Diary of Alfred E. Potter July, 1957

01.  Monday: Attended 6.45 Mass – Father Milbauer.  Norm Brown is with us for the noon meal.  Tells about Aunt Nora’s funeral about 40 priests attended the service.  Ed Fretchel and myself finish cleaning up the back yard at the cottage and we find it up pretty hot job as I burn all of the grass as fast as Ed cuts it. 

Com.  Rudolph Novotny

02. Tuesday: [T] To 6⁴⁵ Mass - Father Milbauer - about 50 Communicants. Mother entertains the S.S. Business Mens Auxiliary, 37 ladies came to our cottage. It's a wonderful day, a real summer's day, temperature is 86°. They all agree they had a very pleasant and enjoyable time.  After the party Don and family come with John and Lucille Felker to celebrate Markie's birthday. He is two today and of all the presents he enjoys a truck the most. We stay over night at the cottage, our first this year.  

Com.  Anna Bartelt

03.  Wednesday: [Haircut this P.M.] Back to town at 9 A.M. Carl Radomski was operated yesterday at St. Luke’s Milwaukee.  Relocation of tubes to promote the flow of bile normally.

04.  Thursday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass – Father Milbauer.  Temperatures 67° at 6³⁰. 

Com.  Rud Novotny

05.  [New Snug this A.M.]

06.  

07.  

08.  Monday: Back on the job this morning.

09.  Tuesday: [R Monsignor Bastian   T] To Kiwanis luncheon, Lee Eaton reports about the National Convention at Atlantic City.  Thres Entertains 15 members of the S.S.B.M. Auxiliary Card Club at the cottage.  It’s a beautiful day for it.  Sylvester Larget died in his sleep this morning at one at his home 41 Comet Street He was the husband of Cora Schindelholz Larget who worked for us years ago.  Born Jan. 1 – 1891.

10.  Wednesday: [R Soul in Purgatory R. Anna Drexler R Alvin Kelly] Took Emma Lemke and Thres Fretschl to the cottage at 10 A.M.  Took Ed Fretschl along this noon.  Annie Heip came out at 3.30 P.M.  Aloys Mugerauer and family came out for short visit this evening.  Otto Lemke tells me, he and Ralph were lucky fishing today, about 50.  Up to see Dr. Will Wagner this afternoon.  Tells me I’m doing well.  Had a visit over the telephone with Ven. Sister Capistrana.

11.   

12.  Friday: [Permanent for Mother] To 7¹⁵ Mass Father Milbauer.  Temperatures 67° at 6.30 AM.  To Serra luncheon, our table Dr. Fred Kronzer –Verne Huber – Fintan Flanagan – Al Potter.  We had an excellent program.  Father Hodek “The Rosary Priest” as he is called showed slides for ¾ hour about Theresa Neuman of Konnersreuth.  He lectures as the slides are shown.  He states on an ordinary Friday she loses one quart of blood, on “Good Friday” about a gallon.  Visited Columbus Club this evening, first time in months. 

Com.  Anne Drexler

13.  Saturday: (on Sunday 14 July page) To 6.45 Mass.  Father Milbauer.  Temperature 66° at 6³⁰ A.M.  Worked this morning.  Took Ed and Carl Fretschl to cottage this afternoon.  They put up the fence on the east side of our lot.  Had a note from Fern Schilling today in regard to scholarship at Mercy.  Mrs. Clara Blodgett had a sudden spell of illness at ___ hair dress shop yesterday afternoon.  Ambulance is called, she passed away at Mercy at 4.40 P.M.

Com.

14.  Sunday: (on Saturday 13 July page) To 7¹⁵ Low Mass with Holy Name.  Father Schorn.  Temperatures 69° at 7 A.M.  Mother and I leave for the cottage about 10.30.  Don and family out about 3 P.M.  Billy and Jean Mauritz out at 2 P.M.  Matt – Amanda Drexler – Johnny - Joey at 3.30 P.M.  I complete the job of cleaning the boathouse.  Don has quite a time starting the motor on the boat.  Joe – Ceil Drexler – Pete Kirsch and family out at 6³⁰.  Sam Demboviak –Father Mike in town.

Com.  Deceased Holy Name Members.

15. Monday: [R Anna Jungwirth] In town by 8³⁰.  Temperature only 81° during the day but humidity and some very hot makes it feel like above 90°.  Had Ed Fretschl working on the shore line this afternoon.  Jim Kinsler died at Mercy 11 P.M. last Saturday.  Former assistant chief fire department.  Born Jan. 17 – 1883.  Married Josephine Thomas Sept. 30 – 1908.  Worked for Oshkosh B Gosh last 13 years.  He lived back of our South Store many years, the home Donald lived in later.

16.  Tuesday: [R Bill Schaefer] in town by 8⁰⁰.  Had a very good nights rest.  To Kiwanis luncheon.  Frank Sullivan is back from Florida.  Heart attack has taken him down.  Program Toastmasters Club.  Lee Eaton –Paul Theiss – Dr. Harry Colgan – Eugene Beier – Ray Robertson.  Had some surprise visitors this afternoon.  Romy – Lovie –Marilyn – Arline Czekalski from Milwaukee.  Took them to the cottage for supper.  Give us information about Carl Radomski.  He leaves the hospital for home tomorrow.  Tonight I am with Kiwanians Dick Burr – Howard Godshall –Ralph Mosling – Milt Seefeldt at Kempster Hall to help entertain the patients in the recreation rooms.  Paid last respects to Jim Kinsler at Konrad’s this afternoon.

17.  Wednesday: [R. James Kinsler] Thres entertains the Bingo Club, their annual outing.  A beautiful day.  I attended the Kiwanis Interclub Dinner at Neenah this evening.  We made the trip by boat, I was in Glenn Fadner’s.  A ten gun salute and the Official Police Boat from Neenah escorted us into the Harbor.  Dinner followed at the Valley Inn Hotel.  Home trip I managed a car ride from Frank Thew, home at 9.15.  Major John Glenn Jr. of New Concord Ohio flew his F8 U – 1 Jet Crusader from Los Angeles to New York 2446 miles in 3 hours 23 minutes 8 seconds yesterday.  This is a new record.

18.  Thursday: [R. Anne Drexler   R Carl Radomski R Msgr. Aloys Bastian] Another lovely day. I worked part of this morning, took off the rest of the day. Came to town this afternoon to pick up Thres Fretschl and then played sheephead with the ladies. Donald and family come out for supper and spent the evening. Lawrence Kinateder brought out his dad and mother, Ollie and Ann. Ollie is looking good but is unable to talk. Took the folks home at 10⁰⁰ P.M. Don and Arline dropped in about 10.30 to let us know that Arline's grandmother Viola Esslinger died at 6¹⁰ this eve. at Mrs. Donald Kiesows 49 Lakeview Ave.

1957 07 19 Esslinger obit

19.  Friday: Arline’s grandmother was the former Viola Baker.  She lived on 14th Street when a girl, between Oregon and Minnesota Streets, I’m not sure about this, but used to see her often in our neighborhood when I was a boy, living at 1212 Minnesota Street.  She is survived by 6 daughters and 5 sons.  Taylor Brown former Mayor of Oshkosh, State Senator and for many years Secretary of Winnebago County Fair Association passed away at Mercy last night 11.22.  Born Feb. 28 – 1890.  Married May 22 – 1915 at Viroqua.

20.  Saturday: [Art Hazen begins vacation today.] Took Mary Ann, P. Schani, Marian Richter, Dolores Pable to the Northwestern Depot for the 7:55 Streamline to Chicago. They expect to be gone about 10 days. Met Victoria and Norman Zinth, they are headed to Denver. Eddie Weisheipl and family spend the afternoon at part of the evening at the cottage. Matt Drexler and boys also. The boys Johnnie and Joey - Bobbie and Tommie - Ed - Matt - Don and also Donnie have great fun swimming in front of our dock. Florence W. tells me she is going on a diet next week.

21.   Sunday: To 7¹⁵ Low Mass.  Father Schorn.  Temperature is going up.  Small shower of rain before 7¹⁵.  Worked from 9 to 12⁰⁰.  To the cottage at 1³⁰.  Don and family out at 3.45.  Don works tonight, Arline is at Poklasny’s, Mother and I take care of the children.  A heavy storm comes up.  Little Donnie is somewhat scared, but sleeps thru most of the storm.  Before Mother and I drive to the cottage, we pay our last respects to Viola Esslinger.  After Don and Arline picked up the children, we drove home arrived at 11 P.M.  No Water in basement. 

Com.  Viola Esslinger

22.  Monday: Paid last respects to Taylor Brown at Spikes McDonald.  His son in law Robert Horn is there to meet visitors.  We learn that the city of Oshkosh was doused with 3.09 inches of rain since last evening.  An accident had occurred on our corner.

1957 07 23 Reischl obit

23.  Tuesday: [T] A cool morning temperatures 66° at 10 A.M.  To Kiwanis luncheon.  Steve Wittman and Aaron King from George show pictures of last years Air Show at Oshkosh.  Buttons are being sold for this year show August 8 – 9 – 10th.  Had a card from Mary Ann.  Mrs. Frank Reischl 1130-12th passed away at 2 A.M. today.  Born Mary Friedl Aug. 8 -1890 married Frank June 20 – 1910.  Sister to Joe Friedl – Waupun.

24.  Wednesday: [R Taylor Brown   R Mary Reischl   R Mary Kriz] Took Thres and Aunt Annie Weisheipl to the cottage at 9³⁰ this morning.  A beautiful day, not too hot – temperature 79° at 2³⁰ P.M.  Aunt Annie is beginning to like “Martinis” more and more.  This fact is evidenced by the manner in which she can handle two or three of them.  Paid last respects to Mary Reischl this afternoon at Poklasny’s.

25.  Thursday: Took mother for treatment to O.R. Simpson's at 9.15 A.M. To Post Office, North Store, South Store, picked up Thres Fretschl, Emma Siewert Lemke, picked up mother and out to cottage. Back to work. This afternoon Eddie Weisheipl and family - Donald and family are out to spend the day. Don and Eddie work on the shore, I cut weeds in the lake. Little Donnie caught his first fish and so did Jimmy Weisheipl.

26.  Friday: Took Aunt Annie and mother to town, also gave them an idea what it means to sort mail – make stores stops etc. took about an hour.  Mother to hair dresser at 1⁰⁰.  Don took her because I attended “Serra” luncheon.  Our speaker Father Krutzik newly ordained assistant to Father Bunkleman.

27.  Saturday: [R. Caroline Baier TG] Don and Children Out this afternoon.  Matt Drexler – Johnny and Joey also.  Matt and Don fix up our picnic table, kids have great fun bathing, even little Donnie.  President Carlos Castillo Armos president of Guatemala was shot dead last night by a palace guard.  He was 43.  He overthrew the Communist supported regime of Jacobo Arbenz Guzman in 10 days revolt in June 1954.

28.  Sunday: [Emma Baier back home.  Temp. 90°] Attended 7 Oclock Mass St. Mary’s Church – Omro.  After church we drive back to town.  Ohio Street Merchants annual childrens picnic at South Park.  Joe Baier takes Emma back home from the State Hospital.  Dropped in on Tony and Jenny Pable to learn when the girls will be home.  They are in Chicago today.  Also paid a short visit to Bill and Rose Mauritz.  Their new modern kitchen is practically completed.  Ann Ostertag tells of the heavy rain at Island Beach about 5.30. 

Com.  Mary Reischl

29.  Monday: Mother and me spend the night at the cottage.  Back in town by 9³⁰.  I picked up the girls from the 1³⁰ train this aft.  Don and family are there also.  Mary Ann is very tired, and so are the rest.  She enjoyed the tour very much altho the weather was very hot.  Temperature back to 90°.  Norman Brown is on vacation this week.  John Wendeberger is taking his place.

30.  Tuesday: [Primary election for U. S. Senator to take the place of Joe McCarthy.  I’m #135 at 11.30 A.M.] In town by 8 Oclock, took the Chrysler in for 2000 mile checkup.  It really has 2315 miles on it.  George has it back for me by 4.30 P.M.  He advises regular gas the year round, #10 Oil in summer #30 in winter, 26 to 28 # air in tires.  Don and I stopped at Ed Duwe’s in regard to concrete roof blocks for use at the boat house for a walk.  San Rafael California suburb of San Francisco suffered a 2 million dollar fire yesterday.  To Kiwanis luncheon.  We hear about a European trip somewhat similar to ours in 1950 this one mostly by boat made by Arlene Laedtke and Dorothy Doman.  Dorothy is the daughter of Ruth Magnussen.

31.   Wednesday: Left for Milwaukee at 11 A.M. – hit the city limits at 12.15.  Took a drive to South Gate Shopping Center, had lunch at Wallgreens, and browsed around various stores.  Gimbels have a very nice layout there.  Thres picked up a summer hat.  Then headed for the east side to visit the Radomskis.  Took a few pictures, then visited the Czekalskis.  Lovie mentioned selling their home, maybe not until next spring, they would one smaller.  Back in Radomskis Carl puts up a splendid strip sirloin dinner.  Then for the trip back – arrived home at 10 P.M.