The Former Ridlon Drugstore Building in Kezar Falls

 Our focus this time is the former Ridlon Drugstore Building which has been at the center of Kezar Falls on the Porter side of the bridge since 1922.  

This building at #1 Bridge Street still stands between the former barber shop building that we featured last time and the bridge in Kezar Falls village.  Myron Ridlon purchased this property in 1922 and erected a two-story building with an apartment above.  In 1923 he relocated his pharmacy here after 13 years of business on nearby River Street and upgraded the store many times over the years. He not only dispensed prescriptions and over the counter medicines, but had a soda fountain counter, sold ice cream and had a few tables for the comfort of his patrons.  As drug stores do today, he also sold magazines, comic books, personal items, etc. and one could pick up a small gift if needed.  This was a popular drop-in spot for local residents, not just for medicines.  He carried on his business for 43 years.

This view of Ridlon’s Drug Store shows it as it looked circa 1925. The fountain on the left was removed when the triangle park was created in 1927.  On the right, the mill can be seen across the river. In this photo taken by George French circa. 1940, the drug store is on the right looking up Bridge St. from the bridge.

In this photo taken by George French circa. 1940, the drug store is on the right looking up Bridge St. from the bridge.

This interior view of the pharmacy with Myron Ridlon - druggist and Iva Cutting - clerk, is exactly as I remember it growing up here in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

The pharmacy never reopened after Myron’s passing November 29, 1966, but his nephew, Myron Locke, ran a variety store, soda fountain and snack bar here from 1967 to 1977.   Since then, there have been several small stores including a bakery and fabric shop. An addition was built with large windows facing the river for a beauty shop and there continued to be apartments on the second floor.  Most recently the building has had major renovations top to bottom making it entirely into what appears to be six apartments. 

This building is not quite as old as the previous buildings we have featured, but nevertheless, we are pleased to see it continues in the center of our little town.

Repurposed #3: Old Buildings in Kezar Falls

 #3 BRIDGE STREET, PORTER 

THE FORMER DAVIS BARBER SHOP

This building at #3 Bridge Street is next to the Ridlon Brothers Store featured in our last post.  It is currently an apartment building owned by John T. O’Donnell who has made renovations to improve the apartments for his tenants. It is a very old building in the center of Kezar Falls and has changed owners many times.

Joshua Elliott purchased the lot located on the east side of Bridge Street, between the Ridlon Brothers store and the bridge, from Samuel Ridlon for $150 in 1885.  He started the building in July.  On 7/18/1885 The Oxford County Record newspaper published the following: “Joshua Elliott has got the frame for his new building nearly up.  It will be 3 stories with a Mansard roof.”  See the building on the far right below.

Bridge Street showing, from left to right, the Malvern Hotel (now gone),

Ridlon Brothers Store and the Elliott Building.

The 1/15/1887 issue of The Oxford County Record newspaper stated “F.B. Davis has moved into the Elliott rent and opened a barber shop in the room formerly occupied by Rendall the jeweler.”

Fulton B. Davis – barber, circa 1910.

The Davis Barber Shop continued here for many years, carried on by his grandson Harry “Chick” Davis shown here in 1937.

This following view is of the Elliott Building taken circa 1934 with the Davis Barber Shop on the 1st floor, left side.  The third floor burned in 1984 and was rebuilt without it. It continued as an apartment building.  By the time that this picture was taken the Ridlon Drug Store had been built to the south between the Elliott Building and the bridge.

It is good to know that we still have quite a few of these original old buildings that form the center of Kezar Falls Village which are still in use today.