Just days before Christmas, a fire destroyed a symbol of the season, as first reported by Frederick News-Post.
An elderly Frederick couple says it will take a miracle to replace their life size nativity scene before Christmas Day.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the three wise men, camels and donkeys were all in a manger built with hay bales. All that's left after the fire is a pile of straw. The fiberglass figures just burned up.
David and Naomi Zimmerman say by the time anyone noticed, the flames were halfway up their barn.
“Everything was just ablaze. You couldn't tell it was figures or nothing,” said Mr. Zimmerman, who is 81.
For more than half a century, the nativity scene has been a landmark on Jefferson Pike. Through 51 anniversaries and birthdays and family Christmas celebrations, the couple has set the life size fiberglass figures up next to their historic Maple homestead, where their family has lived since 1877.
What does Christmas mean to you to them?
“Birth of Christ, that's what it means,” said Mr. Zimmerman, choking back tears. “Birth of Christ. Savior of the world.”
The fire chief said these kind of blazes are usually sparked by overheated lights or worn electric cords. But the Zimmermans don’t but that.
“I don't buy that at all.”
David & Naomi Zimmerman of Frederick survey charred remnants of their life-sized nativity scene. #Irreplaceable @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/hTW1Q2LNA3
— Bruce Leshan (@BruceLeshan) December 21, 2016
The Zimmermans are convinced it was arson. Partly because it's happened before. And partly because the sign where they put up religious messages has been a target of vandals too.
“They've egged it, they've stoned it, broken the plexiglass, shot at it,” said Mr. Zimmerman.
But arson or accident, neighbors are coming together to help. Offering to rebuild the manger and scour the web for the now hard to find statues.
“What the devil wanted for evil, God has turned out for good,” said Mrs. Zimmerman.
The Zimmerman's say the New Jersey company where they bought the figures has gone out of business. You can find life-size nativity scenes on eBay, but they're expensive.
Their adjuster was out at the farm, and they're hoping insurance will cover the cost so they can at least have Jesus, Mary and Joseph back in place next year.
