More Winter Scenes

 HISTORY HOUSE REMAINS CLOSED UP FOR THE WINTER AND THE PARSONSFIELD-PORTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS IN QUIET MODE FOR A FEW MORE MONTHS.

So, in the meantime, let’s look at some more pictures of winter here 

from years past. 

This was taken in Dec. 1938 on Colcord Pond Road near the Raffy’s home.  Note the old snowplow here and below.  Two men are riding on the back to help clear the way when needed.  Standing here is Alice Davis (later Giovanella) with her brother, Bancroft and an unknown friend.

Below is a view of River Street in Kezar Falls (circa 1910).  The building on the left was the first location of Ridlon’s Drug Store and Frank Holmes Dry Good’s Store.  It later became the Garner Gym and Kezar Falls Fire Department building and is now an antique dealer’s storehouse.

Above is a view of Middle Road Village near the Merrill Hill intersection in Parsonsfield (circa 1909).  The Middle Road Library is on the left, Meserve’s Store, Masonic Lodge are on the right.  Notice there was no electricity here at that time.

This picture was taken in Maplewood, Parsonsfield – date, probably the 1940’s.

I am trying to find a picture of an especially heavy snowfall year (in the 1950’s ?) when the snowbanks were so high a person standing on them could touch the telephone wires.  Merrill Dunnells told us stories about that and his experiences helping to plow the roads through it.   E-mail frediler@myfairpoint.net.   

LOOKING BACK AT WINTER SCENES OF THE PAST

 Although 2023 has started off as a very mild winter, that is not usual for Kezar Falls and the surrounding area.  Let’s look at some old-fashioned Maine winter scenes from years past.  

This is Kezar Falls from the Parsonsfield side of the river looking through the covered bridge with the Merrifield bobbin mill on the right, Frank Holmes store is left of the bridge on the Porter side and the Methodist church is in the background.  Each town “snowed” the road inside the bridge to keep it passable for sleighs.  The roads were rolled to pack down the snow instead of plowing in those days.

This scene shows the snow being rolled on Kezar Mountain Road to pack it down so it would be passable. 

This was a little later, probably in the 1940’s taken from the Hotel Malvern at the intersection of River Street, Bridge Street and Rt. 25.  The Methodist church is out of sight on the right.  Beyond the triangle is Frank Holmes store and filling station.  The bridge is out of sight on the left. 

This last picture is how I remember winter as a child growing up in Kezar Falls. In fact, there was often much more snow than in any of these pictures.

- Jan Iler