THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON: Paul W. Stacy (1893 – 1987)

 A lifelong resident of Porter, Maine, Paul Stacy was born April 1,1893 in Porter, son of Charles and Maude Watson Stacy. Paul graduated from Porter High School in 1908 and Bridgton Academy in 1911.  He married Jessie Merrifield on Feb. 23,1914 and they made their home on Summer Street. They had 5 children.  Unfortunately, three sons died before the age of 5. Their son, Dexter, survived but was bedridden all of his life and died at the age of 50 in 1965.  Their one daughter, Pauline, married George Gehrs of Falmouth and they had four children.

Paul served on the local school board of directors for 26 consecutive years and was its chairman for 20 years.  In 1917 he was elected town clerk of Porter and held the position for nine years, after which his wife Jessie served for more than 35 years.

In 1926, Mr. Stacy was elected to the Porter Board of Selectmen, serving until 1941.  He was re-elected to the Select Board in 1959 and served through 1983 - a total of 39 years.  One of the longest serving selectmen of the Town of Porter. He also served two terms (1938 – 1941) as a Republican member in the Maine House of Representatives.

Paul was a carpenter by trade and for 25 years he was foreman of the maintenance crew at the Kezar Falls Woolen Mill where he was in charge of many major construction projects.

Mr. Stacy was also active in several town organizations.  He served as chief of the Kezar Falls Fire Department for many years.  He was a member of the Saddleback Rod and Gun Club, a former member of the Knights of Pythias and the Costello Tribe No. 34 Improved Order of Red Men.  He was also a charter member of the Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society. Jean Stanley remembers Mr. Stacy well and said, “Paul believed strongly in public service.  He was gruff, opinionated, didn’t tolerate dissension, but he was also smart, with a dry sense of humor, and the well-being of Porter was center to his service.” Mrs. Stacy died in 1962 and Paul Stacy died at the age of 94 - Aug. 18, 1987. They are buried in the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds.