This building has been in our family forever. It was a silver shop for years, and produced some pretty cool stuff. Later on, it was used as part of the large furniture industry here in our hometown, and after its production years, was used as a warehouse for a lot of the furniture pieces my family's old factory created.
Around town, a lot of people are curious about the building. No one's really ever been inside unless allowed by a member of our family, but even then, I hadn't been in for years. When my grandfather died this past fall, we realized that there was a lot of stuff to go through in there - a job my father took on bravely, considering the large quantities of old furniture, strange collectibles and years of neglect to the building.
My father, my family and even some friends have been working for months to go through this building, and being in there for only a short time today really astounded me. The silver shop isn't in the best shape. You can tell no one had been in for years, there was evidence of break-ins, broken windows, and forgotten furniture - fine pieces that have withstood the years of forget, and that will last far longer than anything bought at an ikea or large chain discount store. This place is hauntingly beautiful, and I couldn't help but take some pictures to remember how amazing it was.
And while finding all of this stuff was incredible - I found something else that was an even more meaningful window into the past.
My grandfather won our town's soap box derby and placed third in the country at the National Finals in Akron, OH when he was only 10 years old. To this day, he still holds the speed record for the distance traveled at that time. I had heard about it a few times, but he was never one to brag. When I found these pictures, it really made me miss him. To represent your hometown proudly, have a parade thrown in your honor, still hold a land speed record and be featured in book regarding this historic race, and to never boast? Well, Grandpa, I'm not above bragging for you. My father said it best when describing my grandfather, "He was a yankee, and he was a gentleman."
I found myself surrounded by a lot of history today, both industrial and personal. This just goes on to show that there really is more to things than meets the eye - and while things may appear neglected and falling apart, there is a lot that will withstand time. Memories, and honest good workmanship.
