The View from Thayne’s Corner
Thayne Jones
 
My Neighbor’s Fence

   Looking south at my very close neighbor’s property, I see what I facetiously call “Tony’s Cemetery.”  The Tony I’m referring to is Rush County’s Attorney General, Tony Rues.

   But the fence inspires no aura of morbidity.  It’s composed of more than 350 feet of black wrought iron artistry duplicating the original fence that stood on the property nearly 100 years ago.  The artist is Joe Proffitt of LaCrosse, operator of a welding and metal fabricating shop, Tetra Co., on East Highway 4.

   When Tony and his wife, Tomi, acquired the property from his sister, Rose and brother-in-law Les Diehl, to complete a full house renovation, sections of the old fence enclosed a balcony.  After being removed and stored it was used as a pattern by Proffitt to manufacture thirty-eight 10-foot sections plus four gates.

   Although he graduated from high school in Russell, Joe is a Rush County native.  He and his wife, Tammy and family live in LaCrosse.  For 12 years he worked as welding supervisor  for the Rans Company of Hays, manufactures of ultra-lite aircraft kits for home and hobby builders.  Joe now does contract work for aircraft manufacturers and other fabricating jobs.  In his spare (?) time he operates a Karate school, himself a black-belt performer. 

   Joe says this project is his first effort at designing and constructing decorative fencing.  After observing the perfection of his first try, one might expect his next one to be spectacular.

   My wife Machree and I are hard pressed to keep up with what’s going on next door with our neighbor the prosecutor, counselor and public servant.  First an extended period of house remodeling, landscaping and sidewalk repair.  And now this fence building.  (We aren’t sure if this is to keep the kids in or the neighbors out).

   We’ve decided that attempting the reverse of the old adage-----keeping up with the J’s (now “keeping up with the Ruses”)-----won’t work.  We are simply resigned to observing and being content with the outcome.

   (The fence and house that the Ruses live was the home of John R. and Orah Temple Lovitt in the early 1900’s.  Pictures have been seen of the fence around the house and balcony.)