October 2017
JO RADNER PERFORMS “STORIES OF THE BROWNFIELD FIRE”
In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Brownfield Fire, the Denmark Historical Society has asked storyteller Jo Radner to perform “Burnt Into Memory: Stories of the Brownfield Fire,” at Centennial Hall in Denmark on Sunday, October 29th at 2pm.
Some Mainers still remember – in fact, cannot forget — October of 1947, when, after a season of terrible drought, wildfires burned all over the state. Brownfield was one of the worst-hit areas: 80% of the town, including all churches, schools, post offices, and other public buildings, was completely destroyed in the space of a few hours.
In the face of the fire, Brownfield residents responded with courage and care – and even obstinacy in a few cases like that of retired schoolteacher Mabel Stone. “She had her little dog Woofie with her, and she had a plan: she was going to stay at her house and fight the fire with a broom, a bucket of water, and a snow rake….” Facing the devastation after the fire, neighbors ingeniously made do, shared what they had, and rebuilt what they could.
Lovell storyteller Jo Radner spent a year interviewing people who experienced the Brownfield Fire – residents who did and did not lose their homes, as well as others who aided in the rescue and rebuilding effort. From those interviews and from letters and historical photographs and newspaper reports, Radner has created a powerful story of terror, courage, neighborly responsibility, recovery, and – yes – even humor.
Storyteller and author Michael Parent has called “Burnt into Memory” “a tremendous story for our time, a story of hope and connectedness between humans at a time when hopelessness and disconnectedness are the rampant order of the day.”
Proceeds from the program will go to the Denmark Historical Society. Centennial hall is located at 72 West Main Street in Denmark, ME.
We look forward to seeing you at Jo Radner’s performance of “Burnt into Memory” Sunday, October 29th at 2 PM at Centennial Hall!
Denmark Historical Society announces a revolutionary plan for its archives. For several years volunteers have spent hours sorting and cataloging the collection. It’s time for the public to use the archive and we want to make that possible.
We have the bold plan to digitize our collection of ledgers from businesses and the municipality, diaries, almanacs, records, photographs and postcards.
We are preparing our community’s historic collection for the future by having it professionally scanned. We teamed with the folks at Records Management Center to scan our collection to the highest standards available today.
With financial assistance from the Birch Cove Fund, Denmark Lions Club and donations from within the community we are moving forward with the digitizing process.
Items from the collection will be made available to community members, researchers, students, and genealogists.
Denmark Historical Society will create an archive without walls and schedules and geography, giving users the ability to research, write, and publish Denmark’s history using the digital archive. This is a huge, multi-year project and we will be able to reach former Denmarkians and the world with our museum having no walls. The gift to the community – a lifetime.