The old Kezar Falls Village building featured today is

#17 Main Street at the corner of Bridge Street, Porter

Today this little building houses the Maine Guide Quilting shop owned by Mark and Mary Howland. It has a long history that goes back to 1884 when the lot was purchased from Jordan Stacy by Dr. E.R. Chellis along with the theater property featured last time.  Dr. Chellis had it built in 1886 for his medical office.  In 1892 he sold the building to Charles Wakefield, brother-in-law to Florence Perkins and it became the Florence Perkins’ Millinery shop.  In 1921 it was deeded to Miss Perkins.

Florence Perkins ran her millinery, dress and fancy goods store here for 58 years.  She passed away in 1950.  She bequeathed the property to her niece Madeline Wakefield.  The Town of Porter purchased the building from Miss Wakefield on 3/12/1964 and used it for Porter’s Town Office until 1986. 

Miss Perkins’ Millinery & Dress Shop 

L – R: Mary Palmer, Annie Weeks, Lizzie Weeks and Georgia Perkins 

Gone is the fancy Victorian trim on the Porter Town Office shown here with the front window as a background.

The Town of Porter sold the property to Melvin Clark in 1990 who sold it to Susan Pease in 1992.  It was passed to her heirs in 1994 and finally sold to the current owners in 1999.  After the town office moved out there was a succession of several different shops located in the building.

So, this little building continues to thrive and serve the Village of Kezar Falls today.

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society’s

First event of the 2024 season.

Join us Sat. May 4 at 2:30pm at the Kezar Falls Bridge for a guided community walking tour – “KEZAR FALLS VILLAGE – A STEP BACK IN TIME”.   

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Today we go to #21 Main Street, Porter near the corner of Bridge Street.

                                           The Kezar Falls Theater

This building was built by Dr. Edwin R. Chellis in 1884 as a public hall called the “Meionaon”.  According to the Oxford County Record Newspaper, it opened in January 1885 and its large open hardwood floor made it one of the best halls in the vicinity for roller skating, dancing and general purposes.  By January 1887 a good stage was added with a drop curtain and scenery.  In 1910 the Town of Porter purchased it from Dr. Chellis for a town hall.  From the 1920’s Porter High School used it for school events, dances and basketball games until the Garner Gym was established in 1940/41.  Roland Stanley operated the first movie theater here starting with silent films and then “talkies”.   It served the community as a venue for many types of entertainment over the years.

                                                                The Playhouse Theater circa 1946.

The Town of Porter continued to use it as a town hall until 1946 when Harry Welch of Gorham bought it from the town for $5,000 and started the “Playhouse Theater”. He allowed the town to continue holding Town Meetings here until 1978. 

Welch’s Discount Store Warehouse

Phillip and Dottie Welch bought the theater in 1962, after his father died, and ran the movie theater until 1971.  Phil then continued to use the building as a warehouse for Welch’s Discount Store until his death in 2011.

This is an interior view of the restored Kezar Falls Theater – 2024.

In 2012 Silas Hagerty purchased the building, renovated it inside and out and has brought it back to its original purpose as a theater.  Silas is a filmmaker and founder of “Smooth Feather Youth, Porter, Maine” a 501(c) (3) non-profit with the mission to empower youth through filmmaking.  One of the organization’s programs is an immersive film school experience, where students choose a topic, create an outline, cast actors, produce and edit a film – all within one week.   

(To learn more about Smooth Feather Youth visit their website.)

This very old building is thriving today thanks to Silas Hagerty.