By Diana Graettinger
The Bangor Daily News
PLEASANT POINT, Maine — Thirty-five years ago, Fire Chief Maxwell “Chick” Barnes, 69, loaded a hose onto the back of his pickup truck and fought his first house fire on the reservation.
He put that fire out single-handedly.
On Saturday, hundreds of family members and friends honored Barnes’ service to the Passamaquoddy Fire Department at a get-together at the Youth and Recreation Center. Susan Francis and Shonna Lewey of Pleasant Point helped organize the event.
In addition, more than $6,000 was raised for Barnes, who last year had part of his right leg amputated because of complications from diabetes.
Tribal Councilor Dottie Barnes, who is Barnes’ daughter-in-law, said Saturday that the tribe wanted to honor Barnes now.
“We don’t do it enough in our community of honoring people for what they do,” she said. “I think if we can start doing that, we can bring our community together.”
The fire chief Saturday reminisced about those early days. “When I started the fire department, I had a 11/2-inch hose and a nozzle. That’s all I had,” he said. “I put the hose on my own pickup truck.”
Soon afterward, Barnes attended the state’s fire academy. “When I got back we had a structure fire and I was the only one to fight it. I put it out, but it was kinda difficult just being one person,” he said.
Today, the Pleasant Point Fire Department is what it is because of Barnes’ efforts. There is a fire station with equipment and the department has 13 volunteers.
Although the man who served as its chief for the past 35 years is wheelchair-bound, it won’t be for long. Barnes vowed Saturday that once he is outfitted with a prosthesis, he’ll be back fighting fires.
Passamaquoddy Police Chief Joseph Barnes on Saturday marveled at his father’s indomitable spirit. “In 2001, he had a bypass on that foot when they first found out he had problems with it. I thought that may be the time for him [to retire]. He spent six months out of work and it drove him crazy,” he said. “I think this is the only thing he wants to do.”
Last year was a tough one for Barnes and his wife, Mary Lou. Their son Jimmy died unexpectedly, and shortly after that Barnes was given the bad news about his leg.
“After my brother’s death [in November], two weeks later [we learned] that he would lose his leg,” Joseph Barnes said. “He has been diabetic for a long time and of course the news wasn’t so good so soon after my brother died.”
Barnes said his father had a lot of courage and agreed that a prosthetic leg was not going to stop his father from being fire chief.
But the next few months will be expensive. “There are a lot of doctor’s appointments,” his son said. “He is going to get a prosthetic [leg]. Then he will start physical therapy, and someone has to take him and it gets pretty expensive. Even if you have insurance, you still bear a considerable amount of cost at the end.”
During the ceremony, Wayne Newell of Indian Township served as the master of ceremonies. He introduced tribal elder Joanna Barnes of Indian Township, who offered a prayer in Passamaquoddy.
Then the drumming group the Little Eagles played the honor song for Barnes. Four of the drummers were Barnes’ grandchildren.
Indian Township Lt. Gov. Joseph Socabasin paid tribute to Barnes, and so did Penobscot Fire Chief Joe Loring of Indian Island, who presented Barnes with a walking stick made by his father.
“I’d like to say to your tribe that they have a great person in you in running their fire department,” Loring said.
Barnes’ son, David, paid tribute to his father. “Dad, I love you with all my heart. You took me in at 6 months old and I’ve been your child ever since,” he said.
Denise Altvater of Pleasant Point also praised the fire chief. She said he and his family were there when she and her sisters were growing up on the reservation.
“Times were real hard. It was a really difficult life,” she said. “Not only would Chick and Mary Lou take us in and feed us, but they helped my mother a lot throughout the years,” she said. “I love them so dearly. I am not sure how we would have survived without their help. Chick, thank you so much for everything.”
Pleasant Point Tribal Chief Rick Doyle then praised Barnes and presented him a plaque.
“In appreciation of Maxwell Joseph Barnes of the Pleasant Point Fire Department for 35 years of dedication and service to the community of Pleasant Point,” he read from the plaque.
Barnes received a standing ovation.