Echoes From The Attic and Poems, Campbell's Garage, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Don Johnson, Feb. 2001
Typed by Belford Carver
Written by by Edna F. Campbell
Copyrighted by Edna F. Campbell
With special thanks to her family for permission to use her works.

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************

CAMPBELL'S GARAGE: SELF-BUILT 50-YEAR-OLD CLUTTERED BEAUTY

Elvin A. Campbell Sr., former automobile mechanic, who still works daily repairing 
lawnmowers in a 50-year-old self-built shop, marvels at the many changes he's seen 
in his native Hammond.

Campbell's work has spanned from the hand-cranked Model T's on mud-packed roads to 
high-powered limousines on the smooth-surfaced, paved highways of today.  The 
veteran machinist is a part of Hammond's history and like Longfellow's Village 
Blacksmith, "his brow was wet with honest sweat" as he toiled away fromearly 
morning hours until late at night.

"It's been mighty nice through the years," says Campbell, "but I have worked hard 
all of my life.  I wouldn't be happy doing nothing.  I began tinkering with cars 
when I was around 15.  I got hold of an old Model-T racer.  Itwas cut down and 
there wasn't much to it, but I carried my tools around in it and did work on cards 
out in the country.  There were only two gas tanks in Hammond at that time.  Bert 
Baltzell owned one and the other was run by the Hammond Auto Company, then located 
on NE Church St.  I worked there with Aut and Ed June.  After I quit there, I went 
to McComb, and returned to Hammond some time later."

It was around 1922 that Campbell and his partner, Bert Bacon, an older man, went 
into well-digging and repair service.  They built the shop which was later 
converted into an automobile workshop.  The studs and sills came from Hoovers Saw 
Mill, says Campbell, and the cypress lumber from the Louisiana Cypress Company.  

The weather-worn structure has stood the test of time and is still sturdy--a 
cluttered thing of beauty with its array of old lawn mowers, outmoded motors, work 
tables and a vast collection of tools.  In spite of the clutter, it is as familiar 
as the rising sun to Campbell who can readily put his hand on any screw, nut or 
bolt he needs.

The wooden floor remains intact.  Campbell and Bacon were the sole contractors and 
carpenters, with the exception of a little help from Campbellís father, Bert, who 
was a railroad employee.  Campbell's garage is located on the lot adjoining the 
family residence, where Campbell was born, The house was the property of the
Bert Campbells.

The Campbell-Bacon partnership didn't last too many years and the Campbell had the 
business all to himself for nearly 50 years.  He likes to reminisce about the many 
makes of automobiles he has repaired through the years.  Many of them are extinct 
and almost forgotten, such as Willys Knight, Studebaker, Chalmers, and Hupmobile.  
Campbell worked on them all!

(From ECHOES FROM THE ATTIC, VIII, 1974, by Edna Campbell)