Diary of Alfred E. Potter March, 1953

01.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents. Mama is with the Council of Catholic Women at St. Johns Church, where they have their annual day of recollection. After services this afternoon we visit with Joe and Annie Weisheipl, then over town for a stop at the North Store and then to Sitters to pay our last respects to Theresa Wolf. This evening I work until 7³⁰ and then Mama and me attend the Concert of the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra at South Park Gym.

Com.  Frank Biebl

M. O. Theresa Wolf

02.  Monday: [R 4 M] Norm Brown and Seville became grandpa and grandma Saturday.  Barbara bore a little girl.  She and baby are doing very well.  Norm is with us today for chicken dinner.  Thres to Kurt Zentners for cards this afternoon.  She gets no prize.  Brought Emma Siewert for supper.  Tonite to Christian Mothers meeting.  Pictures were shown of the Eucharistis Congress by ___ Jungwirth.  Norbert Mueller is laid up with a sore foot, and Art Hazen is doing relief for him at the West store.  Visited Tony Pable this evening and learn he’s been sick since October.

03.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon, had Harvey Lhost and Kenny Sepersky as guests.  Paul Max gave an exhibition on rope throwing and he also had some rope tricks up his sleeve.  Ma and Mary Ann and Joann Mauritz attend Civic Music’s last concert tonight.  Is a substitute concert very well presented by Robert McDowell, Pianist, at the High School Recreation.  Saw Billy Mauritz at home this evening.  He hurt his knee in a fall yesterday while going from one class to another.  Advised him to see a doctor, It might be more serious than he thinks.  I attend stations and Perpetual Help Devotion at St. Vincents tonite.

04.  Wednesday: [T   R 4 M] Rose Gittings birthday, also Bob Kniss our former Lilly representative.  Thres has company tonight.  Mrs. John Plein 52 Mrs. Elmer Utic 49 Emma Lemke 37 Ma Potter 29, at sheephead.  I took Mary Ann and Joann Mauritz to the Mode Theatre.  “The Greatest Show on Earth” is the picture.

05.  Thursday: Paid last respects to Josephine Kinsler this morning. She is laid to rest, services at St. Johns Church. Joe Baier has a sudden sick spell this afternoon, a very upset stomach. Hope it is'nt his old stomach and Ulcer upset. I attend the special meeting of the executive committee and directors of the "Oshkosh Centennial Corporation.” Dick Rutledge is elected chairman of the directors.

M.O. Mrs. James Kinsler

06.  Friday: [R 4 M] To 6⁴⁵ Mass celebrated by Monsignor Bastian.

07.  Saturday: Our Mary Ann’s birthday.  She is 23 but does not look it.  We have a birthday party for her at Fausts supper club.  We also bring our birthday cake along.  Ray and Mrs. Trovinger are there also, celebrating for Lloyd Minckler, teller at First Nat. Bank.  Lloyd also has a birthday today.  We share our birthday cake with them and Lloyd gives Mary Ann a kiss.  Joseph Stalin, Russian prime minister and most powerful dictator in history died yesterday at 12.50 P.M. our time.  Ten physicians attended him.

08.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass with Holy Name Society. Then to work. This afternoon we attend opening if the new Winnebago County Hospital a 2300000 dollar job. It is modern in every detail. It can accommodate 300 patients. We then stop to visit Joe and Annie Weisheipl. Don and Arlene attend the marriage course. I'm back at the store to make out orders. Harry and Agnes Kujawa drop in about 9 Oclock for a short visit. Georgi M. Malenkov, 51 years old tank and plane production expert succeeds Joseph Stalin.

Com.  Mrs. James Kinsler

09.  Monday: [R 4 M] Monsignor William Reul leaves for Florida today.  I seem to have an off day today.  I just feel lousy all day.  Served as Honor Guard tonite at Fiss and Bills, at the Bier of Father Francis J Fiss, retired uncle of Chuck Fiss.

10.  Tuesday: At St. Peters Church at 8.45 A.M.  Honor Guard with Tony Serwas – Harold Seal – Robert Plier – John Fitzgerald –Ed Wirtz.  Served from 9 A.M. to time of service and then through service and at cemetery.  Home at 11.30 then to P.O. and North and South Stores, then home for change of suits and to Kiwanis luncheon.  David Rubinoff plays for us on his “Violin.” He will give a concert at the Grand Theatre tonite, auspices Rotary Club.  After lunch to Simpsons for treatment, then to Security Bank, then more work and at 4³⁰ pick up mother to vote.  Our numbers 614-615-616.

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13.  Friday: [R 4 M] Mother gets new glasses today from Pete Fox.

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15.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass Fr. Milbauer.  Breakfast and then to work.  Again very busy at Postal Station.  Run out of M.O, Applications, luckily Ray Novotny could help me out.  Almost took a nap this afternoon at least 15 minutes, then a call to fill Rx at the store, then picked up Thres and over to Mercy Hospital to see Mary.  She tells the folks I’m her cousin and also tells me she will be home all day tomorrow and I should tell the Mrs. to visit her.  The Mrs. was standing right next to me.  More work tonite, took over $12000 to the post office at 9.45 PM. 

Com.  Mary Reif

16.  Monday: [R 4 M] Norm Brown is with us for “pigs hocks” and Sauerkraut.  The hocks are really good sized ones.  Thres plays cards with S.S. Bus. Mens Auxiliary at Leone Dodd’s and makes what I think is a record for 60 hands, she made 80 points.  Eddie Froetschl Jr. is 37 years of age today.

17.  Tuesday: Talked to Ray Novotny about Clement Hazen.  Ray tells me to have him file another application.  Clem is now classified.  His present run is from West Bend to Chicago.  To Kiwanis luncheon Bob Petersen, Lawrence College Appleton is with us again, this time to tell us about his adventures in Spain last summer, he also showed slides.

18.  Wednesday: [R 4 M] Edward and Florence Weisheipl take Bobbie down to Madison General Hospital to have Bobbies face corrected, it is something we have not noticed but it must be something that is evidently bothering him.

19.  Thursday: [R 2 M   TVG] Bob Voelz is in my office today, tells me he’s taking a short vacation, just to get away from business.  He looks as than has ever.  We pay our last respects to Joe Girens this afternoon at Fiss and Bills.  This is Ed Ledvina’s birthday.  He is manager of the local telephone exchange.

20.  Friday: [R 4 M] Spring begins today at 4.01 PM it is quite cold out, but our snow is pretty well gone.  Thres and I go to Dr. Bill Wagner for another checkup.  Trust is doing fine, pressure is 180 over 110, slight trace of albumen, I’m better than I think according to the doctor.  Your and is negative, pressure is   .  St. Vincents 40 hour devotion begins this morning.  Had a call from Sister Irene today.  She has a letter from Joseph Rieger stating he has his visa.  It is now up to me to send him his ticket.  Also saw Mrs. Alois Tschech who had two young men brought over from Germany.

21.  Saturday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass, Father Wagner has Mass at the side altar.  The Eddie Weisheipl’s came back last night, Eddie tells me not much was done for Bobbie, the doctors say he is a nervous child and will no doubt outgrow this nervousness as he gets older. 

Com.  Stanislaus Jarosch

22.  Sunday: To 8⁰⁰ oclock Mass with Knights of Columbus who have their annual Easter Communion and breakfast.  About 350 to 400 attended.  Had Arlene and Donny Jr. over to the house and then to work.  This afternoon we visit the New Home of the Sisters of Sacred Heart Congregation.  It is modern in every detail and the Sisters are very happy.  Then over to visit Aunt Mary.  She sings a new version of Silent Night.  Then to visit Uncle Joe Weisheipl and Aunt Annie.  Then supper, Otto Lemke picks Thres up for the playoff in the sheephead tournament at K.C. Club.  I served as 4th Degree Guard of Honor at St. Vincents close of 40 Hours devotion.

Com.  Katherine Holzbauer

23.  Monday: [R 2 M] Norm Brown calls at the store but is not with us for dinner.  Took a drive to Milwaukee this afternoon with Thres and Mary Ann.  In Milwaukee at Lisbon and Sarnow had a collision with a car driven by Otto Hildebrandt working for Novelty Cleaners at 733 E. Capitol Drive.  He drove into my path without me seeing him.  Was able to drive my car, but left fender is badly dented, light is smashed, hood is sprung, left door is sprung.  Drove to Pfister Hotel to the Cook Travel Bureau to get advice on Airplane fare to bring Joseph Rieger to this country then to register at Wisconsin Hotel.  Nice room #754 then to buy tickets for sport show, had “Dinner” at George Diamonds Steak House” then to sports show, then a walk, a bottle of beer and night cap, read paper and its 1 A.M. – to bed.

24.  Tuesday: Met George Best.  Had breakfast at Coffee Shop then up to our room, phoned the store at home, then Badger – then Lakeside Labs – Broadway Church Goods House.  We are on our way home at 11 Oclock, near West Bend, hood of car flew up, second car back of us made a complete turn around and breaks locked.  Stopped at West Bend, tie down the hood, home at 2 P.M.

25.  Wednesday: [R 4 M] Off Aunt Mary at the Hospital.  Mrs. Pan Drexler brings over Sister Phillip Bertha to see me at the office.  Sister is leaving for Europe April 5th, Easter Sunday.  Saw Sister Irene this afternoon we decide on bringing Joe Rieger over on Tourist cabin rate.  Joan Mauritz is over for supper tonite.  We all attend Raulf Theatre to see “I Love Melvin” with Donald O’Connor – Debbie Reynolds –Una Merkel – Richard Anderson also “Tangier Incident” with George Brent – Mari Aldon.

26.  Thursday: Pete Beck brings over a new Pontiac for me to drive while my De Soto is being repaired. Little Donnie gets his first haircut today. A new “Oregon St. Merchants Association” was formed Monday night. Hubert Krumrich, President John Rohner, Vice Pres.- Joe Pollack, Secy Treas.

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28.  Saturday: Pete Beck is over to pick up the Pontiac.  I’ve decided not to buy a new car just yet.

29.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass.  Father Wagner.  Father Milbauer reads the Passion.  The day is clear and cold, temp. 35° at 7³⁰.  Joe and Hazen on today.  This afternoon we visit Aunt Mary.  She tells me Johnnie put some nice ribbons in her hair.  Met Chuck Garbrecht, his mother is in the same room with Mary.  Then visited Joe Weisheipl Sr. Eddie and family are there, also Max and Thres Weisheipl. 

Com.  Joe Werner

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31.  Tuesday: Kenny Sepersky is in town took him along to Kiwanis luncheon.