Continuing the story of Alfred NY’s amazing “Alex”
by Chrystal Dodge, pictured with her beloved Mia
I knew of Dr. Mildred Alexandra Miller Landis (“Alex”), but had never met her in person until 1989 when she was 87. I had lost my husband to cancer and started a pet sitting business called TIP TOP PETS. I went to peoples’ homes when they were away to care for their animals and sometimes simply to check on their house, garden, birdfeeders, and whatever. Growing up on a farm with animals all my life, this seemed ideal. Alex called and wanted me to come to her house. She had adopted an old English sheep dog from the SPCA and named him Oush. She had tried in vain to find his original owners. She looked me over and I must have passed, as she asked me to walk Oush every Sunday morning. However, what really got me in good standing was that Oush loved me, and Alex trusted him. She had stopped driving due to macular degeneration and I think she was a little lonely up on that hilltop as she would think up things to keep me longer when I went, like sharing clam chowder straight from New England, etc.
There was a limited access road beyond her house and it was ideal for walking Oush. The trees on both sides filtered the sun as birds sang their morning songs and squirrels scampered about. I felt like I got my life back here, in the solitude, after my husband’s passing. Alex asked me if I would straighten the stand (which now held books, magazines, plants and vegetables in season) when I was in the village. It soon became a ritual when I was in town. A few weeks later she asked me to go to various libraries to pick up books that had been removed from shelves to make room for new ones, and which they would give her. I came back with a carload. After one look, she asked, “Do you have room in your garage? Mine is too small.” That was the beginning of my habit of storing everything for the stand in my garage, where for years there wasn’t room for my car. My son, Brian built bookcases all along one wall of my garage. It was soon packed with books.
It became a part of my job when I was in the village to straighten the stand and add books. A few years later, Alex said, “I am going to give you the key. Would you pick up the money for me?” Hazel had passed but I don’t remember the year. A year passed and Alex said, “I’m going to put you on the bank account so you can deposit the money.” She handed me a briefcase with information and the checkbook so I could record the balance. This clever lady had turned this stand over to me, one small task at a time and I never realized what she was doing. She knew I would keep it going after she was gone.
At first the money went to the SPCA, but the spaying and neutering became so necessary. It started helping with that and eventually for surgery and vet care. Many of the pet owners who were helped were senior citizens on fixed incomes and their pet was their family. Most were in tears when the stand helped with vet bills, and I found it curious that there was always money when it was needed. I explained it wasn’t from me, but from the good people who put their pennies, nickels and dimes in the box to help animals.
One morning I found Alex in tears and asked, “Alex what is wrong?” “She replied, “My heart was acting up last night. I have made my plans but have nothing for Oush.” I told Alex I would take him in a heartbeat. She wiped her tears and said, “You would? I’ll make that known.”
I had worked for Alex for eight years when at 95 she became ill and called asking me to come get Oush. She said, “He is just laying under my bed and is not having any fun.” I brought him home and in a day or two offered to take him to see her but she refused. She did ask a friend who visited her in the hospital to stop and say goodbye to Oush. The friend didn’t stop but told me later. Alex passed away March 1, 1998. A reporter said, “The body of Mildred Alexandra Landis gave out before her spirit did.”
Alex had left me with this stand, and I thought there should be some checks and balances on the money. I could go on vacation and use all of it, but of course I would not. I called friends for a meeting at my house and convinced them to be secretary, treasurer and so forth. The organization was complete. Well, this lasted only a short time because people moved, passed away, or became otherwise occupied. It was just me again and it continued this way for the next 25 years I cared for the stand.
After I retired from TIP TOP PETS, the stand became my passion and my purpose. It is not as easy as people think. People are messy and to keep it neat and organized required me to go every day. I have always been curious about yard and estate sales and started picking up items for the stand. They disappeared fast and it became a realization that people really liked these things. It wasn’t long until it was evident what they liked best: candles, glass, colorful things, jewelry, knickknacks, small metal cars, old cameras and clocks to mention a few.
A wide variety of people stop at the stand, including students (from many countries) and people from neighboring towns. Everything seemed to find a new home. There were only three things they would not take: Readers Digest condensed books, bibles, news magazines, and eventually VHS tapes (but folks were always after CDs and DVDs). I used money from the stand to purchase garage sale items, but people put in much more than I paid! This yard sale thing is addictive and soon I got Barbara Hardy and Regina Burke addicted as well. We climbed into barns and outbuildings to find the best bargains and developed a spiel to explain what we were doing. People got to know us and would reduce the price or want to donate; sometimes they would want to give us what was left. Someone once said of the stand, “If you want something and wait long enough, it will be here.” I started collecting the money every day so people wouldn’t realize there was money in the box. When Barbara passed, her son and daughter-in-law from Corning took up the challenge and often arrived on weekends with things for the stand.
I met two people at the stand one day who decided I needed a shelf (or perhaps I hinted, “I need a shelf.”) JR Gayhart came back first and built a perfect shelf. He is a special person who wouldn’t take any money. I tried to keep him supplied with his favorite western paperbacks.
The people in town were very protective of the stand. When someone would leave rusty, dirty or moldy things, they would be outraged. If someone took things and walked away with no deposit, they were very upset and would report what car they were driving, etc. I always thought that folks gave what they could when they could. I often found people would take things and over time would then put in a five, ten or twenty. They soon learned if you wanted something and had no money, take it and pay later as it would be gone when you returned.
*Editors Note: This is part one of a four-part series to be published on weekly with the keen assistance longtime Alfred resident Joan Schulze
Read Part 1 of “The Stand” if you missed it:
