Thursday, February 5, 2015

Diary of Alfred E. Potter June, 1954

01.  Tuesday: Well all are back on the job after the holidays.  It is raining again this morning.  Not much doing at Kiwanis luncheon today.  Wesley Schneider gave a resume of the National Convention at Miami with slides by Harold Harrington.  Got my speedometer back today, and it seems a bit different driving going 10 miles less an hour.  Norman and Sybelle have a new grandson.  Barbara is the lucky mother.
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03.  Thursday: [T] Joe Smith, local representative Upjohn Company is in this morning with some bad news.  He tells me he is fired.  Well Im sorry Joe.  He has been with Upjohn about 17 months, has three children and another one expected in August.  He is 27 and I hope he’ll have another job soon.  Another surprize this afternoon, Father Bob from Monticello Indiana is in to say “hello.” He brought two young men up to visit St. Lawrence Seminary.  May be they’ll be future students there.
04.  Friday: Ed Wolf regional director of Upjohn Company is in my office for an hours visit.  Father W. McKinnon, St. Margaret Mary Neenah Wisconsin is Ed’s brotherinlaw.  The sun is out today.  It looks like the rains are over with for a time.  We have our in evening meal at K.C. Club and then we drive to Berlin to see John Kujawa graduate with a class of 111.  Burton Kreitlow of U.W. is the speaker.  Father Julian Bieniewski, Invocation.  Harry brought “Mary” home from Milwaukee in time.  Visited at Harry’s until midnight.  Met Mr. and Mrs. Kurt.
05.  Saturday: This is another busy day around the Potter domicile.  Had Danny and Don over altho Don could not stay all afternoon.  We take off the winter storm windows and put on the screens and after that mother and I clean the garage.  The G.O.P. Republican Party celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Founding of the Party at Ripon.
06.  Sunday: Catholic High School Graduates have their religious service at St. Vincents 9 Oclock Solemn Hi Mass.  Father Wagner, assisted by Father is McKeough and Bunkleman.  Fourth Degree Knights stand guard during the entire service.  I almost was left out as I forgot my sword.  Rev. Thomas Peeters – former Marine Corps chaplain had a very good Sermon.  Took Donald and family along to Columbus Club for dinner.  After that we visited both Riverside and Sacred Heart Cemeteries.  Showed Don and Arlene around the relatives graves, wanted them especially see Uncle Joe Weisheipls.  Mary Ann and I spend the evening working, and Don’s family stay with mother for T.V.
07.  Monday: Well today we have Norman Brown with us for the noon meal and Ma has a surprize for us a big helping of “Chop Suey” for each of us. At 515 our Kiwanis baseball minded fans leave for Milwaukee, Ma and me included, to see the Milwaukee Braves play the New York Giants. It was a very good game, the Braves lost 4 to 2. Eddie Mathews made his 11th home run. We all enjoyed it very much and had good seats. Ma and I sat back of Home Plate, Section One- Row 24- Seats 11 and 12. We are back in Oshkosh at 1 A.M. Weather also was ideal at the game.
08.  Tuesday: Had luncheon at the Athearn.  The Milwaukee Braves lose another game to the New York Giants 6-5.  T. and O. Bowling Lanes are converted into a ballroom for the summer.  The first dance is held there tonite
09.  Wednesday: Of all things the Giants have another game from the Braves 4-0.  Johnny Antonelli a former Braves pitcher beat his old teammates.  The attendance 30018.
10.  Thursday: We do our annual Christmas buying at Madison from Rexall.  Took Eddie Weisheipl – Marge Haverty – Adeline Steinhilber with us.  Met Wm Kelly the new Chicago sales manager in this district.  Dick Mueller is also on the job.  I had a nice visit with Mr. Kelly, he told me his father worked for Rexall 32 years.  Also learn that Mr. Sigurdsen of Moorehead Minn. passed away two weeks before the grand opening of his store.  I knew him from Chicago W.D. meetings.  Mr. Kelly treated us to a dinner at “Simon House.” We are home at 11.30.  Well the Giants made a clean sweep by taking the last game from the Braves in 10 innings 1-0.  Rookie Bill Taylor did it any cost Leo Durocher a hundred dollars.
11.  Friday: Well I’m chauffeur for the Sisters of St. Vincents again passengers Sisters Mathilda – Vera – and Amelia.  First stop Mount Mary – then St. Joseph’s Hospital, where Sister Amelia stops for a physical examination then to 2479 North Murray to leave Sisters Mathilda and Vera.  This is at St. Roberts.  They make their retreat here and then they will be at “Notre Dame ” for summer school.  I have my noon meal at the Drer Port – Drive In by Irvin and Irma Noeske.  Had some giant shrimp there, on the way home drove thru Thiensville – Cedarburg, on the way to Beaver Dam.  I blacked out momentarily, but got back on the road OK, lucky no oncoming cars.  Home at 4 P.M.  Got gas from Avy Mauritz at his new station 9th and Knapp
12.  Saturday: Mama and I took another try at having our pictures taken this morning.
13.  Sunday: To 730 Low Mass with Holy Name, then to work for 3 hours. Father John J. Murphy celebrates his silver jubilee in the priesthood. We attend the banquet in his honor at 12.30. After the banquet we meet Fathers Joe Ahearn- Linzmeier-Victor Kandy- Lambert Scanlon, also Father Murphy's dad and mother. Then to St. Vincents Recreation to meet Father Roman Harold Stadtmueller who celebrated his first Solemn Hi Mass at St. Vincents. He has joined the Salvatorian Fathers. He bestowed upon us his priestly blessing. We then drove to Maple Grove to pay our last respects to Father Francis Schoettl. Had along visit with his mother; she was 90 years of age Jan. 19th. After that on our way home we stop at Van Camp's and who do we meet there. Eddie Heip and Florence, Harry and Lucille Voss. Florence is 34 today.
14.  Monday: [11 hours] We are in for hot weather according to predictions, official temperature today 91°.  Earl Kileen, Wautoma city attorney and former district attorney Waushara County convicted of drunken driving fined $100 and costs by Justice E.J. Fitzpatrick, and drivers license revoked one year.  Norm Brown is with us today.
15.  Tuesday: [11 hours] Bob Weiss is in this morning to deliver a St. Nazianz year book, I had coming for 2 years.  Bob is looking good and has eight years back of him, four to go.  To Kiwanis luncheon, had an interesting speaker on Biological Warfare.  This form of warfare dates back to ancient times.  Tonight we are hit by a heavy storm which of course does a lot of good.  At 830 Marge Haverty gets an emergency call from her mother, so I hustled Marge home, got soaked doing it, don’t know just what is wrong with her mother.
16.  Wednesday: [8 hrs.] Leighton Hall and Harold Zweifel are in to see me this morning.  They are trying to get through a new line of credit for our firm.  Marge Haverty tells me her mother is much better today.  Been trying to figure it out, it could have been “inner ear,” Mrs. Haverty was suffering from, or it could have been liver trouble.  Thres and myself attend Florence Weisheipl’s called “Dance Revue.” The little one’s were very cute in their costumes altho dancing in most cases was out of questions.  Some of the older ones were very good at jiggling and some at dancing.
17.  Thursday: This is a rather interesting morning for me.  Donald came over to borrow our lawn mower and got himself into trouble here he trimmed our shrubbery instead.  I paid last respects to Ven. Sister M Cornelia.  Sister Irene tells me she could not eat the last two weeks.  Visited Aunt Mary, found her sitting up in a chair and happy.  Visited Art Mueller (T and S) he is in room 150 and feeling all worn out.  Had another operation about 2 weeks ago.  Had several blood transfusions.  He is very weak and talks about going home.  No visitors allowed.  Visited Sister Philipbertha, she is very well, also learn that Mary (Mrs. John) Rozek works at the hospital ½ days since January.  Visited Eliz. Haverty –Marge’s mother.  She is much improved, also met Pat Haverty.  He seems to be a very bright boy in spite of his handicap.
18.  Friday: Ed Binder is in my office with news that Jim Geffers is moving a Quonset Hut to the lot next to our cottage.  I contacted Bob Brand and he and I saw Frank Ginnow, Chairman Town of Omro, who informs us that Jim must get a permit
19.  Saturday: We are treated to a severe electrical storm during the night altho little damage is reported according to Mike Eichman with WP Service Corp.  Took a drive out to the cottage, things are OK out there.  Spent the evening at the Oshkosh Theatre.  Bob Hope stars in “Casanovas Big Night” with Joan Fontaine – Basil Rathbone.  “Red Garters” features Rosemary Clooney – Jack Carson –Guy Mitchell.
20.  Sunday: To 730 Hi Mass – Father Wagner also Exposition of the “Blessed Sacrament.” Father Al Trebiatowski celebrates his silver jubilee today.  Took the family to the Town Grill for Father’s Day Dinner.  It was one of these 3 hour affairs.  Donald and self drove to the cottage seeing Al March – Herb Mathwig – Carl Binder – C Ritschie about the Geffers deal to move a Quonset Hut on his lot.  Don’s family stayed with mother.  I learn the High Mass at St. Vincents 730 is my Father Day Present from Mary Ann. 
Com.  Thanksgiving and Stanislaus Jarosch
21.  Monday: Martin Mondl is here to see me this morning about Jim Cudlip running for County Clerk.  “Biebl’s Clover Farm Market” is moving into the Old Charles Rang location, corner South Park Ave. and Oregon Sts.  Will give them considerably more display room.  Its a rainy day and a rainy evening, so I stay home and work in my den.  Almost forgot, Norm Brown is with us for noon meal.
22.  Tuesday: Did not attend Kiwanis today, as I wanted to see Jim Geffers to learn more about his affairs concerning the lot next to us at the lake.  He tells me his father still owns the lot and they might move a quonset hut on it.  He tries to sell me on the idea that a quonset can be made to look nice.  At any rate many of his answers were evasive.  Art and Margaret Mueller are back this afternoon from their vacation.
23.  Wednesday: Thres and I are out to the cottage to do some painting of our outdoor chairs.  Bobby Brand has a party for about a dozen young ladies.  This is the big day for Julie Baumgartner.  She is married to Dwain Vanderhoof at St. Paul’s Reformed Church.  Rev. Romanowski performed the ceremony.  Attended the church service – reception in the basement and also the party at Fred’s.  We are home shortly after midnight.  The bride and groom left about 10.30.  I was there to kiss the Bride good by.
24.  Thursday: [T] We are back at the cottage to do more painting.  Charlie Ritchie and Bob Brand are over for a while
25.  Friday: Temperature up to 90° this noon, then a sudden drop due to an east wind from the lake.  Ritchie and myself to Court House to see Carl Mailahn and Dist. Attorney Herb Mueller to learn about putting restrictions for building etc. on Hi Point.  Not much luck.
26.  Saturday: Temperatures are somewhat lower today.  We are at the cottage Don and family are along.  Don uses our new power motor to cut the grass.  He has a little trouble starting it, but it surely does a good job.  Even the high grass back of the cottage gets a trimming.  We work until 8.20 P.M. and all of us are rather tired.  Our neighbors the Aug. Jackish family leave for Ill. this morning to spend the weekend.
27.  Sunday: To 6 Oclock Mass.  Father Roman Stadtmueller offers the Mass.  He leaves for Chicago this morning.  Temperature is 60° when we go to church.  This afternoon we see “Demetrius and the Gladiators” starring Victor Mature –Susan Hayward – Michael Rennie –Debra Paget –Jay Robinson “Land of Legend” about Greece is very interesting. 
Com.  Father Francis Schoettl
28.  Monday: Annie Weisheipl is taken to Cornell Wis. to Frank Weisheipls by Bob and Mary Lichtfuss who are spending part of their vacation there.  I believe Bob’s mother is along.  Norm Brown is with us for pork and dumpling meal.  Took George and Lucille Mertz to our cottage.  Had George figure on widening our boathouse.  He advised to sell it and build a new one.
29.   Tuesday: Otto Christianson, proprietor of Otto’s Hi K Club passed away suddenly this morning at 7 Oclock of a heart attack.  Born in Navarino April 23 – 1899.  Married Thelma Beck Oct. 20 – 1934.  We enjoyed many a good meal at his place.  Fred Schneider and Mary Wolter were married 50 years ago today at St. Vincents by Father Charles Stehling.
30.  Wednesday: A nice cool day in the country brings plenty of work for Thres and me.  Ma painted our picnic table and cleaned the mess from the flowers along Brands and I cleaned up west of the boathouse and then also the inside of the boathouse and help ma also.  We work until dark, Don and family out about 830.

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