Dealing with Disaster-Dixons begin rebuilding lives
After fire destroyed their historic Main Street home, a local couple has begun the slow, painstaking process of rebuilding their lives. Amid the ruins and rubble, the couple has found more than expected.
Within minutes of barely escaping with their lives, Mel and Janice Dixon clung to each other and watched helplessly as their once-peaceful lives were replaced with destruction, loss, heartache and despair.
‘What we felt was unspeakable,’ said Mel. ‘Everything we loved was disappearing. There are no words to describe what we were feeling at that moment.’
As anyone who has suffered the effects of fire can attest, the first day can be the hardest ‘ as well as every day following. However for the Dixons, the day began a new appreciation for the community in which they live.
The couple immediately began to receive numerous calls and invitations offering them a place to stay, meals, and clothes. In with those invitations was one from Mayor Royce Davenport.
‘He took me to his house to get some sleep the morning of the fire,’ said Mel. ‘When I woke up, there was a sign that said my closet is your closet. That was wonderful. I’ll never forget that.’
The outpouring of generosity continued: First Baptist Church held a shower and numerous items were donated. One church member offered personal pictures from church trips to replace some of those that were lost. E-mails, phone calls, words of encouragement and hugs were received by the hundreds.
‘People opened their hearts to us,’ said Mel. ‘We couldn’t go to the store without someone stopping us to give us a hug or words of encouragement. Everyone has been so giving, loving, sharing. It wasn’t for show. It was real. If I tried to list everyone, I would leave somebody out.’
Although the first day held a desire for the couple to salvage what might be left, they were not allowed back into the area until it was considered safe. They weren’t, but city employees were.
While making the area safe, city employees began to discover items that were not completely destroyed.
‘I’ll never forget it when Bill Brock (Public Works director) walked into my store,’ said Mel. ‘He was smiling and said he had something for me. He handed me my photo albums. He came back later with a burnt cabinet which contained military items. I was speechless.’
Once the area was considered safe, volunteers helped the Dixons recover, among other items, ministry books belonging to Mel’s dad, CDs, DVDs, some sports memorabilia, and a large Hershey’s kiss given to Mel by Janice on Valentine’s Day. Volunteers included friends, First Baptist Church members, WCHS band members, JROTC members and Boy Scouts, just to list a few.
Regrets remain from the loss of treasured items collected over a lifetime, but within those regrets are lessons for others.
‘I had the only known diary of a man who fought at Stone’s River,’ said Mel. ‘If I would have known, I would have had things in a safe. Everyone needs to place things like an extra check book, photos, duplicate keys and valuable papers in a safety deposit box somewhere. You just never know when tragedy will strike.’
Although nothing can be done to give them back their home, their personal belongings and their life as they knew it, the community has proved there is no place like, or better than, Warren County.
‘We could have lived anywhere we wanted to, but we chose Warren County,’ said Mel. ‘I hand picked this town, because I wanted to live here. People here are awesome, amazing, giving, loving, sharing. That doesn’t sound like sufficient words for what others have done for us.’