The Fayette Chamber will sponsor a “Main Street” Fall Celebration on Saturday, October 5th, 2013.
This one day event will celebrate the role that the automotive industry has played in the development of the Fayette community and of the nation itself.
Like its predecessor, the Fayette Fall Fest, this year’s event will focus attention on the many businesses that call Fayette’s Main Street, home.
The 2013 celebration is entitled the “The Fall Main Street Ramble” and will feature the works of one of this region’s top Flat Head Eight restoration practitioners: Fayette native and Main Street landmark
Hal Stambaugh, owner of Hal’s Garage.
Hal not only rebuilds and repairs engines he has, in the past, restored numerous vintage cars. It was a vocation that has evolved over time into a passionate avocation and hobby.
His devotion to repair and restoration has become for many an “art-form”. It has also attracted the attention and loyalty of many automotive buffs from throughout this region as well as nationally,
His reputation as an expert in the rebuilding of Ford’s “Flat head Eights” has been hard earned and is well established.
Stambaugh’s renovation of a vacant Gulf Service Station into “Hal’s Garage” transformed an abandoned property into a tourist attraction along U.S. 20. This unique 1940’s vintage garage, complete with period signage, one-of-a-kind awnings and vehicle display area has also gained the attention and recognition of photographers and travelers from across the nation.
Event organizers note that Fayette has a long, productive and robust association with the automotive industry in the United States. Fayette Manufacturing, built by Steve Sarnac in the 1940’s was eventually purchased by TRW.
Fayette’s TRW plant manufactures braking systems for Ford Trucks. From 1960 through the late 1990’s, Fayette Tubular Products was one of the leading automotive manufacturer’s of air conditioning units. FTP found its way to the Fayette community through the efforts of Fayette leadership and Fayette investment and grew into one of Fulton County’s largest employers by the mid 1970’s.
“Hal’s Garage is a reminder of our past as well as an example of what might lie ahead for those who develop skills and products that serve targeted markets.” said Tom Molitierno of the Fayette Area Chamber. In an era when major chains dominate the retail market place, locally owned and managed Main Street initiatives like Hal’s Garage stand out.
The originators of the Fayette Fall Fest wanted to focus attention on our Main Street business community. By spotlighting Hal’s Garage, an acknowledgement of Main Street’s link to the automotive manufacturing base is reinforced.
Examples of Hal Stambaugh’s work as well of that of other recognized Classic Car Buffs will be on display on the Opera House Green and at various other venues around the Main Street Business District on Saturday, October 5th from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Food and entertainment will be available throughout the Main Street Area during the event. Details will be presented in upcoming press releases.
For additional information about the event, contact: downtown business person Lucy Molitierno at 419-237-2830.
INFORMATION PROVIDED