By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

As people filed into Tucker’s House, they were in awe of the surroundings.

“This is so incredibly beautiful,” one woman said.

“I’d live here,” another added.

Those words were music to Kirsten Wears’ ears.

Over 100 people walked through the historic North Bridgton home during last week’s open house at the new substance disorder recovery home for women. Starting this month, Tucker’s House will welcome up to 10 women as they continue on their recovery “journey.”

Women apply to reside there, and must go through an interview process to be accepted. Residents pay a monthly rental, and agree to various terms including holding down part-time employment, tending to chores (such as working a garden on the property) and taking part in house activities.

As part of the open house, special “dedications” were made to folks who were very influential in making Wears’ “crazy dream” of opening a recovery home a reality.

Up first was dedication of the house library to the late Dr. Peter Leighton.

“Peter Leighton, he is still here in everything we do,” Wears told the crowd including Dr. Leighton’s wife, Kimberly and his children, which had gathered in the newly-finished Great Room located above the attached barn. “He was a key player in the recovery community with treatment plans and supporting and loving everyone. We lost Peter last year in June to brain cancer. The library downstairs is dedicated to him. It was quite a blessing to be in his presence.”

Wears then talked about finding the historic home as a possible site for Tucker’s House, and instantly knowing it would be a great fit.

“It was lovingly maintained,” she said. “When we walked through the doors, we knew we were home, not just for us but for every woman who walks in to begin her journey of healing and recovering.”

Wears thanked former owner Julia Forbes, who negotiated a “good price” for the property and also left a number of furnishings.

Wears pointed to the stairway wall and noted that “founding members” who contributed to the Tucker’s House start-up effort had their names inscribed on the wooden wall.

“They helped us out when we wondered if this crazy dream of mine would become a reality,” she noted.

Next up was the dedication of an outside garden to Forbes’ daughter, Ella.

“Julia’s daughter Ella grew up in this house. Her footprints were on the ceiling of one of the bedrooms, which was really cute. Her handprint is in one of the downstairs closets. This was her house,” Wears said. “A house — it’s part of you.

Wears showed a sign noting “Ella’s Garden” that includes her handprint to be staked at the garden site.

Former property owner Larry Forbes always felt the barn upstairs area had great potential. Creation of a Great Room, where the women of Tucker’s House can exercise or simply watch TV, received high marks from Forbes.

“Larry Forbes maintained this house like a child — lovingly, tenderly, very meticulous,” Wears said. “His vision about community and healing has been met.”

The room will be known as the Larry Forbes Great Room.

Maybe the “touching moment” of the event was when Wears made her final dedication — Pierre’s Pond, a sign that will be tacked to the duck pond house.

Wears explained that Pierre was the brother of her “dear friend” Pauline Webb, whom she worked out with.

“Pierre, dedicated a great deal of his life to serving the underserved youth. He created a logo — the I Can logo, which is on everything we have — I can almost hear him saying like kids he served, ‘If you believe hard enough you can accomplish anything, everything you want.’ Pierre left his Earth sooner than he should have,” Wears said. “When that took place, I asked Pauline if I could take his logo (for) Tucker’s House. She talked with the family, and it was a ‘yes.’ It is important to carry the memory of people who have touched your life in a positive way, however you can as you move on in this journey.”

Wears closed out the ceremony thanking her husband, Brad, for his “incredible support” as well as Donna Jean,

“who became part of this house; she stopped in and cleaned a room, washed the floor, whatever we wanted her to do.”

In closing, Pastor Sean Bryant of Lake Region Vineyard Church in Bridgton, offered a blessing over the house.

“This is moving,” he said.

Pastor Bryant called attention to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea of a “blessed community.”

“His bigger dream was that our communities be free of poverty, be free of hunger, be free of hate, and be full of care. That was his bigger vision,” Pastor Bryant said. “We may not be able to end poverty and hunger. In ourselves, we can eradicate hate. But, we all can offer care.”

As a charge and encouragement, Pastor Bryant asked the crowd, “what can you give to Tucker’s House and the larger community?”

“How is your neighbor doing? Check in. Give them coffees. Go for walks. Care, it is part of that blessed community,” he pointed out.

He then offered encouragement to the Tucker’s House leadership group. He spoke of the parable of the farmer plowing a field.

“He can’t keep looking over his shoulder. He has to keep the plow straight. If you are looking over a shoulder, here and over there, you will be all over the place...You have a task in front of you. Hold onto that plow and ride it straight forward,” he said.

Plowing ahead is exactly what Kirsten Wears plans to do as Tucker’s House opens its doors to the first group of women looking to continue their journey toward sobriety.