Tag Archives: Linda Claire Hess

Family Shoes: A Walk Through Generations of the Hess family shoes (1940’s through the 1970’s)

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I think this photo was taken at the 1967 World Expo in in Montréal, Canada,

I remember being a little girl sitting on the swing set in my backyard on Harbrooke Ave. in Ann Arbor. As I slowly pushed myself back and forth on the swing, I looked down in wonder and delight at my shoes. They were sandals with a giant flower decoration and they are still possibly my favorite shoes ever…

I was also greatly influenced to love shoes by the story of Cinderella- I always enjoy these quotes:

“Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life.”

“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world. Just look at Cinderella!”

“Cinderella never asked for a prince. She asked for a night off and a dress. And maybe, just maybe, a great pair of shoes.”

The history of shoes has certainly changed over the course of my 70 years on the planet. This blog is just a fun way to celebrate some of the shoes we wore.

So…get ready to tap your foot and read a fun blog while walking down memory lane with me.

This photo of Gretchen Lois Ream Hess was taken in approx. 1940. As I study this photo, I realize that I could easily dress just like her even now in 2024! The anklet socks worn with the loafers were a classic combination.
AI has estimated that the date of this photo is 1942. Mom would have been 17 years old. The location was 520 N. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI. Gretchen Ream Hess is wearing a pair of modest shoes that seem to reflect this time era as the Great Depression was just ending.
A photo of Robert Lawrence Hess on his 1st day at the University of Michigan. This would have been in 1942. Look how spiffy he is in this outfit paired with classic shoes.
Look at these beautiful two toned shoes my mother is wearing in 1944.
A photo of my Uncle Robert Emerson Ream with my mother Gretchen Ream Hess. AI dates this photo as 1945 – so maybe just at the very end of WWII. I notice that Uncle Bob’s shoes are not the shiny patent leather but some much more practical leather. Mom’s shoes are adorable with the little open toe and a cute bow.
I am in love with Madalyn’s gorgeous heels!
Mom is probably visiting Dad at Midshipman School. When did she get a fur coat? Was it possibly from Aunt Babe? What are your ideas? The boots actually look very stylish. I date this photo at approx. 1945.
My stunning mother. Look at these beautiful shoes! I believe this photo is from her honeymoon in December of 1945.
I am dating this photo at approx. 1948. Mom is sitting on a park bench with a friend. I believe this is from Mom’s young married days in Bethlehem, PA. So – what amazing sling back shoes…right?
An amazing photo of Mom from approx. 1950. Everything about this outfit is WONDERFUL.
Mary Ann is wearing the quintessential baby shoes of the 1950’s. These shoes may be the ones that Mom had bronzed later as a memory. Also…did toddlers really get to wear a string of pearls? I love the knit dress.
A chance to see 4 generations of my family and the shoes we all had on. Precious!
Mary Ann with 3 candles in the birthday cake. Look at her pretty patent leather Mary Jane shoes with a type of dress that required a “stick out slip” to hold the skirt in place.
Bonus photo that shows my leather tie up shoes and my rubber boots. The funny thing is that the shoes were worn inside the boots back in those days. WOW…
I bet we are all laughing at this photo! Mary Ann’s shoes were passed down and were a classic style for little girls of the 1950’s. I seem to have some pretty swell slippers. March 1, 1956.
I am sporting red tennis shoes. I feel like I still have a memory of them. Chrissy White is between me and Mary Ann. My mother, Gretchen, is on the far right and is pregnant with Kathryn. This photo was taken in 1957.
Here we are in our Easter dresses. Linda Claire, Kathryn Sue, and Mary Ann. Kathryn has the standard toddler shoes and Mary Ann and I are wearing patent leather shoes. Remember that dresses from this era were made with only natural fibers (no polyester yet) so they had to all be carefully ironed. Date estimate 1958.
This photo is proof that flip flops have been around for a long time. I always smile when I look at this picture- the foreshadowing of me being afraid of heights and nervously grabbing my father’s slacks. Mary Ann looks confident and Kathryn is just busy playing with the sand. Photo possibly in late 1958 or early 1959.
I am the mountain climber – an alpine German yodeler and Mary Ann is the little dutch girl in wooden shoes. The shoes I am wearing appear over and over in our family photographs. I think that we must have kept getting the same shoes in a different size. Back in 1959 we owned only a couple pairs of shoes each and frequently took them to the cobbler in Nichols Arcade to be repaired. Yes, we did have wooden shoes. They were kept in the dress up chest.
This photo also has me laughing. Kathryn looks at Santa so lovingly and Mary Ann is also happy as can be. But, look at me…not sure at all about this guy! LOL. Also, until this blog, I never realized that Kathryn is wearing the hand me down boots from the earlier photo of me asleep on the floor in my snow suit. Again, these types of boots were worn with our shoes inside. In order to put the boots on, we first covered our shoes in plastic bread bags to help them slip on. Christmas 1959.
What a hoot. At least Mary Ann has the pretty smile. My smile is a little over the top and Kathryn looks quite displeased that the cake is obviously not hers. Kathryn is wearing the recycled pair of red shoes that appear over and over in these photographs. We are with Bones and Madalyn at their home in March of 1960.
Apparently Kathryn is being smooshed between her sisters. Mom liked to dress us in similar styles. I see that we all are wearing identical pairs of blue sneakers. Photo 1961.
It looks like Kathryn is wearing our hand me down black patent leather shoes. Photo circa 1962. Aunt Babe possibly actually sewed this coat- her occupation was as a seamstress.
In 1962 we seem to be wearing some quite lovely summer sandals. In this photo we are pictured with a Canadian dignitary. Kathryn…why are you wearing socks?
I love looking at the shoe fashions in this 1964 photo of the Silver Anniversary party for Madalyn and Bones. The photo was taken at 2629 Danbury Lane, Ann Arbor. Grandma Pet (Amelia Ream) is seated in the orange chair on the front right of the photo.
I love this photo of Kathryn for a hundred reasons. Check out her amazing cowgirl boots! Yee Haw! Photo circa 1965.
A photo from my 1970 European vacation with Dad. I am wearing a “stretch and sew” dress made by Mom. This was the start of polyester. I think my sandals are pretty cute!
We definitely had hiking boots and did plenty of nature walks as a family. Photo circa 1971.
Mom and Dad are also wearing practical walking type shoes in this 1971 photo.
Jack is wearing the Earth Shoes that became kind of an obsession for all of us in this 1972 time period.
Mom looks so lovely in the back garden at 2629 Danbury Lane, Ann Arbor. Fantastic shoes…right?
I know. I know. I haven’t changed a bit. LOL. This is in front of Waterman Residence in my 1970’s college days. Pretty borrowed dress and shoes.
Can you tell that Bones is wearing the classic rubbers over his shoes. This was the classic winter style for men at that time.
Christmas c1975. Mary Ann is wearing a beautiful smile and some great wedge shoes.
I am on my honeymoon in 1977 wearing my wonderful Earth Shoe sandals.

How old was I when that family event happened? A partial list…

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I am a 69 year old woman who loves to reflect on the history of her family throughout my lifetime.

Spending time thinking about how old I was when something happened helps me contextualize and process events in my life’s timeline. It also helps me to reflect on my own growth, and how events may have influenced my life and perspective. It can also aid me when I am discussing and sharing memories with others who were present at the time, helping me create a more accurate narrative of the past.

So here is a short little “how old was I” chart. My sisters can just do some simple math (is there simple math? LOL) to calculate their age at the time of these events.

1954

I was born. My father was 29 and my mother was 28 years old. My older sister was 2 years old. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president. When I was born, my Grandma Pet was 68 years old. Bones was 44 years old and Madalyn was 37 years old. My paternal grandfather, George Sr. was 63 years old and my paternal grandmother was 60 years old.

1955

I was 1 year old when my great grandmother Grayer, (Amelia Louise Grayer nee Wisthoff) died on 1 May 1955.

1957

In February of 1957, my older sister and I visited our paternal grandparents in Benton Harbor. There are photos of that event.

In November of 1957, my younger sister was born. I was 3 years, 9 months and 16 days old.

My brother-in-law, Chris, was born on 23 Apr. 1957 – (of course, it would take me years to meet him!)

My father began his work overseeing work at Willow Run Labs.

1961

My family and Aunt Babe took a trip out west to the Badlands, Cooley Dam, Mt. Rainer, San Francisco, Disneyland, Yellowstone Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Marine Land. I was 7.5 years old.

1962

My family and Aunt Babe took a trip to Virginia – Williamsburg. I was 8.5 years old.

1964

This is the year of our house construction on Danbury Lane. I was 10 years old.

1964 and 1965: Robert Hess served as the personal representative of the U.S. Army’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and led teams of scientists through a field review of the Army’s Combat Surveillance capabilities in Europe and in Korea.

Gretchen coordinated the successful Christmas program at BUCC with an international theme.

1965

On 13 Feb 1965, our beloved Grandma Pet suddenly passed away. She was 79 years old. Mom was 39 years old. Uncle Bob was 47 years old. I had just turned 11 years old.

In August of 1965, Dad traveled to Japan.

1966

1 Jul 1966: Robert Hess receives 2nd highest Army award

Robert starts with HSRI – I was 12 years old.

Robert is Chairman of the building committee at BUCC and the new Addition is completed.

18 May 1966 – My great uncle Herman passed away. He was 88 years old.

1968

MAW had her brain surgery in 1968. I was approx. 14.5 years old and she was 16.5 years old. (I am not certain of the exact dates- please correct me on this date if necessary.)

1970

In 1970, I was 16 years old and I got my driver’s license.

31 May 1970: Robert Hess took me on a European trip.

President Nixon named Dad to the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee for 3 years.

December 1970 – this could be a possible date for MAW’s trip to Moscow.

1972

On my birthday in 1972, I turned 18 years old. I met Jack either that day or the week of my birthday. I graduated from Pioneer HS.

Tim’s father passed away on 6 Jul 1972. He was only 48 years old.

On 20 Jun 1972 my Great Aunt Minnie passed away. She was 93 years old.

1973

Mary Ann was living in France. Tour d’Aygosi 7, Aix-en-Provence 13100, France

Robert Hess was the Consultant of the Secretary of the Army’s Scientific Advisory Panel 

April – Mary Ann is getting ready to return to America after a year abroad

Jack is at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX (August 24th)

Jack is at the Defense Language Institute in Washington DC

Briarwood Mall opened in October

1974

11 Feb 1974: Linda Claire turns 20 years old

March 1974: Linda visits Jack in DC for spring break

3 Apr 1974: tornado in Hillsdale

April 1974: Khaki takes trip to Germany

4 May 1974: Mary Ann graduates from the University of Michigan

1 Sept 1974: Andrew Jacob Wiesner is born in WI (Of course, I would not meet Drew for quite a few years!)

Claire and Hillsdale friends spend spring break in Washington DC

18 Nov 1974: Jack Groshans has honorable discharge from the US Air Force

1974: This could be a possible date for Dad’s trip to Venezuela for the Pan American Health Conference.

1976

15 May 1976: I graduated from Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI. I was 22 years old.

20 Oct 1976: My great aunt Lucy (Grover’s sister) passed away. She was 89 years old.

1977

February 1977 to April 1982: Jack Groshans worked for the US Postal Service

13 Aug 1977: Groshans Wedding in Ann Arbor, MI – I was 23 years old.

1978

July 1978 I was the Sales and Catering Manager for Weber’s Inn until March of 1980

1981

My amazing daughter was born on 3 Jul 1981 at 7:11pm. We were living at 1460 Bemidji Street, AA. I was 27 years old.

1983

Madalyn died on 21 Jan 1983. Madalyn was only 65 years old. I was 28 years old.

September 1983- December 1984 Jack Groshans attended Washtenaw Community College

1984

I worked at Chi Systems as Fulfillment Manager for Hospital Purchasing Management publication.

17 Mar 1984: Robert Jack Groshans died (paternal grandfather of my children) he was only 57 years old.

8 Apr 1984: My niece Kristy is born

19 Jul 1984: This was my hire date at the Ann Arbor Inn as their Conference Manager

20 Sep 1984: Henrietta Spruhan Hess dies in Kissimmee, FL (mother of Robert Hess). She was 90 years old. I was 30 years old.

1986

3 May 1986 My great Aunt Babe passed away. She was 95 years old. I was 32 years old.

1989

8 Jan 1989: My nephew Charlie was born. I was 34 (almost 35 years old)

1 Apr 1989: My younger sister married Chris. I was 35 years old.

May 1989: I was hired at the Radisson as the Conference Manager.

1991

8 April 1991: I had genetic counseling and Chorionic Villus sample because of pregnancy risk factors at Hutzel Hospital while 3 months pregnant. Dad accompanied me to this series of tests.

2 May 1991: Blake is born

31 May 1991: Robert Hess retires and is named Professor Emeritus. He was 66 years old.

Aug 1991: Linda Claire Groshans left job as Conference Manager at the Raddison on the Lake

August 1991: Amy and I went to Valley View condos at Grand Traverse Resort with Grandma and Grandpa. Jack joined us for the last weekend. The Whitmers also joined us. Our family had a 16th floor brunch at the Grand Traverse.

31 Oct 1991: My amazing son was born at 3:25pm. I was 37 years old.

28 Nov 1991: My uncle George died at age 69 (born in 1922)

1995

I was divorced from Jack. I was 41 years old.

8 Aug 1995: Bones died. He was 85 years old.

1996

I started work at First Congregational Church. I was 42 years old.

1997

15 Aug1997: My nephew Kevin was born

1998

1 Apr 1998: Linda Claire Groshans purchases 2725 Yost Blvd (and sells house at 5431 Pratt Road, AA, MI)

2004

My Uncle Bob passed away on 9 Dec 2004. He was 87 years old.

2005

I started employment at BUCC and stayed until 2010. I was 51 years old.

2006

1 Jan 2006. Family friend Winnie Martin passed away. She was 92 years old.

25 Jan 2006: Aunt Ginny passed away. She was 83 years old.

My mother Gretchen passed away on 1 Nov 2006. She was 81 years old. I was 52 years old.

47% German

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47

Linda Claire in German mountain climber outfit 1959

I have done genealogy research long enough to realize that this passion of mine is viewed by some folks as quite boring. But, I have always had a preoccupation and interest in where I came from and who my ancestors were. I am born to be a story teller and so I wanted to know the stories of my own roots and my own family history. These stories showed me a pathway to the social and cultural history of my ancestors. They were stories that I memorized and retold.

At a very early age, I begged my mother to tell me the stories of our family. She related the stories of her childhood during the Great Depression and how her grandmother immigrated to America from Germany. OK, I decided, I am of a clear German heritage.

Well, this made sense. After all, all our Christmas cookies were from our German recipes … lebkuchen and springle’s are still my favorite. My Grandmother used German words for household items. Well, correction, I thought she was using all German words. For instance, when she wanted us to get our bumbershoots and we understood that to mean we were to bring our umbrellas, it turns out that the word bumbershoot is from the USA. The first known use of the word was not even until 1876.

One of our family favorite side dishes were German kniffles. Yes, that is a true variation of the word spatzen. Our family was Sud Deutsch. Southern Germany. So, there were some words common to that region that were not generally used elsewhere.

Ann Arbor was settled in part by a large German community. My family was a part of that settlement. Bethlehem Church, where we attended worship, continued sermons in German into the mid-60’s.

Our family sang together. I learned a special yodeling song from my mother. We often sang songs in German. On a family car ride we might sing,”Du, du, liegest mir am Herzen, du, du, liegest mir im Zinn”. At Christmas, our Ann Arbor church on 4th Avenue sang some German carols.

“Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!“

Growing up, it was not uncommon to be asked about my heritage. “German”, I would clearly state. “I am such a German girl”.

BUT…

BUT…

BUT…

wait for it. wait for it. wait for it.

This was literally less than a half truth.

Although my father loved to tell stories, they were really never about his family. I do remember that he had told us we had American patriots in our family. He said that my sisters and I qualified to be Daughters of the American Revolution. We never joined. I was incurious about his family stories because he seemed to be.

Fast forward, in 2016, I spit into a small container to send away to Ancestry.com for my DNA results. Also, by this time, I had done enough research to know what the results would say. During my entire childhood and early to mid adult years, I believed it to be true that I was of 100% German ancestry. Turns out this is actually only 47% true.

47% true? How did we disregard that other 53% of our heritage? That 53% that is represented by primarily English and some Irish roots. This was not represented in our family customs, diets, music, clothing, church, and more. I have now read many historical facts and stories about my English ancestors. You could say, that I am getting to know them.

I guess I am somewhat sad that I can no longer ask my father the millions of questions I have. The good news is that as an adult I have started connecting with my first cousins. They have provided me with stories that my father’s brother (my uncle) knew about the family. The story that I like best is about my ancestors being captured by pirates. Clearly, that rates among my favorites.

Linda Claire Hess’ first grade 1960/61 school year.

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0005 1st grade

Click, clack, click. My dark red buckle shoes made such a nice tapping as I walked .8 miles from our home on Harbrooke Avenue to Haisley Elementary School on Duncan Street in Ann Arbor, MI. I loved my brown cotton plaid dress with the stiff white collar. It tied at the back with a perfect bow. My pretty ankle socks were decorated with lace around the edges. My long blonde hair was arranged in pigtails that bobbed when I skipped. My bangs were cut very short, this was because my mother claimed my eyes looked bigger when you could see more of my face. I never understood how my eyes could be bigger, but I did try to open them extra wide every time she wanted to trim my bangs again. A neighbor, Mrs. Hodgson, had been very upsetting to me when she told me that I had an especially long neck. Good grief, what was I to do? Did I appear to others as a sort of swan-girl? Well, later in life, I am ever so happy to have a long neck, as it provides me with the best chance to have a chin. LOL.

I always walked next to my older sister Mary Ann on the way to school. We had a few walking safeties rules. First and most important was NEVER to walk on the grass of “Crabby Appleton’s” yard. I have absolutely no idea of the actual name of the neighbor that spent her mornings policing her grass, but she certainly was feared by us. We slowed down as we approached her corner lot, held hands, and made sure to keep our heads down as we walked past.

Our other safety rule was “Watch, Look, and Listen.” We carefully checked each corner for any sign of traffic before crossing. Also, we knew that any home with a big blue hand cut-out in a front window meant it was a home where a kind adult helper was available to assist us along our walk to and from school.

We had no lunch boxes because we would make the walk home at lunch time to eat in our own kitchen. My favorite lunches were any that were served in the Campbell Soup Kids bowls. I loved those chubby cheeked children smiling up at me.

It was the 1960/ 61 school year and I had already had the best of luck. My adored Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Reinke, was also going to be my 1st grade teacher. This was good fortune beyond belief. She had the kindest of natures, short red hair, some freckles kissing her cheeks, and hands always ready to pat me so gently on my shoulders. It was good to be with her. She also knew how to tell her right hand from her left hand and this was extremely important so that you would not make any mistakes when playing Hokey Pokey. “Put your right leg in and you shake it all about.” Funny that so many years later in life, I would see someone driving through town with a bumper sticker that asked, “What if the Hokey Pokey is what it’s all about?” I laughed at that suggestion but there was also some reality to the question!

I was already a top notch reader when I entered first grade. I loved the Dick and Jane readers. I could take the books home and read them proudly to my family. After school, our mother would sometimes take us to Slater’s Book Store up on State Street near the Nickels Arcade. It was there that I got my all time favorite book to read aloud. It was called “10 Apples Up On Top” by Dr. Seuss. It was hilarious when all the apples fell off the head of the main character.

During my first grade year, JFK became our 35th president. Our country was deeply in the midst of the Cold War. Part of my memory of that time were the Scholastic School Newspapers that showed us photos of Khrushchev. I memorized his face in case I ever came across him so that I would be careful to act in my own defense. I held my special stuffed animal “Magic Bear” closer at night as a self-defense measure too. The Ann Arbor schools trained students in a plan called “duck and cover” drills. Remember, close your eyes so you don’t see the flash of the nuclear blast! And, it is best to cover your head not only with your hands but your books too.

I was a happy child. After school, I could play with my sisters and my neighbor friends. About this time my creative father built us an elaborate playhouse and he also made me a wooden elephant to ride. Well you had to pretend the elephant was in motion. I think we were also one of the few families that had a magic carpet. I took many imaginary rides on the woven bamboo rug that had our last name “Hess” woven into the pattern. The rug had been a gift from a visiting faculty member, so it had come from across the ocean to my house. What luck and an obvious indicator that it was the genuine article.

My father also built a secret passageway in our home to use as a play spot. Everything was planned to bolster our creative natures. And speaking of nature, that is what my parents loved. We took many family walks gathering dried grasses and cattails.

My 65-year-old self loved my 6-year-old self. She was happy, she skipped, she played Hokey Pokey, rode on magic carpets, laughed at silly riddles, and loved her dolls, stuffed animals, sisters, parents and extended family and family friends. She was entertained by Chutes and Ladders, Leapfrog, Limbo lower, and singing in the car with her family…”You are my Sunshine.”