Fire destroys Kittery home owned by artist, dancer Dean Diggins: 'Nothing could be saved'

KITTERY, Maine — An early morning fire Friday completely gutted a 22 Trafton Lane home belonging to well-known dancer and artist Dean Diggins.

Diggins, who is now elderly and living in an assisted living facility, lived in the home for many years with his partner of 44-years, Jack Huber, who died at age 88 on Nov. 26, 2007. Huber was a locally known writer, teacher and actor.

"When we arrived, it seemed like there wasn't a single piece of wood that was not burning," said Kittery Fire Chief David O'Brien. "Nothing could be saved."

Diggins well-known and performed internationally

Diggins, best known for dance, is also an accomplished painter. The American Tap Dance Foundation honored him with its 2013 Hoofer Award.

"In our field it's kind of the pinnacle — the American Tap Dance Foundation," said Drika Overton, director of The Dance Hall in Kittery, and Diggins' colleague and friend. "It is a prestigious (award) in our field."

As a member of the Mattison Trio, Diggins appeared in clubs, and theater, throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, South America, and Cuba, and performed as a supporting act for the likes of Jack Benny, Carol Channing, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, and others. The trio appeared on television in Buenos Aires, Germany and Italy and here on "The Ed Sullivan" and "Today" Show during its 10 years.

"I heard about the fire and went over to look," said Overton. "I am just really glad he was not there to see this."

Overton reflected on Diggins "storied life" and said he is still one of the most upbeat people she knows, with a "wicked, offbeat sense of humor."

"Dean grew up in a small town in Iowa and began tap dancing when he was 6 years old," Overton said. "He had that talent right from the beginning. He won lots of competitions and eventually found himself in New York. The rest is history."

Overton said Diggins and Huber moved to Kittery in the 1990s.

"He just walked into my studio, then located at the Button Factory, and we have remained friends ever since," she said. "We get along famously. I loved them both. He was in all my shows from then on and he brought a unique style to everything he did. To this day Dean Diggins is beloved in the Kittery community. He is doing very well where he is. He is happy."

Diggins performed Tap Dance Concerto (Morton Gould, composer) with the Indianapolis Symphony, Lake Charles Symphony, Houston Symphony, and many others, and choreographed and or performed for additional projects throughout the United States.

He danced the role of the Father in Overton's "Clara's Dream" (2000-2006,) and as Drosselmeyer for Ballet New England, (2007 and '08.)

He is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement award for Tap Dance, the National Heritage Museum Lexington, Mass., and a Spotlight Award for "Outstanding Personal Achievement and Contributions to the Seacoast Artistic Community, 2006, from Spotlight Magazine, with Seacoast Media Group.

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Fire was in difficult location

O'Brien said the department received the call for the fire at 3:01 a.m. He said the house, at 22 Trafton Lane sits out at the edge of the property, by Spruce Creek.

"No one was there at the time of the fire, which is fortunate," said O'Brien. He said no firefighters were injured and the 2.5-story single home was destroyed.

The chief said the home was empty because the owner was no longer living there.

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Because no one had been living at the home for a couple of years, O'Brien said, the state fire marshal was called to help investigate. He said he does not yet have a cause for the fire, but said he is satisfied there is nothing suspicious.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 8:40 a.m. Friday morning.

Kittery and Eliot fire crews worked at the scene. O'Brien said Portsmouth responded for station coverage.

Jeanné McCartin contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Fire destroys Kittery ME home owned by Dean Diggins, dancer, artist