Diary of Alfred E. Potter September, 1949

01.  Thursday: Took Thres Fretschl to the cottage this morning. She expects to stay two days. Bob Fisher (Sharp & Dohme) takes me out to lunch. I suggested the new “Town Grill” what was years ago “The Fowler House” operated by Bill and Louise (Hackbarth) Crook. We had a very fine meal and a few strong “Martinis.” Father David Bunkleman is in the hospital having an operation on his foot, Calcium deposit has formed in the tendon.

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03.  Saturday: Took Thres Fretschl  home this morning.

04.  Sunday: To 6 Oclock Mass St. Vincents - Father Wagner. Took Bill and Ray along to the cottage; they sanded doors and windows.

Com. Caroline Baier

05.  Monday: Picked up Bill and Ray again.  They do more painting and varnishing and Bill trims the trees.  Ray does the lugging of the remains.  Took them home about 10 P.M.  I worked this morning and also this afternoon and evening, getting out orders.

06.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Dr. Cummings was our speaker, on Hygiene.  Pete Beck –Martin Christenson –Dr. Pyrrhus and myself at table.

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08.  Thursday: [T] Took Emma Siewert along to the cottage this noon.  I did not go back to work this afternoon.  Picked apples and started taking the paint off the concrete floor in our new room, and was that a job.  Used lye and water.  Worked until 10 P.M. and then played sheephead until 2 A.M.  Emma is in fine spirits.

09.  Friday: Stopped at Art Hazen’s Apartment – 110 Washington Blvd. for the basket of hand picked apples.  They came back at us in a hurry.  Agnes baked pies and they deliver them to us at the cottage after work tonite.  They stayed until midnite.

10.  Saturday: Mary Anne – Mother and Self to the Strand to see “Look for the Silver Lining” June Haver – Ray Bolger and Gordon MacRae.  Its a technicolor, also “Night unto Night” stars Ronald Reagan –Viveca Lindfors.

11.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass as usual and then to work.  We are again show minded this time to the Oshkosh “Top O the Morning” Bing Crosby – Barry Fitzgerald –Ann Blyth – Hume Cronyn – and “Ringside” starring Don Barry –Tom Brown.

12.  Monday: Fred Ristow and the boys are back of the cottage tonite to neutralize the concrete floor.  I left the keys with Bill Mauritz, so they can get in at any time as we expect to be out of the city a few days this week.  I visited with Father Dave Bunkleman this morning.  His foot is still in a cast.  Expects to have it removed shortly.

13.  Tuesday: Stopped at the Continental this morning for a top coat.  Leo Steckbauer also gets me for two shirts and ties.  To Kiwanis luncheon. Leight Hough – Marlin Smith – Ray Baxandall and self make up a table.  I did not stay for program.  Busy with the orders until 11 P.M.  Emma Siewert spend the afternoon with Thres.

14.  Wednesday: [Dr. E.C. Neuman, Kilbourn 5 – 8042] Left for Milwaukee at 9 A.M.  Took Aunt Mary along with us.  Left are at Karl and Marg Radomski’s.  Had luncheon at Maders.  Then to Dr. E.C. Newman, 2352 W. Fond du Lac “The Doctors Pharmacy.” The doctor took care of Thres’s leg.  I stopped at Medico Mart for Adhesive 3 in Ace Bandages met Art, the doctors brother.  Got a room at the “Medford” which we could not use, got a very fine room at the Schroeder Hotel #1127, three beds.  Took in the Telenews show and then to the Davidson Theatre to see “Blackstone” “The Magician”.  He puts on a 2 hour show and it’s worth while seeing.  Had lunch at the Maryland Hotel after the show, back to the Schroeder to bed at 1⁰⁰ A.M.

15.  Thursday: Breakfast at “Coffee Shop,” then to McClurg’s.  Rene Kuemmel is glad to see us, especially with a good sized order coming up.  Forgot I stopped it Mutual Drug first, Irwin did’nt have much to show us.  Worked with Rene, the balance of the morning, had luncheon at Blatz Hotel then back to McClurg’s, worked there until 5³⁰ and am I tired.  Picked Thres –Mary Ann up at the hotel then to Carl’s for dinner, then to Romy and Lovie Czekalskis.  They have a nice home at 3450 East Delaware.  Romy has an amateur Radio Station, his number is W9FHF.  Had my first experience talking over it, spoke to a Doctor Baker Dentist at Wood Soldiers Home.  It was lots of fun.

16.  Friday: [T] To breakfast at Coffee Shop then to Broadway Church Goods House.  Alexander Paderowski formerly with the “Church Mart” waited on me.  Then to Gimbels Thres and Mary Ann do some shopping.  Back to the Schroeder to check out.  Back to Czekalski’s to pick up Aunt Mary, and then for home, arrived 4 P.M.  To work at six, made out payroll – checked the mail – also the pension bills.  Work until 10.45 took Joe Baier home.

17.  Saturday: Catching up slowly on my mail.  Attended the Strand showing “In the Good Old Summer Time” starring Judy Garland – Van Johnson – Cuddles Kasall – Buster Keaton, also “Air Hostess” Ross Ford – Gloria Henry – Ann Doran.

18.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents Monsignor Bastian Sermon Father Bouche.  Took Bill Mauritz to the cottage.  He’s putting the second coat of paint on the floor.  I picked apples took a good sized carton to Art Muellers.  Almost had dinner at Father Loehr’s at Omro got there at 12 Noon but no more tickets available.  Had sold 725.  Met Father Kandy there and about 50% St. Vincents Congregation.  Had our dinner at Jim’s[DP1]  “White House Inn.” Butte des Morts.  Will Hay entertained at a dinner party there.  Back to the cottage to pick up Bill.  Henry Kirk came out with Mrs. and Ray Ostertag and Ann.  They picked grapes.  Back to work in the evening getting out orders. 

Com.  Tolerance

19.  Monday: Donald gets some of his Bonds cashed to make a 750 dollar payment on his new home.  Thres plays cards at Mame Siewerts.  Emma entertains the Club today.  I told Aunt Mary she is getting heavier.  She doesn’t believe me, so I weighed her, 128 pounds – the last time she got on the scale she weighed 123 pounds.

20.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon had Harvey Lohst as my guest.  We had a rather unique program, a blind piano player, who could play with the heels of his shoes, his nose – his elbow, he could also played two different tunes at the same time.  He played “Yankee Doodle” one hand and “Way down South in Dixie” with the other.  To Perpetual Help Devotion this evening with Thres and Mary Ann.  This is our first since spring.

21.  Wednesday: Louise Haveman is operated this morning.  Am feeling rather punk these days, lots of gas and much pain.  Today is my first experience dressing Thres sore limb.  Did pretty well.

22.  Thursday: Clara Miller Lemke is operated this morning at Mercy.  Dr. Connell finds she is inflicted with Cancer.  Emma Siewert her sister is with us for the afternoon and overnite.  Drove to Berlin this afternoon to see Harry at the bank, find he has gone to Neenah.  Stopped at his home 175 E Noyes St. Agnes tells about their vacation trip.  They have a nice album of pictures of the East and Canada.  They visited St. Anne’s Shrine in Quebec.  View the remains of Ida Procknow at Konrad’s.  Paul – Elda and Jack Johnson are there.  Her husband found her dead in the kitchen of their home.  He was gone about ½ hour after they both had been shopping.

23.  Friday: [T] This is Joan Mauritz birthday.  She is 17.  Mary Ann – Doris Heisler –Faye Baier and  _____ are with her to spend the evening and night.

24.  Saturday: Took Thres and Mary Ann to The Mode tonite.  “That Lady in Ermine” stars Betty Grable – Doug Fairbanks Jr. – Caesar Romero.  “Sorry Wrong Number” Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster.  This afternoon took Aunt Mary to confession – St. Vincents –Father Dennis Bouche.

25.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents Father Bouche delivers sermon for 3’d consecutive Sunday.

26.  Monday: Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Convention opens at the Hotel Pfister.

27.  Tuesday: Fred Baumgartner –Joe Baier and their wives attend the Pharmaceutical Convention at Milwaukee.  To Kiwanis luncheon Bill Kastner –Abe Kagan – Ozz Witte – myself and Leo Kagan guest of his dad.  Rabbi Max Raisin explained the Jewish High Holy Days.  This afternoon to pay our last respects to Lou Embs at Fiss and Bills.  Her sisters Frances Wirtz – Ann Bartelt and Helen Ziebell were there.

28.  Wednesday: This evening I attend that dinner in honor of members of the Kenosha Chamber of Commerce and City officers at the Athearn.  The local chamber entertains them.  Speakers: Al Axtell – City Manager –Norm Greening and Charles Dilday President and Secretary of the Kenosha Chamber.  Marty Mondl presided.  Mayor Siewert welcomed the guests.  After the dinner two chartered busses took them to the South Side to see our Mercury Vapor System of Lighting.  I took them into our store, not much to show them.  Later we had a booth at the Athearn, Norm – Charles – Virginia – Marty, myself –Fred the photographer.

29.  Thursday: [T] Yesterday afternoon I dressed Thres’s limb the second time.  It looks much improved, but will be sometime before it will be healed.  I’m back again with much stomach gas and pains on my right side.

30.  Friday: Took Mary Ann to the Mode tonite “Gone with the Wind” Clark Gable - Vivian Leigh - Olivia DE Havilland - Leslie Howard and Huge Supporting Cast.

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