HAMPDEN – The spot that used to be the home of Bickford Auto Shop remains empty, with no signs of construction after December’s devastating blaze.

Since the fire that destroyed the auto body shop, owner Gary Bickford has held out hope that he would be able to rebuild the business he had moved to 637 Main Road in 1981.

Now his hope is dwindling.

“It’s discouraging, it really is,” Bickford said Friday, explaining he has not received any money from his insurance company. “I still have plans to rebuild and I have contractors and quotes lined up, but I’m still lacking the money to start the wheels turning.”

The well-known body shop went up in flames on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, and because of chemicals held in the building, firefighters could not enter the building to fight the fire.

State fire marshals said they couldn’t determine the cause of the fire that started in the ceiling, Bickford said, but did call attention to a melted puddle of aluminum they found. By early that afternoon, only a few files and knickknacks could be salvaged from the rubble.

Bickford said if he doesn’t get his business up and running by October – the start of the busy season – he likely would give up the idea of rebuilding. If he is out of business for more than a year, he explained, he probably won’t be able to make a comeback.

A major concern since the fire has been his employees.

“I had a good crew. If I thought for a minute I couldn’t get my crew back, I wouldn’t reopen,” the owner said.

Bickford said that he is still paying health insurance for many of his employees and he paid their salaries for nearly three months after the fire, until his personal funds ran dry.

“They [his employees] were very understanding; I put them all in a tough spot,” he said. “I’m the business owner, and I feel responsible.”

Initially, Bickford was concerned he wouldn’t be able to rebuild on the same spot because of a state rule limiting development around bald eagle nesting areas. Since then, he has spoken with a biologist from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, who said he didn’t think Bickford would have any problems rebuilding on the site.

In January, Bickford tried to set up a temporary shop in Hermon, but found he was unable to continue without the insurance payment.

Bickford remains concerned for his employees, and thankful to the community that has supported him. Jeff Rawcliffe, who owns the shop next to Bickford’s, went door to door during the holidays collecting money to provide Bickford’s employees with Christmas bonuses.

“I have a very loyal customer base, very good employees and a very supportive community,” the man said. “I know they’re all rooting for me.”