Hunter trapper Rueben Fish walked Indian trails with his family to settle in the forest near Freeport. The one room “Fish” schoolhouse still stands on land his family cleared just a mile East of the village. When Job Cheesebrough moved his operation to Freeport, Rueben helped clear the land and build the mill. The Fish family worked at the mill for the next 4 generations. Son Allen came to work with his dad, then grandson “Bud” (Rueben) followed by his sons Brent and Rueben. The Fish family knowledge and faithfulness carried the mill through many changes over the years.
“Bud” Fish
Bud says that his first memories of the mill were tying bundles of rakes together that his dad had stacked for shipment. “Dad built a stool for me so I could reach the top of the bundle. (30” tall bundle) My arms were small so I could reach through the bundle with the twine. Dad would grab it, pull it through and tie it off.” He thought he must have been about 4. Bud went on the payroll in the late 30’s. He took a few years off for WWII and another year getting patched up in a hospital. He came back to the mill with still a few stray bits of shrapnel, a Purple Heart, and an empathy and love for others.
Bud has had everything to do with our success, and we still use his firm faith and the wisdom he offers to guide the Cheesebrough Group. I remember a day when one of the Stanley Steamer automobile clubs toured the mill. The crew was covered in sawdust, grease, and soot from showing them how everything worked when one member casually glanced over us with a grin on his face saying….“Well, I guess about anybody can make a wood rake”,. We let it go, but it did hit pretty hard. When he left, Bud gathered us all together in the boiler room. He told us…. “What that man said about making wood rakes is correct, but…..not everyone knows which tree will make the best wood rake, and not everyone can make a wood rake that someone else would want to own.” In another discussion on an idea that would improve product durability, I expressed my concern that the increased cost might hurt sales. Bud replied…. “When you have the chance to make your product more appealing or durable, you do it. There will always be people that want to own quality.” On another day I was a bit depressed from a call on product failure. Bud again got right to the point…. “You need to be thankful when people give you feedback on your work as it allows you to correct yourself. And, if they come up with an idea that will help you improve your workmanship, you thank them, apologize for not having thought of it yourself, and do it.” What a simple, honest, and humble way to live. Whenever he felt we were trying to get things done too fast Bud would advise, “Slow down. Take the time to do your very best and charge what you need to have to make a living. Remember, there will always be people that want quality.”
Those are just a few fond memories that come to mind as I reminisce. Bud turned 98 in 2020 and is a dear friend. He still goes out to his shop and makes beautiful things from wood for the grandchildren of his grandchildren. Buds instinct and great heart always led us to be proud of who we were, what we did, and to do our best. His insight has guided the Cheesebrough Group to be recognized as one of the best of our kind. I feel him looking over my shoulder in everything I build, and I do it to gain his approval. As we introduce modern technology into our trade, we will also hold to the old ways Bud taught us.
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At 93 Bud still fired the stove in his shop every day to build something beautiful with wood. He was recently commissioned to fit a stock on a firearm that sold for $150,000.00 new.
Bud is 95 and worked at Cheesebrough for over half of our 140+ years. He has seen things high and low, and near the close of the last century pretty far under water. We started many mornings in those years with conversations near the heat of the wood fired boiler, brainstorming ways to keep the doors open. As I mentioned previously, for some uncanny reason Bud always said, “Golf is the answer.” With just enough money in the till to pay him a meager wage, it almost seemed too challenging, but we finally just listened to him and went for it.
Bud has had a great deal to do with our success, and we still use his firm faith, wisdom, and insight to guide Cheesebrough. – #BF- (I show the explanation of #BF below.) I remember a day when one of the Stanley Steamer clubs toured the mill. Wealthy individuals. We were all covered in sawdust and soot from showing them how everything worked and one member casually glanced over us saying….“Well, I guess about anybody can make a wood rake.” We let it go, but it did hit pretty hard. When he left, Bud gathered us all together in the boiler room. He told us…. “What that man said about making wood rakes is correct, but not everyone knows which tree will make the best wood rake, and not everyone can make a wood rake that someone else would want to own.” #BF01 (We will always apply Bud’s wisdom and have given each bit of his insight a number to remind ourselves.) That bit of wisdom has given me the confidence to be a wood rake maker over the years. There are other careers that might appear more lucrative and impressive. In another discussion on how the increased cost of improving product durability might have a negative effect on sales, he said…. “When you have the chance to make your product more appealing or durable, you do it. There will always be people who want to own quality.” #BF02 I believe Buds observation is the foundation for the acceptance of Cheesebrough in the world’s high-end marketplace. No matter the cost, we just blindly follow that advice.
On one particular day I was a bit depressed from a call on product failure. Bud again got right to the point. “You need to be thankful when people give you feedback on your work as it allows you to correct yourself. And, if they come up with an idea that will help you improve your workmanship, you thank them, apologize for not having thought of it yourself, and do it.” #BF03 What a simple, honest, and humble way to see life.
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