This month we are looking at #14 River Street, Porter - another old original Kezar Falls business building that still exists. It looks pretty sad these days, however it is serving a useful purpose for the current owner, Tyler Dunbar, as a storage building for his business.  Although it is certainly looking old in this picture, it is hard to imagine its long and varied history.

The building was originally built for the Kezar Falls Free Meeting House in 1842 on the lot in front of the current Methodist Church at the corner of School Street and Bridge Street.  That makes it one of the oldest buildings in Kezar Falls.  The church was sold to the Kezar Falls Methodist Church in 1867.  They built a new church and sold this building to Clark Watson about 1883, and he moved it to the current location on River Street.  Notice the church like windows still evident in the picture below.

The building continued to evolve over a period of years and was used for many purposes.  Dr. E. R. Chellis bought it in 1887 and made it a large public “Village Hall”.  There was a carriage shop here and Herman Pike’s repair shop was here in 1896. 

This is how the building looked in 1908 when it was owned by the Charter Oak Grange.  They raised the roof for a 3rd floor and made an apartment on the 1st floor.  Myron Ridlon had his first drug store here in 1910 on the ground floor next to Frank Holmes’s dry goods store. From 1910-1912 there was a roller-skating rink on the 1st floor.  In 1916 Downs’ Pant Shop was located on the 2nd floor.  In 1924 it was ravaged by fire destroying the 3rd floor.  Orman Stanley and Jim Wiggins purchased it and rebuilt it without the 3rd story and sold it to William Garner in 1937.

Mr. William Garner remodeled the second floor for the school gym and the lower part for a much-needed fire station.  It was presented to the town of Porter in time for basketball season in 1941.  Everyone who went to school here before 1967 has many fond memories associated with it.  In addition to basketball games, the gym was used as a large auditorium where most school functions were held including programs, variety shows, proms, Saturday night dances and graduation exercises.  Apparently, the Garner family actually held the deed for the property until 1958 when it was passed on to the Town of Porter.  Porter continued to own it for several more years and “Activities Unlimited”, a group of parents, sponsored youth activities here from 1979 to 1989.  Melvin Clark bought the property in 1990.  It has several owners after that: Geraldine Anderson in 1989, Perter Mavris and Nan Gurley in 1992 and then in 2016 to the present owner, Tyler Dunbar.

Who knows how many more years are left for this old building?  But don’t count it out yet.

COMING UP NEXT ON OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

A meeting and program at History House on Sept. 28th at 2:00 pm.  Sylvia Wilson will present a program “Keeping in Touch – the Fenderson Letters”.  We look forward to seeing you there.