Tuesday, April 30, 2024

 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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