What was life like when local residents still got around using animal power? Phil Tuck has answers at the PCHS meeting.
What was life like back in the day when people still relied on animal power rather than cars and trucks to get around?
That was the topic of the recent Polk County Historical Society's program, where local residents got a chance to remind themselves that despite all the innovations we enjoy today, remembering the old way things are done
The Historical Society welcomed special guest Phil Tuck, who spoke in character of his grandfather Gordon Tuck who was the mule trader back in the day when the obstinate animals were a main form of transportation in Polk County.
Tuck showed that there is a lot more to the profession of the trade then just selling off the stock.
He didn't stray too far from the family business himself as he continues in a career as an auctioneer, runs a cattle barn in Cartersville, and dabbles in real estate auctioning.
Tuck told his grandfather's story as if Gordon Tuck was standing there, dressed in the same attire which was a "loud" tie, a tan Sun- day hat and cane.
He provided a winding tale of Gordon's life, depicting tales that intertwined with running away from home as a kid, traveling with "gypsies" around the states, losing a family to pneumonia, training a horse 18 different tricks, and tales of his mule trading days.
Gordon Tuck would ride a train up to Missouri to by the mules by the car load and bring them back to sell them or to farm with them.
Tuck's grandfather once got a call from a mule seller asking if he wanted to by any "green" mules, which means they are unbroken, to which Gordon replies "I don't care what color they are ill take them anyways!"
During World War II, business was booming for traders. It was common for Gordon Tuck and others to travel to Atlanta with their coats and canes to sell their mules since Atlanta was known as the mule capital of the Southeast at the time.
"We never sold a bad mule to the local folks," said Tuck. "But we would take those bad mules, we called them plugs, and take them and sell them in Atlanta to get them out the country."
After the war ended, business for the traders went south due to gasoline coming back and farmers was then able to use tractors.
Tuck shared a conversation he had with one of his partners.
The partner asked, "Gordon how many mules we have today?" Gordon replies with 99.
The next day his partner comes and asked the same question to fin out there was 98 but none was sold and no one of them died. gordon explained to his confused partner " they et one," said Gordon, "cost me a mule a day just to keep them!"
After Gordon's mule trade died down he started to paint barns with the gypsies going all around the country painting barns. Tuck said he had a good life doing whatever it took to make a living. This goes to show that even a mule trader down from the south can have a story that can be a piece of history.
Next month's history program is set to tell the story of Coca-Cola's history in Cedartown, with the Morris family providing the program on June 27 at the Hawkes Library in downtown Cedartown on College Street.
Visit polkhist.com for more information, or stop by the Hawkes Library during operating hours.