Diary of Alfred E. Potter July, 1951

01.  Sunday [T] To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents.

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03.  Tuesday: [T] Attended Kiwanis luncheon at American Legion Club today.  Bob Bork gave a report of his experiences at St. Louis National Convention.  Rain most of the day.  Cork Weisheipl took Annie to the cottage this afternoon.  Matty also went along.  Tonite after work I took Joe Weisheipl along.  It was late almost 11.45 was caught in a severe storm on the way, could hardly see to drive.  We did not play cards, after a snack and beer we called it a day.

04.  Wednesday: It rained plenty during the night and it is still raining.  Took Joe Heip back to town, brought Thres Fretschl back with me.  I did some more work in the boathouse during the afternoon the ladies played Canasta.  This evening Otto Lemke and Emma Siewert came out stayed until 12³⁰ A.M.  An evening well spent, lots of fun.

05.  Thursday: Took Thres Fretschl back home this morning.  The skies are clear and it looks a nice day ahead.  I threw the boat in the lake, Bob Brand drove his back to town.  This evening I attended exhibition ball game, The Minneapolis Millers against Oshkosh.  Our boys were really scared of them.  It ended up with a score of 14 for Minneapolis 1 for us.

06.  Friday: A Mrs. Fred H Mann 3135 S. Herman St. Milwaukee Sh 4 – 0874 left a purse at the store with a fair sized sum of money at the store.  Evidently made a purchase and forgot it.  Laura E. Mann Soc. Sec XXX-XX-XXX (numbers omitted from post.)

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08.  Sunday: [T] Art Mueller and family leave for Brush Colorado this morning at 6 Oclock to visit Peggy and family.  Jean Powers –Hank Loewen and another couple leave for New York early this morning.  Have had rain most of the night and more this morning.  Don Gerth birthday, he is 22. To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents Holy Name Monsignor Bastian – Sermon Father Wagner about General Confession.  When and when not necessary for advisable.  Worked all morning.  Thres and self visited Aunt Mary this afternoon.  Took Bill and Rose Mauritz along to the cottage for few hours, brought them back in when I called for Mary Ann at the store.  Delivered Mrs. Fred H Mann’s purse to Mrs. Joe Zarter 644 -11 St. Learned that she is a sister to Mrs. Zarter.  Also visited Gratian Schneider this afternoon.  He is doing very well.

Com.  Deceased Members Holy Name

09.  Monday: To Retail Division Farm Meet, but no meeting its tomorrow.  Well its OK with me.  Im very busy anyway.  Took Norm Brown along to the cottage this noon for the Pork and Dumpling meal with the trimmings.  Dr. Ray Wagner was in to see me today to pay for the film of our European trip.  I told him, it is not for sale.  Father Alphonse Wagner out to the cottage tonight about Emma and Otto Wedding.  Thres and I burning up rubbish at the lake, our first evening which is pleasant.

10.  Tuesday: To retail Farm Market Meeting at 10 A.M. Chamber of Commerce.  We are ready to raise funds for our project.  To Kiwanis Meet this noon Henry Zentner – Ed Olson – _____ Burdick Ralph Witherbee and self at table.  I did not stay for program, too busy paying bills.  Took Thres in at suppertime.  Emma Siewert is thru at Baldy Meyers today.  She had been there 2 ½ years.  Think she’ll miss the children.  Mrs. Meyer takes are out to Maxine’s where she spends the day

11.  Wednesday: South Side Business Mens Auxiliary picnic at Wrasse’s cottage.  Its cool and the ladies spend the day inside.  Thres made a loaf of Rye Bread for them.  Mary Ann and myself drove to Otto’s Hi K for the evening dinner, no place for us there, back to town to the Roxy and had a nice tenderloin dinner there.  Met John Kinderman and wife Ruth Morgan sister to Mrs._____ Ross.  Had a short visit with Joe and Cork.  They play from 8.45 to 12.45.  Played cards at the cottage until 1³⁰ A.M.

12.  Thursday: Tried to collect some money for Farm Market Day, saw Sid Hirschberg for 15 dollars.  Took Thres Fretschl along to the cottage this noon.  Worked this evening until 9³⁰.  Back to the cottage cards of the ladies until 1³⁰ A.M.  Learned today that Father Michael Drexler – Anna his mother and Annie Weisheipl visited Aunt Mary Monday afternoon.  Mary did not know Father Mike but thought he was a very nice man.

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14.  Saturday: We almost went to the booster ball game tonite but we had a date at our house with Father Wagner –Otto Lemke and Emma Siewert.  Thres and I had to be witnesses on papers pertaining to their approaching marriage.  We had to swear on the Bible – but Father used our New Testament.

15.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Mass Monsignor Bastian Father Milbauer, Sermon.  Worked this morning.  To the cottage afternoon.  Donald – Arlene – Billy Mauritz bring out the motor for the boat.  It works very well.  Fished but no fish.  When the folks went home I started cleaning up our shore.  Then along comes Otto and Emma.  Had a wiener roast on our new outdoor stove, delicious says Otto, I’ll take 4 and he did.  After dark we are in for cards, score: 12 games Mama 1, - Emma 1 –Mary Ann 5 Myself 5 Otto 000.  What a white washing he got. 

Com.  Anton Holzbauer Jr.

16.  Monday: [R 2 M] Not too pleasant out.  Joe and Marge Weisheipl spend the afternoon at the cottage, their first visit in years.  Joe is an expert at “Cribbage” but Ma Potter takes him for a few games.  Ha!  Ha!  It doe’snt pay to be an expert.  Marge has her vacation this week and we hope to have them out again.  I cleaned up some more down by the lake, tonite.  Rose Weisheipl back on the job after a weeks vacation.

17.  Tuesday: [T] Short meeting Chamber of Commerce 10 A.M.  Kiwanis Round Table this noon.  Took John Bolger (Bauer & Black) along as a guest.  Otto Lemke brings Emma Siewert to the cottage this morning and brings Mary Ann to town.

18.  Wednesday: [R 2 M] Took Thres Fretschl and Annie Heip to the cottage this noon.  This evening started cleaning up the back yard at the cottage.  Had quite a visit with Martin and Jeanette Mondle, met Mr. and Mrs. _____ Seiferth.  Ben Fretschl comes out to put new handle on kitchen stove oven.  He had quite a job, door is sprung.  The ladies played cards most of the afternoon, I started playing with them at 9³⁰ played until 1³⁰ lunch and to bed, couch for me – bed for the ladies.  Father Ed Wagner – Two Rivers former assistant St. Vincents celebrates his “Silver Jubilee” in the priesthood today.

19.  Thursday: [R 2 M] Am tired this morning, but no rest for the wicked.  Its a beautiful day.  Our De Soto hit the 10 000 mile mark as I drove in at home this morning.  Another dinner meeting of the Retail Division C. of C.  Present W^m Petri – _____ Mueller – Al Potter, rest non voters.  Plans approved and money voted for Christmas Parade.  The Bingo Club is at our cottage today: Jennie Miller – Mary Schneider –Ann Drexler – Rose Miller –Elsie Kirsch –Mary Fenzl – Carrie Schneider – Katie Duex –Alvina Kalous – Alvina Putzer –Mary Miller – Emma Siewert – Annie Heip – Thres Fretschl – Helen Drexler – and Thres Potter

20.  Friday: [R 2 M    T] Brought in Annie Heip and Emma Siewert.  Emma is back at Baldy Meyers today to help out.  Mrs. Blanchard stayed only one week, said the work was too much for her.  Dr. Ray Wagner also attended Father Ed Wagners celebration Wednesday.  On the way home about 1³⁰ Thursday A.M. he hit a deer on the highway near Appleton.  Smashed the Grill on his Chrysler.  He seems to be making a habit of breaking grills.  He suffered quite a shock at the time.  He thot he hit a man.  Elsie is also pretty much perturbed.  Back to town tonite.

21.  Saturday: Had a terrific windstorm early this morning and plenty of rain to.  Crown Prince Wilhelm von Hohenzollern who was raised to become kaiser in Germany died of heart disease at the age of 69.  He passed away yesterday, in a small villa.  King Abdullah of Jordan was assassinated yesterday as he was entering a mosque.  Drove to the cottage tonight and find our refrigerator out of order, our lights caring a heavy overload, our rumpus room light burned out.  Visited Aunt Mary at the hospital tonite.

22.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents A Missionary from Pakistan speaks to the congregation.  About eleven this morning out to the cottage with Edwin Radke.  We have a load of 180 volts and had to go to Omro to have the wires straightened between our cottage and Brand’s to restore our electrical service.  This afternoon we are back at the cottage.  Mary Ann work today.  This evening Thres had company Joe – Celia – Corrinne Drexler and 3 nurses.

23.  Monday: [R 2 M] Took Norman Brown to the cottage this noon.  After the meal Norm gets a notion to have a bon fire.  We had more than that.  Burned off part of Geffer’s Weeds also.  And then what happened.  We went for a swim Norm and I.  The first swim in the lake in 5 years for me.  And the water was grand.  After supper I’m burning more rubbish until 9 P.M.

24.  Tuesday: [R 4 M    TEG] We are back in town, Thres to do her washing and canning raspberries.  Bought berries at Rasmussen’s this morning.  This noon to Kiwanis luncheon.  After luncheon took Farm Tour to Lawrence Schnells – Bud Allen’s –Miracles – Boss, big farm operators, Floyd Miller – Vern Peroutky-Clarence Westphal all were there.  Lawrence Bradley and Bob Horn took me around.  Only 12 Kiwanians attended.  Had lunch at the Conservation Dept Park.  Back to the cottage tonite.

25.  Wednesday: Took Thres Fretschl – Annie – Bobby – Tommy Weisheipl along this noon, also Ed Fretschl.  Father Wagner is at Poklasny’s he borrowed our boat and motor.  Al Behring and his family all over to see us.  Ed and Florence Weisheipl com during the afternoon.  Don – Arlene – Debby for supper.  Had wiener and sausage roast with cheese etc.  Bon fire for the evening.  Ed and I chopped out plum trees.  When the folks went home, cards for the four of us until 2 A.M.

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27.  Friday: [T] Took Annie Heip back to town this morning.

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29.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass Msgnr Bastian, Father Wagner sermon on penance, how to confess and sincere resolution to do better.  We have our meal at the cottage at 1 P.M.  Don – Arlene – Don Gerth and Diane come out around 3 P.M.  We boat to the sand dock for a swim, the water is just dandy.  The boys are really rough with Diane.  When we get back Emma and Otto and Ed – Thres Fretschl are there.  Wiener roast at the lake.  Fretschl is very much surprized at what we did yesterday.  Harry – Agnes – Johnny – Mary Kujawa blow in about 8³⁰.  Don is back at 10 oclock.  The folks play cards until 12 midnight.  Harry and family left at 11⁰⁰.  All in all it was a perfect day.  I had a special delivery letter from Emma Baier with a note to Joe, he should take her home today.

Com.  Caroline Baier

30.  Monday: [R 4 M] Had Norm Brown to the cottage this noon.  His birthday was yesterday.  I believe he’s 43.  Loretta Kargus on vacation this week.

31.  Tuesday: [R 2 M] This is Ed Worm’s birthday, I send him a comic birthday card and one about the tomatoes.  Had Bob Fisher and Harvey Lohst as guest to Kiwanis luncheon.  Emma Siewert out to the cottage, had Otto there also for noon meal.  Otto brought Mary Ann to town.  Thres had more company this afternoon, Jo Nolte – Louise Haveman – Meta Shekey – Rose Binder – Mayme Siewert.  Louise feels exceptionally good.