Staff Writer
Rodney Wardwell Jr. recently took over ownership of Roland’s Auto Repair Center, now Wardwell’s Service at 55 Herschel Street in Caribou.
Wardwell, a Perham native and 1979 graduate of Washburn High School currently lives in Woodland with his wife Kim, who does the bookkeeping at Wardwell’s Service in her free time.
Aroostook Republican Photo/Andrew Dyer
Rodney Wardwell has taken over ownership of the former Rolands Auto Repair Center on Herschell Street in Caribou. The newly formed Wardwell’s Service provides all types of automobile repair except body work utilizing the staff’s combined experience of over 90 years. Shown in the photo from left are: Wardwell, owner; Rod Bubar and Marty Doody. For more information about Wardwell’s Service call the garage at 496-5431.
Wardwell has a great deal of experience in the field of automobile repair as he began repairing vehicles professionally in 1981. His experience extends beyond 1981 however as he worked with his father Rodney Sr. as a child.
“I worked with my dad when I was a kid, at the old Grant’s Dairy. He used to work on all their trucks, so that’s what I did as soon as I was old enough to climb up in an engine compartment,” said Wardwell.
According to Wardwell he began helping out his father as early as five years of age. Wardwell also worked on skidders as a teenager before beginning his career as an automotive technician.
Wardwell also worked at Caribou Ford and Northern sales for a number of years acting as service manager at Caribou Ford. He also worked for independent auto repair shops before making the move to Roland’s Auto where he has spent the past 15 years.
“I’ve been acting service manager here for the past four or five years,” said Wardwell.
Wardwell is not the only one at the local shop with years of experience in auto repair. Wardwell’s also employs Rod Bubar who has 35 years of experience in auto repair, and Marty Doody who brings 25 years of experience to the garage. Both have been employed at the garage for the past seven years.
Wardwell’s provides a number of services in automobile repair.
“We do just about everything, everything but bodywork,” said Wardwell. Wardwell also pointed out that if there is a job that can’t be done at his garage he sublets to other garages.
Wardwell’s also has a flatbed truck and a wrecker service, and is affiliated with AAA Motor Club, All State Insurance and Cross Country Motor Club. Wardwell’s is also equipped to handle lockouts, and responds to a number of calls regularly from locals who’ve locked themselves out of their vehicles.
For more information about Wardwell’s Service call the shop at 496-6431 or stop by the Herschel Street location during business hours, from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
