The Spotlight is on Frederick “Fred” Erlon Hannaford (1906 – 1990)

 Fred Hannaford was born November 18, 1906, in Gorham, Maine, the son of Charles Byron Hannaford of Gorham and Harriett Jane “Hattie” Floyd of Gray, Maine.  He was one of 13 children, born and brought up on a farm.  In the 1920 census, his father is listed as engaged in “general farming”, and in 1930 is listed as a “humane officer”.  (Perhaps that had something to do with inspection of livestock or farm animals?)  

Fred worked for Barrows Greenhouse in Gorham from age 14.  In the 1930 census, he is listed as working in the greenhouse and living with his sister Carrie, who ran the greenhouse. 

In 1930, Fred married Helen Adelaide Usher of Standish, Maine.  Helen was the daughter of Frank Usher and Edith Hartford of Standish. 

In 1940, Fred was still living in Gorham and listed as a “laborer in a florist shop”. During WW II he worked in Portland on the liberty ships as a pipe fitter.  Fred used his experience working in greenhouses and florist shops when they relocated to South Hiram.  In 1948 they bought 105 acres that had been a dairy farm owned by Fred Libby.  (Mr. Libby had married a descendant of George Gould, the original builder of their house.)  There Fred and Helen started a florist business named Riverside Florist and they also grew strawberries and vegetables on the land where Sacopee Valley High School and part of Sacopee Valley Middle School are now located. The barn was moved back away from the house (to where it is now), to prevent it shading the greenhouses. By the 1950 census Fred was listed as living in South Hiram with his wife and three children, Reginald, Louise, and James. Their family grew to 13 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

Jean Stanley relates, “His was an old fashioned wood and glass greenhouse.  The earthy, rich smell is always present in any greenhouse, but seemed tenfold in this one.  I remember going with my mom to get geraniums for Memorial Day.  It seems like there was a cat. There was a border collie for sure!    And of course, there was Fred.  He was warm and welcoming, and fun.  I looked forward to that annual visit.  Later, when we were old enough, we kids would walk down ourselves.  I remember buying daffodils for mom on Mother’s Day.  The price was right for a kid’s allowance.”

About 1976, the Hannafords sold the business.   The house was relocated a few yards away on the crest of the hill, leaving the greenhouse and ell behind, still as a working greenhouse.  There was a fire that destroyed the greenhouse a few years later. Eventually, Fred and Helen’s son Jim and wife Mary moved back to the family home.  They have placed a small greenhouse back on the property where the business was located, a true “coming home”.

Fred and Helen became welcomed members of the community. They belonged to Charter Oak Grange, Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society, and Riverside United Methodist Church.  Fred was a Mason and Kiwanian. (His fried bread was a fund raising staple for Kiwanis.)  Fred was co-chair of the Hiram’s Sesquicentennial committee in 1964. Fred and Helen made living in a small town a big experience.

Fred died July 6, 1990 at the age of 84.  Helen died in Feb. 1996.  They are buried in the Dows Corner Cemetery on Rt. 35 in Standish, Maine. 

Thanks again to Jean Stanley for letting us use her Tombstone Tuesday                               story for most of our post today.