My Amazing Grandfather....

...who ran a scrapyard that is still in existence in Evansville, Indiana was a fascinating and incredible man.  He invented things that he didn't patent that are widely in use today because he needed it for his business.  The main one that comes to mind is the machine that makes cars into metal cubes.  He only went to school until the 6th grade, I believe, before he had to stop school to help earn money for the family and was driving the family truck at age 12.  As with everyone in these United States, except for Native Americans (and who knows how they got here), we're all immigrants, and I'm so thankful that my great-grandparents, on both sides, got the heck out of Russia and came here, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, learned English by reading the newspaper, and contributed to the greater good of society in so many ways.

I'm thinking especially of my grandfather right now because of a post I was tagged in by my cousin on Facebook about their home that is up for sale in Evansville.  The article that the realtor wrote has information that we never knew!  Pay close attention to what he says about the basement in the article below.  We were never, ever allowed in the basement!  It was the long-running family joke.  My mouth fell open when I read this.  I hope you enjoy it too.

"The morning sun was aglow today on a unique Storybook style home brought to market by the venerable John Pickens. But you guys, the basement. The basement stole the show.
Sure, the home features the classic steeply pitched, gable facing roof with catslide walls, a garage with original casement window and a mimicking catslide wall, and the original metal stairwell railing that communicates the “modest mansion” vibe of the Storybook style.

But you guys...

The house was built by the Trockman family. Ben Trockman, I blame you. Shortly after the home was built, Mr. Trockman tricked his basement out in what we’ll call the late 1930s early 1940s “MTV Cribs Poker Hall” style. Beck sings about “mixing business with pleather,” and that’s precisely what Mr. Trockman did.

Original pleather doors (ok, it’s vinyl but you know pleather is sort of true and also kind of more true) greet you in the basement foyer and immediately tell you “this is serious business down here” with keyless dead bolt locks from the inside - because again, poker. And the original custom built (to match the doors, of course) built-in poker-chip-storage-drawer couch is still in place, long enough for two passed out friends to safely crash after a long night of poker shenanigans.

The home is as darling a two bedroom as you’ll find. The basement?

The basement is a national treasure."