Sad and Sudden News - The Bunkhouse Quilt Shop, Wilton, NH

I received the following e-mail from Wanda, owner of The Bunkhouse Quilt Shop, this evening:

It is with a sad heart that I send this note out this evening. As some of you have been listening to me talk about moving into a larger facility in the near future, I am saddened to tell everyone that the building I was going to move into was hit by lightning and completely destroyed by fire this evening.

The sad part of all of this is that it housed several other businesses – one of which belongs to my son-in-law. At this time I am not sure how much of his portion was damaged but enough so there will be people out of work for some time, along with two other businesses that will feel the affect of this storm. I am the lucky one as I still have my shop downstairs.

I have not been able to get close enough to see the entire devastation but I am listening to the bulldozers do their job of pushing it into the ground. The house that stands right next to the barn survived – how, I don’t know after hearing about the 100 foot ball of fire that rose over the house. This house is where my son-in-law’s mother lives. I can only imagine how frightening it was for her to watch her life’s work go up in flames. But, we are all thankful that nobody was in any of the buildings. A building can be replaced but a person cannot.

So, at this time I will not be holding the 2nd annual Quilt Show that was scheduled in two weeks. Due to the location and all that has happened tonight I just cannot go on with it at this time. Thanks for understanding.

Wanda

My heart goes out to Wanda and her family. Thankfully, no one appears to have been injured or killed. And Wanda had not yet moved her shop into the new space. But the building was completely destroyed, and several businesses as well. Many people are hurting tonight, physical injuries aside.

My husband and I live less than 2 miles from The Bunkhouse, in downtown Wilton. We heard sirens all evening, and knew that something big was happening. Gryphon came into the living room at one point to tell me that the latest fire trucks to go by had come from the town of Mason - a sure sign that many companies were called into service.

I've e-mailed Wanda to show our support and offer help, if possible. I wish I knew her better, but I have only just begun to take up quilting, and have visited the shop only one time.

Wanda, my thoughts are with you and your family tonight.