The remembrance festival is just three days away in downtown Old Town, Maine. The festivities will start around noon and go through the afternoon and evening, commencing with a DJ and Dance Party from 6 to 11 pm.
It’s been 25 years since that harrowing ice storm. I was stationed in Belgium then, and my mom and dad (Fred and Ethelyn Gerrish) lived out on the Old Stagecoach Road.
The ice storm had knocked down powerlines, so 500,000 Mainers were without power and telephone services. Many homes and families were without electricity for two or three weeks. Eventually, President Clinton declared Maine and other Northeastern US disaster areas.
Thirty-five died from falling ice, hypothermia, fires, or carbon monoxide poisoning.
I was a little worried because I couldn’t reach my parents or any other family members by phone. My commander called the American Red Cross, and they sent someone to ensure they were OK.
It was a big relief knowing they were OK. Believe me, when you’re across the Atlantic from your elderly parents, it’s tough when natural disasters strike. Luckily, they had a woodstove and kerosene lanterns.
Many in Maine weren’t so lucky. Many homes were destroyed by trees weighed down by ice, which came crashing down. Many businesses lost so much revenue they had to go bankrupt. It was the worst ice storm in Maine’s history.
Where were you during that storm? Let us know in the comments.
The Remembrance Day Festivities in Downtown Old Town
You won’t have to worry about a blizzard or being cold because there will be fire pits and a heated tent all day, and the Old Town Little League will “bring the heat” with a Bring the Heat Chili Cook-Off from noon to three pm.
There will be burgers and dogs from the Rotary Club, a beer tent set up by the Old Town Elks Club from 4 pm until whenever, and an ice carving demonstration at 3 pm.
The Old Town High School (OTHS) Project Graduation will have a baked potato bar to support upcoming events, starting at noon until 4 pm, or they run out of spuds.
This will be our chance to support various community events under one roof. OK, maybe several roofs around downtown, but on the same day.
The Old Town City Hall will open its lobby to sell raffle tickets to get a chance to win an Old Town Kayak. There will also be gift cards available for Kosta’s and Kanu’s. Plus, waterfront concert tickets and much more. You can help your community raise funds for heating oil relief.
Times are estimates, so be patient and stick around to the very end.
References:
1. The National Weather Service article, 25th Anniversary of the Devastating 1998 Ice Storm in the Northeast by Scott Whittier, 4 JAN ’23.
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About the author.
Stephen Dalton is a native of Old Town, ME, and a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. He is a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Top Writer in Travel, Food, Fiction, Transportation, VR, NFL, Design, Creativity, Short Story, and a NewsBreak Community Voice Pro.
I was not living in Maine at that time but I remember reading about it. I remember when I was little living in Herman, we had a bad ice storm and we lost power.
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