Happy New Year from Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

 2023 has been quite a year!  We welcome 2024 with the hope that it will be a better one for everyone worldwide.

With this vintage New Year’s Day card from our collection 

the Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society wishes a

HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR to all of you!  

History House is now closed for the season, but we still try

 to answer requests for information.   

See our website at – www.parsonsfieldporterhistorical.org

E-mail pphs@parsonsfieldporterhistorical.org

We look forward to seeing you in the spring of 2024.

The Parsonsfield - Porter Historical Society 

 sends everyone best wishes and much happiness this holiday season!                  

THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON: Paul W. Stacy (1893 – 1987)

 A lifelong resident of Porter, Maine, Paul Stacy was born April 1,1893 in Porter, son of Charles and Maude Watson Stacy. Paul graduated from Porter High School in 1908 and Bridgton Academy in 1911.  He married Jessie Merrifield on Feb. 23,1914 and they made their home on Summer Street. They had 5 children.  Unfortunately, three sons died before the age of 5. Their son, Dexter, survived but was bedridden all of his life and died at the age of 50 in 1965.  Their one daughter, Pauline, married George Gehrs of Falmouth and they had four children.

Paul served on the local school board of directors for 26 consecutive years and was its chairman for 20 years.  In 1917 he was elected town clerk of Porter and held the position for nine years, after which his wife Jessie served for more than 35 years.

In 1926, Mr. Stacy was elected to the Porter Board of Selectmen, serving until 1941.  He was re-elected to the Select Board in 1959 and served through 1983 - a total of 39 years.  One of the longest serving selectmen of the Town of Porter. He also served two terms (1938 – 1941) as a Republican member in the Maine House of Representatives.

Paul was a carpenter by trade and for 25 years he was foreman of the maintenance crew at the Kezar Falls Woolen Mill where he was in charge of many major construction projects.

Mr. Stacy was also active in several town organizations.  He served as chief of the Kezar Falls Fire Department for many years.  He was a member of the Saddleback Rod and Gun Club, a former member of the Knights of Pythias and the Costello Tribe No. 34 Improved Order of Red Men.  He was also a charter member of the Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society. Jean Stanley remembers Mr. Stacy well and said, “Paul believed strongly in public service.  He was gruff, opinionated, didn’t tolerate dissension, but he was also smart, with a dry sense of humor, and the well-being of Porter was center to his service.” Mrs. Stacy died in 1962 and Paul Stacy died at the age of 94 - Aug. 18, 1987. They are buried in the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds.

Part II NOVEMBER 11, 1918

 The eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month of 1918

The following are more pictures of WWI Veteran’s.  These are but a few of those who served from Parsonsfield, Porter and South Hiram.   We would appreciate copies of any that are missing. If you have pictures please let us know.  

George Day

Frank Jock

Howard MacDonald

Owen Stacy

Archie Stanley

Samuel Watkins

Carroll West 

Kezar Falls, Maine American Legion

The American Legion Post at Kezar Falls Maine had been in existence for a few years by the time it received its permanent charter Oct. 25, 1929 – dated 1928. The post was named – The Carroll S. West Post, No. 123 in honor of Carroll S. West of Parsonsfield, the first soldier from this area to die in World War I.   It was dedicated in memory of: Carroll West, Alfred Goodwin, George Gray, Ralph Mason, Ralph Libby, Howard MacDonald and Roscoe Durgin.  

After World War II the name was changed to The West-Day Post to also honor Erwin L. Day of Porter, the first local soldier to die in World War II. 

The American Legion now honors and represents American veterans from all wars. Unfortunately, there have been many.

Part I ...NOVEMBER 11, 1918

 The eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month of 1918 the Armistice Agreement was signed – temporarily ceasing hostilities and ending World War I.  

(The official Treaty of Versailles was not signed until June 28, 1919.)

At the time it was called the “Great War” or the “War to End All Wars”.

 

In November 1919 President Wilson proclaimed the first commemoration of 

ARMISTICE DAY. 

Most states continued to celebrate this day on Nov. 11 each year.

In May 1938 ARMISTICE DAY was approved Nov. 11th as a Federal Holiday. 

“A day dedicated to the cause of world peace thereafter.”

In 1954 President Eisenhower changed the name to

VETERAN’S DAY.

“A day dedicated to remember and honor veterans of all wars.”

Last month our BLOG post talked about George Day and several other local WWI veterans in E Company 101 Engineers 26 Division.  This time we would like to recognize other WWI veterans from Parsonsfield, Porter and South Hiram including a few pictures.

The following is a list of WWI veterans from Parsonsfield, Porter and South Hiram.

                                                                  Fred Allard

                                                                George Allard

                                                         Randolph Churchill

                                                         Sheridan Champion

Let us remember all of our veterans on Veteran’s Day coming up on November 11th. To be continued, see Part II on Nov. 15th.

Fryeburg, Maine - An Illustrated History

 

And don't forget the presentation by Dale Potter-Clark who will talk about her book which is a fictional story of escaped slaves from Bunker Hill Plantation in Jacksonville, Florida and the real-life Mainers who guided them to their destination in western Maine.  2:30 pm on Saturday October 28th at History House.  

 Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

invites you to a

Meeting & Program

at History House

92 Main St., Kezar Falls Village

 

Sat. Oct 28, 2023

Meeting – 2:00 pm with raffle quilt drawing

Free Program - about 2:30 

  ESCAPE FROM BUNKER HILL

Dale Potter-Clark will talk about her book - a fictional story of escaped slaves from Bunker Hill Plantation in Jacksonville, Florida and the

real-life Mainers who guided them to their destination in western Maine.

(Books will be available for purchase.)

 

Public Welcome

 

This is the last meeting of the season.

The drawing for the raffle quilt will be held.

You could be the winner!

THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON ………….

 George F. Day  

1895 –1977

This picture of a handsome young man in his WWI army uniform,

as well as his military “dog tags”, were donated to PPHS recently

by his granddaughters, Leigh Anne Day Weeks and Beth Day.

George F. Day was born in Porter, Maine to William and Irene M. (Lowell) Day  on February 25, 1895 - one of five children.  He and his brother Fred Day enlisted in E Company 101 Engineers – 26 Division of the U.S. Army on June 30, 1917 and were sent to France.

Although a young man when he enlisted, his granddaughter said George returned home “an old man” as the result of suffering from the effects of Mustard Gas.  Both George and his brother did return home.  He married Arlene Cutting January 26, 1929 and they had 6 children. 

Marilyn Ayleen Day – married Kenneth Douglas

Merton George Day – married Ann Emmons and had 4 children.

Donald Day – married Teresa Perreault and had 5 children.

Myrna Lee Day – married Carroll Harmon

Ramon Earl Day – married Donna Welch and had 6 children. 

Florence Ida Day – died at birth.

George died November 11, 1977 - on the 59th anniversary of the end of WWI. 

A section from The Story of E Company 101 Engineers – 26 Division -- A Record of Their Service May 1917 – April 1919, published in 1919 was also donated.  Other men from Kezar Falls were found among the list of members of 

E Company: Sumner O. Metcalf, Grover R. Norton, Owen Stacey, Sr. and Archie P. Stanley. Many men from the surrounding towns were also in E Company.  

We appreciate having his portrait and story in our collection.

 

 

You are invited

to the 

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

Meeting & Program

at

Porter Town Hall

71 Main Street, Porter

 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30, 2023

Meeting: 2:00 pm,

Program: 2:30 pm

 

“The Stanley Block

– Its Historic Past and Plans For

The Future.”

After a short video of the building’s history Scott Mounce will talk about his plans for this Kezar Falls icon.

 OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

Last open house of the year. 

Come see  the exhibit.   

“THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF 

RUFUS MCINTIRE”.

Come tour the house, view all the exhibits.

Have you already seen the exhibit?  

Come browse our scrapbook and album collection.

at 

History House 

92 Main Street in 

Kezar Falls Village (Rt. 160)

 COMING UP LABOR DAY SUNDAY

SEPT. 3, 2023 - 1 – 3 pm

The Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society will hold the

ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE at the 

OLD PORTER MEETING HOUSE

Rain or Shine!

Have you ever visited the Old Porter Meeting House?

Don’t miss this opportunity.

Visitors are welcome to tour the building.

Historical Society members will present the history of this unique old

building starting at 1:30 pm so that visitors can learn about its past and the

role the Meeting House played in the history of the Town of Porter.

An exhibit and pictures will also be on display.

This building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the

very few meeting houses of its kind still standing. 

                       A view from the balcony shows the box pews.                        

The raised pulpit that was original to the building was restored in 1969.

Located on Old Meeting House Road, Porter, ME

Directions: from Kezar Falls Village: take Rt. 25 West to Colcord Pond

Rd., then right on Old Meeting House Rd. From Porter Village: take

First County Rd., bear left at Colcord Pond Rd. then right on Old

Meeting House Rd.

FMI call– 625-7019 or 625-3020

(Sorry, no “facilities” available)

                         The Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society & the Parsonsfield Union Church Society

will co-sponsor the annual event at Middle Road Village, Parsonsfield again this year.  The public is welcome. Come visit what was once the thriving heart of Parsonsfield, Maine.

DOUBLE OPEN HOUSE!

THE HISTORIC PARSONSFIELD 

TOWN HOUSE & 

THE PARSONSFIELD UNION CHURCH

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19

1 – 3pm

Exhibits, a guided “Stroll of Middle Road Village” at 2pm and self-guided cemetery walk.

Located at the bottom of Merrill Hill Road near Middle Road.

 Directions:

From Route 160 (North Road) in Parsonsfield turn onto Merrill Hill Road just east of North Parsonsfield. Both buildings are on Merrill Hill Road near the intersection with Middle Road.

FMI: 329-1349

 

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

invites you to a

 Meeting & Program

at History House

92 Main St., Kezar Falls Village 

Sat. July 22, 2023

Meeting – 2:00 pm, Program about 2:30 

Lyn Sudlow will present:

 

“CELEBRITY IN OUR MIDST:

THE REMARKABLE RUFUS MCINTIRE OF PARSONSFIELD.”

Rufus was an outstanding resident of Parsonsfield and the State of Maine.

Lyn will talk about his life and all that he did to contribute to his town, his state and the country.   It will explain why he is the focus of our exhibit the year.

************************************************************************

Note

The Research Room at History House will be open

Mondays 10am - 12pm on July 24, August 14, and August 28.

Otherwise by appointment.

FMI phone 625-7019, 625-3020 or 625-8712.