MARYSVILLE COWBOY IS NO RHINESTONE - PURE GOLD HE BE!

Jim Sullivan - Sullivan' s Saddlery

 My neverending quest to discover and share Marysville Gold with all of me readers, has taken me to the shop of a local cowboy.  Was pointed in this direction by Ethel, Candy Box, and told in no uncertain terms; "There is a story there..."

How true.

I was desperate to do a filmed bit on Jim Sullivan, but being limited by time restraints of YOUTUBE, felt that the telling of this story would not be done justice.  I had always planned to do a 'hard' story, but the more I gave a think on, the more I was sure that no filmed bit could possibly cover all of the 'gold' found on my visit to this local shop.

My plan is to place a filmed bit on YOUTUBE 'suggesting' that folks give their eyes a real treat and read for a change.  I do so hope that one and all will pick up on the blatant effort on me part to get more folks to discover what I have.

Horseshoes planted in pavement

 Where do I begin?  Might be best to start at the beginning and see where me story takes you.

Jim Sullivan be a real live American Cowboy.  No cardboard cutout, no dimestore variety, no rhinestone version.  Jim Sullivan be the real deal.

At 63, Jim is the father of 5, husband to a lovely lady for 31 years and the proud owner of his own saddle making business.

Jim has been doing business in Downtown Marysville for over two decades.  During that time, he has watched the fortunes of "High Street" ebb and flow with the economic tide.  Being a concerned business owner, Jim has served as a leader of the Downtown Merchants Association and given freely of his time and lucre to promote Marysville, business, youth organizations and other worthwhile causes in the community.

Old Bench Saved

 As a youth, Jim delivered milk, as a young man he rode in rodeos.  For over two decades he toiled 6 days a week to serve his customers.

You may well say that Jim Sullivan is part of the  Dream that be America.  A product of what Small Town America does best.  Providing a good and decent man who believes in his country, his community and never loses faith in either.

If you were to be in Downtown Marysville any given morn, you would see Jim drive up and open his shop.  The very first thing he does is to place a flag on the pavement in front of his shop.  Some days it is the emblem of our country, holidays for sure, but most times it is the flag that pays tribute to the men and women who give service to our country.

Mural to Beautify Downtown

Jim is a quiet man, not taken to drama, and the simple noble task of placing the flag is his quiet way of showing honour on a daily basis, to the many who have given so much for this country.

Jim is responsible for the rather colourful mural on side of his shop.

He also placed a 'Time Capsule' in the pavement in front of shop some time back.  Local newspaper, a few coins, business cards.

Jim is all about merchants helping one another and this old geezer has seen him do that.  He has no fear in getting to know who his neighbours be.

Past Glory Honours Future Faith in Downtown

 If one wants to know, really know, about Marysville, one would be hard pressed to find a more engaging source of information.  Jim is very hands on shop keeper.  He loves to chat with customers, share his knowledge and hear what folks have to say.  He likes dealing with his punters so much that he rescued an old bench and fixed it up and placed right outside door to shop.  Jim and his employees have been know to sit there, doing a hat cleaning or just taking in the sights and sounds of the road.

It is on the pavement that I have had many chats with, never failing to come away more the wiser and richer for the chat.

Craftsmanship to be Found in Leather

On one such visit, I had Jim tell me the most interesting story.

Some years back, Jim received a call from a 13 year old boy.  The boy was in the market for a new saddle.  He wanted the best hand made saddle to be found local.  He thought of Sullivan's Saddlery and wanted to know how much such a saddle would cost.

Jim told the boy that it would be $3000.00, requiring a deposit of $500.00 to start the work.  The young lad thanked Jim for his time and rang off.

A few days later, the young lad rang back and asked if it would be OK if he paid the deposit in cash.  Jim said it would.  The young man showed up at the shop with a brown bag containing the $500.00 in a combination of small bills.  His chore money earned.

Jim set about making the saddle.

Some weeks past and Jim received another telephone.  This time, from the parents of the young boy.  They told Jim that the rest of the money owed was had, but that if Jim did not mind, they, the parents, would put into bank and write a check.

Years pass, Jim receives a call from the young boy, now 17 years of age.  He is in the market for another excellent saddle and wants Jim to make him an even finer saddle.

Fine craftsmanship appreciated, satisfied customer and a local business still ready and willing to deliver another hand-made product.  Please tell me, dear reader, that you see the magic in this story.

Jim Sullivan has a website, www.sullivanssaddlery.com.  You will note that his product has been much appreciated by some very famous personages.  I have no doubt that the young chap I told you of, would be the highest compliment to be had.

Times are hard, there be many merchants on "High Street" in Marysville who may not survive.  Sullivan's Saddlery will.  In part, because Jim and his employees never tire of what they do.  In larger measure, due to Jim being the perfect shop keeper.  He loves what he does and it shows.  More's the pity that more merchants on "High Street' do not see being in shop as a pleasure and not a prison sentence.  One has to go out and get the customers.

A visit to Sullivan's Saddlery is always an adventure.  One is greeted warmly by clerks, and the nose is over-whelmed by the intoxicating smell of leather.  Be it from the belts, boots or saddles, there is no doubt that you have entered an establishment that uses the finest materials to create real works of art for the local cowboy or cowgirl.

There is something for everybody.  From the collectables to repair of hats to the 'sales' to be found, it is clear that Jim and his staff want one to 'find' whatever tickles the fancy.

Just inside the front door be a coffin.  On ordinary coffin, but one that was used on the set of the long running telly programme "Gunsmoke".  Am told that many foreign visitors bed to have picture taken in front of.

I started this post drawing attention to the fact that Jim Sullivan is an American Cowboy.  I am reminded of a favoured quote about cowboys;
"Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time."

I have no doubt that Jim Sullivan had indeed lived an honourable life.  In so many ways.

You who be 'au fait' with old geezer know that I am not the sort to need a saddle (mind, I do ride), or favour jeans and cowboy shirts in wardrobe.  Were I to put on a cowboy hat, one would never think this old geezer a vision of 'cowboy', more 'gay caballero' would be the thought of most who saw.  It is OK, I know who I be and how I come across.

I got the feeling in chatting with Jim Sullivan, that nothing gets past him.  He is a keen observer of life and have no doubt there is not much he has missed.  This old geezer did nothing but act as usual in chatting with Jim.  From word "Hello", I knew that Jim was open to meeting another neighbour in Marysville and had not allowed his opinion to be clouded.

My dears, there will be some who will find these comments a bit out of place.  Truth be told, I think it be a true measure of Jim.  One so oft hears how 'small minded' small town folks be.  Rubbish.  If you live life with an open heart, you have no need to treat folks met on the road of life with grief.  What I may be, and I be much, Jim took at face value and allowed self to share his love of Marysville.  Were that all met local could be so big of heart.

One day, Jim Sullivan reached into a drawer and came out with a ball cap, one with the name of his shop upon it.  He gifted MOI with it.  Jim Sullivan, a most honourable man, honoured me in a very quiet way.

There's an old saying, that Cowboys live poor and die rich. I am more inclined to think it's the Cowboy's definition of wealth that makes him what he is.  I am the richer for having met Jim Sullivan, Marysville would be the poorer without.  Truth be told,  I doubt Jim Sullivan has ever done anything 'poorly'.

There be two horseshoes planted in the pavement in front of Sullivan's Saddlery.  I am not a big believer in luck, feeling that one is architect of own luck.  Mind, crossing the pavement and entering Jim Sullivan's shop might well be the beginning of the luckiest shopping experience to be had in Downtown Marysville.

Downtown Landmark for Decades

Famous Telly Coffin