William Chapman House

 This house at the corner of School and Main Street is the last in the series of the original public buildings that still exist on the Porter side of Kezar Falls Village.

Although it has not housed a business for many years, it started as a leather shop that made boots, shoes and other leather goods.

Today #19 School Street is an apartment building owned by Randy J. Ruginski who purchased the building in 2015 and has made major changes to the building and removed the ell and large attached barn.

The Oxford County Record Newspaper reported about this building in detail.  On August 25, 1883, it reported that “William Chapman has bought a lot on “Printing House Square” and will erect a building next season”.  By June 27, 1884, it announced that William Chapman erected a building here for Chapman’s Leather and Harness Shop on the first floor.  By the end of August, the second story was finished as a residence for his son.  On March 21, 1885, that building was destroyed by a fire that also burned the Oxford County Record Newspaper building next door.  Chapman immediately rebuilt it and by July 4, 1885, it was back in business.  William Chapman died and left the property to his son, James E. Chapman in 1919.

Shown here L to R: Jacob Ridlon, William Chapman, Frank Gammon, James Chapman, Ernest Hatch, Irving Mason, Ed Ridlon and Fred Storer.

Sometime later there was a candy and ice cream shop located here.

In 1921 Charles and Ida Cole purchased the property from Orman Stanley and it remained in the family for many years.  By 2006 the building was a three-story apartment house.

 In Jan 1999 the building was purchased from the Jessie A. Cole estate by William Pulcifur and Sandra Emerson.  Then in 2015 it was purchased by the present owner.

So, this old building has stood at this corner for nearly 140 years and has seen many changes, but it continues to hold a place in the history of the Village of Kezar Falls. By 2006 the building was a three-story apartment house.

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THE PARSONSFIELD-PORTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

WISHES EVERYONE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING.

History House is now closed for the season, but we will do our best to assist you with any research questions you may have during the winter.  Send them to: pphs@parsonsfieldporterhistorical.org or mail them to PPHS, PO Box 250, Parsonsfield, Maine 04047.

The Knights of Pythias Hall

 We are featuring another building on the Porter side of Kezar Falls in this series of original public buildings that still exist.  This building at #10 School Street is now privately owned and not being used for business.   It is best known as the Knights of Pythias (K. of P.) Hall and was once a busy place.  

Former K. of P. Hall as it looks today.

The original building (see below) was built in 1888 by Jacob A. Libby.  He had a grain store on the first floor.  The Knights of Pythias - Ossipee Lodge No. 40, chartered in 1884, had been wanting their own hall for some time, so they made a unique arrangement with Mr. Libby to build the 3^rd floor for their use.  They moved in on Jan 23, 1889, and shared their quarters with the Odd Fellows lodge.  In 1900 disaster struck!  A fire destroyed the entire building. Only the lodge records and charter were saved. The K. of P. members voted to rebuild.  They purchased the lot and in 1901 rebuilt the building that stands today with the lodge hall above and a public hall with a stage located on the first floor.  (Its stage curtain was hand painted and hangs today in Porter’s Town Hall.)  

Jake A. Libby’s store and Knights of Pythias Hall above. Circa 1889.

In 1907 the “Ossipee Valley Weekly” described the new building as follows: “The K. of P. Hall is commodious and finely finished.  The upper story is reserved for the meetings of the Order and is inaccessible except to those who can speak the password.  The lower floor is devoted to “hall purposes” and provides an excellent place for concerts, plays, school entertainments, etc.  The basement is devoted to kitchen and banquet hall.  This hall is one of the best buildings in the village.”   

Knights of Pythias – Ossipee Lodge No. 40 (1884 – 1978).

The K. of P. hall was used for many public events including school plays, church Christmas parties, etc. and remained active until about 1977 when it was dissolved.  It was then deeded to the town of Porter in 1977 and was used for Porter town meetings until 1986. 

On April 6, 1988, it was sold to the current owners Eugene and Cynthia Tewksbury.  For a time, it was leased by some small businesses, but today is no longer used for business purposes.

          PARSONSFIELD-PORTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY                    Our last meeting of 2024 will be at History House on October 26 at 2:00pm.   Join us for an interesting program presented by Jean Stanley – “From France to America – the Blazo Family of Parsonsfield, Maine”.  Hope to see you there.

 

 

 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.

Riverside Methodist Church

 This month we continue our look at the old original Kezar Falls buildings that are still in use by crossing Bridge Street to Riverside Methodist Church.  Located at #5 School Street at the intersection of Rt. 25, Bridge Street and School Street, it is one of our oldest buildings.  Most of us are so used to seeing it throughout the years overlooking the village center that we hardly give a second thought to its long history.

This picture taken in 2006 looks the same as it does today.

 The Methodist church settled here in Porter about 1839 and as it began to grow in 1867 it came into possession of the dilapidated Union Church building just in front of this location.  It soon became apparent that it needed to be replaced.  So, the old building was sold and moved to River Street and the new building was erected in 1883 and dedicated in 1884.

Many changes and improvements have taken place over the past 140 years such as the addition of electricity, central heat and stained-glass memorial windows.    A most unusual and visible addition was the stainless-steel star placed on the steeple about 1951 in memory of Mrs. S. Evelyn Devereux.  This still adorns the steeple today and makes the Riverside United Methodist Church instantly recognizable.  The new parish house wing was completed in 1963.  Through the dedication of faithful parishioners many renovations and updates have been done to maintain the whole building as a place of worship, fellowship and of service to the community.

The Riverside United Methodist Church is the only active church left in the town of Porter with a full membership and active schedule on a regular basis.  The Methodist Church building long ago became a center of activity in this community.  The vestry and parish house are in constant use, not only for church functions but for meetings by various groups of all ages, benefit suppers, fundraising events, programs celebrating special occasions, rummage sales, holiday parties, “Meals on Wheels” preparation, and the “Food Pantry”, to name a few. 

 Next on the list of the old Kezar Falls Village business buildings that still exist is:

#15 Bridge Street adjacent to the former Kezar Falls Market.   

       According to Owen Griffith, this very old building was originally a blacksmith shop located farther back from the street.  David Stearns bought it from William & Frank Stearns of Hiram in 1904 and moved it forward, put it on a foundation and made it into a store with an apartment above.  It has housed many businesses since then with the apartment being occupied as well.  

It was “Stearns Meat Market” until 1925.  In 1930 Claude Kelly leased the first floor and basement for “Kelly’s Meat and Groceries”.   In 1946 it was sold to Irwin John Chapman and Geneva Chapman of Bath.  In August,1947 they sold it to Vaughn and Carol Good who ran “Good’s Restaurant” there until 1952. 

In 1953 Carol Good Stanley sold it to Clarence and Phyllis Clark and they sold it to Erma Giles in 1956. Erma ran her “Apparel Shop” there while she and her mother lived in the apartment above until Erma’s death in 1976.  Howard Giles of Saco inherited the building and sold it to Arlan and Ann Norton in 1976.  They ran “Al and Ann’s Jewelry and Clothing Store” there until Arlan died in 1997 – the last business to be located there.   The former “Al & Ann’s Jewelry & Clothing Store”, above, as it looked in 2006.  It has been closed since 1997.

Although there is no longer a business here the building is still owned and occupied by Ann Norton.

 

The old Kezar Falls Village building featured this time is:

the former Kezar Falls Market at #17 Bridge Street, Porter.  

Although this building has been out of business since 2018 it appears that it may be opening with a different business soon.  We hope that is true as it has been looking pretty sad for some time. 

The original owner of the building has not been established. But according to Owen Griffith, it was owned by Darius Wormwood when his son, Fulton, was born here in 1858.  It was sold by the Darius’ estate in 1893 to L.F. Stacy and was quickly passed to Orion Morton, a teacher and superintendent of schools.  John Quint bought the building in 1909 from the Ed Hartford estate and added on to the end for his bakery business.  

This is the earliest picture we have of the building when it was the home and bakery business of John Quint.  In 1916 John Quint sold it to Frank Pierce Goodwin who started Goodwin’s Store here as a young man of about age 24.   His widowed mother, Eliza “Gram” Goodwin worked in the store with him.  

This photo circa 1920 shows that the changes in the building for Goodwin’s Store had already begun.  Over the years it was enlarged little by little, front and back, the barn was removed and the second story of the house.  Frank continued the bakery and expanded to ice cream, groceries, grain, sporting goods, shoes and dry goods and sold gasoline.  At one time there was a poolroom and they sold light refreshments and had a soda fountain.    

For many years this small section at the front of the store was reserved for “Gram” Goodwin’s flower garden that was enjoyed by everyone passing by.  “Gram” Goodwin died in 1940 at the age of 92 after 25 years of service at the store.  Eventually the building was expanded again to the sidewalk eliminating this garden for more store space.    

Frank’s nephews, Bob, Clarence and Norman Edgecomb all worked at Goodwin’s starting part time while in school and permanently in the 1930’s.  When Frank died in 1965 the store was passed on to his daughter, Patricia (Goodwin) Merritt. In 1971 the store was enlarged again and remained in business under grandson, Richard Merritt.

Richard still owned the building but leased the business to Don Foudriat as Kezar Falls Market from 2004 – 2006.  In 2006 it was leased to the Christianson’s until 2008.  Carlton Candage & Associates leased the market from 2008 – 2016.  Richard Merritt continued the Market from then until 2018 when it was closed. 

Goodwin’s Store (as it is still commonly referred to by many) served this community well for so many years and has been missed as a convenient local grocery store to the village residents and beyond. 

We hope the “rumor” is true and that the store will soon be open once again

PARSONSFIELD-PORTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Next on our calendar of events is the June 22 meeting – 2pm at History House - 92 Main Street, Kezar Falls Village. Joseph Hardy will talk about his book “The Year Without Summer” and the book will be available for purchase.

 Next on our list of old Kezar Falls Village buildings is:

#21 Bridge Street, Porter

Located between the old millinery shop and the former Kezar Falls Market is this small building now owned by Michelle E. Petrin.   It has a long history.  The building had already been erected by the time this property was sold by Jordan Stacy to Edwin Merrifield on June 3, 1881.

We know it had many owners, but we don’t know much about how the building was used except that it sometimes housed a business and more often was a private residence. 

This picture, taken about 1920, shows the building on the far left and it appears to have a sign over the door for a business.  Goodwin’s Store (Kezar Falls Market) is to the right.

We do know that the “Ideal Restaurant” run by Ruth Doherty was located here in 1936/1937 before it was moved to Federal Road, Parsonsfield.  She probably leased the building as it was owned by Sarah & James Towle or their heirs until November 1937.

The Ideal Restaurant – #21 Bridge Street in 1936.

Today it appears to be a private residence once again.  It is well maintained and is still a part of the Kezar Falls Village scene.

Please join us for the first meeting of the year.

Sat. May 18 at 2:00 pm at History House – 92 Main Street, Porter.

Review of upcoming season, Election of Officers – (a quorum is needed), and program: “What’s It?” Bring an object or picture to stump the audience.

 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.

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.