Former Maine writer John Gould’s Lisbon home destroyed by fire Sunday
Fire Devastates John Gould’s Historic Home in Lisbon, Maine
A fire that broke out around 3 a.m. Sunday morning on 51 Gould Road in Lisbon, Maine, destroyed a hand‑built house that had been the longtime residence of the late author John Gould. Firefighters reported the structure was fully engulfed and starting to collapse when they arrived.
The property had recently changed hands, having been sold to An Angel’s Wing Inc., a Lewiston‑based nonprofit that plans to convert the site into a recovery home for people dealing with alcohol and substance‑abuse disorders. The organization posted a Facebook message on Sunday morning expressing shock and sorrow at the loss: “This property represented so much hope, hard work, and planning for the future, and seeing it damaged this way is heartbreaking.” They added that they were still processing the loss and determining the next steps.
John Gould, who died in 2003 at age 94, built the house in 1940 after his great‑grandfather Jacob Gould had originally erected a home on the lot in the 1780s, which later burned down. Gould’s book, The House That Jacob Built, chronicles the family’s history and his own rebuilding efforts. He was a prolific writer, contributing a weekly column to The Christian Science Monitor for over six decades.
Debra York, executive director of An Angel’s Wing Inc., said that her team had just delivered three carloads of donated furnishings—including bedding and cookware—into the living room of the house the previous Friday. “We’re waiting to see what the insurance company tells us before making any decisions about the property,” York told reporters. The nonprofit is still in the planning stages and has considered using the building as a recovery home for eight veterans, providing around‑the‑clock care, though nothing has been finalized.
Fire investigators are still working on the scene. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the blaze. The Lisbon fire department and the Maine Department of Public Safety are coordinating the investigation. Residents of the surrounding area have been advised to avoid the site until the investigation is complete.
