Diary of Alfred E. Potter January, 1956

01.  Sunday: A Happy New Year to you from the A.E. Potter bedroom.  Ed Fretschel is my pal, he visits with me for several hours and we talk over all time happenings.  Joe Dichtl – Pumpele – Chini Steckbauer – of Joe Nagel all come in for their share.

Found between Jan. 2-3 pages

02.  

03.  Tuesday: I feel somewhat better after a restless night.

Milwaukee Sentinel 1/4/56

04.  Wednesday: Just learned through the Milwaukee Signal that John Lange former President of Mutual and Badger Drug Company.

05.  

06.  

07.  Saturday: Served as pallbearer for Cletus Berres.

08.  Sunday: Our 7³⁰ Hi Mass begins at 7¹⁵ and will be this time in the future.  Picked up Mrs. Jungwirth as usual, and attended with Holy Name Society.  Did not get to the store this morning, too much to take care of at home, but did work diligently at the store to get things into balance there.  Spent the evening at “Faust Supper Club” helping Agnes Kujawa celebrate her birthday surprize.  Harry took care of the bill.

09.  Monday: [Agnes Kujawa is 44 today.] A beautiful day.  Harvey Thompson is laid to rest.  My cold is still with me especially in my head.  A Mr. Peterson from Eastman Kodak Company is in to explain how to sell cameras on time payments.  Norm Brown is over for the first time this year to enjoy fried chicken southern style made by Ma Potter.  Ray Fiedler starts working for us at the North Store.  Took Ed and Thres Fretschl to the Social Security Office. Phil Savides makes out their papers.  Monsignor Gerhard Fittkau was a visitor at my office today. He is Director of St. Boniface Society for the U.S.  He will speak at the Century Club tonight to Cath. Women Council.

10.  Tuesday: [M 12 mi] Had a bad night last night.  Up from 3 to 4 oclock.  Got the first haircut of the year from Melvin Jansen.  Learned his older barber’s name is Frank Goll.  Frank is not very talkative.  His wife, I believe, is Tabea Goll.  Attended Kiwanis luncheon Earl Clemans installed the new officers Milton Seefeldt President –Russ Williams Vice Pres.

11.  Wednesday: Spent a better night of up only a short while during the night.  Had quite a talk with Ed Gerth in regard to Dr. Bob.  It seems he is working altogether too much and is undermining his health.  Very little sleep and eats very sparingly.  A record chill gripped Florida yesterday, and crop losses will run into many millions of dollars

12.  

13.  

14.  

15.  Sunday: [Anna Jungwirth 81 today.] To 7¹⁵ Mass, picked up Mrs. Anna Jungwirth and learn that today is her birthday, she is 81 and lives all by herself at 1516 Michigan Street.  After several weeks of excellent weather, we have snow today, somewhat slushy out.  Im finally getting around to getting my work at the store pretty well cleaned up and expect to be back to normal from now on.  This afternoon we visit at Don’s.  Debbie’s birthday is being celebrated, altho her day is on Tuesday.

16.  Monday: Frank Jungwirth (Jim) husband to Alma Mertz is operated this morning for rupture.  Norm Brown is with us for luncheon or should I say dinner.  Ed Wirtz, Fine Foods have some smoke but no fire caused by faulty oil furnace at about 6.40 this evening.  The Northwestern still calls it “The Oregon Sandwich Shop.”

17.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis Club – Madrigal Singers from State Teachers College entertain us.  Doris Heisler is one of the singers.  This is Milt Seefeldts first meeting as presiding officer.  James Sitter was elected President of the “Oshkosh Apostolate” last evening, succeeding Charles J Fiss.  Chuck has been President for 7 years.  Reelected as Vice Pres was Joseph Drexler – Mrs. John Faust Secretary – John Ludwig – Treasurer.

18.  Wednesday: Had a card from Ginny Abrams today from Miami.  A little more snow this morning.  Appliance Mart picks up our T.V. for a general checkup.  Thres has a caller this afternoon.  Jake Haleem from Sheboygan, Oriental Rug Salesman.  He is going out of the tablecloth and family luncheon set business.  Mama bought one “Venetian” hand made luncheon set and one ___ table cloth.  Tonight she has company – Elsie Kirsch –Martha Lichtfuss – Mary Notzke.  Tres makes a record 28 points in 50 hands.  In 18 hands she made two points.  Mary Ann and myself spend the evening at Don’s.  I don’t feel very good.

19.  Thursday: [M 12 M   G 6 M] Sam Ogle, vice president of Schuster Stores in Milwaukee is in town with Charlie Blossfield, assistant director of ticket sales for “Milwaukee Braves” baseball team.  We have dinner with them at Faust’s Supper Club and then to S.S.  Bus. Men’s Club meeting where Sam, who is now a member of the Selection Committee of the Wisconsin Hall of Sports Fame.

20.  Friday: Ida Putzer passed away at Mercy Hospital last night.  She had been at St. Marys Home for seven years.  Born December 3 – 1872.  Married Ferdinand Putzer August 1890.  Mother to Bill and George Putzer.  Ferdinand passed away 1922.  He operated the Original “Bolhmer Wald” Corner 9th and Knapp Street, years ago.  He had a nice family park in connection with a tavern and grocery business.

21.  Saturday: We are getting a taste of winter this morning the temperature is 14° below zero.

22.  Sunday: It is 11° below zero this morning when we attend church.  Father Schorn’s Sermon on “The Second Commandment.” Mary Ann and Joann Mauritz leave for Milwaukee on the 11.27 Streamliner to see “Holiday on Ice.” They are back this evening and have dinner at the Roxy.  Mother spends the evening at Don’s.  Forgot to mention while at the Northwestern Depot this morning, Wisconsins “Honey Queen” Carol Lehman of Berlin Wis. was also waiting for the streamliner.  She is on her way to Biloxi Miss. to the National Bee Keepers Convention. 

Com.  Cletus Berres

23.  Monday: [Temp. early today 6° below.  Quit smoking temporarily.  M 3 M] Norm Brown has the noonday meal with us, Mother has Southern Style Fried Chicken.  Temperatures up to date to about 22° above zero.  Called on Dr. Will Wagner today.  He gave me a good checkup and set me to Mercy Hospital for an Electro –Cardiogram by Dr. A.G. Koehler.  This evening Ed Binder and I have supper at K.C. Club then to S.S. Business Men’s Club Directors meeting until 9.30, stopped at Ben Haberkorn’s for 2 brandies and watched our boys play shuffleboard.  Ginny Abrams is back on the job after 2 weeks in Florida.  Mother plays cards at Marge Hagene’s, 52 points.

24.  Tuesday: [1 R Lady Fatima] Worked this morning and that is as far as I got.  Had to go to bed right afternoon and I’m feeling very bad.  Eddie and Don bring over a steam vaporizer, it relieves me some.  Dr. Will Wagner called up this afternoon, got his report from Dr. Koehler, he states I have a case of coronary and must take it easy.  Jacob Haleem is back to collect for a small rug from Thres only 45⁰⁰.  Appliance Mart brings our T.V. back and Thres is happy.

25.  Wednesday: [1 R Lady Fatima 1 R Mother Perpetual Help] Had a bad night although I must say a Nembutal gave me pretty good results.  Don is now my chief go between the store and home.  He also brings over a 3 c Retina for me to play with.  Debbie and Donnie get their last Polio shots from Dr. Gerth this evening.  I had quite a bad spell this evening.  Dr. Wagner recommended a big shot of brandy and Pentoxylin, It seems like dry cof sore head and chest bother me very much.  Frank Labudde 83 former V. Pres. of First National Bank, died 5³⁰ A.M. Lutheran Home for the aged, Fond du Lac.

26.  Thursday: [1 R Rev. Msgr. Bastian 1 R Lady Fatima 1 R Mother Perpetual Help] I’m down in bed today also Dr. Wagner was in to see me this afternoon.  He prescribed Chloromycetin, gave me 600000 Wycillin.  Tells me Jack Dempsey had a 7 weeks siege of what I’ve got, that is a bad cold, no corinary trouble.  Well I surely couldn’t take it for 7 weeks.  Rose Weisheipl stopped in for a few minutes.  Herbert Pitz, blind alderman lost his German Shepherd Eye Seeing Dog “Varney” a few days ago.  I think it was either Saturday or Sunday.  Born Jan. 3 – 1950.  Trained at Morristown New Jersey in 1951.  Herb will sure miss him.  He was everyone’s friend.

27.  Friday: [Bill Mauritz is 52 today.  1 R Lady Fatima 1 R Mother of Perp. Help] Don brings in the mail this morning, not much news business is quiet, nearing the end of the month.  Joe Baier drops in to see me this afternoon.  He is having his troubles at home with Emma.  Had he known she would be this way he could have left are at Winnebago.  Had more company today or rather this evening.  Bill and Rose Mauritz are over, Billie brings his fiancee Jeanie Horejs over for 1 ½ hours of had a very nice visit.  We also learned Bill Sr. has a birthday.

28.  Saturday: [R – Fatima   R – MOPH] This is a rather wet and icy day.  No company during the day.  Had a call from Bob Fisher from Fond du Lac.  He tells me how to break up a bad cold with “Vacogen” I hope he’s right, anyway its worth a try.  Marge Haverty spend two hours with us tonite.  Wednesday evening Herb Drews was elected President of the Oshkosh Building and Construction Trades Council to the 18th Term.  When I way a boy about 10, we lived in a small home owned by his father, next to their saloon on Oregon Street.

29.  Sunday: Heard two Holy Masses via Radio this morning.  Rested this afternoon and had plenty of company for the evening.  Aunt Annie Weisheipl is here, Matt – Amanda Drexler with sons Johnny and Joey are with us and Donald and his family also spend the evening here.

30.  Monday: Joe Baier takes me to the store for a meeting of the store Managers.  It’s my first time at the office since Tuesday noon.

31.  Tuesday: Up at 9 A.M. after somewhat restless night.  Did no work this morning, stopped at Jansen’s for a haircut.  On the job at 12.30 at 2.00 took mother to Simpson’s for shoulder treatment, she had a misplaced ligament in her right shoulder.  Circuit Judge Helmuth Arps has a novel way of driving to Chilton his home.  He drives across Lake Winnebago and the distance is only 23 miles via the lake.  Ordinarily around the lake it is 45 miles.