December 31

1930: Mueller Potter Drug Company forms a corporation and registers with the state of Wisconsin.
1940: "The last day of the year is a fairly busy one.  Mr. F.W. Mueller has a birthday.  He is 67.  We ahve company tonite to help see out the old year and welcome in the new.  Joe and Anna Weisheipl, Ed and Thres Fretschel are with us.  This is the first time out for Anna since she's been laid up with game leg over a week ago. Laurence and Dolores Kinateder stay overnite with Donald and Mary Ann (son and daughter)."[from A. E. Potter's diaries]
1943: "F. W. Mueller is 70 years old today.  He is feeling quite well.  Another lovely day, temperatures up to 34.  Worked until 9:30.  Ed and Thres Fretschel, Annie Heip, Aunt Lena Baier are over to see the year out.  Party breaks up at 3:15 A.M. and I chauffeur the folks home.  Received a card fomr Lt. Charles F. Nolan today.  He is somewhere in the Pacific.  The card was on the way for 20 days.  Dolores and Alois Kinateder are overnight guest at our house." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]

December 30

1942: "We have company today, Emma Baier with Faye and Joe Jr., Ann Ostertag with Raymond and Jimmie, Rose Mauritz with Joan and Billy." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]
1954: "Mary Ann (daughter) with Arlene (daughter-in-law) to get a coat at Hilda's." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]

December 29

1950: "Met George Greeley, secretary to Senator Joe McCarthy at Washington. Geroge is home for a short holiday vacation.  Geroge tells me after McCarthy's tiff with Drew Pearson, Joe received 700 telegrams of congratulations..."[from A. E. Potter's diaries]
1951: "Well, I'm getting ready for the wind-up.  Beginning to figure out Social Security and withheld income taxes for the employees.  Francis Lamb is over this afternoon for a two hour conference.  This evening is spent at Donald's (son).  Arlene (daughter-in-law) has done her utmost to have things in order.  Father Wagner stops in for a hour's visit."[from A. E. Potter's diaries]

December 28

1941: "To 6 o'clock Mass at St. John's then to work.  Had to open the store this morning.  Worked until one, then Art Mueller relieved me until 6 o'clock.  During the afternoon Joe, Celia, Lucy, Matt, Amanda, Caroline Drexler were over to our house for their annual Christmas visit.  Sergeant George Hagene Jr. is in town. Laurence and Dolores sleep at our house tonite. After work tonite we visit the Weisheipls.  Ed and Thres Fretschel are also there.  Got home at 2:30 A.M. Monday." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]
1944: "Took a flying trip to Milwaukee.  Left on Streamliner at 5:30 in Milwaukee at 7:00 P.M.  Dr. Ray Wagner is on his way back form Camp Devens, Mass. He told me how Easterners make a clam bake. Attended Yahr Lange salemen and manufacturer representatives banquet.  Met many salemen I knew.  Took 11:40 train back home.  ON the train I meet Clayton Kuehn, one of our former employees in the Navy, and Les Wolf in the Army from Texas. Both have leave until Tuesday. (Bloger's note: December 28th was a Thursday.)" [from A. E. Potter's diaries]

December 27

1940: "Aunt Mary and Lena Baier take care of the washing for the Joe Weisheipl family.  They are obliged to wash by hand, no wash machine, no wringer, no washboard.  Aunt Mary complains of a backache; she is not accustomed to washing without modern conveniences." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]
1942: "Today is Father William Renner's silver anniversary as a priest.  He is stationed at Alexandria, Minnesota Let us hope he will live to celebrate his golden anniversary.  Attended 7:30 Mass at St. John's with Thres and Mary Ann (daughter).  It is still raining when we go to church.  Car was stuck near the church when we start from home.  Dicky Hill gives us a push.  Donald (son) has dinner at Louis Koelbl's, guest of Norman.  St Vincent's church organ is dedicated tonite.  Donald serves, lasts from 7:30 to 9:00." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]

December 26

1939: "Ann and Rose Baier are here with Raymond, Jimmie, Joan and Billy.  Aunt Lena and Grandma Baier are also here for their Christmas visit.  They spend the afternon with us.  Grandma is very impressed with the bathroom upstairs." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]
1942: "Today is a day of rain.  Rose Weisheipl (niece) is with us for the noon day meal.  We find she likes turkey very much.  Father John Nuernberg drops in to say "Merry Christmas."  He is not feeling very well although he looks 100%.  Anna Weisheipl (sister-in-law) is in bed today.  Pains in neck and hip, sounds like rheumatism.  Donald (son) and myself attend basketball - All Stars against Chicago Studenbakers.  Stars win 44-33.  Mother and Mary Ann (daughter) see Bambi and the Ice Capades at the Oshkosh and it is still raining." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]

December 25

1939: "Attended 7:30 Mass.  Worked all day making out orders, only 28 of them...Donald (son) is very happy today.  He gets a new bicycle, a casting set, a scout knife, and a harmonica." [from A. E. Potter's diaries] 1942: "Attend midnight Mass at St. Vincent's.  Our organ is back on the job, in fact it is entirely new with the exception of some of the pipes from our original..."  [from A. E. Potter's diaries]
1955: "Don and Arline (son and daughter-in-law) come over to attend midnight Mass with us.  The service is broadcast over radio station WOSH for the first time from St. Vincent's and A.E.P. paid for it.  Don's family are also with us to spend the day and have dinner here.  In the evening they are at Arline's folks, the Felkers." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]
1956: "Begin the day attending Solemn High Mass St. Vincent's...Don and Arlene to 9 A.M. Mass, leave Mark with us and after Mass they are with us again to exchange presents.  After a few pictures taken by Don we have dinner at the Town House then back home for a time.  Then Don and family and Mary Ann (daughter) visit St. Vincent Sisters.  Mark (grandson) shows them how to turn on their new T.V. and by the way Donnie and Debbie (grandchildren) get presents from Sisters Mary Walter and Rudolphia..." [from A. E. Potter's diaries]