Our post this month features another of the original Kezar Falls business buildings that have been lost.  This one was located across from the Methodist Church at the corner of Bridge Street and River Street.  Located here at the center of the village, it played a very important role in the business of the village. 

This is what you will see at this location today – Porter’s Veterans’ Memorial Park that was established in 2011 by the late Adrian Durgin to honor all the veterans of  Parsonsfield, Porter, and South Hiram. 

The site was originally occupied by the Hotel Manowando built by Dr. Edwin Chellis in 1885.  The large four story structure from this central location near the bridge afforded guests an excellent view of the Ossipee River.  It was first operated by C.E. Hubbard.  

The Hotel Manowando 1886

In 1897 John Quint bought the business and renamed it the Hotel Malvern.  A restaurant was located on the lower level.  Behind it was a “Livery and Feed” stable.  It served “Drummers” (traveling salesmen), lumbermen participating in local log drives, summer visitors, and traveling stock companies performing at local theaters.  Also, mill girls boarded here for $5 a week; meals cost $1.

Hotel Malvern – circa late 1940’s or 1950s

John Hadlock owned and ran the hotel from 1909 until it was sold in 1912 to Edgar Giles.  Edgar Giles ran it until 1946.  His daughter, Irma Giles ran an “Apparel Shop” on the ground floor for 10 years.  Mr. Albert Marston owned the hotel from 1946 to July 1954 at which time he sold it to Harold Jones.  Mr. Jones owned the hotel until 1973 and operated a restaurant in the basement.  By this time the hotel business was primarily a few permanent boarders and an office for Dr. Fineberg the optometrist.

In 1974 Mr. Jones died and it was sold to William and Margaret Stewart.  They sold it in December to Frank & Marianne Maxcy.   When it burned in January 1976, it was owned by Joseph Sedlak of Mass. who apparently was planning to renovate the building.  The fire totally destroyed the building, leaving a dangerous situation.  

In March of 1977 the Town of Porter appropriated $6,000 to demolish the gutted building and to grade the lot which is now the small veterans’ park that is here today.

It is hard to believe a large structure like this hotel and livery stable ever fit on this small lot.  For those of us who remember this icon of Kezar Falls Village, it is sad to see it gone.  However, the veteran’s park is an attractive and meaningful replacement. 

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NOTICE

The next event for PPHS will be the annual open house at the Old Parsonsfield Town House and the Parsonsfield Union Church both located near the intersection of Merrill Hill Road and Middle Road on Sat., Aug 16^th , 2025 at 1 – 3 pm.

Following that will be the annual open house at the Old Porter Meeting House 

on Meeting House Road in Porter on Sunday, Sept. 7^th , 2025 from 1 – 3 pm.  Music will be provided by Clay Neidlinger who will sing and play his guitar.

History House will hold open house on Sunday, Sept. 14^th , 2025 from 1 – 3 pm.  Come tour the house and see the latest exhibit.  Come especially to see Mary Cobb and Mary Burnell’s original paintings of Kezar Falls.