Diary of Alfred E. Potter November, 1948

01.   Monday: To 7 Oclock Exposition High Mass, Father Wagner.  Fog is usually heavy this morning, but it turns out to be a lovely fall day.  This evening we have closing of 40 hour devotion.  Father John Mueller has a fine sermon, the Fourth Degree K.C. attend as honor guard.

Com.  Health.  Spir. and Temp.

02.  Tuesday: To 6³⁰ Mass.  More fog this morning.  Father Wagner and Monsignor Bastian.  Voted after breakfast Thres #192 I’m #193 Ninth Ward.  To Kiwanis luncheon.  Took Harvey Lohst as guest.  Sat at officers table Harry Hannisch is also a birthday boy.  John Markel (Soap) Frank Therv (Seaforth Lotion & Cologne) got my prizes.  This afternoon visits 3⁴⁵ to 5⁰⁰ P.M.  Pancratius – Mary – Frank –Joe – Theodore –John Drexler –Matt – Caroline –Grandma – Grandpa Baier.  Stanislaus Jarosch –Catherine Holzbauer –Resei Drexler – Emma Hurst.  Amanda Drexler is operated today. 

Com.  Mary Potter

03.  Wednesday: Harry Truman and Alben Barkley our elected Pres. and Vice Pres.  In one of the most unpredictable political upsets in U. s History.  Thomas Dewey and Earl Warren Republican were defeated in what everyone you spoke to thought was going to be an easy win over the Democrats.  Truman 304 Electoral Votes – Dewey 189.  Oscar Rennebohm won an easy victory for governor of Wisconsin, a majority of 121 000 over Carl Thompson Dem. We now have 31 Dem. governors 17 Republicans.

04.  Thursday: [T] This is my birthday and what a wet one.  Rain most of the day.  Calls from Annie Heip –Thres Fretschl –and the folks at the south store plenty of cards.  Emm Siewert is with us for the evening dinner.  To Mercy Hospital this afternoon.  Visited Amanda Drexler.  Also had a picture taken with Rud Hafeman and Miss Beth Daley, Secy. Red Cross, local, at the blood bank.  Teachers convention Milwaukee today and tomorrow.  Mary Ann gets a vacation.

05.  Friday: To 7⁰⁰ Oclock Mass St. Vincents Monsignor Bastian.  This is a day of rain.

Com.  Donald – Mary Ann

06.  Saturday: To 6⁴⁵ Mass St. Peter’s.  Dr. Ray Wagner serves.  Had breakfast at the Athearn.  Took Thres and Mary Ann to see “Deep Waters” starring Dana Andrews – Jean Peters – Cesar Romero – Dean Stockwell – Ann Revere, also a Preview “Mystery in Mexico” starring William Lundigan and Ricardo Cortez, both very good pictures.

Com.  Universal Peace Conversion of Russia.

07.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Mass St. Vincents Thres with Christian Mothers.  Worked three hours.  Thres and Annie – Marion Weisheipl visit Mandy Drexler.  The Fourth Degree K.C. on guard for Bishop Stanislaus Bona this afternoon 1⁴⁵ St. Johns 3⁴⁵ St. Josaphats 7¹⁵ St. Mary’s.  He recognized me at St. Mary’s, asking “Didn’t I see you at the two churches this afternoon?  Well I was there, at the three churches.  Bishop had a 50 minute sermon tonite. 

Com.  Reed Neubauer

08.  Monday: Norm Brown is late today.  Was pallbearer this morning – Bob Kniss also.  Mary Ann not feeling well, stays home from school.

09.  Tuesday: Alois J. Drexler passed away at 5⁴⁵ this morning at his home 907 - 7th St.  Brother to John, Frank, Carl, Joseph, Robert, Mrs. Ross Polier, Mrs. Max Fenzl.  Clark Hastings dropped in this morning on his way to see Ralph Sperry at St. Vincents Hospital Green Bay.  To Kiwanis meeting.  Charles Behnke and self have a table.  Albert Dunham, local game warden is our speaker.  Hugo Riese is 66 today.  Maxine (Mrs. Ray) Siewert is operated at Appleton by Dr. Moore for piles.

10.  Wednesday: Thres and self have the Heip’s and Fretschl’s over for our joint birthday party.  It’s a gay affair, Aunt Annie is very talkative.  Thres Fretschl comes in for her share.  Ed reads magazines and Uncle Joe Heip celebrates by consuming ¾ pint Old Fitzgerald 100 Proof.

11.  Thursday: Mary Ann back to school this morning, has been home a week.  Attend Rosary for Alois Drexler at Sitters tonight.  Monsignor Bastian is there. 

2 M.O. Alois Drexler.

12.  Friday: Alois Drexler is laid to rest this morning.  Had luncheon with Clark Hastings today.  He is on his way home to Milwaukee.  Had visited Ralph Sperry at St. Vincents Hospital Green Bay.  Ralph had a hemorrhage last Friday, lost two quarts of blood.

13.  Saturday: Thres has a birthday, she is 62.  No more celebrating as we had our joint get together Wednesday.  Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Oshkosh “The Lock of the Irish” stars Tyrone Power, Anne Baxter Cecil Kellaway – Lee Cob.  “Angels Alley” stars Leo Gorcey and the Bowery Boys.  After the show to Emil Lemke’s for turkey which could have been better.  Donald is at the All Star Basket Ball game.  Brings home the sad news that “Arthur Hedke” County Clerk passed away suddenly near the end of the game.  Art was a schoolmate of mine at the Old Park School (South).

14.  Sunday: To 7³⁰  Holy Name Mass.  Sermon Father Loehr.  Then to work this afternoon to get out the orders.  Worked 5 ½ hours today.  This evening to St. Josaphats Church, for the conclusion of Forty Hours.  Henry Kirk and myself leave the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.  Father Joseph Tomczyk of Flintville Wisconsin delivers the sermon.  Ed Binder is with the 4th degree K.C.for the first time.  At home we have company – Louis – Mary Mauritz and Dixie. 

Com.  Deceased Holy Name Members.

15.  Monday: Started cleaning our basement at the South Side Store and getting ready for Christmas business.  It’s a mess, much worse than I expected.  Tonite’s paper carries quite an article about Arthur Hedke.  Born March 31 – 1891.  Married Rose Follett June 18 – 1913.  Adv. manager Continental 1913-1920.  Hadke’s candy shop 1920-1926 House manager and Secretary of the Elks 1927-1931.  He was still Secretary at the time of his passing.  County Clerk from Jan. 7 – 1935 until now, reelected this November.  Princess Elizabeth (Duchess of Edinburgh) bears a son (A prince) 9¹⁴ P.M. Nov. 14th.  Oshkosh time 3¹⁴ P.M. today Nov. 14th.

16.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon – Nile Behnke talks on art and actually paints a watercolor picture for us in 30 minutes, a very interesting talker.  Our table Gene Vogel –Frank Labudde–Frank Sullivan -          .  Our neighbor Harry Luebke has a large hole stove in his north garage door, it looks like someone tried to drive through it.  Aunt Mary stubbed her toes during the night, she can hardly walk today.  Elsie Wagner has a gall operation.

17.  Wednesday: Florian (Sonny) Peck is our new Abbott representative, taking Ralph Sperry’s place.  Ralph is still in at St. Vincents Hospital.  We attend the Civic theatre tonite to see the stage play “Life with Father” John Terrell, “Father Day” La Van Pagel “Vinnie ” the mother, Bill Fadner “Clarence” Edward Rebbein “John” Jake Dengel Jr. “Whitney” Ronald Karow “Harlan” is only nine years of age, 5th grade Jefferson School.  All fine actors.

18.  Thursday: Our new parking signs are up at the store, and they should improve business, 15 minute parking between 8 A.M. and 9 P.M.

19.  

20.  Saturday: [T] Art Mueller and Margaret Krause married 20 years ago today.  T and O Alleys formal opening.  Mary Ann stays overnite tonite with Joan Mauritz.  Bill and Rose to housewarming at Albert’s, they get home late.  Thres and myself watch the bowlers at T and O tonight.  All sixteen alleys are busy.

21.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ Hi Mass.  Father Wagner Lady Foresters Memorial Mass.  The ladies of the parish sponsor a shower for the Sisters in the school recreation hall.  The Sisters received canned goods, smoked ham –cervelot sausage – cakes – squash – pillow cases – sheets and about 150 yards of goods for curtains.  Bill and Rose Mauritz 2²⁰ A.M. reports our Mary Ann.  Thres and myself attend Rosary for Dr. Hogan.  Aunt Mary could not go to church today.  Josephine Bastian is taken to the hospital. 

Com.  Aloys Drexler.

22.  Monday: Honorary pallbearer at Dr. Hogan's funeral.  Father Scanlon is here.  Sisters, Mercy Hospital – Doctors, Nurses attend in a body.  Monsignor Bastian is taken to Mercy Hospital.

23.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.

24.  Wednesday: [T] The Yonan brothers, John and Ted, are here and bring quite a surprize, two Persian rugs, one for the living room, one for the dining room and three scatter rugs.  John is quite a salesman.

25.  Thursday: Worked three hours this morning.  Mary Ann and myself attended 7 Oclock Hi Mass St. Vincents Father Wagner.  Have a guest for dinner.  Donald brings Arlene Felker.  This evening took Mother and Mary Ann to the Strand.  “The Three Musketeers” stars Gene Kelly, Lana Turner, June Allyson, Van Heflin, Angela Lansbury, Frank Morgan. 

Com.  Thanksgiving

26.  Friday: Ted Yonan is here to complete the laying of our new Persian rugs.  Took a drive this afternoon with Mary Ann.  Had some business with Harry Kujawa at the bank in Berlin.  Worked eleven hours today.

27.  Saturday: [TEG] The first Saturday of Christmas shopping is a busy one.  Eddie Weisheipl is a papa for the second time last night at 11:50. Another boy. Florence and baby are doing fine.  Worked nine hours today.  Took Thres and Mary Ann to the Oshkosh tonight “When my baby smiles at me” in technicolor stars Betty Grable – Dan Dailey – Jack Oakie –June Havoc – Richard Arlon – James Gleason.  Also “Close-Up” To bed at 1 A.M.

28.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass – Father Loehr.  Then to work. 

Com.  Dr. J.M. Hogan

29.  

30.  Tuesday: [T] Thres and self leave for Milwaukee this afternoon.  The weather is good.  Stopped at Mutual Drug, Otto Schmidt waits on us, Alice Costegan gets a room for us at the Schroeder.  Met Bill Stumpf there also (at Mutual).  Had a nice double “Porter House Steak” at the Hotel Maryland, neither of us gets indigestion, altho we should have considering all we ate.  Took a long walk and it is indeed cold.  Santa is busy at the Boston Store and the Brownies are climbing all over Gimbels front, a big or I should say huge Candy Cane extends thru the front window.  Took in Telenews and enjoyed the Admiral Byrd’s expedition into the Ant Arctic Regions, another walk and then back to the hotel to room 1710 and to bed.