Storm knocks out power at Ferry Beach Conference Center leading to broken pipes

SACO — On Dec. 23, a winter storm brought a mix of severe wind, heavy rains and astronomical high tides to the area. Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center, located along the coast at 5 Boardwalk Drive, experienced a power outage from the morning of Dec. 23 to late morning Dec. 25, and consequently damage to the dining room and kitchen.

A plumbing pipe broke in the dining room and several sprinkler heads broke in the kitchen, according to a press release from Ferry Beach Conference Center Executive Director Cathy Stackpole. Stackpole said on Christmas day, she met with the Saco Fire Department as water flooded the kitchen and dining room.

Walls had to be ripped out of the foyer, the front dining room and the kitchen due to moisture, said Stackpole. Cabinets, countertop, a sink and some paper products were all lost to damage. About a dozen light fixtures and many ceiling tiles will have to be replaced, said Stackpole.

She said bigger equipment such as the walk-in freezer, ice maker, coffee makers and ovens had minor damage and can be cleaned and repaired.

“With insurance we will be able to recover much of what was damaged, however in the process of addressing mitigation, we discovered that the lack of insulation contributed to the problem,” said Stackpole.

Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center is a non-profit organization. Youth Camps, conferences and retreats are held at the 32-acre campus. Monthly community dinners are also held in the dining hall, and community groups like the Altrusa Club hold their meetings at Ferry Beach.

Ferry Beach Conference Center is seeking support from the community to raise $60,000. Much of this money - $35,000 for a generator and related equipment and installation and $20,000 for added insulation – will be used as preventative measures to avoid a future catastrophe. The additional $5,000 would be used for cabinets and lighting in a beverage bar.

As of Jan. 17, Ferry Beach had raised $28,000. To make a donation, go to https://www.ferrybeach.org/capital-projects.html .

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.