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Photos: Summer in the City 2015

By Howard B. Owens

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Ed Hartgrove

Absolutely love the green, '51 Chevy. Beautiful!
Reminds me of the '52 Pontiac Chieftain my dad bought in '65. It was 13-years old, had 'just a hair' over 12,000 miles on it, and it was in showroom condition. Bought it from a neighbor who lived across from Taylor Farms in Covington (Hi, Paul). Our family had no "extra" money (so to speak), and my dad paid $50 for it. Of course, we always figured it was 'hot', but, no one ever spoke those words in public. What a beauty it was. It looked exactly like the one at http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Pontiac/52_Pontiac_Deluxe_Catalina_2D…
(minus the wide white-wall tires). Even though it was 13 years-old, it was easily worth 10-times what he paid for it.

Aug 15, 2015, 9:57pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Thanks, Mardell. Ya know, after I posted that, I thought "that's the oldest vehicle I've ever driven".
Then, the next day, it hit me. When my dad bought that Pontiac, we lived on Taylor Rd., just 100 feet north of where Dumbleton's Auto Parts is now (Charlie had just started clearing the land off, right after we moved to River Rd.)
Two years after we moved, I bought a 1948 Packard Henney hearse from a marching band out of Avon. They had used it for hauling their instruments around. It was blue & white, with the original maroon velour fabric interior. The very first thing I did was paint it with a roller - Flat Black (it was cheap paint, but it looked better than the blue/white). It looked (sorta) like this one https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/2a/87/04/2a87043a1b0cf8e… - except it wasn't shiny.
It still had the rollers inside for the casket. My (guy) friends thought it was 'cool', but the ladies didn't care too much for it - I guess it creeped 'em out. Who knew women were so squeemish? :)
The motor was a 'straight-eight', and the engine looked about as long as one of today's Smart cars.

Aug 18, 2015, 8:13am Permalink
Mardell Lamb

Another COOL story, Ed! Your aging yourself here...(ha!) I remember when the Jeffres boys drove an old ambulance. Not sure how old it was, but it had to be either 50's or 60's.

I worked with a guy who drove an old hearse to work. Paisley curtains and all. He had a mannequin (sp?) leg propped up in the back window. It was hilarious.

Aug 18, 2015, 8:49am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

The mannequin leg IS hilarious, Mardell.
I remember the Jeffres. Went to a couple of their parties. Heck, you were probably there at the same ones ;)

I was the EOG (Epic Old Guy) at the sidelines.

Aug 18, 2015, 10:29am Permalink
Mardell Lamb

Oh yea, they threw some good parties that's for sure; esp. the Halloween ones. Well, there was always an occasion for a party. They were bountiful back then...from Pavilion to LeRoy and in between.

"EOG", ha ha!

Aug 18, 2015, 1:14pm Permalink

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