Iconic South Portland fishing shacks to be rebuilt after historic storm washed them away
SOUTH PORTLAND (WGME) - Three historic fishing shacks along Willard Beach in South Portland were caught on camera being carried out to sea, and returning as debris.
Residents were seen piling up the remaining pieces on the beach.
“Very upsetting for our community here," said Kathy DiPhilippo, Executive Director for the South Portland Historical Society. “It felt surreal, unbelievable. I mean obviously we knew that this was a possibility.”
The shacks at Fishermen's Point were the last tie to a long fishing history, dating back to the late 1800s.
Back in 2022, the South Portland Historical Society prepared for this day by recruiting local architects.
“Asking them if they would be willing to volunteer their time in helping us to create architectural drawings to recreate and rebuild those fishing shacks, if we were to ever lose them," DiPhilippo said. “They took measurements, they took photographs that are actually 360 degree photographs of the interiors.”
It will be a long process to rebuild, which they plan to get started this week.
DiPhilippo says she doesn't expect the city of South Portland to use tax dollars, but says there is already a strong foundation of people wanting to help.
“We have heard from SMRT since the shacks washed away with another offer to help us, lending their services. We’ve also heard from carpenters willing to donate their time in a rebuild and people willing to donate to help pay for materials," DiPhilippo said.