Fire destroys former home of Maine author John Gould

A fire destroyed the hand-built home of the late Maine author John Gould in Lisbon early Sunday morning. The blaze broke out around 3 a.m. at 51 Gould Road, and firefighters arrived to find the residence fully engulfed and beginning to collapse. No occupants were inside the home at the time of the fire.

The property had recently been purchased by the Lewiston-based organization An Angel’s Wing Inc. The group intended to renovate the historic residence into a recovery home for individuals struggling with alcohol and substance abuse disorders. Debra York, the organization’s executive director, noted that community members had recently donated furnishings to the house in preparation for its new use.

John Gould, who died in 2003, was a prominent Maine author and columnist. He had rebuilt the house in 1940 on a lot where his great-grandfather had originally built a home in the 1780s. An Angel’s Wing Inc. is currently assessing the loss and awaiting insurance information to determine the future of the property.