Old Salt Antiques "Old Salt Antiques," a painting by artist Lawrence Baker, shows how the building that housed Dot's good Deals on Rt. 1 in Woolwich looked in earlier times. The building was destroyed by fire March 30.

A Sagadahoc County Grand Jury has indicted Henry P. Schmidt in connection with the fire March 30 at Dots Good Deals on Route 1 in Woolwich.

Schmidt is the son of Dot, or Dorothy Schmidt who owned and operated the shop since 1980.

If he is convicted of arson, a Class A felony, Schmidt could face up to 30 years in prison.

Although the former building has been a landmark in Woolwich for many years, it has been an eyesore and a problem for town officials for the past few years, and continues to be today.

Since the fire the Woolwich selectmen have tried unsuccessfully to determine the owner of the property, since it had apparently gone into foreclosure before the fire. The town wants to know who the owner is so that the remaining rubble can be removed.

The selectmen asked for guidance from the Maine Municipal Association on having the rubble removed. Becky Seal recommended the selectmen rely on the Dangerous Building Statute rather than the town's own ordinance for a 60-day clean-up period.

However, the town still needs to know who the owner or owners are to serve them with a 60-day notice or notify them of a public hearing, which is required by the statute. Seal recommended the town, and the selectmen agreed, have a title search done. The selectmen sent a 60-day notice to a mortgage company in an effort to comply with the town ordinance, not knowing for certain if the mortgage company is the owner.

According to MMA, by using the dangerous building procedure, the town can put a special assessment (lien) on the property and recoup all their costs of removing the rubble.

A painting by Lawrence Baker, called "Old Salt Antiques," shows how the building looked years ago. His daughter, Nancy, who is president of the Lawrence Baker Gallery in Scarborough, said her father loved the old shop, and painted a different view of it in 1977, which he called "The Notice." Baker passed away in 2004. Prints of her father's paintings are available at the gallery. Both paintings were done before Dorothy Schmidt purchased the land and shop, changing it to Dot's Good Deals.