Joe Smallbone was a true Fenton original.
He lived from 1911 to 1985 in Fenton, and was known as a free spirit who lived life his own way.
Notable for his unwashed appearance and his habit of riding his bicycle around Fenton, Joe was also hailed as an electronics genius who was able to fix any radio, TV, or gadget the townspeople brought to him.
Although he kept to himself and avoided most people, Joe Smallbone knew everything that was going on in Fenton, to the point where it was rumored he had bugged the city. Former Fenton mayor Leo Weigant said, "He was probably the biggest gossip I knew in Fenton. He had a pipeline of about 20 people," including Weigant himself.
After his death, Joe's neighbors were protective of his legacy, taking to the editorial pages to speak up in support of their eccentric friend. What's your favorite Joe Smallbone story?
Original source can be found here.
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