BERRYVILLE — As members of Little Portion Hermitage near Berryville begin the cleanup from the April 28 fire that destroyed two buildings, they are coming to the unfortunate conclusion that there will not be anything to recover.
Jim Cosgrove, operations manager for Troubadour for the Lord record company and John Michael Talbot Ministries who lives outside West Memphis, was visiting the hermitage Monday to see if any computer hard drives or archives would be salvaged. Even the two fireproof file cabinets and one fireproof safe did not survive.
“Photos can no way do it justice,” Cosgrove said. “I don’t think there is anything recoverable.”
The fire was ruled accidental, he said.
Cosgrove said John Michael Talbot, a musician and founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, and the members of the public association were gratified by the donations they have received, many through its Web site.
Two days after the fire, Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, drove from Subiaco Abbey to the hermitage to make a “generous” donation.
“What made it most special were the personal signatures of the monks,” Talbot said. “Their love and support is indicative of how we have been supported by religious and secular organizations and individuals throughout the region. We have wept tears of sorrow, but also tears of deep appreciation by such acts of love and support.”
Cosgrove said private donations ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 have been pledged or paid to help rebuild Charity Chapel and the Common Center. He said all donations will help them.
“$10, $25, anything,” he said.
While the members stayed behind to set up their temporary offices, Talbot began a scheduled three-week tour of Canada, including a performance for the Catholic Media Convention in Toronto.
“We need this,” Cosgrove said of the tour. “It couldn’t come at a better time.”
Donors coming forward to help rebuild two hermitage buildings
