Q – Quiet Hugh Clarence Cleage

A-Z Challenge 2020, Cleages, Detroit
  • Hugh 1920
  • Cousin Ruth, Hugh, Gladys 1924
  • Hugh and dog 1923
  • Hugh 1925
  • Gladys, Hugh, Anna and father Albert 1927
  • Hugh with friends George and Paul Payne 1928
  • Anna, Gladys, mother Pearl, Hugh, Barbara 1928

Hugh Clarence Cleage was born at home June 2, 1918 in the house on 24th Street. He was the fourth son and also the fourth child of the Cleages. Hugh was named after two of his mother’s brothers. He was 20 months old when 1920 started and almost 13 years old when the decade ended.

Like his siblings, Hugh attended Wingert elementary school, McMichael Junior High and Northwestern High School. But that was in the 1930s. I know he liked to fish and skate and play tennis and was kind and patient and could fix things. Some of these skills must have been practiced during his young years.

Strangely, I don’t know any stories about Hugh as a young child. He was the quiet one who was right there in all of the activities going on, but his siblings were just more forthcoming with stories and he probably couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Maybe some of my cousins will read this and share stories they may have about Hugh as a young boy.

9 thoughts on “Q – Quiet Hugh Clarence Cleage”

  2. I agree with Tarkabarka, he is photogenic and someone had good photography skills. I love the clothes worn in those times.

    1. And they took a lot of photos! I suppose it was my grandfather, although my grandmother must have taken some too, since he was in photos sometimes.

  3. That top right photo is beautiful. All three children have such beautiful expressions.
    From his warm and open smile in all the photos, I gather Hugh to be quite a content soul –a quiet and content soul.

    1. It looks like it could be a scene from a little movie. He seemed to be. All of the memories of his nieces and nephews remember him as being patient and willing to teach them things. And that also extended to people outside the family. I remember he taught several people how to print and use other equipment when he was at Cleage Printers.

  4. You are very lucky to know all these stories. I wish I had talked more to my grandparents. Hopefully someone will share a Hugh story that you can write about.

    1. There are plenty of memories and stories of Hugh, but none related to when he was a child. All of that generation, except one, are gone. I am going to write his cousin and see if she has any memories of Hugh as a boy.

Comments are closed.