1967 – 1968

Martin John Bishop, brother of Albert Bishop, started out in the building working as a mechanic for Natalie Gignoux and her Little Percent Taxi Company.  Later he took on extra work when time and space permitted.  Eventually “Martin John” ran his own shop renting the building from Natalie.  It was located behind the Concept 600 Building on Spring Street and Rio Grande Place.  Norbert Anthes was a mechanic working for Martin as well as a number of others including Mike “The Hunkie” Toth.  My aunt and uncle, Shirley and Nelson Jr. Smith lived, in the two houses just to the east of the garage and I would often go hang out with Norbert and the other mechanics when my family was visiting next door. 

Norbert had not been in the valley long at this point and yet he was already welliked and respected in the community and was considered a close family friend.  Norbert was always known for his generosity, and I was often a recipient of it over the years.  Sometime around 1967 Norbert offered me a job at the garage.  I suppose deep down it was a favor to me but it also got me out from under his feet while working on the vehicles.

My job was to clean up the rags, sweep the floors and even put the tools away.  Norbert always paid me at the end of each work day and the money was usually gone before I got home that afternoon.  A pocket full of change is no match for a little boy who walked past The Peppermint Tree candy store, The Hobby Shop and Walt Matthew’s Drugs (now Carl’s Pharmacy) on his way home.

Norbert always made sure I had plenty to do and even took the time to teach me a thing or two.  By the age of eight I was pretty good at changing spark plugs and oil filters on pretty much anything that came through the doors.  I was also very accomplished at greasing the shocks, U-Joints and hubs, being mindful not to over grease them and blow out the seals.   Many Friday afternoons were spent visiting in the parking lot as the mechanics and friends alike enjoyed their beers.  I even got rides home on Fridays as my dad always had a keg of Coors on tap in his garage, and Norbert new that if he gave me a ride home a fresh beer would be waiting upon his arrival.

Sometime in late 1967 some rags and gas next to the furnace caught on fire and a blaze ensued.  The building was not destroyed but most of the exposed insulation as well as many of the tool boxes along the walls were heavily damaged.  Very few of Norbert’s tools survived the fire undamaged.  Within a few weeks most of the damage was repaired, tools were replaced and it was business as usual.  As for me, Norbert added to my days’ wages by sending home a burned wrench or socket every day for my growing set of tools.  Over time I ended up with a large collection of tools many of which are still in use today.

Norbert knew how to take care of his friends.  He was always willing to lend a hand and never expected anything in return.  I remember a few years ago running into him at Cap’s Auto.  He asked me about snowmobiling while I was in town and I mentioned that unfortunately one of them had been damaged and was un-usable.  The next morning my friends and I were headed out for coffee when I noticed the snowmobile had been fixed.  Norbert never said a word about it.  Sadly, Norbert passed away a few years back.  Aspen will never be the same without him.