The Key West Citizen Newspaper, September 27, 1954, Page 5

This Week’s Feature Advertisement Key West's Oldest Contractor—S. H. Drudge Go Farther... Stay Longer and have MORE FUN SAVE ON FOOD COSTS As other families have done, you can actually save as much as z on food costs... when you eae your meals as you go On Vacations Floodlight LANTERN Lights instantly. Flood- lights 100-ft. area. Safe -€an't spill fuel. Storm- f. 8.to 10 hours service et a ie Ses teased Avoid dam THOMPSON'S geno HARDWARE is fing case. 2¢-ia. square top. Come te and get your Pree copy of (Division of Thempsen Enterprises, Ine. the wow Coleman Outdoor Book, and outings, $30 CAROLINE . As Advertised In STREET on ow [DS Key West’s Most Complete Line of Hardware for Marine, Industrial, Home Use Folding PICNIC TABLE and CARRYING CASE Avoid the Rush! Connections can now be made to the new sewer system in the area between First Street and Navy Hospital. Call us for an estimate of your needs. Avoid the Rush! In these areas net yet released for connection, we can still make all necessary installations se that you can “tie-in” im- eredlatonr after line is approv- @ Expert Plumbing Repair and Installation @ Immediately At Your Service A. H. WILLIAMS, PLUMBING CONTRACTOR 412 LOUISA STREET PHONE 2.5888 Dig Out That Old ELECTRIC SHAVER SAVE $7.50 Your Old Electric Shaver Is Worth 4, $7.50 Trade-In Allowance Toward A New Remington 60 De Luxe! It’s the finést electric shaver ever made. Shaves as smooth as a blade, in half the time. e_onge call With Your Old Shaver — Only $22 acc Lou's Radio & Appliance 522 DUVAL STREET Lou Carbonell TELEPHONE 2-7951 KEY WEST'S NEWEST RECAPPING SHOP! DEN-NAP ELECTRIC. EQUIPMENT serso>” FULL-CAPPING szi%.ccuz— . $8.45 up sivetown B.F. GOODRICH and LEE TIRES (Tubeless Puncture Proof) (15-Me. Read Hezard Guer.) CURTIS BATTERIES- Auto - Truck -Marine $9.95 (15-MONTH GUARANTEE) U Ask “Fred” The Tire Man — 20 Years’ Experience Key West Tire & Battery Co., Inc. 515 Front Street ‘Qo" stv," Phone 2-8660 |' Our Business” KEY WEST ELECTRICAL REPAIR COMPANY JOHN C. SCRIBNER, Owner SALES — SERVICE — PARTS Marine Heavy-Duty BATTERIES ... GENERATORS . .. STARTERS .. . LIGHT PLANTS . . . REGULATORS Complete Stock V-BELTS . .. PULLEYS ... WIRING SUPPLIES for Home and Industry DELCO and PACKARD MOTORS AUTHORIZED SERVICE AND REWINDING Telephone 2-613] MEMBER 611 Front Street Nationally Advertised - Nationally Recognized Appliances and Television Sets General Electric Appliances (SALES and SERVICE) ee RCA - Zenith - Admiral - Westinghouse - Emer- son Electric - Toastmaster - Sunbeam - Presto - Mirro-matic - Dormeyer - Cory - Arvin - Schick + Knapp-Monarch - Hobart - Remington - Eureka - Philco Duval and Olivia Sts. Phone 2-2000 Store Open Mondays Till 8:00 P.M. Roofing And Building Specialist Describes Early Railroading Days And Accomplishments In Key West By BILL GIBB Sam Drudge went to work with the Florida East Coast Railway at the age of 15. Within four years, he had risen to the position of foreman in the maintenance and building section, “In those days,” says Drudge, “we used to crawl on hands and knees along every inch of the roadbed—sighting rails for levelness and straightness. One time I crawled like this for 69 miles in 69 days over crushed rock. Talk about rough! “I had 150 Negro laborers—all of them underpaid, under- fed, and overworked. A foreman tried to watch his crew with One eye and look out for rattlesnakes with the other. Florida rattlesnakes loved the hot, dry railroad bed but I’ve never seen any of them which had a particular fondness for railroad fore- men. I've killed as high as 14 in one day.” 25 Years In Contracting Work S. H. Drudge is one of Key West's oldest established con- tractors. His landmarks mey be seen in many of the city’s business establishments and motels; he estimates that he has repaired more than 700 buildings in this town alone. Monroe lat BEAUTIFUL NEW NORTH BEACH HOME BUILT BY DRUDGE County’s first concrete highway bridge (Stock Island) was built by Drudge. He was also foreman during the conversion of Bahia Honda from a railway to a highway bridge. “I've built homes and business establishments,” says Drudge, “from the Canadian border to Key West. Each locality presents different problems. I'm proud that during all these years of building, I’ve never been engaged in a law suit—either for or against me. And I've never failed to live up to a contract.” If Citizen readers aren’t familiar with construction work, they might perhaps not be able to appreciate the remarkable- ness of such a record. Building contractors hit every kind of obstacle imaginable. Sometimes they bid on a job expecting to find easy working conditions—only to discover that they've run into all sorts of problems. They often pray for good weather and are rewarded by downpours of rain which make work impossible. In one sense of the word, contractors are gamblers—but they're gamb- lers who depend upon technical knowledge rather than luck to win. Drudge Likes Concrete Block Sam Drudge, in reply to a question concerning the type of structure he considered the best in Key West, said, “Personally, I like concrete block. It is more practical and economical. Of course, frame provides a drier, better insulated home but we have too much trouble with termites in Key West for lumber to be really popular. And there is the high cost of such ma- terial, too.” Matecumbe and Tavernier have two storm shelters which Drudge built. They are designed to withstand a ‘big wind’ of 700 mph—though Sam didn’t mention how government engi- neers arrived at this estimated strength. “Every place that I build is planned for eventual hurricanes,” says Sam, “but not ot that velocity, naturally.” Development Near Rest Beach There is a development of new homes between Rest Beach and Flagler Ave. which S. H. Drudge constructed. Another show place may be seen at 715 North Beach Road. Just last week Drudge completed a 3,300 square foot addi- tion to The Key West Citizen. This new section will house edi- torial offices, a photographic studio, rubber stamp making ma- chinery, and newsprint supplies. The Citizen is proud of its newest expansion work done by 8. H. Drudge and invites the public to look the place over. Assisted By Son And Son-In-Law Sam Drudge is assisted by his son, Earl Jackne Drudge, and his son-in-law, C. B. White. The three men furnish the prac- tical experience and knowledge to make their business success- ful and reliable. “It costs less in the end to do the job right,” says Drudge. “Folks who have the space should give consideration to housing the family car. Imagine leaving several thousand dol- lars parked on the street to be hit by any careless driver who might happen to pass! We'll design a garage to please the eye—constructed to fit the budget. Cost quotations are pro- vided without obligation. “And there is always that idle space in a home which can be converted into a useful living area,” Sam continues. “An extra bedroom, den or rumpus room costs less than you think! “Guess we shouldn't fail to mention roofs, too. Our repu- tation is unsurpassed for a roof job that’s right, tight, and ready to withstand the elements. “I'd sure appreciate it and honestly believe that I can help homeowners who are planning to build if they will call me.” S. H. DRUDGE vwillea, Ul AA Phone Ave. 'E’ = = 13392 ~ GENERAL ~ ROOFING and CONTRACTOR 7 ‘ BUILDING : 1" " oh Monday, September 27, 1954 THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Poge 9 Murray Electric Co. 105 Simonton Street Phone 2-285] ENGINE TUNE-UPS with WEIDENHOFF ELECTRIC INSTRUMENTS WHEEL ALIGNMENT and BALANCING GENERATORS — STARTERS — CARBURETORS Rebuilt and Repaired PRODUCTS | TELEVISION Expert TV Service Costs You Less in the Long Run Trust Us To Give You Prompt, Dependable Service . . . To Save You Many Television Repair Dollars by Doing the Job Right the FIRST Time! KEY WEST RADIO & TV SERVICE Will Julius (USN, Retired), Owner Telephone 2-8511 WHITE LAUNDRY PICK-UP and DELIVERY Top Quality and Dependable Service Speeializing In... . LAUNDRY DRY CLEANING ROUGH DRY “Let One Call Do It All” 1200 WHITE STREET WARDLOW'S CITIES SERVICE STATION Corner of Simonton and Fleming Streets Mike Carey, Manager WILLIAM RUSSELL “GIBBY” GATES (Formerly with Arnold Curry) (Former KW High Football Star) Visit Wardlow's for SPEEDY, DEPENDABLE, FRIENDLY Service MIKE SAYS: “If we don’t check under your hood, your gasoline ie FREE! We're out to please our customers with both courtesy and efficiency.” Tel. 2-6532 Pe Moving? . . . Request UNITED VAN LINES Agent KEY WEST MOVING AND STORAGE WAREHOUSES 700 Elizabeth Street “Locally Owned For Better Service” LEARN TO FLY $5.50 PER LESSON ris WEY WEST, (3 Fu @ EMERGENCY TAXI @ SIGHTSEEING OVER @ AERIAL SERVICE TO MIAMI KEY WEST, $3.00 PHOTOGRAPHY NO CHARGE FOR CHILD UNDER 5 YRS. WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY ADULT PASSENGER MOTORCYCLES — AIRCRAFT — SCOOTERS Meacham Airport, East Boulevard Telephone 2-5422 826 Duval Street PHONE 2.7733 Nights 2-8683 C.A.A. Approved School Flight Instructions