Writer: Geo. W. Fetzer
Typist: Gelzhiser
Earl H. Hess and wife, Vivian (Reedy) Hess
Life Histories
Race: White
Nationality: Father and mother both American
Industrial Classification: Grocery Store
Occupation: Manager and buyer
Age: 28
Earl H. Hess and his wife, Vivian, live at the "Hilltop Grocery", of which Mr. Hess is manager and buyer, Mrs. Hess assisting in the conduct of the business as a saleslady.
It was a lovely morning when I called, the sun shining brightly and enough of "pinch" in the air to make one feel good and in "love and charity with his neighbor." The "Hilltop" store is located at the corner of Wolfe Street and Brook Avenue, and directly opposite the Stehli Silk Mill and its attractive recreation grounds.
From the store corner and from the street as well, looking west a beautiful view presents itself and invites one to take a long look at the rolling farm lands and the blue of the mountains in the distant background—truly a delight to the eye and an inspiration and a feast to the soul. How generous is nature with her rich gifts so freely bestowed, but alas, all too often treated with indifference and entirely unnoticed.
On approaching the store the first thing to attract my notice was a fine display of baskets and baskets of delicious Stayman Winesap and Grimes Golden apples, and not by any means to be forgotten, the dear little blue eyed and rosy cheeked boy of about three years just biting into a big red Stayman, the give of Mr. Hess, which seemed all too large for his capacity. Give me a bite said I, and immediately and with a smile took the little hand reached out with the apple in an unselfish offer. What great teachers little children are; and what power and influence they wield—more indeed than we often suspect and realize.
Twenty-eight years of age, standing about five feet, nine inches, and weighing two hundred and five pounds, Mr. Hess is a fine specimen of healthy and vigorous young manhood; with his broad, stone shoulders. Being so well distributed his weight doesn’t seem too great for his height.
His father and mother, both American born, lived on his father’s farm at Genoa, in Rockingham County, Virginia, where Earl was born and where his early boyhood days were spent, and where also he attended the country school, beginning at the age of six years and progressing as far as about the seventh or eighth grade, though Earl says to the sixth grade. He did not care very much for school and left it early but now as is generally the case, wishes that he might have continued and pursued his studies further in a quest for larger knowledge.
Earl had not much fondness for farm work, not because it was too hard work for him; he has always been industrious and an all-time worker. He therefore early felt the call citywards and fourteen years ago made his way to Harrisonburg, with no definite objective in mind. He did various and sundry work and for time was in the employ of the Harrisonburg Building and Supply Company, but since the establishing of the "Hilltop" store, he has been its manager and buyer as well as salesman too, and seems to be doing a successful business. He likes his present employment and is happy in it, and having a cordial disposition he has but little trouble in holding his trade, though competition is nearby and all around him.
Caring but little for sports of any kind or for the movies, where he seldom goes, he told me that he was one hundred percent for hunting as a diversion, and in which diversion he engages when opportunity and
Earl H. Hess and his wife Vivian (Reedy) Hess
Life History
Page 2
Convenience offers, and just recently brought home a wild turkey. He is not fold of reading, especially since he has little time to devote to it, but does like to keep up to some extent at least \, with current events. This of course he is able to do through the newspapers. In religious faith he is a United Brethren, still holding his membership in that church at Genoa.
Eleven years ago this December twenty-fourth, Earl was married, his bride being Vivian Reedy, of Greenmount, in Rockingham County. She is a bright little woman and younger than her husband. She has a cheerful disposition; fair complexion, though not a blonde; chestnut brown hair and gray-blue eyes with an animated expression radiating good humor but not frivolous. She is about five feet, five inches tall, slender of build but compact, and weighing slightly less than one hundred pounds. Quick and active, she knows how to take an order for goods either over the counter or over the phone. Both her parents are living, as also is Earl’s mother, his father having passed on sometime since.
Her parents are living on father’s farm at Greenmount. Here Vivian was born, and here she spent her childhood and girlhood years; and here also she attended the neighborhood school, passing up through the grades but not further. She is a member of the Church Of The Brethren. She likes the movies and often goes to see the pictures. She and her husband go quite often to her father and mother’s home, six or eight miles north of Harrisonburg. They have not children to brighten their home.
This interview was had in the store office in the rear of the store, and I did not get to see their apartment, but after seeing Mrs. Hess, I am quite sure it is beautifully kept. They seem a happy couple; and also to be working out life’s great problem together with a good understanding of each other.
February 15, 1939 Geo. W. Fetzer
Harrisonburg, VA