Diary of Alfred E. Potter March, 1951

01.  Thursday: Had a card of thanks from “Sister Aurelia” Mercy Hospital today.  She is having a Novena arranged at St. Benedict the Moor Mission – Milwaukee.  Tonite we attend the performance “The Bat” by the Oshkosh Community Players.

02.  Friday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass – Monsignor Bastian.  Took Mr. and Mrs. Frank Binder senior home after Mass.  The wind is very sharp this morning.  Visit Aunt Mary at the hospital this afternoon.  She is somewhat indisposed but not bad.  Also visited Celia Drexler who has been here since Tuesday.  She is in room 238, also visited Mrs. John Wolfe in 225, Amanda Drexler’s mother.  She had an eye operation.  Art Mueller picks up his new car in Wautoma. 

Com.  Donald – Mary Ann – Arlene - Debby

03.  Saturday: Milton Yeahli, proprietor of the Winneconne Drug Store for years died in his sleep this morning at 3.30.  Born Feb. 24 – 1910 in Sheboygan.

04.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents – Father Wagner.  Worked from 9 to 12³⁰.  Chicken Dinner today.  Worked on my personal income tax.  This evening guard of honor at St. Johns, ending of Forty Hours Devotion.  All churches represented in the Sanctuary except St. Vincents.  Father Trebiatowski had a very interesting sermon. 

Com.  Frank Schneider Former County Clerk.

05.  Monday: Ed Binder has a birthday we are invited out to his place for the evening but I could’nt make it.  Henry (Harvey) Zentner and Louise Schultz are married 30 years today.  The ladies Auxiliary S.S.B.M. played cards there this afternoon.  Thres did not win a prize today.  I worked until 11.45 tonite.

06. Tuesday: Francis Lamb is in today to get data for our income tax report.  We worked at it all day.  To Kiwanis luncheon got another job passing and delivering lists to business firms for Red Cross donations.  Robert Peterson, Student at Lawrence College related his adventures in the summer of 1950 through Europe.  He showed slides of little countries Andorra – Lichtenstein –San Marino and Monaco.

07.  Wednesday: Mary Ann becomes of age today, 21 years.  Francis Lamb is back again for more data.  This evening take Mary Ann – Don – Arlene to Shenar’s for dinner, from 7⁰⁰ to 9³⁰ oclock.  Frank Wagenhals, President of Hart Supply Co. for the last 13 years – died yesterday at 9 A.M. at Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago.  Born Oct. 30 – 1897 in Minneapolis.

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10.  Saturday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass Fr Koehn Busy paying bills today.  Francis Lamb is over again this morning.  This evening we see Van Johnson – Katherine Grayson in “Grounds for Marriage” Lewis Stone was a surprise to me in the picture.  He is looking very good for his age.  “The Lost Volcano” was very interesting with Johnny Sheffield as “Bomba” Jungle Boy he scales mountains of fire to rescue trapped Safari. 

Com.  Mary Ann

11.  Sunday: We have padded kneelers at St. Vincents. We use them for the first time today. K.C.'s have their annual Easter Communion and breakfast at Sacred Heart today. We have 352 members present. I also attend stations at St. Vincents this afternoon. Our annual report is also out at St. Vincents. Back to work tonite working in the post office. Our report was heavy over 5 200 dollars.

Com.  George Mertz

12.  Monday: Phyllis Blank – Du Barry Demonstrator – begins a weeks work of Du Barry promotion at our south store.  Hilda Nuernberg celebrates her 10th anniversary in business by staging a Fashion Style Show at the Century Club for the Oshkosh Council of Catholic Women.  Guests are invited an over 500 ladies are present.  Valeria Genal Merkel passed away at 4 A.M. Sunday at the home of her mother Mrs. George Genal.  Survived by husband Jerome, son Jerome Jr. daughter Laurie Jean.  Born June 9 – 1929.

13.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, a heavy program, 4 H Clubs – and picture courtesy Bill Kastner, for better sight.  Conrad Schoblaske former police officer passed away, suddenly last night at Mercy Hospital.  Born Sept. 4 – 1888.  Married Anne Wilhelm Sept. 5-1908.  Father to Alice Otto and Mrs. A. Ingwalson.  Conrad and me were classmates at St. Vincents about 1900.  Paid last respects to Valeria Merkel at Fiss Bills.

2 M.O. Valeria Genal Merkel

14.  Wednesday: [R 2 M] Another meeting Retail Div Chamb Commerce at the Athearn.  A farm committee is appointed: Ralph Witherbee –Brudd Anger – A.E. Potter.  This afternoon Thres and self view the remains of Conrad Schoblaski at Sitters.  Had a fairly long visit with the folks.  Mrs. Ed Wolf from Milwaukee was there also.  Les Borisch showed slides of our trip to Europe to the Mercy Alumni Association last evening. 

2 M.O. Conrad Schoblaski

15.  Thursday: Donald - Arlene - Diane drive to Milwaukee today. It is a pleasant day, the first in a long time. Met Don Gerth there, he took them thru Marquette Dental School. They visited at Carl and Margaret Radomski's also saw Ralph Flanigans orchestra at the Riverside. Matt Mertz is 84 today. So. Side Business Men entertain him. This is also income tax day. This is also Ed Ostertag's birthday, he is 86.

16.  Friday: [T] Another nice day.  According to report by Mayda Killeen, Oshkosh Campaign chairman for the 1951 Heart fund drive contributions here amounted to $4316.97.  Annie Weisheipl and Mary Schneider visit Aunt Mary at the hospital yesterday afternoon.  She asked Annie “Where is your ma?  and to Mary “Are you still a Catholic?

17.  Saturday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass.  Father Koehn.  This is my day in the basement at the store.  Had Donald and Billy help get the liquor dept and the old basement in order.  This is quite a chore since nothing has been done since our building project.  It is 44 years ago today my father was laid to rest.  To the Strand tonight, saw “Three Guys named Mike” Jane Wyman who is Mike – crazy with Van Johnson –Howard Keel – Barry Sullivan also “Flame of Stamboul” Richard Denning – Lisa Ferraday – Norman Lloyd. 

Com.  Stanislaus Jarosch

18.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass – Blessing of the Palms Father Wagner.  This is an unusually cold – blustery Palm Sunday.  – Worked this morning.  Father Wagner dropped in at the store at 6 Oclock looking for someone to go out with him to eat.  No luck anywhere.  He then went alone to “Town Grill” for “Smorgasbord”.  He then took Thres and me to Clarence and Helen Denigers “2200 Oregon Street” for cards and slides of their trip out west. 

Com. Kath Holzbauer

19.  Monday: Norman Brown is with us today for “Smoked Spare Ribs – Dumplings and Sauerkraut.” He was here last Monday also.  He enjoys Ma Potter’s cooking.  He tries a new type of make up – a nylon stocking over the head and does that ever disfigure one’s face.  Thres plays cards at Sofia Huhn’s this aft.  Almost won low prize.  View the remains of Amanda Clark at Marquardts.

20.  Tuesday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass Father Koehn. Temperature 11°above zero. To Kiwanis luncheon. Dr. Pfefferkorn has as his guest “Joseph Rieger” a German exchange student from Nuernberg Germany. He is taking up agriculture. John Markel, Frank Schultz, Jay Somers are with us at table. Don and Arlene leave Debby at our house while they attend church. Shortly after they left Mother calls me to hurry home. She is having trouble getting air, and Debby is crying. After 2 brandies Mother is somewhat improved. I had fun with Debby.

Com.  Honor St. Joseph

21.  Wednesday: [R 4 M] Mother had a good nights rest, but is still quite weak and cannot breathe freely.  Saw something different today.  Was taking Rose Weisheipl and Virginia Abrams home this noon.  At the Soo line crossing near 11th and Ohio, a switch engine stopped in the middle of the crossing, blockade followed, and why did it stop?  Merely to let off a woman passenger from the engine. Ven.  Sister M Linus is to be operated tomorrow in Milwaukee.

22.  Thursday: Day is somewhat cloudy temperature up to around 40.  This afternoon we are at Green Bay at the Allouez Community House to partake in the Paschal Supper led by Father Dupont.  Twenty five attended from Oshkosh, Knights and wives Father Wagner is with us.  Ray and Elsie Wagner and ourselves visited at Joe and Mary DE Youngs on E. Mason street (912) Mary is Dr. Wagner’s youngest sister, has three small children.  Met Katie Eberhart there, sister to Marvin.  Met Bob Nies – John Callahan at the supper.  Its a beautiful moonlight night for drive home.  Marg Radomski birthday today.

23.  Friday: [R 4 M] Theres quite a change in weather this morning.  A blizzard combined with lightning and thunder, the blizzard lasted all day and much snow fell.  An Easter Lilly for mother from Norm Brown, arrives this morning.  Virginia Abrams has a sick spell at the store.  Hired Mary Jane Reichenberger are to work at the South Store this morning.  This is the first time I can remember not getting to church on Good Friday.  The blizzard is still going strong tonite.

24.  Saturday: And today the sun is out for beautiful day.  Sister Irene – Mercy Hospital makes a date for tomorrow afternoon.  Harold Rief returned our big radio today.

25.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Hi Mass – Father Koehn – Mixed Choir.  Then to work.  This afternoon we visit Aunt Mary at the hospital.  Met with Sister Irene and Sister Phillip Bertha and Joe Rieger in room 150.  Took Joe and Sister Irene over to look over our South Store.  Provided Joe with the movie camera and films.  This evening worked a short time.  Intended to go to the Strand Theatre, the lineup was so large we spent the evening home. 

Com.  Ven. Sister Linus

26.  Monday: Joseph Weisheipl Sr. begins working at Ray Robbins tavern.  Norman Brown is with us again for the noon meal.  We have an announcement today from Romy and Lovy Czekalski.  A little girl arrived March 23 last Friday 10.35 P.M. 7 #14 oz.

27.  Tuesday: To

28.  Wednesday: [R 4 M] Am back in the basement at the South Store to clean up.  This is a day of fog.  Tonite Ma and self to the Mode Theatre.  We have as guests Doris Heisler – Joan Mauritz – Faye Baier – Carol Schmid – Mary Ann.  Pictures “You Gotta Stay Happy” with Joan Fontaine and James Stewart also “Union Station” William Holden – Barry Fitzgerald – Lyle Bettger – Nancy Olson.

29.  Thursday: Thres is not feeling too well this morning, it may be stomach flu.  This afternoon she entertains Lydia Plein and Rose Utic and Emma Siewert and tonite Emma Siewert and Thres are entertained by Annie Weisheipl in progressive sheephead.  Tonite we have quite a shower of rain

30.  Friday: [R 4 M] This is our third day of Fog.

31.  Saturday: Get the news that Father Dave A Koehne is transferred to Holy Cross Congregation Kaukauna.  His pastor will be Andrew Quella.  Andrew and I were in the same class at Mt Calvary.  Our new assistant will be Father Florian Milbauer.  I’m busy in the basement at the store today.  Tonite we attend the Basketball game sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.