I had an idea that it would be fun to write about our family cars through the ages. My hope for this blog is that it will give us a minute to reminisce about the cars owned by our families in the past. It is fun for me to notice all of the aesthetic changes in car designs. The craftsmanship of these bygone designs is fascinating and offers such a window into the past. I think there may also be personal anecdotes or family stories related to some/all of these cars. This little blog is just an opportunity to capture some fun moments that were photographed many years ago.
I do not know what the make/model is for most of these great cars. I have done my best to guess …please let me know if I need to make additions or corrections. Each photo is numbered to make it easier for you to comment. The photos are not all in chronological order.
My hat is off to the Schmiling/ Wiesner family who clearly took many photos with the family car included. I will try to take a few more photos of my Jeep – smile!
Photo 1 – photo date estimated to be 1927
Is this a Studebaker? A Dodge? My father is pictured on the far right with his mother and older brother. The file location for this scanned photo is in the shared folder Hess Family Relatives– I dated this 1927.
Photo 2 – photo date estimated to be 1933.
Henrietta in the car and George Kellogg Hess, Jr and Robert Lawrence Hess seated on the fender of the 1931 caddy. AI suggests that this photo can be dated to 1933 so that would make my father 9 years old. The file location for this scanned photo is in the shared folder Hess Family Relatives – I dated this photo 1931.
Photo 3 – photo date estimated to be 1933.
AI estimates that this photo is from 1942. That would make my mother 17 years old in this photo. I think this was her brother Bob’s car. She is standing in the shared driveway at 520/522 N. Main St., Ann Arbor. The file location for this scanned photo is in shared folder Gretchen Ream Hess. I dated this photo 1942.
Photo 4 – photo date estimated to be 1943.
This is a photo taken by my father. I believe the year is 1943. Please let me know if you can identify which car is his and where this parking lot is located on campus. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Ann Arbor photos. I dated this photo 1943.
Photo 5 – photo date estimated to be 1942.
Love birds! I estimated that this photo of my mother and father is from 1944. The file location for this scanned photo is in the shared folder Gretchen Ream Hess. I dated this photo 1942.
Photo 6 – Photo is dated 1937.
This photo was captioned “1937 Plymouth.” The car is parked so that you can see Grandma Pet’s open garage doors at 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI. The file location for this photo is in shared folder Klotz Folder by LCG. This photo is dated 1937.
Photo 7 – Photo is dated October 1944.
This photo had been captioned with the correct date. This looks like the 1937 Plymouth. The file location for this picture is in the shared folder Klotz Folder by LCG.
Photo 8 – photo date estimated to be 1947.
This is Madeline Groshans – AI estimates that this photo was taken in 1947. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Groshans Family and Relatives.
Photo 9 – photo date estimated to be 1946.
My parent’s 1st apartment was on Oakland near the UM law quad. Later, Mike ended up renting an apartment just a few doors down from where his grandparents had lived! I am estimating this photo is from 1946. The file location of this photo is in the shared folder Gretchen Ream Hess.
Photo 10 – photo date estimated to be 1949/50.
Robert Hess by his Woody Station Wagon. What do you think? I love it! I am estimating that the photo is from 1949 to 1950. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Robert Lawrence Hess.
Photo 11 – photo date estimated to be 1960.
1517 Harbrooke Ave., Ann Arbor. My family home with our car in the driveway. Possibly 1960? The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Hess family life & 1517 Harbrooke Ave.
Photo 12 – photo date estimated to be 1961.
Our family driving through a Redwood tree at Redwood National Park. c1961. The roof rack was used for all of our cross country trips. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Hess family life & 1517 Harbrooke Ave.
Photo 13 – photo is dated December 1955.
? with Sam and Anne Barnes, Dec 1955. I am not sure of the car model or the location of the photo. The file location for this photo is in the shared album Samuel Henry Barnes.
Photo 14 – photo date is estimated to be 1946.
This photo was from a Schmiling photo album. AI estimates the date of the photo is 1946. This photo is located in the shared file Schmiling.
Photo 15 – photo date is estimated to be 1948.
Grandma Alma Runke Schmiling at Elbert’s deer hunting cabin in Pembine. AI estimates that this photo is from 1948. The file location for this photo is in the shared file Schmiling.
Photo 16 – photo from 1959.
1959 In Pascagoula, MS, home of the Barnes grandparents with grandfather Eugene Barnes next to Chris. The location of this photo is in the shared file Chris.
Photo 17 – photo from 1961.
This photo is of Eugene Wiesner and Joann going to their 1961 prom. This file location is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 1- photo date is estimated to be 1961.
Kathryn on the sidewalk in front of 1517 Harbrooke, Ann Arbor, MI. The file location for this is in the shared folder Kathryn Hess Barnes.
Photo 19 – photo date is estimated to be 1965.
Linda Claire with a duffel bag ready to go to Summer camp. This station wagon had a rear facing 3rd row of seats. The photo was taken at 2629 Danbury Lane, Ann Arbor, MI. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Linda Claire Hess Groshans. The year is estimated to be 1965.
Photo 20 – photo date is estimated to be 1966.
Joann standing by her Mustang. The year is believed to be 1966. This photo is located in the shared file Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 21 – photo date is 18 June 1966.
The wedding of Joann and Gene Wiesner. This photo file location is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 22 – Thanksgiving 1967
This photo of Gene and Joann Wiesner is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 23- Photo date is estimated to be 1968
An truly classic car and a very pretty Joann. This photo is estimated to be from 1968. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 24 – Photo is estimated to be from 1968.
It looks like the photo location is Interlochen. I love Mary Ann and I being so formal while Khaki takes a break on the roof of our station wagon. Note that my belongings are in a large metal chest. This photo location is in the shared folder Hess Girls.
Photo 25 – This photo is estimated to be from 1970
I love the stripes on this automobile! This photo file location is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 26- This photo is from April 1972
Joann holding Kara. The location for this 1972 photo is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 27 – This photo is estimated to be from 1976
So cute! This is a photo of Kara and Drew. The file location for this photo is in the shared album Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 28 – This photo is estimated to be from 1978
The tennis star is Kara. This photo file location is in the shared album Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 29 – This photo is estimated to be from 1978
Gene, Drew, and Kara. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 30 – This photo is estimated to be from 1979
Joann, Drew, and Kara. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 31- This photo is from July 1981
Amy coming home to our duplex on Bemidji in Ann Arbor.
Photo 32 – This photo is from 1981
Photo 33 – This photo is estimated to be from 1982
Grandpa Robert Hess giving Amy a wagon ride at 2629 Danbury Lane, Ann Arbor.
Photo 34 – This photo is from 1984
Chris with the1981 Dodge O24.
Photo 35 – This photo is estimated to be from 1987.
Amy is getting ready in this photo to go on vacation with her grandparents. The photo was taken at 2629 Danbury Lane, Ann Arbor, MI. The file location of this photo is in the shared album Gretchen Ream Hess.
Photo 36 – This photo is estimated to be from 1990.
This photo of Amy was taken in front of the house at 609 S. 1st Street, Ann Arbor, MI. This was our red Subaru.
Photo 37 – This photo was from 1992.
Joann with Drew on his prom night.
Photo 38 – This photo is from 1995
We decorated my parent’s car for their 50th anniversary.
Photo 39 – This photo was from 2003
This was one of my Jeeps. Parked at 851 Steinbach Road
Photo 40 – This photo is estimated to be from 1998
Mike is sitting on the VW Passat during a day trip. This is the car that had repeated mechanical issues including brake failure problems and trouble starting when it was wet outside!
Photo 41 – This photo is estimated to be from 1999
I invited my children to go for a ride in the Jeep to survey the snow storm.
Photo 42 & Photo 43 – These photos are estimated to be from 2006
My Chrysler Town and County van parked at Gallup ParkMy Chrysler Town and Country van parked at 851 Steinbach Road.
Photo 44 – This photo is estimated to be from 2009
Gene Wiesner. The file location for this photo is in the shared album Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 45 – photo from 2016
Blake’s Ford Fusion
Photo 46 – photo estimated to be from 2007
Paul Kettner, Mike, Robert Hess, and Drew at Tuttle Marsh. I owned the red Jeep and Grandpa had a Pacifica.
Photo 47- photo estimated to be from 2010
Gene standing by their convertible. The file location for this photo is in the shared folder Family of Gene and Joann Wiesner.
Photo 48 – photo from 2015
My current Jeep Renegade
Photo 49 – photo from 2020
Kevin gets a job in North Dakota and gets the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
telling life stories 