The editor:
This is a true story. Although it occurred 45 years ago and the characters’ names and locations are long forgotten, the spirit and kindness of the Morehead folks stays with me today. In fact, I told this story yesterday as my foursome had coffee and watched the rain fall on another missed day of golf. The opportunity to tell the story arose as my buddies related good and bad traveling events, mostly involving the citizens of their travel destination. I’m sorry it has taken so long to share with the fine citizens of Morehead. And I’m truly sorry I don’t recall the name of our Good Samaritans.
This event occurred in 1961 or maybe 1962. Our family was traveling from Houston, Texas to Charleston, W.Va. to make our annul visit with my wife’s family and later would travel to Baltimore, Md. to visit my family. Remember the dates. If we could afford a vacation, it was to visit family. Housing and food were relatively cheap at family destinations!
Traveling Route 60, we stopped late Sunday afternoon at a downtown Morehead drive-in restaurant. After completing our meal, and when the window tray was removed, we rearranged the two kids and prepared to head to Charleston. Unfortunately, our 1959 Ford Fairlane wouldn’t start. Dead as the proverbial doorbell. A kind customer stopped to inquire of our problem and since it was Sunday afternoon suggested we call Mr. Fixit, a local gentleman known to be handy with cars. Mr. Fixit was summoned and arrived on the scene. A short analysis of our problem was made and we were told the alternator was shot, and probably needed new brushes. Mr. Fixit said he might have brushes to fit at his home. He gave us a jump to get started and we followed him around a number of curves and up a holler to his combined barn and car shop.
Upon arriving, Mrs. Fixit came out of the house to gather my pregnant wife and two children, Jimmy, 4, and Barbara, 2, took them in the house for milk and cookies while her husband and I set about to repair the alternator. Again fortune wasn’t smiling on us, as Mr. Fixit announced his supply of spare brushes wouldn’t fix the problem. As I recall, Mr. Fixit them made a couple of phone calls and was told that good old Charley had a Ford alternator in his trunk. But Charley wasn’t home; instead he was at a friend’s house playing cards and partying. Mr. Fixit said, “not to worry, come with me”. So we jumped in his car and took off, driving a number of miles in what I recall was a very dark and foggy evening.
Finally we arrived at the party house and Mr. Fixit located Charley’s car. I was a little apprehensive, stirring about a strange car on a very dark night. I could just imagine the front door flying open and a blast from a shotgun as a greeting. Mr. Fixit wasn’t the least concerned. The car trunk had no external handle (why would you suppose that?) No problem, Mr. Fixit opened the driver side door and popped a concealed wire that opened the trunk. Sure enough, there was an alternator; hopefully it would fix the problem.
Back to the barn/garage we go and with Mr. Fixit’s amazing skill he installed the replacement alternator and announced we were good to go. Amazing, wouldn’t you think? But the best was yet to come. As we prepared to take leave I asked the burning question, “How much do we owe you?” Remember, we were vacationing with family because we couldn’t afford any other destination. Also, on this particular trip I was flush with money, probably had $80 in my wallet. Mr. Fixit looked at me, and then the wife and two kids, smiled, and said how about $20. My goodness, I could have kissed him and gladly paid him and continued on to Charleston.
Epilogue:
In 1963 Ashland Oil purchased our Houston based company and relocated our family to Ashland. We spent the next 18 years in Ashland and often visited Morehead, usually heading to MSU for basketball or baseball games. Maybe Mrs. Fixit’s cookies contained a special ingredient because both Jimmy and Barbara Harkins played basketball at Ashland High School and both were selected as all-state representatives (Barbara as a junior and senior). I was remiss for not trying to locate Mr. Fixit and his wife, but to be truthful, I had no idea up which holler he lived. But since I shared this story with my buddies I thought I’d share with the kind folks of Morehead.
Jim Harkins
Portland, Oregon
Letters to the Editor
Kindness of Morehead residents remembered
- Letters to the Editor
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Elliott County outreach changes
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Elliott County Christian Community Center became an incorporated service organization. Christian Social Services congratulates the leaders in Elliott County for their enthusiasm, compassion and dedication to the people of Elliott County.
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Bring better movies to Morehead
Don’t you love a good movie? We certainly do BUT for me that does not include “R” rated films. Of the seven movies advertised in the 1/20/12 issue of the News, five were rated “R.”
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Abortion advocate change of mind
As the new year begins, it is quite common to see printed in a newspaper or magazine a list of the names of prominent citizens who passed away in the preceding year. I recently came across such a list, and the name of one individual in particular caught my attention: Dr. Bernard Nathanson.
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Large sign is unsightly
While driving to Morehead today, I was dismayed to see that Cracker Barrel has erected one of their typical ultra-high “signs on a stick.” I somehow thought that Morehead’s sign ordinance would protect our community from this unsightliness and that the sign would be the same height as those of surrounding businesses.
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Political cartoon was off the mark
I don’t know how the political cartoons you publish are chosen, but I take exception to the one in the Dec. 27, 2011 issue of the paper. The cartoonist obviously does not agree with Time magazine’s choice of The Protester as Person of the Year.
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Business owners say thanks
We would like to take this opportunity to thank The Morehead News and Noelle Hunter for the lovely article about the loss of our small business, Clay Makin’s.
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Contest helps learn about energy use
As the New Year approaches, many of us are thinking of ways to save money. One way to do that is to reduce your energy usage. This will save you money and save resources.
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Thanks for supporting speech team
The Rowan County Middle School Speech Team members and coaches would like to extend a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to Mr. Tom James, Kentucky Bank Branch Manager and father of 8th Grade speech team member Haley James and all the staff of Kentucky Bank for their recent generous and most appreciated financial gift to the speech team.
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Thanks for Haldeman Christmas program
The Haldeman Community Center board members would like to say “Thank You” to all who attended and supported our Christmas Program. We all enjoyed the play “The True Gift,” the man in the red suit and all the wonderful snacks.
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Storybook Christmas appreciates support
On behalf of the Storybook Christmas Committee, I would like to thank the community for generous support of our project again this year. Storybook Christmas is an annual project of the Adult Basic Education and Literacy (ABEL) Council and the MSU Adult Learning Center.
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Elliott County outreach changes
