Water pipe break floods business out of building

The three businesses at 109 First St. W. incurred water damage when a water pipe burst Sunday afternoon. None were more damaged than Bearly Square Quilting.

"Devastation" is how quilt shop owner, Wendy Gerky, described what happened to her business the day the pipe burst and flooded "everything beneath the knee."

Gerky estimated Thursday her losses range anywhere between $100,000 to $200,000 in merchandise and equipment.

Multiple sewing machines - one in particular costs $13,000, she said - fabric, and other merchandise and equipment were all ruined beyond repair.

Havre City Public Works Director Dave Peterson said the pipe, a fire line, that burst was about 6 inches in diameter. It's possible, Peterson said, the weather could've played a role in the pipe's breaking. But it shouldn't be that cold underneath, he added. The infrastructure is old, and that's not just under 109 First St. W., Peterson said.

"The line is old, from the '60s," he said.

Representatives of Sherwin-Williams Paint Store and NAPA Auto Parts, the other stores in the building, said both businesses have been cleaned up and re-opened this week. NAPA opened Wednesday and Sherwin-Williams Thursday.

Gerky, however, is nowhere close to opening. The store is in shambles. The floor, littered with packing boxes, merchandise and equipment, is uneven from the cement cracking underneath and pushing the carpet into scattered mounds.

Gerky is temporarily moving to the 305 Building, on the first floor in the former bookstore. She's already moved some merchandise and equipment to the new location.

305 Building owners Marc Whitacre and Erica Farmer know what it's like to deal with structure flooding. A water main break August 2015 on Third Avenue flooded the entire basement of the 305 Building.

"We understand failing infrastructure and have had our own problems with fractured water lines and flooding," Farmer said Thursday. "We are very pleased to have Bearly Square move into the 305 Building, even if it's only temporary. Bearly Square will be good for downtown."

Gerky was cleaning up, moving things around and checking inventory Thursday. Along with the help of employees and family members, she has been working nonstop since she first arrived on the scene Sunday about 6 p.m.

Although composed Thursday, she said she didn't hold back tears Sunday.

"Things were floating," she said.

It has taken 10 years to get to where she is.

She started out in the Atrium Mall, after which she moved to another location on First Street, where business started picking up, she said. Two years ago she moved again, to 109 First St. W., where she is determined to stay.

"The most positive thing I ever did for the business was move here," she said. "I can't ask for a better location."

She's insured, sure, but that isn't the problem, Gerky said. Finding out what inventory is still good, setting up displays in the new location, informing and working with customers whose product may or may have not been destroyed - that is what she's working on.

She doesn't know when the store will be repaired and how long before she can return.

Property manager Alec McKay said this morning the insurance company is sending an engineer to assess the damage. Once that is done, it'll be easier to tell what repairs will be needed and a general time frame for how long that'll take. The building owners, Ken and Karen Myers, hope to get everything repaired and wish Gerky the best, McKay said.

One way or another, Gerky said, she'll persevere.

"I'm confident we'll be back."