David Morrissette stands among the debris Tuesday after a fire early Sunday destroyed his business, Morrissette Inc. at 223 College Ave. in Waterville. Among the debris: His late father’s 2007 Rolls-Royce Phantom, valued at about $90,000. Amy Calder/Morning Sentinel

WATERVILLE — David Morrissette stood Tuesday among the debris left from a fire early Sunday that destroyed his longtime business, Morrissette Inc., and his late father’s Rolls-Royce, valued at about $90,000.

“We worked together 47 years,” he said of his father, Robert. “This is our 49th year. I started it with my dad when I was 15 years old. I’m now going to turn 64, and I’ve been running it for the last 25 years.”

His father had hoped to see the business at 223 College Ave. to 50 years, but died two years ago at 88 after suffering a stroke, according to Morrissette.

Standing near the 2007 Rolls-Royce Phantom, now covered in debris, a teary Morrissette recalled that his father, with whom he was close and who over the years had four Roll-Royces and a Bentley, enjoyed driving the Phantom.

“He was always proud to show it off,” he said. “Dad liked his flash.”

The dark blue Rolls-Royce, with only 34,000 miles on the odometer, was stored at the building, Morrissette said, and had been out on the lot in the past, advertised for sale.

“It’s history,” he said of the car.

The building housed more than just an automobile detailing and windshield repair and replacement business, according to Morrissette.

“We’re a licensed auto dealer, equipment dealer and trailer dealer,” he said. “We deal in antique, cast-iron kitchenware. We restore skillets and the like, and deal in antique furniture, in a small way. There were 100 pieces of cast iron in the building. There was a lot in there — a lot.”

The building also housed Saba’s Photography, owned by Trenetta Saba, and Main Auto Repair, owned by Steve Kaminski.

Chief Jason Frost of the Waterville Fire Department said Tuesday that the cause of the fire, reported at 1:28 a.m. Sunday, remained undetermined, and officials were not sure where the fire began in the 8,000-square-foot building.

“It was definitely a high fire, meaning we believe it was above the ceiling type of thing,” Frost said.

Morrissette said he thinks the fire began around a chimney at the building that was heated with oil. No one was inside the building when the fire started, Frost said. The Office of State Fire Marshal is investigating the blaze.

“We did work with the fire marshal’s office (Monday) — did a little more digging,” Morrissette said. “The investigative part of it is in their hands. They’ll continue to do follow ups on any leads. We’re pretty certain it was not a set fire. At this point in time, I believe it’s undetermined.”

David Morrissette stands near the debris Tuesday after a fire early Sunday destroyed his business, Morrissette Inc. at 223 College Ave. in Waterville. Among the debris: His late father’s 2007 Rolls-Royce Phantom, valued at about $90,000. Amy Calder/Morning Sentinel

Crews from the Waterville, Fairfield, Oakland, Skowhegan and Winslow fire departments responded to the blaze, as did the Waterville Public Works Department and Kyle King & Sons Trucking and Excavation of Burnham, which helped break down the building’s metal roofing. Firefighters worked at the scene for about five hours.

Morrissette said he plans to rebuild, although he is not sure when. He estimated the value of the building and contents at about $2 million.

He said the building had been rehabbed and expanded over the years, beginning in 1988. Additions were built in 1990 and 1992, with a final section added in 2002.

“I built it all myself,” he said.

Morrissette said he has received “unbelievable support” from customers and friends since the fire. As he spoke Tuesday, people stopped to see how he was doing. A customer who had done business with Morrissette maybe two times came by Monday to check on him, he said.

“I have no emotional attachment to physical things, but when he it comes to the people supporting me,” he said, his voice trailing off.

Located between Huhtamaki and Wentworth Motors Inc., Morrissette Inc. is on a busy stretch of College Avenue. Morrissette, a Clinton resident, said he plans to keep the business at the same location.

“It’s a devastation, there’s no question about that,” he said, surveying the rubble. “But it’s an opportunity, that’s the way I feel about it. It’s an opportunity to move forward. Gotta be positive. We will survive and we will thrive, that’s for sure.”