Newspaper Page Text
The Summeruille News
Summerville Man, 85, Builds Mercedes
By KAY ABBOTT
Staff Writer
SINCE THE infan?' of the
auto industry, A. E. Jackson
has made his livin% first by
repairing, later by se lin%: cars
in Chattooga and Floyd
counties.
At 85, Jackson has proven
he still knows his business —
and knows it well — by
building a replica of a 1929
Mercedes Gazelle part-by-part.
Although he was born in
1901, he will only admit to 38
of his 85 years. The claim
always comes with a smile and
the explanation, *‘l'm 38 and
holding. I've always been 38."
His energy level does seem
more appropriate for a man of
38.
“I have to have a job,”” he
said. ‘I have to keep busy at
something to occupy my
mind."
The businessman first
became interested in building
a Gazelle when he saw one on
display in an airport several
ears ago. He wrote for
fiterature on the different gpes
of kits available and stuffed the
material in a drawer. During
the winter, he came across the
Company B Resurrected
A meeting to organize Com- |
pany B, 9th georgia Regiment, |
Confederate States of America, 1
will be held at 1:30 p.m. Satur- |
day, Aug. 16, at 105 Allen St., l
Summerville. 1
Purpose of the session is
not to ‘‘refight the Civil War,”
according to Bobby Lee
“Buzz" Cook Jr., Summerville,
who is initiating the organiza- |
tional session. It's to honor the 1
ideals, dedication to duty and |
sacrifices of the men and |
women of both sides, to
educate the public about the
real America of the 1860 s and |
Georgia Power
Names Freeman
Sam Freeman has been
named manager of Georgia
Power Co.’s Summervfile
district, replacing Marshall
Timberlake, who retired from
the utility June 1.
Freeman comes to Summer
ville from Valdosta, where he
served as district operating
superintendent. In his 17 years
of service with Georgia Power,
Freeman has held a number of
positions, including commer
cial sales engineer, industrial
sales engineer, distribution
engineer, district engineer and
division distribution
superintendent.
He holds a civil engineering
degree from Auburn Universi
ty and a masters of business
administration defree from
Valdosta State College.
“I'm really looking forward
to this new ch;filenlie.”
Freeman says. ‘‘Summerville is
a great town, and my family
and I are anxious to get mov
ed and settled.”
Freeman and his wife,
Belvin, have a 5-year-old son,
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Winners Of Annual Fiddler’s Convention
Winners of the sixth annual Southeastern
Invitational Fiddler's Convention were
announced following the “plarvoffs"
Saturday in Menlo. Pictured from left are
Gene Holt, J)resident of the Chattooga
County Wildlife Association, sponsor of
the annual event; Ron Hill of the Wildlife
A ceociation: Bill Lowery, master of
material again and decided to
order a kit, which was delivered
to his home in Summerville
about four months ago.
WHAT ARRIVED by
truck in large crates and tiny
packafies would have been
enough to make lesser car en
thusiasts want to throw in the
towel, but Jackson couldn’t
wait to get started building his
new Gazelle. He had already
enlarged his home workshop to
prepare for the project.
As promised in the
brochure for the do-it-yourself
pro&ect. all the parts were in
cluded. The final ingredient
was labor, which Jackson hap
pily contributed, with the aid
of Todd Hammond, 19, who
soon grew as excited about the
project as Jackson.
Over a period of several
months, the boxes of parts
were emptied and the car took
shlc[pe. Jackson's experience as
a Model-T repairman gave him
the egge as he ué)holstered the
padded dash and stretched the
soft top to 1929 standards.
“The instruction booklet
shows the cars with sagging,
loose tops,”” Jackson observed.
“They are supposed to be
tight.”
Jackson used ropes and
to work toward preservation of
the battlefields, historic sites
and relics of the war, he said.
i COMPANY B
| Company B was or‘ganized
i in Chattooia County after out
break of the Civil War, with
132 local men serving during
such battles as Gettysburg.
To reactivate the company
- under auspices of the Georgia
! Division, the corporate hea(fi)f
' many reenactment units in the
' state, a minimum of five peo
| ple must be signed up, he ex
b glained. At least three people
| have expressed preliminary in-
John.
In his spare time, Freeman
enjoys jogging, fishing, golf
and community work.
$ ‘3 4
MR. FREEMAN
ceremonies; J. T. Perkins, first place win
ner; Chuck Reeves, second place winner;
David Jones of the Wildlife Association
(in back); C. W. Martin, third place win
ner; and Herman Smith of the Wildlife
Association. (Staff Photo by Earl
McConnell).
levers to pull the soft conver
tible top to the correct
tightness.
“YOU DON'T have to be
smart to build a car like this,
but you have to have a lot of
nerve,”’ Jackson said with a
smile. “‘Right now, I'm just a
yard man. I keep house and a
few cows.”
He also has 60 years exger
tise in the auto business, which
guided his successful effort to
create a first-rate Gazelle
replica.
Bfi the time the first
Gazelle was manufactured in
1929, Jackson already had his
own Model-T repair shop in
Rome.
“My first was a Model-T
top sh(:‘p." he recalls. ‘‘Model-
T's had soft tops back then.
When they came out with clos
ed cars, I learned to bump out
the dents, paint and do glass
work."
In 1927, his skills were
sought after l;{ the owner of a
Chevrolet dealership who of
fered him $35 a week.
“That was pretty iood
money at the time,” Jackson
recalls, “‘But I said no.”
THE DEALER offered
$37.50, and Jackson said it was
terest in reestablishing Com
pany B, Cook said.
“It's not playing soldier,”
Cook said. “Tge idea is to show
[)eople about what it was real
y like as a soldier.”
Reorganization of the company
will tie in well with celebration
of Chattooga County's ses
quicentennial celebration in
1988, he said.
Ten to 12 Confederate
soldiers in uniform from the
28th Georgia Regiment,
Calhoun, are expectecgi to at
tend Saturday’s meeting, Cook
said. Plans at mid-week called
for the reenactment unit to pre
sent a firepower demonstration
at Dowdy Park around 2:30-3
p.m. Saturday.
Ideallly. the company will
have at least 10 or 12 active
members, Cook said, so that if
some are unable to attend en
campments, there would still
be a sufficient number to
participate.
ENCAMPMENTS
The encampments are one
of the more interesting parts of
reenactments, Cook said. He
has recently returned from the
125th anniversary reenactment
of the battle of first Manassas
in Virginia which featured
5,000 troops and more cannon
than existed during the real
battle.
Nothing modern is allowed
in the encampments, which
usually precede a battle
reenactment, Cook said. If a
Eerson smokes, he must “‘roll
is own.” No modern soft
drinks are allowed and
“troops’’ must obey discipline
as did soldiers of 125 years ago.
They must be apprgfiriately
dressed in uniform at all times,
he added.
The uniform cost is one dif
ficulty facing reor%anization ef
forts, he acknow edfed. The
average cost of a wool uniform
(troops didn't have summer
issue uniforms) is S3OO to $350
see COMPANY B, page 10-B
Thursday, August 14, 1986
an offer he couldn't refuse.
“That was a pret% good lit
tle raise,”’ he said. ‘‘The extra
$2.50 would buy all your
groceries for a week.”
In 1928, the urge to be his
own boss led Jackson to reopen
his body shop, The Rome
Automogile Co. A good paint
job cost about $25 at that time.
In 1932, he expanded the
business and began selling
cars, acquiring a Hudson
dealership in 1935.
“A new Hudson would sell
for SBOO to $1,200," he said.
“They were fine cars. I enjoyed
selling Hudsons more tl;‘u'an
anything I ever fooled with.”
“I made a friend every time
I sold a Hudson,” Jackson
says of the bullet-shaped cars.
In 1954 Hudson and Nash
consolidated to form American
Motors. It was the end of an
era for Jackson and he moved
his wife and two sons to Sum
merville, where he bought the
Chevrolet-Olds franchise. He
remained active in the dealer
ship until 12 years ago when he
turned the business over to his
sons.
IN ADDITION to the
many friends he made in his
business career, Jackson's im
agination and sense of fun won
him scores of friends in his
grivate life. After moving to
ummerville, he built a go-cart
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Building a 1929 Mercedes Gazelle from a
nuts and bolts kit is a potentially over
whelming task, but it has been pure en
joyment for 85-year-old A. E. Jackson of
Summerville. The businessman’s 60 years
of experience in the auto industry gave
him some added insight as he completed
his project of three months. The instruc
DRAWN FOR AUG. 25
Criminal Court Jurors
Jurors have been drawn to
serve during the first week of
criminal trials in Chattooga
County Superior Court, begin
ningrat 9 a.m. Monday, Aug.
25. The 115 jurors include the
following: Betty Ruth Dean,
Rome; Nellie Faye Wooten,
Trion; Caroline E. Camp, Sum
merville; Margaret F.
Hegwood, Menlo; James David
Bearden, Summerville; Bar
bara Witt, Trion; Amelia D.
Ford, Trion; Floyd G. Wells,
Summerville; and Patricia
Whittle Rose, Cloudland.
Joseph D. Bowling, Lyerly;
Ora Bell Green, C%oudland:
Vernon Tidmore, Lyerly;
Wayne L. Thompson, Summer
ville; Mrs. T. R. Hurley, Sum
merville; Ellis L. Sweatman,
Summerville;, John M.
Durham, Summerville.
Ruth Collette, Trion; Nan
cy Valentine Ward, Trion; Ken
neth E. Williams, Trion;
Elizabeth C. Powell, Menlo;
Auburn L. Longley, Summer
ville; Ruby Reynolds Kisor,
Summerville; John Evans,
Summerville; L. B. Cook Jr.,
Lyerly; Clara Riley Bohanon,
Summerville; and Kelly
Bulman, Summerville.
Sylvia Marlene Burton,
Summerville; Idell T. Green
wood, Trion; Bennie L. Bullard,
Summerville; Gina N. Bishop,
Lyerly; and Linda Allen
Cl};and}l’er, Menlo.
Wesley M. Beason, Sum
merville; Herschel Flood, Sum
merville; Margie R. Reynolds,
Summerville; Bobbie K.
Stansell, Trion; Ruby A.
Mcßae, Trion; West Starr Jr.,
Summerville; Doris Clark,
Summerville; James C. Reed
Jr., Summerville; and Mrs. Joe
Gaffney, Trion.
Virginia S. Bullard, Sum
merville; Mar%aret Edwards,
Summerville; Ray H. Meeler,
' P R |
track in the pasture behind his
home. Friends would con
greiat,e for go-cart races every
weekend.
When Jackson be'gan rais
ing ponies on his farm, he
quickly drew the attention of
neighborhood children. He
soon found time to build a pony
cart to entertain them. A
smaller surrey with a fringed
top was often used in local
garades. “Cracke;i‘lack." a
7-inch miniature stallion, pull
ed the little surrey.
His other hobbies of
building furniture, drawing
and other activities have pro
duced countless items, most
§iven away to friends and
amily.
AFTER 60 YEARS in the
automobile industry, Jackson
still finds enjoyment in work
ing with cars. He maintains a
1951 Crosley, his late wife's
favorite car, in running condi
tion, although he seldom drives
it. ‘lt has only about 20,000
miles on it since 1951,"" he said.
Despite the effort required
to builcF the Gazelle, Jackson is
not content with just one.
1 plan to builcf another one
soon,” he said. I've enjoyed
this so much, maybe I'll try
another after that.”
Additional Photo
On Page 10-B
Builds 1929 Gazelle Replica
Summerville;, Hamp Mosley,
Summerville; Michael S. Shaw,
Cloudland; and Mrs. Robert
Baggett, Lyerly.
Frances Palmour, Summer
ville; Wanda S. Lowry, Sum
merville; Barney Russell, Sum
merville; Ann %‘ucker Young,
Lyerly; Linda Faye Dillard,
Summerville; Nina McNew
Ezell, Lyerly; Carol Hall
Thomason, Cloudland; Robert
G. Lane, Summerville; Jerrell
Palmour Hogue, Trion; Sarah
E. McDaniel, Lyerly; and Mary
M. Bailey, Cloudland.
Judy L. McCollum, Sum
merville; Sheila M.
McCullough, Rome; Hamp S.
Mosley, Summerville; James
D. Arnold, Trion; Eugene
Bigham, Summerville; Denise
Stewart, Summerville; and
Gladys B. Hartline,
Summerville.
Mrs. R. C. Hughes, Sum
merville; Norman Bryant,
Summerville; Stephen H.
Pledger, Summerville;
Charlotte E. Busby, Summer
ville; Billy J. Simpson, Sum
merville; John Adams, Lyerly;
Eunice A. Henderson, Trion;
and Norma S. Blevins, Trion.
Sarah John Durham, Trion;
Charlie Starkey, Summerville;
Mrs. J. R. Burgess, Summer
ville; Annie Ruth Housch,
Trion; Jesse T. Wilson, Trion;
Mary K. Camp Bullard, Sum
merville; Mrs. Ralph G. Dixon,
Menlo; Rhonda S. Casey, Sum
merville; Joe Robert fiorton,
Summerville; and Karen L.
Hoskins, Summerville.
C. P. Keith, Summerville;
Sue J. Shealy, Summerville;
Doris K. Davis, Trion; Pamela
B. Parker, Summerville; Ruby
H. Stephens, Summerville;
Michael Mills, Summerville;
Ronald J. Johnson, Lyerly; and
Julie Rollins Croy,
Summerville.
;
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Few people love their work enough to
make it a hobby, but A. E. Jackson has
found both a successful business career
and years of enjoyment in the automobile
industry. Building his 1929 Mercedes
tion booklet showed the Gazelle with sag
ging convertible togs. From his ex
perience as a Model-T repairman in the
'2os Jackson knew how to tighten the top
for a more authentic look. Jackson is pic
tured with his recently completed Gazelle.
(Staff Photo by Kay Abbott).
Mark F. Wofford, Menlo;
W. H. Hartline Sr., Summer
ville; Orbin A. Hartline, Sum
merville; Karen S. Leguin,
Summerville; Gwendolyn
Bentley, Lyerly; J. V. Morris,
Summerville; James D.
Mosteller, Summerville;
Johnny R. Suits, Trion; Bessie
Mae I?J,dwards. Summerville;
and C. L. Clark, Lyerly.
Billy W. Montgomery,
Summerville; Harold E. Bur
ton, Trion; Linda Wilkerson
Wilson, Trion; James E. Pierce
Jr., Summerville; Hubert A.
Pruitt, Cloudland; Mrs. Charlie
Edwards, Summerville; and
William David Jones,
Summerville.
David L. Bethune, Sum
merville; Evelyn Cook, Menlo;
Leisha Beth Bethune, Sum
merville; Clinton Eugene
Young, Summerville; Donald
Wayne Hurley, Berryton; Lola
Ellen Pickle, K’lenlo; Robert R.
Morgan Jr., Summerville; and
Charles Eugene Bryson,
Summerville.
Telethon
Scheduled
Saturday
A telethon to raise funds for
Lifepak-5 will be aired on cable
television station 6 from 5 to
11 p.m. Saturday.
Area entertainers are
scheduled to perform during
the event. There will be discus
sions with county emerflmc
medical personnel. Dr. ulen
Goodwin, head of the Chat
tooga County Ambulance Ser
vice, and David Laughton of
the Department of Human
Resources will be special
guests.
Restoring Cars A Pastime
Trion Warns About
Non-School Parking
Trion Mayor J. C. Woods is |
asking motorists to exercise |
care in parking when the Trion |
City Schools open for classes |
Friday, Aug. 22. |
“’l};le parking lot between |
the high school and the com- |
munity center is reserved for l
school and community center |
parking only,” Mayor Woods
said. “Anfi' cars found in this
area, with the exception of
school and community center
‘Fred’ May Duck
Identity I.
By KAY ABBOTT
Staff Writer
The saga of Fred the duck and Andy the dog, mascots
at Camp Juliette Low, Cloudland, has ended . . . at least
for the summer.
Fred and Andy were pictured during one of their rowdy
escapades in last week's Summerville News. Andy feels
that a duck’s place is in the water with no shore leave allow
ed. However many times Fred tried to reach dry land, An
dy would chase him back into the water. The more of a
sglashing and 3uackin§ protest he could get out of Fred,
the better Andy liked it. Fred enjoyed keeping Andy
busy . . . and wet; luring the dog into the lake time after
time.
According to Joe Specht, Andy’s owner and camp
trustee, the game has stretched endlessly over the summer
months, delighting scores of Juliette Low girls 8 to 18.
Thursday, The News photo caught the attention of a
Menlo coup{e who had recently lost a duck.
e‘(‘ilt sure looks like our Bobby,”” Mark Myers said of
Fred.
The duck had disapieared five months ago, to the
despair of children who lived near the Myers.
Krlrs. Myers went to Camp Juliette Low where the duck
made a positive I. D. of his rightful owner and indicated
that as Fa: as he was concerned, summer camp was over.
“T had jokingly told the children that Bobby had gone
away to summer camp,”’ Mrs. Myers told Specht. ‘I didn't
know he really was at camp.”
Specht has asked Mrs. Myers to be sure to get a medical
exam for Bobby the duck in case he wants to be a camper
again next year.
AlthougK the story has a happy ending, according to
Specht, there have been two minor psychological casualties.
“Bobby has developed a complex from being called
‘Fred’ all summer,” Specht said. ““And, since the duck left,
Andy has been despondent.”
Apparently, the dog is rethinking his position on shore
leave.
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Fred Has Identity Crisis
Fred the duck, featured in The News last week, is suf
fering an identity crisis this week — after his owner
noticed his jxicture and retrieved the long-lost fowl
from Camp Juliette Low. His real name is Bobby, not
Fred. Hence the “identity crisis.” (Staff Photo by
Earl McConnell).
Gazelle from a kit brought back a lot of
memories for Jackson, who started his
own Model-T repair shop in 1925. Jackson
and his g{:t oodles are reac%g' to tr{oout
the Gazelle. &taff Photo by Kay Abbott).
cars, will be towed away at the
owners expense.”’
“We ask that parking on
Dalton and Pine Streets be
reserved for the school’s use,”
he continued. “We need all
the . . . parking for our school
and recreation program par
ticipants. The semi-circle in
front of the elementary school
is also reserved for school park
ing only, Monday through Fri
day, 24 hours a day.”