January 2
It’s a chilly January day and the Kavanagh’s and crew return to work after the holidays. The morning break is spent chatting about Christmas and New Year’s and drinking coffee except for me. I don’t drink hot liquids or coffee in general. The day passes slowly but that’s normal when people return to the everyday. The crew finish our first jobs and another year starts at the corner of Pratt and Central.
January 18
A busy Friday at the Shop begins and everyone is talking about the Ravens. They defeated the Miami Dolphins in the first playoff round last week and they will face the Steelers this Sunday. We would all love to see a repeat of last year’s Super Bowl victory and we’ll have to beat our bitter rivals to do it. The crew are working on some bent pipes and rods and a few other things. Chris Gavin from Mandala picks up. Chris is an artist/sculptor. I seem to keep meeting more sculptors and we seem to keep doing more and more work for them. At home, Joe’s speech therapy and OT continue and he makes small strides. He speaks a little more though usually only when prompted. Autism is complicated and as we keep hearing, therapies take time.
January 24
The year has started off strong as far as work goes and that’s a good thing. This week everyone has been a bit down after the Ravens lost to the Steelers. Today even more so as a miserable drizzle falls outside. It’s that Pittsburgh and Baltimore/DC rivalry. It keeps happening but life goes on. We finish some structural work for R and R Fab, Anderson Contracting and Metropolitan Steel. We also finish set parts for Center Stage’s production of “Winter’s Tale.” I rarely know the actual play being performed so it’s cool to know in this case.
February 3
I’m home on this Sunday and watching the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots beat the Rams 20-17 and it’s a pretty good game. I enjoy it but since my son’s diagnosis, my perspective on sports has changed. I still like watching and cheering my teams on but it’s not nearly as serious as I used to think it was. A game like this without a Baltimore team playing is a little entertainment but not much more.
February 8
On this Friday night, the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah begin. Kim and I both love the Olympics and we watch as much of the games as we can each year they are held. The Shop has stayed busy with some tubes being annealed and filled for Explus and a heat exchanger for Patuxent Institution being completed today.
February 22
We finish an unusual job today. It’s a custom platform bed. We’ve done furniture before but this is a new one for me. Still, it’s a job and along with a few others, it’s out the door today.
February 24
Kim and I watch the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies on this Sunday evening. We enjoy the elaborate event that each hosting city presents. The games and the ceremonies are something which we both really enjoy and this year is no different. As I switch off the TV and head to bed, my thoughts are at the Shop. We have a job for Quality Erectors that is finished. I’ll have to call Butch Herbert who runs the place first thing in the morning. Butch is a good fellow. An older gentleman and someone who has always been fair and good to me. Quality is one of my favorite customers to deal with because Butch is smart and knows his stuff.
March 7
It feels like Spring at the Shop but the calendar says it’s still two weeks away. The warm temperatures have us open the front bay doors which brings in a comforting breeze. The boys are busy on a wide range of small orders. Big jobs are good and we love those but the smaller ones really keep us busy. They keep the flow of work going and money coming in.
March 20
A light rain falls all day in Baltimore. I am going over delivery tickets for Turnbull Enterprises and Eddy and Stambaugh when Kim calls me. Something we thought was true has been confirmed. Kim just left the doctor’s office and she is pregnant. I’m so happy I don’t know what to do. Our son has brought us so much joy. We are beyond thrilled and excited to add to our family. Kim and I do have some concerns, of course. We have already considered the possibility that the new baby might have autism like Joe. We feel certain Joe will be fine in time and we are confident the baby will too. As we are dealing with Joe’s situation, we’ll deal with anything for the new baby. Mostly we’re excited and anxious to meet our Joe’s little brother or sister.
April 1
It’s Opening Day in Baltimore and the Orioles welcome our longtime rivals, the New York Yankees. We beat them 10-3 and that’s a great way to start the season. A win is good but a win over the Yanks is always better. In the Shop, we’re working on a large order of playground parts for Playworld Systems and some structural pieces for Metropolitan Steel. We sneak out a little early to get home and watch the ballgame.
April 8
I’m standing in the front of the Shop during 9 o’clock break and talking to Jack and the crew about the Orioles. After that great opening day win, the Birds have dropped six in a row. Not a good start. We all agree it’s early but they need a win. The break ends and I head back into the office while the guys head back to their machines. We finish jobs for Explus, J.K. Cabinet, and TSI Architectural.
April 13
The Washington Capitals lose to the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in overtime on this Saturday night and the Caps miss the playoffs. They tally 85 points for the season but that is not enough to get to the postseason. Jack and the rest of us are disappointed but that comes with the territory. We’ll hope for a better season next time and for the Orioles to play better. They stand at 3 wins and 9 losses so far.
April 24
A cool and cloudy Hump Day is a busy one on Central Avenue. The work has stayed steady so far and with summer approaching, it should keep coming. Kim is feeling fine and no issues with her pregnancy. Joe is still receiving speech and occupational therapy. He definitely speaks more now but it still is usually only when prompted or if he wants something.
May 3
I’m watching the Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on a Friday night. I’m watching with Joe and explaining the intricacies of the game to him. He seems to be ambivalent but you never know. I assure him tomorrow he and I will have a fun morning watching “Super Retrovision Saturday” which is a slew of old cartoons and kids shows. These are the shows I saw as a kid and I love sharing them with my boy and he likes it too. I’m pretty sure he prefers these kids shows to baseball but I’ll work on that. With tonight’s win, the Birds improve to 14-15. They take a step closer to .500. It was a windy day in the City. No rain but crazy wind blowing through the Shop. The boys finished a job for a new customer, Art-Tech and Stone. When they called on the phone, I thought the name was Artists in Stone. Working at the Joseph Kavanagh Company does effect your hearing. We call it “Shop ears” and I’ve got them.
May 17
What felt like an extra long week ends with some pickups for IWC and LT. Engineering. Henry from I.W.C. drives up himself. He’s an older European fellow but very knowledgeable about metal work. He’s a good guy and one of those customers I particularly like. We also finish jobs for UMBC and some railings for Diamond Iron. At the end of the day, I’m thrilled to ride home and check on Kim and Joe. Kim’s pregnancy is going along fine so far but I do worry about her.
May 31
It’s a Friday night and I’m watching the Orioles play the Seattle Mariners. We get a thunderstorm after dinner but the Birds get the game in and win in walk off style 8-7. This lifts our record to 24- 28. They better get hot if they want to have any success this season. That being said, baseball is noticeably less important to me these days. I play with Joe or at least line up blocks for him to knock over. I enjoy any time with my boy. Of course, in my head I’m also thinking about the Shop. Today we finished a sign job for Pasadena Sign, some parts for Products Support and work for a few of our other regulars.
June 10
On this Monday, the Joseph Kavanagh Company hires a new employee. The sixth generation of Kavanagh’s begins working at the Shop. Jack’s oldest son Paul begins his first summer of work today. It’s the beginning of a lifelong gig for a Kavanagh. Jack is very proud and Ann and I are sure Paul will do well. I can’t help but think back to my first day which was a December Saturday in 1979. I feel a little bad for Paul. The first few days can be tough to get acclimated but he does okay. His first job is as a helper for Mike Glenn who is rolling on the R-3-S. The two of them roll some parts for John Gutierrez Studios and Eastern Exhibit. Jack and I think back to our first days and laughingly agree it could be worse for Paul. He could be working with his father. Not that our Dad was tough to work for but it’s a little intimidating.
June 25
It’s a hot and humid day at the corner of Pratt and Central. The volume of work has shot up along with the temperatures. Today we’re making some parts for a skylight company and a few of our fabrication customers. We have copper tubes for a fountain to do later in the week and we receive some pieces from Martin J. Braun. The driver needed me to sign one of our tickets for him to confirm receipt. That seems strange to me but every once in a while someone needs it. Paul seems to be fitting in quite well with the crew. He’s hot and sweaty today just like the rest of us.
July 3
It’s a scorcher at the Shop today with temperatures getting close to 100 degrees. The Kavanagh’s and crew are accustomed to working in the heat but a day like today, tests your mettle. Fortunately, tomorrow is Independence day and the start of a four day weekend. The day drags along as we roll some steel for our welding and fabing customers. As soon as the last truck picks up, we head home for the holiday.
July 10
Everyone is staying very busy at the Shop as we get closer and closer to our annual vacation in August. July is always like this but it’s the price we pay for wanting one week off. A few jobs are finished today including an order of playground parts and a piece of brass tube bent for a chandelier arm.
July 26
The crew and Jack and I are in the front of the Shop during the morning coffee break. A rain shower has just started with the boys gather around sitting on chairs or buckets. We’re discussing the Orioles who are 47-51. They can’t seem to get any consistent run of wins going. They seem stuck a little below. 500. We’re halfway through the season and running out of time to get hot. After a few moments of silence staring at the rain, I get the boys back at it. We have our usual mix of bending and rolling for fabrication and welding shops but today, we also bend a boat rail. We get these periodically. It’s usually an individual and not a business but as long as they give us the old rail or something to match, we are good.
August 9
The last Friday before vacation has arrived and we are very anxious to get out of here. A few small jobs are completed but most of the day is spent loading trucks. Around 2 pm, C & S Ornament Iron’s and Codd Fabricators’ trucks pull away and the day is over. I am thrilled and ready to spend a week with my boy and my expecting wife.
August 22
We’ve been back to work for a few days and everyone is back in the groove. We knock out a few orders for our regulars today like Turnbull and Codd. At home, Kim is trying to get Joe in Pre-K this year. It’s a complicated thing because of his autism. There are not a lot of schools with programs for kids like my boy. She will find something I’m sure. Her pregnancy is going well so far and we eye the beginning of October for the baby’s arrival.
August 30
I’m up late on this Friday night watching the Birds playing the Angels in Anaheim. They lose 6-2 and drop to 63-70. Their chances of the playoffs are gone and even a winning record seems very unlikely. A couple of years ago, this would have bothered me more but now I see sports with a lot more perspective. Joe’s diagnosis really brought to the forefront what is important and what’s not. Before bed I remember I have to call UMBC on Monday. We have a small order ready for them. It’s funny how thoughts of the Shop will often appear even at home or anywhere else. It’s the life really. It’s normal for us.
September 11
One year ago today, the world changed. The 9/11 attacks are marked with moments of silence and patriotic events around the country. America wants us to remember and we will. In fact, how could we forget? The impact and effects are still very fresh. So we pause and think and honor those who lost their lives then the day goes on. At the Shop, it’s a rather quiet somber day. Work is done but everyone’s thoughts are on what happened last year. I suspect the Joseph Kavanagh Company is very typical in this regard.
September 15
Kim has had some trouble finding a school for Joe. The first school spent a week or so with him and flat out told us, we can’t teach him. It certainly stings to hear such a thing but we have to deal with it. It feels heartbreaking but Kim, all of eight months pregnant, has kept calling and has found a school with a better program for kids like our boy. She was unrelenting and determined to find the right place for him. Next week, Joe starts at Bear Creek Elementary. We did receive some good news recently when the ultrasound revealed that Kim is having another boy. A Kavanagh family with two boys is so typical. We’re elated but we would have been just as happy with a girl. We’ve decided to name him Anthony John after his two grandfathers and we’ll call him A.J. for short. Today is a Sunday and we decide to call my parents to tell them.
“Another boy! That’s great. A little brother for Joe. I’m so happy.” Mom exclaims as I inform her. “Do you have a name picked out yet?”
I glance over to Kim across the couch from me, “Yes, we are going to call him Anthony John after both of his grandfathers.”
“Oh! I love it!” She quickly passes on the information to my Dad who also approves. “You know what you could call him for short? Tony Jack! How about that?”
Again, I turn and look at Kim. “Tony Jack? Yeah, I guess we could call him Tony Jack,” Kim does her best to suppress a laugh and I grin. “That would be a good nickname but we were going to go with A. J. Keep it simpler for him.”
Mom answers emphatically, “Oh A. J. sounds great too. I like that. Oh, we’re so happy for you both. Your wonderful family is growing. OUR family is growing.” I can see her smile and a few tears even through the phone. We catch up on a few other things then I say goodbye and hang up.
“Tony Jack?” Kim asks me smiling and with a little twinkle in her eye.
“It was an interesting idea anyway.” I chuckle then quickly realize something. “Hey, you know what?”
Kim suddenly becomes suspicious as she knows me well, “What?”
I grin broadly in that mischievous way I’ve done all my life. “A. J. is perfect. We can tell people it stands for Another Joe. I like that.”
“No.”
“Yeah, it would be great. I can be the George Foreman(who named several of his kids George) of metal bending. It makes complete sense.” I finish triumphantly.
Kim narrows her eyes at me. “No, it doesn’t make sense and we’re not telling anyone that.”
“Oh sure, take all the fun out if it.” I smile at her, then laugh and she does too. It will be A. J. standing for Anthony John though everyone knows the truth now.
September 23
The work has actually begun to pick up as the weather cools. Sometimes the impending end of year rush of jobs starts earlier. Today we finish a heat exchanger for St. Agnes Hospital, more playground parts and a few other items. The phone is ringing quite a bit as well so both Shop and office are busy. It’s a good sign for the rest of the year. In the evening, the Orioles will lose at home 5-4 in 15 innings. that’s now 6 losses in a row for a 67-89 record. The Birds have had a rough year and the end is particularly tough. They will lose 6 more to end the season on a 12 game losing streak. They finish in 4th place.
October 3
Ann, Jack and I are eating lunch in the office with the noon news on the television. I am telling them how we had a little party at home for my son’s fifth birthday. It was low key as Kim is nine months pregnant and scheduled for a c-section next week. The crew have just completed some parts for a skatepark in Ocean City and I’m preparing to call the customer when I see a report on four shootings this morning in Maryland. They were shot from long distances like a sniper. Shootings and deaths are not that unusual to see in the news but a sniper is a little different. We watch the full report and the shootings actually started last night. The assumption is it must be one perpetrator as the MO is the same in theses shootings. I can’t believe it but it’s true and it’s happening in our state.
October 7
It’s a beautiful breezy Indian Summer day when A.J. Kavanagh is born. This delivery is a little more straight forward then Joe Jr.’s. This time Kim was able to schedule a c-section and with much less ado but just as much fanfare, our second son is born. A.J. is the second son of the second son of the second son of the second son of the second son of Patrick Kavanagh, my great-great grandfather. It’s an incredible feeling when suddenly, this small baby is ours. He’s got a full head of hair and a bit more attitude then his older brother. Kim and I hold him close crying and smiling. We are as happy as we possibly could be. I can’t believe Kim has done it again. Seeing how tough a pregnancy is, I marvel at her. We begin calling people and passing on the word that A.J. is here. I call the Shop. Ann and Jack are thrilled though busy. We are getting a lot of calls. That is typical at the Joseph Kavanagh Company. If one of us is out, the phone seems to ring more.
October 10
Kim and the boys are spending a few days at my in-laws and I am back to work. Everyone is very happy for me and most of the family came to the hospital to meet A.J. It’s been a whirlwind but I am finally back to the real world. We knock out a couple of jobs for Bengies Welding and Gischel Machine on a dreary rainy day. The rain doesn’t get me down though I’m still in new Dad mode. There’s a big smile on my face which no one can remove.
October 11
After work, I drive to Woodall Street and spend the night with my family and my in-laws. One thing we’ve noticed about Baby A.J. is he absolutely loves Anthony, his Pop. Conversely, he seems to cry a lot when my mother-in-law picks him up. Anthony finds this quite amusing and he is very much attached to his young namesake. In the evening, I watch the Washington Capitals begin their 29th season in the NHL with a win and I hold A.J. through most of the game. The Caps defeat the Nashville Predators 5 – 4 and I’m hopeful the team can get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in this campaign.
October 18
It’s the end of the work week and I’m anxious to get home. Kim and the boys are back from my-laws and they are waiting for me. We finished some galvanized angles for Smitty’s Welding and a few other jobs. I’m going over these jobs in my head as I drive down Pratt Street. Suddenly, I see flashing lights behind me and it’s the police. They pull me over then check my license and ask me questions. It’s odd because I see several patrol cars pulling over other drivers. I suspect this is due to the continuing sniper attacks. These started a couple of weeks ago and now there have been six deaths. Evidently, they are checking vehicles somewhat at random. I find out the next day, Jack was also stopped and checked.
October 24
The Beltway Sniper Attacks end with the arrest of John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo. I’m watching the local news from home after work and it’s a relief. This hit pretty close to home because the attacks were all MD, DC or VA but when I got pulled over by the police, it definitely felt very real and very close.
October 27
The Anaheim Angles defeat the San Francisco Giants in game 7 of the World Series to take the championship. No teams I like or dislike were involved so I was ambivalent to the winner. I was just hoping for a good close series and that’s what we got. Though I have a more laid back approach to sports these days, I enjoyed watching with my toddler and my baby. Neither seems that interested but I like to think the baseball wisdom I am passing along will be beneficial to both of them in the future.
October 31
It’s Halloween and I’m looking forward to it. I’ll take Joe around to trick or treat and those who visit our house will get to meet the baby. At the Shop, my old friend Bob Machovec comes in to pick up. Bob’s a welder and sculptor and he makes some very cool animals from found metal parts. He’s a talented artist and a good friend. He does custom table tops and furniture too. It’s always good to see him and this time I can show him baby pictures.
November 14
I am walking to the front of the Shop after handing out job cards for Western Industrial Machine and McShane Bell Foundry. One of the perks of my job is I get a lot of walking in each day. I feel like I cover the distance from Central in the front to Eden in the back at least ten times a day. For me, it counts as my daily workout.
November 21
We are a week away from Thanksgiving which is my favorite holiday. No elaborate presents or decorating just good food, family and football. I’m sure I’m not the only one on Central Avenue whose mind is on the approaching holiday but I’m not sure anyone else loves turkey like I do. Bob Machovec comes in again to pick up some bars we rolled and we finish some set parts for Center Stage today.
November 28
It’s Thanksgiving on Woodall Street. Kim and the boys and I get to my in-laws early in the morning and the house already smells of turkey and all the trimmings. Kim’s mother Linda even makes me some parsnips to continue that Kavanagh Thanksgiving tradition. No one else eats them at the house but I feel certain some day, my boys will enjoy them. It’s our first Turkey Day with A.J. and he is the center of attention followed closely by his older brother. So far, Joe has been great with the baby. He’s very excited and seems to love being a big brother. He speaks more these days but it still usually needs to be prompted or it’s rather truncated phrases. Anthony and I watch some football and that’s always fun. Unfortunately, the Ravens season has not gone well so far. They are 5-6 and the chances of making the playoffs are pretty slim. Nevertheless, it’s a very nice holiday at Casa Dalfonzo and we all have a great day.
December 6
The brutal cold of winter is arriving early this year. It’s a Friday and a chilly one to start with temperatures down to 14 degrees last night. This is how it often is in February at the corner of Pratt and Central but it’s strange for this time of year. We do have heat and that helps but each piece of steel you touch is cold, each machine you touch is cold and every truck you load is cold. It’s not pleasant but it’s the job.
December 11
It’s a rainy chilly day at the Shop but everyone sees the end of the year approaching. We’ve taken the week off between Christmas and New Year’s for decades. It’s a tradition both Kavanagh’s and crew appreciate. Today a wide range of jobs are finished from playground parts to bent channels and pipes. After each is completed, it’s on to the next as we barrel toward the holidays.
December 20
Today is Friday and the last working day of the year. Most of the day is spent waiting for trucks and loading them. Ann, Jack and I discuss an ongoing problem. We’ve noticed on some days we have cars parked in front of the building. People park then take the bus downtown. This leaves us with a parking issue. Sometimes the alley between our two buildings is taken and we need that access. We’ve changed our hours to opening at 7:30 instead of 8 am but it hasn’t helped much. It’s something we will need to sort out in the new year. Jack suggests we consider selling the building and moving to somewhere with a parking lot. This would be a major undertaking. He’s not recommending it. He’s saying we should think about it. The three of us agree to do just that while we have some time off. It’s strange to even consider it for me. Central Avenue is our home but I’ll think about it. As soon as the last truck is loaded, we head home for our Christmas break.
December 25
It’s a cold rainy Christmas on Woodall Street. Not at all a White Christmas but a wet one and a fun one. With Little Joe and now Baby A.J., it’s as festive a holiday as I have ever had. The boys are the stars of the show. Joe knows a fair bit about Christmas now and how to handle ripping off wrapping paper but it’s new to A.J. He has a cold and spends most of the day sleeping and chewing on his binky while laying on his Pop. Anthony is happy to oblige. A.J.’s presents need to be opened by others and Joe is happy to be that person.
December 31
I spend New Year’s Eve at Charlesmont Road with my wife and my two sons. It’s been a strange year but despite the world and Joe’s issues, it’s been a good one because A.J. is here. There’s something about a baby that makes us feel both grown up yet a child again. Life seems some unique combination of complicated and yet very simple. Their happiness is suddenly all that matters. It’s all Kim and I want now but finding that happiness is the challenge. More so for Joe and it’s yet to be determined for A.J. As far as the Shop goes, it was a good year as well. It was an average year financially but good because the sixth generation came to work. These sort of milestones matter to us and always have. Paul’s fitting in well as he embarks on this life. For my father, mother, brother, sister and I, it’s as if Paul has joined an exclusive club. As far as potentially moving the Shop, I have thought about it during my week off. I think we should consider it. It might be economically impossible but we won’t know until we speak to a realtor or someone in the know. We’ll have to find someone in January. For New Year’s, Kim and I enjoy a quiet night together playing with the boys until they are asleep then we even more quietly welcome the new year. As we hoped for a better one last December 31, so it is tonight. I’m pretty sure that’s normal. We’ll do more than hope. We’ll try to make it a better year and see where the chips may fall.
George Bush is the President of the United States. The Department of Homeland Security is formed. The Iraq War Resolution is passed authorizing military involvement in the WMD process. Former President Jimmy Carter wins the Nobel Peace Prize. NASA’s Odyssey probe begins mapping the surface of Mars. Kmart and US Airways file for bankruptcy. The films “Spiderman”, “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers” are released. Rosemary Clooney, James Coburn, Ted Williams, Milton Berle and Johnny Unitas die.
There are 50 states in the Union.
To read earlier posts, click on the Table of Contents link below:
The Shop - A History of the Joseph Kavanagh Company 