Saturday, January 19, 2013

The "Old Dalton House" on Middle Road...



This is the “Old Dalton House” at Dalton’s Corner on Middle Road east of the McIntire house. This picture was taken in 1938 when it was owned by Joseph L. Marcionette of Medford, Mass.  It shows as the home of Mrs. A. Dalton on the 1872 map of Parsonsfield. By at least 1802, Samuel Dalton had a store close by. He was succeeded as proprietor by his brother Benjamin.  It is one of the few old homes that still stand at Middle Rd. Village.  For many years it was the summer home of Marcia and the late Arthur Close.  It is currently owned by Marcia Close.


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The Rufus McIntire House on Middle Road...



This house was located in Parsonsfield on Middle Road at the intersection of Merrill Hill Road (also called Dalton’s Corner).  This picture, taken in 1938, is of the Rufus McIntire house that was originally built for Rev. Benjamin Rolfe (the 1st settled Minister for the Congregational Church) in 1795.  It was the Weeman home in 1917.  Mr. McIntire also had a store near here.  The house and store no longer exist.   The Congregational Church records describe the house as follows: “40 feet long, 30 feet wide, 2 stories high with clapboards and shingles”.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

The Evolution of a Church-Part Three...





This is the old church after it was transformed into the Garner Gym upstairs and the Fire House on the ground floor.  Mr. William Garner purchased the building in 1937 and remodeled the second floor for the gym and the lower part for the fire station.  It was presented to the town in time for basketball season in 1941. 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Evolution of a Church-Part Two...




   This is the old church building on River Street when the Charter Oak Grange owned it in 1908 and added another floor. Myron Ridlon started the first drug store here in 1910 and Frank Holmes had the dry goods store on the right. 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.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Evolution of a Church-Part One...

 This building was formerly a Union church located between School and Bridge Street in Kezar Falls Village. The Kezar Falls Methodist Church  began using it in 1867.  This building was moved to this nearby River Street location and a new Methodist Church was built just back of this building’s former location in 1883.  One of the oldest buildings in town, it evolved over a period of years and was used for many purposes including a popular roller skating rink.  Dr. Chellis bought it in 1887 and made a large public hall called the “Village Hall”.


Friday, November 30, 2012

An old hotel in Kezar Falls-Part Two...


The Hotel Malvern shown here circa 1950’s.  By this time it was more of a boarding house with long term room rentals.  Edgar Giles bought the business and the Hadlock family ran the hotel for many years.  Irma Giles ran an “Apparel Shop” in the store underneath the porch until 1947 when her father sold the hotel. Harold & Dorothy Jones owned it in the 50’s and ran a restaurant underneath.  They sold it to the Stewarts in 1974 who owned it for just a short time before it burned January 1976.