Kezar Falls Village - Part 5

This was the center of the business district in Kezar Falls Village.  The large 3 story building was built by George W. Towle in 1886. Preston J. Stanley and son, Orman, bought the Towle building in 1900 and it became known as the Stanley Block. At that time the post office was located here with P. J. Stanley as postmaster. In 1910 George Towle and Allen Garner started the Kezar Falls National Bank on the first floor of this building.  This picture taken about 1915 shows the Norton Block built about 1910 to replace the old S.P. Fox building and they continued to sell grain and groceries.  Notice the Newbegin Cigar Shop (left) which is located at the end of the bridge.

Meeting schedule for the 2013 season at History House can be

 viewed my clicking on the Meeting Schedule page tab above.

Kezar Falls Village - Part 4

In 1880 George Towle, Elijah Fox and John Devereux saw the manufacturing possibilities on the Ossipee River and knew there was a need for employment in this area.  They built the original woolen mill building shown here and organized the Kezar Falls Woolen Manufacturing Co.  After a difficult start, Allen Garner was engaged in 1881 as an agent to superintend the setting of machinery and to run production.  He eventually owned the mill and the success of the mill was due largely to his shrewd judgment, excellent leadership and untiring efforts.  Local citizens who had made their living from farming left the farms to work here.  The mill became a critical part of the growth of the village and surrounding area.  It expanded and grew reaching its peak in the 1950’s.  It changed hands twice and continued to operate until 2000.  Today the property is owned by the Town of Parsonsfield.

Kezar Falls Village - Part 3

The road between Cornish and Kezar Falls, part of the Ossipee Trail, was built in 1836.  The stretch from the Cornish line to the Kezar Falls bridge was called South Main Street, (North Main Street being on the Porter side of the river).  The State built the cement road from Cornish to Kezar Falls in 1930.  This route, that ran from Portland to New Hampshire, became known as Route 25.  South Main Street is called Federal Road today.  This view shows the Newbegin Cigar Store, left, the Kezar Falls covered bridge to the Porter side of the river, the Devereux Gristmill, and Merrifield’s bobbin mill.  Albion Benton erected a saw mill near here in 1865 that John Devereux purchased about 1871.  He then built a grist mill at this site and ran both until the woolen mill was established in 1880.  J. Merrifield built his bobbin mill next to it in 1883.  (A later view of this same scene, taken in 1897, is seen in our blog heading above.)

Kezar Falls Village - Part 2

This building was located at the intersection of Elm Street and Federal Road, just before the Kezar Falls Bridge.  It was built by Walter Newbegin in 1883.  He manufactured and sold cigars, fruit and confectionary and ran the Post Office here about 1896.   Pierces Restaurant was in this building in 1950 before the building was taken down.  It was replaced with a ranch style building for Estabrook’s Restaurant that later became an Antique Shop.  It too was removed when the new bridge was built in 2001.

Kezar Falls Village - Part 1

Apparently there was some sort of celebration going on when this picture was taken in Kezar Falls Village. It is the intersection of Elm Street, Federal Road and the Ossipee River bridge and shows the large impressive home of Jeremiah and Ellen (Dixon) Bullock built about 1827. Their daughter, Margaret, then lived here for several years.  She sold it to Dr. Arlquist of Falmouth who later sold it to the Garners. The house burned leaving a vacant lot for many years.  To the far left is the corner of the Stanley Block and across the street is the Norton Hardware store.  Today the Parsonsfield Post Office, built in the 1960’s, is located at this site.