Pagan’s house burns in Great Falls, SC.
By Christopher Blackwell

I am interviewing Richard Potter, a Pagan man that recently moved into Great Falls, SC.

Potter had the misfortune to have his house, on 6 Jackson St., catch fire while he was asleep on Sunday Feb. 4, 2007.

Christopher: Richard how did you happen to move into Great Falls and when did you move into your house?

Richard: I had been living in Camden, S.C. taking care of my aging parents. My parents both died and since the house was willed to six people really could not afford to buy out everyone else. The house was also far to large for me to maintain by myself. Being a friend of Darla Wynne's I became familiar with Great Falls, found it to be a pretty little town with basically friendly people. Land prices here were cheap and I found a house and property that fitted my income requirements. The house and property almost called out to me. I felt a sense of comfort and security there: it just had that good feel.

Christopher: Were you open, or private, about being Pagan?

Richard: While not going out of my way to let people know I was pagan, I did have bumper stickers on my car :"Born Again Pagan", "Celtic Warrior", a blue Magnetic ribbon saying, "Bring Our Boy's Home." I had no real conversations with anyone concerning my religious beliefs, But I didn't try to hide who I am; it's not in my nature. I was open, but not flagrantly obtrusive about my beliefs, I openly wore both a pentagram, and a triskele.

Christopher: How has it been living in Great Falls before the fire?

Richard: Quiet and peaceful, with the exception of having to run off some trespassers who didn't know the house was still vacant.

Christopher: Care to tell us of your experiences on the morning of the fire?

Richard: I was awakened at ??/a.m. [about 5 a.m] with someone knocking on my window. I said "What the hell's going on" and my neighbor replied," your house is on fire. The fire was small at first on the extreme left side of my porch, which was right outside my bedroom window. we ran to the back yard to get a hose and by the time we got back to the front yard the fire had already reached the ceiling of the porch and was out of control. Not seeing my little dog outside, Ii broke open the back door window and ran inside to see if she was still inside. When I reached my bedroom, fire and smoke were already coming down from the ceiling and my bed was aflame. The smoke and head was so bad that I had to retreat immediately. By the time I reached the front of the house fire trucks were already arriving. All this transpired in about 5 minutes time: it felt like hours. I stood outside in 30 degree weather in my exercise pants and watched everything go up in flames. The firemen were suspicious of the fire; one of them told me It looked like it had been set. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was called in to investigate along with an arson dog. The dog pinpointed two spots where he thought accelerant had been used. They were at the extreme left hand corner of the porch; right outside my bedroom. SLED took samples and it will be two weeks or more before there are lab results. The local police took a very short Statement, Sled wanted much more detailed statement written in my own hand and I wrote them a two page statement. There were neighbors who brought me some ill fitting clothes to help ward off the chill. I was also given coffee.

Christopher: This fire is going through an investigation as a possible arson. What do you think?

Richard: Since there was no wiring in the area where the fire started and no other heat source that I could see, I believe the fire to be an arson. It seems the burning times are not over, had my neighbor not awakened me when he did I would now be in other world.

Christopher: I understand your dog was missing after the fire. Have you found her? Is she okay?

Richard: Thus far I have not found her remains in the house, I have not found her and can only hope someone picked her up and she is O.K. AT this point I so not know of her fate.

Christopher: I gather you lost everything that you owned in the fire including your vehicles. What do you do now? .

Richard: If There is one thing in life that experience and the Goddess and God have taught me; It is that all you truly own is within your own self. Your body and spirit. I will simply start over again. I Still own the land and will make it a private park in honor of The Earth Mother and the Forrest Lord. I am buying a house adjacent to the property. Call me brave or call me fool; no one runs me away from the gifts of earth granted me by the God and Goddess. They require positive beliefs of me, and have instilled in me the warrior spirit of My Scottish forbears. There is nothing to fear from death, there is everything to fear from cowardice; It damages the soul and the mind.

Christopher: Have there been any offers of help?

Richard: Yes. I have received help from my family. From my good friend Darla. From the Red Cross. A local person found me shoes and some clothes that actually fit. One Presbyterian church took up an offering for me (one in Western North Carolina where my Family lives, not a local church) There have been offers of help locally, but except for the Red Cross, and the Lion's Club (partial help in getting new glasses), nothing concrete.

Christopher: I hope you will keep us informed how this all turns out. I am sure that most of our readers will hope that you come out as well as possible.

Richard: Thanks, I seek justice and things will turn out as the deities allow and according to my own efforts, I promise you I will treat living here with a bit more thought and caution and continue to worship in my own ecclectic/Wittan way. Fire is the blood of the Mother and the eye of our Father> Those who misuse the gift of fire are doomed to experience it in ways they will not like all praise to Lealech and the Master Of The Wild Hunt who protect and sustain me......Blessed Be