Parsonsfield-Porter Historical Society

The 2023 season begins with a 

new exhibit and

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, June 3, 2023,  1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

 

Come see the exhibit and learn about  

The Remarkable Life of

Rufus McIntire

Renowned past resident of Parsonsfield

Come tour the house and view all the exhibits.

History House

92 Main Street in

Kezar Falls Village (Rt. 160)

 We look forward to seeing you there.

 

The Spotlight is on: Albion P. Benton 1816-1886

 Albion Benton was born in Denmark, Maine August 28, 1816, to Alfred and Sarah Benton. His biography in the 1888 Parsonsfield History is written in glowing terms as to his family background and his own character, parts of which are included here. 

“He was born to a grand New England family, celebrated for heroism, patriotism and uncommon intellectual endowments.”  His grandfather was a renowned doctor.  His father and four uncles all served in the War of 1812.  Two uncles became members of Congress, one of whom became a judge. His father, Alfred, settled in Denmark.

Albion was "reared amid scenes of hardship, toil and deprivation, incident to that early period.”  He “early developed those qualities of industry, economy, sagacity, and self-reliance that became such prominent characteristics in his long and useful career.  Inheriting nothing but his remarkable physical and mental powers, he was a self-made man; his quick, acute mind grasped, as if by intuition, the salient points of an enterprise, and obstacles that would have discouraged an ordinary man, were swept away by the might of his restless, resistless energy.  He was honorable and truthful in his dealings, courteous, but frank and straightforward, and the certainty that attended his words, deeds and principles became an important element in his character. Usefulness was the leading idea of his life, and his example and advice, based on ripe experience and good sense, were exceedingly valuable.”

Albion moved to Hiram and cleared land for a farm and in 1843 he married Sarah Wadsworth.  They had 10 children, eight of whom survived him. Sarah died December 13, 1875.  At the time she died they were living in Parsonsfield.  The census listed him as a farmer.

By the close of the Civil War (1861-1865)” the village of Kezar Falls was at a lethargic state, business was at a low ebb and the rising generation was moving to other places.  A syndicate of gentlemen purchased the old, dilapidated sawmill and its site (near the location of the future Kezar Falls Woolen Mill) and offered it to him if he would erect a new mill and settle in the town. He saw the golden opportunity, accepted the offer, and on October 20, 1865, the new sawmill was set in operation, inaugurating a new era” and better days for the community.

“In 1868 he bought the Thomas Edgecomb farm (on Elm Street just outside the village), which he greatly improved, erecting a fine and commodious stand of buildings.  On April 15, 1877, he married Mary S. Pillsbury of Parsonsfield.

Here Albion lived out his life "tenderly beloved by family and friends, to whom he was ever kind, loyal, and devoted, leaving them a legacy of a good example and a good name".  

Albion died December 11, 1886.  His wife Mary died March 28, 1910.  They are buried in the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds along with his first wife Sarah.  His son, Peleg W. Benton (1862-1937) ran a dairy farm here until 1923 at which time it was sold to Lawrence and Belle Stacey and it became the Elm Row Milk Farm.

In 1948 a modern bottling and pasteurization plant was installed, and milk was purchased from other farms to expand the business.  Elm Row Milk Farm continued to serve the community for many years. The property remains in the Stacey family today and has become home sites for several family members.  Recently the old house was taken down, although the barn remains. 

Thanks again to Jean Stanley. We have used much of her Tombstone Tuesday as inspiration and information for this post.

The Spotlight is on Frederick “Fred” Erlon Hannaford (1906 – 1990)

 Fred Hannaford was born November 18, 1906, in Gorham, Maine, the son of Charles Byron Hannaford of Gorham and Harriett Jane “Hattie” Floyd of Gray, Maine.  He was one of 13 children, born and brought up on a farm.  In the 1920 census, his father is listed as engaged in “general farming”, and in 1930 is listed as a “humane officer”.  (Perhaps that had something to do with inspection of livestock or farm animals?)  

Fred worked for Barrows Greenhouse in Gorham from age 14.  In the 1930 census, he is listed as working in the greenhouse and living with his sister Carrie, who ran the greenhouse. 

In 1930, Fred married Helen Adelaide Usher of Standish, Maine.  Helen was the daughter of Frank Usher and Edith Hartford of Standish. 

In 1940, Fred was still living in Gorham and listed as a “laborer in a florist shop”. During WW II he worked in Portland on the liberty ships as a pipe fitter.  Fred used his experience working in greenhouses and florist shops when they relocated to South Hiram.  In 1948 they bought 105 acres that had been a dairy farm owned by Fred Libby.  (Mr. Libby had married a descendant of George Gould, the original builder of their house.)  There Fred and Helen started a florist business named Riverside Florist and they also grew strawberries and vegetables on the land where Sacopee Valley High School and part of Sacopee Valley Middle School are now located. The barn was moved back away from the house (to where it is now), to prevent it shading the greenhouses. By the 1950 census Fred was listed as living in South Hiram with his wife and three children, Reginald, Louise, and James. Their family grew to 13 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.

Jean Stanley relates, “His was an old fashioned wood and glass greenhouse.  The earthy, rich smell is always present in any greenhouse, but seemed tenfold in this one.  I remember going with my mom to get geraniums for Memorial Day.  It seems like there was a cat. There was a border collie for sure!    And of course, there was Fred.  He was warm and welcoming, and fun.  I looked forward to that annual visit.  Later, when we were old enough, we kids would walk down ourselves.  I remember buying daffodils for mom on Mother’s Day.  The price was right for a kid’s allowance.”

About 1976, the Hannafords sold the business.   The house was relocated a few yards away on the crest of the hill, leaving the greenhouse and ell behind, still as a working greenhouse.  There was a fire that destroyed the greenhouse a few years later. Eventually, Fred and Helen’s son Jim and wife Mary moved back to the family home.  They have placed a small greenhouse back on the property where the business was located, a true “coming home”.

Fred and Helen became welcomed members of the community. They belonged to Charter Oak Grange, Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society, and Riverside United Methodist Church.  Fred was a Mason and Kiwanian. (His fried bread was a fund raising staple for Kiwanis.)  Fred was co-chair of the Hiram’s Sesquicentennial committee in 1964. Fred and Helen made living in a small town a big experience.

Fred died July 6, 1990 at the age of 84.  Helen died in Feb. 1996.  They are buried in the Dows Corner Cemetery on Rt. 35 in Standish, Maine. 

Thanks again to Jean Stanley for letting us use her Tombstone Tuesday                               story for most of our post today. 

 

The spotlight is on: Florence Garner Norton (1878 – 1971)

         Florence Norton was born in Hanover, ME on April 26, 1878, the daughter of Allen and Mary (Jordan) Garner.    She was one of 6 children – four of which lived to adulthood. Her family moved to Kezar Falls Village in Parsonsfield in 1881 when her father, Allen Garner came here to organize the Kezar Falls Woolen Company.  He was successful in that endeavor and went on to become an officer, stockholder and an owner of the mill. 

     Florence was educated locally and graduated from Parsonsfield Seminary in 1905. On Dec. 2, 1919 she married William T. Norton.  Marrying late in life, (both in their 40’s) they had no children.  Florence and William shared a love for music. She had studied the piano and gave piano lessons for many years. William was known for his singing. They lived in her parent’s former home on Elm Street.  William died tragically in 1932 leaving her a widow for 49 years.  

    But Florence, who was affectionately known as “Aunt Flossie” to those who knew her, lived a full life.  She was fond of children and was always doing something for them.  She enjoyed playing “Santa Claus” especially with those who might have less than others.  She enjoyed keeping track of birthdays and often sent gifts and cards.  Scouts and other groups often held meetings at the family’s bungalow on Garner Island behind her home.  At one time Porter High School graduates were given a small gift from Flossie in recognition of their completing high school. 

          Florence was a very active member of the Riverside United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school.  She was a trustee for over 40 years and organist there until 1938. She was a member of the Ladies Afternoon Guild and the Women’s Society for Christian Service. She was also an active member of the Ladies Magazine Reading Club and was its president for 27 years.  She served as secretary of the Kezar Falls Circulating Library for 35 years.  And Florence was a Charter Member of the Parsonsfield Porter Historical Society. 

        In 1967 she fell and broke her hip.  As she was confined to a wheelchair, she closed her home on Elm Street and entered Gorham Manor Nursing Home and lived there for the last four years of her life.  Florence passed away on May 8, 1971, at age 93 and is buried next to her husband in the Kezar Falls Burial Ground in Porter.

The Spotlight is on WILLIAM T. NORTON 1873 - 1932

He then went to Kezar Falls where he and Sidney B. Stanley bought the former S.P. Fox Store next to the “Stanley Block” (bank building near the bridge) and sold grain and groceries. About 1910 they took that building down and built the “Norton Block” in its place; one of the larger buildings in Kezar Falls Village. The “Norton Block” building was occupied by the post office and grocery store on the first floor and Norton Hall and later Carl Hammond’s Jewelry Shop on the second floor. (The building was destroyed by fire in 1970.) Will eventually sold that business, purchased the Sutton Edgecomb hardware building across the street and continued the Norton Hardware business until his death.

 William T. Norton was born in Porter, Maine April 19, 1873, the son of Appleton and Ursula (Taylor) Norton.  He was educated in Porter Schools and at Parsonsfield Seminary.  Because of his father’s ill health, he remained at home to help with the family farm for several years. 

On December 2, 1919, he married Florence Garner who was the daughter of Allen Garner, an owner of the Kezar Falls Woolen Mill.  They resided at her parent’s former home on Elm Street.  They had no children.

William was well known and active in the community.  He was Treasurer of eight different funds and organizations including the Town of Parsonsfield.  He was also Trustee, Treasurer, Steward and Choir Leader in the Riverside United Methodist Church.

William died suddenly on October 18, 1932, at a Kiwanis Club meeting. He was leading the singing – his favorite avocation - singing strongly and keeping time to the music with his arms when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died. 

A memorial stained-glass window is located in the choir loft at the Methodist church just beside where he usually sat.  He and his wife, Florence, are buried at the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds in Porter.

Far left - Newbegin Cigar Shop, large middle building - the Stanley Block and the newer Norton Block on the right – circa 1912.

The Spotlight is on CARL J. HAMMOND 1900 – 1992

 Carl J. Hammond was born April 4, 1900 in Monson, Maine to Eugene and Hattie (Day) Hammond.  By the time he was 10, he had lost both of his parents.  In 1910 he and his brother Eugene were living with their maternal grandmother Adelle Day, having by this time also lost both their paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather.  Adelle would live until 1928.  He attended Guilford schools and graduated from Guilford High School.

In 1920, Carl was living in a hotel in Northbridge, Massachusetts and working as a machinist.  In 1928 he married Mildred May Pierce, daughter of George Pierce of Garland, Maine and Mary (Jardine) Pierce of Nova Scotia.  George was living in Massachusetts and working as a teamster.  

In 1930, Carl and Mildred were living in Waltham and Carl was working as a finisher at Waltham Watch Company.  Soon after they moved to Kezar Falls and started a family.  Mildred’s parents had relocated here in 1920.

Carl and Mildred went on to have three children: Ronald, Jackson and Hope (Stacey Churchill).  For over 50 years Carl owned and operated C. J. Hammond Jeweler  upstairs in the Norton Block (next to the bank building) on Federal Road.  In 1969 Carl moved his business to a little shop he had added to his residence on Summer Street just one year before the Norton Block was completely demolished by fire

In Carl’s obituary, his daughter Hope stated, “His specialty was watchmaking.  But he was interested in many, many things.”  He was a well-known woodworker and built the cabinets for many of his hand-made grandfather clocks. He also made two violins and built model ships – one being the USS American and the Normandy.  His four foot replica of the Normandy was featured in the June 1945 issue of Popular Mechanics. 

Carl also restored antique cars, winning many trophies with his 1929 Chevrolet and 1932 Rockne.  He was an accomplished violinist, oil painter and magician and an avid matchbook cover collector.  Hope said “He was self-taught and a very disciplined man.  He was brilliant. His genius was in his hands.”

Carl and Mildred lived on Summer Street across from the Stanley family and were “Grandpa Carl and Grammy Hammond” to the Stanley children.  Jean Stanley relates “They were the kindest, sweetest people.  We could rely on them, if needed; even our cat visited them every day.  One night, we bet my sister Jennifer that she wouldn’t play her trumpet out on the front lawn at 9 pm.  Ever willing, she did.  Grampa Carl the next day complemented her on her playing.  When someone baked a cake for them, and he found out it had fallen in the middle, he quickly remarked how much he liked it that way.  One of Grandpa Carl’s most used expressions was, ‘my friend’. And indeed, he was the sort of man who was a friend to all. He made such a rich life from an early start of loss.  I was lucky to have had Carl and Mildred for my neighbors.”

Carl was active in the community.  He was a member of the Greenleaf Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the United Riverside Methodist Church.

They were married 59 years when Mildred died on January 17, 1987.  Carl died Feb. 15, 1992 after a long illness.  They are buried in the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds in Porter.

Carl J. Hammond Jeweler was on the second floor here marked by the key and clock under double windows.

Thank you, Jean Stanley, for allowing us to use your “Tombstone Tuesday” article for most of the information in this post.

The Spotlight is on JEREMIAH W. DEARBORN M.D. 1832 - 1904

  We don’t often hear much about Dr. Dearborn, but he was an outstanding citizen of Parsonsfield.  Aside from being a distinguished physician, he was chairman of the 52 member Centennial Committee responsible for planning and ensuring the success of the Parsonsfield centennial celebration on August 9, 1885.  He was also largely responsible for producing the “History of Parsonsfield, Maine 1771-1888” published in 1888.  

Jeremiah W. Dearborn was born May 2, 1832 one of five children born to John and Sally (Wadleigh) Dearborn.  His grandfather, Jeremiah Dearborn of Hampton, NH was the first Dearborn to settle in Parsonsfield in 1794.  

Jeremiah had the usual struggles of those days gaining an education. He studied medicine with Drs. Moses and John B. Sweat and graduated March 26.1857 at Michigan University.  He began his practice at East Parsonsfield. Two years later he went to Effingham, NH, remaining there 16 years and then to Freedom, NH for one year.  Circumstances then brought him back to Parsonsfield where he remained.  His residence was in Maplewood at the family home built by his grandfather in 1794. In 1882 he was responsible for planting the maple trees which still line the streets here, giving Maplewood its name.  

In 1853 he married Miss Mary Smart, daughter of Gardiner and Sally Smart of Parsonsfield.  They had no children. He practiced medicine and surgery, and held various offices of the Town of Parsonsfield. While a resident of New Hampshire he was District Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge of NH for 8 years.  He was a member of the Maine Senate in 1880, and declined re-nomination for a second term.  He was appointed by Maine’s Governor Robie to the Board of Trustees of the Maine General Hospital and then served 3 years as member of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Insane Hospital.  

Dr. Dearborn was reluctant to write about himself, but a friend – Judge David H. Hill of Sandwich, NH – submitted a brief write-up about him insisting it be included in the “Parsonsfield History”.   It stated that “After 15 or 20 years of successful practice in NH and Parsonsfield, his practice began to extend and his reputation became much more than local.  He enjoyed, in a very high degree, the personal friendship of his medical rivals, and in matters of surgery and in the crises of dangerous diseases he has been much employed as a consulting physician and surgeon, meeting his brother physicians in hardly less than thirty towns in York, Oxford, Carroll and Strafford counties.  His valuable judgment and experience, as well as his pleasant personal relations with such distinguished physicians as his eminent townsman, Dr. Moses Sweat, Dr. Augustus D. Merrow, of Freedom, Dr. W.H.H. Mason of Moultonborough, Dr. W.H. Bragdon of Conway and Dr. S.O. Clark of Limerick, and the kindly aid rendered to the younger physicians, have necessarily led to this result.”

Dr. Dearborn died Dec. 8, 1904.  His wife died May 12, 1906.  They are both buried in Maplewood Cemetery. Dr. Dearborn’s home in Maplewood was continually occupied by the family from the date it was built until their deaths and still exists today.  A later owner in the 1980’s restored it to the beautiful estate shown here.