Windham Salon Rises From the Ashes in Salem

For nearly 20 years, Windham resident Jane Baetz ran a salon near the Salem border and that salon carried her name.

But in one fell swoop on the morning of March 23, Hair Solutions By Jane & Company, at least in its physical form, was all gone, charred in a two-alarm fire to the point that her husband Scott said that there was "literally nothing left" inside.

"Right down to her shears," he said.

But just because the physical location is gone doesn't mean she is about to just give up.

A temporary location to continue the business while she and her husband work on rebuilding has already been secured, right on North Broadway in Salem at a little place called Lotus Salon & Retreat.

According to Scott Baetz, his wife and one of her longtime employees have been calling clients like crazy over the past four days, telling them that the temporary move is taking place. They were even spending time yesterday afternoon moving in new supplies.

"They are going to be operating as Hair Solutions with their original number," he said. "Today's techonology makes this really easy. A trip to the Apple store to buy an iPhone, a call to Comcast to forward the number."

Scott Baetz said it was great that Hair Solutions will get back to servicing clients, and once they are back he and his wife can begin the long-term step of rebuilding.

He said at the moment it's about getting a better understanding of where the structure is currently at.

"Right now we're working with the insurance company to figure out what's happening next," Scott Baetz said. "The desire would be to stay in that location."

Scott Baetz also recounted the initial reaction to the life-altering incident.

"There's a period of shock that happens at first like 'oh my goodness, we've been here for 20 years, and now everything is gone,'" he said.

But what the Baetz family has seen since has been an outpouring of support from residents in both Windham and Salem.

A number of salons and stylists have offered both concern and an opportunity to work at their establishments.

Vendors that provide the products also made contact.

"Everyone was really reaching out," Scott Baetz said.

The ability to find some stability within the instability that the fire caused has Scott Baetz already thinking very positively toward the future.

"I think that we're going to be fine," he said. "I think the community has truly supported us. We do have insurance. It's there for these exact reasons, and everybody that we're working with we feel like we're going to be able to rebuild and restore. From tragedy comes great opportunity"

Jane Baetz temporary displacement to Salem is actually a return to her hometown, where she lived her whole life. Her husband is originally from Michigan.