Bench base vandalized

Leslie H. Dixon/Sun Journal

Stephens Memorial Hospital staff member Butch Larson worked on removing graffiti from the new cement pad that holds a community bench at the foot of Pikes Hill in downtown Norway. 

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- Leslie H. Dixon/Sun Journal

NORWAY — Vandals defaced a cement pad under a community bench in downtown Norway over the weekend, officials said Monday.

"It's unfortunate but these things happen," said Barbara Allen, spokeswoman for Stephens Memorial Hospital, whose staff  provided the bench for the public to enjoy the view of Pennesseewassee Stream at the foot of Pikes Hill. It was installed Friday and is on the site of the former C.B. Cummings & Sons dowel mill off Main Street.

Graffiti was etched into the pad, which was poured Nov. 2, and an SMH worker cleaned it up Monday, Allen said.

Police are investigating.

Allen said when Western Maine Healthcare Corp., the parent organization of Stephens Memorial Hospital, purchased the land from Libra Foundation in 2007, part of the agreement was to set aside an area for the community. She said a plaque will be placed at the site memorializing the mill workers. Members of the Cummings family, including Stewart and Brad Cummings and Frances Partridge, a daughter of Charles Cummings, are working on the wording, she said.

"When we purchased the Libra property we had hoped to build a medical building," she said, but those plans have been put on hold for the foreseeable future.

ldixon@sunjournal.com