Folks Of Interest Shop visit to old friend's service station--history

Come along with me as we step back into time.....I have an old buddy named Orville who I like to stop and see once in awhile when I get time. He lives in a town with population of about 23 people or so. It is far off the beaten path and is not really on the way to anywhere. I first found his place a few years ago while taking the back roads. I spotted his place and saw an old beater 51 Ford F1 pickup beside the building which was his old shop truck. It still had the hand crank wrecker unit in it and I was able to buy it. Still one of my favorite places to stop. His friends call him "Doc." He calls himself a professional loafer these days. <center>
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Although he is retired from gas station and mechanic work he is still open every day and Doc's is the only place in town where you can buy a cold drink and candy bar. A one dollar bill will get you both. The town itself is near a ghost town but alot of farmers come and visit throughout the day.<center>
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Candy and cold drinks here: <center>
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When he first moved to town from the farm in 1960 Doc operated this cool old gas station.<center>
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Then in 1962 he purchased his present day location which was a former buggy works and blacksmith shop long ago and was a service station at the time he bought it. Still has alot of old equipment even though he has been retired for quite a few years now.<center>
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Still has the old line shaft where a single power unit would have ran all the old blacksmith or machine shop equipment. Doc still has the forge that was in the shop too and he stores that at his farm. <center>
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On most mornings I find Doc watching TV in his office sitting in his easy chair with "The Price is Right" on the tube. Early evenings are reserved for "Wheel of Fortune" starring Vanna White.<center>
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cool...where are all the pics

 

Hell, only page 1 worked but that's very cool. Reminds me of the 60's, especially the soda machine

 

More photos of his office interior including a wooden bench for visitors and his old wood burning stove which really makes the place cozy.<center>
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At 81 years of age he likes to relax and visit with friends. I buy a few old car parts from him from time to time. Even though his gas pumps are long gone, the place still is a time capsule where time stands still.

 

That first photo says it all!
Tell Doc (Orville) he has a fan in California

 

I want to move there

 

While watching him spit tobacco juice on the ground outside, I asked him how many times did he think he had spit there over the years. "Oh God, I don't know but I hope my wife don't find out that I've been chewing tobacco." And I'm like WTH? This town ain't that big! Can't she see for herself? "Oh no", he says...my wife lives an hour and fifteen minutes away in another town where she still works and has a career." Then he shows me a photo of his beautiful and much younger wife and lovely daughter. He goes to visit his wife on weekends. He calls it the perfect marriage. 49th year anniversary this year.<center>
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Here are the before and after photos of his old truck I bought about 3 years ago. After months of metal work by my stepson Jerry it started to shape up. I sold to a father and son in CT and the son is now a Hamb member . They have built a new frame and have installed air bags the last I had heard. You can see the frame was bowed from years of lifting heavy items with that hand crank wrecker boom that I still own and use.<center>
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Too cool, thanks for sharing those!

 

Wow! What a great place...

 

WOW what a awesome piece of history....that old drill press looks like one my Great Grandfather had and my Grandpa has now...

 

Great pix reminds me of a million places in th 40's,50',60's.

These photos tell Doc's story that would be great memories for those from around there. Why not make a power point presentation, put it on a CD, and give it to your local library. He made a life time contribution to Oak Hill, so could you.

Mark Schanfeldt

 

wow love the pic of the overhead shaft and pulleys which were set up to run the old press and tools i asume ?

 

While our history back here on the Great Plains is not nearly as old as the settlements back East, I still try to enjoy what history I can learn. I enjoy meeting folks from all over the world. But my favorite place is right here in America's heartland....The Mid West.

 

almost makes me wonder who the retired one really is? Doc seems to have a bit of a career and at least shows up for work each day. Does Paul really have a job? How does he find the time to hunt up all this cool stuff? Shouldn't he be working instead of posting thread after thread of great finds? Is there a wonder why he goes by Povertyflats?

 

I have the best job in the world! But I just want to have fun. Anyway, you can come and ride with me someday Bob. I get alot done and cover alot of territory.......and you can help!

 

Wow, very cool. Doc reminds me of my grandpa. He was a fix-it yourself kind of guy and pretty much a junk dealer. He retired in the 50's and died in the mid 60's at the age of 80. What a great thread!!!!!

 

Thanks for the great photos and for sharing Doc's history.

 

Thanks! Doc tells me he did everything from sharpening kitchen knives and scissors for the local ladies to overhauling Caterpiller dozer engines. A self taught mechanic who could do it all.

 

Great read and pics. Reminds me of the junk yard owner here I used to go to. Merle was his name. Happy memories.

 

Very cool.........I would Kill for the old HUDSON 8 sign.

 

More pics:<center>
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Can you just imagine the turn of the century locals getting their buggy repaired or new shoes on their horse in this same building? Then the car came long and business evolved into auto repair. We've come a long way. And now they are shutting Detroit down.