10/27/2026
Farm Adventures Without My Dad…😢
Cleaning my dad’s collection of metal equals saying goodbye piece by piece, load by load.
In 1994, dad decided it was time to sell the farm on Glenmore Road and build his dream home, a log one. His preparations included bringing junk metal to Norbs Auto Salvage near Denmark, Wisconsin. A total of seven semi-trailer loads. We guesstimated it to be more than 25,000 pounds of metal for the amount he quoted as received. This was about 30 years ago.
Dad also loaded and unloaded another ten or 15 trailer loads of metal and equipment to the farm in Cooperstown. Through the years he added to his collection of treasures.
Metal was extremely precious and granted dad artistry while solving problems involving metal. As I sort through dad’s junkyard, I recognize his welding. If he couldn’t buy it, he made it. If it was expensive to buy something, he fabricated it.
As I remove the pieces dad welded, memories from my childhood float through my mind. I remember some vividly and others faintly. I spent a great deal of my toddler/young years following dad, and sitting in his workshop observing him solving mechanical issues. I was his “go for” girl while he was laying on his back under his various equipment making repairs.
Dad also adapted much of the new equipment he bought. He added brace metal to weak areas to extend the longevity of the much valued equipment. Or added to another’s design to make it do what he needed.
I am being thoughtful and asking questions of others to wisely clean up the farm. Dad rarely ever allowed me to make a trip to Norbs with junk metal. HE KEPT EVERYTHING!
Even my sister discovered dad’s penchant to rescue items from the trash. She tossed a broken broom into the garbage. Dad saw it, removed it, fixed it and prominently displayed his success.
My sister and I relocated the fixed broom to the shed. I admired the new broom she bought for the house.
I decided to keep a few items, just because my dad kept it and the pieces are “interesting.” He was really into pulleys. Ones that are rather heavy.
I must also give a great big “thank you” to my brother-in-law. He invested many hours cutting the “out of control” grass/weeds and trees growing in dad’s junkyard. It granted my sister and I the opportunity to see what has been hiding in the grass.
We all have been amazed at the amount of metal dad collected over the years. When it comes to me cleaning the farm, I do hope dad’s too busy enjoying Heaven to take a peak down here.
