This cute old building, possibly a 1920s gas station and formerly decorated with a large sign reading "Brownie's Radiator", was located for years at the center of a controversy, as well as on a main road. The owner, Mr. Brownie himself, I presume, kept dilapidated cars parked around the building. Despite the "Brownie's Radiator" sign, I never saw anyone working, and assumed it was more a spot for old cronies to sit, smoke, complain to each other about electronic ignitions, and get away from the wife.
Eventually the junk cars, which he called his collection, precipitated complaints from the neighbors. The City Fathers Frowned. Actions were Taken. "I-can-do-what-I-want-with-my-property" activists Reacted. Neighbors were Enraged. Soon a kerfuffle of epic proportions stormed through the City Halls. But Mr. Brownie sailed serenely on, his prow high above the waters of the squall, his "collection" intact, until his recent sad demise.
The building then became a Mexican market, which promptly went out of business. Someone should check the Feng Shui of that corner.
(Note: I fully expect someone to tell me that "That's Not Right, It Didn't Happen Like That At All." What can I say? I just look, and read the papers...)
11 comments:
Well it's a cute little building! I think it just needs to find the right kind of owner. I think you are right about the name of my spider by the way!
I believe you.
I think you're right about this being a building from the 20s (or maybe 30s)...lots of those when I was growing up!
Funny story. And of course people will say you didn't tell it right - have you ever started a story in a group of say, 8 people, who were then to repeat it to the next person and so on?
At the end of the process you couldn't even recognize the story!
So much for "oral" tradition!
Very nice shot in beautiful light.
And a hell of a yarn - when will we see the movie?
I so want the Mexican place back -- it is the perfect building. I think they repainted it the lovely colors.
That's a story that could happens, with minor changes, almost anywhere.
I always get a kick out of old gas stations that morph into something else. But I can't help but wonder if each isn't a Superfund clean-up site waiting to be uncovered.
love this
Sure looks like it would make a good Mexican restaurant. Not a bad looking building for some sort of retail something or other.
i love a good yarn any time of the day :)
Without any measurable degree of expertise, I'd say the 1920's as well. Certainly an interesting story. I happen to know a gentleman with a considerable "collection" of his own. Not a pretty sight.
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