The Original Bloomquist Garage!

[Brad B.]

Anybody that knows me knows that I am pretty proud of my garage. Well I was going through some old family pictures this weekend and found some shots of the Original Bloomquist Garage The one that put us Bloomquist's on the map...literally.



This is the original Bloomquist Garage in Lansing, Michigan. The Garage was run by my Grandfather, Axel Seigfreid Bloomquist. My father was born in this house in 1933. This was still the depression era and this business as well as other sidelines supported the family for many years.

Look at the shine on that car! (Anyone know what that is?)


Axel, or Al as his friends knew him, was quite a guy. He was a decorated World War I veteran, moose hunter, mechanic, and above all...car lover!

When my Dad was a kid Grandfather did some hauling on the side with a large red dumptruck. It was all chrome covered and perfect. He washed it every week. My Dad said he even used to wax the INSIDE of the bed so it wouldn't rust. Does that sound familiar, fellow Autopians? He used to collect kids from school and "dump" them off at home!

In the 1950's the family moved to a much larger house with a huge garage that held the dumptruck as well as sevaral cars. It had a loft with office, electricity, workshop, etc. I am hoping to find pictures of this garage and post them, too.

The Blue Crown cabinet and the Veedol grease can (still full of grease) are items from the garage in Michigan that I brought with me and installed in my garage.


I even have a blank Bloomquist Garage customer invoice from 1932 framed on my wall. It's something I will cherish forever. Although I don't have a business, I am proud to carry on the family tradition of love of all things automotive in my Bloomquist Garage

[Redcar GUY]

Cool

[bjwebster]

Thats Awesome!

[bretfraz]

My grandfather too was a mechanic for almost his entire life. But he never owned a shop or had a substantial business. He either worked for others or did work at his home garage. I never recall him having a "normal" job other than being a mechanic.

Since he never owned a shop there are no significant mementos I could obtain as you have. You're very lucky to have charming little keepsakes to remind you of your family's heritage. Enjoy them, you're a lucky guy.

[bizzy928]

Great stuff

[SergC]

Great !

[edschwab1]

Keep the tradition alive.

Eric

[geekysteve]

That is very cool, Brad! One of my great regrets in life is that I never spent time with my grandparents - I had no idea what they did with their lives until I was sitting at their funerals...

Luckily, my sister got into geneology (sp?) and has put together a very interesting book about our family history. Turns out that my great grandfather is a relative of BF Goodrich - who'd have guessed it??

[FredsZ3]

Thanks for the post. Your reflections brought back memories of my family. I remember seeing photos of my Grandfather in his machinest shop. Like yours, my Grandfather did jobs for everyone in town. He had a Dodge panel truck(1950's) that had his slogan on the side. "Let Frankie Fix It" Of course he fixed everything from push lawnmowers to furnaces to washing machines and some car maintenance. Everyone in town(small town in Maine) knew my Grandfather. I too have a couple items that belonged to my Grandfather. His pocket knife and a homemade cribbage board. Like the commercial says.....they are priceless!!!

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Sweet pics... where in Lansing is that at? Might swing by and see what the area is like now, snap a few digital pics for ya.. Judging by what I can see I would say its either in on the West side of lansing, or the south side (seen quite a few houses similar to that in those areas)

My family were restaurant owners around that same time period here in Lansing (greeks). They had a couple different one, but I think the one that was around the longest was "Palador Cafe" (I think?) of course its no longer there.

Just always interesting to see this kind of stuff... amazing how small the world is! (you know, 6 degrees of separation)

[Brad B.]

I'll have to get the address from my Dad. I know the "new" big garage he moved into in the '50's was on S. Cedar St. I went there every year to visit Grandma Grandpa took me to the Spartan Speedway once! Good times.

[DavidB]

That's it, Brad... I'm transfering Autopia to you. I'm not worthy!