PARSONSFIELD (NEWS CENTER Maine) — Fire destroyed a building that housed many of the functions of one of the oldest golf courses in the state.
Crews from several Maine and New Hampshire communities were called to battle the flames at Province Lake Golf in Parsonsfield.
The fire happened just several weeks after the course celebrated its 100th anniversary. The fire Wednesday night was so intense, flames were still visible the next morning.
When fire crews arrived in the middle of a nor’easter, they were no match for the wind-driven flames. The fire took everything. The pro shop, a restaurant, offices and equipment.
"Besides irreplaceable antiques, photos, all of our golf shop equipment and merchandise that we just started getting for the season. All of our kitchen equipment. There’s not even a price I think, we can put on what we lost," said the course's property manager Sabin Beckwith.
Beckwith said he closed up around 7 p.m. Wednesday. When he and other course employees heard about the fire and returned a few hours later, everything was lost.
"We are crushed, heartbroken. We’re a family here," he said. "It was part of us."
For many in the area, more than just a building has been lost.
"Memories gone, you know, it’s just tragic," said Lenny Dodge.
Dodge worked and played here.
"Yep, as a kid. I was about 8 years old," he said. "Spent all my summers up here, I used to caddy."
Even the younger generation has fond memories.
"We used to come out here all the time, have lunch. It was beautiful," said Alex Shaw of nearby West Newfield. "It’s a real shame that it burned down."
There was so little left behind, investigators may never be able to determine how the fire started. Beckwith says the owners are committed to rebuilding it.