WATERVILLE -- For years, Dale Marie Clark has dreamed of having a free-standing center for grieving children -- that the children can call their own.

Clark, executive director of Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area, located at 304 Main St., now has her wish.

On Wednesday, the organization moved Hope's Place, its free program for grieving children, into the house next door at 302 Main St.

Hospice bought the old building in August from Judy Judkins and renovated it with an eye toward maintaining its 1800s charm. An artist, Judkins had operated a gallery and studio there.

"We're trying not to change the character of the building," Clark said. "It's a lovely old Cape."

Tonight, the public is invited to tour the building from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. as part of Lights for Life, a program held during the holidays to commemorate loved ones. Live music, children's activities, refreshments and a tree-lighting will be featured.

On Wednesday, Clark gave a tour of Hope's Place with Deb Thurston, youth services coordinator and community outreach and education facilitator, and Joan Beckerman, committee chairman for Lights for Life.

Three rooms -- all freshly-painted and with new windows -- are for children ages 3 to 5, 6 to 9 and 10 to 12, and contain supplies for arts and other activities. A program for teens is held in the main Hospice office next door.

Clark, Beckerman and Thurston talked about the importance of allowing children to process their grief when they experience a significant loss, whether from the death of a family member, teacher, classmate, neighbor or friend.

Children process their feelings through activities, the women said.

"This is a place they can cry, they can scream and do whatever they need to do, and it's all right," Clark said.

The Hospice organization is an independent, all-volunteer agency that provides free non-medical support to individuals and families faced with life-threatening illnesses and end-of-life issues. It serves 27 communities in northern Kennebec County and some communities in Waldo, Penobscot and Somerset counties.

People have come to the center from as far away as Bangor, Winthrop and Knox, the women said.

The Hope's Place program for children was launched in 2005, but the teen groups were started before that. Clark said she has hoped for a free-standing building for children ever since the organization moved to Main Street from Silver Street in 2001.

"It has all come together and I'm so glad we have the staff in place and volunteers in place to make it a smooth transition," she said. "This area needs it."

Hospice was able to purchase the new building with money from a bequest the organization received early this year, as well as a donation received in July and specially designated for Hope's Place.

City assessor records estimate the building was constructed around 1850. Lloyd Ladd, 91, of Oakland, recalls that the Rosenthal family built the Abenaki Golf Course around the building in the late 1930s and the nine-hole course encompassed the lower half of Roosevelt Avenue, all of Johnson Heights and all of what is now Eustis Parkway. The Rosenthals lived at the north corner of Johnson Heights and Main.

Ladd, who was born in his grandparents' house across Main Street in 1916, said he recalls playing on the course as a child and, at some point, a family named "Teague" lived in the house now housing Hope's Place.

The house also served as the dining room for the golf course, whose clubhouse was located about where Hospice's main office now sits at the corner of Eustis Parkway and Main Street.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com