To really appreciate the new shop, I think you need to see where we are coming from (sorry for ending the sentence in a preposition- it bothers me too). The old shop has a grand history and many of our customers have been with us for MANY years. When we started telling people of our plans for a new shop, we'd frequently hear "you can't tear down this shop! my grandpa came here, my daddy came here, and now I'm coming here....this place has been here FOREVER!" Forever indeed. The original owner opened up in 1954 mainly as a welding shop. He was a graduate of LeTourneau University. The current owner was also an LU graduate. Tim, as you know, is also an LU graduate. We never intended to stay here and snap up this little opportunity. Tim started working here in 2003 after we got married- just to work his way through school. Our original plan when we came down to Longview was to graduate and high tail it out of Texas! What we really wanted was to move back to WI so that Tim could work for Midwest Express. Alas, God had other plans... 9/11 happened and the airline industry wasn't what we thought it would be when we graduated. Our plan B was to move to Los Angeles so that Tim could build up some flight time with a company that he interned with. I wasn't too keen on LA, but since I knew I'd end up quiting my job once we started our family, it obvious that we should go wherever Tim's career took us. Tim was pretty set on moving to LA and he asked me to pray about it and give him an answer. The day that he wanted my answer, he came home from work and told me that Norm (the current owner) wanted to retire and sell the business to Tim! That possibility wasn't even on our radar at the time! But after prayer, it was decided that this was where God wanted us to settle...
The pictures are a little dark, but that's the old shop- dark. Dark and damp and cold.
The main shop building viewed from the back
Storage?
More storage?
One of three bays
Yep, we actually used that bathroom for many years- it was actually part of another shop that was on the property. Last year, when construction started on the new shop, this one came down but we left the bathroom intact-- complete with a tarp on the roof, it reminds me of a third world shanty. Its a mighty cold place to be in the winter :) I won't be sad when this is torn down.
The main shop building viewed from the back
Storage?
More storage?
One of three bays
Yep, we actually used that bathroom for many years- it was actually part of another shop that was on the property. Last year, when construction started on the new shop, this one came down but we left the bathroom intact-- complete with a tarp on the roof, it reminds me of a third world shanty. Its a mighty cold place to be in the winter :) I won't be sad when this is torn down.
2 comments:
Looks like a lot of Hard work payed off!! The best to you and Tim on the new shop!! TC and God's Blessings to you all.
~Mary Fischbach
These pictures look like my house before moving into it minus all the clutter. :) Wow oh wow! you are right about appreciating the new one after the old.
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