В Норт-Плэтте после 1500 часов работ расчистили заброшенный участок с ржавыми машинами и сотнями шин

Old car frames, rear-end axles, Chevy engines, trees… lots of trees… and a few wild animals too… That sort of stuff is what faced the crew of Roberts and Sons Plumbing when then started cleaning, clearing and sorting two acres of neglected property on the northwest side of North Platte. The crew has spent 1,200-1,500 man-hours cleaning, clearing, finding and sorting such items at 2420 W. 13th St., which is near the corner of Rodeo Road and Buffalo Bill Ave. Surrounded by a fence and thick trees, few people have seen more than the upper part of a two-story block house that stands in the midst of it. Chuck Roberts, the owner of Roberts and Sons, got involved in the fall of 2023, when he was hired by the descendants to cut and clear the property. “It was so full of trees, you could hardly walk through the place,” Roberts said. “You couldn’t drive through.” He and his crew worked at it as time and weather allowed. It seemed like near-endless work. They were making headway, and in the winter of 2025, the descendants decided to sell. The place belonged to Don Obering, a 1955, ’56 and ’67 Chevy enthusiast. Obering had shop on the ground floor and his dad lived upstairs, North Platte resident Jerome Jerry Beckius said on the North Platte Northside Association facebook. Don lived in another in-ground house that used to be on the property. Beckius said Don was a great sheet metal man and welder, and built the chassis and bodies of at least two O-K Racing dragsters in the shop. Don passed away more than 30 years ago on July 11, 1996. After that, the descendants sold items and stored some, but overall, they didn’t seem to gain much traction in improving the place. The property is said to also have had an orchard at one time. Dense rows of cedar trees ran along 13th St., and some trees still do. There were other kinds of trees throughout, including a large cottonwood in the middle of what is now a driveway around the main building. For three years or so, the Roberts crew cut trees and sold firewood, going so far as to pull out stumps so they won’t regrow, hauled scrap and trash away, and sorted through most everything. Among the items, they found the original mailbox with the words, “Don’s Chevy Shed.” It’s not only been one of the dirtiest jobs around, it’s also been a fascinating challenge. Roberts said there were more than 50 old cars on the property, most of which were vaunted “Tri-Five” Chevys from the years 1955-57. Tri-Fives still have a wide, devoted following. After trees were cleared and cars pulled out, the owners sold most of the vehicles. Then in 2025, they decided to sell the property itself. Roberts purchased it along with a partner, Richard Houseman, who with his wife has made a career out of buying old property and renovating it. Richard and Tracy operate T&R Homes. They bought the east side and will renovate it. Roberts said the place was also home to dozens of cats. Some of the cats were family pets or descendants thereof, judging by the tins of cat food that was found in the back of an old car. Also, possums and racoons lived among the trees. Roberts said he convinced the coons to leave — finally — by broadcasting heavy metal music for several hours at a time. The plans are to make the west side of the property new headquarters for Roberts and Sons Plumbing. The main building, made of concrete blocks, is in good shape. Roberts said it just needed paint and windows. The first floor has a concrete floor with a single-car garage, workshop and workspace. There is a stout second floor made of wood. Among the items upstairs was some woodworking equipment from the years gone by. Virtually every space was full of something, Roberts said. As an example of the work involved, they found 100 or more old tires and rims — some piled together and some scattered around. The crew is removing each tire from the rim. The tires are hauled to the city transfer station, where Roberts pays $7 per tire for their disposal. The rims are scrap metal. Better days are ahead. The Housmans plan to build affordable studio apartments on the east side, as well as some full-size storage garages. Sidewalks and fences will be added. “It’s up my alley,” Houseman said. “It’s a fresh palette. I’m looking forward to making something of it.” “They were neat people,” Housman said of the Oberings, a sentiment shared by Roberts, who likes to rebuild old cars in his spare time. Roberts and Houseman are among those who love a classic restored car. Houseman purchased one of Obering’s – an early 60s Buick Special — from the former owners. On Aug. 4, the North Platte city council approved, on first reading, the rezoning of the property from residential to highway commercial. Higher-intensity commercial uses surround the property, with Casey’s convenience store at the corner of Buffalo and Rodeo Road and the District 6 Department of Transportation storage yard on the other side of 13th St. “I drove by this eyesore every day for 13 years,” Planning Commission Chairman David Fudge had said a week earlier, when the rezoning was reviewed. “I’m so happy that it’s being cleaned up.” © 2026 The North Platte Bulletin. All rights reserved!