I was born in Central Michigan. Son and Grandson of men that fixed it themselves. I don't remember a time when if something need fixed or built Dad didn't do it himself. I remember when I was very young pestering Dad as he worked on a car in the drive way.
I remember the first major project we worked on together. My Mother needed a dependable car, Dad couldn't afford a new one, it was 1956 and insurance adjusters didn't make all that much. Dad bought two nearly new 1956 Oldsmobile 88's, two! Of course there were two little problems! One had rear-ended a truck and there was nothing resembling a car ahead or the front seat. The other one had been a victim, it had been rear-ended and nothing was useable behind the front seat. Dad had a friend with a shop and we would go over there nights and work at stripping those two cars. When every thing useable was stacked in a corner the two cars were sent to a body shop where they were cut into four pieces and welded back together.
When the "New Car" was returned to the shop, Dad and I would go over there as often as possible. I knew that my job at 7, nearly 8, wasn't to rebuild the "car" but rather to call for help if anything happened as it was often just the two of us. Dad did humor me and teach me what he could. What I did learn was a love of tools and an independent do it your self spirt. I also learned the value of a large heated garage, Central Michigan is cold in January and February, often very cold. When the car was working every thing had finally been reconnected front to rear, it was time to prepare for paint, one end was red and the other blue. One night when Dad had real help I was handed a socket and ratchet and told to take off the front bumper, o' ya, sure.
I had been watching and learning. When I couldn't budge the bolts I quietly got a "persuader" a piece of pipe slid over the ratchet to provide more leverage. There is always more than one way! After removing three of the four big bolts, I got the nut off the last one. I couldn't get the bolt out. Telling Dad my problem he said hit it with a hammer and handed me one as he walked by. The last thing I heard was Dad bragging to his friend that I got one, then I hit the bolt as hard as I could. Crud came down in my eyes and 250 pounds of classic Oldsmobile bumper came down on top of me. It took both of them to get that thing off me. I was as proud of my bruises as Mother was of her "New Car!" Dad and his friend changed that night, never again would they tell me to do something they didn't want me to do.
We moved to the farm two years later. Behind the house was the original wood shed, it was heated and had a good floor this became Dad's shop, I learned to use power tools in that shop. We needed a horse trailer and it was to big to build in Dad's shop so Dad enlisted the help of his/my cousin Elton who had a commercial welding shop. Working nights and week ends, helping Elton when we could, we built a great trailer, the year was 1959, I was 11. Both my Grandfathers helped. That trailer sits over at Eric's, my son, he used it last weekend.
Over the years Dad would rebuild two more cars at home with my two little brothers, Joe and Tom. The woodworking projects were constant, my little brothers know their way around tools! Joe sells them. Tom writes programs that make them work.
Until he retired Dad never had the shop he wanted, but he made up for it. Their retirement home had a large single car garage, but Mom wanted to park the car inside and Dad wanted more space! The answer was a 32 X 52 foot Pole building west of the house and garage. Not only an incredible shop, but it has a bath with shower, a full kitchen, power and water hook-ups for the kids campers and motor homes.
Mom feeds the masses of family and friends out of that kitchen, she did her canning out there, she uses it as much as Dad, swimmers use it to shower and change. When I left there 10-11-07 It held two large boats, a camper, several trailers, a tractor, picnic tables and all their lawn and lake toys, along with everything else, Tom, Joe, and Shirlie didn't want at their homes until spring. Alas even some stuff from Jack's estate.
Dad's shops have always been a bounding and learning experience. Indeed Dad taking me to the woodshed was never the scare old jokes imply!
Dad's shop is for sale! Mom will throw in a neat two bedroom home and garage. Also included are five lake lots to hold it all. Do you have a retirement project? Do you have a Grand kid/s that need the special experience of getting your hands dirty together and accomplishing some thing with Grandpa?
Bill
William J Archambault Jr
The Real Estate Investment Institute
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