ML: After 44 years, the engine could have been complete...

[PNKMoore@xxxxxxx]

This past weekend I took a trip to Hazlehurst, Mississippi to assess an 
estate property for work.  This is the same estate from which I recently 
purchased 
my Imperial: a ‘58 Southampton 4 door.  The car left Hazelhurst in 1960 when 
the gentleman who had purchased it new died.  His daughter inherited it and the 
car was transported by her son, then about 23, to Shreveport where it 
remained until two weeks ago.  Today he's 66 and my client.

The Hazlehurst property was originally a "city farm," meaning it was in town 
with the house facing a main residential street.  To the rear there was an 8 
acre field with support buildings, garden, paddock, etc.  The house was closed 
in 1960 and has suffered innumerable violations over the years.  I went to 
take a survey of the risk/value of the place to the estate and determine if the 
buildings were best slated for demolition, etc.  I went on Sunday morning 
because it was my first chance, and I wanted to get up there as soon as 
possible 
after getting the case.  Once the Mississippi heat sets in the critters and 
snakes get feisty in old places like that, and I didn't want to have to make 
any 
new "friends."

While it was a somewhat sad errand to see a once grand old house fallen to 
ruin, I did enjoy climbing through the house itself and lurking around the 
outbuildings, wondering what it was like 44 years ago when the Imperial lived 
there.  I had another attorney with me, and both of us enjoyed the opportunity 
to 
do something 
"legal" that really just felt like fun.  

The barns, servants' quarters and carriage house were either collapsed or 
completely gone but a more modern garage, built on a slab and covered in tin 
instead of wooden siding, was still standing. ("Is" still standing.  I was 
there 
only yesterday!) The garage was completely hidden in the trees and brush, and 
being so hard to see it escaped some of the theft that was so apparent in the 
main house.  Some cans and bottles and miscellaneous junk were still on the 
shelves and strewn on the floor.  The pedestal and guts of an ancient TV were 
in 
there, the "carved" Bakelite knobs being the only remotely intact portion.

I looked around among the wreckage to see if there was anything to walk away 
with.  

I found something: Standing in a bucket, next to a collapsed workbench, was 
the sparkplug wire cover for the passenger side of my 392 Hemi.  Alas, it had 
obviously been sitting in water for a long time, at least until the bucket 
sprang a leak, and it was hopelessly rusted.  Still I was amazed to find it, 
knowing that it must had stood there for 44 years after being removed from the 
car.

I continue to look for a replacement wire cover, having missed a chance to 
bid on a pair on Ebay last week. Darnit!  Nonetheless, at least I know where 
the 
original one went!

I also found a twisted, nearly unrecognizable piece of thin chrome under the 
leaves in front of the garage.  I'm wondering if it's the trim piece off of 
the right rear windshield molding over the deck of the Imperial.  I haven't had 
a chance to hold it up to the remaining chrome to check, but I have my 
suspicions.

I walked away with some poison ivy, some very minor architectural knick 
knacks, dirty clothes and a bruised ankle of my own making. (I stepped through 
the 
floor in the kitchen, though I should have known better.  Termites, I guess.) 
I also have one more little chapter to the story of my old car, a chapter that 
no one but us IML folks will appreciate!

Patrick Moore
1958 4 door Southampton
Southeast Louisiana