Danforth eatery burns

Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
HISTORIC RESTAURANT BURNS — The Corner Stone Inn Family Restaurant suffered major damage Tuesday, Feb.  16 when a fire broke out in the kitchen. While the majority of the building was saved, the kitchen was destroyed. By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    DANFORTH — Folks in Danforth have had to find other options for their breakfast, lunch and dinner meals following last Tuesday’s fire that closed the Corner Stone Inn Family Restaurant. The fire, which occurred in the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 16, destroyed the kitchen and caused damage to other parts of the restaurant, which is owned by Bud Shain.
    “We were closed Monday and Tuesday for cleaning,” Shain said. “It’s a slow time of the year with school vacation week, so that’s why we were closed. The fire broke out while I was there.”
    Shain said the fire occurred while he was in the process of moving the grill. He tried to extinguish the flames, but the fire spread quickly.
    “The fire department did an outstanding job,” Shain said. “The support from the town has been wonderful. We’re still basically waiting for the insurance company, but we’d very much like to rebuild.”
    Shain added while the kitchen was destroyed, the rest of the building, structurally is sound. All three floors received damage and one half of the roof will have to be replaced.
    Located at the intersection of U.S. Route 1, Route 169 and Depot Street, the Corner Stone Inn Family Restaurant has been a staple in the town for years. Shain purchased the building about three years ago from Artis Fish. Fish said she started the Corner Stone Inn Family Restaurant about 15 years ago when she purchased the building.
    “I tore it all apart inside and turned it into a restaurant,” Fish said. “We sold it to the Shains three years ago.”
    According to Fish, the building was erected in the mid-1800s and has served as a number of businesses over the years, including a pool hall, pizza parlor and other eateries.
    Danforth Town Manager Francis Grey said the Cornerstone was the only full-service, sit-down restaurant and is hopeful Shain will rebuild.
    “The Cornerstone is the only real, true sit-down restaurant we have with atmosphere,” Grey said.
    The Mill Yard is a gas station, which serves food and has a few booths for people to sit and eat.
    Hodgdon and Haynesville fire departments assisted with the blaze. The fire was under control by about 10 a.m.