This essay was shared on our Facebook page by Susie Collins. She says, "I wrote this story for an English Composition class at NMC a long, long time ago. The assignment was to interview someone and write a story about them". Thank you for sharing, Susie!
A portrait of "Father Jack", with his signature white sailor's cap and cigar (shared by Susie Collins).
In the little village of Copemish, nestled in the heart of Northern Michigan, sets an old wooden caboose that was once used by the railroad earlier in our century. The caboose sets between an old house and a small weather-beaten shed, where there are lots of tall trees and fresh green grass growing this time of the year. There's a little smoke stack coming out of the roof of this railroad car, and on cool evenings one can see smoke rolling from its tiny chimney. The eccentric gent that occupies this dwelling is known around the country-side as "Father Jack". This fellow's real name is Hubert E. Milks, but the name Father Jack has been with him since his Navy days. He tells people he acquired this nickname from his buddies in the service because of the fatherly advice he gave them.
If one strolls by, he may find this husky fellow pulling his American flag to full mast on a sunshiny morning, to honor the country he so dearly loves. He'll stop everything just to give someone his famous "thumbs up" salute. He pulls from his bald head, the white cap with "FATHER JACK" inscribed on its black brim, and says, "Thumbs up, top side, full speed ahead!" He's usually got an Odin in the corner of his mouth, and a smile dancing in his blue eyes, when he invites his guests in for a cup of "Jamoke". Sometimes he's even wearing his full-dress uniform, if it's a special patriotic day for him. The worn, dark blue jacket stretches across his bulk and he stands so proud. The gold buttons shine from this double-breasted garment, as Father Jack tells many people of the four years he spent in the U.S. Navy.
Among the many highlights of his Navy days, he talks of the eleven inland major engagements he took part in while honoring our American way. One way he put it was, "We knocked the ears off those Japs, but we got our eyebrows plucked too." He received a Purple Heart for being wounded and was released from the service in 1945. He then resumed residency in his little caboose here in Copemish.
One might see Father Jack driving his blue, four-door Dodge, on his way to give some poor old veteran a ride to town to see the doctor, or perhaps just for a shopping trip. He calls his car "Father Jack's Ark", and tells of the hundreds of miles he has put on his two "Arks" since he got out of the Navy. He feels the need to give retired veterans a helping hand, and he does it for nothing.
To show his patriotism, Father Jack originated the Mighty Mac Beachhead when the Mackinac Bridge was first built. He walks the bridge faithfully once a year, four days prior to the traditional Labor Day walk and tosses a wreath into the water in honor of all dead seamen. He hopes that one day this event will become a national and international holiday.
People have described Jack as odd, unusual, individualistic, and as a young man he was said to be agile and quick. Tales have been told how he proved his love for competition by being a semiprofessional boxer. One story went that Jack had been challenged to a boxing match with a man by the name of Frank Bupp. Prior to the match the two men were to "touch gloves" before squaring off, but to Father Jack's surprise, Frank bopped him in the nose! Jack retaliated by "cleaning Frank's clock!" Needless to say, Jack won the match in very short order.
Yes, episodes of Father Jack are quite well-known around our community and many comment on the caboose he makes his home. They wonder how he could live in such a dwelling nowadays, but Jack makes himself right at home there and has, since he first acquired the caboose in 1931. He says he used to play house in this old abandoned rail-car when he was a boy. It was unwanted, so he purchased it for only five dollars. He had it moved to its present site by a team of horses and a set of sleigh bobs, as Jack calls them. Jack feels its just right for him, and to show his allegiance to his country, he painted the interior white, and trimmed it in red and blue. He's got a bed situated at the back wall, where many times he finds his burly, black dog snoozing at its foot. Along one side is a filing cabinet, where he keeps his "credentials"; and also a small table he uses for meals and sometimes a desk, when he feels the need to write to his congressman. In the corner is a white, porcelain sink, built into a cupboard. Rising from the sink is an old hand water pump he uses to pump all his own water. Along the opposite wall is an oil burning stove, just the right size to warm the room. There's a few shelves beside the door, where Jack keeps his groceries and a three-burner gas plate for cooking. There are two chairs; one occupies a small space beside the oil stove, and the other sets at the table. One chair is used by Jack, and the other is for any of his guests who happen to stop by.
Friends come to listen to his seaman's slang or just to discuss life in general. Sometimes he gets on the subject of women, and he refers to them as "muffs". He says he's been married six times and laughs heartily when he raises some eyebrows. He says, "I've been right at the good business, yes sir!" He feels a man can conquer a nation, but never a woman. Once someone asked him if he had to pay alimony and his reply was, "They pay me alimony. I believe in this women's liberation, give women all the rights, not just equal rights, and more if we can find them." He gives advice to his male friends when one his having trouble with their muff and says, "Get yourself a new set of clothes, a new set of whiskers, a new stud-buggy, and forget that dog-fifed female. That's all water over the dam."
Along with his patriotism and talk of women, Father Jack has a strong faith in God and often quotes passages from the Bible. He says, "By faith in the Lord, I learned to look upon all adversities in my life, shattered dreams, and endless hopes, as a hidden blessing in disguise, for this is God's life and we should live it for him and not ourselves." He was asked if he attends church and replied, "I'll start going to church in the near future if the spirit hits me just right. But its more important to live the words of the Lord in action."
Father Jack refers to himself as "poor, but a millionaire in his heart." A better neighbor would be hard to find and he's certainly a familiar sight around our town. It's a pleasant sight to see him pulling his flag down as the sun is setting on the horizon in the west, ready to turn in for the evening.
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Note -- The caboose was located on a triangular parcel of property between Front, Maple, and First Streets. The property is currently owned by Steven and Elaine Gibbs.
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