The Spotlight is on WILLIAM T. NORTON 1873 - 1932

He then went to Kezar Falls where he and Sidney B. Stanley bought the former S.P. Fox Store next to the “Stanley Block” (bank building near the bridge) and sold grain and groceries. About 1910 they took that building down and built the “Norton Block” in its place; one of the larger buildings in Kezar Falls Village. The “Norton Block” building was occupied by the post office and grocery store on the first floor and Norton Hall and later Carl Hammond’s Jewelry Shop on the second floor. (The building was destroyed by fire in 1970.) Will eventually sold that business, purchased the Sutton Edgecomb hardware building across the street and continued the Norton Hardware business until his death.

 William T. Norton was born in Porter, Maine April 19, 1873, the son of Appleton and Ursula (Taylor) Norton.  He was educated in Porter Schools and at Parsonsfield Seminary.  Because of his father’s ill health, he remained at home to help with the family farm for several years. 

On December 2, 1919, he married Florence Garner who was the daughter of Allen Garner, an owner of the Kezar Falls Woolen Mill.  They resided at her parent’s former home on Elm Street.  They had no children.

William was well known and active in the community.  He was Treasurer of eight different funds and organizations including the Town of Parsonsfield.  He was also Trustee, Treasurer, Steward and Choir Leader in the Riverside United Methodist Church.

William died suddenly on October 18, 1932, at a Kiwanis Club meeting. He was leading the singing – his favorite avocation - singing strongly and keeping time to the music with his arms when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died. 

A memorial stained-glass window is located in the choir loft at the Methodist church just beside where he usually sat.  He and his wife, Florence, are buried at the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds in Porter.

Far left - Newbegin Cigar Shop, large middle building - the Stanley Block and the newer Norton Block on the right – circa 1912.

The Spotlight is on CARL J. HAMMOND 1900 – 1992

 Carl J. Hammond was born April 4, 1900 in Monson, Maine to Eugene and Hattie (Day) Hammond.  By the time he was 10, he had lost both of his parents.  In 1910 he and his brother Eugene were living with their maternal grandmother Adelle Day, having by this time also lost both their paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather.  Adelle would live until 1928.  He attended Guilford schools and graduated from Guilford High School.

In 1920, Carl was living in a hotel in Northbridge, Massachusetts and working as a machinist.  In 1928 he married Mildred May Pierce, daughter of George Pierce of Garland, Maine and Mary (Jardine) Pierce of Nova Scotia.  George was living in Massachusetts and working as a teamster.  

In 1930, Carl and Mildred were living in Waltham and Carl was working as a finisher at Waltham Watch Company.  Soon after they moved to Kezar Falls and started a family.  Mildred’s parents had relocated here in 1920.

Carl and Mildred went on to have three children: Ronald, Jackson and Hope (Stacey Churchill).  For over 50 years Carl owned and operated C. J. Hammond Jeweler  upstairs in the Norton Block (next to the bank building) on Federal Road.  In 1969 Carl moved his business to a little shop he had added to his residence on Summer Street just one year before the Norton Block was completely demolished by fire

In Carl’s obituary, his daughter Hope stated, “His specialty was watchmaking.  But he was interested in many, many things.”  He was a well-known woodworker and built the cabinets for many of his hand-made grandfather clocks. He also made two violins and built model ships – one being the USS American and the Normandy.  His four foot replica of the Normandy was featured in the June 1945 issue of Popular Mechanics. 

Carl also restored antique cars, winning many trophies with his 1929 Chevrolet and 1932 Rockne.  He was an accomplished violinist, oil painter and magician and an avid matchbook cover collector.  Hope said “He was self-taught and a very disciplined man.  He was brilliant. His genius was in his hands.”

Carl and Mildred lived on Summer Street across from the Stanley family and were “Grandpa Carl and Grammy Hammond” to the Stanley children.  Jean Stanley relates “They were the kindest, sweetest people.  We could rely on them, if needed; even our cat visited them every day.  One night, we bet my sister Jennifer that she wouldn’t play her trumpet out on the front lawn at 9 pm.  Ever willing, she did.  Grampa Carl the next day complemented her on her playing.  When someone baked a cake for them, and he found out it had fallen in the middle, he quickly remarked how much he liked it that way.  One of Grandpa Carl’s most used expressions was, ‘my friend’. And indeed, he was the sort of man who was a friend to all. He made such a rich life from an early start of loss.  I was lucky to have had Carl and Mildred for my neighbors.”

Carl was active in the community.  He was a member of the Greenleaf Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the United Riverside Methodist Church.

They were married 59 years when Mildred died on January 17, 1987.  Carl died Feb. 15, 1992 after a long illness.  They are buried in the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds in Porter.

Carl J. Hammond Jeweler was on the second floor here marked by the key and clock under double windows.

Thank you, Jean Stanley, for allowing us to use your “Tombstone Tuesday” article for most of the information in this post.