Don Lawler Garage
Mechanic, Stockcar Racer
Don Lawler - Garage Article 1977
NEW IPSWICH - Don Lawler's Garage in New Ipswich offers quality service for all automotive needs. Under the direction of Lawler, an experienced mechanic with 30 years experience in automotive repair and service, the garage on Wheeler Rd. is equipped with a complete line of mechanical services for your car.
The garage, with two bay areas and one lift, services all makes and models of cars and trucks. The station specializes in general automatic transmission work and also offers road service, towing and snow plowing.
Assisting Lawler with the garage duties is Reginald Withee who is employed as a full-time mechanic at the garage.
Lawler's Garage is also designated official inspection station No. 1666. If your vehicle doesn't meet the inspection requirements, then Lawler's can offer the repair work and car accessories necessary for your vehicle to meet the sticker standards.
Lawler opened his business in New Ipswich in 1971 after working for many years at other automotive service stations. "I worked hard for other people and decided it was time to work forservide at myself," Lawler notes.
Quality workmanship and mechanical know-how are characteristic of the service at Lawler's Garage which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8-12.
Lawler, who has nine children, has been a resident of New Ipswich for the last 25 years and is assisted in the business by his wife, Mary, who handles the bookkeeping chores.
Call the garage at 878-2123 visit the New Ipswich locatiom and let the people at Lawler help you keep your vehicle top running condition through friendly and efficient service.
Boston Post Cane Recipient (2021)
Don lived to be 101 (Oct 6, 1923 - Nov 7, 2024).
ASHLEY SAARI Monadnock Ledger-Transcript Published: 10/27/2021 11:28:56 AM
Longtime area resident Don Lawler of Jaffrey has been presented with the town's Boston Post Cane, honoring him as the town's oldest man. Presenting the cane has been a tradition in many New Hampshire towns since 1909, when Boston Post publisher Edwin Grozier gifted 700 towns in New England with ebony canes with gold caps, instructed to be given to the town's oldest citizen. Lawler, who turned 98 earlier this month, is Jaffrey's latest recipient. Lawler is a recent transplant to Jaffrey, having only moved into town and into a smaller home a few years ago, but he didn't move far - he and his wife Mary were 40-year residents of Sharon, and he worked for many years as a mechanic at his own garage in New Ipswich. Mary said he once told her that the day he turned 65, he would retire. He apparently thought that enough notice, Mary joked, and he was true to his word, despite not bringing up the subject of his retirement again after that. "The morning he turned 65, he said, 'I'm closing the garage," she said. "That's how uncomplicated he is. He had his mind made up to do it, and he did." Don didn't just love engines at work. He made it a longtime hobby, too, as a stock car racer, "I raced everywhere I could find a track," he said. "Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts - I did that for 20 years. I like speed. My wife says I still do." Mary ruefully echoed that sentiment, saying that her husband is still able to drive, and often jokes when he's shuttling them around that he's "Driving Ms. Daisy" and he still maintains a bit of a lead foot. The Lawlers raised a large family. Don had nine children with his first wife before her passing, and when he married Mary in 1976, he also took on the three children from her first marriage. Between them now, they have more than 100 descendants, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "I can't tell you he's famous he's just a great man to know. I can't tell you how many people just really like him," Mary said. "He never was president of anything, but he did the best of anything he did and supported a big family, and is just a good person. Everyone loves him, and he has extraordinary strength, courage and will." For his birthday this month, one of Don's granddaughters gifted him a $98 gift card to McDonald's a follow-up to last year's gift of $97 to Home Depot. Mary noted when he called to thank her for the gift, he teasingly noted that he's waiting to see what she'll do when he reaches 100.
New Ipswich Historical Society Cleanup Team
A group of septuagenarians cleanup after tree pruning
John Rosenfelder, Carl Toko, Rick Blanchette, Jack Klein and John Poltrack chipped brush on Wednesday, March 20, 2025. Spring cleanup chores.
James Roger Diaries Entries - 1909
March 17th 1909 (Wednesday)
Snow in morning and occasional flurries during the day, wind westerly. David fixing up in carriage house, and helping Willard_Lonie in afternoon. I cleaned up wood shed and will sell tickets tonight at Ladies Entertainment in Union Hall. Sold 100 tickets receipts: $1500. The drama was fairly well staged.
March 18th 1909 (Thursday)
Frost cold north west wind. David fixing his team, also hearse house door, went to Chandler’s shop for some fittings in forenoon, and to Greenville for grain in afternoon, also Hamish’s bag and letter from him. Mother and David cleared up closet in David’s bedroom. I took leaves, lime and shells to hen house.
March 19th 1909 (Friday)
Frosty, wind north west to west. Warming up during day, snow melting and roads muddy. David took democrat wagon apart to paint. Mr. Bucknam took him in afternoon to help dig a grave for Mr. Greenman who died last night. Got pc from Hamish. There has been changes in night shift. Byron resigned and Shea installed in his place.
March 20th 1909 (Saturday)
Snow during night, cloudy day wind N to NW. David finished Greenman’s grave in morning and helping Lonie in afternoon. Got letters from Alice and Hamish. Mr. Bucknam’s horse fell with hearse.
March 21st 1909 (Sunday)
Frost, fine bright day with cool NW wind to W. Mr. Peacock preached from text “ In Patience Possess yes your soul”. S.S. after 10 present. C.E. topic Pilgrim’s Progress. Leader Miss Taylor. 20 present. Fine aurora.
March 22nd 1909 (Monday)
Hard frost 20 degrees. Bitter cold, north wind all day. David teaming wood from mountain to chair shop. I walked to Greenville, and got hair cut, laundry, alcohol, &c. Wrote to Jessie and May.
March 23rd 1909 (Tuesday)
Hard frost cold north winds. David choring round paint democrat &c. I lit lamps in cyphers incubators, and fixed Hall for lecture tonight on the Whirlwind of the Century by Rec’d (?) E.C.E. Dori0n from the state Grange. Got letter from brother Bob and one from May tonight.
Gas Pumps
We get questions. Someone asked if there were ever gas pumps on Main Street. Not sure about that but there were gas pumps on Turnpike Road in front of Fennia Market (which is now the New Ipswich Market).
275th Celebration Events
Saturday - March 29, 2025 - 11AM - 2PM
Register by March 25th from this link on the Town Website.
Chili cook off
2025 is the 275th anniversary of the founding of New Ipswich! There will be town events and celebrations throughout the year and this first one is coming right up. If you have the perfect chili recipe and want to enter it to win $100, bragging rights and your place in Town history, then register today and we look forward to seeing you on March 29th. Use the QR code above to enter. (Only New Ipswich residents can enter their chili, but anyone and everyone is very welcome to come and eat lunch and judge).
Now about those old guys clearing brush. I’ll bet they had a grand time doing it and especially involving a big, bright, deafeningly loud, and violent machine to operate. Their inner lumberjacks must have been assuaged. The cold fresh air and exercise and sense of accomplishment is good.
My father Toivo Kangas (1922-2000) liked nothing better in his later years than clearing away brush. He was so enamored of this activity that he would seethe with frustration upon driving around Town on errands and seeing brush not cleared away. Even fallen trees upon wild land were not spared. They drove him nuts. “Someone should clear that up!” We had to yell at him to keep his eyes on the road. When at one point he lived near a grove of trees he’d groom the forest so beautifully; it looked like a park.
When I was a kid I used to walk up from our house on Ashby Road with gas cans to Lawlers garage as Don had a gas ⛽️ pump there and he’d sell me gas. I was only 15 and remember Reggie Withie also and knew him well as we had the same motorcycles and he taught me a lot. He was a helicopter mechanic when he was in the Army. But I used to also just go up and hang out at the garage and watch the guys working on the vehicles. Don was always really nice and didn’t seem to mind. That garage seems to attract the Moran boys to this day as my dad would stop by there and on Thursdays, my brother Billy stops in to say to Bret and the guys.