LIVERMORE FALLS – A house that a family of firefighters grew up in was destroyed by fire Friday night, despite attempts by those same firefighters to save the former Leclerc homestead on Main Street, next to Dunkin’ Donuts.

The house has been vacant for years and is no longer owned by Doria Leclerc, who now lives at a nursing home in Farmington.

But a couple of her sons and grandchildren were on the scene doing their best to stop the fire from burning the place to the ground.

Some of her children and their spouses watched from the parking lot of Food City as firefighters from several towns – including Livermore Falls, Jay, Livermore and Wilton – hosed the place down and smashed out windows to vent the structure.

Livermore Falls firefighter Jim Leclerc said he grew up in the house from the time he was 7 years old and on. His mother moved out about eight years ago, he said.

He pointed to a section of the property with a large plate window where his father’s store, Leclerc’s Variety, was years ago.

“It was the best ice cream in town,” he said.

Margaret Leclerc, who was formerly married to another of Doria’s sons, said the house brought back a lot of memories. Doria Leclerc’s parents and her brother used to live on the second floor.

Margaret said she saw the flames as she crossed the bridge from Livermore into town.

“We just had a lot of great memories there,” she said. “We used to watch the Memorial Day Parade from there. It was the best spot in town.”

Ron Leclerc, another Livermore Falls firefighter, was in charge of command at the scene.

Firefighters were still trying to get the stubborn blaze out while another fire was reported on Millett Street, a few streets down from the site. No flames appeared to be showing there when firefighters checked it out.

Livermore Falls and Jay police rerouted traffic around the downtown area as firefighters worked into the night.