win 64-53.

23.  Sunday: [6] To 7³⁰ Low Mass Monsignor Bastian.  Sermon Father Loehr.  Then to work.  This is a day of rain.  Thres plays cards at Sacred Heart this afternoon with Annie Heip – Thres Fretschl  –Emma Heppler.

24.  Monday: [7] Ma plays cards at Mrs. Schein’s today.  Wins third prize.  I cleaned out our bedroom closet tonite.

25.  Tuesday: [T 3] Did not attend Kiwanis luncheon.  Had Norman Brown here instead.  Paid taxes at the city hall this afternoon.  Did some more cleaning today and straitened my desk drawers.

26.  Wednesday: [7] Dr. Geo. Lynch leaves for the south to get a well earned rest.

27.  Thursday: [8] Monsignor Bastian has his throat swabbed by Dr. Hugo, eye- ear – nose – throat specialist.  He tells Dr. Hugo he’s is going to see Pete Fox optometrist to have his eyes tested. Visited Jack Faust this morning.  He is confined with a case of nerves.

28.  Friday: [10] Nebraska gets 12 inches of snow.

29.  Saturday: [7] Official temperature 14° below zero this morning.  To confession with Thres this afternoon, Father Wagner confessor today.  Jack and Pat Faust are there also.

30.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass.  Father Wagner.  The ladies of St. Vincents have a card party this afternoon and evening.  Thres is on committee. 

Com. Aunt Lena.

31.