Diary of Alfred E. Potter December, 1953

01.  Tuesday: [10½ hrs.] The South Side Business Auxiliary have their Christmas party at the Athearn Hotel this evening.  It is preceded by a dinner, and followed by court whist.  I attended Perpetual Help Devotion.  Billy Mauritz gets notice to take his physical examination December 17 at Milwaukee prior to being drafted.  I worked 10½ hours today.

02.  Wednesday: [R 4 M   9 ½ hrs.] Well Aunt Annie Heip has another birthday, she is 71 and well.  Rose Weisheipl has some very nice pictures at the store of Marion and Bob on their wedding day.  Took Thres and Emma to Mrs. Apell 241 ½ W. New York Avenue for tournament sheephead tonite.  Mrs. Schaffer on Parkway plays also.  Temperature today up to 47°and tonite we have rain and fog.  Worked 9½ hours today.

03.  Thursday: [11 hrs.] Not much to report so far unless things begin to happen.  Worked eleven hours today.

04.  Friday: [R 4 M   7 hrs.] Christmas shopping is beginning in earnest.  All of our store are very busy.  North 1700, South 1500.  I worked 7 hours today.  This evening to the Mode to see “Desert Song” starring Kathryn Grayson- Gordon Mac Rae- Raymond Massey; also “A Christmas Carol” starring Alastair Sim as “Scrooge.”

05.  Saturday: [6 hrs. 56 ½ hrs.] We are having more rain looks like another busy day coming up.  Had quite a snow and wind storm at Milwaukee yesterday.  Wind hit 55 miles per hour.  Two large windows S. W. Corner Gimbels store at W. Michigan and North Plankinton shattered before 2 P.M. also a sheet metal worker was blown to his death in Cudahy, plunged 45 feet, he was Rob Rothlisberg 22 of 2401 N. 53rd Street.

06.  Sunday: [5 ½ hrs.] To 7³⁰ Hi Mass – Father Milbauer.  Today’s special collection “Shrine of the Immaculate Conception” Washington, D.C. I also paid my Bazaar Donation.  Worked part time this afternoon.  Tonite assisted at the Rosary for Karl Kempinger.  Our postage meter is on the fritz this morning.  I got Rose Weisheipl to come to fix it.  After ½ hour trying she quit.  I tried until 11 P.M. to get Hans Huse, repair man.  Rose – Marge Heip – Mary Mueller –Elaine K – Ginny Abrams – Grace Sitter – Maude Labudde –Annette Timmerman, our Mary Ann have their Christmas party at Van Camps tonite. 

Com.  Carl Kempinger. 

Worked 5 ½ hours today.

07.  Monday: [R 4 M   1 R C Kempinger   9 hrs.] Mary Ann got home at 1.30 this morning.  The Girls had a great time at the party, they also visited Jake Skall’s Wonder Bar.  Mary Ann met Peter De Lane who knows Norm Brown well.  Mary Ann called long distance last night and had me buy an after dinner drink by long distance for the girls.  Well I got Mr. Huse down from Appleton this morning to fix our postage meter, but there was nothing wrong with that, it merely ran out of postage, and was Rose’s face red.  Norm Brown is over this noon, he has a cold.  Thres plays cards at Joe Nolte’s this afternoon, and to Christian Mothers Christmas party tonite.  Took treatment this afternoon.

08.  Tuesday: [T   9 ½ hrs.] To 6³⁰ Mass – Father Wagner.  Took Joe with us.  Learned yesterday that Auburn and Jeanette Phelps are on a three month trial separation since ___.  Joe had two young lady visitors last night.  He is back home at 11.20 P.M.  Assisted as guard with KC at the closing of 40 Hours at St. Mary’s.  Sermon Father Spaulding about Holy Thursday, the First Holy Eucharist.  I was named to the Riverside Cemetery Board last night by the City Common Council.  Auburn Phelps pulled in after 2 A.M. out at 6.50 A.M.

Com.  Hon. Immaculate Conception

09.  Wednesday: [R 4 M    5 ½ hrs.]   Ma and Mary Ann attend the Foresters Christmas party at St. Vincents.  We were also invited to the Catholic Knights of Columbus Christmas party at Sacred Heart.  I sent them a shaving set for a door prize. I visited with Don and Debbie and Don Jr. about an hour.  Don was babysitter.  Arlene was with Ma and Mary Ann and by the way, today is Arlene's birthday.  I think she's 23.  Auburn Phelps and Jeanette must be getting together for short intervals.  Last night he came in after 1 A.M. out at 6.50 A.M.

10.  Thursday: [9 ½ hrs.] Met Hugh Misdall at the North Store this morning.  He thought if I go South this winter I might need a luggage carrier, I think Hugh could stand a vacation.  Ma – Thres Froetschl and Emma Siewert are having a belated birthday celebration at Aunt Annie Weisheipl’s.  Annie gets a Pokeno Set for birthday present.  Joe Stauber has a birthday, he is 55.

11.  [8 hrs.]

12.  Saturday: [10 hr.  57 hours] To Mercy Hospital to see Sister Iranaea and Sister Philippine.  Aunt Mary is now in room 201.  She is in good spirits this morning.  Met Sister Marcella a Sister from New Mexico who is teaching near Port Washington.  I learn that Sister Aurelia is now in Danville New Jersey.  Worked 10 hours today.  Joe and Hans make the rounds tonight “The Eagles Club” The “V.F. Wars Hall” and “Westward Ho.” Wrote a letter to Monsignor W^m Renner.

13.  Sunday: [6 hr.] To 7³⁰ Hi Mass with Holy Name Soc.  Father Wagner – Father Milbauer preaches on Catholic Belief and Practice.  He especially stresses Tradition.  Worked 6 hours today.  Attended St. Vincents Christmas Cantata.  Donald takes pictures.  We had Debbie with us.  She was much interested and she was also very entertaining.  Dave and Mrs. Garcia were sitting ahead of us with their little girl.  They got quite a kick out of Debbie's wise remarks. Donald and family were with us until midnight.

Com.  For Bishop Bona.

14.  Monday: [R 4 M   7 ½ hrs.] Took Thres – Emma – and Mary Fenzl to Ostertags Tea Room for the Annual Christmas Party of their Ladies Auxiliary S.S.B.M. Card Club.  Dess Wirtz is taken suddenly ill before the party.  I took a treatment today.  Norm Brown is here today.  Ma has sandwiches for us.  Thres is at the Council of Catholic Women Christmas meeting and program.  Joe Weisheipl sprained or broke his ankle yesterday when getting into his car.

15.  Tuesday: [9 ½ hrs.] Jimmie Weisheipl is one year of age today.  I told the folks he is going to be a prize fighter.  Elaine Kolterjahn is 29 today.  Father Pimiskern is in my office for a visit this morning.  He tells me Father Bob Hogan at St. Peter’s is a very well to do priest, in fact the boys call him the wealthiest in the diocese.  Kenny Sepersky is in today for his final order of the year, and we made it $50000.  Kenny is elated because we are the first $50000 account he has ever had.  Wrote a letter to Sister Virginia.

16.  Wednesday: [R 4 M    9 ½ hrs.]  A nice day but cold about 7° above this morning. Paid last respects to Paul Sitter this morning at Konrads.  Visited Martha Hein Stauber at Mercy.  She is in Room 115.  Her arm is still in traction.  Met Mrs. John Birmingham in the same room.  Dropped in to see Joe Weisheipl Jr.  He is in room 146.  Took Marge to work.

17.  Thursday: [9 hrs.] Down to Mercy Hospital to see Joe and bring Marge to work.

18.  Friday: [R 4 M   9 hrs.] Had a new battery put in my Desoto, 32190 Miles on it.  To see Bob Conroy about Joe Weisheipl’s insurance.  Took Marge to work again this time from our North Store.  Joe Weisheipl has a cast put on his foot this morning.  Norm Brown is in to visit him.  We learn Joe has been to confession and is feeling like a new man.

19.  Saturday: [9 hrs.] Ed Froetschl gets his new set of upper teeth today.  Sybelle Brown has a birthday.

20.  Sunday: [7 hours] To 7³⁰ Hi Mass - Father Wagner.  To work at 9¹⁵.  Took over Post Office Window from 10-12³⁰ and from 6 to 8 in the evening.  Waited on approximately 450 people.  My feet are rather tired tonite.  Ate a little too much lunch after work and could not get to sleep until 1 A.M.

21.  Monday: [R 4 M  8 ½ hr.] Norm Brown is with us this noon, he also leaves some presents.

22. Tuesday: [12 ½ hrs.   T] Well its a busy day for me today.  Gossip Column According to Marge Weisheipl to Mary Ann she likes our present mode of life better than before.  Joe goes his way she goes her way.  He treats her much nicer this way.  According to Mrs. Leo Polishinski – Aubie Phelps gave Jeanette a licking last week.  She claims Auburn is allergic to beer whatever that means.  We thought everything was OK with them.  Don and I worked on the Doctors presents tonight.  I wrapped 109 packages and it took me to 12.30 A.M.  To bed at 2 A.M.

Found on December 22-23, 1953 pages

23.  Wednesday: [11 hrs.] The time is passing so fast these days we hardly realize that Christmas is almost here.  Another busy day, I paid bills wrote over 120 checks, tonite get out Ken Seperskys loaf of rye bread.  Mary Ann trims our tree tonite –Joe Helps Donald trim his.  Donald had to get a new battery for our Kiser car.  Donald and Billy Mauritz are out delivering presents to the Doctors.

24.  Thursday: [9 hours] Well I’m getting pretty tired, and maybe a little grouchy too.  Sunny Peck our Abbott salesman now in Milwaukee dropped in my office for a visit.  It was nice to see him.  Norm Brown was in to pick up his loaf of “Christmas Rye Bread.”

25.  Friday: [2 ½ hours] Attended Midnight Mass for Father Wagner (Celebrant) Father Spaulding – Father Milbauer (Sermon).  Back to work by 10 Oclock.  Matt Gregory Sitter at the PO had a nice chat, comparing notes about our physical condition.  Met Charles Juculano, learn that Victoria Hanson working at our North Store is his niece.  Her father George Goyke.  Charles was married 2 a Bolda.  Worked only 2 ½ days hrs. today.  Store closes at 12 Oclock.  Donald and family are with us for dinner and the rest of the day.  The children have lots of fun with their presents.  Donald took the children out to Felkers at 4³⁰ and at 6⁰⁰ we took Don and Arlene with us to the Strand to see Esther Williams – Van Johnson –Tony Martin in “Easy to Love” also Dennis O’Keefe – Coleen Gray in “The Fake” a Movie about fake famous Art Masterpieces. 

Com.  Intention of the Holy Father.

26.  Saturday: [5 ½ hours] Didn’t work too much today.  This afternoon we visit with Aunt Mary, she is about the same.  She does not know us.  Visited with Sister Irenaea and Sister Laurentina.  Learn that Annie Weisheipl slept on the back stairway over home and heard her knew, strained a ligament.

27.  Sunday: [4 hours] To 7³⁰ Mass – Father Milbauer.  Then to work.  This afternoon to visit Uncle Joe Weisheipls – Joe is much improved.  Marion and Bob come in, and Mrs. Lichtfuss –Bobs mother, she has the shrillest speaking voice I have ever heard.  I could’nt take it very long.  We exchange presents, I got a box of assorted small cheeses from Ed and Rose.  We had a surprize visit at the store this morning.  Dr. Harry Horwitz from Oakland California is spending time with his mother on Oregon Street.  After an hours worked this evening we attend the Oshkosh to see Bing Crosby – Claude Dauphin –Christin Fourcode in “Little Boy Lost” Rod Cameron -        Tab Hunter – John Dehner Richard Erdman “Die Eiserne Yungfrau.”

Com.  Virginia Muttart (Mrs. Paul) Nebl

28.  Monday: [R 4 M   8 ½ hrs.] Francis Lamb is in to make out our unemployment report.  I made a voluntary payment of 750 dollars.

29.  Tuesday: [T 10 ½ hr.] I have a cold on the way, at least it feels that way.

30.  [8½ hrs.]

31.  Thursday: [9½ hrs.] Well everybody is all hustle and bustle trying to get things cleaned up in the old year, and then celebrate.  I’m working on Federal Reports.  Worked until 9 P.M. making deliveries.  Took Thres out to Weisheipls at 7⁴⁵ and stopped at Fretschls, they did’nt hear me, Eddie Jr. was to their house with his family.  Took them out at 9 P.M. and had Uncle Joe play cards with us, I helped him along and he did very well, did not win a game until 12 midnight.  We leave for home at 1¹⁵ A.M.  Joe said it was the best evening he had for a long time.