Dog Team tragedy still a mystery

Author: Andrea Glaessner

The legendary Dog Team Tavern went up in flames in the early morning hours of September 1st, causing what appears to be irreparable damage to the beloved Middlebury restaurant. Dog Team, famous for its sticky buns, relish wheel and cozy, home-style interior, has become a crime scene, since firefighters and policemen discovered a body now identified as that of the restaurant's owner, Christopher Hesslink, 42 of Monkton, Vt. Hesslink was first reported missing after firefighters discovered his truck with his two dogs still inside parked behind the restaurant. Later, autopsy reports confirmed the body found near the fireplace in the ruins was in fact that of Hesslink, last seen in the restaurant Thursday night, before the flames broke out around 2:30 am.

The cause of the fire and now Hesslink's death is currently under investigation. Immediately following the incident, local newspapers reported public information about Hesslink. Public records indicated that Hesslink was charged with sexual misconduct toward a female employee. The case was settled earlier this summer. However, the circumstances surrounding Hesslink's death are being looked more carefully into. In a phone interview, Addison County State Attorney John Quinn said "Certainly the fact that [Hesslink] had an incident involving bad publicity may have impacted his emotional state."

Quinn added that he had also heard the rumors about the financial troubles Dog Team may have been facing, and is aware that financial concerns may have been a factor in Hesslink's death. However, Quinn was quick to reassert that the investigation is ongoing, and that no one is ready to make the determination regarding Hesslink's death. Quinn hopes to have a preliminary report of the investigation completed in the next thirty days.

In the meantime, loyal patrons of Dog Team are adjusting to the loss of the historically and personally significant eatery.

Liz Romney '08 and her family own a cabin in nearby Bristol and were devastated to hear the news that such a memorable restaurant had been destroyed. Romney was surprised to hear the restaurant may have faced financial troubles, saying "I've been going to Dog Team my whole life and never knew until recently how well-known the restaurant is all over Vermont. It seems impossible that the restaurant was really in financial trouble. Those sticky buns were famous."

A Middlebury senior, Alyson Bourne, was also shocked to hear the news. Bourne had just had her 20th birthday party at Dog Team and was a big fan of the relish wheel. Bourne recalled that Dog Team "always had that cozy, rustic atmosphere and was a great place to go with a big group. It was definitely one of those restaurants that every student should have gone to before graduating from Middlebury."