A Strange Find in the Ceiling
The Details of Another Time
I’m pretty sure that the red “MEDIUM” bulb was like the courtesy lights that turned on when the garage door was opened. The motor enclosure was all metal. No weird plastic enclosures, or circuit boards, just real physical switches, heavy gage wiring, and steel bracketry. Every component reflected the quality of a Montgomery Ward garage opener.
The terminal block had exposed screws and wires that were laid out nicely. Well thought out, serviceable, no secrets hidden under the molded plastic.
Why Did Someone Stow It Away?
Chances are, the opener was no longer of use, and rather than remove it, someone just built a wall around it. Or, they had to change the layout of the garage where the opener ended up stowed behind drywall.
Regardless, the motor sat sealed away like an artifact from its time—until now. Discovering a Montgomery Ward garage opener in such a state was like finding a piece of history.
A Sentiment for the Classic Garage Days
The sound of a garage door opener was more than just movement. It signified someone was coming or going somewhere. The thrum of a motor, and the crunching of a release mechanism were setting patterns for everyone. The Montgomery Ward screw drive was part of that pattern—the idiosyncratic, enduring, and loud.
The opener that I found was not functional anymore. However, the Montgomery Ward garage opener still remains safe, behind a wall, gently guarding our collective memory to the old days.
