In the space provided, I hope to work with the children of Charlotte Gretsch Pretat to create a timeline of her life. This is being created to add to the body of work Gretchen Elsner Sommer began on the women in her family. Charlotte was Gretchen’s eldest sister, and just like Gretchen, left us too early. As we work together we will be able to assemble a history of Charlotte’s life for her family.

Charlotte Elise Kahrs

September 10, 2018

Name Essay

Charlotte Elise Kahrs: That’s my name and there is no other like it. I am named after my grandmother Charlotte Pretat, and my great great grandmother Charlotte Sommer. I have my Dad’s last name and my Mom’s middle name. Although my name is very common, there’s a special backstory behind mine and mine alone.

As soon as my parents found out they were pregnant with me, they decided it would be fun to have my family vote on a name. So, my name was a democracy. When they received the news that they were having a girl they compiled a list of girls names they liked and had my family vote on their favorite. Olivia, Charlotte, and Magdalena were all possibilities. When they had tallied the votes, Charlotte had won and that was that. My grandmother wanted to name me Regina after her, but that didn’t pan out very well. A week later, being pregnant woman she was, my mom wanted to change my name again to my middle name, but after some convincing I was back to Charlotte again. The day I was born, my parents gave me my Mom’s middle name Elise and my Dad’s last name Kahrs. From that day forward, I was known as Charlotte Elise Kahrs.

My grandmother Charlotte Pretat was an amazing woman from what I knew, and I always loved spending time with her during those hot summers in Maine. I would always go into downtown Kittery with her, my Aunt, my Mom, My Dad, and my cousin Katherine. We would go shopping and if I showed even the slightest interest in anything she would buy it for me on the spot despite what my parents thought. When I was five, she bought me a beautiful glass flower necklace which I still have today. She’s my Dad’s mom and the mother to my uncle Jim and my aunt Mary. From the stories I have heard, she was kind strong women who loved her children and her job. She raised her kids with her husband for ten years until they got divorced and later both remarried. She married a man named George and her other husband had another kid with my other grandmother Terri. Once my grandfather George had died, she lived by herself with visits often from my aunt. She passed away three years later but left amazing memories behind with her friends and family. When I was born, we didn’t want the have two Charlottes so I adopted her nickname Lottie. My family still calls me Lottie today and I guess that is also my name too.

I love my name and would never want to change it. I think the back story is amazing and the fact that I am named after two amazing strong women who raised children that grew up to be successful. I would have loved to have met my great great grandmother and known more about my grandmother but the little I know about them makes me so proud to be one of their descendent and to bear their name.

1944

March 17, in Kansas City, Missouri

Charlotte was born on March 17th in Kansas City Missouri. She was born in the “baby hub” of the United States.
Two factors made Kansas City the “baby hub” of the United States. First, the railroads connected rural communities to the city, and next, the city had only one child placement agency, the adoption department of the Juvenile Court. Parents from all over the United States used to pack their pregnant, unwed daughters onto the train and send them to Kansas City where taxis waited at the station to transport them to one of several maternity homes, including The Willows, Fairmount, St. Vincent’s, Florence Crittenton, Kansas City Cradle, and others. (https://kchistory.org/research/genealogy/adoptions )

Western Union
Joplin MO March 25 1944
WM H Gretsch

Joe arrive Monday 12.30 Noon Grand Central to help with beds dishes Marion Arrives with me Friday Kansas City May have something for us Love
Sylvia

Charlotte was greeted in Kansas City, Missouri a few days later by her mother “Sylvia” Maxine Gretsch and “Aunt” Marion. Aunt Marion could be either her dad’s Uncle Louis wife Marion or Sylvia’s friend from college Mary Curtis.

Western Union
Kansas City Mo March 29 1944
William W Gretsch

Dear Daddy Meet Mother Aunt Marion Commodore Vanderbuilt and Me on Friday All my love Charlotte

Charlotte was taken home, to New York via the Commodore Vanderbuilt a modern steam engine that traveled exclusively between Chicago and New York, to meet her new dad Bill Gretsch. ** Charlotte was told a story growing up about arriving at the station in New York and being picked up by her father. She wrote to Gretchen in March of 1998 and told her the story.

I use to love hearing was about when Daddy met Mom and me at the train station after our journey from KC to NY. Daddy suddenly remembered something urgent that needed tending at the office and hailed a cab to Brooklyn. I guess I didn’t have a very good first impression.

Western Untion
Chicago Ill March 30 1944
William Gretsch
Sylvia Charlotte and friend enroute Commodore Baby Beautiful Sylvia happy Mary

Western Union
Toldeo Ohio March 30 1944
Commodore Vanderbuilt Coach 689 Drawing Room A 8:30 AM Love Charlotte

https://www.american-rails.com/commodore.html

She was adored and loved by all she met. Just one month after she was adopted her mom sent out this letter to family and friends.

April 26, 1944
Dear Family,

Have been trying to write this form letter for some time… and now at last deiced that the only way to do it, is to do it first…. So the washing of the baby, etc. waits.

Our little baby is still as angelic as the day we got her… still has blue eyes, blonde hair, or rather down… there is so little of it. Weighs 9 lbs., 12 oz, as compared with her St Pat’s day weight of 7lb, 10oz.

Everyone says she is a beautiful baby… and we’re happy to say they are right. She is beginning to smile, but doesn’t know yet that you are supposed to when you are happy…so she’s as apt as not to grin in the middle of a mad.

She still feeds at 6, 10, 2, 6, and 12, which keeps us all happy. Has orange juice and cod liver oil (with percomorph added) at noon. Her digestion is wonderful… bubbles at the proper times, never spits up, is generally a model child.

No rashes, cradle cap, or assorted ailments. Not even a birthmark. She has quite the widows peak, and not he sign of a curl…. Perhaps because there’s nothing on her head long enough to curl.

We have had 2 sets of pictures of her, some black and white, some color…by Major MacNeal, who had quite a group of Casa Blanca pictures in the National Geographic. He appointed himself official baby photographer, and comes out with a car load of spotlights, etc. He is a doctor…unfortunately will be shipped out soon, but since he is stationed on a transport, I hope he’ll be back at frequent intervals.

Charlotte likes the fresh air, and goes to sleep the instand (instant) she is outside. Put her out of her second story bedroom window, onto a roof projections, where it is clean and quiet. Took her riding in a buggy one day, but she screamed so every time I stopped, that I don’t think she is going out again that way.

She lies awake for hours, without a sound, until feeding time. And even she is very considerate. We have the diaper service…110 every Tuesday. Her other little things I wash out a couple of times a week. If all babies were as good as this one, there would be more of them.

Bill is working up tp the point of picking her up again, tho it may be several weeks before he actually does it. His Father held her the other night, but backed down on the feeding.

Mrs. Simons…. She was a very good friend of Bill’s Mother… has practically moved over, to take care of Sherry. She stays with her when we go out, etc. We have 4 baby sitters, too, so we don’t have to worry.

Bill was in Washington last week. Next week, the Bronson’s (head of the Army Music) are taking a week off, to spend it at their farm in Virginia. We are invited… and may go next weekend, to be gone 3 or 4 days. Would go on the train, and drive back with them. It’s on the Potomac, and supposed to be super beautiful around there this time of year. Bill needs a little rest, and I think it would be fun.

We have some very good friends, with no children, who would move out with Sherry while we’re gone. She is a graduate nurse.

My girl from Joplin wired Sunday that she would be here Tuesday morning, then wired Monday that she had a toe infection, and would have to stay in Fostoria, Ohio, for a six day treatment.

I really don’t car because Alberta, the colored girl who keeps us clean now is very good, and I have very little to do now anyway. However, I want to get Eleanor settled, and into the swing of things, so that I can go to the hospital to finish my quota of Nurse Aide time, etc.

We will be in Freeport again this year, from June 15 to September 15. We are quite elated about that, but can’t figure how to have more than 8 guests at once, what with the baby and Eleanor. Can’t decide where to keep the baby, only know she won’t be in our room or the maid’s room, so it looks as if she’ll have to have a private room. She has here, of course, but then we seldom need more than 2 guest rooms in the winter.

The Easter outfit from Joplin made an immediate hit with Sherry. She asked me to tell you, tho, that the holes in the lace are a little too small for her toes, and she has a dreadful time getting in and out of them. She enjoyed her box so much.. and so did we. The booties are very warm and practical, and the slip is grand. Lots of work! The rattle is resting up for a later day.

The box from California is elegant! The dress is a beauty… Mother made it, with lace insertion, and a scalloped hem, with gathered lace hemstitched on. Puff sleeves with ruffled lace, too. And a little slip that matches. And a little blue robe, with pink trim, and pleats featherstitched in.

I think Mother and Tante should follow Betty’s lead, and make little things to sell to the shops. They really have a professional touch.

We wish Grosspop was here, because we want a top for the chest, bassinet and diaper pail, so that I can put a skirt around all three and make it look like one unit. If we had had a cradle like Paula’s, Sherry could have used it when we first got her.. she was about that size.

Mother, the booties are darling…fit and stay on. And the safety pins from both Joplin and California fill a serious need.

Time out for the orange juice…

Sherry doesn’t like it, but knows it will help her get big, so she takes it like a gentlemen.

Got my package from Joplin all right… and found the table cloth! Bill is delighted with the doilies and scarf I stole.

Hope you all had as happy Easter as we did… colored lots of eggs for Sherry, but don’t think she appreciated it.

Lots of Love, (Max)

In March of 1998 Gretchen reached out to Charlotte via email, to ask about her adoption and what she knew about it. I have attached the correspondence here.

Throughout my life mom had always told me that she had absolutely no information regarding my biological past – and of course I had no reason to question her. When I turned 30 I decided that I wanted to attempt to trace my roots. I called Uncle Fred to ask him if he remembered anything about the adoption. He told me he didn’t because he wasn’t around then, he was off fighting a war. But he did tell me that mom had given him some papers pertaining to the adoption and asked him to hold onto them in case I ever showed any interest. I was flabbergasted and couldn’t wait to see these papers. The only real, semi-identifying thing I learned from the papers was that my last name, before adoption was Bauer. I called a lot of people to pick their brains including Mary Curtis, Uncle Ralph, Aunt Lola etc. I found it very interesting that no one remembered anything what a family. Then I called Mary Lois to see if she remembered anything and she said that she didn’t. But, she did tell me that she had helped a couple of her friends find their biological mothers and that if she could do anything to help me to let me know. She said it would be best if I called her at her work – gave me her number and work and pointed out that she used her maiden name at work – her maiden name being Bauer. So I have always thought there could have been a connection, but got the feeling that Mary Lois, if she knew anything, was not in a position to help or share any info.

I don’t know if I ever told you this story. Armed with my pre-adoption name, I sent a request to Kansas City Town Hall, along with the $3.00 fee, for a birth certificate, saying I needed it to get a passport. The name I gave was Charlotte Bauer- never indication anything about adoption or the Gretsch name. The birth certificate I received was for Charlotte Gretsch. I found it incredible that if anyone knew the name Bauer they could have found me, but I had absolutely no legal rights to any information pertaining to my biological history.

Also, the name of the lawyer and the law firm which handled the adoption in Kansas City was part of the information Uncle Fred gave me. I called the firm, and to my utter amazement not only was the lawyer still practicing but he was there. When I spoke with him he said that he remembered the case very well and that I should be ashamed of myself for trying to find my biological mother. He said that I should be very grateful that I had been adopted by such a wonderful family and that whether my adoptive parents were dead or alive, to pursue my search Andy further was an act of betrayal to Bill and Sylvia.

So to make a long story short, Missouri laws being what they are, chances are I won’t ever get answers.

Yes, Mary Lois (Bauers) did go to Northwestern with mom.

1946

Charlotte was followed in quick succession by a sister Katherine, a brother Frederick and finally by her little sister Gretchen in 1948. They lived at 301 Burns Street in Forest Hills NY until moving to Chicago in ..

1948

September 10 Charlotte’s dad dies from colon cancer. He had been battling cancer for over a year.

1951

Charlotte in her First Communion outfit. 1951

1958

Sylvia takes all the kids to Europe to go to school and live abroad for a year.

Upon returning to the US the kids arrived in California and celebrated their Grossmom and Grosspop’s 50th wedding anniversary with their cousins Lee and Paula, uncles Ralph and Paul and aunts Lola and Betty.

1961

December Charlotte was escorted by her brother Freddie at the Debutante Cotillion Ball

1963

November 7th Grosspop Birthday

November 22nd Grosspop dies

1964

January 25th her mom writes in letter to her aunt that Charlotte was in a “lucky” car accident if there is such a thing.

Charlotte returned from College to help take care of her little sister Gretchen after she was told of her mom’s cancer. Her mother entered the hospital on February 8th and passed on February 29, 1964.

Six months later she would marry, September 12, on a Saturday at 2PM married James Kahrs

After Charlotte and Jim got married, Charlotte helped Jim get his accounting degree and set up his business. During this time she spent one year teaching and did not enjoy the experience.

1965

Charlotte has her first son Jim

1966

Charlotte has her second son Keith

1967

Charlotte’s Uncle Fred made a set of children’s drums for Jim and Keith. Everyone adored Uncle Fred he was kind. When Charlotte and her siblings were little Uncle Fred would take them to Bloomingdales and let them buy gifts for Mother’s Day for their mom.

1969

Charlotte adopts Mary Judith

1973

After Charlotte divorced Jim Kahrs she taught herself how to type. She quickly went out looking for work and landed in the Brooklyn Botanical Research Garden.

1975

June 14 Charlotte marries George Pretat in her sister Katie’s backyard. She wore a pink dress and fabulous food was prepared (by Katie) for the party. About 60 family and friends attended, including her sister’s Katie and Gretchen and brother Freddie. Shortly after they married they moved to 105 The Farm Road Bedford Village New York so George could be closer to work. George had three boys and one girl making it one big family of six.

Charlotte and George moved to Maine because they wanted to live a simpler life. When they first moved they lived in a Yarmen, Maine.

1998

For Charlotte’s sister Gretchen’s 50th birthday she hosted a birthday party. All the siblings were together. There was a terrible snow storm and they lost power.

Charlotte and George would go to Canada and go salmon fishing every year. Charlotte always caught the biggest fish. When they would return it was a special gift to get the salmon that George and Charlotte had smoked on the smoker.

2012

May 21st