June 29th Meeting at the Kezar Falls Theater

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

invites the public to a free program.

at the

KEZAR FALLS THEATER

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Meeting - 2 p.m.       Program - 2:30 p.m.

21 Main Street,

Kezar Falls Village (Rt. 160)

Owner/filmmaker Silas Hagerty has transformed the former Playhouse Movie Theater into a new theater and sound studio where he features various films and entertainment projects.

He will once again present a program to interest and entertain us.

PARKING AVAILABLE AT THE DENTAL OFFICE

ACROSS THE STREET.

HER STORY: Erma Giles (1913- 1976)

 Erma Giles was born in Porter, March 4, 1913 to Edgar and Alice (Brooks) Giles.  She was the youngest of 3 children. She attended local schools, graduated from Porter High School in 1930 and attended Nasson Institute in Springvale.

At age 24 Erma opened a clothing shop on the ground floor of the Malvern Hotel on River St. (owned by her father) and was there for 10 years.  When he sold the hotel in 1947 she moved her shop across the river to the Stanley Block building.  “Erma’s Apparel Shop” served the local community from that location until her father died.  In 1958 she bought the building next to the Kezar Falls Market on Bridge St.   She and her mother lived above the store.   There she continued her shop until her death February 16, 1976,

Erma sold clothing of fine quality, was a respected business woman and was active in the community.  She lived at home to care for her elderly parents and never married.

Welcome to our

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, June 1, 2019,   1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

Opens a New Exhibit

“HER-STORY”

Remembering the Suffragettes who, in 1919,

finally won the right to vote for women in Maine

and honoring some of the other remarkable women 

of our towns

and the State of Maine

by telling a few of their stories.

The Stanley Sisters: Florence, Ina and Evelyn

Come tour the house and view all the exhibits.

at

History House

92 Main Street in

Kezar Falls Village (Rt. 160)

FMI call 625-7019

One Woman, One Vote

You are invited to attend the
Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society
meeting and free program.

To set the stage for our new exhibit “HER-STORY”, which will open June 1st, we are presenting a documentary film, 

“ONE WOMAN, ONE VOTE” 
that focuses on the early Suffrage Movement

It has been 100 years since women in Maine won 

their right to vote in 1919.

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Meeting - 2 p.m.       Program 2:30 p.m.

At History House

92 Main Street in Kezar Falls Village (Rt. 160)

FMI phone 625-7019

Spotlight On: Frank Pierce Goodwin, Jr.

         Frank Pierce Goodwin, Jr. was born in the New Settlement District of South Hiram on May 26, 1892 to Frank P. and Eliza (Bradeen ) Goodwin.  He was the youngest of three children. When his father died in 1905 Eliza moved with Frank, Jr.  to Kezar Falls and lived in an apartment over what was then the Ridlon Brother’s Store (now the Village Laundry). 

         

Frank worked at the Kezar Falls Woolen Mill and the Kezar Falls Bobbin Mill. Being a real Yankee business man with faith in his abilities, he eventually struck out for himself. His first venture was to open a roadside stand, install a gas pump and build three small overnight cabins at what became known as Indian Glen, which he later sold. At one time he operated a grocery store in Kezar Falls in the bank building. After the fire there he ran another grocery store in Cornish, later to become Coolbroth’s market. At about 1915 he purchased the John Quint Bakery on Bridge Street, Porter (Kezar Falls Village). He operated it as a bakery for a time but eventually enlarged it and established the general store - “Goodwin’s”, selling a wide range of merchandise but eventually settling on groceries. This establishment continued to operate as an important local small store under different management at times in recent years, but still owned by the family until 2018 when his grandson closed the business for good and put it up for sale.          

          In 1934 Mr. Goodwin purchased the Lakecroft Inn at North Sebago, changing it to Goodwin’s North Sebago Lodge and Cabins which did an extensive business catering to the general and traveling public.  It is still owned  by the family today.

          Frank Goodwin started from scratch and by hard work and self sacrifice combined with rare business judgment, became owner of thriving businesses.  In his daily life, he was a businessman first and last, sincere and honest, and as such he commanded the respect of all with whom he dealt.   Yet he was of a generous nature, interested in the affairs of the town and always ready to contribute more than his share to any worthy cause.

          He married Ethel Gilpatrick in Oct. 10, 1920 and built a home on Summer Street where they spent many happy years, blessed by the birth of a daughter, Patricia in July 20, 1921.  They suffered the loss of one daughter, Isabelle C. at the age of six in Dec 19, 1934.

          He was a member of the Greenleaf Masonic Lodge in Cornish, Charter Oak Grange or South Hiram, a member of the Kezar Falls Knights of Pythias, the Order of Redmen and the Kezar Falls Kiwanis Club.

          In 1953 suffered a paraliytic stroke losing his mobility and ability to talk.  His nephews, Robert, Clarence and Norman Edgecomb managed the store, but still mentally alert  he continued to direct activities at the store through written word or sign language for several years.  He passed away on Sept. 8, 1965.  His wife followed on Dec. 29, 1968. 

The Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society wishes you all a Happy Easter and Happy Spring

Parsonsfield – Porter Historical Society

1^ST MEETING OF 2019

Will be held at History House on April 27 – 2:00 pm.

Election of Officers will be held – (a quorum is needed.)

Discussion of this year’s programs and activities.

We invite you to participate in the program.

Each person is asked to bring a “Mystery” object, picture or article

to be identified by the group.

Do you have something to bring that will stump us?

(If you don’t, please come anyway.)

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

Spotlight On: Preston Stanley

Preston John Stanley (named for his grandfather) was born in Parsonsfield February 20, 1904 to Sidney B. and Blanche (Page) Stanley, one of six children.  He was educated at Parsonsfield schools, graduated from Porter High School in 1921, attended the University of Maine, and graduated from New England College of Science in Boston in 1940.

On June 23, 1928 he married Evelyn Watson and they had two children: Barbara Ann born December 25, 1929, who died in 1941 and Preston John Stanley, Jr. born August 1, 1935.  They resided on Summer Street in Porter (Kezar Falls Village).

 He and his two brothers owned and ran the family trucking business – Stanley Express.  He also owned half of the Stanley Funeral Home with his brother Orion whom he bought out in 1945 and continued to operate it until 1975.

“Pres” was known for his community spirit.  He had a great love for the town where he grew up and served it well all his life.  He served as a Porter selectman for nine years and served one term as state legislator in 1949.

He served on numerous boards, including the Maine State Grange for 50 years; the Ossipee Valley Health Center of Kezar Falls; the Ossipee Valley Fair of Hiram (a founding member); Kezar Falls National Bank; trustee of the Riverside United Methodist Church, Porter Meals on Wheels and past president of the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds. 

He was also a member of the Kezar Falls & Cornish Kiwanis Club, Porter Grange, Knights of Pythias, Porter Civil Defense, Maine Draft and Ox Associations, Maine Funeral Directors Association, and a charter member of the Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society. 

“Pres” played a huge role in founding the Porter Industrial Development Program and donated the land for the Vulcan Electric building so that more jobs could be brought to town.  

He started the Methodist Men’s Breakfast Club and with his wife started the Riverside United Methodist Church Food Pantry that grew to include the towns of Cornish, and West Baldwin. 

“Pres” had a great love of animals and kept cattle and oxen at the former family farm in Parsonsfield.  When he wasn’t working on a civic project, he could be found working with his team of two-and-a-half-ton oxen in the mornings until the age of 89.  At one point he had one of the largest pairs of oxen in Maine and was well-known from Kittery to Fort Kent.  At the age of 85 he won the international pull at Cumberland Fair and competed in Nova Scotia.

He also loved to hunt and fish and with a group of friends called the “Colcord Bears” met for 22 years, one weekend for ice fishing and a weekend for hunting, at his camp on Colcord Pond.

Preston passed away at the age of 94 on September 19, 1998.  His widow, Evelyn passed away on March 13, 2002.