PICK EM UP - Real Recycling

[crash325]

This was my Grandfather's place. He started working on it sometime in the 1950's when in his 70's. Lived out there until passing away at 103 years old.

Every building there was made from used material and the house (picture later) was moved out there in the 60's. It is now over 100 years old.

He worked until almost 100. One of his last jobs was building 6 Stage Coaches for "Old Tucson". When the last 1 was finished, he told me "That's the last damm contract I'm gona take. If they want any more they will just have to meet my Price."

The wheel shop was used to rebuild Iron Tire Wagon wheels. There was a Tire Shrink over by the forge. Once scanned I have some pictures of it in use and wheels being mounted.

Late in life his birthday became a big deal. Often the state Governor and / or congressman would show up along with around a 100 other folks. People were ask to bring something to throw into the Stew Pot. What came out of it was called SOB Stew.

My sister moved out there about 15 years ago and hasn't thrown anything away since moving there. So every shed and work shop is full of Junk & Trash.

Maybe this type of recycling goes a little beyond saving a few beer cans and plastic bottles.

 

[chad22]

Wow. That is so cool. I love old Buildings and old things. Wish I were there too see that in person.

Beautiful I say. Absolutely Beautiful. :thumbsup:

Chad

 

[crash325]

Wow. That is so cool. I love old Buildings and old things. Wish I were there too see that in person.

Beautiful I say. Absolutely Beautiful. :thumbsup:

Chad

Some day when your Resting, come on out.
Just a hop, skip & a Jump and you are here. :laughing:

 

[blueriver]

I would have loved to sat down and spent hours talking with him.

 

[crash325]

I would have loved to sat down and spent hours talking with him.

You could have spent months listening to him. I heard his stories all my life and never got tired of them. All most everyone loved him.

Here are a few pictures that you might enjoy.

 

[blueriver]

Thanks ... I truly liked the fact he got married again at age 97 !!

 

[crash325]

Thanks ... I truly liked the fact he got married again at age 97 !!

Here some more pictures that you may enjoy.

Sorry but I had to sneak in a picture of me.

 

[chad22]

Cool. Thanks for the added pics. Love the pic of you too.

Chad

 

[blueriver]

Well Buddy ... your also a mule skinner!!!

 

[crash325]

Well Buddy ... your also a mule skinner!!!

Cool. Thanks for the added pics. Love the pic of you too.

Chad

I've always said "I've fallen off better horses than most people have ridden."

We had a lot of good horses and mules. If the picture can be found have 1 of me on our mule "Susie Q" when I was about 2. Her and sort of grew up together. Pretty sure she lived well into the 1960's.

Suzie Q was quite the mule, she hated Dud's. Every 2 or 3 years dad would put a dud on her. Within 200 yards of the coral she would unload him.

She unloaded me 1 day. Saddle & all, had about a 3' jump up in the trail when she jumped the cinch broke. Left me sitting in the trail looking stupid, still had my hand out like I was holding the rains.

Since you guys didn't throw rocks at me over the picture of myself, I'll post another 1 or 2.

"Nosy" colt in picture was pretty much my horse. (Dad always said she was my sister Judy's.) I was the only 1 that rode him until he was 3 or 4. We had a few little go round's. Nothing serious.

Picture at "Mikes Coral" was taken for some magazine. Grandad called the school and had them send me up there for the picture.

Picture with the "OK Coral" sign in it was actually at the black smith shop at "Pick Em Up".

 

[blueriver]

I've always said "I've fallen off better horses than most people have ridden."

We had a lot of good horses and mules. If the picture can be found have 1 of me on our mule "Susie Q" when I was about 2. Her and sort of grew up together. Pretty sure she lived well into the 1960's.

Suzie Q was quite the mule, she hated Dud's. Every 2 or 3 years dad would put a dud on her. Within 200 yards of the coral she would unload him.

She unloaded me 1 day. Saddle & all, had about a 3' jump up in the trail when she jumped the cinch broke. Left me sitting in the trail looking stupid, still had my hand out like I was holding the rains.

Since you guys didn't throw rocks at me over the picture of myself, I'll post another 1 or 2.

"Nosy" colt in picture was pretty much my horse. (Dad always said she was my sister Judy's.) I was the only 1 that rode him until he was 3 or 4. We had a few little go round's. Nothing serious.

Picture at "Mikes Coral" was taken for some magazine. Grandad called the school and had them send me up there for the picture.

Picture with the "OK Coral" sign in it was actually at the black smith shop at "Pick Em Up".

Great history ... pictures are so valuable. I don't have any with my dad, grandpa or anything like that. Wish I did.

 

[joemd11]

Great story and pics. That place is a time capsule. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[moored4]

I would have loved to sat down and spent hours talking with him.

Me too!

That is a place that tells alot about him and I hope it is preserved and I didn't see any junk at all! Be nice to see it made into a working musem.

 

[sfloggie]

Thank you..like BlueRiver, I enjoyed your family photos and reading your comments. I also do not have photos, but I sure have the memories of my family and granddad's farm. He tried to teach me to plow with a mule, but I got "plowed"! Thankfully my Grandpa saved me!

Best to you and I know ou miss him.

 

[crash325]

A few more pictures. I really do feel blessed. I started helping (using that term very, very loosely. ) at about 3 or 4 years old.

My earliest memory is him putting me on a stool so I could cook our breakfast.

We went to the last funeral at Boot Hill cemetery. Grave is just outside the back door of the curio store. Mans name was Bill Nunally or Hunally . Not sure of the last name or spelling.

I helped him ( Yea Right ) build the first Stage Coach. In 1945.

2 Pictures at the OK Coral. In the late 1930's or early 40's he tore down the original. In the late 50's and early 60's he rebuilt it as best he could remember it. The old Community Center / Library had fallen down and most of the material (lumber & Adobe ) came from it.

 

[chad22]

Thanks for the additional photos. That's a really nice stage coach. I love those old things. Old photos are really a great thing to look at too. Really enjoy them.

Just love seeing how things looked and were done back then. Even if it's only in pictures.

Chad

 

[crash325]

Thanks for the additional photos. That's a really nice stage coach. I love those old things. Old photos are really a great thing to look at too. Really enjoy them.

Just love seeing how things looked and were done back then. Even if it's only in pictures.

Chad

Grandad built 2 "real" stage coaches. Exactly like the old 1's. 1 Way to tell if a SC is authentic is the tongue. The tongue on a coach does not drop down. Most look alike's the tongue just drops to the ground. Coach running gear is the same as the Army Water Wagons.

In addition to local parades, Tombstone, Tucson & Phoenix, he drove them in LA and NY. Coach & team were put on a train, they they (Who??) flew him there to drive it.

Here are some pictures of a Chuck Wagon being driven in a Tombstone parade. Not sure if it was his or not. The back does not show in the pictures, his had a Chuck Box on it. Mom sold it to someone from CA after grandad died.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Great pics, looks like family. Your grandpa looks a lot like mine and my oldest uncle who died a couple of years ago in his nineties. He was on his third defibrillator, first two collapsed for over use we liked to say. They were all up in the Verde Valley where I was born.

One of the things that gives me an edge in my second career as a humanitarian is I know things can be done without all of the fancy equipment if you want to do it. I was raised around folks like your grandad who just did it because it had to be done.

 

[crash325]

Great pics, looks like family. Your grandpa looks a lot like mine and my oldest uncle who died a couple of years ago in his nineties. He was on his third defibrillator, first two collapsed for over use we liked to say. They were all up in the Verde Valley where I was born.

One of the things that gives me an edge in my second career as a humanitarian is I know things can be done without all of the fancy equipment if you want to do it. I was raised around folks like your grandad who just did it because it had to be done.

Hope all goes well in career #2, Enjoy.

Grandad worked until well past 100.

The fancy equipment that we had was an Old Cement mixer. Hit & miss engine, wood spoked wheels, with solid rubber tires. Starting at 13/14 it was my "Privilege" to run the mixer. I also got to truck the mud. Contractor size wheel barrow.

Here are some pictures of a wagon wheel being restored. Not shown is the steel wheel being shrunk.

First the iron tire is heated in a fire. An earlier picture has the fire in it. Then forced over the wooden wheel. Usually a little hammering is required. The wood usually flames up, so it gets dosed with water.

Last step is dipping & painting it with boiling linseed oil.

 

[mbrule]

WOW!!!

What great history.
Thanks for sharing.....