The Sidney herald., 1956-06-07
When You Retire.
BY Robert Peterson
He Plays the Horses

Two brightly painted hobby
horses in front of a white stucco
house a few miles from Myrtle
Beach, Ga, caused us to slam
on our brakes as we were driving
by last month. Here was some
thing different. Most roadside
stands along this busy New York
Florida highway feature such pro-
sale products as woven baskets
and chenille bedspreads. But here
was an item blessed with a little
originality.
1--WE been making 'em for a
couple years now" said the horse
maker, Mr.. George .Upson, 70,
when we found him amid saw
dust and shavings in the garage
adjoining his home. Never
thought I'd make any pin money
when l retired but I've been do
ing all right with my horses"
We asked how he got started.
at was the usual story" he re-
piled. 81 didn't know what to do
with myself when / retired. My
wife gave me some woodworking
tools but they sat idle here in
the garage for a year. Then one
day my daughter came over with
a hobby horse she bought at an
antique shop for $45. l was shock
ed at the price she paid for it
and told her / could duplicate
it for SIS. Pretty soon her friends
were wanting me to make hobby
horses for their youngsters.
ITS sort of funny looking"
he told us as he picked up one
Of his wooden steeds. 1t had an
exaggerated neck, a quaint, BEAM
ing face, and a name and tail of
leather thongs. 1t was painted
deep pink with blue trim on the
lockers. 81 give some of them
4 wood finish he added. with
/ little stain and varnish you
make a hobby horse that
ooks like a piece of fine furni-
.ure.
People seem to go for that
,ld-fashined design" he went
m. "A woman from New York
,rdered four horses last week.
She said not to bother painting
II vanishing them cause she was
to shoot 'em with buckshot
md sell 'em for antiques.
81 use hardwoods like sweet
ash and maple - mostly
dds and ends I pick up cover
{ the lumber mill. I take my
ime and turn out a quality pro-
.uct. Lots of folks say my horses
re better looking and better
1ade than any you'll find in
torres nowadays.
"The materials cost about 81
er horse and I sell 'em for SIS.
With this and my pension I do
right.
"The thing / can't understand"
e commented reflectively, sis
Thy more retired people on small
lcomes don't get out of their
ockers and make things like
lese hobby horses. If your pro-
uct is well made and a little
nusual it will always sell. And
eeping busy in retirement is a
IT more fun than sitting on the /,
orch watching the cars whiz :
y. /,
Retirement Rambles - DR.. z.
Meservey, SO, a retired dentist
/ Los Angeles, recently complet-
d a flight around the world and 7
len topped it off with an 5000 ]
lille bus trip through the u. S. i.
nd Canada The remarkable
ellen Keller will be 10 on June 6
She's currently touring Eur I
pc enjoying her first real vaca- +
on in years. . Have you read
bout the caravan of retired l
mericans which is rolling thru {
urope this summer in AZ trail
IS? These dedicated trailerites C
isited Mexico City last year and t
e already planning to roll thru il
anada in 1857 /. their motto d
Keep rolling and keep liv- d
g" Best travel bet of the L
eek: Portland, Oregon during 6
famous Rose Festival June \
= 10, 1856. is