The Rural Meeting House in Maine - "The Plight and Future of the Community Soul"

Porter Meeting House

    There will be a presentation at History House on Saturday, May 17, 2014 after our regular meeting at 1:00 pm by Chris Closs, an adviser for Maine Preservation and Greater Portland Landmarks on the role of the meeting house in rural culture. He will talk about meeting houses such as ours in terms of challenges and opportunities and what we can and should do to preserve them.

    The historical society has several very interesting presentations this year so be sure to check out the schedule of events in the page tabs above.

Parsonsfield Town House

    Two of those events will center around our two meeting houses.

Saturday, August 16 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the Parsonsfield Town House - Middle Road Village

Grave stone expert, Jessica Felix, will talk about the proper way to care for and preserve grave stones and then lead a walk through the cemetery.

Sunday, August 31 (Watch this blog for details)

Open House at the Porter Meeting House

   Help keep our local history alive by attending our events and volunteering even a few hours to our efforts.  We can only continue with your support!

 

The Bandstand on Garner Island

   If you look west up the river from the bridge in Kezar Fall Village you can’t miss seeing the little island with the charming cottage that is located close to the bridge. It is reached from Elm Street by a driveway to a small access bridge.

    In the 1880’s the island, owned by Allen Garner, was used as a park. For a few years there was a small bandstand on the island that was reached by a footbridge from the middle of the old Kezar Falls covered bridge.

   

The Kezar Falls Cornet Band at the island bandstand about 1882

L-R: Albion Fox, Jake Libby, Sydney Stacy, Frank Shaw, Al Stone, Clint Stone, Charles O. Stacy, R. Fulton Wormwood, Walter Newbegin, Walter Fowler, unidentified, and John Ridlon.