by Scott Whippo

People keep comparing today’s events to the Great Depression. The people I know who went through the Great Depression tell me we aren’t there.

Just to get the feel of what the depression might have been like I jumped on my two-wheeled Time Machine that looks suspiciously like a 1955 Royal Enfield motorcycle. Unfortunately, the gears in my Time Machine weren’t meshing right and I blew right by the 1930’s and ended up skidding to a stop in 1903 or thereabout. Lucky for me I was in a familiar place.

The Arlington Hardware and Lumber Store on Olympic Avenue in downtown Arlington has expanded over the years and changed many of the things on their shelves but the theme and feel remain the same. As the sign over the check-out stand states: “Old Fashion Service… 1903.” I was glad I ended up at the Arlington Hardware Store because I needed a refresher course in self-reliance. I sauntered through the new door on Olympic Avenue (circa 2009) and proceeded to go through a time portal into the old section of the store. Wooden floors stained a dark color to match the original buildings floors squeaked as I moved across them. As I glided slowly through time I tried on some hats — none was my size — and I fingered through the nick-knacks that were on the wall. Looking up I noticed a Bison staring down at me from the wall. I’m not sure how he got up there but I was wondering if he was comfortable. He certainly had a commanding view of the store and customers. He had company up there as well. There was an entire menagerie overlooking the well-provisioned hardware store.

What I found interesting was that the store seemed to have almost anything I would ever want. They had hunting and fishing equipment, cloths, toys, garden supplies, tools that I can use to fix my house and too many other interesting things to list. One of the employees told me that business was quite good. Apparently, in these tight financial times homeowners are stepping back in time also and doing some of the jobs they use to hire out to others.

Reliance on others is good to a point. People like me should leave some things to the experts such as electrical and plumbing. But many of the things that need to be done around the house can be accomplished by remembering the skills we learned in high school shop classes. I knew those woodworking, metal and mechanic skills I learned in school would come in handy.

Some schools don’t have these necessary classes because funds are short or they can’t find a qualified instructor. I guess it’s a matter of priorities. Unfortunately, many students will not go to college and will not have the manual skills necessary upon graduation from high school to be hired for jobs that require these basic skills.

In 1903 most, everyone had some familiarity with at least one of these skills. They didn’t have classes in school they had on-the-job-training at home or working around the farm. In 1903, most things were done less by hired specialists and more by the young family members with advice and direction from the more experienced family members.

As I walked down the aisles of the Arlington Hardware store, I saw these more experienced family members moving about the store without effort, willing to give me advice and direction.

There are other stores that offer many of the same items that you find at the Arlington Hardware Store. There are even stores that offer free classes each year on self-help projects, such as Lowes at Smokey Point. For some reason, I prefer to wander around this example of interactive Americana Art when I am in town and pretend that I am in an era when people were more self-reliant. At least for a moment I can pretend that I know how to fix a broken pipe.

Recessions and depressions come and go. Family finances go up and down. If you develop some self-reliant skills it makes the down times easier. I really need to develop some more skills. And I really need to buy that thing-a-ma-whats-it on the wall. Because when finances are tight and you can’t afford to hire someone to do a job for you, you can never have too many tools in the garage.

Comments may be addressed to sdwhippo@yahoo.com.