Traverse City Workshop Destroyed After Fire, Along with Priceless Cars and Antiques – 9 & 10 News – 9&10 News
Nickels’ Automotive Wooden Restoration has been repairing basic automotive our bodies since 1972 in Traverse Metropolis. Sunday morning, the workstore was destroyed in A hearth. The proprietor, Michael Nickels, and his spouse have been tenting outfacet of city As quickly as they acquired The choice.
“We acquired a name by way of our safety system that A hearth alarm had been set off Inside the store and that That they had already distributed hearth gear for this spot,” Nickels says. “We jumped in our automotive and we hustled over right here from The completely different facet of city.”
Their son woke As a lot as inform them the 8,000 sq. ft. store was on hearth.
“He acquired here by way of the door and he said the retailers on hearth, the retailers on hearth,” says Nickels. “He seemed In a single window and noticed flames Checked out ancompletely different window and noticed flames. He opens the door and tright here it went. In about 35 minutes The complete constructing was engulfed.
“By The objective we acquired right here we crossed Extreme Lake And current Road and we might see the flume of smoke And that i said honey that’s us,” he says. He says it took 42,000 gallons of water have been used to extinguish flames, and 5 completely different businesses have been referred to as in To assist.
Nickels loves his job restoring basic automotive our bodies. He’s repaired auto our bodies for over 100 basic station wagons from All by way of the place Inside the nation. He’s even carried out some high profile tasks.
Buyer automobiles have been misplaced Inside The hearth As properly as to priceless household gadgets.
“My dad’s army uniform was right here he served in World Wrestle Two Inside the South Pacific,” says Nickels. “Mom’s nurses uniform from 1928… simply can’t substitute that stuff.”
He additionally misplaced a 1947 station wagon that was Harking again to Mike’s childhood household journey out west.
“It was a tribute to my mom And pop and our historic previous. Parts from All by way of the place Inside the nation acquired here collectively to make this final product.”
Three automobiles are saved from the particles So far.
“We have been in a place pull out 3 automotives,” Nickels says. “I had a 1983 Chrysler city and nation Throughout the nook And that i might drive that one out the second factor pulled out was a 1942 army ambulance that I acquired of out of a cornfield in Iowa and restored. It’s The one One which’s left. They made Decrease than 100 of them.”
A customer’s 1953 Buick was additionally pulled out in time.
The investigation into what occurred is ongoing, although They’ve a widespread idea of what An factor of the constructing The hearth started from. Salvation Military launched groceries for the household, pals and hearthfighters on scene Through The hearth.
The Nickels household thanks everyone for the assist and hopes people will share their reminiscences in a notice or photograph for an album. Mike’s son May even be requesting donated devices so his dad can get again to doing what he loves.
“Everybody has a loss typinamey,” says Mike Nickels. “You by no means know when that’s going to happen And also you only Want to Obtain out and contact somebody. It’s a straightforward gesture.
“Be ready for the hug, be Able to get it and be Able to acquire it. We’re strong. We’ll Get back. Tright here’s no set off any of us Ought to be at Every completely different’s heels, we simply Have to love one ancompletely different.”