Diary of Alfred E. Potter June, 1951

01.  Friday: To 7 Oclock Mass Monsignor Bastian.  Mrs. Harry Adams is laid to rest this morning.  Service at St. Peters at 9 Oclock.  Pall Bearers –Les Ross –Ray Fuhs – Eric Baller –Karl Von Hoff – Francis Faust and myself.  This is Margaret Muellers birthday.  She is 44.  Ed Radke is out to the cottage to connect hot water tank.  A.O. Haase is in to see me about bottling whiskey.  Ed Radke found nothing wrong with hot water heater connections.  Emma Baier is taken to Winnebago State Hospital. 

Com.  Josephine Adams

02.  Saturday: Leo and Mary Girens celebrate their silver wedding anniversary today with a High Mass at Sacred Heart Church.  The folks get a great send off at the church by the fire department.  Father Richard Keller who married Mary and Leo 25 years ago offered the ceremony.  After church the folks repaired to the Girens home where an unfortunate incident marred the celebration.  Father Keller’s housekeeper Eliz. Glasheen 47 suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away suddenly.  Joe Weisheipl Sr. to New York to National Music Convention.

03.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ High Mass Father Milbauer.  He spoke about “Death.” After Mass exposition Blessed Sacrament.  Worked all morning.  This afternoon Thres and myself to the cottage to put the finishing touches to our cleaning up job.  Home by 8¹⁵ then out to congratulate Leo and Mary Girens.  Annie Weisheipl is there but is unable to talk.  This is quite a pennance for her, Max Weisheipl sure kids her a lot, because she can’t answer back. 

Com.  Frank Haidlinger

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06.  Wednesday: [R 4 M] Donald sprays trees at the cottage.  Took Annie Heip along.  I cleaned up around the boat house, worked until dark 8³⁰.  We spend our first night at the cottage.

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08.  Friday: [T] Ken Sepersky sent some smoked chubs which we take care of today.  Took Bill Mauritz and Ray Ostertag to the cottage to put new rollers on the skid and look over the boat.  They think it can be repaired.  We are back in town for the weekend.  When we stop at Weisheipl’s we find Joe had come in from New York.

09.  Saturday: Matt Power to Madison early this morning to get Ven Sister Melora (Monika) Mauritz.  Sister gets her first vacation at home in 20 years.  She is Sister Superior at Holy Redeemer’s in Madison.  Very busy at the store.  Thres – Mary Ann and self enjoy the “Great Caruso” Mario Lanza at the Strand.  He is supported by Dorothy Kirsten – Ann Blyth.  Co Feature Charlie McCarthy – Mortimer Snerd in “Sweden” Bugs Bunny is exceptionally comical.

10.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass Father Wagner Hi Mass –Blessed Sacrament.  Took Bill and Ray to the cottage to work on the boat.  Then to work.  This afternoon took Rose – Joan –Barbara Mauritz – Ann – Judy –Carol Ostertag – Doris Heisler to the cottage.  Back to town, then to Louis Mauritz’s to see Sister Melora, also had outdoor meal there.  Then back to the cottage to take the folks home. 

Com.  Deceased Holy Name Members.

11.  Monday: Met with Postmaster Novotny about renewing P.O. Substation contract.  I’m trying to get 200 dollars per month.  Will they renew my contract – Well – maybe.  Entertained Sister Melora and Louis and Mary with a drive about town – then out to the cottage – to Omro – Winneconne and home and then for dinner.  About 2³⁰ I was back on the job at the store had to hurry to get out the drug orders, then to the meeting with the Nekimi Farmers about a pig market in Oshkosh.  Ralph Witherbee – Brud Anger – Louis Lyons are in our group.

12.  Tuesday: Art Mueller and Fred Baumgartner and self to Green Bay this morning to the Rexall Holiday Display at the Northland.  Met Dean Strohman – Mr. Hahn and Junior Hahn from DE Pere.  Al Leonard was there of course.  Ken Sepersky gave us 10 dollars to get a meal which we did at Van Camps – Appleton.  Art and myself tenderloin – mine with bacon – Fred – “Lobstertails” On the way home Fred showed us thru his new house at Fairview Beach next to Gust Betts.  This evening we attend Judy Stillmans Dance Review” It is very well presented.

13.  Wednesday: yesterday Ed and Rose had a wedding anniversary.  Thirty two years ago.  This evening Ed – Dess Wirtz –Thres – Al Potter –Walter – Leone Dodd – Leo – Mary Girens surprise them at their new home.  Les and Mary Borisch come in at 9 Oclock from Milwaukee.  We get home at 2.30 A.M.

14.  Thursday: Up late this morning.  Attended Chamber of Commerce meet and luncheon at the Athearn.  Herbert Krumrich and Joe Pollack are there to present their South Side Troubles.  I could not help too much as we are located South – North and West.

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17.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass Monsignor Bastian Low Mass at 7³⁰ from now on during the summer.  After breakfast took Bill and Ray to the cottage, then to work.  Took a drive to Omro and had our Father Day Dinner at Schwartz’s.  Joe Dodd almost did’nt recognize me.  They live near the Binders at Leonards Point.  Have an adopted child 2 ½ years of age.  Back to the cottage I did a bit of cleaning up outside.  Otto Lemke and Emma Siewert are over to spend the evening.  Otto as usual took our dough. 

Com. Stanislaus Jarosch.

18.  Monday: Ralph Ebel is at Madison taking exam for registered Pharmacist.  Frank Anderson grandson of Frank Fransway begins work at the South Store for the summer.  He is a pharmacy student at Madison.

19.  Tuesday: To town early this morning. Picked up Virginia Abrams and daughter Louise then Sisters Alverna, Ermanhilda, Theodore and _____  and took them to Mount Mary. The Sisters took loads of luggage. In fact I stopped in Fond du Lac thought I'd lost some from the trunk of the car. They took us thru Mount Mary, very interesting chapel - study and class rooms, auditorium, swimming pool, lounges for smoking and reception lounge rooms. Paintings of Dr. Fitzgerald President of Mount Mary, also his wife. Mount Mary is indeed a beautiful spot. Took Ginny and Louise to Maders for noon meal at 1 P.M. then to Broadway Church Goods House. Alex Paderowski left us for the golf grounds, then to McClurgs, to Cape Cod Inn - Lobster Tail Dinner, then for home, arrived 10.30 P.M. Emma Siewert spends the aft. and eve. with Thres at the cottage.

20.  Wednesday: Miss Wolf, Box 584 Oshkosh Apostolate is here to interview me in regard to the George Hagenes adopting a baby.  Took Annie Heip and Thres Fretschl to the cottage this noon.  Sister Linus undergoes a second operation at St. Joseph’s Hospital Milwaukee.  A telephone call states she is doing fine after the operation.

21.  Thursday: The ladies went to bed at 2 A.M.  I did not wait for them, I was too tired.  The Chamber of Commerce luncheon Athearn Hotel cocktail lounge.  Joint session North and South.  Had a letter from Harry Adams.  Took Thres Fretschl home this morning.

22.  Friday: Fairly busy at the store.  This afternoon attended C of C meeting about Farm Program.  New Members on our committee Frank Valasek – Garden Hough.  Jim Skole is there with helpful pointers.  Sister Linus phones are folks today.  She is much improved.  Did not need a blood transfusion.

23.  Saturday: Carol Folletz, clerk at our North Store is wedded to Donald Bartelt.  Al Lindgren performed the ceremony at Algoma Methodists Church.  We attend the church ceremony.  Mary Ann has the girls over to the house tonight while Ma and me attend surprize party on Ed and Dess Wirtz.  Mary Lester Borisch –Rose – Ed Binder –Leone – Walter Dodd –Leo – Mary Girens.  The Wirtz’s have a lovely cottage on Black Wolf Point.  The party lasted till 2 AM.  To bed at 2³⁰.

24.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass and I'm a bit sleepy. Mary Ann works today. The Sentinel's Annual Outboard Motor Races are on today from Neenah to Fremont and back. The lakes are very choppy and going is tough. We drive to Norm Browns after one oclock. He has open house. Met Dr.Brown, Dr. O'Brien, Father McKinnon, Mr. Mrs. Rosanski Fond du Lac, Bill Anderson and Family, Jim Devitt and old friend from Chicago Days. Took Bill and Rose Mauritz to the cottage after supper for a visit.

Com.  Harry Lyman.

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26.  Tuesday: Attended Kiwanis luncheon, we hear a talk on conservation by the head of the state wardens, Mr. Hadlon. Otto Lemke takes Emma Siewert and Annie Heip to the cottage this noon. I brought along Thres Fretschl at 4.30 P.M. After work the ladies get me for sheephead until 1 A.M. To my bed, I meant couch (the ladies occupy the beds.) by 2 A.M.

27.  Wednesday: Up at 6 A.M. took Emma and Thres home at the post office for the morning mail.  The store mail is in at 7¹⁵ A.M. but I’m tired and take a morning snooze at home.  This afternoon to the cottage to bring Thres and Annie Heip home and then we meet with the Binders –Wirtz’s – Dodds –Girens’s to surprise at Lester and Mary Borisch on their wedding anniversary, it is their 24th.  Canasta is the game.  – I had to attend a meeting of our store managers at the South Store at 10 P.M.  It was interesting and rather tense at times as schedules are made up for Ralph Ebel our new pharmacist and Norbert Mueller.  Originally Norbert objected to any changes, but the new plan will give him more free time.

28.  Thursday: Burkhart Heinzl passed away yesterday afternoon at 4.15 at his home 936 – 11th St. Born in Austria Oct. 11 – 1871, Married Annie Yungwirth July 25 – 1895.

29.  Friday: We are back in town this morning about 10.15.  I cleaned up the boathouse before we came in.

30.  Saturday: Attended wedding Hi Mass for Peter Kirsch and Joan Drexler 9 A.M. Sacred Heart Father Bunkleman.  Burkhart Heinzl is laid to rest.  Services St. Johns Church.