Glenn Culler -- Block Builder

Eva Menkin

I thought we were just going to brunch at the CULLER'S. It was 1982, or there-a bouts. Probably in the summer. The CURTIS'S were there.

GLENN met us at the door. His grin was a prediction that he had an idea, and he could hardly contain his excitement. The garage door was open, (in those days there was still a garage) and there were various tools laying about in readiness.

"OH OH" I thought, we are going to separate the men from the women again. I was right.

GLENN'S idea was to make hard wood blocks for the grandchildren.

The grandchildren? The CULLERS didn't have any yet. Never mind. GLENN had it all under control. The men disappeared into the garage and the women, of course, headed for the kitchen.

The BLOCKS sizes were all multiples of each other and made of oak. They were 1" thick and made in sizes 1" x 1", 1" x 2", 1" x 4", 2" x 2", 2" x 4", and 2" x 8". GLENN had a table saw with sandpaper glued to the side of the blade, so that when he cut the wood, it was also automatically sanded, thus requiring no further sanding.

The men spent hours in the garage, stopping only for a bagel. It seemed they were having lots of fun. The women washed the dishes.

Subsequently, we all had grandchildren. I think GLENN speeded up the process by this creation.

It is now 13 years later, and we have 11 grandchildren, all of whom have at sometime or another, played with those blocks. Bud loves those blocks most of all, building elaborate structures, which the grandchildren knock down with glee. Everytime the blocks are brought out to be played with, we think of GLENN'S ingenuity and craftsmanship, and give thanks to him for having thought of making them.

Love Eva

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