Diary of Alfred E. Potter July, 1955

01.  Friday: [T] Mother and me

02.  Saturday: Had a call from Donald at 3 A.M. that he's bringing Debbie and Donnie, took Arline to the hospital and at 4:47 a 9 lb. 2 oz. baby boy [Mark John] is born to her, other dimensions Head 14 - Shoulders 16 - Chest 14 ½ - Abdomen 1 - Hips 13 ½ - Length 22 inches.

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05.  Tuesday: [T] Arline is ready to come home. I suggested they bring her to our house. Mother and I would stay at the cottage, and so they did. Mary Ann stays with them. Otto is still painting the dining room at Don's. Virginia Williams is elected president of the Oshkosh School Board at the Board Meeting.

06.  Wednesday: [1 R Mons. Bastian    1 R Fatima    M 3 M] Karl Kieckhaefer is in this morning at my office in regard to a policy for our little grand – son.  Bought a 10 Pay – 10000 for him.  I spent most of the day at the cottage.  Picked up Aunt Annie Heip at 6 Oclock.  Rose gets the job of baby sitting for Marion’s baby while Annie is with us at the cottage.

July 7, 1955 news clipping

07.  Thursday: [1 R Rose Binder    M 6 M] Took Annie back home this morning, but she is back again this afternoon with Otto and Emma Lemke – and Thres Fretschl.  They spend nine hours with mother at the cottage playing Canasta – Sheephead and Pokeno.  Mary Ann and me have our supper at Wirtz’s.  I had the noon meal with Donald’s family.  Paid last respects to Walter Allmus at Konrads.

08.  Friday: [R 2 M] Otto Lemke has completed his paint job at Donald’s and the family moved home this afternoon.  They were at our house exactly 3 days.

09.  Saturday: [M 12 M] Fred - Loretta Baumgartner - Art - Margaret Mueller leave for points East this morning. Had company at the office this morning - Sisters Mathilda and Alverna, their first look. Franz Stampfer is in to see about permission to get work in Milwaukee for Bucyrus. The new Butte des Morts bridge is opened to traffic. It is quite an affair. The Governor Walter Kohler, is here for the dedication. We have more company at the house tonite. Karl – Margaret – Gail - Jimmy Radomski - Mrs. Theodore (Anna Drexler) - Rose Gittings from Chicago - Harry and Agnes Kujawa. Quite a reunion.

10.  Sunday: [Bob Paulick married 10 years.  TG] Somewhat cooler this morning. We are at 7³⁰ Low Mass. Father Schorn's sermon is on true contrition, he also speaks of the modesty in attire among the female sex. Well our little grandson is baptized today by Father Milbauer. Name: Mark John. Sponsors Floyd Esslinger and Our Mary Ann. Had Don and family for dinner. Floyd could not come. Don takes the baby to the Sisters for a visit. Sisters Mathilda, Alverna, Mary ___ are the only Sisters now home. They all take turns holding Mark. Sister Alverna wins the longest hold almost an hour.  Annette Timmerman entertains at a steak fry this afternoon at her home.  Present Mary Ann – Rose Weisheipl – Ginny –Grace Sitter –Margaret Tadych – Marge Haverty -

Com.  Deceased Holy Name Members.

11.  Monday: [1 R Fatima 1 R. Anna Drexler 1 R Monsignor Bastian 1 R Joseph Weisheipl   M 3 M] Bobbie Paulick is in to see me this morning.  He tells me he is married 10 years yesterday.

12.  Tuesday: [1 R Fatima] To Kiwanis Club – Al Bellmer District governor is with us.  Attended Cemetery board meeting it is a long lasting one, many bills to be OK’d.

13.  Wednesday: [R. Caroline Baier R Matt Baier] Attended business mens rural tour with Ed Binder Rudy Haveman – John Greenough also attended.  Had a fine trip about 85 miles.  Visited farm where bulk milk is cooled –Sunset New School – Elo Church – remodeled by the parishioners, ended with Chicken Barbecue at Winneconne Park.  Barry Hayes explained the making of chicken barbecue.  Home at 8⁰⁰ on the way to the cottage my auto engine developed over heat, stopped at ___ place.  He tells me I had a leaky water hose – hurried to town George Bonack put on a new one.  Arrived at cottage about 9³⁰.  Don family and Mrs. Andrashko, Aunt Annie are there.  Aunt Annie’s Bingo Club spend the day at the Cottage: Elsie Kirsch –Rose Miller –Alvina Putzer – Katie Duex – Mary Schneider – Johanna Miller – Annie Weisheipl – Clara Andrashko – Clara Bischoff – Emma Heppler.

14.  Thursday: [Norm Brown to Winnebago.  R Grandma Baier] Bernice Novitch birthday.  She is 44.  Our Philco Refrigerator is working poorly.  Two men from Appliance Mart had to put in a new Control.  Mrs. Frank Kriz called about Donald’s fuel bill.

15.  Friday: Norm Brown is now at Winnebago State Hospital.  He had been at Sacred Heart Milwaukee for five days, could not keep him there, then also tried Shorewood Hospital, does not seem to be the right place for his case.

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17.  Sunday: [R Joe Weisheipl] To 7³⁰ Low Mass Father Milbauer spoke on Confession.  Rev. M. David Fetter receives a call to Salem Lutheran Church Detroit Michigan and is ready to accept.  He came to Oshkosh Aug. 28th 1946 and will preach his farewell sermon here Sunday, Aug. 28. 

Com.  Monsignor Bastian.

18.  Monday: [R Fatima] After a busy morning at the store I’m all set to take the afternoon and evening off at the cottage.  At 1³⁰ I get a visitor Father Bernard ___ who is assistant to Msgr. Fitkau at St. Boniface Society.  He staid until 3³⁰ P.M.  Had a pleasant visit, I also helped him out with information in regard to a list of donors he had from Oshkosh.  I then got busy cleaning up the boathouse, tore out the winch George Mertz had put in years ago I got no use out of it.  Luckily Don came out and brought our junk to town.

19.  Tuesday: Brought the folks back to town this morning. Billy is out at 5 A.M. for fishing. Attended Chamber of Commerce Steering Com. meeting at the Athearn this noon. John Callinan, Geo. Wagner, Harry Glick, Mort Gazerowitz, John Greenough, A.E. Potter. Two hour parking in business areas - and Uniform opening and closing time for businesses on Main Street on the agenda. No more free rides on busses on special sale days. At 3¹⁵ we left with Ed and Dess Wirtz for Two Rivers to visit with Father Alphonse Wagner. He is at St. Marks parish, we had quite a time locating the place, had dinner at Arts 151 Club near Manitowoc, back home at 12.15 A.M. Father Alphonse looks very good.

20.  Wednesday: [R George Stopper R Fatima] We are back at the cottage this morning, took Aunt Annie Heip with us.  Emma Siewert Lemke comes this afternoon.  Joanne Mauritz –Doris Heisler come at 1 P.M. to spend the afternoon and evening.  Don brings his family out for the evening.  I took a drive to Joe Nehl’s to pay a debt I owed him for several years for work in our back yard at the cottage.  I accomplished quite a bit of cleaning up at the boat house and shore.

21.  Thursday: [R Fatima] The 18 Club (Card Club) of the SSBM Auxiliary spend the day at the cottage which means I must have cocktails ready for them.  They enjoyed a beautiful day, two are missing Leone Dodd and Mrs. Alma Thobaben.  Official temperature is 90° today.

22.  Friday: [R Fatima R Grandma Baier] Gerald Calder is somewhat upset about the poor service he is getting on his orders from our South Store.  Well I promptly get the boys busy and good service is restored – I hope.  Talked to Sybelle Brown today over the phone.  She tells me Norm is now at Winnebago State Hospital.  Was moved there a week ago yesterday.  He was at Sacred Heart San. only 5 days and then moved to Shorewood Hospital.

23.  Saturday: Art Mueller and Fred Baumgartner are back from their vacation. They visited many places of interest especially around Washington. Don and family are at the cottage with mother. Don burns up a lot of hay and rubbish. I worked on his orders and hope to have them out for him by tomorrow. Konrad Funeral Home marks 80 years in business in Oshkosh. William Konrad founded a furniture and embalming business in May 1875. Moved to 103 Waugoo in 1929.

24.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass Monsignor Gerald Fitkau celebrant.  He also made his appeal for the St. Boniface Society which he is head of in this country.  Completed the completed the orders for Donald and then we are headed for the Oshkosh Power Boat Club with Thres and Ed Fretschl where the Annual Outing of our Employees takes place.  It is an ideal day and was spent very sanely by our entire group, they all enjoyed it very much.  We are back home at 9 P.M. Arlene and Mary Ann spent the evening at the Raulf Theatre. 

Com.  Geo. Stopper.

25.  Monday: [R Fatima T] The temperatures are going up again.  Father Kraus and Msgr. Fitkau are looking for me this morning.  I had quite a visit with Msgr. Fitkau this afternoon at my office.  He is headed for Stevens Point and then Minneapolis.  Father Kraus will stay at 2 weeks more.  Company at the Cottage tonight Laurence and Audrey Kinateder – Leon and Dolores Moore and boys Gary – Lee and.  Marge Weisheipl is on vacation this week.

26.  Tuesday: [R Fatima] Well it is hot today 99° official.

27.  Wednesday: Still hot 94° today.

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29.  Friday: We all are back in town this morning. Annie Heip was with us for 3 days. Mother gets a permanent wave this afternoon. Had a severe electrical storm, had been thundering heavily since noon but did not begin to rain until 2 P.M. and then it came down in buckets. Took Donald and family to Columbus Club for dinner and then to the Oshkosh Theatre to see “Davy Crockett” with Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen and “Hansel and Gretel” Fairyland Color by Walt Disney.

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31.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Mass Father Schorn. Worked all morning getting out orders. Ohio Street Merchants have their childrens parade and picnic today. We have Bill - Rose - Joanne - Billy - Barbara Mauritz, Joe - Faye - Joey - Mary Jane Baier, Ray - Ann - Judy - Carol Ostertag, Clarence - Florence Westphal, Don - Arlene - Debbie - Donnie - Mark Potter, Jean Horejs, Carol Schmidt and Grandpa Joe and Grandma Barbara Mauritz at the cottage. Grandpa and Grandma Mauritz have been looking forward to this occasion. Told them to be sure and come once more this year. Party broke up at 11.30 P.M.

Com.  William Hiatpas