The ultimate Packrats??

20 years ago

They told on the radio today of a guy in Saskatchewan where they had 7 quonsets (shed of ribbed steel sheets, shaped like a large arc, sort of like a roof) of stuff, accumulated over many years.

Excellent farmers, always busy, sometimes had some crop when neighbours' fields didn't produce. They worked long days, the sister had a way with animals: pet coyotes and deer that she fed in the yard.

Once went to buy a truck, sales man was a bit snippy (they didn't look too propsperous): mamager chastised him, said they could probably have bought the dealership and paid cash. They went to another dealer, bought the truck, began counting money out of a (10 gal.?) milk can, there was a lot left over, the brother is reported to have told the sister that she must have brought the wrong milk can!

Didn't hear how much land they had, or what happened to the sister.

The old man is now over 90, has moved into a nursing home, they held a sale for 2 days, with people coming from many distant areas, many of whom knew them, and no one had a bad word to say of them. Two million proceeds of the sale. Plus how much more for the land?

When the radio lady asked him how he felt about the stuff being sold, he couldn't answer.

Likely almost all to go to charity, as no family. When she asked how come never married and no children he didn't have much of an answer - but some children would have been a help on the farm.

Interviewer said there's quite likely been a little extra juice added to quite a few of the stories - but everyone that she met had one. Told with a smile and affection.

What a story!

I'll try to find it in CBC archives of programs - maybe some of you could listen, if we can find where to look. Possibly www.cbc.ca/soundslikeCanada (a morning program weekdays): many U.S. people listen on that website - or now on sirius 137.

ole joyful

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Comments (6)

jaybird
20 years ago
Hi there Joyful...That is quite a story!!!
My first Father in law did the car dealing....
Wandered into a Cadillac showroom one time in his old faded overhauls. Told them he wanted to buy his wife a car...
They sort of huffed and fluffed. He finally persuaded them to show him a car and find out what bells and whistles she wanted....
Pulled out 100 dollar bills to pay for it!!
Said you could have knocked the salesman over with a puff of wind!
des_arc_ya_ya
20 years ago
LOL Jaybird, I would have thought that your FIL could be my uncle, but he never married. Same old overalls and same old cash! LOL
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wichitarick
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very funny ,there is a web site somewhere that tells a whole story of a family like this and what became of all there stuff
there was a thread here or on g.j ayr. or so ago that told a lot of stories of pack rats and crazy neighbors lol.
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The ultimate Packrats??

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