Jo Radner Performs “Burnt Into Memory”: Stories of the 1947 Brownfield Fire

Photo: Michael Corthell

 DENMARK, Maine - October 29, 2017 - Renowned storyteller Jo Radner shared stories of the Great Brownfield fire to a packed hall at the Denmark Historical Society on a drizzly Sunday afternoon.

In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Brownfield Fire, the Denmark Historical Society asked storyteller Jo Radner to perform “Burnt Into Memory: Stories of the Brownfield Fire,” at Centennial Hall in Denmark.

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 went to the Denmark Historical Society.

From Ms. Radner's website:

I can help you – or your organization, community, or family – discover and vividly present your history and traditions.

• As a storyteller, my own colorful stories of the extraordinary lives of ordinary people in Maine delight audiences and inspire listeners to find their own stories.
• As a professional folklorist, I honor the individual character of every group.
• As an oral historian, I know how to interview to find meaningful stories.
• As an experienced teacher, I conduct successful workshops and residencies.
• As a performance coach, I train storytellers individually and in groups.

Who Can Use my Performances and Services?

• Historical societies and community groups
• Businesses and organizations
• Schools
• College and university creative writing classes
• Family historians
• Grown-ups who love stories.

To view my offerings in the Humanities To Go program of New Hampshire Humanities, click here.

To order my "Yankee Ingenuity" CD or to hear story samples, click here.

To view some of my stories on YouTube, click here.

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