I couldn't wait any longer.  I knocked on the door and met the owner of the big fig tree.  A delightful lady who told me the tree is around thirty years old (her husband bought it).  1 crop of small, black figs in August.  She said it was much nicer and bigger but another tree fell on it this year.  Trunk looks to be about 4-5 inches.  She gave me a nice cutting and told me to come back and visit again.  I've told her I will be by with a winter hardy gloxiana for her garden.   
          

Hi Schaplin,
Nice find. That tree looks like suffering a bit from being in a shadowy spot .
On the third photo, it seems to me that there are root shoots . I would have taken those ... with roots already .
Next time, bring her a ladder too ... Man, how does she fetch the figs ? ... She walks on the roof ?

I've seen figs like this around here. They let them get so big there is no way to harvest the fruit. Don't understand why folks do that.

shoulda been espaliered

I'd agree with you on that one.  The lady's husband planted it 30 plus years ago and may not have given it much thought