Wednesday, November 30, 2016

John Hawkinson died without selling his car collection, and here is the last look at the great little collection he had before it was auctioned off




this 1920 Fire Engine is known locally as Samantha, and was returned to the Saranac Lake FD in his will

http://www.saranaclakefire.com/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=137


John “Hawkeye” Hawkinson lived a simple life in a farm house with no running water, no electricity and little insulation.

Widely known as Hawkeye, a nickname give to him by a camp counselor for his accurate aim, as teen he worked summers at Lone Pine Camp, driving and maintaining the 1933 REO Speed Wagon that was used to take the campers on mountain climbing trips.

The story of Hawkeye’s cars is the story of an eccentric collector of “all things beautiful” who shunned his family’s fortune for a simple, solitary life in the Adirondacks. Hawkeye was a master mechanic and an accomplished artist, photographer and writer. He was also a colorful character, perhaps best known locally for driving through Saranac Lake in midwinter with the top down in one of his Packards, wearing a raccoon-skin coat and smoking a corncob pipe.

His grandfather Amos Whitney co-founded the machine tool company Pratt and Whitney

Inside his barns were rows of beautiful 1920s cars, ackards, Buicks, Cadillacs and Pierce Arrows , as well as three American LaFrance fire trucks — one each from Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and Tupper Lake, which he willed back to those fire departments, and had been keeping in good running shape in the meantime. He was working up the Saranac Lake fire engine for the 125th annivesary of the SLFD at the time of his death.

some of the collection were a Packard roadster, a 1919 Mack truck, a 1930 Cadillac V12, two carriages, a sleigh, a 35-foot ladder truck and most vehicles are from the 1920s. Nothing newer than ’31. The oldest one was a 1919 Linn tractor

“Chasing Classic Cars” will focus on Hawkeye’s 1930 Minerva, with a Hibbard and Darrin body,      at 10 p.m. March 7, 2017 on Velocity.

Hawkeye's collection of 43 classic cars have been sold with the proceeds split between the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and the New York Historical Society.

http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2016/11/a-story-in-cars-hawkeyes-barns-held-treasures/




This house was one he had moved to this location, and since it had no electricity, when the coldest winter days came around it wasn't unusual to find it barely warmer inside than out. He once had a diabetic issue, and his life was saved, by the coincidental visit of his former nurse... http://lasvegastribune.net/john-hawkeye-hawkinson-losing-friend/ who is now the managing editor of the Las Vegas Tribune

36 comments:

  1. As I mentioned on another blog where I saw this article, this simply makes me weep.

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    1. that he passed away, or that he lived like it was the 1920's? I admire him, for being a collector with good taste and not a hoarder... he even had an occassional "open house" for the car collectors and neighbors to stop by and chat about old cars, and he sounds like a friendly guy who often would drive and show his cars, helped out local kids, and donated the proceeds of his estate auction to charity. Exceptional fellow, really. I'm only miffed that effing Wayne Carini is using this as a tv show episode. That SOB rubs me the wrong way every time I read about him

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    2. I guess I feel that way because he had no family to pass his collection to, but then again if the proceeds from the auction went to charity I certainly can't be sad about that. As for Carini, I've never seen any of his shows.

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    3. Just curious why Wayne rubs you the wrong way. SOB is a harsh term. Do you know Wayne?

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    4. Nope, don't know him. I don't know Trump either, or a number of people that spend so much time on tv that you either like them, or not. Know what I mean? Knowing them, that isn't necessary. Would it change your mind to know them? Actors, politicians, spokespeople, etc? Maybe.
      You're curious? Well, I simply don't have the time and motivation to explain it.
      Go figure it this way, I'm a cranky, middle aged, Navy submarine vet, and been around the world. I earned my right to be opinionated, and I made my own website (this one) to share my view of things.
      I'm not right all the time, and I'm not wrong all the time.
      But I'm going to be honest about all of it, and when I'm wrong, I may not know it, and my mind may not be changed, in fact I may not give anyone else the time or consideration to waste my time trying to persuade me that I'm wrong. I'm not Ghandi.
      As for harsh? well, you're wrong there. Or you've led a sheltered life that I wasn't lucky enough to get to share, and my way of referring to people I don't like because they rub me the wrong way exists on a scale you will not find polite.
      How you refer to those that rub you the wrong way is your prerogative, and there seems to be no reason to me to take umbrage at my self censorship use of an acronym when I decided not to spell it out.
      I'm shocked you seem to have missed I said "effing Wayne Carini"
      You really oughta avoid sailors and Navy piers if you're serious about finding the term SOB harsh, just my two cents.
      I've been posting for 10.5 years and 27.5 thousand posts, and you're either not a frequent reader, or you've ignored my rants and grouchy persona that occasionally pops up

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    5. I just realized, you didn't comment on the post, on the collection, on John Hawkinson, or the blog. You've only questioned my language about Wayne Carini. That's odd

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    6. Jesse you are the wordiest angry sad person ever...try Jesus..get the load off sailor...

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  2. FYI Wayne is a very approachable nice guy that is dedicated to the preservation and education of all things cars. As an avid car enthusiast myself it irks me when self entitled folks such as yourself (Jessie) feel the need to spread such unnecessary and unwarranted vitriol.

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    1. I see, let me make sure I have this correct... I'm self entitled? Wayne isn't.
      Also, you come to tell me that in your opinion, my opinion is unnecessary and unwarranted.
      Let me know if you are smart enough to see the contradiction of telling other people that your opinion is more important than theirs, especially when telling them they are self entitled.
      I see clearly now, I should have asked you, to tell me what my opinion ought to be.
      Guess what? I can easily tell why you are his fan. I bet you are sure that by informing me that I'm irking you, by telling you that Wayne irks me, but the irony is completely not clear to you that you've just replaced me as the worst douchebag with an opinion on this page. Congrats! You win this round, and I'm happy to lose to one of Wayne's sycophants. It proves that you can't understand shit, but jump right in and become the asshole.
      OMFG. That's rich.

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  3. Wow. This really got off track... Sometimes less is more.

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    1. What got off track? The collection? The post? The comments? Please elaborate. You are among like minded people, so, feel free to speak out

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  4. Beautiful cars, you guys all would love to drive and hang out with hawkeye, don't get crazy about wayne...he is a one off guy, but if this wasn't on his show no one would have known. PEACE LOVE AND HAPPINESS, AS I'M SURE THAT'S WHAT HAWKEYE WOULD WANT

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    1. If it wasn't on his show no one would have known? Well, you happen to be wrong about that. I knew from the article in the Las Vegas Tribune I linked to.

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    2. Even though I don't particularly care for Wayne's Carnies show at all This episode was very informative about a man that had interest in life and the things he truly cared about. I think of this particular episode as a tribute to a man the word (out side of his own ) never knew and it really makes you appreciate certain aspects of life- it was profound.

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    3. Good. I am glad he did right by Hawkeye, I hope my post was at least as good. I don't have cable tv and haven't seen Wayne's show. But I have seen more than enough of Wayne in person, online, and whatever... I still find it hard to believe that Lori who says I wouldn't have heard of Hawkeye and his collection, is too stupid to get that I posted this before Carini made an episode about it. Or she hasn't gut the guts to admit when she is wrong at claiming I wouldn't know shit without Carini's show. Also, of course, I'd love to have been able to hang out with Hawkeye... doesn't my post and respect for him prove that?

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    4. Lol your just an old salty sea dog, people don't get you, different generation - that's all. Seems to me everyone takes everything too dame personal.

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    5. Thanks! YOU get me... why no one else reading along does... is a mystery to me. 10 and a half years of material, 28000 posts, and many rants, slams, and put downs... and still people don't get me. Thanks USAgent... ! It's good to be accepted for what we are

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  5. You'd be pleasantly surprised at how friendly and approachable Wayne Carini is! He's just a regular guy that loves talking cars.

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  6. He had one electric outlet in the house and used one electric lamp. Shown on touring the house by the TV show Chasing Classic Cars.

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  7. Lori wasn't being stupid or making assumptions about you. She simply stated,if it wasn't for the show no one would know about Hawkeye. I myself didn't know. After seeing the show,I looked him up,to read more about the incredible man. RIP Hawkeye....the people who's lives you've touched are blessed.

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    1. to not see the irony of her statement, on my site, claiming that people would not know of something I've already posted... is like telling the encyclopedia britannica that their article on something was good to find, but never would be found if Carini hadn't talked about it on his show. Get it? Telling a source of info that the subject is only known to most because of a tv show... is to COMPLETELY miss the point that the source of info you're talking to, is a more complete and thorough journalistic source that provides information that you're ignorant of.
      There in lies the irony, that you are the one ignorant of this encyclopedic source but learn of things from the boob tube. Might as well tell the Ferrari museum that they would be unknown but for a mention on Chassing Classic Cars. Or tell National Geographic that no one's heard of the Pygmy tribes until they were mentioned on TMZ.

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  8. Jesse Bowers= Arrogant idiot

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  9. Hey Greg? Guess what? My blog, so fuck off. My site, my opinions, you weren't invited to stop by, you didn't have to sign up, register, or deal with ads and pop ups. You barged in, took a look around, and decided to spit.
    Fuck you. When some asshole shows up to your job, see's the work you've done, uses your work to shit on and then looks you in the face with their holier than thou smug face? You can recall this moment when I told you I hope it happens, unexpectedly, every now and then, to remind you you're an asshole.
    Now piss off

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  10. Wow, a single click and I find myself here. This blog has put a smile on my face. Created google account just to comment. At first I was like, Jesse, what a *unt. Now I'm like nah, he's alright. Insensitive would be an understatement. One thing for sure though, he comes out of the corner swinging. That's probably not a good reason to dislike someone though is it? All that is needed to be said is this.

    Not a single person returned a blow. Not one. Never bring a lemon to a knife fight OK boys n girls.
    Jesse, your alright man.

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    1. Good lord what did you see first? Then what the hell did I post that so completely changed your mind? Whoa, then I wondered, how LONG did you keep looking until I was redeemed? Well, I hope you answer, as I'm gobsmacked by your compliment, but regardless, thank you for the most interesting thing I'll read all day!

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    2. Or, are you referring to just the comments on this article about John Hawkinson?

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    3. oh, and you might get a hell of a laugh out of how I handled a racist guy in the comments on https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-racist-american-south-eastern.html

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  11. Bit of a delayed reply here.
    Glad you enjoyed.
    And yes, was just referring to this article.
    Insert clever comment here in regards to your other questions.

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  12. What is this? The Jesse show?

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    1. It is. I do my best to craft the most informative article, with the best photos to augment it, in order to not only inform anyone that stops by, but to respect the person, artist, collector, or inventor that I'm focusing on because they are incredible. Have you read my post on George Hurst? Or Nubar Gulbenkian?
      Are the articles I make on such amazing people not the best you've read, with the right level of information, photos, respect, and admiration?
      I hope you find them to be the right amount of new information you've never learned before about that person, with the photos you haven't seen before, plus the required known highlights, in a way that reminds you of Walter Cronkite and Paul Harvey.
      I'm not out to write books, there are more complete biographies, but, in a lot of examples, there are no biographies, as is the case with George Hurst.
      Regardless, look around, I recommend https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/awesome
      and any of the 60 biographies
      https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/biography
      but for the most fun, humor!
      https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/humor
      Regardless, I doubt you arrived here in the comments section before reading the article on John Hawkinson. What did you think of the article? Too short? Not enough? Just right?

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    2. How about my articles on the Erie Canal? https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search?q=Erie+Canal

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    3. or the upside down streetlight https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-legend-of-traffic-light-at.html ?

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  13. "Hawkeye" the real life film script right there!

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  14. OMFG! Jesse, you're giving me flashbacks of my dad!(USS Coral Sea) He'd wake us by stripping the covers while banging a 2x against inside an empty metal trashcan. He loved that sh!t.

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    1. I can't tell if I've made you happy or tormented you further

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