Diary of Alfred E. Potter July, 1949

01.  Friday: Donald plants a note in my Plymouth this afternoon. Well he might as well have told me. I have been suspecting something up for some time. He is to be married some time in August.

02.  Saturday: George Stadler's birthday. Born 1872. Had a visit with Arlene's folks this morning and then had to break the news to Mother and Mary Ann at home. Mother was not only surprised, but shocked. I called Donald home and we decided the date as August 6th is proper arrangements could be made. I broke the news to Father Alphonse Wagner this afternoon, he is also very much surprised.

03.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ St. Vincents Msgr. Bastian and after the service took Mrs. Anna Yungwirth home.  She had a stop in to see the place, it is a very neat home.  To worked during the morning.

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07.  Thursday: Matt and Amanda and Joey and Johnny also Joe – Celia and Lucy Drexler our guests at our cottage.  Took a few movies of the boys, hope they are O.K.  The evening is spent listening to the ballgame and after that the fun begins.  The girls feel unusually chipper.  To bed at 2 A.M. some of the folks to sleep by 4 A.M.  Forgot to mention Caroline Drexler is also a guest.

08.  Friday: Father Dave Bunkleman and his housekeeper visit at the cottage.  Matt and Joe cut down two of the trees on our front lawn.  George Mauel was one of them.

09.  Saturday: We helped to move the Drexlers back to town this afternoon.

10.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ St. Vincents with Holy Name Society.

11.  Monday: Bill Mauritz and Dick Kempinger are at the cottage, and so is Ed Radke.

12.  Tuesday: The Berndt Brothers begin digging for a new septic tank at the cottage.

13.  Wednesday: The Ladies Auxiliary So. Side Business Men Club have their annual picnic at Dess Wirtz’s cottage Black Wolf Point.  We call for Emma Siewert at Raymonds and find her in bed.  She has much pain on her right side, thinks it is gas and would still like to go with us.  When I call for Thres and Mrs. Joe Fenzl and take them home, we stop at Ray’s but find no one home I called Clara Lemke, she tells me Emma is being operated may be appendicitis, and so ends Emma’s first day of vacation.  She was planning to stay with us at the cottage for a week. Naomi Mueller gives birth to a little boy this afternoon.  I understand Rev. David Fetter it is papa again, also a boy.  John – Lucille Felker, Arlene and Donald are at the cottage tonight to make plans for Don and Arlene’s wedding.  A few games of sheephead finish off the evening.

14.  Thursday: Thres and Mary Ann at Felkers for personal shower for Arlene.  She receives many beautiful presence and a corsage from Donald.

15.  Friday: Berndt Bros. complete the job at the cottage, if only the Plumbers – Carpenters and Electrician would be thru also.  May mean another month and then we’ll be ready to move back to town.

16.  Saturday: Bill Mauritz is busy at the cottage repairing the concrete floor. I worked out there this afternoon. This evening we visit Emma Siewert at Mercy. She is looking good, still has much pain. This morning’s Sentinel conveys the news that Art Hazen passed the exam for full fledged pharmacist.

17.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass.  Msgr. Bastian.  Bans of Marriage, Donald and Arlene are published first time today.  Bill Mauritz completes sidewalk at cottage.

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19.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis round table Rotary – Kiwanis picnic today at State Hospital Park.  I could not attend.  Invited to Father Bunkleman’s this evening for game of cards.  We surely have a lot of fun.  Agnes cussed at times at the cards and almost fainted when a bat flew around in the room.  Father Dave dispatched him with a flyswatter.  This is the first bat in our house said Agnes, not long after another came in and Father Dave was busy again.  Home at 1 A.M.

20.  Wednesday: Clark Hastings is in town.  He and I visited Art Krause Winnebago State Hospital Pharmacist, and Miss Madson Superintendent Sunnyview in quest of business.  Clark also treated Florian (Sonny) Peck and myself to luncheon Athearn.  John A Bauer 743-12th Street is 80 years of age today and looking good.

21.  Ma Potter has a surprize shower on Arlene Felker tonite. Its a linen shower. She receives some very fine presents.

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24.  Sunday: To 6 Oclock Mass for a change.  Had intended to complete the paint job at the cottage, but rain interfered.  We had lots of company at the cottage tonight.  Carl – Margaret – Gail Radomski – Harry – Agnes – John – Mary Kujawa.  Father Alphonse Wagner stopped in on his way home from K.C. picnic, had Joe – Margret –Jos. Jr. and Jimmy Hemmer and Vic Pohojka family along.  They staid about an hour.

25.  Monday: Eddie Weisheipl –Florence – the Kiddies and Marion Weisheipl are spending a weeks vacation at Mame Monday’s cottage Plummers Point.

26.  Tuesday: Had a surprise visitor at the store, Archie Carithers from Los Angeles, in with Al Leonard from Chicago.

27.  Wednesday: Signed contract with Robert Brand and Sons for all new fixtures at the store. The Weisheipl’s are at Eddies today and Aunt Mary stays with us overnite at the cottage Joe and Emma Baier almost visited us, but a terrific rain storm stopped them. Took Arlene and Donald to Bud Hrnaks this afternoon to buy flowers for the wedding also flowers for the church.

28.  Thursday: Met with Julius Sandsted, Vic Fink at Apell's to pick out floor for the new store, also at Brands to pick the color for our new fixtures. Visited Emma Siewert this noon, she was taken to Rays yesterday. The folks are back from Chicago. Visited Thres Fretschl, brought her a basket of apples “to keep the Doctor away.” Mother and Mary Ann attend miscellaneous shower for Arlene at Felker's given by Arlene's mother and sister.

29.  Friday: Brought the family back to town this evening.  Stopped at Ray Siewert to visit with Emma.  Thres had’nt seen her since she’s home from the hospital.

30.  Saturday: [T] Donald Gerth give a “Stag Party” in honor of Donald. It must have been quite an affair. Donald gets in at 3³⁰ A.M. Sunday. Mother - Mary Ann and myself attend Mode theatre tonite.

31.  Sunday: To 6⁰⁰ Oclock Mass.  Father Wagner.  Bill Mauritz – Ray Ostertag – John Felker do some more painting at the cottage, until 5 P.M. then relax until 10.30 and then I took them home. 

Com.  Donald - Arlene