Mack’s Garage closed after almost 60 years
Published 4:03 pm Monday, January 31, 2011
- This home-made contraption stands in the back lot of Mack’s Garage in Fultondale, which is closing after almost 60 years in business. This invention was used to raise cars off the ground so that workers could operate underneath them, and is made from recycled railroad trusses and telephone poles.
Mack’s Garage in Fultondale has closed after almost 60 years of business.
It was owned by long-time Fultondale City Council member W.J. Alexander, and the most recent owner was his son, Dennis Alexander. He inherited it when W.J. developed cancer in 2005.
“The only thing he ever did wrong was smoke,” Alexander said of his father. “And you can just work so dadgum much that you work yourself to death. But he didn’t enjoy anything like he enjoyed working in that garage.”
Dennis was planning on giving the garage to one of his sons, Bryan or Austin, before the business was forced to close due to financial problems.
W.J. ran the business while serving as a city councilman for Fultondale for almost 40 years. Alexander said Mack’s kept his father very busy, which may be why he never ran for mayor.
“He went through a bunch of mayors. I think he started with Belcher, and went through Allwood and Parks…” he said. “I think he knew that if he took a mayor’s position that it would set him back at the garage.”
The building was demolished on Monday.
