Sweetser News & Events

Sweetser Breaks Ground on New Barn One Year After Fire Destroys Historic Farm

Posted on 06/01/2005 at 09:26 am

Sweetser broke ground on June 1 for a new barn at the site of the former farm complex that was leveled by a fire in June of 2004. The new barn will feature a farm classroom where students can incorporate hands-on farm lessons with their academic studies.

The groundbreaking comes just ten days shy of one year from the date that fire destroyed the farm complex on June 11, 2004. The barn, tractors and all farm equipment were lost in the blaze and a nearby carriage house and a farmhouse suffered extensive damage.

Thanks to the generosity of nearly eight hundred supporters, Sweetser is just $80,000 short of reaching its fundraising goal of $1.3 million to rebuild the farm. Supporters include Ira Rosenberg, owner of the Prime Motor Group, who offered a $10,000 challenge to the community the morning of the fire, WGME's Giving Maine Promise group that provided a $10,000 donation and a $75,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation.

The Sweetser campus in Saco includes several residential facilities for children and adolescents (ages 6 to 18) who require comprehensive and individualized support. Most of these students attend The School at Sweetser where specialized educational services are offered to address emotional and behavioral disorders, mental illness or developmental disorders. There are more than 140 students at the school, which also includes numerous students from other Maine towns and communities. The Farm is part of the school's Experiential Learning Program (EXL). This is a hands-on learning program for students who have difficulty in traditional academic settings. In addition to Farm Life Science, the other components of the EXL program include wood technology, automotive, green house and culinary arts.

Groundbreaking ceremony attendees included Tom Perry, Allied Cook Construction; Michael Dunning, Sweetser student; Dave Puff, farm manager; Daniel Deshaies, Sweetser volunteer; Jon Mistos, director of facilities and support services; Alan Cartwright, general manager of WGME 13; Katharine Meeker, board member; Judy Rosenberg; Ira Rosenberg, owner of the Prime Motor Group; Carl Pendleton, President & CEO; and Mary Turgeon, Gawron Turgeon Architects.

With a history dating back to 1828, Sweetser is Maine's most comprehensive behavioral and mental health organization dedicated to serving children, adults and families. Sweetser offers services that address emotional disturbances, mental illness, behavioral disorders and learning disabilities through an array of educational programs, preventive services, community-support services and residential homes.

Contact: Heather Chandler, Assistant Director of Communications, 294-4430