I finally made it back

[Stretch Cab]

I made it back to WV to see the old gentleman that I mentioned in a previous post.I took my father in law with me as they knew each other years ago and I thought it might help to get my foot literally in the door of his barn to see what was there.It helped.
We arrived mid-morning and the gentleman wasn’t home, some depression started to set in.We went for an early lunch and came back to find him home. I knocked on the door “loudly” and he finally answered it.He is after all 95.
He remembered me and after a little small talk I asked about seeing the cars.He said he was working on the flu and it really wasn’t a good time.I thought he meant he was sick but found out later he was working on the chimney, yea, I don’t know about this stuff I’m from Florida.
I pressed the point just a little and asked if he would feel better in a couple hours as I had an errand to run and could come back.He said come back and we will see, but if it is raining no deal.It was raining at that time.
I ran my errand and came back in a couple hours to find his son helping him on the chimney.My father in law got into the conversation of old times and that seemed to work.We loaded into my VW Golf and up the mountain “path” we went with my VIP guest in the front seat coal dust and all.The sun was out.
We got up on top of the mountain to his farm that his ancestors carved out of the forest and just the view would have been enough but then he started showing us the barns.It indeed was the total and complete description of a “Barn Find”! No, I didn’t find the 400 or 180A sitting back in the corner but it was still great!Mounds of Model T parts in this barn with frames and motors stacked where ever he left them years ago.Model A motors dropped off a truck inside the barn.A very complete Model T PU sitting covered with A and T parts in another barn. The attic of one barn was filled with T touring bodies and body parts.Downstairs was a stack of T touring doors with a cut down T and more parts.
The big barn was a work of art made from the forest that was cleared to farm the land.I walk up the stairs and marveled at the craftsmanship of the bolted together beams.Downstairs using the flashlight on my phone I was shown the front end of a 40 Chevy 4 door that was parked way back. In another barn was a 40 Chevy business coup, a real time capsule.On another side of the barn was a 41 Chevy PU that looked like it could be driven home. Another dual wheel truck was kind of visible in another barn that was a Purina feed truck painted in checkerboard colors.
I’m thinking that I want it all but then it just seemed right that it was there too.We asked about buying the coup and while last time he told me he was going to trade it all to a man for a hay mower, this time he said he was going to just leave it for his kids.
We will stay in touch with his son as there seems to be no interest on his part to restore or use any of the cars or parts.I’m afraid they would think more along the lines of scrapping.
It indeed was bitter sweet as there were not the A’s that I had hoped to see but I don’t think we saw it all either.The old gentleman kept talking about a 1912 Maxwell and I didn’t find the T tourings that I had seen many years ago.
Outside his home was a 33 Plymouth head light wired for AC that he used to give light when he skinned squirrels after a day hunting.He was swapping out the transmission in a jeep and putting new floors in a Crosley station wagon but you wouldn’t call this man a restorer.His collection of stuff was more the amassed collection of a hoarder.No rhyme or reason to the lot.
After 35 years of wondering what was in his barns I now know.It would take weeks to go through it all but wouldn’t it be fun!

[Stretch Cab]

More Pictures

[Stretch Cab]

Inside the barns

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Inside the barns 2

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Inside the barns 3

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Inside the barns 4

[Stretch Cab]

What do you think?

[Bill's Auto Works]

Great story! Hopefully when the time comes, the family will let collectors get a shot at all of it before they just scrap it. That would be a crime!

[raprice22]

All I can say is WOW!!!!

Rog

[norway]

i like what i see! i wish i was there.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Scrap it all, burn the buildings and put up low income housing.

Too bad that what happens to many nice old places like this. The car and truck in #5 would be nice to clean, get running, and preserve as is. They would be a big draw at shows.

[SkimmerBob]

Very Cool !!! Thanks for sharing. 95 and working on the chimney that's great. Wow he might actually remember seeing an "A" sitting in a showroom new.

[juke joint johnny]

Keep in Touch with the family it would be a shame if ithey Scrap it !!

Eat plenty of Spinach first if you get to clear it !!!