BILLBOARD MONUMENTS OF MAINE

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society’s last public meeting of the season will be held on October 22, 2022 – 2:00 pm at History House, 92 Main Street, Porter.

A free program and book signing will follow the meeting at about 2:30 pm presented by Ron Romano.  Both of his books may be purchased at this time.

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 A unique form of grave marker was produced in New England in the mid-1800s.  Consisting of large stone slabs usually held aloft by granite posts, these monuments resemble signboards and have been named “billboard monuments” by cemetery historian and author Ron Romano.

Rare and often overlooked, only 42 have been discovered in Maine --- one of the most unique of which is in Parsonsfield. Ron’s research into this intriguing form of grave marker led to his 2020 book “Billboard Monuments of Maine” which featured the 38 monuments known in the state at the time. Readers of the book then found four more in the state. In 2021, Ron expanded his search for these interesting monuments beyond Maine, ultimately discovering four in New Hampshire and 27 in Vermont. All of the newly-discovered ones are featured in his new book, “Curious Gravestones in Northern New England: Billboard Monuments, Volume II.”

In a presentation rich with images and stories of the people these monuments memorialize, Ron presents his original research into this unique monument form, discussing the origin, construction features, dates of production, and makers.

Ron Romano is author of four-cemetery and gravestone-themed books. He’s designed tours for more than a dozen historic cemeteries in southern Maine. He is an officer on the board of the Association of Gravestone Studies, the leading organization in America for cemetery and gravestone studies, and he serves locally on the board of friends of Portland’s oldest burying ground, Eastern Cemetery (established in 1668).

(Image above, Lord family billboard monument – Parsonsfield, Maine.)

ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE TOYS

 The last open house of the season on September 17^th featured the new exhibit set up for 2022.  Many of the Antique and Vintage Toys in the exhibit were from our own collection and members loaned us many others to fill out the exhibit.  If you missed seeing it, most of them will return to their place in the children’s room.  So, be sure to check out the children’s room next year.

One of our prized toys is the antique rocking horse donated by Muriel Weeks.

Another favorite is this antique doll one of several in the collection.

          We also showed a history of toys so visitors would have an idea of when certain toys were first invented and how old they are.  The following is a summary listing a few of the toys known from each period.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TOYS

Early Toys

         Before the 20^th century children had a few handmade toys and those they did have were precious.  At that time children did not have much time to play.  Only a minority went to school but most children were expected to help their parents doing simple jobs around the house or in the fields.  Children had often been thought of as small adults, who were expected to work to produce the goods that the family needed to survive. 

         In Ancient Rome and Greece when boys were not at school and girls were not working they played ball games with inflated pig’s bladders.  They also played with knucklebones and toys like spinning tops, wooden or clay dolls, and model horses with wheels, hoops, rocking horses and board games.

         Toys remained about the same through the 16^th century.

Modern Toys

         The industrial revolution allowed toys to be mass produced and they gradually became cheaper.  The first jigsaw puzzle was made in 1767 – cutting maps into pieces to teach geography, but soon people began making jigsaw puzzles for entertainment.  The Kaleidoscope was invented in 1817.

         In the 19^th century middle class girls played with wooden or porcelain dolls, doll houses, miniature dishes and skipping ropes.  Boys played with  marbles and toy soldiers as well as toy trains and model boats.  However, poor children had few toys and often had to make their own.

         In the well-off Victorian family children played with rocking horses and clockwork toys like moving animals and clockwork trains and the jack in-the-box.  Simple toys like spinning tops were also popular.  So were hoops and games like pick up sticks in which you had to pick up colored sticks from a pile without disturbing the others.

         On Sunday's, children were allowed to play with toys with a religious theme like a Noah’s ark with wooden animals. There were also magic lantern (slide) shows and puppet shows.

         Many new toys were invented in the 20^th century such as tin cars, etc. and train sets became very popular.  Soft toys also became common in the early 20^th century including teddy bears.

         During World War II most toy factories were turned over to war production.  However, in the late 20^th century with the arrival of an affluent society, plastic and metal toys became much cheaper and much more common.  In the 1950’s Legos became popular.  Mr. Potato Head was invented in 1952.  The skateboard was invented in 1958.  Barbie dolls were invented in 1959 and Action Figures appeared in 1966. In the early 1970s space related toys became popular.  At the end of the 20^th century computer games made an appearance. 

         Today, technology has entered the toy business in a big way.  However, old fashioned toys still are enjoyed, such as jig saw puzzles, Legos, yoyos, dolls. Board and card games still exist, but many are now also available on computers.  The selection of toys is now endless and constantly evolving.

 

Source:  Tim Lambert and other internet resources.

A Murder in Porter?

 You are invited to attend the next meeting and free program of the

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society 

at

History House

92 Main Street, Porter

SATURDAY, SEPT. 17, 2022 

Meeting is at 2:00 pm

 The Program will follow at about 2:30 pm.

Peter Pettingill will present:

“THE MURDER OF DAVID VARNEY

& THE TRIAL OF WESLEY CHICK”

There actually was a murder in the quiet, peaceful Town of Porter 

on 12/6/1906. Come hear the story.

NOTE:

The History House Research Room will be

open Monday 9/26 from 10am – 12pm.

FMI: Call 207-329-1349

The next event to be held at History House is coming up soon.

  Don’t miss it.

Open House

Sunday, September 11, 2022

1:00 - 4:00 pm

Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

Last open house of the year. 

Come see the exhibit, 

“ANTIQUE & VINTAGE TOYS”

Featuring Toys from Our Own Collection

Come tour the house, view all the exhibits

and browse our scrapbook collection.

at 

History House 

92 Main Street in 

Kezar Falls Village (Rt. 160)

Please Note

We will continue having the research room at History House open through Sept. 

The dates are Sept. 12 and 26 – 10:00 am to Noon.

 COMING UP LABOR DAY SUNDAY

SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 - 1 – 3 pm

The Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society 

will hold the

ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE

at the

OLD PORTER MEETING HOUSE

Rain or Shine!

Have you ever visited the Old Porter Meeting House?

Don’t miss this opportunity.

Visitors are welcome to tour the building.

Historical Society members will present the history of this unique old building starting at 1:30 pm so that visitors can learn about its past and the role the Meeting House played in the history of the Town of Porter.

An exhibit and pictures will also be on display.

This building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the very few meeting houses of its kind still standing.

This view from the balcony shows the box pews.

The raised pulpit that was original to the building was restored in 1969.

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Located on Old Meeting House Road, Porter, ME

Directions: from Kezar Falls Village: take Rt. 25 West to Colcord Pond Rd., then right on Old Meeting House Rd. From Porter Village: take First County Rd., bear left at Colcord Pond Rd. then right on Old Meeting House Rd.

FMI call– 625-7019 or 625-3020

 (Sorry, no “facilities” available)

                    The Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society and the Parsonsfield Union Church Society

will co-sponsor the annual event at Middle Road Village, Parsonsfield again this year.  The public is welcome. Come visit what was once the thriving heart of Parsonsfield, Maine.

DOUBLE OPEN HOUSE!

THE HISTORIC PARSONSFIELD 

TOWN HOUSE & 

THE PARSONSFIELD UNION CHURCH

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

1 – 3pm

Exhibits, self-guided cemetery walk, and a short talk about a few of Parsonsfield’s many cemeteries at 2pm.

Located at the bottom of Merrill Hill Road near Middle Road.

 Directions:

From Route 160 (North Road) in Parsonsfield turn onto Merrill Hill Road just east of North Parsonsfield. Both buildings are on Merrill Hill Road near the intersection with Middle Road.

FMI: 329-1349

 “REMEMBERING THE ELM ROW MILK FARM”

Presented by Rhonda Sanborn and Sylvia Pease.

The Elm Row Milk farm has had a long history in the town of Parsonsfield. Albion Peleg Benton came to Kezar Falls in 1865 to build and operate a sawmill located on the site of the future Kezar Falls Woolen Mill.  He became prosperous and in 1868 he purchased the Thomas Edgecomb farm located on Elm Street just beyond the Village of Kezar Falls and erected this large set of buildings that still stand on the Stacy property.  He lived here until his death in 1886.  His son, Peleg W. Benton ran a dairy farm here until 1923.

In 1923 the Benton farm was purchased by Lawrence and Belle Stacey.  It became known as the Elm Row Milk Farm for the large elms that stood along the driveway.  Come to the program to hear the rest of the story of the farm and the Stacey family, many of whom still live on this property.  

July 23, 2022, at Porter Town Hall

Meeting begins at 2:00 pm

Followed by the

Program about 2:30 pm

Elm Row Milk Farm – Clarence Stacey on the wagon & Manuel Stacey on the ground.