Breakfast with Herb & Mike

From building a bookcase at a young age to tackling major projects together, Mike and Herb’s relationship evolved through hard work and shared experiences. Whether it was hanging steel siding or dealing with unexpected accidents, their bond grew stronger, marked by accomplishments, challenges and countless memories. The journey of breakfast with Herb and Mike continues...

Mike: When I was growing up it seemed like you always had a construction project going. You built the house we lived in – although I was too young to remember that one – but then you built a camp for us on the lake at Point Au Roche. But the projects I remember most are the ones you did for business – the redo of 55 – 63 Bridge Street, Macdonough Street and finally multiple ones on the Base.

Herb: I remember a construction project you did for me. Do you?

Mike: I do. Your birthday was coming up and I wanted to make you a bookcase for the books you always had on the floor next to your chair. I must have been seven or eight at the time. I found some boards in the garage and nailed them together, but the top board was so long it bowed when you loaded the books on it. I think it was then I decided I was a Carpenter, but not a carpenter.

Herb: Your love was really sports, especially hockey — and you were good at it.

Mike: I did love to play hockey, but my love of the game and my talent didn’t match up. I knew early on I couldn’t make a career out of it, but I continued to play until just a few years ago. By then we were working together and you were teaching me things I never imagined I could do.

When we bought the old dining hall on the Base it needed a lot of work. We subcontracted some of it, but you and I did a lot together. When it was time for our first expansion, we added 20,000 square feet of warehouse space. That was when Larry Jeffords (owner of Jeffords Steel) taught us how to hang steel siding. We hired a guy with a crane, Larry drew up plans and explained what we needed to do. One day you weren’t there so I decided to go ahead with the crew. When we got to a corner, I didn’t think the next piece of steel looked right, so I went through the piles and picked one that looked like a better fit. We kept on working, but when we got to the next corner, I realized we had a problem. Rather than call you, I called Larry. He came over and figured out what was wrong. “Take it all down, back to where you deviated from the plans I gave you and start over – and this time follow my directions,” he said. Lesson learned. Engineers know what they’re doing. Don’t try to out think them.

Herb: If we’re talking about lessons learned, do you remember the fire we started when we were installing a rubber roof on our main building on the Base?

Mike: Yes, but I don’t remember how it happened?

Herb: We had opened a portion of the roof and were using a torch to heat the asphalt. We heated it all right. In a short time, there were four or five fire trucks spraying water on the roof and on us.

Mike: The project I will never forget is the one where you shot yourself in the hand with a nail gun. You were working alone and accidentally discharged a 16-penny nail. You called Mary and calmly told her you were going to be a little late coming home. Then you admitted what had happened. She called me and we met you at the ER. We assumed they would cut the nail off and pull out the pieces, but that’s not what happened. We should have known it was going to be more complicated when a guy walked into the exam room carrying a tool box. The doctor ordered us to wait in the hall and a few minutes later we heard a terrible scream. They had pulled the nail out using pliers.

Herb: I remember that like it was yesterday.

Mike: While we talk about the funny and risky things we’ve done, we need to recognize all we’ve accomplished – four major remodeling projects, 19 apartments, three additions, two tear downs, and two new constructions. I wasn’t a part of all of them, but I have been part of the ones over the past 25 years. During that time, you’ve taught me a great deal.

Herb: Michael, working with you has been the icing on the cake for me.