SOUTH PORTLAND – The powerful storm on Jan. 13 swept away the dunes and fishing shacks on the rocks at Willard Beach in South Portland. The fishing shacks served as more than structures as they were seen as a symbol of the city’s connection to its fishing heritage dating back to the early 1700s. The weathered structures were at least 150 years old. They were adorned with lobster buoys and were often a backdrop for photographers and painters.

In a letter shared on the city’s Facebook page on Jan. 14, City Manager Scott Morelli and Mayor Misha Pride expressed the collective sorrow felt by the community. “It’s a sad time for our city, a storm and tide that came in fast and furiously last Saturday caused damage at two of South Portland’s most enjoyed parks, Bug Light Park and Willard Beach,” wrote Morelli and Pride. “While it is fortunate that the damage at Bug Light is mainly to the Greenbelt pathway and not the lighthouse itself, the storm washed away dunes and our iconic fishing shacks that have been part of the Willard Beach landscape for many generations.”

The letter provided a glimpse into the historical significance of the fishing shacks: “The shacks were a symbol of South Portland’s long fishing history, which dates back to the early 1700s. They were a trusty presence up on the point. We could count on them for a pretty picture or a place to take in our special beach, Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, the islands, and Casco Bay.”

Artist Julie Bernier said she found inspiration in the fishing shacks. “As a city resident since 2006, I’ve spent countless hours walking the beach with my family, my dogs and my friends, and the shacks always stood quiet watch over the beach and over all of us, really,” Bernier said. “It was a joy and an honor to capture their stalwart beauty with my camera from so many angles over the years.” Bernier said unbeknownst to her, as she painted, the shacks were facing their final hours.

Bernier said she felt the urge to paint the shacks for maybe a week or two and had searched her file of photographs she has taken over the last many years and found one that inspired her. “On the morning of Jan. 13, I felt a strong pull to make the painting, even though I had a different plan for the day in mind. I followed the nudge, having no idea they were in peril as I painted.”

When she was finished, she posted a photo on social media, saying she hoped the shacks had weathered the storm safely. That’s when she learned they had been swept away shortly before she posted the photo. “I was stunned and so deeply saddened,” she said. “It honestly felt like a beloved person had passed, and watching the video of the buildings slipping away was painful. My husband and I were visiting with one of our children at the time I posted my work and I had to excuse myself to cry in the bathroom and try to pull myself together after viewing the video.”

She said the fact that she had been making the painting while the shacks were in their final hours brings tears to her eyes when she speaks of it or writes about it.

Bernier said the old, weathered shacks symbolized the ruggedness and beauty of life on the coast of Maine and were a part of what makes South Portland and Willard Beach so special to locals and visitors. “The loss felt sudden and shocking and traumatic,” she said. “Social media provided an opportunity for us to share the loss and grieve together. Countless images celebrating weddings, engagements and graduations were posted. Stories involving the original fishermen who built and used the shacks were shared, along with photographs of the shacks dating back decades and decades. They were truly part of the fabric of our community.”

In response to the loss, Bernier initiated a fundraiser, dedicating half of the sales of prints of her fishing shacks paintings throughout 2024 to local fundraising efforts for the restoration of Willard Beach and the potential rebuilding of the shacks.

“My idea for the fundraiser was influenced by the amount of people who have bought my paintings and prints and posters of the fishing shacks over the years,” Bernier said. “Many of them messaged me asking if I had any more available. People were reaching out wanting to have something to remember the shacks by.”

She said within hours of losing the shacks, she learned that the South Portland Historical Society had started to plan for the future and there was talk of rebuilding them. “I chose to allocate 50 percent of the purchase price of each poster sold to the South Portland Historical Society toward restoration of the beach and the shacks for a specific reason,” said Bernier. “I wanted to make a sizable impact and I wanted people to know exactly how much of their purchase price would go to the fund instead of a vague ‘percentage of the profits’ being donated.

So far, I’ve sold almost 200 posters. Together we have raised over $2,000 and the orders keep coming in. It’s a testament to how much those shacks meant to all of us. A print of my original painting of the shacks from 2016 and a print of the painting I made on the day of the loss were added to the fundraiser two days ago, with 50 percent of the sale price going to the fund.”

The fundraiser will continue through 2024.

Bernier said local people will be picking up their purchases (as soon as packaging arrives, and the products are ready) at Duston Leddy Real Estate on Cottage Road across from DiPietro’s Market. “I will be there handing out packages and hugs and will have tissues as well as extra posters and prints available,” Bernier said.

In their letter, Morelli and Pride expressed gratitude towards the dedicated public servants who worked tirelessly in response to the recent storms. “Our dedicated public works, fire, police, and parks, recreation and waterfront department staff have been working tirelessly, responding to last week’s major snowstorm followed by two violent rain and windstorms. These staff are devoted to ensuring that you are safe, that your roads are clear, and that your parks are preserved.”

The letter encouraged community members to reach out to city council and staff for any concerns or support needed.

For residents who experienced flooding, visit the state’s Flood Resources and Assistance Hub at www.maine.gov/governor/mills/flood.

To make a donation to the South Portland Historical Society, visit sphistory.pastperfectonline.com

To purchase Bernier’s work, visit juliebernierartist.com.

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