Beyond the South End

A Guy Who Knows a Guy

As many of you know I bought a house over here in Warren this fall. When I said I was moving to Maine I got expressions of disbelief from most everyone I talked to. “Are you crazy? Don’t you know how cold it gets up there…brrrr they get all that snow…etc. etc.”

Well it’s been over 30 years since I had to shovel snow so maybe I was being naïve, but darn it, I missed Maine and was becoming increasingly homesick for home and for my family and dear friends here.

So Nanci and I threw a bunch of stuff away we really didn’t need anymore; got in touch with the good folks at Mayflower; and after a marathon trek north with poor Butchie stuffed in a carrier day after day, here we are.

As soon as we arrived we began to get advice about who to hire to do the many things necessary to live out here in the semi-country of Warren. My old South End friend, Jane Ames Sylvester, who married into another branch of my family, has lived over this way for years. She knew who to contact locally in order to get our garbage picked up and get our driveway and path to the house plowed in the winter.

Just call these phone numbers she said. OK, that sounded easy. So here’s where the title of this story “A Guy Who Knows a Guy” begins.

She said to call either this number or the other one to get a plowman. Well the first number I called resulted in a no go as he didn’t have any more room for winter plowing customers. The second number I called involved called the granddaughter to relay the message to the guy who actually plowed. I couldn’t call him directly for some reason which I forget. “Well” he said, when he called, “I can’t handle any more plowing this winter…however, my son would love to get the job as he does other homes on that road already.” So that was the first…”I know a guy” instance. The son, “who would love to get the job” finally called me a week later and very enthusiastically accepted the job. Problem solved.

Jane’s suggestion for a garbage man was right on and very easy to set up. Evidently, Wayne is the man to call in Warren to handle your garbage. You just have to leave him the required money taped to the garbage pails every Friday when he picks up. By the way, do you know how fast a taped envelope with money in it would disappear if it was taped to anything outside your home or apartment in Atlanta?

With my plowing and garbage pickup taken care of I was on a roll and figured finding a carpenter, electrician, and plumber for jobs that needed to be done around the house before winter sets in would be a piece of cake. Right? Nope. Wrong.

Seems that the fall season is the very busiest one for these workmen. I began this quest by calling numbers I found in the ad section of The Courier Gazette where various people and companies who offer services can to be found. I was also given names by friends who “knew a guy” who did the work I needed done.

I made a long list of each category in which I needed work done: Electricians, Plumbers, and Contractors. I waited. I called others. Finally I was contacted by workmen for the various jobs I needed done. It seemed to take forever though.

All of the workmen I contacted had to come inspect the site before they would accept the job. And again, in some cases it was “I can’t take on another job right now…but…I know a guy…” Well you get the gist, right?

The plumber ended up “knowing a guy” who he worked with when his jobs needed electrical work also such as putting in a separate circuit for a dryer like I needed. I had semi-promised the job to another guy recommended by a friend, however, this guy was slow to respond, which is why I went with the “guy” the plumber knew.

I still have one of these workmen left who is working on my house. I will need to call back the wonderful electrician we had to reinstall some lighting when my contractor is finished with his job.

Might I say that “the guy who knew a guy” system we followed ended up being a pleasant experience in spite of the money I had to spend. I did find their pricing reasonable as well. I have found Maine workmen to be efficient, professional, and very dedicated to maintaining their reputation as a reputable person to call when you need work done.

I look forward to spreading the wealth among these dedicated Maine workmen in the future.