UNCLE ART'S SURPLUS LOT IN DENVER DETAIL C

UNCLE ART'S SURPLUS LOT IN DENVER DETAIL C
Originally uploaded by roberthuffstutter

STILL LIFE WITH CLAY POTS; ANOTHER VIEW OF UNCLE ART'S AUTO PARTS, HIGH ON A MOUNTAIN IN THE DENVER, COLORADO AREA. UNCLE ART AND HIS GIRLFRIEND HAD DECIDED TO TAKE A TRIP TOGETHER FAR FROM THEIR HOME IN LUDLOW, IOWA BACK IN THE EARLY 50S. THEIR 39 DESOTO BROKE DOWN IN MANITOU SPRINGS AND WHEN THEY COULD NOT GET ANYONE TO WESTERN UNION THEM THE MONEY FOR THE PARTS, THE TWO VOWED TO TURN THEIR BACK ON THE REST OF THE FAMILY AND MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN. BY THE MID 60S, ART AND MAXINE WERE MILLIONAIRES, HAVING BUILT ONE OF THE LARGEST SURPLUS AUTO PARTS AND JUNK YARD COMPLEXES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, NEARLY TWO MILLION AUTOMOBILES SAID GOODBYE TO THE HIGHWAYS AND RETIRED AT ART'S AUTO SURPLUS. EVENTUALLY, AS ONE CITY AFTER ANOTHER TRIED TO INCORPORATE DIFFERENT AREAS, ART'S TEN ACRES WERE SWALLOWED UP BY A SMALL CITY THAT REQUIRED HE INSTALL A BOARD FENCE AROUND THE ENTIRE JUNKYARD. TODAY, ON THE WEST SIDE OF DENVER, ONE CAN STILL SEE THE THOUSANDS OF AUTOS AS THEY GAIN ALTITUDE. THE FENCE HAS BEEN PAINTED BY WOULD-BE ARTISTS. ART SAYS THE SECRET OF HIS SUCCESS WAS THE LIFETIME GUARANTEE HE OFFERED ON HIS PARTS. HE OFFERED A LIFETIME GUARANTEE ON ALL ITEMS. IN THE BEGINNING, THE LG COST ONE DOLLAR. HE RAISED THE PRICE TO FIVE DOLLARS IN 1970. IN HIS SPARE TIME, ART ENJOYS READING PARTS CATALOGS AND HIS WIFE KNITS GLOVES