Meet Charles “Chuck” Shaw of Harvard
Charles “Chuck” Shaw of Harvard
Chuck has lived on Harvard for all 74 years of his life. He and his younger sister Suzan were raised here. His parents, Charles Sr. and Fran (both now deceased) bought the home in 1946 after his dad returned from World War ll. The Shaw’s are the original owners of the home - at that time, their home was one of only a few that was built in what’s now known as East English Village. There was still prime untouched land where homes would eventually be constructed.
Chuck attended St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic School in Grosse Pointe Park. He recalls tuition being $100 a year, “no matter if it was one kid going there in the family, or 2, 5, 6, or whatever…tuition every year was $100. Dad thought that was too much!” He went on to graduate in 1967 from Jared W. Finney High School, known today as East English Village Preparatory Academy. His class was the fourth class to graduate after the high school was added to the elementary school. Two months after graduating, Chuck started working in Materials Management at Bon Secours Hospital on Cadieux in Grosse Pointe. He was a patient transporter, he stocked carts for the 10 operating rooms, and was responsible for employee scheduling. That hospital is now Beaumont Health Grosse Pointe. Chuck retired in 2017 after working for 50 years.
Chuck remembers The Vogue Theatre being here in EEV. He often went there on Saturdays growing up. It was on the same site as the old McDonald’s on Harper. Prior to AT&T owning the building that’s on the corner of Mack and Cadieux, it was a car wash appropriately named Auto Wash. In later years gas pumps were added. The location where Bob Maxey Lincoln dealership currently is was originally Aner’s Ford, then it became John Cook Ford. Former Detroit Lion running back Mel Farr and owner of the Mel Farr Ford family of dealerships trained there. Karaoke was big thing for his mom and dad. They would regularly sing at a place on the north side of E. Warren, between Harvard and Grayton - the name escapes him these days.
Chuck has been an an avid sports nut his whole life. He played Little League and Pony baseball then went on to make the team in high school. He enjoys football - favorite team is the Minnesota Vikings. Hockey is a close second favorite for him, with the Montreal Canadiens holding a very special place in his heart. He started watching them in high school on UHF channel 54 which aired entirely in French. He still enjoys watching them play today, but on cable.
Chuck gets together with a couple friends regularly. They play golf together at Chandler Park Golf Course for nine holes and breakfast afterward. He considers himself a decent golfer. He dog sits at his home for a friend and is often seen walking her around the block. He also drives a few times a year to visit his sister in Pennsylvania and her family.
Chuck likes EEV because it’s so close to all the places that he does business with that he doesn’t “have to travel a country mile.” For him, the streets are easy to travel and there’s not a lot of traffic. As far as his particular block he likes the neighbors, knows most of them, and likes that everyone keeps their homes in pretty decent shape, though “it’s not like Better Homes & Garden is going to come and give anyone a check for $500!”
A neighbor of Chuck’s, Renita Holliness, recommended him for this feature and helped with the interview. She adds that Chuck always looks out for others on the block. He pulls trash cans in and out for a few of us, keeps an eye out when neighbors are away, and he constantly keeps the curbs clean in front on his and others homes. “It’s a pleasure knowing you all these years Chuck. Thanks for being such a good neighbor.”