| Where Did The "Shadetree Mechanics" Go? (a tribute to Watt Smith) |
When I hear phrases or names like the one above, I
wonder where they got their start. Well, this one is pretty
obvious. When I was growing up most of the guys that
worked on our cars worked at their home. And, a lot of
them worked under big trees so they wouldn't burn up in
the summertime - hence, the name "shadetree mechanics."
In my early teens - 15 to 17 - we had a mechanic that fit
the description above to a tee - he lived in Pee Dee off N
Lee St. His name was Watt Smith. He had a son that was
a little older than me, Mickey. I believe for a good while
Mickey ran a chip route. (Correction 01-19-06 - thanks to
Carol Norton, Mickey was Watt's brother Moonie's son)
But, getting back to the story, Watt always wore a smile.
And, it seems he always had a chew in his mouth also.
To be a mechanic, Watt and his wife kept that house clean
as a pen. Every time I would go there for him to repair my
car, I would step inside their home and it was spotless.
Watt didn't keep junkers in his yard like a lot of the
mechanics did during that time.
At his home he had one of those tall a-frame engine
lifters - I guess you call it that. I know that's what he
used when he had to pull an engine out or replace it or
sometimes to work on it. But he knew his stuff. Each time
I would take my car there and tell him the symptoms, he
pretty much knew what the problem was. And, you didn't
have to worry about him overcharging you. He was
dependable and knew what he was doing.
I long for the days when things seemed so simple. Watt
knew his trade from years of practice and didn't have to
rely on any kind of books to tell him what needed to be
done. He was that kind of man.
Wouldn't it be nice today to have those "shadetree
mechanics" around like it used to be? I own a 2004 KIA
Suv and 2002 Chrysler Sebring. There is no way I could
work on these cars today. There is just too much stuff
crammed under the hood nowadays. I had to change the
headlight on my KIA and it took me about an hour to do it
- I couldn't get the light out. The filter system left it
nearly impossible to get to the headlights. Same way on my
Sebring. I swear, when they built that car, they forgot
about the battery. They found a hole for it as an
after-thought. You know where it is? The battery is
located under the front fenderweld - in a compartment but
you can't change it out unless you take off the front wheel!
I don't know if Watt is still around - I hope he is - but I
am sure he would have retired by now if he had to deal
with the cars of today.
If anyone in Rockingham remembers Watt or his family,
tell them hello from a long ago client that remembers him
fondly as the guy to go to to get your car worked on with
full confidence in his work.
wonder where they got their start. Well, this one is pretty
obvious. When I was growing up most of the guys that
worked on our cars worked at their home. And, a lot of
them worked under big trees so they wouldn't burn up in
the summertime - hence, the name "shadetree mechanics."
In my early teens - 15 to 17 - we had a mechanic that fit
the description above to a tee - he lived in Pee Dee off N
Lee St. His name was Watt Smith. He had a son that was
a little older than me, Mickey. I believe for a good while
Mickey ran a chip route. (Correction 01-19-06 - thanks to
Carol Norton, Mickey was Watt's brother Moonie's son)
But, getting back to the story, Watt always wore a smile.
And, it seems he always had a chew in his mouth also.
To be a mechanic, Watt and his wife kept that house clean
as a pen. Every time I would go there for him to repair my
car, I would step inside their home and it was spotless.
Watt didn't keep junkers in his yard like a lot of the
mechanics did during that time.
At his home he had one of those tall a-frame engine
lifters - I guess you call it that. I know that's what he
used when he had to pull an engine out or replace it or
sometimes to work on it. But he knew his stuff. Each time
I would take my car there and tell him the symptoms, he
pretty much knew what the problem was. And, you didn't
have to worry about him overcharging you. He was
dependable and knew what he was doing.
I long for the days when things seemed so simple. Watt
knew his trade from years of practice and didn't have to
rely on any kind of books to tell him what needed to be
done. He was that kind of man.
Wouldn't it be nice today to have those "shadetree
mechanics" around like it used to be? I own a 2004 KIA
Suv and 2002 Chrysler Sebring. There is no way I could
work on these cars today. There is just too much stuff
crammed under the hood nowadays. I had to change the
headlight on my KIA and it took me about an hour to do it
- I couldn't get the light out. The filter system left it
nearly impossible to get to the headlights. Same way on my
Sebring. I swear, when they built that car, they forgot
about the battery. They found a hole for it as an
after-thought. You know where it is? The battery is
located under the front fenderweld - in a compartment but
you can't change it out unless you take off the front wheel!
I don't know if Watt is still around - I hope he is - but I
am sure he would have retired by now if he had to deal
with the cars of today.
If anyone in Rockingham remembers Watt or his family,
tell them hello from a long ago client that remembers him
fondly as the guy to go to to get your car worked on with
full confidence in his work.
| So, as the Train of Life keeps chugging along, another page written of my Childhood Memories of.... Rockingham Remembered. |
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