DEARBORN, MI – When the Hockey Hall of Fame needs help it calls Dearborn resident Matthew Palmer. When Palmer needed help he called OHM Garment Restoration and Servpro of Dearborn. After a July 11, 2011 fire damaged much of his extensive collection of hockey memorabilia including a jersey often lent to the Hall of Fame, signed by every living Hall of Fame player and three deceased players, Palmer knew only restoration professionals could help.
OHM Garment Restoration of Plymouth and Servpro of Dearborn were contracted to restore the collection to its former glory. The memorabilia was heavily damaged by soot and smoke, but luckily not burned.
Hank Kraus and his team at OHM Garment Restoration, a Plymouth based company, will use their more than 25 years experience cleaning garments to remove the soot and smoke from more than 100 autographed jerseys, including the Hall of Fame jersey. The labor-intensive process may take months to complete. Each jersey must be individually hand cleaned and require hours of exposure to ozone, a powerful oxidizing agent that removes smoke smell.
Servpro of Dearborn, a fire and water restoration company is working to restore the rest of the collection, which includes trading cards, sticks, and pucks all signed by legendary players. This vast collection will also take months to restore. “Restoration is a complex procedure requiring different treatments for different materials. Some pieces may require a simple cleaning, while others require more intricate restoration services,” said Servpro of Dearborn owner Maureen Winfree. She went on to say, “This isn’t just a collection. It’s Matthew’s passion for the game. As a former hockey player, I understand and share that passion. Servpro of Dearborn is honored to help restore this amazing memorabilia.”