I had a good afternoon yesterday

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Dec 25, 2007
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missouri
We've had some problems with the hydraulic system of our biggest John Deere and now that it's in 'rest mode' (as in we don't use it this time of year) Son decided to get these problems fixed. Three choices: try to fix it ourself, pay to haul it to the dealership for repair, or have a local mechanic work on it. The latter option was chosen and began yesterday afternoon. The mechanic is a young guy starting up his own on site repair business and who has been through the full John Deere training school. His family, my family, and Grouch Attack's family are pretty close as his 5th generation family farm is just a mile from GA's 5th generation family farm and his Dad and our older Son played together at one place or the other when they were small. I was working for his Grandpa when he passed away and I took over managing the farm until the family could sort out how to continue.
Anyhoo, I spent the afternoon helping the young mechanic, turning wrenches, and just talking. It was good for both of us. Grouch Attack says I'm the surrogate Grandpa which seems like a real compliment. I'm as proud of this young man as I would if he were my own Grandson so I'll accept that as big win. :)
 
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It's good to know the real America is still here and working.

BTW…..here is my Grandpa in front of his auto repair shop in Graham, Missouri about 1950.
Grandma's little cafe - the little town's social center - is on the left side behind the vintage gasoline pump.
They owned & ran both businesses successfully from 1924-1958 before retiring.
We grandkids spent a few summers there in the 1940s & 1950s.
I & my brothers handpumped a lot of gas up into the glass tank in the upper part of the old Standard Oil pump.
IMG_4458.webp (549.06KiB)

This is a current photo of the old place.
It is now the town "events" facility.
IMG_4457.jpeg
 
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If you visit Graham on Google Maps, you will find the building on East Jackson Street labeled Lions Club in the aerial view. It has been spiffed up some. 😁
My my, it looks better now than when I remember it from 70 years ago! Lol
My cousin owned & operated the smokehouse business on the right. He tore down an old frame church to build the concrete block structure sometime in the 1970s.


 
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The rust actually reflects the deterioration of the old "downtown" business district there. Most of the original buildings have been demolished over the past decade.
Typical of rural towns, sadly.
Graham's population was over 400 in 1880, and there was a hotel, a bank, post office, a couple restaurants restaurants, town doctor, hardware, feed store, and more.
All gone now and only about 150 aging inhabitants.
 
"Graham's population was over 400 in 1880, and there was a hotel, a bank, post office, a couple restaurants restaurants, town doctor, hardware, feed store, and more.
All gone now and only about 150 aging inhabitants."
Sounds like my hometown but there's only 50 inhabitants and the Post Office remaining.
 
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