Diary of Alfred E. Potter June, 1949

01.  Wednesday: [T] Dr. Martin Koeck III is in today with his wife.  She has been a victim of Polio for 10 months getting out of a wheelchair only 6 weeks ago.  Tonite we attend the KC dinner dance at Club 41.  Had a very enjoyable time.  Fathers Reul –Trebiatowski – Wagner – Murphy – Bouche are in attendance.  We are with the Binders – Wirtz’s – Otto’s – Vince Kempingers.  Stopped in at the Wirtz’s Sandwich shop at 2³⁰.  To bed at 3³⁰.

02.  Thursday: Staid in bed all morning.  Worked 5 hours this afternoon.

03.  Friday: Back on the job full force put in eleven hours today.  To 7⁰⁰ O clock Requiem at St. Vincent s.  Monsignor Bastian.  Art Faust and Cecelia Paulick married 18 years today.  Dropped in on Bill Mauritz tonite.  Paid for the Boathouse Roof. 

Com.  Donald – Mary Ann.

04.  Saturday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass St. John s with Fourth Degree K.C.  Blessing Baptismal Water etc. before Holy Mass, out at 8⁰⁰ Oclock.  Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Time.  “The Return of October” stars Glenn Ford – Terry Moore – Dame Mae Whitty in Technicolor.  “Cannon City” is a true story of a Colorado State Prison Break.  The real Warden “Roy Best” is in the picture.  Stopped at Bill Mauritz’s this afternoon with a loaf of Home Made Rye Bread from Thres to Rose.  Stopped it Sacred Heart – Father Bunkleman. 

Com.  Conversion Russia, Ted.

05.  Sunday: [T] To Graduation Hi Mass – St. Mary’s.  Father Spaulding delivers the sermon.  All the Catholic Congregations are represented.  Monsignor Bastian – Fathers Murphy – Bunkleman – Spaulding – Trebiatowski.  Father Reul is celebrant.  Fourth Degree K.C’s honor guard.  Breakfast at 11.30 at St. Mary’s Hall.  Worked all afternoon writing orders.  This evening took Thres – Mary Ann – Aunt Mary to visit George Stadlers in the country.  Mrs.is up a bit during the day, but unable to do any work. 

Com.  Mary Ann

06.  Monday: H.C. Roenitz Company is operating under new management today.  Charles McGuire and Richard A. Samuel who were employed for 30 years as salesman for the firm acquired the company last Friday, from H.W. Roenitz.

07.  Tuesday: This is Father Murphy’s anniversary as a priest, was ordained 20 years ago.  Al Shenar – Lawrence Baier –Frank Suda –Norm Spuhler _____ attend in full dress.  To Kiwanis luncheon took Harvey Lhost (Lederle) Bob Fisher (S & D) along to see Dr. Byron Hughes movie on Brain Surgery also Insulin Shock and Electric Shock Therapy used at the Winnebago State Hospital.  These operation change ones personality and in most cases are successful.  Had a short visit with Dr. Hughes after the picture.  Met with Frank Thew to discuss Fluor Bros. chances of a bid on our new building.  Met Ad Leupold and Jack Dempsey at the hotel.  They introduced George Gilbert of the Gilbert Paper Mills.  George visited our stores with the boys and was very generous, although I lost a dice game, cost 4 Cartons Cigarettes.  To Perpetual Help Devotion this evening. 

Com.  Father Murphy.

08.  Wednesday: Father Alphonse Wagner is at the house this morning for short visit.

09.  Thursday: Mary Ann graduates today. Exercises at South Park Junior Hi. A class of 356, 351 are present. They present a fine program. Took her out to Otto's Hi K for a feed after the exercises. We are home at 12³⁰. Two of the girls working at the South Side Store also graduate, Lois Zernzack and Beverly Kentop.

10.  Friday: [T] Carl Fischer, merchant tailor, passed away this afternoon at his home, 241 Waugoo St. He owned a tailor shop next to Marx and Fengls for 35 years. He worked for my father when he was a young man nearly 50 years ago. Born Germany March 8 - 1875. Took a drive this evening thru Eureka - Omro and back home.

11.  Saturday: Mary Samer (Mrs. Finneman is in town stopped at the store.  Told me about a visit to Charlotte Heinzl (Mrs. Frank Riegl).  Temperature is up today 94° official.  Don takes Joe Baier – Joey – Bill Mauritz – Billy and Ray Ostertag to the cottage to do some fishing.  They get a good sized pickerel

12.  Sunday: [T] To 730 Holy Name High Mass Father Wagner, Jimmie Weisheipl –Father Athanasius celebrates his first Solemn Mass at Sacred Heart.  Took Miss Tirey and Jolliere from Milwaukee from St. Mary s Home to Sacred Heart.  Then to work.  Visited with Father Hemmer at Regina Binder’s this afternoon.  Took Thres out to reception for Fr. Athanasius.  He gives us his blessing.  Met Father Michael – Father Touchel.  Then a visit to Joe and Marge Heips.  Then paid our last respects to Carl Fisher at Konrad’s funeral home.  Then to work, after work to Art Redmond’s where Mr. and Mrs. William Wetterau celebrate their golden wedding.  Had a good time.  Thres meets up with her first flame Ben Meyer.  She went with him before I knew her.  After the party name – Emma Siewert –Clara Doman stop here for a hi ball. 

Com.  Deceased Holy Name Men

13.  Monday: Arthur H. Mueller (T and S) Tobacco Company is at Mercy Hospital.  He is to have several teeth removed tomorrow.  Being a profuse bleeder, his work must be done at the hospital.

14.  Tuesday: [T] To Kiwanis luncheon, Fred Steckbauer –Ralph Witherbee –Manager Grants – Ray Baxandall –Henry Kuettner and myself.  This afternoon we visit four farms Walter Reinhardt – John Boss – L.B. Devens – Guy Grundy.  Learn about Ladino Clover at Reinhardts, Boss cleanliness of barns and equipment –Devens modern conveniences in barns –Grundy milk production.  One of his cows 85 pounds milk per day.  He also raises turkeys, then to State Hospital for a visit to their dairy plant – bakery and incidentally they bake 350 -2 ½ # loaves bread daily.  After the lunch I came back to town to Perpetual Help Devotion and then to work until 10 P.M.  Charles F. Abraham, pioneer merchant tailor died 6¹⁵ last night at Mercy Hospital.  Suffered a fall 3 weeks ago.  Born Grunau West Prussia Sept. 21 – 1861.  Used to run a tailor shop across from Plummer’s now Boston Store.  My father worked for him about 1901 or 1902.

15.  Wednesday: Bids for building project are opened this morning.  After meeting at the South Store tonight it was decided to let the General Contract to C.R. Meyer & Sons.

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18.  Saturday: Had a very pleasant surprize this morning.  Sister Virginia who is recuperating from an operation is in to visit with me at the South Store.  Sister Killiana is with her.  Buys about $8 in photo supplies.

19.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass, Father Bouche also celebrate Feast of “Corpus Christi” with procession.  Worked rest of the morning.  Move to our cottage for the season at 5³⁰.  Left Aunt Mary at Weisheipl’s.  This being Fathers Day I receive several nice presents, and outdoor lounge – a hammock – Sport Shirt – and summer underwear.  I can take a sunbath now. 

Com.  Stanislaus Jarosch.

20.  Monday: Our 928 Oregon warehouse is being wrecked.  Brought the folks to town at 5 PM.  Mary Ann to the Time Theatre.  Father Alphonse Wagner took us to Ralph and Helen Klieforth’s for the last meeting of the Apostalate.  Met the Charles Fiss’s – Will Wagners –John Dempsey’s –Joe Fenzls –Frances Spellmans –Joe Drexlers –Fathers Spaulding – Scanlon – Wagner.

21.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.

22.  Wednesday: [T] Signed contract for Electricity at the new store, Radke and DeVoe get the contract.  Took time off from this noon on.  Wilbert Mueller is at the cottage to talk over plans for a new water system at the cottage.  Managed to clean up most of the backyard this afternoon and evening at the cottage.  Worked until 8³⁰.  Donald is out at 6 O clock to help us.

23.  Thursday: Saw Art Mueller for the first time today since he had some teeth removed at Mercy Hospital.  He is not looking too well.  Brought Thres and Mary Ann to town this evening.  We pay our last respects to Mrs. Elizabeth Koplitz at Marquardts.  Monsignor Bastian leads the rosary.  Wilbur Mueller is over to the house tonight with figures for plumbing at the cottage 484.00 with electric Heater 158.90 Extra.  Mrs. Clara Kronzer, widow of Joseph passed away at noon at Mercy Hospital.  Born Jan. 7 – 1875 Sheboygan, Married June 21, at 1900.

24.  Friday: Served as pallbearer for Mrs. Koplitz, with Matt Mertz – John Stadler –Joe Koplitz – Nick Welter –Charles Strelke, Monsignor Bastian at the service and also to cemetery.  Art Mueller is taking off today and tomorrow.  Busy today getting ready for Peggy’s wedding.  Rosary at Fiss & Bills Mrs. Clara Kronzer, by Father Reul.  Paid a last respects to R.W. Morgan at Spikes MacDonald.  Met his two sons and Dave Wachtel, Betty’s husband. 

2 M.O. Mrs. Kronzer

25.  Saturday: Peggy Mueller is married to Dick Harthun at 4 P.M. at Peace Lutheran by David Fetter.  Mother and Mary Ann to the wedding.  Reception at Masonic Temple from 7 to 9.  The folks from the store and friends enjoy a party at Art’s country home.

26.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass, Mons. Bastian then to work.  This afternoon back to the cottage.  I worked harder out there than at home.  Cut the hay on the east side of the house, then cut the thistles down in Geffers lot.  Then I picked cherries until dark and then I was ready for the hay, but didn’t get there until 11 P.M.

27.  Monday: [T] This evening cut some more hay at the cottage.

28.  Tuesday: Kienast Company begins digging for the basement at the new addition. To Kiwanis luncheon, Earl Clemans spoke. He was to the National Convention last week, did not say much about it. But did speak on a Norse group who were to have or did explore and live in Minnesota about 1362 - 130 years before Columbus discovered America. Lawrence Kinateder is at the cottage today.

29.  Wednesday: Berndt Bros. begin digging at the cottage for our new sanitary project and expect to be thru in two days. Lawrence Kinateder is back for another day. Joe - Annie Weisheipl and Aunt Mary spend the night with us. Aunt Mary is happy to be with us.

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