Herbert Stevens, at the far end of the table, and his wife Marilyn, seated to his right, sit down with family at a spaghetti supper put on as a fundraiser to help the couple raise funds for a new home. Dina Thoma photo

HARTFORD — After two serious crashes left their home severely damaged, Herbert Stevens, 82, and Marilyn Stevens, 62, endured months without running water, proper shelter or significant assistance.

Their house at 1319 Main St., repeatedly struck by vehicles that blew through the stop sign at the intersection of routes 140 and 219, became unlivable as winter approached last year.

Now, thanks to residents from across the community, the couple will soon see the start of construction on a new home — one that will sit a little farther back from the road.

That’s not all the help they’ve received. Prodding by Hartford Town Clerk Lianne Bedard and state Rep. Tammy Schmersal-Burgess, R-Mexico, brought out the Maine Department of Transportation, which installed solar-powered blinking stop signs to curb speeding.

However, for the Stevenses, the damage had already been done.

Herbert and Marilyn Stevens stand Dec. 4 in front of their home at the intersection of Route 219 and 140 in Hartford. In the past 11 months, two vehicles have plowed through the front and side. The couple has been living in the kitchen and bathroom, has no home insurance or help from the insurers for the Canadian and German drivers to make repairs, Marilyn said. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

The couple was without home insurance because some of the house is not up to code, so they struggled to secure financial help. Insurance companies for the drivers involved initially denied responsibility, and contractors refused to assess the necessary repairs.

With no immediate solutions, the couple was left to endure harsh conditions, relying on makeshift barriers to keep out the cold. Marilyn, already overwhelmed by stress, suffered a health crisis, further complicating their situation. Despite awareness of their struggles, early efforts to raise funds fell short, leaving them in a state of uncertainty.

Efforts to help the couple began in the form of a jar at a local gas station, which netted the Stevens about $120. In December, those efforts blossomed into two fundraisers, which brought in about $11,000. What’s more, one of the car insurance companies the Stevens were struggling with provided $17,000 in restitution for an accident last January that took out the couple’s bathroom.

Dina Thoma, a local resident who frequently passes the Stevens’ home, came forward to help the couple when she saw their story on the local news.

“I thought, ‘Someone needs to step in before people forget about this,’” Thoma said. “I went over within 10 minutes of the newscast and said, ‘I’m here if you need anything. I’m great at organizing. How can I help?’ Marilyn just collapsed on me and said, ‘Oh my God, I love you!’ We’ve talked every day since.”

Thoma’s immediate outreach led to a wave of support, and she was able to quickly coordinate efforts to help the couple. Two spaghetti dinners led by local organizations yielded the first considerable amounts of money.

“The (Grand Lodge of Masons) matched us with a $2,000 donation,” Thoma said. “We also have a calendar fundraiser for April. People can purchase it for $10 on my website, and each day in April, someone wins a prize.”

Marilyn Stevens has been staying with family for the past year since her house is in disrepair. Herbert Stevens, who has lived on the property for the past 43 years, continues to stay on the property, Marilyn Stevens said.

She said the $28,000 windfall will enable them to start the process of building a new home.

“They’ll be pouring cement in the next few weeks,” Stevens said. “They just have to go by the weather.”

The home will be demolished to make way for the new building, which Stevens said will sit just back from the couple’s existing bedroom. Alan McNeil of Bim’s Garage, located just across the street, told the couple that he would take care of the demolition, she said.

Thoma said McNeil has been a big supporter of the Stevenses throughout their ordeal.

“Once everything comes down, he’ll help with excavating and cleanup,” Thoma said. “He’s also donated to both fundraisers. He’s right across the street from them and has been looking out for them even more now.”

Blueprints show the plans for Herbert and Marilyn Stevens’ new home. Their home at 1319 Main St. in Hartford was severely damaged when hit by vehicles in separate incidents in February and December 2024. Submitted photo

Hartford’s average age is around 63, Thoma said, and that is a fact that should give a lot of people hope.

“It’s been amazing to see younger families getting involved and teaching their kids about volunteering,” she said. “Herb’s house has become the heart of Hartford — everyone’s talking about it, helping, checking in. I can count at least 15 people who went over to stack wood for him this winter.”

Thoma also created a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of the Stevens, which has about $3,750.

The community’s generosity has not stopped at construction. A local chapter of Rebuilding Together recently provided the Stevenses with a cord of firewood to help them get through the winter. Jack’s Firewood also donated firewood throughout the colder months. Thoma said whenever the Stevens’ wood supply was plenty, Herbert Stevens would offer some to his neighbors.

As the Stevens’ new home begins to take shape, the need for additional materials and services remains.

“We’re still looking for an electrician to complete the team. We’ve got licensed plumbers and contractors, but no electrician yet. That’s our biggest need right now, aside from more money for lumber.”

The ongoing efforts to rebuild the Stevens home will also cost more than what has been raised so far. A recent inspection discovered a collapsed leach field, well and septic tank and estimates for replacement are around $20,000, Thoma said.

“The slab for the foundation will cost another $6,000, and the house itself is about $30,000. So we still have a long way to go. But the community has really stepped up quite a bit — donating money, dropping things off,” she said. “We’re pushing forward.”

Marilyn Stevens said the amount of support that’s come her way in the past several months has been overwhelming.

“I want to thank everybody for helping us. I do,” she said. “They’ve been a godsend.”

As for the dastardly intersection in front of their house?

Though no further accidents have occurred, Stevens said, “they still blow through there without stopping.”