Waterville restaurant site of a “birthday” to remember

True love never dies, as was shown in downtown Waterville on Tuesday.

At 11 a.m., Jared and Mary O’Roak, both 46 years old, entered the Silver Street Tavern, the very place they had their first official appointment exactly 25 years ago when they were students from Thomas College.

Now married, Jared had told Mary that he took her to lunch. She did not know where, but quickly understood her as the restaurant’s front door approaches. But published on this door was a sign that said it was closed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a private event.

“I felt sorry for him because I knew he wanted to celebrate the birthday of our first meeting there,” said Mary later.

She recalled that Jared opened the door anyway and they entered an empty dining room, with attenuated lights, designed curtains and a small table for two in the center, with a black tablecloth, a vase of red roses, a bottle of wine and romantic music playing gently from the dark ceiling, where the tiny gold lights sparkled among the lanterns in white paper.

Immediately, tears started to flow.

“I did not expect any of this,” said Mary later.

Her husband had planned special “birthday” lunch in advance. He had spoken to the owner of Silver Street, Charlie Giguere, to ask him if it was possible to rent the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday; In other words, he was ready to pay all the money that the restaurant would have brought during these hours, so that he and his wife could have everything to themselves.

Jared asked if the chief could prepare the same meal as him and Mary had their first official meeting, also on 4, 25 years ago-salmon, asparagus and carrots, and perhaps a bottle of the same wine. He also asked for a table in the same place, dressed in candles and any other decoration that the tavern had at hand.

The restaurant staff, including the managing director Sarah Wentworth, did so in style, creating an exquisite romantic setting for the couple. Taking advantage of their lunch more than an hour after their arrival, Mary had a second surprise when the photographer of Sentinel Morning Rich Abrahamson and I entered. They were both kind to tell the story of how and when they met.

They were 18 years old and high school students on March 4, 1997, seated in a room in Thomas College, waiting to be interviewed and defend the tests they had written on the reasons why they were looking for scholarships at the college. Mary was from Houlton; Jared, from Searsport. He sat down next to her and they started talking. There was an instant connection.

“I said to myself:” I met my best friend, “recalls Mary. “I loved him right away.”

It was not in the romantic sense, she said and indeed, they became the best friends.

Jared remembers seeing their first meeting differently.

Jared O’Roak, on the right, shares a tender moment with his wife, Mary, Tuesday when he recreated their first meeting at Silver Street Tavern in downtown Waterville. Jared O’Roak rented the space for two hours to surprise Mary. The couple live in Winterport. Rich Abrahamson / Sentinel in the morning

“I went home and told my boyfriend:” I just met the girl I will marry. »»

They later learned that they both obtained complete and free tuition fees for four years in Thomas, from which they graduated in 2001; He with a diploma in finance and economics and her, in international business. They remained the best friends on the university and only started to go out together three years after their meeting.

They fell in love and in 2004, they were married and now lived in Winterport with their two children, 12 and 14 years old, and the family of the family. Mary is a housewife and Jared heads a wealth management office in Hampden.

Clearly always in love, they talked gently and to each other. I asked what is the key for such a happy wedding.

“I think we have always had God at the center of our relationship, and his love is right there – you cannot escape it,” said Mary. “We both know that it is so divine, which was given to us, that we do not question it. I feel so blessed.

Jared O’Roak, on the left, shares a laugh with his wife, Mary, Tuesday while recreating their first meeting at Silver Street Tavern in downtown Waterville. The couple live in Winterport. Rich Abrahamson / Sentinel in the morning

Jared, visibly emotional, stopped before answering, carefully choosing his words.

“When someone is so far from your league, you should continue to seize any chance you show them how much you appreciate it,” he said.

The restaurant staff stayed in the shadows, allowing the couple to enjoy peaceful moments. Chef Mike Williams and his son, Owen, a dishwasher, said they thought Jared had chosen an ideal way to surprise his wife. The Ryan Doane and Madison Evans server, a server and bartender, remained behind the bar, ready in case the O’Roaks need something.

The two 21 years old, the couple went out with themselves about five years and was able to attend Mary’s reaction when she entered the restaurant.

“It was so nice,” said Madison. “It’s super soft.”

Amy Calder has been a journalist from the morning for 36 years. His columns appear here on Saturday. She is the author of the book, “Comfort is an old barn”, a collection of her organized columns, published in 2023 by Islandport Press. It can be contacted at acalder@centralmaine.com. For previous reports apart from the columns, go to Centralmaine.com

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