Madison High School in October 1986 after it was gutted by an arson fire. Toby Thibeault, 15, of Madison was later charged with the fire and another one at Carrabec High School and was tried in early 1987 as a juvenile.
David Cappella reads an excerpt of his novel "Kindling" during a book reading at Madison Junior High School on Thursday.
Toby Thibeault, 15, of Madison, is led back to Somerset County Jail in Skowhegan by Somerset County sheriff's Deputy William Crawford after appearing in court on March 31, 1987, on arson charges in 1986.
The Hilton Dairy on Jones Street in Madison after it burned to the ground in fall 1986. Fire was set to the dairy twice and was later linked to arsons by Toby Thibeault, 15, who lived on Jones Street and was later convicted of setting fires in Madison.
Firefighters enter the house of Ercell and Gloria Thibeault in fall 1986. The house was one of 10 arson fires in Madison that fall, including one that gutted Madison High School. The Thibeault's son, Toby, 15, was convicted as a juvenile of the arson at the Madison Junior High and an attempted arson at Carrabec High School, though he was suspected of also setting the fire at Madison High School.
The home of the Waugh family on Jones Street in Madison burns in fall 1986. Neighbor Toby Thibeault, 15, was linked to 10 arsons that fall, four of them on Jones Street, including his parents' house, which was destroyed. Ultimately he was convicted only of the arson at the Madison Junior High and an attempted arson at Carrabec High School.
David Cappella, left, autographs copies of his book "Kindling" for fans at a book reading at Madison Junior High School on Thursday. Cappella's work of fiction is inspired by the 1986 Madison fires and rings true to many who lived in the town at the time.
David Cappella, left facing, speaks with friends and fans during a reading of his novel "Kindling" at Madison Junior High School on Thursday.
This photo in the Dec. 8, 1986, Morning Sentinel shows the level of fear Madison residents were feeling after a series of fires, particularly four on Jones Street. Louis Fourcaudot said this week that while his home wasn't one of the ones that burned, he couldn't sleep until an arrest was made.
John Krasnavage, the Madison Junior High principal at the time the school burned down in 1986, listens to David Cappella read an excerpt from his novel "Kindling" during a book reading and signing at Madison Junior High School on Thursday.
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