Thumper
11-07-2014, 02:09 PM
I went to an estate sale this morning at an old (really cool) house that was built in the early 1900's. I met an old black man at the sale and struck up a conversation with him. He was born and raised in the neighborhood and said he never left, except for the time he spent in the military during WWII. He said he knew the previous owners of the house (big grove owners) and I told him how cool the place was and how neat it was to see all the antiques and stuff there. He said it's been closed up for the past 20 years! According to him, the owners had the place tented and fumigated for termites, but the company accidentally used the wrong pesticide (I assume DDT?). The owners were never allowed back in the house and after a big lawsuit, the pest control company was forced to purchase the house and all it's contents. It had to stay vacant for 20 years before they could do anything with it. Dang! It was like walking into a time capsule as everything in the house was already OLD when it was closed up.
Anyway, I had a blast talking with this old guy. I learned the history of the town (about 30 mins. from my house) and heard some really cool stories. I could have listened to him all day. Come to find out he is the City Commissioner at 94 years old and is in the process of putting together a complete history of the town for their upcoming centennial celebration. (100 years since it became incorporated)
Heck, I had such a good time talking with him, I almost forgot to dig around for stuff to buy. I still landed a few trinkets here and there to sell, but I'll always have the memory of this old guy and the stories he had to tell. He was born into a family of grove workers, worked the groves himself for wealthy citrus people in the area and never left his birth place. It's a shame to see people like this pass on. I kinda wish I'd have stuck around a bit longer and just spent a few more hours talking with him.
I may not have made a lot of money today, but I had a VERY interesting and informative morning. That in itself is priceless.
Anyway, I had a blast talking with this old guy. I learned the history of the town (about 30 mins. from my house) and heard some really cool stories. I could have listened to him all day. Come to find out he is the City Commissioner at 94 years old and is in the process of putting together a complete history of the town for their upcoming centennial celebration. (100 years since it became incorporated)
Heck, I had such a good time talking with him, I almost forgot to dig around for stuff to buy. I still landed a few trinkets here and there to sell, but I'll always have the memory of this old guy and the stories he had to tell. He was born into a family of grove workers, worked the groves himself for wealthy citrus people in the area and never left his birth place. It's a shame to see people like this pass on. I kinda wish I'd have stuck around a bit longer and just spent a few more hours talking with him.
I may not have made a lot of money today, but I had a VERY interesting and informative morning. That in itself is priceless.