| Lamp-maker shines bright Allen Green has made his mark, over many decades, as a Fredericksburg craftsman
Green, known around town as "Codger," celebrated his 81st birthday on Dec. 12. He has worked alongside son Allen Green III since 1974, creating what they feel is their legacy. It's a legacy for Fredericksburg, too. The shop is tucked away in an old brick building behind the Fredericksburg Inn on Princess Anne Street. Codger pulls up in his 1987 Lincoln "land shark." A stray cat meows and looks his way as he opens the door to a stream of sunlight. Codger was the first craftsman in downtown Fredericksburg in modern times. Later came others like Phil Chapman and Dan Finnegan. But Allen Green opened The Copper Shop before department stores like Leggett and JCPenney left downtown for Spotsylvania Mall. These days, Codger can't stand up long before his legs give out. "My legs don't work," he says. "It's hard for me to walk." At times, Codger is happy to sit by the shop window, watching his son finish the lamps or looking for friends to stop by. Many of Codger's older friends are gone now, friends from the Dominion social club that started here after World War II. Mack Janney. Jack Castles. Randy Cooper. Robert Augustine. "Robert had a stroke. And went away from here good and quick," Codger says. But Codger is still here. Still lighting up his Doral 100 cigarettes. Still drinking his Cutty Sark scotch. Still happy to work every day. "I've never considered a job as work," he said. "Work's been fun my whole life." Date published: 2/7/2005 |
