The Park House with its attached Livery House on Main Street was one of two hotels along with the Hartland House serving overnight guests, weary stage coach travelers and numerous traveling salesmen during the town’s early years.
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Park House & Livery Stable operated by Richmond L. Williams before renovations – c1875
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Former Hartland Librarian Mary (Coston) Smith wrote in her personal historical journal the Park House was built around 1827 however early ownership of the building remains currently unknown. By the time the map below was completed in 1860, Harry Merrow was operating it before he sold to Richmond L. Williams by 1870.
1860 Village Map
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By the time the map below was published in 1883, Richmond L. Williams (1820-1896) had made extensive renovations to expand the Park House & Livery Stable. He would continue as its proprietor until 1892 when he retired at the age of 72 years old.
1883 Village Map
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Following renovations, the Park House’s new distinctive corner windows and inviting porch became a trademark of the popular inn.
Park House following Renovations
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With the new Sebasticook & Moosehead Railroad opening in 1886, The Park House continued as a well known stop for travelers.
The Park House
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Richmond also operated the Livery Stable business but in the 1880s it was operated for few years by his nephew Reuel S. Williams who held several Town Offices and also served as a Somerset County Sheriff. Ownership of The Park House & Livery Stable over several decades may be found in the Maine State Yearbooks Annual Report.
The Park House seen from the intersection of Pittsfield Avenue
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Following Richmond L. William’s retirement in 1892, The Park House was operated for a couple of years by W. H. Burton & Mr. Tuttle with the latter leaving the business after a year. By 1896, Richmond’s son Harry L. Williams operated the business until about 1902 when it was taken over by E. I. Pomlow in 1906. Amasa Burrill, formerly of Canaan, was the next to operate the business from 1906 to 1908 before Harry returned for a couple of years as its proprietor until 1910.
The Park House
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At some point during the course of his operations, Harry L. Williams issued 10 cent tokens for use by guests at The Park House.
Double Sided Undated Park House 10 Cent Token
(Photo courtesy of Sam Fuller)
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The Park House provided employment opportunities for numerous locals including maids, cooks, clerks and livery stable workers. The Park House often provided long term lodging for many people who came to Hartland to work before they found permanent housing. One such lodger was Ralph C. Hamilton who stayed at The Park House when he first came to Hartland soon after 1900 to work at A. W. Miller’s Drugstore.
Panoramic View including The Park House looking down Main Street – c1900
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Edward A. Bailey took over operations at the Park House in 1910 advertising some of the new modern amenities available by the turn of the century. In 1913, electric lights were installed at the Park House as well as a connection to the new town water system built by the Hartland Water Company in 1912.
The Park House – Proprietor Edward A. Bailey – 1910
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Ironically, one of the long term downfalls of a local railroad was traveling salesmen could now make day trips to Hartland and not need lodging.
The Park House
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Siting personal health issues, Edward A. Bailey put the Park House up for sale in 1913.
Park House Sale Notice from Skowhegan Independent Reporter – February 6, 1913
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LaForest D. Mathews, who had been operating the Hartland House at the time, would make the ill-fated decision to purchase it soon after.
Advertisement for The Park House – Proprietor LaForest D. Mathews – 1914
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The serenity of The Park House exploded into deadly violence on an otherwise quiet Sunday afternoon in September of 1914.
The Murder of LaForest D. Mathews at The Park House
by Brenda Seekins
~ Click the link below for the complete story ~
Park House Murder Story 1914
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Following the tragic event, the Park House was operated by Mrs. Susan Whitehouse for a short time until it was sold in 1915 to James Maloney.
Park House Purchase – The Independent Reporter – December 23, 1915
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“Hartland has a very good hotel conducted by James E. Maloney. The house contains no less than 30 light, airy and comfortable furnished sleeping rooms, 8 of them with private bathrooms. Each floor is also provided with toilets and public bath. The attractive dining room seats 30 to 40 people and the cuisine and service are all that could be desired. The house is well lighted, steam heated, has writing rooms, parlors, etc., and every effort is made to provide for the comfort and convenience of patrons. In connection with The Park House is a good Livery Stable and a place for storage of autos. Mr. Maloney has long been identified with the hotel business becoming proprietor of The Park House some 6 months ago.” ~ The Independent Reporter – June 8, 1916
The Park House & Livery Stable
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Shortly after the article above appeared, James E. Maloney put the Park House on the market.
Boston Globe – June 18, 1916
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In 1914, Harry Elwin Randlett (1879-1973) purchased the Hartland Hardware Company business which had been owned and operated at the time on the 1st floor of the Latty Block on Main Street by Thomas G. Lancey of Pittsfield. Harry was still operating his hardware store business at the leased Latty Block location when he purchased the Park House from James E. Maloney in late 1916 and continued operating a hotel business there for a few more years.
Real Estate Transfers published by Morning Sentinel – January 26, 1917
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Sometime around 1920, Harry began remodeling the front of the Park House with a large new addition extending the original building forward to Main Street. By early 1922, Harry had moved his hardware business from the Latty Block to the new addition of the Park House where he continued operating as the Hartland Hardware Store. Harry’s move to his new location prompted the Post Office to be relocated into the vacated space at the Latty Block soon after in March of 1922.
February 2, 1922
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Harry and his wife Alice Moore lived at the Park House for a while after they purchased it before they eventually purchased their house on Pleasant Street. Although Harry continued renting some of the other individual rooms or apartments on the 2 upper floors for the next several decades, the Park House ceased to exist as a dedicated hotel soon after the renovations were completed. Harry remained in his hardware business at this location until his retirement in 1959.
As part of the remodeling, the distinct windows originally on the corner of the building were turned and “flattened” to the Mill Street side as seen below following completion of the project. The tree locations in the front, when compared to earlier photos, provide a good reference to the depth of the new addition.
Hartland Hardware Store following Renovations
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Hartland Hardware Store following Renovations
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Mill Street side of Hartland Hardware Store following Renovations
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Rear view of Hartland Hardware Store from Mill Street
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In early 1925, Harry installed gas pumps at his store and by the end of the year had built a protective canopy for his gas customers. Harry leased the Hartland Hardware Filling Station in early April of 1937 to Evan P. Russell of St Albans. Research continues as to how long the gas pumps existed but several folks who later attended school at the building recall they were gone by the mid-1940s.
Hartland Hardware Store with Gas Pumps & Canopy
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Hartland Hardware Store with Gas Pumps & Canopy
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Hartland Hardware Store with Gas Pumps & Canopy seen from Page Homestead
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Beginning with the Fall Term of 1943, two of the upstairs rooms were rented to the Hartland School Department for 4th & 5th grade classes due to over crowding at the Pleasant Street School and the sub-sequential closing of Fullers Corner School in West Hartland that same Fall. Those grade students attended classes here until the new Hartland Consolidated School on Elm Street opened in 1950. Entrance to the school rooms was from the Mill Street side of the building.
Hartland Hardware Store from Mill Street – c1955
(Photo courtesy of Cheryl Plummer Vigue)
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Harry Randlett also served for 40 years as Manager of the Hartland Water Company.
Hartland Hardware Store from Main Street – c1955
(Photo courtesy of Cheryl Plummer Vigue)
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Hartland Hardware Yard Stick
(Donated by Joan Joy Tibbetts)
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Hartland Hardware Store looking down Main Street
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“In 1959, John Plummer purchased the building from Harry Randlett in partnership with his friend and fellow World War II Veteran, Harold Gertsen, who resided in New Jersey. Plummer and his family lived in Dover-Foxcroft at the time and he commuted daily to Hartland to run the store. In the 1960s and into early ’80s, the Hartland Emporium sold hardware, sporting and recreation goods and items for the home. In 1965, when Plummer’s daughters went to college, he and his wife Florence moved into the former Park House and lived in a large apartment over the store.” (Special thanks to Cheryl Plummer Vigue for this information)
John Plummer with Florence and their daughter Cheryl
(Photo courtesy of Cheryl Plummer Vigue)
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The large front glass bay windows held rotating displays of store goods. Particularly popular, especially among the children, was the annual Christmas display of “Santa’s Workshop” complete with mechanical elves that seemed to saw and hammer away at their workbenches.
Hartland Emporium – 1970
(Photo courtesy of Cheryl Plummer Vigue)
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With its distinctive exterior red coat of paint, white trim and “Dutch Boy Paints” sign, the Hartland Emporium stood out in Hartland’s landscape.
Hartland Emporium – 1970
(Photo courtesy of Phil Russell)
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To say John Plummer was a lovable and unique character would be an understatement in the eyes of those who knew him affectionately as “Johnny”. John served his adopted home of Hartland with many years of involvement in town affairs and at Scott-Webb Memorial Hospital.
John Plummer as “Uncle Sam” for the 1970 Sesquicentennial Celebration
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In 1976, John Plummer opened “The Coffee Shoppe” in the center section of the building which became a popular gathering spot for many locals. He sold/rented the restaurant business to Harry & Hope Graff who renamed it “The Park House Restaurant”. Harry Finnemore, Jr and his wife Donnice eventually took over the restaurant business. John and his business partner sold the building and businesses in 1984.
The Park House Restaurant – 1984
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The building and lot were later purchased by Rocky & Vicki (Getchell) Rice. Vicki operated a fitness business in the former hardware store section for a while but by then the building was unfortunately getting beyond any reasonable or affordable repairs. Following a fire at their Warren Square store location, the entire Park House block was soon razed to make way for the Rice’s new “Moose Lake Market” in 1994.
Moose Lake Market – 2012
(Photo courtesy of Laurel Knowles White)