Once again an unexpected and untimely loss has struck Wilmington village. An early-morning fire earlier this week has taken yet another historic building from the community, this time the Anchor Restaurant on South Main Street. A disaster such as this is always a shock, in part due to the abruptness at which something generally taken for granted, such as a building, is ripped from the fabric of the community.

Just a year ago, on New Years Eve, a fire ripped through a residence in the center of Readsboro, displacing two families and disrupting the lives of those residents. That same year, a Thanksgiving weekend fire tore through a Dover home, and a year or two before that, another fire claimed the Mellos Retreat in Jacksonville. Not quite three years ago another fire took the Old Bank Building, just up the street from the Anchor. In fact, there are historical records of fires devastating businesses and homes throughout the decades, from mill fires in Wilmington, Medburyville, and Readsboro, to residences burning in Wardsboro and Searsburg. We feel safe in saying that every town has a sad story of a fire to tell.

Right now, looking at the charred remains of the Anchor, it becomes hard to believe that the site will someday once again become a bright light in the village, a place where people will gather to enjoy a good meal, share a laugh, and swap a few stories. Luckily, nobody was hurt in the blaze. The owner promises to rebuild the business, and we certainly hope that is the case.

Once again, when disaster strikes, the community shows its true character. From the volunteer firefighters who raced out of bed in the early morning hours to battle the blaze, to the folks who have offered assistance to the owner of the building and the employees of the restaurant, the community has answered the bell.

Each time something like this happens, a fire disrupts lives and sends shudders through the community. And each time a fire strikes, the community strikes back with support and sympathy for the victims of the tragedy. It’s part of what makes this area such a great place to live.