Mary Hitchings

[Mike6024]

I grew up near Hitchings Lumber and met both Mary and her husband. They had a lot of redwood, hauled down from Mendocino County. Went there to get lumber with dad a few times. I was born in 1960 by the way. Maybe about 1978 I borrowed our pickup and went around the Hitchings yard got some wood for a picnic table I still have, (5) 2 by 10 by 8 ft redwood, 4 by 6 rough redwood for the legs, and some 4 by 4 for the cross members to attach to the legs and support the benches. Put it together with some 3/8 bolts and "malleable washers." The last time I went and bought something was early 2000's sometime, her husband was still alive, bought a bunch of redwood posts. They gave me coffee. Somehow I asked something like if she intended to sell any of her trucks, because there were so many sitting along the driveway, but we get a lot of rain and figured they were too valuable to be out in the weather. She said like many people ask but she tells them no, or hell no, or says $1 million (for one, not all). They also had quite a few vintage cars, a Chevy with the big fins, and things of that age, 50's, early '60's.

[Truckcrazy]

One of her trucks was at the ATHS show in York last years. An LT. All white. 

[70mackMB]

Welcome Mike6024, Nice story for your first post.    .....Hippy

[mrsmackpaul]

On 4/4/2024 at 4:22 PM, mrsmackpaul said:

I saw the article at the start of this thread on Facelessbook the other day

Back in the 80's I  read a article on her, would of been either English or an Australian magazine 

I gather the trucks and their owners are all long gone now

I wonder if Mary and Andrew ever new their stories made around the world

I did some Googling and I reckon this photo was in the article, but thats probably 35 - 40 years ago now so I may be wrong 

 

She reminds me of another lady I habe met, Miss Elle drives trucks and coaches most of her life

I reckon Elle is even shorter than Mary and is a absolute live wire, in her late 60's now and still full of beans

And she don't stuff about when driving either, I'm flat out keeping up with her

 

Anyway, totally off topic now

 

Paul

Well it took me a while and I was wrong 

It wasn't a magazine article it was in a Mack book that no doubt you all have seen 

Anyway I scanned the relevant pages for your viewing pleasure 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, I  think they are in order, have a great weekend everyone 

 

Paul 

 

[mrsmackpaul]

From the Sonoma State Library 

 

Mary Hitchings driving a Hitchings Lumber truck in the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Parade, Clovedale, California, 1981

[james j neiweem]

Yes I wonder where all of these old time members have gone!?

[mowerman]

I mentioned that earlier post I saw a few of them sitting and Fowler and what look like it used to be a horse corral those of you that don’t know that town is very close to Cloverdale. That was around 40 years ago. They were all in really good shape. Now.????bob