Help Michael After The Fire
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Help Michael And His Family After A Tragic Fire Destroyed His Business
It is all gone. Michael Hedges lost his furniture maker's woodshop, a collection of heritage tools and all equipment in the arson fire on Monday night in downtown Olympia, leaving him without a means for livelihood.
The fire destroyed A 100-year-old warehouse where Michael moved just a few months ago from his garage as his business was just beginning to grow into something that could support him and his family, including his 7 year-old-twin girls.
Witnesses saw towering flames up to 30 feet in the air while firefighters fought the blaze for an hour and a half before bringing it under control. Crews also fought to keep the heat from reaching a fuel shop and several propane tanks nearby, and power crews rushed in to deactivate electrical lines next to the warehouse. The building also housed two other local businesses: Magic Kombucha and Acme Fuel Company.
Thankfully, no one was physically harmed in the fire, although all of us who care about Michael are devastated and heartbroken.
Preliminary damage estimates are $350,000 for the building and $500,000 for the contents, officials said.
Among the things lost were a completed project that took 3 weeks’ worth of labor and was slated to ship a few days later. Had just brought in some of his unfinished pieces from his days at Evergreen to finish, including a China hutch. He also lost materials for an upcoming project.
But perhaps saddest of the losses were a collection of heirloom tools passed on by Michael’s mentor.
He shares, “A year ago my mentor, Madeline Morgan, gave to me the most impressive and generous gift...this collection of tools, a collection that she had built over her career as both a furniture maker and a teacher. It is an impressive collection and an incredibly generous gift in the way of stuff. However, it was much more than that. This gift was a symbol of a great craftspersons trust and belief in me. It is a physical connection to not only her, but other woodworkers, of varying trades, in diverse parts of the world. Inexpensive used tools from used tool seller in japan next to very prized and expensive tools from Australia and little shop made tools made on the fly. The things are gone, but not the symbol or the support.”
Michael began making furniture and cabinetry in 2004 in his small Brooklyn apartment, building in his time off and irritating his roommates with plane shavings and sawdust.
A few years ago he graduated from The Evergreen State College. If you’ve been to the new Olympia coffee roasters location you’ve enjoyed his handiwork—bench seat, all of the cabinets and furniture. He has been involved in shows of his work at both Café Vita and Arbutus Folk School, and was recently mentioned in American Craft Magazine, a prestigious publication. He is generous and supportive of those who wish to enter the traditionally male dominated trade, gifting his time to mentor up-and-coming woodworkers.
If you know Michael, you know he is an extraordinary human being. You know his easy smile, his fine wit, his incredible talent, and his stunning craftsmanship. You’ve seen him with his young, beloved daughters and couldn’t help but smile.
Losing a decade’s worth of work, tools, and means for support is many people’s worst nightmare. Yet the incredible thing about Olympia is how this community pulls together to take care of our people.
Michaeal and his family need help immediately. Your donation will go toward replacing approximately $40,000 worth of tools, renting a new shop, and for money for immediate living expenses until Michael can get up and running again in a few months.
Many have expressed an outpouring of love since this tragedy. If you are able to contribute financially to lessen the burden for Michael and his family, your support is immeasurable.
It is all gone. Michael Hedges lost his furniture maker's woodshop, a collection of heritage tools and all equipment in the arson fire on Monday night in downtown Olympia, leaving him without a means for livelihood.
The fire destroyed A 100-year-old warehouse where Michael moved just a few months ago from his garage as his business was just beginning to grow into something that could support him and his family, including his 7 year-old-twin girls.
Witnesses saw towering flames up to 30 feet in the air while firefighters fought the blaze for an hour and a half before bringing it under control. Crews also fought to keep the heat from reaching a fuel shop and several propane tanks nearby, and power crews rushed in to deactivate electrical lines next to the warehouse. The building also housed two other local businesses: Magic Kombucha and Acme Fuel Company.
Thankfully, no one was physically harmed in the fire, although all of us who care about Michael are devastated and heartbroken.
Preliminary damage estimates are $350,000 for the building and $500,000 for the contents, officials said.
Among the things lost were a completed project that took 3 weeks’ worth of labor and was slated to ship a few days later. Had just brought in some of his unfinished pieces from his days at Evergreen to finish, including a China hutch. He also lost materials for an upcoming project.
But perhaps saddest of the losses were a collection of heirloom tools passed on by Michael’s mentor.
He shares, “A year ago my mentor, Madeline Morgan, gave to me the most impressive and generous gift...this collection of tools, a collection that she had built over her career as both a furniture maker and a teacher. It is an impressive collection and an incredibly generous gift in the way of stuff. However, it was much more than that. This gift was a symbol of a great craftspersons trust and belief in me. It is a physical connection to not only her, but other woodworkers, of varying trades, in diverse parts of the world. Inexpensive used tools from used tool seller in japan next to very prized and expensive tools from Australia and little shop made tools made on the fly. The things are gone, but not the symbol or the support.”
Michael began making furniture and cabinetry in 2004 in his small Brooklyn apartment, building in his time off and irritating his roommates with plane shavings and sawdust.
A few years ago he graduated from The Evergreen State College. If you’ve been to the new Olympia coffee roasters location you’ve enjoyed his handiwork—bench seat, all of the cabinets and furniture. He has been involved in shows of his work at both Café Vita and Arbutus Folk School, and was recently mentioned in American Craft Magazine, a prestigious publication. He is generous and supportive of those who wish to enter the traditionally male dominated trade, gifting his time to mentor up-and-coming woodworkers.
If you know Michael, you know he is an extraordinary human being. You know his easy smile, his fine wit, his incredible talent, and his stunning craftsmanship. You’ve seen him with his young, beloved daughters and couldn’t help but smile.
Losing a decade’s worth of work, tools, and means for support is many people’s worst nightmare. Yet the incredible thing about Olympia is how this community pulls together to take care of our people.
Michaeal and his family need help immediately. Your donation will go toward replacing approximately $40,000 worth of tools, renting a new shop, and for money for immediate living expenses until Michael can get up and running again in a few months.
Many have expressed an outpouring of love since this tragedy. If you are able to contribute financially to lessen the burden for Michael and his family, your support is immeasurable.
Organizer and beneficiary
Giovanna Mordukhovich
Organizer
Olympia, WA
Michael Hedges
Beneficiary
