1948 really hot trip to Chicago: Mom, Aunty Frances and Uncle Cliff

In 1948 Mom, Aunty Frances and Uncle Cliff visited the Railroad Exposition in  Chicago and the Chicago Zoo. It was in the 90s every day they were there. I'm not sure how many days they were there but at least two. I do not know why they went there at that time. Perhaps there was a trip Uncle Cliff won through work or there was some special discount train ride. Grandma and Grandpa Hon probably babysat the Hipp boys during this trip so Aunty Frances and Uncle Cliff could go. Here are some images. Just remember it is in the 90s and the ladies are wearing dresses not shorts because they are out in public on a festive holiday. I wonder what colors aunty's dress was, where they stayed and if they brought home little souvenirs for the Hipp boys.

Uncle Cliff and Aunty Fran with a cool drink right before leaving the zoo.

Fran and Cliff by a corral where they saw some roping and other cowboy activities

Cliff and Fran waiting to catch a bus

Mom and Cliff "resting our tired feet on park steps facing Lake Mich., Chicago, 1948"

Fran and Cliff by Buckingham Fountain on Lake MI

Better view of the same "wonderful fountain", Chicago in background

Cliff and Mom by the same Chicago Lakeshore fountain [Buckingham Fountain]

Cliff and Fran under umbrella by shore. Mom notes at length, "First toured the park then a bus ride here. Watched the Tommy Bartlett show in the morning. Great Northern [Railroad] gave us buttons with number. You tried to find someone wearing the same number. Fran and Cliff came within one number. No luck for me." What happened if you matched? Did you win something?

Who was Tommy Bartlett? He was a showman who developed water ski shows where there are lots of women in pyramid formation standing on the shoulders of men on water skiis doing tricks I matching swimsuits. According to their website he began  taking the show out of Chicago in 1952,  but he must have had a troupe performing in Chicago in 1948. Bartlett is now dead but the show lives on. 

Fran and Mom "resting temp in the 90s every day we were there, Chicago, Aug. '48"

"Just spied this bench - oh our dogs were tired and it was so hot 98 degrees should have brought a lunch basket, Chicago"

Mom and Fran "resting under the most welcome beach umbrella, Chicago '48" Pier and bay in background.

"At the Railroad Exposition in Chicago. Aug. '48. Indian Home and Indians (see arrow)

"No elephant in sight oh so hot! Chicago, Aug. '48"

"No monkeys in sight. Such a sight they were tho! Chicago Zoo '48

1947, snow in Grand Rapids and a summer trip to the UP: Lake of the Clouds, Pictured Rocks, Wakefield, and then Pinconning

There are a few pages in the photograph album dedicated to the late 1940s. The Hon family was then living in the St. Clair Shores, MI, area. In spring 1947 they visited Grand Rapids, maybe for Easter? During part of summer, June and July 1947, they drove to the Upper Peninsula, and hiked to the Lake of the Clouds and at least drove past Pictured Rocks, viewing them from land. There are no car ferry images this time, although they must have taken one as construction on the Mackinac Bridge had not yet begun. As they came home, they stopped for a break in Pinconning, MI.

"All aboard for St. Clair Shores", heading home from a visit with the Hipps in Grand Rapids.  Uncle Cliff, Mom, Aunty Phyllis, Grandma Hon in the Ford, Spring 1947, taken during inclement weather.

Aunty Fran, Uncle Cliff, Aunty Phyllis, spring 1947 Grand Rapids

Snowfall, Grandma Hon in a high hat, Aunty Phyllis "ready to dash inside", 1947

A trip to the Lake of the Clouds, in MI's Upper Peninsula (UP), June 1947

Aunty Phyllis with Grandpa Hon who is writing on birchbark

Grandpa and Grandma (with tall hat again) Hon, Mom called them "the two Swiss mountain climbers"

The Lake of the Clouds

Looking tired, Mom, Aunty Phyllis, Grandma

Grandpa, Aunty Phyllis, Grandma, "resting after the climb" at Lake of  the Clouds, 1947

Miners Falls, (by Pictured Rocks) UP MI

Grandpa "plucking" iron ore off an iron ore train car, Wakefield, MI, June 1947

Picture Rocks, near Munising after their car broke down, July 1947.  Unidentified people. Mom noted that somtime they would have to see the view from boats. I do not think they ever did.

Aunty Phyllis in the car on the way home in Pinconning, north of Bay City, July 1947

Mom in the car on the way home in Pinconning, July 1947

Hon and Hipp summer fun 1940s

During the Great Depression and during and right after WWII most people did not have extra money or believe in spending it on expensive vacation plans. They lived within their means and enjoyed free or cheap fun. The Hons spent a lot of time near water in the summer because it was cooler there without air conditioning. They enjoyed fishing, swimming, sunning, rowing, and feeding birds.  They also played baseball and at least Aunty Phyllis had a bike, and the young boys had scooters, gocarts and I saw a tricycle. Other photos show them "gardening" (Neither Mom nor I were ever passable gardeners. Mom apparently learned from Grandpa so I must assume he also had a black thumb.) and visiting with friends and relatives or total strangers. They also sometimes climbed up in trees and posed on fallen trees in the woods. Interestingly, there are no images thus far of anyone playing cards, cribbage or board games, which they all played ruthlessly and with great enjoyment. Here are some 1940s fun images.

Michael and Donny Hipp with baseball gloves, June 1946

On a sailboat, Grandma, Michael and Aunty Phyllis. Whose boat? Not theirs. June 1946 

Donald and Michael drying off after a dip, June 1946

Grandma, Grandpa and Aunty Phyllis "all sour pussing", June 1946

Grandma and Donny "feeding bread to the tame swans, Summer 1946"

Long Lake, [I assume this is one of many Long Lakes in MI] August 1946, Mary Ann (must be a friend), Aunty Phyllis, Grandpa and "Uncle Carl" [I do not think this is Mom's brother, Carl, but I'm not sure who it would be. Neither of my grandparents had a brother named Carl. Maybe he is a friend of Grandpa's.]

Kimball Lake [which one?], Decoration Day 1949, Dad and Cliff getting prepared for fishing.

Mom with Michael and Donnie Hipp, "quite a hot day, June 1946"

Aunty Frances in shorts with her boys and a friend in background, June 1946

Michael with his mom, Aunty Frances and a scooter, June 1946

Cutie - Aunty Phyllis on the shore of Lake St. Clair, age 12, 1946. She received a bicycle for her birthday.

Baseball, Aunty Phyllis, Donnie Hipp, Uncle Carl, Wayne and Michael Hipp, Decoration Day 1949

Mom wading in Lake St. Clair to keep cool, June 1946

Mom atop a big tree limb at Kimball Lake, probably fall 1946

A visit to Duluth in 1947, Jim and Greg Hon 1st photos

By 1947 some native Minnesotans had been out of state for a few years. To return to MN for a family visit they took a passenger vessel across Lake Superior. This was the best, fastest  route because back then there was no Mackinac Bridge. I know, it is hard to believe that was ever the case. People lined up all day to get on a car ferry. Thus, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunty Phyllis and my Mom headed to Duluth to visit Uncle Paul and Uncle Ed and their growing families in June 1947. There are images of vessels far away steaming on water which all look alike, but the interesting views to me are of Mackinac City and St. Ignace which were and look pretty rural. These cities have come along way since 1947.

Grandma, Aunty Phyllis, Grandpa

There are a number of vessel images like this, far away, closer, really close, heading away.

Here's a view leaving Mackinac City-nothing visible at all

Here's a view approaching St. Ignace, which appears to have some rustic buildings and not much more. What is there does not look too inviting. Lots of open space. No McDonalds anywhere.


DULUTH June 1947

Mom wrote "The boys with their wives and children, 1947" so that's Aunty Evelyn holding James, Ronnie, Aunty Altamae holding Greg, Uncle Paul and Uncle Ed. They look so happy and comfortable in each other's near company.

                                                     Grandpa with Ronnie and James and fishing nets

Aunty Altamae holding Greg, Aunty Evie holding James, Ronnie, Uncle Paul.

Grandma with Ronnie, Uncle Paul, Aunty Evie looking amazing in yet another apron, Grandpa holding Jim

Grandpa fishing. According to Mom he had "no luck"

Mom and Grandma Hon at Elmsgren Cabins "Sunning ourselves". The door looks very late 19th century.  Mom looks to me like she recently had a migraine.  I bet traveling on a boat made her really sick. I have been there and had that look.

Grandma and Aunty Phyllis "staying lazy north shore"