HODGDON – The metal siding isn’t back, but the pace of the project is.

Thieves who stole more than $700 worth of materials from a 4-H barn construction site in Hodgdon may have been out to hinder the project, but group leader Carmen Fitzpatrick said Monday that the community has made sure that didn’t happen.

“We’ve had an outstanding response from the community, one that we never expected,” Fitzpatrick said. “Louisiana-Pacific [a wood base manufacturing firm] called the first thing after they heard about the incident to donate $700 to replace what was stolen.”

Maine State Police have been investigating the incident since more than 15 sheets of metal siding were taken from the barn’s location on the McIntyre Road on Oct. 8 or 9. Trooper Greg Burns is investigating the theft, but said that he has few clues as to who would steal from a youth group.

Burns said he believes that whoever stole the siding would have had to take it from the area on a trailer or large truck. Each piece of siding was about 15 feet long, and both green and white pieces were taken from the site.

The building is being constructed by the 4-H Wild Mustangs, and fund raising for the project has been under way for five years. The club’s effort terminated, however, when the goods were stolen.

“We were just on our way down there to put the siding on when we saw that it was gone,” the group leader said Monday. “We were shocked. That was five years of raising money and another two of trying to build the barn. It was devastating.”

When word spread about the theft, however, residents and business owners mobilized quickly. The Blue Moose Lodge, a restaurant in Monticello, put out a donation jar to raise money for the club, according to Fitzpatrick. Local carpenters have offered supplies, and an offer from Gene Bartley, a Houlton businessman, soon followed.

“Mr. Bartley told the police that he would donate $700 if the material wasn’t found by a certain date,” she recalled. “It’s just amazing. Before the theft, we anticipated having the building up by spring. Thanks to these donations, that’s now become possible again.”

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the Maine State Police at 532-5400.