also owned the building that housed Razor Ridge. Ruth Maxwell
would often bring in antiques she wanted fixed or refinished.
- And, as the story goes -
it was she who had lain those pieces of
chairs at Razor Ridge's doorstep.
Maxwell Building
The Apprentice's Trail
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Don & Lib Maxwell, who sold the Hoffmans the equipment,
also owned the building that housed Razor Ridge. Ruth Maxwell would often bring in antiques she wanted fixed or refinished. - And, as the story goes - it was she who had lain those pieces of chairs at Razor Ridge's doorstep. |
Maxwell Building
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She and I would sometimes talk about the pieces we would be
working on for her & one day, in the fall of the year, she mentioned she needed to pick up a small dresser she was having built over in Jefferson at Barr Cabinet Shop. I had heard of these guys &, right away, offered to pick it up for her. |
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That friday afternoon,
I took off a little early and headed for Jefferson. |
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A short steep lane led up to the long
narrow building that was the shop. Waning fall colors, filtering the afternoon light, bewitched me. - crossing through the door - I turned, to look back, to see it again |
Barr Caninet Shop
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Ralph
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Walking in, there was Ralph,
leaning over a chisel. He glanced up as I asked for Mr. Barr & pointed towards the back of the shop. |
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In front of me was an old square head planer,
still powered by spoked, wooden wheels & thick cloth belts. The aroma of gear oil hovered over it like a fog. The walls are laidened with patterns & machining fixtures hanging on nails. |
foreground: Squarehead Planer
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The incoming sunlight struck beams of
dust filled light across the shop. A bittersweet whif of walnut & cherry hangs in the mist. Scarcely used patterns dangel cobweds into the lowering light. |
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Coming up to Mr. Barr, I introduce myself &
tell hime why I'm there. He stands, shakes my hand & asks, 'Would I like a quick tour?' As we went through, he peppered me with questions about what all I did & where I was from. He told me about how his Dad had started all this back in '18 & 72'. It was their quitin' time, so I got Mrs. Maxwell's chest & went on my way. |
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Now I had seen the Barr Shop
& had fallened under a spell from the colored light. All I could think of was how to get a job there. |