The Greentown Grapevine – 1994-02, 01:02

              Volume 1 Issue 2 February 1994
The Alexanders, Residents of the Month
Ron and Mary Alexander have been
Greentown residents since 1987. After
their marriage in 1983, they lived in
Georgia for three years and began
remodeling an older home there. When
Ron began working at Delco, the Georgia
home was sold and the family moved to a
rental home on SR 26 just south of West
Liberty.
Both had always been impressed by
Greentown even before moving here. They
both like a small town and it was a nice
distance from Kokomo where Ron worked.
They were interested in a good school
system for their five children and knew
Eastern was one of the best. Other factors
they liked about Greentown were: it was
not " big city", good food at the fair, and
driving to and from work without the sun
in you eyes! Since becoming residents,
they say Greentown will always be their
home.
When Earl Petty, a local realtor, showed
the Alexanders the house at 804 E. Main,
Mary said it was the answer to her
childhood dream. That dream included an
open staircase and a fireplace. This home
had both!
The house was built in 1912 by Charles
Jenkins, a relative of David Jenkins, owner
of the glass factory. The builder's name
and the year built were found written on a
wall behind several layers of old wallpaper.
Sometime later the house was sold to the
McQuiston family and eventually became a
rental property. The house was old and
needed a lot of repair, but the Alexanders
were not discouraged.
Ron and Mary purchased their home in
April of 1987 and began the remodeling
before moving in. For several months, they
worked day and night, eating microwaved
frozen dinners until the home was ready to
be occupied. They have stripped the old
paint from the woodwork, staircase, and
fireplace and have repainted. The
attractive " gingerbread" trim on the
exterior is handmade by a man in
Tennessee. Future plans include a new
garage, shutters, and a picket fence
surrounding the yard. Although they say
much more needs to be done, the house
looks beautiful and is a definite asset to our
Ron's hobbies, beside working on his
home, are restoring old cars and bass
fishing in the reservoir. He works at Delco
Electronics as a tinsmith. Mary's hobbies
are toll painting, crafts, and antiques.
After giving up her job in the Eastern High
School cafeteria, she and her brother
started their own business. " Sign- Up"
community.
The Sawdust Shop, Business of the Month
Like many small businesses, the
Sawdust Shop had it's beginnings in " a
hobby which got out of control." Five years
ago Marvin Rees crafted a toy train in hs
wood shop and showed it to some fellow
workers. It sold that day and he took
orders for three more. Since then his shop,
just west of his home at 228 E Railroad St.,
has yielded many more trains, trucks, doll
furniture and other wooden items.
Marvin's trucks have an authenticity born
of experience, as he recently retired after
21 years as a truck driver. An area he
expects to expand into is doll house
furniture.
A graduate of Western High School,
Marvin and his wife Kay moved to
by Jolene Moore
designs and constructs custom signs for
businesses. Ron and Mary both say that
one of their favorite activities is spoiling
their five grandchildren!
the Alexander family!
The CRAP€ viIv€ is proud to feature
by Rachel Jenluns
Greentown in 1955 after his discharge from
the Air Force. They have been in their
present home since 1956 and have 3
children and 3 grandchildren.
Marvin has served as a Director of the
Greentown Area Business Association and
has worked on their craft and flea market
committee. He presently holds the office of
Junior Steward in the Masonic Lodge and
is a member of the American Legion.
Marvin displays h s creations at craft
shows and at the Howard County 4- H Fair.
He invites you to call him at 628- 3863 or
stop by the shop.
Each month's Featured Business is selected
at random from the membership list of the
Greentown Area Business Association.