Out of ashes from fire comes surprise blessing

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Thanks to the efforts of professionals and volunteers, neighbors, friends and church members, the painful memories of the events that took place exactly one year ago today have been replaced by feelings of gratitude and joy this holiday season.

It was described in our paper as a stubborn, nasty fire that snaked its way through a 142-year-old sea captain’s house on Route 1 in Searsport, damaging the upper floors and hundreds of antiques inside.

Thankfully no one was injured when Mark and Linda Bradstreet’s home – which also housed their business, Down East Auction and Antiques – burned that day. Firefighters were able to save most of the house.

However, the damage was much greater than first estimated, Linda Bradstreet told me.

“The fire didn’t do as much damage as the smoke and water that followed, literally destroying about a quarter of the house,” she said.

Much of the house had to be demolished “down to the frame, and rebuilt. But we were able to save the original floors, the staircase and the parlor” of the home built in 1860 by Capt. Phineas Alex-ander Griffin.

And when workers were removing wallpaper, a mural by Norma Rubin of Stockton Springs (probably painted in the 1960s) was uncovered, much to the delight of the owners.

“It was a blessing out of a disaster,” Bradstreet said.

On the anniversary of that fateful day, the Bradstreets express their gratitude to the firefighters of Searsport, Stockton Springs, Prospect, Frankfort, Belfast, Belmont, Waldo and Morrill for saving their home and their business.

“We will never forget all our neighbors and friends who were there to help us,” Bradstreet said, “and we also thank the American Red Cross, Stockton Springs Community Church, the First Congregational Church of Searsport, The Lions Club and the League of Postmasters.

“Thank you, and God bless each of you,” she said.

Andrei Bossov’s adaptation of “The Nutcracker,” presented Thanksgiving weekend at John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor featuring performers from the Bossov Ballet Theatre in Pittsfield, delighted those who attended.

For readers in central Maine who were unable to catch that performance, company member Jill Breen of St. Albans wants you to know you have four more opportunities to enjoy this holiday classic.

The company will perform “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Friday Dec. 12; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday Dec. 13; and 2 p.m. Sunday Dec. 14, at the Waterville Opera House in downtown Waterville.

Tickets are available at the door, or by calling 873-7000.

Shhhhh. It’s a surprise.

One of Brownville’s favorite musicians has a birthday coming up, and it surely would be great if she could hear from some of her old friends and former pupils.

Piano teacher Connie Stickney, who has played the organ at the Brownville Community Church for more than 50 years (and who, word has it, will be playing the Christmas Eve service) is turning 80 on Wednesday Dec. 17.

She will celebrate the occasion with a quiet family supper that will include the requisite punch and goodies. Your special cards and letters would certainly add to the festivities.

You can send birthday greetings to her at P.O. Box 715, Brownville 04414.

Members of the Ladies Friendship Club of East Blue Hill Village Church thank those of you who braved last Saturday’s storm to attend their annual Christmas Sale.

And for those who were unable to make it, they’ve decided to do it again.

“We’ll have a rerun of the sale,” Louise Shackett reported.

“We won’t have the cooked food from last week, but we’ll have hot dogs available for lunch and we’ll still have the crafts and white elephants.”

The Ladies Friendship Club Re-run Christmas Sale is 9 a.m.-noon Saturday Dec. 13, at the church on Route 176.

And as before, proceeds will cover “extra expenses” incurred by the church.

My colleague Jack Gifford, co-founder of Dreams for Maine Kids, left me a note on my office door with the correct new number for this organization that grants wishes for Maine children with life-threatening illnesses.

It is a free call, but not an 800 number, as I wrote in Tuesday’s column.

If you know of a young child who is seriously ill and who has a particular dream wish, call (888) 266-0075, or write Dreams for Maine Kids, P.O. Box 815 Bangor 04402-0815.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.