Talk about a desire property.
For two several years, Vietnam veteran Tom Garvey promises to have lived in a self-created condominium concealed inside of Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium. Garvey, now 78, says he secretly refurbished an empty concession stand inside the previous property of the Phillies and Eagles.
“I was like a kid with a Willy Wonka golden ticket,” he explained to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Garvey particulars his experiences — getting non-baseball hits in the dugout, halftime events, and run-ins with Philly athletics legends like Tug McGraw and Julius Erving — in his 188-webpage reserve, “The Solution Condominium: Vet Stadium, a surreal memoir,” which was published in December.
He stated he labored at the stadium sophisticated parking a lot by way of a organization owned by his uncles. Through that task, Garvey gained an workplace at the Vet and keys to an obscure entrance to the stadium.
Across from his place of work — out in remaining industry — was an unused 60-foot-by-30-foot concession stand. Garvey tricked it out with all the comforts he could: a bed, sink, fridge, espresso maker and scorching plate. Leftover AstroTurf made for a good carpet. Functions ended up a hit — such as with the wives of Eagles players, who ended up ready for their husbands.
“We’d put tunes on the stereo and have a consume,” he stated. “The husbands would join their wives and have a beer, and then the large amount visitors would pull out and we’d get their cars and have evening meal.”
Garvey was watchful about his key digs, never taking or making it possible for shots, nevertheless the Inquirer corroborated his story with many people today.
Not that there weren’t clues he was obtaining a minor far too comfy within just the confines of Veterans Stadium. A Phillies doubleheader, extended late into the night time by rain, made for a puzzling scene for remaining enthusiasts.
“There have been significantly less than 200 folks scattered about,” he stated. “They didn’t want to know why I was there in a bathrobe and flip flops, they just wanted to know exactly where I obtained a scorching cup of espresso since the concession stands shut several hours back.”
As all fantastic issues do, Garvey’s time in his clandestine condominium arrived to an end in 1981 when his uncles’ contract with the stadium plenty ended.
The stadium was torn down in 2004, and along with it any tangible evidence his key hideout existed. That would seem to be Ok with Garvey, who received just what he essential from the condominium right after returning from war.
“I’d been so busy for so several decades when I came house and this gave me the option to put items in standpoint,” he reported of his time residing in Veterans Stadium. “I identified it to be therapeutic. It was a position in which I went inside of myself and uncovered some peace.”