Page 36 - Demo

34and %u201850s. There was a large front room, with a smaller storage room, and a restroom with a Boys sign on its door. Down a few steps, at the very rear, was a concrete-floored garage area. A narrow wooden stairway lead to an upper level, and a less-inviting one descended into a dark cellar. As I scanned the contents, wandering, exploring, John started shooting. I came across an ancient cash register (sans money) with Ivan%u2019s hat still hanging on a nearby hook. Along a wall, cabinets overflowed with a conglomeration of what-nots and odds-and-ends. I particularly liked a wheelchair-contraption-sculptural-thing with welded-on horseshoes, old engine parts, a chrome flip-down sandwich grill, and a m%u00e9lange of other disparate components, including a car battery, parked in the center of the front room. Floyd had told us it was meant to be shocking%u2014literally.And then, there were the ubiquitous automobile parts. Vbelts seemed particularly numerous, but there were also spark plugs, air filters, oil filters, gaskets, and other commonly needed bits and pieces%u2014many in original packaging, with small items stored in glass screw-top jelly jars. I smiled at an ancient metal cabinet emblazoned with Eveready MazdaAuto lamps and two images of antiquated light bulbs. Inside, were scores of tiny lamps for cars out-of-production for a half century or more.Other stand-outs in the main room included a large, red, Coca-Cola cooler, a metal box of Anco windshield wipers, spare lawn-mower wheels, several American flags, and a selection of home-made wooden whirligigs. Less conspicuous was a stack of alphabetical letters, each around 12%u201d high. It took me a minute to realize that, if laid out side by side, they%u2019d spell MARATHON. Leaning nearby, was a straw broom with bristles worn to nubs. Ivan must have been a very thrifty man%u2014it didn%u2019t look like anything had ever been thrown out.After a while, we decided to check out the upstairs. John found the light switch and led, carefully toting his camera and tripod. There were more V-belts and gaskets hanging on the walls. A row of wooden shelving ran down the center of the room, loaded with more glass jars containing whatever Ivan felt he might need some day, and cans of something called Solventol. Boxes and boxes, that once held Bun can- Ivan%u2019s Service%u2014Thorntown, Boone Co. (742.04)