The Fred Gale House of Middle Road Village

 This poor dwelling was known locally in recent years as the Fred Gale House. Located on Middle Road, just east of the village, it began to collapse sometime in the 1990’s and all that remains now are the cellar hole and a few partial walls projecting up out of what was once an ell connecting the house with the barn. 

    Although we are not sure when the house was originally built, it was listed on both the 1858 and 1872 maps as belonging to S. L. Ricker. Samuel Leighton Ricker was the grandson of Dominicus Ricker, one of the earliest settlers of Parsonsfield. Samuel and his wife, Elizabeth, lived there until 1872 when they sold the property to Elijah Whiting. 

    The property changed hands several times over the years until it came into Fred Gale’s hands. Fred was the last owner to actually live in the house.  Born in 1884, Fred grew up in New Hampshire. He met Kathryn (Katie) Lord and married her in 1904. They lived in New Hampshire until her parents died and then moved to Parsonsfield to live in what had been her parents home. 

Katie (middle) with her parents, John B. and

 Clara Moulton Lord in front of Katie’s grandfather’s house.

   Katie’s parents, Clara (Moulton) Lord and John B. Lord both died in 1927. The Moulton family was well-entrenched in the Middle Road Village community. Katie’s grandfather was William E. Moulton who lived up the road in a house that is no longer standing. Her mother, Clara, had several brothers and sisters living in the area. Clara’s brother, Alonzo, fought in the Civil War. Clara became known as the town’s first librarian. She wrote for some of the local papers and she became a strong (but unsuccessful) advocate for the local post office that was at the corner of Middle Road and Merrill Hill Road. Katie’s father, John B. Lord, was well-respected in town and served on various committees. He was road commissioner, school agent, and active with the nearby Union Church. Clara’s unmarried sister, Hattie, lived with them in the house. When Katie and Fred moved in, Hattie remained to live with them.

   The couple had 3 children: Parkman, Alice and Margaret Gale.  Katie died in 1934.  Fred suffered a serious accident, breaking his neck when he fell off of a hay wagon. He was essentially paralyzed for the rest of his life.  Edith Chapman, who lost her husband in 1933, came to care for him and they married in 1937.  Fred, an invalid living in a nursing home at the end of his life, could not pay the taxes on the property and the town took ownership.

 

Tristram Redman Chooses Farming over Seafaring...

The Redman house in Parsonsfield...no longer standing.

      Captain Tristram Redman moved himself and his family from Saco to Parsonsfield in 1815. He and his family took up farming – a distinct change from his former career.

    Tristram Redman was born in Scarborough in 1770. At age 18 he took to the sea as a common sailor. Working hard and studying navigation, within three years he became shipmaster. Being a ships captain during these harrowing times brought many adventures.

  On December 5, 1799, he departed from Belfast, Ireland, heading for New York when his ship the Osiris was seized by the French privateer Le Bourgainville -- just off Cape Clear. Only Captain Redman and four of his crew, including a young cabin boy, were kept as prisoners on board. The rest of his crew was replaced by crew from the French ship, who had orders to bring the Osiris into a port in France or Spain.

    When Captain Redman saw an opportunity to retake the ship, he and his crew did just that. According to stories passed down, the cabin boy played a key role. Captain Redman turned his French prisoners over to the British and continued on to New York.

    At the age of 30 he married Hannah Burbank of Saco and they began their married life there. During the War of 1812, he suffered heavy financial losses that caused him to give up his seafaring life and move to Parsonsfield with his wife and, by then, three children. Captain Redman died in 1854 in Parsonsfield. His wife, Hannah died in 1846. Both are buried in the Town House Cemetery.

The Perry House, Middle Road, Parsonsfield...

   This homestead, located across the road from the Bennett/Penek house, is known as the Perry house. It is said to have been a boarding house at one time. The 1872 map identified the owner as C. E. Weeman. Charles E. Weeman owned several properties in this area including the former McIntire house at the corner of Merrill Hill Road and Middle Road.

    In the 1950’s, it was owned by Gillbert and Alice (Peers) Williams. After Gillbert died, Alice married Bob Coleman and the couple continued to live in the house. The barn was destroyed in 1954 by Hurricane Carol. The next owner was Bob Meuse who called it “Shady Brook Farm”.

  The Perry house at 771 Middle Road is shown here as it looks in 2013. The current owners are Jennifer Hagopian and Adam Cogswell. “Shady Brook Farm” appears on a sign over the front door.

There is still time to get your copy of the history of Parsonsfield, a town of many villages.  Stop by the town office to purchase your copy. 

   For a New Year's resolution, why not consider joining the PPHS and volunteering some time to keep History House open and active!  Click the tab above to see ways you can help.