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I only went to Michael Farm Shop on the north edge of Hope once. 

Michael Dean, “Hope Star Journal Online” Advisory Team member, suggested I write an article about Buddy. As soon as I walked in the doors of this historically unique building and business to meet Mr. Michael for the first time, I was reminded of my dad, Roy Webster, and the shop he built on our farm after retiring from Cummins Inc. as a welder. I immediately felt a special connection with Mr. Michael and his shop. When suggesting I would like to do an article, he gave a slight grin and stated something like the following, “Well, I would prefer not to go public which could possibly result in shenanigans, but I will be more than happy to talk and show you around.”

Well, I suspect all in the Hope area know that Mr. Michael had a stroke and now resides at Willow Crossing. I reached out to his relative, Mendi Broady Wineinger, to check on Bud and asked if I might now do an article. She responded with, “Yes, Bud is certainly deserving of an article.”

While in his shop, I was impressed with the gentle nature of Bud and how he kept busy with equipment he had been using forever for customers. He showed me his old but very effective grinding machine. There was also the 1940s International Harvester Motor Van inside the shop, the vehicle that once would go out to farms and assist farmers with their broken-down equipment, and the 1962 Mercury Comet which he bought new and continued to drive. Of course, there was the 1976 Chrysler New Yorker in front of the shop, the family's old car. All these vehicles still put a twinkle in his eyes. And he talked about playing basketball for the legendary Bill Stearman of Columbus High School.

When talking to Bill Lentz about Michael Farm Shop, it brought back some vivid childhood memories: “I recall being in the shop when younger with my dad, Tom, and thinking the building was huge. And, I was fascinated by all the machines and how they operated. It seemed Dad would stay there for a long time talking with the Michael family, but I didn't mind because it gave me more time to be in such a magical place.”

Ken Seim said, “You always knew what you were going to get with Buddy. And for sure, it often included a few stories of Buddy's time in the military and of how he and his father, Marvin, built the business. He helped my dad, Gerry, with an unusual gate project. I could identify with how he and his dad built their business, because my dad and I did the same thing with Sacoma International.”

As Michael Dean so well shared, “Buddy was from different times, and he talked about those times to anyone who dropped off or picked up work. I always gladly allowed a half hour of my day for his conversations. To me, it was part of the business deal. He did the job and always did it well, in exchange for very little money, some company, and a lot of storytelling. While there on one occasion, I noticed he was replacing the head gasket of his classic Mercury Comet at the age of 80. Buddy and his shop will never be replaced. It's another part of the past that is sadly gone.”

Larry Harter, who has a local lawnmower shop, said, “Buddy was a good old boy. My family knew his family. When I needed lawnmower blades sharpened or parts welded, Buddy would do it, do it right, and charge a reasonable amount. If you tried to tip him, he would refuse and suggest you put it toward something else. If you forced it in one of his pockets, he would give you a price break the next time. When there, he was never in a hurry; I was never in a hurry; our conversations were the best. Buddy's shop, his workmanship, his kindness will be missed.”

Jerry McKinney said, “A story I found of interest was how they would cut out the tops of metal barrels for customers to use in burning trash until one exploded and lifted like a rocket. That particular barrel was the last one! We took a bent grain bin piece in to have it fixed. Marvin, Buddy's dad, took one look at it and quickly repaired it, making us feel somewhat ashamed we didn't think of the solution ourselves. Marvin, his wife, and Buddy would huddle around one another, talk for a few minutes, and then throw out a price. We never countered because it was always very fair.”

These stories also reminded me of my dad. He would only charge customers $12/hour and often would work several hours on a project and still just charge $12. He enjoyed talking and sharing stories about serving in World War II as a mechanic for B-29 Bombers in India. For Christmas one year, I got him a sign with two words, “The Fixer.” Like my dad, Buddy was a fixer: a fixer of broken things while not concerned about riches, and a fixer of slowing down time to get to know others by way of talking face-to-face.

Before submitting this article to be published, I felt a need to revisit Bud. When Michael Dean and I arrived, Buddy was sitting on his bed. While softly speaking as has always been his way, he mentioned that his schedule was much like his military days, and he seemingly liked it. Of course, he very much stayed on schedule at Michael Farm Shop.

Michael teasingly mentioned how he had some blades that needed to be sharpened, and Buddy smiled and replied that it might be somewhat difficult in such small quarters with no tools, certainly a situation he was trying to adjust to considering his spacious shop. Michael then let him know about how his welding job on an anchor plate for his hoist machine continued to hold in place after much usage.

The three of us chatted about this and that for several minutes with Buddy's one liners helping all of us to laugh. He expressed appreciation he wasn't in “la-la land,” a line so defining of Bud.

At the end, I shook Buddy's hand, held it, and said the beginning of Psalm 23. He was pleased and invited us for another visit. Buddy would welcome cards at:

Morris (Buddy) Michael
3550 Central Avenue
Columbus, IN 47203